cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Infection with phytopathogenic bacterium inhibits melatonin biosynthesis, decreases longevity of its vector, and suppresses the free radical‐defense

Vector-borne phytopathogenic bacteria may alter the reproductive fitness, survival, behavior, and metabolism of their vectors. Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas) is associated with the Huanglongbing (also known as citrus greening disease), one of the most destructive citrus diseases worldwide, and transmitted by Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri (Insecta, Hemiptera, Liviidae). The genome sequencing of CLas revealed that it does not have the ability to synthesize tryptophan, the precursor of melatonin, and it must acquire it from its host plant or insect vector to achieve its biologic processes, such as growth and multiplication. Herein, we aimed to develop a GC-MS-SIM-based method to detect the endogenous melatonin from small insects such as D. citri, and to explore the hidden relationship between melatonin content and D. citri-adult survival. Then, we studied the ability of exogenous melatonin supplementation to reverse the negative effects of CLas-infection. Our findings showed that CLas-infection reduced the levels of melatonin and its biosynthetic genes (DcTPHs, DcAAAD, DcSNAT, and DcASMT) of D. citri compared to uninfected insects. In addition, CLas decreased the longevity of its vector, D. citri via the suppression of the free radical-defense associated genes (SODs, GSTs, PODs, and PHGPXs). On the other hand, melatonin supplementation could reverse the negative effects of CLas-infection. Melatonin supplementation enhanced the endogenous melatonin content, melatonin biosynthetic genes, free radical-defense associated genes, and the longevity of both healthy and CLas-infected D. citri. Furthermore, melatonin supplementation decreased the CLas bacterial population within the D. citri psyllids. Based on these findings, we hypothesize that melatonin plays multi-layered defensive roles in D. citri. These roles include acting as a natural antioxidant or as an antibacterial compound.
A Combined Experimental and Theoretical Study on the Activity and Selectivity of the Electrocatalytic Hydrogenation of Aldehydes

A detailed mechanistic study of the electrochemical hydrogenation of aldehydes is presented toward the goal of identifying how organic molecules in solution behave at the interface with charged surfaces and what is the best manner to convert them. Specifically, this study focuses on designing an electrocatalytic route for ambient-temperature postpyrolysis treatment of bio-oil. Aldehyde reductions are needed to convert biomass into fuels or chemicals. A combined experimental and computational approach is taken toward catalyst design to provide testable hypotheses regarding catalyst composition, activity, and selectivity. Electrochemical hydrogenation mechanisms for benzaldehyde and pentanal reduction are found to proceed by a coupled proton–electron transfer process. Initial results show that Au, Ag, Cu, and C catalysts exhibit the highest conversion to alcohol products. These catalysts are suitable because they show high cathodic onset potentials for H2 formation and low cathodic onset potentials for orga...
A randomized trial of Text2Quit: a text messaging program for smoking cessation.

Background Text messaging programs on mobile phones have shown some promise in helping people quit smoking. Text2Quit is an automated, personalized, interactive mobile health program that sends text messages to offer advice, support, and reminders about quitting smoking. Purpose To evaluate the effect of Text2Quit on biochemically confirmed repeated point prevalence abstinence in the context of an RCT conducted in the U.S. Methods Participants (n=503) were recruited on the Internet and randomized to receive Text2Quit or self-help material. Between 2011 and 2013, participants were surveyed at baseline and at 1, 3, and 6 months post-enrollment to assess smoking status. Saliva was collected from participants who reported not smoking in the past 7 days at the 6-month follow-up. An intent to treat analysis was used, and those lost to follow-up were categorized as smokers. All analyses were completed in 2013. Results Biochemically confirmed repeated point prevalence abstinence favored the intervention group, with 11.1% abstinent compared to 5.0% of the control group (relative risk=2.22, 95% CI=1.16, 4.26, p Conclusions These results provide initial support for the relative efficacy of the Text2Quit program.
Brain Mechanisms and Parental Behavior

The present review concerns itself with a discussion of the brain mechanisms underlying parental behavior in mammals. Until recently, little research has been directed at attempting to elucidate the neural mechanisms underlying such behavior. Additionally, most of the research has investigated the neural mechanisms underlying maternal behavior in the rat and the mouse, and the majority of these studies deal with the rat. It is hoped that the present review will be useful in stimulating research that will eventually result in a truly comparative understanding of the brain mechanisms underlying mammalian parental behavior.
Becoming Super-Flexible: The Enterprise in Motion

What can we learn about dynamic adaptation from Silicon Valley’s entrepreneurial ecosystem? How should we rejuvenate our industrial age practices to address the challenge of perpetual innovation and continuous transformation? How can the ideas presented in this book help us lead in a dynamic world? This final chapter is focused on these critical questions.
Technological and usability-based aspects of distributed after action review in a game-based training setting

After action review (AAR) in the distributed setting provides for some unique problems. Some of these problems include remote facilitation of an after action review, keeping a lightweight infrastructure that can handle large amounts of throughput and allowing for different AAR sessions to be run simultaneously. This paper proposes a method for developing a facilitative infrastructure in the AAR setting while providing a solution that allows for syncing of multiple AAR software to one review session.
Diagnosis and Management of Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency

Recent studies have documented that many patients with pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (EPI) are not identified and are not treated with appropriate dosages of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy. This review will summarize the approach to diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring for treatment effect and complications in patients with exocrine insufficiency. While chronic pancreatitis is the most commonly identified cause of EPI, pancreatic cancer and pancreatic surgery are increasingly important. The diagnosis of EPI remains challenging, but fecal elastase is the most clinically useful test. Treatment requires an understanding of the appropriate dosage and timing of enzyme replacement, but recent studies show that clinicians often do not have this understanding. Monitoring and prevention of complications of EPI is increasingly important, particularly osteopenia and osteoporosis. In those that fail to respond, coexistent small intestinal bacterial overgrowth should be considered. Many clinicians do not consider EPI in the differential diagnosis, and patients with EPI are routinely undertreated in the USA. Appropriate identification of those at risk and use of appropriate enzyme therapy, along with monitoring for metabolic complications of EPI, are essential to provide effective care for these patients.
Chemical imaging and diffusion of hydrogen and lithium in lithium aluminate

Abstract Tritium (3H) must be replenished for strategic stockpile and fusion reactors. 6Li-enriched γ-LiAlO2 pellets have been used for 3H production by thermal neutron irradiation. A fundamental study of 3H and 6Li diffusion processes in irradiated γ-LiAlO2 pellets is needed to assess and predict the long-term material performance. This study focuses on identifying the trapping sites and diffusion pathways of 1H (a surrogate for 3H) and Li atoms in polycrystalline γ-LiAlO2 pellets irradiated with both 4He+ and 1H2+ ions. A combination of STEM-EELS, Nano-SIMS and APT is employed for chemical imaging at nanoscale resolution. There is direct evidence for preferred Li diffusion pathways along grain boundaries. Isolated voids are identified as possible Li trapping sites in the irradiated γ-LiAlO2 pellets. Possible lithium hydrides and/or hydrates are precipitated on the surface of the irradiated pellets. This study improves our understanding of H and Li diffusion processes and provides data for modelling and simulation to predict material performance during neutron irradiation of γ-LiAlO2 pellets.
Si(bzimpy) 2 - a hexacoordinate silicon pincer complex for electron transport and electroluminescence

A neutral hexacoordinate silicon complex containing two 2,6-bis(benzimidazol-2'-yl)pyridine (bzimpy) ligands has been synthesized and explored as a potential electron transport layer and electroluminescent layer in organic electronic devices. The air and water stable complex is fluorescent in solution with a λmax = 510 nm and a QY = 57%. Thin films grown via thermal evaporation also fluoresce and possess an average electron mobility of 6.3 × 10-5 cm2 V-1 s-1. An ITO/Si(bzimpy)2/Al device exhibits electroluminescence with λmax = 560 nm.
Furosemide reduces BK-αβ4-mediated K+ secretion in mice on an alkaline high-K+ diet.

Special high-K diets have cardioprotective effects and are often warranted in conjunction with diuretics such as furosemide for treating hypertension. However, it is not understood how a high-K die...
Evidence for an essential lysine residue on the phosphoribosyl transferase subunit of the anthranilate synthetase-anthranilate 5-phosphoribosyl-pyrophosphate phosphoribosyltransferase enzyme complex from Salmonella typhimurium.

Abstract Pyridoxal 5′-phosphate reacts with the anthranilate synthetase-phosphoribosyltransferase enzyme complex of Salmonella typhimurium to inhibit PR transferase activity. Glutamine-dependent anthranilate synthetase is not affected. Spectral and kinetic data suggest that the inactivation results from the modification of an essential lysine residue which interacts with 5-phosphoribosyl 1-pyrophosphate.
Telecommunications Adoption and Economic Growth in Developing Countries: Do Levels of Development Matter?

This paper assesses the growth impact of telecommunications infrastructure investment in developing countries by subjecting country specific data on mainline tele-density and per capita growth to Granger causality test within a panel cointegration framework. The results suggest that growth effects vary widely across country groupings reflecting different levels of development. Mainline tele-density and per capita growth strongly reinforces each other for countries that are relatively less developed. In contrast, there is, at best, a weak evidence of a bi-directional causal link between the two variables for countries that are relatively more industrialized. These differences in mainline tele-density and per capita growth relationship suggest that investment in telecommunications infrastructure, with its potential to generate high growth return, may serve as the critical engine for driving the development process forward in the less developed countries.
Evolutionary Analysis of the Zinc Finger and Homeoboxes Family of Proteins Identifies Multiple Conserved Domains and a Common Early Chordate Ancestor

The Zinc Fingers and Homeoboxes (Zhx) proteins, Zhx1, Zhx2, and Zhx3, comprise a small family of proteins containing two amino-terminal C2-H2 zinc fingers and four or five carboxy-terminal homeodomains. These multiple homeodomains make Zhx proteins unusual because the majority of homeodomain-containing proteins contain a single homeodomain. Studies in cultured cells and mice suggest that Zhx proteins can function as positive or negative transcriptional regulators. Zhx2 regulates numerous hepatic genes, and all three Zhx proteins have been implicated in different cancers. Because Zhx proteins contain multiple predicted homeodomains, are associated with interesting physiological traits, and seem to be only present in the vertebrate lineage, we investigated the evolutionary history of this small family by comparing Zhx homologs from a wide range of chordates. This analysis indicates that the zinc finger motifs and homeodomains are highly similar among all Zhx proteins and also identifies additional Zhx-specific conserved regions, including a 13 amino acid amino-terminal motif that is nearly identical among all gnathostome Zhx proteins. We found single Zhx proteins in the sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) and in the nonvertebrate chordates sea squirt (Ciona intestinalis) and lancelet (Branchiostoma floridae); these Zhx proteins are most similar to gnathostome Zhx3. Based on our analyses, we propose that a duplication of the primordial Zhx gene gave rise to Zhx3 and the precursor to Zhx1 and Zhx2. A subsequent tandem duplication of this precursor generated Zhx1 and Zhx2 found in gnathostomes.
Measurement of the gross alpha activity of the fine fractions of road dust and near-roadway ambient particle matter.

Traffic-related air pollution, including direct exhaust emissions and road dust (RD), impacts individuals living near busy roads. We recently conducted a study to investigate the sources and compos...
Lateral Spurious Mode Suppression in Lithium Niobate A1 Resonators

This work presents an improved design that exploits dispersion matching to suppress the spurious modes in the lithium niobate first-order antisymmetric (A1) Lamb wave mode resonators. The dispersion matching in this work is achieved by micro-machining the lithium niobate thin film to balance the electrical and mechanical loadings of electrodes. In this article, the dispersion matchings of the A1 mode in lithium niobate based on different metals are analytically modeled and validated with finite-element analysis. The fabricated devices exhibit spurious-free responses with a quality factor of 692 and an electromechanical coupling coefficient of 28%. The demonstrated method herein could overcome a significant hurdle that is currently impeding the commercialization of A1 devices.
MODEL INDEPEDENT EXTRACTIONS OF |Vub| FROM INCLUSIVE B DECAYS

We discuss the possibility of extracting |Vub| from various spectra of inclusive B decays, without large systematic errors which usually arise from having to model the Fermi motion of the heavy quark. This strategy can be applied to the electron energy spectrum, as well as the hadronic mass spectrum. Modulo violation of local hadron-parton duality, the theoretical error in the extraction is estimated to be less than 10%.
Prevalence and Risk Factors for Preprocedural Medication Errors in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation and Atrial Flutter

Perfect adherence to anticoagulant medications is an important aspect of care for patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing cardiac electrophysiology procedures to minimize the risk of stroke. Despite this, adherence remains imperfect as is associated with added cost of additional procedures (e.g., transesophageal echocardiography) and administrative burden. We sought to identify characteristics of such patients and predictors of medication errors at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Cardiol Res. 2021;12(4):265-268 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/cr1266
Variation in flower bud differentiation and progression of floral organs with respect to crop load in olive.

The differentiation of olive floral buds during winter is strictly correlated with flowering in the spring and ultimately with fruit production in autumn and the determination of the time of flower bud induction is important for determining the possible causes of alternate bearing and for improving management practices to correct alternate bearing. The aim of this research was to study the time of flower bud differentiation and developmental steps in the ‘Gemlik’ olive cultivar in 2008 (off year) and 2009 (on year). The sequence of initiation of the floral organs in each flower bud was sepals, stamens, petals, and gynoecium. There was no visible difference between the time of differentiation and the developmental stage of the floral organs with respect to the ‘on’ and ‘off’ years during the study.
Asymptotic performance of transmit diversity via OFDM for multipath channels

Many wireless systems exploit transmit diversity for more reliable detection of signals at the receiver. To accomplish this, coding is spread across multiple transmit antennas. An example of this is the well known "Alamouti transmit diversity", where a very simple coding scheme across multiple transmit antennas allows systems to attain performance similar to systems with multiple receive antennas. The major drawback is that this system only works when a "flat-fading" model for the channel is assumed; when used in a multipath environment, the system breaks down. Here we show that when the Alamouti code is placed within an OFDM structure, using adjacent frequency bands rather than consecutive symbol intervals, it can asymptotically achieve the same performance in multipath fading as the Alamouti code in flat-fading.
Nonverbal Poetry: Family Life-Space Diagrams

The purpose of this article is to examine life-space diagrams as a form of nonverbal poetry. Family life-space diagrams, by their very nature, are a nonverbal blend of lyrical, narrative, and dramatic poetry. The life-space diagram taps personal feelings, tells a story, and characterizes a particular life situation. The human memory process, with its multilevel consciousness, provides the basis for creatively learning about deeply experienced family relationships. Family life-space diagrams are most effective when the therapist him/herself regards the process as artistic and creative.
Loss of organic chemicals in soil: Pure compound treatability studies

Abstract Comprehensive screening data on the treatability of 32 organic chemicals in soil were developed. Of the evaluated chemicals, 22 were phenolic compounds. Aerobic batch laboratory microcosm experiments were conducted using two soils: an acidic clay soil with <1% organic matter and a slightly basic sandy loam soil containing 3.25% organic matter. Loss rates were determined for the 32 chemicals with each soil and were higher in the basic soil. The loss rates were compared with chemical structure. Chlorophenols with chlorine substituted in the meta‐position had greater half‐lives and lower loss rates. Chemicals with a nitro group substituted in the phenol ring appeared to have a lower loss rate.
Considerations in the Development of Drugs to Treat Sarcopenia

Sarcopenia describes reduced skeletal muscle mass and impaired muscle function associated with aging and with a variety of chronic diseases prevalent in the aging population. With increasing understanding of the molecular pathways participating in the structural and functional changes affecting skeletal muscle in these conditions, a number of potential targets for pharmacological interventions to reverse sarcopenia have been identified. The clinical evaluation of therapeutic candidates directed at these targets will require that the efficacy and safety of the drug candidates be adequately evaluated to meet the regulatory standards of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Concerns unique to drug development may require different approaches to clinical study design than have been used in the epidemiological research that identified the clinical need for these programs and the intervention trials conducted to date. In addition to being responsive to clinical need as perceived by patients and physicians, clinical trial data must demonstrate to the FDA that the drug provides an objective and clinically meaningful advantage, and must demonstrate to all involved in healthcare decision-making that its benefits justify the associated costs and risks. Potential primary efficacy endpoints for trials of a drug for treatment of sarcopenia include physical performance, falls, fractures, and patient-reported outcomes assessing function and quality of life. Each potential endpoint has advantages and disadvantages from scientific, clinical, and regulatory perspectives that must be carefully considered in the design of trials for sarcopenia treatments.
Effects of Channel Power on Trade Promotion Budget and Allocation: A Market Experimental Analysis

We design a market experiment to examine the impact of channel power on trade promotion budget and its allocation. Our experimental results show that a manufacturer with higher channel power offers a smaller percentage trade promotion budget and decreases allocation to discount-based promotions such as off-invoices. Conversely, a retailer with higher channel power tends to receive larger trade promotion budgets and to increase allocation to discount-based promotions. We validate these findings with econometric analysis of industry data. Overall, results suggest that market experiments can shed light on complex negotiations in the distribution channel for which industry data are often hard to obtain. We discuss implications of our results for managers and policy makers.
The coulometric generation of manganese(II) from a manganese electrode

Abstract The anodic behavior of a manganese electrode is discussed. Manganese(II) can be generated with greater than 95% current efficiency over a limited current density range in neutral aqueous and methanolic chloride media. The current efficiency for the generation of manganese(II) as a function of current density, supporting electrolyte, solvent, pH, and generation time is given. Electrogenerated manganese(II) is useful in the coulometric titration of 4.460 × 10 -6 –2.214 × 10 -5 mol of EDTA in 1.0 M sodium chloride buffered at pH 5.5. The end-point can be detected amperometrically by monitoring the anodic current from the oxidation of manganese(II) at platinum. The titration error is about 1% in replicate determinations. Permanganate can be generated in aqueous sodium hydroxide media but the current efficiencies are less than 20% and irreproducible.
The Modernisation of the Medieval Staging of Soul in Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus

For a play whose dramatic interest centers entirely on the fate of a man’s soul, Christopher Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus is curiously devoid of an attempt to reify its most central aspect, which is the soul itself. Unlike the medieval drama, which used a combination of linguistic, bodily and material devices to emblematize soul, in Doctor Faustus, the flow of meaning is reversed, and soul—having already been inculcated by centuries of religious teaching as the defining feature of humanity, to the point that no one in the play needs to ask, “what is the thing men call soul?”—is now used by Marlowe as the signature figure of poetical discourse on the seeming immutability of personal identity in the age of reformed theology. In Faustus, soul stands for one’s susceptibility to or potential for identity mutation, contrary to reigning systems of reward and punishment. The play foregrounds the way metaphorical language is used by a subject to articulate a dialectical relation between soul as a stage for the free play of the phenomenological events of an apperceptive mind, and soul as an anxiously situated, culturally conditioned identity.
Demonstration of the presence of cyclic inositol phosphohydrolase in human urine.

Abstract Cyclic inositol phosphohydrolase (cIPH), cleaves the cyclic bond of cyclic inositol monophosphate (cIP) to yield inositol monophosphate. In this communication, we demonstrate the presence of cIPH in human urine. cIPH was measured in the 24-h urine samples of both male and female hospital patients. cIPH released per day ranged from 0 to 243 units in men (n= 16) and from 15 to 346 units in women (n= 18). Release of cIPH activity was not related to renal function as measured by creatinine clearance. HPLC ion-exchange chromatography or HPLC gel filtration of ammonium sulfate precipitate yielded a distinct cIPH peak with an apparent molecular weight of 40 kDa on gel filtration. This is the first demonstration of the presence of this enzyme in human urine. The large variation (over 20-fold) in the excretion of this protein suggests that it may have physiological and/or pathological significance.
Competitive Binding to Lipid Bilayers by Peptides and Drugs

The lipid matrix of cell membrane is a natural binding site for amphipathic molecules including drugs, peptides and proteins. In this report we investigate how two different binding molecules might interfere with each other. Specifically we studied how an amphipathic drug, curcumin, influenced the interaction between peptides and lipid bilayers. Magainin is a well-known antimicrobial peptide. Previous studies showed that magainin binds to lipid bilayers and induce pores in the membrane when and only when P/L exceeds a critical value. This is demonstrated by a GUV exposed to 10 uM magainin. The initial binding of magainin expanded the GUV area to a maximum dA/A when P/L reached the critical value, then the pores appeared. However, if a GUV was exposed to 10 uM curcumin first and then to 10 uM magainin, the GUV first expanded its area by curcumin binding. The subsequent exposure to magainin only slightly expanded the GUV area without inducing any pore formation. We then studied the competition between curcumin and penetratin. Penetratin binds to a lipid bilayer as an alpha-helix up to a critical value P/L∗. However, when P/L exceeds P/L∗, penetratin aggregates to beta-form. This was demonstrated by a GUV exposed to penetratin solution. The GUV first expanded its area due to penetratin binding. After the area expansion matched the value corresponding to P/L=P/L∗, the beta aggregates started to appear on the surface of GUV.The effect of curcumin binding to penetratin is different from to magainin. When a curcumin bound GUV was introduced to a solution containing 20μM penetratin, the protrusion length did’t significantly increase before it decreased. The results can be interpreted as penetratin partially replaced curcumin bound on the membrane, and the initially bound curcumin appeared to accelerate the beta-aggregate formation of penetratin.
Relationships among ratings of motion pictures by viewers and six professional movie critics

Moderate to high correlations (.43 to .73) were found among the ratings of 568 motion pictures by viewers as indicated in Consumer Reports and by six professional movie critics, (a) Mick Martin and...
Research and Implementation of an RFID Simulation System Supporting Trajectory Analysis

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) has been playing more and more important roles in domains such as supply chain management, commodity retail and health custody. RFID data can support functions such as object location, object tracking and trajectory analysis. However, at some point, to deploy many RFID devices into a real application scenario would be very difficult. In this paper, we present a RFID simulation system which could support effective data analysis and help users judge the effectiveness of deployment. This system implements part of ISO 18000-6C communication protocol and supports the path loss, backscatter, capture and tag mobility models. It provides a user-friendly visual platform for users to build their own virtual scenarios and deploy RFID devices into it. Further more, in order to improve the efficiency of operations in the application scenarios, we combine R-Tree with TSB-Tree to support the RFID object location and the trajectory analysis.
Abuse and diversion of gabapentin among nonmedical prescription opioid users in Appalachian Kentucky.

Gabapentin (Neurontin®) is FDA-approved as an adjunctive anti-epileptic for refractory partial seizures and as an analgesic for post-herpetic neuralgia. It is presumed to interact with calcium channels to regulate various neurotransmitter release (1) and is commonly prescribed off-label for other pain syndromes as well as mood and anxiety disorders (2), with few reports of abuse (2–5). However, with decreasing availability of commonly abused prescription opioids, it has been suggested that non-medical users of prescription opioids are substituting other licit (6) and illicit (7) drugs for abuse. For example, in a cohort of 503 adults reporting current, non-medical use of diverted prescription opioids in Appalachian Kentucky (and not presently in substance abuse treatment) [study details outlined elsewhere (8)], 15% of participants identified using gabapentin specifically “to get high” in the past 6 months. This represents a 165% increase in use compared to reports from one-year prior, and a 2950% increase since 2008 within this cohort. Participants reported using gabapentin an average of 25 of the past 30 days, and were more likely than non-users to be abusing immediate-release oxycodone (64.8% vs. 46.5%; difference in percentages [d]=18.3%; 95% Wald continuity corrected confidence interval [95% CI]:[3.1%, 31.5%]), buprenorphine (44.4% vs. 26.0%; d=18.4%; 95% CI:[4.3%, 33.1%]), and benzodiazepines (42.6% vs. 21.6%; d=21.0%; 95% CI:[7.1%, 35.7%]) in the prior 30 days “to get high.” There were no differences in past 30-day use of heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine. Females (77.8%; d=17.3%; 95% CI:[10.4%, 24.6%]) and participants reporting chronic medical conditions (48.2%; d=16.3%; 95% CI:[1.8%, 31.0%]) were also significantly more likely to report gabapentin use. The two major sources of gabapentin were physicians (52%) and drug dealers (36%), and street costs were reported to be less than $1.00 per pill. Several volunteers reported use of dosages outside the range of standard medical care. To our knowledge, this is the first prospective report of gabapentin abuse in an epidemiologic study of drug users. While gabapentin may be an appropriate treatment for some individuals (e.g., those with alcohol withdrawal, chronic pain), use for these reasons was not queried. Further systematic research (e.g., amount used, route of and motivations for use) is necessary to more fully understand the patient, provider, and public health implications of this new trend. Psychiatrists prescribing gabapentin should be aware of its abuse potential.
Optimal motion control for energy-aware electric vehicles

Abstract We study two problems of optimally controlling how to accelerate and decelerate a non-ideal energy-aware electric vehicle so as to (a) maximize its cruising range and (b) minimize the traveling time to a specified destination under a limited battery constraint. Modeling an electric vehicle as a dynamic system, we adopt an electric vehicle power consumption model (EVPCM) and formulate two respective optimal motion control problems. Although the full solutions can only be obtained numerically, we propose approximate controller structures such that the original optimal control problems are transformed into nonlinear parametric optimization problems, which are much easier to solve. Numerical examples illustrate the solution structures and support their accuracy.
Environmental record searches

Abstract Public records that might have potential environmental pollution information were investigated. Research expanded from a typical small city through to the state level and identified the areas where interested individuals can locate records that may reveal environmental problems that have not surfaced yet. This research indicated that beneficial records are not available below the county level and that records at the regional level require considerable manipulation to be useful. Records at the state level point primarily to known problems that could potentially resurface.
Personal and public safety issues related to arrhythmias that may affect consciousness: implications for regulation and physician recommendations. A medical/scientific statement from the American Heart Association and the North American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology.

Patients with arrhythmias may experience complete or partial loss of consciousness, and questions about activities that are safe for them arise every day. Probably the most common question concerns the advisability of driving, because the safety of both patients and others may be threatened when personal or professional activities are performed by persons with arrhythmias that may impair consciousness. In view of the magnitude of this problem, the American Heart Association and the North American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology (NASPE) cosponsored two conferences on medical and regulatory issues related to arrhythmias in the context of driving and other activities. The first conference, “Driving and Arrhythmias: Medical Aspects,” was held at the NASPE Scientific Session on May 10, 1994, in Nashville, Tenn. The conference was chaired by William M. Miles, MD, and cochaired by Gregory A. Kidwell, MD, and Elizabeth J. Darling, MSN, RN. The second conference, “Personal and Public Safety Issues Related to Arrhythmias That May Affect Consciousness: Implications for Regulation and Physician Recommendations,” was held January 12 through 13, 1995, in Washington, DC, and was chaired by Andrew E. Epstein, MD. The second conference had a broader focus and addressed regulatory and legal issues related to activities in patients with arrhythmias that may result in impaired consciousness. This statement is based on the proceedings of the two conferences. Although ventricular arrhythmias are the most common cause of sudden cardiac death, both bradyarrhythmias and the usually more benign supraventricular arrhythmias can lead to syncope or sudden death. Furthermore, arrhythmia therapies themselves can interfere with day-to-day functioning as a consequence of reactions to drugs, shocks from implantable devices, and physical limitations after arrhythmia operations. Some arrhythmias can be cured, and others can only be palliated. There are risks to both personal and public safety when patients with arrhythmias that may …
Regulation of vitamin D metabolism

Fundamental to understanding the way in which perturbations in the vitamin D endocrine system can affect human health is an appreciation of the steps involved in the production of the well-recognized active hormonal form, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 . Thus this paper focuses first on the nature and regulation of the two enzymes responsible for the production of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 , the 25-hydroxylase in the liver and the 1α-hydroxylase in the kidney. The most important regulators of the 1α-hydroxylase in the kidney are 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 itself, parathyroid hormone and FGF23. The extent and importance of extra-renal, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 synthesis is then considered. Finally the features of the 24R-hydroxylase, which produces 24R,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 inthe kidney and is induced by and inactivated, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 in target cells are described.
A spectral transform dynamical core option within the Community Atmosphere Model (CAM4)

An ensemble of simulations covering the present day observational period using forced sea surface temperatures and prescribed sea-ice extent is configured with an 85 truncation resolution spectral transform dynamical core (T85) within the Community Atmosphere Model (CAM), version 4 and is evaluated relative to observed and model derived data sets and the one degree finite volume (FV) dynamical core. The spectral option provides a well-known base within the climate model community to assess climate behavior and statistics, and its relative computational efficiency for smaller computing platforms allows it to be extended to perform high-resolution climate length simulations. Overall, the quality of the T85 ensemble is similar to FV. Analyzing specific features of the T85 simulations show notable improvements to the representation of wintertime Arctic sea level pressure and summer precipitation over the Western Indian subcontinent. The mean and spatial patterns of the land surface temperature trends over the AMIP period are generally well simulated with the T85 ensemble relative to observations, however the model is not able to capture the extent nor magnitude of changes in temperature extremes over the boreal summer, where the changes are most dramatic. Biases in the wintertime Arctic surface temperature and annual mean surface stress fields persist with T85 as with the CAM3 version of T85, as compared to FV. An experiment to identify the source of differences between dycores has revealed that the longwave cloud forcing is sensitive to the choice of dycore, which has implications for tuning strategies of the physics parameter settings.
Surgical Site Infection Rates Following Laparoscopic Urological Procedures

Purpose: Surgical site infections have been categorized by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as “never events”. The incidence of surgical site infection following laparoscopic urological surgery and its risk factors are poorly defined. We evaluated surgical site infection following urological laparoscopic surgery and identified possible factors that may influence occurrence.Materials and Methods: Patients who underwent transperitoneal laparoscopic procedures during a 4-year period by a single laparoscopic surgeon were retrospectively reviewed. Surgical site infections were identified postoperatively and defined using the Centers for Disease Control criteria. Clinical parameters, comorbidities, smoking history, preoperative urinalysis and culture results as well as operative data were analyzed. Nonparametric testing using the Mann-Whitney U test, multivariable logistic regression and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient were used for data analysis.Results: In 556 patients undergoing urologi...
Searching for the Higgs at SLC and lep

Abstract We compute the cross section for the process e + e − →Hff as a function of Higgs boson mass and of center-of-mass energies of M z and beyond. We conclude that searches for a Higgs of mass less than 50 GeV are far more effective when carried out near the Z boson resonance that at any higher energy. However, a new window of Higgs boson masses extending from 50–107 GeV can be explored if and when e + e − collisions can be studied with high luminosity at collision energies of 200 GeV. Collider energies at intermediate energies can play no useful role in the search for the Higgs.
Persistent sourcing of coherent spins for multifunctional semiconductor spintronics

Recent studies of n-type semiconductors have demonstrated spin-coherent transport over macroscopic distances1, with spin-coherence times exceeding 100 ns2,3; such materials are therefore potentially useful building blocks for spin-polarized electronics (‘spintronics’). Spin injection into a semiconductor (a necessary step for spin electronics4) has proved difficult5,6; the only successful approach involves classical injection of spins from magnetic semiconductors7,8. Other work has shown that optical excitation can provide a short (<500 ps) non-equilibrium burst of coherent spin transfer across a GaAs/ZnSe interface, but less than 10% of the total spin crosses into the ZnSe layer, leaving long-lived spins trapped in the GaAs layer (ref. 9). Here we report a ‘persistent’ spin-conduction mode in biased semiconductor heterostructures, in which the sourcing of coherent spin transfer lasts at least 1–2 orders of magnitude longer than in unbiased structures. We use time-resolved Kerr spectroscopy to distinguish several parallel channels of interlayer spin-coherent injection. The relative increase in spin-coherent injection is up to 500% in the biased structures, and up to 4,000% when p–n junctions are used to impose a built-in bias. These experiments reveal promising opportunities for multifunctional spin electronic devices (such as spin transistors that combine memory and logic functions), in which the amplitude and phase of the net spin current are controlled by either electrical or magnetic fields.
In vitro biohydrogenation and total tract digestibility of oleamide by sheep

Disappearance of cis-18:1(n-9) from ruminal in vitro cultures supplemented with either oleic acid or oleamide was measured over 48 h to determine if the amide resisted biohydrogenation. Oleamide added to the substrate maintained higher concentrations of cis-18: 1(n-9) in the microbial cultures at 24 and 48 h of incubation compared to substrates with added oleic acid. Disappearance rates of cis-18: 1(n-9) from the cultures, which were calculated as a measure of biohydrogenation, were 0.064 and 0.025 h -1 for the oleic acid and oleamide supplements, respectively. Four sheep were fed four diets (control, 42 g kg -1 oleic acid, 23 g kg -1 oleamide, and 45 g kg -1 oleamide) in a 4 x 4 Latin square to determine how the amide affected fatty acid digestibility. Total tract digestibilities of protein and fibre were not affected (P > 0.05) by either oleic acid or oleamide compared to the control diet. Fatty acid and energy digestibilities were not changed (P > 0.05) by oleic acid, but were increased (P < 0.05) when oleamide was added to the sheep diets at 45 g kg -1 . These results show that oleamide resists ruminal biohydrogenation without impairing fatty acid digestibility.
Guidelines for developing power stage layouts using normally-off SiC JFETs based on parasitic analysis

The increasing maturity and commercial availability of new fast-switching wide band-gap semiconductor devices, such as normally-off silicon carbide (SiC) junction field-effect transistors (JFETs) and SiC MOSFETs, lead to the possibility of developing highly dense power converters due to their capability of switching at high frequencies and high temperature operation. At high frequencies, the parasitic inductances of the printed circuit board (PCB) traces and these device intrinsic capacitances play larger roles in the converter performance. This paper focuses on the various degrees of influence that these parasitics have on the performance of a converter power stage, in particular when paralleling normally-off SiC JFETs. A dc-dc step-down converter is selected as a test bench for developing guidelines for aiding in the layout of converter power stages having fast-switching wide band-gap devices, in particular, normally-off SiC JFETs. These guidelines are then used to design the power stage of an interleaved indirect matrix converter (IMC). Experimental results attest to the benefits of the proposed guidelines.
Aerodynamic evaluation of the redesigned Space Shuttle Main Engine hot-gas manifold

The current Space Shuttle Main Engine hot-gas manifold configuration contains three transfer ducts connecting the fuel bowl and the main injector torus. For the current study, a new hot-gas manifold was designed to improve on a previously tested two-duct concept. This was accomplished by eliminating separated flow regions, reducing local velocities, and providing as uniform a flowfield as possible. The two-duct hot-gas manifold tested in this study showed significant improvement over the existing three-duct design. The circumferential pressure gradient was reduced by 67 percent. The system total pressure loss from the discharge of the 180-degree turn to the transfer duct exit was 60 percent less than with the three duct hot gas manifold. Although only limited fluctuating pressure data were taken in the main injector, indications are that the environment there has been improved.
Unique set of critical exponents and order-parameter theories for 1, 2, 3-dimensional superfluids

Abstract A unique set of critical exponents [ α=α′ = 0; β = 1 2 ; γ = γ′ = 1; δ = 3; ν = ν′ = 2 d ; η = 1 2 (4−d) ] is motivated theoretically and used to determine order-parameter theories for d= 1, 2, 3-dimensional Bose and Fermi superfluids.
State-of-the-art treatment of metastatic hormone-refractory prostate cancer.

Initial therapy for advanced prostate cancer includes androgen ablation by surgical or medical castration. Still, nearly all men with metastases will progress to hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC). Current U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved agents for the treatment of HRPC include mitoxantrone and estramustine, although the vinca alkaloids and the taxanes have shown promising activity in single-agent phase II trials. Combinations of these agents induce a biochemical response in greater than 50% of patients, but the median duration of response is approximately 6 months. Overall survival of patients treated with these combinations is approximately 18-24 months. Studies are ongoing to develop novel therapies that target specific molecular pathways or mechanisms of chemotherapy resistance. Novel agents under development include growth factor receptor inhibitors, antisense oligonucleotides, bisphosphonates, and cell differentiating agents. Evaluation and incorporation of these agents into existing treatment regimens will guide us in the development of more active regimens in the treatment of HRPC.
Biochemical events during initiation of rat hepatocarcinogenesis

Carcinogenesis is a multistep, multistage process that begins with irreversible, but heritable damage to a single cell. The partial hepatectomy/diethylnitrosamine (DEN) model of rat hepatocarcinogenesis has been well characterized and many aspects of the stage of initiation are known. Recently, it has been suggested that hepatocytes expressing the placental isozyme of glutathione S-transferase (PGST) may be one population of initiated cells. Male Fischer rats were subjected to a 70% partial hepatectomy and at the peak of cell proliferation 24 h later were administered either the solvent trioctanoin, or 10 mg DEN/kg. The rats were administered 100 mg bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU)/kg 1 h prior to death at various times after DEN administration. Since initiation of the carcinogenesis process requires the division of cells containing DNA damage to induce mutations, we examined the concentration of alkylated adducts and the labeling index at various times after DEN administration. In addition, the time course of hepatic PGST expression was determined concurrent with the adduct concentration and labeling index. During the first day after DEN or solvent administration to a rat subjected to a 70% partial hepatectomy, a diurnal variation in labeling index was observed. A recovery to postsurgical labeling index levels was demonstrated for both the solvent- and DEN-treated groups by 7 days. The concentration of three promutagenic lesions was maximal at 6 h after DEN administration. The detectable level of the O6EG adduct was negligible by 24 h after DEN administration, while the two O-alkylpyrimidines, O2ET and O4ET, were retained for much longer periods. Single hepatocytes expressing PGST were observed by 2 days after DEN administration, while small foci of PGST-expressing hepatocytes could be reliably detected by 2 weeks. Two phases of PGST expression in single hepatocytes were observed. The first phase was maximal at day 3 and complete by day 6, while the second reached a plateau by day 8 and was maintained for the 28 days of the study. The presence of the three O-alkylation adducts during a time of enhanced cellular proliferation suggests that all three promutagenic adducts may contribute to the initiation that results in the partial hepatectomy/DEN model of rat hepatocarcinogenesis.
Role of Tryptophan supplementation in the treatment of Chlamydia.

Summary Chlamydia trachomatis, an intracellular pathogen, is the leading cause of preventable blindness and sexually transmitted infections in the world. Infection of epithelial cells with Chlamydia results in the production of antigen-specific IFN- γ -secreting CD4 + and CD8 + T cells. IFN- γ activates indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), an enzyme that degrades tryptophan in the host cell. This IDO mediated tryptophan starvation is known to activate genes for persistence in the Chlamydia, which renders antibiotics ineffectiveness against it. Tryptophan supplementation causes reactivation of Chlamydia from persistent into metabolically active forms and then the antibiotics easily eradicate these active forms of Chlamydia. Therefore treating the chronic Chlamydia infection with antibiotics and tryptophan together may lead to better clearance of Chlamydia infection, and may be a better therapeutic approach in the future.
RELATIONSHIP OF RETINAL CONFIGURATION AND INTERNAL PROTON TRANSFER AT THE END OF THE BACTERIORHODOPSIN PHOTOCYCLE

In the last step of the bacteriorhodopsin photocycle the initial state is regenerated from the O intermediate in an essentially unidirectional reaction. Comparison of the rate of this photocycle st...