cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Genetic Determinants of Reduced Arsenic Metabolism Efficiency in the 10q24.32 Region Are Associated With Reduced AS3MT Expression in Multiple Human Tissue Types

Approximately 140 million people worldwide are exposed to inorganic arsenic through contaminated drinking water. Chronic exposure increases risk for cancers as well as cardiovascular, respiratory, and neurologic diseases. Arsenic metabolism involves the AS3MT (arsenic methyltransferase) gene, and arsenic metabolism efficiency (AME, measured as relative concentrations of arsenic metabolites in urine) varies among individuals. Inherited genetic variation in the 10q24.32 region, containing AS3MT, influences AME, but the mechanisms remain unclear. To better understand these mechanisms, we use tissue-specific expression data from GTEx (Genotype-tissue Expression project) to identify cis-eQTLs (expression quantitative trait loci) for AS3MT and other nearby genes. We combined these data with results from a genome-wide association study of AME using "colocalization analysis," to determine if 10q24.32 SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) that affect AME also affect expression of AS3MT or nearby genes. These analyses identified cis-eQTLs for AS3MT in 38 tissue types. Colocalization results suggest that the casual variant represented by AME lead SNP rs4919690 impacts expression of AS3MT in 13 tissue types (> 80% probability). Our results suggest this causal SNP also regulates/coregulates expression of nearby genes: BORCS7 (43 tissues), NT5C2 (2 tissues), CYP17A1-AS1 (1 tissue), and RP11-724N1.1 (1 tissue). The rs4919690 allele associated with decreased AME is associated with decreased expression of AS3MT (and other coregulated genes). Our study provides a potential biological mechanism for the association between 10q24.32 variation and AME and suggests that the causal variant, represented by rs4919690, may impact AME (as measured in urine) through its effects on arsenic metabolism occurring in multiple tissue types.
Style is a Distribution of Features

Neural style transfer (NST) is a powerful image generation technique that uses a convolutional neural network (CNN) to merge the content of one image with the style of another. Contemporary methods of NST use first or second order statistics of the CNN's features to achieve transfers with relatively little computational cost. However, these methods cannot fully extract the style from the CNN's features. We present a new algorithm for style transfer that fully extracts the style from the features by redefining the style loss as the Wasserstein distance between the distribution of features. Thus, we set a new standard in style transfer quality. In addition, we state two important interpretations of NST. The first is a re-emphasis from Li et al., which states that style is simply the distribution of features. The second states that NST is a type of generative adversarial network (GAN) problem.
Surgical Versus Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in Patients With Malignancy

BACKGROUND Patients with aortic stenosis (AS) and malignancy experience poor clinical outcomes with challenging decisions regarding aortic valve replacement (AVR). We sought to compare the outcomes of transcatheter (TAVR) versus surgical (SAVR) AVR in patients with AS and malignancy. METHODS Based on the Nationwide Readmission Database, we compared all patients with malignancy who underwent isolated SAVR vs. TAVR in 2016 for severe AS. We performed univariate and multivariate analyses for baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes. A total of 2566 patients were included, 1952 (76%) had TAVR and the remaining 614 (24%) had isolated SAVR. Patients who underwent TAVR were older (82 vs 72 years, p < .001), had more metastasis (19 vs 14%, p = .004), heart failure (72% vs 34%, p < .001), coronary artery disease (72% vs 52%, p < .001), anemia (28% vs 22%, p = .006), chronic lung (30% vs 22%, p < .001) and renal disease (35% vs 14%, p < .001), and shorter length of stay (3 vs 7 days, p < .001). RESULTS In multivariate regression, TAVR and SAVR had similar in-patient mortality (HR = 1.08; 95%CI 0.61 1.94) and 30-day readmission (HR = 1.26; 95%CI 0.95 1.67). TAVR was associated with lower vascular complications (HR = 0.59; 95%CI 0.41 0.86), acute deep venous thrombosis (HR = 0.25, 95%CI 0.1 0.59), acute kidney injury (HR = 0.24, 95%CI 0.17 0.33), blood transfusion (HR = 0.22, 95%CI 0.16 0.3), cardiogenic shock (HR = 0.48, 95%CI 0.26 0.89), and respiratory complications (HR = 0.26, 95%CI 0.2 0.35). CONCLUSIONS In patients with malignancy, TAVR is a viable and safe option compared to SAVR with better clinical outcomes, especially thromboembolic events.
Learning about teaching and learning while learning physics: An analysis of 15 years of responsive curriculum development

Designing activities for students' learning as part of physics curriculum responds to changes in the socipolitical context and findings from ongoing design research.
Detection of an alkene monooxygenase in vinyl chloride-oxidizing bacteria with GeneFISH.

Abstract Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) can provide information on the morphology, spatial arrangement, and local environment of individual cells enabling the investigation of intact microbial communities. GeneFISH uses polynucleotide probes and enzymatic signal amplification to detect genes that are present in low copy numbers. Previously, this technique has only been applied in a small number of closely related organisms. However, many important functional genes, such as those involved in xenobiotic degradation or pathogenesis, are present in diverse microbial strains. Here, we present a geneFISH method for the detection of the functional gene etnC, which encodes the alpha subunit of an alkene monooxygenase used by aerobic ethene and vinyl chloride oxidizing bacteria (etheneotrophs). The probe concentration was optimized and found to be 100 pg/μl, similar to previous geneFISH reports. Permeabilization was necessary for successful geneFISH labeling of Mycobacteria; sequential treatment with lysozyme and achromopeptidase was the most effective treatment. This method was able to detect etnC in several organisms including Mycobacteria and Nocardioides, demonstrating for the first time that a single geneFISH probe can detect a variety of alleles (>80% sequence similarity) across multiple species. Detection of etnC with geneFISH has practical applications for bioremediation. This method can be readily adapted for other functional genes and has broad applications for investigating microbial communities in natural and engineered systems.
A Survey of Indications for Mandibular Third Molar Surgery and Complications Using A Distolingual Approach

SUMMARY This review of third molars, their symptoms, technique of removal, and complications of surgery is directed toward investigation of the need for removal. The majority of patients present with symptoms of pain and infection and radiographic evidence of diseased third molars and pathology in the contiguous bone and soft tissues produced by the presence of a third molar. Evidence has been presented in a prospective 1-year study of a private practice con-cerning the need for removal of the third molar that cannot erupt into the oral cavity in a normal position. It was concluded that third molars should be removed when the patient is under 30 and preferably under 25 years old; to remove the third molar at a later date is to invite a greater severity of postoperative problems and a longer period of postoperative recovery. Complications that occur after the removal of third molars can be corrected and are reversible. The complications should not deter the practitioner from a correct treatment plan.
Globalizing Girlhood: The History and Politics of the Transnational Girls' Rights Movement in Kenya, 1945 - the Present

This paper uses Kenya as a case study to trace the growth of the transnational girls' rights movement since the end of the Second World War. Identifying the full emergence of "girls' rights" at the height of structural adjustment and the neoliberal turn in the 1980s and 1990s, it contextualizes the initiative within the histories of the Cold War, decolonization, and the women's rights, child rights, and international development movements. Drawing from documentary and oral evidence collected through one and a half years of research in Kenya and six months of fieldwork in France and the United States, the paper ultimately examines how liberal, individually based rights have become the dominant framework for the promotion of generational and gender justice within Kenya and across the Global South. It highlights the transnational networks of exchange between non-governmental organizations, governments, and local institutions that have fostered the growth of "girls' rights" since the end of World War II, and it emphasizes the ways girl-focused rights initiatives have become deeply intertwined with the politics of economic inequality and "third world development" at the global, national, and local levels.
Bone marrow adipose tissue composition following high-caloric feeding and fasting.

Abstract Background Bone marrow adipose tissue (BMAT) plays a role in systemic energy metabolism and responds to nutritional changes. Chronic starvation as well as visceral adiposity are associated with BMAT accumulation. Two types of BMAT have been described which differ in anatomic location (proximal-regulated-rBMAT vs distal-constitutive-cBMAT) and composition (higher unsaturated lipids of cBMAT compared to rBMAT). Objective To determine the response of BMAT composition to short-term high-caloric feeding and fasting. We hypothesized that high-feeding and caloric restriction would be associated with differences in BMAT composition according to the skeletal site. Materials and methods We examined 23 healthy subjects (13 m, 10 f, mean age 33 ± 7 years, BMI 26 ± 1.5 kg/m2) who were admitted for a 10-day high-caloric stay (caloric intake with goal to achieve 7% weight gain) followed by discharge home for 13–18 days to resume normal diet (stabilization period), followed by a 10-day fasting stay (no caloric intake). Subjects underwent single voxel proton MR spectroscopy (1H-MRS) at 3T of the lumbar spine (L4) (rBMAT), the femoral diaphysis and distal tibial metaphysis (cBMAT) to determine BMAT composition (unsaturation index, UI and saturation index, SI). Within group comparisons were performed by the Wilcoxon signed rank test. Results After the high-calorie visit, SI of L4 increased compared to baseline (0.62 ± 0.27 to 0.70 ± 0.28, p = 0.02), and there was a trend of an increase in femoral SI and UI (p ≥ 0.07), while there was no significant change in tibial BMAT (p ≥ 0.13). During the stabilization period, SI of L4 decreased (0.70 ± 0.28 to 0.57 ± 0.21, p Conclusion 1H-MRS is able to quantify BMAT composition during short-term nutritional challenges, showing a significant increase in SI of rBMAT during high caloric feeding and a differential response to fasting with an increase in SI of rBMAT and a decrease in SI and UI of femoral cBMAT and decrease in UI of tibial cBMAT.
Multifacet, Metal Mirror Design for Extreme-Ultraviolet and Soft X-Ray Free-Electron Laser Resonators

Resonator mirrors with reflectance greater than approx.40% are required if free-electron laser (FEL) oscillators are to be extended to wavelengths below 100 nm. The principle of total-external reflection has been used to design multifacet mirrors of several metal films that surpass this requirement between 10 and 100 nm. These reflectors have high reflectance over a relatively broad band which suits well the inherent FEL wavelength tunability. The practical limitations to achieving and maintaining high reflectance include oxide- and carbon-contamination, scattering, and surface-plasmon absorption.
Design of a digital VLSI neuroprocessor for signal and image processing

An efficient processing element for data/image processing has been designed. Detailed communication networks, instruction sets and circuit blocks are created for ring-connected and mesh-connected systolic arrays for the retrieving and learning phases of the neural network operations. 800 processing elements can be implemented in 3.75 cm*3.75 cm chip by using the 0.5 mu m CMOS technology from TRW, Inc. This digital neuroprocessor can also be extended to support fuzzy logic inference. >
Foodborne Gastroenteritis Caused by Vibrio, Yersinia, and Campylobacter Species

Although most other known food-poisoning syndromes may be contracted from a variety of foods, V. parahaemolyticus gastroenteritis is contracted almost solely from seafood. When other foods are involved, they represent cross-contamination from seafood products. Another unique feature of this syndrome is the natural habit of the etiologic agent—the sea. In addition to its role in gastroenteritis, V. parahaemolyticus is known to cause extraintestinal infections in humans.
A hidden Markov model approach to the classification of acoustic transients

A system for the detection and classification of acoustic transients based on hidden Markov model (HMM) methods is described. The system was tested using two different sets of data. The results from these tests are summarized and compared to some other known algorithms and to the performance of human beings. The effect of observation noise on the training and classification process is also discussed, and results using different noise-correction techniques are presented. >
Low self-control and coworker delinquency

Abstract Since the publication of Gottfredson and Hirschi [A General Theory of Crime. Stanford, CA: Stanford Univ. Press, 1990], a large amount of research has shown a link between low self-control and delinquency. Some research has revealed that low self-control has not been able to account for the strong effects of peer delinquency on delinquency. Criminological literature has, until recently, neglected the interactional relationship between low self-control and delinquent peers in predicting delinquency. This study used a sample of employed high school seniors to assess the interaction between low self-control and coworker delinquency on occupational delinquency. Regression analyses indicated that the interaction term was a strong predictor of occupational delinquency, even after controlling for several established predictors of delinquency.
A logistic regression model for small sample classification problems with hidden variables and non-linear relationships: an application in business analytics

Logistic regression is one of the frequently used models in pattern recognition, especially in binary classification tasks. We focus on a class of small-sample classification problems where logistic regression seems to be a "natural" choice for the classifier, yet its direct application yields sub-optimal results. Specifically, we consider cases when: (1) input-output relationships are nonlinear; (2) there is a need to estimate hidden states or auxiliary variables in the model; and (3) the training set is small preventing the use of more sophisticated techniques. We first describe an approach to compute the parameters of the regression, which addresses the issue of estimating hidden variables. We then describe a recursive adaptation procedure that identifies the most significant nonlinear relationships in the data and adapts the model by introducing corresponding higher-order terms. The performance of the method is tested in a business modeling application, demonstrating significant improvements over the traditional classifiers.
In knee osteoarthritis, pharmacological interventions, with the exception of acetaminophen, significantly improve pain; with intra-articular administration being more effective.

Commentary on: Bannuru RR, Schmid CH, Kent DM, et al. Comparative effectiveness of pharmacologic interventions for knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Ann Intern Med 2015;162:46–54.[OpenUrl][1][CrossRef][2][PubMed][3] Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressive degenerative disease affecting many individuals worldwide. Owing to high disease burden and increasing healthcare costs, the relative efficacy of different treatment options have been extensively studied.1 ,2 There have been numerous studies comparing effectiveness of various medications including acetaminophen, anti-inflammatories, intra-articular (IA) corticosteroids, IA-hyaluronic acid (HA), and oral and IA-placebo. This systematic review and network meta-analysis examined randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing different treatments for knee OA in order to determine the best treatment option. A systematic review of RCTs of patients with symptomatic primary knee OA that compared at least two interventions and reported data for … [1]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DAnn%2BIntern%2BMed%26rft.volume%253D162%26rft.spage%253D46%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.7326%252FM14-1231%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F25560713%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=10.7326/M14-1231&link_type=DOI [3]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=25560713&link_type=MED&atom=%2Febmed%2F20%2F5%2F173.atom
Discussion: “Market Implications of Regulatory Form in the Electric Utility Industry: An Assessment of Incentive Regulation”:

I would like to thank Nwaeze and Mereba for spending a great deal of effort to mitigate some of the concerns raised about the earlier version of this paper. Unfortunately, I have to fall back to my role of a critic and express my continuing concerns about the believability of the results and conclusions. To show the reasons for this doubt, I will look at the analysis and retreat to the setting and the underlying institutional aspects of the paper.
Inside Debt and Stock Price Performance

We analyze whether paying CEOs with inside debt (pensions and deferred compensation) benefits shareholders. We find that stock price reaction to initial revelation of inside debt information following the SEC amendment is significant and positive, albeit delayed. In the subsequent revelation of information pertaining to the use of inside debt for firms that disclosed no inside debt compensation in the first revelation, the stock price response is immediate and significantly positive. In the recent financial crisis, firms that use a combination of inside debt and equity in compensating their CEOs had better stock price performance than firms that pay their CEOs with equity, but no inside debt. Both groups of firms did not perform substantially different in post-crisis. During the crisis, among firms that use inside debt, firms that employ a debt bias in compensation (debt-to-equity compensation of the CEO exceeds the corporate leverage ratio) performed better than firms that employ an equity bias. Our evidence support Edmans and Liu (2011)’s theoretical propositions that optimal level of inside debt is positive, pure equity compensation is inefficient and, that a debt bias is desired when insolvency is likely. Findings have implications for firms and policymakers in terms of risk management through managerial compensation. We deduce that inside debt also enhances hedging possibilities for stock investors through stock selection and portfolio choice.
Implementation and Benefits of a Capstone Undergraduate Research Program

The benefits of an undergraduate research opportunity have been well documented. At Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, undergraduate research in the Biology and Chemistry Departments has been an...
Fertilizer effects on soil microbial communities and organic matter in the rhizosphere of sitanion hystrix and agropyron smithii

Abstract The effects of fertilizer on soil microbial communities and organic matter in the rhizosphere of an early successional grass, bottlebrush squirreltail (Sitanion hystrix), and a later successional grass, western wheatgrass (Agropyron smithii), were evaluated in afield experiment. Fertilization resulted in significant decreases in fungal hyphal lengths in the rhizospheres of both grasses and decreases in the microbial biomass, soluble organic carbon, and soil organic matter carbon in the rhizosphere of Sitanion. For Agropyron, the bacterial numbers, microbial biomass, soluble organic carbon and soil organic matter did not show these responses to fertilization. In addition, utilization of amino acids and other nitrogen‐containing nutrients by bacterial isolates from the early successional Sitanion significantly decreased with fertilization, which did not occur with the bacterial isolates from Agropyron. These results suggest that fertilization will have more distinct effects on rhizosphere microorga...
Superpixel segmentation using multiple SAR image products.

Sandia National Laboratories produces copious amounts of high-resolution, single-polarization Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery, much more than available researchers and analysts can examine. Automating the recognition of terrains and structures in SAR imagery is highly desired. The optical image processing community has shown that superpixel segmentation (SPS) algorithms divide an image into small compact regions of similar intensity. Applying these SPS algorithms to optical images can reduce image complexity, enhance statistical characterization and improve segmentation and categorization of scene objects. SPS algorithms typically require high SNR (signal-to-noise-ratio) images to define segment boundaries accurately. Unfortunately, SAR imagery contains speckle, a product of coherent image formation, which complicates the extraction of superpixel segments and could preclude their use. Some researchers have developed modified SPS algorithms that discount speckle for application to SAR imagery. We apply two widely-used SPS algorithms to speckle-reduced SAR image products, both single SAR products and combinations of multiple SAR products, which include both single polarization and multi-polarization SAR images. To evaluate the quality of resulting superpixels, we compute research-standard segmentation quality measures on the match between superpixels and hand-labeled ground-truth, as well as statistical characterization of the radar-cross-section within each superpixel. Results of this quality analysis determine the best input/algorithm/parameter set for SAR imagery. Simple Linear Iterative Clustering provides faster computation time, superpixels that conform to scene-relevant structures, direct control of average superpixel size and more uniform superpixel sizes for improved statistical estimation which will facilitate subsequent terrain/structure categorization and segmentation into scene-relevant regions.
Evidence that hepatitis C virus resistance to interferon is mediated through repression of the PKR protein kinase by the nonstructural 5A protein

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the major cause of non-A non-B hepatitis and a leading cause of liver dysfunction worldwide. While the current therapy for chronic HCV infection is parenteral administration of type 1 interferon (IFN), only a fraction of HCV-infected individuals completely respond to treatment. Previous studies have correlated the IFN sensitivity of strain HCV-1b with mutations within a discrete region of the viral nonstructural 5A protein (NS5A), termed the interferon sensitivity determining region (ISDR), suggesting that NS5A may contribute to the IFN-resistant phenotype of HCV. To determine the importance of HCV NS5A and the NS5A ISDR in mediating HCV IFN resistance, we tested whether the NS5A protein could regulate the IFN-induced protein kinase, PKR, a mediator of IFN-induced antiviral resistance and a target of viral and cellular inhibitors. Using multiple approaches, including biochemical, transfection, and yeast genetics analyses, we can now report that NS5A represses PKR through a direct interaction with the protein kinase catalytic domain and that both PKR repression and interaction requires the ISDR. Thus, inactivation of PKR may be one mechanism by which HCV avoids the antiviral effects of IFN. Finally the inhibition of the PKR protein kinase, by NS5A is the first described function for this HCV protein.
Postotic laterosensory canal and pterotic branch homology in catfishes

Morphology of the postotic laterosensory canal was surveyed across loricarioid and outgroup catfishes in order to resolve conflicting statements regarding homology and phylogenetic significance of intrinsic character variation. A pterotic branch is widespread among catfishes and has been identified as a synapomorphy for siluriforms, but its presence in loricarioid catfishes has been disputed. In contrast to previous statements that absence of a pterotic branch is synapomorphic for loricarioids, we confirm the presence of a pterotic branch in Nematogenys inermis and other trichomycterids, callichthyids, and loricariids. The pterotic branch is secondarily absent in scoloplacids and astroblepids. We present criteria for establishing homology of the pterotic branch and review character state optimization schemes on the currently accepted phylogeny. The postotic region of loricariids is further specialized in having an expanded swimbladder capsule that incorporates the trunk lateral line canal and has a lateral opening covered by a greatly expanded pterotic complex. The trunk lateral line enters the swimbladder capsule mesial to the pterotic lateral wall and passes anteromedially as a fleshy tube before forming the postotic canal in the pterotic, a morphology reported previously for a single loricariid representative. Variation in the relative extent and topographic position of postotic canal branches and other morphologies is diagnostic of certain loricariid taxa, suggesting a rich character complex of potential utility in phylogeny reconstruction. J. Morphol. 246:212–227, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Manipulating microwave signals using plasma-based metamaterial structures in air

In this work, we theoretically and numerically demonstrate several new plasma filament-based structures used for increasing the angular and range resolution of microwave radar systems, and show that they can survive in adverse environments.
Synthesis, metabolism and cellular permeability of enzymatically stable dipeptide prodrugs of acyclovir

The objective of this study was to synthesize and evaluate novel enzymatically stable dipeptide prodrugs for improved absorption of acyclovir. l-Valine-l-valine-acyclovir (LLACV), l-valine-d-valine-acyclovir (LDACV), d-valine-l-valine-acyclovir (DLACV) and d-valine-d-valine-acyclovir (DDACV) were successfully synthesized. The uptake and transport studies were conducted on a Caco-2 cell line. Buffer stability and metabolism of the prodrugs in Caco-2, rat intestine and liver homogenates were studied. Structure and purity of the all compounds were confirmed with LC-MS/MS and NMR spectroscopy. Uptake and transport of [(3)H] glycylsarcosine was inhibited by all prodrugs except DDACV. DLACV and DDACV exhibited no measurable degradation in Caco-2 homogenate. Except DDACV other three prodrugs were hydrolyzed in rat intestine and liver homogenates. The order of permeability across Caco-2 was LDACV>LLACV>DDACV>DLACV. A linear correlation between the amount of prodrug transported and over all permeability of acyclovir was established. This study shows that the incorporation of one d-valine in a dipeptide did not abolish its affinity towards peptide transporters (PEPT). Moreover, it enhanced enzymatic stability of prodrug to a certain extent depending on the position in a dipeptide conjugate. This strategy improved both the cellular permeability and the amount of intact prodrug transported which would enable targeting the nutrient transporters at blood ocular barrier (BOB).
The challenges facing public housing authorities in a brave new world

Abstract Public housing authorities (PHAs) are entering a brave new world. Major proposed changes to the public housing program will force PHAs to compete with private sector providers for tenants. To succeed, they will have to act more like entrepreneurial market participants: to change their management practices, the types of tenants they house, and the kinds of developments they operate, and to attract private capital for the development and operation of public‐private public housing ventures. PHAs must confront the challenges of transformation while pursuing four mutually conflicting goals: housing the neediest, achieving diversity of tenantry, cross‐subsidizing by attracting unsubsidized tenants, and attracting private capital. Success, or even survival, may require sacrificing one or more of these goals. Whether PHAs can increase housing production to such an extent that they can provide sufficient housing for the neediest while fulfilling the other goals as well remains unclear.
Factors affecting the initial extraction of ovine gonadotropins.

SummaryThe method of tissue homogeni-zation as well as the solvents used for extraction influenced the protein yield, the specific activity of the oLH and oFSH, and the total units of each hormone recovered. Use of the Tekmar homogenizer (Method 2) produced a fivefold increase in the total yield of oLH per Kg glands (2390 units, Method 2; 474 units, Method 1) and the relative potency of this partially purified LH from the 80% ethanol precipitate was increased (0.16 × NIH-LH-S18, Method 1; 2.2-3.2 × NIH-LH-S18, Method 2). By combining the aqueous extraction— ammonium sulfate precipitation with a subsequent ethanolic acetate extraction (Methods 3 and 4) the combined yields provided a 2.4-fold increase in oLH and 1.4-fold increase in oFSH. Thus the total units recovered of oFSH and oLH can be increased simply by changing the methods of homogenization and extraction.
Pancreatic pseudoaneurysm in a child with hereditary pancreatitis: diagnosis with multidetector CT angiography

Pseudoaneurysm formation is a serious vascular complication of pancreatitis. It most commonly affects splenic and gastroduodenal arteries. We report a rare case of superior mesenteric artery pseudoaneurysm in a child with hereditary pancreatitis. Multidetector CT angiography allowed the comprehensive assessment of the aneurysm and allowed accurate surgical planning obviating the need for catheter angiography.
Integrated and Passive 1,2,3-Triazolyl Groups in Fluorescent Indicators for Zinc(II) Ions: Thermodynamic and Kinetic Evaluations

In addition to being a covalent linker in molecular conjugation chemistry, the function of a 1,2,3-triazolyl moiety resulting from the copper(I)-catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition reaction as a ligand for metal ions is receiving considerable attention. In this work, we characterize the thermodynamic and kinetic effects of incorporating a 1,2,3-triazolyl group in a multidentate ligand scaffold on metal coordination in the context of fluorescent zinc(II) indicator development. Ligands L14, BrL14, and FL14 (1,4-isomers) contain the 1,4-disubstituted-1,2,3-triazolyl group that is capable of binding with zinc(II) in conjunction with a di(2-picolylamino) (DPA) moiety within a multidentate ligand scaffold. Therefore, the 1,2,3-triazolyl in the 1,4-isomers is “integrated” in chelation. The 1,5-isomers L15, BrL15, and FL15 contain 1,2,3-triazolyls that are excluded from participating in zinc(II) coordination. These 1,2,3-triazolyls are “passive linkers”. Zinc(II) complexes of 2:1 (ligand/metal) stoichiometry are...
CROSS-SECTIONS AND SCALING VARIABLE DISTRIBUTIONS OF NEUTRAL AND CHARGED CURRENT NEUTRINO NUCLEON INTERACTIONS FROM A LOW-ENERGY NARROW BAND BEAM

This Letter compares neutral-current and charged-current scaling-variable distributions in neutrino-nucleon interactions induced by a narrow-band beam at Brookhaven National Laboratory; the $x$ distribution of neutral-current events has been reported previously. The first measurement of flux-normalized neutrino cross sections from a narrow-band beam in the energy range ${E}_{\ensuremath{\nu}}=3\ensuremath{-}9$ GeV is also presented.
The Infrared Spectra of Matrix Isolated Uranium Oxide Species.

Abstract : The infrared spectra of matrix isolated products of the interaction of uranium and oxygen have been investigated at high temperatures. By use of collateral, available data on the various uranium oxide species, plus employment of oxygen 16 and 18 isotopes, peak assignments were verified for many of the neutral metal oxide species. (Author)
A new method for measuring covalent binding of chemicals to cellular macromolecules.

Abstract A new method has been developed for measuring the total covalent binding of metabolically activated compounds to cellular macromolecules. This method employs equilibrium dialysis, in the presence of the detergent sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), to remove unbound radiolabeled compound and its metabolites from cellular macromolecules. [ 14 C] Bromobenzene (80 μM), [ 14 C]aflatoxin B 1 (5 μM) or 3-[ 14 C]methylcholanthrene (100 μM) was incubated (37°C) with primary hepatocytes or liver microsomes isolated from Fischer-344 rats. The covalent binding of 14 C-radiolabel to hepatic or microsomal macromolecules was measured by SDS-equilibrium dialysis and compared with that measured by exhaustive extraction. After 1 h of incubation with hepatocytes or microsomes, 2–7 times more covalent binding was detected by SDS-equilibrium dialysis, than by exhaustive extraction. The radioactivity associated with these hepatic or microsomal macromolecules migrated to discrete positions on SDS-polyacrylamide disc gels. The non-dialysable radioactivity from incubations with [ 14 C] bromobenzene could not be extracted with diethyl ether even after treatment of the dialysin with β-glucuronidase-sulfatase or dilute acid. This was taken to indicate that the radioactivity in the dialysin did not include free bromobenzene or its metabolites, a conclusion supported by thin-layer chromatography analysis of the dialysin. The lower amount of covalent binding detected by exhaustive extraction may be related to the inability of trichloroacetic acid to quantitatively precipitate small molecular weight macromolecules. SDS-equilibrium dialysis is an easy, rapid and non-destructive technique for measuring covalent binding. The macromolecular integrity of the sample is maintained and allows further studies concerning the specificity of the covalent interactions.
Functional roles for synaptic-depression within a model of the fly antennal lobe.

Several experiments indicate that there exists substantial synaptic-depression at the synapses between olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) and neurons within the drosophila antenna lobe (AL). This synaptic-depression may be partly caused by vesicle-depletion, and partly caused by presynaptic-inhibition due to the activity of inhibitory local neurons within the AL. While it has been proposed that this synaptic-depression contributes to the nonlinear relationship between ORN and projection neuron (PN) firing-rates, the precise functional role of synaptic-depression at the ORN synapses is not yet fully understood. In this paper we propose two hypotheses linking the information-coding properties of the fly AL with the network mechanisms responsible for ORNAL synaptic-depression. Our first hypothesis is related to variance coding of ORN firing-rate information — once stimulation to the ORNs is sufficiently high to saturate glomerular responses, further stimulation of the ORNs increases the regularity of PN spiking activity while maintaining PN firing-rates. The second hypothesis proposes a tradeoff between spike-time reliability and coding-capacity governed by the relative contribution of vesicle-depletion and presynaptic-inhibition to ORNAL synaptic-depression. Synaptic-depression caused primarily by vesicle-depletion will give rise to a very reliable system, whereas an equivalent amount of synaptic-depression caused primarily by presynaptic-inhibition will give rise to a less reliable system that is more sensitive to small shifts in odor stimulation. These two hypotheses are substantiated by several small analyzable toy models of the fly AL, as well as a more physiologically realistic large-scale computational model of the fly AL involving glomerular channels.
Combined CATV and very-high-speed data transmission over a 1550-nm wavelength indoor optical wireless link

We report details of an experimental demonstration involving a 15 meter pointed indoor optical wireless link in the 1550-nm wavelength range, that is comprised of a uni-directional Cable Television (CATV) signal and a bi-directional link comprised of two 10 Gbps data links. Four port wavelength division mux-demuxes have been used on both ends of the link. The CATV transmission system is connected to port 1 of the mux-demux. CATV signal consists of both analog and digital parts, and its bandwidth is 1 GHz. The laser is directly modulated by the CATV signal, and at the receiver end, the optical signal is demodulated and fed to a TV. Port 2 of the mux-demux is left unused. Ports 3 and 4 are used for the 10 Gbps links. A bit error rate tester has been used to generate the 10 Gbps signals that are converted to optical wavelengths by enhanced Small Form Factor Pluggable (SFP+) modules at both ends of the setup. Collimators are used at both ends to transmit the combined optical signal that is the output of the mux and to receive the optical signal by focusing it onto a single-mode fiber as the input of the demux. We present results on the CATV portion of the setup and the bit-error-rate performance of the two 10 Gbps links. This experiment shows the feasibility of using pointed optical links in datacenters as secondary links to alleviate the loads of highly utilized wired connections and improve the overall throughput performance of datacenters.
VASCULAR RESPONSE IN THE ISOLATED RAT LIVER : I. ENDOTOXIN, DIRECT EFFECTS

Sublethal doses of E. coli endotoxin were shown to cause direct slowing of blood flow in the isolated perfused rat liver. Concentrations as low as SO ng per ml elicited this vasoconstrictive response. The decrease in flow after the initial lipopolysaccharide injection was immediate and lasted from. 5 to 15 minutes before recovering to baseline values. Succeeding injections of the same concentration, however, had little or no circulatory effects, and this tachyphylaxis persisted through 5 hours of perfusion. The replacement of the perfusate with fresh whole blood after several hours partially restored the ability of the hepatic vasculature to respond to the lipopolysaccharide. However, the presence of plasma or formed blood elements was not essential to the response, as brisk decreases occurred after endotoxin when a modified Ringer's solution was the sole perfusate. Catecholamines or serotonin did not appear to be key mediators in the primary vascular effect of endotoxin as phentolamine and methysergide administration did not appreciably modify the response. On the other hand, hydrocortisone when given in large doses with the endotoxin or in smaller doses 15 to 45 minutes prior to the lipopolysaccharide completely blocked vasoconstriction. The isolated preparation seems to be an excellent model for the study of direct circulatory effects of various substances in the liver.
Energy Barriers to Chemical Reactions. Why, How, and How Much? Non-Arrhenius Behavior in Hydrogen Abstractions by Radicals

Using free-radical hydrogen abstractions of the type X−H + •Y → X• + H−Y as a model for reactions involving simultaneous bond breaking and bond making, we find that the enthalpy of activation may increase or decrease with temperature. This depends on changes in bond dissociation energies and their effect on (a) the enthalpy of reaction and (b) the triplet repulsion between the terminal groups X and Y. The variety of observed curvatures in plots of ln(k) vs 1/T for eight typical reactions can be described primarily by these two factors, over temperature ranges greater than 1000 K. The reactions treated are OCH2 + •H, CH4 + •H, H2 + •CH3, C2H6 + •CH3, C2H6 + •H, H2 + •C2H5, CH4 + •Br, and H2 + •Br.
Gene functional classification by semi-supervised learning from heterogeneous data

Gene function discovery is an important and interesting problem in computational analysis of microarray data. In this paper, we investigate the use of a semi-supervised learning algorithm for inferring gene functional classifications from heterogeneous data set consisting of DNA microarray expression measurements and phylogenetic profiles from whole-genome sequence compassions. The semisupervised learning approach aims at minimizing the disagreement between individual models built from each separate information source by employing a co-updating method and making use of both labeled and unlabeled data. Our results suggest that the semisupervised approach could be used for gene functional classification. The data sets and the program code used for the experiments can be accessed from our webpage.
Near infrared bands of diatomic CaO and SrO

Abstract Two band sequences of CaO 16 and CaO 18 in the region 0.94 μ to 1.1 μ are shown to be 0–2 and 0–3 tail-band sequences of the A 1 Σ- X 1 Σ transition of CaO. Band origins and B ν and D ν values are given from a rotational analysis of four bands of the 0–2 sequence. Vibration constants ω e and ω e χ e for the upper and lower states and ω e Y e for the lower state are determined from extended sequences of both CaO 16 and CaO 18 . Treatment of data on SrO from the literature show a band sequence in the region 1.09 μ to 1.12 μ to be a 0–3 sequence of the A 1 Σ- X 1 Σ transition of SrO. Vibrational constants ω e and ω e χ e are determined for the lower state. Isotope shifts are given for CaOH band heads.
Grassland-shrubland transformation and grazing: A century-scale view of a northern Chihuahuan Desert grassland

We assessed vegetation change from the 1800s to late 1900s in a Chihuahuan Desert grassland and examined grazing effects. The study area was grazed until 1943 when livestock were removed from a portion. This enabled us to examine shrubland invasion in a historical grassland, relative to continuous grazing and exclusion. Shrublands invaded most of (87%) the sample units, 66% became at least half shrubland, and mean grassland patch size fell 90%. Shrublands invaded more sample units in the grazed site than exclosure (94% vs. 80%), and 22% more grazed site units were very highly invaded (at least 95% shrubland). Grazed site patch size decline was higher, on average, than exclosure patch decline. Results corroborate regional grassland loss and forewarn remaining study area grasslands may be at risk. The increase in shrublands following historical grazing and higher invasion in the grazed site suggests grazing effects. However, widespread shrublands across the study area tempered conclusions. Study limitations included information gaps, challenges detecting multiple variables and impediments to statistical analysis, given inherited historical conditions. We delimited areas with restoration potential based on spatial analysis, and discussed management response when grazing effects are obscured by a lack of details about the past.
GLC Determination of Caffeine in Plasma Using Alkali Flame Detection

Abstract A rapid, specific, and sensitive GLC assay for caffeine in plasma was developed utilizing alkali flame-ionization detection. The procedure involves the addition of mepivacaine as an internal standard, alkalinization of the sample. and extraction with chloroform. Peak height ratio measurements produced linear standard curves in the 0.25-10.0- μ g/ml range. Absolute sensitivity from a 1.0-ml plasma sample was 0.1 μ g/ml. The relative standard deviation of a 2.0- μ g/ml pooled plasma standard run repeatedly over several months was 5.2%. The method is applicable to time-concentration studies in human and animal plasma following typical oral doses of caffeine.
Development of spinal cord bioelectric activity in spinal chick embryos and its behavioral implications.

Embryonic behavior of the chick is the product of spontaneous multiunit burst discharges within the ventral spinal cord. The present study describes the ontogeny of spinal cord burst discharges in embryos which were deprived of brain input by removing several neural tube segments of 2-day embryos at cervical or mid-thoracic levels. Characteristics of bioelectric activity present in both intact and chronically transected cords are: (a) the appearance of spike discharges; (b) the organization of unit discharges into synchronized multiunit bursts; (c) the establishment of intracord synchronization of burst discharges over wide expanses of cord tissue; (d) an increase in burst duration and complexity at 7 days due to the appearance of the burst afterdischarge; (e) an increase in the amount of burst activity from 6 to 13 days followed by a decline until hatching at 21 days; (f) a shift from periodic to irregular patterns of burst activity at 13 days; and (g) the existence of the cord burst discharge as a correlate of embryonic movement. Several differences were found between burst activity from chronic spinal and intact embryos: (a) cervical spinal embryos were significantly less active than controls from 15 through 19 days; and (b) long sequences of unusual repetitive burst afterdischarges appeared in chronic spinal embryos by 13 days. The results indicate that the transected embryonic spinal cord is remarkably autogenous in function, although patterns of activity unique to the transected cord appear and increase in prominence during later stages of incubation.
Resource Investments, Impact Distribution, and Evaluation Concepts

Governmental decisions on proposed resource investments have always been made within an implicit multidimensional social welfare function framework. Yet the equity consequences of public programs have never been evaluated on an equal basis with their contribution to national economic growth. A model designed to facilitate the measurement of such consequences is specified and applied to a case study. The model can be used in conjunction with different equity classifications, but the test considered the personal income distribution consequences of a proposed water resource investment. The distribution of efficiency benefits and positive intergroup transfers as well as cost and reimbursement questions are considered.
Automated knowledge acquisition for the surface-mount PWB assembly domain

The development of knowledge-based (or expert) systems for the surface-mount printed wiring board (PWB) assembly domain requires the understanding and regulation of several complex tasks. While the knowledge base in an expert system serves as a storehouse of knowledge primitives, its design and development is a bottleneck in the expert system development life-cycle. Therefore the development of an automated knowledge acquisition (KA) facility (or KA tool) would facilitate the implementation of expert systems for any domain. This paper describes an automated KA tool that helps to elicit and store information in domain-specific knowledge bases for surface-mount PWB assembly. A salient feature of this research is the acquisition of uncertain information.