cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
GABA-modulating bacteria of the human gut microbiota

The gut microbiota affects many important host functions, including the immune response and the nervous system1. However, while substantial progress has been made in growing diverse microorganisms of the microbiota2, 23-65% of species residing in the human gut remain uncultured3,4, which is an obstacle for understanding their biological roles. A likely reason for this unculturability is the absence in artificial media of key growth factors that are provided by neighbouring bacteria in situ5,6. In the present study, we used co-culture to isolate KLE1738, which required the presence of Bacteroides fragilis to grow. Bioassay-driven purification of B. fragilis supernatant led to the isolation of the growth factor, which, surprisingly, is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid). GABA was the only tested nutrient that supported the growth of KLE1738, and a genome analysis supported a GABA-dependent metabolism mechanism. Using growth of KLE1738 as an indicator, we isolated a variety of GABA-producing bacteria, and found that Bacteroides ssp. produced large quantities of GABA. Genome-based metabolic modelling of the human gut microbiota revealed multiple genera with the predicted capability to produce or consume GABA. A transcriptome analysis of human stool samples from healthy individuals showed that GABA-producing pathways are actively expressed by Bacteroides, Parabacteroides and Escherichia species. By coupling 16S ribosmal RNA sequencing with functional magentic resonance imaging in patients with major depressive disorder, a disease associated with an altered GABA-mediated response, we found that the relative abundance levels of faecal Bacteroides are negatively correlated with brain signatures associated with depression.
Near Infrared-to-Near Infrared Upconversion Nanocrystals for Latent Fingerprint Development

The advantages of near infrared (NIR)-to-visible upconversion nanoparticles (UCNP) for latent fingerprint development have been previously documented. In the present study, the use of NIR-to-NIR UC...
Are temporal trends in colonoscopy among young adults concordant with colorectal cancer incidence

ObjectiveIn the United States, colorectal cancer incidence has increased in adults under age 55. Although debate remains about whether this rise is a result of increased detection because of more c...
fMRI at High Magnetic Field: Spatial Resolution Limits and Applications

The high sensitivity and high spatial specificity of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) at high magnetic fields afford the unique opportunity to study the active human brain in vivo . High-resolution imaging techniques, which are required to map the most basic functional units in the brain, pose intrinsic technical challenges that are continuously being alleviated with new developments in the field. Understanding the source of the functional contrast in fMRI is also paramount for more reliable and general applications of high-resolution fMRI in humans.
Modeling of Multi-Loops Related Device Turn-On Overvoltage in 3L-ANPC Converters

An analytical model for the device drain-source turn-on overvoltage in three-level active neutral point clamped (3L-ANPC) converters is established in this paper. Considering the two commutation loops in the converter, the relationship between the turn-on overvoltage and the loop inductances is evaluated. The line switching frequency device usually exhibits higher overvoltage, while the high switching frequency device is not strongly influenced by the multiple loops. A 500 kVA 3L-ANPC converter using SiC MOSFETs is tested, and the model is verified with the experimental results.
Application and effect of integrated control model of schistosomiasis interruption in mountainous and hilly endemic regions

Objective To explore the integrated schistosomiasis control model in mountainous and hilly endemic regions, so as to provide insights into the development of the schistosomiasis elimination strategy. Methods Five hilly and mountainous areas endemic for schistosomiasis were selected as the integrated control demonstration areas in Sichuan Province from 2011 to 2015. According to the epidemic characteristics, economic levels and overall development planning of the demonstration areas, the goals, strategies and measures were developed, and the effectiveness of schistosomiasis control was evaluated following implementation of the integrated control. Results The support system of the integrated schistosomiasis control model was built in the integrated control demonstration areas in Sichuan Province from 2011 to 2015, and five ecological, industrialized and sustainable development models of integrated schistosomiasis control were developed, including integration of balancing rural and urban development, systematic ecological improvement, intensified ecological agriculture, scientific management and health education of schistosomiasis control and ecological ethnic circular economy. Since the implementation of the integrated schistosomiasis control model, the snail habitats were completely changed. Until 2015, 92.0% of all historical areas with snails were managed, the coverage of safe drinking water was 100.0%, and more than 95.0% of the livestock were fenced. The coverage of sanitary toilets increased by 93.0%, 96.8%, 78.8%, 87.1% and 82.0% from 2011 to 2015, respectively, and the farmers'mean yearly income increased by 32.7% in the demonstration areas. From 2011 to 2015, the seroprevalence of human Schistosoma japonicum infections reduced from 3.1% in 2011 to 1.6% in 2015 in the demonstration areas, and no egg-positives were identified. In addition, the number of fenced bovines reduced year by year, and no egg-positives were detected. The areas of snail habitats were 398.7, 108.2 hm2 and 52.9 hm2 in the demonstration areas from 2011 to 2013, with no infected snails found, and no snails were detected since 2014. The awareness of schistosomiasis control knowledge and percentage of correct behavior formation increased year by year among residents in the demonstration areas from 2011 to 2015. Conclusions The five integrated schistosomiasis control models meet the needs of the current schistosomiasis control activities in mountainous and hilly endemic areas of Sichuan Province, and achieve the goals of controlling the sources of S. japonicum infections, economic development, social progress and improving the ecological environment, which provides new insights into schistosomiasis elimination in the country.
Comparison of Estimation Strategies for the Determination of Blood Velocity Using Ultrasound

A number of estimation strategies for the determination of blood velocity have been proposed using narrowband and wideband transmitted signals. Traditional strategies include narrowband “doppler” based estimation techniques, and strategies involving the transmission of a wideband signal with the use of cross correlation for the velocity estimate. We compare the performance of these strategies with two new mixed time-frequency strategies which use both position and phase in order to estimate the blood velocity. The first new mixed estimation strategy utilizes a maximum likelihood estimator which is derived for a wideband periodic transmitted signal. The second new mixed estimation strategy is based upon the concept of cyclic correlation. In each case, results which have been derived previously are cited, and methods which have not been explored are presented in greater detail.
Clinical and Advanced MRI Techniques for Detection of Checkpoint Inhibitor Associated Myocarditis

With the advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), cancer treatment has been revolutionized; however, these agents are associated with immune-related adverse events, including myocarditis, which ranges from mild to fulminant in severity. Currently, there are no established guidelines in diagnosing ICI-associated myocarditis, and the gold standard test for diagnosis of myocarditis in general is invasive endomyocardial biopsy (EMB). Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging is a noninvasive test with the advantage of providing structural, functional and tissue characterization information. Additionally, it provides high spatial and temporal resolution without exposure to ionizing radiation, iodinated contrast, or radioactive isotopes. With an increasing number of reported cases of ICI associated myocarditis, understanding of the disease process and associated CMR findings is growing. Diagnostic testing with cardiac biomarkers, electrocardiogram, and echocardiogram can be nonspecific and EMB can have sampling errors. CMR as a diagnostic tool can provide functional assessment of biventricular ejection fraction, myocardial strain, tissue characterization of myocardial edema and inflammation as well as fibrosis. Furthermore, with advanced parametric mapping techniques, CMR provides even more sensitive and quantitative information about myocardial inflammation and fibrosis, including measurements of extracellular volume. ICI-associated myocarditis is a serious immune adverse event, and CMR plays a vital role in establishing its diagnosis, providing prognostic information, and has the potential for use as a tool for screening and serial monitoring in patients exposed to ICIs.
The Rise of Socialism in the United States: American “Exceptionalism” and the Left After 2016

This chapter traces the rise of a new socialist movement in the United States, which crystallized in the aftermath of Bernie Sanders' 2016 presidential campaign. The origins of this phenomenon lay in the disappointed hopes of the Obama presidency, following the disastrous Iraq War and the 2008 economic crisis. Subsequently, growing concerns over declining economic opportunities, rising inequality, and the effects of exploding student debt drove support for Sanders’ unsuccessful run for the Democratic nomination in 2016 under the banner of "democratic socialism." Since then, the emergence of this new movement has been embodied in the rise of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), which now has over 50,000 members. DSA’s emergence marks the first time American socialism had such broad organizational support since the heyday of the Communist Party during the 1930's. This development, I argue, reflects a historical irony that the traditional weakness of American socialism has now become an advantage. In recent years, the absence of an electorally viable socialist or social-democratic party has also meant that, unlike in Europe, the US left bore none of the stigma for austerity, inequality growth, and chronic economic instability. As a result, socialism is now seen by many younger Americans as a new and progressive force. I conclude by arguing that in order to build on this momentum, the new movement must resolve a variety of challenging political and organizational questions.
Abstract 311: Opposing Roles TCF7/LEF1 and TCF7L2 in Wnt/β-Catenin and BMP Signaling During Late Heart Development

T-cell factor (TCF) and lymphoid enhancer factor (LEF) family transcriptional factors are important nuclear mediators of Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Their roles in cardiac development and diseases rem...
A review of computer vision–based structural health monitoring at local and global levels:

Structural health monitoring at local and global levels using computer vision technologies has gained much attention in the structural health monitoring community in research and practice. Due to t...
NH3 in the Central 10 Parsecs of the Galaxy. II. Determination of Opacity for Gas with Large Line Widths

The 23 GHz emission lines from the NH3 rotation inversion transitions are widely used to investigate the kinematics and physical conditions in dense molecular clouds. The line profile is composed of hyperfine components that can be used to calculate the opacity of the gas. For intrinsic line widths of a few km s-1, the 18 magnetic hyperfine components blend together to form a line profile composed of five quadrupole hyperfine lines. If the intrinsic line width exceeds one-half of the separation of these quadrupole hyperfine components (~5-10 km s-1), these five lines blend together and the observed line widths greatly overestimate the intrinsic line widths. If uncorrected, these artificially broad line widths will lead to artificially high opacities. We have observed this effect in our NH3 data from the central 10 pc of the Galaxy where uncorrected NH3(1, 1) line widths of ~30 km s-1 exaggerate the intrinsic line widths by more than a factor of 2. Models of the effect of blending on the line profile enable us to solve for the intrinsic line width and opacity of NH3 using the observed line width and intensity of two NH3 rotation inversion transitions. By using the observed line width instead of the entire line profile, our method may also be used to correct line widths in historical data where detailed information on the shape of the line profile is no longer available. We present the result of the application of this method to our Galactic center data. We successfully recover the intrinsic line width (Δvint ≈ 15 km s-1) and opacity of the gas. Clouds close to the nucleus in projected distance as well as those that are being impacted by Sgr A East show the highest intrinsic line widths. The cores of the "southern streamer" and the "50 km s-1" giant molecular cloud have the highest opacities.
Feasibility and acceptability of clinical pediatric telerehabilitation services

Objective: Telerehabilitation has long been recognized as a promising means of providing pediatric services; however, significant barriers such as cost, payor reimbursement, and access prevented widespread use. The advent of the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated rapid adoption of telerehabilitation into clinical practice to provide access to care while maintaining social distancing. The purpose of this study is to present clinical data on the feasibility and acceptability of speech-language pathology, developmental occupational and physical therapies, and sports and orthopedic therapies telerehabilitation delivered in a pediatric hospital setting. Methods: Telerehabilitation services were rapidly implemented in three stages: building the foundation, implementing, and refining this service delivery model. Paper patient satisfaction surveys were administered as part of ongoing quality improvement efforts throughout 2019 and were adapted for online administration in 2020 for telerehabilitation patients. Outpatient visit counts by type (in-person, phone, and video) were extracted from the electronic medical record using data warehousing techniques. Results: Historical patient satisfaction rates from 2019 indicated high patient satisfaction (98.97% positive responses); these results were maintained for telerehabilitation visits (97.73%), indicating that families found telerehabilitation services acceptable. Patient volume returned to 73.5% of pre-pandemic volume after the implementation of telerehabilitation services. Conclusions: Pediatric telerehabilitation is feasible to provide in clinical settings, and the services are acceptable to patient families. Future work is needed to evaluate the impact of telerehabilitation services on patient care and applications for ongoing use of this delivery model.
Negative capacitance effects in ferroelectric heterostructures: A theoretical perspective

In a heterogeneous system, ferroelectric materials can exhibit negative capacitance (NC) behavior given that the overall capacitance of the system remains positive. Such NC effects may lead to differential amplification in local potential and can provide an enhanced charge and capacitance response for the whole system compared to their constituents. Such intriguing implications of NC phenomena have prompted the design and exploration of many ferroelectric-based electronic devices to not only achieve an improved performance but potentially also overcome some fundamental limits of standard transistors. However, the microscopic physical origin as well as the true nature of the NC effect, and direct experimental evidence remain elusive and debatable. To that end, in this article, we provide a comprehensive theoretical perspective on the current understanding of the underlying physical mechanism of the NC effect in the ferroelectric material. Based upon the fundamental physics of ferroelectric material, we discuss different assumptions, conditions, and distinct features of the quasi-static NC effect in the single-domain and multi-domain scenarios. While the quasi-static and hysteresis-free NC effect was initially propounded in the context of a single-domain scenario, we highlight that similar effects can be observed in multi-domain FEs with soft domain-wall (DW) displacement. Furthermore, to obtain the soft-DW, the gradient energy coefficient of the FE material is required to be higher as well as the ferroelectric thickness is required to be lower than some critical values. If those requirements are not met, then the DW becomes hard and their displacement would lead to hysteretic NC effects, which are adiabatically irreversible. In addition to the quasi-static NC, we discuss different mechanisms that can potentially lead to the transient NC effects. Furthermore, we discuss different existing experimental results by correlating their distinct features with different types of NC attributes and provide guidelines for new experiments that can potentially provide new insights on unveiling the real origin of NC phenomena.
Effects of catalyst separation in stratified-bed autothermal reforming of methanol

Abstract An investigation of the effect of catalyst separation in stratified autothermal reforming was conducted. A reactor containing two catalyst beds - a platinum group metal monolith followed by a pelletized copper-based steam reforming catalyst - was investigated under four different configurations corresponding to different distances between the catalyst beds. Heat shields were utilized in some trials to promote reactant mixing and increase radial heat transfer through the reactor. Reactor performance, as measured by conversion, hydrogen yield, and selectivity was quantified for each configuration. Results confirm that the reaction is heat transfer limited, with the short-distance, high-temperature configuration corresponding to an improved reactor performance. This was indicated by a 4–5% drop in methanol conversion as well as in the hydrogen yield and selectivity upon the addition of spacing between the catalysts. Visual inspection of the catalyst revealed suspected signs of potential degradation due to high temperatures, indicating the need for longer-duration experiments to determine the long-term effects of sustained high temperatures on catalyst performance.
Network Flow Methods for the Minimum Covariate Imbalance Problem

Abstract In an observational study, one is given disjoint samples of treatment units and control (untreated) units, and the goal is to compare outcomes between the two samples in order to estimate a treatment effect. A complication is that the treatment and control units often differ on important pre-treatment attributes, and these differences, referred to as covariate imbalance, can bias the estimate. One method to correct for covariate imbalance is to select a subset of the control sample that has minimum imbalance with respect to the treatment sample, and then use this control subset for estimating the treatment effect. While this optimization problem is NP-hard in general, certain special cases can be solved efficiently. Specifically, the variant of this optimization problem with one covariate is easy to solve, the variant with three or more covariates is NP-hard, and the variant with two covariates is solvable in polynomial time. We present several network flow formulations for the problem of minimizing imbalance on two nominal covariates. First, we present a minimum cost network flow formulation for solving the problem with the constraint that the control subset must have the same size as the treatment sample. We then derive an improved maximum flow formulation. For alternate size restrictions on the control subset, we use a proportional imbalance objective which leads to non-integral supplies and demands in the preceding network flow formulations. We then derive an alternate minimum cost network flow formulation that ensures integrality and solves the proportional imbalance problem in polynomial time.
Traumatic Stress Promotes Hyperalgesia via Corticotropin-Releasing Factor Signaling in Central Amygdala

Traumatic stress disorders are defined by persistent avoidance of trauma-related stimuli, hyperarousal, and negative affect. Our lab uses a stress model in which rats are indexed for avoidance of a...
An artificial neural network based short term load forecasting with special tuning for weekends and seasonal changes

The artificial neural network (ANN) technique is utilized for power electric load forecasting using the backpropagation algorithm developed by the authors. The major contribution of this work is the ability to forecast the power electric load for weekends and holidays as well as weekdays with a relatively small training set. In addition the effect of seasonal change in load pattern can be tracked down. Their approach is to introduce three different sets of inputs to the ANN in order to follow the load pattern, weather pattern, seasonal factors and to consider special events like weekends and holidays. >
Stilbestrol-augmented disseminated intravascular coagulation in rats after infusion of endotoxin.

Abstract When virgin rats were prepared with excessive doses of progesterone and stilbestrol an augmentation effect on disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) caused by endotoxin infusion was observed. Glomerular fibrin deposition increased and plasma fibrinogen decreased following pretreatment and subsequent endotoxin infusion. Stilbestrol was identified as the effective steroid. An endotoxin infusion for 5 hours performed during different days of the rat cycle resulted in identical amounts of glomerular fibrin deposition, decrease in platelet count, and increase in fibrin monomers and plasma hemoglobin. Since the estrogen level in the rat at term is similar to that in proestrus, it is suggested that the higher susceptibility to DIC in pregnancy is only partly related to the physiological change in endocrine parameters.
Stimulation of kappa light-chain gene rearrangement by the immunoglobulin mu heavy chain in a pre-B-cell line.

B-lymphocyte development exhibits a characteristic order of immunoglobulin gene rearrangements. Previous work has led to the hypothesis that expression of the immunoglobulin µ heavy chain induces rearrangement activity at the K light-chain locus. To examine this issue in more detail, we isolated five matched pairs of µ^- and endogenously rearranged µ^+ cell lines from the Abelson murine leukemia virus-transformed pro-B-cell line K.40. In four of the five µ^+ cell lines, substantial expression of µ protein on the cell surface was observed, and this correlated with an enhanced frequency of K immunoglobulin gene rearrangement compared with that in the matched µ^- cell lines. This increased K gene rearrangement frequency was not due to a general increase in the amount of V(D)J recombinase activity in the µ^+ cells. Consistently, introduction of a functionally rearranged µ gene into one of the µ^- pre-B-cell lines resulted in a fivefold increase in K gene rearrangements. In three of the four clonally matched pairs with increased K gene rearrangements, the increase in rearrangement frequency was not accompanied by a significant increase in germ line transcripts from the C_K locus. However, in the fourth pair, K.40D, we observed an increase in germ line transcription of the kappa locus after expression of µ protein encoded by either an endogenously rearranged or a transfected functional heavy-chain allele. In these cells, the amount of the germ line C_K transcript correlated with the measured frequency of rearranged K genes. These results support a regulated model of B-cell development in which µ protein expression in some way targets the V(D)J recombinase to the K gene locus.
Attitudes and Perceptions of the Human Papillomavirus Vaccine in Caribbean and African American Adolescent boys and Their Parents

Abstract Study Objective Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the world. The prevalence of HPV in men ranges from 20% to 65% and is high at all ages. HPV vaccine has high efficacy in preventing HPV infection, cervical cancer, and genital warts. The study objectives were to describe attitudes and perceptions toward acceptability of HPV vaccination among inner-city Caribbean and African American adolescent boys and their parents and to identify and discuss correlates that may be associated with these factors. Design, Setting, and Participants A cross-sectional survey, administered in a general adolescent medicine clinic. Participants were recruited from a convenience sample of adolescent boys aged 13 to 19 years currently under care at an adolescent medicine clinic. Results Responses of 101 adolescent boys and 35 parents were analyzed. Consistent condom use was associated with less interest in HPV vaccination; those reporting consistent condom use had an 88% decreased odds of being interested in HPV vaccination compared with those reporting inconsistent condom uses. Interest in receiving the HPV vaccine was significantly associated with having increased numbers of sexual partners. Conclusion Overall, most adolescent males (65%) were interested in receiving the HPV vaccine and a majority believed their parents would allow the vaccination (77.2%). Parental knowledge that the majority of cervical and rectal cancers are caused by HPV increased the odds of parents believing their sons need HPV vaccination; however, it is not statistically significant.
Perspectives on Economic and Ecologic Evolution

The connection between economics and ecology1 runs much deeper than the identical first two syllables of their respective names. Theories of evolution for each have directly and indirectly influenced each other for a long time in a symbiotic pattern. Both fields have shared a division between those theories of evolution emphasizing a gradualist continuity and those emphasizing a punctuation- ist discontinuity. We shall see how views on this division have moved between economics and ecology in an extended dialogue.
Stroke Knowledge: How is it Impacted by Rural Location, Age, and Gender?

Background and Research Objective Stroke, the third-leading cause of Americans' deaths, is often not recognized causing fatal or disabling delays in receiving effective, time-sensitive treatment. To understand the delay in seeking treatment, a sample of rural and non-rural adult residents were surveyed using the Stroke Recognition Questionnaire (SRQ) to assess their level of knowledge of stroke symptoms and risk factors. Sample and Method Five hundred and sixty-six individual (283 rural and 283 non-rural) from six East Central Illinois counties responded to the self-administered SRQ mail survey. The five-element design method for mail surveys guided this survey implementation procedure. Results Rural and younger (20-64 years) respondents had significantly higher stroke symptom knowledge scores (M = 9.32) compared to non-rural and older (> 65 years) respondents (M = 9.0; t =2.181, p 65 years), who have the greatest stroke risk but who appear to be least informed. Educational interventions are needed in both rural and urban settings which improve the general public’s stroke symptom recognition and response, and help the public sort out which symptoms are associated with stroke versus myocardial infarction.
Even more patterns for secure operating systems

An operating system (OS) interacts with the hardware and supports the execution of all the applications. As a result, its security is very critical. Many of the reported attacks to Internetbased systems have occurred through the OS (kernel and utilities). The security of individual execution time actions such as process creation, memory protection, and the general architecture of the OS are very important and we have previously presented patterns for these functions. We present here patterns for the representation of processes and threads, emphasizing their security aspects. Another pattern considers the selection of virtual address space structure. We finally present a pattern to control the power of administrators, a common source of security problems.
A meta-analysis of emotion perception and functional outcomes in schizophrenia.

Introduction Emotion perception (EP) is impaired in schizophrenia, is stable across clinical state, resistant to antipsychotic treatment and linked to symptom severity. Given its pervasive nature, there is a need to quantitatively examine whether this dysfunction impacts functional outcomes. We used a meta-analytic strategy to combine results from several studies and examine synthesized effect sizes.
Thymine‐based, water‐soluble phototerpolymers: Their preparation and synthesis

Terpolymers of vinylbenzylthymine, vinylbenzyltriethylammonium chloride, and N-butyl-N,N-dimethyl-(4-vinylbenzyl)ammonium chloride with different monomer ratios have been prepared, and the effect of the monomer ratios on the properties of the terpolymers has been investigated. These polymers are water-soluble and, when irradiated with low levels of UV light, undergo a 2π+2π photodimerization reaction of thymine. This photodimerization significantly reduces the water solubility, immobilizing the polymer to the substrate, and shows potential for water-soluble photoresists. Thermogravimetric analysis has revealed that the terpolymers have two degradation stages corresponding to the quaternary ammonium pendant groups and to the thymine. An evaluation of the contact-angle measurements has shown that the surface properties and hydrophobicity can be controlled by the variation of the monomer ratios. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 1296–1303, 2007
Brain membrane protein band 3 performs the same functions as erythrocyte band 3

Abstract We report the presence of band 3 protein(s) in mammalian brain that performs the same functions as those of erythroid band 3. These functions are anion transport, ankyrin binding, and generation of senescent cell antigen, an aging antigen that terminates the life of cells. Structural similarity of brain and erythroid band 3 is suggested by the reaction of antibodies to synthetic peptides of erythroid band 3 with brain band 3, the inhibition of anion transport by the same inhibitors, and an equal degree of inhibition of brain and erythrocyte anion transport by synthetic peptides of erythroid band 3 (pep-ANION 2, residues 588-602; pep-COOH, residues 812-827; pep-COOH-N6, residues 813-818). One of these segments, pep-COOH, contains antigenic determinants of senescent cell antigen. These findings suggest that the transport domains of erythroid and neural band 3 are similar functionally and structurally and support the hypothesis that the immunological mechanism of maintaining homeostasis is a general physiologic process for removing senescent and damaged cells in mammals and other vertebrates.
State income tax policy and geographic labour force mobility in the United States.

This study empirically investigates the impact of state income tax policy on US interstate migration for the period 1985–89. It finds that people vote with their feet and prefer to move so as to minimize their state income tax liabilities.
Regulation of uterine smooth muscle cell beta-adrenergic catecholamine-sensitive adenylate cyclase by Mg2+ and guanylyl nucleotide

Abstract The β-adrenergic catecholamine agonist, isoproterenol, and the guanylyl nucleotide, GTP, had synergistic effects in elevating adenylate cyclase activity in uterine smooth muscle cell homogenates. The guanylyl nucleotide-dependent step included an increase in enzyme sensitivity to Mg 2+ . The Mg 2+ requirements of the enzyme were independent of the ATP-substrate concentration, and the guanylyl nucleotidedependent activation step did not require either the divalent cation or enzymatic activity. These properties are most consistent with a two-stage enzyme model in which the equilibrium between Mg 2+ -sensitive and insensitive forms is modulated by guanylyl nucleotide. The activated enzyme state was transient and reversible, but reversion to the basal state probably required hydrolysis of GTP. Guanylyl nucleotide regulation extended to the interaction of isoproterenol with the smooth muscle cell β-adrenergic catecholamine receptor, but this effect was probably separate from the enzyme activation step.
The nature of sialon joints between silicon nitride based bodies

Quite strong joints between silicon nitride based bodies have been made by incorporating a layer of aluminium and oxides between the bodies and heating in a nitriding atmosphere. The joints are resistant to thermal shock and maintain their strength at 1200° C. Microscopic, DTA and X-ray diffraction studies indicated that sialon phases are present in the joints, and that the bonding reaction involves the reduction of Si3N4 by aluminium and the subsequent renitriding of the resultant silicon, as well as the simultaneous nitriding of a portion of the aluminium. Transmission electron microscopy of a joint between hot pressed and reaction bonded silicon nitrides showed that 15R aluminium nitride polytype sialon was present on the reaction bonded side of the joint and s′-sialon on the hot pressed side.
Crystallographic R Factor Refinement by Molecular Dynamics

Molecular dynamics was used to refine macromolecular structures by incorporating the difference between the observed crystallographic structure factor amplitude and that calculated from an assumed atomic model into the total energy of the system. The method has a radius of convergence that is larger than that of conventional restrained least-squares refinement. Test cases showed that the need for manual corrections during refinement of macromolecular crystal structures is reduced. In crambin, the dynamics calculation moved residues that were misplaced by more than 3 angstroms into the correct positions without human intervention.
Piecewise linear approach: a new approach in automatic target recognition

Automatic Target Recognition (ATR) of moving targets has recently received increased interests. High Range Resolution (HRR) radar mode provides a promising approach which relies on processing high-resolution 'range profiles' over multiple look angles. To achieve a robust, reliable and cost effective approach for HRR-ATR, a model-based approach is investigated in this paper. A subset of the Moving and Stationary Target Acquisition and Recognition (MSTAR) data set was used to study robustness and sensitivity issues related to 1D model-based ATR development and performance. The model is built based on the statistic analysis of the training data and the dependence of the HRR signature on the azimuth is considered. The dependence is approximated by a linear regression algorithm to construct the templates of targets, which gives this approach the name of piecewise linear approach (PWL). Compared with the 1D model-based ATR approach developed by the Wright Laboratory, results are presented demonstrating an increase of about 10% in the correct identification probability of known targets when declaration probability Pdec is above 85% while maintaining a low time-cost.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A computer method for radiation treatment planning

Automatic computation methods were first developed and applied to the problem of radiation therapy treatment planning by the Physics staff at Memorial Hospital and Sloan-Kettering Institute in 1954 and reported in 1955 [1]. The field of radiation from a single port was stored as a matrix in a library of punched cards, and a sorter and accounting machine were used to combine various fields for rotation, cycling and multi-port therapy. This system was in continuous routine use from then until 1961, when the equipment was replaced by a Bendix G15-D digital computer. Subsequent work by Sterling [2] followed essentially the same method of describing the radiation field as used by the Physics staff at Memorial Hospital [1], except that more powerful equipment has been used. An analytic expression for the dose distribution produced by rotation had been previously applied successfully in 1951 to treatment planning with high-energy X-rays [3].
A simple optical probing technique for nonlinearly induced refractive index

Self phase modulation is a nonlinear effect that is observed when a laser beam is focused on to a high-absorbing thermal medium. A regular tea sample in a plastic cuvette is used as the nonlinear absorbing sample. The change in the refractive index of the medium occurs due to the heat generated by the focused pump beam, which in turn changes the refractive index. In this paper, self phase modulation is investigated in different ways. An Ar-Ion laser of 514 nm is used as the pump beam and a 632 nm He-Ne laser is used as the probe beam. The probe beam is introduced from the opposite side of the pump beam. Ring patterns are observed from the each side of the sample. Regular far field ring patterns are observed from the pump beam, and two sets of rings are observed with the probe beam. The behaviors of these inner and outer rings are monitored for different pump powers. The steady state heat equation is solved to obtain an exact solution for the radial heat distribution and far field ring patterns are simulated using the Fresnel–Kirchhoff diffraction integral. Ring patterns are theoretically explained using simulations results, and compared with experimental observations. Finally, an interferometric setup using the low power He-Ne laser is also used to determine the induced change in refractive index. Results are compared with those obtained directly from self-phase modulation and from the probe beam method.
Does Participation in Interscholastic Athletics Affect Adult Development? A Longitudinal Analysis of an 18-24 Age Cohort.

This study analyzes the relationship between athletic participation as a high school student and subsequent psychosocial development, using data from a national probability sample of American youth...
The current status of drug development of hypoxic cell radiosensitizers and their potential role in gynecologic oncology

Both laboratory and clinical data suggest that hypoxia contributes to the failure of radiotherapy to achieve local control of bulky gynecologic tumors. As part of a Phase I trial of hypoxic cell radiosensitizers, 19 women at Stanford University with advanced (n = 6) or recurrent (n = 13) pelvic neoplasms were treated with radiotherapy plus desmethylmisonidazole. Complete or partial response occurred in 42% of patients with some patients achieving local control for over 1 year. It is unknown if the sensitizer added to the results of radiotherapy alone. A Phase I trial of a theoretically superior sensitizer, SR-2508, is soon to begin. It is anticipated that the dose-limiting neurotoxicity seen with misonidazole and desmethylmisonidazole will either be eliminated or will occur at a much higher total dose of drug. Many patients with gynecologic tumors could potentially benefit from participation in the new drug trials.
Rac GTPase Isoform-specific Regulation of NADPH Oxidase and Chemotaxis in Murine Neutrophils in Vivo ROLE OF THE C-TERMINAL POLYBASIC DOMAIN

The Rho family GTPase Rac acts as a molecular switch for signal transduction to regulate various cellular functions. Mice deficient in the hematopoietic-specific Rac2 isoform exhibit agonist-specific defects in neutrophil chemotaxis and superoxide production, despite expression of the highly homologous Rac1 isoform. To examine whether functional defects in rac2–/– neutrophils reflect effects of an overall decrease in total cellular Rac or an isoform-specific role for Rac2, retroviral vectors were used to express exogenous Rac1 or Rac2 at levels similar to endogenous. In rac2–/– neutrophils differentiated from transduced myeloid progenitors in vitro, increasing cellular Rac levels by expression of either exogenous Rac1 or Rac2 increased formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine- or phorbol ester-stimulated NADPH oxidase activity. Of note, placement of an epitope tag on the N terminus of Rac1 or Rac2 blunted reconstitution of responses in rac2–/– neutrophils. In rac2–/– neutrophils isolated from mice transplanted with Rac-transduced bone marrow cells, superoxide production and chemotaxis were fully reconstituted by expression of exogenous Rac2, but not Rac1. A chimeric Rac1 protein in which the Rac1 C-terminal polybasic domain, which contains six lysines or arginines, was replaced with that of the human Rac2 polybasic domain containing only three basic residues, also reconstituted superoxide production and chemotaxis, whereas expression of a Rac2 derivative in which the polybasic domain was replaced with that of Rac1 did not and resulted in disoriented cell motility. Thus, the composition of the polybasic domain is sufficient for determining Rac isoform specificity in the production of superoxide and chemotaxis in murine neutrophils in vivo.
Efficacy of laser debridement with autologous split-thickness skin grafting in promoting improved healing of deep cutaneous sulfur mustard burns

The consequences of receiving a cutaneous sulfur mustard (SM) burn are prolonged wound healing and secondary infection. This study was undertaken to find a treatment that promotes quick healing with few complications and minimal disfigurement. Multiple deep SM burns (4 cm diameter) were generated on the ventrum of weanling pigs and treated at 48 h. Four treatments were compared: (1) full-thickness CO(2) laser debridement followed by skin grafting; (2) full-thickness sharp surgical tangential excision followed by skin grafting, the "Gold Standard" used in deep thermal burns management; (3) partial-thickness laser ablation with no grafting; and (4) partial-thickness sharp excision with no grafting. A computer controlled, raster scanned, high-powered continuous wave (cw) CO(2) laser was utilized. Ulceration, wound geometry, and wound contraction were evaluated during a 36-day healing period. Histopathological evaluations were conducted at the end of the healing period. Engraftment rates were similar between both methods of debridement. Laser debridement followed by skin grafting was as efficacious in improving the wound healing of deep SM burns as the "Gold Standard." Full-thickness laser debridement of these small total body surface area (TBSA) burns was time efficient and provided adequate beds for split-thickness skin grafting. Laser debridement offered additional benefits that included hemostatic control during surgery and minimal debridement of normal perilesional skin. Mid-dermal debridement by sharp excision or laser ablation without grafting produced less desirable results but was better than no treatment.
Phase 2 trial of single agent docetaxel in platinum and paclitaxel-refractory ovarian cancer, fallopian tube cancer, and primary carcinoma of the peritoneum

Abstract Objectives Previously reported data have suggested the lack of complete cross-resistance between docetaxel and paclitaxel in ovarian cancer. We wished to evaluate the biological and clinical activity of docetaxel in a patient population with well-characterized platinum and paclitaxel-refractory ovarian cancer. Methods In this single-institution phase 2 trial, 30 women with advanced ovarian cancer whose disease had either failed to respond to primary platinum-paclitaxel chemotherapy or where the cancer had progressed within 3 months of their last treatment with both a platinum agent and paclitaxel were treated with single agent docetaxel (75 mg/m 2 q 3 weeks). Due to a prior history of excessive chemotherapy-induced neutropenia, 3 patients initiated treatment at a dose of 60 mg/m 2 . Results The median number of courses of docetaxel delivered on this protocol was 3 (range 1–7), with 7 patients requiring dose reductions due to treatment-related side effects. The most common toxicities included grade 4 neutropenia, neutropenic fever, and grade ≥2 fatigue experienced by 9 (30%), 2 (7%), 5 (17%) patients, respectively. Three patients (10%) achieved both an objective response (by CA-125 criteria) and symptomatic improvement (e.g., decrease in pain and ascites). The durations of responses were 3, 4, and 6 months. Conclusion Single-agent docetaxel has modest, but definite activity in patients with well-characterized platinum and paclitaxel-resistant ovarian cancer. Use of this drug should be considered a rational management approach in appropriately selected patients in this clinical setting.
Gene expression analyses in maize inbreds and hybrids with varying levels of heterosis

Background Heterosis is the superior performance of F1 hybrid progeny relative to the parental phenotypes. Maize exhibits heterosis for a wide range of traits, however the magnitude of heterosis is highly variable depending on the choice of parents and the trait(s) measured. We have used expression profiling to determine whether the level, or types, of non-additive gene expression vary in maize hybrids with different levels of genetic diversity or heterosis.
Towards a computational theory of experience.

A standing challenge for the science of mind is to account for the datum that every mind faces in the most immediate – that is, unmediated – fashion: its phenomenal experience. The complementary tasks of explaining what it means for a system to give rise to experience and what constitutes the content of experience (qualia) in computational terms are particularly challenging, given the multiple realizability of computation. In this paper, we identify a set of conditions that a computational theory must satisfy for it to constitute not just a sufficient but a necessary, and therefore naturalistic and intrinsic, explanation of qualia. We show that a common assumption behind many neurocomputational theories of the mind, according to which mind states can be formalized solely in terms of instantaneous vectors of activities of representational units such as neurons, does not meet the requisite conditions, in part because it relies on inactive units to shape presently experienced qualia and implies a homogeneous representation space, which is devoid of intrinsic structure. We then sketch a naturalistic computational theory of qualia, which posits that experience is realized by dynamical activity-space trajectories (rather than points) and that its richness is measured by the representational capacity of the trajectory space in which it unfolds.
Limits on WIMP-nucleon interactions from the Cryogenic Dark Matter Search at the Soudan Underground Laboratory

Abstract We present the results of the first two data runs of the Cryogenic Dark Matter Search at Soudan Underground Laboratory. These data exclude substantial new parameter space for both spin-independent and spin-dependent WIMP–nucleon interactions within the standard halo model.
Synchrotron radiation from electron beams in plasma focusing channels

Spontaneous radiation emitted from relativistic electrons undergoing betatron motion in a plasma focusing channel is analyzed and application to plasma wakefield accelerator experiments and to the ion channel laser (ICL) are discussed. Important similarities and differences between a free electron laser (FEL) and an ICL are delineated. It is shown that the frequency of spontaneous radiation is a strong function of the betatron strength parameter alpha-beta, which plays a similar role to that of the wiggler strength parameter in a conventional FEL. For alpha-beta > 1, radiation is emitted in numerous harmonics. Furthermore, alpha-beta is proportional to the amplitude of the betatron orbit, which varies for every electron in the beam. The radiation spectrum emitted from an electron beam is calculated by averaging the single electron spectrum over the electron distribution. This leads to a frequency broadening of the radiation spectrum, which places serious limits on the possibility of realizing an ICL.