cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Potential for coherent Doppler wind velocity lidar using neodymium lasers.

Existing techniques for the frequency stabilization of Nd:YAG lasers operating at 1.06 micron, and the high-gain amplification of radiation at that wavelength, make possible the construction of a coherent Doppler wind velocity lidar using Nd:YAG. Velocity accuracy and range resolution are better at 1.06 micron than at 10.6 microns at the same level of the SNR. Backscatter from the atmosphere at 1.06 micron is greater than that at 10.6 microns by about 2 orders of magnitude, but the quantum-limited noise is higher by 100 also. Near-field attenuation and turbulent effects are more severe at 1.06 micron. In some configurations and environments, the 1.06-micron wavelength may be the better choice, and there may be technological advantages favoring the use of solid-state lasers in satellite systems.
Informativeness of maternal reports on the diagnosis of ADHD: an analysis of mother and youth reports.

Objective: We evaluated correlates of the diagnosis of ADHD in youth by informant source. Method: Ninety-four pairs of mother reports and youth self-reports on ADHD were independently assessed, using diagnostic interviews from a large study of youth of both genders with and without ADHD. Comparisons were made on measures of interpersonal, school, and family functioning; treatment history; and parental psychopathology by informant source. Results: With the exception of higher rates of ADHD-associated impairment and higher frequency of treatment for ADHD in the combined youth-mother group. There were no other differences in any other clinical or familial correlates by informant source; both informant groups had higher levels of impairment in multiple nonoverlapping measures of dysfunction than controls. Males were overrepresented among the mother-only group. Conclusion: Maternal reports of ADHD result in a meaningful diagnosis of ADHD with high levels of impairment, regardless of endorsement by the affected...
Uninorms in fuzzy systems modeling

Abstract Fuzzy systems modeling provides a framework in which input–output relationships can be modeled by partitioning the input into fuzzy regions for which we can describe the output. The fuzzy modeling inference process, the procedure used to obtain the output of a fuzzy systems model for a given input, is shown to involve an aggregation step in which the contributions of the different components of the fuzzy systems model are combined. It is shown that the uninorm operator provides a general class of operators to implement this step. The uninorm it is recalled, is an operator that provides a generalization of the t-norm and t-conorm by allowing the identity element to be any value in the unit interval. Another step in the inference process is the determination of the contribution of each component of the model based on its relevancy to the current input. The performance of this step requires the use of an operator, related to the implication operator, which we call a relevancy transformation (RET) operator. It is shown that the form of this RET operator is dependent upon the identity value of the uninorm used in the aggregation step. We provide some general formulations for this class of operators. We show how the well-known forms of fuzzy inference are special cases of our uninorm-based approach.
A Test of Sensitivity to Convective Transport in a Global Atmospheric CO2 Simulation

Two approximations to convective transport have been implemented in an offline chemistry transport model (CTM) to explore the impact on calculated atmospheric CO 2 distributions. Global CO 2 in the year 2000 is simulated using the CTM driven by assimilated meteorological fields from the NASA's Goddard Earth Observation System Data Assimilation System, Version 4 (GEOS-4). The model simulates atmospheric CO 2 by adopting the same CO 2 emission inventory and dynamical modules as described in Kawa et al. (convective transport scheme denoted as Conv1). Conv1 approximates the convective transport by using the bulk convective mass fluxes to redistribute trace gases. The alternate approximation, Conv2, partitions fluxes into updraft and downdraft, as well as into entrainment and detrainment, and has potential to yield a more realistic simulation of vertical redistribution through deep convection. Replacing Conv1 by Conv2 results in an overestimate of CO 2 over biospheric sink regions. The largest discrepancies result in a CO 2 difference of about 7.8 ppm in the July NH boreal forest, which is about 30% of the CO 2 seasonality for that area. These differences are compared to those produced by emission scenario variations constrained by the framework of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to account for possible land use change and residual terrestrial CO 2 sink. It is shown that the overestimated CO 2 driven by Conv2 can be offset by introducing these supplemental emissions. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0889.2006.00212.x
Applying microprocessor analysis methods to river network modelling

This paper describes the Simulation Program for River Networks (SPRINT) that is proposed as a tool for studying Continental River Dynamics (CRD), the solution of physics-based equations for large-scale river networks. Existing coupled hydrologic/hydraulic models have been unable to solve the full Saint-Venant equations for river networks larger than O(10^3) elements, but continental scales require 10^6-10^7 elements. The new model solves the full nonlinear Saint-Venant equations for one-dimensional (1D) unsteady flow and stage height in river channel networks with non-uniform bathymetry, and is demonstrated to compute networks of O(10^5) elements more than 330 times faster than real time on a desktop computer. The model incorporates ideas that were originally developed to address Very Large System Integration (VLSI) problems in microprocessor design, where solving large nonlinear computational problems is a common challenge. Computational speed is increased by applying Jacobian bypass techniques in a Newton-Raphson solution and smoothing the geometric depth-area and friction-area relationships where discontinuities otherwise slow convergence. Pre-processing of junction relationships is used to remove temporal nonlinearities where river tributaries meet. Model input/output are simplified and made readily accessible to other software through use of Application Programming Interface (API) standards and a ''netlist'' idea that was previously used to describe electric circuit topology. The model is tested on both simple and complex geometry through comparisons with the HEC-RAS model. A example simulation is conducted for 1.5 x 10^4 river km of the Guadalupe and San Antonio river network during a 14 day rain event.
Current situation and needs of change detection techniques

Research on change detection techniques has long been an active topic and many techniques have been developed. In reality, change detection is a comprehensive procedure that requires careful consideration of many factors such as the nature of change detection problems, image preprocessing, selection of suitable variables and algorithms. This paper briefly overviews the major steps involved in a change detection, summarises major change detection methods, discusses the impacts of scales and complexity of study areas on the selection of remote-sensing data and change detection algorithms and finally discusses the needs of developing new change detection methods. As high spatial resolution images are easily available in the past decade, texture- and object-based methods become valuable to improve change detection performance. At national and global scales, coarse spatial resolution satellite images such as MODIS become important data sources for rapidly detecting land-cover change, but results have high unce...
Predictability experiments with a baroclinic model

Abstract A series of model predictability experiments has been performed using the baroclinic primitive equation spectral model developed by Staniforth and Daley (1977). These experiments were designed to show the difference in predictability decay rates for geostrophic and ageostrophic initial perturbations. The difference in predictability decay rates has implications for the optimal specification of the initial state as discussed in Daley (1980). The results showed that the predictability decay rates from initial ageostrophic perturbations were smaller than those from geostrophic perturbations for large vertical scale. The predictability decay rates of the two types of initial perturbations tended to be similar for vertical scales smaller than 100 m. Results from a model containing a moist convective adjustment parameterization indicated a larger predictability decay rate from initial ageostrophic perturbations.
Frequency and severity of post-ERCP pancreatitis correlated with extent of pancreatic ductal opacification.

Background Pancreatitis is the most common complication of diagnostic and therapeutic ERCP. Almost certainly, the etiology of this pancreatitis is multifactorial. Objective The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the extent of pancreatic ductal opacification and the frequency of pancreatitis. Design Retrospective study. Setting The ERCP database at our institution was searched for prospectively collected data from 1994 to 2005. Patients and Interventions A total of 14,331 ERCPs were included in the analysis. Patients were divided into 4 groups according to the extent of pancreatic duct opacification: group 1, no attempted opacification or failed cannulation of the pancreatic duct (n = 6739); group 2, opacification of head only (n = 845); group 3, opacification of head and body (n = 2061); and group 4, opacification to the tail (n = 4685). The incidence and severity of pancreatitis was compared between and within each group. Results The overall pancreatitis rate was 4.0%. There was a progressively higher frequency of pancreatitis with increased extent of opacification to the pancreatic ductal system (P 65 years), sex, and type of procedure performed (diagnostic and therapeutic) were not significantly different beyond the extent of pancreatic ductal opacification. Multivariate analysis showed that suspected sphincter of Oddi dysfunction with manometry and the extent of pancreatic duct opacification were independent predictors of post-ERCP pancreatitis. Conclusions Less filling of the pancreatic ductal system was associated with less post-ERCP pancreatitis. Before performing endoscopic retrograde pancreatography, endoscopists should carefully evaluate whether any pancreatogram or what extent of pancreatogram is needed clinically. Greater use of noninvasive pancreatography and less use of endoscopic retrograde pancreatography should decrease post-ERCP pancreatitis.
Decreasing trend in postneonatal mortality.

The objective was to evaluate the postneonatal mortality rate at our institution from 1999 to 2006 as a follow-up to a previous report from our hospital covering 1993 to 1998 and to investigate the causes of death in infants dying in the postneonatal period. We identified all infant deaths before discharge from the nursery aged ⩾28 days. Clinical data for all cases and autopsy records where available were reviewed and the cause of death was determined for each infant. Total nursery deaths for the 7 years were 211, of which 14 (6.6%) occurred after the neonatal period. This represents a decreasing trend from the 12% reported in 1993 to 1998. Causes of death were the complications of prematurity and congenital defects. The five infants whose cause of death was the complications of prematurity had chronic lung disease, four had abdominal surgery for perforation and resection and two had intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) Gr IV. All infants had multiple organ failure by the time of death and the final event was infection and/or renal failure. The nine congenital defects included two trisomy 21 with complications, one CHARGE association with heart defects, one hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and two others with multiple congenital heart defects. Of the three remaining infants, the anomalies included one with hydranencephaly, one with caudal regression and one with multiple vascular liver tumors. Along with the general decrease in infant mortality, postneonatal mortality is decreasing as a percentage of nursery deaths. The causes of death include complications of prematurity and congenital defects.
Time dependence of tip morphology during cellular/dendritic arrayed growth

Succinonitrile-1.9 wt pct acetone has been directionally solidified in 0.7 X 0.7-cm-square cross section pyrex ampoules in order to observe the cell/dendrite tip morphologies, not influenced by the “wall effects,” which are present during growth in the generally used thin (about 200 μm) crucibles. The tips do not maintain a steady-state shape, as is generally assumed. Instead, they fluctuate within a shape envelope. The extent of fluctuation increases with decreasing growth speed, as the micro structure changes from the dendritic to cellular. The influence of natural convection has been examined by comparing these morphologies with those grown, without convection, in the thin ampoules.
Pseudo-random number generation for sketch-based estimations

The exact computation of aggregate queries, like the size of join of two relations, usually requires large amounts of memory (constrained in data-streaming) or communication (constrained in distributed computation) and large processing times. In this situation, approximation techniques with provable guarantees, like sketches, are one possible solution. The performance of sketches depends crucially on the ability to generate particular pseudo-random numbers. In this article we investigate both theoretically and empirically the problem of generating k-wise independent pseudo-random numbers and, in particular, that of generating 3- and 4-wise independent pseudo-random numbers that are fast range-summable (i.e., they can be summed in sublinear time). Our specific contributions are: (a) we provide a thorough comparison of the various pseudo-random number generating schemes; (b) we study both theoretically and empirically the fast range-summation property of 3- and 4-wise independent generating schemes; (c) we provide algorithms for the fast range-summation of two 3-wise independent schemes, BCH and extended Hamming; and (d) we show convincing theoretical and empirical evidence that the extended Hamming scheme performs as well as any 4-wise independent scheme for estimating the size of join of two relations using AMS sketches, even though it is only 3-wise independent. We use this scheme to generate estimators that significantly outperform state-of-the-art solutions for two problems, namely, size of spatial joins and selectivity estimation.
A tetrameric allyl complex of sodium, and computational modeling of the 23Na–allyl chemical shift

Transmetallation of Li[A′] (A′ = [1,3-(SiMe 3 ) 2 C 3 H 3 ] − ) with sodium tert -butoxide produces the corresponding sodium salt, which crystallizes from THF/toluene in the form of a cyclic tetramer, {Na[A′](thf)} 4 . The Na atoms are in a square planar arrangement, bridged with π-bound allyl ligands; the Na–C distances range from 2.591(3)–2.896(3) A, with an average of 2.70 A. The geometries of several model organosodium complexes containing cyclopentadienyl and allyl ligands were optimized with density functional theory methods. The optimized structures were used with the gauge-including atomic orbital (GIAO) method to calculate their 23 Na NMR magnetic shielding values. Unlike the case with NaCp, the chemical shift of unsubstituted Na(C 3 H 5 ) is very sensitive to the presence of coordinated THF (causing a 20 ppm upfield shift); silyl substitution has an even larger effect (30 ppm upfield shift). The observed 23 Na shift of δ −3.3 ppm for Na[A′] in THF- d 8 , however, cannot be reliably distinguished from that calculated for the [Na(thf) 4 ] + cation alone.
Combinatorial systems defined over one- and two-letter alphabets

In this paper we shall investigate some families of decision problems associated with a number of combinatorial systems whose alphabets are restricted to one and two letters. Our purpose is to try to gain a better understanding of the boundaries between classes of combinatorial systems whose decision problems are solvable and those whose decision problems are of any prescribed r.e. many-one degree of unsolvability. We show that, for one-letter alphabets, the decision problems considered here for semi-Thue systems, Thue systems, Post normal systems, Markov algorithms and Post correspondence classes are each solvable. In contrast, for two-letter alphabets, each such family of decision problems represents every r.e. many-one degree of unsolvability.
Balancing of manufacturing systems with complex configurations for delayed product differentiation

In response to increasing product variety, manufacturing systems with complex asymmetric configurations have often been used for delayed product differentiation. Balancing these types of manufacturing systems, however, is a challenge, since existing line balancing methods usually have been developed for symmetric configurations, such as serial lines with parallel machines at some stages. This paper proposes a novel binary integer programming (BIP) model for task-machine assignment and workload balancing in complex asymmetric configurations for mixed-model production. The new model includes (1) mathematical representations of task relations and system configurations, (2) constraint equations for task precedence relations in asymmetric configurations, and (3) constraint equations for parallel/serial relations among tasks. This study extends the area of line balancing and task-machine assignment problems to asymmetric system configurations, and helps to select a configuration from alternatives.
Cerebral palsy and aging.

Cerebral palsy (CP), the most common major disabling motor disorder of childhood, is frequently thought of as a condition that affects only children. Deaths in children with CP, never common, have in recent years become very rare, unless the child is very severely and multiply disabled. Thus, virtually all children assigned the diagnosis of CP will survive into adulthood. Attention to the adult with CP has been sparse, and the evolution of the motor disorder as the individual moves through adolescence, young adulthood, middle age, and old age is not well understood. Nor do we know what happens to other functional domains, such as communication and eating behavior, in adults with CP. Although the brain injury that initially causes CP by definition does not progressively worsen through the lifetime, the effects of CP manifest differently throughout the life span. The aging process must inevitably interact with the motor disorder, but we lack systematic, large-scale follow-up studies of children with CP into adulthood and through adulthood with thorough assessments performed over time. In this paper we summarize what is known of the epidemiology of CP throughout the life span, beginning with mortality and life expectancy, then survey what is known of functioning, ability, and quality of life of adults with CP. We conclude by describing a framework for future research on CP and aging that is built around the World Health Organization's International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) and suggest specific tools and approaches for conducting that research in a sound manner.
Anesthetic management and outcome of complex late arterial-switch operations for patients with transposition of the great arteries and a systemic right ventricle.

Objective : For patients with transposition of the great arteries and a systemic right ventricle, complex late arterial-switch operations (double switch, switch conversion, Senning-Rastelli) after the newborn period have been described recently to restore the morphologic left ventricle to the systemic circulation. The purpose of this study was to describe the anesthetic management and perioperative outcome of this group of patients and to compare them with a control group of patients who had primary arterial-switch operations in the neonatal period. Design : Retrospective database and medical record review with 3:1 control:case ratio. Setting : Tertiary care academic children’s hospital. Participants : Patients undergoing complex late-arterial switch operations after the newborn period. Interventions : None. Measurements and Main Results : Thirteen patients were identified in the complex late-switch group and 43 in neonatal arterial-switch group. There were no perioperative deaths, no new gross neurologic deficits, and all patients were discharged home in both groups. Anesthetic and bypass times were significantly longer in the late-switch group (745 v 558 minutes, p Conclusions : Patients presenting for complex late corrective operations for transposition of the great arteries require long and complex anesthetics. Despite these challenges, perioperative outcomes are excellent.
SPECTRAL PROPERTIES OF ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE PROBES ASSOCIATED WITH HORSERADISH PEROXIDASE

The environmentally sensitive fluorescent probes 6-propionyl-2-(N,N-dimethylamino)naphthalene (PRODAN) and 2'-(N,N-dimethylamino)-6-naphthoyl-4-trans-cyclohexanioc acid (DANCA) form complexes with the heme binding site of apohorseradish peroxidase. The dissociation constants of the PRODAN and DANCA complexes were determined from anisotropy titration data to be approximately 8.7 x 10(-5) and 3.3 x 10(-4) M, respectively. From comparison of the steady state fluorescence spectra of PRODAN and DANCA in solvents of varying dielectric constants, and in the apohorseradish peroxidase complex, we conclude that the heme binding site of horseradish peroxidase is relatively polar. The lifetimes of PRODAN and DANCA in organic solvents of varying polarities can be fit to single exponential decays. However, the lifetimes of PRODAN and DANCA associated with apohorseradish peroxidase, determined using a background subtraction method to correct for the non-negligible fluorescence of unbound probe, fit best to a distribution of lifetime values. We attribute these lifetime distributions to microenvironmental heterogeneity which is also consistent with the observed dependence of the emission maxima of PRODAN-apohorseradish peroxidase upon the excitation wavelength. In neither the PRODAN nor the DANCA case was evidence found in the time-resolved data for relaxation of the protein matrix around the excited state probe dipole.
Early Archean (3.3-Billion to 3.5-Billion-Year-Old) Microfossils from Warrawoona Group, Australia

Cellularly preserved filamentous and colonial fossil microorganisms have been discovered in bedded carbonaceous cherts from the Early Archean Apex Basalt and Towers Formation of northwestern Western Australia. The cell types detected suggest that cyanobacteria, and therefore oxygen-producing photosynthesis, may have been extant as early as 3.3 billion to 3.5 billion years ago. These fossils are among the oldest now known from the geologic record; their discovery substantiates previous reports of Early Archean microfossils in Warrawoona Group strata.
Validation of Two-Phase Flow Model for Leachate Recirculation in Bioreactor Landfills

A numerical two-phase flow model is presented to determine the moisture distribution and pore water and gas pressures within unsaturated municipal solid waste (MSW) in bioreactor landfills during leachate recirculation. The numerical model used is the Fast Lagrangian Analysis of Continua (FLAC), which is based on finite difference approach. The model governing equations and mathematical formulations is briefly explained. Validation of the model is examined by simulating the published laboratory and field studies and published modeling studies. Overall, the two-phase flow model is found to produce results comparable with those of the published studies. This assures that the model can be used for the prediction of moisture distribution and for the rational design of leachate recirculation systems in bioreactor landfills.
Multimodal Brain Connectivity Analysis in Unmedicated Late-Life Depression

Late-life depression (LLD) is a common disorder associated with emotional distress, cognitive impairment and somatic complains. Structural abnormalities have been suggested as one of the main neurobiological correlates in LLD. However the relationship between these structural abnormalities and altered functional brain networks in LLD remains poorly understood. 15 healthy elderly comparison subjects from the community and 10 unmedicated and symptomatic subjects with geriatric depression were selected for this study. For each subject, 87 regions of interest (ROI) were generated from whole brain anatomical parcellation of resting state fMRI data. Whole-brain ROI-wise correlations were calculated and compared between groups. Group differences were assessed using an analysis of covariance after controlling for age, sex and education with multiple comparison correction using the false discovery rate. Structural connectivity was assessed by tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS). LLD subjects had significantly decreased connectivity between the right accumbens area (rA) and the right medial orbitofrontal cortex (rmOFC) as well as between the right rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rrACC) and bilateral superior frontal gyrus (bsSFG). Altered connectivity of rrACC with the bsSFG was significantly correlated with depression severity in depressed subjects. TBSS analysis showed a 20% reduction in fractional anisotropy (FA) in the right Forceps Minor (rFM) in depressed subjects. rFM FA values were positively correlated with rA-rmOFC and rrACC-bsFG functional connectivity values in our total study sample. Coordinated structural and functional impairment in circuits involved in emotion regulation and reward pathways play an important role in the pathophysiology of LLD.
Changes in Medical Publishing: The Challenges for an Interventional Journal

> “It is astonishing how little reading a doctor can practice medicine, but it is not astonishing how badly he may do it” > > William Osler, 1901 The goal of scientific publishing is to disseminate advances in scientific knowledge. Scientific publishing is currently undergoing dramatic changes driven largely by the acceptance and integration of the Internet into all aspects of our daily lives. Change has not come quickly to the field of medical publication, however. Print journals have been the method of disseminating new medical knowledge since the late 17th century with the first scientific journal; the French Le Journal des Scavans was published in 1665 followed shortly thereafter by the English journal Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London .1 The growth of the medical journals such as the NEJM , JAMA , and Lancet began in the 1820 to 1840s, and evolved the more typical scientific paper that was focused and brief relative to the initial thesis-type journal articles. The growth of biomedical publications has been remarkable with more than 25 000 biomedical journals currently. The American Heart Association has been publishing its flagship journal Circulation since 1950 and has added 5 other prestigious journals over the years. Five years ago, the Scientific Publishing Committee of the American Heart Association decided to further expand the Circulation family by adding 6 subspecialty journals, including Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions . During the past 4 years, we have seen amazing growth in all of the subspecialty journals. For Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions , we have seen a doubling of submissions during the past 3 years, accompanied by a reduction in our acceptance rate to <20%, resulting in an Impact Factor of 6.058. We have chosen the time-proven format for our journal with peer-reviewed original articles published in a bimonthly print journal available to …
Software reliability—theory and practice

Abstract Software reliability has been a very controversial research topic in software engineering for over 15 years. There are several different models proposed and studied by researchers. Nevertheless, none of the existing models has been successfully used in real projects for reliability forecasting. This paper presents a brief review of the status of software reliability research, and points out new research directions that may benefit the software development process in a more positive and direct way.
Taxanes for Breast Cancer: An Evidence-Based Review of Randomized Phase II and Phase III Trials

The taxanes paclitaxel and docetaxel have an important role in the treatment of breast cancer, and numerous randomized trials have evaluated their efficacy for this indication. A systematic, evidence-based review was performed, which included all randomized, controlled trials evaluating taxanes for the treatment of early-or advanced-stage breast cancer that were identified in CANCERLIT and MEDLINE searches. The primary objectives of this review were to determine the dose and schedule for each taxane that was associated with the most favorable therapeutic index, and to determine whether (and under what circumstances) the taxanes improved survival. The search revealed 18 randomized phase II (n = 1) or phase III (n = 17) trials. For metastatic breast cancer, the dose and schedule associated with the most favorable therapeutic index for paclitaxel was 175 mg/m2 given as a 3-hour infusion every 3 weeks, and docetaxel was 60-100 mg/m2 given as a 1-hour infusion every 3 weeks. Survival was improved under the following circumstances: (1) when 4 cycles of paclitaxel (175 mg/m2 every 3 weeks) was given following 4 cycles of conventional doxorubicin-cyclophosphamide for axillary node-positive operable breast cancer, (2) when trastuzumab was added to paclitaxel as first-line therapy for metastatic breast cancer that overexpressed HER2/neu, and (3) when docetaxel was given as second-line therapy for anthracycline-resistant disease. Although a survival benefit was found for taxanes as a component of first-line therapy in two of six trials, the interpretation of both positive trials was confounded by a lack of crossover to taxane therapy in those who were initially randomized to receive standard therapy. The taxanes improve survival in patients with early-stage breast cancer and selected patients with metastatic breast cancer. Further research is necessary in order to identify the efficacy of docetaxel relative to paclitaxel, the optimal dose of docetaxel, the role of weekly taxane therapy, the role of trastuzumab plus taxanes in early-stage disease, and whether taxanes are more effective when given concomitantly or sequentially in patients with early-stage disease.
Desmoplastic infantile ganglioglioma: CT and MRI features

We present three cases of desmoplastic infantile ganglioglioma in patients admitted to our institution in the past 8 years. CT and MR findings are discussed. Typically, these lesions are located in the frontal and parietal lobes, appearing as cystic tumors with a solid cortical component within the cerebrum, which enhances intensely, and moderate surrounding edema.
Transneuronal transport of peroxidase-conjugated wheat germ agglutinin (WGA-HRP) from the olfactory epithelium to the brain of the adult rat

The sensory neurons of the olfactory epithelium, as a consequence of their odor detection function, contact both the external environment and the central nervous system. The possibility that substances applied to the epithelium might reach the central nervous system was investigated by the intranasal application of peroxidase-conjugated wheat germ agglutinin (WGA-HRP). WGA-HRP was transported through olfactory receptor axons to the glomerulus of the olfactory bulb. Reaction product was localized electron microscopically to tubulovesicular profiles and dense bodies in sensory axons. Evidence of transneuronal transport was indicated by reaction product localized in dense bodies in dendrites postsynaptic to receptor cell axons. Periglomerular, tufted and mitral cells in the olfactory bulb also were transneuronally labeled. Anterograde transneuronal labeling occurred in the olfactory tubercle, piriform cortex and surrounding the lateral olfactory tract. Retrograde transneuronal label was found in neurons of the basal forebrain with the largest number of perikarya in the lateral nucleus of the horizontal limb of the diagonal band, a major source of cholinergic afferents to the olfactory bulb. These data suggest that substances, specifically those which bind to receptors, are transported from the olfactory receptor neurons in the nasal epithelium to the brain. Thus, the olfactory system may provide a route of entry for exogenous substances to the basal forebrain.
Computational studies to predict or explain G protein coupled receptor polypharmacology

Since G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) belong to a very large superfamily of evolutionarily related receptors (>800 members in humans), and due to the rapid progress on their structural biology, they are ideal candidates for polypharmacology studies. Broad screening and bioinformatics/chemoinformatics have been applied to understanding off-target effects of GPCR ligands. It is now feasible to approach the question of GPCR polypharmacology using molecular modeling and the available X-ray GPCR structures. As an example, large and sterically constrained adenosine derivatives (potent adenosine receptor ligands with low conformational freedom and multiple extended substituents) were screened for binding at diverse receptors. Unanticipated off-target interactions, including at biogenic amine receptors, were then modeled using a structure-based approach to provide a consistent understanding of recognition. A conserved Asp in TM3 changed its role from counterion for biogenic amines to characteristic H-bonding to adenosine. The same systematic approach could potentially be applied to many GPCRs or other receptors using other sets of congeneric ligands.
The group VIA calcium-independent phospholipase A2 participates in ER stress-induced INS-1 insulinoma cell apoptosis by promoting ceramide generation via hydrolysis of sphingomyelins by neutral sphingomyelinase.

β-Cell mass is regulated by a balance between β-cell growth and β-cell death, due to apoptosis. We previously reported that apoptosis of INS-1 insulinoma cells due to thapsigargin-induced ER stress...
Shallow-impurity states in semiconductor quantum-well structures.

The ground-state energy of a shallow impurity in a semiconductor quantum well of finite barrier height is calculated using a variational method. The binding energy U is obtained as a function of the well width L, the impurity position ${z}_{i}$, and the height of the potential barrier ${V}_{0}$. The behavior of the variational parameter \ensuremath{\lambda}, which determines the extension of the wave function around the impurity, is also studied. The maximum binding energy corresponds to the minimum value of \ensuremath{\lambda}. Larger values of ${V}_{0}$ result in faster variation of U with ${z}_{i}$. Our results agree very well with published experimental data.
Latent hardening in polycrystalline copper and comparison with high density polyethylene

When a parallelepiped specimen of polycrystalline copper is compressed in thex-direction (primary direction) while holding thez-dimension unchanged by a vice, the specimen is anisotropically hardened as follows: when thez-direction is subsequently compressed while holding thex-dimension unchanged the yield stress (0.2% offset) is higher than the final flow stress of the primary deformation. This is similar to latent hardening in single crystals. On the other hand, if the second compression is in they-direction instead of thez-direction, the yielding (0.2% offset) occurs at a stress less than the final flow stress of the primary deformation. Both effects are reported here together with the results of two successive compressions in two mutually perpendicular directions without any constraints in either compression. These results are compared with the earlier results of high density polyethylene.
Using Animated Computer-generated Text and Graphics to Depict the Risks and Benefits of Medical Treatment

Abstract Objective Conventional print materials for presenting risks and benefits of treatment are often difficult to understand. This study was undertaken to evaluate and compare subjects' understanding and perceptions of risks and benefits presented using animated computerized text and graphics. Methods Adult subjects were randomized to receive identical risk/benefit information regarding taking statins that was presented on an iPad (Apple Corp, Cupertino, Calif) in 1 of 4 different animated formats: text/numbers, pie chart, bar graph, and pictograph. Subjects completed a questionnaire regarding their preferences and perceptions of the message delivery together with their understanding of the information. Health literacy, numeracy, and need for cognition were measured using validated instruments. Results There were no differences in subject understanding based on the different formats. However, significantly more subjects preferred graphs (82.5%) compared with text (17.5%, P Conclusions Results showed that computer-animated depictions of risks and benefits offer an effective means to describe medical risk/benefit statistics. That understanding and satisfaction were significantly better when the format matched the individual's preference for message delivery is important and reinforces the value of "tailoring" information to the individual's needs and preferences.
Piezoelectric fuel injection: Cycle-to-cycle control of tightly spaced injections

Abstract Piezoelectric fuel injectors will require closed-loop control to realize tightly spaced injections. This paper describes an estimation algorithm for cycle-to-cycle determination of an injection flow profile for use as feedback for closed-loop control. A control design-amenable, 2-pulse approximate model is outlined to represent the dynamics of simultaneously controlling the quantity of, and realized dwell time between, injection pulses. A control law is developed to provide an overdamped response of realized dwell time to prevent pulse bleeding. Closed-loop performance is validated with the experimental data. Desired fuel quantity, and very short dwell times of 0.0002 s (two crank angle degrees at 1800 RPM), are realized with tracking error convergence time constants of approximately four engine cycles (0.27 s at 1800 RPM).
The effect of a smoke-free campus policy on college students' smoking behaviors and attitudes

Objective To evaluate the impact of a smoke-free campus policy on college students' smoking behaviors and attitudes. Methods The current study utilized repeated cross-sectional surveys with a nested 4-wave longitudinal cohort design. Data were collected from undergraduate students at two large matched public universities in Indiana before and after one of the campuses went smoke-free in January 2008. Baseline data were collected in fall 2007 (n = 3266) and follow-up data were collected in fall 2009 (n = 3207). In addition, volunteers provided longitudinal follow-up data at four different time points. Results In the cross-sectional analyses, students exposed to the smoke-free campus policy demonstrated significant favorable changes in smoking behavior (16.5% to 12.8%, p < 0.001), perceptions of peer tobacco use (73.6% to 66.8%, p < 0.001), and smoking norms (45.5% to 40.4%, p < 0.001) compared to students on the control campus. In the longitudinal analyses, students exposed to the smoke-free campus policy demonstrated these changes plus significant favorable changes in attitudes toward regulation of tobacco (83.2% to 89.9%, p < 0.01). Conclusions The implementation of a smoke-free campus policy may be an effective intervention for reducing tobacco use among college students.
Cognitive and affective improvement in brain dysfunctional patients who achieve inpatient rehabilitation goals

Abstract Objective: To evaluate whether improvements in specific cognitive and affective functions are associated with achieving inpatient rehabilitation goals after the acute onset of brain dysfunction. Design: Retrospective analysis of data obtained in a prospective inception cohort study. Study Setting: Medical center and neurological institute. Subjects: Ninety-five heterogeneous brain dysfunctional patients who participated in an interdisciplinary inpatient neurorehabilitation program. Subjects were classified as having achieved their rehabilitation goals (Group 1) or not (Group 2) at time of discharge. Main Outcome Measure: Number of treatment goals attained. Results: Although overall level of performance on the BNI Screen (BNIS) for Higher Cerebral Functions distinguished patients who later achieved their inpatient rehabilitation goals, on admission only performance on the visual spatial subtest was associated with later goal attainment. In contrast, at discharge, patients who showed greater improvement in awareness, affect, visual spatial skills, memory, and attention/concentration were likely to obtain their rehabilitation goals. This was true when the initial level of performance was taken into account. Conclusions: Measurement of overall neuropsychological status and specific visual spatial abilities at time of admission may help determine which brain dysfunctional patients will obtain inpatient rehabilitation goals. Improvement in a variety of cognitive and affective functions was associated with goal attainment. Early cognitive rehabilitation should focus on both cognitive and affective disturbances to facilitate recovery and rehabilitation outcome.
The physiology and biochemistry of polyamines in plants

Our entry into the polyamine field was accidental. As plant physiologists interested in the regeneration of entire plants from isolated single cells and protoplasts, we had turned our attention to the two most important groups of food plants, the cereals and the legumes (1, 2). When we began this work about a decade ago, there had been no successful protoplast regeneration of any plants in these groups, although numerous researchers had been successful with various members of the Solanaceae (tobacco, petunia, potato, tomato), as well as a few species in other families (3). Today, several of the Leguminosae have been successfully regen erated from protoplasts (4-6), but only one report of cereal regeneration from protoplasts, in pearl millet, exists in the literature (7). Why should cereal leaf protoplasts behave so diflerently from protoplasts of other species? We had been working with oat, and our attention was drawn to a report that the rapid senescence of detached leaves of this plant could be delayed substantially by the application of arginine (8). It is well known to plant physiologists that leaves detached from the plant initiate a rapid and massive hydrolysis of proteins and nucleic acids, then senesce, yellow, and die. These events can be delayed, and sometimes prevented, by cytokinins, exemplified by N-isopentenyl adenosine or zeatin (9). We had, of course, applied cytokinins to our isolated oat leaf protoplasts, but without positive
Krebs cycle metabolon formation: metabolite concentration gradient enhanced compartmentation of sequential enzymes

Dynamics of metabolon formation in mitochondria was probed by studying diffusional motion of two sequential Krebs cycle enzymes in a microfluidic channel. Enhanced directional co-diffusion of both enzymes against a substrate concentration gradient was observed in the presence of intermediate generation. This reveals a metabolite directed compartmentation of metabolic pathways.
Predicting Primate Responses to "Stochastic" Demographic Events

Comparative approaches in contemporary primate behavioral ecology have tended to emphasize the deterministic properties of stochastic ecological variables. Yet, primate responses to ecological fluctuations may be mediated by the interactions among demographic processes at the levels of individuals, groups, and populations. In this paper I examine long-term data collected from June 1982–July 1998 on one expanding group of muriquis (Brachyteles arachnoides) at the Estacao Biologica de Caratinga, Minas Gerais, Brazil to explore the demographic and life history correlates of reproductive seasonality and skewed infant sex ratios. Variation in the size of annual birth cohorts (≥2 infants) was positively related to variation in the annual distribution of births (r s=0.96,n=10,p<0.01), indicating the importance of considering the effects that the number of reproductive females may have on interpretations of reproductive seasonality. The female-biased infants sex ratio documented from 59 births was attributed exclusively to multiparous mothers. Primiparous mothers produced comparable numbers of sons (n=6) and daughters (n=7), and were increasingly likely to produce daughters with each subsequent reproductive event. Seven of the 11 females that have produced≥3 infants to date exhibited biases in favor of daughters whereas only 1 was biased in favor of sons. Variation in female sensitivity to local resource competition at different stages of their life histories may account for the female-biased infant sex ration in this population.
Superconductivity in coupled films

Abstract Two thin superconducting films separated by a tunnel barrier represent a coupled electron systems. We calculate the superconducting transition temperature of the sandwich using de Gennes method of the correlation function. The transition temperature is determined by the motion of classical electrons which tunnel between the two films. These calculations are motivated by a recent study of the reduction of T c in thin amorphous films with high resistance.
Physical Properties of Eu(2+)-Containing Cryptates as Contrast Agents for Ultra-High Field Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Abstract The kinetic stabilities and relaxivities of a series of Eu(2+)-containing cryptates have been investigated. Transmetallation studies that monitored the change in the longitudinal relaxation rate of water protons in the presence of Ca(2+), Mg(2+), and Zn(2+) demonstrated that cryptate structure influences stability, and two of the cryptates studied were inert to transmetallation in the presence of these endogenous ions. The efficacy of these cryptates was determined at different magnetic field strengths, temperatures, and pH values. Cryptate relaxivity was found to be higher at ultra-high field strengths (7 and 9.4 T) relative to clinically relevant field strengths (1.4 and 3 T), but the efficiency of these cryptates decreased as temperature increased. In addition, variation in pH did not yield significant changes in the efficacy of the cryptates. These studies establish a foundation of important properties that are necessary to develop effective positive contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging from Eu(2+)-containing cryptates.
Geologic control on the evolution of the inner shelf morphology offshore of the Mississippi barrier islands, northern Gulf of Mexico, USA

Abstract Between 2008 and 2013, high-resolution geophysical surveys were conducted around the Mississippi barrier islands and offshore. The sonar surveys included swath and single-beam bathymetry, sidescan, and chirp subbottom data collection. The geophysical data were groundtruthed using vibracore sediment collection. The results provide insight into the evolution of the inner shelf and the relationship between the near surface geologic framework and the morphology of the coastal zone. This study focuses on the buried Pleistocene fluvial deposits and late Holocene shore-oblique sand ridges offshore of Petit Bois Island and Petit Bois Pass. Prior to this study, the physical characteristics, evolution, and interrelationship of the ridges between both the shelf geology and the adjacent barrier island platform had not been evaluated. Numerous studies elsewhere along the coastal margin attribute shoal origin and sand-ridge evolution to hydrodynamic processes in shallow water (