cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Power Spectrum of a Carrier Frequency Modulated by Gaussian Noise

General expressions for the power spectra of carriers frequency and phase modulated by Gaussian noise are given as functions of the shapes of the power spectra of the modulating voltages. Specific asymptotic (closed-form) expressions are obtained for the special case when the modulating voltage has a rectangular low-pass power spectrum. This particular case corresponds to the use of maximally flat and similar video amplifier tuning schemes. The half-power bandwidths of the power spectra of the modulated carriers are obtained from these asymptotic expressions and are plotted as functions of the root-mean-square frequency and phase deviations. The delta function at the carrier frequency (representing power remaining in the carrier) is evaluated for phase and frequency modulation where, in the latter case, the delta function exists only if the power spectrum of the modulating voltage does not extend to zero frequency.
Fear control and danger control: A test of the extended parallel process model (EPPM)

Fear appeals have the potential to be potent persuasive strategies. However, they often backfire. Previous research has focused primarily on the factors leading to fear appeal successes and neglected the factors associated with fear appeal failures. Utilizing a recently developed fear appeal theory, the Extended Parallel Process Model (EPPM), a study was undertaken to explore the cognitive and emotional mechanisms underlying the success and failure of fear appeals in the context of AIDS prevention. The study results offered general support for the EPPM and indicated that (a) the emotion fear is associated with fear control responses and is not directly related to danger control responses, (b) perceptions (or cognitions) about the recommended response are associated with danger control responses and unrelated to fear control responses, and (c) when efficacy beliefs are strong, perceived threat mediates the relationship between the emotion fear and behavior. Overall, it appears that cognitions lead to fear ...
A new outflow boundary condition

SUMMARY Boundary conditions come from Nature. Therefore these conditions exist at natural boundaries. Often, owing to limitations in computing power and means, large domains are truncated and confined between artificial synthetic boundaries. Then the required boundary conditions there cannot be provided naturally and there is a need to fabricate them by intuition, experience, asymptotic behaviour and numerical experimentation. In this work several kinds of outflow boundary conditions, including essential, natural and free boundar conditions, are evaluated for two flow and heat transfer model problems. A new outflow boundary condition, called hereafter the f?ee boundary condition, is introduced and tested. This free boundary condition is equivalent to extending the validity of the weak form of the governing equations to the synthetic outflow instead of replacing them there with unknown essential or natural boundary conditions. In the limit of zero Reynolds number the free boundary condition minimizes the energy functional among all possible choices of outflow boundary conditions. A review of results from applications of the same boundary conditions to several other flow situations is also presented and discussed.
PRECLINICAL DRUG TRIALS IN THE mdx MOUSE: ASSESSMENT OF RELIABLE AND SENSITIVE OUTCOME MEASURES

The availability of animal models for Duchenne muscular dystrophy has led to extensive preclinical research on potential therapeutics. Few studies have focused on reliability and sensitivity of endpoints for mdx mouse drug trials. Therefore, we sought to compare a wide variety of reported and novel endpoint measures in exercised mdx and normal control mice at 10, 20, and 40 weeks of age. Statistical analysis as well as power calculations for expected effect sizes in mdx preclinical drug trials across different ages showed that body weight, normalized grip strength, horizontal activity, rest time, cardiac function measurements, blood pressure, total central/peripheral nuclei per fiber, and serum creatine kinase are the most effective measurements for detecting drug-induced changes. These data provide an experimental basis upon which standardization of preclinical drug testing can be developed.
Induced topological terms, spin and statistics in (2 + 1) dimensions

Abstract The Hopf invarariant responsible for spin and statistics of σ -model solitons in (2 + 1) dimensions is written in a local form closely analogous to the Wess-Zumino term in (3 + 1) dimensions. Although a priori not quantized, this term, when generated by radiative corrections, appears with such a coefficient that a soliton which has a unit induced fermion charge, has also a half-integer spin and obeys the Fermi-Dirac statistics.
Bounds for eigenfunctions of one-electron molecular systems†

This article gives pointwise bounds for the wave functions of one-electron molecular systems.
Oscillations of non-relativistic neutrinos

Abstract Neutrino oscillations are studied by describing the propagation of neutrinos as superpositions of mass-eigenstate wave packets, without making the usual relativistic assumption. This treatment leads to several interesting effects in the neutrino oscillation. The coherence length beyond which neutrinos cease to oscillate and its effects on the oscillations are derived and discussed. To elucidate the physics involved, a pictorial description of neutrino oscillations is presented with use of the density matrix formulation. The results are generalized to the case of neutrino oscillations in matter. The effect of the coherence length in the MSW effect is also pictorially explained. It is shown that if the coherence length becomes shorter than the size of the resonance region, non-abiabatic MSW transitions become increasingly more abiabatic, making the neutrino conversion more efficient.
Professional organizations and their role in advocacy.

Objectives To review the role of professional organizations in advocacy using the ONS as a paradigm. Data Sources Professional journal, organization publications, personal experiences, and internet websites. Conclusions Professional organizations are a crucial component of the legislative process as they seek to develop and implement sound public policy. The ONS and other organizations have realized that the work each group does individually is often more effective when the groups collaborate with others possessing the same agendas and priorities. Implications for Nursing Practice As the professional organization for nurses in cancer care, ONS has an active engagement in the establishment of health policy that will have an impact on nursing and cancer care. To be successful in the public policy arena, ONS must not only be aware of current issues at both the state and national levels but also must teach its members how to advocate effectively for issues that affect cancer care.
Electron-impact ionization of laser-excited sodium atom.

We report the experimental results of the total electron-impact ionization cross sections of laser-excited 3{ital P} sodium in the energy range from threshold to 30 eV. These cross sections were measured simultaneously for both ground-state and 3{ital P} excited-state atoms as a function of electron-impact energy. Excited-state data were calibrated with respect to the ground-state data that were normalized to the recent Johnston and Burrow measurements [Phys. Rev. A {bold 51}, R1735 (1995)]. We find good general agreement with theory. However, the position of the maximum is almost the same as that predicted by the calculations employing generalized oscillator strengths based on the Born approximation, and is at a higher energy than that which the convergent close-coupling predicts. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}
Electromyographic analysis of muscles across the elbow joint

An electromyographic (EMG) technique was developed to study simultaneously the eight major elbow muscles in five normal subjects. Recordings of EMG activity in elbow muscles were obtained while the elbow joint was subjected to resisted flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction functions. The results indicate that activity in the major elbow muscles is determined by the size of the resultant flexion and extension moments created about the elbow joint, but not by varus and valgus moments. These results support the hypothesis that determination of muscle force about a joint depends on joint constraint, namely, the degree of freedom, the resultant joint forces and moments due to externally applied load, and also the function of the muscle, i.e., the line of action of the muscle that crosses the joint. The data may be used to further refine the calculation of muscle force distribution across the elbow joint.
Applying adult learning principles to medical education in the United States.

An extensive literature on adult learning principles has been developed over the last 40 years. Simultaneously, undergraduate medical educational programs have undergone varying degrees of curricular reform. The present paper discusses the educational and societal factors that have functioned as a catalyst for innovations in medical education, and reviews the major initiatives which have been undertaken. Data are analyzed to assess the extent to which some of these changes have been incorporated into medical curricula. A comprehensive review of adult learning principles is than presented, in order to provide a framework for the incorporation of principles of adult learning into the next wave of medical education reform. The review of adult learning principles reveals that undergraduate medical educational reform has underutilized the robust literature on adult learning. The present paper concludes with suggestions for medical education reform that incorporates the principles of adult learning and discusse...
Structural Response of Nuclear Containment Shield Buildings with Construction Openings

Steam generator replacement at nuclear power plants requires large construction openings in nuclear containment structures. This study examines the effects of such openings placed in a 61 cm (2 ft) thick dome of a shield building. The dome is cast in two layers, and the limiting cases of the two layers acting as one and the lower layer carrying the entire load are considered. Without openings, the stresses due to dead load in the structure are very low when compared to the material strength. With openings, the loads are easily redistributed around the opening, and the maximum stresses for the conservative case are between three and four and one-half times larger than in the original structure with no openings. The extent of the affected area around the holes is relatively small. Smooth corners in the openings are necessary to avoid high local stress concentrations.
EHMTI-0359. Migraine pain location and measures of healthcare use and distress: an observational study

Previous research suggests that pain arising on the left side of the body may be associated with greater emotional distress and use of healthcare services than right-sided pain. Migraine is a highly prevalent condition in which lateralized pain is a core diagnostic feature.
On reducing the influence of Condorcet cycles from pairwise election data

Recent developments in voting theory show that Condorcet profiles embedded in electorates are responsible for distortions in pairwise election tallies of any pair of candidates from a given set. Such distortions are the sole cause of conflicts between the various pairwise voting methods and of reversals of rankings, when candidates are dropped from or added to the set. Because of the strong symmetry of the rankings of the candidates within these profiles, it can be argued that Condorcet profiles represent complete ties between the candidates. Hence removing their influence from the pairwise scores should not matter and moreover is justified because of the distortions they induce. The paper discusses a method of removing or reducing the influence of Condorcet profiles from pairwise elections data.
Transglutaminase activity is increased in Alzheimer's disease brain

Transglutaminase is a calcium-activated enzyme that crosslinks substrate proteins into insoluble, often filamentous aggregates resistant to proteases. Because the neurofibrillary tangles in Alzheimer's disease have similar characteristics, and because tau protein, the major component of these tangles is an excellent substrate of transglutaminase in vitro, transglutaminase activity and levels were measured in control and Alzheimer's disease brain. Frozen prefrontal cortex and cerebellum samples from Alzheimer's disease and control cases matched for age and postmortem interval were used in the analyses. Total transglutaminase activity was significantly higher in the Alzheimer's disease prefrontal cortex compared to control. In addition the levels of tissue transglutaminase, as determined by quantitative immunoblotting, were elevated approximately 3-fold in Alzheimer's disease prefrontal cortex compared to control. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration that transglutaminase is increased in Alzheimer's disease brain. There were no significant differences in transglutaminase activity or levels in the cerebellum between control and Alzheimer's disease cases. Because the elevation of transglutaminase in the Alzheimer's disease samples occurred in the prefrontal cortex, where neurofibrillary pathology is usually abundant, and not in the cerebellum, which is usually spared in Alzheimer's disease, it can be suggested that transglutaminase could be a contributing factor in neurofibrillary tangle formation.
Identification of small RNA pathway genes using patterns of phylogenetic conservation and divergence

Genetic and biochemical analyses of RNA interference (RNAi) and microRNA (miRNA) pathways have revealed proteins such as Argonaute and Dicer as essential cofactors that process and present small RNAs to their targets. Well-validated small RNA pathway cofactors such as these show distinctive patterns of conservation or divergence in particular animal, plant, fungal and protist species. We compared 86 divergent eukaryotic genome sequences to discern sets of proteins that show similar phylogenetic profiles with known small RNA cofactors. A large set of additional candidate small RNA cofactors have emerged from functional genomic screens for defects in miRNA- or short interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated repression in Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila melanogaster, and from proteomic analyses of proteins co-purifying with validated small RNA pathway proteins. The phylogenetic profiles of many of these candidate small RNA pathway proteins are similar to those of known small RNA cofactor proteins. We used a Bayesian approach to integrate the phylogenetic profile analysis with predictions from diverse transcriptional coregulation and proteome interaction data sets to assign a probability for each protein for a role in a small RNA pathway. Testing high-confidence candidates from this analysis for defects in RNAi silencing, we found that about one-half of the predicted small RNA cofactors are required for RNAi silencing. Many of the newly identified small RNA pathway proteins are orthologues of proteins implicated in RNA splicing. In support of a deep connection between the mechanism of RNA splicing and small-RNA-mediated gene silencing, the presence of the Argonaute proteins and other small RNA components in the many species analysed strongly correlates with the number of introns in those species.
On the coronae of rapidly rotating stars. I - The relation between rotation and coronal activity in RS CVn systems

Soft X-ray observations are presented of a nearly complete sample of RS Canum Venaticorum systems taken with the Einstein X-ray Observatory. It is shown that the quiescent coronal activity, as measured by the ratio of the X-ray to bolometric flux, is directly proportional to the angular velocity of the star with the active chromosphere in these systems. This relation is found to hold over two decades in angular velocity. It is also found that the stellar surface gravity has no obvious influence on the ratio of the X-ray luminosity to the bolometric luminosity over two decades in surface gravity. It is pointed out that the linear relation between the ratio of the X-ray luminosity to the bolometric luminosity on the one hand, and the angular velocity, on the other, holds important implications for dynamo theories of the generation of stellar magnetic fields.
Rhizome of Boehme and Deleuze: Esoteric Precursors of the God of Complexity

1. Deleuze and the Occult Though it has been claimed that Deleuze sought to delink his thought from all religion (Bryden), a close examination of his major writings, as well as his collaborative work with Guattari, shows that he was closely attuned to the subterranean mystical currents that pervade Western religiosity, often running counter to the dogmas of surface theology and not infrequently becoming entangled with sorcery and things un-faithful. Deleuze was steeped in the esoteric and the occult, as a brief perusal of the “1730: Becoming-Intense, Becoming-Animal” plateau in A Thousand Plateaus (henceforth “ATP”) makes obvious (Kerslake Occult Unconscious, Somnabulist; Reggio), and consistently references their French artistic/literary and German Idealist derivations and offshoots (e.g. Novalis, Schelling, Artaud, Klossowski). Nevertheless, he seemingly taunts his readers by burying important (but uncited) nods to the likes of Hermeticist Giordano Bruno and Tarot revivalist Court de Gebelin deep inside Difference and Repetition (henceforth “DR”) and the Logic of Sense (henceforth “LS”). One has to know one’s way around the literature of mathesis universalis, hermeticism, and the 19 th -century European occult revival (see, for example,
Cerebral protection: pathophysiology and treatment of increased intracranial pressure.

common and important problem in the care of patients with serious injuries and diseases of the central nervous system. Elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) is most commonly associated with severe head injury; some degree of increased ICP was found in 80 percent of all patients with a major head injury and in over one half of these patients the pressure was significantly elevated.’ Increased ICP accounts for 50 percent ofall head injury deaths.2 While the majority of cases of increased ICP are due to head injury, elevated pressure is seen as a secondary effect of a variety of other conditions including brain tumors, subarachnoid hemorrhage, spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage, and Reye’s syndrome. A number of toxic and viral encephalopathies are also accompanied by
Maintenance and repair expenditures: determinants and tradeoffs with new capital goods

Abstract Traditionally economic analysis has focused on new capital investment, while ignoring expenditures to maintain or repair existing stock. Recent, broader theories of replacement have emphasized the important role played by both maintenance and utilization rates. However, the decision to extend the service life of capital has been given scant empirical attention, owing partly to a lack of appropriate data. This study exploits survey data that report annual maintenance/repair expenditures for Canadian manufacturing industries. A standard production framework, modified to incorporate endogenous depreciation, guides the econometric analysis. The empirical results indicate that the cost of capital, among other variables, has a statistically significant effect on maintenance/repair decisions.
An 18F-FDG PET study of cervical muscle in parkinsonian anterocollis

The underlying etiology of parkinsonian anterocollis has been the subject of recent debate. The purpose of this study is to test the hypothesis that anterocollis in parkinsonian syndromes is associated with dystonia of the deep cervical flexors (longus colli and capitis). Eight patients with anterocollis, six in the setting of parkinsonism and two primary cervical dystonia control subjects with anterocollis underwent prospective structured clinical evaluations (interview, examination and rating scales), systematic electromyography of the cervical extensor musculature and 18F-FDG PET/CT studies of cervical muscles to examine evidence of hypermetabolism or overactivity of deep cervical flexors. Subjects with parkinsonian anterocollis were found to have hypermetabolism of the extensor and sub-occipital muscles but not in the cervical flexors (superficial or deep). EMG abnormalities were observed in all evaluated patients, but only one patient was definitely myopathic. Meanwhile, both dystonia controls exhibited hypermetabolism of cervical flexors (including the longus colli). In conclusion, we were able to demonstrate hypermetabolism of superficial and deep cervical flexors with muscle 18F-FDG PET/CT in dystonic anterocollis patients, but not in parkinsonian anterocollis patients. The hypermetabolic changes seen in parkinsonian anterocollis patients in posterior muscles may be compensatory. Alternative explanations for anterocollis include myopathy of the cervical extensors, or unbalanced rigidity of the cervical flexors, but this remains to be proven.
Mechanism of Activation of Calcium Channel Orai1 by its Regulatory Partner Stim1

Store-operated calcium entry in T lymphocytes depends on the sensing by STIM1 of cellular calcium store depletion, leading to an interaction of STIM1 with ORAI1 and culminating in calcium flux through the ORAI1 channel. Some important features of the STIM1-ORAI1 interaction have been inferred from studies of mutated channels. A recently published structure of the Drosophila Orai channel, which has high sequence homology with human ORAI1, revealed the resting state pore architecture of the channel and confirmed evidence from biochemical and electrophysiological studies that transmembrane helices 1 line the pore. However, the critical steps of STIM1 binding and the resulting transition of the channel to its active calcium-conducting state are yet to be delineated. Here we demonstrate a STIM1-mediated conformational change in the purified wildtype ORAI1 channel that correlates with calcium flux through the channel reconstituted into liposomes. Introduction of the known disabling mutation R91W blocks the conformational change as well as calcium flux through the reconstituted channel. Mutations in the N-terminal cytoplasmic region of ORAI1 that disrupt STIM1 interaction with this part of ORAI1 are sufficient to abrogate the gating signal, although these mutations do not affect STIM1 interaction with the C-terminal region of ORAI1. Our study offers key insights into the STIM1-dependent gating of the ORAI1 channel.
Habituation-based mechanism for encoding temporal information in artificial neural networks

A novel neural network is proposed for the dynamic classification of spatio-temporal signals. The network is designed to classify signals of different durations, taking into account correlations among different signal segments. Such a network is applicable to SONAR and speech signal classification problems, among others. Network parameters are adapted based on the biologically observed habituation mechanism. This allows the storage of contextual information, without a substantial increase in network complexity. Experiments on classification of high dimensional feature vectors obtained from Banzhaf sonograms, demonstrate that the proposed network performs better than time delay neural networks while using a less complex structure. A mathematical justification of the capabilities of the habituation based mechanism is also provided. © (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Research on Module Selection Method in the Modular Design of CNC Machine Tool

In modular design of product, seeking the optimal matching module and realize the optimal combination of product configuration is very important. This paper analyzes the module selection strategy in modular design of CNC machine tool, give the module selection algorithm. Relevant theory of fuzzy similarity optimal ratio is introduced on the search for the optimal matching module, and module selection system is developed by MATLAB. Finally, through an example, prove the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm and convenience of module selection system.
The Pu(VI), oxidation-number diagram

Boundary equations for a diagram of the ambiguous, forbidden, and unique combinations of hexavalent plutonium versus the Pu oxidation number are presented. The equations and the diagram apply after disproportionation reactions have reached equilibrium. A curve illustrates the equilibrium fraction of Pu(V) versus the Pu oxidation number in a solution at pH 2.
Looking—who are we now?

Sociologist Cory Albertson examines the implications of the HBO television series Looking and its attempt to accurately depict the lives of gay men by showing heteronormative ideals being maintained and challenged in romantic relationships.
SU‐FF‐J‐54: A Hybrid Multiresolution Method for Automatic Registration Between Reference and On Board Digital Tomosynthesis

Purpose: Automatic registration between reference and on‐board digital tomosynthesis (DTS) is a critical step for target localization using DTS. We previously developed an approximate method for automatic registration between reference and on‐board DTS, in which reference DTS was not generated iteratively to match with the anisotropic resolution of on‐board DTS. This study aims at developing an accurate method for automatic DTS registration with improved efficiency, robustness and accuracy. Method and Materials: The accurate DTS registration method was realized mainly by hardware acceleration of DRR generation, which was achieved by implementing a 3D texturemap based volume rendering process in graphic card using OpenGL language. The alpha blending mode was chosen to simulate ray casting algorithm, and three color channels of graphic card were used for data storage. With hardware acceleration, the accurate method changes the CT pose and regenerates DRR and reference DTS iteratively to match reference DTS with on‐board DTS based on mutual information. A hybrid multiresolution method was developed to combine approximate and accurate methods in a multiresolution scheme. It was tested on both anthropomorphic chest phantom and H&N patient data with simulated translations and rotations. The registration efficiency, attraction range and accuracy were recorded and compared with previous results. Results: The hybrid multiresolution method is 4 times faster than approximate method. Its registration attraction range is 2–5 times larger than that of approximate method for single‐axis translations and rotations, and 1.5–2 times larger for combined 6‐D rotations and translations. The registration accuracy is within 1.2 deg/mm for phantom data and 1.5deg/mm for patient data through the whole attraction range. Conclusions: The hybrid multiresolution method is much more efficient, robust, and accurate than approximate method. It is potentially a practical and reliable method to clinically implement DTS for target localization. Partially supported by a Varian research grant.
Stationary transform processing of digital images for data compression.

A radiometric/geometric transform has been developed which generates images with approximately wide-sense stationary first (mean)- and second (autocorrelation)-order statistics [ R. N. Strickland , Appl. Opt.22, 1462 ( 1983)]. The transform is found to enhance the performance of predictive coding. The radiometric transform reduces radiometric redundancy in the image data and, therefore, aids efficient quantization at low bit rates. A spatial transformation, or warp, is applied to produce nearly uniform autocorrelation length throughout the data. This affords a convenient means of reducing spatial redundancy by varying the spatial resolution in the transformed image. Final bit rates of ~0.6 bits/pixel are realized for high-quality images. We discuss hybrid digital/optical implementation of the stationary transforms for data compression.
Impact of Varying Levels of Sanitation on Mortality of Tribolium castaneum Eggs and Adults during Heat Treatment of a Pilot Flour Mill

The influence of sanitation on responses of life stages of the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), an economically important pest in flour mills, was investigated in a pilot flour mill subjected to two, 24-h heat treatments. One hundred eggs or 100 adults of T. castaneum were exposed inside each 20-cm diameter by 15-cm high PVC rings holding 0.1-, 0.2-, 1.0-, 3.0-, 6.0-, and 10.0-cm-deep wheat flour to simulate different sanitation levels that may exist in a flour mill. These rings were placed on the first and third floors of a pilot flour mill. On the first floor, temperatures inside rings with eggs reached 50°C in 7–11 h only in 0.1- and 0.2-cm-deep flour treatments. In all other treatments the maximum temperatures attained generally were below 50°C and inversely related to flour depth. Adults of T. castaneum on this floor were less susceptible than eggs. The egg mortality decreased linearly with an increase in flour depth, whereas that of adults decreased exponentially. All eggs and adults in rings on the third floor were killed irrespective of flour depth, because temperatures inside rings reached 50°C in 15–17 h and were held above 50°C for 6–8 h with the maximum temperatures ranging between 55.0 and 57.0°C. Although the protective effects of flour on survival of T. castaneum eggs and adults were evident only if temperatures did not reach 50°C, removal of flour accumulations is essential to improve heat treatment effectiveness.
Allergies, Asthma, and Eczema: Response to Disturbance of the Microbiota of the Newborn Gut

The birth of a child may include routine use of antibiotics or a delivery by cesarean section. We applaud these medical advances for their direct benefits. However, birthing practices have been shown to disrupt the colonization of the microbial gut in newborns, which may have long term consequences on the development of a child’s immune system resulting in atopies (i.e., asthma, allergies, and eczema). Animal models and other research have been used to demonstrate that not only the presence, but also the community composition of the gut microbiota, is essential for normal immune development. Furthermore, it has been established that there are differences in the intestinal microbiota of children who have eczema, asthma, or allergies versus their non-atopic counterparts. In utero an infant persists in an environment free of microorganisms. During the birth process, as the baby moves down through the birth canal the baby encounters their first microbes and foreign substances stimulating the immune system of the mucosal surfaces. Under normal conditions, where newborns are exposed to an abundance of the maternal microbiota, microbial colonization is dominated by bacteria with fast doubling times. As bacterial numbers increase and resources are depleted, more specialized and complex communities become established. Although the ultimate impact of how the microbial community establishes itself within an individual is still not well understood, there is evidence that this is a highly sensitive process. Early differences in patterns of microbial colonization persist years suggesting colonization dynamics and assembly rules yield long-term differences. Therefore, it is not surprising factors, such as the duration of vaginal delivery, birthing method (e.g., cesarean, vaginal), or even receipt of peripartum antibiotics affects microbial colonization of the newborn. Consequently, it is important that we establish an understanding of the complexity of the microbial communities within the gut and how patterns of colonization based on possible disturbances may have both immediate and long term consequences.
Production, Characterization and Refolding of G-Protein Coupled CB2 Receptor from Inclusion Bodies

The human Cannabinoid Receptor 2 (CB2) is a Rhodopsin family G protein coupled receptor (GPCR) expressed highly in immune cells. Recent studies demonstrate the role of the CB2 receptor in attenuating bone cancer induced pain, reducing microglial activation in Alzheimer's disease and regulation of bone mass in osteoporosis. In this regard, detailed structure function knowledge of the mechanism of receptor activation will allow understanding of the ligand binding site, resolve the molecular basis of ligand functionality and also lead to the rational designing of more potent ligand. However majority of biophysical techniques which can be employed require large amounts of purified, native CB2. This poses the one of the biggest challenge for further studies. To this end we are using TrpLE, an N' terminal fusion partner with the CB2 receptor to direct its expression to inclusion bodies in the E. coli. High yielding GPCR inclusion bodies were solubilized and extracted to homogeneity in the presence of denaturing detergent concentrations. Inactive receptors were analyzed for its ligand binding ability and extent of secondary structure. The inactive receptor fusion protein was detergent exchanged for the removal of fusion partner by factor Xa cleavage. Purified CB2 receptor inclusion bodies are currently under refolding trials using detergents (DDM), lipids (POPC/POPS) and amphipols (A8-35) alone and in combination. These studies are being conducted in parallel and will allow determining the best refolding environment for the membrane protein receptor. Understanding of the refolding process would greatly enhance CB2 structure function studies which are currently limited by protein availability and facilitate understanding of protein lipid interactions during membrane protein refolding and/or stabilization.(The work is supported by NIH RO1 DA025612 to X.Q. Xie)
Ventricular function. V. The circulatory effects of aramine; mechanism of action of vasopressor drugs in cardiogenic shock.

The cardiovascular effects of a new, long-acting, sympathomimetic amine, Aramine, are described. Cardiac output, aortic pressure, coronary flow, and ventricular stroke work rise while atrial pressures fall. A sustained increase in myocardial contractility is produced and the myocardium does not require more coronary flow per unit of ventricular work after its administration. The circulatory effects of ventricular failure produced by restricting coronary flow are reversed by the drug. The authors seriously question the premise that the ideal agent for the management of cardiogenic shock should act solely on the peripheral vascular bed.
A suspended-particle rosette multi-sampler for discrete biogeochemical sampling in low-particle-density waters

Abstract To enable detailed investigations of early stage hydrothermal plume formation and abiotic and biotic plume processes we developed a new oceanographic tool. The Suspended Particulate Rosette sampling system has been designed to collect geochemical and microbial samples from the rising portion of deep-sea hydrothermal plumes. It can be deployed on a remotely operated vehicle for sampling rising plumes, on a wire-deployed water rosette for spatially discrete sampling of non-buoyant hydrothermal plumes, or on a fixed mooring in a hydrothermal vent field for time series sampling. It has performed successfully during both its first mooring deployment at the East Pacific Rise and its first remotely-operated vehicle deployments along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. It is currently capable of rapidly filtering 24 discrete large-water-volume samples (30–100 L per sample) for suspended particles during a single deployment (e.g. >90 L per sample at 4–7 L per minute through 1 μm pore diameter polycarbonate filters). The Suspended Particulate Rosette sampler has been designed with a long-term goal of seafloor observatory deployments, where it can be used to collect samples in response to tectonic or other events. It is compatible with in situ optical sensors, such as laser Raman or visible reflectance spectroscopy systems, enabling in situ particle analysis immediately after sample collection and before the particles alter or degrade.
Neutronic studies for the optimization of shield wall penetrations for laser IFE systems

Abstract Building upon the inertial confinement fusion (ICF) technology developed for the National Ignition Facility (NIF) at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), a laser-driven inertial fusion energy (LIFE) power plant is being designed. In this pre-conceptual design, the final optic is exposed to a variety of threats originating from the fusion target. These include prompt neutron and gamma fluxes, x-ray and ionic emissions. While x-rays and ions are stopped by the low-density chamber fill gas (6 μg/cc xenon), neutrons and gamma-rays are not significantly attenuated. In order to limit the consequences of such threats onto the penultimate optic and the rest of the laser systems, a shielding wall stands between the target chamber area and the laser bay. An optical telescope arrangement allows for the laser beam propagation from the penultimate to the final optic, through a pinhole in the shielding wall. These pinholes attenuate the neutron flux and reduce effective dose rates such that laser bay maintenance can be performed by humans. An optimum design of this laser pinhole requires a good understanding of the different design trade-offs that exist between shielding performance and survivability of the laser optical elements and are outlined in this work. This paper provides insight on the impact and influence of the pinholes on the radiation doses in the laser bay, which is located on the opposite side of the concrete shielding wall. After addressing the difficulties of evaluating shields containing penetrations, it establishes a guideline for the selection of different variables linked to the pinhole's design and gives a preliminary evaluation of the radiation fields in the laser bay. The study also helps identify the requirements to enable manual and/or remote maintenance during operation, by determining the minimum achievable effective dose rates for different shield wall designs. Since the ability to perform maintenance during plant operation is an important contributor to high laser availability, we will propose the use of non-aligned double shield walls with pinholes.
Treitz redux: the ligament of Treitz revisited

In the medical literature, the ligament of Treitz is frequently used as a term to designate the duodenojejunal flexure, but the attributes of the structure itself are not generally known. Indeed, anatomists describe it as the suspensory muscle of the duodenum, arising from the connective tissue around the stems of the celiac and superior mesenteric arteries and inserting as nonstriated muscle commonly into the third and fourth portions of the duodenum and frequently into the duodenojejunal flexure as well. Misconceptions regarding its configuration and anatomic relationships continue to be widely illustrated. The fibromuscular structure plays an important role in the embryologic rotation of the bowel and in facilitating normal progression of contents from the extraperitoneal duodenum to the mesenteric small bowel and contributes to the effects of the superior mesenteric artery syndrome. Whereas virtually all other ligaments and mesenteries in the abdomen have been imaged, features of the ligament of Treitz render its visualization by CT or MRI challenging.
External fixation of femoral defects in athymic rats: Applications for human stem cell implantation and bone regeneration:

An appropriate animal model is critical for the research of stem/progenitor cell therapy and tissue engineering for bone regeneration in vivo. This study reports the design of an external fixator and its application to critical-sized femoral defects in athymic rats. The external fixator consists of clamps and screws that are readily available from hardware stores as well as Kirschner wires. A total of 35 rats underwent application of the external fixator with creation of a 6-mm bone defect in one femur of each animal. This model had been used in several separate studies, including implantation of collagen gel, umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stem cells, endothelial progenitor cells, or bone morphogenetic protein-2. One rat developed fracture at the proximal pin site and two rats developed deep tissue infection. Pin loosening was found in nine rats, but it only led to the failure of external fixation in two animals. In 8 to 10 weeks, various degrees of bone growth in the femoral defects were observed in different study groups, from full repair of the bone defect with bone morphogenetic protein-2 implantation to fibrous nonunion with collagen gel implantation. The external fixator used in these studies provided sufficient mechanical stability to the bone defects and had a comparable complication rate in athymic rats as in immunocompetent rats. The external fixator does not interfere with the natural environment of a bone defect. This model is particularly valuable for investigation of osteogenesis of human stem/progenitor cells in vivo.
Genetic Subtypes, Humoral Immunity, and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Vaccine Development

Successful vaccination programs, particularly against influenza virus infection, have provided us with an awareness of the need to immunize against the predominant circulating viral strains or genetic subtypes. The lessons and language derived from experience with influenza (and a few other) viruses have often been directly translated to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) vaccine development. But how appropriate is this? Should an HIV-1 vaccine antigen always be based on the dominant genetic subtype that circulates in the geographical area where a vaccine candidate is to be tested? The answers lie, at least in part, in a consideration of the humoral response to HIV-1 and, in particular, in the relationships between the HIV-1 genetic subtypes and antigenic and neutralization serotypes. Here, we will review what is known about these relationships and seek to clarify confusion that has been created by the use of serological assays that generate misleading, or sometimes artifactual, results. Broadly similar issues are raised when considering the relationship between cellular immune responses and the HIV-1 genetic subtypes, but we will not discuss these here. Instead, we refer the reader to recent articles written by leading cellular immunologists (9, 30, 39, 79). Significantly, a recent study on the cross-clade activity of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses in HIV-1-infected Ugandans argued that the use of nonendemic vaccine strains may be initially justified from the perspective of inducing cellular immunity to HIV-1 (15).
The benefits of pairing by ability

An analysis of data from 259 CS1 students is performed to compare the performance of students who were paired by demonstrated ability to that of students who were paired randomly or worked alone. The results suggest that when given individual programming tasks to complete, lowest-quartile students who were paired by ability perform better than those who were paired randomly and those who worked alone.
New Approaches to Concepts in Bilingual Memory.

In the last decade there has been a significant surge of interest in the psycholinguistics of bilingual memory which has resulted in a number of models of the relationship between words and concepts in the bilingual lexicon. Recently, authors such as Paradis (1997) and Grosjean (1998) have pointed out that many of these models do not distinguish between the semantic and the conceptual level, and that they suffer from confusion between processing and representation.
Geographic extent and chronology of the invasion of non-native lionfish (Pterois volitans (Linnaeus 1758) and P. miles (Bennett 1828)) in the Western North Atlantic and Caribbean Sea

The Indo-Pacific lionfishes (Pterois volitans [Linnaeus 1758] and P. miles [Bennett 1828]: Family Scorpaenidae) are the first non-native marine fishes to establish in the Western North Atlantic. The chronology of the invasion is reported here using records from the US Geological Survey’s Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database. Currently, lionfish are established off the Atlantic coast of the USA from the Florida Keys to Cape Hatteras (North Carolina), the Great Antilles, Bermuda, Bahamas, Cayman Islands and Turks and Caicos. The species have been reported from only one island in the Lesser Antilles (St. Croix), but it is not yet established there. Lionfish are established in Mexico, Honduras and Costa Rica. Reports have come from the Gulf of Mexico (Florida), Belize, Panama and Colombia; although lionfish are not considered established in these localities at this time (August 2009), invasion is likely imminent.
Superconducting stabilized X-band oscillators

Two X-band oscillators have been designed, built, and tested. Superconducting films of both Y/sub 1/Ba/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub x/ (YBCO) and Tl/sub 2/Ba/sub 2/Ca/sub 1/Cu/sub 2/O/sub 1/ (TBCCO) were used. The films were grown by laser ablation. A resonator was patterned in each of the high-temperature superconducting (HTSC) films to stabilize two X-band oscillators. The reaction-type oscillator uses a YBaCuO HTSC ring resonator and the parallel feedback oscillator uses a thallium-based HTSC half-wavelength resonator with an unloaded Q=21000. The design and development of these oscillators and characteristics of HTSC resonators are discussed. >
Structural basis of biological nitrogen fixation

Biological nitrogen fixation is mediated by the nitrogenase enzyme system that catalyses the ATP dependent reduction of atmospheric dinitrogen to ammonia. Nitrogenase consists of two component metalloproteins, the MoFe-protein with the FeMo-cofactor that provides the active site for substrate reduction, and the Fe-protein that couples ATP hydrolysis to electron transfer. An overview of the nitrogenase system is presented that emphasizes the structural organization of the proteins and associated metalloclusters that have the remarkable ability to catalyse nitrogen fixation under ambient conditions. Although the mechanism of ammonia formation by nitrogenase remains enigmatic, mechanistic inferences motivated by recent developments in the areas of nitrogenase biochemistry, spectroscopy, model chemistry and computational studies are discussed within this structural framework.