cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Criminal HIV Exposure Laws: Moving Forward

The year 2011 marked a quarter of a century since the first criminal HIV exposure laws were enacted. These laws—which typically criminalize undisclosed exposure to HIV through any of a number of sexual activities—have generated considerable commentary in the public health community, most of which has been negative. Two of the more memorable comments on these laws include Australian Justice Michael Kirby’s characterization of a second epidemic that arose in tandem with the HIV pandemic—the proliferation of what he described as “HIL,” or “highly inefficient laws,” among which were laws criminalizing HIV exposure [1]. In the first comprehensive survey and empirical investigation of state HIV exposure laws and associated criminal cases, Lazzarini et al. [2] reviewed classic purposes of criminal laws (deterrence and incapacitation) and upon finding little evidence that the laws achieve either, concluded that the actual purpose of HIV-specific exposure laws was largely symbolic, “rooted in the profound social differences over the acceptability of homosexuality and drug use, and the clash of values that those entail”.
Molecular Evidence for Independent Origin of Multifocal Neuroendocrine Tumors of the Enteropancreatic Axis

Neuroendocrine tumors of the enteropancreatic axis are often multifocal. We have investigated whether multifocal intestinal carcinoid tumors and multifocal pancreatic endocrine tumors arise independently or whether they originate from a single clone with subsequent intramural or intrapancreatic spread. Twenty-four cases, including 16 multifocal intestinal carcinoid tumors and eight multifocal pancreatic endocrine tumors, were studied. Genomic DNA samples were prepared from 72 distinct tumor nodules using laser capture microdissection. Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) assays were done using markers for putative tumor suppressor genes located on chromosomes 9p21 (p16), 11q13 (MEN1), 11q23 (SDHD), 16q21, 18q21, and 18q22-23. In addition, X chromosome inactivation analysis was done on the tumors from eight female patients. Twenty-two of 24 (92%) cases showed allelic loss in at least one tumor focus, including 15 of 16 (94%) cases of multifocal carcinoid tumors and 7 of 8 (88%) cases of multifocal pancreatic endocrine tumors. Eleven of 24 (46%) cases exhibited a different LOH pattern for each tumor. Additionally, 9 of 24 (38%) cases showed different LOH patterns among some of the coexisting tumors, whereas other coexisting tumors displayed the same allelic loss pattern. Two of 24 (8%) cases showed the same LOH pattern in every individual tumor. X chromosome inactivation analysis showed a discordant pattern of nonrandom X chromosome inactivation in two of six informative cases and concordant pattern of nonrandom X chromosome inactivation in the four remaining informative cases. Our data suggest that some multifocal neuroendocrine tumors of the enteropancreatic axis arise independently, whereas others originate as a single clone with subsequent local and discontinuous metastasis.
Absorption characteristics of mid-wave infrared type-II superlattices

Recently, a new strategy used to achieve high operation temperature (HOT) infrared photodetectors including III-V compound materials (bulk materials and type-II superlattices) and cascade devices has been observed. Another method to reduce detector’s dark current is reducing volume of detector material via a concept of photon trapping detector. The barrier detectors are designed to reduce dark current associated with Shockley-Read (SR) processes and to decrease influence of surface leakage current without impeding photocurrent (signal). In consequence, absence of a depletion region in barrier detectors offers a way to overcome the disadvantage of large depletion dark currents. So, they are typically implemented in materials with relatively poor SR lifetimes, such as all III-V compounds. From considerations presented in the paper results that despite numerous advantages of III-V barrier detectors over present-day detection technologies, including reduced tunneling and surface leakage currents, normal-incidence absorption, and suppressed Auger recombination, the promise of a superior performance of these detectors in comparison to HgCdTe photodiodes, has not been yet realized. The dark current density is higher than that of bulk HgCdTe photodiodes, especially in MWIR range. To attain their full potential, the following essential technological limitations such as short carrier lifetime, passivation, and heterostructure engineering, need to be overcome.
An ambulatory program for surgical residents and medical students.

Abstract Teaching in the ambulatory setting is important for medical educators because of the economic, social, and medical trends that are pushing patients into this health care setting. While medical education in the hospital setting maintains its important role, education in ambulatory care demands innovations and new strategies. A pilot program based in a freestanding ambulatory surgery center has been developed as part of a surgical residency training program. In the present article, the author describes the program, outlines its curriculum, and details the daily activities of the residents and medical students. A brief history of ambulatory surgery is given.
Dynamics and Languaging: Toward an Ecology of Language

We introduce the second of 2 special issues of Ecological Psychology that present papers from a conference, “Grounding Language in Perception and (Inter)action,” held at Gordon College in June 2009. The articles in this issue situate the study of language use in two kinds of context that are central to an understanding of “languaging” activities in the social settings in which they occur. The first is the context of dynamical systems theory. Wallot and Van Orden show how a dynamical systems approach can illuminate language use as the intentional and creative activity that it is. Cowley and Thibault illustrate the distributed language approach. Cowley follows Gibson (1979/1986) in comparing language understanding to picture perception. Thibault illustrates the wholly embedded nature of language use in an evocative example of 2 boys offering a description of aliens they have learned about in a story. All of the contributors emphasize language as embodied social action deeply embedded in the social contexts ...
Dioxin in Soil: Bioavailability After Ingestion by Rats and Guinea Pigs

Soil environmentally contaminated with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) was given by gavage to guinea pigs and rats. The development of a characteristic clinicopathologic syndrome in guinea pigs, the induction of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase in rats, and the presence of TCDD in the livers of both species show that TCDD in soil exhibits high biological availability after ingestion.
Glomerular filtration effects of acute volume expansion: importance of chloride.

Glomerular filtration effects of acute volume expansion: Importance of chloride. The present studies were done to determine the effect on GFR of acute volume expansion (AVE) using solutions of various sodium salts and to explore if degree of tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF) activation plays a role in any GFR differences. Free-flow micropuncture and inulin clearance studies were combined to investigate anesthetized Munich-Wistar rats expanded to 10% body weight with isotonic solutions of NaCl, Ringers bicarbonate (RB), NaHCO 3 , Na acetate (NaAc) and Na 2 SO 4 as well as euvolemic controls. In the clearance studies, AVE yielded per gram kidney weight GFR's greater than control (1009 ± 51 µl/min) in the NaCl and RB (chloride expanded) groups (1397 ± 89 and 1389 ± 64) µl/min, respectively, P 3 , NaAc, and Na 2 SO 4 (non-chloride expanded) groups. Proximal minus distal single nephron GFR determinations (P-D), an estimate of the degree of TGF, were less than control 13.2 ± 24 nl/min) in the NaCl and RB groups (4.1 ± 0.7 and 5.3 ± 1.9 nl/min, respectively, P 2 nor osmolality correlated with P-D for all groups. The correlation was negative for control and chloride expanded groups and positive for non-chloride expanded groups. We conclude 1.) AVE with chloride, but not non-chloride, solutions results in whole kidney GFR's greater than control due at least in part to greater inhibition of TGF by chloride expansion; 2.) ED chloride is correlated with opposite effects on TGF in chloride versus non-chloride AVE. We propose that this difference in TGF activation relates to characteristic intrarenal hormonal environments created by these different models of AVE in which the TGF mechanism is enacted.
The load of Chlamydia pneumoniae in the Alzheimer's brain varies with APOE genotype

Studies from this laboratory have indicated that the intracellular eubacterial respiratory pathogen Chlamydophila (Chlamydia) pneumoniae is commonly found in brain regions displaying characteristic neuropathology in patients with late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD) but not in congruent samples from non-AD control individuals. In later work, we provided evidence suggesting that some relationship exists between the APOE epsilon4 gene product and the pathobiology of this organism. In the present report, in situ hybridization analyses indicated that the number of C. pneumoniae-infected cells in affected brain regions of epsilon4-bearing AD patients was higher overall than that in congruent brain regions from AD patients lacking that allele. Quantitative real-time PCR analyses of AD brain tissue samples demonstrated that actual bacterial burden in those samples varied over several orders of magnitude, but that samples from epsilon4-bearing patients did have significantly higher bacterial loads than did congruent samples from patients without the allele (ANOVA, p<0.05). These results may explain in part the observations that epsilon4-bearing individuals have a higher risk of developing AD, and that such patients progress more rapidly to cognitive dysfunction than do individuals lacking this allele.
Weaving a new tapestry of research. A bibliography of selected readings on feminist research methods

Abstract Since the publication of Reinharz, Bombyk, and Wright's (1983) bibliography on feminist research methods, feminism and feminist approaches to social science have grown in the academic community. Whereas early writings focused on developing a clear, feminist critique of science, more recent work has concentrated on creating and implementing alternative research methods, as well as reconceptualizing traditional techniques. This current bibliography expands previous collections in three areas: (1) the addition of readings on women who experience multiple forms of oppression and the implications of such oppressions for research; (2) an update of writings on feminist critiques of science, feminist epistemologies, and feminist research methods; and (3) the inclusion of articles that target the specific steps of the research process and how feminist approaches can be implemented at each stage.
Mitochondrial MTHFD2L Is a Dual Redox Cofactor-specific Methylenetetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase/Methenyltetrahydrofolate Cyclohydrolase Expressed in Both Adult and Embryonic Tissues

Mammalian mitochondria are able to produce formate from one-carbon donors such as serine, glycine, and sarcosine. This pathway relies on the mitochondrial pool of tetrahydrofolate (THF) and several folate-interconverting enzymes in the mitochondrial matrix. We recently identified MTHFD2L as the enzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate (CH2-THF) in adult mammalian mitochondria. We show here that the MTHFD2L enzyme is bifunctional, possessing both CH2-THF dehydrogenase and 5,10-methenyl-THF cyclohydrolase activities. The dehydrogenase activity can use either NAD+ or NADP+ but requires both phosphate and Mg2+ when using NAD+. The NADP+-dependent dehydrogenase activity is inhibited by inorganic phosphate. MTHFD2L uses the mono- and polyglutamylated forms of CH2-THF with similar catalytic efficiencies. Expression of the MTHFD2L transcript is low in early mouse embryos but begins to increase at embryonic day 10.5 and remains elevated through birth. In adults, MTHFD2L is expressed in all tissues examined, with the highest levels observed in brain and lung.
In vivo evaluation of signal loss due to lens opacity

We have shown that by using the information available in a standard scan, one can estimate the loss of fluorescence signal at the anterior vitreous. The proposed method is restricted to lenses without cataracts, which is not a serious limitation because vitreous fluorophotometry is not performed on cataractous lenses. The procedure is easily implemented and requires only the use of an instrument with good axial resolution and reliable alignment with the ocular optical axis.
The effects of melting reactions on laboratory-scale waste vitrification

At the U.S. Department of Energy`s Hanford Site, processes are being developed to vitrify waste generated during nuclear materials processing. One of the wastes slated for vitrification is known as neutralized current acid waste (NCAW). The batch chemistry of simulated NCAW was varied with oxidants and reductants. Untreated, formated, nitrated, or sugar-added samples were combined with frit to produce melter feed. Offgas measurements of the formated melter feed showed that formates decomposed at temperatures too low for participation in melt redox reactions. Sugar pyrolized and produced CO and H{sub 2} at temperatures exceeding 665 {degree}C. For the sugar-added samples, the glass quenched from 1200 {degree}C produced an Fe{sup 2+}/{summation}Fe of 0.79. The measured iron redox ratios from the glasses made from untreated, formated, and nitrated wastes were essentially indistinguishable (0.0024 at 1000 {degree}C and 0.032 at 1200 {degree}C). However, the batch chemistry affected volume expansion and the reaction paths.
Severe preeclampsia and delivery outcomes: Is immediate cesarean delivery beneficial?

Abstract Objective: This study was designed to determine whether immediate cesarean delivery for patients with severe preeclampsia confers any benefit to the mother or neonate. Study Design: This retrospective chart review included all deliveries complicated by severe preeclampsia between July 1, 1999, and June 30, 2000. Cesarean deliveries performed for malpresentation, previous classic incision, multiple gestation, placenta previa, and herpetic outbreak were not included. Demographic variables, maternal outcomes, and neonatal outcomes were collected. Results: Of 114 patients, 93 had an option regarding route of delivery. Thirty-four had an immediate cesarean section and 59 had induction of labor. Thirty-seven of 59 were delivered vaginally and 22 of 59 underwent cesarean delivery. Pulmonary complications in the mother and neonate were more common in cesarean delivery ( P Conclusion: Immediate cesarean delivery confers no benefit to patients with severe preeclampsia. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2002;186:921-3.)
Phase I pharmacodynamic study of time and sequence dependency of hydroxyurea in combination with gemcitabine: a California Cancer Consortium Trial.

Preclinical studies in our laboratory have demonstrated that prior exposure to hydroxyurea increases the percentage of cells in S phase, enhancing the cytotoxicity of subsequent gemcitabine treatment in human oropharyngeal KB cells. To evaluate the clinical implications of this time- and sequence-dependent potentiation, we performed a phase I trial of hydroxyurea given over 24 h followed by a 30-min infusion of gemcitabine in weeks 1 and 2 of a 3-week cycle. The dose of hydroxyurea was fixed at 500 mg orally every 6 h for four doses starting 24 h before each dose of gemcitabine. The initial dose level of gemcitabine was 250 mg/m2 on days 2 and 9, and this was escalated stepwise to 1000 mg/m2 on days 2 and 9. Gemcitabine pharmacokinetics were determined on days 2 and 9 of the first cycle. Of 27 patients enrolled (12 female, 15 male), 24 were evaluable for response and 23 were evaluable for toxicity. Their median age was 56 years (range 27–76 years). Tumor types included lung, head and neck, pancreas, breast, colon, prostate, stomach, ovary, esophagus, germ cell, thyroid, gallbladder, and unknown primary. A total of 80 cycles of treatment were completed. One patient (unknown primary) had an objective partial response lasting 21 months, and 12 patients had stable disease. All observed dose-limiting toxicities were related to myelosuppression. The gemcitabine maximum tolerated dose was established at 750 mg/m2 on days 2 and 9. Hydroxyurea had no effect on the plasma pharmacokinetics of gemcitabine. These results suggest that hydroxyurea followed by gemcitabine can be safely administered and has activity on this schedule. We are presently developing a phase II trial of this regimen for patients with platinum-resistant head and neck cancer.
Neuronal expression of soluble adenylyl cyclase in the mammalian brain

Cyclic 3′,5′-adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) is a critical and ubiquitous second messenger involved in a multitude of signaling pathways. Soluble adenylyl cyclase (sAC) is a novel source of cAMP subject to unique localization and regulation. It was originally discovered in mammalian testis and found to be activated by bicarbonate and calcium. sAC has been implicated in diverse processes, including astrocyte-neuron metabolic coupling and axonal outgrowth of neurons. However, despite these functional studies, demonstration of sAC protein expression outside of testis has been controversial. Recently, we showed sAC immunoreactivity in astrocytes, but the question of neuronal expression of sAC remained. We now describe the generation of a second sAC knockout mouse model (C2KO) designed to more definitively address questions of sAC expression, and we demonstrate conclusively using immune-electron microscopy that sAC is expressed in neuronal profiles in the central nervous system.
Ammonia emissions from biomass burning

Measurements in the plumes from seven forest fires show that the concentrations of NH3 were considerably in excess of ambient val~es. Calculation of NH3 emissions from the fires, based on the ratio of NHJICO in the plumes and emissions of CO from biomass burning, suggest that biomass burning may be a significant source of attnospheric NH3.
Private support for the arts in U.S. metropolitan areas with United Arts Funds

Introduction As many urban communities seek to advance in the quality of their major performing arts, several key concerns have emerged for community leaders. Among those concerns are how much funding commitment is reasonable to expect from the community as awareness of the arts contribution to the economy and to the quality of life is better understood and how does one reach the limits of funding capability?
Neural Predictive Force Control for a Hydraulic Actuator: Simulation and Experiment

This paper proposes a neural-based predictive control algorithm for online control of a force-acting industrial hydraulic actuator. In the algorithm, a multilayer feedforward neural network is employed to modeling the highly nonlinear hydraulic actuator. The nonlinear neural model is instantaneously linearized at each sampling point. Estimated parameters from the linearized model are used in the generalized predictive control (GPC) algorithm to control the contact force. Simulation and experimental results show that the neural-based predictive controller can adapt to different environments and keep the contact force in a desired value despite high nonlinearity and uncertainty in the hydraulic actuator system.
Measles virus expressed Helicobacter pylori neutrophil-activating protein significantly enhances the immunogenicity of poor immunogens

Helicobacter pylori neutrophil-activating protein (NAP) is a toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) agonist and potent immunomodulator inducing Th1-type immune response. Here we present data about characterization of the humoral immune response against NAP-tagged antigens, encoded by attenuated measles virus (MV) vector platform, in MV infection susceptible type I interferon receptor knockout and human CD46 transgenic (Ifnarko-CD46Ge) mice. Immunogenicity of MV expressing a full-length human immunoglobulin lambda light chain (MV-lambda) was compared to that of MV expressing lambda-NAP chimeric protein (MV-lambda-NAP). MV-lambda-NAP immunized Ifnarko-CD46Ge mice developed significantly higher (6–20-fold) anti-lambda ELISA titers as compared to the MV-lambda-immunized control animal group, indicating that covalently-linked NAP co-expression significantly enhanced lambda immunogenicity. In contrast, ELISA titers against MV antigens were not significantly different between the animals vaccinated with MV-lambda or MV-lambda-NAP. NAP-tagged antigen expression did not affect development of protective anti-measles immunity. Both MV-lambda and MV-lambda-NAP-immunized groups showed strong virus neutralization serum titers in plaque reduction microneutralization test. These results demonstrated that MV-encoded lambda-NAP is highly immunogenic as compared to the unmodified full-length lambda chain. Boost of immune response to poor immunogens using live vectors expressing NAP-tagged chimeric antigens is an attractive approach with potential application in immunoprophylaxis of infectious diseases and cancer immunotherapy.
Use of endoluminal stent-grafts in acute aortic rupture

Purpose: To report our experience with stent-graft treatment of acute aortic injuries. Materials and methods: Emergent stent-graft placement was considered in patients with acute aortic rupture or injury who were deemed to be high-risk candidates for surgery. After medical stabilization, patients were evaluated for suitability for endovascular interventions. Anatomic criteria for stent-grafting included: (1) contained ruptures of the thoracic aorta located distal to the left subclavian artery and above the celiac axis, and (2) a proximal and distal neck of ≥ 15 mm in length and ≤ 40 mm in diameter. Stent-grafts consisted of a modified Z-stent endoskeleton covered with woven polyester vascular graft material. All devices were placed under general endotracheal anesthesia. A transfemoral approach was utilized if the iliofemoral artery diameter was ≥ 8 mm. For iliofemoral diameters < 8 mm, the catheters were inserted directly into the infrarenal aorta after a retroperitoneal exposure. Patient follow-up consisted of angiography and spiral CT scan prior to discharge from the hospital. Subsequent spiral CT studies were performed at 6 and 12 months, and at 1-year intervals thereafter. Results: Thirteen patients (11 men and 2 women) with a mean age of 60 years (range 34–81 years) underwent emergent placement of thoracic stent-grafts for acute aneurysmal rupture (n = 8), traumatic transection (n = 3), or tumor and abscess erosions (n = 2). The stent-grafts were deployed successfully in all cases and there were no cases of embolization, paraplegia, or stent-graft migration. No patient required surgical conversion. The average stent-graft dimension was 34 mm in diameter (range 24–38 mm) by 15.8 cm in length (range 5.0–17.5 cm). No patient with traumatic aortic injury was excluded on the basis of anatomic criteria. Two patients died within 1 month of the procedure, one of ventricular rupture and the other of cardiac arrest on day 28 after an uneventful hospital course for a ruptured aneurysm. Conclusion: The preliminary experience from our series demonstrates that aortic stent-grafting for traumatic aortic injury is technically feasible and can be used to treat thoracic aortic rupture in patients at high risk for standard operative therapy.
Endogenous phosphorylation of four cerebral cortical membrane proteins: role of cyclic nucleotides, ATP and divalent cations.

Abstract Endogenous phosphorylation of 4 membrane-bound protein components of cerebral cortex was studied in vitro . Cyclic AMP was shown to stimulate phosphorylation to a major extent in protein components designated D, E and G, but to a minor extent in protein component F. The time course of phosphorylation of each of these components is affected differently by (a) the presence of cyclic nucleotides or zinc ions and (b) the concentration of ATP and magnesium ions in the reaction mixture. Although a different membrane preparation was used here than by Ueda et al. 29 , molecular weight determination and response to divalent cations, magnesium and zinc, suggest that components D and E may be the same as their proteins I and II. The newly described phosphoproteins, F and G, are respectively the least and most stimulated by the addition of cyclic AMP. Under certain conditions phosphate content in protein E can be increased by cyclic AMP and decreased by cyclic GMP.
Financial Presentation Format and Managerial Decision Making Tables Versus Graphs

A shift is occurring in management information systems from tabular to graphic presentation. The present study sought to identify decision task conditions under which presentation format of financial information influences judgments. In a series of experiments conducted with MBAs and undergraduate business students, presentation format was found to have no influence in a prediction task but to have a strong impact when the task involved assessments of confidence in predictions.
Theoretical Necessity of a Positive Value for the Brans-Dicke Coupling Constant ω

It is shown a priori that the Brans-Dicke coupling constant $\ensuremath{\omega}$ must be non-negative.
Experimental verification of the effective photon theory of laser induced gas ionization

Abstract The effective photon theory of optically induced gas ionization is shown to be able to explain the focal length dependence of the intensity threshold for gas breakdown and the dependence on time of the ionization rate in the gas during the pre-breakdown phase.
Bax deficiency extends the survival of Ku70 knockout mice that develop lung and heart diseases

Ku70 (Lupus Ku autoantigen p70) is essential in nonhomologous end joining DNA double-strand break repair, and ku70−/− mice age prematurely because of increased genomic instability and DNA damage responses. Previously, we found that Ku70 also inhibits Bax, a key mediator of apoptosis. We hypothesized that Bax-mediated apoptosis would be enhanced in the absence of Ku70 and contribute to premature death observed in ku70−/− mice. Here, we show that ku70−/− bax+/− and ku70−/− bax−/− mice have better survival, especially in females, than ku70−/− mice, even though Bax deficiency did not decrease the incidence of lymphoma observed in a Ku70-null background. Moreover, we found that ku70−/− mice develop lung diseases, like emphysema and pulmonary arterial (PA) occlusion, by 3 months of age. These lung abnormalities can trigger secondary health problems such as heart failure that may account for the poor survival of ku70−/− mice. Importantly, Bax deficiency appeared to delay the development of emphysema. This study suggests that enhanced Bax activity exacerbates the negative impact of Ku70 deletion. Furthermore, the underlying mechanisms of emphysema and pulmonary hypertension due to PA occlusion are not well understood, and therefore ku70−/− and Bax-deficient ku70−/− mice may be useful models to study these diseases.
Management of paclitaxel-induced neurotoxicity

Paclitaxel exerts its antitumor activity by promoting microtubule assembly and stabilizing microtubules. Microtubules are important for the development and maintenance of neurons. As a consequence, neurotoxicity is one of the drug’s major side effects. The risk of neurotoxicity depends on dose, duration and schedule of paclitaxel. Risk increases for patients with pre-existing conditions that may cause neuropathy (such as alcohol consumption, diabetes, or renal disease) or with simultaneous or prior exposure to other neurotoxic chemotherapy such as platinum-based drugs, vinca alkaloids, immunomodulators, proteasome inhibitors, and epothilones. Patients with paclitaxel-induced neurotoxicity (PINT) experience a constellation of symptoms over the course of treatment and beyond, ranging from mild to severe. Typically, the clinical presentation reflects an axonal peripheral neuropathy with glove-and-stocking distribution sensory loss, combined with features suggestive of nerve hyperexcitability including paresthesia, dysesthesia, and pain. Proprioceptive and motor effects become apparent as neuropathy becomes more advanced. These symptoms may be prolonged, severe, disabling, relatively resistant to intervention and adversely affect activities of daily living and thereby quality of life. Management is mainly symptomatic and supportive. Despite attempts to minimize PINT with changes in dose, vehicle, delivery systems, infusion schedule and premedication or co-treatment with neuroprotective agents, PINT remains dose-limiting in many instances and is a barrier to achieving the desired clinical response.
A case study: Developing convergent formative evaluation methodology

The following case study has been severely edited due to space constraints. An effort was made to maintain the flavor of the case study, to ensure the results are presented and to mention the statistical procedures used. A complete report of the project is available from the authors. JBJ
Derived Radial Position and Width Signals from a TV Beam Viewer

We have, at the Zero Gradient Synchrotron (ZGS), a beam viewer which displays in near real time the brightness, width, and position of the beam. This consists basically of a calibrated phosphorescent screen which nondestructively collects ions generated by the circulating beam. A closed circuit TV system transports the signal to the Main Control Room. Circuits were developed which derive analog voltages representative of the beam width and position from the synchronization and video signals. The brightness vs. horizontal position linearity was improved by vidicon model change and a simple shading circuit. A calibrator which simulates a beam was built into the system and is invaluable for initial setup and linearity tests.
Fit to be Tied The Incentive Effects of Overtime Rules in Professional Hockey

This article examines the incentive effects of different payoff structures in the National Hockey League. A rule change prior to the 1999-2000 season, which changed the way that teams were awarded points in overtime games, provides a natural experiment to test the reaction of teams to a change in the payoff structure. The rule change had the desired effect of increasing excitement during overtime play. This article shows, however, that the rule also had the effect of increasing the frequency of overtime games, an effect predictable from the change in incentives but one not intended by the league.
Towards a comprehensive regional security framework in the Black Sea region after the Russia–Georgia war

The August 2008 war between Russia and Georgia has had a major negative impact on the security of the Black Sea region. However, the conflict not only elevated the perception of threat among regional states, it also opened a window of opportunity for making progress on important regional issues including other protracted regional conflicts such as Nagorno–Karabakh, redefining the role of Turkey and Russia in the region, expanding the EU role, and starting new discussions on regional and wider European security. This article assesses the prospects for creating a comprehensive cooperative security community in the Black Sea region, possible drivers for enhanced regional cooperation, and major obstacles that hinder the process.
Distributed Detection in Sensor Networks: Connectivity Graph and Small World Networks

We study distributed detection in a sensor network where the sensors cooperate by exchanging information to reach a common understanding about the environment. We address two main issues: (1) distributed fusion: how to achieve a global decision without transmitting the information (measurements or local decisions) from all the sensors to a common central location like in parallel architectures; and (2) connectivity graph: what should be the connectivity pattern among the sensors, in other words, with which sensors should each sensor communicate. This is a nontrivial question since it corresponds to designing the structure of a graph to achieve a given goal. For the first issue, we propose an iterative algorithm that fuses the data globally without the need for collecting them at one central location. For the second issue, we present a design methodology based on "small world" network engines that leads to connectivity patterns that provide fast convergence to the distributed detection algorithm. Results show that introducing 10% to 30% randomness in the connectivity graph leads to significant improvements over both regular patterns and totally random networks
Coverage and hole-detection in sensor networks via homology

We consider coverage problems in sensor networks of stationary nodes with minimal geometric data. In particular, there are no coordinates and no localization of nodes. We introduce a new technique for detecting holes in coverage by means of homology, an algebraic topological invariant. The impetus for these techniques is a completion of network communication graphs to two types of simplicial complexes: the nerve complex and the Rips complex. The former gives information about coverage intersection of individual sensor nodes, and is very difficult to compute. The latter captures connectivity in terms of inter-node communication: it is easy to compute but does not in itself yield coverage data. We obtain coverage data by using persistence of homology classes for Rips complexes. These homological invariants are computable: we provide simulation results.
Matrix metalloproteinase levels in chronic thoracic aortic dissection

Abstract Background Imbalance between matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMPs) can lead to aortic wall failure. We hypothesized that patients with aneurysms resulting from chronic descending thoracic aortic dissection have elevated tissue and plasma levels of specific MMPs and decreased tissue levels of TIMPs. Materials and methods Aortic tissue was obtained from 25 patients who required surgical repair of descending thoracic aortic aneurysm due to chronic aortic dissection and from 17 organ-donor controls without aortic disease. Tissue levels of MMP-1, -2, -3, -9, -12, and -13 and TIMP-1 and -2 were measured by colorimetric activity assay or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and confirmed by Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Blood obtained from the 25 patients and 15 controls without aortic diseases was used to compare plasma levels of MMP-3, -9, and -12. Results Total MMP-1, total MMP-9, and active MMP-9 levels were higher and total MMP-2 levels were lower in dissection tissue than in control tissue. Additionally, the MMP-9 to TIMP-1 and active to total MMP-2 ratios were higher and the MMP-2 to TIMP-2 ratio was lower in dissection tissue. Furthermore, patients had higher plasma active to total MMP-9 ratios than the controls. Age and hypertension were associated with increased MMP levels. Conclusions Increased levels of several MMPs and increased MMP to TIMP ratios in aortic tissue from patients suggest an environment that favors proteolysis, which may promote progressive extracellular matrix destruction and medial degeneration after aortic dissection. An elevated active to total MMP-9 ratio in plasma may be a biomarker for end-stage aneurysm development in patients with chronic thoracic aortic disease.
A mathematical model that predicts the force-frequency relationship of human skeletal muscle.

In previous work we developed and validated a mathematical model that predicted force output from skeletal muscles subjected to six-pulse stimulation trains under isometric condition. The current study investigated the model's ability to predict force responses to longer stimulation trains under both nonfatigued and fatigued conditions. Using the six-pulse train model to predict the force produced by longer stimulation trains showed that the model was successful, but a modified parameter identification scheme was required. For most of the trains tested the model accounted for 95% of the variance in the experimental forces produced by stimulation trains, with mean frequencies from 12.5 to 100 HZ, train durations from 485 to 1000 ms, and number of pulses from 14 to 50 for both nonfatigued and fatigued muscles. The success of our mathematical model in predicting forces produced by stimulations with a wide range of frequencies, durations, and number of pulses implies great potential of the model for the identification of optimal activation patterns that should be used during functional electrical stimulation. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Muscle Nerve 26: 477–485, 2002
Banyan networks for partitioning multiprocessor systems

This paper describes a class of partitioning networks, called banyans, whose cost function grows more slowly than that of the crossbar and whose fan-out requirements are independent of network size. Such networks can economically partition the resources of large modular systems into a wide variety of subsystems. Any possible partition can be realized by paralleling several networks or by multiplexing a single network in a manner to be described later. Results will be given indicating that a cost/performance advantage over the crossbar can be obtained for large systems and that the crossbar can, in fact, be considered a non-optimal special case of a banyan network. Inherent fail-soft capability and the existence of rapid control algorithms which can be largely performed by distributed logic within the network are also important attributes of banyans. This paper presents fundamental properties and preliminary simulation results of banyan partitioning networks. A more detailed treatment, including proofs of theoretical properties, is reserved for reference (5).
Characterization of a maternal T-Box gene in Ciona intestinalis.

A new T-box gene, CiVegTR, was isolated in the ascidian Ciona intestinalis. CiVegTR maternal RNAs become localized to the vegetal cytoplasm of fertilized eggs and are incorporated into muscle lineages derived from the B4.1 blastomere. The CiVegTR protein binds to specific sequences within a minimal, 262-bp enhancer that mediates Ci-snail expression in the tail muscles. Mutations in these binding sites abolish expression from an otherwise normal lacZ reporter gene in electroporated embryos. In addition to the previously identified AC-core E-box sequences, T-box recognition sequences are conserved in the promoter regions of many genes expressed in B4.1 lineages in both Ciona and the distantly related ascidian Halocynthia. These results suggest that CiVegTR encodes a component of the classical muscle determinant that was first identified in ascidians nearly 100 years ago.
Is poverty more acute near parks? An assessment of infant mortality rates around protected areas in developing countries

The relationship between conservation and poverty has received extensive attention recently, and the impacts of protected areas on the welfare of communities surrounding them has been debated. I seek to contribute to this debate by using a unique sub-national database of infant mortality rates for an analysis of such mortality surrounding protected areas in developing countries. The paper tests the hypotheses that poverty rates in regions surrounding protected areas in developing countries are higher than national averages and that poverty rates are highest around large and strictly protected areas. Preliminary evidence suggests that infant mortality rates surrounding protected areas, and even those surrounding the most strictly protected areas, are not very different from national rates. Infant mortality rates are significantly higher among populations surrounding larger protected areas but the causal relationship is uncertain. Data limitations and other problems related to this kind of global analysis are discussed. Information of the kind presented in this paper can assist management authorities to assess the relative poverty surrounding protected areas in their countries so as to set priorities for poverty alleviation interventions, and may serve as a useful sampling frame for local case studies and long-term monitoring.
Regulation of Pancreatic β-Cell Glucokinase: From Basics to Therapeutics

Glucokinase (GK) serves as glucose sensor in pancreatic beta-cells and in other glucose sensor cells in the body. Biochemical genetic studies have characterized many activating and inactivating GK mutants that have been discovered in patients with hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia or diabetes, all inherited as autosomal dominant traits. Mathematical modeling of the kinetic data of recombinant human wild-type and mutant GK accurately predicts the effects of GK mutations on the threshold of glucose-stimulated insulin release and glucose homeostasis. Structure/function studies of the enzyme suggest the existence of a hitherto unknown allosteric activator site of the enzyme that has significant implications for the physiological chemistry of GK-containing cells, particularly the pancreatic beta-cells. Glucose is the preeminent positive regulator of beta-cell GK expression and involves molecular mechanisms that are still to be elucidated in detail, but seem to have a specific requirement for increased glucose metabolism. Pharmaceutical chemists, motivated by the clear tenets of the GK glucose-sensor paradigm, have searched for and have discovered a novel class of GK activator molecules. The therapeutic application of this basic discovery offers a new principle for drug therapy of diabetes.
Maintaining integrity of germline DNA: individuals age, species do not

All life forms are under constant assault, resulting in an accumulation of damage within each individual, in both somatic and germline cells. The obvious causes are: (1) mutations from radiation, chemical reactions like peroxidation and errors in replicating genetic material; (2) injury due to environmental insults, such as chemical alteration of proteins by reactive oxygen species; (3) epigenetic errors, such as failure of appropriate maintenance methylation of cytosines of DNA; and (4) numerous other problems, including retroviral invasions, inflammation and unhealthy microbiomes. Collectively, these phenomena constitute aging and/or certain disease states. Nature has developed numerous mechanisms to counteract these problems, such as proofreading enzymes, ubiquitous antioxidants and apoptotic death of unfit cells. However, none of these is completely effective. Although individuals accumulate damage, species usually do not become increasingly damaged; however, this could be one of the mechanisms for eventual extinction or evolution to a different species, the apparent fate of essentially all species. Nevertheless, germline DNA appears to remain sufficiently pristine to maintain fairly stable phenotypes over many generations. How do species avoid accumulating damage when composed of individuals that do? One broad answer seems to be reproductive redundancy followed by elimination of defects through the death of gametes, embryos, fetuses, neonates and postpubertal individuals, with the culling pressure increasing as potential parents age. Another major force appears to be evolutionary pressure; individuals that best fit the environment out-reproduce those that fit less well. What is impressive is that older and older parents continue to have offspring that are nearly as pristine as those of younger parents, even though their germline cells have continued to age. Although the offspring of old parents are not as fit, on average, as those of young parents, differences are small and, in some species, compensated for by superior parenting with accumulated experience. To conclude, it appears that species do not age, even though they are composed of individuals whose somatic and germline cells have aged.
Gain-flattened ultra-wideband fiber amplifiers

This paper presents a novel design of a gain-flattened amplifier that covers an ultra-wide band including the S, C, and L bands. The amplifier has a split-band architecture, which amplifies the S-, C-, and L-band signals in separate paths and then recombines the amplified signals for the final output. Using a commercial software package VPI Component MakerTM, the design was simulated and tested for optimization. The gain and noise figure of the new amplifier were analyzed by computer simulation. A gain of 29 dB, a ripple factor of about 1.7 dB, a nominal low noise figure 120 nm can be achieved.
Probing genetic algorithms for feature selection in comprehensive metabolic profiling approach

Six different clones of 1-year-old loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) seedlings grown under standardized conditions in a green house were used for sample preparation and further analysis. Three independent and complementary analytical techniques for metabolic profiling were applied in the present study: hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC-LC/ESI-MS), reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RP-LC/ESI-MS), and gas chromatography all coupled to mass spectrometry (GC/TOF-MS). Unsupervised methods, such as principle component analysis (PCA) and clustering, and supervised methods, such as classification, were used for data mining. Genetic algorithms (GA), a multivariate approach, was probed for selection of the smallest subsets of potentially discriminative classifiers. From more than 2000 peaks found in total, small subsets were selected by GA as highly potential classifiers allowing discrimination among six investigated genotypes. Annotated GC/TOF-MS data allowed the generation of a small subset of identified metabolites. LC/ESI-MS data and small subsets require further annotation. The present study demonstrated that combination of comprehensive metabolic profiling and advanced data mining techniques provides a powerful metabolomic approach for biomarker discovery among small molecules. Utilizing GA for feature selection allowed the generation of small subsets of potent classifiers.
CLINICAL TRIALS IN PULMONARY HYPERTENSION

Progress in treatment of pulmonary hypertension has been impaired by the lack of formal clinical trials. This is now beginning to change, and the impact on our approach to treating patients with pulmonary hypertension in substantial. As with other relatively uncommon medical disorders, randomized, controlled, multi-center trials are needed to assess the safety and efficacy of potential therapeutic modalities. Treatments showing promise at the level of small pilot studies within a single center should be studied more rigorously.
High sensitivity identification of proteins by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry: Initial com‐ parison between an ion trap mass spectrometer and a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer

Recently, we have shown that a solid-phase-microextraction/capillary electrophoresis device coupled to an electrospray ionization triple quadrupole mass spectrometer through a microelectrospray interface represents a powerful analytical system for the rapid, conclusive and sensitive identification of proteins separated by gel electrophoresis. Here we report on the successful coupling of the same device to an electrospray ionization ion trap mass spectrometer and on the comparative evaluation of the performance of the triple quadrupole and ion-trap-based systems. In the ion trap mass spectrometer-based system, using a tryptic digest of a calibrated bovine serum albumin sample, we achieved limits of detection in the single mass spectrometry (MS) and tandem MS mode, respectively, of 400 amol (if 20 microL of solution at a concentration of 20 amol/microL was applied). The system was also successfully used to identify six yeast proteins isolated from a single analytical two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel. For the detection of unfragmented peptide ions both systems showed comparable sensitivity, whereas the ion-trap-based system showed superior performance with fragment ion spectra.