cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Alcohol and the Heart: A Proteomics Analysis of Pericardium and Myocardium in a Swine Model of Myocardial Ischemia.

Background Previous studies have demonstrated that moderate alcohol consumption is cardioprotective and reduces postoperative pericardial adhesions; however, the mechanism is not fully understood. Using proteomic analysis, we sought to objectively investigate the effects of daily moderate alcohol consumption in the pericardium and myocardium in a swine model of chronic myocardial ischemia. Methods Fourteen swine underwent placement of an ameroid constrictor to induce chronic myocardial ischemia. Animals were supplemented with 90 mL of ethanol daily (ETOH) or 80 g of sucrose of equal caloric value (SUC). After 7 weeks, the ischemic myocardium and pericardium were harvested for proteomics analysis. Results Pericardial proteomics analysis yielded 397 proteins, of which 23 were unique to SUC and 52 were unique to ETOH. Of the 322 common proteins, 71 were statistically significant and 23 were characterized ( p p p p Conclusions The results suggest that daily moderate alcohol consumption affects numerous pathways that contribute to cardioprotection, including cardiac remodeling, metabolism, and cell death. Our findings reveal the biosignature of myocardial and pericardial protein expression in the setting of chronic myocardial ischemia and daily moderate alcohol consumption.
The Affordable Care Act and Insurer Business Practices.

The ACA’s major changes to health insurers’ practices, which include requirements for adequate and affordable health insurance coverage, have resulted in a substantial reduction in the number of uninsured people in the US.
An efficient approach to quantify process feasibility based on convex hull

Publisher Summary Plant flexibility has been recognized to represent one of the important components in the operability of the production processes. Approaches that exist in the literature to quantify the flexibility for a given design involve the deterministic measures, such as the resilience index (RI), the flexibility index, and the stochastic measures––such as the design reliability. This chapter discusses the problem of quantifying process feasibility––that is, the capability of feasible operation under changing operating conditions. The basic idea is to evaluate the convex hull that is inscribed within the feasible region and determine its volume based on Delaunay Triangulation. The basic definition of the Delaunay Triangulation is the graph that has a node for every Voronoi cell and a straight line connecting two nodes, if the corresponding cells share an edge. The computation of the Delaunay Triangulation is based on the same iterative procedure as the convex hull estimation. The approach not only provides another feasibility measure but also an accurate description of the feasible space of the process. The approach has been applied to convex and one-dimensional convex problems, and work is in progress to extend the ideas to nonconvex systems. The example is presented to illustrate the basic steps of the approach and the results obtained.
Agency Avoidance of Rulemaking Procedures

This Article analyzes when and why administrative agencies avoid rulemaking procedural requirements such as the Administrative Procedure Act’s notice-and-comment process. This Article’s original empirical analysis shows that agencies invoke statutory exemptions to avoid such rulemaking procedures more frequently as the threat of a lawsuit challenging that avoidance declines. In situations with a low threat of suit, agencies have avoided rulemaking procedures for more than 90 percent of rules. Such avoidance falls when the threat of suit increases. But even when litigation ensues, courts do not consistently require agencies to comply with rulemaking procedures. This spotty judicial enforcement, along with significant agency avoidance, casts doubt on the claim that rulemaking procedures have significantly burdened the rulemaking process. At the same time, agency avoidance suggests that rulemaking procedures do less than commonly thought to promote public deliberation in the rulemaking process, foster agency expertise, guard against agency arbitrariness, and make agencies accountable to Congress and to the public. This suggests that agency avoidance of rulemaking procedures has some benefits, but also many costs.
Explicit Formulas for Generalized Fractal Strings

In this chapter, we present our (pointwise and distributional) explicit formulas for the lengths and frequencies of a fractal string. To unify the exposition, and with a view toward later applications, we formulate our results in the language of generalized fractal strings, introduced in Chapter 3. The explicit formulas express the counting function of the lengths or of the frequencies as a sum over the visible complex dimensions ω of the generalized fractal string η.
Lanthanides: Metal‐Organic Frameworks

Rare earth metal-organic frameworks generally contain lanthanide Ln3+ ions coordinated by organic linkers with “hard” Lewis bases forming highly crystalline porous polymers. This chapter provides a brief description of rare earth metal-organic frameworks and provides a comparison of their chemical and physical properties. The unique luminescent properties are examined across the lanthanide series and the origin of luminescence in rare earth metal-organic frameworks is explored in detail. Potential applications involving rare earth metal-organic frameworks are discussed. This includes their use as chemical sensors for various ions, small molecules, and changes in temperature. Additionally, their utility as potential materials for novel biotechnology applications is highlighted. Keywords: rare earth; coordination polymer; metal-organic framework; luminescence; chemical sensors; biotechnology
Scalable Parallelization of Harmonic Balance Simulation

A new approach to parallelizing harmonic balance simulation is presented. The technique leverages circuit substructure to expose potential parallelism in the form of a directed, acyclic graph (dag) of computations. This dag is then allocated and scheduled using various linear clustering techniques. The result is a highly scalable and efficient approach to harmonic balance simulation. Two large examples, one from the integrated circuit regime and another from the communication regime, executed on three different parallel computers are used to demonstrate the efficacy of the approach.
Selenium Levels in Human Blood and Tissues in Health and in Disease

The levels of selenium in human sera and pancreatic, hepatic and synovial tissues were measured. An attempt was made to correlate the selenium level with certain disease states. Selenium was determined by nerutron activation analysis, using the 17.4 second half-life isotope 77mSe with a sensitivity of 2ppb. Serum-bound selenium was determined in normal individuals and individuals with various malignancies, and medical and surgical disorders. Tissue selenium was assayed in diseased and normal pancreases, livers, and synovial membranes. A wide variation was observed both in the serum selenium content of patients with a malignancy and in postmoren pancreatic and synovial showing histopathological changes. Significantly lower selenium values were observed in sera from cancer patients than from normal individuals. Higher values were generally observed in patients with primary neoplasms of the reticuloendothelial system. Higher tissue concentrations were obtained in synovia from patients with rheumatoid arthritis and in pancreatic tissues associated with histopathological changes.
Increase in Circulating Stem Cells in Patients With Myelofibrosis

An increased number of granulocytic and mononuclear cell colonies was grown in vitro from blood of patients with myelofibrosis and ranged between 162-4370 colonies/ml of blood. The number of colonies grown from normal individuals and ranged between 40-120/ml blood. There was no correlation between the number of colonies and number of potentially proliferating granulocytic cells (myeloblasts, promyelocytes, myelocytes) plated. In six patients colony size was similar to that of colonies grown from normal individuals and larger than colonies grown from patients with leukemia. Morphologically, colonies consisted of either eosinophils, neutrophils, monocytes, or macrophages. These data indicate that an increased number of stem cells capable of giving rise to in vitro colonies of granulocytes and mononuclear cells circulate in patients with myelofibrosis. The growth pattern of these colonies differed from colonies grown from leukemia cells suggesting that these may not be closely related diseases.
Ensemble vs. electronic effects on the reactivity of two-dimensional Pd alloys: a comparison of CO and CH3OH adsorption on Zn/Pd(111) and Cu/Pd(111).

The adsorption of CO and CH3OH on two-dimensional PdCu alloys on Pd(111) was studied using temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) and high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS), and compared to results previously obtained for analogous PdZn alloys on Pd(111). Cu addition to the Pd(111) surface was found to alter the preferred adsorption sites for CO from threefold to bridge Pd sites and decrease the activity for the dehydrogenation of CH3OH. However, the effect of Cu was much less dramatic than that observed for Zn on Zn-modified surfaces. Preliminary DFT calculations also show that Cu causes less perturbation of the electronic structure of nearby Pd sites relative to Zn. The experimental results for the surface PdCu alloys indicate that Cu predominantly has an ensemble effect on reactivity while more significant long-range electronic interactions in addition to ensemble effects appear to be important for PdZn.
Plasma Inorganic Phosphate, Calcium, and Magnesium Levels of Hens Which Laid Soft-Shelled or Shell-Less Eggs

Abstract A total of 564 plasma samples was collected from Leghorn hens to determine if inorganic phosphate, calcium, and magnesium concentrations differed in birds which had just laid soft-shelled (SS) or shell-less (SL) eggs when compared to control hens. Four groups, 141 observations per group, were used. Group 1 consisted of hens which had just laid SS or SL eggs. Group 2 contained hens with SS or SL eggs in their uteri. Group 3 consisted of hens with hard-shelled (HS) eggs in their uteri. Group 4 represented those hens which had just laid HS eggs. In general, a lower concentration of plasma calcium and magnesium was found in hens which laid either SS/SL or HS eggs (Groups 1 and 4, respectively) when compared to hens with SS/SL or HS eggs in their uteri (Groups 2 and 3, respectively). Likewise, a lower concentration of plasma inorganic phosphate was observed in hens which laid HS eggs (Group 4) when compared to hens with HS eggs in their uteri (Group 3). However, a greater concentration of plasma phosphate was found in hens which laid SS/SL eggs (Group 1) when compared to hens with SS/SL eggs in their uteri (Group 2). It is concluded that hens which laid SS/SL eggs had plasma calcium and magnesium concentrations comparable to hens which produced HS eggs. However, birds which laid SS/SL eggs had higher plasma phosphate levels than those which laid HS eggs.
Only Tongue Protrusion Modeling Is Matched by Neonates

Abstract Studies claiming to have demonstrated facial imitation in the neonatal period are often cited as evidence that rudimentary representational abilities are present at birth. A critical examination of nine studies with infants ranging in average age from 2 days to 7 weeks demonstrates that the claims of early imitative abilities are not well founded. All nine studies investigated the imitation of tongue protrusion (TP) and one other gesture: head movement (HM) in one study and mouth opening (MO) in eight studies. Two studies acknowledged that there was a modeling effect for TP but not for MO. The remaining studies claimed to have obtained effects not just for TP but also for the other gesture investigated (MO or HM). But a close examination of these studies shows that in contrast to the TP effect, which was clear and consistent, the MO and HM effects were weak and inconsistent and in some cases derived from the TP effect. Because the matching behavior found is restricted to a single gesture, it is best explained as a specific, directly elicited response, rather than imitation.
Removal of periodicities by differencing and monthly mean subtraction

Abstract A monthly hydrologic time series, rescaled to obtain a constant variance, has a spectrum which, in turn, has a discrete and a continuous part representing the contributions of the circularly stationary (periodic) and stationary random components, respectively. A spectral representation can be constructed for this mixed spectrum which is observed in monthly runoff and rainfall time series. Seasonal and nonseasonal differencing and monthly mean subtraction methods for the removal of the circularly stationary (periodic) component were analyzed making use of this spectral representation for the case of monthly series. It is shown both analytically and by an example that seasonal differencing removes and nonseasonal differencing effectively reduces the periodicity in the covariance function. Both kinds of differencing greatly distort the original spectrum, wiping out the original spectral contribution at the origin and greatly reducing it near the origin. Fitting an ARMA model with few parameters to the distorted spectrum is almost impossible and the fitted models are impractical for hydrologic simulation since they either yield an infinite variance or are undefined at the spectral origin. Subtraction of monthly means completely removes the periodicity in the covariance but introduces a nonstationarity which is negligible for practical purposes.
BioN∅T: A searchable database of biomedical negated sentences

Background Negated biomedical events are often ignored by text-mining applications; however, such events carry scientific significance. We report on the development of BioN∅T, a database of negated sentences that can be used to extract such negated events.
Ultrafast spectroscopy of arylchlorodiazirines: Hammett correlations of excited state lifetimes.

Experimental and computational studies suggest that 375 nm excitation of arylchlorodiazirines furnishes their S1 excited states with lengthened C−N bonds, a positive charge at the para and diazirine carbon atoms, and a negative charge at the nitrogen atoms. These structures rationalize the observed solvent and substituent effects on the excited state lifetimes.
A compact wave source condition for the pseudospectral time-domain method [EM wave propagation applications]

An incident wave source condition that specifies the field at a single grid point is problematic for the pseudospectral time-domain (PSTD) method because of the spatial Fourier transforms inherent in the algorithm. Previously, it had been suggested in the literature that a spatially smoothed source spanning several grid cells in each direction was required to avoid aliasing errors, referred to as Gibbs phenomena. Here, we show that a spatially compact wave source condition, spanning only two spatial grid cells in each direction, eliminates the numerical artifacts induced by this aliasing/Gibbs effect. We demonstrate the successful implementation of this source condition in two practical PSTD modeling examples: fundamental mode excitation in a dielectric slab waveguide and cylindrical wave excitation via an infinite electric line source in a two-dimensional grid.
Choosing transformer ratio-arm bridges

Recently published papers on transformer ratio-arm bridges have given a false impression of their operating principles. The allocation of shunt and leakage inductance to each winding of a toroidal 2- or 3-winding transformer is first considered. This is then applied to the analysis of bridges for particular practical applications proposed by Lynch, Thompson, the present author and Karo. The balance conditions are compared, when experiencing shunt stray impedance, and it is shown that three of the bridges each have their most suitable applications. This does not seem likely for the last type.
Could You and Your Students Use a Poetry Getaway

This article offers teachers and students an idea for a curriculum-related poetry break or “poetry getaway.” The teacher identifies poems that relate to classroom content or themes; then, he gathers a series of objects that connect to the poems and places them in a suitcase. When it appears that everyone could use a poetry getaway, a student is invited to select an object from the suitcase. The teacher connects the object to one of the poems and the curriculum before reading the poem. Students and teachers then return to their work having had a short break in the form of a poetry getaway. The author also provides suggestions of a diverse group of poetry resources to support themes in mathematics, physical fitness, social studies, language arts, and science.
Investigation of thermodynamic properties of the TiH system using molten salt electrolytes containing hydride ions

Abstract A novel molten salt technique using alkali halide electrolytes, which contain hydride ions, was used to study thermodynamic properties of the TiH system at intermediate temperatures (300–415 °C). This electrochemical technique offers a simple, fast, precise and sensitive method for investigation of metal-hydrogen interactions with minimal surface interference at temperatures where no suitable electrolyte was available previously. We report results that extend to a lower hydrogen activity range than any previous studies. The results agree with those measured by others using conventional gas-volumetric or calorimetric techniques.
A hybrid approach to faceted classification based on analysis of descriptor suffixes

This study explores the construction of a faceted vocabulary that can be used as a mechanism for organizing Webbased resources. After analyzing the manual process of faceted vocabulary construction using existing organizational structures to identify heuristics for automating the construction process, we modeled a hybrid, semi-automatic approach to facet generation that integrates the strengths of manual and automatic methods. This approach is based on the organization of terms according to the meanings of their suffixes. Although this heuristic could not usefully organize the majority of terms of the lexicon bases to which it was applied, it nevertheless shows promise as a component of hybrid classification.
Effects of target set sizeon feelings of knowing and cued recall: Implications for the cue effectiveness andpartial-retrieval hypotheses

Target set size refers to the number of preexisting connections a studied word has to closely related concepts in long-term memory. The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether target set size influences feeling-of-knowing (FOK) ratings. The results showed that ratings were higher for targets connected to smaller sets, as compared with those connected to larger sets. Comparable effects were obtained with the use of different encoding strategies, including concreteness classifications and vowel naming, and with both meaningfully and phonologically related test cues. These findings indicate that FOKsare sensitive to competition between concepts linked to the target and that this sensitivity is independent of encoding strategy and type of test cue. Response time measures indicated that FOKs are sensitive to competition that arises when concepts are activated in parallel, whereas recall is more sensitive to competition that arises during sampling associated with search. Implications for various cue-based and target-based explanations of FOK effects are discussed.
Collagen deposition on a preformed grid.

Appearance of collagen fibrils in the cuticle was seen by electron microscopy to be preceded by fonnation of a finely filamentous matrix material. At first, the fine filaments of the matrix are unorganized. However, signs of orthogonal ordering soon appear in the most superficial portion of the cuticle, and subsequently appear more basally and closer to the underlying epidermis. Meanwhile, fibrils of different staining properties and identifiable as collagen begin to be deposited in the superficial portion of the cuticle, the same region which first showed organized fine filaments. Then, like the fine filaments before them, the collagen fibrils polymerize more basally. Collagen appears to polymerize on the preformed skeleton of fine filaments as though the fine filaments caused the collagen to assemble. Neither the polymerization nor ordering of collagen fibrils seems to require direct cellular intervention but occur first in that portion of the cuticle which is furthest away from the underlying epidermis. The fine filaments may be self ordering, extracellular macromolecules which in turn determine the polymerization of collagen fibrils.
Emotion Regulation Strategy Use and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Associations Between Multiple Strategies and Specific Symptom Clusters

A growing literature suggests that emotion regulation (ER) is associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, most of the studies in this literature have one or more important limitations, including examining only a single ER strategy (e.g., thought suppression) rather than multiple strategies simultaneously, examining PTSD at the syndrome level rather than by symptom cluster, and failing to control for negative affect. The present study sought to address these limitations by using latent variable modeling to examine the associations between multiple ER strategies and individual PTSD symptom clusters while controlling for negative affect. Of the four measurement models of ER strategy use examined, the best-fitting model allowed items corresponding to each included strategy to load onto their independent factors. Of the four measurement models of PTSD symptoms examined, the best-fitting model was the five-factor dysphoric arousal model. Results of structural models indicated that thought suppression and experiential avoidance were associated with most PTSD symptom clusters, even after controlling for negative affect. However, most other included ER strategies were not associated with any symptom clusters. A number of issues regarding measurement of ER and PTSD are discussed, and several suggestions for future research are provided.
When will the MEK inherit the ERK? Acronym alphabet soup.

It is becoming increasingly difficult to RIP through a PAK of journal articles without coming across a lot of acronyms, particularly in the field of cell signaling. You MIGht even notice this just from FLIPping through the current issue. This is a topic I have been WAFfling over for a long time, but now I am ready to stick my NCK out. At first I thought it was just a FADD, but with new acronyms KRIPping up inCREMentally, now I almost need a MAP to ZIP it up clearly in my mind. This might make others MAD, or at least ERKed. Although I consider myself CRAFty, I have to put on my thinking KAP and RAK my brain whenever confronted by these letters. Such jargon makes it hard to get the FAKts straight, and I fear a GAP in my knowledge is unavoidable, CULminating in a MIStake. It is enough to put one in a TRANCE. Please, GITRL! I don't mean to give these acronyms a bad RAP, and I wouldn't say they are JNK. I am also not looking to CAStigate or PIN blame on any of the DAPper RHOgues who have the PLK to think them up. Maybe I would catch on in a SNAP if the nomenclature were somehow standardized, or a least TWEAKed a bit. I think I might PYK a different system. I was just pleading my CASe to RON (or was it JAK?) the other day. Although it is a TALL order, perhaps a new acronym should be subjected to a TAX; I am sure the IRS would be interested in this idea. However, it would probably take a high-RANKing official in the RAF to institute such a change. Regardless, I am sure any change will be a slow process (given all the TECKnicalities), perhaps taking until next APRIL to make any BRAK-throughs. Until then, I think I will take a walk in the PARC or stop by a CAFe to GRB a piece of CAK. Or maybe I will just take a NAP.
Computer architectures for image processing in the USA

Abstract Innovative computer architectures have been developed to meet the high speed computation needs of image processing applications. These architectures take advantage of the highly structured characteristics of image data and image processing algorithms. In this paper several alternative architectures for image processing are discussed and some current hardware development projects in the USA are described. Two established computer architectures for image processing are highly parallel binary array processing and pipeline processing. Current designs involving these architectures make good use of Large Scale Integration technology. New emerging architectures, which are still in the development stage, include multi-microprocessor systems and analog processors based on charge coupled devices.
Association for Specialists in Group Work: Best Practice Guidelines 2007 Revisions

The Association for Specialists in Group Work (ASGW) supports the practice of ethical and effective group work through the publication of guiding principles in planning, performing and processing group work. Originally prepared, approved and published in 1998 (ASGW; Rapin and Keel), the current revision addresses changes in the American Counseling Association Code of Ethics (ACA, 2005). The revisions were reviewed and approved by the ASGW Executive Board on March 23, 2007.
Uptake of chlorobiphenyls by oysters

Abstract Accumulation of individual chlorinated biphenyls in small oysters was proportional to the degree to chlorination of the isomer and to its concentration in seawater at environmental levels. Equilibrium was reached after one month, with concentration factors of 1200 to 48,000 for isomers with 2 to 6 chlorine atoms/molecule. Partitioning of PCB between more hydrophobic lipids and ambient seawater has been rejected as the uptake mechanism.
Bovine Serum Albumin-Estrogen Compounds Differentially Alter Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone-1 Neuronal Activity

Steroid hormones regulate a host of physiological processes and behaviors. These actions can occur by genomic mechanisms involving gene transcription or by nongenomic mechanisms proposed to involve receptors associated with the plasma membrane. BSA-conjugated steroid hormones have been extensively used to elucidate signal transduction pathways for these hormones. We have previously shown, using calcium imaging, that 17beta-estradiol (E2) significantly increases GnRH-1 neuronal activity. During the course of these experiments, it became apparent that three different BSA-estrogen compounds have been used in a variety of cell types: 17beta-estradiol 6-O-carboxymethyloxime-BSA (E2-6-BSA); 1,3,5(10)-estratrien-3,16alpha,17beta-triol-6-one 6-O-carboxymethyloxime-BSA (E-6-BSA); and 1,3,5(10)-estratrien-3,17beta-diol 17-hemisuccinate-BSA (E2-17-BSA). The effects of these compounds on GnRH-1 neuronal activity were compared using calcium imaging. E-6-BSA and E2-17-BSA, but not E2-6-BSA, significantly increased all parameters of GnRH-1 neuronal activity. In addition, the effects of these two BSA compounds were reversed by the estrogen receptor antagonist ICI 182,780 but not by inhibition of gene transcription. The effects of E2-17-BSA, but not E-6-BSA were reversed by treatment with pertussis toxin, which blocks G protein-coupled receptors. These data indicate that these compounds cannot be used interchangeably and clearly have different binding properties and/or different effects on target tissues.
Tall is typical: central tendency, ideal dimensions, and graded category structure among tree experts and novices.

Many accounts of categorization equate goodness-of-example with central tendency for common taxonomic categories; the best examples of a category are average members#x2014;those that are most similar to most other category members. In the present study, we asked 24 tree experts and 20 novices to rate goodness-of-example for a sample of 48 trees and found (1) that the internal structure of the categorytree differed between novices and experts and (2) that central tendency did not determine goodnessof-example ratings for either group. For novices, familiarity determined goodness-of-example ratings. For experts, the “ideal” dimensions of height and weediness, rather than average similarity to other trees, were the primary predictors of goodness-of-example ratings for experts. The best examples oftree were not species of average height, but of extreme height. The worst examples were the weediest trees. We also found systematic differences in predictors of goodness-of-example as a function of type of expertise. We argue that the internal structure of taxonomic categories can be shaped by goal-related experience and is not necessarily a reflection of the attributional structure of the environment. Implications for models of category structure and category learning are discussed.
Low-temperature vortex dynamics in a high-temperature superconductor

Magnetic-field gradients in the mixed state of a type-II superconductor are studied using $^{205}\mathrm{Tl}$ nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) on ${\mathrm{Tl}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Ba}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Ca}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}$${\mathrm{O}}_{10+\mathrm{\ensuremath{\delta}}}$. An anomalous peak was observed in the temperature dependence of the transverse relaxation rate at T/${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$\ensuremath{\approxeq}0.25. We attribute this behavior to magnetic-field flucutations from vortex dynamics. We interpret this behavior as a crossover of the principal time scale for vortex dynamics with that of the NMR experiment, approximately 100 \ensuremath{\mu}s. The temperature dependence of this time scale is discussed.
Minocycline suppresses oxidative stress and attenuates fetal cardiac myocyte apoptosis triggered by in utero cocaine exposure

This study investigates the molecular mechanisms by which minocycline, a second generation tetracycline, prevents cardiac myocyte death induced by in utero cocaine exposure. Timed mated pregnant Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats received one of the following treatments twice daily from embryonic (E) day 15–21 (E15–E21): (i) intraperitoneal (IP) injections of saline (control); (ii) IP injections of cocaine (15 mg/kg BW); and (iii) IP injections of cocaine + oral administration of 25 mg/kg BW of minocycline. Pups were killed on postnatal day 15 (P15). Additional pregnant dams received twice daily IP injections of cocaine (from E15–E21) + oral administration of a relatively higher (37.5 mg/kg BW) dose of minocycline. Minocycline treatment continued from E15 until the pups were sacrificed on P15. In utero cocaine exposure resulted in an increase in oxidative stress and fetal cardiac myocyte apoptosis through activation of c-Jun-NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-mediated mitochondria-dependent apoptotic pathway. Continued minocycline treatment from E15 through P15 significantly prevented oxidative stress, kinase activation, perturbation of BAX/BCL-2 ratio, cytochrome c release, caspase activation, and attenuated fetal cardiac myocyte apoptosis after prenatal cocaine exposure. These results demonstrate in vivo cardioprotective effects of minocycline in preventing fetal cardiac myocyte death after prenatal cocaine exposure. Given its proven clinical safety and ability to cross the placental barrier and enter into the fetal circulation, minocycline may be an effective therapy for preventing cardiac consequences of in utero cocaine exposure.
Spain, Europe and the Atlantic: Essays in Honour of John H. Elliott

List of Contributors Acknowledgments List of abbreviations Sir John Elliott: an appreciation Introduction Part I. Power and Propaganda: The World of the Court: 1. Twin souls: monarchs and favourites in early seventeenth-century Spain Antonio Feros 2. Taxation and political culture in Castile, 1590-1640 Charles J. Jago 3. Clio and the Crown: writing history in Habsburg Spain Richard L. Kagan Part II. The Pattern of Society: Community and Identity in Habsburg Spain: 4. Toledanos and their kingdom of Granada, 1492-1560s Linda Martz 5. Castile, Spain and the monarchy: the political community from Patria natural to Patria nacional I. A. A. Thompson 6. Aragonese constitutionalism and Habsburg rule: the varying meanings of liberty Xavier Gil 7. Patriotism in early modern Valencia James G. Casey 8. The mental world of Jeroni Pujades James Amelang 9. Centring the periphery: the Cerdanya between France and Spain Peter Sahlins Part III. Spain and its Empire: 10. David or Goliath?: Philip II and his world in the 1580s Geoffrey Parker 11. Olivares, the cardinal-infante and Spain's strategy in the Low Countries (1635-1643): the road to Rocroi Jonathan I. Israel 12. Conquest after conquest: the rise of Spanish domination in America Peter Bakewell 13. Heeding Heraclides: empire and its discontents, 1619-1812 Anthony Pagden 14. Why were Spain's 'special overseas laws' never enacted? Josep M. Fradera Notes on the contributors Index.
ERSA: Error Resilient System Architecture for Probabilistic Applications

There is a growing concern about the increasing vulnerability of future computing systems to errors in the underlying hardware. Traditional redundancy techniques are expensive for designing energy-efficient systems that are resilient to high error rates. We present Error Resilient System Architecture (ERSA), a robust system architecture which targets emerging killer applications such as recognition, mining, and synthesis (RMS) with inherent error resilience, and ensures high degrees of resilience at low cost. Using the concept of configurable reliability, ERSA may also be adapted for general-purpose applications that are less resilient to errors (but at higher costs). While resilience of RMS applications to errors in low-order bits of data is well-known, execution of such applications on error-prone hardware significantly degrades output quality (due to high-order bit errors and crashes). ERSA achieves high error resilience to high-order bit errors and control flow errors (in addition to low-order bit errors) using a judicious combination of the following key ideas: 1) asymmetric reliability in many-core architectures; 2) error-resilient algorithms at the core of probabilistic applications; and 3) intelligent software optimizations. Error injection experiments on a multicore ERSA hardware prototype demonstrate that, even at very high error rates of 20 errors/flip-flop/108 cycles (equivalent to 25000 errors/core/s), ERSA maintains 90% or better accuracy of output results, together with minimal impact on execution time, for probabilistic applications such as K-Means clustering, LDPC decoding, and Bayesian network inference. In addition, we demonstrate the effectiveness of ERSA in tolerating high rates of static memory errors that are characteristic of emerging challenges related to SRAM Vccmin problems and erratic bit errors.
Eliminating fear in a mentally retarded adult by behavioral hierarchies and operant techniques

Abstract A mildly retarded, institutionalized female adult was treated for her fear of riding in cars to an outside workshop via a modification of systematic desensitization. Whereas classical desensitization theraphy utilizes behavioral hierarchies and a respondent technique (pairing relaxation), the modified version presented here utilizes behavioral hierarchies and an operant techniques (token reward). The target behavior was attained within 11 weeks. Follow-up of 58 weeks shows the patient to be free of all aspects of her fear reactions and adjusting well to her workshop setting.
Action from the Gribov horizon

Abstract The euclidean action of gauge theories is derived here, taking due account of the restriction of the physical configuration space to the interior of the Gribov horizon. This adds a new term to the Faddeev-Popov action. In a model defined by a simple approximation to the action, the new term is found to have little effect on high momentum components of the gauge field, but it strongly suppresses low momentum components, so that the gluon propagator in the Landau gauge vanishes at low momentum like k 2 .
Oscillatory Supersonic Kernel Function Method for Isolated Wings

The method presented uses a collocation technique with the supersonic kernel function to solve lifting surface problems on isolated wings in steady or oscillatory flow. A set of pressure functions are developed based on conical flow theory solutions which account for discontinuities in the supersonic pressure distributions. These functions permit faster solution convergence than is possible with conventional supersonic pressure functions. The method is compared with other theories and experiment for a variety of cases. Nomenclature a = freestream speed of sound, m/sec a = conical coordinate AR = aspect ratio |8 = supersonic Prandtl-Glauert factor, /32 = M2 - 1 &REF = reference length, meters — usually % wing chord for twodimensional flow or % MAC for finite wings in threedimensional flow 6(77) = wing semichord at span station ??, nondimensionalized by &REF Cp =
Applications of Brownian motors

Brownian motors combine asymmetry (such as a “ratchet” potential) and stochastic (thermal) motion with non-equilibrium processes to generate directed particle flow. A brief general introduction to Brownian motors is given, and the relevance of the ratchet model for biological motor proteins is highlighted. However, the impact of research on Brownian motors goes far beyond biophysics. A wealth of novel phenomena has been predicted, and some of these phenomena have been observed in areas as diverse as synthetic chemistry, bio-molecular colloids, self-organizing systems, quantum electronics, micro-fluidics, and materials science. Applications, such as novel actuators and molecular separation techniques, are evolving quickly. In the oral presentation, I will attempt to give an overview on applications of ratchets and Brownian motors. In the present paper, I give a short overview and review then a recent experimental realization of a tunneling ratchet for electrons. Such electron tunnelling ratchets can not only be used to generate particle currents, but also to pump heat. Using a realistic model, the heat pumping properties of the experimental electron ratchet are analysed.
Rational screening of oligonucleotide combinatorial libraries for drug discovery

Abstract Combinatorial strategies offer the potential to generate and screen extremely large numbers of compounds and to identify individual molecules with a desired binding specificity or pharmacological activity. We describe a combinatorial strategy for oligonucleotides in which the library is generated and screened without using enzymes. Freedom from enzymes enables the use of oligonucleotide analogues. This dramatically extends the scope of both the compounds and the targets that may be screened. We demonstrate the utility of the method by screening 2'-O-Methyl and phosphorothioate oligonucleotide analogue libraries. Compounds have been identified that bind to the activated H-ras mRNA and that have potent antiviral activity against the human herpes simplex virus.
Photomechanical Response of Glassy Azobenzene Polyimide Networks

We report the synthesis of amorphous, heat-resistant (Tg ranging from 220 to 246 °C) polyimides cross-linked with a novel tris(azobenzeneamine) cross-linker and examine the photodirected bending of cantilevers composed of these materials to exposure to linearly polarized, 442 nm light. Increasing the cross-linker concentration from 5 to 20 mol % in the network not only serves to increase the Tg and modulus but also results in a considerable increase in photomechanical response observed as an increase in bending angle from 5° to 20°. Adjustment of the orientation of the electric field of the light polarization to the cantilever axis is shown to generate forward and backward (bidirectional) bending. Upon removal of the incident light, the cantilevers exhibit photoelastic behavior by restoring to the original vertical position.
Expression of complement inhibitors CD46, CD55, and CD59 on tumor cells does not predict clinical outcome after rituximab treatment in follicular non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Rituximab is a chimeric monoclonal antibody that targets B-cell–specific antigen CD20 and an effective treatment for B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Although it is readily used in clinical practice, the exact mechanism of its antitumor effect is unclear. One potential mechanism involves complement-mediated cytotoxicity. It has been shown that rituximab induces complement-mediated cytotoxicity in follicular lymphoma cells in vitro, and complement inhibitors CD55 and CD59 may regulate this process. To determine whether complement inhibitors play a role in regulating the antitumor effect of rituximab, the expression of complement inhibitors CD46, CD55, and CD59 was analyzed in pretreatment tumor cells from 29 rituximab-treated follicular lymphoma patients. Among them, 8 patients achieved complete responses, 11 patients achieved partial responses, and 10 patients showed no or minimal responses to rituximab treatment. Expression of surface CD20, CD46, CD55, and CD59 was determined by 2-color flow cytometry. Although the CD59 level was slightly lower in the complete response group, there was no statistically significant difference in the expression of individual complement inhibitor CD46 (mean channel fluorescence [MCF]: NR, 26.4; PR, 21.9; CR, 29.9), CD55 (MCF: NR, 16.4; PR, 14.9; CR, 23.2), or CD59 (MCF: NR, 41.6; PR, 40.6; CR, 30.6), the combination of any 2 inhibitors, or all 3 on tumor cells from 3 response groups. In addition, there was no difference in the rituximab-induced complement-mediated cytotoxicity in an in vitro assay using tumor cells from 3 response groups. Thus, CD46, CD55, and CD59 expression on pretreatment tumor cells, or their susceptibility to in vitro complement-mediated killing, does not predict clinical outcome after rituximab treatment.
Hamilton Cycles in Planar Graphs and Venn Diagrams

Using graph theory, we prove Grunbaum's conjecture: Every Venn diagram ofncurves can be extended to a Venn diagram ofn+1 curves by the addition of a suitable simple closed curve.
Umbilical cord blood produces small megakaryocytes after transplantation.

Abstract Delayed platelet engraftment is a major complication of umbilical cord blood (CB) transplantation. Megakaryocytes derived from CB in vitro are smaller than megakaryocytes derived from bone marrow (BM) or mobilized peripheral blood from adults. Small megakaryocyte size may contribute to delayed platelet engraftment. To test whether small size persists after transplantation, we measured megakaryocyte size, concentration, and maturational stage in BM biopsy specimens obtained after transplantation in archived BM samples from patients receiving CB (CB group, n=10) versus mobilized peripheral blood or BM transplantation (BM group, n=9). Megakaryocytes in the postengraftment BM samples were significantly smaller in the CB group than in the BM group (median diameter, 16.7 vs 22.0 μm). There were no significant differences in megakaryocyte concentration or maturational stage between the CB and BM groups. For the first time, we demonstrate that the attainment of adult size in CB-derived megakaryocytes is delayed after human CB transplantation.
Frequency conversion performance of the NIF laser system

The first four beams of the National Ignition Facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory are in the process of being commissioned. Activation of the third-harmonic frequency converters will be discussed and results from performance testing of the first final optics assemblies will be reported.
Incidental pathologic findings in open resectional gastric bypass specimens with routine cholecystectomy and appendectomy

Abstract Background Morbid obesity has become a public health epidemic in the United States. With this epidemic, the demand for surgical intervention has led to rapid growth in the field of bariatric surgery. Although various procedures exist, one of the procedures offered at our institution is resectional Roux-en- Y gastric bypass with incidental cholecystectomy and appendectomy. This procedure allows for pathologic assessment of otherwise normal viscera routinely removed as a part of the gastric bypass. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of abnormal findings of the extirpated, gallbladder, appendix, and distal stomach after gastric bypass surgery. Methods We performed a retrospective review of 427 patients undergoing Roux-en- Y at a tertiary level medical center. Results Abnormal findings were divided according to the organ. In the gastric remnant, the reported pathologic findings included chronic or active gastritis in 66, fundic gland polyps in 7, intestinal metaplasia in 3, gastric ulcers in 2, gastropathy in 2, lymphoid aggregate in 1, diverticulum in 1, a developmental cyst in 1, and leiomyoma in 1. We analyzed 311 appendixes and found the following abnormalities: fibrous obliteration of the appendiceal lumen in 76, carcinoids in 2, infarcted appendicial epiploica in 2, follicular hyperplasia in 2, and subserosal endometriosis in 1. In the gallbladder the sole abnormality, other than cholelithiasis, was an adenomyoma. Other resected findings included five Meckel's diverticula, one bile duct adenoma, and one sigmoid diverticulum. Conclusion The results of our study have shown that the resection of grossly normal and asymptomatic organs results in a very low prevalence of clinically significant incidental pathologic findings.
Chronic Amlodipine Treatment During the Development of Heart Failure

Background—This study examined the effects of chronic amlodipine treatment on left ventricular (LV) pump function, systemic hemodynamics, neurohormonal status, and regional blood flow distribution ...
3β-(3,4-Dihydroxycinnamoyl)-erythrodiol and 3β-(4-hydroxycinnamoyl)-erythrodiol from Larrea tridentata

Abstract From the stems of Larrea tridentata two new triterpenoids have been obtained, whose stereostructures have been elucidated on the basis of chemical and physical evidence.
Early discharge after abdominal surgery: experience on a gynecologic oncology service.

Abstract Objectives. The goals of this study were to determine the length of stay (LOS) after abdominal surgery following implementation of practice guidelines on a gynecologic oncology service, to identify adverse outcomes of early discharge, and to identify clinical predictors of longer LOS. Methods. A retrospective chart review of 266 consecutive patients who had elective abdominal surgery was performed. Clinical data, LOS, and follow-up data were abstracted. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify clinical variables predictive of LOS. Results. Mean LOS was 2.94 days. Seven (2.6%) patients were readmitted after discharge. With multivariate analysis, extensive surgical procedures, coronary artery disease, and bowel surgery were predictive of longer LOS ( P Conclusions. Early discharge following abdominal surgery was possible for most patients and was associated with a low rate of readmission. Extensive surgical procedures, coronary artery disease, and bowel surgery were predictive of longer LOS.
Determination of the rotational correlation time and the rigid limit hyperfine coupling from the dependence of spin-label EPR spectra on microwave frequency

Abstract A method using nitroxide radical spin labels for determining both the isotropic rotational correlation time and the “rigid limit” value of the nitrogen hyperfine coupling along the pz orbital (Az) is described. The method requires measurement of the same sample under unchanged conditions at both X(9.5 GHz)- and Q(35 GHz)-bands, and is valid for rotational correlation times between 10−6 and 10−8 sec. In this context the “rigid limit” value of Az is in the absence of rotational diffusion but with fast restricted librational motions unchanged, and its measurement becomes a useful spectroscopic observable. Extension of the method to anisotropic motion, particularly as may occur in phospholipid bilayers, is discussed.