cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Volatile Molecular Sensor Using Terahertz Resonators on Porous Substrates

Volatile sensing in the terahertz (THz) spectrum is attractive since many volatile molecules exhibit unique spectral signatures with higher absorption strength. In this paper, a practical approach for volatile molecular sensing at atmospheric pressure and room temperature in the THz spectrum is investigated. A metamaterial-based periodic split ring resonator is designed on a porous flexible substrate and is placed in the optical beam path of a THz signal enclosed inside a sealed chamber. Different volumes of volatiles are introduced into the chamber and the resonance frequency is monitored over time. The substrate porosity naturally allows condensing of volatile molecules into the pores through capillary condensation and surface adsorption. This changes the effective substrate dielectric constant leading to a shift in resonance frequency. The frequency shift dynamics can be monitored for identifying different volatiles and enables profiling. The proposed sensing technique is non-destructive in nature and can be easily adapted for monitoring volatiles emitted inside packaged food along a supply chain. The developed sensor tag is flexible and can be easily integrated with existing microsystems packaging technology.
Outcomes of older acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients receiving hypomethylating therapy versus standard induction chemotherapy (IC) prior to allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT).

e18526Background: Patients with AML are typically treated initially with IC, often followed by consolidation with HCT. Hypomethylating agents (HMA) are an alternative initial therapy for patients w...
Error controlling of the combined Cluster-Expansion and Wang–Landau Monte-Carlo method and its application to FeCo

Abstract Simulating order–disorder phase transitions in magnetic materials requires the accurate treatment of both the atomic and magnetic interactions, which span a vast configuration space . Taking FeCo as a prototype system, we demonstrate that this can be accurately and efficiently addressed by the combined Cluster-Expansion method and Wang–Landau algorithm. All involved key parameters in this method are carefully tested. Based on these tests, error controlling approaches are also developed. Our method is readily applicable to the study of similar second-order phase transitions in other binary and multi-component systems.
Pregnancy-Associated Cancer: A U.S. Population-Based Study

Abstract Background: The incidence of pregnancy-associated cancer (PAC) is expected to increase as more women delay childbearing until later ages. However, information on frequency and incidence of...
Digital Alloy-Based Avalanche Photodiodes

Low noise avalanche photodiode has been realized by InAlAs digital alloy, wherein minigaps in band structure takes role of modulating the ionization coefficient ratio k to be as low as 0.01.
Brain maps at the nanoscale.

Large brain tissue sections are imaged with nanoscale resolution using expansion and lattice light sheet microscopy.
The Evolution of Neuroplasticity and the Effect on Integrated Information.

Information integration theory has been developed to quantify consciousness. Since conscious thought requires the integration of information, the degree of this integration can be used as a neural correlate (Φ) with the intent to measure degree of consciousness. Previous research has shown that the ability to integrate information can be improved by Darwinian evolution. The value Φ can change over many generations, and complex tasks require systems with at least a minimum Φ . This work was done using simple animats that were able to remember previous sensory inputs, but were incapable of fundamental change during their lifetime: actions were predetermined or instinctual. Here, we are interested in changes to Φ due to lifetime learning (also known as neuroplasticity). During lifetime learning, the system adapts to perform a task and necessitates a functional change, which in turn could change Φ . One can find arguments to expect one of three possible outcomes: Φ might remain constant, increase, or decrease due to learning. To resolve this, we need to observe systems that learn, but also improve their ability to learn over the many generations that Darwinian evolution requires. Quantifying Φ over the course of evolution, and over the course of their lifetimes, allows us to investigate how the ability to integrate information changes. To measure Φ , the internal states of the system must be experimentally observable. However, these states are notoriously difficult to observe in a natural system. Therefore, we use a computational model that not only evolves virtual agents (animats), but evolves animats to learn during their lifetime. We use this approach to show that a system that improves its performance due to feedback learning increases its ability to integrate information. In addition, we show that a system’s ability to increase Φ correlates with its ability to increase in performance. This suggests that systems that are very plastic regarding Φ learn better than those that are not.
Diversity of Wolbachia Associated with the Giant Turtle Ant, Cephalotes atratus.

Symbiotic relationships between organisms are common throughout the tree of life, and often these organisms share an evolutionary history. In turtle ants (Cephalotes), symbiotic associations with bacteria are known to be especially important for supplementing the nutrients that their herbivorous diets do not provide. However, much remains unknown about the diversity of many common bacterial symbionts with turtle ants, such as Wolbachia. Here, we surveyed the diversity of Wolbachia, focusing on one species of turtle ant with a particularly wide geographic range, Cephalotes atratus. Colonies were collected from the entire range of C. atratus, and we detected the presence of Wolbachia by sequencing multiple individuals per colony for wsp. Then, using the multilocus sequence typing (MLST) approach, we determined each individual’s unique sequence type (ST) based on comparison to sequences published in the Wolbachia MLST Database ( https://pubmlst.org/wolbachia/ ). The results of this study suggest that there is a high level of diversity of Wolbachia strains among colonies from different regions, while the diversity within colonies is very low. Additionally, 13 novel variants (alleles) were uncovered. These results suggest that the level of diversity of Wolbachia within species is affected by geography, and the high level of diversity observed among Cephalotes atratus populations may be explained by their wide geographic range.
Instruments and Sensors

Aircraft today rely on a variety of sensors including input from satellites to provide information on their altitude, direction, location, and speed. However, the early pioneers had to develop these instruments to make air travel the safest mode of movement today. The Wright Brothers, the inaugural flight engineers (along with being the first pilots and aircraft designers), relied on the most rudimentary of instruments. Their open-air “cockpit” allowed them full visual access to their surroundings as well as auditory monitoring of their propeller and powerplant. In addition, their “cockpit” (they were laying down on the wing) had a stop watch, engine tachometer, and anemometer (for measuring air velocity).
Semicircular Elements Induced by Projections on Separable Hilbert Spaces

In this paper, we construct semicircular elements from mutually orthogonal projections on the separable Hilbert space l2(N0). They act on semicircular elements.
Astrocytes and synaptogenesis

Abstract Glial cells, particularly astrocytes, were once considered to be passive residents of nervous tissue, performing the most basic housekeeping functions such as spatial ion buffering and water homeostasis. However, in recent years, we have expanded our knowledge in how these cells actually instruct neurons to build, maintain, and repair synaptic networks. This chapter highlights the pro- and antisynaptogenic factors that astrocytes secrete during the development of the central nervous system (CNS), the interactions between neurons and astrocytes that drive the development of both cell types, and ways in which these synaptogenic pathways are reinstated or disrupted following injury or in diseases of the CNS.
Unnecessary Preoperative Cardiology Evaluation and Transthoracic Echocardiogram Delays Time to Surgery for Geriatric Hip Fractures

OBJECTIVE Delays to surgery for patients with geriatric hip fracture are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The American Heart Association (AHA) and American College of Cardiology (ACC) Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) were created to standardize preoperative cardiology consultation and transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE). This study's purpose is to determine if these practices are over used and delay time to surgery at a safety net hospital. DESIGN Retrospective review. SETTING Level 1 trauma center and safety net hospital. PATIENTS Charts were reviewed for indications of preoperative cardiology consultation or TTE per AHA and ACC CPG in 412 patients admitted with geriatric hip fracture. INTERVENTION Criteria meeting the AHA/ACC guidelines for preoperative TTE and cardiac consultations. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS Time to surgical intervention. RESULTS Despite 17.7% of patients meeting criteria, 44.4% of patients received cardiology consultation. Of those patients, 33.8% met criteria for receiving preoperative TTE but 89.4% received one. Time to surgery was greater for patients receiving cardiology consultation (25.42 ± 14.54 hours, P-value <0.001) versus those who did not (19.27 ± 13.76, P-value <0.001) and for those receiving preoperative TTE (26.00 ± 15.33 hours, P-value <0.001) versus those who did not (18.94 ± 12.92, P-value <0.001). CONCLUSIONS Cardiology consultation and TTE are frequently used against AHA/ACC CPG. These measures are expensive and delay surgery, which can increase morbidity and mortality. These findings persisted despite limited resources available in a safety net hospital. Hospitals should improve adherence to CPG, or modify protocols. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Prognostic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Multisolving Innovations For Climate And Health: Message Framing To Achieve Broad Public Support

Rapid diffusion of solutions to a changing climate is paramount if the US is to mitigate carbon emissions. A timely response depends on how people perceive and understand innovations such as new practices, programs, policies, and technologies that promise to reduce emissions. This article explores multisolving innovations in the context of interventions that can be targeted to community leaders and decision makers. We focus on examples led by policy staff; directors of municipal offices and departments of transportation, housing, sustainability, urban planning, and public health; and elected county and city officials where there may be mixed support for efforts to reduce carbon emissions, to show that some innovations can be accurately framed solely in terms of community health benefits. When communicating with stakeholders who are dismissive or skeptical of climate change, we suggest using messages that describe the benefits of mitigation innovations in terms of human health, rather than climate, to achieve broader acceptability.
Floor-of-the-Mouth Muscle Function Analysis Using Dynamic Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

To advance our understanding of speech motor control, it is essential to image and assess dynamic functional patterns of internal structures caused by the complex muscle anatomy inside the human tongue. Speech pathologists are investigating into new tools that help assessment of internal tongue muscle’s cooperative mechanics on top of their anatomical differences. Previous studies using dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the tongue revealed that tongue muscles tend to function in different groups during speech, especially the floor-of-the-mouth (FOM) muscles. In this work, we developed a method that analyzed the unique functional pattern of the FOM muscles in speech. First, four-dimensional motion fields of the whole tongue were computed using tagged MRI. Meanwhile, a statistical atlas of the tongue was constructed to form a common space for subject comparison, while a manually delineated mask of internal tongue muscles was used to separate individual muscle’s motion. Then we computed four-dimensional motion correlation between each muscle and the FOM muscle group. Finally, dynamic correlation of different muscle groups was compared and evaluated. We used data from a study group of nineteen subjects including both healthy controls and oral cancer patients. Results revealed that most internal tongue muscles coordinated in a similar pattern in speech while the FOM muscles followed a unique pattern that helped supporting the tongue body and pivoting its rotation. The proposed method can help provide further interpretation of clinical observations and speech motor control from an imaging point of view.
Knock-Down of HDAC2 in Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Derived Neurons Improves Neuronal Mitochondrial Dynamics, Neuronal Maturation and Reduces Amyloid Beta Peptides

Histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) is a major HDAC protein in the adult brain and has been shown to regulate many neuronal genes. The aberrant expression of HDAC2 and subsequent dysregulation of neuronal gene expression is implicated in neurodegeneration and brain aging. Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons (hiPSC-Ns) are widely used models for studying neurodegenerative disease mechanisms, but the role of HDAC2 in hiPSC-N differentiation and maturation has not been explored. In this study, we show that levels of HDAC2 progressively decrease as hiPSCs are differentiated towards neurons. This suppression of HDAC2 inversely corresponds to an increase in neuron-specific isoforms of Endophilin-B1, a multifunctional protein involved in mitochondrial dynamics. Expression of neuron-specific isoforms of Endophilin-B1 is accompanied by concomitant expression of a neuron-specific alternative splicing factor, SRRM4. Manipulation of HDAC2 and Endophilin-B1 using lentiviral approaches shows that the knock-down of HDAC2 or the overexpression of a neuron-specific Endophilin-B1 isoform promotes mitochondrial elongation and protects against cytotoxic stress in hiPSC-Ns, while HDAC2 knock-down specifically influences genes regulating mitochondrial dynamics and synaptogenesis. Furthermore, HDAC2 knock-down promotes enhanced mitochondrial respiration and reduces levels of neurotoxic amyloid beta peptides. Collectively, our study demonstrates a role for HDAC2 in hiPSC-neuronal differentiation, highlights neuron-specific isoforms of Endophilin-B1 as a marker of differentiating hiPSC-Ns and demonstrates that HDAC2 regulates key neuronal and mitochondrial pathways in hiPSC-Ns.
Pentoxifylline or theophylline use in hospitalized COVID-19 patients requiring oxygen support.

INTRODUCTION: The phosphodiesterase inhibitors theophylline and pentoxifylline have anti-inflammatory properties that may make them useful in COVID-19 pneumonia. We conducted a retrospective review of hospitalized COVID-19 patients requiring oxygen who received these drugs. OBJECTIVES: To examine the potential efficacy and safety of theophylline and pentoxifylline in COVID-19 pneumonia patients. METHODS: Adults with a positive test for SARS-COV2 and were hospitalized due to pneumonia requiring either high flow nasal cannula or mechanical ventilation were included. Patients with a history of asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were preferentially given theophylline. All other patients received pentoxifylline 400 mg orally TID. A group of hospitalized COVID-19 patients receiving standard of care acted as a comparison group. The coprimary outcomes were a change in C-reactive protein (CRP) and ROX score between groups from day 1 to day 4 of therapy. RESULTS: Two hundred and nine inpatients were reviewed. Fifty-eight patients received pentoxifylline/theophylline, with 151 patients serving as the comparison group. Active therapy was associated with an increase in the ROX score (mean: 2.9 (95% CI: 0.6, 5.1)) and decrease in CRP (mean: -0.7 (95% CI: -4.7, 3.2). Mortality rates were theophylline/pentoxifylline 24% and comparison group had a 26%, respectively. CONCLUSION: In this retrospective study, theophylline and pentoxifylline were associated with an increase in ROX score and nominal decreases in CRP and mortality. Treatment was safe with few adverse reactions documented. We believe that this study could the basis for randomized-controlled trials to further explore these drugs' role in COVID-19.
Electron-Based Touchless Potential Sensing of Shape Primitives and Differentially-Charged Spacecraft

Numerous missions are being proposed which involve multiple spacecraft operating in close proximity in harsh charging environments. In such missions, the ability to sense the electrostatic potentia...
Patterns in prostate-specific antigen test use and digital rectal examinations in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2002-2006.

Background Studies have examined prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test and digital rectal examination (DRE) use among men; however, few have examined use of these procedures together over time. This study examined use of the PSA test and DRE among men over time and identified correlates associated with test use for the PSA test only, the DRE only, and both procedures combined. Methods The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) collected information on prostate cancer test use among 229 574 men aged 40 or older over 3 years (2002, 2004, and 2006). Patterns of PSA test and DRE use were examined overall and by selected demographic and health-related characteristics. Correlates of recent PSA test and DRE use were determined using logistic regression. Results Overall trends for years 2002-2006 were a significant increase for PSA use only and a significant decrease of PSA and DRE use combined. Having had a recent PSA test (within 2 years) only; a recent DRE only; or both tests varied by sociodemographic and health-related variables, including age, race/ethnicity, marital status, levels of education and income, body mass index, health insurance status, and having a personal doctor or health care provider. Conclusion Although major organizations are not in agreement about the efficacy of prostate cancer screening, the PSA test and DRE continue to be utilized regularly by a majority of American men over age 40. PSA test and DRE use in this population provide a basis for addressing issues related to screening.
Proof Rules for Model Checking Systems with Data

Model checking is an automated technique for verifying temporal properties of finite-state systems. The technique can be used, for example, to verify the finite control parts of computer hardware designs and communication protocols. However, because it requires exhaustively searching the state space of a system to be verified, it cannot generally be applied directly to systems manipulating data, even if the data types are finite. For unbounded or uninterpreted data types, the model checking problem becomes undecidable.
13CO (6–5) in the Orion Bar: A Critical Observational Test for PDR Models

The Orion Bar is a limb-brightened edge of the cavity carved out in the Orion molecular cloud by the expanding HII region surrounding the Trapezium cluster. The Bar is one of the best studied Photon-Dominated Regions (PDRs; see Genzel in this volume for a review). Tauber et al. (1995) found a tight correlation between the distributions of the neutral atomic carbon and 13CO (2−1) emission toward the Bar, which is difficult to explain in terms of classical PDR models. A possible explanation for this correlation was given by the geometric model of Hogerheijde et al. (1995) in which the PDR geometry changes from face-on to edge-on and back with increasing distance from the ionizing stars. The observed maximum of the molecular emission toward the Bar thus corresponds to a molecular column density peak and there are no significant variations in the excitation conditions across the Bar. In the present paper we investigate the uniformity of the excitation conditions across the Bar through observations of the 13CO (6−5) and 12CO (6−5) emission. We argue that the 13CO (6−5) emission provides a critical test for models of this region and PDRs in general.
Preprocessing network for multiple binary objects

This paper describes a simple network for a selective attention mechanism for multiple binary objects. The network is based on a concept similar to the region growing approach and is able to focus attention on one object at a time from multiple objects for a recognition process. The network consists of a growing network and an attention network. The growing network focuses on one object among others; while the attention network provides the "seed" for the region network to grow. Finally, a modification for "weightless" implementation is suggested.
Direct Numerical Simulation of Transitions Toward Turbulence in Complex Channel Flows

A numerical tool for the direct numerical simulation (DNS) of instability and transition to turbulence is presented and applied to problems of secondary instability of complex channel flows. The Navier-Stokes equations for incompressible flow are solved in generalized curvilinear coordinates so that channel flows may be investigated in which the walls of the channel are both curved and wavy. The channel geometry and the flow solution are assumed to be periodic in the streamwise and spanwise directions. A spectral collocation method is employed, in which the periodic directions are discretized using the Fourier collocation method, and the transverse direction is discretized using the Chebyshev collocation method. The time integration is performed with implicit coupling of velocity and pressure at each time step. Both fully- and semi-implicit second-order integration schemes were developed in this study. For the fully-implicit method, Newton’s method is directly applied to the solution of the nonlinear system of equations. The large linear algebra system obtained from the linearization of the spatial discretization and coupled velocity and pressure is solved using a preconditioned iteration scheme based on the Generalized Minimal Residual (GMRES) method. Preconditioning is performed through an approximate factorization of the linearized Navier-Stokes operator which decouples the solutions of the velocity and pressure updates during the iterative algorithm. The velocity and pressure sub-iterations are both solved using preconditioned GMRES as well. The velocity system is preconditioned by a block Jacobi (line-implicit) approximation. The pressure system is preconditioned by left and right Fourier transform operators followed by a block Jacobi approximation.
Comparison of mercury levels in maternal blood, fetal cord blood, and placental tissues.

Abstract Previous studies have reported that mercury accumulates in cord blood during pregnancy. This study was carried out to determine where in cord blood the mercury accumulates, i.e., in cord erythrocytes, in cord plasma, or in both, and to determine whether the predominant form of mercury which accumulates is methyl or inorganic mercury. From our data it is clear that methyl mercury accumulates in cord erythrocytes: A total of 30% more methyl mercury was found in fetal erythrocytes than in maternal erythrocytes. Also correlation analysis of the methyl mercury levels in maternal and fetal erythrocytes showed a strong correlation (r = 0.87). In regard to inorganic mercury, the highest concentration was found in the placenta, suggesting a barrier role, but a significant correlation (r = 0.62) was also found between the maternal and fetal plasma levels of inorganic mercury. Moreover, the inorganic mercury concentration per gram of plasma was higher in fetal cord plasma than in maternal plasma. Overall, the relative levels of methyl and inorganic mercury reported here varied considerably in maternal and fetal erythrocytes, plasma, and in the placenta, but all of the levels were low (
Integration of SPICE with TEK LV511 ASIC design verification system

The present work involves integration of the simulation stage of design of a VLSI circuit chip and its testing stage. SPICE simulator, TEK LV511 ASIC design verification system and TekWAVES, a test program generator for LV511 were integrated. A software interface, in C language, has been developed between SPICE and the testing tools (TekWAVES and LV511). The functionality of the software interface developed is multifold. It takes input from either SPICE 2G.6 or SPICE 3E.1. The output generated by the software interface can be given as input to either TekWAVES or LV511. A graphical user interface has also been developed with OPENWINDOWS using XView toolkit on SUN workstation. The software interface could be easily linked with VLSI design tools such as MAGIC layout editor. >
Urban transport projects : patterns and trends in lending, 1999-2009

The study consisted of developing a compendium of profiles for all free-standing urban transport projects funded by the Bank in calendar years from 1999 through 2009, followed by a first-pass synthesis of patterns and trends. There were 50 such projects. In addition, profiles were done for several projects from this period which were classified as urban or transport, but with significant urban transport components. Also, profiles were done for several operations approved before 1999 or after 2009, because they formed organic sequences with some operations in the 1999-2009 batches, in the same city or the same country. In all, profiles were done for 56 operations. A list of these projects is in annex one. Full profiles are in annex two, grouped by the geographic region, and in the chronological order according to the date of loan approval. The sources consulted in writing the profiles included project appraisal documents, loan and project agreements, restructuring papers, and implementation completion reports. In addition to this introduction, the synthesis report has four chapters. In the next (second) chapter, a brief overview is provided of the batch of projects for which the profiles were done. Chapter three reviews urban transport programs by region. Chapter four presents outcome ratings for completed projects and issues related to their success or otherwise. Chapter five discusses the fit between the projects and a provisional version of the Bank's urban transport strategy.
Strongly Resonant Transmission of Electromagnetic Radiation in Periodic Anisotropic Layered Media

Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Texas, San Antonio, TX 78249(Dated: September 9, 2007)The electromagnetic dispersion in periodic layered media can be tailored and their resonant prop-erties can be considerably improved by utilizing anisotropic materials. Periodic structures with aphotonic band edge split into two parts, or so-called split band edge, exhibit superior resonant prop-ertiesincludingexceptionally high Q-valuesof transmission resonances andnearly perfectimpedancematching at the boundaries, even when the number of unit cells N is not large. A microwave trans-mission resonance with Q∼220 is demonstrated in a periodic stack of form-birefringent layers withN=12 realized in a waveguide geometry.
Therapeutic applications of an expanded genetic code

To date, over 100 noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs) have been genetically encoded in living cells in order to expand the functional repertoire of the canonical 20 amino acids. More recently, this technology has been expanded to the field of protein therapeutics, where traditional chemical methods typically result in heterogeneous mixtures of proteins. The site-specific incorporation of ncAAs with orthogonal chemical groups allows unprecedented control over the site of conjugation and the stoichiometry, thus facilitating the rational optimization of the biological functions and/or pharmacokinetics of biologics. Herein, we discuss the recent contribution of ncAA technology in enhancing the pharmacological properties of current protein therapeutics as well as developing novel therapeutic modalities.
The role of nonphysician health care providers in the physical assessment and diagnosis of suspected child maltreatment: results of a national survey

The physical diagnosis and treatment of child abuse and neglect have traditionally fallen in the domain of physicians; however, nurse practitioners (NPs), registered nurses (RNs), and physician assistants (PAs) are assuming increasing roles in the evaluation and treatment of maltreated children. The role of nonphysician health care providers in evaluating cases of suspected child maltreatment (CM) is not without controversy and deserves close attention for several reasons. First and foremost, a diagnosis of suspected CM has serious civil and criminal legal ramifications. A “false positive” evaluation—concluding that abuse occurred when it has not occurred—could result in the wrongful removal of a child from his or her family, or criminal prosecution and conviction of an innocent individual, or both. On the other hand, a “false negative” finding—failing to diagnose suspected abuse when in fact it has occurred—could result in subjecting a child to subsequent abuse, resulting in increased physical and psycho...
Essential right inverses and system zeros

The theory of inverse dynamical systems has been and is continuing to be a keystone in the development of the theories of multivariable feedback control systems and of coding theory for reliable communication. Advances in understanding of the role of plant inverses in control system design have brought about additional insights, for example, in the general areas of decoupled design and of realistic possibilities for closed loop dynamical performance. Surprisingly enough, almost all the existing literature on inverse systems is cast in terms of matrices. Though the well known module theoretic approach to systems has been in place for a decade or more, this approach has not been fully exploited to bring out the foundations of a theory for inverse systems. This paper begins to lay such a foundation by developing a module theoretic definition of right inverse systems. One promising and immediate application of the theory is to an improved conceptual understanding of multivariable zeros.
Investigations on in vitro bone resorbing activity from athymic (nude) and euthymic mouse splenic leukocytes

Abstract T-lymphocyte dependence of the production of in vitro bone resorbing activity was examined using athymic (nu/nu) and euthymic (nu/+) mouse splenic leukocytes. Conditioned medium (CM) from unstimulated splenic leukocytes of nu/nu mice had greater in vitro bone resorbing activity compared to CM from nu/ + mice (1.7- as compared to 1.2-fold increase of 45 Ca release in mouse calvaria). CM from concanavalin A (Con A)-treated nu/nu and nu/+ leukocytes had 1.8-fold and no increase in 45 Ca release, respectively. CM from both nu/nu and nu/ + phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-treated leukocytes had a 1.7-fold increase in 45 Ca release. Bone resorbing activity from nu/nu CM was inhibited by interferon-τ (10 & 100 IU/mL) and indomethacin (2 × 10 −6 M). CM (untreated or Con A-treated) from nu/nu leukocytes had higher levels of prostaglandin E (PGE) as compared to CM from nu/+ leukocytes, and indomethacin decreased PGE levels in nu/nu CM. Leukocytes from nu/ + mice had increased mitogenesis when stimulated with PHA (1, 3, & 10 μg/mL) or Con A (1 and 10 μg/mL), whereas leukocytes from nu/nu mice were nonresponsive or had significant inhibition of mitogenesis with PHA and Con A. These data indicate that: (a) Conditioned media from splenic leukocytes of nu/nu mice had significant bone resorbing activity which was greater than conditioned media from nu/ + mice; (b) bone resorbing activity in the conditioned media from nu/nu mice was inhibited by indomethacin and interferon-τ; (c) prostaglandin E was present at higher levels in conditioned media (mitogen-treated or untreated) from nu/nu mice compared to nu/ + mice; and (d) mitogenesis in nu/nu mouse splenic leukocytes was inhibited by T-cell mitogens. These results suggest that differences in bone resorbing activity likely reflect the variations in splenic cell populations of nu/nu and nu/ + mice.
Short-term physiological hyperleptinemia decreases arterial blood pressure.

Abstract We examined the possibility that chronic, low-dose peripheral leptin infusion would inhibit food intake but not increase blood pressure. Male Fisher Brown Norway (FBNF1) and Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats were instrumented for cardiovascular telemetry, housed in metabolic chambers, and given leptin (LEP: 600 µg/kg/day) or vehicle (SAL: 10 µl/h) via a subcutaneous osmotic pump for seven days. Leptin infusion increased plasma leptin levels to about 40 ng/ml, decreased food intake by 25–35% and stimulated lipolysis in both strains of rats. Leptin infusion for one week decreased mean arterial pressure from baseline. The reduction developed slowly, was generally about 3 to 7 mm Hg, and observed in both strains. The peripheral, hypotensive effect of chronic leptin in FBNF1 rats was prevented by blockade of nitric oxide production with L-NAME treatment. These results indicate that peripheral leptin treatment, at a level which inhibits food intake and induces lipolysis, produces nitric oxide-dependent decreases in blood pressure.
Genetic predetermination of quantitative expression of HLA antigens in platelets and mononuclear leukocytes

Abstract In view of the potential functional importance of quantitative expression of HLA antigens, a series of studies were conducted to determine the relative quantities of specific HLA-A and -B antigens expressed in MNLs and platelets of HLA-phenotyped family members and unrelated individuals. An mAb that reacts with a well-defined monomorphic epitope in the α3 domain of the heavy chains of HLA molecules was developed and used to quantify each HLA-A or -B antigen on western blots of IEF gels. The results of these studies demonstrated that the relative quantities of HLA-A and -B antigens in platelets and MNLs of an individual did not change over time. Further studies showed that the relative quantities of HLA-A and -B antigens for haplotypes shared among the first-degree relatives were always the same and followed Mendelian inheritance. In contrast, the relative quantities of HLA-A and -B antigens for a haplotype shared by unrelated individuals varied significantly. All these findings support the hypothesis that the quantitative expression of HLA antigens is genetically predetermined and may play important roles in determining disease susceptibility and severity. Human Immunology 38, 243–250 (1993)
Quantitative, Qualitative, and Theoretical Conversations: Research on Asian American school experiences

S. J. Lee, 1996 New York: Teachers College Press, US $19.95 (pbk), 160 pp., ISBN 0-8077-3509-4 S. J. Lee, 2005 New York: Teachers College Press. 1, US $21.95 (pbk), 41 pp., ISBN 0-8077-4574-X J. Le...
Molecular weight adjustment to probability based matching of unknown mass spectra

For an unknown mass spectrum of lower molecular weight, there should be relatively fewer compounds in the reference file giving similar mass spectra. Testing this with the Probability Based Matching (PBM) algorithm, for a specific degree of match a reference compound of low molecular weight has a higher probability of being correct. Modifying the predicted reliability values for such matches statistically improves the overall performance of PBM appreciably at high reliability values.
Relaxation times in systems with chemical exchange: Approximate solutions for the nondilute case

Abstract Approximate solutions for the relaxation times T 1 and T 2 in chemically exchanging systems are derived from the exact solutions without the usual assumptions that the system is dilute and that the relaxation time of the dilute species is much faster than that of the bulk species. The approximations are derived from less restrictive, more rigorous assumptions than have been used previously.
SYNCHRONIZATION AS A PROCESS OF SHARING AND TRANSFERRING INFORMATION

Synchronization of chaotic oscillators has become well characterized by errors which shrink relative to a synchronization manifold. This manifold is the identity function in the case of identical systems, or some other slow manifold in the case of generalized synchronizaton in the case of nonidentical components. On the other hand, since many decades beginning with the Smale horseshoe, chaotic oscillators can be well understood in terms of symbolic dynamics as information producing processes. We study here the synchronization of a pair of chaotic oscillators as a process for sharing information bearing bits transferred between each other, by measuring the transfer entropy tracked as the global system transitions to the synchronization state. Further, we present for the first time the notion of transfer entropy in the measure theoretic setting of transfer operators.
Use of the CTrach Laryngeal Mask Airway in adult patients: a retrospective review of 126 cases.

Abstract Study Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of the CTrach Laryngeal Mask Airway (LMA) when used electively. Design Retrospective analysis. Setting Operating room of an academic hospital. Measurements Data from 126 patients who were electively intubated with the CTrach LMA over a 16-month period were reviewed. Each patient's weight, height, ASA physical status classification, Mallampati score, thyromental distance, and cervical spine range of motion were recorded. Main Results Successful ventilation was achieved in 100% of patients, while successful intubation was achieved in 89.7% of patients. The most common reason for failure to intubate was poor airway visualization and the inability to appropriately position the device anterior to the vocal cords. Conclusions The major advantage of the CTrach LMA is that it is the only device that allows airway visualization during patient ventilation; however, it does not have 100% success with intubation.
Ribonucleic Acid Base Composition in Subcellular Fractions of Pine Pollen (Pinus Ponderosa Law)

Ribonucleic Acid Base Composition in Subcellular Fractions of Pine Pollen (Pinus Ponderosa Law)
High pressure semiconductor physics: Looking toward the future on the shoulder of the past

High pressure measurements attracted attention from the Semiconductor Physics community after the discovery of William Paul's Empirical Rule. The technique gained further momentum with the invention of the diamond-anvils high pressure cell. Since diamond is transparent from near IR to near UV many forms of optical spectroscopy (such as photoluminescence, modulation spectroscopy, and Raman scattering) have now been routinely carried out under high pressure. The fact that diamonds are also transparent to X-ray means structural phase transitions induced by pressure can be studied together with optical measurements. Further advances, such as electrical and magnetic measurements under hydrostatic (and sometimes quasi-hydrostatic) high pressure conditions, have established high pressure as a general, powerful, and indis pensable technique in studying semiconductors. From a review of these past achievements I will attempt to "predict" how high pressure techniques will impact semiconductor physics in the future. I will draw examples from areas as diverse as new materials for spintronics and renewable energies, topological insulators to possible multi-ferroic semiconductors.
Cell culture of retinal pigment epithelium: Special Issue.

This series of review articles highlights how in vitro models of RPE can be effectively used to understand essential functions of the RPE that are not only fundamental to epithelial biology, but also have direct relevance to the visual system. The issue contains reviews from experts in the field covering aspects of basic cell and epithelial biology, namely: the barrier properties of the RPE (Rizzolo, 2014), epithelial polarity (Lehmann et al., 2014), cytoskeleton (Bonilha, 2014), and lysosomes (Guha et al., 2014), as well as properties more unique to the RPE, e.g., vitamin A metabolism (Hu and Bok, 2014), bioenergetics (Adijanto and Philp, 2014), phagocytosis (Mazzoni et al., 2014), ion transport (Reichhart and Straus, 2014), and melanin/lipofuscin (Boulton, 2014).
Lattice vibrations of boron carbides

The internal friction at low temperatures has been measured on polycrystalline samples of {beta}-B, B{sub 4}C, B{sub 13}C{sub 2}, and B{sub 9}C. As the carbon deficiency increases in the boron carbides, the internal friction approaches that of amorphous solids. For comparison, the internal friction of amorphous B{sub 9}C, produced as a thin film by e-beam evaporation on a Si double-paddle oscillator, has also been measured. It is very similar to that of the polycrystalline B{sub 9}C sample. The results are discussed in terms of glass-like lattice vibrations which have been noted before in highly disordered crystals, e.g., Ba{sub 1-y}La{sub x}F{sub 2x}. It is concluded that the low thermal conductivity of B{sub 9}C near room temperature which has been observed previously is indeed equal to its theoretical lower limit.
Electrophysiological study of Syrian hamster hereditary cardiomyopathy

This study was performed to determine if the intracellular electrical activity of adult cardiac papillary muscle from a strain of Syrian hamster (B10 14.6) with a genetically determined cardiomyopathy was different from that of a control strain (B10 RB). Muscles were driven at rates from 1 Hz through the physiological range. Resting potentials of muscle from the two strains were not significantly different, except in increased [C2+], where the control was slightly hyperpolarised. Action potential overshoot was significantly greater in the myopathic at all frequencies, while the upstroke velocity was not significantly different, except at 8 Hz where the myopathic value was depressed. Action potential durations at 20, 50 and 95% repolarisation were significantly greater in the myopathic, at all rates and with increased [C2+]. Response of the muscles to verapamil and D600 were complex, with a decrease seen in duration at 20% repolarisation and an increase in 50% duration at 1 Hz rate. No strain-related difference in sensitivity to the drugs was seen. The results support the hypothesis that a sarcolemmal defect is intimately related to the genesis of the cardiomyopathy.
Measurement of technical performance in surgery for congenital heart disease: The stage I Norwood procedure

Objective No method of measuring technical performance exists for the stage I Norwood procedure. Hospital mortality is usually used as a surrogate for technical performance, but evidence is lacking to support this concept. A technical score was designed by expert consensus. Methods The technical score included the following steps: (1) Stage I was divided into subprocedures according to anatomic areas where an intervention is performed. (2) For each subprocedure, three score categories (optimal, adequate, and inadequate) were defined on the basis of echocardiography, catheterization, and/or clinical data. (3) Subprocedures were analyzed for the whole group and by surgeon. (4) Overall repair was also scored: optimal if all attempted subprocedures were optimal, inadequate if any was inadequate, and adequate for everything in between. (5) All patients undergoing the stage I procedure from January 2004 to December 2006 were retrospectively studied. Results One hundred ten patients were included (operated on by six surgeons), and 4 were excluded for lack of reliable postoperative data. Most subprocedures were scored as optimal. Subprocedures with the largest inadequate scores were distal arch reconstruction in 7 (6%) patients and aortopulmonary shunt in 3 (5%). No statistical differences were found among surgeons either by subprocedure or by overall outcome, although individual sample sizes were small. The overall score correlated with length of stay, extracorporeal membrane oxygenator support, and hospital mortality. Conclusions Technical performance can be measured after the stage I procedure, and performance score correlates with early outcome. This score may also be useful as a self-assessment tool.
Nuclear data sheets for A = 233

Abstract Experimental data on the nuclear structure of nuclei with mass number A = 233 are compiled and compared with theory where possible. Level schemes are constructed and discussed. Arguments for spin, parity, and Nilsson state assignments for the levels are given. The adopted level and decay properties are based on data received before March 1971. Data received after that date have been added in proof.
Challenging the Limit: NMR Assignment of a 31 kDa Helical Membrane Protein

Structural determination of membrane proteins by NMR spectroscopy remains a challenge, especially for helical membrane proteins. Here we report the NMR assignment and secondary structure of a 31 kDa helical membrane protein, the C-terminal domain of Stt3p. The C-terminal domain of Stt3p has been proposed to be the catalytic domain of yeast oligosaccharyl transferase (OT), a multisubunit membrane-associated enzyme complex catalyzing N-glycosylation, which is an essential and highly conserved protein modification. NMR assignment is the first critical step in the determination of the high-resolution solution structure and further structure-function studies.
Constitutive relationships and physical basis of fault strength due to flash heating

[1] We develop a model of fault strength loss resulting from phase change at asperity contacts due to flash heating that considers a distribution of contact sizes and nonsteady state evolution of fault strength with displacement. Laboratory faulting experiments conducted at high sliding velocities, which show dramatic strength reduction below the threshold for bulk melting, are well fit by the model. The predicted slip speed for the onset of weakening is in the range of 0.05 to 2 m/s, qualitatively consistent with the limited published observations. For this model, earthquake stress drops and effective shear fracture energy should be linearly pressure-dependent, whereas the onset speed may be pressure-independent or weakly pressure-dependent. On the basis of the theory, flash weakening is expected to produce large dynamic stress drops, small effective shear fracture energy, and undershoot. Estimates of the threshold slip speed, stress drop, and fracture energy are uncertain due to poor knowledge of the average contact dimension, shear zone thickness and gouge particle size at seismogenic depths.
Thermodynamics of Atmospheres and Oceans

A comprehensive treatment of the motions in the atmosphere and oceans of the Earth requires a foundation constructed from the relevant principles that describe the transfers of matter and energy in fluids. The scales of processes that significantly affect the flows of matter and energy range from molecular to planetary All three phases of matter play significant roles in the determination of the magnitude and efficiency of energy transfers at both the smallest and largest scales. In books on thermodynamics, the majority of the text often deals with the atmosphere with little mention of the oceans or ice on the surface of the Earth. The authors of this book, Thermodynamics of Atmospheres and Oceans, attempt to remedy that situation and to provide a balanced treatment of the thermodynamics of the atmosphere, oceans, and surface ice. In many instances, the discussion of a particular thermodynamic process begins at the molecular level and proceeds to larger scales.