cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Anomalous dimensions of scalar operators in QED3

The infrared dynamics of 2 + 1 dimensional quantum electrodynamics (QED3) with a large number N of fermion flavors is governed by an interacting CFT that can be studied in the 1/N expansion. We use the 1/N expansion to calculate the scaling dimensions of all the lowest three scalar operators that transform under the SU(N ) flavor symmetry as a Young diagram with two columns of not necessarily equal heights and that have vanishing topological charge. In the case of SU(N ) singlets, we study the mixing of $$ \left({\overline{\psi}}_i{\psi}^i\right)\left({\overline{\psi}}_j{\psi}^j\right) $$ and F μν F μν , which are the lowest dimension parity-even singlets. Our results suggest that these operators are irrelevant for all N > 1.
53 Predictors of response to immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy in metastatic solid tumors: real world evidence

Background Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy is increasingly being used in oncology and novel predictive biomarker for efficacy and side effects are an unmet need.1 2 The study aims to do a comprehensive analysis of factors affecting outcome from ICI therapy with real-world data and identify potential predictive biomarkers in diverse populations. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of patients with metastatic solid tumors who received ICI and underwent molecular profiling with FoundationOne® CDx panel between 2016 and 2020 at Markey Cancer Center, Lexington KY. Progression-free survival (PFS), radiological response, and autoimmune side effects were analyzed and compared with various molecular biomarkers (figure 1). Logistic regression, Fisher’s exact test, Kaplan-Meier method, log-rank test, and Cox regression were used to analyze clinical features and efficacy outcomes. Results 69 patients were included in the study (tables 1 and 2). A statistically significant improvement in PFS was observed in the PIK3 mutated cohort (median 123 vs. 23 weeks. HR=2.51. 95%CI 1.23, 5.14; table 3 and figure 2). This was independent of tumor mutational burden (TMB) status or PDL1 expression status (HR 3.24, p=0.016). PIK3 mutants had a higher overall response rate (ORR) than the wild type (69.6% vs. 43.5%, OR 0.34; p=0.045; tables 3 and 4). PIK3 mutants had a higher risk of developing immune-related adverse events (IRAEs) (73.9% vs. 37%, p=0.004). PIK3 mutation did not associate with TMB, PDL1 expression or microsatellite stability status. Median PFS was higher in the high TMB cohort compared to the low-intermediate group and reached statistical significance (median not reached vs. 26 weeks; HR=0.37. 95%CI 0.13, 1.05). PDL1 expression had no significant effect on the radiologic response, but PFS improvement in patients with tumors expressing PDL1 trended towards statistical significance (median 18 vs. 40 weeks. HR=1.43. 95%CI 0.93, 4.46). BRAF mutation conferred shorter PFS (median 17 vs. 39 weeks. HR=0.35. 95%CI 0.14, 0.91) (figure 2). Conclusions High tumor mutational burden and PIK3 mutation conferred better progression-free survival with immunotherapy across cancer types. The improvement in PFS in PIK3 mutated patients was independent of PDL1 status or TMB. The results should prompt further evaluation of these potential biomarkers and more widespread real-world data publications to help determine biomarkers that could benefit specific populations. Ethics Approval The study was approved by University of Kentucky Institutional Review Board, approval number 49450 References Topalian SL, Hodi FS, Brahmer JR, et al. Safety, activity, and immune correlates of anti-PD-1 antibody in cancer. N Engl J Med. 2012;366(26):2443–2454. Spencer KR, Wang J, Silk AW, Ganesan S, Kaufman HL, Mehnert JM. Biomarkers for Immunotherapy: Current Developments and Challenges. Am Soc Clin Oncol Educ Book. 2016; 35:e493–503.
Optimizing IoT Networks Through Combined Estimations of Resource Allocation and Computation Offloading

The low energy requirements of devices comprising the Internet of Things have made them ubiquitous. However, it is also a huge bottleneck in real world deployments. Computational offloading can improve network lifetimes wherein these devices move heavy computation away to the edge and the cloud. However, this also increases power consumption and network latencies. Optimum performance can be achieved by intelligently deciding if the computation should be offloaded or performed locally—a task that is inherently difficult given the complexity of the systems. In this work, we formulate a distributed network optimization problem to achieve a balance between performance and energy consumption. Our simulation results show substantial improvements in network latency and power consumption.
Association of APOE4 genotype and treatment with cognitive outcomes in breast cancer survivors over time.

This prospective longitudinal study of breast cancer survivors (n = 167) examined the association of apolipoprotein e4 (APOE e4) genotype with cognition and interactions with chemotherapy or endocrine therapy up to 6 years after treatment. In general, we found no effects of e4 across timepoints and treatment exposures; post hoc analysis at 3-6 years suggested a trend towards worse cognition in the domains of attention and learning among e4 carriers exposed to endocrine therapy. Further study is needed.
Material culture and colonial Indian society in Southern Mesoamerica: The view from Coastal Chiapas, Mexico

The native population of the colonial Province of Soconusco, New Spain, cultivated cacao throughout the Spanish colonial period, which provided the means for acquiring relatively large quantities of Spanish-introduced goods. This paper examines the extent to which other aspects of the archaeological record—the settlement pattern, house construction, and indigenous—tradition artifacts—exhibited change and continuity from the Late Postclassic to Spanish colonial periods.
The Louisiana Family Opportunity Act Medicaid Buy-in Program.

The Family Opportunity Act Medicaid Buy-In Program (FOA) allows states to expand Medicaid coverage to children who meet selected disability and income eligibility criteria. FOA programs may help address family financial hardship as a result of underinsurance. We provide specific information about the FOA program and report the first results of a survey of parents or guardians of children with disabilities who were enrolled in Louisiana’s FOA program. A convenience sample of families enrolled in the program (N = 52) responded to questions derived from the National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN). These results were compared to two groups of Louisiana families of CSHCN that had responded to the 2009/10 national survey. Data suggest that children enrolled in the Louisiana FOA are younger than those enrolled in Supplemental Security Income, are more likely to have functional losses, and, perhaps due to their age, are less likely to have difficulty with anxiety, depression, or behavior problems. FOA families are less likely than families in either group to report receiving help with care coordination, and more likely to report financial problems due to their child’s health. Respondents were also more likely to report that they received all the therapy services and specialty care they needed. The FOA program thus appears to be filling a niche in coverage needs among families of children with disabilities in Louisiana.
Soil and the Growth of Forests

Publisher Summary Agronomic research has resulted in the accumulation of a vast amount of information on the relationship between soil properties and the growth and yield of field crops. In this chapter, significant contribution to the knowledge of the relation between soil profile features and the growth of various forest types or tree species is presented on a regional basis. This seems necessary because the economic range of various tree species is limited regionally as are also soil groups and the climates under which both the soils and the forest vegetation have developed. The principal object of studies of soil properties and the growth of forests should be the development of methods for evaluating the productive potential for various tree species of nonforest land (abandoned crop land), cut-over or partially cut timberlands, or land that supports very young or very old decadent stands. Measures of forest growth discussed include annual and periodic volume increases in cords, cubic feet, and board-foot units per acre. Yield at a given age is also expressed in these units. It is found that soil properties that may be significantly correlated with forest growth in one region may not be significant in another region because of differences in tree species, climate, length of growing season, length of day, or action of other limiting soil factors.
Structure of the murine lck gene and its rearrangement in a murine lymphoma cell line.

Abstract The lck gene encodes a lymphocyte-specific protein-tyrosine kinase that is implicated in neoplastic transformation. We have determined the germ line organization of the murine lck gene and have isolated and characterized a rearranged lck allele in the murine lymphoma cell line LSTRA. The overall exon-intron organization of the normal lck gene is almost identical to that of avian c-src. In LSTRA DNA, an internally rearranged Moloney murine leukemia virus genome is interposed between two distinct promoters that normally generate lck transcripts differing only in 5' untranslated regions. The rearrangement appears to have been selected to permit splicing of transcripts that initiate from the Moloney virus promoter to an acceptor site located within the first exon 3' to the downstream promoter, thus generating an lck mRNA with a novel 5' untranslated region that may be more efficiently translated.
The Study That Got Away

This article discusses a proposed study on the influence of social class on the developing brain. It describes the rationale for such a study and recounts the development of a research project that did not receive funding. It was “the study that got away.”
Rheumatoid Arthritis, Anti–Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide Positivity, and Cardiovascular Disease Risk in the Women's Health Initiative

Objective To evaluate the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality over the course of 10 years among the more than 160,000 postmenopausal women in the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) in relation to self-reported rheumatoid arthritis (RA), taking disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), anti–cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) positivity, rheumatoid factor (RF) positivity, CVD risk factors, joint pain, and inflammation (white blood cell count and interleukin-6 levels). Methods Anti-CCP and RF were measured in a sample of WHI participants with self-reported RA (n = 9,988). RA was classified as self-reported RA plus anti-CCP positivity and/or taking DMARDs. Anti-CCP–negative women with self-reported RA and not taking DMARDs were classified as having “unverified RA.” Results Age-adjusted rates of coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, CVD, fatal CVD, and total mortality were higher in women with RA than in women with no reported RA, with multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios of 1.46 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.17–1.83) for CHD and 2.55 (95% CI 1.86–3.51) for fatal CVD. Among women with RA, anti-CCP positivity and RF positivity were not significantly associated with higher risk of any outcomes, despite slightly higher risk of death for those who were anti-CCP positive than for those who were anti-CCP negative. Joint pain severity and CVD risk factors were strongly associated with CVD risk, even in women with no reported RA. CVD incidence was increased in women with RA versus women with no reported RA at almost all risk factor levels, except for low levels of joint pain or inflammation. Among women with RA, inflammation was more strongly associated with fatal CVD and total mortality than with CHD or CVD. Conclusion Among postmenopausal women, RA was associated with 1.5–2.5-fold higher CVD risk. CVD risk was strongly associated with CVD risk factors, joint pain severity, and inflammation, but not with anti-CCP positivity or RF positivity.
Further study of an in-situ identification method for alkali-silica reaction products in concrete

Abstract The authors have recently published (1) a new method for the in-situ identification of alkali-silica reaction (ASR) products in concrete. In essence, the ASR products were identified by ‘staining’ them with uranyl ions, which have a characteristic fluorescence under ultraviolet (UV) light. This paper presents the results of petrographic and electron microprobe study of stained and unstained thin sections made from mortar bars containing reactive opal. It is shown that the uranyl ions are strongly absorbed only on the gel-like products of alkali-silica reaction and not on cement hydration products. Only limited adsorption occurred on the altered opal grains themselves. The staining technique appears to uniquely identify the products of alkali-silica reaction.
Characteristics of liquid scintillation analysis of radon in water

Because liquid scintillation (LS) counting will be the preferred analytical method following the forthcoming announcement of a maximum contamination level for waterborne radon in the U.S., a study was conducted using LS counting to examine the effects of cap-liner type, fluid type, agitation time, dark adaption, quench, and water-to-fluor ratio on radon measurements. Understanding the influence of these components can eliminate radon losses, decrease detection limits and increase accuracy. Application of LS to radon standards and 100 wellwater samples showed it to provide consistent results over a wide range of concentrations and decay times.
Correlated backbone torsional potentials in poly(3-methylthiophene)

Abstract Poly(3-alkylthiophenes) (P3AT) have shown great promise as solar cell materials. Knowledge of the conformations and the conformational energies is a key step toward understanding the electronic properties in such systems that contain extended electronic conjugation. In this study, poly(3-methylthiophene) (P3MT) oligomers are selected as model systems for the torsional properties of P3AT’s. A 3-dimensional torsional energy map is computed for the P3MT tetramer by density functional methods. Single-layered and ONIOM calculations were performed at B3LYP/6-31++G(d,p) level. The intra-chain torsional potential, when expressed in terms of the inter-ring torsional angles, contains correlations attributable to extended electronic conjugation along the oligomer backbone. Cross terms in the 3-D torsional energy map were found to scale such that 11% of the total variation of the potential results from the relative orientations of second-nearest-neighbor rings, and more extended torsional interactions along the chain contribute less than 3%.
Altered connexin43 expression produces arrhythmia substrate in heart failure.

Recently, we found that repolarization heterogeneities between subepicardial and midmyocardial cells can form a substrate for reentrant ventricular arrhythmias in failing myocardium. We hypothesize...
Expression of GALT in 9p chromosome alterations: assignment of GALT locus to 9cen→9p22

Summary Determination of activity and electrophoretic mobility of GALT in patients with various chromosome 9 deletions and duplications confirms the assignment of its locus to 9p and suggests its locus is in the segment 9cenp22. Two inversions of 9qh (inv(9)(pllql2)) did not alter GALT expression.
Association between Serum Uric Acid Levels and Sleep Variables: Results from the National Health and Nutrition Survey 2005–2008

Sleep disordered breathing as well as high serum uric acid levels are independent risk factors for cardiovascular disease. However, studies evaluating the relationship between sleep-disordered breathing and hyperuricemia are limited. We examined the 2005–2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination survey's sleep variables and high serum uric acid among 6491 participants aged ≥20 years. The sleep variables included sleep duration, snoring, snorting, and daytime sleepiness. The main outcome was high serum uric acid level, defined as levels of serum uric acid >6.8 mg/dL in males and >6.0 mg/dL in females. We found that snoring more than 5 nights per week, daytime sleepiness, and an additive composite score of sleep variables were associated with high serum uric acid in the age- , sex-adjusted model and in a multivariable model adjusting for demographic and lifestyle/behavioral risk factors. The association was attenuated with the addition of variables related to clinical outcomes such as depression, diabetes, hypertension, and high-cholesterol levels. Our results indicate a positive relationship between sleep variables, including the presence of snoring, snorting, and daytime sleepiness, and high serum uric acid levels.
Non-cross-reacting resistance to virus induced mouse mammary tumours in virus infected C3H mice.

CHEMICALLY induced tumours usually tend to have individually distinct, non-cross-reacting antigens, while different tumours induced by the same virus will cross-react antigenically when tested in syngeneic hosts1.
Joint optimization of relay selection and power allocation in cooperative OFDM networks with imperfect channel estimation

We consider the wireless relay network in which a base station communicates with multiple subscribers, each of which has the ability to act as a relay to forward information to a base station. Here, we propose an algorithm for joint optimization of power allocation, time scheduling, and relay selection when there is imperfect channel state information (CSI). We show that the algorithm converges with probability one to the optimal solution when a condition is satisfied. Otherwise, it converges with probability one to a solution in some neighborhood of the optimal solution.
Hardware/software implementation 3-way algorithm for image encryption

Information technology has made major strides in the past decade. As results, there have been widespread applications of data storage and transmission. The valuable multimedia information in digital forms, however, is vulnerable to unauthorized access while in storage and during the transmission. Network security and image encryption become important and high profile issues. Image encryption requires manipulating massive amounts of data at high speeds. The use of software in image encryption provides flexibility for manipulation but may not meet some timing constraints. In this paper, we present a novel technique for image encryption using block cipher. The primary concept is based on the implementation of 3-Way encryption algorithm. Experiment results show that our proposed method significantly enhances the security for transmission images over network as well as for storage. Beside the software implementation, we present the hardware implementation of 3-way image encryption algorithm based on FPGA technology. With the flexibility of software implementation and the high performance of microprocessor, FPGA-based cryptosystem is a promising technology for the future network security.
New Developments in Optical Fabrication Techniques

Because of the demand for better performance in optical systems, there is a continuing effort to find more efficient ways of producing optics. Perkin-Elmer's involvement in developing new techniques for the fabrication of aspheric and flat surfaces has resulted in the generation of three machining methods: (1) computer-controlled polishing of aspheric surfaces, (2) continuous polishing of flat surfaces, and (3) single-point diamond tool machining of spheres and flats by means of the Precision Surface Generator. Optical flats larger than 20 inches in diameter have been produced that are flat to better than A /8 peak to valley. The Precision Surface Generator has successfully produced metal mirrors of aluminum, copper, and brass.
Molecular-beam epitaxial growth and high-temperature performance of HgCdTe midwave infrared detectors

Results are reported on the molecular-beam epitaxial (MBE) growth and electrical performance of HgCdTe midwave-infrared (MWIR) detector structures. These devices are designed for operation in the 140–160 K temperature range with cutoff wavelengths ranging from 3.4–3.8 µm at 140 K. Epitaxial structures, grown at 185°C on (211)B-oriented CdZnTe substrates, consisting of either conventional two-layer P-n configurations or three-layer P-n-N configurations, were designed to examine the impact of device performance on variation of the n-type base layer (absorber) thickness and the inclusion or omission of an underlying wide-bandgap buffer layer. Devices were grown with absorber thicknesses of 3 µm, 5 µm, and 7 µm to examine the tradeoff between the spectral response characteristic and the reverse-bias electrical performance. In addition, 5-µm-thick, wide-bandgap HgCdTe buffer layers, whose CdTe mole fraction was approximately 0.1 larger than the absorber layer, were introduced into several device structures to study the effect of isolating the device absorbing layer from the substrate/growth initiation interface. The MBE-grown epitaxial wafers were processed into passivated, mesa-type, discrete device structures and diode mini arrays, which were tested for temperature-dependent R0A product, quantum efficiency, spectral response, and the I-V characteristic at temperatures close to 140 K. External quantum efficiencies of 75–79% were obtained with lateral optical-collection lengths of 7 µm. Analysis of the temperature dependence of the diode R0A product indicates that the device impedance is limited by the diffusion current at temperatures above 140 K with typical R0A values of 2×106 Ω cm2 for a detector cutoff of 3.8 µm at 140 K. An alloy composition anomaly at the absorbing-layer/buffer-layer interface is believed to limit the observed R0A products to values approximately one order of magnitude below the theoretical limit projected for radiatively limited carrier lifetime. Device electrical performance was observed to be improved through incorporation of a wide-bandgap buffer layer and through reduction of the absorbing layer thickness. An optimum spectral response characteristic was observed for device structures with 5-µm-thick absorbing layers.
Resolved single vibronic level fluorescence after two-photon excitation of benzene vapor: a direct confirmation of the inducing mode☆

Abstract Flourescence spectra have been observed from 1 and 5 torr of benzene after 504.2 nm excitation of the strongest two-photon band (linear polarization, ω1 = ω2) in the forbidden 260 nm 1B2u ← 1A1g absorption. The flourescence structure at 0.2 nm resolution is consistent with that expected from the fundamental ν′14 in the excited state. This confirms directly the previous assignments of the dominant two-photon absorption progression as 1no14Lo as well as the identity of the principal inducing mode, ν′14 (b2u). Vibrational relaxation from the level 141 appears similar to that observed from the one-photon levels.
Further analysis of the lens phenotype in Lim2-deficient mice.

PURPOSE. Lim2 (MP20) is the second most abundant integral protein of lens fiber cell membranes. A comparative analysis was performed of wild-type and Lim2-deficient (Lim2 Gt/Gt ) mouse lenses, to better define the anatomic and physiologic roles of Lim2. METHODS. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal microscopy were used to assess the contribution of Lim2 to lens tissue architecture. Differentiation-dependent changes in cytoskeletal composition were identified by mass spectrometry and immunoblot analysis. The effects on cell‐cell communication were quantified using impedance analysis. RESULTS. Lim2-null lenses were grossly normal. At the cellular level, however, subtle structural alterations were evident. Confocal microscopy and SEM analysis revealed that cortical Lim2 Gt/Gt fiber cells lacked the undulating morphology that characterized wild-type fiber cells. On SDS-PAGE analysis the composition of cortical fiber cells from wild-type and Lim2-null lenses appeared similar. However, marked disparities were evident in samples prepared from the lens core of the two genotypes. Several cytoskeletal proteins that were abundant in wild-type core fiber cells were diminished in the cores of Lim2 Gt/Gt lenses. Electrophysiological measurements indicated a small decrease in the membrane potential of Lim2 Gt/Gt lenses and a two-fold increase in the effective intracellular resistivity. In the lens core, this may have reflected decreased expression levels of the gap junction protein connexin 46 (Cx46). In contrast, increased resistivity in the outer cell layers of Lim2 Gt/Gt lenses could not be attributed to decreased connexin expression and may reflect the absence of cell fusions in Lim2 Gt/Gt lenses. CONCLUSIONS. Comparative analysis of wild-type and Lim2-deficient lenses has implicated Lim2 in maintenance of cytoskeletal integrity, cell morphology, and intercellular communication. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2011;52:7332‐7339) DOI:
Sarcoidosis and systemic vasculitis

Abstract Background: Systemic vasculitis is an unusual complication of sarcoidosis. Over a 10-year period, the authors have provided care for six patients who had features of both sarcoidosis and vasculitis. Vasculitis could not be attributed to other causes. Objectives: To report six patients (five children) who had sarcoidosis and systemic vasculitis and compare our experience with previous literature. To better delineate the clinical spectrum of sarcoid vasculitis and its response to therapy. Methods: Retrospective analysis and a Medline literature review of sarcoid and concurrent vasculitis from 1966. Results: Our six patients had systemic illnesses that included fever, peripheral adenopathy, hilar adenopathy, rash, pulmonary parenchymal disease, musculoskeletal symptoms, and scleritis or iridocyclitis. Biopsies revealed features compatible with the diagnosis of sarcoidosis or necrotizing sarcoid granulomata in either skin, lymph node, lung, synovium, bone, bone marrow, liver, trachea, or sclera. Arteriography showed features of large vessel vasculitis in three patients, all of whom were African American, whereas patients with small vessel vasculitis were white. Prior reports of sarcoid and vasculitis included 14 adults, of whom half had predominantly small vessel disease, and half had medium- or large-sized vessel disease. Eight previously reported children included seven with primarily large vessel sarcoid vasculitis. Racial background was noted in 15 reported cases and included whites (6), African Americans (5), and Asians (4). Among the authors' six patients, four improved when treated with prednisone alone. However, relapses occurred when the drug was tapered or withdrawn. Conclusions: Sarcoidosis may be complicated by systemic vasculitis that can affect small- to large-caliber vessels. Sarcoid vasculitis can mimic hypersensitivity vasculitis, polyarteritis nodosa, microscopic polyangiitis, or Takayasu's arteritis. African American and Asian patients are disproportionately represented among cases with large vessel involvement. Corticosteroid and cytotoxic therapy is palliative for all forms of sarcoid vasculitis. However, relapses and morbidity from disease and treatment is common. Semin Arthritis Rheum 30:33-46 Copyright © 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company
Mental health students' reactions to a group training conference: Understanding from a systems perspective

This is an investigation of the experience of a group of mental health students who, as part of their training, participated in a four day non-residential Group Relations Conference composed of analytically oriented (Tavistock) and social psychologically oriented (NTL) groups. The investigation focuses on who subsequently joins groups, what is learned in Tavistock and NTL groups, and the relationship between the Training Conference and the progress or initiation of psychotherapy. Striking similarity is found among those who join and those who do not join groups following the conference. Learning in the conference centers on issues of power and authority and less on more personal, individual concerns. The absence of “group casualties” is noted. In order to place the results in a broader framework the findings are evaluated from a systems perspective.
Vehicle Motion Analysis in Relation to Vehicle Safety

SUMMARY The influence of vehicle handling on the possible avoidance of accident situations is discussed. lit is shown that accident reconstruction at present does not provide the necessary information to relate the cause of accidents to the lack of road worthiness of vehicles. It follows that the vehicle behavior in proximity of its performance limit must be determined in order to infer its accident avoidance potential. The paper presents a review of the state-of-the-art of vehicle modeling, simulation of vehicle maneuvers and full scale testing. The application of the direct method of the stability theory is suggested as a possible means of obtaining performance limit envelopes which are necessary for establishing standards of the performance of vehicles.
Density graphs and separators

We propose a class of graphs that would occur naturally in finite-element problems, and we prove a bound on separators for this class of graphs. For three-dimensional graphs, our separator bound is $O(N^{2/3})$. We also propose a simple randomized algorithm to find this separator in $O(N)$ time. Such an algorithm would be used as a preprocessing step for the domain decomposition method of efficiently solving a finite-element problem on a parallel computer. This paper generalizes ``local graphs'''' of Vavasis [1990] to the case of graphs with varying densities of nodes. It also generalizes aspects of Miller and Thurston''s [1990] ``stable graphs.''''
Nonequilibrium statistical behavior of nonlinear Schrödinger equations

This paper explores the equilibrium and near-equilibrium statistical behavior of nonlinear Schrodinger equations through numerical simulations. The investigation centers on a class of finite-dimensional Hamiltonian systems obtained by discretizing NLS equations defined on a bounded interval with saturated focusing nonlinearities. These nonlinear systems govern a wave dynamics that is nonintegrable and nonsingular, and for which typical solutions are composed of large-scale coherent structures interacting within a background of small-scale fluctuations. The equilibrium statistics of such a system is most naturally defined by a Gibbs distribution that is canonical in energy and microcanonical in particle number. By sampling these equilibrium distributions using a Metropolis-type algorithm, the typical excitations of the system are determined over the full range of system parameters. Nonequilibrium relaxations from initial perturbations of these equilibrium distributions are then computed by means of linear response theory. The computations reveal a surprising dependence of the qualitative properties of relaxation toward equilibrium on the temperature and the nonlinearity. On the one hand, a simple exponential decay to equilibrium is observed for sufficiently high temperature or sufficiently strong nonlinearity. For low temperature and moderate nonlinearity, on the other hand, the system rapidly adjusts to a metaequilibrium state that equilibrates extremely slowly. This two-stage thermalization may be related to quasiperiodicity in the underlying dynamics. Indeed, the metaequilibria are found to occur in a range of system parameters for which approximately quasiperiodic solutions are prevalent in equilibrium.
TTX-sensitive and TTX-insensitive sodium channel mRNA transcripts are independently regulated in adult skeletal muscle after denervation

The expression of mRNA encoding the TTX-sensitive (SkM1) and TTX-insensitive (SkM2) voltage-dependent sodium channels in adult skeletal muscle is independently regulated. In normal skeletal muscle, only the SkM1 message is expressed and the level varies with muscle fiber type. After surgical denervation, the steady-state SkM1 mRNA level declines transiently, but returns to control levels within 5 days. Expression of SkM2 transcripts is markedly activated, reaching a peak 3 days after axotomy and then declining to a maintained level at approximately 30% of peak. Chemical denervation with botulinum toxin results in higher levels of SkM2 mRNA, which by 7 days posttreatment are 7-fold greater than levels in paired axotomized muscles. SkM2 expression subsequently declines as functional reinnervation appears. Quantal acetylcholine release appears to play a major role in suppression of SkM2 expression in adult innervated or reinnervated muscle, whereas nonquantal factors in toxin-treated, but not axotomized, muscle may sustain high level SkM2 mRNA expression.
Purified, Reconstituted Cardiac Ca2+-ATPase Is Regulated by Phospholamban but Not by Direct Phosphorylation with Ca2+/Calmodulin-dependent Protein Kinase

Abstract Regulation of calcium transport by sarcoplasmic reticulum provides increased cardiac contractility in response to β-adrenergic stimulation. This is due to phosphorylation of phospholamban by cAMP-dependent protein kinase or by calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase, which activates the calcium pump (Ca2+-ATPase). Recently, direct phosphorylation of Ca2+-ATPase by calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase has been proposed to provide additional regulation. To investigate these effects in detail, we have purified Ca2+-ATPase from cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum using affinity chromatography and reconstituted it with purified, recombinant phospholamban. The resulting proteoliposomes had high rates of calcium transport, which was tightly coupled to ATP hydrolysis (∼1.7 calcium ions transported per ATP molecule hydrolyzed). Co-reconstitution with phospholamban suppressed both calcium uptake and ATPase activities by ∼50%, and this suppression was fully relieved by a phospholamban monoclonal antibody or by phosphorylation either with cAMP-dependent protein kinase or with calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase. These effects were consistent with a change in the apparent calcium affinity of Ca2+-ATPase and not with a change in Vmax. Neither the purified, reconstituted cardiac Ca2+-ATPase nor the Ca2+-ATPase in longitudinal cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles was a substrate for calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase, and accordingly, we found no effect of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase phosphorylation on Vmax for calcium transport.
Import and export of the nuclear protein import receptor transportin by a mechanism independent of GTP hydrolysis

Abstract Background: Nuclear protein import and export are mediated by receptor proteins that recognize nuclear localization sequences (NLSs) or nuclear export sequences (NESs) and target the NLS-bearing or NES-bearing protein to the nuclear pore complex (NPC). Temperature-dependent translocation of the receptor–cargo complex in both directions through the NPC requires the GTPase Ran, and it has been proposed that the Ran GTPase cycle mediates translocation. We have addressed the role of GTP hydrolysis in these processes by studying the import receptor transportin, which mediates the import of a group of abundant heterogeneous nuclear RNA-binding proteins bearing the M9 NLS. Results: We investigated the transport properties of transportin and found that the carboxy-terminal region of transportin could, by itself, be imported into the nucleus. Transportin import and export were inhibited by low temperature in vitro , but were unaffected by the non-hydrolyzable GTP analogue GMP–PNP. Conclusions: Temperature-dependent import and export through the NPC can be uncoupled from the Ran GTPase cycle and can occur without GTP hydrolysis.
Short Communication to SMI 2011: Volumetric colon wall unfolding using harmonic differentials

Volumetric colon wall unfolding is a novel method for virtual colon analysis and visualization with valuable applications in virtual colonoscopy (VC) and computer-aided detection (CAD) systems. A volumetrically unfolded colon enables doctors to visualize the entire colon structure without occlusions due to haustral folds, and is critical for performing efficient and accurate texture analysis on the volumetric colon wall. Though conventional colon surface flattening has been employed for these uses, volumetric colon unfolding offers the advantages of providing the needed quantities of information with needed accuracy. This work presents an efficient and effective volumetric colon unfolding method based on harmonic differentials. The colon volumes are reconstructed from CT images and are represented as tetrahedral meshes. Three harmonic 1-forms, which are linearly independent everywhere, are computed on the tetrahedral mesh. Through integration of the harmonic 1-forms, the colon volume is mapped periodically to a canonical cuboid. The method presented is automatic, simple, and practical. Experimental results are reported to show the performance of the algorithm on real medical datasets. Though applied here specifically to the colon, the method is general and can be generalized for other volumes.
Electron microscopic changes in rat parotid and submandibular glands subsequent to total body irradiation with fast neutrons

Abstract Female Sprague-Dawley rats were irradiated with fast neutrons to study the radiobiologic effect on the parotid and submandibular salivary glands. Cytologic alterations were seen in the parotid tissues as early as 3 hours after exposure and peaked in both parotid and submandibular glands by the fourth postradiation day. The injury was manifest as damaged and sequestered intracytoplasmic organelles appearing as pleomorphic inclusions. The two types of glandular tissue showed similar morphologic alterations. No injury to blood vessels or other radiosensitive cells could be found.
Inhibition of tissue factor reduces thrombus formation and intimal hyperplasia after porcine coronary angioplasty.

OBJECTIVES We investigated the in vivo effects of tissue factor (TF) inhibition with recombinant tissue factor pathway inhibitor (rTFPI) on acute thrombus formation and intimal hyperplasia and the in vitro effects on smooth muscle cell migration and proliferation. BACKGROUND Inhibition of TF with TFPI has been shown to reduce intimal hyperplasia in experimental models. However, its effects after coronary angioplasty and the cellular mechanisms involved have not been investigated. METHODS Twenty-three swine underwent multivessel coronary angioplasty. Fifteen (n = 25 arteries) were euthanized at 72 h to assess thrombus formation and eight (n = 24 arteries) at 28 days to assess intimal hyperplasia. Animals in the 72-h time point received: 1) human rTFPI (0.5 mg bolus plus 25 μg/kg/min continuous infusion for 3 days) plus heparin (150 IU/kg intravenous bolus) plus acetyl salicylic acid (ASA) (325 mg/day); 2) rTFPI regimen plus ASA and 3) heparin (150 IU/kg intravenous bolus) plus ASA. RESULTS On histology the control group had evidence of mural thrombus (area 0.8 ± 0.4 mm2). Treatment with TFPI plus heparin abolished thrombus formation (mean area: 0.0 ± 0.0 mm2, p < 0.05) but was associated with prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time and extravascular hemorrhage. Recombinant TFPI alone inhibited thrombosis without bleeding complications (mean area: 0.03 ± 0.02 mm2, p < 0.05 vs. control). Animals in the 28-day time point received continuous intravenous infusion of rTFPI or control solution for 14 days. Tissue factor pathway inhibitor reduced neointimal formation with mean intimal area of 1.2 ± 0.3 mm2 versus 3.2 ± 0.4 mm2 in the control group; p < 0.01. Recombinant TFPI had no effect on human aortic smooth muscle cell growth but inhibited platelet-derived growth factor BB-induced migration. CONCLUSIONS Inhibition of TF with rTFPI can prevent acute thrombosis and intimal hyperplasia after injury. Tissue factor plasma inhibitor may prove useful as an adjunct to intracoronary interventions.
Fatigue Fracture Resistance Analysis of Polymer Composites Based on the Energy Expended on Damage Formation

Analysis of the fatigue crack propagation behavior of filled polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) composites using the energy expended on damage formation was performed. A 25% chopped glass fiber filled ...
Delivery of active hexosaminidase across the blood-brain barrier in rats

The ability to deliver enzymatically active human hexosaminidase A across the blood-brain barrier and into brain cells of the normal rat was examined. Following osmotic blood-brain barrier modification in the rat, intraarterially administered human hexosaminidase A and B were shown to cross the barrier and enter brain cells. Subcellular fractionation studies demonstrated that most of the human enzyme delivered across the barrier was functionally active and appeared to be inside a subcellular organelle. These studies provide evidence that blood-brain barrier modification permits delivery of functionally active hexosaminidase A into subcellular organelles consistent with that known to be the appropriate site of physiologic activity.
Micronuclear DNA sequences of Oxytricha fallax homologous to the macronuclear inverted terminal repeat

The macronucleus of the protozoan Oxytricha fallax is generated from a micronucleus following conjugation. While the micronucleus contains high molecular weight DNA, the macronucleus contains only short linear DNA molecules which all end in the same 20 bp inverted terminal repeat (Ma-ITR). The Ma-ITR was radioactively labeled and purified for use as a probe in hybridizations to micronuclear and macronuclear DNA. Sequences homologous to the Ma-ITR were detected in micronuclear DNA. The copy number of the repeat in the micronuclear genome is approximately that required to encode the macronuclear DNA termini. The micronuclear copies are found embedded in repeated long sequence blocks.
Reflections on youth and when living hurts

Youth today usually grow up to be mature adults, but some are showing at risk behavior that educators and parents should be aware of and try to help and prevent life long social disability. The author brings some reflections to these issues from his life long work with children, youth, parents and educators. He concludes his message with teachings from the Talmud, where it is stated that if you can save one life, it is as though you have saved a whole world. That has now become his mission--one person at a time. Language: en
A method to test large numbers of bovine semen samples for viral contamination and results of a study using this method

A procedure to test large numbers of semen samples for viral contamination is described. The procedure has the advantages of being simple to perform, sensitive and a relatively inexpensive method to test pooled semen samples, but it has the disadvantage of requiring serologically negative calves and sheep, isolation facilities to prevent environmental contamination during the testing procedure and relatively long times to obtain results. Using this in vivo procedure called the "Cornell Semen Test", it was found that of 40,000 ejaculates tested during a four year period none contained Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis Virus, Bovine Herpes Mammalitis Virus, Bovine Leukemia Virus nor Bluetongue Virus at infectious levels. The only virus that was found in a limited number of pools of semen was Bovine Virus Diarrhea Virus. It is recommended that if large volumes of pooled semen are to be tested for viral contamination that this procedure be used.
Age measurements of potassium-bearing sulfide minerals by the40Ar/39Ar technique

Abstract K-Ar ages have been determined for sulfide minerals for the first time. The occurrence of adequate amounts of potassium-bearing sulfides with ideal compositions K3Fe10S14 (∼10 wt.% K) and KFe2S3 (∼16 wt.% K) in samples from a mafic alkalic diatreme at Coyote Peak, California, prompted an attempt to date these materials. K3Fe10S14, a massive mineral with conchoidal fracture, gives an age of 29.4 ± 0.5m.y.(40Ar/39Ar), indistinguishable from the 28.3 ± 0.4m.y.(40Ar/39Ar) and 30.2 ± 1.0m.y.8 (conventional K-Ar) ages obtained for associated phlogopite (8.7 wt.% K). KFe2S3, a bladed, fibrous sulfide, gives a younger age, 26.5 ± 0.5m.y.(40Ar/39Ar), presumably owing to Ar loss.
Maintenance of a Narrow Hybrid Zone in Peromyscus leucopus: a Test of Alternative Models

This study examines the genetic characteristics of one population of the white-footed mouse, Peromyscus leucopus , from the center of a hybrid zone between two chromosomal races characterized by pericentric inversions. All individuals ( n = 78) were trapped in a single night and examined for five diagnostic genetic markers. Three individuals possessed the pure southwestern genome and all other individuals had a mixture of parental genomes. To determine if the maintenance of this zone is best explained by either the dynamic-equilibrium, hybrid-equilibrium, or hybrid-superiority model, we proposed three independent tests. Classical disequilibrium statistics detected a significant association between chromosomes 5 and 20. However, results from the contiguous-clustering analysis indicate that linkage-disequilibrium is the result of subdivisions within the population and not due to nonrandom segregation. It is critical to distinguish between these factors as they result from distinctly different biological phenomena. Contiguous clustering showed little consistency of population subdivision among the five genetic characters examined. Single- and multi-character distributions vary from the predictions of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium due to an excessive number of southwestern parental types. However, the frequency of hybrid classes does not vary from the expectations of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. This, plus the high frequency of individuals homozygous for alternative parental states, is interpreted as documentation that most individuals are the progeny of hybrids. The hybrid-equilibrium model appears to be an appropriate descriptor of the statistical results from this hybrid zone.
Grammar and pronunciation in the speech classroom

(1959). Grammar and pronunciation in the speech classroom. The Speech Teacher: Vol. 8, No. 3, pp. 229-236.
Production of focused beams of polar diatomic molecules in selected vibrational-rotational states

Abstract Velocity-selected molecular beams of CsF in selected states |μJM > , of a adequate intensity for scattering experiments, are produced by a simplified electric resonance technique. It combines rotationally-selective focusing by quadrupole fields with vibrationally-selective microwave (square-wave modulated) stimulation.
Patterned nanoporous poly(methylsilsesquioxane) thin films: a potential high density substrate

Abstract Patterns of thin films of nanoporous poly(methylsilsesquioxane) (PMSSQ) were generated using a lithographic method coupled with reactive ion etching. Surface hydrophilicity of the nanoporous films was modulated using a simple UV/O3 treatment. A fluorescent dye, 6-carboxyfluorescein (6-FAM), was attached using a linker, bis(hydroxyethyl) aminopropyltriethoxysilane (HE-APTS), to the patterns. An approximately 10× increase in the green light intensity in the porous regions relative to flat silicon wafer surface was observed, which suggests that the patterned nanoporous PMSSQ thin film has a potential as a high density substrate for tethering bioprobe molecules.