cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Biguanides Metformin and Buformin in Combination with 2-Deoxy-glucose or WZB-117 Inhibit the Viability of Highly Resistant Human Lung Cancer Cells.

The biguanides metformin (MET) and to a lesser extent buformin (BUF) have recently been shown to exert anticancer effects. In particular, MET targets cancer stem cells (CSCs) in a variety of cancer types but these compounds have not been extensively tested for combination therapy. In this study, we investigated in vitro the anticancer activity of MET and BUF alone or in combination with 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) and WZB-117 (WZB), which are a glycolysis and a GLUT-1 inhibitor, respectively, in H460 human lung cancer cells growing under three different culture conditions with varying degrees of stemness: (1) routine culture conditions (RCCs), (2) floating lung tumorspheres (LTSs) that are enriched for stem-like cancer cells, and (3) adherent cells under prolonged periods (8-12 days) of serum starvation (PPSS). These cells are highly resistant to conventional anticancer drugs such as paclitaxel, hydroxyurea, and colchicine and display an increased level of stemness markers. As single agents, MET, BUF, 2-DG, and WZB-117 potently inhibited the viability of cells growing under RCCs. Both MET and BUF showed a strong synergistic effect when used in combination with 2-DG. A weak potentiation was observed when used with WZB-117. Under RCCs, H460 cells were more sensitive to MET and BUF and WZB-117 compared to nontumorigenic Beas-2B cells. While LTSs were less sensitive to each single drug, both MET and BUF in combination with 2-DG showed a strong synergistic effect and reduced cell viability to similar levels compared to the parental H460 cells. Adherent cells growing under PPSS were also less sensitive to each single drug, and MET and BUF showed a strong synergistic effect on cell viability in combination with 2-DG. Overall, our data demonstrates that the combination of BGs with either 2-DG or WZB-117 has “broad-spectrum” anticancer activities targeting cells growing under a variety of cell culture conditions with varying degrees of stemness. These properties may be useful to overcome the chemoresistance due to intratumoral heterogeneity found in lung cancer.
Abstract 250: Pulmonary Hypertension Induced by 15-HETE is Reverse by Apoai Mimetic Peptide 6f Administration

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is characterized by pulmonary arterial occlusion leading to increased pulmonary arterial pressure. Recently, a growing body of evidence demonstrated a robust i...
A Machine Learning Enabled MAC Framework for Heterogeneous Internet-of-Things Networks

Nowadays, an Internet-of-Things (IoT) connected system brings a tremendous paradigm shift into the medium access control (MAC) design. In this paper, we present a distributed MAC framework assisted by machine learning for the Heterogeneous IoT system, where the IoT devices coexist with the WiFi users in the unlicensed industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) spectrum. Specifically, the superframe is divided into two phases: a rendezvous phase and a transmission phase. During the rendezvous phase, the gateway that is capable of machine learning predicts the number of WiFi users and the IoT devices by performing a triangular handshake on the primary channel. The prediction takes advantage of the deep neural network (DNN) model which is pretrained on our universal software radio peripheral (USRP2) testbed offline. The gateway allocates the frequency channels to the WiFi and IoT systems based on the inference results. Then, the IoT devices and WiFi users initiate data transmissions during the transmission phase. Furthermore, system throughput is analyzed and optimized in two typical scenarios, respectively. An optimized MAC framework is proposed to maximize the total system throughput by finding the key design parameters. The analytical and simulation results that are conducted using the ns-2 demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed MAC framework.
Simulation and Analysis of DDoS Attack on Connected Autonomous Vehicular Network using OMNET

The advent of the Internet of Things (IoT) gave us the capability to connect real-world objects to the Internet, making our lives more convenient. However, hackers have been known to crack into these real-world systems causing more inconvenience to the people than making their lives easier. Smart cars are one of the technologies which make our lives easier, but if an attacker exploits its vulnerabilities, they can cause severe discomfort to the passengers and the people around. In recent years, there have been instances where Connected Autonomous Vehicles (CAVs) were attacked by hackers, which granted complete and total control of the car to the attacker, or where the network was jammed, which led to the loss of information. In this paper, we present the simulation of a DDoS attack in a virtual environment of OMNET++ on a network of connected autonomous/smart cars. We also discuss and show how this attack can affect the communication between the cars which are interacting with each other using the well-known IEEE 802.11p DSRC protocol. Related simulation results are presented and discussed.
A system of super Jupiters

Careful measurements taken over 15 years have revealed a new planetary companion to the famous young star, Beta Pictoris, thereby unveiling one of the most massive extrasolar planetary systems yet discovered.
California Community Colleges Produce Positive Employment Outcomes: Results from the Career Technical Education Outcomes Survey.

ABSTRACTThe current research investigates the employment outcomes of Career Technical Education (CTE) from California community colleges. We used three years of data from the California Community C...
Influence of fitting approaches in LCModel on MRS quantification focusing on age‐specific macromolecules and the spline baseline

Quantification of neurochemical concentrations from 1 H MR spectra is challenged by incomplete knowledge of contributing signals. Some experimental conditions hinder the acquisition of artifact-free spectra and impede the acquisition of condition-specific macromolecule (MM) spectra. This work studies differences caused by fitting solutions routinely employed to manage resonances from MM and lipids. High quality spectra (free of residual water and lipid artifacts and for which condition-specific MM spectra are available) are used to understand the influences of spline baseline flexibility and noncondition-specific MM on neurochemical quantification. Fitting with moderate spline flexibility or using noncondition-specific MM led to quantification that differed from when an appropriate, fully specified model was used. This occurred for all neurochemicals to an extent that varied in magnitude among and within approaches. The spline baseline was more tortuous when less constrained and when used in combination with noncondition-specific MM. Increasing baseline flexibility did not reproduce concentrations quantified under appropriate conditions when spectra were fitted using a MM spectrum measured from a mismatched cohort. Using the noncondition-specific MM spectrum led to quantification differences that were comparable in size with using a fitting model that had moderate freedom, and these influences were additive. Although goodness of fit was better with greater fitting flexibility, quantification differed from when fitting with a fully specified model that is appropriate for low noise data. Notable GABA and PE concentration differences occurred with lower estimates of measurement error when fitting with greater spline flexibility or noncondition-specific MM. These data support the need for improved metrics of goodness of fit. Attempting to correct for artifacts or absence of a condition-specific MM spectrum via increased spline flexibility and usage of noncondition-specific MM spectra cannot replace artifact-free data quantified with a condition-specific MM spectrum.
Esophageal candidiasis and its diagnosis

The concomitant use of two distinct sampling methods can enhance the diagnostic yield of esophageal candidiasis during upper endoscopy. Furthermore, when initial staining is inconclusive, the use of additional stains can help establish the diagnosis.
Utilization of Acid Suppression Medication in an Underserved Population.

Objectives Acid suppression therapy (AST), composed of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), histamine-2 receptor blockers, and antacids, is one of the most common medication groups used in the United States. Long-term AST is concerning, however, because it is linked with an increased risk of community-acquired pneumonia, Clostridium difficile infections, bone fractures, and nutritional deficiencies. The potentially harmful biological and economic consequences associated with the improper use of acid suppression medications presents a great deal of risk to those in underserved communities. We sought to determine the prevalence of AST in an underserved population and the common diagnoses and symptoms associated with therapy. In addition, we studied the frequency of suboptimal usage of PPIs in an indigent care population and the potential factors related to high-risk behaviors. Methods The study was a cross-sectional study using a survey that was distributed to participants during their regularly scheduled visits to a public sector provider of health care for low-income patients. Results Of the 176 participants surveyed, 70 (40%) were using AST. Esophagitis and gastroesophageal reflux disease were the most prevalent in our sample population. PPIs were the most common acid suppression medication used in our population. Of those using PPIs, 85% were never instructed to cease use. Of the 27 patients with PPI prescriptions, 26 used it in a suboptimal manner, and of those without prescriptions, 7 used it in a suboptimal manner. Conclusions ASTs are prevalent in low-income populations, and patients are not being managed appropriately to minimize their risk for complications of AST.
Elevated Liver Biochemistries in Hospitalized Chinese Patients with Severe COVID-19: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Several recent studies have reported an abnormal liver chemistry profile among patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), although its clinical significance remains unknown. APPROACH AND RESULTS This systematic review and meta-analysis identified six studies of 586 patients delineating liver chemistries among patients with severe/critical illness versus mild cases of COVID-19 infection. Patients with severe/critical illness with COVID-19 infection have increased prevalence of coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as compared with mild cases. A significant association between severe/critical COVID-19 infections with elevations in aspartate aminotransferase (pooled mean difference [MD], 11.70 U/L; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.97, 20.43; P = 0.009), elevated total bilirubin (pooled MD, 0.14 mg/dL; 95% CI, 0.06, 0.22; P = 0.0005), and decreased albumin (pooled MD, -0.68 g/L; 95% CI, -0.81, -0.55; P < 0.00001) was noted. There was also a trend toward elevated alanine aminotransferase levels among these severe cases (pooled MD, 8.84 U/L; 95% CI, -2.28, 19.97; P = 0.12); however, this did not reach statistical significance. More severe/critically ill cases were associated with leukocytosis, neutrophilia, lymphopenia, elevated creatinine kinase, elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and elevated prothrombin time (PT). CONCLUSIONS Comorbidities, including coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, are more prevalent in hospitalized Chinese patients with severe/critical illness from COVID-19, and these patients are more likely to manifest with abnormal liver chemistries. Further prospective studies are crucial to understand the pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying the hepatic manifestations of the novel COVID-19 infection and its clinical significance.
Deep spatial transformers for autoregressive data-driven forecasting of geophysical turbulence

A deep spatial transformer based encoder-decoder model has been developed to autoregressively predict the time evolution of the upper layer’s stream function of a two-layered quasi-geostrophic (QG) system without any information about the lower layer’s stream function. The spatio-temporal complexity of QG flow is comparable to the complexity of 500hPa Geopotential Height (Z500) of fully coupled climate models or even the Z500 which is observed in the atmosphere, based on the instantaneous attractor dimension metric. The ability to predict autoregressively, the turbulent dynamics of QG is the first step towards building data-driven surrogates for more complex climate models. We show that the equivariance preserving properties of modern spatial transformers incorporated within a convolutional encoder-decoder module can predict up to 9 days in a QG system (outperforming a baseline persistence model and a standard convolutional encoder decoder with a custom loss function). The proposed data-driven model remains stable for multiple years thus promising us of a stable and physical data-driven climate model.
ACTIVITIES OF CaO AND La_2O_3 IN LIQUID CaO-SiO_2-La_2O_3 SLAGS AND SLAG STRUCTURE

The activity of CaO and La_2O_3 in the liquid ternary slag CaO- SiO-La_2O_3 has been determined by equilibrating Sn with the slag phase in a graphite crucible under 1 atm of CO at 1600℃. The experimental results showed that the activity of CaO and La_2O_3 changes slowly while the ratio of mole fraction, x_(CaO)/ x_(SiO_2), is less than unit, but varies sharply while the ratio increases from 1 to 1.2. In addition, by equilibrating Sn with the binary slag B_2O_3-La_2O_3 saturated with solid La_2O_3 at three different temperatures, the relation between lg γ°_(La) and 1/T is determined as follows: lg γ°_(La)=-29400/T+11.37(1500-1600℃) A random network model of molten silicate structure was applied to CaO-SiO- La_2O_3. It was found that the experimentally determined activity-composition curves of CaO are qualitatively reproduced by the curves calculated with the model, but the curves of La_2O_3 are considerably different from the calculated ones. It implies that the model used is over-simplified and that the difference in interaction energy between the metal cations of different valence and silicate anions should be consid- ered.
Emerging investigator series: municipal wastewater as a year-round point source of neonicotinoid insecticides that persist in an effluent-dominated stream

Neonicotinoids in aquatic systems have been predominantly associated with agriculture, but some are increasingly being linked to municipal wastewater. Thus, the aim of this work was to understand the municipal wastewater contribution to neonicotinoids in a representative, characterized effluent-dominated temperate-region stream. Our approach was to quantify the spatiotemporal concentrations of imidacloprid, clothianidin, thiamethoxam, and transformation product imidacloprid urea: 0.1 km upstream, the municipal wastewater effluent, and 0.1 and 5.1 km downstream from the wastewater outfall (collected twice-monthly for one year under baseflow conditions). Quantified results demonstrated that wastewater effluent was a point-source of imidacloprid (consistently) and clothianidin (episodically), where chronic invertebrate exposure benchmarks were exceeded for imidacloprid (36/52 samples; 3/52 > acute exposure benchmark) and clothianidin (8/52 samples). Neonicotinoids persisted downstream where mass loads were not significantly different than those in the effluent. The combined analysis of neonicotinoid effluent concentrations, instream seasonality, and registered uses in Iowa all indicate imidacloprid, and seasonally clothianidin, were driven by wastewater effluent, whereas thiamethoxam and imidacloprid urea were primarily from upstream non-point sources (or potential in-stream transformation for imidacloprid urea). This is the first study to quantify neonicotinoid persistence in an effluent-dominated stream throughout the year-implicating wastewater effluent as a point-source for imidacloprid (year-round) and clothianidin (seasonal). These findings suggest possible overlooked neonicotinoid indoor human exposure routes with subsequent implications for instream ecotoxicological exposure.
Abstract NS8: The Effects of Introducing a Nurse Practitioner Stroke Champion into the Emergency Department

Background and Purpose: Emergency Department (ED) physicians often manage acute stroke patients without Neurology support at the bedside. Without guidance, they are left to rapidly assess, diagnose and treat acute stroke patients with minimal follow up on treatment effectiveness and patient outcomes. We hypothesized that introducing a Nurse Practitioner (NP) as Stroke Champion into an ED that did not have access to in-house Neurology would drive awareness of acute stroke care, and positively change practice to decrease door to needle times. Methods: The NP started in the 24-bed ED in June 2012. The average daily census of the ED for 2012 was 135 patients per day, and from January to June 2012, ED physicians initiated 46 stroke codes. Although Neurologists were available via telephone, ED physicians were left to accurately assess and initiate stroke codes, determine eligibility, and order IV tPA. In collaboration with the Stroke Medical Director, the Stroke NP conducted multiple education sessions regarding timing metrics in acute stroke care and door to tPA goals with ED clinicians, radiology, lab and pharmacy departments. Data was shared with stakeholders monthly to drive performance improvement initiatives. Results: Rapid improvements were made in all metrics. Mean time to CT first image improved by 19.3 minutes (37.3 to 18.0 minutes) in 6 months, and to 14.7 minutes in 1 year. CT result mean turn-around-time decreased by 19 minutes (from 54.0 to 29.1 minutes) in the first 6 months, and by 22.6 minutes (from 54.0 to 26.0 minutes) at 12 months. Likewise, laboratory result turn-around-times dramatically decreased by a mean of 15.9 minutes (54.4 to 38.5 minutes) over 6 months, and by a mean of 23 minutes (54.4 to 31.0 minutes) within 12 months. IV tPA treatment rates increased from 5% to 14.4% of all ischemic strokes. Door to IV tPA treatment times decreased by a mean of 33.9 minutes (104.5 to 70.6 minutes) in 6 months, and by 46.8 minutes (from 104.5 to 57.7 minutes) within the year. Conclusions: Introducing an NP into the ED to serve as Stroke Champion can provide added support to improve care of acute stroke patients by expediting assessment and treatment.
Control of Breathing

The primary purpose of this presentation will be to explore the ways in which anesthetics and related drugs - sedatives, tranquilizers, and narcotics - act to produce one of their more notorious side effects, depression of breathing. I wi11 review dose-response relationships, discuss clinical implications, and explore some of the questions of basic ventilatory control revealed by the way in which these drugs modify breathing.
Enterprise JavaBeans and Microsoft Transaction Server: Frameworks for distributed enterprise components

Abstract Software components were introduced to fulfill the promise of code reuse that “pure” objects were unable to deliver. This chapter examines a specific type of component, namely, distributed enterprise components, that provides “business” functions across an enterprise. Distributed enterprise components require special functions such as distribution, persistence, and transactions; these functions are typically achieved by deploying the components in an object transaction monitor. Recently, distributed enterprise components and object transaction monitor technology have standardized into two competing frameworks: Sun's Enterprise JavaBeans and Microsoft's Microsoft Transaction Server. The first half of this chapter discusses the concept of distributed enterprise components in some detail and shows how they have evolved in response to the need for code reuse in business environments. This evolution is closely related to developments in other areas of software technology such as databases and transaction monitors. The second half of the chapter focuses specifically on the Enterprise JavaBeans (EJB) and Microsoft Transaction Server (MTS) technologies and explains how they relate to earlier component technologies. We show that EJBs and MTS are remarkably similar and yet differ in some important ways. We illustrate this discussion through an example developed on both frameworks.
MISAR-THE MICROPROCESSOR CONTROLLED IGNITION SYSTEM

This paper explains the significance of ignition spark timing in internal combustion engines and describes how the MISAR System provides almost infinite advance curve flexibility to meet the requirements for fuel economy, engine performance and exhaust emissions. The hardware components of the system are described including the microprocessor and the various engine sensors. Finally, a brief operational description shows how the system functions to compute and execute the desired ignition commands. /SAE/
How To Know What Kids Already Know: Doing Research With Young Children

(2003). Issues in Education: How to Know what Kids Already Know Doing Research with Young Children. Childhood Education: Vol. 79, No. 3, pp. 167-169.
The Negotiated Reformation: Imperial Cities and the Politics of Urban Reform, 1525-1550

Introduction 1. Consultation and the urban hierarchy 2. Imperial cities and collective politics 3. Preachers, consultation, and the spread of urban reform in southern Germany 4. The urban reformation in Donauworth 5. The urban reformation in Kaufbeuren 6. Negotiation and the rural reformation in eastern Swabia 7. Eastern Swabia and the Schmalkaldic War Conclusion.
Increased biofuel production by metabolic engineering of Clostridium acetobutylicum.

Researched data suggest that membrane-associated proteins in the ethanol-adapted strain are either synthesized in lesser quantities or not properly incorporated into the cell membrane. In this study, 49 different proteins were identified and among them were two highly abundant surface layer proteins, flagellum components, and paralogs of the high-molecular-weight surface layer protein. These identified proteins may represent new virulence factors. The current status for reduction of expression of multiple genes is antisense RNA technology. The introduction of plasmids bearing genes of acid pathways showed only a modest effect on the acid content. This suggests that increasing the levels of certain enzymes may not affect the overall metabolite profile if they are already in adequate amount and the network is limited by other factors. Among the strategies discussed to increase the butanol fraction of solvents in Clostridium acetobutylicum, that is, by manipulating expression levels of genes for acid and solvent production, regulators, heat shock proteins, and sporulation, altering gene expression for cell membrane synthesis would be expected to directly address solvent tolerance as well as production capabilities. The study of the genes encoding the 1,3-PD operon of Clostridium butyricum VPI1718 revealed three genes, dhaB1, dhaB2, and dhaT. Studies detailed in this chapter reflect an increased level of complexity in the process of metabolic engineering and recognize that attempts to improve the desired phenotype must be accompanied by a deeper understanding of the organism as a whole if success in strain engineering is to be achieved.
High mass planets and low mass stars

There are three main ingredients in brown dwarf theoretical models: (i) The equation of state; (ii) The entropy equation, which relates the internal and atmospheric thermodynamic states; and (iii) The atmospheric boundary condition (the infrared opacity). It is argued that the first two ingredients are very well understood. The opacity is less well understood and the major unresolved problem. Simple scaling laws are described and discussed for the relationships between luminosity (L), mass, opacity and age (t), assuming no thermonuclear energy sources. In the limit of extreme degeneracy, L ∝ t^(-1.25). However, detectable brown dwarfs (including VB8B) are still significantly contracting (i.e. actual radius ~10% larger than the zero temperature limit). As a consequence, dlnL/dlnt ~ -1.0 to -1.1 at this epoch for VB8B. Large opacity increases the effect of non-degeneracy. Complicating factors in brown dwarf evolution (super- or sub-adiabaticity, Debye cooling, freezing, differentiation, variable opacity) are discussed but only the latter two seem like to be important.
Suspension and Expulsion of Black Students From the Public Schools: Academic Capital Punishment and the Constitution

The relationship between law and mathematics has been described as a romance" which "has been for the most part a one-sided affair. ' Mathematicians historically have toyed with the idea of bringing their discipline to bear on social problems and their resolution, but lawyers and judges have proved to be a recalcitrant lot. Many lawyers apparently chose law school to escape those mysteries of all mysteries, mathematics and science. But, alas, our escape has proven to be an illusion. At every turn we are besieged with preference contours, choice sets, random samples, and statistical probabilities. 2 While many of us remain xenophobic to the core, greeting with hostility each new incursion into the world of "plausibility," "commonsense" and "humanistic" thought,3 frankness commands the admission that the affair has become serious. The one-sided romance has developed into a marriage of convenience, or, reflecting more recent conjugal innovations, a willingness to share the same quarters without the formalities of ceremony and family reception. 4 Nowhere has the impact of this new relationship been more severely felt than with respect to the developing law of racial discrimination. It
NO/GMP as mediators of estrogen effects in bone

Background Osteoporosis is a major health problem, especially in post-menopausal women. Current osteoporosis therapies have major drawbacks (e.g., estrogens increase breast cancer risks), and reduce fractures by only ~20-30%. Most osteoporosis drugs block bone resorption, and there is an urgent need to develop anabolic therapies that can stimulate bone formation. We previously showed that the NO/cGMP/PKG pathway mediates pro-proliferative effects of mechanical stimulation in osteoblasts and anti-apoptotic effects of estrogens in osteocytes [1,2]. These findings lead us to hypothesize that cGMP-elevating agents may have boneprotective effects. Results We tested cinaciguat, a prototype soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator, and nitrosylcobinamide (NO-Cbi), a novel NO-donor with anti-oxidant properties, in a mouse model of estrogen deficiency-induced osteoporosis [3]. Compared with sham-operated mice, ovariectomized mice had lower serum cGMP concentrations, which were largely restored to normal by treatment with cinaciguat, NO-Cbi, or low-dose estrogen replacement. Micro-CT analyses of tibiae showed that all three pharmacological interventions significantly improved trabecular bone architecture in ovariectomized animals, with similar effect sizes. Cinaciguat and NO-Cbi reversed ovariectomy-induced osteocyte apoptosis as efficiently as estradiol, and enhanced bone formation parameters in vivo, consistent with in vitro effects on osteoblast proliferation, differentiation, and survival. As previously reported, ovariectomy dramatically increased osteoclast numbers, and this effect was completely reversed by estradiol. NO-Cbi significantly decreased the number of osteoclasts in ovariectomized mice, whereas cinaciguat had only modest effects, suggesting cGMP-independent effects of NO-Cbi in osteoclasts. Conclusion We conclude that estrogen deficiency represents a state of relative NO and cGMP deficiency, and that NO-dependent or NO-independent guanylate cyclase stimulation may represent a novel, anabolic treatment strategy for post-menopausal osteoporosis. These data confirm an important role of NO/cGMP signaling in bone biology.
The 2012 Olympics and its Legacies : State, Citizen and Corporate Mobilizations of the Olympic Spirit

The 2012 Olympics and its Legacies : State, Citizen and Corporate Mobilizations of the Olympic Spirit
Dissecting the object-image metric with image registration in mind

An object-image metric is an extension of standard metrics in that is constructed for matching and comparing configuration of object features to configurations of image features. For the generalized weak perspective camera, it is invariant to any affine transformation of the object or the image. Recent research in the exploitation of the object-image metric suggests new approaches to Automatic Target Recognition (ATR). This paper explores the object-image metric and its limitation. Through a series of experiments, we specifically seek to understand how the object-image metric could be applied to the image registration problem-an enabling technology for ATR.
Intrapericardial therapeutics and diagnostics.

Standard management of most disease involves enteral or parenteral administration of therapeutic and diagnostic agents that reach particular tissues and organs through the bloodstream, nearly always have widespread systemic effects, including toxicities, and undergo inevitable dilution and dispersion before reaching the target tissue. Use of intrapericardial delivery of therapeutic and diagnostic modalities (IPTD) makes possible a direct attack on diseases of the myocardium, coronary arteries, autonomic nerves, and conducting tissue. Until recently, intrapericardial therapy and diagnosis was restricted to patients with pericardial effusions, the causes of which were the target for therapy or palliation. Because the normal pericardial space is very small, this required a substantial pericardial effusion for safe access. Table I summarizes established intrapericardial therapies.
Willingness to forgive: relationships with mood, anxiety and severity of symptoms

The Willingness to Forgive Scale (WFS) was correlated with the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and the Global Severity Index (GSI) of the Brief Symptom Inventory. Participants were 45 male and 55 female outpatients being treated for affective and anxiety disorders. No gender differences (α = 0.05) were found on the aforementioned instruments. In the females, the WFS was not correlated with any of the three scales. In the males, the WFS was significantly correlated (r = −0.38, p = 0.009) with the BAI scores, marginally correlated (r = −0.29, p = 0.052) with the GSI, but not correlated with the BDI-II scores. That anxiety and symptom severity were related to willingness to forgive in males, but not in females, is a finding difficult to explain but worth exploring in future research.
China’s catch-up to the US economy: decomposing TFP through investment-specific technology and human capital

We implement a neoclassical growth model that incorporates investment-specific technology (IST) modifying capital investment in the law of motion of capital and bifurcates productivity into human capital and total factor productivity (TFP) in the production function. We focus on the role of changes in the quality-adjusted price of investment goods on China’s growth by comparing the effects of IST and human capital on the decomposition of US and Chinese productivity. The results show that both human capital and IST play an important role in the decomposition of US TFP. For China, human capital accounts for an increasingly higher portion of Chinese TFP for the period 1952–2009; however, IST contributes to the explanation of TFP only after the 1979 reforms. The analysis is extended by considering the impact of IST in the consumer’s investment decision and by projecting both countries’ GDP while modelling unbalanced Chinese growth using catch-up. Our model predicts that the Chinese economy will surpass the US...
Calculation of bounce‐averaged velocities and hydrogen densities for a storm‐time magnetic field

[1] Ion drift calculations in the inner magnetosphere are important for the study of the ring current. We calculate the bounce-averaged hydrogen densities and magnetic gradient-curvature drift velocities for ions moving in the storm-time T04s magnetic field, and compare them with those for a dipole field for various geomagnetic conditions. We find that the hydrogen density for T04s differs with ∼5% from that for a dipole field for quiet time and it may become 30% smaller for disturbed conditions on the nightside for L > 4. The velocities for T04s at large L-shells are ∼20% higher on the nightside and 20% lower on the dayside than those for a dipole field for quiet time. For disturbed conditions they are respectively ∼200% higher and 20% lower than the dipole values. The contribution of the cross-B term to the magnetic drift is ∼5%.
Chemical composition and growth indices in leptocephalus larvae

Leptocephali grow at extremely high rates (>1 mm d−1), but, unlike most fish larvae, leptocephali may remain in the plankton as larvae for several months before metamorphosing into the juvenile form. During their planktonic phase, leptocephali accumulate energy reserves in the form of glycosaminoglycans which are then expended along with lipid reserves to fuel metamorphosis. Otolith growth rates were determined using scanning electron microscopy for four species of leptocephali common in the Gulf of Mexico, Paraconger caudilimbatus (Poey, 1867), Ariosoma balearicum (Delaroche, 1809), Gymnothorax saxicola (Jordan and Davis, 1891), and Ophichthus gomesii (Castelnou, 1855). Proximate composition, RNA:DNA ratios and protein growth rates were examined with respect to mass, length and age. The leptocephalus growth strategy was strongly reflected in the growth indices. Mass (Y) in all four species increased with increasing age (X) according to the equation Y = aXb, where a is a species-specific constant and 1.05 < b < 2.40. The accumulation of acellular mass was evident in protein growth rates and RNA:DNA ratios, and was observed as a shift in increasing size from rapid growth in length to a greater increase in mass with age. These results suggest that the proportion of actively metabolizing tissue declines with size and is replaced by the metabolically inert energy depot: the glycosaminoglycans. Leptocephali can thus grow to large size very rapidly with minimal metabolic penalty, an unusual and successful developmental strategy.
AC-coupled complementary push-pull ECL circuit with 34 fJ power-delay product

The Letter describes the first experimental result of a high-speed low-power ECL-based AC-coupled complementary push-pull circuit. Implemented in a 0.8 μm high-performance fully complementary bipolar technology with 50 GHz npn transistor and 13 GHz pnp transistor, a power-delay product of 340J (23.2ps at 1.48mW) has been achieved compared with 67fJ (45ps at 1.48mW) for the npn-only ECL circuit.
Conduct problem behavior: Standardization of a behavioral rating

This paper presents adolescent standardization data for a brief behavioral inventory of conduct problem behaviors. The 36‐item Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory (ECBI) was completed by parents of 13 through 16 year olds from samples of conduct‐problem and non‐conduct‐problem adolescents. Results indicate the ECBI is a reliable instrument for use with adolescents. Factor analysis suggests the ECBI is a unidimensional measure of the conduct problem construct. Preliminary validation data suggest the usefulness of the ECBI in discriminating between normal and conduct‐problem adolescents. Analyses show no differences due to age or sex of the adolescent or differences due to the sex of the parent completing the inventory, and no differences between high/and low‐socioeconomic groups. Results from the normative samples provide data on the non‐conduct‐problem adolescent as a guideline in defining reasonable therapeutic goals. The ECBI has previously been shown to provide a psychometrically sound instrument for use w...
Trypanosoma cruzi glycoprotein of Mr 56000: characterization and assessment of its potential to protect against fatal parasite infections

A approximately 56,000 Da membrane glycoprotein purified from epimastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi was characterized biochemically and tested for its efficacy to induce protection in mice from a lethal challenge with this protozoan parasite. Immunofluorescence assays with live and formalin-fixed epimastigotes and trypomastigotes localized the glycoprotein to the flagellum, the body of the parasite, and the cell membrane. Immunoblotting demonstrated the glycoprotein's presence in nearly equal amounts in all developmental stages of several T. cruzi isolates. Mice immunized with the purified glycoprotein and challenged with 10,000 infectious trypomastigote forms of isolate Y survived the controls by up to four days. This significant protection makes this antigen a potential candidate for a multi-subunit vaccine against T. cruzi.
P5-01-15: The Functional Role of the Estrogen-Regulated Gene GREB1: Characterization of a Novel GREB1 Knockout Mouse Model.

Background: Gene regulated in breast cancer 1 (GREB1) was initially discovered in breast cancers as an estrogen-regulated gene that mediates estrogen-stimulated cell proliferation and is a candidate clinical marker for response to endocrine therapy. However, little is known of the functional role of GREB1 protein in normal breast tissue or breast cancers. Methods: To address this unknown role, our laboratory designed and created a novel Greb1 Knockout Mouse model (C57/bl MEL Greb1 KO). This constitutive model results in the loss of Greb1 mRNA and protein expression in cells where expression of Cre recombinase promotes the cleavage of exon 1 and intron 1 of the gene encoding Greb1. ROSA26 Cre C57/b1 MEL Greb1 KO mice heterozygous for the floxed Greb1 allele were crossed to generate experimental litters. Initial experiments were designed to evaluate if the complete loss of Greb1 expression in offspring homozygous for the floxed Greb1 allele was lethal during gestation. Experimental litters were tail clipped and genotyped using gDNA and genotype-specific PCR. Results: Offspring homozygous for the floxed Greb1 allele were identified in expected Mendelian ratios with wild type and heterozygous siblings. Loss of Greb1 expression was confirmed using RT-PCR, in situ hybridization and immunoblotting. Loss of both Greb1 alleles was not observed to be lethal during gestation for either male or female pups. Preliminary gross observation of these homozygous KO mice revealed no overt anatomical differences, however, they were 25–30% smaller than their heterozygous and wild-type siblings. Breeding experiments are underway to determine the fertility of crossbred Greb1 homozygous KO mice. Imaging experiments and necropsy with histochemical analysis of tissues will reveal any alteration in architecture and function. These findings will be summarized in this presentation. Discussion: As GREB1 has been identified as an estrogen-regulated gene involved in breast cancer cell proliferation and a potential target for new therapeutic strategies, it is important to understand the contribution of GREB1 to the differentiation, development and function of normal tissues as well as in breast cancers. Characterization of this novel Greb1 KO mouse model will provide answers to these functional questions surrounding GREB1. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2011;71(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-01-15.
Parallel objects on distributed constraint logic programming machines

The programming language POOL (Parallel Object Oriented Logic) allows computation to be represented as a collection of parallel objects which communicate via asynchronous message passing. Object procedures are Constraint Logic Programming (CLP) programs. POOL objects are mapped transparently to a network of CLP machines which execute concurrently. An implementation on a distributed network of workstations supports parallel object execution, automatic object placement, and a global object name space.
Effects of bemegride on the sensory responses of neurons in the hippocampus and brain stem reticular formation

Abstract Administration of subconvulsant doses of bemegride results in extensive enhancement of sensory responsiveness to auditory, visual, somatosensory and vibrissa stimulation of neurons in the medullary and mesencephalic reticular formation (RF). This effect is not altered by cord transection. Most neurons in the dorsal hippocampus do not show enhanced sensory responsiveness. In the minority of hippocampal neurons which do show enhancement the effect is much less extensive than that seen in the RF despite larger doses of bemegride. The enhancement of RF neuronal response may involve the reversal of repetition induced response attenuation (‘habituation’) and reductions in response threshold. During EEG seizures the firing of neurons in RF and hippocampus are temporally correlated with the spikes in the cortical EEG. The effects of bemegride on RF neurons are similar to those previously reported for strychnine and pentylenetetrazol and preliminary studies with physostigmine and bicuculline. These findings further extend the concept that a relatively selective enhancement of the sensory responses of brain stem reticular formation neurons may be indicative of a general neuronal effect of convulsants which may play an important role in the initiation of sensory-induced seizures.
Enhanced metastasis of tumours induced by a SV40 small T deletion mutant.

The lethality of tumours is determined largely by their ability to metastasize to distant sites. Once metastasis has occurred, eradication of the tumour cells from the body becomes difficult or impossible. Although the steps involved in tumour metastasis have been well documented (for review see refs 1–3), the cellular parameters that influence the tendency of tumours to metastasize have been more difficult to define4–7, and the underlying genetic determinants of metastatic potential are not known. We are studying the metastasis of tumours induced in hamsters by simian virus 40 (SV40). We show here that tumours induced by a viral mutant (d1884) in the small T antigen gene tend to metastasize, whereas tumours induced by wild-type SV40 rarely do so. Thus, we have a well defined system in which the underlying genetic differences in the transforming viruses are known and in which we may be able to correlate these differences with cellular parameters that determine tumour metastasis.
Morphine alters the locomotor responses to a D2/D3 dopamine receptor agonist differentially in adolescent and adult mice.

The D2-like dopamine receptors mediate the emotional/aversive state during morphine withdrawal. Given age-dependent differences in the affective responses to withdrawal, this study examined whether the response to dopamine receptor agonists is altered differentially across ages following morphine administration. Adolescent and adult mice were injected with morphine (twice daily, 10–40 mg/kg, s.c.) or saline for 6 days. Subsequently, they were examined for their locomotor response to quinpirole, a D2/D3 receptor agonist, and SKF 38393, a D1 receptor agonist. Quinpirole dose-dependently reduced locomotion in drug-naive animals. Initial suppression was also observed in morphine-treated animals, but was followed by enhanced locomotion. Notably, this enhanced locomotion was markedly greater in adolescents than adults. Quinpirole-induced hypo-locomotion is thought to be mediated by the presynaptic D2Short receptors, whereas its activating effect is mediated by postsynaptic D2Long/D3 receptors. This suggests tha...
Echocardiography for the Detection of Cardiac Sources of Embolism in Patients with Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack

Background Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is commonly obtained during the evaluation of patients with ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) to detect potential sources of cardiogenic embolism. Specific indications for the tests remain uncertain. Methods TTE and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) use in routine clinical practice were assessed retrospectively in a consecutive series of patients with acute ischemic stroke to determine whether clinical features were useful in identifying those in whom echocardiography led to a change in patient evaluation or treatment. Results TTE identified a potential source of cardiogenic embolism in 35 of 186 (18.8%) patients, and led to a change in management in 10.8%, including anticoagulation or surgery in 5.4%. Of the 186 patients, 30 (16%) also had a TEE that identified a potential source of cardiogenic embolism in 18 (60.0%), with 33.3% subsequently having a change in evaluation or treatment. Changes in management based on TEE findings occurred in 44.4% of those with an abnormal TTE and 28.6% of those with a normal TTE. There was no association between patients' age, history of coronary heart disease, carotid stenosis, or stroke topology and the frequency of management-changing echocardiographic findings. Conclusions TTE and TEE are useful for identifying management-changing potential sources of cardiogenic embolism in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Specific clinical factors increasing the yield of these tests as used in routine clinical practice, including stroke topology, could not be identified.
Government-Sponsored Entities: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac

The U.S. Government9s influence is large in many areas and the financial sector is no exception. This article provides a brief overview of two Government Sponsored Entities (GSEs) that dominate the market for mortgages in the United States: The Federal National Mortgage Association, better known as Fannie Mae (or just Fannie), and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, or Freddie Mac (Freddie). Fannie and Freddie are among the largest issuers of any stripe—government or private— and among the most highly visible. To carry out their stated mission to support the housing market, they issue debt to buy mortgages, which they hold in their own portfolios, and they buy mortgages from originators to bundle for sale as mortgage-backed securities (MBS). Together they securitize about half of all mortgages in the United States.
Multinomial pattern matching for high range resolution radar profiles

Airborne ground moving-target indication (GMTI) radar can track moving vehicles at large standoff distances. Unfortunately, trajectories from multiple vehicles can become kinematically ambiguous, resulting in confusion between a target vehicle of interest and other vehicles. We propose the use of high range resolution (HRR) radar profiles and multinomial pattern matching (MPM) for target fingerprinting and track stitching to overcome kinematic ambiguities. Sandia's MPM algorithm is a robust template-based identification algorithm that has been applied successfully to various target recognition problems. MPM utilizes a quantile transformation to map target intensity samples to a small number of grayscale values, or quantiles. The algorithm relies on a statistical characterization of the multinomial distribution of the sample-by-sample intensity values for target profiles. The quantile transformation and statistical characterization procedures are extremely well suited to a robust representation of targets for HRR profiles: they are invariant to sensor calibration, robust to target signature variations, and lend themselves to efficient matching algorithms. In typical HRR tracking applications, target fingerprints must be initiated on the fly from a limited number of HRR profiles. Data may accumulate indefinitely as vehicles are tracked, and their templates must be continually updated without becoming unbounded in size or complexity. To address this need, an incrementally updated version of MPM has been developed. This implementation of MPM incorporates individual HRR profiles as they become available, and fuses data from multiple aspect angles for a given target to aid in track stitching. This paper provides a description of the incrementally updated version of MPM.