cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
You Have Interpreted the PGO Waves of REM Sleep as Activation of the Startle Network of the Brain. What Is Your Theory of the Function of Off-Line Startle and What Impact, If Any, Does This Activation Have Upon Dreaming?

In 1976, Bob Bowker and I reported that waves seemingly identical to spontaneous PGO waves (usually called spikes then) could be elicited by sounds in REM sleep as well as NREM sleep. We proposed that ponto-geniculo-occipital (PGO) waves were probably evidence of the spontaneous excitation of the startle network. This conclusion stemmed from Dement’s report that cats under the influence of the anti-serotonergic drug, p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA), startled every time a PGO wave occurred when they were “awake.” We later changed from “startle” to “alerting” because we considered that the waves reflected the activation of a system responsible for detection of a stimulus, fundamental to the organization of the critical behavioral response of orienting, with startle being a less organized expression of a response to an unexpected stimulus. The focus on eye activity and dreams may have led other workers away from what is in our opinion their real significance: a sign of internal alerting in the brain (as distinct from behavioral arousal), a fundamental and “peculiar” aspect of REM sleep.
Bayesian Ridge-Regularized Covariance Selection with Community Behavior in Latent Gaussian Graphical Models

Gaussian graphical models have been extensively used to model conditional independence via the concentration matrix of a random vector. They are particularly relevant to incorporate structure when the length of the vector is large and naive methods lead to unstable estimation of the concentration matrix. In covariance selection, we have a latent network among vector components such that two components are not connected if they are conditionally independent, that is, if their corresponding entry in the concentration matrix is zero. In this work, we expect that, in addition, vector components show a block dependency structure that represents community behavior in the context of biological and social applications, that is, connections between nodes from different blocks are sparse while connections within nodes of the same block are dense. Thus, to identify the latent network and detect communities, we propose a Bayesian approach with a hierarchical prior in two levels: a spike-and-slab prior on each off-diagonal entry of the concentration matrix for variable selection; and a degree-corrected stochastic blockmodel (SBM) to capture the community behavior. To conduct inference, we develop an efficient routine based on ridge regularization and maximum a posteriori (MAP) estimation. Finally, we demonstrate the proposed approach in a meta-genomic dataset of complex microbial biofilms from dental plaque and show how bacterial communities can be identified.
Future Directions of the Oral Case Presentation

New medical technologies such as pharmacogenomics, advanced imaging, phenotypic monitoring, and artificial intelligence will bring major changes to the ways we present and discuss our patients at the bedside. The traditional structure of the oral case presentation will gradually be modified to accommodate these important technologies, which have tremendous potential to improve the accuracy of diagnosis and the precision of treatment. As an example, an ambiguous case is presented with three student assessments illustrating the traditional current approach, a current approach using new technologies, and a vision of a future assessment (c. 2029) where many of the possibilities of current technologies have been realized. To prepare for the future, medical students should embrace these new technologies, learn to use them, and work to make them better.
Non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants versus warfarin for left atrial appendage thrombus resolution in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation or flutter.

Background Non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOACs) have emerged as alternatives to vitamin K antagonists in select situations. For left atrial (LA) appendage thrombus in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF) or flutter, guidelines recommend oral anticoagulation (OAC) for at least 3 weeks prior to reassessment. Data comparing NOACs to warfarin in this scenario are scarce. Methods A retrospective study identified subjects with nonvalvular AF or flutter who were: a) noted to have LA thrombus detected on transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), b) previously not receiving long-term OAC; and c) evaluated for resolution of LA thrombus by follow-up TEE between 3 weeks to less than 1 year of the initial TEE. Results The study included 45 subjects with mean age 63.2 years, 69% male, 78% white race/ethnicity, 42% paroxysmal, and mean CHA2 DS2 -VASc score 3.4 ± 1.7. All LA thrombi were confined to the appendage. OAC received included apixaban (3), dabigatran (13), rivaroxaban (6), and warfarin (23), The median follow-up time to repeat TEE was 67 (interquartile range, 49-96) days. LA appendage thrombus resolution rates were 76% for the entire cohort, 77% for NOACs, and 74% for warfarin. In univariable logistic regression analysis, LA appendage thrombus resolution was similar for NOACs when compared to warfarin (odds ratio, 1.20; 95% confidence interval, 0.31-4.69; P = .79). Conclusions In patients nonvalvular AF or flutter who were OAC naive at the time of diagnosis with LA appendage thrombus, complete resolution was similar between NOACs and warfarin.
Using the RealityBlocks pedagogic game engine: conference workshop

This workshop will first present the basics of using the RealityBlocks game engine, including a very brief discussion of its design principles and demonstration of several simple sample games that can be implemented with the engine.
Criminal Consistency and Distinctiveness

Crime linkage is the process of grouping together crime events that share a common offender. It is the first step in investigation, profiling, and being able to predict the characteristics of future crimes. In the absence of DNA evidence, crime linkage is carried out by considering the characteristics and features of the crime, crime scene, or offender as recorded by police investigators. The ability of police to link the crimes from an offender depends on two aspects: how consistently the offender carries out their crimes and how distinctive their crimes are from the crimes committed by the other offenders operating in a region. The more consistent and distinctive an offender behaves, the easier it is for police to link their offenses. Likewise, the crime features (e.g., location, crime type, point of entry) that have the most consistency and distinctiveness across all offenders will be the most useful for linkage models. This paper develops two metrics for measuring the consistency and distinctiveness of a crime series; the consistency score based on Simpson’s index and the distinctiveness score based on the Kullback-Leibler Divergence. A Monte Carlo method is also developed to evaluate the statistical significance of the scores. We calculate the scores for the offenders in a mid-sized US county, identify the most important linkage features, and analyze the distribution of consistency and distinctiveness score for all offenders. These results can help police understand which crime features are most useful for linkage, measure the potential for linkage success in their jurisdiction, and identify the type of offenders that will be most difficult to apprehend.
Excess dietary fructose does not alter gut microbiota or permeability in humans: A randomized controlled pilot study

ABSTRACT Background and Aims Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an increasing cause of chronic liver disease that accompanies obesity and the metabolic syndrome. Excess fructose consumption can initiate or exacerbate NAFLD due in part to a consequence of impaired hepatic fructose metabolism. Pre-clinical data have emphasized that fructose-induced altered gut microbiome, increased gut permeability, and endotoxemia play an important role in NAFLD, but human studies are sparse. The present study aimed to explore the relevance of these pre-clinical studies to observations in humans. Methods We performed a classical double-blind metabolic unit study in 10 obese subjects (BMI 30-40 mg/kg/m2) providing 75gms. of either fructose or glucose in their individual diets substituted isocalorically for complex carbohydrates in a cross-over study. Excess fructose intake was provided in the fructose arm of the study and totaled a mean of 22.7% of calories. Results Routine blood, uric acid, liver function and lipid measurements were unaffected by the fructose intervention. The fecal microbiome (including Akkermansia muciniphilia), fecal metabolites, gut permeability, indices of endotoxemia, gut damage or inflammation and plasma metabolites were essentially unchanged by either intervention. Conclusions Although pre-clinical rodent studies have shown that excess fructose causes pronounced changes in the gut microbiome, metabolome, and permeability as well as endotoxemia, this did not occur in obese individuals fed fructose in amounts known to enhance NAFLD. Therapeutic efforts to improve NAFLD through changes in the gut microbiome and gut homeostasis may not be beneficial.
What Motivates Smokers to Switch to ENDS? A Qualitative Study of Perceptions and Use

Switching completely from cigarettes to electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) may reduce health risks for addicted smokers. This paper provides information about perceptions and other factors that may influence smokers' ENDS use and substitution for cigarettes. We conducted 12 online focus groups (N = 61) among smokers who had never tried using ENDS (Never Users, N = 11), currently used both cigarettes and ENDS (Dual Users, N = 21), used but discontinued ENDS (Rejectors, N = 14), and switched completely to ENDS use (Switchers, N = 15). Thematic analysis was used to interpret the transcripts. Participants described initial interest in trying ENDS in hopes of quitting smoking and because of convenience (i.e., due to rules, regulations, or social norms). Risk perceptions and higher prices relative to cigarettes were reported as disadvantages of ENDS that discouraged initiation. Dual Users and Rejectors reported product problems (e.g., products breaking) and dissatisfaction (i.e., inability to satisfy cravings for cigarettes) as factors that lowered their substitutability for cigarettes or led to discontinuing ENDS use. Switchers indicated that satisfaction, lack of product problems, and perceived safety facilitated successfully switching from cigarette smoking to exclusive ENDS use. However, Switchers reported trying many products before they found ones that satisfied their needs. We recommend that policymakers consider the potential impact of tobacco control policies on smokers' motivation and ability to switch completely from cigarettes to ENDS.
After the IPO: Entrepreneurs’ transition to philanthropy

Abstract Philanthropy by entrepreneurs remains an empirically underexplored topic. Combining datasets on U.S. based IPOs with individual philanthropic gifts, we empirically demonstrate that entrepreneurial harvests indeed trigger entrepreneurs’ philanthropic behavior. Furthermore, we distinguish how entrepreneurs’ approach to philanthropy differs from other individuals who experience the same wealth creating event. Entrepreneurs are able to transition more quickly to philanthropy compared to non-entrepreneurs, are more likely to invest in university science and technology, and also provide a greater number of gifts.
Not Your Average Mediastinal Mass: A Case of a Large Mediastinal Teratoma in a Patient With a History of Polio Disease.

Mediastinal masses can be challenging to the surgical team and anesthetic considerations vary according to the location, pathology, surgical approach, and patient comorbidities. We report the case of a 21 cm symptomatic intrathoracic teratoma in a postpartum patient with a history of poliomyelitis. Significant challenges were presented for anesthetic induction, potential extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and the use of neuraxial pain techniques and neuromuscular blockade. This case report demonstrates techniques to safely manage a patient with a large symptomatic mediastinal mass and potential neuromuscular disease.
How Children Perceive Mass Media

In lieu of an abstract, below is the essay's first paragraph. The media offers entertainment, news, sports, and even education. The media is an important part of our lives, but how do children perceive the media? What is it that children learn from watching television? Do they really understand what it is the media is trying to tell them? This paper will attempt to prove that a child's perception of TV can be related to a mass communication theory known as the schema theory. The schema theory basically states that people use prior knowledge or experiences to help them better understand the television program they are watching. Through analyzing a study performed by the author, the schema theory and how children use their own schemas to understand television will be further investigated. This article is available in The Review: A Journal of Undergraduate Student Research: http://fisherpub.sjfc.edu/ur/vol5/iss1/5
Statistics for Anthropology: Non-parametric tests for the comparison of samples

Testing the assumptions of parametric tests should be a life-long practice. An analyst has two broad options if parametric test assumptions are not met: (1) The data can be transformed so that they have a normal distribution and may be analyzed with parametric tests. Transformations will be discussed in the chapter on simple linear regression since transformations are more frequently performed when doing a regression analysis. (2) The data may be analyzed with non-parametric tests which allow the researcher to answer the original question with a test that does not have the assumptions of a parametric test. Non-parametric tests are so called because they make no reference to the parameters of the population from which the sample was obtained. Indeed, we are going to start phrasing our null hypotheses with words instead of parametric notation. These tests are also called distribution-free tests because we make no assumptions about the shape of the distribution of the population from which our sample was taken. Non-parametric tests can also be used when our sample sizes are small (say under 20), at which point we may not even want to test for normality in a sample. Anthropologists are frequently forced to work with exceedingly small samples because of the nature of our data (number of fossils, or number of non-human primate childbirths observed in the wild, etc.) so these tests have a broad appeal in the field. Lastly, non-parametric tests can be used with data that are not precisely measured. For example, if you are taking a survey on the number of domestic animals living in each household you may want to have categories such as 0, 1–2, 3–4…9–10, more than 10. The latter category is not precise since it contains everything from 11 to who-knows-what. However, non-parametric tests allow us to incorporate these types of data into a statistical analysis permitting us to test hypotheses about the sample.
Radio-Immunoguided Surgery for Large Bowel Cancer

The intra-operative detection of metastatic disease in colorectal cancer depends on tumor-associated antigen and antibodies a- well as detection technology. A hand-held gamma detecting probe is capable of detecting as few as 6×105 labelled cells in vitro.
Ostracism perception as a multiplicative function of trait self-esteem, mindfulness, and facial emotion recognition ability

Abstract Humans tend to anchor ostracism perception (perception of being ostracized by others) by self-views. However, what factors determine ostracism perception? The current research examines how trait self-esteem, mindfulness, and facial emotion recognition ability (ERA) jointly determine ostracism perception. A study based on a sample of 74 U.S. students showed that (1) trait self-esteem was negatively related to ostracism perception and (2) ostracism perception was a multiplicative function of trait self-esteem and mindfulness, yet only when facial ERA was low. The results suggest that (1) trait self-esteem is a heuristic that guides ostracism perception, and (2) this mechanism is rather complex, in that it is moderated by mindfulness and further by facial ERA. The current findings shed light on research on ostracism, mindfulness, and ERA and provide practical implications for managing ostracism perception.
Basic Ideas in the Theory of Organic Conductors

Organic conductors are charge-transfer compounds typically consisting of organic donor molecules such as TTF, TSeF, TMTTF, TMTSF, and acceptors which may be organic (TCNQ) or inorganic (AsF6, PF6, C104, ReO4). The structures of these molecules and the solids formed out of them are described in the articles of K. Bechgaard1 and J. P. Pouget2. For present purposes, it is sufficient to know that the flat donors are arranged in stacks in which the spacing between molecules is much less than the distances between stacks. This structure leads to an anisotropy of physical properties such as the electrical conductivity, and to the possibility of regarding the motion of the charge carriers on the stacks as one-dimensional at sufficiently high temperatures.
Studies on metal carboxylates—VII[1]: The reactivity of (pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylato)nickel(II) trihydrate with nitrogen donor molecules

Abstract The reactions between pyridine—2,6-dicarboxylatonickel(II) trihydrate and the nitrogen donors pyridine, α-picoline, 2,2′-bipyridyl, 1,10-phenanthroline, ethylenediamine and pyridine—2-carbaldehyde 2′-pyridylhydrazone (paphy) afford six coordinate nickel(II) species which have been characterized by spectral and magnetic susceptibility studies at room temperature. In the reactions with the bidentate donors (B) 2,2′-bipyridyl and 1,10-phenanthroline, the 1:1, 1:2 and 1:3 complexes, [Ni(B)(dipic)(H2O)]. xH2O (blue-green), [Ni(B)2(H2O)2](dipic). xH2O (brown) and [Ni(B)3](dipic). xH2O (red) are generated, and all except [Ni(bipy)3](dipic). xH2O have been isolated pure in the solid-state. The 1:2 and 1:3 complexes with these bidentate nitrogen donors and the 1:3 complex with ethylenediamine are the first transition metal derivatives to have been isolated in which the dianionic dipic ligand is not coordinated to the central metal atom.
A decade‐long climatology of terdiurnal tides using TIMED/SABER observations

[1] In this paper, we globally characterize the solar terdiurnal tide in the 80–110 km region of Earth's atmosphere through analysis of 10 years of temperature measurements made by the Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry instrument on the Thermosphere-Ionosphere-Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics spacecraft. The Sun-synchronous (“migrating”) component (TW3), which is longitude-independent and achieves maximum amplitudes of order of 5 K (10 K) at 90 km (110 km), not too different than the 7–15 K amplitudes that are typical of the migrating diurnal and semidiurnal tides in this region. Significant longitude variability (∼ 20–25%) in terdiurnal temperature amplitudes also exists, which is decomposed into zonal wave number components. The largest of these (TE1, TW4, and TW5) reveal distinct seasonal-latitudinal and height versus latitude patterns and interannual consistency. In addition, it is demonstrated that these particular components vary in ways that suggest that they originate from nonlinear interactions between diurnal and semidiurnal tides, specifically between DE3 and SW2 for TE1, between DW2 and SW2 for TW4, and between DW1 and SW4 for TW5. We also demonstrate that the terdiurnal tides derived here are not influenced to any significant degree by aliasing due to the presence of other waves.
A study of the management of pregnancies subsequent to cesarean section.

Abstract In reviewing these articles I have endeavored to present all relevant material and the numbers and percentages without distortion. Articles were taken consecutively, over a fixed period of time, in a fixed reliable publication, and without consideration as to the belief of the authors. This, I believe, is the best approach if we are to solve such questions. The final results of this study are, more or less, two opposing rates of mortality. The results indicate that “once a section, always a section” does not give the superior results which its advocates believe, for they have not compared their results with present-day mortality rates in trial vaginal delivery, nor do they take into account a corrective factor which has been mentioned. Another point worthy of note is that the mortality rates for cesarean section used here are from cases since 1940, since the advent of penicillin and other antibiotics. The abrupt drop in mortality as we move into the decade 1940 to 1950 has been demonstrated in the statistics concerning cesarean section. At least one-half the ruptures in this series occurred in the decade 1930 to 1940, so there is every justification to believe that when series involving the truly modern medical era become available, the results will be still further in favor of trial vaginal delivery. The role of infection in the production of inferior scars is well known, and the widespread use of antibiotics should further decrease the incidence of rupture. Also the ever increasing use of the low cervical cesarean section over the classical cesarean section will steadily improve the outlook for vaginal delivery in acceptable cases. It is felt that the statistics from low cervical scars speak for themselves, and lend less room for debate. In the classical scars we note a situation in which one concept offers less risk to the mother, while the opposite concept favors the infant. It becomes a matter of which we desire to protect to the greatest degree. Most of us will choose the mother as our primary interest, thereby indicating, we believe, trial vaginal delivery as the choice. The question as to proper management will no doubt be studied for some years before the final answer is determined. The factor most accountable for such a delayed decision is the small incidence of ruptures and consequent delay in the collection of a large series of cases. We continue to practice trial vaginal delivery, and this review of literature indicates it to be the management of choice.
Sponsored Data and Net Neutrality: Exemption and Discrimination in the Mobile Broadband Industry

The FCC’s 2015 Open Internet regulations are strong net neutrality protections, but their effectiveness ultimately depends on their enforcement. The rules prevent broadband providers’ blatant discrimination but leave open possibilities for less obvious but still troubling preferential treatment online. This article considers AT&T’s Sponsored Data program—which charges online content providers to exempt their traffic from users’ mobile broadband data caps—as an example of a subtle erosion of net neutrality that the FCC should address. While Sponsored Data provides users some relief from data caps, it also threatens to limit the reach of bottom-up creativity online through its uneven distribution model. This article argues that sponsored data cap exemptions are pernicious paid prioritization that unfairly disadvantage independent and noncommercial creators. Through a case study of AT&T’s Sponsored Data, the analysis here shows how such discrimination through exemption creates conditions of inequitable online distribution by unfairly favoring those commercial enterprises that can afford to pay for this privilege. This case shows how, by installing data caps on internet access and then collecting tolls to get around them, broadband providers can leverage their bottleneck position in internet infrastructure to be powerful gatekeepers of online expression.
Agresión reactiva, agresión instrumental y el ciclo de la violencia

En este articulo se analizan los mecanismos mediante los cuales la violencia en el contexto en el que crecen los ninos(as), sea esta violencia politica o comun, puede llevar al aprendizaje de distintos tipos de comportamientos agresivos. Estos comportamientos agresivos, a su vez, pueden contribuir a la reproduccion de la violencia en el contexto, formando asi el ciclo de la violencia. En este articulo se analizan en particular dos trayectorias de este ciclo de la violencia, una relacionada con la agresion reactiva y otra con la agresion instrumental. Se muestra que la agresion reactiva –que surge como respuesta defensiva ante una agresion percibida o real– tiene dinamicas sociales, cognitivas y emocionales distintas a la agresion instrumental –que se usa como instrumento para conseguir un objetivo sin ninguna provocacion previa. La agresion reactiva y la agresion instrumental tambien tienen origenes distintos y predicen futuros comportamientos violentos diferentes. Diferenciar estos dos tipos de trayectorias permite proponer distintos tipos de intervenciones para romper el ciclo de la violencia. De esta manera se puede disminuir la reproduccion de la violencia en los ninos aun si la violencia politica y la violencia comun continuan presentes en nuestro contexto.
Provably Conservative Approximations to Complex Reliability Models

Provably conservative (and optimistic) reliability models can be systematically derived from more complex models. These derived models incorporate a reduced state space and fewer transitions, and, therefore, have solutions that are more cost- effective than those of the original complex models. The designer can extensively explore the design space without incurring the expense of solving multiple complex models. A conservative- optimistic pair of derived models produces a band that includes the solution to the complex model. Sensitivity analysis can be performed on this pair of models to determine those parameters of the original model that are most sensitive to change (i.e., uncertainty) and hence warrant further expense in obtaining tighter specifications.
Studies on the effect of vitamin D on calcium absorption and transport.

1. Mucosal cells of the small intestine obtained from rats deprived of vitamin D or given excessive amounts of the vitamin accumulated significantly more calcium than did cells from control animals. 2. Mucosal cells from vitamin D-deficient rats released less calcium than did cells from normal or hypervitaminotic D animals. 3. Studies in vivo showed that the transfer of 45Ca from the intestine to the blood was delayed in vitamin D deficiency, but was accelerated in hypervitaminosis D. 4. The findings support the thesis that vitamin D is involved in the release of calcium rather than in its uptake by mucosal cells. 5. Further evidence is presented suggesting that uptake of calcium by intestinal mucosal cells at 0° is primarily passive, whereas at 38° uptake and release are effected by an active process that depends on energy derived from glycolytic activity.
Towards Milton R. Stern (1928–2011)

In fall 1973, I heard about a professor at the University of Connecticut who had taken an innovative approach to literary writing. He had also written a major book on Herman Melville. Following my acceptance to UConn’s graduate program in English, I wrote and asked that John Seelye be assigned as my advisor. I was excited by the prospect of studying under the author of The Kid, The True Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and Melville: The Ironic Diagram. I did not know then that Seelye was on his way out of Storrs, bound for greener southern pastures. When I got my official assignment, I saw Milton R. Stern listed as my advisor. I asked Thomas Werge, Notre Dame’s Melville specialist, if he had ever heard of Milton R. Stern. Werge immediately replied, “The Fine Hammered Steel of Herman Melville.”
Goethite-bearing brine inclusions, petroleum inclusions, and the geochemical conditions of ore deposition at the Jumbo mine, Kansas

Petroleum-bearing fluid inclusions occur in sphalerite, calcite, dolomite, and barite at the Jumbo mine, a Mississippi Valley-type deposit in eastern Kansas. In addition to petroleum, Na-Ca-Mg-Fe chloride brines were present during deposition of calcite and sphalerite in which primary inclusions contain ≳23 equivalent wt.% NaCl. Dolomite- and barite-hosted inclusions are more dilute, possibly because of mixing between hydrothermal fluids and groundwater during mineralization. Primary oil inclusions in sphalerite have homogenization temperatures (Th) between 85 and 95°C. Aqueous inclusions have Th values ranging from ~90 to 130°C for sphalerite to below ~50°C for barite. Primary brine inclusions in calcite at the Jumbo mine contain goethite, apparently as a daughter mineral (although it is possible that the goethite formed as a result of diffusion of H2 from the inclusions like the hematite daughter described by Roedder and Skinner, 1968, from Bingham, Utah). Goethite has also been tentatively identified in inclusions from the Fletcher mine of Missouri. If goethite is a true daughter phase, it implies the presence of oxidized fluids during mineralization. This suggests that ore deposition resulted from interactions between hydrothermal fluids and dilute groundwater (e.g., by dilution or cooling of ore fluids, or oxidation of organometallic complexes that may have transported metal constituents).
Grafts of fetal central nervous system tissue rescue axotomized clarke's nucleus neurons in adult and neonatal operates

Many conditions are thought to contribute to neuron death after axotomy, including immaturity of the cell at the time of injury, inability to reestablish or maintain target contact, and dependence on trophic factors produced by targets. Exogenous application of neurotrophic factors and transplants of peripheral nerve and embryonic central nervous system (CNS) tissue temporarily rescue axotomized CNS neurons, but permanent rescue may require transplants that are normal targets of the injured neurons. We examined the requirements for survival of axotomized Clarke's nucleus (CN) neurons. Two months after hemisection of the spinal cord at the T8 segment, there was an ipsilateral 30% loss of neurons at the L1 segment in adult operates and a 40% loss in neonates. Transplants of embryonic spinal cord, cerebellum, and neocortex inserted into the T8 segment at the time of hemisection prevented virtually all of the cell death in both adults and neonates, but transplants of embryonic striatum were ineffective. None of the grafts prevented the somal atrophy of CN neurons caused by axotomy. Retrograde transport of fluoro-gold from the cerebellum demonstrated that 33% of all CN neurons at L1 project to the cerebellum, 50% of these died following a T8 hemisection, but all these projection neurons were rescued by a transplant of embryonic spinal cord. These results suggest that the rescue of axotomized CN neurons is relatively specific for the normal target areas of these neurons, but this specificity is not absolute and may depend on the distribution and synthesis of particular neurotrophic agents. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Geochemistry: warm debate on early climate.

Would Earth's early ocean have been a frozen wasteland had levels of atmospheric methane not been sky high? Maybe. Or maybe, according to a new view of an old idea, the main warming agent was carbon dioxide.
Obstructed Feeding Jejunostomy Tube: A New Method of Salvage

The jejunostomy tube is an important means of access for enteral feeding in the surgical and medical patient. A common complication of this technique is tube occlusion. Once a mature tract has formed the tube can be removed and replaced, following by contrast radiologic documentation of its intraluminal position. With an immature tract, this option is not available. We report a safe, simple, and cost-effective method of unblocking a clogged jejunostomy using an arterial embolectomy catheter. (Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition12:417-418, 1988)
A conserved germline multipotency program

The germline of multicellular animals is segregated from somatic tissues, which is an essential developmental process for the next generation. Although certain ecdysozoans and chordates segregate their germline during embryogenesis, animals from other taxa segregate their germline after embryogenesis from multipotent progenitor cells. An overlapping set of genes, including vasa, nanos and piwi, operate in both multipotent precursors and in the germline. As we propose here, this conservation implies the existence of an underlying germline multipotency program in these cell types that has a previously underappreciated and conserved function in maintaining multipotency.
Evaluation of Hand Bacteria as a Human Biometric Identifier

Molecular biometrics is an advancing field that involves the analysis of a person's unique biological markers at a molecular level to ascertain identity. Bacteria communities found on the skin of the human hand have shown to be highly diverse and to have a low percentage of similarity between individuals. The goal of this research effort is to see if a person's demographics, primarily ethnicity, share a relationship with the bacteria communities that reside on their hand. A sample collection was carried out in which the left and right inner palms of 250 individuals were swabbed to obtain a total of 500 bacteria samples. Of these, 82 samples covering a range of age, gender, and ethnicity of participants were sequenced using 150 paired-end multiplex reads on an Illumina MiSeq to analyze the hyper variable V3 region of the 16S rRNA gene. Sequences were analyzed using a combination of commercial and custom bioinformatics tools. Results indicate that women that participated in the sample collection had a 9% higher diversity of bacteria at the genus level than men. Using a support vector machine with a 60% train and 40% test approach, ethnicities of individuals who provided samples could be classified with a range of 64-93% accuracy depending on the method used. Principal coordinate plots generated by using the unique fraction (UniFrac) algorithm devised by Lozupone et al at University of Colorado at Boulder showed that similar clustering appeared with people of Turkish, Asian Indian, and Middle Eastern descent and less clustering with people of Caucasian and African American descent. Although focused on a small subset of the human population with no temporal variance in bacterial diversity explored, these results provide a basis for performing identification based on human bacteria that can be expanded upon using time varying sampling and other regions of the 16S rRNA gene.
Mangum, P.I.

Opening a copy of The Mathematical Intelligencer you may ask yourself uneasily, “What is this anyway —a mathematical journal, or what? ” Or you may ask, “Where am I? ” Or even “Who am I? ” This sense of disorientation is at its most acute when you open to Colin Adams ’s column. Relax. Breathe regularly. It ’s mathematical, it ’s a humor column, and it may even be harmless.
Mercury vapor hazards in vacuum laboratories

Abstract Mercury vapor concentrations have been measured with ultraviolet absorption spectrometer in several vacuum laboratories, following accidents involving mercury spillage or the release of mercury vapor. The results suggest that condensed vapor from damaged diffusion-pumped vacuum systems may cause far more dangerous contamination that has hitherto been suspected. Hazards resulting from spilt liquid mercury appear to be much less, although not negligible. The relative effectiveness of various decontamination procedures is discussed.
Molecular pharmacology of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor

Abstract The functional transitions of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor are regulated by acetylcholine binding sites and noncompetitive inhibitor binding sites. Amino acid residues contributing to these sites are being located in the sequences of the receptor subunits. The relative proximity on the α-subunit of portions of the acetylcholine binding site and of a noncompetitive inhibitor site might be a structural basis for the interaction of these sites and suggests a model for channel gating. In this review, Arthur Karlin, Peter Kao and Mario DiPaolo will focus on these functional sites.
Behaviors of Vortex Wake in Random Atmospheric Turbulence

DOI: 10.2514/1.44288 Atmospheric turbulence has significant influences on both the trajectories and strengths of wake vortices. In this paper, a quasi-wavelet method is used to generate a random atmospheric turbulence field based on the von Karman spectrum, in which atmospheric turbulence is represented by groups of random eddies. An inviscid wake vortex system, out-of-ground effect or in-ground effect, is immersed in the generated turbulence background to study the effects of random turbulence on wake vortices. The simulated wake trajectories are compared with literature data from several current prediction models as well as from field measurement.
Normotensive renal failure in systemic sclerosis

Of 140 patients with "scleroderma renal crisis" encountered during a 33-year period, 15 of 131 (11%) whose blood pressures were recorded were normotensive during this complication. In comparison with 116 patients with hypertension, the normotensive patients significantly more often had microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (90% versus 38%) and thrombocytopenia (83% versus 21%). Pulmonary hemorrhage occurred in 6 normotensive patients. More normotensive patients had received high doses of corticosteroids (prednisone greater than or equal to 30 mg/day) during the 2 months immediately preceding renal crisis (64% versus 16%). A role for corticosteroids in precipitating renal crisis is suggested. The 12-month survival was significantly reduced in the normotensive patients (13% versus 35%).
Turnover of Endogenous SsrA-tagged Proteins Mediated by ATP-dependent Proteases in Escherichia coli

Formation and degradation of SsrA-tagged proteins enable ribosome recycling and elimination of defective products of incomplete translation. We produced an antibody against the SsrA peptide and used it to measure the amounts of SsrA-tagged proteins in Escherichia coli cells without interfering with tagging or altering the context of the tag added at the ends of nascent polypeptides. SsrA-tagged proteins were present in very small amounts unless a component of the ClpXP protease was missing. From the levels of tagged proteins in cells in which degradation is essentially blocked, we calculate that ≥1 in 200 translation products receives an SsrA tag. ClpXP is responsible for ≥90% of the degradation of SsrA-tagged proteins. The degradation rate in wild type cells is ≥1.4 min–1 and decreases to ∼0.10 min–1 in a clpX mutant. The rate of degradation by ClpXP is decreased ∼3-fold in mutants lacking the adaptor SspB, whereas degradation by ClpAP is increased 3–5-fold. However, ClpAP degrades SsrA-tagged proteins slowly even in the absence of SspB, possibly because of interference from ClpA-specific substrates. Lon protease degrades SsrA-tagged proteins at a rate of ∼0.05 min–1 in the presence or absence of SspB. We conclude that ClpXP, together with SspB, is uniquely adapted for degradation of SsrA-tagged proteins and is responsible for the major part of their degradation in vivo.
Self-Provisioning with Paralyzed Hosts and Age, Density, and Concealment of Hosts as Factors Influencing Parasitization of Ephestia cautella (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) by Bracon hebetor Say (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

The frequency with which Bracon hebetor Say parasitized Ephestia cautella (Walker) increased with the age and density of hosts and was reduced by the concealment of hosts within peanut hulls. Some of the larvae escape parasitization by crawling away before the onset of paralysis, and these larvae remain suitable as hosts if discovered within a few weeks. When various levels of this self-provisioning were simulated, provision of paralyzed hosts clearly increased parasitization as much as a similar increase in the density of native hosts. Predictive models developed for the natural rate of self-provisioning with paralyzed hosts and the rate of utilization of these paralyzed hosts were used to estimate the rate of accumulation of paralyzed hosts in an ongoing population.
Field-induced electronic phase transitions in high magnetic fields

We report on recent experiments on (TMTSF) 2 PF 6 under high and precisely aligned magnetic fields, moderate pressure and low temperature. The primary effect of the magnetic field is to reduce the electronic dimensionality of the system. This leads to some novel states which are now understood (a cascade of field-induced spin-density-wave states which exhibit the quantum Hall effect) and to many phenomena which suggest even more exotic phases. In particular, at low temperature the compound shows quantum phase transitions between metallic and nonmetallic behaviour as the magnetic field is rotated through alignment with the crystallographic axes, and the superconducting critical field greatly exceeds the Pauli limit, indicating triplet superconductivity.
Slow neutron studies of molecular motions in condensed matter

A review of the fundementals of the inelastic neutron scattering method is presented. Some examples of neutron measurements related to the motions of molecules in condensed matter and change of phase are discussed as illustrations of the neutron method.
Differences in degree of electrotonic interaction in highly differentiated and reverted cultured heart cell reaggregates

Two intracellular microelectrodes were used to study electrotonic interaction between cultured embryonic (16- to 20-day-old) chick myocardial cells reaggregated into small spheresin vitro. Under different culture conditions, reaggregates with two types of functional membrane properties were produced: (i) highly differentiated reaggregates, and (ii) reverted reaggregates. In the highly differentiated state, the cells had high stable resting potentials and produced rapidly-rising tetrodotoxin (TTX)-sensitive action potentials in response to electric field stimulation. In the reverted state, the cells exhibited slowrising spontaneous action potentials having prominent pacemaker potentials and TTX-insensitive upstrokes. These states resemble electrophysiological properties of the highly differentiated (18 daysin ovo) and less fully differentiated (3 daysin ovo) intact embryonic chick heart, respectively. Both types of reaggregates had similar ultrastructural appearance, with many elongated cells and intercalated disc-like structures; gap-like junctions were not seen. The highly differentiated cells had input resistances of about 5 MΩ, and exhibited only little electrotonic interaction in response to intracellular current injection either when the cells were at rest or during the action potential plateau. Intracellular stimulation produced propagating action potentials which triggered contraction of the entire reaggregate. Large hyperpolarizing current pulses applied during the action potential plateau caused premature repolarization which also propagated to the other impaled cell. In the reverted reaggregates, electrotonic interaction was weak or absent in about 52% of the impaled cell pairs, moderate in 30%, and strong in 18% (encountered only at interelectrode distances of less than 100 μm). The difference in degree of electrotonic interaction may be due to the state of differentiation with respect to the membrane electrical properties.
CHIANTI—An Atomic Database for Emission Lines. V. Comparison with an Isothermal Spectrum Observed with SUMER

CHIANTI is a database consisting of critically evaluated atomic data and transition probabilities necessary to analyze spectral observations of optically thin plasmas. Previous papers described the content of the database and compared it to a solar active region spectrum between 170 and 450 A. The aim of the present paper is to compare CHIANTI predictions to off-disk spectral observations of the solar corona between 500 and 1500 A. The observed spectra were recorded by the SUMER instrument on board the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory using the full spectral range allowed by the instrument. Earlier works have demonstrated that the particular emitting plasma is isothermal at a temperature of 1.35 × 106 K, making it ideal for the assessment of the accuracy of the CHIANTI database. This assessment of the CHIANTI database allowed us (1) to select lines and ions for which the agreement between theory and observation is good, (2) to identify several lines which are blended, and (3) to stress inconsistencies between a few lines and theory, thus showing where improvements to atomic data and transition probabilities are necessary.
Photonic-band-gap effects in two-dimensional polycrystalline and amorphous structures

We study numerically the density of optical states (DOS) in two-dimensional photonic structures with short-range positional order and observe a transition from polycrystalline to amorphous photonic systems. In polycrystals, photonic band gaps (PBGs) are formed within individual domains, which leads to a depletion of the DOS similar to that in periodic structures. In amorphous photonic media, the domain sizes are too small to form PBGs, thus the depletion of the DOS is weakened significantly. The critical domain size that separates the polycrystalline and amorphous regimes is determined by the attenuation length of Bragg scattering, which depends not only on the degree of positional order but also the refractive-index contrast of the photonic material. Even with relatively low-refractive-index contrast, we find that modest short-range positional order in photonic structures enhances light confinement via collective scattering and interference.
Selective laser trabeculoplasty as a replacement for medical therapy in open-angle glaucoma

Purpose To evaluate selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) as a replacement for medical therapy in controlled open-angle glaucoma. Design Prospective, non-randomized, interventional clinical trial. Methods SLT was performed inferiorly in 66 eyes of 66 patients with medically controlled primary open-angle glaucoma (OAG) or exfoliation glaucoma, and no history of glaucoma surgery. The primary outcome was number of medications at 6 and 12 months while maintaining a pre-determined target intraocular pressure (IOP). Results The mean of the differences in medications from baseline was 2.0 (95% confidence interval=1.8–2.3) at 6 months, and 1.5 (1.27–1.73) at 12 months ( P P Conclusion SLT enabled a reduction in medicine in controlled OAG over 12 months.
Plasma exchange improves the glomerulonephritis of systemic lupus erythematosus in selected pediatric patients

The effects of short-course plasma exchange (PE) followed by tapering dose prednisone therapy was assessed in six children with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and severe glomerulonephritis. All patients received pulse methylprednisolone therapy and three patients were treated with cytotoxic drugs prior to PE, but none had exhibited a good response. PE resulted in a rapid and sustained (greater than 1 year) remission of renal failure in the three patients with renal failure and severe glomerulonephritis. All six patients had severe nephrotic syndrome and five of six experienced a complete and sustained (greater than 1 year) remission post-PE (the sixth patient has greater than 4 month remission at the time of writing). Of interest was the high frequency of membranous [World Health Organization (WHO) Type V] and mixed membranous and diffuse proliferative SLE nephritis (WHO Type IV) on renal biopsy (4/6 patients). In addition, the severe anemia and leukopenia seen in most patients responded favorably to PE. Five of the six patients are currently managed on low-dose prednisone (0.25-0.5 mg/kg) every other day. One patient progressed to renal failure and dialysis more than 1 year post-PE. One patient required cytotoxic drug therapy post-PE (6 weeks). No significant complications were encountered; in fact, all patients eventually received their PE treatments as outpatients. We conclude that PE may provide a safe and effective therapeutic option for the treatment of severe progressive SLE nephritis in selected children who are unresponsive to steroid or cytotoxic drug therapy.