cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Proton-proton collisions at 3.5 GeV

Ilford G-5 emulsions were exposed to an external, 3.5 GeY proton beam of the Berkeley Bevatron. A total of 1200 nuclear interactions of beam protons was located, of which 128 were identified as protonproton collisions. Multiple scattering, blob density, range and angle measurements were employed to determine the cross-sections for elastic and inelastic interactions as well as the identities and center-of-mass system momenta and scattering angles of secondaries from inelastic proton-proton interactions. This analysis indicates a cross-section of (8.0±2.4) mb for elastic events, (24.1±2.9) mb for two-prong inelasitc events, (7.9±1.4)mb for four-prong events and (0.6±0.3) mb for sixprong events. The mean charged pion multiplicity in inelastic interactions is 1.5±0.2 and corresponds to an average degree of inelasticity of 0.45 ±0.06. Center-of-mass system angular distributions of charged secondaries from inelastic events display a peaking for small scattering angles which is most pronounced for protons and pions from events with low secondary multiplicity. Momentum and transverse momentum distributions of secondary protons and pions from inelastic events are presented and compared with the results at other energies. The angular distribution of elastically scattered protons is found to be in fair agreement with that predicted by a uniform optical model of radius 1.25-10-13 cm and opacity 0.66.
Dark Flight—The Hunt for the Tucson Ring Meteorite by Katherine B. Rambo. Backroads Press; order from Amazon Books. 77 pages; 2019; $15 plus shipping and handling (softbound)

This most interesting quick-read is a detailed review and analysis of available information concerning what is today called the Tucson Ring Meteorite (also known as the Irwin meterorite, and a favo...
Transient Behavior and Predictability in Manipulating Complex Objects

Relatively little work in human and robot control has examined the control of underactuated objects with internal dynamics, such as transporting a cup of coffee, a task that presents little problems for humans. This study examined how humans move a ‘cup of coffee’ with a view to identify principles that may be useful for robot control. The specific focus was on how humans choose initial conditions to safely reach a steady state. We hypothesized that subjects choose initial conditions that minimized the transient duration to reach the steady state faster, as it presented more predictable dynamics. In the experiment, the cup of coffee was reduced to a 2-D cup with a sliding ball inside which was simulated in a virtual environment. Human subjects interacted with this virtual object via a robotic manipulandum that provided haptic feedback. Participants moved the cup between two targets without losing the ball; they were instructed to explore different initial conditions before initiating the continuous interaction. Results showed that subjects converged to a small set of initial conditions that decreased their transient durations and achieved a predictable steady state faster. Simulations with a simple feedforward controller and inverse dynamics calculations confirmed that these initial conditions indeed led to shorter transients and less complex interaction forces. These results may inform robot control of objects with internal dynamics where the effects of initial conditions need further investigation.
Abstract 352: Development of a Novel Tool for Data Abstraction From 911 Calls for Out-of-hospital Cardiac Arrest

Introduction: For out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCAs) unwitnessed by emergency responders, contact with the 911 system provides the earliest point for consistent data collection. Building upon ...
Corporate Flexibility in a Time of Crisis

We survey CFOs throughout the COVID-19 crisis to learn how multiple dimensions of corporate flexibility affect their short- and long-term business plans. We find that i) workplace flexibility, namely the ability for employees to work remotely, plays a central role in modulating firms’ employment plans during the health crisis; ii) investment flexibility allows firms to increase or decrease capital spending based on their business prospects in the crisis, with effects shaped by workplace flexibility; and iii) financial flexibility contributes to stronger employment and investment, with effects shaped by the firm’s cost structure. While the role of workplace flexibility is new to the COVID crisis, CFOs expect lasting effects on employment and investment as low workplace flexibility firms adopt automation to replace labor.
Pain intensity and physical performance among individuals with fibromyalgia in mid-to-late life: The influence of depressive symptoms.

This study investigated the mediating role of depressive symptoms among 147 middle-aged and older adults with FM in the relationship between pain intensity and 4 objective measures of physical perf...
Thiophosphopeptides Instantly Targeting Golgi Apparatus and Selectively Killing Cancer Cells

ABSTRACT Golgi apparatus is emerging as a key signaling hub of cells, but there are few approaches for targeting Golgi and selectively killing cancer cells. Here we show an unexpected result that changing an oxygen atom of the phosphoester bond in phospho-peptides by a sulfur atom enables instantly targeting Golgi apparatus (GA) and selectively killing cancer cells by enzymatic self-assembly. Specifically, conjugating cysteamine S-phosphate to the C-terminal of a self-assembling peptide generates a thiophospho-peptide. Being a substrate of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), the thiophosphopeptide undergoes rapid ALP-catalyzed dephosphorylation to form a thiopeptide that self-assembles. The thiophosphopeptide enters cells via caveolin-mediated endocytosis and macropinocytosis and instantly accumulates in GA because of dephosphorylation and formation of disulfide bonds in Golgi. Moreover, the thiophosphopeptide, targeting Golgi, potently and selectively inhibits cancer cells (e.g., HeLa) with the IC50 (about 3 μM), which is an order of magnitude more potent than that of the parent phosphopeptide. This work, as the first report of thiophospho-peptide for targeting Golgi, illustrates a new molecular platform for designing enzyme responsive molecules that target subcellular compartment for functions.
Predictors of Osprey Nest Success in a Highly Urbanized Environment

Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) are adaptable fish-eating raptors that readily nest on artificial structures in heavily human-dominated areas. Although the Osprey is a well-studied species, few researchers have investigated the factors that influence nest success and productivity in an urban environment. We monitored Osprey nests from 2013 to 2017 in highly urbanized Pinellas County, located on the west coast of central Florida, USA. We used logistic exposure models to assess the effects of timing of nesting, nest attributes (nest substrate, height), and landscape-level variables (inter-nest distance, distance to water, and surrounding habitat type) on daily survival rate (DSR) of Osprey nests. The number of active nests (i.e., nests with eggs) in the study area ranged from 53 in 2013 to 79 in 2016, with an overall total of 329 during the 5-yr study. Although most nests produced at least one young near fledging age, 131 of the nests failed. We attributed 45% of nest failures to storm events and 50% to unknown causes. The best logistic exposure model specification included only two variables: the discrete variable representing the date incubation started and the nominal variable indicating the year 2015. Osprey nests initiated earlier in the season were more likely to survive, and later nests (initiated after 22 April) averaged only one fledgling each. Osprey nests in 2015 had the highest DSR and relatively few failed due to storms. Our results supported previous research indicating that early nesters were more successful than late nesters. Our results also indicate that storms may play a role in nest success of Ospreys in Florida. Other variables, such as the amount of urbanized land surrounding Osprey nests did not appear to influence nest survival, indicating that Ospreys can be productive even in highly urban environments.
Atomic and microstructural origins of stored energy release in neutron-irradiated silicon carbide

Here, we employ a combination of advanced synchrotron-based scattering characterization techniques to understand and unravel the atomic origins of the colossal stored energy release in neutron-irradiated silicon carbide. The quantification of the neutron irradiation-induced defects and their impact on the structure-property relationship are important for the design and safe operation of advanced fission and fusion reactors. Our experimental results show that the atomic structure in the as-irradiated samples is significantly perturbed due to a large fraction of vacancy- and interstitial-type defects that lead to complex microstructures and additional components in the x-ray diffraction and pair distribution function (PDF) results. We directly correlate the stored energy release to the recovery of the sublattices with PDF analysis, highlighting that the carbon interstitial- and vacancy-type defects contribute to stored energy more than those of silicon. We find these results to be striking and believe our discoveries to be timely and noteworthy given the technological importance of silicon carbide to the nuclear fission and fusion communities.
Expression of five acetylcholine receptor subunit genes in Brugia malayi adult worms

Acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) are required for body movement in parasitic nematodes and are targets of “classical” anthelmintic drugs such as levamisole and pyrantel and of newer drugs such as tribendimidine and derquantel. While neurotransmission explains the effects of these drugs on nematode movement, their effects on parasite reproduction are unexplained. The levamisole AChR type (L-AChRs) in Caenorhabditis elegans is comprised of five subunits: Cel-UNC-29, Cel-UNC-38, Cel-UNC-63, Cel-LEV-1 and Cel-LEV-8. The genome of the filarial parasite Brugia malayi contains nine AChRs subunits including orthologues of Cel-unc-29, Cel-unc-38, and Cel-unc-63. We performed in situ hybridization with RNA probes to localize the expression of five AChR genes (Bm1_35890-Bma-unc-29, Bm1_20330-Bma-unc-38, Bm1_38195-Bma-unc-63, Bm1_48815-Bma-acr-26 and Bm1_40515-Bma-acr-12) in B. malayi adult worms. Four of these genes had similar expression patterns with signals in body muscle, developing embryos, spermatogonia, uterine wall adjacent to stretched microfilariae, wall of Vas deferens, and lateral cord. Three L-AChR subunit genes (Bma-unc-29, Bma-unc-38 and Bma-unc-63) were expressed in body muscle, which is a known target of levamisole. Bma-acr-12 was co-expressed with these levamisole subunit genes in muscle, and this suggests that its protein product may form receptors with other alpha subunits. Bma-acr-26 was expressed in male muscle but not in female muscle. Strong expression signals of these genes in early embryos and gametes in uterus and testis suggest that AChRs may have a role in nervous system development of embryogenesis and spermatogenesis. This would be consistent with embryotoxic effects of drugs that target these receptors in filarial worms. Our data show that the expression of these receptor genes is tightly regulated with regard to localization in adult worms and developmental stage in embryos and gametes. These results may help to explain the broad effects of drugs that target AChRs in filarial worms.
Survival modeling of discontinuation from psychotherapy: a consumer decision-making perspective.

Objective This study examines discontinuation of psychotherapy from a consumer decision-making perspective. Two plausible predictors, the level of illness and rate of progress from where the patient started, were examined as predictors of treatment discontinuation. Method Using data from 139 patients (45.5% women; mean age = 32.18 years) participating in a 12-week transdiagnostic cognitive-behavioral therapy program for anxiety, weekly assessments of anxiety severity were examined to investigate the extent to which level of anxiety and rate of improvement predicted treatment discontinuation. Results Support was found for a significant interaction effect wherein at higher anxiety levels, rate of progress was less associated with discontinuation than at lower anxiety levels. Conclusion Faster rates of anxiety reduction are associated with greater likelihood of discontinuation when the client is at a lower level of anxiety, whereas rate of improvement is less associated with discontinuation if there remains continued impairment and room for improvement. As such, clinicians should monitor rates of improvement throughout treatment to help identify and evaluate patients at increased risk of premature discontinuation.
Endoscopic management of upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma: Long-term experience

BACKGROUND The efficacy and long-term results of endoscopic management of upper tract transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) were examined. The authors evaluated the accuracy of endoscopic biopsy in determining tumor grade in the subset of patients who underwent open surgical excision. METHODS Between 1987 and 2001, 50 patients (17 with a solitary kidney) underwent ureteroscopy and biopsy of upper tract TCC. Eleven patients underwent ureterectomy or nephroureterectomy shortly after endoscopic biopsy. There was no follow-up for nine patients. Thirty patients underwent endoscopic ablation of their primary tumor with laser or electrofulguration at the time of the initial biopsy and were followed with close endoscopic surveillance at 3–4-month intervals. RESULTS For the 30 patients who underwent endoscopic ablation, mean follow-up was 38 months (range, 4–106 months). There was an average of 3.4 recurrences, with an average time to first recurrence of 7 months. Ten of the 30 patients underwent open resection during follow-up. Six patients exhibited tumor progression at follow-up. During the follow-up period, one patient died of recurrent disease, and six died of other causes. Endoscopic biopsy accurately predicted the tumor grade for 8 of the 9 patients who had open tumor resection within 2 months of their last biopsy and for 10 of the 11 patients who had open resection shortly after their initial endoscopic biopsy (overall accuracy, 18 of 20 [90%]). CONCLUSIONS Endoscopic treatment of focal low-grade TCC of the upper urinary tract is feasible and safe, provided that vigilant follow-up and endoscopic surveillance are performed. Endoscopic biopsy provides accurate information regarding tumor grade. Cancer 2003;98:55–60. © 2003 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.11446
High Temperature Technology

Publisher Summary The term “high temperature” has connotations varying from 103K for the organic chemist to 108K for the nuclear physicist. In chemical manufacturing, this temperature is approached only in the synthesis of carbides. Chemical reactions have been investigated at temperatures up to 6,000K, and means are readily available for continuous processing at temperatures up to 50,000K. In the regions below 4,000K, the disappearing-filament optical pyrometer, the two-color pyrometer, or the photoelectric pyrometer can be used to measure International Scale Temperatures. High temperature for the discussions in this chapter is defined as over 3000K but less than nuclear reaction temperatures. These temperatures may be attained by sustained and explosive chemical reactions, mechanical shock tubes, electrical resistance heating, low- and high-current arc-discharges, plasma arcs, and exploding wires. Selection of the most appropriate means for creating a specific high-temperature environment should be based upon the characteristics and limitations of the various methods available. There are no reported commercial processes now operating in which the temperature exceeds 3000K. The highest process temperature, about 2800K, is used in production of boron carbide from boron oxide and carbon, and to raise this 2800K ceiling will require a good deal of ingenuity. The fact that extremely high pressures are also required in the process makes achievement of these temperatures even more impressive. Higher temperatures, however, are used by industry and science in areas other than processing, such as metal coating and rocketry.
Molecular phylogenetics and generic concepts in the Maxillarieae (Orchidaceae)

Tribe Maxillarieae account for approximately 10% (>2800 species) of Orchidaceae and are a major com- ponent of the Neotropical epiphytic flora. Pollination systems include 1) male euglossine-bee fragrance rewards in four subtribes, 2) oil reward systems and mimicry in some groups, 3) nectar rewards in a wide range of taxa, and 4) pseudocopulation in some Maxillariinae and some Oncidiinae.
Chapter 1 Oceanography before, and after, the advent of satellites

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the oceanography before, and after, the advent of satellites. There was oceanography even before the advent of satellite oceanography. More importantly, programs like the Acoustic Thermometry of Ocean Climate (ATOC) provide a strong incentive for a combined Earth- and space-based observing program. Since the days of the Challenger expedition in the 1870s, oceanography has been traditionally conducted by sounding the oceans from a few moving ships. Accordingly, successive soundings are associated with changes in both the space dimension and the time dimension; however, the measured changes were nearly always attributed to the space dimension. This age came to an abrupt end in the 1960s with the discovery of mesoscale variability: the ocean weather associated with scales of 100 km and 100 days. The most profound effect of satellite oceanography has not been the resulting new sensor packages (and these have been remarkable), nor the global coverage, but rather that for the first time ocean processes were adequately sampled.
Ground penetrating radar tomography

Presents a survey of theory and practice in tomographic imaging of subsurface features utilizing ground penetrating radar (GPR). The discussion includes: (i) A brief review of the equations governing radar scattering culminating in the Lippmann Schwinger (LS) equation. (ii) A summary of approximations often made in developing GPR imaging algorithms based on inversion of the LS equation: the scalar wave approximation, the two dimensional scattering model, and neglect of multiple scattering. (iii) A description of certain inversion algorithms used in GPR work. This includes a short discussion of ill-posed problems utilizing a one dimensional model equation, a review of difficulties characteristic of tomographic inversion, a summary of results based on linearized inversion methods such as Devaney's (1992) generalized projection slice theorem, and finally, a brief overview of the some numerical algorithms. (iv) A discussion of a field study using GPR to image shallow targets.
Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in children with acute central nervous system injury

Single voxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) was used in 30 infants and children with acute central nervous system injuries to determine the value of changes in specific metabolite ratios in predicting outcome. The mean age of all patients was 38 +/- 52 months and the mean time of study after insult was 7 +/- 5 days. 1H-MRS was determined in the occipital gray and parietal white matter (8 cm3 volume, STEAM sequence with TE = 20 ms, TR = 3,000 ms). Data were expressed as ratios of different metabolite peak areas including N-acetylaspartate (NA), choline-containing compounds (Ch), creatine and phosphocreatine (Cr), and lactate (Lac). Statistically significant differences were observed when patients with good/moderate (G/M) outcomes (n = 17; mean age: 46 months) were compared to patients with bad outcomes (n = 10; mean age: 26 months). NA/Cr and NA/Ch were significantly lower in the bad outcome group (NA/Cr = 1.15 +/- 0.38; NA/Ch = 1.18 +/- 0.52) compared to the G/M group (NA/Cr = 1.41 +/- 0.28, P < .05; NA/Ch = 1.98 +/- 0.81, P < .01). Lactate was present in 80% of bad outcome patients and in none of the G/M group (P < .0001). Using a linear discriminant analysis and combining 4 clinical variables (Glasgow Coma Scale score, initial pH and glucose, number of days unconscious at time of 1H-MRS) allows classification of 94% of patients into their correct outcome group. Use of spectroscopy variables (NA/Cr, NA/Ch, Ch/Cr, presence of lactate) alone correctly classified 81% of patients. The combination of clinical and 1H-MRS variables correctly classified 100% of patients. Our findings suggest that 1H-MRS adds information which, in combination with clinical examination, may be useful in outcome assessment in children with serious acute central nervous system injury.
Convective mass transfer at the carotid bifurcation.

Abstract The convcctive conditions in regions of hemodynamic separation may produce uneven local mass transfer at the arterial wall which may lead to an atherogenic response. This study estimates the potential variation in local mass transfer of oxygen at the human carotid bifurcation under steady flow conditions. The three-dimensional separated flow at the bifurcation was studied using a computational analysis of the basic conservation equations of mass, momentum, and species. Mass transfer between the blood and the wall was estimated throughout the sinus region for a condition where the concentration at the wall was constant. Flow separation at the carotid bifurcation created a complex concentration field. The mass transfer was five times lower along the outer wall of the carotid sinus than the artery wall immediately upstream or downstream of the sinus. The region of low mass transfer was similar to the region of low shear stress but not identical. This distribution of low mass transfer correlated strongly with intimal thickening as measured previously from human specimens. Quantitative differences in mass transfer at the arterial wall should not be discarded as an important mechanism by which hemodynamics influences atherogenesis at this site of clinical disease.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Postoperative Chyle Leakage via Percutaneous Transabdominal Catheterization of the Cisterna Chyli: A Preliminary Study

Purpose To assess the feasibility of percutaneous transabdominal puncture and catheterization of the cisterna chyli or lymphatic ducts (PTCLD) in patients with postoperative chyloperitoneum and chylothorax, and to identify and possibly embolize the chylous fistula. Materials and Methods Five patients had postoperative uncontrolled chyle fistulas. Two patients with chylothorax had thoracic duct (TD) ligation after esophagectomy and neck surgery. The other three patients had chylous ascites after surgery of the pancreas, the aorta, and the esophagus, respectively. After lympho-graphic opacification, the cisterna chyli (CC) or retroperitoneal lymph ducts were punctured transabdominally with a 21-gauge needle and catheterized with a 3-F catheter to reach the TD if possible. Microcoils were used to embolize a TD laceration. Results Lymph ducts as small as 2–3 mm were catheterized successfully in three patients. The TD was catheterized in two patients; one TD fistula was embolized with cure of chylothorax. In one patient with a surgically tied TD, duct occlusion was confirmed despite continued pleural effusion. Three fistulas, not seen with lymphography, were identified in two of three chylous ascites and one chylothorax. There was no morbidity. As a result of this procedure, four of five patients did not require repeated operation. Conclusions PTCLD in the study of chyle fistulas was feasible and safe in the management of five patients and clinically useful in four patients; transabdominal catheter lymphography with aqueous contrast medium is more sensitive than pedal lymphography. Further evaluation is necessary.
Busy choice sequences refraining formulas and modalities

The purpose of this paper is to present some results instit theory, a theory of agency proposed by N. Belnap and M. Perloff. We will establish a correspondence between the numbers ofstit modalities and the complexity degrees ofbusy choice sequences in semantic structures, and consequently, a correspondence between the number of modes of actions/inactions instit theory and the complexity degrees ofbusy choice sequences in semantic structures.
Ground states of conjugated molecules XVI. Treatment of hydrocarbons by l.c.a.o. s.c.f. m.o

Previous work in these laboratories has led to the development of a semi-empirical s.c.f. m.o. treatment of conjugated hydrocarbons which enables their heats of formation and geometries to be predicted with surprising accuracy. Problem s have arisen, however, in attempts to extend this treatment to compounds containing heteroatom s, mainly because of the thermo ¬ cycle method used to estimate the one-electron resonance integrals (s). H ere we report a simpler version of the treatment, based on the Mulliken approximation (s = KS), which gives equally good results and should be more easily applied to heteroconjugated molecules. A procedure for including non-bonded interactions in the treatment is described and illustrated by a study of the rotation al barriers in biphenyl and 1,3-butadiene.
Understanding hepatotoxicity – from patients to mice to computer

Drug Induced Liver Injury (DILI) remains the major adverse drug event that leads to termination of clinical development programs and regulatory actions including failure to approve for marketing, restricted indications, and withdrawal from the marketplace. The type of DILI that is most problematic is “idiosyncratic” meaning that only a very small fraction of treated patients are susceptible to the DILI. Current preclinical models, even “humanized” ones, do not reliably identify molecules that have this liability and, conversely predict liabilities in molecule that are in fact quite safe for the liver. For example, current preclinical testing does not detect the DILI potential of xymelagatran, a drug withdrawn from worldwide markets due to idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity but would predict a high liver risk for acetaminophen (paracetamol) even when taken as directed. Reliable preclinical testing will probably not be developed until there is greater understanding of the mechanisms underlying DILI. Reasoning that the best models to study DILI are the people who have actually experienced it, we are capitalizing on the resources of the US Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network (DILIN-supported by the National Institutes of Health) that is collecting genomic DNA and other biospecimens from patients who have experienced DILI. In addition to genetic studies, we are partnering with Cellular Dynamics International to reprogram induced pleuripotent stem cells from DILIN subjects in whom we have complete exomic DNA sequence with the goal of producing patient-specific liver cultures, and ultimately, humanized mice. We are also partnering with the Shanghai Centers for Disease Control to prospectively collect a variety of biospecimens, including whole blood for transcriptome analysis, from patients treated for active tuberculosis as part of a larger biomarker discovery initiative. We are using panels of inbred mice to mimic patient population genetic diversity and to identify genes and pathways that may underlie DILI susceptibility in patients. Finally, we have established the DILIsim Initiative which is a public-private partnership that is building a computer model to synthesize the rapidly accumulating data with the goal of predicting DILI liability in drug candidates. DILIsim involves 10 pharmaceutical companies and the Food and Drug Administration.
Reinnervation of the rat olfactory bulb after methyl bromide-induced lesion: timing and extent of reinnervation.

We used the inhalation of methyl bromide gas to produce a near-complete destruction of the rat olfactory epithelium and analyzed the reinnervation of the bulb during reconstitution of the epithelium. The degeneration of olfactory axons elicits a transient up-regulation of glial cell proliferation and glial fibrillary acidic protein expression in the olfactory nerve and olfactory nerve layer of the bulb. Anterograde transport after intranasal infusion of wheat germ agglutinin conjugated horseradish peroxidase demonstrates that the first nascent axons reach the bulb within the first week after lesion. Subsequently, a massive wave of fibers arrives at the bulb between 1 and 2 weeks postlesion, and enters the glomeruli between 2 and 3 weeks postlesion. However, the olfactory projection does not stabilize until 8 weeks after lesion judging from the return in growth associated protein-43 expression to control levels. The extent of reinnervation after lesion is correlated with the completeness with which the epithelium reconstitutes itself. In rats that are lesioned while fed ad libitum, there is near-complete reconstitution of the neuronal population, and the projection onto the bulb fills the glomerular layer in its entirety. However, in rats that are lesioned while food restricted, a significant fraction of olfactory epithelium becomes respiratory during its reconstitution, and the population of reinnervating fibers is less. As a consequence, the posterior half of the bulb remains hypoinnervated overall and denervated at its caudal margin. The preferential reinnervation of the anterior bulb in the food-restricted, methyl bromide gas–lesioned animals indicates that the mechanisms that guide the growth of the olfactory axons and restore receptotopy do not operate with the same precision in this setting as they do during development or during the lower level of turnover associated with the “normal” laboratory existence. Accordingly, we hypothesize that the persistence of a significant population of pre-existing neurons is needed to preserve receptotopy during reinnervation. In addition, the results suggest that in the face of massive turnover and a reduced afferent population, there is a tendency for reinnervating axons to fill available synaptic space. J. Comp. Neurol. 412:439–457, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Prevention and management of prostate cancer chemotherapy complications

Prevention and management of the adverse effects of prostate cancer chemotherapy depend on skilled regimen selection, dose adjustment, use of supportive care strategies, and a thorough understanding of the patient- and regimen-related factors that determine the risk for toxicity. Urologists, radiation oncologists, and primary care providers can play an important role before chemotherapy is prescribed by judicious use of treatments that impair bone marrow and other vital organ function. The current role of chemotherapy in prostate cancer is palliative. Successful palliation depends on reducing cancer-related suffering without introducing treatment-related suffering. Thus prevention and management of toxicity is central to the success of chemotherapy in advanced prostate cancer.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and cognitive function: do they have a beneficial or deleterious effect?

Studies suggest that high dose NSAID use may be associated with a reversible impairment of cognition in the elderly. Prolonged NSAID use, on the other hand, may prevent the decline in cognition associated with aging. However, it has yet to be to be definitively determined whether this protection arises from an anti-inflammatory effect that modifies pathways involved in Alzheimer’s dementia, or is mediated by a platelet effect that decreases the risk of cerebrovascular disease.
Replacement of gly815 in helicase motif V alters the single-stranded DNA-dependent ATPase activity of the herpes simplex virus type 1 helicase-primase.

Abstract Herpes simplex virus type 1 encodes a helicase-primase complex composed of the products of the UL5, UL52, and UL8 genes. A subcomplex consisting of the UL5 and UL52 proteins purified from insect cells also displays ATPase, helicase, and primase activities. UL5 contains six motifs conserved in superfamily I of known and/or putative helicase proteins. Consistent with the ability to hydrolyze ATP, motifs I and II resemble a nucleotide binding site. Although the role of the other four motifs is not known, single amino acid substitutions created in conserved residues in all six motifs abolish the ability of UL5 to support viral DNA replication in vivo (Zhu, L., and Weller, S. K. (1992) J. Virol. 66, 469-479). In one such mutation, a highly conserved glycine in motif V (Gly815) is replaced with an alanine. Although the UL5(G815A) protein does not support viral DNA replication in vivo, the purified UL5(G815A)·52 subcomplex retains primase and helicase activities and supports strand displacement DNA synthesis on a preformed replication fork in the presence of the other HSV-1 replication proteins. The major difference between the wild-type and variant protein is that the UL5(G815A)·52 subcomplex displays an increased Km for single-stranded DNA and decreased Kcat for single-stranded DNA-dependent ATPase activity. Several hypotheses for the role of motif V in the function of the UL5 helicase in HSV-1 DNA replication are considered. This is the first report of a biochemical analysis of a motif V variant in any member of helicase superfamily I.
ROOM-TEMPERATURE KONDO EFFECT IN ATOM-SURFACE SCATTERING : DYNAMICAL 1/N APPROACH

The Kondo effect may be observable in some atom-surface scattering experiments, in particular, those involving alkaline-earth atoms. By combining Keldysh techniques with the noncrossing (NCA) approximation to solve the time-dependent Newns-Anderson Hamiltonian in the $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{U}\ensuremath{\infty}$ limit, Shao, Nordlander, and Langreth found an anomalously strong surface-temperature dependence of the outgoing charge state fractions. Here we employ a dynamical $1/N$ expansion with a finite Coulomb interaction $U$ to give a more realistic description of the scattering process. We test the accuracy of the $1/N$ expansion in the $N=1$ case of spinless fermions against the exact independent particle solution. We then compare results obtained in the $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{U}\ensuremath{\infty}$ limit with the NCA at $N=4$ and recover qualitative features already found. Finally, we analyze the realistic situation of Ca atoms with $U=5.8$ eV scattered off Cu(001) surfaces. Although the presence of the doubly ionized ${\mathrm{Ca}}^{2+}$ species can change the absolute scattered ${\mathrm{Ca}}^{+}$ yields, the temperature dependence is qualitatively the same as that found in the $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{U}\ensuremath{\infty}$ limit. One of the main difficulties that experimentalists face in attempting to detect this effect is that the atomic velocity must be kept small enough to limit kinematic smearing of the Fermi surface of the metal.
Nano SiO2 particle formation and deposition on polypropylene separators for lithium-ion batteries

Abstract The novelty of this work is the formation and deposition of SiO2, as opposed to deposition using commercially available SiO2 powder suspension in the solution, to form ceramic coating on polypropylene (PP) separators for lithium-ion battery. The formation of SiO2 nanoparticles with uniform particle size is accomplished through direct hydrolysis of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), while the deposition of the formed SiO2 on PP separators was conducted in the same solution containing polyvinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene (PVDF-HFP) as binders and acetone as the solvent. The effects of the ceramic coating on the surface morphology, tensile strength, contact angles, electrolyte uptake, thermal shrinkage of the PP separators and the cell performances such as battery rate capability and Coulombic efficiency were investigated. The coated separators show significant reduction in thermal shrinkage and improvement in tensile strength, contact angles, electrolyte uptake and battery performance as compared to the plain PP separator.
Intransitivity and Vague Preferences

This paper is concerned with intransitivity in normative rational choice. It focuses on a class of intransitivities which have received little attention, those involving vague preferences. “Vague preferences” are defined in terms of vague predicates such as “red” or “bald.” Such preferences appear common, and intransitive indifference is argued to be an unavoidable feature of them. Such preferences are argued to undermine intransitive strict preference also. Various formal theories of vagueness are applied to an example of vague preferences, but none of them provide a justification for the transitivity axiom.
The influence of exercise training on the ventilatory threshold of patients with coronary heart disease

Abstract Out of 156 patients with stable coronary heart disease randomized to either an exercise intervention group or a control group, 41 had complete gas analysis data. Continuous gas exchange data, including the ventilatory threshold, and selected heart rates were determined initially and at 1 year. The mean attendance for the exercise group was 2.2 ± 0.7 days a week at an intensity of 60 ± 9% of estimated peak oxygen uptake for 1 year of the study. Statistically significant differences ( p r = 0.45; p
Integrating-Sphere Fluorescence Cells: Instrumental Errors in Fluorescence Lifetimes and Intensities

An integrating-sphere fluorescence cell is described for measurement of intensities, yields, and lifetimes of long-lived gas phase molecules under collision-free conditions. The cell has high light-gathering efficiency and provides uniform sampling and a well-defined source for imaging onto the detection system. The signal gain compared to a conventional fluorescence cell of similar dimensions may be as great as 100-fold. Expressions are developed for measurement errors as a function of cell radius. For equal errors the integrating sphere radius must be 2–3 times that of a conventional cell.
A Synthesis of Aromatic Five- and Six-Membered B−N Heterocycles via Ring Closing Metathesis

The ring closing metathesis on appropriate vinyl or allyl aminoboranes (1 or 2) gives azaboracycloalkenes (3 or 4) which can be converted to azaborolides (5) or azaborines (6).
Dispersion Simulation and Visualization For Urban Security

We present a system for simulating and visualizing the propagation of dispersive contaminants with an application to urban security. In particular, we simulate airborne contaminant propagation in open environments characterised by sky-scrapers and deep urban canyons. Our approach is based on the multiple relaxation time lattice Boltzmann model (MRTLBM), which can efficiently handle complex boundary conditions such as buildings. In addition, we model thermal effects on the flow field using the hybrid thermal MRTLBM. Our approach can also accommodate readings from various sensors distributed in the environment and adapt the simulation accordingly. We accelerate the computation and efficiently render many buildings with small textures on the GPU. We render streamlines and the contaminant smoke with self-shadowing composited with the textured buildings.
Evidence for distinct preterm and term phenotypes of preeclampsia.

Objective. To determine differences in maternal and fetal characteristics in pregnancies complicated by preterm versus term preeclampsia.Methods. Using our electronic database we identified 143 women who met the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists criteria for preeclampsia between January 1995 and August 2003. We collected data on age, smoking status, maternal serum markers, and newborns. We compared the group delivering preterm (<37 weeks) with those delivering at term (≥37 weeks). Analyses were based on ANOVA, Wilcoxon Rank Sum test, and chi-square test. Statistical significance was determined based on α = 0.05. Data are expressed as mean ± SD unless otherwise indicated.Results. Eighty women delivered preterm and 63 delivered at term. Women who delivered preterm with preeclampsia were younger, lighter, and were more likely to smoke cigarettes than those delivering at term with preeclampsia. Maternal liver enzyme concentrations were significantly greater in the preterm group. Newborn birt...
Effect of autonomic mediators in recurrent shedding of herpes simplex in the rabbit eye

After recovery from primary herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection of the eye in rabbits, recurrent shedding of virus in the external eye can be produced by the local application of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-HD) and epinephrine. Surgical sympathectomy did not prevent shedding of HSV with 6-HD/epinephrine so the source of the virus in the outer eye induced by adrenergic stimulation is not just the superior cervical ganglia (SCG). Chemical sympathectomy with 6-HD prior to HSV infection of the cornea led to decreased viral replication in the SCG during acute infection but did not interfere with uptake of the virus and latent or low grade infection of the ganglion. Shedding of virus in the outer eye induced by 6-HD/epinephrine was reduced by treatment with the beta-adrenergic blocker, timolol. These experiments strongly suggest that recurrent HSV shedding in the eye induced by catecholamines is due in part to effects on the peripheral (i.e. post synaptic) cells. While the peripheral neurons are the source of virus, it is possible that not all HSV detected in the external eye is due to release of preformed virus from nerve endings.
Assembly of HCN hydrogen bonding chains in the gas phase. Binding energies and structures of phenylacetylene+(HCN)n clusters, n = 1–4

Abstract The stepwise binding energies (Δ H o n −1, n ) of 1–4 HCN molecules to the phenylacetylene radical cation (C 8 H 6 + ) are determined by equilibrium thermochemical measurements. The binding energy (10.5 ± 1 kcal/mol) of the C 8 H 6 + (HCN) complex is dominated by the ionic hydrogen bonding interaction (ph-C CH δ+ ⋯NCH). For higher clusters, the attachment of HCN molecules occurs through two comparable interactions involving the association of HCN molecules (ph-C CH δ+ ⋯NCH⋯NCH⋯) to form a linear hydrogen bonding chain or the interaction with the ring hydrogen atoms through hydrogen bonding (>CH δ+ ⋯NCH) and bifurcated charge-dipole structures. An interesting pattern of the assembly of linear hydrogen bonded chains is observed and could result in the formation of molecular wires of nanometer length scale.
Solute-solvent interactions. VII. Proton magnetic resonance and infrared study of ion solvation in dipolar aprotic solvents

The solvation of a variety of ions by the dipolar aprotic solvents acetonitrile, sulfolane, and dimethylsulfoxide was studied through the influence of salts on the proton magnetic resonance chemical shifts of the solvents. In the case of acetonitrile the results were supplemented with infrared measurements, which showed that in general anions affect only the C−H and cations both the C−C and particularly the C≡N stretching frequencies of acetonitrile. The results are discussed in conjunction with transport and other data already in the literature. Current views on the structure of these solvents are summarized.
Effect of the electronic kinetic energy on the elastic strain in metallic multilayers.

A recent theory of induced strain in metallic multilayers, caused by electron transfer effects, is revised by taking into account the electronic kinetic energy. When this is done, it is found that the predicted sign of the strain is opposite to what was found previously. For a multilayer having abrupt composition changes, the predicted magnitude of the strain is greater by a factor of 9/5 than what was found previously, whereas for a multilayer having smooth composition changes, it is the same as what was found previously.
A study of criminal justice discretion

Abstract This research empirically examined indicators of charging and sentence reduction and the criminal sanctions meted out to a representative sample of felons convicted in one midwestern state court. A multivariate analysis of prosecutorial and judicial discretion examined the influence of case, personal, social, and criminal justice process factors. The utility of sentencing guidelines for achieving fairness and justice in criminal justice policy and practices was assessed.
Primordial bispectrum information from CMB polarization

After the precise observations of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropy power spectrum, attention is now being focused on higher order statistics of the CMB anisotropies. Since linear evolution preserves the statistical properties of the initial conditions, observed non-Gaussianity of the CMB will mirror primordial non-Gaussianity. Single-field slow-roll inflation robustly predicts negligible non-Gaussianity so an indication of primordial non-Gaussianity will suggest alternative scenarios need to be considered. In this paper we calculate the information on primordial non-Gaussianity encoded in the polarization of the CMB. After deriving the optimal weights for a cubic estimator we evaluate the signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) of the estimator for Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe, Planck, and an ideal cosmic variance limited experiment. We find that when the experiment can observe CMB polarization with good sensitivity, the sensitivity to primordial non-Gaussianity increases by roughly a factor of 2. We also test the weakly non-Gaussian assumption used to derive the optimal weight factor by calculating the degradation factor produced by the gravitational lensing induced connected four-point function. The physical scales in the radiative transfer functions are largely irrelevant for the constraints on the primordial non-Gaussianity. We show that the total (S/N){sup 2} is simply proportional to the number ofmore » observed pixels on the sky.« less
Microfluidic flow reversal at low frequency by AC electrothermal effect

This paper describes a flow reversal phenomenon for fluids with moderate conductivity. Fluids with conductivities of 2 × 10−4 S/m, 0.02 S/m and up to 0.1 S/m were experimented at frequencies ranging from 1 to 110 kHz. Flow reversal was observed only at ~1 kHz and 5.3 V rms for σ = 0.02 S/m, and our analysis indicates that AC electrothermal effect could be responsible. Analysis of the system impedance and simulation of power consumption show that the distribution of electric power consumption is dependent on conductivity and AC frequency. At low frequencies, possibly more electric power is consumed at surface/electrolyte interface rather than within the fluid, which consequently changes the location of temperature maximum and the directions of temperature gradients. The direction of AC electrothermal force is reoriented, causing the flow reversal. Numerical simulation is also performed and agrees within the experiments.
Localization in fluids: A comparison of competing theories and their application to positron annihilation.

This paper addresses two central issues in our understanding of self-trapping, or localization, of a light particle (e.g., electron, positron, or positronium atom) in a fluid. The first concerns the relationship between the mean-field calculations of localized states carried out from the mid-1950s until the present, and the direct calculation of light-particle (LP) properties from the adiabatic model. The second concerns the universality of the ring polymer representation of the LP, which has proved to be extremely useful for computing the properties of localized electrons. We first demonstrate that the mean-field theories of localization, which are derived from density functionals, can be obtained from the adiabatic model by employing a Gutzwiller type of approximation. We then study the application of the adiabatic model, via the polymer representation, to the annihilation of positrons and positronium atoms in a fluid. Expressions for the decay rate and its variance are derived in terms of the two- and three-point distribution functions for the polymer sites and positions of the atomic nuclei. The momentum distribution of the localized LP is shown to be proportional to the Fourier transform of the distribution function for the displacement between the ends of a broken polymer.