cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Neural mechanisms of pain: an overview

There are two essential components of pain: discriminative and affective. The discriminative component includes the ability to identify the stimulus as originating from somatic or visceral tissue, determine some of the physical properties of the stimulus, and localize it in space, time, and along a continuum of intensities. The affective component is the experience of aversiveness which motivates escape, avoidance, and protective behavior. Both of these components of pain were acknowledged by Sir Charles Sherrington (1947) and must be considered in any discussion of the neurophysiological basis of pain. The neural mechanisms subserving discrimination and affect are different and may be differentially affected by drugs or surgical procedures. A consideration of pain mechanisms must also include the neural systems modulating pain, for it is well known that pain can be profoundly influenced by other somatic stimuli and by attentional, emotional, and cognitive factors. A thorough and detailed discussion of pain mechanisms is beyond the scope of this brief overview, but I will cover major features of the neural mechanisms currently thought to underlie the discriminative and affective dimensions of pain and the mechanisms by which pain may be modulated.
ANDES: An Underground Laboratory in South America☆

Abstract ANDES (Agua Negra Deep Experiment Site) is an underground laboratory, proposed to be built inside the Agua Negra road tunnel that will connect Chile (IV Region) with Argentina (San Juan Province) under the Andes Mountains. The Laboratory will be 1750 meters under the rock, becoming the 3rd deepest underground laboratory of this kind in the world, and the first in the Southern Hemisphere. ANDES will be an international Laboratory, managed by a Latin American consortium. The laboratory will host experiments in Particle and Astroparticle Physics, such as Neutrino and Dark Matter searches, Seismology, Geology, Geophysics and Biology. It will also be used for the development of low background instrumentation and related services. Here we present the general features of the proposed laboratory, the current status of the proposal and some of its opportunities for science.
Beta-adrenergic receptors and adenylate cyclase in hypertrophic and hyperplastic rat salivary glands.

Abstract Isoproterenol induces both the secretion of protein and the stimulation of DNA synthesis and growth in rat salivary glands. The specific binding of the labelled beta-adrenergic antagonist [ 3 H]dihydroalprenolol has been used to measure the number of beta-adrenergic receptors in rat parotid glands during isoproterenol-induced growth. Isoproterenol-enlarged glands display no change in the specific binding capacity per gland for [ 3 H]-dihydroalprenolol compared with normal tissue. Catecholamine sensitive adenylate cyclase activity varies independently of the number of specific [ 3 H]dihydroalprenolol binding sites during isoproterenol-induced growth. Previously-described differences in optimal isoproterenol doses which produce protein secretion and stimulation of DNA synthesis may reflect different responses to various rates of receptor occupancy, or may be due to the presence of more than one type of beta-adrenergic receptor.
Lidar detection using a dual-frequency source.

A new technique of dual-frequency Doppler-lidar measurement is investigated. This technique is based on the use of a coherently locked, tunable, dual-frequency laser source and is shown to accurately measure velocities as small as 26 μm/s. It is generated by exploiting the nonlinear dynamics of a semiconductor laser through a proper combination of optical injection and operating conditions.
INTEGRAL REPRESENTATIONS FOR LOCALLY DEFINED POSITIVE DEFINITE FUNCTIONS ON LIE GROUPS

It is well known that locally defined positive definite functions on Lie groups G generally do not extend to positive definite functions which are defined on the whole group. We introduce two stronger positivity concepts for locally defined functions, and show that they are equivalent to extendability. We then apply this to the case when G is the Heisenberg group. When an additional symmetry is imposed, we obtain a complete spectral analysis of the (locally defined) positive definite functions. The methods of proof are based on unitary dilation techniques (i.e., carefully chosen extensions of some underlying Hilbert space associated to the problem), and on spectral theory for noncommuting operators.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN QUANTITATIVE ADVERSE PLAQUE FEATURES FROM CORONARY CT ANGIOGRAPHY AND DOWNSTREAM IMPAIRED MYOCARDIAL FLOW RESERVE

We investigated the relationship of quantitative plaque features from coronary CT Angiography (CTA) and coronary vascular dysfunction by impaired myocardial flow reserve (MFR) by 13N-Ammonia Positron Emission Tomography (PET). Fifty-one patients (32 men, 62.4±9.5 years) underwent combined rest-
The effect of social grounding on collaboration in a computer-mediated small group discussion

There is a tremendous amount of pressure on educators to incorporate highly advanced computer-mediated communication (CMC) into the classroom, but the research shows that this is not an easy task. Part of the difficulty learners experience within current network applications is a lack of support from the design of the software for the development of a common ground. This paper reports on a study of how a group of online students used a software application specifically designed to mediate a threaded discussion. Results of the study show that properly designed software had a significant impact on the creation and maintenance of the common ground necessary to create and foster a community of talk. Nonetheless, the data also shows that specialized software is not enough. An important factor in using online interaction well is for the teacher to closely monitor students online. These two factors, suitably designed software that is appropriately implemented, are closely related and will result in optimum experience for students.
THE CLASSIC HIGH-T – LOW-P METAMORPHISM OF WEST-CENTRAL MAINE: IS IT POST-TECTONIC OR SYNTECTONIC? EVIDENCE FROM PORPHYROBLAST – MATRIX RELATIONS: DISCUSSION

Solar & Brown (1999) (S & B) wrote an interesting, highly provocative paper that could lead unwary readers to accept uncritically a tectonometamorphic history for western Maine that is somewhat controversial. Moreover, some aspects of their paper, which are strongly emphasized, are such that they
Results of a Phase I Dose-Escalation Study Using Single-Fraction Stereotactic Radiotherapy for Lung Tumors

Background The purpose of this study was to report initial results of a phase I study using single-fraction stereotactic radiotherapy (RT) in patients with inoperable lung tumors. Methods Eligible patients included those with inoperable T1-2N0 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) or solitary lung metastases. Treatments were delivered by means of the CyberKnife. All patients underwent computed tomography-guided metallic fiducial placement in the tumor for image-guided targeting. Nine to 20 patients were treated per dose cohort starting at 15 Gy/fraction followed by dose escalation of 5 to 10 Gy to a maximal dose of 30 Gy/fraction. A minimal 3-month period was required between each dose level to monitor toxicity. Results Thirty-two patients (21 NSCLC and 11 metastatic tumors) were enrolled. At 25 Gy, pulmonary toxicity was noted in patients with prior pulmonary RT and treatment volumes greater than 50 cc; therefore, dose escalation to 30 Gy was applied only to unirradiated patients and treatment volume less than 50 cc. Ten patients received doses less than 20 Gy, 20 received 25 Gy, and two received 30 Gy. RT-related complications were noted for doses greater than 25 Gy and included four cases of grade 2 to 3 pneumonitis, one pleural effusion, and three possible treatment-related deaths. The 1-year freedom from local progression was 91% for dose greater than 20 Gy and 54% for dose less than 20 Gy in NSCLC (p = 0.03). NSCLC patients had significantly better freedom from relapse (p = 0.003) and borderline higher survival than those with metastatic tumors (p = 0.07). Conclusions Single-fraction stereotactic RT is feasible for selected patients with lung tumors. For those with prior thoracic RT, 25 Gy may be too toxic. Higher dose was associated with improved local control. Longer follow-up is necessary to determine the treatment efficacy and toxicity.
Release of enzymic activity from human beta-lipoproteins by sonic radiation.

SummaryGlutamic-oxalacetic and lactic dehydrogenase activity associated with human beta-lipoprotein can be increased by exposure to sonic radiation. Maximum activity is reached earliest in solutions having a low salt concentration and an acidic pH. The increase in activity occurs concomitantly with an increase in hydrogen ion concentration and specific viscosity. Disruption of the lipoprotein molecule is evidenced by increased viscosity, increased turbidity, and decreased immunologic reactivity toward a specific antiserum. Enzymic activity found in beta-lipoprotein isolated by using two radically different techniques gave equivalent results when exposed to radiation. This strongly mitigates against the possibility of an isolation artifact.
Nonlinear stability of mixed convection flow under non-Boussinesq conditions. Part 1. Analysis and bifurcations

The weakly nonlinear theory for modelling flows away from the bifurcation point developed by the authors in their previous work (Suslov & Paolucci 1997) is generalized for flows of variable-density fluids in open systems. It is shown that special treatment of the continuity equation is necessary to perform the analysis of such flows and to account for the potential total fluid mass variation in the domain. The stability analysis of non-Boussinesq mixed convection flow of air in a vertical channel is then performed for a wide range of temperature differences between the walls, and Grashof and Reynolds numbers. A cubic Landau equation, which governs the evolution of a disturbance amplitude, is derived and used to identify regions of subcritical and supercritical bifurcations to periodic flows. Equilibrium disturbance amplitudes are computed for regions of supercritical bifurcations.
Tackling the Memory Balancing Problem for Large-Scale Network Simulation

A key obstacle to large-scale network simulation over PC clusters is the memory balancing problem where a memory-overloaded machine can slow down an entire simulation due to disk I/O overhead. Memory balancing is complicated by (i) the dfficulty of estimating the peak memory consumption of a group of nodes during network partitioning-a consequence of per-node peak memory not being synchronized-and (ii) trade-off with CPU balancing whose cost metric depends on total-as opposed to maximum-number of messages processed over time. We investigate memory balancing for large-scale network simulation which admits solutions for memory estimation and balancing not availed to small-scale or discrete-event simulation in general. First, we advance a measurement methodology for accurate and efficient memory estimation, and we establish a trade-off between memory and CPU balancing under maximum and total cost metrics. Second, we show that joint memory-CPU balancing can overcome the performance trade-off-in general not feasible due to constraint conflicts-which stems from network simulation having a tendency to induce correlation between maximum and total cost metrics. Performance evaluation is carnied out using benchmark applications with varying traffic characteristics-BGP routing, worm propagation under local and global scanning, and distributed client/server system-on a testbed of 32 Intel times86 machines running a measurement-enhanced DaSSF.
Voting For Mom: The Political Consequences of Being a Parent for Male and Female Candidates

In this article, I explore the political consequences of being a parent for men and women seeking political office. Although a long-standing body of research has concluded that family obligations constrain the political careers of women but not of men, almost no research examines how family status can affect voter evaluations of political candidates. Using an experiment in which I varied the candidate's gender and parental status, I find that on a number of indicators, voters rate childless female candidates substantially lower than childless male candidates, mother candidates, and father candidates. Childless women also lose the traditional “female advantage” on child-care and children's issues. Additionally, while mothers of young children are not significantly disadvantaged compared to mothers of older children and women with no children, they are disadvantaged in comparison to male candidates with young children. Furthermore, this study finds evidence that male candidates may receive a “fatherhood penalty” compared to men with no children. Thus, there are political consequences of being a parent, but the consequences are dependent on the candidate's gender. These findings have important implications for candidate campaign strategy and how female candidates should think about presenting their family lives to voters.
Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy

Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy seems to be a distinct clinical entity that should be differentiated from other types of CNV associated with AMD and other known choroidal degenerative, inflammatory, and ischemic disorders. The principle abnormality seen in PCV, notably the branching vascular network and polypoidal structures at the borders of the lesion, seem to be unique to the disorder. In patients with serosanguineous detachment of the pigment epithelium, particularly in those with increased risk factors such as African American or Asian race, ICG should be performed to evaluate the choroidal vascular abnormality to establish a more definitive diagnosis. If the characteristic vascular lesion of PCV is seen, a conservative approach to management should be taken unless there is a persistent or progressive exudative change that threatens the central macula. In that event, there may be a rationale for photo-coagulation treatment of leaking aneurysmal or polypoidal components within the vascular lesion, but not the entire vascular complex. Photodynamic therapy seems to be a promising therapeutic modality, but randomized clinical trials are needed to establish the efficacy and safety of the PDT treatment in the management of these patients.
Length–weight relationship and a relative condition factor equation for lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) from the St Clair River system (Michigan, USA)

Summary Several USA state, federal, and Canadian agencies study lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) within the St Clair River and Lake St Clair, collectively referred to hereafter as the St Clair River (SCR) system. Previously, there has been no set standard for determining condition for SCR system lake sturgeon. Condition measures the variation from the expected weight for length as an indicator of fatness, general well-being, gonad development, etc. The aim of this project was to determine the length–weight relationship of lake sturgeon caught from the SCR system, from which a relative condition factor (Kn) equation could be derived. Total length (TL, mm) and weight (W, kg) were measured for 1074 lake sturgeon (101 males and 16 females were identifiable) collected by setline and bottom trawl from the SCR system in May–September, 1997–2002. Analysis of covariance found no difference in the length–weight relationship between sampling gear or sex. Least-squares regression of log10W × log10TL produced the overall equation logW = 3.365logTL − 9.320. Using the exponential form of the slope and y-intercept, relative condition factor for lake sturgeon from the SCR system can be calculated as Kn = W/[(4.786 × 10−10)(TL3.365)]. Equations for males and females were also developed. Overall, body condition was significantly correlated with both age and girth; no significant difference in Kn by sex was found. In general, the SCR lake sturgeon population was near the upper ends of growth and condition ranges listed in the literature, comparable with those populations that are at similar latitudes. Although condition factors should be interpreted with caution, proper use of a standard equation provides a non-lethal measure of overall fish health that can be used by biologists and managers in ongoing efforts to restore lake sturgeon throughout the Great Lakes.
Identification of novel markers for stem-cell niche of Arabidopsis shoot apex

In Arabidopsis, shoot stem-cells give rise to all the aerial parts of plant body and are localized at the tip of the shoot apex. Feedback signaling mediated by CLAVATA3 (CLV3) and WUSCHEL (WUS), specify and maintain stem-cells in the shoot apical meristem (SAM). Although CLV3 and WUS have been used extensively as stem-cell markers, their expression levels are mutually influenced by each other. Thus, CLV3 and WUS are not ideal markers for analyzing genes that function in this feedback regulation. Here, we present the expression profiles of genes that can be used as markers for cells of the stem-cell niche based on the following criteria: (1) they are expressed in cells of the central zone (CZ) or the rib-meristem (RM)/organizing center (OC), (2) their expression levels are not influenced by alterations in CLV3 or WUS levels, and (3) their expression is initiated during embryonic stages and is maintained in post-embryonic development. By RNA in-situ hybridization, we also found that the expression of these genes follow two distinct patterns: (1) CLV3-like and (2) WUS-like. Moreover, the expression domains of these genes expand in SAMs of clv3 mutants, which accumulate higher numbers of stem-cells. A comprehensive expression patterns provided here suggests that they are ideal markers for stem-cell niche of Arabidopsis shoot apex.
Memory and vigilance training to improve social perception in schizophrenia

Previous research has suggested that social cue recognition in schizophrenia may be significantly associated with visual vigilance and verbal memory. Therefore, we predicted that subjects who participated in a cognitive rehabilitation program that incorporated vigilance and memory training strategies would show significantly better social cue recognition than subjects participating in vigilance training alone. Forty subjects with a DSM-III-R diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder were randomly assigned to either a vigilance-alone or a vigilance-plus-memory training condition. Results showed that subjects in the vigilance-plus-memory condition were able to identify social cues in the videotaped training materials significantly better than subjects in the vigilance-alone condition. This difference was evident in an independent measure of social cue recognition and was present at a 48 h follow-up. Implications for future development of cognitive rehabilitation for schizophrenia were discussed.
The Heat Released by a Chemical Reaction Locally Enhanced the Enzyme Diffusion

It has been one hundred years since Michaelis and Menten characterized the substrate concentration dependence of an enzyme-catalyzed reaction. In the intervening years, detailed catalytic mechanisms have been established for many different enzyme families, and it has been well established that enzymes increase reaction rates by lowering the activation energy of chemical processes. Although some enzymes are known to form transient covalent structures with their substrates, it is generally accepted that they are unaffected by the reaction process. Recently, it has been shown that the diffusivity of enzymes increases in a substrate-dependent manner during catalysis. Although this observation has been reported and characterized for several different systems, the precise origin of this phenomenon is unknown.In this presentation we quantitatively demonstrate the mechanistic link between enhanced diffusion and the heat released in the reaction using single molecule fluorescence correlation spectroscopy data analyzed within the framework of a stochastic theory. We show that the magnitude of the diffusion change is proportional to the enthalpy of the reaction. This study offers a novel perspective on the effect of chemical reactions on their catalysts and suggests future experiments to explore how the local heat released at each turnover affect an enzyme's internal degrees of freedom.
Tumor growth and adherence change the expression of macrophage Mac-2

The galactose-specific animal lectin, Mac-2, has been identified in macrophage (M phi) membrane, cytoplasmic, and nuclear fractions. Flow cytometric analyses showed that there is a decrease in membrane Mac-2 during tumor growth. After 24-h adherence there was an increase in the number of normal host (NH) and tumor-bearing host (TBH) Mac-2+ M phi. Immunoblot analyses of NH and TBH M phi identified changes in the subcellular localization of Mac-2. The increase in nuclear Mac-2 during tumor growth, and after prolonged adherence of NH and TBH M phi, correlates with an increase in M phi entering the late G1 phases of the cell cycle. Northern blot analyses showed an increase in Mac-2 mRNA during tumor growth, and an increase in NH and TBH M phi after 24-h adherence. Tumor growth is able to manipulate the immune system through M phi by causing a down-regulation in membrane Mac-2 and an up-regulation in intracellular Mac-2. NH and TBH M phi respond to adherence by expressing increased membrane and nuclear Mac-2, but TBH M phi response is lower.
A qualitative assessment of microclimatic perturbations in a tunnel

Understanding microclimate dynamics in tunnels is importantfor designing and maintaining underground facilities. For example, in thegeological disposal of radioactive materials, condensation of vaporshould be minimized as it can accelerate waste package corrosion andradionuclide release. While microclimate dynamics are known to bedominated by the advection of heat and moisture, additional factors mayalso be important, such as the presence of fractures or faults. Wepresent a relatively inexpensive method to assess microclimaticperturbations within a tunnel. By combining standard temperature andrelative humidity sensors with low-cost sensors designed to detectchanges in condensation, we monitored microclimate dynamics along atunnel at the proposed geological repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada.We observed significant differences in the pattern of condensation in afaulted zone relative to that of a nonfaulted zone, suggesting that themicroclimate dynamics of excavated cavities in fractured, partiallysaturated rocks can be highly complex.
Aging and life adjustment after spinal cord injury

Study Design: A field study of aging after spinal cord injury (SCI) was conducted by surveying the life adjustment of a large sample of participants with SCI. Objectives: The purpose of the current study was to compare life adjustment scores between cohorts of participants based on chronologic age, age at injury onset, time since injury and percentage of life with SCI. Summary of Background Data: Existing cross-sectional research suggests that age is negatively correlated and time since injury is positively correlated with life adjustment. However, few studies had investigated aging among people who have lived 30 or more years with SCI. Methods: A total of 435 participants, 55 of whom were injured for 30 or more years, completed the Life Situation Questionnaire-Revised (LSQ-R), a measure of multiple SCI outcomes. Results: Results indicated that being injured later in life is associated with a lower overall level of subjective well-being, poorer health, and a less active lifestyle. However, subjective well-being appears to improve throughout the life-cycle, even beyond 30 years post-injury, thus neutralizing the adverse impact of age at onset on subjective well-being, but not on health or activities. Conclusions: The results suggest that rehabilitation professionals need to pay special attention to problems presented by being injured after the age of 40, particularly as it relates to activities. Living 30 or more years with SCI does not appear to present overwhelming barriers to adjustment.
Drug-induced uveitis.

Purpose of reviewNearly one-half of all uveitis cases seen at tertiary referral centers have no identifiable cause. Many systemic, paraocular, intraocular, topical medications, and even vaccines can induce intraocular inflammation, scleritis, and rarely orbititis and are often overlooked as causes o
Transient Control of a Hydraulic Free Piston Engine

The free piston engine (FPE) is a type of internal combustion engine (ICE) with no crankshaft, so that its piston motion is no longer constrained by mechanical linkages. The FPE has a high potential in terms of energy saving given its simple structure, high modularity and high efficiency. One of the technical barriers that prevents the wide spread of the FPE technology, is the lack of precise piston motion control. Previously, a robust repetitive controller is designed and implemented to form a virtual crankshaft that would provide a precise and stable engine operation. The experimental data of engine motoring tests with virtual crankshaft demonstrates the effectiveness of the controller. However, the presence of a transient period after a single combustion event prevents the engine from continuous firing. This paper presents a modified control scheme, which utilizes a reference and control signal shifting technique to modify the tracking error and the control signal to reduce the transient period.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Muscular responses to handle perturbation with different glove condition.

Abstract Effect of wearing gloves on timely muscle reaction to stabilize handle perturbation was investigated. Thirteen adults gripped a horizontal overhead handle to which an upward force was applied at a random time. Muscle reaction time, integrated EMGs for eight muscles, and handle displacement were compared among three glove conditions affecting the coefficient of friction (COF=0.32, 0.50, and 0.74 for the polyester glove, bare hand, and latex glove, respectively). Lower COF increased the integrated EMGs and handle displacement until stabilization of the perturbed handle. The low-friction glove resulted in 16% ( p =.01) greater muscular effort and 20% ( p =.002) greater handle displacement, compared to the high-friction glove. Muscle reaction time was not influenced by glove condition. Cutaneous sensation and reflex eliciting forearm muscle activity appear to play an important role in detecting and responding to the perturbation initially, while the forearm and latissimus dorsi muscles primarily contribute to stabilizing the perturbed handle compared to other shoulder and upper arm muscles. Therefore, low-friction gloves, cutaneous sensory dysfunction, and weakened forearm and latissimus dorsi muscles may jeopardize persons' ability to stabilize a grip of a handle after perturbation.
Distributed principal components analysis in sensor networks

Estimation of the principal eigenspace of a data covariance matrix is instrumental in applications such as data dimensionality reduction and denoising. In sensor networks the acquired data are spatially scattered which further calls for the development of distributed principal subspace estimation algorithms. Toward this end, the standard principal component analysis framework is reformulated as a separable constrained minimization problem which is solved by utilizing coordinate descent techniques combined with the alternating direction method of multipliers. Computationally simple local updating recursions are obtained that involve only single-hop inter-sensor communications and allow sensors to estimate the principal covariance eigenspace in a distributed fashion. Adaptive implementations are also considered that allow online information processing. Numerical tests demonstrate that the novel algorithm has the potential to achieve a considerably faster convergence rate and better steady-state estimation performance compared to existing alternatives.
A triggered lightning flash containing both negative and positive strokes

[1] We present measured current, luminosity, and electric and magnetic fields for a rocket-triggered two-stroke flash. The first stroke lowered negative charge to ground and the second stroke lowered positive charge via the same channel. A triggered positive stroke is a very rare event. The measured negative return stroke peak current was −11 kA and the positive +5 kA, with the total charge transfers being −1 C and +24 C, respectively. Electric field measurements at 120 to 520 m indicate that the negative and positive dart leader charge densities were approximately constant with height, −7.2 × 10−5 C m−1 and +5.5 × 10−5 C m−1, respectively. Magnetic field measurements indicate a negative leader current of −1.9 kA and a positive leader current of +400 A. Negative and positive dart-leader speeds are estimated to be 2.7 × 107 m s−1 and 0.7 × 107 m s−1, respectively. Negative and positive return stroke speeds are estimated to be 1.6 × 108 and 0.92 × 108 m s−1, respectively.
Room and low temperature study of common emitter current gain in AlGaN/GaN heterojunction bipolar transistors

Increased collector current and common emitter (CE) current gain at lower temperature in AlGaN/GaN heterojunction bipolar transistors is reported. For the same base current IB = 15 µA and biased voltage VCE = 50 V, the collector current increases from IC = 169 µA (β = 11) at 295 K to IC = 411 µA (β = 27) at 190 K. This increase in the collector current and CE gain at lower temperature can be attributed to the reduced base recombination current, which is due to the carrier traps associated with dislocation centres in the base-emitter junction.
An application of frictional criteria for determining galling thresholds in line contact tests

In this study the change in the kinetic coefficient of friction was investigated during a line contact threshold galling testing procedure. A substantial increase in the friction was measured at the onset of galling whereas the friction remained relatively constant during non-galled tests. From the results of this study, it appears that an increase in the kinetic coefficient of friction can be used as a necessary condition in the identification of galling. This condition will reduce the subjectivity in identifying galling in cases where galling is questionable. Results are presented for three types of stainless steel.
How quick is soon? Early response to continuous positive airway pressure: a randomized controlled trial

Numerous studies have confirmed that using non-invasive continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and congestive heart failure improves the respiratory rate, heart rate (HR), and work of breathing. We hypothesize that early application of nCPAP with concomitant medical therapy to patients with acute undifferentiated shortness of breath (SOB) will improve objective measures of respiratory distress. Specifically, early application of nCPAP can improve the tidal volume (TV), end-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO2) and Rapid Shallow Breathing Index (RSBI), and reduce intubations over the standard of treatment alone in 15 minutes or less.
Differing roles of adenosine receptor subtypes in retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury in the rat

Adenosine has been shown to be a major component of the retina's endogenous reaction to ischemia. In earlier studies, the significant changes in adenosine concentration that occur during ischemia and the ensuing reperfusion period were documented. While previous studies have shown that adenosine is a mediator of the changes in blood flow that occur in response to ischemia, hypoxia, and hypoglycemia in the retina, little is known about other functional effects that result from these changes in adenosine concentration. Accordingly, the influence of adenosine receptor blockade on the functional and histological outcome following ischemia in rats was examined. Specific antagonists of the adenosine A1 and A2a receptors were injected systemically, prior to ischemia of either 5, 30, or 60 min. The recovery of the electroretinogram a and b waves was followed for up to 7 days after ischemia, and retinal structure was examined by light microscopy. The adenosine A1 receptor antagonist DPCPX attenuated recovery after retinal ischemia of either 5 or 30 min, while the A2a receptor antagonist CSC dramatically protected retinal function and structure even with ischemia lasting up to 60 min. It was concluded that blockade of the A2a receptor, possibly combined with stimulation of the A1 receptor, may represent a potential new strategy for the prevention of ischemic damage in the retina.
Increased liver oleic acid synthesis in cholesterol-fed rabbits

Abstract Several investigators have observed increased levels of esterified oleic acid in tissue cholesterol esters and phospholipids of atherosclerotic humans and cholesterol-fed animals. However, the cause of this is still unknown. Increased synthesis, increased esterification, or both of oleic acid can account for this. In the present investigation, hepatic synthesis of oleic acid is studied in cholesterol-fed rabbits. A nearly 3-fold increase in oleic acid synthesis was observed after 3 weeks of cholesterol feeding. This increase continued for at least 6 weeks. Since acyl acceptors like glycerol-3-phosphate are known to increase liver oleic acid synthesis, it is possible that the observed increase in oleic acid formation was partially due to an increased availability of acyl acceptors in the system.
Composition and Oxidative Stability of a Structured Lipid from Amaranth Oil in a Milk-Based Infant Formula

Amaranth oil can be enzymatically modified to match breast milk fat analog requirements. We have developed a structured lipid (SL) from amaranth oil that, in combination with milk fat, delivers recommended amounts of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) with palmitic acid specifically esterified at the sn-2 position of the triacylglycerol (TAG) backbone. The aim of this study was to study the final fatty acid (FA) contribution and oxidation stability of an infant formula prepared using the structured lipid DCAO (DHA-containing customized amaranth oil). DCAO was included as complementary fat in a "prototype" infant formula, and prepared in parallel with a "control" infant formula under the same processing conditions. The same ingredients but different complementary fat sources were used. A blend of the most commonly used vegetable oils (palm olein, soybean, coconut, and high-oleic sunflower oils) for infant formula was used instead of DCAO in the "control" formula. Additionally, "prototype" and "control" infant formulas were compared to a "commercial" product in terms of FA composition. The oxidative stability index (OSI) of the extracted fats from "prototype,""control," and "commercial" infant formulas were evaluated and compared to the OSI of the substrate fat replacers used. DCAO was the least stable compared to other fat analogs. The use of commercial antioxidants in DCAO containing products should prevent oxidation and therefore increase their stability.
Precision agriculture with hyperspectral remotely sensed data, GIS, and GPS technology: a step toward environmentally responsible farming

Traditional farming usually resorts to the use of large amounts of fertilizers and other chemicals to meet the needs for food production. These practices ultimately cause dreadful harm to human lives. Precision agriculture has emerged as a valuable and a promising aid to mitigate these adverse effects by helping farmers increase crop yield while sustaining a clean environment. As an outgrowth of the efforts exerted in this field, we conducted a study, using hyperspectral remotely-sensed data, GIS, and GPS to adequately manage the nitrogen (N) fertilizer applications to optimize the crop yield while protecting the environment. Three nitrogen rates (i.e., 40, 80, and 120 kg/ha) from different sources were applied to four replications, with 20 plots (i.e., treatments) in each replication and data were collected at different growth stages of cotton. Statistical analyses indicated significant correlation between the hyperspectral data and the leaf chlorophyll content and crop yield. The results also indicated no significant difference in yield between 80 and 120 kg/ha N application rates, which suggests that high rates of N does not benefit the farmer more than it hurts the environment. GIS analysis visually revealed site specific (using GPS) relationship among these elements. Through this study, our ultimate goal of predicting the N content from non- destructive remotely-sensed observations in order to adequately and rapidly manage the utilization of N fertilizer was achieved, which will benefit farmers and help protect the environment.
The Langlands classification for non-connected $p$-adic groups II: Multiplicity one

For a non-connected reductive p-adic group, we prove that the Langlands subrepresentation appears with multiplicity one in the representation parabolically induced from the corresponding Langlands data.
Are segments of chloroplast DNA differentially amplified

Five species of covalently-closed circular DNA were identified in the chloroplast fraction of DNA from Euglena gracilis . These components exhibit buoyant densities corresponding to fractions that are separated by fragmentation of chloroplast DNA. It is suggested that these covalently-closed circular molecules may reflect amplification of particular segments in chloroplast DNA.
Improved efficiency in semiconducting polymer light-emitting diodes

We report visible light emission from metal-polymer diodes made from semiconducting polymers, with indium-tin oxide as the “ohmic” contact, and a variety of metals as the barrier metal. Our results, which confirm the discovery by the Cambridge group [Nature347, 539 (1990)], demonstrate that light-emitting diodes can be fabricated by casting the polymer film on indium-tin oxide from solution with no subsequent polymer processing or heat treatment required. Electrical characterization reveals diode behavior with rectification ratios greater than 105 at sufficiently high voltages. Use of an electrode material with low work function leads to more than an order of magnitude improvement in the room-temperature efficiency of the devices. For example, the most efficient devices made with calcium as the rectifying contact display efficiencies of 0.01 photons per electron.
Conduct disorder and other disruptive behaviors: Pediatric psychopharmacology

Conduct disorder in children and adolescents arises from multiple causes. Treatment strategies involve a number of different drug classes. Newer information suggests that atypical antipsychotics such as risperidone are especially helpful. Mood-regulating agents such as lithium, valproate, and carbamazepine, as well as antidepressants, stimulants, and antihypertensive agents can be of use. Integration of previous information about medication response into the hypothesis of etiology is important to achieving success.
Purification, pharmacological characterization and photoaffinity labeling of sigma receptors from rat and bovine brain

Abstract The sigma receptor/binding site, found in the brain and periphery, binds haloperidol, (+)-benzomorphans, N -propyl-3-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-piperidine (3-PPP) and certain atypical neuroleptics with high affinity. We have succeeded in ca. 6,000-fold purification of protein(s) from rat and bovine cerebellum which display pharmacology characteristic of the sigma receptor. This purification was achieved by affinity chromatography using a Sepharose gel linked to a new high-affinity ligand, ( S )-3-(3-methoxyphenyl)-3′-oxo-3′-phenyl- N -propylpiperidine, an analog of ( S )-3-PPP. Elution of the affinity column with haloperidol afforded material which, after reconstitution into bimolecular lipid vesicles, was pharmacologically characterized by specific radioligand binding assays using [ 3 H]haloperidol combined with competitive displacement using appropriate selective ligands. Comparison of the relative rank orders of potency of the ligands in these selective sigma receptor assays corresponded well with values obtained with tissue homogenates. The observed enantioselectivity for the binding of SKF-10,047 and cyclazocine suggests that the material purified corresponds to the σ 1 receptor subtype. SDS-PAGE indicated that the purified material consisted of two bands of approximate molecular masses 65 and 63 kilodaltons. Photoaffinity labeling of the affinity-purified receptor with [ 3 H]azido-DTG led to incorporation of the label into material of molecular mass 50–70 kDa, by slicing of SDS gels, while similar photolabeling of crude cerebellar homogenates led to exclusive labeling of a 29 kDa polypeptide, as found previously using other tissues. Molecular sizing under non-denaturing conditions indicated the photolabeled species is a labile large receptor complex of mass ca. 300–500 kDa which gradually breaks down upon standing at −80°C into the lower mass (50–70 kDa) material. The σ receptor ligand binding subunit, which appears to be of the σ 1 subtype, appears to be contained within the 29 kDa polypeptide, which may be a subunit of the 63–65 kDa protein, which in turn appears to be a component of a much larger receptor complex. It further appears that the 29 kDa polypeptide is readily dissociable from a larger photolabeled σ receptor complex in tissue homogenates, but does not dissociate from the photolabeled affinity-purified CHAPS-solubilized σ receptor.
Direct physical collisions and the evolution of dense stellar systems

This paper formulates kinetic equations to describe the destruction of stars via direct physical collisions, assumed characterized by a constant geometric cross section, which are valid for spherically-symmetric systems both in Newtonian gravity and general relativity. An ‘orbit averaging’ prescription is then used to formulate simpler equations for the evolution of an ‘average’ distribution function involving only the specific energyE, angular momentumJ, and time. If one supposes that, in the absence of physical collisions, the distribution would be stationary, it is easy to identify a collision time-scalet C associated with the stationary distribution that depends only uponE andJ. These relations assume especially simple forms in the limit that all the stars have vanishing angular momentum and follow radial trajectories: the analysis of physical collisions then reduces effectively to a one-dimensional problem. As a concrete example, one may suppose in this case that the stationary distribution corresponds to a gaussian distribution of radial velocities. The time-scalet C (E) then reduces to a single quadrature that involves the radial distribution of stars, whose asymptotic forms corroborate one's naive expectations.
In Defense of Game Theory

In this article, the author analyzes and argues against the claims made by Michael Hechter, Gordon Tullock, and Aaron Wildavsky that game theory has limited value for the social sciences.
Clusters of genes encoding mouse transplantation antigens

We constructed a cosmid library from BALB/c mouse sperm DNA and isolated 64 cosmid clones with cDNA probes for transplantation antigens (class I molecules). Of these clones, 54 mapped into 13 gene clusters containing 36 distinct class I genes and encompassing 837 kilobases of DNA. One gene cluster mapped to the L region and a second cluster with seven genes to the Qa-2,3 region of the major histocompatibility complex. Restriction map and Southern blot analyses suggest that there are subgroups of class I genes. Using a 5' flanking sequence of the L gene as a hybridization probe, we show the L gene to be present in mouse strains expressing this antigen but deleted or mutated in strains failing to express it. Our data suggest that gene duplication and deletion presumably by homologous but unequal crossing-over has altered the size and organization of the class I clusters in different mouse strains and probably is an important mechanism for generating polymorphism in these genes. Analysis of the 36 class I genes with cDNA probes specific for the 5' and 3' ends shows that the exon encoding the third external domain is far more conserved than those encoding the first and second external domains of the transplantation antigen. These differences in variability have interesting functional implications.
THE PIGMENT-PROTEIN COMPOUND IN PHOTOSYNTHETIC BACTERIA : I. THE EXTRACTION AND PROPERTIES OF PHOTOSYNTHIN.

1. Photosynthetic bacteria in water suspension break open when treated with supersonic vibration thus liberating the cell contents, including a water soluble protein to which is attached the otherwise water insoluble pigments, bacteriochlorophyll and carotinoids. Both types of pigments appear to be combined with the same protein. 2. The protein pigment compound is insoluble in the region of pH 3.0 to 4.5 and in neutral solution can be completely precipitated by 0.5 saturated (NH4)2SO4. It is soluble in distilled water and adsorbable on fullers' earth. 3. Supersonic extracts of photosynthetic bacteria do not have the ability to carry on photosynthesis, but will act as a photocatalyst for the oxidation of ascorbic acid with visible or infrared radiation. The rate of the photochemical oxidation is proportional to the light intensity.
Diagnosis of Bilateral Tonsil Cancers via Staging PET/CT: Case Report and Review

Diagnostic workup of metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma of unknown primary site has traditionally included CT and/or MRI imaging and endoscopic biopsies. Routine bilateral tonsillectomy is highly controversial and the role of PET/CT is evolving, both for identification of potential primary sites and the detection of distant metastases. We report a case of cervical nodal metastasis of squamous cell carcinoma from an unknown primary site, in which dual-modality PET/CT led to the unexpected diagnosis of synchronous bilateral tonsillar cancers. In addition, PET/CT correctly distinguished pulmonary sarcoidosis from metastatic disease in this patient.
Assessing Time-Varying Oligopoly and Oligopsony Power in the U.S. Paper Industry

The U.S. paper industry has become increasingly concentrated and therefore been suspected of imperfect competition. In this study, the new empirical industrial organization approach is employed to measure the degree of oligopoly and oligopsony power in the U.S. paper industry simultaneously. The model is estimated by iterative three-stage least squares using annual data from 1955 to 2003. The results reveal that there has been significant oligopoly and oligopsony power in the U.S. paper industry, and the oligopoly power has been consistently lower than the oligopsony power.
Dietary Phosphorus Excess: A Risk Factor in Chronic Bone, Kidney, and Cardiovascular Disease?

There is growing evidence in the nephrology literature supporting the deleterious health effect of excess dietary phosphorus intake. This issue has largely escaped the attention of nutrition experts until this symposium, which raised the question of whether the same health concerns should be extended to the general population. The potential hazard of a high phosphorus intake in the healthy population is illustrated by findings from acute and epidemiologic studies. Acute studies in healthy young adults demonstrate that phosphorus intakes in excess of nutrient needs may significantly disrupt the hormonal regulation of phosphorus contributing to disordered mineral metabolism, vascular calcification, bone loss, and impaired kidney function. One of the hormonal factors acutely affected by dietary phosphorus loading is fibroblast growth factor-23, which may be a key factor responsible for many of the cardiovascular disease (CVD) complications of high phosphorus intake. Increasingly, large epidemiological studies suggest that mild elevations of serum phosphorus within the normal range are associated with CVD risk in healthy populations. Few population studies link high dietary phosphorus intake to mild changes in serum phosphorus due to study design issues specific to phosphorus and inaccurate nutrient composition databases. The increasing phosphorus intake due to the use of phosphorus-containing ingredients in processed food and the growing consumption of processed convenience and fast foods is an important factor that needs to be emphasized.