cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Combined BMP-2 and FGF-4, but Neither Factor Alone, Induces Cardiogenesis in Non-Precardiac Embryonic Mesoderm

Previous work in this laboratory has shown that endoderm cells in the heart forming region (HFR endoderm) of the chicken embryo induce terminal cardiac differentiation in explanted precardiac mesoderm cells. Immunostaining patterns indicating that HFR endoderm cells express Drosophila decapentaplegic (dpp)-like antigens prompted a degenerate polymerase chain reaction (PCR) screen to identify cDNAs in the dpp subgroup of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) family. Among 50 clones of PCR products that have been sequenced, over half have identity with bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2). No other TGF-beta cDNAs have been detected, suggesting that BMP-2 is the major dpp subgroup protein synthesized by HFR endoderm cells. However, BMP-2 protein did not promote survival of either precardiac or non-precardiac mesoderm cells in culture. Whereas FGF-4 supports cardiogenesis in precardiac mesoderm, it did not induce cardiogenesis in nonprecardiac mesoderm, although explant viability was maintained. In contrast to the isolated effects of these growth factors, treatment of non-precardiac mesoderm with combined BMP-2 and FGF-4 induced cardiogenesis in the majority of explants, as revealed by the formation of a rhythmically contractile multicellular vesicle that expresses sarcomeric alpha-actin. These findings suggest that BMP-2 and FGF-4 possess respective differentiative and proliferative activities, the combination of which specifies cells to the cardiac lineage.
The human TRIP6 gene encodes a LIM domain protein and maps to chromosome 7q22, a region associated with tumorigenesis

The thyroid receptor interacting protein-6 (TRIP6) was first identified as a ligand-dependent binding partner for the thyroid hormone receptor in a yeast two-hybrid screen. A partial TRIP6 cDNA clone that was isolated in the initial screen encodes two copies of the LIM domain. The LIM domain is a double zinc-finger structure that mediates protein-protein interactions. Here we report the complete amino acid sequence of human TRIP6. The TRIP6 protein displays a proline-rich N-terminal region linked to three tandemly arrayed C-terminal LIM domains. The global molecular architecture and sequence of TRIP6 place it in the same family as the adhesion plaque protein, zyxin, and the lipoma preferred partner (LPP). Zyxin and LPP are implicated in cellular signaling and tumorigenesis, respectively. By radiation hybrid mapping, the human TRIP6 gene was assigned to a segment of chromosome 7q22 that is commonly deleted in malignant myeloid diseases and uterine leiomyoma.
A method for the separation and estimation of catechol amines in urine

Es wird eine neue Methode zur Bestimmung der Katecholamine im Harn beschrieben. Die Katecholamine werden im Harn acetyliert und die Acetylderivate papierchromatographisch im Bush-«C»-System getrennt. Nach erfolgter Trennung werden die einzelnen Katecholamine mit Athylendiamin kondensiert und fluorimetrisch untersucht. Eine Spezifitatserhohung der Methode durch Anwendung doppelt markierter Isotopen wird in Betracht gezogen.
Unipolar shift-invariant associative Hamming net

A unipolar shift-invariant associative Hamming net is described in this paper. The proposed Hamming net is a three-layer neural network, in which the first layer is a shift-invariant Hamming layer using unipolar interconnection weight matrix, the second layer is a winner- take-all layer, and the last layer is a memory-mapping layer. In experiment, a hybrid optical architecture using photorefractive holograms is proposed.
Setting Multiple Relations in dBASE III

Inexperienced database builders may mistakenly build an all‐in‐one record format, a sort of data grab bag into which they toss all the entities that they are tracking. The bill for this careless approach comes due when they have to maintain this clumsy hodge‐podge.
Microscopic theory of multiple scattering for open shell nuclei

Abstract We consider the scattering of a distinguishable projectile from a nucleus assuming that the underlying interaction Hamiltonian is a sum of two-body potentials. We show that the effective interaction of the projectile with the nucleus in a truncated nuclear model space can be calculated as a linked-cluster expansion. The rules for evaluating this expansion are given in terms of the nucleon-nucleon and projectile-nucleon potentials and the exact eigenstates of the (effective) shell-model interaction. The shell-model interaction is required to be an energy-independent, Hermitian potential; its expression in terms of the underlying two-body potential is given by folded diagrams. The terms in the expansion of the effective projectile-nucleus interaction must also contain folded diagrams but, unlike the shell-model potential, these are energy-dependent in order to describe the singularities associated with the crossing of the scattering thresholds as the projectile energy is varied. Once the effective interaction is known, elastic and inelastic scatterings may be evaluated numerically by solving a finite-dimensional coupled-channel equation.
Adenovirus Infections in Transplant Recipients

Adenoviruses are increasingly recognized as contributors to morbidity and mortality among stem cell and solid-organ transplant recipients. Clinical presentations range from asymptomatic viremia to respiratory and gastrointestinal disease, hemorrhagic cystitis, and severe disseminated illness. The limited clinical data available support the use of cidofovir for many of these illnesses. Prospective studies are needed to better understand the pathogenesis of and therapeutic options for adenoviral infections in this patient population.
The influence of loading history on fatigue in engineering plastics

Smooth bar rotating beam fatigue tests were conducted on acetal homopolymer (Delrin) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) resins. Thermal failures due to hysteretic heating were encountered at high bending stress levels. Stable fatigue crack propagation (FCP) occurred in both materials at low stress levels. Interrupted fatigue tests of Delrin were performed by first load cycling until the surface temperature reached 65° C, then cooling to room temperature, and immediately recycling to 65° C. As expected, this intermittent testing procedure resulted in much longer fatigue lifetimes when compared to uninterrupted cyclic loading. Furthermore, each successive loading sequence required a shorter time to reach 65° C. It is suspected that this effect is related to cyclic-induced permanent changes in the material's viscoelastic damping response. Fractographic analysis of the Delrin samples revealed a duplex structure consisting of an annular surface region of microvoids combined with a flat, featureless central zone. The fracture surfaces of the PMMA samples were flat and generally nondescript, except at low bending stresses where some evidence of stable crack advance was seen.
Cross-Modal Multivariate Pattern Analysis

Multivariate pattern analysis (MVPA) is an increasingly popular method of analyzing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data1-4. Typically, the method is used to identify a subject's perceptual experience from neural activity in certain regions of the brain. For instance, it has been employed to predict the orientation of visual gratings a subject perceives from activity in early visual cortices5 or, analogously, the content of speech from activity in early auditory cortices6. Here, we present an extension of the classical MVPA paradigm, according to which perceptual stimuli are not predicted within, but across sensory systems. Specifically, the method we describe addresses the question of whether stimuli that evoke memory associations in modalities other than the one through which they are presented induce content-specific activity patterns in the sensory cortices of those other modalities. For instance, seeing a muted video clip of a glass vase shattering on the ground automatically triggers in most observers an auditory image of the associated sound; is the experience of this image in the "mind's ear" correlated with a specific neural activity pattern in early auditory cortices? Furthermore, is this activity pattern distinct from the pattern that could be observed if the subject were, instead, watching a video clip of a howling dog? In two previous studies7,8, we were able to predict sound- and touch-implying video clips based on neural activity in early auditory and somatosensory cortices, respectively. Our results are in line with a neuroarchitectural framework proposed by Damasio9,10, according to which the experience of mental images that are based on memories - such as hearing the shattering sound of a vase in the "mind's ear" upon seeing the corresponding video clip - is supported by the re-construction of content-specific neural activity patterns in early sensory cortices.
Apolipoprotein E Polymorphism and Insulin Levels in a Biethnic Population

OBJECTIVE To study the association of apolipoprotein E (apoE) polymorphism with important cardiovascular risk factors other than cholesterol levels, such as insulinemia and insulin resistance. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS In this report, we study the association of three major apoE phenotypes (apoE 3/2, apoE 3/3, and apoE 4/3) with indicators of insulin resistance such as fasting insulin, glucose, and lipid levels in 320 nondiabetic Mexican-Americans and non-Hispanic whites from San Antonio, TX. RESULTS The two ethnic groups differed in the frequencies of the three major apoE phenotypes. However, the associations of these phenotypes with lipid and insulin levels were similar in both ethnic groups and in both sexes. Compared with the other two major apoE phenotypes, the apoE 3/2 phenotype was associated with lower levels of total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and lower levels of fasting and 2-h postload insulin. CONCLUSIONS In addition to the association with cholesterol levels, the variability at the apoE locus may be associated with a much broader set of metabolic factors that relate to insulin resistance.
Fifty years of TCA

Most of us probably do not remember the appearance ofVolume 1, Number 1 of Theoretica Chimica Acta (TCA); itwas in 1962. The present editorial board members were allvery young at that time, if they had even yet been born. TCAwas the ﬁrst journal devoted exclusively to theoreticalchemistry. Since then many other theoretical chemistryjournals have debuted, including Int. J. Quantum Chem.,J. Comput. Chem., Computational and Theoretical Chem-istry (formerly Theochem), and J. Chem. Theory Comput.Meanwhile, in 1996, TCA changed its name from the LatinTheoretica Chimica Acta to the English Theoretical Chem-istry Accounts.The golden jubilee of the ﬁrst theoretical chemistryjournal provides an occasion both to look back and to lookforward. When TCA was inaugurated, quantum mechanicswas 37 years old. Now, it is 87 years old. When TCA wasinaugurated, J. Chem. Phys. was 29 years old, Phys. Rev. asa journal of the American Physical Society was 49 years old,and J. Phys. Chem. was 66 years old. In the most recentimpact factors (those for 2010), J. Chem. Phys., TCA, andPhys. Rev. A all have impact factors of 2.9, and J. Phys.Chem. A has an impact factor of 2.7. Of the 49 Nobel Prizesin chemistry since 1962 (the 2011 Prize has not beenannounced at the time we are putting this to press), theo-retical chemists have shared or won six: Lars Onsager,William Lipscomb, Ilya Progogine, Kenichi Fukui andRoald Hoffman (shared), Rudy Marcus, and Walter Kohnand John Pople (shared). We feel safe predicting that theo-retical chemists will take home more than six of the next 49.Let’s look back in two ways. First, we wish to thank allthose who have contributed to TCA through editorial ser-vice or editorial advisory service. Second, we wish tosingle out the most highly cited papers in the history ofTCA. Then, we will look forward by means of the rest ofthis special issue.1 Editorial serviceHere is a list of those who have provided editorial serviceto TCA and the capacities in which they served. On behalfof the entire theoretical chemistry community, we thankthem for their service.Honorary EditorKlaus RuedenbergEditor-in-ChiefCramer, Christopher J.Hartmann, HermannRuedenberg, KlausTruhlar, Donald G.Editor or Associate EditorBaer, RoiCa´rsky, PetrChandler, DavidCramer, Christopher J.Davidson, Ernest R.Handy, Nicholas C.Iwata, SuehiroJortner, Joshua
Prediction of the Weight of Alaskan Pollock Using Image Analysis

Determining the size and quality attributes of fish by machine vision is gaining acceptance and increasing use in the seafood industry. Objectivity, speed, and record keeping are advantages in using this method. The objective of this work was to develop the mathematical correlations to predict the weight of whole Alaskan Pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) based on its view area from a camera. One hundred and sixty whole Pollock were obtained fresh, within 2 d after catch from a Kodiak, Alaska, processing plant. The fish were first weighed, then placed in a light box equipped with a Nikon D200 digital camera. A reference square of known surface area was placed by the fish. The obtained image was analyzed to calculate the view area of each fish. The following equations were used to fit the view area (X) compared with weight (Y) data: linear, power, and 2nd-order polynomial. The power fit (Y = A · X(B)) gave the highest R(2) for the fit (0.99). The effect of fins and tail on the accuracy of the weight prediction using view area were evaluated. Removing fins and tails did not improve prediction accuracy. Machine vision can accurately predict the weight of whole Pollock. Practical Application: The weight of Alaskan Pollock can be predicted automatically by taking the image of the fish and using it in one of the correlations developed in this study. The removal of the fins or the fins and the tail did not increase the prediction accuracy of the method. Therefore, intact fish images should be used.
The required characteristics of ensiled crops used as a feedstock for biogas production: a review

Maize and grass silages are the main feedstock for anaerobic digestion in agricultural biogas plants. High-quality silage is necessary for high methane yields. Grasses should be cut and ensiled at leafy stages, until full heading, prior to an extensive lignification. Late ripening maize varieties should be harvested towards full ripening due to the increasing starch content in grains, and early to medium ripening varieties at the end of waxy ripeness. The substrate availability for methanogens is improved by fine chopping. Pretreatment processes of a thermal, chemical or biological nature attempting to disrupt lignocellulosic matter are economically demanding, including the application of enzyme hydrolysing structural polysaccharides. Application of lactic acid bacteria inoculants at ensiling seems to have an insignificant effect on methane yields. Some micronutrients necessary for methanogens growth are often deficient in the silages and particularly cobalt, nickel and iron should be supplemented. Maize silage has too low nitrogen content for methanogens growth. The high acidity of silage needs to be partially neutralised prior to anaerobic digestion.
Radiative absorption by evaporating droplets

Abstract The volumetric heating due to radiation absorption has been computed as a function of radial position for spherical water droplets in black body surrounds of temperatures up to 1450K. The droplet effective absorptance and the time to evaporate from a reference diameter to any smaller diameter have also been computed and tabulated. By taking differences between entries in the table, the time to evaporate from one size to another size can be found. The ray tracing procedure developed for these computations includes polarization, refraction, external reflection, multiple internal reflections, and absorption.
The Effect of Early, Outpatient Intervention with Prednisolone on Clinical Illness and Mediator Release in Bronchiolitis † 545

Objective: To determine if early intervention with prednisolone in outpatients with bronchiolitis improves clinical illness scores, and if this improvement correlates with a reduction in Eosinophil Cationic Protein(ECP) levels.
PALAIOS—PRESENT AND FUTURE

After nearly eight years, I am stepping down as coeditor of PALAIOS at the end of December. Serving the paleontology and sedimentary geology communities through SEPM (Society for Sedimentary Geology) has been an honor and a privilege. During my tenure, I have been fortunate to work with coeditors Edith Taylor (2006–2011) and John-Paul Zonneveld (2011–present), as well as welcoming coeditor Thomas Olszewski—who has been serving PALAIOS as an associate editor—to the editorial team as my replacement. I have learned much from them through their scientific specialties, insights into evaluating research submitted for consideration, and ability to discuss reviews and aspects of manuscripts under peer review so that we can arrive at compromise on editorial decisions. Jill Hardesty has taught me much on the day-to-day responsibilities of the review and editorial processes, as well as the value of maintaining high standards of journal editing. She has been the engine driving the continued success of PALAIOS as managing editor by receiving, reviewing, and dispensing review invitations, manuscripts, reviews, and communications between the authors, reviewers, associate editors, and coeditors. I have also learned so much from you, our contributing authors, about the great variety of multidisciplinary, integrative research being conducted worldwide and its applications to answering geological and paleontological questions recorded in Archean, Proterozoic, and Phanerozoic sedimentary deposits. I hope that I have also had a positive influence on all those who have submitted and published their research in PALAIOS . In my final Spotlight as coeditor, I share my reflections on serving as an editor and the role of PALAIOS as an outlet for publishing the highest quality, refereed science at the interface of the disciplines that are contained within sedimentary geology and paleontology. The goal of a journal, which should be shared by all involved in the peer-review, editing, and publication …
L-Type Ca2+ Channel Cavb Subunits Associate with and Differentially Regulate the Cardiac Cav3.2 T-Type Ca2+ Channel Currents

Low voltage activated T-type calcium channels (TTCC) play a pivotal role in the developing heart. Although the TTCC isoforms, Cav3.1 and Cav3.2, underlie cardiac TTCC current (ICa,T) and are expressed in atrial and ventricular myocytes during development, their expression and roles recede in the adult heart. However, previous studies have demonstrated the re-expression of ICa,T in pathological cardiac hypertrophy, suggesting that TTCCs contribute to the altered Ca2+ cycling and signaling in these pathological conditions. In addition, the reported altered expression of some Cavβ subunits (specifically β1 and β2 subunits) of the high voltage activated L-type calcium channels (LTCC) has been reported in hypertrophy and heart failure. We hypothesize that the altered expression of the Cavβ subunits in cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure results in the altered coupling and regulation of ICa,T. We found an increase in the Cavβ1 and Cavβ3 mRNA and Cavβ2 and Cavβ4 subunit isoform at the protein level in mouse ventricles in a transthoracic aortic constriction (TAC) induced pathological cardiac hypertrophy model. Whole-cell patch clamp electrophysiology using transiently transfected HEK293 cells revealed that co-expression of Cavβ1 or Cavβ2 with Cav3.2 channel isoform resulted in a significant increase in peak ICav3.2 and a rightward shift in the V1/2 of activation and significantly slower inactivation of ICav3.2. On the other hand, co-expression of Cavβ3 or Cavβ4 significantly reduced the peak ICav3.2. In contrast, co-expression of Cavβ isoforms did not alter ICav3.1. Furthermore, co-immunoprecipitation studies in transiently transfected HEK293 cells also demonstrated that the Cav3.2 channel separately co-immunoprecitated with anti-Cavβ1 or anti-Cavβ2 antibody. In conclusion, our data suggest that the Cavβ1 and Cavβ2 subunits of the LTCC may regulate ICav3.2 in cardiomyocytes during pathological cardiac hypertrophy.
The prediction of effort and performance among hospital professionals: Moderating effects of feedback on expectancy theory formulations

Porter and Lawler's job performance model postulates that performance is an interactive function of effort, role perceptions and ability. The additive and interactive predictions of this model were investigated using an improved operationalization of the expectancy theory constructs in conjunction with a redefinition of role perceptions. Specifically, role perceptions were defined as role ambiguity, conflict and dissensus. Consistent with previous research, the data indicated that the interactive formulation was not superior to the additive job performance model. Perceived performance feedback was hypothesized to moderate predictions of the job performance model. The results supported the hypothesized moderating influence of feedback upon the job performance model and the expectancy theory constructs. However, feedback did not affect predictions of effort.
Dynasties: Fortunes and Misfortunes of the World's Great Family Businesses – By David S. Landes

The author of this book, who, until he assumed emeritus status, held appointments in both the history and economics departments at Harvard, has a taste for ambitious research projects. In The Unbou...
What did you do in the Great Paradigm War? Notes from the other side

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to reflect upon the author’s involvement in the paradigm wars of the 1980s in marketing and consumer research. In this paper, the author describes his role in the ecological succession of the discipline at a critical juncture between the early efforts of the pioneering scholars and the establishment of a mature climax community of consumer culture theorists. Design/methodology/approach – The author employs an autobiographical approach. Findings – Among the many contributions of a host of talented and insightful fellow travelers, the author’s penchant for ethnographic research and anthropological analysis helped nudge the discipline into interesting new niches. Originality/value – This personal reminiscence of the philosophical debates surrounding our interpretive turn may be triangulated with others to construct a synchronic account of a moment in disciplinary evolution.
Saccharin Avoidance Behavior Instigated by X-Irradiation in Backward Conditioning Paradigms

Sixty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to eight groups of seven animals each. The remaining four animals served as a pooled control. The eight experimental groups received 68 r of x-irradiation during a 10-min. exposure period. The pooled control group received only sham-irradiation. Animals were presented a choice of tap water of 0.1% saccharin solution at delays following irradiation ranging from 0 to 96 hr. Subsequent saccharin consumption was recorded for 4 days following irradiation. Results showed a decrease in saccharin consumption in groups which had first received the saccharin from 0 to 12 hr. after irradiation. No significant decrease was exhibited by groups with delays of 24 hr. or more.
Evolution and pleiotropy of TRITHORAX function in Arabidopsis

The SET domain-containing genes of the TRITHORAX family encode epigenetic factors that maintain the expression of targeted genes. Trithorax homologs have been found in both animals and plants. Since these are thought to have evolved multicellularity independently, common mechanisms of epigenetic regulation must be evolutionarily ancient and derived from a common ancestor. In addition, each lineage has evolved unique mechanisms to expand the original repertoire of epigenetic functions. Phylogenetic analysis of SET domain proteins has outlined some intriguing evolutionary trends. In plants, epigenetic gene silencing mechanisms have been aggressively pursued. In contrast, studies of epigenetic mechanisms maintaining active gene expression have been scarce. The goal of this review is to draw attention to this gap. Trithorax function in plants are analyzed here in an evolutionary context tracing phylogenetic relationships between the histone methyltransferase activities in unicellular and multicellular domains of life. The involvement of two members of the Arabidopsis Trithorax family, ARABIDOPSIS HOMOLOG of TRITHORAX1 (ATX1), and ARABIDOPSIS HOMOLOG of TRITHORAX2 (ATX2), in developmental and adaptation processes of the plant is overviewed.
Secretion of A-type and B-type natriuretic peptides into the bloodstream and pericardial space in children with congenital heart disease.

Abstract Objective To determine the secretion of A-type and B-type natriuretic peptides into the bloodstream and pericardial space in children with congenital heart disease. Methods Plasma and pericardial fluid samples were obtained from 77 patients undergoing total correction for congenital heart disease. All patients underwent detailed right-sided and left-sided cardiac catheterization preoperatively. Results A-type natriuretic peptide levels in pericardial fluid were lower than those in plasma (33.0 ± 23.1 versus 39.8 ± 33.6 pg/mL, P P R = .522, P R = .595, P R = .669, P R = .652, P P P R = .913, P R = .787, P Conclusions B-type natriuretic peptide is secreted not only into the bloodstream but also into the pericardial space in children with congenital heart disease. Natriuretic peptide levels in plasma correlated well with biventricular volume. The left ventricle was considered to be the main source of secreted natriuretic peptides in the patients with a pulmonary-to-systemic flow ratio greater than 2.
Small sample performance of the Stein-Rule in non-orthogonal designs

Abstract The effects of multicollinearity upon the risk improvement provided by Stein-like estimators over the maximum likelihood estimator in the normal regression model are investigated via Monte Carlo methods. Risk gains are found to degenerate rapidly given moderate degrees of multicollinearity.
Asymmetrically modified zeolite as a medium for enantioselective photoreactions: Reactions from spin forbidden excited states

Moderate enantioslectivity has been achieved on two photochemical reactions that involve molecules reacting from spin forbidden excited states. Zeolite is found to be a unique medium in this context.
Calculation of solvation free-energy differences for large solute change from computer simulations with quadrature-based nearly linear thermodynamic integration

Abstract The free-energy simulation methodology is reviewed from the point of view of calculating large free-energy differences. The advantages of the nearly linear thermodynamic integration based on Gaussian quadrature are highlighted and its performance is characterized on systems ranging from the Lennard-Jones fluid to the A to B transition of DNA oligomers. A technique for optimizing the runlength at each quadrature point is given. Examples for the sensitivity of the calculated free energy to the atomic charges used are also presented.
Knowledge of Memory Aging in Students, Caregivers, and Senior Service Providers.

The Knowledge of Memory Aging Questionnaire (KMAQ) (Cherry, Brigman, Hawley, & Reese, 2003) measures laypersons' knowledge of normal memory changes in late life and pathological deficits due to nonnormative factors such as adult dementia. In this study, we examined memory knowledge in community college and university students, caregivers, and service providers affiliated with councils on aging. Results yielded comparable knowledge of normal memory aging issues across groups, although caregivers and service providers were more knowledgeable about pathological memory aging issues than the students were. Follow-up analyses revealed that service providers were more accurate than the other groups in their responses to the KMAQ items that tap ageist views of adult cognition. Implications for memory education programs and gerontology curriculum are considered.
MSH2 and MSH6 Are Required for Removal of Adenine Misincorporated Opposite 8-Oxo-Guanine in S. cerevisiae

Oxidation of G in DNA yields 8-oxo-G (GO), a mutagenic lesion that leads to misincorporation of A opposite GO. In E. coli, GO in GO:C base pairs is removed by MutM, and A in GO:A mispairs is removed by MutY. In S. cerevisiae, mutations in MSH2 or MSH6 caused a synergistic increase in mutation rate in combination with mutations in OGG1, which encodes a MutM homolog, resulting in a 140- to 218-fold increase in the G:C-to-T:A transversion rate. Consistent with this, MSH2-MSH6 complex bound to GO:A mispairs and GO:C base pairs with high affinity and specificity. These data indicate that in S. cerevisiae, MSH2-MSH6-dependent mismatch repair is the major mechanism by which misincorporation of A opposite GO is corrected.
Polarization-Sensitive Quantum-Optical Coherence Tomography with Entangled Photons

We present an experimental demonstration of polarization-sensitive quantum-optical coherence tomography that not only provides the advantages of dispersion cancellation and resolution doubling, but also the capability for determining information about the birefringence of the sample.
Evolution of the dendritic instability in solidifying succinonitrile

The evolution of morphological instability in solidifying succinonitrile has been investigated with high-resolution videomicroscopy. Quantitative analysis of the early development of the instability has demonstrated the critical role of noise, and indicates significant disagreement with predictions of the Mullins-Sekerka theory. The ratio of the tip radius ${\ensuremath{\rho}}^{*}$ of the steady-state dendrites to the length scale ${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{max}$ of the initial instability was found to be approximately 0.5, in reasonable agreement with a recent theoretical prediction of Barbieri, Hong, and Langer.
An Alternative to Precision Planting for Leafy Greens Crops in a Precision Cultural System

ABSTRACT A precision cultural system (PCS) using precision seeders has proven to be very successful with a wide range of vegetable crops, but the cost of the precision seeders may limit adoption of the system. A slightly modified grain drill was evaluated as an alternative method to seed leafy greens crops in PCS. A standard grain drill was equipped with cone guide wheels and the openers were adjusted laterally to plant a twin drill configuration on shaped beds. The grain drill worked very well in the PCS system as did precision cultivation using cone guide wheels. Yields were equivalent to yields obtained using precision seeders in most cases although stand counts varied.
Strength of the Evidence: Adjuvant Therapy for Resected Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer remains one of the greatest challenges within oncology. Among resected patients, 5-year survival is typically only 10–25%. Among eight major randomized trials for resected pancreas cancer, five (GITSG, EORTC, ESPAC-1, RTOG 9704, and CONKO-1), containing a total of over 1,200 patients, have shaped world opinion on this subject. These trials have many significant methodological differences. Major conclusions that can be drawn from these trials in composite are (1) adjuvant chemotherapy is superior to observation following pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic cancer, (2) gemcitabine is superior to 5-FU as adjuvant chemotherapy, and (3) the benefit of adjuvant chemoradiation is uncertain. Additional randomized trials are needed to address significant areas of controversy within available data.
State Space Model-Based Parameter Estimation Methods And Some Applicatons

This paper reviews state space model-based methods for signal processing applications. A state space frame-work is shown to provide a convenient tool for exposing and exploiting structure inherent in many model based methods. It is also shown that there exist state space methods which are robust to noise in data, and to numerical errors. From a computational point of view, the methods are often less complex than existing competing methods. Futhermore they only involve matrix operations which are suitable for systolic/wavefront implementation.
Is There a Developmental Pathway Leading to Addictive Behavior

I believe the pathway to addictive behaviors is related to the individual capacity to regulate emotional states, particularly the balance between feeling anxious and safe. I also believe the founda...
Developmental genetics and homology: a hierarchical approach

New advances in developmental genetics are providing a bridge to connect the study of development and evolution. The successful integration of these fields, however, is dependent on having a clear understanding of the concept of homology. Therefore, developmental genetic data must be placed within the context of the comparative method to provide insight into the evolutionary and developmental origins of traits. The comparative analysis of traits derived from several hierarchical levels (genes, gene expression patterns, embryonic origins and morphology) can potentially reveal scenarios of developmental integration, opportunity and constraint. Moreover, this approach has implications for resolving modern controversies surrounding the concept of homology.
Modelling fibrinolysis: a 3D stochastic multiscale model

Fibrinolysis, the proteolytic degradation of the fibrin fibres that stabilize blood clots, is initiated when tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) activates plasminogen to plasmin, the main fibrinolytic enzyme. Many experiments have shown that coarse clots made of thick fibres lyse more quickly than fine clots made of thin fibres, despite the fact that individual thick fibres lyse more slowly than individual thin fibres. The generally accepted explanation for this is that a coarse clot with fewer fibres to transect will be degraded faster than a fine clot with a higher fibre density. Other experiments show the opposite result. The standard mathematical tool for investigating fibrinolysis has been deterministic reaction–diffusion models, but due to low tPA concentrations, stochastic models may be more appropriate. We develop a 3D stochastic multiscale model of fibrinolysis. A microscale model representing a fibre cross section and containing detailed biochemical reactions provides information about single fibre lysis times, the number of plasmin molecules that can be activated by a single tPA molecule and the length of time tPA stays bound to a given fibre cross section. Data from the microscale model are used in a macroscale model of the full fibrin clot, from which we obtain lysis front velocities and tPA distributions. We find that the fibre number impacts lysis speed, but so does the number of tPA molecules relative to the surface area of the clot exposed to those molecules. Depending on the values of these two quantities (tPA number and surface area), for given kinetic parameters, the model predicts coarse clots lyse faster or slower than fine clots, thus providing a possible explanation for the divergent experimental observations.
Brief paper: Multi-modal control using adaptive motion description languages

Abstract In this paper, we address the problem of adaptively enriching motion description languages for multi-modal control by systematically enlarging the set of available modes. This problem is formulated as an optimal control problem, where new modes are designed by combining recurring mode string fragments into smooth, new “meta-modes”, and variational arguments are employed to derive optimality conditions for this construction.
Recent Suicidal Ideation and Suicide Attempts in a Large-Scale Survey of the U.S. Air Force: Prevalences and Demographic Risk Factors.

One-year prevalences of self-reported noteworthy suicidal ideation and nonfatal suicide attempts were assessed in a large sample of U.S. Air Force active duty members (N = 52,780). Participants completed the 2006 Community Assessment, which was conducted online. Over 3% of male and 5.5% of female participants reported having experienced noteworthy suicidal ideation during the previous year, and 8.7% of those with ideation reported a recent suicide attempt. Demographic factors predicting significantly increased risk for suicidal ideation included female gender, low rank, and non-Christian religious affiliation; unmarried men were also at increased risk. Groups that were at increased risk for nonfatal suicide attempts included low-ranking men and Hispanic women. Implications for prevention efforts are discussed.
Evidence that Oestradiol Attenuates β-Adrenoceptor Function in the Hypothalamus of Female Rats by Altering Receptor Phosphorylation and Sequestration

Activation of beta-adrenoceptors in the hypothalamus (HYP) and preoptic area (POA) inhibits both gonadotropin release and reproductive behaviour in female rats. Exposure of female rats for 48 h to physiologically relevant doses of oestrogen attenuates beta-adrenoceptor function in the HYP and POA as indicated by reduced isoproterenol (beta-adrenoceptor agonist) stimulation of adenylyl cyclase activity. Reduced beta-adrenoceptor coupling to G protein in the HYP-POA from oestrogen-exposed female rats correlates with attenuation of beta-adrenoceptor function. To examine potential mechanisms underlying receptor-G protein uncoupling, initial experiments tested the hypothesis that oestrogen attenuation of beta-adrenoceptor function in the HYP and POA involves receptor phosphorylation. Activation of endogenous serine/threonine phosphatases with protamine restores agonist-stimulated cAMP accumulation in HYP slices from oestrogen-exposed female rats to control levels. Additional experiments examined whether oestrogen-induced changes in beta-adrenoceptor binding density and/or subcellular localization correlate with the attenuation of beta-adrenoceptor function in the HYP and POA. Oestrogen treatment does not alter total beta-adrenoceptor binding density in the HYP or POA. However, oestrogen significantly reduces cell surface binding of the hydrophilic beta-adrenoceptor antagonist [3H] CGP 12177 to intact HYP and POA slices. At the same time, oestrogen decreases the fraction of beta-adrenoceptors localized in a light vesicle fraction following sucrose density gradient centrifugation. Therefore, oestrogen attenuates beta-adrenoceptor signalling in the HYP-POA by uncoupling the beta-adrenoceptor from G protein, perhaps by promoting receptor phosphorylation. Furthermore, a significant fraction of beta-adrenoceptors in the HYP and POA are no longer accessible to hydrophilic ligands, but are not internalized. Thus, physiological doses of oestrogen may facilitate reproductive behaviour and gonadotropin release, in part, by stabilizing beta-adrenoceptor phosphorylation in the HYP and POA, thereby uncoupling the receptors from G protein.
Stability in a class of resistive grid networks containing active device realizations of nonlinear resistors

In the analog VLSI implementation of neural systems, it is sometimes convenient to build networks by using a locally connected on-chip resistive grid. A problem of unwanted spontaneous oscillation often arises with these circuits and renders them unusable in practice. Recent work on design criteria for such networks considers the stability of a circuit class consisting of nonlinear resistors, nonlinear capacitors, and linear driving-point impedances, all of which are two-terminal elements. This study, which is an extension of earlier work, allows a more general dynamic element to be included in the network. The new element class allows modeling of the dynamics of nonlinear resistors realized with transistors; this is useful where memoryless I-V characteristic modeling is not appropriate. The extended criteria are local in the sense that no global analysis of the network is needed, and robust in the sense that unmodeled parasitic resistance and capacitance in the resistive grid do not affect the stability result. >
Biological Activities of Naturally Occurring Antibodies Reactive with Candida albicans Mannan

Sera from normal adult humans may contain high levels of antibody reactive with Candida albicans mannan. This study examined selected biological activities of such antibodies, focusing on sera that were collected from 34 donors and analyzed individually. The results showed that antimannan titers were normally distributed. Reactivity as determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with serotype A mannan generally paralleled reactivity with serotype B. Analysis of the kinetics for activation of the complement system and deposition of complement component 3 (C3) onto serotype A and serotype B cells showed a decrease in the lag time that occurred before the onset of rapid accumulation of C3 that correlated with increasing antimannan titers. In contrast, there was a decrease in the overall rate of accumulation of C3 on serotype A cells that was strongly correlated with increasing antibody titers; serotype B cells showed no such decrease. An evaluation of the contribution of mannan antibody to opsonophagocytic killing showed that mannan antibody in individual sera and antimannan immunoglobulin G (IgG) affinity purified from human plasma contributed to killing by neutrophils in a dose-dependent fashion in the absence of a functional complement system. However, affinity-purified antibody in very high concentrations was inhibitory to both complement-dependent and complement-independent opsonophagocytosis, and this finding suggests a prozone-like effect. In contrast, if the complement system was functional, antimannan IgG was not needed for opsonophagocytic killing. These results suggest that naturally occurring mannan antibodies and the complement system are functionally redundant for opsonophagocytic killing by neutrophils.
Retrospective Analysis of Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia Management at a Large Tertiary Hospital

Background: Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a disease that is difficult to quickly and accurately diagnose. The 4T score calculation is often used to determine the probability of HIT in order to guide further work-up and therapeutics. Our study aims to assess current practices regarding the diagnosis and management of HIT, particularly in reference to the appropriateness and cost of work-up and initiation of heparin alternatives based on the 4T score. Methods: A retrospective chart review was carried out on patients at Scripps Mercy San Diego for whom work-up had been pursued with HIT antibody test and/or serotonin release assay between May 2011 and May 2012. For each of these patients a 4T score assessing the probability of HIT was carried out based on available chart information. Results : Of the 218 work-ups reviewed, 74% had a low pre-test probability of HIT and 53% occurred in the medical intensive care unit (ICU). Only five of the 218 work-ups and one of the 116 ICU patient work-ups resulted in a diagnosis of HIT. The cost of using heparin alternatives in patients without a final diagnosis of HIT was approximately $100,750 and the cost of pursuing serologic work-up in patients with a low 4T score was $33,360. Average optical density (OD) scores among patients with a low and intermediate 4T score did not reach the threshold value for positivity with values of 0.257 and 0.334, respectively. Patients in the high 4T score group had average OD values of 1.68, which is 5 above the threshold for a positive result and the probability of HIT being present did not reach 50% until the OD was above 1.40. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the significant costs associated with HIT diagnosis and management at a large hospital. Implementing a clinical decision support system to mitigate inappropriate ordering of serologic studies and initiation of heparin alternatives may be cost-saving. Further prospective studies will need to be undertaken to test this hypothesis. J Hematol. 2014;3(2):27-33 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.14740/jh157w
An approach to architectural analysis and testing

1. ABSTRACT There is a critical need for approaches and tools to support software analysis and testing at the architectural level. This position paper shows how the architectural style description language ASDL provides a basis for architectural analysis and testing. This perspective has been used to build a prototype architecture description toolset that will serve as the foundation for testing and analysis tools that are currently under development.
Evidence for Metabolic Conversions of Rat Neurophysins Within Neurosecretory Granules of the Hypothalamo-Neurohypophysial System

Neural lobes of rats contain three major neurophysins, known as I, II, and III (RNP I, RNP II, RNP III). RNP I appears to be associated with vasopressin, and RNP II and III with oxytocin. Burford and Pickering (29) have suggested, on the basis of indirect evidence, that RNP III may be a breakdown product of RNP II. The present work provides direct support for this concept. When purified RNP II was incubated in vitro with extract of rat neural lobe, RNP II was converted to RNP III and then converted to another protein product, RNP III'. The time-dependent loss of RNP II and concurrent gain of RNP III, and then the appearance of RNP III' possibly from the conversion of RNP III, could be demonstrated at an incubation pH of 4.5 (close to what is thought to be the pH within neurosecretory granules), but not at an incubation pH of 7.0. Proteins electrophoretically similar to RNP III and III' can be demonstrated in the neural lobes of rats. Thus, the products of incubation do not appear to be experimental artifa...
Antiferromagnetism in cobalt orthosilicate

Abstract Cobalt orthosilicate, Co 2 SiO 4 , is isomorphous with the mineral olivine and is antiferromagnetic below 49°K. The Curie-Weiss law coefficients for the paramagnetic region are Peff = 5·09 μB and θ = 65 °K. A four-sublattice magnetic spin structure based on Co-O-Co superexchange interactions is proposed to explain the susceptibility data. Low-temperature neutron diffraction patterns substantiate the model and show that the spin direction is along b .
Prostate cancer: screening and early detection.

BackgroundDespite more than a decade of prostate-specific antigen (PSA)-based screening, the proven impact of screening on mortality due to prostate cancer continues to be controversial.MethodsA li...
The ‘Impossible’ Community of the Citizens: Past and Present Problems

In the wake of previous reflections on the antinomies of citizenship—which derive both from the tension between an ‘insurrectional’ logic of equal liberty and a ‘constitutional’ project of building a community of citizens, and more recently from the conflict between (national) social citizenship and neoliberal forms of global governance—this paper focuses on problems of ‘representation’ and ‘agency’ linked to the idea of democratizing democracy itself. It will try in this sense to propose a more specific determination to the idea of an unfinished, although contingent, history of citizenship in the modern world.