cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Electric currents in cosmic plasmas

It is suggested that dualism is essential for the physics of cosmic plasmas, that is, that some phenomena should be described by a magnetic field formalism, and others by an electric current formalism. While in earlier work the magnetic field aspect has dominated, at present there is a systematic exploration of the particle (or current) aspect. A number of phenomena which can be understood only from the particle aspect are surveyed. Topics include the formation of electric double layers, the origin of 'explosive' events like magnetic substorms and solar flares, and the transfer of energy from one region to another. A method for exploring many of these phenomena is to draw the electric circuit in which the current flows and then study its properties. A number of simple circuits are analyzed in this way.
Red-cell lifetimes calculated from 51Cr red-cell survival data.

The activity of red cells labeled with 51Cr decreases exponentially due to elution of chromium from the cell and any random cell losses which may be present, and decreases linearly due to red‐cell senescence. Red‐cell survival data are fitted to the function a(t) = ae − kt (1 − t / L) , where a(t) is the activity at time t , a is the initial activity, k is the exponential loss rate, and L is the cell lifetime. With many subjects, a, k , and L as well as the standard errors of the estimate of these parameters may be determined.
A principal-components-based clustering method to identify multiple variants associated with rheumatoid arthritis and arthritis-related autoantibodies

Multivariate techniques are an important area of investigation for studying contributions of multiple genetic variants to disease onset and pathology. We analyzed the Genetic Analysis Workshop 16 North American Rheumatoid Arthritis Consortium (NARAC) data using a principal-components analysis (PCA) with an orthoblique rotation to identify specific subsets of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) region associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and rheumatoid factor IgM (RFUW), and compared this method with a traditional PC approach. Using the orthoblique PC-based clustering method, we identified new clusters of SNPs across the MHC region associated with RA and RFUW, and replicated known SNP cluster associations with RA, such as those in the HLA-DRB region.
The contribution of part-word phonological factors to the production of regular noun plural –s by children with and without specific language impairment

Potential phonological contributions to the inconsistent use of regular noun plural –s were examined in two groups of children who were inconsistent in their use of plural –s: 26 children with spec...
Sclerema neonatorum: a review of nomenclature, clinical presentation, histological features, differential diagnoses and management

To review published literature on sclerema neonatorum (SN) in order to clarify its clinical presentation, histological features and management compared with two other diseases: subcutaneous fat necrosis of the newborn (SCFN) and scleredema. PubMed database was searched using the key words Sclerema neonatorum. A total of 55 articles from peer-reviewed journals were reviewed and summarized. SN, SCFN and scleredema are diseases of the subcutaneous adipose tissue. SN is characterized by hardening of the skin that gets bound down to the underlying muscle and bone, hindering respiration and feeding and is associated with congenital anomalies, cyanosis, respiratory illnesses and sepsis. Histology of the skin biopsy shows thickening of the trabeculae supporting the subcutaneous adipose tissue and a sparse inflammatory infiltrate of lymphocytes, histiocytes and multinucleate giant cells. SCFN has circumscribed hardening of skin on bony prominences with necrosis of adipocytes in subcutaneous tissue and a dense granulomatous infiltrate on histology. Scleredema is characterized by hardening of the skin along with edema; histology shows inflammatory infiltrate and edema in skin and subcutaneous tissues. SN has a high case fatality rate whereas SCFN and scleredema are self-limiting and lesions resolve within a few weeks to months. Exchange transfusion may improve survival in SN. The histological features of skin biopsy should be used to establish diagnosis of SN, SCFN and scleredema as disease-specific treatment is imperative in SN due to high fatality.
Leisure-Time Physical Activity in Elementary Schools: Analysis of Contextual Conditions

BACKGROUND: Little is known about children’s leisure-time physical activity (PA) at school and how it is associated with contextual variables. The purpose of this study was to objectively assess children’s voluntary PA during 3 daily periods and examine modifiable contextual factors. METHODS: We conducted SOPLAY (System for Observing Play and Leisure Activity in Youth) observations before school, during recess, and at lunchtime in 137 targeted activity areas in 13 elementary schools over 18 months. During observations, each child was coded as Sedentary, Walking, or Vigorous, and simultaneous entries were made for area characteristics (accessibility, usability, presence of supervision, loose equipment, and organized activities). Logistic regression analysis was used to test associations between PA and area characteristics. RESULTS: Assessors made 2349 area visits and observed 36,995 children. Boys had more moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA; 66.2 vs 60.0%, p <. 001) and more vigorous PA (29.8 vs 24.6%; p <. 001) than girls. Areas were typically accessible and usable, but provided organized activities infrequently (16.5%). Odds of engaging in MVPA were greater during lunch and recess than before school and in areas with play equipment (p <. 05). CONCLUSIONS: Children accrued a substantial amount of voluntary PA during leisure time at school. Their PA would likely be increased if school playground equipment was more readily available and if supervisors were taught to provide active games and promote PA rather than suppress it.
Determination of adenosine in fetal perfusates of human placental cotyledons using fluorescence derivatization and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography.

Abstract A simple, sensitive HPLC method using fluorescence detection was developed for determination of adenosine in fetal venous perfusates of dual-perfused cotyledons from human term placentas. Maternal and fetal circuits of in vitro placental cotyledons were perfused with physiological salt solution containing dextrose and dextran (Earle's medium). Conditions were established for optimal formation of fluorescent 1,N 6 -ethenoadenosine from adenosine and chloroacetaldehyde in Earle's medium and for optimal resolution of 1,N 6 -ethenoadenosine by reversed-phase HPLC of the reaction mixture. The yield of 1,N 6 -ethenoadenosine was enhanced by dilution and acidification of the sample matrix. Perfusate samples in autosampler vials were diluted 40% with water and reacted with chloroacetaldehyde for 40 min at 100°C; replicate 100-μl injections were made automatically from each reaction mixture for HPLC analysis with fluorescence detection on a column packed with 3 μm octadecylsilica (Hypersil). Calibration curves were prepared similarly from 4–100 n m adenosine in Earle's medium. Alternatively, perfusate samples were diluted twofold with dilute phosphoric acid to give a final pH of 5.4 before reaction with chloroacetaldehyde, and replicate 50-μl injections were made automatically for HPLC; calibration curves were prepared from 2–400 n m adenosine in Earle's medium. 1,N 6 -Ethenoadenosine was well resolved from Earle's-derived artifactual peaks on chromatography with either a linear or a concave gradient of methanol in ammonium phosphate buffer. Total run times were 15 and 19 min, respectively. Sensitivity of measurement of adenosine was 2–4 n m . Derivatization of adenosine using the acidified reaction mixture gave a limit of detection of 100 fmol of adenosine per injection. Application of the method to analysis of adenosine in fetal venous perfusates of eight dual-perfused cotyledons, each from a different placenta, gave a range of 3.5–52 n m adenosine. Ischemia, imposed by cessation of maternal perfusion, caused a two- to sixfold increase in fetal venous perfusate adenosine concomitant with an increase in fetoplacental perfusion pressure; perfusion pressure and perfusate adenosine returned to baseline levels on reperfusion of the maternal circuit. This facile method of determination of perfusate adenosine should allow investigation of the role of placental adenosine release in regulation of fetoplacental vascular resistance and should be applicable to study of adenosine release by other isolated perfused organs.
Problems in the diagnosis of metaphyseal fractures

The radiographic projection influences the appearance of the metaphyseal fragment. If the long axis of the metaphysis and the radiographic projection are at right angles, the thicker peripheral margin of the metaphyseal fragment will be viewed end-on as a relatively discrete triangular bony fragment. A caudally or cranially angulated radiographic projection results in a curvilinear bony density that represents the dense peripheral margin of the fracture fragment that has been separated from the metaphysis. Thus, in one projection a fragment may appear as a corner fracture, and in another view, as a bucket-handle lesion. From autopsy and clinical studies it is evident that bruising overlying CMLs is often absent. (orig.)
Dynamic compensation of small errors in drift chamber positioning using an optical CCD-based system

Abstract We describe a fully digital and modular system for on-line monitoring and active compensation of small variations in position. We have applied this system to keep a 5 × 1.8 m 2 drift chamber frame planar. A linear 256-cell CCD array is used to obtain a positioning accuracy within one cell-width (13 μm). This system will enable a momentum measurement of ⩽ 1% accuracy when the chamber is used in a magnetic field.
Imaging multiple intermediates of single-virus membrane fusion mediated by distinct fusion proteins.

Membrane fusion plays an essential role in the entry of enveloped viruses into tar- get cells. The merging of viral and target cell membranes is catalyzed by viral fusion proteins, which involves multiple sequential steps in the fusion process. However, the fusion mechanisms mediated by different fusion proteins involve multiple transient intermediates that have not been well characterized. Here, we report a synthetic virus platform that allows us to better understand the different fusion mechanisms driven by the diverse types fusion proteins. The platform consists of lentiviral particles coenveloped with a surface antibody, which serves as the binding protein, along with a fusion protein derived from either influenza virus (HAmu) or Sindbis virus (SINmu). By using a single virus tracking technique, we demonstrated that both HAmu- and SINmu-bearing viruses enter cells through clathrin-dependent endocytosis, but they required different endosomal trafficking routes to initiate viral fusion. Direct observation of single viral fusion events clearly showed that hemifusion mediated by SINmu upon exposure to low pH occurs faster than that mediated by HAmu. Monitoring sequential fusion processes by dual labeling the outer and inner leaflets of viral membranes also revealed that the SINmu-mediated hemifusion intermediate is rel- atively long-lived as compared with that mediated by HAmu. Taken together, we have demon- strated that the combination of this versatile viral platform with the techniques of single virus tracking can be a powerful tool for revealing molecular details of fusion mediated by various fusion proteins. Microsc. Res. Tech. 00:000-000, 2010. V C 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Mentorship matters for the biomedical workforce.

The mentorship of early-career scientists is necessary to their individual career success and the future of the biomedical research enterprise as a whole. Recently launched NIH programs and tools aim to facilitate this important type of training.
Depositional environments and paleogeography of the Upper Miocene Wassuk Group, west-central Nevada

Abstract Fluvial and lacustrine deposits of the Miocene Wassuk Group, exposed in Coal Valley, west-central Nevada, are divided into five lithofacies: (1) diatomite, claystone, siltstone, and carbonaceous siltstone deposited in a lake with paludal conditions at the margin; (2) upward-coarsening sequences of sandstone deposited on a delta and fan-delta; (3) channel-form sandstone deposited on a distal braided alluvial plain; (4) clast-supported conglomerate deposited on a proxial braided alluvial plain or distal alluvial fan; and (5) matrix-supported conglomerate deposited on a distal to middle alluvial fan. Petrographic analysis records an upsection change from a predominantly andesitic to a predominantly plutonic provenance. This change, combined with the overall upward-coarsening of the Wassuk Group and the great thickness (2400 m) of the sequence, suggests active uplift and rapid subsidence during deposition of the group. Facies relationships and paleocurrent directions indicate source areas to the south, southeast and west of Coal Valley. The Miocene Wassuk Group was deposited in an intra-arc basin with penecontemporaneous volcanism and tectonic activity. Syndepositional faulting at the southern margin of Coal Valley between 13 and 11 m.y. ago suggests an early episode of northeast-southwest extension prior to the onset of east-west basin and range extension.
Child Behavior Checklist Juvenile Bipolar Disorder (CBCL-JBD) and CBCL Posttraumatic Stress Problems (CBCL-PTSP) scales are measures of a single dysregulatory syndrome

Background: The Child Behavior Checklist Juvenile Bipolar Disorder (CBCL-JBD) profile and Posttraumatic Stress Problems (CBCL-PTSP) scale have been used to assess juvenile bipolar disorder (JBD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), respectively. However, their validity is questionable according to previous research. Both measures are associated with severe psychopathology often encompassing multiple DSM-IV diagnoses. Further, children who score highly on one of these scales often have elevated scores on the other, independent of PTSD or JBD diagnoses. We hypothesized that the two scales may be indicators of a single syndrome related to dysregulated mood, attention, and behavior. We aimed to describe and identify the overlap between the CBCL-JBD profile and CBCL-PTSP scales. Method: Two thousand and twenty-nine (2029) children from a nationally representative sample (1073 boys, 956 girls; mean age = 11.98; age range = 6‐18) were rated on emotional and behavior problems by their parents using the CBCL. Comparative model testing via structural equation modeling was conducted to determine whether the CBCL-JBD profile and CBCL-PTSP scale are best described as measuring separate versus unitary constructs. Associations with suicidality and competency scores were also examined. Results: The CBCL-JBD and CBCL-PTSP demonstrated a high degree of overlap ( r= .89) at the latent variable level. The bestfitting, most parsimonious model was one in which the CBCL-JBD and CBCL-PTSP items identified a single latent construct, which was associated with higher parental endorsement of child suicidal behavior, and lower functioning. Conclusions: The CBCL-JBD profile and CBCL-PTSP scale overlap to a remarkable degree, and may be best described as measures of a single syndrome. This syndrome appears to be related to severe psychopathology, but may not conformtotraditional DSM-IVclassification. Theseresultscontribute totheongoingdebate aboutthe utility of the CBCL-JBD and CBCL-PTSP profiles, and offer promising methods of empirically based measurement of disordered self-regulation in youth. Keywords: Assessment, Child Behavior Checklist, bipolar disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder. Abbreviations: CBCL: Child Behavior Checklist; JBD: juvenile bipolar disorder; PTSP: posttraumatic stress problems.
Floodplain Sedimentation during an Extreme Flood: The 1999 Flood on the Tar River, Eastern North Carolina

This study examines floodplain sedimentation following the largest flood in the 98-yr. record on the Tar River, North Carolina. Hurricane Floyd made landfall just 10 days after Hurricane Dennis in September 1999, bringing unprecedented rainfall (30-46 cm) and flooding to eastern North Carolina. A field survey of the lower 350 km of the river showed that this >500 yr. flood deposited very little overbank sediment (<1 mm) on most of the floodplain. We used suspended sediment concentrations measured on the Tar River from 1958-1967 to suggest that the seasonal timing and sequencing of flood events in 1999 are the most probable explanations for the minimal geomorphic impact of this extreme flood. The early autumn timing of the flood coincided with crops that were mature but not yet harvested, and when natural vegetation was very dense and effective at stabilizing channel banks, hillslopes, and floodplain soils. Hurricane Dennis may have exhausted the available sediment supply and transported this sediment to t...
Rhizosphere competitiveness of genetically altered Pseudomonas solanacearum in a novel gnotobiotic plant assembly.

Abstract We developed a novel gnotobiotic plant assembly to study the effect of genetic alterations on the competitiveness of bacteria in the rhizosphere. The assembly consisted of a plant grown between sealed 0.2 μm-pore-size membranes in sand with a plant nutrient solution. Strains of Pseudomonas solanacearum, genetically altered for production of endoglucanase, polygalacturonase A or both enzymes, were assessed for competitiveness in the rhizosphere of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.). The amounts of enzyme production were either reduced by insertion mutagenesis or enhanced by increasing the gene copy number with a recombinant plasmid. Competition was studied with two bacteria isolated from the rhizosphere of tomato, Pseudomonas cepacia and Pseudomonas pickettii. When P. solanacearum strains were coinoculated with P. cepacia in the rhizosphere, all P. solanacearum strains declined from 104 colony-forming units (cfu) plant−1 to below detection limits ( 107 cfu plant−1. When P. solanacearum strains were coinoculated with P. pickettii, both the wild type P. solanacearum strain and P. pickettii increased from 104 to > 107 cfu plant−1 after 48 h. However, when coinoculated with P. pickettii, none of the genetically altered P. solanacearum strains grew unless the genetic alteration in enzyme production was apparently lost. The results suggest that bacterial competition is one factor limiting the growth of P. solanacearum in the rhizosphere and that introduced genes may decrease the competitiveness of P. solanacearum.
Effects of cholesterol and cholesteryl ester on dynamic surface tension of dipalmitoyl lecithin

The lipid composition of cell membranes, serum lipoproteins, and various subcellular particles determines the lipid-lipid interactions that are in part responsiblefor the architecture, and the physical properties (such as plasticity, viscosity, thermal transitions) of the resulting structures as well as for the biochemical function of the related aqueous surfaces. Cholesterol exists free in cell membranes (1), is carried also free and in the form of cholesteryl esters by serum lipoproteins (2), and is found in both forms in pulmonary lavage, which is obtained by irrigation of the lung with 0.15 M NaCI (3, 4) and is known to affect the surface activity of pulmonary surfactant (5, 6). Also known are the binding of cholesterol to phosphatidyl cholines (lecithins) (7-9) and the influence of cholesteryl esters on the equilibrium force-area curves of lecithin's monomolecular films (10). In this communication, we wish to describe the influence of cholesterol and cholesteryl palmitate on the dynamic force-area curve of dipalmitoyl lecithin at 25 and 37°C in a modified Langmuir trough. A similar study, using adsorbed DPL-cholesterol mixed films by the bubble method has been published recently (6). In our approach we study both adsorbed and spread films, whereby we are able to consider the effect of the physical state of the lipid and of the mode in which the lipid is applied to the interface (3, 5). MATERIALS AND METHODS
QTc pseudoprolongation and hypokalemia-induced T–U fusion: the authors reply

Dr. Omar [1] provides a valuable description of the measurement convention for the QT interval when prominent U waves are present on the ECG, as in the case presented in our paper [2]. As he correctly highlights in Lead I, there is indeed actual QT prolongation by measurement convention due to T–U fusion. However, other leads in the ECG (i.e., Lead aVF) are more suggestive of a discrete T wave, wherein a conventional QT interval can be measured. Our intention was to highlight that the presence of prominent U waves caused by hypokalemia can mimic the appearance of a markedly prolonged QT interval, but closer inspection of all leads may reveal that a normal QT interval can be calculated. In the otherwise healthy heart, there is little evidence that hypokalemia alone causes dangerous dysrhythmias [3– 5]. While Dr. Omar’s references point toward a correlation between hypokalemia and QTc prolongation in special populations, those papers do not mention if T–U fusion plays a role in the measurement of the QT interval. Furthermore, the risk of Torsades de pointes (TdP) is not specifically addressed in these studies, particularly in patients with QTc prolongation secondary to T–U fusion. Indeed, from an electrophysiological standpoint, it is unclear when the risk of TdP is truly elevated, and when the prolonged QT interval is merely an artifact of the measurement convention because T–U fusion is present. Thus, his statement that ‘‘the phenomenon of hypokalemiainduced T–U fusion...represents a form of QTc prolongation, not pseudoprolongation, and therefore can be associated with the serious form of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia’’ may actually be an open question [1]. Regardless, the cornerstone of clinical management of both pseudo and actual QTc prolongation due to hypokalemia are the same, which is potassium repletion.
Linkage graphs: a study in the thermodynamics of macromolecules *

In earlier papers (Wyman, 1975a, b, 1981) I have called attention to the existence of a group of linkage potentials derivable from one another by a corresponding group of Legendre transformations. These potentials are applicable to any system in a state of equilibrium but are especially useful in the study of the behaviour, or, as we may say, the functional chemistry, of a macromolecule in the presence of its ligands. In this paper I show how these potentials may be represented by a set of contour graphs which embody the results of observation and are transformable into one another by a group of graphical permutations equivalent to the Legendre group.
Assessing proxy reports: agreement between children with asthma and their caregivers on quality of life

Abstract Background Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) questionnaires are important tools to evaluate health status in children with asthma; however, children with asthma and their caregivers have shown only low to moderate agreement in their responses. Objective To analyze the agreement between children with asthma and their caregivers on HRQOL, specifically in the domains of activity limitation, emotional function, and overall quality of life (QOL). Methods We enrolled 79 pediatric patients (ages 5-17 years) with asthma (53 with acute asthma and 26 with refractory asthma) and their caregivers. Children completed the Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire, and caregivers completed the Pediatric Asthma Caregiver's Quality of Life Questionnaire (potential score, 1-7; higher scores indicate better QOL). We used paired t test to examine differences in child and caregiver responses, Pearson correlation to describe patterns of agreement, and multivariate analysis to evaluate the effect of sex, age, and ethnicity on differences in child and caregiver responses. Results Children with asthma and their caregivers reported similar scores and demonstrated moderate correlation in emotional function and overall QOL. Children reported a significantly better QOL than their caregivers in response to questions about activity limitation (mean score, 4.62 vs 3.49; P Conclusion Although caregivers of children with asthma can provide useful proxy information about QOL, their responses cannot be substituted for their children's reports regarding activity limitation. Clinicians and researchers should ask both children and their caregivers about asthma-specific QOL.
Palliative Venting Gastrostomy in Patients with Malignant Bowel Obstruction and Ascites

Background Fluoroscopic-guided placement of a percutaneous decompression gastrostomy tube (PDGT) is used to palliate patients with malignant bowel obstruction (MBO). We report our clinical experience in cases of MBO and ascites that were known to be technically difficult and at increased risk for complications after PDGT placement.
Lowbush wild blueberries have the potential to modify gut microbiota and xenobiotic metabolism in the rat colon.

The gastrointestinal tract is populated by an array of microbial species that play an important role in metabolic and immune functions. The composition of microorganisms is influenced by the components of the host’s diet and can impact health. In the present study, dietary enrichment of lowbush wild blueberries (LWB) was examined to determine their effect on colon microbial composition and their potential in promoting gut health. The microbial composition and functional potential of the colon microbiota from Sprague Dawley rats fed control diets (AIN93) and LWB-enriched diets (AIN93+8% LWB powder substituting for dextrose) for 6 weeks were assessed using Illumina shotgun sequencing and bioinformatics tools. Our analysis revealed an alteration in the relative abundance of 3 phyla and 22 genera as representing approximately 14 and 8% of all phyla and genera identified, respectively. The LWB-enriched diet resulted in a significant reduction in the relative abundance of the genera Lactobacillus and Enterococcus. In addition, hierarchal analysis revealed a significant increase in the relative abundance of the phylum Actinobacteria, the order Actinomycetales, and several novel genera under the family Bifidobacteriaceae and Coriobacteriaceae, in the LWB group. Functional annotation of the shotgun sequences suggested that approximately 9% of the 4709 Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Gene and Genome (KEGG) hits identified were impacted by the LWB-diet. Open Reading Frames (ORFs) assigned to KEGG category xenobiotics biodegradation and metabolism were significantly greater in the LWB-enriched diet compared to the control and included the pathway for benzoate degradation [PATH:ko00362] and glycosaminoglycan degradation [PATH:ko00531]. Moreover, the number of ORFs assigned to the bacterial invasion of epithelial cells [PATH:ko05100] pathway was approximately 8 fold lower in the LWB group compared to controls. This study demonstrated that LWBs have the potential to promote gut health and can aid in the development of optimal diets.
Propagation diversity enhancement to the subspace-based line detection algorithm

In the context of fitting straight lines to noisy images, the subspace-based line detection algorithm (SLIDE) offers two benefits over the conventional Hough transform method: low computational complexity and high resolution of the estimates. These improvements are due to the fact that the line fitting problem is converted to an equivalent problem of fitting exponentials to a time series, which can then be solved efficiently by using subspace methods like ESPRIT. The SLIDE algorithm establishes this equivalence by transforming the two dimensional binary image to a single observation vector using a propagation scheme. The difficulty with having a single observation vector in this approach is that the total number of snapshots may not be adequately large. This limits the estimation accuracy and degrades the performance of the detection algorithm (which estimates the number of present lines in the image). In this paper we propose to utilize multiple observation vectors to circumvent the problem of inadequate number of snapshots. The challenge with the multiple observation vector approach is how to combine these vectors to form a covariance matrix that possesses the desired structure. We overcome this difficulty by considering only a specific set of observation vectors along with an interleaving technique. Simulation results show that this technique significantly improves the efficiency of the detection algorithm as well as the accuracy of the estimates of the line angles.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Real-time ultrasound-guided fuzzy control of tissue coagulation progress during laser heating

Abstract Laser coagulation is a minimally invasive therapy that utilizes laser energy to thermally kill benign and malignant lesions such as cancers, at the temperature range of 55–85°C. It is of clinical importance to control the laser deposition into the tissue in such a way that the lesion will be destroyed while the surrounding healthy tissue will remain intact. However, a primary technical difficulty in achieving this goal lies in the fact that the relationship between the delivered laser energy and the tissue damage is nonlinear and time-varying, which cannot be accurately predicted or rigorously modeled due to the significant difference in various physical properties of even similar tissues. In this paper, we present a novel real-time ultrasound-guided fuzzy laser control system for coagulation. Current status of tissue coagulation depth, noninvasively measured by an innovative ultrasound system that we recently developed, was fed into a fuzzy proportional-derivative (PD) controller, which periodically adjusted output power of a 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser. The ultrasound-guided system was tested in 21 in vitro experiments in which fresh sheep liver samples were irradiated by the laser with a coagulation setpoint ranging from 4 to 14 mm with a 2 mm increment. We provide analytical analysis and design of the fuzzy controller, which turns out to be an inherently nonlinear PD controller with self-tuning variable gains. We also present the hardware and software implementation of the entire measurement and control system. Our control system is unique, and it is the first laser control system that is guided by noninvasive ultrasonic measurement in real-time.
Biomechanical Perspective on the Remineralization of Dentin

The objective of this article is to critically evaluate the methods that are used to assess outcomes of remineralization of dentin. Currently, the most used assessment methods fall either into quantitative analysis of the mineral content of the remineralized structures or dry measurements of their mechanical properties. Properties obtained from the dehydrated organic dentin matrix may not reflect the true mechanical behavior of the remineralized tissue under physiological and hydrated conditions. Here we seek to clarify the biomechanical aspects of remineralization of dentin, pointing out the effects of hydration and dehydration on the mechanical properties of treated tissues. We also emphasize that a more appropriate endpoint to evaluate the effectiveness of remineralization in dentin should be associated with the recovery of the mechanical properties of the hydrated tissue, which is presumed to correlate well with its overall functionality.
Enhanced gold nanoshell scattering contrast using angled fiber probes

Gold nanoshells are positioned to become a scattering-based contrast agent to improve the reflectance signals of nanoshell-targeted tissue. However, our study shows that a greater enhancement of nanoshell-induced reflectance signals can now be achieved when angularly oblique fiber geometries are used in place of the conventional orthogonal fiber geometry. This important finding was confirmed by conducting two experiments. First, diffuse reflectance spectra were collected from nanoshell-infused polystyrene phantoms at 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 degree collection angles. At the 40 deg. fiber angle, the nanoshell-induced reflectance contrast, with respect to the native polystyrene phantom, is significantly increased. Based on these results, a reflectance study was then conducted for human cervical tissue treated with gold nanoshells at the 0 and 40 degree collection angles. Again, at the 40 deg. fiber angle, the signal level of the nanoshell-induced contrast in tissue is determined as statistically significant. Taken together, these results demonstrate that the use of the angularly oblique fiber geometry does significantly improve reflectance contrast.
Design-for-test methodology for non-scan at-speed testing

While scan-based testing achieves a high fault coverage, it requires long test application times and substantial tester memory, in addition to the overhead in chip area and high test power. Functional testing, on the other hand, suffers from low coverage but can be applied at-speed. In this paper, we propose a novel three-step design-for-test (DFT) methodology which enhances the performance of functional testing to a great extent. In the first step we expand the state space of the circuit beyond functionally reachable space without scan or reset. These new states create conditions to activate/propagate fault effects that are otherwise hard-to-detect. Since structural correlation between D flip-flops (DFFs) of a circuit restricts its state space variation, the second step consists of partitioning the DFFs into different groups that helps to break such correlations. In the third step, we make internal hard-to-observe points in the circuit more observable by directly XORing them with selected primary outputs. This method can be applied at-speed (since no scan shifting is involved) saving significant amount of test application time, with comparable area overhead as scan-based DFT. Our experiments on large ISCAS'89 and ITC'99 benchmarks show that we are able to achieve very high non-scan fault coverages while simultaneously reducing the test application time (114×) as compared to scan based techniques.
Heart rate change in Type A and Type B males as a function of response cost and task difficulty.

Tonic changes in heart rate (HR) and somatic motor activity were monitored in 70 Type A and 70 Type B males to determine if these groups differ in psychologically-mediated HR reactivity to a specific appetitive situation. A and B types were defined by extreme scores on the Jenkins Activity Survey. Subjects performed a continuous button-pushing task during a practice trial and 4 trials involving high (loss of money), low (loss of points), or no response cost (RC) for performance failure, and high, moderate, low, or no levels of failure feedback on performance. Greater HR increases from practice were predicted for high RC vs. low RC, and for Type As vs. Type Bs. Additionally, in the high RC condition, HR was expected to diminish across trials more in those receiving high and low failure feedback compared with those receiving moderate failure feedback. Results confirmed the first two expectations. Furthermore, the HR difference between Type As and Type Bs was magnified under high RC conditions. The last expectation was not confirmed, but further analyses suggested that failure feedback influenced Type Bs but not Type As. Greater intrinsic appetitive motivation of Type As may account for their greater HR increase in response to opportunities for active avoidance, as well as for reward.
Integrated perinatal health framework: A multiple determinants model with a life span approach

Abstract Rationale Despite great strides in improving prenatal care utilization among American women, key perinatal indicators have remained stagnant or worsened in the past decade, and the United States continues to rank near the bottom compared to other developed countries. A new approach is needed if we are to achieve improvements in perinatal health. Objective To propose a new framework that integrates a “life span” approach with a multiple determinants model. Method We recognize that (1) powerful influences on outcome occur long before pregnancy begins; (2) pregnancy outcome is shaped by social, psychological, behavioral, environmental, and biological forces; and (3) the demography of pregnancy has changed dramatically in the last few decades with more women delaying their first birth. Approaches that simultaneously consider the entire life span as well as multiple determinants may need to be adopted. We propose a framework that integrates these approaches and is supported by the research literature. The life span perspective focuses attention toward the preconceptional and interconceptional periods as targets for intervention in improving perinatal health. The multiple determinants model distinguishes among concepts of disease, health and functioning, and well-being for both women and their offspring. Conclusion Our intent is to influence how policymakers, public health professionals, clinicians, and researchers approach perinatal health.
Late Permian (Zechstein) rifting in the Netherlands; models and implications for petroleum geology

Multidisciplinary studies in the Netherlands have revealed two new phases of late Variscan extensional faulting during the Late Permian. The names Tubantian I and II are proposed in this paper. Tubantian I movements were triggered by rapid deposition and loading of anhydrite upon a differentiated basement, in combination with mild E-W extension. A series of small pull-apart basins and tilted fault blocks formed and local collapse occurred of the Variscan Front. The relief was subsequently filled with carbonates and evaporites of the Z1 (Werra) Formation. Fault movements stopped prior to deposition of the Z2 (Stassfurt) Formation. Tubantian II movements caused uplift and erosion, especially in the southern onshore Netherlands. Contemporaneously, sandy erosional products were deposited in the southwestern offshore area of the Netherlands and the adjacent UK sector and playa-type halites and claystones accumulated in the central parts of the basin. Three features have implications for hydrocarbon exploration: the early formation of fault/dip closed structures shortly after deposition of the Upper Rotliegend; the reorganization of the fluid-flow system and the deposition of contemporaneous sandy deposits.
Global Mobility, Inequality and Security

A human security perspective can help the international community design an international migration regime that responds to today's economic and political forces. The international refugee protection system, built on the experience of two world wars and inspired by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, enabled states to protect people suffering from political persecution and, at the same time, to defend their territory. The complex motives for migration today render this regime inadequate. This paper examines four policy areas to serve as examples of how a human security agenda could assist in developing new international approaches to global mobility. They include a focus on brain/skills drain, emigration policies, human trafficking, and competing state-centered, security claims between sending and receiving communities.
Biology of the Antarctic dragonfish Vomeridens infuscipinnis (Notothenioidei: Bathydraconidae)

Nineteen specimens of the rare dragonfish Vomeridens infuscipinnis were evaluated for meristic counts, morphometric measurements, vomerine teeth and the supratemporal canal, anatomical and histological observations of bone, cartilage and lipid, diet, and reproductive status. Seven individuals were measured for buoyancy. All specimens had small vomerine teeth that varied in number. There was also variability in the arrangement of the supratemporal pores and canals. Vomeridens possess a body with little bone and considerable amounts of cartilage and lipid. A mean percentage buoyancy of 1.61% indicated that Vomeridens is nearly neutrally buoyant. Inferences from measurements of buoyancy and from morphological data suggest that Vomeridens lives in an epibenthic water column habitat at 400–900 m. Facilitated by its reduced body density, Vomeridens are likely to forage in the water column by hovering above the substrate. The stomach contents consisted of krill (Euphausia superba), some as large as 46–50 mm.The absolute and relative fecundity in seven female was 1576–2296 oocytes (mean 1889) and 21.3–28.9 oocytes g-1 body weight (mean 25.3), respectively. The reproductive effort in terms of egg diameter, GSI, and absolute and relative fecundity is similar to that for other bathydraconids.
Theory of saturation of optical scintillation by strong turbulence for arbitrary refractive-index spectra

There is strong evidence that the amplitude of a light wave propagating through turbulence becomes Rayleigh distributed (i.e., the irradiance becomes exponentially distributed) in the limit of strong turbulence, which implies that the log-amplitude variance tends to π2/24. We find that the theory by Clifford et al. [ J. Opt. Soc. Am.64, 148– 154 ( 1974)] for saturation of scintillation by strong refractive turbulence can be made to obey this limit for power-law refractive-index spectra. However, for a nonzero inner scale of turbulence (no matter how small), the theory predicts that log-amplitude variance tends to zero in the limit of strong turbulence. A generalization of the theory is derived that obeys the π2/24 limit for arbitrary refractive-index spectra, a nonzero inner scale being a particular case. The new theory has no arbitrary parameters. Both old and new modulation transfer functions have different behavior for nonzero inner scale at both very large and very small spatial wave numbers when compared with the case of zero inner scale. This differing behavior affects the log-amplitude variance even if the Fresnel-zone size is much greater than the inner scale, provided that the lateral coherence length of phase is less than the inner scale. This differing behavior also applies at all spatial wave numbers if the Rytov variance is strongly affected by the inner scale. For strong (but finite) turbulence strength, the predicted log-amplitude variance is larger for a smaller ratio of Fresnel-zone size to inner scale, which is in quantitative agreement with observations.
Carboxymethylcellulose hydrogels support central nervous system-derived tumor-cell chemotactic migration: comparison with conventional extracellular matrix macromolecules.

The local microenvironment plays an important role in maintaining the dynamics of the extracellular matrix and the cell–extracellular matrix relationship. The extracellular matrix is a complex network of macromolecules with distinct mechanical and biochemical characteristics. Disruptions in extracellular matrix homeostasis are associated with the onset of cancer. The extracellular matrix becomes highly disorganized, and the cell–matrix relationship changes, resulting in altered cell-signaling processes and metastasis. Medulloblastoma is one of the most common malignant pediatric brain tumors in the United States. In order to gain a better understanding of the interplay between cell–extracellular matrix interactions and cell-migratory responses in tumors, eight different matrix macromolecule formulations were investigated using a medulloblastoma-derived cell line: poly-d-lysine, matrigel, laminin, collagen 1, fibronectin, a 10% blend of laminin–collagen 1, a 20% blend of laminin–collagen 1, and a cellulose...
The Jackprot Simulation Couples Mutation Rate with Natural Selection to Illustrate How Protein Evolution Is Not Random.

Protein evolution is not a random process. Views which attribute randomness to molecular change, deleterious nature to single-gene mutations, insufficient geological time, or population size for molecular improvements to occur, or invoke "design creationism" to account for complexity in molecular structures and biological processes, are unfounded. Scientific evidence suggests that natural selection tinkers with molecular improvements by retaining adaptive peptide se- quence. We used slot-machine probabilities and ion channels to show biological directionality on molecular change. Because ion channels reside in the lipid bilayer of cell membranes, their residue location must be in balance with the membrane's hydrophobic/philic nature; a selective "pore" for ion passage is located within the hydrophobic region. We contrasted the random generation of DNA sequence for KcsA, a bacterial two-transmembrane-domain (2TM) potassium channel, from Streptomyces lividans, with an under-selection scenario, the "jackprot," which predicted much faster evolution than by chance. We wrote a computer program in
Progress in biosensor and bioelectronics simulations: New applications for TCAD

Scaling of devices in the semiconductor industry has reached an extremely impressive level; electronic device dimensions are approaching atomic scales and can also have dimensions comparable to many biological microstructures. In this paper, we present an overview of the new challenges in modeling electronics that interface with and bridge into the domains of biotechnology. In particular, we will discuss the applications of conventional integrated circuits technology computer-aided design (TCAD) in these new and emerging areas. Furthermore, we will examine the unique modeling requirements of biosensors in molecular identification and quantification applications. As we will discuss in this paper, there are exciting research challenges for the electronics community - new opportunities to leverage lessons learned from scaling.
Multicenter Phase II Trial of S-1 Plus Cisplatin in Patients With Untreated Advanced Gastric or Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinoma

Purpose S-1 plus cisplatin is considered highly active in Japanese gastric cancer patients. We conducted a phase II multi-institutional trial, in the West, in patients with untreated advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma to evaluate activity and safety of this combination. Methods Patients received cisplatin intravenously at 75 mg/m2 on day 1 and S-1 orally at 25 mg/m2/dose bid (50 mg/m2/d) on days 1 to 21, repeated every 28 days. Patients with histologic proof of gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma with a Karnofsky performance status (KPS) of ≥ 70% and near-normal organ function were eligible. All patients provided a written informed consent. To observe a 45% confirmed overall response rate (ORR), 41 assessable patients were needed. Results All 47 patients were assessed for safety and survival, and 41 patients were assessed for ORR. The median age was 56 years and median KPS was 80%. The median number of chemotherapy cycles was four. The confirmed ORR was 51% (95% C...
(S)‐5‐Benzyl‐2‐mesityl‐6,6‐dimethyl‐6,8‐dihydro‐5H‐[1,2,4]triazolo[3,4‐C][1,4]oxazin‐2‐ium Tetrafluoroborate

[925706-40-7] C23H28BF4N3O (MW 449.29) InChI = 1S/C23H28N3O.BF4/c1-16-11-17(2)22(18(3)12-16)26-15-25-20(13-19-9-7-6-8-10-19)23(4,5)27-14-21(25)24-26;2-1(3,4)5/h6-12,15,20H,13-14H2,1-5H3;/q+1;-1/t20-;/m0./s1 InChIKey = PVYSZYZMWZCJCT-BDQAORGHSA-N (precatalyst for N-heterocyclic carbene catalysis) Physical Data: ochre solid, mp 200–206 °C. Solubility: organic solvents such as THF, methanol, CH2Cl2. Form Supplied in: solid. Purification: recrystallization from methanol. Preparative Methods: synthesized in seven steps from the l-phenylalanine methyl ester.
Unilateral linear lichenoid eruption after bone marrow transplantation: An unmasking of tolerance to an abnormal keratinocyte clone?

Chronic cutaneous graft-versus-host disease may appear clinically as a lichenoid eruption. We describe a 26-year-old man who developed a unilateral linear lichenoid eruption 7 months after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. We believe this represents an unusual form of localized, chronic graft-versus-host disease. The possible relationship to viral infection or cellular mosaicism and the clinical, histologic, and immunologic similarities to idiopathic lichen planus are discussed.