cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hepatic Localization of Endothelin-1 in Patients With Idiopathic Portal Hypertension and Cirrhosis of the Liver

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) may mediate increased resistance to hepatic sinusoidal blood flow. We evaluated the hepatic distribution of ET-1 in patients with idiopathic portal hypertension (IPH), in which liver architecture may be normal, and in patients with cirrhosis, in which distortion of hepatic sinusoidal architecture is prominent. Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization were used to localize ET-1 in hepatic tissue of patients with IPH and cirrhosis. ET-1 was measured in plasma from a peripheral vein, the hepatic vein, and the portal vein of patients with cirrhosis of the liver and controls. On immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization, ET-1 was localized to periportal hepatocytes and sinusoidal cells in patients with IPH and cirrhosis. Minimal positive staining for ET-1 was observed in control livers. Plasma ET-1 levels were significantly greater in patients with cirrhosis than in controls. In patients with cirrhosis, ET-1 was greater in the hepatic vein compared with the portal vein. However, the level of plasma ET-1 in patients with cirrhosis did not correlate with either the presence of ascites or portacaval pressure gradient. We conclude that in IPH, ET-1 is localized to sites in which it can modulate intrahepatic resistance. In late stages of cirrhosis, ET-1 may not modulate resistance. We speculate that vascular resistance in late stages of cirrhosis probably results from distortion of hepatic architecture.
Transfer RNA and protein synthesis.

Summary The three-dimensional structure of yeast phenylalanine transfert RNA has been determined in orthorhombic crystals. The current status of this work is reviewed together with the relationship of the transfer RNA structure in the crystal to its biologically active form. In addition some speculations are put forward regarding the mode of interaction of tRNA molecules in the ribosome and the manner in which tRNA interacts with aminoacyl synthetase.
Susceptibility testing of Listeria monocytogenes. A reassessment of bactericidal activity as a predictor for clinical outcome.

Abstract In vitro susceptibility testing of Listeria monocytogenes most often reveals both ampicillin and penicillin as inhibitory as opposed to bactericidal with activity comparable to chloramphenicol and tetracycline. Yet, the former two penicillins are more effective for Listeria meningitis than are the latter agents. Accordingly, we reassessed the bactericidal activity of agents used in listeriosis in order to determine in vitro methodology that would be more predictive of clinical outcome. We found that bactericidal activity for > 48 hr by either minimum inhibitory-minimum bactericidal concentration (MIC-MBC) testing or time-kill kinetic studies was the best predictor of clinical efficacy. This correlation may be due to Listeria being a slow-growing microorganism. In addition to ampicillin and penicillin, we found trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, vancomycin, and imipenem to exhibit bactericidal activity for 48 hr. For the first two agents, this is in agreement with the results of clinical experience.
Superinfection of tumors with viruses.

Neoplastische Gewebskulturen, infiziert mit einem Mauseleukamievirus, wurden entweder mit «Newcastle Disease Virus» oder mit «Vesiculare Stomatitis Virus» superinfiziert; die Zellen zeigten beschleunigte oder verlangerte Wachstumsraten, wenn sie in den ursprunglichen Mausestamm injiziert wurden.
Fluorinated amphiphilic block copolymers: Combining anionic polymerization and selective polymer modification

We report the preparation of novel fluorinated block copolymers using a two-step modification sequence. We first prepared model polyisoprene-poly-tert-butylmethacrylate block copolymers by anionic polymerization. Exposing these materials to difluorocarbene (generated by the thermolysis of hexafluoropropylene oxide) resulted in modification of the polyisoprene block to the corresponding difluorocyclopropane repeating unit without compromising the integrity of the poly-tert-butylmethacrylate block. Hydrolysis of the difluorocarbene-modified materials gave the corresponding difluorocarbene-modified polyisoprene-polymethacrylic acid diblock copolymers. These amphiphilic materials are expected to exhibit interesting self-assembly behavior in aqueous solution.
Gods of Wealth, Temples of Prosperity: Party-State Participation in the Minority Cultural Revival

This article contrasts Chinese government support for the minority cultural revival among the Bai and Dai in Yunnan Province, with a crackdown on religious expression in Beijing. In consistencies in the state's behaviour in these cases might be attributed to arbitrary decision-making, or to "internal orientalism". It is argued here, however, that the state's actions reflect its over arching goals of both economic modernisation and political legitimation. Official promotion of minority cultural practice fosters the economic development of minority areas and enables local officials to justify their authority and projects in identity-based terms.
Detection of an early intermediate in the folding of ribonuclease A by protection of amide protons against exchange.

A new method is presented for detecting structural intermediates at early stages of protein folding. The principle is to label with 3H the exchangeable amide protons of the unfolded protein and then to choose refolding conditions (pH, temperature) where rapid exchange-out will occur unless folding intermediates protect some protons. The label which would be retained after folding if there were no folding intermediates is calculated and subtracted to give the number of protected protons. Folding is allowed to go to completion and the number of protected protons which are stable to exchange for 6 to 13 hours after folding is determined. The slow-folding class of unfolded ribonuclease A has been chosen for study. The folding conditions are: 10 °C, pH 6 to 8, 0.2 to 2.5 m-guanidine · HCl. A large fraction (13) of the stable protons of native RNAase A is protected during folding. This fraction drops rapidly with increasing guanidine · HCl molarity as folding intermediates are destabilized. At 2.5 m-guanidine · HCl, pH 6, only 1.5 protons are protected although folding goes to completion and there is little effect of guanidine · HCl on the exchange kinetics of the stable protons in native RNAase A. This result provides a negative control. A second control is given by RNAase S, for which no protected protons are found after folding. We conclude that the S-peptide moiety of RNAase A is needed for stability of the early folding intermediate. The number of protected protons also decreases with pH in the range pH 6 to 8: this result is expected since the exchange step is base-catalyzed while the folding kinetics are independent of pH between 6 and 8. There are two conclusions about the kinetic mechanism of folding. 1. (1) The structural basis for protection against exchange appears to be formation of an H-bonded structure, since exclusion of water from the tertiary structure occurs later, as monitored by tyrosine absorbance. It appears that at least part of the H-bonded backbone of RNAase A is formed at an early stage in folding. The intermediate is stabilized by the S-peptide moiety of RNAase A. 2. (2) Folding of RNAase A is a sequential process, with kinetically observable intermediates, in these conditions.
Object-oriented requirements specification for imaging systems

Although it would seem obvious that object-oriented specification lends itself well to image processing systems, there is almost no research to substantiate this position. In this paper the use of object-oriented techniques in the specification of imaging systems is investigated and compared to a widely used alternative - Structured Analysis and Design - by way of a simple case study. The paper concludes with some recommendations for best practices and future research.
On the sources of scope economies in U.S. manufacturing firms

This paper tests hypotheses on the sources of scope economies in a large sample of U.S. manufacturing firms. Federal Trade Commission Line of Business data are used to construct a new measure of scope economies that is appropriate for cross-section data. The measure and the LB data are capable of distinguishing between production and distribution economies of scope. In general, the results indicate that sharing assets is not important and that some sources of production scope economies may also be sources of diseconomies in multiproduct promotion, and vice versa. Implications for merger policy are briefly discussed.
Developmental effects of a temperature-sensitive RNA polymerase II mutation in Drosophila melanogaster

Purified RNA polymerase II (RNA nucleotidyl-transferase; EC 2.7.7.6) extracted from flies possessing lesions in the Ultrabithorax-like (Ubl) locus of Drosophila melanogaster has altered activity in vitro (Greenleaf et al. 1979, 1980; Coulter and Greenleaf 1982). This strongly suggests that the Ubl locus encodes a subunit of RNA polymerase II. Ethyl methanesulfonate was used to induce a temperature-sensitive mutation in this locus. Flies either homozygous or hemizygous for this new X−linked mutation (Ublts) display viability comparable to that of wild-type flies at 22° C but are lethal at 29° C. The temperature-sensitive period for Ublts flies is between gastrulation (6 h, 29° C) and pupation (9–10 days, 22° C). Zygotes shifted from 22° C to 29° C die at either the late embryonic or first larval instar stage while temperature shifts of second and third instar larvae result in the lethal phase occurring at the pupal stage. Most pupae shifted from 22° C to 29° C undergo metamorphosis and eclose as adults. Adults are viable if placed at 29° C; however, all females and some males become sterile if maintained at this temperature.
Sex-dependent regulation by dexamethasone of murine hydroxysteroid sulfotransferase gene expression.

Abstract To determine whether glucocorticoid-inducible expression of hepatic hydroxysteroid sulfotransferase is conserved in mouse, the effects of dexamethasone (DEX) on hydroxysteroid sulfotransferase (mSULT2A) gene expression were investigated in primary cultured hepatocytes prepared from C57BL/6J mice. In female mouse hepatocytes, DEX (10−7 and 10−5 M, respectively) produced 8.2- and 17.8-fold increases, respectively, in the amounts of mSULT2A mRNA relative to control. By contrast, mSULT2A mRNA levels were undetectable in male mouse hepatocytes. Female-predominant mSULT2A mRNA expression was also observed in liver samples from C57BL/6J and three other mouse strains. Treatment of primary cultured female mouse hepatocytes with dihydrotestosterone in the presence of DEX suppressed mSULT2 expression. Transfection of primary cultured male or female mouse hepatocytes with a rat SULT2-40/41 reporter construct revealed that hepatocytes of both sexes have sufficient machinery to achieve DEX-inducible SULT2 transcription. However, treatment with the potent histone deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A failed to elicit mSULT2A expression in male mouse hepatocytes.
Photoluminescence Investigation of Surface Oxidation of C0.9Zn0.1 Te Detectors

The effect of surface oxidation of Cd1−xZnxTe (x = 0.1) detectors by chemical etching in hydrogen peroxide aqueous solution (H2O2) at different concentrations and etching times was investigated by low temperature photoluminescence (PL). The treatment resulted in better surface condition evidenced by the larger I(D0, X)/Idef intensity ratio and the narrower full width at half maximum of the main peak (D0, X). Peak shifts in the PL spectra associated with bound exciton lines and free to bound transition were also observed and attributed to the oxide layer. These surface effects were found to be dependent on H2O2 concentration and etching time. The significance of this surface oxidation on device passivation and the subsequent improvements in the detector performance are also discussed.
The calculated performance of structured laser fusion pellets

Calculational results are presented from an extensive study of the hydro-burn response of bare DT shells, inert shells, and DT-filled micro-balloons to ramp-like, Gaussian, and square laser pulses. Scaling laws are determined for the best pulse energy and time scale for shells, as functions of their mass, aspect ratio and initial density. The advantages of DT ice over DT gas in the microballoons are demonstrated. An equivalence rule is established between linear ramp pulses and Gaussians, and a connection is drawn between the ramps and square pulses. Projections are made, via the scaling rules, to breakeven-plus pellet designs. The scaling rules are used to recommend pulses for pellets recently imploded at LASL and KMSF. The calculated performance of these targets is shown to agree, after adjustments, with the laboratory findings. Attention is drawn to practical problem areas in structured pellet design.
Effects of Left Ventricular Systolic Function on Left Ventricular Diastolic Filling Patterns in Severe Mitral Regurgitation

Abstract Significant mitral regurgitation (MR) may alter the normal pattern of Doppler detected left ventricular (LV) filling by causing a prominent early filling (E) wave velocity. The manner and extent to which the typical filling pattern of uncomplicated MR is affected by concomitant impaired LV systolic function has not been characterized. Twenty patients with severe LV systolic dysfunction (2-dimensional echocardiographic estimation of ejection fraction ≤30%) and 21 age- and sex-matched case controls with normal systolic function (ejection fraction ≥55%) were selected. In addition, 20 subjects with normal LV systolic function and no MR were analyzed as a reference group. Maximal E-wave velocity was increased and highest among MR patients with preserved LV systolic function (124 ± 37 cm/s) than among those with LV systolic dysfunction (101 ± 25 cm/s; p Forty-one patients with severe mitral regurgitation by color Doppler were selected (21 with normal left ventricular (LV) function and 20 with severe LV dysfunction) and 20 subjects with normal LV systolic function and no mitral regurgitation were analyzed as a reference group by echocardiography. Systolic dysfunction of the left ventricle in patients with severe mitral regurgitation is associated with important changes in diastolic inflow velocities that include reduction of the maximal A-wave velocity to a greater extent than the E wave, resulting in an increased E/A ratio and shortening of deceleration time of the E wave.
A feature utilization analysis of the perception of pattern class structure

Patterns were computer-generated about two prototypes to form schematic clusters of three diameters about the cluster centroids. In a schematic concept-formation task, recovery of a priori schematic class membership by Os varied inversely as physical cluster diameter, with concept acquisition across trials evidenced in only the low-cluster-diameter condition. For each 0 who failed to classify according to the schema rule, linear discriminant function analysis was applied to his classes. In all cases, O-generated classes were successfully recovered by the physical pattern features used as predictors, the mapping of these classes by the LDF exceeding that by the schema rule in accuracy at all cluster-diameter levels.
Hazard characterization and management of arsine and gallium arsenide in large-scale production of gallium arsenide thin film photovoltaic cells

Abstract This report characterizes occupational and public health and safety hazards from arsine gas and gallium arsenide solid wastes in the large-scale manufacture of gallium arsenide thin film photovoltaic cells. These assessments are based on detailed process-level data developed for metallorganic chemical vapor deposition and halide chemical vapor deposition processes used in junction formation. The large quantity of arsine required as a feed-stock for a hypothetical 10 MW p per year production facility and its extreme toxicity may pose a major health and safety hazard to workers. Safety measures that could reduce this potential include proper gas storage, gas handling and monitoring, and adequate ventilation. Public health may be threatened by the possible release of arsine to the atmosphere; this hazard can be reduced by use of a potassium permanganate scrubber. Potential hazards to workers during gallium arsenide residuals clean-up can be reduced by use of personal protective equipment. The collected residual should be placed in hazardous waste landfills. Estimated annualized costs for these control options appear to be relatively small.
Status and trends in atmospheric deposition and emissions near Atlanta, Georgia, 1986-99

Abstract Wet and dry atmospheric deposition were investigated from weekly data, 1986–99 (1986–97 for dry deposition) at the Panola Mountain Research Watershed (PMRW), a forested research site 25 km, southeast of Atlanta, Georgia. Furthermore, the wet deposition was compared to that at three adjacent National Atmospheric Deposition Program's National Trends Network (NTN) sites (GA41, 50 km south of PMRW; AL99, 175 km northwest; NC25, 175 km north-northeast) and dry deposition was compared to that at adjacent Clean Air Status and Trends Network (CASTNET) sites, co-located at the NTN sites. The pH of precipitation is acidic and the dominant acid anion is SO4; the pH (derived from the volume-weighted mean H concentration) averages 4.44 for 1986–99, and varies seasonally with average lowest values in summer (4.19) and highest in winter (4.63). From 1986–99, the annual wet deposition of sulfur (S) and nitrogen (N) averaged 400 and 300 eq ha−1 (6.4 and 4.2 kg ha−1), respectively. Inferential model estimates of annual dry S and N deposition from 1986–97 averaged 130 and 150 eq ha−1 (2.1 and 2.1 kg ha−1), respectively. From 1993–99, net S deposition (dry deposition plus canopy interactions) for coniferous and deciduous throughfall (throughfall minus wet-only deposition) averaged 400 and 150 eq ha−1 (6.4 and 2.1 kg ha−1), respectively. The annual wet deposition of S and N species at PMRW was comparable to that at NTN sites, with the exception of higher N species deposition at AL99 and relatively lower H, SO4 and NO3 deposition at GA41. Dry S deposition at PMRW differed markedly from the CASTNET sites despite similarity in S concentrations for all but NC25; the differences are attributed to differences in model parameters associated with the landscape and vegetation characteristics at the sites. At PMRW, atmospheric deposition trends were not detected for the entire sampling period, but were detected for shorter periods (4–5 yr). Annual S and N deposition increased from 1986 to 1991, decreased to 1995 and then increased to 1999. SO2 emissions from seven major point sources within 120 km of PMRW decreased markedly from the late 1980s to 1995 and have remained relatively constant or increased slightly from 1995 to 1998 Annual wet and dry S deposition at PMRW significantly correlates (p
Voltage-transfer-function matrix realisation using operational amplifiers

A new method of realising a voltage-transfer-function vector by means of an active network containing RC 1-ports and a single operational amplifier is presented.
Closed-loop stabilization of the jamming avoidance response reveals its locally unstable and globally nonlinear dynamics

The Jamming Avoidance Response, or JAR, in the weakly electric fish has been analyzed at all levels of organization, from whole-organism behavior down to specific ion channels. Nevertheless, a parsimonious description of the JAR behavior in terms of a dynamical system model has not been achieved at least in part due to the fact that 'avoidance' behaviors are both intrinsically unstable and nonlinear. We overcame the instability of the JAR in Eigenmannia virescens by closing a feedback loop around the behavioral response of the animal. Specifically, the instantaneous frequency of a jamming stimulus was tied to the fish's own electrogenic frequency by a feedback law. Without feedback, the fish's own frequency diverges from the stimulus frequency, but appropriate feedback stabilizes the behavior. After stabilizing the system, we measured the responses in the fish's instantaneous frequency to various stimuli. A delayed first-order linear system model fitted the behavior near the equilibrium. Coherence to white noise stimuli together with quantitative agreement across stimulus types supported this local linear model. Next, we examined the intrinsic nonlinearity of the behavior using clamped frequency difference experiments to extend the model beyond the neighborhood of the equilibrium. The resulting nonlinear model is composed of competing motor return and sensory escape terms. The model reproduces responses to step and ramp changes in the difference frequency (df) and predicts a 'snap-through' bifurcation as a function of dF that we confirmed experimentally.
Formation of Ni/SiO2 and Ag/SiO2 Nanosphere Composites

SiO2 nanospheres have been produced via a high temperature evaporation process and they have been Ni or Ag plated using electroless plating solutions. These samples were examined by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Magnetic Resonance (MR). The initial SiO2 nanospheres were about 30 nm in diameter, and the Ni plating layer resulted in a 25nm thick metallic Ni coverage, while the Ag coverage was estimated to be in the 150 nm range. In the case of the Ni/SiO2 nanosphere composites, the MR signals show the presence of Ni+2 and Ni+3 paramagnetic centers, seen below 40K, and ferromagnetic metallic Ni, which is seen above 40K. The dried Ni plating solution (with no SiO2) shows only the presence of paramagnetic Ni+3. These results suggest that an interfacial reaction at the surface of the SiO2 nanospheres leads to the formation of ferromagnetic Ni, which deposits onto the spheres and forms a ferromagnetic Ni/SiO2 nanosphere composite. In the case of the Ag/SiO2 nanosphere composites, no MR signal is seen from the non-magnetic Ag, but strong paramagnetic behavior has been noted for Co+2, which originates from the plating solution.
Thoracoscopic Excision of Mediastinal Parathyroid Adenomas: A Report of Two Cases and Review of the Literature

Abstract Background: Most abnormal parathyroid glands can be removed through a standard cervical incision; even those in the superior mediastinum. Those located in certain areas of the mediastinum, for example posteriorly or in the aortopulmonic window, historically have required excision through a median sternotomy or thoracotomy. Angioablation is a nonsurgical alternative to management of these lesions. Study Design: We present two case reports of mediastinal parathyroid adenomas that were excised thoracoscopically, and review the literature regarding the management of mediastinal parathyroid adenomas. Results: Both patients who underwent precise localization and thoracoscopic excision of their mediastinal parathyroid adenomas had resolution of their hypercalcemia with minimal associated morbidity and shortened recovery periods. Conclusions: We suggest that thoracoscopic excision of mediastinal parathyroid adenomas is the better means of controlling hypercalcemia secondary to parathyroid adenoma in those patients considered for either median sternotomy, thoracotomy or angiographic ablation where the exact location of the lesion can be established preoperatively.
Towards Reliable Application Data Broadcast in Wireless Ad Hoc Networks

Application data broadcast in ad hoc networks is an important primitive that has received little systematic research - the main focus of prior research being on control data broadcast. In this paper, we show why control data broadcast and even multicast techniques are insufficient for reliable application data broadcast; in fact their reliability degrades sharply with increasing application data size. We discover the root cause of this to be IP fragmenting the application data but not providing good reliability control on the fragments. We hence propose READ (reliable and efficient application-data dissemination), a protocol based on higher-layer fragmentation with fragment-level reliability control. READ splits a data packet into fragments, and disseminates them separately at dynamically adaptive intervals. Receivers piggyback implicit NACKs when propagating the fragments, and retrieve missing fragments from neighbors. Through experiments, we show that READ consistently achieves high delivery ratio and short latency, outperforming all other examined protocols.
Serial Studies of Peripheral Blood Myeloma Cells in Patients with Multiple Myeloma: When is the Optimal Time for Stem Cell Harvest?

This study serially quantitated monoclonal plasma cells (PC) in the peripheral blood (PB) of 33 patients with multiple myeloma (MM) at diagnosis, after therapy, and at relapse using a sensitive immunofluorescence technique. The goal was to learn which disease phase is best for harvesting PB stem cells free of monoclonal PC. In 24 chemotherapy responders, 88% (21/24) had circulating PC at diagnosis; after therapy, 63% (15/24) had none, 33% (8/24) had <3 × 106/L, and only one had ≥3 × 106/L. In nine cases who failed to respond to initial chemotherapy, 89% (8/9) had high levels (≥3 × 106/L) of circulating PC at diagnosis that remained high after therapy. In the relapse phase, 88% (21/24) had circulating PC and 63% (15/24) had high numbers. This study demonstrates that the PB is least likely to have circulating monoclonal PC during the period after successful chemotherapy. Patients who fail to respond to initial chemotherapy or are in relapse are likely to have tumor cells in the PB.
An Efficient Implementation of Unrestricted Motion Compensation in Video Encoder

This paper proposes an implementation method to reduce complexity of motion estimation in the padded areas for unrestricted motion compensation. The proposed method avoids repeating the same calculation of motion estimation cost in the padded areas with identical search outcome as the conventional motion estimation. The savings realized in this method depends only on the block size, image size, and the search range. The proposed method can be applied to several video compression standards such as H.263, and H.264.
Advances and issues in the pharmacotherapy of rheumatoid arthritis

SUMMARY Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an unremitting and progressive disease despite the use of second–line drugs in the majority of patients. In addition, a shortened life–span directly attributable to RA is now recognized. The additions of methotrexate and sulfasalazine to the therapeutic armamentarium represent important treatment advances during the past decade. To improve the effectiveness of second–line drug therapy, earlier intervention and use of these newer drugs in combination with older second–line drugs is being advocated. Several proposed strategies for intervening earlier, combining second–line drugs, and/or improving patient selection for second–line drug therapy are reviewed. Systematic evaluation of these strategies is needed. Controlled studies to date have not demonstrated combining secondline drugs is superior to using individual secondline agents. Future advances in optimizing patient outcomes with these drugs will require systematic screening for potentially superior treatment strategies followed by supportive proof of effectiveness in the form of large–scale studies.
Impedance-analyzer measurements of high-frequency power passives: techniques for high power and low impedance

Challenges for measurements of high-frequency passive components for power electronics applications include the difficulty in measuring the small real impedance of an efficient component, the need for high-level excitation to match operating conditions for a nonlinear component, and in some applications, the need to measure very low impedances. Commercial impedance analyzers are tested and shown to be able to meet some of these requirements. To extend their capabilities, a new test fixture with less than 100 pH stray inductance has been developed for measurements of low impedances. The use of a power booster to extend drive capability to higher powers is also presented.
A distributed state estimation and control algorithm for plantwide processes

A multirate distributed and decentralized approach to state estimation and control is developed for large-scale processes. The decentralized and scalable form of the Kalman filter algorithm is formulated for multirate sampled-data systems. The multirate formulation is necessitated by differing sample times for distributed computation and process measurement availability. The distributed linear quadratic Gaussian control methodology is implemented in a simulation environment using appropriate tools for distributed computation. The issues involved in the model decomposition for employing the distributed control algorithm are examined. Heuristic guidelines are proposed to balance the computational load and communication overhead across the distributed control network. This methodology is demonstrated in a case study involving a simulated large-scale industrial reaction-separation system.
Alleviating Stress In Police Agencies

Police stress has been examined in many studies, many of which have focused upon the development of prevention and treatment programs for the police officers (Maslach, 1982; Maslach & Jackson, 1979; Mitchell, 1983; Mitchell & Everly, 1993). The trend of combating stress began with the police agencies using employee assistance programs, funding conferences, conducting research, and establishing prevention programs, but the fact remains that the health of police officers and their families becomes a large concern as most officers tend not use free counseling due to concerns regarding confidentiality and the competence of the counselors. An example of one program is the New Jersey COP-2-COP confidential hotline for police officers and their families (Ussery & Waters, 2006). COP-2-COP was a volunteer program and its usefulness was seen post-September 11, 2001, in its response to the needs of the survivors of the World Trade Center disaster and also after the New Orleans disaster in the Critical Incident Stress Debriefing process after Hurricane Katrina. Police stress can have a bad influence on police performance and can cause many problems such as poor job performance, increased accidents, sleep disturbances, marital discord, domestic violence, posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, suicide, alcohol and other drug abuse, ulcers and other digestive disorders, respiratory ailments, and cardiovascular disease.
Evidence for a fourth state related to the three J{sup PC}=2{sup ++},{pi}{sup -}p{yields}{phi}{phi}n states explainable by 2{sup ++} glueball production

Four separate experiments [A. Etkin et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 41, 784 (1978).][A. Etkin et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 49, 1620 (1982).][A. Etkin et al., Phys. Lett. B 165, 217 (1985).][A. Etkin et al., Phys. Lett. B 201, 568 (1988).] observing the OZI forbidden disconnected reaction ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\phi}\ensuremath{\phi}n$ with increasing statistics were consistent. These experiments, very selectively, completely broke down the OZI suppression by three $\ensuremath{\phi}\ensuremath{\phi}$ resonances with ${I}^{G}{J}^{PC}={0}^{+}{2}^{++}$ in the observed mass region 2.038 GeV to 2.600 GeV. The only viable proposed explanation has been that the ${I}^{G}{J}^{PC}={0}^{+}{2}^{++}$ glueball expected in this mass region caused the hard glue in the disconnection to resonate and very selectively break down the OZI suppression for its quantum numbers only. Recently a $pp$ central production spin analysis found that the ${f}_{2}(1950)$ had a dominant decay mode ${f}_{2}(1270)\ensuremath{\pi}\ensuremath{\pi}$ [D. Barberis et al., Phys. Lett. B 471, 440 (2000).]). We consider if it is related to the $\ensuremath{\phi}\ensuremath{\phi}$ resonances, and find that it likely is.
Transformation Zone Shape Effects on Crack Shielding in Ceria‐Partially‐Stabilized Zirconia (Ce‐TZP)–Alumina Composites

In this paper crack tip shielding is evaluated for observed transformation zones in Ce-TZP/Al[sub 2]O[sub 3] composites, in which the transformation zone sizes were changed significantly by varying the sintering temperature to control the transformation yield stress. The calculated shielding effects are consistent with an observed insensitivity of crack resistance curves to transformation zone size; smaller zones in materials with higher yield stress were associated with larger ratios of wake length to zone width and correspondingly higher normalized shielding stress intensity factors. Shielding due to the dilatational component of the transformation strain accounted for most of the toughening observed in these materials.
Electroporation of DNA sequences from the pathogenicity locus (PaLoc) of toxigenic Clostridium difficile into a non-toxigenic strain

Abstract Toxigenic Clostridium difficile is the etiologic agent of C. difficile -associated diarrhoea (CDAD), the most common cause of hospital-acquired infectious diarrhoea. The genes tcd A and tcd B, which encode for the toxin A and B proteins, are part of the pathogenicity locus (PaLoc) of toxigenic C. difficile . Genetic and virulence studies at the molecular level in C. difficile have been hindered by the lack of techniques for DNA manipulation in this species. We describe the electroporation of DNA fragments from a toxigenic isolate into a non-toxigenic strain of C. difficile . Using previously described methods of electroporation into Clostridium sppthe complete toxin B gene and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) fragments of the PaLoc were cloned and electroporated into a non-toxigenic strain of C. difficile . The resulting transformed clones were screened for the introduced gene fragments by PCR, which confirmed their presence. This is the first description of introduction of DNA into C. difficile by electroporation.
Directional couplers between doubled-sided substrate microstrip lines using virtually-terminated coupling slots

A new planar multilayer quadrature coupler is proposed. This new multilayer coupler consists of two microstrip lines that are coupled through two virtually terminated narrow slots in a common ground plane. Experimental results are in fairly good agreement with theory. With the advantages of compact size and simple design procedure, this new component should have many applications in multilayer microwave integrated circuits. >
The immunological role of antigen-binding cells

Abstract A well characterized antigen-binding cell population can yield important insights into antigen-induced activation events. But data interpretation must take into account the heterogeneity of these populations. The maturity of ABC and the proportion belonging to the various T and B-cell subsets depends on the source and on the conditions of the antigen-binding cell assay. There are a variety of useful methods for isolating highly purified populations of B-ABC, but the highest purity is achieved only by sacrificing yield and skewing the composition of the population. The direct demonstration that virtually every LPS-stimulatable precursor of IgM or IgG secreting cells in the SRC-ABC population is a precursor for specific antibody producing cells establishes the commitment of SRC-ABC to the SRC response. Although the majority of spleen B-ABC respond to immunization in vivo by switching surface isotypes and accelerating receptor turnover, the more stringent requirements for further differentiation to antibody production are still under active investigation 27 . By investigating the biochemical events that take place in ABC during immune responses in vivo and in vitro , and pursuing parallel studies of cloned functional cell lines responding to antigen through surface receptors, wer may eventually understand the classical interactions of cellular immunology in terms of physiological changes in the antigen-reactive cells.
High-level optimization via automated statistical modeling

We develop the use of statistical modeling for portable high-level optimizations such as data layout and algorithm selection. We build the models automatically from profiling information, which ensures robust and accurate models that reflect all aspects of the target platform.We use the models to select among several data layouts for an iterative PDE solver and to select among several sorting algorithms. The selection is correct more than 99% of the time on each of four platforms. In the few cases it selects suboptimally, the selected implementation performs nearly as well; that is, it always makes at least a very good choice. Correct selection is platform and workload dependent and can improve performance by nearly a factor of three.We also use the models to optimize parameters of these applications automatically. In all cases, the models predicted the optimal parameter setting, resulting in improvements ranging up to a factor of three.Finally, we use the models to construct portable high-level libraries, which contain multiple implementations and support for automatic selection and parameter optimization of the fastest implementation for the target platform and workload.
Plasmalemmal vacuolar H+-ATPases in angiogenesis, diabetes and cancer

Angiogenesis, i.e., new blood vessel formation, is required in normal and pathological states. A dysfunction in the microvascular endothelium occurs in diabetes, leading to decreased blood flow and limb amputation. In cancer, angiogenesis is increased to allow for growth, invasion, and metastasis of tumor cells. Better understanding of the molecular events that cause or are associated with either of these diseases is needed to develop therapies. The tumor and angiogenic cells micro-environment is acidic and not permissive for growth. We have shown that to survive this environment, highly metastatic and angiogenic cells employ vacuolar H+-ATPase at their plasma membranes (pmV-ATPases) to maintain an alkaline pHcyt. However, in lowly metastatic and in microvascular endothelial cells from diabetic model, the density of pmV-ATPase and the cell invasiveness are decreased. Therefore, the overexpression of the pmV-ATPase is important for cell invasion, and essential for tumor progression, angiogenesis and metastasis. Both, cancer and diabetes are heterogenous diseases that involve many different proteins and signaling pathways. Changes in pHcyt have been associated with the regulation of a myriad of proteins, signaling molecules and pathways affecting many if not all cellular functions. Since changes in pHcyt are pleiotropic, we hypothesize that alteration in a single protein, pmV-ATPase, that can regulate pHcyt may explain the dysfunction of many proteins and cellular pathways in diabetes and cancer. Our long term goal is to determine the molecular mechanisms by which pmV-ATPase expression regulates tumor angiogenesis and metastasis. Such knowledge would be useful to identify targets for cancer therapy.
Isolating Influenza RNA from Clinical Samples Using Microfluidic Oil-Water Interfaces

The effective and robust separation of biomolecules of interest from patient samples is an essential step in diagnostic applications. We present a platform for the fast extraction of nucleic acids from clinical specimens utilizing paramagnetic PMPs, an oil-water interface, a small permanent magnet and a microfluidic channel to separate and purify captured nucleic acids from lysate in less than one minute, circumventing the need for multiple washing steps and greatly simplifying and expediting the purification procedure. Our device was able to isolate influenza RNA from clinical nasopharyngeal swab samples with high efficiency when compared to the Ambion® MagMAXTM Viral RNA Isolation Kit, sufficiently separating nucleic acid analytes from PCR-inhibiting contaminants within the lysate while also critically maintaining high integrity of the viral genome. We find that this design has great potential for rapid, efficient and sensitive nucleic acid separation from patient sample.
Parkinson’s Disease and Aging

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a slowly progressive neurodegenerative syndrome, the most prevalent movement disorder amongst the elderly population. The average onset of disease is 60 years of age. It is historically associated chiefly with motor deficits, although recently it has been shown to include significant non-motor effects. Cardinal motor symptoms result from preferential loss of a subset of dopaminergic neurons within the substantia nigra pars compacta. Molecular changes associated with this neuronal cell loss include mitochondrial dysfunction, reduction in protein homeostasis, increase in oxidative and inflammatory damage, and mishandling of cellular calcium. Although therapies exist that improve symptoms, there is currently no prevention or cure for the disease. Several hallmarks of the disease coincide with events that are also linked to aging, suggesting that aging is not merely a risk factor, but an underlying cause of the disease in susceptible individuals who, based on genetic and environmental factors ultimately present with PD. Understanding the relationship between processes that drive aging and their potential impact on age-related neurodegenerative disease could therefore provide powerful new avenues of therapy. Here we review the potential role of several such changes including age-related losses in ability to cope with stress (‘resilience’), systemic inflammaging, brain cellular senescence affecting function of both endogenous and transplanted neurons, and the role of age-related epigenetic alterations on cellular dopaminergic dynamics. The need for expanded research towards a better understanding of the interrelationship between genes and environment (the ‘exposome’) in aging and PD is also discussed.
The lunar laser communication demonstration time-of-flight measurement system: overview, on-orbit performance, and ranging analysis

The Lunar Laser Communication Demonstration (LLCD) flown on the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) satellite achieved record uplink and downlink communication data rates between a satellite orbiting the Moon and an Earth-based ground terminal. In addition, the high-speed signals of the communication system were used to accurately measure the round-trip time-of-flight (TOF) of signals sent to the Moon and back to the Earth. The measured TOF data, sampled at a 20-kS/s rate, and converted to distance, was processed to show a Gaussian white noise floor typically less than 1 cm RMS. This resulted in a precision for relative distance measurements more than two orders-of-magnitude finer than the RF-based navigation and ranging systems used during the LADEE mission. This paper presents an overview of the LLCD TOF system, a summary of the on-orbit measurements, and an analysis of the accuracy of the measured data for the mission.
The processing and evaluation of clad metals

Clad metals are a specific form of composites in which the materials are arranged in a layered structure. Cold-roll bonding techniques are employed to produce more than 20,000 tonnes of clad metal laminates each year in the United States. This article is an introductory description of the processing steps in cold-roll bonding, the nature of the bond created in this process, and the methods used to evaluate the bond’s strength.
Magnetic Energy Storage and Conversion in Transient Solar Activity

The driver of transient solar activity is magnetic free energy stored in non-potential configurations. This energy is released impulsively, within a period of the order of 10 to 1000 seconds, by an as yet not completely understood process or chain of processes. We review our current knowledge of the observed characteristics of energy buildup and release, and the limitations of our understanding. We conclude that the coordinated international research effort, FLARES 22, is necessary for an effective attack on this problem of great importance to astrophysics, space physics, and space exploration.
Ambient Text and the Becoming Space of Writing

This article explores the spatial status of written texts in the urban environments of the digital age. I suggest that part of what writing does in and for the urban environment in such context is ...
Comparison of SfM computer vision point clouds of a landslide derived from multiple small UAV platforms and sensors to a TLS-based model

Structure from motion (SfM) computer vision is a remote sensing method that is gaining popularity due to its simplicity and ability to accurately characterize site geometry in three dimensions (3D)...
Boosted multivariate trees for longitudinal data

Machine learning methods provide a powerful approach for analyzing longitudinal data in which repeated measurements are observed for a subject over time. We boost multivariate trees to fit a novel flexible semi-nonparametric marginal model for longitudinal data. In this model, features are assumed to be nonparametric, while feature-time interactions are modeled semi-nonparametrically utilizing P-splines with estimated smoothing parameter. In order to avoid overfitting, we describe a relatively simple in sample cross-validation method which can be used to estimate the optimal boosting iteration and which has the surprising added benefit of stabilizing certain parameter estimates. Our new multivariate tree boosting method is shown to be highly flexible, robust to covariance misspecification and unbalanced designs, and resistant to overfitting in high dimensions. Feature selection can be used to identify important features and feature-time interactions. An application to longitudinal data of forced 1-second lung expiratory volume (FEV1) for lung transplant patients identifies an important feature-time interaction and illustrates the ease with which our method can find complex relationships in longitudinal data.
Distributed monitoring of wide-area oscillations in the presence of GPS spoofing attacks

Phasor Measurement Units (PMU) are playing an increasingly important role in wide-area monitoring and control of power systems. PMUs allow synchronous real-time measurements of voltage, phase angle and frequency from multiple remote locations in the grid, enabled by their ability to align to Global Position System (GPS) clocks. Given that this ability is vulnerable to GPS spoofing attacks, which have been confirmed easy to launch, this paper proposes a distributed real-time wide-area oscillation estimation approach that is robust to GPS spoofing on PMUs and their associated Phasor Data Concentrators (PDCs). The approach employs the idea of checking update consistency across distributed nodes and can tolerate up to one third of compromised nodes. Numerical simulations confirmed the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Butylated Hydroxyanisole-Induced Changes in Lipid Synthesis by Tetrahymena pyriformis

The effect of butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) on synthesis of the major lipid classes was studied using Tetrahymena pyriformis as a model cellular system. Initial changes in the amount of lipids were observed after 3 h of exposure to the antioxidant. After 24 h of exposure to increasing concentrations of BHA, there were significant differences in the percentage of [14C]acetate incorporated into various lipid classes with a decrease in the percentage of polar lipids synthesized and an increase in the percentage of triglycerides, free fatty acids and tetrahymanol synthesized. Addition of BHA at a concentration up to 12.5 μg/ml resulted in inhibition of the synthesis of lipid fractions. In addition, the carrier used to add the antioxidant to the test culture had an effect on the cellular toxicity of the antioxidant. Dimethylsulfoxide reduced the toxicity of BHA when compared to ethanol. These results suggest that BHA will alter the relative rates of synthesis of various lipids in T. pyriformis , thus altering the lipid composition of the cell.