cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optimized Vibration Suppression of Structural Floor Using Passive TMD

Vibration suppression has been implemented for many years as a way for a building’s occupants to feel more comfortable in structures prone to horizontal swaying or vertical oscillation. Suppression of a structure’s natural vibrations becomes even more important when delicate work, like surgeries, will be performed within. The purpose of this experiment was to confirm the validity of a passive vibration suppression unit to reduce the vibration in a portable shelter floor where surgeries would take place. Impact tests were done to determine the natural frequency of the floor, and along with the weight of the floor, were used to calculate operating parameters for a tuned mass damper, or TMD. A TMD was then assembled and vibration suppression effects were tested at 4% of total floor mass, to confirm the viability of the design. Additionally, TMDs of 2%, 3%, 4%, and 5% of the mass of the floor and shaker combined were made so frequency sweep tests could be done. Finally, a cantilever beam TMD was made, to test effectiveness of an easily adjustable TMD variant. The produced TMDs are expected to reduce the time the floor is vibrating and reduce vibration of the floor by up to 60%, bringing oscillations within comfortable levels even at the floor’s natural frequency.Copyright © 2018 by ASME
Study of Toe Joints to Enhance Locomotion of Humanoid Robots

Most humanoid robots still walk with bent knees and flat feet which is considered highly unnatural, i.e. not biologically inspired, and also energy inefficient. The paradigm and benefits of walking with non-bent knees and with an active toe joint are explored in this study. Non-bent knee walking trajectories are created using an instantaneous capture point (ICP) planner within a momentum based quadratic program (QP) whole body control framework. The toe joint trajectories are obtained as an emergent behavior of the QP determined by under-constraining the objective function and modeling movement of the toe joint as a torsional spring. A comparison between similar systems with and without toe joints reveal a stronger thrust vector during toe-off, reduced knee joint angles and a more human like gait. Experiments in simulation are conducted on the Atlas humanoid robot.
Mechanical Rotating Arrays for Sidelobe Suppression

A novel approach by utilizing the fast mechanical rotation of arrays has been proposed for low sidelobe levels by integrating the rotational time-varying radiation pattern in a short time. From the experimental measured radiation pattern for a 4-element circular polarized array antenna with 0.87 element spacing, the mainlobe of the radiation pattern for the rotation array is almost the same as the non-rotation array, while the sidelobe level is decreased by 14.2 dB from the non-rotation array. This technique could be potentially applied for sensing and radar systems that require high SNR and frequency resolution by integrating the received signals within the rotation period.
Effect of Ischemic Time on Immediate Post-Transplant Heart Rate and Chronotropic Agent Use

Background It is unclear if the ischemic time affects the heart rate and the use of vasoactive peptides in the immediate postoperative period. It is hypothesized that prolonged ischemic time can decrease the mean heart rate and increase the requirement of chronotropic and inotropic agents, in terms of dose as well as duration. Methods Retrospective review of adult patients who underwent orthotopic heart transplantation from 2011 to 2018 at Jewish Hospital, Louisville, Kentucky. Results Of the total 77 patients, 9 patients died on-average 401 days post-transplant. The cohort was divided into 2 groups based on the median ischemic time of 162 minutes. Mean heart rate was similar in both groups however, patients with longer ischemic time (≥162 minutes) required higher total epinephrine dose in the immediate postoperative period (days 3rd and 5th). On postoperative day 7 (POD#7), higher ischemic time correlated with more number of chronotropic agents (p=0.039) [figure 1]. Patients persistently on at least one catecholamine agent on POD#7 were more likely to die during prolonged post-discharge follow up (36% vs. 8%, p= 0.035). Expired patients consistently required higher doses of epinephrine in the early postoperative period (p=0.001). Discussion The study found longer ischemic time correlated with difficulty in weaning chronotropic and inotropic peptides in the immediate postoperative period needing increased intensive care unit stay and hospitalization cost. Despite the significantly longer vasoactive peptide use, the mean heart rates were similar in both groups. This could indicate an independent ability to maintain heart rate among shorter ischemic time patients.
Every minute counts: The impact of pre-hospital response time and scene time on mortality of penetrating trauma patients

Abstract Background Prompt surgical control of hemorrhage is crucial in penetrating trauma patients. We aimed to study the impact of prehospital response time (PreRespT) and scene time (SceneT) on hospital mortality. Methods Using the Trauma Quality Improvement Program (TQIP) 2010–2016 database, we identified all adults with penetrating injury. We defined PreRespT as time from EMS dispatch to scene arrival, and SceneT as time spent on scene. Univariate then multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to study the independent correlation between PreRespT and SceneT on hospital mortality, adjusting for several covariates. Results Out of a total of 1,403,470 patients, 43,467 patients were included. Multivariable analyses suggested that: 1) every minute increase in PreRespT independently correlates with a 2% increase in mortality (OR 1.02, p Conclusion In the penetrating injury trauma patient, PreRespT and SceneT independently correlate with hospital mortality. This data suggests that a faster PreRespT and a “scoop and run” strategy may be more beneficial in this population.
Patient experiences with group behavioural activation in a partial hospital program

Background: Behavioural activation (BA) is an evidence-based treatment for depression that has been primarily delivered in individual out-patient treatment. Prior research supports a positive participant experience in individual therapy; however, less is known about the patient experience in group therapy, which is common in acute psychiatric settings. Aims: The present study examined the patient experience of Brief Behavioral Activation Treatment for Depression (BATD) delivered in group acute psychiatric treatment. Method: We used thematic analysis to extract themes from feedback surveys administered as part of quality improvement practice at a partial hospital program. Survey questions explored what patients learned, liked, disliked and thought could be improved in the BATD groups. Three individuals independently coded survey responses and collaboratively developed categories and themes. Results: Themes included several helpful content areas (e.g. value-driven activities, increasing motivation, goal setting, activity scheduling, cognitive behavioural model, self-monitoring) and learning methods (e.g. group format, experiential exercises, worksheets). Patients also identified unhelpful content (e.g. specific focus on depression and listing activities by mood). There was mixed feedback regarding the repetition of material and balance of lecture versus group participation. Conclusion: Overall, these findings suggest a mostly positive patient experience of group-delivered BATD and support the acceptability of group-delivered BATD as a component of short-term intensive treatment.
Two cases of disseminated BCG disease following vaccination in the same family: case reports and review of the literature in China.

Disseminated bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) disease is a rare and serious adverse event following immunization (AEFI) with BCG. Here, we reported two cases of disseminated BCG disease in the same f...
Biomaterial Applications in Islet Encapsulation and Transplantation

The worldwide prevalence of type 1 diabetes motivates the development of different treatment options for the disease. Current clinical treatments typically require patient involvement, often result...
Context for API Calls in Malware vs Benign Programs

The current progress in computer technology is matched by the increase in the malware and cyber-attacks, resulting in a nearly constant battle between establishing a complete malware detection technique and newly evolving smart malicious code. The analysis of malware is made difficult by the fact that, to a large extent, malware and benign code use the same instructions. This suggests that the difference in behavior might be due not to the instructions used, but in how they are used. In particular, the context in which instructions are used seems to play an important role in deciding between malicious and benign code. This work describes progress towards defining and extracting the context of API from Portable Execution files of the Windows operating system. It is suggested that the context can be used as a feature in a machine learning algorithm towards identifying attempts to corrupt the system and to elude the antivirus scanners through code obfuscation.
Abstract 196: Cardiac Small Extracellular Microvesicles-Induced Adipogenesis Suppression Contribute to Matabolic Disorders in Heart Failure

Objective: Local and systemic metabolic disorders during heart failure (HF) affecting the disease progression and prognosis. The long-range organ-to-organ communications mediates the coordination o...
The Energy Method

We now make a new start. We discard the concept of stress, and with it a number of postulates — some of which were stated explicitly, others of which may have been tacitly implied — about physical or metaphysical situations at experimentally inaccessible points of a body. Instead, we endeavor to derive the equations of equilibrium by the thermodynamic minimization principle that was formulated in § 4.3. The principle was applied in §4.4 to a rigid magnetic body and in §4.5 to an elastic nonmagnetic body; we must apply it now to a body that is both magnetizable and deformable. Our first problem is to find the proper thermodynamic potential, the G of Eqs. (4.9) and (4.16), for minimization under given applied fields and forces.
Position Statement: Testing in a VLSI Design Course

I’ve believed for a long time that testing concepts are important to VLSI design. That’s why I included testing concepts in my book Modern VLSI Design [Wol98]. In our VLSI course at Princeton, I try to cover testing concepts at each level of the design hierarchy: basic stuck-at fault models and combinational test generation when we talk about combinational logic; sequential test generation when we talk about sequential logic; and highlevel design-for-testability when we discuss architecture design. I stress that testability is important and that it must be designed into the chip. I think that giving them some understanding of test fundamentals helps them understand both the importance of testing and some basic techniques for designing testable chips that they can apply when they go to industry.
Remarks on receiving the C. Anderson Aldrich Award.

Twenty years ago, Grover Powers, in accepting from the American Pediatric Society the John Howland Award, surprised and challenged his audience by an address on the then so universally neglected subject of mental retardation. "The Retarded Child and his Family—a Challenge to Pediatric Practice, Research and Education"1 is still worth reading today. As a matter of fact, when my wife and I were charged in 1965 with putting together a special mental retardation issue of the International Child Welfare Review, we felt that Dr. Powers9 statement was still as strong as anything we had heard from other pediatricians and with the Academy9s permission we reprinted it for a wide international audience. That I am honored today by your Committee is undoubtedly a direct outgrowth of Dr. Powers9 influence on me. When I became Executive Director of the National Association for Retarded Children, the Association had had for four years the benefit of Dr. Powers9 counsel. As founder and guiding spirit of NARC9s Scientific Research Advisory Committee, he was a hard taskmaster and contributed materially to the Association9s high standard of performance. In a very real sense he was my teacher, and I cherish the memories of the afternoons I spent at his home in New Haven. With this background I am, of course, particularly appreciative and moved by the fact that I am privileged to receive today the C. Anderson Aldrich Award from one of Grover Powers9 most gifted and, to his final days, most faithful students, Harry Gordon, whose service on NARC9s Research Board enhanced its contributions in no small measure.
Advanced Optics with Laser Pointer and Metersticks

We are using a laser pointer as a light source, and metersticks as an optical branch and the screen for wave optics experiments. It is shown the setup for measurements of wavelength of laser light and rating radial spacing of the CD, diffraction on a wire and a slit, observation of a polarization of light and observation of a hologram.
Paper Forests: Imagining and deploying exogenous ecologies in arid India

Abstract Debate about the causes and consequences of regional deforestation in India has paved the way for calls to action and intervention, and state-sponsored afforestation has led to government claims of progress against land degradation. Census statistics from the arid state of Rajasthan show a tide of forests reclaiming the land. These trends obscure crucial realities that continue to undermine the claims of the state: forest ecosystems continue to disappear, expanding cover is characterized by an ecologically narrow range of species, and forest management remains rooted in a decision structure that fails to educe local knowledge and experience. More fundamentally, the flaws in the Rajasthani forest campaign reflect an entrenched pattern that has long guided authorities in the region; to govern the landscape, the state must quite literally construct forests—as mental categories, discursive tropes, and material realities—where none have existed before. The material conditions of tree cover are, in this way, influenced by the discursive forms of forest imported into the region. This paper surveys the contradictory trends in Rajasthani land cover, interrogating the relationship between the forests that expand on paper and those that dwindle on the ground. In the process, the paper contributes to ongoing work in post-structural political ecology by asking how discourse matters in the reconstitution of material ecologies and by linking the construction of ecological categories to the formation of landscapes.
A New Method for Mass Screening and Clinical Use

… In all the accumulating volumes of loose medical literature no symptom has been more loosely treated. Off-hand decisions on this matter, such as commonly made, and their usual records "pupils dilated" or "pupils constricted," are at best worthless, and often deceiving. … (L. Jackson, Proc. Philad. County Med. Soc, Session 1887:105)
Delayed transection of urethra by mersilene tape.

Abstract This report is of a patient with complete urethral transection after undergoing a mersilene sling urethral suspension. This unusual complication eventually presented as an anterior urethral pseudodiverticulum containing the mersilene tape with a secondary calculus.
Allosteric Modulation of Cadherin Affinity

We report direct evidence for the allosteric regulation of cadherin adhesion by conformational changes and inside-out signaling. Cadherins are essential proteins that mediate intercellular cohesion in all tissues, and circumstantial evidence suggested that cadherins, like integrins are allosterically regulated by inside-out signaling. Recent findings with conformationally-specific antibodies provided biochemical evidence that cadherin adhesion is allosterically modulated by conformational changes propagating through the cadherin cytoplasmic domain and in the phosphorylation state of a cytoplasmic binding protein, p120 catenin. Here we present direct evidence, using micropipette manipulation, that antibody-induced conformational changes alter the intrinsic affinity of membrane-bound cadherins. Micropipette manipulation measurements quantified the two-dimensional affinity and dissociation rate between cell surface cadherins. We used Colo205 cells, which express a full complement of surface E-cadherin, but do not aggregate unless treated with a kinase inhibitor or activating antibodies. Kinetic measurements between Colo205 cells and cadherin-displaying red blood cells showed that the activating monoclonal antibodies, as well as the kinase inhibitor staurosporine, substantially increased the intrinsic affinity of membrane bound cadherins. Neutral antibodies, which bind cadherin but do not alter Colo205 aggregation, had no effect on cell-cell binding. This important finding demonstrates conformational coupling between cadherin binding activity, cytoplasmic domain conformations, and intracellular signaling.
Targeting the Host to Curb the Flu

Influenza virus can cause substantial morbidity and mortality in high-risk populations such as the young, the elderly, and the immunosuppressed. One reason for the evolutionary success of this virus is that it has developed clever mechanisms to promote its own replication, evade the immune system, and avoid destruction by antiviral drugs. Currently there are only two antiviral drugs available to treat flu in the clinic—one targets the M2 ion channel and the other targets the NA neuraminidase viral protein. However, influenza strains resistant to these drugs are already emerging because of the high mutation rate of the virus. Thus, understanding how the virus relies on the relatively immutable host for its own survival may lead to new strategies to prevent and treat the infection. Watanabe and colleagues attempted to do just that, using a human cell line permissive for the replication of a bona fide and clinically relevant influenza virus. Their stepwise systematic approach identified ~1300 host proteins that co-immunoprecipitated with at least one of 11 tagged influenza viral proteins. These proteins were identified through mass spectrometry and then silenced with siRNA to determine whether the host protein affected influenza viral replication and cell viability. The group identified 91 promising host cell targets that when reduced by siRNA were able to decrease viral replication without causing substantial cell death. They then performed mechanistic studies to assess the selected 91 host factors for their role in the viral life cycle, viral genome replication, viral protein trafficking, virus-like protein formation, and viral RNP incorporation into mature virions. Taking advantage of existing drug databases, they searched for drugs that targeted the host factors identified and selected 11 drugs for in vitro testing. The investigators were able to identify two surprising drug targets that would have never been thought to have anti-viral properties: Golgi-specific brefeldin A-resistant guanine nucleotide exchange factor 1 (GBF1) and Janus kinase 1 (JAK1). The beauty of this approach is that by a better focus on the role of the host on viral survival, novel drug targets were identified that can curb the viral infection. In addition, the approach takes advantage of already existing drugs that can be repurposed as antiviral therapeutics. T. Watanabe et al. , Influenza virus-host interactome screen as a platform for antiviral drug development. Cell Host Microbe 16 , 795–805 (2014). [[Abstract]][1] [1]: http://www.cell.com/cell-host-microbe/abstract/S1931-3128(14)00398-9
Delay discounting is associated with the 2D:4D ratio in women but not men

The propensity to value a reward less as the delay to receive that reward increases is known as delay discounting and is typical of many forms of impulsive behavior. The current study investigated the relationship between delay discounting and the 2D:4D ratio, a proposed marker of prenatal androgen exposure, in 184 male and female college students. While male 2D:4D ratios were significantly lower than female ratios, there was no sex difference in delay discounting and no overall relationship between digit ratio and delay discounting. There was a significant negative correlation between the right 2D:4D ratio and delay discounting in women, with lower ratios associated with greater delay discounting. Results are discussed in terms of the adaptive value of impulsiveness in men and women and possible differences in sensitivity to the effects of prenatal versus circulating testosterone.
Reliable Generation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells From Human Lymphoblastoid Cell Lines

Patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) hold great promise for many applications, including disease modeling to elucidate mechanisms involved in disease pathogenesis, drug screening, and ultimately regenerative medicine therapies. A frequently used starting source of cells for reprogramming has been dermal fibroblasts isolated from skin biopsies. However, numerous repositories containing lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) generated from a wide array of patients also exist in abundance. To date, this rich bioresource has been severely underused for iPSC generation. We first attempted to create iPSCs from LCLs using two existing methods but were unsuccessful. Here we report a new and more reliable method for LCL reprogramming using episomal plasmids expressing pluripotency factors and p53 shRNA in combination with small molecules. The LCL-derived iPSCs (LCL-iPSCs) exhibited identical characteristics to fibroblast-derived iPSCs (fib-iPSCs), wherein they retained their genotype, exhibited a normal pluripotency profile, and readily differentiated into all three germ-layer cell types. As expected, they also maintained rearrangement of the heavy chain immunoglobulin locus. Importantly, we also show efficient iPSC generation from LCLs of patients with spinal muscular atrophy and inflammatory bowel disease. These LCL-iPSCs retained the disease mutation and could differentiate into neurons, spinal motor neurons, and intestinal organoids, all of which were virtually indistinguishable from differentiated cells derived from fib-iPSCs. This method for reliably deriving iPSCs from patient LCLs paves the way for using invaluable worldwide LCL repositories to generate new human iPSC lines, thus providing an enormous bioresource for disease modeling, drug discovery, and regenerative medicine applications.
Early neuroradiologic evidence of degeneration in Menkes' disease

We report the case of an infant with Menkes' disease who presented with moderately abnormal neurologic findings at birth and with extraaxial bleeding in the posterior fossa. Early cerebellar atrophy and hypomyelination were evident on magnetic resonance imaging at 5 weeks of age. We suggest that neurodegeneration occurs earlier than has been previously reported and may be identifiable even in neonates.
Spatial gradients in plant leaf wax D/H across a coastal salt marsh in southern California

Coastal salt marsh ecosystems contain strong environmental gradients that are anticipated to influence the D/H ratios recorded in the leaf waxes of salt-tolerant plants. We characterized the molecular and hydrogen isotopic composition of alkanes in plant and sediment samples as well as the D/H ratios of environmental and plant waters across an elevation and inundation gradient in a southern Californian, coastal salt marsh. We sampled the dominant salt marsh plant species: Salicornia virginica, Arthrocnemum subterminale and Jamuea carnosa (all succulents), as well as Monanthochloe littoralis and Limonium californicum (nonsucculents). Plant xylem water hydrogen isotopic compositions indicate a shift in source waters from meteoric influences at upland sites (dD value � 20‰) to seawater dominated values (0‰) at lowland areas. We found leaf water D enrichment relative to xylem water ranging from mean dD values of +54‰ (upland) to +28‰ (lowland), interpreted as a reduction of transpiration with increasing inundation time. This has the effect of increasing the net fractionation between source water and leaf wax product across the environmental gradient from mean values of � 101‰ (upland) to � 134‰ (lowland), with an attenuated signal recorded in the dD values of plant leaf wax n-alkanes (� 122‰ to � 136‰). These results constrain the hydrogen isotopic composition of salt marsh organic matter that may contribute to marine carbon budgets of the Santa Barbara Basin, and further indicate the potential for plant leaf waxes to resolve paleoenvironmental change, including sea level change, in sediment cores from salt marsh ecosystems.
Minimally invasive technique for release of Dupuytren’s contracture: segmental fasciectomy through multiple transverse incisions

Background A multitude of operative approaches have been described for treatment of Dupuytren’s contracture. A less-invasive technique of segmental fasciectomies performed through multiple small transverse incisions is presented.
Identification and Characterization of a Homogeneous Population of β2-Adrenergic Receptors on Human Alveolar Macrophages

Human alveolar macrophages obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage were studied with the high specific activity β-adrenergic ligand [125I]pindolol and found to possess a moderate density of β-adrenergic receptors. Using macrophage membranes, the receptor density (Bmax) was 42 ± 9 fmol/mg protein with an apparent equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd) of 44 ± 9 pM (mean ± SEM). With intact macrophages, the Bmax = 5,643 ± 942 sites/cell with Kd = 29 ± 9 pM. Competition binding studies with subtype-specific antagonists revealed an exclusive population of β2-adrenergic receptors. Incubation of intact macrophages with the β-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol caused a 6-fold increase in intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP). Prostaglandin E1 and forskolin, which activate adenylate cyclase via different mechanisms, afforded typical marked increases in macrophage cAMP. Saturation binding, competition binding, and cAMP accumulation studies may all be performed from a single sample of about 2 × 107 cells, which can be obtained ...
Understanding the DNA damage response in order to achieve desired gene editing outcomes in mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are high-impact disease vectors with the capacity to transmit pathogenic agents that cause diseases such as malaria, yellow fever, chikungunya, and dengue. Continued growth in knowledge of genetic, molecular, and physiological pathways in mosquitoes allows for the development of novel control methods and for the continued optimization of existing ones. The emergence of site-specific nucleases as genomic engineering tools promises to expedite research of crucial biological pathways in these disease vectors. The utilization of these nucleases in a more precise and efficient manner is dependent upon knowledge and manipulation of the DNA repair pathways utilized by the mosquito. While progress has been made in deciphering DNA repair pathways in some model systems, research into the nature of the hierarchy of mosquito DNA repair pathways, as well as in mechanistic differences that may exist, is needed. In this review, we will describe progress in the use of site-specific nucleases in mosquitoes, along with the hierarchy of DNA repair in the context of mosquito chromosomal organization and structure, and how this knowledge may be manipulated to achieve precise chromosomal engineering in mosquitoes.
Doppler-corrected differential detection of MPSK

An open-loop technique is presented for estimating and correcting Doppler frequency shift in an M-ary differential phase-shift-keyed (MDPSK) receiver. The novelty of the scheme is based on the observation that whereas the change in phase of the received signal over a full symbol contains the sum of the data (phase) and the Doppler-induced phase shift, the same change in phase over half a symbol (within a given symbol interval) contains only the Doppler-induced phase shift. Thus, by proper processing, the latter can be estimated and removed from the former. Analytical and simulation results are given for the variance of the above estimator, and the error probability performance of the MDPSK receiver is evaluated in the presence of the Doppler correction. Next, the practical considerations associated with the application of this technique on bandlimited Nyquist channels are discussed and incorporated into the final design. It is shown that the receiver can, in the absence of timing jitter, be designed to allow combined Doppler correction and data detection with no penalty due to intersymbol interference (ISI). The effects of ISI due to timing jitter are assessed by computer simulation. >
SA-1 antigen expression in small intensely fluorescent cells is associated with proliferation

Sympathetic neurons, chromaffin cells, and small, intensely fluorescent (SIF) cells are thought to derive from a common sympathoadrenal precursor cell. Sympathoadrenal precursor cells and adrenal chromaffin cells have been shown to react with an antibody, SA-1; we now report that, like sympathoadrenal precursors, SIF cells during their proliferative phase transiently possess this epitope. Precursors and SIF cells were identified in double-label studies of the superior cervical ganglion (SCG) using SA-1 and an antibody that identifies a noradrenergic trait, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). At E16 when the earliest SIF precursors were detected and at birth, while postmitotic principal neurons had lost SA-1 reactivity, many SIF cells expressed both TH and SA-1. As development proceeded, the proportion of SIF cells expressing only TH increased. In addition, some small SIF-like cells possessed only SA-1 reactivity at birth. Some SIF cells at P7 possessed SA-1, but it was absent at P10 and in the adult. Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) was used to identify proliferating SIF cells, and SA-1+ expression was correlated with the period of SIF cell proliferation. At late embryogenesis, the proportion of SA-1+ SIF cells that possessed BrdU was relatively large (17% at E20), and decreased as SIF cell division ceased (6% at P1). Our results indicate that SA-1 is present on SIF cells when these cells are capable of cell division. In addition, mature SIF cells lack SA-1 and are therefore antigenically distinct from the sympathoadrenal precursor. These data suggest that the expression of SA-1 is correlated with the ability of sympathoadrenal cells to proliferate, in the SCG early during embryogenesis, chromaffin cells both during embryogenesis and in the adult, and SIF cells during their transient period of division in the SCG.
Episodic hyperlibidinism in multiple sclerosis

Background: Changes in sexual function are commonly associated with MS and occur in many forms. Hypersexual thought or behavior are rare, but can present on the background of persistent cognitive impairment or psychiatric conditions such as mania, whereas isolated hypersexuality is still rarer. Case Report: We describe the clinical neuropsychological electrodiagnostic neuroimaging and endocrine findings in a MS patient with episodes of greatly increased libido. Imaging and neuropsychological studies indicated frontal lobe dysfunction; hormone studies showed no significant changes. Conclusion: Episodic hypersexuality can be a recurrent transient manifestation of MS.
Binding Linkage in a Telomere DNA–Protein Complex at the Ends of Oxytricha nova Chromosomes

Alpha and beta protein subunits of the telomere end binding protein from Oxytricha nova (OnTEBP) combine with telomere single strand DNA to form a protective cap at the ends of chromosomes. We tested how protein–protein interactions seen in the co-crystal structure relate to DNA binding through use of fusion proteins engineered as different combinations of domains and subunits derived from OnTEBP. Joining alpha and beta resulted in a protein that bound single strand telomere DNA with high affinity (KD-DNA=1.4 nM). Another fusion protein, constructed without the C-terminal protein–protein interaction domain of alpha, bound DNA with 200-fold diminished affinity (KD-DNA=290 nM) even though the DNA-binding domains of alpha and beta were joined through a peptide linker. Adding back the alpha C-terminal domain as a separate protein restored high-affinity DNA binding. The binding behaviors of these fusion proteins and the native protein subunits are consistent with cooperative linkage between protein-association and DNA-binding equilibria. Linking DNA–protein stability to protein–protein contacts at a remote site may provide a trigger point for DNA–protein disassembly during telomere replication when the single strand telomere DNA must exchange between a very stable OnTEBP complex and telomerase.
A distributed firewall and active response architecture providing preemptive protection

Firewalls provide very good network security features. However, classical perimeter firewall deployments suffer from limitations due to complex network topologies and the inability to completely trust insiders of the network. Distributed firewalls are designed for alleviating these limitations. Intrusion detection is a mature technology and is very powerful when coupled with active response, which is the act of responding to intrusions without the need of human advisory. This paper describes an architecture that implements a distributed firewall with distributed active response. A fundamental result of the architecture is that it can provide proactive and preemptive security for hosts that deploy the system. Using the open-source software framework, the software implementing this proposed system will be provided to the research community so that the architecture can be extended by other researchers and so that newcomers to network security can start investigating security concepts quickly.
Induction as vindication

1. I shall attempt in this paper to give a rounded, if schematic, account of the concept of probability. My central concern will be to clarify the sense in which law-like statements (including 'statistical' law-like statements) are made probable by observational data which, in a sense equally demanding analysis, 'accord' with them.
Stage IA to IIB supradiaphragmatic Hodgkin's disease. Long‐Term survival and relapse frequency

Long-term survival and prognostic factors were analyzed in 307 patients with pathologically staged IA to IIB supradiaphragmatic Hodgkin's disease (HD). Treatment with radiation therapy (RT) alone resulted in a 10-year actuarial freedom from first relapse (FFR) of 88% and 10-year survival of 95% for Stage IA patients and a FFR and survival of 76% and 93%, respectively, for Stage IIA patients. Stage IB to IIB patients had similar survivals when treated with combined-modality therapy (CMT) (85%) or RT alone (77%). Stage IA to IIB patients with large mediastinal adenopathy (LMA) treated with RT alone had a significantly worse survival as compared with patients with lesser or no mediastinal adenopathy, 83% versus 94%, respectively, P = 0.006. Initial CMT for patients with LMA resulted in an improved FFR as compared with patients treated with RT alone, 83% versus 49%, respectively (P = 0.05); however, no differences in survival were seen. Other prognostic factors are analyzed. These data support the initial use of Rt alone in early-stage Hodgkin's disease patients. CMT should only be used for selective patients, such as those with LMA in which the volume to be irradiated is large. In these patients, initial chemotherapy followed by irradiation may allow treatment of small volumes of heart and lung.
Hürthle cell (oxyphilic) papillary thyroid carcinoma: a variant with more aggressive biologic behavior.

The latest World Health Organization International Classification defines papillary thyroid carcinoma by its “follicular cell differentiation ... as well as characteristic nuclear changes”. However the oxyphilic (Hurthle cell) papillary carcinoma have nuclei which generally resemble the nuclei seen in oxyphilic follicular carcinomas, and such oxyphilic papillary tumors may behave more aggressively than typical papillary cancers. To further characterize these rare tumors, we identified during a 32-year period 22 patients with oxyphilic papillary cancer and compared them with 1,084 patients with typical papillary cancers and 57 patients with oxyphilic follicular cancers treated by the Mayo surgical group during the same time period. Although typical papillary and oxyphilic papillary cancers were comparable with regards to patient age, tumor size and extent, TNM stage, and prognostic score (AGES), there were significant differences. Compared to typical papillary tumors, oxyphilic papillary cancers had fewer neck nodal metastases at primary diagnosis (5% vs 40%,p<0.0001), were more often DNA non-diploid (71% vs 21%,p<0.001), and after 10 postoperative years had higher rates of both tumor recurrence (28% vs 11%,p<0.0001) and cause-specific mortality (1.7% vs 4%,p<0.0005). In these four important respects the oxyphilic papillary cancers more resembled the oxyphilic follicular cancers. For oxyphilic follicular cancers, the frequency of initial neck nodal metastases was 7% (cf 5%); 83% of the oxyphilic follicular tumors were non-diploid (cf 71%), and at 10 years postoperatively the tumor recurrence and cause-specific mortality rates were 28% and 18%, insignificantly different from 28% and 17% seen with the oxyphilic papillary cancers. These results demonstrate that oxyphilic papillary tumors are more similar to oxyphilic follicular than typical papillary cancers, and suggest that in a differentiated follicular cell-derived carcinoma a predominance of oxyphilic cells may be a prognostically more relevant feature than the individual tumor's predominant papillary or follicular morphologic pattern. Perhaps in future Histologic Classifications the World Health Organization should group the oxyphilic papillary cancers with the oxyphilic follicular rather than the typical papillary carcinomas.
Matrix elements of (λPx + μPy + νPz)n for slightly-asymmetric-top molecules

Abstract Certain matrix elements of P n =( λP x + μP y + νP z ) n where n takes on the values one through five are calculated for a slightly asymmetric rotor molecule in a perturbation theory expansion in terms of the molecular asymmetry parameter b . The expressions are correct to second order in b for P 1 , to first order in b for P 3 and P 4 , and to zeroth order in b for P 5 . Two tables are presented from which these matrix elements can be simply transformed into any of the conventional axis representations. The results are useful for the interpretation of effects arising from perturbations, such as centrifugal distortion and internal rotation, which commonly appear in the microwave spectra of slightly-asymmetric-rotor molecules.
An improved method for analysis of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene and its metabolites from compost and contaminated soils

Abstract The United States Army Toxic and Hazardous Materials Agency (USATHAMA) Method SMO2, routinely used for the high pressure liquid chromatographic analysis of nitrobenzenes in contaminated soils, was modified to incorporate the use of para-nitroaniline (PNA) as an internal standard and also to permit the quantitation of two additional metabolites of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT). In our laboratory, these two metabolites, 2-amino-4,6-dinitrotoluene (2-ADNT) and 4-amino-2,6-dinitrotoluene (4-ADNT), were found to co-elute with each other, as well as with dinitrotoluenes (DNT), 2,4-DNT and 2,6-DNT, using the original method. The modified method described below is a two-step procedure in which one aliquot of the extract mixture is analyzed directly to quantitate trinitrobenzene (TNB), meta-dinitrobenzene (m-DNB), and TNT, and a second aliquot is simultaneously treated with trifluoroacetic acid anhydride (TFAA) to convert 2-ADNT and 4-ADNT into derivatives that chromatographically separate cleanly from each other and from DNT. Standard curves for the derivatized compounds are linear over a range of 30–400 ng/25 μl injection. Quantitation of TNT and its metabolites in spiked municipal compost demonstrated intra-assay and inter-assay variabilities of ±15% or less. This two-step analysis for these compounds was found to be successful equally after extraction and dilution with either acetonitrile (ACN) [USATHAMA Method SMO2] or with methylene chloride as in an alternate method (EPA Method 3550). This new derivatization procedure allows for the quantitation of additional metabolites of TNT which is difficult or not possible with Method SMO2.
Bilateral claudication results in alterations in the gait biomechanics at the hip and ankle joints

Claudication is the most common symptomatic manifestation of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), producing significant ambulatory compromise. The purpose of this study was to use advanced biomechanical gait analysis to determine the gait alterations occurring in claudicating patients both before and after onset of claudication pain in their legs. Hip, knee, and ankle joint moments were measured in claudicating patients (age: 64.4678.47 years; body mass: 80.70712.64 kg; body height: 1.7270.08 m) and were compared to gender–age–body mass–height-matched healthy controls (age 66.2779.22 years; body mass: 77.89710.65 kg; body height: 1.7470.08 m). The claudicating patients were evaluated both before (pain-free (PF) condition) and after (pain condition) onset of claudication pain in their legs. Thirteen symptomatic PAD patients (26 claudicating limbs) with bilateral intermittent claudication (IC) and 11 healthy controls (22 control limbs) were tested during level walking at their self-selected speed. Compared to controls, PAD hip and ankle joints demonstrated significant angular kinematics and net internal moment changes. Alterations were present both in PF and pain conditions with several of them becoming worse in the pain condition. Both PF and pain conditions resulted in significantly reduced
Estrogen and progesterone receptor subtype expression in normal and malignant ovarian epithelial cell cultures

Abstract Objective: Epidemiologic data suggest that the malignant transformation of ovarian epithelium may be linked to altered steroid hormone homeostasis. Study Design: Estrogen receptor-α, estrogen receptor-β, progesterone receptor A, and progesterone receptor B messenger RNA and protein expression were evaluated by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis in primary cell cultures of human ovarian surface epithelium (n = 23 cultures) and Cedars-Sinai ovarian cancer (n = 23 cultures). Results: The ratio of estrogen receptor-α/estrogen receptor-β messenger RNA expression was 10 times higher in primary ovarian cancer cultures (9.94 ± 3.90) than in normal ovarian surface epithelium cultures (1.00 ± 0.16, P =.04). Estrogen receptor-α/estrogen receptor-β protein ratio in primary ovarian cancer cultures (2.13 ± 0.43) was twice that of normal human ovarian surface epithelium cultures (1.00 ± 0.13, P =.05). Individual estrogen receptor-α and estrogen receptor-β messenger RNA and protein expression were not significantly different. Progesterone receptor B protein levels in primary ovarian cancer cultures (2.08 ± 0.42) were twice that of normal surface ovarian epithelium cultures (1.00 ± 0.10, P =.04), although differences in progesterone receptor B messenger RNA and progesterone receptor A protein expression were not observed. Conclusion: Malignant ovarian epithelial cells demonstrated multiple alterations in the expression of sex steroid hormone receptors. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2003;189:22-7.)
Testing exo-planet signal extraction using the Terrestrial Planet Finder planet detection testbed

The Planet Detection Testbed developed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory is being used to test direct optical detection of an Earth-like planet using nulling interferometry. Operating at infrared wavelengths, the testbed produces four near-identical beams simulating a distant star and planet. The testbed is reconfigurable to simulate different telescope array designs that are being studied. Many of the systems which will be needed for the space application of nulling stellar interferometry are incorporated. The goal of the testbed is to simulate the planet detection process which requires both a long detection period of many hours to overcome the thermal background noise and also high instrument stability to avoid introducing noise signals that could be mistaken for a planet. Numerous control systems are needed to maintain the optical path differences to about 2 nm and maintain beam alignments in shear and tilt. The testbed emulates functions of the fringe-tracking and metrology systems envisioned for the flight system including finding and tracking the fringe, controlling vibration and allowing for changing conditions. The relationship of the testbed to flight conditions is discussed and the latest results are presented showing planet detection in the presence of bright starlight.
Chrysophycean scales as paleoindicators in the sediments of Hall Lake, Washington, U.S.A.

Twelve species of Mallomonas and ten species of other genera of Mallomonadaceae and Paraphysomonadaceae were found in sediments deposited in Hall Lake from about 1850 to the present. One Mallomonas species (M. portue-ferreae peterfi & As-mund) was found that had not previously been reported from North America. The majority of the species have been described as either generally distributed or characteristic of acid or oligotrophic humic waters. M. heterospina Lund and M. multiunca Asmund, which were restricted to sediments deposited during the operation of a sawmill on the lake, have been collected from very eutrophic to dystrophic waters as well. On the whole the species composition indicates a change in the lake from oligotrophic to more eutrophic conditions.
Early Reactions to David Hume's A Treatise of Human Nature

Early Responses to Hume's Metaphysical and Epistemological Writings, 2 Volumes. Edited by James Fieser (Bristol, UK: Thoemmes Continuum, 2005), 800 pp. £195.00/$330.00 cloth.
Religion and Reproductive Health and Rights

This essay examines the relationship between religion and public policy issues concerning reproductive health and rights. It particularly focuses on how such issues affect women. Although not ignoring the sometimes oppositional stance of some religious spokepersons to birth control and attempts to mitigate the suffering caused by HIV/AIDS, early or frequent pregnancy, discrimination against female fetuses and babies, and so on, the essay seeks to identify positive responses by religiously committed people, particularly women, that parallel or reinforce UNFPA initiatives to address such problems. The essay also attempts to articulate ways in which religion should come to grips with issues of reproductive health and rights.