cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Microiontophoretic application of muramyl-dipeptide upon single cortical, hippocampal and hypothalamic neurons in rats

Abstract Muramyl-dipeptide (MDP), a metabolite of bacterial cell walls, has a variety of biological effects, including the induction of acute phase serum glycoproteins and fever, and the promotion of slow wave sleep. Muramyl-dipeptide and other products, derived from immune responses, may act directly in the CNS to recruit secondary autonomie and endocrine responses to disease. To test this hypothesis the properties of single neuron discharges, following local application (microiontophoresis) of MDP within the somatosensory cortex, the dorsal hippocampus and the medial basal hypothalamus were studied in rats. The results obtained from cortical (N = 30), hippocampal (N = 28) and hypothalamic (N = 32) neurons demonstrated a direct effect of MDP upon all three regions of the brain. In addition, MDP modified the responses of these same neurons to morphine. These results support a role of MDP in the process of neuro-immune modulation and further demonstrate an interaction between lymphoid agents and opioids in the CNS.
Large Surface-State/Surface-Resonance Density on Copper (100)

The electronic structure of the Cu(100) surface has been calculated self-consistently. The calculation predicts a strong surface-state/surface-resonance band near the top of the bulk Cu $d$ band which has not been observed in previous calculations. The large attenuation in the experimental photoemission signal at the top of the $d$ band which is independent of photon energy and which occurs when various species are chemisorbed on Cu(100) is attributed to disturbance of this surface-state band by the chemisorbed atoms.
On uniqueness theorems for second order inverse eigenvalue problems

Abstract Two uniqueness theorems are presented for second order inverse eigenvalue problems where the differential equation is given in Liouville normal form. These theorems assume that boundary conditions are known. Uniqueness is achieved from knowledge of a “reduced” set of spectral data.
Ultrafast laser melting of Au nanoparticles: atomistic simulations

In spite of the technological importance of laser modification and processing of nanoparticles, the interaction of laser energy with nanoparticles is not well understood. In this work, integrated molecular dynamics (MD) and two-temperature (TTM) computational models have been developed to study ultrafast laser interaction with free Au nanoparticles with sizes 2.44–6.14 nm. At low intensity, when surface premelting and solid–liquid phase transition dominate, a nonhomogeneous surface premelting mechanism was identified. The appearance of a contiguous surface liquid layer (complete surface premelting) is size dependent and is not related to surface premelting history. The effects of temporary superheating and stable supercooling of nanoparticles were found and examined.
The Bondsman's Burden: An Economic Analysis of the Common Law of Southern Slavery

1. American slavery and the path of the law 2. The law of sales: slaves, animals, and commodities 3. The law of hiring and employment: slaves, animals, and free persons 4. The law regarding common carriers: slaves, animals, commodities, and free persons 5. The law regarding governments, government officials, slave patrollers, and overseers: protecting private property versus keeping public peace 6. The legal rights and responsibilities of strangers toward slaves, animals, and free persons 7. Treatment of one's slaves, servants, animals, and relatives: legal boundaries and the problem of social cost 8. The south's law of slavery: reflecting the felt necessities of the time.
Persistence following intermittent punishment and continuous reinforcement: Between and within subjects

Rats were given continuous reinforcement in both alleys of a two-alley runway apparatus. For three groups intermittent punishment occurred in one of the alleys (P alley) but not in the other alley (C alley). A fourth group did not receive punishment but was given control shocks following each daily session. The three punished groups had punished trials followed by rewarded trials in the P alley, the C alley, or in both alleys. The persistence of the animals was measured in both alleys with reward and punishment present on every trial. All of the punished animals ran more slowly in the P alley during acquisition and continued this behavior during the continuous punishment testing phase. All of the punished animals ran more rapidly during the test phase than the animals given only control shocks during testing.
Holocene sea level and climate change in the Black Sea : Multiple marine incursions related to freshwater discharge events

Abstract Repeated marine invasions of the Black Sea during the Holocene have been inferred by many eastern scientists as resulting from episodes of marine inflow from the Mediterranean beneath a brackish outflow from the Black Sea. We support this scenario but a fundamental question remains: What caused the repeated marine invasions? We offer an hypothesis for the repeated marine invasions of the Black Sea based on: (1) the overall similarity of sea-level curves from both tectonically quiescent and active margins of the Black Sea and their similarity to a sequence stratigraphic record from the US mid-Atlantic coast. The similarity of the records from two widely-separated regions suggests their common response to documented Holocene climate ocean-atmosphere reorganizations (coolings); (2) the fact that in the modern Black Sea, freshwater runoff from surrounding rivers dominates over evaporation, so that excess runoff might have temporarily raised Black Sea level (although the Black Sea would have remained brackish). Following the initial invasion of the Black Sea by marine Mediterranean waters (through the Marmara Sea) in the early Holocene, repeated marine incursions were modulated, or perhaps even caused, by freshwater discharge to the Black Sea. Climatic amelioration (warming) following each documented ocean-atmosphere reorganization during the Holocene likely shifted precipitation patterns in the surrounding region and caused mountain glaciers to retreat, increasing freshwater runoff above modern values and temporarily contributing to an increase of Black Sea level. Freshwater-to-brackish water discharges into the Black Sea initially slowed marine inflow but upon mixing of runoff with more marine waters beneath them and their eventual exit through the Bosphorus, marine inflow increased again, accounting for the repeated marine invasions. The magnitude of the hydrologic and sea-level fluctuations became increasingly attenuated through the Holocene, as reflected by Black Sea level curves.
Reversible Heart Failure in Gαq Transgenic Mice

For many patients with cardiac insufficiency, the disease progresses inexorably to organ dilatation, pump failure, and death. Although there are examples of reversible heart failure in man, our understanding of how the myocardium repairs itself is limited. A well defined animal model of reversible heart failure would allow us to better investigate these restorative processes. Receptors that activate Galpha(q), a signal transduction molecule in the heterotrimeric G protein superfamily, are thought to play a key role in the development of heart failure. We demonstrated previously that mice expressing a recombinant Galpha(q) protein, the activity of which can be turned on or off at will in cardiac myocytes, develop a dilated cardiomyopathy with generalized edema and heart failure following activation of the protein (Fan, G., Jiang, Y.-P., Lu, Z., Martin, D. W., Kelly, D. J., Zuckerman, J. M., Ballou, L. M., Cohen, I. S., and Lin, R. Z. (2005) J. Biol. Chem. 280, 40337-40346). Here we report that the contractile dysfunction and pathological structural changes in the myocardium improved significantly after termination of the Galpha(q) signal, even in animals with overt heart failure. Abnormalities in two proteins that regulate Ca(2+) handling in myocytes, phospholamban and the voltage-dependent L-type Ca(2+) channel, were also reversed, as was the increased expression of genes that are associated with heart failure. These results indicate that the heart has a substantial reparative capacity if the molecular signals responsible for the myocardial dysfunction can be identified and blocked.
Algorithm For Subpixel Target Detection Using Cellular Automata

Modern cellular automata, especially those configured to process the three dimensions of x,y,t (two spatial coordinates and time) are shown to be useful in furnishing several decibels of processing gain against white Gaussian noise while monitoring millions of potential target tracks at several frames per second for the purpose of detecting weak, subpixel targets. Using three-dimensional architectures employing the multidimensional binary ranking filter permits these operations to be executed effectively. Calculations of processing gain are furnished along with a discussion of the three-dimensional cellular automaton architecture itself.
Combining fast search and learning for fast similarity search

In this paper,we propose a new scalable simultaneous learning and indexing technique for efficient content-based retrieval of images that can be described by high- dimensional feature vectors. This scheme combines the elements of an efficient nearest neighbor search algorithm, and a relevance feedback learning algorithm which refines the raw feature space to the specific subjective needs of each new application, around a commonly shared compact indexing structure based on recursive clustering. Consequently, much better time efficiency and scalability can be achieved as compared to those techniques that do not make provisions for efficient indexing or fast learning steps. After an overview of the current related literature, and a presentation of our objectives and foundations, we describe in detail the three aspects of our technique: learning, indexing and similarity search. We conclude with an analysis of the objectives met, and an outline of the current work and considered future enhancements and variations on this technique.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A hPMS2 Mutant Cell Line Is Defective in Strand-specific Mismatch Repair

Human cells contain several homologs of the bacterial mutL gene required for mismatch repair, including a gene on chromosome 7 designated hPMS2. We have identified an endometrial carcinoma cell line, HEC-1-A, that has a C-->T mutation in hPMS2 that generates a nonsense codon and yields a protein truncated at the C terminus. No wild-type gene or gene product was detected. The missing amino acids in hPMS2 are highly conserved among PMS homologs, suggesting that they may be critical for function. In support of this, extracts of HEC-1-A cells are defective in repairing a variety of mismatched substrates. Moreover, di-, tri-, and tetranucleotide repeated sequences are highly unstable in single cell clones of HEC-1-A cells, and HEC-1-A cells are resistant to killing by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine. The results provide strong experimental support for the involvement of the hPMS2 gene product in mismatch repair in human cells and support the concept that a defective hPMS2 gene may lead to predisposition to certain forms of cancer.
Colorectal Cancer Screening among Chinese, Cambodian, and Vietnamese Immigrants in Chicago

Asian Americans are now the most rapidly growing minority group in the USA. Over 60 % of Asian Americans in the USA are immigrants. Cancer has been the leading cause of death among Asian Americans since 1980. Understanding the barriers to screening is essential to reduce the unnecessary burden of cancer. Little is known about colorectal cancer screening behavior among foreign-born Asian Americans and how socio-demographic factors may influence the behavior. Even less is known about disaggregated Asian subgroups. Using data from the Chicago Asian Community Survey, a local health assessment survey of three Asian subgroups in Chicago, Chinese, Cambodian, and Vietnamese, this study found that the colorectal cancer screening rate were much lower among foreign-born Asian Americans in Chicago (30 %) than the national rate for the general population (59 %). Furthermore, we studied disaggregated data to determine colorectal cancer screening differences between communities. Findings from this study provide a critical evidence base to inform future research and intervention designs.
Reliable decentralized PID controller synthesis for two-channel MIMO processes

Reliable stabilization and regulation of two-channel decentralized multi-input multi-output (MIMO) control systems is considered. The system has integral-action due to using proportional + integral + derivative (PID) controllers. Closed-loop stability and asymptotic tracking of step-input references are achieved at each output channel when all controllers are operational. Stability is maintained when one of the controllers fails completely and is set to zero. Controller synthesis procedures are proposed for stable MIMO plants and for several unstable MIMO plant classes that admit PID controllers. These synthesis procedures are applied to various examples of process systems to illustrate the design methodology.
Mechanism-based inactivation of cytochrome P450 2B4 by aldehydes: relationship to aldehyde deformylation via a peroxyhemiacetal intermediate.

The inactivation of cytochrome P450 2B4 by aldehydes in a reconstituted enzyme system requires molecular oxygen and NADPH and is not prevented by the addition of catalase, superoxide dismutase, epoxide hydrolase, glutathione, or ascorbic acid. A strong correlation between loss of enzymatic activity and bleaching of the heme chromophore was established, and the inactivation was shown to be irreversible upon dialysis. In general, saturated aldehydes are more inhibitory than those with alpha,beta-unsaturation, as indicated by the k(inact) values, and primary aldehydes are more potent inactivators than the structurally related secondary and tertiary aldehydes. Consistent with recent studies on catalytic specificity of the T302A mutant of this cytochrome [Vaz, A. D. N., Pernecky, S. J., Raner, G. M., & Coon, M. J. (1996) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 93, 4644-4648], the rate of aldehyde deformylation, as determined by formation of the alcohol with one less carbon atom, is greatly stimulated over that of the wild-type enzyme. Of particular interest, the rate of oxidation of aldehydes to carboxylic acids is decreased with the mutant, whereas the rate of inactivation via heme destruction is enhanced. Furthermore, comparative deuterium isotope effects and the relative rates of inactivation and product formation suggest that the mechanism of aldehyde inactivation of P450 2B4 involves the deformylation reaction and is unrelated to carboxylic acid formation. Finally, in the reaction of P450 2B4 with 3-phenylpropionaldehyde, the formation of a heme adduct with a molecular weight corresponding to that of native heme plus 104 mass units confirms the loss of the carbonyl group from the aldehyde prior to reaction with the chromophore. We conclude that inactivation of P450 by aldehydes occurs via homolytic cleavage of a peroxyhemiacetal intermediate to give an alkyl radical that reacts with the heme.
Colonization of Artificially Stressed Black Walnut Trees by Ambrosia Beetle, Bark Beetle, and Other Weevil Species (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Indiana and Missouri

Thousand cankers disease (TCD) is a new disease of black walnut (Juglans nigra L.) in the eastern United States. The disease is caused by the interaction of the aggressive bark beetle Pityophthorus juglandis Blackman and the canker-forming fungus, Geosmithia morbida M. Kolarik, E. Freeland, C. Utley & Tisserat, carried by the beetle. Other insects also colonize TCD-symptomatic trees and may also carry pathogens. A trap tree survey was conducted in Indiana and Missouri to characterize the assemblage of ambrosia beetles, bark beetles, and other weevils attracted to the main stems and crowns of stressed black walnut. More than 100 trees were girdled and treated with glyphosate (Riverdale Razor Pro, Burr Ridge, Illinois) at 27 locations. Nearly 17,000 insects were collected from logs harvested from girdled walnut trees. These insects represented 15 ambrosia beetle, four bark beetle, and seven other weevil species. The most abundant species included Xyleborinus saxeseni Ratzburg, Xylosandrus crassiusculus Motschulsky, Xylosandrus germanus Blandford, Xyleborus affinis Eichhoff, and Stenomimus pallidus Boheman. These species differed in their association with the stems or crowns of stressed trees. Multiple species of insects were collected from individual trees and likely colonized tissues near each other. At least three of the abundant species found (S. pallidus, X. crassiusculus, and X. germanus) are known to carry propagules of canker-causing fungi of black walnut. In summary, a large number of ambrosia beetles, bark beetles, and other weevils are attracted to stressed walnut trees in Indiana and Missouri. Several of these species have the potential to introduce walnut canker pathogens during colonization.
Women's health: An investment in the future

Women's health is examined from three perspectives: the health needs of women as a person (personhood), as a woman (womanhood), and as a mother (motherhood). Women's health is looked at from other vantage points: as the stimulus for the generation of issues, an area of widespread public concern, dispute, or disagreement; and as an investment, worthy of time and money because it will ultimately pay dividends.
Zygotes, Souls, Substances, and Persons

The thesis that the human zygote is essentially identical with the person into which it can develop is difficult to maintain, because the zygote can become several persons. In addition, the thesis depends upon ambiguities in the notions of human being, human individual, human body, and soul. A human being may be individual in the sense of either a biologically integrated unity or a psychologically integrated unity. A person is a psychologically integrated unity, because it must unify its experiences in morally imputable actions. To say that the zygote is a person requires one to assert that the zygote has the same principle of psychological integration, i.e., a rational soul, as one who can obviously manifest psychological integration. The assertion is incapable of being justified in empirical (e.g., non-religious) terms.
Applying genomics to organ transplantation medicine in both discovery and validation of biomarkers

The field of biomarker discovery made a significant leap over the past few decades. As we enter the Era of the Human Genome, thousands of biomarkers can be identified in a relatively high-throughput fashion. While such magnitude and diversity of biomarkers can be seen as a challenge by itself, the field is being moved forward by new advances in bioinformatics and Systems Biology. Because of the life and death nature of end stage organ failure that transplantation treats, the severe donor organ shortage, and the powerful and toxic drug therapies required for the lifetimes of transplant patients, we envision a future for biomarkers as tools to diagnose disease in its early stages, predict prognosis, suggest treatment options and then assist in the implementation of therapies. By harnessing the power of multiple technologies in parallel makes it possible to discover and then validate the next generation of biomarkers for transplantation. We see the road ahead diverge into two paths: one from biomarkers to diagnosis and therapy and the other to a new level of insight into the complex molecular networks that determine when a healthy state becomes diseased and dysfunctional.
Guaranteeing the BER in transparent optical networks using OOK signaling

A network consisting of transparent optical nodes (TONs) can provide high speed end-to-end communication paths with very low bit-error rates (BERs). However, owing to component crosstalk and other degradations at TONs, the BER of a particular communication path traversing several TONs can be degraded by a few orders of magnitude even in the absence of component failure. Monitoring the quality-of-service (QoS) of a communication path has typically relied on sporadic BER testing and operation monitoring by the nodes using probe signals. Intermittent BER testing cannot provide continuous monitoring of the network QoS. On the other hand, the use of probe signals is not sensitive enough to detect the BER degradation. This work investigates a novel approach of monitoring service degradation at individual nodes using a wrap-around device which taps and compares signals from the input and the output at each TON along the lightpath. We propose a modification using hard limiters at TON inputs and derive the BER value that this modified method can guarantee in the presence of signal degradation due to coherent crosstalk at TONs.
Worst Case Attack on Quantization Based Data Hiding

Currently, most quantization based data hiding al- gorithms are built assuming specific distributions of at- tacks, such as additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN), uniform noise, and so on. In this paper, we prove that the worst case additive attack for quantization based data hiding is a 3-\delta function. We derive the expression for the probability of error (P_e) in terms of distortion compensation factor, \alpha, and the attack distribution. By maximizing P_e with respect to the attack distribution, we get the optimal placement of the 3-\delta function. We then experimentally verify that the 3-\delta function is in- deed the worst case attack for quantization based data hiding.
Predicting the sensitivity and specificity of published real-time PCR assays

Background: In recent years real-time PCR has become a leading technique for nucleic acid detection and quantification. These assays have the potential to greatly enhance efficiency in the clinical laboratory. Choice of primer and probe sequences is critical for accurate diagnosis in the clinic, yet current primer/probe signature design strategies are limited, and signature evaluation methods are lacking. Methods: We assessed the quality of a signature by predicting the number of true positive, false positive and false negative hits against all available public sequence data. We found real-time PCR signatures described in recent literature and used a BLAST search based approach to collect all hits to the primer-probe combinations that should be amplified by real-time PCR chemistry. We then compared our hits with the sequences in the NCBI taxonomy tree that the signature was designed to detect. Results: We found that many published signatures have high specificity (almost no false positives) but low sensitivity (high false negative rate). Where high sensitivity is needed, we offer a revised methodology for signature design which may designate that multiple signatures are required to detect all sequenced strains. We use this methodology to produce new signatures that are predicted to have higher sensitivity and specificity. Conclusion: We show that current methods for real-time PCR assay design have unacceptably low sensitivities for most clinical applications. Additionally, as new sequence data becomes available, old assays must be reassessed and redesigned. A standard protocol for both generating and assessing the quality of these assays is therefore of great value. Real-time PCR has the capacity to greatly improve clinical diagnostics. The improved assay design and evaluation methods presented herein will expedite adoption of this technique in the clinical lab.
Know thy sensor: trust, data quality, and data integrity in scientific digital libraries

For users to trust and interpret the data in scientific digital libraries, they must be able to assess the integrity of those data. Criteria for data integrity vary by context, by scientific problem, by individual, and a variety of other factors. This paper compares technical approaches to data integrity with scientific practices, as a case study in the Center for Embedded Networked Sensing (CENS) in the use of wireless, in-situ sensing for the collection of large scientific data sets. The goal of this research is to identify functional requirements for digital libraries of scientific data that will serve to bridge the gap between current technical approaches to data integrity and existing scientific practices.
Second‐order treatment of the interface of domain decomposition method for parabolic problems

Estimations for the values on interface lines are necessary in a domain decomposition method. However, the accuracy of the estimations is of the first order for most of unconditionally stable domain decomposition schemes. In this paper, a second order of accuracy for the estimations on interface lines is presented. With the new scheme, the optimal number of decomposed subdomains has been observed and proposed. Moreover when the SOR iterative method is used, the optimal over-relaxation parameter is also studied. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On clustering biological data using unsupervised and semi-supervised message passing

Noticing that unsupervised clustering may produce clusters that are irrelevant to the research hypotheses and interests, we generalize traditional unsupervised clustering into semi-supervised clustering based on our previously proposed message passing clustering (MPC). In the semi-supervised MPC, prior knowledge such as instance-level and attribute-level constraints are used to guide the clustering process towards better and interpretable partitions. We applied the unsupervised MPC (null background) to phylogenetic analysis of Mycobacterium and the semi-supervised MPC to colon cancer microarray data analysis. The results show that MPC is superior to the widely accepted neighbor-joining and hierarchical clustering methods, and the semi-supervised MPC is even more powerful in biological data analysis such as gene selection and cancer diagnosis using microarray.
El clítico "se" en español y la estructura léxico-conceptual

El clitico se tiene una variedad de funciones y significados (p. ej. quebrarse, repararse, comerse, afeitarse) y por consiguiente es logico pensar que deberia tener entradas lexicas que reflejen esas diferencias gramaticales y semanticas. Utilizando como base el modelo derivacional de “estructura de compartimentos” (slot structure), el cual a su vez esta basado en la estructura lexicoconceptual, el presente articulo se propone demostrar que tanto la entrada lexica como la funcion del clitico se son muy similares a las de los afijos derivacionales del espanol (p. ej. –cion, –able). Asimismo, un numero reducido de representaciones de entradas lexicas dan cuenta de varios de los tipos de construccion donde participa se. Algunos modelos definen las diferentes funciones de se como un proceso o regla, como un operador (verbal o aspectual), o como una construccion cuyas funciones estan determinadas por un conjunto de “propiedades”. Por ejemplo, Saltarelli propone una serie de reglas que llevan de x abrir y a y abrirse. Zagona (1996) y Zubizarreta ven a se como un “operador verbal” que funciona como se medio si es insertado en una estructura lexico-sintactica (p. ej. abrirse) y como se reflexivo si se inserta en una estructura sintactica (p. ej. vestirse). Y para Garcia Negroni la construccion del se medio tiene propiedades particulares que lo distinguen, por ejemplo, del se pasivo. Otros estudios, que constituyen parte importante de la bibliografia sobre este clitico, o describen las funciones y valores de se o tienen propuestas similares a las expuestas arriba, es decir, ven a se ya sea como (parte de) un proceso, una regla, un operador o un conjunto de propiedades (ver Azpiazu Torres; Barry; Bogard; Catala; De Miguel y Fernandez Lagunilla; Gomez Torrego; Gutierrez Ordonez; Herschensohn; Klein; Mandikoetxea; Mendikoetxea; Otero; Suner; Vann).
Moderate Vitamin B-6 Restriction Does Not Alter Postprandial Methionine Cycle Rates of Remethylation, Transmethylation, and Total Transsulfuration but Increases the Fractional Synthesis Rate of Cystathionine in Healthy Young Men and Women

Methionine is the precursor for S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), the major 1-carbon donor involved in >100 transmethylation reactions. Homocysteine produced from SAM must be metabolized either by remethylation for recycling of methionine or transsulfuration to form cystathionine and then cysteine. Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) serves as a coenzyme in enzymes involved in transsulfuration as well as for primary acquisition of 1-carbon units used for remethylation and other phases of 1-carbon metabolism. Because the intake of vitamin B-6 is frequently low in humans and metabolic consequences of inadequacy may be amplified in the postprandial state, we aimed to determine the effects of marginal vitamin B-6 deficiency on the postprandial rates of remethylation, transmethylation, overall transsulfuration, and cystathionine synthesis. Healthy, young adults (4 male, 5 female; 20-35 y) received a primed, constant infusion of [1-(13)C]methionine, [methyl-(2)H(3)]methionine, and [5,5,5-(2)H(3)]leucine to quantify in vivo kinetics at normal vitamin B-6 status and after a 28-d dietary vitamin B-6 restriction. Vitamin B-6 restriction lowered the plasma PLP concentration from 49 ± 4 nmol/L (mean ± SEM) to 19 ± 2 nmol/L (P < 0.0001). Mean remethylation, transsulfuration, and transmethylation rates did not change in response to vitamin B-6 restriction; however, the responses to vitamin B-6 restriction varied greatly among individuals. The plasma cystathionine concentration increased from 142 ± 8 to 236 ± 9 nmol/L (P < 0.001), whereas the fractional cystathionine synthesis rate increased by a mean of 12% in 8 of 9 participants. Interrelationships among plasma concentrations of glycine and cystathionine and kinetic results suggest that individual variability occurs in normal postprandial 1-carbon metabolism and in the response to vitamin B-6 restriction.
Flexeril® (Merck Sharp & Dohme)

Flexeril relieves skeletal muscle spasm of local origin without interfering with muscle function. Its action appears to be on the brain-stem. It is ineffective in muscle spasm due to central nervous system disease.
The Effect of Sustainability Features on Mortgage Default Prediction and Risk in Multifamily Rental Housing

This study examines the relationship between transportation-, location-, and affordability-related sustainability features and default risk in multifamily housing. It finds that sustainability features can be used to improve the prediction of mortgage default and reduce default risk. The study uses 37,385 loans in the Fannie Mae multifamily portfolio at the end of 2011:Q3. The results suggest two implications for practice. First, certain aspects of sustainability can be fostered without increasing default risk by adjusting conventional lending standards. Second, lenders could improve their risk management practices by taking stock of sustainability features when loans originate.
Book Review of Art as Plunder: The Ancient Origins of Debate About Cultural Property

This is Professor Jennifer Anglim-Kreder's book review of Art as Plunder: The Ancient Origins of Debate About Cultural Property by Margaret M. Miles
Electrophoretic mutants as useful markers for chromosome aberrations.

The efficacy of using an electrophoretic mutant to mark chromosome aberrations was demonstrated for an interchange in maize. Using a closely-linked esterase gene (E4), plants homozygous and heterozygous for this interchange and plants homozygous for the normal chromosomes were detectable in the seedling stage via an electrophoretic assay; the error was only 0.3%.
Acute allergic contact dermatitis. How to manage severe cases.

PreviewWhen it is severe, acute allergic contact dermatitis is more than a simple dermatologic problem. Proper management is often misunderstood. Family physicians and emergency department physicians, who often treat this common disorder, need to recognize it and understand its causes and course. Dr Wooldridge discusses in detail how to treat this troublesome problem.
Dual dependency and property vacuum

"Gold Rush." These were the parting words of the high-profile U.S. Ambassador to Budapest when asked, at his last press conference, to describe his understanding of the recent changes in East-Central Europe.' The Ambassador's powerful metaphor projects a "Wild West" imagery on the politcal economy of post-state-socialism. It also rhymes with the American real estate industry's discourse of urban gentrification.2
Estimation of the Partial Molal Adiabatic Compressibility of Ions in Mixed Electrolyte Solutions Using the Pitzer Equations

The Pitzer equations have been used to fit the apparent molal adiabatic compressibility of electrolytes in water as a function of temperature. The equations have been used to estimate the partial molal compressibility for a number of cations and anions in 0.725 m NaCl and average seawater (S = 35 g kg–1). The calculated results for electrolytes are in good agreement with direct measurements in 0.725 m NaCl and seawater. The partial molal compressibilities estimated from the model can be used to make more reliable estimates of the effect of pressure on activity coefficients and ionic equilibria in seawater and other mixed electrolyte solutions at high pressures.
Detection of organophosphorous pesticide residues in vegetables in Henan Province from 2010 to 2012

Objective To estimate the states of organophosphorous pesticide residues, and to find out the food safety hazards in vegetables timely. Methods We selected eight cities including Zhengzhou, Kaifeng, Luoyang, Anyang, Hebi, Luohe, Nanyang, Zhoukou of Henan province as the monitoring points, and samples of vegetable were collected in these areas. Results The detected rate of organophosphorous pesticide residues in vegetables of Henan province from 2010 to 2012 was 12.21%, and the over-limited rate was 0.31%. 18 kinds of organop-hosphorous pesticide were detected in eight categories of vegetables. Conclusion Through this research, we find that it is a widespread practice that using organ-ophosphorous pesticide in Henan province, and the production, sales and usage of some organophosphorous pesticides which are detected via the monitoring is prohibited by government. However, the rate of over-limited is at a comparatively low level.
Epidemiological analysis on public health emergencies in Renhe District of Panzhihua City from 2004-2012

[Objective]To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of public health emergencies in Renhe District of Panzhihua City,provide a scientific basis for preventing and controlling public health emergencies.[Methods]The network reporting data of public health emergencies in Renhe District of Panzhihua City from 2004-2012 were analyzed by the descriptive epidemiological method.[Results]A total of 14 public health emergencies were reported during 2004-2012,8 943 people were involved,and there were 549 patients,with the attack rate of 6.14%.5 cases died,with the fatality rate of 0.91%.There were 4 events of large-level,7 events of general-level,and 3 unclassified events.The peak seasons were the second quarter and the third quarter.64.29% of emergencies were outbreaks of infectious diseases,and 35.71% were food poisoning.The attack rate and fatality rate of food poisoning were the highest,which was 47.06% and 3.85% respectively.Public health emergencies occurred mainly in rural area(71.43%),and most of victims were the students(81.42%).11(78.57%) emergencies were diagnosed by laboratory detection.The events of infectious diseases were reported within 8.66 days averagely,while the events of food poisoning were reported within 15 day.[Conclusion]Strengthening the management of respiratory infectious disease in schools,food poisoning and zoonotic diseases in rural families,as well as improving the supporting effect of laboratory detection are the main measures for effectively preventing and controlling public health emergencies in Renhe District.
Diversity of human granulopoietic precursor cells: separation of cells that form colonies in diffusion chambers (CFU-d) from populations of colony-forming cells in vitro (CFU-c) by velocity sedimentation

Normal human bone marrow contains cells that form granulocytic colonies in fibrin clot diffusion chambers implanted intraperitoneally in sublethally irradiated mice (CFU-d). A series of experiments was performed to determine the relationship between CFU-d and the cells that form colonies in agar culture in vitro (CFU-c). Low-density bone marrow cells ( 3 ) were separated by velocity sedimentation and colony-forming cells in each fraction assessed by culture in diffusion chambers and in soft agar. CFU-d sedimented more slowly than the vast majority of CFU-c, with a peak sedimentation velocity of 5.0 ± 0.4 mm/hr. Two different CFU-c populations could be distinguished. One was a rapidly sedimenting cell population (7.3 ± 0.9 mm/hr.) that formed colonies after 1 wk incubation in vitro. On day 14, however, colonies were derived from more slowly sedimenting cells that had a peak sedimentation velocity of 6.0 ± 0.5 mm/hr. Clusters (3-50 cells), scored on day 7 in agar ##
Getting into It

My interest in the institutionalization of gender grew primarily out of concerns I have about the broad socialization process (in and out of schools), my undergraduates performances of stereotypical gender roles, and the impact schools have had and will have on my children.1
Deficiency of Nuclear Factor-κB c-Rel Accelerates the Development of Autoimmune Diabetes in NOD Mice.

The nuclear factor-κB protein c-Rel plays a critical role in controlling autoimmunity. c-Rel–deficient mice are resistant to streptozotocin-induced diabetes, a drug-induced model of autoimmune diabetes. We generated c-Rel–deficient NOD mice to examine the role of c-Rel in the development of spontaneous autoimmune diabetes. We found that both CD4^+ and CD8^+ T cells from c-Rel–deficient NOD mice showed significantly decreased T-cell receptor–induced IL-2, IFN-γ, and GM-CSF expression. Despite compromised T-cell function, c-Rel deficiency dramatically accelerated insulitis and hyperglycemia in NOD mice along with a substantial reduction in T-regulatory (Treg) cell numbers. Supplementation of isogenic c-Rel–competent Treg cells from prediabetic NOD mice reversed the accelerated diabetes development in c-Rel–deficient NOD mice. The results suggest that c-Rel–dependent Treg cell function is critical in suppressing early-onset autoimmune diabetogenesis in NOD mice. This study provides a novel natural system to study autoimmune diabetes pathogenesis and reveals a previously unknown c-Rel–dependent mechanistic difference between chemically induced and spontaneous diabetogenesis. The study also reveals a unique protective role of c-Rel in autoimmune diabetes, which is distinct from other T-cell–dependent autoimmune diseases such as arthritis and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, where c-Rel promotes autoimmunity.
Combination candesartan–HCTZ did not reduce major CV events in patients at intermediate CV risk

Source Citation Lonn EM, Bosch J, Lopez-Jaramillo P, et al; HOPE-3 Investigators. Blood-pressure lowering in intermediate-risk persons without cardiovascular disease. N Engl J Med. 2016;374:2009-20...
Temperature-compensated lumped element tunable bandpass filter

This paper presents and compares two techniques for compensating temperature effects in varactor diode-based lumped element tunable bandpass filters (BPFs). Temperature compensation relies on first measuring the temperature and subsequently re-biasing the varactors of the filter based on pre-calculated lookup table. The lookup table is calibrated using two different methods: a) constant varactor capacitance, and b) constant filter response. Both approaches are evaluated when the filter is subjected to temperatures ranging from −40 to 100°C. In the first approach the capacitance of each of the filter's varactors is held constant at the value found to yield the desired filter response at room temperature. On the other hand, the second approach utilizes a global optimization scheme that re-biases all varactors until the filter yields the desired transfer function. The results from both methods are measured and compared for a third-order BPF tunable from 226 MHz to 333 MHz. While the first method is simpler to implement and may appear intuitive, it actually causes a worse temperature-induced drift because it ignores substrate and inductor effects. Specifically, the resulting temperature drift of the center frequency with the first method is 4.3% as compared to 3.2% when no compensation is applied. Optimal results are achieved with the second approach where the filter's center frequency remains constant to within 0.1% over the −40 to 100°C temperature range.
Generalized averaged Szegź quadrature rules

Szegź quadrature rules are commonly applied to integrate periodic functions on the unit circle in the complex plane. However, often it is difficult to determine the quadrature error. Recently, Spalevic introduced generalized averaged Gauss quadrature rules for estimating the quadrature error obtained when applying Gauss quadrature over an interval on the real axis. We describe analogous quadrature rules for the unit circle that often yield higher accuracy than Szegź rules using the same moment information and may be used to estimate the error in Szegź quadrature rules.
Climate-smart Rice Production for Combining Adaptation and Mitigation: Technological Options within the Context of Southeast Asia

Adaptation to changing climatic condition is imperative to forestall dramatic threats to food security, but agriculture is also a source of greenhouse gases (GHG). For most countries in Southeast Asia, rice farming represents a major component in their national GHG budget which is attributed to the emission of methane from (predominantly flooded) rice fields. ASEAN member states have committed, as one community, to improve their capacity to reduce emissions in their respective countries. Climate-smart agriculture denotes a concept to merge adaptation (adjusting to climate change) and mitigation (reducing emissions) into one comprehensive approach. In the case of rice production, improved varieties are the key for coping with climatic stresses such as floods and droughts. In addition to more resilient rice plants, short-maturing varieties can be used to avoid climate stresses by adjusted cropping calendars and also reduce methane emissions due to shorter flooding periods. Crop and water management practices offer many options for CSA. “Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD)” is an irrigation technique originally developed for saving water and coping with water scarcity, e.g., in El Nino years. This practice also reduces emissions by 30%–70% as has been shown in several field studies in the Philippines and other countries in Southeast Asia. Mechanization has several climate-smart components such as laser leveling and direct seeding that reduce water needs and emissions. This illustrates that the principles of climate-smart agriculture can be aligned with socio-economic drivers.
Stars in the RMS Firmament 1673–1798

This chapter identifies a firmament of 10 RMS stars—comprising Samuel Pepys, Jonas Moore, Christopher Wren, Robert Hooke, Isaac Newton, John Flamsteed, Edmond Halley, James Hodgson, John Robertson, and William Wales. It also identifies an eleventh person, Humfrey Ditton—a mathematics master at Christ’s Hospital between 1706 and 1715—as someone who had an important influence on the future of RMS. The 10 stars illuminated the educational world within the Royal Mathematical School at Christ’s Hospital at various times during the 125-year period 1673–1798. Not all the stars shone at the same time, with the first 30 years of RMS’s existence being the time when more of the stars were shining together than at any other time. After briefly considering peculiar characteristics of each of the stars, and of Humfrey Ditton, their contributions to RMS’s development is considered. It is concluded that the greatest, most positive, contribution came from James Hodgson, RMS master between 1709 and 1755.
Three-dimensional stable lithium metal anode with nanoscale lithium islands embedded in ionically conductive solid matrix.

Rechargeable batteries based on lithium (Li) metal chemistry are attractive for next-generation electrochemical energy storage. Nevertheless, excessive dendrite growth, infinite relative dimension change, severe side reactions, and limited power output severely impede their practical applications. Although exciting progress has been made to solve parts of the above issues, a versatile solution is still absent. Here, a Li-ion conductive framework was developed as a stable “host” and efficient surface protection to address the multifaceted problems, which is a significant step forward compared with previous host concepts. This was fulfilled by reacting overstoichiometry of Li with SiO. The as-formed LixSi–Li2O matrix would not only enable constant electrode-level volume, but also protect the embedded Li from direct exposure to electrolyte. Because uniform Li nucleation and deposition can be fulfilled owing to the high-density active Li domains, the as-obtained nanocomposite electrode exhibits low polarization, stable cycling, and high-power output (up to 10 mA/cm2) even in carbonate electrolytes. The Li–S prototype cells further exhibited highly improved capacity retention under high-power operation (∼600 mAh/g at 6.69 mA/cm2). The all-around improvement on electrochemical performance sheds light on the effectiveness of the design principle for developing safe and stable Li metal anodes.
The Rare Association of Spina Bifida and Extrarenal Wilms Tumor: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Background The diagnosis of nephroblastoma outside of the kidneys, in the absence of a renal primary tumor, is known as extrarenal Wilms tumor (ERWT). ERWT is an uncommon entity that typically involves the embryonic path of the developing kidneys and gonads. The occurrence of ERWT in a dysraphic spine is uncommon, with no reported cases of preoperative diagnosis, with all cases diagnosed at pathology. These tumors are malignant and ideally should be completely excised. Thus, preoperative diagnosis would be highly desirable. Case Description A newborn female was found to have a lumbar lipoma. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed to rule out lipomyelomeningocele. The MRI showed a dorsal lipoma on the terminal spinal cord, as well as a 2 × 2 cm uniformly enhancing mass abutting the bifid posterior elements of L5. The lesion was completely excised, and the pathological diagnosis was ERWT. We report this case with a review of the literature to raise awareness of this association, illustrate the key imaging findings, and document the clinical outcome. Conclusions The lack of pathognomonic radiologic features makes the preoperative diagnosis extremely difficult, but a diagnosis of ERWT should be considered in the context of a soft tissue mass without the typical imaging features of a hemangioma or teratoma.