cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Valued Life Activities, Smoking Cessation, and Mood in Post-Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients

Background Continued engagement in valued life activities is a protective factor for depression and has been linked to readiness to quit smoking in medical populations but has never been examined among acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients.
Regularization using different surfaces and the second-order derivatives of 1/r

We study the dependence on the surface Σ : g(x) = 1, where g(x) is continuous in ℝ n ∖{0} and homogeneous of degree 1, of the distributional regularization ℛΣ(K(x))∈&#x1d49f;′(ℝ n ), of a homogeneous function K defined in ℝ n ∖{0}. We also consider the dependence on Σ of the regularization PfΣ(K(x)) given by the Hadamard finite part of the limit when this limit does not exist. We study, in particular, the results on surface dependence for the kernels the ordinary second-order derivatives in ℝ3, and recover the formulae for the second-order generalized derivatives obtained by Hnizdo [V. Hnizdo, Generalized second-order partial derivatives of 1/r, Eur. J. Phys. 32 (2011), pp. 287–297].
Neuropsychological evidence for dimensional schizotypy: Implications for creativity and psychopathology

Schizotypal personality is characterized by a variety of traits, such as magical thinking, unusual perceptual experiences, and anhedonia. Factor analytic studies have shown that these characteristics tend to cluster into at least two separate dimensions (positive and negative schizotypy). Schizotypy is associated with vulnerability to schizophrenia. However, it is also related to higher scores on measures of creativity and increased right-hemisphere brain activity. In a series of recent studies investigating the behavioral, neuropsychological, and neuroimaging correlates of positive and negative schizotypy, positive schizotypy was associated with better performance on measures of creativity, enhanced responsivity to threatening emotional stimuli, and more right-prefrontal cortical activity. These results support earlier psychological studies suggesting that positive schizotypy is related to patterns of cognitive and emotional function (e.g., divergent thinking, heightened emotion) that are common to both creativity and psychopathology.
Alexandrite Laser Propagation Experiments

The alexandrite laser is a flashlamp pumped, solid state pulsed laser that utilizes the alexandrite crystal for the lasing medium with output radiation between 0.755 and 0.760 micron wavelengths. Since the alexandrite laser is relatively new, little work has been done to study the propagation effects at this wavelength. The U.S. Army Missile Command at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama recently acquired two alexandrite lasers which have been used to study the effects of this radiation under different conditions, including atmospheric propagation. Baseline information was gathered in the laboratory for each laser prior to propagation studies at range. The lasers were characterized in terms of pulse length, energy, pulse shape, and pulse-to-pulse energy variation. Energy measurements were taken with a special device at 200 and 400 meters to determine the intensity profile of the beam. Energy measurements were taken at 1200 meters with a 1 cm2 detector, positioned in the approximate center of the beam. At the same time a 3-inch diameter section of the beam was sampled by using a beam splitter and lens to focus that portion into a radiometer. Beam spot shape and location at the target were observed. Statistical techniques including frequency distribution curves of fluence in the two sample areas were used to analyze the fluence at 1200 meters and the effects of atmospheric conditions, especially scintillation, on the transmitted energy. Atmospheric data was recorded by an Atmospheric Sciences Laboratory Meteorological Station at the range. A scintillometer located adjacent to the beam path continuously recorded Cn2 values during the test program.
GROWTH CHARACTERISTICS OF VIRUS-TRANSFORMED CELLS : MAXIMUM POPULATION DENSITY, INHIBITION BY NORMAL CELLS, SERUM REQUIREMENT, GROWTH IN SOFT AGAR, AND XENOGENEIC TRANSPLANTABILITY

Virus transformants (like cancer cells, cells transformed by X-ray or carcinogens, or those which have transformed spontaneously) exhibit a number of phenotypic changes which are usually associated, and which may be lost concurrently. That association is, however, not invariable. More particularly, the altered characteristics here studied (escape from contact inhibition of growth and susceptibility to inhibition by other cells, decreased serum requirement, and ability to grow in soft agar) do not, in and of themselves, endow the cell with the capacity to produce a tumor, at least as judged by the methods of assay here used. Although the question as to whether the tumorigenicity of virus transformants is causally linked to any of these associated changes cannot be answered definitively, the evidence suggests a close linkage, rather than identity, between the determinants of oncogenicity and the other properties here studied.
Diagnostic Approaches to the Axilla After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy

The increasing utilization of sentinel node biopsy for staging the axilla in patients with operable breast cancer and the demonstration of significant pathologic downstaging of involved axillary lymph nodes with neoadjuvant chemotherapy, have provided the opportunity to explore whether the extent of axillary surgery can be reduced with the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and sentinal node biopsy. Because there are several unique questions regarding the performance of sentinal node biopsy after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, demonstration of the feasibility and efficacy of this procedure in this particular setting is necessary before this approach can be widely adopted in clinical practice. This manuscript addresses diagnostic approaches in the axilla in patients who are candidates for neoadjuvant chemotherapy, discusses surgical issues in the management of axillary nodes before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, examines the performance characteristics of sentinal node biopsy in this setting, and outlines some of the future research directions in axillary lymph node management in patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
Applications of the double moderator DePangher neutron dosimeter near accelerators

A modified DePangher double-moderator BF3 detector was used to measure stray fast neutron fields outside the biological shielding of a Cockcroft-Walton iongenerator, a cyclotron, and a linear accelerator. The instrument measures RBE dose rate between 0.1 and 5 MeV and average energy of the epicadmium neutron spectrum. Stray neutron fields of < 1 mrem/hr were detectable and “sky shine” from an accelerator without roof shielding was characterized. Such fields were not accurately measured with ordinary survey instruments. The average energy of stray neutrons outside accelerator shields was found to be approximately 0.8 MeV. Characteristics and limitations of the detector are discussed, including the use of gated pulse techniques for neutron measurement in high intensity pulsed gamma fields. The instrument was found to be useful in determing low intensity fast neutron dose rates that are often neglected or inadequately studied because of the lack of suitability of available survey meters.
Spirituality, religiosity, and spiritual pain among caregivers of patients with advanced cancer.

Background:Caregivers of patients with advanced cancer often face physical, social, and emotional distress as well as spiritual pain. Limited research has focused on the spiritual aspects of caregi...
The Role of Information Resources in Enabling the 24-hour Knowledge factory

The term 24-hour knowledge factory connotes a globally distributed work environment in which teammates work on a project around the clock. The 24-hour knowledge factory is a special case of a globally distributed team in which the different teams work on a sequential basis that has been clearly defined in advance. Whereas a manufactured item was the end product in the case of the factory which emerged as a consequence of the industrial revolution, knowledge-based services and knowledge-based products are the end deliverables in the case of the current information revolution; hence, the term 24-hour knowledge factory. Work can be decomposed by task style or by organizational style, and allows for greater specialization of workers. A case study from IBM details surprising differences between colocated and distributed teams, and leads to a future state analysis for organizations seeking to study or implement the 24-hour knowledge factory.
Experimental and computational results for the external flowfield of a scramjet inlet

A two-dimensional hypersonic scramjet inlet has been investigated in a combined experimental and analytical program aimed at addressing the fundamental issues related to the design of scramjet inlets. The experimental portion of the program was conducted in the Calspan 48-in. shock tunnel at Mach 10 and 13. The computational analysis was conducted using a two-dimensional parabolized Navier-Stokes computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code. This article addresses the issues concerned with the flow over the external forebody of the inlet which consists of a blunted wedge followed by an isentropic compression. The pressure and heat transfer distributions over the forebody are investigated for ranges of Reynolds number, Mach number, wall-to-freestream temperature ratio, and nose bluntness. Comparison of the test results and CFD predictions show that good agreement for the heat transfer distributions is achieved. However, the predicted pressure distribution on the forward blunted wedge was consistently underpredicted by 18-33% relative to the experimental measurements. Several phenomena were investigated in an attempt to explain the discrepancy between predicted and measured pressure distributions, including classical viscous leading-edge interactions, blunt leading-edge interactions, slip flow effects, flow condensation, flow angularity, and facility Mach number uncertainty. Although the discrepancy in the forebody pressure ratios could be caused by a combination of the factors listed above, a deficiency in the modeling of the viscous interaction region by the CFD codes and facility flow angularity are shown to be the strongest contributors.
Effect of parity on gestational age at delivery in multiple gestation pregnancies.

To estimate the effect of parity on gestational age (GA) at birth in multifetal pregnancies. Birth data from the public-access Matched Multiple Birth File produced by the National Center for Health Statistics from 1995 to 2000 were analyzed following IRB approval. GA, parity and demographic data were analyzed with parametric and nonparametric tests, including regression analysis, using SPSS. Data from women with twin (n=316 983), triplet (n=11 981), and quadruplet (n=766) pregnancies were analyzed. A significantly higher proportion of nulliparous versus parous women were Caucasian (twins: 82 versus 77%; triplets: 91 versus 87%) and had more than 15 years of education (twins: 39 versus 24%; triplets: 55 versus 39%; quadruplets: 53 versus 35%). Mean GA was 5.6 days longer for twins, 5.4 days longer for triplets and 6.8 days longer for quadruplets born to parous versus nulliparous women. Caucasian and African-American parous women pregnant with twins or triplets delivered their babies at a later GA than their nulliparous counterparts at each level of education. GA at delivery increased as a function of age of the mother in nulliparous and parous women of twins or triplets, and at every age level, parous women delivered their babies at a later GA. A higher proportion of nulliparous women delivered before 24 weeks (twins: 2.9 versus 1.2%; triplets: 5.9 versus 2.5%; quadruplets: 8.3 versus 2.6%). The percentage of twins born at or after 32 weeks was 84.9% for nullipara and 90.1% for parous women; for triplets, corresponding figures were 61.4 and 69.6%; and for quadruplets the figures were 33.2 and 44.2%. The percentage of births at or after 36 weeks for nulliparous and parous women pregnant with twins was 54.8 and 63.2%, respectively. The majority of the gain in GA was observed between women who had no previous births and those who had one previous birth. In regression analysis, the effect of parity remained after controlling for demographic and risk factors known to affect GA. GA at delivery is significantly increased in parous women carrying a multifetal gestation after controlling for other factors that affect GA at birth.
Atomic force microscopy studies of ganglioside GM1 domains in phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylcholine/cholesterol bilayers.

Abstract The distribution of ganglioside in supported lipid bilayers has been studied by atomic force microscopy. Hybrid dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC)/dipalmitoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DPPE) and (2:1 DPPC/cholesterol)/DPPE bilayers were prepared using the Langmuir Blodgett technique. Egg PC and DPPC bilayers were prepared by vesicle fusion. Addition of ganglioside GM1 to each of the lipid bilayers resulted in the formation of heterogeneous surfaces that had numerous small raised domains (30–200nm in diameter). Incubation of these bilayers with cholera toxin B subunit resulted in the detection of small protein aggregates, indicating specific binding of the protein to the GM1-rich microdomains. Similar results were obtained for DPPC, DPPC/cholesterol, and egg PC, demonstrating that the overall bilayer morphology was not dependent on the method of bilayer preparation or the fluidity of the lipid mixture. However, bilayers produced by vesicle fusion provided evidence for asymmetrically distributed GM1 domains that probably reflect the presence of ganglioside in both inner and outer monolayers of the initial vesicle. The results are discussed in relation to recent inconsistencies in the estimation of sizes of lipid rafts in model and natural membranes. It is hypothesized that small ganglioside-rich microdomains may exist within larger ordered domains in both natural and model membranes.
Ultrastructural study of large efferent neurons in the superior colliculus of the cat after retrograde labeling with horseradish peroxidase.

The ultrastructure of large neurons in the stratum griseum intermedium of the cat superior colliculus was examined following injections of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) into the dorsal tegmental decussation. Four HRP-labeled cells were selected, and the synaptology of their cell bodies and selected regions of proximal and distal dendrites was examined. The four neurons represent four morphologically distinct cell types: multipolar radiating, tufted, large vertical, and medium-sized trapezoid radiating. These four neurons correspond with cell types X1, X2, X3, and T1 respectively, according to the recent classification of neurons in the superior colliculus of the cat by Moschovakis and Karabelas (J. Comp Neurol. 239:276–308, '85). The three X type neurons are similar in having 83% of their somata and over 74% of their proximal dendrites contacted by synaptic profiles. Distal dendrites of the X type neurons, however, receive fewer synaptic contacts. In contrast, in the T1 cell, only 69% of the soma membrane is contacted by synaptic profiles, and the synaptic coverage on proximal and distal dendrites does not vary much from this. Of the eight types of synaptic terminals described in the stratum griseum intermedium of the cat superior colliculus by Norita (J. Comp. Neurol. 190:29–48, '80), only five are found in contact with the X and T type efferent neurons described here. There are some regional differences in terminal distribution, although each terminal is represented on each cell. Type III terminals (small, contain mostly pleomorphic vesicles, and make symmetrical contacts) are the most abundant on cell bodies and dendrites of all four cell types. Terminal types II (medium-sized, containing round and flattened vesicles, and making asymmetrical contacts), and IV (medium to large in size, containing flattened vesicles, and making symmetrical contacts) are well represented. In general, terminal types I (small, containing densely packed round vesicles/and making asymmetrical contacts) and VI (small and irregular in shape, containing flattened vesicles and making symmetrical contacts) are found infrequently. The identity of different types of synaptic terminal is discussed.
Atresia of the pulmonary artery with intact interventricular septum.

Summary 1. A case is presented with the clinical picture of tetralogy of Fallot. 2. At necropsy an atresia of the pulmonary orifice with a closed interventricular septum was discovered. 3. Only one possibly similar case was discovered in the literature. 4. A brief explanation of the pathologic findings is suggested.
High-Tc of undoped and fluorine-doped YBa2Cu3Oy films on ceramic substrates by screen printing

Abstract Thick films of undoped and fluorine-doped YBa 2 Cu 3 O y were screen printed on highly polished alumina, magnesia spinel, strontium titanate, and yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) substrates. They were annealed at 1000°C and soaked in oxygen at 450°C followed by slow cooling to room temperature. The films were characterized by electrical resistivity measurements as a function of temperature and by X-ray diffraction. The films on YSZ showed the best characteristics with a T c (onset) of 91 K, T c ( R = 0) of 88.2 K, and a transition width, ΔT c (10–90%), of ≈ 1.7 K. The film adhesion, probably controlled by interdiffusion of cations between the film and the substrate, was good in all cases except on strontium titanate where the film completely detached from the substrate.
Synthesis and androgen receptor binding of dihydrotestosterone hemisuccinate homologs

Dihydrotestosterone-succinyl-agarose is the most common form of androgen affinity column. To investigate the effect of variation in the number of methylene groups between the ester and amide functions, a homologous series, varying the number of methylenes between the functional groups, has been synthesized and evaluated. In addition, since structure studies show 17 alpha-methyldihydrotestosterone binds with high affinity, a 17 alpha-carboxymethyl ligand (3) was studied. Relative binding affinities of the dicarboxylates (assayed as the n-butyl amides) range from 0.003 to 0.044 (dihydrotestosterone = 1.00), while there was no detectable binding for 3. Only the suberate binds better than the much-used succinate, and it would be a likely candidate for an affinity ligand.
Analysis of Relational Communication in Dyads: New Measurement Procedures

Relational communication refers to the control or dominance aspects of message exchange in dyads, as distinct from an emphasis on the report or referential aspects of communication. In relational communication analysis, the focus is on messages as transactions, and the major theoretic concepts which emerge in this analysis are symmetry, transitory, and complementarity of control. This paper contains a brief review and critique of existing interaction analysis techniques, followed by a detailed discussion of new measurement procedures that capture both the control and processual (time-varying) nature of dyadic interaction. The first step in these procedures yields a code (by speaker) based on the grammatical format of each sequential utterance. The second step yields a translation of each message format and response made into a control code, based on the relationship between the message and its immediate predecessor. These codes are next translated into transactional codes, which can then be analyzed in terms of the three major theoretic concepts. These measurement procedures require minimal subjective judgment, particularly at the initial coding level. The paper concludes with a discussion of the ways we are attempting to operationalize major “themes” or patterns of control in lengthy, ongoing dyadic exchanges.
Imprinted green beards: a little less than kin and more than kind

RNA is complementary to the DNA sequence from which it is transcribed. Therefore, interactions between DNA and RNA provide a simple mechanism of genetic self-detection within nuclei. Imprinted RNAs could enable alleles of maternal and paternal origin to detect whether they are the same (homozygous) or different (heterozygous), and thereby provide strategic information about expected relatedness to siblings.
Using Non-Parametric Kernel to Segment and Smooth Images Simultaneously

Piecewise constant and piecewise smooth Mumford-Shah (MS) models have been widely studied and used for image segmentation. More complicated than piecewise constant MS, global Gaussian intensity distribution within each partitioned region has also been studied. However, all these frameworks are limited in power and robustness in finding objects whose interiors have high noise level and/or complex multi-modal intensity distribution. To overcome these drawbacks, we propose a non-parametric kernel based model which is able to simultaneously segment and smooth images without adding extra smoothing terms. At each point within each partitioned smooth region, a Gaussian kernel with mean the intensity of the given to-be-segmented image at this point and a small local variance depending on the location is applied to create a nonparametric intensity statistics approximation. To save computation, a quadratic kernel involving simple calculation could replace the Gaussian kernel that involves expensive exponential calculation. We demonstrate the superiority of proposed model over other models by showing segmentation results from various images with different levels and types of noise.
Separate mechanisms for procarbazine spermatotoxicity and anticancer activity.

Abstract Procarbazine causes dose-dependent decreases in sperm count after a single i.p. injection in (C57BL/6 × DBA/2)F 1 male mice. Two antioxidants, N -acetylcysteine and sodium ascorbate, administered with equimolar doses of procarbazine decreased the spermatotoxicity of procarbazine. At the highest doses of procarbazine (400 mg/kg) that caused a 56% decrease in sperm count, equimolar doses of N -acetylcysteine coadministered with procarbazine caused only a 17% decrease in sperm count, and equimolar doses of ascorbate coadministered with procarbazine caused only a 13% decrease in sperm count. Thus, protection against the spermatotoxic effects of procarbazine was demonstrated with either antioxidant. The effect of the antioxidants on the chemotherapeutic efficacy of procarbazine against murine L1210 leukemia was also assessed. Procarbazine at the highest dose (600 mg/kg) increased mean survival time of mice inoculated i.p. with 1 × 10 5 L1210 leukemia cells by 31%. Simultaneous administration of equimolar doses of either N -acetylcysteine or ascorbate given with procarbazine caused no change in the increased mean survival time of tumor-bearing mice. These results indicate a decrease in the toxicity of procarbazine when coadministered with antioxidants, via decreased spermatotoxicity without changing anticancer efficacy. The results also indicate that different mechanisms are involved in the spermatotoxicity and anticancer activity of procarbazine.
Linear programming approach to moment tensor inversion of earthquake sources and some tests on the three‐dimensional structure of the upper mantle

A new method of moment tensor inversion is developed, which combines surface wave data and P-wave first motion data in a linear programming approach. Once surface wave spectra and first motion data are given, the method automatically obtains the solution that satisfies first motion data and minimizes the L1 norm of the surface wave spectra. We show the results of eight events in which the method works and is stable even for shallow events. We also show one event in which surface wave data and P-wave first motion data seem to be incompatible. In such cases, our method does not converge or converges to a solution which has a large minor (second) double couple component. It is an advantage that the method can determine the compatibility of two data sets without trial and error. Laterally heterogeneous phase velocity corrections are used to obtain spectra at the source. The method is also applied to invert moment tensors of eight events in two recent three-dimensional (3-D) upper mantle structures. In both 3-D models, variances of spectra are smaller than those in a laterally homogeneous model at 256 s. Statistical tests show that those reductions are significant at a high confidence level for five events out of eight examined. For three events, we examined those reductions at shorter periods, 197 and 151 s. The reduction of variances is comparable to the results at 256 s and is again statistically significant at a high confidence level. Orientation of fault planes does not change very much by incorporation of lateral variations of phase velocity or by doing inversions at different periods. This is mainly because of the constraints from P-wave first motion data. Scatter of phase spectra at shorter periods, especially at 151 s, is great and suggests that surface wave ray paths deviate from great circle paths substantially and these effects cannot be ignored.
Acclimatization of soil respiration to warming in a tall grass prairie

The latest report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predicts a 1.4–5.8 °C average increase in the global surface temperature over the period 1990 to 2100 (ref. 1). These estimates of future warming are greater than earlier projections, which is partly due to incorporation of a positive feedback. This feedback results from further release of greenhouse gases from terrestrial ecosystems in response to climatic warming2,3,4. The feedback mechanism is usually based on the assumption that observed sensitivity of soil respiration to temperature under current climate conditions would hold in a warmer climate5. However, this assumption has not been carefully examined. We have therefore conducted an experiment in a tall grass prairie ecosystem in the US Great Plains to study the response of soil respiration (the sum of root and heterotrophic respiration) to artificial warming of about 2 °C. Our observations indicate that the temperature sensitivity of soil respiration decreases—or acclimatizes—under warming and that the acclimatization is greater at high temperatures. This acclimatization of soil respiration to warming may therefore weaken the positive feedback between the terrestrial carbon cycle and climate.
Management of HIV Infection in Patients With Cancer Receiving Chemotherapy

The optimal antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimen for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients with cancer remains unknown, as clinical trials are lacking and published data are insufficient to guide recommendations. When concomitant use of chemotherapy and ART is anticipated, overlap of toxic effects and drug-drug interactions between chemotherapy and ART may alter the optimal choice of ART. Prospective studies are urgently needed to further define the toxic effects of combined chemotherapy and ART in HIV-positive cancer patients. Such studies should aid the development of guidelines for treatment of this population. For now, clinicians should individualize decisions regarding treatment of HIV according to clinical and laboratory findings, cancer treatment plan (chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or surgery), liver or renal disease, potential adverse drug effects (eg, rash, gastrointestinal intolerance, bone marrow suppression), and patient preference. This review focuses on what infectious disease specialists need to know to select the most appropriate ART regimens for patients receiving chemotherapy.
Simulations of the Atmospheric General Circulation Using a Cloud-Resolving Model as a Superparameterization of Physical Processes

Traditionally, the effects of clouds in GCMs have been represented by semiempirical parameterizations. Recently, a cloud-resolving model (CRM) was embedded into each grid column of a realistic GCM, the NCAR Community Atmosphere Model (CAM), to serve as a superparameterization (SP) of clouds. Results of the standard CAM and the SP-CAM are contrasted, both using T42 resolution (2.8° 2.8° grid), 26 vertical levels, and up to a 500-day-long simulation. The SP was based on a two-dimensional (2D) CRM with 64 grid columns and 24 levels collocated with the 24 lowest levels of CAM. In terms of the mean state, the SP-CAM produces quite reasonable geographical distributions of precipitation, precipitable water, top-ofthe-atmosphere radiative fluxes, cloud radiative forcing, and high-cloud fraction for both December– January–February and June–July–August. The most notable and persistent precipitation bias in the western Pacific, during the Northern Hemisphere summer of all the SP-CAM runs with 2D SP, seems to go away through the use of a small-domain three-dimensional (3D) SP with the same number of grid columns as the 2D SP, but arranged in an 8 8 square with identical horizontal resolution of 4 km. Two runs with the 3D SP have been carried out, with and without explicit large-scale momentum transport by convection. Interestingly, the double ITCZ feature seems to go away in the run that includes momentum transport. The SP improves the diurnal variability of nondrizzle precipitation frequency over the standard model by precipitating most frequently during late afternoon hours over the land, as observed, while the standard model maximizes its precipitation frequency around local solar noon. Over the ocean, both models precipitate most frequently in the early morning hours as observed. The SP model also reproduces the observed global distribution of the percentage of days with nondrizzle precipitation rather well. In contrast, the standard model tends to precipitate more frequently, on average by about 20%–30%. The SP model seems to improve the convective intraseasonal variability over the standard model. Preliminary results suggest that the SP produces more realistic variability of such fields as 200-mb wind and OLR, relative to the control, including the often poorly simulated Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO).
LIN-42/PERIOD Controls Cyclical and Developmental Progression of C. elegans Molts

Summary Background Biological timing mechanisms that integrate cyclical and successive processes are not well understood. C. elegans molting cycles involve rhythmic cellular and animal behaviors linked to the periodic reconstruction of cuticles. Molts are coordinated with successive transitions in the temporal fates of epidermal blast cells, which are programmed by genes in the heterochronic regulatory network. It was known that juveniles molt at regular 8–10 hr intervals, but the anticipated pacemaker had not been characterized. Results We find that inactivation of the heterochronic gene lin-42a , which is related to the core circadian clock gene PERIOD ( PER ), results in arrhythmic molts and continuously abnormal epidermal stem cell dynamics. The oscillatory expression of lin-42a in the epidermis peaks during the molts. Further, forced expression of lin-42a leads to anachronistic larval molts and lethargy in adults. Conclusions Our results suggest that rising and falling levels of LIN-42A allow the start and completion, respectively, of larval molts. We propose that LIN-42A and affiliated factors regulate molting cycles in much the same way that PER-based oscillators drive rhythmic behaviors and metabolic processes in mature mammals. Further, the combination of reiterative and stage-specific functions of LIN-42 may coordinate periodic molts with successive development of the epidermis.
Fast Bloom Filters and Their Generalization

Bloom filters have been extensively applied in many network functions. Their performance is judged by three criteria: query overhead, space requirement, and false positive ratio. Due to wide applicability, any improvement to the performance of Bloom filters can potentially have a broad impact in many areas of networking research. In this paper, we study Bloom-1, a data structure that performs membership check in one memory access, which compares favorably with the k memory accesses of a standard Bloom filter. We also generalize Bloom-1 to Bloom-g and Bloom-Q, allowing performance tradeoff between membership query overhead and false positive ratio. We thoroughly examine the variants in this family of filters, and show that they can be configured to outperform the Bloom filters with a smaller number of memory accesses, a smaller or equal number of hash bits, and a smaller or comparable false positive ratio in practical scenarios. We also perform experiments based on a real traffic trace to support our filter design.
Emotionally anesthetized: media violence induces neural changes during emotional face processing

Media violence exposure causes increased aggression and decreased prosocial behavior, suggesting that media violence desensitizes people to the emotional experience of others. Alterations in emotional face processing following exposure to media violence may result in desensitization to others' emotional states. This study used scalp electroencephalography methods to examine the link between exposure to violence and neural changes associated with emotional face processing. Twenty-five participants were shown a violent or nonviolent film clip and then completed a gender discrimination stop-signal task using emotional faces. Media violence did not affect the early visual P100 component; however, decreased amplitude was observed in the N170 and P200 event-related potentials following the violent film, indicating that exposure to film violence leads to suppression of holistic face processing and implicit emotional processing. Participants who had just seen a violent film showed increased frontal N200/P300 amplitude. These results suggest that media violence exposure may desensitize people to emotional stimuli and thereby require fewer cognitive resources to inhibit behavior.
Nonstationary probabilistic target and clutter scattering models

A probabilistic model for nonstationary and/or nonhomogeneous clutter and target scattering is proposed and developed. The first-order probability density of the scattered power is treated as the expected value of a conditional density that is a function of random parameters. The family of gamma densities is a general solution for the density function of the intensity reflected by objects comprised of several scatterers and is selected as the conditional density. In the general case, the gamma density is a function of two parameters: the mean and the inverse of the normalized variance. Assuming various distributions for a random mean, expressions for the first-order density of the scattered power are derived and used to explain previous experimental and theoretical results. An example of detection performance for nonstationary target fluctuation based on the developed model is also presented.
Effect of moxifloxacin on secretion of cytokines by human monocytes stimulated with lipopolysaccharide

Abstract Objective To determine the effect of moxifloxacin on secretion of cytokines by human monocytes stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or Pansorbin. Methods Monocytes obtained from 10 healthy volunteer donors were stimulated with LPS or Pansorbin and exposed or not to different concentrations of the fluoroquinolone antibiotic moxifloxacin. At 3, 6 and 24 h, the amounts of interleukin-1α (IL-1α), IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12 (p70) and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were measured in the supernatants of the monocyte cultures using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results Stimulation of human monocytes with either LPS or Pansorbin resulted in a significant increase in secretion of each of the cytokines examined. Treatment of LPS-stimulated monocytes with moxifloxacin significantly inhibited ( P P Conclusions Moxifloxacin has immunomodulatory activity through its capacity to alter the secretion of IL-1α and TNF-α by human monocytes.
Ethnic differences in dairy and related nutrient consumption among US adults and their association with obesity, central obesity, and the metabolic syndrome.

Background Recent studies suggest dairy consumption and associated nutrients may be protective against some of the components of the metabolic syndrome (MetS).
Stability of an Iterative Dual-Doppler Wind Synthesis in Cartesian Coordinates

Abstract A popular method for obtaining a wind field that satisfies mass continuity and that is consistent with dual-Doppler radial velocity observations is the iterative wind synthesis in Cartesian coordinates. However, in some instances, the iterative method does not converge. Herein, a stability condition is derived for the iterative technique that depends on the horizontal and vertical grid spacings, and the azimuth and elevation angles of the dual-Doppler observations. Alternately, the condition for stability can be expressed as a relationship between the grid box dimensions and the direction of the coplanar arc passing through the grid point. The results of experiments with simulated radar data are consistent with the predicted stability characteristics.
Butyric acid causes morphological changes in cultured chondrocytes through alterations in the extracellular matrix

Butyric acid induces characteristic changes in the morphology of chick embryo chondrocytes. Chick embryo chondrocytes when cultured in the absence of butyrate exhibit a spherical morphology and synthesize cartilage-specific chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CSPG). When these cultures are initiated and maintained in the presence of butyric acid, chondrocytes exhibit a mesenchymal morphology, a 90% reduction in the synthesis of CSPG, and a 75% reduction in DNA synthesis. The reduced synthesis of CSPG and DNA was shown not to be dependent on the morphological change. Chondrocytes require CSPG in order to express a spherical morphology, since including chondroitinase ABC in the culture media caused the cells to spread. In addition, the treatment of chondrocytes with purified CSPG prior to culture in media containing butyric acid resulted in spherical cells. The butyrate-induced spreading was shown to require either serum or fibronectin and could be prevented with antiserum against chick cell-surface fibronectin (cFn). Cell-surface fibronectin, which was present on both spherical and flattened chondrocytes, organized into fibrils beneath cells which spread. Increased fibronectin synthesis was not responsible for the butyrate-induced morphological change. From this evidence, it is concluded that the mechanism by which butyrate alters the morphology of these cells in culture involves inhibiting CSPG synthesis, thus preventing CSPG accumulation in the extracellular matrix (ECM). The absence of CSPG in the ECM allows fibronectin to mediate spreading of chondrocytes in culture.
RGB-D object discovery via multi-scene analysis

We introduce an algorithm for object discovery from RGB-D (color plus depth) data, building on recent progress in using RGB-D cameras for 3-D reconstruction. A set of 3-D maps are built from multiple visits to the same scene. We introduce a multi-scene MRF model to detect objects that moved between visits, combining shape, visibility, and color cues. We measure similarities between candidate objects using both 2-D and 3-D matching, and apply spectral clustering to infer object clusters from noisy links. Our approach can robustly detect objects and their motion between scenes even when objects are textureless or have the same shape as other objects.
Wireless sensor network for calibration and deployment of low-cost fluid flow-rate sensors

This report focuses on low-cost networked fluid flow rate sensors for use in environmental studies and other applications requiring automated fluid flow rate measurements with high spatial density. The sensors are based on deflection of a flexible printed resistive element immersed in the stream. A wireless network is used for mass calibration of multiple sensors in a test flume. After individual sensor calibrations are obtained, the same wireless network can be used to collect flow rate data in the sensor application. A modular connection system enables the user to quickly reconfigure the system's physical layout for calibration or deployment purposes.
Response to Comment on “Opposing Effects of Native and Exotic Herbivores on Plant Invasions”

Our investigation found that non-native plants were more susceptible to native generalist herbivores than were native plants. Ricciardi and Ward's finding that non-native plants without native congeners are more susceptible to native herbivores than are non-natives with coexisting native congeners supports our hypothesis that evolutionary naivete leaves plants at greater risk of attack by newly encountered generalist herbivores.
A randomized, open-label, blinded-endpoint, active-comparator, forced-titration study to compare nebivolol versus metoprolol as dual therapy with amlodipine in patients with hypertension: results of the tandem study

We assessed the efficacy of blood pressure control and pedal edema of Nebivolol (N) 10 force titrated to 20 mg once-daily compared to Metoprolol (M) 50 force titrated to 100 mg once daily in patients on baseline Amlodipine (A) 10 mg once daily. Adults with stage 1 or 2 hypertension were randomized, and started a 4-week A monotherapy treatment phase. This was followed by a 4-week low dose N/M treatment phase as add on therapy to A and a subsequent 4-week forced titration to high dose N/M in addition to A therapy. All patients underwent 24 ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) as well as measurement of leg edema by EDEMAT (E) at Day -1, week 4, week 8 and week 12. Safety and tolerability were assessed by recording treatmentemergent adverse events (TEAEs), monitoring vital signs and clinical laboratory parameters, and performing ECGs and physical examinations. Of 41 patients, a total of 10 patients in the N arm of the study were aged 60 years of age (70% men and 30% women) and a total of 6 patients in the M arm of the study were aged 60 years of age (66% men and 33% women) . TEAE were experienced by 94% of patients and were mostly mild or moderate in severity. The most common TEAE in those prescribed A/N were URI (23.5%), bronchitis (9.0%), blurred vision in both eyes intermittently (9.0%), swelling of both ankles (4.5%), swelling of hands (4.5%) and swelling of both feet (4.5%). The most common TEAE prescribed A/M were URI (13.6%), bronchitis (14.6%), intermittent dizziness (5.9%), swelling of both legs and feet (5.9%), and headache (5.9%). There were no syncope or serious AEs experienced and no deaths occurred. In the A/N arm, the mean baseline office BP of patients was 148/97 mmHg, mean baseline ABPM of patients was 148/83mmHg and mean E was 1357.9 gms. After 12 weeks of treatment, mean office BP was 130/78 mmHg (a SBP reduction of 18 mmHg and a DBP reduction of 19 mmHg) and mean ABPM of patients was 121/67mmHg (an ambulatory SBP reduction of 27 and an ambulatory DBP reduction of 16 mmHg) and mean E measurement difference of 133.8gms. In the A/M arm, the mean baseline office BP of patients was 154/97 mmHg, mean baseline ABPM was 149/84mmHg and mean E was 1365.2gms. After 12 weeks of treatment, mean office BP was 131/80 mmHg (a SBP reduction of 23 mmHg and a DBP reduction of 17 mmHg.) and mean ABPM was 125/71 mmHg (an ambulatory SBP reduction of 24 mmHg and an ambulatory DBP reduction of 13 mmHg) and mean E measurement difference of 148.5 gm. In conclusion, A/N treatment had superior ABPM reduction with less edema when compared to A/M. A/N therapy fulfills the JNC 8 guideline recommendation that when achieving SBP < 140 mm Hg in 60 yo it was well tolerated and had less edema improving quality of life and would not need to be adjusted.
Large Deformation In-Fiber Polymer Optical Fiber Sensor

We demonstrate the measurement of the phase shift in a polymethylmethacrylate single-mode optical fiber interferometer, operating at a wavelength of 632.8 nm, up to 15.8% nominal strain in the fiber. The phase-displacement sensitivity is measured to be 1.39 x10 radldrm-1 for this strain range. This strain range is well beyond the yield strain of the polymer fiber and that previously measured for polymer Bragg gratings and silica optical fiber sensors.
Induction Therapy With Antithymocyte Globulin in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Transplantation Is Associated With Decreased Coronary Plaque Progression as Assessed by Intravascular Ultrasound

Background— Antithymocyte globulin (ATG) is used as induction therapy after cardiac transplant for enhancing immunosuppression and delaying the initiation of nephrotoxic drugs. It is unknown if ATG induction is associated with decreased coronary plaque progression by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). Methods and Results— Patients transplanted between March 2010 and December 2012 with baseline and 1-year IVUS were included. All patients transplanted were included in a secondary analysis. Change in plaque progression was measured in a blinded fashion on matched coronary segments and contrasted between patients induced with ATG and those who were not. One hundred and three patients were included in IVUS arms. Mean age at transplant was 55.8±12.6 years, and 33.0% were female. Patients induced with ATG were more sensitized (54.3% versus 14.3%). Plaque progression was attenuated in patients who received ATG by changes in maximal intimal area (1.0±1.2 versus 2.3±2.6 mm2; P =0.001), maximal percent stenosis (6.3±7.9 versus 12.8±12.3%; =0.003), maximal intimal thickness (0.2±0.2 versus 0.3±0.3 mm; P =0.035), and plaque volume (0.5±0.7 versus 1.0±1.3 mm3/mm; P =0.016). Rapid plaque progression by maximal percent stenosis (≥20%) occurred less frequently in the ATG arm (4.3% versus 26.3; P =0.003). Survival ( P =0.242) and any treated rejection ( P =0.166) were not statistically different between groups. Patients receiving ATG had a higher rate of first-year infection ( P =0.003), perhaps related to increased intravenous antibiotic use immediately postoperatively, and a trend toward more biopsy-proven rejection ( P =0.073). Conclusions— Induction therapy with ATG is associated with reduced first-year coronary plaque progression as assessed by IVUS, despite an increased prevalence of sensitized patients with a trend toward more rejection.
Historical precipitation predictably alters the shape and magnitude of microbial functional response to soil moisture

Soil moisture constrains the activity of decomposer soil microorganisms, and in turn the rate at which soil carbon returns to the atmosphere. While increases in soil moisture are generally associated with increased microbial activity, historical climate may constrain current microbial responses to moisture. However, it is not known if variation in the shape and magnitude of microbial functional responses to soil moisture can be predicted from historical climate at regional scales. To address this problem, we measured soil enzyme activity at 12 sites across a broad climate gradient spanning 442-887 mm mean annual precipitation. Measurements were made eight times over 21 months to maximize sampling during different moisture conditions. We then fit saturating functions of enzyme activity to soil moisture and extracted half saturation and maximum activity parameter values from model fits. We found that 50% of the variation in maximum activity parameters across sites could be predicted by 30-year mean annual precipitation, an indicator of historical climate, and that the effect is independent of variation in temperature, soil texture, or soil carbon concentration. Based on this finding, we suggest that variation in the shape and magnitude of soil microbial response to soil moisture due to historical climate may be remarkably predictable at regional scales, and this approach may extend to other systems. If historical contingencies on microbial activities prove to be persistent in the face of environmental change, this approach also provides a framework for incorporating historical climate effects into biogeochemical models simulating future global change scenarios.