4,922 research outputs found
Neurally Implementable Semantic Networks
We propose general principles for semantic networks allowing them to be
implemented as dynamical neural networks. Major features of our scheme include:
(a) the interpretation that each node in a network stands for a bound
integration of the meanings of all nodes and external events the node links
with; (b) the systematic use of nodes that stand for categories or types, with
separate nodes for instances of these types; (c) an implementation of
relationships that does not use intrinsically typed links between nodes.Comment: 32 pages, 12 figure
Lifelongα-tocopherol supplementation increases the median life span of C57BL/6 mice in the cold but has only minor effects on oxidative damage
The effects of dietary antioxidant supplementation on oxidative stress and life span are confused. We maintained C57BL/6 mice at 7 ± 2°C and supplemented their diet with α-tocopherol from 4 months of age. Supplementation significantly increased (p = 0.042) median life span by 15% (785 days, n = 44) relative to unsupplemented controls (682 days, n = 43) and also increased maximum life span (oldest 10%, p = 0.028). No sex or sex by treatment interaction effects were observed on life span, with treatment having no effect on resting or daily metabolic rate. Lymphocyte and hepatocyte oxidative DNA damage and hepatic lipid peroxidation were unaffected by supplementation, but hepatic oxidative DNA damage increased with age. Using a cDNA macroarray, genes associated with xenobiotic metabolism were significantly upregulated in the livers of female mice at 6 months of age (2 months supplementation). At 22 months of age (18 months supplementation) this response had largely abated, but various genes linked to the p21 signaling pathway were upregulated at this time. We suggest that α-tocopherol may initially be metabolized as a xenobiotic, potentially explaining why previous studies observe a life span extension generally when lifelong supplementation is initiated early in life. The absence of any significant effect on oxidative damage suggests that the life span extension observed was not mediated via any antioxidant properties of α-tocopherol. We propose that the life span extension observed following α-tocopherol supplementation may be mediated via upregulation of cytochrome p450 genes after 2 months of supplementation and/or upregulation of p21 signaling genes after 18 months of supplementation. However, these signaling pathways now require further investigation to establish their exact role in life span extension following α-tocopherol supplementation
Measuring Parton Densities in the Pomeron
We present a program to measure the parton densities in the pomeron using
diffractive deep inelastic scattering and diffractive photoproduction, and to
test the resulting parton densities by applying them to other processes such as
the diffractive production of jets in hadron-hadron collisions. Since QCD
factorization has been predicted NOT to apply to hard diffractive scattering,
this program of fitting and using parton densities might be expected to fail.
Its success or failure will provide useful information on the space-time
structure of the pomeron.Comment: Contains revisions based on Phys. Rev. D referee comments. RevTeX
version 3, epsf, 31 pages. Uuencoded compressed postscript figures appended.
Uncompressed postscript files available at
ftp://ftp.phys.psu.edu/pub/preprint/psuth136
Rapid solution of problems by nuclear-magnetic-resonance quantum computation
We offer an improved method for using a nuclear-magnetic-resonance quantum
computer (NMRQC) to solve the Deutsch-Jozsa problem. Two known obstacles to the
application of the NMRQC are exponential diminishment of density-matrix
elements with the number of bits, threatening weak signal levels, and the high
cost of preparing a suitable starting state. A third obstacle is a heretofore
unnoticed restriction on measurement operators available for use by an NMRQC.
Variations on the function classes of the Deutsch-Jozsa problem are introduced,
both to extend the range of problems advantageous for quantum computation and
to escape all three obstacles to use of an NMRQC. By adapting it to one such
function class, the Deutsch-Jozsa problem is made solvable without exponential
loss of signal. The method involves an extra work bit and a polynomially more
involved Oracle; it uses the thermal-equilibrium density matrix systematically
for an arbitrary number of spins, thereby avoiding both the preparation of a
pseudopure state and temporal averaging.Comment: 19 page
Transmission potential of Rift Valley fever virus over the course of the 2010 epidemic in South Africa.
A Rift Valley fever (RVF) epidemic affecting animals on domestic livestock farms was reported in South Africa during January-August 2010. The first cases occurred after heavy rainfall, and the virus subsequently spread countrywide. To determine the possible effect of environmental conditions and vaccination on RVF virus transmissibility, we estimated the effective reproduction number (Re) for the virus over the course of the epidemic by extending the Wallinga and Teunis algorithm with spatial information. Re reached its highest value in mid-February and fell below unity around mid-March, when vaccination coverage was 7.5%-45.7% and vector-suitable environmental conditions were maintained. The epidemic fade-out likely resulted first from the immunization of animals following natural infection or vaccination. The decline in vector-suitable environmental conditions from April onwards and further vaccination helped maintain Re below unity. Increased availability of vaccine use data would enable evaluation of the effect of RVF vaccination campaigns
An Integrated Approach for Characterizing Aerosol Climate Impacts and Environmental Interactions
Aerosols exert myriad influences on the earth's environment and climate, and on human health. The complexity of aerosol-related processes requires that information gathered to improve our understanding of climate change must originate from multiple sources, and that effective strategies for data integration need to be established. While a vast array of observed and modeled data are becoming available, the aerosol research community currently lacks the necessary tools and infrastructure to reap maximum scientific benefit from these data. Spatial and temporal sampling differences among a diverse set of sensors, nonuniform data qualities, aerosol mesoscale variabilities, and difficulties in separating cloud effects are some of the challenges that need to be addressed. Maximizing the long-term benefit from these data also requires maintaining consistently well-understood accuracies as measurement approaches evolve and improve. Achieving a comprehensive understanding of how aerosol physical, chemical, and radiative processes impact the earth system can be achieved only through a multidisciplinary, inter-agency, and international initiative capable of dealing with these issues. A systematic approach, capitalizing on modern measurement and modeling techniques, geospatial statistics methodologies, and high-performance information technologies, can provide the necessary machinery to support this objective. We outline a framework for integrating and interpreting observations and models, and establishing an accurate, consistent, and cohesive long-term record, following a strategy whereby information and tools of progressively greater sophistication are incorporated as problems of increasing complexity are tackled. This concept is named the Progressive Aerosol Retrieval and Assimilation Global Observing Network (PARAGON). To encompass the breadth of the effort required, we present a set of recommendations dealing with data interoperability; measurement and model integration; multisensor synergy; data summarization and mining; model evaluation; calibration and validation; augmentation of surface and in situ measurements; advances in passive and active remote sensing; and design of satellite missions. Without an initiative of this nature, the scientific and policy communities will continue to struggle with understanding the quantitative impact of complex aerosol processes on regional and global climate change and air quality
Rationale for Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients with Oligometastatic Hormone-NaĂŻve Prostate Cancer
Despite advances in treatment for metastatic prostate cancer, patients eventually progress to castrate-resistant disease and ultimately succumb to their cancer. Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is the standard treatment for metastatic prostate cancer and has been shown to improve median time to progression and median survival time. Research suggests that castrate-resistant clones may be present early in the disease process prior to the initiation of ADT. These clones are not susceptible to ADT and may even flourish when androgen-responsive clones are depleted. Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is a safe and efficacious method of treating clinically localized prostate cancer and metastases. In patients with a limited number of metastatic sites, SBRT may have a role in eliminating castrate-resistant clones and possibly delaying progression to castrate-resistant disease
Analysis of donor-derived cell-free DNA with 3 year outcomes in heart transplant recipients
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