cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Entrapment neuropathy of the posterior interosseous nerve. A complication of rheumatoid arthritis.

A rare complication of rheumatoid arthritis is presented. A patient developed simultaneous extensor paralysis of all 5 digits of one hand due to compression of the posterior interosseous branch of the radial nerve by rheumatoid synovium of the elbow joint. By the technics of dye-contrast tendon radiography and electromyography, the extensor paralysis of tendinous origin could be separated from that of a neural defect. Operative decompression was necessary to restore extension. It should be emphasized that in addition to the more common median and ulnar neuropathies of rheumatoid arthritis, rare radial neuropathies should not be overlooked.
Housing inequalities under socialism: the case of Poland

Abstract This paper empirically investigates interurban inequalities in housing conditions (in housing availability and quality) in Poland during the 1946–1984 period. The pattern of these inequalities are examined from three perspectives: geographic location of cities, their sizes, and the type of their major economic activity. The most striking differences in housing conditions in the early post-World War II period had been found between cities located in western Poland and those located in the eastern part of the country. These early east-west inequalities, inherited from the past, have been significantly reduced throughout the socialist period. Uneven territorial allocation of meagre funds for housing construction and maintenance, and the initial postwar policy of low rent which created indifference among tenants and owners to housing maintenance and led to physical dilapidation of part of the dwelling stock, have been chiefly responsible for the process of equalization through deterioriation. Interurban disparities in relation to size and type of cities have been magnified during the socialist period, but only in relation to the quality of housing. Dwellings in small and agricultural towns compared to those in large and industrial cities have been characterized by the lower levels of improvements. The crisis of small towns, an outcome of the policy of heavy industrialization during the 1950s, left these urban settlements outside the main-stream of housing construction and modernization programs. Large and many medium-sized cities have been promoted by the government for further development and received disproportionately large share of funds for housing. In spite of preferential treatment of these cities, a continuous increase in their population and the entrance of the baby-boom generation into the housing market only exacerbated the housing shortage in the largest urban areas. The professed socialist government policy of equal housing for everyone does not appear to be the main mechanism shaping the housing situation in Poland. The dominant mechanisms seem to stem from economic policies aimed at rapid industrial development of the country.
Temperature dependence of the quantum Hall resistance

High precision measurements of the temperature dependence of the quantum Hall resistance for a GaAs/GaAlAs heterostructure are reported. Our data agree with the results of Cage et al. [Phys. Rev. B30 (1984) 2286] concerning the linear relationship between ρxy(T) and ρxx(T) in the temperature range 1.5 < T < 4.2 K. In addition to being device dependent this effect was found to be strongly cool-down dependent for our samples.
Characterizing cortical neuron injury with fluoro-jade labeling after a neurotoxic regimen of methamphetamine

We used Fluoro-Jade, a recently-developed fluorescent indicator of neuronal damage, to identify neurons injured 1–21 days after repeated injections of methamphetamine (m-AMPH) or saline. The m-AMPH-treated rats showed Fluoro-Jade positive neurons in parietal cortex (layers III and IV) and had less striatal tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity than did saline-injected controls. Fluoro-Jade positive neurons were greatest in number 3 days post-treatment; some fluorescent neurons displayed bud-like surface protrusions. These observations support the hypothesis that certain neocortical neurons degenerate after m-AMPH. Synapse 30:329–333, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Trends in analyzing access to information. Part II. unique and integrating conceptualizations

Abstract Part II summarizes and extends the review of fundamental conceptualizations of access to information across six relevant research literatures developed in part I. It identifies unique underlying assumptions of the concept `access to information' within each of the different disciplines. We discuss implications of the conceptualizations of access, and of influences and constraints on access. We then integrate the common and unique conceptualizations and the implications to propose a general model of access to information. The goal of the two articles is to identify common and unique, as well as hidden and overlooked, aspects of how access is conceptualized in a selected set of relevant literature, and to suggest a comprehensive perspective that may be applied to future studies and policies related to information access.
Enhancement of conventional distillation configurations for ternary mixtures separation

Rigorous simulations at steady-state are conducted for the separation of two different ternary mixtures by conventional distillation with direct and indirect separation sequence. The studied chemical systems are (ethanol/n-propanol/n-butanol) and (benzene/toluene/m-xylene) with 99 mol% products purity at different feed compositions: (45/10/45), (33.3/33.3/33.3), and (10/80/10). In order to reduce the remixing effects in the first column a sidedraw stream is introduced at peak point composition of middle component as transfer stream to the second column. Economic optimization is carried out for the conventional and improved configurations based on energy consumption and total annual cost (TAC) as the objective function. The results indicate that improvements of thermodynamic performance of both columns are achievable and the maximum TAC saving is 29% in case of indirect sequence and 19% for direct sequence at low concentration of middle component. Improved conventional distillation sequences show a significant reduction of flue gas emissions (CO2, SOx, and NOx) whish is generated by the combustion process of the utility systems.
Problems of insect tissue culture.

Non si e riusciti finora ad ottenere da un insetto un clone di cellule che si moltiplichi indefinitamentein vitro. D'altra parte, esistono numerosi cloni di cellule provenienti da vertebrati. Perche questa discrepanza? Fra l'organismo degli insetti e quello dei vertebrati esistono differenze fondamentali. E chiaro, dagli studi finora pubblicati, che nel caso degli insetti non e possibile adottare direttamente i metodi di coltura da lungo tempo usati per cellule e tessuti di vertebrati. Per poter definire i fattori necessari alla nutrizione ed alla moltiplicazione cellulare e necessario, fra l'altro, che si approfondisca lo studio dell'emolinfa e che si analizzi in maggior dettaglio il metabolismo di cellule d'insettiin vitro.
Plasticity of cell fate: insights from heterokaryons.

Experiments with somatic cell hybrids and stable heterokaryons have demonstrated that differentiated cells exhibit a remarkable capacity to change. Heterokaryons have been particularly useful in determining the extent to which the differentiated state of a cell is plastic. Cell fate can be altered by a change in the balance of positive and negative trans-acting regulators. Although a single regulator may be sufficient in certain environments to trigger a change in cell fate, that regulator may be ineffective in other cell contexts where it encounters a different composition of regulators.
A unified model of environment-assisted cracking

Abstract Environment-assisted cracking is caused by enhanced crack-tip plastic deformation. Lattice resistance to shear slip is caused by the periodic fluctuation of the misfit energy across a slip plane. Lu et al. have shown that hydrogen reduces the misfit energy, slip resistance and resistance to dislocation motion. The 1s orbital of a hydrogen atom in a metal is not full, and the electron of the atom moves and reacts as a valence electron. The resistances to shear slip and dislocation generation at a crack tip are reduced by hydrogen electrons and hydrogen nuclei. Crack-tip plastic deformation is thus enhanced, and crack growth rate is increased. The model of reduced resistance to crack-tip dislocation generation and enhanced crack-tip plastic deformation can be extended to liquid metal-assisted cracking and stress corrosion cracking if the valence electron(s) of a liquid metal or chemical reduces the misfit energy and the slip resistance sufficiently.
NEW DEBRIS DISK CANDIDATES AROUND 49 NEARBY STARS

We present 49 new candidate debris disks that were detected around nearby stars with the Spitzer Space Telescope using the Multiband Imaging Photometer (MIPS) at 24 μm (MIPS24) and 70 μm (MIPS70). The survey sample was composed of stars within 25 pc of the Sun that were not previously observed by any other MIPS survey. Only stars with V < 9 were selected, corresponding to spectral types earlier than M0. MIPS24 integration times were chosen to detect the stellar photosphere at 10σ levels or better. MIPS70 observations were designed to detect excess infrared emission from any star in the MIPS70 sample with a disk as luminous at that around epsilon Eridani. The resulting sample included over 436 nearby stars that were observed with both MIPS24 and MIPS70, plus an additional 198 observed only with MIPS24. Debris disk candidates were defined as targets where excess emission was detected at 3σ levels or greater, and the ratio of observed flux density to expected photosphere emission was three standard deviations or more above the mean value for the sample. The detection rate implied by the resulting 29 MIPS24 candidates is 4.6%. A detection rate of 4.8% is implied by 21 MIPS70 candidates. The distribution of spectral types for stars identified as candidates resembles that of the general sample and yields strong evidence that debris-disk occurrence does not decrease for K dwarfs. Modeling of non-uniform sensitivity in the sample is required to interpret quantitative estimates of the overall detection frequency and will be presented in a future work.
The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and the Monetary Fund

T HIRTY-ONE COUNTRIES, mostly members of the Fund, between 1948 and 1950 entered into a multilateral trade agreement, called the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT).1 A multilateral trade agreement of such comprehensive scope, covering not only tariffs but also the general principles of commercial policies, is without precedent. The participating governments deliberately avoided the traditional pattern of an "international organization," thereby establishing mere contractual relations and not corporate relations among the contracting parties.2
Clear cell papillary renal cell carcinoma: Incidence, morphological features, immunohistochemical profile, and biologic behavior: A single institution study

This study was undertaken to determine the incidence and the clinicopathologic characteristics of those tumors that qualify as clear cell papillary renal cell carcinoma (CCPRCC) by the current definitions. From January 1, 2003 to April 30, 2013, a total of twenty-eight CCPRCC were identified (28/648, 4.3%). CCPRCC showed variable architectural patterns including cystic, papillary, tubular, and acinar. Irrespective of the architecture, the tumors were composed of cuboidal or columnar cells with clear cytoplasm, small vesicular, round or oval nuclei, and inconspicuous nucleoli. Variably thick bundles of smooth muscle actin-positive soft tissue encircled the whole tumors, forming a continuous pseudocapsule. CCPRCC strongly expressed PAX8, CA-IX, CK7, cytokeratin 34betaE12, and vimentin, and were negative for RCC, P504s/AMACR, and TFE3. On ultrastructural examination, CCPRCC showed short microvilli, cytoplasmic interdigitations, nuclear pseudoinclusions, and stromal myofibroblasts. To the best of our knowledge, this is first comprehensive ultrastructural study of CCPRCC in the literature. The major differential diagnostic considerations are clear cell renal cell carcinoma, multilocular cystic renal cell carcinoma, papillary renal cell carcinoma with clear cell changes, and Xp11.2 translocation renal cell carcinoma. CCPRCC seems to have a favorable prognosis. In the current series, none of the patients had local recurrence or metastatic disease.
Antisense Oligodeoxynucleotides to the Kappa1 Receptor Enhance Δ9-THC–Induced Antinociceptive Tolerance

Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol produces potent antinociceptive effects in mice and rats. Evidence exists for an interaction between the cannabinoids and the kappa receptor subtype, kappa1, in the production of antinociception. Data indicate that Δ9-THC induces the release of endogenous dynorphins, the ligand(s) for the kappa receptor. It has been demonstrated that antisense oligodeoxynucleotides directed against the kappa1 receptor attenuate the antinociceptive effects of Δ9-THC. The exact mechanism for the expression of cannabinoid tolerance is unknown. Bidirectional cross-tolerance between the kappa opioids and Δ9-THC implies that a common mechanism may be responsible for tolerance expression. We tested the hypothesis that the kappa1 receptor is involved in tolerance to Δ9-THC. Antisense to the kappa1 receptor has been shown to downregulate the kappa receptor. We observed a significant increase in the ED50 for Δ9-THC in antisense-, but not mismatch-treated mice, indicating an increase in tolerance to Δ9-THC. Such data indicate that a decrease in kappa receptor number may accompany tolerance to Δ9-THC.
Minimally invasive mitral valve surgery: still possible when aortic clamping is judged unsafe.

We read with great interest the recent article by Vollroth et al. [1], describing their experience with conversion to sternotomy during minimally invasive mitral surgery. The authors are to be congratulated on the low incidence of conversion (1%) that they have reported. The high early mortality (23.5%) associated with conversion in their series remains a reminder of the gravity of such an occurrence, even in experienced hands. Given the fact that 14 of the 34 conversions described were related to the application of the Chitwood clamp, the authors recommend that, with any difficulty encountered during its placement, the option of elective conversion should be considered [1]. In our experience, elective conversion was seldom a consequence of difficulty clamping the aorta. Whenever clamping the aorta is judged unsafe, our alternative strategy is opting for hypothermic fibrillation (HF) as a means of myocardial protection. Over the past few years, our threshold for shifting towards HF has been increasing. We recently reported on our experience with the minimally invasive approach in patients who had a previous sternotomy, where aortic clamping is commonly judged to be unsafe due to dense adhesions. HF was used in 77% of these patients without a single incidence of conversion to sternotomy. Contrary to a common notion, there was no relationship between HF and cerebrovascular accidents [2]. Similarly, previous reports from the authors’ own institution reported exactly the same pattern of adoption of HF (77%) in redo cases [3]. Other authors also reported an increasing trend towards the use of HF in minimally invasive surgery with satisfactory results [4]. Given the demonstrated safety of HF in redo cases, it seems reasonable to extend its use to other clinical situations where aortic clamping is judged unsafe because of a diseased or a dilated aorta. As minimally invasive mitral surgery gains more ground, surgeons are likely to become increasingly exposed to similar situations. And mastering alternative means of myocardial management, rather than opting to convert to a full sternotomy, is a more practical approach. Finally, we would like to commend the authors for a fine article and look forward to their response.
A Practical Guide to Gender Diversity for Computer Science Faculty

Computer science faces a continuing crisis in the lack of females pursuing and succeeding in the field. Companies may suffer due to reduced product quality, students suffer because educators have failed to adjust to diverse populations, and future generations suffer due to a lack of role models and continued challenges in the environment. In this book, we draw on the latest research in sociology, psychology, and education to first identify why we should be striving for gender diversity (beyond social justice), refuting misconceptions about the differing potentials between females and males. We then provide a set of practical types (with brief motivations) for improving your work with undergraduates taking your courses. This is followed by in-depth discussion of the research behind the tips, presenting obstacles that females face in a number of areas. Finally, we provide tips for advising undergraduate independent projects or graduate students, supporting female faculty, and initiatives requiring action at the institutional level (department or above). Table of Contents: Introduction / Why is Gender Diversity Important? / Obstacles to Gender Balance / In The Classroom Tips / Advising Tips / Faculty Recruiting / Retention Tips / Institutional Change Tips
Effect of parathyroid hormone on elastase release from human polymorphonuclear leucocytes.

Effect of parathyroid hormone on elastase release from human polymorphonuclear leucocytes. Acute and chronic renal failure are clinical states associated with secondary hyperparathyroidism and increased catabolism. It has been suggested that elevated proteolytic activity is present in the blood in these clinical states. It is, theoretically, possible that the excess blood levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH) in patients with these disorders stimulate release of proteases, since this latter process is calcium dependent and PTH enhances entry of calcium into cells. The present study examined the effect of PTH and its amino- and carboxyterminal fragments on elastase release from polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNL), and evaluated the mechanisms underlying such an action. 1-84 PTH stimulated elastase release from PMNL in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. This effect of the hormone was abolished by its inactivation as well as by the presence of EDTA. Verapamil, trifluoperazine and W-7 reduced but did not abolish the 1-84 PTH-induced stimulation of elastase release from PMNL. Phorbol ester (PMA) also stimulated elastase release but both PTH or PMA-induced elastase release was blunted by staurosporin, an inhibitor of protein kinase C. The 19-84 carboxyterminal PTH also produced significant stimulation of elastase release from PMNL but the amino-terminal 1-34 PTH or other peptide hormones (insulin, calcitonin, and ACTH) had no stimulatory effect on elastase release. The results indicate that: 1) PMNL are target cells for 1-84 and 19-84 PTH; 2) these hormone moieties stimulate elastase release from PMNL; 3) the action is specific to the PTH and is related to its biological activity; 4) the biological activity of PTH that induces elastase release most likely resides in its carboxyterminal fragment; and 5) this effect of PTH is mediated by its ability to enchance entry of calcium into cells, causing alterations in cytosolic calcium which would trigger cellular events leading to PMNL degranulation and consequently elastase release.
Oxygen cost of treadmill and over-ground walking in mildly disabled persons with multiple sclerosis.

Walking impairment is a ubiquitous feature of multiple sclerosis (MS) and the O2 cost of walking might quantify this dysfunction in mild MS. This paper examined the difference in O2 cost of walking between persons with MS who have mild disability and healthy controls and the correlation between the O2 cost of walking and disability. Study 1 included 18 persons with mild MS and 18 controls and indicated that the O2 cost of walking was significantly higher in MS than controls and that disability was significantly associated with the O2 cost of slow, moderate, and fast treadmill walking. Study 2 included 24 persons with mild MS and indicated that disability was significantly correlated with O2 cost of comfortable, fast, and slow over-ground walking. We provide evidence that the O2 cost of walking is an indicator of walking dysfunction in mildly disabled persons with MS and should be considered in clinical research and practice.
Conditions for the occurrence of k gaps for surface polaritons on gratings.

We obtain a formula for the change of the reflectivity from a symmetric metallic grating due to the excitation of surface polaritons. We find that reflectivity measurements at near-normal incidence can show a k gap in the dispersion curves of the surface polaritons even when direct coupling between two polaritons at the zone boundary is present. We discuss the limit in which this can occur and examine the reflectivity surface as the direct coupling is varied. The formula permits a simple discussion of the k gaps at 2nπ/a for any n.
Taking the Fight to Them: Neighborhood Human Rights Organizations and Domestic Protest

This article examines how human rights international non-governmental organizations (hereafter HROs) can increase the level of political protest in neighboring states. Previous research suggests local activities of HROs help to generate mobilization for protests against governments. This article shows that the presence of HROs in neighboring states can be a substitute for domestic HROs; if domestic HROs are already flourishing, there will be less of a ‘neighbor’ effect. At sufficiently high levels of domestic HRO prevalence within a state, neighboring HROs help domestic HROs use institutionalized substitutes for protest mobilization strategies. Spatial econometric methods are used to test the implications of this theory. These results illuminate the role that non-governmental organizations play in these domestic political processes, and demonstrate the transnational nature of their activities. Non-violent political protest is a direct vehicle for citizens to express their views to their governments in order to demand and engender political change. The achievements of protest movements are numerous and include historical landmarks like the granting of greater civil rights to the African American community in the United States, the end of apartheid in South Africa, the end of British colonialization in India, and the sparking of democratization processes across post-Soviet countries. Civil society organizations, especially organizations that promote democracy or have a human rights focus, are often important catalysts for these protests. They help organize people on the ground, provide them resources for successful protest activities, including training on non-violent protest techniques, material resources for these activities, and information on the location of targets. Thus, countries with a rich array of civil society organizations, like South Africa or the United States, are able to mobilize civilians to bring about seminal political changes successfully. If civil society organizations are a key catalyst to non-violent protest, how do protest movements achieve their goals when their countries lack a vibrant civil society sector? Are citizens in these states simply less able to organize and participate in non-violent protest, limiting their recourse to political change? Or, could civil society organizations in neighboring states help serve this catalyzing role in the absence of a developed domestic sector? In this article, we argue that civil society organizations both within a state and in the geographic neighborhood of a state can serve to increase the occurrence of domestic non-violent anti-government protests. This implies that states with weak civil
The Importance of a Consideration of Qualia to Imagery and Cognition

Experiences of qualia, subjective sensory-like aspects of stimuli, are central to imagistic representation. Following Raffman (1993), qualia are considered to reflect experiential knowledge distinct from descriptive, abstract, and propositional knowledge; following Jackendoff (1987), objective neural activity is distinguished from subjective experience. It is argued that descriptive physical knowledge does not provide an adequate accounting of qualia, and philosophical scenarios such as the Turing test and the Chinese Room are adapted to demonstrate inadequacies of accounts of cognition that ignore subjective experience. Arguments by Dennett and others that qualia do not exist or that qualia do not provide additional explanatory power are addressed, and it is suggested that consideration of qualia is necessary in order to explain (and not just predict) objective behavior. The hypotheses of functional equivalence, second-order isomorphism, and psychophysical complementarity between imagery and perception are discussed, and the ability of analog and schematic models of imagery to account for qualia is examined.
Culturally Sensitive Interventions and Health and Behavioral Health Youth Outcomes: A Meta-Analytic Review

Despite Census Bureau projections that youth from minority cultures will comprise the majority of the nation's youth in approximately a decade, little research has been conducted on culturally sensitive interventions (CSIs). Accordingly, this study sought to determine: (1) the effectiveness of CSIs designed to address health and behavioral health outcomes, (2) whether effectiveness varies depending on the class or type of outcome, and (3) whether race/ethnicity moderates effectiveness. The results suggest that CSIs (n = 21) are modestly effective (Hedges' g = .239, 95% C.I. = .139 to .339, p < .001). Effectiveness did not vary significantly by outcome class or by race/ethnicity. Especially in the latter case, however, the pattern of point estimates raises the possibility of moderation with an increase in power. Suggestions for future research conclude the article.
Photosensitivity: II. Testing.

Abstract The sun is a radiant body emitting astronomical amounts of energy. Although the intensity of this energy dissipates as it traverses space before reaching earth, sufficient solar radiation remains to adversely affect life as we know it. As the light energy passes through earth's atmosphere, enough attenuation occurs that life becomes possible at the surface. The atmospheric effects attenuate the ultraviolet radiation (UVR) so that the shortest wavelengths finally striking the surface have been measured at approximately 290 nm. 1
Repeated restraint stress increases basolateral amygdala neuronal activity in an age-dependent manner

Chronic stress is a precipitating factor for affective disorders such as depression and anxiety. This is associated with the effects of chronic stress on the amygdala. Adolescents may be more vulnerable to the effects of chronic stress, which may be related to its impact on amygdala function. However, the stress-induced changes in amygdala neuronal activity, and the age-dependent impact of chronic stress on amygdala neuronal activity have not been studied in depth. In this study, we investigated how repeated restraint impacts basolateral amygdala (BLA) projection neuron activity in both adolescent and adult rats. Using in vivo extracellular recordings from anesthetized rats, we found that repeated restraint increased the number of spontaneously firing neurons in the BLA of adolescent rats, but did not significantly increase the firing rate. In contrast, repeated restraint increased the firing rate of BLA neurons in adult rats, but did not change the number of spontaneously firing neurons. This is the first direct evidence of how stress differently impacts amygdala physiology in adolescent and adult rats. These findings may shed light on the mechanism by which chronic stress may age-dependently precipitate psychiatric disorders.
Dynamic user equilibrium model for combined activity-travel choices using activity-travel supernetwork representation

Integrated urban transportation models have several benefits over sequential models including consistent solutions, quicker convergence, and more realistic representation of behavior. Static models have been integrated using the concept of Supernetworks. However integrated dynamic transport models are less common. In this paper, activity location, time of participation, duration, and route choice decisions are jointly modeled in a single unified dynamic framework referred to as Activity-Travel Networks (ATNs). ATNs is a type of Supernetwork where virtual links representing activity choices are added to augment the travel network to represent additional choice dimensions. Each route in the augmented network represents a set of travel and activity arcs. Therefore, choosing a route is analogous to choosing an activity location, duration, time of participation, and travel route. A cell-based transmission model (CTM) is embedded to capture the traffic flow dynamics. The dynamic user equilibrium (DUE) behavior requires that all used routes (activity-travel sequences) provide equal and greater utility compared to unused routes. An equivalent variational inequality problem is obtained. A solution method based on route-swapping algorithm is tested on a hypothetical network under different demand levels and parameter assumptions.
Functional properties of anti-group B streptococcal monoclonal antibodies

Abstract Group B streptococci (GBS) are frequently recognized as the etiologic agents of sepsis and meningitis during the neonatal period. Using the technique of somatic cell hybridization, we have developed hybridomas which secrete monoclonal antibodies directed against each of the major polysaccharide determinants of the five serotypes of GBS (anti-GBS Ia Ic , Ib, II, and III). We have demonstrated that these monoclonal antibodies agglutinate, fix complement, and opsonize Lancefield reference strains to which they correspond in specificity. In addition, the anti-group B streptococcal monoclonal antibodies specifically protect against lethal infection in Balb/C mice.
Biased networks and social structure theorems

Abstract It is shown that the part of Peter Blau's theory of social structure bearing on heterogeneity can be imbedded within the framework of biased networks, thereby clarifying conceptual aspects of the theory as well as providing a mathematical proof of the most central heterogeneity theorem for a class of networks. The key step is the postulation of a mathematical concept of salience, called an ‘inbreeding bias’ in prior work, which corresponds to Blau's fundamental axiom. In addition, there are derivations and discussions bearing on related topics in the analysis of social structure.
RNA-Seq Quantification of Hepatic Drug Processing Genes in Germ-Free Mice

Intestinal bacteria have been shown to be important in regulating host intermediary metabolism and contributing to obesity. However, relatively less is known about the effect of intestinal bacteria on the expression of hepatic drug-processing genes in the host. This study characterizes the expression of hepatic drug-processing genes in germ-free (GF) mice using RNA-Seq. Total RNA were isolated from the livers of adult male conventional and GF C57BL/6J mice (n = 3 per group). In the livers of GF mice, the mRNA of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor target gene Cyp1a2 was increased 51%, and the mRNA of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) target gene Cyp4a14 was increased 202%. Conversely, the mRNA of the constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) target gene Cyp2b10 was decreased 57%, and the mRNA of the pregnane X receptor target gene Cyp3a11 was decreased 87% in GF mice. Although other non-Cyp phase-1 enzymes in the livers of GF mice were only moderately affected, there was a marked down-regulation in the phase-2 enzymes glutathione S-transferases p1 and p2, as well as a marked up-regulation in the major bile acid transporters Na+-taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide and organic anion-transporting polypeptide 1b2, and the cholesterol transporter ATP-binding cassette transporter Abcg5/Abcg8. This study demonstrates that intestinal bacteria regulate the expression of a large number of drug-processing genes, which suggests that intestinal bacteria are responsible for some individual differences in drug responses.
Application of XPS spectral subtraction and multivariate analysis for the characterization of Ar + ion beam modified polyimide surfaces

Abstract This paper presents results of a detailed X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) characterization of complex changes at a polyimide surface resulting from Ar + ion beam modification. The changes in chemical composition in the surface layer lead to formation of a layer that can act as an alignment layer for liquid crystals. The goal of this paper is to report on the result of a combination of spectral subtraction and multivariate analysis for analysis of XPS spectra. Principal component analysis (PCA), applied to curve-fitting results of difference spectra and multivariate curve resolution (MCR), applied to raw spectra, provided consistent results, and allowed for extraction of chemical anisotropy, defining factor in the ion beam (IB) alignment mechanism. This study demonstrated that more detailed chemical information about complex systems can be obtained through application of multivariate analysis to XPS spectra and curve-fits. Further, this approach can be effectively used in the characterization of various complex materials to link chemical structure to their properties.
Phipps Morgan receives Macelwane Medal

The James B. Macelwane Medal, given for significant contributions to the geophysical sciences by a young scientist of outstanding ability, was awarded to W. Jason Phipps Morgan. Phipps Morgan was presented with the medal at the AGU Spring Meeting Honors Ceremony May 30, 1995, in Baltimore. The award citation and Phipps Morgan's response are given here.
PGV: A Storage Enforcing Remote Verification Scheme

This paper presents a storage enforcing remote verification scheme, PGV (Pretty Good Verification). While existing schemes are often developed to handle a malicious adversarial model, we argue that such a model is often too strong of an assumption, resulting in over-engineered, resource-intensive mechanisms. Instead, the storage enforcement property of PGV aims at removing a practical incentive for a storage server to cheat in order to save on storage space in a covert adversarial model. At its core, PGV relies on the well-known polynomial hash, we show that the polynomial hash provably possesses the storage enforcement property and is also efficient in terms of performance. In addition to the traditional application of a client verifying the storage content at a remote server, PGV can also be applied to de-duplication scenarios where the server wants to verify whether the client possesses a significant amount of information about a file (and not just a partial knowledge/fingerprint of the file) before granting access to an existing file. We theoretically prove the power of PGV by combining Kolmogorov complexity and list decoding, and experimentally show the simplicity and low overhead of PGV by comparing it with existing schemes. Altogether, PGV provides a good, practical way to perform storage enforcing remote verification.
Detailed balance calculations of multiple exciton generation and Tandem Hybrid solar cells

The detailed balance of multiple exciton generation and tandem hybrid photovoltaic devices are calculated for standard AM1.5G spectrum with one sun. We also obtain the efficiencies both unconstrained and constrained connection. The quantum yield is set to 2 to maximize the multiple exciton generation. The maximum efficiencies of two stacks unconstrained and constrained connection are 48.77% and 47.88% in AM1.5G. Its optimum bandgaps for unconstrained connection are E g1 : 0.7 eV and E g2 : 1.82eV as well as optimum bandgaps for constrained connection are E g1 : 0.57eV and E g2 : 1.38eV. For three stacks of unconstrained and constrained connection, the maximum efficiency is 52.78% and 51.78% respectively. The optimum bandgaps of unconstrained connection are E g1 : 0.69eV, E g2 : 1.64 eV and E g3 2.25eV. The optimum bandgaps of constrained connection are E g1 : 0.7eV, E g2 : 1.2 eV and E g3 1.8 eV.
An intuitive formulation for the reproductive number for the spread of diseases in heterogeneous populations

The thresholds for mathematical epidemiology models specify the critical conditions for an epidemic to grow or die out. The reproductive number can provide significant insight into the transmission dynamics of a disease and can guide strategies to control its spread. We define the mean number of contacts, the mean duration of infection, and the mean transmission probability appropriately for certain epidemiological models, and construct a simplified formulation of the reproductive number as the product of these quantities. When the spread of the epidemic depends strongly upon the heterogeneity of the populations, the epidemiological models must account for this heterogeneity, and the expressions for the reproductive number become correspondingly more complex. We formulate several models with different heterogeneous structures and demonstrate how to define the mean quantities for an explicit expression for the reproductive number. In complex heterogeneous models, it seems necessary to define the reproductive number for each structured subgroup or cohort and then use the average of these reproductive numbers weighted by their heterogeneity to estimate the reproductive number for the total population.
On-die parasitic effects and their impact on high-speed bipolar IC design

On-die parasitics can impose a significant barrier in the push to achieve higher speeds and integrate more functions. The various parasitics of devices and interconnects and their impact on circuit performance are reviewed. Within a given technology, there are a number of steps that can be taken to minimize the effects of parasitics and thereby maximize fast signal performance. These steps involve the approximate layout and sizing of individual devices, as well as floorplanning and routing of the functional blocks. Circuit design also plays a critical role in this context. The selection of circuit topology, physical partitioning, component values, and operating bias and signal levels has a large impact on high frequency performance. The author highlights some of these important considerations in high-speed IC design and layout. >
Frontal sinus rescue

The frontal sinus rescue procedure, more formally known as revision endoscopic frontal sinusotomy with mucoperiosteal flap advancement, is a technique for the management of frontal sinus obstruction after middle turbinate resection.
Attitudes toward Family Obligations among American Adolescents with Asian, Latin American, and European Backgrounds

This study was designed to examine the attitudes toward family obligations among over 800 American tenth (M age = 15.7 years) and twelfth (M age = 17.7 years) grade students from Filipino, Chinese, Mexican, Central and South American, and European backgrounds. Asian and Latin American adolescents possessed stronger values and greater expectations regarding their duty to assist, respect, and support their families than their peers with European backgrounds. These differences tended to be large and were consistent across the youths' generation, gender, family composition, and socioeconomic background. Whereas an emphasis on family obligations tended to be associated with more positive family and peer relationships and academic motivation, adolescents who indicated the strongest endorsement of their obligations tended to receive school grades just as low as or even lower than those with the weakest endorsement. There was no evidence, however, that the ethnic variations in attitudes produced meaningful group differences in the adolescents' development. These findings suggest that even within a society that emphasizes adolescent autonomy and independence, youths from families with collectivistic traditions retain their parents' familistic values and that these values do not have a negative impact upon their development.
Comparison between ICA and wavelet-based denoising of single-trial evoked potentials

Analysis of evoked potentials (EPs) on a single-trial basis allows the study of the dynamical characteristics of brain activity. However, single-trial responses are buried into the more prominent ongoing electroencephalographic (EEG) activity, and thus advanced procedures are needed to obtain the activity only of the cortical generators that are activated by the experimental task under study. We compare the effectiveness of two methods at removing extraneous activity from single-trial EPs, namely, a recently-proposed iterative procedure based on independent component analysis (ICA) and wavelet denoising, using simulated data and actual EP recordings from normal subjects, more specifically the auditory N100-P200 complex.
Structural and Functional Elements of the Promoter Encoded by the 5′ Untranslated Region of the Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus Genome

Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) is one of the most pathogenic members of the Alphavirus genus in the Togaviridae family. The pathogenesis of this virus depends strongly on the sequences of the structural proteins and on the mutations in the RNA promoter encoded by the 5' untranslated region (5'UTR) of the viral genome. In this study, we performed a detailed investigation of the structural and functional elements of the 5'-terminal promoter and analyzed the effect of multiple mutations introduced into the VEEV 5'UTR on virus and RNA replication. The results of this study demonstrate that RNA replication is determined by two synergistically functioning RNA elements. One of them is a very 5'-terminal AU dinucleotide, which is not involved in the stable RNA secondary structure, and the second is a short, G-C-rich RNA stem. An increase or decrease in the stem's stability has deleterious effects on virus and RNA replication. In response to mutations in these RNA elements, VEEV replicative machinery was capable of developing new, compensatory sequences in the 5'UTR either containing 5'-terminal AUG or AU repeats or leading to the formation of new, heterologous stem-loops. Analysis of the numerous compensatory mutations suggested that at least two different mechanisms are involved in their generation. Some of the modifications introduced into the 5' terminus of the viral genome led to an accumulation of the mutations in the VEEV nsPs, which suggested to us that there is a direct involvement of these proteins in promoter recognition. Furthermore, our data provide new evidence that the 3' terminus of the negative-strand viral genome in the double-stranded RNA replicative intermediate is represented by a single-stranded RNA. Both the overall folding and the sequence determine its efficient function as a promoter for VEEV positive-strand RNA genome synthesis.
Defining manganese(II) removal processes in passive coal mine drainage treatment systems through laboratory incubation experiments

Oxic limestone beds are commonly used for the passive removal of Mn(II) from coal mine drainage (CMD). Aqueous Mn(II) is removed via oxidative precipitation of Mn(III/IV) oxides catalyzed by Mn(II)oxidizing microbes and Mn oxide (MnOx) surfaces. The relative importance of these two processes for Mn removal was examined in laboratory experiments conducted with sediments and CMD collected from eight Mn(II)-removal beds in Pennsylvania and Tennessee, USA. Sterile and non-sterile sediments were incubated in the presence/absence of air and presence/absence of fungicides to operationally define the relative contributions of Mn removal processes. Relatively fast rates of Mn removal were measured in four of the eight sediments where 63–99% of Mn removal was due to biological oxidation. In contrast, in the four sediments with slow rates of Mn(II) removal, 25–63% was due to biological oxidation. Laboratory rates of Mn(II) removal were correlated (R 2 = 0.62) to bacterial biomass concentration (measured
Rapid Glucocorticoid-Induced Activation of TRP and CB1 Receptors Causes Biphasic Modulation of Glutamate Release in Gastric-Related Hypothalamic Preautonomic Neurons.

Glucocorticoids rapidly regulate synaptic input to neuroendocrine cells in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) by inducing the retrograde release of endogenous messengers. Here we investigated the rapid effects of dexamethasone (DEX) on excitatory synaptic input to feeding-related, preautonomic PVN neurons using whole-cell patch-clamp recordings. In ~50% of identified gastric-related preautonomic PVN neurons, DEX elicited a biphasic synaptic response characterized by an initial rapid and transient increase in the frequency of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs), followed by a decrease in mEPSC frequency within 9 min; remaining cells displayed only a decrease in mEPSC frequency. The late-phase decrease in mEPSC frequency was mimicked by the cannabinoid receptor agonists anandamide and WIN 55,212-2, and it was blocked by the CB1 receptor antagonist AM251. The biphasic DEX effect was mimicked by anandamide (AEA). The early increase in mEPSCs was mimicked by activation of transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) receptors with capsaicin and by activation of TRPV4 receptors with 4-α-PDD. The increase was reduced, but not blocked, by selective TRPV1 antagonists and in TRPV1-knockout mice; it was blocked completely by the broad-spectrum TRPV antagonist ruthenium red and by combined application of selective TRPV1 and TRPV4 antagonists. The DEX effects were prevented entirely by intracellular infusion of the G-protein inhibitor, GDPβS. Thus, DEX biphasically modulates synaptic glutamate onto a subset of gastric-related PVN neurons, which is likely mediated by induction of a retrograde messenger. The effect includes a TRPV1/4 receptor-mediated transient increase and subsequent CB1 receptor-mediated suppression of glutamate release. Multiphasic modulation of glutamate input to PVN neurons represents a previously unappreciated complexity of control of autonomic output by glucocorticoids and eCBs.