cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Antidepressant efficacy in HIV-seropositive outpatients with major depressive disorder: an open trial of nefazodone.

Background: Treatment studies of major depression in patients who are seropositive for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have shown comparable efficacy for both tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Nefazodone appears to be more tolerable than TCAs and similar to SSRIs. This study examined the efficacy and tolerability of nefazodone in an open 12-week trial of HIV-seropositive outpatients with major depressive disorder. Method: Fifteen HIV-seropositive patients with DSM-IV major depressive disorder and a 21-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) score of > 18 were treated with open-label nefazodone for 12 weeks. Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety, HAM-D, Clinical Global Impressions scale, and Systematic Assessment for Treatment Emergent Events general inquiry (for safety and tolerability) scores were obtained at weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, and 12. Results: Of 15 patients receiving nefazodone, 4 discontinued treatment (1 for adverse effects). Of 11 patients who completed the trial, 8 (73%) were classified as full responders with a 50% reduction in HAM-D scores and final CGI score of 1 or 2, and 10 (91%) were classified as partial responders (only 50% reduction in HAM-D scores). Nefazodone-treated subjects experienced few total adverse effects (mean = 1.5), no sexual side effects, and low rates of adverse-effect-related dropout ( 1 subject, 7%). Conclusion: Depressed HIV-seropositive outpatients respond to nefazodone comparably to other outpatient populations and have few adverse effects, suggesting that nefazodone may have a role in the treatment of depression in HIV-seropositive patients. Potential drug interactions with protease inhibitors indicate that it is essential to evaluate for appropriate dosing to avoid adverse effects and increase overall antidepressant efficacy.
Androgenetic alopecia: An autosomal dominant disorder

A hereditary, androgen-driven disorder, androgenetic alopecia is the most common form of alopecia in humans: its prevalence is 23–87%. Central alopecia is more severe in men; women are more likely to experience diffuse thinning. The acute onset of alopecia in those with inflammatory diseases of the scalp suggests a variety of etiologies, including the impact of inflammatory cells, release of cytokines, presence of growth factors, and increased interaction of stromal cells. Therapeutic modalities, which are most effective when used in combinations, utilize hair growth promoters, antiandrogens, and androgen blockade agents.
Locally distributed desensitizing controls for the wave equation

Abstract We consider the wave equation with partially known initial data in a bounded domain. For this system, we construct locally distributed controls that desensitize a certain norm of the state. This result is new in space dimensions greater than one. The method of proof combines a judicious application of the Carleman estimate, and a localization technique. To cite this article: L. Tebou, C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I 346 (2008).
Investigation of transition metal-imido bonding in M(NBut)2(dpma).

A complete series down group 6 of the formula M(NBut)2(dpma) has been synthesized, where dpma is N,N-di(pyrrolyl-α-methyl)-N-methylamine. A fourth complex, Mo(NAr)2(dpma) (4), was also prepared, where Ar is 2,6-diisopropylphenyl. All four of these complexes display geometries in the solid state best described as square pyramidal with one imido ligand occupying the axial position and the other an equatorial site. In all cases, the axial imido ligand has a significantly smaller M−N(imido)−C bond angle with respect to the equatorial multiple-bond substituent. From the 1H, 13C, and 14N NMR spectra, the axial (bent) imido appears to be more electron-rich than the equatorial and linear imido, with the differences becoming less pronounced down the column. The angular deformation energies for the axial imido ligands were studied by DFT in order to discern if and to what extent imido bond angles were important energetically. The electronic energies associated with straightening the axial imido ligand, while holdin...
Investigation on the Effect of Storage Time on Bond Strength Between Plasma Activated Silicon Wafers

This paper investigates the effect of storage time on the bond strength of plasma-activated silicon (Si) wafers. Plasma activation was carried out in a reactive ion etch chamber using O2 gas. The activated wafers were stored in a clean room environment for specific time intervals before pre-bonding them (in a high vacuum environment) using a substrate bonder. Steps involved in wet chemical activation and pre-bonding of the wafers were discussed in detail. The pre-bonded wafers were thermally annealed. The bond quality, in addition to the bond strength, of in-situ and ex-situ thermal annealed wafer pairs were evaluated. The bond quality was determined using near-infrared imagery, and tensile tests were conducted on dies diced out from the bonded pair. The chemistry involved during activation, storage, pre-bonding, and thermal annealing was investigated thoroughly. The bond quality and bond strengths of wafers for corresponding storage times were compared using the near-infrared imagery and tensile tests respectively. Finally interesting phenomenon, like the increase in bond strength after a particular storage time, was studied and explained.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Electrodeposition of Nickel Nanowires and Nanotubes Using Various Templates

Nickel nanotubes and nanowires are grown by galvanostatic electrodeposition in the pores of 1000, 100, and 15 nm polycarbonate as well as in anodised alumina membranes at a current density of 10 mA cm−2. The effects of pore size, porosity, electrodeposition time, effective current density, and pore aspect ratio are investigated. Nickel nanotube structures are obtained with 1000 nm pore size polycarbonate membrane without any prior treatment method. At the early stages of electrodeposition hollow nickel nanotubes are produced and nanotubes turn into nanowires at longer depositon times. As effective current density accounting for the membrane porosity decreases, the axial growth direction is favoured yielding nanowires rather than nanotubes. However, for smaller pore size polycarbonate membranes, nanowires are obtained even though effective current densities were higher. We believe that when the pore diameter is below a critical size, nanowires grow regardless of current density since narrow pores promote l...
Catalysis for Synthesis Gas Formation from Reforming of Methane

Cobalt–tungsten η-carbide [Co6W6C] is the precursor for a novel stable and active catalyst for “dry” reforming of methane with carbon dioxide to produce synthesis gas. Once the catalyst is pretreated, the catalyst activity is unchanged after 150 h on stream, and the H2/CO ratio is maintained close to unity. X-ray diffraction patterns show the formation of a WC phase, Co and carbon in the stabilized catalyst. Carbon deposition, which leads to severe problems for commercial nickel catalysts, actually helps in the creation of the stable catalyst.
Computational metrology for the design and manufacture of product geometry : A classification and synthesis

The increasing use of advanced measurement tools and technology in industry over the past 30 years has ushered in a new set of challenging computational problems. These problems can be broadly classified as fitting and filtering of discrete geometric data collected by measurements made on manufactured products. Collectively, they define the field of computational metrology for the design specification, production, and verification of product geometry. The fitting problems can be posed and solved as optimization problems; they involve both continuous and combinatorial optimization problems. The filtering problems can be unified under convolution problems, which include convolutions of functions as well as convolutions of sets. This paper presents the status of research and standardization efforts in computational metrology, with an emphasis on its classification and synthesis.
Autoradiographic and biochemical evidence for the systemic translocation of systemin in tomato plants

The movement of systemin, the 18-amino-acid polypeptide inducer of proteinase inhibitors in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) plants, was investigated in young tomato plants following the application of [14C]systemin to wounds on the surface of leaves. Wholeleaf autoradiographic analyses revealed that [14C]systemin was distributed throughout the wounded leaf within 30 min, and then during the next several hours was transported to the petiole, to the main stem, and to the upper leaves. The movement of [14C]systemin was similar to the movement of [14C]sucrose when applied to leaf wounds, except that sucrose was slightly more mobile than systemin. Analyses of the radioactivity in the petiole phloem exudates at intervals over a 5-h period following the application of [14C]systemin to a wound demonstrated that intact [14C]systemin was present in the phloem over the entire time, indicating that the polypeptide was either stable for long periods in the phloem or was being continually loaded into the phloem from the source leaf. The translocation pathway of systemin was also investigated at the cellular level, using light microscopy and autoradiography. Within 15 min after application of [3H]systemin to a wound on a terminal leaflet, it was found distributed throughout the wounded leaf and was primarily concentrated in the xylem and phloem tissues within the leaf veins. After 30 min, the radioactivity was found mainly associated with vascular strands of phloem tissue in the petiole and, at 90 min, label was found in the phloem of the main stem. Altogether, these and previous results support a role for systemin as a systemic wound signal in tomato plants.
The use of ultrasound in the assessment of normal fetal growth a review

This review presents the basic principles underlying the quantitative assessment of normal fetal growth using ultrasound. Data on fetal growth derived from measurements of body, head, chest, and abdominal dimensions, are summarized, compared, and evaluated. Fetal volume and weight determination are also discussed. Most of the data evaluated were obtained in cross-sectional studies, but we present the preliminary results of our longitudinal study of fetal growth for comparison.
The Effect of Intensive Antibacterial Therapy on the Sulcular Environment in Monkeys: Part II: Inflammation, Mitotic Activity and Keratinization of the Sulcular Epithelium

The effect of an almost complete elimination of bacterial plaque upon the sulcular tissues was studied in Rhesus monkeys. They received thorough scaling and polishing and daily antibacterial therapy for 40 days. Biopsies including the gingival sulcus area were taken periodically during experimentation. They were also taken up to 74 days after therapy was discontinued. Biopsies were evaluated histologically for inflammation and keratinization. Half of each biopsy was exposed in vitro to tritiated thymidine to determine mitotic activity of the sulcular and junctional epithelium. The Inflammatory Index decreased from 28.3 in the junctional epithelium (Zone A) and 30.3 in the sulcular epithelium (Zone B) to approximately 3 to 4 in both zones after 40 days of therapy. The Radioactive Index decreased from 24.7 in Zone A and 29.7 in Zone B initially to approximately 2.0 in Zone A and to less than 1.0 in Zone B at Day 40. Both Radioactive Index and Inflammatory Index approached pretreatment levels 74 days after c...
Absent hematuria and expensive computerized tomography: case characteristics of emergency urolithiasis.

Purpose: We validated the descriptive characteristics of emergency cases presenting with urolithiasis, determined the incidence of normal urinalysis in such cases and compared the expense of diagnostic computerized tomography (CT) and excretory urography (IVP).Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of all consecutive patient visits to a community emergency department for 48 months. Explicit protocols for case selection, data abstraction and monitoring were used to maximize accuracy. Entry criteria were urolithiasis diagnosed by IVP, CT or stone passage, and urinalysis. Data analysis included descriptive statistics and the calculation of confidence intervals.Results: From 159,083 emergency visits during this period 397 met study entry criteria. Absent hematuria was noted in 9% (95% confidence interval 7% to 12%) of patients with proved urolithiasis. There was no correlation of the degree of obstruction with absent hematuria. Most patients presenting with painful urolithiasis were mal...
IRT Equating Methods

The purpose of this instructional module is to provide the basis for understanding the process of score equating through the use of item response theory (IRT). A context is provided for addressing the merits of IRT equating methods. The mechanics of IRT equating and the need to place parameter estimates from separate calibration runs on the same scale are discussed. Some procedures for placing parameter estimates on a common scale are presented. In addition, IRT true-score equating is discussed in some detail. A discussion of the practical advantages derived from IRT equating is offered at the end of the module.
An Extension of the Steinberg Accelerating Hypothesis

Informed by theoretical work of Hill and Holmbeck and empirical work on parent-child relations, children's reproductive development, and family structure, this study builds on the Steinberg accelerating hypothesis, which states that parent-child distance accelerates children s pubertal maturation. The sample consisted of 709 young adolescents (362 girls and 347 boys) and their mothers or fathers, who completed questionnaires at two time periods, 2 years apart. Parent-adolescent questionnaires included measures of parent-child emotional distance, peer influence, and child self-governance. Regression analyses indicated that effects of parent-child relationships on the rate of children's pubertal change differed by gender of child and family structure. Effects were more evident in girls, for intact families, and for children's reports. Although results supported the Steinberg accelerating hypothesis when parent-child distance was measured in terms of peer influence and child self-governance, results were opp...
SOD; standing order for data

Access to digital seismological data from around the world has become increasingly rapid and easy with the expansion of data holdings at international, national, and regional data centers. Nonetheless, the actual task of getting the data from the data center to your own machine and into a form that is ready for analysis has always been a task that required considerable human interaction. That task just became much easier when accessing data from data centers that support the IRIS/FISSURES Data Handling Interface (DHI) protocols (Ahern, 2001a,b). With the release of SOD 2.0 ( Standing Order for Data ; http://www.seis.sc.edu/SOD), seismologists can now configure complex data requests that not only reach back into existing archives, but also remain in effect into the future. For example, a seismologist involved in a PASSCAL experiment can configure SOD to request data from permanent stations in his study region for all significant earthquakes that occur during the experiment. SOD will monitor global seismicity and request data for appropriate event-station pairs that will be delivered in SAC format to the seismologist's home machine for the duration of the experiment. Users can configure SOD to undertake a number of simple preprocessing tasks on the arriving data to prepare them for further processing or even build full analysis codes for inclusion in the SOD processing scheme. SOD is the core application behind two long-term automated processing efforts just getting underway at our institution. First, in conjunction with IRIS Education and Outreach and the DLESE Program Center, we are using SOD to analyze global seismograms automatically in order to take only the highest quality seismograms and (eventually) populate a Web site for K-16 educational purposes. Second, we have developed a SOD module that calculates receiver functions and estimates bulk crustal properties for use on EarthScope data. Thus, we …
Rethinking Loci Communes and Burkean Transcendence Rhetorical Leadership While Contesting Change in the Takeover Struggle Between AirTran and Midwest Airlines

In situations of potential business change, the cooperation of various direct and indirect stakeholders (i.e., employees, customers, shareholders, neighbors) is crucial. The alternative policy courses may all be reasonable, and yet none of them may be clearly best for all stakeholders; support for an option must be cultivated through public rhetoric. Loci communes and Burkean transcendence are two potent rhetorical strategies that can help business leaders publicly weigh and civilly advocate a policy position relative to competing alternatives. This article develops and illustrates that argument by analyzing the public rhetoric involved in AirTran's attempt to build support for its hostile takeover of Midwest Airlines and Midwest's successful resistance to that attempt. Midwest's deft development of the transcendent term value helped it circumvent the initial deadlock between its preferred loci communes (i.e., the existent and quality) and AirTran's (i.e., the possible and quantity). The article advances ...
Winner of the 2013 Young Investigator Award for the Society for Biomaterials annual meeting and exposition, April 10-13, 2013, Boston, Massachusetts. Osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells on demineralized and devitalized biodegradable polymer and extracellular matrix hybrid constructs.

Devitalization and demineralization processing of biodegradable polymer and extracellular matrix (ECM) hybrid constructs was explored for the effect on the retention of ECM components and construct osteogenicity. Hybrid constructs were generated by seeding osteogenically predifferentiated rat mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) onto electrospun poly(e-caprolactone) fiber meshes and culturing in osteogenic medium for 12 or 16 days within a flow perfusion bioreactor to create an ECM coating. The resulting constructs were then either devitalized (using a freeze-thaw or a detergent technique), devitalized and demineralized, or left untreated, and subsequently characterized for DNA, glycosaminoglycan, collagen, and calcium content. The osteogenicity of each construct was investigated by culturing MSCs on the hybrid constructs within a flow perfusion bioreactor for 4, 8, and 12 days in osteogenic medium. Histological staining demonstrated that devitalization via the freeze-thaw method retained the thickest coating of ECM components within the constructs. Demineralization and devitalization processing of ECM coated constructs resulted in a decrease in their osteogenicity.
Detection of an inhibitory cortical gradient underlying peak shift in learning: A neural basis for a false memory

Experience often does not produce veridical memory. Understanding false attribution of events constitutes an important problem in memory research. “Peak shift” is a well-characterized, controllable phenomenon in which human and animal subjects that receive reinforcement associated with one sensory stimulus later respond maximally to another stimulus in post-training stimulus generalization tests. Peak shift ordinarily develops in discrimination learning (reinforced CS+, unreinforced CS−) and has long been attributed to the interaction of an excitatory gradient centered on the CS+ and an inhibitory gradient centered on the CS−; the shift is away from the CS−. In contrast, we have obtained peak shifts during single tone frequency training, using stimulation of the cholinergic nucleus basalis (NB) to implant behavioral memory into the rat. As we also recorded cortical activity, we took the opportunity to investigate the possible existence of a neural frequency gradient that could account for behavioral peak shift. Behavioral frequency generalization gradients (FGGs, interruption of ongoing respiration) were determined twice before training while evoked potentials were recorded from the primary auditory cortex (A1), to obtain a baseline gradient of “habituatory” neural decrement. A post-training behavioral FGG obtained 24 h after three daily sessions of a single tone paired with NB stimulation (200 trials/day) revealed a peak shift. The peak of the FGG was at a frequency lower than the CS while the cortical inhibitory gradient was at a frequency higher than the CS frequency. Further analysis indicated that the frequency location and magnitude of the gradient could account for the behavioral peak shift. These results provide a neural basis for a systematic case of memory misattribution and may provide an animal model for the study of the neural bases of a type of “false memory”.
The Concept of Phylogenetic Inheritance in Freud and Jung

At the height of their collaboration in late 1911, Freud had succeeded in persuading Jung of the role of phylogenetic factors in the etiology of neuroses and psychoses. Phylogenetic considerations play an important part in the formulation of Jung's genetic standpoint of psychology with its conception of a desexualized primal libido, which figured prominently in the dispute which ended the relations between Freud and Jung. Freud's unpublished draft of "Overview of the Transference Neuroses" was in part an attempt to counter Jung's revisions of libido theory by using phylogenetic considerations to reaffirm his original conception of a unified sexual libido. Despite the sharp divergence of many aspects of their respective psychologies after the break, a conception of phylogenetic inheritance continued to play an important role in their developing theoretical formulations.
Activity-Dependent Regulation of the Binomial Parameters p and n at the Mouse Neuromuscular Junction In Vivo

Block of neurotransmission at the mammalian neuromuscular junction triggers an increase in the number of vesicles released (quantal content). The increase occurs whether nerve and muscle activity a...
Beta (∼16 Hz) frequency neural oscillations mediate auditory sensory gating in humans

The brain's oscillatory activities in response to sensory input are likely signals representing different stages of sensory information processing. To understand these signals, it is critical to establish the specificity of the timing and frequency of oscillations associated with sensory and sensory-related cognitive processing. We used a simple paired auditory stimulus paradigm for sensory gating and sought to identify time- and frequency-specific oscillatory components contributing to sensory gating. Using a discrete wavelet decomposition technique we separated single-trial time-frequency components of evoked potentials elicited by the first of two stimuli. Regression analyses were then used to identify the components most relevant to the suppression of the second evoked potential response. The results suggested that beta oscillation indexed a neural process associated with the strength of sensory gating.
Pelvic and femoral contributions to bilateral hip flexion by subjects suspended from a bar

Abstract Objective. To quantify the contribution of the pelvis and femur to active bilateral hip flexion conducted while subjects are suspended by their hands from a bar. Design. Descriptive and experimental. Background. Voluntary hip flexion while in a suspended position is used in abdominal strengthening regimens and is required for certain athletic activities. The degree to which pelvic rotation contributes to this maneuver has not been established. Methods. Pelvic and femoral motions were documented in 14 subjects who performed bilateral hip flexion while they hung by their hands from a bar. A supporting board as well as the trunk, pelvis and thigh were marked with reflective spheres; motion of the pelvis and thigh relative to the board was captured by video analysis. Ratios of pelvic to femoral motion were calculated and the influence of hamstring length ( 78° of straight leg raising) and knee position (flexed vs extended) on the ratio was determined. Results . The mean pelvifemoral ratio ranged from 0.131 to 0.355, depending on hamstring length and knee position. Pelvic rotation therefore contributed a mean 13.1–35.5% of the observed hip flexion. A 2 × 2 mixed-model analysis of variance showed that the ratio was influenced significantly by each of these two independent variables. The largest pelvic contribution occurred during hip flexion with the knee in the extended position among subjects with shorter hamstrings. Conclusions . Pelvic motion is an integral part of hip flexion conducted while subjects are suspended their hands from a bar. The pelvic contribution depends on knee position and hamstring length. Relevance During suspended activities involving hip flexion (e.g. gymnastics), pelvic rotation plays an integral role throughout the range. Inherent or imposed differences in hamstring length can alter the contribution of the pelvis to the motion. Hip flexion, therefore, might be influenced by conditions affecting the ability of the pelvis to rotate (e.g. spinal fusion), or the femur to move on the pelvis (e.g. degenerative joint disease), or be altered by hamstring tension.
Clarifying the Linguistic Signature: Measuring Personality From Natural Speech

In this study, we examined the viability of measuring personality using computerized lexical analysis of natural speech. Two well-validated models of personality were measured, one involving trait positive affectivity (PA) and negative affectivity (NA) dimensions and the other involving a separate behavioral inhibition motivational system (BIS) and a behavioral activation motivational system (BAS). Individuals with high levels of trait PA and sensitive BAS expressed high levels of positive emotion in their natural speech, whereas individuals with high levels of trait NA and sensitive BIS tended to express high levels of negative emotion. The personality variables accounted for almost a quarter of the variance in emotional expressivity.
Interrater reliability of skinfold fat measurements

Knowledge of interrater reliability is necessary when measurement techniques are performed on the same person by more than one therapist. The primary purpose of this study was to determine the interrater reliability for the measurement of skinfold fat. Using skinfold calipers, eight raters performed skinfold fat measurements at three anatomical sites on 10 male and 10 female subjects. Intraclass correlation coefficients were calculated for the individual skinfold site measurements, for the sums of the three measurements, and for the estimates of the percentage of body fat. The reliability coefficients ranged from .62 to .85 for the individual sites and from .79 to .91 for the sums of the three measurements and for the estimates of the percentage of body fat. Because of the minimal changes that usually occur with exercise programs, the interrater reliability of this measurement technique is not high enough to detect accurately changes over time.
Hop-by-hop congestion control and load balancing in wireless sensor networks

Due to the relatively high node density and source-to-sink communication pattern, wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are subject to congestion and packet losses. Further, the availability of low-cost hardware, such as Cyclops cameras, is promoting wireless multimedia sensing to support, for example, visual surveillance. As a result, congestion control is becoming more critical in WSNs. In this paper, we present a lightweight distributed congestion control method in WSNs. We develop new metrics to detect congestion in each node by considering the queue lengths and channel conditions observed in the one-hop neighborhood. Based on the estimated level of congestion, each node dynamically adapts its packet transmission rate and balance the load among the one-hop neighbors to avoid creating congestion and bottleneck nodes. In a simulation study performed in OMNeT++, our approach significantly enhances the end-to-end (e2e) packet delivery ratio and reduces the e2e delay without increasing the total energy consumption compared to the tested baseline approach.
Measurement of volumetric coronary blood flow with a Doppler catheter: validation in an animal model.

Abstract Although Doppler catheter recordings are used to determine coronary flow velocity, their accuracy in the estimation of volumetric blood flow has not been validated. To address this issue, Doppler-derived coronary flow was measured in a canine model and compared with that obtained by means of an electromagnetic flowmeter. A carotid artery-to-circumflex coronary artery shunt was created in six dogs with tubing that incorporated an inline electromagnetic flow device. The circumflex artery was occlusively cannulated by means of a rigid metal stent of known internal diameter, which was placed 2 cm into the vessel, and flow was measured in the stent region by means of a 3F Doppler catheter. Analysis of Doppler shift signals was performed by means of a zero-crossing detector (ZCD) and an off-line fast-Fourier transformation (FFT) system. Flow derived from peak FFT velocities corresponded closely to electromagnetic flow (slope 1.09, r = 0.93), whereas mean FFT and ZCD velocities underestimated electromagnetic flow (with slopes of 0.47 and 0.46, respectively) despite a close correlation ( r = 0.92,0.94). Thus FFT analysis of the Doppler signal with determination of peak velocity gives the most accurate representation of flow, whereas measurements based on ZCD mean velocities may significantly underestimate coronary flow.
Identification of inhibitors of prohormone convertases 1 and 2 using a peptide combinatorial library.

Abstract A positional scanning synthetic peptide combinatorial library containing approximately 52 million hexapeptides was used to identify potential inhibitory peptides for recombinant mouse prohormone convertase 1 (PC1) and PC2 and to provide information on the specificity of these enzymes. The library surveys revealed that a P6 Leu, a P4 Arg, a P2 Lys, and a P1 Arg were most inhibitory against PC1, and a P6 Ile and a P4 Arg were most inhibitory against PC2. Using information derived from the library surveys, hexapeptide sets were synthesized and screened for inhibition of PC1 and PC2. The data obtained revealed the preference of both enzymes for a P3 Val. At P5, many substitutions were well tolerated. PC1 and PC2 proved to differ mainly in the selectivity of their S6 subsites. In PC1, this subsite displayed a strong preference toward occupation by Leu; theK i value for peptide Ac-Leu-Leu-Arg-Val-Lys-Arg-NH2 was 28 times lower than that for peptide Ac-Ile-Ile-Arg-Val-Lys-Arg-NH2. In contrast, PC2 discriminated little between Leu and Ile at P6, as evidenced by the small (1.5-fold) difference in K i values for these two peptides. Several hexapeptides synthesized as a result of the screen were found to represent potent inhibitors of PC2 (withK i values in the submicromolar range) and, particularly, of PC1 (with K i values in the low nanomolar range). The most potent inhibitor, Ac-Leu-Leu-Arg-Val-Lys-Arg-NH2, proved to be the same peptide for both enzymes and inhibited PC1 and PC2 in a competitive, fast-binding manner with K i values of 3.2 and 360 nm, respectively. The four most potent peptide inhibitors of PC1 and PC2 were also tested against soluble human furin and found to exhibit a different rank order of inhibition; for example, Ac-Leu-Leu-Arg-Val-Lys-Arg-NH2 was 440-fold less potent against furin than against PC1, with a K i of 1400 nm.
Policy and Practice: A Case Study of Gifted Education Policy Implementation:

In this case study, South Carolina's gifted education policy development, changes, and implementation are explored from three perspectives: policymakers, linkers, and adopters. Document review and ...
Clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis: clinical features, response to medications and malignancy-associated risk factors in a specific tertiary-care-centre cohort

Summary Background Clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis (CADM) is a subset of dermatomyositis (DM) characterized by the typical DM cutaneous manifestations but without myositis. There is a relative paucity of characterized cases of CADM in the peer-reviewed medical literature. Objectives To characterize the clinical features, response to medications and malignancy-associated risk factors of patients with CADM with available baseline data seen at a single tertiary-care centre. Methods A retrospective review was undertaken of 44 patients with CADM with available clinical and serological data prior to onset of treatment. Results Patients with CADM comprised 18% of all patients with DM with baseline data available at our institution. Although the majority of patients showed improvement with the first prescribed treatment, most required additional medications to control their CADM. Six of 44 patients had an associated malignancy. Photosensitivity and periungual erythema were found to be associated with absence of malignancy (P = 0·03 and P = 0·02, respectively). Patients with malignancy-associated CADM were found to be more likely to have a cutaneous response with the first prescribed treatment than patients without malignancy (P = 0·04). Conclusions CADM represents a significant subset of the DM population. As with classic DM, the cutaneous manifestations of CADM often represent a therapeutic challenge. A subset of patients with CADM has underlying malignancies, and these may differ from those typically associated with classic DM. Differences in serological abnormalities, cutaneous manifestations and response to first treatment among patients with CADM with and without malignancy were found, and suggest distinct pathophysiologies among CADM subsets. Characterization of this cohort expands the knowledge about this unique DM subset.
Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody and vasculitis: much more than a disease marker.

Many forms of necrotizing small vessel vasculitis manifest glomerulonephritis, pulmonary hemorrhage and cutaneous purpura. Because the histologic appearance of the vasculitic lesions is similar in these conditions, early pathologists and clinicians resorted to categorizing small vessel vasculitides based on vessel size and systemic distribution. Not surprisingly, due to the tremendous overlap in clinical-pathologic features, these early classifications were woefully inadequate and perpetuated enduring confusion between the different nosologies adopted by internists, rheumatologists, nephrologists, and dermatologists. The introduction of immunofluorescence microscopy in the 1960s provided a major advance by uncovering three major immunopathologic categories of vasculitis. The demonstration of linear staining of alveolar and glomerular basement membranes (GBMs) in Goodpasture Syndrome led to the identification of circulating anti-GBM antibodies that cross-react with alveolar basement membrane, producing a pulmonary-renal syndrome. In the second major category of small vessel vasculitis, granular deposits of immunoglobulin and complement could be demonstrated in vessel walls and glomeruli. IgA-dominant deposits were identified in the cutaneous vessels and glomeruli of patients with Henoch Schonlein purpura, deposits of IgG-IgM in patients with mixed cryoglobulinemia, and IgG-dominant deposits in patients with lupus vasculitis and septic vasculitis. However, there was a third category of vasculitis (including microscopic polyangiitis, Wegener granulomatosis, Churg-Strauss syndrome, and renal-limited pauci-immune crescentic glomerulonephritis) for which few if any immune deposits could be identified in target tissues. Unraveling the pathogenesis of these pauci-immune vasculitides posed a special challenge, because this group defied existing paradigms of in situ or passive immune complex deposition. In the absence of demonstrable immune deposits, it was naturally assumed that the vascular injury was of a cellular nature, but it would be many years before attention focused on the neutrophil.
Anomalous Skin Effect in a Cylindrical Conductor

A simple semi-classical formalism is developed for investigating the anomalous skin effect in a cylindrical metallic conductor. It can be applied to cylindrical wires as well as cavities. The current density distribution across a cross-section of wire is calculated using a simple response function as an example of application of this formalism. Es wird ein einfacher halbklassischer Formalismus fur die Untersuchung des anomalen Skineffekts in einem zylindrischen metallischen Leiter entwickelt. Er last sich sowohl auf zylindrische Drahte als auch auf Hohlraume anwenden. Die Stromdichteverteilung uber den Drahtquerschnitt wird mit einer einfachen Responsefunktion als Anwendungsbeispiel dieses Formalismus berechnet.
Aerosol cyclosporin therapy in lung transplant recipients with bronchiolitis obliterans

The majority of patients who develop bronchiolitis obliterans, after lung transplantation, die within 2-3 yrs after onset since treatment with conventional immunosuppression is typically ineffective. A case/control study was conducted in lung transplant recipients with biopsy-documented bronchiolitis obliterans to determine whether aerosol cyclosporin use contributed to increased survival. The cases comprised 39 transplant recipients who received open-label aerosol cyclosporin treatment in addition to conventional immunosuppression. The controls were transplant recipients treated with conventional immunosuppression alone. There were 51 controls from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and 100 from a large multicentric database (Novartis Lung Transplant Database). Forced expiratory volume in one second expressed as a percentage of the predicted value was an independent predictor of survival in all patients with bronchiolitis obliterans. Cox proportional-hazards analysis revealed a survival advantage for aerosol cyclosporin cases compared to the Pittsburgh control group. A survival advantage was also seen when comparing study cases to multicentric controls. Aerosol cyclosporin, given with conventional immunosuppression to lung transplant recipients with bronchiolitis obliterans, provides a survival advantage over conventional therapy alone.
Putting a Price on Justice: How to Incentivize the Downsizing of Prison Populations

AbstractWe argue that the proximate reason the United States overuses prisons is that for local prosecutors and judges, sending offenders to prison is “free”; the state pays. By completely subsidizing prison use, states incentivize local overuse of prisons. State prisons in the United States are common pool resources, so options to managing common pool resources used in fisheries and environmental protection may have applications to corrections. We propose, for this purpose, seven options: six involve pricing systems and each having several variants. Each approach, in its own way, puts a price on justice. We also outline other changes in correctional and sentencing practices policy makers need to make to implement these approaches. We anticipate potential consequences, good and bad, of incentivizing justice. Finally, we fully expect our proposals to incur the ire of some political idealists on the right and the left. Nevertheless, for policy makers who are concerned about practical solutions to the grave ...
SINGLE BOOK REVIEWS

Broccoli and Desire: Global Connections and Maya Struggles in Postwar Guatemala. Edward F. Fischer and Peter Benson. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2006. 210 pp.
A Model for Assessing UAV System Architectures

Abstract There is a current need for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) systems architecture generation and assessment models. Architecture assessment models that presently exist tend to be fractional and do not account for all dynamic attributes that should be considered in the architecture assessment. There are infinite possibilities of architecture assessment modeling methods that can be used to assess conceptual systems architecture. Developing a good architecture assessment model for evaluating the functional and systems architecture reduces system ambiguity while increasing the tangibility of the system. This paper will present an assessment model specifically for UAV systems and this model can also be adapted to virtually any type of complex adaptive system. On new complex UAV systems it is essential evaluate the appropriate Level of Autonomy (LOA) required to satisfy customer and mission requirements. The assessment model detailed in this paper combines known design heuristics with quantitative, qualitative, and visual representations that assess the probability that the generated architecture will meet performance and capability requirements. The architecture assessment model will assess and generate a combined score that will indicate if the architecture is acceptable or unacceptable. Future UAV systems may reach a LOA that would be considered as Artificial Intelligence (AI); and this pursuit will increase the need for advanced LOA architecture modeling and assessment.
Effect of Diosgenin (Fenugreek) on breast cancer cells

5872 Worldwide, breast cancer is the most common cancer that affects women. It is estimated that one out of eight women in the United States is at risk of developing the disease during her lifetime. Despite the effectiveness of conventional treatments, their side effects call for a treatment modality with equal effect but with lesser side effects. In this context, herbal medicines have gained enormous attention. Fenugreek is one such herb which has been consumed in Asia, Europe and North Africa for a long time and has been reported to possess potent anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and anti-neoplastic activity. Diosgenin is one of the biologically active constituent of fenugreek seeds. In the present study, the effect of diosgenin on breast cancer cell lines was investigated. Cytotoxic assays showed that diosgenin reduced the viability of both the ER positive MCF-7 cells (20.63% at 25μM concentration) and ER negative MDA 231 cells (20.4% at 25μM concentration). A significant induction of apoptosis by diosgenin was observed in both the breast cancer cell lines-MCF-7 (55% at 20μM and 98% at 40μM) and MDA 231 (52% at 20μM and 98% at 40μM). In MCF-7 cells diosgenin induced p53 protein expression and also down regulated ER activation. However, in MDA 231 cells diosgenin increased caspase activation (6-fold) and also down regulated Bcl-2 protein expression. These results suggest that diosgenin may have a potential as an anti cancer agent in breast cancer therapy irrespective of their ER status. The future studies are planned to further characterize the molecular pathways involved in the mechanism of action of diosgenin as an anti cancer agent effective against breast cancer.
Anther and Ovary Culture

Haploids in higher plants have provided the subject of three symposia in recent years (36,78,106) and their use in plant breeding has been covered in a most comprehensive review (97). All four volumes explain in detail that haploids have the great advantage of providing a rapid, and in some species the only, route to complete homozygosity. They also offer a means of isolating recessive mutants.
Effects of stability asymmetry in parametrically actuated MEMS sensors on phase flip probability

This work investigates how stability symmetry affects the solution tendency in two common MEMS sensors operating in degenerate parametric resonance. Prior work showed that a phase-squeezing event occurring prior to bifurcation can be used as a precise tracking parameter in mass sensing applications. Here we demonstrate that stability asymmetry has no effects on the probability of solution going to either of the two nontrivial stable branches of the pitchfork bifurcation. Experiments show that whether the device has perfect symmetry or not results in 50% probability distribution to either branch of the solution. In other words, stability asymmetry has no effect on the shapes of the potential wells. This finding provides confidence in tuning of MEMS devices without losing the general response characteristics of parametric resonance. Much higher sensitivity in parametric mass sensing can be achieved by tuning the stability symmetry with almost vertical slope.
The technique and complications of upper tibial osteotomy. A review of 226 operations.

1. A series of 226 upper tibial osteotomies is reviewed with special reference to the complications occurring in each of the six different operative techniques that have been used. 2 Wedge osteotomy above the tuberosity is the safest operation, but care must be taken to avoid a fracture into the joint. 3. Wedge osteotomy through the lowest part of the tuberosity may be indicated in the presence of large subarticular cysts or collapse of a tibial condyle. 4. The significance of weakness of dorsiflexion of the foot and the dangers of injury to the anterior tibial artery in osteotomies below the tuberosity are discussed.
Using Powder Cored Tubular Wire Technology to Enhance Electron Beam Freeform Fabricated Structures

Electron Beam Freeform Fabrication (EBF3) is an additive manufacturing technique, developed at NASA Langley Research Center, capable of fabricating large scale aerospace parts. Advantages of using EBF3 as opposed to conventional manufacturing methods include, decreased design-to-product time, decreased wasted material, and the ability to adapt controls to produce geometrically complex parts with properties comparable to wrought products. However, to fully exploit the potential of the EBF3 process development of materials tailored for the process is required. Powder cored tubular wire (PCTW) technology was used to modify Ti-6Al-4V and Al 6061 feedstock to enhance alloy content, refine grain size, and create a metal matrix composite in the as-solidified structures, respectively.
Steady temperature fields in second order fluids

It was shown earlier that if a viscometric flow of an incompressible simple fluid takes place between two surfaces held at constant but differing temperatures, and if the temperature gradient exists in the direction of the velocity gradient only, two conductivity coefficients determine the heat flow and the temperature field. In this article, after the zeroth, first and second order asymptotic expansions for the heat flux vector are developed under a fading memory assumption, the temperature fields in a few viscometric flows are determined und the above condition on the temperature gradient. It is found that a reduction in heat transfer can occur under these conditions, which suggests that the present theory may be used to explain the observations in turbulent flows of polymer additives in water.
Limits on the generalizability of context-driven control:

Context-driven control refers to the fast and flexible weighting of stimulus dimensions that may be applied at the onset of a stimulus. Evidence for context-driven control comes from interference tasks in which participants encounter a high proportion of incongruent trials at one location and a high proportion of congruent trials at another location. Since the size of the congruency effect varies as a function of location, this suggests that stimulus dimensions are weighted differently based on the context in which they appear. However, manipulations of condition proportion are often confounded by variations in the frequency with which particular stimuli are encountered. To date, there is limited evidence for the context-driven control in the absence of stimulus frequency confounds. In the current paper, we attempt to replicate and extend one such finding [Crump, M. J. C., & Milliken, B. (2009). The flexibility of context-specific control: Evidence for context-driven generalization of item-specific control settings. The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 62, 1523-1532]. Across three experiments we fail to find evidence for context-driven control in the absence of stimulus frequency confounds. Based on these results, we argue that consistency in the informativeness of the irrelevant dimension may be required for context-driven control to emerge.