cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Old and new world narcotics: A statistical question and an ethnological reply

As early as 1963, Richard Evans Schultes wrote (1): "It is of interest that the New World is very much richer in narcotic plants than the Old and that the New World boasts at least 40 species of hallucinogenic or phantastica narcotics (2) as opposed to half a dozen species native to the Old World." The reason for this marked discrepancy is by no means immediately apparent. In point of fact, one might reasonably suppose that the reverse would be the case. That is, the Old World has a far greater land mass than the New and certainly as varied climates, and hence the apparent possibility of a greater number and variety of plants. Furthermore, men and proto-men who might have discovered the properties of those plants that are narcotic have existed for an incomparably longer period (from the Australopithecines and Homo habilis onward) in the Old World than in the New (only from the Late Paleolithic and Mesolithic onward). Thus, on geographicecological and botanical and also on anthropological grounds, the Old World prima facie should hold more psychotropic plant species than the New-which is quite contrary to the apparent facts. On returning to the problem in 1966, Schultes (3) cited the statistics again but cautioned: ". . . the foregoing statistics relate merely to those plants the narcotic properties of which man has discovered in his trial and error experimentation during human history. Is there any reason to presume that man in a primitive state of culture possesses any peculiar intuition enabling him to uncover more efficiently than his more civilized counterpart those plants that Nature has endowed with physiologically active principles?" There is, I think, an answer in this. But
Pollen analyses of tarnished plant bugs

Wild host plants are important for tarnished plant bug (TPB — Lygus lineolaris) populations, especially when cultivated crops are not flowering. Knowledge of native habitats is important for managing this insect pest. Although pollen has been used to characterize dispersal and food sources of many insects, it has not been used for TPB. The purpose of this study was to determine if pollen analyses could be used as a tool to determine the non-crop plants associated with TPB. Thirty-eight TPB were collected from light traps set up at two sites near the USDA-ARS research farm at Stoneville, Mississippi on 27 June 2011. Overall, 1183 pollen grains from 79 plant taxa were found in the samples. The pollen recovered was identified to 29 families, 33 genera, and 24 species. Many of the taxa of pollen found, such as Saururus cernuus C. Linnaeus (lizard's tail), Sagittaria, Echinodorus and Carya aquatic (water hickory), occur in wet habitats. From the assemblage of identified pollen grains, TBP from both sites utili...
Connections, Engagement, and Presence

A well-designed online course can provide opportunities for active learning, creative thinking, and knowledge construction with high levels of student satisfaction. Right? I know I have been guilty...
The impact of divorce on children.

With the acceleration of the divorce rate from the mid- 1960s to the early 1980s, the number of nontraditional families (such as single-parent families and reconstituted families) have increased relative to intact, first-time nuclear families, This article reviews empirical evidence addressing the relationship between divorce, family composition, and children's well-being. Although not entirely consistent, the pattern of empirical findings suggests that children's emotional adjustment, gender-role orientation, and antisocial behavior are affected by family structure, whereas other dimensions of well-being are unaffected. But the review indicates that these findings should be interpreted with caution because of the methodological deficiencies of many of the studies on which these findings are based. Several variables, including the level of family conflict, may be central variables mediating the effect of family structure on children.
Perinephric hematoma: semi-automated quantification of volume on MDCT: a feasibility study.

Background To evaluate feasibility and reproducibility of quantification of perinephric hematoma volume on multidetector-row CT (MDCT).
Dichlorvos exposure to the Kolliker-fuse nuclei is sufficient but not necessary for OP induced apnea

Abstract Patients exposed to organophosphate (OP) compounds demonstrate a central apnea. The Kolliker-fuse nuclei (KF) are cholinergic nuclei in the brainstem involved in central respiratory control. We hypothesize that exposure of the KF is both necessary and sufficient for OP induced central apnea. We performed an animal study of acute OP exposure. Anesthetized and spontaneously breathing Wistar rats (n = 24) were exposed to a lethal dose of dichlorvos using three experimental models. Experiment 1 (n = 8) involved systemic OP poisoning using subcutaneous (SQ) 2,2-dichlorovinyl dimethyl phosphate (dichlorvos) at 100 mg/kg or 3× LD50. Experiment 2 (n = 8) involved isolated poisoning of the KF using stereotactic microinjections of dichlorvos (625 μg in 50μl) into the KF. Experiment 3 (n = 8) involved systemic OP poisoning with isolated protection of the KF using SQ dichlorvos (100 mg/kg) and stereotactic microinjections of organophosphatase A (OpdA), an enzyme that degrades dichlorvos. Respiratory and cardiovascular parameters were recorded continuously. Animals were followed post exposure for 1 h or until death. There was no difference in respiratory depression between animals with SQ dichlorvos and those with dichlorvos microinjected into the KF. Despite differences in amount of dichlorvos (100 mg/kg vs. 1.8 mg/kg) and method of exposure (SQ vs. CNS microinjection), 10 min following dichlorvos both groups (SQ vs. microinjection respectively) demonstrated a similar percent decrease in respiratory rate (51.5 vs. 72.2), minute ventilation (49.2 vs. 68.8) and volume of expired gas (17.5 vs. 0.0). Animals with OpdA exposure to the KF during systemic OP exposure demonstrated less respiratory depression, compared to SQ dichlorvos alone (p
The role of nitric oxide in the vascular hyporesponsiveness to methoxamine in portal hypertensive rats.

This study examined whether an increased activity of the endothelium-derived relaxing factor, nitric oxide, may account for the hyporesponsiveness to vasoconstrictors in portal hypertension. We performed dose-response curves to methoxamine, an alpha-adrenoceptor agonist, with and without N omega-nitro-L-arginine, a specific inhibitor of nitric oxide synthesis, in experimental portal hypertension. Partial portal vein-ligated or sham-operated rats were pretreated with a continuous intravenous infusion of either N omega-nitro-L-arginine (50 micrograms.kg-1.min-1) or saline. Thirty minutes after starting the infusion of N omega-nitro-L-arginine or saline an infusion of methoxamine (10, 30 and 100 micrograms.kg-1.min-1) was added. Total peripheral resistance was calculated from mean arterial pressure and cardiac index. Repeated measurements of cardiac index were performed by a thermodilution technique. In portal vein-ligated rats pretreated with saline, the increase in total peripheral resistance after methoxamine infusion was significantly less than that of sham-operated rats (0.2 +/- 0.1 vs. 1.0 +/- 0.3, 0.6 +/- 0.1 vs. 1.6 +/- 0.3 and 3.7 +/- 0.5 vs. 6.1 +/- 0.7 mm Hg.ml-1.min.100 gm, p less than 0.05, methoxamine 10, 30 and 100 micrograms.kg-1.min-1, respectively). In the presence of N omega-nitro-L-arginine, the change in total peripheral resistance after methoxamine infusion was similar in both groups (p greater than 0.05). In conclusion, this study demonstrates that a vascular hyporesponsiveness to methoxamine is present in portal vein-ligated rats and that this hyporesponsiveness is reversed by blockade of nitric oxide.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
DEATH-PRODUCING HEMOPTYSIS IN TUBERCULOSIS

Massive hemoptysis in patients with tuberculosis is reported infrequently and then virtually always in association with cavitary disease or aspergilloma. In contrast, we describe herein five cases characterized by hemoptysis on admission, bilateral pulmonary disease, samples of sputum positive for acid-fast bacilli by Ziehl-Neelsen stain, and no obvious cavitary disease. In each, hemoptysis subsided and then suddenly recurred in prodigious amounts, leading to death, probably from asphyxiation. In patients hospitalized with tuberculous hemoptysis of any amount, with or without an obvious cavity, aggressive diagnostic evaluation, including bronchoscopic examination, may define the site of bleeding, thus permitting rapid surgical intervention if the hemoptysis increases.
Information warfare and security

n recent years, information warfare has captured the attention of government officials, information security specialists, and curious onlookers. The term is used to cover a broad spectrum of activity but especially a scenario wherein information terrorists, using not much more than a keyboard and mouse, hack into a computer and cause planes to crash, unprecedented power blackouts to occur, or food supplies to be poisoned. The terrorists might tamper with computers that support banking and finance, perhaps causing stock markets to crash or economies to collapse. None of these disasters has occurred, but the concern is that they, and others like them, could happen, given the ease with which teenagers have been able to romp through computers with impunity--even those operated by the U.S. Department of Defense.
A double ring-closing olefin metathesis approach to [3]catenanes

A [3]catenane with peripheral olefinic macrocycles was conveniently synthesized via a double ring-closing olefin metathesis. Highlights of this work include the synthesis of a 65-membered macrocycle featuring two phenanthroline ligands, a Cu(I)-templated synthesis of a [3]pseudorotaxane, and the key double ring-closing olefin metathesis to afford the desired [3]catenane in 71% yield.
Modular Supervisory Control with Equivalence-Based Abstraction and Covering-Based Conflict Resolution

A modular approach to control is one way to reduce the complexity of supervisory controller design for discrete-event systems (DES). A problem, however, is that modular supervisors can conflict with one another. This paper proposes requirements on coordinating filters that will resolve this conflict. Abstractions are employed to reduce the complexity of the filter construction. Our specific approach is unique in that it employs a conflict-equivalent abstraction that offers the potential for greater reduction in model size than those abstractions employed in previous works on conflict resolution. The resulting control implemented by the modular supervisors in conjunction with coordinating filters meeting the proposed requirements is shown to be safe and nonblocking. Approaches for constructing these filters are discussed and a methodology that implements deterministic coordinating filter control laws by nondeterministic automata is presented. The covering-based filter law construction methodology presented here is further demonstrated to provide less restrictive control than existing results on state-feedback supervisory control.
Eastern North Pacific Tropical Cyclones of 1980

Abstract A summary of the 1980 season is presented. Included are seasonal statistics, storm tracks and comparisons with activity in recent years.
Weierstrass’s construction of the irrational numbers

We present an overview of the development of the irrational numbers due to Karl Weierstrass. This construction was first presented during lectures in the 1860s in Berlin. Weierstrass never published his construction. Several of his students (Kossak, Horwitz, von Dantscher and Pincherle, to name a few) gave accounts in lecture notes from the courses. However, these notes were not published under the direction of Weierstrass.
Environmental rationalities and the development state in East Asia: Prospects for a sustainability transition

Abstract This paper reviews what is known about recent trends in environmental governance among the newly industrializing countries of East Asia and the implications of these developments for a sustainability transition within the region. The conceptual starting point for the review is research that examines sustainability transitions within the framework of a multi-level perspective on system innovation. One of the challenges presented by this framework is that of understanding how existing political economies and governance structures promote stability or change in socio-technical regimes. By socio-technical regimes we mean the predominant organizational, social and technological configurations through which societal needs are constituted and met. In the case of the rapidly industrializing and urbanizing economies of East Asia, the trajectory of socio-technical regimes will have profound consequences for local, regional and global environments. Our review of trends in environmental governance as they relate to socio-technical regimes within the region traces a pattern of initial efforts to strengthen environmental regulatory regimes very much along the lines of the policy models of OECD economies. The degree to which these initial efforts have taken root varies from country to country in the region. What is beginning to emerge in several countries within the region, however, are a variety of policy and institutional innovations that hold promise for opening up spaces for change in socio-technical regimes, and for creating opportunities for new pathways of industrialization and urbanization to take hold that are less pollution, materials and energy-intensive.
Continuous recording of the intracranial internal carotid artery size in the dog.

Abstract A technique for recording vessel size in vivo is described. A fine mercury-in-Silastic strain gauge was implanted around the intracranial portion of the internal carotid artery in the dog. Since per cent changes in resistance of the gauge equal per cent changes in volume of the artery, the vessel size in chronic experiments was determined by resistance measurements of the gauge taken daily with a precision ohmmeter. Continuous recordings were obtained in acute experiments by coupling to a carrier preamplifier through an A–C bridge. Animals with implanted gauges have been followed up to eight weeks with continued patency of the vessel.
A status report: the EFTS environment

It is widely accepted that currently evolving Electronic Funds Transfer Systems (EFTS) will revolutionize America's present system of paper checks and cash. Yet few computer system designers are focusing upon the substantial impact these communication networks will have on our economic society. The current research conducts an examination of the issues influencing and emanating from EFTS--its development, financial impact, benefits and drawbacks, supporters and resisters, and current status.
Role of OH-stretch/torsion coupling and quantum yield effects in the first OH overtone spectrum of cis-cis HOONO.

A joint theoretical and experimental investigation is undertaken to study the effects of OH-stretch/HOON torsion coupling and of quantum yield on the previously reported first overtone action spectrum of cis-cis HOONO (peroxynitrous acid). The minimum energy path along the HOON dihedral angle is computed at the coupled cluster singles and doubles with perturbative triples level with correlation consistent polarized quadruple zeta basis set, at the structure optimized using the triple zeta basis set (CCSD(T)/cc-pVQZ//CCSD(T)/cc-pVTZ). The two-dimensional ab initio potential energy and dipole moment surfaces for cis-cis HOONO are calculated as functions of the HOON torsion and OH bond length about the minimum energy path at the CCSD(T)/cc-pVTZ and QCISD/AUG-cc-pVTZ (QCISD—quadratic configuration interaction with single and double excitation and AUG-augmented with diffuse functions) level of theory/basis, respectively. The OH-stretch vibration depends strongly on the torsional angle, and the torsional potential possesses a broad shelf at ~90°, the cis-perp conformation. The calculated electronic energies and dipoles are fit to simple functional forms and absorption spectra in the region of the OH fundamental and first overtone are calculated from these surfaces. While the experimental and calculated spectra of the OH fundamental band are in good agreement, significant differences in the intensity patterns are observed between the calculated absorption spectrum and the measured action spectrum in the 2nuOH region. These differences are attributed to the fact that several of the experimentally accessible states do not have sufficient energy to dissociate to OH+NO2 and therefore are not detectable in an action spectrum. Scaling of the intensities of transitions to these states, assuming D0=82.0 kJ/mol, is shown to produce a spectrum that is in good agreement with the measured action spectrum. Based on this agreement, we assign two of the features in the spectrum to Delta n=0 transitions (where n is the HOON torsion quantum number) that are blue shifted relative to the origin band, while the large peak near 7000 cm^–1 is assigned to a series of Delta n=+1 transitions, with predominant contributions from torsionally excited states with substantial cis-perp character. The direct absorption spectrum of cis-cis HOONO (6300–6850 cm^–1) is recorded by cavity ringdown spectroscopy in a discharge flow cell. A single band of HOONO is observed at 6370 cm^–1 and is assigned as the origin of the first OH overtone of cis-cis HOONO. These results imply that the origin band is suppressed by over an order of magnitude in the action spectrum, due to a reduced quantum yield. The striking differences between absorption and action spectra are correctly predicted by the calculations.
A clinical and scientific overview of tositumomab and iodine I 131 tositumomab.

Abstract The majority of patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) who respond to conventional chemotherapy will relapse and eventually become refractory to chemotherapy. Each subsequent remission is typically of similar or shorter duration than the last. Recent developments in radioimmunotherapy using monoclonal antibodies to specifically target malignant B cells have yielded promising results in relapsed and refractory NHL patients. The radiolabeled anti-CD20 antibody tositumomab and iodine 131 tositumomab (Bexxar; Corixa Corp, South San Francisco, CA and GlaxoSmithKline, Philadelphia, PA) has been shown to be safe and effective in the treatment of patients with relapsed low-grade (indolent) NHL. Objective responses were achieved in 57% to 71% of patients in phase I to phase III trials, and remission durations were significantly longer in the phase III trial compared with the last remission induced by chemotherapy. In addition, tositumomab and iodine I 131 tositumomab was shown to be effective in the subset analysis of patients with transformed low-grade NHL, which is particularly resistant to conventional therapies. The incidence of transient, nonhematologic adverse events was low and mainly mild to moderate in severity. Hematologic toxicity is the major dose-limiting toxicity associated with radioimmunotherapy; however, patient-specific dosimetry maintained hematologic toxicity within predictable, transient, and manageable limits in the phase II and phase III trials of tositumomab and iodine I 131 tositumomab. Although approximately 10% of patients treated with tositumomab and iodine I 131 tositumomab developed human-antimouse antibodies, treatment with tositumomab does not preclude the administration of subsequent chimeric antibody therapies. In conclusion, these studies show that tositumomab and iodine I 131 tositumomab treatment is safe and induces high response rates and durable remissions in heavily pretreated patients with low-grade or transformed low-grade NHL. Semin Oncol 30 (suppl 4):22-30. © 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Trade-Offs in the Design of Satellite Sounding Instruments

Abstract In the design of satellite sounding instruments there are many factors that determine the accuracies of the retrieved temperature and moisture profiles. However, the three major factors are: instrument noise, number of channels and weighting function half-widths. The effect of these three factors on retrieved temperatures are examined through simulation studies to determine trade-offs among them. We conclude that the trade-offs among the three factors suggest that year different instrument designs can yield similar accuracies. Consequently, the instrument design that provides optimum performance can be recognized only after a trade-off analysis is made. If the design with the best performance is to be selected, it is particularly important that the designs be given equal benefit of factors which are not intrinsic design differences.
Demineralization of bone transplants in vivo.

Abstract A standard experimental model was designed by creating midfibular fracture gaps in rats, for the study of grafts of decalcified allogeneic bone matrix (DABM), fresh autologous bone, fresh allogeneic bone, and decalcified xenogeneic bone matrix (DXBM). The results reveal that DABM implants were accepted by the host in fresh and chronic fibular gaps. There was a gradual increase in calcium concentration, which reached normal levels by the eighth postoperative week at fracture gap sites. DXBM grafts demonstrated very small concentration of calcium after 4 weeks, which was mainly due to formation of callus around the grafts; and 55 per cent of these grafts were rejected, as evidenced by exudate and exfoliation. Fresh autologous and fresh allogeneic bone transplants demonstrated a fall in calcium concentration in the initial 3-week intervals, then a gradual increase in mineralization, and the attainment of normal levels by the eighth postoperative week. All autologous bone grafts were accepted, whereas 45 per cent of fresh allogeneic bone grafts were rejected from the mid-fibular implanted sites. The study with autologous bone transplants was repeated, and the implanted bone was isolated from new bone for calcium estimation at various postoperative intervals. The results revealed gradual decrease in calcium concentration up to 4 weeks, and the later intervals could not be estimated because of difficulty in separation of implanted bone from the new bone. The results of these experiments suggest that calcified bone grafts (autologous or allogeneic) undergo partial or complete decalcification in tissues after implantation. Since this decalcification of bone could be accomplished in vitro, it would appear that the DABM grafts are worthy of trials in human osseous deformities.
P4-278: Microtubule severing protein expression in Alzheimer's disease animal models

Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by extensive neuronal death that causes progressive memory loss. Accumulation of A aggregates and neurofibrillary tangles are believed to be responsible for AD-associated neurodegeneration. A is a toxic peptide generated by the enzymatic cleavage of APP which can aggregate inside or outside the neurons. Neurofibrillary tangles are formed when the Tau protein, a microtubule (MT) associated protein, is hyper-phosphorylated. Hyper-phosphorylated Tau cannot bind MTs. Failure of Tau binding to MTs causes destabilization by increased de-polymerization. Potentially, Tau-deprived MTs are also more accessible to severing proteins. In fact, Tau has been shown to protect MTs from severing by katanin and spastin. Methods: We hypothesize that levels of katanin and spastin might differ between control and transgenic mouse models of AD. To test this hypothesis we performed Western Blot analysis of cortex and hippocampus tissue isolated from transgenic and control mice. Results: We found that katanin levels are decreased in triple transgenic animals. Regulation of katanin levels might be a defense mechanism to avoid further cytoskeleton degeneration. Conclusions: This observation is completely new and might indicate targeting of severing proteins as a possible therapeutic strategy for AD.
Mental health self-care in medical students: a comprehensive look at help-seeking

The authors characterize medical student help-seeking behaviors and examine the relationship with stress, burnout, stigma, depression, and personal health behaviors. In 2013, the authors administered an electronic survey of all enrolled students at Yale School of Medicine (183 responders, response rate = 35 %), inquiring about students’ primary medical and mental health care, personal health behaviors, support systems, and help-seeking behaviors. Students completed the Attitudes to Mental Health Questionnaire, the Patient Health Questionnaire-2, and a modified Maslach Burnout Inventory. The authors analyzed the results with logistic regression, the Wilcoxon rank-sum test, the Kruskal-Wallis test, or a test for significance of Kendall rank correlation. Most students reported having a primary care provider (PCP), yet few reported seeking care when sick (33 %). Nineteen percent of students reported having a mental health provider, fewer than reported having a PCP (p < 0.0001). Twenty-five percent of students reported increased mental health needs since beginning medical school, and these students were more likely to agree that their needs were untreated. The majority of students endorsed stress, which correlated with increased and unmet mental health needs (p < 0.001). Burnout peaked in second- and third-year students and correlated with stress and increased and untreated needs. Most students reported comfort with asking for academic help; those uncomfortable were more likely to have mental health needs for which they did not seek treatment (p = 0.004). Mental health stigma was low. Medical students had a significant unmet need for health care, influenced by barriers to accessing care, stress, burnout, and depression. Academic help seeking and supportive faculty relationships appear related to mental health treatment seeking. Targeted interventions for stress and burnout reduction, as well as incorporation of reflective practice, may have an impact on overall care seeking among medical students. Future studies should expand to other medical and professional schools.
A dynamic model for receptor‐mediated specific adhesion of bacteria under uniform shear flow

A dynamic mathematical model is proposed to describe bacterial cell adhesion in viscous shear flow that is mediated by specific receptor: ligand binding. Bacterial cells are assumed here to be ideal spheres covered uniformly with spring‐like receptors. The model describes the specific binding between receptor molecules on the cell and ligands associated with the target surface. Accounting for the processes of attachment, detachment, and growth of attached bacteria, a set of non‐linear ordinary differential equations (ODEs) is derived that governs the net accumulation of cell numbers per surface area (S) of ligand‐coated surface, cell numbers (X) and growth‐limiting substrate concentration (S) per volume of solution passing over the target substratum. The non‐linear ODEs are numerically solved by using the fourth‐order Runge‐Kutta algorithm. Results of numerical simulations reveal that various stages of bacterial attachment are pertinent at different stages of biofilm development. The recommendation of a p...
A Position-Sensitive X-Ray Detector for the HEAO-A Satellite

A position-sensitive, low-energy proportional counter system is described which will be used on the High-Energy Astronomical Observatory, Mission A, spacecraft. The associated system incorporates the capability to employ pulse-shape discrimination for background rejection and interpolation circuitry to locate the centroid of an X-ray event with an accuracy of approximately one eighth the cathode-wire spacing.
Calcium signaling molecules in human cerebellum at midgestation and in ataxia.

A fundamental question in brain development is how neurons make the precise topographic connections necessary for function. The hypothesis that transient expression of calcium (Ca2+) signaling molecules may have a role in this process was tested by studying human cerebella at midgestation. In addition, four adult brains, two controls and two from patients with ataxia, were studied as well. The temporal and spatial distribution of intracellular Ca2+ channel/receptors, inositol trisphosphate receptor type 1 (IP3R1) and ryanodine receptor (RyR) and three Ca2+ binding proteins were examined with immunocytochemical methods. A positive immune reaction with all markers of Ca2+ signaling was found in the Purkinje cell layer starting from 17 g.w. (gestational weeks), the youngest age studied. The immune reactions were not homogeneous throughout the extent of the Purkinje cell layer, but instead displayed a 'patchy' appearance in all intrauterine stages. In the adult cerebellum the expression of Ca2+ signaling molecules was homogenous. In the two cerebella obtained from patients suffering from ataxia, a several-fold reduction of immunostaining with IP3R1 was found. Our findings suggest that transient and differential mobilization of intracellular Ca2+ in seemingly homogenous neuronal types may play a role in development of highly organized projection maps of the cerebellar cortex. Moreover, lack of IP3R1 in the diseased brains suggests that internal stores of Ca2+ play an important role in normal function of the cerebellum.
Insulin regulation of GnRH gene expression through MAP kinase signaling pathways.

Abstract In mammals, reproduction is acutely regulated by metabolic status. Insulin is an important nutritional signal from the periphery that may regulate the reproductive axis. To determine whether insulin acts directly on the GnRH neuron, we performed studies in mouse-derived GnRH-expressing cell lines. Both insulin receptor protein and mRNA were detected in these cells. A saturation radioligand binding assay revealed high affinity, low capacity binding sites for insulin in GnRH neurons. Insulin also stimulated GnRH promoter activity in GnRH neurons. This effect was blocked by pretreatment with the MEK inhibitor, PD98059, indicating a role for MAP kinase signaling. In transient transfection studies, insulin treatment stimulated expression of a 1250 bp mouse GnRH gene promoter fragment four-fold when compared to promoter activity in untreated cells. In contrast, insulin did not stimulate activity of a 587 bp fragment of the mGnRH gene promoter, indicating that the promoter elements mediating insulin stimulation of the GnRH promoter are located between −1250 and −587 bp. Our studies suggest that insulin may regulate reproductive function by direct effects on the GnRH neurons and specifically by stimulating GnRH gene expression.
Arteriolar changes in developing and chronic stages of two-kidney, one clip hypertension

Arteriolar internal and external diameters in the cremaster muscle of two-kidney, one clip hypertensive rats (2K1C) were measured in vivo with video microscopy, both before and after the topical application of adenosine (10(-4) M). Arteriolar density was determined by stereologic techniques. Mean arterial blood pressure was significantly elevated in the 2K1C rats, rising to 186 +/- 6 mm Hg by 8 weeks compared with 113 +/- 4 mm Hg in controls. Lumens of larger arterioles showed a structural reduction at 2 weeks of hypertension and remained at the same level through 8 weeks, while arterioles of control rats showed a progressive increase in diameter with age (101 +/- 6 microns in 2K1C vs. 158 +/- 8 microns in controls at 8 weeks after operation). Wall-to-lumen ratios of larger arterioles were significantly increased at 2, 4, and 8 weeks of hypertension, but cross-sectional wall area was significantly reduced at 8 weeks. Medial hypertrophy was not evident at any stage of hypertension. Arteriolar rarefaction of smaller arterioles was functional at 2 weeks and structural at 8 weeks of hypertension. Vascular tone of the smaller arterioles was elevated in the developing and chronic stages of hypertension. At 2 weeks of hypertension when the structural reduction in diameters of larger arterioles was progressing, the increased vasoconstriction and functional rarefaction may have contributed to the elevated resistance. At 8 weeks, the marked diameter reductions of larger arterioles (36% in first-order arterioles and 25% in second-order arterioles) account for most of the increased resistance to flow.
Caffeine exposure affects barpressing

Three breeding pairs of rats were randomly assigned to one of three caffeine-exposure conditions (pre- and postnatal, postnatal, or control) to assess the effects of caffeine on barpressing. Pre- and postnatally exposed pups received .50 mg/ml of caffeine in their drinking water throughout gestation and thereafter. Postnatal pups received caffeine-adulterated drinking water only following birth. Control pups received plain tap water both pre- and postnatally. At 45 days of age, a series of 15 daily, 8-min barpress sessions began. The results indicated that postnatal-only exposure hindered performance, whereas pre- and postnatal exposure facilitated performance.
MALIGNANT TUMORS OF THE SPERMATIC CORD

The present study deals with 11 malignant tumors arising from the spermatic cord. Ten of the tumors were of mesoblastic origin and one was a teratoma. Local recurrence appeared to be a common problem and was attributed to inadequate removal of the primary tumor at biopsy. Distant metastasis occurred only in the late stages of disease after local recurrence could not be controlled or when retroperitoneal disease had become extensive. Radical orchiectomy followed by retroperitoneal node dissection was considered the treatment of choice for this disease. ETWEEN THE YEARS 1931 AND 1966, 24 PAB tients with tumors of the testicular adnexa were seen at the Memorial and James Ewing Hospitals. Of these, 13 arose in the spermatic cord, 7 in the epididymis, 2 from the tunica albuginea and 1 each from the rete testis and an adrenal rest, respectively. Of particular interest were those cases which were histologically malignant, since many of these had presented with primary intrascrotal swellings often confused with testicular tumor. In addition, these tumors constituted an uncommon group of neoplasms for which the clinical course and prognosis had not been clearly defined.l.11, 21, 34 The present paper deals specifically with the spermatic cord tumors considered to be histologically malignant. Experience with the other adnexal lesions will be described sep
Chlorinated acid herbicides in water by strong anion-exchange disk extraction and in-vial elution and derivatization

Abstract An analytical method for rapidly and quantitatively detecting chlorophenoxy acid herbicides in water is presented. Strong anion-exchange, 25-mm diameter solid-phase extraction disks are used to concentrate the chlorinated acid herbicides, including Dicamba, 2,4-D, Silvex, 2,4,5-T, and Picloram, from surface water. The chlorinated acids are simultaneously eluted from the disk and derivatized to their methyl esters with an in-vial elution technique that requires heating the disk at 80°C for 1 h in the presence of 1 ml acetonitrile and 200 μl methyl iodide. Quantitative recovery (>95%) of all the acids was achieved from 500 ml samples with a single 25 mm diameter disk. The detection limits for 2,4-D and Dicamba are 0.36 μl/l and 0.32 μg/l, respectively, and 0.05 μg/l for Silvex, 2,4,5-T, and Picloram. The quantitation limit of the method is 0.50 μg/l for Dicamba, 0.70 μg/l for 2,4-D, and 0.13 μg/l for Silvex, 2,4,5,-T, and Picloram. With this method a total of 10 ml of solvent is required to process a 500-ml sample, sample production capacity is 20 samples/day, and diazomethane is replaced by methyl iodide. The precision of the method, indicated by the relative standard deviation, for each herbicide range from 0.7 to 1.0% for concentrations between 3.28 and 7.03 μg/l and 6 to 10% for concentrations from 0.10 to 0.49 μg/l.
A case for centrally controlled wireless sensor networks

In this article we present the Intelligent, Manageable, Power-Efficient and Reliable Internetworking Architecture (IMPERIA), a centrally managed architecture for large-scale wireless sensor networks (WSNs). We discuss the advantages of a centralized management over distributed approaches and derive our design by rigorously minimizing the amount of state information on individual sensor nodes and all sources of message collision during network operations. The result is a clustered multi-hop TDMA protocol that globally synchronizes the network and collects data at ultra-low power consumption. We present the end-to-end architecture and detail the algorithms we developed for (a) efficient network topology discovery and link quality estimation, (b) combined routing and clustering for pre-defined basestations, and (c) the scheduling of the medium access for multi-cluster and multi-channel data collection. IMPERIA has been implemented on TinyOS and IBM's Mote Runner and successfully deployed in applications for vibration sensing as well as datacenter energy management. This article summarizes the performance results from simulations, laboratory experiments, and deployment measurements that support our design decisions.
Switching To Less Expensive Blindness Drug Could Save Medicare Part B $18 Billion Over A Ten-Year Period

The biologic drugs bevacizumab and ranibizumab have revolutionized treatment of diabetic macular edema and neovascular age-related macular degeneration, leading causes of blindness. Ophthalmologic use of these drugs has increased and now accounts for roughly one-sixth of the Medicare Part B drug budget. The two drugs have similar efficacy and potentially minor differences in adverse-event rates; however, at $2,023 per dose, ranibizumab costs forty times more than bevacizumab. Using modeling methods, we predict ten-year (2010–20) population-level costs and health benefits of using bevacizumab and ranibizumab. Our results show that if all patients were treated with the less expensive bevacizumab instead of current usage patterns, savings would amount to $18 billion for Medicare Part B and nearly $5 billion for patients. With an additional $6 billion savings in other health care expenses, the total savings would be almost $29 billion. Altering patterns of use with these therapies by encouraging bevacizumab u...
Co-adsorption of nitrogen monoxide and nitrogen dioxide in zeolitic de-NOx catalysts

Room temperature adsorption and temperature programmed desorption (TPD) of NO, NO with O2, and NO after NO2 saturation were investigated for Na/Y, Na/ZSM5, Cu/ZSM5 and SiO2 gel. The adsorbates were characterized by TPD, using mass spectrometry to identify the desorbed molecules. In the presence of O2, the adsorption of NO and NO2 is non-additive; co-desorption of nearly equal amounts of NO and NO2 takes place suggesting the formation of a complex with an overall composition N2O3 within the zeolite. Since SiO2 gel does not adsorb NO nor NO2, the adsorption capacity of the zeolites is a function of their specific structure. The oxidation of NO to NO2 is catalyzed by Na/Y and Na/ZSM5.
Immune dysfunction is one of many defects.

Abstract Ataxia-telangiectasea (AT), a progressive and uniformly fatal inherited neuroimmunological disorder, affects approximately 1 in 40 000 children. Patients are born to normal parents and appear to develop normally for about two years. They then begin to stagger (ataxia) and show signs of degenerating cerebellar function; by five years of age, they have dilated blood vessels (telangiectases) over the exposed bulbar conjunctiva and skin of the ear. By 10 years of age, they are usually confined to a wheel-chair. Most AT patients have IgA and IgG2 deficiency as well as various T cell-associated immune dysfunctions. Because one of every five patients develops cancer, usually lymphoid, during their shortened life-span, it is believed that unravelling the pathogenesis of AT will also shed light upon the genetics of cancer susceptibility and upon the relationship of immunodeficiency to oncogenesis. A recent conference ∗ ∗A Kroc Foundation conference held on 16–20 January 1984 at Solvang, California. Ray A. Kroc, the founder of the foundation and of McDonald's food chain, died on 14 January 1984. focused on four areas of this complex disorder: DNA repair/replication, genetics, neuropathology and immunopathology.
Concentration and isoperimetry are equivalent assuming curvature lower bound

Abstract It is well known that isoperimetric inequalities imply in a very general measure-metric-space setting appropriate concentration inequalities. The former bound the boundary measure of sets as a function of their measure, whereas the latter bound the measure of sets separated from sets having half the total measure, as a function of their mutual distance. We show that under a lower bound condition on the Bakry–Emery curvature tensor of a Riemannian manifold equipped with a density, completely general concentration inequalities imply back their isoperimetric counterparts, up to dimension independent bounds. Our method is entirely geometric, continuing the approach of Gromov, Buser and Morgan. To cite this article: E. Milman, C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I 347 (2009).
One center's experience with the phase IIIb randomized multi center study comparing the safety and efficacy of dexmedetomidine to propofol for ICU sedation following coronary artery bypass graft surgery

The criteria for an ideal ICU sedative agent includes rapid onset of sedation, a short half life, easy arousability, anxiolysis, and absence of respiratory depression or hemodynamic side effects. Dexmedetomidine, an alpha 2 adrenergic receptor agonist has been demonstrated to induce sedation with easy arousability and have no respiratory depression or hemodynamic compromise. We participated in a Multi center open label study to compare the safety and efficacy of dexmedetomidine (Dex) to propofol (Prop) based standard of care for ICU sedation following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. The study was formally approved by our institutional review board. Adults with coronary artery disease, scheduled to undergo CABG surgery and signed the informed consent were randomized to receive either Dex or Prop. At the end of the operative procedure, at the time of the last sternal suture, patients in the Dex group received a 20 min infusion of Dex at a rate of 3 μg/kg/hour. followed by a continuous infusion at 0.4 μg/kg/hour. The patients in the Prop group received a Prop infusion at 10 μg/kg/min. The patients were then transferred to the SICU, where the medication dose was titrated to maintain a Ramsay sedation score of 2–3 for 24 hours. Data collection included vital signs, level of consciousness, hemodynamic parameters, hematologic and biochemical surveys, Ramsay sedation score, and the nurse's assessment of the following: patient's anxiety level, quality of sedation, the patient's ability to tolerate the ICU environment, the ability to tolerate weaning and extubation, ease of communication with the patient and ease of patient management.
Long-term enhancement (LTE) of postsynaptic potentials following neural conditioning, in mammalian sympathetic ganglia

Abstract Orthodromic, preganglionic conditioning stimulation can consistently induce long-term enhancement (LTE) (> 3h) of the muscarinically mediated slow excitatory postsynaptic potential and the slow inhibitory postsynaptic potential. This was shown for superior cervical ganglia of rabbit and rat. Effective conditioning stimuli are in a physiologicallobserved range (3/s for 7 min, 5/s for 4 min, 10/s for 2 min, 20/s for 1 min). LTE was producible both homosynaptically and heterosynaptically. LTE can thus be associative, with conditioning synaptic input in one line inducing long-term changes in postsynaptic responses to another (heterosynaptic) input. The dopamine antagonist butaclamol depressed LTE, particularly that following the initial postconditioning period of 30 min. Adrenergic antagonists had no effect. This pharmacological evidence, coupled with the heterosynaptic induction of LTE, supports the view that neurally induced LTE may be at least partly mediated by endogenous dopamine. Another non-cholinergic but non-adrenergic transmitter (possibly a peptide) might contribute to the LTE seen in the initial 30 min postconditioning. The present, orthodromically induced LTE is clearly different from the long-term potentiation widely studied in hippocampus, etc., in the modes of induction and synaptic mediation.
Community Activism in the USA: Catholic Hospital Mergers and Reproductive Access

This article analyzes how grassroots organizing diminishes the potential loss of reproductive services in communities affected by Catholic hospital mergers. The empirical contribution of this study is to highlight changing patterns of pro-choice social movement mobilization and approaches to conflict resolution in the reproductive rights arena. To discover how Catholic hospital mergers threaten access to reproductive services, five case studies based in diverse regional and demographic areas throughout the USA are developed. From the case studies, we analyze which organizational factors most strongly influence the preservation of services. Among the variables which may affect outcomes are: characteristics of the acquiring institution, the type of coalition created to terminate the merger, the failure of pro-life activists to counter-mobilize, incentives for compromise on both sides, and regulatory intervention by government or state action. The study concludes that this new phase of the abortion struggle ...
Can There Be Low Intermediate Mass Scales in Grand Unified Theories

It is well known that the simple grand-unified theories, such as O(10), allow the mass scale at which the parity is presumably restored to be as low as 100 --200 GeV.
Effective Professional Development in Science and Mathematics Education: Teachers' and Facilitators' Views.

This study compares the views of teachers and professional development facilitators about effective professional development (PD). We analyzed interviews with 72 teacher participants and 23 PD facilitators involved in nine science and mathematics PD projects. The teachers' themes for characterizing effective PD included classroom application, teacher as learner, and teacher networking. Similarly, the PD facilitators discussed effective PD as having classroom application and experiences for teachers as learners. In addition, PD facilitators shared the need to develop collegial relationships with teachers and improve teacher knowledge. These views correspond to some of the standards and recommendations described in policy and research documents on effective PD. Criteria of effective PD in these documents that the participants did not mention included: (1) challenging teachers' content and pedagogical content knowledge with transformative learning experiences, (2) encouraging teacher leadership for sustained support, and (3) focusing on student learning by instructing teachers on how to use student data to inform their teaching practice. Our findings have implications for designing PD that reflects the criteria of standards-based reform.
Attribution of Cause by Patients with Depression, Anxiety, and Alexithymia:

This study evaluated the relationship between the personality construct of alexithymia and the attribution of depression to biological, psychological, sociocultural, and external stress. When alexithymia was considered as a continuous variable, there was a significant correlation between a higher score on the Toronto Alexithymia Scale and a greater belief in psychological causes for their psychiatric disorder. The other factors also had positive but nonsignificant correlations with alexithymia. When alexithymia was categorically partitioned and controlled for depressed mood, alexithymic subjects more frequently endorsed all four factors to be causal for their psychiatric illness. This appears to contradict earlier assumptions that alexithymic patients tend to be less psychologically minded than those without this psychological trait.
The Stuttering Treatment Research Evaluation and Assessment Tool (STREAT): evaluating treatment research as part of evidence-based practice.

Purpose This article presents, and explains the issues behind, the Stuttering Treatment Research Evaluation and Assessment Tool (STREAT), an instrument created to assist clinicians, researchers, st...