cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Crust of the Colorado Plateau: New Views of an Old Arc

Abstract Combined field, seismic, xenolith, and heat flow data from the Four Corners region of the Colorado Plateau permit construction of a four‐layer crustal model in which a thin sediment layer is underlain sequentially by Early Proterozoic supracrustal rocks and granitoids, intermediate plutonic rocks, and finally by mafic granulites and amphibolites. Both upper and lower crust show Nb‐Ta depletion, Pb enrichment, and negative Eu anomalies, suggesting an arc origin in which plagioclase was an important fractionating phase throughout the crust. The relative abundance of felsic rocks in the section suggests that the arc formed on continental lithosphere. The bulk crust has approximately andesitic composition, and mass balance calculations indicate that significant volumes of mafic cumulate and/or restite must have been recycled into the mantle during crustal formation in the Proterozoic. Neither the xenolith nor the seismic data support mafic underplating of the Colorado Plateau crust since Proterozoic ...
Structural Modification of a Periodic Polypeptide through Biosynthetic Replacement of Proline with Azetidine-2-carboxylic Acid

Repetitive polypeptides comprising 16 repeats of the sequence -(AlaGly)_3ProGluGly- (1a) have been prepared from Escherichia coli as overexpressed recombinant proteins. Partial in vivo replacement of the proline (Pro) residues in sequence 1a with L-azetidine-2-carboxylic acid (Aze) was achieved by expression of the target protein in medium containing Aze and lacking Pro. NMR and amino acid analysis for residual proline in the polymer indicated 25-40% replacement of Pro by Aze. While polymers of 1a form conformationally disordered solids, incorporation of Aze allows this material to adopt a â-sheet structure in the solid state.
Time-resolved observations of shock waves and cavitation bubbles generated by femtosecond laser pulses in corneal tissue and water

Background and Objective Photodisruption in ocular media with high power pulsed lasers working at non-absorbing frequencies have become a well established surgical tool since the late seventies. Shock waves and cavitation bubbles generated by the optical breakdown may strongly influence the surgical effect of photodisruptive lasers. We have investigated the shock wave and cavitation bubble effects of femtosecond laser pulses generated during photodisruption in corneal tissue and water. The results are compared to those obtained with longer laser pulses. Study Design/Materials and Methods Laser pulses with 150 fs duration at ∼620 nm wavelength have been focused into corneal tissue and water to create optical breakdown. Time-resolved flash photography has been used to investigate the dynamics of the generated shock waves and cavitation bubbles. Results A rapid decay of the shock waves is observed in both materials with similar temporal characteristics and with a spatial range considerably smaller than that of shock waves induced by picosecond (or nanosecond) optical breakdown. Cavitation bubbles are observed to develop more rapidly and to reach smaller maximum diameter than those generated by longer pulses. In corneal tissue, single intrastromal cavitation bubbles generated by femtosecond pulses disappear within a few tens of seconds, notably faster than cavitation bubbles generated by picosecond pulses. Conclusions The reduced shock wave and cavitation bubble effects of the femtosecond laser result in more localized tissue damage. Therefore, a more confined surgical effect should be expected from a femtosecond laser than that from picosecond (or nanosecond) lasers. This indicates a potential benefit from the applications of femtosecond laser technology to intraocular microsurgery. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A phase II study of oxaliplatin, docetaxel, and GM-CSF in patients with previously treated advanced melanoma

Although much focus has been placed on immunotherapy for melanoma, further development of chemotherapy approaches is needed. Melanoma is responsive to platinum compounds and taxanes, but there is limited experience with combinations of these agents. Oxaliplatin has been reported to have detectable activity in melanoma, and a phase I study has identified a tolerable dose and schedule of oxaliplatin in combination with docetaxel and hematopoietic growth factor support. GM-CSF has a theoretical advantage of immune potentiation. These considerations supported the study of oxaliplatin, docetaxel, and GM-CSF in patients with advanced melanoma. Eligibility included adequate organ function, PS ≤ 2, at most one prior chemotherapy and one prior immunotherapy, no prior treatment with oxaliplatin or taxanes and no chremophor allergy. After premedication, docetaxel was administered day 1 at 75 mg/m2, then oxaliplatin on day 2 at 85 mg/m2. GM-CSF (250 mcg/m2) was administered s.c. days 3–12. Cycles were 21 days in length, and disease reevaluation was performed every two cycles by RECIST criteria. Nineteen patients received at least one cycle, eight with one prior systemic therapy, five with two prior systemic therapies. Five patients did not complete two cycles and were not formally evaluable for response. Five patients had stable disease (SD), including one who failed two prior therapies and went on to receive ten cycles. The remaining nine patients displayed progressive disease (PD) after two cycles. Notable toxicities included seven cases (37%) of grade III/IV neutropenia and two (11%) hypersensitivity reactions. This combination of oxaliplatin, docetaxel, and GM-CSF has limited clinical activity in previously treated patients with advanced melanoma. Exploration in treatment-naive patients may still be warranted.
The effectiveness of four mnemonics in ordering recall.

150 undergraduates were given instructions in using 1 of 4 mnemonic techniques: imagery, the link method, a peg system, or the method of loci. Relative to controls, all mnemonic groups showed an advantage in memorizing 20-word lists for unordered recall. However, the greatest differences appeared when recall was scored by a strict positional criterion whereby Ss received credit for recalling a word only when it was placed in its correct position. By this scoring method, peg and loci Ss performed best on an immediate test, and imagery and control Ss, worst. Performance of Ss told to use linking images was intermediate. Mnemonic devices have greater effects on the ordering of recall than on the number of words that can be recalled without regard to order. Some experimental failures to show that mnemonic devices are effective may have been due to testing only item information. (24 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)
A simple method for terminating chronically implanted electrodes in small animals.

Abstract A method for terminating chronic electrodes in small animals is described. The procedure is simple and uses only inexpensive, commercially available parts. A large number of electrodes can be terminated, and the connection is good enough to permit recording routinely from freely moving animals.
Estrogen-related receptor alpha induces the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in breast cancer cells.

Estrogen-related receptor alpha (ERRα) is an orphan member of the nuclear receptor family of transcription factors. In addition to its function as a metabolic regulator, ERRα has been implicated in the growth and progression of several malignancies. In the setting of breast cancer, not only is ERRα a putative negative prognostic factor, but we have recently found that knock-down of its expression retards tumor growth in a xenograft model of this disease. The specific aspects of ERRα function that are responsible for its actions in breast cancer, however, remain unclear. Using the coactivator PGC-1α as a protein ligand to regulate ERRα activity, we analyzed the effects of this receptor on gene expression in the ERα-positive MCF-7 cell line. This analysis led to the identification of a large number of potential ERRα target genes, many of which were subsequently validated in other breast cancer cell lines. Importantly, we demonstrate in this study that activation of ERRα in several different breast cancer cell lines leads to a significant increase in VEGF mRNA expression, an activity that translates into an increase in VEGF protein secretion. The induction of VEGF results from the interaction of ERRα with specific ERR-responsive elements within the VEGF promoter. These findings suggest that ERRα-dependent induction of VEGF may contribute to the overall negative phenotype observed in tumors in which ERRα is expressed and provide validation for its use as a therapeutic target in cancer.
A HYDRIDE GENERATION ATOMIC ABSORPTION TECHNIQUE FOR ARSENIC SPECIATION

Based on an investigation of hydride generation responses in solutions of various acidities containing nanogram quantities of arsenite [As(III)], arsenate [As(V)], monomethylarsonic acid (MMAA) and dimethylarsinic acid (DMAA) a sensitive analytical method for the accurate determination of inorganic and organic As species in aqueous solutions was developed. After a pH-selective reduction, the arsenic species were condensed in a U-tube filled with a gas chromatographic packing immersed in liquid N 2 . The species were then separated by slow warming of the trap and measured with an atomic absorption spectrophotometer
Resident Workload, Pager Communications, and Quality of Care

With the recent regulations limiting resident work hours, it has become more important to understand how residents spend their time. The volume and content of the pages they receive provide a valuable source of information that give insight into their workload and help identify inefficiencies in hospital communication. We hypothesized that above a certain workload threshold, paging data would suggest breakdowns in communication and implications for quality of care. All pages sent to six general surgery interns at the University of Michigan over the course of one academic year (7/1/2008-6/30/2009) were retrospectively categorized by sender type, message type, message modifier, and message quality. Census, discharge, and admission information for each intern service were also collected, and intern duties were further analyzed with respect to schedule. "On-call" days were defined as days on which the intern bore responsibility for care of all admitted floor patients. The interns received a total of 9,843 pages during the study period. During on-call shifts, each intern was paged an average of 57 ± 3 times, and those on non-call shifts received an average of 12 ± 3 pages. Floor/intensive care unit (ICU) nurses represented 32% of the page volume received by interns. Interestingly, as patient volume increased, there was a decrease in the number of pages received per patient. By contrast, at higher patient volumes, there was a trend toward an increasing percentage of urgent pages per patient. At high intern workloads, our data suggest no major communication breakdowns but reveal the potential for inferior quality of care.
Initial adherence of human capillary endothelial cells to Dacron.

Abstract Successful endothelialization of vascular grafts by seeding with endothelial cells (EC) at implantation is related to the number of EC which initially adhere to the graft. Using an in vitro system we examined the initial adherence of EC from human perinephric fat capillaries to woven Dacron that was either unmodified or precoated with several substrates. We studied capillary EC because they have not been investigated as a source of EC for graft seeding, although transinterstitial capillary ingrowth is one possible mechanism for spontaneous graft endothelialization. EC were isolated using collagenase and characterized morphologically and functionally including positive factor VIII-related antigen staining. EC were studied at three phases in culture: (A) primary EC with no subcultivations (EC-0); (B) EC after two subcultivations with trypsin (EC-2); and (C) EC after 10 subcultivations with trypsin (EC-10). EC were seeded onto graft material at a density of 10 5 cells/cm 2 (100% confluence) and examined for cell counts and morphology after one day in culture by light and electron microscopy. Results are as follows: Dacron pretreatment EC-O (%) EC-2 (%) EC-10 (%) Untreated 37.4 + 1.4 43.3 + 2.2 44.2 + 5.3 Collagen I/III 29.5 + 2.6 58.7 + 2.4 46.6 + 7.9 Platelet-rich plasma 52.9 + 0.4 64.6 + 3.3 62.8 + 7.1 Collagen-plus plasma 34.3 + 3.2 47.1 + 1.1 65.8 + 3.6 Percentage of capillary EC adherent to dacron following seeding at confluent density (100% = 10 5 cells/cm 2 ) + SEM The conclusions are: (1) All capillary EC demonstrated adherence to Dacron, but this initial adherence was strongly influenced by graft pretreatment with collagen or plasma. (2) Serially subcultivated EC (EC-2 and EC-10) had significantly higher initial adherence to pretreated Dacron compared to the primary cells (EC-0) ( P
Behavioral Characterization of GCLM-Knockout Mice, a Model for Enhanced Susceptibility to Oxidative Stress

Glutathione (GSH) is a major player in cellular defense against oxidative stress. Deletion of the modifier subunit of glutamate cysteine ligase (GCLM), the first and the rate-limiting enzyme in the synthesis of GSH, leads to significantly lower GSH levels in all tissues including the brain. GCLM-knockout (Gclm−/−) mice may thus represent a model for compromised response to oxidative stress amenable to in vitro and in vivo investigations. In order to determine whether the diminished GSH content would by itself cause behavioral alterations, a series of behavioral tests were carried out comparing young adult Gclm−/− with wild-type mice. Tests included the rotarod, acoustic startle reflex and prepulse inhibition of the startle reflex, open field behavior, and the platform reversal variant of the Morris Water Maze. Results showed no differences between Gclm−/− and wild-type mice in any of the neurobehavioral tests. However, more subtle alterations, or changes which may appear as animals age, cannot be excluded.
Attitudes of Female College Students Toward Over-the-Counter Availability of Oral Contraceptives

Abstract Study Objective To determine female college students’ beliefs about oral contraceptive pill (OCP) ava]ability and use, and to examine significant factors associated with these beliefs. Design Cross-sectional survey. Setting Urban women's liberal arts college. Participants Two hundred ninety female undergraduates who completed surveys. Intervention An anonymous survey was placed in all undergraduate mailboxes. Surveys were returned to a locked collection box in the mailroom. Within 4 weeks after distribution, 290 surveys were completed. Main Outcome Measures Sexual and contraceptive practices and students’ beliefs regarding whether OCPs should be made available without prescription. Results The respondents’ average age was 20.9 ± 3.3 years; 84% reported previous sexual intercourse with the mean age of first intercourse at 16.6 ± 2.2 years. Seventy-five percent of the sexually active women reported use of OCPs and 52% had used OCPs at their last intercourse. Sixty-five percent of all respondents felt OCPs should not be available without prescription. The two most commonly cited reasons for not wanting acps to be available over the counter (OTC) were that (1) side effects might occur that a health care provider could have prevented (59%), and (2) people would not go to their providers for regular check ups (56%). The most commonly cited reason for believing that OCPs should be available OTC was that there would be fewer unwanted pregnancies (74%). Race, previous OCP use, previous sexual activity, and perceived risk of pregnancy were not significant predictors of believing OCPs should be available OTC. Having had a previous pregnancy was a significant predictor of believing OCPs should be available OTC (p = 0.047). Those who believed OCPs should be available only with a prescription were willing to pay more for OCPs (p = 0.033). Logistic regression controlling for race revealed that both younger age (p = 0.03) and previous pregnancy (p – 0.002) were independent predictors of believing OCPs should be available OTC. Conclusions The majority of our sample believe that OCPs should remain as a prescription medication. Previous pregnancy and younger age are important factors in determining beliefs regarding OCP availability. Further studies in a more diverse population are needed to explore the relationship between age, previous pregnancy, and desire for contraceptive availability without prescription.
Assessing learning progression of energy concepts across middle school grades: The knowledge integration perspective

We use a construct-based assessment approach to measure learning progression of energy concepts across physical, life, and earth science contexts in middle school grades. We model the knowledge integration construct in six levels in terms of the numbers of ideas and links used in student-generated explanations. For this study, we selected 10 items addressing energy source, transformation, and conservation from published standardized tests and administered them to a status quo sample of 2688 middle school students taught by 29 teachers in 12 schools across 5 states. Results based on a Rasch partial credit model analysis indicate that conservation items are associated with the highest knowledge integration levels, followed by transformation and source items. Comparisons across three middle school grades and across physical, life, and earth science contexts reveal that the mean knowledge integration level of eighth-grade students is significantly higher than that of sixth- or seventh-grade students, and that the mean knowledge integration level of students who took a physical science course is significantly higher than that of students who took a life or earth science course. We discuss implications for research on learning progressions. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Sci Ed94:665–688, 2010
Microvascular blood flow in cat tenuissimus muscle.

Abstract Blood flow and microvascular pressure distribution were determined in arterioles of the tenuissimus muscle by use of intravital microscopy and the radioisotope-labeled-microspheres technique. The flow rates were found to range from 3.8 up to 11.7 mm/sec in arterioles and precapillaries with diameters of from 50 to 9 μm. An idealized construction of segmental dichotomization was developed on the basis of volume flow distribution. It was found that the terminal arterioles divide into five precapillaries. Microvascular pressure showed a sharp drop in this region. The distribution of microspheres was used to compare relative blood flow in dissected and undissected paired muscles on the right and left sides. The dissection associated with the intravital preparation, and the ensuing 2-hr exposure of the tenuissimus muscle, did not influence appreciably the blood flow in this skeletal muscle. It is concluded that the tenuissimus muscle preparation is well suited for microvascular studies.
Distinct roles in vivo for the Ubiquitin-Proteasome system and the Autophagy-Lysosomal Pathway in the Degradation of α-Synuclein

Increased intracellular levels of α-synuclein are implicated in Parkinson's disease and related disorders and may be caused by alterations in the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) or the autophagy-lysosomal pathway (ALP). A critical question remains how α-synuclein is degraded by neurons in vivo. To address this, our study uses α-synuclein transgenic mice, expressing human α-synuclein or α-synuclein-eGFP under the (h)PDGF-β promoter, in combination with in vivo pharmacologic and multiphoton imaging strategies to systematically test degradation pathways in the living mouse brain. We demonstrate that the UPS is the main degradation pathway for α-synuclein under normal conditions in vivo while with increased α-synuclein burden the ALP is recruited. Moreover, we report alterations of the UPS in α-synuclein transgenic mice and age dependence to the role of the UPS in α-synuclein degradation. In addition, we provide evidence that the UPS and ALP might be functionally connected such that impairment of one can upregulate the other. These results provide a novel link between the UPS, the ALP, and α-synuclein pathology and may have important implications for future therapeutics targeting degradation pathways.
Physical and psychophysical evaluation of digital systems for mammography

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between physical performance characteristics (such as signal-to-noise ratio and Detective Quantum Efficiency (DQE)) and psycho-physical performance (probability of detection), when aperiodic objects on a uniform background are imaged using two digital mammographic systems. The task simulated the detection of microcalcifications. A contrast detail study was performed using the Dutch CDMAM contrast-detail phantom. This phantom uses objects of different diameter and thickness. X-ray images of this phantom were generated by two digital x-ray imaging systems, one using a fiber optic taper to couple the light from a Min-R type phosphor to a CCD, the other one using a lens to couple the light from a Lanex phosphor to a CCD. Images were presented to human observers on the CRTs of the imaging systems in the context of a target detection task. Signal-to-noise ratio, MTF and DQE of both imaging systems were determined using standard image evaluation techniques. The lens coupled system had the highest DQE at low spatial frequencies, but a low MTF and DQE at high spatial frequencies. It yielded the highest detection probability overall in the observer performance study. The fiber optic system on the other hand had a significantly lower DQE at low spatial frequencies, but at high spatial frequencies it had significantly higher DQE and MTF than the lens coupled system. Its probability of detection throughout the performance studies was significantly lower than that of the lens coupled system. Furthermore, the probability of detection of the fiber optic system for small objects did not reflect its superior performance with respect to DQE and MTF at higher spatial frequencies. Presenting the DQE as function of object diameter rather than as function of spatial frequency permitted calculating the detection probability and fitting the Rose Model of Vision. The results serve as a reminder, that the detection of small aperiodic objects, even down to a diameter of about 100 micrometers is not only determined by DQE and MTF at high spatial frequencies but also by DQE and MTF at low spatial frequencies.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Myocardial Strain Rate Modulates the Speed of Relaxation in Dynamically Loaded Twitch Contractions

Slow myocardial relaxation is an important clinical problem in about 50% of patients who have heart failure. Prior experiments had suggested that the slow relaxation might be a consequence of high afterload (hypertension) but large clinical trials testing this hypothesis have failed; lowering blood pressure in patients who have heart failure with preserved ejection fraction does not help clinical outcomes. We performed new experiments using mouse, rat, and human trabeculae (Chung et al., Biophys J. 106,564a, 2014) and showed that it is not afterload but the strain rate at end systole that determines the subsequent speed of relaxation. To investigate the molecular mechanisms that drive this behavior, we ran simulations of our mechanical experiments using the freely available software MyoSim (http://www.myosim.org). This software simulates the mechanical properties of dynamically activated half-sarcomeres by extending A.F.Huxley's cross-bridge distribution technique with calcium activation and cooperative effects. We discovered that our experimental data could be reproduced using a relatively simple framework consisting of a single half-sarcomere pulling against a series elastic spring. Further analysis of the simulations suggested that quick stretches speed myocardial relaxation by detaching myosin heads and thereby disrupting the cooperative mechanisms that would otherwise prolong thin filament activation. The simulations therefore identify myofilament kinetics and tissue strain rate as potential therapeutic targets for heart failure attributed to slow relaxation.
Ontogenesis of brown adipose tissue thermogenesis in the rabbit

Abstract Basal and norepinephrine (NE) stimulated oxygen consumption was measured in BAT cells isolated from fetal and newborn rabbits at 24, 28, and 31 days gestation, and 3 and 10 days postnatal age. Maximum catecholamine stimulated respiration was measured at a final NE concentration of 10−6 M. Cell diameter, calculated cell volume and mitochondrial alpha glycerophosphate dehydrogenase (αGPD) were also determined at each age. Basal respiration increased continuously during fetal and neonatal life from a mean (±SEM) of 12.2 ± 0.4 μl O2/106 cells · hr at 24 days gestation to a mean of 70.5 ± 4.2 μl O2/106 cells · hr at 10 days of age. Stimulated respiration increased primarily during fetal development from a mean of 53.7 ± 3.4 μl O2/106 cells · hr at 24 days gestation to 670.5 ± 60.4 μl O2/106 cells · hr at 31 days. A further increase of 30% measured at 10 days of age was also observed. BAT mitochondrial αGPD activity was several fold greater than that measured in liver. Both cell size and enzyme activity increased in parallel to increasing respiratory response to NE. We conclude from this data that the maturation of catecholamine stimulated BAT thermogenesis occurs primarily in the fetus prior to delivery. This increase is associated with both an increase in mitochondrial enzyme activity and an increase in cell size.
Rich deontic logic: a preliminary study

Abstract This paper begins the development of new types of deontic operators, particularly ones whose semantic characterization is based on models with forward-branching time. In such models, supplemented by a choice function to model human agency, and an obligation function to introduce normative features, it is possible to develop a rich language with a variety of obligation operators, differing from one another in how they relate to time, and to the causal conditions, the causal consequences, and the logical consequences of actions. We approach these concepts making extensive use of the notion of a transition, as introduced in [M. Xu, Synthese 112 (1997) 137].
Culture and knowing in childhood for mathematical understanding

Continuing work in modern algebra, also termed abstract algebra, serves to illustrate the importance of form over content. A metalinguistic bridge from gestural language, with additional examplars from the dance and musical expression, are postulated as creating abstract schema that form the basis for the development of the Piagetian stages of cognitive growth which then provide the basis for our understanding of algebraic formulae. Thus even though innate neurophysiological centres for mathematical comprehension have been discovered, experiential perceptual development is shown to be necessary for acquisition of mathematical school readiness. Should the dance, gymnastics, musical expression and computer languages be incorporated as a mandatory portion of the elementary school curriculum world-round, these curricula should provide for the development of the imagic schema which form the basis mathematical understanding in this exegesis. Ethnolinguistic description and understanding are also seen as essential for adapting a course in mathematical instruction to a given cultural milieu.
The inheritance of top component formation in cowpea mosaic virus.

Abstract Two local lesion isolates of cowpea mosaic virus (CPMV) were fractionated first by velocity sucrose gradient centrifugation and then by equilibrium cesium chloride centrifugation. The isolate Sb24 yielded four principal components distinguishable by their buoyant densities: T, M, B U , and B L . The last two components have the same sedimentation coefficient and cannot be separated by sucrose gradient centrifugation. The isolate Sb2 yielded only M, B U , and B L . Some component combination of the form M + B U or M + B L appears to be necessary to initiate an infection. Inocula were prepared containing these pairs of components, either with both from one isolate or with one from isolate Sb2 and the other from Sb24. Inocula containing component M from isolate Sb24 caused T to be formed while progeny from inocula containing M from Sb2 tended to be free of T, regardless of the isolate which was the origin of the component B U or B L in the inoculum. Thus the inheritance of top component production seems to be through M, and the total genome of cowpea mosaic virus is apparently associated with two kinds of RNA molecules, one in the M particle and one in a B U or a B L particle.
Sexuality and the Language of Transcendence

Explores various sexual metaphors and allusions in Whitman's poetry (especially "Song of Myself") and argues that "the mightiest sexual drives lead the persona to an intimation of the transcendent state."
A large acceptance spectrometer for reaccelerated radioactive beams at the proposed facility for rare isotope beams (FRIB) in the USA

Abstract A large acceptance ray-tracing spectrometer is being designed in order to fully exploit the research opportunities that will be offered by reaccelerated radioactive beams in the energy range 6–15 MeV/nucleon from the proposed facility for rare isotope beams (FRIB) in the USA. The preliminary design of the spectrometer has been benefitted by several similar instruments in Europe (e.g. VAMOS, PRISMA, MAGNEX). The design is of QQD type (quadrupole–quadrupole–dipole) with two large-bore quadrupoles and a large-gap 70° bending magnet offering an angular acceptance around 50 msr and a momentum acceptance of 10%. The maximum magnetic rigidity is 2.5 T-m, providing a range appropriate for the most neutron-rich products expected from binary reactions with reaccelerated radioactive beams. The spectrometer will play an important role in nuclear structure and reaction studies, combined with gamma-ray and particle detector arrays around the target.
Socio-economics and rational choice theory: Specification of their relations

Abstract In this paper an attempt is made to put the relationship between socio-economics and rational choice theory into proper perspective. The attempt is motivated by some recent confusions between the two. In particular, there is a tendency among the adherents of rational choice theory to subsume socio-economics and, for that matter, social science as a whole under their theory. On the other hand, many socio-economists or economic sociologists evince some degree of lenience vis-a-vis rational choice theory as if the latter were fully compatible with their discipline. We show that the rational choice reduction of socio-economics and sister disciplines (e.g., economic sociology) to the “economic approach to human behavior” or to a utilitarian paradigm of socio-economic life, is theoretically and methodologically untenable, and thus that many socio-economists' generous attitude to rational choice theory is not entirely justified.
Effect of abscisic acid, gibberellic acid, indoleacetic acid, and kinetin on selective ribosomal cistron regulation in quiescent and senescent onion leaf base tissue

Small pieces of tissue from the basal, equatorial, near-apical, and apical regions of the third turgid onion leaf base were treated (3 and 6 h in the dark) with abscisic acid (ABA), gibberellic acid (GA3), indoleacetic acid (IAA), and kinetin (K) and compared with responses in water controls. ABA inhibited the activation (increase in size and changes in morphologies from round or oval to elongated-oval and dumbbell) of major nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) in basal, equatorial, and near-apical tissue. GA3 and K activated the major NORs in the basal, equatorial, and near-apical tissue. IAA stimulated the activation of major NORs in basal tissue but inhibited their activation in equatorial and near-apical tissue. No major nucleoli were activated in control or plant growth regulator-treated apical tissue. Minor NORs were not expressed in the control and plant growth regulator-treated tissue in these four locations. Actinomycin D and cycloheximide inhibited major NOR activation in equatorial control and kinetin-treated tissue. We propose that ABA, GA3, IAA, and K are major NOR regulators. We infer that the basal through near-apical cells were quiescent during post-harvest storage and that the cells in the apical tissue had senesced beyond the point of no return (degeneration of the karyoskeleton) in the cellular senescence pathway.
Limiting progressive hippocampal metabolic abnormalities after smoke inhalation injury.

A 46-year-old man had a smoke inhalation injury. Within 1 month, he developed neuropsychiatric problems including toxic encephalopathy, cognitive disorder, depression symptoms and personality change. From 3 to 14 years after the toxic inhalation injury, the patient received treatment with sertraline and methylphenidate. The 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography scan at 3 years after injury showed deterioration of glucose metabolism in the hippocampus and orbital frontal region; at 14 years after injury, the hippocampus had no significant change but the orbital frontal region had deterioration of glucose metabolism. It was hypothesised that sertraline may have provided selective hippocampal neuroprotection. Further study is justified to evaluate sertraline as a possible neuroprotective agent after smoke inhalation injury.
Gamma knife surgery with a dose of 75 to 76.8 Gray for trigeminal neuralgia

Object. The author presents a large series of patients with idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia (TN) who were treated with gamma knife surgery (GKS), at a maximum dose of 75 to 76.8 Gy, and followed up in a nearly uniform manner for up to 4.6 years. Methods. Two hundred ninety-three patients were treated and followed up for at least 6 months (range 0.4–4.6 years, median 1.9 years). At the final follow-up review, there was complete (100%) pain relief without medicines in 64 patients (21.8%), 90% or greater relief with or without small doses of medicines in 86 (29.4%), between 75 and 89% relief in 31 (10.6%), between 50 and 74% relief in 19 (6.5%), and less than 50% relief in 23 patients (7.8%). Recurrent pain requiring a second procedure occurred in 70 patients (23.9%). Kaplan—Meier analysis showed that 100%, 90% or greater, and 50% or greater pain relief was obtained and maintained for 3.5 to 4.1 years in 5.6 , 23.7, and 50.4% patients, respectively. Of 31 patients who described pain relief ranging from 75 to...
Characterizing global participation in an enterprise SNS

Social networking sites have been deployed within global enterprises to encourage informal communication and build social capital between its globally distributed members. Such interactions can potentially contribute to intercultural learning opportunities; however, it is unclear whether cross-geographical social contact consistently occurs. We present initial results from a quantitative analysis of user activity from a global enterprise SNS, observe asymmetries in directionality and reciprocity in connections in various geographic regions as well as a strong tendency towards geographic homophily. Finally, we suggest that language proficiency may play a role in differences in regional adoption of the system.
A peptide biosensor for detecting intracellular Abl kinase activity using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Many cancers are characterized by changes in protein phosphorylation as a result of kinase dysregulation. Disruption of Abl kinase signaling through the Philadelphia chromosome (causing the Bcr-Abl mutation) in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) has provided a paradigm for development of kinase inhibitor drugs such as the specific inhibitor imatinib (also known as STI571 or Gleevec). However, since patients are treated indefinitely with this drug to maintain remission, resistance is increasingly becoming an issue. While there are many ways to detect kinase activity, most lack the ability to ‘multiplex’ the analysis (to detect more than one substrate simultaneously). Here we report a novel biosensor for detecting Abl kinase activity and sensitivity to inhibitor in live, intact cells overexpressing a CML model Abl kinase construct. This straightforward methodology could eventually provide a new tool for detecting kinase activity and inhibitor drug response in cancer cells that overexpress oncogenic kinases.
The Controller-to-Total Asthma Medication Ratio Is Associated With Patient-Centered As Well As Utilization Outcomes

Background The ratio of controller medication to total asthma medications has been related to asthma utilization outcomes, but its relationship to patient-centered outcomes has not been explored. Methods Surveys that included validated asthma quality-of-life, control, and symptom severity tools were completed by a random sample of 2,250 health maintenance organization members aged 18 to 56 years who had persistent asthma. Linked computerized pharmacy data provided dispensing information on β-agonist canisters and asthma controller medication. The ratio was calculated as the number of controller medications dispensed during the year of the survey divided by the total number medications ( ie , inhaled β-agonist plus controller medications) dispensed. The relationships of the optimal ratio cutoff to patient-centered outcomes and to subsequent acute asthma exacerbations were determined. Results Mean asthma quality-of-life, asthma control, and symptom severity scale scores were significantly (p Conclusion A higher controller medication/total asthma medication ratio is associated with better patient-centered asthma outcomes as well as with reduced emergency hospital utilization. This adds further support to the use of the medication ratio as an asthma quality-of-care measure.
Benefits of combining massage therapy with group interpersonal psychotherapy in prenatally depressed women

One hundred twelve pregnant women who were diagnosed depressed were randomly assigned to a group who received group Interpersonal Psychotherapy or to a group who received both group Interpersonal Psychotherapy and massage therapy. The group Interpersonal Psychotherapy (one hour sessions) and massage therapy (30 minute sessions) were held once per week for six weeks. The data suggested that the group who received psychotherapy plus massage attended more sessions on average, and a greater percentage of that group completed the six-week program. The group who received both therapies also showed a greater decrease in depression, depressed affect and somatic-vegetative symptom scores on the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), a greater decrease in anxiety scale (STAI) scores and a greater decrease in cortisol levels. The group therapy process appeared to be effective for both groups as suggested by the increased expression of both positive and negative affect and relatedness during the group therapy sessions. Thus, the data highlight the effectiveness of group Interpersonal Psychotherapy and particularly when combined with massage therapy for reducing prenatal depression.
Phase transitions and multi-scale Markov random fields: application to texture synthesis

The increased use of Markov random field (MRF) models in image processing applications makes it important to understand their behavior under scale transformations. In this work, a multi-scale MRF is viewed as a parameter trajectory on a surface whose topological structure depends on the coarsening scheme employed in the scale transformation. These transformations are based on renormalization theory and are often nonlinear. Their fixed points play an important role in predicting the statistical properties of MRFs under a wide range of coarsening schemes. The concept of phase transition is introduced and its importance in model parameter selection is demonstrated in the context of texture synthesis. Specifically, we show that for grey-level images, the Markov assumption implies nontrivial phase transitions around which small parameter changes lead to very different textures. >
Chitosan coating to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of calcium sulfate-based antibiotic therapy in the treatment of chronic osteomyelitis.

We demonstrate that coating calcium sulfate with deacetylated chitosan enhances the elution profile of daptomycin by prolonging the period during which high concentrations of antibiotic are released. Coatings reduced initial bolus release of daptomycin by a factor of 10 to approximately 1000 µg/ml, and levels remained above 100 µg/ml for up to 10 days. Chitosan-coated and uncoated calcium sulfate implants with and without 15% daptomycin were evaluated in an experimental model of staphylococcal osteomyelitis through bacteriology scores, radiology, histopathology, and Gram staining. Significant reduction in bacteriology scores was observed for implants containing daptomycin and coated with chitosan compared with all the other groups. We confirm that the use of chitosan-coated calcium sulfate beads for local antibiotic delivery can be correlated with an improved therapeutic outcome following surgical debridement in the treatment of chronic osteomyelitis.
Colectomy for constipation: time trends and impact based on the US Nationwide Inpatient Sample, 1998-2011.

Summary Background Current guidelines include subtotal colectomy as treatment for refractory slow transit constipation. Aim To use the US Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) (1998–2011) and longitudinal data from the State Inpatient Database (2005–2011), comparable to NIS, to examine colectomy rates, in-hospital morbidity and emergency department (ED) visits or readmissions among patients treated for constipation. Methods Colectomies for any reason were identified based on the primary procedural code (ICD-9-CM 45.8x). Index hospitalisations were defined by the primary diagnosis of constipation (ICD-9-CM 564.x) associated with the primary procedural code for colectomy (ICD-9-CM45.8x) after exclusion of other diseases associated with colectomy. Demographic variables, comorbidities, complications and adverse events during the hospitalisation were captured, and ED visits and admissions were recorded for periods before and after colectomy. Results Nationally, colectomies for constipation rose from 104 procedures in 1998 (1.2% of annual colectomies) to 311 in 2011 (2.4% of annual colectomies). While there were no perioperative deaths, perioperative complications occurred in 42.7% of patients during the index hospitalisation. Longitudinal data were analysed for 181 patients, with similar perioperative complications and a readmission rate of 28.9% within the first 30 days after the index hospitalisation. Resource utilisation was tracked for a median time of 630 (0–2386) before and 463 (0–2204) days after colectomy with unchanged ED visits (median: 2 vs. 2, P = 0.21), but increased hospitalisations (median: 1 vs. 2, P = 0.003). Conclusions Colectomy rates for constipation are rising, are associated with significant morbidity and do not decrease resource utilisation, raising questions about the true benefit of surgery for slow transit constipation.
The Audiencia of New Galicia in the Sixteenth Century: A Study in Spanish Colonial Government

Part I. The Subordinate Audienica , 1548-72: 1. The Conquest of New Galicia 2. The Foundation of the Audiencia 3. The Audiencia and the Indians 4. The Audiencia and the Conquistadores 5. The Audiencia and the Church 6. The Reorganisation of the Audiencia, 1570-72 Part II. The Audiencia and Royal Chancellery, 1572-1600 7. Administration 8. Jurisdiction and Procedure 9. Conflicts of Jurisdiction.
Tendon transfer surgery in upper-extremity cerebral palsy is more effective than botulinum toxin injections or regular, ongoing therapy.

Background: For children with upper-extremity cerebral palsy (CP) who meet standard indications for tendon transfer surgery, we hypothesized that surgical treatment would result in greater functional improvement than treatment with botulinum toxin injections or regular, ongoing therapy. Methods: Thirty-nine children with upper-extremity CP, who were four to sixteen years of age and surgical candidates for the transfer of the flexor carpi ulnaris to the extensor carpi radialis brevis, pronator teres release, and extensor pollicis longus rerouting with adductor pollicis release, were prospectively assigned, either randomly (twenty-nine patients) or by patient/family preference (ten patients), to one of three treatment groups: surgical treatment (Group 1); botulinum toxin injections (Group 2); or regular, ongoing therapy (Group 3). Seven centers participated. Assessment measurements included active range of motion, pinch and grip strength, stereognosis, and scores as measured with eight additional functional or patient-oriented outcome instruments. Thirty-four patients (twenty-five randomized and nine from the patient-preference arm) were evaluated twelve months post-treatment as the study cohort. Results: For the primary outcome of the Shriners Hospital Upper Extremity Evaluation (SHUEE) dynamic positional analysis (DPA), significantly greater improvement was seen in Group 1 than in the other two groups (p < 0.001). Improvements in SHUEE DPA reflected improved supination and wrist extension during functional activities after surgical treatment. Group 1 showed more improvement in the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) CP module domain of movement and in the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) score for satisfaction than Groups 2 and 3. Both Groups 1 and 3 showed more improvement in pinch strength than did Group 2. Conclusions: For children with upper-extremity CP who were candidates for standard tendon transfer, surgical treatment was demonstrated to provide greater improvement, of modest magnitude, than botulinum toxin injections or regular, ongoing therapy at twelve months of follow-up for the SHUEE DPA, the PedsQL CP module domain of movement, and COPM satisfaction. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
On the invariance and intrinsicality of four-dimensional shapes in Special Relativity

Are shapes of objects intrinsic to them? The issue has been intensely debated. Special relativity (SR) adds a new dimension to it by relativizing three-dimensional (3D) shapes not just to times, but to times-in-frames. Arguably, however, such relativized spatial shapes are mere perspectival representations of an invariant, hence intrinsic, four-dimensional (4D) shape of an object in Minkowski spacetime. In a recent note, Matthew Davidson questions the intrinsicality of 4D shapes in SR. I show that his conclusion and the reasoning behind it are in error.
Predictive assessment of priority pollutant bio-oxidation kinetics in activated sludge

Bacterial population densities and enzyme activities were measured in activated sludge to serve as predictive tools for assessing bio-oxidation of organic pollutants. Phenol, toluene and aniline were the primary test pollutants used in the investigation. 14 references, 11 figures, 9 tables.
Write buffer design for cache-coherent shared-memory multiprocessors

We evaluate the performance impact of two different write-buffer configurations (one word per buffer entry and one block per buffer entry) and two different write policies (write-through and write-back), when using the partial block invalidation coherence mechanism in a shared-memory multiprocessor. Using an execution-driven simulator, we find that the one word per entry buffer configuration with a write-back policy is preferred for small write-buffer sizes when both buffers have an equal number of data words, and when they have equal hardware cost. Furthermore, when partial block invalidation is supported, we find that a write-through policy is preferred over a write-back policy due to its simpler cache hit detection mechanism, its elimination of write-back transactions, and its competitive-performance when the write-buffer is relatively large.