cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adenoviral vector-mediated GDNF gene therapy in a rodent lesion model of late stage Parkinson's disease

A recombinant adenoviral vector encoding the human glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) gene (Ad-GDNF) was used to express the neurotrophic factor GDNF in the unilaterally 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) denervated substantia nigra (SN) of adult rats ten weeks following the 6-OHDA injection. 6-OHDA lesions significantly increased apomorphine-induced (contralateral) rotations and reduced striatal and nigral dopamine (DA) levels by 99% and 70%, respectively. Ad-GDNF significantly (P < 0.01) decreased (by 30-40%) apomorphine-induced rotations in lesioned rats for up to two weeks following a single injection. Locomotor activity, assessed 7 days following the Ad-GDNF injection, was also significantly (P < 0.05) increased (by 300-400%). Two weeks after the Ad-GDNF injection, locomotor activity was still significantly increased compared to the Ad-beta-gal-injected 6-OHDA lesioned (control) group. Additionally, in Ad-GDNF-injected rats, there was a significant decrease (10-13%) in weight gain which persisted for approximately two weeks following the injection. Consistent with the behavioral changes, levels of DA and the metabolite dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) were elevated (by 98% and 65%, respectively) in the SN, but not the striatum of Ad-GDNF-injected rats. Overall, a single Ad-GDNF injection had significant effects for 2-3 weeks following administration. These results suggest that virally delivered GDNF promotes the recovery of nigral dopaminergic tone (i.e.: increased DA and DOPAC levels) and improves behavioral performance (i.e.: decreased rotations, increased locomotion) in rodents with extensive nigrostriatal dopaminergic denervation. Moreover, our results suggest that viral delivery of trophic factors may be used eventually to treat neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease.
Computational modeling of physical processes during laser ablation

Abstract A combined theoretical and experimental effort to model various physical processes during laser ablation of solids using a variety of computational techniques is described. Currently the focus of the modeling is on the following areas: (a) rapid transformations through the liquid and vapor phases under possibly nonequilibrium thermodynamic conditions induced by laser-solid interactions; (b) breakdown of the vapor into a plasma in the early stages of ablation through both electronic and photoionization processes; (c) hydrodynamic behavior of the vapor/plasma during and after ablation; and (d) the effects of initial conditions in the vapor, in particular, the nature of the initial velocity distribution, on the characteristics of subsequent vapor expansion. The results from the modeling will be compared with experimental observations where possible.
Perinatal Methadone Exposure Affects Dopamine, Norepinephrine, and Serotonin in the Weanling Rat

On gestational day 7 pregnant rats were implanted with osmotic minipumps containing either methadone hydrochloride (initial dose, 9 mg/kg/day) or sterile water. Their offspring were cross-fostered so that they were exposed to methadone prenatally and/or postnatally. On postnatal day 21, dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE), serotonin (5-HT), and their metabolites were analyzed. Perinatal methadone exposure disrupted dopaminergic, noradrenergic, and serotonergic activity in a brain region- and gender-specific fashion. The ratio of the DA metabolite 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) to DA was reduced in the frontal cortex of males exposed to methadone postnatally. No effects of perinatal methadone exposure were observed on DA and DOPAC in the striatum. The ratio of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MOPEG) to NE in the hippocampus was increased significantly in males exposed to methadone prenatally. Striatal and parietal cortical 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), but not its ratio to 5-HT, was increased slightly in rats exposed to methadone postnatally. Although parietal cortical 5-HT, 5-HIAA, and 5-hydroxytryptophan were all affected by perinatal methadone exposure, the ratios of metabolite and precursor to 5-HT were not affected. Effects of methadone exposure appeared to depend upon the developmental stage at which exposure occurred and did not appear to result from the phenomenon of neonatal withdrawal. Changes in activity of these three neurotransmitter systems may contribute to the effects of perinatal methadone on the activity of other neurons, such as cholinergic neurons.
The Innovation of Steel in Transjordan

Over the last twenty years, there has been a discernable increase in the number of scholars who have focused their research on metal production, working and use in antiquity, a field of study which has come to be known as archaeometallurgy. Materials scientists and conservators have worked primarily in the laboratory while archaeologists have conducted fieldwork geared to the study of metal technology in a cultural context with laboratory analysis as one portion of the interpretive program.
The Perron-Frobenius theorem without additivity

Abstract We prove the following non-linear generalization of the Perron-Frobenius theorem. Let A:Rm+→Rm+ be continuous, homogeneous of degree 1 and primitive (i.e., for some integer l, x≥y⇒AlxAly); then A has a positive eigenvector x0, unique up to multiplication by a positive scalar, and for all x⩾0, Anx/|Anx| converges to x0/|x0|.
University Talent And The Problems Of Photovoltaic Technology, Products And Markets

The adage "America's business is business" certainly applies to the development of photo-voltaics as part of this country's mixed but balanced energy sources.
Differential Ovotoxicity of 4-Vinylcyclohexene and Its Analog, 4-Phenylcyclohexene

Abstract Vinylcyclohexene (VCH) is an industrial byproduct that is known to cause the destruction of ovarian follicles in mice. Its analog, 4-phenylcyclohexene (4PC), is a volatile product from latex-backed carpeting. These studies were undertaken to assess the structure-activity relationships of these compounds and the potential for 4PC to cause ovotoxicity. Female B6C3FI mice were dosed with VCH (6 mmol/kg/day, ip) or 4PC (3 or 6 mmol/kg/day, ip) daily for 30 days. Treatment with VCH caused dramatic reductions in small and growing follicles as compared to those of vehicle controls. No treatment-related ovarian lesions were associated with 4PC administration. Plasma FSH concentrations were unaltered by treatment with either compound. These results indicate that in mice, the substitution of the phenyl for the vinyl group in the 4 position eliminates the ovotoxicity caused by this class of compounds. Presumably, the ability of the vinyl group to form an epoxide (or dihydrodiol) and/or its smaller size accounts for this difference in ovarian toxicity.
Biofeedback: a possible substitute for smoking, experiment I.

Abstract Biofeedback techniques were utilized in this study to identify those physiological variables which possibly contribute to maintenance of cigarette smoking and to investigate the hypothesis that smoking frequency would decrease when individuals were trained via biofeedback procedures to increase 8–12 Hz occipital EEG activity as a substitute for smoking. Results of the study indicate that of the six smokers physiologically monitored, the following physiological changes occured while actually smoking one cigarette: four smokers increased the percent of time they were producing 4–8 cycle per second (Hz) brain waves; five smokers increased their heart rate (beats per minute); all six smokers decreased their 8–12 Hz activity. Immediately after the smoking of one cigarette, six of the smokers demonstrated an increase in their heart rate and four of the smokers demonstrated a decrease in their skin temperature. There did not appear to be any specific consistent brain wave change across the subjects. Two smokers, who were able to continue producing high levels of 8–12 Hz activity without use of the biofeedback equipment, were able to quit completely at the end of an eight-month follow- up period.
Evaluation of endoscopic harmonic diverticulostomy.

Objectives/Hypothesis: The purpose of this study is to review a consecutive series of patients with Zenker's diverticulum who were treated with endoscopic diverticulostomy using either the endoscopic stapler (ENDO GIA 30 Autosuture; Covidien, Dublin, Ireland) or Harmonic Ultrasonic Surgical Instrumentation (Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Cincinnati, OH) to evaluate the safety and optimal application of Harmonic technology to the treatment of patients with Zenker's diverticulum. Study Design: This is a retrospective review at a tertiary academic hospital with institutional review board approval. Methods: All patients undergoing endoscopic repair of Zenker's diverticulum between April 1, 2009 and December 1, 2010 at a single institution were studied. Results: A total of 65 endoscopic diverticulostomies were performed: 24 Harmonic assisted, 41 stapler assisted. Average diverticulum size was 3.46 cm. There were two complications with staple-assisted (pharyngeal leak and recurrence) and six complications with Harmonic-assisted diverticulostomies (two pharyngeal leaks, two chest pains, one recurrence, and one subcutaneous emphysema). There was a statistically significant difference in the complication rates between the staple-assisted (4.88%) and Harmonic-assisted (25%) cohorts (P = .04). There were no complications with diverticula <2 cm. Conclusions: Endoscopic Harmonic esophagodiverticulostomy has been reported for the treatment of Zenker's diverticula. However, our data demonstrate a significantly higher complication rate with use of the Harmonic technology compared to the staple-assisted method (P = .04). Additional evaluations are warranted to validate these findings and before Harmonic diverticulostomy can be recommended as treatment for the majority of cases.
Eight-membered ring templates for stereoselective radical cyclizations

Abstract Transannular cyclization of the radicals derived from cis- and trans-6-iodomethylcyclodecene both lead to the regio- and stereoselective formation of cis-bicyclo[5.3.1]undecane, an important structural feature of the taxane diterpenes. The ratio of cyclization to reduction of the cyclodec-6-enylmethyl radical depends critically on the alkene geometry.
Reality monitoring of performed and imagined interactive events: developmental and contextual effects.

Age differences in reality monitoring of interactive events were examined among 4-year-olds, 8-year-olds, 12-year-olds, and adults. Participants engaged in some interactions and imagined others. Afterward, they were asked to determine whether each action was performed, imagined, or new. This memory test was repeated 1 week later. The 4-year-olds had more difficulty discriminating imagined actions than the two oldest age groups. Imagined actions were more often confused with performed ones than the reverse, though this bias was significant only for the two younger age groups. Reality monitoring decreased over time, especially for imagined items. Activities in which the participant was the agent of action were discriminated better than those in which someone else was the agent of action. Object use during the activity increased the discrimination of imagined actions, especially after the delay. Similarity among actions had no effect. Implications for child eyewitness testimony are discussed.
Effect of High-Altitude Exposure in the Elderly The Tenth Mountain Division Study

Background More than 5 million people/year over age 60 visit high altitude, which may exacerbate underlying cardiac or pulmonary disease. We hypothesized that the elderly would exhibit an impaired ...
Magnetic probing of concentric neutrals in energized underground power distribution cables

In this paper, we present the design of prototypes and experimental results from implementing these prototypes to demonstrate a novel online diagnostic technique for probing the integrity of concentric neutral wires (CNs) in underground power distribution cables. Our technique uses anisotropic magneto-resistive (AMR) magnetic sensors that rotate around the circumference of the cable and record the corresponding emanating magnetic field. This magnetic field is a function of the currents passing through the CNs (as well as the central conductor, CC), and can be used to detect signatures of damaged (non-conductive) CNs. We describe the implementation of the prototypes, including the radios that ensure electrical isolation between the data repository (a laptop computer), and the energized cable. We further show experimental results from applying the prototypes to detect fabricated faults on cables in our lab underground cable test-bed under various CN current conditions. The results show that we can detect breaks in CNs in with 1 A RMS return-current per CN, and at least up to 95 feet from the failure side (the maximum length of the cables in our test-bed).
Autoinduction of Bacillus subtilis phoPR Operon Transcription Results from Enhanced Transcription from EσA- and EσE-Responsive Promoters by Phosphorylated PhoP

Received 3 February 2004/Accepted 1 April 2004 The phoPR operon encodes a response regulator, PhoP, and a histidine kinase, PhoR, which activate or repress genes of the Bacillus subtilis Pho regulon in response to an extracellular phosphate deficiency. Induction of phoPR upon phosphate starvation required activity of both PhoP and PhoR, suggesting autoregulation of the operon, a suggestion that is supported here by PhoP footprinting on the phoPR promoter. Primer extension analyses, using RNA from JH642 or isogenic sigE or sigB mutants isolated at different stages of growth and/or under different growth conditions, suggested that expression of the phoPR operon represents the sum of five promoters, each responding to a specific growth phase and environmental controls. The temporal expression of the phoPR promoters was investigated using in vitro transcription assays with RNA polymerase holoenzyme isolated at different stages of Pho induction, from JH642 or isogenic sigE or sigB mutants. In vitro transcription studies using reconstituted E A ,E B , and E E holoenzymes identified PA4 and PA3 as E A promoters and PE2 as an E E promoter. Phosphorylated PhoP (PhoPP) enhanced transcription from each of these promoters. E B was sufficient for in vitro transcription of the PB1 promoter. P5 was active only in a sigB mutant strain. These studies are the first to report a role for PhoPP in activation of promoters that also have activity in the absence of Pho regulon induction and an activation role for PhoP Pa t an E E promoter. Information concerning PB1 and P5 creates a basis for further exploration of the regulatory coordination or overlap of the PhoPR and SigB regulons during phosphate starvation.
Polarization effects in low-energy e-CH4 collisions.

We have used the Schwinger multichannel formulation [Takatsuka and McKoy, Phys. Rev. A 24, 2473 (1981)] to carry out ab initio studies of the effects of polarization on the cross sections for elastic scattering of electrons by the polyatomic molecule CH4 for collision energies from 7.5 down to 0.02 eV. Although the closed-channel expansion through which polarization effects are included in this approach is not fully converged, the resulting cross sections do show a Ramsauer-Townsend minimum between 0.1 and 0.2 eV, about 0.3 eV below where it is seen experimentally. Our static-exchange cross sections show no Ramsauer-Townsend minimum. At the higher energy of 7.5 eV, where polarization effects are less significant, the calculated differential cross sections are in excellent agreement with the measured values. Differential cross sections are also shown at 3.0 eV.
Rapid Cycling of Plasma Gonadotrophins in Normal Men as demonstrated by Frequent Sampling

HUMAN serum gonadotrophins have been studied and the general monotony of circulating levels encountered in males has been stressed1-3. The question of a possible diurnal variation in gonadotrophin secretion in men has not been settled because of disagreement between authors, even after hourly sampling2, 4–6. The recent report of five to ten peaks of plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) per day in the standing bull during hourly observations7 and the demonstration of the short half-times of circulating human gonadotrophins8,9 have caused us to evaluate the minute-to-minute control of circulating gonadotrophins in men.
Complexity and variation in loggerhead sea turtle life history

Juvenile loggerhead sea turtles spend more than a decade in the open ocean before returning to neritic waters to mature and reproduce. It has been assumed that this transition from an oceanic to neritic existence is a discrete ontogenetic niche shift. We tested this hypothesis by tracking the movements of large juveniles collected in a neritic foraging ground in North Carolina, USA. Our work shows that the shift from the oceanic to neritic waters is both complex and reversible; some individuals move back into coastal waters and then return to the open ocean for reasons that are still unclear, sometimes for multiple years. These findings have important consequences for efforts to protect these threatened marine reptiles from mortality in both coastal and open-ocean fisheries.
The role of interstitial BCNU chemotherapy in the treatment of malignant glioma.

Abstract BACKGROUND Use of interstitial BCNU wafers in the treatment of malignant glioma is currently a controversial topic among neurosurgeons. Initial clinical studies indicated implantation of BCNU wafers into the postoperative tumor bed to be an acceptably safe, partially effective treatment for glioblastoma multiforme. Yet a more recent study has put the efficacy of this treatment in doubt, and there are potential complications associated with BCNU wafer use. OBJECTIVE This article presents a review of the information presently available on BCNU wafers—both pro and con—to aid in the clinical decision-making process. The article focuses on studies of clinical efficacy (for initial use as well as in the setting of recurrent tumor), complications associated with BCNU wafers, and the experimental data, particularly related to BCNU penetration into the brain. RESULTS Animal studies and computer simulations have shown that the depth of penetration of BCNU from wafers is limited. Yet in actual clinical use, the interstitial pressure within the wafer-laden tumor bed might be higher, convective flow greater, and delivery of BCNU to the brain more significant than predicted. CONCLUSION Based on current information, use of interstitial BCNU wafers continues to be an option for treating malignant glioma. Additional clinical studies of BCNU wafers are currently underway.
Empirically supported perspectives on transference.

There is much debate about the definition of transference and the use of transference in psychotherapy treatment. The current section brings together three papers presented at the American Psychological Association’s Annual conference that bridge diverse areas of psychology and the study of transference. Each of these papers contributes to our understanding of what transference is, where it exists, and how it can influence people. The papers also shed light on what we still do not know about transference and our continued need to struggle with what transference is and is not, how it can best be used to help people, and how future empirical research, across psychology disciplines, is critical to move our field forward.
HATs On for Drug Resistance

Mutations in the human cytomegalovirus UL27 gene confer resistance to an inhibitor of the viral protein kinase UL97. Reitsma and colleagues (2011) demonstrate that UL27 destabilizes the Tip60 histone acetyltransferase, setting forth intriguing new mechanisms for antiviral drug resistance and for viral regulation of the cell cycle.
Structures of segments of α‐synuclein fused to maltose‐binding protein suggest intermediate states during amyloid formation

Aggregates of the protein α-synuclein are the main component of Lewy bodies, the hallmark of Parkinson's disease. α-Synuclein aggregates are also found in many human neurodegenerative diseases known as synucleinopathies. In vivo, α-synuclein associates with membranes and adopts α-helical conformations. The details of how α-synuclein converts from the functional native state to amyloid aggregates remain unknown. In this study, we use maltose-binding protein (MBP) as a carrier to crystallize segments of α-synuclein. From crystal structures of fusions between MBP and four segments of α-synuclein, we have been able to trace a virtual model of the first 72 residues of α-synuclein. Instead of a mostly α-helical conformation observed in the lipid environment, our crystal structures show α-helices only at residues 1–13 and 20–34. The remaining segments are extended loops or coils. All of the predicted fiber-forming segments based on the 3D profile method are in extended conformations. We further show that the MBP fusion proteins with fiber-forming segments from α-synuclein can also form fiber-like nano-crystals or amyloid-like fibrils. Our structures suggest intermediate states during amyloid formation of α-synuclein.
Wittgenstein's Notion of ‘Theology as Grammar’

In the wake of Kantian and positivistic critiques of metaphysics and theology, one group of philosophers and theologians has attempted to reconstrue the meaning of religious discourse without making ontological commitments to a mind-independent reality. Another group has refused to abandon such commitments: they remain convinced that religious language is meaningless without them, because it cannot otherwise be ‘about’ anything objectively real; it merely becomes an expression ‘of’ religious piety, sentiment, or emotion.
Mouse sperm-egg plasma membrane interactions: analysis of roles of egg integrins and the mouse sperm homologue of PH-30 (fertilin) beta

The guinea pig sperm protein, PH-30 (also known as fertilin), is postulated to participate in the interaction between the sperm and egg plasma membranes. The beta subunit of guinea pig PH-30 (gpPH-30 beta) contains a domain with homology to disintegrins, snake venom proteins that bind to integrins via an integrin-binding domain containing the tripeptide RGD. This raises the question of whether an egg integrin serves as a receptor for PH-30. Although mouse eggs express integrin subunits, their role in mouse fertilization is unresolved. Therefore, we examined fertilization for two different hallmarks of integrin function, namely, dependence of ligand binding on divalent cations and the ability to inhibit ligand binding with RGD peptides. We demonstrate that sperm binding to zona pellucida-free eggs is supported by Ca2+, Mg2+, or Mn2+. Ca2+ was necessary and sufficient for sperm-egg fusion, with 2.5 mM Ca2+ being the most effective concentration. In addition, fertilization could be partially inhibited with various RGD peptides, which caused a decrease in sperm-egg fusion by 30–58%. This partial inhibition of fusion with RGD peptides prompted the cloning of the mouse homologue of gpPH-30 beta (hereafter referred to as mPH-30 beta) to determine if it possessed the tripeptide RGD or a different amino acid sequence in its disintegrin domain. mPH-30 beta, which is expressed during meiotic and post-meiotic phases of spermatogenesis, shares significant similarities to gpPH-30 beta throughout the length of the molecule, from the signal sequence to the cytoplasmic tail. The full-length deduced amino acid sequence of mPH-30 beta. The disintegrin domain of mPH-30 beta has the tripeptide QDE (instead of RGD) in its cell recognition region. Peptides containing this QDE sequence decrease the binding and fusion of sperm with zona pellucida-free eggs by approximately 70%, suggesting that the disintegrin domain of mPH-30 beta participates in the interaction between sperm and egg membranes.
Bifurcated Abdominal Aorta, with a Coarctation over the Right Branch of the Bifurcated Abdominal Aorta and Aberrant Renal Arteries Originating from the Left Branch of the Bifurcated Abdominal Aorta

This study describes an unusual case of secondary hypertension in a young female patient presenting with severe hypertension and abdominal bruits. Gadolinium-enhanced MRA revealed a clearly bifurcated abdominal aorta, with a coarctation over the right branch of the bifurcated abdominal aorta and aberrant renal arteries originated from the left branch of the bifurcated abdominal aorta. Of interest is conventional angiography had failed to reveal these vascular abnormalities. This study mentions both embryologic and clinical aspects of this developmentally abnormal bifurcated abdominal aorta, coarctation of abdominal aorta and aberrant renal arteries.
Base station scheduling of requests with fixed deadlines

We consider a packet switched wireless network in which a base station serves the mobiles. The packets for the mobiles arrive at the base station and have to be scheduled for transmission to the mobiles. The capacity of the channel from the base station to the mobiles is varying with time due to fading. We assume the mobiles can obtain different types of service based on the prices they are willing to pay. The objective of the base station is to schedule packets for transmission to mobiles to maximize the revenue earned. Our main result is that a simple greedy algorithm does at least 1/2 as good as the optimal offline algorithm that knows the complete future request pattern and channel conditions. We also show that no other online algorithm can do better.
Chicken Tumor Necrosis-Like Factor. 1. In Vitro Production by Macrophages Stimulated with Eimeria tenella or Bacterial Lipopolysaccharide

HD11, a transformed avian macrophage cell line, and chicken peripheral blood leukocyte-derived macrophages (PBL-M phi) were stimulated with bacterial endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or Eimeria tenella sporozoites and merozoites. The specific cytotoxicities of the culture supernatants against different target cell lines were measured, and the kinetics of tumor necrosis-like factor (TNF) production by HD11 and PBL-M phi were also measured. The results showed that HD11 and PBL-M phi secreted a TNF-like factor when stimulated with Eimeria parasites or LPS. A time- and dose-dependent TNF-like factors production by PBL-M phi was observed poststimulation with Eimeria parasites. Chicken TNF-like factor preferentially kills CHCC OU-2 cells, a fibroblast cell line of chicken origin, when compared to LM cells, a murine cell line used for mammalian TNF. This study indicates that chicken M phi produce a significant level of TNF-like factor following coccidial infection.
A Unified Picture of Laser Physics

Diffusive random lasers, whose mechanism has been elusive, are now explained by a general theory that encompasses conventional lasers.
Religion and Preferences for Social Insurance

In this paper we argue that religion and welfare state spending are substitute mechanisms that insure individuals against adverse life events. As a result, individuals who are religious are predicted to prefer lower levels of social insurance than will individuals who are secular. To the extent policy outcomes reflect individual preferences, then countries with higher levels of religiosity should have lower levels of welfare state spending. In formalizing our argument we also suggest that if benefits from religion are subject to a network externality (I derive greater pleasure from religion when others are also religious), it is possible for countries that are similar in terms of underlying conditions to exhibit multiple equilibria with respect to religion and social insurance. We empirically test our predictions using individual-level data on religiosity, individual-level data on social insurance preferences, and cross-country data on social spending outcomes. The findings are strongly supportive of our hypotheses.
The Motivation to Self-Administer is Increased After a History of Spiking Brain Levels of Cocaine

Recent attempts to model the addiction process in rodents have focused on cocaine self-administration procedures that provide extended daily access. Such procedures produce a characteristic loading phase during which blood levels rapidly rise and then are maintained within an elevated range for the duration of the session. The present experiments tested the hypothesis that multiple fast-rising spikes in cocaine levels contribute to the addiction process more robustly than constant, maintained drug levels. Here, we compared the effects of various cocaine self-administration procedures that produced very different patterns of drug intake and drug dynamics on Pmax, a behavioral economic measure of the motivation to self-administer drug. Two groups received intermittent access (IntA) to cocaine during daily 6-h sessions. Access was limited to twelve 5-min trials that alternated with 25-min timeout periods, using either a hold-down procedure or a fixed ratio 1 (FR1). Cocaine levels could not be maintained with this procedure; instead the animals experienced 12 fast-rising spikes in cocaine levels each day. The IntA groups were compared with groups given 6-h FR1 long access and 2-h short access sessions and two other control groups. Here, we report that cocaine self-administration procedures resulting in repeatedly spiking drug levels produce more robust increases in Pmax than procedures resulting in maintained high levels of cocaine. These results suggest that rapid spiking of brain-cocaine levels is sufficient to increase the motivation to self-administer cocaine.
News as (hazardous) entertainment: Exaggerated reporting leads to more memory distortion for news stories.

The media is influential in shaping people’s knowledge and beliefs about the world; however, reporters may take liberties with the facts to support a particular view or to create an entertaining story, resulting in biased or even falsified reports. We examined whether news reports with exaggerated details from newspapers and/or television are more likely to lead to memory distortion and whether a warning regarding the media’s potential for exaggeration can reduce memory distortion and increase skepticism for the information contained in the reports. We found that despite being trusted less, more extreme reports were more likely to lead to memory distortion. Further, a warning had no impact on the degree to which memory was distorted or on perceptions of trustworthiness; thus, it is not clear how best to protect news consumers against the negative effects of exaggerated reporting on memory for current events.
Response to Mathias and Nettelbeck on the structure of competence: Need for theory-based methods to test theory-based questions

Abstract In this paper, we respond to a 1992 study by Mathias and Nettelbeck in which, using exploratory factor analysis, they argued that the structure of intelligence in persons with mental retardation deviates from the model previously proposed by Greenspan. Applying the LISREL method of confirmatory factor analysis to Mathias and Nettelbeck's original correlation matrix, we found the Greenspan model (in which social and practical intelligence form separate factors) to be an equally plausible interpretation of their data as the single (Interpersonal Competence) factor found by Mathias and Nettelbeck. The findings are discussed with respect to (a) the importance of using theory-based methods when addressing theory-based questions and (b) the role of social intelligence in the ongoing controversy over the meaning of mental retardation.
Radiation testing of liquid crystal optical phase shifters for space survivability

Liquid crystal-based Optical Phased Arrays (OPAs) are a disruptive technology for a variety of electronic beam manipulation functions, including steering and control of polarization, amplitude, and phase. For applications in the emerging field of space-based laser communications, such devices must be operable in an extreme environment for an extended period of time, ranging from one year to over 15 years. Preliminary space qualification of OPA components has been completed, including exposure to each of three radiation types: prompt dose, total dose, and fast neutrons. Simplified OPA surrogates (phase shifters) were used in a series of experiments here described. These radiation levels and characterization tests extend beyond historical tests and present the first results for each of fast neutron interactions and prompt dose interactions with liquid crystal devices.
Analysis of protein function and its prediction from amino acid sequence

Understanding protein function is one of the keys to understanding life at the molecular level. It is also important in the context of human disease because many conditions arise as a consequence of alterations of protein function. The recent availability of relatively inexpensive sequencing technology has resulted in thousands of complete or partially sequenced genomes with millions of functionally uncharacterized proteins. Such a large volume of data, combined with the lack of high-throughput experimental assays to functionally annotate proteins, attributes to the growing importance of automated function prediction. Here, we study proteins annotated by Gene Ontology (GO) terms and estimate the accuracy of functional transfer from protein sequence only. We find that the transfer of GO terms by pairwise sequence alignments is only moderately accurate, showing a surprisingly small influence of sequence identity (SID) in a broad range (30-100%). We developed and evaluated a new predictor of protein function, functional annotator (FANN), from amino acid sequence. The predictor exploits a multioutput neural network framework which is well suited to simultaneously modeling dependencies between functional terms. Experiments provide evidence that FANN-GO (predictor of GO terms; available from http://www.informatics.indiana.edu/predrag) outperforms standard methods such as transfer by global or local SID as well as GOtcha, a method that incorporates the structure of GO.
Sequencing radiotherapy for soft tissue sarcoma when re-resection is planned.

Abstract Purpose To evaluate whether disease outcome for localized soft-tissue sarcoma (STS) excised before referral to a specialist center and there re-resected was influenced by the timing of radiation therapy (XRT)—before or after re-resection. Methods and materials Two hundred ninety-five consecutive patients with localized grossly excised STS were retrospectively evaluated for local control, freedom from metastasis, disease-free survival, and disease-specific survival, according to whether they had XRT before (121) or after (174) re-resection of their tumor bed. Univariate and multivariate statistical techniques were employed. Results At re-resection, residual STS was found in 159 patients (54%), including gross tumor in 73 (25%). The incidence of residual disease was lower in those receiving preoperative XRT (median dose 50 Gy) (36%) than in those having postoperative RT (median dose 60 Gy) (54%) ( p = 0.024). With a median follow-up of 9.1 years, the local control rates for all patients at 5, 10, and 15 years were 86%, 84%, and 81%, respectively, and there were no differences between the two XRT sequences. In multivariate regression, there was no evidence that XRT sequence influenced local control, metastatic control, disease-free survival, or disease-specific survival. There was a trend toward fewer XRT-related late complications with preoperative XRT, but this was not significant, and the incidence of complications was low (5% at 15 years). Conclusions Patients who present after total but oncologically inadequate excision of STS can receive approximately 50 Gy before re-resection or approximately 60 Gy after re-resection, with approximately equivalent, satisfactory local control and overall disease outcome. Decisions as to the most appropriate treatment sequence for any individual patient can be made regardless of considerations as to the effectiveness of one sequence compared with the other.
The Healing Potential of Online Virtual Worlds

This chapter describes the research being done to create a healing center for veterans of recent conflicts in the online virtual world Second Life. This work, started in 2008 and funded by the US Army’s Research Office, is building a dedicated online virtual world space to provide not only social connectivity for widely dispersed veterans, but also to offer stress-reducing health care and activities, especially in the area of Complementary and Alternative Medicine. The social space is populated by several intelligent agent-avatars that serve various functions. For example, there is a knowledgeable guide that can show people the various activities and spaces the site has to offer, find out and store a list of the visitors’ interests, and keep a record of what they have seen and done. There are also intelligent agents who can provide guidance for certain activities such as walking a labyrinth, and a story activity called “The Warriors’ Journey.” Working with experts in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), we are implementing MBSR therapy in this Second Life space for veterans. These experts will run the in-world group sessions, inhabiting an avatar for this purpose. Experiments with returning veterans are planned for 2010 that will test the efficacy of such therapies deployed in the virtual world. We expect the use of virtual worlds for both group and individual therapies to increase in the future and this project is a first step in determining their viability.
Ebola: history, treatment, and lessons from a new emerging pathogen

“does it ever end?” That was what a neighbor said to me one evening after hearing of the Guinea Ebola outbreak in West Africa. We have watched other epidemics unfold before us, thanks to our around-the-clock media access. The HIV problem developed more quietly owing to the lack of understanding of human immunodeficiencies, social taboos, and the absence of the Internet. The full experience of watching epidemics develop is a more recent phenomenon. The first televised outbreak was the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)-coronavirus (CoV) epidemic in 2003. This outbreak was clearly aided by a lack of appreciation for the ability of CoVs to cause severe disease and the escalation of global travel. Then the 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza was predicted and occurred while an anxious public viewed. Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) seems to be on the cusp of efficient human transmission every year, first with H5N1 serotypes and now the fearsome H7N9 with its lack of pathogenicity in its preferred host, birds, thus rendering it difficult to track. Middle Eastern Respiratory Virus (MERS) CoV has emerged from its natural host, bats or camels, and is a cause for concern despite its apparent lack of efficient human-to-human transmission (40).
Postdispersal predation of giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifida) seed in no-tillage corn

Abstract Giant ragweed seeds have high nutritional value, consisting of 47% crude protein and 38% crude fat, and may be an important food source for rodent and invertebrate populations in agricultural and early successional ecosystems. We investigated temporal patterns of postdispersal giant ragweed seed predation on the soil surface of a no-tillage cornfield as affected by involucre (seed dispersal unit) size and presence or absence of crop residue. Cage exclusion experiments indicated that rodents and invertebrates were the principal predators of giant ragweed seed, and total predation of involucres over a 12-mo period beginning in November was 88%. Rodents were the greatest predators of giant ragweed involucres during fall and winter, and cumulative predation by February 1 in treatments with rodent access ranged from 39 to 43%. In contrast, giant ragweed involucre predation by invertebrates occurred mainly from May 1 to November 1. When rodent access to involucres was prevented, total involucre predati...
Effects of Hind-Limb Length and Perch Diameter on Clinging Performance in Anolis Lizards from the British Virgin Islands

Most previous studies of clinging ability in Anolis lizards have focused on how toepads adhere to smooth, flat surfaces; yet lizards in nature use a wide variety of substrates ranging from smooth to rough and narrow to broad. I used an ecologically relevant measure of performance to determine the effects of hind-limb length and substrate diameter on clinging ability for two species of Anolis lizards from the British Virgin Islands. Clinging force was greater on the 12-mm smooth, wooden dowel compared to the 33-mm one for both species. Male Anolis cristatellus had considerably larger hind limbs than female A. cristatellus and both sexes of Anolis stratulus, and consequently performed substantially better on both dowel diameters. Results suggest two important components of clinging ability on cylindrical substrates: first, the ability of lizards to reach around and interlock their limbs with the substrate increases with longer limbs and narrower substrates; and second, the limb strength to maintain a grip on the dowel when limbs wrap fully around and the ability to apply compressive force when limbs wrap only partially around the dowel. These abilities are likely related to muscle size (e.g., cross-sectional area) and may be correlated with limb length. Further studies to understand how multiple morphological traits and different substrates affect clinging performance will contribute to a better understanding of this morphology-performance-habitat use relationship.
Specifying, Analyzing and Programming Communication Systems in Maude

Rewriting logic is a logic well suited for the specification, prototyping, analysis, and programming of concurrent systems in which concurrent computation exactly corresponds to logical deduction. In particular, it can be used as a wide-spectrum semantic framework for communication systems. Being a semantic framework means that rewriting logic, instead of building in a particular model of concurrency or distribution, allows a wide range of such models to be specified as rewrite theories. As a wide-spectrum framework, it connects smoothly with notations suitable for the early phases of software design, from which one can pass to executable specifications written in rewriting logic that can then be formally analyzed in a variety of ways, including debugging, model checking, symbolic simulation, and theorem proving. Furthermore, one can then pass from executable specifications to efficient implementations by semantics-preserving transformations into subsets of the logic that are efficiently implementable as distributed or mobile languages. The paper summarizes the practical experience obtained so far by a number of authors in using the reflective rewriting logic language Maude to specify and analyze communication systems, and gives a brief sketch of Mobile Maude, an extension of Maude for secure mobile applications currently under development at SRI International.
Pre-service teachers’ efficacy beliefs and emotional states

Teachers’ efficacy beliefs play an important role in how they create quality learning environments. When pre-service teachers (also known as initial teacher trainees) develop strong efficacy beliefs, they can be confident in their abilities to be successful teachers once they enter the field. One way pre-service teachers obtain efficacy information is through their emotional states. Positive emotional experiences like joy and satisfaction may enhance a teacher’s sense of efficacy, while undesirable emotions such as fear and worry could be debilitating to efficacy beliefs. The current study investigated how feelings of depression, anxiety, and stress contributed to efficacy beliefs among a sample of 297 American pre-service teachers. Results from regression analysis showed that depressive symptoms negatively predicted teacher efficacy beliefs. However, reports of anxiety and stress did not significantly predict efficacy. Student teaching experience also did not significantly predict teacher efficacy.
New Standards of Director Loyalty and Care in the Post-Enron Era: Are Some Shareholders More Equal than Others?

This Article examines how the legal frameworks that protect shareholders and employees interact in light of the corporate wrongdoing that has come to light over the past few years. Our research finds that legal rights vary significantly depending on whether claims are founded in federal securities law, state corporate law, or ERISA. This Article discusses the resulting anomalies that occur depending on whether the plaintiff is an employee or nonemployee. Even among employees, legal rights and obligations differ depending on whether the employee purchased company securities through a company-sponsored plan versus through a standard brokerage account. This Article addresses these issues and proposes an analytical approach consistent with underlying policy implications.
Evelyn A. Clark. Victims of Time, Warriors for Change: Chilean Women in a Global, Neoliberal Society

Victims of Time, Warriors for Change pushes readers to consider how globalization and neoliberalism affect individual women. While we have systemic level expectations, Clark provides refreshing ins...
Representation of Gravity-Aligned Scene Structure in Ventral Pathway Visual Cortex.

Summary The ventral visual pathway in humans and non-human primates is known to represent object information, including shape and identity [1]. Here, we show the ventral pathway also represents scene structure aligned with the gravitational reference frame in which objects move and interact. We analyzed shape tuning of recently described macaque monkey ventral pathway neurons that prefer scene-like stimuli to objects [2]. Individual neurons did not respond to a single shape class, but to a variety of scene elements that are typically aligned with gravity: large planes in the orientation range of ground surfaces under natural viewing conditions, planes in the orientation range of ceilings, and extended convex and concave edges in the orientation range of wall/floor/ceiling junctions. For a given neuron, these elements tended to share a common alignment in eye-centered coordinates. Thus, each neuron integrated information about multiple gravity-aligned structures as they would be seen from a specific eye and head orientation. This eclectic coding strategy provides only ambiguous information about individual structures but explicit information about the environmental reference frame and the orientation of gravity in egocentric coordinates. In the ventral pathway, this could support perceiving and/or predicting physical events involving objects subject to gravity, recognizing object attributes like animacy based on movement not caused by gravity, and/or stabilizing perception of the world against changes in head orientation [3–5]. Our results, like the recent discovery of object weight representation [6], imply that the ventral pathway is involved not just in recognition, but also in physical understanding of objects and scenes.
A comparison of glucosamine and biovolume conversion factors for estimating fungal biomass

Glucosamine content or biovolume of fungi cannot be used to estimate fungal biomass unless the ratio of these quantities to fungal mass is known. We measured the interspecific and temporal variation of seven attributes of three salt-marsh fungi grown on damp Spartina alterniflora. Glucosamine (jig) and biovolume (mm3 fresh) per mg dry weight, mg carbon, and mg nitrogen were calculated. There were significant differences (p < 0.01) among species (Buergenerula spartina, Fusarium sp., Phaeosphaeria typharum) and among ages (2, 4, 12 wk) for glucosamine. Glucosamine and biovolume per unit mass increased with age. There were significant correlations (p < 0.01) between glucosamine and biovolume conversion factors (r = 0.89) and between residual hyphal mass after amino sugar analysis and hyphal nitrogen content (r = 0.85). Glucosamine did not correlate as well with hyphal surface area (p < 0.05). Considering all species and ages, glucosamine content varied from 8.5-92.8 jig GlcN mg-' dry weight (23-299 [Lg GlcN mg-' C; 170-3094 jig GlcN mg1 N). It is necessary to know species-specific and age-specific biomass conversion factors to accurately estimate fungal biomasses using biochemical or direct-count quantification techniques.