cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Model of Reality as Mind

The 20th century philosophy has mummified our understanding of the mind. Instead of exploring the creative and extraordinary aspects of mind, it continually attempted to reduce it to the scope of activities characteristic of pigeons. If you use the pigeon methodology, you are bound to arrive at a pigeonlike understanding. Let me try to trace the historical circumstances that led to the elevation of the pigeon methodology as the tool of universal understanding. One terminological note: when I say “the 20th century philosophy,” I mainly mean empiricist-bound, analytically oriented philosophy of the Anglo-Saxon persuasion that dominates our present universities and that has exerted a considerable influence on our thinking all over the globe in the second part of the 20th century.
Consequences of black exceptionalism? Interracial unions with blacks, depressive symptoms, and relationship satisfaction.

Using data from Wave 4 (2008) of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (N = 7,466), we examine potential consequences of black exceptionalism in the context of interracial relationsh...
Perspectives on the experience of being physically restrained: an integrative review of the qualitative literature

Publications providing information on the safe use of physical restraints, guidelines for restraint use, and journal articles on the care of mental health patients are frequently devoid of information regarding patients' perspectives on physical restraint. As physical restraint is a common procedure in many settings, the purpose of this review is to examine and summarize the qualitative literature on patients' perspectives on being physically restrained, from 1966 through to 2009. A formal integrative review of existing qualitative literature on patients' perspectives of physical restraint was conducted. Studies were critiqued, evaluated for their strength, and analysed for key themes and meanings. Twelve studies were ultimately identified and included in the review. Four themes emerged from the review, including negative psychological impact, retraumatization, perceptions of unethical practices, and the broken spirit. While little qualitative research on patients' perceptions of physical restraint exists, findings within the current literature reveal serious implications for patients and nurses alike. Additional research into physical restraint implications for the patient-nurse dyad is needed, and nurses should approach the use of physical restraint with caution and awareness of their potential psychological impact.
Physician Perceptions and Beliefs about Generating and Providing a Clinical Summary of the Office Visit

Background: A core measure of the meaningful use of EHR incentive program is the generation and provision of the clinical summary of the office visit, or the after visit summary (AVS), to patients. However, little research has been conducted on physician perceptions and beliefs about the AVS. Objective: Evaluate physician perceptions and beliefs about the AVS and the effect of the AVS on workload, patient outcomes, and the care the physician delivers. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey of physicians at two academic medical centers (AMCs) in the northeast who are participating in the meaningful use EHR incentive program. Results: Of the 1 795 physicians at both AMCs participating in the incentive program, 853 completed the survey for a response rate of 47.5%. Eighty percent of the respondents reported that the AVS was easy (very easy or quite easy or somewhat easy) to generate and provide to patients. Nonetheless, more than three-fourths of the respondents reported a negative effect of generating and providing the AVS on workload of office staff (78%) and workload of physicians (76%). Primary care physicians had more positive beliefs about the effect of the AVS on patient outcomes than specialists (p<0.001) and also had more positive beliefs about the effect of the AVS on the care they delivered than specialists (p<0.001). Conclusions: Achieving the core meaningful use measure of generating and providing the AVS was easy for physicians but it did not necessarily translate into positive beliefs about the effect of the AVS on patient outcomes or the care the physician delivered. Physicians also had negative beliefs about the effect of the AVS on workload. To promote positive beliefs among physicians around the AVS, organizations should obtain physician input into the design and implementation of the AVS and develop strategies to mitigate its negative impacts on workload.
Role of the liver in clearance and excretion of circulating carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA).

CEA is a glycoprotein with a molecular weight of 200,000 containing 55%–65% carbohydrate. The removal of only two sialic acid residues result in rapid uptake from the circulation by the liver and catabolism in the lysosomes. There is a receptor on the plasma membrane of the hepatocyte (hepatic binding protein) which recognizes galactosyl residues. About 70% of125I-labeled intact CEA is cleared by the liver in 1 hr. The exposure of terminal galactose residues by removing sialic acids determines the rate of clearance. CEA is probably initially taken up by Kupffer cells and transferred to hepatocytes. About 10% of CEA added to an isolated perfused liver appears in bile. Biliary duct obstruction and cholestasis may elevate plasma CEA levels due to detergent effects on the liver cell receptors.
Two Nonlinear Control Approaches for Retrieval of a Thrusting Tethered Subsatellite

This paper presents an analysis of the dynamics and control of the pitch and roll motion during retrieval of a Tethered Satellite System, consisting of the Space Shuttle Orbiter and the tethered satellite. Two nonlinear control designs are investigated and compared. The first approach uses visual observation of the line-of-sight angle and phase-plane switch logic to generate simple rules for orbiter pilots. The second uses a controller designed using computational sliding mode techniques. It assumes more precise sensing of system state, and would be implemented using subsatellite jets.
Experiences of Central California Latino Male Youth: Recollecting Despair and Success in Barrios and Schools

This study examined the community and schooling experiences of Latino male youth (ages 14–24) in the California Central Valley. Seven semi-structured focus groups (n = 35) were conducted with Latino youth regarding how factors related to health, safety, and education affected their lives. Latino Critical Theory was used as a framework to explain how the disparities described by Latino youth are part of larger social and academic inequalities. Findings showed that the Latino youth have unique race-, gender-, and class-specific experiences related to structural inequalities. The study concludes with recommendations for policy and practice that can help improve Latino youths’ lives primarily by addressing structural inequalities in their communities and schools. Strategies for how community and school leaders can address the Latino youth disparities are provided.
Preparing for problems: A measure of mental anticipatory processes

Abstract The Measure of Mental Anticipatory Processes (MMAP) is a questionnaire measuring patterns of mental preparation that are productive (plan rehearsal and problem analysis) and unproductive (stagnant deliberation and outcome fantasy) in coping with future stressful events. In a series of psychometric studies, the four subscales demonstrated acceptable structural validity, internal consistency, temporal stability (Studies 1 and 2), and convergent and divergent validity with concurrent measures of recurrent thought processes, emotion regulation, problem-solving, and mental health (Study 3). In Study 4, three subscales predicted quality of repetitive thought and psychological adjustment in response to a naturalistic, personally relevant stressful life transition. Stagnant deliberation and outcome fantasy predicted change in depression symptoms in an at-risk population.
Activation of sucrose-phosphate synthase from darkened spinach leaves by an endogenous protein phosphatase.

Abstract Sucrose-phosphate synthase (SPS; EC 2.4.1.14) extracted from darkened spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) leaves has a low activation state, defined as the ratio of activity measured with limiting substrates (plus the inhibitor Pi) to activity with saturating substrates (maximum velocity). Preincubation at 25 °C of desalted crude extracts from darkened leaves resulted in a time-dependent increase in activation state that was inhibited by Pi [IC50 (concentration causing 50% inhibition) ≈3 m m ], molybdate, okadaic acid (IC50 ≈ 25 n m ) and vanadate, but was stimulated by fluoride. The “spontaneous activation” of SPS in vitro was enhanced slightly by exogenous MgCl2 (up to 5 m m ) and exhibited a pH optimum of 7.0 to 7.5. Radioactive phosphate incorporated into SPS during labeling of excised leaves with [32P]Pi in the dark was lost with time when extracts were incubated at 25 °C. This loss in radiolabel was substantially reduced by vanadate. These results provide direct evidence for action of an endogenous protein phosphatase(s) using SPS as substrate. The spontaneous activation achieved in vitro could be reversed by subsequent addition of 1 m m Mg · ATP; the activation/ inactivation achieved in vitro was similar in magnitude to the dark-light regulation observed in vivo. Moreover, feeding okadaic acid to excised leaves in the dark blocked subsequent light activation of SPS without affecting photosynthetic rate. These results are consistent with the notion that SPS contains phosphorylation site(s) that reduce enzyme activation state and that dephosphorylation of these residue(s) is the mechanism of light activation. Regulation of the protein phosphatase by Pi may be of physiological significance.
Development of homozygosity for chromosome 11p markers in Wilms' tumour

Somatic alterations in the genome are found in many human tumours. Chromosome rearrangements or base substitutions that activate cellular oncogenes appear to act dominantly. In contrast, recessive alleles apparently contribute to childhood retinoblastoma, as homozygosity (or hemizygosity ) for chromosome 13 is often established in tumours, by either mitotic nondisjunction or recombination. Parallels exist between retinoblastoma and childhood Wilms' tumour (WT). Retinoblastoma is often inherited and accompanied by a deletion of chromosome 13 (band q14), while WT is occasionally associated with aniridia and deletion of chromosome 11 band p13. Most Wilms' tumours are sporadic and not accompanied by these findings, although interstitial deletion of chromosome 11 in tumour, but not normal, cells has been reported. In view of these parallels, we compared constitutional and tumour DNAs from WT patients by using chromosome 11p DNA probes. We report here that although heterozygosity in constitutional DNAs was often preserved in tumour DNAs, one case developed homozygosity for chromosome 11p markers in tumour cells, implying the involvement of chromosomal events in revealing a recessive WT locus. This observation suggests the action of such general mechanisms in a tumour other than retinoblastoma.
Mono- and digalactosyldiacylglycerol composition of dinoflagellates. III. Four cold-adapted, peridinin-containing taxa and the presence of trigalactosyldiacylglycerol as an additional glycolipid

Despite their importance in marine and freshwater microalgal assemblages, cold-adapted dinoflagellates have been the subject of few comprehensive lipid studies, particularly with respect to those lipids that comprise plastid membranes. In an effort to understand the differences between warm- and cold-adapted dinoflagellate glycolipid composition, four peridinin-containing, cold-adapted dinoflagellates were surveyed for intact forms of monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG) and digalactosyldiacylglycerol (DGDG), two common plastid lipids, using positive-ion electrospray ionization/mass spectrometry (ESI/MS) and electrospray ionization/mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (ESI/MS/MS). It was determined that the dominant forms of MGDG and DGDG in these cold-adapted, peridinin-containing dinoflagellates possessed C18 fatty acids and did not, with the exception of a 20:5/18:5 form of DGDG in a cold-adapted Gymnodinium sp. from the Baltic Sea, have C20 fatty acids. This finding is in contrast to an earlier study of...
Statistical Image Reconstruction via Denoised Ordered-Subset Statistically Penalized Algebraic Reconstruction Technique (DOS-SPART)

Statistical Image Reconstruction (SIR) often involves a balance of two requirements: the first requirement is enforcing a minimal difference between the forward projection of the reconstructed image with the measured projection data and the second requirement enforcing some kind of image smoothness, which depends on the specific selection of regularizer, to reduce the noise in the reconstructed image. The needed delicate balance between these two requirements in the numerical implementations often slow down the reconstruction speed due to either a degradation in convergence rate of the algorithm or a degradation of parallellizability of the numerical implementation algorithms. In this work, a general numerical implementation strategy has been proposed to allow the SIR algorithms to be implemented in two decoupled and alternating steps. The first step using SIR without any regularizer which allows for the use of the well-known ordered subset (OS) strategy to accelerate the image reconstruction. The second step solves a denoising problem without involving the data fidelity term. The alternation of these two decoupled steps enable one to perform SIR with both high convergence rate and high parallellizability. The total variation norm of the image has been used as an example of regularizers to illustrate the proposed numerical implementation strategy. Numerical simulations have been performed to validate the proposed algorithm. The noise-spatial resolution tradeoff curve and convergence speed of the algorithm have been investigated and compared against the conventional gradient descent based implementation strategy.
Metabolism of 17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate by human placental mitochondria.

Perfusion of 17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17HPC) via the maternal circuit of a dually perfused human placental lobule resulted in the extensive formation of 2 metabolites. On the other hand, human placental microsomes biotransformed 17HPC into 5 monohydroxylated metabolites, which did not correspond to those formed during perfusion. The goal of this investigation was to determine the subcellular localization of the enzymes responsible for the biotransformation of 17HPC during its perfusion in human placenta. Crude subcellular fractions of the human placental tissue were utilized. Six 17HPC metabolites were formed by the placental mitochondrial fraction, of which 4 were identical to those formed by the microsomes; whereas the other 2, namely MM and M19, were formed by the mitochondrial fraction only. The latter metabolites were identical to those formed during 17HPC perfusion, as determined by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis. Therefore, these data strongly suggest that the enzymes responsible for the biotransformation of 17HPC during its perfusion are predominantly localized in human placental mitochondria.
Phase I study of CI-958 in children and adolescents with recurrent solid tumors.

BACKGROUND CI-958 is a synthetic intercalating agent of a new chemical class, the benzopyranoindazoles, with promising preclinical activity. Its mechanism of action is thought to be stabilization of the cleavable complex of DNA with topoisomerase II, as well as DNA helicase blockade. It is thought to have less cardiotoxicity than the anthracyclines. Early Phase I studies in adults showed the drug to be well tolerated, making it an attractive agent to pursue in Phase I clinical trials in children. METHODS Children and adolescents with recurrent solid tumors received CI-958 at an initial dose of 450 mg/m2 over 2 hours. Dose escalation was performed in a standard fashion in cohorts of three patients until dose limiting toxicity and the maximum tolerated dose were determined. RESULTS Twenty-one patients were entered on the study. The maximum tolerated dose was found to be 650 mg/m2. Dose limiting toxicities were Grade 4 neutropenia and Grade 4 hypotension at the dose level of 700 mg/m2. CONCLUSIONS The maximum tolerated dose of CI-958 in children and adolescents is 650 mg/m2. No antitumor activity has been observed. Cancer 2001;91:1166–9. © 2001 American Cancer Society.
Iron‐rich aureoles in the CM carbonaceous chondrites Murray, Murchison, and Allan Hills 81002: Evidence for in situ aqueous alteration

— Iron-rich aureoles in CM carbonaceous chondrites are previously unidentified domains of aqueously altered matrix material, whose FeO content may exceed that of the surrounding matrix by up to more than 15 wt%. We describe the petrography and mineralogy of these objects in the CM chondrites Murray, Murchison, and Allan Hills (ALH) 81002. The size of Fe-rich aureoles ranges from a few hundred microns to several millimeters in diameter and appears to be a function of the degree of alteration of the host chondrite. The origin of Fe-rich aureoles is related to the alteration of large metal grains that has resulted in the formation of characteristic PCP-rich reaction products that are frequently observed at the centers of the aureoles. This suggests that Fe-rich aureoles in CM chondrites are the result of the mobilization of Fe from altering metal grains into the matrix. The fact that Fe-rich aureoles enclose numerous chondritic components such as chondrules, calcium-aluminum-rich inclusions (CAIs), and mineral fragments, as well as their radial symmetric appearance, are strong evidence that they formed in situ and that significant directional fluid flow was not involved in the alteration process. This and additional constraints, such as the distribution of S and other elements, as well as the inferred alteration conditions, are consistent with in situ parent-body alteration. The observations are, however, entirely incompatible with preaccretionary alteration models in which the individual CM chondrite components have experienced diverse alteration histories. The presence of numerous intact aureoles in the brecciated CM chondrites Murray and Murchison further suggests that the alteration occurred largely after brecciation affected these meteorites. Therefore, the progressive aqueous alteration of CM chondrites may not be necessarily coupled to brecciation as has been previously proposed.
Lightning, fire and longleaf pine : Using natural disturbance to guide management

Abstract The importance of lightning as an ignition source for the fire adapted longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) ecosystem is widely recognized. Lightning also impacts this system on a smaller scale by causing individual tree mortality. The objective of this study was to determine mortality due to lightning and other agents in longleaf stands on the Ocala National Forest in central Florida and to quantify lightning ignited fire. Mortality from lightning was also tracked in longleaf stands on the Savannah River Site in South Carolina. Lightning killed more trees than any other agent with a mean mortality of nearly 1 tree/3 ha/yr in Florida and 1 tree/8 ha/yr in South Carolina. The probability of a tree being struck by lightning increased as a function of tree height at both sites, i.e. lightning preferentially removed the largest trees from the stand. In addition lightning strikes were clumped within stands, sometimes killed multiple trees with a single strike, and often hit trees on the edge of existing gaps. The combination of these processes means gaps suitable for regeneration within longleaf stands are created quite rapidly. This information provides guidelines for the development of selection harvest systems based on this natural disturbance. Although lightning activity was greatest during the summer months in Florida and most fires occurred in June, the probability of a strike causing a fire was highest in February to May.
Spectral analysis of chlorophyll-protein complexes from higher plant chloroplasts☆

A spectral analysis of chlorophyll-protein complexes was carried out to gain information about the state of chlorophyll in vivo. A light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b protein complex and a Photosystem I complex were isolated from pea and from wheat chloroplasts by treatment with 0.5% Triton and centrifugation in a sucrose gradient. Resolution of absorption spectra (89K) of these fractions showed that their forms of chlorophyll were not altered by the isolation procedure. However, because the sum of the spectra of the fractions had a different shape from the chloroplast, it may be assumed that a third chlorophyll-protein complex was lost or changed in terms of the state of its chlorophyll. The spectrum of this missing chlorophyll was calculated and found to have a maximum near 683 nm. Circumstantial evidence indicates that this calculated spectrum may represent the native absorption of antenna chlorophyll a-protein of Photosystem II. The proportionality between the major absorbing forms of chlorophyll observed by curve analysis of different fractions suggests that the 660 and 678 nm forms may be the result of exciton interaction. The addition of a very small, narrow 675 nm band caused a very large improvement in fitting the spectrum of the antenna chlorophyll a/b protein with component bands, but not in Photosystem I spectra. A direct comparison of curve resolution with fourth derivative analysis shows the advantages of the former for studying the states of chlorophyll in vivo.
Idiopathic ventricular tachycardia in infancy and childhood: A multicenter study on clinical profile and outcome

OBJECTIVES The present study intended to evaluate the clinical profile and outcome in a large cohort of pediatric patients with idiopathic ventricular tachycardia (VT). BACKGROUND Ventricular tachycardia (VT) without underlying heart disease is rare in childhood. Limited information is available with regard to outcome and indications for long-term antiarrhythmic treatment. METHODS A retrospective multicenter study was conducted. Patient data were obtained from the individual centers using a standardized questionnaire. RESULTS Ninety-eight pediatric patients with episodes of VT in the absence of structural heart disease were included. Mean age at first manifestation of the arrhythmia was 5.4 years (range 0.1 to 15.1), with 27% of the patients having had VT already in infancy. Clinical symptoms or echocardiographic signs of left ventricular dysfunction were observed initially in 36% of the patients, of which one third (12% of the whole population) presented with severe symptoms (heart failure or syncope). After a mean follow-up of 47 months (range 12 to 182), no patient had died. Twenty-five patients had never been treated with antiarrhythmic drugs. Sixty-three patients were free of VT and did not take antiarrhythmic drugs at last follow-up. Prognosis was better when VT occurred during the first year of life (VT resolution in 89%) compared with VT occurrence beyond the first year of life (VT resolution in 56%: p < 0.01). The clinical profile was more favorable for patients with presumed right VT (VT resolution in 76%, symptoms in 25% of patients) compared with patients with presumed left VT, where VT resolution occurred in 37% and symptoms in 67% of patients (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS VT in children with a normal heart carried a good prognosis. Outcome was better after onset of VT during infancy and when VT originated in the right ventricle. A restrictive use of antiarrhythmic agents might be justified in a large proportion of these patients.
Outcomes of Ablation Versus Resection for Colorectal Liver Metastases: Are We Comparing Apples with Oranges?

The incidence of colorectal cancer is approximately 150,000 new cases per year in the USA. Although up to 50% of patients have or will develop liver metastases, only about 20–25% of these lesions are resectable. Surgical resection has been the preferred treatment modality of resectable hepatic metastases. Over time, methods for local ablation have been developed with the goal of increasing the number of patients eligible for liver-directed therapy. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is currently the most commonly applied ablation method. RFA involves the application of an alternating electric current in the range of radiofrequency waves applied through a needle electrode placed directly in the tumor, resulting in a zone of necrosis surrounding the electrode. Specifically, as the temperature within the tissue is elevated beyond 50–60 C, proteins are denatured, cells are destroyed, and a zone of necrosis surrounding the electrode develops. Use of ablative approaches has been proposed both combined with hepatic resection or as an alternative to resection. The efficacy of hepatic resection relative to RFA has been the topic of much debate. Data on the efficacy of hepatic resection are relatively established, with reported local recurrence rates of less than 5% for patients undergoing R0 (microscopically negative) resection and 5-year survival rates ranging from 35% to 55%. In contrast, data on the efficacy of RFA have been more heterogeneous. Some studies have reported local recurrence rates in the range of 10%, while other reports have noted local recurrence rates to be as high as 40–50%. Data on the survival benefit of RFA have been similarly discordant. Some studies have reported survival in the range of 20% following RFA. However, other studies have reported more encouraging results, with 3and 5-year survival rates in the range of 55% and 30%, respectively. Most data concerning outcome following ablative treatment of colorectal liver tumors have come from studies involving patients with unresectable disease who have had RFA as primary therapy. Other studies have compared outcome of patients undergoing resection alone versus resection plus ablation. We herein address the issue of comparability between resection versus ablation within three specific domains: clinicopathologic comparability, margin status or adequacy of ablation, and emerging technologies. While doing this, we also highlight the analytic pitfalls of analyzing retrospective data among groups with varying clinicopathologic background characteristics. Our intent is not to provide a comprehensive review of the literature on resection versus RFA, nor is it to advocate RFA as equivalent to resection as a treatment modality for colorectal metastases.
Engineered Steel Fibers with Optimal Properties for Reinforcement of Cement Composites

Although steel fibers have been used in cement and concrete composites for more than four decades, most of the steel fibers on the market today have been introduced prior to 1980. This is in sharp contract to the continuous progress and development in the cement matrix itself. Following a brief summary of the main properties and limitations of steel fibers used in cement based composites, this paper describes the rationale and technical background behind the development and design of a new generation of steel fibers for use in cement, ceramic and polymeric matrices. These fibers are engineered to achieve optimal properties in terms of shape, size, and mechanical properties, as well as compatibility with a given matrix. They are identified as Torex fibers. Typical tests results are provided and illustrate without any doubt the superior performance (2 to 3 times) of Torex fibers in comparison to other steel fibers on the market. The new fibers will advance the broader use of high performance fiber reinforced cement composites in structural applications such as in blast and seismic resistant structures, as well as in stand-alone applications such as in thin cement sheet products.
Distribution, diversity and ecology of aerobic CO-oxidizing bacteria

Numerous studies indicate that carbon monoxide (CO) participates in a broader range of processes than any other single molecule, ranging from subcellular to planetary scales. Despite its toxicity to many organisms, a diverse group of bacteria that span multiple phylogenetic lineages metabolize CO. These bacteria are globally distributed and include pathogens, plant symbionts and biogeochemically important lineages in soils and the oceans. New molecular and isolation techniques, as well as genome sequencing, have greatly expanded our knowledge of the diversity of CO oxidizers. Here, we present a newly emerging picture of the distribution, diversity and ecology of aerobic CO-oxidizing bacteria.
The effect of divalent metal binding on the electron spin resonance spectra of spin-labeled actin. Evidence for spin-spin interactions involving manganese. II.

Abstract The electron spin resonance spectra of actin spin labeled with the sulfhydryl reagent, N -(1-oxyl-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidinyl) maleimide, in which the divalent metal was Mg 2+ , Ca 2+ , or Mn 2+ were compared. The shapes of the spectra of spin-labeled G-actin were the same for each metal, but with Mn 2+ the size of the signal was smaller. Maximum reduction in the signal, about 50%, was obtained on replacing 1 mole of Mg 2+ or Ca 2+ per mole of actin by Mn 2+ . This effect was reversed if the Mn 2+ was again replaced by Ca 2+ or Mg 2+ . These results appear to reflect a spin-spin interaction between the unpaired electron of the nitroxide radical and those of Mn 2+ . Approximate calculations gave a value of 16–23 A for the distance between magnetic centers in G- or F-actin. Polymerization of actin did not alter the effect on the size of the electron spin resonance spectrum of replacing Mg 2+ by Mn 2+ . Thus, on polymerization the distance between the spin label and Mn 2+ within an actin monomer does not change, nor do detectable magnetic interactions occur in F-actin between the spin label on one actin monomer and Mn 2+ bound to an adjacent monomer.
A selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor reduces REM sleep in the homing pigeon

Avian and mammalian 'rapid eye movement' sleep (REM sleep) resemble each other in several aspects. However, the question of whether REM sleep has a shared evolutionary ancestry in birds and mammals has yet to be thoroughly explored. The brain regions and neurotransmitter systems involved in the generation of mammalian REM sleep are phylogenetically ancient, and are also found in extant birds and reptiles. Several pharmacological experiments in birds indicate that similar neural substrates are involved in the regulation of avian and mammalian sleep. However, because the drugs used in these studies generally resulted in non-specific sleep loss, the neurochemical regulation of avian REM sleep in particular remains uncertain. The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) zimelidine is known to reduce REM sleep in mammals. If avian REM sleep is similarly regulated by serotonin, it would be expected that an acute dose of a SSRI should also reduce avian REM sleep. To investigate a putative role of serotonin in the regulation of avian REM sleep, changes in sleep electroencephalogram (EEG) and behavior were recorded in five pigeons (Columba livia) after the administration of an acute dose of zimelidine. Our results demonstrate that the effects of zimelidine on avian REM sleep are comparable to those observed in mammals, indicating that serotonin may serve a similar function in the control of avian and mammalian REM sleep.
ENGAGING WITH THE IMMIGRANT HUMAN RIGHTS MOVEMENT IN A BESIEGED BORDER REGION: WHAT DO APPLIED SOCIAL SCIENTISTS BRING TO THE POLICY PROCESS?

Engagement with immigration goes beyond work directly with immigrants to include involvement in the immigration policy process. The chapter describes work on immigration and human rights policy grounded in issues facing the U.S.–Mexico border region. A policy coalition with regional and national presence, the Border and Immigration Task Force, combines an organized social movement with bases in immigrant communities with a diverse policy coalition whose members have varied skills, constituencies, and political connections. As applied social scientists in this coalition, we bring a number of skills, including effective writing, synthesis of secondary sources, teaching skills applied to public interaction and communication, and application of the sociological and anthropological imagination to understand the implications, on the ground, of detailed policy recommendations. Our work has not involved community-based primary research, but this form of practice is also mentioned for its relevance to policy formation and advocacy. The literature on public anthropology and public sociology needs to include discussions of engagement in practical policy processes.
A Prospective Evaluation of How a Low Level of Response to Alcohol Predicts Later Heavy Drinking and Alcohol Problems

Background and objectives: Evaluations of how a genetically influenced characteristic, such as the low level of response (a low LR) to alcohol, relates to later heavy drinking and alcohol problems usually include environmental contributors. The best way to understand how LR works in the context of these additional characteristics is to study the process prospectively, but such analyses tend to be complex and the papers are sometimes cluttered with jargon. This report attempts to offer a more straightforward description of the results from such a prospective model of how a lower LR at age 20 relates to alcohol outcomes at age 40. Methods: A structural equation model of LR at age ∼20, outcomes of heavy drinking and problems at age ∼40, and additional characteristics at age ∼35 were tested in 378 men from the San Diego Prospective Study. Results: The results support both direct effects of age-20 LR on age-40 heavy drinking and alcohol problems, as well as indirect effects of LR through characteristics of the...
Oscillations in the amplitude of human peripheral nerve action potentials during repetitive stimulation

Repetitive stimulation of human peripheral nerves in situ produces an amplitude oscillation of the evoked action potentials. The purpose of this experiment was to describe the dynamics of the response as a function of the characteristics of the electrical stimuli. Two attempts to define precisely the origin of the response have proved ineffective.
Effect of anoxic anoxia on bile secretion in the rat.

SummaryNo significant difference was found in the amount of bile salts excreted by 6 bile fistula rats when exposed for 4-hour periods to decreased oxygen tension (63 mm and 53 mm Hg) as compared to control periods. There was a statistically significant increase in the volume output of urine as a result of exposure to simulated altitude. No correlation existed between the amount of bile salts and the volume of urine excreted.
Percutaneous balloon kyphoplasty of malignant lesions of the spine: a prospective consecutive study in 115 patients

To evaluate the benefits of minimally invasive balloon kyphoplasty (BKP) in patients with cancer and painful pathologic vertebral lesions. In this longitudinal, prospective, consecutive study, patients received BKP at one or more vertebral levels. The BKP procedure was guided by computed tomographic fluoroscopy. Orthopaedic bone tamps were inflated to create a cavity and the fracture was stabilised using viscous polymethylmethacrylate bone cement. After the procedure, early mobilisation was encouraged. Overall, 115 patients (52.2 % with vertebral fractures) received BKP. The majority (82.6 %) of patients received BKP as a stand-alone procedure. BKP treatment provided significant (P < 0.0001) improvements in Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)-pain (median change: −4), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI; mean change: −53.2), and Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS; median change: 15) scores at 6 and 12 months. In total, 23 % of patients achieved increased vertebral height (7.4 % mean improvement in angle index). The presence of height restoration and the number of levels treated did not affect VAS or ODI scores; improvements in KPS scores were numerically higher in patients who received BKP plus additional surgery (15–20) compared with stand-alone BKP (10–15). Mean hospital times were 7.2 ± 6.5 days. The majority (97.4 %) of patients showed no complications related to the procedure; three patients (2.6 %) had a temporary radiculopathy. Incidences of cement leakage were observed in 40 patients (34.8 %). Minimally invasive BKP provided excellent long-term palliation of pain and improved mobility in patients with cancer and painful osteolytic spinal lesions or vertebral fractures.
Therapeutic Potential of Thymosin-β4 and its Derivative N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline (Ac-SDKP) in Cardiac Healing After Infarction

Despite the numerous advances made in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, there is a need for new strategies to repair and/or regenerate the myocardium after ischemia and infarction in order to prevent maladaptive remodeling and cardiac dysfunction. This article compiles and analyzes the available experimental data regarding the potential therapeutic effects of thymosin-β4 and its derivative N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline (Ac-SDKP) in cardiac healing after myocardial infarction (MI) as well as discussing the possible mechanisms involved. The healing properties of thymosin-β4 have been described in different types of tissues, such as the skin and cornea, and more recently it has been shown that thymosin-β4 facilitates cardiac repair after infarction by promoting cell migration and myocyte survival. Additionally, the tetrapeptide Ac-SDKP was reported to reduce left ventricular fibrosis in hypertensive rats, reverse fibrosis and inflammation in rats with MI, and stimulate both in vitro and in vivo angiogenesis. Ac-SDKP also reduced cardiac rupture rate in mice post-MI. Some of the effects of Ac-SDKP, such as the enhancement of angiogenesis and the decrease in inflammation and collagenase activity, are similar to those described for thymosin-β4. Thus, it is possible that Ac-SDKP could be mediating some of the beneficial effects of its precursor. Although the experimental evidence is very promising, there are no data available from a clinical trial supporting the use of thymosin-β4 or Ac-SDKP as means of healing the myocardium after MI in patients.
Non-Ligand Mobilization of Intracellular Free Calcium by Nanosecond Pulsed Electric Field (NsPEF)

NsPEF makes membrane and intracellular structures in living cells permeable to ions and small molecules thus can be used to modulate cell's signaling pathways and homeostasis. We utilized Fura-2 fast ratiometric recordings to measure changes of intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) in single CHO cells stimulated by 10, 60 and 300 ns PEF. 10 and 300 ns PEF were used for comparison with 60 ns PEF in regard to their potency to make plasma membrane (PM) and/or endoplasmic reticulum (ER) permeable to Ca2+ ions. Single 60 ns PEF evoked transient [Ca2+]i rise due to Ca2+ influx via PM and Ca2+ efflux from ER with thresholds ∼9 and ∼19 kV/cm, respectively. The amplitude of Ca2+ rise increased with nsPEF intensity linearly by 8-10nM per 1 kV/cm (PM) or 5-6 nM per 1 kV/cm when permeabilization of ER was assessed in Ca2+ free solution. This rate of change increased drastically (to 174nM per 1 kV/cm) when amplitude of Ca2+ rise reached 100-150nM. Depleting Ca2+ content of ER showed that such increase was a result of calcium induced calcium release (CICR) activation. Specific blockers 2-APB and dantrolene proved that the activation of IP3 receptors was responsible for physiological mechanism of CICR triggered by nsPEF. 10, 60 and 300 ns PEF had different efficiencies in regard to PM and ER permeabilization for Ca2+ ions. The thresholds of PM and ER permeabilization were indistinguishable for 10 ns pulse while for 60 ns pulse the ER threshold was twofold higher. 300 ns pulse had further reduced potency towards ER permeabilization in comparison to either 10 or 60 ns pulses. These results show that nsPEF can be effectively used to manipulate [Ca2+]i and activate intracellular signaling pathways bypassing PM receptors.Supported by R01CA125482; R01GM088303
Virtual seminars and their impact on the rôle of the teaching staff

Teaching staff and academic researchers tend to cite the reasons for introducing computer supported collaborative learning in pedagogic terms, plus the need to provide transferable skills. The focus of this paper is the current demands on teaching staff in UK Higher Education and the impact these demands have when teaching through electronic resources. The reported research into the changing role of the tutor was initiated through work on the ASTER Project (Assisting Small-group Teaching through Electronic Resources) http://cti.psy.york.ac.uk/aster. The ASTER Project, funded through the UK Teaching and Learning Technology Programme (TLTP) phase 3, aimed to explore how Communication and Information Technology (C&IT) can assist students and lecturers in making the most of small group-based learning and to promote and support effective change in educational practice. Our conclusions and findings, based on the use of Virtual Seminars within a Higher Education Psychology department, suggest the need for increased financial support for additional staff development and training in the use of C&IT. It was also established that there is a need for tutors to maintain full support for students in the move to an increased use of technology in their learning.
Simulations of protein folding and unfolding

Abstract The ‘new view’ of protein folding is based on a statistical analysis of the landscape for protein folding. This perspective leads to the investigation of the statistical distributions of protein conformations as the folding protein approaches the native state from unfolded states. Molecular dynamics simulations of both the thermodynamics of protein folding and the kinetics of unfolding are beginning to explore the statistical nature of these distributions. They also provide connections between the theory of protein folding landscapes and the experimental observations of the properties of key ensembles of the conformations populated as folding progresses.
Development of rotating electrochemical detectors for capillary electrophoresis.

A rotating disk electrode (RDE) has been evaluated and optimized for the detection of electroactive species separated by capillary electrophoresis (CE). With catechol as a working model, the limit of detection was estimated to be 0.3 μM, i.e., ∼2.5-fold better than that of the stationary disk electrode (0.7 μM). Separation efficiency was significantly improved as exemplified by an increase of theoretical plates from 26 000 plates/m at 0 rpm to 67 000 plates/m at 500 rpm. Of particular importance was the capability of RDE to alleviate electrode passivation and electrical interference associated with high separation potential fields. Therefore, rotation amperometry was especially useful for analytes such as phenolic compounds that tended to rapidly foul the electrode surface. The RDE/CE system was capable of separation and determination of pentachlorophenol in contaminated soils, and the result obtained agreed well with conventional liquid chromatography, an EPA recommended procedure.
The Ocean Drilling Program: The Next Phase in Scientific Ocean Drilling

Texas AandM University has been designated as Science Operator for a new National Science Foundation sponsored program of scientific ocean drilling - the Ocean Drilling Program. The responsibilities of the Science Operator include implementing the science plans under the guidance of the Joint Oceanographic Institutions for Deep Earth Sampling, providing logistical and technical support for a shipboard science team, managing post-cruise activities, the long term curation and distribution of core samples, and coordinating, editing and publication of the final research product. The scientific programs will be carried out with the drilling vessel SEDCO/BP 471, a dynamically positioned drillship capable of deploying 30,000 ft. of drill string and operating with a riser in 6000 ft. of water. The primary scientific objectives of the Ocean Drilling Program will be in studying the origin and evolution of the oceanic crust, the tectonic evolution of continental margins, the origin and evolution of marine sedimentary sequences, studies of long term changes in the atmosphere, oceans, cryosphere, biosphere and magnetic field and development of new tools and technology for deep ocean exploration and drilling.
Calcium-entry blockers and cardiovascular disease

The beneficial effects of calcium-entry blockers in the treatment of ischemia in the heart and in other tissues can be explained by (1) relaxation of venous smooth muscle, in particular that of the splanchnic veins; (2) negative inotropic effect on the myocardial cells; (3) negative chronotropic effects on the heart; (4) inhibition of vasospastic episodes in coronary and other large arteries; (5) depression of myogenic activity and responsiveness to vasconstrictor stimuli in precapillary resistance vessels; (6) inhibition of platelet aggregation; (7) possible increases in the deformability of hypoxic red blood cells; (8) protection of endothelial integrity and function; and (9) protection of the body cells, in particular myocardial cells, from prolonged exposure to anoxia and from massive entry of calcium during reperfusion. In the case of angina pectoris, the effects on the myocardial cells themselves, the decrease in preload and afterload, and the improvement of coronary perfusion combine to allow the heart to perform more work before an imbalance is reached between the metabolic demands of the myocardial cells and their blood supply. The increased myocardial performance may favor collateral circulation and withdrawal of the reflex load upon the heart, originating from the ischemic myocardium. The available calcium-entry blockers vary in their potency to affect the different components of the cardiovascular system.
Toughening mechanisms of thermoplastic particulate polycarbonate composites

Toughness of a polymer is a key material property for energy absorbing capability for various engineering applications. Significant effort has been made to improve toughness of a polymer and hence increase the energy absorbing capability; typically rigid-particles in thermoplastics or rubbery modifiers in a brittle polymer matrix. The focus of this study is to investigate toughening mechanisms of a thermoplastic polymer composite. Micron-size thermoplastic particle reinforced polycarbonate (PC) composite materials was fabricated via a solution mixing method. The mechanical properties of the polymer composites were characterized in tensile testing while the acoustic emission was monitored to assess the material failure modes during the tensile test. Substantial improvement in tensile toughness was observed for the polymer composites and the toughening mechanisms responsible for the improvement were identified and quantified for each contribution to the observation.