cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Regulation of calcium concentration in voltage-clamped smooth muscle cells

The regulation of intracellular calcium concentration in single smooth muscle cells was investigated by simultaneously monitoring electrical events at the surface membrane and calcium concentration in the cytosol. Cytosolic calcium concentration rose rapidly during an action potential or during a voltage-clamp pulse that elicited calcium current; a train of voltage-clamp pulses caused further increases in the calcium concentration up to a limit of approximately 1 microM. The decline of the calcium concentration back to resting levels occurred at rates that varied with the calcium concentration in an apparently saturable manner. Moreover, the rate of decline at any given calcium concentration was enhanced after a higher, more prolonged increase of calcium. The process responsible for this enhancement persisted for many seconds after the calcium concentration returned to resting levels. Thus, the magnitude and duration of a calcium transient appear to regulate the subsequent calcium removal.
Biofeedback therapy for rectal intussusception.

Background Surgery for isolated internal rectal intussusception is controversial due to high morbidity. Therefore, there is interest in other forms of treatment that are safe and effective. The aim of this study was to determine outcome and identify predictors for success of biofeedback therapy in patients with rectal intussusception.
Establishing Multi-cast Groups in Computational Robotic Materials

We study an efficient ad hoc multicast communication protocol for next-generation large-scale distributed cyber-physical systems that we dub Computational Robotic Materials (CRMs). CRMs tightly integrate sensing, actuation, computation and communication, and can enable materials that can change their shape, appearance and function in response to local sensing and distributed information processing. As CRMs potentially consist of thousands of nodes with limited processing power and memory, communication in such systems poses serious challenges. For example, when processing a gesture recorded by the CRM, only a subset of nodes involved in its detection should communicate amongst themselves for distributed proessing. In previous work, we proposed a Bloom filter-based approach to label the multicast group with an approximate error-resilient multicast tag that captures the temporal and spatial characteristics of the sensor group. A Bloom filter is a space-efficient probabilistic data structure that is used to test whether an element is a member of a set. We describe our Bloom filter-based multicast communication (BMC) protocol, and report experimental results using a 48-node Computational Robotic Material test-bed engaged in shape and gesture recognition.
Hume's and Smith's Partial Sympathies and Impartial Stances

The moral psychology of sympathy is the linchpin of the sentimentalist moral theories of both David Hume and Adam Smith. In this paper, I attempt to diagnose the critical differences between Hume's and Smith's respective accounts of sympathy in order to argue that Smithian sympathy is more properly suited to serve as a basis for impartial moral evaluations and judgments than is Humean sympathy. By way of arguing this claim, I take up the problem of overcoming sympathetic partiality in the construction of a moral point of view, acknowledged by both writers, as my primary platform. My contention is that Humean sympathy is too mechanistic to actually deliver an impartial adjudicatory perspective, and that Smithian sympathy, with its evaluative, imaginative components, succeeds where Hume's account falls short. The paper is comprised of six sections: (i) introductory remarks, (ii) a discussion of Humean sympathy, (iii) a discussion of Smithian sympathy and its distinctness, (iv) a critical analysis of Hume's ...
NSLS and NSLS-II: The Foundation and the Future of Synchrotron Light Sources

On September 30, 2014, after 32 years of outstanding operations, the National Synchrotron Light Source (NSLS) at Brookhaven National Laboratory was shuttered for the last time.
Local Adaptation in Festuca arizonica Infected by Hybrid and Nonhybrid Neotyphodium Endophytes

Cool-season grasses often harbor obligate fungal symbionts from the genus Neotyphodium, and these symbiota can function as a single ecological unit. Previous studies have shown that gene flow in Neotyphodium in Festuca arizonica is low enough such that populations could diverge and form local adaptations. A reciprocal transplant experiment was performed between two F. arizonica/Neotyphodium populations in Arizona, Clint’s Well and Flagstaff, using symbiota with the most common Neotyphodium genotypes in each population, to test for local adaptations. The genetic difference between populations is potentially large as Neotyphodium from Clint’s Well are of hybrid origin. Local environmental variation was the most important source of variation for F. arizonica/Neotyphodium symbiota growth, with individuals at Flagstaff growing larger and individuals at Clint’s Well not reproducing. Local environment and the source population of the symbiota interacted to affect vegetative growth. Symbiota from Clint’s Well, which harbor hybrid Neotyphodium, had higher volume/wet mass and volume/dry mass ratios but only in the marginal Clint’s Well habitat. The local environment also affected F. arizonica/Neotyphodium reproduction because only symbiota transplanted to Flagstaff reproduced. Symbiota from Clint’s Well produced more panicles, whereas symbiota from Flagstaff with nonhybrid Neotyphodium produced greater seed mass per panicle. Overall seed mass production was not different, suggesting that the two strategies are functionally equivalent. We find that F. arizonica/Neotyphodium symbiota vary geographically, but potential local adaptations are only apparent in marginal habitats and may be related to the evolutionary history of the Neotyphodium part of the symbiota.
Ensuring deterministic concurrency through compilation

Multicore shared-memory architectures are becoming prevalent but bring many programming challenges. Among the biggest is non-determinism: the output of the program does not depend merely on the input, but also on scheduling choices taken by the operating system. In this paper, we discuss and propose additional tools that provide determinism guarantees—compilers that generate deterministic code, libraries that provide deterministic constructs, and analyzers that check for determinism. Additionally, we discuss techniques to check for problems like deadlock that can result from the use of these deterministic constructs.
Tailoring Dispersion for Broadband Low-loss Optical Metamaterials Using Deep-subwavelength Inclusions

Metamaterials have the potential to create optical devices with new and diverse functionalities based on novel wave phenomena. Most practical optical systems require that the device properties be tightly controlled over a broad wavelength range. However, optical metamaterials are inherently dispersive, which limits operational bandwidths and leads to high absorption losses. Here, we show that deep-subwavelength inclusions can controllably tailor the dispersive properties of an established metamaterial structure thereby producing a broadband low-loss optical device with a desired response. We experimentally verify this by optimizing an array of nano-notch inclusions, which perturb the mode patterns and strength of the primary and secondary fishnet nanostructure resonances and give an optically thin mid-wave-infrared filter with a broad transmissive pass-band and near-constant group delay. This work outlines a powerful new strategy for realizing a wide range of broadband optical devices that exploit the unique properties of metamaterials.
Role of Catalyst on Refractive Index Tunability of Porous Silica Antireflective Coatings by Sol-Gel Technique

Porous silica coatings were prepared by acid- and base-catalyzed sol−gel method. Surface morphology studies by atomic force microscopy showed smooth surface for acid-catalyzed coatings while base catalysis resulted in coarse particle morphology. On increasing the tetraethyl orthosilicate to base molar ratio from 1:1 to 1:3, the mean particle size of the coating shifted from 30 to 100 nm while the pore size varied from 4.7 to 14 nm. Infrared spectral analysis exhibited a change in the ratio of integrated peak intensities of Si−O−Si to Si−OH in acid-and base-catalyzed silica coatings. Textural studies showed an increase in particle size and porosity with base concentration. Optical transmission and surface roughness of base-catalyzed samples were found to be higher than that of acid-catalyzed silica coatings.
Measurement of the elastic tensor of a single crystal of La 0.83 Sr 0.17 MnO 3 and its response to magnetic fields

We have measured the (cubic-lattice-approximation) elastic moduli of optical melt-zone-grown single-crystal La{sub 0.83}Sr{sub 0.17}MnO{sub 3} using resonant ultrasound spectroscopy. We observe the structural transition at 285 K to be hysteretic in the ambient (almost zero) magnetic field. A second elastic feature at the ferromagnetic T{sub c} 265 K, a third at 252 K, and a fourth in magnetic field at 220 K are also observed in this sample, which sits in a particularly complex region in composition space. The application of a magnetic field changes some of the elastic moduli significantly between 220 K and 285 K. By determining the complete elastic tensor, we identify which cubic crystallographic distortions are strongest at each elastic anomaly and which are sensitive to magnetic field. We also determine which bonds play a role in each of the observed features. {copyright} {ital 1998} {ital The American Physical Society}
Crustose coralline algal species host distinct bacterial assemblages on their surfaces

Crustose coralline algae (CCA) are important components of many marine ecosystems. They aid in reef accretion and stabilization, create habitat for other organisms, contribute to carbon sequestration and are important settlement substrata for a number of marine invertebrates. Despite their ecological importance, little is known about the bacterial communities associated with CCA or whether differences in bacterial assemblages may have ecological implications. This study examined the bacterial communities on four different species of CCA collected in Belize using bacterial tag-encoded FLX amplicon pyrosequencing of the V1-V3 region of the 16S rDNA. CCA were dominated by Alphaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria and Actinomycetes. At the operational taxonomic unit (OTU) level, each CCA species had a unique bacterial community that was significantly different from all other CCA species. Hydrolithon boergesenii and Titanoderma prototypum, CCA species that facilitate larval settlement in multiple corals, had higher abundances of OTUs related to bacteria that inhibit the growth and/or biofilm formation of coral pathogens. Fewer coral larvae settle on the surfaces of Paragoniolithon solubile and Porolithon pachydermum. These CCA species had higher abundances of OTUs related to known coral pathogens and cyanobacteria. Coral larvae may be able to use the observed differences in bacterial community composition on CCA species to assess the suitability of these substrata for settlement and selectively settle on CCA species that contain beneficial bacteria.
Spheres of liberty, conflict and power: The public lives of private persons

State‐society relations during the modern period reflect notions of citizenship analogous to Isaiah Berlin's concepts of positive and negative liberty. Positive citizenship, motivated by what Robert O'Brien calls ‘the democratic impulse’, is highly participatory. The politics of seventeenth‐century Protestant social movements constitutes one historical model to which twentieth‐century fundamentalist movements can be compared. Characterized by a shrinkage of the private sphere and an expansion of public life, positive citizenship emphasizes active engagement in establishing and implementing normative standards for individuals and communities, and control of the state for virtuous ends. Negative citizenship concentrates on the protection of individual rights, expanding both the private sphere and a third or meta‐space which evinces qualities of public and private realms simultaneously. The historical model presented is what Jurgen Habermas has called the ‘bourgeois public sphere’, a quasi‐parallel polis fro...
Using behavioral landscape ecology to predict species’ responses to land-use and climate change

Abstract Climate change and habitat destruction are widely recognized as major threats to species’ survival. As a result of these anthropogenic impacts, species are often forced into novel landscapes where their persistence is difficult to predict. Knowledge of how individuals move or disperse through the landscape, choose habitat in which to settle, and produce offspring which survive to repeat the process can greatly improve our ability to predict species’ persistence. The field of behavioral landscape ecology uses a strong theoretical base to explore, often experimentally, how the behavior of a particular species is affected by heterogeneous and rapidly changing landscapes and can offer valuable insight for managing species in the face of human-induced environmental changes. When interpreted by modelers, results of landscape-level behavioral experiments can be quantified for use in predictive models. To this end, we summarize the methods and results of research using direct experimental manipulation techniques broken into the following categories: translocations, playback experiments, food resource manipulations, manipulations of reproductive success, direct manipulations of the landscape, and manipulations of predation risk. We review and place in a theoretical framework the results from this emerging body of research regarding how organisms move in and respond to different types of landscapes, both natural and human-altered. We go onto highlight the potential of each experimental method to quantify different processes, which may be useful when interpreted by modelers attempting to parameterize predictive models. Finally, we suggest future directions for experimental research that will allow for greater integration of behavioral landscape ecology and predictive modeling.
Age-related cataract in dogs: a biomarker for life span and its relation to body size

Clinical data from 72 dog breeds of varying size and life expectancy were grouped according to breed body mass and tested for prevalence at ages 4 to 5, ages 7 to 10, and lifetime incidence of non-hereditary, age-related cataract (ARC). The incidence of ARC was found to be directly related to the relative life expectancies in the breed groups: The smallest dog breeds had a lower ARC prevalence between ages 4 and 5 than mid-size breeds and these, in turn, a lower prevalence than the giant breeds. A similar sequence was evident for ages 7 to 10 and for overall lifetime incidence of ARC. These differences became more significant when comparing small and giant breeds only. We could also confirm the inverse relationship between body size and life expectancy in these same sets of dog breeds. Our results show that body size, life expectancy, and ARC incidence are interrelated in dogs. Given that ARC has been shown to be at least partially caused by oxidative damage to lens epithelial cells and the internal lens, we suggest that it can be considered not only as a general biomarker for life expectancy in the canine and possibly other species, but also for the systemic damages produced by reactive oxygen species. This suggests new approaches to examine the gene expression pathways affecting the above-noted linkages.
Transient stabbing headache from an acute thalamic hemorrhage

Stabbing headache can be encountered in both primary and secondary forms, but has been infrequently reported among patients with stroke, and is not known to be associated with a small well-circumscribed brain lesion. A 95-year-old woman taking warfarin presented with the sudden onset of stabbing headache strictly in the right frontal and supraorbital regions, along with gait imbalance and dysarthria. Neuroimaging revealed a small left thalamic hematoma. This association of an acute thalamic lesion with stabbing headache in the contralateral trigeminal distribution is discussed, along with a brief review of stabbing headache occurring in cerebrovascular disease.
Yeast bread containing distillers' dried grain : dough development and bread quality

A commercially available distillers' dried grain (DDG) was chemically and physically characterized and used in yeast bread. Total dietary fiber (51.1%) and protein (25.8%) were the principal constituents of the DDG. Compared with bread flour and whole-wheat flour, the DDG was more acidic and absorbed more water and oil. The effect of substituting 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20% DDG for bread flour on dough development was examined. As the DDG level increased, mixogram peak heights and development angles decreased, and peak times increased. Quality of breads containing 5, 10, and 15% DDG was compared with that of a control bread containing 50% whole-wheat flour. As the DDG level increased, loaf volume decreased. Experienced sensory panelists found that the intensity of the characteristics of breads containing DDG deviated more from those of the “ideal” multigrain bread than from those of the control.
A distributed architecture for automated manufacturing systems

The concept of distributed architectures for automated manufacturing systems is presented here. A modular architecture for a logical cell-controller is proposed where shopfloor level modules are incorporated in the cell control system so as to allow active co-operation for distributed decision making and control.
Auroral Physics A Chapman Memorial

Auroras hold a special place in the field of solar-terrestrial research. Of all the field's intriguing phenomena, they were known first. Aristotle explained them (in his system) ages before telescopes routinely brought sunspots into view and compass needles revealed the world of magnetic activity and Hertzian waves sounded the Heaviside layer and satellites probed the solar wind and magnetosphere. Unofficially, seniority of acquaintance gives auroras the status of emblem for the field as a whole.
Dynamics and control of the Czochralski process II. Objectives and control structure design

Abstract A new control system design is proposed for the Czochralski process in order to improve crystal quality, particularly GaAs. An expanded set of formal control objectives are proposed based on a considerations of defect formation, segregation, and the process coupling. A control structure is developed that meets the control objectives and the restrictions posed by the batch related disturbances, system coupling, and the dynamic characteristics of the measurements, outputs, and inputs.
Black Megachurch Websites: An Assessment of Health Content for Congregations and Communities

This study examines the health-related content of Black megachurch websites in the southeastern United States. Data collection resulted in the identification of qualitative themes and frequencies of references to general health, specific health conditions, and corresponding general and specific health ministries. The most salient qualitative themes included holistic definitions of health, attention to racial health disparities, belief in divine health and protection from illness, emphasis on individual health responsibility, and belief in a religion–health connection. Nearly all websites referred to general health, and 74% mentioned a general health ministry. The most frequent references to specific health conditions included addiction, cancer, and HIV/AIDS, roughly corresponding to the top mentioned specific health ministries. This study provides baseline data on Black megachurch efforts to convey health information to their virtual congregations and communities. Findings support recent initiatives to in...
Diagnosis of unexpected atrial septal defect by inspired hydrogen appearance time in adult patients referred for cardiac catheterization

Atrial septal defects may have clinical consequences regardless of their size. We evaluated the incidence of clinically unsuspected atrial septal defects in 4,411 consecutive adult patients referred for cardiac catheterization by the previously validated method of inspired hydrogen appearance time. Oximetry was performed only when an abnormally short inspired hydrogen appearance time was measured. Seventy-five patients (1.7%) were discovered to have a left-to-right shunt by this method. The shunting was at the atrial level in 65 patients. Thirty-five of these patients (0.8% of all catheterizations) were not suspected of having any form of congenital heart disease by history, physical examination, chest X-ray, EKG, or echocardiogram. In 19 cases there was no significant oxygen step-up and the diagnosis would have been missed by oximetry. The atrial septum was explored during open heart surgery in 7 patients. Atrial septal defects were detected and closed in all. Four patients had the finding confirmed by echocardiography after the catheterization. Small atrial septal defects are frequently not detected by clinical evaluation, noninvasive testing, or oximetry and are easily detected by the rapid, safe, and accurate method of inspired hydrogen appearance time.
Photonic crystal double-heterostructure nanocavity InAs quantum dot laser with waveguide output coupling

Lasing behavior under optical pumping conditions is reported for photonic crystal double-heterostructure nanocavities with InAs quantum dot active regions. Coupling of this laser emission into a photonic crystal waveguide is also reported.
Scene Consistency in Object and Background Perception

Does knowledge about which objects and settings tend to co-occur affect how people interpret an image? The effects of consistency on perception were investigated using manipulated photographs containing a foreground object that was either semantically consistent or inconsistent with its setting. In four experiments, participants reported the foreground object, the setting, or both after seeing each picture for 80 ms followed by a mask. In Experiment 1, objects were identified more accurately in a consistent than an inconsistent setting. In Experiment 2, backgrounds were identified more accurately when they contained a consistent rather than an inconsistent foreground object. In Experiment 3, objects were presented without backgrounds and backgrounds without objects; comparison with the other experiments indicated that objects were identified better in isolation than when presented with a background, but there was no difference in accuracy for backgrounds whether they appeared with a foreground object or not. Finally, in Experiment 4, consistency effects remained when both objects and backgrounds were reported. Semantic consistency information is available when a scene is glimpsed briefly and affects both object and background perception. Objects and their settings are processed interactively and not in isolation.
Teen-Centered Prenatal Care, Is There a Benefit?

it appeared that she had successfully dilated a blind vagina 4 cm in length. A cervix was not visible. Examination under anesthesia (EUA) and vaginoscopy were performed to determine the status of the cervix and the feasibility of a possible anastomosis of the vagina and cervix. EUA revealed a vaginal dimple, normal vulva, and a dilated urethral orifice. Cystoscopy revealed acute cystitis, bilateral ureteral openings, and an otherwise normal bladder. Urethral length was normal with good sphincteric closure. The patient in fact had unknowingly been engaging in urethral coitus. Comments: Urethral intercourse is rare. Despite repeated urethral dilatation and penetration, this young woman had no dyspareunia, urinary incontinence, or symptomatic urinary tract infection. With few reported cases of urethral intercourse, the risks of infection, cystitis, incontinence, and urethral injury are largely unknown, and consequently there is uncertainty about the appropriate counseling of patients around these issues. This case illustrates the importance of ongoing followup, careful history taking, and physical examination in adolescent women with mullerian anomalies in order to avoid possible shortand long-term complications, particularly when they are contemplating sexual activity.
High performance DDR architecture in Intel® Core™ processors using 32nm CMOS high-K metal-gate process

This paper describes the DDR architecture in Intel® Core™ processors operating up to 1333MT/s and designed in 32nm process technology. The architecture uses adaptive techniques to achieve very low clock jitter (40% margin to spec), data scrambling to reduce simultaneous switching noise and novel training algorithms to improve I/O margins in the presence of crosstalk. A fast wakeup technique allows shutting down the receive path for finer grain power management, reducing standby power by 15%.
Sustainable development and engineering: ethical and public policy implications

The paper explores the concept of sustainable development and its ethical and public policy implications for engineering. Sustainable development involves achieving objectives in three realms: ecological (sustainable scale), economic (efficient allocation) and social (just distribution). The success of public policy to promote sustainable development is dependent upon achieving all three objectives of a sustainable society. However, questions of just distribution and other questions of equity are often left off the table when engineers (and others) consider sustainable development policies and issues. Indeed, almost all the effort of engineers and engineering organizations on the issue of sustainable development has been focused on the need to strike a balance between economic development and environmental protection. Such a cost benefit approach, which is well entrenched in the engineering culture, leaves little room for consideration of the social objective of sustainable development. There have been some efforts aimed at incorporating environmental and social equity concepts into engineering ethics. Here again, however, social concerns have been secondary to environmental issues. The incongruity between the ideal of sustainable development and the way it which it is typically characterized by the engineering community has significant implications for engineering and public policy, engineering ethics, and the potential role of engineers as facilitators of a transition to a sustainable society.
The art of political manipulation in the European convention

We argue that the success of the European Convention in producing a Constitutional Treaty was possible because of the agenda control exercised by the Praesidium and in particular its President. Given that even Intergovernmental Conferences despite months of preparations sometimes fail to produce any results, the failure of negotiations in the Convention was a distinct possibility. Another serious possibility would have been an ‘anarchic’ document, in which different parts would have reflected the prevalence of different majorities. The President of the Convention was able to avoid both of these possibilities. Our argument is that Giscard d’Estaing was able to produce the results through the astute use of three significant tools that he developed. First, he limited the number of amendments from Convention delegates by imposing time limits on the whole process. Second, he created an iterated agenda-setting process in order to modify amendments. Third, he prohibited voting, and produced results ‘by consensus’, defining the meaning of the term himself. Understanding that the European Convention was an exceptional event made possible by the combination of a creative, consistent and overpowering agenda-setting process as well as the impasse created by the status quo (Nice Treaty) explains how we came to the EU Constitutional Treaty and how difficult it will be to move away from this document.
Enhancing Retention Through Reconsolidation: Negative Emotional Arousal Following Retrieval Enhances Later Recall

When information is retrieved from memory, it enters a labile state rendering it amenable to change. This process of reconsolidation may explain, in part, the benefits that are observed in later retention following retrieval of information on an initial test. We examined whether the benefits of retrieval could be modulated by an emotional event occurring after retrieval. Participants studied Swahili-English vocabulary pairs. On a subsequent cued-recall test, each retrieval was followed by a blank screen, a neutral picture, or a picture inducing negative affect. Performance on a final cued-recall test was best for items whose initial retrieval was followed by negative pictures. This outcome occurred when a negative picture was presented immediately after (Experiment 1) or 2 s after (Experiment 2) successful retrieval, but not when it was presented after restudy of the vocabulary pair (Experiment 3). Postretrieval reconsolidation via emotional processing may enhance the usual positive effects of retrieval.
Gallium nitride electronics: Watt is the limit? [summary of GaN semiconductor devices]

This work presents a summary of the use of gallium nitride and its alloys in the development of semiconductor devices. It begins with a description of the HEMT and its use in microwave and power switching applications. Then follows a brief examination of MOSHFETs, MISHFETs and MISFETs. HBTs are discussed, along with the problems of poor electronic properties of p-type GaN and leakage through p-n junctions and etched surfaces. The paper concludes by referring to the POLFET which is based on modulating a 3D electron slab created by grading the polarization in the system, resulting in a MESFET with no doping.
Suppression of Crystal Nucleation in Amorphous Si Thin Films by High Energy Ion Irradiation at Intermediate Temperatures

In situ electron microscopy has been used to observe crystal nucleation and growth in amorphous Si films. Results demonstrate that a repeated intermediate temperature ion irradiation/thermal annealing cycle can lead to suppression of nucleation in amorphous regions without inhibition of crystal growth of existing large crystals. Fundamentally, the experimental results indicate that the population of small crystal clusters near the critical cluster size is affected by intermediate temperature ion irradiation. Potential applications of the intermediate temperature irradiation/thermal anneal cycle to lateral solid epitaxy of Si and thin film device technology are discussed.
Abnormal Clotting in Cancer: An Overview of Pathophysiology and Etiology

Objective To help oncology nurses become more cognizant of the increased risk cancer patients have for venous thromboembolism due to such factors as chemotherapy and hypercoagulability stemming from the neoplasm itself. Data Sources Primary and tertiary literature and the author’s clinical experience. Conclusion Establishing the optimal treatment of cancer-associated thrombosis in the future will depend in part on a better understanding of clotting aberrations. Oncology nurses must be cognizant of the various risk factors for thrombosis and bleeding and how they relate to cancer treatments and interventions. Implications for Nursing Practice Oncology nurses are in a unique position to recognize conditions that predispose cancer patients to the development of venous thromboembolism as well as its signs and symptoms. This enhanced understanding will ensure that patients receive appropriate and timely intervention.
A study of the fine structure of the rabbit primary oocyte

Primary oocytes in various stages of growth within the ovaries of sexually mature rabbits were observed with the electron microscope. The structural relationship between the oocyte and the follicle cells in primary and secondary follicles is briefly presented. The large nucleus of the primary oocyte has a dense granular nucleolus which assumes a reticular pattern. Pores are present in the nuclear membrane. The cytoplasm of the oocytes contains many Golgi complexes, inclusion bodies and RNP particles, numerous mitochondria, and only a few elements of endoplasmic reticulum. Modifications of mitochondrial fine structure occur as growth proceeds. The cristae arrangement elucidated in this study is unique to oocytes. Evidence for mitochondrial division is presented since dumbbell-shaped mitochondria are present. The significance of the abundance of mitochondria, and their configuration at certain stages in oocyte growth, is discussed. The Golgi complex is similar to that found in other cell types. Accumulations of numerous small vesicles in close association with the Golgi complexes are present in all stages of primary oocytes studied. Numerous, highly irregular lipid inclusions are present in the cytoplasm in close association with the mitochondria. Dilated vacuoles are a frequent component of the cytoplasm.
Delta-like 4 mRNA is regulated by adjacent natural antisense transcripts

Recent evidence suggests that a majority of RNAs in the genome do not code for proteins. They are located in the sense (S) or antisense (AS) orientation and, to date, the functional significance of these non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) is poorly understood. Here, we examined the relationship between S and AS transcripts in the regulation of a key angiogenesis gene, Delta-like 4 (Dll4). Rapid Amplification of cDNA Ends (RACE) method was used to identify natural antisense transcripts in the Dll4 gene locus in murine and human endothelial cells, referred to as Dll4 Anti-Sense (Dll4-AS). Messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of Dll4 and Dll4-AS were quantified by real-time PCR. The function of Dll4-AS was investigated by overexpression and knocking down of Dll4-AS. Dll4-AS comprises of three isoforms that map proximal to the Dll4 promoter region. Expression patterns of Dll4-AS isoforms vary among different endothelial cell lines, but are always congruent with those of Dll4. A dual promoter element in the Dll4 locus has been identified that controls the expression of both transcripts. Both Dll4-AS and Dll4 are sensitive to cellular density in that higher cellular density favors their expression. Exogenous Dll4 stimuli such as VEGF, FGF and Notch signaling inhibitor altered both DLL4-AS and DLL4 expression suggesting co-regulation of the transcripts. Also, knocking down of Dll4-AS results in down-regulation of Dll4 expression. As a consequence, endothelial cell proliferation and migration increases in vitro, and sprout formation increases. The regulation of Dll4 by Dll4-AS was also conserved in vivo. A novel form of non-coding RNA-mediated regulation at the Dll4 locus contributes to vascular developmental processes such as cell proliferation, migration and sprouting.
Bulk Micromachined Titanium Microneedles

Microneedle-based drug delivery has shown considerable promise for enabling painless transdermal and hypodermal delivery of conventional and novel therapies. However, this promise has yet to be fully realized due in large part to the limitations imposed by the micromechanical properties of the material systems being used. In this paper, we demonstrate titanium-based microneedle devices developed to address these limitations. Microneedle arrays with in-plane orientation are fabricated using recently developed high-aspect-ratio titanium bulk micromachining and multilayer lamination techniques. These devices include embedded microfluidic networks for the active delivery and/or extraction of fluids. Data from quantitative and qualitative characterization of the fluidic and mechanical performance of the devices are presented and shown to be in good agreement with finite-element simulations. The results demonstrate the potential of titanium micromachining for the fabrication of robust, reliable, and low-cost microneedle devices for drug delivery
Adolescent non-suicidal self-injurious behavior: the latest epidemic to assess and treat

Abstract Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) among adolescents is a serious and prevalent problem. This article reviews the epidemiological data as well as the existing treatments for adolescents who engage in NSSI. The authors also present the unique features of dialectical behavior therapy, the gold-standard evidence-based treatment for adults who engage in NSSI, and discuss its promise as an effective treatment for adolescents who engage in NSSI. Finally, the authors present a clinical vignette of an adolescent engaging in NSSI and how DBT works to target this maladaptive behavior. This article reviews first the epidemiological data and then the existing treatments for adolescents engaging in non-suicidal self-injurious behavior (NSSI). Next, the authors present the unique features of one particular therapy, called dialectical behavior therapy, for adolescents who engage in NSSI. Finally, the article concludes with a clinical vignette in which dialectical behavior therapy is applied to an adolescent engaging in NSSI.
Dose and schedule as determinants of outcomes in chemotherapy for breast cancer

Many cytotoxic agents for the adjuvant treatment of breast cancer are available, but they have produced only modest results, even when the tumor burden is low. This relative lack of efficacy may be attributed, in part, to the nonspecificity of the current regimens. Additionally, there is evidence that the chemotherapy doses used in clinical practice are not optimal, which potentially compromises the outcomes when the thresholds of dose intensity are not reached. Variations in treatment underscore the need to return to the basics of chemotherapy administration: dose, schedule, concentration threshold, and therapeutic index. In patients with metastatic breast cancer a clear dose-response curve has been shown with some agents, including anthracyclines. The E-max model, which in its simplest form assumes a direct relation between the dose of a drug and its effect, may be used to improve dosing in the adjuvant treatment of breast cancer. Consistent with this model, threshold effects have been observed in treatment with both anthracyclines and paclitaxel for breast cancer. There is also evidence that using dose-dense schedules may produce better outcomes with some regimens. Maintaining chemotherapy agents at full dose on schedule is crucial to treatment success, especially in adjuvant therapy. Consequently, treatment practices should use both dose intensity and dose compression to increase the likelihood of positive outcomes in patients with breast cancer.
Context and Behavioral Processes in Extinction.

This article provides a selective review and integration of the behavioral literature on Pavlovian extinction. The first part reviews evidence that extinction does not destroy the original learning, but instead generates new learning that is especially context-dependent. The second part examines insights provided by research on several related behavioral phenomena (the interference paradigms, conditioned inhibition, and inhibition despite reinforcement). The final part examines four potential causes of extinction: the discrimination of a new reinforcement rate, generalization decrement, response inhibition, and violation of a reinforcer expectation. The data are consistent with behavioral models that emphasize the role of generalization decrement and expectation violation, but would be more so if those models were expanded to better accommodate the finding that extinction involves a context-modulated form of inhibitory learning.
Observation of Self-Generated Flows in Tokamak Plasmas with Lower-Hybrid-Driven Current

In Alcator C-Mod discharges lower hybrid waves have been shown to induce a countercurrent change in toroidal rotation of up to $60\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{km}/\mathrm{s}$ in the central region of the plasma ($r/a\ensuremath{\sim}l0.4$). This modification of the toroidal rotation profile develops on a time scale comparable to the current redistribution time ($\ensuremath{\sim}100\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{ms}$) but longer than the energy and momentum confinement times ($\ensuremath{\sim}20\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{ms}$). A comparison of the co- and countercurrent injected waves indicates that current drive (as opposed to heating) is responsible for the rotation profile modifications. Furthermore, the changes in central rotation velocity induced by lower hybrid current drive (LHCD) are well correlated with changes in normalized internal inductance. The application of LHCD has been shown to generate sheared rotation profiles and a negative increment in the radial electric field profile consistent with a fast electron pinch.
Childhood-compared to adolescent-onset bipolar disorder has more statistically significant clinical correlates

Background: The strengths and limitations of considering childhood-and adolescent-onset bipolar disorder (BD) separately versus together remain to be established. We assessed this issue. Methods: BD patients referred to the Stanford Bipolar Disorder Clinic during 2000–2011 were assessed with the Systematic Treatment Enhancement Program for BD Affective Disorders Evaluation. Patients with childhood- and adolescent-onset were compared to those with adult-onset for 7 unfavorable bipolar illness characteristics with replicated associations with early-onset patients. Results: Among 502 BD outpatients, those with childhood- (o13 years, N ¼110) and adolescent- (13–18 years, N ¼218) onset had significantly higher rates for 4/7 unfavorable illness characteristics, including lifetime comorbid anxiety disorder, at least ten lifetime mood episodes, lifetime alcohol use disorder, and prior suicide attempt, than those with adult-onset (418 years, N ¼174). Childhood- but not adolescentonset BD patients also had significantly higher rates of first-degree relative with mood disorder, lifetime substance use disorder, and rapid cycling in the prior year. Patients with pooled childhood/adolescent – compared to adult-onset had significantly higher rates for 5/7 of these unfavorable illness characteristics, while patients with childhood- compared to adolescent-onset had significantly higher rates for 4/7 of these unfavorable illness characteristics. Limitations: Caucasian, insured, suburban, low substance abuse, American specialty clinic-referred sample limits generalizability. Onset age is based on retrospective recall. Conclusions: Childhood- compared to adolescent-onset BD was more robustly related to unfavorable bipolar illness characteristics, so pooling these groups attenuated such relationships. Further study is warranted to determine the extent to which adolescent-onset BD represents an intermediate phenotype between childhood- and adult-onset BD.
Application-service interoperation without standardized service interfaces

To programmatically discover and interact with services in ubiquitous computing environments, an application needs to solve two problems: (1) is it semantically meaningful to interact with a service? If the task is "printing a file", a printer service would be appropriate, but a screen rendering service or CD player service would not. (2) If yes, what are the mechanics of interacting with the service - remote invocation mechanics, names of methods, numbers and types of arguments, etc.? Existing service frameworks such as Jini and UPnP conflate these problems - two services are "semantically compatible" if and only if their interface signatures match. As a result, interoperability is severely restricted unless there is a single, globally agreed-upon, unique interface for each service type. By separating the two subproblems and delegating different parts of the problem to the user and the system, we show how applications can interoperate with services even when globally unique interfaces do not exist for certain services.
Hospital cost estimation controlling for case-mix

(1972). Hospital cost estimation controlling for case-mix. Applied Economics: Vol. 4, No. 3, pp. 165-180.
Burden of mental and substance use disorders in Indigenous Australians and Oceania

OBJECTIVE: Mental and substance use disorders are responsible for significant health loss across the globe. In this review, the burden of disease attributable to mental and substance use disorders in Indigenous Australians and Pacific Island countries was described and compared. METHODS: For Indigenous Australians, findings from the burden of disease and injury study by Begg and colleagues(1) were summarised. These were then compared to the findings of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010,(2) which reported results for Oceania, a region consisting of Pacific Island countries. RESULTS for mental and substance use disorder burden were described in terms of disability-adjusted life years, years lived with disability and years of life lost to due to premature mortality. RESULTS: Mental and substance use disorders were the leading cause of non-fatal burden (i.e. disability) in both Indigenous Australia and Oceania. Furthermore, in Oceania mental and substance use disorders are projected to cause more disability than all communicable diseases combined by 2050. CONCLUSION: Mental and substance use disorders contribute significantly to health loss for both Indigenous Australians and Pacific Island populations. These findings indicate a substantial need to prioritise these disorders in terms of policy, services and research. Language: en
Glioblastoma following treatment with fingolimod for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

Glioblastoma is an uncommon and aggressive primary brain tumor with incidence of 3 per 100,000 annually. We report a 50-year-old woman diagnosed with glioblastoma within threeyears of induction of fingolimod therapy for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Fingolimod, an immunomodulating agent used in the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, has also been suggested to impart a cardioprotective role in heart failure and arrhythmia via activation of P21-activated kinase-1 (Pak1). In the brain, Pak1 activation has been shown to correlate with decreased survival time amongst patients with glioblastoma. A molecular mechanism underlying a link between fingolimod use and glioblastoma development may involve activation of Pak1. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a potential association between fingolimod use and glioblastoma development.
Surrounding Community Residents’ Expectations of HOPE VI for Their Community, Health and Physical Activity

ABSTRACTUsing a community-engaged participatory research approach, this study identified surrounding community residents’ expectations for how a HOPE VI (Housing Opportunities for People Everywhere) housing initiative might affect their community and individual health and physical activity. Fifty-nine women and men engaged in concept mapping, which is a mixed-methods approach, where participants generate, sort, and rate ideas. Participants generated 197 unique statements. Thirteen thematic clusters related to expected changes for the community, health, and physical activity emerged. Residents’ rated increased pride in the neighborhood and increased safety as the most important factors related to HOPE VI, whereas drawbacks of HOPE VI was rated as least important. This research provides insight into the potential impacts of housing initiatives from the perspective of those most affected by such initiatives. The findings also highlight environmental changes as potential mechanisms that may improve residents’...