cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of ecopipam, a selective dopamine D1 antagonist, on smoked cocaine self-administration by humans.

Rationale: Data obtained in laboratory animals and humans suggest that dopamine D1 receptor antagonists decrease cocaine self-administration and block cocaine's discriminative stimulus and subjective effects. Objectives: This study investigates the effects of the selective dopamine D1 antagonist, ecopipam (SCH 39166), on the reinforcing, cardiovascular, and subjective effects of cocaine in humans. Methods: Ten non-treatment-seeking cocaine smokers (two females, eight males), residing on an inpatient research unit, were maintained on placebo and ecopipam (100 mg p.o.) in random order using a within-subjects, cross-over design. Cocaine self-administration (0, 12, 25, and 50 mg) was tested beginning on the 5th day of each 8-day maintenance condition. A six-trial choice procedure (cocaine vs $5 merchandise vouchers) was utilized, with sessions consisting of one sample trial, when participants smoked the cocaine dose available that day, and five choice trials, when participants chose between smoking the available cocaine dose or receiving one merchandise voucher. Results: In the presence of placebo cocaine, ecopipam significantly decreased cocaine craving while increasing alcohol and tobacco craving. In the presence of active cocaine, ecopipam increased cocaine self-administration (12 mg) and increased ratings of "good drug effect," "high," "stimulated," and dose quality (25 and 50 mg). Ecopipam produced small but significant increases in blood pressure, regardless of cocaine dose. Conclusions: Maintenance on the long-acting dopamine D1 antagonist, ecopipam, enhanced both cocaine self-administration as well as its subjective effects compared to maintenance on placebo. These data suggest that chronic antagonism of the dopamine D1 receptor may not be a useful approach for the treatment of cocaine abuse.
Determination of D-fenfluramine, D-norfenfluramine and fluoxetine in plasma, brain tissue and brain microdialysate using high-performance liquid chromatography after precolumn derivatization with dansyl chloride

A HPLC method is described for the simultaneous determination of D-fenfluramine (FEN), D-norfenfluramine (NF) and fluoxetine (FLX) using fluorometric detection after precolumn derivatization with dansyl-chloride. The method has limits of quantitation of 200 fmol for FEN and NF, 500 fmol for FLX in brain microdialysate, and 1 pmol for NF and FEN, and 2 pmol for FLX in plasma. Brain tissue standards were linear between 5 and 200 pmol/mg for all three compounds. The inter-assay variability (relative standard deviation) was 6.6%, 6.9% and 9.3% for FEN, 4.6%, 3.7% and 7.9% for NF and 10.4%, 4.9% and 12.2% for FLX, for brain microdialysate (2 pmol/microl), plasma (2 pmol/ microl) and brain tissue (50 pmol/mg), respectively. Intra-assay variability was always lower, typically several times lower than inter-assay variability. Extraction recovery was 108% and 48% for FEN, 105% and 78% for NF and 94% and 45% for FLX, in plasma (2 pmol/microl) and brain tissue (5 pmol/mg), respectively. Due to the stability of the dansyl-chloride derivatives this method is well suited for an autoinjector after manual derivatization with dansyl chloride at room temperature for 4 h.
β-Amylase Induction and the Protective Role of Maltose during Temperature Shock

A number of studies have demonstrated beta-amylase induction in response to abiotic stress. In the present work, a temperature response profile in 5 degrees C increments from 45 degrees C to 0 degrees C showed that induction at temperature extremes was specific for two members of the gene family (BMY7 and BMY8). Both members encode proteins that possess apparent transit peptides for chloroplast stromal localization. However, induction was not observed for other key starch degrading enzymes demonstrating a rather specific response to temperature stress for BMY7 and BMY8. Time course experiments for heat shock at 40 degrees C and cold shock at 5 degrees C showed that beta-amylase induction correlated with maltose accumulation. Maltose has the ability, as demonstrated by in vitro assays, to protect proteins, membranes, and the photosynthetic electron transport chain at physiologically relevant concentrations. Therefore, beta-amylase induction and the resultant maltose accumulation may function as a compatible-solute stabilizing factor in the chloroplast stroma in response to acute temperature stress.
Weak stimulus generalization using sinusoidal gratings: A cautionary note in animal psychophysics

Psychophysical techniques involving operant and classical conditioning are used commonly to determine the visual thresholds of nonverbal subjects. Typically, subjects are conditioned to respond to a particular stimulus, and once trained sufficiently, the subject’s sensitivity to this and similar stimuli can be determined by decreasing the stimulus intensity until the animal no longer responds. However, this assumes that the animal’s tendency to respond correlates with its sensory abilities. Stimulus generalization to sinusoidal gratings of different spatial frequencies was examined in goldfish. Subjects were classically conditioned to suppress respiration upon presentation of a sinusoidal grating. Animals’ learning curves to each spatial frequency grating were compared in order to determine whether the animals generalized across stimuli. Results indicate that fish show weak stimulus generalization across spatial frequencies. Also, the shape of the contrast sensitivity function, a common measure of the animal’s visual capabilities, is distorted by insufficient training. We conclude that when the goal is to obtain accurate data on visual capabilities, either subjects should be trained to each stimulus to be tested or their generalization gradients should be measured.
Analysis of the promoter sequence and the transcription initiation site of the mouse 5-HT1C serotonin receptor gene

Abstract The serotonin 1c (5-HT1C) receptor is found in many brain regions, but is particularly enriched on the epithelial cells of the choroid plexus. A major challenge in neurobiology is to delineate the molecular processes that regulate the specific pattern of neuronal gene expression in the brain. As an initial step towards cis-acting DNA sequences that control the expression of the 5-HT1C receptor, we have isolated the promoter sequence of its gene. Sequence analysis of a 1.8 kb fragment indicated that the 3′ end of this fragment overlaps with the 5′ untranslated region of the 5-HT1C receptor mRNA, and primer extension using mouse brain poly(A)+ RNA mapped the transcription initiation site within this fragment. There are a number of sequence elements upstream from the transcription initiation site that are homologous to regulatory elements found in other eucaryotic genes. To determine the promoter activity, a plasmid was constructed that contains this fragment as promoter region and the cDNA for the 5-HT1C receptor as the promoter. When injected into the nucleus of Xenopus oocytes, this construct resulted in functional expression of the reporter gene. Primer extension using the RNA extracted from the injected oocytes indicated a single transcription initiation site of the reporter mRNA. These results suggest that the 5-HT1C receptor was functionally expressed under the promoter activity of the 1.8 kb 5′ sequence of its gene. The system will be useful for further analysis of the cis-acting elements in the promotor region of the 5-HT1C receptor gene and the trans-acting factors that regulate tissue-specific expression of the receptor.
LD-50 and mitotic rate of animals at time of exposure to x-radiation.

SummaryA correlation is demonstrated between mitotic rate of individual mice at time of exposure and lethal effect of X-irradiation. The significance of this finding is discussed.
The Crusades in Perspective: The Crusades in Modern Islamic Perspective

Over the course of the next year, I would like to offer occasional perspectives on the crusades—a series of holy wars waged by the Latin Christian World against primarily the Islamic World of the Middle East and largely during the period 1096–1291.
Diverse effects of stanozolol in C57BL/6J and A/J mouse strains.

Although skeletal muscle is the principal target for androgenic anabolic steroids (AAS) other physiological and behavioral processes are also affected. Wide variations in response to AAS are known to exist in individuals but the genetic basis of this has hardly been explored. Female mice from the A/J and C57BL/6J strains were divided into four experimental groups: CTRL-Sham, housed in a regular mouse cage and subjected to a sham operation mimicking implantation of steroids; CTRL-AAS, mice similarly housed and implanted with a pellet containing stanozolol (release rate, 4.6 mg/kg/day); EX-Sham, sham operated mice housed in a cage with two towers which required mice to climb 1 m to obtain food or water; EX-AAS, mice similarly housed and implanted with a stanozolol pellet. The experimental treatment was initiated at 10 weeks of age and lasted for 7 weeks. Body weight was assessed periodically during the experiment (time effect), systolic blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were measured after 6 weeks of treatment, and weights of gastrocnemius (GAST), soleus, tibialis anterior (TA), extensor digitorum longus (EDL), quadriceps femoris (QF) and biceps brachii (BB) muscles, heart, liver, kidney and abdominal fat were measured after 7 weeks of treatment. AAS treatment significantly increased weight of GAST (P ≪ 0.001), TA (P < 0.01), EDL (P < 0.01) and QF (P ≪ 0.001) muscles in both of the strains. Several of the measured indices were differentially affected in the two strains by AAS (body weight, Time × Strain × AAS P < 0.02; BP and HR, Strain × AAS P < 0.03 and P < 0.01, respectively). These findings encourage the view that recombinant inbred strains and chromosome substitution strains derived from the A/J and C57BL/6J mice can be utilized to explore the genetic architecture of these interactions in order to elucidate the mechanism underlying both the positive and negative health-related effects of AAS.
Rewarming mice from hypothermia by exposure to 2450-MHz microwave radiation

Abstract Twenty- to forty-gram mice cooled to colonic temperatures of 17 to 30 °C were rewarmed to normothermia by exposure to whole-body 2450-MHz microwave radiation. Eighteen of nineteen mice survived rewarming at rates of 0.04 to as high as 0.65 °C/sec. Hot spots from microwaves exposure, as indicated by deep tissue burns, were found at the base of the tail in 12 of 19 animals. The maximum rate of rewarming in these experiments (0.65 °C/s) is much higher than warming rates achieved with external warming techniques such as immersion in warm water (~0.03 °C/s). It is concluded that when care is taken to avoid hot spots, whole-body microwave exposure at resonant wavelengths may be a potential means for rapidly rewarming experimental animals from hypothermia.
Anisotropic diffusion driven by diffusion tensors

We present a system of PDEs for image restoration consisting of an anisotropic diffusion equation driven by a diffusion tensor which governs the direction and the speed of the diffusion. The structure of the diffusion tensor depends on the gradient on the image obtained from a coupled time-delay regularization equation. The diffusion resulting from this model is isotropic inside a homogeneous region and anisotropic along its boundary. Experimental results are given to show its effectiveness in tracking edges, recovering images with high levels of noise, and enhancing coherent structures. The existence, uniqueness and stability for the solutions of the PDEs are discussed.
Robust chirp parameter estimation for Hann windowed signals

The sinusoidal model has been a fundamentally important signal representation for coding and analysis of audio. We present an enhancement to sinusoidal modeling in the form of a linear frequency chirp parameter estimator applicable to Hann-windowed quasi-sinusoidal signals. The estimator relies on models of the phase curvature and peak width of a given chirp signal's FFT magnitude domain peak. We show that different models are applicable for smaller and larger values of the chirp parameter, derived respectively from Taylor series and Fresnel integral analysis of the signal. We construct an estimator for the transition region between the two models via a neural net. Results indicate that the estimator is robust to noise and outperforms any known chirp parameter estimators for Hann windowed signals.
Imagining Mexico in 1910: Visions of the Patria in the Centennial Celebration in Mexico City*

Mexico's 1910 Centenario reflected a popular trend in Western Europe and its former colonies to use centenaries of important historical events to promote political programmes and philosophies through the construction of historical memory. Centennial organisers in Mexico linked Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla and Jose Maria Morelos to President Porfirio Diaz in words and symbols, and associated state formation and civic culture with Liberal leaders and policies, such as public education, material progress and secularism. The planners also promoted Morelos as a mestizo icon and symbol for national identity and integration, while they simultaneously celebrated Mexico's pre-Columbian cultures and criticised contemporary natives as impediments to progress. The Centennial's audience included hundreds of thousands of Mexicans as well as foreigners from around the globe, who came away with different impressions based on their cultural perspectives, political philosophies and material interests. Following the overthrow of Diaz in 1911, Mexico's revolutionary governments continued to use Independence Day celebrations to promote their programmes, including some whose origins lay in the Porfiriato. As we approach the bicentenary of Latin American independence, competing visions of patrias will likely surface and provide insights into the construction of historical memory and contemporary political discourse.
One-dimensional 1H-detected solid-state NMR experiment to determine amide-1H chemical shifts in peptides

A simple one-dimensional solid-state NMR experiment is proposed to detect amide proton chemical shifts directly in uniaxially oriented molecules under static experimental condition and powder samples under MAS. The efficacy of this method depends on the selective transfer of 15N transverse magnetization to 1H nuclei via the 1H–15N dipolar coupling and also on the procedure to acquire the 1H magnetization under 1H–1H dipolar decoupling. Experimental results obtained from an N-acetyl-l–15N-valyl-l–15N-leucine single crystal labeled with 15N at both the amide sites and a powder sample of [15N–Phe-16]-magainin2 are presented.
Multiweight optimization in optimal bounding ellipsoid algorithms

Optimal Bounding Ellipsoid (OBE) algorithms offer an attractive alternative to traditional least-squares methods for identification and filtering problems involving affine-in-parameters signal and system models. The benefits-including low computational efficiency, superior tracking ability, and selective updating that permits processor multi-tasking-are enhanced by multiweight (MW) optimization in which the data history is considered in determining update times and optimal weights on the observations. MW optimization for OBE algorithms is introduced, and an example MW-OBE algorithm implementation is developed around the recent quasi-OBE algorithm. Optimality of the solution is discussed, and simulation studies are used to illustrate performance benefits.
Status of the National Synchrotron Light Source Project

The National Synchrotron Light Source is in its final stages of construction, and as the turn-on time for the 700 MeV VUV storage ring draws near, an overview of the project is presented. Emphasis is placed on the linac and booster synchrotron performance and the status of major subsystems.
Mesenchyme cells degrade epithelial basal lamina glycosaminoglycan

Abstract We investigated whether turnover of basal lamina glycosaminoglycan (GAG), an active process during epithelial morphogenesis, involves the mesenchyme. Fixed, prelabeled, isolated mouse embryo submandibular epithelia were prepared retaining radioactive surface components, as determined by autoradiographic and enzymatic studies, and a basal lamina, as assessed by electron microscopy. Recombination of mouse embryo submandibular mesenchyme with these epithelia stimulates the release of epithelial radioactivity when the labeled precursor is glucosamine or glucose but not when it is amino acid. The release is linear with time during 150 min incubation. Augmented release of epithelial label requires living mesenchyme which must be close proximity with the epithelia. Although heterologous mesenchymes, including lung, trachea, and jaw, stimulate the release of submandibular epithelial label, epithelial tissues do not. The label released by intact submandibular mesenchyme from prelabeled epithelia is in GAG and in two unique fractions: heterogeneous materials of tetrasaccharide or smaller size and N -acetylglucosamine. Enzymatic treatment of the heterogeneous materials revealed the presence of glycosaminoglycan-derived oligosaccharides. These unique products were not obtained by incubating prelabeled epithelia with a mesenchymal cell extract, suggesting that intact mesenchymal cells are required. N -Acetylglucosamine was also released when mesenchyme was recombined with living prelabeled epithelia which contained labeled basal laminar GAG. Our results establish that submandibular epithelial basal lamina GAGs are degraded by submandibular mesenchyme. We propose that one mechanism of epithelial-mesenchymal interaction is the degradation of epithelial basal laminar GAG by mesenchyme.
Effects of glucocorticoids on estrogen receptor messenger ribonucleic acid in the pregnant ovine myometrium in vivo and in vitro.

We recently reported that estrogen receptor (ER) mRNA is dramatically increased in the sheep myometrium during cortisol-induced premature labor and term spontaneous labor. In this study, we compared myometrial ER mRNA and ER protein levels in tissues from pregnant sheep during infusions of two different glucocorticoids (dexamethasone and betamethasone). Tissues from glucocorticoid-infused sheep not yet in labor were compared with tissues from sheep in labor. The population of ER mRNA-containing cells in myometrium obtained from sheep in labor was determined by in situ hybridization and compared with that of sheep not in labor in order to understand how the cellular distribution of ER mRNA changed during labor. Finally, in vitro myometrial cell culture and immunolocalization of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) were used to determine 1) the effects of different steroids on ER mRNA content, 2) whether or not the myometrium is a functional site for glucocorticoid action, and 3) whether the change in ER mRNA content in the myometrium might be induced by glucocorticoid acting through GR. Increased ER mRNA and protein were found only in the myometrium associated with labor. In situ hybridization of ER mRNA and immunolocalization of ER protein showed that ER mRNA and protein were mainly located in the smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells of blood vessels. In vitro treatment of cultured myometrial cells with hydrocortisone resulted in a 3.5-fold increment in ER mRNA. In contrast, there was no obvious change in ER mRNA when myometrial cells were treated in vitro with either estradiol (10 nM) or progesterone (100 nM) for 24 h. GR was localized exclusively in the pregnant sheep myometrium. We conclude that 1) increased ER protein and ER mRNA in sheep myometrium are strongly associated with labor ; 2) an increase in the population of ER-positive cells is associated with the increment of ER mRNA during glucocorticoid-induced labor ; 3) in the pregnant sheep myometrium, both the smooth muscle cells and the endothelial cells of blood vessels are positive for ER protein ER mRNA ; and 4) hydrocortisone is a potent stimulus in vitro for increasing ER mRNA content, presumably acting through the GR present in the pregnant sheep myometrium.
Crash fault detection in celerating environments

Failure detectors are a service that provides (approximate) information about process crashes in a distributed system. The well-known “eventually perfect” failure detector, ◊P, has been implemented in partially synchronous systems with unknown upper bounds on message delay and relative process speeds. However, previous implementations have overlooked an important subtlety with respect to measuring the passage of time in “celerating” environments, in which absolute process speeds can continually increase or decrease while maintaining bounds on relative process speeds. Existing implementations either use action clocks, which fail in accelerating environments, or use real-time clocks, which fail in decelerating environments. We propose the use of bichronal clocks, which are a composition of action clocks and real-time clocks. Our solution can be readily adopted to make existing implementations of ◊P robust to process celeration, which can result from hardware upgrades, server overloads, denial-of-service attacks, and other system volatilities.
First Report of Soybean Rust Caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi in the Continental United States.

Asian soybean rust, caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi Sydow, has been known to occur in the eastern hemisphere for nearly a century. More recently, it was reported from Hawaii in 1994, eastern and so...
Pharmacokinetic perspectives on megadoses of ascorbic acid

Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is commonly used as a dietary supplement, often in megadoses. However, as the daily oral dose is increased, the concentration of ascorbic acid in the plasma and other body fluids does not increase proportionally, but instead tends to approach an upper limit. For example, when the daily dose is increased from 200 to 2500 mg (from 1.1 to 14.2 mmol) the mean steady state plasma concentration increases only from approximately 12 to 15 mg/L (from 68.1 to 85.2 mumol/L). Published data were reanalyzed with an integrated modeling approach to shed new quantitative light on this phenomenon. This analysis is based on the renal clearance of ascorbic acid, which rises sharply with increasing plasma concentrations as a result of saturable tubular reabsorption. The analysis indicates that both saturable gastrointestinal absorption and nonlinear renal clearance act additively to produce the ceiling effect in plasma concentrations. As a consequence of this ceiling effect, there is no pharmacokinetic justification for the use of megadoses of ascorbic acid.
Radial glia in the neocortex of adult rats: effects of neonatal brain injury

Microgyria can be induced in otherwise normal rat neocortex by a freezing injury to the cortical plate before the completion of neuronal migration. We had previously reported radial glial like-immunoreactive fibers in the area of the microgyria in 32-day-old rats. Here we demonstrate that these glial fibers, which are immunoreactive to Rat-401, vimentin, and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) antibodies, are seen in adult rats. The appearance of these fibers is hypothesized to result from the release of a trophic factor during the recovery from neonatal injury which acts to either (1) halt the transformation of radial glia to astrocytes and/or dedifferentiate already committed astrocytes, (2) create a hybrid cell, or (3) induce increased proliferation of glia.
Approach-Avoidance Conflict in an Open Field

Approach-avoidance conflict in rats was investigated as a function of physical confinement, number of approach-training trials, similarity of cues and number of shocks. Physical confinement had no effect upon rate of acquisition of approach behavior but did influence penetration to the goal on the conflict trials. Similarity of cues between the training and testing situation was important in determining the extent to which the animal approached the goal during conflict trials; the greater the dissimilarity of cues, the nearer the animals would approach the goal. Approach was also found to be a decreasing function of number of shock trials.
Optical transitions in monolayer and bilayer graphene

Optical transitions in grapheme are studied by infrared spectroscopy. The interband transitions in graphene monolayers show a relatively flat spectrum, while those in bilayers are dominated by a van-Hove singularity.
A Test of the Regional Growth-Instability Frontier Using State Data

The application of the portfolio framework to the economy predicts the existence of a convex growth-instability frontier. Using two data sets on Gross State Product for the states of the United States, this hypothesis is tested. The tests confirm the existence of a convex frontier for economic growth and instability. The shape of the frontier is estimated, and growth-adjusted measures of economic instability based on the frontier are computed. Over long periods of time, economic instability is negatively correlated with a range of measures of economic diversity, providing further support for the portfolio view of economic growth.
Role of Artificial Dissipation Scaling and Multigrid Acceleration in Numerical Solutions of the Depth-Averaged Free-Surface Flow Equations

A numerical model is developed for solving the depth-averaged, open-channel flow equations in generalized curvilinear coordinates. The equations are discretized in space in strong conservation form using a space-centered, second-order accurate finite-volume method. A nonlinear blend of first- and third-order accurate artificial dissipation terms is introduced into the discrete equations to accurately model all flow regimes. Scalar- and matrix-valued scaling of the artificial dissipation terms are considered and their effect on the accuracy of the solutions is evaluated. The discrete equations are integrated in time using a four-stage explicit Runge–Kutta method. For the steady-state computations, local time stepping, implicit residual smoothing, and multigrid acceleration are used to enhance the efficiency of the scheme. The numerical model is validated by applying it to calculate steady and unsteady open-channel flows. Extensive grid sensitivity studies are carried out and the potential of multigrid acce...
Sodium Depletion Enhances Renal Expression of (Pro)Renin Receptor via Cyclic GMP-Protein Kinase G Signaling Pathway

(Pro)renin receptor (PRR) is expressed in renal vasculature, glomeruli, and tubules. The physiological regulation of this receptor is not well established. We hypothesized that sodium depletion increases PRR expression through cGMP- protein kinase G (PKG) signaling pathway. Renal PRR expressions were evaluated in Sprague-Dawley rats on normal sodium or low-sodium diet (LS) and in cultured rat proximal tubular cells and mouse renal inner medullary collecting duct cells exposed to LS concentration. LS augmented PRR expression in renal glomeruli, proximal tubules, distal tubules, and collecting ducts. LS also increased cGMP production and PKG activity. In cells exposed to normal sodium, cGMP analog increased PKG activity and upregulated PRR expression. In cells exposed to LS, blockade of guanylyl cyclase with 1H-(1,2,4)oxadiazolo(4,3-a)quinoxalin-1-one decreased PKG activity and downregulated PRR expression. PKG inhibition decreased phosphatase protein phosphatase 2A activity; suppressed LS-mediated phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase, c-Jun N-terminal kinase, c-Jun, and nuclear factor-κB p65; and attenuated LS-mediated PRR upregulation. LS also enhanced DNA binding of cAMP response element binding protein 1 to cAMP response elements, nuclear factor-κB p65 to nuclear factor-κB elements, and c-Jun to activator protein 1 elements in PRR promoter in proximal tubular cells. We conclude that sodium depletion upregulates renal PRR expression via the cGMP-PKG signaling pathway by enhancing binding of cAMP response element binding protein 1, nuclear factor-κB p65, and c-Jun to PRR promotor.
The Social Sciences and the Study of Women: A Review Article

J. Stanley Lemons. The Woman Citizen: Social Feminism in the 1920's. Urbana: University of Illinois Press. 1973. Lee Holcombe. Victorian Ladies at Work. Middle-Class Working Women in England and Wales, 1850-1914. Newton Abbot: David and Charles. 1973. Etienne Van de Walle. The Female Population of France in the Nineteenth Century. a Reconstruction of 82 Departements. Princeton: Princeton University Press. 1974. Michelle Zimbalist Rosaldo and Louise Lamphere, editors. Woman, Culture and Society. Stanford: Stanford University Press. 1974.
Astrophysical applications of the Iron Project: Ionization structure and spectra of iron in nebulae

We study the physical structure of H II regions, including Planetary Nebulae (PNe), through detailed analysis of the ionization structure and spectra of iron in relevant ionization stages. This results from our work in the Ohio State group on: (i) calculation of new and improved atomic data for Fe I-VI (photoionization cross sections, recombination rates, collision strengths, and transition probabilities); (ii) detailed study of ionization, recombination, and excitation mechanisms and radiative transfer effects under nebular conditions; (iii) study of the physical structure and kinematics of nebulae and their ionization fronts. This includes further examination of high density regions deduced from the spectroscopic analysis of optical [Fe II], [Ni II], and [O I] emission (Bautista etal 1996; and references therein). The study also addresses the issue of chemical abundances in fully ionized and partially ionized zones of nebulae.
Liquor made quicker: alcohol as a synthetic reagent for molecules in anesthesia☆

Ethanol was an early anesthetic, and chemists transformed it into better ones. Hypnotic/anesthetic/analgesic molecules prepared from ethanol include barbiturates, benzocaine, chloral hydrate, chloroform, diethyl ether, ethyl chloride, ethylene, etomidate, meperidine, paraldehyde, phenacetin, procaine, tribromoethanol, and urethane. Ethanol was sometimes mixed deliberately with the other anesthetics, and John Snow's inhaled amylene came from the "fusel oil" fraction of rotgut whisky.
Extracellular Matrix Rigidity Causes Strengthening of Integrin–Cytoskeleton Linkages

Abstract To move forward, migrating cells must generate traction forces through surface receptors bound to extracellular matrix molecules coupled to a rigid structure. We investigated whether cells sample and respond to the rigidity of the anchoring matrix. Movement of beads coated with fibronectin or an anti-integrin antibody was restrained with an optical trap on fibroblasts to mimic extracellular attachment sites of different resistance. Cells precisely sense the restraining force on fibronectin beads and respond by a localized, proportional strengthening of the cytoskeleton linkages, allowing stronger force to be exerted on the integrins. This strengthening was absent or transient with antibody beads, but restored with soluble fibronectin. Hence, ligand binding site occupancy was required. Finally, phenylarsine oxide inhibited strengthening of cytoskeletal linkages, indicating a role for dephosphorylation. Thus, the strength of integrin–cytoskeleton linkages is dependent on matrix rigidity and on its biochemical composition. Matrix rigidity may, therefore, serve as a guidance cue in a process of mechanotaxis.
Reliability assessment of soluble c-erbB-2 concentrations in the saliva of healthy women and men

Abstract Background: The protein c- erb B-2, also known as Her2/ neu , is a prognostic breast cancer marker assayed in tissue biopsy specimens from women diagnosed with malignant tumors. Current studies suggest that soluble fragments of the c- erb B-2 oncogene may be released from the cell surface and become detectable in patients with a carcinoma of the breast. Consequently, the purpose of this study is to assay soluble c- erb B-2 protein in the saliva of healthy men and women to determine the reliability of the assay. Methods: To determine the diagnostic utility of this oncogene, we assayed the soluble form of the c- erb B-2 protein in the saliva with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The study population consisted of 10 healthy women and 9 healthy men who were serially sampled for saliva 3 times a day for a 5-day period. Saliva was collected from each subject at 9 AM , 4 PM , and 9 PM during the 5-day period. Results: We found the presence of c- erb B-2 protein in the saliva of both groups of subjects. The salivary levels of c- erb B-2 were not significantly different when compared for gender differences. Likewise, the results suggest that sampling during various times of the day for salivary c- erb B-2 levels has no effect on marker concentration. Reliability analyses showed that supervised salivary collections were more reliable than unsupervised collections. Conclusions: The results of this pilot study suggest that the assay for salivary c- erb B-2 protein is reliable and might have potential use in the initial detection and follow-up screening for the recurrence of breast cancer in both men and women. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2001;91:174-9)
Methods of reverse engineering and data transformation in determining the multiplicities of associations in object-oriented modeling for database applications

We present an approach of using methods of database reverse engineering and data transformation in determining the multiplicities of associations in object-oriented analysis and modeling (OOAM). OOAM methodology is being used more and more in the development for IT applications of larger sizes. Creating correct object models is becoming important for ensuring that the design for the application is sound. Determining multiplicities of associations among object classes is a key part of creating the object model. The proposed approach is useful for information technology (IT) projects that migrate or integrate old database applications to new database applications. Many IT projects of large scale nowadays are of this type, because companies want to preserve as much as possible the capitals that they invested for old database applications. Many IT projects of large scale more or less involve with migrating or integrating some old database applications.
A randomized trial of practice facilitation to improve the delivery of chronic illness care in primary care: initial and sustained effects

Practice facilitation (PF) is an implementation strategy now commonly used in primary care settings for improvement initiatives. PF occurs when a trained external facilitator engages and supports the practice in its change efforts. The purpose of this group-randomized trial is to assess PF as an intervention to improve the delivery of chronic illness care in primary care. A randomized trial of 40 small primary care practices who were randomized to an initial or a delayed intervention (control) group. Trained practice facilitators worked with each practice for one year to implement tailored changes to improve delivery of diabetes care within the Chronic Care Model framework. The Assessment of Chronic Illness Care (ACIC) survey was administered at baseline and at one-year intervals to clinicians and staff in both groups of practices. Repeated-measures analyses of variance were used to assess the main effects (mean differences between groups) and the within-group change over time. There was significant improvement in ACIC scores (p < 0.05) within initial intervention practices, from 5.58 (SD 1.89) to 6.33 (SD 1.50), compared to the delayed intervention (control) practices where there was a small decline, from 5.56 (SD 1.54) to 5.27 (SD 1.62). The increase in ACIC scores was sustained one year after withdrawal of the PF intervention in the initial intervention group, from 6.33 (SD 1.50) to 6.60 (SD 1.94), and improved in the delayed intervention (control) practices during their one year of PF intervention, from 5.27 (SD 1.62) to 5.99 (SD 1.75). Practice facilitation resulted in a significant and sustained improvement in delivery of care consistent with the CCM as reported by those involved in direct patient care in small primary care practices. The impact of the observed change on clinical outcomes remains uncertain. This protocol followed the CONSORT guidelines and is registered per ICMJE guidelines: Clinical Trial Registration Number: NCT00482768 .
Abstract 2423: Abdominal Aortic Wall-Thickness by Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Cardiovascular Disease in a Multi-ethnic Population-Based Study

Objective: Autopsy studies have revealed association between the prevalence of cardiovascular disease and atherosclerosis in the abdominal aorta. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been reported ...
Anion Exchange in Cationic Frameworks: Structures of Channel-Forming Triarylpyrylium Tetrafluoroborate Salts

The crystal structure of a co-crystal of 2,4,6-tris(4-methylphenyl)pyridine and 2,4,6-tris(4-methylphenyl)pyrylium revealed a pseudohexagonal motif assembled from π-stacked helices that enclose 1-D channels containing disordered tetrafluoroborate counterions and solvent molecules. Though convoluted by disorder, aperiodicity, and complex twinning patterns, further investigation was motivated by the unique packing arrangement of this material, which enables solid-state anion diffusion, while resisting dissolution in water. Such properties are ideal for the development of anion exchange materials that can be employed for the remediation of agricultural and nuclear waste. To develop a more complete understanding of the intermolecular interactions that give rise to this helical motif, we have compiled and analyzed the local interactions and extended structural motifs of 19 pore- and channel-forming 2,4,6-triarylpyrylium crystal structures. Three conserved local interactions were identified, including C–H···X– ...
Penetrating abdominal trauma from table saw use

Over 30,000 injuries predominantly to the fingers and hands result from table saw use each year, but penetrating abdominal trauma from table saw use has not been previously described in the English literature. We report the case of a 36-year-old man who was operating a table saw when the blade splintered the wood and propelled it into his abdomen. He removed a large splinter from his skin and presented to the emergency room with severe abdominal pain. He was hemodynamically stable with a negative FAST with two small external wounds and signs of peritonitis. Diagnostic laparoscopy was converted to laparotomy upon visualization of a significant amount of blood in the abdomen. A 22 cm segment of ileum containing 11 enterotomies from wooden projectiles, including one large splinter causing through-and-through injury was resected with a primary anastomosis. He made an uneventful recovery. We discuss this unusual mechanism of penetrating trauma not previously described and the absence of protective technologies...
On Comparative Performance Testing of Prechamber and Open Chamber Laser Ignition

Laser ignition is a potential ignition technology to achieve reliable lean burn ignition in high brake mean effective pressure (BMEP) internal combustion engines. The technology has the potential to increase brake thermal efficiency and reduce exhaust emissions. This submission reports on engine testing of a Caterpillar G3516C stationary natural gas fueled engine with three types of ignition approaches: i) non-fueled electric prechamber plug with electrodes at the base of the prechamber (i.e., conventional ignition), ii) non-fueled laser prechamber plug with laser spark in the middle of the prechamber, and iii) open chamber plug with laser spark in the main chamber. In the second configuration, a stock non-fueled prechamber plug was modified to incorporate a sapphire window and a focusing lens to form a laser prechamber plug. A 1064 nm Q-switched Nd:YAG laser was used to create laser sparks. For these tests, a single cylinder of the engine was retrofitted with the laser plug while the remaining cylinders were run with conventional electric ignition system at baseline ignition timing of 24 degree before Top Dead Center (BTDC). The performances of the three plugs were compared in terms of Indicated Mean Effective Pressures (IMEP), Mass Burn Fraction Duration and Coefficient of Variation (COV) of IMEP, and COV of Peak Pressure Location. Test data show comparable performance between electric and laser prechamber plugs, albeit with a lower degree of variability in engine’s performance for electric prechamber plug compared to the laser prechamber plug. The open chamber plug exhibited poorer variability in engine performance. All results are discussed in the context of prechamber and engine fluid mechanics.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
An Empirical Analysis of Brand Label, Unit Price, and Package Size as Determinants of Product Value For Frequently Purchased Consumer Packaged Goods: Preliminary Results

The first objective of this investigation was to determine the relationship of brand label, unit price, and package size on product value for frequently purchased consumer packaged goods. These variables were selected because they are frequently available to the consumer at the point-of-purchase as visible cues for determining product value. A second objective of the investigation was to determine the relationship between product value and brand label (store brand versus national brand) for food and nonfood product categories. An analysis of approximately 700 national brands and 300 store brands indicated that store brands generally have higher value levels than do national brands. The affect of unit price and package size on product value was also analyzed.
Social Change, New Paradigms, and Implications for Families

Accelerated systemic social change is closely associated with globalization. I have argued throughout this work that conventional narratives that approach families, nation-states, or economies as limited static entities, no longer capture the rapid macro–micro interactions that are the fundamental basis of this change. Instead, valuable insight into contemporary social phenomena requires a transnational, dynamic approach that depicts the nature, consequences, and policy implications of these processes. As Robinson (1998) explains, “Social science should be less concerned with static snapshots of the momentary than with the dialect of historic movement, with capturing the central dynamics and tendencies in historic processes. The central dynamic of our epoch is globalization, and the central tendency is the ascendance of transnational capital, which brings with it the transnationalization of classes in general……Determinancy on the structural side is shifting to new transnational space that is eroding, subsuming, and superseding national space as the locus of social life, even though this social life is still ‘filtered through’ nation-state institutions. This situation underscores the highly contradictory nature of transnational relations as well as the indeterminancy of emergent transnational social structure.” (p. 581). Robinson’s observations draw attention to the need for new paradigms that allow us to capture the decentralization of power, the transnational nature of phenomena, and the rapidity and movement that are inherent features of contemporary social life.
Abstract 2684: Modeling a prototypical type I ovarian carcinoma in the mouse based on oviductal versus ovarian epithelial transformation: which is superior

Type I ovarian carcinomas are relatively indolent tumors that are nonetheless deadly if detected too late. Endometrioid carcinoma (EC) is a prototypical Type I ovarian cancer subtype. Existing mouse models of the disease based on transformation of the ovarian surface epithelium (OSE) take advantage of known EC genetic signatures but fail to capture fully the clinical disease progression and tumor phenotype. We previously described a mouse ovarian EC model in which the Apc and Pten tumor suppressor genes are conditionally deleted in the OSE via bursal injection of adenovirus expressing Cre recombinase (AdCre). We now report a new mouse model of EC in which the Ovgp1 (oviductal glycoprotein) promoter regulates expression of tamoxifen-inducible Cre recombinase specifically in the mouse oviductal epithelium (equivalent to human fallopian tube epithelium [FTE]), and not in the OSE or endometrium. Ovgp1-iCreERT2;Apcfl/fl;Ptenfl/fl mice treated with tamoxifen (TAM) develop oviductal tumors over months rather than weeks. The oviductal EC morphology closely resembles that of human ovarian ECs, with overt gland formation throughout, whereas ovarian bursal injection of AdCre in Ovgp1-iCreERT2;Apcfl/fl;Ptenfl/fl mice results in OSE-derived ECs that are poorly differentiated and include a prominent spindle cell component, consistent with our prior work. OSE-derived tumors progress rapidly, with none of the mice surviving beyond 14 weeks post-AdCre injection. Littermates with FTE-derived tumors survive much longer (>30 weeks post TAM). The slow progression and late (typically >16 weeks post TAM) metastasis to ovary and omentum associated with the FTE-derived tumors are more akin to the relatively indolent behavior characteristic of Type I ovarian carcinoma in humans. To further evaluate which of the two types of mouse tumors more closely resemble human ovarian tumors, we profiled gene expression in 6 FTE- and 5 OSE-derived Apc/Pten-deficient tumors, and compared the groups to each other and to data from 99 human ovarian carcinomas we analyzed previously (including 37 endometrioid, 41 serous, and 13 clear cell, and 8 mucinous carcinomas). Based on gene expression, the FTE-derived tumors are more correlated to every class of human ovarian tumors (p Citation Format: Rong Wu, Yali Zhai, Rork Kuick, Paloma Garcia, Anum Naseem, Eric R. Fearon, kathleen R. Cho. Modeling a prototypical type I ovarian carcinoma in the mouse based on oviductal versus ovarian epithelial transformation: which is superior. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 2684.
Zika Virus and Perinatal Outcomes: Beyond the Myth

The World Health Organization defines current outbreak of Zika infection as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). An attempt was made to contribute in a comprehensive screening protocol for ZIKV in pregnancy, based on systematic assessment of the empirical data. A total of 34 published articles, conferring to the level I-IIA evidence, are randomly identified to inform clinical, immunology, imaging, and patho-histology findings from 8,389 singleton pregnancies. Results of a comparative analysis between the Zika-positive and Zikanegative pregnant women presented with macopapular rash suggest that active Zika virus infection is predictive to the adverse perinatal outcomes: prematurity, fetal growth restriction, microcephaly, and Guillain-Barre syndrome. Temporal analysis between the viral peak lags, the first acute rash in women, and perinatal outcomes, support such associations.