cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On the implementation of membrane models in computational fluid dynamics calculations of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells

The implementation of phenomenological membrane models within computational fluid dynamics (CFD) codes requires coupling of the conservation equation for water content within the membrane to the conservation equations for species mass outside the membrane. It is common practice to treat water and current transport within the membrane as one-dimensional (1D), i.e., normal to the membrane surface only. The purpose of this study is to investigate the accuracy and efficiency of various strategies of implementing a phenomenological membrane model within the framework of a two-dimensional (2D) CFD code. Springer's membrane model was compared against two other models available from the literature, and the accuracy of each model was assessed by comparing predicted results against experimental data. Results appear to indicate that the Springer model and the Nguyen and White model over-predict the drying of the membrane, while the Fuller and Newman model provides the best match with experimental data. Following these studies, three strategies for implementation of the membrane model were investigated: (1) 2D transport in membrane, (2) 1D transport in membrane and (3) 1D transport with approximate transport properties. Fuller and Newman's membrane model was used for these studies. The results obtained using the three approaches were found to be within 4% of each other, while there was no significant difference in the computational time required by the three models, indicating that an analytical 1D transport model for the membrane that uses approximate properties is adequate for describing transport through it.
Calcineurin homologous protein: A multifunctional Ca2+-binding protein family

The calcineurin homologous protein (CHP) belongs to an evolutionarily conserved Ca2+-binding protein subfamily. The CHP subfamily is composed of CHP1, CHP2, and CHP3, which in vertebrates share sig...
High Speed Document Clustering in Reconfigurable Hardware

High-performance document clustering systems enable similar documents to be automatically organized into groups. In the past, the large amount of computational time needed to cluster documents prevented practical use of such systems with a large number of documents. A full hardware implementation of the K-means clustering algorithm has been designed and implemented in reconfigurable hardware that clusters 512k documents rapidly. This implementation, uses four parallel cosine distance metrics to cluster document vectors that each have 4000 dimensions. The synthesized hardware runs on the Field Programmable Port Extender (FPX) platform at a clock rate of 80 MHz. Although the clock rate on the Xilinx VirtexE 2000 is slower than a CPU, the implementation runs 26 times faster than an algorithmically equivalent software algorithm running on an Intel 3.60 GHz Xeon. The same architecture was used to synthesize a faster and larger design for the Xilinx Virtex4 LX200. This larger implementation can contain up to 25 parallel cosine distance metrics. The implementation synthesized with a clock rate of 250 Mhz and outperforms the equivalent software by a factor of 328.
Alpha‐2C adrenergic receptor (ADRA2C) 322‐325 deletion polymorphism and in vivo vascular sensitivity

Vascular alpha-2 adrenergic receptors (ADRA2) mediate vasoconstriction. There are 3 ADRA2 subtypes, A, B and C, each with genetic variation that alters function. The ADRA2C 322-325 deletion polymorphism (322-325del) was associated with reduced responses to agonist in vitro, but its effects in vivo are not known. We examined the hypothesis that 322-325del affects ADRA2 mediated vasoconstrictor response. Increasing doses (0.01-1000ng/min) of the selective ADRA2 agonist, dexmedetomidine, were infused into a dorsal hand vein and constriction measured using a linear variable differential transformer in 53 healthy subjects (28 men and 25 women), aged 18-45 years. A dose-response curve was constructed and ED50 and Emax calculated for each individual. Genotyping for the ADRA2C 322-325del was performed, and ED50 and Emax compared. The average maximal constriction (Emax) and the ED50 (geometric mean) did not differ significantly among genotypes [p (ANOVA) = 0.251 and 0.946, respectively]. The ADRA2C 322-325del polymorphism does not alter vascular response to an agonist. (See Table). Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2004) 75, P55–P55; doi: 10.1016/j.clpt.2003.11.207 Table 1. * P value compared to wt/wt. ADRA2C 322–325 del wt/wt (n=31) wt/del (n=13) del/del (n=9) mean Emax (±SEM %constriction) 77.2 ± 3.3 70.9 ± 5.2 *p=0.575 84.0 ± 3.9 *p=0.613 mean ED50 (95% CI, ng/min) 1.84 (0.79–4.27) 2.27 (0.57–9.02) *p=0.962 2.29 (0.36–14.38) *p=0.969
Equilibrated Surface Alloys and the Influence of Strain

Structural and thermodynamic properties of equilibrated ultrathin Pd-Au, Cu-Ag, and Co-Ag alloys on Ru(0001) were studied and are comparatively discussed. These studies provide a framework for a detailed understanding of the energetics of surface alloy formation. Additionally, the differences between the two bulk immiscible systems (Cu-Ag and Co-Ag) and the bulk miscible Pd-Au system are discussed.
Auditory–vocal mirroring in songbirds

Mirror neurons are theorized to serve as a neural substrate for spoken language in humans, but the existence and functions of auditory–vocal mirror neurons in the human brain remain largely matters of speculation. Songbirds resemble humans in their capacity for vocal learning and depend on their learned songs to facilitate courtship and individual recognition. Recent neurophysiological studies have detected putative auditory–vocal mirror neurons in a sensorimotor region of the songbird's brain that plays an important role in expressive and receptive aspects of vocal communication. This review discusses the auditory and motor-related properties of these cells, considers their potential role on song learning and communication in relation to classical studies of birdsong, and points to the circuit and developmental mechanisms that may give rise to auditory–vocal mirroring in the songbird's brain.
Mother- and Father-Reported Reactions to Children's Negative Emotions: Relations to Young Children's Emotional Understanding and Friendship Quality.

Mother- and father-reported reactions to children's negative emotions were examined as correlates of emotional understanding (Study 1, N = 55, 5- to 6-year-olds) and friendship quality (Study 2, N = 49, 3- to 5-year-olds). Mothers' and fathers' supportive reactions together contributed to greater child-friend coordinated play during a sharing task. Further, when one parent reported low support, greater support by the other parent was related to better understanding of emotions and less intense conflict with friends (for boys only). When one parent reported high support, however, greater support by the other parent was associated with less optimal functioning on these outcomes. Results partially support the notion that children benefit when parents differ in their reactions to children's emotions.
A Comparison of Two Methods of Administering Group Reading Inventories to Diverse Learners: Computer Versus Pencil and Paper

This study examined the level of agreement between two methods of administering group reading inventories, computer and pencil and paper, leading to placing 72 secondary students, 38 males and 34 females, into three instructional groups—teacher directed, dyadic, and independent. The students, 13 with learning disabilities, 16 remedial, and 43 normally achieving, were enrolled in science and social studies classes in middle school and high school. In one condition, students read textbook passages presented on computer, completed study guides, and took 15-item tests on computer. In the other condition, the same students read passages from their textbooks, completed study guides, and took 15-item tests with pencil and paper. An equivalent time samples design was arranged, with four computer assessments and four pencil-and-pape r assessments randomly assigned. The dependent measures consisted of two types of test items, factual and interpretive. The results of group analysis significantly favored the computer...
Digital MDA for enumeration of total nucleic acid contamination

Multiple displacement amplification (MDA) is an isothermal, sequence-independent method for the amplification of high molecular weight DNA that is driven by φ29 DNA polymerase (DNAP). Here we report digital MDA (dMDA), an ultrasensitive method for quantifying nucleic acid fragments of unknown sequence. We use the new assay to show that our custom φ29 DNAP preparation is free of contamination at the limit of detection of the dMDA assay (1 contaminating molecule per assay microliter). Contamination in commercially available preparations is also investigated. The results of the dMDA assay provide strong evidence that the so-called 'template-independent' MDA background can be attributed to high-molecular weight contaminants and is not primer-derived in the commercial kits tested. dMDA is orders of magnitude more sensitive than PCR-based techniques for detection of microbial genomic DNA fragments and opens up new possibilities for the ultrasensitive quantification of DNA fragments in a wide variety of application areas using MDA chemistry and off-the-shelf hardware developed for digital PCR.
Architecture and performance of SIGMA: a seamless mobility architecture for data networks

The Internet Engineering Task Force has developed Mobile IP to handle the mobility of Internet hosts at the network layer. Mobile IP, however, suffers from a number of drawbacks such as high handover latency, packet loss, and conflict with network security solutions. We describe and evaluate the performance of SIGMA (seamless IP diversity based generalized mobility architecture). SIGMA utilizes IP diversity to achieve the seamless handover of a mobile host, and is designed to solve many of the drawbacks of Mobile IP. Various aspects of the performance of SIGMA and Mobile IPv6 enhancements have been compared. Criteria for performance evaluation include handover latency, packet loss, throughput, and network friendliness.
Evaluation of skin bacterial flora before and after aseptic preparation of clipped and nonclipped arthrocentesis sites in horses.

Objective—This study evaluates skin bacterial flora before and after aseptic preparation of clipped and nonclipped arthrocentesis sites in horses. Study Design—The hair over one midcarpal joint and one distal interphalangeal joint on each horse was clipped. The contralateral joint served as the nonclipped comparison. Animals or Sample Population—Twelve adult horses. Methods—A prescrub sample for microbial culture was taken from the dorsal surface of all four joints for each horse. Each site was aseptically prepared with povidone iodine and 70% alcohol, followed by postscrub sampling for microbial culture. Colony forming units (CFUs) were determined for each sample, 24 hours after inoculation of blood agar plates. Results—There was no significant difference (P >.05) in number of postscrub CFUs between clipped and nonclipped skin over the midcarpal or distal interphalangeal joints. Percent bacterial reduction (mean ± SD%) after aseptic preparation differed significantly (P=.02) between clipped (99.8 ±.003%) and nonclipped (96.2 ±.05%) skin at the midcarpal joint, but not at the distal interphalangeal joint (clipped, 98.5 ±.03% and nonclipped, 97.8 ± 0.21%). There was a significant difference (P=.009) in number of prescrub CFUs obtained from clipped and nonclipped skin for the midcarpal joint. There was no significant difference in number of prescrub CFUs between clipped and nonclipped skin at the distal interphalangeal joint. Bacteria isolated from both clipped and nonclipped skin sampled postscrub included Bacillus sp, nonhemolytic Staphylococcus sp, and Micrococcus sp. Conclusions—The presence of hair over the midcarpal and distal interphalangeal joints does not appear to inhibit the ability of antiseptics to effectively reduce bacterial flora to an acceptable level for arthrocentesis. Clinical Relevance—Aseptic preparation of the skin over the midcarpal and distal interphalangeal joints can be accomplished without hair removal in horses.
The Pattern of Striatal Dopaminergic Denervation Explains Sensorimotor Synchronization Accuracy in Parkinson’s Disease

Abstract The basal ganglia are thought to play a critical role in duration perception and production. However, experimental evidence for impaired temporal processing in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients is mixed. This study examined the association between striatal dopaminergic denervation in PD patients and sensorimotor synchronization. Twenty-eight mild-to-moderate stage PD patients synchronized finger taps to tone sequences of either 500 ms, 1000 ms or 1500 ms time intervals while ON levodopa ( l -DOPA) or placebo pill (on separate test days) with the index finger of their more and less affected hands. We measured the accuracy and variability of synchronization. In a separate session, patients underwent 11C-dihydrotetrabenazine (11C-DTBZ) PET scanning to measure in vivo striatal dopaminergic denervation. Patients were less accurate synchronizing to the 500 ms target time interval, compared to the 1000 ms and 1500 ms time intervals, but neither medication state nor hand affected accuracy; medication state, hand nor the target time interval affected synchronization variability. Regression analyses revealed no strong relationships between synchronization accuracy or variability and striatal dopaminergic denervation. We performed a cluster analysis on the degree of dopaminergic denervation to determine whether patient subgroup differences underlie our results. Three patient subgroups showed behavioral differences in synchronization accuracy, but not variability, paralleling their pattern of denervation. These findings provide further evidence for the role of the basal ganglia and dopamine in duration production and suggest that the degree of striatal dopaminergic denervation may explain the heterogeneity of performance between PD patients on the sensorimotor synchronization task.
Too much medicine happens too often the teachable moment and a call for manuscripts from clinical trainees

A columnist at theNew York Times asked readers, “Have you experiencedtoomuchmedicine?”Shereceivedmorethan1000 responses detailing examples ranging fromunnecessary testing and hospitalizations to useless office visits and specialist referrals.1 Patients are not the only ones worried about too muchmedicine: 42%of anational sampleofprimary carephysicians believe that patients in their own practice are receiving too muchmedical care.2 Too much medicine, or overuse, occurs in at least 3 contexts: when benefits from medical care are negligible, when thepotential for harmexceeds thepotential benefit,3 orwhen a fully informed patient would decide to forego the service. Examples of overuse include overtesting (eg, routinely ordering preoperative chest x-rays; see the Perspective in this issue4) and overtreatment (eg, coronary revascularization inpatientswith stable anginanot receivingoptimalmedical therapy). Spending on overuse is thought to substantially contribute to theunsustainablegrowth inUShealthcarecosts.5 Wastefulhealthcare is estimated tocost $750billionannually,6 limiting equitable access tonecessaryhealth care6 andcrowdingout spendingonotherpriorities suchaspublichealth, education, and valuable social programs.When passed on to our patients, health care costs can be financially catastrophic.7 The costs of overuse are not measured in dollars alone. Overtesting and overtreatment expose patients to potential harmsanddownstreamcomplications8—andoften lead tonet harm.Farbeyondcostconsciousness, theethicalcase foravoiding overuse, “first, do no harm,” is a powerful appeal to our professionalism.8 All thoughtful physicians want to minimize harms fromoveruse. The challenge is recognizingwhen an intervention is likely to represent overuse.
Effect of the synthetic method and support porosity on the structure and performance of silica‐supported CuBr/pyridylmethanimine atom transfer radical polymerization catalysts. I. Catalyst preparation and characterization

Silica-supported CuBr/pyridylmethanimine (PMI) complexes that facilitate the atom transfer radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate have been prepared and characterized. Four different synthetic routes, including multistep-grafting (M1), two-step-grafting (M2), one-pot (M3), and preassembled-complex (M4) methods, have been evaluated on three different silica supports (mesoporous SBA15 with 48- and 100-A pores and nonporous Cab-O-Sil EH5). The resulting solids have been characterized by a battery of techniques, including thermogravimetric analysis/differential scanning calorimetry, FT-Raman spectroscopy, 13C and 29Si magic-angle-spinning and cross-polarity/magic-angle-spinning spectroscopy, low-temperature nitrogen physisorption, and elemental analysis. The combination of elemental analysis and spectroscopic results has indicated that a variety of different surface species likely exist for most catalysts, including copper species that are both monocoordinated and biscoordinated by PMI ligands, and PMI-free copper bromide species interacting with the silica surface. M4 appears to give a material that has the smallest amount of the uncomplexed ligand (by FT-Raman spectroscopy) and is, therefore, the most homogeneous. After M4, the metallation efficiency decreases in the order M2 ≥ M3 > M1, with M1 giving a material with a highly heterogeneous surface composition. The ligand loading on all the catalysts has been determined to be approximately 1 mmol/g of SiO2, with Cab-O-Sil-supported materials giving much higher ligand densities because of its lower surface area. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 1367–1383, 2004
Investigation of solvation effects on the solid-state 31p nmr spectra of tertiary phosphine derivatives and metal complexes

An investigation of bis(diphenylphosphino)methane dioxide (dppm dioxide), cis-[PtCl2(PPh3)2] cis-[PtCl2{P(p-C6H4Cl)3}2] and cis-[PtBr2(PPh3)2] by solid-state CP/MAS 31P NMR spectroscopy, x-ray powder diffraction and 1H, 13C{1H} and 31P{1H} solution NMR methods illustrates the sensitivity of the appearance of solid-state NMR spectra to solvation effects in crystalline solids. The presence or absence of solvent of crystallization and the slow loss of solvent of crystallization from a sample over time are clearly manifested in the solid-state NMR spectra as the local site symmetry in the solid is changed. These effects have led workers to report different data for a given compound when, in fact, different types of solvates were investigated.
Film and Video

Film reviewed in this issue. The Act of Killing (2012/2014). 115 & 159 minute versions. Director: Joshua Oppenheimer. Co-directors: Anonymous and Christine Cynn. Cinematographers: Carlos Arango de Montis and Lars Skree.
Indole production by the tryptophanase TnaA in Escherichia coli is determined by the amount of exogenous tryptophan

The signalling molecule indole occurs in significant amounts in the mammalian intestinal tract and regulates diverse microbial processes, including bacterial motility, biofilm formation, antibiotic resistance and host cell invasion. In Escherichia coli, the enzyme tryptophanase (TnaA) produces indole from tryptophan, but it is not clear what determines how much indole E. coli can produce and excrete, making it difficult to interpret experiments that investigate the biological effects of indole at high concentrations. Here, we report that the final yield of indole depends directly, and perhaps solely, on the amount of exogenous tryptophan. When supplied with a range of tryptophan concentrations, E. coli converted this amino acid into an equal amount of indole, up to almost 5 mM, an amount well within the range of the highest concentrations so far examined for their physiological effects. Indole production relied heavily on the tryptophan-specific transporter TnaB, even though the alternative transporters AroP and Mtr could import sufficient tryptophan to induce tnaA expression. This TnaB requirement proceeded via tryptophan transport and was not caused by activation of TnaA itself. Bacterial growth was unaffected by the presence of TnaA in the absence of exogenous tryptophan, suggesting that the enzyme does not hydrolyse significant quantities of the internal anabolic amino acid pool. The results imply that E. coli synthesizes TnaA and TnaB mainly, or solely, for the purpose of converting exogenous tryptophan into indole, under conditions and for signalling purposes that remain to be fully elucidated.
Concurrent Web-programming in CLP(WEB)

Recent research has placed emphasis on the need for support for concurrency in the context of programming for the World Wide Web (W3). Frameworks like WebL, LogicWeb and Jinny make concurrency a key component of their W3 support. In this paper, we analyze the concurrent capabilities of CLP(WEB) (Constraint Logic Programming for the Web), a W3-oriented logic-based concurrent framework. CLP(WEB) offers two forms of concurrency, OR-concurrency and AND-concurrency. We illustrate how these forms of concurrency have been applied to tackle problems arising in W3 programming. We also show how the concurrent features proposed in other W3 programming frameworks are subsumed by CLP(WEB).
Operant conditioning: a new theoretical approach in psychosomatic medicine.

Recent advances in behavioral psychology have disproved the notion that autonomic responses are involuntary. New techniques based on operant conditioning have shown that when given the proper feedback and motivation, animal and human subjects can learn to control a wide variety of physiological responses. These new data suggest a behavioral alternative to present theories of psychosomatic medicine which rely heavily on psychodynamic formulations for their therapeutic technique. Such a behavioral approach would, like other forms of behavior modification, treat the symptom directly through the use of learning techniques based on operant conditioning. Experimental and clinical examples of these techniques as applied to problems of muscle tension and blood pressure are presented.
Air Pollution Impacts of Shifting Freight from Truck to Rail at California’s San Pedro Bay Ports

Escalating concerns about air quality in southern California have led authorities at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, also known as the San Pedro Bay Ports (SPBP), to adopt a number of measures designed to mitigate emissions. One way to do this is to shift some of the containers currently transported by drayage trucks to trains. This alternative is attractive because it would decrease congestion and air pollution on the area's main freeways (I-710 and I-110) and the arterials that serve the SPBP. In addition, it would increase road safety along the busy Alameda freight corridor between the SPBP and downtown Los Angeles. One drawback would be an increase in pollutant emissions from train operations in the Alameda corridor; however, trains tend to pollute less than trucks per ton-mile, and new federal regulations are tightening the emissions standards for diesel locomotives. The goal of this paper is to quantify the net impact of such a modal shift on the emission of particulate matter (PM) and nitr...
Role of CD8(+) lymphocytes in control and clearance of measles virus infection of rhesus monkeys

The creation of an improved vaccine for global measles control will require an understanding of the immune mechanisms of measles virus containment. To assess the role of CD8 + cytotoxic T lymphocytes in measles virus clearance, rhesus monkeys were depleted of CD8 + lymphocytes by monoclonal anti-CD8 antibody infusion and challenged with wild-type measles virus. The CD8 + lymphocyte-depleted animals exhibited a more extensive rash, higher viral loads at the peak of virus replication, and a longer duration of viremia than did the control antibody-treated animals. These findings indicate a central role for CD8 + lymphocytes in the control of measles virus infections and the importance of eliciting a cell-mediated immune response in new measles vaccine strategies.
A new species of Ophiomegistus Banks (Acari: Paramegistidae) from Papua New Guinea

A new species of Ophiomegistus, O. spectabilis, is described from New Guinea. This represents the 13th species of this genus from New Guinea skinks. A re-evaluation of host and locality data for the genus shows a host range restricted to squamates, especially skinks, but no obvious specificity for individual skink species. Specificity for small geographical areas seems more likely.
Exudate Protein Composition and Meat Tenderness of Broiler Breast Fillets

The relationship between meat tenderness and the protein composition of muscle exudates collected from broiler breast fillets deboned at different postmortem times was investigated. A total of 85 broilers were processed and breast fillets from each carcass were deboned at either 2 h (early-deboned, EB) or 24 h (control) postmortem. One fillet per carcass was used for 1 d postmortem meat tenderness measurements and the other fillet was stored at 4°C until 6 d postmortem for the collection of exudate prior to tenderness evaluation. Protein content and composition of muscle exudates were determined by a biuret assay and SDS-PAGE. Fillet pH, color, drip loss, and cook loss were also measured. Early-deboned fillets exhibited greater (P < 0.05) Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF) than controls at 1 d (7.4 vs. 3.1 kg) and 6 d (4.1 vs. 2.5 kg). Deboning time did not influence pH or color values (L*a*b*). Control fillets exhibited less drip loss after 6 d of storage (P = 0.005) and less cook loss at 1 and 6 d (P < 0.001). Exudate protein concentration was not influenced by deboning time. From the SDS-PAGE profiles of the exudates, the relative abundances of seventeen protein bands were quantified. Electrophoresis analysis revealed that, in general, the protein profiles of exudates from control and EB fillets were not distinct from each other. However, the band corresponding to 225 kDa was more abundant in controls (P = 0.021). Although the protein concentrations and SDS-PAGE profiles of muscle exudates varied widely between breast fillets, variations in exudate protein characteristics were not strongly associated with changes in the tenderness of broiler breast meat due to the combined effects of postmortem deboning time and post-deboning aging.
A systematic, quantum-mechanical, finite-order approach for the quantitative determination of molecular internal electric fields in guest–host systems from Stark spectroscopy

Within a host molecular system, such as cofactors in proteins, active sites in metal–organic frameworks, and dopants in semiconductor solids, a guest molecule experiences a very specific environment that includes interaction with electrostatic forces. As a supramolecular complex with a defined structure, the host will generate a defined net Coulombic force that undoubtedly influences the properties of its guest, including reactivity. This internal electric field experienced by a guest chromophore in a host matrix can be quantitatively determined at the molecular level using Stark spectroscopy, which is the application of an external electric field during spectral collection. Analysis of Stark spectra is typically performed using a truncated classical approach. However, a potentially more accurate quantum-mechanical approach based on perturbation theory was developed and previously described challenges to its implementation are overcome by the rigorous protocol reported here to achieve convergence for this theoretically infinite-order approach. In addition, a comparison of methods to calculate the required input for the approach (electronic properties, specifically transition energies and transition dipole moment) is made, ranging from semiempirical to time-dependent density functional to ab initio methods, which further reveals the governing aspects of this quantum-mechanical Stark effect analysis. The approach is illustrated with a biological guest–host system, the heme protein myoglobin, but an examination of theoretical aspects of the approach show that it is expected to have wider applicability to the quantitative measurement of internal electric fields in guest–host systems in general.
Incorporation of 14C-Labeled Acetate and Glucose into Triglycerides of Vitula edmandsae serratilineella Larvae

Previous investigations of the lipids in both larval and adult stages of the dried-fruit moth, Vitula edmandsae serratilineella Ragonot, reared on honeycomb, concerned a study of the lipid classes and their fatty acid compositions Miller and Blankenship 1968). It was noted in that study that the major lipid class present in both larvae and adults was triglycerides (75% of total lipid). This study deals with the injection of sodium-l-14-acetate and UL14C-glucose into intact larvae and the incorporation of such label into the triglycerides.
Ideation: The ‘Box’ and Its Discontents

‘Thinking outside the box’ is possibly the best known description of creativity. Metaphors can powerfully influence thinking (Gruber & Davis, 1988; Lakoff & Johnson, 1999), and this metaphor is rich with implications. It responds to a number of the philosophical questions that have made the concept of creativity important, as discussed in Chapter 1. What is the nature of change? By this common metaphor creative change is an escape from constraints. The old and new are clearly delineated and mutually exclusive. What vision of the self is implied? The ‘outside-the-box’ imperative assumes, and applies primarily to, individuals. People have to get outside of the assumptions they hold to see things differently. The self who is thinking outside the box is, therefore, continually conflicted. What he or she has assumed, believed or learned becomes ‘the box’ from which to escape. As a reflection of received knowledge, the box is also an expression of what culture holds to be true. The individual must escape both self and cultural conventions. Only a person seen as a self-contained unit can move, not only from context to context, but also to the non-context of ‘outside’. Context, culture, habits, experiences or even beliefs cannot be constitutive of the self who is given this mission.
Prognosis of Partial Epilepsy Predicted by MRI and PET

The evolution of cerebral glucose metabolism after partial seizure onset was studied in 38 children using PET scans over 3.0 +/- 1.3 years (and within a year after a third unprovoked partial seizure) by researchers at the Clinical Epilepsy Section, NINDS, and Children’s National Medical Center, Washington, DC.
Diencephalon with Atlas of the Thalamus

This chapter will concentrate on the dorsal thalamus or simply the thalamus. As can be seen from the terminology associated with the diencephalon, all structures are described by their spatial relationship to the thalamus, being above, below, or behind them. Glutamate is the principal transmitter in the thalamus.
Review of recent experimental results on the behavior of actinide-bearing oxides and related materials in extreme environments

Abstract Oxide materials find use throughout the nuclear fuel cycle, from actinide-bearing ores and commercial reactor fuels to wasteforms for radionuclide disposal. In geological, reactor, and waste repository conditions, these materials are often exposed to ionizing radiation, high temperatures, and mechanical stresses. Recently, a large body of work has investigated the response of actinide oxides and analogue compounds to extreme environments, including the individual and combined effects of radiation, temperature, and pressure. Study of the phase behavior of these materials under such conditions can lead to improved understanding of their stability throughout the nuclear fuel cycle, as well as strategies for the mitigation of associated performance degradation. This article reviews some recent experimental work on this topic, highlighting advanced techniques developed for the exposure of materials to extreme environments, and for the in situ characterization of their structural and chemical responses. The study of two classes of nuclear materials is reviewed: binary oxides typical of nuclear fuels, and complex oxides typical of geological materials and wasteforms. Particular emphasis is placed on the individual and combined effects of modifications to the atomic and electronic structures of materials by exposure to extreme environments.
A naturally occurring mixture of tocotrienols inhibits the growth of human prostate tumor, associated with epigenetic modifications of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p21 and p27

Tocotrienols, members of the vitamin E family, have three unsaturated bonds in their side chains. Recently, it has been suggested that the biological effects of tocotrienols may differ from that of tocopherols. Several in vitro studies have shown that tocotrienols have stronger anticancer effects than tocopherols. VCaP cell line used in this study is from a vertebral bone metastasis from a patient with prostate cancer. Eight-week-old male NCr(-/-) nude mice were subcutaneously injected with VCaP-luc cells in matrigel and then administered a tocotrienol mixture for 8 weeks. The tocotrienol mixture inhibited the growth of human prostate tumor xenografts in a dose-dependent manner. The concentrations of tocotrienols and their metabolites were significantly increased in treatment groups. Tocotrienols inhibited prostate tumor growth by suppressing cell proliferation, which was associated with the induction of the cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors p21 and p27. In addition, tocotrienol treatment was associated with elevated H3K9 acetylation levels at proximal promoter regions of p21 and p27 and with decreased expression of histone deacetylases. Tocotrienols inhibited human prostate tumor growth, associated with up-regulation of the CDK inhibitors p21 and p27. Elevated expression of p21 and p27 could be partly due to the suppressed expression of HDACs.
Columbia and Suffolk Terminal Sire Breed Effects

Summary An experiment that utilized the Suffolk breed as a standard of comparison was de- signed to evaluate the Columbia breed as a potential terminal sire breed. Lambs were born in 1978 to 333 Finncross ewes bred to Colum- bia (18) or Suffolk (10) rams. Breed of sire did not significantly affect ewe prolificacy, litter viability, number of lambs weaned per ewe lambing or litter weaning weight at 49 days of age. Litters sired by Columbia rams were lighter (P<.10) at birth than Suffolk-sired litters. Suffolk-sired lambs had higher (P< .05) birth weights, preweaning daily gains and wean- ing weights than lambs sired by Columbia rams. Sire breed effects on postweaning daily gain and 154-day weight were not significant but favored progeny of Suffolk rams by 4 and 2%, respectively. Columbia-sired lambs had lower leg conformation scores (P<.01), less fat depth (P<.05) and less percentage kidney fat (P<.10) than Iambs sired by Suffolk rams. Progeny of Columbia rams tended to have a greater esti- mated percentage of trimmed retail cuts (P< .10) and less carcass weight per day of age (P<.10) than Suffolk-sired lambs, while produc- tion of retail cuts per day of age was compara- ble for the two breed groups. Lambs sired by Suffolk rams had higher carcass conformation scores (P<.10), maturity scores (P<.05) and flank firmness scores (P<.10) than progeny of Columbia rams. Sire breed effects on carcass quality grade were not significant. We conclu- ded that Columbia rams produced progeny comparable in lean growth rate and carcass quality to progeny sired by Suffolk rams and Cooperation of the Nebraska Agr. Exp. Sta., Univ. of Nebraska at Lincoln, is gratefully acknowl- edged. 2 Roman L. Hruska US Meat Animal Research Cen- ter, AR, SEA. a Present address: Anim. Sei. Dept., Texas A&M Univ., College Station 77843. that the Columbia breed may serve effectively as a terminal sire breed. (Key Words-. Sheep, Ewe Productivity, Growth, Carcass Composition, Quality Grade.)
Decentralization reforms in dictatorial regimes as a survival strategy: Evidence from Pakistan:

Are decentralization reforms in dictatorial regimes mere window dressing or can they deliver longevity for dictators? Many scholars in political science have argued that seemingly democratic institutions established in dictatorships play a crucial role in increasing the survival potential of the authoritarian regime by providing a channel to the dictator to co-opt members of the opposition, identify their bases of support and recruit effective coalition members. While most of the existing analysis has focused on national elections and political parties, we use primary data and social network methodology to analyze the 2001 decentralization reforms established during General Musharraf’s military regime in Pakistan. We show that seemingly democratically empowering decentralized governance structures can also be used to distribute rents to political supporters through ostensibly legitimate channels. Therefore, this paper adds to the literature on institutions in dictatorships on two fronts in addition to pro...
Prenatal attitudes toward vaginal delivery and actual delivery mode: Variation by race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status.

Objectives Researchers documenting persistent racial/ethnic and socioeconomic status disparities in chances of cesarean delivery have speculated that women's birth attitudes and preferences may partially explain these differences, but no studies have directly tested this hypothesis. We examined whether women's prenatal attitudes toward vaginal delivery differed by race/ethnicity or socioeconomic status, and whether attitudes were differently related to delivery mode depending on race/ethnicity or socioeconomic status. Methods Data were from the First Baby Study, a cohort of 3006 women who gave birth to a first baby in Pennsylvania between 2009 and 2011. We used regression models to examine (1) predictors of prenatal attitudes toward vaginal delivery, and (2) the association between prenatal attitudes and actual delivery mode. To assess moderation, we estimated models adding interaction terms. Results Prenatal attitudes toward vaginal delivery were not associated with race/ethnicity or socioeconomic status. Positive attitudes toward vaginal delivery were associated with lower odds of cesarean delivery (AOR=0.60, P < .001). However, vaginal delivery attitudes were only related to delivery mode among women who were white, highly educated, and privately insured. Conclusions There are racial/ethnic differences in chances of cesarean delivery, and these differences are not explained by birth attitudes. Furthermore, our findings suggest that white and high-socioeconomic status women may be more able to realize their preferences in childbirth.
Acute bilateral retinal artery occlusion causing sudden blindness in 25-year-old patient

A 25-year-old male patient presented to the emergency department with the chief complaint of sudden blindness and was found to have suffered bilateral central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO). This process is most commonly the result of a thrombus or embolus that occludes the retinal artery, and normally presents in a single eye in patients older than 65 who are predisposed to vascular disease. Diagnosis relies most heavily upon funduscopic exam. Potential treatments involve ocular massage, acetazolamide, anterior chamber paracentesis and systemic or local fibrinolysis. Despite these interventions vision is often significantly and permanently impaired. This case underscores the importance of the emergency physician's ability to promptly perform and interpret the funduscopic exam in order to diagnose and evaluate CRAO.
Are ‘nudges’ getting a fair shot? Joint versus separate evaluation

The most effective behavioral policies are often also the most contentious. Psychologically informed interventions that promote non-deliberative behaviors (‘nudges’) are often more effective than ‘traditional’ policies (like informational and educational campaigns) that target more deliberative processes. Yet, precisely because of their deliberative nature, people are often said to prefer the latter over the former. In contrast, we provide evidence that people's preferences regarding nudges are malleable and influenced by the method of evaluation – whether the policy alternatives are evaluated separately or jointly. We show that while people exhibit a strong preference for more traditional public policies in joint evaluation, this preference is significantly attenuated in separate evaluation. We find that people perceive nudges as less paternalistic when judged on their own merits, that they are more likely to endorse nudges in separate than in joint evaluation, and that, provided with relative effectiveness information, people are willing to endorse nudges even in joint evaluation. We discuss the implications of these findings for researchers, policy-makers, and the general public.
Diagnostic Imaging, Economic Issues in

Advanced imaging modalities have revolutionized medical practice by improving clinical diagnostic ability, although contributing to rapid growth in aggregate spending. Economic characteristics of diagnostic imaging – such as economies of scale for high-cost equipment, informational asymmetry between providers and patients, and the potential for moral hazard – create challenges to efficient use. Economic evaluations show the potential value of appropriate imaging in improving diagnostic accuracy and health outcomes and in reducing uncertainty. But high and variable utilization rates suggest significant overuse. Across-the-board cuts and other utilization controls have curbed spending growth, but the extent of inefficiency – both static and dynamic – remains unclear.
ACTIONS OF ETHANOL METABOLISM ON FATTY ACID SYNTHESIS IN THE LIVER

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the actions of ethanol metabolism on fatty acid synthesis in the liver. In hepatocytes in a metabolic state favoring a high rate of lipogenesis, the conversion of ethanol to acetaldehyde in the cytosol inhibits fatty acid synthesis from glucose by decreasing the pyruvate supply. The primary effect of β-hydroxybutyrate on fatty acid synthesis, mediated by the NADH produced, is alteration in the differential flow of citrate carbon into the competing pathways of oxidation through the citric acid cycle in the mitochondria and transport to the cytosol for fatty acid synthesis. An increase in cytosolic citrate could increase the rate of fatty acid synthesis in two ways. Besides increasing the substrate concentration for ATP citrate lyase, the increase in citrate could positively modify the activity of acetyl CoA carboxylase. It is likely that acetaldehyde elevates fatty acid synthesis by a similar mechanism, although acetaldehyde might in addition provide some increase in the carbon supply.
Getting from 1,000 Genes to a Triad of Symptoms: The Emerging Role of Systems Biology in Autism Spectrum Disorders

Systems biological approaches will be required in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) to understand how a highly diverse set of genes can, when altered, lead to a well-defined behavioral phenotype. As our understanding of convergent pathways increases, we will begin to understand more about brain development and the molecular basis for brain function and behavior. One important outcome from systems biological analyses is the ability to identify driver genes within pathways and networks. Driver genes can be used for the validation of networks, and also represent high-impact genes for drug development. In this way, systems biological approaches will also inform drug discovery efforts. We provide a brief summary of systems-level analyses of common and rare genetic variation in ASD and of genes that are differentially expressed in postmortem ASD brain samples. In addition, we highlight some issues that will need to be resolved before systems biological approaches will be reliably useful in ASD research
Metabolic Regulation of Insulin Secretion

Understanding fuel-induced insulin-secretion cascades is essential to assessing beta-cell pathology in diabetes. Such understanding may pave the way for more effective therapies to treat or prevent diabetes and to maintain islets or surrogate beta cells for transplantation. Metabolic regulation of insulin secretion requires signals reflective of the metabolic state. Signals generally require large rapid changes of limited duration, competitive opposing signals, or ability to translocate. Here we will discuss the metabolic origin and consequences of the following putative metabolic signals that each exhibit such attributes: the adenosine triphosphate/adenosine diphosphate (ATP/ADP) ratio (competitive opposition), malonyl CoA (rapid transient)/long chain acyl CoA (LC-CoA) (competitive opposition, translocation), the redox state (competitive opposition), and the role of oscillations (rapid transient).
Case 6: Dehiscence of Penetrating Keratoplasty from Blunt Trauma

A 43-year-old woman presented with a dehisced penetrating keratoplasty graft, expulsed crystalline lens, vitreous loss, and choroidal detachment after blunt trauma to the right eye. The patient underwent immediate repair of the dehisced corneal transplant with interrupted 10-0 nylon sutures under general anesthesia. Her wound was closed successfully and her post-operative care involved treatment for aphakia. She was fitted with a hybrid contact lens and several scleral lenses, but remained bothered by anisometropia and issues with lens maintenance. She is currently considering secondary intraocular lens placement surgery. Other issues regarding traumatic dehiscence of penetrating keratoplasty wounds include infection, irregular corneal astigmatism, and graft failure.