cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Immunofluorescence analysis of antisense oligodeoxynucleotide-mediated 'knock-down' of the mouse δ opioid receptor in vitro and in vivo

We have previously used antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) to the cloned delta opioid receptor (DOR) to inhibit the antinociceptive response to spinally administered delta opioid receptor selective agonists in mice. Here we have examined the effect of DOR antisense ODN treatment on the level of DOR expressed in NG 108-15 cells and the spinal cord, through immuno-fluorescence microscopy, to determine the efficiency and selectivity of the antisense ODN-mediated "knock-down' of the DOR in these tissues. Antisense ODN, but not mismatch control, treatment resulted in a significant reduction in DOR immunoreactivity (-ir) in NG 108-15 cells and spinal cord. Thus, the inhibition of antinociceptive response to intrathecal delta selective agonists by DOR antisense ODN correlates with the loss of DOR-ir in the superficial layers of the dorsal horn of the spinal cord.
Efficacy of repeated high‐dose hepatitis B vaccine (80 μg) in patients with chronic liver disease

Patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) respond poorly to standard hepatitis B (HBV) vaccine given as sequential 20 microg IM shots because of an overall impaired immune response. Many of these patients go on to liver transplantation and are at risk of acquiring recurrent or de novo HBV infection. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of high-dose (80 microg) IM HBV vaccination in patients with CLD who had previously failed to respond to a standard three-dose schedule of 40 microg IM vaccine given monthly. A retrospective review was undertaken at our institution of 79 patients with CLD who were treated with high-dose (80 microg) HBV vaccinations. All had previously failed a three-dose course of 40 microg HBV vaccine. An HBV vaccine response was defined as an anti-HBs titer greater than 100 mIU/ml. Liver enzymes, creatinine, age, prothrombin time, total vaccine dose, and MELD score were recorded. No adverse events were reported. Seventy-two per cent (57/79) of the subjects had an adequate response after receiving a mean total dose of 220 mug vaccine (range 80-800 microg). Twenty-eight per cent (22/79) of the subjects did not respond after receiving a mean total dose of 420 microg vaccine (range 240-720 microg). Non-responders had more severe hepatic disease defined as a higher mean total bilirubin level (p = 0.003) and a lower mean albumin level (p < 0.05). Age, prothrombin time, MELD score, and creatinine were not statistically significant between the responders and non-responders. Repeated high-dose (80 microg) HBV vaccination, in patients who do not respond to standard HBV vaccine doses, is safe and effective in the majority of patients with CLD.
On the critical temperature for any strength of the electron-phonon coupling

Abstract A simple analytical expression describing Tc for any strenght of the electron-phonon coupling λ is derived directly from the Eliashberg equation. The behavior of the energy gap in the limits of strong coupling is studied.
Orbital-free density functional theory simulations of dislocations in magnesium

Metal plasticity is controlled by nucleation and motion of dislocations. Key metrics determining the ease of these two events are stacking fault energies (SFEs) and dislocation structures. Here we study screw and edge dislocation structures on the basal, prismatic and pyramidal planes in hexagonal-close-packed magnesium (Mg) using orbital-free density functional theory (OFDFT) in order to gain insight into plastic deformation mechanisms in Mg. The accuracy of the method is first benchmarked against the more accurate Kohn–Sham DFT (KSDFT) with emphasis on testing OFDFT's main approximations, i.e. the kinetic energy density functional and the bulk-derived local pseudopotential by comparing predicted equilibrium bulk energies, elastic constants and various SFEs. Then we compare generalized SFEs for the basal, prismatic and pyramidal slip systems calculated by OFDFT versus two mainstream counterparts, KSDFT and the classical potential embedded atom method (EAM). The latter produces spurious minima along the generalized SFE surface on the prismatic plane whereas OFDFT agrees with qualitative experimental observations. Thereafter, we optimize isolated dislocation structures within periodic cells containing a few thousand atoms. We predict that on the basal plane, the screw and edge dislocations separate into partial dislocations with widths of ~12 and ~24 A, respectively. Screw dislocations on the prismatic and pyramidal planes preferentially cross-slip and dissociate on the basal plane although a local minimum exists for a dissociated prismatic screw dislocation with widths of ≥~5 A. By contrast, the edge dislocations on prismatic and pyramidal planes are predicted to remain undissociated. Such cross-slip behavior of screw dislocations is not reproduced by EAM simulations. We propose that the propensity for screw dislocations to remain on or cross-slip to Mg's basal plane, along with the compact nature of edge dislocations on non-basal planes, is likely to be responsible for its limited ductility.
Social media, data integration, and human computation

Social media has emerged as a major frontier on the World-Wide Web, with applications ranging from helping teenagers track Justin Bieber to e-commerce to fostering revolutions. In this talk I will discuss our work in this area, as carried out at Wisconsin, Kosmix, and @WalmartLabs. I describe how we integrate data from "traditional" Web sources to build a global taxonomy, greatly expand it with social-media data, then leverage it to build consumer-facing applications. Example applications include building topic pages, detecting Twitter events, and monitoring these events. I discuss the critical role of data integration and human computation in processing social media. Finally, I discuss how all of these can help the emerging area of social commerce, and why Walmart recently acquired Kosmix to make inroads into this new and exciting area.
Electrical Life of Vacuum Interrupters

The breaking of currents from a couple of amperes to several tens of kilo-amperes is a main function of medium voltage circuit breakers. Vacuum has become the leading technology in this field with attributes such as high reliability and superior electrical endurance. Standards and specifications define testing procedures to demonstrate the electrical life of circuit breakers. The requirements vary from a couple up to several hundreds of interruptions. The paper discusses the results of electrical endurance tests on vacuum interrupters according to different procedures with emphasis on their severity and the actual life time expectancy of vacuum interrupters. The results show an almost unlimited electrical life at load current level and a short circuit life expectancy exceeding any standard. The arc control and current level turned out to have a strong influence, too. Differences could be shown with respect to the different test procedures.
Structure-function studies of modular aromatics that form molecular organogels.

Three urea-based aromatics 1−3, each with distinct steric and electronic characteristics, have been synthesized and their ability to undergo hierarchical assembly and gel organic solvents investigated. We have found that compound 1 promotes the sol−gel phase transition in primary alcohols (from CH3OH to C10H21OH; CGC < 15 mg/mL), while 2 and 3 do not. IR spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurements show that 1 organizes into “cylinders” in primary alcohols, using three-centered hydrogen bonds and π−π aromatic interactions. The cylinders further organize into pairs through interdigitation of the methyl groups of the adjacent aromatic rings. Importantly, the lateral packing of the cylinders is enhanced as the bulk solvent polarity increases providing a mechanism for controlling the material's morphology via the solvophobic effect. Molecular mechanics (Amber) and semiempirical (AM1) calculations suggested similar conformational behavior but distinct e...
A comparison of measured and calculated helium production in nickel using newly evaluated neutron cross sections for 59Ni

Fusion reactors will produce high levels of helium in surrounding materials with a helium (appm)-to-displacement ratio of about 10-to-1 in stainless steel. This high ratio can be obtained in mixed-spectrum reactors, which are used for fusion materials testing, due to unusually high thermal neutron cross sections for the sequential reactions 58Ni(n,γ)59Ni(n,α)56Fe. The highenergy (∼340 keV)56Fe recoils also add significantly to the displacement damage at the rate of one DPA per 567 appm helium. Until now, the calculation of helium production in nickel has been done in a semi-empirical manner due to a lack of evaluated cross sections for 59Ni. However, this approach cannot be readily transferred between different reactors since we do not know the contributions from epithermal neutrons in different neutron spectra. A new evaluation of the 59Ni cross sections has recently been completed, permitting us to calculate all of the required reaction rates for any given neutron spectrum. Radiometric dosimetry and helium measurements have recently been completed for several different mixed-spectrum reactors. Precise comparisons of the helium production cross sections and measurements can thus be made in well-characterized neutron spectra. Data are presented for several recent fusion materials irradiations in the Oak Ridge Research Reactor and High Flux Isotope Reactor at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and for the Experimental Breeder Reactor II at Argonne National Laboratory. Procedures are recommended for calculating helium production for nickel-bearing materials in any neutron spectrum.
Response of phosphopyruvate carboxylase to tryptophan metabolites and metal ions

Tryptophan, administered to rats, inhibits gluconeogenesis, but increases the activity of hepatic phosphopyruvate carboxylase when assayed in vitro. Quinolinate, a metabolite of tryptophan, inhibits gluconeogenesis in perfused livers, and inhibits phosphopyruvate carboxylase in liver cytosol from tryptophan-treated rats but not from normal rats. Metal-ion activation and quinolinate inhibition of hepatic cytosol phosphopyruvate carboxylase has been investigated in vitro. Of the cations tested, only Fe2+, Co2+, Cd2+ and Mn2+ appreciably increased this enzymic activity. Quinolinate inhibited the activity of divalent cation-treated enzyme in the order Co2+ Fe2+ Cd2+ and did not inhibit the Mn2+-treated phosphopyruvate carboxylase. Other tryptophan metabolites, metal chelators, and structural analogs of quinolinate have been tested, but only quinolinate lowered the activity of the Fe2+-treated enzyme substantially. The elevated phosphopyruvate carboxylase activity in cytosol of tryptophan-treated rats was lowered in vitro by quinolinate to the same extent as was the activity of the Fe2+-treated enzyme from normal rats. Ferrous iron is proposed as the physiologically important cation and quinolinate the important metabolite responsible for altering the activity of phoshopyruvate carboxylase in vivo following tryptophan administration.
Centromeric Locations in Karyotypes: a Rule Derived from the Theory of Brahnched Polymers

It is believed that chromosomes occupy non-overlapping domains in the interphase nucleus, and that the nuclear volume can be divided into the interchromosomal spce and the chromosome domains. Concentrations of various components (e.g., small ions) are different in these compartments. Since nuclear volume is twice as large in G2as in G1phase,V2/V1(the G2/G1ratio of total chromosomal volumes) must be two in order to keep the interchromosomal concentrations unchanged. The aim of the study is to test the ‘V2/V1’ hypothesis. It has been shown that G1-chromosomes behave as real flexible polymers. If a G2-chromosome behaves as a four-arm star-type branched polymer, then, according to polymer theory, its chromosome volume should depend on its centromere position. We calculatedV2/V1values for 40 karyotype, from yeast to human, and 19 of them haveV2/V1= 2 ± 10 %. There are two types of exceptions from the ‘V2/V1= 2’ rule: karyotypes with a large number of telocentric chromosomes (V2/V1> 2), and karyotypes with a large number of metacentric chromosomes (V2/V1< 2). It has been observed in the literature that for all-telocentric karyotypes of mouse and Chines muntjac, their chromosomes form branch-like structures, by association of centromeres in clusters in G2phase. When calculated for these temporary structures,V2/V1decreases to two if the number of associated chromosomes per cluster is greater than or equal to five. This corresponds to a number of centromere clusters per nucleus less than or equal to 8–9 for mouse and Chinese muntjac, which is consistent with observation. For rye, all-metacentric karyotype, the calculatedV2/V1value increases to nearly two if B-chromosomes are taken into account.
Higher frequency network activity flow predicts lower frequency node activity in intrinsic low-frequency BOLD fluctuations.

The brain remains electrically and metabolically active during resting conditions. The low-frequency oscillations (LFO) of the blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signal of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) coherent across distributed brain regions are known to exhibit features of this activity. However, these intrinsic oscillations may undergo dynamic changes in time scales of seconds to minutes during resting conditions. Here, using wavelet-transform based time-frequency analysis techniques, we investigated the dynamic nature of default-mode networks from intrinsic BOLD signals recorded from participants maintaining visual fixation during resting conditions. We focused on the default-mode network consisting of the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), left middle temporal cortex (LMTC) and left angular gyrus (LAG). The analysis of the spectral power and causal flow patterns revealed that the intrinsic LFO undergo significant dynamic changes over time. Dividing the frequency interval 0 to 0.25 Hz of LFO into four intervals slow-5 (0.01–0.027 Hz), slow-4 (0.027–0.073 Hz), slow-3 (0.073–0.198 Hz) and slow-2 (0.198–0.25 Hz), we further observed significant positive linear relationships of slow-4 in-out flow of network activity with slow-5 node activity, and slow-3 in-out flow of network activity with slow-4 node activity. The network activity associated with respiratory related frequency (slow-2) was found to have no relationship with the node activity in any of the frequency intervals. We found that the net causal flow towards a node in slow-3 band was correlated with the number of fibers, obtained from diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data, from the other nodes connecting to that node. These findings imply that so-called resting state is not ‘entirely’ at rest, the higher frequency network activity flow can predict the lower frequency node activity, and the network activity flow can reflect underlying structural connectivity.
Challenges in coupled thermal-hydraulics and neutronics simulations for LWR safety analysis

Abstract The simulation of nuclear power plant accident conditions requires three-dimensional (3D) modeling of the reactor core to ensure a realistic description of physical phenomena. The operational flexibility of Light Water Reactor (LWR) plants can be improved by utilizing accurate 3D coupled neutronics/thermal–hydraulics calculations for safety margins evaluations. There are certain requirements to the coupling of thermal–hydraulic system codes and neutron-kinetics codes that ought to be considered. The objective of these requirements is to provide accurate solutions in a reasonable amount of CPU time in coupled simulations of detailed operational transient and accident scenarios. These requirements are met by the development and implementation of six basic components of the coupling methodologies: ways of coupling (internal or external coupling); coupling approach (integration algorithm or parallel processing); spatial mesh overlays; coupled time-step algorithms; coupling numerics (explicit, semi-implicit and implicit schemes); and coupled convergence schemes. These principles of the coupled simulations are discussed in details along with the scientific issues associated with the development of appropriate neutron cross-section libraries for coupled code transient modeling. The current trends in LWR nuclear power generation and regulation as well as the design of next generation LWR reactor concepts along with the continuing computer technology progress stimulate further development of these coupled code systems. These efforts have been focused towards extending the analysis capabilities as well as refining the scale and level of detail of the coupling. This article analyses the coupled phenomena and modeling challenges on both global (assembly-wise) and local (pin-wise) levels. The issues related to the consistent qualification of coupled code systems as well as their application to different types of LWR transients are presented. Finally, the advances in numerical and computation techniques for coupled code simulations are summarized with outlining remaining challenges.
Nonverbal communication as a function of attribution in impression formation

Arguing that the function of nonverbal cues in social communication can be elucidated within an impression formation paradigm, this study tested two hypotheses. The first predicted that the dominant role of nonverbal cues in social exchange is restricted primarily to the attribution of attitudes and affect toward others. The second hypothesis predicted that if subjects were instructed to focus on either the person or the message in making their judgments of what was being communicated, they would discriminate between judgments of the speaker and of the speaker's explicitly staled message when the verbal and nonverbal cues were inconsistent. Clear support for the first hypothesis and partial support for the second were interpreted as suggesting that nonverbal cues in social communication are mediated through attributions concerning the character and intentions of the communicator.
Renegotiating desire in North America: risky education

This article assumes that desire, like fear, is an inescapable human condition; both are conditions that construct us as subjects of social relationships, and are capable of being embedded in discourse, episteme and institutions. This article is framed around three questions. The first: how can desire be understood and applied to the various processes of education? The second: what are the possible effects of foregrounding desire as the unit of analysis for education in the moment of historical and cultural plurality that characterises North America? The third: what possibilities does a foregrounding (of desire) open for the study of comparative education?
Au NPs-aptamer conjugates as a powerful competitive reagent for ultrasensitive detection of small molecules by surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy

Features of Au NPs-aptamer conjugates as a powerful competitive reagent to substitute antibody in enhancing surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy (SPR) signal for the detection of small molecule are explored for the first time. In order to evaluate the sensing ability of Au NPs-aptamer conjugates as a competitive reagent, a novel SPR sensor based on indirect competitive inhibition assay (ICIA) for the detection of adenosine is constructed by employing the competitive reaction between antiadenosine aptamer with adenosine and antiadenosine aptamer with its partial complementary ss-DNA. The partial complementary ss-DNA of antiadenosine aptamer is firstly immobilized on SPR gold film as sensing surface. When the Au NPs-antiadenosine aptamer conjugates solution is added to SPR cell in the absence of adenosine, Au NPs-antiadenosine aptamer conjugates is adsorbed to SPR sensor by the DNA hybridization reaction, and results in a large change of SPR signal. However, the change of SPR signal is decreased when the mixing solution of adenosine with Au NPs-antiadenosine aptamer conjugates is added. This is because adenosine reacts with antiadenosine aptamer in Au NPs-antiadenosine aptamer conjugates and changes its structure from ss-DNA to tertiary structure, which cannot hybridize with its partial complementary ss-DNA immobilized on SPR gold surface. Based on this principle, a SPR sensor for indirect detection of adenosine can be developed. The experimental results confirm that the SPR sensor possesses a good sensitivity and a high selectivity for adenosine, which indirectly confirms that Au NPs-aptamer conjugates is a powerful competitive reagent. More significantly, it can be used to develop other SPR sensors based on ICIA to detect different targets by changing the corresponding type of aptamer in Au NPs-aptamer conjugates.
A finite shell element for heart mitral valve leaflet mechanics, with large deformations and 3D constitutive material model

This paper presents a shell finite element formulation appropriate for simulating the heart valve leaflet mechanics, including three-dimensional (3D) stress and strain effects. A 4-node mixed-interpolation shell is formulated in convected coordinates. This shell model is made capable of handling arbitrary 3D material models by use of an algorithm that satisfies the shell stress assumption at every element integration point. A method for tracking the fiber direction is incorporated. The resulting shell element operates under the same conditions as a standard 4-node shell element with 5 degrees of freedom per node, but extends the modeling capabilities to handle large-deformation and anisotropic behavior.
Image algebra networks for pattern classification

A neural network structure that learns feature extraction and classification operations simultaneously is described. The feature extraction operations are represented using generalized image algebra operations. Learning rules are described. Linear operations and nonlinear, hit-or-miss operations are used to perform handwritten digit recognition.
Stability of MMPI Scale Scores Within Four Codetypes Across Forty Years

The changes in the standard validity and clinical scales on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) were examined within four frequently occurring codetypes (Spike 4, 2-4/4-2, 2-7/7-2, and 6-8/8-6) in samples of psychiatric patients over a time span of 40 years. The validity and clinical scale scores within these four codetypes were very stable over this time span with differences in the range of only a few T-score points. These results are very similar to those reported by Pancoast and Archer (1989) who found remarkable stability in the MMPI scale scores of normal adult samples across 40 years.
Stem cell origin of testicular seminoma.

Abstract Introduction A major question concerning cancer is its cells of origin. We hypothesized that distinct cancer subtypes arise from unique cancer-initiating cells. By performing a microarray meta-analysis of seminomas and spermatogonial stem cells, we investigated a putative cell of origin for seminoma. Materials and Methods We obtained published microarray data for 6 human adult germ cell lines, 16 embryonic stem cell lines, 3 normal testicular tissue samples, and 40 seminomas from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. By assessing correlations between various tissue microarrays, we determined the number of transitional events and the distance between seminomas and human spermatogonial stem cells. Results Our meta-analysis showed that spermatogonial stem cells correlated similarly with seminoma (95% CI of Spearman ρ, 0.33-0.44) and with normal somatic testicular tissue cells (95% CI, 0.39-0.40), which suggests parallel paths of cellular origins. Conclusion Analysis of our results suggests that a unique cancer subtype, namely seminoma, may have originated from an undifferentiated cell with stemness features rather than from a differentiated cell that acquired stemness features.
Biomacromolecule Surface Recognition using Nanoparticle Receptors

Biomacromolecule surface recognition is an important factor in regulating cellular processes. Nanometer-scale mixed monolayer-protected clusters (MMPCs) provide scaffolds for creating receptors targeting biomacromolecular surfaces. Unique features of nanoparticles that make them particularly attractive resources for biomacromolecular recognition and their use in modification of structure and function of biomacromolecules are illustrated in this review.
A mononuclear gold complex catalyst supported on MgO: spectroscopic characterization during ethylene hydrogenation catalysis

Abstract Mononuclear gold complexes supported on MgO powder were prepared by adsorption of Au(CH 3 ) 2 (C 5 H 7 O 2 ) and tested as catalysts for ethylene hydrogenation at atmospheric pressure and 353 K. The catalyst was characterized in the working state with extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS), X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES), and infrared (IR) spectroscopies. EXAFS and XANES data demonstrate the presence of mononuclear Au(III) complexes as the predominant surface gold species during catalysis, with no evidence of metallic gold clusters, confirmed by the lack of AuAu contributions in the EXAFS spectra and the presence of the characteristic features of Au(III) in the XANES spectra. The mononuclear gold complex is bonded to two oxygen atoms of the MgO surface at an AuO distance of 2.16 A. Ethyl and π -bonded ethylene on the mononuclear gold were identified by IR spectroscopy, with the former identified as a reactive intermediate and the latter apparently a spectator or involved as an intermediate in virtually equilibrated steps. Hydrogen on the mononuclear gold is inferred to form by dissociative adsorption of H 2 , as indicated by the order of the catalytic reaction in H 2 of 0.5.
New structural features of freeze-substituted neuritic growth cones

Abstract Glutaraldehyde has recently been shown to cause artifacts in some lipid-rich, protein-poor membranes. To investigate this point in neuritic growth cones, we used freeze substitution on the assumption that this technique would eliminate fixation artifacts produced by interaction of chemical fixatives with living cells. Cultures of isolated sympathetic neurons from the superior cervical ganglion of 18-day rat fetuses were rapid-frozen on a copper block cooled by liquid helium and freeze-substituted in osmium-acetone. Material for comparison was fixed by glutaraldehyde and then rapid-freezing, by a combination of glutaraldehyde, osmium tetroxide and potassium ferrocyanide, or by routine methods. The blebs or ‘mounds’ commonly seen in growth cone membrane appear whenever glutaraldehyde is used as the primary fixative, but not in material fixed by freezing. Furthermore, fixation with rapid-freezing resolved filopodial filamentous material into strands of microfilaments ending near the plasmalemma. These strands extended along and across the filopodia; both their dimensions and position suggest that they could be involved with growth cone motility. Coat material associated with the plasmalemma and with the microfilaments was also much more prominent in freeze-substituted material.
Genomic capital: public cultures and market logics of corporate biotechnology.

(2003). Genomic Capital: Public Cultures and Market Logics of Corporate Biotechnology. Science as Culture: Vol. 12, No. 1, pp. 87-121.
High Temperature Superconductivity: Novel Concepts And Fundamental Issues

ABSTRACTA review of the basic technical issues relevant to the effective utilization of hightemperature superconductivity in electronic device and component applications ispresented. Many of the key issues pertain to material science; in this discourse,however, other more fundamental consequences of high temperature superconductivity areaddressed, which inherently influence, and in fact, may limit the role of high temperaturesuperconductivity in many conventional technology applications. BCS theory is used toestimate the characteristics of high temperature superconductivity and to provide insightinto the use as well as the potential limitations of high temperature superconductivity inhigh- impact technology areas. 1. INTRODUCTIONThe recent discovery of high temperature superconductivity rivals the invention of thetransistor, both as a scientific novelty and in terms of potential technological impact.In the scientific community, this discovery is viewed as a remarkable manifestation ofnature; much excitement and speculation has been generated concerning the impact of hightemperature superconductivity on a wide variety of commercial and military applications.Although there is ample cause for enthusiasm, there are two major issues yet to beresolved before viable applications can be realized. The first, the materials issue,concerns the synthesis of stable, reproducible materials with useable electromagneticproperties and current densities. The second, the concepts issue, involves theelucidation of fundamental physical limitations inherent in the phenomena of hightemperature superconductivity.In this paper, a synopsis of the discovery is presented, and an elucidation of thefundamental technical issues embodying high temperature superconductivity is given.
Short‐Term Treatment with High‐Dose Atorvastatin Reduces LDL Cholesterol but Shows no Anti‐Inflammatory Effects in Normolipidemic Subjects with Normal CRP Levels

The benefit in reducing cardiovascular risk with statins has been attributed both to cholesterol lowering and pleiotropic effects. These pleiotropic effects are thought to include attenuation of the inflammatory response due to reduced prenylation of proteins in the inflammatory cascade. We conducted studies in normolipidemic subjects to determine if treatment with high-dose (80 mg) atorvastatin could reduce circulating levels of inflammatory markers. We also determined whether high-dose atorvastatin affected the inflammatory response of monocytes stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) ex vivo. We found that treatment with atorvastatin rapidly and significantly reduced plasma low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels in subjects treated for 2 weeks. However, statin treatment had no discernible effect on plasma levels of the inflammatory markers high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, or interleukin (IL-6) and no effect on the cytokine response of monocytes following ex vivo stimulation with LPS. High-dose atorvastatin treatment of normolipidemic subjects with normal C-reactive protein levels has no effect on the inflammatory response assessed by monocyte stimulation with LPS ex vivo despite significant reductions in LDL cholesterol levels.
Data analysis for the CHARA Array CLIMB beam combiner

The CHARA Array is a six telescope optical/IR interferometer run by the Center for High Angular Resolution Astronomy of Georgia State University and is located at Mount Wilson Observatory just to the north of Los Angeles California. The CHARA Array has the largest operational baselines in the world and has been in regular use for scientific observations since 2004. Our most sensitive beam combiner capable of measuring closure phases is the CLassic Interferometry with Multiple Baselines beam combiner known as CLIMB. In this paper we discuss the design and layout of CLIMB with a particular focus on the data analysis methodology. This analysis is presented in a very general form and will have applications in many other beam combiners. We also present examples of on sky data showing the precision and stability of both amplitude and closure phase measurements.
Muscle uptake of 18-fluorine fluorodeoxyglucose.

F LUORODEOXYGLUCOSE (FDG) is well established as a tumor-seeking agent that is taken up by a wide variety of malignant tumors. Several nonmalignant lesions also are FDG avid, as are normal organ systems that use glucose as part of their metabolism. Low-grade FDG uptake in muscles is part of the normal biodistribution pattern of FDG, especially during physical activity. When this uptake is symmetric and corresponds to the location of a specific group of muscles, it is easily recognizable. Accurate interpretation of asymmetric muscular activity is more difficult. Recognition of unusual patterns and the location of benign physiologic muscular uptake of FDG is important for avoiding misinterpretations of positron emission tomography (PET) images. I describe 4 cases with unusual muscular FDG uptake that was noted during whole-body FDG imaging of nondiabetic patients. CASE 2
Behavioral medicine in the 21st century: transforming "the Road Less Traveled" into the "American Way of Life".

Introduction A key objective of this paper is to describe some major challenges and opportunities facing the behavioral medicine field in the current decade. Amidst current US statistics that present a sobering image of the nation's health, there have been a number of notable achievements in the behavioral medicine field that span the scientific/health continuum. However, many of these achievements have received little notice by the public and decision makers.
Ethnomedical syndromes and treatment-seeking behavior among Mayan refugees in Chiapas, Mexico.

This survey investigated the prevalence of ethnomedical syndromes and examined treatments and treatment-seeking in Mayan Guatemalans living in United Nations High Commissioner for Refugee (UNHCR) camps in Chiapas, Mexico. Methods included a rapid ethnographic assessment to refine survey methods and inform the cross-sectional survey, which also examined mental health outcomes; 183 households were approached for interview, representing an estimated 1,546 residents in five refugee camps and 93% of all households. One adult per household (N = 170) was interviewed regarding his or her health; an additional 9 adults in three surveyed households participated and were included in this analysis; of the 179 participants, 95 primary child-care providers also answered a children’s health questionnaire for their children. Results indicated that ethnomedical syndromes were common in this sample, with 59% of adults and 48.4% of children having experienced susto (fright condition) and 34.1% of adults reporting ataques de nervios (nervous attacks); both conditions were significantly associated with symptoms consistent with posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression and are mental health conditions recognized by the American Psychiatric Association. Combining healthcare provider and indigenous treatments such as physician prescribed medication (65%), medicinal plants (65.7%), and limpias (spiritual cleansings) (40.6%) was reported. Most participants (86%) sought routine medical treatment from UNHCR trained health promoters in their camp. Assessing ethnomedical health is important for informing mental health programs among this population.
The Dorian Gray effect: winners as state breakers in postcommunism

Abstract This paper examines the relations between postcommunist states and the powerful economic groups that dominated the early stages of postcommunist economic restructuring. The main argument is that the strategic actions of “winners” systematically undermine the capacity of state institutions and the organizational coherence of administrative agencies. Against the background of a detailed study of one particular story of “postcommunist success”, the rise of Multigroup in Bulgaria, I explore the concrete manifestations of “state weakness” in postcommunism, the nature of redistributive conflicts the former socialist societies, and the historical specificity of the processes undermining the organizational bases of governance in the former Soviet world.
Hybrid Cloud Placement Algorithm

A fully functional hybrid cloud solution requires a placement service to automatically decide whether an application should be deployed on premise, in a public cloud, or across private and public clouds. Such a service must consider application structure and communication patterns, application affinity requirements, which usually result from data protection rules, and deployment costs. In this paper, we propose a hybrid cloud placement approach which addresses these challenges. Our approach considers application requirements, cost, and private cloud capacity. Further, it is tunable to allow for changing application patterns and business objectives and offers a useful trade-off between application QoS and its deployment cost.
The Effects of the Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency Standards in the US

This paper examines the effects of the Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards (CAFE) on automobile sales, prices, and fuel consumption. First a discrete choice model of automobile demand and a continuous model of vehicle utilization are estimated using micro data from the Consumer Expenditure Survey for 1984–1990. Next, the demand side model is combined with a model of oligopoly and product differentiation on the supply side. With these elements in place, the effects of the CAFE regulation are assessed through simulations, and compared to the effects of alternative policy instruments, such as an increase in gasoline tax.
Determination of plasma testosterone using a simple liquid chromatographic method.

Abstract A simple and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method using ultraviolet detection was developed for the determination of testosterone in human plasma. Testosterone and the internal standard, griseofulvin, were extracted from 0.50 ml plasma sample using a mixture of dichloromethane–2,2,4-trimethylpentane (3:2, v/v). The mobile phase, consisted of 0.02 M sodium dihydrogenphosphate–acetonitrile–methanol (51:47:2, v/v) adjusted to pH 3.1 and delivered to a C 18 analytical column (150×4.6 mm I.D., 4 μm particles) at a flow-rate of 1 ml/min while the detection wavelength was set at 240 nm with a sensitivity range of 0.005 a.u.f.s. The method has a quantification limit of 1.6 ng/ml. Recoveries of testosterone were all greater than 92% over the linear concentration range of 1.6–400 ng/ml while that of griseofulvin was approximately 95%. The within- and between-day RSD values were all less than 8% while the accuracy values ranged from 96.0 to 106.0% over the concentration range studied. The method was applied to the analysis of early morning plasma testosterone levels of 12 healthy human male volunteers. The levels were found to range from 3.1 to 8.4 ng/ml, within the normal range reported in the literature.
A single-inductor 0.35µm CMOS energy-investing piezoelectric harvester

Because miniaturized systems store little energy, their lifespans are often short. Fortunately, vibrations are consistent and abundant in many applications, so ambient kinetic energy can be a viable source. Vibrations induce the charges in piezoelectric transducers to build electrostatic forces that damp vibrations and convert kinetic energy into the electrical domain. The shunting switches and switched-inductor circuit of bridge rectifiers in [1-2] increase this output energy by extending the damping (i.e., harvesting) duration within a vibration cycle. Because the output voltages of bridge rectifiers clamp and limit the electrical damping forces built, switched-inductor converters in [3-4], whose damping voltages can exceed their rectified outputs, draw more power from vibrations. Still, electrical-mechanical coupling factors in tiny transducers are low, so electrical damping forces (i.e., voltages) remain weak. Investing energy into the transducer can increase this force, but unlike in [5-6], which demand multiple inductors and high-voltage sources, the system presented here invests energy with only one inductor at low voltages.
Solvation of the Fluoride Anion by Methanol

Solvation of the fluoride anion by methanol was investigated through vibrational predissociation spectroscopy of small cluster ions. The strong hydrogen-bond interaction between the anion and the h...
Nanoscale metal oxide particles/clusters as chemical reagents. Unique surface chemistry on magnesium oxide as shown by enhanced adsorption of acid gases (sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide) and pressure dependence

Surface adsorptive properties of nanoscale MgO particles have been compared with more conventional samples. Morphologically the nanoparticles (autoclave prepared = AP-MgO) are unique and very different from the conventional samples (conventionally prepared = CP-MgO), and AP-MgO possesses more defects, edge and corner sites, higher surface area and more higher index surfaces. The number of residual surface −OH groups/nm2 is similar for both types of samples. Differences in adsorptivity of SO2 and CO2 at relatively low pressure (20 Torr) were determined by gravimetric means. Much larger quantities were adsorbed by AP-MgO. This process of chemisorption was dynamic, and oxygen scrambling occurred when SO2 and Mg18O nanoparticles were in contact. These results, complying with FTIR studies, are rationalized as due to higher intrinsic surface reactivity coupled with higher concentrations of lower coordination ions on the nanoparticle. Pressure studies showed, however, that as 100 Torr of SO2 or CO2 was reached, ...
Apoptosis of oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system results in rapid focal demyelination

Objective: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system that presents with variable pathologies that may reflect different disease-causing mechanisms. Existing animal models of MS induce pathology using either local injection of gliotoxins or stimulation of the immune system with myelin-related peptides. In none of these models is the primary cellular target well characterized, and although demyelination is a hallmark pathological feature in MS, it is unclear to what extent this reflects local oligodendrocyte loss. To unambiguously identify the effects of oligodendrocyte death in the absence of inflammatory stimulation, we developed a method for experimentally inducing programmed cell death selectively in mature oligodendrocytes and assessed the effects on demyelination, immunological stimulation, and gliosis. The resulting pathology is discussed relative to observed MS pathologies. Methods: Oligodendrocyte apoptosis was induced in the adult rat brain using a lentivirus to express experimentally inducible caspase 9 (iCP9) cDNA under transcriptional control of the promoter for myelin basic protein, which is oligodendrocyte-specific. Activation of iCP9 was achieved by distal injection of a small molecule dimerizer into the lateral ventricle resulting in localized, acute oligodendrocyte apoptosis. Results: Induced oligodendrocyte apoptosis resulted in rapid demyelination and robust, localized microglial activation in the absence of peripheral immune cell infiltration. Lesion borders showed layers of preserved and degraded myelin, whereas lesion cores were demyelinated but only partially cleared of myelin debris. This resulted in local proliferation and mobilization of the oligodendrocyte progenitor pool. Interpretation: This approach provides a novel model to understand the pathological changes that follow from localized apoptosis of myelinating oligodendrocytes. It provides the first direct proof that initiation of apoptosis in oligodendrocytes is sufficient to cause rapid demyelination, gliosis, and a microglial response that result in lesions sharing some pathological characteristics with a subset of MS lesions. ANN NEUROL 2012;72:395–405
Classifying community services: A comparison of intuitive and empirical techniques

Abstract Public services have been studied because of their importance for community development and their usefulness as indicators of quality of life. Current work on community services, however, is limited by the lack of a system for classifying services that has both theoretical and applied usefulness. This paper compares two methods for constructing a taxonomy of community public services. Data were drawn from a 50 percent sample of Iowa communities ranging in size from 500 to 10,000 residents (N = 195). Completed questionnaires were returned by 174 city clerks who indicated which of 38 public services were available in their communities. Reliability and Guttman analyses were performed on eight intuitively developed service categories. All eight met the basic requirement of internal consistency and five met the minimal requirement for reproducibility. Factor analysis was performed to determine whether common factors occurred among the items. Seven unique factors were identified. Discussion centers on ...
Anger management style, degree of expressed anger, and gender influence cardiovascular recovery from interpersonal harassment

The hypothesis that the degree to which individuals expressed anger during harassment would mediate relationships between anger management style and cardiovascular recovery from harassment was examined in a college sample of 31 men and 32 women. Subjects told stories about Thematic Apperception Test cards during nonharassment and harassment phases. Words spoken during the storytelling reflecting “aggressive behavior” and “angry/hostile affect” were coded from audiotapes. Responses on the Anger-out subscale (AOS) of the Anger Expression Inventory were positively correlated with expression of angry/hostile affect words, and with SBP increases during harassment. During recovery, high AOS men and low AOS women showed sustained SBP, while men who expressed much anger and women who expressed little anger showed sustained SBP. Additional tests provided support for the hypothesis: SBP responses of high AOS men and low AOS women during recovery were partly mediated by the degree to which subjects expressed anger during harassment.
Understanding the Practical Advantages of Modern ANOVA Methods

Examined the fundamental problems associated with standard hypothesis testing techniques. This article explains why many articles have failed to detect problems due to nonnormality and discusses the basics of modern methods aimed at correcting these problems. Based on hundreds of published articles, it is now known that when groups differ, the analysis of variance (ANOVA) F test and related techniques that assume normality and homoscedasticity (equal variances) can perform poorly. In practical terms, if researchers interested in clinical child and adolescent psychology want to detect important differences among groups and accurately assess how the groups differ, and by how much, modern technology has much to offer. In fact, even highly nonsignificant results based on an F test can become significant. Moreover, modern methods offer improved control over the probability of a Type I error and more accurate confidence intervals.