cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lectican proteoglycans, their cleaving metalloproteinases, and plasticity in the central nervous system extracellular microenvironment

The extracellular matrix (ECM) in the central nervous system actively orchestrates and modulates changes in neural structure and function in response to experience, after injury, during disease, and with changes in neuronal activity. A component of the multi-protein, ECM aggregate in brain, the chondroitin sulfate (CS)-bearing proteoglycans (PGs) known as lecticans, inhibit neurite outgrowth, alter dendritic spine shape, elicit closure of critical period plasticity, and block target reinnervation and functional recovery after injury as the major component of a glial scar. While removal of the CS chains from lecticans with chondroitinase ABC improves plasticity, proteolytic cleavage of the lectican core protein may change the conformation of the matrix aggregate and also modulate neural plasticity. This review centers on the roles of the lecticans and the endogenous metalloproteinase families that proteolytically cleave lectican core proteins, the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs (ADAMTSs), in neural plasticity. These extracellular metalloproteinases modulate structural neural plasticity-including changes in neurite outgrowth and dendritic spine remodeling-and synaptic plasticity. Some of these actions have been demonstrated to occur via cleavage of the PG core protein. Other actions of the proteases include cleavage of non-matrix substrate proteins, whereas still other actions may occur directly at the cell surface without proteolytic cleavage. The data convincingly demonstrate that metalloproteinases modulate physiological and pathophysiological neural plasticity.
Hemopoietic stem cell heterogeneity: Use of cell cycle-specific drugs to look for age-associated alterations

Hemopoietic tissue is vulnerable to perturbations, and data show that it is an appropriate tissue in which to look for age-associated alterations. This tissue has a high regenerative capacity, is composed of a heterogeneous population of stem cells that are capable of self renewal or differentiation, or both, and is sustained by a pool of resting cells. The heterogeneity of bone marrow has made characterization of the cellular elements difficult. Techniques commonly used to identify and quantify the various maturation levels of hemopoietic stem cells and the limitations of these techniques are discussed. Most techniques used to assay age-associated changes in bone marrow have not differentiated between specific cellular alterations or shifts in the distribution of the cellular elements. In particular, it has been difficult to determine the stability of the non-dividing stem cell because of the low incidence of this cell (6 per 1000) and the lack of a specific assay for this important cell type. The use of cell cycle-specific drugs has provided quantitative information on specific subpopulations of hemopoietic stem cells and seems to be the most promising approach towards determining qualitative and quantitative differences in the hemopoietic stem cells of young and old individuals.
TEM study of grain boundaries in Ag-clad Bi2Sr2CaCu2Ox tapes

Abstract Grain boundaries in Ag-clad 2212 tapes have been characterized extensively by TEM and HREM. All tapes show a colonial microstructure. The grains in each colony are plate-like, and their c-axes are parallel to each other. Most of the grain boundaries in each colony are low-angle [001] twist boundaries. The equilibrium structure of the twist boundaries consists of the perfect crystal structure plus a square network of the primary grain boundary dislocations. A low-energy twist boundary in the high-angle region was also observed. Observation of a grid of the secondary grain boundary dislocations indicates that the twist boundary consists of the corresponding order structure and substantial periodic strain fields. The colony boundaries are in general high-angle mixed-grain boundaries. The c-axes between colonies are tilted by a large angle that ranges from 10 to 30°. Most of the colony boundary planes are parallel to the (001) lattice plane in one of the grains that form the boundaries. Non-parallel boundaries are strongly faceted into a number of segments. which are parallel to the (001) plane. Large triangular holes were observed along a large part of the colonial boundaries in the cross-sectional samples, indicating that the impurity phases or voids could exist at colonial boundaries.
Correlation of head-to-body delivery intervals in shoulder dystocia and umbilical artery acidosis.

Abstract Objective: Our goal was to determine the effect of shoulder dystocia on umbilical artery acidosis. Study Design: We performed a retrospective analysis of 134 mother-infant pairs of shoulder dystocia cases at our institution from January 1, 1994, through December 31, 1997. Cases were identified from the obstetric database, and charts were abstracted for demographics, head-to-body delivery interval, umbilical blood gas parameters, and neonatal outcome. Pooled student t tests were used to compare mean blood gas values with data previously reported from our patient population. Regression analysis was performed regarding head-to-body delivery interval and blood gas parameters. Results: The mean umbilical artery pH of shoulder dystocia cases (7.23 ±.082) was less than the mean arterial pH of all vaginal deliveries in our institution (7.27 ±.069), P r 2 =.0004), P CO 2 ( r 2 =.011), or base deficit ( r 2 =.006). Increasing head-to-body delivery interval was also not significantly correlated with decreasing 5-minute Apgar score ( r =.0278). Conclusion: In our study population, shoulder dystocia resulted in statistically significant but clinically insignificant reductions in mean umbilical artery blood gas parameters. No statistically significant linear relationship was identified between the head-to-body delivery interval and fetal acid-base status. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2001;185:268-74.)
Psychosocial assets and severity of chronic asthma.

Abstract A quantitative evaluation of psychosocial assets and environmental change was made in a group of 36 asthmatic patients in whom corticosteroids were part of comprehensive, long-term treatment. There were 15 men and 21 women, ranging in age from 19 to 74 years. All patients were maintained at the lowest possible dosage, but only 5 were not on steroids continuously. Psychosocial assets (coping abilities) were evaluated with the Berle Index (BI). This instrument provides quantitative values for psychologic and social items such as social status, medical history other than asthma, factors related to patient's family, interpersonal relationships, past performance, attitudes, and personality structure. The mean amount of daily prednisone or its equivalent was calculated for the year following the psychosocial testing. Patients with low psychosocial assets (BI s = −0.564, p
Confusion of tricuspid incompetence with mitral insufficiency-a pitfall in the selection of patients for mitral surgery.

1. 1. Five cases of severe mitral stenosis with associated tricuspid incompetence that masqueraded as mitral insufficiency are presented. 2. 2. They were suspected of having significant mitral insufficiency chiefly because of a loud systolic murmur in the apical area. 3. 3. The systolic murmur which was loudest along the lower left sternal border and xiphoid region, and which increased in intensity on deep inspiration, was due to tricuspid incompetence rather than mitral insufficiency. 4. 4. In addition to the tricuspid murmur, other features commonly present were: atrial fibrillation, advanced right heart failure, loud functional pulmonic murmurs, and other physical evidence of tricuspid incompetence. Cardiomegaly was greater than usual in mitral stenosis because of more advanced right ventricular hypertrophy. 5. 5. At surgery, severe mitral stenosis without insufficiency was discovered, and operation was followed by uniformly good results. 6. 6. They represent a group of incapacitated patients that often are denied surgery for mitral stenosis when they could be benefited.
Medical Evaluation of the Obese Individual

Overweight and obesity are the most common medical problems seen in primary care practice, affecting over 60% of adults and 15% of adolescents [1]. Obesity affects at least nine organ systems, and it is linked to the most prevalent and costly medical problems seen in daily practice. Thus, treatment and control of obesity have the potential to have a significant impact on several chronic diseases. Yet despite the importance of screening and evaluating for obesity and the recommendation to do so from multiple organizations [2–8], detection and counseling rates among physicians remain low [9–11]. Several observational studies show that physicians are more likely to discuss weight problems with their patients only after they have developed moderate-to-severe obesity or associated comorbidities [12]. Reasons for this delayed action include lack of education and training in obesity management, time restraints, lack of reimbursement for obesity as a diagnostic code, and clinician attitudes of futility and lack of perceived benefit and reward. The ill fortune of this clinical inertia toward obesity care is that the most successful treatment is likely to be early intervention and prevention, before development of more severe obesity and comorbid conditions. According to Kristeller et al [13], three factors are necessary for physicians to intervene: adequate recognition of obesity as a medical problem, willingness to provide intervention, and adequate skills or resources to do so. For psychiatrists, the need to recognize obesity and the weight gain that occurs as a consequence of medications is important for several reasons. Patients are at risk of developing obesity-related silent
Unlinkable priced oblivious transfer with rechargeable wallets

We present the first truly unlinkable priced oblivious transfer protocol. Our protocol allows customers to buy database records while remaining fully anonymous, i.e., (1) the database does not learn who purchases a record, and cannot link purchases by the same customer; (2) the database does not learn which record is being purchased, nor the price of the record that is being purchased; (3) the customer can only obtain a single record per purchase, and cannot spend more than his account balance; (4) the database does not learn the customer’s remaining balance. In our protocol customers keep track of their own balances, rather than leaving this to the database as done in previous protocols. Our priced oblivious transfer protocol is also the first to allow customers to (anonymously) recharge their balances. Finally, we prove our protocol secure in the standard model (i.e., without random oracles).
In situ and ex situ characterization of molybdenum thin films

In situ and ex situ characterizations have been utilized in order to investigate the growth as well as the physical and chemical properties of molybdenum thin films deposited by radio frequency (rf) magnetron sputtering on soda-lime glass substrates. The effects of the deposition pressure on the nucleation and growth mechanisms that ultimately influence the films' morphology and grain structure have been studied. Correspondence between real time spectroscopic ellipsometry (RTSE), X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and four-point probe resistivity measurements indicate that increasing deposition pressures lead to smaller average grain sizes in the Mo thin films. RTSE, XRD, and resistivity measurements also indicate that increasing deposition pressures lead to increased void volume fraction in the films.
Studies on the biology of the periodontium of marmosets.

Six adult cotton ear marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) fed a vitamin C-free synthetic diet of known composition developed overt evidence of ascorbic acid deficiency beginning 2 to 4 months after initiation of the test regimen. Three marmosets fed the identical diet plus a daily supplement of vitamin C served as controls. The animals were maintained on the vitamin C-free diet until they became moribund and were killed and necropsied. The control animals were sacrificed following the death of the last of the test group. Comparative gross and histologic examinations of the periodontal structures revealed striking changes in the periodontal ligament of the scorbutic marmosets with relatively minor alterations in the osseous and gingival components. The periodontal involvement was largely confined to the alveolar segment and consisted of ligamental hemorrhages, loss of ligamental compactness and density, reduction in number of attachment fibers and loosening of the teeth.
The Effect of Concurrent Straining on Phase Transformations in NiAl Bronze During the Friction Stir Processing Thermomechanical Cycle

Equivalent strains up to a value of ≈2.7 were determined by evaluation of the shape changes of the phases in a duplex α(fcc)/β(bcc) microstructure formed ahead of the pin tool extraction site during the friction stir processing (FSP) thermomechanical cycle in a cast NiAl bronze alloy. Correlation of the local strains with volume fractions of the various microstructure constituents in this alloy shows that the concurrent straining of FSP results in acceleration of the α + β → β reaction in the thermomechanically affected zone (TMAZ) ahead of the pin extraction site. The resulting volume fraction of β (as determined by the volume fraction of its transformation products formed during post-FSP cooling) corresponds closely to the volume fraction expected for the peak stir zone temperature measured separately by means of thermocouples embedded within the tool pin profile along the tool path. The stir zone (SZ) in this material exhibits near-equilibrium microstructures despite brief dwells near the peak temperature (T peak ≈ 0.95T melt), reflecting large local strains and strain rates associated with this process.
A Review of “Divorce: Causes and Consequences”

Since the advent of no-fault divorce, dissolutions of marriage have imposed both positive and negative conditions on families. The “industry” of marriage and family therapy has boomed, and countles...
Malevolent Creativity: Does Personality Influence Malicious Divergent Thinking?

The purpose of this research was to examine the relationship between malevolent creativity and personality, with a specific focus on the traits of antagonism, aggression, and sympathy. Participants (N = 265) completed a series of personality measures and two divergent thinking tasks (uses for a brick and a pencil). Responses were coded for fluency and malevolent creativity. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed that gender, conscientiousness, and trait physical aggression accounted for unique variability in malevolent creativity scores. These results confirm the link between personality and malevolent creativity, corroborating the General Model of Aggression and extending understanding of malevolent creativity, a new subfield of creativity research.
Contingent Capture at a very short SOA: Evidence against Rapid Disengagement

Salient cues that do not contain the target's defining attribute do not cause a spatial cueing effect in response time when presented 150 ms before the target. This can be explained by Contingent Capture (under which incongruent cues do not capture attention) and also by Rapid Disengagement (under which salient but incongruent cues cause only brief capture). To discriminate between these models, a very short SOA of 35ms was employed in the standard paradigm. As is true for longer SOAs, there was no evidence of attentional capture by salient but incongruent cues. Thus, the evidence to date favours Contingent Capture over Rapid Disengagement.
Sparsity-Enforced Slice-Selective MRI RF Excitation Pulse Design

We introduce a novel algorithm for the design of fast slice-selective spatially-tailored magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) excitation pulses. This method, based on sparse approximation theory, uses a second-order cone optimization to place and modulate a small number of slice-selective sine-like radio-frequency (RF) pulse segments ("spokes") in excitation fc-space, enforcing sparsity on the number of spokes allowed while si multaneously encouraging those that remain to be placed and modulated in a way that best forms a user-defined in-plane target magnetization. Pulses are designed to mitigate B1 inhomogeneity in a water phantom at 7 T and to produce highly-structured excitations in an oil phantom on an eight-channel parallel excitation system at 3 T. In each experiment, pulses generated by the spar- sity-enfoldquoced method outperform those created via conventional Fourier-based techniques, e.g., when attempting to produce a uniform magnetization in the presence of severe B1 inhomogeneity, a 5.7-ms 15-spoke pulse generated by the sparsity-enforced method produces an excitation with 1.28 times lower root mean square error than conventionally-designed 15-spoke pulses. To achieve this same level of uniformity, the conventional methods need to use 29-spoke pulses that are 7.8 ms long.
Cloture Reform and Party Government in the Senate, 1918–1925

Why does filibustering persist in the U.S. Senate? This article analyzes senators' preferences toward majority cloture from 1918 to 1925, a crucial period in Senate history. I find that majority party members were more likely to support stricter cloture rules, but support for cloture reform diminished within both parties for senators far from the party median. I find little evidence that support or opposition to cloture reform was linked to seniority, prior House experience, legislative activism, or state size. These findings are consistent with the micro-level claims of conditional party government theory.
Analytical Scaling of Thermal Swing Adsorption

Abstract With many applications of fixed-bed gas-solid adsorption systems, it is not surprising to find a considerable amount of work reported in the literature, presented in conferences, and summarized in a number of textbooks. Reviews of different adsorption systems are available from Ruthven (5), Wankat (9), Yang (11), and Suzuki(7). The oldest adsorption process for gas purification employs thermal swing adsorption (TSA) cycles. Strongly adsorbed species are desorbed by raising the temperature of the adsorbent and sweeping the strongly adsorbed species out of the void space with a purge gas which is frequently the direct heating medium.
Exploring the Effect of Stick-Slip Friction Transition Across Tape-Roller Interface on the Transmission of Lateral Vibration

In magnetic tape drives, lateral in-plane vibration of the tape leads to misalignment between data tracks and read/write head's position resulting in reduced storage capacity. To attenuate this lateral tape motion (LTM), surface guides-which include grooved, porous or roughened rollers-are used. The axial motion of the tape over the roller surface switches between two states: a sticking state when the axial force is smaller than the static frictional force; and a slipping state when the axial force is larger than the frictional force. A good understanding of the physical phenomena involved in this frictional interaction between the magnetic tape and surface friction guides will allow the appropriate and optimal choice of roller characteristics. We conduct a parametric study of frictional interaction between roller surface and the traveling magnetic tape by systematically varying the axial tension and transport velocity of the tape. An experimental setup is used to independently control these parameters and obtain lateral vibration measurements at two equidistant points-upstream and downstream-from the tape-roller interface. Techniques from spectral analysis are applied to the two signals to analyze and isolate the effect of stick-slip friction on LTM. It is noticed that the coherence function between the LTM signals provides valuable insight into the nature of stick-slip friction at the interface. We subsequently use it as a metric to construct and understand the “dynamic phase diagram,” i.e., to demarcate regions in the tension-velocity phase-space where predominance of stick or slip occurs.
Mapping snow properties for spatially distributed snow hydrological modeling in mountainous areas using passive microwave remote sensing data

A method to incorporate passive microwave remote sensing measurements in a spatially distributed snow hydrology model is investigated. The difference in scale is tackled using an electromagnetic scattering model and parameter estimation techniques. An important aspect is accounting for the lack of homogeneity within the area of the sensor footprint.
Dynamics of tongue gestures extracted automatically from ultrasound

We describe a system for automatically extracting dynamics of tongue gestures from ultrasound images of the tongue using translational deep belief networks (tDBNs). In tDBNs, a joint model of the input and output vectors are learned during a generative pretraining stage, and then a translation step is used to transform input-only vectors into this joint representation. A final fine-tuning stage is then used to reconstruct the desired outputs given input vectors. We show that this technique dramatically improves performance on segmenting ultrasound image sequences of continuous speech into individual consonant gestures compared with the original DBN method of [1] as well as alternative methods using PCA and support vector machines.
Injection, Flow, and Mixing of CO2 in Porous Media with Residual Gas

Geologic structures associated with depleted natural gas reservoirs are desirable targets for geologic carbon sequestration (GCS) as evidenced by numerous pilot and industrial-scale GCS projects in these environments world-wide. One feature of these GCS targets that may affect injection is the presence of residual CH4. It is well known that CH4 drastically alters supercritical CO2 density and viscosity. Furthermore, residual gas of any kind affects the relative permeability of the liquid and gas phases, with relative permeability of the gas phase strongly dependent on the time-history of imbibition or drainage, i.e., dependent on hysteretic relative permeability. In this study, the effects of residual CH4 on supercritical CO2 injection were investigated by numerical simulation in an idealized one-dimensional system under three scenarios: (1) with no residual gas; (2) with residual supercritical CO2; and (3) with residual CH4. We further compare results of simulations that use non-hysteretic and hysteretic relative permeability functions. The primary effect of residual gas is to decrease injectivity by decreasing liquid-phase relative permeability. Secondary effects arise from injected gas effectively incorporating residual gas and thereby extending the mobile-gas plume relative to cases with no residual gas. Third-order effects arise from gas mixing and associated compositional effects on density that effectively create a larger plume per unit mass. Non-hysteretic models of relative permeability can be used to approximate some parts of the behavior of the system, but fully hysteretic formulations are needed to accurately model the entire system.
Gas Phase and Surface Reactions in Mocvd of GaAs from Triethylgallium, Trimethylgallium, and Organometallic Arsenic Precursors

The growth of GaAs from triethylgallium (TEG) and trimethylgallium (TMG) with tertiarybutylarsine (tBAs), triethylarsenic (TEAs), and trimethylarsenic (TMAs), has been investigated by using a reactor equipped with a recording microbalance for in situ rate measurements. Rate data show that the growth with these precursors is dominated by the formation of adduct compounds in the gas lines, by adduct related parasitic gas phase reactions in the heated zone, and by the surface reactions. A model is proposed for the competition between deposition reactions and the parasitic gas phase reactions. Model predictions are in very good agreement with experimental data for all combinations of precursors except for TEG/TMAs where extensive gallium droplet formation is observed at low temperatures. Growth of reasonable quality GaAs with Hall mobilities of 7600 cm2/Vs at 77 K using TEG and tBAs is reported for the first time.
Practice of social work consultation: a survey

In an effort to find out more about what social work consultants actually do--arrangements and motives for consultation, identification of consultees, and typical examples of consultative intervention--the authors conducted a survey of some 500 social work consultants. The results indicate the indeterminate state of social work consultation.
Adaptive neural network satellite attitude control in the presence of inertia and CMG actuator uncertainties

A neural network-based adaptive attitude tracking controller is developed in this paper, which achieves attitude tracking in the presence of parametric uncertainty, nonlinear actuator disturbances, and unmodeled external disturbance torques, which do not satisfy the linear-in-the-parameters assumption (i.e., non-LP). The satellite control torques are produced by means of a cluster of control moment gyroscopes (CMGs), which have uncertain dynamic and static friction in the gimbals in addition to unknown electromechanical disturbances. Some challenges encountered in the control design are that the control input is premultiplied by a non-square, time-varying, nonlinear, uncertain matrix and is embedded in a discontinuous nonlinearity. Controller performance is proven via Lyapunov stability analysis.
CT-Fluoroscopic Cervical Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injections: Extraforaminal Needle Tip Position Decreases Risk of Intravascular Injection

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Cervical transforaminal epidural steroid injections are commonly performed for temporary pain relief or diagnostic presurgical planning in patients with cervical radiculopathy. Intravascular injection of steroids during the procedure can potentially result in cord infarct, stroke, and even death. CT-fluoroscopy allows excellent anatomic resolution and precise needle positioning. This study sought to determine the safest needle tip position during CT-guided cervical transforaminal epidural steroid injection as determined by the incidence of intravascular injection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated procedural imaging for consecutive single-site CT-fluoroscopic cervical transforaminal epidural steroid injection performed during a 13-month period. Intravascular injections were identified and classified by volume, procedure phase, vessel type, and needle tip position relative to the targeted neural foramen. ANOVA, Wilcoxon, or Pearson χ2 testing was used to assess differences among groups as appropriate. RESULTS: Intravascular injections occurred in 49/201 (24%) procedures. Of the intravascular injections, 13/49 (27%) were large, 10/49 (20%) were small, and 26/49 (53%) were trace volume. Sixteen of 49 (33%) intravascular injections occurred with a trial contrast dose; 27/49 (55%), with a steroid/analgesic cocktail; and 6/49 (12%), with both. Twenty-seven of 49 (55%) intravascular injections were likely venous, 22/49 (45%) were indeterminate, and none were likely arterial. The intravascular injection rate was significantly lower (P CONCLUSIONS: An extraforaminal needle position for CT-guided cervical transforaminal epidural steroid injection decreases the risk of intravascular injection and therefore may be safer than other needle tip positions.
RNA polymerase II CTD phospho-sites Ser5 and Ser7 govern phosphate homeostasis in fission yeast

Phosphorylation of the tandem YSPTSPS repeats of the RNA polymerase II CTD inscribes an informational code that orchestrates eukaryal mRNA synthesis. Here we interrogate the role of the CTD in phosphate homeostasis in fission yeast. Expression of Pho1 acid phosphatase, which is repressed during growth in phosphate-rich medium and induced by phosphate starvation, is governed strongly by CTD phosphorylation status, but not by CTD repeat length. Inability to place a Ser7-PO4 mark (as in S7A) results in constitutive derepression of Pho1 expression in phosphate-replete medium. In contrast, indelible installation of a Ser7-PO4 mimetic (as in S7E) hyper-represses Pho1 in phosphate-replete cells and inhibits Pho1 induction during starvation. Pho1 phosphatase is derepressed by ablation of the CTD Ser5-PO4 mark, achieved either by mutating Ser5 in all consensus heptads to alanine, or replacing all Pro6 residues with alanine. We find that Ser5 status is a tunable determinant of Pho1 regulation, i.e., serial decrements in the number of consensus Ser5 heptads from seven to two elicits a progressive increase in Pho1 expression in phosphate-replete medium. Pho1 is also derepressed by hypomorphic mutations of the CTD kinase Cdk9. Inactivation of the CTD phosphatase Ssu72 attenuates Pho1 induction in wild-type cells and blocks Pho1 derepression in S7A cells. These experiments implicate Ser5, Pro6, and Ser7 as component letters of a CTD coding "word" that transduces a repressive transcriptional signal via serine phosphorylation.
Book Review: People as a Part of Nature: Reviewing the Law of the Mother

This is a review of a Sierra Club book entitled Law of the Mother: Protecting Indigenous People in Protected Areas. The book is a collection of essays about indigenous people and the efforts to protect the environment surrounding them. The conservation community needs to recognize the role of indigenous people as an inherent part of nature rather than as intruders. While the essays are informative, the editor romanticizes indigenous people into guardians of a mystical code called "the Law of the Mother."
New Insights on the Override Control Problem

This paper considers the override (OR) control strategy, employed for systems possessing limits on the plant variables (states and output). The aim of this work is to analyze the OR control problem on the basis of the well studied anti-windup (AW) control problem in order to facilitate transparency and systematization in the OR control system design. The performance objective related to the OR control problem is first defined and a general structural representation for OR control, comprising potential static and dynamic configurations as special cases, is then presented. The effect of OR control on the closed-loop is evaluated in terms of a general framework, termed conditioning of the plant, which permits the unification and comparison of all OR control schemes. A difference system describing the mismatch between the OR control system and the ideal output constrained system responses is further employed for comparison of OR control schemes and for synthesis of compensators as it readily quantifies the OR control objective. Finally, an optimal LMI-based optimization method for designing static OR controllers is provided and the resulting performance of the design strategy is shown by a simulation example.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Kava—polynesian beverage shrub

The potent alkaloidal content of this plant has lonǵ made it an important intoxicatinǵ ceremonial plant of the Pacific islands and accounts for the minor commercial siǵnificance attached to it today.
Determination of less than a nanomol of cerebrosides by high performance liquid chromatography with gradient elution analysis

A gradient elution high performance liquid chromatography method with detection at 230 nm for the analysis of perbenzoylated cerebrosides containing hydroxy and nonhydroxy fatty acids is described. The quantitative range of the method is 0.5-10 nmol of cerebrosides. The limit of detection for injected sample is about 10 picomol. The analysis time by liquid chromatography is less than 5 minutes and prior purification of the cerebro- sides from other lipids in brain lipid extracts is not neces- sary. The cerebrosides are first perbenzoylated with 50 pl of 10% benzoyl chloride in pyridine and then separated on a chromatographic column of Zipax. The gradient elution is with 2.8-5.5% of dioxane in hexane. This gradient elution micromethod is at least 10 times more sensitive than isocratic elution methods with detection at 280 nm. The method is applicable to other biological ma- terials containing minute amounts of cerebrosides if the glycolipid fraction is first isolated from the lipid extracts. A further fourfold increase in the sensitivity is achieved by replacing air in the reference cell of the detector by gradient elution solvent.
Editorial overview: Consumer behavior

The field of consumer behavior addresses a rich array of basic and applied issues of interest to a wide range of scholars. The present collection of 30 articles reviews state of the art research in four broad domains of consumer behavior including: firstly, perception (e.g. aesthetics, attitudes, brands, judgement and decision-making, metacognition, numbers, sensory marketing); secondly, goals and motivation (e.g. evolutionary motives, identity, intertemporal tradeoffs, goals, materialism, self-control); thirdly, interpersonal processes (e.g. collaborative consumption, consumer-brand relationships, power, prosocial consumer behavior, service failures); and finally, societal level issues (e.g. corporate social responsibility, culture and diversity, environmentalism, health behavior, social media marketing and the digital self). As a set, these reviews highlight the exciting, dynamic, and far reaching nature of consumer behavior.
Adenosine-induced alterations in the adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate levels in mammalian epidermis.

The addition of 0.5 mM adenosine to keratomed epidermal strips obtained from human volunteers or mice significantly increased the level of adenosine 39:59-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) in the tissue. The increase was dose dependent between 0.05 mM and 0.01 M adenosine. Theophylline decreased the adenosine-induced increase in cyclic AMP, while other cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase inhibitors such as papaverine or Ro 20-1724 augmented the increase. Adenosine 59-monophosphate but not adenine increased the level of cyclic AMP in the epidermis. Epidermal basal cells in primary culture responded to the addition of adenosine and dipyridimole with a threefold increase in the cyclic AMP concentration in the cells. Adenosine increased the cyclic AMP levels in lesional and uninvolved areas of epidermis obtained from psoriatic patients.
Resource ratios determine nutrient limitation of primary productivity in the ocean

What is the ultimate limiting nutrient in the ocean? The dominant theory, which was first proposed by Redfield and later formalized by Tyrrell, states that despite the scarcity of fixed nitrogen in the surface ocean, phosphorus availability ultimately determines primary productivity. Two recent findings directly challenge the assumptions of the Redfield-Tyrrell paradigm: the discovery of systematic variations of phytoplankton N:P:Fe and widespread iron-limitation of phytoplankton. Here we use a simple model of nitrogen, phosphorus, and iron cycling to show how the resource demand ratios and biogeography of phytoplankton interact with resource supply ratios to govern nutrient cycling and primary productivity. We find that all three nutrients can limit global primary productivity, and that the ratio of geochemical supply to biological demand of each nutrient in each ocean region determines the limiting nutrients, with nitrogen fixation providing a mechanism for the cycles to interact. These results have important consequences for our understanding of biogeochemical cycles, ocean atmosphere interactions, marine ecology, and the response of ocean ecosystems to climate change. Our work demonstrates the importance of resource ratios and suggests that future studies of the physiological and geochemical regulation of these ratios are indispensable to building accurate theories and future predictions of nutrient cycling and primary productivity.
Adding 3D graphics support to PLX

PLX is a compact, fully subword-parallel instruction set architecture (ISA) for very fast multimedia processing. This paper adds floating-point instructions to PLX for 3D graphics processing, which is essential for applications such as games and digital content creation. Based on an analysis of the 3D graphics pipeline from an ISA point of view, we show the operations and data types needed. We present the FP ISA and demonstrate its use and performance with code examples from the 3D graphics pipeline.
HIV stigma: perceptions from HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients in a community dental clinic.

Background. In the medical sense, stigma has been defined as the collection of negative attitudes and beliefs that are directed at people living with a particular condition or disease process. A cohort study was conducted to explore the HIV stigma that is perceived by HIV-positive individuals versus that perceived by the general population within a community-based dental clinic. Methods. Two separate and independent cross-sectional surveys, the Berger Stigma Scale and the Rutgers-Modified Berger Stigma Scale, were employed in order to analyze the stigma factors of an HIV-positive population versus an HIV-negative general population, respectively. The HIV stigma factors studied included personalized stigma, disclosure concerns, negative self-image, and concern with public attitudes. Results. The total stigma scale scores for the studied HIV-positive population were significantly lower than the total stigma scale scores for the studied HIV-negative population (P < 0.05). Conclusion. Interestingly, there is a misplaced expectation by the general population that HIV-positive individuals experience more stigma than the HIV-positive population in the clinic actually reported. Interventions to reduce HIV stigma should be an integral component of comprehensive care for all patients.
Effects of ultra-high dilutions of sodium butyrate on viability and gene expression in HEK 293 cells

Background Several recent studies reported the capability of high diluted homeopathic medicines to modulate gene expression in cell cultures. In line with these studies, we examined whether ultra-high dilutions (30C and 200C) of sodium butyrate (SB) can affect the expression levels of genes involved in acquisition of a senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) in human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells. Methods Cell viability was evaluated using a 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The expression levels of TNF-α, interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10 genes were determined by real-time PCR assay. Results Exposure to both 30C and 200C during 48 h led to a significant decrease of the level of expression of TNF-α gene, while expression of IL-2 gene was increased when exposed to 30C, and expression of IL-10 gene was decreased when exposed to 200C. No changes in expression levels of all genes studied were observed in cells treated with both 30C and 200C remedies of SB during the 24 h. Conclusion Observed changes in gene expression levels after exposure to 30C and 200C remedies of SB during 48 h suggest that extremely low concentrations of this agent can modulate the transcriptome of HEK 293 cells. These results are in line with findings from other studies confirming the ability of homeopathic remedies to modulate gene expression in cell cultures.
Open to death: A moderating role of openness to experience in terror management

Abstract Research on terror management theory demonstrates that people respond to reminders of mortality with defenses aimed at maintaining their self-esteem and defending cultural worldviews. We posited that being open to experience should allow individuals to process death more receptively (i.e., with curiosity), attenuating the need to bolster self-esteem or defend worldviews, because death is a novel experience. Across three studies, dispositional openness moderated reactions to mortality salience. Individuals low in openness to experience responded to mortality salience with increased self-esteem striving (Study 1) and worldview defense (Study 2), and this functioned to decrease the subsequent availability of death-related thought (Study 2). Individuals high in openness to experience did not exhibit these same defense tendencies. Study 3 examined a possible mechanism for the attenuated effects observed among high openness individuals: increased curiosity in response to mortality salience was found to decrease worldview defense, but only for those high in openness. Together this research depicts openness as a resource facilitating reduced defensiveness following mortality salience.
Imaging of current flow in the human head during transcranial electrical therapy

Abstract Background It has been assumed that effects caused by tDCS or tACS neuromodulation are due to electric current flow within brain structures. However, to date, direct current density distributions in the brains of human subjects have not been measured. Instead computational models of tDCS or tACS have been used to predict electric current and field distributions for dosimetry and mechanism analysis purposes. Objective/Hypothesis We present the first in vivo images of electric current density distributions within the brain in four subjects undergoing transcranial electrical stimulation. Methods Magnetic resonance electrical impedance tomography (MREIT) techniques encode current flow in phase images. In four human subjects, we used MREIT to measure magnetic flux density distributions caused by tACS currents, and then calculated current density distributions from these data. Computational models of magnetic flux and current distribution, constructed using contemporaneously collected T 1 -weighted structural MRI images, were co-registered to compare predicted and experimental results. Results We found consistency between experimental and simulated magnetic flux and current density distributions using transtemporal (T7-T8) and anterior-posterior (Fpz-Oz) electrode montages, and also differences that may indicate a need to improve models to better interpret experimental results. While human subject data agreed with computational model predictions in overall scale, differences may result from factors such as effective electrode surface area and conductivities assumed in models. Conclusions We believe this method may be useful in improving reproducibility, assessing safety, and ultimately aiding understanding of mechanisms of action in electrical and magnetic neuromodulation modalities.
The 5-year cost of coronary angioplasty was lower than that of bypass surgery only in patients with 2-vessel coronary disease

Source Citation Hlatky MA, Rogers WJ, Johnstone I, et al., for the Bypass Angioplasty Revascularization Investigation (BARI) Investigators. Medical care costs and quality of life after randomizatio...
A simple method for tension-free Billroth I anastomosis after gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

Billroth I anastomosis (B-I), or gastroduodenostomy, is a popular reconstructive procedure performed after a distal gastrectomy for the treatment of gastric cancer. The advantages of B-I include simplicity, the maintenance of physiological food passage, and the retention of iron metabolism after distal gastrectomy (1,2). Because tension at the anastomotic site is a major cause of post-operative leaking, most of surgeons perform Kocher’s maneuver to decrease tension after B-I. However, sometimes Kocher’s maneuver alone does not adequately decrease the tension. Herein we introduce a new, simple technique to minimize tension after B-I for gastric cancer.
Pricing Strategy in Electric Power Systems

Abstract Following Vickrey's pioneering work on responsive pricing, optimal electricity spot pricing internalizing electricity transportation network costs and constraints his been recently investigated. This paper extends the spot pricing theory by including system security control issues into the Model. The speed and precision of response iipoted by the engineering and physics of systea security control pose a prices versus quantities dileaaa on electricity pricing. This dileini is investigated in the context of a proposed pricing structure including contingency planning and an enhanced role of a center/market Baker in implementing system security control. It is shown thst socially optimal prices internalizing security control exist and are robust and feasible to determine without unreasonable information requirements by the market Baker. Optimal prices are deterained and interpreted. Applications of immediate interest are also discussd.
Effects of various levels of squid hydrolysate and squid meal supplementation with enzyme-treated soy on growth performance, body composition, serum biochemistry and histology of Florida pompano Trachinotus carolinus

Abstract The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of plant-based diets supplemented with various levels of enzyme-treated soybean meal (ESBM) and squid products on the growth, proximate composition, serum biochemistry, and liver and intestinal histological alterations in pompano ( Trachinotus carolinus ). A 15% poultry by-product meal (PBM) based practical diet was used as a reference and basal diet was produced by replacing PBM with ESBM. Basal diet was then modified to contain varying levels of squid products. Squid hydrolysate (SH) and squid meal (SM) were added to basal diets, to produce diets containing 1, 2 and 4% of the squid products. A total of eight experimental diets were each fed to quadruplicate groups of 20 pompanos (mean initial wt = 7.68 ± 0.1 g) in a recirculating rearing system for 56 d. Results from the growth trial indicate that fish fed with basal diet exhibited significantly lower growth performance and feed utilization as compared to fish fed with PBM. The addition of 4% SH improved the response of basal diet and did not show any significant difference in terms of growth performance as compared to PBM. Whole body proximate and amino acids composition of fish were not significantly different among fish reared on any of the diets. Data on mineral composition of fish showed that the content of phosphorus and calcium were significantly higher in fish fed with basal diet compared to other treatments. Total protein and cholesterol level of fish fed PBM were significantly lower compared to basal diet. Total albumin, alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, and bile acids were similar among the dietary treatments. Fish fed with basal diet showed disordered vacuolization in the liver and decreased the lamina propria thickness in the intestine. The inclusion of 4% SH partly prevented the alteration of liver and distal intestine of Florida pompano and findings were similar to fish fed with PBM. Based on these results, combination of ESBM and 4% SH has the potential to serve as an alternative protein source and attractant to improve the efficacy of plant-based diet for pompano.
Prevalence of Complementary and Alternative Medicine and Herbal Remedy Use in Hispanic and Non-Hispanic White Women: Results from the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation.

Abstract Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use, including botanical/herbal remedies, among Hispanic and non-Hispanic white women from the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN), New Jersey site. We also examined whether attitudes toward CAM and communication of its use to providers differed for Hispanic and non-Hispanic women. Study design: SWAN is a community-based, multiethnic cohort study of midlife women. At the 13th SWAN follow-up, women at the New Jersey site completed both a general CAM questionnaire and a culturally sensitive CAM questionnaire designed to capture herbal products commonly used in Hispanic/Latina communities. Prevalence of and attitudes toward CAM use were compared by race/ethnicity and demographic characteristics. Results: Among 171 women (average age 61.8 years), the overall prevalence of herbal remedy use was high in both Hispanic and non-Hispanic white women (88.8% Hispanic and 81.3% non-Hispanic white), and praye...