cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pregabalin and gabapentin reduce release of substance P and CGRP from rat spinal tissues only after inflammation or activation of protein kinase C

Gabapentin and pregabalin are amino acid derivatives of gamma-amino butyric acid that have anticonvulsant, analgesic, and anxiolytic-like properties in animal models. The mechanisms of these effects, however, are not well understood. To ascertain whether these drugs have effects on sensory neurons, we studied their actions on capsaicin-evoked release of the sensory neuropeptides, substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide from rat spinal cord slices in vitro. Although release of immunoreactive peptides from non-inflamed animals was not altered by either drug, prior in vivo treatment by intraplantar injection of complete Freund's adjuvant enhanced release from spinal tissues in vitro, which was attenuated by gabapentin and pregabalin. These drugs also reduced release of immunoreactive neuropeptides in spinal tissues pretreated in vitro with the protein kinase C activator, phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate. Our results suggest that gabapentin and pregabalin modulate the release of sensory neuropeptides, but only under conditions corresponding to significant inflammation-induced sensitization of the spinal cord.
Review and recent advances in battery health monitoring and prognostics technologies for electric vehicle (EV) safety and mobility

Abstract As hybrid and electric vehicle technologies continue to advance, car manufacturers have begun to employ lithium ion batteries as the electrical energy storage device of choice for use in existing and future vehicles. However, to ensure batteries are reliable, efficient, and capable of delivering power and energy when required, an accurate determination of battery performance, health, and life prediction is necessary. This paper provides a review of battery prognostics and health management (PHM) techniques, with a focus on major unmet needs in this area for battery manufacturers, car designers, and electric vehicle drivers. A number of approaches are presented that have been developed to monitor battery health status and performance, as well as the evolution of prognostics modeling methods. The goal of this review is to render feasible and cost effective solutions for dealing with battery life issues under dynamic operating conditions.
Isotopic evolution of Mauna Loa volcano

Abstract In an effort to understand the temporal helium isotopic variations in Mauna Loa volcano, we have measured helium, strontium and lead isotopes in a suite of Mauna Loa lavas that span most of the subaerial eruptive history of the volcano. The lavas range in age from historical flows to Ninole basalt which are thought to be several hundred thousand years old. Most of the samples younger than 30 ka in age (Kau Basalt) are radiocarbon-dated flows, while the samples older than 30 ka are stratigraphically controlled (Kahuku and Ninole Basalt). The data reveal a striking change in the geochemistry of the lavas approximately 10 ka before present. The lavas older than 10 ka are characterized by high 3 He/ 4 He ( ∼ 16–20 times atmospheric), higher 206 Pb/ 204 Pb ( ∼ 18.2), and lower 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ( ∼ 0.70365) ratios than the younger Kau samples (having He, Pb and Sr ratios of approximately 8.5 × atmospheric, 18.1 and 0.70390, respectively). The historical lavas are distinct in having intermediate Sr and Pb isotopic compositions with 3 He/ 4 He ratios similar to the other young Kau basalt ( ∼ 8.5 × atmospheric). The isotopic variations are on a shorter time scale (100 to 10,000 years) than has previously been observed for Hawaiian volcanoes, and demonstrate the importance of geochronology and stratigraphy to geochemical studies. The data show consistency between all three isotope systems, which suggests that the variations are not related to magma chamber degassing processes, and that helium is not decoupled from the other isotopes. However, the complex temporal evolution suggests that three distinct mantle sources are required to explain the isotopic data. Most of the Mauna Loa isotopic variations could be explained by mixing between a plume type source, similar to Loihi, and an asthenospheric source with helium isotopic composition close to MORB and elevated Sr isotopic values. An asthenospheric source, or variation within the plume source, is considered more likely than lithospheric sources due to the elevated 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios in the recent Kau Basalts. However, the distinct isotopic characteristics of the historical lavas are inferred to be related to lithospheric involvement in the latest stages of shield-building volcanism.
Wild food plants of Remote Oceania

Agricultural societies partly depend upon wild foods. Relationships between an agricultural society and its wild foods can be explored by examining how the society responds through colonization of new lands that have not been previously inhabited. The oldest clear example of this phenomenon took place about 5000 years ago in the tropical Western Pacific at the “boundary” interface between Near and Remote Oceania. An inventory of wild and domesticated food plants used by people living along “the remote side of ” that interface has been prepared from the literature. This was then assessed for the roles of plants at the time of original colonization of Remote Oceania. The majority of species are wild foods, and most of these are used as leafy vegetables and fruits. The wild food plants mostly serve as supplements to domesticated species, although there are a few that can be used as substitutes for traditional staples.
Lack of sex differences in anxiety behaviors during precipitated benzodiazepine withdrawal in rats.

Nonprecipitated benzodiazepine (BZ) withdrawal has been reported to increase anxiety levels in rats. The present experiment determined if gender or hormonal status would modulate putative changes in anxiety-related behaviors during precipitated BZ withdrawal in rats. Intact and gonadectomized male and female rats were treated for 4 weeks with empty or diazepam (DZ)-filled silastic capsules. Animals were injected with the BZ antagonist flumazenil (RO15-1788; 5 mg/kg, i.p.) or vehicle, and immediately placed on the elevated plus-maze. Following the 10-min behavioral test, rats were decapitated and trunk blood was collected to measure corticosterone and gonadal hormone levels. During precipitated BZ withdrawal rats showed significantly decreased percent open-arm time; however, this finding was confounded by a significant decrease in activity levels (e.g., closed-arm entries and total-arm entries). Precipitated BZ withdrawal did not significantly attenuate percent open-arm entries, which factors out drug-induced changes in activity levels, compared to vehicle control animals. Overall, the results of this experiment suggest that precipitated BZ withdrawal does not significantly increase anxiety levels when compared to control animals.
Systematically derived instruction sets for high-level language support

Conventional machine-languages (instruction sets) were not designed with high-level languages (HLLs) in mind. The resulting semantic gap is known to cause significant inefficiencies in program representation and execution time. Direct interpretation of HLLs is not the solution, because it is too complex and inefficient. The alternative is to precede the interpretation phase by a compilation phase in which the HLL is translated to a "suitable" intermediate representation which is directly interpretable. Such a directly interpretable language (DIL) can qualify as an instruction set for supporting the source HLL, since it is feasible to construct an interpreter for this language. In this paper, we present our approach to the problem of designing well-matched, space-time efficient DILs. The problem is approached by examining HLLs and DILs in a common interpretive environment.A systematic, top-down DIL design methodology is presented. A set of ten transformations on the source HLL grammar is used to derive the target DIL grammar. The DIL obtained in this manner is not unique, and its nature depends on the choices made along the way. The spectrum of DILs, exhibiting various space-time characteristics, is discussed. A number of space and time measures to evaluate DILs are suggested, and are used to compare four DILs derived from a formally specified HLL.
A new Oryzopsis from Idaho

A new species of ricegrass,Oryzopsis swallenii, from the sagebrush hills at the east end of the Lost River and Lemhi ranges in east central Idaho is described. The plant combines features ofStipa andOryzopsis, but is set apart fromStipa by virtue of a quickly deciduous awn and a blunt callus, and from other species inOryzopsis by its relatively long glumes and its chromosome number, 2n = 34. The chromosome number forO. exigua Thurb., 2n = 22, is also reported. A key is provided to separate this new species from others in the genus most similar to it.
Collagenase and connective tissue metabolism in epidermolysis bullosa.

Ninteen patients with various types of epidermolysis bullosa were studied for evidence of increased collagen catabolism. Cultures of clinically normal but pathologically blisterable skin from nine patients with dermolytic bullous dermatoses, four patients with epidermolysis bullosa simplex and two patients with junctional bullous dermatoses did not differ significantly in collagenase production. In two patients with dermolytic bullous dermatoses cultures of skin lesions produced three times more collagenase and had twice the DNA content of adjacent normal appearing but pathologically blisterable skin. Two of the nine patients with dermolytic bullous dermatoses had minimally decreased levels of serum collagenase inhibitor. None of the patients had increased hydroxyproline excretion in the urine. Four of six patients with dermolytic bullous dermatoses and one of two patients with junctional bullous dermatoses had anti-denatured collagen antibodies. It appears that increased local levels of collagenase are a secondary tissue reaction to chronic injury.
Very low density lipoprotein metabolism in diabetes mellitus

The concentration of VLDL and their major lipid, triglyceride, are regulated at many levels from the initial availability of the substrates needed for their synthesis all the way to the function of the enzymes and receptors involved in their removal from plasma. It should be clear from this review that in diabetes mellitus metabolic derangements resulting from the absolute lack of insulin or from resistance to the actions of insulin can affect VLDL triglyceride metabolism at any or all of these regulatory points. The outcome of this interplay between diabetes and VLDL metabolism is the common occurrence of elevated plasma VLDL and triglyceride concentrations in individuals with both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Mildly elevated plasma levels of triglycerides are nearly universal in diabetics; more significant hypertriglyceridemia can be the consequence of either metabolic decompensation or the concomitant inheritance of a familial pattern of hyperlipoproteinemia. The combination of the latter two situations usually presents with as severe hypertriglyceridemia. Although deregulation can occur at many points, the most common abnormality associated with hypertriglyceridemia in human diabetes appears to be overproduction of VLDL triglycerides. Increased rates of synthesis of VLDL apoB may also be a common consequence of diabetes. The basis for this belief is the accumulated data from kinetic studies in humans and in experimental models of diabetes in rats. Although the latter may also demonstrate defects in catabolism when insulin deficiency is severe, catabolic abnormalities appear to be uncommon as the primary force in the development of hypertriglyceridemia in humans. Finally, despite the complexity of the systems regulating VLDL metabolism and the many metabolic abnormalities that may be present in diabetic subjects, it appears that reduction of the hyperglycemia by means of dietary or pharmacologic interventions is associated with normalization of the rates of synthesis and catabolism of the VLDL and their triglycerides. In view of the probable atherogenecity of VLDL, particularly in individuals with diabetes, such intervention must be aimed at both plasma glucose and lipid concentrations.
Monoclonal antibody recognition of multiple forms of estrogen receptor tagged with [125I]methoxy-iodovinyl estradiol in ovarian carcinomas.

Based on previous studies of the properties of moxestrol, we hypothesized that a radiohalogenated analog of moxestrol, [125I]llβ-methoxy-17a-iodovinyl-estradiol ([125I]; MIVE2), should bind to the estrogen receptor (ER) in some ovarian adenocarcinomas (OVCA), thereby offering the potential for imaging and⁄or treatment of these cancers. We used monoclonal antibodies (H222, H226, and D547) against human breast cancer ER to identify the [125I]MIVE2-binding moiety in OVCA cytosols that is found on high salt sucrose gradients. After gel electrophoresis and western blotting, exposure of OVCA extracts to the ER antibodies, followed by exposure to goat antirat serum and then rat peroxidase antiperoxidase, demonstrated a moiety in OVCA that migrated indistinguishably from the ER in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells and from that in specimens of breast cancer tissue. Because few studies have demonstrated efficacy of hormone management for OVCA, we also wanted to learn whether ER exists in multiple forms in OVCA, in v...
Commentary: Keywords as a literacy practice in the history of anthropological theory

Word clouds generated from the keywords and titles of articles published in American Ethnologist in the years 1982, 1992, 2002, and 2012 offer a fascinating, though partial, history of anthropological theory over the past several decades. Keyword selection also, I argue, constitutes a type of literacy practice that has been underanalyzed. In this commentary, I explore some of the ways in which the article keyword selection process is imbued with social, intellectual, political, and economic dimensions. I compare the most frequently appearing words in titles versus keywords for each of the above four years and trace the progression of two clusters of keywords: one related to language, the other related to the triumvirate of race, class, and gender.
The roles of autophosphorylation and phosphorylation in the life of osteopontin

Osteopontin is a secreted glycosylated phosphoprotein found in bone and other normal and malignant tissues. Osteopontin can be autophosphorylated on tyrosine residues and can also be phosphorylated on serine and threonine residues by several protein kinases. Autophosphorylation of osteopontin may generate sites for specific interactions with other proteins on the cell surface and/or within the extracellular matrix. These interactions of osteopontin are thought to be essential for bone mineralization and function. The polyaspartic acid motif of osteopontin, in combination with neighboring sequences that include serine residues phosphorylated by protein kinases, could fold and assemble into a molecular structure that participates in the mineralization of the bone matrix.
Synthesis and Isomerization of Biindolinones from Collybia peronata and Tricholoma scalpturatum

Peronatins A and B and 7,7‘-dimethoxyperonatin B, originally isolated from the damaged fruiting bodies of Collybia peronata and Tricholoma scalpturatum, have been synthesized by oxidative dimerization of 2-alkylindoles. The conversion of peronatin A to peronatin B was shown to be catalyzed by Bronsted acids in chloroform solution and inhibited by triethylamine, implicating a retro-Mannich/Mannich isomerization pathway under these conditions. Attempts to identify or trap out radical or ionic intermediates were unsuccessful.
Corrections to the Balmer-energy differences in positronium

The absolute values of the ground-state (n = 1) levels of positronium and of ..delta..E(2/sup 3/S/sub 1/-1/sup 3/S/sub 1/) are given through order ..cap alpha../sup 3/ Ry.
P.59: New Synthesis of Novel Phosphor for LED Technology: Synthesizing Sr3Y2(BO3)4:Eu2+ From Strontium Borate Precursors

Doping Eu2+ is challenging in some materials because of the stability of Eu3+. An alternative method for doping divalent europium was explored in the phosphor Sr3B2O6:Eu. Sr3B2O6:Eu has been synthesized with a mixture of divalent and trivalent emission. Here, samples prepared by traditional-methods are compared to samples prepared using a SrB4O7:Eu precursor.
Development and characterization of a recombinant madin-darby canine kidney cell line that expresses rat multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (rMRP1).

Multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (MRP1) is one of the major proteins shown to mediate efflux transport of a broad range of antitumor drugs, glucuronide conjugates, and glutathione, in addition to endogenous substrates. Significant differences in substrate selectivity were reported for murine and human MRP1. As preclinical drug disposition and pharmacokinetics studies are often conducted in rats, we have recently cloned the rat MRP1 (rMRP1) and demonstrated that rMRP1 expressed in transfected cells effluxes calcein, a commonly used fluorescence substrate for human MRP1. To further characterize the rat ortholog of MRP1, we isolated a cell line stably expressing recombinant rMRP1. These cells were tested for their ability to transport calcein and a range of chemotherapeutic drugs. Our results showed that cells expressing rMRP1 consistently efflux calcein at a rate 5-fold greater than control cells. The rMRP1 transfected cells, like their human ortholog, can confer drug resistance to vinca alkaloid (vinblastine and vincristine) and anthracycline drugs (daunorubcin and doxorubicin), and the resistance conferred by the MRP1 can be partially abolished by the MRP-specific inhibitors. The transepithelial permeability due to rMRP1 expression in differentiated Madin-Darby canine kidney cells (MDCK) cells was also investigated. The MRP1 transport activity is directional, as demonstrated by directional vinblastine transport. Collectively, our results demonstrate that the cellular expression of rMRP1, like its human ortholog, could confer resistance to anticancer drugs.
Self-Esteem and Group Decision Making: An Empirical Study

To assess the impact of self-esteem on group decision making 270 students in business were assigned to groups of 3 by sex, numerical ability, and self-esteem on the Tennessee Self-concept Scale. Fo...
Etest for routine clinical antimicrobial susceptibility testing of rapid-growing mycobacteria isolates

Abstract The Etest has become a widely accepted alternative susceptibility-testing method for difficult-to-assess organisms, including rapid-growing Mycobacterium spp. Following an internal validation and literature reviews, the Etest was applied as the routine method for testing Mycobacterium chelonae and Mycobacterium fortuitum isolates. Results from testing 31 strains confirmed the utility of the Etest and the simplicity of the procedure. Mycobacterium chelonae were generally more resistant to all drugs except amikacin (MIC 90 , 32 μg/ml), compared with M. fortuitum strains that were inhibited (MIC 50 in the susceptible range) by amikacin (1 μg/ml), ciprofloxacin (0.032 μg/ml), doxycycline (0.125 μg/ml), and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (0.032 μg/ml). The polymyxin-B disk used as an identification method was confirmed (⩾10 mm=M. fortuitum). The Etest provides a simple and accurate method for selecting appropriate therapy for infections caused by rapid-growing mycobacteria (a typical case report is presented).
Superphosphate production: The influence of various factors on the speed of reaction and the composition of the product

The effects of acid concentration, acid/rock ratio, and fineness of grinding on the interaction between Moroccan phosphate rock and sulphuric acid, in the preparation of superphosphate, have been studied. An organic-solvent technique has been used to follow the course and the rate of the chemical reactions. This method has been adopted because the precise composition of the superphosphate cannot be found by the analysis of water extracts, since interaction occurs between unchanged phosphate rock and free acids during the extraction. Results are given in the form of Tables and graphs.
Corrigendum to “Constrains on vorticity and non-coaxial shear direction in Neoarchean L-S tectonites, an example from northern Minnesota, USA” [Precambrian Res. 256 (2015) 189–200]

Please cite this article in press as: Dyess, J.E., et al., Corrigendum to “Constrains on vorticity and non-coaxial shear direction in Neoarchean L-S tectonites, an example from northern Minnesota, USA” [Precambrian Res. 256 (2015) 189–200]. Precambrian Res. (2014), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.precamres.2014.12.006 The authors regret that the original title of this contribution was listed as “Constrains on vorticity and non-coaxial shear direction in eoarchean L-S tectonites, an example from northern Minnesota, USA.” The correct title is “Constraints on vorticity and non-coaxial shear irection in Neoarchean L-S tectonites, an example from northern Minnesota, USA.” The authors would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Fluidized Bed Combustion of Leached Rice Straw

Leaching of inorganic constituents from biomass offers an approach to avoid extensive ash slagging, deposition, and bed agglomeration associated with many herbaceous materials including cereal straws. Leaching occurs naturally in the field when straw is exposed to rainfall, or it can be conducted under controlled conditions in industrial apparatus. Elemental composition and ash fusibility show that leaching can result in significant improvements in combustion characteristics of rice straw and other biomass. Bench-scale combustion in an atmospheric fluidized bed combustor confirms that the extensive bed agglomeration that occurs with combustion of untreated rice straw does not take place with naturally leached rice straw at combustion temperatures up to 900 °C. In addition, blending leached rice straw into a wood-based fuel blend does not increase but rather leads to a decline in ash deposit formation rate. The mechanism for a decline in deposition rate is not fully understood but may be related to the inc...
Hierarchical triangular clustering

A hierarchical clustering technique is proposed that uses the shape and size of the area bounded by triples of objects in Euclidean space as the criterion for clustering. This criterion is flexible so that by varying its parameters one can group triples of points which are most equilateral or enclose the smallest area, or both.
Propriocidal apoptosis of mature T lymphocytes occurs at S phase of the cell cycle

We found that mature nontransformed CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes could be made susceptible to T cell receptor(TcR)-mediated apoptosis by pretreatment with interleukin-4 (IL-4) or interleukin-2 (IL-2). The degree of susceptibility to death could be correlated with the level of cell cycling as measured by thymidine incorporation, cell doubling times, or the number of cells incorporating bromodeoxyuridine during S phase. However, using pharmacologic cell cycle blocking agents, we found that progression through the cell cycle was not required for cell death. Rather, we found that cells must be in a certain phase of the cell cycle to be susceptible to TcR-mediated death. Cells blocked in G1 phase were resistant to T cell receptor-induced apoptosis, whereas cells blocked in S phase were susceptible. These observations suggest that an important feature of growth lymphokines is their ability to drive T cells into portions of the cell cycle where they are sensitive to antigen receptor-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, these results provide additional evidence that the T cell growth lymphokines IL-2 and IL-4 may participate in the down-regulation of T cell responses by apoptosis-a pathway we have termed "propriocidal regulation".
Closed-end country fund premiums and economic freedom

The Economic Freedom Index (EFI) is a measure of a country's institutional characteristics that promote economic activity, including the security of private property, openness to international trade, stability of the monetary system and lack of credit market manipulation. We use this index as a proxy for the degree of market segmentation and test the hypothesis that closed-end country fund premiums can be partially explained by a country's EFI value. Using panel data analysis, we find that EFI is significant in explaining observed variability in country fund premiums.
Subgraphs and Their Degree Sequences of a Digraph

Abstract The paper presents general conditions that are necessary and sufficient for the existence of a (p,s) subgraph with prescribed degrees of a given digraph. It is shown that the subgraph problem of a digraph, the degree sequence problem of a digraph, the subgraph problem of a graph and the degree sequence problem of a graph can all be treated in a systematic way, thus allowing the unification of many of existing results and providing an insight into the more complicated cases.
Imputing a continuous income variable from grouped and missing income observations

Abstract Most cross-sectional data sets collect income in a discrete number of categories (that is, in grouped form) to simplify the respondent's task and to encourage a response. In spite of such grouped data collection, many respondents refuse to provide information on income. This paper develops a method to impute a continuous and reliable value for income from grouped and missing income data.
Relapsing polychondritis : Prevalence of expiratory CT airway abnormalities

Purpose: To retrospectively determine the prevalence of expiratory computed tomographic (CT) abnormalities, including malacia and air trapping, in patients with relapsing polychondritis and to retrospectively determine the frequency with which expiratory abnormalities are accompanied by inspiratory abnormalities on CT scans. Materials and Methods: Institutional review board approval was obtained, and informed consent was not required for this retrospective HIPAA-compliant study. A computerized hospital information system was used to identify all patients with clinically diagnosed or biopsy-proved relapsing polychondritis who were referred for CT airway imaging during a 17-month period. The study cohort comprised 18 patients (15 women, three men; mean age, 47 years; age range, 20–71 years). Multidetector helical CT was performed in all patients by using a standard protocol, which included end-inspiratory and dynamic expiratory volumetric imaging. Two observers who were blinded to the original scan interpre...
KINETICS OF HEAT COAGULATION OF EGG ALBUMIN DETERMINED BY WATER BINDING AND RHEOLOGICAL MEASUREMENTS

Dynamic testing of heat coagulated egg albumin revealed that phase angle, a measure of the fluidity of a viscoelastic material, exhibits a first order change during heating in a similar manner as the changes in the spin-lattice relaxation time (T1) of water protons measured by a pulsed nuclear magnetic resonance instrument. The absolute modulus, on the other hand, which is an index of the elastic properties exhibited a zero order change in a similar manner as the development of gel strength measured by constant rate penetrometry using an Instron universal testing instrument. Arrhenius activation energy of 29 kcal/mole for the phase angle and 38.9 kcal/mole for the absolute modulus indicate that the process of protein-water interaction to immobilize water within the gel and that of protein-protein interaction to form the solid gel network occur simultaneously during heating, but they proceed by different mechanisms with the latter process showing greater heat sensitivity.
Work in progress - alternative approaches for capstone design courses

This paper will compare and contrast four different approaches for conducting a capstone design course, examine how the students seem to learn best and what motivated them to perform at the highest levels. Instructor and student perceptions will be measured using assessment instruments as well as subjective observations.
Effects of film processing conditions on electric energy storage for pulsed power applications

Processing conditions have significant influence on the crystalline morphology in poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) [P(VDF-HFP)] copolymer films and in turn determine the electric energy storage in the final products. The electric energy storage and discharge behaviors in these P(VDF-HFP) films obtained from different processing conditions were studied by electric displacement (D) - electric field (E) loop measurements. Under the same mechanical stretching conditions in terms of stretching ratio and stretching rate, more α-crystals could be transformed into β-crystals when stretching at a lower temperature than at a higher temperature. As a result, strong coupling interactions among ferroelectric domains were induced in the films stretched at low temperatures due to a high β-crystal content. The strong coupling interactions facilitated the dipole switching behavior under the forward poling field and prevented the oriented dipoles from switching to the random (or antiferroelectric-like) state upon the reverse poling. Therefore, more electric energy was stored but less was discharged for films with a high β-crystal content. If the crystalline morphology with a high β- crystal content can be further modified to help the discharge process, a polymer capacitor film with high energy densities can be achieved.
A PROFILE OF HOUSING AND HEALTH AMONG OLDER AMERICANS

With the aging of America, policy concerns at the intersection of housing and health for older Americans are growing. In a signal study a decade ago, the Commission on Affordable Housing and Health Facility Needs for Seniors in the 21st Century, also known as the Seniors Housing Commission, released its report to Congress on the challenges facing all levels of government and society in ensuring support for housing and health needs as the population ages. This paper examines the housing and health status of older Americans roughly a decade after the Commission’s report. It provides a profile of the housing, functional status and health status of the near old, individuals aged 55 through 64, and Americans aged 65 and older, using the most recent data available from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). These data were drawn from interviews with approximately 25,000 Americans in 2010, as the nation was slowly transitioning out of the Great Recession. The paper is designed to lay out basic facts about the current state of housing and health among older Americans, and should be a useful statistical reference for policymakers, advocates and media interested in these issues in an aging society.
Conservation and variation in Ubx expression among chelicerates.

SUMMARY Chelicerates are an ancient arthropod group with a distinct body plan composed of an anterior (prosoma) and a posterior portion (opisthosoma). The expression of the Hox gene Ultrabithorax (Ubx) has been examined in a single representative of the chelicerates, the spider Cupiennius salei. In spiders, Ubx expression starts in the second opisthosomal segment (O2). Because the first opisthosomal segment (O1) in spiders is greatly reduced relative to other chelicerates, we hypothesized that the observed Ubx expression pattern might be secondarily modified. Shifts in the anterior boundary of the expression of Ubx have been correlated with functional shifts in morphology within malacostracan crustaceans. Thus, the boundary of Ubx expression between chelicerates with different morphologies in their anterior opisthosoma could also be variable. To test this prediction, we examined the expression patterns of Ubx and abdominal-A (collectively referred to as UbdA) in two basal chelicerate lineages, scorpions and xiphosurans (horseshoe crabs), which exhibit variation in the morphology of their anterior opisthosoma. In the scorpion Paruroctonus mesaensis, the anterior border of early expression of UbdA is in a few cells in the medial, posterior region of the O2 segment, with a predominant expression in O3 and posterior. Expression later spreads to encompass the whole O2 segment and a ventral, posterior portion of the O1 segment. In the xiphosuran Limulus polyphemus, early expression of UbdA has an anterior boundary in the segment. Later in development, the anterior boundary moves forward one segment to the chilarial (O1) segment. Thus, the earliest expression boundary of UbdA lies within the second opisthosomal segment in all the chelicerates examined. These results suggest that rather than being derived, the spider UbdA expression in O2 likely reflects the ancestral expression boundary. Changes in the morphology of the first opisthosomal segment are either not associated with changes in UbdA expression or correlate with late developmental changes in UbdA expression.
BAli-Phy: simultaneous Bayesian inference of alignment and phylogeny

Summary: BAli-Phy is a Bayesian posterior sampler that employs Markov chain Monte Carlo to explore the joint space of alignment and phylogeny given molecular sequence data. Simultaneous estimation eliminates bias toward inaccurate alignment guide-trees, employs more sophisticated substitution models during alignment and automatically utilizes information in shared insertion/deletions to help infer phylogenies. Availability: Software is available for download at http://www.biomath.ucla.edu/msuchard/bali-phy. Contact: msuchard@ucla.edu
Gate Length and Performance Scaling of Undoped-Body Extremely Thin SOI MOSFETs

In this letter, we show that undoped-body extremely thin SOI (ETSOI) MOSFETs with SOI thickness in the 4-6-nm range have excellent short-channel control down to 20-25-nm gate lengths, suitable for the 22-nm technology node and beyond. We demonstrate that 6-nm-thin ETSOI devices can deliver high drive currents required for logic applications. Finally, we bring to fore the need for improvements in etch and doping processes to reduce series resistance of 4-nm-thin ETSOI devices in order to make them a viable option for the 15-nm technology node.
Alternate form reliability and concurrent validity of the PPVT‐R for referred rehabilitation agency adults

This study investigated the relationships among the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-Revised (PPVT-R) alternate forms and, also, the relationship of each PPVT-R form with the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised (WAIS-R) for a referred sample of 60 adult clients of the California State Department of Rehabilitation. Clients ranged in age from 18-3 to 37-7 (M = 25-7, SD = 5-9). PPVT-R alternate forms r = .88 was significant at p less than .001. Correlations with the WAIS-R VIQ were .82 for L, .78 for M; with PIQ, .46 for L, .38 for M; with FSIQ, .77 for L, .67 for M. All correlations with both forms of the PPVT-R were significant. PPVT-R mean scores did underestimate significantly all WAIS-R mean scores. Implications are discussed.
An ABC Transporter Is Required for Secretion of Peptide Sex Pheromones in Enterococcus faecalis

Enterococci are leading causes of hospital-acquired infection in the United States and continue to develop resistances to new antibiotics. Many Enterococcus faecalis isolates harbor pheromone-responsive plasmids that mediate horizontal transfer of even large blocks of chromosomal genes, resulting in hospital-adapted strains over a quarter of whose genomes consist of mo- bile elements. Pheromones to which the donor cells respond derive from lipoprotein signal peptides. Using a novel bacterial kill- ing assay dependent on the presence of sex pheromones, we screened a transposon mutant library for functions that relate to the production and/or activity of the effector pheromone. Here we describe a previously uncharacterized, but well-conserved, ABC transporter that contributes to pheromone production. Using three distinct pheromone-dependent mating systems, we show that mutants defective in expressing this transporter display a 5- to 6-order-of-magnitude reduction in conjugation efficiency. In addition, we demonstrate that the ABC transporter mutant displays an altered biofilm architecture, with a significant reduction in biofilm biomass compared to that of its isogenic parent, suggesting that pheromone activity also influences biofilm develop- ment. The conservation of this peptide transporter across the Firmicutessuggests that it may also play an important role in cell- cell communication in other species within this important phylum. IMPORTANCE Enterococcus faecalis ranks as one of the leading causes of hospital-associated infections. Strains possessing resis- tance to multiple antibiotics are becoming all too common in clinical settings. Pheromone-responsive plasmids play an impor- tant role in harboring and disseminating these antibiotic resistance genes. Here we have identified a novel ABC transporter that is responsible for the secretion of peptide pheromones, which enables communication between cells to mediate plasmid transfer. We have also shown that this transporter is important for biofilm formation, providing a strong rationale for its use as a viable therapeutic target which could be targeted to curb infection, as well as the spread of existing drug resistance.
China's Rise as an International Factor: Connecting the Dots

The term ‘peaceful development’ has created ambiguity. It fails to capture the extent to which China has become a global influence whose economic policy decisions are essential to the world multilateral system. China's international strategy can no longer be guided only by the quest for ‘stability’ and by the principle of non-interference, because change and interdependence are a hallmark of this century. Neither can a relationship with the United States alone define China's international strategy. Hopefully, China will understand the usefulness for rising powers of making long-lasting compromises, and it will strengthen instead of weaken a set of international institutions that have allowed for the most prosperous and peaceful era in human history.
Analytical Solution of the Flow Along Parallel Microchannels Separated by a Porous Membrane

This papers presents the analytical solution of the flow distribution along a porous membrane which is between two parallel microchannels, a configuration of increasing importance in microsystems for DNA sequencing, catalytic chemistry, and in micro heat exchangers. The modeling approach presented in the paper is inspired from thin film lubrication theory and would be applicable for a wide range of low Reynolds number, pressure-driven microfluidic configurations.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Dissociation of Cytochrome c from the Inner Mitochondrial Membrane during Cardiac Ischemia

Mitochondria isolated from ischemic cardiac tissue exhibit diminished rates of respiration and ATP synthesis. The present study was undertaken to determine whether cytochrome c release was responsible for ischemia-induced loss in mitochondrial function. Rat hearts were perfused in Langendorff fashion for 60 min (control) or for 30 min followed by 30 min of no flow ischemia. Mitochondria isolated from ischemic hearts in a buffer containing KCl exhibited depressed rates of maximum respiration and a lower cytochrome c content relative to control mitochondria. The addition of cytochrome c restored maximum rates of respiration, indicating that the release of cytochrome c is responsible for observed declines in function. However, mitochondria isolated in a mannitol/sucrose buffer exhibited no ischemia-induced loss in cytochrome c content, indicating that ischemia does not on its own cause the release of cytochrome c. Nevertheless, state 3 respiratory rates remained depressed, and cytochrome c release was enhanced when mitochondria from ischemic relative to perfused tissue were subsequently placed in a high ionic strength buffer, hypotonic solution, or detergent. Thus, events that occur during ischemia favor detachment of cytochrome c from the inner membrane increasing the pool of cytochrome c available for release. These results provide insight into the sequence of events that leads to release of cytochrome c and loss of mitochondrial respiratory activity during cardiac ischemia/reperfusion.
Effects of chronic exercise conditioning on thermal responses to lipopolysaccharide and turpentine abscess in female rats

Chronic exercise conditioning has been shown to alter basal thermoregulatory processes as well as the response to inflammatory agents. Two such agents, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and turpentine (TPT) are inducers of fever in rats. LPS, given intraperitoneally (i.p.), involves a systemic inflammatory response whereas TPT given intramuscularly (i.m.) elicits a localized inflammation. We assessed if chronic exercise training in the rat would alter the thermoregulatory response to LPS and TPT. Core temperature (T c) and motor activity were monitored by radiotelemetry. Female Sprague Dawley rats were divided into two groups (trained and sedentary) and housed at an ambient temperature of 22°C. Animals voluntarily trained on running wheels for 8 weeks. In the first study, trained and sedentary female rats were injected i.p. with LPS (50 μg/kg) or an equal volume of 0.9% normal saline. In another study, trained and sedentary female rats were injected i.m. with TPT (10 μl)/rat or an equal volume of 0.9% normal saline. The time course of the LPS fever was very short compared to TPT. TPT injected animals displayed a smaller but more prolonged fever compared to LPS; however, training accentuated the febrile response to LPS (ΔT c=0.6°C in sedentary and 1.2°C in trained). Training had a slight suppression on TPT-induced fever during the daytime but had no effect on motor activity or nighttime T c. In contrast, exercise training led to a marked increase in the pyrogenic effects of LPS. We conclude that the effect of exercise training and source of infection (i.e., systemic versus localized in muscle) on fever is directly linked to type of pyrogenic agent.
Object-based auditory facilitation of visual search for pictures and words with frequent and rare targets

Auditory and visual processes demonstrably enhance each other based on spatial and temporal coincidence. Our recent results on visual search have shown that auditory signals also enhance visual salience of specific objects based on multimodal experience. For example, we tend to see an object (e.g., a cat) and simultaneously hear its characteristic sound (e.g., "meow"), to name an object when we see it, and to vocalize a word when we read it, but we do not tend to see a word (e.g., cat) and simultaneously hear the characteristic sound (e.g., "meow") of the named object. If auditory-visual enhancements occur based on this pattern of experiential associations, playing a characteristic sound (e.g., "meow") should facilitate visual search for the corresponding object (e.g., an image of a cat), hearing a name should facilitate visual search for both the corresponding object and corresponding word, but playing a characteristic sound should not facilitate visual search for the name of the corresponding object. Our present and prior results together confirmed these experiential association predictions. We also recently showed that the underlying object-based auditory-visual interactions occur rapidly (within 220ms) and guide initial saccades towards target objects. If object-based auditory-visual enhancements are automatic and persistent, an interesting application would be to use characteristic sounds to facilitate visual search when targets are rare, such as during baggage screening. Our participants searched for a gun among other objects when a gun was presented on only 10% of the trials. The search time was speeded when a gun sound was played on every trial (primarily on gun-absent trials); importantly, playing gun sounds facilitated both gun-present and gun-absent responses, suggesting that object-based auditory-visual enhancements persistently increase the detectability of guns rather than simply biasing gun-present responses. Thus, object-based auditory-visual interactions that derive from experiential associations rapidly and persistently increase visual salience of corresponding objects.
N‐Substituted Phenothiazine Derivatives: How the Stability of the Neutral and Radical Cation Forms Affects Overcharge Performance in Lithium‐Ion Batteries

Phenothiazine and five N-substituted derivatives were evaluated as electrolyte additives for overcharge protection in LiFePO4 /synthetic graphite lithium-ion batteries. We report on the stability and reactivity of both the neutral and radical-cation forms of these six compounds. While three of the compounds show extensive overcharge protection, the remaining three last for only one to a few cycles. UV/Vis studies of redox shuttle stability in the radical cation form are consistent with the overcharge performance: redox shuttles with spectra that show little change over time exhibit extensive overcharge performance, whereas those with changing spectra have limited overcharge protection. In one case, we determined that a C-N bond cleaves upon oxidation, forming the phenothiazine radical cation and leading to premature overcharge protection failure; in another case, poor solubility appears to limit protection.
Possible realization of a multichannel Kondo model in a system of magnetic chains

materials, as was explained in the same paper. 10 In the present paper we describe how these difficulties can be avoided in spin chains and outline particular examples of microscopic structures which may give rise to the multichannel Kondo effect with the number of channels greater than two. The paper consists of four parts including the Introduction. In Sec. II we describe the model and provide its solution for the simplest case when all interactions are isotropic. In Sec. III we explore the robustness of the solution against various perturbations. In Sec. IV we discuss the quantum chemistry necessary for a realization of the model. The paper ends with a Conclusion and Acknowledgents section.
The Relation between Creative Drama and Oral Language Growth.

dvocates of creative drama have long extolled its virtues. The psychological, social, self-concept, and creativity outcomes have been detailed at length (Stewig, 1982). Despite such advocacy, experiences in informal classroom drama are not a regularly recurring part of most curricula. Though enthusiastic about drama, classroom teachers find little time to have children dramatize (Littig, 1975). In an effort to establish a priority for drama, some writers have described the language outcomes of drama. Such descriptions are largely theoretic, as research to discover the relation between informal dramatics and growth in child language is limited (Fordyce, 1975). If research documentation was available, more teachers might include creative drama as part of their curricula. This study replicates two earlier studies (Stewig & Young, 1978; Stewig & McKee, 1980). In fourthand seventh-grade students, oral language improved significantly after twenty creative drama lessons. Commonly used measures of language maturation, including total number of words generated, total number of T-units*, total clause output, and type-token ratio, all showed increases significant at the .01 level. A limitation of these studies was that constraints in the school systems prevented using matched control groups. Results were thus within group measures of improvement, though clearly between-group comparisons would give stronger support for including informal classroom drama as a part of the language arts program. Such a study became possible because of the awarding of a Title IV-C grant.