cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prospective randomized pilot study of Y90+/-sorafenib as bridge to transplantation in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background & Aims To investigate the safety and adverse event profile of sorafenib plus radioembolization (Y90) compared to Y90 alone in patients awaiting liver transplantation. Methods 20 patients with HCC were randomized to Y90 alone (Group A) or Y90+sorafenib (Group B). Adverse events, dose reductions, and peri-transplant complications were assessed. Results All patients in the sorafenib group necessitated dose reductions. Seventeen of 20 patients underwent liver transplantation; median time-to-transplant was 7.8months (range: 4.2–20.3) and similar between groups ( p =0.35). In the sorafenib group, there were 4/8 peri-transplant ( p =0.029) and 3/8 acute rejections ( p =0.082); there were none in the Y90-only group. Survival rates were 70% (Group A) and 72% (Group B) at 3years ( p =0.57). Conclusions The addition of sorafenib to Y90 necessitated dose reductions in all patients awaiting transplantation. Preliminary data suggest that the combination was associated with more peri-transplant biliary complications and potentially trended towards more acute rejections. Caution should be exercised when considering sorafenib in the transplant setting. Further investigation is warranted.
Paint and coatings : A mature industry in transition

Abstract In order to fully comprehend the emphasis given by the paint and coatings industry to develop new coating technologies, one must first understand the overall infrastructure of this industry and the impetus behind the industry's willingness to change. This article provides this understanding by describing the paint and coatings industry in terms of market categories and geographic areas, as well as highlighting several consumer expectations and concerns. The various technological solutions, namely, reformulation/abatement and “compliant” coatings, that address the changing tides of the world economy are discussed in the context of their advantages/disadvantages, composition, and cure chemistry. Specific areas in high solids (solventborne) coatings, waterborne coatings, UV radiation curable coatings, and powder coatings that are ripe for future innovations and further development are described. Finally, the structure and reactivity associated with the alkyd, polyester, acrylic, amino, epoxy, and polyurethane resins commonly used in paint and coating formulations are discussed with specific emphasis towards preparation, performance, and cure reactions.
A commercial-scale, in-pond raceway system for Ictalurid catfish production

A commercial-scale, in-pond raceway system was constructed in 2007 on a commercial catfish fish farm in west Alabama. The in-pond raceway system was installed in a 2.43-ha earthen pond with an average depth of 1.67 m. A slow-rotating paddlewheel (1.17 revolutions per minute) installed in each raceway produced a water velocity of 0.026 m/s and a water flow rate of 9.3 m3/min. This flow rate was equivalent to an average water exchange for each raceway every 4.9 min (≈12×/h). Each raceway was originally stocked with 12,000–30,000 advanced channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) and hybrid catfish (I. punctatus × Ictalurus furcatus) fingerlings weighing between 59.1 and 418.2 g to simulate a staggered stocking and harvest production schedule. During the 2008 production season, mean survival was 83.7% across all raceways. Growth rates ranged from 1.1 to 1.8 g/fish/day for channel catfish and from 1.6 to 2.2 g/fish/day for hybrid catfish. The average feed conversion ratio (FCR) for channel catfish and hybrid catfish was 1.74 and 1.36, respectively (range from 1.16 to 2.11) and 49,913 kg (20,540 kg/ha) of catfish were harvested. An additional 6365 kg (2619 kg/ha) of tilapia and paddlefish were harvested from the pond as co-cultured species. The results indicated a high potential for efficient production of catfish with other co-cultured species compared to traditional catfish culture practices in ponds. Design and engineering modifications need to be addressed in the future to improve the in-pond raceway system. © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Urachal Carcinoma: Contemporary Surgical Outcomes

Purpose: We determined surgical outcomes in a contemporary series of patients who underwent surgery for urachal carcinoma.Materials and Methods: A cohort of 50 patients with clinically staged localized urachal carcinoma underwent extended partial cystectomy, including the urachal tumor mass and entire urachus. The patients were followed a median of 5+ years for cancer-free survival.Results: Of the 50 patients 93% (26 of 28) with tumor confined to the urachus and bladder survived compared to 69% (9 of 13) with extravesical or peri-urachal tumor invasion and none (9 patients) with tumor invasion into the peritoneal cavity. Local recurrence was noted in 9 patients (18%) and 2 had salvage therapy. The most significant predictors of survival were pathological tumor stage and negative surgical margins.Conclusions: Wide resection of the tumor mass and entire urachus resulting in negative soft tissue and bladder margins cures the majority of nonmetastatic urachal cancers.
Noninvasive tests as a substitute for histology in the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection

Abstract Background: Rapid urease tests for Helicobacter pylori have a sensitivity of 80% to 90%. Therefore histologic examination of gastric biopsies is recommended as a "backup" diagnostic test in rapid urease test–negative patients. However, noninvasive tests (urea breath test, serology, whole blood antibody tests) may provide a more rapid diagnosis and be less expensive but offer similar accuracy. Methods: Sixty-seven patients (no prior treatment for H pylori , no proton pump inhibitors, antibiotics, or bismuth within 4 weeks) undergoing endoscopy for evaluation of dyspepsia symptoms and testing rapid urease test–negative by antral biopsy were enrolled. All had the following tests: gastric biopsies (2 antral, 1 fundus; HE 13 C-UBT; capillary blood for whole blood rapid antibody tests: FlexSure HP, QuickVue, AccuStat, and Stat-Simple Pylori; serum for FlexSure HP; HM-CAP enzyme-linked immunoassay. H pylori infection was diagnosed (reference standard) if chronic gastritis was present on histology and at least 2 of the 3 following tests were positive: urea breath test, H pylori organisms unequivocally demonstrated in biopsies on special stain, and/or enzyme-linked immunoassay. The test and treatment costs per patient were calculated. Results: Of 67 patients with a negative rapid urease test, 4 were positive for H pylori . None had active peptic ulcer disease. Histology only identified 1 patient with organisms visible on special stain. Using chronic active gastritis (neutrophilic and mononuclear infiltrate) as a diagnostic criterion for H pylori , 6 patients would have been judged positive. However, only 2 of these were truly positive by the reference standard (positive predictive value 33%). Negative predictive value for presence of organisms and chronic active gastritis was 95% and 97%, respectively. All of the noninvasive tests identified all 4 truly positive patients correctly. Urea breath test and FlexSure whole blood assay yielded a substantial number of false-positive results (positive predictive value 31% and 36%, respectively); positive predictive value for the other tests ranged from 50% to 80%. All tests except histology had a negative predictive value of 100%. Histology was the most costly test ( p p Conclusions: Whole blood or serum antibody testing is a rapid, accurate, and cost-effective means for establishing H pylori status in rapid urease test–negative patients. Whole blood or serology rapid antibody testing should substitute for histology when the patient has not been previously treated for H pylori . (Gastrointest Endosc 2000;52:20-6.)
Neuropeptidergic Control of Ethanol Intake

AbstractNeural peptides found in brain and gut tissues modulate the intake of ethanol by animals and humans. Experiments show that injections of sulfated cholecystokinin octapeptide, tetradecapeptide bombesin, angiotensin, and the opioid receptor blockers, naloxone and naltrexone, potently reduce oral consumption of ethanol solutions. Vasoactive intestinal peptide, neuropeptide Y, and galanin increase ethanol intake, and increases in blood levels of the opioid peptide beta endorphin are associated with relapse in alcoholics. Specific neuropeptide receptor blockers increase ethanol intake and prevent injected cholecystokinin and bombesin from inhibiting ethanol intake. Recently, naltrexone (Revia®) has been approved by the FDA for wider clinical use in the treatment of alcoholism. These findings support the hypothesis of neuropeptidergic regulation of alcohol consumption and innovative therapies for alcoholism.
Convergence of iterative methods for nonlinear magnetic field problems

The radii of convergence and rates of convergence for iterative algorithms in relation to B-H curves are studied. Several alternatives for computing two of the four quantities B, H, M and v, using finite-element methods, are reconsidered. Examples of such computations and proofs of the convergence properties are also presented. >
Intra‐abdominal sacrococcygeal mature teratoma or fetus in fetu in a third‐trimester fetus

This case report describes a fetus with a large intra-abdominal, complex, vascular mass, displacing the normal intra-abdominal organs due to its large size. Extension to the presacral area was also identified, facilitating the diagnosis of a sacrococcygeal teratoma. Because of its highly mature nature, this was considered a fetus in fetu which was totally intra-abdominal. Copyright © 1998 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology
A selective increase in phosphorylation of protein F1, a protein kinase C substrate, directly related to three day growth of long term synaptic enhancement

Increased in vitro phosphorylation of the 47 kdalton, 4.5 pI protein F1 was observed in dorsal hippocampal tissue from animals exhibiting long term enhancement (LTE) three days after high frequency stimulation of the perforant pathway, as compared to tissue from low frequency stimulated controls or from unoperated animals. The increase in protein F1 phosphorylation was related to LTE rather than simple activation of perforant path-dentate gyrus synapses. This is the first report of a change in brain protein phosphorylation accompanying synaptic enhancement lasting days. The extent of growth of LTE over the three days following stimulation was directly related (r = +0.66, P less than 0.05) to protein F1 phosphorylation. Among the phosphoproteins studied this relationship between LTE and phosphorylation was selective for protein F1. This suggests that protein F1 may regulate growth of synaptic plasticity for at least a three day period. The mechanism for the LTE-related increase in protein F1 phosphorylation has not been established. However, recent evidence from this laboratory indicates: that protein F1 is phosphorylated by the calcium/phospholipid-dependent protein kinase C; and that kinase C is activated 1 h after LTE. Therefore, the increase in protein F1 phosphorylation following LTE may result from long term activation of protein C kinase.
Ultrastructure of rat tracheal epithelium.

The appearance in freeze-fracture replicas of the various cells comprising the tracheal epithelium was correlated with their structure as revealed by scanning electron microscopy and by transmission electron microscopy of thin sections. Ciliated cells can be recognized by characteristic images of axonemal plasma membrane and, in oblique planes of fracture, by microtubular arrays in axonemes and basal bodies. Secretory granules and organelles associated with secretory function permit identification of mucous cells. Microvilli, desmosomes, and the apical cytocavitary network of brush cells form distinctive images. The triangular shape, desmosomes, and relationship to fibrillar connective tissues are features of basal cells which are useful for recognition of replicas of those cells. Freeze fracture allows detailed description of plasma membrane structure. Leaky tight junctions are present between the several types of surface cells, and there are small gap junctions in which mucous cells and basal cells participate.
A Wireless System for Monitoring Transcranial Motor Evoked Potentials

Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) is commonly used as an attempt to minimize neurological morbidity from operative manipulations. The goal of IONM is to identify changes in the central and peripheral nervous system function prior to irreversible damage. Intraoperative monitoring also has been effective in localizing anatomical structures, including peripheral nerves and sensorimotor cortex, which helps guide the surgeon during dissection. As part of IONM, transcranial motor evoked potentials (TcMEPs), and somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs) are routinely monitored. However, current wired systems are cumbersome as the wires contribute to the crowded conditions in the operating room and in doing so not only it limits the maneuverability of the surgeon and assistants, but also places certain demand in the total anesthesia required during surgery, due to setup preoperative time needed for proper electrode placement, due to the number and length of the wires, and critical identification of the lead wires needed for stimulation and recording. To address these limitations, we have developed a wireless TcMEP IONM system as a first step toward a multimodality IONM system. Bench-top and animal experiments in rodents demonstrated that the wireless method reproduced with high fidelity, and even increased the frequency bandwidth of the TcMEP signals, compared to wired systems. This wireless system will reduce the preoperative time required for IONM setup, add convenience for surgical staff, and reduce wire-related risks for patients during the operation.
Auctions with uncertain numbers of bidders

Abstract We investigate bidders’ and seller's responses to ambiguity about the number of bidders in the first price auction (FPA) and the second price auction (SPA) with independent private valuations. We model ambiguity aversion using the maxmin expected utility model. We find that bidders prefer the number of bidders to be revealed in the FPA, are indifferent between revealing and concealing in the SPA, and prefer the SPA to the FPA. If bidders are more pessimistic than the seller then the seller prefers to conceal the number of bidders in the FPA, and prefers the FPA to the SPA.
Formation and characteristics of coastal internal boundary layers during onshore flows

The development and characteristics of coastal internal boundary layers were investigated in 28 tests. These were made at all seasons and in both gradient and sea-breeze flows but only during mid-day periods. Measurements of turbulence and temperature were taken from a light aircraft which flew traverses across Long Island at successive altitudes parallel to the wind direction. These were used to locate the boundary between modified and unmodified air as a function of height and distance from the coast. The same measurements plus tower measurements of wind, turbulence and temperature, pilot balloon soundings and measurements of land and water surface temperatures by a remote sensing IR thermometer were used to quantify the characteristics of the modified and unmodified air.
Active Transportation and Acculturation Among Latino Children in San Diego County

Objectives To examine multiple measures of acculturation and their association with walking to school in a large population-based sample in San Diego, California.
Transitions and Transformations

The year 2011 brings a number of changes to Neurotherapeutics. When initiated in January 2004, the journal was self-published by the American Society for Experimental NeuroTherapeutics (ASENT). For the past five years, Elsevier has been our publisher. During that time, the journal’s visibility has increased markedly, with monthly downloads presently exceeding 12,000 per month. In June 2010, Neurotherapeutics received a highly competitive initial impact factor of 5.38, placing it among the top 10-15% of journals in both the basic and clinical neuroscience areas. Although we had an excellent working relationship with Elsevier, our contract was up for renegotiation, and the leadership of ASENT and its Publication Oversight Committee elected to solicit proposals from multiple publishers for the new contract term. The ultimate decision to choose Springer as our new publisher reflected, in part, its willingness to provide increased editorial manager support and its commitment to facilitate the addition of primary research articles with early online publication. Neurotherapeutics was initially developed to provide a unique platform for publishing comprehensive, topic-specific, critical reviews related to translational neuroscience. However, it was always planned that after achieving sufficient visibility and a competitive impact factor, the journal would also begin to include original translational research articles of exceptional quality. Publication of such research papers will begin this year. These submissions will be quickly reviewed, with accepted manuscripts rapidly published online, as well as in the following quarterly print edition. For investigators doing translational neuroscience, the choice of journal in which to publish often proves problematic. It is hoped that Neurotherapeutics will help fulfill this need by providing a high visibility, high impact platform. I wish to express my appreciation to: our outstanding Associate Editors Rohit Bakshi and Michael Rogawski; Linda Powell, who has provided exceptional editorial support since the journal’s inception; our excellent and recently expanded editorial board; Morna Conway, who has expertly taken us through two publisher transitions; and our prior and present publishers Herb Niemirow at Elsevier and Matt Giampoala at Springer, whose professionalism and attention to detail have facilitated the journal’s transition. Alan I. Faden, M.D. Editor-in-Chief
The role of synoptic systems in the interannual variability of Sahel rainfall

Components of the June-September climate over the Sahel are investigated in simulations with the GCM of the NASA/Goddard Institute for Space Studies, forced by SST observed during 1987 and 1988. The study analyzes the role of the synoptic patterns in determining precipitation differences between the two seasons, with special attention given to African wave disturbances (AWD). Emphasis is placed on deducing the characteristics of individual systems which may be missed by spectral and/or composite analyses. Results are derived from time-longitude cross-sections and spatial distributions of daily and weekly averages of key climatological variables. Despite the overall rainier season, rainless AWD are more prevalent in the simulations corresponding to June–September 1988 forcing than for 1987. Daily precipitation is shown to be highly correlated with mid-tropospheric vorticity, near surface convergence and 200 mb divergence. August daily rainfall was some-what better correlated with implied large scale vertical motion for 1988 forcing, emphasizing the dominance of broad circulation influences during that summer. While significant rainfall variability is attributed to AWD, quasistationary mechanisms cannot be ignored. In these simulations, upper tropospheric divergence modulated by changes in the Tropical Easterly Jet serves to both intensify the rainfall triggered by AWD and to sustain broader rainfall patterns during events of “massive uplift”.
Lipoxins exert antiangiogenic and anti-inflammatory effects on Kaposi's sarcoma cells

Lipoxin A4 (LXA4) is an endogenously produced host molecule with anti-inflammatory resolution effects. Previous studies demonstrated it to be involved in anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-mediated angiogenesis and in a possible anticancer role via interaction with its receptor, lipoxin A 4 receptor (ALXR). Here, we examined the effects of LXA4 and its epimer 15-epi-LXA4 in inhibiting proinflammatory and angiogenic functions in a human Kaposi's sarcoma tumor-derived cell line (KS-IMM). KS-IMM cells expressed increased levels of inflammatory cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) pathway enzymes when compared with human microvascular dermal endothelial cells (HMVEC-d). KS-IMM cells secreted high levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and chemotactic leukotriene B4 (LTB4). Treatment with LXA4 or 15-epi-LXA4 effectively reduced the levels of COX-2, 5-LO proteins, and secretion of PGE2 and LTB4 in KS-IMM cells. LXA4 or 15-epi-LXA4 treatment also decreased secretion of proinflammatory interleukin 6 (IL-6) and IL-8 cytokines but induced the secretion of anti-inflammatory IL-10. LXA4 treatment reduced the phosphorylation of VEGF receptor (VEGFR) and ephrin family receptor tyrosine kinases. LXA4 treatment effectively induced dephosphorylation of multiple cellular kinases such as Focal Adhesion Kinase, Protein kinase B, nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells, and Extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK)1/2, and reduced angiogenic factor VEGF-C secretion in KS cells. LX treatment drastically induced the Src-homology 2 domain-containing phosphatase tyrosine (Y542) phosphatase and reduced VEGFR-2 phosphorylation at sites Y1059, Y1175, and Y1212. Treatment of KS-IMM cells with LXA4 resulted in selective localization of VEGFR-2 in nonlipid raft (non-LR) and ALXR to LR fractions. These results demonstrated that LXA4 or 15-epi-LXA4 induce anti-inflammatory and antiangiogenic effects in KS cells and suggest that treatment with LXs is an attractive novel strategy against KS.
Specificity and neural sites of action of anisomycin in the reduction or facilitation of female sexual behavior in rats.

Abstract These experiments were designed to investigate the role of neuronal protein synthesis in the hormonal activation of female sexual behavior using intracranial implants of the protein synthesis inhibitor, anisomycin. In the first experiment, female rats receiving bilateral cannulae implants in the medial preoptic area (POA), septal region (SEPT), ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH), or midbrain central gray (CG) were injected with 2.5 μg estradiol benzoate (EB), followed 48 hr later by 500 μg progesterone (P). Females receiving anisomycin in the VMH at the time of EB injection had lower levels of lordosis and darting compared to tests without anisomycin. Sexual behavior was unaffected in females receiving anisomycin implants in the POA, SEPT, or CG. In a second experiment, we replicated the finding that anisomycin could attenuate lordotic responsivity when placed in the VMH of female rats injected with 2.5 μg EB and 500 μg P. In addition, we found that POA implants of anisomycin could facilitate lordosis in females given a low dose of EB (1.25 μg) plus 500 μg P. In a third experiment, we assessed the effects of anisomycin application to the VMH or POA of female rats receiving estradiol (E; diluted 1:250 with cholesterol) implants in the VMH and systemic P. Treatment of the VMH with anisomycin prior to E in the VMH suppressed lordotic responding, whereas anisomycin application to the POA prior to E in the VMH had no effect on lordosis. The results of these experiments suggest that reducing protein synthesis in the region of the VMH disrupts the action of estrogen on the VMH, and that the facilitative action of anisomycin in the POA of female rats requires more estrogen treatment than threshold stimulation of the VMH alone.
Analysis of systolic and diastolic time intervals during dobutamine-atropine stress echocardiography: diagnostic potential of the Doppler myocardial performance index.

Systolic and especially diastolic Doppler time intervals may be early markers of myocardial ischemia inducible by dobutamine-atropine stress echocardiography (DASE). We postulated that the Doppler myocardial performance index (MPI) may help differentiate ischemic from nonischemic responses. Hemodynamic and Doppler echocardiography variables were measured prospectively at every stress level of DASE in 32 patients (mean age 67 ± 13 years). Adequate recordings were obtained in 27 patients; 13 had an ischemic response (group I) and 14 a nonischemic response (group H). Heart rate differed between groups at baseline. At equivalent peak stress, left ventricular wall motion score index was significantly greater and ejection fraction lower in group I patients. Of the Doppler variables, only the MPI consistently differed between groups, irrespective of the number of stress levels compared. The Doppler MPI may be a useful adjunct to wall motion analysis in the detection of myocardial ischemia during DASE.
Electrochemistry in near-critical and supercritical fluids: Part VI. The electrochemistry of ferrocene and phenazine in acetonitrile between 25 and 300° C

Abstract Cyclic voltammetry in MeCN at various temperatures and pressures, including supercritical conditions, are described. The reduction wave of phenazine in MeCN/CF3SO3Na was reversible or nearly reversible up to 200° C. Above 200° C, the second reduction wave coalesced with the first. The oxidation of ferrocene in CH3CN was quasi-reversible between 25 and 285°C. Above the critical temperature (Tc) the standard heterogeneous electron transfer (k°) decreased. The diffusion coefficients (D) of phenanzine and ferrocene up to Tc are reported, and the determination of viscosity of high temperature/high pressure liquids and fluids based on the measurements of D via the Stokes-Einstein equation is suggested.
Effect of deep breathing on extracted oxygen and cerebral hemoglobin levels

This study examines the relationship between oxygen expired and functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) measured hemoglobin levels in the brain. Analysis of these two signals during normal versus deep breathing provides insight into the dynamics of cerebral physiology. Intersubject variation suggests the existence of two distinct groups with respect to oxygen extraction and hemoglobin levels.
Microstructural stability of nanostructured Cu-Nb-W alloys during high-temperature annealing and irradiation

Abstract The microstructural evolution of dilute Cu-based ternary Cu–Nb alloys during high-temperature annealing was investigated using a combination of transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) simulations. The experiments showed that, during annealing, the Cu 90 Nb 10 binary alloy undergoes extensive coarsening at 600 °C, with precipitate sizes increasing to >40 nm. Additions of just 1.5 at.% W to this alloy, however, dramatically suppresses the growth; the average precipitate size in the ternary alloy now increases to only ∼10 nm at 600 °C, and only to 18 nm at 700 °C. On annealing at still higher temperatures, the precipitate size then, surprisingly, decreases. The precipitate size distribution at the higher temperatures, moreover, is bimodal. It is also observed that irradiation has no effect on the microstructure of the ternary alloys above 600 °C. KMC simulations indicate that the saturation of the average precipitate size, followed by its decrease as the annealing temperature is increased and the development of a bimodal size distribution can be explained by competition between thermodynamic and kinetic effects during precipitation in this ternary alloy.
Estimation of Surface Displacements Due to Earthquake Excitation of Saturated Sands

Abstract This paper examines a variety of useful and important methods for estimation of liquefaction‐induced ground displacement. The state‐of‐practice for estimating permanent ground displacements is empirical. Several methods are examined, and they all appear to have comparable predictive abilities. The recommended method takes into account geological, geotechnical, topographical, and seismological parameters. There have been a few recent attempts to construct constitutive models for post‐liquefaction displacements, but at this time they are in formative stages and have not been rigorously proven.
James L. Gibson. Electing Judges: The Surprising Effects of Campaigning on Judicial Legitimacy. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. 2012. 240 pp. $85.00 (cloth). $27.50 (paper).

How should judges be selected? This normative query lies at the heart of a fundamental debate occurring among academics, lawyers, interest groups, politicians, and political observers. Of course, a variety of selection systems exist in the American states�partisan judicial elections, nonpartisan judicial elections, merit selection with retention elections, and appointment�and empirical political scientists are increasingly evaluating many of the claims advanced by individuals (e.g., former Justice Sandra Day O�Connor) and groups (e.g., Justice at Stake, American Judicature Society) who oppose judicial elections on the normative grounds that elections represent a fundamental threat to bedrock principles such as judicial independence, judicial impartiality, and the legitimacy of courts. James L. Gibson�s Electing Judges directly confronts this core contention with a focus on the public�s perceptions of these issues. In this tour de force in the realm of state courts, judicial elections, and institutional legitimacy, Gibson presents a multifaceted examination of whether elections and campaign activities undermine the institutional legitimacy of state courts. He employs survey experiments, observational survey data, and dynamic panel data. The book relies heavily on survey data from Kentucky surrounding its 2006 judicial elections, though some analyses are replicated using national data. Gibson should be applauded for using multiple research designs to examine the overarching research question. It enhances the overall evidentiary potency of his arguments. To paraphrase the book�s subtitle, some �surprising effects� emerge from Gibson�s analysis. I will highlight the main ones. First, in chapter 2, which I found to be the most important and interesting analysis in the book, Gibson reports evidence from a survey experiment�in both Kentucky and a national sample�testing �
Teaching Industrial Practices in an Undergraduate Software Engineering Course

This paper reports on classroom experiences in software engineering coursework where students are placed in an industrial environment and given a real customer, a real project, and held to commercial practices and accountability. The experience has been largely positive on the part of the students and their customers. Successes, failures, and opportunities for improvement are reported herein.
Interfacial Depth Profiling of the Orientation and Bonding of Water Molecules across Liquid−Liquid Interfaces

Molecular interactions that create the interfacial properties present at a junction between water and several hydrophobic liquids are the focus of this paper. This study employs molecular dynamics simulations to generate vibrational sum frequency (VSF) spectral profiles of water across the interfacial depth of three systems: the carbon tetrachloride−water, chloroform−water, and dichloromethane−water interfaces. These spectral profiles are calculated as functions of both frequency and interfacial depth, providing a visual description of interfacial water structure that can be difficult to elucidate from density profiles and sum frequency spectral intensities, or spectra that vary only as functions of frequency. VSF spectral intensities calculated for the OH stretch region that are integrated over the entire interfacial region are shown to compare well with the experimental VSF data for these systems. VSF spectral depth profiles show how the widths of the interfaces vary with the density and polarity of th...
INHIBITION OF PROTEIN KINASE C EPSILON CAUSES CILIATED BOVINE BRONCHIAL CELL DETACHMENT

This study defines the in vitro phenomenon of ciliated bovine bronchial epithelial cell (BBEC) detachment from the basal epithelium and regulation of cilia motility mediated through protein kinase C epsilon (PKCe). The authors determined the time course of activation and downregulation of PKCe by the known PKC activator phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and demonstrate that chemical inhibition of PKC by calphostin C or the novel PKC isoform inhibitor Ro 31-8220 induced striking detachment of ciliated BBECs from the basal cell monolayer within 1 hour, independent of apoptosis or necrotic cell death. The results of this study support a possible novel PKCe-mediated signaling pathway through which ciliated cell attachment is maintained.
Economic Crime and Punishment in North Korea

The penal system has played a central role in the North Korean government's response to the country's profound economic and social changes. As the informal market economy has expanded, so have the scope of economic crimes. Two refugee surveys – one conducted in China, one in South Korea – document that the regime disproportionately targets politically suspect groups, and particularly those involved in market-oriented economic activities. Levels of violence and deprivation do not appear to differ substantially between the infamous political prison camps, penitentiaries for felons, and labor camps used to incarcerate individuals for a growing number of economic crimes. Such a system may also reflect ulterior motives. High levels of discretion with respect to arrest and sentencing and very high costs of detention, arrest and incarceration encourage bribery; the more arbitrary and painful the experience with the penal system, the easier it is for officials to extort money for avoiding it. These characteristics not only promote regime maintenance through intimidation, but may facilitate predatory corruption as well.
MULTICOM: A Multi-Level Combination Approach to Protein Structure Prediction and its Assessments in CASP8

Motivation: Protein structure prediction is one of the most important problems in structural bioinformatics. Here we describe MULTICOM, a multi-level combination approach to improve the various steps in protein structure prediction. In contrast to those methods which look for the best templates, alignments and models, our approach tries to combine complementary and alternative templates, alignments and models to achieve on average better accuracy. Results: The multi-level combination approach was implemented via five automated protein structure prediction servers and one human predictor which participated in the eighth Critical Assessment of Techniques for Protein Structure Prediction (CASP8), 2008. The MULTICOM servers and human predictor were consistently ranked among the top predictors on the CASP8 benchmark. The methods can predict moderate- to high-resolution models for most template-based targets and low-resolution models for some template-free targets. The results show that the multi-level combination of complementary templates, alternative alignments and similar models aided by model quality assessment can systematically improve both template-based and template-free protein modeling. Availability: The MULTICOM server is freely available at http://casp.rnet.missouri.edu/multicom_3d.html Contact: ude.iruossim@ijgnehc
Enhancing the Interactions of Teenage Mothers and Their At-Risk Children Effectiveness of a Maternal-Focused Intervention

This study investigated the impact of a short-term interaction-focused parenting curriculum on maternal behaviors and child development outcomes. Participants were 94 teen-mother—child dyads; 48 in...
Low plasma leptin levels contribute to diabetic hyperphagia in rats

The adipocyte hormone leptin reduces food intake in normal animals. During uncontrolled type 1 diabetes, plasma leptin levels fall, whereas food intake increases. To test the hypothesis that low leptin levels contribute to diabetic hyperphagia, we investigated the effect on food intake of replacement of leptin at basal plasma concentrations for 7 days in Long-Evans rats with uncontrolled diabetes induced by streptozotocin (STZ). One group of STZ diabetic rats received saline (STZ + Sal) (n = 11), while the other group (STZ + Lep) (n = 15) received a subcutaneous infusion of recombinant rat leptin (100 microg x kg(-1) x day(-1)) via osmotic minipumps. A nondiabetic control group (Con) (n = 11) received saline only. In the STZ + Sal group, plasma leptin levels decreased by 75% (P < 0.05) from 2.4+/-0.5 on the day before STZ/citrate buffer vehicle (Veh) injection (day 0) to 0.6+/-0.2 ng/ml on day 7. In contrast, plasma leptin levels on days 3-7 were comparable to pretreatment values in both the STZ + Lep group (day 0: 2.6+/-0.4 vs. day 7: 2.5+/-0.3 ng/ml, NS) and the Con group (day 0: 3.8+/-0.4 vs. day 7: 2.9+/-1.0 ng/ml, NS). In the STZ + Sal group, daily food intake increased gradually to values 43% above basal by day 7 (day 0: 24+/-2 to day 7: 33+/-3 g, P < 0.05), whereas food intake did not increase in either the STZ + Lep group (day 0: 24+/-1 vs. day 7: 21+/-2 g, NS), or the Con group (day 0: 23+/-1 vs. day 7: 23+/-2 g). Plasma glucose levels exceeded nondiabetic control values (7.7+/-0.2 mmol/l) in both diabetic groups, but were lower in the STZ + Lep group (17.2+/-1.8 mmol/l) than in the STZ + Sal group (24.3+/-1.1 mmol/l, P < 0.05). To determine if sensitivity to leptin-induced anorexia was affected by STZ treatment, a second experiment was performed in which the effect of intracerebroventricular leptin injection (at doses of 0.35, 1.0, or 3.5 microg) on food intake was measured 10 days after STZ or Veh treatment. Leptin suppressed both 4- and 24-h food intake in the two groups to an equal extent at every dose (by 15, 22, and 35%, respectively). These findings support the hypothesis that the effect of uncontrolled diabetes to lower leptin levels contributes to diabetic hyperphagia and that this effect is not due to altered leptin sensitivity.
Spatial alterations of Kv channels expression and K(+) currents in post-MI remodeled rat heart.

Objective: The hypothesis being tested in the present study is that increased anisotropic properties occurs in the remodeled post-infarction heart due to spatial alterations in Kv channels expression and K+ currents of the remodeled myocardium. Methods: Three to 4 weeks post myocardial infarction (MI) in the rat, we measured the two components of the outward K+ current, I to-fast (f) and I to-slow(s) in the epicardium (epi) and endocardium (endo) of noninfarcted remodeled left ventricle (LV) using patch clamp techniques. Alterations in mRNA and/or protein levels of potassium channel genes Kv1.4, Kv1.5, Kv2.1, Kv4.2 and Kv4.3 were measured in epi, midmyocardium (mid), and endo regions of LV and in the right ventricle (RV). Results: In sham operated rat heart, the density of I to-f was 2.3 times greater in epi compared to endo myocytes. In post-MI heart, the density of I to-f and I to-s decreased to a similar degree in LV epi and endo but the difference in I to-f density between epi and endo persisted. The mRNA and/or protein levels of Kv1.4, Kv2.1, Kv4.2 and Kv4.3 but not Kv1.5 decreased to a varying extent in different regions of LV but not in RV of post-MI heart. Conclusions: Our results suggest that regional downregulation of Kv channels expression and density of K+ currents can be a significant determinant of increased spatial electrophysiological heterogeneity and contribute to increased electrical instability of the post-MI heart.
Marital Biography and Health at Mid-Life

This article develops a series of hypotheses about the long-term effects of one's history of marriage, divorce, and widowhood on health, and it tests those hypotheses using data from the Health and Retirement Study. We examine four dimensions of health at mid-life: chronic conditions, mobility limitations, self-rated health, and depressive symptoms. We find that the experience of marital disruption damages health, with the effects still evident years later; among the currently married, those who have ever been divorced show worse health on all dimensions. Both the divorced and widowed who do not remarry show worse health than the currently married on all dimensions. Dimensions of health that seem to develop slowly, such as chronic conditions and mobility limitations, show strong effects of past marital disruption, whereas others, such as depressive symptoms, seem more sensitive to current marital status. Those who spent more years divorced or widowed show more chronic conditions and mobility limitations.
A Lagrangian View of Vortex Shedding and Reattachment Behavior in the Wake of a 2D Airfoil

Utilizing ideas from dynamical system theory to find invariant material manifolds, the structure of mixing behavior in vortex formation and shedding in two dimensional low Reynolds number flow is investigated. The test case is a low Reynolds number flow over an Eppler 387 airfoil at 6 angle of attack. A software was developed, tested and validated for calculating material manifolds on unstructured grid. It is shown that the stable manifolds are an excellent method of visualizing the reattachment profile, and that the manifold associated with reattachment behaves in a periodic shedding type manner. Structural elements of the flow, not found in traditional flow maps, are discovered and found to have important interactions in the vortex roll up process. Structures are formed ahead of the airfoil and transported above and below the airfoil before they interact at the trailing edge of the airfoil to form the wake vortices. It is expected that these structures could play a role in flow control of the shedding process. Finally, it is shown that the combination of stable and unstable manifolds allow for a time dependent definition of the separation bubble.
Detecting emotion in others: increased insula and decreased medial prefrontal cortex activation during emotion processing in elite adventure racers

Understanding the neural processes that characterize elite performers is a first step to develop a neuroscience model that can be used to improve performance in stressful circumstances. Adventure racers are elite athletes that operate in small teams in the context of environmental and physical extremes. In particular, awareness of team member’s emotional status is critical to the team’s ability to navigate high-magnitude stressors. Thus, this functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study examined the hypothesis that adventure racers would show altered emotion processing in brain areas that are important for resilience and social awareness. Elite adventure racers (n = 10) were compared with healthy volunteers (n = 12) while performing a simple emotion face-processing (modified Hariri) task during fMRI. Across three types of emotional faces, adventure racers showed greater activation in right insula, left amygdala and dorsal anterior cingulate. Additionally, compared with healthy controls adventure racers showed attenuated right medial prefrontal cortex activation. These results are consistent with previous studies showing elite performers differentially activate neural substrates underlying interoception. Thus, adventure racers differentially deploy brain resources in an effort to recognize and process the internal sensations associated with emotions in others, which could be advantageous for team-based performance under stress.
ARIES/CSA: a method for database recovery in client-server architectures

This paper presents an algorithm, called ARIES/CSA (Algorithm for Recovery and Isolation Exploiting Semantics for Client-Server Architectures), for performing recovery correctly in client-server (CS) architectures. In CS, the server manages the disk version of the database. The clients, after obtaining database pages from the server, cache them in their buffer pools. Clients perform their updates on the cached pages and produce log records. The log records are buffered locally in virtual storage and later sent to the single log at the server. ARIES/CSA supports a write-ahead logging (WAL), fine-granularity (e.g., record) locking, partial rollbacks and flexible buffer management policies like steal and no-force. It does not require that the clocks on the clients and the server be synchronized. Checkpointing by the server and the clients allows for flexible and easier recovery.
Double Porosity Well Testing in the Fractured Carbonate Rocks of the Ozarks

The objective of this research was to determine a well test model which could be used for determining the hydraulic parameters of T and S in the complex fractured carbonates of the Ozarks of southern Missouri. Municipal water well testing in the Ozarks is performed on deep wells completed in confined fractured carbonate aquifers where all of the flow to the wellbore is through the fractures but most of the storage is in the matrix blocks. Observation wells are not used because of cost. The methodology uses double porosity well test analysis including the inner boundary conditions of skin and wellbore storage. Using this method, S and T are obtained as well as the storativity ratio, ω, and the block to fracture flow parameter λ. Because wellbore storage, skin, and storativity are interrelated, a computer simulation to find the final S was necessary. Derivative curve analysis provided a constraint in determining the correctness of the simulation results. Failure to use this well test method proved to result in storativities which are much too large. An example is presented.
A 2.3nJ/frame Voice Activity Detector based audio front-end for context-aware System-on-Chip applications in 32nm CMOS

An audio front-end with Voice Activity Detection (VAD) hardware targeted for low-power embedded SoCs, featuring a 512pt FFT, programmable filters, noise floor estimator and a decision engine has been fabricated in 32nm CMOS. The dual-V CC , dual-frequency design allows the core datapath to scale to near-threshold voltage, where power consumption is less than 50μW. At peak energy efficiency, the core can process audio data at 2.3nJ/frame — a 9.4X improvement over nominal voltage conditions.
Optimum cystic duct closure: a comparative study using metallic clips, ENSEAL, and ENDOLOOP in swine

BACKGROUND: Metal clips are commonly used to secure the cystic duct during cholecystectomy, although use of an ENDOLOOP (Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Blue Ash, OH) is often touted as a more secure closure when postoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is anticipated. The objective of this study was to test the strength of 3 different cystic duct closure methods in a model simulating postoperative biliary insufflation. METHODS: The extrahepatic biliary system, including common bile duct, gallbladder, and cystic duct, was harvested en bloc from 22 swine postmortem. A cholecystectomy was performed and the cystic duct was secured using 1 of 3 randomly assigned methods: metallic clips (Ethicon Endo-Surgery), an ENDOLOOP (Ethicon Endo-Surgery), or an ENSEAL tissue sealing device (Ethicon EndoSurgery). The common bile duct was cannulated with a pressure-monitoring system and insufflated with air. The burst pressures, location of rupture, and size of the common bile duct and cystic duct were recorded and compared. RESULTS: There were 7 pigs each in the ENDOLOOP and ENSEAL groups and 8 in the metallic clip group, with no statistical significance between cystic and common bile duct size. Mean burst pressure was 432 mm Hg for metallic clips, 371 mm Hg for the ENDOLOOP, and 238 mm Hg for the ENSEAL device (P 5.02). Post hoc analysis revealed clips to be statistically superior when compared with the ENSEAL (P5 .01). There was no statistical difference between the ENDOLOOP and metal clips or between the ENDOLOOP and the ENSEAL. CONCLUSIONS: All 3 closure methods successfully secured the cystic duct, with mean burst pressures exceeding 195 mm Hg. Metallic clips demonstrated the highest burst pressures and no cystic duct stump leaks. This study challenges the traditional dogma of additionally securing the cystic duct with an ENDOLOOP when postoperative biliary instrumentation is expected and also suggests that an adequately secure closure may be obtained with thermal sealing devices. Published by Elsevier Inc.