cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Isotopic fractionation of negative ions produced by Cs sputtering in a high-intensity source

Abstract The isotopic compositions of negative ions produced by a high-intensity sputter source from a wide range of elements has been studied. In all cases of atomic negative ions, the lighter isotope is enhanced with respect to the bulk composition of the sputter material. Fractionations range from 25% per amu for lithium to almost zero for iridium. The observed fractionations are approximated by the expression f = ( 100 Δm )(√( M H M L ) − 1), where M L and M H are the masses of the lighter and heavier isotopes. With the exception of lithium, similar results were obtained with both elemental and compound sputter targets and fractionation appears to be essentially matrix independent. Molecular beams showed significantly less fractionation than atomic beams from the same materials; within errors, molecular fractionations are consistent with zero. Sputter theory is in excellent agreement with the results obtained with atomic ions, but is unable to account for the near absence of fractionation observed with molecular beams.
Opiate effects on 5-fluorouracil disposition in mice.

Purpose: This study was performed to investigate the effects of morphine on the disposition of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). Methods: Mice were injected subcutaneously (s.c.) with saline or morphine, 20 mg/kg. 5-FU was administered intravenously (i.v.) 30 min later as a single bolus or by constant infusion. Blood samples were obtained by orbital sinus puncture. Urine samples were obtained from the bladder after ligation of the external urethra. 5-FU concentrations in plasma and urine were determined by HPLC. Results: Morphine markedly elevated plasma levels of 5-FU given at doses of 100 to 860 mg/kg. The plasma clearance rate of a bolus dose of 100 mg/kg 5-FU was significantly reduced from 54 to 28 ml/min per kg and the elimination half-life was increased from 6.9 to 12.2 min by prior administration of morphine. When 5-FU was infused at 0.5 mg/kg per min, morphine reduced its plasma clearance rate from 145 to 94 ml/min per kg. Mice made tolerant by prior morphine administration required higher doses of this opiate to raise 5-FU levels as well as to cause analgesia. The effects of morphine on 5-FU disposition were antagonized by naltrexone. Excretion of 5-FU in urine was not affected by morphine treatment. Conclusions: The plasma clearance rate of 5-FU in mice is significantly reduced by concomitant use of morphine. This effect of morphine is due to reduced hepatic elimination of 5-FU rather than to a decrease in its renal excretion.
Erikson, psychology, and religion

The writings of the late Erik H. Erikson (1) have contributed directly to the psychological study of religion, (2) were amenable to the efforts of others to develop normative theological arguments, and (3) might be seen as themselves examples of contemporary, nontheological accounts of the religious dimension of human existence. This paper begins by reviewing the principal contributions that Erikson made to the psychological study of religion, followed by a review of the uses that have been made of Erikson's work for normative/constructive activities in such areas as practical theology and pastoral counseling. I will then argue that Erikson's writings — when viewed in the vein of William James's radical empiricism and functionalist accounts of human religiosity — identify an irreducibly religious dimension to normative human functioning. Erikson's functionalism constitutes a form of nontheological religious thinking that speaks directly to concerns presenting themselves in contemporary culture.
The effects of stressors and coping resources on anxiety and peripheral narrowing

Abstract The purpose of the study was to examine possible mechanisms which might help explain why individuals with high life stress and/or low coping resources are at greater risk for incurring athletic injuries. The effects of life events, daily hassles (DH), and coping resources (CR) on state anxiety and peripheral vision narrowing during a stress condition were examined. Subjects were 74 recreational athletes who completed the Life Events Survey, Daily Hassles Scale (DHS), Vulnerability to Stress Questionnaire (CR), and state portion of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Peripheral vision was measured alone during baseline and while simultaneously performing a Stroop Color-Word Test accompanied by distracting noise during the stress condition. State anxiety was assessed during baseline and the stress condition. Analyses of covariance revealed that high negative life events (NLE) (p = .01) were related to greater peripheral narrowing during the stress condition. High TLE (p = .01) and DH (p = .005) were...
Barreling through the membrane

The mechanism of transmembrane β-barrel protein insertion into an intracellular membrane is essentially unknown. Two recent studies reveal that the process is protein-mediated and identify a protein complex that is involved.
Modeling Reservation-Based Autonomous Intersection Control in VISSIM

The use of autonomous vehicles is attracting more and more attention as a promising approach to improving both highway safety and efficiency. Most previous studies on autonomous intersection management relied heavily on custom-built simulation tools to implement and evaluate their control algorithms, but the use of nonstandard simulation platforms makes the comparison of systems almost impossible. Furthermore, without support from standard simulation platforms, reliable and trustworthy simulation results are hard to obtain. In this context, this paper explores a way to model autonomous intersections through the use of VISSIM, a standard microscopic simulation platform. A reservation-based intersection control system named autonomous control of urban traffic (ACUTA) was introduced and implemented in VISSIM through the use of VISSIM's external driver model. The operational and safety performance characteristics of ACUTA were evaluated with VISSIM's easy-to-use evaluation tools. In comparison with the result...
Willingness to pay for vehicle-to-grid (V2G) electric vehicles and their contract terms

Abstract Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) electric vehicles can return power stored in their batteries back to the power grid and be programmed to do so at times when the grid needs reserve power. Since providing this service can lead to payments to owners, it effectively reduces the life-cycle cost of owning an electric vehicle. Using data from a national stated preference survey, this paper presents a study of the potential consumer demand for V2G electric vehicles. In a choice experiment, 3029 respondents compared their preferred gasoline vehicle with two V2G electric vehicles. The V2G vehicles were described by a set of electric vehicle attributes and V2G contract requirements such as “required plug-in time” and “guaranteed minimum driving range”. The contract requirements specify a contract between drivers and a power aggregator for providing reserve power to the grid. Our findings suggest that the V2G concept is most likely to help EVs on the market if power aggregators operate either on pay-as-you-go basis (more pay for more service provided) or provide consumers with advanced cash payment (upfront discounts on the price of EVs), rather than imposing fixed requirements on participants.
Estradiol alters transcription factor gene expression in primate prefrontal cortex.

Estrogen protects neurons from a variety of experimental insults in vitro, and is thought to protect from acute and chronic neurodegenerative processes in vivo. Estrogen also enhances higher-level cognitive functions thatare centered in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) in human and non-human primates. To investigate genomic mechanisms involved in estrogenic effects on the primate brain in vivo, we compared transcription factor mRNA and protein expression in the DLPFC of ovariectomized rhesus monkeys treated with either vehicle or estradiol (E2). c-FOS, E2F1, and general transcription factor IIB (TFIIB) mRNA and protein expression were altered significantly by short-term E2 treatment, as shown by DNA array, in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemical and immunoblot evaluations. c-FOS expression was increased significantly whereas E2F1 and TFIIB levels were decreased in the DLPFC of E2-treated animals. These transcription factors were concentrated in cortical pyramids, as were estrogen receptors α and β. These data indicate that estrogen may have direct as well as indirect effects on neuronal gene expression in the primate prefrontal cortex.
The potential role of iodine-123 metaiodobenzylguanidine imaging for identifying sustained ventricular tachycardia in patients with cardiomyopathy.

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) significantly reduce mortality in patients with depressed left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and heart failure (HF). However, shortcomings of LVEF to accurately identify those at greatest risk of ventricular tachyarrhythmias have led to the pursuit of alternative means to refine qualification criteria for ICD implantation. It is well established that imaging the cardiac nervous system with123I meta-iodobenzylguanidine (123I-mIBG) provides incremental prognostic value in patients with HF beyond LVEF. Whether 123I-mIBG will also play an important role for identifying and/or predicting sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmias in patients with cardiomyopathy and determining those who may benefit from ICD implantation is currently under investigation. Novel imaging approaches that pinpoint the site of ventricular arrhythmias and guide ventricular tachycardia ablation are presented.
The effect of hydralazine dose on blood perfusion changes during hyperthermia

Experiments were performed to determine the dose-related effects of the intravenous administration of a vasodilator (hydralazine) on normal muscle blood perfusion during localized hyperthermia. Fourteen anaesthetized outbred canines were investigated, seven receiving the recommended dose level of 0–5 mg/kg and seven receiving one-quarter of that level. The changes in blood perfusion were estimated using two methods: calculation of an effective blood perfusion magnitude and the use of state and parameter estimation techniques. Both methods showed that the changes in blood perfusion induced by the hydralazine were significant, and that the differences between the results for the two drug doses were not significantly different. This suggests that low doses may be useful in humans, giving the same resultant blood perfusion increase but with a decreased patient risk relative to standard therapeutic doses of hydralazine.While the trends in the blood perfusion changes were the same for both calculation methods t...
Superfluid-insulator transition in ``Dirty'' ultracold Fermi gas

Superfluid-insulator transition in an ultracold Fermi gas in the external disorder potential of the amplitude V0 is studied as a function of its concentration n and the magnetic field B in the presence of the Feshbach resonance. We find the zero temperature phase diagrams in the plane (B, n) at a given V0 and in the plane (V0, n) at a given B. We study the transition between cases of classical and quantum random potentials which can be implemented by tuning intensity of speckles. Our results for the Bose-Einstein condensation side of the diagram are also valid for a Bose gas.
Obesity, fitness, and brain integrity in adolescence

Objective: We set out to ascertain the relationship between insulin resistance, fitness, and brain structure and function in adolescents. Design and methods: We studied 79 obese and 51 non-obese participants who were recruited from the community, all without type 2 diabetes mellitus. All participants received medical, endocrine, neuropsychological, and MRI evaluations as well as a 6-minute walk test that was used to estimate fitness (maximal oxygen consumption). Results: Obese adolescents had significantly thinner orbitofrontal cortices and performed significantly worse on Visual Working Memory tasks and the Digit Vigilance task. Insulin sensitivity and maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max) were both highly correlated with central obesity and orbitofrontal cortical thickness, although insulin sensitivity was the stronger predictor for orbitofrontal cortical thickness. We also found that VO2 max was the only significant physiological variable related to visual working memory. Conclusions: This is the first study to report positive associations between insulin resistance, VO2 max, and frontal lobe brain integrity in adolescents. Given the importance of brain health for learning and school performance, we conclude that schools should also emphasize physical fitness in order to maintain structural and functional brain integrity and facilitate academic achievement.
Chemisorption of tert-butanol on Si(1 0 0)

Abstract The chemisorption of tert -butanol, an important product in atomic layer deposition (ALD) of ZrO 2 from the precursor, zirconium tetra- tert -butoxide, on Si(1 0 0)−(2 × 1), has been investigated using Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and temperature-programmed desorption (TPD). The main desorption products of the TPD experiments are isobutene and molecular hydrogen. A comparison of TPD results obtained with a clean silicon surface with that from a hydrogen-terminated Si surface indicates no chemisorption in the latter case. AES measurements reveal the presence of carbon on the sample after TPD; the amount of carbon tracks the isobutene yield in TPD experiments. A comparison is made of observations with those expected from the known reactions of simple alcohols on Si(1 0 0)−(2 × 1) and the chemisorption attributed dominantly to O–H bond scission to yield an H and tert -butoxy-group-terminated surface.
How to Keep a Bad Outcome from Becoming a Lawsuit

Objective. The incidence of medical mal-occurrences associated with interventional pain procedures is increasing. This has resulted in a corresponding increase in medical malpractice tort claims. Therefore, physicians involved in performing interventional pain procedures must understand the malpractice tort system in order to both practice more safely, and to decrease litigation risk. Further, physicians must be aware of specific trends in both their own behaviors as well as the behaviors of their patients that may decrease the chances of being sued. Design. We systematically searched the Medline Database and recent electronic pain journals and websites for relevant articles on the topic of interventional pain procedures and litigation. Results. Medical errors are largely cited in the lay and medical literature. Specific ideal physician behaviors that may decrease risks of lawsuits were identified. Conclusions. Physicians cannot control all the potential contributors to errors. What can be controlled is our knowledge, skill, diligence and perseverance. Ultimately, when an unfortunate outcome results, being honest and admitting any real or potential errors, forging strong relationships, and being able to say “I'm sorry” may be the best way to mitigate blame.
Use of the stable isotope, 58Fe, for determining availability of nonheme iron in meals.

ABSTRACT: Because of reluctance to use radioisotopes for studies of iron absorption in children, we have explored the feasibility of using the least abundant stable isotope of iron, 58Fe (natural abundance, 0.322 weight %) in a study of nonheme iron absorption. With a balanced cross-over design, each of 16 school-age children was fed a standardized lunch on 3 consecutive days and, 28 days later, an alternate standardized lunch on 3 consecutive days. The lunch included either a beef patty or a beef-soy patty. The mass isotope ratio, 58Fe/57Fe (MIR58/57), was measured in blood by inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy before and 14 days after (i.e. study day 15) consuming the three lunches. The MIR58/57 on study day 15 was used as a baseline value for lunches fed on study days 29, 30, and 31. Incorporation of 58Fe into erythrocytes was greater from the lunch with beef patty than from the lunch with beef-soy patty (geometric mean values 2.02 and 1.05% of the dose, p < 0.03). Based on the similarity of our results with those obtained in adults with radioisotopes. We conclude that 58Fe is a satisfactory tag for studies of nonheme iron absorption from meals.
Specific function of bile salts in cholesterol absorption.

SummaryEntrance of cholesterol-4-C14 into the free cholesterol pool of mucosa and its subsequent transfer to the lymph requires the presence of a specific type of bile salt. This process does not require the presence of dietary fatty acid. It is suggested that free cholesterol in the lumen of the intestine complexes with bile salt which then enters the free cholesterol pool of mucosa.
Dps promotes survival of nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae in biofilm communities in vitro and resistance to clearance in vivo

Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) is a common airway commensal and opportunistic pathogen that persists within surface-attached biofilm communities. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that bacterial stress-responses are activated within biofilms. Transcripts for several factors associated with bacterial resistance to environmental stress were increased in biofilm cultures as compared to planktonic cultures. Among these, a homolog of the DNA-binding protein from starved cells (dps) was chosen for further study. An isogenic NTHi 86-028NP dps mutant was generated and tested for resistance to environmental stress, revealing a significant survival defects in high-iron conditions, which was mediated by oxidative stress and was restored by genetic complementation. As expected, NTHi 86-028NP dps had a general stress-response defect, exhibiting decreased resistance to many types of environmental stress. While no differences were observed in density and structure of NTHi 86-028NP and NTHi 86-028NP dps biofilms, bacterial survival was decreased in NTHi 86-028NP dps biofilms as compared to the parental strain. The role of dps persistence in vivo was tested in animal infection studies. NTHi 86-028NP dps had decreased resistance to clearance after pulmonary infection of elastase-treated mice as compared to NTHi 86-028NP, whereas minimal differences were observed in clearance from mock-treated mice. Similarly, lower numbers of NTHi 86-028NP dps were recovered from middle-ear effusions and bullar homogenates in the chinchilla model for otitis media (OM). Therefore, we conclude that Dps promotes bacterial survival within NTHi biofilm communities both in vitro and in chronic infections in vivo.
Analysis of the occurrence of stick-slip in AFM-based nano-pushing

The use of the Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) as a tool to manipulate matter at the nanoscale is promising. However, the complexity of the corresponding physics and mechanics makes such nanomanipulation difficult and not very accurate. In the present paper, we analyze the dynamics of AFM-based nano-pushing manipulation. Simulation results show that the choice of the manipulation speed and loading force highly affect the manipulation outcome. In addition, simulations predict the existence of several threshold manipulation speeds. These thresholds mark the transitions between no stick-slip motion and either unique or multiple coexisting stick-slip. The obtained results bear significant implications and help get more insight into AFM-based nano-pushing.
Real-time CT-video registration for continuous endoscopic guidance

Previous research has shown that CT-image-based guidance could be useful for the bronchoscopic assessment of lung cancer. This research drew upon the registration of bronchoscopic video images to CT-based endoluminal renderings of the airway tree. The proposed methods either were restricted to discrete single-frame registration, which took several seconds to complete, or required non-real-time buffering and processing of video sequences. We have devised a fast 2D/3D image registration method that performs single-frame CT-Video registration in under 1/15th of a second. This allows the method to be used for real-time registration at full video frame rates without significantly altering the physician's behavior. The method achieves its speed through a gradient-based optimization method that allows most of the computation to be performed off-line. During live registration, the optimization iteratively steps toward the locally optimal viewpoint at which a CT-based endoluminal view is most similar to a current bronchoscopic video frame. After an initial registration to begin the process (generally done in the trachea for bronchoscopy), subsequent registrations are performed in real-time on each incoming video frame. As each new bronchoscopic video frame becomes available, the current optimization is initialized using the previous frame's optimization result, allowing continuous guidance to proceed without manual re-initialization. Tests were performed using both synthetic and pre-recorded bronchoscopic video. The results show that the method is robust to initialization errors, that registration accuracy is high, and that continuous registration can proceed on real-time video at >15 frames per sec. with minimal user-intervention.
Are we failing to document adequate smoking histories? A brief review 1999–2009

AbstractBackground:Documenting a detailed smoking history is of obvious importance. Failure to adequately document the smoking history may result in the misdiagnosis and management of asthma, and may be associated with a deficiency of care in patients with cardiovascular disease and several other common diseases.Scope:The purpose of this article is to review the evidence over the past decade that demonstrates inadequate documentation of smoking history.A literature search of English language journals from 1999 to 2009 was completed using several databases, including PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and SCOPUS.Findings:Fourteen studies demonstrated inadequate documentation of smoking histories by primary care clinicians, specialists, residents, and medical students. Failure to document smoking histories was observed in patients with conditions such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, and asthma. Electronic decision support systems and simple medical record reminders were effective in improving the documenta...
Rolling-element fatigue and lubrication with fluorinated polyethers at cryogenic temperatures

Rolling ball fatigue and lubrication with fluorinated polyethers at cryogenic temperatures compared to superfined mineral oil
Hair and scalp dermatoscopy

Dermatoscopy is a noninvasive diagnostic tool that allows the recognition of morphologic structures not visible by the naked eye. Trichoscopy (scalp dermatoscopy and videodermatoscopy) is useful for the diagnosis and follow-up of hair and scalp disorders. However, it is not widely used in the management of hair disorders. This review provides updated information from the literature and our experience on the dermoscopic features of the most common hair and scalp disorders. This will enable dermatologists to make fast diagnoses of tinea capitis and alopecia areata, distinguish early androgenetic alopecia from telogen effluvium, and differentiate scarring from nonscarring alopecia.
Central Venous Catheterization: A Comprehensive Review, Part I

Central venous catheterization is an indispensable tech nique in today's practice of medicine. It was initially used to monitor central venous pressure; however, this method has become obsolete. Central venous access is now more commonly established to administer hyper tonic intravenous alimentation or to insert pulmonary artery catheters. The sites available for central venous catheterization include the antecubital veins, external and internal jugular veins, subclavian vein, and femoral vein. Many of these sites offer more than one method of insertion. Although the indications for central venous access are well known, there is a general lack of respect for the considerable incidence of associated complica tions. It is useful to separate complications into two categories: those associated with venipuncture and catheter insertion, which will vary greatly depending on the route chosen, and those associated with catheter maintenance, which tend to be similar. The various methods of central venous catheteriz...
Effect of fe and Ni substitution in high-Tc YBaCuO superconductors☆

Abstract Effects of iron and nickel substitutions in YBa 2 (Cu 1 − x M x ) 3 O 7 − δ (when M  Fe and Ni ) have been investigated through electrical resistivity and a.c. susceptibility measurements. The superconducting transition temperature ( T c ) decreases linearly with increasing iron and nickel concentrations, while the width of the transition ( ΔT c ) increases with iron and nickel concentrations. The normal state resistivity remains metallic for x = 0.01 but for x ⩾ 0.05 the normal state resistivity exhibits a semiconducting behavior. The semiconducting behavior for samples with x ⩾ 0.05 suggests it to be the property of the tetragonal structure, since it has been recently established, that YBa 2 (Cu 1 − x M x ) 3 O 7 − δ has a tetragonal phase for x ⩾ 0.03 for M  Fe and Ni . The data do not indicate a clear role for the effect of the magnetism of iron and nickel ions in depressing T c .
Symbolic mathematical computation

Standard programming languages are inadequate for the kind of symbolic mathematical computations that theoretical physicists need to perform. Higher mathematics systems like SMP address this problem.
Testicular lymphoma with bone/bone marrow metastases illustrated by scrotal sonography, spinal MRI, and total body Tc-99m HMDP and Tc-99m MIBI imagines

An 83-year-old man with testicular lymphoma demonstrated progressive scrotal enlargement with non-homogeneity sonographically and abnormally increased uptake in the scrotum of Tc-99m HMDP and Tc-99m MIBI scintigraphically. Extensive bone/bone marrow metastases were exhibited by Tc-99m MIBI and Tc-99m HMDP scintigraphies and MRI of the spine. In addition, focal/tubular activity of the femoral bone marrow on Tc-99m MIBI imaging was consistent with skeletal scintigraphic findings. It is emphasized that Tc-99m MIBI total body imaging enabled the demonstration of testicular lymphoma as increased uptake and the illustration of skeletal/bone marrow metastases as diffuse and/or focal increased uptake, especially focal/tubular MIBI activity of the femoral marrow.
Information processing in space-time by the hippocampus

Black Nadel, and O’Keefe (1977) have proposed that the main function of the hippocampus in behavior is to engage in spatial mapping, i.e., to provide the cognitive maps which form the basis of place strategies. They review evidence that such strategies play a role in certain avoidance and punishment situations and that hippocampal damage affects these strategies while leaving unaffected cue strategies derived from temporal processing. The evidence supporting the spatial mapping hypothesis is examined in terms of an alternative notion, namely, that the hippocampus enables the animal to ignore (tune out) irrelevant stimuli and events. Despite the limitations of such ad hoc analyses, a case is made that deficits in spatial learning might ultimately be traced to (a) persistence of inefficient modes of responding under the control of irrelevant stimuli and (b) failures of associative learning due to interference from irrelevant incongruous events. It is suggested that the hippocampus is part of a general system that processes information in both space and time.
Vibrational circular dichroism in amino acids and peptides. 10. Fourier transform VCD and Fourier self‐deconvolution of the amide I region of poly(γ‐benzyl‐L‐glutamate)

Vibrational CD (VCD) spectra have been obtained in the amide I region of poly(γ-benzyl-L-glutamate), using a Fourier transform ir VCD spectrometer operating at 4-cm−1 resolution. These results reveal a new negative VCD band at 1650 cm−1 in addition to the previously observed negative positive VCD couplet centered at 1660 cm−1. Fourier self-deconvolution (FSD) of the VCD spectrum reveals three strong VCD component bands, rather than just two, as originally supposed. FSD also resolves the absorbance spectrum into two components corresponding to the parallel polarized A mode at lower frequency, and an unresolved perpendicular polarized E1 mode at higher frequency. The VCD spectrum is reassigned on the basis of this new spectral data and the FSD-VCD results are analyzed for the Moffitt contribution and the so-called helical contribution. Comparison with theory shows the VCD to be more intense than expected, particularly for the helical term. Charge flow between subunits is suggested as an additional source of VCD intensity that is presently not included in theoretical exciton descriptions. The splitting of the E1 mode and the large VCD contribution attributed to the helical term implies a deviation of the polypeptide structure from perfect helical symmetry and, as a result, a mixing of the A and E1 vibrational modes.
Hydroxylamine as a mutagenic and inactivating agent.

Hydroxylamine (HA) inactivates T4 phages in two different ways. A non-mutagenio effect is strongest at an intermediate concentration of HA and a low concentration of salt, while high concentrations of both suppress this action. The second effect, observed only at high concentrations of HA and salt, is highly mutagenic. The mutagenic action of HA produces mottled T4 r plaques under conditions of little inactivation, while for longer treatment more and more pure r plaques have been observed. This has been examined quantitatively, r II-type mutations are distributed over the whole r II region and 94% of these can be induced to revert by 2-aminopurine. Certain nucleic acid bases treated with HA show a decrease in u.v. absorption while others gave no effect even when analysed by chromatography. The reacting bases are uracil, cytosine and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine; no reaction was found with purines, thymine, 5-methylcytosine and pseudouridine. The preferential action of HA with cytosine, of the DNA bases, suggests the direction of the mutagenic effect.
Activation of the kappa opioid receptor in the dorsal raphe nucleus mediates the aversive effects of stress and reinstates drug seeking

Although stress has profound effects on motivated behavior, the underlying mechanisms responsible are incompletely understood. In this study we elucidate a functional pathway in mouse brain that encodes the aversive effects of stress and mediates stress-induced reinstatement of cocaine place preference (CPP). Activation of the dynorphin/kappa opioid receptor (KOR) system by either repeated stress or agonist produces conditioned place aversion (CPA). Because KOR inhibition of dopamine release in the mesolimbic pathway has been proposed to mediate the dysphoria underlying this response, we tested dopamine-deficient mice in this study and found that KOR agonist in these mice still produced CPA. However, inactivation of serotonergic KORs by injection of the KOR antagonist norBNI into the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN), blocked aversive responses to the KOR agonist U50,488 and blocked stress-induced reinstatement of CPP. KOR knockout (KO) mice did not develop CPA to U50,488; however, lentiviral re-expression of KOR in the DRN of KOR KO mice restored place aversion. In contrast, lentiviral expression in DRN of a mutated form of KOR that fails to activate p38 MAPK required for KOR-dependent aversion, did not restore place aversion. DRN serotonergic neurons project broadly throughout the brain, but the inactivation of KOR in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) coupled with viral re-expression in the DRN of KOR KO mice demonstrated that aversion was encoded by a DRN to NAc projection. These results suggest that the adverse effects of stress may converge on the serotonergic system and offers an approach to controlling stress-induced dysphoria and relapse.
The effect of ductile deformation on the kinetics and mechanisms of the aragonite‐calcite transformation

Abstract The effect of ductile deformation (dislocation creep) on the kinetics of the aragonite-calcite transformation has been studied at 1 atm (330° C and 360° C) and 900-1500 MPa (500° C) using undeformed and either previously or simultaneously deformed samples (500° C and a strain rate of 10-6 s). Deformation enhances the rate of the transformation of calcite to aragonite, but decreases the rate of transformation of aragonite to calcite. The difference results from a dependence of transformation rate on grain size, coupled with a difference in the accommodation mechanisms, climb versus recry-stallization, of these minerals during dislocation creep. Dislocation climb is relatively easy in calcite and thus plastic strain results in high dislocation densities without significant grain size reduction. The rate of transformation to aragonite is enhanced primarily because of the increase in nucleation sites at dislocations and subgrain boundaries. In aragonite, on the other hand, dislocation climb is difficult and thus plastic strain produces extensive dynamic recry-stallization resulting in a substantial grain size reduction. The transformation of aragonite is inhibited because the increase in calcite nucleation sites at dislocations and/or new grain boundaries is more than offset by the inability of calcite to grow across high angle grain boundaries. Thus the net effect of ductile deformation by dislocation creep on the kinetics of polymorphic phase transformations depends on the details of the accommodation mechanism.
High Throughput Characterization of Cryoprotective Agent Mixtures Using an EWOD-Based Digital Microfluidic Device

One of the most challenging issues in cryopreservation is to identify new and improved cryoprotective agents (CPAs) or CPA mixtures beyond widely used dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). In order to address this challenge, numerous combinations of CPA mixtures need to be prepared, characterized, and screened. The characterization includes thermal properties and phase change behavior during freezing and thawing. For an example, Han et al. [1] performed analysis of the phase change behavior and the thermal properties of phosphate buffers saline (PBS) with various chemical additives (CPAs, AFPs, excess salts) using a differential scanning calorimeter and a cryo-microscope. Considering the number of possible compositions and concentration of CPA mixtures, a high throughput (HTP) screening platform capable of preparing and characterizing array of CPA mixtures is highly desired.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Mass Detection via Bifurcation Sensing With Multistable Microelectromechanical System

In many applications, the detection of changing gaseous or liquid concentration within an environment is accomplished by monitoring the shift in resonance frequency of a microelectromechanical system designed to adsorb the target analyte. Recently, mass sensing using the onset and crossing of a dynamic bifurcation has been shown to reduce the mass threshold which may be detected. This approach effectively replaces detection of an analog quantity resolved by hardware capability (phase shift or resonant frequency) with a digital quantity having fundamental resolution restricted by system noise (crossing the bifurcation). While promising, successful sensing with oscillators continually excited near a system bifurcation is practically limited in performance by repeatable characteristics close to the critical crossing frequency and the passive detection ability of the sensors has not yet extended to mass quantization over a period of time. In this research, we explore an alternative method to exploit bifurcation for mass sensing by utilizing a new sensor system composed of a small bistable element within a primary linear host sensor that helps alleviate these concerns. The proposed system design provides adjustable control of the rate at which the bifurcation is crossed, helping to tailor the sensitivities of the system encountered in the transition region, introduces new bifurcations to exploit, and lends the opportunity to utilize the numerous bifurcation phenomena sequentially to denote mass accumulation quantity occurring between consecutive jump events. The conceptual underpinnings of the method are presented in detail and example operational trials are demonstrated by simulation to expound its operation and adjustability. Discussion is provided to evaluate the system in terms of existing bifurcation-based mass sensing approaches and to outline remaining goals.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
A Meta‐Synthesis of Filicide Classification Systems: Psychosocial and Psychodynamic Issues in Women Who Kill Their Children

Filicide is the killing of a child by a parent. To protect potential homicide victims, it is necessary to examine and identify intrapsychic and interpersonal dynamics that result in filicide. The current filicide classification systems have intended to yield better etiological understanding of the crime and ultimately lead to prevention strategies and accurate death certification. A framework of motives and precipitating factors that lead to filicide by mothers offers a starting point to examine this emotionally evocative and complex phenomenon.
Stress, Active Coping, and Academic Performance Among Persisting and Nonpersisting College Students

This article compares the stress, active coping, and academic performance of college students who persisted through an academic year with the same measures among a group of students who left after the fall semester. The hypothesis that stress is related to active coping efforts among persisters, but not among nonpersisters, was strongly supported. However, the hypothesis that stress is related to higher grade point averages (GPAs) among persisters and lower GPAs among nonpersisters was not strongly supported. Stress had a negative effect on GPA among persisters, but there was some evidence of a positive indirect effect through active coping efforts. Finally, a logistic regression analysis found that active coping, thinking it was important to get to know other students, gender, enrollment in more credit hours, GPA, and not being employed lead to greater retention. Active coping was strongly related to retention, and men were more likely to persist. The study provides support for the idea that social support is an active form of coping and that behavioral measures of active coping may be beneficial in studying the relationship between stress and coping.
Fabrication of Graphene Reinforced Aluminum Composite by Semi-Solid Processing

A composite made of graphene and aluminum is a promising material for many engineering applications due to its lightweight and relatively high strength properties. Unfortunately, the uniform dispersion of the graphene is considered one of the big challenges since the graphene clusters tend to deteriorate the mechanical properties of the composite. In this study, a graphene reinforced Al6061 composite has been investigated. The composites are fabricated by ball milling the graphene flakes and the Al6061 powder, followed by hot compaction in the semi-solid regime of the Al6061. In addition, a graphene reinforced composite with localized reinforced zones within the composite was also investigated The mechanical properties of the composites are measured by conducting a bend test, and microstructural analysis of the composite and fracture surfaces are performed. According to the bending test results, an enhancement in the strength is clearly observed.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
An Accurate Algebraic Closed-Form Solution for Energy-Based Source Localization

The localization of an acoustic source can be based on the energy measurements at a number of spatially separated microphones. This is because the amount of source energy attenuation at a microphone is proportional to the square of the distance between the source and the microphone. This paper develops an algebraic closed-form solution for the acoustic source localization problem using energy measurements, under the condition of direct line-of-sight and free space propagation. First-order analysis is applied to the proposed solution to study its performance, where only the linear noise terms are kept in obtaining the mean-square localization error. The first-order analytical results show that the proposed solution reaches the Cramer-Rao lower bound (CRLB) accuracy for Gaussian noise as the signal-to-noise ratio tends to infinity. In addition, the proposed solution provides much better accuracy than other closed-form solutions available in literature. Improvement on the proposed solution that extends its operating range beyond the threshold noise level was made by imposing nonnegative constraints. Simulations are included to corroborate the performance of the proposed method.
The Doc1 subunit is a processivity factor for the anaphase-promoting complex

Ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis of securin and mitotic cyclins is essential for exit from mitosis. The final step in ubiquitination of these and other proteins is catalysed by the anaphase-promoting complex (APC), a multi-subunit ubiquitin-protein ligase (E3). Little is known about the molecular reaction resulting in APC-dependent substrate ubiquitination or the role of individual APC subunits in the reaction. Using a well-defined in vitro system, we show that highly purified APC from Saccharomyces cerevisiae ubiquitinates a model cyclin substrate in a processive manner. Analysis of mutant APC lacking the Doc1/Apc10 subunit (APCdoc1Δ) indicates that Doc1 is required for processivity. The specific molecular defect in APCdoc1Δ is identified by a large increase in apparent KM for the cyclin substrate relative to the wild-type enzyme. This suggests that Doc1 stimulates processivity by limiting substrate dissociation. Addition of recombinant Doc1 to APCdoc1Δ fully restores enzyme function. Doc1-related domains are found in mechanistically distinct ubiquitin-ligase enzymes and may generally stimulate ubiquitination by contributing to substrate–enzyme affinity.
Seeking new heights in acute heart failure syndromes: lessons from ASCEND and EVEREST.

Safely improving signs and symptoms of heart failure is a major goal in the early management of patients with acute heart failure syndromes (AHFS). The use of available pharmacological agents for the acute management of patients hospitalized with heart failure is largely empirical and has not changed substantially for the last two decades.1 Over the past two decades, the standard for regulatory approvability for AHFS drugs, however, has radically changed—from haemodynamic benefits alone to demonstration of clinical efficacy and longer term safety. Based on available data, none of the currently employed agents would meet today's standards for approval based on evidence for clinical efficacy and safety. Within clinical practice guidelines, there are no therapeutic Class I, level-of-evidence A guideline recommendations for AHFS.2 Furthermore, the majority of AHFS trials conducted in the last decade has been negative, in terms of efficacy and/or safety.3,4 Results from the Efficacy of Vasopressin Antagonism in Heart Failure Outcome Study With Tolvaptan (EVEREST) and the Acute Study of Clinical Effectiveness of Nesiritide in Decompensated Heart Failure Trial (ASCEND-HF),5–8 two of the largest trials conducted to date, provide reason for re-examining our approach to clinical investigation and regulatory decision-making in this condition. During the past two decades, the US Food and Drug Administration has approved only one therapy for AHFS: nesiritide. Nesiritide is not approved for use in Europe. US approval was largely based on results of the Vasodilation in Acute Congestive Heart Failure (VMAC) study, confirming the drug's haemodynamic effects, while demonstrating improved dyspnoea scores, compared with placebo, at only 3 h9 ( Figure 1 ). There were no significant differences in global clinical scores. When compared with nitroglycerin, however, no dyspnoea benefit was seen, either at 3 or 24 h. In addition, no mortality differences were seen at …
American Sign Language natural language generation and machine translation

Although deaf students in the U.S. and Canada are taught written English, their inability to hear spoken English results in most deaf U.S. high school graduates (18 year olds) reading at a fourth-grade (10 year old) level (Holt, 1991). Unfortunately, many deaf accessibility aids, like television closed captioning or teletype telephones, assume the user has strong English literacy skills. Many deaf people with English reading difficulty are fluent in American Sign Language (ASL); so, an English-to-ASL automated machine translation (MT) system could make information and services accessible when English text captioning is too complex or an interpreter is unavailable.
An expert-performance perspective of research on medical expertise: the study of clinical performance.

CONTEXT Three decades ago Elstein et al. published their classic book on medical expertise, in which they described their failure to identify superior performance by peer-nominated diagnosticians using high- and low-fidelity simulations of the everyday practice of doctors. OBJECTIVE This paper reviews the results of subsequent research, with a particular emphasis on the progress toward Elstein et al.'s goal of capturing the essence of superior clinical performance in standardised settings in order to improve clinical practice. RESULTS Research following publication of Elstein et al.'s book was influenced by laboratory research in cognitive psychology, which resulted in a redirection of its original focus on capturing clinical performance in practice to studies of changes in cognitive processes as functions of extended clinical experience. There is currently renewed interest in linking laboratory research with studies of the acquisition of superior (expert) performance in the clinic. CONCLUSIONS Research on medical expertise and simulation training in technical procedures and diagnosis provide exciting opportunities for establishing translational research on the acquisition of superior (expert) performance in the clinic by capturing it with representative tasks in the laboratory, reproducing it for experimental analysis, and developing training activities, such as deliberate practice, that can induce measurable improvements in performance in the clinic.
Taming of the shrewd: novel eukaryotic genes from RNA viruses

Genomes of several yeast species contain integrated DNA copies of complete genomes or individual genes of non-retroviral double-strand RNA viruses as reported in a recent BMC Biology article by Taylor and Bruenn. The integrated virus-specific sequences are at least partially expressed and seem to evolve under pressure of purifying selection, indicating that these are functional genes. Together with similar reports on integrated copies of some animal RNA viruses, these results suggest that integration of DNA copies of non-reverse-transcribing RNA viruses might be much more common than previously thought. The integrated copies could contribute to acquired immunity to the respective viruses.
INTEGRALITY OF QUOTIENTS OF WRONSKIANS OF THE ANDREWS-GORDON SERIES

For integers k ! 2, we consider the integrality of quotients of Wronskians involving certain normalizations of the Andrews-Gordon q-series (see [2]) ! 1! n" 0,±i (mod 2k+1) 1 1 " q n .
The nature of the life concept across the life-span.

In this study of people ranging from six to over sixty-five years of age, a high frequency of animistic responses was found in all ages examined. While a significant age effect was noted in the abi...
Plasma Clearance and Glucuronide Conjugation of 11-Desoxycortisol (Substance S) in Man.

SummaryThe biologic half-life of free 11-desoxycortisol in circulating plasma of man. estimated as Porter-Silber chromogens, was 42 min. This may be prolonged to as much as 80 min. in the presence of liver disease or to 108 min in hypothyroidism. Absence of an 11-beta hydroxyl group accelerates clearance of 11-desoxycortisol from plasma, its removal rate being twice as rapid as that of cortisol. 11-Desoxycortisol is rapidly conjugated to a glucuronide. Concentration of its Porter-Silber chromogen metabolites is 5 times greater than that of cortisol at comparable peak levels; the glucuronide conjugates of both steroids disappear from plasma with a half-time of 102 min.