cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Facing the fence: The production and performance of a Himalayan border in global contexts

Abstract This paper analyzes the spatial operations of power in a Himalayan borderland between Nepal and China to argue that border regimes are made, maintained, and performed as territorial processes of control over distinct socio-cultural identities and political economic practices. I make this argument by writing a boundary biography (Megoran, 2006, 2012) about a fence, bringing both history and ethnography to bear on border studies. Specifically, this biography analyzes the Nepal-China border at Mustang-Tibet in two distinct dimensions: 1) the physical (or external) location of the border as a marker of state territory between Nepal and China; and 2) the social and cultural (or internal) location of the border for borderland populations of Tibetan ethnicity. In correspondence to Salter’s (2011) formal, practical, and popular registers of bordering, I use ethnography, readings of diplomatic history, and policy analysis to examine social-political transformations at the Nepal-China border through three specific changes over time. These key moments reflect important state interventions which together shape how the Mustang-Tibet border is experienced in Himalayan borderland lives today. In so doing, this biography shows how borders materialize, dematerialize, and rematerialize and how local populations' identities and geographic imaginaries are influenced and oriented by the border (Sahlins, 1989). By demonstrating how border lives are often shaped and maintained with and across the border rather than against the border itself, this study presents emerging research on Asian borderlands to rethink classic concepts on bordering developed in European and wider global contexts.
Risk of second primary cutaneous and noncutaneous melanoma after cutaneous melanoma diagnosis: A population-based study

Background While cutaneous melanomas (CM) account for greater than 90% of all melanomas, noncutaneous melanomas (NCM) are more aggressive and associated with worse outcomes. The shared progenitor cell type among CM and NCM suggests that patients with a history of CM may be at higher risk for subsequent NCM. Objective To determine whether patients with a history of CM demonstrate an increased risk of second primary cutaneous, ocular, oral, or vaginal/exocervical melanoma compared with the general population. Methods This was a population-based retrospective cohort study using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. We calculated standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) and excess absolute risks of second primary cutaneous, ocular, oral, and vaginal/exocervical melanoma in patients with a history of CM. Results Patients with prior CM (n = 169,841) were more likely than the general population to develop a second primary CM (SIR, 8.17; 95% confidence interval [CI], 8.01-8.33), ocular melanoma (SIR, 1.99; 95% CI, 1.54-2.53), oral melanoma (SIR, 6.87; 95% CI, 2.23-16.04), and vaginal/exocervical melanoma (SIR, 10.17; 95% CI, 4.65-19.30). Limitations This study is limited by possible under-reporting of CM in cancer registries. Conclusion In caring for patients with a history of CM, physicians should be vigilant not only about risk of recurrence but also about second primary CM and NCM.
Understanding Literacy Promotion Education Among Pediatric Residency Programs

Background: Early childhood literacy is associated with improved language skills, cognitive skills, and school preparedness. Pediatric literacy promotion programs like Reach Out and Read (ROR) have been shown to increase parent-child shared reading frequency and improve developmental outcomes. As a result, the American Academy of Pediatrics encourages pediatricians to incorporate literacy promotion during well child care. However, the extent of literacy promotion education among pediatric residencies remains understudied. Objective: To understand how literacy promotion training is currently …
Likelihood landscape and maximum likelihood estimation for the discrete orbit recovery model

We study the non-convex optimization landscape for maximum likelihood estimation in the discrete orbit recovery model with Gaussian noise. This model is motivated by applications in molecular microscopy and image processing, where each measurement of an unknown object is subject to an independent random rotation from a rotational group. Equivalently, it is a Gaussian mixture model where the mixture centers belong to a group orbit. We show that fundamental properties of the likelihood landscape depend on the signal-to-noise ratio and the group structure. At low noise, this landscape is "benign" for any discrete group, possessing no spurious local optima and only strict saddle points. At high noise, this landscape may develop spurious local optima, depending on the specific group. We discuss several positive and negative examples, and provide a general condition that ensures a globally benign landscape. For cyclic permutations of coordinates on $\mathbb{R}^d$ (multi-reference alignment), there may be spurious local optima when $d \geq 6$, and we establish a correspondence between these local optima and those of a surrogate function of the phase variables in the Fourier domain. We show that the Fisher information matrix transitions from resembling that of a single Gaussian in low noise to having a graded eigenvalue structure in high noise, which is determined by the graded algebra of invariant polynomials under the group action. In a local neighborhood of the true object, the likelihood landscape is strongly convex in a reparametrized system of variables given by a transcendence basis of this polynomial algebra. We discuss implications for optimization algorithms, including slow convergence of expectation-maximization, and possible advantages of momentum-based acceleration and variable reparametrization for first- and second-order descent methods.
Knot a Typical Clogged Jejunostomy Tube.

Authors have nothing to disclose. All authors disclose that there are no potential conflicts (financial, professional, or personal) that are relevant to the manuscript.
Seismic Discrimination of Controlled Explosions and Earthquakes Near Mount St. Helens Using P/S Ratios

Explosions and earthquakes are effectively discriminated by P/S amplitude ratios for moderate magnitude events (M≥4) observed at regional to teleseismic distances (≥200 km). It is less clear if P/S...
Entangled Time Hops: Doomsday Clocks, Pandemics, and Qualitative Research’s Responsibility

This article explores the micro- and macro-level implications of the dual global pandemics of COVID-19 and racism through a narrative structure based on Barad’s discussion of “timehops.” Weaving pe...
Katrina to Corona: Surges Urge United States to Learn

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2), presents monumental challenges on multiple fronts and on a global scale Since the first report out of the Wuhan district in China in December 2019, the pandemic has resulted in nearly 75 million cases worldwide The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had reported more than 16 million casesand more than 300 000 deaths domestically as of December 17, 2020, making the United States the most affected country 1 When catastrophic events occur, public institutions, especially government agencies, find ways to mitigate injury and loss to their citizens Katrina, one of the costliest hurricanes to hit the United States, caused an estimated $200 billion in damage, mostly concentrated in the Gulf Coast region 4 Fortunately, the rest of the US economy was relatively stable and could support the region's recovery [ ]even excluding in-kind donations, the Department of State received $126 million from 36 countries and international organizations;the United States government had never before received such large amounts of disaster assistance 5 Unlike Katrina, the economic damage from COVID-19 is not limited in geographic scope or duration;its legacy will be far flung and long term Seven hurricane-specific and four generaldisaster recommendations resulted 18 Similarly, the US Naval War College's September 2019 urban outbreak pandemic exercise yielded 16 defensive recommendations to manage a COVID-19 pandemic-like situation 19 Dozens of additional modeling teams now offer support to policy and response directors by predicting COVID-19 trajectories through infectious disease and statistical modeling 20 Notably, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response have developed five COVID-19 pandemic planning scenarios to evaluate the potential effects of various mitigation strategies and help inform public health planning 1 DISPARITIES REVEALED BY KATRINA AND COVID-19 Inadequacies in the three principal social determinants of health-physical environments, social environments, and (inadequate) health services and health literacy-result in health disparities that amplify morbidity and
Neuromodulation-induced burst firing in parvalbumin interneurons of the basolateral amygdala mediates transition between fear-associated network and behavioral states

Abstract Network orchestration of behavioral states involves coordinated oscillations within and between brain regions. The network communication between the basolateral amygdala (BLA) and the medial prefrontal cortex (PFC) plays a critical role in fear expression. Neuromodulatory systems play an essential role in regulating changes between behavioral states, however, a mechanistic understanding of how amygdalar circuits mediate transitions between brain and behavioral states remains largely unknown. Here, we examine the role of Gq-mediated neuromodulation of parvalbumin (PV)-expressing interneurons in the BLA in coordinating network and behavioral states using combined chemogenetics, patch clamp and field potential recordings. We demonstrate that Gq-signaling via hM3D designer receptor and α1 adrenoreceptor activation shifts the pattern of activity of the PV interneurons from tonic to phasic by stimulating a previously unknown, highly stereotyped bursting pattern of activity. This, in turn, generates bursts of inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs) and phasic firing in BLA principal neurons. The Gq-induced transition from tonic to phasic firing in BLA PV interneurons suppressed amygdalo-frontal gamma oscillations in vivo, consistent with the critical role of tonic PV neuron activity in gamma generation. The suppression of gamma oscillations by hM3D and α1 receptor activation in BLA PV interneurons also facilitated fear memory recall, in line with the inhibitory effect of gamma on fear expression. Thus, our data reveal a BLA parvalbumin neuron-specific neuromodulatory mechanism that mediates the transition to a fear-associated brain network state via regulation of amygdalo-frontal gamma oscillations.
Heißer Wind und trockner Wind

Bei dem Hochofen des Ubungsbeispiels 54 wurde der Wind vor dem Erhitzen getrocknet, und zwar bis auf einen Feuchtigkeitsgehalt von 4,00g im Kubikmeter bei — 5°. Die Zusammensetzung von Erz, Kalkstein und Koks war unverandert, ebenso die des erzeugten Roheisens. Die Beschickung fur 100 Teile Roheisen bestand aus 177, 6 Erz, 44, 4 Zuschlag, 77,0 Koks. Aus dem Wind berechnet sich 76,5 Sauerstoff, 255,0 Stickstoff, 1,0 Feuchtigkeit. Analyse der Gase: CO 19,9 %, CO2 16,0 % N2 64,1 %. Tageserzeugung 447 t Roheisen. Temperatur der Gichtgase 191°, des Windes 465°. Hubvolum des Geblases 963 cbm in der Minute (die Luft im Geblase hat — 5°). Der Warme-Inhalt im Roheisen und in der Schlacke wird mit demselben Betrag wie fruher, der Warmeverlust im Kuhlwasser um 20 % hoher angenommen.
Chapter 1 Antipsychotic Agents

Publisher Summary The organic pathology underlying chronic schizophrenia, which remains a devastating mental disorder, has emerged as a major topic of discussion. It presents an extremely difficult challenge for the discovery of safe and effective therapeutics. Recent studies, employing positron emission tomography have provided clear evidence of dopamine (DA) receptor proliferation in untreated schizophrenics. This finding may be an important underpinning for the DA hypothesis of schizophrenia, especially in light of the fact that DA antagonists are still the only established pharmacotherapy for psychosis. Nevertheless, anti-psychotic medications leave much to be desired, in terms of both efficacy and side effect profile. Consequently, the search continues for DA antagonists with improved therapeutic ratios as well as novel agents that can attenuate dopaminergic neurotransmission without direct interaction at DA receptors. Neuroleptic drugs are effective against the florid symptoms of psychosis. The benzamide neuroleptics form a distinct class of drugs on the basis of two attributes— that is, structural commonality and selectivity for D 2 DA receptors. Substituted benzamides have exhibited varying propensities to induce extrapyramidal side effects (EPS). Such drugs, for example, metoclopramide, resembles with classical neuroleptics with regard to EPS liability, while remoxipride also being similar in efficacy to classical agents but causes less severe EPS. It is recently observed to be a very selective, low potency D 2 blocker in vitro . Remoxipride preferentially inhibits the binding of [ 3 H]spiperone to DA receptors in limbic regions(rat brain). Striatal DA receptors are blocked only to the extent of 60%, even at very high drug doses. Raclopride possesses very high affinity for D 2 receptors in vitro and binds preferentially to the striatum in the rat in vivo . While neuroleptic drugs are effective against the florid symptoms of psychosis, negative symptoms of schizophrenia, such as social withdrawal and cognitive decline, remain uncontrolled.
Effects of chloroplast targeted potato virus Y coat protein on transgenic plants

Abstract Studies of several plant viruses have shown that virus coat protein (CP) may play a role in symptom development. In order to determine how and where potato virus Y (PVY)-CP may contribute to symptom development, two sets of plants were generated, one expressing PVY-CP, and one transformed with a chimeric construct consisting of PVY-CP fused to the transit peptide (TP) of pea ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase small subunit ( rbcs ) to target PVY-CP to the chloroplast stroma. Numerous transgenic plants developed chlorotic or white mosaic symptoms after transformation with the TP-CP construct, but not after transformation with PVY-CP alone. Both western blot analysis of stroma and thylakoid protein fractions and immunocytochemistry revealed that the imported PVY-CP was preferentially associated with thylakoid membranes in TP-CP + plants. Light and electron microscopy showed that PVY-CP disrupted chloroplast development and cell structure in TP-CP + transformants. Virus challenge of non-transformed CP + and a range of TP-CP + tobacco plants indicated that high level PVY-CP expressing TP-CP + plants were more susceptible to PVY. These observations suggest that PVY-CP action in chloroplasts may contribute to symptom development in PYV-infected plants.
Oscillating terms in the Renyi entropy of Fermi gases and liquids

In this work we compute subleading oscillating terms in the Renyi entropy of Fermi gases and liquids corresponding to $2{k}_{F}$-like oscillations. Our theoretical tools are the one-dimensional formulation of Fermi liquid entanglement familiar from discussions of the logarithmic violation of the area law and quantum Monte Carlo calculations. The main result is a formula for the oscillating term for any region geometry and a spherical Fermi surface in any dimension. Specializing to two dimensions, we compare this term to numerical calculations of Renyi entropies using the correlation function method and find excellent agreement. We also compare with quantum Monte Carlo data on interacting Fermi liquids where we also find agreement up to moderate interaction strengths.
A QUALITY CONTROL TECHNIQUE FOR CORRELATING EXHAUST GAS ANALYSIS SYSTEMS

A simple, inexpensive, critical flow blender has been developed for filling a tedlar bag with controllable concentrations of HC, NO sub x, CO sub 2, and CO gases at levels encountered in automobile emissions testing. According to a daily schedule, a technician takes the bag to all analyzer sites in the laboratory for analysis. The concentrations indicated by each site are compared to the overall averages. The results are stored in a computerized data base from which control charts, statistical analyses, and interpretations of significant differences among test sites can be made. The precision, accuracy, and statistical interpretations of the data are discussed. /GMRL/
Compiler Architectures for Heterogeneous Systems

Heterogeneous parallel systems incorporate diverse models of parallelism within a single machine or across machines and are better suited for diverse applications [25, 43, 30]. These systems are already pervasive in industrial and academic settings and offer a wealth of underutilized resources for achieving high performance. Unfortunately, heterogeneity complicates software development. We believe that compilers can and should assist in handling this complexity. We identify four goals for extending compilers to manage heterogeneity: exploiting available resources, targeting changing resources, adjusting optimization to suit a target, and allowing programming models and languages to evolve. These goals do not require changes to the individual pieces of existing compilers so much as a restructuring of a compiler's software architecture to increase its flexibility. We examine six important parallelizing compilers to identify both existing solutions and where new technology is needed.
The Clusters of M 33

Star Clusters are essential tools in studies of stellar and galactic evolution and in cosmology. In reference to investigations of stellar populations, star clusters are used to probe the chemical enrichment, kinematical and dynamical history of a galaxy. The relationship between the characteristics of a cluster population and the morphology of the parent galaxy is enigmatic, however.
Direct response of dissolved organic nitrogen to nitrate availability in headwater streams

Despite decades of research documenting the quantitative significance of dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) across ecosystems, the drivers controlling its production and consumption are not well understood. As an organic nutrient DON may serve as either an energy or nitrogen source. One hypothesized control on DON concentration in streams is nitrate (NO3 −) availability. Synoptic surveys of DON and NO3 −, however, have yielded inconsistent spatial and temporal patterns. Using a nutrient pulse method we experimentally manipulated stream NO3 − and measured the response of both the manipulated solute and ambient concentrations of DON in three New Hampshire headwater streams. This direct experimental addition of NO3 − often altered ambient DON concentrations in situ, with both increases and decreases observed. The overall relationship between NO3 − and DON suggests that DON is primarily used as a nutrient source in these streams, as evidenced by net DON accumulation with added NO3 −. However, strong underlying seasonal patterns in the response to NO3 − addition are also discernable, indicating that the role of DON can switch between serving as a nutrient source to an energy source (as evidenced by net DON reduction with added NO3 −). We also observed differences in the NO3 −—DON relationship (net DON accumulation vs. net DON reduction) in two streams less than five miles apart when experiments were conducted within the same month. Based on these results, we expect the role of DON within ecosystems to vary among watersheds and throughout the growing season, alternating between serving as a nutrient and energy source depending on environmental conditions. With the incorporation of a new field-based method we demonstrate that the ambient DON pool can be manipulated in situ. This approach has the potential for furthering our understanding of DON across ecosystems.
Information And Communications Technology: A Comparative View Of Technological Determinism

Misinterpretations by techno-centric managers hold that advances in information and communications technologies (ICT) are the prime causal factors in future business growth and that technology is an independent variable from which operational performance can be predicted. Technology pundits and economic futurists are convinced that the ‘new economy’ has indeed become reality as competitive pressures dramatically rise as a result of the increasing interdependencies forming among competing nations and firms. This competition has been made possible, in part, by the commercially viable World Wide Web and its superstructure known as the Internet. This paper scrutinizes the invaluable role played by information and communications technologies and the technological determinism they propagate.
Identification of cis-acting repressive sequences within the negative regulatory element of human immunodeficiency virus type 1.

Abstract The negative regulatory element of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 is a 260-nucleotide-long sequence that decreases the rate of RNA transcription initiation specified by the long terminal repeat. This region has the potential to bind several cellular transcription factors. Here it is shown that sequences which recognize the NFAT-1 and USF cellular transcription factors contribute to this negative regulatory effect. The sequences within the negative regulatory element which resemble the AP-1 site and the URS do not negatively regulate human immunodeficiency virus long terminal repeat transcription initiation.
Spatial and temporal characteristics of rapid cursor-positioning movements with electromechanical mice in human-computer interaction.

This research examines how people make movements with pointing devices during human-computer interaction. It specifically concerns the perceptual-motor processes that mediate the speed and accuracy of cursor positioning with electromechanical mice. In three experiments we investigated the spatial and temporal characteristics of positioning movements made with a mouse, analyzing subjects' speed and accuracy as a function of the types of targets that the movements had to reach. Experiment 1 required rapid and accurate horizontal movements to targets that were vertical ribbons located at various distances from the mouse's starting location. The targets for Experiments 2 and 3, respectively, were vertical lines having various heights and rectangular boxes having various heights and widths. Constraints on movement distance along the primary (that is, horizontal) line of motion had the greatest effects on total positioning times. However, constraints on movement distance along a secondary (vertical) line of motion also affected total positioning times significantly. These effects may be localized in different phases of movements (e.g., movement execution and verification). The duration of movement execution (i.e., physical motion) depends primarily on the target distance, whereas the duration of movement verification (i.e., check for endpoint accuracy) depends primarily on target height and width. A useful account of movement execution is provided by stochastic optimized-submovement models, which have significant implications for designing mice and menu-driven displays.
Correlates of Sexual Activity and Satisfaction in Midlife and Older Women

PURPOSE Sexual activity is an important component of quality of life for women across their lifespan. Prior studies show a decline in sexual activity with age, but these studies often fail to consider the role of sexual satisfaction. The aim of this study is to give updated prevalence estimates of sexual activity among women and to elucidate factors associated with sexual activity and sexual satisfaction. METHODS We report a cross-sectional analysis of the second wave of a nationally representative sample of US adults aged 28 to 84 years, the Survey of Midlife Development in the United States. The survey used self-administered question- naires to assess demographic data, self-rated physical and mental health, medi- cal problems and medication use, relationship factors, and sexual activity and satisfaction. RESULTS Of 2,116 women who answered the questions regarding sexuality, 1,345 (61.8%) women were sexually active in the previous 6 months. The proportion of women who were sexually active decreased with advancing age. Women who were married or cohabitating had approximately 8 times higher odds of being sexually active (odds ratio = 7.91, 95% CI, 4.16-15.04; P <.001). Among women aged 60 years and older who were married or cohabitating, most (59.0%) were sexually active. Among women who were sexually active, higher relationship satis- faction (P <.001), better communication (P = .011), and higher importance of sex P = .040) were related to higher sexual satisfaction, but age was not (P = .79). CONCLUSIONS A considerable proportion of midlife and older women remain sexually active if they have a partner available. Psychosocial factors (relationship satisfaction, communication with romantic partner, and importance of sex) mat- ter more to sexual satisfaction than aging among midlife and older women.
The sunflower visual metaphor, a new paradigm for dimensional compression

This paper introduces the Sunflower visual metaphor for information visualization. The visual metaphor is presented as an alternative to current techniques of dimensional compression and the visualization tools that employ them. The paper discusses the motivation for the Sunflower paradigm, its implementation and critical factors for producing an effective visualization. A primary driver in this research effort has been to develop a visualization tool that facilitates browsing, knowledge discovery, and that supports learning through sense making and integration of new information.
Involvement in Child Rearing and Firm Control Parenting by Male Cohabiting Partners in Black Low-Income Stepfamilies: Forecasting Adolescent Problem Behaviors.

Cohabitation is a family structure that is rapidly increasing in the United States. The current longitudinal study examined the interplay of involvement in a youth’s daily activities and firm control parenting by male cohabiting partners (MCPs) on change in adolescents’ internalizing and externalizing problems. In a sample of 111 inner-city African American families, adolescents reported on involvement and parenting by MCPs at Wave 1 and biological mothers reported on adolescent problem behaviors at Waves 1 and 2. A significant interaction indicated that low involvement and low firm control by MCPs at Wave 1 were associated with the highest level of internalizing problems at Wave 2. An interaction did not emerge when externalizing problems served as the outcome. The findings indicate that male partners play an important role in parenting adolescents in cohabiting families and should be considered potential participants in prevention and intervention programs.
Thermal Cycling Effects on Critical Adhesion Energy and Residual Stress in Benzocyclobutene-Bonded Wafers

The effects of thermal cycling on critical adhesion energy and residual stress at the interface between benzocyclobutene (BCB) and silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ) coated silicon wafers were evaluated by four-point bending and wafer curvature techniques. Wafers were bonded using BCB in an established (baseline) process, and the SiO 2 films were deposited by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). Thermal cycling was done between room temperature and a peak temperature. In thermal cycling performed with 350 and 400°C peak temperatures, the critical adhesion energy increased significantly during the first thermal cycle. The increase in critical adhesion energy is attributed to relaxation of residual stress in PECVD SiO 2 , which in turn is attributed to condensation reactions in those films. Thermal cycling also cures the BCB beyond the ∼88% achieved in the baseline process, and the residual stress in the BCB is reset at a glass transition temperature corresponding to the increased BCB cure conversion. As more thermal cycles are performed, stress hysteresis in the BCB decreases as the cure stabilizes at 94-95%.
8-OH-DPAT disruption of prepulse inhibition in rats: reversal with (+)WAY 100,135 and localization of site of action

Recent studies have implicated central serotonergic systems in the modulation of prepulse inhibition (PPI), an operational measure of sensorimotor gating, which has been used to identify gating deficits in psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, Huntington's disease, and obsessive compulsive disorder. Both serotonin (5-HT) releasers and agonists at 5-HT1A, 5-HT1B, and 5-HT2 receptors reduce PPI in the rat. The present experiments demonstrate that the disruption of PPI in rats induced by the systemic administration of the 5-HT1A agonist, 8-OH-DPAT (8-hydroxy-2(di-n-propylamino)tetralin; 0.2 mg/kg), can be attenuated by the novel, selective 5-HT1A antagonist (+)WAY 100,135, (20.0 mg/kg),N-tert-butyl-3-(4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-piperazin-1-yl)-2-phenyl-propanamide. Further experiments addressing the central site of action of 8-OH-DPAT revealed that the microinjection of 8-OH-DPAT (5.0 µg/0.5 μl) into either the median raphe nucleus (MR) or dorsal raphe nucleus (DR) disrupts PPI. The reduction in PPI produced by intra-raphe microinjections of 8-OH-DPAT was prevented by a systemic injection of (+)WAY 100,135. These results support the hypothesis that somatodendritic 5-HT1A autoreceptors within the midbrain raphe subserve the PPI-disruptive effects of systemically administered 8-OH-DPAT. The decrement in PPI after intra-raphe infusions of a high dose of 8-OH-DPAT, however, was substantially less than the decrement in PPI after systemic administration of the drug. Hence, sites in addition to the somatodendritic autoreceptors may also play an important role in 8-OH-DPAT-induced disruption of PPI. Together with previous reports that 5-HT releasers and other 5-HT agonists also disrupt PPI, the results support the hypothesis that the serotonergic system modulates PPI through multiple receptor and anatomical systems.
Emerging molecular therapies for brain tumors

This article briefly reviews the basic research findings on brain tumors made in the last decade and how they are now impacting clinical trials. Major improvements in our understanding of the genetic, molecular, and biological mechanisms that lead to brain tumor development have been made. These include mechanistic insights on how tumor cells overcome cell cycle control, evade programmed cell death, induce blood vessel formation, and escape immune regulation. These advances have been tremendously accelerated by the availability of novel whole-genome analysis technologies. These findings are now being translated into innovative clinical trials that provide new hope for patients with these devastating diseases.
MEASUREMENT OF PATULIN IN GRAPES AND WINES

A fluorometric scanning technique was developed to measure patulin samples separated by two dimensional thin-layer chromatography. The chromatographed samples were extracted and purified prior to separation. The coefficient of variation of all the measurements reported was 11.4%. Patulin was very stable in grape juice or grape wine with no significant change for 1 month at room temperature, or 2 months in the frozen state. It disappeared rapidly during fermentation to essentially a zero level. The addition of SO, at normal levels (100 mg/L) to a sample containing 25 mg/L of patulin caused the patulin to decrease to about one-half in 15 min. Tests with badly infected grapes, Botrytis cinerea, Aspergillus niger, and Penicillium expansum, failed to show any significant amount of patulin produced under the test conditions.
An embedded polymer piezoresistive microcantilever sensor.

Abstract We have developed a new type of chemical microsensor based on piezoresistive microcantilever technology. In this embedded polymer microsensor, a piezoresistive microcantilever is partially “embedded” into a polymeric material. Swelling of the polymer upon analyte exposure is measured as a simple resistance change in the embedded cantilever. Arrays of these sensors, each employing a different polymeric material, provide for the identification of a wide range of chemical vapor analytes. Advantages of this system over previous “surface” piezoresistive microcantilever chemical sensors include enhanced mechanical simplicity (no mechanical approach necessary), greater resistance to shock or movement, and lower cost.
Age-associated changes in Langerhans cells of murine oral epithelium and epidermis.

Abstract Oral mucosa and skin of older individuals are immunologically less responsive to a range of allergens, but it is not known whether this is due to changes in the number of Langerhans cells or to impaired cell function. EDTA-separated epithelial sheets from the cheek and palate mucosa, and from ear and footpad skin of three-month-old and 24-month-old C57BL/6NNia mice were stained for ATPase, beta-glucuronidase activity and Ia b -surface antigen to demonstrate Langerhans cells. The general distribution of such cells was unchanged with age, but those in epithelia from the old mice were more varied in shape, with irregular cell bodies and more elongated dendritic processes. The numerical density of Langerhans cells in old mice was reduced by 30–59 per cent compared with that in young mice.
A serendipitous purchase.

I recently ordered a book, Basic Color Terms: Their Universality and Evolution ([1][1]), through an online book dealer. The book was simply advertised as a “used book, first edition, dust jacket, good condition.” When it arrived, I opened the front cover and found a bookplate from The
Studies of the stoichiometrical variation of epitaxial Fe/sub 3(1-/spl delta/)/O/sub 4/ thin films

Using plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy, (MBE) films of iron oxide spinel phases of Fe/sub 3(1-/spl delta/)/O/sub 4/ type have been grown on single crystal MgO(100). Stoichiometry was controlled by variation of growth parameters, including substrate temperature, oxygen flux, plasma power, and deposition rate. Structural and magnetic studies of these films have been performed using SQUID magnetometry and X-ray diffraction (XRD), The temperature dependence of the Verwey transition, a strong indicator of iron oxide stoichiometry which occurs in Fe/sub 3/O/sub 4/ at /spl sim/123 K, is broadened and pushed downward in temperature with decreasing iron content (and is absent in /spl gamma/-Fe/sub 2/O/sub 3/). Lattice spacing, Verwey response, and magnetic ordering show that stable growth over a broad range of conditions results in stoichiometric Fe/sub 3/O/sub 4/, although variation of growth parameters (especially high O/sub 2//Fe flux ratios) can produce a range of Fe/sub 3(1-/spl delta/)/O/sub 4/ "defect-spinels". >
A distributed algorithm for managing resources in a hierarchical network

Abstract This article introduces a distributed algorithm for designing and managing distributed systems and computer communication networks. This algorithm can be implemented as a part of operating system software to make decisions about process transfer and message routing in a hierarchical network. The algorithm uses dynamic information about the state of processors and applications in the local and wide area network. This information consists of processors' and applications' queue lengths and is broadcast to directly connected processors. The algorithm uses broadcast information to make decisions about process transfer and message routing while considering processor availability and system security. The algorithm causes processors' queue lengths to become balanced on each network hierarchy level. The number of process transfers is calculated and depends on network partitioning and the threshold values used by the algorithm. The convergence of the algorithm is proven. Performance of the proposed algorithm is evaluated analytically using the elapsed time of process transfer or message transfer and the waiting time to begin transfer.
A Reply to Carson Strong

Carson Strong's reply to my response to his article demonstrates what happens when there is unacknowledged disagreement about the facts of a case or about the meaning of the terms used to describe those facts. I hope that our dialogue will help reduce this disagreement.
Computational Study of the Aerodynamic Performance of Subsonic Scarf Inlets

A computational study has been conducted to assess the aerodynamic performance of subsonic scarf inlets. The computations were performed using the WIND 3D Navier-Stokes CFD code. The objective of the study was to investigate the aerodynamic performance of scarf inlets wherein the circumferential extent, �, over which the transition from the extended lower lip to the non-extended lip was the primary variable. Other inlet design variables include inlet internal lip thickness and the axial length of the lower lip extension. Inlet performance is computed at takeoff, cruise and static conditions. The results indicate a fundamental change in the nature of the lip flow separation characteristics at takeoff
Rheological properties of goat milk cheese: method of true axial stress versus apparent axial stress

Compressive moduli of elasticity and stress relaxation characteristics of soft goat milk cheese were compared with those of cow milk judged to be of comparable consistency. The true stress applied to a cheese sample was calculated from the variation of cross-sectional area of a cylindrical specimen during compression. Stress relaxation data were developed by measuring the force decay resulting from imposed compression of 5, 10, 20 and 40. The compressive elastic moduli for goat milk cheese were found to be lower than those for cow milk cheese. For cheese prepared from fresh goat milk, at least two distinct periods of stress relaxation were found for each compression level. Cheese prepared from reconstituted dehydrated goat milk showed one period of stress relaxation for each compression level.
Sarcoidosis Presenting as Progressive Ascending Lower Extremity Weakness and Asymptomatic Meningitis with Hypoglycorrhachia

A 26-year-old man developed progressive weakness over a two-month period. His chest radiograph showed diffuse interstitial infiltrates, and transbronchial lung biopsies demonstrated noncaseating granulomas consistent with sarcoidosis. Sarcoid neuropathy should be considered in the differential diagnosis of the patient presenting with an atypical Landry-Guillain-Barre syndrome.
Thermal conductivity of the blue bronze K0.3MoO3

Abstract The thermal conductivity of K0.3MoO3 was measured between 40 and 300 K by the absolute method. While the qualitative features of the temperature dependence are ascribed to the sum of a lattice contribution and a Wiedemann-Franz electronic part, the fit is not exact. The thermal conductivity decreases above 200 K, in disagreement with previous measurements.
Contrast in NMR imaging and microscopy

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging is increasingly being used for medical diagnosis and in scientific research and applications. In practice, it is often difficult to quantitatively relate the image intensity to the nuclear spin density, because other factors complicate a proportional interpretation. These factors include chemical shift, magnetic susceptibility variation, nuclear spin relaxation, and molecular motion (ordered flow and random Brownian motion). However, this kind of information is valuable in its own right and it can be quantitatively and accurately extracted from imaging experiments. This paper defines an image contrast as the image intensity change or modulation due to the contribution of molecular information other than the nuclear spin density. It is this kind of quantitative measurement that makes NMR imaging a useful tool for scientific research and practical applications. This article uses the concept of image contrast to summarize and describe various contrast mechanisms in NMR-imaging experiments. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Delineating intracellular pharmacokinetics of paclitaxel delivered by PLGA nanoparticles

Although many studies have shown that drug delivery and efficacy can be improved by nano-sized drug carriers, we understand little regarding their pharmacokinetics (PK). PK calculations for drugs delivered by carriers are more complex than those for drug-only solutions. The overall PK depends on many factors, including drug-release rate and the PK of both the drug itself and the carrier. We built a mathematical model to describe the intracellular PK of paclitaxel delivered by nanoparticles. Paclitaxel was incorporated into poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles, which were chemically labeled with a fluorescence probe for quantification. PK profiles of drug alone, nanoparticles alone, and drug delivered by nanoparticles were studied in human breast cancer MCF7 cells. Simulated results from the model were similar to observed data, indicating that the model was properly developed. The model clearly and quantitatively represented the effects of relative factors, such as drug dose, drug-release kinetics, and nanoparticle PK, on the PK of paclitaxel delivered by nanoparticles. We also used this model to estimate the intracellular drug-release rate, which was found to be slightly slower than the in vitro release rate in this study. This mathematical model could be used to provide guidelines to design, evaluate, and optimize nano-sized drug carriers.
Building a foundation for suicide prevention: the contributions of Jack C. Smith.

Abstract Abstract: Among his many other accomplishments, Jack C. Smith nurtured the early development of efforts by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to address suicide as a public health problem. Smith’s vision was to achieve suicide prevention through epidemiology, and his vision shaped the emergence of suicide as a public health issue. With his typical enthusiasm and inherent ability to insinuate himself into critical social networks, Smith spearheaded CDC’s initial suicide surveillance activities and established strong partnerships between CDC and the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and the American Association of Suicidology (AAS). These surveillance activities and relationships were the foundation on which subsequent research and programmatic activities addressing suicide as a public health problem were built at CDC. In this paper we document Smith’s role in the development of the public health approach to suicide prevention. We also articulate the conceptual basis for a public health approach to suicide and discuss future directions for public health in the prevention of suicide and suicidal behavior. While Smith also made important contributions to development of CDC efforts to address homicide, his special interest was suicide; therefore, this article will emphasize his contributions to this area.
Carteolol, an Antihypertensive β-Blocker with Intrinsic Sympathomimetic Activity, Reduces ECG Evidence of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy

Effective treatment of chronic hypertension may be accompanied by a decrease, increase, or no change in the extent of LVH, depending on the pharmacologic properties of the antihypertensive agents employed. Unlike β-adrenoceptor blockers without ISA, β-adrenoceptor blockers with ISA have been reported to increase left ventricular mass despite favorable reductions in blood pressure. To assess further the potential effect of ISA on LVH, we retrospectively evaluated the effect of carteolol, a nonspecific β-adrenoceptor antagonist with strong ISA, upon ECG evidence of LVH. In 12 patients with LVH, carteolol treatment for one year reduced mean arterial blood pressures from 120 ± 2 mm Hg to 100 ± 2 mm Hg and mean hypertrophy scores from 5.2 ± 0.6 to 2.6 ± 0.8. Therefore, ISA does not preclude the regression of ECG evidence of LVH during the treatment of hypertension. Chest 1985; 95:43-47)
Tracer diffusion coefficients of proteins by means of holographic relaxation spectroscopy: application to bovine serum albumin.

Abstract Holographic relaxation spectroscopy has been used to measure tracer diffusion coefficients for photochromically labeled bovine serum albumin in solutions having total bovine serum albumin concentrations in the range 3.25 to 257 g/liter. In the limit of zero concentration, the diffusion coefficient (20°C, 0.1 m NaCl, 0.005 m Tris, pH 8.0) was found to be (5.9 ± 0.1) × 10 −7 cm 2 /s and the initial slope was zero. The concentration dependence of the diffusion coefficient was not significantly affected by the fraction of protein molecules which were labeled. Holographic relaxation spectroscopy permits rapid, accurate determination of tracer diffusion coefficients for proteins in mixtures.
Sulfur Mustard-Induced Skin Injury in Hairless Guinea Pigs

AbstractEuthymic hairless guinea pigs [Crl:IAF(HA)BR] were compared to normal haired guinea pigs [Crl:(HA)BR] to determine whether the hairless guinea pig is a suitable animal model for studying sulfur mustard- (HD) induced vesication of skin. Neat HD was applied to the skin for 30 min and the exposed skin was examined 24 and/or 48 hr postexposure for gross, histopathologic, and ultrastructural lesions. The hairless guinea pig proved to be superior to the haired guinea pig as an animal model; it was more sensitive to HD, the lesions were more readily scored, and the animal was much more convenient to use.The findings contained herein are the private views of the author(s) and are not to be construed as official or as reflecting the views of the U.S. Army or the Department of Defense.In conducting the research described in this report, the investigators adhered to the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. National Institutes of Health Publication Number 85–23.
Carbon isotopic characterization of dissolved organic carbon in rainwater: Terrestrial and marine influences

Abstract This study presents the first published 14 C and 13 C isotopic data for dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in rainwater. The 14 C fraction modern ( Fm ) values for rain DOC ranged from 0.9051 to 1.0569. Between 4% and 24% of the rainwater DOC was of fossil fuel origin based on a two end member calculation assuming biogenic carbon has the same 14 C content as the contemporary atmosphere ( Fm =1.11–1.19) and fossil fuel carbon is devoid of 14 C. The δ 13 C content of rain DOC ranged from −21.8‰ to −28.2‰ spanning the terrestrial and fossil fuels average (∼−26‰) to marine (−18‰ to −20‰) values. Rain events with more continental influences had δ 13 C values closer to the terrestrial and fossil fuels signal and higher concentrations of fossil fuel derived DOC. Rain events with stronger oceanic influences had δ 13 C values shifting towards those typical of marine systems and had lower concentrations of fossil fuel derived DOC. The influence air mass back trajectory has on the terrestrial and marine characteristics of rainwater DOC identifies air mass recent history as an important factor controlling the sources of DOC in precipitation. It also indicates water soluble volatile organic carbon (VOC's) have relatively short residence times on the order of days with minimal global transport. However, residence times of days, and the presence of both marine and terrestrial DOC in rainwater, suggests that precipitation represents an important exchange of carbon between land and the oceans especially in coastal regions.