cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The B-aminopropionitrile-fed turkey: a model for detecting potential drug action on arterial tissue

Broad-breasted white male turkeys develop hypertension, tachycardia and aortic arteriosclerosis spontaneously by approximately 5 weeks of age. When fed B-aminopropionitrile (BAPN), aortic tensile strengths are lowered, and a high percentage of the turkeys die from aortic dissecting aneurysms. There are essentially no deaths from aneurysms when either dl-propranolol or reserpine is fed in concert with BAPN; practolol and soltalol partially protect the BAPN-fed turkey from lethal aneurysms while hydralazine and phenelzine sulphate potentiate mortality from aneurysms. Dl-propranolol decreases and reserpine increases dP/dtmax and both drugs lower arterial pressure and heart rate when fed with BAPN. Such diets also decrease the ultrastructural disarray of collagenous and elastic fibres in the media of the abdominal aorta that occurs from the feeding of BAPN and thereby raise aortic tensile strength. Sotalol and practolol when fed to BAPN-fed turkeys lower blood pressure and dP/dtmax, but neither drug affects aortic tensile strength and both counteract the deleterious effect of BAPN on the ultrastructure of collagenous and elastic fibres to a minor degree. Phenelzine sulphate does not affect arterial pressure while hydralazine reduces arterial pressure; both drugs decrease aortic tensile strength and increase the ultrastructural disruption of aortic elastin and collagen in the BAPN turkey. The results suggest that dl-propranolol, reserpine, phenelzine sulphate, and hydralazine have an action on aortic tissue and indicate the usefulness of the BAPN-fed turkey as a model for identifying potential drug effects on aortic elastin and collagen.
Effect of triiodothyronine on the growth and survival of larval striped bass (Morone saxatilis).

This study was carried out to test the effect of triiodothyronine (T3) on the growth and survival of larval striped bass (Morone saxatilis). Growth and survival of striped bass held in 5 ppt seawater and treated with various doses of T3 were measured beginning at 5 and 16 days after hatching. Body content of T3 was measured by radioimmunoassay. T3 dissolved in the 5 ppt seawater was taken up by larval striped bass in a dose-dependent manner, and affected the growth and survival of the fish. At 5 days after hatching, T3 at 100 ng ml−1 and 50 ng ml−1 retarded the growth of larval striped bass and caused a lower survival rate than T3 at 25 ng ml−1 or the control treatment. At 16 days after hatching, T3 at 100 ng ml−1 retarded the growth of larval fish and caused a higher mortality. T3 at 10 ng ml−1 and 1 ng ml−1 did not show any effect on either survival or growth. Body content of T3 returns to control levels within days following end of treatment. The results indicate that exogenous T3 can be detrimental to the growth and survival of larval striped bass.
Marfan syndrome caused by a novel FBN1 mutation with associated pigmentary glaucoma.

Mutations in fibrillin-1 (FBN1) cause a wide spectrum of disorders, including Marfan syndrome, which have in common defects in fibrillin-1 microfibrils. Ectopia lentis and myopia are frequently observed ocular manifestations of Marfan syndrome. Glaucoma is also associated with Marfan syndrome, though the form of glaucoma has not been well-characterized. In this report, ocular examination of a patient diagnosed with Marfan syndrome based on family history and aortic dilatation was performed, including measurement of facility of aqueous humor outflow by tonography. The patient did not have ectopia lentis at the age of 42 years. Based on optic nerve appearance, reduced outflow facility, elevated IOP with open angles and clear signs of pigment dispersion, the patient was diagnosed with pigmentary glaucoma. The patient was heterozygous for a novel truncating mutation in FBN1, p.Leu72Ter. Histology of normal human eyes revealed abundant expression of elastic fibers and fibrillin-1 in aqueous humor outflow structures. This is the first report of a patient with Marfan syndrome that is caused by a confirmed FBN1 mutation with associated pigmentary glaucoma. In addition to identifying a novel mutation of FBN1 and broadening the spectrum of associated ocular phenotypes in Marfan syndrome, our findings suggest that pigmentary glaucoma may involve defects in fibrillin-1 microfibrils. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Lysine incorporation in vessels of spontaneously hypertensive rats: Effects of adrenergic drugs

Synthesis of vascular proteins was investigated by measurement of the incorporation of 3H-lysine into the protein fractions in arteries in young normotensive or genetically hypertensive rats. The effect of 14 days of antihypertensive therapy with clonidine, propranolol, and phenoxybenzamine was examined. The rate of incorporation of 3H-lysine into the non-collagen protein in internal spermatic and testicular arteries or mesenteric arteries in 8-week old spontaneously hypertensive rats/NIH (SHR/N) and in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats/NIH (SHR SP/N) was significantly greater than that of Wistar Kyoto rats/NIH (WK/N). S.c. injection of clonidine, 200 μg/kg twice daily decreased the incorporation of tritiated lysine into the non-collagen protein in internal spermatic arteries in each strain and mesenteric arteries in WK/N and SHR SP/N, concomitant with a reduction of development of blood pressure. Similar results were obtained following phenoxybenzamine treatment (3.5 mg/kg s.c. twice daily) and to a lesser extent, following smaller dose of same drug (1 mg/kg s.c. twice daily). Propranolol administration, 3 mg/kg s.c. twice daily, was ineffective in decreasing non-collagen protein synthesis in these small arteries and failed to reduce the blood pressure in any strain. The incorporation rates of tritiated lysine into the collagen and elastin were similar in the examined vessels in each strain treated with saline. Decreased collagen synthesis was observed following clonidine treatment in internal spermatic and testicular arteries in each strain. Other vascular proteins did not change despite the effective antihypertensive treatment. A high incidence of muscular hypertrophy of the media in internal spermatic arteries in SHR/N or SHR SP/N was observed in non-treated and propranolol-treated animals. This hypertrophy was not seen following clonidine or high doses of phenoxybenzamine. These results indicate that increased non-collagen protein synthesis in the small arteries in young genetically hypertensive rats precedes the development of severe hypertensive vascular lesions and may be involved in the pathogenesis of spontaneous hypertension.
The incorporation of [14C]glucose into chondroitin sulfate of differing chain length

Abstract Chondroitin sulfate released from rabbit ear cartilage after incubation with [14C]glucose is heterogeneous in size and metabolic activity. The higher molecular weight chondroitin sulfate reveals a higher rate of precursor uptake than the lower molecular weight chondroitin sulfate. No transfer of radioactivity from one chondroitin sulfate fraction to the other occurs with time.
Programmed cell removal: a new obstacle in the road to developing cancer

The development of cancer involves mechanisms by which aberrant cells overcome normal regulatory pathways that limit their numbers and their migration. The evasion of programmed cell death is one of several key early events that need to be overcome in the progression from normal cellular homeostasis to malignant transformation. Recently, we provided evidence in mouse and human cancers that successful cancer clones must also overcome programmed cell removal. In this Opinion article, we explore the role of programmed cell removal in both normal and neoplastic cells, and we place this pathway in the context of the initiation of programmed cell death.
Complexity reduction of digital filters using shift inclusive differential coefficients

We present a graph theoretical methodology that reduces the implementation complexity of the multiplication of a constant vector and a scalar. The complexity of implementation is defined as the required amount of computations like additions. The proposed approach is called minimally redundant parallel (MRP) optimization and is mainly presented in a finite impulse response (FIR) filtering framework to obtain a low-complexity multiplierless implementation. The key idea is to expand the design space using shift inclusive differential coefficients (SIDCs) together with computation reordering using a graph theoretic approach to obtain maximal computation sharing. The problem is formulated using a graph in which vertices and edges represent coefficients and computational cost (number of resources). The multiplierless solution is obtained by solving a set cover problem on the vertices in the graph. A simple polynomial run time algorithm based on a greedy approach is presented. The proposed approach is compared with common-subexpression elimination to show slightly better results and is combined with it for further reduction of complexity. Simulation results show that 50-60% complexity reduction is achieved by only applying the MRP algorithm, and 70% complexity reduction is obtainable by combining it with common-subexpression elimination under a delay constraint of two or three.
On relational homomorphisms of automata

This paper investigates the concepts of relational homomorphisms and their closely associated concepts of generalized congruence relations on automata which are in general incomplete, nondeterministic, and infinite. The concept of generalized isomorphism, which is a natural extension of the isomorphism concept in dealing with nondeterministic automata, is also studied.
Accuracy in Personality Ratings on Phenotypic and Genotypic Items

To examine the relationship between the amount of inference required in rating Ss on personality-relevant statements and the accuracy of such ratings, 25 clinicians made personality ratings on two ...
Tracking articulated human movements witha component based approach to boosted multiple instance learning

Our work is about a new class of object trackers that are based on a boosted Multiple Instance Learning (MIL) algorithm to track an object in a video sequence. We show how the scope of such trackers can be expanded to the tracking of articulated movements by humans that frequently result in large frame-to-frame variations in the appearance of what needs to be tracked. To deal with the problems caused by such variations, our paper presents a component based version of the boosted MIL algorithm. Components are the output of an image segmentation algorithm applied to the pixels in the bounding box encapsulating the object to be tracked. The components give the boosted MIL the additional degrees of freedom that it needs in order to deal with the large frame-to-frame variations associated with articulated movements.
The prevailing paradigm as a hindrance to conservation

We review the history of population and ecological knowledge of the golden-cheeked warbler (Setophaga chrysoparia). We highlight how incomplete information on distribution and abundance has led to substantial misunderstanding on species status and associated conservation goals. We discuss how once a paradigm is established, subsequent studies unconsciously fortify accepted understanding regardless of the paradigm's accuracy. For the golden-cheeked warbler, understanding of the species at the time of listing in 1990 was based on either incorrect or untested assumptions of species distribution within available habitats. Adhering to untested assumptions led to development of priorities for research and management that were well-intentioned but largely misguided. Ample information on the distribution of the warbler's habitats existed, however, which should have encouraged questions into the basis of population conditions when developing management prescriptions. Current knowledge clearly indicates that a new paradigm for the warbler is needed, that being one of a widely distributed species that is preadapted to occur within a variety of environmental conditions. © 2012 The Wildlife Society.
Phase Equilibria in the System CaO‐TiO2–SiO2

Results of a study of phase equilibria in the system CaO–TiO2–SiO2 are presented. A prominent feature of the liquidus surface is a large two-liquid region which appears on the equilibrium diagram as a broad band extending from the SiO2-CaO side to the SiO2-TiO2 side of the triangle. Evidence for the liquid immiscibility and the significance of the resulting large high-temperature liquidus region in silicate technology are discussed. Representative paths of crystallization of liquids in the system under equilibrium conditions are outlined. It is shown that solid solution in the system is virtually nonexistent except for the small-scale substitution of Ti4+ for Si4+ in wollastonite. Indices of refraction of glasses are given. Composition and temperature are listed for the twelve liquidus ternary invariant points.
Notes on equivalent forms of the general least-squares solution

The general least-squares solution for a rank-deficient system is expressed in several completely equivalent forms. The simplest form is written in terms of A+, the pseudo-inverse of the design matrix A, and of an arbitrary vector whose presence removes the need for more general inverse operators.
Molecular markers for assessing community diversity of coastal ciliates

Biogeography of microbial eukaryotes is widely debated. While some claim that all microbial organisms have a cosmopolitan distribution, other data suggest evidence of endemism. To assess these hypotheses for the distribution of ciliates in the orders Choreotrichia and Oligotrichia, coastal community samples were taken from Long Island Sound. We are obtaining sequences of SSU rRNA, ITS rRNA, and mitochondrial genes to use as molecular markers for assessing gene flow across time and space. These data will serve as a basis for continued study of phylogeographic distribution of Choreotrichia and Oligotrichia.
Activation of skinned trabeculae of the guinea pig induced by laser photolysis of caged ATP

The kinetics of force production in chemically skinned trabeculae from the guinea pig were studied by laser photolysis of caged ATP in the presence of Ca2+. Preincubation of the tissue during rigor with the enzyme apyrase was used to reduce the population of MgADP-bound cross-bridges (Martin and Barsotti, 1994). In untreated tissue, tension remained constant or dipped slightly below the rigor level immediately after ATP release, before increasing to the maximum measured in pCa 4.5 and 5 mM MgATP. The in-phase component stiffness, which is a measure of cross-bridge attachment, exhibited a large decrease before increasing to 55% of that measured in rigor. Neither the rate of the decline nor of the rise in tension was sensitive to the concentration of photolytically released ATP. The rate of the decline in stiffness was found to be dependent on [ATP]: 1.8 x 10(4) M-1/s-1, a value more than four times higher than that previously measured in similar experiments in the absence of Ca2+. The rate of tension development averaged 14.9 +/- 2.5 s-1. Preincubation with apyrase altered the mechanical characteristics of the early phase of the contraction. The rate and amplitude of the initial drop in both tension and stiffness after caged ATP photolysis increased and became dependent on [ATP]. The second-order rate constants measured for the initial drop in tension and stiffness were 8.4 x 10(4) M-1 s-1 and 1.5 x 10(5) M-1 s-1. These rates are more than two times faster than those previously measured in the absence of Ca2+. The effects of apyrase incubation on the time course of tension and stiffness were consistent with the hypothesis that during rigor, skinned trabeculae retain a significant population of MgADP-bound cross-bridges. These in turn act to attenuate the initial drop in tension after caged ATP photolysis and slow the apparent rate of rigor cross-bridge detachment. The results also show that Ca2+ increases the rate of cross-bridge detachment in both untreated and apyrase-treated tissue, but the effect is larger in untreated tissue. This suggests that in cardiac muscle Ca2+ modulates the rate of cross-bridge detachment.
Dynamics of the Thermosphere

Major advances in our understanding of the dynamics of Earth's thermosphere (≈ 90-500 km) during the past 25 years are reviewed. Since the thermosphere is primarily an externally-forced system, a broad overview of the energy input, conversion and transport mechanisms in the ionosphere-thermosphere system is first provided. This serves as background and context for the non-specialist. Then, several broad areas of progress are in turn discussed in some detail: (i) the role of solar thermal tides in imposing significant longitudinal variability in the lower thermosphere (≈ 100-150 km), and affecting the zonal mean circulation at these altitudes; (ii) the zonal mean circulation of the thermosphere, the changes in O and N2 relative densities that accompany it, and the competing roles of solar radiative heating and Joule (ohmic) heating in determining the overall structure of this circulation; (iii) polar and auroral thermosphere dynamics, and connections to relevant magnetosphere and ionosphere processes; and (iv) the global response to geomagnetic disturbances, i.e., relatively sudden injections of energy and momentum from the magnetosphere. The paper concludes with a personal assessment of future research directions and scientific questions that remain to be addressed in forthcoming decades.
Standard markers for detection of circulating tumor cells are variably expressed in pulmonary adenocarcinomas and are downregulated in cells undergoing mesenchymal transition

Standard markers for detection of circulating tumor cells are variably expressed in pulmonary adenocarcinomas and are downregulated in cells undergoing mesenchymal transition Antonio Coppolino, MD, Ding Cheng Gao, PhD, Patrick L Wagner, MD, Rafaella Sordella, PhD, Vivek Mittal, PhD, Nasser K Altorki, MD, Brendon M Stiles, MD Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Pittsburgh, PA, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY
Pseudo‐Fivefold Diffraction Symmetries in Tetrahedral Packing

We review the way in which atomic tetrahedra composed of metallic elements pack naturally into fused icosahedra. Orthorhombic, hexagonal, and cubic intermetallic crystals based on this packing are all shown to be united in having pseudo-fivefold rotational diffraction symmetry. A unified geometric model involving the 600-cell is presented: the model accounts for the observed pseudo-fivefold symmetries among the different Bravais lattice types. The model accounts for vertex-, edge-, polygon-, and cell-centered fused-icosahedral clusters. Vertex-centered and edge-centered types correspond to the well-known pseudo-fivefold symmetries in Ih and D5h quasicrystalline approximants. The concept of a tetrahedrally-packed reciprocal space cluster is introduced, the vectors between sites in this cluster corresponding to the principal diffraction peaks of fused-icosahedrally-packed crystals. This reciprocal-space cluster is a direct result of the pseudosymmetry and, just as the real-space clusters, can be rationalized by the 600-cell. The reciprocal space cluster provides insights for the Jones model of metal stability. For tetrahedrally-packed crystals, Jones zone faces prove to be pseudosymmetric with one another. Lower and upper electron per atom bounds calculated for this pseudosymmetry-based Jones model are shown to accord with the observed electron counts for a variety of Group 10–12 tetrahedrally-packed structures, among which are the four known Cu/Cd intermetallic compounds: CdCu2, Cd3Cu4, Cu5Cd8, and Cu3Cd10. The rationale behind the Jones lower and upper bounds is reviewed. The crystal structure of Zn11Au15Cd23, an example of a 1:1 MacKay cubic quasicrystalline approximant based solely on Groups 10–12 elements is presented. This compound crystallizes in Im (space group no. 204) with a=13.842(2) A. The structure was solved with R1=3.53 %, I>2σ;=5.33 %, all data with 1282/0/38 data/restraints/parameters.
Simple tests for instability of complex interval polynomials

Simple necessary conditions for the robust stability of strictly Hurwitz interval polynomials are obtained. They can be used to determine instability of complex interval polynomials quickly. The results are extended to the case where coefficient perturbation intervals are functions of a single parameter. >
Multiresolution permutation filter implementations based on acyclic connected graphs

Permutation filters are a broad class of nonlinear selection filters that utilize the complete spatial and rank order information of observation samples. This use of joint spatial-rank information has proven useful in numerous applications. The application of permutation filters, however, is limited by the factorial growth in the number of spatial-rank orderings. Although M-permutation filters have been developed to address the growth in orderings, their a priori uniform selection of samples is not appropriate in most cases. Permutation filter implementations based on acyclic connected graphs provide a more general approach that allows the level of ordering information utilized to automatically adjust to the problem at hand. In addition to developing and analyzing graph implementations of permutation filters this paper presents a LNE based optimization of the graph structure and filter operation. Simulation results illustrating the performance of the optimization technique and the advantages of the graph implementation are presented.
Variable motif utilization in homeotic selector (Hox)–cofactor complex formation controls specificity

Homeotic selector (Hox) proteins often bind DNA cooperatively with cofactors such as Extradenticle (Exd) and Homothorax (Hth) to achieve functional specificity in vivo. Previous studies identified the Hox YPWM motif as an important Exd interaction motif. Using a comparative approach, we characterize the contribution of this and additional conserved sequence motifs to the regulation of specific target genes for three Drosophila Hox proteins. We find that Sex combs reduced (Scr) uses a simple interaction mechanism, where a single tryptophan-containing motif is necessary for Exd-dependent DNA-binding and in vivo functions. Abdominal-A (AbdA) is more complex, using multiple conserved motifs in a context-dependent manner. Lastly, Ultrabithorax (Ubx) is the most flexible, in that it uses multiple conserved motifs that function in parallel to regulate target genes in vivo. We propose that using different binding mechanisms with the same cofactor may be one strategy to achieve functional specificity in vivo.
Androgen regulation of 5α-reductase isoenzymes in prostate cancer: implications for prostate cancer prevention.

The enzyme 5α-reductase, which converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), performs key functions in the androgen receptor (AR) signaling pathway. The three isoenzymes of 5α-reductase identified to date are encoded by different genes: SRD5A1, SRD5A2, and SRD5A3. In this study, we investigated mechanisms underlying androgen regulation of 5α-reductase isoenzyme expression in human prostate cells. We found that androgen regulates the mRNA level of 5α-reductase isoenzymes in a cell type–specific manner, that such regulation occurs at the transcriptional level, and that AR is necessary for this regulation. In addition, our results suggest that AR is recruited to a negative androgen response element (nARE) on the promoter of SRD5A3 in vivo and directly binds to the nARE in vitro. The different expression levels of 5α-reductase isoenzymes may confer response or resistance to 5α-reductase inhibitors and thus may have importance in prostate cancer prevention.
Liking and consumption of high-fiber snacks in preschool-age children

Abstract Increased consumption of fiber has been associated with better diet quality and lower risk for chronic diseases. Most preschool-age children in the US do not meet the recommended intake level of fiber, however, many daycare administrators struggle with the decision to provide high-fiber foods because children may not eat them. This study was a prospective community-based trial designed to explore whether children would like and eat high-fiber snacks that were served at daycare. We provided novel high-fiber snack foods to 2–5 year olds participating in two day-care centers (n = 41). Overall liking ratings were obtained using a three-level age-appropriate likert-scale. Snack consumption was measured using the plate-waste method. Results showed that children consumed normal amounts of energy from snacks. There was no association between mean energy consumed from snacks in the groups of children who liked and those who were neutral or did not like the snack, indicating that liking did not influence consumption or that intakes did not vary enough between the two groups to detect a significant difference. The implication of our study is that fiber intake in young children could potentially be increased by serving high-fiber snacks at daycare centers.
HuD RNA Recognition Motifs Play Distinct Roles in the Formation of a Stable Complex with AU-Rich RNA

Human neuron-specific RNA-binding protein HuD belongs to the family of Hu proteins and consists of two N-terminal RNA recognition motifs (RRM1 and -2), a hinge region, and a C-terminal RRM (RRM3). Hu proteins can bind to AU-rich elements in the 3' untranslated regions of unstable mRNAs, causing the stabilization of certain transcripts. We have studied the interaction between HuD and prototype mRNA instability elements of the sequence UU(AUUU)(n)AUU using equilibrium methods and real-time kinetics (surface plasmon resonance using a BIACORE). We show that a single molecule of HuD requires at least three AUUU repeats to bind tightly to the RNA. Deletion of RRM1 reduced the K(d) by 2 orders of magnitude and caused a decrease in the association rate and a strong increase in the dissociation rate of the RNA-protein complex, as expected when a critical RNA-binding domain is removed. In contrast, deletion of either RRM2 or -3, which only moderately reduced the affinity, caused marked increases in the association and dissociation rates. The slower binding and stabilization of the complex observed in the presence of all three RRMs suggest that a change in the tertiary structure occurs during binding. The individual RRMs bind poorly to the RNA (RRM1 binds with micromolar affinity, while the affinities of RRM2 and -3 are in the millimolar range). However, the combination of RRM1 and either RRM2 or RRM3 in the context of the protein allows binding with a nanomolar affinity. Thus, the three RRMs appear to cooperate not only to increase the affinity of the interaction but also to stabilize the formed complex. Kinetic effects, similar to those described here, could play a role in RNA binding by many multi-RRM proteins and may influence the competition between proteins for RNA-binding sites and the ability of RNA-bound proteins to be transported intracellularly.
A gravity model of immigration

This paper develops a gravity model of immigration. Tests of the model using panel data for 16 OECD countries for 1991–2000 confirm the model’s high explanatory power, and examples illustrate its usefulness for testing other hypothesized determinants of immigration.
The Long Arm of Adolescent Health Among Men and Women: Does Attained Status Explain Its Association with Mid-Adulthood Health?

A growing body of research has established the effect of early health on later-life health. This study extends the literature by (1) examining multiple dimensions of mid-adulthood health including physical and mental conditions, (2) analyzing attained status (education and income) as a potential pathway through which health problems in adolescence may impact later health, and (3) considering the role of gender in these life course processes. Using over 20 years of data from the National Longitudinal Study of Youth 1979 cohort (NLSY79), we test the associations between adolescent health limitations and eight adult health measures for men and women, and whether these associations are mediated by status attainment. We find strong links between adolescent health limitations and mid-adulthood health, especially among women. Among men, the associations are strong for measures of physical health but somewhat weaker for mental and general health measures—taking into account the men’s demographic characteristics, family background, and skills, the effects of adolescent limitations become non-significant for these dimensions. These patterns are largely independent of attained socioeconomic status; that is, education and income do not appear to be critical pathways from adolescent to adult health. Understanding how early health influences the long-term trajectory of health and social capital accumulation for men and women is critical for developing social and health research and policy, in order to optimize health over the entire life course.
Double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of lamotrigine in combination with other medications for neuropathic pain.

Abstract This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of lamotrigine added to gabapentin, a tricyclic antidepressant, or a nonopioid analgesic in patients whose neuropathic pain was inadequately controlled with these medications. Patients with neuropathic pain from diabetic peripheral neuropathy, postherpetic neuralgia, traumatic/surgical nerve injury, incomplete spinal cord injury, trigeminal neuralgia, multiple sclerosis, or HIV-associated peripheral neuropathy, who had a mean weekly pain score ≥4 on an 11-point numerical rating scale, were randomized to receive a flexible dose of lamotrigine 200, 300, or 400mg daily (n=111) or placebo (n=109) for up to 14 weeks (including eight weeks of dose escalation) in addition to their prestudy regimen of gabapentin, a tricyclic antidepressant, or a nonopioid analgesic. No statistically significant difference in the mean change in pain-intensity score from baseline to Week 14 (primary endpoint) was detected between lamotrigine and placebo (P=0.67). Differences between lamotrigine and placebo were not statistically significant for secondary efficacy assessments, including mean changes from baseline in the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire, the Neuropathic Pain Scale, rescue medication use, and the percentages of patients rated as much improved or very much improved at the end of treatment on the Clinician Global Impression of Change scale and the Patient Global Impression of Change scale. Lamotrigine was generally well tolerated. Lamotrigine (up to 400mg/day) added to gabapentin, a tricyclic antidepressant, or a nonopioid analgesic did not demonstrate efficacy as an adjunctive treatment of neuropathic pain but was generally safe and well tolerated.
Motivational Interviewing Targeting Risk Reduction for People with HIV: A Systematic Review

Due to the co-occurrence of sexual risk behaviors and substance use among HIV-positive individuals, there is often a need for HIV prevention efforts to target multiple behaviors. Motivational Interviewing (MI), a widely disseminated behavior change intervention, has demonstrated effectiveness in promoting behavior change among persons with HIV and has been utilized to target these co-occurring risk behaviors. To identify the efficacy of MI in relation to sexual risk and substance use, we conducted a systematic review of research literature published before May 2012, which focused on treatment fidelity, study design, and findings. Results suggest that MI has the potential to reduce sexual risk behavior, but the effects on reducing substance use were less consistent. We identify opportunities for future research with HIV-positive individuals, including the development of interventions assessing the effects of MI on illicit drug use, utilizing higher fidelity standards in intervention implementation and studies of transportability and cost-effectiveness.
Is Trichomonas vaginalis a Cause of Cervical Neoplasia? Results from a Combined Analysis of 24 Studies

The authors conducted this combined analysis of available data from studies with information on this issue to clarify the association between Trichomonas vaginalis infection and cervical neoplasia. They performed MEDLINE searches (1966-1993) using the key words and phrases trichomonas vaginitis and neoplasms cervix for articles published in English and searched citations of the articles obtained from MEDLINE. A total of 24 articles (two cohort studies and 22 case-control) were included in this data analysis. In the analysis the studies were evaluated for heterogeneity using Breslow-Day tests for homogeneity of the odds ratios and of rate ratios. If the odds ratios from studies are heterogeneous it is not appropriate to combine them using the Mantel-Haenszel method. Also publication bias was evaluated by assessing the association between the observed effect size and the variance of the effect size using a rank correlation test. The combined summary relative risk for the two cohort studies was 1.93 (95% confidence interval: 1.22-2.65) indicating an approximate doubling of the risk of cervical neoplasia in the presence of T. vaginalis infection. The attributable risks among exposed subjects and among the source population were 47.4% and 2.1% respectively. Results of the 22 retrospective studies were much less consistent. However most of them demonstrated a significant positive association. This combined analysis suggests that there is an association between T. vaginalis and the risk of cervical neoplasia but that such infections account for only 2% of cervical neoplasia. (authors)
Brokering change: networks and entrepreneurs in international politics

Political entrepreneurs reside at the core of international relations (IR) theory. Structures might constrain agents, but entrepreneurs can remake and transform these structures, contesting norms, shifting identities and creating space for significant political change. Despite this, IR theorists note that key questions about entrepreneurs remain under-theorized. Under what conditions are political entrepreneurs likely to emerge? Who is likely to succeed as an entrepreneur, and how do entrepreneurs produce structural change? I argue scholars could strengthen their answers to these questions by drawing from the growing program of social network theory. Networks influence entrepreneurship in three ways. First, networks provide certain actors – brokers – with resources to effect change. It is not an actor’s attributes or interests but her position, then, that enables entrepreneurial behavior. Second, networks create the conditions of entrepreneurship. While certain networks are extremely stable, others contain contradictions that allow entrepreneurs to emerge. Finally, network theory posits structural mechanisms – including mobilization, polarization, and yoking – to explain political change.
Sequence optimization in CDMA point-to-point transmission with multipath

We consider the problem of spreading sequence optimization in a CDMA point-to-point transmission over a multipath fading channel. The aim of the sequence optimization is to construct a set of spreading sequences to support users in the system with the minimum total transmission power when the MMSE receiver is used for signal reception. We consider the sequence optimization for two difference cases: when the number of users is smaller than or equal to the spreading gain, and when the number of users is larger than the spreading gain. Eigenvectors of the multipath channel matrix describe the channel space spanned by the CDMA system. The optimal solution distributes users' spreading sequences into the channel space in an optimal manner.
Comparative Ignorance and the Ellsberg Phenomenon

The \Ellsberg phenomenon" has played a signiflcant role in research on imprecise probabilities. Fox and Tversky [7] have attempted to explain this phenomenon in terms of their \comparative ignorance" hypothesis. We challenge that explanation and suggest that our recent empirical work suggests an explanation that is much closer to Ellsberg’s own diagnosis.
Parametrized shape models for clothing

We consider the problem of recognizing the configuration of clothing articles when crudely spread out on a flat surface, prior to and during folding. At the core of our approach are parametrized shape models for clothing articles. Each clothing category has its own shape model, and the variety in shapes for a given category is achieved through variation of the parameters. We present an efficient algorithm to find the parameters that provide the best fit when given an image of a clothing article. The models are such that, once the parameters have been fit, they provide a basic parse of the clothing article, allowing it to be followed by autonomous folding from category level specifications of fold sequences. Our approach is also able to recover the configuration of a clothing article when folds are being introduced—an important feature towards closing the perception-action loop. Additionally, our approach provides a reliable method of shape-based classification, simply by examining which model yields the best fit. Our experiments illustrate the effectiveness of our approach on a large set of clothing articles. Furthermore, we present an end-to-end system, which starts from an unknown spread-out clothing article, performs a parametrized model fit, then follows a category-level (rather than article specific) set of folding instructions, closing the loop with perceptual feedback by re-fitting between folds.
From TIGER to Audit Instruments: Measuring Neighborhood Walkability with Street Data Based on Geographic Information Systems

The relationship between urban form and pedestrian mobility is an area of increasing policy interest within the planning, transportation, environmental, and public health fields. Many municipalities are seeking to adopt variations of smart growth principles that seek, in part, to increase pedestrian choice in an urban environment. This paper explores how the path network around key urban destinations can be visually and quantitatively analyzed to provide useful planning and evaluation tools for these pedestrian-oriented environments. Neighborhood environments surrounding transit stops and schools are used as examples of how to visualize and quantify local walkable environments. Three key techniques based on geographic information system (GIS) are presented: street network classification, pedestrian catchment areas, and intersection intensities. Although such measures have been used elsewhere to some extent, this paper includes the idea of impedance, a method to help distinguish between automobile-oriented and pedestrian-oriented areas. A series of GIS-based qualitative visualization and quantitative analyses are presented, as are some basic steps on conducting the analyses within a GIS environment. A discussion of key data sources, including TIGER (topologically integrated geographic encoding and referencing) street data and new pedestrian audit instruments, are also presented as different ways to assess local walkability.
Compact dictionaries for fault diagnosis in BIST

We present a new technique for generating compact dictionaries for cause-effect diagnosis in BIST. This approach relies on the use of three compact dictionaries: (i) D/sub 1/, containing compacted LFSR signatures for a small number of patterns and faults with high detection probability, (ii) an interval-based pass/fail dictionary D/sub 2/ for the BIST patterns and for faults with relatively lower detection probability, and (iii) D/sub 3/, containing compacted LFSR signatures for clean-up ATPG vectors and random-resistant faults. We show that D/sub 2/, which is two orders of magnitude smaller than a maximal-resolution pass/fail dictionary, provides nearly the same diagnostic resolution as an uncompacted dictionary. We also show that by using a 16-bit LFSR signature for D/sub 1/ and D/sub 2/, we obtain three orders of magnitude reduction in dictionary size, yet nearly no loss in diagnostic resolution.
Get Rid of Incompetent Teachers, Any Way You Can!

This case explores one principal's struggle to justify her course of action to "get rid" of an ineffective teacher. It focuses on her justifications as she contemplates her moral actions and some of her tactics. This case touches on many themes: ethical decision making, professionalism, supervision, personnel law, teacher unions and tenure. The teaching notes summarize several uses for this case but focus primarily on the organizational and interpersonal context of professional accountability in educational administration.
Perioperative Morphine and Cancer Recurrence

There is growing evidence suggesting that certain interventions during the perioperative period may have an impact on long-term outcomes of patients undergoing cancer surgery. It has been postulated that regional anesthetic techniques and other targeted interventions could decrease the risk of cancer recurrence, therefore increasing the disease-free interval and overall survival, of those patients undergoing cancer surgery. Conversely, however, it has also been theorized that volatile anesthetics, opioids and surgery itself are directly or indirectly linked to cancer recurrence. Among the opioids used during the perioperative period, morphine has raised most of the concerns regarding its putative effects on cancer. Indeed, morphine has been found to affect many cellular and cell signaling pathways involved in cancer genesis and possibly causing tumor growth. This chapter will focus on the role of the perioperative period on cancer progression, the recognized mechanisms of action of morphine on cancer and alternative pain management options for patients undergoing cancer surgery.
How Does Outcomes Research Help Advance Our Knowledge of Patient Outcomes in Hepatopancreaticobiliary Surgery

Randomized controlled trials have historically been regarded as the gold standard of modern clinical research tools, allowing us to elucidate the efficacy of novel therapeutics in an unparalleled manner. However, when attempting to generalize trial results to broader populations, it becomes apparent that the unexplained outcome variability exists among treatment recipients, suggesting that randomized controlled trials harbor inherent limitations. Herein, we explore the benefits of health services (outcomes) research utilization in addressing variation in patient outcomes following surgical intervention in the non-randomized setting, with a specific focus on hepatopancreaticobiliary surgery outcomes. To achieve this, we have constructed a framework that outlines the complex interactions existing between therapeutic, patient, and provider factors that subsequently lead to variation in outcomes. By exploring examples in the current literature, we have highlighted the areas where the knowledge is currently lacking and can be further strengthened through the application of outcomes research. Furthermore, we have attempted to demonstrate the utility of alternative study designs in the investigation of novel clinical questions currently unanswered in the field of hepatopancreaticobiliary surgery.
SPERM MIXING IN THE COCKROACH DIPLOPTERA PUNCTATA.

Summary.-Females of the viviparous cockroach Diploptera punctata store sperm from their first mating, and do not remate until after giving birth to their first batch of young. The irradiated male technique was used to determine the outcome of sperm competition in the second batch of eggs of females mated sequentially to normal and irradiated males. It is estimated that the second male to mate with a female fertilizes approximately two thirds of the eggs in a female's second batch of eggs. Direct evidence for sperm mixing was obtained. Undeveloped eggs (fertilized by irradiated sperm) and developing embryos (fertilized by normal sperm) were found interspersed throughout oothecae that were extruded from females, demonstrating that normal and irradiated sperm were released from the spermathecae at oviposition and that they competed for fertilizations.
The Economics of the use of Neoprene Reclaim

Abstract It is possible to reclaim mould and other vulcanized Neoprene scrap by suitable reclaiming procedures. At the present time, most of the reclaim manufacturers are prepared to do this reclaiming on a custom basis. The Neoprene of the reclaim may replace as much as 50 per cent of raw Neoprene in a compound to reduce by as much as 25 per cent the volume cost, without greatly impairing the physical properties of medium-or low-grade mechanical goods vulcanizates. Use of Neoprene scrap in this manner will conserve the supply of Neoprene, and under present conditions the value of such conservation is obvious. Besides, this utilization of scrap will reduce the overall factory cost of many types of Neoprene products. Although the volume of Neoprene scrap available at the present time is small, the presence of larger amounts on the market, as a result of increased Neoprene production, must be anticipated. Because of increased interest in Neoprene reclaims, due attention should be given to the problem of cla...
How to report renal tumours

During this presentation there will be discussion of both macroscopic and microscopic features important to include in reports pertaining to renal tumours, and common difficulties and misconceptions such as the renal sinus will be considered and identified. Use of synoptic reports will be discussed, as will the consensus decisions coming out of the International Society of Urological Pathology meeting in Vancouver in 2012, including the change to grading of renal cell carcinomas.
Protein-DNA and ion-DNA interactions revealed through contrast variation SAXS.

Understanding how DNA carries out its biological roles requires knowledge of its interactions with biological partners. Since DNA is a polyanionic polymer, electrostatic interactions contribute significantly. These interactions are mediated by positively charged protein residues or charge compensating cations. Direct detection of these partners and/or their effect on DNA conformation poses challenges, especially for monitoring conformational dynamics in real time. Small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) is uniquely sensitive to both the conformation and local environment (i.e. protein partner and associated ions) of the DNA. The primary challenge of studying multi-component systems with SAXS lies in resolving how each component contributes to the measured scattering. Here, we review two contrast variation (CV) strategies that enable targeted studies of the structures of DNA or its associated partners. First, solution contrast variation enables measurement of DNA conformation within a protein–DNA complex by masking out the protein contribution to the scattering profile. We review a specific example, in which the real-time unwrapping of DNA from a nucleosome core particle is measured during salt-induced disassembly. The second method, heavy atom isomorphous replacement, reports the spatial distribution of the cation cloud around duplex DNA by exploiting changes in the scattering strength of cations with varying atomic numbers. We demonstrate the application of this approach to provide the spatial distribution of monovalent cations (Na+, K+, Rb+, Cs+) around a standard 25-base pair DNA. The CV strategies presented here are valuable tools for understanding DNA interactions with its biological partners.