cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A heat-shock-inducible eukaryotic expression vecto

Abstract We describe a construct, pHS/Cla, containing the Drosophila melanogaster hsp70 promoter which serves as an inducible expression vector in mammalian cells. The construct was made in the plasmid pAT 153, a derivative of pBR322. In transient transfections of human H9 T-cells, the transactivator of transcription protein of the human AIDS virus HIV-1 was functionally expressed in response to heat shock. The promoter is very tightly regulated in that no expression can be detected at 37°C. Expression is highly induced upon heat shock and lasts at least 4 h. The construct contains a unique Cla I site for cloning and expressing potentially any gene.
Inhibitors of ether lipid biosynthesis

Abstract During biosynthesis of ether lipids, fatty alcohols may add covalently to ene-diol esters that would result from isomerization of acyl-dihydroxyacetone phosphate. Palmitoylation of 1,2,3-trihydroxyeicosane 1-phosphate, obtained by epoxidation of the product obtained by vinyllithiation of octadecanal, yields stable analogs of the high-energy intermediates that would be expected to result from alcohol addition. These analogs, in which an alkyl group replaces the ether alkoxyl group of the intermediates, inhibit formation of hexadecyl-dihydroxyacetone phosphate in a microsomal system from Ehrlich ascites cells. The parent compound is without effect.
Target influences on the development of leech neurons.

Abstract A pair of Retzius neurons is found in each segmental midbody ganglion of the CNS of the leech Hirudo medicinalis . Although all Retzius neurons appear to have the same cell lineage and are indistinguishable from one another through the initial phases of axonogenesis, later in development two pairs of Retzius neurons - those in the segments containing the male and female reproductive ducts - acquire distinctive morphological and physiological characteristics. Experimental manipulations of the reproductive ducts in early embryos have indicated that the outgrowing Retzius axons receive a signal from these peripheral targets that triggers major changes in their developmental program. Such ‘end-organ specification' has been shown to contribute to the differentiation of neurons in other nervous systems as well, and the mechanisms underlying such control can be investigated in great detail in the relatively simple, segmented nervous system of the leech.
What determines basic school attainment in developing countries? Evidence from rural China

Abstract This paper analyzes recent household survey data from Gansu, a less developed province in Northwest China, to examine school attainment in a poor rural area of China. Censored ordered probit regressions are used to estimate the determinants of years of schooling. Child nutritional status, as measured by height-for-age Z-scores, and household income have positive effects on completed years of schooling. Mothers’ education and attitudes toward children's education also have strong effects. Children of mothers with 6 years of primary education will go to school 1.4 years longer than their counterparts whose mothers who have no education. Science labs in lower secondary schools appear to have positive impacts; providing a science lab is estimated to extend years of schooling by 1.8 years. Finally, teachers’ experience in lower secondary schools also has a strong positive impact on school attainment.
Relationships Between the Surface Activity and Cholinesterase Inhibition of Carbamoylpiperidino-alkanes II: Variations in the Amide Function

The static surface tension of aqueous solutions of selected mono-and bis (carbamoylpiperidino)ethanes and -decanes has been determined and compared with the ability of these compounds to inhibit human plasma pseudo-cholinesterase. Parallels reported in a preceding communication were confirmed, and other relationships between surface-active properties and biochemical activity were explored.
Molecular genetics of Drosophila immunity

Abstract Insect resist bacterial infections through the induction of both cellular and humoral immune responses. The cellular response involves the mobilization of hemocytes, whereas the humoral response utilizes antibacterial peptides that are synthesized in the fat bodies and secreted into the circulating hemolymph. Recent studies suggest that the induction of the humoral response involves Rel-containing regulatory proteins, Dif and dorsal, which are related to mammalian NF-κB. These regulatory proteins function as sequence-specific transcription factors that induce the expression of immunity genes, including cecropin and diptericin. In mammals, NF-κB has been implicated in both lymphocyte differentiation and the acute-phase response. The finding that insect and mammalian immunity involve related transcription factors offers the promise that genetic studies in Drosophila might lead to the identification of novel components mediating mammalian immunity.
The ratio of ankle and arm arterial pressure as an independent predictor of mortality.

We carefully ascertained deaths for a cohort of 744 patients who had undergone noninvasive testing for lower extremity peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in a university affiliated, community hospital. Using a ratio of the ankle and brachial blood pressures (ABI) of less than 0.85 as the criteria, the relative risk (RR) for total mortality associated with PAD was 2.36 (95% CL = 1.60, 3.48) after adjusting for baseline covariates in a proportional hazards model. There was a strong trend for increasing risk with decreasing ABI (P less than 0.0001). Specific causes of death for which survival was directly related to the magnitude of ABI were myocardial infarctions, and deaths other than vascular disease and cancer. There was no relationship between ABI and the risk of mortality from cancer. The mortality experience of those with normal ABI was very similar to that of the general U.S. population (age adjusted RR = 1.14, 95% CL = 0.78, 1.61), whereas the risk for those with an ABI less than 0.4 was markedly elevated in comparison to the U.S. population (RR = 4.49, 95% CL = 3.52, 5.64). Our results suggest that the relatively technically simple measure of the ratio of ankle to brachial blood pressures, if low, carries a very poor prognosis and should prompt investigation and treatment of atherosclerotic disease in other vascular systems.
'Discipline Without Oppression': Sequence, Timing and Marginality in Southern Rhodesia's Post-War Development Regime

The regime of development in post-war Southern Rhodesia was organized around a naturalized racial axis that differentiated among African and European populations and devoted to reform four domains of rural life: the hygienic practice, the monogamous family, the land tenure and the agrarian techniques. An analysis of two adjacent African reserves in the north-west (Sanyati and Gokwe) illustrates the importance of the timing and sequence according to which regions were drawn into the prescriptive apparatus of the development regime. These lowlands were located in a region distinguished by the historical absence of competing claims by European settlers to land. Sanyati began to receive immigrants forcibly resettled from white farms, at a time when the coercive, hyper-rational model of development was reaching its apogee behind the passage of the Native Land Husbandry Act. A decade later, Gokwe received waves of the same immigrant population under conditions of greater administrative freedom. Targeting immigrants who had already internalized the discipline of development and styled themselves as modern, Gokwe's extension staff was able to institute a voluntary, cotton-based regime, one widely regarded as a model of African rural advancement.
Reference Groups and Criminal Careers

Abstract This manuscript seeks to refine the conceptual links between the principal constructs in reference group theory and those relevant to the analysis of criminal careers. Attention is given to reference group dynamics, situational propinquity, careers, roles, allocation of role status relations, status sequences, ego-attitudes, and self-involvements.
Minimal Shift Counters and Frequency Division

The objective of this paper is to adapt minimal shift counters to frequency division and other applications that require only an indication that a counter has gone through a complete cycle. These applications place no requirement on the coding of the states in the cycle. The indication that a counter has completed a cycle is implemented with a minimum-fan-in AND gate to preserve the high speed and small area that distinguish minimal shift counters.
GOVERNMENT PRODUCTIVITY, EFFECTIVENESS, AND PUBLIC POLICY

Marc Holzer and Stuart S. Nagel (editors). 1984. Productivity and Public Policy. George W. Downs and Patrick D. Larkey. 1986. The Search for Government Efficiency: From Hubris to Helplessness Elaine Morley. 1986. A Practitioner's Guide to Public Sector Productivity Improvement. Richard H. Silkman and Dennis R. Young with the assistance of Robert Lipp. 1985. Subsidizing Inefficiency: A Study of State Aid and Local Government Productivity.
The feeding mechanism of the oyster. I. On the pallium and the branchial chambers of Ostrea virginica, O. Edulis and O. Angulata, with comparisons with other species of the genus†

Separation of the mantle from the visceral mass on the right side in deeply cupped species of oyster provides a shorter channel for egress of water from the right demibranchs. Correlated with this change is reduction in size of the right epibranchial chamber beneath the adductor together with backward displacement of the adductor itself. This water passage, designated the promyal chamber, develops during the first week after attachment of the oyster larva. The greatest displacement of the adductor and the largest promyal chamber occur in O. frons. The mantle border shows three reduplications of which the innermost, the pallial curtain, controls the amount and the place of entrance and egress of water. The importance of pallial curtains and promyal chamber to survival in turbid waters is discussed; oysters with the promyal chamber have invaded the river mouths, the flat oysters without this chamber have remained in the clear waters of high salinity near the sea. The bearing of these factors on the disappearance of fossil oysters is considered. It is proposed to relate to the genus Ostrea all flat, larviparous oysters which lack the promyal chamber and to raise the subgenus Gryphaea to generic rank to include all deeply cupped oviparous oysters with the promyal chamber. Anatomical and histological features of the pallium and branchial chambers are considered in detail.
Diffusion and reaction in blocked and high occupancy zeolite catalysts

Abstract Diffusion in a ZSM-5 zeolite crystal is modeled as a simple random walk process in a finite, two-dimensional network of pores. Pore blocking is investigated as a model for catalyst modifications to enhance shape selectivity. The effects of random blocking of pores in the bulk of the crystal, or of pore entrances along the crystal border, are examined quantitatively. The behavior of effective intracrystalline diffusivity vs percentage of pores blocked is highly dependent on the blocking mode. A Monte-Carlo model for diffusion and reaction in a zeolite crystal is developed to study the effects of intracrystalline occupancy by gaseous molecules on the degree of diffusional effects on the reaction. For the simple isomerization A ag B, where species A and B have equal diffusivities, results obtained by Monte-Carlo simulation deviate from the predictions of a corresponding continuum approach in the region of high occupancies. This is due to the “finiteness” of the crystal, which is incorporated in the stochastic model, but not accounted for in the continuum approach.
Inducing the liver: Understanding the signals that promote murine liver budding

The endoderm emerges as an epithelial sheet that covers the surface of the developing murine embryo. This tissue will produce the entire gut tube as well as associated digestive and respiratory organs including the thyroid, thymus, lung, liver, and pancreas. The emergence of each endodermal organ occurs in a temporally distinct manner that is dependant upon reciprocal inductive interactions between the endoderm and the underlying mesoderm. The emergence of the hepatic endoderm, which occurs using a morphological process termed liver budding, initiates during early somitogenesis in the mouse at approximately 8.25 days post-coitum (dpc). Explant and transplant studies performed in chicken and mouse have demonstrated that secreted signals from adjacent mesodermal tissues initiate the hepatic gene program from ventral-fated endoderm. Here, we review the data in support of the roles of members of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF), bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), and Wnt signaling pathways in liver budding and discover that little is known about the precise endogenous signals involved in the molecular and morphological induction of liver budding in the mouse.
Evil Must Be Punished: Apocalyptic Religion in the Television Series Death Note

Death Note, a contemporary anime television series, tells the story of one student who kills thousands of criminals around the world in an effort to make the world a better place for those who are righteous. The series has enjoyed worldwide popularity, particularly in Japan and the United States. Upon examination, it is clear that the morality of Death Note is strongly influenced by apocalyptic religion. A common fixture of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, certain forms of apocalyptic religion emphasize God's judgment on the wicked. Apocalyptic religion has had a very real influence throughout history, especially in the United States. The series' enthusiasm for apocalypticism and the creators' ambivalence about the morality of the story are troubling and a potential cause for concern.
Using Critical Discourse Analysis for understanding knowledge construction in English pedagogy

This paper makes an attempt to make a better understanding of expert-teacher interactions through an examination of discursive practices by native English speaking ‘expert’ and English teachers from Asia. I analyzed ten online interaction events with an aim to scrutinize the construction of knowledge and expertise among in an unfolding interaction, and looked particularly into claims of expertise, participants’ positioning and identity in these virtual interactions, and any hierarchical differences in their discourses that result from the power differences between the ‘expert’ and the participating teachers. In order to analyze the data, I used the critical discourse analysis (CDA) framework and draw insights from critical pedagogy. The analysis shows that the ‘expert’, positioned as the authority of knowledge, suggested solutions to challenges that the teachers in different parts of world are facing, and also articulated his view of good pedagogical practices. The analysis also reveals that the expert’s pedagogical ideologies at times compete and contrast with those of the teachers. The study, therefore, questions the effectiveness of the taken-for-granted pedagogical theories and practices from the native English speaking professionals for the teachers in the periphery countries and suggests that teachers in the receiving end need to critically evaluate appropriateness of such pedagogical practices taking consideration of the local teaching/learning contexts. Bodhi: An Interdisciplinary Journal, 5, 2011, Page 53-79 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/bodhi.v5i1.8045
New Molecular-Based Routes to Binary Main Group Metal Sulfides

Abstract Metal thiolates of the general formula M(SR)2 (M=Pb, Zn, Cd) and Cl-Hg-SR (R=alkyl) have been prepared and characterized by IR and NMR spectroscopic techniques, TGA and, in selected cases, single crystal X-ray diffraction. The metal bis(thiolate) compounds can be converted into the related metal sulfides by thermolyses. The solid state materials have been characterized by XRPD, SEM and, in selected cases, by particle size determination. The volatile pyrolytic co-products have been isolated and characterized by GC/MS. The decomposition pathways of mercury chlorothiolates are more complicated and depend on the nature of the organic group present in Cl-Hg-SR.
Differences in Educational Level and Subject Matter Difficulty in the Use of Compressed Speech With Adult Military Students

In this study, academic lectures were delivered to control groups in a normal auditorium setting while experimental groups heard lectures on the same material compressed to about 250 words per minute. All students were U.S. Air Force personnel. Both officer and noncommissioned officer groups were subjected to treatment. Two separate academic lectures were employed and subsequent data were placed in a 3-way analysis of variance de sign. It is concluded that, for these data, there are no significant differences attributable to treatment (students learn equally well from either mode). Significant effects are found with respect to military rank (officers being more successful than NCO's). There is an interaction between rank and subject matter and a more complex interaction among treatment, rank and subject matter.
Racial Diversity, Racial Asymmetries, and Team Learning Environment: Effects on Performance:

This paper argues that learning in cross-race interactions is critical for work teams to realize performance benefits from racial diversity but that diversity is a liability when society’s negative stereotypes about racial minorities’ competence inhibit such interactions. We analyze two years of data from 496 retail bank branches to investigate racial asymmetries in the dynamics of team learning and their impact on the link between diversity and bottom-line performance. As expected, minorities’ negative assessments of their team’s learning environment precipitate a negative relationship between diversity and performance, irrespective of White teammates’ assessments; only when both groups view the team’s learning environment as supportive—implying that the team has successfully countered the negative effects of societal stereotypes on cross-race learning—is the relationship positive. We conclude that acknowledging the impact of societal asymmetries between racial groups, especially in regard to learning, c...
Intestinal Bacteria and the Regulation of Immune Cell Homeostasis

The human intestine is colonized by an estimated 100 trillion bacteria. Some of these bacteria are essential for normal physiology, whereas others have been implicated in the pathogenesis of multiple inflammatory diseases including IBD and asthma. This review examines the influence of signals from intestinal bacteria on the homeostasis of the mammalian immune system in the context of health and disease. We review the bacterial composition of the mammalian intestine, known bacterial-derived immunoregulatory molecules, and the mammalian innate immune receptors that recognize them. We discuss the influence of bacterial-derived signals on immune cell function and the mechanisms by which these signals modulate the development and progression of inflammatory disease. We conclude with an examination of successes and future challenges in using bacterial communities or their products in the prevention or treatment of human disease.
A 44 GHz single-Feed Fabry-Pérot Cavity antenna designed and fabricated on quartz

In this paper, a design of Fabry-Perot Cavity antenna at millimiter-waves frequencies is investigated. Four Fabry-Perot cavity antennas, covered by different Frequency Selective Surfaces, are discussed which are fabricated on a Quartz disk to guarantee mechanical stability and also for ease of fabrication, probing and measurement. A planar feed, a slot dipole fed by a coplanar waveguide, is also designed to excite the cavities. Prototypes have been designed and fabricated at central frequencies in frequency range of 42 to 46 GHz with various gains; however the same design can be adopted at higher frequencies. Full-wave simulations, done by Ansys HFSS, are verified with measurement results.
A 360-Channel Speech Preprocessor that Emulates the Cochlear Amplifier

A cochlea-based preprocessor for speech recognition emulates the fluid ducts with two 4680-element diffusive grids, the basilar membrane with 360 2nd-order sections, and the auditory nerve with 2160 pulse-frequency modulators. Integrated in 10.9mm2in 0.25mum CMOS and consuming 52mW, this silicon cochlea employs active bidirectional coupling, a selective amplification mechanism that sharpens tuning (Q10 is 2.7) and controls gain (24dB compression)
Gregory Bateson and the mathematicians: from interdisciplinary interaction to societal functions.

An instance of fruitful cross-disciplinary contacts is examined in detail. The ideas involved include (1) the double-bind hypothesis for schizophrenia, (2) the critique of game theory from the viewpoint of anthropology and psychiatry, and (3) the application of concepts of communication theory and theory of logical types to an interpretation of psychoanalytic practice. The protagonists of the interchange are Gregory Bateson and the two mathematicians Norbert Wiener and John von Neuman; the date, March 1946. This interchange and its sequels are described. While the interchanges between Bateson and Wiener were fruitful, those between Bateson and von Neumann were much less so. The latter two held conflicting premises concerning what is significant in science; Bateson's and Wiener's were compatible. In 1946, Wiener suggested that information and communication might be appropriate central concepts for psychoanalytic theory – a vague general idea which Bateson (with Ruesch) related to contemporary clinical practice. For Bateson, Wiener, and von Neumann, the cross-disciplinary interactions foreshadowed a shift in activities and new roles in society, to which the post-World War II period was conducive. Von Neumann became a high-level government advisor; Wiener, an interpreter of science and technology for the general public; and Bateson, a counter-culture figure.
Depressive symptoms, vascular risk factors, and Alzheimer's disease.

Background Depressive symptoms in the elderly are associated with an increased Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk. We sought to determine whether the association between depressive symptoms and AD is explained by a history of vascular risk factors and stroke. Methods Five hundred and twenty-six elderly persons from New York City without dementia at baseline were followed for a mean of 5 years. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM). Incident AD was ascertained using standard criteria. Diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, current smoking and stroke were ascertained by self-report. Proportional hazards regression was used to relate HAM scores to incident AD. Results HAM scores were higher in persons with hypertension, heart disease, and stroke, which in turn were related to higher AD risk. AD risk increased with increasing HAM scores as a continuous logarithmically transformed variable (HR for one point increase = 1.4; 95% CI = 1.1,1.8) and as a categorical variable (HR for HAM ≥ 10 = 3.4; 95% CI = 1.5,8.1; p for trend = 0.004 with HAM = 0 as the reference). These results were virtually unchanged after adjustment for vascular risk factors and stroke, individually (HR for HAM ≥ 10 = 3.4; 95% CI = 1.5,8.1; p for trend = 0.004), and in a composite measure (HR for HAM ≥ 10 = 3.0; 95% CI = 1.2,7.8; p for trend = 0.02). Conclusion The prospective relation between depressive symptoms and AD is not explained by a history of vascular risk factors and stroke, suggesting that other mechanisms may account for this association. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Political impediments to a tobacco endgame

Any serious consideration of exploring a tobacco endgame in the USA must build upon the enviable track record of reducing tobacco use through a mixture of federal and state policies. This foundation may pose particular challenges in approaching an endgame, including questions of national political feasibility, public support, limitations of sub-federal experimentation and recruitment of future political champions. Advocates must demonstrate a compelling need for a dramatic expansion beyond existing efforts, amid competition from alternative issues and little apparent public appetite for such an initiative.
The 'gentle touch' technique in the treatment of gastroschisis.

Abstract Purpose The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of gravity reduction of the intestines in newborns with gastroschisis. Methods Throughout the calendar year 2001, all newborns with gastroschisis were prospectively treated by means of an established clinical pathway protocol. Silon insertion and all subsequent therapies were performed in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) No physical compression of the bowel nor stretching of the abdominal wall was done, and bowel reduction was entirely passive, accomplished by the force of gravity. Demographic data along with time to abdominal wall closure, ileus resolution, and cessation of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) all were recorded. Results Sixteen babies were treated using the established pathway without prenatal selection or postnatal rejection. There were 10 boys and 6 girls. The mean maternal age was 18.5 years. Seventy-five percent of the mothers were Hispanics. Mean time to Silon removal was 5.5 days, initiation of enteric feeding was 16 days and TPN cessation 23 days. There were no significant complications in this group nor was there any mortality. Conclusions Gravity reduction of the intestines in babies with gastroschisis is most gentle and effective. Blood flow compromise, mechanical injuries of the exposed bowel, or abdominal compartment syndrome thus were averted. The outcome analysis favorably compares this method with reported series.
Electrocardiographic Study of Round Heart Disease in Turkey Poults

Abstract INTRODUCTION ROUND heart disease (RH) in turkeys affects primarily young poults, and has been described by several workers (Hunsaker, 1969; Jankus and Good, 1970; Jordan et al., 1968; Magwood and Bray, 1962; Mc Capes, 1963–64; Sautter et al., 1968). Its possible occurrence in adult turkeys was suggested by the deaths of breeder toms at the time of mating and the finding of an enlarged heart at autopsy Blakely (1964). In order to study the disease it was necessary to develop a screening method to identify affected poults prior to death. Because the disease is characterized by an enlarged heart (Sautter et al., 1968), it was assumed that the electrocardiogram (ECG) and vectorelectrocardiographic (VCG) data should identify this grossly abnormal feature. Since there is little information in the literature on the ECG and VCG of turkeys, it was necessary to establish control values as well as the parameters to be…
THE PHOTOTROPIC MECHANISM IN RANATRA

Definite proof is obtained that in the phototropic orientation of Ranatra the relative postures of the appendages, resulting in a bilateral difference of effective stroke in swimming, is the mechanism of orientation; the frequency of locomotor movements is the same on the two sides of the body.
Renewables: A Key Component of Our Global Energy Future

Inclusion of renewable energy sources in national and international energy strategies is a key component of a viable global energy future. The global energy balance is going to shift radically in the near future brought about by significant increases in population in China and India, and increases in the energy intensity of developing countries. To better understand the consequences of such global shifts in energy requirements and to develop appropriate energy strategies to respond to these shifts, we need to look at the factors driving choices among supply options by geopolitical consumers and the impact these factors can have on the future energy mix.
Protein kinases A and C regulate receptor-mediated increases in cAMP in rabbit erythrocytes

Activation of the β-adrenergic receptor (β-AR) or the prostacyclin receptor (IPR) results in increases in cAMP and ATP release from erythrocytes. cAMP levels depend on a balance between synthesis via adenylyl cyclase and hydrolysis by phosphodiesterases (PDEs). Previously, we reported that cAMP increases associated with activation of the β-AR and IPR in rabbit and human erythrocytes are tightly regulated by distinct PDEs (1). Importantly, inhibitors of these PDEs potentiated both increases in cAMP and ATP release. It has been shown that increases in protein kinase (PK) activity can activate PDE3 and PDE4. Both PKA and PKC are present in the erythrocyte and can phosphorylate and activate these PDEs. Here we investigate the hypothesis that PKA regulates PDE activity associated with the β-AR and both PKA and PKC regulate the PDE activity associated with the IPR in rabbit erythrocytes. Pretreatment of erythrocytes with the PKA inhibitor, H89 (10 μM), in the presence of the PDE4 inhibitor, rolipram (10 μM), augmented isoproterenol (1 μM)-induced cAMP increases. In contrast, in the presence of the PDE3 inhibitor, cilostazol (10 μM), pretreatment of erythrocytes with either H89 (1 μM) or two chemically dissimilar inhibitors of PKC, calphostin C (1 μM) or GFX109203X (1 μM), potentiated iloprost (1 μM)-induced cAMP increases. Furthermore, pretreatment of erythrocytes with both H89 and GFX109203X in the presence of cilostazol augmented the iloprost-induced increases in cAMP to a greater extent than either PK inhibitor individually. These results support the hypothesis that PDEs associated with receptor-mediated increases in cAMP in rabbit erythrocytes are regulated by kinases specific to the receptor's signaling pathway.
Nitric Oxide Synthase Isotype Expression in Salt-Sensitive and Salt-Resistant Dahl Rats

Previous studies have suggested that salt-sensitive hypertension in humans and experimental animals may in part be due to dysregulation of the L-arginine/nitric oxide system. This study was conducted to determine the endothelial, inducible, and neuronal nitric oxide synthase expressions in the kidney, heart, aorta, and brain of salt-sensitive and salt-resistant Dahl rats. We studied salt-sensitive and salt-resistant Dahl rats maintained on high- (8%) and regular- (0.2%) salt diets for 3 weeks. Blood pressure was modestly elevated in both Dahl salt-sensitive and salt-resistant rats consuming regular diet and severely increased in sensitive but not resistant rats consuming the high-salt diet. The Dahl salt-sensitive animals showed a significant reduction in kidney, heart, and aorta inducible nitric oxide synthase protein abundance on the regular diet, with further reductions on the high-salt diet. In addition, the high-salt diet markedly downregulated endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression in the kidney and aorta but not in the heart of the Dahl salt-sensitive animals. The rise in blood pressure in the Dahl salt-sensitive rats on the high-salt diet was accompanied by a significant elevation of brain neuronal nitric oxide synthase protein. In contrast, salt-resistant animals showed no change in heart, kidney, and aorta endothelial or brain neuronal nitric oxide synthase and considerably less intense changes in inducible isotype than that seen in the salt-sensitive group in response to the high-salt diet. In conclusion, the study revealed a marked downregulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase in the Dahl salt-sensitive rats on the regular diet, with further reductions on the high-salt diet. Furthermore, Dahl salt-sensitive rats consuming the high-salt diet showed significant reductions of kidney and aorta endothelial nitric oxide synthase and an upregulation of brain neuronal nitric oxide synthase expression.
Roles of α1- and α2-Adrenoceptors in the Nucleus Raphe Magnus in Opioid Analgesia and Opioid Abstinence-Induced Hyperalgesia

Noradrenaline and α-adrenoceptors have been implicated in the modulation of pain in various behavioral conditions. Noradrenergic neurons and synaptic inputs are present in neuronal circuits critical for pain modulation, but their actions on neurons in those circuits and consequently the mechanisms underlying noradrenergic modulation of pain remain unclear. In this study, both recordings in vitro and behavioral analyses in vivo were used to examine cellular and behavioral actions mediated by α 1 - and α 2 -adrenoceptors on neurons in the nucleus raphe magnus. We found that α 1 - and α 2 -receptors were colocalized in the majority of a class of neurons (primary cells) that inhibit spinal pain transmission and are excited during opioid analgesia. Activation of the α 1 -receptor depolarized whereas α 2 -receptor activation hyperpolarized these neurons through a decrease and an increase, respectively, in potassium conductance. Blockade of the excitatory α 1 -receptor or activation of the inhibitory α 2 -receptor significantly attenuated the analgesia induced by local opioid application, suggesting that α 1 -receptor-mediated synaptic inputs in these primary cells contribute to their excitation during opioid analgesia. In the other cell class (secondary cells) that is thought to facilitate spinal nociception and is inhibited by analgesic opioids, only α 1 -receptors were present. Blocking the α 1 -receptor in these cells significantly reduced the hyperalgesia (increased pain) induced by opioid abstinence. Thus, state-dependent activation of α 1 -mediated synaptic inputs onto functionally distinct populations of medullary pain-modulating neurons contributes to opioid-induced analgesia and opioid withdrawal-induced hyperalgesia.
First record of an egg parasitoid for the North American proconiine sharpshooter Paraulacizes irrorata (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), with notes on rearing techniques.

Interest in the natural enemies of proconiine sharpshooters (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Cicadellinae: Proconiini) has increased since the accidental introduction and subsequent establishment of the glassy-winged sharpshooter, Homalodisca coagulata (Say), in California, Tahiti, Hawaii, and most recently Arizona. Previous surveys of egg parasitoids of proconiine sharpshooters from Florida indicated several species in the families Mymaridae (primarily Gonatocerus spp.) and Trichogrammatidae (Hymenoptera) (Triapitsyn et al. 1998; Triapitsyn & Hoddle 2001; Triapitsyn et al. 2002; Triapitsyn 2003; Tipping et al. 2005). However, no egg parasitoids have been reported to attack the eggs of the common proconiine sharpshooter Paraulacizes irrorata (Fabricius). This species has a distribution that includes central, northeastern and southeastern USA as well as northern Mexico (Young 1968). The eggs of P. irrorata are deposited in masses into woody twigs and stems as well as the hardened petioles of a great variety of plant species. This method of oviposition results in great difficulty for researchers to find and identify egg masses in the field. Additionally, this species does not apply brochosomes to the site of oviposition. Other North American proconiine sharpshooter species, particularly those in the genera Homalodisca Stal and Oncometopia Stal, often powder oviposition sites with highly visible brochosomes.
Thermodynamics and Proton Transport in Nafion: II. Proton Diffusion Mechanisms and Conductivity

A comprehensive pore transport model is proposed to describe proton diffusion within Nafion at various hydration levels by incorporating effects of water uptake and various proton transport mechanisms, namely, proton hopping along surface, Grotthuss diffusion, and ordinary mass diffusion of hydronium ions. The diffusion coefficients are predicted within a general random walk framework. The proton conductivity in contact with water vapor is accurately predicted as a function of relative humidity without any fitted parameters, considering the sorption isotherm proposed in the companion paper (Part I). A maximum conductivity in contact with liquid water is also predicted by the model for equivalent weight between 900 and 1000, in good agreement with the experimental measurements. The modeling framework could be extended to other proton conducting electrolytes for fuel cell applications. © 2005 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.
Pension coverage in Latin America : trends and determinants

This document presents an analysis of pension coverage trends in Latin America for the past decades. Its preparation involved the collection, revision, and processing of household surveys in over 18 countries in the region, spanning a period of almost 40 years in some cases. The main goal of this document is to offer comparable data on pension coverage among the economically active population and the elderly, considering the relevance of several demographic, social, and economic variables on these coverage levels. By producing this large and comparable regional dataset, the document supports the discussion of several stylized facts on pension coverage in Latin America. The results show that coverage among active workers is low in most countries, although there has been a relative improvement since the early 1990s. The situation is still distressing among workers in the primary sector or employed by small enterprises as well as for women, primarily because of their persistent lower rates of labor market participation. In recent years coverage of some of the most vulnerable groups has increased, but it still presents very low rates. Among the elderly, regional averages have been very stable since the early 1990s, although this average hides important differences among countries.
Reproductive biology and development of Lixadmontia franki (Diptera: Tachinidae), a parasitoid of bromeliad-eating weevils

Abstract The biology and development of Lixadmontia franki Wood and Cave (Diptera: Tachinidae), an endoparasitoid of bromeliad-eating weevils in the genus Metamasius, are described. Embryonic development is completed within 8 d post-mating while the egg is held inside the female reproductive system. Neonate larvae actively search for a host and initiate parasitism by penetrating the host’s cuticle. Larval developmental time and pupation at 20°C averaged 17 and 25 d, respectively, with no significant differences observed between genders. Adult males live on average 9 d compared to 17 d for females. Females are capable of parasitizing third to sixth instars of Metamasius quadrilineatus Chevrolat, but the highest levels of parasitism were observed when third and fourth instars were exposed to flies.
Functional MR in the evaluation of dementia: correlation of abnormal dynamic cerebral blood volume measurements with changes in cerebral metabolism on positron emission tomography with fludeoxyglucose F 18.

PURPOSE To determine whether magnetic susceptibility functional MR imaging of cerebral blood volumes provides information similar to fludeoxyglucose F 18 positron emission tomography (PET) brain images in patients undergoing evaluation for dementia. METHODS Ten subjects were studied with both PET and functional MR. Clinical diagnoses included probable Alzheimer disease (n = 5), possible Alzheimer disease (n = 1), Pick disease (n = 2), and primary progressive aphasia (n = 2). The studies were quantitatively evaluated by coregistration of PET and functional MR images followed by regression analyses of corresponding regions of interest. Qualitatively, each brain was categorized into eight regions, and each was classified as normal or abnormal by visual inspection. RESULTS Correlation coefficients between registered functional MR and PET images were excellent (mean, r = 0.58) in most of the cerebrum. Significant correlations were observed in 72 of 74 brain sections. Qualitatively, 16 brain regions were judged to be abnormal by both MR imaging and PET; 46 regions were normal by both; 10 regions were abnormal by PET only; and 8 regions were abnormal only by functional MR. The concordance between functional MR and PET was 78%, which was highly significant. CONCLUSION Cerebral blood volumes images derived from magnetic susceptibility (functional MR) provide information similar to fludeoxyglucose F 18 PET images in demented patients undergoing evaluation for dementia.
Ellet's Contribution to the Development of Suspension Bridges

The United States has become pre-eminent in the field of long-span wire suspension bridges. The development of this unique mode of construction in this country can be traced to the pioneering efforts of Charles Ellet, Jr. Ellet may rightfully be considered to be the father of the modern American suspension bridge because he introduced and promoted the principles and design features of the wire suspension bridge in America; he successfully completed the first major wire suspension bridge in the United States in 1841; he designed and constructed the Wheeling Suspension Bridge, which was for many years the longest bridge in the world. Through his many publications, he established all of the principles of analysis, design, and construction necessary to build long-span suspension bridges.
MUCOSAL INHERENT ACTIVITY PATTERNS IN THE RAT : EVIDENCE FROM VOLTAGE-SENSITIVE DYES

1. Fluorescence changes in the dye di-4-ANEPPS were monitored on the rat's nasal septum and medial surface of the turbinates in response to odorant stimuli. For each mucosal surface a 6.0 x 6.0-mm area was sampled at 100 contiguous sites with a 10 x 10 photodiode array. The odorants were propyl acetate, 2-propanol, citral, L-carvone and ethylacetoacetate, each presented at a low and high concentration. 2. Like previous work using optical recording techniques and potential-sensitive dyes on the amphibian epithelium, the fluorescence signals elicited by odorant stimuli in the rat preparation were nearly identical in shape, time course, and response characteristics as the electroolfactogram (EOG). As with the EOG, a response could only be recorded in the presence of odorant stimuli (that is, no response was detected when nonodorized, humidified air was presented as the stimulus); the amplitude depended on odorant concentration, and the response was abolished both by ether and Triton X-100. 3. Although the entire expanse of each sampled tissue (i.e., septum and medial surface of the turbinates) responded to stimulation with each odorant, each stimulus induced a distinct spatial pattern of activity that was independent of odorant concentration and consistent from animal to animal. Furthermore, the spatial activity patterns recorded for the septum were mirror images of those recorded from the medial surface of the turbinates. 4. Formal statistical analysis of the loci of maximal activity or "hot spot" indicated highly significant effects of the odorants for both the septum and medial surface of the turbinates. 5. The results of these studies give further support to the hypothesis that odorant quality is encoded by differential spatial activity patterns in the olfactory epithelium that are characteristic of different odorants.
Modeling Tumor Clonal Evolution for Drug Combinations Design.

Cancer is a clonal evolutionary process. This presents challenges for effective therapeutic intervention, given the constant selective pressure toward drug resistance. Mathematical modeling from population genetics, evolutionary dynamics, and engineering perspectives are being increasingly employed to study tumor progression, intratumoral heterogeneity, drug resistance, and rational drug scheduling and combinations design. In this review we discuss the promising opportunities that these interdisciplinary approaches hold for advances in cancer biology and treatment. We propose that quantitative modeling perspectives can complement emerging experimental technologies to facilitate enhanced understanding of disease progression and improved capabilities for therapeutic drug regimen designs.
Abstract MS2-1: Trends in the Local Treatment of Breast Cancer

The objective of this presentation is to evaluate recent patterns in the local treatment of breast cancer in the United States. We will concentrate on 3 specific trends: 1) mastectomy/breast-conserving surgery (BCS) rates; 2) contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) rates; and 3) use of radiation therapy (RT) after BCS. Although some single-institutional studies have reported that mastectomy rates have recently increased, a recent population-based study reported that the rates of BCS have remained stable or slightly increased over the past decade in the United States. Both single-institutional and population-based studies have reported that CPM rates have markedly increased in recent years. On the other hand, unilateral mastectomy rates have decreased. Despite the potential benefit of RT after BCS, population-based studies indicate that an increasing number of women are not receiving RT after BCS, particularly high-risk women. These trends have important potential untoward consequences, including overtreatment for some patients and undertreatment for others. Several strategies are being developed to ensure adequate local therapy for breast cancer patients. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2010;70(24 Suppl):Abstract nr MS2-1.
Developing A Signal Processing Algorithm For A FMCW Radio Altimeter

Abstract Engineers analyze lots of data in order to design or debug a problem. Data that are represented in spreadsheets are useful for making a presentation that provides insights into a problem. However stochastic processes such as the variation in the shape of the radar return over time are difficult to analyze by only looking at static data or graphs produced from static data. Presenting data in creative formats such as multi-dimension plots and videos helps in understanding the complexities of the problem being presented. Developing a simulator of a system empowers data analysis and comprehension of underlying problems. In this paper we present our experience in understanding and developing a digital signal processing algorithm for a FMCW Radio Altimeter using a simulator.
A Proof of Concept Study to Detect Urease Producing Bacteria in Lungs Using Aerosolized 13C-Urea

This is a “proof of concept” study to determine whether inhalation of 13C-urea can be safely used to detect the presence of urease producing bacteria in the airways of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) by detecting 13CO2 in breath. This was a prospective, 2-part, open label, single-center, single-arm, single-administration, dose-escalation investigational device exemption trial. First, the safety of 20 and 50 mg inhaled 13C-urea was evaluated in 6 healthy adult participants. Then, 3 adult CF participants colonized with Pseudomonas aeruginosa were enrolled for each dose of inhaled 13C-urea. The safety of inhaled 13C-urea was assessed by spirometry and physical examination. 13C-urea was administered using a jet nebulizer, followed by serial spirometry (10 min and 30 min post inhalation) and collection of exhaled breath at 5, 10, and 15 min post inhalation. There was no clinical significant change in any of the spirometry values compared to baseline in healthy participants and CF patients. Mean of 13CO2/12C...
A Windowed Fourier Method for Approximation of Non-periodic Functions on Equispaced Nodes

A windowed Fourier method is proposed for approximation of non-periodic functions on equispaced nodes. Spectral convergence is obtained in most of the domain, except near the boundaries, where polynomial least-squares is used to correct the approximation. Because the method can be implemented using partition of unit and domain decomposition, it is suitable for adaptive and parallel implementations and large scale computations. Computations can be carried out using fast Fourier transforms. Comparisons with Fourier extension, rational interpolation and least-squares methods are presented.