cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development and Clinical Application of Pudendal Nerve Block Using A Peripheral Nerve Locator for Reproductive Surgery in Horses

Aims To develop, describe and evaluate clinical applicability of pudendal nerve block using a peripheral nerve locator. Methods In a pilot study, 6 ponies were used to determine the correlation between nerves serving the perineal region (namely pudendal, caudorectal and perineal nerves) and the muscle contractions observed when an electrolocation technique was used. After appropriate electrolocation a small volume of lidocaine/methylene blue solution was injected under general anaesthesia. The dye location relative to the specified nerves was examined after humane euthanasia followed by dissection of the relevant region. In a second experiment, 7 Thoroughbred horses were used to evaluate the appropriate volume of lidocaine solution for the nerve block. Lidocaine/methylene blue solution was injected after positive electrolocation immediately (5–40 min) after euthanasia. A stained segment of 2 cm or more of the nerve was deemed to be sufficient and was evaluated after dissection. Finally, evaluation of a bilateral pudendal nerve block was used to provide anaesthesia and analgesia in 10 clinical cases involving both mares and geldings. Results Anal twitch alone was associated with injection of the caudal rectal nerve, whereas combined twitch of the anus and perineum was required for reliable location and injection of the pudendal nerve. Injection was more accurate in standing rather than laterally recumbent horses. A volume of 10–20 ml bilaterally, reliably provided at least 60 min of clinical analgesia for perineal surgery. Procedures satisfactorily completed included; urethral extension and perineal body repair in mares and penile examination, removal of penile tumours and penile amputation in male patients. Conclusions and practical significance Pudendal nerve block is a practical and effective alternative to epidural analgesia for selected standing surgical procedures of the reproductive tract in male and female horses. Ethical animal research The Cornell University Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee approved the project and informed client consent was obtained. Sources of funding: None. Competing interests: None.
A Dynamic Perspective on the Physiological Cost of Reproduction in Plants

The physiological cost of reproduction was investigated in a perennial plant species, Sidalcea oregana ssp. spicata. Two different classes of estimates of current reproductive investment were compared, with the goal of identifying the most powerful predictor of future reproductive effort. "Static" estimates, those typically used to measure current reproductive investment (i.e., biomass or nutrients allocated to reproduction), neglect the physiological processes that influence actual reproductive expenditure. Conversely, "dynamic" estimates that incorporate reproductive photosynthesis or respiration, nectar production, or reproductive nutrient resorption offer a more accurate assessment of current reproductive investment. I assessed the potential for nutrient resorption from senescing reproductive structures to mitigate the cost of reproduction. Significant proportions of nitrogen and phosphorus were resorbed from floral structures, but structures differed in resorption potential and efficiency. Moreover, ...
Valuations on Orlicz spaces and L φ -star sets

In A. Tsang (2010) [21], a representation theorem was established for continuous valuations on L^p-spaces whose underlying measure is non-atomic. In this paper, we generalize the results of A. Tsang (2010) [21] to Orlicz spaces, L^@f. We also show that the results of D. Klain (1997) [6] can be extended to L^@f-star valuations.
Numerical analysis of base flowfield at high altitude for a four-engine clustered nozzle configuration

The objective of this study is to benchmark a four-engine clustered nozzle base flowfield with a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model. The CFD model is a pressure based, viscous flow formulation. An adaptive upwind scheme is employed for the spatial discretization. The upwind scheme is based on second and fourth order central differencing with adaptive artificial dissipation. Qualitative base flow features such as the reverse jet, wall jet, recompression shock, and plume-plume impingement have been captured. The computed quantitative flow properties such as the radial base pressure distribution, model centerline Mach number and static pressure variation, and base pressure characteristic curve agreed reasonably well with those of the measurement. Parametric study on the effect of grid resolution, turbulence model, inlet boundary condition and difference scheme on convective terms has been performed. The results showed that grid resolution and turbulence model are two primary factors that influence the accuracy of the base flowfield prediction.
Brainstorming an audit

Auditors are now required to conduct brainstorming sessions, as mandated in Statement on Auditing Standards (SAS) No. 99 and SAS No. 109. The goal is for audit team members to generate ideas about how and where fraud might be occurring—and how to detect it. But how do you conduct an effective brainstorming session? The author explores that question, suggests ways to customize the process, and offers questions auditors should address. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Cross-talk analysis for optical backplane using two-dimensional beam array from VCSEL and microlens array

The design and experimental characterization of the substrate-mode guided wave optical backplane using 0.5mm, 0.75mm and 1mm pitch 2D optical beam array are described. The system sues arrays of multiplexed holograms to implement board to board interconnects and employs 250micrometers pitch 2D vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers and microlens array as transmitter to provide 0.5mm to 1mm pitch 2D beam array, operating at 850nm. By comparing the optical beam properties at the detector plane including the spot size and power uniformity of optical beam array, as well as signal to noise ratio, the acceptable design parameters are justified. Furthermore, the improvement of throughput that can be achieved by 1D and 2D crosstalk analysis within the same design concept is presented. The results of crosstalk analysis obtained here are used for application to the standard five-board holographic optical backplane system.
Sleep problems in children with common medical disorders

Sleep problems are common in many pediatric medical disorders and complicate management and patient outcomes. A wide range of conditions, including asthma, cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, gastroesophageal reflux, neuromuscular diseases, scoliosis, craniofacial abnormalities, obesity, and chromosomal disorders, have various sleep disturbances, including sleep-disordered breathing, ventilatory dysfunction, sleep-onset and sleep maintenance problems, and circadian rhythm disturbances. Given the adverse neurocognitive and physiologic outcomes associated with a deranged night's sleep, it is important for pediatricians to be able to anticipate, recognize, and appropriately manage these problems. This article reviews the known sleep-related problems of a few relatively common pediatric disorders.
Fluorescence of Optical Materials Stimulated by ArF Laser Radiation at 193 nm

The fluorescence spectra of four optical materials (S1-UV quartz, UV grade sapphire, MgF2, and BaF2) have been recorded using ArF laser radiation at 193 nm (6.4 eV) as an excitation source. The time-resolved fluorescence intensities have also been measured at several wavelengths using a transient digitizer with 2 ns resolution. All of the materials exhibit a fast fluorescence which follows the exciting laser pulse and has a lifetime τR < 7 ± 2 ns. This fast fluorescence is present as a broad continum from 200 to 1000 nm with maxima in the UV and the IR. In addition, there are fluorescence components with longer lifetimes which are characteristic of the individual materials. The results suggest further opportunities for study of optical materials using ArF lasers and indicate an area of caution to be exercised by experimentalists employing ArF lasers for excitation experiments.
Response of Wegener's granulomatosis to anti-CD20 chimeric monoclonal antibody therapy

We report on the successful, compassionate use of the anti-CD20 chimeric monoclonal antibody rituximab in a patient with chronic, relapsing cytoplasmic antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (cANCA)-associated Wegener's granulomatosis (WG). The patient initially responded to treatment with glucocorticoids and cyclophosphamide. However, bone marrow toxicity during cyclophosphamide treatment of a relapse precluded its further use. Azathioprine and mycophenolate mofetil treatment had failed to maintain remission of the WG, and methotrexate was contraindicated. Because the patient's 5-year course was characterized by close correlation of cANCA levels with disease activity, selective elimination of cANCA was deemed a treatment option for his latest relapse. He was given 4 infusions of 375 mg/M2 of rituximab and high-dose glucocorticoids. Complete remission was associated with the disappearance of B lymphocytes and cANCA. Glucocorticoid treatment was then discontinued. After 11 months, the cANCA recurred, and rituximab therapy was repeated, without glucocorticoids. At 8 months after the second course of rituximab (18 months after the first course), the patient's WG has remained in complete remission. Elimination of B cells by rituximab therapy may prove to be an effective and safe new treatment modality for ANCA-associated vasculitis and possibly other autoimmune diseases. This modality warrants closer examination in a carefully conducted clinical trial.
It stands on its head: Commodity fetishism, consumer activism, and the strategic use of fantasy

This essay looks at the ways in which consumer activists have grappled with the particular and peculiar nature of the commodity, first outlined by Karl Marx in Capital. Given the phantasmagoric nature of the commodity, it makes sense that consumer activists have often made fantasy the focus of their attack, employing a strategy which might be called de-fetishizing the commodity. This sort of consumer activist strategy has traditionally been employed in two ways: the Revelatory and the Restorative, revealing the ‘true history’ of the commodity and attempting to restore a non-alienated relationship between consumers and commodities. In more recent times, however, consumer activists such as Yes Men, Reverend Billy, and others have embraced a new strategy. This form of activism does not reject the fantasy element at the core of the commodity, but instead embraces it and makes it transparent: a dream that presents itself as a dream. Via a route through the commodity fetish itself, these activists have devised ...
Absorption, distribution, and excretion of 1, 1-dimethylhydrazine (UDMH).

Abstract The absorption, distribution, and excretion of 1,1-dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) have been studied in rats, rabbits, cats, dogs, and monkeys by use of C 14 -tracer and colorimetric methods. UDMH was rapidly absorbed into the blood regardless of route of administration and was also quite rapidly excreted by the kidneys as evidenced by early high concentrations in both blood and urine. Simultaneous tracer and colorimetric studies indicated that 30–50% of the compound was excreted in its unchanged form in the urine of hydrated cats and dogs in 5 hours. Tracer experiments have shown that UDMH is not preferentially concentrated in the vital organs of the body. Peak concentrations of UDMH in blood are found in 15–60 minutes after injection. The compound was not detectable in the blood of any species after doses of less than 10 mg/kg. Wide variations in individual levels of UDMH in blood with respect to dose and time made it extremely difficult to predict accurately the extent of exposure by examination of blood concentration. The most sensitive indication of exposure to UDMH was the presence of the compound in the urine. Urinary concentrations were found at dose levels which did not produce detectable blood concentrations. The relationships of UDMH blood and urine levels and their correlations with symptomatology have been discussed.
First decade of Organizational Research Methods: Trends in design, measurement, and data-analysis topics.

The authors conducted a content analysis of the 193 articles published in the first 10 volumes (1998 to 2007) of Organizational Research Methods (ORM). The most popular quantitative topics are surv...
Mental addition: a test of three verification models

Three explanations of adults’ mental addition performance, a counting-based model, a direct-access model with a backup counting procedure, and a network retrieval model, were tested. Whereas important predictions of the two counting models were not upheld, reaction times (RTs) to simple addition problems were consistent with the network retrieval model. RT both increased with problem size and was progressively attenuated to false stimuli as the split (numerical difference between the false and correct sums increased. For large problems, the extreme level of split (13) yielded an RT advantage for false over true problems, suggestive of a global evaluation process operating in parallel with retrieval. RTs to the more complex addition problems in Experiment 2 exhibited a similar pattern of significance and, in regression analyses, demonstrated that complex addition (e.g., 14+12=26) involves retrieval of the simple addition components (4+2=6). The network retrieval/decision model is discussed in terms of its fit to the present data, and predictions concerning priming facilitation and inhibition are specified. The similarities between mental arithmetic results and the areas of semantic memory and mental comparisons indicate both the usefulness of the network approach to mental arithmetic and the usefulness of mental arithmetic to cognitive psychology.
Further studies of the effects of intravenous infusion or intramuscular injection of gonadotropin-releasing hormone during childhood and adolescence.

To provide data on the readily releasable pools of pituitary gonadotropins and to compare routes of administration, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (Gn-RH, 100 μ g) was administered to 135 endocrinologically normal children and adolescents by continuous intravenous 3-hour infusion or by acute intramuscular injection. The Gn-RH infusion resulted in a significant four- and sevenfold increase in serum luteinizing hormone (LH) values in prepubertal subjects and pubertal males, respectively. A 14-fold increment, biphasic in appearance, occurred in pubertal females. Gn-RH-induced serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) increases were greater in females than in males. Following intramuscular injection of Gn-RH, a monophasic increment of serum LH and FSH occurred. LH rises were greater in pubertal than in prepubertal children and greater in females than in males. FSH increments were greater in females than in males, prepubertal being slightly greater than pubertal. Urinary gonadotropin excretion mirrored the changes in the serum samples. These results in the largest reported group of normal children generally confirm those of previous reports except for the greater Gn-RH-evoked releasable LH in pubertal females than in males.
Patterns of recurrence and second primary lung cancer in early-stage lung cancer survivors followed with routine computed tomography surveillance.

Objective At present, there is no consensus on the optimal strategy for follow-up care after curative resection for lung cancer. We sought to understand the patterns of recurrence and second primary lung cancer, and their mode of detection, after resection for early-stage non–small cell lung cancer in patients who were followed by routine surveillance computed tomography scan. Methods We reviewed the outcomes of consecutive patients who underwent resection for early-stage non–small cell lung cancer at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center between 2004 and 2009. Results A total of 1294 consecutive patients with early-stage non–small cell lung cancer underwent resection. The median length of follow-up was 35 months. Recurrence was diagnosed in 257 patients (20%), and second primary lung cancer was diagnosed in 91 patients (7%). The majority of new primary cancers (85 [93%]) were identified by scheduled routine computed tomography scan, as were a smaller majority of recurrences (157 [61%]). During the first 4 years after surgery, the risk of recurrence ranged from 6% to 10% per person-year but decreased thereafter to 2%. Conversely, the risk of second primary lung cancer ranged from 3% to 6% per person-year and did not diminish over time. Additional testing after false-positive surveillance computed tomography scan results was performed for 329 patients (25%), but only 4 of these patients (0.3%) experienced complications as a result of subsequent invasive diagnostic procedures. Conclusions Almost all second primary cancers and the majority of recurrences were detected by post-therapeutic surveillance computed tomography scan. The risk of recurrence for early-stage non–small cell lung cancer survivors persisted during the first 4 years after resection, and vigilance in surveillance should be maintained.
Dimers on square lattices: Orientation dependent activities

Past studies of a mixture of non-overlapping rigid polymers distributed on square lattices were limited to polymers having the same activity regardless of orientation. Here, we address the problem of a single species, dimers, possessing different activities depending on their orientation, in the absence of both dimer-dimer and dimer-lattice interaction energies. The lattices considered consist of two, three, four and five infinite strips of equally spaced lattice sites (M=2, 3, 4, and 5). We propose an improved approximation technique for the study of the statistics of this system of dimers distributed on the infinite two-dimensional lattice (M=∞).
Acute cadmium toxicity studies upon nine species of aquatic insects.

Abstract Continuous-flow bioassays were employed to determine 96-hour median tolerance limits (TLm), for the stonefly, Pteronarcella badia (Hagen) (TLm was 18.0 mg Cd/l) and the mayfly, Ephemerella grandis grandis Eaton (TLm was 28.0 mg Cd/l). Ninety-six hours TLm values for other species of aquatic insects tested were not determined, since these species were relatively insensitive to cadmium. Insects exposed for four days in cadmium-containing water, then placed in tap water, show a linear rate of cadmium loss. This loss may lower or prevent mortality under ideal conditions.
Influence of lateral and top boundary conditions on regional air quality prediction: A multiscale study coupling regional and global chemical transport models

[1] The sensitivity of regional air quality model to various lateral and top boundary conditions is studied at 2 scales: a 60 km domain covering the whole USA and a 12 km domain over northeastern USA. Three global models (MOZART-NCAR, MOZART-GFDL and RAQMS) are used to drive the STEM-2K3 regional model with time-varied lateral and top boundary conditions (BCs). The regional simulations with different global BCs are examined using ICARTT aircraft measurements performed in the summer of 2004, and the simulations are shown to be sensitive to the boundary conditions from the global models, especially for relatively long-lived species, like CO and O3. Differences in the mean CO concentrations from three different global-model boundary conditions are as large as 40 ppbv, and the effects of the BCs on CO are shown to be important throughout the troposphere, even near surface. Top boundary conditions show strong effect on O3 predictions above 4 km. Over certain model grids, the model's sensitivity to BCs is found to depend not only on the distance from the domain's top and lateral boundaries, downwind/upwind situation, but also on regional emissions and species properties. The near-surface prediction over polluted area is usually not as sensitive to the variation of BCs, but to the magnitude of their background concentrations. We also test the sensitivity of model to temporal and spatial variations of the BCs by comparing the simulations with time-varied BCs to the corresponding simulations with time-mean and profile BCs. Removing the time variation of BCs leads to a significant bias on the variation prediction and sometime causes the bias in predicted mean values. The effect of model resolution on the BC sensitivity is also studied.
Separation of migratory from feeding and reproductive behavior inOncopeltus fasciatus

Data are presented on the ontogeny of flight, general locomotion, mating, feeding, and oviposition in the milkweed bug,Oncopeltus fasciatus. Activities are segregated into different times of day: flight and oviposition are most likely to occur in the afternoon and feeding and mating are most likely to occur in the evening. Oviposition occurs after flight in the life cycle of females, so that the two activities do not conflict. Mating and feeding can and do occur simultaneously. Evidence is presented suggesting that at least feeding and oviposition rhythms involve changing levels of response threshold to external and internal stimuli, supporting Kennedy's hypothesis that migration in insects involves a suppression of “vegetative” activities during migratory flight.
Bacillus thuringiensis and Tobacco Budworm Control on Flue-cured Tobacco

Several commercial formulations of the delta endotoxin form of Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner gave adequate control of Heliothis virescens (F.) on flue-cured tobacco. When applied as sprays, Dipel®, Biotrol® XK, Thuricide® HP, and Thuricide® HPC were usually as effective as standard chemical insecticides, although the rates varied depending on the material used. Bait preparations of Dipel, Thuricide HP, and Biotrol 2.5 gave excellent tobacco budworm control when applied by gloved hand. Residual toxicity of the baits under certain field conditions gave adequate control even after 5 days of exposure; however, residual toxicity of spray formulations was not as long as that of the baits, and they began to decrease significantly in effectiveness after 4 days of exposure to field conditions. The B. thuringiensis compounds in the form of Dipel, Biotrol XK, and Thuricide HPC sprays did not exhibit any harmful effects to lady beetles.
The role of cognitive engagement in classroom learning and motivation

The article analyzes the concept of student cognitive engagement, and the manner in which classroom instruction may develop self‐regulated learners. Since theory and research on academic motivation, to date only vaguely define the role of learning processes, and since studies of learning strategies rarely assess motivational outcomes, our analysis integrates these two streams of literature. We also identify specific features of instruction and discuss how they might influence the complex of student interpretive processes focal to classroom learning and motivation. Measurement issues and research strategies peculiar to the investigation of cognitive engagement are addressed.
Investigating the causes of fish community change in the Dahan River (Taiwan) using an autecology matrix

Recent work in river restoration and water resources management has seen the need to change the focus of analysis from reach to watershed scales to better define causes of watershed impairment. However, comprehensive investigations at a watershed scale are hindered by difficulties in using reach data that was collected for analysis at small spatial and short temporal scales. This is especially true for ecological and biological data. The approach assembles assessment and monitoring data and uses an autecology matrix to identify the changes in environmental and ecological conditions that may be associated with community change over spatial and temporal scales appropriate for ecosystem analysis in watersheds. The analysis uses a weight-of-evidence approach based on the percent of the community associated with a matrix factor. We have used the autecology matrix to examine historical fish community data from the Dahan River, Taiwan. The results show that the method provides an improved understanding of historical influences on fish community structure and supports a process-based analysis of community change over watershed scales and historic time periods. Further the method helps identify habitat requirements for the fish communities at each sampling site, supporting management and ecological restoration objectives.
Agency versus structure: Genetics, group membership, and a new twist on an old debate

The decoding of the human genome and advances in genetic medicine promise great advances in the prevention and treatment of disease. These powerful methodologies, though, raise serious intellectual, ethical, and practical questions when they are employed in explanations of complex higher-order behavioral and social outcomes. There can be little doubt that all human behavior reflects complex gene/environment interactions, but isolating the unique contributions of genes and environment in the explanation of overdetermined behavioral and social outcomes may not in principle be possible. When dealing with groups that differ significantly in histories of discrimination and exclusion biological explanations must be employed with caution even as they promise great strides in dealing with specific diseases.
Adaptation of postural orientation to changes in surface inclination

We previously showed that standing on an inclined surface resulted in an after-effect of leaning in many healthy, blindfolded subjects when they returned to standing on a horizontal surface (Kluzik et al. in Exp Brain Res 162:474–489, 2005). The direction of leaning depended on the direction of prior surface inclination, always in a direction that preserved the relative alignment between the body and the support surface. For example, subjects leaned forward after they stood on a toes-up-inclined surface. In the present study, we investigated how the amplitude of surface inclination affected postural muscle activity, joint position, body segment orientation, and body center of mass (CoM) and foot center of pressure (CoP) locations before, during, and after subjects stood on an inclined surface. We asked whether the mechanism that underlies the lean after-effect involves regulation of local postural variables, such as the position of the ankle joint or the level of muscle activity, or whether instead, the mechanism involves regulation of global, whole-body postural variables that can only be determined by multisensory processing, such as orientation of the trunk or the body’s CoM. In one experiment, we found that varying the amplitude of a toes-up surface inclination between 2.5° and 10° had a systematic, linear, effect on the post-incline orientation of the trunk and head, but did not systematically affect the post-incline orientation of the legs, position of the ankle joint, the level of EMG activity, or the location of the CoP. In a second experiment, we found that preventing the legs from leaning in the post-incline period did not abolish leaning of the upper body. These findings suggest that (1) the body-to-support-surface relationship is an important reference for the CNS internal representation of postural orientation which is subject to adaptive modification and (2) the adaptive mechanism underlying the post-incline after-effect of leaning acts at the level of global, whole-body postural variables.
Two-Sided Simultaneous Block of a F- Channel (FLUC)

The recently discovered family of F- channels, the Flucs, are highly selective for F- and function to rescue microorganisms from F- toxicity in acidic environments. Structurally, Fluc is a four pass transmembrane protein that assembles as a dual-topology homodimer. This architecture, where two Fluc subunits orient antiparallel with respect to each other, is unique among ion channels and requires a two-fold symmetry axis parallel to the membrane plane. The symmetry axis further suggests that Fluc may present identical interfaces on both sides of a membrane.In fact, using fibronectin III domain “monobody” blockers specifically selected from a phage display library for nano-molar binding affinity, it was shown that a single Fluc channel is blocked on both sides of a planar lipid bilayer [Stockbridge et. al. Nature Comm., in press]. This leaves open the question of whether the sites of block on either side of the channel can be occupied simultaneously. We approach this question by experimentally testing a two site block model O B1 B2 by analysis of monobody dependent block times in single channel electrophysiology recordings. In the case of symmetric block, this scheme postulates that the dwell times of the B1 and B2 composite blocked state should exhibit monobody concentration dependence. In addition, information about cooperativity, whether negative or positive, between the two blocking sites can be quantitatively determined.
Regenerable affinity chromatography support

Abstract A derivative of Sepharose4B, p -(N-acetyl- l -tyrosineazo)benzamidoethyl Sepharose4B, was synthesized and used for the selective immobilization of proteins. The azo bond of this derivative can be reduced to liberate p -aminobenzamidoethyl Sepharose 4B, which can be diazotized and recoupled to N-acetyl- l -tyrosine and subsequently to a fresh preparation of protein. This regenerable affinity chromatography support was regenerated successively through five cycles without detectable loss of functional groups.
Hispanic Turnout: Estimates from Validated Voting Data:

This study is the first to test theories about the distinctiveness of Hispanic voting participation using validated voting data, which are necessary to assess Hispanic turnout relative to the turno...
Dehydrogenation and dealkylation of various sterols by Tetrahymena pyriformis.

Sterols are not found inTetrahymena pyriformis when this protozoan is grown in a medium free from exogenous sterols; instead, the principal solid alcohol that can be isolated from the organism is tetrahymanol. a pentacyclic triterpenoid alcohol with an unusual structure. The biosynthesis of tetrahymanol has been shown by appropriate labeling studies to involve a direct, nonoxidative, proton-initiated cyclization of squalene rather than the more commonly found type of mechanism involving squalene 2,3-oxide as an intermediate. In contrast, whenT. pyriformis is incubated with any one of a wide variety of added sterols, the biosynthesis of tetrahymanol is inhibited and the added sterol is accumulated by the organism and, in most cases, is converted metabolically into one or more other sterols. Four different types of transformation have been observed: the introduction of Δ5, Δ7 and Δ22 double bonds, and the removal of ethyl groups, but not methyl groups, from C-24.
O desenvolvimento político em Huntington e Fukuyama

O artigo contrasta as teses de Huntington e Fukuyama sobre desenvolvimento politico. As obras analisadas, Ordem politica nas sociedades em mudanca e O fim da historia, inscrevem-se entre duas conjunturas decisivas - 1968 e 1989. Huntington desmontou a equivalencia entre desenvolvimento politico e modernizacao e Fukuyama reafirmou a democracia como o destino de todos os paises e, desse modo, como o fim da historia. Nesta comparacao, dois eixos se sobressaem: o contexto de producao das obras e a alternância entre os polos teoricos da democracia e da estabilidade. Procura-se demonstrar como, apesar de reinserir a democracia no desenvolvimento politico, a instabilidade continua a ser um foco privilegiado de analise no pensamento de Fukuyama.
Toward Setting a Research Agenda for Systematic Reviews of Evidence of the Effects of Medical Education.

Purpose: To provide an update on, and a preliminary research agenda for, best evidence medical education (BEME). Summary: Efforts related to evidence-based medical education are summarized briefly, including BEME, the newly formed Campbell Collaboration, and the Cochrane Collaboration's Effective Practice and Organization of Care review group. A list of topics and priorities for which evidence of effectiveness in medical education should be systematically reviewed is provided based on the results of a session at the July 2000 annual meeting of the Society of Directors of Research in Medical Education. The highest ranked topics clustered around four major conceptual areas: (a) curricular design, (b) learning and instructional methods, (c) testing and assessment, and (d) outcomes. Conclusions: BEME is gaining momentum with growing numbers of people becoming involved as well as an increased number of pertinent workshops, publications, and Web sites. The work of creating pertinent systematic reviews of the me...
High-fat diet-induced insulin resistance does not increase plasma anandamide levels or potentiate anandamide insulinotropic effect in isolated canine islets.

Cathryn M. Kolka is not included in the author byline. She should be listed as the eighteenth author and affiliated with Diabetes and Obesity Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Effect of correcting for long-term variation in major coronary heart disease risk factors: relative hazard estimation and risk prediction in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study.

Purpose To examine the effect of correcting coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors for long-term within-person variation on CHD risk. Methods By using 5533 men and 7301 women from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study, we compared models incorporating risk factors measured at a single visit and models incorporating additional measurements for systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol taken 3 years before baseline. Results The largest change away from null was observed for systolic blood pressure, ie, hazard ratio (HR) 1.38 to 1.69 (+81%) in women and HR 1.26 to 1.41 (+56%) in men. HRs also decreased for age (−32% in women, −9% in men), race (−67% in women), the presence of diabetes (−13% in men and women), and medication use for hypertension (−27% in women, −26% in men) and cholesterol (−97% in women, HR 1.06–0.93 in men). The area under the ROC curve did not improve significantly in men or women, whereas reclassification was only significant in women (net reclassification improvement 5.4%, p = 0.016). Conclusions Modeling long-term variation in CHD risk factors had a substantial impact on HR estimates, with new effect estimates further from the null for some risk factors and closer for others including age and medication use, but only improved risk classification in women.
Reconstruction of label images from a few projections as motivated by electron microscopy

Our aim is to utilize electron micrographs of biological macromolecules to produce a tessellation of space into small voxels, each labeled as containing ice, protein, or RNA. Traditional approaches first assign to each voxel a gray value (associated with the density of atoms in the voxel) based on the micrographs and then threshold this gray value image to obtain the label image. A problem with this approach is that at higher resolutions (smaller voxels) the ranges of atom densities corresponding to different labels greatly overlap, and so the label image will need to be of low resolution in order to be reliable. Another difficulty is that, due to the destructive nature of the electron microscope, only a few projections can be taken. We propose to overcome these difficulties by first postulating some low level prior knowledge (based on the general nature of macromolecules) regarding the underlying distribution of label images, and then estimating directly a particular label image based on this prior distribution together with the micrographs. Here we report on our first experiments aimed at evaluating this approach.
Waveguide mode conversion using anti-symmetric gratings

Many important optical devices based on grating mode converters require special designs to mitigate the effect of undesired reflections. We propose a simple and novel grating mode converter which avoids undesired multiple reflection peaks.
OpenMP extensions for generic libraries

This paper proposes extensions to the OpenMP standard toprovide first-class support for parallelizing generic libraries such as theC++ Standard Library (SL). Generic libraries are especially known fortheir efficiency, reusability and composibility. As such, with the adventof ubiquitous parallelism, generic libraries offer an excellent avenue forparallelizing the existing applications that use these libraries withoutrequiring the applications to be rewritten. OpenMP, which would beideal for executing such parallelizations, does not support many of themodern C++ idioms such as iterators and function objects that are usedextensively in generic libraries. Accordingly, we propose extensions toOpenMP to better support modern C++ idioms to aid in the parallelizationof generic libraries and applications built with those libraries.
The Role of Farmers' Behavioral Attitudes and Heterogeneity in Futures Contracts Usage

The relationship between farmers’ behavioral attitudes and use of futures contracts is examined, taking into account non-directly observable variables and the heterogeneity of farmers. The relationships are tested on a stratified data sample of 440 farmers. Cluster analysis and covariance structure equation models are used to validate the relationships. Farmers are found not to be homogenous regarding the factors influencing their use of futures. Heterogeneity at the segment level masked important effects at the aggregate level, notably risk attitude. Furthermore, several psychological constructs for farmers related to market orientation, risk exposure, market performance and entrepreneurial behavior play important roles in their use of futures contracts.
LSD1/CoREST - H3-Histone Molecular Recognition: Inter-Domain Motions in an Allosteric Nanoscale Clamp Revealed by Computer Simulations

The protein complex of Lysine Specific Demethylase-1 (LSD1) with its co-repressor (LSD1/CoREST) catalyzes the demethylation of the H3-histone N-terminal tail and is a target of outstanding relevance for drugs against cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. However, little is known to date on the relationship between LSD1/CoREST molecular recognition and the molecular mechanisms of epigenetic modulation. Using molecular dynamics simulation, we have previously shown that LSD1/CoREST is a highly dynamic nanoscale clamp; we proposed that binding of the H3-histone N-terminal tail reduces the clamp rotation around the Tower domain by means of an allosteric mechanism. Here, we present new studies of LSD1/CoREST clamp dynamics and substrate recognition using adaptive biasing force simulations to detail the biophysical nature of the previously discovered motion. The allosteric mechanism is found to be qualitatively independent of the force field and of the sampling approach employed. Free energy profiles are obtained using enhanced sampling approaches. Overall, our study reveals an unprecedented view on LSD1/CoREST molecular recognition and dynamics and paves a route for a more general understanding of epigenetic regulation at the molecular level, thus aiding future drug discovery campaigns.1. Shi Y, Nat. Rev. Genet. 2007, 8, 829.2. Forneris F et al. LSD1: oxidative chemistry for multifaceted functions in chromatin regulation. TiBS, 2008, 33,181.3. Baron R; Vellore NA. LSD1/CoREST is an allosteric-nanoscale clamp regulated by H3-histone-tail molecular recognition. PNAS 2012, 109, 12509.4. Baron R; Vellore NA, LSD1/CoREST reversible opening-closing dynamics: discovery of a nanoscale clamp for chromatin and protein binding. Biochemistry 2012, 51, 3151.5. Robertson JC et al. Expanding the Druggable Space of the LSD1/CoREST Epigenetic Target: New Potential Binding Regions for Drug-Like Molecules, Peptides, Protein Partners, and Chromatin, PLoS Comput. Biol. 2013, 9(7): e1003158.
Magic shotguns versus magic bullets: selectively non-selective drugs for mood disorders and schizophrenia

Most common central nervous system disorders — such as depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia — seem to be polygenic in origin, and the most effective medications have exceedingly complex pharmacologies. Attempts to develop more effective treatments for diseases such as schizophrenia and depression by discovering drugs selective for single molecular targets (that is, 'magic bullets') have, not surprisingly, been largely unsuccessful. Here we propose that designing selectively non-selective drugs (that is, 'magic shotguns') that interact with several molecular targets will lead to new and more effective medications for a variety of central nervous system disorders.
Application of Three Flutter Analysis Methods to a Ducted-Fan Configuration

A comparative computational study of three nutter analysis methods of a ducted fan geometry in subsonic flow is made to evaluate the relative advantage of the methods. The aeroelastic analysis uses a tune accurate solver based on Euler equations. The analysis couples the solution of unsteady Euler equations with a normal mode representation of elastic blades to obtain the aeroelastic characteristics of the rotor. Several interblade phase angles are analyzed using the first three normal modes. The flutter characteristics are computed using the following three methods: time domain, workper-cycle and the eigenvalue analysis. The eigenvalue analysis is based on pulse method hi combination with the influence coefficient method. For the coupled mode flutter case analyzed, it was found that the work-percycle method failed to predict the flutter. The time domain method indicated stability or instability faster than the eigenvalue method. The eigenvalue method, provided the results in the form of aerodynamic damping and flutter frequency for each inter-blade phase angle analyzed. However, it was more expensive than the time domain method and was better suited for analysis with a fewer number of modes.
Evidence for 18.6-yr MN term in Japanese air pressure and geophysical implications

Summary Evidence is found in Japanese station pressure records for the 11-yr solar cycle term and a long-period signal near 20 yr which we identify as the 18.6-yr MN lunar nodal term in atmospheric tides. Amplitudes of the identified MN term are highly variable with a nominal amplitude of 0.1 mb and, for the seven available stations, the term is in phase (0.0±2.3yr) with the MN term in 30 temperature records in north-eastern North America. These results are important because of my proposal that enhanced drought conditions in the western United States on a time-scale of ˜ 20 yr are neither ‘recurrent’ nor ‘rhythmic’, but rather periodic with a period 18.6yr. And the influence of the Rocky Mountains (as well as the Tibetan Plateau) on standing atmospheric waves vis-a-vis precipitation is the common forcing function for the signal in temperature and drought conditions.
Numb-Associated Kinase Interacts with the Phosphotyrosine Binding Domain of Numb and Antagonizes the Function of Numb In Vivo

During asymmetric cell division, the membrane-associated Numb protein localizes to a crescent in the mitotic progenitor and is segregated predominantly to one of the two daughter cells. We have identified a putative serine/threonine kinase, Numb-associated kinase (Nak), which interacts physically with the phosphotyrosine binding (PTB) domain of Numb. The PTB domains of Shc and insulin receptor substrate bind to an NPXY motif which is not present in the region of Nak that interacts with Numb PTB domain. We found that the Numb PTB domain but not the Shc PTB domain interacts with Nak through a peptide of 11 amino acids, implicating a novel and specific protein-protein interaction. Overexpression of Nak in the sensory organs causes both daughters of a normally asymmetric cell division to adopt the same cell fate, a transformation similar to the loss of numb function phenotype and opposite the cell fate transformation caused by overexpression of Numb. The frequency of cell fate transformation is sensitive to the numb gene dosage, as expected from the physical interaction between Nak and Numb. These findings indicate that Nak may play a role in cell fate determination during asymmetric cell divisions.
Local intravascular infusion with porcine hypothalamic extract changed the cytology and stimulated the secretory activity of rat pituitary autografts.

The long-term effect of infusing porcine hypothalamic median eminence extract (MEE) into the local vascular supply of rat pituitary autografts was tested. Fifty rats were hypophysectomized and the pars distalis transplanted to the hilus of the kidney. Continuous infusion of the graft (via the renal artery) in 40 of these animals started 14 days after the initial operation and continued for 14 or 28 days. Infusion with MEE (10 animals) resulted in a very striking increase in the size of gonadotrophs and some enlargement in thyrotrophs. This treatment also induced secretion of gonadotrophins and thyrotrophin (TSH) as evidenced by ovarian follicular development and increased thyroid epithelial cell height. The secretion of adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH) may have also been stimulated. These results were not observed when the grafts were infused with cerebral cortical extract, vasopressin, oxytocin or when hypophysectomized animals received MEE by continuous intravenous infusion. These results suggest that porcin...
Determination of the evaporation coefficient of D 2 O

The evaporation rate of D{sub 2}O has been determined by Raman thermometry of a droplet train (12-15 {micro}m diameter) injected into vacuum ({approx}10{sup -5} torr). The cooling rate measured as a function of time in vacuum was fit to a model that accounts for temperature gradients between the surface and the core of the droplets, yielding an evaporation coefficient ({gamma}{sub e}) of 0.57 {+-} 0.06. This is nearly identical to that found for H{sub 2}O (0.62 {+-} 0.09) using the same experimental method and model, and indicates the existence of a kinetic barrier to evaporation. The application of a recently developed transition state theory (TST) model suggests that the kinetic barrier is due to librational and hindered translational motions at the liquid surface, and that the lack of an isotope effect is due to competing energetic and entropic factors. The implications of these results for cloud and aerosol particles in the atmosphere are discussed.
Sodium Butyrate Inhibits Platelet-Derived Growth Factor–Induced Proliferation of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

Abstract Sodium butyrate (SB), a naturally occurring short-chain fatty acid, was investigated for its therapeutic value as an antiproliferative agent for vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs). At 5-mmol/L concentration, SB had no significant effect on rat SMC proliferation. However, at the same concentration, SB inhibited platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-AA–, -AB–, and -BB–induced proliferation of SMCs. Exposure of SMCs to PDGF-BB resulted in activation of receptor intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity and autophosphorylation of β-PDGF–receptor (β-PDGFR). The activated β-PDGFR physically associated and phosphorylated signaling molecules such as ras-GTPase activating protein (GAP) and phospholipase Cγ (PLCγ). SB, in the absence of PDGF-BB, caused neither β-PDGFR tyrosine phosphorylation nor phosphorylation and association of GAP and PLCγ with β-PDGFR. PDGF-BB–enhanced activation of receptor intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity and autophosphorylation of tyrosine residues of β-PDGFR were unaffected by SB irre...