cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cocaine self-administration appears to be mediated by dopamine uptake inhibition

Abstract Ritz, Mary C., Richard J. Lamb, Steven R. Goldberg and Michael J. Kuhar: Cocaine self-administration appears to be mediated by dopamine uptake inhibition. Prog. Neuropsychopharmacol. and Biol. Psychiat. 1988, 12 :233–239 1. 1. While cocaine binds to several known sites in the brain, the binding site or receptor associated with its reinforcing or addictive properties has not been identified as such. 2. 2. The identification of the pharmacologically relevant receptor(s) requires that an association exist between the potency of a variety of cocaine of cocaine-related drugs in animal models of substance and their potency at a binding site in the brain. 3. 3. Our experiments indicate that the potencies of cocaine-like drugs in animal studies of drug self-administration are correlated with their potencies in inhibiting 3H-mazindol binding to dopamine transporters in the rat striatum. Cocaine binding to several other presynaptic and postsynaptic binding sites does not appear to be associated with the reinforcing effects of the drug. 4. 4. Thus, the cocaine receptor related to substance abuse appears to be the binding site associated with inhibition of dopamine uptake on the dopaminergic nerve terminals.
Macrocycle-mediated separation of Eu2+ from trivalent lanthanide cations in a modified thin-sheet-supported liquid membrane system

Abstract Macrocycle-mediated transport of Eu3+ and Eu2+ from an aqueous solution through a modified thin-sheet-supported liquid membrane has been studied and compared with that of Sr2+, Gd3+ and Nd3+. Transport of Eu2+ was found to be more effective than that of trivalent lanthanide cations using bis (1-hydroxylheptyl)DC18C6 as the membrane carrier. The flux of Eu2+ was similar to that of Sr2+ while those of Eu3+, Gd3+ and Nd3+ were almost identical and much less than that of Sr2+.
Biokontrolle gegen eingewanderte Pflanzen und Tiere

In Australien sind Kaninchen nicht putzig und sus, sondern ein echtes Problem. In den USA sind es die Nutria, in Kassel die Waschbaren: eingewanderte Spezies, die heimische Arten verdrangen und sich ungeniert ausbreiten. Ausfuhrliche Studien beweisen jetzt, dass ein Mangel an Feinden die biologischen Invasoren so stark macht. In einer neuen Umgebung werden die Einwanderer deutlich weniger von Krankheitserregern befallen als in ihrem Ursprungsland.
Giant-cell hyalin angiopathy

Seven examples of an unusual hyalin degenerative change in the walls of blood vessels are discussed. We believe this is a localized phenomenon, not connected to systemic vascular disease. Inflammation is usually present, and in each case a dental procedure had previously been performed. Dental extraction was the most common procedure. Giant cells of the foreign-body type are present, but particulate foreign material was seen in only one case.
Pain Assessment in Noncommunicative Elderly persons--PAINE.

OBJECTIVES: We describe the validation of an informant-based pain assessment for persons suffering from dementia called Pain Assessment in Noncommunicative Elderly persons (PAINE) using 2 different samples. METHODS: In the first study, the participants included 80 residents from one nursing home. We assessed internal consistency using Cronbach alpha, interrater and test-retest reliability using Pearson correlations, and validity using receiver operating characteristic curve analyses, comparing PAINE to these criteria on the basis of reports from physicians, nurses, relatives, and the residents themselves. In the second study, the participants included 91 residents from 2 different nursing homes. We assessed validity by correlating scores on PAINE with those from other assessments designed to detect pain. RESULTS: PAINE shows adequate internal consistency and both interrater and test-retest reliability. It also shows adequate receiver operating characteristic curve results and reasonable correlations with the existing measures of pain in persons with dementia. DISCUSSION: PAINE has the advantage of using a comprehensive list of pain symptoms on the basis of systematic questioning of direct caregivers from several institutions. The validity results suggest that this assessment could be a useful tool in detecting pain in persons with dementia.
Should NYC’s Restaurateurs Lighten Up? Effects of the City’s Smoke-Free-Air Act

Abstract This study indicates that legislation that mandates smoke-free restaurants attracts more business (and money) than it drives away.
Characterization of potential degradation products in a PEGylating reagent 20 kDa monomethoxy polyethylene glycol propionaldehyde by RP-HPLC, APCI-MS and NMR

Ensuring quality of PEGylating reagents is essential for the successful development and manufacturing of PEGylated biopharmaceuticals. However, little is known about how to maintain and verify the quality of PEG raw materials for PEGylated protein manufacturing. In this study, monomethoxy polyethylene glycol propionaldehyde (mPEG-aldehyde) was subjected to conditions that mimic accelerated stability conditions. Separation of trace-level degradation products in the presence of mPEG-aldehyde was achieved by derivatization with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH), followed by reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection (RP-HPLC-UV) at 355nm. Structural characterization by atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (APCI-MS) identified formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, crotonaldehyde, acrolein, benzaldehyde, and tolualdehyde as major degradation products or process-related impurities. The presence of formaldehyde and acrolein was confirmed by (1)H NMR in the forced degraded mPEG-aldehyde samples without derivatization of mPEG-aldehyde. Findings from this study imply that reactive impurities could form as a result of inappropriate mPEG-aldehyde handling or storage. Further, a rapid screening method based on reversed phase HPLC was shown to be an effective screening assay used for routine screening of mPEG-aldehyde to ensure consistent PEGylated protein product quality.
Second-person pronoun use and address strategies in on-line personal ads from Quebec

The development of various forms of computer-mediated communication has enabled many aspects of social life to occur in on-line environments, including finding and maintaining romantic relationships. Recent research on Internet dating sites has investigated motivations for joining such networks, discursive features of on-line personals, and other social aspects of Internet romance, yet there exists a noticeable lack of sociolinguistic analysis. This study analyzes the use of second-person pronouns in French-language on-line personal ads from Quebec. Two main strategies were found: singular address with tu or vous singular and plural address with vous. While a general preference for singular address—usually tu—was observed, young men tended to use plural vous fairly often. Also analyzed are the various ways in which tu and vous can be used in on-line personals in utterances such as greetings, descriptions of the desired other, and invitations to contact. This article also includes a discussion of on-line identities and relationships with regard to second-person pronoun use and provides a number of directions for future research.
Emotion‐Triggered Cardiac Asystole‐Inducing Neurocardiogenic Syncope

The pathophysiology of neurocardiogenic syncope (NCS) is multifactorial. Recurrent syncopal episodes can result in injury and can provoke substantial anxiety among patients. Although an abundance of descriptions of various forms of syncope have been reported in the literature, few articles to date address a documented case due to emotional stress or sound. This is a report of a 31-year-old woman who fainted after being startled by someone sneezing. Review of the episode on her event recorder revealed a transient cardiac asystole of 10 seconds. We discuss the incidence of NCS and the proposed mechanism by which this syncopal event occurred.
Social Research and Social Action in Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency

Most workers in the field of juvenile delinquency are painfully aware of the wide gap between the amount of past and ongoing research in this area and the difficulty in translating our knowledge into effective preventive action. No doubt there are many reasons for this difficulty, some of them inherent in the very complexity and scope of the problem. But it is becoming increasingly clear that some, and perhaps major, reasons are methodological: the tradition of our research approach seems to be remarkably sterile.
The evaluation of rate constants in rate laws containing two terms

A simple computerized method using APL is described which gives the rate constants for systems obeying the rate law –d[A]/dt = k1[A][B] + k2[A] m [B]l from sets of concentrations and times. Applications are discussed.
The Structure of Supervisor-Supervisee Interactions

Abstract This study examined the extent to which the structure of supervisor and supervisee verbal interaction during supervision is enhanced or moderated by (a) the problem severity, (b) the anxiety of the supervisee and supervisor regarding the client and with respect to each other, (c) perceptions of supervisee competence, (d) amount of supervision provided to the supervisee, and (e) supervisors' years of supervision experience. “Structure” was operationalized as the degree of patterning in the verbal responding of the supervisor and supervisee. Forty-four counseling supervision dyads were analyzed. Results suggest that supervisor-supervisee interaction may be less structured than generally thought, and that anxiety, skill, and experience variables play a negligible role in influencing the amount of structure that does occur. Supervisor gender was found to be a reliable predictor of whether the supervisor or supervisee had the greater influence on the supervision structure.
Terminal vanadium-neopentylidyne complexes and intramolecular cross-metathesis reactions to generate azametalacyclohexatrienes.

Four-coordinate vanadium complexes containing a terminal neopentylidyne functionality have been prepared by two consecutive α-hydrogen abstraction reactions both of which were induced by one-electron oxidations. Among these vanadium−alkylidyne complexes are the neutral and the cation (Nacnac)V⋮CtBu(OTf) and [(Nacnac)V⋮CtBu(THF)]+, respectively (Nacnac- = [Ar]NC(CH3)CHC(CH3)N[Ar], Ar = 2,6-(CHMe2)2C6H3). The vanadium−alkylidynes have been characterized by 1H, 13C, 51V NMR spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction and are consistent with a short V⋮C bond. These alkylidynes were found to transform to azametalacyclohexatriene systems via an intramolecular cross-metathesis reaction. Kinetic studies of the transformation of (Nacnac)V⋮CtBu(OTf) in C7D8 reveal the formation of the azametalacyclohexatriene to be independent of solvent (toluene vs THF) and the reaction to be first order in vanadium (k = 3.30(5) × 10-5 s-1 at 80 °C, with activation parameters ΔH⧧= 25.4(3) kcal/mol, ΔS⧧ = −6(3) cal/molK). Hig...
A variational principle for the scattered wave

A Schwinger‐type variational principle is presented for the scattered field in the case of scalar wave scattering with an arbitrary field incident on an object of arbitrary shape with homogeneous Dirichlet boundary conditions. The result is variationally invariant at field points ranging from the surface of the scatterer to the farfield and is an important extension of the usual Schwinger variational principle for the scattering amplitude, which is a farfield quantity. Also, a generic procedure, physically motivated by the general principles of boundary conditions and shadowing, is presented for constructing simple trial functions to approximate the fields. The variational principle and the trial function design are tested for the special case of a spherical scatterer and accurate answers are found over the entire frequency range.
Intrathecal and Epidural Anesthesia and Analgesia for Cardiac Surgery

Adequate postoperative analgesia prevents unnecessary patient discomfort. It may also decrease morbidity, postoperative hospital length of stay and, thus, cost. Achieving optimal pain relief after cardiac surgery is often difficult. Many techniques are available, and all have specific advantages and disadvantages. Intrathecal and epidural techniques clearly produce reliable analgesia in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Additional potential benefits include stress response attenuation and thoracic cardiac sympathectomy. The quality of analgesia obtained with thoracic epidural anesthetic techniques is sufficient to allow cardiac surgery to be performed in awake patients without general endotracheal anesthesia. However, applying regional anesthetic techniques to patients undergoing cardiac surgery is not without risk. Side effects of local anesthetics (hypotension) and opioids (pruritus, nausea/vomiting, urinary retention, and respiratory depression), when used in this manner, may complicate perioperative management. Increased risk of hematoma formation in this scenario has generated much of lively debate regarding the acceptable risk-benefit ratio of applying regional anesthetic techniques to patients undergoing cardiac surgery.
Hypoventilation and Apnea in Children during Mechanically Assisted Ventilation

Uncuffed tracheostomy tubes are used for long-term mechanical ventilation in children. However, upper airway mechanics differ between sleep and wakefulness; this may affect air leak around tracheostomies. We studied 19 children with high cervical spinal cord injury on portable positive pressure ventilators, age range birth to 19 years. Ventilator settings were adjusted while awake to achieve PaCO 2 2 >90 mm Hg. Clinically several children with uncuffed tracheostomies became unstable at night with seizures and sleep disruption. Nine of 11 children on volume controlled systems were found to be inadequately ventilated during sleep. Substitution with a cuffed tracheostomy allowed adequate ventilation both awake and asleep, suggesting that inadequate ventilation during sleep was due to an uncompensated leak around the uncuffed tracheostomy. To avoid cuffed tracheostomies, eight children received pressure controlled ventilation. Gas exchange was adequate throughout the day and night. We conclude that children receiving volume controlled mechanical ventilation via uncuffed tracheostomy tubes can exhibit hypoventilation due to uncompensated air leak. Pressure controlled ventilation improves adequacy of gas exchange during sleep and wakefulness.
Introduction, background, and international perspectives: Korean history, culture, and education

Abstract Ogbu's (1988) “cultural model of success” guides us in understanding one's success through historical, cultural, structural (normative), and situational factors. Perceptions of schooling and achievement are related and affected by these important factors. Therefore, this chapter gives an overview of the study, its purpose and significance. Background literature on South Korea, such as its demographics and history, is used to introduce the influence of culture on South Korean education. Finally, a brief history of Korean education provides a context for the study.
Defining a Multiple-Use Germplasm Collection for the Genus Trifolium

An effective germplasm collection provides genetic variation useful to crop improvement, botanical research, and conservation of plant biodiversity. The USDA National Trifolium germplasm collection currently limits the collection's effectiveness in serving multiple uses. Reflecting the historic mandate of plant introduction, the collection is strongly biased toward the two major cultivated red and white clover species, which make up 56% of the collection. Although many wild species are present in the collection, representation is poor for species that are considered gene sources for the cultivated species and for species that have minor use. The objectives of this article are to demonstrate how the collection can be diversified to better serve users and contribute to the conservation of the genus. Reflecting priorities proposed in the 1970s, the scope was defined as containing all species within the genus Trifolium. Next, a broad gene-pool model was defined on the basis of ease for interspecific hybridization and the history of crop use. Areas in the model were then identified that required more accessions to represent diversity of specific interest to users or that were vulnerable to erosion or extinction. An essential step before making any changes to the collection is to establish priorities by the crop curators and members of the Crop Germplasm Committee (CGC). If a diverse set of collection stakeholders can be included in the process, changes are more likely to result in a germplasm collection that serves diverse users and makes a significant contribution to conserving plant biodiversity.
Iron depletion or chelation reduces ischemia/reperfusion-induced edema in gerbil brains

Since hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) can react with ferrous iron (FE++) to form the more toxic hydroxyl radical (OH) in vitro, and since H2O2 is generated brain xanthine oxidase (XO) during ischemia/reperfusion (I/R), we hypothesized that gerbils depleted of iron by dietary restriction or treated with iron chelators would be less susceptible to I/R injury. We found that gerbils fed a low iron diet for 8 weeks had decreased brain and serum iron levels, less neurologic deficits, and decreased brain edema after temporary unilateral carotid ligation (ischemia) and then reperfusion than gerbils fed a control standard iron diet. In addition, brains from gerbils treated with iron-free deferoxamine (an iron chelator), but not iron-loaded deferoxamine, had decreased (P less than .05) brain edema following ischemia and reperfusion. The results indicate that iron may contribute to cerebral ischemia/reperfusion damage.
Mechanisms of action of some penetration enhancers in the cornea: Laser scanning confocal microscopic and electrophysiology studies

Abstract The present study investigates the effects of various penetration enhancers including EDTA, digitonin, deoxycholic acid, and a cytoskeleton-active agent, cytochalasin B, on the structure and electrophysiological properties of the rabbit cornea. Using confocal fluorescence microscopy, with the aid of a specific membrane probe (3,3′-dioctadecyloxacarbocyanine perchlorate), and a viability polar tracer (propidium iodide), structural changes and cell death as a result of the penetration enhancers can be detected. In addition to its great sensitivity, the technique provides direct observation, through optical sectioning, of the interior structures of living tissues without the usual artifacts associated with tissue preparation which is required in conventional microscopy. In conjunction with the microscopic method, an electrical method based on membrane resistance and capacitance measurements was used to provide quantitative assessment of the promoting effect of the enhancers. Since electrical resistance is a measure of charge flow and ionic membrane permeability, it can be used to indicate changes in dimension of the aqueous transport pathway, i.e., the tight junction and the intercellular space, as well as the degree of penetrability of the charged species. On the other hand, membrane capacitance reflects the ability of the membrane dielectric to store charges, and thus, it can be used to detect structural damage to the membrane surface. Results obtained from this study indicate that all enhancers significantly increase membrane permeability depending on the concentration and exposure time. However, with the exception of the cytoskeleton-active agent, all enhancers also cause severe membrane damage. Mechanistically, this agent acts specifically on the tight junction proteins and consequently increases intercellular permeability. The chelator, EDTA, acts not only on cell junctions by interfering with calcium ions and altering intercellular integrity, but also disrupts the plasma membrane. Digitonin and bile salt interact with membrane lipid structures and disrupt their organization.
Characterization of Mycotypha metabolites found to be inhibitors of cell adhesion molecules.

Three inhibitors of cell adhesion based on LFA-1/ICAM-1 were isolated from the cultured broth of the fungal strain Mycotypha sp. UMF-006. These compounds were identified by spectroscopy to be cytochalasin E (1), 5, 6-dehydro-7-hydroxy derivative of cytochalasin E (2) and Δ6, 12-isomer of 2 (3). All these components inhibited adhesion of HL-60 cells to CHO-ICAM-1 cells at IC50 values of 30μg/ml for 1, 75μg/ml for 2, and 90μg/ml for 3.
Determination of Selenium in Twenty Geological Reference Materials by Neutron Activation And Inorganic Ion Exchange

Twenty geological reference samples have been analyzed for selenium using thermal neutron activation followed by radiochemical separation of 75Se. Data are presented for 3 NBS, 11 USGS, and 6 CCRMP materials.
Origin and termination of adeno-associated virus DNA replication

Abstract Analysis of [3H]thymidine pulse-labeled duplex AAV DNA monomers by restriction endonuclease Hpa II fragments shows a bimodal pattern of label incorporation with maximum incorporation in a fragment 19 base pairs long which maps 36 or 65 base pairs inside both molecular ends. This is within the region of terminal nucleotide sequence repetition. Similar analysis on each complementary strand reveals a unimodal gradation of pulse label on both strands, each highest near the 3′ end and lowest near the 5′ end. These data are consistent with (1) DNA replication terminating in sequences 36–65 base pairs inside either end, and (2) replication originating within or near this same genome region and proceeding 5′ → 3′ from both parental 3′ ends.
Forward mutation assay of V79 cells to 6-thioguanine resistance in a soft agar technique that eliminates effects of metabolic co-operation

A technique involving culture in soft agar was used for the assay of forward mutation of V79 cells to 6-thioguanine (6TG) resistance. The main reason for the use of soft agar was to prevent reduction in recovery of mutants depending on the cell density plated for mutation selection, which is the chief problem in the liquid method, and which results mainly from metabolic co-operation due to cell-to-cell contact. V79 cells grew well in fortified soft agar medium (DMEM + 20% FBS) showing cloning efficiencies (greater than 80%) as high as in liquid culture. Therefore, V79/HGPRT mutagenesis could be assayed quantitatively in soft agar culture. The frequency of 6TG-resistant colonies in agar selective medium increased linearly with increase in concentration of EMS. Toxicity and mutagenic responses were greater in soft agar than in liquid culture. In cultures of untreated and EMS-treated cells, more than 95% of the 6TG-resistant colonies isolated were aminopterin-sensitive. Use of soft agar for selection prevented the reduction in the number of mutants with increase in the size of inocula on plating up to 1-2 X 10(6) cells per 9-cm dish: in liquid culture, even with a lower plating number (2 X 10(5) cells per 9-cm dish), a notable reduction in numbers of mutants was observed. This character was re-examined in a reconstruction experiment. The results show that, when up to 2 X 10(6) cells were plated per 9-cm dish, 6TG-resistant cells were almost completely recovered from the soft agar medium, whereas only 10% were recovered from liquid culture.
Effects of scopolamine and physostigmine on tonic immobility in ducks and guinea pigs

The present study was performed to test the effects of the anticholinergic drug scopolamine and the cholinergic-potentiating drug physostigmine on tonic immobility (TI) in ducks and guinea pigs. Scopolamine shortened the duration of the response in ducks, while increasing TI duration in guinea pigs. Physostigmine, on the other hand, increased TI duration in ducks, while shortening the response in guinea pigs. Though the neurochemical systems mediating the response may differ, it is suggested that TI could serve as a useful model behavior for studying functional homology between the brains of birds and mammals.
A phase ii trial of oral estramustine and oral etoposide in hormone refractory prostate cancer

Abstract Objectives We previously demonstrated that the combination of oral estramustine (15 mg/kg/day) and oral etoposide (50 mg/m 2 /day) is effective first-line therapy for the treatment of hormone refractory prostate cancer. We initiated a new Phase II trial utilizing a lower dose of estramustine (10 mg/kg/day) and allowing previous chemotherapy treatment. Methods Estramustine (10 mg/kg/day) and etoposide (50 mg/m 2 /day) were administered orally for 21 of 28 days. Sixty-two patients were enrolled with a minimum of 26 weeks of follow-up. Results Of 15 patients with measurable soft tissue disease, 8 (53%) had a partial response (PR). Seven of these 8 patients also demonstrated a decrease in baseline prostate-specific antigen (PSA) of more than 50%. The median survival of all patients was 56 weeks. Of 47 patients with disease limited to the bone, 16 (34%) had a PR to therapy based on decrease in pretreatment PSA of more than 50%. Overall, 24 (39%) of 62 patients demonstrated a decrease in pretreatment PSA levels of at least 50% from baseline. Twenty-two patients received previous chemotherapy. There were no differences in survival or disease response in patients treated with previous chemotherapy compared with untreated patients. Pretreatment hemoglobin, PSA, alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase levels were not significant prognostic factors, but performance status was an important predictor of survival. Conclusions We conclude that the combination of oral estramustine (10 mg/kg/day) and oral etoposide (50 mg/m 2 /day) is an active regimen for hormone refractory prostate cancer.
Differential Role of Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor-1 in the Regulation of Glucose-6-phosphatase Catalytic Subunit Gene Transcription by cAMP in Liver- and Kidney-derived Cell Lines

In liver and kidney, the terminal step in gluconeogenesis is catalyzed by glucose-6-phosphatase. To examine the effect of the cAMP signal transduction pathway on transcription of the gene encoding the catalytic subunit of glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase), G6Pase-chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) fusion genes were transiently transfected into either the liver-derived HepG2 or kidney-derived LLC-PK cell line. Co-transfection of an expression vector encoding the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) markedly stimulated G6Pase-CAT fusion gene expression, and mutational analysis of the G6Pase promoter revealed that multiple regions are required for this PKA response in both the HepG2 and LLC-PK cell lines. A sequence in the G6Pase promoter that resembles a cAMP response element is required for the full PKA response in both HepG2 and LLC-PK cells. However, in LLC-PK cells, but not in HepG2 cells, a hepatocyte nuclear factor-1 (HNF-1) binding site was critical for the full induction of G6Pase-CAT expression by PKA. Changing this HNF-1 motif to that for the yeast transcription factor GAL4 reduces the PKA response in LLC-PK cells to the same degree as deleting the HNF-1 site. However, co-transfection of this mutated construct with chimeric proteins comprising the GAL4-DNA binding domain ligated to the coding sequence for HNF-1alpha, HNF-1beta, HNF-3, or HNF-4 completely restored the PKA response. Thus, we hypothesize that, in LLC-PK cells, HNF-1 is acting as an accessory factor to enhance PKA signaling through the cAMP response element by altering G6Pase promoter conformation or accessibility rather than specifically affecting some component of the PKA signal transduction pathway.
Spontaneous emission and laser oscillation from vibrational levels of molecular defects in solids

Abstract A brief overview of recent observations of IR fluorescence and laser emission from vibrational levels of CN − ions embedded in alkali-halide lattices is presented. Although fluorescence is observed in the entire temperature range of 1.7–600 K, lasing occurs only at temperatures less than 4 K. Phonon-assisted vibrational energy transfer between CN − ions accounts for this behavior.
ANDERS: merging of automated and minimally invasive technologies for concrete bridge deck evaluation and rehabilitation (presentation video)

The Automated Nondestructive Evaluation and Rehabilitation System (ANDERS) aims to provide a uniquely comprehensive tool that will transform the manner in which bridge decks are assessed and rehabilitated. It is going to be achieved through: 1) much higher evaluation detail and comprehensiveness of detection at an early stage deterioration, 2) comprehensive condition and structural assessment at all stages of deterioration, and 3) integrated assessment and rehabilitation that will be minimally invasive, rapid and cost effective. ANDERS is composed of three physical systems that merge novel NDE technologies together with novel intervention approaches to arrest the deterioration processes. These technologies are incorporated within a series of human-operated and robotic vehicles to allow rapid, comprehensive application across large populations of bridges. To perform assessments, ANDERS is equipped with two complimentary nondestructive approaches. The first, Multi-Modal Nondestructive Evaluation (MM-NDE) System aims to identify and characterize localized deterioration with a high degree of resolution. The second, global structural assessment system named STAR aims to capture global structural characteristics and identify any appreciable effects of deterioration on a bridge structure. Output from these two approaches will be merged through a novel Automated Structural Identification (Auto St-Id) approach that constructs, calibrates, and utilizes simulation models to assess the overall structural vulnerability and capacity. These two systems comprise the assessment suite of ANDERS and directly inform the Nondestructive Rehabilitation (NDR) System. The NDR System leverages robotics for the precision and rapid delivery of novel materials capable of halting the early-stage deterioration identified. The paper covers the details of the three ANDERS components developed through the support from National Institute of Standards and Technology-Technology Innovation Program (NIST-TIP). Specifically, the paper will provide a description of the components, their principle of operation and applications, and describe how the components work together.
A Comparative Study of Surfactant Influence on the Release of Ions from an Emulsified Ointment Base

An apparatus has been designed and an in vitro method employing radioisotopes has been developed to study medicament release from pharmaceutical semisolids. Radio-labeled mercuric and iodide ions have been incorporated into hydrophilic bases emulsified with 1, 3, and 5 per cent concentrations of anionic, cationic, and nonionic surface active agents and the ability of the bases to release the contained ions has been measured.
Aspects of Early Hominid Sociality: an Evolutionary Perspective

Despite nominal acknowledgment, archaeologists have been slow to take advantage of neo-Darwinian evolutionary theory (NDT) in the course of their research. While perhaps understandable for those working in later prehistory, where quasi-historical explanations for process can sometimes be invoked, archaeologists working in ‘deep time’ have also shown a marked reluctance to use it. This essay asks why this is so, and goes on to apply NDT concepts in an effort to reconstruct aspects of early hominid sociality. Local group size and composition, sex-based dispersal at maturity, sexual selection and mating practices, kinship, enculturation, primate cognitive abilities and the social context of learning are addressed using an eclectic approach in which non-human primate data, sociological data on modern human mating practices and human paleontology play important roles.
Vegetation history along the eastern, desert escarpment of the Sierra San Pedro Martir, Baja California, Mexico

Plant macrofossils from 38 packrat middens spanning the last ~ 33,000 cal yr BP record vegetation between ~ 650 and 900 m elevation along the eastern escarpment of the Sierra San Pedro Martir, northern Baja California. The middens span most of the Holocene, with a gap between ~ 4600 and 1800 cal yr BP, but coverage in the Pleistocene is uneven with a larger hiatus between 23,100 and 14,400 cal yr BP. The midden flora is relatively stable from the Pleistocene to Holocene. Exceptions include Pinus californiarum, Juniperus californica and other chaparral elements that were most abundant > 23,100 cal yr BP and declined after 14,400 cal yr BP. Despite being near the chaparral/woodland-desertscrub ecotone during glacial times, the midden assemblages reflect none of the climatic reversals evident in the glacial or marine record, and this is corroborated by a nearby semi-continuous pollen stratigraphy from lake sediments. Regular appearance of C4 grasses and summer-flowering annuals since 13,600 cal yr BP indicates occurrence of summer rainfall equivalent to modern (JAS average of ~ 80–90 mm). This casts doubt on the claim, based on temperature proxies from marine sediments in the Guaymas Basin, that monsoonal development in the northern Gulf and Arizona was delayed until after 6200 cal yr BP.
Deleterious network hypothesis of Alzheimer's disease

Abstract Numerous studies indicate that aberrant amyloid precursor protein metabolism, elevated peroxidative damage, depressed energy metabolism and altered calcium homeostasis are four pivotal deleterious factors in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Cumulative evidence further suggests that these four factors are intimately interrelated, forming a deleterious network. Based on this new concept of ‘deleterious network’, a unifying hypothesis - the deleterious network hypothesis of Alzheimer's disease - is proposed. The main ideas of the hypothesis are delineated as follows: increases in free radical damage, alterations in amyloid precursor protein metabolism, impairment of energy metabolism and abnormalities of calcium homeostasis are four cornerstones of a deleterious network. Various risk factors of Alzheimer's disease can trigger the network by promoting the occurrence of one of these key components, resulting in the biological abnormalities of Alzheimer's disease. Based on this new theory, a majority of the important observations about Alzheimer's disease can be explained consistently and succinctly.
Role of terminal substituents in the pulmonary toxicity of bleomycins.

Abstract When administered to mice by the intratracheal route, bleomycin analogs produce pulmonary toxicity of varying severity. Analogs differ from each other by chemical groups (terminal substituents) linked to the bithiazole rings. Amines with structures identical to the terminal substituents of bleomycins A2′-a, A2′-b, A2′-c, A5, A6, and B2 were administered to mice endotracheally (10–500 nmol). Discrete end groups produced the same spectrum of pathological changes in the lung as did intact bleomycins, namely, pulmonary fibrosis and metaplasia. Relative to Blenoxane, bleomycin A5 is as toxic while the toxicity of bleomycin B2 is comparatively mild. The severity of pulmonary fibrosis and metaplasia of these bleomycins can be attributed to the terminal substituents, spermidine and agmatine. Spermidine produced severe fibrosis and metaplasia, comparable to that produced by bleomycin A5. Agmatine, the end group of bleomycin B2 was the least toxic of the terminal substituents, suggesting that the diminished pulmonary toxicity of bleomycin B2 can be accounted for by the terminal agmatine moiety. These studies indicate an important role for the terminal substituent in bleomycin-induced lung injury.
Individual and combined effects of copper and silver ions on inactivation of Legionella pneumophila

Abstract Copper/silver ionization is a new disinfection method that is being used to eradicate Legionella pneumophila from hospital hot water recirculating systems. The objective of this study was to determine the susceptibility of L. pneumophila serogroup 1 to copper and silver ions alone and in combination. L. pneumophila serogroup 1 ( L. p. sg-1) was completely inactivated (6-log reduction) at copper concentration of 0.1 mg/l within 2.5 h, whereas more than 24 h was required to achieve a similar reduction at the highest silver ion concentration tested (0.08 mg/l). Checkerboard method and Gard additive model prediction demonstrated that copper and silver ions in combination could result in additive or synergistic effect depending on the concentration of copper and silver ions. Under the experimental conditions used in this study, synergism of copper/silver ions in eradicating L. p. sg-1 was observed at higher concentration combinations of copper/silver ions (e.g. 0.04/0.04 mg/l) while only an additive effect was observed at lower concentration combinations (e.g. 0.02/0.02 mg/l). This study suggested that both copper and silver ions are effective in inactivating L. pneumophila and the combined effect is greater than that seen with either ion alone.
Homological characteristics of rings having Jacobson radical squared zero

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between Morita equivalence and Poincare equivalence in rings having Jacobson radical squared zero and to determine the structure of the algebras ExtX(S, T) = C’& Extfp(S, r) when R is such a ring and S and T are representatives of isomorphism classes of simple R-modules. We shall show, in Theorem 3, that two such rings are Morita equivalent iff they are Poincare equivalent. In Theorems 2 and 4 we obtain a description of the additive and multiplicative structure, respectively, of the Ext-algebras of such a ring.
Contrasting effects of anterior and posterior septal injury on thirst motivated behavior

Abstract Two separate groups of rats were subjected to bilateral ablations centered in either the anterior or posterior part of the septum. Across several different types of thirst motivation tasks the rats sustaining posterior septal injury were inferior to controls. In contrast, the anterior ablations always enhanced performance.
Raltegravir: the first HIV integrase inhibitor.

Abstract Background: The availability of new classes of antiretroviral drugs has made it possible for HIV-infected individuals who are highly treatment experienced to achieve the goals of immunologic recovery and virologic suppression. Raltegravir is the first integrase inhibitor to be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for use in antiretroviral treatment- experienced adult patients with viral resistance. Objective: This article reviews the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, efficacy, tolerability, resistance profile, drug interactions, and dosing and administration of raltegravir. Methods: Searches of MEDLINE and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts from 1964 to July 2008 were conducted using the terms integrase, raltegravir, and MK-0518 . Relevant information was extracted from the identified clinical trials and review articles. Abstracts from the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (1998-2008); Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (1999-2007); International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention (2001-2007); and European AIDS Conference (2001-2007) were also searched. Results: Raltegravir blocks HIV replication by inhibiting essential strand-transfer activities of integrase. Raltegravir is rapidly absorbed, with a median T max of ~4 hours in the fasting state. No dose adjustment is recommended in patients with moderate renal or hepatic insufficiency, and raltegravir may be taken without regard to meals. In Phase II studies in treatment-naive patients, raltegravir had efficacy similar to that of standard initial therapies. In 2 interrelated Phase III clinical studies in treatment-experienced patients with drug-resistant disease, the addition of raltegravir to an optimized background regimen significantly lowered HIV RNA compared with optimized background treatment alone (62.1% vs 32.9%, respectively; P Conclusion: Raltegravir is a potent and generally well tolerated antiretroviral agent that may play an important role in the treatment of patients harboring resistance to other antiretrovirals.
MULTILEVEL COVARIANCE STRUCTURE ANALYSIS BY FITTING MULTIPLE SINGLE-LEVEL MODELS

Data in social and behavioral sciences are often hierarchically organized. Multilevel statistical procedures have been developed to analyze such data while taking into account the dependence of obs...
Occurrence of Vine Decline Diseases of Muskmelon in Guatemala.

Central American countries have become major production areas of melons (Cucumis melo L.) destined for export to Europe and the United States during the winter months. Double cropping in the same fields year after year has created serious vine decline diseases in melons grown in the Capco area of Guatemala. Vines typically appear healthy until the fruit are approaching maturity, when the crown leaves begin to turn yellow and collapse and the decline gradually radiates outward. There was evidence of slightly water-soaked lesions in the crown of some plants; however, the symptoms were not similar to charcoal rot or gummy stem blight. The roots exhibited some decay, lesions, and discoloration, but were not macerated and rotten. A minimum of 10 affected plants were collected from each of nine fields in the Capco area of Guatemala. Isolations were made from the crown area, primary root, and secondary roots of selected plants by excising 3- to 5-mm pieces and surface sterilizing them for 30 to 60 s with 0.5% so...
Methods of Correlation by Means of Foraminifera

The determined principles of paleontologic correlation are applied to the use of Foraminifera for age determination and horizon identification and the relative values of the different criteria are briefly considered in this paper.
Inhibition of Clostridium perfringens Spore Germination and Outgrowth by Lemon Juice and Vinegar Product in Reduced NaCl Roast Beef

: Inhibition of Clostridium perfringens spore germination and outgrowth in reduced sodium roast beef by a blend of buffered lemon juice concentrate and vinegar (MoStatin LV1) during abusive exponential cooling was evaluated. Roast beef containing salt (NaCl; 1%, 1.5%, or 2%, w/w), blend of sodium pyro- and poly-phosphates (0.3%), and MoStatin LV1 (0%, 2%, or 2.5%) was inoculated with a 3-strain C. perfringens spore cocktail to achieve final spore population of 2.5 to 3.0 log CFU/g. The inoculated products were heat treated and cooled exponentially from 54.4 to 4.4 °C within 6.5, 9, 12, 15, 18, or 21 h. Cooling of roast beef (2.0% NaCl) within 6.5 and 9 h resulted in 1.0 log CFU/g increase for cooling times longer than 9 h (1.1 and 2.2 log CFU/g, respectively). Incorporation of MoStatin LV1 into the roast beef formulation minimized the C. perfringens spore germination and outgrowth to <1.0 log CFU/g, regardless of the salt concentration and the cooling time. Practical Application: Cooked, ready-to-eat meat products should be cooled rapidly to reduce the risk of Clostridium perfringens spore germination and outgrowth. Meat processors are reducing the sodium chloride content of the processed meats as a consequence of the dietary recommendations. Sodium chloride reduces the risk of C. perfringens spore germination and outgrowth in meat products. Antimicrobials that contribute minimally to the sodium content of the product should be incorporated into processed meats to assure food safety. Buffered lemon juice and vinegar can be incorporated into meat product formulations to reduce the risk of C. perfringens spore germination and outgrowth during abusive cooling.
EVALUATING THE CONSENSUS ECOLOGICAL RISK ASSESSMENT WORKSHOP AS A TOOL FOR FACILITATING DECISION-MAKING DURING SPILL RESPONSE AND PLANNING

ABSTRACT In early 2007, NOAA'S Environmental Response Division (ERD) initiated a project to evaluate the effectiveness of Consensus Ecological Risk Assessment (CERA) workshops in improving spill response planning and increasing awareness of response options and their limitations. A CERA workshop is a spill drill in which participants, especially resource trustees, learn and practice a risk-based method for assessing the relative benefits and impacts of alternative response actions, including no response, open water cleanup, dispersion, in situ burning, and shoreline cleanup. Most CERAs have been sponsored by the US Coast Guard and all have been co-facilitated by ERD. Since 1998, 15 regional CERA workshops and four national spill drills have involved more than 700 people from about two dozen nations. While anecdotal information indicates that the workshops have prompted some changes in spill response and response planning, ERD'S research project is the first directed effort to systematically investigate th...
Linear Markov approximations of piecewise linear stochastic systems

This paper is concerned with the properties of piecewise linear discrete-time dynamic systems driven by white Gaussian noise. The properties of the deterministic system are explored, and condition for the existence of invariant distributions are derived. The existence of an invariant distribution was then used to justify the approximation of the stochastic system by a switched Markov linear model if the piecewise linear regions are large “contracting” ones or small “expanding” ones relative to the input noise variance. The approach is expected to be useful for constructing approximate nonlinear filtering schemes for such systems
Dopant Enhanced Grain Growth During Crystallization of Amorphous Silicon Using Rapid Thermal Anealing

PECVD a-Si deposited at 250oC on 7059 glass was used as precursor material to produce low resistivity large grain doped poly Si. The films doped in the range of 10 20 −10 21 cm -3 with P during growth or by ion implantation wereannealed at 700oC for times 2 to 5 minutes using RTA. A dopant enhanced grain growth was observed with grain sizes of the order of 3 μm for films of only 2000A thickness. Resistivity as low as 6x10 -4 Ω-cm and mobility as highas 34 cm 2 /V-sec. were obtained using this low thermal budget process.These values are comparable to those obtained in the literature using significantly higher annealing temperatures.
Y Weigh In Again on Modern Humans

The age of the most recent man or woman from whom all living humans today descended has been the subject of considerable debate. It has been suggested that the date of our last common maternal ancestor could have be three times older than that of our last common paternal ancestor. Two papers in this issue independently redate our most recent common paternal ancestor and find that there is rather little or no disparity with the age our common maternal ancestor. On page 565, Francalacci et al. ( 1 ) report their high resolution sampling of 1204 Sardinian men, yielding 11,763 phylogenetically informative and male-specific single-nucleotide Y-chromosome polymorphisms (MSY-SNPs), and generate a putative estimate of 180,000 to 200,000 years for the point at which all these and other human paternal lineages coalesce. In a separate study on page 562, Poznik et al. ( 2 ) detail their methods using sequences from 69 males drawn from nine populations, covering 9.99 million loci on the Y, and conclude that the most recent common paternal ancestor lived 120,000 to 156,000 years ago. These papers further confirm an earlier sequencing study ( 3 ) of 36 male donors that pushed the ancestral Y back to 115,000 years before present (yr B.P.), using almost 6800 variants shared by two or more men. This is roughly the same as the dates derived on the basis of mitochondrial genome analysis for the most recent common maternal ancestor ( 4 ). So now it seems that a population giving rise to the strictly maternal and strictly paternal portions of our genomes could have produced individuals who found each other in the same space and time.