cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
DIPEX: A new extraction chromatographic material for the separation and preconcentration of actinides from aqueous solution

A novel extraction chromatographic resin consisting of a liquid diphosphonic acid supported on an inert polymeric substrate for the sorption of actinides from strongly acidic chloride media is described. The resin is shown to exhibit stronger affinity for actinides in the tri-, tetra- and hexavalent oxidation states and superior selectivity for americium(III) over aluminum(III) or iron(III) than an analogous chelating ion-exchange resin containing chemically bonded geminally substituted diphosphonic acid functionalities. These properties, along with the comparative ease of recovery of sorbed actinides, make the resin readily applicable to the separation and preconcentration of actinides, as a group, from complex matrices such as soils and bioassay samples.
The U5.0 undulator design for the advanced light source at LBL

Abstract The U5.0 undulator, currently under design, is the first in a series of insertion devices planned for the Advanced Light Source at LBL. U5.0 parameters include a 5-cm period and a 5-m length with an 0.837-T maximum field at a 14-mm gap. A hybrid configuration utilizing NdFeB permanent magnet material and vanadium permendur poles is used for the magnetic structure. Construction is modular with many pole assemblies attached to a pole mount, which in turn is fastened onto one of the backing beams. Vertical field integral correction at the ends is accomplished with permanent magnet rotators. The support structure features a four-post configuration, a rigid base with three kinematic floor supports, and two rigid 5-m long backing beams that fit within the 2.4-m-high accelerator enclosure. The drive system is computer-controlled using a stepper motor and shaft encoder coupled to a roller-screw/nut and chain drive train. Vacuum chamber design is a rigid configuration with a 10 mm vertical by 218 mm horizontal aperture of 5.5 m length. Chamber fabrication features a two-piece welded chamber of 5083 H321 aluminum. Pumping is with ion and titanium sublimation pumps.
Observation of the Role of Subcritical Nuclei in Crystallization of a Glassy Solid

Phase transformation generally begins with nucleation, in which a small aggregate of atoms organizes into a different structural symmetry. The thermodynamic driving forces and kinetic rates have been predicted by classical nucleation theory, but observation of nanometer-scale nuclei has not been possible, except on exposed surfaces. We used a statistical technique called fluctuation transmission electron microscopy to detect nuclei embedded in a glassy solid, and we used a laser pump-probe technique to determine the role of these nuclei in crystallization. This study provides a convincing proof of the time- and temperature-dependent development of nuclei, information that will play a critical role in the development of advanced materials for phase-change memories.
Language Shift and Local Choice: On Practicing Linguistics in the 21st Century

Concern for endangered languages draws together two communities who have long been associated with each other, Native North American groups and linguists. The desire to maintain these languages, however, creates the need for a new working relationship between the two communities. This discussion formulates, first, some of the issues internal to Native American communities in their efforts to perpetuate their languages, and secondly, some of the steps that we, as linguists, can take to make our profession more responsive to these community issues.
The 120 kDa outer membrane protein of Ehrlichia chaffeensis: Preferential expression on dense-core cells and gene expression in Escherichia coli associated with attachment and entry

The immunodominant 120 kDa protein (p120) of Ehrlichia chaffeensis was demonstrated to be exposed on the surface of purified whole ehrlichial cells examined by immunoelectron microscopy with a rabbit antibody against a portion of the domain containing tandem repeat units. In the intracellular location, the 120 kDa protein was detected by immunoelectron microscopy in the outer membrane of the cell wall of dense-core forms of the ehrlichiae in infected canine macrophage-like cells and as a component of the intramorular fibrillary matrix. No 120 kDa protein was detected in the cell wall of ehrlichial reticulate cells. Recombinant Escherichia coli with a plasmid containing the entire 120 kDa protein gene, but no bacteria with non-recombinant plasmid, attached to the surface of HeLa cells as visualized by electron microscopy. Some of the recombinant 120 kDa protein expressing E. coli invaded the HeLa cells as determined by gentamicin protection assays and by intravacuolar localization ultrastructurally.
Formal and Informal Network Coupling and its Relationship to Workplace Attachment

This study examines how the overlap between informal and formal networks in the workplace is related to the degree of attachment for individuals in work organizations. Two types of informal networks, identified by their content and structure, are commonly found in work organizations: Friendship networks and trust networks. Both the content of networks and the coupling (or overlap) of individual member networks with formal authority networks are important for two kinds of attachment, organizational identification and organizational internalization. Data from a survey of employees in five, small, start-up organizations were collected during 1997 and early 1998. Tight coupling between friendship networks and formal authority networks is found to have a strong positive relationship to organizational identification. Tight coupling between trust and formal authority networks is also found to be strongly and positively related to both organizational identification and internalization. Additionally, tight couplin...
Noise raises blood pressure without impairing auditory sensitivity

Two rhesus monkeys, exposed continuously to realistic patterns and levels of noise for 9 months, exhibited sustained elevations in blood pressure that did not return to baseline values after the noise ended. Auditory brainstem responses, measured before and after exposure, indicated no change in auditory sensitivity.
Cognitive Behavior Modification, Direct Instruction and Holistic Approaches to the Education of Students with Learning Disabilities

In this paper, cognitive behavior modification (CBM), Direct Instruction (DI), and holistic approaches to the education of students with learning disabilities are compared for the purpose of identifying similarities and differences in instructional practices. An overview of the approaches is followed by comparative discussions organized around four distinctions: (a) specific vs. general, (b) bottom-up vs. top-down, (c) structured vs. unstructured, and (d) effectiveness vs. ineffectiveness. In a final discussion section, some conclusions and recommendations are offered.All three of the approaches included in this paper are considered to be cognitive in the sense that they seek to describe and/or change students' cognitive behaviors that are not directly observable. However, each of these cognitive approaches has retained some elements of the purer behavioral approaches that were so popular in special education in the 1970s. Those behavioral elements will be addressed in this paper also.
Proteolysis at Arg740 Facilitates Subsequent Bond Cleavages during Thrombin-catalyzed Activation of Factor VIII

Abstract Thrombin activates factor VIII by proteolysis at three P1 residues: Arg372, Arg740, and Arg1689. Cleavage at Arg372 and Arg1689 are essential for procofactor activation; however cleavage at Arg740 has not been rigorously studied. To evaluate the role for cleavage at Arg740, we prepared and stably expressed two recombinant B-domainless factor VIII mutants, R740H and R740Q to slow and eliminate, respectively, cleavage at this site. Specific activity values for the variants were ∼50 and 20%, respectively, that of wild-type factor VIII. Activation of factor VIII R740H by thrombin showed an ∼40-fold reduction in the rate of A2 subunit generation, which reflected an ∼20-fold reduction in cleavage rate at Arg372. Similarly, a ∼40-fold rate reduction in cleavage at Arg1689 and consequent generation of the A3-C1-C2 subunit were observed. Rate values for A2 and A3-C1-C2 subunit generation were reduced by >700-fold and ∼140-fold, respectively, in the R740Q variant. These results suggest that initial cleavage at Arg740 affects cleavage at both Arg372 and Arg1689 sites. Results obtained evaluating proteolysis of the factor VIII mutants by factor Xa revealed more modest rate reductions (<10-fold) in generating A2 and A3-C1-C2 subunits from either variant, suggesting that factor Xa-catalyzed activation of factor VIII was significantly less dependent upon prior cleavage at residue 740 than thrombin. Overall, these results support a model whereby cleavage of factor VIII by thrombin is an ordered pathway with cleavage at Arg740 facilitating cleavages at Arg372 and Arg1689, which result in procofactor activation.
Properties of an infinite focussing channel with successive quadrupole rotations not equal to 90

Infinite magnetic quadrupole channel, discussing operations in complete transverse plane phase space via 4 x 4 matrix transformations
Generation and Characterization of Two Transgenic Mouse Lines Expressing Human ApoE2 in Neurons and Glial Cells

Apolipoprotein E (apoE) isoforms are key determinants of susceptibility to late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD). The epsilon 4 and epsilon 2 alleles have been associated with increased and decreased risk for AD, respectively. We have generated and characterized transgenic mice in which the human apoE2 gene is expressed under the control of the platelet-derived growth factor B-chain (PDGF-B) promoter, or the transferrin (TF) promoter. S1 nuclease analysis and immunoblotting showed that the PDGF-B apoE2 mice express apoE2 exclusively in the brain whereas the TF apoE2 mice express apoE2 in the liver and in the brain. In the TF apoE2 mouse line, apoE2 is also detected in the plasma. The PDGF-B apoE2 and the TF apoE2 transgenic mice were bred back to apoE(-)(/)(-) background. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that the PDGF apoE2 x apoE(-)(/)(-) and the TF apoE2 x apoE(-)(/)(-) mice express human apoE2 within the neocortex in hippocampal neurons and glial cells, respectively. ApoE(-)(/)(-) mice have been shown to develop age-dependent loss of synaptophysin. Immunoblotting of mouse brain extracts and immunohistochemical analysis of brain sections showed that apoE expression in both apoE2 x apoE(-)(/)(-) transgenic lines was associated with significant recovery of brain synaptophysin levels as compared to the levels of apoE(-)(/)(-) littermates of the same age. These apoE2-expressing mice, when bred back on amyloid precursor protein (APP) transgenic mice or other mouse lines featuring alterations in lipoprotein metabolism, may provide new mouse models for elucidating the role of apoE2 in lipid homeostasis in the brain and in the pathogenesis of AD.
A rapid, sensitive bioassay for luteinizing hormone-like gonadotropins

Abstract This report describes a simple and sensitive bioassay for gonadotropins having luteinizing hormone (LH)-like activity. The procedure depends on the ability of the gonadotropins to stimulate testosterone synthesis in testis interstitial cell suspensions prepared by collagenase digestion of immature rat testes. Although a similar procedure has been described previously, the method described here provides two modifications which (1) allow the chemically related gonadotropins LH and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) to be distinguished biologically and (2) increase the speed and reduce the cost of the assay. As described, the assay can be utilized to measure gonadotropin activity of avian, reptilian, amphibian, and, possibly, piscine materials as well as that of the well-characterized mammalian hormones. The simplicity and sensitivity (1 pg of HCG, 20 pg of LH) of this assay should greatly facilitate the isolation and purification of gonadotropins from nonmammalian vertebrates and, thus, enable comparative studies which were heretofore nearly impossible.
Role of lateral hypothalamic orexin neurons in reward processing and addiction.

Orexins (also known as hypocretins) are recently discovered neuropeptides made exclusively in hypothalamic neurons that have been shown to be important in narcolepsy/cataplexy and arousal. Here, we conducted behavioral, anatomical and neurophysiological studies that show that a subset of these cells, located specifically in lateral hypothalamus (LH), are involved in reward processing and addictive behaviors. We found that Fos expression in LH orexin neurons varied in proportion to preference for morphine, cocaine or food. This relationship obtained both in drug naive rats and in animals during protracted morphine withdrawal, when drug preference was elevated but food preference was decreased. Recent studies showed that LH orexin neurons that project to ventral tegmental area (VTA) have greater Fos induction in association with elevated morphine preference during protracted withdrawal than non-VTA-projecting orexin neurons, indicating that the VTA is an important site of action for orexin's role in reward processing. In addition, we found that stimulation of LH orexin neurons, or microinjection of orexin into VTA, reinstated an extinguished morphine preference. Most recently, using a self-administration paradigm we discovered that the Ox1 receptor antagonist SB-334867 (SB) blocks cocaine-seeking induced by discrete or contextual cues, but not by a priming injection of cocaine. Neurophysiological studies revealed that locally applied orexin often augmented responses of VTA dopamine (DA) neurons to activation of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), consistent with the view that orexin facilitates activation of VTA DA neurons by stimulus-reward associations. We also recently showed that orexin in VTA is necessary for learning a morphine place preference. These findings are consistent with results from others showing that orexin facilitates glutamate-mediated responses, and is necessary for glutamate-dependent long-term potentiation, in VTA DA neurons. We surmise from these studies that LH orexin neurons play an important role in reward processing and addiction, and that LH orexin cells are an important input to VTA for behavioral effects associated with reward-paired stimuli.
Relationship Characteristics of Couples Married Thirty Years or More: A Four-Sample Replication

A secondary analysis of four samples from earlier studies was used to test two hypotheses concerning long-term marriages. First, it was hypothesized that couples from marriages of 30 years or more duration would be characterized by higher levels of relationship quality, with the overall pattern between duration of marriage and relationship quality being curvilinear; across four samples of husbands and wives, only weak support was found for this hypothesis. A second hypothesis, that elements of intrinsic communication including positive regard, empathy, and congruence would be less important for couples from older marriages, received no support. Thus, it appears that relatively intrinsic components of the marital relationship are just as important currently for older couples as they are for younger couples, in spite of popular opinion to the contrary.
Clinical Technique: Ultrasound-Guided Fine-Needle Aspirate in Ferrets

Ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration of organs and structures within the body cavity reduces the risk of iatrogenic injury to important anatomic structures compared with blind sampling. Through visualization of the needle entering the target tissue there is an increased chance of obtaining the desired samples while reducing the possibility of complications. The increased use of ultrasound imaging to assess and diagnose exotic animal patients makes this an excellent modality to expand its use from strictly a visual diagnostic aid. Ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration has been used to collect tissue samples from many species of small exotic mammals, reptiles, and birds.
The distribution of manatees (Trichechus manatus) in the coastal waterways of Tortuguero, Costa Rica

Abstract Only fragmented populations of the West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus) now exist over the manatee's once vast Caribbean-West Atlantic range. From 1996 to 1998, we led four research expeditions to determine the status of manatees in Tortuguero, Costa Rica. We spent a total of 79 days in the field and interviewed 98 residents including former manatee hunters, river guides, and commercial fishermen. During this period, we spent more than 3500 person-hours conducting boat surveys of manatees between Moin and the Nicaraguan border. We made 29 sightings of manatees, and learned about 61 other sightings through interviews with residents (44 sightings) and reports from the Area de Conservacion Tortuguero (17 sightings). Our data indicates that manatees are threatened by hunting; an increase in boat traffic associated, in part, due to an increase in ecotourism; and environmental degradation associated with the clearing of tropical forest for commercial banana plantations, logging and cattle ranching.
The role of interstitial cells in the maintenance of hydra. IV. Migration of interstitial cells in homografts and heterografts

Normal and mustard-treated halves of Hydra pseudoligactis and Hydra pirardi were grafted in distal-proximal combinations. In all cases H. pseudoligactis grafted more readily than H. pirardi. Mustard-treated H. pseudoligactis were grafted to normal H. pseudoligactis after various intervals from the time of treatment. Interstitial cells migrated from the normal portions into treated portions lacking them and within 5 to 10 days the animals appeared normal. Normal portions of H. pseudoligactis and H. pirardi were grafted together and in some cases they remained attached for 60 days. Large numbers of interstitial cells accumulated in each portion, near the graft junction. After 15 days, some of these interstitial cells differentiated into cnidoblasts. Interstitial cells migrated from a normal portion of H. pirardi into a mustard-treated portion of H. pseudoligactis. Differentiation of interstitial cells into cnidoblasts was observed in the host tissue. In heterografts between normal H. pseudoligactis and mustard-treated H. pirardi there was no exchange of interstitial cells. There was, however, an accumulation of interstitial cells near the graft junction. In both species successful homografts were made between mustard-treated portions, indicating that interstitial cells are not required for acceptance of grafts. Grafts between mustard-treated H. pirardi and mustard-treated H. pseudoligactis showed less initial acceptance than any of the other groups. The rate of detachment was very high in this group. It was suggested that mustard treatment may inhibit production of substances required for adherence of cells. The results are discussed in terms of possible mechanisms controlling interstitial cell migration, division and differentiation.
Pressor doses of vasopressin result in only transient elevations in plasma peptide levels

Abstract We recently reported that neuronostatin, a novel neuropeptide, biphasically increased mean arterial pressure, first through the activation of the sympathetic nervous system followed by the release of vasopressin. In those experiments, we found that centrally administered neuronostatin increased plasma vasopressin levels only 2–3 times greater than levels observed in saline-treated controls, and that the increase in mean arterial pressure (approximately 15 mm Hg) could be blocked by pretreatment with a V1-vasopressin antagonist. Here we report the relationship between two to three fold elevations in plasma vasopressin levels and concomitant changes in mean arterial pressure in conscious, unrestrained male rats. We injected increasing doses of vasopressin (5, 20, and 100 ng/kg, intra-arterially) and measured both changes in plasma vasopressin levels and the elevation in mean arterial pressure achieved. At 5-min post injection, plasma levels of vasopressin and mean arterial pressures were similar to those observed following central neuronostatin administration in our earlier study. Thus we conclude that small increases in circulating vasopressin levels can result in significant elevations in mean arterial pressure at least in the conscious rat.
Micronutrient variation within cotton leaf tissue as related to variety and soil location

Abstract Leaf and petiole samples from 16 cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) varieties at three Southeastern soil series locations were analyzed for elemental composition. The concentrations of six micronutrients were found to vary between varieties at any one of the locations as well as from one location to another. Mn and Fe contents of the varieties were significantly different (P = .01 and P = .05, respectively) for plants grown on a Farragut sil (Calhoun, Ga.) but not on a Cecil cl (Griffin, Ga.) or a Greenville sl (Plains, Ga.). Correlation coefficients indicated a significant (P = .01) positive relationship for Mn and Fe among varieties grown on the Farragut and Greenville soils. Among all varieties and all locations, positive correlations occurred between Mn, Fe, Zn, B, Cu, and K whereas Mo was negatively correlated with the same elements. Levels of Mn and Fe found in the plant tissue could not be explained in terms of total soil Mn and Fe or soil pH.
Ultra-compact On-Chip Photonic Crystal Interferometers with High Sensitivity

High group index property of photonic crystals (PCs) is used to enhance the spectral sensitivity of on-chip optical interferometry. A planar PC is used in a Young interferometer demonstrating one order of magnitude sensitivity improvement.
Take it and release it: The use of the Rab1 small GTPase at a bacterium's will.

Successful pathogens are equipped to exploit the signaling pathways of their host cell to establish a niche conducive for their survival and proliferation. One emerging example is the modulation of the small GTPase Rab1 by virulence factors of the intracellular pathogen Legionella pneumophila. Besides proteins that mimic host regulatory factors involved in controlling Rab1 activity, this bacterium temporally locks this small GTPase in its active form by AMPylation. Efficient release of Rab1 from the bacterial phagosome requires deAMPylation prior to being inactivated by the bacterial GAP protein LepB. Whether Rab activity is similarly regulated under native condition is unknown, but it is clear that virulence factors from pathogens can be invaluable tools in dissecting the intricacy of host cellular processes. Note: An editorial about this paper can be found online at: www.landesbioscience.com/journals/cellularlogistics/article/18984
Polymerization of a cellobiose derivative to comb-shaped oligosaccharides

Abstract The Lewis acid-catalyzed polymerization of 1,6-anhydro-2,3-di-O-benzyl-4-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-β- d -glucopyranosyl)-β- d -glucopyranose (hexabenzyl-1,6-anhydrocellobiose) leads to products of number average molecular weights of 6–7 x 103 and specific rotations as high as +80° (c 1, chloroform). Variations in reaction conditions affect the molecular weight and optical rotation of products significantly. Conditions giving maximum stereoregularity and molecular weight are similar to those observed with the corresponding maltose derivative. Debenzylation of products yielded nondialyzable hydrated oligosaccharides, presumably comb-shaped, of [α] + 77.8° (c 1, water; observed) or [α] + 84.3° (c 1, water; calculated for anhydrous weight). Analysis of the oligosaccharide, like the products from the corresponding maltose derivative, indicates the presence of 1.5 molecule of water for each repeating disaccharide unit. Presumptive evidence suggests that the products of highest optical rotation are highly stereoregular.
On learning terrorism

Abstract The complex phenomenon of terrorism has been explained in a variety of ways, ranging from the narrowly psychological to the broadly political. Many of these hypotheses appear to have merit, although, standing alone, each tends to be inadequate or incomplete. Focusing on the psychological explanations of root cause, the instant discussion proposes that the hitherto neglected or taken‐for‐granted principles of human learning, particularly those of cognitive‐behavioral conditioning, can provide a useful and significant component to these explanations. The competence and commitment to the ways and means of terror are in large measure produced, intensified, and sustained through learning. Evidence, chiefly from psychological studies, is adduced to support this hypothesis. A few formal, sometimes state‐sponsored training programs based more or less on conditioning are briefly described. Some of the doctrines, particularly those that underpin Middle East terrorism and provide the justification and subst...
Use of the serum bactericidal titer to assess theadequacy of oral antibiotic therapy in the treatment of acute hematogenous osteomyelitis

Serum bactericidal titers against Staphylococcus aureus were measured in 63 children who were receiving mafcillin or methicillin intravenously, or dicloxacillin, penicillin, or cephalexin orally. The SBTs obtained following unit does of 25 mg/kg of dicloxacillin, 35 mg/kg of penicillin, or 25 mg/kg of cephalexin with probenecid were comparable to those seen following intravenous doses of 40 mg/kg nafcillin or methicillin. Twenty-two children with acute hematogenous osteomyelitis proven or presumed to be due to S. aureus were treated intravenously until point tenderness and fever had resolved, and then with oral therapy. The mean duration of intravenous therapy was 14 days. Oral doses were adjusted so that a peak SBT of greater than or equal to 1:16 and a trough SBT of greater than or equal to 1:2 were obtained in most children. No recurrences occurred. The SBT proved to be a practical means of assessing the adequacy of oral therapy in children with infections due to S. aureus.
Haemolymph ecdysteroid levels in diapause-and nondiapause-bound fourth and fifth instars and in pupae of the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis H übner

Abstract 1. 1. Diapause-inducing conditions had no effect on premolt peak ecdysteroid titers of penultimate stage European corn borer larvae. 2. 2. Haemolymph ecdysteroid titers of pharate fifth instars decreased more slowly in diapause-than in nondiapause-bound animals. 3. 3. Four haemolymph ecdysteroid peaks were detected during the last instar in nondiapause-bound larvae, the second of which was associated with a change from larval to pupal commitment. 4. 4. Pupae exhibited a major haemolymph ecdysteroid peak just prior to pharate adult formation; the gradual decline in ecdysteroid titers that followed was interrupted by two significant peaks in males and one in females. 5. 5. There may be many more significant ecdysteroid surges than was originally thought controlling a variety of developmental processes during the insect life cycle.
Characterization of antibodies that selectively detect α-synuclein in pathological inclusions

Sensitive detection of alpha-synuclein (alpha-syn) pathology is important in the diagnosis of disorders like Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, and multiple system atrophy and in providing better insights into the etiology of these diseases. Several monoclonal antibodies that selectively react with aggregated alpha-syn in pathological inclusions and reveal extensive and underappreciated alpha-syn pathology in the brains of diseased patients were previously reported by Duda et al. (Ann Neurol 52:205-210, 2002). We sought to characterize the specificity of some of these antibodies (Syn 505, Syn 506 and Syn 514); using C-terminal and N-terminal truncations of alpha-syn, all three antibodies were determined to require N-terminal epitopes that minimally comprise amino acids 2-4, but possibly extend to amino acid 12 of alpha-syn. The selectivity of these antibodies was further assessed using biochemical analysis of human brains and reactivity to altered recombinant alpha-syn proteins with duplication variants of amino acids 1-12. In addition, by expressing wild-type or a double mutant (E46K/A53T) of alpha-syn in cultured cells and by comparing their immunoreactivities to another antibody (SNL-4), which has a similar primary epitope, it was determined that Syn 505, Syn 506 and Syn 514 recognize conformational variants of alpha-syn that is enhanced by the presence of the double mutations. These studies indicate that antibodies Syn 505, Syn 506 and Syn 514 preferentially recognize N-terminal epitopes in complex conformations, consistent with the dramatic conformational change associated with the polymerization of alpha-synuclein into amyloid fibrils that form pathological inclusions.
Arrested pneumatization of the sphenoid sinus mimicking intraosseous lesions of the skull base

Arrested pneumatization of the sphenoid sinus is a developmental variant that is not always well recognized and is often confused with other pathologies associated with the skull base. This report describes the case of a patient referred for cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging for dental implant therapy. CBCT demonstrated a well-defined incidental lesion in the left sphenoid sinus with soft tissue-like density and sclerotic borders with internal curvilinear opacifications. The differential diagnoses included intraosseous lipoma, arrested pneumatization of the sphenoid sinus, chondrosarcoma, chondroid chordoma, and ossifying fibroma. The radiographic diagnosis of arrested pneumatization was based on the location of the lesion, its well-defined nature, the presence of internal opacifications, and lack of expansion. Gray-scale CBCT imaging of the area demonstrated values similar to fatty tissue. This case highlighted the fact that benign developmental variants associated with the skull base share similar radiographic features with more serious pathological entities.
Loss of Vacuolar H+-ATPase Activity in Organelles Signals Ubiquitination and Endocytosis of the Yeast Plasma Membrane Proton pump Pma1p

Yeast mutants lacking the intracellular V-ATPase proton pump (vma mutants) have reduced levels of the Pma1p proton pump at the plasma membrane and increased levels in organelles including the vacuolar lumen. We examined the mechanism and physiological consequences of Pma1p mislocalization. Pma1p is ubiquitinated in vma mutants, and ubiquitination depends on the ubiquitin ligase Rsp5p and the arrestin-related adaptor protein Rim8p. vma mutant strains containing rsp5 or rim8 mutations maintain Pma1p at the plasma membrane, suggesting that ubiquitination is required for Pma1p internalization. Acute inhibition of V-ATPase activity with concanamycin A triggers Pma1p ubiquitination and internalization. In an endocytosis-deficient mutant (end4Δ) Pma1p is ubiquitinated but retained at the plasma membrane during concanamycin A treatment. Consistent with specificity in signaling loss of V-ATPase activity to Pma1p, another plasma membrane transporter, Mup1p, is not internalized in a vma mutant, and loss of the Mup1p adaptor Art1p does not prevent Pma1p internalization in a vma mutant. Very poor growth of vma2 rsp5-1 and vma2 rim8Δ double mutants suggests that Pma1p internalization benefits the vma mutants. We hypothesize that loss of V-ATPase-mediated organelle acidification signals ubiquitination, internalization, and degradation of a portion of Pma1p as a means of balancing overall pH homeostasis.
Immunohistochemical localization of putative neurotransmitters within the feline nucleus tractus solitarii.

Abstract With the aid of immunohistochemical techniques the distribution of substance P, met-enkephalin, serotonin, somatostatin, α-melanocyte stimulating hormone, neurotensin and neurophysin immunoreactivities were mapped throughout the rostro-caudal extent of the cat's nucleus tractus solitarii. Three of the putative neurotransmitters (substance P, enkephalin and serotonin) were found to be widely distributed as varicose fibers and punctate structures. The densities of their immunoreactivities were plotted in a range from very dense, dense, moderate, occasional, to none, at different levels of the nucleus of the solitary tract. Substance P immunoreactivity was the most varied and dense of all the neurotransmitters studied. Its accumulations ranged from very dense in the lateral, dense in portions of the parvocellular and lateral, moderate in medial and commissural and occasional in ventrolateral and portions of the parvocellular subdivisions. Both the enkephalin and serotonin immunoreactivities had patterns similar to that of substance P immunoreactivity, although their amounts were not as great. Following colchicine treatment neurons containing substance P and enkephalin immunoreactivity were found in many subdivisions of the nucleus of the solitary tract. Somatostatin, α-melanocyte stimulating hormone, neurotensin and neurophysin immunoreactivities were present in the nucleus of the solitary tract as isolated varicose fibers scattered throughout the nucleus. Immunoreactive neurons were not found for these putative neurotransmitters after colchicine treatment. The presence of substance P immunoreactivity within subdivisions which receive visceral afferent input is discussed in relation to the role of substance P as a possible transmitter of the afferent limb of the vagus nerve. The distribution of enkephalin and serotonin immunoreactivities in the nucleus of the solitary tract reflect their involvement in the regulation or modulation of cardiovascular and respiratory functions. While the significance of somatostatin, α-melanocyte stimulating hormone, neurotensin and neurophysin immunoreactivities within the nucleus of the solitary tract is not understood at present, these substances might possibly play a role in visceral functions.
Preventing Occupancy Detection From Smart Meters

Utilities are rapidly deploying smart meters that measure electricity usage in real-time. Unfortunately, smart meters indirectly leak sensitive information about a home’s occupancy, which is easy to detect because it highly correlates with simple statistical metrics, such as power’s mean, variance, and range. To prevent occupancy detection, we propose using the thermal energy storage of electric water heaters already present in many homes. In essence, our approach, which we call combined heat and privacy (CHPr), modulates a water heater’s power usage to make it look like someone is always home. We design a CHPr-enabled water heater that regulates its energy usage to thwart a variety of occupancy detection attacks without violating its objective—to provide hot water on demand—and evaluate it in simulation using real data. Our results show that a standard 50-gal CHPr-enabled water heater prevents a wide range of state-of-the-art occupancy detection attacks.
Adolescent Risk Factors for Adult Alcohol Use and Abuse: Stability and Change of Predictive Value across Early and Middle Adulthood

In any given year between seven and nine percent of the U.S. adult population suffer from alcohol abuse or dependence (1,2), suggesting the very large economic and human capital tolls of alcohol use disorders. At the same time, most adults who use alcohol do so without any short- or long-term difficulties. In fact, moderate drinking, defined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (3) as no more than 1 drink/day for women and no more than 2 drinks/day for men, can have health-promoting effects (4). These unique qualities of alcohol – namely, the effects of its use being devastating for some and neutral or even salutary for others – underscore the importance of delineating the individual characteristics and experiences that contribute to variation in the etiology and course of alcohol use and abuse across the life span. In particular, given that adolescence is when alcohol use typically onsets and escalates, as well as the pivotal role adolescence can play in adult health (5–7), an important set of questions pertain to how adolescent characteristics and experiences contribute to variation in adult alcohol use and abuse; due to the dearth of long-term prospective studies, these questions have received little attention. Of course, alcohol use and abuse during adulthood are not static, so in addition to inter-individual variation, there are important developmental variations, such that alcohol use and abuse tend to peak during early adulthood and then decline thereafter (8–13). Thus, not only is it important to examine the adolescent risk factors for adult alcohol use, it is also important to examine the extent to which the associations between such risk factors and alcohol outcome vary as a function of both age and the type of alcohol outcome under investigation. Accordingly, the purpose of the present study is to examine adolescent risk factors for early and middle adult alcohol use and abuse, within a U.S. national multi-cohort panel study following young people from age 18 through age 35.
Theory of unconfined excitons trapped by a quantum well.

The energy levels and optical properties of unconfined excitons (excitons made of electron-hole pairs in the barrier material) interacting with a quantum well are studied via a variational method within the effective-mass approximation. The interplay of the relative motion and center-of-mass motion is examined carefully. The coupling of the unconfined excitons with the confined exciton via the emission of an acoustic phonon is examined. The effect of such coupling can produce much enhanced signals in the photoluminescence excitation (PLE) measurements. spectra. We perform simulation of the absorption and PLE spectra of an ${\mathrm{In}}_{x}{\mathrm{Ga}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}\mathrm{As}/\mathrm{GaAs}$ quantum well based on this mechanism and compare our results with the experiment performed by Reynolds et al. [Phys. Rev. B 43, 1871 (1991)].
Eigenvalues of Symmetrical Matrices and Graphs

Abstract We investigate the class C of integral domains A having the property that each totally real integral element over A is an eigenvalue of a symmetric matrix over A. C is shown to contain all Dedekind domains and any domain in which −1 is a sum of squares. In the case A = Z , these results imply that any totally real algebraic integer is the eigenvalue of the adjacency matrix of some regular graph, thus affirming a conjecture of Hoffman.
The Effect of Information Technology Investments in Healthcare: A Longitudinal Study of its Lag, Duration, and Economic Value

This research develops a framework that disaggregates investments in IT in the healthcare industry into four distinct categories: investments in patient management IT (PMIT), transactional support IT (TSIT), communications IT (CIT), and administrative IT (AIT). In a longitudinal study, financial and operational data from several hospitals spanning 26 years are analyzed to examine the lag as well as duration of the effect of these IT investments on hospital costs and labor productivity. The results reveal that TSIT capital has an immediate effect on medical labor and administrative labor productivities, and a lagged but durable effect on operating costs. CIT capital has an immediate but short-term effect on medical labor and administrative labor productivities. AIT capital has an immediate but short-term effect on medical labor productivity. PMIT capital, on the other hand, increases operating costs, an effect that is immediate but short-term. Finally, post hoc marginal analysis reveals that among the four types of IT investments, CIT has the maximum economic value effect on hospital productivity, followed by TSIT, and then AIT; with PMIT having a minimal economic value effect.
New era for chimpanzee research: broad implications of chimpanzee research decisions.

The unprecedented recent decision-making about chimpanzees supported for biomedical science by the US National Institutes of Health attracted international attention and significantly changed many dimensions of chimpanzee research. Many public and media portrayals incorrectly generalized the NIH findings to conclude that chimpanzee research itself was no longer necessary. In fact, the broader question of the necessity and value of the full range of chimpanzee research was never asked, evaluated, or within the NIH's primary charge. The Institute of Medicine evaluative panel found that research with chimpanzees was necessary for some, but not all, purposes. The panel's findings also led the NIH to introduce new standards for the care and management of NIH-supported chimpanzees and a new mechanism for ethical review of grant proposals involving chimpanzees. The NIH evaluation and decisions could not address all captive chimpanzees and all types of research. However, the process did underscore the need for a more expansive framework for continued ethical review and decision-making to responsibly address the future of captive chimpanzee management and research. Among the broader considerations are extension of evidence-informed standards to ensure equitable care and treatment of all chimpanzees; determining the global impact of limited captive populations; and balancing benefit and harm at individual, species, societal, and environmental levels. The breadth and longevity of impact from the current US decisions suggest the need for many voices, disciplines, and stakeholders to address the complex interplay between science, animal welfare, and global health. Summary © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 57: 279–288, 2015.
Increased Variation in ADH Enzyme Activity in Drosophila Mutation-Accumulation Experiment Is Not Due to Transposable Elements at the Adh Structural Gene

We present here a molecular analysis of the region surrounding the structural gene encoding alcohol dehydrogenase (Adh) in 47 lines of Drosophila melanogaster that have each accumulated mutations for 300 generations. While these lines show a significant increase in variation of alcohol dehydrogenase enzyme activity compared to control lines, we found no restriction map variation in a 13-kb region including the complete Adh structural gene and roughly 5 kb of both 5' and 3' sequences. Thus, the rapid accumulation of ADH activity variation after 28,200 allele generations does not appear to have been due to the mobilization of transposable elements into or out of the Adh structural gene region.
Rank deficiency and superstability of hybrid systems

Abstract The objectives of this paper are to study the rank properties of flows of hybrid systems, show that they are fundamentally different from those of smooth dynamical systems, and to consider applications that emphasize the importance of these differences. It is well known that the flow of a smooth dynamical system has rank equal to the space on which it evolves. We prove that, in contrast, the rank of a solution to a hybrid system, a hybrid execution, is always less than the dimension of the space on which it evolves and in fact falls within possibly distinct upper and lower bounds that can be computed explicitly. The main contribution of this work is the derivation of conditions for when an execution fails to have maximal rank, i.e., when it is rank deficient. Given the importance of periodic behavior in many hybrid systems applications, for example in bipedal robots, these conditions are applied to the special case of periodic hybrid executions. Finally, we use the rank deficiency conditions to derive superstability conditions describing when periodic executions have rank equal to 0, that is, we determine when the execution is completely insensitive to perturbations in initial conditions. The results of this paper are illustrated on three separate applications, two of which are models of bipedal walking robots: the classical single-domain planar compass biped and the two-domain planar kneed biped.
Pharmacists and the social contract.

Card (2007) offers important reminders that a key duty of pharmacists is to get their facts right. Bioethics is all about applying values to real-world facts. There is a lot of room for disagreemen...
Capacity gains from pilot cancellation in CDMA networks

Common pilot cancellation in mobile receivers has recently gained attention for CDMA cellular networks. This paper presents system simulation results showing that the network capacity gains achievable from both ideal and hardware resource limited pilot cancellation receivers are significant. We show that the highest gains are achievable from both ideal and hardware resource limited pilot cancellation receivers are significant. We show that the highest gains are achieved for networks populated with high rate data users, rather than voice users. We also pay special attention to the interaction between pilot cancellation and soft handoff in a power controlled network. We show that pilot cancellation allows the network to operate with fewer mobiles in soft handoff, hence reducing network signaling overhead and infrastructure costs.
The Role of Vitamin D Receptor Mutations in the Development of Alopecia

Hereditary Vitamin D Resistant Rickets (HVDRR) is a rare disease caused by mutations in the vitamin D receptor (VDR). The consequence of defective VDR is the inability to absorb calcium normally in the intestine. This leads to a constellation of metabolic abnormalities including hypocalcemia, secondary hyperparathyroidism and hypophosphatemia that cause the development of rickets at an early age in affected children. An interesting additional abnormality is the presence of alopecia in some children depending on the nature of the VDR mutation. The data indicate that VDR mutations that cause defects in DNA binding, RXR heterodimerization or absence of the VDR cause alopecia while mutations that alter VDR affinity for 1,25(OH)2D3 or disrupt coactivator interactions do not cause alopecia. The cumulative findings indicate that hair follicle cycling is dependent on unliganded actions of the VDR. Further research is ongoing to elucidate the role of the VDR in hair growth and differentiation.
Estimation of fetal weight in fetuses with abdominal wall defects: Comparison of 2 recent sonographic formulas to the Hadlock formula

Objective Estimation of fetal weight is particularly challenging in fetuses with abdominal wall defects (AWDs). We sought to compare the accuracy and screening efficiency for intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) of 2 recent sonographic formulas to those of the Hadlock formula (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1985; 151:333-337) in fetuses with AWDs. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study of fetuses with AWDs. Fetuses with sonographically estimated fetal weights (EFWs) within 14 days before delivery were included. Using the individual biometric measurements, EFWs were calculated using the Honarvar (Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2001; 73:15-20; femur length [FL]), Siemer (Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2008; 31:397-400; FL, biparietal diameter [BPD], and occipitofrontal diameter), and Hadlock (BPD, head circumference, abdominal circumference, and FL) formulas. The calculated EFWs were adjusted for interval growth between the dates of sonography and delivery using published sonographic fetal growth velocity standards. Accuracy and screening efficiency for IUGR were compared. Results Seventy-six fetuses were included: 53 with gastroschisis and 23 with omphalocele. The median gestational age at delivery was 36.6 weeks (range, 25.0 to 39.0 weeks). The Siemer formula had the lowest mean percentage error (-2.5% [95% confidence interval (CI), -6.2% to +1.2%]) without systematic bias (P = .182). The Hadlock formula had the highest precision (random error, 11.4%), sensitivity (91%), and accuracy for predicting IUGR (85% [95% CI, 77% to 94%]). Conclusions None of the 3 sonographic formulas is ideal for estimating fetal weight in fetuses with AWDs. The Siemer formula should be used when accuracy in the absolute EFW is the goal. For the purpose of making the more clinically relevant diagnosis of IUGR, use of the Hadlock formula is justified.