cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The antinociceptive effect of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol in the arthritic rat involves the CB2 cannabinoid receptor

Cannabinoid CB(2) receptors have been implicated in antinociception in animal models of both acute and chronic pain. We evaluated the role both cannabinoid CB(1) and CB(2) receptors in mechanonociception in non-arthritic and arthritic rats. The antinociceptive effect of Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta(9)THC) was determined in rats following administration of the cannabinoid CB(1) receptor-selective antagonist, SR141716A, the cannabinoid CB(2) receptor-selective antagonist, SR144528, or vehicle. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were rendered arthritic using Freund's complete adjuvant and tested for mechanical hyperalgesia in the paw-pressure test. Arthritic rats had a baseline paw-pressure of 83 +/- 3.6 g versus a paw-pressure of 177 +/- 6.42 g in non-arthritic rats. SR144528 or SR141716A (various doses mg/kg; i.p.) or 1:1:18 (ethanol:emulphor:saline) vehicle were injected 1 h prior to Delta(9)THC (4 mg/kg; i.p) or 1:1:18 vehicle and antinociception determined 30min post Delta(9)THC. AD(50)'s for both antagonists were calculated with 95% confidence limits. In addition, midbrain and spinal cord were removed for determination of cannabinoid CB(1) and CB(2) receptor protein density in the rats. SR144528 significantly attenuated the antinociceptive effect of Delta(9)THC in the arthritic rats [AD(50) = 3.3 (2.7-4) mg/kg], but not in the non-arthritic rats at a dose of 10/mg/kg. SR141716A significantly attenuated Delta(9)THC-induced antinociception in both the non-arthritic [AD(50) = 1.4 (0.8-2) mg/kg] and arthritic rat [AD(50) = 2.6 (1.8-3.1) mg/kg]. SR141716A or SR144528 alone did not result in a hyperalgesic effect as compared to vehicle. Our results indicate that the cannabinoid CB(2) receptor plays a critical role in cannabinoid-mediated antinociception, particularly in models of chronic inflammatory pain.
Control of Ensembles of Aerial Robots

There are many examples in nature where large groups of individuals are able to maintain 3-D formations while navigating in complex environments. This paper addresses the development of a framework and robot controllers that enable a group of aerial robots to maintain a formation with partial state information while avoiding collisions. The central concept is to develop a low-dimensional abstraction of the large teams of robots, facilitate planning, command, and control in a low-dimensional space, and to realize commands or plans in the abstract space by synthesizing controllers for individual robots that respect the specified abstraction. We derive the basic theory and present experimental and simulation results with a team of rotor crafts.
Thermodynamics of freezing in two dimensions: The compressibility of monolayer xenon on graphite.

We give a detailed account of vapor-pressure isotherm measurements of the freezing of monolayer xenon adsorbed on graphite. The carefully equilibrated isotherm data are numerically differentiated to yield the isothermal compressibility. We express the compressibility in terms of the thermodynamic variables of the film: the temperature, T, and the chemical potential, \ensuremath{\mu}. The compressibility anomaly near the freezing transition is found to contain two components: (1) a sharp, \ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\mu}\ensuremath{\sim}2 K wide peak with a temperature-dependent amplitude which goes to zero near T=147 K and (2) a weak, broad peak with a temperature-independent shape and amplitude. We interpret the sharp peak as indicating a weak first-order transition for 116lTl147 K. In this temperature region, the broad component symmetrically underlies the sharp peak. For Tg147 K, where only the broad component persists, the transition appears to be continuous. We compare our results to x-ray scattering and other thermodynamic measurements.
Abstract 536: A hypoxia-activated protein switch as a potential anticancer therapeutic

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL We have engineered yeast cytosine deaminase (CD) to be activated by the tumor marker, hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1a) – turning on its ability to convert 5-fluorcytosine (5FC) into the chemotheraeutic drug 5-fluoruracil (5FU). HIF-1a is overexpressed in many types of cancer but is virtually undetectable in normal tissue due to rapid degradation. We sought a “tumor-sensing” protein whose prodrug converting activity is activated in the presence of HIF-1a. Such a protein would have advantages over therapeutic treatments such as gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (GDEPT). Our approach would circumvent the need for specific delivery of the “suicide” gene, which is a requirement in GDEPT, since the selectivity occurs at the protein level and not the gene delivery level. To create our desired protein, we constructed a library of fusion proteins between CD and the CH1 domain of p300 – a domain known to interact with HIF-1a. This library was subjected to a two-tiered genetic selection in E. coli designed to identify genes that conferred increased sensitivity to 5FC when HIF-1a was co-expressed. We identified a library member (HIF-1a activated protein switch 59, “Haps59”), which conferred to E. coli sensitivity to 5FC equivalent to wildtype CD but only in the presence of co-expressed HIF-1a. In the absence of HIF-1a, Haps59 did not confer any sensitivity to 5FC. We created a stable cell line of RKO expressing Haps59 to determine its ability to sensitize them to 5FC. RKO is a colorectal cancer cell line known to accumulate high levels of HIF-1a in hypoxic conditions. RKO cells stably expressing Haps59 in hypoxia were 10-fold more sensitive to 5FC than the same cells in normoxia. This sensitivity was shown to be a result of the presence of 5FC, Haps59, and HIF-1a in RKO cells, and the removal of either of these components resulted in normal cell growth. Further, we demonstrated the direct intracellular interaction of HIF-1a and Haps59. RKO cells expressing Haps59 were used to create xenografts in mouse models. Initial results from experiments using systemically administered 5FC to treat these xenografts will be presented. Using advanced protein engineering techniques, we have created a protein that confers sensitivity to 5FC in the presence of the tumor-marker, HIF-1a. We believe that the Haps59 gene could have therapeutic potential for the treatment of solid tumors that exhibit elevated HIF-1a levels. Our strategy circumvents a limitation of GDEPT by not requiring selective delivery of the gene to cancer cells. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 536. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-536
Improved transmission secondary emission from InxGa1−xP/GaAs self‐supporting films activated to negative electron affinity

Transmission secondary emission (TSE) gains as high as 540 at primary energies of 20 keV have been achieved in self‐supporting InxGa1−xP/GaAs structures activated to negative electron affinity (NEA). Furthermore, a linear dependence of the gain on primary energy has been obtained in the range 4–20 keV. These improvements result from the long diffusion lengths (L) in the GaAs and the low interfacial recombination velocities (sb) at InxGa1−xP/GaAs interfaces which have small smounts of lattice mismatch (e<3×10−3). Secondary emission yield curves along with corresponding cross‐sectional transmission electron microscope micrographs from structures with lattice mismatches of 0, 3×10−3, and 1.2×10−2 are presented. Evidence from highly mismatched structures suggests that high densities of inclined dislocations degrade L and sb. Reflection secondary emission data support these conclusions.
Determining elastic and shear moduli of cold-formed steel at elevated temperatures using a new sonic resonance method

An understanding of the mechanical properties of cold-formed steel (CFS) at elevated temperatures is critical for the design of CFS structures and analysis of these structures under fire; however, not much literature exists on mechanical properties at elevated temperatures. We report the measurements of elastic and shear moduli for CFS (ASTM-A1003) at elevated temperatures up to 350°C using a novel sonic resonance method. A Bode 100 network analyser was used to excite the CFS samples hanging inside a high-temperature furnace via a simple tweeter-type speaker, and for each the response signal was then detected by a Polytec OFV-5000 Laser Vibrometer Controller (Polytec Inc. Irvine, CA 92618). The resonance frequencies in both flexural and torsional modes are measured by the network analyser as a function of temperature, which allowed us to determine the elastic and the shear moduli. Both the elastic and the shear moduli decrease as the temperature increases. The results reported can be used in the CFS struc...
Endoscopic evaluation of polypoid lesions in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Polyps found in patients with chronic ulcerative or Crohn's colitis are a heterogeneous group of lesions that are managed mainly according to endoscopic appearance. Nonadenoma-like DALMs are endoscopically apparent and should be removed by colectomy. Adenoma-like DALMs are likewise distinguishable endoscopically and should be removed by polypectomy regardless of whether they are located within or outside colitis, as long as there is no flat dysplasia surrounding the polyp or elsewhere in the colon. For patients with adenoma-like DALMs located within areas of colitis, colonoscopic surveillance intervals should be increased. New techniques such as chromoendoscopy and magnification endoscopy may be helpful in colonoscopic surveillance but the implications for management based on this technology are unknown.
Integrated Microdevice for DNA Restriction Fragment Analysis

An integrated monolithic device (8 mm × 10 mm) that performs an automated biochemical procedure is demonstrated. The device mixes a DNA sample with a restriction enzyme in a 0.7-nL reaction chamber and after a digestion period injects the fragments onto a 67-mm-long capillary electrophoresis channel for sizing. Materials are precisely manipulated under computer control within the channel structure using electrokinetic transport. Digestion of the plasmid pBR322 by the enzyme HinfI and fragment analysis are completed in 5 min using 30 amol of DNA and 2.8 × 10-3 unit of enzyme per run.
The Braconid (Hymenoptera) Parasites of the Gypsy Moth, Lymantria dispar (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae)

Descriptions and keys for identification are given for the Braconidae which attack the gypsy moth. This includes the following 13 species, some of which have been studied in the past and others which are being propagated for possible release in the United States: Apanteles flavicoxis, n. sp. (from Lymantria obfuscata Walker in India), A. indiensis , n. sp. (from L. dispar (L.) and L. obfuscata in India), A. lacteicolor Viereck, A. liparidis (Bouche), A. lymantriae , n. sp. (from L. dispar in Japan), A. melanoscelus (Ratzeburg), A. ocneriae Ivanov, A. porthetriae Muesebeck, A. schaeferi , n. sp. (fromL. dispar in Japan), Meteorus pulchricornis (Wesmael), M. versicolor (Wesmael), Rogas indiscretus Reardon, and/?, lymantriae Watanabe. Notes on distribution and host range for each species and references to relevant literature are given. Comments are made on a few additional species from the literature which are of doubtful association with the gypsy moth. Meteorus japonicus Ashmead and M. nipponensis Viereck are synonymized with M. pulchricornis .
Observations on New and Reused Litter for Growing Broilers

Abstract Three of five houses on a commercial broiler farm were cleaned, and hardwood sawdust was spread to a depth of about 3 cm prior to the arrival of chicks. Hard or caked litter was removed from the remaining two houses, and litter was top dressed with about .25 cm of hardwood sawdust. Litter samples were collected weekly from each house. Moisture, pH, and mold counts were determined for each sample. No significant differences were detected in average bird weight, feed conversion, mortality, or condemnations. Litter moisture and pH values increased over the course of the experiment, whereas litter ash values showed no consistent trends. The highest mortality for birds on both litter types occurred in the first week of the experiment. However, the data suggest that when new litter is used for broilers, mortality is more evenly distributed over the grow-out period.
Idiopathic central diabetes insipidus: the challenge remains.

1 Doutor em Endocrinologia, Unidade de Endocrinologia do Desenvolvimento, Laboratorio de Hormonios e Genetica Molecular LIM/42, Hospital das Clinicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Sao Paulo (HCFMUSP), Sao Paulo, SP, Brasil e Post-doctoral Fellow, Section on Endocrinology and Genetics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Estados Unidos
Extreme ultraviolet holographic lithography with a table-top laser

We report the demonstration of Extreme Ultraviolet Holographic Lithography - EUV-HL - using a compact table top extreme ultraviolet laser. The image of the computer-generated hologram (CGH) of a test pattern was projected on the surface of a sample coated with a high resolution photoresist. Features with a 140 nm pixel size were printed using for the reconstruction a highly coherent table top 46.9 nm extreme ultraviolet laser. We have demonstrated that the combination of a coherent EUV source with a nanofabricated CGH template allows for the extension of nanolithography in an extremely simple set up that requires no optics. The reconstructed image of CGH was digitized with an atomic force microscope, yielding to reconstructions that are in excellent agreement with the numerical predictions.
MCJA 2007 Student Paper Award Winner: ENEMIES AT THE GATE: TOWARD A THEORY OF COURT-LEVEL RACIAL THREAT

ABSTRACT This research proposes a theoretical model of judicial decision making that integrates individual-level focal concerns perspective with the contextual influences of racial threat. Relying upon a large sample of felony court data, the study examines the interaction between court context, individual offense/offender characteristics and corresponding sentencing outcomes. Findings suggest that courts processing a high volume of threatening populations are more likely to sentence defendants to prison and impose sentences of greater length than courts that process a relatively low volume of threatening populations.
A statistical thermodynamic theory for coordination-number distribution and effective thermal conductivity of random packed beds

Abstract The constricted heat flow in packed beds of spherical particles is considered. The clustering of particles about one another is modeled after the statistical thermodynamic approach for the energy-level distribution of degenerate Boltzons. The theory establishes the local coordination number, i.e. total number of contacts on a particle, as the suitable statistical variable and predicts the coordination-number frequency for any specified bulk solid fraction of random packed beds. Heat conduction through particles in contact is then represented analytically by a network of thermal resistance in series and parallel. It is found that the effective lattice conductivity of a random packing of uniform-diameter particles increases monotonically with the bulk solid fraction. Although the theory for conductance and coordination-number distributions has been developed for the general case of random beds with particles of non-uniform diameters, results have been obtained for the case of uniform-diameter particles only. Even for this simple case, the statistical approach exhibits several features superior to the unit-cell methods.
A Compliance Aware Software Defined Infrastructure

With cloud eclipsing the $100B mark, it is clear that the main driver is no longer strictly cost savings. The focus now is to exploit the cloud for innovation, utilizing the agility to expand resources to quickly build out new designs, products, simulations and analysis. As the cloud lowers the unit cost of IT and improves agility, the time to market for applications will improve significantly. Companies will use this agility and speed as competitive advantage. An example of the agility is the adoption by enterprises of the software-defined datacenter (SDDC)[3] model, which allows for the rapid build of environments with composable infrastructures. With adoption of the SDDC model, intelligent and automated management of the SDDC is an immediate priority, required to support the changing workloads and dynamic patterns of the enterprise. Often, security and compliance become an 'after thought', bolted on later when problems arise. In this paper, we will discuss our experience in developing and deploying a centralized management system for public, as well as an Openstack [4] based cloud platform in SoftLayer, with an innovative, analytics-driven 'security compliance as a service' that constantly adjusts to varying compliance requirements based on workload, security and compliance requirements. In this paper we will also focus on techniques we have developed for capturing and replaying the previous state of a failing client virtual machine (VM) image, roll back, and then re-execute to analyze failures related to security or compliance. This technique contributes to agility, since failing VM's with security issues can quickly be analyzed and brought back online, this is often not the case with security problems, where analysis and forensics can take several days/weeks.
The Fabric of Friendship: Aso· Ebì and the Moral Economy of Amity in Nigeria

In this article, I seek to problematize prevailing views of what is known as aso. ebi in Nigeria, which places emphasis on solidarity and conviviality. In its most common import, aso. ebi refers to uniformed solidarity dressing worn by friends and family members to distinguish themselves from the rest during important social events such as weddings, street parties, birthday parties, among others. Aso· ebi is both well-known among the Yoruba and other groups in Nigeria and even beyond, but has received little of the interpretive scrutiny that it deserves in academic scholarship. This article reveals both the prescription and limitations of the moral economy in which aso. ebi is produced and consumed. The article shows that aso. ebi serves as a specific social currency that mediates two contradictory logics of gift-giving and commodification. By challenging the moral economy of intimacy, I demonstrate how aso. ebi is ‘offered’ by celebrants ‘for sale’ as a gesture of friendship and imminent commensality, ye...
Parenting Style Is Related to Executive Dysfunction After Brain Injury in Children

Objective: The goal of this study was to examine how parenting style (authoritarian, authoritative, permissive) and family functioning are related to behavioral aspects of executive function following traumatic brain injury (TBI) in young children. Method: Participants included 75 children with TBI and 97 children with orthopedic injuries (OI), ages 3–7 years at injury. Pre-injury parenting behavior and family functioning were assessed shortly after injury, and postinjury executive functions were assessed using the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functioning (BRIEF; Gioia & Isquith, 2004) at 6, 12, and 18 months postinjury. Mixed model analyses, using pre-injury executive functioning (assessed by the BRIEF at baseline) as a covariate, examined the relationship of parenting style and family characteristics to executive functioning in children with moderate and severe TBI compared to OI. Results: Among children with moderate TBI, higher levels of authoritarian parenting were associated with greater executive difficulties at 12 and 18 months following injury. Permissive and authoritative parenting styles were not significantly associated with postinjury executive skills. Finally, fewer family resources predicted more executive deficits across all of the groups, regardless of injury type. Conclusion: These findings provide additional evidence regarding the role of the social and familial environment in emerging behavior problems following childhood TBI.
Influence of ambient ammonium on net potassium uptake by decapitated maize seedlings

SUMMARY The effects of ambient ammonium on potassium uptake and accumulation in xylem exudate were examined in 6-d-old decapitated maize (Zea mays L., ev. Pioneer 3369a) seedlings, Net uptake of both K+ and NH+4 was measured by solution depletion during a 5 h treatment period. [86Rb]K+ influx during a 10 min uptake period was also measured for some treatment combinations over the 5 h period. The presence of ambient 0.2 mM NH+4initially resulted in net efflux of K+ to solution containing 0.2 mM K+, as well as to K+-free solutions. A transition from net K+ efflux to net K+ uptake occurred after 1.25–1.5 h in solutions containing 0.2 mM K+ and 0–2 mM NH+4. After the transition, the rate of K+ uptake was ∼ 50% of that found in the absence of ambient NH+4 [86Rb]K+ influx from 0.2 mM K+ was inhibited by 50% in the presence of 0.2 mM NH+4. Increasing ambient NH+4 to 2.0 mM increased the initial net efflux of K+ and delayed the time at which transition to net uptake occurred. The combined data indicate that the inhibitory effect of ambient NH+4 on net K+ uptake resulted from an initial but temporary enhancement of K+ efflux, and a constant inhibition of K+ influx. A reciprocal inhibition of net NH+4 uptake by K+ was not observed. Net NH+4 uptake initially was associated with K+ efflux, after which a transition to net H+ occurred. In the presence of NH+4, the transition from net K+ efflux to net K+ uptake, and the associated onset of net H+ efflux took place without measurable alterations in the rate of K+ accumulation in the xylem fluid. These results suggest spatially separate compartments for K+ efflux and xylem deposition.
Princeton Observing and Picture-Processing Equipment

The Princeton observing and picture-processing equipment is a portable system for using charge-coupled detectors. It was designed to meet these goals: 1) Data may be reduced during an observing run. 2) Different CCD's may be used without modifying the hardware. 3) Reliability is stressed. The equipment is described.
Effects of uncertainty, delay, and focus of attention on reactions to an aversive situation

Abstract The hypotheses of informational cognitive control, based on the idea that being able to predict the occurrence of an unpleasant event facilitates a reduction of its impact, has not received clear support in previous research. The present experiment investigated the effects of three variables on subjective reactions to mild electric shock: (1) temporal uncertainty about when the shocks would occur, (2) the period of delay before the shock, and (3) attention to either the sensory properties of the shocks or emotional reactions to them. The results showed that low temporal uncertainty and short periods of delay led to reduced anxiety during the period preceding the shock but did not reduce the reported intensity of the shocks themselves. Higher ratings of both shock intensity and distress were obtained when the focus of attention was on the sensory properties of the stimuli rather than on the affective reactions to them. It was concluded that (i) the attentional focus of the subject is an important determinant of rated stimulus effects, and (ii) prediction, though it may reduce prestimulus anxiety, has no real effect on the impact of the stimulus itself.
PAR1, but Not PAR4, Activates Human Platelets through a Gi/o/Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Signaling Axis

Thrombin-mediated activation of platelets is critical for hemostasis, but the signaling pathways responsible for this process are not completely understood. In addition, signaling within this cascade can also lead to thrombosis. In this study, we have defined a new signaling pathway for the thrombin receptor protease activated receptor-1 (PAR1) in human platelets. We show that PAR1 couples to G(i/o) in human platelets and activates phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K). PI3K activation regulates platelet integrin alphaIIbbeta3 activation and platelet aggregation and potentiates the PAR1-mediated increase in intraplatelet calcium concentration. PI3K inhibitors eliminated these effects downstream of PAR1, but they had no effect on PAR4 signaling. This study has identified an important role for the direct activation of G(i/o) by PAR1 in human platelets. Given the efficacy of clopidogrel, which blocks the G(i/o)-coupled P2Y purinoceptor 12, as an antiplatelet/antithrombotic drug, our data suggest that specifically blocking only PAR1-mediated G(i/o) signaling could also be an effective therapeutic approach with the possibility of less unwanted bleeding.
Soft tissue mass of posterior pharyngeal wall.

On rapporte un cas rare de masse pulsatile de la paroi posterieure du pharynx representant une tortuosite importante de la carotide interne gauche s'etendant jusqu'a la ligne mediane dans la region de C1 et C2
Kif18A and Chromokinesins Confine Centromere Movements via Microtubule Growth Suppression and Spatial Control of Kinetochore Tension

Alignment of chromosomes at the metaphase plate is a signature of cell division in metazoan cells, yet the mechanisms controlling this process remain ambiguous. Here we use a combination of quantitative live-cell imaging and reconstituted dynamic microtubule assays to investigate the molecular control of mitotic centromere movements. We establish that Kif18A (kinesin-8) attenuates centromere movement by directly promoting microtubule pausing in a concentration-dependent manner. This activity provides the dominant mechanism for restricting centromere movement to the spindle midzone. Furthermore, polar ejection forces spatially confine chromosomes via position-dependent regulation of kinetochore tension and centromere switch rates. We demonstrate that polar ejection forces are antagonistically modulated by chromokinesins. These pushing forces depend on Kid (kinesin-10) activity and are antagonized by Kif4A (kinesin-4), which functions to directly suppress microtubule growth. These data support a model in which Kif18A and polar ejection forces synergistically promote centromere alignment via spatial control of kinetochore-microtubule dynamics.
Epignathus (a clinicopathologic case report).

Epignathus is a rare oropharyngeal teratoma arising from the head and neck region which can cause life-threatening airway obstruction resulting in asphyxiation after birth [1], [2a]. Patients with ...
Experimental and theoretical studies of vessel contrast‐to‐noise ratio in intracranial time‐of‐flight MR angiography

CNR studies were performed for human intracranial vessels in 3D MRA data sets. The CNR dependency of different imaging parameters, such as flip angle, field of view, echo time, repetition time, and echo readout symmetry, was studied for vessels in the region of the circle of Willis. A theoretical model was developed for MR vascular imaging based on the Bloch equations and Fourier imaging theory. This model predicts the MR image intensity of vessels from basic subject parameters, such as the relaxation times of blood and stationary tissue, vessel dimension, and flow velocity, and the parameters of the imaging technique, such as flip angle, voxel volume, repetition time, and echo time. For most experiments, the model was found to fit the experimental results well. The validity of this model allows the optimization of imaging parameters to maximize vessel CNR in MR angiography.
The role of the pornography industry in the development of videotape and the Internet

The paper examines the significant role of pornography in promoting the diffusion of new communication technologies and how these new technologies have altered the nature of pornography in the last few decades. These technologies include VCRs, camcorders, Minitel, computers, and the Internet. Pornographic products have served to stimulate initial interest in these new technologies, despite their higher initial costs. The attractions are greater perceived privacy and easier access. As each of these technologies matures and prices drop, the role of pornographic products diminishes relatively, but not absolutely. Another pattern is the elimination of the distinctions among producers, distributors and consumers as do-it-yourself video and computers have permitted a "democratization" of pornography.
The Precarious Life and Slow Death of the Mixed Courts of Egypt

Over the past century, most states of the Middle East have attempted to strengthen and centralize their legal systems, often following European models. Egypt undertook one of the first steps in that direction with its mixed-court system. These courts, which had jurisdiction in civil and commercial cases that involved a foreigner, however remotely, operated from 1876 until 1949. That this system could survive the political turmoil of those years, far outliving the circumstances which brought it into being, is remarkable.
The Spatial and Temporal Variations of High Clouds based on the MODIS 1.375-Micron Channel Measurements

The Moderate Resolution Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MODIS) instruments on the Terra and Aqua spacecrafts are both equipped with a channel near 1.38 mum for remote sensing of cirrus clouds from space. We have developed an operational algorithm for quantitative retrieval of cirrus reflectances in the visible from scatter plots of the MODIS 1.38-micron channel versus 0.66-micron channel. At present, the daily `pixel-based' cirrus reflectance product, which is a standard MODIS Level 2 data product, at the 1-km spatial resolution of the MODIS instrument, and the daily, 8-day, and monthly cirrus reflectance products, which are standard MODIS Level 3 products, at a 1deg by 1deg latitude-longitude grid globally are operationally produced at a NASA computing facility. Through analysis of time series of Terra and Aqua MODIS cirrus reflectance data products, we have observed interesting spatial and temporal variation patterns of cirrus clouds over different geographical regions. For examples, cirrus reflectances over Tibet, tropical Pacific, and tropical Africa Continent have large seasonal variations. Over the western tropic Pacific, cirrus patterns are very different between an El Nino year and a normal year. By comparing the Aqua MODIS data with the Terra MODIS data, we have found that the afternoon Aqua MODIS detects significantly more cirrus clouds over North America and South America in certain seasons than the Terra MODIS. The MODIS cirrus reflectance data products will certainly allow improved understanding of global cirrus climatology.
Molecular chaperones in ectothermic marine animals: biochemical function and gene expression.

The intertidal zone has historically functioned as an important natural laboratory for testing ideas about how physical factors such as temperature influence organismal physiology and in turn influence the distribution patterns of organisms. Key to our understanding of how the physical environment helps structure organismal distribution is the identification of physiological processes that have ecological relevance. We have focused on biochemical- and molecular-level physiology that would contribute to thermal tolerance and maintenance of a functional intracellular protein pool in the face of extreme and fluctuating environmental temperatures. Past research has addressed processes central to protein homeostasis (e.g., protein ubiquitination) and the molecular ecology of molecular chaperones, a.k.a. heat shock proteins (Hsps), in ectothermic animals. In this presentation, we focus on two new developments regarding the biology of heat shock proteins as molecular chaperones in intertidal organisms. First, we present data on the functional characteristics of the transcriptional factor, HSF1 and discuss how these data relate to the plasticity of Hsp gene expression observed in intertidal organisms in nature. Second, we present data on the biochemical function of heat shock proteins purified from our non-model study organisms and discuss the temperature relationships of these molecules as they assist in protein folding in situ.
Impacts of gypsum and winter cover crops on soil physical properties and crop productivity when irrigated with saline water.

Abstract Reuse of saline subsurface drainage water for irrigation has been identified as a potential option for managing drainage volumes and sustaining crop productivity in California’s San Joaquin Valley. Soil surface structural instability, crusting and poor stand establishment may, however, be constraints in drainage reuse systems. The objective of this field study was to evaluate the effectiveness of winter cover crop incorporation and gypsum applications relative to conventional fallows for improving soil physical properties, stand establishment and crop productivity in a cropping system relying on the cyclic reuse of saline drainage for irrigation. Barley ( Hordeum vulgare ), Lana woolypod vetch ( Vicia dasycarpa ) and barley/vetch winter cover crop treatments were compared with gypsum amended and unamended winter fallows in a rotation of tomato–tomato–cotton as summer crops. Tomato seedling emergence was improved by 34% following incorporation of vetch in year 1 prior to saline irrigation application, but was unaffected by amendment treatment in year 2. Following two summer seasons in which saline drainage water was used for about 70% of the irrigation requirements, surface-applied gypsum significantly reduced soil crust strength an average of 14%, increased soil aggregate stability an average of 46%, and maintained cotton stand establishment relative to nonsaline irrigation. Emergence rates and final stand densities of cotton seedlings following incorporation of each of the cover crops, however, were significantly lower. The mechanism most likely responsible for reducing stand establishment was the formation of stubble-reinforced surface crusts that resulted in interconnected slabs that impeded timely emergence of seedlings. This type of physical impedance can create secondary effects such as increased disease which could also have played a role in reducing emergence. Yields of tomatoes irrigated with saline water were maintained relative to nonsaline irrigation in year 1, but were decreased by 33% in year 2. No reductions in cotton lint yield occurred as a result of saline irrigation in year 3. Soil electrical conductivity (ECe) increased from about 2–6 dS m −1 during the course of this 3-year study despite leaching by winter rains. Cyclic reuse of saline subsurface drainage water may conserve good quality water and provide a means of sustaining crop productivity over short terms. Soil surface salt and boron accumulation, however, may be major constraints to this cropping strategy and will limit productivity if appropriate irrigation and crop management practices are not followed.
Compression syndromes of the popliteal neurovascular bundle due to Baker cyst

Background The purpose of this study was to perform a comprehensive search of the literature for all studies, case reports, and series describing Baker cyst compression of the neurovascular bundle in the popliteal fossa and index their findings according to the structures compressed. Method Case reports and series obtained after a thorough MEDLINE search were indexed according to compressed structures. Patient demographics, main findings, method of diagnosis, cyst size, outcomes, and follow-up were recorded for each publication. Results Signs and symptoms related to popliteal vein and tibial nerve compression were the most frequent presentation of symptomatic Baker cysts, due to the anatomic vulnerability of these structures within the popliteal fossa and their relative sensitivity to compression. Patients with tibial nerve entrapment demonstrated gastrocnemius muscle atrophy, paresthesias, and pain. Those with popliteal vein compression experienced swelling, pain, and rarely, venous thromboembolism. Isolated arterial compression, presenting with intermittent claudication, is a rare occurrence because it is a relatively stiff-walled vessel, has a higher pressure, and is located deep in the popliteal fossa. Combinations of these compression syndromes are most frequently encountered in the context of cyst rupture and resulting compartment syndrome. Conclusions Baker cyst is an important pathology for the differential diagnosis of popliteal neurovascular compression phenomena. It has a wide spectrum of presentation, therefore requiring accurate diagnosis for proper patient management. Because Baker cyst is by definition a chronic disorder, long-term follow-up is necessary to monitor patient recovery and prevent recurrence.
The Moral Authority of Symbolic Appeals in Biomedical Ethics

“Dissecting Bioethics,” edited by Tuija Takala and Matti Hayry, welcomes contributions on the conceptual and theoretical dimensions of bioethics.The section is dedicated to the idea that words defined by bioethicists and others should not be allowed to imprison people's actual concerns, emotions, and thoughts. Papers that expose the many meanings of a concept, describe the different readings of a moral doctrine, or provide an alternative angle to seemingly self-evident issues are therefore particularly appreciated.The themes covered in the section so far include dignity, naturalness, public interest, community, disability, autonomy, parity of reasoning, symbolic appeals, and toleration.All submitted papers are peer reviewed. To submit a paper or to discuss a suitable topic, contact Tuija Takala at tuija.takala@helsinki.fi.
Gender-biased Perceptions of Preschoolers' Behavior: How Much Is Aggression and Prosocial Behavior in the Eye of the Beholder?

In this study we investigated the perceptions of male and female college students (N = 208) who evaluated preschoolers’ actual aggressive and prosocial behavior, which was obtained from naturalistic observations and presented as detailed transcripts. Findings revealed that men were not as accurate as women were in identifying relational aggression and prosocial behavior. Coders were generally similar in their identification of physical and verbal aggression. This study suggests that gender biases and stereotypes exist in the evaluation of relational aggression and prosocial behavior, which included assessments of relational inclusion. Researchers must take precautionary steps to investigate and ameliorate the gender biases of potential informants, which, if not addressed, may lead to errors in a myriad of standard methodological instruments (e.g., observations, teacher reports, and survey designs) currently used by psychologists and relationship scholars.
Vasectomy Reversal for Postvasectomy Pain Syndrome: A Study and Literature Review

Objective To review our institution's experience and success with vasectomy reversal to treat postvasectomy pain syndrome (PVPS) over the last 20 years. Materials and Methods A single surgeon (E.F.F.) performed all the vasectomy reversals. We identified 123 procedures done for PVPS treatment and were able to contact 76 patients. We sent surveys or conducted phone interviews inquiring about satisfaction, levels of pain preoperatively and postoperatively, and the need for additional procedures for pain. Thirty-one patients completed phone or written surveys. In addition, we compared the location of vasectomy among patients presenting for pain to that of fertile patients. Results Thirty-one men had vasectomy reversal for postvasectomy pain, with median age of 38 years (range, 31-55 years), of which 26 underwent vasovasostomy (VV). Seven patients required epididymovasostomy (EV) on at least 1 side based on intraoperative findings. Eighty-two percent of patients reported improvement in their pain at 3.2 months (±3.4 months) after vasectomy reversal. Thirty-four percent patients had complete resolution of all pain. Mean pain score before procedure was 6.4 (±2.4), decreasing to a median of 2.7 (±2.7) afterward. There was a 59% improvement in pain scores ( P Conclusion Vasectomy reversal, through the use of both VV and EV, can provide long-term relief from PVPS.
Should Renal Ultrasonography Be Done Routinely in Children with First Urinary Tract Infection

To reassess the impact of renal ultrasonography on the care of children with first febrile urinary tract infection (UTI) we conducted a computer search and review of medical records of (1) all children who were admitted to our hospital with first febrile urinary tract infection and underwent renal ultrasonography during a 25-month period beginning February 1, 1995, (2) all children diagnosed by ultrasound to have hydronephrosis during the same time period. Of a total of 124 patients with UTI, renal ultrasound appeared normal or showed evidence of acute pyelonephritis in 105 (84.7%), and in another nine (7.2%) it showed only minor findings. In 10 children (8.1%) ultrasound showed hydronephrosis and/or hydroureter. In eight of the latter 10, voiding cystourethrography showed vesicoureteral reflux; in one, posterior urethral valves; and in one, who had a unilateral nonobstructed dilatated system, cystography appeared normal. Except for the last patient, who was given prophylactic antibiotics and continued to have urinary tract infections, in no other case did ultrasound alone have any impact on the patient's management. Four children with both abnormal-appearing renal ultrasound and voiding cystourethrography required surgical intervention. One hundred of the 124 children had a voiding cystourethrogram. In 38 children it detected vesicoureteral reflux and, in another two, bladder abnormalities. Thirty-five of those with abnormal-appearing cystogram but without an indication for surgery were given prophylactic antibiotics. During the same 25-month period, 63 children without urinary tract infection were diagnosed by ultrasound with hydronephrosis. In 45 of them (71.4%) the urologic abnormality had already been detected by prenatal ultrasound. Fourteen of these 45 children (31.1%) required surgery, all for congenital anomalies related to obstructive uropathy. We conclude that routine renal ultrasonography in children with first urinary tract infection has negligible influence on their clinical management. This seems to be due to the recent widespread use, in industrialized countries, of maternal-fetal ultrasonography, which already detects a significant number of children with congenital obstructive uropathy prenatally. On the other hand imaging of the lower urinary tract is of high yield and contributes significantly to patient care. Therefore, whereas imaging of the lower urinary tract should continue to be done routinely in children with first urinary tract infection, renal ultrasound may be reserved for more select cases.
Statement from the Editor Regarding “New Perspectives on Customer 'Death' Using a Generalization of the Pareto/NBD Model”

In the original version of the paper “New Perspectives on Customer 'Death' Using a Generalization of the Pareto/NBD Model” by Kinshuk Jerath, Peter S. Fader, and Bruce G. S. Hardie (Marketing Science, Articles in Advance, May 27, 2010, DOI: 10.1287/mksc.1100.0568), some issues were brought to the attention of the journal by the authors after online publication in Articles in Advance. The accepting editor-in-chief, Steven M. Shugan, has chosen to retract the original published paper, allowing the authors the opportunity to resubmit a new paper that fully resolves those issues to the satisfaction of the authors and the journal.
Fluorescence in-situ hybridization identifies Mastermind-like 2 (MAML2) rearrangement in odontogenic cysts with mucous prosoplasia: a pilot study.

Aims The pathogenesis of intraosseous mucoepidermoid carcinoma (IMEC) remains unknown. Coexistence with odontogenic cysts (ODC) has been reported in 32–48% of IMEC. Furthermore, prosoplastic mucous cells are often seen in the epithelial lining of ODCs. MECT1–MAML2 fusion transcripts have been identified in >66% of salivary gland MEC cases. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of MAML2 rearrangement in ODCs featuring mucous prosoplasia. Methods and results Ten cases of ODC with a mucous cell component and three cases of IMEC were evaluated using fluorescence in-situ hybridization. All cases occurred in the mandible. The ODCs exhibited a M:F ratio of 4:1 (mean age 49.2 years), while all IMECs occurred in women (mean age 68.3 years). All three IMECs demonstrated MAML2 rearrangement, in 26–61% of tumour cells. Successful hybridization was observed in nine of 10 cases of ODC. In two of these nine, there was MAML2 rearrangement in 12% and 24% of the lining epithelial cells, while three of the nine showed rearrangement in 7–8% of cells; the remaining four cases were negative. Conclusions We identified MAML2 rearrangements in five of nine ODCs lined by mucus-secreting cells. This suggests that at least a subset of ODCs with mucous prosoplasia are characterized by molecular events considered diagnostic for intraosseous and extraosseous MEC.
Regulation of replicon size in Xenopus egg extracts

Once a specific number of cells have been produced in the early Xenopus laevis embryo, replicon size during the S phase of the cell cycle increases. Here, it is reported that similar increase in replicon size occurred when the concentration of nuclei in replication-competent Xenopus egg extracts exceeded a critical threshold. In this system, the origin recognition complex (ORC) did not become stoichiometrically limiting for initiation, and similar amounts of this complex bound to chromatin regardless of replicon size. These data suggest that in early development, an unidentified factor controls how many preformed ORC-DNA complexes initiate DNA replication.
Genetic Variation for Adaptive Traits in Bottlebrush Squirreltail in the Northern Intermountain West, United States

Adaptive-trait correlations in plant ecology are often calculated among species, but in order to develop and characterize plant materials of target species for restoration, intraspecific comparisons are of greatest relevance. Elymus elymoides (Raf.) Swezey (bottlebrush squirreltail) is an important component of sagebrush-steppe communities in the northern Intermountain West, United States. We evaluated 32 accessions of E. elymoides subspecies C, a newly recognized unnamed taxon, in the field and greenhouse. Our objectives were to assess genetic diversity for putatively adaptive traits, to elucidate biological relationships among biomass, morphological, and phenological traits through correlation analysis, and to gather evidence suggesting whether these traits might be truly adaptive, that is, related to collection-site variables. We observed a positive correlation (r = 0.73;p 0.05), indicating seedling performance is not predictive of mature-plant performance. Elevation was the collection-site variable most closely correlated with plant-measured traits, particularly phenological dates, whereas average annual precipitation was the least significant variable. Therefore, elevation may be used as an easily applied metric to match subspecies C plant material to restoration site in the northern Intermountain West.
Effect of hydrostatic pressure on the magnetocrystalline anisotropy of cobalt

Room-temperature magnetization measurements were made at various fields (up to 12 kOe) and hydrostatic pressures (up to 5 kbar) on a cobalt single-crystal cylinder whose anisotropy axis is tilted by a large angle (72°) from the magnetizing (cylinder) axis. Data for the magnetization and for its small linear change with pressure, both as functions of field, were compared with theoretical curves derived from an analysis of the magnetization processes in the crystal, in which the anisotropy coefficients, K1 and K2, and their pressure dependencies were adjustable parameters. Excellent agreement was achieved for K−11(∂K1∂p) = −18 × 10−4kbar−1 and K−11 (∂K2∂p) −85 × 10−4 kbar−1, where K1 = 5.9 × 105ergg and K>2=1.4 × 105ergg. Thus, the relative decreases of K1 and K2 with pressure in cobalt are progressively much larger than that of its saturation moment (− 2.2 × 10−4 kbar−1, as deduced from earlier measurements).