cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Injection of the protein kinase C inhibitor Ro31-8220 into the nucleus accumbens attenuates the acute response to amphetamine: tissue and behavioral studies

The ability of amphetamine to produce heightened locomotor activity is thought to be due to its ability to enhance dopamine release from mesolimbic dopamine neurons. The mechanism by which amphetamine increases dopamine release is not well understood, but is thought to involve exchange diffusion with synaptosomal dopamine through the dopamine transporter. We recently reported that amphetamine-mediated dopamine release in the striatum is also dependent on protein kinase C activity. In the current study, we investigated the role of protein kinase C activity in the acute neurochemical and behavioral response to amphetamine in the nucleus accumbens. Consistent with previous results in the striatum, amphetamine-stimulated dopamine release from nucleus accumbens tissue was inhibited by the specific protein kinase C inhibitor Ro31-8220, but not by the relatively inactive analog bisindoylmaleimide V. In addition, the effects of protein kinase C activity on the acute behavioral response to amphetamine was examined by injecting Ro31-8220 into the nucleus accumbens 15 min prior to intra-accumbens amphetamine. Pretreatment with Ro31-8220 attenuated the motor-stimulant effects of intra-accumbens amphetamine relative to control subjects pretreated with vehicle. Bisindoylmaleimide V did not significantly inhibit the motor-stimulant effects of intra-accumbens amphetamine. These results suggest that the action of amphetamine in the nucleus accumbens in increasing dopamine release and locomotor activity is dependent on protein kinase C activity.
Two-step, stereoselective synthesis of linalyl oxides by asymmetric allylic O-alkylation

Abstract Each of the four tetrahydrofuran linalyl oxides was prepared by a Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation of geranyl acetate with AD-mix-α or AD-mix-β, followed by a stereoselective palladium-mediated cyclization using the chiral ligand C 3 -TunePhos.
In the balance: silver tsunami or longevity dividend?

While still early in the 21st century, nations are experiencing an unprecedented rise in people living into their 80s, 90s, and even longer. Many national leaders view with alarm a possible tidal wave of chronic age‐related disease and disability. Competing scenarios predict insurmountable social and economic stress; or alternatively, a future in which older people continue to function and contribute during extended healthy years of life made possible by scientific and medical advances. The latter vision, termed the 'longevity dividend', is discussed in terms of strategies for achieving this goal.
Nucleotide sequence and deletion analysis of a gene coding for a structural protein ofLactococcus lactis bacteriophage F4-1

Abstract The nucleotide sequence has been determined for a region of the Lactococcus lactis bacteriophage F4-1 genome which codes for a variety of structural proteins. The 3044-base pairs (bp) fragment contains four open reading frames for proteins from 43 to 9·5 kDa. Each open reading frame is preceded by a putative ribosome binding site and sequences homologous to the E. coli −35 and −10 consensus promoter sequences. The two largest open reading frames code for a 43- and 35-kDa protein, the open reading frames overlap in the same reading frame and share the translational termination codon. These two proteins have been observed in Western blots and in vitro transcription/translation analysis of both E. coli and L. lactis LM0230 carrying the cloned bacteriophage sequence. Deletion analysis of the 5′ and 3′ ends confirms the positions of the open reading frames corresponding to the 43- and 35-kDa proteins and suggests that each open reading frame can be transcribed by its own promoter. Putative −35 and −10 regions have been identified by scanning the nucleotide sequence and their position corresponds to the results from deletion analysis.
Open Lung Biopsy in Immunocompromised Patients

Increased use of open lung biopsy in the search for a treatable etiology of acute interstitial pneumonitis (AIP) in immunocompromised patients is based on the assumption that examination and cultures from biopsy specimens will yield significant information leading to beneficial treatment of the condition. To assess the true impact of the results of open lung biopsy on the subsequent treatment and outcome in such patients, a retrospective study was done of 64 consecutive patients undergoing the procedure in a recent five-year period. When open lung biopsy was performed for the diagnosis of AIP in immunocompromised patients after empiric broad spectrum treatment failed, it rarely missed a specific, treatable etiology, if present. However, the results from open lung biopsy infrequently lead to a change in the treatment that improves the patients clinical course.
Material and thermal roles of basalt in crustal magmatism: Case study from eastern Nevada

Thousands of cubic kilometres of calc-alkaline intermediate to silicic magma erupted in eastern Nevada at ≈35 Ma. On the basis of petrologic models, crustal contribution to magmatism is slightly greater than basaltic input. The volume of crystals generated during differentiation is roughly twice that of erupted magma, implying that intrusive complements are enriched in accumulated crystals. The amount of basalt needed to drive the system thermally can be derived from the volume of crust that is heated and assimilated, and is about twice the volume of basalt needed materially.
New York City: 12 December, 1980

ABSTRACTThis article discusses two documentary treatments of the 1980 Central Park vigil for John Lennon: Happy Birthday to John (Jonas Mekas, 1995, 16mm, 18 min.) and Dix minutes de silence pour John Lennon/Ten Minutes Silence for John Lennon (Raymond Depardon, 1980, 16mm, 10 min.). It examines the formal and cultural contexts of both films and analyses the reasons why this event was significant for these film-makers, and how its cinematic representation—and the representation of New York City—relates to their film methods and broader aesthetic preoccupations.
New Methods of Assessing Crystal Growth and Saturation of Brushite in Whole Urine: Effect of pH, Calcium and Citrate

Purpose: Brushite crystallization might be important in stone formation and prevention. To explore this question new methods for the saturation and crystal growth of brushite were devised that are applicable to whole urine without any computer program.Materials and Methods: The saturation value (concentration-to-product ratio) was determined by dividing the molar concentration product of Ca ([Ca]) and phosphate ([P]), that is [Ca] × [P], of original urine by the steady state solubility obtained after incubating with an excess of brushite (10 mg/ml) for 5 hours. Crystal growth was measured from the depletion of filtrate ([Ca] × [P]) 3 hours after seeding with brushite (0.25 mg/ml). To test the effect of pH, Ca and citrate the saturation value and crystal growth were determined in 24-hour urine samples from 4 normal volunteers and 2 stone formers, and modified artificially to produce 4 ranges of pH, Ca and citrate by adding acid, base, Ca or citrate.Results: The saturation value and crystal growth of brushi...
Wegener's granulomatosis of the skull base.

(Editorial Comment: The authors present a unique presentation of Wegener’s granulomatosis integrated with an outstanding literature review.) Wegener’s granulomatosis (WG) is a clinicopathologic diagnosis that requires a history of upper and lower respiratory symptoms with tissue biopsy confirmation. Histopathologitally, it is characterized by the triad of acute necrotizing granulomas of the upper and lower respiratory tracts, focal necrotizing vasculitis, and focal necrotizing glomerulonephritis. This disease often begins as a localized process. Left untreated, it usually progresses to systemic disease and is usually fatal secondary to renal and pulmonary failure, with a mean survival of 5 months and 90% mortality rate at 2 years.’ In up to 90% of patients, the first symptoms arise in the head and neck region.z Manifestations predominantly involve the ears, nasal and paranasal mucosa, larynx, and oral cavity. Early diagnosis allowing prompt treatment may prevent progression to serious disease. We present a patient whose lesion was localized to the nasopharynx and base of skull and whose first symptoms arose secondary to multiple cranial neuropathies. CASE REPORT A 29-year-old black woman presented to the Emergency Room complaining of left hemifacial pain, dysphagia, hoarseness, occasional hemoptysis, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, and general malaise. She denied nasal discharge or nasal congestion. The patient’s voice was hypernasal, and she admitted to nasal reflux of liquids during swallowing. She also admitted to left subjective hearing loss
BORON DEFICIENCY AND CHILLING INJURY INTERACTIONS IN TOBACCO TRANSPLANTS GROWN IN THE FLOAT SYSTEM

Abstract Boron deficiency and chilling injury produce similar symptoms in young tobacco transplants. Mistaken identification of chilling injury as B deficiency has resulted in B toxicity when growe...
Multiple Sclerotic Fibromas in an HIV‐Positive Patient Without Evidence of Cowden’s Disease

Sclerotic fibroma is an uncommon benign neoplasm of the skin which may occur sporadically in a solitary form or as multiple lesions as a component of Cowden’s disease. Sclerotic fibromas have a distinctive histologic appearance characterized by well-circumscribed, hypocellular dermal nodules of thick, hyalinized collagen bundles arranged in a whorled or storiform pattern with prominent clefts. We present the case of a 52-year-old HIV-positive, African-American female who presented with multiple firm flesh-colored nodules of several year duration on bilateral lower extremities. Biopsies of the lesions demonstrated characteristic features of sclerotic fibroma. Detailed physical examination and extensive systemic work-up failed to reveal evidence of Cowden’s disease. To our knowledge, multiple sclerotic fibromas have not been reported in the absence of Cowden’s disease, and this is the first reported case of multiple sclerotic fibromas occurring in an HIV-positive patient without evidence of Cowden’s disease.
Differentiating Between Burkitt Lymphoma and CD10+ Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: The Role of Commonly Used Flow Cytometry Cell Markers and the Application of a Multiparameter Scoring System

The goal of this study was to evaluate routine flow cytometric (FC) immunophenotypic markers in differentiating between Burkitt lymphoma (BL) and CD10+ diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). We performed retrospective analysis of FC data from 55 patients. We evaluated 9 FC parameters: forward and side scatter (FSC and SSC); mean fluorescent intensity (MFI) for CD20, CD10, CD38, CD79b, CD43, and CD71; and the percentage of neoplastic cells positive for CD71 (%CD71). The FSC; MFIs of CD10, CD43, CD79b, and CD71; and %CD71 cells were significantly different between BL and CD10+ DLBCL (P < .05; Student t test). A 5-point scoring system (FSC, %CD71, and MFIs of CD43, CD79b, and CD71) was devised, and 6 (60%) of 10 BLs scored 3 or greater and 1 (10%) of 10 CD10+ DLBCLs scored 3 (P = .04; χ(2)). Our findings indicate that routine FC parameters can aid in differentiating BL from CD10+ DLBCL.
Micromachining of mesoporous oxide films for microelectromechanical system structures

The high porosity and uniform pore size of mesoporous oxide films offer unique opportunities for microelectromechanical system (MEMS) devices that require low density and low thermal conductivity. This paper provides the first report in which mesoporous films were adapted for MEMS applications. Mesoporous SiO 2 and Al 2 O 3 films were prepared by spin coating using block copolymers as the structure-directing agents. The resulting films were over 50% porous with uniform pores of 8-nm average diameter and an extremely smooth surface. The photopatterning and etching characteristics of the mesoporous films were investigated and processing protocols were established which enabled the films to serve as the sacrificial layer or the structure layer in MEMS devices. The unique mesoporous morphology leads to novel behavior including extremely high etching rates and the ability to etch underlying layers. Surface micromachining methods were used to fabricate three basic MEMS structures, microbridges, cantilevers, and membranes, from the mesoporous oxides.
Cyclic loading of notched dental composite specimens.

Objective The purpose of this study was to examine the fracture toughness (KIC) of three direct dental composites and one indirect dental composite subject to cyclic loading.
Low order robust stabilizer design using Hurwitz conditions

The problem of designing a low order robust stabilizing compensator is decomposed into (i) find a low order stabilizing compensator and (ii) robustify the stabilizing compensator. A theorem from linear programming aids in the solution of (i), and an optimization criterion can be used to aid in solving the problem (ii). For the illustration purpose, some numerical examples are given.
Acute cyclooxygenase inhibition does not alter muscle sympathetic nerve activity or forearm vasodilator responsiveness in lean and obese adults

Obesity is often characterized by chronic inflammation that may contribute to increased cardiovascular risk via sympathoexcitation and decreased vasodilator responsiveness. We hypothesized that obese individuals would have greater indices of inflammation compared with lean controls, and that cyclooxygenase inhibition using ibuprofen would reduce muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) and increase forearm blood flow in these subjects. We measured MSNA, inflammatory biomarkers (C-reactive protein [CRP] and Interleukin-6 [IL-6]), and forearm vasodilator responses to brachial artery acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside in 13 men and women (7 lean; 6 obese) on two separate study days: control (CON) and after 800 mg ibuprofen (IBU). CRP (1.7 0.4 vs. 0.6 0.3 mg/L; P < 0.05) and IL-6 (4.1 1.5 vs. 1.0 0.1 pg/mL; P < 0.05) were higher in the obese group during CON and tended to decrease with IBU (IL-6: P < 0.05; CRP: P = 0.14). MSNA was not different between groups during CON (26 4 bursts/100 heart beats (lean) versus 26 4 bursts/100 heart beats (obese); P = 0.50) or IBU (25 4 bursts/100 heart beats (lean) versus 30 5 bursts/100 heart beats (obese); P = 0.25), and was not altered by IBU. Forearm vasodilator responses were unaffected by IBU in both groups. In summary, an acute dose of ibuprofen did not alter sympathetic nerve activity or forearm blood flow responses in healthy obese individuals, suggesting that the cyclooxygenase pathway is not a major contributor to these variables in this group.
Dual purpose simulation: new data link test and comparison with VDL-2

While the results of this paper are similar to those of previous research, in this paper the technical difficulties present previously are eliminated, producing better results, enabling one to more readily see the benefits of Prioritized CSMA (PCSMA). A new analysis section also helps to generalize this research so that it is not limited to exploration of the new concept of PCSMA. Commercially available network simulation software, OPNET version 7.0, simulations are presented involving an important application of the Aeronautical Telecommunications Network (ATN), Controller Pilot Data Link Communications (CPDLC) over the Very High Frequency Data Link Mode 2 (VDL-2). Communication is modeled for essentially all incoming and outgoing nonstop air-traffic for just three United States cities: Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Detroit. Collision-less PCSMA is successfully tested and compared with the traditional CSMA typically associated with VDL-2. The performance measures include latency, throughput, and packet loss. As expected, PCSMA is much quicker and more efficient than traditional CSMA. These simulation results show the potency of PCSMA for implementing low latency, high throughput and efficient connectivity. We are also testing a new and better data link that could replace CSMA with relative ease.
Glycomic and proteomic profiling of pancreatic cyst fluids identifies hyperfucosylated lactosamines on the N-linked glycans of overexpressed glycoproteins

Pancreatic cancer is now the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, and it is associated with an alarmingly low 5-year survival rate of 5%. However, a patient's prognosis is considerably improved when the malignant lesions are identified at an early stage of the disease and removed by surgical resection. Unfortunately, the absence of a practical screening strategy and clinical diagnostic test for identifying premalignant lesions within the pancreas often prevents early detection of pancreatic cancer. To aid in the development of a molecular screening system for early detection of the disease, we have performed glycomic and glycoproteomic profiling experiments on 21 pancreatic cyst fluid samples, including fluids from mucinous cystic neoplasms and intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms, two types of mucinous cysts that are considered high risk to undergo malignant transformation. A total of 80 asparagine-linked (N-linked) glycans, including high mannose and complex structures, were identified. Of special interest was a series of complex N-linked glycans containing two to six fucose residues, located predominantly as substituents on β-lactosamine extensions. Following the observation of these "hyperfucosylated" glycans, bottom-up proteomics experiments utilizing a label-free quantitative approach were applied to the investigation of two sets of tryptically digested proteins derived from the cyst fluids: 1) all soluble proteins in the raw samples and 2) a subproteome of the soluble cyst fluid proteins that were selectively enriched for fucosylation through the use of surface-immobilized Aleuria aurantia lectin. A comparative analysis of these two proteomic data sets identified glycoproteins that were significantly enriched by lectin affinity. Several candidate glycoproteins that appear hyperfucosylated were identified, including triacylglycerol lipase and pancreatic α-amylase, which were 20- and 22-fold more abundant, respectively, following A. aurantia lectin enrichment.
Asymmetrical Perceptions of Power in Crises: A Comparison of 1914 and the Cuban Missile Crisis

Archival content analysis studies of British and German newspapers and diplomatic documents in 1914 showed an increasingly asymmetrical pattern of perceived intentions. Levels of power motive imagery in reports or paraphrases of statements by the `other' side were accentuated, while levels in reports or paraphrases of statements by one's own (favored) side were diminished. As a result, the overall sense of threat was increased. In contrast, an archival study of US and Soviet newspapers during the peacefully resolved 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis showed no such pattern of asymmetrical accentuation-diminution. These results confirm a pattern of perceived intentions previously found in other escalating conflict situations, and are consistent with many related social psychological phenomena and experimental results. These findings suggest that comparing mutual perceptions of power imagery is a precise, operational way to measure `threatening' intentions and thus an important mechanism of conflict escalation.
Hybrid upconversion nanomaterials for optogenetic neuronal control

Nanotechnology-based approaches offer the chemical control required to develop precision tools suitable for applications in neuroscience. We report a novel approach employing hybrid upconversion nanomaterials, combined with the photoresponsive ion channel channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2), to achieve near-infrared light (NIR)-mediated optogenetic control of neuronal activity. Current optogenetic methodologies rely on using visible light (e.g. 470 nm blue light), which tends to exhibit high scattering and low tissue penetration, to activate ChR2. In contrast, our approach enables the use of 980 nm NIR light, which addresses the short-comings of visible light as an excitation source. This was facilitated by embedding upconversion nanomaterials, which can convert NIR light to blue luminescence, into polymeric scaffolds. These hybrid nanomaterial scaffolds allowed for NIR-mediated neuronal stimulation, with comparable efficiency as that of 470 nm blue light. Our platform was optimized for NIR-mediated optogenetic control by balancing multiple physicochemical properties of the nanomaterial (e.g. size, morphology, structure, emission spectra, concentration), thus providing an early demonstration of rationally-designing nanomaterial-based strategies for advanced neural applications.
Management of goblet cell carcinoid

Background and Objectives Goblet cell carcinoid, a rare tumor of intermediate malignant potential, is known to account for a significant minority of appendiceal neoplasms. Sixteen new cases of gastrointestinal goblet cell carcinoid were reviewed to describe their presentation, treatment, and outcome. Methods A review of 16 cases from a single institution. Results Sixteen patients were diagnosed with goblet cell carcinoid between 1995 and 2005. Presenting diagnoses included appendicitis (n = 8), abdominal or liver mass (n = 5), uterine fibroids (n = 1), ovarian mass (n = 1), and Crohn's Disease exacerbation (n = 1). Mean follow-up was 12 months with a mortality of 19% (n = 3). Patients were divided into two groups: those where the diagnosis was an incidental finding at operation (Group 1) and those where the presentation was of an abdominal mass or metastatic disease (Group 2). Nine of ten patients in Group 1 initially received appendectomies. Group 2 included patients presenting with Krukenberg type lesions (n = 2) and abdominal masses (n = 4). Conclusions Goblet cell carcinoid is a rare malignant tumor largely affecting the appendix. In patients presenting with appendicitis, our series does not support the recommendation of right hemicolectomy based on pathologic diagnosis alone and surgical intervention must be customized to the individual patient. J. Surg. Oncol. 2006;94:396–402. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Translating Research Into the Classroom: The NIST Summer Institute for Middle School Science Teachers

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has developed a dynamic and on-going educational outreach program designed to support middle school science teachers and increase their understanding of the science they teach with applications to the real world and connections to the latest NIST research. In the NIST Summer Institute for Middle School Science Teachers, science topics are taken from NIST research pertinent to the middle school curriculum, and the research is translated for use in the classroom. During the two-week summer program teachers from around the country are given the opportunity to focus on NIST research as it relates to the middle school classroom by participating in a combination of hands-on activities, lectures, tours, and visits with scientists and engineers in their laboratories. The NIST Summer Institute is designed to increase teacher understanding of the subjects they teach, provide inquiry activities for the classroom, rekindle teachers’ enthusiasm for science, provide increased understanding of how scientific research is performed, create a learning community of teachers and scientists, and provide role models for the teachers. Teachers finish the NIST Summer Institute with a wealth of knowledge about core topics in introductory biology, chemistry, physics, and materials to integrate these topics into their existing curriculum. The NIST Summer Institute has spawned additional related outreach activities, including “Science Afternoons at NIST,” in which teachers are invited back to NIST during the school year for events in which the focus is on a single topic such as designing buildings to resist earthquakes, infrared energy, and nanomagnetism. Based on continued requests from participants in the NIST Summer Institute, an additional program, the NIST Research Experience for Teachers program, was begun in 2011 with teachers performing research at NIST under the guidance of NIST scientists and engineers, and designing ways to take their research experience back into the classroom to share with their students. This proceeding will give examples of topics covered and activities developed in past Summer Institutes, as well as ways similar Institutes are being implemented at other locations. While not a teaching institution but a research institute focused on meeting the measurement science needs of the nation, NIST has a wealth of resources for the education community. The NIST Summer Institute for Middle School Science Teachers is one way of sharing these resources and building partnerships between middle school science teachers and their students and NIST scientists and engineers.
Enabling subwavelength level traffic grooming in survivable WDM optical network design

The explosion of data traffic and the availability of huge bandwidth using WDM optical network make it important to study optical layer networking restoration design. This paper addresses problem of enabling traffic grooming in mesh survivable WDM optical network design. Traffic grooming in optical network is defined as the act of multiplexing, demultiplexing and switching lower rate traffic onto high capacity lightpaths. The path selection and wavelength assignment schemes are formulated as integer linear programming (ILP) optimization problems. Two exact formulations are given for employing backup multiplexing and dedicated backup reservation with minimizing the total link-primary-sharing.
Disease-specific symptoms and general quality of life of patients with prostate carcinoma before and after primary three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy

BACKGROUND Approximately 189,000 men are diagnosed with prostate carcinoma each year and more than 1 million are living with the disease. Good prognoses and undesirable sequelae accompany each of several available primary and adjuvant treatment options. The current study explored the effects of primary three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy with or without neoadjuvant hormonal therapy on urinary, bowel, and sexual symptoms and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). METHODS A prospective, repeated-measures design study included 100 patients. Data from the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form Health Survey (a measure of general HRQOL) and a 12-item symptom questionnaire were collected before the start of radiotherapy, approximately 1–3 months after completion of treatment, and again approximately 5–10 months after completion of treatment for follow-up. RESULTS Patients reported few urinary symptoms after treatment. Bowel frequency and urgency were reported more frequently posttreatment and at follow-up. Erectile difficulties, which were common pretreatment, were reported with increased frequency posttreatment and at follow-up. General HRQOL scores were higher than age-related general population norms for men at all three data collection times, but there were significant losses posttreatment for patients' physical functioning and vitality. At the 5–10-month follow-up, physical functioning remained lower but vitality scores regained some of the losses. A more extended follow-up is needed. Neoadjuvant therapy, which was received before the pretreatment data collection, had a deleterious effect on erectile functioning but no interactive effects with the radiotherapy on symptoms or HRQOL. CONCLUSIONS Although patients with a diagnosis of prostate carcinoma experienced increased bowel and sexual dysfunction and decreased vitality after radiotherapy, their HRQOL scores remained at or above age-related general population norms. Cancer 2003. © 2003 American Cancer Society.
When Courtesy Fails: Gender Roles and Polite Behaviors1

In order to explore some of the links between gender roles and traditional courteous behaviors, 284 university students responded to a questionnaire in which they evaluated scenarios of cross-sex courteous acts, described their recent experiences with courtesy, and identified courteous behaviors that they commonly performed for and expected from others. As predicted, there was a tendency for courtesies from a woman to a man to be viewed less favorably than courtesies from a man to a woman. Most subjects had directed their most recent act of courtesy toward a female and had received their most recent act from a person of the opposite sex. Some common courtesies tended to be directed toward females more than males, and males were expected to perform certain courtesies such as opening doors and paying for things for women. In general, the results confirmed the theory that courteous behaviors may serve to perpetuate gender role stereotypes and to regulate interactions between the sexes. However, most courteous behaviors were performed and appreciated by people of both genders.
A General Purpose Image Processing Architecture For "real-time" And Near "real-time" Image Exploitation

It is of increasing importance to be able to evaluate and exploit both tactical environmental and strategic imagery data types in a "real-time" interactive scenario. approach to accomplishing both destructive and non-destructive processing of high resolution imagery via a microprogrammed machine and dedicated hardwired logic. An existing architecture is presented and some techniques which are implemented on the general purpose processor are described. These techniques include: transform processing, enhancements, target detection, feature extraction, and rectification of both satellite data and reconnaissance imagery. An extension into "real-time" pipelined and paralleled architectures utilizing projected VLSI technologies is also projected. This paper deals with an
A Review of “Tyrannosaurus rex, the Tyrant King”, by Peter Larson and Kenneth Carpenter (editors). 2008. Indiana University Press, Bloomington, Indiana, 456 pp. US$49.95. ISBN 978-0-253-35087-9

Which superlative best describes Tyrannosaurus rex in the opening line of a book review? I have my old thesaurus in front of me, a holdover from my days as a moonlighting newspaper reporter in high...
Tumors of the Central Nervous System of Rats: With Report of Two Tumors of the Spinal Cord and Comments on Posterior Paralysis

The topic of tumors of the central nervous system of rats is reviewed. An ependymoma and a sarcoma of the spinal cord are reported. Comments are made on the clinical problem of posterior paralysis in rats and the difficulties in neurologic diagnosis in rodents. (auth)
Mobile intelligent tutoring system: moving intelligent tutoring systems off the desktop

The prominence of computers in the 21st Century has caused educators to reexamine the needs of today's K–12 students. The proposed 21st Century Skills center on the use of technology and thus millions of students are unable fully to master these skills due to their minimal access to technology. The Digital Divide, a correlation between an individual's access to technology and their socio-economic status, is poised to prevent large segments of society from advancing and thriving in this technology based economy. One proposed solution to this lack of computing resources lay in the transformation of mobile devices, like cell phones, from single-purpose communication tools to multipurpose computing resources. The smaller scale of mobile devices mandates the design of mobile learning applications be more than miniature desktop learning applications. Whether the applications are based on existing desktop applications or presenting new paradigms of learning activities there are human-computer-interaction and education concerns to address. This thesis describes the design, implementation, and evaluation of a complete mobile intelligent tutoring system (ITS). The research questions investigated address the design and evaluation of the implemented system. To answer first question, “How might the design of an ITS be adapted for delivery on a mobile device?” a set of general mobile ITS guidelines is described. To answer the second question, “Can a mobile ITS provide learning gains greater than traditional instructional activities?” data was gathered from a controlled study to compare the performance of students using the mobile ITS with those who did not. These data reveal that students using the mobile ITS achieved gains greater than students receiving standard instruction. The third question, “What teaching strategy best supports a mobile ITS?”, is answered through data gathered from the comparison of two teaching strategies, long and short. These data suggest that the long strategy, in which students are required to calculate the final answer to the problem, best facilitates student performance gains. This thesis lays the foundation for future research that explores the delivery of intelligent tutoring systems off the desktop as well as for research in methods of transforming desktop learning applications for mobile devices.
Poverty Outreach Findings: Mibanco, Peru

This report presents ACCION's analysis and findings regarding the poverty profiles of microfinance clients at Mibanco, Peru. In this first institutional analysis in ACCION's Poverty Outreach project, the authors analyze client income data to compare borrower poverty levels with urban, national and international poverty lines. The study also compares demographic and socio-economic characteristics of clients and non-clients. Finally, an on-going monitoring system is proposed to enable MFIs to better understand their clients and trends in their portfolios, quantify the fulfillment of their social missions, and develop new products and policies focused on poorer levels of clients.
Birth Order and Delinquency

THE study of birth order (or sibship position) and its behavioural correlates has been one of the early interests of psychology. While the theoretical discussion of the meaning and effects of birth order is traced to Adler (1928), there were earlier studies of this topic, particularly in relation to eugenics {e.g. Pearson, 1914). More recently, Schachter has refocused attention on the significance of this factor with reference to affiliation. The present paper will examine the relationship between birth order and one type of behaviour, delinquency and criminality. The first investigation of this topic was a study by Breckenridge and Abott (1912) of 584 boys who were processed at the Cook County juvenile court during the period 1903-1904. This study revealed that first-born children were over-represented by 16 per cent, among the court cases, and middle-born by 9 per cent., while last-born were considerably underrepresented. Another early exploration of this problem is Goring's (1913) study of 3,000 English prisoners. With the help of Karl Pearson, Goring established that his subjects included substantially more first-born than expected. Despite the controversial method of calculating the expected frequency in each sibship position (Greenwood and Yule, 1914), Pearson (1914) indicated that, regardless of the method, first-born were indeed overrepresented in Goring's sample. Pearson neglected to notice that the overrepresentation of the second-born was even greater. Several studies in the late 1920s and the early 1930s dealt with the relationship of birth order and delinquency and generally confirmed the prior findings of over-representation of first-born children. Levy (1931) studied 700 cases from the files of the Institute of Juvenile Research in Chicago, of which 296 were delinquents. He concluded that " the only child commits more acts of delinquency than children with one brother or sister ". Wile and Noetzel (1931) stated that delinquents tend to be the eldest children. In both studies, subjects were compared with estimates of the relevant data, drawn from different samples. Armstrong (1933) wrote that " it is only in offenses against the home {i.e. desertion and ungovernability) that there is reliability of primogeniture of delinquents ". A different interpretation of her data would be that delinquents tend to be first-born in sibships of two to five, while in most of the larger sibships, intermediate positions dominate. Parsley (1933) presented more adequate data in her study of delinquent girls in Chicago. In this study one may compare the research group with controls while holding the sibship size constant. These data show that, while simple analysis seems to indicate predominance of first-born, controlling for sibship size shows the middle positions as over-represented (with the small exception of sibships of eight or more). Fortes' study (1933)
Evolution of the psycho-legal studies program - A legacy of saleem shah

This article describes Saleem Shah's role as a mentor and consultant to the author. The author focuses on his influence in the development of the author's research program, examining issues in the police arrest of mentally ill offenders and the need for mental health services for jail detainees.
Role of economic and political freedom in the emergence of global middle class

The study examines the role of the economic freedoms such as regulatory efficiency, open markets and limited markets, political freedom and rule of law in the growth of the global middle class through international business activity in 34 emerging markets during the period of 1994–2011. The analysis suggests that some dimensions of freedom are more critical than others in making these markets attractive locations for international business and this in turn leads to domestic growth and thus growth of the middle class in these countries. The results also reveal the existence of a feedback loop, whereby the growing middle class becomes a driving force for further expansion of international business activity and economic growth.
Factitious Diarrhea Detected by Measurement of Stool Osmolality

Patients with chronic unexplained diarrhea present a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Many disorders can cause chronic diarrhea, but despite extensive evaluation the cause may remain unknown. Surreptitious abuse of laxatives1 and ingestion of drugs whose laxative properties are not recognized2 are leading causes of chronic diarrhea in patients referred to university hospitals for evaluation3,4. Factitious diarrhea has traditionally been diagnosed by evaluating stools for laxatives. We recently studied two patients with chronic unexplained diarrhea who were found to have diluted their stool samples. Dilution was suspected when the measured stool osmolality was found to be considerably lower than . . .
Baseline psychophysiological and cortisol reactivity as a predictor of PTSD treatment outcome in virtual reality exposure therapy.

Abstract Baseline cue-dependent physiological reactivity may serve as an objective measure of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Additionally, prior animal model and psychological studies would suggest that subjects with greatest symptoms at baseline may have the greatest violation of expectancy to danger when undergoing exposure based psychotherapy; thus treatment approaches which enhanced the learning under these conditions would be optimal for those with maximal baseline cue-dependent reactivity. However methods to study this hypothesis objectively are lacking. Virtual reality (VR) methodologies have been successfully employed as an enhanced form of imaginal prolonged exposure therapy for the treatment of PTSD. Our goal was to examine the predictive nature of initial psychophysiological (e.g., startle, skin conductance, heart rate) and stress hormone responses (e.g., cortisol) during presentation of VR-based combat-related stimuli on PTSD treatment outcome. Combat veterans with PTSD underwent 6 weeks of VR exposure therapy combined with either d -cycloserine (DCS), alprazolam (ALP), or placebo (PBO). In the DCS group, startle response to VR scenes prior to initiation of treatment accounted for 76% of the variance in CAPS change scores, p
Viral Hepatitis in North America

Hepatitis A (HA) accounts for 32% of the acute viral hepatitis in the United States, hepatitis B (HB) for 43%, and hepatitis C (HC) for 21%. Community-wide epidemics of HA contribute significantly to the burden of disease, as well as occasional day-care center and common-source outbreaks; international travel accounts for a small proportion of cases. Up to 40% of cases have no known risk factor. Targeting selected risk groups to receive HA vaccination probably will have little impact on overall disease rates. Most acute HB occurs in young adults, with gt;50% resulting from sexual activity, but 20–30% of chronic infections are the result of infection acquired in infancy and childhood. Efforts to vaccinate persons in major risk groups have met with limited success; therefore, the current strategy emphasizes the integration of HB vaccine into routine childhood immunization schedules. Most HC is acquired outside the transfusion setting. Since both chronic liver disease and persistent infection develop in a high proportion of patients, there is a need for preventive and therapeutic measures for persons in all risk groups.
Critical appraisal of: The endotracheal tube air leak test does not predict extubation outcome in critically ill pediatric patients. Pediatr Crit Care Med 2008; 9:490-496.

Objective To review and discuss the airway leak test in predicting extubation failure in critically ill infants and children. Design A critical appraisal with literature review of Wratney AT, Benjamin DK Jr, Slonim AD, et al: The endotracheal tube air leak test does not predict extubation outcome in critically ill pediatric patients. Pediatr Crit Care Med 2008; 9:490-496. Findings In this prospective, blinded, cohort study, the authors sought to determine whether the absence of an endotracheal tube airleak (airleak test >30 cm H2O) predicts extubation failure in infants and children. Absence of the airleak did not predict extubation failure. The airleak test was >30 cm H2O before extubation in 47% (28 of 59) of patients, yet 23 patients were extubated successfully (negative predictive value, 18%). An airway leak test >30 cm H2O did not increase the likelihood of postextubation reintubation, with a likelihood ratio of 1.2. The authors found that the positive and negative likelihood ratios for all airway leak test results were between 0.8 and 1.4, thus adding little information for the clinician assessment of extubation readiness. Conclusion Pediatric patients who are otherwise candidates for extubation but do not have an endotracheal airleak may successfully be extubated.
Assumptions and Automation in Air Traffic Systems

One of the goals of the Institute was to help the participants to question their assumptions about air traffic control (also see Hopkin, 1991). Assumptions are critical to all decision making and problem solving because they have a hidden, yet dramatic, impact on conclusions. Assumptions determine which data are accepted or rejected as relevant to the decision process. They determine the rules that will be used to process the accepted data. They determine the relative weight each datum gets. Thus, assumptions, hidden as they may be, directly impact whether a solution is accepted or rejected.
Economic Policy during the Transition to a Market-Oriented Economy

The transition economies which are the subject of this chapter include 26 countries with a total population of 413 million people. These countries are divided into three groups: the 11 countries of Central and Eastern Europe (118 million), the three Baltic States (8 million) and the 12 successor states to the former Soviet Union (287 million). The largest state by far is the Russian Federation with 148 million people, while the smallest is Estonia with only 1 million inhabitants. Twelve other countries, however, have 5 million people or less. Three countries — the Russian Federation, Ukraine and Poland — account for nearly 58 per cent of the total population.
In Vivo Efficacy of a "Smart" Antimicrobial Implant Coating.

Background: Postoperative infection is a devastating complication following arthroplasty. The goals of this study were to introduce a “smart” implant coating that combines passive elution of antibiotic with an active-release mechanism that “targets” bacteria, and to use an established in vivo mouse model of post-arthroplasty infection to longitudinally evaluate the efficacy of this polymer implant coating in decreasing bacterial burden. Methods: A novel, biodegradable coating using branched poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(propylene sulfide) (PEG-PPS) polymer was designed to deliver antibiotics both passively and actively. In vitro-release kinetics were studied using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) quantification in conditions representing both the physiologic environment and the more oxidative, hyperinflammatory environment of periprosthetic infection. The in vivo efficacy of the PEG-PPS coating delivering vancomycin and tigecycline was tested using an established mouse model of post-arthroplasty infection. Noninvasive bioluminescence imaging was used to quantify the bacterial burden; radiography, to assess osseointegration and bone resorption; and implant sonication, for colony counts. Results: In vitro-release kinetics confirmed passive elution above the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). A rapid release of antibiotic was noted when challenged with an oxidative environment (p < 0.05), confirming a “smart” active-release mechanism. The PEG-PPS coating with tigecycline significantly lowered the infection burden on all days, whereas PEG-PPS-vancomycin decreased infection on postoperative day (POD) 1, 3, 5, and 7 (p < 0.05). A mean of 0, 9, and 2.6 × 102 colony-forming units (CFUs) grew on culture from the implants treated with tigecycline, vancomycin, and PEG-PPS alone, respectively, and a mean of 1.2 × 102, 4.3 × 103, and 5.9 × 104 CFUs, respectively, on culture of the surrounding tissue (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The PEG-PPS coating provides a promising approach to preventing periprosthetic infection. This polymer is novel in that it combines both passive and active antibiotic-release mechanisms. The tigecycline-based coating outperformed the vancomycin-based coating in this study. Clinical Relevance: PEG-PPS polymer provides a controlled, “smart” local delivery of antibiotics that could be used to prevent postoperative implant-related infections.
Why and how to support students in team assignments

Once employed, our graduates will be judged on their ability to be effective team players. In some professions, people’s safety and even survival may depend on good teamwork. Yet teamwork assignments in university courses are not generally a popular option. Team projects are often viewed as a difficult and frustrating requirement, by students and faculty alike. Few instructors receive any formal training on how to create effective team assignments or on ways to educate their students about strategies for success in their team activities. In this session, we discuss ways to educate students about the value of team experiences in their courses, so that they are motivated to improve their teamwork skills. We examine the dynamics of both face-to-face and virtual teamwork, in workplace environments and in a college setting, so as to understand the underlying reasons for the challenges inherent in team activities. Then finally we explore some techniques that instructors can use to design and deliver team assignments that support a positive student experience.
Automation, Algorithms, and Politics| When Bots Tweet: Toward a Normative Framework for Bots on Social Networking Sites (Feature)

Political actors are using algorithms and automation to sway public opinion, notably through the use of “bot” accounts on social networking sites. This article considers the responsibility of social networking sites and other platforms to respect human rights, such as freedom of expression and privacy. It then proposes a set of standards for chat bots operating on these platforms, building on the existing policies of leading social networking platforms and on the indicators laid out by Ranking Digital Rights. A good normative framework for the use of bots on social networking sites should have three components: bots should clearly be labeled as such, they should not contact other users without consent, and information collected by them should only be used for disclosed purposes.