cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Culturally Competent HIV/AIDS Prevention: Understanding Program Effects on Adolescent Beliefs, Attitudes, and Behaviors

Corazon de Aztlan is a comprehensive and culturally competent adolescent development program for Mexican American and other Hispanic youth intended to prevent risky sexual behavior. Perceptions of Corazon de Aztlan participants on condom use and their implications are presented. Evaluation of HIV/AIDS prevention program effects indicated the program increased accurate knowledge of safer sexual behavior, understanding of peer pressure, negotiation skills involved in having safer sex, sense of vulnerability to HIV/AIDS, and abstinence from sexual activity, but not safer sex among those already sexually active. Contrasting rational decision-making and judgment theoretical models for understanding adolescent high-risk sexual behavior demonstrates the necessity of developing stronger partnerships between families, schools, and the larger community that could be instrumental in the creation of environments that would be more protective of youth. The potential benefits of using peer educator models and culturall...
Site specificity of surfactant protein expression in airways of baboons during gestation.

Background There are disparate reports concerning the presence of surfactant proteins in the airways of lung. The recent finding of SP-A in tracheobronchial epithelium and submucosal glands in lungs from second trimester humans has renewed interest in potential new functions of surfactant in lung biology. Methods In situ hybridization studies were done to determine the distribution of SP-A, SP-B, and SP-C in baboon lung specimens from 60, 90, 120, 140, 160, and 180 (term) days of gestation and adults. Lungs from gestation controls were obtained at the time of hysterotomy and adult lungs at necropsy. Riboprobes used for in situ hybridization contained the entire coding regions for human SP-A, SP-B, and SP-C. Results At 60 days, SP-C mRNA expression was evident in focal portions of primitive tubular epithelium but not bronchi. This distal pattern of SP-C mRNA expression persisted and was present in some epithelial cells of respiratory bronchioles at term. At 90 days, SP-A mRNA expression was present in the epithelium of trachea and large bronchi. SP-B mRNA expression was found in small bronchi, bronchioles, and distal tubular epithelium at 120 days of gestation. SP-A mRNA bronchiolar localization became evident at 140 days of gestation and alveolar type 2 cellular expression at 160 days of gestation. Abrupt transitions of surfactant protein expression were identified (e.g., SP-A mRNA–positive cells in the epithelium of large bronchi with adjoining SP-B mRNA expression in small bronchi and bronchioles). Conclusions Findings in the baboon indicate that there are well-delineated sites of surfactant protein mRNA expression in bronchial and bronchiolar epithelia. mRNA expressions of SP-A and SP-B are present in both bronchial and bronchiolar epithelium but at different sites, whereas SP-C expression is seen in loci of epithelial cells in respiratory bronchioles. Anat. Rec. 250:300–315, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
What has Iberia to do with Jerusalem? Crusade and the Spanish route to the Holy Land in the twelfth century

In spite of repeated papal injunctions forbidding them to abandon their homeland, Iberian Christians, like their co-religionists throughout Europe, were energised by a desire to participate in the Holy Land crusades. The most significant and creative attempt in the first half of the twelfth century to respond to this Spanish desire was the development of the idea of the iter per Hispaniam, which was fostered by Iberian archbishops and monarchs such as Diego Gelmirez of Santiago de Compostela and Alfonso I of Aragon. This Spanish route was intended to unite the conflicts in the peninsula and the Holy Land, forming a single Mediterranean-wide crusading theatre and thereby granting the Iberian conflict a deeper connection with the struggle for control of the holiest sites in Christendom. This article explores the development of crusading ideology in Spain and the difficulties of doing so in a venue outside of the Holy Land. Additionally, the development of the Spanish route idea provides a unique opportunity...
The origin of metazoan development: a palaeobiological perspective

Abstract The rapid diversification of early Metazoa remains one of the most puzzling events in the fossil record. Several models have been proposed to explain a critical aspect of this event: the origin of Metazoan development. These include the origin of the eukaryotic cell, environmental triggers, key innovations or selection among cell lineages. Here, the first three hypotheses are evaulated within a phylogenetic framework using fossil, molecular and developmental evidence. Many elements of metazoan development are widely distributed among unicellular eukaryotes, yet only 3 of the 23 multicellular eukaryotic lineages evolved complex development. Molecular evidence indicates the lineage leading to the eukaryotic cell is nearly as old as the eubacterial and archaebacterial lineages, although the symbiotic events established that the eukaryotic cell probably occurred about 1.5 billion years ago. Yet Metazoa did not appear until 1000 to 600 million years ago (Myr), suggesting the origin of metazoan development must be linked to either an environmental trigger, perhaps an increase in atmospheric oxygen, or key innovations such as the development of collagen. Yet the first model fails to explain the unique appearance of complex development in Metazoa, while the latter fails to explain the simultaneous diversification of several 'protist' groups along with the Metazoa. A more complete model of the origin of metazoan development combines environmental triggering of a series of innovations, with successive innovations generating radiations of metazoan clades as lineages breached functional thresholds. The elaboration of new cell classes and the appearance of such developmental innovations as cell sheets may have been of particular importance. Evolutionary biologists often implicitly assume that evolution is a uniformitarian, time-homogeneous process without strong temporal asymmetries in evolutionary mechanisms, rate or context. Yet evolutionary patterns do exhibit such asymmetries, raising the possibility that such innovations as metazoan development impose non-uniformities of evolutionary process.
Observations of crack nucleation in columnar ice due to grain boundary sliding

Abstract Biaxial compression experiments were carried out to investigate the mechanisms of crack nucleation in columnar freshwater ice. For strain rates higher than 10 −3 s −1 at — 10°Cm, it is observed that crack nucleation is preceded by grain boundary sliding which results in local decohesion pockets spread intermittently along the boundary facets. The experimental results are shown to support the crack nucleation model presented in the companion paper.
Cypress dome characteristics within one county of the Southern United States: a case study of changes

Cypress domes are non-transient, disconnected, depressional wetland areas scattered about the southern United States. Baldcypress (Taxodium distichum (L.) Rich.), swamp tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica var. biflora) and other trees species typically occupy these sites. Even though these areas are relatively fixed on the landscape, given land use changes over the last 60–70 years, the spatial character of the resource may have undergone some change as well. A small case study of one Georgia county suggests that there was net decrease in cypress dome land area from 1940 to 2007. The case study also suggests that there was a significant change in the land class(es) adjacent to or containing cypress domes. In addition, the physical shape of cypress domes seems to have changed, perhaps due to mechanical treatment of the land during commercial forestry operations. While the shape of cypress domes that were adjacent to mature forests in 1940 was not significantly different than the shape of the same cypress domes that were adjacent to mature forests in 2007, the shape of cypress domes adjacent to agricultural land and pasture/forest land uses in 1940 was significantly different in shape than their 2007 counterparts. Thus, the value of this study is in suggesting that the physical shape of cypress domes that were once adjacent to agricultural or pasture/forest lands seems to have changed, perhaps due to mechanical treatment of the land during the transition from agricultural practices to commercial forestry operations. The study also highlights the need for assessing the hydrologic changes in wetland function due to changes in cypress dome shape, and due to mechanical operations used along the edges of cypress domes to effectively adjust their shape. Research along these lines can lead to a better understanding of the spatial character of the cypress resource in areas that were once used for agricultural or pasture/forest purposes and may lead to more effective management strategies for protecting its role in society.
Growth and passivation of AlGaN/GaN heterostructures

Abstract The undoped AlGaN/GaN heterostructure (Ga-face) produces a polarization induced two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) at the heterointerface. The as-grown structure has a fixed positive charge on its surface to oppose the negative polarization charge on the top AlGaN layer's surface. Although sensitive to atmospheric conditions this positive surface charge is not sufficient in density to prevent significant depletion of the 2DEG. The ideal surface passivation is an insulator, acting as an encapsulant, which provides a fixed positive charge to neutralize the AlGaN polarization charge. We demonstrate that certain types of silicon nitride thin films can result in a charge balance and virtually eliminate depletion of the underlying 2DEG. A simple polarization model is used to explain the Hall and capacitance–voltage data on AlGaN/GaN heterostructures grown by organometallic vapor phase epitaxy. By changing the passivation layer thickness, the surface depletion can be systematically controlled, allowing the dependence of electron mobility on two-dimensional charge densities to be determined for samples grown on sapphire and SiC substrates. A metal–insulator–semiconductor structure of this type can be used to deplete the electrons induced at the AlGaN/GaN interface allowing insulated gate transistors to be realized.
An examination of vascular reactivity during pregnancy in the chronic ewe model.

Abstract The hind limb vascular responses to angiotensin II and phenylephrine, and α-adrenergic agonist, were determined in chronically instrumented pregnant (n = 7) and castrated (n = 6) ewes. On any one day, five doses of one or the other drug were administered directly into the arterial femoral circulation while the perfusion pressure and external iliac blood flow were monitored. The steady-state resistance change (baseline resistance — the resistance calculated during the 3 to 5 minutes of drug infusion) showed a reduction in vascular response to angiotensin II in the pregnant ewes compared to the controls, with no significant differences in response to phenylephrine. When the dynamic (within 40 seconds) rather than the steady-state changes were analyzed, a hyperreactivity to phenylephrine was present in the pregnant animals. These data are an illustration of the complex interactions that are present in the whole-body pressor responses to vasoactive stimuli during pregnancy.
Contemporary treatment of venous lower limb ulcers.

The postphlebitic syndrome is a significant management problem that affects a large number of patients. Primary prophylaxis of deep-vein thrombophlebitis would reduce the risk of developing the postphlebitic syndrome and should be considered in high-risk patients. Patients who have had a phlebitis should be monitored with noninvasive tests of the deep venous circulation for the development of venous valve incompetence. Patients with venous hypertension should be placed in compression stockings to prevent the postphlebitic syndrome. In patients who progress to venous ulceration, several aggressive measures must be undertaken
Effect of pentobarbital on spontaneous recovery from hypoxic apnoea in mice.

Abstract The effect of pentobarbital anaesthesia on spontaneous recovery from hypoxic apnoea (autoresuscitation) was investigated in SWR/J mice. Experiments were performed in 17 to 23 day old animals, in which the mechanism often fails, and in adults, in which it is usually successful. Mice, matched for age and weight, were injected with pentobarbital (62.5 mg/kg) or saline. Hypoxic apnoea was induced with 97% N2-3% CO2 and air given at its onset. To determine whether the effect of pentobarbital depended on hypothermia, we performed experiments in 17–23-day-olds with and without maintenance of body temperature. In the ‘hypothermic’ experiments one of 27 mice given pentobarbital died, compared with 10 of 22 controls ( P ). In the ‘isothermic experiments’, none of 15 mice given pentobarbital died, compared to 7 of 13 controls ( P ). All adults in both groups survived. Pentobarbital had a different effect on eupnoea and gasping: resting ventilation was depressed but gasp ventilation increased, and the duty cycle of gasps but not eupnoeic breaths was altered. Pentobarbital may facilitate autoresuscitation because gasping is unimpaired but oxygen consumption and lactate production are reduced, allowing cardiac function and cerebral survival until PO2 is restored.
From Actors to Directors: New Voices at the C.H. Nash Museum at Chucalissa

This article focuses on the changing voices of descendent communities at the C.H. Nash Museum in Memphis, Tennessee. Since its inception in the 1950s, the C.H. Nash Museum at Chucalissa has been the destination for local residents and others who wish to learn about contemporary Native American cultures and the prehistoric inhabitants of the Chucalissa site, a temple mound complex built and occupied from 1000 to 1500 C.E. For the first several decades of the Museum's operation, visitors viewed exposed human burials, hypothesized replicas of prehistoric houses, and the American Indians who acted as guides and demonstrators and effectively became a living part of the site exhibit.
LOW-VOLUME ROADS AND THE GRADE CROSSING PROBLEM

Summarized are problems associated with low-volume road (LVR) passive grade crossings, low-cost innovative devices that have been developed and tested to improve safety, policies, and programs that have been developed and promoted in the United States to enhance safety at LVR grade crossings, particularly at night. On the basis of safety studies and years of experience, conclusions and recommendations are presented to reduce drivers' risk at the typical passive, rail-highway grade crossing found on LVRs. Stressed are the two keys to reducing risk at LVR, passive grade crossings: provide adequate sight distance and make the crossing and warning devices conspicuous, particularly at night.
Some theorems on structural consequence operations

Two characterizations are given of those structural consequence operations on a propositional language which can be defined via proofs from a finite number of polynomial rules.
The influence of habitat construction technique on the ecological characteristics of a restored brackish marsh

The primary goal of most habitat restoration projects is to improve ecosystem functions as compensation for habitat loss or degradation, but the optimal engineering approach to achieve that outcome is not always known a priori. Restored coastal wetlands are frequently engineered to create mound and terrace formations at low marsh elevations, but there have been few opportunities to quantitatively compare the ecological characteristics of construction methods that differ in soil source and configuration. Our study took place in a restored (2008) brackish marsh (Texas, USA) that included mounded formations built from on-site soil, off-site dredge material, or a combination of soil sources. We used a two-year (2009–2010) dataset from a restoration monitoring program that included emergent plant, water, soil, aquatic plant, and aquatic faunal characteristics to address two questions: (1) Do construction methods combining different soil sources and dredging techniques confer unique ecological characteristics? (2) Is there an ecological benefit to incorporating heterogeneity in a restored site by employing multiple construction methods? Our analyses revealed that plant root biomass and soil nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations were two times higher in the reference area than in any of the restored areas. Among the restoration construction methods, ecosystem characteristics were similar to each other within two years of restoration. In general, ecosystem characteristics were affected more by temporal variation between years than by construction method. Differences between years were driven by water characteristics; unusually high tides in 2010 doubled salinity and decreased water chlorophyll a concentration and dissolved inorganic nitrogen by half. Although the restored areas did not achieve all reference characteristics during the early development of the site, the differences among engineering approaches were relatively subtle. Therefore, the recommendation for practice is to use the approach that is most cost-effective for a specific site. In our study area, the dredging methods yielded the largest area of emergent marsh per unit effort, but the on-site soil excavations created more aquatic habitat. When ecological integrity is defined as the provision of a wide range of biotic and abiotic conditions at a landscape scale, then the use of different engineering approaches at different sites within a region creates habitat heterogeneity, thus conferring regional-level ecological benefits.
Quantitative diagnosis of stress-induced myocardial ischemia using analysis of contrast echocardiographic parametric perfusion images.

Aims Parametric imaging of myocardial perfusion provides useful visual information for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD). We developed a technique for automated detection of perfusion defects based on quantitative analysis of parametric perfusion images and validated it against coronary angiography. Methods and results Contrast-enhanced, apical 2-, 3- and 4-chamber images were obtained at rest and with dipyridamole in 34 patients with suspected CAD. Images were analyzed to generate parametric perfusion images of the standard contrast-replenishment model parameters A , β and A · β . Each parametric image was divided into six segments, and mean parameter value (MPV) was calculated for each segment. Segmental MPV ratio between stress and rest was defined as a flow reserve index (FRI). Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis was used in a Study group ( N =17) to optimize FRI threshold and the minimal number of abnormal segments per vascular territory (LAD and non-LAD), required for automated detection of stress-induced perfusion defects. The optimized detection algorithm was then tested prospectively in the remaining 17 patients (Test group). LAD and non-LAD stenosis >70% was found in 19 and 17 patients, respectively. In the Study group, FRI threshold was: LAD=0.95 and non-LAD=0.68, minimal number of abnormal segments was four and two, correspondingly. Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy in the Test group were: 75%, 67% and 71% in the LAD, and 75%, 75% and 75% in the non-LAD territories. Conclusion Automated quantitative analysis of contrast echocardiographic parametric perfusion images is feasible and may aid in the objective detection of CAD.
The Rate of Inner Speech

Self-reports of elliptical inner speech were measured to assess the speed of verbal problem solving. Rates of inner speech were correlated with physiological measurements of subvocal activity during verbal problem solving to evaluate the association between self-reports of verbal cognition and covert oral behavior. Sub-vocalization was electromyographically recorded during the silent solution of verbal tasks. Subjects reported the elliptical inner speech used to solve each problem (elliptical word count) and expanded that volume of words into a full statement of their internal problem-solving strategies (extended word count). The speed of processing and task simplicity were important in obtaining a high correlation between elliptical and extended word counts. The extended word count represented an equivalent rate of speech in excess of 4,000 words per minute. The volume of subvocal activity was correlated with the elliptical word count to assess whether subvocalization could be linked to introspection. Th...
Dioxins and dioxin-like compounds in domestic meat

Persistent environmental pollutants including polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, dibenzo- furans (PCDD/Fs), coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were analyzed in 65 meat samples collected from supermarkets across the U.S. in 2001. The samples included hamburger, sirloin steaks, pork chops, bacon, and whole chickens from nine different cities. The average dioxin toxic equivalency (TEQ) for all the samples was 0.55 pg/g lipid, with pork having the lowest levels. The TEQ levels were similar to recent values reported in the U.S. and appear to be declining. The sums of PBDEs averaged 1.71 ng/g lipid and represent the first extensive sampling of domestic meats. The PBDE levels in pork and chicken were 4 and 10 times higher, respectively, than levels reported in Europe for these foods. The presence of a few outliers raised the average PBDE sums and indicated that isolated sources of contamination may exist that, if identified, could be removed from the U.S. animal production chain. Introduction Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), and biphenyls (PCBs) are ubiquitous, persistent, lipophilic pollutants. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are com- monly-used additive flame retardants that are also highly lipophilic and structurally similar to the PCDD/Fs and PCBs. While PCDD/F levels are decreasing in the environment and PCBs are no longer produced, PBDEs continue to be produced and their levels appear to be increasing in the environment and in humans over the past 10-20 years (Darnerud et al., 2001; deWit, 2002). The acute and chronic toxicity of dioxin-like compounds is well documented (Schecter, 1994), and, although PBDEs do not appear to have any acute toxicity, some studies have shown developmen- tal and neurological effects due to PBDE exposure (Darnerud et al., 2001). In order to better assess the risk from PBDEs, routes and magnitudes of exposure need to be investigated and characterized. Because human exposure to PCDD/Fs is almost entirely through the diet, it seems plausible that exposure to PBDEs may occur by this same route. In this study, we have analyzed typical domestic meats to update data on the current levels of PCDD/Fs and PCBs and to begin to define the levels of PBDEs found in these products. Materials and Methods Meat and poultry samples were purchased at large supermarkets in nine cities across the U.S. and shipped frozen to the USDA-ARS laboratory in Fargo, ND, for analysis. All samples were collected in 2001 and included bacon, hamburger, whole chickens, sirloin steaks, and pork chops from each location. The bacon and ground beef were analyzed whole; for the chickens, steaks, and chops, fat was trimmed and analyzed for 17 toxic PCDD/Fs and 3 copla- nar PCBs, or 7 marker PBDEs in separate analyses. Homogenized bacon or fat trimmings (5 g) were spiked with 15 13
A novel FPGA Architecture with Built-in Error Correction

SRAM-based field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) have gained a lot of popularity due to their on-line reconfigurable features. With such growing demand, manufacturers are constantly striving to build more densely packed FPGAs with higher logic capacity thus increasing the probability of errors. The proposed architecture is capable of correcting faults in the FPGA cells within the same clock cycle. This architecture consists of an array of identical FPGA cells each of which may be used for logic functionality, for interconnect, or for both, thus avoiding any intricate network of interconnects, switching boxes, or routers commonly found in commercially available FPGAs. An FPGA cell can have different modes of operation and, collectively a group of such cells can implement any logic function that is either registered or combinational. The built-in fault tolerance is capable of correcting, on average, one error per cell where the errors can result from either permanent faults (such as stuck-at faults) or transient faults (errors resulting from radiation or other transient effects). Thus, an on-line fault tolerant FPGA architecture has been proposed that is more suited for tolerating transient faults within every FPGA cell in the same clock cycle. This is unlike any of the currently available commercial FPGA devices.
Kinetically controlled catalytic synthesis of highly dispersed metal-in-carbon composite and its electrochemical behavior

We report here a facile and generic synthesis method involving low-temperature, kinetically controlled catalysis followed by in situ carbothermal reduction to fabricate highly dispersed metal-in-carbon composites. The method achieves the homogeneous dispersion of metal particles with retention of the crystal structure of the carbon matrix. As a proof of concept, we fabricated tin-in-graphite composites in which the tin particles (200–500 nm) are highly dispersed within the compliant and conductive matrix of graphite, without destroying the crystal structure of the graphite. Electrochemical performance measurements indicate that the composite with Sn content of ∼15 wt% has a reversible capacity of ∼450 mAh g−1 with stable cyclability, a superior initial Coulombic efficiency, and a flat voltage profile, when evaluated as anode material for lithium ion batteries.
Follicular-Fluid Factors and Granulosa-Cell Gene Expression Associated with Follicle Deviation in Cattle

Intrafollicular changes in the largest follicle (F1) and second-largest (F2) follicle were examined in relation to follicle diameter deviation. Deviation is characterized by continued growth of the largest follicle and the cessation of growth of the smaller follicles. Granulosa cells and follicular fluid were obtained from slaughterhouse ovaries (n = 95 pairs, experiment 1), and follicular fluid was collected in vivo (n = 28 heifers, experiment 2). Several ranges in the diameter of F1 were used to represent the progressive growth of the follicle. The diameter range with the first significant increase in the difference between F1 and F2 was determined for each end point and was used as an indicator of the sequence of events associated with diameter deviation. An increased difference for diameter and for estradiol concentration occurred (P < 0.05) simultaneously at the 8.5- to 8.9-mm range in both experiments. In experiment 1, the increased difference between F1 and F2 in LH receptor (LHr) mRNA expression occurred (P < 0.05) at the 8.0- and 8.4-mm range. In F2 of experiment 2, there was a progressive decrease (P < 0.05) in free insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 and a progressive increase (P < 0.05) in IGF binding protein (BP)-2 across the follicle-diameter ranges (7.5-11.2 mm). No differences were detected between F1 and F2 for 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase mRNA expression in experiment 1 and testosterone, total inhibin, and dimeric inhibin-A concentrations in experiment 2. The results indicated that the acquisition of granulosa cell LHrs by F1, as indicated by increased LHr mRNA expression, occurred one diameter range before an increased difference between F1 and F2 for diameter or estradiol concentrations. On a temporal basis, it is concluded that LHr acquisition plays a role in the establishment of diameter deviation. In addition, the reduced growth of F2 may have involved the reduced bioavailability of IGF-1 in association with elevated IGFBPs.
PROBABILISTIC THREE-DIMENSIONAL MODEL FOR SLOW SHEARING PARTICULATE FLOW: DRY FRICTION†

A probabilistic model for the slow shearing motion of spherical particles dominated by dry inter-particle frictional forces is proposed. The particles can move by sliding, rolling, solid body rotat...
ANALYSES OF GENE FREQUENCIES

Models of variance components and their intraclass correlational equivalences are developed for genes falling into various categories of subdivisions within a population. Estimable functions are elaborated demonstrating that intraclass correlations can be estimated only relative to that for the least related genes in the informational system. The effects of different types of subdivisions—and of ignoring them—on the parameters are demonstrated. Small sample estimators are formulated for all of the parameters by three different methods, including both a weighted and an unweighted method of analysis of the variation among subpopulations. How estimators change with assumptions about the parameters is illustrated. Various tests of hypotheses are outlined in χ2 and F-test terminology. Discussed are factors which may affect the correlations and the manner in which their effects are manifest, hopefully in clarification of some of the misconceptions that have arisen in this connection.
A light and transmission electron microscope study of some cells and tissues associated with the tymbal muscle of a periodical cicada (Homoptera, Cicadidae)

. A light and transmission electron microscope study of sections of cells of—and of cells and tissues of—and of cells, associated with the previously undescribed tymbal muscle of a periodical cicada (Brood X of the 17-year cicada) was undertaken to (i) compare their features with similar features described for other cicada tymbal muscles, (ii) use that information to try to determine cytologically whether the muscle should be considered synchronous or asynchronous, and (iii) seek information about ultrastructural features not previously described for any cicada. In cross section the myofibrils are slightly angular and have an abundance of sarcoplasmic reticulum and T tubules. Longitudinal sections show a pair of T tubules, one of each pair located midway between the Z line and the center (H level) of each sarcomere. These cytological features are consistently found in the tymbal muscles of the majority of other cicada genera and species, which are designated synchronous muscles, and all of which are termed fast muscles. The amount of sarcoplasmic reticulum increases at the Z lines. The largest mitochondria occur in the largest axons, but the smallest axons have more neurotubules per cross-section area. Axon diameters range 0.14–20 μm. Multinucleate adipocytes, with vacuoles that appear either empty or content-containing, and tracheocytes, which could either be binucleate or have a lobate or U-shaped nucleus, are located at the periphery of the muscle. Large numbers of microtubules occur in the interface glia. The diameters of microtubules and neurotubules (∼27 nm) agree closely with the averages usually cited. This study indicates that the tymbal muscles of this cicada should be designated as synchronous, and it describes ultrastructural features that are typical and others that are unusual.
State-dependent electrostatic interactions of S4 arginines with E1 in S2 during Kv7.1 activation

The voltage-sensing domain of voltage-gated channels is comprised of four transmembrane helices (S1–S4), with conserved positively charged residues in S4 moving across the membrane in response to changes in transmembrane voltage. Although it has been shown that positive charges in S4 interact with negative countercharges in S2 and S3 to facilitate protein maturation, how these electrostatic interactions participate in channel gating remains unclear. We studied a mutation in Kv7.1 (also known as KCNQ1 or KvLQT1) channels associated with long QT syndrome (E1K in S2) and found that reversal of the charge at E1 eliminates macroscopic current without inhibiting protein trafficking to the membrane. Pairing E1R with individual charge reversal mutations of arginines in S4 (R1–R4) can restore current, demonstrating that R1–R4 interact with E1. After mutating E1 to cysteine, we probed E1C with charged methanethiosulfonate (MTS) reagents. MTS reagents could not modify E1C in the absence of KCNE1. With KCNE1, (2-sulfonatoethyl) MTS (MTSES)− could modify E1C, but [2-(trimethylammonium)ethyl] MTS (MTSET)+ could not, confirming the presence of a positively charged environment around E1C that allows approach by MTSES− but repels MTSET+. We could change the local electrostatic environment of E1C by making charge reversal and/or neutralization mutations of R1 and R4, such that MTSET+ modified these constructs depending on activation states of the voltage sensor. Our results confirm the interaction between E1 and the fourth arginine in S4 (R4) predicted from open-state crystal structures of Kv channels and reveal an E1–R1 interaction in the resting state. Thus, E1 engages in electrostatic interactions with arginines in S4 sequentially during the gating movement of S4. These electrostatic interactions contribute energetically to voltage-dependent gating and are important in setting the limits for S4 movement.
Signal readout in a-Si:H pixel detectors

Summary form only. Amorphous or poly-silicon thin-film technology can be used to make readout electronics for a-Si:H pixel detectors. A switch consisting of two a-Si:H p-i-n diodes was studied to read out signals from pixels for imaging of X-rays or gamma rays. A charge storage time of approximately 20 ms and a readout time of 0.7 mu s were achieved. In detection of single ionizing particles, a poly-silicon thin-film amplifier can be integrated to amplify the small signal at pixel level before readout. Prototype poly-silicon TFT (thin-film transistor) amplifiers were designed and fabricated. The measured gain-bandwidth product was approximately 300 MHz and the input equivalent noise charge was approximately 1000 electrons for a 1 mu s shaping time. >
Healthcare disparities in revisits for complications after adult tonsillectomy.

Abstract Objective Determine if disparities exist for revisit complications after adult tonsillectomy. Methods Cases of adult tonsillectomy were extracted from the state ambulatory surgery databases and linked to the state emergency department databases and inpatient databases for California, Iowa, Florida and New York for 2010 and 2011. Revisits within 14 days for diagnoses of: post-tonsillectomy bleeding, acute pain and nausea/vomiting/dehydration were determined and analyzed for associations of these complications with age, sex, race, median household income and comorbidity score. Results Among 17,836 tonsillectomies (63.7% female; mean age, 29.0 years), revisit rates for post-tonsillectomy bleeding, acute pain and fever/dehydration were 5.1, 2.8 and 1.5%, respectively. On multivariate analysis, only female sex was associated with a lower post-tonsillectomy bleeding rate (odds, 0.48, p p ≤ 0.002). Female sex was associated with an increased odds of a revisit for FNVD (odds, 1.94, p Conclusions Significant disparities with respect to income and race exist in the incidence of revisits and potentially avoidable complications after adult tonsillectomy.
Genetic Effect on Blood Pressure Is Modulated by Age: The Hypertension Genetic Epidemiology Network Study

Genome-wide linkage analysis was performed for systolic and diastolic blood pressures in the Hypertension Genetic Epidemiology Network. We investigated the role of gene–age interactions using a recently developed variance components method that incorporates age variation in genetic effects. Substantially improved linkage evidence, in terms of both the number of linkage peaks and their significance levels, was observed. Twenty-six linkage peaks were identified with maximum logarithm of odds scores ranging between 3.0 and 4.6, 15 of which were cross-validated by the literature. The chromosomal region 1p36 that showed the highest logarithm of odds score in our study was found to be supported by evidence from 3 studies. The new method also led to vastly improved validation across ethnic groups. Ten of the 15 supported linkage peaks were cross-validated between 2 different ethnic groups, and 2 peaks on chromosomal region 1q31 and 16p11 were validated in 3 ethnic groups. In conclusion, this investigation demonstrates that genetic effects on blood pressure vary by age. The improved genetic linkage results presented here should help to identify the specific genetic variants that explain the observed results.
Emotional modulation of the post‐auricular reflex

A large literature now exists on emotional modulation of the startle blink reflex. The current study examined affective modulation of the post-auricular reflex, which can be measured in relation to the same noise probe used to evoke the startle reflex. We recorded the post-auricular reflex during viewing of pictures that varied systematically in emotional valence, content, and intensity. A significant linear valence modulation effect was found, with pleasant pictures potentiating and aversive pictures inhibiting the post-auricular reflex in comparison with neutral pictures. This modulatory effect did not vary as a function of picture content, but it was most robust for highly intense emotional pictures. Implications for the assessment of basic emotional action tendencies are discussed.
Beliefs about Cancer, Heart Disease, and Their Victims:

Of the considerable recent research by social scientists in the area of health and medicine, most has been devoted to examination of individuals' health and their own health-related behaviors and beliefs. Little attention has been paid to the reactions of people to ill others. The just-world hypothesis suggests that these reactions are predictable: that as the severity of illness increases, the victim should receive increasing derogation by others. This study examined the failure of a previous study to find evidence supporting this prediction when the severe disease was cancer. In the current study, 73 undergraduate students were presented one of two stimulus stories depicting a person who suffered either from a heart attack or stomach cancer. After reading the stories, subjects rated the attractiveness of the stimulus person. They also answered a series of questions designed to probe their beliefs about these two health conditions. As predicted and contrary to the just-world hypothesis, victims of condit...
The contribution of adhesion forces to the leukocyte response to shear stress

Leukocyte emigration at inflammatory sites requires rolling along microvessels, firm adhesion, cell spreading and active migration. While these activities require leukocytes to shift from a passive to an active state, the mechanisms underlying these phenomena are incompletely understood. The leukocyte response to fluid shear stress may play a regulatory role. We previously showed that glass-adherent and initially passive leukocytes exposed to a controlled fluid shear stress project pseudopodia, extend lamellipodia and extensively spread in an amplitude and duration dependent manner. The aim of the current investigation was to elucidate mechanisms underlying the transformation of adherent leukocytes from a round to spread configuration by fluid shear stress. Several approaches were used to manipulate membrane adhesive and repulsive forces in human leukocytes before exposure to fluid shear stress of /spl sim/2 dyn/cm/sup 2/. Cell geometric parameters from each of the interventions were compared to control values. Manipulating adhesion forces both enhanced and diminished the cell spreading response to fluid shear stress.
Performance analysis of large electrically small transmit antennas

This paper discuses the design/analysis techniques used to analyze the performance of high power electrically small transmitting antennas. In this case they are applied to conversion of a 100 kHz antenna to operate at lower frequencies.
The Morality and Utility of Organ Transplantation

Organ transplantation is at once a technology that raises new ethical problems and a good testing ground for various moral principles. It has become a common procedure in some countries and, at least in the United States, promises to become even more so. It poses questions about costs and benefits as well as the very large question of whether we should try to renew human life indefinitely and, if so, at what cost. It raises the problem of whether organs are the property of their possessors – at least when the possessors are competent adults. It raises issues of organ sales, of what might be called donor recruitment, of informed consent, of reparations when transplant fails, of eligibility for transplant, and of competition for medical time and expertise between transplantation and other, less dramatic kinds of medical care. This essay touches on all of these topics, with the aim of identifying the broad dimensions of the ethical problems of organ transplantation and some of the moral principles that may help us solve them.
Ideal L2 self and university English learners: An interview study

Although much research has focused on university students’ ideal second language (L2) selves (Dornyei, 2005, 2009), many studies have employed a questionnaire method and have not captured the full range of participants’ ideal L2 selves. In order to gain a rich understanding of the development of ideal L2 selves, in this study six nonEnglish major university students were interviewed. The results indicated that the interviewees’ ideal L2 selves varied in terms of their contents and specific ity, and revealed some types of ideal L2 selves which were not included in many questionnaire studies. Although opportunities to communicate in English were not frequent among the interviewees, some had unique occasions in which they used English. These opportunities then had influences on the development of their ideal L2 selves. Finally, the study discusses the possible role of teachers as role models serving to help students develop their ideal L2 selves. 大学生の目標言語を駆使する理想的な自分
THE RISK OF INFECTION AND PERITONEAL CATHETER LOSS FROM IMPLANT PROCEDURE EXIT-SITE TRAUMA

ObjectiveTo evaluate the role of skin and subcutaneous tissue trauma at the time of catheter implant procedure as a determinant of catheter loss from infectious complications.DesignNonrandomized st...
Positively magnetic north.

But I am as constant as the northern star, of whose true-fixed and resting quality there is no fellow in the firmament. —William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar , Act III, scene i Although Oscar Wilde maintained that “consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative,” readers should not skip
Elevated concentrations of CRF in the locus coeruleus of depressed subjects.

Research evidence that corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) plays a role in the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder (MDD) has accumulated over the past 20 years. The elevation of lumbar cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of CRF decreased responsiveness of pituitary CRF receptors to challenge with synthetic CRF, and increased levels of serum cortisol in MDD subjects support the hypothesis that CRF is chronically hypersecreted in at least the endocrine circuits of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and may also involve other CRF brain circuits mediating emotional responses and/or arousal. One such circuit includes the excitatory CRF input to the locus coeruleus (LC), the major source of norepinephrine in the brain. Furthermore, there are now reports of decreased levels of CRF in lumbar CSF from MDD patients after symptom relief from chronic treatment with antidepressant drugs or electroconvulsive therapy. Whether this normalization reflects therapeutic effects on both endocrine- and limbic-associated CRF circuits has not yet been effectively addressed. In this brief report, we describe increased concentrations of CRF-like immunoreactivity in micropunches of post-mortem LC from subjects with MDD symptoms as established by retrospective psychiatric diagnosis compared to nondepressed subjects matched for age and sex.
Abstract 4113: Discovery and optimization of potent SDF1α antagonist peptides.

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC The SDF1α / CXCR4 axis contributes to cancer metastasis, proliferation, angiogenesis and resistance to standard of care drugs. Here we describe novel phage display derived peptide SDF1α antagonists. Phage displayed peptides were optimized through a multistep process that resulted in a 400-fold improvement in activity, from 6.4 uM IC50 inhibition of SDF1α -driven Calcium flux to 16 nM IC50. First, peptides were affinity matured via panning of focused phage libraries. Peptides exhibiting enhanced potency were bioconjugated to the CovX antibody scaffold IgG (CVX-2000), generating bivalent CovX-Bodies with 5-fold improved potency in SDF1α driven Calcium flux assays. N and C-terminal extension of the peptide and introduction of unnatural amino acids produced an additional 11-fold improvement in activity to 16 nM. Constructs with optimal pharmacokinetic stability were identified, and demonstrated single agent tumor inhibition in a Ramos B cell lymphoma xenograft model. Citation Format: Julia A. Coronella, Yanwen Fu, Kimberly Johnson, Jingping Zhong, Lioudmila Campbell, Gang Chen, Dorian Willhite, Joselyn Del Rosario, Abhijit Bhat, Gary Woodnutt, Nancy Levin. Discovery and optimization of potent SDF1α antagonist peptides. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4113. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-4113
Automated Serum Calcium Analyses Corrected for Dialysis Effects

Serum calcium assays by conventional continuous flow methods use aqueous standards. Less calcium diffuses across the dialyzer from aqueous standards than from the serum samples, producing falsely elevated serum values, especially when a miniature manifold and dialyzer are employed. The difference between the rates of dialysis of calcium in serum and in water has been attributed to the Donnan effect of polycationic protein at an acid pH. The differences in electrical potential across the dialyzer membrane were measured directly. Serum produced a negative difference in potential, the opposite of that required by the Donnan effect. Therefore, other factors, such as osmotic pressure, must be considered. For the continuous flow cresolphthalein complexone (CPC) method, the dialysis error can be corrected by 8% polyvinylpyrrolidone in the calcium standards, and an HC1 concentration of 0.3 N in the diluent stream and 1 N in the recipient stream. Ethylene diamine-tetraacetate (EDTA) in the base reagent subtracts a constant amount of calcium (about 3 mg. per dl.) from all the samples, allows the recorder scale to be expanded, and reduces sample carryover. A revised miniature manifold, used with a one-piece Gilford debubbler flow cell and a linear absorbance spectrophotometer, allows analysis of 100 samples per hour. Peak heights are directly proportional to concentration, thereby eliminating logarithmic conversion.