cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
GA binding protein regulates interleukin 7 receptor alpha-chain gene expression in T cells.

The interleukin 7 receptor α-chain (IL-7Rα) is essential for T cell development in both humans and mice and for B cell development in mice. Whereas the transcription factor PU.1 regulates IL-7Rα expression in mouse pro–B cells via a GGAA motif, we demonstrate here that GA binding protein (GABP) bound to this site and was essential in the regulation of IL-7Rα expression in T cells, where PU.1 is not expressed. Moreover, IL-7Rα expression was diminished substantially in thymocytes but was normal on B220+ fetal liver cells from mouse embryos with diminished expression of GABPα. Thus, GABP is essential for the regulation of IL-7Rα expression in T cells, and the differential regulation of IL-7Rα in distinct lymphoid lineages is achieved at least in part by differential recruitment of factors to the same GGAA motif.
Single‐Link Cluster Analysis As A Method to Evaluate Spatial and Temporal Properties of Earthquake Catalogues

SUMMARY Single-link cluster analysis is a straightforward method to quantitatively measure the degree of clustering or isolation of groups of elements in a set, such as a catalogue of earthquakes. to apply single-link cluster analysis to a set of N earthquakes, individual earthquakes are first linked to their nearest neighbours to form event sub-groups. the process is then repeated and each sub-group linked to its nearest neighbour, recursively, until N-1 links are found to join all the earthquakes. This paper shows how knowledge of these links can be used to divide a group of earthquakes into any number of spatial clusters. With various modifications this analysis can identify earthquake nests, isolated events, aftershock sequences, and zones of seismic quiescence. to illustrate this method we apply it to; (i) a global data set of 2178 earthquakes having mb of 5.8 or greater reported by the International Seismological Centre (ISC) between 1964 and February 1986, and (ii) sets of earthquakes having mb of 4.9 and greater as reported by the ISC, occurring in Central America and in the Aleutians. to facilitate comparison with real data, this study also investigates the distribution of link lengths for synthetic events placed randomly on 1-D (circular line), 2-D (circular area) and 3-D (spherical volume) geometries. If we remove links between nuclear explosions from the ISC data, the resulting link distribution is quite similar to that for synthetic events placed along a 1-D fault. For the shortest links, the similarity improves markedly if the synthetic fault has a finite width, or if relative location errors cause events to be located away from the fault trace, with a standard deviation of about 15 km.
The physician as gatekeeper to the use of genetic information in the criminal justice system.

Cigarette smoking continues to be a leading cause of death in the United States, imposing substantial measurable costs to society. Smoking killed over 440,000 people in the United States each year during the period 1995-1999. If current smoking trends continue, over 5 million people currently younger than 18 will die prematurely from tobacco-related diseases. Increases in excise taxes have been shown to be effective in reducing smoking among youth. However, the adoption of tax increases in any jurisdiction is susceptible to many challenges. Furthermore, smuggling of tobacco products and sales of tobacco products over the Internet threaten the effectiveness of tobacco tax increases. This article discusses the effectiveness of excise tax increases on prevention and reduction of smoking. It also discusses factors that influence the legislative adoption of such increases. Finally, it examines potential threats to the use of tobacco taxes as a prevention tool.
Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment (ACE): Latest Results

ACE is a Canadian-led satellite mission that is measuring the concentrations of more than thirty atmospheric constituents by absorption spectroscopy using the sun as a light source. The ACE instruments are an infrared Fourier transform spectrometer, a UV/visible/near IR spectrograph and a two-channel solar imager, all working in solar occultation mode. A selected overview of some recent ACE results in the last 2 years will be presented.
A novel mechanism for GABA synthesis and packaging into synaptic vesicles

This review focuses on the recent advances that were made in understanding the fundamental mechanisms of the regulation of l-glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD; E.C. 4.1.1.15), the enzyme responsible for the synthesis of the major inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA). In the brain, there are two isoforms of GAD- GAD67 and GAD65, where 67 and 65 refer to their respective molecular weights in kDa. A number of neurodegenerative diseases are known to occur as a result of insufficient inhibition due to failure of GABA neurotransmission. Since the rate-limiting step in GABA biosynthesis is the decarboxylation of glutamate by GAD, it is important to understand how GAD is regulated. So far, we know that GAD is regulated at the transcriptional level by alternate splicing and at the post-translational level by protein phosphorylation, palmitoylation and activity-dependent cleavage. Here, we present new evidence of the presence of GAD65 associated with mitochondria in the axon terminal and project a model in which ATP generated by mitochondrial GAD65 may serve an important function in providing energy for GAD65 mediated GABA biosynthesis and packaging into synaptic vesicles by vesicular GABA transporter (VGAT).
Visual pigments of the vitamin A-deficient, thyroidectomized rat following vitamin A2 administration.

Abstract Thyroidectomized, vitamin A deficient rats suffered a loss of visual sensitivity, as determined by the electroretinographic b -wave, and a loss of rhodopsin, as determined by extraction. The results were similar to those obtained with rats having intact thyroid glands. These visual deficiencies were repaired by giving crystalline vitamin A 2 (3-dehydroretinol). In thyroidectomized animals, as in normal animals, the visual pigment was restored; this pigment was not a porphyropsin, but normal rat rhodopsin (P498 1 ) with a minor component of a P517 2 . Thyroidectomy, therefore, did not alter the normal conversion of 3-dehydroretinol to retinal which we believe occurs in the vitamin A-deficient rat given vitamin A 2 . The results are compared with published data on the effects of thyroid hormone on visual pigment conversion in bullfrog tadpole and certain fishes. It is concluded that no general role has yet been established for the thyroid in the conversion of visual pigments between the two classes.
Breast Imaging Techniques and Their Application in Breast Disease

: Mammography represents the foundation of breast imaging and maintains the central role in breast imaging techniques applied to breast cancer surveillance. Sonography is best utilized in differentiating solid from cystic mammographic densities. Magnetic resonance imaging is finding utility in sorting out the dense and/or altered breast (augmented breast). Positron emission tomography may be a useful tool to help determine cytotoxic response from therapeutic chemotherapy regimens. Thalium-201 and Technetium-99m Sestamibi show uptake by breast cancer cells and demonstrate a significantly higher specificity than mammography. The higher specificity of scintimammography is feeding current enthusiasm for the study of its role in early detection, complementing mammography in indeterminate lesions and non-invasive axillary staging. A comprehensive review of breast imaging techniques applied to breast cancer surveillance and diagnosis along with management strategies for abnormal studies is provided.
Mammographic and sonographic appearances of nodular adenosis.

OBJECTIVE. We determined whether nodular adenosis of the breast possesses any pathognomonic features on imaging studies.CONCLUSION. The imaging features of nodular adenosis are often benign-appearing and can be indistinguishable from other ellipsoid, circumscribed, or hypodense masses. Occasionally, nodular adenosis may appear suggestive of malignancy. Pathologic evaluation by excisional or large core needle biopsy is necessary for diagnosis.
MultiJava: modular open classes and symmetric multiple dispatch for Java

We present MultiJava, a backward-compatible extension to Java supporting open classes and symmetric multiple dispatch. Open classes allow one to add to the set of methods that an existing class supports without creating distinct subclasses or editing existing code. Unlike the "Visitor" design pattern, open classes do not require advance planning, and open classes preserve the ability to add new subclasses modularly and safely. Multiple dispatch offers several well-known advantages over the single dispatching of conventional object-oriented languages, including a simple solution to some kinds of "binary method" problems. MultiJava's multiple dispatch retains Java's existing class-based encapsulation properties. We adapt previous theoretical work to allow compilation units to be statically typechecked modularly and safely, ruling out any link-time or run-time type errors. We also present a n compilation scheme that operates modularly and incurs performance overhead only where open classes or multiple dispatching are actually used.
Moral perception through aesthetics: Engaging imaginations in educational ethics

Moral “seeing”—the ability to take in the particulars of a moral encounter, and to interpret and imagine its implications—is analogous to aesthetic perception. This article defends and explores the...
A direct thin-film path towards low-cost large-area III-V photovoltaics

III-V photovoltaics (PVs) have demonstrated the highest power conversion efficiencies for both single- and multi-junction cells. However, expensive epitaxial growth substrates, low precursor utilization rates, long growth times, and large equipment investments restrict applications to concentrated and space photovoltaics (PVs). Here, we demonstrate the first vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) growth of high-quality III-V thin-films on metal foils as a promising platform for large-area terrestrial PVs overcoming the above obstacles. We demonstrate 1–3 mm thick InP thin-films on Mo foils with ultra-large grain size up to 100 mm, which is ,100 times larger than those obtained by conventional growth processes. The films exhibit electron mobilities as high as 500 cm 2 /V-s and minority carrier lifetimes as long as 2.5 ns. Furthermore, under 1-sun equivalent illumination, photoluminescence efficiency measurements indicate that an open circuit voltage of up to 930 mV can be achieved, only 40 mV lower than measured on a single crystal reference wafer.
The effect of methionine on the accumulation of ornithine by chinese hamster cells in culture

Ornithine was found to be toxic to cells that lack ornithine aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.13). These cells also accumulated substantial amounts of ornithine. The addition of methionine to these cells protected them from the toxic effects of ornithine and also diminished their accumulation of ornithine. Cells that have an active ornithine aminotransferase were resistant to the toxic effects of ornithine, and accumulated less of this compound.
High lithium ion conducting Li2S–GeS2–P2S5 glass–ceramic solid electrolyte with sulfur additive for all solid-state lithium secondary batteries

Abstract Glass–ceramic Li2S–GeS2–P2S5 electrolytes were prepared by a single step ball milling (SSBM) process. Various compositions of Li4−xGe1−xPxS4 from x = 0.70 to x = 1.00 were systematically investigated. Structural analysis by X-ray diffraction (XRD) showed gradual increase of the lattice constant followed by significant phase change with increasing GeS2. All-solid-state LiCoO2/Li cells were tested by constant-current constant-voltage (CCCV) charge–discharge cycling at a current density of 50 μA cm−2 between 2.5 and 4.3 V (vs. Li/Li+). In spite of the high conductivity of the solid-state electrolyte (SSE), LiCoO2/Li cells showed a large irreversible reaction especially during the first charging cycle. Limitation of instability of Li2S–GeS2–P2S5 in contact with Li was solved by using double layer electrolyte configuration: Li/(Li2S-P2S5/Li2S–GeS2–P2S5)/LiCoO2. LiCoO2 with SSEs heat-treated with elemental sulfur at elevated temperature exhibited a discharge capacity of 129 mA h g−1 at the second cycle and considerably improved cycling stability.
The morphology and incidence of the trichomonads of swine, Tritrichomonas suis (Gruby % Delafond), Tritrichomonas rotunda, n.sp. and Trichomonas buttreyi, n.sp.

SYNOPSIS. A Tritrichomonas foetus-likt flagellate was found in the stomach, small intestine, and cecum as well as in the nasal cavity of pigs. Xo appreciable differences in morphology or response to cultivation could be found among the trichomonads from the different sites; therefore, it is considered that they.belong to a single species, Tritrichomonas suis (Gruby & Delafond). a description of which is given. This organism could be grown indefinitely in various media, and, after a short period of cultivation, it was the only species surviving in cultures that originated from cecal samples containing 2 or 3 species. T. suis was found in the nasal cavity in 55 of 100 pigs, in the stomach in 41 (8.0%) of 512, in the small intestine in 3 of 100. and in the cecum in 215 (43.370) of 496. A T. batrachorum-type trichomonad, herein described as Tritrichomonas rotunda n. sp., was found in the cecum in 52 (10.5%) of 496 pigs. This species is typically broadly pyriform or rotund (average length 8.95 ± 0.83 ii, range, 6.83-11.4), with 3 equal or subequal anterior flagella slightly longer than the body, a relatively low undulating membrane extending y2 to 2/1 of the length of the body, and a posterior free flagellum usually a little shorter than the body. The narrow axostyle, expanded anteriorly into a curved capitulum closely associated with the large, spherical, anteriorly located nucleus, projects from the posterior surface of the flagellate for a distance which equals about 2/3 half of the body length. The parabasal apparatus is biramus. This species could be maintained only temporarily in media not containing extracts of cecal contents. A Trichomonas pronazeki-typt flagellate, found in the cecum in 126 (25.4%) of 496 pigs and in the small intestine in 1 of 100. is described as Trichomonas buttreyi n. sp. This organism is relatively small (average length 5.92 ± 0.79 μ, range 4.55-7.49). ellipsoidal in shape, with 5 to 4 flagella up to twice as long as the body, a relatively high undulating membrane of body length, a narrow axostyle with an inconspicuous capitulum closely associated with the usually oval nucleus, a projecting part of the axostyle that equals about j; of the body length, and a disc-shaped parabasal body lying dorso-lateral to the nucleus. In media without cecal extract this species could not be subcultured.
Integrality of stimulus dimensions in various types of information processing

Abstract Seven experiments were run in which speed of sorting decks of stimulus cards was measured. Stimuli were constructed from two dichotomous dimensions, used either alone, correlated, or orthogonally. Sorting was always into two categories defined by the levels of one dimension. The experiments differed in the nature of the stimulus dimensions. Value and chroma of single Munsell chips and the horizontal and vertical positions of a dot gave results which show facilitation with correlated stimulus dimensions and interference with orthogonal dimensions. Such dimensions, which also produce a Euclidean metric in direct stimulus scaling, are termed integral . Value and chroma of separate Munsell chips, as well as size of circle and angle of diameter, gave results which show little or no facilitation or interference. Such dimensions, which also produce a city-block metric in direct stimulus scaling, are termed nonintegral .
Operating in the Dark: A Night Vision System for Surgery in Retinas Susceptible to Light Damage

A standard operating microscope was modified with a bandpass infrared filter in the light path and infrared image intensifiers for each of the 2 eyepieces. We evaluated this system for subretinal injections in normal control dogs and those with a mutation in the rhodopsin gene. Rhodopsin-mutant dogs are a model for human autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa, and their retinas degenerate faster when exposed to modest light levels as used in routine clinical examinations. We showed that the mutant retinas developed severe generalized degeneration when exposed to the standard operating microscope light but not the infrared light. The modified operating microscope provided an excellent view of the ocular fundus under infrared illumination and allowed us to perform subretinal injections in the retinas of the rhodopsin-mutant dogs without any subsequent light-induced retinal degeneration.
Studies on acarine cuticles—I. cuticular pores in a marine mite

Abstract 1. 1. The dorsal cuticle of the mite Copidognathus curtus is equipped with a number of cup-shaped pores which penetrate the cuticle through about three-quarters of its thickness. The pores end blindly, but cytoplasmic extensions from the epidermis end near the bottom of each cup, suggesting that the pores may serve as exchange routes between the exterior and the interior of the animal. 2. 2. When the permeabilities to oxygen of porous and non-porous cuticles were compared, the porous cuticle was found to be about ten times as permeable to oxygen as non-porous cuticle. Further theoretical considerations suggested that oxygen may diffuse selectively through the pores. 3. 3. Theoretical analyses showed that the pores could not function as gas gills of changing volume, but that they could admit sufficient oxygen to meet the respiratory requirements of the animal.
How does the virus spread

While the poor in America continue to sicken, continue to die, memories of funerals outpace memories of births in structurally adjusted Africa. While viruses invade the poor of India, Nigeria, Vietnam, China and Indonesia, virus skulks hunted in healthy bodies in the countries that once ruled the South, in the countries whose banks and manufacturers cherry-pick desperate lands for factories, loans, or foreclosures, seek their lifeblood profits in the labors and veins of the poor.
Building a virtual breast elastography phantom lab using open source software

Ultrasound-based Elastography is being used to augment in vivo characterization of breast lesions. Results from a meta-analysis of all clinical trials (up to 2011) indicated a lack of confidence in image interpretation. Such confidence can only be gained through rigorous imaging tests using complex, heterogeneous but known media. Our objective of this study is to build a virtual breast phantom lab in the public domain that can be used for rigorous imaging testing of this kind. Main thrust of this work is to streamline biomedical ultrasound simulations in conjunction with anatomically complex (software) phantoms by leveraging existing open source software packages including K-wave or Field II (acoustic simulation), VTK (data visualization and processing), FEBio (biomechanical deformation) and Tetgen (mesh generation). The integration of these four open source packages was based on a simple message-passing scheme to facilitate its use among imaging scientists.
Denial of urinalysis-confirmed opioid use in prescription opioid dependence

Abstract Although research has generally supported the validity of substance use self-reports, some patients deny urine-verified substance use. We examined the prevalence and patterns of denying urinalysis-confirmed opioid use in a sample of prescription opioid dependent patients. We also identified characteristics associated with denial in this population of increasing public health concern. Opioid use self-reports were compared with weekly urinalysis results in a 12-week multi-site treatment study for prescription opioid dependence. Among those who used opioids during the trial ( n =246/360), 44.3% ( n =109) denied urinalysis-confirmed opioid use, although usually only once (78%). Overall, 22.9% of opioid-positive urine tests (149/650) were denied on self-report. Multivariable analysis found that initially using opioids to relieve pain was associated with denying opioid use. These findings support the use of both self-reports and urine testing in treating prescription opioid dependence.
Definition in behavioral science: a review of B. B. Wolman's Dictionary of behavioral science1

A dictionary can be an important book. At its best, it can define a field of study by delineating a coherent terminology. Failing this, it can still accomplish the same for areas within a field. At the least, it should describe the word usage of specialists in the various areas, so that a layman or specialist attempting to broaden his knowledge will have an easy guide to interpreting statements he may read or hear.
Finding Hyperspectral Anomalies Using Multivariate Outlier Detection

This research demonstrates the adverse implications of using non-robust statistical methods for detecting anomalies in hyperspectral image data, and proposes the use of multivariate outlier detection methods as an alternative detection strategy. Existing outlier detection methods are adapted for use in a hyperspectral image context, and their performance is compared to the benchmark RX detector and a cluster-based anomaly detector. Tests conducted using both simulated data and actual hyperspectral imagery indicate that multivariate outlier detection methods can achieve superior detection performance relative to current non-robust detection methods.
Adaptive dynamic programming and optimal control of nonlinear nonaffine systems

In this paper, a novel optimal control design scheme is proposed for continuous-time nonaffine nonlinear dynamic systems with unknown dynamics by adaptive dynamic programming (ADP). The proposed methodology iteratively updates the control policy online by using the state and input information without identifying the system dynamics. An ADP algorithm is developed, and can be applied to a general class of nonlinear control design problems. The convergence analysis for the designed control scheme is presented, along with rigorous stability analysis for the closed-loop system. The effectiveness of this new algorithm is illustrated by two simulation examples.
Application of slicing of one-dimensional gels with subsequent slice-by-slice mass spectrometry for the proteomic profiling of human liver cytochromes P450.

Sequential thin slicing of one-dimensional electrophoresis gels followed by slice-by-slice mass spectrometry to allow protein identification was used to produce a proteomic map for cytochromes P450...
Geothermal Resources of the Cascades: USGS Workshop

Since 1979, the Geothermal Research Program of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has carried out a multidisciplinary research effort in the Cascade Range. The goal of this effort is to understand the tectonics, geology, and hydrology of the Cascades as a framework for characterizing and quantifying its geothermal resources. In May 1985, 5 years after an initial USGS-sponsored Cascades conference [Bacon, 1980], the Geothermal Research Program again sponsored a workshop on geothermal resources of the Cascade Range. Motivation for the workshop came primarily from the conviction within the Geothermal Research Program that the Cascade effort had advanced sufficiently that a forum with an explicitly geothermal focus was needed to promote the synthesis of ideas from diverse research projects. In addition, it was thought that research drilling plans in the Cascades that were being formulated by various other agencies also could benefit from the examination and evaluation that a workshop would foster. Accordingly, the workshop was designed to develop a common understanding of the status of various investigations among USGS and other scientists working in the Cascades, to stimulate renewed interest in understanding the geothermal regime of this volcanic chain, and to encourage the tectonic, geologic, and hydrologic synthesis necessary for a quantitative assessment of geothermal resources of the Cascades, a major objective of the USGS Geothermal Research Program.
Maintaining connectivity in environments with obstacles

Robotic routers (mobile robots with wireless communication capabilities) can create an adaptive wireless network and provide communication services for mobile users on-demand. Robotic routers are especially appealing for applications in which there is a single mobile user whose connectivity to a base station must be maintained in an environment that is large compared to the wireless range. In this paper, we study the problem of computing motion strategies for robotic routers in such scenarios, as well as the minimum number of robotic routers necessary to enact our motion strategies. Assuming that the routers are as fast as the user, we present an optimal solution for cases where the environment is a simply-connected polygon, a constant factor approximation for cases where the environment has a single obstacle, and an O(h) approximation for cases where the environment has h circular obstacles. The O(h) approximation also holds for cases where the environment has h arbitrary polygonal obstacles, provided they satisfy certain geometric constraints - e.g. when the set of their minimum bounding circles is disjoint.
Three-dimensional, shock-on-shock interaction problem

The unsteady, three-dimensional flowfield resulting from the interaction of a plane shock with a cone-shaped vehicle traveling supersonically is determined, using a second-order, shock-capturing, finite-difference approach. The time-dependent, inviscid gasdynamic equations are transformed to include the self-similar property of the flow, to align various coordinate surfaces with known shock waves, and to cluster points in the vicinity of the intersection of the transmitted incident shock and the surface of the vehicle. The governing partial differential equations in conservation-law form are then solved iteratively using MacCormack's (1969) algorithm.
Oxygen non-stoichiometry of tantalum-doped SrTiO3

Abstract The reversible change of oxygen content in tantalum(donor)-doped SrTiO 3 between specified states of oxidation and reduction was measured gravimetrically. These measurements indicate that the maximum reversible weight change is proportional to the dopant concentration. The donor dopants are compensated in the oxidized state by additional oxygen uptake. The range of this reversible change in oxygen stoichiometry is up to more than an order of magnitude larger than the oxygen non-stoichiometry of the undoped SrTiO 3 . The results indicate excellent agreement between the calculated amount of oxygen necessary to compensate the donor dopant (on the assumption that each added oxygen will neutralize two Ta 5+ ions) and the measured reversible oxygen weight change between the oxidized and reduced states of equilibration. A single-phase region for tantalum concentrations up to 10 at.% was confirmed. The observed gravimetric measurements can be explained by a model involving a shear structure.
Short range dispersion experiments in an urban area

Abstract We present results from a series of nine tracer experiments studying urban dispersion at distances under 600 m from a ground level point source in Worcester, Massachusetts. Gaussian forms provide a good fit to the lateral concentration distributions. The measured parameters were compared with models based on stability classification and wind direction fluctuations and to other urban and rural experiments. The comparison showed general consistencies with urban models and data, with some evidence for short range enhancement of the plume. The growth of the cross wind dispersion coefficient (σy) and of the standard deviation of wind direction fluctuation (σθ) with sampling time were investigated and showed considerably slower growth than is commonly assumed.
White matter abnormalities in Gulf War veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder: A pilot study

Summary Background Gulf War veterans were exposed to environmental toxins not present in other combat theaters resulting in a unique biological signature that only partially resembles that seen in other combat veterans with PTSD. Thus it is important to determine if brain abnormalities seen in non-Gulf War veterans with PTSD are also present in Gulf War veterans. In this pilot study, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) tractography was used to assess the ultra-structural integrity of fronto-limbic white matter connections in Gulf War veterans with and without PTSD. The effects of chronic multisymptom illness on DTI measures was also evaluated. Methods Subjects were 20 previously studied Gulf War veterans on whom MRIs had been obtained. Mean diffusivity (MD) and fractional anisotropy (FA) were determined for left and right cingulum bundle by DTI tractography and compared in separate analyses for 12 veterans with, and 8 without PTSD. The effect of chronic multisymptom illness and it's interaction with PTSD, were similarly investigated using multivariate ACOVA. Partial correlations were used to test the associations of both DTI indices with PTSD severity and plasma cortisol, controlling for whole brain volume. Results Significantly lower MD was demonstrated in the right cingulum bundle among Gulf War veterans with PTSD. There were no significant differences in MD or FA in the left cingulum bundle. The presence of chronic multisymptom illness significantly attenuated the PTSD associated decrement in right cingulum MD. Clinician and self-rated PTSD symptom severity scores were significantly associated with reduced MD and increased FA in the right cingulum. Similar associations were observed for 8am plasma cortisol in a subset of participants. Conclusions The preliminary findings indicate increased structural integrity – supporting enhanced connectivity – between right amygdala and anterior cingulate cortex in PTSD. This effect was strongest among Gulf War veterans without chronic multisymptom illness. The association of both MD and FA in the right cingulum with PTSD severity, and with heightened glucocorticoid responsivity, suggests that these DTI findings are a reflection of current PTSD illness expression. Although based on a small sample, these microstructural observations are consistent with a functional model suggesting increased amygdala responsivity in association with anterior cingulate modulation in PTSD.
How does size of sibship matter? Family configuration and family effects on educational attainment.

Abstract Using data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study for full sibships of sizes two to five, we estimate models of the effects of social background, size of sibship, and gender on sibling resemblance in educational attainment. We find no differences in educational attainment by gender composition within those family sizes. Smaller sibships obtain more schooling, and men obtain more schooling than women. Smaller families are more heterogeneous than larger families, but the effects of measured social background characteristics do not vary by size of sibship or gender composition of sibship. The effects of social background variables on the schooling of women are uniformly smaller than among men, and the nonshared (within-family) variations in schooling are much smaller among women than among men. These findings could lead to incorrect inferences that families matter more for women than for men or that large families experience more varied outcomes than small families.
Modeling Quench Sensitivity of Aluminum Alloys for Multiple Tempers and Properties: Application to AA2024

Quench factor analysis (QFA) was developed to predict the change in certain properties, such as yield strength, hardness, electrical conductivity, etc., with how the material cools from solution treatment temperature during quenching. This method necessitates that a set of coefficients be developed by laboratory testing for a particular alloy in a given temper. In the original QFA, these coefficients have been developed independently for each physical property of each temper that might be produced from the same alloy. However, properties used commonly to assess quench sensitivity, e.g., electrical resistivity, hardness tests, tensile tests in different directions, etc., all respond to the same physical change during quench: loss of solute caused by the precipitation of quench precipitates. The QFA method has been modified to handle multiple properties and multiple tempers. The new method allows multiple C-curves for multiple phases and/or nucleation mechanisms for quench precipitates. The advantages of this method include better statistical resolution when fitting multiple data concurrently and possible substitution of a cheaper test for the property and temper of interest. The use of this approach is demonstrated on data sets for aluminum alloy 2024 within this study.
Quantitative Trait Locus Analysis of the Early Domestication of Sunflower

Genetic analyses of the domestication syndrome have revealed that domestication-related traits typically have a very similar genetic architecture across most crops, being conditioned by a small number of quantitative trait loci (QTL), each with a relatively large effect on the phenotype. To date, the domestication of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) stands as the only counterexample to this pattern. In previous work involving a cross between wild sunflower (also H. annuus) and a highly improved oilseed cultivar, we found that domestication-related traits in sunflower are controlled by numerous QTL, typically of small effect. To provide insight into the minimum genetic changes required to transform the weedy common sunflower into a useful crop plant, we mapped QTL underlying domestication-related traits in a cross between a wild sunflower and a primitive Native American landrace that has not been the target of modern breeding programs. Consistent with the results of the previous study, our data indicate that the domestication of sunflower was driven by selection on a large number of loci, most of which had small to moderate phenotypic effects. Unlike the results of the previous study, however, nearly all of the QTL identified herein had phenotypic effects in the expected direction, with the domesticated allele producing a more crop-like phenotype and the wild allele producing a more wild-like phenotype. Taken together, these results are consistent with the hypothesis that selection during the post-domestication era has resulted in the introduction of apparently maladaptive alleles into the modern sunflower gene pool.
Clinical Application of Topical Fluoride Products- Risks, Benefits, and Recommendations

This portion of the symposium discusses the various methods of professionally applying high-concentration topical fluoride products and their risks and benefits. Numerous recent investigations in this area of research are reviewed and discussed. Data from these research investigations point to the need for care when high-potency F products are used, especially in young children. Oral-retained F doses following four-minute topical application procedures ranged from 10 to 31 mg when no suction devices or patient expectoration was utilized. Following the use of suctioning devices, oral-retained F doses ranged from 6 to 12 mg, a clinically unacceptable level. Following the use of suctioning devices plus patient expectoration, the oral-retained F doses were reduced to from 2 to 7.5 mg, depending on type of F product and application system. The following recommendation for topical application of high-potency F products are made: (1) No more than 2 g of gel per tray or approximately 40% of tray capacity should be dispensed. Even more conservative amounts should be considered for small children. (2) Because patients may have the need to swallow during a four-minute topical application procedure, the use of a saliva ejector during the procedure is recommended. (3) Following the four-minute application procedure, the patient should be instructed to expectorate thoroughly for from 30 sec to one min, regardless of whether high-speed suction is utilized. Expectoration is probably the single most effective way of reducing orally retained fluoride. (4) When utilizing custom individually fitted trays for patients requiring daily or weekly application of a high-F-concentration product, utilize only 5 to 10 drops of product per tray.
Pneumocystis carinii mutations are associated with duration of sulfa or sulfone prophylaxis exposure in AIDS patients

This study was conducted to determine whether Pneumocystis carinii dyhydropteroate synthase (DHPS) gene mutations in AIDS patients with P. carinii pneumonia (PCP) are affected by duration of sulfa or sulfone prophylaxis and influence response to sulfa or sulfone therapy. The P. carinii DHPS genes from 97 AIDS patients with PCP between 1991 and 1999 from 4 medical centers were amplified, using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and sequenced. Mutations were observed in 76% of isolates from patients exposed to sulfa or sulfone prophylaxis compared with 23% of isolates from patients not exposed (P=.001). Duration of prophylaxis increased the risk of mutations (relative risk [RR] for each exposure month, 1.06; P=.02). Twenty-eight percent of patients with mutations failed sulfa or sulfone treatment; mutations increased the risk of sulfa or sulfone treatment failure (RR, 2.1; P=0.01). Thus, an increased duration of sulfa or sulfone prophylaxis increases the chance of developing a P. carinii mutation. The majority of patients with mutations respond to sulfa or sulfone therapy.
Oral Sex, Semen Displacement, and Sexual Arousal: Testing the Ejaculate Adjustment Hypothesis:

Male Indian Flying Foxes (Pteropus giganteus) that spend more time performing oral sex on a female also spend more time copulating with her. In humans, men who spend more time copulating with their...
6-Bromoindirubin-3′-oxime (BIO) induces proliferation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs)

The process of bone healing is a highly orchestrated process involving mesenchymal progenitor cells (e.g., periosteal stem cells). The cascade begins with recruitment and robust proliferation of these cells followed by differentiation to osteogenic and chondrogenic cell types, which produce matrix that eventually becomes mineralized. Thus, promoting proliferation of mesenchymal progenitors is a key step in recapitulating the healing process in a variety of bone defects (allografts, critical-sized defects, etc.). In this work, the small molecule GSK3β inhibitor 6-bromoindirubin-3′-oxime (BIO) was used to induce hMSC proliferation in vitro. In addition to a ∼4 fold population increase, gene expression also indicated an increased state of hMSC “stemness” based upon elevated Sox2 and Nanog expression.
Dr. Kenneth W. Warren

Most readers will remember Dr. Kenneth W. Warren as an internationally recognized surgeon asking critical questions at one of the gastrointestinal or pancreatic cancer meetings he loved to attend. His colleagues called him “the complete surgeon” since he combined a high degree of professional skill with personal concern for each patient. He always set goals for himself, the last of which was to launch the Kenneth W. Warren Surgical Research Fellowship. The week before he passed away on November 15, 2001, he insisted on meeting the first Warren Research Fellow. I am honored and fortunate to be that person, and I would like to share some of the last thoughts and remarks of this wonderful man with you. At age 90 years, Dr. Warren was admitted to the New England Baptist Hospital where he had been Surgeon-in-Chief from 1969 to 1976, and a trustee since then. Although we had never met, he set me at ease at once with his warm-hearted personality. He was very alert in a sparkling way, and his stories about life were fascinating. After I brought in his newspaper each morning and read the sport scores to him, Dr. Warren would sooner or later switch to his favorite topic: surgery. He told me amazing stories of patients and remembered names and details of their surgery, many of which were performed before I was born. “Surgery is not difficult, nor scary, it is FUN.” “Do you know how to prevent leakage from the pancreatic duct?” . . . he would order paper napkins and sutures, and demonstrate the perfect anastomosis. “The most common errors in the surgical treatment of acute pancreatitis are to operate too early in the course of the disease, and to do too much, or in the secondary or septic phase of the disease to operate too late and to do too little” ( Surgical Clinics of North America , June 1964). Many of his surgical convictions he would express in a quotation.
Crust Type and Structure, Northern Gulf of Mexico: an Ocean Bottom Seismograph-Air Gun Seismic Transect: ABSTRACT

End_Page 304------------------------------In November to December 1983, the University of Texas and the U.S. Geological Survey conducted a seismic experiment that attempted to measure crustal and upper mantle depths and velocities along a transect of the Gulf of Mexico south of Galveston, Texas. The transect is composed of 5 along-strike lines spaced to span the continental shelf and slope and reaching the deep basin. Two 2,000-in.3, 2,000-psi air guns were fired simultaneously at 30-sec intervals at 5 knots for a shot spacing of 77 m. The signals were recorded by digital ocean-bottom seismographs with vertical geophones. Four seismographs were placed along each 90-km line. The seismic sections obtained are densely sampled and fully reversed, about half showing seismic arrivals at the full range of the line. We find that the deep Gulf of Mexico is, as expected, underlain by oceanic crust. On the outer slope, we see deeply penetrating arrivals from below thick salt, and we find that this crust is thicker than the oceanic crust. North of the thick salt, we see the crust thinning to nearly the thickness of oceanic crust. Although this crust may be seismically indistinguishable from oceanic crust, we believe it to be highly extended continental crust. We interpret the two northern lines to show northward thickening, extended continental crust. End_of_Article - Last_Page 305------------
High-solids biphasic CO2-H2O pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass.

A high pressure (200 bar) CO2-H2O process was developed for pretreating lignocellulosic biomass at high-solid contents, while minimizing chemical inputs. Hardwood was pretreated at 20 and 40 (wt.%) solids. Switchgrass, corn stover, big bluestem, and mixed perennial grasses (a co-culture of big bluestem and switchgrass) were pretreated at 40 (wt.%) solids. Operating temperatures ranged from 150 to 250°C, and residence times from 20 s to 60 min. At these conditions a biphasic mixture of an H2-Orich liquid (hydrothermal) phase and a CO2-rich supercritical phase coexist. Following pretreatment, samples were then enzymatically hydrolyzed. Total yields, defined as the fraction of the theoretical maximum, were determined for glucose, hemicellulose sugars, and two degradation products: furfural and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural. Response surfaces of yield as a function of temperature and residence time were compared for different moisture contents and biomass species. Pretreatment at 170°C for 60 min gave glucose yields of 77%, 73%, and 68% for 20 and 40 (wt.%) solids mixed hardwood and mixed perennial grasses, respectively. Pretreatment at 160°C for 60 min gave glucan to glucose yields of 81% for switchgrass and 85% for corn stover. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Multi-resolution visually lossless image coding using JPEG2000

The visibility threshold is the maximum contrast where a stimulus remains invisible. This value varies with the spatial frequency and orientation of the stimulus and is often used in determining the quantization step size of a subband for visually lossless coding. When an image is displayed at a different resolution level, the spatial frequency of each subband is also changed. Previous JPEG2000 visually lossless algorithms have a single set of quantization step sizes optimized for the full display resolution. This implies that if the image is rendered at reduced resolution there are significant amounts of extraneous information in the codestream. In this paper we present a new coding method which effectively incorporates multiple quantization step sizes into the JPEG2000 framework. This allows for visually lossless decoding at a variety of resolutions, using only a portion of the full resolution codestream.
England Under the Labour Government

Nothing more striking can be said of the victory of the Labour Party in the general election of July, 1945 than that it was a surprise to the Labour Party itself. The Conservative machine may have had intimations of defeat, but the Labour organizers, if hopeful, seem not to have pooled their hopes. Within the context of English history 1945 was a parliamentary victory similar to that of 1906, when an out-worn and reactionary Tory government, though led by a great political figure, had dissolved and finally fell. No more than in 1906 does a parliamentary revolution guarantee an economic and social revolution, nor on the other hand need the privileged classes of an older regime shudder too vigorously. But the scene is set for change. The reasons given for the defeat of the Conservative Party, for the "government of care-takers" was Conservative, are chiefly three. The first Conservative weakness lay in the fact that their appeal was almost entirely an appeal to keep Mr. Qhurchill in power. He campaigned vigorously himself on this one-plank platform, but his followers were even more vigorous. The answer offered by the opposition was simple and astonishingly effective: they said that perhaps the very fact that Mr. Churchill was so good a war leader would make him a poor leader for days of peace and reconstruction. The second factor that worked against the Conservatives was the low esteem in which so many of Mr. Churchill's closest supporters were held by *the electorate. Lord Beaverbrook and Mr. Brendan Bracken were most conspicuous in a list of ardent Churchill admirers who wounded their leader badly every time they spoke in his favor or publicly associated themselves with him. The "palace guard", so attractively mysterious during the war, was mysterious and attractive no longer. The third and perhaps the greatest reason for the success
Use of the original silicone cladding of an optical fiber as a reagent-immobilization medium for intrinsic chemical sensors

It is demonstrated that extended-length sensors can be fabricated by the direct immobilization of suitable reagents into the original cladding of a plastic-clad silica (PCS) optical fiber. This cladding, a copolymer of vinyl-terminated poly(dimethylsiloxane) and poly(dimethylmethylhydrosiloxane), is an attractive immobilization matrix for a wide variety of reagents and opens up new avenues of sensor design. Unlike fibers with custom-drawn cladding, the new approach offers greater photo- and thermal stability and permits immobilization of several reagents in adjacent sections of a single fiber. Further, compared to room-termperature vulcanizable (RTV) silicone films used often in optical point sensors, the silicone cladding of a PCS optical fiber offers a number of advantages, including a dynamic fluorescence quenching constant for an immobilized fluorophore that is up to 3.4 times higher, tolerance to aggressive environments (e.g. highly alkaline solutions), lower rates of indicator leaching, high uniformity, and applicability to extended-length sensing. The homogeneity of the microenvironment of the fiber cladding, its resistance to aggressive alkaline solutions, and its ability to transport water vapor were probed by introducing a variety of reagents into the cladding, including a fluorescent ruthenium complex and acid-base and solvatochromic indicators. The new sensor-fabrication approach should find wide application, including detection of neutral species in gases and dissolved in water, and for spatial analyte mapping over extended, remote areas.