cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Spherical means of solutions of partial differential equations in a conical region

The spherical means of the solutions of a linear partial differential equation Lu = f in a conical region are studied. The conical region is bounded by a surface generated by curvilinear ti surfaces. The spherical mean is the average of u over a constant ti surface. The conditions on the linear differential operator, L, and on the orthogonal coordinates (ti, eta, zeta) are established so that the spherical mean of the solution subjected to the appropriate boundary and initial conditions can be determined directly as a problem with only space variable. Conditions are then established so that the spherical mean of the solution in one concial region will be proportional to that of a known solution in another conical region. Applications to various problems of mathematical physics and their physical interpretations are presented.
Financial planning in a divisionalized firm

Abstract In a business environment characterized by rapid technological changes, massive capital outlays, intensive competition, and the administration of complex large scale organizations, future growth and profitability will largely hinge upon reliable and intelligent long range financial planning. If a business organization is to raise funds at the most reasonable costs and terms in money markets and capital markets, it must plan its cash requirements in advance to have ample time to negotiate effectively with the prospective lenders or their representatives. It is here that long range financial planning makes important contributions to effective financial management.
Glucocorticoid Receptor Agonist and Antagonist Administration into the Basolateral but Not Central Amygdala Modulates Memory Storage

Abstract The present study examined the effects, in male Sprague–Dawley rats, of microinfusion of drugs affecting glucocorticoid receptors (GRs or Type II) administered into either the basolateral (BLA) or central nucleus of the amygdala (CEA) on memory for training in an inhibitory avoidance and water-maze escape task. The specific GR agonist RU 28362 (1.0 or 3.0 ng) infused into the BLA immediately after training in a one-trial inhibitory avoidance task dose-dependently enhanced 48-h retention, whereas infusion of the GR agonist into the CEA did not affect retention. Additionally, pretraining microinfusions of the specific GR antagonist RU 38486 (0.3, 1.0, or 3.0 ng) into the BLA, but not infusions into the CEA, impaired memory for escape training to find a submerged platform in a water maze. These findings indicate that glucocorticoids affect memory storage, at least in part, by binding directly to GRs in the BLA and provide further evidence for the view that the BLA is an important brain region in integrating hormonal and neurotransmitter influences on memory storage.
Fuzzy and neural network control of object acquisition for power grasp

There exist numerous examples of grasping tasks in which stable grasping in the presence of uncertainties is needed. Applications such as underwater rescue and salvage and space exploration call for grasping of poorly specific objects in unstructured environments. A fully enveloping grasp, also called a power grasp, appears well suited for stable grasping in such unstructured environments. This is because a power grasp is characterized by inherent stability, increased weight handling capability, and resilience to modeling errors. However, research into power grasps has lagged behind research of precision or fingertip grasps for a variety of reasons, as discussed briefly in this paper. The primary objective of a power grasp system is to provide a stable grasp capable of withstanding external perturbations without crushing or otherwise damaging the object grasped. The system should also satisfy additional objectives, including allowances for inaccurate object specifications and other system inaccuracies such as compliant effects in the joints due to large focus, actuator modeling errors, and force sensor noise and modeling errors. This paper reports on progress towards meeting these objectives using an intelligent control architecture consisting of both adaptive fuzzy control techniques and artificial neural networks, along with traditional kinematic and impedance control algorithms.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The role of Ca2+ in the time-dependent pepsinogen secretion of frog oesophageal peptic glands stimulated by bombesin

Time- and dose-related stimulation of pepsinogen secretion by bombesin was studied in perifused dispersed peptic glands from the oesophagus of the American bullfrog Rana catesbeiana. The dose response to bombesin was monophasic between 10(-10) and 10(-7) M, with an EC50 of 10(-9) M. Time-dependent secretion was closely monitored at 1-2 min intervals. Though there was overlap, we could discriminate an early response at approximately 2 min (phase I) and a delayed or sustained response at greater than or equal to 2 min (phase II) on the basis of responses in the presence and absence of external Ca2+. Phase I was relatively independent of external [Ca2+] and coincided with 45Ca efflux following a dose-dependent increase in cytosolic [Ca2+], measured by Fura-2AM. Phase II was sustained at approximately 80% of control at an external [Ca2+] of 1-5 microM, but was eliminated by adding 0.5-1 mM EGTA. Bombesin caused a sustained Ca2+ influx and, when this was prevented by EGTA, the response to successive stimulations by bombesin and by acetylcholine was greatly attenuated. The phorbol ester, 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate, which stimulates secretion at high concentrations, was used as background at a threshold concentration of 10(-7) M, which did not by itself stimulate secretion. At this concentration, 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate potentiated the responses to bombesin and to acetylcholine. These results define the different Ca2+ dependencies of the immediate and sustained secretory responses to bombesin, but indicate a complex relationship of stimulation responses to Ca2+ homeostasis in various agonist-sensitive Ca2+ pools.
Preparation and properties of some alkane-soluble liquid transition metal complexes

Abstract A series of nickel(II) compounds have been prepared which are derivatives of reported β-diketonates, N,N-dithiocarbamates, or O,O′-dithiophosphates. The transition metal ton complexes reported here are unusual in that they are liquids or low melting waxes that are very soluble in hydrocarbon solvents such at pentane and squalane. Because of their properties, techniques used for the isolation and subsequent purifftcation of the complexes are different than those employed for the lighter homologues. The ligand substituents profoundly affect the propertim of the compounds. In contrast to the reported complexes, the ntckel(II) bis-β-diketonates prepared in this study undergo the monomer-trimer transition close to room temperature. For example, in the compound in which the methyl groups of nickel(II) acetylacetone are replaced by n-heptyl groups, the transition from diamagnetic purple solid monomer to paramagnetic green liquid trimer occurs at about 17°C. It occurs at 42°C for the n-nonyl derivative. The t-nonyl (1,1-dimethylheptyl) derivative melts at +2°C since the bulky groups adjacent to the carbonyls prevent trimer formation and hinder crystallization.
Clonidine: irritant and allergic contact dermatitis assays.

Clonidine in petrolatum, clonidine transdermal device, and its placebo device were assayed for relative irritancy potential (21-day cumulative irritancy, assay)and allergic contact dermatitis potential (Draize repeal insult patch test assay). Both Clonidine in petrolatum and the Clonidine transdermal device appear to be of minimal irritancy potential. Only the clonidine device demonstrated, rated, in the Draize assay (and in clinical trials), allergic contact dermatitis potential. Its relatively delayed onset of demonstration of allergic contact sensitization in clinical trials require investigation as to mechanism.
Word Processing and Handwriting: Writing Samples Produced by At-Risk College Freshmen

Differences between letters of at-risk college freshmen written by hand and those composed on a microcomputer using a word processor were examined. The subjects spent significantly more time and undertook substantially more editing when composing letters on a microcomputer. Also, editing through deletions and/or insertions was significantly related to quality of letter. However, the mean number of words written per unit of time spent completing a letter was substantially higher for subjects' handwritten letters, while judges' holistic evaluations of letter quality did not differ significantly between the two production modes.
Photo-inducible Crosslinked Nanoassemblies for pH-Controlled Drug Release

Purpose To control drug release from block copolymer nanoassemblies by variation in the degree of photo-crosslinking and inclusion of acid sensitive linkers.
Applying cryptographic techniques to problems in media space security

Media spaces integrate audio, video, and computing systems for the purpose of remote collaboration and awareness, frequently between people engaged in a cooperative task. Technological advances have made these systems feasible using desktop computers and broadband, digital networks. Using a media space over a shared network requires that numerous security and privacy issues be addressed. One advantage of digital media spaces is that properties of the media space can be manipulated so that users feel more comfortable with the technology. This paper details cryptographic techniques which can be used to create a secure and usable media space. This paper also explains the properties of a user interface which would enable users to ensure their level of privacy. This work also details two interface designs which provide users with sophisticated, flexible control of their media space without requiring a detailed understanding of the underlying cryptographic mechanisms.
Variational wave-scattering theory for a sinusoidal reflection grating

Abstract Scattering calculations via the Schwinger variational principle are exemplified for the canonical model of E ∥ plane waves incident on a planarsinusoidal perfect-reflector surface. The complete solution is obtained in terms of a contour integral from which analytic limits are derived that agree with exact results. The contour integral is then evaluated by principal-value and asymptotic techniques, furnishing an explicit solution in Bessel and digamma functions. The variational solution is cast finally into the form of a linear algebraic system, whence we derive various analytic expansions that reproduce further exact results and confirm the efficacy of a simple form of our trial functions. Computations employing this trial function are compared with other approximations and the exact solution. Alternative variational solution representations involving incomplete Anger–Weber or half-range Anger functions are appended.
The Natural Resource Region and marine policy: a case study from the New England Groundfish Fishery

Abstract This paper proposes the Natural Resource Region (NRR) as a policy tool for the management of total capital flows and interactions with Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs). The NRR is conceptualized as a network of Natural Resource Communities bound together by total capital flows and dependent on the marine resources of adjacent LMEs. The NRR is illustrated with a case study of the New England multispecies groundfish fishery, showing how ignorance by managers of tolal capital components (i.e. social, economic, cultural, human, biophysical) significantly destabilized the fishery. A NRR approach to marine policy and management is anticipated to improve the sustainability of both natural resources and natural-resource dependent communities.
Competition over Content: Negotiating Standards for the Civil Service Examinations in Imperial China (1127–1279) – By Hilde De Weerdt

Civil service examinations and Confucian thought profoundly influenced later imperial Chinese history. A literate elite male hoped to pass the examinations, become one of the “stars in the heavens”...
The Great Unraveling: Federal Budgeting, 1998–2006

Since 1998, budgeting reforms at the federal level have unraveled extensively. The budget process has become ad hoc, fragmented, and opaque, balance has been elusive, and the failure to prioritize has become endemic. One cause was the mismatch between the budget process in 1998, which was designed to eliminate deficits, and the emerging budgetary surpluses of that time. A second contributing factor was the desire to reduce taxes while expenditures were increasing as a result of wars and natural disasters. The consequences of this great unraveling include the failure to fund Medicare and Social Security adequately when the opportunity was presented, as well as threats to constitutional and democratic governance. Renewed reform may require greater transparency and a willingness to embarrass elected officials with iconic stories.
Do poor people have a stronger relationship between income and mortality than the rich? Implications of panel data for health-health analysis

Articles developing health-health analysis have used the observation that richer people tend to face reduced mortality risk to estimate the break-even cost per life saved of health regulations. If government requires that the private sector spend more than this break-even cutoff, the risk of dying due to reduced health investment is increased by more than it will be reduced by the direct action of the health regulation. We use panel data to suggest that the relationship between income and the probability of death is greater for poor people than for the rich. As a consequence, break-even cutoffs are roughly twice as large for the richest 20% of the population than they are for the poorest 20%. The nonlinearity in the income-to-mortality linkage also implies that income transfers between income groups which are ignored in traditional cost-benefit analysis will affect the conclusions of health-health analysis significantly.
Velocity profiles of human blood at normal and reduced hematocrit in glass tubes up to 130 μ diameter

Abstract Using a photometric method, measurements of red blood cell velocities were performed on human blood flowing through vertical glass tubes at a constant rate. Velocity profiles were obtained by successive measurements at different radial positions across the tube diameter. Measurements were performed over a range of tube diameters between 30 μ and 130 μ at flow rates corresponding to U - values between 1.0 and 300 diameters/second. The velocity profiles were found to be markedly non-parabolic; the deviation from a parabola was largest in the smallest tube, at low flow rates, and at high hematocrits. The effect of the flow rate on the shape of the profile was more pronounced in small tubes, pointing to differences in the flow regime. Predictions by a theoretical model (Casson) of the effect of hematocrit and flow rate on the shape of the velocity profiles in a 130 μ tube showed good correspondence with the experimental results if a cell-free plasma layer at the tube wall of less than 1 μ width was assumed. The results were related to shear-dependent particle-particle interaction and deformation of red cells.
BEHAVIORAL THERMOREGULATION BY AMMOCOETE LARVAE OF THE SEA LAMPREY (PETROMYZON MARINUS) IN AN ELECTRONIC SHUTTLEBOX

Ammocoete larvae of the sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus, a member of the primitive vertebrate class Agnatha, were tested for thermoregulatory behavior in an electronic shuttlebox (ichthyotron). The final preferendum derived from pooled data for 24 individually tested ammocoetes was characterized by a mean of 13.6 ± 0.17 (s.e.m.)°C, a mode and median of 140°C, and a range of voluntarily occupied temperatures from 10–19°C over a 3-day period.
Vector-Free and Transgene-Free Human iPS Cells Differentiate into Functional Neurons and Enhance Functional Recovery after Ischemic Stroke in Mice

Stroke is a leading cause of human death and disability in the adult population in the United States and around the world. While stroke treatment is limited, stem cell transplantation has emerged as a promising regenerative therapy to replace or repair damaged tissues and enhance functional recovery after stroke. Recently, the creation of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells through reprogramming of somatic cells has revolutionized cell therapy by providing an unlimited source of autologous cells for transplantation. In addition, the creation of vector-free and transgene-free human iPS (hiPS) cells provides a new generation of stem cells with a reduced risk of tumor formation that was associated with the random integration of viral vectors seen with previous techniques. However, the potential use of these cells in the treatment of ischemic stroke has not been explored. In the present investigation, we examined the neuronal differentiation of vector-free and transgene-free hiPS cells and the transplantation of hiPS cell-derived neural progenitor cells (hiPS-NPCs) in an ischemic stroke model in mice. Vector-free hiPS cells were maintained in feeder-free and serum-free conditions and differentiated into functional neurons in vitro using a newly developed differentiation protocol. Twenty eight days after transplantation in stroke mice, hiPS-NPCs showed mature neuronal markers in vivo. No tumor formation was seen up to 12 months after transplantation. Transplantation of hiPS-NPCs restored neurovascular coupling, increased trophic support and promoted behavioral recovery after stroke. These data suggest that using vector-free and transgene-free hiPS cells in stem cell therapy are safe and efficacious in enhancing recovery after focal ischemic stroke in mice.
The localization of 5-hydroxytryptamine in turtle (Pseudymys scripta elegans) blood, its presence and uptake

Abstract 1. 1. Turtle whole blood contains a range of 0·23-1·32 μg. 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) per ml. in 5 animals as determined by spectrophotofluorometric methods. 2. 2. The 5-HT is located, by Falck formaldehyde fluorescence methods, in the basophil instead of the ecpected thrombocyte. 3. 3. A combination of scintillation counting experiments, Falck formaldehyde fluorescence, and autoradiography demonstrates that 5-HT is taken up by the basophil against a concentration gradient. 4. 4. Cold inhibits this uptake by 74–80 per cent. 5. 5. Dinitrophenol and sodium fluoride at final concentrations of 10 −3 M do not inhibit uptake.
Insulin-stimulated GLUT4 Protein Translocation in Adipocytes Requires the Rab10 Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor Dennd4C

Insulin-stimulated translocation of the glucose transporter GLUT4 to the cell surface in fat and muscle cells is the basis for insulin-stimulated glucose transport. Studies in adipocytes strongly support the following molecular mechanism for this process. Insulin-elicited phosphorylation of the GTPase-activating protein TBC1D4 (AS160) suppresses its activity toward Rab10 and thereby leads to an increase in the GTP-bound form of Rab10, which in turn triggers movement of vesicles containing GLUT4 to the plasma membrane and their fusion with the membrane. This process is expected to require the participation of a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) to generate the GTP-bound form of Rab10, but this GEF has not hitherto been identified. The present study identifies Dennd4C, a recently described GEF for Rab10, as the primary GEF required for GLUT4 translocation. Knockdown of Dennd4C markedly inhibited GLUT4 translocation, and ectopic expression of Dennd4C slightly stimulated it. Dennd4C was found in isolated GLUT4 vesicles. This study thus identifies another key component in the machinery of GLUT4 translocation. Moreover, it provides a potential explanation for the moderate association of a variant in the Dennd4C gene with type 2 diabetes.
The Intrinsic Durability of Aortic Valve ECM in Absence of Cellular Maintenance

In the last two decades, decellularized native aortic valve (AV) has been investigated as tissue engineered heart valve (TEHV) replacements due to their potential to develop into a viable valve.[1] Decellularization removes major immunogenic cellular components. After repopulated with recipient’s cells, TEHV can be readily used because of the necessary functional design.[2] However, several problems with this approach have been identified, such as insufficient cell infiltration, mechanical deterioration, formation of fibrous sheath on implantation, and reduced orifice area after surgery.[3]© 2008 ASME
Antifungal prophylaxis in chemotherapy-associated neutropenia: a retrospective, observational study.

Background In August 2002, the antifungal prophylaxis algorithm for neutropenic hematology/oncology (NHO) patients at the Medical Center was changed from conventional amphotericin (AMB) to an azole (AZ) based regimen (fluconazole [FLU] in low-risk and voriconazole [VOR] in high-risk patients). The aim of our study was to compare outcomes associated with the two regimens, including breakthrough fungal infection, adverse drug events, and costs.
Specific small molecule inhibitors of Skp2-mediated p27 degradation.

Summary In the ubiquitin proteasome system, the E3 ligase SCF-Skp2 and its accessory protein, Cks1, promote proliferation largely by inducing the degradation of the CDK inhibitor p27. Overexpression of Skp2 in human cancers correlates with poor prognosis, and deregulation of SCF-Skp2-Cks1 promotes tumorigenesis in animal models. We identified small molecule inhibitors specific to SCF-Skp2 activity using in silico screens targeted to the binding interface for p27. These compounds selectively inhibited Skp2-mediated p27 degradation by reducing p27 binding through key compound-receptor contacts. In cancer cells, the compounds induced p27 accumulation in a Skp2-dependent manner and promoted cell-type-specific blocks in the G1 or G2/M phases. Designing SCF-Skp2-specific inhibitors may be a novel strategy to treat cancers dependent on the Skp2-p27 axis.
Organic-functionalized molecular sieves (OFMSs) I. Synthesis and characterization of OFMSs with polar functional groups

Organic-functionalized molecular sieves that contain polar functional groups are synthesized and characterized. Small, uniform-sized crystals with the BEA topology are obtained when tetraethylammonium fluoride is used as a structure-directing agent and added at the initiation of tetraethylorthosilicate/organosilane hydrolysis. An aminopropyl-functionalized material with the BEA topology is prepared and characterized by X-ray diffraction, solid-state NMR spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and diffuse reflectance ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy. The results indicate that the aminopropyl groups are located within the intracrystalline void space and that they can be reacted with aldehydes to form occluded imines.
Cell Interactome: Good Neighbors or Bad Neighbors.

Abstract We report an interesting finding that cellular distribution and interactions between neighboring cells modulate protein expression and localization. MCF7 breast cancer cells, which express ERb, were cultured in estrogen-free medium. ERb exhibited a unique migration pattern that was dependent on cell density and proximity. This finding attests to a novel interaction mechanism other than receptor–to–ligand. Since cells were grown in conditioned culture media, the only factor influencing protein distribution is cell–cell proximity (cell–cell interactions). Thus, hormonal receptors may function independently from their ligand. In addition, physical intercellular interactions may function as a non-molecular factor inducing gene expression and activation.
Competition for space can drive the evolution of dormancy in a temporally invariant environment

I present a model for the evolution of a seed bank in the absence of externally driven environmental variation. I use Evolutionarily Stable Strategy (ESS) analyses of both analytic and simulation models to assess the conditions under which a dormant genotype can invade and resist invasion. In my models, plant seeds compete through lottery for discrete safe sites holding one individual each. Analyzing the conditions under which a dormant genotype can invade when rare and resist invasion once established, I conclude that dormancy can be an ESS when some fraction of seeds is retained locally, seed bank survival is high, and mortality in the seed bank is low. The advantage of dormancy stems from the ability of dormant seeds to recapture a lost site and the fact that a plant’s offspring are more likely to win the lottery in its own site than in any new site. The advantage of dormancy does not depend on individual fecundity or on low relatedness with the offspring of kin, making this mechanism distinct from earlier models of sib competition.
The effects of cortical ablations on digital usage in the rat.

Abstract The ability of rats to perform a discrete digital task after cortical lesions was studied. Six out of 8 rats with bilateral, frontal cortex ablation demonstrated a large drop in performance levels which persisted througout the 3 month testing period. Animals with occipital cortex lesions showed no postoperative drop in performance.
Optimizing Piston Velocity Profile for Maximum Work Output From an IC Engine

In this paper, an optimal control problem is set up to maximize the work output from a piston engine via piston motion shaping. The empirical heat transfer correlation and global reaction kinetics used in the engine model result in a stiff, non-smooth dynamical system. The algorithm used to transcribe this system to a constrained nonlinear program is described. The optimal solution is obtained using the gradient-based optimization solver SNOPT. At optimality, the total heat transfer loss is lower due to the shorter time spent at elevated temperatures after combustion, leading to a modest increase (less than 3%) in work output as compared to a conventional slider-crank piston engine.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Significance of cyclooxygenase-2 in prognosis, targeted therapy and chemoprevention of NSCLC.

Evaluation of: Tsubochi H, Nobuyuki S, Hiyama M et al.: Combined analysis of cyclooxygenase-2 expression with p53 and Ki-67 in nonsmall cell lung cancer. Ann. Thorac. Surg. 82(4), 1198–1204 (2006).The report by Tsubochi and colleagues adds to the growing evidence indicating that tumor cyclo-oxygenase (Cox)-2 has a multifaceted role in conferring the malignant phenotype of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and provides insight into the use of markers to provide prognostic information. Cox-2 has been implicated in apoptosis resistance, angiogenesis, decreased host immunity and enhanced invasion and metastasis, and, thus, has a critical involvement in carcinogenesis. This study, as well as others, has contributed to providing an insight into opportunities for targeted therapies in NSCLC. Cox-2 is one of the novel targets being studied for lung cancer therapy and chemoprevention.
Alpha -antichymotrypsin globules withinhepatocytes in patients with chronic hepatitis C and cirrhosis*

Abstract Alpha 1 -antichymotrypsin (A 1 AC) is an acute phase serine proteaseinhibitor, similar to alpha 1 -andtrypsin (A 1 AT) in amino acid sequence. A 1 AT deficiency is known to be associated with emphysema and cirrhosis; deficiency of serum A 1 AC has been reported to be associated with emphysema, childhood asthma, and cryptogenic cirrhosis. The hepatocyte globules associated with A 1 AT deficiency have been well described; A 1 AC deficiency also has been reported to be associated with hepatocyte globules. The aim of this study was to describe the globules of A 1 AC and to compare them with A 1 AT globules. lmmunohistochemistry for A 1 AC and A 1 AT was performed on liver biopsy specimens from 15 hepatitis C virus (HCV)-positive cirrhotic patients, 14 non-HCV cirrhotic patients, and 12 other patients with chronic hepatitis C but no cirrhosis, all of whom had known serum levels of A 1 AC; most had known serum levels of A 1 AT. Five of 15 HCV-positive cirrhotic patients, 1 of 14 non-HCV cirrhotic patients, and 1 of 12 noncirrhotic chronic hepatitis C patients had A 1 AC globules. Two of 15 HCV positive cirrhotic patients and 2 of 14 non-HCV cirrhotic patients had A 1 AT globules. Histologically, the globules of A 1 AC were similar to those of A 1 AT but were smaller and fewer; the PAS/D stain was not as helpful for A 1 AC as it was for A 1 AT; immunohistochemistry was most useful. There was not a good correlation between serum levels of A 1 AC and its globules in hepatocytes. A 1 AC globules should be included in the differential diagnosis of hepatocyte inclusions.
The gill symbiont of the hydrothermal vent mussel Bathymodiolus thermophilus is a psychrophilic, chemoautotrophic, sulfur bacterium

Certain hydrothermal vent invertebrates, e.g. Riftia pachyptila and Calyptogena magnifica, are clearly established as harboring dense populations of chemoautotrophic sulfur bacteria in specialized tissues. By contrast, the physiological characteristics of the abundant intracellular gill symbiont of the vent mussel Bathymodiolus thermophilus have been questioned. The low activities of enzymes diagnostic for CO2 fixation (Calvin cycle) and for sulfur-driven energy generation, as measured by other investigators, have been attributed to bacterial contamination of the gill surface. Based on research at the Galapagos Rift hydrothermal vents in 1988 and subsequent laboratory experiments, the current study confirms that the B. thermophilus symbiont is a psychrophile for which thiosulfate and sulfide stimulate CO2 fixation. It strongly indicates that the symbiont is a chemoautotroph by establishing the following: (1) Sulfide and thiosulfate can stimulate CO2 fixation by partially purified symbionts by up to 43-fold and 120-fold, respectively; (2) the ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase activity of the symbiont is sufficient to account for its sulfide- or thiosulfate-stimulated CO2 incorporation; (3) the symbiont's molar growth yield on thiosulfate, as judged by CO2 incorporation, is indistinguishable from that of free-living chemoautotrophs. Due to the high protein-degrading activity of B. thermophilus gill lysate, it is also suggested that host lysis of symbionts plays a more important role in the nutrition of the vent mussel than in R. pachyptila or C. magnifica, for which no comparable protein-degrading activity was found.
Climate scientists need to set the record straight: There is a scientific consensus that human-caused climate change is happening

Nearly all climate scientists are convinced that human-caused climate change is occurring, yet half of Americans do not know or do not believe that a scientific consensus has been reached. That such a large proportion of Americans do not understand that there is a near-unanimous scientific consensus about the basic facts of climate change matters, a lot. This essay briefly explains why, and what climate science societies and individual climate scientists can do to set the record straight.
AUTHOR'S RESPONSE The Lazarus Manifesto for Positive Psychology and Psychology in General

(2003). AUTHOR'S RESPONSE: The Lazarus Manifesto for Positive Psychology and Psychology in General. Psychological Inquiry: Vol. 14, No. 2, pp. 173-189.
Working With the Families and Social Networks of Drug Abusers

(1975). Working With the Families and Social Networks of Drug Abusers. Journal of Psychedelic Drugs: Vol. 7, Polydrug Abuse, pp. 19-25.
The Javanese Kijaji: the Changing Role of a Cultural Broker

One of the most serious problems facing the post-revolutionary Indonesian political elite has turned out to be the maintenance of mutual understanding between themselves and the mass of the peasant population. The attempt to build up a modern national state out of a plurality of distinct regional cultures has been hampered by the difficulty of communication between people still largely absorbed in those cultures and the metropolitan-based nationalist leadership more oriented to the international patterns of intelligentsia culture common to ruling groups in all the new Bandung countries. On the one hand, the activist white-collar nationalists of the large cities are attempting to construct an integrated Indonesian state along generally western parliamentary lines; on the other, the peasants of the Javanese, Sundanese, Achenese, Buginese, etc. culture areas cling to the patterns of local community organization and belief with which they are intimately familiar.
Morality goes beyond mind perception

Gray and colleagues make two central claims in their target article. The first is that people fundamentally understand morality in terms of a moral dyad consisting of an intentionally harming agent and a suffering patient; the second is that morality necessarily involves the process of perceiving minds. Both claims underlie the broader thesis that mind perception is the essence of morality, but the claims are largely orthogonal, so we discuss them separately. Before we proceed, we must clarify what morality means. The authors subsume multiple distinct phenomena under this term, including moral judgments, moral norms, moral domains, and moral actions. They propose that each of these phenomena must be understood in terms of mind perception and dyadic representation. To defend each of these claims would require separate arguments and separate evidence, which the authors don’t provide. Some of the claims are also unlikely to be true; for example, many moral norms refer neither to mind perception nor to the suffering of others (e.g., not to destroy the environment). Our commentary therefore focuses on the claim that appears to have the best prospect of being true and for which the authors mount the most arguments and evidence: that dyadic representation and mind perception fundamentally characterize moral judgments.
The CF3O− anion: Vibrational spectrum of an unusual CF3 compound

Abstract The i.r. and Raman spectra of solid CsOCF 3 and the Raman spectra of liquid and gaseous NF 3 O have been recorded. The vibrational spectrum of CF 3 O − closely resembles that of isoelectronic NF 3 O. For CF 3 O − , six fundamentals were observed and assigned consistent with a pseudo-tetrahedral structure of symmetry C 3 v . It is shown that the unusual bonding in NF 3 O is not unique but also occurs in CF 3 O − . In both isoelectronic X F 3 O species, the X O bond possesses almost double bond character whereas the three X F bonds are highly polar implying very strong contributions from resonance structures such as The occurrence of this type of bonding can be rationalized by the high electronegativity of fluorine and by the importance of the octet rule for first row elements limiting the sum of the bond orders to a maximum of four.
The illumination-invariant recognition of color texture

We represent texture in a color image using spatial correlation functions defined within and between sensor bands. This representation has been shown to be useful for surface recognition, but the structure of spatial correlation functions depends on the spectral properties of the scene illumination. Using a linear model for surface spectral reflectance with the same number of parameters as the number of classes of photoreceptors, we show that illumination changes correspond to linear transformations of a surface correlation matrix. From this relationship, we derive a distance function for comparing sets of spatial correlation functions that can be used for illumination-invariant recognition. This distance function can be computed efficiently from estimated correlation functions. We demonstrate using a large body of experiments that this distance function can be used for accurate surface recognition in the presence of large changes in illumination spectral distribution. >
Conversion to the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis phenotype is associated with intermolecular linked insoluble aggregates of SOD1 in mitochondria

Twenty percent of the familial form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is caused by mutations in the Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase gene (SOD1) through the gain of a toxic function. The nature of this toxic function of mutant SOD1 has remained largely unknown. Here we show that WT SOD1 not only hastens onset of the ALS phenotype but can also convert an unaffected phenotype to an ALS phenotype in mutant SOD1 transgenic mouse models. Further analyses of the single- and double-transgenic mice revealed that conversion of mutant SOD1 from a soluble form to an aggregated and detergent-insoluble form was associated with development of the ALS phenotype in transgenic mice. Conversion of WT SOD1 from a soluble form to an aggregated and insoluble form also correlates with exacerbation of the disease or conversion to a disease phenotype in double-transgenic mice. This conversion, observed in the mitochondrial fraction of the spinal cord, involved formation of insoluble SOD1 dimers and multimers that are crosslinked through intermolecular disulfide bonds via oxidation of cysteine residues in SOD1. Our data thus show a molecular mechanism by which SOD1, an important protein in cellular defense against free radicals, is converted to aggregated and apparently ALS-associated toxic dimers and multimers by redox processes. These findings provide evidence of direct links among oxidation, protein aggregation, mitochondrial damage, and SOD1-mediated ALS, with possible applications to the aging process and other late-onset neurodegenerative disorders. Importantly, rational therapy based on these observations can now be developed and tested.
Laser amplification by electric pulse power

It is proposed that it is possible to amplify the energy of a pulsed laser beam by imploding it inside a capillary metallic liner. If imploded with megaampere currents by the pinch effect, implosion velocities up to ∼3 × 10 8 cm/s can be reached, imploding a few cm long liner with an inner radius of 2 × 10 −3 cm in about ∼10 −10 s. If the liner radius can be imploded by 30-fold, the laser pulse would in the absence of absorption losses into the linear wall be amplified 1000-fold. Because the amplification is through the conversion from longer to shorter wave lengths, the concept offers the prospect of intense short wave length laser pulses in the far ultraviolet and soft X-ray domain. Apart from the direct drive laser beam compression by the pinch effect, an alternative indirect drive through the conversion of the electric pulse power into soft X-rays is possible as well. The limitations of this concept are the absorption losses into the liner wall, and ways to overcome these losses are presented. The most important application of the proposed laser amplification scheme might be for the fast ignition of various inertial confinement fusion schemes. An integrated fast ignition inertial confinement fusion concept using the indirect drive is also presented.
Atherosclerosis diagnostic imaging by optical spectroscopy and optical coherence tomography

Atherosclerosis is traditionally viewed as a disease of uncontrolled plaque growth leading to arterial occlusion. More recently, however, occlusion of the arterial lumen is being viewed as an acute event triggered by plaque rupture and thrombosis. An atheromatous plaque becomes vulnerable to sudden activation and/or rupture when a constellation of processes are activated by various trigger mechanisms. There is growing evidence that the vulnerability (i.e. susceptibility to rupture) and thrombogenic nature of the plaque need to be taken into account in the planning and treatment of the disease. X-ray fluoroscopy and intravascular ultrasound, the current clinical diagnostic tools are not capable of the providing a complete histological picture of the plaque region. Intravascular diagnostic imaging of coronary atherosclerotic plaques by optical means to assess plaque, patient risk and assist in planning treatment strategies represents the future in angioplasty treatment by interventional cardiologists. The techniques which will enable a clinically acceptable and reliable intravascular diagnostic platform are currently being investigated and compared to the clinical standard of histology. Currently, we are investigating the use of a number of optical and imaging techniques for biochemical analysis of arterial tissue including Raman, near infrared and fluorescence spectroscopies. Biochemical imaging will provide compositional information on collagen, elastin, lipid and thrombogenic by-products as well as gauging inflammation and tissue remodeling activity levels. To complement the functional biochemical imaging, optical coherence tomography will be provide structural morphological imaging. The synergistic combination of functional and structural imagery will provide the interventional cardiologist with a complete clinical picture of the atherosclerotic plaque region. The clinician can use this diagnostic information to plan a personalized treatment procedure based on the entire clinical presentation.
Manual Thrombus-Aspiration Improves Myocardial Reperfusion: The Randomized Evaluation of the Effect of Mechanical Reduction of Distal Embolization by Thrombus-Aspiration in Primary and Rescue Angioplasty (REMEDIA) Trial

Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of a new manual thrombus-aspirating device in unselected patients with ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing urgent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Background Failure to achieve myocardial reperfusion often occurs during PCI in patients with STEMI. The use of thrombus-aspirating devices might improve myocardial reperfusion by reducing distal embolization. Methods We prospectively randomized before coronary angiography 100 consecutive patients with STEMI to either standard PCI or PCI with manual thrombus-aspiration. Primary end points of the study were post-procedural rates of myocardial blush grade (MBG) ≥2 and ST-segment resolution (STR) ≥70%. Analyses were planned by intention to treat. Results Ninety-nine patients entered the analyses. The rates of post-procedural MBG ≥2 and STR ≥70% were, respectively, 68.0% and 44.9% in the thrombus-aspiration group compared with 58.0% and 36.7% in the standard PCI group: odds ratio (OR) 2.6 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2 to 5.9), p = 0.020, and 2.4 (95% CI 1.1 to 5.3), p = 0.034, respectively. Moreover, the rate of patients achieving both the angiographic and electrocardiographic (ECG) criteria of optimal reperfusion was significantly higher in the thrombus-aspiration group compared with standard PCI: 46.0% versus 24.5%, OR 2.6 (95% CI 1.1 to 6.2), p = 0.025. In multivariate analysis, randomization to thrombus-aspiration was a significant independent predictor of achievement of MBG ≥2 and STR ≥70% (p = 0.013). Conclusions This prospective randomized study shows that manual thrombus-aspiration in unselected patients with STEMI undergoing primary or rescue PCI is clinically feasible and results in better angiographic and ECG myocardial reperfusion rates compared with those achieved by standard PCI.
Faster diversification on land than sea helps explain global biodiversity patterns among habitats and animal phyla

Terrestrial environments occupy ~ 30% of the Earth's surface yet contain ~ 80% of all species. The causes of this dramatic biodiversity gradient have remained relatively unstudied. Here, I test the fundamental prediction that predominantly non-marine clades have more rapid rates of diversification than marine clades, using a time-calibrated phylogeny of animal phyla. The results strongly support this hypothesis. This pattern helps explain the higher richness of terrestrial environments and the dramatic variation in species richness among animal phyla. The results show the importance of ecology in explaining large-scale patterns of clade richness and of diversification rates in explaining Earth's largest biodiversity patterns. The results also demonstrate remarkable niche conservatism in habitats, in some cases lasting > 800 million years. Finally, the results highlight the surprisingly high species richness of freshwater habitats, which are nearly equal to marine environments despite their much smaller area (~ 2% of Earth's surface vs. 70% for marine habitats).
Microbiology of middle ear effusions from 292 patients undergoing tympanostomy tube placement for middle ear disease

Summary Objective: Otitis media is one of the most commonly diagnosed childhood illnesses. Ideally, culture directed therapy for otitis media would be available, however, the common approach is to treat infections with antibiotics that cover the most common pathogens. The objective of this study is to describe the pathogens cultured from the middle ear effusions (MEE) of patients that underwent tympanostomy tube placement for middle ear disease, compare these results with previous studies, and assess for trends suggestive of changes in the microbiology of these patients. Methods: Patients were invited to participate after the decision to place ventilation tubes had been made. A standard anterior–inferior myringotomy was made for placement of the ventilation tube. After myringotomy, patients had their ears suctioned and all effusions were collected for microbiologic analysis. Results: A total of 292 patients were enrolled in the study, a total of 270 MEE samples were taken. Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis were seen in 24 of 148 (16.2%) and 15 of 148 (10.1%), respectively. Neisseria meningitidis , Staphylococcus aureus and Corynebacterium species were each identified in 11 of the 148 pathogens isolated (7.4%). Streptococcus pneumoniae was identified in 6 of the 148 isolated pathogens (4.1%). Conclusion: Despite a high number of non-pathogenic bacteria, and a high number of culture negative effusions, we demonstrated pathogen rates consistent with other reports in the literature. Future directions include using more specific techniques such as PCR to better understand the microbiology of middle ear effusions.
Distinct roles of class I PI3K isoforms in multiple myeloma cell survival and dissemination

Distinct roles of class I PI3K isoforms in multiple myeloma cell survival and dissemination
Psychotropic Medication Treatment of Adolescents: Results From the National Comorbidity Survey–Adolescent Supplement

Objective To examine the 12-month prevalence of psychotropic medication use among adolescents, and the match between mental disorder diagnoses and past-year antidepressant and stimulant use. Method Data are from the National Comorbidity Survey—Adolescent Supplement (2002–2004), a nationally representative survey of 10,123 adolescents aged 13 to 18 years that assesses DSM-IV disorders using a fully structured diagnostic interview, a modified version of the World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI). Rates of 12-month psychotropic medication use are stratified by respondent socio-demographic characteristics, and the distribution of 12-month DSM-IV CIDI disorders is estimated among past–12-month use of antidepressants and stimulants. Results During a 1-year period, 7.0% of adolescents used at least one psychotropic medication; these medications were most commonly antidepressants (3.9%), followed by stimulants (2.8%), anxiolytics (0.8%), antipsychotics (0.5%), and mood stabilizers (0.4%). Nearly three-quarters (74.1%) of adolescents with any past-year psychotropic medication use had at least one CIDI mental disorder, and many had disorders for which the specific medication class is clinically indicated. Among adolescents using antidepressants, 48.8% had a past–12-month depressive or anxiety disorder, and an additional 20.3% had a lifetime depressive or anxiety disorder. Nearly one-half (49.1%) of adolescents using stimulants met past–12-month attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) criteria, and an additional 13.1% met lifetime criteria for ADHD. Conclusions Most adolescents who are treated with psychotropic medications have one or more psychiatric disorders and many, albeit far from all, have mental disorders for which the specific medications are clinically indicated.