cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Rise and Fall of the American Whig Party: Jacksonian Politics and the Onset of the Civil War by Michael Holt

"An impartial history of American statesmanship will give some of its most brilliant chapters to the Whig party from 1830 to 1850," wrote James G. Blaine in his memoirs. This was not, unhappily, because of a great heritage of political achievement in American public life. The work of the Whigs was, as Blaine admitted, negative and restraining rather than constructive. Still, "if their work cannot be traced in the National statute books as prominently as that of their opponents, they will be credited by the discriminating reader of our political annals as the English of to-day credit Charles James Fox and his Whig associates—for the many evils they prevented." If that is true, then we have not had very much in the way of "impartial" histories of American politics since Blaine's day. No major political movement—and a party which elected three presidents and nurtured a fourth over the span of twenty-two years can hardly be put down as minor—has suffered more sheer dismissal, more impatient contempt at the hands of political historians than the American Whigs of 1834 to 1856. This purging of the Whigs from historical respectability really began in Blaine's own lifetime, in the tart push-off made by Henry Adams in his Life of Albert Gallatin (1879), that "Of all the parties that have existed in the United States, the famous Whig party was the most feeble in ideas." Never mind that Adams's grandfather had been one of the founders of the Whigs and one of those rare intellectuals who managed to sit in both Congress and the White House. And it continued into the twentieth century, where the political history of the pre-Civil War years was dominated by the figure of Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., and his The Age of Jackson (1945), a book whose title deftly managed to identify the era of the Whigs by the name of their great political Satan. At best in these accounts, neither Whigs nor Democrats were distinguished by much which passed for a political philosophy; at worst, the Whigs were the party of old-fogeyism or unburied Federalism.
From material to tissue: Biomaterial development, scaffold fabrication, and tissue engineering

The need for techniques to facilitate the regeneration of failing or destroyed tissues remains great with the aging of the worldwide population and the continued incidence of trauma and diseases such as cancer. A 16-year history in biomaterial scaffold development and tissue engineering is examined, beginning with the synthesis of novel materials and fabrication of 3D porous scaffolds. Exploring cell-scaffold interactions and subsequently cellular delivery using biomaterial carriers, we have developed a variety of techniques for bone and cartilage engineering. In addition to delivering cells, we have utilized growth factors, DNA, and peptides to improve the in vitro and in vivo regeneration of tissues. This review covers important developments and discoveries within our laboratory, and the increasing breadth in the scope of our work within the expanding field of tissue engineering is presented.
Neurogenic mechanisms underlying the rapid onset of sympathetic responses to intermittent hypoxia

Sleep apnea (SA) leads to metabolic abnormalities and cardiovascular dysfunction. Rodent models of nocturnal intermittent hypoxia (IH) are used to mimic arterial hypoxemias that occur during SA. This mini-review focuses on our work examining central nervous system (CNS) mechanisms whereby nocturnal IH results in increased sympathetic nerve discharge (SND) and hypertension (HTN) that persist throughout the 24-h diurnal period. Within the first 1-2 days of IH, arterial pressure (AP) increases even during non-IH periods of the day. Exposure to IH for 7 days biases nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) neurons receiving arterial chemoreceptor inputs toward increased discharge, providing a substrate for persistent activation of sympathetic outflow. IH HTN is blunted by manipulations that reduce angiotensin II (ANG II) signaling within the forebrain lamina terminalis suggesting that central ANG II supports persistent IH HTN. Inhibition of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) reduces ongoing SND and acutely lowers AP in IH-conditioned animals. These findings support a role for the PVN, which integrates information ascending from NTS and descending from the lamina terminalis, in sustaining IH HTN. In summary, our findings indicate that IH rapidly and persistently activates a central circuit that includes the NTS, forebrain lamina terminalis, and the PVN. Our working model holds that NTS neuromodulation increases transmission of arterial chemoreceptor inputs, increasing SND via connections with PVN and rostral ventrolateral medulla. Increased circulating ANG II sensed by the lamina terminalis generates yet another excitatory drive to PVN. Together with adaptations intrinsic to the PVN, these responses to IH support rapid onset neurogenic HTN.
Human intention inference through interacting multiple model filtering

We present an algorithm to learn human arm motion from demonstrations and infer the goal location (intention) of human reaching actions. To capture the complexity of human arm reaching motion, an artificial neural network (ANN) is used to represent the arm motion dynamics. The trajectories of the arm motion for reaching operation are modeled as stable dynamic systems with contracting behavior towards the goal location. The ANN is trained subjected to contraction analysis constraints. To adapt the motion model learned from a few demonstrations to novel scenarios or multiple objects, we use an interacting multiple model framework. The multiple models are obtained by translating the origin of the contracting system to different known goal locations. The posterior probabilities of the models are calculated through interactive model matched filtering carried out using extended Kalman filters (EKFs). The correct model is chosen according to the posterior probabilities to infer the correct intention. Demonstrations and measurements are recorded using a Microsoft Kinect sensor and experimental results are presented to validate the proposed algorithm.
Can nomograms predict non-sentinel lymph node metastasis after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in sentinel lymph node-positive breast cancer patients?

Abstract Background The predictive probability of breast cancer nomograms for non–sentinel node metastases (NSLNM) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT) in patients with a positive sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy is unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of 3 different nomograms in patients receiving NCT. Patients and Methods Between 1999 and 2007, 54 patients presented with clinically N0 disease received NCT. Nomograms developed by Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), Stanford University, and Tenon Hospital were used to calculate the probability of NSLNM by using tumor size at presentation and after NCT for the same patient. The discrimination of the nomograms was assessed by calculating the area under (AUC) the receiver operating characteristic curve, and it was accepted that AUC values 0.7-0.8 represent considerable discrimination. Results The median patient age was 50.9 years (range, 29–67 years). Twenty-two patients (38.8%) had positive NSLNM. The MSKCC and the Stanford nomograms yielded similar AUC regardless of whether initial or post-NCT tumor size was used to determine predicted probability of NSLNM (AUCs were Conclusion Although the AUC of the Tenon model was acceptable for accuracy, we found a lower rate for predicting negative NSLNM in our group than in the Tenon Hospital report. All of the nomograms developed for use in the non-NCT population need to be used with caution in the NCT population
Internationally Comparable Indicators for Children of Immigrants

The number and diversity of immigrants to affluent countries has risen greatly during recent decades, with low and middle income countries becoming increasingly prominent in the mix of immigrant origins. Immigrants often are in the family building stage of life, bringing one or more children along to the settlement country and bearing additional children after they arrive. As a consequence, although considerable public attention, and often controversy, has focused on the rising share of adults in affluent countries who are immigrants, even larger is the share of all children who are children of immigrants. Yet not until 2009 did basic, internationally comparable indicators become available to measure the number of children in immigrant families living in a range of affluent countries, and to assess their family and socioeconomic circumstances compared to children in native-born families. The articles in this special edition of Child Indicators Research present an overview of these comparative results, as well as more in depth analyses for six countries. Australia and the United States have long been recognized as settled mainly through mass migrations, and these countries continue to receive many immigrants. Results from the most recent census in Australia indicate that one-third (33%) of children have at least one immigrant parent, and recent results for the United States indicate that nearly one-fourth (24%) are children of immigrants. The proportions also are very high, however, in other countries included in the recent comparative study, at four-in-ten for Switzerland (39%), one-in-four for Germany (26%), one-infive for Netherlands (22%), and one-in-six in France (17%) and the United Kingdom (16%). Even in Italy, which historically experienced little immigration, one-in-ten children (10%) live with an immigrant parent as of the 2001 census, and an article in this volume indicates that this proportion is likely to have grown substantially since that time (Mencarini 2010). Recent immigration differs from historic trends in a critically important way. European countries were the primary source of early mass migrations. But in recent
Community-Wide Job Loss and Teenage Fertility: Evidence From North Carolina

Using North Carolina data for the period 1990–2010, we estimate the effects of economic downturns on the birthrates of 15- to 19-year-olds, using county-level business closings and layoffs as a plausibly exogenous source of variation in the strength of the local economy. We find little effect of job losses on the white teen birthrate. For black teens, however, job losses to 1 % of the working-age population decrease the birthrate by around 2 %. Birth declines start five months after the job loss and then last for more than one year. Linking the timing of job losses and conceptions suggests that black teen births decline because of increased terminations and perhaps also because of changes in prepregnancy behaviors. National data on risk behaviors also provide evidence that black teens reduce sexual activity and increase contraception use in response to job losses. Job losses seven to nine months after conception do not affect teen birthrates, indicating that teens do not anticipate job losses and lending confidence that job losses are “shocks” that can be viewed as quasi-experimental variation. We also find evidence that relatively advantaged black teens disproportionately abort after job losses, implying that the average child born to a black teen in the wake of job loss is relatively more disadvantaged.
Minimum energy problem for discrete linear admissible control systems

The minimum energy problem for discrete linear admissible control system is solved as a quadratic programming problem for bounded variables. In this method, the optimal solution for the minimum energy problem of the non-admissible system is taken as the initial solution for the present problem. Minimum computer storage is required and no conditions are imposed on the matrix of the constraints. Numerical results indicate that the algorithm is a fast one.
C−H Bond Activation by Dicationic Platinum(II) Complexes

Double protonolysis of diimine platinum dimethyls [(N-N)PtMe2] (N-N = ArNC(Me)C(Me)NAr) generates dicationic Pt(II) complexes that can activate a variety of C−H bonds, liberating 1 equiv of acid an...
MECHANICAL BEHAVIOR OF A COMPOSITE PRINTED-WIRING-BOARD MATERIAL*

This paper describes an experimental investigation of the mechanical behavior of a paper-filled-phenolic laminate widely used in the electronics industry. Uniaxial tensile tests in three directions, sandwich-beam bending tests to determine the compressive behavior, and cylindrical-punch punchability tests were conducted. Interesting phenomena observed included difference in tensile and compressive behavior, consistent crack branching in tension, and strain mismatch during punching.
Descriptive epidemiology of selected malformations of the aorta, Atlanta, 1970–1983

To augment available population-based epidemiologic data for obstructive malformations of the aorta, we studied the descriptive epidemiology of coarctation, hypoplasia, and interruption of the aortic arch in Atlanta from 1970 through 1983. The study used data from the Metropolitan Atlanta Congenital Defects Program, a population-based birth defects registry. One hundred seventy infants were identified as having either interruption of the aortic arch (18), coarctation (131), or hypoplasia (21) of the aorta. The prevalence per 10,000 live births was as follows: interruption of the aortic arch, 0.50; coarctation, 3.62; and hypoplasia of the aorta, 0.58. Despite the differences in rates, the descriptive epidemiology for the three malformations was similar. None of the malformations was associated with gender or maternal age. Birth prevalence for whites was higher than that for other races; the increase, however, was statistically significant only for coarctation. Birth prevalence of these malformations increased during the period of observation, with the greatest increase (threefold) seen with interruption of the aortic arch. The rates for all malformation groups also showed a strong inverse association with birthweight.
Proving Approximate Implementations for Probabilistic I/O Automata

In this paper we introduce the notion of approximate implementations for Probabilistic I/O Automata (PIOA) and develop methods for proving such relationships. We employ a task structure on the locally controlled actions and a task scheduler to resolve nondeterminism. The interaction between a scheduler and an automaton gives rise to a trace distribution-a probability distribution over the set of traces. We define a PIOA to be a (discounted) approximate implementation of another PIOA if the set of trace distributions produced by the first is close to that of the latter, where closeness is measured by the (resp. discounted) uniform metric over trace distributions. We propose simulation functions for proving approximate implementations corresponding to each of the above types of approximate implementation relations. Since our notion of similarity of traces is based on a metric on trace distributions, we do not require the state spaces nor the space of external actions of the automata to be metric spaces. We discuss applications of approximate implementations to verification of probabilistic safety and termination.
Innervation of monkey extraocular muscles: localization of sensory and motor neurons by retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase.

Neurons that provide sensory and motor innervation of extraocular muscles in the monkey have been identified and localized by retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase (HRP). Injections of HRP into individual extraocular muscles of rhesus or pig-tail monkeys labeled pseudounipolar neurons that were localized within the ipsilateral semilunar ganglion. The distribution of labeled neurons within the ganglion was consistent with its somatotopic organization as the majority were found within the ophthalmic subdivision. Absence of labeled neurons within either the trigeminal mesencephalic or spinal nucleus was in agreement with previous findings in the cat (Porter and Spencer, '82). Intracranial transection of the ophthalmic nerve prior to muscle injection eliminated all labeling within the ganglion. These data indicate that the extraocular muscles can be selectively deafferented in order to examine the potential role(s) of proprioception in the neural control of eye movements. Injections of HRP into the extraocular muscles also resulted in the la beling of individual motoneuron populations. Each extraocular muscle was found to receive solely unilateral innervation, with contralateral representation of only the superior rectus and superior oblique. Within the oculomotor nucleus there was a moderate topographic segregation of individual motoneuron populations. Primate medial rectus and inferior rectus representations, while at variance with the classical descriptions (Warwick, '53), were consistent with those obtained in contemporary tracer studies (Buttner Ennever and Akert, '81; Spencer and Porter, '81). Superior rectus motoneurons were distributed along the medial aspect of the contralateral nucleus, with the predominant representation at caudal to midnuclear levels. Inferior oblique motoneurons filled the gap lateral to those of the superior rectus and ventral to medial rectus (dorsal subgroup) and inferior rectus representations at their respective levels. Following injections of the lateral rectus and superior oblique labeled motoneurons were found within the ipsilateral abducens nucleus and contralateral trochlear nucleus, respectively. Superior oblique motoneurons were strictly confined to the well-defined neuronal borders of the trochlear nucleus. Those innervating the lateral rectus, in addition to lying within the abducens proper, extended ventrolaterally from the nucleus to form a discrete ventral abducens nucleus. Our data provide a complete description of the innervation pattern of primate extraocular muscles which is based upon contemporary tracer techniques. These findings include the first demonstration of the localization of monkey first-order afferent neurons which subserve extraocular muscle proprioception.
Host Plant Selection, Larval Survival, and Reproductive Phenology in Megathymus yuccae (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae)

Our primary objective in this study was to determine the plant level and environmental factors that affect oviposition choice and subsequent offspring survival in Megathymus yuccae (Boisduval and Leconte) on its host plant, Yucca filamentosa L. A preliminary survey suggested that the frequency of pupal eclosion tent presence increased only with host plant height. In an expanded survey conducted during the adult flight period the following spring, we found that plant height increased the probability of oviposition, whereas the density of herbaceous stems and fire damage decreased the probability of egg presence. Similarly, the number of eggs on occupied plants increased with plant height and decreased with fire damage. When we surveyed the plants from the spring 2008 sampling the following winter to determine presence of late-instar larvae or pupae, we found that the probability that at least one larva survived on previously occupied plants decreased with the density of herbaceous stems. These results collectively suggest that larger, unburned Y. filamentosa individuals and those in relatively open areas are more attractive as host plants for oviposition and that larval performance is generally, but not exclusively, consistent with female preference in this system.
Treatment of osteoblastoma at C7: A multidisciplinary approach. A case report and review of the literature

Osteoblastoma is a rare benign bone tumor that presents with back pain and occurs in the spine approximately 40% of the time. The time from onset of symptoms to diagnosis is typically several months because it is a rare entity and radiographic studies are often negative early in the course of the disease. These highly vascular and locally aggressive tumors require complete and precise resection. The patient presented is a 15-year-old boy with a 14-month history of right-sided neck and shoulder pain. Computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a lesion in the posterior elements of C7 which extended through the pedicle and into the body. Preoperative angiography confirmed a hypervascular lesion which was successfully embolized. He subsequently underwent piecemeal tumor resection and instrumented fusion. Immediate postoperative imaging demonstrated complete resection. At 18 months follow up the patient has maintained resolution of preoperative symptoms and demonstrates evidence of solid fusion on CT. This multidisciplinary approach markedly decreased blood loss and improved visualization to help achieve complete surgical resection and resolution of clinical symptoms.
Differential phosphorylation of histone H1 subfractions invivo

A study was made of the phosphorylation of chromatographically purified histone H1 subfractions from the liver of premetamorphic tadpoles (Ranacatesbeiana). Two H1 subfractions were obtained which differed in terms of net incorporation of [32P]phosphate invivo. Analysis of N-bromosuccinimide cleavage products further revealed that the two subfractions also differed in the relative distribution of [32P]phosphate in N- and C-terminal regions of the molecule. Incorporation of [32P]phosphate into both regions of the molecule occurred virtually exclusively in serine residues.
Templated Fabrication of Periodic Metallic Nanopyramid Arrays

This paper reports a simple self-assembly-based templating approach for fabricating wafer-scale, periodic metallic nanopyramid arrays with nanoscale tips and high tip density (6 × 108 tips cm-2). Spin-coated, non-close-packed monolayer colloidal crystals are used as templates to create chromium nanohole arrays, which are utilized as etching masks to fabricate inverted silicon pyramidal pits by anisotropic KOH etching. Wafer-scale metallic pyramid arrays with sharp nanotips can then be replicated from silicon templates by a simple adhesive peeling process. This nonlithographic technique combines the simplicity and cost benefits of bottom-up self-assembly with the scalability and compatibility of standard top-down microfabrication in creating periodic metallic nanostructures that are not easily available by conventional nanofabrication. The resulting nanopyramid arrays show stable surface enhancements for Raman scattering from benzenethiol molecules adsorbed at the metal surfaces, even though these sputtere...
A Computer Program for Calculating Power of the Chi-Square Test

A simple FORTRAN program is provided for calculating the power of statistical tests based on the chi-square distribution. The program produces reasonably accurate approximations to the exact probabilities obtained from the noncentral chi-square distribution. The calculation of the noncentrality parameter is also discussed for tests of independence and goodness-of-fit.
Toward a cultural history of the personality disorders.

Abstract Psychiatric categories in general, and the personality disorders in particular, remain problematic and contested. This is no where more clearly evident than in the case of the ‘antisocial’ and ‘histrionic’ personality disorders. In part, the problem is related to the observation of differences in gender distribution. Men are more likely to be diagnosed ‘antisocial’ than women, and women are more likely to be diagnosed ‘histrionic’ than men. Confusion results partly from the suspicion that these categories may be culturally conditioned and therefore spurious as medical labels true in some ‘absolute’ sense. This paper argues that the antisocial and histrionic disorders have cultural histories, representing (in extreme form) values strongly congruent with familiar cultural stereotypes: the ‘independent’ male and the ‘dependent’ female. The process by which these values were delegated to men and women is examined, and then shown to be at least partly determinative of later developments in the formation of psychiatric categories.
New pyrochlores of the charge-coupled type

Abstract For A 2+ A 4+ Ti 2 O 7 -type compositions, it was found that an upper limit of 0.23 A for the size difference of the A cations existed for pyrochlore formation. Pyrochlores of the A 1+ A 3+ Ta 2 O 7 type could not be formed. Although pyrochlores of the A 1+ 2 B 6+ 2 O 7 type could not be prepared, pyrochlores of the type A 1+ A 3+ B 4+ B 6+ O 7 could be prepared. Compositions of the type Ca x Gd 2− x Sn 2− x Sb x O 7 ( x = 0 to 1) showed that the pyrochlore structure could form partial crystalline solutions with compositions of the weberite structure.
Molecular Complementarity II: Energetic and Vectoral Basis of Biological Homeostasis and its Implications for Death

Abstract The energetic basis of molecular complementarity is presented. In biological systems requiring both homeostasis and non-equilibrium state maintenance, molecular complementarity provides a framework for the co-existence of these states within an organism. Smoothly changing homeostatic and thermodynamic systems, such as regulation of pH or an ensemble of asynchronous muscle crossbridges, are modeled using Liapunov functions. When biological systems undergo discontinuous state changes, such as the initiation of the heartbeat, life/death transition or the detachment of molecules, alternative analytical systems such as catastrophe theory provide information that continuous analytical methods cannot, Catastrophe theory produces a model of biology in which death can occur by two distinct mechanisms: loss of homeostatic control or loss of sufficient free energy. Molecular complementarity buffers molecules from temporal and physical changes. The usefulness of molecular complementarity is limited to association energies near the ambient energy, kT . Within this range, complementarity will alter molecular functions and will convert scalar biochemical reactions into vectorial physiological processes. Both thermodynamic and catastrophic models can be used to link energetic and homeostatic processes: the former providing quantitative information from continuous systems; the latter providing qualitative information from discontinuous systems involving state changes.
Compact far-IR FEL design

Abstract A compact size far-infrared free-electron laser (FIR FEL) is currently being built at Stanford. A microwave gun products 1–3.3 MeV electrons, which are sent into a 50 cm long wiggler of 1 cm period through a hole on the upstream mirror to generate radiation at a wavelength of 100 to 1000 μm. A superconducting solenoid along with an array of permeable material is used to generate a 9.6 kG rms wiggler field with a 2.0 mm gap. The electron beam consists of 10 ps micropulses with 10 A peak current, 1% energy spread and unnormalized emittance for 90% of the particles of 2π mm mrad. A 10 dB small signal gain has been calculated with the parameters mentioned above. An overview of the design details as well as a discussion on the uniqueness of our wiggler are presented.
Convergence of Signaling Pathways in the Control of Differential Cell Growth in Arabidopsis

Seedling apical hook development involves a complex interplay of hormones and light in the regulation of differential cell growth. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms that integrate these diverse signals to control bending of the embryonic stem are poorly understood. The Arabidopsis ethylene-regulated HOOKLESS1 (HLS1) gene is essential for apical hook formation. Herein, we identify two auxin response regulators that act downstream of HLS1 to control cell elongation in the hypocotyl. Extragenic suppressors of hls1 were identified as mutations in AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR 2 (ARF2). The level of ARF2 protein was decreased by ethylene, and this response required HLS1. Exposure to light decreased HLS1 protein levels and evoked a concomitant increase in ARF2 accumulation. These studies demonstrate that both ethylene and light signals affect differential cell growth by acting through HLS1 to modulate the auxin response factors, pinpointing HLS1 as a key integrator of the signaling pathways that control hypocotyl bending.
Public opinion, party messages, and responsibility for the financial crisis in Britain

The political consequences of the crisis in world financial markets are only beginning to be understood. In this article, we take up one of these many repercussions by examining public beliefs of who’s to blame for a complex and unparalleled set of events. Analyses of survey data from Britain find that while most assign responsibility for the crisis to market actors, the likelihood of blaming governments, as opposed to blaming banks and investors, is greater among low sophisticates and Conservative Party identifiers. We further show how elite messages from competing political elites evolved over-time and were reflected in mass beliefs about the crisis. Results highlight the centrality of partisan cues and, in particular, of political sophistication in understanding the dynamics of responsibility attributions. Lastly, we estimate the consequences of blaming the government for the crisis for voter choice.
The Submerged State: How Invisible Government Policies Undermine American Democracy

Suzanne Mettler Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 2011, 163 pp During the Tea Party's 2009 rallies many signs decried the threat of government to programs actually provided by government. A...
Inhibiting Breast Cancer Progression by Exploiting TGFβ Signaling

Transforming Growth Factor beta (TGFbeta) signaling influences most aspects of cellular function in addition to playing a major role in organ development, remodeling, and repair. Given the wide range of effects induced by TGFbeta, it is not surprising that alterations in TGFbeta signaling have been implicated in development and progression of many different cancer types. Within the context of breast cancer itself, TGFbeta is known to have a dual nature, being both tumor-suppressive during early breast cancer development and tumor-promoting during breast cancer metastasis. Targets for breast cancer therapeutics are greatly needed to decrease morbidity and mortality from this devastating disease. Here, we summarize what is known about TGFbeta in breast cancer progression and discuss potential TGFbeta targets for breast cancer therapeutics.
On the Age and Morphology of the Reunion Event

Data pertinent to the age of the normal polarity Reunion Event (or subchron), and whether it is a split feature, are critically examined. New 40 Ar/ 39 Ar age determinations on lavas from two sequences on Reunion Island, along with available potassium-argon (K-Ar), 40 Ar/ 39 Ar and astrochronological analyses, indicate an age of 2.15 - 2.13 Ma. Although the possibility cannot be completely ruled out, at present there is no convincing evidence supporting the contention of a short duration of normal polarity some 70 - 90 kyr later.
Synthesis of 1,3,5,5–tetranitrohexahydropyrimidine–2,2,4,4,6,6–d6 (DNNC–d6) and its adiol–d4 precursor using paraformaldehyde–d2 and unlabeled reaction ingredients

Using commercially available paraformaldehyde–d2, the subject compounds were synthesized with unlabeled reactants and ordinary solvents. The 2,2–dinitropropane–1,3-diol–1,1,3,3–d4 (ADIOL–d4) precursor was produced in greater than 99% isotopic purity with aqueous depolymerized paraformaldehyde–d2 and CH3NO2 in alkaline solution followed by oxidative AgNO3/NaNO2 nitration; then, ADIOL–d4 and depolymerized paraformaldehyde–d2 with t-butylamine in methanol afforded cyclic 1,3–di–t-butyl–5,5–dinitrohexahydropyrimidine–2,2,4,4,6,6–dδ (DBNP–d6). The 97% isotopically pure DNNC–d6 product resulted in 71% yield from an anhydrous HNO3 nitration of DBNP–d6.
Cardiovascular effects of paced respiration and selective attention

The effects of paced respiration (PR) and attentive observation (ATT) on heart rate (HR) and finger-pluse amplitude (FPA ) were investigated in adult fem ale Ss. Although HR responses to trial onset were task dependent, accelerating for Group FR and decelerating for Group ATT, temporally conditioned anticipatory HR deceleration was obtained across tasks. Across trials, HR decelerated and FPA dilated, indicating autonomic habituation to the experimental conditions. Methodological implications for paced respiration research and FPA analysis were discussed.
Ultrafast UV-Vis and IR Studies of p-Biphenylyl Acetyl and Carbomethoxy Carbenes

The photochemistry of a p-biphenylyl diazo ester (BpCN2CO2CH3) and diazo ketone (BpCN2COCH3) were studied by ultrafast time-resolved UV−vis and IR spectroscopies. The excited states of these diazo compounds were detected and found to decay with lifetimes of less than 300 fs. The diazo ester produces singlet carbene with greater quantum efficiency than the ketone analogue due to competing Wolff rearrangement (WR) in the excited state of the diazo ketone. Carbene BpCCO2CH3 has a singlet−triplet gap that is close to zero in cyclohexane, but the triplet is the ground state. The two spin states are in rapid equilibrium in this solvent relative to reaction with cyclohexane. There is (for a carbene) a slow rate of singlet to triplet intersystem crossing (isc) in this solvent because the orthogonal singlet must rotate to a higher energy orientation prior to isc. In acetonitrile and in dichloromethane BpCCO2CH3 has a singlet ground state. Ketocarbene BpCCOCH3 has a singlet ground state in cyclohexane, in dichlorom...
The anaerobic decomposition of benzoic acid during methane fermentation

A possible pathway for the anaerobic utilization of benzoic acid by a methanogenic consortium is suggested. Cyclohexane carboxylic acid and 1-cyclohexene-1-carboxylic acid have been identified as intermediates before ring rupture. Surprisingly, 3-cyclohexene-1-carboxylic acid interferes with utilization of other cyclic acids. In addition, isobutyric acid or short chain acids containing carbon-carbon double bonds could not be used without induction periods of a week or longer. A number of volatile fatty acids (heptanoic, valeric, butyric, propanoic, and acetic) have been identified and are suggested intermediates.
Transcriptional analysis of interspersed repetitive polymerase III transcription units in human DNA

The template for RNA polymerase III in vitro transcription found on the human DNA clone pJP53 was shown in the previous paper to enclose a member of the Alu famiy of interspersed repetitive DNA sequences. We have mapped this transcript onto its template in greater detail by comparison of the template DNA sequence to the base composition of the Tl ribonuclease digestion products of the in vitro transcript. We find that the 5' end of the transcript lies in close proximity to the 5' end of the conserved Alu family sequence as analyzed in the preceding paper. The 3' end of the transcript appears to terminate in a U-rich region beyond the region of Alu family sequence conservation. Analysis of cellular RNA by Northern blotting and hybridization with a DNA probe derived from another Alu family transcription template demonstrates abundant representation of sequences homologous to the reiterated DNA. Cytoplasmic, nonpolyadenylated RNA from human and murine cells contains a monodisperse, 300 nucleotide species, recently determined by Weiner (4) to be the 7S RNA. In contrast, the Alu-homologous transcripts are heterodisperse in mRNA and hnRNA, with the highest specific representation of Alu family sequences being found in oligo(dT)-retained hnRNA.
Metabolic responses of the turkey hen (Meleagris gallopavo) to an intravenous injection of chicken or porcine glucagon

The purpose of this study was to compare the metabolism of chicken and porcine glucagon in the turkey hen. Six hens each were infused with either porcine or chicken glucagon (16.6 μg/kg body weight). Blood samples were obtained at intervals pre- and post-infusion and analyzed for glucagon, glucose, insulin, free fatty acids, thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). The half-life (T12) of porcine (4.5 min) and chicken glucagon (5.5 min) were similar. A 13% increase in glucose concentrations occurred within 10 min and remained elevated (22%) for 2 hr. A concomitant increase in insulin was noted, though not significant from pre-injection levels. A 50% increase in free fatty acids occurred in 2 min, reaching a zenith at 10–15 min post-treatment, and returned to baseline by 2 hr. Significant (P < 0.05) decreases in the circulating concentrations of both T3 and T4 hormones were observed within 5–10 min post-glucagon treatment and remained suppressed for the duration of sampling. These data indicate that the hormonal and metabolic responses of female turkeys to mammalian and avian glucagon are similar.
Faith Behind Bars: An Explicit Test of the Moral Community Hypothesis in the Correctional Environment

The explanatory power of the moral community hypothesis is evaluated through an analysis of survey data collected from a sample of 11,789 state prison inmates housed in 275 prisons located throughout the United States. The results of the multilevel regression analysis are not consistent with what would be predicted by the moral community hypothesis. The theoretical implications of this line of research are also discussed.
Effects of Multi-Grade Oils in Modeling Non-Newtonian Rheology Between Piston and Cylinder Surfaces in Engine Initial Start Up Conditions

This paper presents the results of a transient analysis of hydrodynamic lubrication between piston and cylinder surfaces in engine Initial startup conditions with a Non Newtonian lubricant under oscillatory motion. Effects of different multi-grade oil viscosities are also investigated in the simulation. The time dependent Reynolds equations use a Maxwell type model to analyze fluid rheology. A perturbation scheme is used to derive coupled non linear partial differential equations to obtain the fluid velocity. The oil film profile is predicted by solving the two-dimensional Reynolds equations using the finite difference computational method. The piston velocities in engine secondary motion are adjusted by using fourth order Runge-Kutta technique. Using different oil viscosities, the effect of viscoelasticity on lubricant velocity and pressure fields is examined and the influence of film thickness on lubricant characteristics is investigated. Numerical simulations show that piston eccentricities and film thickness profiles vary under different multi grade oils at engine start up conditions.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Parents' Perspectives on a Written Survey of Family Needs:

The requirement for a statement of family needs and strengths on the Individualized Family Service Plan has stimulated the development of a number of written surveys. Although most follow similar formats and are designed to facilitate identification of family needs in order to insure individualized family services, little research has investigated their utility. This article reports the results of a study to determine parents' perceptions of one such instrument, the Family Needs Survey (Bailey & Simeonsson, 1988a). A total of 229 parents (primarily mothers) or other caregivers of young children with handicaps in 10 states evaluated the instrument. Overall, parents felt that (a) the survey would help them tell their needs to professionals, (b) professionals would find the information useful, and (c) they were comfortable sharing the information requested. Only two respondents felt that parents should not be asked to share the information requested; most endorsed choosing to complete the questionnaire rathe...
The neural basis of stereotypic impact on multiple social categorization

Perceivers extract multiple social dimensions from another's face (e.g., race, emotion), and these dimensions can become linked due to stereotypes (e.g., Black individuals → angry). The current research examined the neural basis of detecting and resolving conflicts between top-down stereotypes and bottom-up visual information in person perception. Participants viewed faces congruent and incongruent with stereotypes, via variations in race and emotion, while neural activity was measured using fMRI. Hand movements en route to race/emotion responses were recorded using mouse-tracking to behaviorally index individual differences in stereotypical associations during categorization. The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) showed stronger activation to faces that violated stereotypical expectancies at the intersection of multiple social categories (i.e., race and emotion). These regions were highly sensitive to the degree of incongruency, exhibiting linearly increasing responses as race and emotion became stereotypically more incongruent. Further, the ACC exhibited greater functional connectivity with the lateral fusiform cortex, a region implicated in face processing, when viewing stereotypically incongruent (relative to congruent) targets. Finally, participants with stronger behavioral tendencies to link race and emotion stereotypically during categorization showed greater dorsolateral prefrontal cortex activation to stereotypically incongruent targets. Together, the findings provide insight into how conflicting stereotypes at the nexus of multiple social dimensions are resolved at the neural level to accurately perceive other people.
Improved bending fatigue and corrosion properties of a Mg–Al–Mn alloy by super vacuum die casting

This paper shows significantly improved mechanical properties (∼64% higher bending fatigue strength) and corrosion resistance (39–62% lower corrosion rate) in a Mg–6Al–0.3Mn alloy (AM60B) produced by a new super vacuum die casting (SVDC) process compared with the conventional high-pressure die casting (HPDC). The SVDC samples exhibited a skin layer which contained 6–12% more eutectic phase and was ∼14% harder than those of the HPDC material, due to faster cooling rates in the SVDC process resulting from better die–metal contact.
Chemically diverse modified electrodes : A new approach to the design and implementation of sensor arrays

An array of five gold electrodes modified with different substituted alkanethiols has been developed that is sensitive to the identity of a series of similar redox active analytes. A double-potential-step methodology was used to interrogate the electrodes in order to extract a maximum amount of information on a short time-scale. The resulting response patterns, containing 80 variables, were used in conjunction with principal component analysis and artificial neural networks for pattern recognition. The degree of overlapping sensitivity between 80 variables as well as reproducibility from measurement to measurement and array to array is discussed. Finally, a method for normalizing the response patterns in order to produce concentration independent patterns is described.
Pedicle screw navigation: a systematic review and meta-analysis of perforation risk for computer-navigated versus freehand insertion.

Object In this paper the authors' goal was to compare the accuracy of computer-navigated pedicle screw insertion with nonnavigated techniques in the published literature. Methods The authors performed a systematic literature review using the National Center for Biotechnology Information Database (PubMed/MEDLINE) using the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms “Neuronavigation,” “Therapy, computer assisted,” and “Stereotaxic techniques,” and the text word “pedicle.” Included in the meta-analysis were randomized control trials or patient cohort series, all of which compared computer-navigated spine surgery (CNSS) and nonassisted pedicle screw insertions. The primary end point was pedicle perforation, while the secondary end points were operative time, blood loss, and complications. Results Twenty studies were included for analysis; of which there were 18 cohort studies and 2 randomized controlled trials published between 2000 and 2011. Foreign-language papers were translated. The total number of screws incl...
Micromachining of non-fouling coatings for bio-MEMS applications

Abstract Standard photolithography is used to pattern a poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG)-like polymer onto silicon substrates. The coating has excellent non-fouling properties and good adhesion to various substrate materials, such as silicon, oxide, nitride, gold, and platinum. This method allows precise control of the shape, size and alignment of the polymer, thus providing a reliable tool to pattern protein sheets as well as cell cultures. This method also enables the incorporation of patterned cell cultures with various predefined elements such as electrodes, channels, and sensors. To demonstrate the properties of our technique, we apply it to build cell cultures and to protect metallic electrodes from protein and cell adhesion. We show that the thin coatings provide excellent protection without compromising the conductivity of the electrodes.
The limits of generalized cardiac screening tests for predicting cardiac complications after infrainguinal arterial reconstruction.

We examined the relative efficacies of different cardiac screening strategies for infrainguinal arterial bypass. The outcomes of 205 elective leg bypass procedures over a 10-year period, including myocardial infarction (MI), total cardiac complications, and mortality were tallied. Clinical risk factors popularized by Goldman and Eagle, and the results of dipyridamole thallium myocardial imaging (DThal) were recorded. The overall mortality rate was 3.4%, with a 3.4% incidence of Ml and a 5.4% total cardiac complication rate. Both abnormal DThal (p = 0.011) and Goldman class II-IV (p = 0.030) were significant predictors of Ml and cardiac death, but both suffered from poor specificity and positive predictive value. Because logistic regression analysis identified a correlation between angina, CHF, and an abnormal DThal, a customized screening strategy was developed to include the presence of angina, CHF and an abnormal DThal. Eighty-eight percent of patients suffering Ml or death met these criteria, while only 11% of the complication-free group did. This screening strategy provided a superior sensitivity of 88%, specificity of 89%, positive predictive value of 25%, and 99% negative predictive value. A customized screening strategy (angina, CHF, abnormal DThal), developed from a 10-year experience with a single patient group, provided better predictive accuracy than any generalized screening formula. (Ann Vasc Surg 1997; 11:620-625.)
Targeting Axonal Protein Synthesis in Neuroregeneration and Degeneration

Localized protein synthesis is a mechanism by which morphologically polarized cells react in a spatially confined and temporally acute manner to changes in their environment. During the development of the nervous system intra-axonal protein synthesis is crucial for the establishment of neuronal connections. In contrast, mature axons have long been considered as translationally inactive but upon nerve injury or under neurodegenerative conditions specific subsets of mRNAs are recruited into axons and locally translated. Intra-axonally synthesized proteins can have pathogenic or restorative and regenerative functions, and thus targeting the axonal translatome might have therapeutic value, for example in the treatment of spinal cord injury or Alzheimer’s disease. In the case of Alzheimer’s disease the local synthesis of the stress response transcription factor activating transcription factor 4 mediates the long-range retrograde spread of pathology across the brain, and inhibition of local Atf4 translation downstream of the integrated stress response might interfere with this spread. Several molecular tools and approaches have been developed to target specifically the axonal translatome by either overexposing proteins locally in axons or, conversely, knocking down selectively axonally localized mRNAs. Many questions about axonal translation remain to be answered, especially with regard to the mechanisms establishing specificity but, nevertheless, targeting the axonal translatome is a promising novel avenue to pursue in the development for future therapies for various neurological conditions.