cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transient Reductions in Postoperative Pain and Anxiety with the Use of Virtual Reality in Children.

OBJECTIVE Virtual reality is a promising method to manage pain. Distraction-based virtual reality (VR-D) is thought to reduce pain by redirecting attention. Although VR-D can reduce pain associated with acutely painful procedures, it is unclear whether VR-D can reduce pain after surgery. We assessed the ability of a single VR-D session to decrease postoperative pain and anxiety and explored whether pain catastrophizing and anxiety sensitivity influenced these outcomes in children after surgery. DESIGN Single-center, prospective, pilot study. SETTING Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC). SUBJECTS Fifty children (7-21 years of age) with postoperative pain followed by the Acute Pain Service. METHODS Patients received one VR-D session after surgery. Before the session, patients completed pain catastrophizing (Pain Catastrophizing Scale for Children) and anxiety sensitivity (Child Anxiety Sensitivity Index) questionnaires. The primary outcome consisted of changes in pain intensity after VR-D (immediately, 15 minutes, and 30 minutes). Secondary outcomes included changes in pain unpleasantness and anxiety. RESULTS VR-D use was associated with a decrease in pain intensity immediately and 15 minutes after VR-D. Reductions in pain unpleasantness were observed up to 30 minutes after VR-D. VR-D was also associated with a reduction in anxiety immediately and at 15 minutes. Although patients with higher pain catastrophizing had higher baseline pain intensity and unpleasantness, they did not show larger pain reductions after VR-D than those with lower pain catastrophizing. CONCLUSIONS VR-D may be beneficial in transiently reducing pain intensity, unpleasantness, and anxiety in children with postoperative pain. This study informs the design of a larger, randomized, controlled study assessing VR-D for acute postoperative pain and anxiety management.
A 16Kb Antifuse One-Time-Programmable Memory in 5nm High-K Metal-Gate Fin-FET CMOS Featuring Bootstrap High Voltage Scheme, Read Endpoint Detection and Pseudo-Differential Sensing

A 16Kb one-time-programmable (OTP) antifuse memory is fabricated in a 5nm high-K, metal-gate FinFET CMOS for the first time. The bootstrap high voltage scheme (BHVS), read endpoint detection (REPD) and pseudo-differential sensing (PDS) are implemented to achieve intrinsic bit error rate (BER) below 1ppb for in-field programming in 5nm SoC and 10 years of data retention at 125°C.
Temperature and number density measurement in non-uniform supersonic flowfields undergoing mixing using toluene PLIF thermometry

Single-excitation, dual-band-collection toluene planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) is used to measure temperature and number density (or partial pressure) fields in non-uniform supersonic complex flows in the presence of mixing and compressibility. The study provides a quantitative evaluation of the technique in transverse jets in supersonic crossflow (JISCF). It is found that toluene PLIF is highly effective in visualizing the structure of supersonic flows and that temperature can be accurately inferred with acceptable signal-to-noise ratios (of order 30) even when mixing occurs. The technique was applied to several JISCFs that differ by jet fluid properties with resulting different structures. In the presence of compressibility and mixing, it is found that the PLIF signal is non-unique, a feature that is used to identify the mixing region of the transverse jet. Measurement errors due to camera registration errors have also been quantified. Because of the complexity of the flowfield, it is found that minute misalignment (<0.1 pixels) between the two PLIF images can introduce measurable errors on the order of tens of Kelvins and significant errors in temperature gradients.
What Do Voters in Ukraine Want?: A Survey Experiment on Candidate Ethnicity, Language, and Policy Orientation

Language, ethnicity, and policy orientation toward Europe are key cleavages in Ukrainian society, but there is much debate about their relative importance. Based on a survey experiment of 1000 residents of Ukraine that manipulated three features of a fictional candidate running for parliament, I find that a candidate’s ethnicity and language had little impact on reported vote choice, whereas economic policy orientation toward Europe was strongly associated with vote preference. Despite the intense politicization of both ethnicity and language and the violence in eastern Ukraine vote choice has not been reduced to an ethnic or linguistic census.
Culture and transformation of human airway epithelial cells

The culture of human airway epithelial cells has played an important role in advancing our understanding of the metabolic and molecular mechanisms underlying normal function and disease pathology of airway epithelial cells. Recent advances in culturing primary epithelial cells and the development of transformed airway epithelial cell lines have been particularly important in enhancing our understanding of the pathology associated with cystic fibrosis and lung cancer. The establishment of conditions that enhance the proliferative capacity of airway epithelial cells in primary culture was the first technical hurdle overcome in the development of in vitro culture systems. Research is now being geared toward the development of cell culture conditions that facilitate the expression in culture of the differentiated characteristics found in the native epithelium. Aside from the advances that have been made in defining the growth media and extracellular matrixes that enhance the expression of differentiated features, the use of an air-liquid interface has been a significant advance in the culture of airway epithelial cells. The implementation of the in vitro cell culture systems that have now been established and the research into optimizing the conditions for the growth of airway epithelial cells have been and will continue to be essential in the development of therapies for airway disease.
O que é reprodução mecânica

Em "A obra de arte na era da reprodutibilidade tecnica", Walter Benjamin elabora uma teoria da reproducao em massa que e considerada como sendo amplamente explicativa, a despeito de detalhes contraditorios que nela se acumulam insistentemente. Com essa constatacao, o autor desenvolve uma critica ao ensaio de Benjamin, partindo desses detalhes insistentes e encontrando o conceito de reproducao mecânica como seu ponto de convergencia. Levando em conta o fato de que tais inconsistencias sao notadas apenas muito raramente, o autor conclui que o proprio ensaio e auratico, o que contradiz a ideia de Benjamin sobre a relacao entre a reproducao mecânica e o esvanecimento da aura. A investigacao dessa relacao leva a conclusao de que uma aura de autenticidade tal como aquela concebida por Benjamin nao e capaz de dar conta do fato de que a reproducao e algo inerente a obra de arte, o que e ilustrado, por exemplo, pelo fato de que os livros necessitam de ser reproduzidos para que possam ser lidos. A aura, entao, e algo que ultrapassa a materialidade da obra, e sua forca nao e necessariamente ausente em uma copia. Surpreendentemente, essa refutacao do argumento de Benjamin se encontra em um livro do proprio autor, a Origem do drama tragico alemao , o que expande o foco do texto para a relacao entre o conceito de reproducao mecânica e a obra de Benjamin. Por meio da unica leitura formal da reproducao tecnica em todo o ensaio, o conceito e entendido como sendo a producao de uma imagem que nao e um reflexo do eu, e as contradicoes entre o ensaio em questao e o conjunto da obra de Benjamin sao entao concebidas como o resultado da reproducao mecânica: "A obra de arte na era da reprodutibilidade tecnica" reproduz mecanicamente os insights anteriores de Benjamin, mas em uma forma vazia de auto-reconhecimento.
Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors (MPNST): A SEER Analysis of Incidence Across the Age Spectrum and Therapeutic Interventions in the Pediatric Population

Background Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST) are very rare in the general population and challenging to treat. A paucity of data exists regarding the incidence of MPNST across all age groups and treatment outcomes in the pediatric population. We aimed to characterize both using the Survival, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Procedure The SEER-18 database with information on the United States population from 1973 to 2009 was queried for cases of MPNST. For incidence data, 1,182 cases were found among the general population. Of those, 165 cases were in individuals aged 0–19. After exclusions, 139 cases from the SEER-18 database met study criteria for outcomes analysis. For each patient, variables including gender, age, race, stage (localized, regional, or distant), surgical treatment, and radiotherapy were obtained. Results The overall incidence of MPNST was 1.46 per million person-years, with increased incidence among the elderly. In the pediatric population, the incidence was 0.56 per million person-years, and was higher among post-pubertal children aged 10–19. Median overall survival in the pediatric population was 30 months, with only localized disease and treatment with surgery being positive prognostic factors on multivariate analysis. Conclusions MPNST is a rare disease and, among children, is most frequent seen in adolescents. Surgery is crucial as first-line treatment for MPNST, especially if the tumor is localized at diagnosis. In patients with non-localized MPNST, the disease remains extremely difficult to manage, and both surgery and radiotherapy are interventions that should be considered. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2014;61:1955–1960. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Analysis of Alpha Particle Behavior in EBT Reactors

A formalism has been developed in terms of a drift kinetic equation with a Fokker-Planck collision operator to calculate alpha-particle loss and energy-deposition-rate coefficients for one position in space and for steady-state operating conditions in an ELMO Bumpy Torus (EBT) reactor. Pitch-angle and energy-scattering terms were retained in the collision term so that the analysis provides information on alpha-particle behavior due to pitch-angle scattering into loss regions in velocity space and information on alpha energy deposition during slowing down in the device. A square-well magnetic-field shape is assumed and the resulting particle loss rates and energy-deposition rates are calculated. For typical EBT reactor parameters, results show that while 80 to 90% of the alpha particles are scattered into a pitch-angle loss region and lost from the device, more than 70% of the alpha-particle energy is deposited in the core plasma and about 1 to 2% goes to alphas retained in the plasma as ash. Parametric studies are performed, and the sensitivity to plasma potential, the pitch angle, the width of loss regions, and computational procedures are analyzed.
Aid, the incentive regime, and poverty reduction

Spurring growth in the developing world is one stated objective of foreign aid. Another, more commonly cited, objective is reducing poverty. Generally poverty reduction and growth go hand in hand, but could aid mitigate poverty without measurably affecting growth? The authors examine how foreign aid affects infant mortality -- an important social indicator that provides indirect evidence that the benefits of development are reaching people everywhere. They conclude that in developing countries with weak economic management -- evidenced by poor property rights, high levels of corruption, closed trade regimes, and macroeconomic instability -- there is no relationship between aid and the change in infant mortality. In distorted environments, development projects promoted by donors tend to fail. And aid resources are typically fungible, so the aid does not in fact finance these projects. Aid finances the whole public sector at the margin, which is why the quality of management is the key to effective assistance. A government that cannot put effective development policies in place is unlikely to oversee the effective use of foreign aid. On the other hand, there is a relationship between aid and a change in infant mortality when the recipient country has relatively good management. When management is good, additional aid worth 1 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has a powerful effect, reducing infant mortality by 0.9 percent. In other words, aid spurs growth and improvements in social indicators only in a good policy environment. These findings strengthen the case for targeting foreign aid to countries that have improved their economic policy. But after controlling for per capita income and population, there has been almost no relationship between countries' economic policies and the amount of aid they get. The relatively indiscriminate allocation of assistance is one factor undermining the potential impact of aid.
Fetal scalp abscess secondary to intrauterine monitoring

Thirty-one cases of fetal scalp abscess secondary to internal fetal monitoring over a 32 month period were reviewed. The over-all incidence was 1:230 monitored labors, or 0.4 per cent. Twenty-nine infants were cultured, with no growth in 10, Staphylococcus epidermidis in 11, and pathogenic organisms in the remainder. Gram stains of the exudates generally supported the culture results. All cases responded to drainage, local care, and systemic antibiotics, with no deaths. One case of osteomyelitis of the skull was confirmed roentgenographically. A strong correlation between prolonged rupture of the membranes and scalp abscess was observed, but no definite infectious origin was confirmed. The etiology of scalp abscess secondary to monitoring remains obscure.
Relativistic spin effects and three-body forces in P-D scattering

We analyze the structure of the (3→3)-nucleon amplitude appearing in proton-deuteron elastic scattering amplitude. We calculate that part of the amplitude, which can be unambiguously expressed, through analyticity and unitarity, in terms of physical (2→2)-nucleon amplitudes. By comparing the result with the experimental data on spin observables we find that it is necessary to add extra terms, which must be interpreted as 3-body effects. These 3-body forces, of the type of contact interactions, are also required by the high-energy asymptotics of the amplitudes involved, and can be, to some extent, determined from soft-pion theorems. Much more information on them should become available through systematic analysis of the spin structure of p-d scattering amplitudes.
An introduction to plant sphingolipids and a review of recent advances in understanding their metabolism and function

Sphingolipids are ubiquitous constituents of eukaryotic cells, and have been intensively investigated in mammals and yeast for decades. Aspects of sphingolipid biochemistry in plants have been explored only recently. To date, progress has been made in determining the structure and occurrence of sphingolipids in plant tissues; in characterizing the enzymatic steps involved in production and turnover of sphingolipids (and, in some cases, the genes encoding the relevant enzymes); and in identifying a variety of biological functions for sphingolipids in plants. Given that these efforts are far from complete and much remains to be learned, this review represents a status report on the burgeoning field of plant sphingolipid biochemistry. Contents Summary 677 I. Introduction 678 II. Plant sphingolipid structure 678 III. Sphingolipid metabolism in plants 683 IV. Sphingolipid functions in plants 693 V. Conclusions 696 Acknowledgements 696 References 696.
Colocated and noncolocated control design via /spl mu/-synthesis for flexible manipulators

Sensor and actuator locations play an important role in the control of flexible manipulators. Colocated and noncolocated controllers are designed using /spl mu/-synthesis technique for an experimental flexible arm testbed at the University of Minnesota. A nonlinear, dynamic model of the flexible arm is linearized to generate the control design model. Discrepancies between a linear model and the original dynamical model are modeled as uncertainties and included in the /spl mu/-framework. It is observed, theoretically and experimentally, that the addition of tip sensing dramatically improves the tip tracking performance and robustness. The robustness of the noncolocated controllers to variations in the control design model is verified theoretically and experimentally.
European Public Sphere| Good Corporate Citizenship: Predictors of Corporate Social Justice as an Element of Sustainable Citizenship Norms in Europe

Using 2011 Eurobarometer survey data, this study draws on the O-S-O-R model to examine the predictors of one dimension of sustainable citizenship. It takes a cross-cultural approach to compare the roles of trust, satisfaction, pro-social values, media use, and interpersonal discussion in predicting support for corporate justice in Portugal, Italy, Greece, and Spain (the PIGS countries) and Denmark, Finland, and Sweden (the Nordic region). OLS regression reveals trust is a more important predictor in PIGS countries, whereas satisfaction is more relevant in the Nordic countries. Findings also indicate that corporate justice is qualitatively different from political consumption, the other, more-studied dimension of sustainable citizenship.
Regulation of the Arabidopsis thaliana vitamin B6 biosynthesis genes by abiotic stress.

Abstract Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine and its vitamers) plays an essential role as a co-factor for enzymatic reactions and has also recently been implicated in defense against cellular oxidative stress. The biosynthetic pathway was thoroughly characterized in Escherichia coli, however most organisms, including plants, utilize an alternate pathway involving two genes, PDX1 and PDX2. Arabidopsis thaliana contains one copy of PDX2, but three full-length copies of PDX1, one each on chromosomes 2, 3, and 5 (referred to as PDX1.1, PDX1.2, and PDX1.3, respectively). Phylogenetic analysis of the PDX1 homologues in A. thaliana showed that PDX1.1 and PDX1.3 clustered with the homologues from the other dicots, whereas PDX1.2 was more divergent, and did not cluster with either the dicots or monocots. Expression analysis using quantitative PCR showed that PDX1.1 and PDX1.3 were highly expressed in A. thaliana rosettes, while PDX1.2 showed only low level expression. All three PDX1 genes and PDX2 were responsive to abiotic stressors including high light, chilling, drought, and ozone, however, the response of PDX1.2 was disparate from that of the other PDX genes, showing a lessened response to high light, chilling, and drought, but an increased response to ozone. Green fluorescent protein fusion studies demonstrated that PDX2 localizes in the nucleus and membranes of cells, consistent with recent published data for PDX1. Insight into regulation of the biosynthetic genes during abiotic stress could have important applications in the development of stress-tolerant crops.
What Puts “At-Risk Girls” at Risk? Sexual Vulnerability and Social Inequality in the Lives of Girls in the Child Welfare System

Many studies document the susceptibility of adolescent girls in the child welfare system to negative sexual experiences (e.g., James et al. 2009). However, this body of research tends to frame sexual risk in individualized, deficit-focused terms that overlook contextual factors and girls’ sexual agency (Harris 2004; Kelly 2001). We analyzed the sexual history narratives of adolescent girls in residential treatment using theoretical and inductive thematic analysis (Braun and Clarke 2006) to gain a more thorough understanding of their sexual risks and sexual agency. Participants described advocating for their sexual interests but with variable success. Upon examination of occasions when agency did not produce intended results, we observed participants’ vulnerability to be linked to their broader social, material, and relational circumstances, not necessarily to intrinsic deficits such as a lack of sexual assertiveness. Results highlight how girls’ sexual experiences are influenced by the contexts in which they are embedded. This more holistic view indicates that sexual health promotion efforts should not only address individual factors related to sexuality but also must bolster the social and material resources of girls in the child welfare system.
The ultrastructure of erythroblastic islands and reticular cells in mouse bone marrow.

An ultrastructural study of normal mouse erythroblastic islands and reticular cells has been made. Fixation in glutaraldehyde, then postosmication followed by double staining in uranyl acetate and lead monoxide has been found to greatly facilitate the classification of developing erythroblasts. Morphologic evidence for ferritin transfer from reticular cells to erythroblasts was not obtained. The prime function of the reticular cell is considered to be erythrophagocytosis. An unusual cytoplasmic feature of these cells are crystal-like inclusions which have not been noted in erythrophagocytes of other species. These structures are either completely or partially surrounded by single membranes and, in some instances, by elaborate multilaminated membrane systems. Although the chemical nature of the inclusions is unknown, their association with aggregates of ferritin and hemosiderin suggest they are some component of ingested erythrocytes. Other aspects of the ultrastructure of normal mouse marrow reticular cells have been described.
Independent calculation of monitor units for VMAT and SPORT

Purpose: Dose and monitor units (MUs) represent two important facets of a radiation therapy treatment. In current practice, verification of a treatment plan is commonly done in dose domain, in which a phantom measurement or forward dose calculation is performed to examine the dosimetric accuracy and the MU settings of a given treatment plan. While it is desirable to verify directly the MU settings, a computational framework for obtaining the MU values from a known dose distribution has yet to be developed. This work presents a strategy to calculate independently the MUs from a given dose distribution of volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) and station parameter optimized radiation therapy (SPORT). Methods: The dose at a point can be expressed as a sum of contributions from all the station points (or control points). This relationship forms the basis of the proposed MU verification technique. To proceed, the authors first obtain the matrix elements which characterize the dosimetric contribution of the involved station points by computing the doses at a series of voxels, typically on the prescription surface of the VMAT/SPORT treatment plan, with unit MU setting for all the station points. An in-house Monte Carlo (MC) software is used for the dose matrix calculation. The MUs of the station points are then derived by minimizing the least-squares difference between doses computed by the treatment planning system (TPS) and that of the MC for the selected set of voxels on the prescription surface. The technique is applied to 16 clinical cases with a variety of energies, disease sites, and TPS dose calculation algorithms. Results: For all plans except the lung cases with large tissue density inhomogeneity, the independently computed MUs agree with that of TPS to within 2.7% for all the station points. In the dose domain, no significant difference between the MC and Eclipse Anisotropic Analytical Algorithm (AAA) dose distribution is found in terms of isodose contours, dose profiles, gamma index, and dose volume histogram (DVH) for these cases. For the lung cases, the MC-calculated MUs differ significantly from that of the treatment plan computed using AAA. However, the discrepancies are reduced to within 3% when the TPS dose calculation algorithm is switched to a transport equation-based technique (Acuros™). Comparison in the dose domain between the MC and Eclipse AAA/Acuros calculation yields conclusion consistent with the MU calculation. Conclusions: A computational framework relating the MU and dose domains has been established. The framework does not only enable them to verify the MU values of the involved station points of a VMAT plan directly in the MU domain but also provide a much needed mechanism to adaptively modify the MU values of the station points in accordance to a specific change in the dose domain.
Relationship between Cattell's High School Personality Questionnaire and Zuckerman's Sensation Seeking:

High School Personality Questionnaire and Sensation Seeking protocols for 59 subjects were factor analyzed and rotated analytically to the Varimax criterion and by hand to improve structure. Results were generally in line with the known second-order structure of the questionnaire and with Zuckerman's findings about the Sensation-Seeking domain and its relationship to the general personality realm.
Reducing the potential for bacterial soft rot in potato tubers by chemical treatments and drying

The potential for bacterial soft rot caused byErwinia carotovora in freshly inoculated potato tubers was reduced up to 99% by immersion for 5 min in solutions of sodium hypochlorite (chlorine bleach) containing up to 10,000 ppm chlorine. Reductions up to 93% were achieved using a combination treatment of immersion in 1% citric acid for 5 min followed by airdrying. Immersion treatment alone in 1% aqueous solutions of citric, acetic, ascorbic, or malonic acid also significantly reduced the soft rot potential. In contrast, no reductions accompanied treatment with solutions of potassium or calcium acetate. All treatments including the combination immersion/airdrying treatment were much less effective if tubers had been infiltrated initially with soft rotErwinia or had numerous mechanical injuries. If tubers had not been infiltrated with the causal organism, immersing them in 1% citric acid reduced the potential nearly as much as a similar treatment with 1000 ppm chlorine. A 30-sec immersion in the latter was less effective than a similar treatment with 500 ppm a.i. CGA 78039, an experimental bactericide. However, air-drying, coupled with provisions for keeping tuber surfaces free from moisture, remains the most effective means of reducing losses to bacterial soft rot.
President's page: cardiologists under stress: the response of the American College of Cardiology.

Over the course of the past year, I have used these pages to expand on new programs and initiatives sponsored by the American College of Cardiology (ACC) as well as to convey the ACC’s positions regarding national political issues. I also attempted to explore issues that I believe will have an
Nonlinear disorder model for Raman profiles in naturally abundant PtCl

An effective nonlinear model has been recently proposed to account for the overtone Raman redshifts of isotopically pure ${\mathrm{Pt}}^{35}\mathrm{Cl}$ and ${\mathrm{Pt}}^{37}\mathrm{Cl}$ [N. K. Voulgarakis et al., Phys. Rev. B 64, 020301(R) (2001)]. Using values of the parameters of the model that are consistent with independent calculations from the phonon dispersion and from the underlying electron-phonon interacting system, we are able to reproduce the basic features of the fundamental Raman spectrum of naturally abundant (isotopically disordered) PtCl, without introducing any additional free parameters. The first overtone spectrum is also calculated. This model, in spite of its simplicity, appears to be able to describe many features of this candidate material for demonstrating a vibrational intrinsic localized mode.
THE SPECTRUM OF AIDS IN INFANTS. LACK OF EVIDENCE FOR INTRAFAMILIAL SPREAD

36 infants with AIDS or AIDS related complexes (without opportunistic infection) have been studied over a period of 4 years. In the last 17 months 12 patients developed opportunistic infections. The clinical and immunological spectrum of AIDS in infants is similar to that reported in adults. Some of the unique features in the pediatric age group are: recurrent parotitis, interstitial pneumonia without pneumocystic carinii and a higher incidence of bacterial infections preceding the development of opportunistic infections. Most infants (except for 3) were born to i-v drug using mothers who had (except for 3) an immunodeficiency suggestive of AIDS or a clinical disease meeting the CDC criteria for AIDS. Pediatric and adult household contacts of infants with AIDS were studied clinically and immunologically. In no instance was an older child found in the family or foster care home who had developed AIDS. In 2 families 4 children were found who had elevated serum IgG levels, 2 of whom had also reversed OKT4/T8 ratios. None of these children had any other immunological abnormality or clinical symptoms. This data argues against a transmission of AIDS by a casual or intimate-non-sexual contact.
Power and Public Participation in a Hazardous Waste Dispute: A Community Case Study

Qualitative case study findings are presented. We examined whether public participation in a hazardous waste dispute manifested in ways consistent with theories of social power; particularly whether participatory processes or participants’ experiences of them were consistent with the three-dimensional view of power (Gaventa, Power and powerlessness: quiescence and rebellion in an appalacian valley, 1980; Lukes, Power: A radical view, 1974; Parenti, Power and the powerless, 1978). Findings from four data sources collected over 3 years revealed that participatory processes manifested in ways consistent with theories of power, and participants’ experiences reflected this. Results illustrated how participation was limited and how citizen influence could be manipulated via control of resources, barriers to participation, agenda setting, and shaping conceptions about what participation was possible. Implications for community research and policy related to participation in hazardous waste disputes are discussed.
Levels of genetic polymorphism at two enzyme encoding loci in eight species of the genus Macoma (Mollusca: Bivalvia)

Levels of genetic polymorphism were surveyed at two enzyme loci (LAP, PGI) in 2 intertidal and 6 subtidal species of the bivalve genus Macoma living in the waters of the San Juan Islands (Washington and Canada). The temporal environmental variability-genetic variability hypothesis predicts that intettidal species should have greater levels of genetic polymorphism than subtidal species. This is not true for the genus Macoma. However, at the PGI locus, genetic polymorphism was proportional to niche breadth in both the intertidal and subtidal species, but only for intertidal species at the LAP locus. These results support the contention that temporal environmental variability is not necessarily important in maintaining genetic variability, but that environmental heterogeneity may select for increased polymorphism at some loci.
Detection of Earth-like planets around nearby stars using a petal-shaped occulter

It is difficult to observe Earth-like extrasolar planets as they lie only a fraction of an arcsecond away from their parent stars, and are 10 billion times less bright. That does not stop researchers designing ways to search for and observe them. The ‘New Worlds Observer’, described in this issue, uses two space-craft: a large conventional space telescope and a flower-shaped star-shade parked between the telescope and the target star. The cover simulation shows a sister solar system as it might appear to the NWO. Most prominent feature is a dust ring trapped in orbital resonances with a planet like Uranus. Within the ring are Jupiter and Saturn-like planets. Closer to the hidden central star, planets like Earth and Mars are visible, as is zodiacal light scattered by interplanetary dust. Inset is a familiar Solar System view for comparison. The mission could be flown for a reasonable budget using current technologies. Cash reports an occulter design that would achieve the suppression required to distinguish between Earth-like planets and their parent stars. When such an occulter is flown in formation with, say, the James Webb Space Telescope, terrestrial planets could be seen and studied around stars to a distance of at least ten parsecs. Direct observation of Earth-like planets is extremely challenging, because their parent stars are about 1010 times brighter but lie just a fraction of an arcsecond away1. In space, the twinkle of the atmosphere that would smear out the light is gone, but the problems of light scatter and diffraction in telescopes remain. The two proposed solutions—a coronagraph internal to a telescope and nulling interferometry from formation-flying telescopes—both require exceedingly clean wavefront control in the optics2. An attractive variation to the coronagraph is to place an occulting shield outside the telescope, blocking the starlight before it even enters the optical path3. Diffraction and scatter around or through the occulter, however, have limited effective suppression in practically sized missions4,5,6. Here I report an occulter design that would achieve the required suppression and can be built with existing technology. The compact mission architecture of a coronagraph is traded for the inconvenience of two spacecraft, but the daunting optics challenges are replaced with a simple deployable sheet 30 to 50 m in diameter. When such an occulter is flown in formation with a telescope of at least one metre aperture, terrestrial planets could be seen and studied around stars to a distance of ten parsecs.
The role of water vapor in the charge elimination process for flowing powders

Abstract Effective charge elimination of flowing powders in a solid-gas multiphase system by addition of charge-neutralizing carriers, such as ammonia (gas), water droplets (liquid), and activated charcoal fines (solid) have been reported. The charge neutralization process, however, is still not clearly known at present. This paper proposes a general mechanisms of charge elimination based on hydrated ion clusters (H 2 O) n H + and (H 2 O) n OH − , and their polymers. Measurements of electrostatic charges of flowing glass beads in a continuous copper pipe loop with air carrier containing oxygen, nitrogen, or ammonia using an upgraded Faraday probe measuring system were made with water vapor contents ranging from 0% relative humidity (R.H.) up to 80% R.H. The agglomerate hydrated ion clusters are believed to act as the major charge carriers to neutralize charges on the particle surfaces or to redistribute them into the surrounding space. In the absence of water vapor, the charge elimination techniques tested in our experiments were found not to function properly. The effectiveness of the charge elimination process is strongly affected by the population of the clustered aggregates.
Multifuntional nanoparticles: Preparation and applications in biomedicine and in non-invasive bioimaging

In recent years, polymeric scaffolds have been used in several biomedical applications for the delivery of drugs or other biologically relevant molecules. Polymeric nanostructures possess different (and in some cases more powerful) properties respect to bulk materials. This, leaded academic researchers and industry to cooperate in developing pioneering nanostructured materials for industrial and biomedical applications. Moreover, the preparation and use of systems with multiple (multifunctional) properties (i.e., bioconjugation with superparamagnetic, fluorescent or targeting molecules) will represent in the future a viable and innovative tool for application in several clinical fields. This brief critical review collects and discusses some recent patents about the preparation and use of these multifunctional nanoparticles in biomedicine and in non-invasive bioimaging applications.
The Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test: normative data for the Arabic-speaking population and analysis of the differential influence of demographic variables

The Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) is the one of the most widely used neuropsychological tests of verbal memory.It has been translated into numerous languages including Spanish, German, Arabic, Hebrew, Czech, Portuguese, and English. The present study examined the hypothesis that the learning of word lists forms an algorithmic pattern across all cultures. To this end, a sample of 200 Arabic-speaking Omani adults between the ages of 18 and 50 years was collected. The resulting norms were then compared withexisting American and Brazilian samples. The study confirmed that the first trial on the RAVLT correlates with demographic variables, whereas the learning slope on subsequent trials is almost identical across all cultures. Based on the above finding, the slope of the verbal learning test is hypothesized to measure a psychophysiological process linked with the hippocampal formation and allows for the laying down of new memories. In contrast, the first trial of the test is amenable to more cultural, demographic, and environmental factors.
Structural determinants of the substrate and stereochemical specificity of phosphotriesterase

Bacterial phosphotriesterase (PTE) catalyzes the hydrolysis of a wide variety of organophosphate nerve agents and insecticides. Previous kinetic studies with a series of enantiomeric organophosphate triesters have shown that the wild type PTE generally prefers the S(P)-enantiomer over the corresponding R(P)-enantiomers by factors ranging from 1 to 90. The three-dimensional crystal structure of PTE with a bound substrate analogue has led to the identification of three hydrophobic binding pockets. To delineate the factors that govern the reactivity and stereoselectivity of PTE, the dimensions of these three subsites have been systematically altered by site-directed mutagenesis of Cys-59, Gly-60, Ser-61, Ile-106, Trp-131, Phe-132, His-254, His-257, Leu-271, Leu-303, Phe-306, Ser-308, Tyr-309, and Met-317. These studies have shown that substitution of Gly-60 with an alanine within the small subsite dramatically decreased k(cat) and k(cat)/K(a) for the R(P)-enantiomers, but had little influence on the kinetic constants for the S(P)-enantiomers of the chiral substrates. As a result, the chiral preference for the S(P)-enantiomers was greatly enhanced. For example, the value of k(cat)/K(a) with the mutant G60A for the S(P)-enantiomer of methyl phenyl p-nitrophenyl phosphate was 13000-fold greater than that for the corresponding R(P)-enantiomer. The mutation of I106, F132, or S308 to an alanine residue, which enlarges the small or leaving group subsites, caused a significant reduction in the enantiomeric preference for the S(P)-enantiomers, due to selective increases in the reaction rates for the R(P)-enantiomers. Enlargement of the large subsite by the construction of an H254A, H257A, L271A, or M317A mutant had a relatively small effect on k(cat)/K(a) for either the R(P)- or S(P)-enantiomers and thus had little effect on the overall stereoselectivity. These studies demonstrate that by modifying specific residues located within the active site of PTE, it is possible to dramatically alter the stereoselectivity and overall reactivity of the native enzyme toward chiral substrates.
Acetylation of the Yeast Histone H4 N Terminus Regulates Its Binding to Heterochromatin Protein SIR3

Abstract Heterochromatin at yeast telomeres and silent mating (HM) loci represses adjacent genes and is formed by the binding and spreading of silencinginformation regulators (SIR proteins) along histones. This involves the interaction between the C terminus of SIR3 and the N terminus of histone H4. Since H4 is hypoacetylated in heterochromatin we wished to determine whether acetylation is involved in regulating the contacts between SIR3 and H4. Binding of H4 peptide (residues 1–34) acetylated at lysines Lys-5, Lys-8, Lys-12, and Lys-16 to an immobilized SIR3 protein fragment (residues 510–970) was investigated using surface plasmon resonance. We find that acetylation of H4 lysines reduces binding (K a) of H4 to SIR3 in a cumulative manner so that the fully acetylated peptide binding is decreased ∼50-fold relative to unacetylated peptide. Thus, by affecting SIR3-H4 binding, acetylation may regulate the formation of heterochromatin. These data help explain the hypoacetylated state of histone H4 in heterochromatin of eukaryotes.
Hydrogeology of the Littlefield Springs, Arizona

A hydrogeologic investigation was conducted to determine the source of recharge to the Littlefield Springs, a series of carbonate springs occurring along a 10 km (6 mile) reach of the Virgin River in northwestern Arizona. The most probable sources of recharge to the springs were determined to be influent Virgin River water and precipitation within the springs hydrologic basin. These recharge sources could account for the total discharge of the springs. The Littlefield Springs have essentially constant discharge 1.84 cms (65 cfs), and quality 2940 mg/L TDS. Tritium analyses of the spring and river water indicate that there are at least two different sources of recharge to the Littlefield Springs–one a minimum of 22 years old and the other younger than 22 years old. Analysis of the influent Virgin River upstream from the springs indicates a 1·42 cms (50 cfs) loss at 2130 mg/L TDS and the same ionic ratio of dissolved constituents as the springs. The travel time of this recharge source is interpreted to be a minimum of 22 years. Local recharge to the springs has been estimated to be 0·31 cms (11 cfs). The presence of local recharge is indicated by pulse train gaging of the springs, and by water quality at a well upstream of the springs and at the first upstream occurrence of the springs. The travel time of this recharge source is interpreted to be less than 22 years.
Self-monitoring of blood glucose in a multiethnic population of rural older adults with diabetes.

PurposeThe purpose of the study was to describe self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) practices of 698 older adults with type 2 diabetes in the rural Southeast, to identify characteristics differentiating testers from nontesters, and to identify personal and support-related predictors of monitoring frequency.MethodsThe ELDER (Evaluating Long-term Diabetes Selfmanagement Among Elderly Rural Adults) study was a population-based, cross-sectional survey of African American, Native American, and white Medicare recipients = 65 years with diagnosed diabetes. Data were obtained through in-home interviews. Multiple logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with SMBG and frequency of monitoring.ResultsSeventy-seven percent of respondents practiced SMBG in the previous week; 40% tested every day in that week. No ethnic differences were seen. Significant independent predictors of any SMBG were medication regimen (taking oral agents or insulin with or without oral agents) and health care pr...
Perceptions of the Work Environment and Implications for Women's Career Choice: A Survey of University Faculty Women

This article reports the results of a survey of female faculty. Overall, respondents indicated positive perceptions of their academic environment and a strong interest in mentoring female students.
Independent and cooperative roles of N-glycans and molecular chaperones in the folding and disulfide bond formation of the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor-related protein.

The low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP) is a large receptor that contains extensive glycosylation sites and disulfide bonds. Here we analyzed how N-linked glycosylation and molecular chaperones function during LRP folding. Treatment of cells with a glycosylation inhibitor tunicamycin significantly impaired LRP folding, although binding to receptor-associated protein (RAP), a specialized chaperone for LRP, was not affected. The effects of tunicamycin on LRP folding were not due to an inhibition of RAP glycosylation since a mutant RAP that harbors a mutation at its sole glycosylation site was still capable of promoting LRP folding. The roles of N-linked glycosylation and the lectin chaperone, calnexin, in LRP folding were further dissected using LRP minireceptors that carry mutations at individual glycosylation sites. Interestingly, we found that RAP interacts with oxidoreductase ERp57 and mediates its interaction with LRP. Since previous studies have shown that N-glycan-bound calnexin/ca...
Activation of the mouse egg

Abstract Activation of the mouse egg, like the egg of most other species, is dependent on an increase in the concentration of intracellular free calcium. The mechanism by which the fertilizing sperm triggers the rise in intracellular calcium is not entirely known, but there is strong evidence that release of calcium from intracellular stores is mediated by the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) receptor. The competence to undergo normal activation at fertilization is associated with the development of the IP3-induced calcium release system and a dramatic reorganization of the endoplasmic reticulum. The current research and prevailing views of mouse egg activation are summarized in this brief review.
Efferently mediated changes in the quadratic distortion product (f2−f1)

In this study, a preparation was developed which continuously monitored the f2−f1, 2 f1−f2, and 3f1−2 f2 distortion products in guinea pigs, in response to various contralateral and ipsilateral tones and broadband noise. A consistent decline over time in the quadratic distortion product, f2−f1, with continuous ipsilateral stimulation was observed, confirming previous findings by Kirk and Johnstone [Hearing Res. 67, 20–34 (1993)]. Broadband noise applied to the contralateral ear simultaneously increased both the magnitude and the rate of decline. This effect was shown for primaries across all frequencies tested (f2 from 2–16 kHz, f2/f1 ratio of 1.26), though a maximal effect was found for f2 of 4 kHz. Experiments using contralateral tones demonstrated a half-octave shift in the frequency specificity of this effect. A more “immediate” suppression effect on 2 f1−f2 (0.6 dB) was found in animals awakening from anesthesia, though this was even larger for f2−f1 (5.1 dB). Extended ipsilateral stimulation with co...
A Black Widow's Best Friend?

The question “what is a planet?” revisited in 2006 by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) led to the controversial downgrading of Pluto to dwarf planet status ( 1 ). In practice, astronomers will happily assign “planet” to any object of planetary mass, or size. Indeed, for the vast majority of the 1000 or so planets known outside our solar system, or exoplanets, the object's mass or diameter (rarely both) is its only measured property ( 2 ). On page 1717 of this issue, Bailes et al. ( 3 ) report the discovery of a Jupiter-mass companion orbiting the millisecond pulsar PSR J1719-1438, forcing us to further rethink the very meaning of what constitutes a planet.
Regulation of rat cortical 5-hydroxytryptamine2A receptor-mediated electrophysiological responses by repeated daily treatment with electroconvulsive shock or imipramine

Abstract Down-regulation of 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A (5-HT 2A ) receptors has been a consistent effect induced by most antidepressant drugs. In contrast, electroconvulsive shock (ECS) up-regulates the number of 5-HT 2A receptor binding sites. However, the effects of antidepressants on 5-HT 2A receptor-mediated responses on identified cells of the cerebral cortex have not been examined. The purpose of the present study was to compare the effects of the tricyclic antidepressant imipramine and ECS on 5-HT 2A receptor-mediated electrophysiological responses involving glutamatergic and GABAergic neurotransmission in the rat medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and piriform cortex, respectively. The electrophysiological effects of activating 5-HT 2A receptors were consistent with 5-HT 2A receptor binding regulation for imipramine and ECS except for the mPFC where chronic ECS decreased the potency of 5-HT at a 5-HT 2A receptor-mediated response. These findings are consistent with the general hypothesis that chronic antidepressant treatments shift the balance of serotonergic neurotransmission towards inhibitory effects in the cortex.