cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Antiretrovirals, Methamphetamine, and HIV-1 Envelope Protein gp120 Compromise Neuronal Energy Homeostasis in Association with Various Degrees of Synaptic and Neuritic Damage

HIV-1 infection frequently causes HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) despite combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). Evidence is accumulating that components of cART can themselves be neurotoxic upon long-term exposure. In addition, abuse of psychostimulants, such as methamphetamine, seems to aggravate HAND and compromise antiretroviral therapy. However, the combined effect of virus and recreational and therapeutic drugs on the brain is poorly understood. Therefore, we exposed mixed neuronal-glial cerebrocortical cells to antiretrovirals (ARVs) (zidovudine [AZT], nevirapine [NVP], saquinavir [SQV], and 118-D-24) of four different pharmacological categories and to methamphetamine and, in some experiments, the HIV-1 gp120 protein for 24 h and 7 days. Subsequently, we assessed neuronal injury by fluorescence microscopy, using specific markers for neuronal dendrites and presynaptic terminals. We also analyzed the disturbance of neuronal ATP levels and assessed the involvement of autophagy by using immunofluorescence and Western blotting. ARVs caused alterations of neurites and presynaptic terminals primarily during the 7-day incubation and depending on the specific compounds and their combinations with and without methamphetamine. Similarly, the loss of neuronal ATP was context specific for each of the drugs or combinations thereof, with and without methamphetamine or viral gp120. Loss of ATP was associated with activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and autophagy, which, however, failed to restore normal levels of neuronal ATP. In contrast, boosting autophagy with rapamycin prevented the long-term drop of ATP during exposure to cART in combination with methamphetamine or gp120. Our findings indicate that the overall positive effect of cART on HIV infection is accompanied by detectable neurotoxicity, which in turn may be aggravated by methamphetamine.
Anencephaly and spina bifida in Israel.

An analysis of 776 cases of anencephaly and spina bifida, born to Jewish mothers in Israel between 1958 and 1968, is presented. A prevalence of 0.86 per 1,000 total births for anencephaly and 0.60 for spina bifida was observed. A high sex ratio for anencephaly (44.1% male) was observed and it is suggested that high ratios may be characteristic of some populations with a low prevalence of neural tube defects. High rates (2.1 per 1,000 for both anomalies) were observed among children of mothers who emigrated from Iraq and Iran. Lowest rates were observed among Israeli mothers. Prevalence rates had their strongest associations with birth order, from a low of 1.25 per 1,000 among first births to a high of 2.40 per 1,000 for the sixth and higher birth orders. The effect of birth order was independent of maternal age and ethnic variation. No significant seasonal variation of affected births was detected. But a very strong downward trend was observed during the study period, mainly in spina bifida (from a prevalence of 1.05 per 1,000 in 1958 to 0.44 in 1968). The trend could not be explained by changes in parity or ethnic composition of the population and an environmental hypothesis is proposed.
Periodic and Near-Periodic Decaday Lightcurves in Old Nova and Nova-Like CVs

Several CVs classified as old nova or nova-like systems have been found to have photometric variations with stable or near-stable periods of tens of days. In RW Tri, DI Lac, and V841 Oph the ~ 0.5 mag variations are sine-like and not always present. In V446 Her the ~ 1.5 mag variations have been present for four years and have the form of outbursts. RZ LMi and PG0943+521 have large variations with a complex but very similar shape to the periodic lightcurves. If these decaday variations have a common cause it is likely to involve a periodic modulation of the mass transfer rate.
Hyperpycnal plume-derived fans in the Santa Barbara Channel, California

[1] Hyperpycnal gravity currents rapidly transport sediment across shore from rivers to the continental shelf and deep sea. Although these geophysical processes are important sediment dispersal mechanisms, few distinct geomorphic features on the continental shelf can be attributed to hyperpycnal flows. Here we provide evidence of large depositional features derived from hyperpycnal plumes on the continental shelf of the northern Santa Barbara Channel, California, from the combination of new sonar, lidar, and seismic reflection data. These data reveal lobate fans directly offshore of the mouths of several watersheds known to produce hyperpycnal concentrations of suspended sediment. The fans occur on an upwardly concave section of the shelf where slopes decrease from 0.04 to 0.01, and the location of these fans is consistent with wave- and auto-suspending sediment gravity current theories. Thus, we provide the first documentation that the morphology of sediment deposits on the continental shelf can be dictated by river-generated hyperpycnal flows.
An Overview of Gas Turbine Engines

Gas-turbine engines are widely used for aircraft propulsion because of their high efficiency in the power range of interest. This chapter presents an overview of gas-turbine engines, including a discussion of the thermodynamic cycle and definitions of component and system efficiencies relevant to the performance of the engines. Also presented is how gas-turbine engines are classified as turbojet, turbofan, turboprop, propfan, and ramjet based on how thrust is generated for propulsion. For each of these types of gas-turbine engines, the distinguishing features are highlighted. Finally, application of supersonic combustion in a ramjet, known as a scramjet, for propulsion in hypersonic speed regime is outlined. Keywords: gas turbines; thrust; propulsion; thermodynamic cycle; efficiency; impulse turbines; turbojet; turbofan; turboprop; propfan; ramjet; scramjet; combined cycle engine
Enhanced Egg-Induced Immunopathology Correlates With High IFN-γ in Murine Schistosomiasis: Identification of Two Epistatic Genetic Intervals

The genetic basis of dissimilar immunopathology development among mouse strains infected with Schistosoma mansoni is not known. We performed a multipoint parametric linkage analysis on a cohort of F2 mice, offspring of brother-sister mating between (high pathology CBA × low pathology BL/6)F1 mice, to examine whether the observed differences in the type of immune response or the extent of hepatic immunopathology are linked to any particular genomic intervals. The F2 mice exhibited cytokine responses and immunopathologies that revealed a statistically significant correlation between prominent egg Ag-stimulated IFN-γ production by mesenteric lymph node cells and hepatic egg granuloma size. Increased IFN-γ production showed suggestive linkage to a dominant CBA locus on chromosome 1 and a recessive CBA locus on chromosome 5; significantly, there was an epistatic interaction between the two IFN-γ loci. An additional locus with suggestive linkage to granuloma formation and a CBA-recessive mode of inheritance was mapped to centromeric chromosome 13. Our analysis identified the first three genetic regions that appear to influence the immunopathology in murine schistosomiasis; however, further congenic dissection studies will furnish a more precise understanding of the genetic control of this disease.
Suction Spectrophotometer Cell

A spectrophotometer cuvet is described which is emptied by suction without re-moval from the instrument. The use of this cuvet saves time and minimizes the chance of breakage. Data from C14 measurements and absorbances of a dye solution show minimal retention error from successive specimens.
Dietary linolenic acid intake is positively associated with five-year change in eye lens nuclear density.

Objective: Dietary fat may affect lens cell membrane composition and function, which are related to age-related cataract. The present study was designed to examine the associations between dietary fat and the change in nuclear lens opacification over five years.Methods: Women aged 52 to 73 years without previously diagnosed cancer, diabetes and cataracts from the Boston, Massachusetts area were selected from the Nurses’ Health Study cohort. Four hundred forty women participated in a baseline (1993–95) and a follow-up (1998–2000) eye examination. Intakes of total fat and selected fatty acids were calculated as the average intake from five food frequency questionnaires that were collected between 1980 and baseline. Change in the degree of nuclear density (opacification) was characterized by the difference between baseline and follow-up in pixel density at the central clear zone in the Scheimpflug slit image of the lens.Results: Intake of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) was positively associated with change in nu...
Ultrafast All-Optical Switching with Transparent and Absorptive Nematic Liquid Crystals–Implications in Tunable Metamaterials

We present a critical review of the nonlinear optical responses of nematic liquid crystals associated with short pulsed laser induced thermal, density and order parameter fluctuations. Experimental studies conducted with absorbing as well as transparent nematic liquid crystals have demonstrated that all-optical one-way switching of nanoseconds pulsed laser at 750 nm can be realized at sub-microseconds to nanoseconds speed. Similar switching performances have also been observed with lasers at other visible–infrared regime, confirming the broadband applicability of the underlying nonlinear optical processes.
Diffusion models for age-structured populations

Abstract This paper discusses some models for age-dependent populations with diffusion in one-dimensional environments. Three simple birth-death mechanisms are used. There are two diffusion processes: one represents random movement and the other movement to avoid crowding. The resulting models are reduced to systems of partial differential equations. These are sufficiently simple that an analysis of the interaction of diffusion and the birth-death processes is possible. An analysis is presented of the large-time behavior of populations in limited environments.
Sources and sinks of ozone in rural areas

Abstract Based on data collected at rural sites in South Dakota, Louisiana and Virginia during the summers of 1978–1980, the factors controlling the diurnal behavior of O3 near the surface were determined. At all three sites, the diurnal O3 profile consisted of a period of O3 increase from sunrise until mid-afternoon, and a period of O3 decrease from late afternoon until sunrise. The daily O3 increase was comprised of two approximately equal portions: one due to downmixing of O3 from aloft (0600–1000 h), and the other due to photochemistry and possibly some further downmixing (1000–1400 h). Even assuming that all of the O3 increase during the 1000–1400 h period was due to local photochemistry, only very small amounts of O3 were formed i.e. about 6 ppb of O3 per ppb of nitrogen oxides (NOx). Both bag irradiation and photochemical modeling studies suggested similar, but slightly higher O3 formation. Comparing the ambient data with the bag irradiation and modeling results, it was concluded that rural photochemistry was not controlled exclusively by NOx, but depended on hydrocarbons as well. The O3 decrease (1800 to 0600 h) generally occurred while nocturnal inversions isolated the lower 50 m of the atmosphere from the air aloft. Since the O3 loss-rate could be parameterized equally well by either zero- or first-order rate laws, we could not distinguish between the two mechanisms. However, concentrations of gaseous species such as terpenes and NOx that might lead to pseudo zero-order O3 loss were generally of minor significance. Consequently, it is concluded that O3 loss was controlled by surface deposition with deposition velocities ranging from 0.06 to 0.34cms−1 at the three sites.
Cyclic AMP regulation of tylosin biosynthesis and secondary metabolism in Streptomyces fradiae

Adenosine 3':5' cyclic monophosphate seems to regulate antibiotic biosynthesis and secondary metabolism in tylosin-producing cultures of Streptomyces fradiae C373.1. A dose-dependent response is observed by exogenous additions of dibutyryl cyclic AMP (cAMP), and is related to the nutritional status of the culture. Addition of cAMP to cultures growing in nutritionally lean media caused higher cumulative antibiotic tigers and some cellular differentiation compared with the control. In nutritionally rich media, a qualitatively different behavior resulted: an almost instantaneous shift toward secondary metabolism occurred. The response is characterized by extensive cellular differentiation with little growth and only a trace of antibiotic production. The possible role of cyclic AMP n the regulation of tylosin biosynthesis and secondary metabolism and its relation to specific nutrient limitations in synthetic, defined media in Streptomyces fradiae is discussed.
Shock-right facilitation in an easy, noncorrection problem as effected by delay of reward ☆

Abstract To demonstrate shock-right (SR) facilitation utilizing an easy, bright-dark discrimination and noncorrection training, conditions under which SR training has previously had no effect or even a retarding one, the present study manipulated delay of reward for the correct response with shock administered in place of immediate food at the goal. Longer delays of reward led to more errors and trials to criterion and, associated with this increased difficulty, there was increased SR facilitation. Because the facilitation effect appears to depend on the extent to which shock can function as a “distinctive cue” to increase the discriminability of those stimuli that S experiences in the correct and incorrect goal arms, the findings suggest that the selectively facilitating, i.e., reinforcing, effect of a food object may well relate to its value as a distinctive cue. Taken in conjunction with other findings, the data also indicate that the SR facilitation effect has now been brought under experimental control: It can be produced where it formerly has not occurred and eliminated where it formerly has always occurred.
Fast combinatorial optimization using generalized deterministic annealing

Generalized Deterministic Annealing (GDA) is a useful new tool for computing fast multi-state combinatorial optimization of difficult non-convex problems. By estimating the stationary distribution of simulated annealing (SA), GDA yields equivalent solutions to practical SA algorithms while providing a significant speed improvement. Using the standard GDA, the computational time of SA may be reduced by an order of magnitude, and, with a new implementation improvement, Windowed GDA, the time improvements reach two orders of magnitude with a trivial compromise in solution quality. The fast optimization of GDA has enabled expeditious computation of complex nonlinear image enhancement paradigms, such as the Piecewise Constant (PICO) regression examples used in this paper. To validate our analytical results, we apply GDA to the PICO regression problem and compare the results to other optimization methods. Several full image examples are provided that show successful PICO image enhancement using GDA in the presence of both Laplacian and Gaussian additive noise.
Major hemorrhage and perforation due to a solitary cecal ulcer in a patient with end-stage renal failure.

A case of solitary cecal ulcer with major hemorrhage followed by perforation after treatment with intra-arterial vasopressin in a patient with end-stage renal failure is presented. Though vasopressin has been used with success in the treatment of colonic hemorrhage, caution should be applied in patients with a bleeding cecal ulcer as the vasoconstriction produced by vasopressin may cause perforation in an area whose blood supply is already compromised
Platelet-activating factor in porcine Pseudomonas acute lung injury.

We investigated the role of platelet-activating factor (PAF) in acute septic lung injury by examining the effects of the selective PAF antagonist SRI 63-675 and by measuring PAF in lung tissue in the porcine model. Four groups of pigs (15–25 kg) were studied: saline control (C, n = 5); Pseudomonas (Ps, n = 9), given 5 × 108 CFU/ml at 0.3 ml/20 kg/min intravenously over 1 hr; SRI (n = 3), given SRI 63-675 in a 40 mg/kg bolus; and SRI + Ps (n = 5). Ps infusion produced a fulminant lung injury characterized by a threefold increase in pulmonary arterial pressure at 30 min and persistent pulmonary hypertension (P < 0.05 vs C), a significant (P < 0.05 vs C) decrease in arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) from 60 min, a significant (P < 0.05 vs C) increase in extravascular lung water (EVLW) from 120 min, and a significant (P < 0.05 vs C) increase in albumin flux determined scintigraphically as slope index at 150–180 min. Systemic arterial pressure and cardiac index (CI) decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in the Ps group vs C at 60 and 180 min, respectively. Bolus injection of SRI 63-675 at the time of Ps infusion blocked the early pulmonary hypertension, attenuated the early and late fall in PaO2, ameliorated the increase in EVLW, and prevented the late (150–180 min) increase in albumin flux. SRI 63-675 had minimal effects on Ps-induced hypotension or alterations in CI. The quantity of PAF bioactivity in lung tissue as determined by rabbit platelet serotonin release was significantly (P < 0.05) greater in Ps-infused animals than in saline controls. Collectively these results suggest that PAF plays a major role in septic lung injury.
Measuring Earth-to-Space Contrast Transmittance from Ground Stations

Inherent object and background radiance, beam transmittance through the atmosphere, and sky radiance are all measurable from a ground station. It is shown how, in the visible sectrum, the sky radiance and beam transmittance may be used to compute the path radiance for orbital downward paths of sight. Thus, the components for calculating apparent radiance, apparent contrast, and the contrast transmittance from earth to space are measurable from a ground station. our in-flight experiments were conducted to obtain measurements of contrast transmittance for comparison with measurements made simultaneously at ground stations. The in-flight and ground-based measurements are in good agreement.
Kinetics and Mechanistic Model for Hydrogen Spillover on Bridged Metal−Organic Frameworks

The kinetics of hydrogen adsorption on IRMOF-8 by hydrogen spillover from a Pt/AC catalyst (activated carbon support) was studied at various pressures (0−100 atm) and temperatures (273−348 K). The sorbent studied was a mixture of IRMOF-8 and Pt/AC with added carbon bridges. The overall isosteric heats of adsorption (−25 to −20 kJ/mol) and the apparent activation energy for surface diffusion (9.3 kJ/mol) were determined from the temperature dependence of respectively equilibrium isotherm and diffusion time constant. Ab initio molecular orbital calculations were performed for the bonding energies between the spiltover hydrogen atom and various sites on the IRMOF structure. The overall heats of adsorption fell reasonably within the range of bond energies. Surface diffusion of the spiltover hydrogen at near ambient temperature was a slow process, which resulted in slow hydrogen uptake rates especially at higher pressures (higher surface concentrations). Desorption rates were relatively faster, and also decrea...
Parsing the Associations Between Prenatal Exposure to Nicotine and Offspring Psychopathology in a Nonreferred Sample

Abstract Purpose Several studies have suggested an association between maternal smoking during pregnancy and both attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and conduct disorder (CD) in the offspring of women who smoke during pregnancy. However, it is unclear whether one or both of the documented links are spurious, given the considerable comorbidity between these disorders. The main aim of this study was to disentangle the association between maternal smoking during pregnancy with psychopathological outcomes, adjusting for possible confounders. Methods Two large, identically designed, longitudinal, case-control family studies of male and female probands with and without ADHD were combined. We used data from the nonreferred siblings of the probands from both studies (n = 536). All subjects were blindly assessed with structured diagnostic interviews. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the adjusted effect of exposure to maternal smoking during pregnancy. Results Among all siblings, maternal smoking during pregnancy was significantly associated with ADHD, independent of CD and other covariates. In contrast, maternal smoking during pregnancy was a risk factor for CD only in siblings of control probands, after adjusting for covariates. Conclusions These results support the hypothesis that maternal smoking during pregnancy is a risk factor for both ADHD and CD, independently of each other. However, the risk for CD appears to be conditional on family risk status.
Values and Concepts in Max Weber’s Comparative Studies

. This restatement of Max Weber's methodological position takes as its point of departure a point-by-point response to a critique by Talcott Parsons of the author's rejection of system, function and evolution as basic concepts of sociological theory – and of studies of political development. In turn, Weber's position that is ‘intermediate’ between materialism and idealism, the purpose of his typological approach, and of his comparative studies are discussed. The last part of the paper restates Weber's position on ‘ideal types’ and examines their assets and liabilities through an analysis of contrast-conceptions.
Surface structural changes during oxidation of gold electrodes in aqueous media as detected using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

Phenomenes observes au cours de l'oxydation d'electrodes d'or dans une solution aqueuse de KOH 1M
Crude protein and rumen undegradable protein effects on reproduction and lactation performance of Holstein cows

Abstract We conducted a study to determine the effects of excess dietary crude protein (CP) and rumen undegradable protein (RUP) on reproduction and lactation performance of Holstein cows. During each of three yearly replicates, cows were blocked by previous mature equivalent milk production and randomly assigned at calving (n=47; partum group) or at 42±21 d postpartum (n=134; postpartum group) to the following dietary treatments: 1) ryegrass pasture supplemented with a corn and soybean meal grain mix (high CP, moderate RUP); 2) ryegrass pasture mornings and corn silage evenings, supplemented with grain as in diet 1 (moderate CP, moderate RUP control diet), and 3) ryegrass pasture mornings and corn silage evenings, supplemented with a grain mix containing corn, soybean meal, corn gluten meal, and blood meal (moderate CP, high RUP). Dietary CP and RUP concentrations were approximately 23.1, 5.8; 17.7, 5.0; and 17.2, 6.8% of dry matter for diets 1 to 3, respectively. Plasma urea N concentrations were highest in cows fed diet 1 (25.0 mg/dl), intermediate in cows on diet 2 (20.1 mg/dl), and lowest in cows on diet 3 (18.5 mg/dl). Cows fed excess dietary protein (diet 1) exhibited lower first breeding pregnancy rates (24.1 vs. 41.0%) and lower overall pregnancy rates (53.4 vs. 75.4%) than did cows fed diet 2, increasing time nonpregnant by an average of 15.1 d per cow. Reproductive performance was similar between cows fed diets 2 and 3. Mean fat-corrected milk (FCM) yield was not affected by protein concentration (diet 1 vs. 2); however, partum group cows that received supplemental RUP (diet 3) produced more 3.5% FCM than controls in early lactation. Feeding grain diets that contained excess dietary protein impaired the reproductive performance of dairy cows grazing ryegrass.
Traumatic noncontiguous double fracture-dislocation of the lumbosacral spine.

Abstract Background context To our knowledge, the presence of noncontiguous fracture-dislocation of the lumbosacral spine occurring at two levels has not been reported. The etiology, evaluation, and treatment of the unusual injury is presented. Purpose To notify spinal traumatologists about the possibility of this unusual injury. Study design A case report of an unusual noncontiguous double fracture-dislocation of the lumbosacral spine. Methods A 26-year-old man was involved in a motor vehicle accident where his car fell over a bridge and plummeted approximately 300 feet before hitting the ground. The patient was transported to a major medical center where he was found to be conscious, and amazingly, his only major injury was fracture-dislocations of L2–L3 and L5–S1. His preoperative neurologic status showed a partial paraparesis to all motor groups of the lower extremities bilaterally. Results The patient underwent a posterior reduction, instrumentation, and fusion from L1 to S1 with autogenous bone graft and segmental pedicle screw instrumentation. One week postoperatively, he underwent an anterior spinal fusion of L5/S1. Postoperatively, his neurologic status improved allowing him to be ambulatory, with a normal lumbosacral alignment being well-maintained. Conclusions Noncontiguous double fracture-dislocation of the lumbosacral spine is an unusual injury, which results from a very high-energy trauma. Prompt recognition of the injuries, reduction of the fracture-dislocations, and posterior stabilization is recommended for neural decompression, spinal alignment, and long-term stabilization.
The calculus of the trigonometric functions

The trigonometric functions entered “analysis” when Isaac Newton derived the power series for the sine in his De Analysi of 1669. On the other hand, no textbook until 1748 dealt with the calculus of these functions. That is, in none of the dozen or so calculus texts written in England and the continent during the first half of the 18th century was there a treatment of the derivative and integral of the sine or cosine or any discussion of the periodicity or addition properties of these functions. This contrasts sharply with what occurred in the case of the exponential and logarithmic functions. We attempt here to explain why the trigonometric functions did not enter calculus until about 1739. In that year, however, Leonhard Euler invented this calculus. He was led to this invention by the need for the trigonometric functions as solutions of linear differential equations. In addition, his discovery of a general method for solving linear differential equations with constant coefficients was influenced by his knowledge that these functions must provide part of that solution.
A Study of Two Communities of the New Jersey Pine Barrens and a Comparison of Methods

The plant life of the pine barrens of New Jersey has been an object of scientific interest for many years. Lutz ('34) states concerning the region". . . indeed, few other areas in North America have attracted such long continued and widespread attention." Stone ('11), in speaking of the area, called it one of the most interesting botanical areas in the United States and one of the most extensive in the middle Atlantic states left in the primeval condition. Even in more recent times, Moore ('39) spoke of the region as "one of the few large wilderness areas remaining in the eastern United States." The Pine Region occupies approximately 2,000 square miles of the eastern Coastal Plain of New Jersey (Moore '39). The region is of low relief, the soils being sandy except for areas along the streams and the poorly drained depressions. The climate of the central part of this area, where the present study was made, is characterized by an annual precipitation of between 46 and 48 inches, 24 inches of which falls in the period from April through September. The frost-free period is approximately 180 days in length, lasting from around April 25 to October 20 (USDA Yearbook '41). The vegetation of the upland parts of this area is characterized by forests of pine and oak, with an understory of ericaceous shrubs and scrub oak. These forests are of all ages due to past fires and cutting. Little ('46) states that the majority of the upland sites are occupied by forests of arborescent and scrub oaks mixed with pines. The ecological aspects of the upland vegetation have been studied by both bota-
An Analytical-Thermal Modeling Approach for Predicting Forces, Stresses and Temperatures in Machining With Worn Tools

In this paper, predictive modeling of cutting and ploughing forces, stress distributions on tool faces and temperature distributions in the presence of tool flank wear are presented. The analytical and thermal modeling of orthogonal cutting that is introduced in Karpat, Zeren and Ozel [3] extended for worn tool case in order to study the effect of flank wear on the predictions. Work material constitutive model based formulations of tool forces and stress distributions at tool rake and worn flank faces are utilized in calculating non-uniform heat intensities and heat partition ratios induced by shearing, tool-chip interface friction and tool flank face-workpiece interface contacts. In order to model forces and stress distributions under the flank wear zone, a force model from Waldorf [4] is adapted. Model is tested and validated for temperature and force predictions in machining of AISI 1045 steel and AL 6061-T6 aluminum.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Primary adenocarcinoma of the urinary bladder: differential diagnosis and clinical relevance.

Context.—Glandular lesions of the urinary bladder include a broad spectrum of entities ranging from completely benign glandular lesions to primary and secondary malignancies. Common benign bladder ...
Socioeconomic disadvantage and pain.

Socioeconomic disadvantage (SED) and its contribution to the pain experience is of growing interest and relevance. This review will provide a brief overview of definitional and measurement issues related to SED. Selected literature considering the relationships between SED and pain will then be summarized, and several possible mechanisms to explain the relationships will be considered. Last, future directions for research and practice will be discussed.
Sleeping with the hypothalamus: emerging therapeutic targets for sleep disorders.

Delineating the basic mechanisms that regulate sleep will likely result in the development of better treatments for sleep disorders. The hypothalamus is now recognized as a key center for sleep regulation, with hypothalamic neurotransmitter systems providing the framework for therapeutic advances. An increased awareness of the close interaction between sleep and homeostatic systems is also emerging. Progress has occurred in the understanding of narcolepsy—molecular techniques have identified the lateral hypothalamic hypocretin (orexin) neuropeptide system as key to the disorder. Other sleep disorders are now being tackled in the same way and are likely to yield to efforts combining basic and clinical research. Here we highlight the role of the hypothalamus in sleep physiology and discuss neurotransmitter systems, such as adenosine, dopamine, GABA, histamine and hypocretin, that may have therapeutic applications for sleep disorders.
Gene-Specific Changes in α-Tubulin Transcript Accumulation in Developing Cotton Fibers

The fibers of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) are single-cell trichomes that undergo rapid and synchronous elongation. Cortical microtubules provide spatial information necessary for the alignment of cellulose microfibrils that confine and regulate cell elongation. We used gene-specific probes to investigate α-tubulin transcript levels in elongating cotton fibers. Two discrete patterns of transcript accumulation were observed. Whereas transcripts of α-tubulin genes GhTua2/3 and GhTua4 increased in abundance from 10 to 20 d post anthesis (DPA), GhTua1 and GhTua5 transcripts were abundant only through to 14 DPA, and dropped significantly at 16 DPA with the onset of secondary wall synthesis. This is the first report, to our knowledge, of gene-specific changes in tubulin transcript levels during the development of a terminally differentiated plant cell. The decrease in abundance of GhTua1 and GhTua5 transcripts was correlated with pronounced changes in cell wall structure, suggesting that α-tubulin isoforms may be functionally distinct in elongating fiber cells. Although total α-tubulin transcript levels were much higher in fiber than several other tissues, including the hypocotyl and pollen, none of the α-tubulins was specific to fiber cells.
The impact of survey design modifications on health insurance coverage estimates in a National Longitudinal Health Care Survey

National health insurance coverage estimates for the overall population and specific population subgroups are critical to policymakers and others concerned with access to medical care and the cost and sources of payment for that care. The Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) is one of the core health care surveys in the United States that serves as a primary source for these essential national health insurance coverage estimates. The survey is designed to provide annual national estimates of the health care use, medical expenditures, sources of payment and insurance coverage for the U.S. civilian non-institutionalized population. In 2007, the survey experienced two dominant survey design modifications: (1) a new sample design attributable to the sample redesign of the National Health Interview Survey, and (2) an upgrade to the CAPI platform for the survey instrument, moving from a DOS to a Windows based environment. This study examines the impact of these survey design modifications on the national estimates of insurance coverage. The overlapping panel design of the MEPS survey and its longitudinal features are particularly well suited to assess the impact of survey redesign modifications on estimates. Since two independent nationally representative samples are pooled to produce calendar year estimates, one has the capacity to compare estimates based on the “original survey design” in contrast to those derived from the “survey redesign.” This paper examines the correlates of nonresponse incorporated in the estimation techniques and adjustment methods employed in the survey, and the measures utilized for post-stratification overall and by panel. Particular attention is given to assessing the level of convergence in coverage estimates based on the alternative designs as well as the alignment of model based analyses that discern which factors are associated with health insurance classifications. The paper concludes with a discussion of strategies under consideration that may yield additional improvements in the accuracy for these critical policy relevant survey estimates.
Facets of brand equity and brand survival: a longitudinal examination

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore how brand equity influences brand survival in the wine industry. Specifically, the aim is to investigate the influence of two key facets of brand equity (brand awareness and perceived quality) on brand survival.Design/methodology/approach – Two types of data were used: consumer survey data and longitudinal data on brand survival over a 16‐year period. Perceptions of quality and brand recognition data were collected via survey at the beginning of the time frame (1991), longitudinal data regarding the brand survival were obtained for the years through 2006 and survey data were again collected in 2006. Twenty‐seven brands from wineries of a specific region were used for the study. Brand survival (measured in years) was analyzed using logistic regression with brand recognition and perceived quality as the predictors.Findings – A slightly positive relationship between consumer ratings of perceived quality and the probability of brand survival was found. However...
Gas and thin-layer chromatographic methods for analysis of the mycotoxins altenuene, alternariol, and alternariol monomethyl ether

Abstract 1. 1. A method is presented for production and purification of altenuene, alternariol, and alternariol monomethyl ether from cultures of the fungus Alternaria tenuis . 2. 2. A quantitative analytical procedure based on gas-liquid chromatography is given for the simultaneous analysis of the three toxins. Detection limits for quantitative assays are about 0.1 μg for each. 3. 3. Analysis of the toxins by thin-layer chromatography was explored and satisfactory separation and resolution for each compound was demonstrated, with detection limits of 0.1 μg for each toxin.
Local Justice and Rural Society in the French Revolution

This study examines the transition from seigneurial justice prior to 1789 to the revolutionary institution of the justice of the peace in order to assess the impact of the French Revolution on rural society. It argues that seigneurial justice was slow, costly, and largely inaccessible to rural denizens of Aunis and Saintonge. Hence, peasants often resorted to violence in the resolution of their quarrels. After 1789 rural dwellers had the opportunity to submit their disputes to trusted, elected justices of the peace who adjudicated cases quickly and inexpensively. Because of revolutionary reforms, above all, people in rural French society experienced the reality of equality before the law and came to accept the primacy of the state in the resolution of disputes. This study of an important institution, hitherto neglected by historians, illuminates the process by which the state penetrated rural areas just as it sheds light on the meaning of modern citizenship. Above all it challenges recent revisionist historiography by suggesting that the revolution did indeed have important social repercussions.
Synthesis of Lanthanum Oxide Using Lanthanum Chloride by Hydrogen-Oxygen Flame Pyrolysis Route

Nowadays, people should pay more attention on the environment problems that had advent along with the development of rare earth metallurgy industry. A large number of water pollutant, air pollutant and solid pollutant were discharged in the process of synthesis of rare earth compound by precipitation and roasting process. In order to solve the industry pollution problems, a new technology route was developed for the preparation of lanthanum oxide using lanthanum chloride as raw material by oxy-hydrogen flame route. The experiment results showed that lanthanum chloride could directly convert to lanthanum oxide under high temperature by the combustion of mixture gas of hydrogen-oxygen that provided by oxy-hydrogen generator continuously. The phase composition of obtained product was characterized by XRD and the conversion rate of lanthanum chloride and the reaction mechanism were discussed.
Ab initio studies of hyperfine coupling in free radicals. I. Augmented basis functions

Abstract Minimal and double zeta Slater basis sets used in previous MO calculations predict incorrect hyperfine coupling constants. After examining the CI spin density near the nucleus for some first-row atoms, two basis sets, called MZS and DZS set are proposed for use in hyperfine coupling calculations of molecular free radicals. These are, respectively, minimal and double zeta sets augmented by an extra 2s orbital with a large exponent.
Interdependent assembly of specific regulatory lipids and membrane fusion proteins into the vertex ring domain of docked vacuoles

Membrane microdomains are assembled by lipid partitioning (e.g., rafts) or by protein–protein interactions (e.g., coated vesicles). During docking, yeast vacuoles assemble “vertex” ring-shaped microdomains around the periphery of their apposed membranes. Vertices are selectively enriched in the Rab GTPase Ypt7p, the homotypic fusion and vacuole protein sorting complex (HOPS)–VpsC Rab effector complex, SNAREs, and actin. Membrane fusion initiates at vertex microdomains. We now find that the “regulatory lipids” ergosterol, diacylglycerol and 3- and 4-phosphoinositides accumulate at vertices in a mutually interdependent manner. Regulatory lipids are also required for the vertex enrichment of SNAREs, Ypt7p, and HOPS. Conversely, SNAREs and actin regulate phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate vertex enrichment. Though the PX domain of the SNARE Vam7p has direct affinity for only 3-phosphoinositides, all the regulatory lipids which are needed for vertex assembly affect Vam7p association with vacuoles. Thus, the assembly of the vacuole vertex ring microdomain arises from interdependent lipid and protein partitioning and binding rather than either lipid partitioning or protein interactions alone.
Comparison of the sensorimotor dysfunctions produced by damage to lateral hypothalamus or superior colliculus in the rat.

Abstract Following damage to the lateral hypothalamic region, rats show impairments in orienting their heads toward visual, tactile, and olfactory stimuli, as well as deficits in using their limbs in climbing. When such damage is bilateral, rats also show aphagia, adipsia, akinesia, and catalepsy. Damage to the superior colliculus, in contrast, produces a selective and enduring impairment in head orientation to stimuli. Rats with bilateral collicular lesions show little difficulty in climbing, visually elicited placing, motility, feeding, or drinking. These results support the view that the lateral hypothalamic lesions produce a wide-ranging syndrome of sensorimotor dysfunction, primarily by interrupting basal ganglia fibers. The more restricted impairments in head orientation seen after superior collicular damage are consistent with the limited distribution of tectospinal projections.
Effective channel approach to nuclear scattering at high energies. I

The elastic scattering of high-energy particles by composite target nuclei is formulated in terms of coupled equations in which the effect of inelastic processes is represented by an average inelastic channel. The average fluctuation energy and fluctuation potentials which specify this channel are explicitly constructed and shown to be related to the two- and three-particle correlation functions. The theory incorporates approximately the effects of nonlocality, energy-dependence, rescattering, and absorption of all the inelastic channels. Systematic improvements of the method as well as several extensions of the formalism to target excitations and particle exchanges are discussed.
Mystery cloud of AD 536

The possible cause of the densest and most persistent dry fog on record, which was observed in Europe and the Middle East during AD 536 and 537, is discussed. The fog's long duration toward the south and the high sulfuric acid signal detected in Greenland in ice cores dated around AD 540 support the theory that the fog was due to the explosion of the Rabaul volcano, the occurrence of which has been dated at about AD 540 by the radiocarbon method.
Combinatorial Study of Zeolites in Catalyzing the Acylation of Benzene via Laser-Induced Fluorescence Imaging

Laser-induced fluorescence imaging (LIFI) has been developed into a high-throughput screening (HTS) technique for heterogeneous catalysis. A laser beam is focused into a sheet parallel to the surface of the solid catalyst. Fluorescence from selected gaseous products formed immediately above the surface is imaged by a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera. Here, in situ LIFI was used to simultaneously screen the catalytic properties of a 15-member library consisting of mordenites (MOR), ferrierites (FER), ZSM-5 (MFI), zeolite γ-(gamma) (FAU), and beta zeolites (BEA) with various Si/Al ratios in the acylation of benzene with phthalic anhydride. Only beta zeolites were found to be active in this reaction over the temperature range of 190 to 340 °C. Substantial deactivation of beta zeolites was observed within less than one minute at higher temperature and the degree of deactivation varied with reaction temperature and the composition of the reactant mixture, as well as the Si/Al ratio of the beta zeolites. The deactivated beta zeolites can be regenerated partially by heating in a flow of oxygen. Up to 80% recovery of the catalytic activity was obtained. Similar recovery was observed after several deactivation-regeneration cycles.
ST-elevation myocardial infarction in the presence of biventricular paced rhythm.

Abstract Background In the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), the presence of baseline left bundle branch block or a permanent pacemaker rhythm poses a challenge. Objective We present a case report highlighting this challenge, along with a review of pertinent literature. Case Report A 70-year-old female with known severe idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy and moderate coronary artery disease who was status post−biventricular pacemaker/implantable cardioverter defibrillator insertion was brought to our institution via Emergency Medical Services with recurrent firing of her implantable cardioverter defibrillator and syncope. After stabilization in the Emergency Department and treatment with intravenous amiodarone, the patient admitted to having ongoing chest pains. The electrocardiogram revealed evidence of biventricular pacing with superimposed ST-segment elevations in the anterolateral leads indicative of myocardial injury. She underwent prompt angiography, thrombectomy, and bare-metal stent insertion to a totally occluded proximal left anterior descending coronary artery, with resolution of her chest pain and improvement in the ST-segment changes. Conclusions Despite proposed criteria that aid in the recognition of AMI with underlying left bundle branch block and paced rhythm; the advent of new pacing modalities and the potential variability of pacing sites impose additional diagnostic challenges requiring higher level of suspicion and better physician awareness.
Strengths and weaknesses of data envelopment analysis : an urban and regional perspective

Abstract The popularity of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) as a tool for examining the technical efficiency of “decision making units” (DMUs) has spread widely and rapidly since its original introduction in Rhodes (1978) and Charnes, Cooper, and Rhodes (1978). The enthusiasm for DEA, however, has not been universal. Detractors have criticized it on a number of methodological and substantive grounds, some of the most recent and heated discussions being found in Evans and Heckman (1988), Frank (1988), and Schmidt (1986). Many of the criticisms and the rebuttals they have provoked can be attributed to fundamentally different perspectives of the researchers—people who range from econometricians to management scientists—and the distinctly different purposes to which the models are applied (Lovell & Sickles, in press). In this paper, we adopt a pragmatic perspective and—while neither damning DEA nor offering it as a panacea for productivity analysis—seek to underscore some of its strengths as well as its weaknesses. A review of the DEA literature would show that this is the same circumspect and pragmatic spirit that animated the earliest research in this area (see Rhodes, 1978). While speculating on promising applications of DEA to urban and regional analysis in such disciplines as planning, geography, and regional science, we review the basic logic of the method, and highlight the key features it offers analysts interested in examining the relative technical efficiency of DMUs. Some statistical and information-theoretic concerns center on what appears to be DEA's underutilization of potentially useful empirical information. Building on Banker (in press) we suggest how DEA can be viewed both in the light of more conventional statistical methods and as an informative and useful tool for systematic sensitivity analysis. Finally, we draw from practical experience to point out some additional concerns and considerations in applying DEA.
Urban festive policies and sociocultural impacts: an international perspective.

This article focuses on the social implications of urban policy that draws from festive planning practices to redevelop cities. In the last few decades, municipal and business leaders have turned their attention to the renewal of their city core through the use of tourism. These urban festive policies, however, prove to have significant social and related distributional consequences by impacting community residents and by injecting varied urban identities. Data drawn from four cities shows that redesign processes aimed at creating festive components must seriously consider these unanticipated effects.