cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Endometriosis: Epidemiology, Diagnosis and Clinical Management

Endometriosis is a disease of adolescents and reproductive-aged women characterized by the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity and commonly associated with chronic pelvic pain and infertility. Here we review the epidemiology of endometriosis as well as potential biomarkers for detection and with the goal of highlighting risk factors that could be used in combination with biomarkers to identify and treat women with endometriosis earlier. Early age at menarche, shorter menstrual length, and taller height are associated with a higher risk of endometriosis while parity, higher body mass index (BMI), and smoking are associated with decreased risk. Endometriosis often presents as infertility or continued pelvic pain despite treatment with analgesics and cyclic oral contraceptive pills. Despite a range of symptoms, diagnosis of endometriosis is often delayed due to lack of non-invasive, definitive, and consistent biomarkers for the diagnosis of endometriosis. Hormone therapy and analgesics are used for treatment of symptomatic endometriosis. However, the efficacy of these treatments is limited as endometriosis often recurs. In this review, we describe potential diagnostic biomarkers and risk factors that may be used as early non-invasive in vitro tools for identification of endometriosis to minimize diagnostic delay and improve reproductive health of patients.
Machine learning-assisted hyperspectral analysis of plasmonic contrast agent microbiodistribution with single-particle sensitivity and sub-cellular resolution

Nanoparticles have been explored extensively as potential biomedical imaging and therapeutic agents. One critical aspect of in vivo nanoparticle use is the characterization of biodistribution profiles. Such studies improve our understanding of particle uptake, specificity, and clearance mechanisms. Currently, the most prevalent nanoparticle biodistribution methods provide either aspatial quantification of whole-organ particle accumulation or nanometerresolution images of uptake in single cells. Few existing techniques are well-suited to study particle uptake on the micron to millimeter scales relevant to sub-tissue physiology. Here we demonstrate a new method called Hyperspectral Microscopy with Adaptive Detection (HSM-AD) that uses machine learning classification of hyperspectral dark-field images to study interactions between tissues and administered nanoparticles. This label-free, non-destructive method enables quantitative particle identification in histological sections and detailed observations of sub-organ accumulation patterns consistent with organ-specific clearance mechanisms, particle size, and the molecular specificity of the nanoparticle surface. Unlike studies with electron microscopy, HSM-AD is readily applied for large fields of view. HSM-AD achieves excellent detection sensitivity (99.4%) and specificity (99.7%) and can identify single nanoparticles. To demonstrate HSM-AD’s potential for novel nanoparticle uptake studies, we collected the first data on the sub-organ localization of large gold nanorods (LGNRs) in mice. We also observed differences in particle accumulation and localization patterns in tumors as a function of conjugated molecular targeting moieties. Thus, HSM-AD affords new degrees of detail for the study of nanoparticle uptake at physiological scales. HSM-AD may offer an auxiliary or alternative approach to study the biodistribution profiles of existing and novel nanoparticles.
Amygdala input differentially influences prefrontal local field potential and single neuron encoding of reward-based decisions

Reward-guided behaviors require functional interaction between amygdala, orbital (OFC), and medial (MFC) divisions of prefrontal cortex, but the neural mechanisms underlying these interactions are unclear. Here, we used a decoding approach to analyze local field potentials (LFPs) recorded from OFC and MFC of monkeys engaged in a stimulus-choice task, before and after excitotoxic amygdala lesions. Whereas OFC LFP responses were strongly modulated by the amount of reward associated with each stimulus, MFC responses best represented which stimulus subjects decided to choose. This was counter to what we observed in the level of single neurons where their activity was closely associated with the value of the stimuli presented on each trial. After lesions of the amygdala, stimulus-reward value and choice encoding were reduced in OFC and MFC, respectively. However, while the lesion-induced decrease in OFC LFP encoding of stimulus-reward value mirrored changes in single neuron activity, reduced choice encoding in MFC LFPs was distinct from changes in single neuron activity. Thus, LFPs and single neurons represent different information required for decision-making in OFC and MFC. At the circuit-level, amygdala input to these two areas play a distinct role in stimulus-reward encoding in OFC and choice encoding in MFC.
Computational Study of MoS2/HfO2 Defective Interfaces for Nanometer-Scale Electronics.

Atomic structures and electronic properties of MoS2/HfO2 defective interfaces are investigated extensively for future field-effect transistor device applications. To mimic the atomic layer deposition growth under ambient conditions, the impact of interfacial oxygen concentration on the MoS2/HfO2 interface electronic structure is examined. Then, the effect on band offsets (BOs) and the thermodynamic stability of those interfaces is investigated and compared with available relevant experimental data. Our results show that the BOs can be modified up to 2 eV by tuning the oxygen content through, for example, the relative partial pressure. Interfaces with hydrogen impurities as well as various structural disorders were also considered, leading to different behaviors, such as n-type doping, or introducing defect states close to the Fermi level because of the formation of hydroxyl groups. Then, our results indicate that for a well-prepared interface the electronic device performance should be better than that of...
Unfolding Dialogue: Teaching Achebe’s Fiction

Pedagogical methods rooted and implemented in a mode of domination, reflecting, indeed, colonial mentalities, contradict the affirmation of equality and dignity projected in global literatures, including the work of Achebe. His writings teach us how to teach him, guiding instructors to reach beyond authoritarian methods. His fiction and essays are the foundations for this chapter’s affirmation and illustrations of classroom dialogue. One Igbo proverb, for example, helps illuminate the power of dialogue between teacher and students as well as the effectiveness of comparison in the study of literature: “Wherever something stands, another thing stands beside it.” Achebe’s varied presentations of this proverb remind us that the world is constructed through complementary and contradictory elements. Placing literary works in a comparative relationship generates insights that often do not arise when the focus is trained on a single work alone.
Aminoacetonitrile as precursor for nitrogen rich stable and insensitive asymmetric N-methylene-C linked tetrazole-based energetic compounds

Reaction of aminoacetonitrile with cyanogen azide resulted in acetonitrile derivative of amino(tetrazole), 1, which on further reaction with sodium azide in the presence of ammonium chloride resulted in compound 2 with N-methylene-C bridged tetrazole and amino-tetrazole moieties. Reaction of 2 with 100% nitric acid resulted in N-(1-((1H-tetrazol-5-yl)methyl)-1H-tetrazol-5(4H)-ylidene)nitramide (4) having N-methylene-C bridged nitroimino-tetrazole and tetrazole moieties. Various energetic salts based on these three types of tetrazole derivatives (tetrazole, amino-tetrazole and nitroimino-tetrazole) in 2 and 4 were obtained. All the compounds were thoroughly characterized by IR, NMR [1H, 13C{1H}, 15N], elemental analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Some of them were also structurally characterized with single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. Heats of formation and detonation performances for all the energetic compounds were calculated using Gaussian 03 and EXPLO5 v6.01 programs, respectively.
Biceps Tenodesis vs. Repair for Type II SLAP Tears in Patients Under 30 years-old:

Objectives:Recent literature has demonstrated good results with biceps tenodesis (BT) following failed SLAP repair. However, it is still unclear if repair or BT provides better outcomes for treatme...
STUDIES ON THE NATURE OF RESISTANCE OF PINUS MONTICOLA DOUGL. TO INFECTION BY CRONARTIUM RIBICOLA FISCHER

ABSTRACT Discusses the problem of differentiating blister rust resistant from susceptible western white pines and reviews methods used and results obtained from studies of other host-parasite systems. Summarizes progress of studies on the nature of white pine resistance to Cronartium ribicola J. C. Fisch. ex Rabenh.
Knowledge Engineering Techniques Applied to Fault Detection Test Generation, and Maintenance

The use of knowledge engineering in diagnostic systems, is aiming primarily at exploiting procedural knowledge (about: systems operations, configuration, observations, calibration, maintenance), in connection with failure detection and test generation tasks. Next, the goal is to devise knowledge representation schemes whereby the failure events can be analyzed by merging highly diverse sources of information: analog/digital signals, logical variables and test outcomes, text from verbal reports, and inspection images. The final goal, is to ease the operator workload when interfacing with the system under test and/or the test equipment, or with reliability assessment software packages.
Scientific Communication: Practices, Theories, and Pedagogies

The edited collection Scientific Communication: Practices, Theories, and Pedagogies will be interesting for scholars, educators, and for practicing communicators in the field of scientific communic...
Stent-assisted coil embolization of anterior communicating artery aneurysms using the LVIS Jr stent.

Background and purposeThis retrospective study evaluates the safety and mid-term and long-term effectiveness of stent-assisted coil embolization of anterior communicating artery (Acomm) aneurysms t...
Hierarchical Reinforcement Learning for Pedagogical Policy Induction

In interactive e-learning environments such as Intelligent Tutoring Systems, there are pedagogical decisions to make at two main levels of granularity: whole problems and single steps. Recent years have seen growing interest in data-driven techniques for such pedagogical decision making, which can dynamically tailor students’ learning experiences. Most existing data-driven approaches, however, treat these pedagogical decisions equally, or independently, disregarding the long-term impact that tutor decisions may have across these two levels of granularity. In this paper, we propose and apply an offline, off-policy Gaussian Processes based Hierarchical Reinforcement Learning (HRL) framework to induce a hierarchical pedagogical policy that makes decisions at both problem and step levels. In an empirical classroom study with 180 students, our results show that the HRL policy is significantly more effective than a Deep Q-Network (DQN) induced policy and a random yet reasonable baseline policy.
Rapid Modeling of Electrostatic Forces and Torques Considering Dielectrics

Spacecraft can charge naturally to tens of kilovolts in geosynchronous orbit due to their interactions with the space plasma and the sun. This charging can cause forces and torques that can perturb...
Risk/benefit perceptions underlying lower African American Students' illicit stimulant use.

Abstract Researchers have documented lower illicit use of prescription stimulants (IUPS) in African American (AA) populations but have not provided empirically-based explanations for this finding. Four gender-balanced groups of AA and Caucasian male/female college students (n = 120/group, mean age of 19.23, SD = 1.30) reported any IUPS and rated their ADHD symptoms (using the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale; ASRS). AA participants endorsed IUPS less frequently compared to Caucasian participants (9.2% vs. 21.3%; χ2(1) = 13.59, p
Relapse Prevention and Recovery in the Treatment of Schizophrenia.

Nonadherence to medication is a predictor of relapse in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia, and preventing relapse is crucial to achieving the goal of recovery. Long-term treatment with antipsychotics can be effective, although long-term patient response to medication may be difficult to predict from trials that measure response, remission, and relapse rates because they are often too short. Longer trials are needed to fully understand the implications of adherence and symptom remission in patient outcome. Recovery, however, is contingent on the stabilization of the symptoms of schizophrenia and the acquisition of the skills necessary to function in society. Psychosocial interventions, such as family psychoeducation, social skills training, and cognitive-behavioral therapy, used in conjunction with pharmacotherapy are effective in helping to prevent symptom relapse and promote functional recovery in patients with schizophrenia.
An Analytical Shear Strength Model for Load-Carrying Fillet-Welded Connections Incorporating Nonlinear Effects

AbstractIn this study, an analytical formulation of a weld throat stress model is presented for defining limit state condition of fillet-welded connections incorporating plate-to-plate contact cond...
The Gods of Indian Country: Religion and the Struggle for the American West

Review of: "The Gods of Indian Country: Religion and the Struggle for the American West," by by Jennifer Graber.
Small Hydropower for Electricity and Modernity: Impacts on the Everyday Lives of Minority Communities in Yunnan’s Nu River Valley

Development of energy infrastructure has long been pivotal in shaping contemporary issues in China, and geographically uneven development is a perennial challenge for central, provincial, and local government organs. As China has moved away from reliance on coal power in favour of renewable electricity generation, hydroelectricity development has increased substantially, notably over the last decade. Though many large dams have become mired in a range of social, political, and environmental concerns, small operations have proliferated rapidly. One valuable but insufficiently understood factor in this rapid development of small dams is government rhetoric linking electrification with social change in underdeveloped rural areas, particularly among ethnic minority groups. Consequently, small hydropower-based electrification now reflects an integral component for initiatives promoting development and the modernisation of communities deemed ‘backward’. A lack of empirical field-based research, however, has left gaps in our understanding of on-the-ground outcomes, specifically how electrification has influenced the everyday lives of rural and ethnic minority households. This chapter reflects on seven years of ethnographic fieldwork conducted in the Nu River Valley of Yunnan Province, providing insights into how small, rural ethnic minority communities navigate and negotiate modernisation processes resulting from the development of small hydroelectric operations and electricity provision.
Birth Stories, Support, and Perinatal Emotional Health among Minority Adolescent Mothers: A Mixed Methods Study.

ABSTRACT Study Objective To explore minority, adolescent birth and perinatal experiences to inform and improve quality of care for this unique group. Design Mixed quantitative and qualitative study guided by Bourdieu's Social Fields framework. Setting Clinic dedicated to parenting adolescents, and a local charter school founded to serve pregnant and parenting young adults. Participants Sample size for quantitative data: n = 27; qualitative data: n = 14. Average age was 16.39 years (SD = 1.29); most self-identified as Latina/Hispanic or African American/Black/Afro-Caribbean/African. Interventions and Main Outcome Measures We used 2 validated surveys: Birth Satisfaction Scale-Revised (BSS-R), and the Postpartum Worry Scale-Revised (PWS-R). The BSS-R has 10 items, and quantifies labor and delivery experiences. The PWS-R has 20 items, and quantifies maternal, infant, and social-emotional worries. The qualitative, semistructured 30-minute interviews with a subset of survey respondents further explored perinatal mental health, labor experiences, and support networks. Results BSS-R data resulted in an average score of 25.14 (SD = 5.35), which correlated to moderate satisfaction with birth experience (range, 0-40 with 0 = most negative). The PWS-R average score of 55.79 (SD = 21.06) indicated elevated postpartum worry (range, 20-100 with 20 = most worry). Qualitative interviewees worried about relationships and newborn well-being; support networks fluctuated; distinct events, pain, and fear during labor dominated birth stories. Advice for peers included: tending to social support, stress, and self-care. Nonjudgmental communication, empathy, and emotional connection were desired attributes of their health care team. Participants had anxiety related to social networks and newborn care. Although birth experiences were moderately positive, they were also described as stressful. However, participants were resourceful, insightful, and took advantage of social supports. Conclusion Birth experiences, patterns of stress, and support networks are uniquely identified and utilized by adolescent mothers. Being heard and feeling connected to providers empowered this group of young, minority adolescents. Participant advice could inform future educational courses, programs, and hospital innovations for perinatal adolescents.
Bringing Anatomy to Life: Evaluating a Novel Ultrasound Curriculum in the Anatomy Laboratory.

As point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) invades medical specialties, more students covet earlier ultrasound training programs in medical school. Determining the optimal placement and format in the curriculum remains a challenge. This study uses student perceptions and confidence in interpreting and acquiring images to evaluate the effectiveness of an ultrasound curriculum, and assesses their performance on ultrasound content. A unique ultrasound curriculum was incorporated into first year clinical anatomy at Tufts University School of Medicine (TUSM). Students completed surveys evaluating changes in ultrasound confidence and perceptions. Mean ratings on pre- and post- surveys were compared using Mann-Whitney U tests. Performance on ultrasound examination questions were evaluated. Two independent evaluators coded narrative responses and NVivo software was used to identify common themes. Two hundred eleven students completed the ultrasound curriculum. Students reported higher post-curriculum mean confidence ratings on ultrasound comprehension, operation, image acquisition, artifact recognition, and normal image interpretation (P < 0.0001). Ultrasound reinforced anatomy concepts and clinical correlates (9.56, ± 0.97 SD; 9.60, ± 1.05). Students disagreed with items stating learning ultrasound is too difficult (1.2, ± 2.2) and that it interferes with learning anatomy (0.68, ± 1.7). Students scored above passing on practical ultrasound knowledge questions, supporting survey data and the relation to learning spatial relationships. Qualitative analysis identified seven major themes and additional subthemes. Limited integration of ultrasound breaks barriers in students' perceptions and confidence in performing POCUS. The TUSM ultrasound curriculum is a natural marriage of anatomy and POCUS applications, serving as a template for medical schools.
Abusive Mouths in Classical Athens: Gluttonous speechifying in Euripides' Cyclops

In the Odyssey , the Cyclops consumes his meat raw. One of the more gruesome moments in book 9 occurs when the monster snatches up two of Odysseus' men, dashes their heads so that their brains run on the ground (ἐκ δ᾿ ἐγκέΦαλος χαμάδις ῥέe, 9.290), and gobbles them up like a mountain lion, bones and all (ἔγκατα τe σάρκας τe καὶ ὀστέα μυeλόeντα, 9.293). Polyphemus is not, however, ignorant of wine (9.357–58), in sharp contrast to his rudimentary culinary techniques; as I discuss further below, in Euripides' play this ignorance coexists rather oddly with his fancy cookery. Nor does the Homeric poet depict the Cyclops as especially verbally adept, although he does show some wit (e.g., 9.369–70). Euripides' sophistic gourmet is thus something of innovation, at least in relation to the Homeric figure. Comic fragments do indicate that poets were elaborating on some similar themes; and it is there that we find a developing model for the sophist-chef in Euripides' play. Commentators have argued over the extent to which the persona of the monster is intended to represent a particular brand of sophistic argumentation, some finding him not very clever at all. No one, however, has considered the relationship between how he eats and how he talks, in contradistinction to Odysseus and Silenus, the other main characters in the drama. Nor have they recognized sufficiently the significance of his resemblance to the comic mageiros , who in turn becomes a sophistic type in fourth-century comedy.
Frequency analysis and sheared filtering for multidimensional effects in rendering

Many of the most expensive effects in rendering are those that require integrating complex multidimensional signals. Computation for a single pixel can require hundreds of samples, and standard methods do not provide a mathematically sound way to share samples between pixels with overlapping integrands. This thesis first analyzes the underlying signals for motion blur and occlusion and identifies the sparse structure of these signals in the Fourier domain. We then leverage this information to design a sheared filter that is customized to each pixel's frequency content. We finally present practical algorithms that share samples between pixels, reduce sampling requirements by an order of magnitude, and provide significant speedups for many of the most expensive computations in computer graphics.
Test compaction by test cube merging for four-way bridging faults

Test compaction that accommodates the constraints of test data compression can be achieved by generating test cubes for target faults, and then merging the test cubes. This paper describes an improved test cube merging procedure for four-way bridging faults. The procedure is motivated by the prevalence of bridging defects and the fact that test sets for bridging faults are larger than test sets for single stuck-at faults. A four-way bridging fault g i /a i /h i models the case where a value a i of a line h i dominates the value of a line g i . A basic test cube merging procedure considers a set of test cubes C det that detects target faults. The paper extends the set of test cubes to include, in addition to C det , a set of test cubes C dom that assign values to dominating lines. Test cubes from C dom have significantly fewer specified values than test cubes from C det . When test cubes from C dom are merged with test cubes from C det , each resulting test cube detects more faults, and fewer test cubes are needed for detecting the same set of target faults.
Stimulus encoding in Alzheimer's disease: A multichannel view*

Publisher Summary The chapter discusses the studies that are stimulated by the observation that Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients experience a marked decline in contrast sensitivity. The decline is attributed to deficiencies of signal processing, especially within the M-cell channels. It is speculated that such an elementary deficit may be linked to the poor performance of the patients on tasks that involve the visual presentation of stimuli. To evaluate the hypothesis, several pattern identification experiments are conducted that involve the manipulation of stimulus contrast. The empirical observations have demonstrated that the performance of AD patients can be improved by presenting stimuli under very high contrast conditions. Healthy adults presented with stimuli degraded to levels that simulate the visual condition of the AD patient exhibit marked performance decrements. Such findings validate the conclusion that the contrast sensitivity deficit associated with AD contributes significantly to the patients' difficulty in interacting with and learning from their visual world.
Transferred allogenic S1P3 deficient dendritic cells (DCs) interact with recipient splenocytes to prevent kidney ischemic-reperfusion injury (IRI) (IRC5P.459)

The plasticity of DCs permits phenotypic modulation ex-vivo by gene expression or pharmacological agents. Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), a sphingolipid is the natural ligand for S1Pr1-5s. We tested the ability of S1P3-/-(3KO) DC to suppress kidney IRI. BMDCs from B6 WT (B6DC) or 3KOB6DC were adoptively transferred into (->) Balb/c 1d/7d prior to IRI. Naive Balb (noDC) had higher plasma creatinine (PCr; mg/dl) compared to sham (1.2±0.17;0.2±0.004,p≤0.01). 3KOB6DCs->Balb/c were protected from IRI (PCr:0.3±0.07,p≤0.01). 3KOB6DCs->Balb/c had higher Treg and less CD4 cells compared to naive or B6DC mice in spleen. The protection afforded by 3KOB6DCs->Balb/c mice required the recipient mouse to have a spleen; Tregs, CD11c+ DC and T/B cells; Splnx Balb, use of Rag1-/- mice or depletion of recipient Tregs (PC61) or DCs (CD11c-DTR) rendered adoptively transferred 3KODCs ineffective. PKH-26 labeled DCs from WT or 3KO->Balb/c were located in the marginal zone (MZ) of recipient spleen with close proximity to Tregs. WT and 3KO mice injected with latex beads to demonstrate clearance efficiency showed disruption of MZ in 3KO. Adoptive transfer of 3KOB6DCs prior to IRI attenuates injury through interaction with splenocytes, recipient DCs resulting in induction of Tregs through possible disruption of MZ macs. We conclude that genetically induced deficiency or pharmacological blockade of allogenic S1P3DCs could serve as a useful therapeutic approach to IRI or DGF associated with Transplant.
Getting Past Proof of Concept For New Treatments.

Compilation of clinical treatment guidelines often begins with the identification of large randomized controlled trials, followed by simple comparisons of the number of trials demonstrating efficacy for a given intervention. Treatments with multiple positive trials may be considered first-line; those with one such trial or smaller trials, second-line; and those without randomized data but some empirical support, third-line. In a world where all drugs get to market through a traditional Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval process culminating in large phase III trials, this approach may work reasonably well in facilitating evidence-based decision making. Such a world, however, is not the current state of psychiatry: apart from new drugs in development by the pharmaceutical industry, establishing efficacy for interventions in psychiatry often proceeds by fits and starts, with small open trials or underpowered randomized studies. The net effect of this imbalance can be an overemphasis on newly approved drugs and a tendency to overlookolderinterventionsormorecomplementaryorintegrative strategies. In this issue, Brown and colleagues (1) report a randomized placebo-controlled trial of citicoline for cocaine abuse in bipolar disorder. Citicoline is a dietary supplement often found in energy drinks, a precursor for phosphatidylcholine, a component of cell membranes. The study itself represents a massive effort for a single-study site: many academic research clinics would be hard-pressed to recruit five subjects with bipolar disorder and cocaine abuse, let alone 130. The drug-placebo differences the investigators observed, while encouraging intheearlyweeks, areultimatelydisappointing, with a number needed to treat of 44 after 12 weeks. (On the
CLUTCH SIZE AND OFFSPRING SIZE IN THE WOLF SPIDER PIRATA SEDENTARIUS (ARANEAE, LYCOSIDAE)

Wolf spiders in the genus Pirata are common, often locally abundant, inhabitants of many moist or mesic habitats. However, relatively little is known about the ecology or life history of these spiders. Here we present data collected during 2000-2001 on female size, offspring size and clutch size for two populations (Ball Gulf, Hardscrabble Creek) of Pirata sedentarius from western New York. In both populations, mean offspring size was less variable than was female size, clutch size or total clutch mass. At Ball Gulf, 67% of females produced two egg sacs and 48% produced three sacs. Clutch size declined across the egg sac sequence for all females. Female size, measured as cephalothorax length, was uncorrelated with mean offspring size in all cases. However, larger females produced larger and heavier clutches during 2001 for both populations; female size was uncorrelated with these variables during 2000 at Hardscrabble Creek. Larger clutches from both populations contained more offspring, and larger clutches contained smaller offspring at Hardscrabble Creek in 2001. We found a significant offspring size-number trade-off at Ball Gulf, while at Hardscrabble Creek this trade-off was marginally significant in 2001 and non-significant in 2000.
Exact solutions and ignition parameters in the Arrhenius conduction theory of gaseous thermal explosion

Exact solutions, bifurcation diagrams, and critical ignition parameters are obtained for the true Arrhenius equation for conductive gaseous thermal explosion.
Validating a tourism development theory with structural equation modeling

Abstract This study attempts to examine the structural effects of four tourism-impact factors on total impact and on local residents’ support for tourism development. To achieve the above goal, five research hypotheses are proposed. Three hundred and four questionnaires from a mail survey of randomly selected residents from the Norfolk/Virginia Beach/Newport News area were analyzed. A confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling procedure were performed, respectively, by utilizing the LISREL procedure. Four exogenous constructs dealing with economic, social, cultural, and the environmental impacts and two endogenous constructs, including the variable of total impacts and support for tourism development were analyzed with structural equation modeling procedures. In the resulting structural equation model, five hypotheses are supported. The implications for tourism practitioners and academicians are discussed.
Sex differences in the effects of dexamethasone phosphate on behavior in rats

The effect of dexamethasone phosphate (DEX) administered in rats' drinking water on running activity and open field behavior was investigated. In Experiment 1 males were given DEX continuously from either five days or one day prior to and throughout testing. Only 5 day treatment significantly increased running wheel activity. DEX had no significant effect on males' 4 day open field activity, but significantly reduced open field and home cage defecation. In Experiment 2 females given DEX defecated significantly more in the open field than controls. This effect on females does not appear to be due to a general metabolic change, since DEX females, like males, defecated significantly less than controls in the home cage. Females' open field activity was not significantly affected. Weight loss and plasma corticosterone analysis confirmed the effectiveness of the dosage used. There appears to be a sex difference in the effects of DEX on open field defecation, possibly due to interaction with gonadal hormones.
Structure of the lac operon galactoside acetyltransferase.

Abstract The galactoside acetyltransferase (thiogalactoside transacetylase) of Escherichia coli (GAT, LacA, EC 2.3.1.18) is a gene product of the classical lac operon. GAT may assist cellular detoxification by acetylating nonmetabolizable pyranosides, thereby preventing their reentry into the cell. The structure of GAT has been solved in binary complexes with acetyl-CoA or CoA and in ternary complexes with CoA and the nonphysiological acceptor substrates isopropyl β-D-thiogalactoside (IPTG) or p -nitrophenyl β-D-galactopyranoside (PNPβGal). A hydrophobic cleft that binds the thioisopropyl and p -nitrophenyl aglycones of IPTG and PNPβGal may discriminate against substrates with hydrophilic substituents at this position, such as lactose, or inducers of the lac operon. An extended loop projecting from the left-handed parallel β helix domain contributes His115, which is in position to facilitate attack of the C6-hydroxyl group of the substrate on the thioester.
Audiovisual spoken word training can promote or impede auditory-only perceptual learning: prelingually deafened adults with late-acquired cochlear implants versus normal hearing adults

Training with audiovisual (AV) speech has been shown to promote auditory perceptual learning of vocoded acoustic speech by adults with normal hearing. In Experiment 1, we investigated whether AV speech promotes auditory-only (AO) perceptual learning in prelingually deafened adults with late-acquired cochlear implants. Participants were assigned to learn associations between spoken disyllabic C(=consonant)V(=vowel)CVC non-sense words and non-sense pictures (fribbles), under AV and then AO (AV-AO; or counter-balanced AO then AV, AO-AV, during Periods 1 then 2) training conditions. After training on each list of paired-associates (PA), testing was carried out AO. Across all training, AO PA test scores improved (7.2 percentage points) as did identification of consonants in new untrained CVCVC stimuli (3.5 percentage points). However, there was evidence that AV training impeded immediate AO perceptual learning: During Period-1, training scores across AV and AO conditions were not different, but AO test scores were dramatically lower in the AV-trained participants. During Period-2 AO training, the AV-AO participants obtained significantly higher AO test scores, demonstrating their ability to learn the auditory speech. Across both orders of training, whenever training was AV, AO test scores were significantly lower than training scores. Experiment 2 repeated the procedures with vocoded speech and 43 normal-hearing adults. Following AV training, their AO test scores were as high as or higher than following AO training. Also, their CVCVC identification scores patterned differently than those of the cochlear implant users. In Experiment 1, initial consonants were most accurate, and in Experiment 2, medial consonants were most accurate. We suggest that our results are consistent with a multisensory reverse hierarchy theory, which predicts that, whenever possible, perceivers carry out perceptual tasks immediately based on the experience and biases they bring to the task. We point out that while AV training could be an impediment to immediate unisensory perceptual learning in cochlear implant patients, it was also associated with higher scores during training.
Ecosystem structure before fishing

Abstract Data from early fisheries in the Northwest Atlantic and elsewhere suggest that catch rates of demersal species were very high despite primitive fishing methods. Circumstantial evidence suggests that earlier stocks may have been an order of magnitude greater than stocks in the last half-century. What was the structure of the ecosystem that supported these stocks? Relative to current ecosystem structure, alternative patterns involve very slow growth rates of the demersal species, very small pelagic stocks, negligible invertebrate predators, and efficient transfer of primary production to fish (no “detritus”). Each of these patterns suggests distinctive dynamics in pristine ecosystems, with different implications for the effects of fishing.
EGF-stimulation activates the nuclear localization signal of SHP-1

Protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1 plays a critical role in the regulation of a variety of intracellular signaling pathways. SHP-1 is predominantly expressed in the cells of hematopoietic origin, and is recognized as a negative regulator of lymphocyte development and activation. SHP-1 consists of two Src homology 2 (SH2) domains and one protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) domain followed by a highly basic C-terminal tail containing tyrosyl phosphorylation sites. It is unclear how the C-terminal tail regulates SHP-1 function. We report the examination of the subcellular localization of a variety of truncated or mutated SHP-1 proteins fused with enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) protein at either the N-terminal or the C-terminal end in different cell lines. Our data demonstrate that a nuclear localization signal (NLS) is located in the C-terminal tail of SHP-1 and the signal is primarily defined by three amino-acid residues (KRK) at the C-terminus. This signal is generally blocked in the native protein and can be exposed by fusing EGFP at the appropriate position or by domain truncation. We have also revealed that this NLS of SHP-1 is triggered by epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulation and mediates translocation of SHP-1 from the cytosol to the nucleus in COS7 cell lines. These results not only demonstrate the importance of the C-terminal tail of SHP-1 in the regulation of nuclear localization, but also provide insights into its role in SHP-1-involved signal transduction pathways.
Hollenhorst plaques: Retinal manifestations and the role of carotid endarterectomy

Abstract The ocular examinations and hospital records of 64 patients with Hollenhorst plaques were retrospectively reviewed to document any associated visual defects and to determine if carotid endarterectomy prevented the occurrence of new plaques or symptoms. One hundred nine Hollenhorst plaques were seen in 75 eyes; 18 had multiple plaques simultaneously. Visual field defects were noted in 14 eyes, four of which corresponded to the location of Hollenhorst plaques. Twenty-eight carotid endarterectomies were performed ipsilateral to a Hollenhorst plaque: 24 patients had no symptoms; four patients developed new ipsilateral asymptomatic Hollenhorst plaques at 1 to 50 months after operation. Two late strokes occurred, one of which was ipsilateral to a new Hollenhorst plaque, during a mean follow-up of 50 months (range 8 to 102 months). Thirty-seven eyes with asymptomatic Hollenhorst plaques did not undergo ipsilateral operation. Two eyes developed new Hollenhorst plaques during a mean follow-up of 23 months (range 1 to 132 months). Eight eyes in patients with no symptoms had multiple Hollenhorst plaques, one of which was associated with a subsequent stroke. Of the 29 eyes with a single Hollenhorst plaque, one subsequently experienced an ipsilateral stroke, and another had a transient ischemic attack (1 and 3 years later, respectively). Visual field defects infrequently corresponded to locations of Hollenhorst plaques. The cerebral hemisphere ipsilateral to asymptomatic plaques had a slightly increased risk of subsequent transient ischemic attack or stroke compared to the contralateral side without Hollenhorst plaques. The number of simultaneous Hollenhorst plaques in the retinal circulation did not predict clinical outcome. Carotid endarterectomy in this selected group of patients with asymptomatic Hollenhorst plaques did not prevent the development of new Hollenhorst plaques or late cerebrovascular symptoms. (J VASC SURG 1990;11:635-41.)
Parathyroid Hormone-Related Protein Specifies the Mammary Mesenchyme and Regulates Embryonic Mammary Development

Parathyroid Hormone related Protein (PTHrP) is a critical regulator of mammary gland morphogenesis in the mouse embryo. Loss of PTHrP, or its receptor, PTHR1, results in arrested mammary buds at day 15 of embryonic development (E15). In contrast, overexpression of PTHrP converts the ventral epidermis into hairless nipple skin. PTHrP signaling appears to be critical for mammary mesenchyme specification, which in turn maintains mammary epithelial identity, directs bud outgrowth, disrupts the male mammary rudiment and specifies the formation of the nipple. In the embryonic mammary bud, PTHrP exerts its effects on morphogenesis, in part, through epithelial-stromal crosstalk mediated by Wnt and BMP signaling. Recently, PTHLH has been identified as a strong candidate for a novel breast cancer susceptibility locus, although PTHrP’s role in breast cancer has not been clearly defined. The effects of PTHrP on the growth of the embryonic mammary rudiment and its invasion into the dermis may, in turn, have connections to the role of PTHrP in breast cancer.
Between Trust and Control: Developing Confidence in Partner Cooperation in Alliances

Strategic alliances have been recognized as arenas with potential for opportunistic behavior by partners. Hence, a firm needs to have an adequate level of confidence in its partner's cooperative behavior. In this article we examine the notion of confidence in partner cooperation in alliances and suggest that it comes from two distinct sources: trust and control. We make the argument that trust and control are parallel concepts and that their relationship is of a supplementary character in generating confidence. In addition, we suggest that control mechanisms have an impact on trust level and that the trust level moderates the effect of control mechanisms in determining the control level. Finally, we discuss various ways to build trust within strategic alliances and important alliance control mechanisms.
The Effect of Phone Interface and Dialing Method on Simulated Driving Performance and User Preference

Previous research on the use of cell phones while driving has attempted to determine if voice-activated dialing differs from manual dialing in terms of driving performance. However, these studies have generally not examined other calling methods (e.g. calling stored nametags) and have not examined the differences between different phone interfaces. The present study examined driver performance and user preference using three different phones with different manual and voice interface applications in a driving simulator. Twelve drivers participated in one two-hour session. Their task was to follow a lead vehicle, maintaining a safe headway and basic control of the vehicle while performing different dialing tasks. Results showed that overall voice dialing resulted in longer task times and higher error rates than manual dialing, but calling a stored nametag by voice resulted in similar task times and error rates as manually calling a stored nametag or manual digit dialing. Findings suggest that manual speed d...
The tensile behaviour and toughness of poly(vinylidene chloride)/poly(butyl methacrylate) composites prepared by the concentrated emulsion approach

Abstract Procedures for the preparation of poly(vinylidene chloride)/poly(butyl methacrylate) (PVDC/PBMA) composites based on concentrated emulsions are described. In one of them, two partially polymerized paste-like concentrated emulsions in water of two different systems were blended and subjected to complete polymerization. One of the systems was butyl methacrylate monomer (BMA), while the other was either vinylidene chloride monomer (VDC) or a dilute solution of PBMA in VDC. In the other procedure, a partially polymerized concentrated emulsion of VDC in water was blended with BMA monomer, and the paste-like system obtained was further polymerized. The composites thus obtained contained PVDC, PBMA and also some copolymer. The glass transition temperatures and the melting points measured by differential scanning calorimetry allowed qualitative identification of the presence of the above compounds. VDC-co-BMA copolymers of various compositions were also prepared via the concentrated emulsion method for comparison purposes. The effects of the preparation procedure, of the molar ratio of the two monomers and of the concentration of surfactant in the continuous water phase on the tensile properties were investigated. The toughness of the composites is much better than that of the copolymers.
Monoamine oxidase gene transcription in human cell lines: Treatment with psychoactive drugs and ethanol

In the present study transcriptional activities has been measured with different fragments of the 5′-flanking sequence of the human monoamine oxidase (MAO) genes linked to human growth hormone which was used as a reporter gene. SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells and 1242 MG glioma cells were compared under basal conditions as well as after treatments with different drugs. Under basal conditions, the relative reporter activities of the different promoter fragments were similar for both cell lines. No changes in promoter activities, were observed when cells were treated with L-deprenyl, lithium chloride or raclopride. In contrast, increases (2–3-fold) in both reporter gene expression and enzyme activity were observed after ethanol treatment of cells transfected with MAO-B fragments. Gel retardation analysis showed that ethanol caused changes in transcription factor binding to the MAO-B core promoter in both the SH-SY5Y and 1242 MG cell lines in a cell-type specific fashion.
Retinoid-binding proteins: Mediators of retinoid action

Active vitamin A metabolites, known as retinoids, are essential for multiple physiological processes, ranging from vision to embryonic development. These small hydrophobic compounds associate in vivo with soluble proteins that are present in a variety of cells and in particular extracellular compartments, and which bind different types of retinoids with high selectivity and affinity. Traditionally, retinoid-binding proteins were viewed as transport proteins that act by solubilizing and protecting their labile ligands in aqueous spaces. It is becoming increasingly clear, however, that, in addition to this general role, retinoid-binding proteins have diverse and specific functions in regulating the disposition, metabolism and activities of retinoids. Some retinoid-binding proteins appear to act by sequestering their ligands, thereby generating concentration gradients that allow cells to take up retinoids from extracellular pools and metabolic steps to proceed in energetically unfavourable directions. Other retinoid-binding proteins regulate the metabolic fates of their ligands by protecting them from some enzymes while allowing metabolism by others. In these cases, delivery of a bound retinoid from the binding protein to the 'correct' enzyme is likely to be mediated by direct and specific interactions between the two proteins. One retinoid-binding protein was reported to enhance the ability of its ligand to regulate gene transcription by directly delivering this retinoid to the transcription factor that is activated by it. 'Channelling' of retinoids between their corresponding binding protein and a particular protein target thus seems to be a general theme through which some retinoid-binding proteins exert their effects.
The effects of a preschool problem solving program on interpersonal behavior

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an interpersonal problem solving skills program for preschool children. Twenty-three children were given the interpersonal problem solving program over a ten week period, while 23 children were involved in a contact control group. A behavioral assessment of interpersonal problem solving ability and a subjective assessment of perception of self were obtained prior to training and immediately following training. Results indicated that from pretest to posttest the problem solving trained children, relative to the contact control group children, demonstrated a significant increase in interpersonal problem solving ability and positive perceptions of self. Discussion focused on the implications of the durability of the skills learned, generalizability of skill acquisition, and needed future research.