cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Arene Cyanation via Cation-Radical Accelerated-Nucleophilic Aromatic Substitution.

Herein we describe a cation radical-accelerated-nucleophilic aromatic substitution (CRA-SNAr) of alkoxy arenes utilizing a highly oxidizing acridinium photoredox catalyst and acetone cyanohydrin, a...
Defining Marriage and Families: Data and Measurement

This chapter provides an overview of survey and administrative data available in the U.S. to study families. Easy access to large datasets, continually updated, together with computerized statistical analysis software, provide a wealth of data readily available for analysis in conducting family research. Those studying the family employ information that involves multiple aspects of family life that are constantly changing. Included are fertility (and infertility); migration (emigration and immigration); and age-related topics. Also of interest are data pertinent to mental, physical, and developmental health, child care, education, and the economic impact of children. Aging issues include: longevity, caretaking, caregiving, and long-term care. Household information includes: race and ethnicity; economic factors, occupations, and occupational niches; housing, types of dwellings, and cohabitation; marital unions and dissolutions; sexual orientation and family composition. This chapter includes the background of the use of secondary data and a limited summary of thirty sources of data used in family research.
Analysis on adsorption of cell free BaiBaiPo (DTaP) vaccination monitoring and side reaction in Qingyuan city in 2012

Objective To understand the side reaction situation of DTaP,and provide basis for the safety of the vaccine inoculation.Methods According to The Vaccination Side Reaction Information Management System in 2012,we analyzed the cases of DTaP side reaction in the whole city.Results The rate of occurrence of DTaP side reaction in the whole city was about 0.2406‰ (24 people in 100 thousand people),the general reaction was about 0.2184 ‰ (21 people in 100 thousand people) ; the abnormal reaction was about 0.0222 ‰ (two people in 100 thousand people); the strong reaction rate in both the general reaction of severe fever and local reaction were lower,of which was 0.0333 ‰ and 0.0185 ‰ respectively.Among the areas,minority nationality areas were the highest (3.4733‰),the old age group was the highest in all age groups (0.4801‰).Conclusion Although the rate of occurrence of DTaP side reaction is lower and has good safety,it's still very necessary to take some feasible measures to guard against and make utmost effort to reduce its incidence before vaccinating,during vaccinating and after vaccinating. Key words: DTaP; Vaccination side effects; Monitoring
The Role of Opioids and Their Receptors in Urological Malignancy: A Review.

Purpose:We reviewed the literature surrounding the role of opioids and their receptors in urological malignancy. Recent studies have suggested clinically significant effects of agonism or antagonis...
An Exploratory Review of the Associations between Adverse Experiences and Autism

Recently published research has revealed that people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are more likely to have multiple adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) than neurotypical peers. Little is kno...
First-in-Human Assessment of 11C-LSN3172176, an M1 Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptor PET Radiotracer.

This was a first-in-human study of the PET radiotracer 11C-LSN3172176 for the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor subtype M1. The objectives of the study were to determine the appropriate kinetic model to quantify binding of the tracer to M1 receptors, and the reliability of the chosen quantification method. Methods: Six healthy subjects completed the test–retest protocol, and 5 healthy subjects completed the baseline-scopolamine blocking protocol. Multiple modeling methods were applied to calculate total distribution volume (VT) and nondisplaceable binding potential (BPND) in various brain regions. The reference region was selected from the blocking study. The occupancy plot was applied to compute receptor occupancy by scopolamine and nondisplaceable distribution volume. Results: Tracer uptake was highest in the striatum, followed by neocortical regions and white matter, and lowest in the cerebellum. Regional time–activity curves were fitted well by all models. The 2-tissue-compartment (2TC) model fits were good, but the 2TC parameters often could not be reliably estimated. Because VT correlated well between the 2TC and 1-tissue-compartment (1TC) models after exclusion of unreliable estimates, the 1TC model was chosen as the most appropriate. The cerebellum showed the lowest VT, consistent with preclinical studies showing little to no specific binding in the region. Further, cerebellar VT did not change between baseline and blocking scans, indicating that the cerebellum is a suitable reference region. The simplified reference tissue model (SRTM) slightly underestimated 1TC BPND, and the simplified reference tissue model 2 (SRTM2) improved BPND estimation. An 80-min scan was sufficient to quantify VT and BPND. The test–retest study showed excellent absolute test–retest variability for 1TC VT (≤5%) and BPND (≤10%). In the baseline and blocking studies, occupancy values were lower in the striatum than in nonstriatal regions, as may be attributed to differences in regional acetylcholine concentrations. Conclusion: The 1TC and SRTM2 models are appropriate for quantitative analysis of 11C-LSN3172176 imaging data. 11C-LSN3172176 displayed excellent test–retest reproducibility and is a highly promising ligand to quantify M1 receptors in the human brain.
Civic Engagement: Family Perspectives on Health Policy and Voting Discussions Initiated by Primary Care Pediatricians

Background: In an election year with considerable consequences for child health policy, mobilizing patients and families as advocates for children is vital. Little is known, however, about whether and how to engage caregivers around health policy issues affecting families and children. Our cross-sectional, mixed-methods study aimed to assess caregiver interest, acceptance, and perspectives on health policy discussions within the pediatric primary care context. Methods: Twenty-six semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with a consecutive sample of caregivers in three, urban pediatric primary care clinics. …
Norms of protection in IR: humanitarian wars and the ironic creation of pre-Westphalian states

Humanitarian interventions and state sovereignty are hard to reconcile and have long been regarded as mutually exclusive. Disciplinary approaches dedicated to their relation focus on a changing mea...
Johnson, writing, and memory

List of abbreviations, Introduction: Johnson and authority 1. Johnson and memory 2. Johnson and nature 3. Law, narrative, and memory 4. Narrative, history, and memory in the Lives of the Poets 5. Translation and memory in the Lives of the Poets 6. Historiographical implications.
Ensuring Effective Second Language Learning via CALL

Bhatia and Ritchie (2009), in their book chapter, present a very promising outlook of computer-assisted language learning (CALL) and computer-assisted second language acquisition research (CASLAR). As CALL becomes an unstoppable trend in the field of education, there exist certain issues that remain to be addressed in order to maximize its potential and avoid rendering the application mere peripheral or gimmicky.
CHAPTER 63 – Estimation of Binding Potential for the 5HT2 Receptor Ligand [18F]Setoperone by a Noninvasive Reference Region Graphical Method

[18F]Setoperone is an important positron emission tomography ligand for measuring concentrations and occupancies of neocortical 5HT2 receptors. In this study, estimates of binding potential (BP, B'max/KD, k3/k4) calculated by nonlinear least-squares fitting (LSF) were compared with results of reference region graphical analysis (RRG). Results of 16 human studies were analyzed by both methods. With the LSF method, cerebellar time–activity curves (TAC’s) were fitted to a three-compartment model to derive K1 (transport from plasma to brain), k2 (transport rate from brain to plasma), k5 (association rate for nonspecific binding), and k6 (dissociation rate for nonspecific binding). K1/k2, k5, and k6 were fixed at cerebellar estimates, and individual values for k3 and k4 were derived by fitting cortical TACs to a four-compartment model. Metabolite-corrected arterial input functions were used in all calculations, and the vascular fraction of brain tissue (Vb) was fixed at 4.5%. In the RRG method, nonspecific binding was assumed to be negligible in the cerebellum and neocortex, and BP was estimated from the cortical/cerebellar distribution volume ratio (DVR). This method does not require blood sampling and uses cerebellar TACs as input functions to calculate BP from cortical TACs. In all cases, BP determined by the RRG method was lower than the results of LSF. Despite this bias, BP determined by the two methods was highly correlated (r2 = 0.95). Compared with LSF, the RRG method has several advantages, including (1) arterial blood sampling and metabolite corrections are not required and (2) the method is readily adaptable to pixel-by-pixel calculations of BP images that can be used for evaluating regional changes in 5HT2 receptor density in clinical applications.
The Presympathetic Cells of the Rostral Ventrolateral Medulla (RVLM): Anatomy, Physiology and Role in the Control of Circulation

The ventrolateral aspect of the medulla oblongata (RVLM) contains presympathetic (PS) neurons that are highly active and receive strong inhibitory inputs from baroreceptors. These bulbospinal and barosensitive (BSBS) neurons are glutamatergic and express several other phenotypes including adrenergic (C1 cells). BSBS neurons selectively target sympathetic preganglionic neurons (SPGNs) that control the heart, kidney, adrenal medulla and the resistance vessels and are therefore essential for blood pressure maintenance and stabilization. In tissue slices, RVLM PS neurons display intrinsic beating properties that can be upregulated by slow transmitters such as angiotensin IL Glutamate, GABA and glycine are the best known mediators of fast synaptic transmission in these cells. Both glutamatergic and GABAergic inputs to BSBS neurons are regulated presynaptically by catecholamines, opioids and, probably, serotonin. The on-going activity of RVLM BSBS neurons in vivo is probably due to inotropic synaptic inputs and slow transmitters that upregulate the intrinsic beating properties of the cells. In vivo, RVLM BSBS neurons are subject to an intense GABAergic inhibitory tone indicating that dishinhibition could be crucial for the regulation of sympathetic tone. Mono or oligosynaptic inputs to BSBS neurons originate from numerous regions of the spinal cord, medulla oblongata, pons, midbrain and hypothalamus. The relative weight of these various inputs depends on the behavior or physiological status of the animal. Under anesthesia some of these brain regions are active causing excitation or disinhibition of RVLM BSBS neurons. Increased activity of RVLM BSBS neurons is suspected to contribute to the increased sympathetic tone associated with hypertension and, possibly, heart failure.
Unemployment, Consumer Confidence, Business Confidence, Inflation and Monetary Policy

This study examines how unemployment rate dynamically responds to shocks to consumer confidence, business confidence, inflation and monetary policy. Based on the vector autoregressive (VAR) analysis of the monthly data from 1978:M2 to 2012:M5, the results show that unemployment negatively responds to shocks to consumer confidence and business confidence. While consumer confidence is not responsive to FED interest rate shock, business confidence negatively responds to FED fund interest rate shock. The results also show consumer confidence and business confidence Granger-cause unemployment, and inflation Granger-causes consumer confidence. However, inflation and Fed Fund interest rate do not Granger-cause unemployment movement. For the 12-month horizon, the unemployment forecast error is 71% due to its own shock, 11% due to consumer confidence shock, 13% due to business confidence shock, 1.10% due to inflation shock, and 3% due to Fed Fund interest rate shock.
In Brief: Southern Africa moisture map

The European Space Agency (ESA) announced on 16 July 2007 the availability of new soil moisture maps for southern Africa that could lead to better forecasting of weather and extreme events such as floods and droughts. The maps, based on data from ESA's Envisat satellite, have a spatial resolution of one kilometer. Soil moisture plays an important role in the global water cycle: with too little moisture, rain-fed crops and vegetation can wilt; too much moisture increases the risk of flooding, flash floods, and erosion. “This [mapping] brings hydrology into the 21st century and makes life better for people,” said Geoff Pegram of the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Pegram served as the African technical partner and liaison to African user groups for the ESAbacked SHARE (Soil Moisture for Hydrometeorological Applications in the Southern African Development Community Region) project, which is demonstrating that spaceborne Synthetic Aperture Radar instruments can deliver soil moisture data at high spatial and temporal resolution. For more information, visit the Web site: http://www.ukzn.ac.za/sahg/share/.
Of Conspiracy Theories

As the end of the Millennium approaches, conspiracy theories are increasing in number and popularity. In this short essay, I offer an analysis of conspiracy theories inspired by Hume's discussion of miracles. My first conclusion is that whereas Hume can argue that miracles are, by definition, explanations we are not warranted in believing, there is nothing analytic that will allow us to distinguish good from bad conspiracy theories. There is no a priori method for distinguishing warranted conspiracy theories (say, those explaining Watergate) from those which are unwarranted (say, theories about extraterrestrials abducting humans). Nonetheless, there is a cluster of characteristics often shared by unwarranted conspiracy theories. An analysis of the alleged explanatory virtues of unwarranted conspiracies suggests some reasons for their current popularity, while at the same time providing grounds for their rejection. Finally, I discuss how conspiracy theories embody an anachronistic world-view that places the contemporary zeitgeist in a clearer light.
The Role of Sampling in the Phases of a Biological Event: Fact and Fiction in an Airport Scenario

This chapter examines the different sampling goals and strategies associated with each phase to provide an overall perspective and framework for understanding the role of environmental sampling in a biological event. Specific sampling methods are mentioned; however, the chapter is not intended to provide a comprehensive review of either sampling or analysis methods. A fictional airport scenario is provided in order to better convey the sampling issues and to place them in a realistic context. The airport scenario which follows is based on the discovery of physical evidence. The initial assessment phase may involve sequential sampling from the different groups involved in the response and investigation. The chapter provides a discussion that identifies some of the these groups and clarifies their roles. The location is classified as a crime scene, and access is restricted to law enforcement personnel in order to ensure that forensic evidence can be collected without compromise. As noted at the beginning of this chapter, incidents may be triggered not by the discovery of physical evidence but by reports of symptoms or disease. While the chapter focuses on sampling strategy, it is also important to remember that limitations in current sampling methods should be taken into consideration. Several positive clearance samples were obtained in one restricted baggage conveyor, requiring a round of recleaning and retesting per the provisions of the remedial action plan (RAP).
Makers: The New Industrial Revolution by Chris Anderson

Makers: The New Industrial Revolution provides a timely and insightful overview of “micromanufacturing,” a potentially disruptive innovation that could have a significant impact on business, the ec...
Assessing the language of International Civil Aviation: issues of validity and impact

This work will outline the challenges for: 1) test validity posed by the ICAO Scale and Holistic Descriptors and for 2) test impact due to conflicting institutional pressures such as airline safety, personnel recruitment and retention, and finances and the relationship between existing training programs and the as yet non-existent tests.
Consequences of Pleural Effusions for Respiratory Mechanics in Ventilated Patients

Pleural effusion can be part of the primary condition that precipitates the admission of a patient to an intensive care unit (ICU), or it may develop during the course of an ICU stay [1]. In the former case, such as pneumonia or thoracic trauma, the decision to drain the fluid collection is dictated by the infectious or hemorrhagic nature of the liquid. After admission, the cause usually relates to combinations of factors leading to lung edema, such as generous fluid administration, myocardial depression, increased capillary permeability, and hypoalbuminemia. If there is no suspicion of empyema or hemothorax, the decision to intervene in this scenario is less straightforward. Increasing expertise with ultrasound among intensivists may fuel temptation to drain all pleural fluid accumulations in mechanically ventilated patients.
TEACCH-Supported Employment Program

Division TEACCH has served over 100 persons with autism through its supported employment program. Three models of supported employment are utilized: individual placement model, dispersed enclave model, and mobile crew model. Within each of these models there is an emphasis on utilizing individual strengths and interests, identifying appropriate jobs, and providing extensive long-term support. A retention rate of 89% demonstrates the success of the program which is due in large part to the broad array of long-term support services that are provided.
Multi-wavelength investigation of laser-induced defect reactions in KDP leading to enhanced damage resistance

Laser annealing of defects to increase bulk laser-induced damage resistance of KDP/DKDP crystals is investigated for a wide range of laser parameters to reveal both the conditions necessary to optimize the effect and the underlying physical mechanisms.
Solvent fractionation of rice bran oil to produce a spreadable rice bran product

Rice bran oil is becoming increasingly popular as a functional ingredient, due to its high stability and health benefits. We detail here a new solvent fractionation procedure for the production of a spreadable product derived from rice bran oil. Four different experimental conditions for fractionation yielded four statistically distinct populations. The spreads show distinctive trends in their physical properties, thermal behavior, and rheology, based on incubation time. The rice bran oil based spreads produced in this work consist primarily of rice bran oil but also contain rice bran wax, tocopherols, tocotrienols, and γ-oryzanol, as well as other sterols. Relative to rice bran oil, they are enriched in rice bran wax, saturated fatty acids, and sterols, all of which contribute to a more rigid rheological profile than that of rice bran oil. This solvent fractionation process may be used to develop rice bran oil based spreads as functional ingredients or products that may replace nut butters. Practical applications: A need exists for structured lipids and spreadable products that are shelf stable, resistant to oxidation, allergen-free, and provide health benefits to consumers. The fractionation procedure described here may be used to acquire a spreadable rice bran product from crude rice bran oil. This product is novel in composition in that it contains a significant proportion of rice bran wax, as well as tocopherols, tocotrienols, phytosterols, and γ-oryzanol. γ-Oryzanol has been shown to reduce cholesterol and has also been shown to have antioxidant activity. This spreadable product is also free of allergens present in many nut-based spreads and thus may be used as a functional ingredient in the development of a host of allergen-free products.
Genetics of Metal Tolerance and Accumulation in Higher Plants

Phytoremediation of metals is rapidly developing as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution for cleaning up heavy-metal-contaminated sites. The most important requirements for effective phytoremediation are fast-growing, high biomass plants that uptake and accumulate large amounts of toxic metals in their aboveground harvestable parts. A relatively small group of hyperaccumulator plants sequesters metals in their shoot tissues at high concentrations. In recent years, major scientific progress has been made in understanding the physiological mechanisms of metal uptake and transport in these plants. The majority of metal hyperaccumulators are slow growing and typically have low biomass, so bioengineering of nonaccumulators that have high biomass is essential for more effective phytoremediation. Biotechnology offers the opportunity to transfer hyperaccumulator phenotypes into fast-growing, high biomass plants that could be highly effective in phytoremediation. However, comprehensive knowledge of the genetics of metal tolerance and accumulation is essential to design transgenic plants capable of phytoremediation. After an initial focus on plants with an immediate promise of application, research is now being directed at understanding the underlying mechanisms involved in heavy metal hyperaccumulation in plants. Once the rate-limiting steps for uptake, translocation, and detoxification of metals in hyperaccumulator plants are identified, more informed construction of transgenic plants could become rather routine, which will help tremendously in more effective use of phytoremediation technology for cleaning up heavy-metal-contaminated sites. Keywords: soil pollution; metals; phytoremediation; hyperaccumulators; biotechnology
Photon echo signals: beyond unit efficiency

We have investigated the energy efficiency of optical coherent transient signals (two- and three-pulse echoes) as a function of excitation and material parameters. Simulations, numerical integrations of the coupled Maxwell-Bloch equations, reveal accessible regions of parameter space (outside those normally utilized in experimental work) wherein transient signals contain as much or more energy than one of the excitation pulses used to create them. This result conflicts with the widely held perception and experimental observation that transient signals are energetically feeble. Transients generated in the parameter ranges identified may have enhanced value in scientific and technical applications.
Targeting protein kinases in central nervous system disorders

Protein kinases are a growing drug target class in disorders in peripheral tissues, but the development of kinase-targeted therapies for central nervous system (CNS) diseases remains a challenge, largely owing to issues associated specifically with CNS drug discovery. However, several candidate therapeutics that target CNS protein kinases are now in various stages of preclinical and clinical development. We review candidate compounds and discuss selected CNS protein kinases that are emerging as important therapeutic targets. In addition, we analyse trends in small-molecule properties that correlate with key challenges in CNS drug discovery, such as blood–brain barrier penetrance and cytochrome P450-mediated metabolism, and discuss the potential of future approaches that will integrate molecular-fragment expansion with pharmacoinformatics to address these challenges.
Diabetes and Depression in Pregnancy: Is There an Association?

Abstract Background: Prior studies have reported inconsistent findings regarding the association of antenatal depression with pregnancy-related diabetes. This study examined the association of diabetes and antenatal depression. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from a prospective cohort study of pregnant women receiving prenatal care at a single University of Washington Medical Center clinic between January 2004 and January 2009. The primary exposure was diabetes in pregnancy (no diabetes, preexisting diabetes, or gestational diabetes [GDM]). Antenatal depression was defined by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) score or current use of antidepressants. Antenatal depression was coded as (1) any depression (probable major or minor depression by PHQ-9 or current antidepressant use) and (2) major depression (probable major depression by PHQ-9 or current antidepressant use). Logistic regression was used to quantify the association between diabetes in pregnancy and antena...
Overexpression of VEGF121, but not VEGF165 or FGF-1, improves oxygenation in MCF-7 breast tumours.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an intensively studied molecule that has significant potential, both in stimulating angiogenesis and as a target for antiangiogenic approaches. We utilised MCF-7 breast cancer cells transfected with either of two of the major VEGF isoforms, VEGF121 or VEGF165, or fibroblast growth factor-1 (FGF-1) to distinguish the effects of these factors on tumour growth, vascular function, and oxygen delivery. While each transfectant demonstrated substantially increased tumorigenicity and growth rate compared to vector controls, only VEGF121 produced a combination of significantly reduced total and perfused vessel spacing, as well as a corresponding reduction in overall tumour hypoxia. Such pathophysiological effects are of potential importance, since antiangiogenic agents designed to block VEGF isoforms could in turn result in the development of therapeutically unfavourable environments. If antiangiogenic agents are also combined with conventional therapies such as irradiation or chemotherapy, microregional deficiencies in oxygenation could play a key role in ultimate therapeutic success.
The structure of plasma low density lipoproteins: experimental facts and interpretations--a minireview.

From data on size and chemical composition, low density lipoprotein (LDL) can be described as a spherical particle having cholesteryl esters and triglycerides contained in a spherical core covered by the closely packed hydrophobic ends of phospholipids and unesterified cholesterol, while the head groups of the phospholipids, together with protein, occupy the surface. Such a model is compatible with early small angle X-ray and neutron scattering studies which, by postulating spherical symmetry, assigned the LDL constituents to locations predicted from the radial electron density distribution. However, the concept of spherical symmetry, as applied to LDL structure, was recently challenged by results obtained from freeze-etching electron microscopy and small angle X-ray scattering experiments. Novel interpretations of these data suggest that the surface of LDL contains 4 electron-dense globules, located at tetrahedral positions, which have a capacity for structural remodeling at least as a function of the 2 temperatures studied (21C and 41C). It is reasonable to presume that the LDL protein (apo LDL) plays a role in the organization of the surface and overall LDL structure. However, until the chemical properties of apo LDL, and its behavior in solution and at the water-lipid interface are better understood, the validity of the proposed models cannot be assessed.
The beam positions of the SPEAR storage ring

Abstract The Stanford 2 GeV electron-positron storage ring is equipped with 20 beam position monitors. The principle of beam coupling is analysed and a calculation is made for the sensitivity to beam current and position, as well as for the intrinsic distortion of this type of monitor. Beam orbit coordinates are reconstructed by scanning the monitor's four electrode signals and the 20 stations around the machine. Normalization of the data and electronics nonlinearity compensation are one of the routine tasks of the computer control system.
Characterization of mercury cadmium telluride surface and interface using surface acoustic wave technique

Abstract Hg1−xCdxTe is extensively used today as a versatile infrared detector material with increasing importance in the fabrication of focal plane arrays. In this work electronic properties of passivated and unpassivated Hg1−xCdxTe surfaces and SiO2 interfaces are investigated using nondestructive SAW technique. The transverse acoustoelectric voltage (TAV) is monitored across the Hg1−xCdxTe sample which is placed in proximity of a LiNbO3 delay line. The TAV is developed due to the nonlinear interaction between the electric field accompanying SAW, and the free carriers near the Hg1−xCdxTe surface. One- and two-beam contactless TAV and surface photovoltage spectroscopy have been carried out to determine the bandgap and thus the alloy composition, x, of Hg1−xCdxTe. The subbandgap spectral responses due to interface states energy levels within the bandgap have also been analyzed. The TAV versus voltage measurements are also performed for further investigation of Hg1−xCdxTe surface properties such as flatband potential, interface charge and surface state density as a function of location in the energy bandgap. This technique has also been applied to other semiconductors such as Si and GaAs. The above-mentioned parameters and others such as conductivity, generation lifetime and surface generation velocity have been measured for these semiconducting materials. Nondestructive depth profiling of the free carrier concentration and some of the above electrical properties have also been measured. Details of these results with emphasis on the HgCdTe samples are presented.
Changes in Surface Mechanical Properties Through Electrochemical Modifications

The mechanical response of materials can be dramatically altered by the presence of absorbed species on the surface. An electrochemical environment enables discrete control of the surface, keeping it clean (comparable to ultra-high vacuum) and inducing stable stress states. Applying a potential to the surface alters surface charge, which changes the surface free energy. Oxides are easily added or removed. Utilizing the phenomenon of underpotential deposition (UPD), one monolayer of metal can be added to a surface. The degree of lattice mismatch between the metal and the deposited monolayer will also vary the stress state of the surface. The changes in the mechanical properties of these highly controlled surfaces are measured by in-situ nanoindentation at various potentials. Nanoindentation of single crystals with very low dislocation densities allows careful observation of dislocation behavior with applied load. This enables the identification of dislocation mechanisms by quantifying the changes in mechanical properties under specific environments. Au has been extensively studied in electrochemistry literature; it is well behaved and well characterized. It is a model system that has demonstrated variation in mechanical properties in different electrochemical states. Lessons learned on Gold have also been applied to Zn and Ni systems.
Cocaine induces conditioned place preference and increases locomotor activity in male Japanese quail

The conditioned place preference (CPP) procedure is a popular method used for testing the rewarding properties of human drugs of abuse. Most CPP studies utilize mammalian models. However, avian species have better visual systems than rodent species, and because the cues that become associated with human drug-taking behavior are often visual, Aves might serve as an alternative animal model for investigating drugs of abuse. In three experiments, we examined the locomotor stimulant and rewarding effects of cocaine in adult male Japanese quail. In Experiment 1, cocaine increased locomotor activity relative to saline. In addition, behavioral sensitization was evident across repeated injections. In Experiment 2, CPP was established after six pairings of cocaine. Finally, the dopamine D(2) receptor subtype antagonist eticlopride did not attenuate acquisition of cocaine CPP in Experiment 3. Rather, subjects receiving pretreatment of eticlopride demonstrated a place preference for the cocaine-paired context. In contrast, pretreatment of eticlopride reduced cocaine-induced locomotor activity. The findings suggest that drug-reward processes may be highly conserved across species and that birds may serve as a viable model for investigating drug-reward processes especially with regard to the ability of cocaine to become associated with visual cues.
Design and evaluation of dynamic access ordering hardware

Memory bandwidth is rapidly becoming the limiting performance factor for many applications, particularly for streaming computations such as scientific vector processing or multimedia (de)compression. Although these computations lack the temporal locality of reference that makes caches effective, they have predictable access patterns. Since most modern DRAM components support modes that make it possible to perform some access sequences faster than others, the predictability of the stream accesses makes it possible to reorder them to get better memory performance. We describe and evaluate a Stream Memory Controller system that combines compile-time detection of streams with execution-time selection of the access order and issue. The technique is practical to implement, using existing compiler technology and requiring only a modest amount of special-purpose hardware. With our prototype system, we have observed performance improvements by factors of 13 over normal caching.
Conjectures pertaining to repeated partitioning of a triangle

This note describes two conjectures pertaining to repeated partitioning of an arbitrary triangle. The first conjecture turns out to be true, and hence gives rise to a new, more general, conjecture that is also addressed in this article. Both conjectures can be explored in a dynamic geometry environment. The proofs to the conjectures addressed in this article require knowledge of high school Euclidean geometry
What determines takeover premia: An empirical analysis

Abstract We empirically analyze the determinants of takeover premia over the period of 1985–2005 and investigate four different factors affecting these premia over the sample period. Our results can be summarized as follows. First, takeover premia were affected by market misvaluation: they were higher during periods of investor pessimism and market undervaluation and were lower during periods of investor optimism and market overvaluation. Consistent with the above result, takeover premia were also negatively related to prior stock market return and positively related to stock market volatility. Second, takeover premia exhibited momentum, being positively correlated with the premia paid in other takeovers in the recent past. Third, takeovers which involved firms in regulated industries immediately prior to deregulation events were associated with significantly lower premia, while premia paid in takeovers which involved firms in deregulated industries after deregulation events were not significantly different from those in other industries. Finally, takeovers of firms in industries with excess capacity and too many firms (industries going through consolidation) commanded higher premia compared to takeovers in other industries.
Selective transport of blood-borne interleukin-1α into the posterior division of the septum of the mouse brain

Film autoradiography was used to demonstrate the transport and sites of accumulation of blood-borne radioiodinated interleukin-1 alpha (II-1 alpha) and other cytokines into the brain after intravenous administration. [125 I]Il-1 alpha, [125I]Il-1 beta, [125I]interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (II-1ra), and [125I]tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha) labeled the choroid plexus and the capillary network 30 min after injection into the blood, suggesting that these areas may serve as sites of blood-to-brain transport. [125I]Il-1alpha, but not [125I]Il-1beta, [125I]Il-1ra, [125I]TNF alpha, or [125I]interleukin-2 (Il-2), was also found localized to the caudal region of the septal nuclei. Only unlabeled II-1 alpha was able to inhibit this accumulation. These findings provide further evidence for the passage of select cytokines across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and are the first to identify a target site within the central nervous system (CNS) for a transported cytokine.
Heat transfer in RF plasma sintering: Modeling and experiments

The mechanisms of heat transfer from an argon RF plasma, generated in a water-cooled quartz tube, to a sintering sample immersed into the plasma and to the walls of the plasma torch have been studied both analytically and experimentally for pressures from 1 to 50 torr. The model, based on the assumption of chemical equilibrium in a two-temperature plasma with rotational symmetry, includes the influence of the magnetic field and of the Knudsen number on the thermal conductivity of the plasma. At pressures below 20 torr heat transfer to the sintering sample is enhanced compared to heat transfer to the wall of the plasma torch. This nonsymmetry is attributed to the Hall parameter and Knudsen number effect. The relative importance of the two effects is a function of the pressure. A comparison with experiments, based on calorimetric and indirect heat transfer measurements for a range of pressures and power levels, indicates satisfactory agreement with analytical predictions, with the exception of larger discrepancies at higher power levels and relatively low pressures. For pressures below 5 torr, the chemical equilibrium assumption becomes questionable, i.e., the sintering model underestimates the heat transfer to the sintering sample.
Fracture toughness of various core build-up materials.

PURPOSE The purpose of this investigation was to compare the fracture toughness of several core materials. MATERIALS AND METHODS Five core build-up materials were tested: (1) glass ionomer, (2) resin-modified glass ionomer, (3) titanium-reinforced composite, (4) composite resin with fluoride, and (5) amalgam. Fracture toughness determinations were made using 3-point flexure of beams with a central single-edge notch. The notch was standardized by the use of a special mold into which each of the materials was condensed. Ten beams of each material were tested on an Instron test machine (Instron Corp, Canton, MA) at a crosshead speed of 1.25 mm/min. The maximum loads were determined from which the fracture toughness values (KIC) were calculated. The data were analyzed statistically using analysis of variance and t tests. RESULTS The mean fracture toughness value in MN.m-3/2 for each of them is as follows: (1) glass ionomer, 0.717 +/- 0.071; (2) resin-modified glass ionomer, 0.747 +/- 0.061; (3) titanium-reinforced composite, 1.409 +/- 0.051; (4) composite resin with fluoride, 1.660 +/- 0.086; and (5) amalgam, 1.521 +/- 0.081. There was no significant difference in the KIC values for the glass ionomer-based materials, and both of these were significantly lower than amalgam, titanium-reinforced composite resin, and composite resin with fluoride (p < .001). CONCLUSION The titanium-reinforced composite resin, the composite resin with fluoride, and amalgam materials showed fracture toughness most likely to withstand the stresses generated during mastication.
Gadolinium-loaded liquid scintillator for high-precision measurements of antineutrino oscillations and the mixing angle, θ13

Abstract The use of multiple, identical liquid scintillator (LS) detectors at distances between 0.1 and 2 km from a nuclear reactor has the potential to detect antineutrino oscillations and to measure the value of the unknown neutrino-mixing angle θ13. The nuclear reaction of interest in the LS is the inverse β-decay reaction on protons, with the coincidence tag between the emitted prompt positron and the delayed neutron-capture providing a clear signature of the antineutrino capture. The neutron-capture signal is greatly enhanced by loading gadolinium into the LS, because of the large (n, γ) cross-sections of the Gd isotopes (49,000 barns for natural abundance Gd), and the ∼8 MeV of emitted γ-rays. We have developed procedures at BNL to synthesize high-quality Gd-loaded LS (Gd-LS) in a simplified, consistent, and reproducible way, using the method of pH-controlled, solvent–solvent extraction. This Gd-LS has long attenuation length (>15 m), high-light output (∼90% of pseudocumene), and long-term stability (>1.5 years to date). The preparation and characteristics of this Gd-LS are discussed in this paper.
Dopamine efflux from the brain stem of the rat during feeding, drinking and lever-pressing for food

To determine whether endogenous dopamine (DA) is involved in the control of feeding and drinking, the cerebral activity of 14C-DA was examined in the rat while the animal consumed food or water. A push-pull guide tube was implanted above sites either adjacent to the third ventricle, the anterior hypothalamus or the substantia nigra in each of 41 rats. After the endogenous stores of DA at specific sites were labelled by a microinjection of 0.5 to 2.0 muCi of 14C-DA, an artificial CSF was perfused at half-hour intervals at a rate of 20-23 mul/min in these sites in the food deprived rat. After a 14C-washout curve of radioactivity in the perfusate was derived for successive control samples, the food-deprived rat was offered food or water which was ingested during the course of one or more perfusions. As the rat consumed food, 14C-DA was released in some experiments from circumscribed sites in the nucleus reuniens and the zona incerta. The efflux of 14C-DA from certain sites in the circumscribed sites in the nucleus reuniens and the zona incerta. The efflux of 14C-DA from certain sites in the ventromedial and dorsomedial hypothalamus as well as from the substantia nigra also was enhanced as the rat depressed a lever to obtain food pellets. Since 14C-DA was also released from the zona incerta, perifornical hypothalamus, and into the third ventricle as the rat drank water, these results suggest that dopaminergic neurons in the brain stem play some part in the motor component of ingestive behavior rather than feeding per se.
The prevalence of domestic violence among women seeking abortion

Abstract Objective: To determine the prevalence of self-reported abuse in a population of women aged 18 years or older seeking elective pregnancy termination, and to compare abused and nonabused women with respect to the primary reasons for pregnancy termination. Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was returned by 486 women seeking outpatient abortion. The survey included demographic information, abuse screening, and items regarding partner involvement/awareness of the pregnancy, and abuse as a determinant of the abortion decision. One open-ended item asking the primary reason for pregnancy termination was included. Results: The prevalence of self-reported abuse in this population was 39.5%. White women were significantly more likely to report any history of abuse than nonwhite women. Relationship issues were the only reason for pregnancy termination given more often by women with an abuse history than by nonabused women. Women with abuse histories were significantly less likely than nonabused women to inform the partner of the pregnancy or to have partner support for or involvement in the abortion decision. Conclusion: The prevalence of abuse reported by women in this population suggests that many women seeking abortion services may have abuse histories. Abused women may have different reasons for pregnancy termination than nonabused women and may be more likely to make the abortion decision without partner involvement. When routine screening for abuse is included in abortion counseling, health providers have the opportunity for developing a safety plan and initiating appropriate referral.
Therapeutic Uses of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs in Dentistry

The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are among the most widely used classes of drugs for the management of acute and chronic pain in dentistry. Their therapeutic efficacy and toxicity are well-documented and provide evidence that NSAIDs generally provide an acceptable therapeutic ratio of pain relief with fewer adverse effects than the opioid-mild analgesic combination drugs that they have largely replaced for most dental applications. The great many studies done with the oral surgery model of acute pain indicate that a single dose of an NSAID is more effective than combinations of aspirin or acetaminophen plus an opioid, with fewer side-effects, thus making it preferable for ambulatory patients. The combination of an NSAID with an opioid generally results in marginal analgesic activity but with an increased incidence of side-effects, which limits its use to patients in whom the NSAID alone results in inadequate analgesia. The selective COX-2 inhibitors hold promise for clinical efficacy with less toxicity from chronic administration and may prove advantageous for the relief of chronic orofacial pain. The use of repeated doses of NSAIDs for chronic orofacial pain should be re-evaluated in light of a lack of documented efficacy and the potential for serious gastrointestinal and renal toxicity with repeated dosing.
Effect of jaundice phototherapy on intestinal mucosal bilirubin concentration and lactase activity in the congenitally jaundiced Gunn Rat.

The effect of phototherapy on intestinal mucosal bilirubin concentration and lactase activity in the Gunn rat was studied. Ten groups of six or seven animals each were studied. Heterozygous (Jj) and homozygous (jj) animals were given 24, 48, or 72 hr of continuous phototherapy, and Jj and jj animals were given 24- and 48-hr sham control treatments. Phototherapy reduced serum bilirubin concentration by 53% at 24 hr, 59% at 48 hr and 68% at 72 hr. The mucosal concentration of bilirubin appeared to parallel the declining serum concentration and was lower in treated than in control jj animals. The jejunal and ileal lactase activity, expressed per mg protein, was not depressed by phototherapy. The lactase activity of jejunum and of ileum of treated jj as compared to treated Jj and control jj at 24 and 48 hr and as compared to treated Jj at 72 hr was never reduced; i.e., jejunal lactase activity in jj treated for 72 hr was 15.1 +/- 4.2 (-x +/- S.D.) units/g protein as compared to 16.2 +/- 4.2 for Jj treated for 72 hr and 12.0 +/- 4.2 for jj 48-hr control animals. The ratio of lactase to sucrase activity demonstrated a significant increase in lactase activity relative to sucrase in all animals treated for 48 or 72 hr. This latter effect is potentially due to alteration in the circadian rhythm while under constant irradiance. These data convincingly demonstrate that the Gunn rat does not develop lactase deficiency consequent to phototherapy.
Freezing of hydraulic systems

A theoretical technique is developed for predicting the conditions under which a hydraulic system freezes shut. The investigation considers laminar liquid flow through a tube between two reservoirs. Freezing is assumed to occur within a portion of the tube having a uniform wall temperature lower than the liquid freezing temperature. Analytical results indicate the minimum allowable pressure drop which must be maintained across the system to prevent it from freezing shut. The theoretical predictions are then compared with experimental results. On a mis au point une methode theorique pour predire les conditions responsables du blocage d'un systeme hydrau-lique par congelation. On considere un ecoulement liquide et laminaire dans un tube entre deux reservoirs. On suppose que la congelation doit se produire dans une partie du tube ou la temperature de la paroi est uniforme et moindre que la temperature de congelation du liquide. Les resultats de l'analyse indiquent quelle est la diminution minimum et adminissible de pression qu'il faut maintenir dans tout le systeme pour l'empěcher de se bloquer par congelation. On compare ensuite les predictions theoriques avec les resultats experimentaux.