cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Xenopus laevis: a possible vector of Ranavirus infection?

Frog virus 3 (FV3) or FV3-like viruses (Iridoviridae) infect a wide range of amphibian species, and they are becoming increasingly and causally associated with amphibian disease outbreaks worldwide. We have established the frog Xenopus laevis as an experimental model to study host defense and pathogenesis of FV3 infection. Although X. laevis adults usually clear FV3 infection within a few weeks, viral DNA has been detected in the kidneys several months after they had been experimentally infected; virus also has been detected in seemingly healthy nonexperimentally infected adults. Based on this information, we hypothesized that covert FV3 infection may occur in Xenopus. We first conducted a survey that detected FV3 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the kidneys (the main site of FV3 infection) in a significant fraction of X. laevis raised in five different locations in the United States. Asymptomatic FV3 carriers also were detected by initiation of an acute systemic FV3 infection in frogs that had been ...
Inhibition of growth of the transplantable rat chondrosarcoma by analogs of hypothalamic hormones.

Abstract The Swarm chondrosarcoma is a hormone-responsive tumor whose growth is dependent on growth hormone, somatomedins, and glucocorticoids. Our previous work showed that partial functional hypophysectomy can be achieved by chronic administration of the luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) analog [D-Trp6]LH-RH, which lowers blood levels of LH and follicle-stimulating hormone. We have also demonstrated that somatostatin (SS)-28 or analogs of SS-14 depress serum prolactin, growth hormone, and corticotropin (ACTH) levels. Consequently, we investigated the effect of subcutaneous injection of these analogs on the growth of Swarm chondrosarcoma 3 days after transplanting it into male Sprague-Dawley rats. At autopsy, tumor volume was measured and tumors and various organs were weighed. In rats treated with three different analogs of SS-14, [p-NH2-Phe4]SS, [D-5-F-Trp8]SS, and [D-5-MeO-Trp8]SS, in doses of 30 μg once or twice daily for 14-30 days, there was a significant reduction in tumor volume and/or weight as compared with control rats. The longer acting SS-28 or its analog Val-Gly-Tyr-Val-Ile-Leu-Gly-SS-28, given in doses of 30 μg/day for 22-30 days, also significantly decreased tumor weight and/or volume. In three experiments, [D-Trp6]LH-RH (30-60 μg/day), administered alone or together with analogs of SS-14, decreased tumor weight and/or volume. Serum growth hormone and prolactin levels in rats bearing the tumors were significantly decreased after treatment with [D-5-F-Trp8]SS or with [D-Trp6]LH-RH. The inhibition of growth of the Swarm chondrosarcoma in rats by these analogs suggests that they might lead to a new endocrine therapy for chondrosarcomas, osteosarcomas, and related hormone-dependent neoplasias.
Consistency with evidence-based treatments and perceived effectiveness of children’s community-based care

This study examined whether delivery of psychotherapeutic strategies consistent with common elements of evidence-based (EB) treatments for child disruptive behavior problems was associated with parents' report of treatment effectiveness. The intensity of delivery of practice elements consistent with EB treatments was coded from a random sample of 538 videotaped psychotherapy sessions with 157 children/families and 75 therapists from six community-based clinics. Multilevel regression analyses tested whether intensity of EB practice elements was associated with parents' report of treatment effectiveness after 4 months, controlling for intensity of other practice elements. Results indicate parents reported greater perceived treatment effectiveness when community-based treatment included more intensive delivery of practice elements consistent with EB treatments to children. These findings may reassure providers about the acceptability of EB practice elements and may motivate efforts to integrate EB practice elements more intensively into community-based care.
The protective effect of experimental subarachnoid haemorrhage on sodium dehydrocholate-induced blood-brain barrier disruption.

The potential interactive effects between subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and blood brain barrier (BBB) disruption were studied in a rat model. Experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage was produced in twenty rats (experimental group) by the intracisternal injection of blood. In ten additional rats (control group), saline was administered in place of blood. Analysis of mean blood pressure (MBP), intracranial pressure (ICP) and cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) demonstrated an increase in ICP and MBP and a drop in CPP in all animals following intracisternal injection. Subsequent infusion of the left internal carotid artery with sodium dehydrocholate resulted in blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption in both groups as evidenced by Evans blue staining of the infused cortex. The extent of BBB disruption was significantly greater in the control group than the experimental group.
Bioturbation of deep-sea sediments: Oxygen isotopes and stratigraphic uncertainty

Oxygen isotope analysis of two species of planktonic Foraminifera in deep-sea core RC17–69 reveals a discrepancy of more than 8 cm in the depth of Termination II within the core, indicating a stratigraphic discrepancy of about 4,500 yr. A numerical model of bioturbation, which incorporates variations in relative abundances of species, is used to explain this discrepancy. Model results suggest that variations in species abundance contributes to stratigraphic uncertainty and therefore should be considered in stratigraphic interpretation of the oxygen isotope record.
STUDIES RELATING TO THE SENSITIVITY AND PRECISION OF THE CHAYEN ACTH BIOASSAY

The practicability of a recently developed cytochemical bioassay of corticotropin was evaluated with respect to potential sources of error associated with tissue preparative procedures, staining and microdensitometric analysis.Careful and rigorous control of culture conditions prior to exposing cryostat sections is required to insure maintenance of adrenal tissue viability and responsiveness to ACTH. Maintenance of a constant pH of 7.6 and use of freshly prepared culture medium is especially critical. Instrumental error associated with microdensitometry constitutes a relatively minor source of error (1-2%). Also, intrasection variability (ca. 1-2%) does not appreciably influence the accuracy of ACTH bioassay. However, substantial error can stem from intersection variation (3-6%) in intensity of staining which presumably reflects nonuniformity in the thickness of serially sectioned adrenal glands.The precision and accuracy of the cytochemical ACTH bioassay compares favorably with previously reported bioassays and with radioimmunoassay procedures for ACTH. The assay is much more sensitive than most existing bioassays since it can detect ACTH levels as low as 5-10 femtograms.
Magnesium and calcium sulfate stabilities and the water budget of Mars

[1] Magnesium sulfate probably plays a dominant role in the water cycle of Mars away from the polar ice caps through hydration and dehydration reactions. This prominence is due to its abundance, its occurrence in numerous hydration states, and its ability to hydrate and dehydrate rapidly. New experimental studies on the metastable reaction between hexahydrite (MgSO4·6H2O) and starkeyite (MgSO4·4H2O) as a function of temperature and relative humidity, supplemented by recent investigations of the stable reaction between epsomite (MgSO4·7H2O) and hexahydrite and by phase equilibrium calculations, suggest that the most important magnesium sulfate phases involved in the Martian water cycle are MgSO4·11H2O, epsomite, starkeyite, and possibly kieserite (MgSO4·H2O). Hexahydrite is not predicted to be stable on the surface of Mars. During diurnal variations in temperature and relative humidity, 1 kg of MgSO4 can release or remove from the atmosphere 1.5 kg of H2O by cycling between kieserite and MgSO4·11H2O. Despite subequal abundances of calcium sulfate, calcium sulfates are not likely to be important in the water cycle of the planet because of sluggish rates of hydration and dehydration and a more limited range of H2O concentrations per kilogram of CaSO4 (0.00 to 0.26 kg kg−1). Modern or recent erosion on Mars attributed to liquid water may be due to the dehydration of MgSO4·11H2O because of the inferred abundance and likelihood of occurrence of this phase and its limited stability relative to known variations in temperature and relative humidity.
Anomalous noble gases in josephinite and associated rocks

Abstract In this paper we report Ne, Ar, Kr and Xe analyses of josephinite, Josephine Peridotite, and serpentinized Josephine Peridotite. In all three samples the elemental abundance patterns resemble patterns associated with surface waters, the Ne data do not exhibit the large 21 Ne enrichments observed earlier, and the Kr and Xe compositions are indistinguishable from atmospheric composition at all isotopes, including 129 Xe. Our data thus offer no significant evidence for isotopic anomalies in the noble gases. We also argue that the previous claims for primordial atmospheric-like Ar, anomalous Kr and Xe, excess 129 Xe, and 4.6 × 10 9 -year age are all questionable interpretations which cannot be defended against more prosaic alternatives. This leaves excess 21 Ne as the only noble gas argument for exotic origin; we suggest that this might be an experimental artifact. Until the 21 Ne question can be settled by more definitive experimentation, we feel that noble gas data cannot be used to support arguments that the origin of josephinite is more exotic than crustal serpentinization.
Abstract 4089: Differential regulation of androgen receptor by PIM-1 kinases via phosphorylation-dependent recruitment of distinct ubiquitin E3 ligases.

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC Androgen receptor (AR) plays a pivotal role in prostate cancer. Regulation of AR transcriptional activity by post-translational modifications, such as phosphorylation by multiple kinases, is well documented. Here, we report that two PIM-1 kinase isoforms which are upregulated during prostate cancer progression, namely PIM-1S and PIM-1L, modulate AR stability and transcriptional activity through differentially phosphorylating AR at Serine 213 (S213) and Threonine 850 (T850). Although both kinases are capable of interacting with and phosphorylating AR at S213, only PIM-1L could phosphorylate T850. We also showed that PIM-1S induced S213 phosphorylation destabilizes AR by recruiting the ubiquitin E3 ligase Mdm2 and promotes AR degradation in a cell cycle dependent manner, while PIM-1L-induced T850 phosphorylation stabilizes AR by recruiting the ubiquitin E3 ligase RNF6 and promotes AR-mediated transcription under low-androgen conditions. Furthermore, both PIM-1 isoforms could promote prostate cancer cell growth under low-androgen conditions. Our data suggest that these kinases regulate AR stability and transcriptional activity through recruitment of different functional partners in a phosphorylation-dependent manner. As AR turnover has been previously shown to be critical for cell cycle progression in prostate cancer cells, PIM-1 kinase isoforms may promote prostate cancer cell growth, at least in part, through modulating AR activity via distinct mechanisms. Citation Format: Douglas Linn, Xi Yang, Yingqiu Xie, Alan Alfano, Dhanraj Deshmukh, Xin Wang, Hermela Shimelis, Hegang Chen, Wei Li, Kexin Xu, Mingyuan Chen, Yun Qiu. Differential regulation of androgen receptor by PIM-1 kinases via phosphorylation-dependent recruitment of distinct ubiquitin E3 ligases. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4089. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-4089
A financial analysis of payment per unit time for common general surgery operations

Introduction A payment per unit time model incorporates a surgeons reimbursement to the total care time spent in the operating room, post operative in-house and post operative clinic visit period. Our goal is to analyze and compare common outpatient operations to common inpatient operations in general surgery by using the payment per unit time method. Methods Surgeon payments per case were recorded over the 2009 financial year for 5 common outpatient and 4 common in-patient general surgery operations at our tertiary care health center. Total care time (TCT) was defined as the sum of the times spent by the surgeon with the patient in the operating room in addition to 30 minutes per day in the hospital and per office visit. We calculated the payment per unit time by dividing the physician reimbursement per case by the total care time for each surgical case. Results The average payment per time spent for inpatient operations was $455.73 and slightly more at $467.51 for outpatient procedures. Partial colectomy with primary anastomosis had the least payment per time spent ($188.52)and laparoscopic gastric bypass had the highest ($707.30). Conclusions The payment per time method shows a similar reimbursement process for common outpatient and inpatient general surgery cases performed at a tertiary care health center. However, partial colectomy surgery, while requiring the most total care time, has substantially less payment per time spent compared to other cases.
Failure Accommodation in Digital Flight Control Systems Accounting for Nonlinear Aircraft Dynamics

This paper presents a design method for optimal redundancy management for nonlinear systems with application to highly maneuvering aircraft. The approach taken is based on selecting the failure states to be covered by the system design and constructing a cost function that represents the cost of making an incorrect decision. The decision logic that minimizes the cost requires a bank of extended Kalman filters running in parallel. This produces a severe computational requirement. To reduce this requirement, a suboptimal logic is developed based on using a nonlinear single-stage prediction algorithm in the filters with filter gains and decision logic selected using steady-state results obtained from a linearization of the vehicle and sensor dynamics. The design process then is applied to designing a redundancy management system for the F8-C aircraft. The performance of the system is indicated with results of a nonlinear, piloted, six-degree-of-freedom simulation of the F8-C aircraft. Results indicate that the system is superior in failure detection to a system using the same structure but using a linear single-stage prediction algorithm in the filters.
Maturity of organic matter and migration of hydrocarbons in two Alaskan North Slope wells

Abstract Plots of T max and production index (P.I.) for seven Alaskan North Slope wells suggest that samples from the Ikpikpuk well are optimal for examination of thermal maturity and the Seabee well for migrational geochemical trends at all maturity levels. Vitrinite reflectance profiles for the two wells are identical and reach maximum values of 2.5% in the deepest rock units. Pyrolysis P1/org C, T max , and P.I. values all behave “normally” in Ikpikpuk but for Seabee show generally lower (by about 60°C) T max values and higher and more scattered P1/org C and P.I. values. Sorbed light hydrocarbon ratios including C2/C3; ic 4/ n C4; i C5/ n C5; 22DMB/ n C6; MCP/benz; benz/tol; paraffin indexes 1 and 2 and C1/(C1 + C2 + C3) are compared for both wells. Light hydrocarbon data for Ikpikpuk generally shows smooth changes expected for maturation across the Kingak shale and Shublik formation with increasing paraffin indexes 1 and 2; decreasing MCP/enz; increasing benz/tol; increasing C1/(C1 + C2 + C3); and a spike in 22DMP/ n C6 at the bottom of the over-mature Sadlerochit sandstone. These ratios are consistent with some localized lateral migration at the bottom of the Sadlerochit Group sandstone and at the top of the pebble shale unit. In contrast, Seabee ratios were very different and showed no particular trends with depth, although some increase in proportions of methane and benzene are observable in the deepest sections of the well. The ratios of pyrolyzable C1/(C1 + C2 + C3) for the Ikpikpuk well were similar to those for the generated sorbed gases within for the catagentic and post mature sections of the well. Seabee showed pyrolyzable C1/(C1 + C2 + C3) ratios similar to those from Ikpikpuk except for a less pronounced bottom hole increase in the ratio. Migration phenomena with preferential retention of polar asphalts or pyrobitumens in strata through which or from which migration has occurred are postulated to be the cause of a low temperature P2 shoulder often observed in and below the catagenic zones of Ikpikpuk. GC/MS data of pyrolyzable material shows that maturation causes a decrease in alkane and alkene pyrolysis products as compared to aromatic and heterocyclic compounds. This low temperature shoulder appears to become the predominant P2 peak in sections of other wells, such as Seabee, which are extensively influenced by migration.
Moderate amounts of alcoholic beverages and clinical nutrition

Now and throughout recorded history, alcoholic beverages have played prominent roles in religious, festive, social, and domestic life; many people view fermented beverages as foods, and some believe alcoholic beverages to possess magical powers (la). Although alcohol abuse results in deleterious medical, social, and economic consequences, moderate alcohol consumption often plays an effective role in medicine (2), for example, as an analgesic for patients with cancer or facial pain, as a sedative, and as a stomachic to improve appetite (3). This paper presents an introduction to the literature on five clinically relevant effects of alcohol that may be of particular interest to nutrition educators and clinical dietitians.
The relation of socioeconomic factors to the incidence of early age-related maculopathy: the Beaver Dam eye study.

Abstract PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between socioeconomic factors and the 5-year incidence of age-related maculopathy. METHODS: The Beaver Dam Eye Study, a population-based cohort study, examined 3681 adults (range, 43–86 years of age at baseline) living in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, at baseline and 5 years later. Standardized protocols for physical examination, including administration of a questionnaire that included questions regarding income, education level, and status and type of employment, and fundus photography to determine age-related maculopathy, were performed. RESULTS: While controlling for age and sex, less education, and being in a service-related occupation compared with a white collar professional occupation, was associated ( P CONCLUSION: These data show an association of education and occupation but not income with the incidence of early age-related maculopathy that appears independent of smoking or vitamin supplement use status.
The content of diacylglycerol, triacylglycerol and monoacylglycerol and a comparison of the structural and metabolic heterogeneity of diacylglycerols and phosphatidylcholine during rat lung development

Abstract The content of diacylglycerol in fetal rat lung is approx. 36% of the adult and rapidly increases to adult levels by 1 day after birth. Triacylglycerol content is also low (23%) and increases to adult levels between 1 and 2 days following birth. Monoacylglycerol content is relatively low at all stages of development. The analysis of the molecular species of diacylglycerols showed that the disaturated species accounted for 30–40% of the diacylglycerols and the monoene species 20–28%. Phosphatidylcholine contained 40–45% disaturated and approx. 30% monoene species. The overall pattern of molecular species of phosphatidylcholine was similar to the pattern for diacylglycerol. The in vivo incorporation of [2- 3 H]glycerol into molecular species of diacylglycerol and phosphatidylcholine in -1-day-fetal (i.e., 1 day before birth) lung showed that the disaturated species of diacylglycerol had the highest incorporation and appeared to have a higher rate of turnover. In contrast, [2- 3 H]glycerol was incorporated by fetal liver most actively in the monoenoic and dienoic species of diacylglycerol. The relative incorporation of radioactivity into disaturated, monoene and diene species of phosphatidylcholine in fetal lung was very similar to that for the corresponding diacylglycerol species. The rate of the reaction from the disaturated species of diacylglycerol to the disaturated species of phosphatidylcholine, calculated from the in vivo data, was one of the higher rates and indicated considerable potential for the synthesis of disaturated phosphatidylcholine via this route. The overall results suggests that de novo synthesis of disaturated phosphatidylcholine from the disaturated species of diacylglycerol can be a major route for the synthesis of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine in fetal lung.
Synthetic development of cell-permeable polymer colloids decorated with nanocrystal imaging probes optimized for cell tracking

With recent advances in stem cell therapies and oncological research, prolonged tracking of single cells in vivo is critical to understanding their unusual biology. To tag these cells, nanocrystal-based probes are highly desirable since their composition can be tailored for specific imaging techniques, such as magnetic resonance imaging or whole-body fluorescence imaging. Nevertheless, a robust strategy to incorporate nanocrystals to the cytosol of living cells for tracking schemes has been difficult to achieve. We report here a biomimetic approach to nanocrystal delivery, ideally suited for cell tracking schemes, using a unique class of core–shell colloidal polymer vectors decorated with both amine and guanidine functionalities. These materials exhibit unusual dual responsive character to both pH and temperature that can be leveraged to translocate nanocrystal/polymer assemblies to the cytosol in less than an hour. By avoiding prolonged exposure to the acidic microenvironment of late endosomes, the intact nanocrystals no longer pose a problem to cell health. Such a rapid trajectory for these mixed-component assemblies into live cells is unprecedented and should make practical a wider array of nanoparticle-based tracking schemes in biological systems than is currently possible.
Student Diversity Requires Different Approaches To College Teaching, Even in Math and Science

It now appears that all traditionally taught college courses are markedly (though unintentionally) biased against many non-traditional students, and, indeed, against most students who have not atte...
eLancing: A review and research agenda for bridging the science–practice gap

Abstract eLancing, or Internet freelancing, is spreading at an incredibly fast pace worldwide. The eLancing work environment is called a “marketplace,” which is a website where individuals interested in being hired and employers looking for individuals to perform some type of work meet. eLancing allows individuals from literally anywhere in the world to sign up and complete work using the Internet for an employer who literally can also be anywhere in the world. eLancing boasts millions of users and billions of dollars in transactions and it involves fundamental changes in the nature of work and in the employer–worker relationship. We discuss eLancing and challenges and opportunities it creates for human resource management (HRM) research and practice. Also, we offer a research agenda with the goal of understanding eLancing and its effects, particularly pertaining to the core HRM areas of job design and analysis, workforce planning, recruitment, selection, training and development, performance management, compensation, and legal issues. Given the increased importance of eLancing worldwide and its implications for worldwide work arrangements in the 21st century's international society, results of such scholarly research have the potential to help narrow the science–practice gap and also elevate the status, perceived value-added, and organizational and societal influence of HRM and related fields.
Derivation of a one-band Hubbard model for CuO planar materials

We have performed numerical studies of multiband Hubbard models for the Cu-O planes of the high-${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$ materials. For the range of realistic parameters, all low-energy (\ensuremath{\le}2 eV) charge and spin excitations are described by the single-band (possibly extended) Hubbard model with U\ensuremath{\simeq}W, where W is the bandwidth.
The Surface Staining of Embedded Tissues

The staining procedure is based on the theory that the freshly cut surface of embedded material will absorb stain only in the exposed tissue elements, provided that the embedding compound itself will not absorb the staining fluid. Concentrated stains are used for short intervals to insure minimum penetration. For paraffin embedded materials: (1) Cut block, preferably on microtome, to the desired tissue surface. (2) Rinse in absolute alcohol. (3) Float face down in stain. (Ripe, concentrated alum hematoxylin—Galigher's formula recommended—will stain in 10 to IS minutes. Heidenhain's iron hematoxylin works exceptionally well in some cases.) Mordant 20% alum 5 to 10 minutes, briefly rinse, and stain comparable 5 to 10 minutes in 1 to 1.5% hematoxylin. (4) Allow to become blue in tap water (for hematoxylin stains). (5) Counter-stain if desired. (6) Dehydrate in absolute alcohol for not more than 10 minutes. (7) Dry for 15 to 20 minutes. (8) Trim block to 2-3 mm. and mount between two cover glasses by use of m...
Mass balance of dissolved lithium in the oceans

Abstract A tentative mass balance of dissolved Li in the oceans suggests that basalt-seawater reactions play an important role in the Li cycle. However, removal of dissolved Li by basalt during reactions at low or moderate temperatures cannot compensate totally for inputs owing to basalt-seawater reactions at high temperatures and to continental run-off. We propose that the Li budget in the oceans is balanced by incorporation of Li into authigenic clay minerals. Li concentration profiles in the water column support this model. Basalt-seawater reactions at high temperatures seem to affect strongly the distribution of dissolved Li in interstitial waters of overlying sediments, suggesting that this element can be used as an indicator of hydrothermal reactions in the basaltic basement.
Crossing the Lines: Graphic (Life) Narratives and Co-Laborative Political Transformations

Jaime Cortez's Sexile frames the experiences of Cuban emigre and transgender activist Adela Vasquez in a comic book that shows how identities are engendered in a matrix of cultural conventions, sexual exchanges, and acts of self-invention, thus illustrating the interrelations between acts of self-fashioning and the work of social transformation.
Modeling of molecular nitrogen collisions and dissociation processes for direct simulation Monte Carlo

The Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method typically used for simulating hypersonic Earth re-entry flows requires accurate total collision cross sections and reaction probabilities. However, total cross sections are often determined from extrapolations of relatively low-temperature viscosity data, so their reliability is unknown for the high temperatures observed in hypersonic flows. Existing DSMC reaction models accurately reproduce experimental equilibrium reaction rates, but the applicability of these rates to the strong thermal nonequilibrium observed in hypersonic shocks is unknown. For hypersonic flows, these modeling issues are particularly relevant for nitrogen, the dominant species of air. To rectify this deficiency, the Molecular Dynamics/Quasi-Classical Trajectories (MD/QCT) method is used to accurately compute collision and reaction cross sections for the N2(Σg+1)-N2(Σg+1) collision pair for conditions expected in hypersonic shocks using a new potential energy surface developed using a ReaxFF fit to recent advanced ab initio calculations. The MD/QCT-computed reaction probabilities were found to exhibit better physical behavior and predict less dissociation than the baseline total collision energy reaction model for strong nonequilibrium conditions expected in a shock. The MD/QCT reaction model compared well with computed equilibrium reaction rates and shock-tube data. In addition, the MD/QCT-computed total cross sections were found to agree well with established variable hard sphere total cross sections.
Heterogeneous quantal response equilibrium and cognitive hierarchies

We explore an equilibrium model of games where behavior is given by logit response functions, but payoff responsiveness and beliefs about others' responsiveness are heterogeneous. We study two substantively different ways of extending quantal response equilibrium (QRE) to this setting: (1) Heterogeneus QRE, where players share identical correct beliefs about the distribution of payoff responsiveness; and (2) Truncated QRE, where players have downward looking beliefs, systematically underestimating others' responsiveness. We show that the cognitive hierarchy model is a special case of Truncated QRE. We conduct experiments designed to differentiate these approaches. We find significant evidence of payoff responsive stochastic choice, and of heterogeneity and downward looking beliefs in some games.
Flash-, somatosensory-, and peripheral nerve-evoked potentials in rats perinatally exposed to Aroclor 1254 ☆

Pregnant Long-Evans rats were exposed to 0, 1 or 6 mg/kg/day of Aroclor 1254 (A1254; Lot no. 124-191), a commercial mixture of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), from gestation day (GD) 6 through postnatal day (PND) 21. At 128-140 days of age, male and female offspring were tested for visual-, somatosensory- and peripheral nerve-evoked potentials. The evoked responses increased in amplitude with larger stimulus intensities, and gender differences were detected for some endpoints. In contrast, developmental exposure to A1254 failed to significantly affect the electrophysiological measures. A subset of the animals were tested for low-frequency hearing dysfunction using reflex modification audiometry (RMA). An elevated threshold for a 1-kHz tone was observed, replicating previous findings of A1254-induced auditory deficits [Hear. Res. 144 (2000) 196; Toxicol. Sci. 45(1) (1998) 94; Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 135(1) (1995) 77.]. These findings indicate no statistically significant changes in visual-, somatosensory- or peripheral nerve-evoked potentials following developmental exposure to doses of A1254 that produce behavioral hearing deficits. However, subtle changes in the function of the visual or somatosensory systems cannot be disproved.
Correlation of transarterial transport of various dextrans with their physicochemical properties

Local vascular drug delivery provides elevated concentrations of drug in the target tissue while minimizing systemic side effects. To better characterize local pharmacokinetics we examined the arterial transport of locally applied dextran and dextran derivatives in vivo. Using a two-compartment pharmacokinetic model to correct the measured transmural flux of these compounds for systemic redistribution and elimination as delivered from a photopolymerizable hydrogel surrounding rat carotid arteries, we found that the diffusivities and the transendothelial permeabilities were strongly dependent on molecular weight and charge. For neutral dextrans, the effective diffusive resistance in the media increased with molecular weight approximately 4.1-fold between the molecular weights of 10 and 282 kDa. Similarly, endothelial resistance increased 28-fold over the same molecular weight range. The effective medial diffusive resistance was unaffected by cationic charge as such molecules moved identically to neutral compounds, but increased approximately 40% when dextrans were negatively charged. Transendothelial resistance was 20-fold lower for the cationic dextrans, and 11-fold higher for the anionic dextrans, when both were compared to neutral counterparts. These results suggest that, while low molecular weight drugs will rapidly traverse the arterial wall with the endothelium posing a minimal barrier, the reverse is true for high molecular weight agents. With these data, the deposition and distribution of locally released vasotherapeutic compounds might be predicted based upon chemical properties, such as molecular weight and charge.
Global distribution of bedrock exposures on Mars using THEMIS high‐resolution thermal inertia

[1] We investigate high thermal inertia surfaces using the Mars Odyssey Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) nighttime temperature images (100 m/pixel spatial sampling). For this study, we interpret any pixel in a THEMIS image with a thermal inertia over 1200 J m -2 K -1 s -1/2 as "bedrock" which represents either in situ rock exposures or rock-dominated surfaces. Three distinct morphologies, ranked from most to least common, are associated with these high thermal inertia surfaces: (1) valley and crater walls associated with mass wasting and high surface slope angles; (2) floors of craters with diameters >25 km and containing melt or volcanics associated with larger, high-energy impacts; and (3) intercrater surfaces with compositions significantly more mafic than the surrounding regolith. In general, bedrock instances on Mars occur as small exposures (less than several square kilometers) situated in lower-albedo ( 350 J m -2 K -1 s -1/2 ), and relatively dust-free (dust cover index <0.95) regions; however, there are instances that do not follow these generalizations. Most instances are concentrated in the southern highlands, with very few located at high latitudes (poleward of 45°N and 58°S), suggesting enhanced mechanical breakdown probably associated with permafrost. Overall, Mars has very little exposed bedrock with only 960 instances identified from 75°S to 75°N with likely <3500 km 2 exposed, representing «1% ofthe total surface area. These data indicate that Mars has likely undergone large-scale surface processing and reworking, both chemically and mechanically, either destroying or masking a majority of the bedrock exposures on the planet.
The systematics of Homo.

Bernard Wood and Mark Collard (Review Article, 2 Apr. p. [65][1]) propose taking the habiline species ([1][2]) out of the genus Homo and placing them in a broadly defined australopithecine group. There are good reasons to do this. I made the same taxonomic assessment in the second edition of
Differential binding and activation of caspase‐3 in cultured hippocampal neurons by assembly forms of Aβ1–42

Amyloid-beta (A beta) peptides, the primary constituents of amyloid plaques in the brain in Alzheimer's disease (AD), may cause AD, but how they do so is not clear. A beta peptides spontaneously aggregate, or self-assemble, to generate several distinct macromolecular and morphological forms that can differ significantly in their effects on cells. We have compared different assembly forms of A beta(1-42) (A beta 42) for their ability to trigger apoptosis in cultured hippocampal neurons at a submicromolar concentration and for their binding to such neurons. Fibrillar A beta 42 caused both morphological changes indicative of apoptosis and specific activation of caspase-3, a characteristic marker of neurodegeneration in AD, in hippocampal neurons, whereas other preparations tested did not do so under the same conditions. More aggregated forms of A beta 42, including both fibrils and a mixture of assembly forms termed A beta-derived diffusible ligands (ADDLs), bound to neurons much more extensively and at lower concentrations than preparations that contained smaller forms. Fibrillar A beta 42, in particular, bound to neurons at concentrations as low as 1 nM. Colocalization studies showed that fibrillar A beta 42 bound almost exclusively at nonsynaptic sites. These results show differences between assembly forms of A beta 42 in the ability to trigger apoptotic signaling in CNS neurons, and they directly demonstrate differences between assembly forms in the binding to CNS neurons, a possible first step in the pathogenesis of AD. These results suggest that fibrillar A beta 42 contributes to the pathogenesis of AD.
Vital signs and cognitive function are not affected by 23-sodium and 17-oxygen magnetic resonance imaging of the human brain at 9.4 T.

The definitive version is available at www3.interscience.wiley.com. Postprint version of article may differ from published version. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jmri.22221/abstract
Quantum simulation of many-body effects in steady-state nonequilibrium : Electron-phonon coupling in quantum dots

We develope a method of mapping quantum nonequilibrium steady-state to an effective equilibrium system and present an algorithm to calculate electron-transport using an equilibrium technique. A systematic implementation of boundary conditions in steady-state nonequilibrium is made in the statistical operator $\stackrel{\ifmmode \hat{}\else \^{}\fi{}}{Y}$ constructed from scattering state operators. We explicitly demonstrate the equivalence of this method to nonequilibrium Green function techniques for a noninteracting quantum dot model. In electron-phonon coupled quantum dot systems, we formulate an algorithm to construct the statistical bias operator $\stackrel{\ifmmode \hat{}\else \^{}\fi{}}{Y}$ and perform a full many-body calculation with the quantum Monte Carlo technique. The results coherently demonstrate various transport behaviors such as phonon dephasing, $I\ensuremath{-}V$ staircase, and phonon-assisted tunneling phenomena. This formulation makes the existing computational quantum many-body techniques applicable to quantum steady-state nonequilibrium problems, which will complement the theories based on the diagrammatic approach.
The effect of apolipoprotein E4 on synchronous neural interactions in brain cultures.

In a previous study, we assessed the synchronous neural interactions (SNI) in a developing neural network in brain cultures on multielectrode arrays (Christopoulos et al. in J Neural Eng 9:046008, 2012). Here, we report on the effects of apolipoprotein E4 (apoE4) on these neural interactions. We carried out six experiments (five using rodent brain cultures and one using neuroblastoma cultures) in which we recorded local field potentials (LFP) from 59 sites for several days in vitro under the following conditions. In one experiment, we added to the culture media triglyceride (TG)-rich lipoproteins from a human subject with the apoE4/4 genotype, whereas in the other experiments, we added recombinant human apoE4. We found that SNI in the apoE4-treated cultures had higher coefficient of SNI variation, as compared to control cultures. These findings further document the role of SNI as a fundamental aspect of the dynamic organization of neural networks (Langheim et al. in Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 103:455–459, 2006. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0509623102 ; Georgopoulos et al. in J Neural Eng 4:349–355, 2007) and extend the effect of apoE4 on SNI (Leuthold et al. in Exp Brain Res 226:525–536, 2013) across different brain species (human, rodents), apoE source (TG-rich lipoproteins, recombinant), neural signals (MEG, LFP), and brain network (intact brain, developing brain in vitro). To our knowledge, this is the first study of the effects of apoE4 on neural network function in vitro.
Searching for illicit materials using nuclear resonance fluorescence stimulated by narrow-band photon sources

Abstract We report the results of an experimental study of the sensitivity of two distinct classes of systems that exploit nuclear resonance fluorescence (NRF) to search for illicit materials in containers. One class of systems is based on the direct detection of NRF photons emitted from isotopes of interest. The other class infers the presence of a particular isotope by observing the preferential attenuation of resonant photons in the incident beam. We developed a detailed analytical model for both approaches. We performed experiments to test the model using depleted uranium as a surrogate for illicit material and used tungsten as a random choice for shielding. We performed the experiments at Duke University’s High Intensity Gamma Source (HIGS). Using the methodology we detail in this paper one can use this model to estimate the performance of potential inspection systems in certifying containers as free of illicit materials and for detecting the presence of those same materials.
The pulse profile of the Crab pulsar in the energy range 45 keV-1.2 MeV

The Crab Nebula pulsar (PSR 0531+21) is the best studied and most intense of the nontransient X-ray pulsars. However, since its spectrum drops rapidly with energy, a well-resolved pulse profile has not previously been obtained above 200 keV. In the hard X-ray and low-energy gamma-ray region, an accurate pulse profile can be obtained with a balloon-borne detector of sufficient area during a single transit of the source. A new measurement of the pulse profile of PSR 0531+21 in the energy range above 45 keV obtained with a large-area scintillation detector array is reported. The detector array was flown on a balloon launched from Palestine, Texas on 1980 October 6, reaching a float altitude 4.5 g/sq cm at 0230 UTC October 7. The primary objective of the experiment was to detect and study weak gamma-ray bursts.
The von Neumann relation generalized to coarsening of three-dimensional microstructures

Cellular structures or tessellations are ubiquitous in nature. Metals and ceramics commonly consist of space-filling arrays of single-crystal grains separated by a network of grain boundaries, and foams (froths) are networks of gas-filled bubbles separated by liquid walls. Cellular structures also occur in biological tissue, and in magnetic, ferroelectric and complex fluid contexts. In many situations, the cell/grain/bubble walls move under the influence of their surface tension (capillarity), with a velocity proportional to their mean curvature. As a result, the cells evolve and the structure coarsens. Over 50 years ago, von Neumann derived an exact formula for the growth rate of a cell in a two-dimensional cellular structure (using the relation between wall velocity and mean curvature, the fact that three domain walls meet at 120 degrees and basic topology). This forms the basis of modern grain growth theory. Here we present an exact and much-sought extension of this result into three (and higher) dimensions. The present results may lead to the development of predictive models for capillarity-driven microstructure evolution in a wide range of industrial and commercial processing scenarios--such as the heat treatment of metals, or even controlling the 'head' on a pint of beer.
Post-extrasystolic potentiation and the force-frequency relationship: differential augmentation of myocardial contractility in working myocardium from patients with end-stage heart failure.

Abstract We studied post-extrasystolic potentiation (PESP) and frequency potentiation (FP) of human working myocardium isolated from the ventricles of 10 patients with end-stage heart failure (CHF) and 17 non-failing controls (CTL). The contractility index was peak isometric tension developed in vitro by trabeculae carneae (CTL n = 34, CHF n = 31); programmed electrical stimulation was used to initiate as well as alter the timing relationship of the contractile events. While holding constant the total number of contractions per unit of time, we compared the augmentation of contractile performance that occurred upon doubling the stimulation frequency (FP) to that of changing the stimulation pattern (PESP). In the CTL group we found that FP and PESP differed in their ability to augment cardiac contractile performance, PESP being more effective; 105 ± 13% for PESP vs. 34 ± 11% (mean ± s.e.m. ) for FP. In the CHF group, the inotropic response to PESP was similar to CTL; in contrast, the relative efficacy of FP (3 ± 3%) compared to PESP (81 ± 14%) was markedly diminished. Studies with positive inotropic agents revealed that the percent change in contractility induced by FP and PESP depends upon the relative inotropic state of the heart; however, the contractile response to PESP always equaled or exceeded those produced by clinically relevant concentrations of inotropic agents, particularly in CHF muscles. Agents that increase intracellular levels of adenosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate reversed the FP abnormalities seen in the CHF group, suggesting that deficient production of this second messenger in heart failure may cause the abnormal force-frequency relationship in failing myocardium. We conclude that the differential responses of myopathic muscle to PESP and FP may be caused by abnormal restitution processes during diastole. Our results suggest that PESP may be an effective therapeutic modality for patients with severe heart failure who have failed to adequately respond to inotropic drugs, and may serve as a useful indicator of cardiac contractile reserve in these patients.
Elevation of plasma amino nitrogen as an index of the gravity of hemorrhagic shock.

SummarySerial determinations of the hematocrit and the whole blood, plasma and red cell amino nitrogen concentrations were carried out during prolonged hemorrhage and shock in rats. It was shown that, due to the high concentration of amino nitrogen in the red cell, as compared to the plasma, the whole blood amino nitrogen fluctuates with the hematocrit, while the plasma amino nitrogen more closely reflects the degree of shock. In a large series of rats a rise in plasma amino nitrogen of 1 mg % or more after a 2.5 to 2.7 % hemorrhage was invariably associated with a fatal outcome.
The Decline of Undergraduate Engineering Education in the United States

Examples of the decline in the mastery of engineering fundamentals and the ability to apply these fundamentals to real world problems are presented. There are enhanced abilities in today’s graduates and these are discussed. No attempt is made to assign blame for the decline in capabilities since there are many contributors to this change. Some of the factors contributing to the decline include student evaluations of instruction, misuse of homework, diminished reading comprehension, pressure on faculty to be productive in research, and the decrease in mastery required in the accreditation process. Each of the factors is discussed in some depth and rational actions are proposed to reverse this disturbing trend.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Lexicographically ordered trees

Abstract We characterize trees whose lexicographic ordering produces an order isomorphic copy of some sets of real numbers, or an order isomorphic copy of some set of ordinal numbers. We characterize trees whose lexicographic ordering is order complete, and we investigate lexicographically ordered ω -splitting trees that, under the open-interval topology of their lexicographic orders, are of the first Baire category. Finally we collect together some folklore results about the relation between Aronszajn trees and Aronszajn lines, and use earlier results of the paper to deduce some topological properties of Aronszajn lines.
In-vitro study of the susceptibility of cefoxitin/cefotetan resistant Bacteroides fragilis group strains to various other antimicrobial agents

The in-vitro activity of various beta-lactam antibiotics, beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations, clindamycin, and metronidazole was determined against Bacteroides fragilis group isolates that were resistant to both cefoxitin and cefotetan. Among the cephalosporins tested ceftizoxime was the most active with 80% of the strains susceptible, followed by cefotaxime (65% susceptible), and cefoperazone (47% susceptible). Piperacillin and clindamycin showed comparable activity to ceftizoxime with 80% and 81% susceptible, respectively. The addition of a beta-lactamase inhibitor (sulbactam, clavulanate, or tazobactam) enhanced the activity of the various beta-lactam agents from 4-fold to 16-fold overall. One strain of B. fragilis was found that was resistant to all beta-lactam agents either alone or in combination. All strains in this study were susceptible to less than or equal to 4 mg/l of metronidazole.