cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sodium dynamics in pyramidal neuron dendritic spines: synaptically evoked entry predominantly through AMPA receptors and removal by diffusion

Dendritic spines are key elements underlying synaptic integration and cellular plasticity, but many features of these important structures are not known or are controversial. We examined these properties using newly developed simultaneous sodium and calcium imaging with single-spine resolution in pyramidal neurons in rat hippocampal slices from either sex. Indicators for both ions were loaded through the somatic patch pipette, which also recorded electrical responses. Fluorescence changes were detected with a high-speed, low-noise CCD camera. Following subthreshold electrical stimulation, postsynaptic sodium entry is almost entirely through AMPA receptors with little contribution from entry through NMDA receptors or voltage-gated sodium channels. Sodium removal from the spine head is through rapid diffusion out to the dendrite through the spine neck with a half-removal time of ∼16 ms, which suggests the neck has low resistance. Peak [Na+]i changes during single EPSPs are ∼5 mm Stronger electrical stimulation evoked small plateau potentials that had significant longer-lasting localized [Na+]i increases mediated through NMDA receptors.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Dendritic spines, small structures that are difficult to investigate, are important elements in the fundamental processes of synaptic integration and plasticity. The main tool for examining these structures has been calcium imaging. However, the kinds of information that calcium imaging reveals is limited. We used newly developed, high-speed, simultaneous sodium and calcium imaging to examine ion dynamics in spines in hippocampal pyramidal neurons. We found that following single subthreshold synaptic activation most sodium entry was through AMPA receptors and not through NMDA receptors or through voltage-gated sodium channels and that the spine neck is not a significant resistance barrier. Most spine mechanisms are linear. However, regenerative NMDA conductances can be activated with stronger stimulation.
The Section on the Clinical Psychology of Women (Section 4), 1980—

It is worth remembering that when clinical psychology began, women could not even vote in national elections in the United States (female suffrage was not achieved until 1920), and female schoolteachers who married had to quit their jobs. Most psychologists were male. At present, in contrast, women receive over half the doctoral degrees in psychology and if present trends continue will constitute a majority of the field (Strickland, 1987).
Multiheterocyclic Motifs via Three-Component Reactions of Benzynes, Cyclic Amines, and Protic Nucleophiles

A broadly general, three-component reaction strategy for the construction of compounds containing multiple heterocycles is described. Thermal benzyne formation (by the hexadehydro-Diels-Alder (HDDA) reaction) in the presence of tertiary cyclic amines and a protic nucleophile (HNu) gives, via ring-opening of intermediate ammonium ion/Nu- ion pairs, heterocyclic products. Many reactions are efficient even when the stoichiometric loading of the three reactants approaches unity. Use of HOSO2CF3 as the HNu gives ammonium triflate intermediates, which can then be ring opened by an even wider variety of nucleophiles.
Thoracoscopic pericardial window creation and thoracic duct ligation in neonates.

Objective We describe 2 newborn infants with persistent pericardial effusion treated with thoracoscopic pericardial window and thoracic duct ligation. Methods Patient 1 was a premature female newborn who presented with severe cardiac anomalies, including dextrocardia. She was treated with pulmonary artery handing and pacemaker placement for complete cardiac block. Postoperatively, she developed pericarditis with persistent symptomatic pericardial effusion. She did not improve despite pericardial drain placement. She was treated with a thoracoscopic pericardial window. Patient 2 was a newborn male who presented with cardiac tamponade secondary to congenital chylopericardium. He did not respond to pericardial drain placement or medical management with fasting, total parenteral nutrition, and octreotide. He was treated with thoracoscopic pericardial window and thoracic duct ligation. Results Patient 1 improved rapidly. The pericardial effusion disappeared. The chest tube was removed 5 days following surgery. She died 6 weeks later of a cardiac arrhythmia secondary to pacemaker failure. The pericardial effusion had resolved. Patient 2 responded to the pericardial window and thoracic duct ligation. He was discharged 10 days following the procedure. Conclusions Thoracoscopy provides an excellent approach to the pericardium. Pericardial windows and biopsy can be safely performed with this approach. The thoracic duct can be easily identified and ligated even in small babies. Recovery can be fast with minimal postoperative discomfort. Cosmetic results are excellent and length of hospitalization is minimized.
Treatment of Chagas Disease in the United States.

Chagas disease (CD) is endemic to much of Latin America, but also present in the United States (U.S.). Following a lengthy asymptomatic period, CD produces serious cardiac or gastrointestinal complications in 30–40% of people. Less than 1% of the estimated six million cases in the Americas, including 326,000–347,000 in the U.S., are diagnosed. Infected persons are typically unaware and the bulk of clinicians are unfamiliar with current treatment guidelines. This review provides U.S. and other clinicians with the latest knowledge of CD treatment. Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCM) causes severe fibrosis and autonomic damage in the myocardium. Eliminating the parasite through antitrypanosomal therapy with benznidazole, a nitroimidazole derivative or nifurtimox, a nitrofuran compound, potentially prevents heart failure and other sequelae of advanced CCM. Benznidazole, recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for children 2–12 years old, is the first-line therapy; optimal dosages are currently being studied. Antitrypanosomal therapy prevents congenital transmission; produces high cure rates for acute, congenital, and early chronic cases; and improves clinical outcomes in adult chronic indeterminate cases. However, this benefit was not observed in a large clinical trial that included patients with advanced CCM. Treatment with antitrypanosomal drugs can cure CD in acute, congenital, and early chronic cases and provides improved clinical outcomes for chronic indeterminate cases. This treatment should be offered as early as possible, before advanced CCM develops.
Colony efficiency and the reproductivity effect inLeptothorax allardycei (Mann)

The composition of colonies ofLeptothorax allardycei (Mann) is examined. The number of total brood increases linearly with the number of workers in the colony. There is no evidence of the reproductivity effect inL. allardycei. The relative efficiency of colonies remains constant with increases in colony size. The implications for colony size are briefly discussed.
Reversion of the effects of a threonine deaminase regulatory mutant by a mutation in ilvH in Escherichiacoli K-12☆

In a strain carrying an ilvA538 mutation, the ilvGEDA operon expression is decreased (hyperattenuated) and the activity and/or expression of isoleucyl- and valyl- tRNA synthetases is decreased. We have isolated two revertants of ilvA538 owing to mutations in the ilvH gene, whose product is acetohydroxy acid synthase III. The regulatory properties of these revertants are consistent with a dual role for threonine deaminase as an effector of the ilvGEDA operon and the isoleucyl- and valyl- tRNA synthetase structural genes.
Space-Filling Designs for Multi-Layer Nested Factors

This article considers computer experiments where levels for continuous factors are selected in sequential order with the level selected for one factor directly affecting the range of possible leve...
Helicobacter pylori and Related Diseases

Most people infected with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) are asymptomatic; however, some will develop peptic ulcer disease, while still others will develop gastric cancer. Testing for H. pylori infection is recommended for specific groups of patients. Treatment is complicated and generally requires a combination of medicines taken together for 10–14 days. Once treated, patients should be retested to determine cure. Reinfection among adults cured of H. pylori infection is infrequent. Cure of H. pylori infection dramatically reduces peptic ulcer recurrence. In populations at high risk of gastric cancer, treating asymptomatic young adults reduces the subsequent risk of gastric cancer.
MON-509 Crack in My Bone of Certain Significance: Clinical Vignette and Literature Review

Background: Overall incidence of periprosthetic fractures is <1% to 2.3% while that of postoperative periprosthetic fractures (<90 days) is 2.1%.1 Factors associated with postoperative periprosthetic fractures include uncemented femoral stem, osteoporosis, females sex, higher age, high BMI, anatomical deformities and previous surgery.1 We present an intriguing case of POST-OP periprosthetic fracture in a woman with normal bone mineral density (BMD) and discuss potentially unrecognized risk factors. Case: 77 year old woman, with a history of osteoarthritis, on daily Celecoxib 200 mg for three decades, was seen in Osteoporosis clinic. She underwent elective left total hip replacement. On postoperative day 1 she experienced acute left hip pain. CT showed acute spiral periprosthetic left hip fracture with intact femoral and acetabular components of the arthroplastic joint. Surgical revision with replacement of a longer stem was done. She returned to protected weight-bearing activity with a cane 3 months after surgery, with significant limitation of hip muscle strength and some pain in the involved hip. She continued taking Celecoxib. Bone density scan showed a BMD of 1.514 g/cm2 and a T-score of +2.8 at L1-L4, 0.950 g/cm2 and -0.6 at femoral neck, and 0.885 g/cm2 and -1.0 at hip. Serum calcium, albumin, phosphorous, vitamin D, creatinine and bone alkaline phosphatase were normal. Free kappa light chains were elevated, 4.53 mg/dL (0.33-1.94) and alpha-2 fraction was 14% (8.6-13.1). She had no proteinuria or skeletal lesions and was diagnosed with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS). It is unclear whether chronic use of selective COX-2 inhibitors and/or MGUS played a role in development of the periprosthetic fracture in our patient. Discussion: Previous studies show that selective COX-2 inhibitors can affect bone health by increasing BMD, simultaneously decreasing fracture healing.2 Individuals with MGUS have 1.7 fold risk of overall and 6.3 fold of vertebral fractures.3 Our patient was female, elderly and had uncemented stem, however, we speculate that MGUS and long-term COX-2 inhibitor use may have contributed to fracture risk in this patient. Since periprosthetic fractures are associated with significant morbidity, delayed healing and worse outcomes, it may be prudent for physicians to assess for such risk factors prior to surgery in order to identify at risk patients. References: 1 Lundbeck et al. Increased risk of intraoperative and early postoperative periprosthetic femoral fracture with uncemented stems. Acta Orthop 2017; 88: 390-394 2 Carbone LD et al. Association between BMD and use of NSAIDs and aspirin: impact of cyclooxygenase selectivity J Bone Miner Res 2003;18:1795-802 3 Drake MT et al. Unveiling Skeletal Fragility in Patients Diagnosed with MGUS: No Longer a Condition of Undetermined Significance? J Bone Miner Res 2014; 29: 2529-2533
Problems in Optimal Control of Macroeconomic Systems

It has long been recognized that the determination of policies for a national economy is fundamentally a feedback control system problem (1). However, the national economy is, by its very nature, a multidimensional system and the feedback control theory of the 1950 time period was generally unable to cope with this multidimensionality in a useful manner. Also, the development of dynamic macroeconomic models was not at a level for which meaningful results could be obtained.
Soldiers of the Pen: The Writers’ War Board in World War II: Howell, Thomas. Amherst, MA: University of Massachusetts Press, 2019, 296 pp., $90 cloth, $29.95 paper

Let us not bury the lede. Thomas Howell’s groundbreaking account of the actions of the Writers’ War Board should be required reading for two groups.First are the historians who analyze the content ...
De-pinning instability of an evaporating-bounded liquid bridge: Experiments and axisymmetric analysis

Abstract In this manuscript we examine the stability of an evaporating-bounded axisymmetric liquid bridge confined between parallel-planar similar substrates by using both theory and experiments. From classical stability analysis appearing in the literature it is now generally understood that a bounded liquid bridge stability diagram contains; a region of low slenderness where instability is caused by de-pinning; a region of low to large slenderness and small liquid bridge volume where axisymmetric minimum volume instabilities occur; and a low to large slenderness region with large liquid bridge volume where non-axisymmetric maximum volume instabilities are present. Under a quasistatic assumption we use hydrostatics via the Young–Laplace equation to estimate the minimum stable volume before either de-pinning or rupture occur for a range of axial and radial Bond numbers. To examine liquid bridge stability from the Young–Laplace equation for bounded-axisymmetric liquid bridges we analyzed zero capillary pressure solutions, and their transition, as stability limits. Observable trends show good agreement for critical behavior when comparing experiments and theory.
Enabling Affordance-Guided Grasp Synthesis for Robotic Manipulation

Empowering robots with the ability to use image data to understand complex object affordances will enable robots to intuitively interact with any given object. An affordance is an action such as scooping or swinging that an object allows. A single object may have multiple affordances that are linked to the object’s functional parts. Furthermore, scooping and swinging require particular grasp configurations. This is the principle behind affordance-guided grasp synthesis. Once the affordances and the corresponding grasps are known, the robot is primed to learn the behaviors to execute affordances. This paper presents a systematic review of recent work on affordance detection and how those affordances are used to guide grasp synthesis.
Traditional Students as Second Class Citizens through Modern Day Tracking

We used a qualitative case study approach to examine the schooling experiences of 40 current high school seniors and 20 alumni from an urban STEAM career academy comprised of 98% African American s...
Premixed or basal insulin: the insulin initiation consideration in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

[Summary] The general status of glycemic control and insulin initiation are not optimistic in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes.Chinese patients experience pancreatic β-cell dysfunction and reduction of early phase insulin spike earlier and more severely compared to Caucasians.These can cause more significant postprandial hyperglycaemia which is further deteriorated by traditional carbohydrate-rich Chinese diet.Therefore,premixed insulin may be a more appropriate option of insulin initiation therapy for Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Key words: Diabetes ; Premixed insulin ; Basal insulin ; Hyperglycaemia; β-cell dysfunction
Teacher-student relationships across the first seven years of education and adolescent outcomes

Abstract Despite the significance of teacher–student relationships during the early years of school, questions remain about its long-term importance and whether the timing and variability of relationship quality matter. To address these gaps, data from the NICHD SECCYD were used to determine whether teacher-student relationships between kindergarten and sixth grade were associated with the achievement, social-behavior, and educational beliefs and aspirations of 1364 ninth graders (52% male, 80% White). Multivariate regression analyses revealed that when teachers reported closer relationships with students, in turn, students demonstrated modestly stronger outcomes across all domains. In contrast, more conflictual relationships were largely associated with underachievement and variability in relationship quality was not consistently associated with adolescent outcomes. Finally, although the benefits of teacher-student closeness were largely cumulative, teacher-student conflict in the later years was more strongly associated with student outcomes than earlier conflict. Collectively, results affirm the importance of teacher-student relationships for students' long-term development.
Water, Water Everywhere: Destiny, Politics and Commodification on New York’s Water Edge

In 1973, in the midst of an economic downturn, New York City´s waterfront was envisioned as an enterprise for an urban renewal. This paper reflects on the interplay among a set of actors which was key in launching a more open, accessible, diverse and thrilling city´s edge. The intersecting condition among corporate capitalism, real estate, political interests and talented design illustrates the waterfront as particularly instrumental in the representation of a desire city to live in. However, the case study of two relevant built projects, Battery Park City and Gantry Plaza State Park, showcases different results in the challenge of the city´s waterfront strategy giving over its innovation, privileging instead the rapid commodification of the architecture and the unbalance between public and private interests.
Phosphorylation regulates arginine-rich RNA-binding protein solubility and oligomerization

ABSTRACT Post-translational modifications (PTMs) within splicing factor RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), such as phosphorylation, regulate several critical steps in RNA metabolism including spliceosome assembly, alternative splicing and mRNA export. Notably, the arginine-/serine-rich (RS) domains in SR proteins are densely modified by phosphorylation compared with the remainder of the proteome. Previously, we showed that dephosphorylation of SRSF2 regulated increased interactions with similar arginine-rich RBPs U1-70K and LUC7L3. In this work, we dephosphorylated nuclear extracts using phosphatase in vitro and analyzed equal amounts of detergent-soluble and -insoluble fractions by mass spectrometry-based proteomics. Correlation network analysis resolved 27 distinct modules of differentially soluble nucleoplasm proteins. We found classes of arginine-rich RBPs that decrease in solubility following dephosphorylation and enrich to the insoluble pelleted fraction, including the SR protein family and the SR-like LUC7L RBP family. Importantly, increased insolubility was not observed across broad classes of RBPs. Phosphorylation regulated SRSF2 structure, as dephosphorylated SRSF2 formed high molecular weight oligomeric species in vitro. Reciprocally, phosphorylation of SRSF2 by serine-/arginine protein kinase 2 (SRPK2) in vitro prevented high molecular weight SRSF2 species formation. Furthermore, we pharmacologically inhibited SRPKs in mammalian cells and observed increased cytoplasmic granules as well as the formation of cytoplasmic SRSF2 tubular structures that associate with microtubules by immunocytochemical staining. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that phosphorylation may be a critical modification that prevents arginine-rich RBP insolubility and oligomerization.
Post-Pregnancy Factors Predicting Teen Mothers’ Educational Attainment by Age 30 in Two National Cohorts:

Women who begin childbearing as teenagers attain lower levels of education than women who delay childbearing until age 20 and later. Little is known about post-pregnancy factors that predict educat...
Diffusion of real versus misinformation during a crisis event: A big data-driven approach

Abstract Misinformation has captured the interest of academia in recent years with several studies looking at the topic broadly with inconsistent results. In this research, we attempt to bridge the gap in the literature by examining the impacts of user-, time-, and content-based characteristics that affect the virality of real versus misinformation during a crisis event. Using a big data-driven approach, we collected over 42 million tweets during Hurricane Harvey and obtained 3589 original verified real or false tweets by cross-checking with fact-checking websites and a relevant federal agency. Our results show that virality is higher for misinformation, novel tweets, and tweets with negative sentiment or lower lexical density. In addition, we reveal the opposite impacts of sentiment on the virality of real news versus misinformation. We also find that tweets on the environment are less likely to go viral than the baseline religious news, while real social news tweets are more likely to go viral than misinformation on social news.
Soil Moisture Retrieval Using L-Band SAR Over Landslide Regions in Northern California Grasslands

Slow-moving landslides are destabilized by precipitation. The continuous soil moisture monitoring aid the understanding of landslide processes. Here we study time-series soil moisture using NASA's Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar (UAVSAR) at 6-m resolution for a seasonally active grassland landslide in the northern California Coast Ranges, USA. A physically based radar scattering model is used to retrieve the near-surface (5-cm depth) soil moisture. The forward model is developed for polarization HH and VV. The soil moisture retrieval using HH&VV shows unbiased RMSE (ubRMSE) of 0.058 m3/m3. From the Freeman-Durden decomposition for UAVSAR's time-series data, the surface scattering and double bounce dominate the landslide area which suggests the strong correlation with soil moisture for the data. The physical-model based algorithm can be applied to other grassland covered landslides in California to retrieve soil moisture.
On the continuing problem of inappropriate learning measures: Comment on Wulf et al. (2014) and Wulf et al. (2015).

Abstract Two recent studies in this journal (Wulf, Chiviacowsky, & Cardozo, 2014; Wulf, Chiviacowsky, & Drews, 2015) assessed the additive effects of autonomy support and enhanced expectancies (Wulf et al., 2014) and autonomy support and external focus (Wulf et al., 2015) on learning a novel throwing skill. Participants learned to throw with their non-dominant arm at a target consisting of nine concentric circles with a center bull’s eye. More points were awarded for throws landing closer to the bull’s eye, but the precise landing location within each circle was ignored. All throws landing anywhere within a specific circle received the same score. I comment on the inappropriateness of this assessment for determining performance variability, which is an important characteristic of skill learning. The standard errors reported by Wulf et al. (2014, 2015) are confusing or ambiguous to performance as measured in the task. They do not reflect the precision of performance that one might expect. This problem is not limited to the two studies in this commentary, but remains a continuing one in many studies of motor learning. Questions are also raised concerning the absence of any kinematic or kinetic measures of throwing performance in Wulf et al. (2014, 2015).
Distribution of Griseofulvin Taken up by Microsporum gypseum: Complexes of the Antibiotic with Cell Constituents

Abstract El-Nakeeb, Moustafa A. (Rutgers, The State University, New Brunswick, N.J.), and J. O. Lampen. Distribution of griseofulvin taken up by Microsporum gypseum: complexes of the antibiotic with cell constituents. J. Bacteriol. 89:1075–1081. 1965.—The griseofulvin-(4-methoxy-H3) accumulated by Microsporum gypseum was bound to fungal constituents. Mild procedures (hot-water or acetone extraction) removed between 40 and 60% of the total concentration of antibiotic. The remainder was recovered only after treatment with hot trichloroacetic acid followed by hot NaOH. The ratio of griseofulvin-H3 in the water-soluble pool to that in the nucleic acid (soluble in hot trichloroacetic acid) and protein (soluble in NaOH) fractions was about 2:1:1, respectively. Only small amounts of radioactivity could be detected subsequent to hot-water extraction in the cold trichloroacetic acid extracts and in the cell-wall residues. Essentially all the activity in the soluble pool and in the nucleic acid extracts was chemically unchanged griseofulvin, much of which was present in various complexes, especially after long periods of incubation. One cannot be certain of the original form of all the radioactivity which was extracted in the protein fraction, because some degradation of the antibiotic occurred during the hot NaOH treatment. Nevertheless, a considerable amount of griseofulvin-H3 was still present, and there had been no significant incorporation of radioactivity into the amino acid residues. It is probable, therefore, that the radioactivity in both protein and nucleic acid fractions represents complexes of the antibiotic with macromolecular components which were formed in vivo by the sensitive organisms.
Mutagenicity testing in mammalian cells. II. Validation of multiple drug-resistance markers having practical application for screening potential mutagens.

Abstract Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell lines heterozygous at both the adenine phosphoribosyltransferase (aprt) and thymidine kinase (tk) loci were used for single-step selection of spontaneous and induced mutants resistant to 8-azaadenine (AAr), 6-thioguanine (TGr), ouabain (OUAr), or 5-fluorodeoxyuridine (FUdRr). Mutation data are reported for direct mutagens (EMS, ethyl methane-sulfonate; MNNG, N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine; NQO, 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide) and promutagens (DMN, dimethylnitrosamine; BP, benzo[a]-pyrene) activated by rat-liver homogenates. Optimal plating densities were established for AAr, TGr, OUAr and FUdRr. The induced mutant frequencies as a function of relative cell survival after treatment with EMS, DMN or BP were 2–4 d for AAr, 6–8 d for TGr, 1–3 d for FUdRr. The induced mutant frequencies as a function of relative cell survival after treatment with EMS, DMN or BP showed locus-specific differences in sensitivity. Of 61 clonal isolates resistant to AA and assayed for APRT activity, 87% had ⩽ 5% wild-type activity; of 30 TGr clones assayed, 83% had ⩽ 5% wild-type HGPRT activity. Of 42 FUdRr clones assayed, 98% had ⩽ 1% wild-type TK activity. 50 clones selected in medium containing FUdR displayed cross-resistance to 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BUdR) and trifluorothymidine (TFT) and all were sensitive to HAT (hypoxanthine-amethopterin-thymidine) medium. The tk locus showed the largest mutational response as a function of cell survival after mutagen treatment. The rapid expression kinetics for FUdRr and the possibility that the locus detects a broader spectrum of genetic lesions than the other drug-resistance markers are discussed in terms of a sensitive screening assay for detecting potential mutagens.
A microfluidic direct formate fuel cell on paper

We describe the first direct formate fuel cell on a paper microfluidic platform. In traditional membrane-less microfluidic fuel cells (MFCs), external pumping consumes power produced by the fuel cell in order to maintain co-laminar flow of the anode stream and oxidant stream to prevent mixing. However, in paper microfluidics, capillary action drives flow while minimizing stream mixing. In this work, we demonstrate a paper MFC that uses formate and hydrogen peroxide as the anode fuel and cathode oxidant, respectively. Using these materials we achieve a maximum power density of nearly 2.5 mW/mg Pd. In a series configuration, our MFC achieves an open circuit voltage just over 1 V, and in a parallel configuration, short circuit of 20 mA absolute current. We also demonstrate that the MFC does not require continuous flow of fuel and oxidant to produce power. We found that we can pre-saturate the materials on the paper, stop the electrolyte flow, and still produce approximately 0.5 V for 15 min. This type of paper MFC has potential applications in point-of-care diagnostic devices and other electrochemical sensors.
Effects of cold storage on adult emergence and fecundity of Choristoneura occidentalis (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

The effects of cold storage on Choristoneura occidentalis Freeman pupae, in darkness at 2.0 ± 0.5°c and 100% R.H. for 0 to 10 weeks, were determined on adult emergence, adult longevity, the number of eggs laid per female, and egg viability in the laboratory. The proportion of adults emerging was not significantly reduced after pupae were stored in the cold room for up to 2 weeks. No adults emerged from pupae being stored for 8 weeks or longer. The lifespan of adult females was longer than that of males. The differences in adult longevity between the two sexes increased after pupae were exposed to cold storage. Cold storage of C. occidentalis pupae significantly reduced adult longevity: longer pupal storage resulted in a shorter adult lifespan. After 1 week of cold storage of the pupae, the mean number of eggs laid per female and egg viability were not significantly reduced as compared with those for females not exposed to cold storage as pupae. Egg production and egg viability, however, were significantly reduced when pupae were subjected to cold storage for 2 weeks or longer. Considering all the parameters measured, pupae may be exposed to cold storage for 1 week without deterioration in adult quality. Key words: Choristoneura occidentalis; cold storage; adult longevity; fecundity
Two roads diverged in the food crisis: Global policy takes the one more travelled

The 2007-08 food price crisis provoked renewed policy debate on a wide range of important matters long sidelined from mainstream consideration—the role and value of smallholder agriculture, the need for public investment in the sector, the importance of public agricultural research, the value for developing countries of growing more of their own food, the dangers posed by climate change in an era of thin global commodity markets, and the potential value of food reserves for both food security and price stability.
Effectiveness of written hospitalist sign‐outs in answering overnight inquiries

BACKGROUND Hospitalists are key providers of care to medical inpatients, and sign-out is an integral part of providing safe, high-quality inpatient care. There is little known about hospitalist-to-hospitalist sign-out. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the quality of hospitalist/physician-extender sign-outs by assessing how well the sign-out prepares the night team for overnight events and to determine attributes of effective sign-out. DESIGN Analysis of a written-only sign-out protocol on a nonteaching hospitalist service using prospective data collected by an attending physician survey during overnight shifts. SETTING Yale–New Haven Hospital, a 966-bed, urban, academic medical center in New Haven, Connecticut with approximately 13,700 hospitalist discharges annually. RESULTS We recorded 124 inquiries about 96 patients during 6 days of data collection in 2012. Hospitalists referenced the sign-out for 89 (74%) inquiries, and the sign-out was considered sufficient in isolation to respond to 27 (30%) of these inquiries. Hospitalists physically saw the patient for 14 (12%) of inquiries. Nurses were the originator for most inquiries (102 [82%]). The most common inquiry topics were medications (55 [45%]), plan of care (26 [21%]), and clinical changes (26 [21%]). Ninety-five (77%) inquiries were considered to be “somewhat” or “very” clinically important by the hospitalist. CONCLUSIONS Overall, we found that attending hospitalists rely heavily on written sign-out to address overnight inquiries, but that those sign-outs are not reliably effective. Future work to better understand the roles of written and verbal components in sign-out is needed to help improve the safety of overnight care. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2013;8:609–614. © 2013 Society of Hospital Medicine
The elastic scattering of electrons by neutral hydrogen atoms by the variational method

Two variational methods are proposed for computing the phase shifts for an electron scattered by a neutral atom. These methods are shown to be different formulations of the same physical principle, i.e., the stationary property of the phase shift. By applying one of these methods to the $S$ scattering of an electron by a hydrogen atom, the phase shifts are computed for various kinetic energies. A comparison is finally made with the results which Morse and Allis have derived from the solution of the Fock equation.
Estrous cycle-regulated expression of CYP1B1 mRNA in the rat ovary

CYP1B1, a member of the cytochrome P450 superfamily, is expressed constitutively in the steroidogenic tissues of mammals and is inducible by peptide hormones, cAMP and aromatic hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) ligands. The mechanism of induction of this cytochrome P450 is similar to that for CYP1A1, i.e. through the aromatic hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) signaling pathway. We have recently reported that CYP1B1, but not CYP1A1, is expressed in rat granulosa cells (GC) in the absence of any external stimulus. The induction of CYP1B1 mRNA in rat GC by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) in vitro was followed by an increase in AHR and estrogen receptor (ER-β) RNA levels. Estrous cycle-dependent expression of AHR, AHR-nuclear translocator (ARNT) and ER-mRNAs in the rat ovary was reported. We suggest that CYP1B1 may play a major role in the regulation of rat ovarian function/cycle but until now this has been unexplored experimentally. The present study was therefore aimed at examining the expression of CYP1A1, CYP1B1 and ER-mRNA in rat ovarian tissues throughout the estrous cycle to establish any correlation in the expressions of these mRNAs in rat ovary. Total RNA was extracted from the ovary and liver of cycling adult rats and the mRNAs were analyzed using relative RT-PCR with gene-specific primers for the target mRNA and for RPL 19 or S16 primers as an internal control. The results indicated that in the ovary, CYP1B1 mRNA increased significantly on the evening of proestrus and dramatically decreased on the morning of estrus, while ER-mRNA remained unaltered throughout the estrous cycle. CYP1A1 mRNA in the ovary and both CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 mRNAs in the liver were undetectable. That the sudden decrease of ovarian CYP1B1 mRNA on the morning of estrus was not an effect of the LH surge was verified in vitro using our short-term GC culture model. GC prepared from rats super-stimulated with equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) were cultured for 6 h with or without LH and TCDD. It was observed that both CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 mRNAs were induced by TCDD with no apparent effect of LH. It is suggested that the high level of CYP1B1 mRNA expression on the evening of proestrus in rat ovary might be involved in metabolism of estrogens to catecholestrogen (a known effect of CYP1B1), and that expression is unaffected in GC by LH.
Herrnstein’s equation for the rates of responding during concurrent schedules

A modification of the nonlinear curve-fitting procedure proposed by Wetherington and Lucas (1980) was used to assess how well Herrnstein’s (1970) equation for the rates of responding during concurrent schedules described performance. The equation fitted some results very well, accounting for 80% or more of the variance in the data in studies that used moderate-duration changeover delays and provided the same positive reinforcers, operanda, and simple schedules in the two components. The equation fitted the data poorly in other studies. The k parameter changed with several variables; it was not as constant as Herrnstein (1974) suggested. R0 did not fit Herrnstein’s interpretation as reinforcement from unprogrammed sources. Forty percent of all values of R0 were negative, and another 23% were unreasonably large (greater than 50 reinforcers/h). The data suggest that Herrnstein’s equation is not a general theory of concurrent-schedule responding, and that Herrnstein’s interpretation of k and R0 should be modified.
Cytochalasin sensitive structures and lymphocyte activation.

Abstract In purified human peripheral blood lymphocytes, low (0.01–10 μM) concentrations of cytochalasins A B, E and D (CA, CB, CD, CE) produced marked augmentation of transport and metabolic responses to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and concanavalin A (ConA) including effects on DNA synthesis, cAMP accumulation, phosphatidylinositol turnover and sodium-dependent amino acid transport. At high concentrations (10–100 μM) these same responses were inhibited. Cytochalasin effects were minimal or absent if lectin was not present indicating that these agents are acting by modulating the action of the lectin rather than through a direct effect on cell metabolism. Using [125I]ConA, the number of lectin molecules bound per cell was shown not to be altered by the cytochalasins. Taken together with the previously reported effects of the cytochalasins on calcium uptake in lectin stimulated lymphocytes, these observations suggest that microfilaments (or related cytochalasin sensitive structures) play an important role in the modulation of lymphocyte activation.
Design and implementation of a language-complete C++ semantic graph

In this paper, we describe a system, Hylian, for construction of a language-complete abstract semantic graph that can be used for statement-level analysis, both static and dynamic, of a C++ application. We begin by extending the GNU gcc parser to generate parse trees in XML format for each of the compilation units in a C++ application. We then provide verification that the generated parse trees are structurally equivalent to the code in the original C++ application. We use the generated parse trees, together with an augmented version of the gcc test suite, to recover a grammar for the C++ dialect that we parse. We then construct the Abstract Semantic Graph, ASG, by extending the parse tree for each compilation unit with semantic information derived from the parse trees and guided by the C++ language standard. Finally, we link the ASGs for all of the compilation units into a unified ASG for the entire application under study.
Is there a relationship between pellet sugar content and schedule-induced polydipsia? A reexamination

Five groups of six food-deprived female albino rats received different formulas of Noyes sugared dry-food pellets under a FT 60-sec food reinforcement schedule. Relative to baseline conditions that preceded and followed the FT schedule, 26 of 30 animals more than doubled their water consumption in the FT food-reinforcement schedule condition. The results of this study confirm previous investigators’ reports of an inverse ordinal relationship between the amount of water consumed and sugar content of the food reinforcer, but this relationship was found to be neither numerically large nor statistically significant. It is concluded that premature theoretical speculation, drawn from numerical relationships that lack statistical significance, may be a very unprofitable technique for identification of underlying causes of schedule-induced polydipsia.
Layered semiconductor tungsten disulfide: photoactive material in bulk heterojunction solar cells

Abstract We demonstrate 2D-layered semiconductor tungsten disulfide (WS 2 ) nanoflakes as an efficient photoactive material in bulk heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells. WS 2 nanoflakes-coated titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) nanoparticles layer serves as the electron acceptor with poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) as the hole conductor. The UV–visible spectroscopic measurement yields an optical bandgap of ∼1.7 eV for the WS 2 nanoflakes, confirming the presence of mixed monolayer/few-layers stack. Raman spectra of the WS 2 -coated TiO 2 show a dominant peak at 140 cm −1 for anatase TiO 2 , whereas peaks at 350 cm −1 (in-plane vibration mode) and 420 cm −1 (out-of-plane vibration mode) denote the signature of WS 2 nanoflakes. Photovoltaic performance, electron transport, and recombination at TiO 2 /WS 2 /P3HT interfaces are explored through trap-assisted Shockley–Read–Hall model to elucidate WS 2 as a potential material candidate for efficient solar energy harvesting.
Anterior chamber lens subluxation through a basal peripheral iridectomy

Abstract The superior supporting footplate of the Tennant-Anchor anterior chamber lens can stubluxate through a basal peripheral iridectomy. In each of the three cases reported herein, the implant migrated superiorly along the ciliary body pars plana. In two cases, the lens implant was stabilized by adhesions of the superior supporting footplate to the ciliary body. In the third case, lens movement (pseudophakodonesis) caused the inferior lens footplate to rub against the corneal endothelium, producing secondary iridocyclitis and cystoid macular edema which required intraocular lens removal and exchange. This complication may be prevented by performing a midperipheral iridectomy or iridotomy rather than a large basal iridectomy.
Ontogeny of the sexually dimorphic male nucleus in the preoptic / anterior hypothalamus of ferrets and its manipulation by gonadal steroids

A sexually dimorphic nucleus exists in the dorsal region of the ferret preoptic/anterior hypothalamic area (POA/AH), and is called the male nucleus of the POA/AH (MN-POA/AH) because it is found only in males. Development of the MN-POA/AH was studied in male ferrets, and for comparison a sexually nondimorphic ventral POA/AH nucleus was studied in both sexes. The MN-POA/AH was conspicuous in males as early as embryonic day 37 (E37) of a 41-day gestation, and its volume increased until postnatal day 56 (P56). No nucleus was present in the dorsal POA/AH of females at any age. The densities and average somal areas of cells in the dorsal POA/AH were similar in males and females at E33, before the MN-POA/AH could be visualized. However, at E37 and E41 dorsal cells were greater in density and/or somal area in males than in females, accounting for the appearance of a nucleus in males at these ages. To insure that the dorsal POA/AH nucleus seen in males at E37 and E41 was the presumptive MN-POA/AH present in adult males, pregnant ferrets were given progesterone and either implanted subcutaneously (s.c.) with testosterone (T) or ovariectomized and implanted s.c. with the aromatase inhibitor, 1,4,6-androstatriene-3,17-dione (ATD), on day 30 of gestation. As predicted from previous studies in which subjects were sacrificed in adulthood, formation of a dorsal POA/AH nucleus was promoted in female ferrets by T, and blocked in males by maternal ovariectomy and ATD treatment for animals sacrificed at E41. Much evidence suggests that behavioral sexual differentiation is accomplished in the male ferret between age E28 and P20. The MN-POA/AH is present and potentially functional in males during a considerable portion of this perinatal period.
Dilute nitride based III–V alloys for laser and solar cell applications

Abstract The dilute nitrogen alloy GaAs1−xNx is of recent technological importance for high efficiency solar cells and vertical cavity surface emitting diode lasers used in fiber optic communications. The giant band gap lowering and the abnormal effective mass phenomena observed in this material have been extensively researched. There exist many inconsistencies between the results of various theoretical models and experimental techniques used to probe the above phenomena. It appears that these arise because GaAs1−xNx should be viewed not as an abnormal alloy but rather as a heavy isoelectronically doped semiconductor.
Route to Three-Dimensional Metallized Microstructures Using Cross-Linkable Epoxide SU-8

Distortion-free metallized three-dimensional (3D) microstructures can be created by multiphoton direct laser writing using SU-8 followed by surface-catalyzed electroless deposition. The approach provides a route to 3D micrometer-scale structures and devices having useful electronic, photonic, and electromechanical function, based on a pre-polymer that is widely applied for such applications.
Relationship between eraser node and traffic intensity in counter rotating slotted ring

Abstract DQDB is the IEEE 802.6 standard for subnetwork of a Metropolitan Area Network. There is positional unfairness in DQDB caused by the propagation delay and the asymmetry of the bus structure. A new architecture, Counter Rotating Slotted Ring (CRSR), is proposed to tackle this problem. CRSR has better throughput than DQDB and can reduce unfairness. Eraser nodes are used in both networks to reduce the traffic intensity, i.e., bandwidth requirements. The purpose of this paper is to study the effect of eraser nodes on the traffic intensity in the CRSR network and show that it is superior than DQDB. The traffic intensity of a CRSR varies with the number of eraser nodes present in the network. A relationship between the number of eraser nodes and the bandwidth requirement is established for a Uniformly Loaded Network (ULN). The result is compared to the General Destination Release (GDR) version of DQDB under the same ULN assumptions. The comparison showed that a CRSR with four eraser nodes has a smaller traffic intensity than a GDR DQDB. In other words, CRSR can perform better than an equally equipped DQDB under the same ULN assumptions.
Almost Fredholm operators in von Neumann algebras

LetA be a von Neumann algebra,J be the ideal of compact operators relative toA and letF + be the left-Fredholm class ofA. We call almost left-Fredholm the class $$\tilde F_ + $$ = {A eA: if P eA is a projection and AP eJ then P eJ}. Then $$F_ + \subset \tilde F_ + $$ and the inclusion is proper unlessA is semifinite and has a non-large center. $$\tilde F_ +$$ satisfies all of the algebraic properties ofF + but it is generally not open. IfA is semifinite then A e $$\tilde F_ +$$ iff there are central projectionsG γ with ∑Gγ = I such that AGγ e F+(AGγ). Let π:A → A/J. Then the left almost essential spectrum ofA e A, $$\tilde \sigma _\ell (A) = \{ \gamma \varepsilon \mathbb{C}: A - \gamma {\rm I} \varepsilon | \tilde F_ +$$ , coincides with the set of eigenvalues of π(A)
Proteomic identification of proteins translocated to membrane microdomains upon treatment of fibroblasts with the glycosphingolipid, C8-β-D-lactosylceramide

Plasma membrane (PM) microdomains, including caveolae and other cholesterol-enriched subcompartments, are involved in the regulation of many cellular processes, including endocytosis, attachment and signaling. We recently reported that brief incubation of human skin fibroblasts with the synthetic glycosphingolipid, D-erythro-octanoyl-lactosylceramide (C8-D-e-LacCer), stimulates endocytosis via caveolae and induces the appearance of micron-size microdomains on the PM. To further understand the effects of C8-D-e-LacCer treatment on PM microdomains, we used a detergent-free method to isolate microdomain-enriched membranes from fibroblasts treated ±C8-D-e-LacCer, and performed 2-DE and mass spectrophotometry to identify proteins that were altered in their distribution in microdomains. Several proteins were identified in the microdomain-enriched fractions, including lipid transfer proteins and proteins related to the functions of small GTPases. One protein, Rho-associated protein kinase 2 (ROCK2), was verified by Western blotting to occur in microdomain fractions and to increase in these fractions after D-e-LacCer treatment. Immunofluorescence revealed that ROCK2 exhibited an increased localization at or near the PM in C8-D-e-LacCer-treated cells. In contrast, ROCK2 distribution in microdomains was decreased by treatment of cells with C8-L-threo-lactosylceramide, a glycosphingolipid with non-natural stereochemistry. This study identifies new microdomain-associated proteins and provides evidence that microdomains play a role in the regulation of the Rho/ROCK signaling pathway.