cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
PRODUCTIVITY OF SEAWEEDS

The goal of this manuscript is to assess this field of research for the 1980s, and to highlight the progress and the needs with specific examples. The goal is not an exhaustive review of the literature; thus, many fine contributions are not cited here. The topic is seaweed productivity sensu strictu, from the ecological perspective rather than the physiological perspective. The subject is seaweed biomass and net carbon (C) fixation rates, the regulation of those parameters by environmental properties, and techniques for assessing those parameters. Seaweeds here are marine macroalgae, mostly the chlorophytes (greens), phaeophytes (browns), and rhodophytes (reds).
Versatile raloxifene triflates

Abstract Methodology has been employed that permits the differentiation of the phenols of raloxifene. Transition metal mediated transformations of raloxifene triflates have subsequently provided a number of analogs that were evaluated further in two in vitro models predictive of estrogen receptor mediated biological activity.
Facial Evaluation in Orthognathic Surgery

Patients with dentofacial deformities are best cared for by a multidisciplinary team, a comprehensive care setting with orthodontics, dentistry, speech therapy, social services, and internal medicine or pediatrics working along with the plastic surgeon. Orthognathic surgery does not eliminate the need for orthodontic intervention, but instead works in concert with the orthodontics to create the optimal outcome. The goal is an optimal dental relationship and facial aesthetic. Design of the surgical plan often starts with an accurate evaluation of the facial aesthetic relationships.
Cloud-Enabled Differentially Private Multiagent Optimization With Constraints

We present an optimization framework for solving multiagent convex programs subject to inequality constraints while keeping the agents’ state trajectories private. Each agent has an objective function depending only upon its own state and the agents are collectively subject to global constraints. The agents do not directly communicate with each other but instead route messages through a trusted cloud computer. The cloud adds noise to data being sent to the agents in accordance with the framework of differential privacy and, thus, keeps each agent's state trajectory private from all other agents and any eavesdroppers. This private problem can be viewed as a stochastic variational inequality, and it is solved using a projection-based method for solving variational inequalities that resemble a noisy primal-dual gradient algorithm. Convergence of the optimization algorithm in the presence of noise is proven, and a quantifiable tradeoff between privacy and convergence is extracted from this proof. Simulation results are provided that demonstrate numerical convergence for both $\epsilon$ -differential privacy and $(\epsilon, \delta)$ -differential privacy.
Exercise in congenital heart disease: A contemporary review of the literature

Congenital heart disease (CHD) patients tend to exercise less than their peers without heart disease. These patients often have exercise hesitancy or are not appropriately encouraged to exercise by their primary cardiologists. Regular exercise in the CHD population has been shown to increase fitness and lessen the incidence of obesity. There are positive psychosocial benefits of regular exercise including decreased mood disorders, improved academic performance, and ultimately improved quality of life. As physical activity is increasingly emphasized, a purposeful approach utilizing cardiopulmonary exercise testing for risk stratification and establishment of a baseline level of fitness is often helpful. Once exercise testing is complete, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation has been shown to improve measures of physical and mental fitness and should be considered in CHD patients in need of assistance with exercise.
Systems analysis of benign bladder disorders: insights from omics analysis

The signaling pathways and effectors that drive the response of the bladder to nonmalignant insults or injury are incompletely defined. Interrogation of biological systems has been revolutionized by the ability to generate high-content data sets that capture information on a variety of biomolecules in cells and tissues, from DNA to RNA to proteins. In oncology, such an approach has led to the identification of cancer subtypes, improved prognostic capability, and has provided a basis for precision treatment of patients. In contrast, systematic molecular characterization of benign bladder disorders has lagged behind, such that our ability to uncover novel therapeutic interventions or increase our mechanistic understanding of such conditions is limited. Here, we discuss existing literature on the application of omics approaches, including transcriptomics and proteomics, to urinary tract conditions characterized by pathological tissue remodeling. We discuss molecular pathways implicated in remodeling, challenges in the field, and aspirations for omics-based research in the future.
Examining Cocaine Conditioning Place Preference in Mice

A key component of combating substance use disorders is understanding the neural mechanisms that support drug reward. Tasks such as self-administration assess the reinforcing properties of a drug using a learned behavior but require numerous training sessions and surgery. In comparison, the conditioned place preference (CPP) task assesses reward with little training, without costly surgeries, and confounds that accompany the use of anesthesia or pain-relieving drugs. The CPP task contains three phases: pretest, conditioning, and posttest. During the pretest, mice are allowed to explore a three-compartment apparatus. The two outer compartments contain unique olfactory, tactile, and visual cues whereas the middle compartment is used as an entrance and exit for the mice on test days. During conditioning, mice receive cocaine before being confined to one of the outer compartments. The following day, mice are given saline then confined to the other outer compartment. These pairings are then repeated once. At posttest, mice are permitted to freely explore all compartments in a drug-free state while the time spent in each compartment is recorded. A CPP score is calculated for both the pretest and posttest by comparing the time spent in the cocaine-paired and saline-paired compartments. Enhancements in the CPP score from the pretest to the posttest serve as a measure of the rewarding property of the cocaine. This task offers several notable advantages: 1) the simultaneous recording of locomotor activity and reward, which may utilize different neural mechanisms, 2) the three-compartment CPP setup removes the bias that can be observed in a two-compartment design, and 3) use of multimodal cues support the acquisition of a robust preference in a variety of mouse strains.
Trends in Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) in the United States.

Abstract Background It is important for those called upon to discuss major social determinants of health such as adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) to have accurate knowledge about generational trends in their prevalence. Objective To review available trend data on major forms of ACEs. Methods A search of academic data bases was conducted by combining the term “trend” with a variety of terms referring to childhood adversities. Results Available trend data on ACEs from the 20th century show multi-decade declines in parental death, parental illness, sibling death, and poverty, but multi-decade increases in parental divorce, parental drug abuse and parental incarceration. More recent trend data on ACEs for the first fifteen to eighteen years of the 21st century show declines in parental illness, sibling death, exposure to domestic violence, childhood poverty, parental divorce, serious childhood illness, physical abuse, sexual abuse, physical and emotional bullying and exposure to community violence. Two 21st century ACE increases were for parental alcohol and drug abuse. Overall, there appear to have been more historical and recent improvements in ACEs than deteriorations. But the US still lags conspicuously behind other developed countries on many of these indicators. Conclusion Awareness of improvements, as well as persistent challenges, are important to motivate policy makers and practitioners and to prompt them to recognize the feasibility of success in the prevention of ACEs.
Catalytic Conversion of Pyrolysis Oil to Alcohols and Alkanes in Supercritical Methanol over the CuMgAlOx Catalyst

Pyrolysis oil (PO) is an inexpensive biofuel produced via the fast pyrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass. However, PO is unstable and has low energy density, making it unsuitable as a fuel in conven...
Donor-Derived ALECT2 Amyloidosis and Recurrent Fibrillary Glomerulonephritis in a Transplant Allograft

The occurrence of renal amyloidosis and fibrillary glomerulonephritis in the same biopsy specimen is exceptional and poses a diagnostic challenge. We describe the case of a non-Hispanic White patient with end-stage kidney disease due to fibrillary glomerulonephritis who received a second living donor kidney from a Hispanic individual. A 40-month–posttransplantation biopsy performed for an elevated serum creatinine level revealed interstitial congophilic deposits and glomerular noncongophilic fibrillary deposits, in addition to rejection. Separate laser microdissections of the glomerular and interstitial deposits followed by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC MS/MS) revealed DNAJB9 peptide spectra in glomeruli and a peptide profile consistent with leukocyte chemotactic factor 2 (ALECT2) amyloidosis in the interstitium. Based on these findings, a 2-week–posttransplantation biopsy was re-reviewed and analyzed using LC MS/MS, which revealed a peptide profile consistent with ALECT2 amyloidosis in the interstitium, without peptide spectra for ALECT2 or DNAJB9 in glomeruli. The findings were consistent with donor-derived ALECT2 amyloidosis and recurrent fibrillary glomerulonephritis. At 49 months posttransplantation, allograft function was stable with minimal proteinuria. Thus, LC MS/MS was crucial to establish the accurate diagnosis of these 2 nephropathies characterized by fibrillary deposits. The indolent posttransplantation course suggests that donated kidneys with focal interstitial ALECT2 deposits may be suitable for transplantation but the deposits persist for many years.
Nanoparticle Systems Applied for Immunotherapy in Various Treatment Modalities

In the fight against cancer, studies have shown that administering combination treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy improve patient outcomes. Ultimately to overcome the limitations posed by current treatments, such as deleterious side effects and high reoccurrence rates, new therapeutic strategies need to be explored and developed. Recently, methods designed to modulate the immune system using antigens, adjuvants, and immunotherapy drugs have been approved for use in patients and have shown to increase patients’ survival. For effective delivery of immunoagents, nanoparticles have been explored for their ability to deliver cancer therapeutics. Moreover, plasmonic metal and organic nanoparticles can be multifunctional in their mode of action not only acting as delivery agents of drugs, but also as additional therapeutic vessels since their unique properties enable photothermal and photodynamic therapy. A plethora of studies have demonstrated that chemotherapy, photothermal, and photodynamic therapy can prime the immune system for effective cancer killing and cancer vaccine effects, as immunogenic cell death occurs after administration of these treatments. This chapter highlights various nanoparticle platforms used in the cancer therapeutic arsenal for immunotherapy. Moreover, combination of nanomaterials with other treatments, including photothermal therapy, photodynamic therapy, and chemotherapy will be discussed towards the understanding of defeating cancer and preventing tumor recurrence.
Prescription Drug Importation: An Expanded FDA Personal Use Exemption and Qualified Regulators for Foreign-Produced Pharmaceuticals

igh-priced prescription drugs have been a problem for U.S. consumers. The United States market economy coupled with patent protection for these products creates an incentive for pharmaceutical companies to charge as much as possible. Unable to afford these drugs, many people are reaching out to neighboring countries and abroad to seek lower-cost options. It has also created a market for online mail-order pharmaceuticals. Despite the need for these drugs, the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) continues to make importation illegal. In formulating its policy, the FDA cites to safety and innovation concerns. Claimed uncertainty about the source of foreign prescription drugs has led to ineffective federal policy in this area. To date, none of the major amendments to the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act have successfully provided a framework for securing foreign importation. Without proper federal guidance, various states, *Executive Managing Editor, Emory Law Journal; J.D. Candidate, Emory University School of Law (2015); B.A., Transylvania University. Thank you to Professor Joanna M. Shepherd for overseeing the writing process for this piece. I am also deeply grateful to Matt Hong for helping me proofread the text. H Foote Article.docx (Do Not Delete) 5/1/15 10:29 PM 370 Loyola Consumer Law Review Vol. 27:3 including Maine, have implemented legislation to facilitate the importation of prescription drugs from other developed countries like Canada and England. This Article proposes two potential solutions to implement policy on the federal level. With an eye towards Maine’s new law and its successes, there is potential for an expanded, codified personal use exemption. Moreover, using “qualifying” countries, or those with an adequate level of manufacturing oversight for prescription drugs, may provide an alternative safeguard for allowing importation.
Towards methods concerning of effects going from the ecological approaches in the agriculture

Half of the Czech Republic territory is covered by agricultural activities. It is not possible to evaluate the positive effects of ecological companies on landscape protection and its components and compare them with the grants concerning landscape protection. This article shows presentations and surveys of evaluation methods concerning the benefits of agricultural ecologisation in the field of institutions´role, willingness to pay, alternative costs etc.
Amino acid sequence analysis of two mouse calbindin-D9k isoforms by tandem mass spectrometry. Protein modification by internal insertion of a single amino acid.

Abstract Two forms of calbindin-D9k have sometimes been observed within a single tissue. Sequencing of these proteins has been complicated by the presence of blocked amino termini. Tandem mass spectrometry is a powerful tool for comparing related proteins, and its use does not depend upon an unblocked amino terminus. In the present studies, calbindin-D9k was purified from the intestines of mice (270 animals per purification) by use of gel permeation chromatography and two preparative electrophoresis steps in the presence and absence of EDTA. The purified protein appeared to be homogeneous following electrophoresis under nondenaturing conditions, but two components were identified by sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting. Two forms of the protein were isolated by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography. In each of three preparations, the average ratio of the major:minor isoforms was 2:1. The major form contained 77 amino acids and lacked the amino-terminal serine found in 78-amino acid calbindins from rat and pig. The amino acid sequence was identical with the deduced sequence reported for rat intestinal calbindin-D9k in 73 of 77 positions. In the minor form, a glutamine was found in a location between Lys-43 and Ala-44 of the major form and between the two calcium binding sites of the protein. The minor form was otherwise identical with the major form, including the presence of a blocked amino terminus. The inserted glutamine was located at the site of an intron in the rat calbindin gene, suggesting the possibility that alternative splicing produced the two forms of calbindin-D9k. The functional significance of an inserted amino acid between the two calcium binding sites remains to be explored.
Fibronectin and the Cytoskeleton

The involvement of FN in adhesion and cytoskeletal organization (Chapters 8 and 9) suggested that FN might also affect cell migration, which involves both cell—substratum adhesion and the cytoskeleton. A direct test of this hypothesis showed it to be true; purified FN promoted the migration of a variety of cultured cell lines (Fig. 10-1, Ali and Hynes, 1978a). The effect was dose-dependent and was inhibited by treatment of the FN preparations with gelatin-Sepharose or anti-FN antibodies. Migration was promoted either when Fn was added directly to the cell cultures or when the surfaces were precoated with FN. Subsequently, Schor et al (1981a, b) showed that Fn promoted migration of hamster melanoma and CHO cells into three-dimentional collagen gels and Couchman et al (1982) showed that both exogenous pFN and endogenous cFN were necessary for the migration of chick fibroblasts out of explants. Although all these studies clearly demonstrated stimulation of cell migration by cFN or pFN, the experimental systems were not suitable for the study of directional migration.
Discourse Structure Effects on the Global Coherence of Texts

Many theories of discourse structure rely on the idea that the segments comprising the discourse are linked through inferred relations such as causality and temporal contiguity. These theories suggest that the resulting discourse is represented hierarchically. Two experiments examine some of the implications of these hierarchical structures on the perceived coherence of texts. Experiment 1 shows that texts with more levels to their hierarchical structure are judged to be more coherent. Experiment 2 demonstrates that these effects are sensitive to the genre of the text. Specifically, narratives seem to be more affected by manipulation of the discourse structure than procedural texts.
Coupled magnetoelastic finite element formulation of anisotropic magnetostatic problems

This paper presents a generalized 2-D tensor finite element model, which can be used to evaluate force components in electromagnetic devices including those due to the magnetostrictive phenomenon. Magnetostriction is a property of ferrous alloys in which the material will exhibit strain in the presence of a magnetic field. This strain is in addition to any other strains that might exist as a result of electrical and for mechanical forces in a given application. At low frequencies, magnetostrictive forces are undesirable. They can be large and generate acoustic noise in electromagnetic systems, which can be undesirable in some applications. Implementation results on a 2-hp, permanent magnet motor indicate that magnetostrictive forces are significant and amount to more than 50% force level increase above electromechanical force levels obtained without accounting for magnetostriction.
Chronic cocaine administration decreases the functional coupling of GABAB receptors in the rat ventral tegmental area as measured by baclofen-stimulated 35S-GTPγS binding

Abstract Results of numerous studies indicate that the inhibitory neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) modulates central dopamine systems, and that GABAB receptors may play a primary role in decreasing dopamine release. To determine if chronic cocaine administration alters the functional coupling of GABAB receptors to G-proteins in central dopamine systems, male F-344 rats received cocaine (15mg/kg/injection) or saline three times a day at hourly intervals for fourteen consecutive days. Rats were decapitated one hour after the last injection and crude membrane preparations were made from the substantia nigra, caudate-putamen, ventral tegmental area, nucleus accumbens, and frontal cortex of individual rats. The ability of the specific GABAB receptor agonist baclofen to stimulate 35S-GTPγS binding in each of these regions was determined for individual animals. Additionally, baclofen-stimulated 35S-GTPγS binding in each of these regions in rats that received cocaine was compared to baclofen-stimulated 35S-GTPγS binding in rats that received control injections of saline. The EC50 of baclofen and maximal baclofen-stimulated 35S-GTPγS binding over basal levels were determined in each brain region in the saline group and in the cocaine group. Two-way ANOVA revealed a significant decrease in GABAB receptor-stimulated 35S-GTPγS binding in the ventral tegmental area of the cocaine group compared to the saline group. These data suggest that chronic exposure to cocaine decreases the functional coupling of GABAB receptors to G-proteins selectively in the ventral tegmental area. This finding may have implications in the augmented extracellular dopamine levels seen in the nucleus accumbens of rats that have been sensitized to cocaine.
Kinetics of the reaction of ozone with 2,4,6-trichlorophenol

Abstract The kinetics of the aqueous phase reaction between ozone and 2,4,6-trichlorophenol was studied in this work using a wetted-sphere absorber. Ozone absorption rates into an aqueous solution of trichlorophenol were interpreted to give an expression for the second-order kinetic rate constant as k2 = 8.19 × 1021 exp(−11630/T) l/g mol s. Stoichiometry experiments showed that one mole of ozone reacts with one mole of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol.
Comparison of the membrane-related effects of cytarabine and other agents on model membranes.

Abstract The membrane-associated effects of a series of chemotherapeutic and other drugs were examined via differential scanning calorimetry and by their modulation of the action of porcine phospholipase A 2 (PLA 2 ) on bilayer substrates. The drugs examined included: cytarabine, amino-glycoside antibiotics, adriamycin, dibucaine, butacaine, and VP-16. The bilayers employed were phase-separated ternary lipid mixtures containing dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine: palmitoyllysolecithin: and either hexadecanoic acid (fatty acid ternary mixture) or hexadecanol (alcohol ternary mixture). Effects of the more hydrophilic drugs (cytarabine and aminoglycoside antibiotics) on the calorimetric profiles of the negatively charged (fatty acid-containing) and the neutral (hexadecanol-containing) ternary lipid mixtures indicate that the interaction of these drugs with biomembranes is likely to be dominated by electrostatic interactions. All of the drugs investigated, including the more hydrophobic adriamycin, dibucaine, butacaine, and VP-16, affected the phase equilibrium in the membrane and exhibited apparent noncompetitive inhibition of the action of PLA 2 on bilayers composed of ternary lipid substrates. In addition, cytarabine inhibited fusion of fatty acid-containing ternary mixtures. Conclusions: These drug: membrane interactions leading to a shift in the phase equilibria were apparently regiospecific. Hydrophilic drug: membrane interactions included an important electrostatic component. The effects of all of the drugs employed in this study on the action of PLA 2 on a bilayer substrate (fatty acid-containing ternary lipid mixture) are hypothesized to be a result of the drug-mediated shift in phase equilibria away from the optimally active phase distribution. As a result, PLA 2 binds with normal affinity to the membrane, but its membrane substrate is not catalytically turned over. It is evident that these drugs can directly affect cellular homeostasis in a manner that can show a dependence on the nature of the membrane surface.
Demonstration of Separation Delay With Glow-Discharge Plasma Actuators

Active flow control of boundary-layer separation using glow-discharge plasma actuators is studied experimentally. Separation is induced on a flat plate installed in a closed-circuit wind tunnel by a shaped insert on the opposite wall. The flow conditions represent flow over the suction surface of a modern low-pressure-turbine airfoil. The Reynolds number, based on wetted plate length and nominal exit velocity, is varied from 50,000 to 300,000, covering cruise to takeoff conditions. Low (0.2 percent) and high (2.5 percent) free-stream turbulence intensities are set using passive grids. A spanwise-oriented phased-plasma-array actuator, fabricated on a printed circuit board, is surface-flush-mounted upstream of the separation point and can provide forcing in a wide frequency range. Static surface pressure measurements and hot-wire anemometry of the base and controlled flows are performed and indicate that the glow-discharge plasma actuator is an effective device for separation control.
Experimental Determination of the Nonmagnetic Neutron-Electron Interaction

A precise set of measurements of the variation of the transmission of liquid bismuth with energy in the range 0.1 ev to 10 ev has been made. After correction for neutron capture, Doppler effect and liquid diffraction, a value of ${V}_{0}=\ensuremath{-}4.34\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.14$ kev is obtained as the depth of the potential well having a radius equal to the classical electron radius. This gives -0.26\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.14 kev as the strength of the intrinsic neutron-electron interaction after subtraction of the Foldy term.
Kinetic Monte Carlo simulation of escaping core plasma particles to the scrape-off layer for accurate response of plasma-facing components

During normal and disruptive operations in tokamak devices the escaped core plasma particles are a potential threat to the divertor and nearby component lifetime as well as plasma contamination. Comprehensive enhanced physical and numerical models are developed and implemented in the upgraded High Energy Interaction with General Heterogeneous Target Systems (HEIGHTS) package to accurately predict the impact of the escaped particles on plasma-facing and nearby components. An ab initio Monte Carlo-based kinetic model of the escaping core particles is developed for integration with the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) models of the initiated edge plasma where the escaping particles are used as an input volume source. The paper describes details of the 3D Monte Carlo kinetic model, validation and benchmarking and simulation results for both National Spherical Torus Experiment and ITER devices using actual reactor design and magnetic configurations. The simulation results are being implemented self-consistently with various HEIGHTS models that include surface erosion, divertor plasma generation, plasma MHD evolution, heat conduction and detailed photon transport of line and continuum radiation.
Forced Termination of American Clergy: Its Effects and Connection to Negative Well-Being

Forced termination of clergy involves constant negativity found in personal attacks and criticism from a small congregational faction. The minister feels psychologically pressured to step down from the ministry position and this process is often demeaning to the emotional and physical well-being of the minister. The prevalence of forced termination among clergy has ranged from 25% among many denominations to 41% among Assemblies of God ministers. Forced termination and its effects are serious problems that have yet to be adequately addressed by scholars in social science research. The lack of scholarly research in this area called for a large national study from a reputable research institution. This online study shows that 28% of ministers among 39 denominations experienced a forced termination. Forced termination was associated with high levels of depression, stress, and physical health problems. Forced termination was also associated with low levels of self-efficacy, and self-esteem.
Protein incorporation by isolated amphibian oocytes—VI. Comparison of autologous and xenogeneic vitellogenins☆

Abstract 1. 1. Labeled vitellogenins were isolated from the sera of several amphibians, a turtle and a pigeon and were incubated in vitro with oocytes from Xenopus laevis and Rana pipiens. 2. 2. Oocytes from X. laevis sequestered vitellogenin from salamanders, turtle and pigeon at rates comparable to that for autologous vitellogenin, while anuran vitellogenins were sequestered at somewhat lower rates. 3. 3. Oocytes from R. pipiens sequestered X. laevis vitellogenin at a rate comparable to autologous vitellogenin, while salamander, turtle and pigeon vitellogenins were sequestered at faster rates. 4. 4. All vitellogenins examined appear to be recognized and incorporated specifically by X. laevis and R. pipiens oocytes.
The accidental talent

For the Love of Enzymes: The Odyssey of a Biochemist. ByArthur Kornberg. Harvard University Press: 1989. Pp. 336. $29.95, £23.95.
An efficient method for the optimization of viscoplastic constitutive model constants

Constitutive modeling has proven useful in providing accurate predictions of material response in components subjected to a variety of operating conditions; however, the high number of experiments necessary to determine appropriate constants for a model can be prohibitive, especially for more expensive materials. Generally, up to twenty experiments simulating a range of conditions are needed to identify the material parameters for a model. In this paper, an automated process for optimizing the material constants of the Miller constitutive model for uniaxial modeling is introduced. The use of more complex stress, strain, and temperature histories than are traditionally used allows for the effects of all material parameters to be captured using significantly fewer tests. A graphical user interface known as uSHARP was created to implement the resulting method, which determines the material constants of a viscoplastic model using a minimum amount of experimental data. By carrying out successive finite element simulations and comparing the results to simulated experimental test data, both with and without random noise, the material constants were determined from 75% fewer experiments. The optimization method introduced here reduces the cost and time necessary to determine constitutive model constants through experimentation. Thus it allows for a more widespread application of advanced constitutive models in industry and for better life prediction modeling of critical components in high-temperature applications.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Brain is to thought as stomach is to ??: Investigating the role of rostrolateral prefrontal cortex in relational reasoning

Brain imaging studies suggest that the rostrolateral prefrontal cortex (RLPFC), is involved in relational reasoning. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies involving Raven's Progressive Matrices or verbal propositional analogies indicate that the RLPFC is engaged by tasks that require integration across multiple relational structures. Several studies have shown that the RLPFC is more active when people must evaluate an analogy (e.g., Is shoe to foot as glove is to hand?) than when they must simply evaluate two individual semantic relationships, consistent with the hypothesis that this region is important for relational integration. The current fMRI investigation further explores the role of the RLPFC in reasoning and relational integration by comparing RLPFC activation across four different propositional analogy conditions. Each of the four conditions required either relation completion (e.g., Shoe is to foot as glove is to WHAT? hand) or relation comparison (e.g., Is shoe to foot as glove is to hand? yes). The RLPFC was engaged more strongly by the comparison subtask relative to completion, suggesting that the RLPFC is particularly involved in comparing relational structures.
Narrating boundaries: Framing and contesting suffering, community, and belonging in enclaves along the India–Bangladesh border

Abstract This paper explores the politics of community making at the India–Bangladesh border by examining the public and private narratives of history and belonging in a Bangladeshi enclave—a sovereign piece of Bangladesh completely territorially surrounded by India. Drawing on framings of political society, this paper argues that understanding populations at the margins of South Asia and beyond requires attention to two processes: first, to the ways that para-legal activities are part and parcel of daily life; and second, to the strategies through which these groups construct themselves as moral communities deserving of inclusion within the state. Border communities often articulate narratives of dispossession, exceptionality, and marginalization to researchers and other visitors—narratives that are often unproblematically reproduced in academic treatments of the border. However, such articulations mask both the complicated histories and quotidian realities of border life. This paper views these articulations as political projects in and of themselves. By reading the more hidden histories of life in this border enclave, this article reconstructs the notion of borders as experienced by enclave residents themselves. It shows the ways that the politics of the India–Bangladesh border are constitutive of (and constituted by) a range of fractures and internal boundaries within the enclave. These boundaries are as central to forging community—to articulating who belongs and why—as are more public narratives that frame enclave residents as victims of confused territorial configurations.
Dismantling internal capital markets via spinoff: effects on capital allocation efficiency and firm valuation

Abstract We investigate the linkage between changes in firm value and changes in capital allocation efficiency resulting from dismantling internal capital markets via spinoffs. We find no evidence of wholesale misallocation of capital pre-spinoff. On the average, excess value increases following spinoffs. Furthermore, changes in excess value are positively linked to changes in capital allocational efficiency following spinoff. We find that spinoff announcement returns are greater (smaller) when the parent allocates capital to the unit to be spun off in a seemingly less (more) efficient manner. Divested division capital expenditures move toward industry levels after spinoff, regardless of their relative investment opportunities.
Greening the industrial city: equity, environment, and economic growth in Seattle and Chicago

In many cities of the global North, city leaders are using greening as a way to compete in the globalized economy. Critiques of this development strategy typically focus on downtown areas, and many have noted that such processes often displace poor and working class people. Less studied are those areas that have not been fully incorporated into the postindustrial economy and where the struggles around social justice, economic development, and ecological restoration are still being played out. It is this insufficiently informed area of knowledge which this paper seeks to address and as to which we ask: What has been the impact of the green economy discourse in relatively more marginalized urban areas? Using industrial areas of Southeast Chicago and South Seattle as case studies, this paper draws on previously unreported qualitative data to argue that community efforts to promote environmental justice in these areas have the potential to redefine practices of green economic growth to incorporate social equity and community coherence. However, their ability to do so is constrained by the difficulty in challenging neoliberal discourses of the primacy of growth and the need of greening to benefit the consumer class. The paper contemplates the implications of the lessons learnt for greening cities in both developed and developing countries.
Surgical management of spinal catheter granulomas: operative nuances and review of the surgical literature.

OBJECTIVE: Spinal catheter granulomas are a rare and, most likely, underreported complication of intrathecal opioid therapy. Such granulomas can be associated with devastating neurological sequelae if not treated in a timely fashion. Most neurosurgeons, however, are unlikely to have had experience in the surgical management of this condition. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: The authors present 3 surgical cases of patients with spinal catheter granulomas with neurological deficits. One patient's intraoperative video illustrates the challenges of diagnosis, radiological assessment, and surgery for spinal catheter granulomas. INTERVENTION: All 3 patients had implanted opioid pumps for management of chronic spinal pain secondary to fracture, tethered cord, and back pain. Increasing back pain and a progressive myelopathy was observed in all patients. A clear radiological diagnosis was made more difficult because of instrumentation artifact in 1 case and claustrophobia in another. Computed tomographic myelography was necessary in 1 case. The surgical findings were: 1 extradural catheter with granuloma and 2 intradural catheters encased with granuloma and adherent to the cord. The extradural catheter was trimmed of granuloma and replaced intradurally in 1 case. The patients with intradural catheter granulomas required judicious dissection of the granulomas from the dorsum of the cord, duroplasty, and catheter section. Critical intraoperative stages were recorded and are presented in digital movie format. Two patients had neurological improvement after surgery; however, 1 patient remained paraplegic. The 2 patients with catheter section required opioid withdrawal treatment. CONCLUSION: The operative management of spinal intrathecal granulomas associated with opioid infusion pumps can be challenging and depends on a high degree of clinical suspicion, imaging results, and operative findings.
Decreased auditory function in the C3H/lpr autoimmune disease mouse

To better understand autoimmune-related inner ear disease, cochlear structure and function were evaluated in the C3H/lpr autoimmune strain mouse, a model for systemic lupus erythematosus. C3H/lpr mice were examined at ages from 2 to 12 months along with age-matched C3H/HeJ controls. Autoimmune disease onset occurred at 3-4 months of age as serum immune complexes, antinuclear antibodies, and spleen weights were significantly elevated. Auditory brainstem response (ABR) audiometry showed normal auditory thresholds in C3H/lpr mice at 4 months of age, but elevated thresholds by 6 months, particularly in the high frequencies. Examination of the cochleas revealed no apparent loss of hair cells or spiral ganglion neurons, even in those mice with 50 dB SPL threshold shifts. However, changes were observed in the stria vascularis, including edematous spaces, enlarged capillaries, and thickened vessel linings. These findings imply that cochlear dysfunction in the autoimmune disease mice is the result of stria vascularis pathology.
Sex differences in serotonin 1 receptor binding in rat brain

Male and female rats exhibit sex differences in binding by serotonin 1 receptors in discrete areas of the brain, some of which have been implicated in the control of ovulation and of gonadotropin release. The sex-specific changes in binding, which occur in response to the same hormonal (estrogenic) stimulus, are due to changes in the number of binding sites. Castration alone also affects the number of binding sites in certain areas. The results lead to the conclusion that peripheral hormones modulate binding by serotonin 1 receptors. The status of the serotonin receptor system may affect the reproductive capacity of an organism and may be related to sex-linked emotional disturbances in humans.
Mass transfer coefficient prediction method for CFD modeling of riser reactors

Abstract In gas–solid reactors, particularly circulating fluidized beds (CFB) and riser it is becoming increasingly more important to be able to predict the conversion and yield of reactant species given the ever rising cost of the reactants and the ever decreasing acceptable level of effluent contaminants. As such, the development and use of predictive models for the reactors are necessary for most processes today. These models need to take into account the interphase mass transfer. Unless equipped with specific experimentally based empirical correlations for the reactor system under consideration, the modeler is required to go to the open literature to obtain correlations for the mass transfer coefficient between the solid and gas phases. This is a difficult task at present since these literature values differ by up to 7 orders of magnitude as found in the literature dating back to 1949. The wide variation in the prediction of mass transfer coefficients in the existing literature is credited to flow regime differences that can be identified in the cited literature upon careful inspection. Applying a new theory developed by Breault and Guenther [1] that takes into account the local hydrodynamics, a predictive methodology is presented that allows the local mass transfer coefficient to be calculated based upon local properties in a CFD simulation. A sample calculation is presented and compared with the data used in developing the theory as well as correlation for the literature.
Taste thresholds in patients with dentures.

Results of a study to evaluate the effect of palate-covering dentures on taste sensitivity indicate that the palate affects the taste of sour and bitter. Perhaps this factor should be considered in the design of maxillary dentures.
Relationship between a host plant compound, myrcene and pheromone production in the bark beetle, IPS paraconfusus

Abstract The pheromonal components, ipsenol and ipsdienol were found in increasing quantities in hindguts of only the male sex of Ips paraconfusus following exposure of both sexes to a series of increasing concentrations of myrcene vapour. Hindguts of female and male beetles contained similar quantities of myrcene and other volatile compounds associated with myrcene exposure. Unexposed beetles of both sexes did not contain detectable amounts of any volatile compound. This indicates that myrcene induces or is a precursor for sex-specific pheromone biosynthesis.
Formal Verifications in Modern Chip Designs

Summary form only given. Formal technologies have matured rapidly in recently years to become an indispensable technology powering many practical and production-proven formal verification solutions. In this presentation, we survey how formal technologies have enabled logic equivalence checking, design-constraint management, and low-power design verifications. In addition, we examine modern and emerging design styles and techniques, and requirements on formal technologies to meet the new verification challenges
An Investigation of Perceptional Differences between Eastern and Western Adolescents in Online Social Communication

The current study focused on an important issue pertaining to online social communication by investigating perceptional differences between eastern and western adolescents. A total of 309 participa...
Serum cholesterol and risk of death from cancer and other causes in three Chicago epidemiological studies.

Abstract Although hypercholesterolemia is established as a major risk factor for coronary heart disease, the finding in some epidemiological studies of no association between serum cholesterol and all causes mortality suggests that serum cholesterol may be inversely related to the risk of death from non-cardiovascular causes, e.g. cancer. This possibility led to the examination of this question in middle-aged white males from the Chicago Peoples Gas Company and Chicago Western Electric Company studies, and in middle-aged white males and females from the Chicago Heart Association Detection Project in Industry. In each of these studies, there was no significant association between initial serum cholesterol level and subsequent mortality from cancer, or from causes other than cancer and the cardiovascular diseases in men. There was, however, a significant inverse association with other causes of death in women. When the cancer deaths were examined by site, there was a significant inverse association between serum cholesterol and deaths from sarcoma, leukemia and Hodgkin's disease in the Western Electric men and one that was nearly so in the Chicago Heart Association men. Serum cholesterol was not significantly related to lung cancer, colorectal cancer, oral cancer, pancreatic cancer, or to all other cancers combined in any of the three studies in men or in women. There was, however, the suggestion of a positive association for breast cancer in women. Thus, the results of these three studies do not generally support the hypothesis of an inverse association between serum cholesterol and cancer in urban middle-aged white American males and females.
Psychotic experiences as indicators of suicidal ideation in a non-clinical college sample

Suicide is a leading cause of preventable death. Epidemiological studies have shown strong associations between sub-threshold psychotic experiences and risk for suicidal ideation and behavior. Screens designed to assess psychotic experiences may have clinical utility in improving suicide prevention efforts. In the current study, we hypothesized that the Prodromal Questionnaire-Brief (PQ-B) would reliably distinguish levels of suicidal ideation within a sample of college students (n=376). As predicted, PQ-B scores varied significantly across levels of suicidal ideation, both when treated as a raw count of sub-threshold psychotic experiences and when taking into account subjective distress associated with those symptoms. In addition, we explored the feasibility of developing a short screen based on the most discriminating items, finding that a six-item version of the PQ-B yielded higher accuracy for detecting elevated suicidal ideation over the full measure. The PQ-B has the potential for clinical utility in detecting groups that might be at increased risk for suicidal ideation.
New advances in modeling optical fiber communication systems

The design and optimization of modern optical fiber transmission systems relies on an increasingly close interaction between computer modeling and laboratory experiments. However, the full potential of modeling tools will not be realized as long as random processes, such as amplifier noise and fiber birefringence, are modeled using time-consuming Monte Carlo simulations. In practice Monte Carlo simulation is simply not capable of accurately computing error rates or outage probabilities, both of which are strongly influenced by extremely rare, worst-case events. By an outage probability we mean the probability that a system penalty exceeds an allowed margin. Even when Monte Carlo simulation is used to compute average measures of the system performance, such as the Q-factor, it can be too inefficient to be useful for optimizing the design of long-haul wavelength-division multiplexed (WDM) transmission systems. Moreover, a system that has been optimized to produce the best average behavior may not necessarily have the lowest possible error rate or outage probability [1].
Line-of-sight determination in real-time simulations

This paper describes the selection of a method for determining line-of-sight in real-time simulations for the NASA Ames Vertical Motion Simulator (VMS) facility. Five different combinations of terrain representation and line-of-sight determination algorithms were tested. A gridpost terrain format, in conjunction with a Digital Differential Analyzer algorithm, was found to best meet the simulation criteria of high speed, low storage requirements, and accuracy.