cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Masculinity in Men’s Health: Barrier or Portal to Healthcare?

This chapter will review the literature that links notions of masculinity with men’s health and health behaviors. An important focus of this chapter is describing the role that notions of masculinity and manhood play in shaping how men define health and how men fit health into other life priorities. The chapter covers four broad areas: (1) concepts and measures of masculinity, (2) the role of stress as an important determinant of men’s health and health behavior, (3) a discussion of how masculinity changes over time, and finally (4) how men conceptualize health. Despite the research linking masculinity and health, future research and practice should explore what masculinity and manhood mean to men explore ways to integrate how men prioritize and define health in clinical and educational efforts to improve men’s health.
Germination of Conidiospores of Talaromyces thermophilus

(1975). Germination of Conidiospores of Talaromyces Thermophilus. Mycologia: Vol. 67, No. 6, pp. 1223-1228.
Towards molecular modeling of the dynamics and structure molecular aggregates in liquid solution and its spectroscopic signature

In this talk, I will present three examples of our ongoing attempts towards developing a theoretical and computational framework for modeling the dynamics and structure molecular aggregates in liquid solution and its spectroscopic signature.
Reduced nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide oxidation by melanin: inhibition by phenothiazines.

SummaryMelanin catalyzes the nonenzymatic oxidation of NADH and PPD. One atom of oxygen is consumed for 1 mole of NADH oxidized and H2O2 is formed. The NADH reduces the concentration of free radicals in melanin indicating the formation of reduced melanin during the reaction. Melanin's oxidative activity is inhibited by pharmacologic compounds that combine with melanin such as phenothiazines and chloroquine.
Using the random ball test to calibrate slope dependent errors in optical profilometry

Optical profilometers are susceptible to slope-dependent errors. The random ball test can be used for calibrating such errors. We demonstrate such a calibration on a 50× confocal microscopy in this paper.
OAM channel efficiency in the presence of turbulence for Laguerre- and Bessel-Gauss beams

Bessel-Gauss beams, a type of pseudo non-diffracting beam, are examined for their robustness for propagation through turbulent free space and compared to Laguerre-Gauss beams of various orders using an optical transformation sorting methods.
Large eddy simulations and parameterisation of roughness element orientation and flow direction effects in rough wall boundary layers

ABSTRACTWe conduct a series of large eddy simulations (LES) of turbulent boundary layers over arrays of cuboidal roughness elements at arbitrary orientation angles (non-frontal orientations with the incident flow). Flow response to changing roughness orientation is systematically studied at two ground coverage densities, λp = 0.06 and 0.11. As expected, the effective roughness heights zo measured from LES are higher for λp = 0.11 than for λp = 0.06, although appreciable changes both in zo and wall shear stress (friction velocity) are observed at both ground coverage densities as the roughness orientation angle changes. This suggests the necessity of accounting for detailed rough wall topology (including more information than just λp, λf) when relating rough wall morphology to its aerodynamic properties. To this end, a recently developed analytical rough wall parameterisation is used to predict the aerodynamic properties of the simulated rough surfaces. In this rough wall model, wake interactions among rou...
Architectural Histories and Virtual Reconstructions: Queen Victoria’s Lost Pavilion in Digital Space

Modeling historical structures in virtual space poses many challenges, especially when the original physical structure no longer exists. This chapter reconstructs the pavilion’s architectural history as an expression of its time and as part of a longer tradition of design experiments in which garden pavilions play an important role. The chapter then illustrates the research and digital processes used to reconstruct the building. The research team coupled historical documents—original sketches, engravings, color plates, and a lone black-and-white photo—with architectural modeling tools to achieve sufficiently accurate form, space, and material representations of the pavilion. Experienced through various forms of immersive and interactive media, the model becomes a critical element in portraying and understanding the pavilion’s historical narrative.
Strength degradation of sandstone and granodiorite under uniaxial cyclic loading

Abstract Change in mechanical properties of rocks under static loading has been widely studied and documented. However, the response of rocks to cyclic loads is still a much-debated topic. Fatigue is the phenomenon when rocks under cyclic loading fail at much lower strength as compared to those subjected to the monotonic loading conditions. A few selected cored granodiorite and sandstone specimens have been subjected to uniaxial cyclic compression tests to obtain the unconfined fatigue strength and life. This study seeks to examine the effects of cyclic loading conditions, loading amplitude and applied stress level on the fatigue life of sandstone, as a soft rock, and granodiorite, as a hard rock, under uniaxial compression test. One aim of this study is to determine which of the loading conditions has a stronger effect on rock fatigue response. The fatigue response of hard rocks and soft rocks is also compared. It is shown that the loading amplitude is the most important factor affecting the cyclic response of the tested rocks. The more the loading amplitude, the shorter the fatigue life, and the greater the strength degradation. The granodiorite specimens showed more strength degradation compared to the sandstone specimens when subjected to cyclic loading. It is shown that failure modes of specimens under cyclic loadings are different from those under static loadings. More local cracks were observed under cyclic loadings especially for granodiorite rock specimens.
The One-Dimensional Schrödinger Equation

For several reasons, our discussion of electrons led us to a discussion of waves. Similar analogies led Schrodinger to postulate that the distribution of electron density and other properties of electrons in and out of molecules were determined from solutions to an equation similar to the wave equation. The consequences of this postulate have been verified in many applications, so we shall simply accept the elements of Schrodinger’s theory as correct. For us, they make up the rules that determine the distribution of electron density.
Causal Modeling via Structural Equation Systems

Causal modeling is an informal name attached to a class of methods of multivariate analysis concerned with testing structural theories of a phenomenon. In most cases, these structural theories are intended to represent “causal” processes that give rise to observations on multivariate variables. Of course, establishment of proof regarding causality is quite likely to be beyond the capabilities of any single research study, especially those based on nonexperimental observations such as are often obtained by behavioral researchers. Thus, the name “causal modeling” is, in the strict sense, a misnomer, but the phrase adequately captures the intent of the research methodology: to hypothesize and specify in detail the process of interrelated effects operating among variables under appropriate conditions, and to test whether a relevant set of observed data is consistent with the proposed theoretical process hypothesis. Causal modeling is thus a confirmatory method, aimed at evaluating proposed theories, rather than an exploratory method, aimed at discovering theories via multivariate methods.
Microwave measurements on ArH2S, ArHDS and ArD2S complexes

Abstract Recent work on the H 2 OSO 2 complex revealed several previously unmeasured ArH 2 S transitions. In this work, microwave transitions for ArH s S, ArHDS and ArD 2 S complexes are reported and a structure analysis is presented. The observation of the new set of transitions assigned to a second ArHDS isomer indicates that the hydrogens of H 2 S are not rapidly exchanging H for D through internal rotation. The complex is unusual in that quite large differences in the vibrationally averaged structures are seen on isotopic substitution. The apparent presence in such weakly-bound complexes of several coupled modes with large amplitude vibrations causes difficulties in obtaining a single accurate equilibrium structure.
Rumour Propagation on Social Networks as a Function of Diversity

In the case of a rumour propagating across a social network comprised of two interconnected groups, a majority group and a minority group, the effect on the rumour propagation of the minority’s distribution in the social network is investigated. The rumour is derogatory towards the minority group and its transmission is simulated using the GBN-Dialogue model of rumour propagation on realistic social networks. The integration of the minority group into the entire social network is measured by the Minority Integration Metric (MIM). Monte Carlo simulations show that rumour penetration into the minority subgroup is an increasing linear function of the MIM and thus minority members of the social network will have a higher level of belief in the minority-derogatory rumour if the minority is more integrated into the social network. A threshold MIM value can be estimated below which the rumour fails to penetrate the minority subgroup.
A sensor enabled secure vehicular communication for emergency message dissemination using cloud services

Abstract A Vehicular Ad-hoc Network (VANET) entails smart vehicles on the road to provide communication services among nearby vehicles. It is ideated with the intention to develop applications that are versatile and efficient. Due to its dynamic nature, achieving a secure and reliable communication via VANET is a crucial challenge. Hence, varied security mechanisms are developed conventionally. But there were limitations such as increased delay, bandwidth usage, limited security, and reduced communication efficiency. In order to overcome these limitations, this paper introduces a protocol namely, Sensor Enabled Secure Vehicular Communication (SSVC) to enable a secure and reliable communication in VANET. The objectives of this paper are to reduce the latency, and to improve the communication efficiency of the network. At first, a network is formed with n number of vehicles and neighbor discovery is performed via Wireless Access in Vehicular Environment (WAVE) protocol. Further, the sensors attached with the vehicle machinery are used to obtain information such as, air pressure, temperature, and speed of the vehicle. These information are stored in a gateway and the vehicles of the network are registered in a gateway by generating a unique ID and password to each vehicle. A cloud connection is enabled to broadcast the emerging messages to all the vehicles. Also, blowfish technique is implemented to store the location information of the vehicle in the cloud in a secure manner. This improves the security level of the vehicular communication. Different performance measures are used to evaluate the results of the proposed system via simulations. Then the results are compared with the existing mechanism to prove the efficiency of the proposed SSVC mechanism.
Binocular Eye Movements are Adapted to the Natural Environment

Humans and many animals make frequent saccades requiring coordinated movements of the eyes. When landing on the new fixation point, the eyes must converge accurately or double images will be perceived. We asked whether the visual system uses statistical regularities in the natural environment to aid eye alignment at the end of saccades. We measured the distribution of naturally occurring disparities in different parts of the visual field. The central tendency of the distributions was crossed (nearer than fixation) in the lower field and uncrossed (farther) in the upper field in male and female participants. It was uncrossed in the left and right fields. We also measured horizontal vergence after completion of vertical, horizontal, and oblique saccades. When the eyes first landed near the eccentric target, vergence was quite consistent with the natural-disparity distribution. For example, when making an upward saccade, the eyes diverged to be aligned with the most probable uncrossed disparity in that part of the visual field. Likewise, when making a downward saccade, the eyes converged to enable alignment with crossed disparity in that part of the field. Our results show that rapid binocular eye movements are adapted to the statistics of the 3D environment, minimizing the need for large corrective vergence movements at the end of saccades. The results are relevant to the debate about whether eye movements are derived from separate saccadic and vergence neural commands that control both eyes or from separate monocular commands that control the eyes independently.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT We show that the human visual system incorporates statistical regularities in the visual environment to enable efficient binocular eye movements. We define the oculomotor horopter: the surface of 3D positions to which the eyes initially move when stimulated by eccentric targets. The observed movements maximize the probability of accurate fixation as the eyes move from one position to another. This is the first study to show quantitatively that binocular eye movements conform to 3D scene statistics, thereby enabling efficient processing. The results provide greater insight into the neural mechanisms underlying the planning and execution of saccadic eye movements.
Special Features of Pain Studies

The study of pain is challenging. As pain is interpreted as a personal, multidimensional experience, difficulties arise in defining pain, measuring pain, and interpreting outcomes. Care must be exercised in understanding how to handle variables to avoid misinterpretation and in appreciating the practical value of accuracy over precision if the results of the study are to be clinically relevant.
A Test Bed to Evaluate Advanced Distribution Management Systems for Modern Power Systems

This paper presents a test bed that utilities, vendors, and researchers can use to evaluate the performance of existing and emerging advanced distribution management systems (ADMS) or specific applications of such systems. The test bed provides a realistic laboratory test setting, including detailed modeling of the power system, controller and/or power hardware, and industry-standard communication protocols. The test bed can further represent the current state of a specific utility’s distribution system or the anticipated state with increased penetrations of distributed energy resources, such as rooftop photovoltaic systems, residential battery energy storage systems, electric vehicles, and loads with smart controls. The paper describes the design and implementation of the test bed. We present two use cases of the test bed and preliminary results for these two use cases. We also discuss upcoming and potential future use cases. Results from test bed experiments are intended to accelerate industry deployment of ADMS technologies and advance development of ADMS capabilities.
Occupation Promotes Student Veterans' Well-Being Through Its Association With a Sense of Meaningful Occupation, Social Support, and Coping Skills

Date Presented 04/06/19 In a sample of 389 student veterans, we employed regression to establish that the meaningfulness of occupation mediated the relationship between social and community-based occupation and both psychological and subjective well-being. Occupation was also associated with greater coping skills and social support, in turn contributing to greater psychological and subjective well-being, respectively. Findings support OTs’ use of occupation to promote veterans’ well-being. Primary Author and Speaker: Adam Kinney Additional Authors and Speakers: Aaron Eakman
Performance of Latent Growth Curve Models with Binary Variables

A Monte Carlo simulation examined estimation difficulties and parameter and standard error bias for mean and variance estimates of binary latent growth curve models using mean and variance adjusted...
Necrotizing enterocolitis and its association with the neonatal abstinence syndrome.

Objective The purpose of this study was to describe an identified association between necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and prenatal opioid exposure with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) in late preterm and full-term neonates. Study design In this single-center retrospective cohort study, we analyzed inborn neonates with the diagnosis of NEC discharged from 2012 through 2017. We compared infants with NEC > 35 weeks' gestation to those with NEC Results Over the study period, 23 infants were identified with NEC, 9 (39%) were babies > 35 weeks at birth and 14 (61%) 35 weeks had a higher birth weight, earlier onset of symptoms, and a higher percentage of prenatal exposure to opioids compared to those Conclusions In this cohort of infants with NEC discharged over a 6 year period we found a higher than expected percentage of infants born at a later gestational age. We speculate that prenatal opioid exposure might be a risk factor for NEC in neonates born at > 35 weeks.
An Analysis of Transient Overpower Accidents in the Fast Test Reactor Using the Los Alamos Failure Model

A new fuel pin failure model, the Los Alamos Failure Model (LAFM), based on a linear life fraction rule failure criterion, has been developed to provide a reliable and inexpensive prediction of the time and axial location of liquid-metal fast breeder reactor fuel pin failure in a hypothetical transient overpower (TOP) accident. Code testing analyses for a number of TOP Transient Reactor Test Facility tests have resulted in excellent agreement between calculated and observed pin failure time and location. Because of the nature of the failure criterion used, the code has also been used to investigate the extent of cladding damage incurred in terminated as well as unterminated TOP transients in the Fast Test Reactor. The results of these analyses show that 3 dollar/s and 50 and 5 cent/s transients terminated by the secondary trip point (25% overpower) result in negligible calculated cladding damage.
Intramodal blocking in honeybees

Foraging honeybees were trained in a concurrent blocking design with a compound stimulus (AX) reinforced and one of its components (A) either reinforced for a blocking group or nonreinforced for a control group. In Experiment 1, a compound of two colors was used; in Experiment 2, a compound of two odors was used; in Experiment 3, a color-position compound, with position defined in terms of proximity to a distinctive visual landmark, was used; and, in Experiment 4, an odor-position compound was used. In each of the first three experiments, the blocking group responded less than did the control group in a subsequent test with X; in the fourth experiment, the two groups did not differ. The results are in accord with expectations based on those of previous experiments with honeybees in which the independence assumption was found to hold for intermodal compounds but not for intramodal compounds.
Age differences in the precision of memory at short and long delays

Age differences are well established for many memory tasks assessing both short-term and long-term memory. However, how age differences in performance vary with increasing delay between study and test is less clear. Here, we report two experiments in which participants studied a continuous sequence of object-location pairings. Test events were intermixed such that participants were asked to recall the precise location of an object following a variable delay. Older adults exhibit a greater degree of error (distance between studied and recalled locations) relative to younger adults at short (0-2 intervening events) and longer delays (10-25 intervening events). Mixture modeling of the distribution of recall error suggests that older adults do not fail to recall information at a significantly higher rate than younger adults. Instead, what they do recall appears to be less precise. Follow-up analyses demonstrated that this age difference emerges following only one or two intervening events between study and test. These findings are consistent with the suggestion that aging does not greatly impair recall from the focus of attention but that age differences emerge once information is displaced from this highly accessible state. Further, we suggest that age differences in the precision of memory, but not the probability of successful recall, may be due to the use of more gist-like representations in this task. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
An Evaluation of Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Outcomes in an Education and Patient Navigation Program in Rural and Border Texas

This study examines breast and cervical cancer screening uptake in a cancer education and patient navigation (PN) program for residents of rural and border counties in Texas by level of participation (education only, PN only, or education and PN). Data collected from March 1, 2012, to November 5, 2016, included 6663 follow-up surveys from participants aged 21–74. Logistic regression models assessed program participation on the odds of completing breast or cervical cancer screening. For women aged 40–74 years (N = 4942; mean age = 52 years), 58.4% reported a mammogram within 6 months on average from initial contact. In the breast cancer screening model, women who only received PN (OR: 6.06, CI: 4.87–7.53) or who participated in both the education plus PN program (OR: 3.33, CI: 2.77–4.02) had higher odds of mammogram screening compared to women who only received education. For women aged 21–64 years (N = 6169; mean age = 46 years), 37.7% received a Papanicolaou (Pap) test within 6 months on average from initial contact. In the Pap screening model, both education and PN (OR: 3.23, CI: 2.66–3.91) and PN only (OR: 2.35, CI: 1.88–2.93) groups had higher odds of screening for cervical cancer compared to those only receiving education. Graphed predicted probabilities examined significant interactions between race/ethnicity/language and program participation (P < 0.0001) for both screenings. PN, solely or in combination with education, is an effective strategy to increase screening for breast and cervical cancer, beyond educational outreach efforts alone, among un-/underserved, racially/ethnically diverse women in rural and border Texas counties.
Piezo1 acts upstream of TRPV4 to induce pathological changes in endothelial cells due to shear stress

The ion channels Piezo1 and TRPV4 have both, independently, been implicated in high venous pressure– and fluid shear stress–induced vascular hyperpermeability in endothelial cells. However, the mechanism by which Piezo1 and TRPV4 channels execute the same function is poorly understood. Here we demonstrate that Piezo1 regulates TRPV4 channel activation in endothelial cells and that Piezo1-mediated TRPV4 channel opening is a function of the strength and duration of fluid shear stress. We first confirmed that either fluid shear stress or the Piezo1 agonist, Yoda1, led to an elevation in intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) and that application of the Piezo1 antagonist, GsMTx4, completely blocked this change. We discovered that high and prolonged shear stress caused sustained [Ca2+]i elevation that was blocked by inhibition of TRPV4 channel opening. Moreover, Piezo1 stimulated TRPV4 opening through activation of phospholipase A2. TRPV4-dependent sustained [Ca2+]i elevation was responsible for fluid shear stress–mediated and Piezo1-mediated disruption of adherens junctions and actin remodeling. Blockade of TRPV4 channels with the selective TRPV4 blocker, HC067047, prevented the loss of endothelial cell integrity and actin disruption induced by Yoda1 or shear stress and prevented Piezo1-induced monocyte adhesion to endothelial cell monolayers. These findings demonstrate that Piezo1 activation by fluid shear stress initiates a calcium signal that causes TRPV4 opening, which in turn is responsible for the sustained phase calcium elevation that triggers pathological events in endothelial cells. Thus, deleterious effects of shear stress are initiated by Piezo1 but require TRPV4.
So Much Moulage, So Little Time: A Guide to Performing Moulage for Mass Casualty Scenarios.

Simulation has become a central component of healthcare education. Allowing learners to experience low-frequency high-risk situations, such as a mass casualty event, in a safe learning environment is a basic tenet of simulation-based education in healthcare. Creating realistic simulations often involves advanced moulage to accurately represent illness and injury. However, providing advanced moulage for mass casualty exercises can be time-consuming, resource-intensive, and costly. Here we discuss a novel means to execute moulage for multiple victims while maintaining a high level of realism. We executed two simultaneous mass casualty exercises as part of medical student education and employed our novel 3-step moulage process. Step 1-Preparation included case development, generation of a victim list, and victim designation into "zones" within the simulation. Step 2-Creation entailed making wounds, in-house 3D printing materials, and assembling each victim's moulage bag. Step 3-Application was an assembly line method of executing all victims' moulage on the day of the simulation. This method of moulage supported the highly realistic simulation activity that learners have come to expect while decreasing time, resources, and cost.
Quantitative Reasoning: Changing Practice in Science and Mathematics

In the summer of 2007 Jimm Myers, Mark Lyford, and I were working at the University of Wyoming on projects to improve secondary and post-secondary science and mathematics education. Jimm, a distinguished professor of Geology, was integrating real-world problem-based tasks into introductory level geology courses.
Peculiar Features of the Interaction Potential between Hydrogen and Antihydrogen at Intermediate Separations

We evaluate the interaction potential between a hydrogen and an antihydrogen using the second-order perturbation theory within the framework of the four-body system in a separable two-body basis. We find that the H-Hbar interaction potential possesses the peculiar features of a shallow local minimum located around interatomic separations of r ~ 6 a.u. and a barrier rising at r~5 a.u. Additional theoretical and experimental investigations on the nature of these peculiar features will be of great interest.
A new moduli set selection technique to improve sign detection and number comparison in residue number system (RNS)

Residue number system (RNS) offers a promising future because its carry-free operations in addition, subtraction and multiplication. This inherent property of RNS can be used to reduce the complexity of calculation in many applications, such as encryption and fuzzy systems. However, its adoption is still difficult due to its inherited complex operations such as sign detection and number comparison. We propose a new technique in selecting moduli set, which allows one to find a moduli set with any number of modulus. By using this moduli set, the complicated RNS operations such as sign detection and number comparison can be simplified.
The steroid hormones and tissues of the periodontium; a series of related experiments in white mice.

Abstract A progress report on a series of experiments dealing with the effect of systemically administered steroid hormones upon tissues of the periodontium of young adult white mice has been presented. The following impressions regarding the steroid hormones and periodontal tissues in young adult white mice are derived from the findings thus far obtained from these studies: 1. The maintenance of alveolar bone and periodontal membrane is inter-related and dependent upon the existence of a physiologic systemic balance in steroid hormone levels. 2. Disturbance in the physiologic balance caused by an excess of an anti-anabolic hormone, such as cortisone, results in osteoporosis of alveolar bone, reduction in the height of the bone in relation to the teeth, and degenerative changes in the periodontal membrane. 3. The deleterious changes in the alveolar bone and periodontal membrane induced by an excess of cortisone may be prevented or compensated for by the systemic administration of estradiol benzoate.
Pay Me Now or Pay Me Later: Alternative Mortgage Products and the Mortgage Crisis

Mortgage contract design has been identified as a contributory factor in the recent market crisis. Here we examine alternative mortgage products (including interest-only and other deferred amortization structures) and develop a game theoretic model of contract choice given uncertain future income and house prices across different types of borrowers. Results imply that deferred amortization contracts are more likely to be selected in housing markets with greater expected price appreciation and by households with greater risk tolerance; moreover, such products necessarily entail greater default risk, especially among lower-income households who are aggressive in housing consumption levels. Empirical tests of model predictions generally provide support for the theory.
Microbial transformation of Ibuprofen by a nocardia species.

The carboxylic acid functional group of ibuprofen [α-methyl-4-(2-methylpropyl) benzene acetic acid] is reduced to the corresponding alcohol and subsequently esterified to the acetate derivative by cultures of Nocardia species strain NRRL 5646. The alcohol and ester microbial transformation products were isolated, and their structures were determined by 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. By derivatization of synthetic and microbiologically produced ibuprofen alcohols with S(+)-O-acetylmandelic acid, nuclear magnetic resonance analysis indicated that the carboxylic acid reductase of Nocardia sp. is R enantioselective, giving alcohol products with an enantiomeric excess of 61.2%. The R enantioselectivity of the carboxylic acid reductase enzyme system was confirmed by using cell extracts together with ATP and NADPH in the reduction of isomeric ibuprofens.
Musculoskeletal Modeling and Dynamic Simulation of the Thoroughbred Equine Forelimb During Stance Phase of the Gallop

Because thoroughbred racehorses have a high incidence of forelimb musculoskeletal injuries, a model was desired to screen potential risk factors for injuries. This paper describes the development of a musculoskeletal model of the thoroughbred forelimb and a dynamic simulation of the motion of the distal segments during the stance phase of high-speed (18 m/s) gallop. The musculoskeletal model is comprised of segment, joint, muscle-tendon, and ligament information. The dynamic simulation incorporates a proximal forward-driving force, a distal ground reaction force model, muscle activations, and initial positions and velocities. A simulation of the gallop after transection of an accessory ligament demonstrated increased soft tissue strains in the remaining support structures of the distal forelimb. These data were consistent with those previously reported from in vitro experimental data and supported usefulness of the model for the study of distal forelimb soft tissue mechanics during the stance phase of the gallop.
Astrocytic gap junctional communication is reduced in amyloid-β-treated cultured astrocytes, but not in Alzheimer's disease transgenic mice

Alzheimer's disease is characterized by accumulation of amyloid deposits in brain, progressive cognitive deficits and reduced glucose utilization. Many consequences of the disease are attributed to neuronal dysfunction, but roles of astrocytes in its pathogenesis are not well understood. Astrocytes are extensively coupled via gap junctions, and abnormal trafficking of metabolites and signalling molecules within astrocytic syncytia could alter functional interactions among cells comprising the neurovascular unit. To evaluate the influence of amyloid-β on astrocyte gap junctional communication, cultured astrocytes were treated with monomerized amyloid-β1–40 (1 μmol/l) for intervals ranging from 2 h to 5 days, and the areas labelled by test compounds were determined by impaling a single astrocyte with a micropipette and diffusion of material into coupled cells. Amyloid-β-treated astrocytes had rapid, sustained 50–70% reductions in the area labelled by Lucifer Yellow, anionic Alexa Fluor® dyes and energy-related compounds, 6-NBDG (a fluorescent glucose analogue), NADH and NADPH. Amyloid-β treatment also caused a transient increase in oxidative stress. In striking contrast with these results, spreading of Lucifer Yellow within astrocytic networks in brain slices from three regions of 8.5–14-month-old control and transgenic Alzheimer's model mice was variable, labelling 10–2000 cells; there were no statistically significant differences in the number of dye-labelled cells among the groups or with age. Thus amyloid-induced dysfunction of gap junctional communication in cultured astrocytes does not reflect the maintenance of dye transfer through astrocytic syncytial networks in transgenic mice; the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease is not appropriately represented by the cell culture system.
Behavioural syndromes and shoaling: connections between aggression, boldness and social behaviour in three different Danios

While many behavioural syndrome studies focus on individual-level correlations of behaviors across various contexts, it is also possible to examine these syndromes on a population level, comparing various species or groups. In this study we tested wild type zebrafish (Danio rerio), longfin zebrafish (Danio rerio lof mutants) and the closely related pearl danio (Danio albolineatus) to determine whether aggression and boldness varied and whether population-level differences in these behavioural types were linked to differences in shoaling preferences among the three Danio types. We found significant differences in overall levels of boldness and aggression between the three Danio groups. Pearl danios were the most ‘aggressive’ type, and wildtype zebrafish were relatively ‘passive’. In contrast, wildtype zebrafish showed the most ‘boldness’ while longfin zebrafish were comparatively ‘shy’. We also found subsequent differences in social behaviour, with pearl danios showing significant preferences for conspecific shoals. Our results indicate that fish may not only be making social decisions based on the behaviour, health and appearance of potential shoal mates, but their own temperament may be important in mediating social interactions as well.
Preparative purification of phosphorylated and nonphosphorylated bovine prolactins

Abstract Extracts from 12 pituitaries were applied to preparative immunoaffinity chromatography columns containing between 500 mg and 800 mg of clonal antiprolactin IgG1. Extracts were cycled through the column and subsequently washed from the affinity matrix. Total prolactin was eluted from the affinity matrix by a 0.1 M glycine, pH 2.8. The total prolactin was neutralized and dialyzed into 20 mM Bis-Tris (pH 7.0) and applied to a weak anion exchange column. Nonphosphorylated prolactin was eluted with 0.5 M Nad in Bis-Tris buffer. Phosphorylated prolactin was eluted with 20% acetic acid. Yields averaged 19.6 mg and 11.7 mg for native and phosphorylated prolactin (n = 14 runs), respectively. The molecular weights of the prolactins were similar to prolactin standards. The amino acid compositions of the two prolactin variants were similar. Phosphate was associated predominately with the phosphorylated prolactin. Native prolactin was biologically active in the Nb2 rat lymphoma bioassay, while the phosphorylated prolactin was without activity in this bioassay.
Effect of fluid diversion on the acid stimulation of a perforation

A previously developed model that considers the effect of acidizing on the productivity of a single perforation penetrating a sandstone reservoir was extended to account for the effect of particulate diverting agents on acid distribution inside the perforation. Cases were run that simulate various types of formation damage, including damage from drilling-mud infiltration and damage caused by perforating itself. The model predicts the evolution of the perforation skin factor as acid dissolves formation minerals in the surrounding region. The primary result of this work is that, for the types of damage simulated, fluid diversion within a perforation has little effect on stimulation performance. Although the diverting agent significantly changes the acid distribution at the perforation surface, the acid tends to migrate rapidly to undamaged regions in the formation. This paper presents results from a series of case studies that emphasized the effect of fluid diversion inside a perforation.
Role of Notch pathway in terminal follicle cell differentiation during Drosophila oogenesis

During Drosophila oogenesis the body axes are determined by signaling between the oocyte and the somatic follicle cells that surround the egg chamber. A key event in the establishment of oocyte anterior-posterior polarity is the differential patterning of the follicle cell epithelium along the anterior-posterior axis. Both the Notch and epithelial growth factor (EGF) receptor pathways are required for this patterning. To understand how these pathways act in the process we have analyzed markers for anterior and posterior follicle cells accompanying constitutive activation of the EGF receptor, loss of Notch function, and ectopic expression of Delta. We find that a constitutively active EGF receptor can induce posterior fate in anterior but not in lateral follicle cells, showing that the EGF receptor pathway can act only on predetermined terminal cells. Furthermore, Notch function is required at both termini for appropriate expression of anterior and posterior markers, while loss of both the EGF receptor and Notch pathways mimic the Notch loss-of-function phenotype. Ectopic expression of the Notch ligand, Delta, disturbs EGF receptor dependent posterior follicle cell differentiation and anterior-posterior polarity of the oocyte. Our data are consistent with a model in which the Notch pathway is required for early follicle cell differentiation at both termini, but is then repressed at the posterior for proper determination of the posterior follicle cells by the EGF receptor pathway.
The Writing Subject: A Reconceptualization of the Psychological Self

This paper examines the use of the `individual' in mainstream psychology and suggests an alternative in French poststructuralist Julia Kristeva's conceptualization of the writing subject. This conceptualization includes both conscious and unconscious functions as produced through the language of the text and social, historical and ideological circumstances. As a result of the dynamic workings of the unconscious, the writing subject emerges as a way of understanding subjectivity as a process that is never fixed, always motile and continuously in the throes of productivity. Since this conceptualization is less static, less unified and less fixed than the notion of the individual promoted by mainstream psychology, it offers a more comprehensive view of the processes by which the subject and subjectivity are formulated.
Effects of neuropeptide Y on short-term memory

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a ubiquitous neuropeptide which may modulate several behavioral and physiological phenomena. Among other behavioral effects, NPY has been shown to enhance memory processes in mice. The current study employed a delayed conditional discrimination procedure to evaluate the effects of intracerebroventricular injections of NPY on short-term working memory. This conditional discrimination procedure assesses appropriate responding, based on a previously presented stimulus, after various delays have been imposed between the stimulus and the opportunity for a response. Delay values ranged from 0.01 s to 30 s. NPY decreased accuracy across delay values in a dose-dependent manner. The two highest doses of NPY (3.0 and 10.0 micrograms) significantly decreased accuracy. Doses lower than those used in the current study have shown facilitation of memory processes under avoidance procedures in mice. Intraperitoneal naloxone (3.0 mg/kg), an opioid antagonist, completely blocked NPY's memory degrading effects. Procedural differences may account for NPY-induced degradation of short-term working memory under delayed conditional discrimination and previous reports of NPY's enhancement of retention under shock avoidance procedures.
Chronic pulmonary diseases: Emergency department issues

Emergency physicians are often confronted with issues surrounding chronic medical problems. Because of advances in technology and research, children with chronic diseases such as cystic fibrosis (CF) and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) now have increased survival rates. It is essential for emergency practitioners to possess an understanding of these disorders so that they may adequately care for these challenging patients. In this article, emergency department issues surrounding clinical manifestations and management strategies of children with CF and BPD will be discussed.
Cystine calculi: correlation of CT-visible structure, CT number, and stone morphology with fragmentation by shock wave lithotripsy

Cystine stones are often highly resistant to shock wave lithotripsy (SWL), but it has been reported that cystine stones of "rough" morphology are actually quite susceptible to SWL. Based on the observation that rough cystine stones contain void regions that are visible by helical computed tomographic (CT) imaging, we hypothesized that the internal structure of cystine stones would correlate with the susceptibility of stones to SWL. Cystine stones with average diameters between 4 and 7 mm were scanned using micro and helical CT, classified morphologically according to published criteria, and broken in a research electrohydraulic lithotripter, with fragments sieved through a 2 mm mesh every 50 SWs. Stones with regions of low X-ray attenuation visible on helical CT required only 650 +/- 312 SW/g for total comminution, while those that did not show CT-visible internal structure required 1,046 +/- 307 SW/g (mean +/- SD, P < 0.004). In addition, both average and minimum values for CT number (in Hounsfield units, HU) correlated with SW/g to comminution (P < 0.003 and P < 0.0003, respectively), and these relationships were independent of stone size. This study also confirmed the relationship between the morphological criteria of Bhatta et al. (J Urol 142:937-940, 1989) and cystine stone fragility: Rough stones required 609 +/- 244 SW/g (n = 11), smooth stones 1,109 +/- 308 SW/g (n = 8), and stones intermediate in morphology 869 +/- 384 SW/g (n = 7; rough different from smooth, P < 0.005). In conclusion, cystine stones that appeared homogeneous by helical CT required 61% more SWs for comminution than did stones showing regions of low X-ray attenuation. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of using helical CT to identify cystine stones that will be susceptible to SWL.
Analysis of supply chains with quantity based fixed incentives

Abstract This paper examines the use of quantity based fixed incentives to coordinate inventory decisions in a decentralized supply chain. We consider a two stage supply chain of autonomous supplier and distributor and prove that the optimal ordering policy for the newsvendor distributor under fixed incentives is an ( s , S ) type policy. We further show that external and internal quantity based incentives can restore channel coordination in single period and channel members can benefit through arbitrary splitting of the resulting additional chain profit. The single period results are extended to multiple periods and the impact of fixed incentives on the distributor’s optimal stocking policy and channel efficiency are examined under three different multi-period supplier strategies. Numerical examples are used to compare the multi-period strategies and to provide additional managerial insights. The results show that contrary to common belief, incentive plans developed and maintained based only on current inventory data perform poorly in long term and that such incentive plans must be periodically updated to enhance their efficiency. Furthermore, we show that high level of incentives designed to push too much inventory downstream of the supply chain can actually reduce the chain’s efficiency.
106 Cryoablation during HeartMate II® LVAD Implantation Reduces Postoperative Ventricular Tacchyarrhythmias

20-74), 54% (50/93) were men, 91% (85/93) were white. Underlying diseases were COPD 39% (36/93), IPF 32% (30/93), CF 13% (12/93), others 16% (15/93). 438 VOR serum troughs were measured. 35% of pts (33/93) had initial levels 1 g/mL (20 0.5, 13 between 0.5-1), 19% (18/93) were 1-2, 30% (28/93) were 2-4 and 15% (14/93) were 4. 81% (72/89) of pts had significant variation ( 0.5) in levels upon serial testing. Pts 60 yrs old were more likely to have significant variation in levels and levels 4 (both p 0.02). CF pts were more likely to have levels 1 and less likely to have levels 4 (p 0.06 and 0.03, respectively). IPF pts were more likely to have levels 4 (p 0.01). During VOR px, 12% (10/93) and 27% (25/93) of pts developed IFI (anastomotic tracheobronchitis) or were colonized by fungi, respectively. 152 levels were drawn at time of respiratory cultures. 60% (6/10), 50% (19/38) and 31% (32/104) of IFI, colonization and negative cultures, respectively, were associated with levels 1 (p 0.03). 56% (14/25) and 48% (10/21) of cultures for yeasts and moulds, respectively, occurred at levels 1. GI symptoms, hepatoor neurotoxicity occurred in 29% (27/93) of pts, but there were no significant associations with levels. Conclusions: Our data support target VOR serum troughs 1 g/mL for LTx pts receiving px. VOR TDM may be particularly useful for pts 60 and those with IPF who are at increased risk for higher levels, and CF pts who are at increased risk of lower levels. Studies of dose adjustments in response to VOR TDM are underway.
Eclogite-facies metamorphism preserved in tectonic blocks from a lower crustal shear zone, central Transantarctic Mountains, Antarctica

In the Geologists and Miller Ranges of the central Transantarctic Mountains, mafic and ultramafic tectonic blocks occur in an Early Cambrian amphibolite- to granulite-facies lower crustal transpressional shear zone. Mafic blocks consist of garnet + clinopyroxene symplectite + hornblende + plagioclase + quartz + ilmenite ± orthopyroxene ± biotite; mineral compositions in these blocks generally reflect equilibration under upper amphibolite to lower granulite facies conditions (T ~ 700 °C, P ~ 8–12 kbar). These conditions are the same as those indicated by peak, syn-kinematic assemblages in the enclosing shear zone tectonites. Mineral and textural evidence for an earlier higher-pressure (P = 12–25 kbar) eclogite-facies metamorphism includes, (1) plagioclase reaction rims around anhedral garnet; (2) complex clinopyroxene intergrowths consisting of augite + plagioclase + quartz ± hornblende ± orthopyroxene, interpreted as exsolved Na-rich clinopyroxene (omphacite) and (3) unusual magnesian staurolite [atomic Mg(Mg + Fe) = 0.58] inclusions in pyrope-almandine garnet. We suggest that the relict eclogite-facies metamorphism records an earlier period of crustal thickening that occurred prior to formation of the transpressional shear zone, perhaps as an early stage in Ross orogenesis.
Generation of multigigahertz bright and dark soliton pulse trains

Abstract A comprehensive study for generating trains of ultra-high speed bright and dark soliton pulses at 1553 nm using comblike dispersion profile fiber structures is presented. The comblike structure employed for generating bright solitons uses the lowest average power for the input signal ever reported. The generated bright soliton pulses have a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 2.2 ps at a repetition rate of 49.3 GHz, while the generated dark soliton pulses have a FWHM of 3.8 ps at 47.6 GHz. The experimental results agree well with performed numerical simulations.