cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gender Differences in Employment and the Informal Care of Adults

ABSTRACT This study compares gender differences among employed informal caregivers of disabled adults. Female caregivers, as compared to male caregivers, had significantly lower household incomes and were assisting care recipients with higher levels of cognitive and behavioral impairments. Female caregivers also reported higher levels of caregiving strain, work interference, and role strain, after controlling for socio-demographic characteristics and caregiving and employment resources and demands. Female employees were significantly more likely than males to endorse a number of work place programs and benefits as helpful in meeting their adult care responsibilities. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Trends in the Research Productivity of Newly Hired Assistant Professors at Research Departments from 2007 to 2012

Has the sociology job market for assistant professors at research universities become more competitive in recent years? One approach to addressing this question is to consider the research productivity of new hires. This study reports on trends in research productivity and the proportion of hires that are ABDs from 2007 to 2012 using data collected from the CVs of 334 assistant professors employed at the top 98 sociology departments. The analysis reveals a substantial increase in the median number of publications, median number of peer-reviewed publications, and the median number of first- or sole-authored peer-reviewed publications over the past 6 years among newly hired professors. This is in part due to a decrease in the proportion of assistant professors hired out of graduate school (i.e., ABDs) and the fact that ABDs have fewer publications on average than non-ABDs. The article concludes with a consideration of the mechanisms that might underlie these trends and notes important limitations concerning selectivity that pertain to the analysis.
Convenient Synthetic Route to an Enantiomerically Pure FMOC α-Amino Acid

A strategy for the facile alpha-amination of carboxylic acid menthyl esters is described. The resulting diastereomers, readily separable, can be individually carried on to each enantiomer of the FMOC alpha-amino acid. A variety of unnatural side chains were compatible with this approach. The menthyl ester was easily removed from the FMOC alpha-amino acid without racemization.
Plants talk--but can they listen?

K. Brown's article “Something to sniff at: unbottling floral scent” (News Focus, 28 June, p. [2327][1]) highlights the spectacular advances recently made in the field of plant volatiles through a combination of ecological, molecular, and evolutionary techniques. The sidebar within the article (“Plants ‘speak’ using versatile volatiles,” p. [2329][2]) attempts to tie these advances to the question of what have been called “talking trees.” Several researchers, including J. Tumlinson and I. Baldwin, have demonstrated that insects have exquisite abilities to detect volatile compounds emitted by plants and that both herbivorous and predatory insects can respond quite strongly to certain phytogenic volatiles. Such results fit well with research on the physiology and neurobiology of insect olfactory systems. What is not yet known, however, is whether plants growing under natural (or agricultural) conditions respond directly to volatile signals from other plants. Many of the recent experiments on this question have been conducted under laboratory conditions that artificially (and, possibly, artifactually) raise the concentrations of the volatile compounds under consideration. Simple calculations of biogenic flux and turbulent diffusion rates suggest that most plants growing outdoors see concentrations of biogenic volatiles several orders of magnitude lower than those commonly used in lab and growth chamber experiments. We still lack convincing evidence that plants respond to volatile signals from other plants when turbulence conditions are realistic and concentrations approach those seen in nature. In contrast to insects, plants appear to lack highly evolved reception and transduction systems for volatile signals. The question about plants is not whether they can talk. The question is, do they listen? [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.296.5577.2327 [2]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.296.5577.2329
Oak savanna management strategies and their differential effects on vegetative structure, understory light, and flowering forbs

High quality oak savanna communities were once abundant in the North American Midwest, but have become exceedingly rare. Where remnant savannas remain, fire suppression and resulting woody encroachment have dramatically altered vegetative structure, resulting in reduced understory light levels and precipitating declines in herbaceous understory diversity. Restoration of fire suppressed oak savannas generally involves the reintroduction of fire, but questions remain regarding the necessity and impact of mechanical woody vegetation reduction in addition to fire. We report here on initial short-term results of a long-term experiment in a remnant fire-suppressed oak savanna in Southern Michigan to compare a gradient of oak savanna management intensities including; (1) unmanaged reference plots, (2) burning alone (low management intensity), and (3) progressive mechanical thinning combined with burning (high management intensity). We measured several metrics of restoration success: understory, shrub, and canopy cover, understory light levels, understory floral resources, and flowering forb diversity, in the first two growing seasons after initiation of restoration treatments. We found that increasing management intensity largely corresponded with increased understory light availability, abundance of floral resources (i.e. forb bloom abundance and diversity), and with decreased shrub and canopy cover. Low management intensity did not increase light availability, or decrease vegetative or canopy cover relative to unmanaged references, while high management intensity achieved both management goals. Both burning alone and thinning + burning generally increased diversity of flowering forbs, where the effect was greatest with high intensity management. These increases were most pronounced in the second growing season after burning, when we saw sharp increases in richness and abundance of flowering forbs. In restored plots, the flowering forb community consisted of pre-existing shade tolerant species, native and exotic ruderals, as well as savanna indicator species. In sum, low-intensity management can achieve some restoration objectives over the short-term; however, we show a clear initial advantage of coupling thinning with burning, relative to burning alone. We suggest that these differing intensities of oak savanna restoration may be appropriate under different temporal, financial, and ecological scenarios. Our work highlights the potential for restoration of understory forb communities by low or high intensity approaches, where relict populations and/or viable seedbanks exist.
Subarachnoid hemorrhage during arteriovenous malformation embolization as a result of vessel wall “sandblasting”

OBJECTIVE Preoperative selective particulate embolization of arteriovenous malformations can make subsequent surgical resection of such lesions safer for the patient and easier for the surgeon. Nevertheless, embolization carries intrinsic risks, which include subarachnoid hemorrhage. We report two cases of subarachnoid hemorrhage during particulate embolization that we think was attributable to catheter positioning near a vessel curve and subsequent denudation of the vessel wall to the degree that hemorrhage was induced.
Novel progranulin variants do not disrupt progranulin secretion and cleavage

A subset of frontotemporal dementia cases are neuropathologically defined by tau-negative, TAR DNA-binding protein-43, and ubiquitin-positive inclusions in the brain and are associated with mutations in the progranulin gene (GRN). Deep sequencing of families exhibiting late-onset dementia revealed several novel variants in GRN. Because of the small size of these families and limited availability of samples, it was not possible to determine whether the variants segregated with the disease. Furthermore, none of these families had autopsy confirmation of diagnosis. We sought to determine if these novel GRN variants alter progranulin (PGRN) protein stability, PGRN secretion, and PGRN cleavage in cultured cells. All the novel GRN variants behave like PGRN wild-type protein, suggesting that these variants represent rare polymorphisms. However, it remains possible that these variants affect other aspects of PGRN function or represent risk factors for dementia when combined with other modifying genes.
Control of yeast and mammalian mitochondrial protein synthesis by cytoplasmic factors.

The biogenesis of the mitochondrial inner membrane requires the synthesis of proteins at 2 intracellular sites: 1 cytoplasmic; 1 mitochondrial. A mechanism must exist to coordinate the synthesis of proteins at the 2 distinct intracellular sites such that mitochondrial formation occurs in an orderly manner. Previous studies in yeast using selective inhibitors of cytoplasmic and mitochondrial protein synthesis have suggested that cytoplasmically synthesized proteins may control mitochondrial protein synthesis both in vivo [l-4] and in vitro [3] and that this control may occur by either stimulation of chain initiation or increased formation of mitochondrial mRNAs [5]. In [6] protein synthesis by yeast mitochondria in vitro was reported stimulated by addition of a high-speed cytoplasmic supernatant from yeast [6]. This effect is not species-specific, as protein synthesis in vitro by isolated yeast mitochondria could be stimulated markedly by post-polysomal supernatants from either E. coli, rat liver or yeast [7]. However, stimulation of yeast mitochondrial protein synthesis by all of these high speed supernatants may be due to the presence of non-dialyzable GMP which is converted to GDP (or GTP) during the incubation in the protein-synthesizing medium [8]. We have confirmed that GTP stimulates yeast mitochondrial protein synthesis in vitro, but addition of a post-polysomal supernatant from yeast doubles the rate of mitochondrial protein synthesis in
Adenine nucleotide translocase-1 induces cardiomyocyte death through upregulation of the pro-apoptotic protein Bax

Overexpression of the adenine nucleotide translocase (ANT) has been shown to be cytotoxic in several cell types. Although ANT was originally proposed to be a critical component of the mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) pore, recent data have suggested that this may not be the case. We therefore hypothesized that the cytotoxic actions of ANT are through an alternative mechanism, independent of the MPT pore. Infection of cultured neonatal cardiomyocytes with an ANT1-encoding adenovirus induced a gene dosage-dependent increase in cell death. However, ANT1 overexpression failed to induce MPT, and neither pharmacological nor genetic inhibition of the MPT pore was able to prevent ANT1-induced cell death. These data suggested that ANT1-induced death progressed through an MPT pore-independent pathway. Somewhat surprisingly, we observed that protein levels of Bax, a pro-apoptotic Bcl protein, were consistently elevated in ANT1-infected cardiomyocytes. Membranes isolated from ANT1-infected myocytes exhibited significantly increased amounts of membrane-inserted Bax, and immunocytochemistry revealed increased Bax activation in ANT1-infected myocytes. Co-expression with the Bax antagonist Bcl2 was able to greatly reduce the degree of ANT1-induced cell death. Furthermore, Bax/Bak-deficient fibroblasts were resistant to the cytotoxic effects of ANT1 overexpression. Interestingly, ANT1 overexpression was also associated with enhanced production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and the antioxidant MnTBAP was able to significantly attenuate both the ANT1-induced upregulation of Bax and cell death. Taken together, these data indicate that ANT mediates cell death, not through the MPT pore, but rather via a ROS-dependent upregulation and activation of Bax.
Oppression, Exploitation and Injustice in the Old Testament: The View from Liberation Theology

Illustrates and explicates the proposition that the critique of exploitation and injustice found in contemporary Liberation Theology is theologically grounded, in that these phenomena are rebuked as discordant with God′s will, as revealed by textual re‐examination of the Bible, notably the Old Testament, not merely as socially undesirable, by examination of four central themes: (1) the Old Testament characterization of God as hater of exploitation, lover of justice, and Liberator of the oppressed; (2) the Biblical depiction of the character and methods of oppression and exploitation and the identification of oppressors and oppressed; (3) the Old Testament model of stages in the liberative process and vision of a future society characterized by peace, freedom, justice, equality, community, and prosperity; (4) significant elements of continuity between Old and New Testament on these issues.
The fabrication of polymer microfluidic devices using a solid-to-solid interfacial polyaddition

Abstract It is hard to permanently seal the microfluidic channels made of thermoset polymers without using conventional adhesives. Here, we reported a polyaddition-based mechanism to solve the problem. The method is based on introducing amine groups onto the surface of one material and epoxy groups on another material and enabling the amine–epoxide polyaddition reaction at their closely contacted solid-to-solid interface to establish a covalent and permanent bonding. It was successfully used to permanently seal polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic channels with glass in a scalable and multifunctional fashion and to seal epoxy (SU-8) microfluidic channels with PDMS. This type of interfacial polyaddition can be easily extended to other materials for microfluidic device fabrication and is expected to find some applications in specialty bonding.
Sum graphs over all the integers

Abstract We introduced the sum graph of a set S of positive integers as the graph G+(S) having S as its node set, with two nodes adjacent whenever their sum is in S. Now we study sum graphs over all the integers so that S may contain positive or negative integers on zero. A graph so obtained is called an integral sum graph. The sum number of a given graph G was defined as the smallest number of isolated nodes which when added to G result in a sum graph. The integral sum number of G is analogous. We see that all paths and all matchings are integral sum graphs. We find the integral sum number of the small graphs and offer several intriguing unsolved problems.
Botulinum Toxin A and B: A Comparative Dosing Study for Spasmodic Dysphonia

Objective The purpose of this study was to find the conversion factor, safety, and efficacy of type A to type B toxin for laryngeal muscles. Methods Thirty-two patients with adductor spasmodic dysphonia with stable doses of A toxin to manage their symptom were given type B toxin starting at a conversion of 1 U of BTX-A to 50 U of BTX-B. The patients were followed for 1 year, and doses adjusted according to response. Results The conversion factor was found to be 52.3 U : 1 U. The onset of action of type B was more rapid (2.09 days vs 3.2 days [ P = 0.028]), with a shorter duration of benefit (10.8 weeks vs 17 weeks [ P = 0.002). The safety profile for A and B toxin appeared the same, with 3 patients receiving Myobloc reporting dry mouth. Conclusion This study shows that a conversion factor of 52.3:1 Myobloc (BTX-B) to Botox (BTX-A) and that Myobloc is an effective alternative to Botox (BTX-A) for patients with spasmodic dysphonia. EBM rating B-2
Psychophysiological assessment of imagery in obsessive-compulsives: a pilot study.

Abstract In a within-groups design, four obsessive-compulsive patients imagined four different types of scenes: (1) exposure to feared situations; (2) exposure to feared situations followed by engaging in ritualistic behavior: (3) engaging in ritualistic behavior without provocation; and (4) neutral situations. Each scene type was presented three times with order of presentation randomized. Beat-by-beat heart rate samples were taken during the visualization of each scene and converted to second-by-second heart rate. An examination of second-by-second heart rate for each scene type suggested that scenes involving exposure to feared situations elicited defensive responses (DR), whereas those that did not elicited orienting responses (OR). The implications of these results for compulsive behavior, the fear-reduction model and Sokolov's (1963) OR-DR model, are briefly discussed.
Scaling Thermodynamic Model for Type I Superconductors

Abstract The scaling theory of type I superconductors close to the critical point is discussed. In this theory the exponent α = 0, which signals a heat capacity with a symmetric logarithmic divergence (non-classical behavior) superimposed on a discontinuity (classical behavior). An explicit scaling model for the Gibbs potential dependence on the thermodynamic fields is presented. Consequences of this model concerning the heat capacity are worked out. The classical Rutgers formula is not valid in the presence of the logarithmic contribution. The correct formula is derived. New ways for detecting nonclassical (fluctuations driven) effects are suggested.
Identification problem for the wave equation with Neumann data input and Dirichlet data observations

We seek to identify the dispersive coefficient in a wave equation with Neumann boundary conditions in a bounded space-time domain from imprecise observations of the solution on the boundary of the spatial domain (Dirichlet data). The problem is regularized and solved by casting it into an optimal control setting. By letting the "cost of the control" tend to zero, we obtain the limit of the corresponding control sequence, which we identify with the sought dispersive coefficient. The corresponding solution of the wave equation is interpreted as the possibly nonunique projection of the observation vector onto the range of the Neumann-to-Dirichlet maps corresponding to a single input Neumann data, as the dispersive coefficient is varied. Several numerical examples illustrate the merits and limitations of the procedure.
Loss Characteristics of Silicon Steel at 60 Cycles with D-C Excitation

CORE-LOSS and excitation characteristics of sheet steel subjected to combined alternating and direct magnetic fields, have been subjects of investigation for the past 20 years. Such combined fields occur in many types of electrical apparatus. This paper presents the results of a series of 60-cycle core-loss and excitation tests with superposed d-c excitation, which recently were made on silicon sheet steel.
BREEDING ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT OF SNOWY PLOVERS IN NORTH-CENTRAL OKLAHOMA

Snowy Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) nests (n = 415) were monitored to completion on an expansive alkaline flat in north-central Oklahoma in 1995–1996. We reported Mayfield Method nesting success but relied on apparent nesting success to compare differences in successful (hatched) and lost (depredated/flooded) nests in five 1000-ha areas, by microhabitat type, and inside versus outside electric-fence predator exclosures. Apparent nesting success differed by area in 1996 and over both years. Predation differed by area only in 1995, and flooding did not differ by area. Apparent nesting success and predation differed by microhabitat type in 1995 and over both years. Differences were observed among depredated and flooded nests inside versus outside electric-fence predator exclosures. Canids and gulls were primary predators. Nests associated with habitat improvements (1995) and near driftwood debris (1996) encountered higher predation, and nests near driftwood debris were more susceptible to flooding both years. We identified an area on the alkaline flat with the highest nesting success and lowest predation where future conservation efforts for Charadriiformes could be implemented.
LETHAL AND SUBLETHAL EFFECTS OF ATRAZINE, CARBARYL, ENDOSULFAN, AND OCTYLPHENOL ON THE STREAMSIDE SALAMANDER (AMBYSTOMA BARBOURI )

Agricultural contaminants may be contributing to worldwide amphibian declines, but little is known about which agrichemicals pose the greatest threat to particular species. One reason for this is that tests of multiple contaminants under ecologically relevant conditions are rarely conducted concurrently. In this study, we examined the effects of 37-d exposure to the agrichemicals atrazine (4, 40, and 400 mg/L), carbaryl (0.5, 5, and 50 mg/L), endosulfan (0.1, 1, and 10 mg/L for 31 d and 0.1, 10, and 100 mg/ L for the last 6 d), and octylphenol (5, 50, and 500 mg/L) and to a solvent control on streamside salamanders (Ambystoma barbouri) in the presence and absence of food. We found that none of the agrichemicals significantly affected embryo survival, but that hatching was delayed by the highest concentration of octylphenol. In contrast to embryos, larval survival was reduced by the highest concentrations of carbaryl, endosulfan, and octylphenol. Growth rates were lower in the highest concentrations of endosulfan and octylphenol than in all other treatments, and the highest concentration of endosulfan caused respiratory distress. Significantly more carbaryl, endosulfan, and octylphenol tanks had larvae with limb deformities than did control tanks. Refuge use was independent of chemical exposure, but 10 mg/L of endosulfan and 500 mg/L of octylphenol decreased larval activity. Systematically tapping tanks caused a greater activity increase in larvae exposed to 400 mg/L of atrazine and 10 mg/L of endosulfan relative to solvent controls, suggesting underlying nervous system malfunction. Hunger stimulated a decrease in refuge use and an increase in activity, but this response was least pronounced in larvae exposed to the highest concentration of any of the four agrichemicals, possibly because these larvae were the most lethargic. More studies are needed that concurrently examine the effect of multiple contaminants on amphibians so we can better identify effective mitigating measures.
Psychological Effects of Cholinomimetic Agents

Janowsky, Davis and colleagues began in 1972 to explore the possibility that the affective disorders, mania and depression, might be due to a complex balance, or inter-action, between adrenergic and cholinergic factors (Janowsky et al., 1972a). Proposed most simply, mania was hypothesized to be a syndrome due to relatively diminished central acetylcholine (ACh) activity, compared to normal or increased noradrenergic and/or dopaminergic activity; and depression was proposed to be the converse (Janowsky et al., 1972b).
Motion correction and the use of motion covariates in multiple-subject fMRI analysis

The impact of using motion estimates as covariates of no interest was examined in general linear modeling (GLM) of both block design and rapid event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data. The purpose of motion correction is to identify and eliminate artifacts caused by task-correlated motion while maximizing sensitivity to true activations. To optimize this process, a combination of motion correction approaches was applied to data from 33 subjects performing both a block-design and an event-related fMRI experiment, including analysis: (1) without motion correction; (2) with motion correction alone; (3) with motion-corrected data and motion covariates included in the GLM; and (4) with non-motion-corrected data and motion covariates included in the GLM. Inclusion of covariates was found to be generally useful for increasing the sensitivity of GLM results in the analysis of event-related data. When motion parameters were included in the GLM for event-related data, it made little difference if motion correction was actually applied to the data. For the block design, inclusion of motion covariates had a deleterious impact on GLM sensitivity when even moderate correlation existed between motion and the experimental design. Based on these results, we present a general strategy for block designs, event-related designs, and hybrid designs to identify and eliminate probable motion artifacts while maximizing sensitivity to true activations.
Circumventing Cancer Drug Resistance in the Era of Personalized Medicine

All successful cancer therapies are limited by the development of drug resistance. The increase in the understanding of the molecular and biochemical bases of drug efficacy has also facilitated studies elucidating the mechanism(s) of drug resistance. Experimental approaches that can help predict the eventual clinical drug resistance, coupled with the evolution of systematic genomic and proteomic technologies, are rapidly identifying novel resistance mechanisms. In this review, we provide a historical background on drug resistance and a framework for understanding the common ways by which cancers develop resistance to targeted therapies. We further discuss advantages and disadvantages of experimental strategies that can be used to identify drug resistance mechanism(s). Significance: Increased knowledge of drug resistance mechanisms will aid in the development of effective therapies for patients with cancer. We provide a summary of current knowledge on drug resistance mechanisms and experimental strategies to identify and study additional drug resistance pathways. Cancer Discovery; 2(3); 214–26. ©2012 AACR .
Energy-aware secure multicast communication in ad-hoc networks using geographic location information

The problem of securing multicast communications in an energy-constrained ad-hoc network requires the efficient management of cryptographic quantities. We show that existing efficient key distribution techniques for wired networks that rely on logical hierarchies are extremely energy inefficient. We also show that the consideration of the physical location of the members is critical for developing energy-efficient key distribution schemes. By exploiting the spatial correlation between the members of the multicast group, we construct an energy-aware key distribution scheme. We present simulation results to illustrate the improvements achieved by our proposed algorithm.
SWEC: a Step Wise Equivalent Conductance timing simulator for CMOS VLSI circuits

Timing simulation has always been considered a crucial step in digital VLSI circuit designs. Many researchers have addressed the issues of time efficiency vs. accuracy by using simpler device models and by simplifying the numerical algorithms. StepWise Equivalent Conductance (SWEC) simulation technique, first proposed in [1], is an alternative which approximates the nonlinear transfer characteristic of the transistor with stepwise constant conductances. In this paper we demonstrate that the time step can be controlled to provide the necessary accuracy in the implicit integration algorithm. A timing simulator has been built based on this principle. The simulator can handle very large CMOS designs. Comparisons have been made with XPsim [2] and SPECS2 [3] using several examples. The results indicate that SWEC exhibits far better efficiency and accuracy.
The Community Land Model underestimates land-use CO 2 emissions by neglecting soil disturbance from cultivation

Abstract. The Community Land Model (CLM) can simulate planting and harvesting of crops but does not include effects of cultivation on soil carbon decomposition. The biogeochemistry model DayCent does account for cultivation and provides a baseline for evaluating the CLM. With the goal of representing cultivation effects on soil carbon decomposition, we implemented the DayCent cultivation parameterization in the CLM and compared CLM and DayCent simulations at eight Midwestern United States sites with and without the cultivation parameterization. Cultivation decreases soil carbon by about 1350 gC m−2 in the CLM and 1660 gC m−2 in DayCent across the eight sites from the first cultivation (early 1900s) to 2010. CLM crop simulations without cultivation have soil carbon gain, not loss, over this period, in contrast to the expected declining trends in agricultural soil carbon. A global cultivation simulation for 1973–2004 reduces ecosystem carbon by 0.4 Pg yr−1 over temperate corn, soybean, and cereal crop areas, which occupy approximately 1/3 of global crop area. Earth System Models may improve their atmospheric CO2 and soil carbon simulations by accounting for enhanced decomposition from cultivation.
Quantification of Diffusivities of the Human Cervical Spinal Cord Using a 2D Single-Shot Interleaved Multisection Inner Volume Diffusion-Weighted Echo-Planar Imaging Technique

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: DTI is a highly sensitive technique, which can detect pathology not otherwise noted with conventional imaging methods. This paper provides the atlas of reliable normative in vivo DTI parameters in the cervical spinal cord and its potential applications toward quantifying pathology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In our study, we created a reference of normal diffusivities of the cervical spinal cord by using a 2D ss-IMIV-DWEPI technique from 14 healthy volunteers and compared parameters with those in 8 patients with CSM. The 2D ss-IMIV-DWEPI technique was applied in each subject to acquire diffusion-weighted images. FA, λ∥, and λ⊥ were calculated. A reference of normal DTI indices from 12 regions of interest was created and compared with DTI indices of 8 patients. RESULTS: A map of reference diffusivity values was obtained from healthy controls. We found statistically significant differences in diffusivities between healthy volunteers and patients with CSM with different severities of disease, by using FA, λ∥, and λ⊥ values. CONCLUSIONS: DTI using 2D ss-IMIV-DWPEI is sensitive to spinal cord pathology. This technique can be used to detect and quantify the degree of pathology within the cervical spinal cord from multiple disease states. CSM : cervical spondylotic myelopathy 2D ss-IMIV-DWEPI : 2D single-shot interleaved multisection inner volume diffusion-weighted echo-planar imaging DTI : diffusion tensor imaging DW : diffusion-weighted EPI : echo-planar imaging ETL : echo-train length FA : fractional anisotropy λ∥ : longitudinal diffusivity λ⊥ : radial diffusivity IMIV : interleaved multisection inner volume NMG : Nurick myelopathy grading RGB : red-green-blue SNR : signal intensity–to-noise ratio T2WI : T2-weighted imaging
Is the Desire for Status a Fundamental Human Motive? A Review of the Empirical Literature

The current review evaluates the status hypothesis, which states that that the desire for status is a fundamental motive. Status is defined as the respect, admiration, and voluntary deference individuals are afforded by others. It is distinct from related constructs such as power, financial success, and social belongingness. A review of diverse literatures lent support to the status hypothesis: People’s subjective well-being, self-esteem, and mental and physical health appear to depend on the level of status they are accorded by others. People engage in a wide range of goal-directed activities to manage their status, aided by myriad cognitive, behavioral, and affective processes; for example, they vigilantly monitor the status dynamics in their social environment, strive to appear socially valuable, prefer and select social environments that offer them higher status, and react strongly when their status is threatened. The desire for status also does not appear to be a mere derivative of the need to belong, as some theorists have speculated. Finally, the importance of status was observed across individuals who differed in culture, gender, age, and personality, supporting the universality of the status motive. Therefore, taken as a whole, the relevant evidence suggests that the desire for status is indeed fundamental.
Growth stimulation of rous sarcoma virus-transformed BHK cells by biotin and serum lipids.

Biotin or a serum lipid extract stimulated proliferation of G1 arrested Rous sarcoma virus-transformed BHK cells in modified Eagle's MEM (BM). The cells could be maintained continuously in BM plus biotin (BMB), but not in BM plus serum lipid extract (BM · L). Avidin inhibited growth stimulation when added to BMB, but did not inhibit growth when added to BM · L. 14C-acetate incorporation into total cellular lipids was stimulated in BMB, but not in BM. Thin-layer chromatography of the labeled cellular lipid extract indicated that relatively large amounts of 14C-acetate were incorporated into phosphatidylserine and little into the other major phospholipids. In the neutral lipids, the largest amount of incorporation was in cholesterol. G1 arrested cells multiplied rapidly in BM supplemented with dialyzed serum (BM · DS), but they did not multiply in BM with delipidized serum (BM · DLS). The addition of biotin or serum lipid extract to BM · DLS stimulated growth. Growth stimulation in BM · DLS by biotin was inhibited by avidin, but avidin had no effect on growth stimulation by serum lipid extract. Biotin stimulated additional multiplication in BM · DS and avidin inhibited this additional growth stimulation. These results suggest that growth stimulation requires lipids supplied by serum lipids or by de novo synthesis stimulated by biotin. In the absence of serum, the stimulation of the synthesis of growth factor(s) by biotin are also required for continuous multiplication.
Directional Asymmetries and Age Effects in Human Self-Motion Perception

Directional asymmetries in vestibular reflexes have aided the diagnosis of vestibular lesions; however, potential asymmetries in vestibular perception have not been well defined. This investigation sought to measure potential asymmetries in human vestibular perception. Vestibular perception thresholds were measured in 24 healthy human subjects between the ages of 21 and 68 years. Stimuli consisted of a single cycle of sinusoidal acceleration in a single direction lasting 1 or 2 s (1 or 0.5 Hz), delivered in sway (left–right), surge (forward–backward), heave (up–down), or yaw rotation. Subject identified self-motion directions were analyzed using a forced choice technique, which permitted thresholds to be independently determined for each direction. Non-motion stimuli were presented to measure possible response bias. A significant directional asymmetry in the dynamic response occurred in 27% of conditions tested within subjects, and in at least one type of motion in 92% of subjects. Directional asymmetries were usually consistent when retested in the same subject but did not occur consistently in one direction across the population with the exception of heave at 0.5 Hz. Responses during null stimuli presentation suggested that asymmetries were not due to biased guessing. Multiple models were applied and compared to determine if sensitivities were direction specific. Using Akaike information criterion, it was found that the model with direction specific sensitivities better described the data in 86% of runs when compared with a model that used the same sensitivity for both directions. Mean thresholds for yaw were 1.3 ± 0.9°/s at 0.5 Hz and 0.9 ± 0.7°/s at 1 Hz and were independent of age. Thresholds for surge and sway were 1.7 ± 0.8 cm/s at 0.5 Hz and 0.7 ± 0.3 cm/s at 1.0 Hz for subjects 50 years old. Heave thresholds were higher and were independent of age.
Using qualitative reasoning in proving achievability

A method is presented by which planning in domains which are neither perfectly characterizable nor completely unpredictable might be achieved. The primary goal of this research is the development of learning strategies which will enable a planner to learn how to construct plans useful and usable in real-world domains. In line with this goal, the author has developed an integrated planning approach in which a classical planner is augmented with the ability to defer achievable goals, which are addressed during execution. The completable reactive plans constructed in this approach remain provably correct due to the achievability constraint on deferred goals, while allowing a planner to use runtime information to facilitate its planning. >
Fracture behavior under mixed-mode loading of ceramic plasma-sprayed thermal barrier coatings at ambient and elevated temperatures

Abstract The fracture behavior under modes I and II loading of ceramic plasma-sprayed thermal barrier coatings was determined in air at 25 and 1316 °C in asymmetric four-point flexure. The mode I fracture toughness was found to be K Ic = 1.15 ± 0.07 and 0.98 ± 0.13 MPa m , respectively, at 25 and 1316 °C. The respective ‘ nominal ’ mode II fracture toughness values were K IIc = 0.73 ± 0.10 and 0.65 ± 0.04 MPa m . The empirical mixed-mode fracture criterion best described the coatings’ fracture behavior under mixed-mode loading. The angle of crack propagation was in reasonable agreement with the minimum strain energy density criterion.
Mapping recursive algorithms onto systolic architectures

A methodology is presented for designing systolic structures for recursive algorithms, especially for recursive filtering algorithms. A direct mapping methodology is used to map the dependence graph of the recursive algorithms onto systolic architectures. The mapping procedures are given and illustrated by examples. The methods for minimizing the computation time or the pipeline period and improving the utilization efficiency of the array are also discussed. In particular, the problems of the recursive state-space filtering algorithms are considered. >
Reduction of nasal Staphylococcus aureus carriage in health care professionals by treatment with a nonantibiotic, alcohol-based nasal antiseptic

Background Antibiotics used to reduce nasal colonization by Staphylococcus aureus in patients before admission are inappropriate for carriage reduction on a regular basis within a hospital community. Effective nonantibiotic alternatives for daily use in the nares will allow reduction of this bacterial source to be addressed. Methods Our study tested the effectiveness of a nonantibiotic, alcohol-based antiseptic in reducing nasal bacterial carriage in health care professionals (HCPs) at an urban hospital center. HCPs testing positive for vestibular S aureus colonization were treated 3 times during the day with topical antiseptic or control preparations. Nasal S aureus and total bacterial colonization levels were determined before and at the end of a 10-hour workday. Results Seventy-eight of 387 HCPs screened (20.2%) tested positive for S aureus infection. Of 39 subjects who tested positive for S aureus infection who completed the study, 20 received antiseptic and 19 received placebo treatment. Antiseptic treatment reduced S aureus colony forming units from baseline by 99% (median) and 82% (mean) ( P P Conclusions Nasal application of a nonantibiotic, alcohol-based antiseptic was effective in reducing S aureus and total bacterial carriage, suggesting the usefulness of this approach as a safe, effective, and convenient alternative to antibiotic treatment.
9B-6 Inhibition of Smooth Muscle Proliferation by Ultrasound-Triggered Release of Rapamycin from Microbubbles

Vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation plays a critical role in blood vessel narrowing associated with stent implantation, i.e. in-stent restenosis. Microbubble contrast agents can be modified to carry therapeutic reagents and modulate cell membrane permeability to drugs in the presence of ultrasound. A focused 1 MHz transducer was used to insonate cultured SMC cells. Nine minute application of 35% -6dB BW ultrasound pulses (PRF=1.0 kHz) at 1 MHz, 600 kPa, triggered delivery of rapamycin from a microbubble carrier to smooth muscle cells. Proliferation was decreased by 65% compared to treatment with control (Dil) bubbles. Two minute application of the same ultrasound pulses (except, PRF=5 kHz), within 6 minutes of presence of rapamycin microbubbles resulted in a decrease in proliferation of 72% compared to cells which received neither ultrasound nor microbubbles. Focusing of the drug delivery effect was achieved by narrowing the beam width of the applied ultrasound field which was controlled by axial distance of the transducer with respect to cells. For -6dB beam widths of 11.0, 3.0, and 2.5 mm, a >50% decrease in proliferation was induced in regions of 14, 8, and 6 mm respectively. Results suggest that ultrasound-triggered release of rapamycin from microbubble carriers may ultimately prove to be an effective way to localize treatment and prevention of SMC proliferation.
Preferential action of gabapentin and pregabalin at P/Q-type voltage-sensitive calcium channels: inhibition of K+-evoked [3H]-norepinephrine release from rat neocortical slices.

Gabapentin (GBP; Neurontin) and pregabalin (PGB; CI-1008), efficacious drugs in several neurological and psychiatric disorders, inhibit neurotransmitter release from mammalian brain slices at therapeutically relevant concentrations. A detailed investigation, exploring the basis for this in vitro phenomenon, focused on norepinephrine (NE) and rat neocortical tissue in complementary assays of neurotransmitter release and radioligand binding. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that GBP, PGB, and related substances decrease neocortical NE release by acting at the alpha2delta subunit of presynaptic P/Q-type voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels (VSCC) subserving Ca2+ influx in noradrenergic terminals. The inhibitory action appears competitive with [Ca2+]o and preferential to those neurons undergoing prolonged depolarization. Other results indicate that the reduction of exocytotic NE release is independent of L- and N-type VSCC, classical drug/peptide binding sites on VSCC, Na+ channels, alpha2-adrenoceptors, NE transporter, and system L amino acid transporter. These findings suggest a selective modulation of P/Q-type VSCC that are implicated in neurotransmission and several GBP-responsive pathologies.
Maritime Worlds and Global History: Comparing the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean through Barcelona and Bombay

While Indian Ocean and Mediterranean cities are usually examined separately, this essay presents a comparison of the port cities of Bombay and Barcelona between around 1850 and 1920 to assess the usefulness of the maritime worlds model of oceanic historians and the world-system model of global historians. By tracing the many similarities in the urban, economic, and infrastructural development of two largely unconnected ports, the comparative exercise highlights areas of variability and distinctiveness that become clearer when viewed against a world-system common background. A case is then made that it is in the cultural arena that historians will find answers to the variability of outcomes that have emerged from what otherwise appears to be the uniform character of modern global history.
Toddlers' dysregulated fear predicts delta-beta coupling during preschool.

Abstract Dysregulated fear, or the persistence of high levels of fear in low-threat contexts, is an early risk factor for the development of anxiety symptoms. Previous work has suggested both propensities for over-control and under-control of fearfulness as risk factors for anxiety problems, each of which may be relevant to observations of dysregulated fear. Given difficulty disentangling over-control and under-control through traditional behavioral measures, we used delta–beta coupling to begin to understand the degree to which dysregulated fear may reflect propensities for over- or under-control. We found that toddlers who showed high levels of dysregulated fear evidenced greater delta–beta coupling at frontal and central electrode sites as preschoolers relative to children who were low in dysregulated fear. Importantly, these differences were not observed when comparisons were made based on fear levels in high threat contexts. Results suggest dysregulated fear may involve tendencies toward over-control at the neural level.
Chemokine (C-X-C Motif) Receptor 4 and Atypical Chemokine Receptor 3 Regulate Vascular α1-Adrenergic Receptor Function

Chemokine (C-X-C motif) receptor (CXCR) 4 and atypical chemokine receptor (ACKR) 3 ligands have been reported to modulate cardiovascular function in various disease models. The underlying mechanisms, however, remain unknown. Thus, it was the aim of the present study to determine how pharmacological modulation of CXCR4 and ACKR3 regulate cardiovascular function. In vivo administration of TC14012, a CXCR4 antagonist and ACKR3 agonist, caused cardiovascular collapse in normal animals. During the cardiovascular stress response to hemorrhagic shock, ubiquitin, a CXCR4 agonist, stabilized blood pressure, whereas coactivation of CXCR4 and ACKR3 with CXC chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12), or blockade of CXCR4 with AMD3100 showed opposite effects. While CXCR4 and ACKR3 ligands did not affect myocardial function, they selectively altered vascular reactivity upon α1-adrenergic receptor (AR) activation in pressure myography experiments. CXCR4 activation with ubiquitin enhanced α1-AR-mediated vasoconstriction, whereas ACKR3 activation with various natural and synthetic ligands antagonized α1-AR-mediated vasoconstriction. The opposing effects of CXCR4 and ACKR3 activation by CXCL12 could be dissected pharmacologically. CXCR4 and ACKR3 ligands did not affect vasoconstriction upon activation of voltage-operated Ca2+ channels or endothelin receptors. Effects of CXCR4 and ACKR3 agonists on vascular α1-AR responsiveness were independent of the endothelium. These findings suggest that CXCR4 and ACKR3 modulate α1-AR reactivity in vascular smooth muscle and regulate hemodynamics in normal and pathological conditions. Our observations point toward CXCR4 and ACKR3 as new pharmacological targets to control vasore-activity and blood pressure.
Are U.S. investors blindly chasing returns in foreign countries

Abstract This paper shows that the positive relation between U.S. cross-border flows and past foreign performance is observed in many stock markets but is ambiguous in bond markets. However, bond flows positively respond to past foreign stock returns. I argue that the importance of past foreign stock returns in driving U.S. investors' equity and bond flows is more likely because those returns reflect foreign fundamentals that are valuable to both U.S. equity and bond investors. I also provide additional evidences, which lead to my conclusion that U.S. investors' international trading is not simply driven by return chasing, but rather, foreign fundamentals.
Changes in the specific gravity of rabbit brain after high doses of x-irradiation.

SummaryChanges in specific gravity of different areas of rabbit brain have been studied after exposure to 10 krads of x-rays to the head only. A triphasic change in brain specific gravity was found, i.e. a decrease from 0 to 1·5 hours after irradiation, followed by a short-lived rise to approximately pre-irradiation values at two hours after irradiation, and then a developing second decrease to 6 hours after irradiation. The initial decrease and short-lived increase in brain specific gravity appear to be due primarily to disturbances in circulatory relationships of the central nervous system, whereas the second decrease is due to a developing defect in brain permeability, as indicated by increased protein levels in the aqueous humour and cerebrospinal fluid, and by a developing brain oedema.