cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
12 – Saltation and Stasis

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on saltatory growth of human body. Increase in the size of the body is achieved through unique time-constrained growth episodes that occur only intermittently. These saltations of growth occur as increments of variable amounts within and between individuals, and the amount of growth per saltation varies by anatomical site. It appears that growth saltations occur on a periodic but nonrandom time intervals. This provides the ultimate flexibility for a biological system. It is likely that the variability in saltation amplitude and frequency is the mechanism that underlies the observable differences in size among individuals. The specific paths by which children achieve the same height are characterized by different series of unique increments in terms of the amount of growth per saltation and the total number of growth saltation events. Further, it is likely that the height differences in adulthood are the result of the accumulation of different numbers of saltation events and the amount of growth at these saltations. It is hypothesized that saltatory growth is the mechanism by which variability throughout development is achieved and is the pathway by which genetics and environment orchestrate the unique growth patterns of individual children. It is a useful model to initiate a study into the biology of individual growth and provides a strong theoretical framework to conceptualize growth from the level of the cell to the whole organism.
Neurochemical signaling of reward and aversion by ventral tegmental area glutamate neurons

Ventral tegmental area (VTA) glutamate neurons signal and participate in reward and aversion-based behaviors. However, the neurochemical mechanisms that underlie how these neurons participate in diverse motivated behaviors is unknown. We used a combination of optical sensors to identify how distinct neurochemical inputs to VTA glutamate neurons participate in motivated behavior. Glutamate inputs to VTA glutamate neurons increased for both reward- and aversion-predicting cues and aversive outcomes, but subpopulations of glutamate inputs were increased or decreased by reward. For all cues and outcomes, GABA inputs to VTA glutamate neurons decreased and GCaMP-measured neuronal activity increased. GCaMP recordings also showed that VTA glutamate neuronal activity discriminated between the omission and receipt of an expected reward, but glutamate and GABA inputs to these neurons did not. Electro-physiological recordings in coordination with our sensor data suggest that glutamate inputs, but not GABA inputs, principally regulate VTA glutamate neuron participation in diverse motivated behaviors.
Muconaldehyde, a potential toxic intermediate of benzene metabolism.

The metabolite of benzene that is responsible for its hematological toxicity is unknown. Benzene is of course the parent aromatic hydrocarbon and mush attention has been focussed on classical pathways of aromatic hydrocarbon metabolism in the search for toxic benzene metabolites. Elegant studies by a number of groups, including work presented at this symposium by Snyder, Irons, and Tunek, have evaluated metabolites such as benzene oxide, catechol, phenol, hydroquinone and their derivatives (See reviews by Snyder et al, 1977; Laskin and Goldstein, 1977). While there are some interesting clues concerning potentially toxic intermediates, and much important information has been obtained, the metabolic pathway and agent(s) responsible for the hematological toxicity of benzene remains unidentified.
Evaluation of an alternative null detector for adapted Wheatstone bridge

The adapted Wheatstone bridge technique has been utilized at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and other National Metrology Institutes (NMIs) for high resistance measurements. In this work, we evaluate the suitability of a transimpedance amplifier (TIA) as a null detector for the adapted Wheatstone bridge to improve high resistance measurements. Initial resistance measurements using the TIA based null detector showed an order of magnitude improvement in the Type A uncertainty.
How Standardization of Diagnosing and Treating Decompensated Heart Failure Affects Emergency Department and Hospital Length of Stay Across a Large Healthcare System

Introduction Heart failure (HF) affects more than 6 million Americans and is the most common discharge diagnosis-related group (DRG) among Medicare patients. As greater than 80% of these patients present via the emergency department (ED), it is imperative that decompensated HF (DHF) be differentiated from other medical conditions as quickly as possible to allow for efficient treatment initiation. In this study, we examined the effect of an ED HF protocol involving the triage, diagnosis, and management of DHF with the goal of improving diagnostic accuracy, time to initial diuresis, and length of stay (LOS). Methods : All patients diagnosed with DHF during an ED visit were studied over a 3-month period at two EDs across the Scripps Healthcare system. Quality metrics collected are listed in the accompanying table. Values were compared to a pre-intervention cohort that was treated for DHF at the same sites the year prior. Patients were evaluated in triage, and the HF protocol was initiated if the patient met screening criteria, which included specific complaints such as shortness of breath and/or leg swelling. Once initiated, “Code CHF” was announced. The protocol included a nurse-driven order set, medication reconciliation, and a prompt to the physician to utilize point of care ultrasound (POCUS). If DHF was diagnosed, a protocol dose of diuretic was ordered. The aforementioned metrics were then calculated post discharge. Results : A total of 485 patients were evaluated using the DHF protocol, and 377 patients were evaluated from the year prior. Mean door-to-diuretic (D2D) time decreased by 35 minutes. Mean ED LOS decreased by 1 hour and 34 minutes. Mean hospital LOS decreased by 5 hours. POCUS use increased by 23%. Lasix dose increased by a mean of 13 mg. Medication reconciliation did not change dramatically between the pre and post period. Conclusions/Discussion : This pilot study demonstrates that implementation of a HF protocol aimed at improving diagnostic accuracy and treatment of DHF is feasible in a real-world community ED. Crucially this translates into important quality, patient experience, and cost metrics. Our results are consistent with prior studies showing that a decrease in D2D time, and increase in initial diuretic dosing, are associated with improved LOS. While promising, the simultaneous implementation of several interventions makes it difficult to discern which had the biggest impact on improving the evaluated metrics. The question of sustainability and follow-up ED and hospital admissions is currently being assessed in follow up studies.
Clinical decision support to improve management of diabetes and dysglycemia in the hospital: a path to optimizing practice and outcomes.

INTRODUCTION Innovative approaches are needed to design robust clinical decision support (CDS) to optimize hospital glycemic management. We piloted an electronic medical record (EMR), evidence-based algorithmic CDS tool in an academic center to alert clinicians in real time about gaps in care related to inpatient glucose control and insulin utilization, and to provide management recommendations. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS The tool was designed to identify clinical situations in need for action: (1) severe or recurrent hyperglycemia in patients with diabetes: blood glucose (BG) ≥13.88 mmol/L (250 mg/dL) at least once or BG ≥10.0 mmol/L (180 mg/dL) at least twice, respectively; (2) recurrent hyperglycemia in patients with stress hyperglycemia: BG ≥10.0 mmol/L (180 mg/dL) at least twice; (3) impending or established hypoglycemia: BG 3.9-4.4 mmol/L (70-80 mg/dL) or ≤3.9 mmol/L (70 mg/dL); and (4) inappropriate sliding scale insulin (SSI) monotherapy in recurrent hyperglycemia, or anytime in patients with type 1 diabetes. The EMR CDS was active (ON) for 6 months for all adult hospital patients and inactive (OFF) for 6 months. We prospectively identified and compared gaps in care between ON and OFF periods. RESULTS When active, the hospital CDS tool significantly reduced events of recurrent hyperglycemia in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes (3342 vs 3701, OR=0.88, p=0.050) and in patients with stress hyperglycemia (288 vs 506, OR=0.60, p<0.001). Hypoglycemia or impending hypoglycemia (1548 vs 1349, OR=1.15, p=0.050) were unrelated to the CDS tool on subsequent analysis. Inappropriate use of SSI monotherapy in type 1 diabetes (10 vs 22, OR=0.36, p=0.073), inappropriate use of SSI monotherapy in type 2 diabetes (2519 vs 2748, OR=0.97, p=0.632), and in stress hyperglycemia subjects (1617 vs 1488, OR=1.30, p<0.001) were recognized. CONCLUSION EMR CDS was successful in reducing hyperglycemic events among hospitalized patients with dysglycemia and diabetes, and inappropriate insulin use in patients with type 1 diabetes.
Sexual dimorphism of monocyte transcriptome in individuals with chronic low-grade inflammation

Sexual dimorphism in the immune system is evidenced by a higher prevalence of autoimmune diseases in women and higher susceptibility to infectious diseases in men. However, the molecular basis of these sex-based differences is not fully understood. We have characterized the transcriptome profiles of peripheral blood monocytes from males and postmenopausal females with chronic low-grade inflammation. We identified 41 sexually differentially expressed genes [adjusted p value (FDR) < 0.1], including genes involved in immune cell activation (e.g., CEACAM1, FCGR2B, and SLAMF7) and antigen presentation (e.g., AIM2, CD1E, and UBA1) with a higher expression in females than males. Moreover, signaling pathways of immune or inflammatory responses, including interferon (IFN) signaling [z-score = 2.45, -log(p) = 3.88], were found to be more upregulated in female versus male monocytes, based on a set of genes exhibiting sex-biased expression (p < 0.03). The contribution of IFN signaling to the sexual transcriptional differences was further confirmed by direct comparisons of the monocyte sex-biased genes with IFN signature genes (ISGs) that were previously curated in mouse macrophages. ISGs showed a greater overlap with female-biased genes than male-biased genes and a higher overall expression in female than male monocytes, particularly for the genes of antiviral and inflammatory responses to IFN. Given the role of IFN in immune defense and autoimmunity, our results suggest that sexual dimorphism in immune functions may be associated with more priming of innate immune pathways in female than male monocytes. These findings highlight the role of sex on the human immune transcriptome.
CHAPTER 4 – The Solution of Equations

Publisher Summary It is known that there is no formula, involving radicals only, for the roots of a general equation of degree exceeding 4. The formulas for the case of cubics and quartics are presented in algebra texts. Precise computations of f(xn) are essential for proper applications of the Newton process. When one is near the desired root, f(xn) will be small and round-off errors in the calculations may completely obscure the value of f(xn) and the value of the results. A good program makes allowance for such results.
Applying Rapid Crowdsourced Playtesting to a Human Computation Game

Player engagement and task effectiveness are crucial factors in human computation games. However, collecting data and making design changes towards these goals can be time-consuming. In this work, we incorporate rapid crowdsourced playtesting via the ARAPID (As Rapid As Possible Iterative Design) system to iterate on the design of a human computation platformer game. For each level in the game, the player’s goal is to collect items relevant to a given scenario while avoiding irrelevant items. We extended the visualization modules in the existing ARAPID system to include a multi-level data visualization and item collection task effectiveness plot. A designer from the project team used the system to iterate on the game’s level design, with the goal of increasing relevant and decreasing irrelevant items collected by players. A large-scale test with the game versions created during the iterative analysis found that the designer was able to use ARAPID to improve the specified goal parameters.
Complications of 487 Posterior-Column Osteotomies in Pediatric Spinal Deformity

Title: Complications of 487 Posterior-Column Osteotomies in Pediatric Spinal Deformity Summary: A retrospective analysis was performed on 487 PCOs in 143 pediatric patients (average age 14.6 yrs.) with major curve Cobb of 75.34° ± 17.61° preoperatively, corrected to 38.08° ± 18.03° at last follow-up. Overall complication rate was 1.1% with no neurologic deficits or cerebrospinal fluid leaks postoperatively. Dural tears at the site of PCOs and pseudarthroses occurred at 0.4% and 0.7% of all PCOs, respectively. Hypothesis: Posterior column osteotomies performed during posterior spinal fusion (PSF) are …
In-Package Additively Manufactured Sensors for Bend Prediction and Calibration of Flexible Phased Arrays and Flexible Hybrid Electronics

An additively manufactured in-package flex sensor for accurate bending prediction of flexible phased arrays is introduced. The sensor design is thin, flexible and accurate and can be readily embedded within a flexible phased array/Flexible Hybrid Electronics(FHE) package. Additively manufactured flexible phased arrays can be easily integrated with this proposed sensor using an all additive process. A series of bending tests were performed to measure the accuracy of the bending prediction for a proof-of-concept phased array. Using the dataset collected, the sensor can achieve 90 % accuracy in predicting the bend radius in both directions over the phased array plane. Using a 29 GHz 15×15 element phased array model, results in an 1.04 dB average gain error per missclassification and only 0.071 dB error in total as compared to 10.2 dB average gain error when using a non-calibrated equally phased array. This approach could be easily expanded to include multiple bend axis for larger arrays and flexible packages allowing for the accurate detection of non-radial, irregular bends.
PASS-Encrypt: a public key cryptosystem based on partial evaluation of polynomials

A new hard problem in number theory, based on partial evaluation of certain classes of constrained polynomials, was introduced in Hoffstein et al. (Secure user identification based on constrained polynomials, 2000) and further refined in Hoffstein et al. (Polynomial rings and efficient public key authentication, 1999; Practical signatures from the partial Fourier recovery problem, 2013), Hoffstein and Silverman (Polynomial rings and efficient public key authentication. II, 2001) to create an efficient authentication and digital signature scheme called PASS. In this paper we present a public key cryptosystem called PASS-Encrypt that is based on the same underlying hard problem. We also provide an alternative description in terms of partial knowledge of discrete Fourier transforms.
An Economic Perspective of SEC Corporate Disclosure

Richard Zecher argues that inodern corporate finance theory provides a theoreticalframework from from which SEC corporate disclosure can be analyzed. After examining four theories - portfolio theory. capital asset pricing theory, efficient market theory and agency - Zecher posits that a series of questions are left unanswered. He then discusses host, the "market for managers," which consists of a well- developed inforination system, is effective for monitoring management and has been underestimated. His proposal is made in light of the estimated costs to corporations of the current financial disclosure system. He concludes that use of modern corporate finance theory although useful, also leaves a series of questions to be answered in the future.
She'-E-Os: Gender Effects and Stock Price Reactions to the Announcements of Top Executive Appointments

Recently, we have seen an increase in the number of female executives. Little has been done, however, to assess how investors perceive women leaders. This study uses the market-signaling and diversity literatures to link announcements of appointments of top executives with shareholder reactions, highlighting possible gender effects. Results show that shareholder reactions to appointments of female CEOs are significantly more negative than reactions to appointments of male CEOs. Moreover, women are more positively viewed if they have been promoted from within a firm.
Anthropogenic Influences on World Soils and Implications to Global Food Security

The world population has increased from 2–10 million at the dawn of settled agriculture about 10–12 millennium ago to 6.5 billion in 2006, and may stabilize at 10–12 billion by 2100. Most of the future increase in world population will occur in developing countries where the natural resources are already under great stress, and where most of world's food‐insecure population lives. Rapid increase in population, especially between 1700 and 2000, caused large scale conversion of natural ecosystems to agricultural land uses. The land‐use change involved conversion of 1135 million hectares (Mha) of forest and woodland, and 669 Mha of savanna, grassland, and steppe. Similarly, the area under grazing land increased from 530 Mha to 3300 Mha. Agricultural expansion and its intensification, by plowing and irrigation along with use of chemicals: (1) exacerbated the problems of soil degradation that reportedly affects 1966 Mha worldwide of which the large fraction is caused by water and wind erosion, (2) increased irrigated land area to about 280 Mha or 19% of the total cropland area consuming 18,200 km 3 for evapotranspiration or 26% of the total terrestrial evapotranspiration, (3) disrupted global biogeochemical cycling of carbon leading to increase in atmospheric abundance of CO 2 by 37.5% from 280 ppm in ∼1750 to 385 ppm in 2006, (4) accentuated the use of fertilizers and pesticides to increase food production, and (5) caused mass extinction of plant and animal species. Drastic increase in crop yields during the second half of the twentieth century led to increase in per capita global food production despite the increase in world population. However, the global cereal demand (rice, wheat, maize) will increase at the rate of 1.3% per year between 2000 and 2025 necessitating increase in the mean grain yield of these cereals especially in the developing countries. The required cereal grain yield in developing countries will have to be increased from 2.6 Mg ha −1 in 2000 to 3.60 Mg ha −1 by 2025 and 4.30 Mg ha −1 by 2050 even if the food habit of population in emerging economies (e.g., China, India) remains the same. Therefore, a judicious and scientific management of soil and water resources is essential. Degraded soils and ecosystems must be ameliorated, and the depleted organic carbon pool restored so that soils can respond to the use of yield‐enhancing input (e.g., fertilizers, improved varieties). Restoring soil quality through improvements in soil organic carbon pool is essential to increasing agronomic yields especially in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA), South Asia, and elsewhere in the tropics with harsh climate, fragile soils, and resource‐poor farmers. This strategy requires the adoption of a holistic approach based on sound scientific principles of managing the soil and water resources in accord with social, economic, and political realities of the region.
'Only a Sith Thinks Like that': Llewellyn's 'Dueling Canons,' Pairs Thirteen to Sixteen

This is the third installment in a series of articles examining the famous twenty eight pairs of "dueling canons" left to us in 1950 by Karl N. Llewellyn ("Remarks on the Theory of Appellate Decision and the rules or Canons of about how Statutes are to be Construed," 3 VANDERBILT L.REV. 395 (1950). In the first two installments, examining Pairs 1 through 12, Llewellyn's "fiendish deconstruction" of these twenty-four canons proved quite innocuous. This installment covers pairs 13 to 16. Once again, looking at the reasons underlying the canons in each pair and the appropriate context for their use completely dissolves the superficial contrariety, Llewellyn's oppositions appearing artificial and contrived. And once again one is often forced to query whether Llewellyn's choice of dueling thrust and parry should properly be called "canons." In this installment I have finally been forced to come to grips with the distressing problem of the provenance of the actual language Llewellyn chose for many of his formulations: they are too often reduced or paraphrased versions of Black's captions, without appropriate quotation marks, ellipses, or pin-cites.
Cognitive Tests Used in Selection Can Have Content Validity as Well as Criterion Validity: A broader research review and implications for practice

Many industrial/organizational (I/O) psychologists, both academics and practitioners, believe that the content validity model is not appropriate for cognitive ability measures used in personnel selection. They believe that cognitive tests can have criterion validity and construct validity but not content validity. Based on a review of the broader differential psychology research literature on cognitive skills, aptitudes, and abilities, this article demonstrates that with the proper content validity procedures, cognitive ability measures, including, ultimately, some de facto measures of general cognitive ability, can have content validity in addition to criterion and construct validity. Finally, the article considers, critiques, and refutes the specific arguments contending that content validity is inappropriate for use with cognitive skills and abilities. These research facts have implications for I/O practice, professional standards, and legal defensibility of selection programs.
D1/D5 Dopamine Receptors Inhibit Depotentiation at CA1 Synapses via cAMP-Dependent Mechanism

Recent work has shown that D1/D5 dopamine receptors can enhance long-term potentiation (LTP). We investigated whether D1/D5 receptors also affect depotentiation, the reversal of LTP by low-frequency stimulation. D1/D5 agonists greatly reduced depotentiation, an effect that was inhibited by a D1/D5 antagonist. The D1/D5 effect appears to be mediated by adenylyl cyclase (AC) and cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), because it was mimicked by the AC activator forskolin and was inhibited by the AC and PKA inhibitors. In vivo studies show that dopamine is released when a reward occurs. Our results raise the possibility that the memory of events before reward might be retained selectively, because dopamine blocks their erasure.
Analysis of organophosphate hydraulic fluids in U.S. Air force base soils

Tri-aryl and tri-alkyl organophosphates (TAPs) have been used extensively as flame-retardant hydraulic fluids and fluid additives in commercial and military aircraft. Up to 80% of the consumption of these fluids has been estimated to be lost to unrecovered leakage. Tri-aryl phosphate components of these fluids are resistant to volatilization and solubilization in water, thus, their primary environmental fate pathway is sorption to soils. Environmental audits of military air bases generally do not include quantification of these compounds in soils. We have determined the presence and extent of TAP contamination in soil samples from several U.S. Air Force bases. Soils were collected, extracted, and analyzed using GC/FPD and GC/MS. Tricresyl phosphate was the most frequently found TAP in soil, ranging from 0.02 to 130 ppm. Other TAPs in soils included triphenyl phosphate and isopropylated triphenyl phosphate. Observations are made regarding the distribution, typical concentrations, persistence, and need for further testing of TAPs in soils at military installations. Additionally, GC and mass spectral data for these TAPs are presented, along with methods for their extraction, sample clean-up, and quantification.
Direct Numerical Simulation of Flow Around a Circulation Control Airfoil

A direct numerical simulation of the flow around a circulation control airfoil is described. The airfoil is non-cambered and has an elliptical leading edge and a rounded trailing edge that incorporates tangential jet blowing. The airfoil geometry and flow configuration are chosen to match experiments as well as prior computational work using large eddy simulations and Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes approaches. The present computations use a high-order-accurate, upwind-biased, finite-difference technique to understand important details of the flowfield such as the separation of the turbulent Coanda jet from the airfoil trailing edge. The freestream Reynolds number based on the airfoil chord is 0.49 million, the radius of the rounded trailing edge of the airfoil is 9.46% chord, and the jet-slot height is 2.43% of the radius of the trailing edge. Two different jet blowing rates, corresponding to jet Reynolds numbers based on the jet-slot height and the maximum jet velocity of about 4500 and 7200, are considered. The numerical results show that the main features of the flow are captured for both the low- and high-blowing cases. The presented results are in good agreement with the experimental measurements and prior large eddy simulations. More detailed comparisons are deferred to a forthcoming paper documenting direct numerical simulations made with finer grid resolution.
Design and Test of a Novel Higher Harmonic Imaging AFM Probe with a Dedicated Second Cantilever for Harmonic Amplification

We report on design, fabrication and initial testing of a new higher harmonic imaging atomic force microscopy (AFM) probe for the characterization of materials at the nanoscale. In contrast to previous designs, this probe employs a dedicated second cantilever not only to amplify the desired higher harmonic, but also to suppress the actuation movement. With these measures the amplitudes of the actuation and the higher harmonic are brought closer together on the second cantilever, which is very advantageous for single-channel readout applications.
"Damn 'em, God bless 'em!": Whitman and Traubel on the Makers of Books

Examines Whitman's many comments on bookmaking in his conversations with Horace Traubel during the final four years of his life, including the poet?s views on various publishers, printers, and binders as well as his views on typesetting, page design, proofreading, inking, title pages, and other material aspects of the bookmaking art; concludes with some examples of Traubel's views on bookmaking.
Sulforaphane reduces infarct volume following focal cerebral ischemia in rodents

Stroke is the third leading cause of death and disability in the United States. As several biochemical mechanisms have been proposed to contribute to stroke pathophysiology, treatments acting on multiple targets may be desirable. Sulforaphane (SUL), a naturally occurring isothiocyanate present in cruciferous vegetables, has been shown to induce the expression of multiple NF-E2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) responsive genes. In the present study, we demonstrate that systemically administered SUL can enter the brain as determined by increased mRNA and protein levels of the Nrf2-responsive gene heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1). Delayed administration (15 min) of a single dose of SUL significantly decreased cerebral infarct volume following focal ischemia, suggesting a potential therapeutic value for this compound.
A bewitching case of factitious disorder in Zimbabwe

A rural Zimbabwean man attributed the appearance of needles in his leg to witchcraft, but medical practitioners suspected that the needles were self-introduced. Psychiatric evaluation revealed no major mental illness. The patient met criteria for the Euro-American diagnosis of factitious disorder, persisting in his claim that he had been the victim of witchcraft. The patient's claim cannot be considered delusional because belief in witchcraft is culturally sanctioned within Shona culture. The case appears to be one of factitious disorder with both physical and psychological symptoms. Differential diagnoses must be broadened to consider culturally specific phenomena such as witchcraft.
INFRARED OBSERVATIONS OF GALAXIES IN THE LOCAL UNIVERSE. II. 391 CALIBRATED IMAGES WITH PHOTOMETRIC AND STRUCTURAL MEASUREMENTS

This paper presents empirical results from a deep imaging survey of galaxies in the local universe at the J and Ks wavelengths. Three hundred ninety-one images have been obtained and calibrated using the same camera and filter set with the Steward Observatory 1.6 m Kuiper Telescope on Mount Bigelow and the 2.3 m Bok Telescope on Kitt Peak. The limiting magnitude is typically 22 mag arcsec-1 at J and 21 mag arcsec-1 at Ks. The central surface brightness, apparent magnitudes, sizes, scale lengths, and inclinations are tabulated from measurements made using these data. The purpose of this paper is to provide basic near-infrared data on a variety of galaxy types.
α2-Adrenoceptors and I1-imidazoline binding sites: relationship with catecholamines in women of reproductive age

Abstract A comparison is presented between plasma catecholamine concentrations and platelet [ 125 I]- p -iodoclonidine binding sites in 16 healthy women. Blood samples were obtained at six regularly spaced intervals over two consecutive menstrual cycles from healthy women with regular menstrual periods. Although no cycle-related changes were observed per se, there were significant correlations between the platelet binding sites and plasma norepinephrine and epinephrine concentrations. The densities of platelet α 2 -adrenoceptors were negativel implying agonist-induced downregulation. On the other hand, platelet I 1 -imidazoline binding sites were positively correlated with plasma concentrations of norepinephrine in a linear fashion ( r = 0.326, P = 0.021). This is the first indication that I 1 binding sites might be upregulated by a physiological factor. Furthermore, the data suggest that elevations in plasma norepinephrine might explain reports of upregulated I 1 binding sites in depressed patients.
When Religious Freedom Clashes with Access to Care

At the tail end of this year's Supreme Court term, religious freedom came into sharp conflict with the government's interest in providing affordable access to health care. In a consolidated opinion in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores and Conestoga Wood Specialties Corp. v. Burwell (collectively known as Hobby Lobby) delivered on June 30, the Court sided with religious freedom, highlighting the limitations of our employment-based health insurance system. Hobby Lobby centered on the contraceptives-coverage mandate, which derived from the Affordable Care Act (ACA) mandate that many employers offer insurance coverage of certain “essential” health benefits, including coverage of “preventive” . . .
Three-Dimensional Mapping of Microenvironmental Control of Methyl Rotational Barriers

Sterical (van der Waals-induced) rotational barriers of methyl groups are investigated theoretically, using ab initio and empirical force field calculations, for various three-dimensional microenvironmental conditions around the methyl group rotator of a model neopentane molecule. The destabilization (reducing methyl rotational barriers) or stabilization (increasing methyl rotational barriers) of the staggered conformation of the methyl rotator depends on a combination of microenvironmental contributions from (i) the number of atoms around the rotator, (ii) the distance between the rotator and the microenvironmental atoms, and (iii) the dihedral angle between the stator, rotator, and molecular environment around the rotator. These geometrical criteria combine their respective effects in a linearly additive fashion, with no apparent cooperative effects, and their combination in space around a rotator may increase, decrease, or leave the rotator's rotational barrier unmodified. This is exemplified in a geometrical analysis of the alanine dipeptide crystal where microenvironmental effects on methyl rotators' barrier of rotation fit the geometrical mapping described in the neopentane model.
Treatment of gonorrhea with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.

TMP-SMZ-9, and TMP-SMZ-12 regimens were 4%, 23%, and 19%, respectively. APPG was significantly more effective (P < 0.05) than TMP-SMZ-9 or TMP-SMZ-12. Isolates of Neisseria gonorrhoeae from treatment failures as compared to those from treatment successes were significantly more resistant to SMZ (P < 0.01) and to the TMP-SMZ combination in a ratio of 19 parts SMZ to one part TMP (P < 0.05). Minimal inhibitory concentrations of SMZ, TMP, TMP-SMZ, and penicillin G showed positive correlation coefficients. The effectiveness of current regimens recommended by the U. S. Public Health Service for treatment of uncomplicated gonorrhea [1] has recently been documented [2]. Procaine penicillin G remains the standard of efficacy against which alternative regimens are judged; ampicillin provides effective oral therapy for patients who prefer nonparenteral therapy; and spectinomycin is an effective parenteral alternative for penicillinsensitive patients. Furthermore, treatment with these regimens can be completed at a single session under direct supervision. Unfortunately, although the currently recommended four-day oral course of tetracycline * HCI is highly effective, this 17-dose regimen requires substantial patient compliance at a time when many have become asymptomatic. We have therefore investigated oral regi
Brief communication: Stand and shuffle: When does it make energetic sense?

Many reasons for the emergence of bipedalism have been proposed, including postural arguments which highlight that a sub-optimal form of bipedalism (“shuffling”) might have been used by protohominids to cover short distances between resources that require bipedal standing. Bipedal shuffling may have been employed because it avoids the cost of raising the trunk from the quadrupedal orientation, which we assume is the habitual locomotor stance of protohominids. To date, these postural proposals have not been analytically assessed, a lack we rectify herein. Our model seeks to specify a threshold distance, below which bipedal shuffling uses less energy than quadrupedalism. Parameters for the model include the mechanical cost of transport, the ratio of bipedal to quadrupedal cost, and the cost associated with raising the trunk. We found that, using reasonable model parameters, open distances of ∼9–16 m support the use of bipedal shuffling. Protohominids may have used shuffling as an energetically effective way to traverse between resource patches. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2008. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
On the Association Between Repeat Bully Victimizations and Carrying a Firearm Evidence in a National Sample

Bullying is a significant public concern. The purpose of the present study is to investigate whether being repeatedly victimized by a bully during childhood and adolescence is associated with gun carrying in adolescence and adulthood. Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997, we found that just over one fourth of the respondents reported carrying a gun at some point in their lifetime. Respondents experiencing repeat bully victimizations reported higher rates of gun carrying during the last 12 months and the last 30 days. No support was found for the association of repeat bully victimizations and carrying a gun to school. Individuals victimized during childhood (before the age of 12) and during adolescence were found to be at risk of carrying a gun later in the life course. Repeat bully victimizations should be considered a marker for gun-carrying behaviors in adolescence and adulthood.
Cognitive task analysis of network analysts and managers for network situational awareness

The goal of our project is to create a set of next-generation cyber situational-awareness capabilities with applications to other domains in the long term. The situational-awareness capabilities being developed focus on novel visualization techniques as well as data analysis techniques designed to improve the comprehensibility of the visualizations. The objective is to improve the decision-making process to enable decision makers to choose better actions. To this end, we put extensive effort into ensuring we had feedback from network analysts and managers and understanding what their needs truly are. This paper discusses the cognitive task analysis methodology we followed to acquire feedback from the analysts. This paper also provides the details we acquired from the analysts on their processes, goals, concerns, etc. A final result we describe is the generation of a task-flow diagram.
Uniform free topological groups and Samuel compactifications

Abstract The uniform free topological group over a uniform space μX is embedded in the uniform free topological group over the Samuel compactification of μX if and only if μX is pseudocompact. Several consequences of this result are explored.
Changes in oleuropein levels during differentiation and development of floral buds in ‘Arbequina’ olives

Oleuropein is the most abundant biologically active phenolic compound in olives. It has been extensively studied for human health benefits but its role in plant development processes has received limited attention. Changes in the levels of oleuropein during early stages of flower formation and during fruit development and maturation were determined using high performance liquid chromatography. Oleuropein and other phenolic compounds were identified by comparing retention time and UV spectra with standard compounds using photodiode array detectors. Quantitative measurements were based on peak areas relative to standards. Oleuropein levels sharply decreased during the transition from vegetative to flower buds, consistent with earlier reports that higher levels of exogenously applied oleuropein inhibited flowering in Kalanchoe blossfeldiana. Oleuropein levels rapidly increased with the expansion of fertilized pistils and then sharply declined with fruit maturity. There was only a modest decline in oleuropein levels between immature and fully expanded leaves. Hesperidin, which occurs in relatively small amounts, also declined considerably during early floral buds formation. Maximum levels of verbascoside were found in fully developed green fruits while maximum levels of luteolin-7-O-glucoside and luteolin-4-O-glucoside were found in fully expanded leaves.
Functional and morphologic characteristics of interferon-treated macrophages.

Abstract Resting macrophages were transformed as evidenced by functional criteria to activated cells by exposure to partially-purified or crude interferon (IF) preparations. Peritoneal macrophages were rendered cytotoxic for syngeneic lymphoblastic leukemia cells by either in vivo or in vitro IF treatment. Although IF was active at concentrations as low as 10 units/ml in the culture medium, mock IFs lacked activity at all concentrations tested. Phase contrast microscopy demonstrated that in vitro IF-treated macrophages exhibited increased vacuolization and prominent spreading on glass. In contrast, transmission and scanning electron microscopy failed to reveal major differences in the structure of macrophages exposed to IF in vivo. The data are discussed in terms of a novel form of tissue immunity endowed by IF-inducers.
A knowledge-based thermal profile identification advisor for surface mount PCB assembly

Reflow soldering of solder paste is a critical process in the surface mount assembly of printed circuit boards (PCBs). Infrared (IR) radiation and/or forced convection are often used in an oven to heat the PCB assembly and the deposited solder paste to cause the solder to reflow and subsequently form the interconnection between the component terminations and the attachment pads. Control of the reflow soldering process requires the understanding and regulation of several complex variables. Understanding the interrelationships among process control parameters is important in achieving a low defect rate and high yields in reflow soldering. When a variety of components are soldered onto a printed circuit board (PCB) simultaneously in an IR/convection oven through reflow soldering, the process control variables that need to be considered include the characteristics of solder paste used, the size, type, and quantity of components placed on the PCB, the substrate used, the mass and the thermal area of the workpiece, and the conveyor speed.
Imaged by Cryo-EM, Activated and Desensitized GluA2 Glutamate Receptors Show Extreme Flexibility

We have reconstituted into liposomes the same truncated GluA2 protein that yielded the recent AMPA receptor crystal structure (Sobolevsky et al., Nature 2009). The reconstituted receptors show glutamate-activated and MPQX-blocked Na+ fluxes. When the proteoliposomes are imaged in cryo-EM in the presence of MPQX or with no ligands, the receptors appear as Y-shaped particles that are indistinguishable from the X-ray structure of the MPQX-bound receptor. However, in the presence of glutamate or glutamate + cyclothiazide the extracellular “arms”, comprising the ligand-binding domains and amino-terminal domains of the tetrameric receptor, become detached from one another. The wide range of conformations is reminiscent of previous negative-stain images of AMPA receptors from the Walz and Madden laboratories. It appears that agonist binding is accompanied by disruption of the dimer-dimer interfaces of the extracellular domains. Under conditions that favor the open and desensitized states, this AMPA-type receptor appears to be blowing in the Brownian wind.
The phase diagram of simple metamagnets as determined by the cluster variation method

Abstract In order to explore the global properties of a simple Ising metamagnet we computed the values of the coupling parameters for which the tricritical behavior is replaced by bicritical endpoints (Lifshitz point). The transition points are determined by means of the cluster variation method. The metamagnets studied have an antiferromagnetic coupling between the spins on two chosen sublattices and a ferromagnetic coupling between spins on the same sublattice. The following lattices and sublatices were considered: two-dimensional square, simple cubic and two different subdivisions of the fcc and bcc lattices each. The method used is based on the coincidence of two roots for the bicritical endpoints and of three roots for the tricritical point. In contrast to the molecular field and the pair approximation results, the presence or absence of the Lifshitz point depends on the lattice structure considered. We discuss the comparison of our results with the results from the renormalization theories.
The experimental determination of vibrational transition moments for N2—HF and OC—HF

Abstract Rovibrational transitions of OC—HF and N 2 —HF have been measured using vibrational predissociation spectroscopy in a molecular beam apparatus with a color-center laser. Analysis of the laser fluence dependence in the saturation limit yields vibrational transition moments of 0.139(6) and 0.091(5) D for the HF subunit in OC—HF and N 2 —HF, respectively. These values are compared with other molecular properties associated with the two binary complexes to characterize the role of the hydrogen bond.
Extracellular matrix effect on RhoA signaling modulation in vascular smooth muscle cells.

Abstract Morphological adaptations of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) to the mechanically active environment in which they reside, are mediated by direct interactions with the extracellular matrix (ECM) which induces physiological changes at the intracellular level. This study aimed to analyze the effects of the ECM on RhoA-induced mechanical signaling that controls actin organization and focal adhesion formation. VSMC were transfected with RhoA constructs (wild type, dominant negative or constitutively active) and plated on different ECM proteins used as substrate (fibronectin, collagen IV, collagen I, and laminin) or poly- l -lysine as control. Morphological changes of the VSMC were detected by fluorescence confocal microscopy and total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy, and were independently verified using adhesion assays and Western blot analysis. Our results showed that the ECM has an important role in cell spreading, adhesion and morphology with a direct effect on modulating RhoA signaling. RhoA activity significantly affected the stress fibers and focal adhesions reorganization, but in a context imposed by the ECM. Thus, RhoA activity modulation in VSMC induced an increased activation of stress fibers and FA formation at 5 h, while a significant inhibition was recorded at 24 h after plating on the different ECM. Our findings provide biophysical evidence that ECM modulates VSMC response to mechanical stimuli inducing intracellular biochemical signaling involved in cellular adaptation to the local microenvironment.
Inhibition of adrenal corticosteroid synthesis by aminoglutethimide: studies of the mechanism of action.

ABSTRACT Amino-glutethimide inhibits corticosterone synthesis by the rat adrenal cortex both in vivo and in vitro. In intact rats the decrease in corticosterone production is accompanied by an increase in plasma ACTH. In the presence of endogenous or exogenous ACTH, amino-glutethimide causes marked accumulation of adrenal cholesterol. These observations, plus the fact that amino-glutethimide does not impair the conversion of pregnenolone to corticosterone, indicate that the drug inhibits the conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone. Aminoglutethimide administration results in adrenal enlargement, an effect that appears to be partly due to cholesterol accumulation and partly due to the adrenal growth-promoting effect of increased endogenous ACTH.
Parallel expert system search techniques for a real-time application

Expert systems are being used to govern the intelligent control of the Robotic Air Vehicle (RAV) which is currently a research project at the Air Force Avionics Laboratory. Due to the nature of the RAV system the associated expert system needs to perform in a demanding real-time environment. The use of a parallel processing capability to support the associated computational requirement may be critical in this application. Thus, parallel search algorithms for real-time expert systems are designed, analyzed and synthesized on the Texas Instruments (TI) Explorer and Intel Hypercube. Examined is the process involved with transporting the RAV expert systems from the TI Explorer, where they are implemented in the Automated Reasoning Tool (ART), to the iPSC Hypercube, where the system is synthesized using Concurrent Common LISP. The performance characteristics of the parallel implementation of these expert systems on the iPSC Hypercube are compared to the TI Explorer implementation.
A Note on International Trade and Market Structure

As exports become an increasing part of industry sales, the determinants of a firm's international position become increasingly important. Tests have supported single factors, such as, product life cycle [Lutz and Green 1983] as well as multi-factor models, to explain the determinants of industry imports and exports [Stern and Maskus 1981; Harkness and Kyle 1975; Baldwin 1971]. This study also presents a multi-factor analysis of the determinants of U.S. trade patterns. This study utilized the SPI (Strategic Planning Institute) data set which allows research at the business unit (product line) level. Results indicate that productivity and product development are the principal characteristics of high export percentage business units. These findings are especially true for nonconsumer industries. Thus to the degree that business are concerned over the short-term costs of product development, direct or indirect (for example, insurance) government aid may be required to promote U.S. export industries.
Dimethyltriazenoimidazole carboxamide therapy of malignant glucagonoma.

Excerpt Pancreatic alpha cell tumors that secrete glucagon have stimulated considerable interest recently. They have been associated with a striking and distinctive clinical syndrome characterized ...