cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cognitive and social aspects of sexual dysfunction: Sexual scripts in sex therapy

Abstract The formulation and treatment of sexual dysfunctions are conceptualized within a framework of sexual scripts. This approach places particular emphasis on the cognitive and interpersonal dimensions of sexual interaction and provides greater continuity in our understanding of the development of sexual conduct in general. Clinical assessment of sexual scripts begins with a comparison of performative and cognitive scripts, which are then elaborated in terms of key script attributes such as complexity, rigidity, conventionality and satisfaction. Sex therapy is viewed as a process of script modification, in which particular attention is payed to the integration of covert and overt aspects of the script. Two case illustrations are provided. The discussion contrasts the present use of script analysis with the way the term is used in transactional analysis and research in artificial intelligence.
Double Impacts by Electrons in Helium

IN a paper on the precise measurement of the critical potentials of gases (Proc. Roy. Soc., 107–291, 1925) Mr. E. G. Dymond finds that the difference between the first and second kink in the current potential curve in helium is 20.9 volts and not 20.55 volts as one would expect if the first kink corresponds to electrons which have caused the transition 1S–2s (type A), and the second kink to electrons which have caused two transitions 1S–2S and 1S–2s (type BA). In attempting an explanation he assumes that in his apparatus the second kink is due to the transition BB.
Evidence for composition variations and impurity segregation at grain boundaries in high current-density polycrystalline K- and Co-doped BaFe2As2 superconductors

Some polycrystalline forms of the K- and Co-doped BaFe2As2 and SrFe2As2 superconductors now have a critical current density (Jc ) within a factor of ∼5 of that required for real applications, even though it is known that some grain boundaries (GBs) block current, thus, raising the question of whether this blocking is intrinsic or extrinsically limited by artefacts amenable to improvement by better processing. Herein, we utilize atom-probe tomography (APT) to study the grain and GB composition in high Jc K- and Co-doped BaFe2As2 polycrystals. We find that all GBs studied show significant compositional variations on the scale of a few coherence lengths (ξ), as well as strong segregation of oxygen impurities, which we believe are largely introduced in the starting materials. Importantly, these findings demonstrate that APT enables quantitative analysis of the highest Jc K-doped BaFe2As2 samples, where analytical transmission electron microscopy (TEM) fails because of the great reactivity of thin TEM samples. The observations of major chemical perturbations at GBs make us cautiously optimistic that there is a large extrinsic component to the GB current blocking, which will be ameliorated by better processing, for which APT will likely be a crucial instrument.
Thyroid Hormone Regulates Type I Deiodinase Messenger RNA in Rat Liver

Conversion of the prohormone T4 to the active hormone T3 is catalyzed by 5′-deiodinases, enzymes that have not been purified. Previous studies have shown that modulating thyroid status results in changes in type I deiodinase activity in the rat liver. We have quantitated type I deiodinase mRNA in liver by an expression assay using Xenopus laevis oocytes. We report here that changes in enzyme activity correlate closely with changes in levels of the mRNA for this enzyme, indicating that thyroid hormone regulates type I deiodinase at a pretranslational step. Using the oocyte system to express sizefractionated mRNA, we have also determined that the mRNA coding for this protein is between 1.9–2.4 kilobases in length. It has been proposed that protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) is closely related to the rat type I 5′-deiodinase. Our results indicate that this is not the case, since injection of in vitro transcribed PDI mRNA into oocytes did not result in expression of deiodinase activity, and the deiodinase mRNA...
Interventions to improve suboptimal prescribing in nursing homes: A narrative review.

Abstract Background: Appropriate medication prescribing for nursing home residents remains a challenge. Objective: The purpose of this study was to conduct a narrative review of the published literature describing randomized controlled trials that used interventions to improve suboptimal prescribing in nursing homes. Methods: The PubMed, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, and EMBASE databases were searched for articles published in the English language between January 1975 and December 2009, using the terms drug utilization, pharmaceutical services, aged, long-term care, nursing homes, prescribing, geriatrics, and randomized controlled trial . A manual search of the reference lists of identified articles and the authors' files, book chapters, and recent review articles was also conducted. Abstracts and posters from meetings were not included in the search. Studies were included if they: (1) had a randomized controlled design; (2) had a process measure outcome for quality of prescribing or a distal outcome measure for medication-related adverse patient events; and (3) involved nursing home residents. Results: Eighteen studies met the inclusion criteria for this review. Seven of those studies described educational approaches using various interventions (eg, outreach visits) and measured suboptimal prescribing in different manners (eg, adherence to guidelines). Two studies described computerized decision-support systems to measure the intervention's impact on adverse drug events (ADEs) and appropriate drug orders. Five studies described clinical pharmacist activities, most commonly involving a medication review, and used various measures of suboptimal prescribing, including a measure of medication appropriateness and the total number of medications prescribed. Two studies each described multidisciplinary and multifaceted approaches that included heterogeneous interventions and measures of prescribing. Most (15/18; 83.3%) of these studies reported statistically significant improvements in ≥1 aspect of suboptimal prescribing. Only 3 of the studies reported significant improvements in distal health outcomes, and only 3 measured ADEs or adverse drug reactions. Conclusions: Mixed results were reported for a variety of approaches used to improve suboptimal prescribing. However, the heterogeneity of the study interventions and the various measures of suboptimal prescribing used in these studies does not allow for an authoritative conclusion based on the currently available literature.
Advances in the cellular and molecular biology of the beta-amyloid protein in Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive senile dementia characterized by deposition of a 4 kDa peptide of 39–42 residues known as amyloid beta-peptide (Aβ) in the form of senile plaques and the microtubule associated protein tau as paired helical filaments. Genetic studies have identified mutations in the Aβ precursor protein (APP) as the key triggers for the pathogenesis of AD. Other genes such as presenilins 1 and 2 (PS1/2) and apolipoprotein E (APOE) also play a critical role in increased Aβ deposition. Several biochemical and molecular studies using transfected cells and transgenic animals point to mechanisms by which Aβ is generated and aggregated to trigger the neurodegeneration that may cause AD. Three important enzymes collectively known as “secretases” participate in APP processing. An enzymatic activity, β-secretase, cleaves APP on the amino side of Aβ producing a large secreted derivative, sAPPβ, and an Aβ-bearing membrane-associated C-terminal derivative, CTFβ, which is subsequently cleaved by the second activity, γ-secretase, to release Aβ. Alternatively, a third activity, α-secretase, cleaves APP within Aβ to the secreted derivative sAPPα and membrane-associated CTFα. The predominant secreted APP derivative is sAPPα in most cell-types. Most of the secreted Aβ is 40 residues long (Aβ40) although a small percentage is 42 residues in length (Aβ42). However, the longer Aβ42 aggregates more readily and was therefore considered to be the pathologically important form. Advances in our understanding of APP processing, trafficking, and turnover will pave the way for better drug discovery for the eventual treatment of AD. In addition, APP gene regulation and its interaction with other proteins may provide useful drug targets for AD. The emerging knowledge related to the normal function of APP will help in determining whether or not the AD associated changes in APP metabolism affect its function. The present review summarizes our current understanding of APP metabolism and function and their relationship to other proteins involved in AD.
Good laboratory practice regulations: United States Environmental Protection Agency?taking GLP into the 21st century

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been highly successful in implementing new programmes aimed at introducing and enforcing new Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) concepts, and this has resulted in an improvement in overall compliance. The EPA and foreign governments have begun working together to promote consistency in scientific data generated throughout the world, and the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), an intergovernmental organization consisting of 29 industrialized nations, has published consensus documents based on GLP standards. The most common observations made by EPA inspectors in the last 3 years included violations with regard to organization and personnel, the protocol, and the conduct of the study.
Ocular surface squamous neoplasia: terminology that is conceptually friendly but clinically perilous

Ocular surface squamous neoplasia: terminology that is conceptually friendly but clinically perilous
Listeria monocytogenes cerebritis, bacteremia, and cutaneous lesions complicating hairy cell leukemia

Abstract Hairy cell leukemia is a lymphoreticular malignancy characterized by a chronic course and multiple defects in host defense mechanisms. Infections are the major cause of morbidity and mortality in this malignancy. Opportunistic infections due to pathogens normally controlled by cell-mediated immune mechanisms have been increasingly described but have not included listerial infections. This report describes a case of disseminated listeria monocytogenes infection including the uncommon manifestations of cerebritis and cutaneous lesions in a patient with hairy cell leukemia.
Step by Step: Avoiding Spiritual Bypass in 12-Step Work.

With spirituality as a cornerstone, 12-step groups serve a vital role in the recovery community. It is important for counselors to be mindful, however, of the potential for clients to be in spiritual bypass, which likely will undermine the recovery process.
Diphosphine Substitution and Carbyne Ligand Transfer in the Reaction of 2,3-Bis(diphenylphosphino)maleic Anhydride (bma) with the Methylidyne-capped Clusters HCCo2MCp(CO)8 (where M=Mo, W): Synthesis and X-ray Diffraction Structures of the Vinylidene-bridged Clusters Co2MCp(CO)6[μ–C=C(H)CH2C(PPh2)C(PPh2)C(O)OC(O)]

Thermolysis of mixed-metal tetrahedrane cluster HCCo2MoCp(CO)8 (1) with the diphosphine ligand 2,3–bis(diphenylphosphino)maleic anhydride (bma) furnishes the cluster compounds HCCo2MoCp(CO)6[trans-2,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)succinic anhydride] (2), HCCo2MoCp(CO)6(bma) (3), and Co2MoCp(CO)6[μ–C=C(H)CH2C(PPh2)C(PPh2)C(O)OC(O)] (4) in low yields (<13%). The tungsten congener HCCo2WCp(CO)8 (5) reacts with bma to give Co2WCp(CO)6[μ–C=C(H)CH2C(PPh2)C(PPh2)C(O)OC(O)] (6) as the sole isolable product in 3% yield. The new clusters have been fully characterized in solution by IR and NMR spectroscopies, and the solid-state structures of the vinylidene-bridged clusters 4 and 6 established by X-ray crystallography. Clusters 4 and 6 each contain 48e- and exhibit triangular Co2M cores, with a vinylidene moiety that caps one of the Co2M faces. The reactivity differences exhibited by clusters 1 and 5 with bma are contrasted with similar data from the substitution reaction of bma with the related cluster compounds PhCCo2MoCp(CO)8 and PhCCo2WCp(CO)8. The mixed-metal cluster HCCo2MoCp(CO)8 (1) reacts with the diphosphine ligand 2,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)maleic anhydride (bma) at elevated temperature to afford the new clusters HCCo2MoCp(CO)6[trans-2,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)succinic anhydride] (2), HCCo2MoCp(CO)6(bma) (3), and Co2MoCp(CO)6[μ–C=C(H)CH2C(PPh2)C(PPh2)C(O)OC(O)] (4). Thermolysis of HCCo2WCp(CO)8 (5) with bma furnishes only Co2WCp(CO)6[μ–C=C(H)CH2C(PPh2)C(PPh2)C(O)OC(O)] (6) in trace amounts. The presence of the face-capping vinylidene ligand in clusters 4 and 6 has been confirmed by spectroscopic methods and X-ray crystallography.
Nephroblastomatosis: clinicopathologic significance and imaging characteristics.

Nephroblastomatosis is a group of pathologic entities characterized by persistent metanephnic blastema in the kidneys of infants and children. It bears a close relationship to but is not synonymous with bilateral Wilms tumor. We report an additional case of nephroblastomatosis, define the spectrum ofthis complex and its relationship to Wilms tumor, and discuss the radiographic, sonognaphic, and CT features of the entity.
Reviews and abstracts - Suboptimal system approximation/identification with known error

Abstract : This paper presents a noniterative method for approximating empirical signals over 0, infinity by a linear combination of exponentials. The technique results in a suboptimal approximation. Notably, the dependence of the suboptimal exponents s'sub i on the integral square error epsilon is such that lim epsilon approaches Limit of 0) s'sub i = s sub i, the optimal exponents. The method may also be used for system identification. It is especially useful when the system is modelled by a black box and one has access only to the input and output terminals of the system. A technique is demonstrated to find the multiple poles of a system along with the residues at the poles when the output of the system to a known input is given. Among the advantages of the method are its natural insensitivity to noise in the data and the explicit determination of the signal order. Representative computations are made of the poles from the transient response of a conducting pipe tested at the ATHAMAS-I EMP simulator.
Double-sided micromachining process for silicon cantilever using a parallel capacitively coupled plasma

A double-sided micromachining process for silicon-based device fabrication is developed that allows the use of capacitively coupled reactive ion etching (RIE) equipment for high-aspect-ratio etching. The effects of the masking materials and RIE conditions are discussed. Based on the experimental results, a 1000-A-thick Al film sufficiently protects the unexposed substrate while allowing the etching of a 350-µm-deep hole with an area of 3×3 mm2 when etching with SF6/CHF3/O2plasma. A 2000-µm-long and 100-µm-wide (with layers of Al/SiO2/Si and thickness of 0.1/2.2/40 µm, respectively) cantilever beam is achieved. A silicon etch rate up to 2.5 to 2.8 µm/min is obtained and an anisotropy of A=0.5 (A=1-V/H, where V is the horizontal undercut and H is the etch depth) is obtained. The technique is developed mainly for bulk micromachining of silicon or composite silicon cantilever structures.
Utility participation in a multispecies plan

Single-species listings under provisions of the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) have caused, or have been accused of causing, significant regional economic impact. In an attempt to avoid such adverse effects on regional economic development, the state of California passed the Natural Communities Conservation Planning Act (NCCP) in 1991. It is a voluntary, consensus-based approach to balancing protection of sensitive biota and biodiversity with regional economic development. The pilot NCCP program for the conservation of several threatened, endangered, and category 1 species, plus an additional 35 coastal sage scrub-related species in southern California, was completed and submitted to the public for review and comment in December 1995. This program proposes the voluntary establishment of a 86,600-ha multispecies reserve system. Once completed, participating landowners will receive ESA Section 10(a) “incidental take” permits for present and identified future projects. Utility rights-of-way are incorporated into the program as important connective linkages between reserve units and other adjacent important habitat areas. All data and information regarding the proposed results of the NCCP are subject to change pending agency response to public comments on the draft Habitat Conservation Plan and joint EIR/EIS.
Structural heterogeneity and protein composition of exosome-like vesicles (prostasomes) in human semen.

BACKGROUND Human seminal fluid contains small exosome-like vesicles called prostasomes. Prostasomes have been reported previously to play an important role in the process of fertilization by boosting survivability and motility of spermatozoa, in addition to modulating acrosomal reactivity. Prostasomes have also been reported to present with sizes varying from 50 to 500 nm and to have multilayered lipid membranes; however, the fine morphology of prostasomes has never been studied in detail. METHODS Sucrose gradient-purified prostasomes were visualized by cryo-electron microscopy (EM). Protein composition was studied by trypsin in-gel digestion and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. RESULTS Here we report for the first time the detailed structure of seminal prostasomes by cryo-EM. There are at least three distinct dominant structural types of vesicles present. In parallel with the structural analysis, we have carried out a detailed proteomic analysis of prostasomes, which led to the identification of 440 proteins. This is nearly triple the number of proteins identified to date for these unique particles and a number of the proteins identified previously were cross-validated in our study. CONCLUSION From the data reported herein, we hypothesize that the structural heterogeneity of the exosome-like particles in human semen reflects their functional diversity. Our detailed proteomic analysis provided a list of candidate proteins for future structural and functional studies. Prostate 69: 159–167, 2009. © 2008 Wiley–Liss, Inc.
Single pulse shock tube study of allyl radical recombination.

The recombination and disproportionation of allyl radicals has been studied in a single pulse shock tube with gas chromatographic measurements at 1–10 bar, 650–1300 K, and 1.4–2 ms reaction times. 1,5-Hexadiene and allyl iodide were used as precursors. Simulation of the results using derived rate expressions from a complementary diaphragmless shock tube/laser schlieren densitometry study provided excellent agreement with precursor consumption and formation of all major stable intermediates. No significant pressure dependence was observed at the present conditions. It was found that under the conditions of these experiments, reactions of allyl radicals in the cooling wave had to be accounted for to accurately simulate the experimental results, and this unusual situation is discussed. In the allyl iodide experiments, higher amounts of allene, propene, and benzene were found at lower temperatures than expected. Possible mechanisms are discussed and suggest that iodine containing species are responsible for t...
Priming with magnesium-deficient media inhibits preadipocyte differentiation via potential upregulation of tumor necrosis factor-alpha.

The effect of priming stromal-vascular cells in primary cultures with magnesium-deficient (MgD) media on preadipocyte differentiation was studied. Cultures were derived from dorsal subcutaneous fat tissue of young pigs and maintained 3 d in serum-free control or MgD Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium, 3 d in 10% fetal bovine serum and dexamethasone, and 6 d in insulin. At d 12 of culture, immunocytochemical and glycerophosphate dehydrogenase assays indicated depressed adipocyte differentiation in the MgD groups. Cultures were enriched for preadipocytes up to 50% of total cells. On the third day of treatment with control and MgD medium, total cell lysates were isolated and 50 µg of them were run on two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The separated proteins from both treatment groups showed similar patterns. However, spots of proteins with predicted molecular weight in the range of 25.8–37.4 kDa and pI of 5.39–5.85 were sixfold denser from the MgD 10 groups than from the controls. These proteins migrate similarly to tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). The amount of TNF-α in cell lysates from the MgD group was about 2.35 times greater than controls determined by TNF-α-ELISA. It is likely that proteins upregulated by MgD medium are TNF-α isoforms.
Structure and behavior awareness in themis

Structural computing provides techniques and tools to ease the task of developing application infrastructure; infrastructure that provides common services such as persistence, naming, distribution, navigational hypermedia, etc., over a set of application-specific or domain-specific structures. Within structural computing, "structure" refers to a combination of data together with relationships pertaining to that data. Structure servers support the specification and manipulation of structures. One important aspect of structural computing is the power and flexibility it provides application developers constructing new applications. A large part of this power is due to structural computing's ability to provide awareness services for both structure and behavior. We define this concept and describe the awareness services provided by the Themis structural computing environment. The utility of these services are demonstrated by presenting the impact they have had on the InfiniTe information integration environment. In particular, these services help to increase the efficiency and reduce the size of domain-specific applications built using structural computing technology. We conclude by discussing how these services might influence the open hypermedia field and the development of new hypermedia services.
NEUROLEPTANALGESICS: A COMPARISON OF THE CARDIOVASCULAR, RESPIRATORY AND METABOLIC EFFECTS OF INNOVAN AND THIOPENTONE PLUS METHOTRIMEPRAZINE

Crossover experiments were carried out in dogs with a 50:1 mixture of dehydrobenzperidol and phentanyl (Innovan) and a 40:1 mixture of thiopentone and methotrimeprazine to determine their efficacy as anaesthetics, and their effect on blood pressure, heart rate, acid base balance, blood sugar, serum potassium, blood urea nitrogen and blood transaminases. Both mixtures, when used with a 2:1 nitrous oxide and oxygen mixture and hyperventilation, caused a moderate fall in blood pressure and a lowering of body temperature, a rise in blood sugar and a fall in the serum potassium. Odier measured parameters did not change appreciably. Smooth full recovery from anaesthesia occurred within an hour of responding to a painful stimulus. Respiratory depression was the only noteworthy effect during recovery.
An Introduction to the Theory and Measurement of Influence

The science of politics is a science of human behavior. It concerns itself with a specific segment of the activities of humans—those which either take place in, or have a clearly discernible effect upon, the formal governmental machinery of the community. The characteristic feature of a political scientist, therefore, is not his unique theoretical framework but his special empirical interest. Two main consequences follow. First, it is trivially true, and widely recognized, that the major concepts of other behavior sciences are necessarily an integral part of the study of political behavior. Second, it is equally true that, within the social sciences, it is the responsibility of political science to develop those elements of behavior theory that are particularly relevant for the analysis of action in the sphere of politics.Much of current empirical and theoretical work in political analysis is organized around the observation that many political data can be conceived to represent results of mechanisms for decision-making used (consciously or unconsciously) by individuals or collectivities. In a similar fashion, students of a significant number of other types of behavior have tended to formulate their problems within a decision-making framework. When one examines these apparently disparate branches of behavior theory, it is difficult to avoid the conclusion that there exist potentially fruitful parallelisms among such theories as those of consumer behavior, administrative behavior, price setting, legislative enactments, propaganda, learning, foreign affairs, and social control.
The 2000 Cohort of New Assistant Professors of Counselor Education: Year 3

This article is the 3rd in a series that has been focused on the experiences of assistant professors of counselor education who were at the conclusion of their 3rd year in the profession. Thirty-six participants provided information about their experiences, sources of pleasure and displeasure, professional contributions, areas of change, and expectations for tenure and promotion. Prominent themes that emerged from the data included mentoring, balance and family focus, and scholarship. Recommendations are presented for counselor educators-in-training, candidates, new counselor educators (CEs), and veteran CEs.
Physical Therapy Management of the Shoulder

This article presents an overview of physical therapy management for patients with pathological musculoskeletal conditions of the shoulder. The importance of a thorough physical examination is stressed because proper treatment is based on this information. The primary goals of management should include the alleviation of acute inflammation and pain and the avoidance of subsequent soft tissue shortening. Medical and surgical treatments for common shoulder disorders also are discussed.
Neurogenic Dysphagia Resulting from Chiari Malformations

Between 1980 and 1989, 15 of 46 patients (11 children, 4 adults) who underwent suboccipital craniectomy and cervical laminectomy for symptomatic Chiari malformations presented with manifestations of neurogenic dysphagia. Each of these patients had normal swallowing function before the development of dysphagic symptoms. Dysphagia was progressive in all 15 and, in most cases, preceded the onset of other severe brain stem signs. The rate of symptom progression varied depending on the age of the patient. Whereas the six infants (all Chiari II) deteriorated rapidly after the onset of initial symptoms, the five older children (two Chiari I, three Chiari II) and four adults (all Chiari I) showed a more gradual deterioration. In 11 patients with severe dysphagia, barium video esophagograms, pharyngoesophageal motility studies, continuous esophageal pH monitoring, and appropriate scintigraphic studies were useful in defining the scope of the swallowing impairment and determining whether perioperative nasogastric or gastrostomy feedings, gastric fundoplication, and/or tracheostomy were needed to maintain adequate nutrition and avoid aspiration. These patients all had widespread dysfunction of the swallowing mechanism, with a combination of diffuse pharyngoesophageal dysmotility, cricopharyngeal achalasia, nasal regurgitation, tracheal aspiration, and gastroesophageal reflux. The pathophysiology of these swallowing impairments and their relation to the hindbrain malformation is discussed. Postoperative outcome with regard to swallowing function correlated with the severity of preoperative symptoms. The four patients with mild dysphagia showed rapid improvement in swallowing function after surgery. Seven patients with more severe impairment but without other signs of severe brain stem compromise, such as central apnea or complete bilateral vocal cord paralysis, also improved, albeit more slowly. In contrast, the outcome in the four patients who developed other signs of severe brain stem dysfunction before surgery was poor. Early recognition of neurogenic dysphagia and expeditious intervention are therefore crucial in ensuring a favorable neurological outcome.
Monitoring and Managing E-Science Cyber-Infrastructures: A Case Study

Due to their scale, complexity, and dynamic nature, e-science cyber-infrastructures have raised major system management challenges. It has been argued that employing system management frameworks to monitor and control large scale systems is a possible solution to address these challenges. This paper presents an application of a management framework, known as Hasthi (Sanskrit name of Elephant which represents robustness), to manage an e-science project called linked environments for atmospheric discovery (LEAD). Hasthi is a generic framework that manages a system according to rules written by administrators, where rules define how Hasthi should respond to changes and failures. Using LEAD as an example, we demonstrate how such extensible management framework can be utilized to manage a complex system, while describing common problems and solutions.
Caveolae, Caveolins, Cavins, and Endothelial Cell Function: New Insights

Caveolae are cholesterol and glycosphingolipid-rich flask-shaped invaginations of the plasma membrane which are particularly abundant in vascular endothelium and present in all other cell types of the cardiovascular system, including vascular smooth-muscle cells, macrophages, cardiac myocytes, and fibroblasts. Caveolins and the more recently discovered cavins are the major protein components of caveolae. When caveolae were discovered, their functional role was believed to be limited to transport across the endothelial cell barrier. Since then, however, a large body of evidence has accumulated, suggesting that these microdomains are very important in regulating many other important endothelial cell functions, mostly due to their ability to concentrate and compartmentalize various signaling molecules. Over the course of several years, multiple studies involving knockout mouse and small interfering RNA approaches have considerably enhanced our understanding of the role of caveolae and caveolin-1 in regulating many cardiovascular functions. New findings have been reported implicating other caveolar protein components in endothelial cell signaling and function, such as the understudied caveolin-2 and newly discovered cavin proteins. The aim of this review is to focus primarily on molecular and cellular aspects of the role of caveolae, caveolins, and cavins in endothelial cell signaling and function. In addition, where appropriate, the possible implications for the cardiovascular and pulmonary physiology and pathophysiology will be discussed.
Performance Comparison of Optimal and Suboptimal Forward-Link Channel-Sharing Schemes

In this paper, we evaluate the performance of various channel-sharing schemes in the forward link from a base station (BS) to several mobile stations (MSs). Simultaneous transmission (broadcasting) to all mobile stations using the entire available bandwidth is known to yield rates dominating any other channel-sharing technique for Gaussian channels. However, broadcasting is very complicated from an implementation point of view. We analyze and compare different channel-sharing techniques on the basis of the asymptotic minimum signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) per MS necessary at the BS to transmit to a certain set of MSs in a single cell at a common data rate. From our results we conclude that suboptimal but practical methods like two- or three-level superposition coding when used in conjunction with frequency division multiplexing perform sufficiently close to the optimum and hence, are good alternatives to the optimal broadcasting scheme.
Intertrochanteric fractures: ten tips to improve results.

Intertrochanteric fractures are becoming increasingly common as our population ages. These fractures typically occur in frail patients with multiple medical comorbidities and often result in the end of the patient's functional independence. The all-too-often problematic dispositions and prolonged hospital stays result in a tremendous cost to patients, their families, and society. Effective treatment strategies that result in high rates of union of these fractures and low rates of complications are important. As orthopaedic surgeons, we cannot control the quality of the bone, patient compliance, or comorbidities, but we should be able to minimize the morbidity associated with the fracture. This requires choosing the appropriate fixation device for the fracture pattern, recognizing the problem fracture patterns, and performing accurate reductions with ideal implant placement while being conscious of implant costs. If we treat these fractures expeditiously, minimize fixation failures, and recognize underlying osteoporosis and treat it accordingly, we will improve our patients' outcomes and minimize the cost of treating them. The purpose of this review is to summarize ten simple tips to help minimize failures and improve outcomes when treating intertrochanteric fractures of the hip. The tip-to-apex distance has been described by Baumgaertner et al.1,2 as a useful intraoperative indicator of deep and central placement of the lag screw in the femoral head, regardless of whether a nail or a plate is chosen to fix the fracture (Fig. 1). This is perhaps the most important measurement of accurate hardware placement and has been shown in multiple studies to be predictive of success after the treatment of standard obliquity intertrochanteric fractures. Older theories about screw placement favored a low and occasionally a posterior position of the lag screw, thereby leaving more bone superior and anterior to the screw. This effectively lengthens the tip-to-apex distance and should be avoided. The …
Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation in the Elderly

The incidence and prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) increase with age. Catheter ablation has been suggested to improve the quality of life of patients with AF. However, in order to expand the indications for AF ablation to the elderly, several important questions should be answered as to whether safety and efficacy of AF ablation in elderly patients are similar to those in younger populations, whether the AF mechanisms in elderly patients are similar to those in younger patients so that the same ablation techniques can be used in both groups, and whether anticoagulation strategies should be the same for elderly patients as for younger patients after AF ablation. Recent studies reported that the risk of complications from AF ablation did not vary with age, nor was the AF recurrence rate age-dependent for any type of AF, suggesting that the AF mechanisms in elderly patients were similar to those in younger patients. On the other hand, the feasibility of discontinuation of anticoagulation in the elderly after successful AF ablation has not been established since it is difficult to be certain whether AF has been truly cured and since many elderly people are likely to be considered as high-risk based on their CHADS(2) score. In addition, the elderly patients who have been included in published trials of AF ablation may not represent an unselected population of individuals in this age group. Randomized trials of catheter ablation will be necessary before this procedure can be promoted for wider use in the elderly.
Lead exposure delays the differentiation of oligodendroglial progenitors in vitro.

Lead (Pb) is an environmental neurotoxicant that can cause hypo- and demyelination. Oligodendrocytes (OLs), the myelin-forming cells in the central nervous system, may be a possible target for Pb toxicity. The present study describes the effect of Pb on the maturation of rat OL progenitor (OP) cells and the developmental expression of myelin-specific galactolipids. Dose-response studies showed that OP cultures were more sensitive to Pb than mature OLs. Pb delayed the differentiation of OL progenitors, as demonstrated by cell morphology and immunostaining with a panel of stage-specific differentiation markers. Pb given prior to and during differentiation caused a decrease in the biosynthesis of galactolipids in both undifferentiated and differentiated OLs, as detected by metabolic radiolabeling with 3H-D-galactose. While the ratios of galacto/gluco-cerebrosides, hydroxy fatty acid/nonhydroxy fatty acid galactolipids, and galactocerebrosides/sulfatides increased in control cultures during cell differentiation, Pb treatment prevented these changes. The results suggest that chronic Pb exposure may impact brain development by interfering with the timely developmental maturation of OL progenitors.
Effect of electron beam radiation on the mechanical and thermal properties of poly(4-methylpentene-1)

The changes in the mechanical and thermal properties of electron-beam-irradiated PMP of two different molecular weights (〈Mw〉 = 9.2 × 105, 〈Mw〉 = 1.8 × 106) have been studied. Electron beam (EB) irradiation was performed either in a nitrogen or air atmosphere to a maximum dosage of 40 Mrad. Stress–strain behavior of the irradiated materials show that the lower molecular weight polymer is more affected within this dose range than the higher molecular weight material. The modulus of both PMP materials (at 23°C), however, was not affected by EB. Moreover, it was observed that by increasing radiation dose up to 10 Mrad the occurrence of yielding disappeared in the case of the lower molecular weight system but was still found in the high molecular weight material up to 20 Mrad. The elongation at break of both PMP materials was systematically decreased by increasing the dose level. The rate of stress–relaxation of irradiated samples increased as dosage increased. It is believed that oxidative degradation is promoted as a result of irradiation which induces chain scission. This result was confirmed by GPC analysis which showed that, by increasing radiation dose, the molecular weight systematically decreased. DSC measurements used to investigate the changes in thermal properties showed that the melting temperature and heat of fusion decreased as the dose increased. An interesting feature of the DSC studies was the presence of an endothermic doublet in the melting behavior that transformed into a single peak following irradiation.
Ischemic stroke management in the critical care unit: The first 24 hours.

process. Until recently, most patients with acute ischemic stroke were managed in the general wards, with random, nonstandardized monitoring, and similarly random treatment of complications. Admission to a critical care unit was reserved for only the small number of patients with depressed levels of consciousness who were unable to protect their airways or those with significant cardiovascular comorbidity. Nonetheless, it is clear that neurological or medical complications place the life of the acute stroke patient in danger, prolong hospitalization, and delay or prevent rehabilitation. Consequently, we are witnessing a shift toward more standardized intensive neurological monitoring and prompt intervention when neurological deterioration or systemic complications occur. The question of whether full-scale critical care management of stroke patients improves the outcome is still debatable. With today's standards, however, a significant proportion of hospitalized stroke patients, perhaps 10%, will require some form of critical care treatment for various reasons. 2 These include large cerebral hemispheric infarctions, large cerebellar infarctions, acute basilar or vertebral artery occlusions, and stroke associated with systemic complications, such as pulmonary or cardiac dysfunction. In addition, aggressive approaches to acute ischemic stroke, such as intravenous or intraarterial thrombolytic therap~ necessitate monitoring and treatment in an intensive care unit environment.
Formation of Chlorite and Chlorate from Chlorine Dioxide with Han River Water

This study was designed to elucidate the behavior of chlorine dioxide in drinking water systems. Furthermore, the factors that influence the formation of chlorite, chlorate in terms of reaction time, concentration of chlorine dioxide, pH, temperature and UV irradiation were experimentally reviewed. At 20 ‡C, pH 7, 70–80% of chlorine dioxide injected was converted to chlorite and 0–10% of that was transformed into chlorate within 120 min with 2.91 mg/L of DOC. The amount of chlorite formed also increased when pH and temperature increased. As DOC content increased, the residual chlorine dioxide decreased but the amount of chlorite and chlorate were increased. These experiments revealed that chlorate was a dominant by-product under UV irradiation. The models that were obtained by the regression analysis for the formation of chlorite and chlorate from chlorine dioxide with Han River water are as follows: Chlorite (mg/L)=10-2.20[ClO2]0.45[pH]0.90[temp]0.27[TOC]1.04[time]0.20, Chlorate (mg/L)=10-2.61[ClO2]1.27[pH]-0.50[temp]1.28 [TOC]0.31[time]0.12
Optimized cloud placement of virtual clusters using biased importance sampling

We introduce an algorithm for the placement of constrained, networked virtual clusters in the cloud, that is based on importance sampling (also known as cross-entropy). Rather than using a straightforward implementation of such a technique, which proved inefficient, we considerably enhance the method by biasing the sampling process to incorporate communication needs and other constraints of placement requests to yield an efficient algorithm that is linear in the size of the cloud. We investigate the quality of the results of using our algorithm on a simulated cloud.
A human dietary risk assessment associated with glycoalkaloid responses of potato to Colorado potato beetle defoliation

A quantitative human dietary risk assessment was conducted using the glycoalkaloid concentrations measured from tubers of plants defoliated by Colorado potato beetles and undefoliated (control). There was a significantly greater production of glycoalkaloids for defoliated plants compared to control plants for both skin and inner tissue of tubers. The dietary risk posed to different human subgroups associated with the consumption of potatoes was estimated for the 50th, 95th, and 99.9th percentile US national consumption values. Exposures were compared to a toxic threshold of 1.0 mg/kg body weight. Defoliation by Colorado potato beetles increased dietary risk by approximately 48%. Glycoalkaloid concentrations within the inner tissue of tubers, including undefoliated controls, exceeded the toxic threshold for all human subgroups at less than the 99.9th percentile of exposure, but not the 95th percentile.
Climate-smart management of biodiversity

Determining where biodiversity is likely to be most vulnerable to climate change and methods to reduce that vulnerability are necessary first steps to incorporate climate change into biodiversity management plans. Here, we use a spatial climate change vulnerability assessment to (1) map the potential vulnerability of terrestrial biodiversity to climate change in the northeastern United States and (2) provide guidance on how and where management actions for biodiversity could provide long-term benefits under climate change (i.e., climate-smart management considerations). Our model suggests that biodiversity will be most vulnerable in Delaware, Maryland, and the District of Columbia due to the combination of high climate change velocity, high landscape resistance, and high topoclimate homogeneity. Biodiversity is predicted to be least vulnerable in Vermont, Maine, and New Hampshire because large portions of these states have low landscape resistance, low climate change velocity, and low topoclimate homogeneity. Our spatial climate-smart management considerations suggest that: (1) high topoclimate diversity could moderate the effects of climate change across 50% of the region; (2) decreasing local landscape resistance in conjunction with other management actions could increase the benefit of those actions across 17% of the region; and (3) management actions across 24% of the region could provide long-term benefits by promoting short-term population persistence that provides a source population capable of moving in the future. The guidance and framework we provide here should allow conservation organizations to incorporate our climate-smart management considerations into management plans without drastically changing their approach to biodiversity conservation.
Inhibition of p38 MAPK α/β reduces ischemic injury and does not block protective effects of preconditioning

We examined the effect of inhibition of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) α/β during ischemia and preconditioning by using the inhibitor SB-202190. Isolated rat hearts were perfused with ...
Games as Conversation

We present a metaphor through which to study games: games as conversation, which casts gameplay as a communicative exchange between player and game. We propose to view aspects of gameplay as speech acts, as defined by Austin and Searle, and we present several examples that illustrate the diverse locutionary, illocutionary, and perlocutionary acts present in the design of digital games. Through our perspective, we are able to cast problems relevant to the interactive entertainment community as discourse problems, where an interactive system must determine what to “say,” in order to elicit in the minds of players a specific mental model that will allow them to perform successfully in the game. We conclude with a research agenda that proposes to leverage the artificial intelligence paradigm of discourse planning to tackle the discourse problems of interactive entertainment.
Flow patterns and morphology of a prograding river delta

The transition of flow between laterally confined channels and the unchannelized delta front controls the morphodynamic evolution of river deltas but has rarely been measured at the field scale. We quantify flow patterns and bathymetry that define the evolution of the subaqueous delta front on the Wax Lake Delta, a rapidly prograding delta in coastal Louisiana. A significant portion of flow (∼59%) departs the channel network over lateral channel margins as opposed to the downstream channel tips. Bathymetric surveys and remotely sensed estimates of flow direction allow spatial changes in flow velocity to be quantified and patterns of erosion and deposition to be estimated. Shallowing along channel margins produces spatial acceleration and erosion. Lateral spreading, deceleration, and deposition occur within three to eight channel widths outside of the channel margins. In interdistributary bays, the shape of each flow path is constrained by “nourishment boundaries” that separate the outflows from neighboring channels. Deposit elevation decreases with a basinward slope of 2.4 × 10−4 with distance from a channel margin along any flow path, regardless of the channel or location that flow departed the network. Bathymetric depressions called “interdistributary troughs” form along nourishment boundaries where flow paths are the longest and deposit elevation is correspondingly low. We conclude that the deposit morphology exerts a strong control on bathymetric evolution and that interaction between neighboring channels and even neighboring deltas can influence delta front morphology.
Leading Teams in a Global Environment

The interpersonal dynamics involved in any kind of organizational team are extremely complex. One must first define a team in order to truly appreciate the group dynamics that are taking place. A team is more than just a group of individuals. Traditionally, communication was studied by observing the outward behavior of the group, with very little regard to context or individual mental maps and characteristics. In the global arena, the issues of culture, language, communication, and context add even more complexity to working in teams. This paper will discuss both the importance of understanding team development and the larger context of how to do so in an increasingly global environment. Finally, an instructional framework will be developed to aid organizations in educating members of global teams to function more effectively and with greater success during expatriate assignments in multicultural contexts.