cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Asymptotics for Euclidean functionals with power-weighted edges

We provide general and relatively simple conditions under which Euclidean functionals Lp on [0, 1]d with pth power-weighted edges satisfy the limit limn→∞ Lp(X1,…,Xn)/nd−pd = β ∫[0,1]dƒ(x)d−pddx c.c., where Xi, i ≥ 1, are i.i.d. random variables with values in [0, 1]d, 0 < p < d, β:=β(Lp, d) is a constant, f is the density of the absolutely continuous part of the law of X1, and c.c denotes complete convergence. This general result is shown to apply to the minimal spanning tree, shortest tour, and minimal matching functionals. The approach provides a rate of convergence for the power-weighted minimal spanning tree functional, resolving a question raised by Steele (1988).
CCR6-mediated dendritic cell activation of pathogen-specific T cells in Peyer's patches.

Summary T cell activation by dendritic cells (DCs) is critical to the initiation of adaptive immune responses and protection against pathogens. Here, we demonstrate that a specialized DC subset in Peyer's patches (PPs) mediates the rapid activation of pathogen specific T cells. This DC subset is characterized by the expression of the chemokine receptor CCR6 and is found only in PPs. CCR6 + DCs were recruited into the dome regions of PPs upon invasion of the follicle associated epithelium (FAE) by an enteric pathogen and were responsible for the rapid local activation of pathogen-specific T cells. CCR6-deficient DCs were unable to respond to bacterial invasion of PPs and failed to initiate T cell activation, resulting in reduced defense against oral infection. Thus, CCR6-dependent regulation of DCs is responsible for localized T cell dependent defense against entero-invasive pathogens.
Bromocriptine treatment for cocaine addiction: association with plasma prolactin levels.

Abstract Bromocriptine is a dopamine receptor agonist used with mixed success in the treatment of cocaine addiction. Variations in dopamine receptor sensitivity may help account for these differences. We evaluated this question in a 24-week outpatient controlled clinical trial in 70 cocaine-abusing (DSM-III) men (86% African–American, mean age 34 years, mean 39 months of regular cocaine use [predominantly smoked]). Subjects received 4 weeks of inpatient treatment. During the last 2 weeks they were inducted onto bromocriptine (maximum dose 2.5 mg po tid) ( n = 35) or placebo ( n = 35). Plasma prolactin concentrations were assayed before and after the first bromocriptine dose (1.25 mg po) as a measure of dopamine receptor sensitivity. After discharge, subjects continued on medication with weekly group counseling. Bromocriptine significantly suppressed prolactin concentrations (4.4 ng/ml decrease), while placebo did not (0.1 ng/ml decrease). Both groups decreased their cocaine use, with no significant group differences in retention in treatment or proportion of cocaine-positive urine samples. There was no significant association between basal plasma prolactin concentrations or prolactin response to first bromocriptine dose and either outcome measure. These data do not support the efficacy of bromocriptine treatment nor a role for prolactin concentration in predicting treatment response.
Endoplasmic Reticulum Remodeling Tunes IP3-Dependent Ca2+ Release Sensitivity

The activation of vertebrate development at fertilization relies on IP3-dependent Ca2+ release, a pathway that is sensitized during oocyte maturation. This sensitization has been shown to correlate with the remodeling of the endoplasmic reticulum into large ER patches, however the mechanisms involved are not clear. Here we show that IP3 receptors within ER patches have a higher sensitivity to IP3 than those in the neighboring reticular ER. The lateral diffusion rate of IP3 receptors in both ER domains is similar, and ER patches dynamically fuse with reticular ER, arguing that IP3 receptors exchange freely between the two ER compartments. These results suggest that increasing the density of IP3 receptors through ER remodeling is sufficient to sensitize IP3-dependent Ca2+ release. Mathematical modeling supports this concept of ‘geometric sensitization’ of IP3 receptors as a population, and argues that it depends on enhanced Ca2+-dependent cooperativity at sub-threshold IP3 concentrations. This represents a novel mechanism of tuning the sensitivity of IP3 receptors through ER remodeling during meiosis.
Toward a Reliable and Resilient Mobile Wireless Architecture

Abstract Hybrid mobile wireless architectures that combine the advantages of ad hoc (mobile nodes) and cellular models provide “communications-on-the-move” services with enhanced flexibility and stability. In this article, we investigate the resiliency of such architectures by considering strategies for optimal deployment (number and location) of backup routers that would ensure reliable performance in such interdependent mobile systems.
Traveling waves in rotating Rayleigh-Bénard convection: analysis of modes and mean flow.

Numerical simulations of the Boussinesq equations with rotation for realistic no-slip boundary conditions and a finite annular domain are presented. These simulations reproduce traveling waves observed experimentally. Traveling waves are studied near threshhold by using the complex Ginzburg-Landau equation (CGLE): a mode analysis enables the CGLE coefficients to be determined. The CGLE coefficients are compared with previous experimental and theoretical results. Mean flows are also computed and found to be more significant as the Prandtl number decreases (from sigma=6.4 to sigma=1). In addition, the mean flow around the outer radius of the annulus appears to be correlated with the mean flow around the inner radius.
China's Water Scarcity and Its Implications for Domestic and International Stability

Abstract This article is based on a review of current literature to ascertain relationships among water scarcity, economic growth, and social stability in China, with particular emphasis on identifying any mechanisms by which China's water scarcity could lead to political instability. First, the author examines the magnitude and extent of water scarcity and distribution issues in China, including current trends with respect to water usage and availability and the resulting economic impacts, highlighting the ultimate necessity of an effective government response. He then assesses current government policies and determines them to be inadequate to alleviate water scarcity, while at the same time, such policies engender antagonism between different regions within China. Finally, the author examines the social, economic, and political consequences of some of the most common and obvious policy prescriptions for addressing water scarcity issues. From this emerge numerous potential mechanisms by which these poli...
Assembly of vaccinia virus particles from polypeptides made in the presence of rifampicin

Abstract Vaccinia viral polypeptides, labeled in the presence of rifampicin, were incorporated into virus particles after rifampicin was removed. All structural polypeptides, resolved by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, were labeled in the presence of rifampicin. The specific effect of rifampicin on the formation of the vaccinia viral envelope was reversed within 10 min even in the presence of NaF or inhibitors of protein or nucleic acid synthesis. Further maturation of some virus particles, which were characterized by their ultrastructure and isolated by sucrose gradient sedimentation, proceeded in the presence of inhibitors of protein synthesis. In contrast, addition of NaF or actinomycin D almost completely blocked the development of mature virus particles. Rifampicin acted specifically at the stage of envelope formation and did not prevent later steps in maturation.
Phosphorus bioavailability of fluvial sediments determined by algal assays

Eroding bank soils and riverine suspended sediments from the Flathead River-Lake ecosystem, Montana, USA, were cultured with the alga Selenastrum capricornutum Printz in PAAP medium with the sediments as the sole source of phosphorus. Extraction of phosphorus by NaOH and nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) solutions were compared to results from algal bioassays. The fine sediment particles transported into Flathead Lake during spring runoff had the highest availability (i.e. 6% of total phosphorus). Bank soils which contained the greatest percentage of fine clays exhibited similar (i.e. 4% of total phosphorus) availability. Bank soils containing predominantly organic phosphorus had the lowest availability. Spearman's rank correlation indicated significance at the 5% test level between algal assay estimates of available phosphorus and both chemical extraction techniques.
Biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by Sphingomonas strains isolated from the terrestrial subsurface

Several strains of Sphingomonas isolated from deep Atlantic coastal plain aquifers at the US Department of Energy Savannah River Site (SRS) near Aiken, SC were shown to degrade a variety of aromatic hydrocarbons in a liquid culture medium. Sphingomonas aromaticivorans strain B0695 was the most versatile of the five strains examined. This strain was able to degrade acenaphthene, anthracene, phenanthrene, 2,3-benzofluorene, 2-methylnaphthalene, 2,3-dimethylnaphthalene, and fluoranthene in the presence of 400 mg l−1 Tween 80. Studies involving microcosms composed of aquifer sediments showed that S. aromaticivorans B0695 could degrade phenanthrene effectively in sterile sediment and could enhance the rate at which this compound was degraded in nonsterile sediment. These findings indicate that it may be feasible to carry out (or, at least, to enhance) in situ bioremediation of phenanthrene-contaminated soils and subsurface environments with S. aromaticivorans B0695. In contrast, strain B0695 was unable to degrade fluoranthene in microcosms containing aquifer sediments, even though it readily degraded this polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) in a defined liquid growth medium. Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology (2001) 26, 283–289.
Acute Traumatic Aortic Injury: Imaging Evaluation and Management

Despite recent advances in prehospital care, multidetector computed tomographic (CT) technology, and rapid definitive therapy, trauma to the aorta continues to be a substantial source of morbidity and mortality in patients with blunt trauma. The imaging evaluation of acute aortic injuries has undergone radical change over the past decade, mostly due to the advent of multidetector CT. Regardless of recent technologic advances, imaging of the aorta in the trauma setting remains a multimodality imaging practice, and thus broad knowledge by the radiologist is essential. Likewise, the therapy for acute aortic injuries has changed substantially. Though open surgical repair continues to be the mainstay of therapy, percutaneous endovascular repair is becoming commonplace in many trauma centers. Here, the historical and current status of imaging and therapy of acute traumatic aortic injuries will be reviewed.
Development of open-field activity in the rat following caudate lesions in infancy

Lesions at the head of the caudate nucleus resulted in increased levels of activity in the open field. Hyperactivity was similar regardless of the animals’ age at the time the lesion was produced (7 or 77 days of age). Unilateral lesions resulted in higher levels of activity than did bilateral lesions of the caudate nucleus.
Novel sensors for potassium, calcium and magnesium ions based on a silicon transducer as a light-addressable potentiometric sensor

Abstract Potentiometric cation sensors using a silicon transducer, light-addressable potentiometric sensor (LAPS) and ion-recognition elements are described, and their performance are discussed. In the silicon transducer, an Al 2 O 3 layer was used as an insulating layer. On the surface of the Al 2 O 3 layer, ion-recognition element such as valinomycin, 18-crown-6 ether, bis [di( n -octylphenyl)phosphato]calcium(II) and ETH1117 were immobilized in the matrix of poly(vinyl chloride) film. Potassium tetrakis ( p -chlorophenyl)borate was used as a lipophilic salt. The K + , Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ sensitive-silicon electrodes showed responses similar to those of the corresponding ion-selective electrode. Furthermore, calcium sensing properties of lipophilic anion concentration were studied. It was shown that the presence of lipophilic anion increased the slope.
A New Synthesis of 5-(1′,1′,1′-Trialkylmethyl) Resorcinols

Abstract In connection with our investigation of synthetic cannabinoids as potential anticonvulsant drugs, we required various 5-(1′,1′,1′-trialkyl substituted) resorcinols as starting materials for the synthesis of cannabidiol analogs. The modification of the resorcinol side chain seems to enhance the biological activity of cannabinoids.1 Several different methods have appeared in the literature for the synthesis of the simplest of such derivatives, 5-(1′,1′-dimethyl heptyl) 1 and 5-(1′,1′-dimethyl pentyl) resorcinols 2.2,3,4,5 However, none of the published procedures are suitable for the introduction of alkyl groups other than methyl at C-1′. We therefore sought a more general, and shorter method which would permit the incorporation of a variety of alkyl groups and at the same time generate a quarternary carbon center at the 1′-position.
Complement activation retards resolution of acute ischemic renal failure in the rat.

Complement activation retards resolution of acute ischemic renal failure in the rat. We investigated the role of complement activation on the resolution of acute ischemic renal failure in the rat. Acute renal failure was induced by clamping of the renal arteries of Sprague-Dawley rats for 45 minutes (Day 0). On subsequent days, groups of rats with acute renal failure were exposed to daily zymosan infusion (an activator of the complement system), or to blood incubated with cuprophane (CUP) or polyacrylonitrile (PAN) dialysis membranes. We serially measured the change in BUN daily, glomerular filtration rate and 24-hour proteinuria on Day 3 and Day 5 following ischemia. On Day 6, the animals were sacrificed and their kidneys examined histologically. Zymosan and cuprophane exposed rats had a significant delay in the recovery of renal failure, reduced glomerular filtration rate, and histologically had more neutrophil infiltration than control or PAN exposed animals. To investigate the potential pathophysiology of these observations, we assessed the response of zymosan-exposed rats to infusion of deferoxamine (DFO), a potent inhibitor of hydroxyl radical formation (OH • ). Infusion of DFO prior to zymosan significantly improved recovery of renal function. We also measured urinary thromboxane B 2 levels in these groups of rats. While the groups of rats exposed to zymosan had the highest levels of thromboxane B 2 , these levels were not different between the groups exposed to zymosan alone, or to zymosan and DFO. These observations suggest a role for hydroxyl radicals in the prolongation of renal failure in this model. Taken together, these findings may have implications for the dialytic intervention in patients with acute renal failure.
Physical Education Curriculum Priorities: “Safe” Exercise is Medicine

Injury during sports and recreational activities is a significant negative consequence to physical activity, and consequently can become a barrier to maintaining a healthy active lifestyle. Research has pointed us toward methodologies capable of identifying predispositions to certain musculoskeletal injuries, supporting the notion that most sports and recreational injuries are largely preventable (Boling et al., 2009; Hewett et al., 2005; Lin et al., 2009; Markolf et al., 1995; McLean et al., 2008; Padua et al., 2010 Parkkari et al., 2008). Increasing physical activity among America’s youth is critical in helping to combat chronic diseases such as obesity and diabetes. Therefore, finding the right sporting activities for our youth is important, as is making appropriate biomechanical adjustments or behavior modifications that create a safer means of participation. Over the past several years, the American College of Sports Medicine has promoted the slogan “Exercise is Medicine,” but I would argue that “Safe Exercise is Medicine” sends a better message. We must be responsible in our approach to promoting physical activity and participation in sport, while minimizing the risk of injury. In this paper, I reiterate my call to researchers, educators, and clinicians in Kinesiology and the allied health sciences to continue working collaboratively to identify predispositions to sports-related injuries, but also to develop strategies for transferring the evidence-based recommendations into curricula where it can have a greater impact. During a 2007 lecture at the American Academy of Kinesiology and Physical Education, I spoke on the topic of “Sports Medicine & Athletic Training in the 21st Century: Bridging the Gap Between Research and Clinical Practice”(Guskiewicz, 2008). I attempted to illustrate the progress that had been made by athletic training and biomechanics researchers in translating their work into meaningful clinical interventions to help prevent sports and recreational injuries and promote exercise across the lifespan. Progress has continued in this regard, however, the only exit from that bridge cannot be the clinical setting. It must extend into the middle school, junior high school, and secondary school physical education curricula and coaching clinics where teachers and coaches can assist in indentifying poor mechanics which can lead to debilitating injuries. This curricular content should also become standard in the preparation of our teachers and coaches who study in areas such as physical education, fitness and conditioning, wellness, and athletic training. These are the individuals who can make a difference on the front lines in ensuring that our youth can enjoy safe participation in sports.
An Amended Harmony Search Algorithm for Unconstrained Optimization Problems

Harmony search (HS) algorithm is a new mate heuristic algorithm, which is conceptualized using the musical improvisation process of searching for a perfect state of harmony. Its own potential and shortage, one of its main disadvantages is that it easily trapped into local optima and converges very slowly. Based on the conception of swarm intelligence, this paper presents an amended harmony search (AHS) algorithm. AHS introduces a novel position updating strategy for generating new solution vectors, which enhances solution accuracy and convergence rate of algorithm. Several standard benchmark optimization functions are to be test and compare the performance of the AHS. The results revealed the superiority of the proposed method to the HS and its three improved algorithms (IHS, GHS and NGHS).
Evaluation of serum lipid concentrations among U.S. workers exposed to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin.

Abstract 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin alters lipid metabolism in animals; however, evidence for such an effect in humans is conflicting. This conflict was addressed using data from a cross-sectional medical study conducted between 1987 and 1988. The exposed participants had been employed at least 15 y earlier in the manufacture of 2,4, 5-trichlorophenol or one of its derivatives at two chemical plants in the United States. A total of 281 workers and 260 unexposed referents participated. Workers had substantial exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, evidenced by a median serum 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin concentration of 406.6 femtograms/gram of serum (fg/g serum), compared with 36.9 fg/g serum among the referents. A slight association between triglyceride concentration and serum 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin concentration was found (p = .05). Over the range of observed 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin values (i.e., 37–19 000 fg/g serum), triglyceride concentration increas...
The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program: Background and Methodology

The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) was initially developed through the Department of Veterans Affairs in the early 1990s. Recently, it has expanded into the private sector under the guidance of the American College of Surgeons. NSQIP methodology allows hospitals to compare risk-adjusted 30-day morbidity and mortality outcomes. Calculation of observed/expected ratios allows determination of outlier status and helps identify hospitals that are performing better or worse than expected. NSQIP has significantly advanced the field of quality improvement within surgery. American College of Surgeons NSQIP continues to grow through partnering with other organizations like the National Quality Forum as well as bringing hospitals together through collaboratives.
Disorder and coercivity in magnetic particle systems

Abstract Computer simulation has been utilized to understand the hysteretic behavior of magnetic particle systems. Particles are assumed to be single domain, spherical in shape, and possess no intrinsic anisotropy. Neighboring spins are not exchange-coupled. Particles are either randomly packed or displaced from cubic lattice positions in random directions. The gyromagnetic equation of motion with Landau-Lifshitz damping is solved for each spin during a dynamic process. Regular spin arrangements yield no hysteresis or coercivity. For spin configurations randomly displaced from a cubic lattice, hysteretic behavior is observed. Coercivity increases with randomness of particle position. Detailed examination of the magnetization reversals reveals chain formations and transient vortex states in randomly packed arrays. Coercivity versus packing fraction inferred for finite sized particles shows a maximum.
IR microscopy with a transient photo-induced near-field probe (tipless near-field microscopy)

Photo-induced reflectivity generated by picosecond pulses of light incident on the surface of semiconductors has been used to create transient mirrors with dimensions determined by the spot size of the visible light. These mirrors were used as near-field probes for scattering of the infrared (IR) laser beam. It has been verified that the IR light reflected from this transient mirror has a spatial resolution determined by the spot size of the visible light. This methodology enables IR microscopy of thin samples with the resolution of a visible microscope. Advantages of this approach are: (i) no need for near-field distance control, (ii) possibility of fast sample scanning, (iii) no attenuation of the IR beam in a tapered fiber probe, and (iv) the sample to be imaged can be covered by or encased in a transparent liquid or solid. Preliminary results, prospects and limitations are discussed.
Home environmental stimuli facilitate learning of shock escape spatial discrimination in rats 7–11 days of age

Rats 7–11 days old were trained on a spatial discrimination to escape an electrical shock to the paws in either the presence or absence of home litter cues. Rats trained in the presence of home litter cue acquired the discrimination faster than agemates trained in their absence. Home litter cues potentiated learning more as the criterion for learning was made more stringent. These experiments indicate the importance of considering learning as an interaction between an animal's level of development and some fundamental properties of the learning task.
Electron-electron interactions in the surface inversion layer of a semiconductor

Abstract The effective unscreened interaction between a pair of electrons in the inversion layer of an MIS structure is estimated by using classical electrostatics together with a knowledge of the quantum mechanical wave function of the inversion layer electrons. The change in the effective mass m ∗ and effective g-value g∗ are evaluated in the random phase approximation.
Tumor load in patients with follicular lymphoma post stem cell transplantation may correlate with clinical course.

Tumor load in patients with follicular lymphoma post stem cell transplantation may correlate with clinical course
Impact of Adjuvant Radiation on Survival: A Note of Caution When Using Cancer Registry Data to Evaluate Adjuvant Treatments

With increasing frequency, studies using cancer registries have evaluated the treatment effect of adjuvant radiation; however, these analyses generally do not include chemotherapy treatment data. Our objective is to evaluate the potential impact the absence of adjuvant chemotherapy data has on the estimated survival benefit attributed to adjuvant radiation therapy. Using the National Cancer Data Base, patients were identified who underwent surgery for cancers that often require radiation therapy: breast, esophageal, gastric, pancreatic, and rectal cancer. Cox proportional hazards modeling with and without chemotherapy as a predictor variable was used to assess the impact of radiation therapy on 5-year survival. From 1998 to 1999, 295,206 patients underwent surgical resection for one of five cancers. Chemotherapy administration ranged from 27.5% for gastric to 56.1% for rectal cancer. For cancers where chemotherapy affected survival, the impact of radiation therapy was overestimated in the multivariate model when chemotherapy was not included. For example, radiation treatment for rectal cancer was associated with a 31% decrease in the risk of death in the model that did not control for chemotherapy; however, the addition of chemotherapy to the model resulted in only a 14% decrease in the risk of death associated with receiving radiation therapy. For selected tumor sites, the administration of chemotherapy is not evenly distributed among patients receiving and not receiving radiation. Survival analyses that do not include chemotherapy administration overestimate the beneficial impact of radiation on survival. Evaluating the effect of radiation on survival retrospectively without adjusting for chemotherapy administration should be done cautiously.
Chromium isotopic systematics of the Sutter's Mill carbonaceous chondrite: Implications for isotopic heterogeneities of the early solar system

Recent studies have shown that major meteorite groups possess their own characteristic 54Cr values, demonstrating the utility of Cr isotopes for identifying genetic relationships between the planetary materials in conjunction with other classical tools, such as oxygen isotopes. In this study, we performed Cr isotope analyses for whole rocks and chemically separated phases of the new CM2 chondrite, Sutter's Mill (SM 43 and 51). The two whole rocks of Sutter's Mill show essentially identical e54Cr excesses (SM 43 = +0.95 ± 0.09e, SM 51 = +0.88 ± 0.07e), relative to the Earth. These values are the same within error with that of the CM2-type Murchison (+0.89 ± 0.08e), suggesting that parent bodies of Sutter's Mill and Murchison were formed from the same precursor materials in the solar nebula. Large e54Cr excess of up to 29.40e is observed in the silicate phase of Sutter's Mill, while that of Murchison shows 15.74e. Importantly, the leachate fractions of both Sutter's Mill and Murchison form a steep linear anticorrelation between e54Cr and e53Cr, cross-cutting the positive correlation previously observed in carbonaceous chondrites. The fact that L4 acid leachate fraction contains higher 54Cr excesses than that of L5 step designed to dissolve refractory minerals suggests that spinel is not a major 54Cr carrier. We also note that L5 contains 53Cr anomalies lower than the solar initial value, suggesting it carries a component of nucleosynthetic anomaly unrelated to the 53Mn decay. We have identified five endmember components of nucleosynthetic origin among the early solar system materials.
Design of micro-arrayed thin film thermocouples(TFTC)

We designed the thin film thermocouples (TFTC) made by T-type (Copper-Constantan) thermocouple arrays in order to measure temperature distribution at higher spatial resolutions. This sensor consists of a few different layers; silicon wafer, thin aluminum nitride (AlN) layer, and thin film thermocouple layers. The thickness of the thin aluminum nitride (AlN) layer is 100nm and the layer is located between silicon wafer and thin film thermocouples to construct an electrical insulator and thermal conductor. T-type (Copper-Constantan) thermocouples are deposited on the aluminum nitride (AlN) layer over the silicon wafer and the copper thickness and constantan thickness are 50nm, repectively. The sensor area is 10mm × 10mm, and has 10 × 10 junction arrays, and each junction has 100μm × 100μm surface area. According to the measured data, electrical resistivitives of thin films are almost 5 times greater than those of bulk materials. This is based on the comparison of thermal simulation and measured data of 1-D heat conduction in steady state. Seebeck coefficients between copper bulk material and constantan thin film are calculated and the weight factor is defined due to Seebeck coefficient mismatches of bulk materials and thin films. Thermal simulation of 2-dimensional heat conduction in steady state calculated by finite element analysis and compared with the measured data, resulting in a good agreement between simulations and measured data.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Effect of taste context and ambient context changes on successive negative contrast

Rats shifted from 32% sucrose to 4% sucrose lick less than rats that experience oniy the 4% solution. Previous experiments have found this negative contrast effect to be reduced (“disinhibited”) by the addition of a novel tone in the postshift period. In Experiment 1 of this paper, the negative contrast effect was enhanced when a novel flavor was added to the sucrose solution in the postshift period. In Experiments 2–4, changes in the ambient context, even changes sufficient to produce disruptions in licking, did not alter the degree of negative contrast. Tiese results suggest that (1) rats compare rewards across substantially different contexts, (2) contrast may serve to enhance taste neophobia, and (3) a disinhibitory effect may be confined to the presentation of punctate, nontaste, novel stimuli within a familiar context.
Silver nanoparticle aided self-healing of polyelectrolyte multilayers

Self-healing is the ability of a material to repair mechanical damage. The lifetime of a coating or film might be lengthened with this capacity. Water enabled self-healing of polyelectrolyte multilayers has been reported, using systems that grow via the interdiffusion of polyelectrolyte chains. Due to high mobility of the polyelectrolyte chains within the assembly, it is possible for lateral diffusion to heal over scratches. The influence of metal ions and nanoparticles on this property has, however, not been previously studied. Here we demonstrate that the incorporation of silver nanoparticles reduced in situ within the branched poly(ethyleneimine)–poly(acrylic acid) polyelectrolyte multilayer structure speeds the ability of the multilayer assembly to self-heal. This enhancement of property seems to not be due to changes in mechanical properties but rather in enhanced affinity to water and plasticization that enables the film to better swell.
Theory Guiding Communication Campaign Praxis: A Qualitative Elicitation Study Comparing Exercise Beliefs of Overweight and Healthy Weight College Students

College students are at great risk of obesity and overweight, and campaigns encouraging exercise may mitigate associated health risks. Although some factors influential in college student exercise behavior have been reported, important in communication targeting, few have studied differences between overweight and normal weight students. Body mass index influences exercise behavior; thus, cognitive factors may be different in these subpopulations, necessitating different messaging approaches. This study aims to address this gap through theory-based qualitative elicitation work. Results indicate that overweight and normal weight college students differ in their perceived facilitators to regular exercise. Implications for exercise messages are discussed.
The Frequency and Behavioral Outcomes of Goal Choices in the Self-management of Diabetes

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to determine the frequency and effectiveness of behavioral goal choices in the self-management of diabetes and to test goal-setting theory hypotheses that self-selection and behavioral specificity of goals are key to enhancing persistence.MethodsParticipants with type 2 diabetes in a randomized controlled trial (n = 422) completed baseline behavioral assessments using a clinic-based, interactive, self-management CD-ROM that allowed them to select a behavioral goal and receive mail and telephone support for the initial 6 months of the trial followed by additional behavioral assessments. Frequency of behavioral goal selection and 6-month behavioral data were collected.ResultsApproximately 49%, 27%, and 24% of the participants, respectively, set goals to increase physical activity (PA), reduce fat intake, or increase fruits and vegetables (F&V) consumed. At baseline, participants who selected PA, reduced fat consumption, or F&V were significantly, and respectively, less a...
From remote media immersion to Distributed Immersive Performance

We present the architecture, technology and experimental applications of a real-time, multi-site, interactive and collaborative environment called Distributed Immersive Performance (DIP). The objective of DIP is to develop the technology for live, interactive musical performances in which the participants - subsets of musicians, the conductor and the audience - are in different physical locations and are interconnected by very high fidelity multichannel audio and video links. DIP is a specific realization of broader immersive technology - the creation of the complete aural and visual ambience that places a person or a group of people in a virtual space where they can experience events occurring at a remote site or communicate naturally regardless of their location. The DIP experimental system has interaction sites and servers in different locations on the USC campus and at several partners, including the New World Symphony of Miami Beach, FL. The sites have different types of equipment to test the effects of video and audio fidelity on the ease of use and functionality for different applications. Many sites have high-definition (HD) video or digital video (DV) quality images projected onto wide screen wall displays completely integrated with an immersive audio reproduction system for a seamless, fully three-dimensional aural environment with the correct spatial sound localization for participants. The system is capable of storage and playback of the many streams of synchronized audio and video data (immersidata), and utilizes novel protocols for the low-latency, seamless, synchronized real-time delivery of immersidata over local area networks and wide-area networks such as Internet2. We discuss several recent interactive experiments using the system and many technical challenges common to the DIP scenario and a broader range of applications. These challenges include: (1). low latency continuous media (CM) stream transmission, synchronization and data loss management; (2). low latency, real-time video and multichannel immersive audio acquisition and rendering; (3). real-time continuous media stream recording, storage, playback; (4). human factors studies: psychophysical, perceptual, artistic, performance evaluation; (5). robust integration of all these technical areas into a seamless presentation to the participants.
Multiscale Simulations of the Healthy and Calcific Human Aortic Valve

In the heart’s aortic valve, maintenance of a healthy state and transition to disease states are modulated by the cells in the valve. The cells found within the valve leaflets are valvular interstitial cells (VICs) and those found on the fluid-facing surfaces are endothelial cells (ECs). Both types of cell are known to respond to their mechanical state; that is, the stresses and deformations imposed on a cell by its surrounding environment. Here we present a set of simulations to examine these mechanical states of the cells as the valve goes through its opening and closing cycle. We have created models at each of the cell, tissue, and organ length scales and introduced a system of reference configurations to link the scales. Each simulation and the set of multiscale simulation are verified against experimental data. This multiscale simulation approach allows us to accurately predict the dynamic, three-dimensional mechanical state of cells throughout the valve.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Stabilizing contact angle hysteresis of paraffin wax surfaces with nanoclay

The addition of montmorillonite clay modified with an alkylammonium salt surfactant (i.e., organoclay) to paraffin wax is found to reduce the decay in wetting properties associated with its heating in the melt. It was previously shown that holding wax in its molten form prior to characterization reduces crystallinity when the solid forms. This results in the development of microscale amorphous regions at wax surfaces, which appear to be more polar given the abundance of methylene linkages versus methyl groups. These regions are believed to impact the receding angles for more polar liquids almost exclusively. It is known that the introduction and exfoliation of a small amount of the organoclay greatly enhances the stiffness, strength, and toughness of paraffin wax. Here, it is shown that the organoclay also promotes the formation of coatings possessing fewer thermal cracks and helps maintain higher crystallinity levels. Fresh wax surfaces containing the clay are slightly rougher than those without, which produces a slight increase in hysteresis. However, the significant drops in receding angles found for paraffin wax samples cast from the melt subsequent to heating are absent.
Category-based pseudowords

A pseudoword is a composite comprised of two or more words chosen at random; the individual occurrences of the original words within a text are replaced by their conflation. Pseudowords are a useful mechanism for evaluating the impact of word sense ambiguity in many NLP applications. However, the standard method for constructing pseudowords has some drawbacks. Because the constituent words are chosen at random, the word contexts that surround pseudowords do not necessarily reflect the contexts that real ambiguous words occur in. This in turn leads to an optimistic upper bound on algorithm performance. To address these drawbacks, we propose the use of lexical categories to create more realistic pseudowords, and evaluate the results of different variations of this idea against the standard approach.
Impurity scattering time in aluminum

Using Gorkov's extension of the Ginzburg-Landau equations, we derive a formula for determining the impurity scattering time for a metal in the normal state in terms of the critical current density and transition temperature of the metal in the superconducting state. When we apply this formula to aluminum weak-link data, we find that the impurity scattering time varies by three orders of magnitude in going from clean to granular aluminum films. This corresponds quite well to impurity scattering times obtained directly from resistivity measurements of the films using the classical Drude-model formula.
Exposing the longevity business

From caloric restriction to red-grape skins, the anti-ageing industry goes beyond scientific results to market treatments to those who hope to cheat death, cautions S. Jay Olshansky.
Dynamic Processes in Silyl Palladium Complexes: Evidence for Intermediate Si−H and Si−Si σ-Complexes

The silyl palladium complexes (dcpe)PdH(SiHtBu2) and (dcpe)Pd(SiHMe2)2 display NMR spectra that vary with temperature. The dynamic NMR behavior is consistent with long-lived σ-complexes as intermed...
Diagnosing Delirium by Telephone

To determine whether delirium can be diagnosed by telephone, we interviewed 41 subjects aged 65 years or older 1 month after repair of hip fracture, first by telephone and then face-to-face. Interviews included the modified telephone Mini-Mental State Examination and the Delirium Symptom Interview. Delirium was diagnosed using the Confusion Assessment Method diagnostic algorithm, and the telephone results were compared with the face-to-face results (the “gold standard”). Of 41 subjects, 6 were delirious by face-to-face assessment; all 6 were delirious by telephone (sensitivity 1.00). Of 35 patients not delirious by face-to-face assessment, 33 patients were not delirious by telephone (specificity = 0.94). We conclude that telephone interviews can effectively rule out delirium, but the positive diagnosis should be confirmed by a face-to-face assessment, especially in populations with a low prevalence of delirium.
THE EFFECT OF ADRENALECTOMY ON THE ANTERIOR PITUITARIES OF FOWLS

Din size of the gonads and regression of the head furnishings according to the work of Herrick and Torstveit (I). The nature of the effect, however, permits little more than speculation as to whether the adrenals normally exert some influence on the gonads directly, or on some other part of the body that in turn influences the gonads and head furnishings. That the pituitary might play a part as an intermediary was an attractive possibility. This contingency is not wholly without support since in Addison's disease, characterised by dysfunction of the adrenal cortex, marked alterations of the basophils in the anterior pituitary have been described (2-8). Kraus states that basophils which were present after prolonged Addison's disease exhibited various aspects of degeneration—pycnotic nuclei, degranulation, shrunken and irregular form, and indistinct cell borders.
Buprenorphine: the basic pharmacology revisited.

Abstract:The historical background leading to the current use of buprenorphine as an analgesic and its role in the management of opioid dependence is summarized. The popular description of buprenorphine as a “partial agonist” is discussed in relation to efficacy in animal models of antinociception a
Partial barrier coverage: Using game theory to optimize probability of undetected intrusion in polygonal environments

In this paper, we formalize the problem of partial barrier coverage, that is, the problem of using robot sensors (guards) to minimize the probability of undetected intrusion in a particular region by an intruder. We use ideas from noncooperative game theory together with previous results from complete barrier coverage - the problem of completely preventing undetected intrusion - to develop new methods that solve this problem for the specific case of bounded-range line-of-sight sensors in a two-dimensional polygonally-bounded region. Our solution constructs equilibrium strategies for the intruder and guards, and calculates the level of partial coverage.
NADPH Oxidase–Derived Superoxide Augments Endothelin-1–Induced Venoconstriction in Mineralocorticoid Hypertension

Deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)–salt hypertension is characterized by low renin/angiotensin but increased arterial superoxide levels. We have recently reported that the arterial endothelin-1 (ET-1) level is increased, resulting in NADPH oxidase activation and superoxide generation. However, the effect of ET-1 on venous superoxide production and its relation to venoconstriction are unknown. The present study tested the hypotheses that ET-1 stimulates venous NADPH oxidase and superoxide via its ET A receptors, resulting in enhanced venoconstriction in DOCA-salt hypertensive rats. Treatment with ET-1 (0.01 to 1 nmol/L), but not the selective ET B receptor agonist sarafotoxin s6c, of vena cavas of normal rats concentration-dependently increased superoxide levels, an effect that was abolished by the selective ET A receptor antagonist ABT-627. Although the ET-1 level was not increased in the vena cava and plasma, both venous NADPH oxidase activity and superoxide levels were significantly higher in DOCA-salt compared with sham rats. Moreover, ET-1 treatment (10 −9 mol/L, 10 minutes) of isolated vena cavas further elevated superoxide levels in DOCA-salt rats only but not sham rats, an effect that was abrogated by the superoxide scavenger tempol. Similarly, ET-1–induced contractions of isolated vena cavas of DOCA-salt but not sham rats were significantly inhibited by tempol. The NADPH oxidase inhibitor apocynin significantly reduced superoxide levels in vena cavas of DOCA-salt rats and in ET-1–treated vena cavas of normal rats. Finally, in vivo ET A receptor blockade by ABT-627 significantly lowered venous superoxide levels and blood pressure in DOCA-salt but not sham rats. These results suggest that superoxide contributes to ET-1–induced venoconstriction through an elevated venous NADPH oxidase activity in mineralocorticoid hypertension.
XUtils Ver. 1: A Set of Gatan DigitalMicrograph Plug-ins for Characterization of XEDS-detector Performance Parameters in an AEM

Before performing practical X-ray analysis by X-ray energy dispersive spectrometry (XEDS) in an analytical electron microscope (AEM), it is essential to figure out fundamental detector performance parameters, such as energy resolution, peak-to-background ratio, detector collection angle, etc. Some detector parameters should be measured at least once when the system is installed or significantly upgraded. Other parameters also need to be measured time to time to monitor the system performance in a consistent manner. Fortunately, most of the XEDS characteristics can be measured using Egerton’s NiOx test specimen [1-3]. To carry these measurements out routinely and consistently, a set of plug-ins for Gatan DigitalMicrograph named XUtils was developed. In the XUtils plug-ins, two main plug-ins can be used for determination of detector performance parameters as briefly described below.
A silicon compiler for high-speed CMOS multirate FIR digital filters

A silicon compiler for high-speed multirate FIR (finite impulse response) digital filters is presented, with application to the design of a Hilbert transformer and sampling rate converter given as an example. The compiler automates the process of designing multirate spectral shaping filters and sampling rate converters without incurring area penalties with respect to hand-crafted designs. The compiler is designed for maximum flexibility, exploiting architectural symmetries such as those found in linear-phase filters, where possible, without limiting the scope of systems which may be designed. The resulting filters utilize canonic signed digit (CSD) multipliers, a transposed direct form structure, and carry-save addition for high speed. The GDTs (Generator Development Tools) from Mentor Graphics are used as the basis of the compiler. This system provides a technology-independent layout language in which various circuit concerns such as device sizing may be optimized for any given technology based on that technology's electrical characteristics. >