cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sternal nourishment in various conditions of vascularization.

Background Early changes in sternal perfusion were studied after midline sternotomy and different methods of mammary artery (MA) harvesting. Methods Our observations were made in the swine model after midline sternotomy. In group 1 (6 animals), after unilateral skeletonized MA harvesting, 99m Tc particles were injected intravenously. In group 2 (7 animals), after unilateral mammary artery and vein harvesting (semiskeletonized technique), 99m Tc particles were injected intravenously. In group 3 (5 animals), after skeletonized bilateral MA harvesting, 99m Tc particles were injected into the intercostal musculature lateral to the sternal border. In groups 1 to 3, sternal samples were analyzed using gamma counting. In group 4 (6 animals), unilateral skeletonized MA harvesting was performed. In group 5 (5 animals), the MA was harvested unilaterally using the semiskeletonized technique. In groups 4 and 5, sternal blood flow was assessed using thermography. Data were collected in all groups for 5 hours postoperatively. Results Both radioactive and thermographic flow measurements showed a statistically significant decrease in sternal blood flow on the side of harvested mammary vessels, regardless of harvesting technique. Radioactivity of the devascularized hemisterni on the side of intramuscular particle injection was substantially higher than in the contralateral half, confirming the role of diffusion in sternal nourishment. The distal sternal segments were least perfused by the MA. Conclusions There is an acute reduction of sternal perfusion during the early postoperative period, even if collaterals are preserved by skeletonized MA harvesting. Diffusion plays an important role in sternal nourishment, particularly of the xiphoid, and even more so after MA harvesting.
Nest localization and recognition in a solitary bee, Lasioglossum (Dialictus) figueresi Wcislo (Hymenoptera : Halictidae), in relation to sociality

Sweat bees [Lasioglossum (Dialictus) figueresi] returning to their nests were not disturbed if small-scale landmarks were added near nests before bees made orientation flights. Landmarks added after orientation flights delayed bees in locating nests when they returned. Spatially displacing landmarks had no effects on bees returning to their nests. Nest entrances usually had conspicuous turrets, but these were not required for nest recognition. Turrets provided some cues concerning nest identity since searching bees preferentially contacted their own turrets over alien ones. Swabbing the inner lining of a nest tunnel with hexane significantly delayed the bee's entry into the nest, but distilled water or an equal amount of hexane applied to the outside of the nest had no effect. The delay induced by a hexane wash was reduced significantly by placing the bee's unwashed turret on the nest entrance. Adding whole-body hexane extracts from probably unrelated females to nest entrances significantly delayed bees' entering nests. A review of mechanisms for nest recognition within Apoidea shows that to date olfactory mechanisms are more prevalent among bees (Apiformes) than wasps (Spheciformes). This pattern may be an artifact of the little information available on wasps. If substantiated, then known cases of olfactory nest recognition generally co-occur with a tendency toward social evolution within Apoidea, supporting a hypothesis proposed by Holldobler & Michener (1980).
The Effect of Applied Stress of the Decomposition Cu-15Ni-8Sn Spinodal Alloy

The effect of stress on spinodal decomposition in Cu-15Ni-8Sn alloy was investigated at various temperatures and stresses. As the aging temperature approached the coherent spinodal temperature about 500°C, the anisotropy among the three equivalent modulations of the stress aged specimens became pronounced. The wavelength of the [001] modulation along the tensile stress axis was smaller than that of the [100] or [010] modulation perpendicular to the stress axis. TEM diffraction patterns also showed the anisotropy effect of the applied stress to the composition modulation. A theoretical model based on micromechanics concepts was employed to explain the experimental results.
Characterization of a scanning densitometer for high-performance thin-layer chromatography

Abstract Optimum conditions to maximize the observed resolution and signal-to-noise ratio of the Shimadzu CS-910 scanning densitometer for high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) are described. Resolution is shown to depend only on the slit width and is constant for slit widths in the range 0.05–0.80 mm. Signal-to-noise ratios depend on the size of the sampling beam which is fixed by the dimensions of the slit. At small slit dimensions the noise component dominates the signal-to-noise ratio. For scanning HPTLC plates dual-beam single-wavelength operation, linear scanning, scan speeds of 24 or 48 mm min −1 , slit widths of 0.5–0.8 mm and slit height ≈ 3.0 mm are recommended for general use.
Role of the Mixed-Lineage Protein Kinase Pathway in the Metabolic Stress Response to Obesity

Saturated free fatty acid (FFA) is implicated in the metabolic response to obesity. In vitro studies indicate that FFA signaling may be mediated by the mixed-lineage protein kinase (MLK) pathway that activates cJun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK). Here, we examined the role of the MLK pathway in vivo using a mouse model of diet-induced obesity. The ubiquitously expressed MLK2 and MLK3 protein kinases have partially redundant functions. We therefore compared wild-type and compound mutant mice that lack expression of MLK2 and MLK3. MLK deficiency protected mice against high-fat-diet-induced insulin resistance and obesity. Reduced JNK activation and increased energy expenditure contribute to the metabolic effects of MLK deficiency. These data confirm that the MLK pathway plays a critical role in the metabolic response to obesity.
Understanding Virtual Epidemics: Children's Folk Conceptions of a Computer Virus

Our work investigates the annual outbreak of Whypox, a virtual epidemic in Whyville.net, a virtual world with over 1.2 million registered players ages 8–16. We examined online and classroom participants’ understanding of a computer virus using surveys and design activities. Our analyses reveal that students have a mostly naive understanding of a computer virus influenced by mythological or anthropomorphic perspectives; only few were able to describe computational elements. The 35 students who participated in a curricular intervention in addition to the virtual epidemic shared these naive conceptions initially, but developed more sophisticated views after the intervention. The discussion addresses possible explanations for students’ conceptions and implications for future instructional designs.
Mandibular asymmetry and breastfeeding problems: experience from 11 cases

The authors review the experiences of 11 mother-infant pairs who had breastfeeding problems related to the infants' mandibular asymmetry. Lower jaw asymmetry is an early identifiable sign of torticollis, and a possible contributor to latch difficulties, nipple pain, and poor milk transfer. Pediatricians and lactation consultants should look for signs of lower jaw asymmetry combined with a preference for turning the head to one side in newborns who present with breastfeeding difficulties. By recognizing these anatomic irregularities early in the course of breastfeeding, pediatric health care providers will be able to treat breastfeeding problems promptly and proactively. They will be able to avoid unnecessary hospital admissions for dehydration symptoms or a septic workup and will intervene quickly with the recommendation of breast pumping and complementary feeding if milk transfer is not occurring.
Tangible augmented interfaces for structural molecular biology

With the prevalence of structural and genomic data, molecular biology has become a human-guided, computer-assisted endeavor. The computer assists the essential human function in two ways: For exploring scientific data, it searches for and tests scientific hypotheses. For collaborating between two or more scientists, it shares knowledge and expertise. As databases grow, as structure and process models become more complex, and as software methods become more diverse, access and manipulation of digital information is increasingly a critical issue for research and collaboration in molecular biology. We have developed an augmented reality (AR) system that lets virtual 3D representations of molecular structures and properties be overlaid on autofabricated models of the molecules. While using our tangible interaction environment, users can intuitively manipulate molecular models and interactions, easily change the representation shown, and access information about molecular properties.
Microchip technology in ion-channel research

The electrical activity of living cells can be monitored in various ways, but for the study of ion channels and the drugs that affect them, the patch-clamp techniques are the most sensitive. Recent developments in microfabricated patch-clamp electrodes are reviewed, and technical challenges for the future are discussed.
Introduction to "To the Question of Energy Use of Detonation Combustion" By Ya. B. Zel'dovich

Ya. B. Zel’dovich (1914–1987) made numerous contributions [1] to the theory of detonation, beginning with his very well known and widely translated article [2] on detonation structure that first introduced the standard Zel’dovich-von Neumann-Doring (ZND) model of shock-induced combustion. Even at that early stage of detonation research, Zel’dovich was also considering the application of detonations to propulsion and power engineering. He published these ideas in another paper [3] that has been virtually unknown in the West and has apparently remained untranslated until now. We are indebted to Sergey Frolov of the N.N. Semenov Institute of Chemical Physics for first bringing this article to our attention. We believe that the focus of this paper, which is the application of detonation waves to power generation and propulsion, is very relevant to the current activity on pulse detonation engines. In particular, Zel’dovich was apparently the first researcher to consider the questions of the relative efficiency of various combustion modes, the role of entropy production in jet propulsion, and the distinction between unsteady and steady modes of detonation in power engineering and propulsion applications. Even 60 years later, we believe that his results are relevant and can be of value in modern discussions on thermodynamic cycle analysis of detonation waves for propulsion [4]. For these reasons, we have arranged for the paper to be translated and suggested that it be published by the Journal of Propulsion and Power.
A nonlinear adaptive observer approach for state of charge estimation of lithium-ion batteries

A state of charge estimation method for lithium-ion batteries is presented. First, the problem is formulated, and existing literature is reviewed. Then an equivalent circuit is used to model the battery, and an indirect nonlinear adaptive observer approach is developed to estimate the state of charge. Parameter identification and state estimation scheme are discussed. Simulation result based on real-world battery test data is shown to support the validity of the proposed method. Issues related to production code implementation are also addressed.
Chemical-kinetic modeling of ignition delay: Considerations in interpreting shock tube data

High-pressure shock tube ignition delays have been and continue to be one of the key sources of data that are important to characterizing the combustion properties of real fuels. At pressures and temperatures of importance to practical applications, concerns have recently been raised as to the large differences observed between experimental data and chemical-kinetic predictions using the common assumption that the shock tube behaves as a constant volume (V) system with constant internal energy (U). Here, a concise review is presented of phenomena that can considerably affect shock tube data at the extended test times (several milliseconds or longer) needed for the measurement of fuel/air ignition at practical conditions (i.e., high pressures and relatively low temperatures). These effects include fluid dynamic nonidealities as well as deflagrative processes typical of mild ignition events. Proposed modeling approaches that attempt to take into account these effects, by employing isentropic assumptions and pressure- and temperature-varying systems, are evaluated and shown to significantly improve modeling results. Finally, it is argued that at the conditions of interest ignition delay data do not represent pure chemical-kinetic observations but are affected by phenomena that are in some measure facility specific. This hampers direct cross comparison of the experimental ignition data collected in different venues. In such cases, pressure/temperature histories should be provided in order to properly interpret shock tube ignition data. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 42: 143–150, 2010
The Toeplitz matrix: Its occurrence in antenna problems and a rapid inversion algorithm

A special form of the Toeplitz matrix which frequently occurs in the numerical solution of antenna analysis and synthesis problems is discussed. Specific examples are presented illustrating its occurrence in the solution of the integral equation for a thin cylindrical antenna and in the theory of arrays. A matrix inversion algorithm is presented which, by exploiting the unique symmetry properties of the Toeplitz matrix, specifies the inverse matrix elements in terms of recurrence relationships. In this way computational time is proportional to the square of the matrix order rather than the cube as is the case with a general algorithm.
The Danger of Do Nothing Leaders

The article discusses the problems associated with business leaderships that either micromanage or lack motivation. Particular attention is given to a study conducted by researchers at the University of Bergen on bosses who rule in a laissez-faire manner. The author defines laissez-faire leaders as those who avoid their assigned managerial duties, including failing to initiate any structure for the employees, making no effort to show any consideration for their workers' well being, and making no effort to maintain motivation and morale.
Formal methods: a practical tool for OS implementors

The formal methods community has long known about the need to formally analyze concurrent software, but the operating systems (OS) community has been slow to adopt such methods. The foremost reasons for this are the cultural and knowledge gaps between formalists and OS hackers, fostered by three beliefs: inaccessibility of the tools, the disabling gap between the validated model and actual implementation, and the intractable size of OSs. In this paper, we show these beliefs to be untrue for appropriately structured OSs. We applied formal methods to verify properties of the implementation of the Fluke microkernel's IPC (interprocess communication) subsystem, a major component of the kernel. In particular, we have verified, in many scenarios, certain liveness properties and lack of deadlock, with results that apply to both SMP (scalable multiprocessor) and uniprocessor environments. The SPIN model checker provided an exhaustive concurrency analysis of the IPC subsystem, unattainable through traditional OS testing methods. SPIN is easily accessible to programmers inexperienced with formal methods. We present our results as a starting point for a more comprehensive inclusion of formal methods in practical OS development.
Extracellular DNA is required for root tip resistance to fungal infection.

Plant defense involves a complex array of biochemical interactions, many of which occur in the extracellular environment. The apical 1- to 2-mm root tip housing apical and root cap meristems is resistant to infection by most pathogens, so growth and gravity sensing often proceed normally even when other sites on the root are invaded. The mechanism of this resistance is unknown but appears to involve a mucilaginous matrix or “slime” composed of proteins, polysaccharides, and detached living cells called “border cells.” Here, we report that extracellular DNA (exDNA) is a component of root cap slime and that exDNA degradation during inoculation by a fungal pathogen results in loss of root tip resistance to infection. Most root tips (>95%) escape infection even when immersed in inoculum from the root-rotting pathogen Nectria haematococca. By contrast, 100% of inoculated root tips treated with DNase I developed necrosis. Treatment with BAL31, an exonuclease that digests DNA more slowly than DNase I, also resulted in increased root tip infection, but the onset of infection was delayed. Control root tips or fungal spores treated with nuclease alone exhibited normal morphology and growth. Pea (Pisum sativum) root tips incubated with [32P]dCTP during a 1-h period when no cell death occurs yielded root cap slime containing 32P-labeled exDNA. Our results suggest that exDNA is a previously unrecognized component of plant defense, an observation that is in accordance with the recent discovery that exDNA from white blood cells plays a key role in the vertebrate immune response against microbial pathogens.
Reduced Labial Temperature in Response to Sexual Films with Distractors among Women with Lower Sexual Desire

ABSTRACT Introduction Sexual desire variation traditionally has been treated as due to variance in affective response to sexual stimulation, but differences in attention to the stimuli may better account for differences in sexual desire. Aim Determine whether sexual desire varies due to attention biases towards sexual stimuli. Main outcome measures Sexual arousal was quantified by physiological (labia minus temperature) and experienced (continuously adjusting a potentiometer) indicators. Methods Twenty-two women who varied in their level of sexual desire attended one laboratory session during which they viewed a neutral nature film, a sexual film, and a sexual film with distractors while their labial temperature and self-reported sexual arousal were recorded. Results Participants reported and displayed lower sexual arousal during the sexual stimulus with distractors as compared to the sexual film without distractors. While all women reported lower sexual arousal to the sexual film with distractors, women with relatively lower sexual desire also reported lower sexual arousal to the sexual film with no distractors than women with higher sexual desire. Physiologically, women with lower sexual desire exhibited lower labial temperature. Conclusions Since the predicted lower self-reported and physiological sexual arousal to the sexual stimulus with distractors for the women with lower sexual desire did not emerge, this study does not support that sexual desire levels vary due to differential attention to sexual stimuli. Prause N, and Heiman J. Reduced labial temperature in response to sexual films with distractors among women with lower sexual desire.
Entrance Configuration Effects on Tube Flow in the Transition Regime

CD = k = L = L/D = m = PI = Pz = R — Nomenclature discharge coefficient tube diameter ratio of specific heats total tube length tube length-to-diameter mass flow rate pressure upstream of the tube entrance pressure downstream of the tube entrance gas constant Reynolds number based on tube diameter TI = upstream temperature Hi = upstream coefficient of viscosity
Comparative Analysis of Brain Lipids in Mice, Cats, and Humans with Sandhoff Disease

Sandhoff disease (SD) is a glycosphingolipid (GSL) storage disease that arises from an autosomal recessive mutation in the gene for the β-subunit of β-Hexosaminidase A (Hexb gene), which catabolizes ganglioside GM2 within lysosomes. Accumulation of GM2 and asialo-GM2 (GA2) occurs primarily in the CNS, leading to neurodegeneration and brain dysfunction. We analyzed the total lipids in the brains of SD mice, cats, and humans. GM2 and GA2 were mostly undetectable in the normal mouse, cat, and human brain. The lipid abnormalities in the SD cat brain were generally intermediate to those observed in the SD mouse and the SD human brains. GM2 comprised 38, 67, and 87% of the total brain ganglioside distribution in the SD mice, cats, and humans, respectively. The ratio of GA2–GM2 was 0.93, 0.13, and 0.27 in the SD mice, cats, and humans, respectively, suggesting that the relative storage of GA2 is greater in the SD mouse than in the SD cat or human. Finally, the myelin-enriched lipids, cerebrosides and sulfatides, were significantly lower in the SD brains than in the control brains. This study is the first comparative analysis of brain lipids in mice, cats, and humans with SD and will be important for designing therapies for Sandhoff disease patients.
Numerical analysis of using a fluidized bed as a prototypic mass production device for IFE target layering

A fluidized bed has been identified as a very promising method for mass production of Inertial Fusion Energy (IFE) targets. While large beds could be filled with many targets to provide large-scale production, a proof of principle can be achieved by small scale laboratory experiments. The nearisothermal environment required for smooth layering to meet the specifications for the ice layer can be maintained, in principle, around each target through the random movement and spin of individual targets in a precisely controlled gas stream. Pre-experimental numerical studies have been performed to define the window of parameters, in which the layering process can be expected to work optimally. These numerical analyses address several topics, including the effect of unbalanced spheres on the bed behavior and ultimately on the target thermal environment, as well as effects of target collisions. The influence of the thermal environment around an individual target on the layer formation needs to be assessed and used as input for the fluidized bed model, as it affects the unbalance of the individual spheres.
Invited Editorial on “Red cell distribution and the recruitment of pulmonary diffusing capacity”

the mammalian lung is an amazing creation in which a blood flow (in l/min) is conducted from vessels (in cm diameter at first) through ever smaller and more numerous branches until they are ∼7 μm in diameter, spreading a gossamer network enclosing air sacs 100 μm across, ventilated by airways
Data Stream Processing Infrastructure for Intelligent Transport Systems

Intelligence Transportation Systems are critical to improve the efficiency of modern transportation. A system that is flexible and powerful enough to handle diverse demands from a large user base, is still elusive. Studies have shown that developing and integrating the various components constitute a significant portion of the capital cost and complexity of such systems. In this paper, we present a stream processing infrastructure we call System S. System S enables the deployment of large scale applications. It supports a mechanism for sharing data sources, software components, and even intermediate results allowing a reduction in the cost of software integration, and ownership. We experiment the stream processing infrastructure with a Fleet Management Center, and demonstrate how the infrastructure can be used to address unique issues in traffic management.
Combined CDKN1A/TP53 Mutation in Bladder Cancer Is a Therapeutic Target

Invasive bladder cancer has high morbidity and nearly uniform mortality when metastatic, with no therapeutic improvement in many years. Although chemotherapy combined with Chk1 inhibition has been investigated in several cancer types in which TP53 mutation is seen, this combination treatment approach has not been studied in bladder cancer. Recently, cancer genome sequencing efforts have identified CDKN1A (p21) mutations at 14% frequency in invasive bladder cancer, co-occurring half the time with TP53 mutations. We hypothesized that combined CDKN1A-TP53 loss would make bladder cancer sensitive to combined treatment with gemcitabine and Chk1 inhibitor. Here, we show that TP53-CDKN1A double-mutant bladder cancer cell lines, 647V and RT-112, have a remarkable increase in p-Chk1 levels and G2-M arrest in response to gemcitabine treatment, with a heightened sensitivity to combination treatment with gemcitabine and either Chk1 inhibitor PF477736 or AZD7762, in comparison with other bladder cancer cell lines (either TP53 or p21 deficient). In addition, CDKN1A restoration in p21-deficient bladder cancer cells significantly reduced their sensitivity to combined treatment by protecting them from DNA damage and apoptosis. Furthermore, xenograft studies using RT-112 showed a significant synergistic effect of combined gemcitabine-PF477736 treatment on tumor growth. Our findings suggest that TP53/CDKN1A double-mutant bladder cancer cells have a unique dependence on Chk1 activity for the G2-M cell-cycle checkpoint in response to chemotherapy-induced DNA damage. This combination or others involving genotoxic agents and Chk kinase inhibitors is a promising therapeutic approach for bladder cancer with these mutations.
A Novel Plant in Vitro Assay System for Pre-mRNA Cleavage during 3′-End Formation

Messenger RNA (mRNA) maturation in eukaryotic cells requires the formation of the 3' end, which includes two tightly coupled steps: the committing cleavage reaction that requires both correct cis-element signals and cleavage complex formation, and the polyadenylation step that adds a polyadenosine [poly(A)] tract to the newly generated 3' end. An in vitro biochemical assay plays a critical role in studying this process. The lack of such an assay system in plants hampered the study of plant mRNA 3'-end formation for the last two decades. To address this, we have now established and characterized a plant in vitro cleavage assay system, in which nuclear protein extracts from Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) suspension cell cultures can accurately cleave different pre-mRNAs at expected in vivo authenticated poly(A) sites. The specific activity is dependent on appropriate cis-elements on the substrate RNA. When complemented by yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) poly(A) polymerase, about 150-nucleotide poly(A) tracts were added specifically to the newly cleaved 3' ends in a cooperative manner. The reconstituted polyadenylation reaction is indicative that authentic cleavage products were generated. Our results not only provide a novel plant pre-mRNA cleavage assay system, but also suggest a cross-kingdom functional complementation of yeast poly(A) polymerase in a plant system.
Diffusive destabilisation of the baroclinic circular vortex

Abstract It is shown that, even for vanishingly small diffusivities of momentum and heat, a rotating stratified zonal shear flow is more unstable to zonally symmetric disturbances than would be indicated by the classical inviscid adiabatic criterion, unless σ, the Prandtl number, = 1. Both monotonic instability, and growing oscillations ("overstability") are involved, the former determining the stability criterion and having the higher growth rates. The more σ differs from 1, the larger the region in parameter space for which the flow is stable by the classical criterion, but actually unstable. If the baroclinity is sufficiently great for the classical criterion also to indicate instability, the corresponding inviscid adiabatic modes usually have the numerically highest growth rates. An exception is the case of small isotherm slope and small σ. A single normal mode of the linearized theory is also, formally, a finite amplitude solution; however, no theoretical attempt is made to assess the effect of finit...
Racial Boundaries among Latinos: Evidence from Internet Daters'Racial Preferences

How the growing Latino population fits into the U.S. racial structure is a subject of considerable debate.Are Latinos developing into a separate racial group, becoming part of the dominant group, or creating a panminority group with nonwhites? Extending beyond existing research that uses intermarriage or survey data to assess racial boundaries, this study examines Latinos' stated racial preferences for dates among a sample of over 4,000 Internet daters in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and Atlanta. We find that few Latinos prefer to only date other Latinos. Latinos are much more likely to prefer to date whites than blacks, and are much more likely than blacks to prefer whites, suggesting that the Latino-white boundary is less rigid than Latino-black or blackwhite boundaries. However, Latinos are also much more likely to prefer blacks than whites are. Further analyses highlight differences in racial preferences among Latinos by metropolitan area, educational level, language, and religion. Greater proximity to blacks in New York and Atlanta promotes greater acceptance. In these locales, we see some indications of a panminority group of blacks and a small set of Latinos developing. While the majority of Latinos accept racial hierarchies that privilege whites, providing evidence that many are assimilating into the dominant group, assimilation patterns vary for different segments of the diverse Latino population.
Unscented Transform with Online Distortion Estimation for HMM Adaptation

In this paper, we propose to improve our previously developed method for joint compensation of additive and convolutive distortions (JAC) applied to model adaptation. The improvement entails replacing the vector Taylor series (VTS) approximation with unscented transform (UT) in formulating both the static and dynamic model parameter adaptation. Our new JAC-UT method differentiates itself from other UT-based approaches in that it combines the online noise and channel distortion estimation and model parameter adaptation in a unified UT framework. Experimental results on the standard Aurora 2 task show that the new algorithm enjoys 20.0% and 16.9% relative word error rate reductions over the previous JAC-VTS algorithm when using the simple and complex backend models, respectively. Index Terms: unscented transform, vector Taylor series, additive and convolutive distortions, robust ASR, adaptation
Interactions between brain acetylcholine and prostaglandins in control of vasopressin release

We have examined in conscious rats the interaction between centrally acting prostanoids and acetylcholine in the stimulation of vasopressin secretion. The intracerebroventricular (icv) administration of carbachol (25 ng) resulted in marked transient increases in the plasma vasopressin concentration and mean arterial blood pressure and a transient reduction in heart rate. Central cyclooxygenase blockade by pretreatment icv with either meclofenamate (100 micrograms) or indomethacin (100 micrograms) virtually completely blocked these responses. Prostaglandin (PG) D2 (20 micrograms icv) caused transient increases in the plasma vasopressin concentration (much smaller than after carbachol) and heart rate, whereas mean arterial blood pressure rose gradually during the 15-min course of the experiment. Pretreatment with the muscarinic antagonist atropine (10 micrograms icv) decreased the peak vasopressin response to icv PGD2 by approximately one-third but had no effect on the cardiovascular responses. We conclude that the stimulation of vasopressin release by centrally acting acetylcholine is dependent on increased prostanoid biosynthesis. On the other hand, stimulation of vasopressin release by icv PGD2 is partially dependent on activation of a cholinergic pathway.
A Frank Analysis of a Troubling Legacy: Review of Armand Mauss, All Abraham's Children: Changing Mormon Conceptions of Race and Lineage

Armand Mauss, professor emeritus of sociology and religious studies at Washington State University, has produced the authoritative and definitive study of the evolution of Mormon conceptions of race and lineage. As a practicing Latter-day Saint, former editor of Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, and former president of the Mormon History Association, Mauss brings together the intimacy of an insider, the empirical rigor of a social scientist, and a historian's attentiveness to change in an admirable weaving of three intertwined story lines: "the power of religious ideas and human behavior on each other," the role of "religious ideas in the creation of racial prejudice and invidious ethnic distinctions,"and the "construction and reconstruction of various people's identities." While this book is an exceptional evaluation of Mormon constructions of race and lineage, it does not fully examine the influence of LDS scriptures on racialism and prejudice in LDS thought. Mauss appears to have left a fuller exploration of the constructions of race and lineage in Joseph Smith’s cultural environment and his scriptural productions to other scholars. Given the necessity of focusing his narrative and the costs that such endeavors may entail for a practicing member of the LDS Church, this omission is understandable, even if regrettable. All Abraham’s Children is not only a book for scholars; it needs to read widely by church members and leaders alike. Mauss does a very impressive job of synthesizing four decades of research and making it accessible to lay persons as well as specialists. The book is an excellent testament to the compassion, integrity, balance, and enduring legacy of one of Mormonism’s best social scientists.
Curing the Mischiefs of Faction in the American Administrative State

The worries American citizens express about the distorting influence of minority factions, or special interests, on public governance are as old as the republic. I briefly recount the constitutiona...
The Allocation of Feedforward and Feedback Control in Air Traffic Management

This paper presents the framework for an information processing model of distributed decision making. It illustrates the utility of the model with an analysis of the allocation of decision making responsibilities at the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) air route traffic control centers (ATC center). These centers are FAA facilities that provide the service of managing en-route air traffic and keeping aircraft separated. The model characterizes decision making in an ATC center as a process control task in which traffic management coordinators have the primary responsibility for feedforward control and sector controllers have the primary responsibility for feedback control. The construct of feedforward control is illustrated by analyses of the role known as the 'flow position.' The construct of feedback control is illustrated by analyses of the task of sector control. The paper argues that the model presented here is an appropriate and useful framework for understanding distributed decision making an...
Frequency-dependent second harmonic generation in acentric chromophoric self-assembled NLO materials

An attractive and challenging approach to the construction of robust, thin film materials with large second-order optical nonlinearities is the covalent self-assembly of aligned arrays of high-s molecular chromophores into multilayer superlattices. In this paper, we describe the dispersion of second harmonic generation (SHG) in a self-assembled (SA) monolayer containing a stilbazolium chromophore. The frequency-dependent measurements were performed on 25 A thick monolayers on glass using a tunable (0.4–2 µm) light source based on optical parametric amplification (OPA). The SHG spectrum contains a clear two-photon resonance at ħω = 1.3eV. The maximum in the second-order susceptibility coincides with a low energy chromophore-centered charge-transfer excitation at 480 nm. The experimental SHG dispersion values compare favorably with theoretical results computed using a sum-over-states (SOS) formalism. However, the measured values exhibit a somewhat broader band response than the theoretical curve, and the origin of this behavior is discussed.
Titanium Elastic Nailing for Pediatric Tibia Fractures: Do Older, Heavier Kids Do Worse?

BACKGROUND Elastic nailing is a common method of fixation for tibial shaft fractures in skeletally immature individuals. Poor outcomes of titanium elastic nails for femoral shaft fractures have been associated with increasing patient age and weight, especially patients weighing >50 kg. Our objective is to determine if there is an upper weight or age limit to the safe and effective use of titanium elastic nails for tibial shaft fractures in the pediatric population. METHODS This is a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent stabilization of a tibial shaft fracture with titanium elastic nails at a large tertiary-care pediatric trauma center. Data collected included patient demographics, injury characteristics, and radiographic data. Weight groups were stratified as ≥ or <50 kg, and age groups as 14 years or older or less than 14 years old. Malunion was defined as 10 degrees of angulation in either the sagittal or coronal plane. Union was defined as bridging of ≥3 cortices on orthogonal radiographs. A significant difference in time to union was considered to be 3 weeks. RESULTS Ninety-five patients were included with a mean age of 12.1 years (range, 6 to 16 y) and a mean weight of 50.2 kg (range, 21 to 122 kg). Malunion rate was similar between weight cohorts: 13.3% (6/45) in the ≥50-kg group and 10% (5/50) in the <50-kg group (P=0.61). Malunion rate was similarly comparable between age groups: 17.6% (6/34) in the 14 years and older group and 8.2% (5/61) in the less than 14-year-old group (P=0.17). There was no statistically significant difference in time to union between weight or age cohorts. In sum, we did not find a significant difference in the rate of malunion or time to healing between younger and older patients or between lighter and heavier patients. CONCLUSION The use of titanium elastic nails for tibial shaft fractures, unlike for other long bone fractures, seems not to be precluded in older and heavier patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level III.
Sleep-dependent memory consolidation in the epilepsy monitoring unit: A pilot study.

Abstract Objective We sought to examine whether patients with focal epilepsy exhibit sleep dependent memory consolidation, whether memory retention rates correlated with particular aspects of sleep physiology, and how the process was affected by seizures. Methods We prospectively recruited patients with focal epilepsy and assessed declarative memory using a task consisting of 15 pairs of colored pictures on a 5×6 grid. Patients were tested 12h after training, once after 12h of wakefulness and once after 12h that included sleep. EMG chin electrodes were placed to enable sleep scoring. The number and density of sleep spindles were assessed using a wavelet-based algorithm. Results Eleven patients were analyzed age 21–56years. The percentage memory retention over 12h of wakefulness was 62.7% and over 12h which included sleep 83.6% ( p =0.04). Performance on overnight testing correlated with the duration of slow wave sleep (SWS) ( r =+0.63, p Conclusions There is evidence of sleep dependent memory consolidation in patients with epilepsy which mostly correlates with the amount of SWS. Our preliminary findings suggest that nocturnal seizures likely disrupt sleep dependent memory consolidation. Significance Findings highlight the importance of SWS in sleep dependent memory consolidation and the adverse impact of nocturnal seizures on this process.
A Cinema of Violence: The Films of D. Ross Lederman

Although he worked for two major studios for the bulk of his career, Warner Brothers and Columbia, D. (David) Ross Lederman specialized in genre films and created his films swiftly, compactly, and with authority. His films stand out because they all display Ledermans uniquely dystopian view of life, combined with a relentless, inexorable narrative drive. In his best films, Lederman not only bent the rules of genre cinema, he all but abolished them. The sheer intensity of Ledermans imagistic and editorial pacing, coupled with his encyclopedic knowledge of genre filmmaking, allowed him to transcend the conventions of the typical program film, no matter what the genre, and make it a personal project.
UV-REACTIVATION OF HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS IS MUTAGENIC AND INDUCIBLE IN MAMMALIAN CELLS

ABSTRACT We have studied the processes of UV-reactivation and mutagenesis in mammalian cells with HSV-1 as the experimental probe. The survival of plaque-forming ability was measured along with the frequency of forward mutation to the TK − (thymidine kinase deficient) viral phenotype. These studies suggest that that UVR and mutagenesis are in some way inducible, and may be tightly coupled phenomena.
The impact of the new National Bone Health Alliance (NBHA) diagnostic criteria on the prevalence of osteoporosis in the USA.

We evaluated the prevalence of osteoporosis using the osteoporosis diagnostic criteria developed by the National Bone Health Alliance (NBHA), which includes qualified fractures, FRAX score in addition to bone mineral density (BMD). The expanded definition increases the prevalence compared to BMD alone definitions; however, it may better identify those at elevated fracture risk. The purpose of this paper is to estimate the prevalence of osteoporosis in US adults ≥50 years using the NBHA osteoporosis diagnostic criteria. Utilizing 2005–2008 data of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), we identified participants with osteoporosis with any one of the following: (1) femoral neck or lumbar spine T-score ≤ −2.5; (2) low trauma hip fracture irrespective of BMD or clinical vertebral, proximal humerus, pelvis, or distal forearm fracture with a T-score >−2.5 <−1.0; or (3) FRAX score at the National Osteoporosis Foundation intervention thresholds (≥3% for hip fracture or ≥20% for major osteoporotic fracture). We estimated the prevalence overall and by gender and age. Our sample included 1948 (54.3%) men and 1639 (45.7%) women. Approximately 12% were 80+ years and 21% were from racial/ethnic minority groups. We estimated that 16.0% (0.8) of men and 29.9% (1.0) of women 50+ years have osteoporosis. The prevalence increases with age to 46.3% in men and 77.1% in women 80+ years. The combination of FRAX score and fractures was the largest contributing factor defining osteoporosis in men (70–79, 88.1%; 80+, 80.1%), whereas T-score was the largest contributing factor in women (70–79, 49.2%; 80+, 43.5%). We found that 16% of men and 29.9% of women 50+ have osteoporosis based on the NBHA diagnostic criteria. Although the expanded definition increases the prevalence compared to BMD alone-based definitions, it may better identify those at elevated fracture risk in order to reduce the burden of fractures in older adults.
Electron butterfly distributions at particular magnetic latitudes observed during Juno's perijove pass

We report observations of energetic electron butterfly distributions measured in a narrow range of Jupiter's magnetic latitudes by Juno during perijove 1. The electron butterfly distributions are characterized as clear electron flux peaks at 30–80° pitch angles, compared with the 90°-peaked pitch angle distributions of the trapped electrons. Jupiter Energetic Particle Detector Instrument measurements during the close approach to Jupiter indicate a specific electron population with butterfly distributions formed between the main auroral oval and the radiation belt. The off-90° flux peak is most clearly observed at tens of keV energies and gradually merges toward 90° pitch angle at higher energies. By projecting the observed electron pitch angle distributions along the magnetic field line, we found that the electron butterfly distributions are observed close to their source region. The particular electron distribution is possibly formed by parallel acceleration of electrons through Landau resonance with electrostatic waves.
"Without bodily autonomy we are not free": exploring women's concerns about future access to contraception following the 2016 US presidential election.

Abstract Objective Following the 2016 US presidential election, social media posts and news stories amplified concerns about the potential for reduced access to contraception under the incoming administration and urged women to seek long-acting reversible contraception. We aimed to describe women's concerns about future access to contraception, in their own words. Study design A social-media-based, anonymous online survey assessing thoughts and concerns about future access to contraception was distributed to reproductive-aged US women for 1 week in mid-January 2017. Participants who were concerned about future access to contraception could share their thoughts and feelings in an open-ended comments box. We qualitatively analyzed 449 written responses for content and themes, with the goal of characterizing key concerns. Results Women who provided written comments had a mean age of 28 years; 85% were white, 88% had at least a college degree, and 93% identified as Democratic or Democratic-leaning. Women were highly concerned about future affordability of contraceptive methods due to potential loss of insurance, reduced insurance coverage for contraceptive methods and reduced access to low-cost care at Planned Parenthood. Many also worried about increased restrictions on abortion. Participants' concerns regarding access to contraception and abortion centered around themes of reproductive and bodily autonomy, which women described as fundamental rights. Conclusions Women in this study expressed considerable fear and uncertainty regarding their future access to contraception and abortion following the 2016 US presidential election. The potential for restricted access to affordable contraception and abortion was viewed as an unacceptable limitation on bodily autonomy. Implications As the future of US health care policy is debated, many women are concerned about the impact of policy changes on their ability to access affordable contraception and abortion, which many view as essential to the preservation of bodily and reproductive autonomy.
Genetic variation for domestication-related traits revealed in a cultivated rice, Nipponbare (Oryza sativa ssp. japonica) × ancestral rice, O. nivara, mapping population

Oryza nivara is the ancestral species of cultivated rice (Oryza sativa). It has been the source of novel alleles for resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses, as well as yield improvement, lost during the course of domestication. To determine the molecular changes that occurred during domestication, the O. sativa ssp. japonica variety, Nipponbare, from which a reference sequence (RefSeq) was developed, was crossed with the O. nivara accession (IRGC100897), from which BAC-end sequences (BES) were derived. The mapping population composed of 279 F2 progeny lines derived from this cross was phenotyped for 19 traits important to domestication and yield improvement, including basal sheath and culm color, culm angle, days to heading, plant height, seed shattering, flag leaf length and width, panicle type and length, awn length and color, pericarp color, and seed color, length, width, length to width ratio, volume and surface area. The population was genotyped using 95 SSR markers and 114 single nucleotide variation (SNV) markers, selected by comparing the Nipponbare RefSeq and O. nivara BES. At least one major QTL was identified for each trait evaluated, and for 28 of the 46 QTL, the trait increase was attributed to the allele contributed by the O. nivara parent. Candidate genes were identified in 37 of the QTL regions. This study validated SNV markers that can be used for mapping in populations with a wild species parent. In the future, SNVs could be used for marker-assisted selection to incorporate desirable, novel alleles for stress resistance and yield improvement, identified in rice wild species like O. nivara into elite, adapted O. sativa varieties.