cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Why Do N -Alkylated Anilides Bend Over? The Factors Dictating the Divergent Conformational Preferences of 2° and 3° N -Aryl Amides.

The conformational preferences of 28 sterically and electronically diverse N-aryl amides were determined using density functional theory (DFT), using the B3LYP functional and 6-31G(d) basis set. For each compound, both the cis and trans conformers were optimized, and the difference in ground state energy calculated. For six of the compounds, the potential energy surface was determined as a function of rotation about the N-aryl bond (by 5° increments) for both cis and trans conformers. A natural bond orbital (NBO) deletion strategy was also employed to determine the extent of the contribution of conjugation to the energies of each of the conformers. By comparing these computational results with previously reported experimental data, an explanation for the divergent conformational preferences of 2° N-aryl amides and 3° N-alkyl-N-aryl amides was formulated. This explanation accounts for the observed relationships of both steric and electronic factors determining the geometry of the optimum conformation, and the magnitude of the energetic difference between cis and trans conformers: except under the most extreme scenarios, 2° amides maintain a trans conformation, and the N-bound arene lies in the same plane as the amide unless it has ortho substituents; for 3° N-alkyl-N-aryl amides in which the alkyl and aryl substituents are connected in a small ring, trans conformations are also favored, for most cases other than formamides, and the arene and amide remain in conjugation; and for 3° N-alkyl-N-aryl amides in which the alkyl and aryl substituents are not connected in a small ring, allylic strain between the two N-bound substituents forces the aryl substituent to rotate out of the plane of the amide, and the trans conformation is destabilized with respect to the cis conformation due to repulsion between the π system of the arene and the lone pairs on the oxygen atom of the carbonyl. The cis conformation is increasingly more stable than the trans conformation as electron density is increased on the arene because the more electron-rich arenes adopt a more orthogonal arrangement, increasing the interaction with the carbonyl oxygen, while simultaneously increasing the magnitude of the repulsion due to the increased electron density in the π system. The trans conformation is favored for 2° amides even when the arene is orthogonal to the amide, in nearly all cases, because the C-N-C bond angle can expend at the expense of the C-N-H bond angles, while this is not favorable for 3° amides.
Republished: The Quality of Qualitative Research*:

In general, an appreciation of the standards of qualitative research and the types of qualitative data analysis available to researchers have not kept pace with the growing presence of qualitative ...
Field-Based Methods of Research on Human Rights Violations

Field-based research lies at the heart of human rights discourse and practice. Yet, there is a lack of consistency and coherence in the methodologies used and inadequate transparency regarding rese...
Assessing the role of stakeholder platforms as drivers of resilient communities: the case of Malawi

Purpose: Climate-related shocks increasingly stress food systems, making resilience-building among rural communities crucial to food security. The Strengthening Agricultural and Nutrition Extension...
A Frequency-Hopping Game Between a Smart Jammer and a Cognitive Radio

A smart jammer can determine the frequency-hopping patterns of a cognitive radio using machine learning. This paper develops a two-state stochastic game where the receiver and jammer choose at each stage whether to stay on their current frequency or hop to a new one. The cost of hopping to a new frequency is also modeled with a discounted payoff. Machine learning algorithms are implemented to update the policies for both players in order to converge to a stationary Nash equilibrium. The game is simulated using Nash Q-learning and WoLF -PHC, as well as the computed single-stage Nash equilibrium for each state. Of the strategy options included for both players, there are ideal strategy-updating algorithm pairs depending on the values used for the discounted payoffs.
Motility and Fertility Evaluation of Thawed Frozen Stallion Semen After 24 Hours of Cooled Storage.

Abstract Breeding mares with cryopreserved semen requires specialized equipment for storage and thawing and more intensive mare management. The objectives of this study were (1) evaluate the longevity of frozen stallion semen once it had been thawed, extended, and maintained at 5°C for 48 hours in a passive cooling container, and (2) determine fertility potential of frozen semen that had been thawed, extended, and used to inseminate mares after 24 hours of cooled storage. Eight ejaculates were collected and aliquots were cooled in either INRA96 and CryoMax LE minus cryoprotectant at a concentration of 50 million total sperm/mL. The remainder of the ejaculate was frozen in CryoMax LE extender at a concentration of 200 million total sperm/mL. Semen was thawed using 1 of 3 thawing protocols, and diluted to a concentration of 50 million total sperm/mL in either INRA96 or CryoMax LE minus cryoprotectant and cooled to 5°C. Sperm motility was evaluated at 24 and 48 hours. Eight mares were inseminated over two estrous cycles using frozen semen that had been thawed, extended in INRA96, and cooled for 24 hours. There was no difference in progressive motility at 24 or 48 hours of cooled-storage post-thaw between the 3 thawing protocols. An overall per cycle pregnancy rate of 56% (9/16 cycles) was achieved using frozen-thawed semen that had been extended and cooled for 24 hours. In summary, frozen stallion sperm was thawed, extended, and cooled to 5°C for 24 hours and still maintained adequate (>30%) sperm motility and fertility.
The Main Players

This chapter investigates the most important actors of the Swedish Music Miracle 2.0. The objective is to unveil the music networks of leading Swedish writer–producers. How did they rise to prominence within the global music industry? How have they collaborated among themselves and with other actors outside Sweden? These connections can both be artistic in nature—the creative process of writing and producing songs—as well as professional connections with other actors in the music industry.
Tortuous ulnar artery presenting as left distal forearm mass

Abstract Knowledge of anatomic variation in vasculature is critical to safe medical intervention as conduits vary in morphology, architecture, and course. Tortuosity is a common anatomic variant in certain arterial beds; however, its prevalence in ulnar arteries is not well documented in the literature. Here we report two cases of tortuous ulnar arteries in patients being evaluated for upper extremity hemodialysis access.
The PRC on the Tibetan frontier in the 1950s

When the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) emerged victorious from the civil war in 1949 it established the People’s Republic of China (PRC) which incorporated most of the lands where the Qing Empire h...
Substrate stiffness induces neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation through focal adhesion kinase activation

Abstract Neutrophils predominate the early inflammatory response to tissue injury and implantation of biomaterials. Recent studies have shown that neutrophil activation can be regulated by mechanical cues such as stiffness or surface wettability; however, it is not known how neutrophils sense and respond to physical cues, particularly how they form neutrophil extracellular traps (NET formation). To examine this, we used polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrates of varying physiologically relevant stiffness (0.2–32 kPa) and examined the response of murine neutrophils to untreated surfaces or to surfaces coated with various extracellular matrix proteins recognized by integrin heterodimers (collagen, fibronectin, laminin, vitronectin, synthetic RGD). Neutrophils on higher stiffness PDMS substrates had increased NET formation and higher secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Extracellular matrix protein coatings showed that fibronectin induced the most NET formation and this effect was stiffness dependent. Synthetic RGD peptides induced similar levels of NET formation and pro-inflammatory cytokine release than the full-length fibronectin protein. To determine if the observed NET formation in response to substrate stiffness required focal adhesion kinase (FAK) activity, which is down stream of integrin activation, FAK inhibitor PF-573228 was used. Inhibition of FAK using PF-573228 ablated the stiffness-dependent increase in NET formation and pro-inflammatory molecule secretion. These findings demonstrate that neutrophils regulate NET formation in response to physical and mechanical biomaterial cues and this process is regulated through integrin/FAK signaling.
Acquired postganglionic cholinergic dysautonomia – A rare clinical entity

Acute dysautonomia or dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system is characterized by severe postganglionic sympathetic and parasympathetic dysfunction, with a relative or complete sparing of motor and sensory function. Acquired cholinergic dysautonomia, a very rare condition of failure of the parasympathetic system leads to complete bilateral internal ophthalmoplegia, impaired secretion of tears, and may present with visual symptoms. Herein, we report a rare case of acute cholinergic dysautonomia in an 11-year-old girl.
Training Future Health Justice Leaders - A Role for Medical-Legal Partnerships.

Training Future Health Justice Leaders Medical–legal partnerships integrate lawyers directly into health care teams to help patients address health-harming legal needs. Schools could integrate thes...
The Ballistic Resonance: plasmonic response across IR with III-V semiconductors

We analyze the perspectives of the ballistic resonance to enable plasmonic and hyperbolic optical response of doped III-V semiconductors across the infrared frequency range. We demonstrate, experimentally and theoretically, plasmonic structures between 3-5μm.
DIGITAL MARKETING OF AGRI-FOOD PRODUCTS IN SUPPORT OF RURAL TOURISM DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC

The paper explores the possibilities of restructuring the activities of rural tourism in Serbia, during the COVID pandemic. Having in mind the shock experienced by the tourism sector, as well as the area of rural tourism, digital marketing of agricultural and food products is imposed as one of the solutions. Namely, through online platforms and modern logistics, producers can consolidate business revenues during a pandemic, when rural tourism is almost impossible. The move can be seen as a short-term business restructuring caused by a pandemic. In that way, with the measures of state support, the area of rural tourism in Serbia can be preserved, in order to be ready for the period after the pandemic. Digitization enables small agricultural producers to survive and strengthen their market position in conditions of intensified global competition. This is achieved through digital cooperation, which can play the role of one large agricultural producer, thus achieving the effects of economies of scale, size and breadth.
Histopathologic Classification of Spinal Chordoma

Proper histopathologic classification of notochordal tumors is key to prognostication as notochord-derived lesions demonstrate significant variability in malignant potential and expected survival. Benign notochordal cell tumor (BNCT) is a benign tumor showing notochordal differentiation with an excellent outcome; it rarely requires surgical intervention. Conversely, conventional chordoma is malignant, like other spinal sarcomas, and has metastatic potential. Other, less common, histologic subtypes, i.e., dedifferentiated and poorly differentiated chordoma, are similarly malignant and frequently benefit from aggressive surgical resection and management by a multidisciplinary team. Here, the characteristic histopathologic and immunohistochemical features of these various chordoma subtypes are discussed. Also highlighted are prior works focusing on the prognostic significance of specific mutations and the potential role for genetic analysis in the future management of chordoma.
The region of the HPV E7 oncoprotein homologous to adenovirus E1a and Sv40 large T antigen contains separate domains for Rb binding and casein kinase II phosphorylation.

Abstract Some genital human papillomavirus (HPV) types, such as 16 and 18, are highly associated with malignant cervical tumors while others, such as HPV 6, are only rarely found in these malignancies. The E7 oncoproteins of HPV 6, 16 and 18 each have a 17 amino acid region with striking homology to adenovirus E1a and SV40 LT. E1a, LT and the E7 oncoprotein of HPV16 all bind the cellular Rb protein in vitro, and for E1a and LT this region of homology contains sequences essential for interaction with Rb. We have now found that in HPV 16 E7 this region (amino acids 21-37) contains two separate biochemical activities, each of which contributes to E7-mediated transformation. Rb binding was localized to the N terminus of this region, while the C terminus was shown to serve as a substrate for casein kinase (CK) II, which phosphorylated serine-31 and serine-32. Replacement of the two serines by non-phosphorylatable amino acids led to a reduction in transforming activity and abolished phosphorylation but did not affect Rb binding. Rb binding and CK II phosphorylation were also examined for the E7 proteins of HPV 6 and HPV 18. HPV 16 and 18 E7 bound similar amounts of Rb, but HPV 6 E7 consistently bound less. Phosphorylation rates also varied, with HPV 18 E7 being 2-fold faster than HPV 16 E7, which in turn was 2-fold faster than HPV 6 E7. We conclude that Rb binding and phosphorylation of E7 by CKII are independent activities which are required for efficient transformation by E7 and that these activities correlate directly with the relative oncogenic potential of these viruses.
Ursolic acid ameliorates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis by regulating Th1 and Th17 cell differentiation (THER3P.877)

Ursolic acid (UA) is a plant-derived triterpene with potent anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities. In this study we investigated the potential therapeutic effect of UA on the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an accepted experimental model of multiple sclerosis. Treatment with UA at initiation or after the disease onset reduced clinical severity and incidence of EAE, which was associated with a decrease in inflammatory infiltrates in spinal cord and in the subsequent demyelination. UA decreased the presence/activation of encephalitogenic Th1 and Th17 cells in both periphery and nervous system, accompanied by down-regulated various inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. The effect of UA was attributable to its selective inhibition of IFN-γ and IL-17 production in CD4+ T cells, mediated via alteration of the STAT pathway and the transcription factors T-bet and RORγt/ROR α. More important, UA has been found novel properties of directly inhibiting Th1 and Th17 cell differentiation in vitro, and was also effective in reducing ongoing paralysis induced by adoptive transfer of either pathogenic Th1 or Th17 cells. These findings indicate that UA exerts potent anti-inflammatory effects through selective modulation of pathogenic Th1 and Th17 cells by targeting critical signaling pathways.
Preserved platelets: their preparation, storage and clinical use.

A method is described for the isolation and preservation of human blood platelets. Their use in a platelet bank after storage of up to two years is described. The practical advantages to the recipient include small administration volume, freedom from pyrogenicity and immediate availability in the event of thrombocytopenic bleeding. The advantages of this technic to the hospitals include a saving of time, a saving of blood and the elimination of the frantic efforts of blood bank and laboratory personnel to produce large numbers of fresh platelet concentrates at the time of platelet needs. The remarkable stability of preserved platelets is believed largely due to the method developed for their isolation from blood, wherein the cells are separated from the coagulation proteins with which they normally interact, prior to enzymatic degradation. The importance of a controlled atmosphere of CO2 for retention of clot retraction is presented. The in vitro and in vivo activities of the preserved cells are discussed. A hypothesis is suggested for the autocatalytic stimulation of new platelet production through temporary correction of a thromboplastic deficit by the transfusion of preserved platelets.
Bidirectional lift of the anterior midcheek with Gore-Tex cable sutures.

Abstract Learning objectives The reader is presumed to have a broad understanding of the anatomy of the anterior midface. After reading this article, the participant should be able to: 1. Identify the topographical component signs of aging of the anterior midface. 2. Explain the mechanisms of ptosis affecting these components. 3. Practice the vertical and superolateral repositioning of the malar fat pad. Physicians may earn 1 hour of Category 1 CME credit by successfully completing the examination on the basis of material covered in this article. The examination begins on page 257. Background We have previously described a technique of anterior midface soft tissue repositioning using 2 cable sutures directed only in a superolateral direction. This technique achieves a more normal distribution of subcutaneous fat laterally over the malar bag prominence but does little to overcome central and medial hollowness in the palpebromalar and tear-trough areas. Objective We describe an alteration of our original technique that introduces a vertical lift of the anterior midface soft tissue utilizing Gore-Tex, (W.L. Gore & Associates, Flagstaff, AZ) cable sutures while elevating the preperiosteal soft tissue. Methods We used a transconjunctival approach to expose the postseptal fat, orbital rim, and arcus marginalis. Subperiosteal dissection over the orbital rim was performed to prepare a pocket for the malar fat pads. Using 6.5-cm Keith needles, we placed a braided suture medially, lateral to the location of the infraorbital nerve and foramen, and maneuvered it through the soft tissue until all signs of dimpling at the nasolabial line or upward distortion of the upper lip were removed. A Gore-Tex graft was introduced and seated in a cupped configuration that anchored the caudal fat pad at the nasolabial line. The medial fat pad and vascular pedicle were transposed over the orbital rim into the predissected pocket; the central fat pad was also fashioned into a pedicle and moved into its pocket. The Gore-Tex sutures were tightened, elevating the supraperiosteal soft tissue vertically. A second set of Gore-Tex sutures elevated the anterior midface soft tissue toward the deep temporal fascia. Results Between 1999 and 2002, 197 patients underwent bidirectional anterior midface lift with Gore-Tex sutures, combined with ancillary procedures. Use of the Gore-Tex cable sutures enabled improvement in the periorbitum, midcheek, and neck, as well as a more harmonious facial appearance in all patients, with few complications. Conclusions The bidirectional cable-suture technique is simple, effective, and safe. It provides secure fixation and filling of the nasojugal hollow and improvement of the malar eminence. It is less effective in the periorbitum and does not seem to correct the recalcitrant nasolabial fold.
Drug Self-Administration: An Analysis of the Reinforcing Effects of Drugs

The behavioral effects of drugs were once viewed as being limited to the changes in responding that occurred directly following drug administration. Drug effects were believed to be relatively stereotyped and to consist of little more than temporary alterations of the biological mechanisms controlling ongoing responding. However, recent research has forced an expansion of this view. At present, behavioral drug actions can be viewed as existing on a continuum. On one extreme are effects that are relatively independent of environmental influences or the temporal relation between drug administration and responding (e.g., effects of d-amphetamine on locomotor activity). On the other end of the continuum are drug actions that are intimately dependent on their functional relation to environmental events and/or their temporal relation to responding (e.g., effects of d-amphetamine on high-rate versus low-rate schedule-controlled responding).
The Day After Tomorrow: A Survey Of How Gulf Coast State Utility Commissions and Utilities are Preparing for Future Storms

With widespread outages caused by devastating natural disasters such as Superstorm Sandy and Hurricane Ike in the nation’s recent memory, the public wants to know that the electric utility industry is prepared to withstand and respond to the storms of the future. But is the industry prepared? The government’s role in regulating the electric utility industry makes it impossible to properly analyze why industry players are prepared or unprepared without looking at the actions and decisions of the state regulatory officials. The industry’s actions are inherently tied to the regulations it is required to follow and the costs it is allowed to recover.State public service commissions are tasked with allowing investments and setting rates for the electric utility industry that are “just and reasonable” and “in the public interest.” These vague guidelines have led to many different approaches to investments, cost recovery, and rate-setting. State commissioners are tasked with finding the balance between keeping costs low today and ensuring service remains reliable for their ratepayers in the future. With one of the worst economic recessions in U.S. history and predictions for tomorrow’s climate trends worsening every year, are state commissions striking the proper balance? Part I of this Note gives a brief introduction to the role of state commissions within the electric utility industry, with a focus on why this matters in the context of the important discussion taking place today on climate change trends and, more specifically, preparing for tomorrow’s storms. Part II presents a summary of what actions, if any, Gulf Coast state commissions have taken regarding resiliency measures and storm hardening and how some major utilities have responded to those actions, or alternatively, how utilities have acted when little commission action has occurred. Part III provides an analysis of the results of the survey and recommendations going forward.
Recent Advances in the Walking Tree Method for Biological Sequence Alignment

The meaning of biological sequences is a central problem of modern biology. Although string matching is well-understood in the edit-distance model, biological strings with transpositions and inversions violate this model’s assumptions. To align biologically reasonable strings, we proposed the Walking Tree Method [4,5,6,7,8]; an approximate string alignment method that can handle insertion, deletions, substitutions, translocations, and more than one level of inversions. Our earlier versions were able to align whole bacterial genomes (1 Mbps) and discover and verify genes. As extremely long sequences can now be deciphered rapidly and accurately without amplification [2,3,15], speeding up the method becomes necessary. Via a technique that we call recurrence reduction in which some computations can be looked up rather than recomputed, we are able to significantly improve the performance, e.g. 400% for a 1-million base pair alignment. In theory, our method can align a length |P| string with a length |T| string in time |P||T|/(nlog |P|) using n processors in parallel. In practice, we can align 10 Mbps strings within a week using 30 processors.
Risk of seizure recurrence following a first unprovoked seizure in childhood: a prospective study.

In a prospective study, 283 children who presented with a first unprovoked seizure were followed for a mean of 30 months from the time of first seizure. Subsequent seizures were experienced by 101 children (36%). The cumulative risk of seizure recurrence for the entire study group was 26% at 12 months, 36% at 24 months, 40% at 36 months, and 42% at 48 months. The cumulative risk of recurrence in the 47 children with a remote symptomatic first seizure was 37%, 53%, and 60% at 12, 24, and 36 months, respectively, compared with a cumulative risk of 24%, 33%, and 36% at 12, 24, and 36 months, respectively, in the 236 children who had had an idiopathic first seizure (P
Tensile and Charpy Impact Properties of Irradiated Reduced Activation Ferritic Steels

Tensile tests were conducted on 8 reduced-activation Cr-W steels after irradiation to 15-17 and 26-29 dpa, and Charpy impact tests were conducted on steels irradiated to 26-29 dpa. Irradiation was in Fast Flux Test Facility at 365 C on steels containing 2.25-12% Cr, varying amounts of W, V, and Ta, and 0.1%C. Previously, tensile specimens were irradiated to 6-8 dpa and Charpy specimens to 6-8, 15- 17, and 20-24 dpa. Tensile and Charpy specimens were also thermally aged to 20,000 h at 365 C. Thermal aging had little effect on tensile properties or ductile-brittle transition temperature (DBTT), but several steels showed a slight increase in upper-shelf energy (USE). After 7 dpa, strength increased (hardened) and then remained relatively unchanged through 26-29 dpa (ie, strength saturated with fluence). Post-irradiation Charpy impact tests after 26-29 dpa showed that the loss of impact toughness (increased DBTT, decreased USE) remained relatively unchanged from the values after 20-24 dpa, which had been relatively unchanged from the earlier irradiations. As before, the two 9Cr steels had the most irradiation resistance.
Lg magnitudes and yield estimates for underground Novaya Zemlya nuclear explosions

Abstract Lg -wave amplitudes of 30 Novaya Zemlya underground nuclear explosions, as recorded by short-period seismographs in Denmark, Finland, Germany, Norway, Spitsbergen, and Sweden, are used to determine m b ( Lg ) values. Assuming that the m b ( Lg ) versus explosion yield relation derived from Nevada Test Site data applies to all continental areas, the yields of the explosions are estimated. They cover a large range of values, from 2.5 to 4900 kt. The largest explosion since April 1976 had an estimated yield of 145 kt . The m b ( Lg ) values, when subtracted from the m b ( P ) values, can be used to estimate the m b ( P ) bias between two test sites. In this way, the m b ( P ) bias between Novaya Zemlya and the Nevada Test Site is estimated to be 0.20 magnitude units .
Measurements of protein-protein interaction by isothermal titration calorimetry with applications to the bacterial chemotaxis system

Publisher Summary An isothermal titration calorimeter (ITC) measures the temperature difference between a reaction and a reference cell using a thermopile, and nulls any difference detected through feedback control of the cell heating elements. Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) can determine in a single experiment all of the thermodynamic parameters of the binding process with unlabeled macromolecules in solution. ITC facilitates the exploration of factors that regulate ligand binding and protein–protein interactions. The chapter also presents some of the examples that are useful for studying ligand-protein and protein–protein interactions in a variety of ways. ITC is useful in providing thermodynamic information in detail in a variety of systems, including binding interactions between DNA and repressor proteins; phosphopeptide- and peptideprotein interactions; peptides and membranes; ligand-receptor interactions, antigen-antibody interactions, and metal ion-protein interactions. The technique can find additional use in the characterization of a variety of biochemical processes (such as the enzyme-catalyzed reactions) in addition to the measurements of macromolecular interactions.
Newborn with abdominal nodule

The parents of a 15-day-old boy who returned for his 2-week checkup are worried about a firm, glistening papule on his abdomen that has been present since birth. The patient is otherwise healthy, but the parents are seeking reassurance. A pediatric dermatology referral was quickly placed.
Encoding library of congress subject headings in SKOS: authority control for the semantic web

This paper will explore using XSLT stylesheets to translate LCSH Authority Records from MARC/XML or MADS XML formats into RDF documents according to the SKOS project's Quick Guide to Publishing a Thesaurus on the Semantic Web. Creating an RDF Data Store that represents the content of LCSH will have tremendous long-term benefits in allowing a greater breadth of applications to make full use of the relationships between concepts provided by LC Subject Headings.
Central Hypotensive Activity of dl- and d-Propranolol

The intraventricular administration of dl-propranolol to α-chloralose-anesthetized cats was followed by a decrease in blood pressure and was devoid of an associated tachycardia. d-Propranolol in an equivalent dose produced a hypotensive response which was not statistically different from dl-propranolol. These data suggest that there is a central component in the hypotensive response to propranolol and that it is independent of the β-adrenergic blocking activity. The intraventricular administration of 500 mcg. of reserpine base produced greater than a 90% depletion of norepinephrine in all brain regions analyzed within 24 hr. This pretreatment with reserpine also reversed the hypotensive response to both d- and dl-propranolol as well as converted the decrease in heart rate to an increase in heart rate. Thus, at least one of the amines must be required to produce the hypotensive response. Perfusion of the ventricular system with dl-propranolol generally produced an increase in epinephrine along with a decrease in norepinephrine in the brain region analyzed. Under the same conditions, d-propranolol also increased epinephrine but led to a decrease in norepinephrine in only 50% of the tissues assayed. These changes in amine levels occurred during the perfusion, which also produced a sustained hypotensive effect lasting the duration of the perfusion. The hypotension associated with propranolol therapy may have a central component that is not dependent on the β-adrenergic blocking property of propranolol, which requires one or more of the brain amines, and leads to an increase in the epinephrine level along with a general decrease in the norepinephrine level of the brain.
The solitary vice: the superstition that masturbation could cause mental illness.

“Of all sexual conditions complicating insanity, none occupy the importance either in the professional or lay mind that masturbation holds. It is a vice of most frequent occurrence amongst our sane population, and it is almost universally practiced by the insane. That masturbation alone, in the normal individual, produces insanity is certainly not true; for were this the fact, the accommodations of our asylums would have to be so increased as to hold at least 500,000 rather than the 5,000 insane credited to our State.” “There should be a sharp distinction drawn between the masturbation of insanity and insanity produced by masturbation, or the so-called masturbational insanity. Even when masturbation is most persistent, there is no ground for positively claiming it as a causative factor; this we term the `masturbation of insanity.' It is frequently merely the first symptom observed.” “Dr Hoisholt, of Stockton, said that he heartily agreed with Dr Robertson in what he had said as to the popular belief in masturbation being a cause of insanity, and also as to the many mutilations that had been made with the excuse of helping to remedy the condition of alienation by removing the ovaries, clitoris, etc. He was of the opinion that more education on the part of the general practitioner of medicine, as to the proper relation existing between insanity and the sexual organs, in the question of cause and effect, was certainly desirable. While, as stated by Dr Robertson, we very commonly find masturbation accompanying insanity, we very rarely can say that the vice has been to any extent the cause of the insanity itself. It is more often the result than the cause, popular superstition to the contrary.”
Perspectives of the Operational Performance of Public Transportation Agencies with Data Envelopment Analysis Technique

This paper presents a framework for comparative assessment of the operational productivity and efficiency of transit agencies. Inputs from selected public transit agencies in Indiana, including annual operating expenses, number of employees, and total fuel consumption, and outputs, including the total ridership and total vehicle miles traveled during an 8-year period (2002-2009), were used to construct relative efficiency scores through data envelopment analysis. In addition, the changes in productivity during the analysis period were quantified by using the Malmquist productivity index. The Malmquist indexes were decomposed into two components, namely, the frontier shift effect and the catch-up effect, to account for industrywide productivity changes and individual agency-level changes, respectively. The methodology is expected to help transit managers not only to assess the performance of their transit systems compared with peer systems but also to identify potential areas for improvement. The approach ...
Band gap tunability of Type II Antimonide-based superlattices

Abstract Current state-of-the art infrared photon detectors based on bulk semiconductors such as InSb or HgCdTe are now relatively mature and have almost attained the theoretical limit of performance. It means, however, that the technology can not be expected to demonstrate revolutionary improvements, in terms of device performances. In contrasts, low dimensional quantum systems such as superlattices, quantum wells, quantum dots, are still the development stage, yet have shown comparable performance to the bulk detector family. Especially for the Type II Antimony-based superlattices, recent years have seen significant improvements in material quality, structural design as well as fabrication techniques which lift the performance of Type II superlattice photodetectors to a new level. In this talk, we will discuss the advantages of Type II-superlattices, from the physical nature of the material to the practical realisms. We will demonstrate the flexibility in controlling the energy gap and their overall band alignment for the suppression of Auger recombination, as well as to create sophisticated hetero-designs.
The pursuit of prostate cancer in patients with a rising prostate-specific antigen and multiple negative transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsies.

Abstract To determine if patients with persistently elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels who have had transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided prostate biopsies negative for carcinoma will benefit from additional saturation (≥ 14 cores) TRUS biopsies with or without transurethral (TUR) biopsies. A retrospective review of 35 men between ages 51–74 with PSA values between 4.5–46 ng/mL, normal digital rectal examinations, and ≥ 2 previously negative sextant TRUS biopsies. Seventeen patients had TUR biopsies in addition to saturation TRUS biopsies. Eighteen patients had saturation TRUS biopsies only (median 20 cores). Seven patients who had no cancer detected with the combined TRUS/TUR biopsies had an additional saturation biopsy performed (median 20 cores). Seven (20%) of the 35 patients who had a saturation biopsy had cancer detected, and one (5.9%) cancer was detected in the 17 men that had a TUR biopsy. Five (71.4%) of the seven patients who had an additional TRUS biopsy had cancer detected (total core range 45–60). The overall yield of prostate cancer was therefore 37.1%, with 1–9 cores positive (median 5 cores). For patients with a rising PSA and ≥ 2 negative sextant TRUS biopsies, the cancer yield of the initial saturation TRUS biopsies was 20%. Furthermore, a significant proportion of patients with negative initial saturation biopsies had cancer detected on repeat TRUS biopsy. The cancer yield of adding TUR biopsies in this same group of patients is
Ureteral reimplantation for inadvertent ureteral injury during radicalperineal prostatectomy

We report on a rare case of bilateral ureteral injury in a patient undergoing radical perineal prostatectomy and a unique approach to his treatment. Potential risk factors for such an injury include previous prostatic cryotherapy, transurethral resection, or radiotherapy. Intraoperative recognition of the injury is paramount and may be facilitated by intravenous administration of indigo carmine. While distal ureter ligation, urinary diversion, and delayed ureteroneocystostomy may be regarded as standard management for ureteral injury during radical perineal prostatectomy, this case was treated with a primary bilateral transperineal ureteral reimplantation. Although technically challenging, the described case demonstrates the feasibility and success of such an approach.
Common and distinct neural targets of treatment: changing brain function in substance addiction

Neuroimaging offers an opportunity to examine the neurobiological effects of therapeutic interventions for human drug addiction. Using activation likelihood estimation, the aim of the current meta-analysis was to quantitatively summarize functional neuroimaging studies of pharmacological and cognitive-based interventions for drug addiction, with an emphasis on their common and distinct neural targets. More exploratory analyses also contrasted subgroups of studies based on specific study and sample characteristics. The ventral striatum, a region implicated in reward, motivation, and craving, and the inferior frontal gyrus and orbitofrontal cortex, regions involved in inhibitory control and goal-directed behavior, were identified as common targets of pharmacological and cognitive-based interventions; these regions were observed when the analysis was limited to only studies that used established or efficacious interventions, and across imaging paradigms and types of addictions. Consistent with theoretical models, cognitive-based interventions were additionally more likely to activate the anterior cingulate cortex, middle frontal gyrus, and precuneus, implicated in self-referential processing, cognitive control, and attention. These results suggest that therapeutic interventions for addiction may target the brain structures that are altered across addictions and identify potential neurobiological mechanisms by which the tandem use of pharmacological and cognitive-based interventions may yield synergistic or complementary effects. These findings could inform the selection of novel functional targets in future treatment development for this difficult-to-treat disorder.
A neural measure of behavioral engagement: Task-residual low frequency blood oxygenation level dependent activity in the precuneus

Abstract Brain imaging has provided a useful tool to examine the neural processes underlying human cognition. A critical question is whether and how task engagement influences the observed regional brain activations. Here we highlighted this issue and derived a neural measure of task engagement from the task-residual low-frequency blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) activity in the precuneus. Using independent component analysis, we identified brain regions in the default circuit – including the precuneus and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) – showing greater activation during resting as compared to task residuals in 33 individuals. Time series correlations with the posterior cingulate cortex as the seed region showed that connectivity with the precuneus was significantly stronger during resting as compared to task residuals. We hypothesized that if the task-residual BOLD activity in the precuneus reflects engagement, it should account for a certain amount of variance in task-related regional brain activation. In an additional experiment of 59 individuals performing a stop signal task, we observed that the fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF) of the precuneus but not the mPFC accounted for approximately 10% of the variance in prefrontal activation related to attentional monitoring and response inhibition. Taken together, these results suggest that task-residual fALFF in the precuneus may be a potential indicator of task engagement. This measurement may serve as a useful covariate in identifying motivation-independent neural processes that underlie the pathogenesis of a psychiatric or neurological condition.
Biological Systems Discovery In Silico: Radical S-Adenosylmethionine Protein Families and Their Target Peptides for Posttranslational Modification

Data mining methods in bioinformatics and comparative genomics commonly rely on working definitions of protein families from prior computation. Partial phylogenetic profiling (PPP), by contrast, optimizes family sizes during its searches for the cooccurring protein families that serve different roles in the same biological system. In a large-scale investigation of the incredibly diverse radical S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) enzyme superfamily, PPP aided in building a collection of 68 TIGRFAMs hidden Markov models (HMMs) that define nonoverlapping and functionally distinct subfamilies. Many identify radical SAM enzymes as molecular markers for multicomponent biological systems; HMMs defining their partner proteins also were constructed. Newly found systems include five groupings of protein families in which at least one marker is a radical SAM enzyme while another, encoded by an adjacent gene, is a short peptide predicted to be its substrate for posttranslational modification. The most prevalent, in over 125 genomes, featuring a peptide that we designate SCIFF (six cysteines in forty-five residues), is conserved throughout the class Clostridia, a distribution inconsistent with putative bacteriocin activity. A second novel system features a tandem pair of putative peptide-modifying radical SAM enzymes associated with a highly divergent family of peptides in which the only clearly conserved feature is a run of His-Xaa-Ser repeats. A third system pairs a radical SAM domain peptide maturase with selenocysteine-containing targets, suggesting a new biological role for selenium. These and several additional novel maturases that cooccur with predicted target peptides share a C-terminal additional 4Fe4S-binding domain with PqqE, the subtilosin A maturase AlbA, and the predicted mycofactocin and Nif11-class peptide maturases as well as with activators of anaerobic sulfatases and quinohemoprotein amine dehydrogenases. Radical SAM enzymes with this additional domain, as detected by TIGR04085, significantly outnumber lantibiotic synthases and cyclodehydratases combined in reference genomes while being highly enriched for members whose apparent targets are small peptides. Interpretation of comparative genomics evidence suggests unexpected (nonbacteriocin) roles for natural products from several of these systems.
British Travel Writing about the Americas, 1820-1840: Different and Differentiating Views

In his article, "British Travel Writing about the Americas, 1820-1840: Different and Differentiating Views," Frank Lauterbach analyzes representations of the United States and South America in British travel writing of the post-Monroe years. His analysis rests on examples from two travelogues by Basil Hall, written in 1824 and 1829, respectively. Lauterbach discusses three related points: 1) Intent on overcoming the colonial affiliation with Anglo-American culture, British travelers try to establish a clear (romance of) difference between themselves and the United States, they employ a post-colonial rhetoric that stresses the strangeness rather than likeness of America; 2) Ironically, US-American responses to Basil Hall's work refute such claims of difference and, in turn, re-assert British hegemony through a colonial rhetoric designed to leave sameness between both countries virtually transparent; and 3) In contrast to their differentiating view of the United States, British writers approach South America with a different objective: Here a colonial rhetoric both enhances their self-identification and parallels neo-colonial interests by making the Other recognizable and easily penetrable despite its (thus neglected) differences. Lauterbach proposes to view colonial and post-colonial representations or narrations of alterity as a potentially neutral duality in discourse since both rhetorics can equally well emerge in writings from the (former) imperial metropolis and ex-colonial periphery. Frank Lauterbach, "British Travel Writing about the Americas, 1820-1840: Different and Diffentiating Views" page 2 of 11 CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture 3.2 (2001):
Synthesis and measurement of structural and magnetic properties of K-doped LaCoO3 perovskite materials

Polycrystalline La1−x K x CoO3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.2) rare earth cobaltates have been synthesized by a solution combustion method using glycine as a fuel. The synthesized ceramic materials were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and magnetic measurements and studied for physical properties, such as photocatalytic activity. FTIR measurements in conjunction with XRD showed that phases beyond 10% K doping are accompanied by small amounts of impurities. Chemical titrations show the presence of Co4+ and account for the Co3+-Co4+ mixed-valency of the system. The parent LaCoO3 shows spin-glass transition at low temperatures, whereas doped samples show transition from spin-glass behavior to paramagnetic ordering on progressive doping of K. “Mixed-conductor” nature of these ceramics positions them as viable candidates for solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) applications.
The Wonderful World of the Windpipe: A Review of Central Airway Anatomy and Pathology

A variety of pathologic processes can involve the central airways. Abnormalities may either diffusely or focally involve the tracheal or mainstem bronchial walls. Diseases that diffusely involve the tracheal wall can be subclassified as sparing the membranous trachea or circumferentially involving the tracheal wall. Focal diseases of the trachea and mainstem bronchi include benign and malignant causes. Additionally, congenital and acquired morphologic abnormalities of the trachea will be reviewed.
Caries pattern and oral health habits in 2- to 6-year-old children exhibiting differing levels of caries.

The aim of the present study was to describe in detail the distribution of caries lesions among tooth types and surfaces in the primary dentition of young children with different levels of disease. A total of 125 children (between 2 and 6 years old) attending the pediatric dental clinic of the University Hospital of Leuven was allocated to three groups based on their caries experience: dmft=1–5 formed the low caries experience group (LC, n=27), dmft=6–9 the moderate caries experience group (MC, n=61) and those with dmft>=10 the high caries experience group (HC, n=37). Caries experience (at patient level, tooth and tooth surface level) and oral hygiene were evaluated. Oral health habits were recorded using a questionnaire (completed by parents). Caries lesions were not evenly distributed among different tooth types. Teeth most frequently affected were lower (first and second) primary molars. Primary incisors were rarely found to be carious. The distribution of the lesions followed a comparable pattern, irrespective of the disease level of the child. Decay on primary canines and buccal/lingual surfaces of primary molars was strongly indicative of a high caries experience. There was a clear link with reported oral hygiene habits and the use of a pacifier and baby bottle with sugared content.