cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interference among modulators

The effects of concurrent facilitation (A−, AX+) and inhibition (B+, BY−) training were studied in four autoshaping experiments with pigeons. The development and transfer of each type of modulation was slowed by concurrent training in the alternative paradigm. The interfering effect of facilitation on the development of inhibition contrasts with the positive effect of excitatory training. Implications for accounts of modulation are discussed.
Combustion dynamics of a low-swirl combustor

Abstract The methodology for the measurement of dynamic combustor behavior has never been clearly established, due to the complexities associated with unsteady premixed flames and the difficulties in their measurement. The global and local distribution of Rayleigh index and the flame response functions are the main parameters normally employed to quantify and describe combustion dynamics. The Rayleigh index quantifies the thermoacoustic coupling, while the flame response function is a measure of the response of the system to outside disturbances. The primary objective of this work is to investigate the combustion dynamics of a commonly used low-swirl burner and to develop tools and methods for examining the dynamics of a combustion system. To this end, the effect of acoustic forcing at various frequencies on flame heat release behavior has been investigated. The current work uses OH–PLIF imaging of the flame region to produce phase-resolved measurements of flame behavior at each frequency. The response of the flame to the imposed acoustic field over the range of 22–400 Hz is then calculated from the processed images. This provides a starting point for an extension/extrapolation to practical acoustic ranges (∼5000 Hz). It was found that the thermoacoustic coupling was mainly evident in the shear mixing zone, producing a toroidal Rayleigh index distribution pattern. The phase shift of the flame fluctuation from the imposed acoustic wave seems to be very closely coupled to the vortices generated at the flame boundary due to shear mixing (Kelvin–Helmholtz instability), thus inducing the alternating toroidal structures. The peak value of the flame response function coincides with the peak absolute value of the Rayleigh index.
Genotoxic, epigenetic, and transcriptomic effects of tamoxifen in mouse liver

Tamoxifen is a non-steroidal anti-estrogenic drug widely used for the treatment and prevention of breast cancer in women; however, there is evidence that tamoxifen is hepatocarcinogenic in rats, but not in mice. Additionally, it has been reported that tamoxifen may cause non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in humans and experimental animals. The goals of the present study were to (i) investigate the mechanisms of the resistance of mice to tamoxifen-induced hepatocarcinogenesis, and (ii) clarify effects of tamoxifen on NAFLD-associated liver injury. Feeding female WSB/EiJ mice a 420 p.p.m. tamoxifen-containing diet for 12 weeks resulted in an accumulation of tamoxifen-DNA adducts, (E)-α-(deoxyguanosin-N(2)-yl)-tamoxifen (dG-TAM) and (E)-α-(deoxyguanosin-N(2)-yl)-N-desmethyltamoxifen (dG-DesMeTAM), in the livers. The levels of hepatic dG-TAM and dG-DesMeTAM DNA adducts in tamoxifen-treated mice were 578 and 340 adducts/108 nucleotides, respectively, while the extent of global DNA and repetitive elements methylation and histone modifications did not differ from the values in control mice. Additionally, there was no biochemical or histopathological evidence of NAFLD-associated liver injury in mice treated with tamoxifen. A transcriptomic analysis of differentially expressed genes demonstrated that tamoxifen caused predominantly down-regulation of hepatic lipid metabolism genes accompanied by a distinct over-expression of the lipocalin 13 (Lcn13) and peroxisome proliferator receptor gamma (Pparγ), which may prevent the development of NAFLD. The results of the present study demonstrate that the resistance of mice to tamoxifen-induced liver carcinogenesis may be associated with its ability to induce genotoxic alterations only without affecting the cellular epigenome and an inability of tamoxifen to induce the development of NAFLD.
Combinatorial Algorithms for the Expansion of Various Products of Schur Functions

The main purpose of these lectures is first to briefly survey the fundamental connection between the representation theory of the symmetric group S n and the theory of symmetric functions and second to show how combinatorial methods that arise naturally in the theory of symmetric functions lead to efficient algorithms to express various products of representations of S n in terms of sums of irreducible representations. That is, there is a basic isometry which maps the center of the group algebra of S n , Z(S n ), to the space of homogeneous symmetric functions of degree n, Λn. This basic isometry is known as the Frobenius map, F. The Frobenius map allows us to reduce calculations involving characters of the symmetric group to calculations involving Schur functions. Now there is a very rich and beautiful theory of the combinatorics of symmetric functions that has been developed in recent years. The combinatorics of symmetric functions, then leads to a number of very efficient algorithms for expanding various products of Schur functions into a sum of Schur functions. Such expansions of products of Schur functions correspond via the Frobenius map to decomposing various products of irreducible representations of S n into their irreducible components. In addition, the Schur functions are also the characters of the irreducible polynomial representations of the general linear group over the complex numbers GL n (ℂ) Thus the combinatorial algorithms for the expansions of Schur functions also have applications for decomposing various representations of GL n (ℂ) into their irreducible components.
Pro: The use of modified ultrafiltration during pediatric cardiac surgery is a benefit

p EDIATRIC CARDIOPULMONARY BYPASS (CPB) often results in increased capillary permeability and accumulation of excess total-body water (TBW), which can lead to multiple organ system dysfunction. This morbidity is principally because of the hemodilution effects of CPB, as well as a systemic inflammatory response caused by the exposure of blood elements to the nonendothelialized surfaces of the CPB circuit. Organs most notably affected include the heart, lungs, and brain. Small children, long CPB times, hypothermia, and hemodihition are the greatest risk factors for the accumulation of excess water.1 Recently, modified ultrafiltration (MUF) has been used during pediatric cardiac surgery to limit the deleterious effects of CPB. The recognized benefits of MUF are multiple and include a reduction in the TBW accumulation seen after CPB; improvement of left ventricular (LV) function; an increase in hematocrit with a concomitant decrease in transfused blood products; an improvement in hemostasis, dynamic pulmonary compliance, and cerebral metabolic recovery after CPB with circulatory arrest; and modification of complement activation. Conventional ultrafiltration is a convective process in which substances with a molecular mass less than the membrane pore size are filtered because of a transmembrane gradient. This process, performed during the rewarming phase of CPB, is instituted in an attempt to decrease the excess TBW and edema seen in patients after CPB. The increase in TBW is believed to occur because of the relatively large volume of pump prime compared with the circulating blood volume, especially in small children. This increase in TBW is further aggravated by an increase in capillary permeability, which is believed to occur secondary to the inflammatory response initiated by exposure of the patient's blood elements to the foreign surface of the oxygenator and tubing. Theoretically, no fluid is transfused back to the patient to replace the volume removed by ultrafiltration. However, additional crystalloid or blood is often added to the circuit to maintain adequate volume in the reservoir and cardiopulmonary support while still on bypass. For these reasons, no consistent reduction in excess TBW or transfusion requirement has been shown with this method. MUF represents an alternative method of removing excess TBW, increasing the hematocrit, and improving vital organ function after CPB. MUF is performed after separation from
“Frenglish” for sale: multilingual discourses for addressing today's global consumer

ABSTRACT: Advertisers address French consumers through English using a blend of text, illustrations, and music soundtracks to create a positive emotional response. Emerging from this analysis is a consumer for whom a ‘glocal’ identity is reinforced through advertising discourse. Using multimodal techniques, advertisers create a panoply of border-crossing experiences, encouraging their audiences to view these messages from their own cultural perspective. Also highlighted are various efforts on the part of the French government to limit the public's exposure to English (e.g., 1994 Toubon Law) as well as the industry's reaction to such intervention. Although some may argue that the omnipresence of English in French advertising is more of a “cultural and linguistic invasion” than a rich display of linguistic creativity and whimsical expression, evidence suggests that English in this context is often refashioned as a simple form of entertainment, and that the French linguistic and cultural identity remains very much intact.
Material effects in ultra-short pulse laser drilling of metals

Although hole drilling using ultra-short laser pulses has been shown to produce holes of excellent quality, we have observed that during the evolution of the hole, the morphology of the hole bottom has a dependence on fluence, number of shots, and polarization. We describe the nature of this structure within the hole and under what conditions it is observed.
On minor-minimally 3-connected binary matroids

A matroid M is called minor-minimally 3-connected if M is 3-connected and, for each [email protected]?E(M), either [email protected]?e or M/e is not 3-connected. In this paper, we prove a chain theorem for the class of minor-minimally 3-connected binary matroids. As a consequence, we obtain a chain theorem for the class of minor-minimally 3-connected graphs.
Risk of Local Failure in Breast Cancer Patients With Lobular Carcinoma In Situ at the Final Surgical Margins: Is Re-excision Necessary?

Purpose: To compare the outcome of patients with invasive breast cancer both with and without lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS)-positive/close surgical margins after breast-conserving treatment. Methods and Materials: We retrospectively studied 2358 patients with T1-T2 invasive breast cancer treated with lumpectomy and radiation therapy from January 1980 to December 2009. Median age was 57 years (range, 24-91 years). There were 82 patients (3.5%) with positive/close LCIS margins (<0.2 cm) and 2232 patients (95.7%) with negative margins. A total of 1789 patients (76%) had negative lymph nodes. Patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy were excluded. A total of 1783 patients (76%) received adjuvant systemic therapy. Multivariable analysis (MVA) was performed using Cox's proportional hazards model. Results: The 5-year cumulative incidence of locoregional recurrence (LRR) was 3.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.5%-4.1%) for the 2232 patients with LCIS-negative surgical margins (median follow-up 104 months) and 2.8% (95% CI 0.7%-10.8%) for the 82 patients with LCIS-positive/close surgical margins (median follow-up 90 months). This was not statistically significant (P=.5). On MVA, LCIS-positive margins after the final surgery were not associated with increased risk of LRR (hazard ratio [HR] 3.4, 95% CI 0.5-24.5, P=.2). Statistically significant prognostic variables on Cox's MVA for risk of LRR includedmore » systemic therapy (HR 0.5, 95% CI 0.33-0.75, P=.001), number of positive lymph nodes (HR 1.11, 95% CI 1.05-1.18, P=.001), menopausal status (HR 0.96, 95% CI 0.95-0.98, P=.001), and histopathologic grade (grade 3 vs grade 1/2) (HR 2.6, 95% CI 1.4-4.7, P=.003). Conclusion: Our results suggest that the presence of LCIS at the surgical margin after lumpectomy does not increase the risk of LRR or the final outcome. These findings suggest that re-excision or mastectomy in patients with LCIS-positive/close final surgical margins is unnecessary.« less
The calving constraints on inception of Quaternary ice sheets

Abstract Most numerical models that simulate the inception of Quaternary ice sheets nucleate the ice sheets in high-latitude highlands of the Northern Hemisphere. These nuclei are initially plateau or island ice caps that then expand and merge with one another to become an ice sheet. Before merger, however, these ice caps often must cross continental shelves, seas, or embayments (e.g., Barents Sea, Baltic Sea, Foxe Basin, Hudson Bay) where calving along the ice margins could prevent merger. Therefore, the models must either ignore calving and treat the ice caps as if they were advancing across dry land or include a calving parameter that can be adjusted to allow a grounded or floating ice front to advance across a water body despite calving. The first solution to this problem is unrealistic because when the ice caps reach shorelines their mass is insufficient to have lowered sea level enough to make the shorelines retreat at the rate of advancing ice. The second solution is also unrealistic because, as ice advances into water, slab calving can prevent an ice shelf from forming and, even if it does form, combined slab and tabular calving along its advancing front can prevent the ice shelf from thickening enough to become grounded in the body of water. Calving mechanisms for tabular icebergs and ice slabs are presented to demonstrate that rates of ice calving alone are high enough to prevent ice caps from crossing the water bodies where Quaternary ice sheets had become grounded. Calving rates produced by the models are compatible with the observed calving rates from Alaskan tidewater glaciers and Greenland outlet glaciers along both grounded and floating calving fronts. In this case, the only way by which highland or island ice caps could cross these water bodies would be if sea ice on the water bodies had thickened and grounded independently from the advancing ice caps. This has been called the Marine Ice Transgression Hypothesis.
Dynamic spatiotemporal brain analyses using high performance electrical neuroimaging: theoretical framework and validation.

Abstract Background Since Berger's first EEG recordings in 1929, several techniques, initially developed for investigating periodic processes, have been applied to study non-periodic event-related brain state dynamics. New method We provide a theoretical comparison of the two approaches and present a new suite of data-driven analytic tools for the specific identification of the brain microstates in high-density event-related brain potentials (ERPs). This suite includes four different analytic methods. We validated this approach through a series of theoretical simulations and an empirical investigation of a basic visual paradigm, the reversal checkerboard task. Results Results indicate that the present suite of data-intensive analytic techniques, improves the spatiotemporal information one can garner about non-periodic brain microstates from high-density electrical neuroimaging data. Comparison with existing method(s) Compared to the existing methods (such as those based on k -clustering methods), the current micro-segmentation approach offers several advantages, including the data-driven (automatic) detection of non-periodic quasi-stable brain states. Conclusion This suite of quantitative methods allows the automatic detection of event-related changes in the global pattern of brain activity, putatively reflecting changes in the underlying neural locus for information processing in the brain, and event-related changes in overall brain activation. In addition, within-subject and between-subject bootstrapping procedures provide a quantitative means of investigating how robust are the results of the micro-segmentation.
Importance of the C-terminal helix to the stability and enzymatic activity of Escherichia coli ribonuclease H.

The ribonuclease H (RNase H) family of enzymes selectively degrades the RNA strand of RNA·DNA hybrids. This activity is essential for retroviruses such as HIV and resides in a domain of the larger reverse transcriptase molecule. RNase H from Escherichia coli is the best-characterized member of the family and serves as a model for structure/function studies. Despite having almost identical α + β folds, the isolated domain from HIV is inactive and much less stable than the E. coli homolog. The HIV domain also shows increased disorder in its C-terminal regions (E-helix and His-containing loop). We investigated the importance of this region by studying a variant of E. coli RNase H lacking these elements (RNHΔE). Despite the elimination of 33 of 155 residues (including a complete helix), this C-terminal deletion mutant folds cooperatively as a subdomain. Surprisingly, this protein lacking residues near the active site retains weak Mn2+-dependent activity. A peptide corresponding to the deleted E-helix is helic...
A molecular phylogeny of the Trichogrammatidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea), with an evaluation of the utility of their male genitalia for higher level classification

A molecular phylogeny of the Trichogrammatidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) is presented. This group of minute egg parasitoids is known from a broad range of host insects. The phylogeny produced, the first of any kind for the family, utilizes 121 taxa in fifty-two of the eighty-four recognized genera. Results were inferred from the ribosomal RNA regions 18S, 28S-D2 and 28S-D3, all aligned according to secondary structure models. Parsimony analysis was performed on both a complete and reduced dataset, in which ambiguous regions as defined by secondary structure were eliminated. The reduced dataset produced a much less resolved phylogenetic hypothesis. Only the complete dataset was utilized for Bayesian and maximum likelihood analyses. A robust-choice Bayesian hypothesis stemmed from the concatenation of five distinct character set parameters. The results are compared with the current classification based primarily on male genitalia. Although our conclusions are partially congruent with the accepted hypothesis of trichogrammatid relationships, none of the currently adopted assemblages was recovered as monophyletic. Nevertheless, the structure of the male genitalia does correspond with relative taxon position in the molecular hypotheses. In general, the greatest genitalic simplification and fusion characterizes taxa treated as the most derived in the molecular hypotheses. Several groups are consistently recovered, but relationships between these groups and other genera vary with the analytical method. A new classification of the Trichogrammatidae is proposed. It includes one tribe, Trichogrammatini, within the subfamily Trichogrammatinae, and three tribes, Paracentrobiini, Chaetostrichini and Oligositini, within the Oligositinae. All tribes are more narrowly defined than previously and many genera are treated as incertae sedis within each subfamily. The results are interpreted in the light of morphological evidence, and the placement of genera not represented in molecular analysis is inferred by morphology alone. Host associations throughout the family are varied, although the molecular results suggest that Trichogrammatidae primitively parasitized Coleoptera, with more recent radiations onto other insect orders, such as Lepidoptera and Hemiptera.
In vitro metabolism of 3-t-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole and its irreversible binding to proteins.

Abstract A method for the preparation of methyl-labelled 3- t -butyl-4-hydroxyanisole (BHA) is described. Metabolism of [ 14 C]BHA using four different enzyme systems (liver microsomes + NADPH; liver microsomes + cumene hydroperoxide (CHP); sheep seminal vesicle (SSV) microsomes (as a source of prostaglandin synthetase) + arachidonic acid (AA); horseradish peroxidase (HRP) + hydrogen peroxide) was investigated. In all systems, BHA was oxidized to a variety of products including formaldehyde, a dimer di-BHA, polar and water soluble metabolites as well as a reactive intermediate(s) that binds irreversibly to proteins. With liver microsomes and NADPH, phenobarbital (PB) induction gave increased yields of all products while 3-methylcholanthrene (MC) induction specifically increased protein binding but decreased other metabolite formation. BHA addition effectively discharged the activated oxygen complex of cytochrome P -450 (liver microsomes) as well as Comp. I and Comp. II of HRP suggesting that it is a good one electron peroxidase donor. BHA addition also increased the net rate of NADPH oxidation in the presence of liver microsomes suggesting uncoupling. It is proposed that in all systems investigated BHA is oxidized predominantly via a one electron oxidation process to yield first the BHA free radical which then dimerizes, forms more products or binds to proteins.
Magnetic resonance navigation for head and neck lesions.

Objective: Review applications of interventional magnetic resonance imaging and describe methods, procedures, and additional instrumentation for the magnetic resonance “operating theater.” Describe advantages of magnetic resonance navigation for biopsies of head and neck tumors. Study Design: Patients with palpable and nonpalpable head and neck and cranial base tumors were recruited into the study. Patients underwent magnetic resonance–guided biopsy. Retrospective analysis of 21 patients was conducted. Methods: 0.5 Tesla superconducting open magnetic resonance imaging was used for navigation of the biopsy needle. Patient records and magnetic resonance images were reviewed. The type, size, and location of the lesions were tabulated. Type of anesthesia and monitoring method were analyzed. The histopathologic correlation was conducted in patients who required further surgeries or open surgical biopsies. Results: Twenty-two biopsies were carried out in the magnetic resonance suite. One patient required general anesthesia and the other biopsies were conducted under intravenous sedation. There was only one case of nonconcurrence in a patient with Wegener's granulomatosis of the posterior orbit. Overall, a 92% concurrence rate between image-directed fine-needle aspiration, open biopsy, and surgical therapy was encountered. No complications occurred. Conclusions: The use of interventional magnetic resonance imaging to assist with fine-needle aspiration core biopsy has made the biopsy procedure safer and more accurate. Potentially morbid and disfiguring surgeries have been avoided in some patients. Deeper lesions have been more easily approached, as the needle for biopsy is under constant magnetic resonance guidance. Improved visualization for critical structures allows safer performance of biopsies. The primary difficulties of open magnetic resonance imaging relate to the need for nonferromagnetic instrumentation and equipment and their high costs. An inverse relationship exists between the imaging quality and the “dead time” required to acquire images. Key Words: Interventional magnetic resonance imaging, fine-needle aspiration, head and neck tumors.
Cued serial recall

Three studies introduced cuing in a serial recall task by providing some items of a list being tested on the test sheet. Results indicated both enhancement and decrement of item recall for cued vs. noncued recall as a function of the serial positions of the items used as cues. Data are interpreted as inconsistent with position learning hypotheses, mildly supportive of item-item relationship hypotheses, and most consistent with the Estes (1972) model of serial learning.
Link capacity allocation by input power spectrum

Consider a multimedia input traffic stream, described by a stationary random process. Our previous study indicates that second-order input statistics, which are described by a power spectrum in the frequency domain, play a dominant role in queueing performance as compared with higher-order input statistics. In this paper, we show the significant effect of an input power spectrum on link capacity allocation in a finite-buffer system to achieve a desired performance criterion. The study also explores a fundamental limit of buffer sizing to improve link capacity when traffic contains significant low-frequency power.
THE MASKING EFFECT OF EXTRAVASATED ANTIBODY ON THE RABBIT PAPILLOMA VIRUS (SHOPE)

The foregoing experiments have shown that the causative virus is usually "masked" in the large, disorderly, fissured and inflamed papillomas of cottontails when antiviral antibody is present in quantity in their blood, though virus can be recovered as a rule from the smaller, discrete, well ordered papillomas of these rabbits, almost irrespective of the amount of antibody in the blood of the individuals bearing them. Other findings are described which indicate that the masking of the virus in the large fissured growths is due to serum antibody present in them as result of exudation or hemorrhage, which neutralizes the virus when the growths are extracted or preserved in vitro. The local conditions that favor extravasation of serum (and the accumulation of antibody) prevail as a rule in the large, confluent growths arising after virus has been sown broadcast on scarified skin, but to lesser extent or not at all in the discrete papillomas that occur naturally or as result of tattoo inoculation. The state of affairs is notably different in the papillomas of domestic rabbits. The virus is regularly masked in these, and usually masked completely, even when there is little antibody in the blood and the local conditions do not favor its extravasation into the growths. The findings indicate that something other than antibody is primarily responsible for the masking in this species.
Stent-assisted angioplasty of intracranial vertebrobasilar atherosclerosis: an initial experience.

Object. Patients with intracranial vertebrobasilar artery (VBA) atherosclerotic occlusive disease have few therapeutic options. Unfortunately, VBA transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) herald a lethal or devastating event within 5 years in 25 to 30% of patients. The authors report their initial experience with eight patients in whom medically refractory TIAs secondary to intracranial posterior circulation atherosclerotic occlusive lesions were treated with stent-assisted angioplasty. Methods. Eight patients (six men), ranging in age from 43 to 77 years, experienced signs and symptoms of VBA insufficiency despite combination therapy with warfarin and antiplatelet agents. Angiographic studies revealed severe distal vertebral (four patients), proximal basilar (one patient), or proximal and midbasilar stenoses (three patients). Aspirin and clopidogrel were administered for 3 days before primary angioplasty and stent placement, and this regimen was maintained by the patients on discharge. Patients underwent heparinization during the procedure and were given a bolus and 12-hour infusion of abciximab. A neurologist specializing in stroke evaluated all patients before and after the procedure. The VBAs in all patients were successfully revascularized with 7 to 28% residual stenosis. Six patients experienced no neurological complications. One patient died the evening of the procedure due to a massive subarachnoid hemorrhage. Two patients had groin hematomas, one developed congestive heart failure, and one had transient encephalopathy. All surviving patients are asymptomatic up to 8 months postoperatively. Conclusions. Although primary intracranial VBA angioplasty with stent insertion is technically feasible, complications associated with the procedure can be life threatening. As experience is gained with this procedure, it may be offered routinely as an alternative therapy to patients with medically refractory posterior circulation occlusive disease that may develop into catastrophic VBA insufficiency.
Resonant States in the Nonperturbative Regime: The Hydrogen Atom in an Intense Electric Field

I present the first results of a precise measurement of the intense-field Stark effect in highly excited states of atomic hydrogen, a prototype system for experimental and theoretical studies of resonant states in the nonperturbative regime. I show that the quantity ${n}^{4}F$ (in atomic units), known to be important for field ionization, also governs the divergence properties of the perturbation series for the energy shift.
Moments of the decisive sample number and of the average time to termination of sequential tests

The moments of the decisive sample number and of the average time to termination of sequential tests are derived. All moments depend only on the probability of continuation of the sequential test at each step, or at each instant of time for time processes. Two theorems are proved. Although the second theorem may be proved by quoting a result used in Barlow and Proschan (1965), p. 33, or both theorems from a lemma in Govindarajulu (1975), pp. 518-519, the author’s direct proofs illuminate the results.
Sex Differences in Neurochemical Effects of Dopaminergic Drugs in Rat Striatum

Previous data indicate that dopamine neurotransmission is differently regulated in male and female rats. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the dopamine transporter and autoreceptor as potential loci responsible for this sex difference. Fast cyclic voltammetry at carbon-fiber microelectrodes was used to monitor changes in electrically evoked levels of extracellular dopamine in the striata of anesthetized male and female rats before and after administration of an uptake inhibitor, a dopamine D2 antagonist, or a D3/D2 agonist. Administration of 40 mg/kg cocaine ip increased electrically-evoked extracellular dopamine concentrations in both sexes, but to a significantly greater extent in female striatum at the higher stimulation frequencies. The typical antipsychotic, haloperidol, increased dopamine efflux in both sexes but the effect was twice as large in the female striatum. The D3/D2 agonist quinpirole induced an unexpected, transient increase in dopamine efflux following high-frequency stimulation only in females, and evoked dopamine was higher in females across this entire time course. More detailed analysis of cocaine effects revealed no fundamental sex differences in the interaction of cocaine with DAT in vivo or in synaptosomes. These results indicate that nigrostriatal dopamine neurotransmission in the female rat is more tightly regulated by autoreceptor and transporter mechanisms, perhaps related by greater autoreceptor control of DAT activity. Thus, baseline sex differences in striatal dopamine regulation induce different pharmacologic responses. These results contribute to understanding sex differences in stimulant-induced locomotor activity in rats and may have broader implications for neurologic disorders and their pharmacotherapies in humans.
The Disappearance of the Empirical: Some Reflections on Contemporary Culture Theory and Historiography

This paper surveys the parallel fates of the notion of the empirical in philosophy of science in the 20th century and the notion of experience as evidence in one important line of debate in historiography/philosophy of history. The focus concerns the presumably crucial role some notion of the empirical plays in the assessment of knowledge claims. The significance of 'the empirical' disappears on the assumption that theories either determine what counts as experience or explain away any apparently discordant evidence. One consequence of this has been the suggestion that the analysis of meaning somehow replaces or supplants that played by evidence qua fact. This dispute impacts in parallel ways the turf wars between philosophers of science and practitioners of science studies as well as disputes in historiography between literary theorists and those not so kindly disposed. The parallels suggest why historiographic debate has stalled for three decades.
The Providence Hospital blood conservation program

In 1953, the Medical Staff adopted in its bylaws “Indications for Blood Transfusion,” which are in brief as follows: 1. To replace needed whole blood volume; 2. For oxygen transport, (A) Anemic patient, otherwise well, must have seven or less Gm. per cent of hemoglobin, (B) Anemic patient with complications affecting oxygenation or is to undergo anesthesia may be transfused if the hemoglobin is less than 10 Gm. per cent; 3. Exchange transfusion, and 4. Fresh whole blood is indicated only in rare instances of dyscrasias where a labile element is important. In the period from 1953 to 1960, the application of these indications has resulted in a decreasing “use factor” (units transfused annually divided by the number of patients) from 0.237 to 0.110. The benefits achieved are the following: Limits the transfusions to patients having valid medical indications, protects the patients from the hazards of unnecessary transfusions, and eases the burden of donor recruitment and blood collection.
A Qualitative Study of the Sources and Impact of Stress Among Urban Teachers

Although urban teachers are at-risk of experiencing significant work-related stress, urban teacher stress has been neglected in the research literature to date. Through semi-structured interviews conducted with a sample of K-4 urban teachers (N = 14) from three high-poverty schools in a large, Midwestern city, we examined teachers’ perceptions regarding sources and impact of stress and the resources needed to address identified stressors. Results from consensual qualitative research (CQR; Hill et al. in Couns Psychol, 25:517–572, 1997; Hill et al. in Consensual qualitative research: an update, 2005) suggest that at least one-half of the cases identified lack of resources, excessive workload, school-level disorganization, managing behavior problems, and accountability policies as significant sources of stress. The majority of teachers reported that occupational stress significantly impacted their personal relationships and physical health, and teachers identified human and material resources as most important to reducing work-related stress. Implications for organizationally based interventions and school policies to address urban teacher stress are discussed.
Porous polysulfone as an attachment vehicle for orthopedic and dental implants.

The mechanical properties of porous polysulfone (PSF) were determined and its performance as a surface coating on orthopedic and dental implants evaluated. Ten coated femoral prostheses were implanted in nine dogs. A second series of four uncoated “control” prostheses and all of the acetabular cups were implanted using conventional bone cement techniques. Six porous PSF coated tooth roots were implanted in healed mandibular premolar extraction sites in three Rhesus monkeys. The shear strength of porous PSF (6 MPa) was comparable to that of trabecular bone. Pushout tests of 1cm. thick sections of the prostheses yielded interfacial shear strength values over 1.4 MPa for the PSF coated hips after 14 weeks and mean values under 0.7 MPa for the bone cemented specimens after 3 and 36 weeks. Bone and fibrous tissue was identified in the pores of coated specimens. Preliminary clinical evaluation of the functioning dental implants revealed zero mobility and other favorable clinical and radiographic indications aft...
The use of simulation in criminal justice policy evaluation

Abstract The criminal justice system is administered at the local level by many independent agencies and departments, often without regard to each other's objectives and often at the expense of overall effectiveness. This study has attempted to relate the primary system goal of crime control to a set of policy alternatives distributed over each criminal justice sector. Specifically, a simulation model based on the techniques of “industrial dynamics” was developed to evaluate combinations of the following policies: speedy trial, no plea bargaining, and restricted bail. Data obtained from the District of Columbia's criminal justice agencies were used to validate the model. The results of the analysis indicate that the system is basically insensitive to small perturbations, but is susceptible to disruption from large changes in input and procedure. Under the given set of assumptions, continuation of current practices will lead to a gradual deterioration in performance that can only be stemmed by large expenditures on manpower and facilities.
Framingham risk score is related to carotid artery intima-media thickness in both white and black young adults: the Bogalusa Heart Study

The Framingham risk score (FRS), developed in a white cohort aged 30-74 years, is increasingly used in the early risk identification for coronary artery disease (CAD). This study examines the relationship between FRS and carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT), a surrogate marker of coronary atherosclerosis, in black and white individuals aged 20-37 years. Five hundred seventeen young adults (aged 20-37 years; 71% white, 39% male) enrolled in the Bogalusa Heart Study had carotid artery ultrasonography. Age, gender, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol ratio, cigarette smoking habit, type 2 diabetes, and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) were used to calculate FRS. Results indicated a significant, positive linear relationship between tertiles of FRS and IMT of the common, bulb, and internal carotid segments in blacks and whites alike. In a multivariate analysis including FRS, race, BMI, parental history of CAD, stroke, type 2 diabetes, or hypertension, logtriglycerides, loginsulin, alcohol consumption (ml/week), and regular physical activity, the FRS was independently associated with all three carotid segments. Further, the FRS as a main predictor variable explained relatively more of the variance in the IMT of the carotid bulb (9%) than in the common (5%) or internal (3%) carotid segments. These results support the use of FRS in both white and black young adults and underscore the importance of prevention and control of multiple risk factors in youth.
Nickel Catalyst-Assisted Vertical Growth of Dense Carbon Nanotube Forests on Bulk Copper

Vertical growth of carbon nanotubes using thermal chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is demonstrated on bulk copper substrates by first sputtering a thin Ni film on the surface of copper. Vertical growth of carbon nanotubes occurred when the nickel film thickness was 20 nm and the carbon nanotubes were grown using a xylene source and additional ferrocene catalyst during CVD. These results show the effectiveness of this method in directly integrating carbon nanotubes with highly conductive substrates for applications where a conductive carbon nanotube network is desirable.
Lasso peptides: structure, function, biosynthesis, and engineering.

Covering: up to May 2012 Lasso peptides are a class of ribosomally-synthesized and posttranslationally-modified natural products with diverse bioactivities. This review describes the structure and function of all known lasso peptides (as of mid-2012) and covers our current knowledge about the biosynthesis of those molecules. The isolation and characterization of lasso peptides are also covered as are bioinformatics strategies for the discovery of new lasso peptides from genomic sequence data. Several studies on the engineering of new or improved function into lasso peptides are highlighted, and unanswered questions in the field are also described.
Acid-base blend membranes based on 2-amino-benzimidazole and sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) for direct methanol fuel cells

Abstract Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC) are attractive for portable and automobile power needs, but their commercialization is hampered by high methanol permeability and the high cost of the currently used Nafion membrane. We report here a novel, low-cost blend membrane consisting of polysulfone-2-amide-benzimidazole (a basic polymer) and sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (an acidic polymer), which facilitates proton conduction through acid–base interactions while preserving excellent chemical and mechanical stabilities. The blend membrane exhibits performance in DMFC much higher than that of Nafion 115 and similar to that of Nafion 112, but with a remarkably superior long-term performance than Nafion 112 due to significantly reduced methanol crossover, enhancing the commercialization prospects of DMFC.
Options for integrated beam experiments for inertial fusion energy and high-energy density physics research☆

Abstract The Heavy Ion Fusion Virtual National Laboratory (HIF–VNL), a collaboration among LBNL, LLNL, and PPPL, is presently focused on separate smaller-scale scientific experiments addressing key issues of future Inertial Fusion Energy (IFE) and High-Energy-Density-Physics (HEDP) drivers: the injection, transport, and focusing of intense heavy ion beams at currents from 25 to 600 mA. As a next major step in the HIF–VNL program, we aim for a fully integrated beam physics experiment, which allows integrated source-to-target physics research with a high-current heavy ion beam of IFE-relevant brightness with the goal of optimizing target focusing. This paper describes two rather different options for such an integrated experiment, the Integrated Beam Experiment (IBX) and the Neutralized Drift Compression Experiment (NDCX). Both proposals put emphasis on the unique capability for integrated injection, acceleration, compression, and focusing of a high-current, space-charge-dominated heavy ion beam.
Biosymbols: Symbols in Life and Mind

The strong continuity thesis postulates that the properties of mind are an enriched version of the properties of life, and thus that life and mind differ in degree and not kind. A philosophical problem for this view is the ostensive discontinuity between humans and other animals in virtue of our use of symbols—particularly the presumption that the symbolic nature of human cognition bears no relation to the basic properties of life. In this paper, we make the case that a genuine account of strong continuity requires the identification of some sort of correlate of symbol-use in basic life properties. Our strategy is three-fold: 1) we argue that examples of proto-symbolism in simple living systems would be consistent with an evolutionary trajectory that ultimately produced symbolic cognition in humans; 2) we introduce Gordon Tomkins’ biological notion of ‘symbol’ as something that represents to the organism a feature of its environment that is significant to its survival; and 3) we employ this biological understanding of symbol-use to suggest that the symbolic nature of human cognition can be understood as an enriched version of the basic symbolic properties of life, thus preserving life-mind continuity in this context.
Incongruence between stroke survivor and spouse perceptions of survivor functioning and effects on spouse mental health: a mixed-methods pilot study

Objectives: This pilot study investigated stroke survivors’ and caregiving spouses’ individual perspectives on survivor cognitive and physical functioning and the extent to which incongruence between partners’ perceptions affects spouse depressive symptoms and overall mental health.Method: Mixed-methods, with quantitative survey data from 35 couples and qualitative interview data from a subsample of 13 couples being collected and analyzed using paired t-tests, multiple regression with survivor–spouse discrepancy scores as predictors of spouse depressive symptoms, and interpretive-description techniques.Results: Quantitative data indicated that spouses rated survivor cognitive functioning as significantly worse than survivors rated their own and that survivor–spouse discrepancy scores for physical functioning were significantly associated with spouse depressive symptoms. Qualitative data enhanced understanding about the nuances of partner incongruence and the ramifications of partner incongruence for spous...
Impact of Children's Mental Health Problems on Families Relationships with Service Use

Impact on the family resulting from children's emotional and behavioral problems, with particular attention to relationships between such family impact and use of mental health services, is explored in this article. Data come from the Great Smoky Mountains Study, an epidemiologic, longitudinal study of children's mental health problems and service use in a rural region of the southeastern United States. Reported measures include the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Assessment, Child and Adolescent Service Assessment, and Child and Adolescent Impact Assessment. Youths who first used services when they were 10-15 years of age showed significantly higher rates and levels of family impact than similar youths who did not enter services. Such impacts were most notable in the areas of parental well-being (e.g., depression, worries) and parents' sense of competence to handle the child's problems. Youths in this age range who used services but were not new to the system showed somewhat higher rates of family impact than youths who were new to the system, particularly in the area of parental use of mental health services. We discuss these findings in terms of service provision and further research needs. T HERE HAS BEEN A GREAT DEAL
Nail dust aerosols from onychomycotic toenails. Part II. Clinical and serologic aspects. 1984

The podiatric procedure of burring hyperkeratotic fungal infected toenails results in large quantities of nail dust aerosols. An extremely large percentage (31%) of podiatrists who were analyzed for immunoglobulin E (IgE) by antibody radioimmunoassay were found to have abnormally high levels. Incidence of precipitin antibodies to Trichophyton rubrum in sera of those in practice from 0 to 15 years was 23%, and those in practice 16 years or more was 29%. In this study, podiatrists who were chronically exposed to nail dust aerosols after years of practice presented with symptoms of conjunctivitis, rhinitis, asthma, coughing, hypersensitivity, and impaired lung function.
Ammonium sorption to channel and riparian sediments: A transient storage pool for dissolved inorganic nitrogen

Sediment (0.5 mm–2.0 mm grain size) was incubated in nylon bags (200 μm mesh) below the water table in the channel and in two transects of shallow wells perpendicular to the banks (to 18 m) of a third-order stream during August, 1987. One transect of wells drained steep old-growth forest, and the other a steep 23 year-old clear-cut partially regenerated in alder. At approximately 6-week intervals between October, 1987, and June, 1988, bags were retrieved. Total exchangeable ammonium was determined on sediment, and dissolved oxygen, nitrate and ammonium were determined in stream and well water. Exchangeable ammonium ranged from 10 μeq/100 g of sediment in the stream where nitrification potential and subsurface exchange with stream water were high, to 115 μeq/100 g sediment 18 m inland where channel water-groundwater mixing and nitrification potential were both low. Sorbed ammonium was highest during summer/autumn base flow and lowest during winter storm flow. Both channel and well water contained measurable dissolved oxygen at all times. Ammonium concentration was typically < 10 μg-N/L in channel water, increased with distance inland, but did not exceed 365 μg-N/L at any site. Nitrate concentration was typically higher in well water than channel water. Nitrate levels increased dramatically in wells at the base of the clear-cut following the onset of autumn rains. The results indicate a potential for temporary storage of ammonium on riparian sediments which may influence biotic nitrogen cycling, and alter the timing and form of dissolved inorganic nitrogen transport from the watershed.