cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Context Memory Encoding and Retrieval Temporal Dynamics are Modulated by Attention across the Adult Lifespan.

Abstract Episodic memories are multidimensional, including simple and complex features. How we successful encode and recover these features in time, whether these temporal dynamics are preserved across age, even under conditions of reduced memory performance, and the role of attention on these temporal dynamics is unknown. In the current study, we applied time-resolved multivariate decoding to oscillatory electroencephalography (EEG) in an adult lifespan sample to investigate the temporal order of successful encoding and recognition of simple and complex perceptual context features. At encoding, participants studied pictures of black and white objects presented with both color (low-level/simple) and scene (high-level/complex) context features and subsequently made context memory decisions for both features. Attentional demands were manipulated by having participants attend to the relationship between the object and either the color or scene while ignoring the other context feature. Consistent with hierarchical visual perception models, simple visual features (color) were successfully encoded earlier than were complex features (scenes). These features were successfully recognized in the reverse temporal order. Importantly, these temporal dynamics were both dependent on whether these context features were in the focus of one’s attention, and preserved across age, despite age-related context memory impairments. These novel results support the idea that episodic memories are encoded and retrieved successively, likely dependent on the input and output pathways of the medial temporal lobe (MTL), and attentional influences that bias activity within these pathways across age. Significance Statement The events we learn and remember in our lives consist of simple context details like color and more complex ones like scenes. Whether we learn and recognize these memory details successively or simultaneously, and whether attending to some features but not others impacts when we encode and retrieve them is unknown. Using high temporal resolution neural activity patterns, we found color details were successfully encoded earlier than scene ones but recognized in the reverse order. Importantly, these temporal dynamics depended on which feature was in the focus of one’s attention and were preserved across age. These findings elucidate the successive manner in which the features that constitute our memories are encoded and retrieved and the conditions that impact these dynamics.
The peak energy of dissipative gamma-ray burst photospheres

The radiation released at the transparency radius of an ultrarelativistic flow can account for the observed properties of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) provided that sufficient energy is dissipated in the sub-photospheric region. Here, I investigate how the peak energy of the Ef(E) spectrum and its overall shape depend on the properties of the jet for various ‘dissipative photospheres’. I find that continuous energy release which results in electron heating over a wide range of distances may be the key to explain the GRB emission. In this picture, the peak of the spectrum forms at a Thomson optical depth of several tens. The peak depends mainly on the bulk Lorentz factor Γ of the flow and can, therefore, be used to determine it. The Γ is predicted to range from ∼10 to 1000 from X-ray flashes to the brightest observed GRBs in agreement with recent observational inferences. The Amati relation can be understood if the brightest bursts are the least baryon loaded ones. Implications from this interpretation of the GRB emission for the central engine are discussed.
Telehealth and the digital divide as a social determinant of health during the COVID-19 pandemic

Telehealth has been shown to have comparable health outcomes in terms of patient-physician communication, and patient satisfaction and engagement. Nevertheless, the digital divide has exacerbated the social and economic factors that create barriers to health and well-being. It, therefore, maybe a social determinant of health (SDOH). Such issues as decreased internet connectivity and a lack of Wi-Fi and video chat/webcam in both urban and rural areas can hinder the effectiveness of telehealth to its full capability, especially among communities of color, the poor, and medically underserved. The social aspects of the provision of health care by physicians and health care workers are utilized to combat mistrust and strengthen the physician–patient therapeutic relationship. Addressing policy changes to address the digital divide as a SDOH may strengthen existing health care and public health systems to allow for patient and community-centered approaches to expressing lived narratives, including in a digital format.
Disparities in Telemedicine Access: A Cross-Sectional Study of a Newly Established Infrastructure during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background The COVID-19 pandemic led to dramatic increases in telemedicine use to provide outpatient care without in-person contact risks. Telemedicine increases options for health care access, but a “digital divide” of disparate access may prevent certain populations from realizing the benefits of telemedicine. Objectives The study aimed to understand telemedicine utilization patterns after a widespread deployment to identify potential disparities exacerbated by expanded telemedicine usage. Methods We performed a cross-sectional retrospective analysis of adults who scheduled outpatient visits between June 1, 2020 and August 31, 2020 at a single-integrated academic health system encompassing a broad range of subspecialties and a large geographic region in the Upper Midwest, during a period of time after the initial surge of COVID-19 when most standard clinical services had resumed. At the beginning of this study period, approximately 72% of provider visits were telemedicine visits. The primary study outcome was whether a patient had one or more video-based visits, compared with audio-only (telephone) visits or in-person visits only. The secondary outcome was whether a patient had any telemedicine visits (video-based or audio-only), compared with in-person visits only. Results A total of 197,076 individuals were eligible (average age = 46 years, 56% females). Increasing age, rural status, Asian or Black/African American race, Hispanic ethnicity, and self-pay/uninsured status were significantly negatively associated with having a video visit. Digital literacy, measured by patient portal activation status, was significantly positively associated with having a video visit, as were Medicaid or Medicare as payer and American Indian/Alaskan Native race. Conclusion Our findings reinforce previous evidence that older age, rural status, lower socioeconomic status, Asian race, Black/African American race, and Hispanic/Latino ethnicity are associated with lower rates of video-based telemedicine use. Health systems and policies should seek to mitigate such barriers to telemedicine when possible, with efforts such as digital literacy outreach and equitable distribution of telemedicine infrastructure.
Prepubertal exposure to dietary zearalenone alters hypothalamo-hypophysial function but does not impair postpubertal reproductive function of gilts.

At an average age of 70 d, 60 Yorkshire gilts born either in July (Trial 1; n = 30) or August (Trial 2; n = 30) received a diet containing zearalenone for 0 (control), 45 or 90 d. The concentration of zearalenone in diets was 2 ppm for 2 wk and 1.5 ppm for the remainder of the study. Vulval swelling and reddening was evident within 7 d after zearalenone was first fed. Zearalenone consumption had no effect on BW or backfat depth. Puberty occurred in Trial 1 at 219 +/- 6 d and was not influenced by zearalenone. Gilts in Trial 2 were divided into two groups; blood samples were taken from 12 gilts to assess pulsatile LH patterns and LH response to estradiol benzoate (EB) and 18 were handled similarly to those in Trial 1. Of this latter subgroup, age at puberty was younger (P less than .05) with zearalenone (217 +/- 7.0, 193 +/- 9.1 and 185.6 +/- 8.2 d for 0-, 45-, and 90-d treatments). Prepubertal consumption of zearalenone did not affect conception rates, ovulation rates, number of fetuses or percentage of embryo survival following mating at pubertal estrus. Two days before the 90-d experimental period ended for Trial 2, blood samples were taken from 12 gilts (four/treatment) every 15 min for 4 h prior to injection of EB (10 micrograms/kg) and every 6 h for 108 h after EB. Analysis of pulsatile patterns of LH revealed no influence of zearalenone on the number of peaks/4 h, baseline concentration or peak height.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Genetic control of the cell division cycle in yeast: II. Genes controlling DNA replication and its initiation☆☆☆

Temperature-sensitive mutations occurring in two unlinked complementation groups, cdc4 and cdc8, are recessive and result in a defect in DNA replication at the restrictive temperature. Results obtained with synchronous cultures suggest that cdc4 functions in the initiation of DNA replication and cdc8 functions in the propagation of DNA replication. From the behavior of mutant strains carrying lesions in cdc4, or in cdc8, or in both genes it is concluded that: (1) nuclear division and cell separation in yeast are dependent upon prior DNA replication; (2) a cellular clock controls bud initiation and the running of this clock is independent of the other events in the cycle, DNA replication, nuclear division and cell separation; (3) premature bud initiation is normally prevented as a consequence of the successful initiation of DNA replication.
The creation and early history of the Berkeley Statistics Department

This paper sketches the development of the Berkeley statistics group from Neyman’s appointment as Professor of Mathematics in 1938 to its status as an independent Department of Statistics in 1955. It ends with a brief description of Neyman’s resignation as chair of the Department in 1956 and its transition to a new era under the chairmanship of David Blackwell.
Moderators of placebo response to antipsychotic treatment in patients with schizophrenia: a meta-regression.

Abstract Rationale. Variation in placebo response within and among clinical trials involving patients with schizophrenia can substantially affect conclusions about the efficacy of new antipsychotic medications. Therefore, it is of great importance to identify factors that moderate response to placebo in such trials. Objective. The objective of this meta-regression analysis was to estimate the effect of potential moderators of placebo response in randomized, short-term clinical trials involving patients with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder or schizophreniform disorder. Methods. Mean placebo response and potential moderators were extracted from 35 placebo-controlled, randomized trials of antipsychotic medications in patients with schizophrenia. Placebo response was defined as the absolute change in the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale total score. Fixed-effects meta-regression was used to investigate between-trial variation in placebo response. Results. Trial duration accounted for a substantial proportion of the between-trial variation in response (27%), with greater improvement on placebo observed in shorter trials. Other variables showed insufficient variation across trials to permit any inferences regarding their relationships with placebo response. Conclusions. Placebo-controlled trials of short duration (<6–8 weeks) are vulnerable to substantial placebo response. Recruiting patients with more severe pathology to mitigate placebo response does not appear to offer benefits and may even be counterproductive. Meta-analyses based on individual patient data offer the potential for much more detailed and inferentially sound exploration of factors affecting placebo response and are highly recommended.
Micromethod for Identification of Anaerobic Bacteria: Design and Operation of Apparatus

Abstract A replicator is described for transferring 48 bacterial cultures into separate wells of microtiter plates. The device was designed for determination of carbohydrate fermentation patterns of anaerobic bacteria but should be useful for other applications. A simple device for filling microtiter wells with media is also described.
A behaviorist's response to the report of the national commission on excellence in education.

The National Commission on Excellence in Education was charged with the responsibility for examining the quality of education in America. Its report, “A Nation at Risk” (1983), contained a set of alarming facts about the status of American education. These were followed by a set of five major recommendations for improving the situation. They related to (1) content, (2) standards and expectations, (3) time, (4) teaching, and (5) leadership and support. The present paper examines each of the set of recommendations from a behavior analytic perspective. It notes what the field of behavior analysis can say on the subject now; what it potentially might address and remediate at this time; what it might explore and predict; and in general what it can do to make a difference. Behavior analysis has made many important discoveries that should be communicated to educators and the public, and it has tools and concepts for further contributing toward the improvement of education.
Regulatory myosin light-chain genes of Caenorhabditis elegans.

Abstract We have cloned and analyzed the Caenorhabditis elegans regulatory myosin light-chain genes. C. elegans contains two such genes, which we have designated mlc-1 and mlc-2. The two genes are separated by 2.6 kilobases and are divergently transcribed. We determined the complete nucleotide sequences of both mlc-1 and mlc-2. A single, conservative amino acid substitution distinguishes the sequences of the two proteins. The C. elegans proteins are strongly homologous to regulatory myosin light chains of Drosophila melanogaster and vertebrates and weakly homologous to a superfamily of eucaryotic calcium-binding proteins. Both mlc-1 and mlc-2 encode abundant mRNAs. We mapped the 5' termini of these transcripts by using primer extension sequencing of mRNA templates. mlc-1 mRNAs initiate within conserved hexanucleotides at two different positions, located at -28 and -38 relative to the start of translation. The 5' terminus of mlc-2 mRNA is not encoded in the 4.8-kilobase genomic region upstream of mlc-2. Rather, mlc-2 mRNA contains at its 5' end a short, untranslated leader sequence that is identical to the trans-spliced leader sequence of three C. elegans actin genes.
Demand Theory of Gene Regulation. I. Quantitative Development of the Theory

The study of gene regulation has shown that a variety of molecular mechanisms are capable of performing this essential function. The physiological implications of these various designs and the conditions that might favor their natural selection are far from clear in most instances. Perhaps the most fundamental alternative is that involving negative or positive modes of control. Induction of gene expression can be accomplished either by removing a restraining element, which permits expression from a high-level promoter, or by providing a stimulatory element, which facilitates expression from a low-level promoter. This particular design feature is one of the few that is well understood. According to the demand theory of gene regulation, the negative mode will be selected for the control of a gene whose function is in low demand in the organism's natural environment, whereas the positive mode will be selected for the control of a gene whose function is in high demand. These qualitative predictions are well supported by experimental evidence. Here we develop the quantitative implications of this demand theory. We define two key parameters: the cycle time C, which is the average time for a gene to complete an ON/OFF cycle, and demand D, which is the fraction of the cycle time that the gene is ON. Mathematical analysis involving mutation rates and growth rates in different environments yields equations that characterize the extent and rate of selection. Further analysis of these equations reveals two thresholds in the C vs. D plot that create a well-defined region within which selection of wild-type regulatory mechanisms is realizable. The theory also predicts minimum and maximum values for the demand D, a maximum value for the cycle time C, as well as an inherent asymmetry between the regions for selection of the positive and negative modes of control.
Correlations in Ion Channel mRNA in Rhythmically Active Neurons

Background: To what extent do identified neurons from different animals vary in their expression of ion channel genes? In neurons of the same type, is ion channel expression highly variable and/or is there any relationship between ion channel expression that is conserved? Methodology/Principal Findings: To address these questions we measured ion channel mRNA in large cells (LCs) of the crab cardiac ganglion. We cloned a calcium channel, caco, and a potassium channel, shaker. Using single-cell quantitative PCR, we measured levels of mRNA for these and 6 other different ion channels in cardiac ganglion LCs. Across the population of LCs we measured 3–9 fold ranges of mRNA levels, and we found correlations in the expression of many pairs of conductances Conclusions/Significance: In previous measurements from the crab stomatogastric ganglion (STG), ion channel expression was variable, but many pairs of channels had correlated expression. However, each STG cell type had a unique combination of ion channel correlations. Our findings from the crab cardiac ganglion are similar, but the correlations in the LCs are different from those in STG neurons, supporting the idea that such correlations could be markers of cell identity or activity.
A Unified Framework To Find Differentially Expressed Genes from Microarray Experiments

This paper presents a unified framework for finding differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from the two-sample microarray data. The proposed framework has three interrelated modules viz. (i) two-way clustering, ii) adaptive ranking and iii) visualization. The first module uses a progressive clustering technique to functionally classify the marker genes as well as finding the DEGs and the second module yields a list of DEGs ranked based on statistical significance. A weighted scheme is employed to fuse the two-way clustering and ranking modules to find DEGs. A visualization module is added to validate the results. Empirical analyses on 50 artificially generated microarray datasets and 2 cancer datasets show that the unified framework performs better in finding DEGs when compared to reported results on the same datasets.
Creating a curriculum on childhood traumatic stress

The relative absence of child psychiatrists among professionals actively involved in the field of child maltreatment and other forms of childhood traumatic stress is largely attributable to a historical lack of attention to this subject in standard child psychiatry residency training. This article describes a curriculum for a child and adolescent psychiatry residency that focuses on childhood traumatic stress and integrates this subject into all of the required clinical rotations and didactic courses. Ways in which existing training programs in child psychiatry and related fields can integrate this focus into standard curricula are discussed, and such programs are encouraged to pay greater attention to this topic in training new professionals to work with children and families.
Nematicity as a probe of superconducting pairing in iron-based superconductors

In several families of iron-based superconducting materials, a $d$-wave pairing instability may compete with the leading $s$-wave instability. Here, we show that when both states have comparable free energies, superconducting and nematic degrees of freedom are strongly coupled. Whereas nematic order causes a sharp nonanalytic increase in ${T}_{c}$, nematic fluctuations can change the character of the $s$-wave to $d$-wave transition, favoring an intermediate state that does not break time-reversal symmetry but does break tetragonal symmetry. The coupling between superconductivity and nematicity is also manifested in the strong softening of the shear modulus across the superconducting transition. Our results show that nematicity can be used as a diagnostic tool to search for unconventional pairing states in iron pnictides and chalcogenides.
Validity and cost-effectiveness of antisperm antibody testing before in vitro fertilization

Abstract Objective: To determine the usefulness of and cost-effectiveness of antisperm antibody testing in the prediction of poor fertilization rates in couples undergoing IVF. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: A hospital-based reproductive endocrinology and infertility practice. Patient(s): Male partners of 251 couples undergoing IVF between 1992 and 1997. Main Outcome Measure(s): Fertilization rates in couples undergoing conventional IVF. Result(s): One hundred nineteen couples were evaluated for antisperm antibodies; fertilization rates were similar in those couples whose husbands were and were not tested (64% versus 68%). Antisperm antibodies were detected in 16 men. Four (25%) of the 16 couples whose husbands had antisperm antibodies fertilized ≤50% of oocytes, compared with 31 (30%) of the 103 couples whose husbands did not have these antibodies. Overall, 21 couples (8.4%) experienced complete fertilization failure. In a program that included antisperm antibody testing for selected couples and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) for those who tested positive, it would cost $11,735 to prevent a fertilization failure (assuming ICSI were 100% effective), whereas it would cost $9,250 to perform ICSI in a second IVF cycle for those who initially failed. Conclusion(s): In this practice setting, antisperm antibody testing has low sensitivity in predicting low or no fertilization and does not appear to be cost-effective when selectively ordered as part of an IVF workup.
Gas sorption and transport in UV-irradiated polyarylate copolymers based on tetramethyl bisphenol-A and dihydroxybenzophenone

Abstract Gas sorption and transport properties at 35°C are reported for a series of ultraviolet irradiated polyarylates prepared from tetramethyl bisphenol-A (TMBPA), 4,4′-dihydroxybenzophenone (DHB), and 5-tertiary-butyl isophthalic acid dichloride (tBIA). UV irradiation induces crosslinking and photo-Fries rearrangements in these polymers. The gas permeability of the polyarylates decreases with UV irradiation due to reductions in the diffusion coefficient; however, the ideal selectivity for all gas pairs increases with UV irradiation. The effect of UV irradiation on the gas transport properties of the polyarylates is compared with that reported in the literature for similar polyimide materials. The polyimides show much greater improvement in selectivity than do the current polyarylate materials. The photo-Fries rearrangements limit the amount of crosslinking achievable in these polyarylate materials in spite of the fact that additional benzophenone units are formed.
A gas-permeable photoacoustic cell.

A photoacoustic cell assembly is described that is permeable to CO2 and other gases but not water vapor. As a replacement for the usually employed solid cover, this cell uses a cover containing a small fritted glass disk that holds a small piece of 6.4 μm Teflon film against the sample.
Catastrophic complications of previous cesarean section

Of 711 patients who were delivered after one or more previous cesarean sections, 17 (2.4%) had an extremely serious complication. Uterine rupture and placenta previa or placenta accreta with accompanying hemorrhage were the major contributors to mortality and major morbidity. Nine uterine ruptures occurred, including five associated with labor with a low transverse uterine scar and one with an unknown scar (1.4% of trials of labor). There were two cases of placenta previa and five with varying degrees of placenta accreta. The nature and frequency of the observed complications emphasize the potentially serious remote consequences of cesarean section.
Introducing a population-based outcome measure to evaluate the effect of interventions to reduce catheter-associated urinary tract infection

Background The catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) measure recommended by the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) accounts for the risk of infection in patients with an indwelling urinary catheter, but might not adequately reflect all efforts aimed to enhance patient safety by reducing urinary catheter use. Methods We used computer-based Monte Carlo simulation to compare the NHSN-recommended CAUTI rate (CAUTIs per 1,000 catheter-days) with the proposed “population CAUTI rate” (CAUTIs per 10,000 patient-days). We simulated 100 interventions with a wide range of effects on catheter utilization and CAUTI risk in patients with catheters, and then compared the 2 measures before and after intervention across the simulated interventions. Results Out of our 100 simulated interventions, 93 yielded reductions in CAUTI; however, in 25 (27%) of these 93 simulations, the NHSN CAUTI rate increased after the intervention. In addition, among the 68 simulations in which both the NHSN and the population CAUTI rates decreased, the percent decreases in the population CAUTI rate were consistently greater than those in the NHSN rate. Conclusion The population CAUTI rate—CAUTIs per 10,000 patient-days—should be calculated along with the NHSN rate, particularly in settings where interventions lead to substantial reductions in catheter placement. We suspect that this population CAUTI rate may eventually emerge as a primary outcome for hospital-based quality improvement interventions for reducing urinary catheter utilization, especially those focusing on avoiding urinary catheter placement.
The crystal structure of bis(isopropylammonium)tetrachlorocuprate(II)

Abstract The structure of the low temperature (green) phase of the thermochromic compound bis(isopropylammonium)tetrachlorocuprate(II), [CH3)2CHNH3]2CuCl4, has been determined by X-ray diffraction. The compound crystallizes in the triclinic space group P1 with lattice constants of a = 7.245(1) A, b = 14.588(1) A, c = 21.738(1) A, α = 87.08(1)°, β = 103.59(1)° and γ = 104.73(1)° at 20°C. There are six formula units per unit cell. Least squares refinement of 3240 reflections with I >2σ1 led to a final value of R = 7.3%. The structure contains discrete CuCl42− ions which pack together to form infinite ribbons parallel to the a-axis. The ribbons are held together by hydrogen bonds between the CuCl42− ions and the isopropylammonium ions. One-third of the CuCl42− ions have a square-planar geometry; the other two-thirds have a small tetrahedral distortion superimposed on the square- planar configuration.
Farnesoid X receptor inhibits gankyrin in mouse livers and prevents development of liver cancer

One of the early events in the development of liver cancer is a neutralization of tumor suppressor proteins Rb, p53, hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α (HNF4α), and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) α. The elimination of these proteins is mediated by a small subunit of proteasome, gankyrin, which is activated by cancer. The aim of this study was to determine the mechanisms that repress gankyrin in quiescent livers and mechanisms of activation of gankyrin in liver cancer. We found that farnesoid X receptor (FXR) inhibits expression of gankyrin in quiescent livers by silencing the gankyrin promoter through HDAC1-C/EBPβ complexes. C/EBPβ is a key transcription factor that delivers HDAC1 to gankyrin promoter and causes epigenetic silencing of the promoter. We show that down-regulation of C/EBPβ in mouse hepatoma cells and in mouse livers reduces C/EBPβ-HDAC1 complexes and activates the gankyrin promoter. Deletion of FXR signaling in mice leads to de-repression of the gankyrin promoter and to spontaneous development of liver cancer at 12 months of age. Diethylnitrosoamine (DEN)-mediated liver cancer in wild-type mice also involves the reduction of FXR and activation of gankyrin. Examination of liver cancer in old mice and liver cancer in human patients revealed that FXR is reduced, while gankyrin is elevated during spontaneous development of liver cancer. Searching for animal models with altered levels of FXR, we found that long-lived Little mice have high levels of FXR and do not develop liver cancer with age and after DEN injections due to failure to activate gankyrin and eliminate Rb, p53, HNF4α and C/EBPα proteins. Conclusion: FXR prevents liver cancer by inhibiting the gankyrin promoter via C/EBPβ-HDAC1 complexes, leading to subsequent protection of tumor suppressor proteins from degradation. (HEPATOLOGY 2013)
Napoleon as a General: Command from the Battlefield to Grand Strategy – By Jonathan Riley

If, as is frequently asserted, more books have been written about the life and career of Napoleon Bonaparte than all but a handful of figures in world history, the appearance of a new study invaria...
Modeling Alveolar Soft Part Sarcomagenesis in the Mouse: A Role for Lactate in the Tumor Microenvironment

Alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS), a deadly soft tissue malignancy with a predilection for adolescents and young adults, associates consistently with t(X;17) translocations that generate the fusion gene ASPSCR1-TFE3. We proved the oncogenic capacity of this fusion gene by driving sarcomagenesis in mice from conditional ASPSCR1-TFE3 expression. The completely penetrant tumors were indistinguishable from human ASPS by histology and gene expression. They formed preferentially in the anatomic environment highest in lactate, the cranial vault, expressed high levels of lactate importers, harbored abundant mitochondria, metabolized lactate as a metabolic substrate, and responded to the administration of exogenous lactate with tumor cell proliferation and angiogenesis. These data demonstrate lactate's role as a driver of alveolar soft part sarcomagenesis.
Osmoregulatory Functions of Neurohypophysial Hormones in Fishes and Amphibians

The renal effects of neurohypophysial hormones in fishes and amphibians are discussed. Injections of arginine vasotocin (AVT) elicit diuresis in fishes, but antidiuresis in amphibians. However, the physiological significance of these hormonal responses remains to be demonstrated. Studies with bioassays and radio-immunoassays on circulating levels of AVT indicate that hypovolemia may be a very potent stimulus for the release of the hormone. Hyperosmotic stimuli may not be as important. In anurans, mesotocin has a glomerular diuretic effect. This neurohypophysial hormone appears to dilate, while AVT constricts, the afferent glomerular circulation in bullfrogs, Rana catesbeiana .
SU-FF-T-336: Influence of Permanent I-125 Seeds On the Dose Perturbation to Prostate Using 6MV and 18MV Beams

Purpose: Many times a suboptimal dose distribution resulting from I‐125 seeds in prostate brachytherapy is salvaged by giving additional radiation dose using 3DCRT/IMRT. In standard treatment planning, the dosimetric perturbations introduced by the existing seeds are usually ignored. Present study aims at studying these perturbations for 6MV and 18MV beams within a phantom setting in region immediately behind the seed. Methods and Materials: Three Kodak X‐OmatV films were placed on top of 10cm of Solid Water at 100cm SSD. On top of the films a single non‐radioactive (preactivated) seed was placed and aligned parallel in the longitudinal direction under 1cm bolus and 4cm Solid Water for a total buildup of 5cm. A 1cm × 1cm field was setup and irradiated with 10MU of 6MV and 18MV photons. A second set of measurements was obtained using three seeds each separated vertically by 0.5cm bolus material allowing the study of the interseed shielding effect. Control fields were irradiated with no seeds. All the films belonged to the same batch and were processed simultaneously. The films were scanned using a Vidar VXR‐16 scanner and analyzed using RIT 113 Version 5.1 obtaining profiles in the transverse and longitudinal direction. Results: For the single seed measurement, at about 0.5mm from the seed (top film), the maximum change in dose from having no seed was 27.1% (6MV) and 13.4% (18MV). The three seed measurement revealed 24.1% (6MV) and 11.1% (18MV). Conclusion: The dose perturbation caused by the I‐125 seeds is significant locally around the seed. This can be seen by the fact that the change in the dose profile is independent of the number of seeds spaced intermitted above the seed.
Case Assessment and Service Receipt in Families Experiencing Both Child Maltreatment and Woman Battering

Professional attention to families experiencing both child maltreatment and woman battering has increased in recent years. This study examined data for 172 families—95 families for which police had filed child abuse incident reports and adult domestic assault incident reports, and 77 other families for which police had filed child maltreatment reports but had no documentation of domestic assaults. Exploring differences between the two groups of families, the authors found that dual-violence families were more likely to include an unrelated male in the household, to involve a neglect allegation, and to include perpetrator substance abuse. Child protection workers assessed dual-violence families to be at higher risk and were more likely to open the case for child protection services. Among open cases, however, dual-violence families received fewer services but were more likely to be referred to the county attorney. These findings and their implications for policy, practice, and research are discussed.
Decision-Making About Reproductive Choices Among Individuals At-Risk for Huntington's Disease

We explored how individuals at-risk for HD who have or have not been tested make reproductive decisions and what factors are involved. We interviewed 21 individuals (8 with and 4 without the mutation, and 9 un-tested) in-depth for 2 hours each. At-risk individuals faced a difficult series of dilemmas of whether to: get pregnant and deliver, have fetal testing, have pre-implantation genetic diagnosis, adopt, or have no children. These individuals weighed competing desires and concerns: their own desires vs. those of spouses vs. broader moral concerns (e.g., to end the disease; and/or follow dictates against abortion) vs. perceptions of the interests of current or future offspring. Quandaries arose of how much and to whom to feel responsible. Some changed their perspectives over time (e.g., first "gambling," then being more cautious). These data have critical implications for genetic counselors and other health care workers and future research, particularly as more genetic tests become available.
Attenuation of the Slow Component of Delayed Rectification, Action Potential Prolongation, and Triggered Activity in Mice Expressing a Dominant-Negative Kv2 α Subunit

Abstract —An in vivo experimental strategy, involving cardiac-specific expression of a mutant Kv 2.1 subunit that functions as a dominant negative, was exploited in studies focused on exploring the role of members of the Kv2 subfamily of pore-forming (α) subunits in the generation of functional voltage-gated K + channels in the mammalian heart. A mutant Kv2.1 α subunit (Kv2.1N216) was designed to produce a truncated protein containing the intracellular N terminus, the S1 membrane–spanning domain, and a portion of the S1/S2 loop. The truncated Kv2.1N216 was epitope tagged at the C terminus with the 8–amino acid FLAG peptide to generate Kv2.1N216FLAG. No ionic currents are detected on expression of Kv2.1N216FLAG in HEK-293 cells, although coexpression of this construct with wild-type Kv2.1 markedly reduced the amplitudes of Kv2.1-induced currents. Using the α-myosin heavy chain promoter to direct cardiac specific expression of the transgene, 2 lines of Kv2.1N216FLAG-expressing transgenic mice were generated. Electrophysiological recordings from ventricular myocytes isolated from these animals revealed that I K, slow is selectively reduced. The attenuation of I K, slow is accompanied by marked action potential prolongation, and, occasionally, spontaneous triggered activity (apparently induced by early afterdepolarizations) is observed. The time constant of inactivation of I K, slow in Kv2.1N216FLAG-expressing cells (mean±SEM=830±103 ms; n=17) is accelerated compared with the time constant of I K, slow inactivation (mean±SEM=1147±57 ms; n=25) in nontransgenic cells. In addition, unlike I K, slow in wild-type cells, the component of I K, slow remaining in the Kv2.1N216FLAG-expressing cells is insensitive to 25 mmol/L tetraethylammonium. Taken together, these observations suggest that there are 2 distinct components of I K, slow in mouse ventricular myocytes and that Kv2 α subunits underlie the more slowly inactivating, tetraethylammonium-sensitive component of I K, slow . In vivo telemetric recordings also reveal marked QT prolongation, consistent with a defect in ventricular repolarization, in Kv2.1N216FLAG-expressing transgenic mice.
Simultaneous Encoding of Odors by Channels with Diverse Sensitivity to Inhibition

Odorant receptors in the periphery map precisely onto olfactory glomeruli (“coding channels”) in the brain. However, the odor tuning of a glomerulus is not strongly correlated with its spatial position. This raises the question of whether lateral inhibition between glomeruli is specific or nonspecific. Here we show that, in the Drosophila brain, focal activation of even a single glomerulus recruits GABAergic interneurons in all glomeruli. Moreover, the relative level of interneuron activity in different glomeruli is largely odor invariant. Although interneurons are recruited nonspecifically, glomeruli differ dramatically in their sensitivity to interneuron activity, and this is explained by their varying sensitivity to GABA. Interestingly, a stimulus is typically encoded in parallel by channels having high and low sensitivity to inhibition. Because lateral inhibition confers both costs and benefits, the brain might rely preferentially on “high” and “low” channels in different behavioral contexts.
Temporal analyses of Salmonellae in a headwater spring ecosystem reveals the effects of precipitation and runoff events

Sediments and water from the spring and slough arm of Spring Lake, the pristine headwaters of the San Marcos River, Texas, were analyzed for Salmonellae by culture and molecular techniques before and after three major precipitation events, each with intermediate dry periods. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-assisted analyses of enrichment cultures detected Salmonellae in samples after all three precipitation events, but failed to detect them immediately prior to the rainfall events. Detection among individual locations differed with respect to the precipitation event analyzed, and strains isolated were highly variable with respect to serovars. These results demonstrate that rainwater associated effects, most likely surface runoff, provide an avenue for short-term pollution of aquatic systems with Salmonellae that do not, however, appear to establish for the long-term in water nor sediments.
Measuring working memory deficits in aphasia

Abstract Purpose Many adults with aphasia demonstrate concomitant deficits in working memory (WM), but such deficits are difficult to quantify because of a lack of validated measures as well as the complex interdependence between language and WM. We examined the feasibility, reliability, and internal consistency of an n -back task for evaluating WM in aphasia, then explored the influence of domain-general (WM load, reaction time, age) and domain-specific (language) factors. Method Fourteen adults with aphasia and 12 age-and education-matched controls completed n -back tasks varying in stimulus type (high-frequency, low-frequency, or non-nameable stimuli) and WM load (0-, 1-, and 2-back). Data analyses explored the impact of these variables within and across participants and groups. Results n -Back scores were collectively reliable across conditions. Both groups performed similarly across stimulus types with significantly greater WM accuracy for nameable versus non-nameable stimuli. Compared to the controls, adults with aphasia were significantly more affected by increasing WM load. RT effects generally paralleled accuracy data, whereas age effects were inconsistent across tasks. Conclusions These data are consistent with WM deficits in aphasia, for which the n -back task holds promise for clinical quantification. Learning outcomes: Readers will be able to: (a) define working memory, (b) discuss the difficulty inherent in removing language from a complex cognitive task, and (c) describe how the n -back task may contribute to measuring working memory capacity in individuals with aphasia.
1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 receptor in bovine thymus gland.

Abstract 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D 3 [1,25-(OH) 2 D 3 ] receptor was characterized after partial purification of thymus cytosol by ammonium sulfate fractionation. The 1,25-(OH) 2 D 3 receptor sediments at 3.7S in 5–20% sucrose gradients. The binding of 1,25-(OH) 2 D 3 in thymic cytosol was a saturable process with high affinity (Kd = 0.12−0.48 nM) at 4°C. Competition for 1,25-(OH) 2 [ 3 H]D 3 receptor by nonradioactive analogs demonstrated the affinities of these analogs to be in order; 1,25-(OH) 2 D 3 = 1,24R,25-(OH) 3 D 3 = 1,25S,26-(OH) 3 D 3 = 1,25R,26-(OH) 3 D 3 > 1,25-(OH) 2 D 3 -26,23 lactone > 25-OHD 3 > 23R,25-(OH) 2 D 3 > 24R,25-(OH) 2 D 3 > 23S,25-(OH) 2 D 3 ⋙ 25-OHD 3 -26,23 lactone. The receptor bound to DNA cellulose columns in low salt buffer and eluted as a single peak at 0.21 M KCl. These findings provide evidence that the thymus possesses a 1,25-(OH) 2 D 3 receptor with properties indistinguishable from 1,25-(OH) 2 D 3 receptors in other tissues.
Temperature Measurements and Surface Visualization in Microchannel Flows Using Infrared Thermography

Significant developments in detailed quantitative microscale fluid flow visualization have been made in recent years. However, spatially resolved surface temperature measurements in microchannels have received far less attention. This paper introduces quantitative and qualitative surface temperature measurement in microscale flows using infrared (IR) thermography. This technique is applicable for channel dimensions of up to 10 μm. In order to determine temperatures accurately, careful attention toward proper choice of windows, elimination of specular reflections from channel walls, and estimation of local emissivity changes is warranted. These concerns are addressed in the paper, and preliminary results of detailed temperature distribution in a single-phase mini-channel flow are presented.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
ATP binding to human hemoglobin in the presence and absence of magnesium ions investigated with 31P NMR spectroscopy and ultrafiltration.

Abstract The addition of 3 mM hemoglobin to 1–10 mM ATP solutions at pH 6.75 resulted in a linear relationship between the change in chemical shift (Δδ) of the γ-phosphate of ATP and the percent ATP bound to hemoglobin. The data points obtained with oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin fell on the same straight line. In the presence of 3 mM Mg 2+ , the Δδ decreased curvilinearly as the percent ATP bound was raised. In this case, the percent ATP bound to deoxyhemoglobin was greater than to oxyhemoglobin at the same Δδ value, indicating that the extra ATP binding occurs through groups other than phosphate.
Heritability of selectively advantageous foraging behaviour in a small passerine

I measured the heritability of foraging patch choice in a laboratory population of zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata). Mothers and offspring were tested for their ability to discriminate between four foraging patches which provided four different rates of energy gain. Use of a foraging patch with a high rate of energy gain has been shown to confer a selective advantage on zebra finches in a similar experimental system. In this population of zebra finches there was a large amount of variation in foraging patch choice behaviour both within and among individuals. I determined that foraging patch choice was a phenotypically labile trait with a degree of stereotypy or repeatability, much lower than those typically recorded for morphological traits. The mating behaviour of zebra finches required that heritability be determined from a mother—offspring regression, which showed that narrow sense heritability of foraging patch choice was approximately 0.346. This heritability was significantly different than zero, as was heritability when it was limited by repeatability to 0.246. Foraging patch choice, a behaviour that has a demonstrated fitness consequence, had a heritable component in this laboratory population of zebra finches.
Indian Subnational Finances: Recent Performance

The fiscal performance of the States in India has been an area of concern for quite some time. The Twelfth Finance Commission (TFC) recommended a three-pronged strategy to alleviate States' fiscal distress, built around greater orientation toward market discipline, incentives for fiscal consolidation targets, and commitment to fiscal correction. We find that States have created fiscal space through raising revenues and reducing and reprioritizing expenditures. Looking ahead, expansion of fiscal space is essential to meet the States' large infrastructure and social needs in order to alleviate bottlenecks to growth. This needs to be accomplished without undermining fiscal sustainability.
Adaptive beamforming for correlated signal and interference: a frequency domain smoothing approach

An approach is suggested to wideband adaptive beamforming for correlated signal and interference. Unlike other approaches, such as spatial smoothing, the new approach solves the signal cancellation problem by employing the idea of frequency-domain smoothing. Advantages of frequency-domain smoothing over spatial smoothing are identified. Preliminary performance studies of a simple frequency-domain smoothing method show that proper spatial filtering can be achieved by frequency-domain smoothing, whether the desired signal and interference are correlated or not. >
Hypervelocity dust beam injection for national spherical torus experiment

An internal magnetic field measurement technique using hypervelocity dust beam injection is described for eventual implementation on the National Spherical Torus experiment. The principle of the diagnostic has been described previously [Wang and Wurden, Rev. Sci. Instrum. 74, 1887 (2003)]. Approximately 200 kV of electrostatic potential will be used to accelerate multiple dust particles to velocities in the range of 1.0–10 km/s. A fast framing camera will be used to visualize and map two-dimensional internal magnetic field structure from the orientation of the visible light emissions generated by the plumes associated with the hypervelocity dust.
Parton degrees of freedom from the path-integral formalism

We formulate the hadronic tensor ${W}_{\ensuremath{\mu}\ensuremath{\nu}}$ of deep inelastic scattering in the path-integral formalism. It is shown that there are 3 gauge invariant and topologically distinct contributions. In addition to the valence contribution, there are two sources for the sea---one in the connected insertion and the other in the disconnected insertion. The operator product expansion is carried out in this formalism. The operator rescaling and mixing reveal that the connected sea partons evolve the same way as the valence; i.e., their evolution is decoupled from the disconnected sea and the gluon distribution functions. We explore the phenomenological consequences of this classification in terms of the small x behavior, Gottfried sum rule violation, and flavor dependence. In particular, we point out that in the nucleon $\ifmmode \bar{u}\else \={u}\fi{}$ and $\overline{d}$ partons have both connected and disconnected sea contributions, whereas the $\overline{s}$ parton has only the disconnected sea contribution. This difference between $\ifmmode \bar{u}\else \={u}\fi{}+\overline{d}$ and $\overline{s},$ as far as we know, has not been taken into account in the fitting of parton distribution functions to experiments.