cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Virtual electrode effects in myocardial fibers

The changes in transmembrane potential during a stimulation pulse in the heart are not known. We have used transmembrane potential sensitive dye fluorescence to measure changes in transmembrane potential along fibers in an anisotropic arterially perfused rabbit epicardial layer. Cathodal or anodal extracellular point stimulation produced changes in transmembrane potential within 60 microns of the electrode that were positive or negative, respectively. The changes in transmembrane potential did not simply decrease to zero with increasing distance, as would occur with a theoretical fiber space constant, but instead became reversed beyond approximately 1 mm from the electrode consistent with a virtual electrode effect. Even stimulation from a line of terminals perpendicular to the fibers produced negative changes in transmembrane potential for cathodal stimulation with the largest negative changes during a 50-ms pulse at 3–4 mm from the electrode terminals. Negative changes as large as the amplitude of the action potential rising phase occurred during a 50-ms pulse for 20-volt cathodal stimulation. Switching to anodal stimulation reversed the directions of changes in transmembrane potential at most recording spots, however for stimulation during the refractory period negative changes in transmembrane potential were significantly larger than positive changes in transmembrane potential. Anodal stimulation during diastole with 3-ms pulses produced excitation in the region of depolarization that accelerated when the stimulation strength was increased to > 3 times the anodal threshold strength. Thus, virtual electrode effects of unipolar stimulation occur in myocardial fibers, and for sufficiently strong stimuli the virtual electrode effects may influence electrical behavior of the myocardium.
Jet break-up in liquid-liquid systems

A study was made of the jet length, jet contraction, and size of drops resulting from the formation and break-up of liquid jets in another Newtonian, immiscible liquid. Drop size and jet contraction were correlated with system parameters, but attempts to correlate the jet length proved unsuccessful. Data were obtained from measurements of 4202 drops and 294 jet lengths and diameters on 294 photographs representing 92 runs. Variables included nozzle size, flow rate, and physical properties from six Newtonian liquid-liquid systems. On a fait une etude de la longueur et de la contraction des jets, ainsi que des dimensions des gouttes qui proviennent de la formation et de la rupture de jets liquides dans un autre liquide newtonien et non-miscible. On a etabli une correlation entre les dimensions des gouttes et la contraction des jets d'une part et les parametres du systeme d'autre part; toutefois, les tentatives pour etablir une correlation entre la longueur des jets et lesdits parametres se sont averees infructueuses. On a obtenu des informations en mesurant 4,202 gouttes et 294 longueurs de jets sur 294 photographies representant 92 essais. Les variables ont compris les dimensions des buses, le taux d'ecoulement et les proprietes physiques provenant de 6 systemes newtoniens impliquant 2 liquides.
Reovirus Delays Diabetes Onset but Does Not Prevent Insulitis in Nonobese Diabetic Mice

Mice infected with reovirus develop abnormalities in glucose homeostasis. Reovirus strain type 3 Abney (T3A) was capable of systemic infection of nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice, an experimental model of autoimmune diabetes. Reovirus antigen was detected in pancreatic islets of T3A-infected mice, and primary cultures of pancreatic islets from NOD mice supported T3A growth. Significantly fewer T3A-infected animals compared to uninfected controls developed diabetes. However, despite the alteration in diabetes penetrance, insulitis was evident in T3A-infected mice. These results suggest that viral infection of NOD mice alters autoimmune responses to β-cell antigens and thereby delays development of diabetes.
Premature elevation of systemic estradiol reduces serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone and lengthens the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle in rhesus monkeys.

The concentration of estradiol in peripheral serum was prematurely elevated on days 3-6 of the rhesus monkey menstrual cycle to approximate the estradiol rise typically seen during the midfollicular phase. Associated with an estradiol increase (from 60 to approximately 90 pg/ml) was a significant (P < 0.01) reduction in FSH levels and a lengthening of the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. These results reveal the existence of an exquisitely sensitive negative feedback relationship between estradiol and FSH during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle; in doing so, these findings suggest that the selected follicle, by way of its secretion of estradiol, indirectly inhibits the maturation of other follicles by reducing gonadotropin levels.
Root‐selective expression of AtCAX4 and AtCAX2 results in reduced lamina cadmium in field‐grown Nicotiana tabacum L.

To assess the impact of enhanced root vacuole cadmium (Cd) sequestration on leaf Cd accumulation under a low Cd dose, as generally occurs in agriculture, leaf Cd accumulation was examined in field-grown tobacco plants expressing genes encoding the high-capacity-Cd, tonoplast-localized, divalent cation/H antiporters AtCAX4 and AtCAX2 (AtCAX, Arabidopsis cation exchanger). It has been shown previously that root tonoplast vesicles isolated from plants expressing these genes, directed by root-selective promoters, show enhanced Cd transport activity, and young plants show enhanced root Cd accumulation when grown in solution culture containing 0.02 microM Cd, a moderate Cd dose. In this article, we present results which show that the lower leaves of mature plants expressing AtCAX2 or AtCAX4, under the control of two different root-selective promoters, accumulate 15%-25% less lamina Cd than control plants when grown in the field (3 years, three different collection methods). Reciprocal grafting experiments of AtCAX2 shoots onto control roots (and vice versa), grown in solution culture with 0.005 microM Cd, indicated that the root controls Cd translocation and accumulation in the shoot in control and AtCAX2 and AtCAX4 tobacco plants exposed to low Cd concentration. The results are consistent with a model in which supplementation of Cd/H antiporter activity in root cell tonoplasts enhances root Cd sequestration, resulting in decreased translocation of Cd to the shoot of field-grown plants. These results suggest that human Cd intake from food and tobacco use could be reduced via the enhancement of root vacuolar sequestration of this pollutant.
Effects of purified measles virus components on proliferating human lymphocytes

Abstract Preparations of purified measles virus and both core and membrane-rich fractions suppressed mitogen-induced proliferation of human lymphocytes without reducing viability or the number of T lymphocytes in culture. The suppressive activity of the measles virus was heat labile. The virus preparations by themselves did not induce lymphocyte proliferation.
A Methodology for the Assessment of Unconventional (Continuous) Resources with an Application to the Greater Natural Buttes Gas Field, Utah

The Greater Natural Buttes tight natural gas field is an unconventional (continuous) accumulation in the Uinta Basin, Utah, that began production in the early 1950s from the Upper Cretaceous Mesaverde Group. Three years later, production was extended to the Eocene Wasatch Formation. With the exclusion of 1100 non-productive (“dry”) wells, we estimate that the final recovery from the 2500 producing wells existing in 2007 will be about 1.7 trillion standard cubic feet (TSCF) (48.2 billion cubic meters (BCM)). The use of estimated ultimate recovery (EUR) per well is common in assessments of unconventional resources, and it is one of the main sources of information to forecast undiscovered resources. Each calculated recovery value has an associated drainage area that generally varies from well to well and that can be mathematically subdivided into elemental subareas of constant size and shape called cells. Recovery per 5-acre cells at Greater Natural Buttes shows spatial correlation; hence, statistical approaches that ignore this correlation when inferring EUR values for untested cells do not take full advantage of all the information contained in the data. More critically, resulting models do not match the style of spatial EUR fluctuations observed in nature. This study takes a new approach by applying spatial statistics to model geographical variation of cell EUR taking into account spatial correlation and the influence of fractures. We applied sequential indicator simulation to model non-productive cells, while spatial mapping of cell EUR was obtained by applying sequential Gaussian simulation to provide multiple versions of reality (realizations) having equal chances of being the correct model. For each realization, summation of EUR in cells not drained by the existing wells allowed preparation of a stochastic prediction of undiscovered resources, which range between 2.6 and 3.4 TSCF (73.6 and 96.3 BCM) with a mean of 2.9 TSCF (82.1 BCM) for Greater Natural Buttes. A second approach illustrates the application of multiple-point simulation to assess a hypothetical frontier area for which there is no production information but which is regarded as being similar to Greater Natural Buttes.
Boundary Harnack Principle for Symmetric Stable Processes

In this paper we study potential-theoretic properties of the symmetric α-stable processes (0<α<2): establishing the boundary Harnack principle for ratios of α-harmonic functions on any open sets, identifying the Martin boundary with the Euclidean boundary for open sets with a certain interior fatness property, and extending earlier results on intrinsic ultracontractivity and the conditional gauge theorem to certain open sets.
Matrotrophy limits a female’s ability to adaptively adjust offspring size and fecundity in fluctuating environments

Summary 1. The ability to adjust the allocation of energy to maintenance, growth and reproduction in response to fluctuations in resource availability, in a way that enhances fitness, is thought to depend on the mode of maternal provisioning. 2. We manipulated food availability in the matrotrophic, livebearing fish Phalloptychus januarius (Poeciliidae) to examine patterns of allocation under fluctuating resource conditions. 3. We observed an asynchrony in the adjustment of offspring traits in response to changes in food availability. A reduction in food availability caused an immediate reduction in allocation of energy to offspring size and lipid content at birth, but a delayed reduction in offspring number (fecundity). Similarly, an increase in food availability caused an immediate increase in offspring size and lipid content and a delayed increase in fecundity. This asynchrony is thought to be inherent to matrotrophy, limiting a female’s ability to attain an optimal fitness in fluctuating resource environments, regardless of whether food availability changes from high to low, or low to high. 4. We found no evidence for embryo abortion under low food conditions. All developing offspring were retained, yet were smaller at birth. Furthermore, although females carried large fat reserves, these were rapidly depleted during low food conditions and were not sufficient to fully buffer gestating females or their developing offspring against the detrimental effects of reduced food availability. 5. Our study shows that matrotrophy is likely to be a maladaptive strategy in environments that are characterized by fluctuations in resource availability. It further suggests that matrotrophy is most likely to evolve in high and stable resource environments.
Secure Semantic Sensor Web and Pervasive Computing

In this paper we discuss issues on developing a secure semantic sensor web. SensorML is the starting point for this work. We explore the layers for a semantic sensor web and discuss security issues. We also discuss secure peer-to-peer computing as it relates to sensor web.
Thermally tuned dual 20-channel ring resonator filter bank in SOI (silicon-on-insulator)

Two 20-channel second-order optical filter banks have been fabricated. With tuning, the requirements for a wavelength multiplexed photonic AD-converter (insertion loss 1–3 dB, extinction >30 dB and optical bandwidth 22–27 GHz) are met.
New onset nail finding: Clinical sign of catastrophe?

From Se Ro Re U Fund Conf Repr E J Am 0190 a 20 http: A 36-year-old white woman presented to the emergency department for evaluation of shortness of breath related to an acute attack of asthma. She had suffered from asthma all of her life and had 3 previous emergency room visits to stabilize acute attacks. The physical examination in the emergency room revealed an afebrile patient with wheezing and chest retractions. A solitary, nontender black, vertically oriented streakwas noted near the free edge of the right third fingernail (Fig 1). Therewere no other cutaneous lesions.
Does Thermal Therapy Benefit Patients With Chronic Heart Failure?–Reply–I

Dr Hanlon raises an interesting and thought-provoking point regarding the beneficial effects of Waon therapy (soothing warm therapy) in patients with CHF. This therapy, which uses repeated 15-minute treatments in a 60°C infrared sauna, has been reported in small studies to improve left ventricular systolic function and favorably affect natriuretic peptide levels.1 Several behavioral and nontraditional approaches have been studied in CHF, including conscious breath control with extended expiration and reduced respiratory rate,2,3 enhanced external counterpulsation,4 and warm water immersion.5 However, these therapies have not gained widespread acceptance, not because of third-party reimbursements but rather because the history of therapeutic trials in CHF has taught us several important lessons. First, the benchmark of therapeutic efficacy must be assessed by multicenter studies because single-center studies often provide findings that cannot be replicated by other groups and are debunked in larger well-controlled investigations. Second, the placebo effect and clinical trial inclusion (“Hawthorne” effect) can have a significant positive influence on study findings—simply via more frequent physician visits or patient-perceived benefits.6 Finally, a satisfactory duration of follow-up is required to ensure safety and retention of benefit.7 Consequently, although Waon therapy may show some promise as a therapy in patients with CHF, additional randomized, multicenter studies documenting safety and efficacy are needed before inclusion of this therapy in an evidence-based discussion of heart failure therapeutics.
Control of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Large (115 mm) and Intermediate (90 mm) Diameter Lebanon‐style Bologna

Lebanon bologna raw batter was inoculated with Escherichia coli O157:H7 to achieve a level of 7.5 to 7.9 log cfu/g on MacConkey sorbitol agar, 202 agar, and phenol red agar with 1% sorbitol. Batter was stuffed into 115- or 90-mm dia casings and processed individually in a commercial smokehouse. For both diameter products, a 5-log reduction occurred, regardless of come-up times to reach specific internal temperatures (I.T.) or media used when the fermentation process consisted of 8 h at an I.T. of 26.7 °C, then 24 h at 37.8 °C I.T., followed by 24 h at 43.3 °C I.T.
Flinn's feature fuels forum

The entertaining note by Edward A. Flinn (Information transfer in verbal presentations at scientific meetings, Eos, 62, 179, 1981) brought to mind a somewhat similar discussion of this problem by the Scottish physicist, James Clerk Maxwell (1831–1879). Evidently, in response to a query from Professor Guthrie about the role of a physical society, which was something like an AGU meeting, he wrote in 1873 to W.G. Adams [Campbell and Garnett, 1884; p. 294]: For the evolution of science by societies the main requisite is the perfect freedom of communication between each member and any one of the others who may act as a reagent.
Exploiting the capabilities of communications co-processors

Communications coprocessors (CCPs) have become commonplace in modern massively parallel processors (MPPs) and networks of workstations. These coprocessors provide dedicated hardware support for fast communication. In this paper, we study how to exploit the capabilities of CCPs for executing user-level message handlers. We show, in the context of active messages and Split-C, that we can move message handling code to the coprocessor, thus freeing the main processor for computational work. We address the important issues that arise, such as synchronization, and the limited computational power and flexibility of CCPs. We have implemented coprocessor versions of both active messages and Split-C. These implementations, developed on the Meiko CS-2, provide us with an excellent experimental platform to evaluate the benefits of a communications coprocessor architecture.
Early Educational Intervention, Early Cumulative Risk, and the Early Home Environment as Predictors of Young Adult Outcomes Within a High‐Risk Sample

The extent to which early educational intervention, early cumulative risk, and the early home environment were associated with young adult outcomes was investigated in a sample of 139 young adults (age 21) from high-risk families enrolled in randomized trials of early intervention. Positive effects of treatment were found for education attainment, attending college, and skilled employment; negative effects of risk were found for education attainment, graduating high school, being employed, and avoiding teen parenthood. The home mediated the effects of risk for graduating high school, but not being employed for teen parenthood. Evidence for moderated mediation was found for educational attainment; the home mediated the association between risk and educational attainment for the control group, but not the treated group.
Charting past, present, and future research in ubiquitous computing

The proliferation of computing into the physical world promises more than the ubiquitous availability of computing infrastructure; it suggest new paradigms of interaction inspired by constant access to information and computational capabilities. For the past decade, application-driven research on abiquitous computing (ubicomp) has pushed three interaction themes:natural interfaces, context-aware applications,andautomated capture and access. To chart a course for future research in ubiquitous computing, we review the accomplishments of these efforts and point to remaining research challenges. Research in ubiquitious computing implicitly requires addressing some notion of scale, whether in the number and type of devices, the physical space of distributed computing, or the number of people using a system. We posit a new area of applications research, everyday computing, focussed on scaling interaction with respect to time. Just as pushing the availiability of computing away from the traditional desktop fundamentally changes the relationship between humans and computers, providing continuous interaction moves computing from a localized tool to a constant companion. Designing for continous interaction requires addressing interruption and reumption of intreaction, representing passages of time and providing associative storage models. Inherent in all of these interaction themes are difficult issues in the social implications of ubiquitous computing and the challenges of evaluating> ubiquitious computing research. Although cumulative experience points to lessons in privacy, security, visibility, and control, there are no simple guidelines for steering research efforts. Akin to any efforts involving new technologies, evaluation strategies form a spectrum from technology feasibility efforts to long-term use studies—but a user-centric perspective is always possible and necessary
One College's Use of an Open Psychology Textbook

The high cost of textbooks is of concern not only to college students but also to society as a whole. Open textbooks promise the same educational benefits as traditional textbooks; however, their efficacy remains largely untested. We report on a case study about one community college’s adoption of a free online psychology textbook. During the fall semester 2011, 690 students used this book. Compared with students using a traditional text in the spring of 2011, students who used the free online textbook scored higher on departmental final examinations, had higher grade point averages in the class and had higher retention rates.
Prospective evaluation of the VITEK MS for the routine identification of bacteria and yeast in the clinical microbiology laboratory: assessment of accuracy of identification and turnaround time

This study assessed the accuracy of bacterial and yeast identification using the VITEK MS, and the time to reporting of isolates before and after its implementation in routine clinical practice. Three hundred and sixty-two isolates of bacteria and yeast, consisting of a variety of clinical isolates and American Type Culture Collection strains, were tested. Results were compared with reference identifications from the VITEK 2 system and with 16S rRNA sequence analysis. The VITEK MS provided an acceptable identification to species level for 283 (78 %) isolates. Considering organisms for which genus-level identification is acceptable for routine clinical care, 315 isolates (87 %) had an acceptable identification. Six isolates (2 %) were identified incorrectly, five of which were Shigella species. Finally, the time for reporting the identifications was decreased significantly after implementation of the VITEK MS for a total mean reduction in time of 10.52 h (P<0.0001). Overall, accuracy of the VITEK MS was comparable or superior to that from the VITEK 2. The findings were also comparable to other studies examining the accuracy of the VITEK MS, although differences exist, depending on the diversity of species represented as well as on the versions of the databases used. The VITEK MS can be incorporated effectively into routine use in a clinical microbiology laboratory and future expansion of the database should provide improved accuracy for the identification of micro-organisms.
Forging Hispanic Communities in New Destinations: A Case Study of Durham, North Carolina

The Chicago School of urban sociology and its extension in the spatial assimilation model have provided the dominant framework for understanding the interplay between immigrant social and spatial m...
Material And Social Construction: A Framework For The Adaptation Of Buildings

This article is a formulation of a framework for understanding the nature of change, particularly climate change, as it applies to the scale of a building. Through an exploration of various scientific and social scientific literutre, the article positions the concept of adaptation as the appropriate mode for understanding and managing change. Through the classification of a duality of material and social construction in the ontological composition of a building, various lines of thought relating to adaptive capacity and adaptive cycling within systems theory are appropriated within an integrated framework for adaptation. Specifically, it is theorized that as buildings as objects are developing greater capacities for intergrated operations and management through artificial intelligence, they will possess an ex ante capacity to autonomously adapt in dynamic relation to and with the ex post adaptation of owners and operators. It is argued that this top-down and bottom-up confluence of multi-scalar dynamic change is consistent with the prevailing theory of Panarchy applied in social-ecological systems theory. The article concludes with normative perspectives on the limitations of systems theory in architecture, future directions for research and an alternative positioning of professional practices.
Fabrication of Microscale Rotating Magnetic Machines

In this chapter, microfabrication techniques are discussed to enable miniaturized magnetic machines for use with silicon microturbomachinery. These rotational machines could be used as either motors (for motoring or fluidic pumping) or as generators for electrical power generation. Challenges and methods for microfabricating microscale magnetic machines are described, and examples of previously implemented devices are discussed.
Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Axonal Regeneration After Spinal Cord Injury

Following axotomy, a complex temporal and spatial coordination of molecular events enables regeneration of the peripheral nerve. In contrast, multiple intrinsic and extrinsic factors contribute to the general failure of axonal regeneration in the central nervous system. In this review, we examine the current understanding of differences in protein expression and post-translational modifications, activation of signaling networks, and environmental cues that may underlie the divergent regenerative capacity of central and peripheral axons. We also highlight key experimental strategies to enhance axonal regeneration via modulation of intraneuronal signaling networks and the extracellular milieu. Finally, we explore potential applications of proteomics to fill gaps in the current understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying regeneration, and to provide insight into the development of more effective approaches to promote axonal regeneration following injury to the nervous system.
Characterization of hemolymph phenoloxidase activity in two Biomphalaria snail species and impact of Schistosoma mansoni infection

Biomphalaria snails are the intermediate host of the blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni, which infect more than 67 million people in tropical areas. Phenoloxidase enzymes (POs), including tyrosinases, catecholases, and laccases, are known to play a role in the immune defenses of arthropods, but the PO activity present in Biomphalaria spp. hemolymph has not been characterized. This study was designed to characterize substrate specificity and reaction optima of PO activity in Biomphalaria spp. hemolymph as a starting point to understand the role of this important invertebrate enzyme activity in snail biology and snail-schistosome interactions. We used spectrophotometric assays with 3 specific substrates (L-tyrosine for tyrosinase, L-DOPA for catecholase, and PPD for laccase) and diethylthiocarbarmate (DETC) as specific PO inhibitor to characterize PO activity in the hemolymph of uninfected snails from two Biomphalaria species, and to determine the impact of the parasite Schistosoma mansoni on the PO activity of its B. glabrata vector. We identified laccase activity in hemolymph from uninfected B. glabrata and B. alexandrina. For both species, the activity was optimal at 45 °C and pH 8.5, and located in the plasma. The K m and V max of PO enzymes are 1.45 mM and 0.024 OD.min-1 for B. glabrata, and 1.19 mM and 0.025 OD.min-1 for B. alexandrina. When the snail vector is parasitized by S. mansoni, we observed a sharp reduction in laccase activity seven weeks after snail infection. We employed a highly specific spectrophotometric assay using PPD substrate which allows accurate measurement of laccase activity in Biomphalaria spp. hemolymph. We also demonstrated a strong impact of the parasite S. mansoni on laccase activity in the snail host.
Improving Americans' health literacy.

Health literacy — commonly defined as the skills and abilities needed to gain access to, understand, and use health-related information — has emerged as an important priority for the United States. It has been linked to health outcomes and is considered critical for the success of health care reform. The recently released National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy 1 provides strategies for change. At first blush, this task may seem to be the domain of educators, but the new action plan shifts the spotlight from the literacy skills of the public to the activities of health systems and health care . . .
The effect of proinsulin on the immunoassay of insulin and its possible relation to states of hyperinsulinemia.

The measurement of insulin or insulin-like moieties by a variety of bioassay and immunologic procedures has resulted in the designation of such nonspecific varieties as typical and atypical insulin (1), bound and unbound insulin (2), suppressible and nonsuppressible insulin (3). Insulin determined by the radioactive immunoassay and referred to as immunoreactive insulin, IRI, has been judged by most to represent an accurate appraisal of absolute insulin levels in biologic fluids (4); as such, its biologic activity, although inferred, has never been entirely certain. In the immunoassay method, the immunospecificity of antigen to specific antibody is of necessity assumed. Accordingly, if the reaction between insulin-I131, insulin antiserum, and endogenous insulin is specific, then serial dilution of serum containing IRI will yield comparable assay measurements over the range of dilutions studied.In this laboratory where a modification of the Yalow and Berson chromatographic method (4) or the dextran-coated c...
TWO CASES OF INTESTINAL OBSTRUCTION IN PATIENTS OF ADVANCED AGE WITHOUT PREVIOUS HISTORY OF UNDERGOING LAPAROTOMY

腸閉塞は日常的に経験する疾患であるが,開腹の既往のない癒着性腸閉塞に遭遇することは比較的稀である.中でも高齢者に発生した腸閉塞では併存疾患のコントロール,水分や電解質のバランスの維持などに難渋することも多い.今回われわれは小腸に著明な狭窄を伴うが,開腹の既往を認めない85歳以上の超高齢者の腸閉塞を2例経験した.保存的治療により腸管の拡張は軽減したが, 2例ともイレウス管造影により回腸の著明な狭窄を認めたため,開腹手術を行った.開腹所見,病理所見とも炎症性癒着による狭窄を認めるのみであり,これに対して狭窄部腸管の切除を行い,術後の経過は良好であった.開腹の既往のない癒着性腸閉塞は比較的稀であるが,手術を要するような狭窄を伴うことがあることも念頭において対処する必要があると考えた.
Sex differences in attenuation of nicotine reinstatement after individual and combined treatments of progesterone and varenicline

Tobacco use is the largest cause of preventable mortality in the western world. Even after treatment, relapse rates for tobacco are high, and more effective pharmacological treatments are needed. Progesterone (PRO), a female hormone used in contraceptives, reduces stimulant use but its effects on tobacco addiction are unknown. Varenicline (VAR) is a commonly used medication that reduces tobacco use. The present study examined sex differences in the individual vs. combined effects of PRO and VAR on reinstatement of nicotine-seeking behavior in a rat model of relapse. Adult female and male Wistar rats self-administered nicotine (NIC, 0.03mg/kg/infusion) for 14days followed by 21days of extinction when no cues or drug were present. Rats were then divided into 4 treatment groups: control (VEH+SAL), PRO alone (PRO+SAL), VAR alone (VEH+VAR) and the combination (PRO+VAR). Reinstatement of nicotine-seeking behavior induced by priming injections of NIC or caffeine (CAF), presentation of cues (CUES), and the combination of drugs and cues (e.g. NIC+CUES, CAF+CUES) were tested after extinction. Male and female rats did not differ in self-administration of nicotine or extinction responding, and both showed elevated levels of responding to the CAF+CUES condition. However, males, but not females, reinstated active lever-pressing to the NIC+CUES condition, and that was attenuated by both VAR and VAR+PRO treatment. Thus, males were more sensitive to NIC+CUE-induced reinstatement than females, and VAR alone and VAR combined with PRO effectively reduced nicotine relapse.
The Survey of Chinese Pragmatic Studies

As the further studies on syntax and semantics went on, t he unique feature of pragmatics attracts more and more people's attention. This paper attempts to survey the Chinese pragmatic studies in following aspects: th e origin and development of pragmatics, the introduction of pragmatics to China, applying pragmatic theory to Chinese,and individual field and the pragmatic stu dies in text and context. Meanwhile, we make a brief comment on it.
MACROSCOPIC STRUCTURES IN THE 1.1 Ga CONTINENTAL COPPER HARBOR FORMATION: CONCRETIONS OR FOSSILS?

Continental siltstones of the Mesoproterozoic Copper Harbor Formation, Michigan contain macroscopic structures of a size and morphological complexity commonly associated with fossils of eukaryotic macroorganisms. A biogenic origin for these structures would significantly augment the Proterozoic continental fossil record, which is currently poor, and also add to a growing body of sedimentological and geochemical data that, albeit indirectly, indicates the presence of life in continental settings early in Earth's history. These three-dimensional structures occur abundantly within a single cm-scale siltstone bed. Along this bedding plane, these structures are generally circular-to-ovoid, range up to several centimeters in diameter, and most specimens possess a transecting lenticular element. Structures exhibit sharp, well-rounded external margins and, in contrast to the surrounding aluminosilicate-rich matrix, are calcitic in composition. Surrounding sedimentary laminae are deflected by and cross cut the structures. A fossiliferous origin is considered but rejected and an authigenic concretionary origin is favored based on these characters. However, a concretionary origin does not exclude the possibility of a biogenic precursor that served as a locus for early diagenetic calcite precipitation. This study highlights the need for careful analysis of morphological, mineralogical, distributional, and sedimentological characteristics when considering the origin of enigmatic structures; morphological complexity alone is an insufficient criterion for assignment of biogenicity. The unusual morphology of these concretions augments known concretion morphologies generally comparable to unusual fossil forms, and draws into question the biogenicity of similarly cryptic Proterozoic structures including, in particular, those of the 2.0 Ga Francevillian B Formation of Gabon.
Overview and Open Questions

The main difference between our measures on \(\mathbb{R}\), and the measures used in fractional Brownian motion and related processes is that our measures are finite on \(\mathbb{R}\), but the others aren’t; instead they are what is called tempered (see [AL08]). If μ is a tempered positive measure, then the function \(F =\widehat{ d\mu }\) is still positive definite, but it is not continuous, unless \(\mu \left (\mathbb{R}\right ) < \infty \).
Scaling up a multifaceted violence prevention package: County-level impact of the north carolina youth violence prevention center

AbstractObjective: Multifaceted approaches to youth-violence prevention package evidence-based programs into initiatives that yield large-scale impact. This study assessed the impact of a package of evidence-based violence prevention programs, implemented as part of the North Carolina Youth Violence Prevention Center, on county-level violence indicators. Method: Using growth-curve modeling, the target county was compared to all other counties in North Carolina and a comparison county. Results: Results reveal downward trends on several county-level indicators (i.e., undisciplined/delinquent complaints, total delinquent complaints, juvenile arrests–aggravated assaults, and short-term suspensions) throughout the intervention period. However, statistical tests were unable to confirm that intervention-period scores on youth-violence indicators were significantly different than expected scores given the relationship between pretest and intervention-period scores in other North Carolina counties. Conclusions: Al...
Leonardo da Vinci: engineer, bioengineer, anatomist, and artist

Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) enjoys a reputation as one of the most talented people of all time in the history of science and the arts. However, little attention has been given to his contribution...
More Complex Idealists

Idealists stand apart from the world in the name of their ideal, but this is not, in itself, complex. The ideal is likely to be a simple elaboration that is served by the patient. In other words, idealism is usually a story of subservience, with its usual dilemma and fate, as described in Chapter 7.
Effect of Normal Pregnancy Followed by Lactation on Long-Term Maternal Health in a Mouse Model

Although it has been widely accepted that pregnancies with complications are associated with increased maternal cardiovascular risk later in life, there is no consensus if noncomplicated pregnancy followed by lactation plays a protective role or is a risk factor. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of normal pregnancy and lactation on long-term maternal health in a mouse model. CD-1 mice were allocated to breeding (primigravid [PG]) and nonbreeding (nulligravid [NG]) groups. The PG group proceeded through normal pregnancy and delivery. Using a telemetry system, blood pressure (BP) was analyzed in the PG group at 6 months postpartum and in age-matched NG mice. Serum analytes, gene expressions, and protein levels were determined using appropriate analysis methods. Primigravid mice had significantly lower systolic and diastolic BP and fasting glucose levels. Circulating oxytocin (OXT) levels were significantly higher in PG mice. Oxt gene expression was significantly higher in the heart and aorta and lower in visceral adipose tissue (VAT) from PG mice. The oxytocin receptor ( Oxtr) gene expression was significantly higher in the heart, aorta, and VAT from PG animals. The level of Oxtr DNA hypermethylation and the expression of mmu-miR-29a were significantly lower in the hearts of PG mice. In PG VAT, glucose transporter-4 expression was significantly higher. Our study demonstrates that a history of normal pregnancy followed by lactation was associated with lower maternal cardiovascular risk factors later in life in female mouse.
A distributed simulator platform for rapid industrial user experience prototyping

The research and development of novel user experience concepts in well-regulated industrial domains face different challenges. Systems in these domains often require backward compatibility and integration with legacy sub-systems and protocols. They must comply with well-defined procedures and standards, and must pass through stringent evaluation processes involving actual users under realistic conditions and scenarios. As a consequence, prototyping and simulations are extensively used. During product development, the level of fidelity of a simulation prototype will directly impact the quality of end-user feedback, minimizing expensive rework of UX in later stages of a project. This paper describes the Distributed Industrial Simulation Platform (DISP), a simulation framework developed within GE that facilitates the rapid prototyping and evaluation of novel industrial UX systems. We present the DISP design and main services showing how it has been used in support of the development and simulation of two UX prototypes in the railroad transportation domain.
Two-scale command shaping for feedforward control of nonlinear systems

This paper presents a critical analysis of the two-scale command shaping (TSCS) feedforward control technique as applied to nonlinear Duffing oscillators. TSCS is an approach for tailoring a flexible system’s applied control input to reduce undesirable residual vibrations using multiple problem scales, command shaping of a linear subproblem, and cancelation of a remaining nonlinear subproblem. As shown herein, TSCS proves to be an effective method for feedforward control of nonlinear systems. The strategy outperforms conventional and nonlinearly informed command shaping strategies in traditional and non-traditional Duffing systems (e.g., Duffing systems with quadratic nonlinearity and Coulomb damping). The TSCS approach is also extended herein to nonlinear systems with uncertain parameters through the implementation of robust command shaping strategies and the extended Kalman filtering parameter estimation technique.
Alcoholism curriculum survey of psychiatric residency training programs

A questionnaire was sent to accredited adult psychiatric residency training programs to investigate details of their alcoholism training. Three-quarters of the responding programs reported they had a formal training module for alcoholism. The educational sites were primarily acute inpatient settings using group therapy as the favored modality of treatment. A high proportion of programs included psychiatrists as educators. The importance of expanding alcoholism training to augment psychiatry’s expanding role in treating addictive behaviors is discussed.
Searches for Human H-Y by Conventional Means, and how it all began

It would appear that H-Y has two faces, not only in regard to its fields of action, but also in regard to its deportment. On the one hand H-Y is present, and makes itself persistently felt, throughout the vertebrate phylum, wherever there are heterogametes1; it is all-pervasive, and sees to it that a second gender arises; it sees to it that the genus, be it platyfish, rattlesnake, hippopotamus, or man does not attain a state of panfeminity. On the other hand, when it comes to immune responses, H-Y is fastidious, highly discriminating, and refuses to take action unless certain well-defined preconditions are met. We have learned from Hurme et al2, from Greene et al3, and from Liew et al4 that even a relatively simple event, e. g. delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH), or the rejection of murine skin grafts, will not come to pass unless responders carry the b allele of the MHC locus and, in addition the b allele of the I-B sublocus. In an equally simple event, namely, the elaboration of cytotoxic cells, the I-B sublocus matters less, and what is important is the I-A sublocus. It is surprising, then, that H-Y was first observed, not while it performed its pervasive sex-determining role, but when the demanding conditions for immune responsiveness were incidentally met5. I shall return briefly to this aspect below.
Lessons Learned on Research Methods and Researcher Stance in Africa

This chapter documents the author’s reflections on travel, research, and purpose over 15 years of travelling to African countries to conduct research; in particular, Uganda. McBrien considers notions of privilege, mindful research and ethics as a North American White woman researcher in the field, offering lessons she has learned to those who may be new to this kind of work. Although some of her insights result from gendered perspectives, her observations result more from working primarily with women than from a specifically feminist perspective.
Undesirable stressful life events, impact, and correlates during midlife: observations from the Seattle midlife women’s health study

To examine the undesirable stressful life events midlife women experience, including: 1) which life events midlife women reported most frequently; 2) which life events women rated as most undesirable; and 3) whether age, years of education, income, employment, race/ethnicity, marital status, being a parent, and the menopausal transition stage were associated with the impact scores of the life event categories. In addition to the menopausal transition, midlife is a time of increased responsibilities for women related to multiple roles such as taking care of children, caring for elderly parents, managing households, and working outside the home. These multiple roles put midlife women at risk for increased stress with little time for themselves in order to relieve stress. The sample used in this study is part of a larger longitudinal study, The Seattle Midlife Women’s Health Study. Women (N = 380 for Occasion 1) completed the 77-item Life Events Scale on four occasions during the course of the SMWHS: Occasion 1 (1990), Occasion 2 (1992), Occasion 3 (1997), and Occasion 4 (2000). In addition to descriptive analyses of frequency of life events and the undesirable impact of life events, demographic correlates (age, education, income, employment, being a parent as well as marital status, race/ethnicity, and menopausal transition stages) were examined in relation to the stressful life event scores. Highest scores of undesirable life events were for categories of both Financial and Family/Friends over 3 of the 4 occasions. Health and Crime/Legal scores were among the highest for 2 occasions. Impact of the undesirable stressful life events was greatest for categories of Family/Friends; Personal/Social; Work; and, Health. Age, income, marital status, being a parent, and menopausal transition stage were each associated with specific categories of the stressful event impact scores. Most commonly reported undesirable life events were not those women described as having the greatest impact. Impact of life event stress reflected women’s social roles and connections as seen in the categories with the highest impact scores: Family/Close Friends, Personal/Social, and Work. Menopausal transition stages were related only to undesirable health events.
Pgrmc1/KLF4 Signaling Mediates the Neuron-Glia Crosstalk As A Neuroprotective Mechanism

We have recently found that Pgrmc1,a novel membrane-associated progesterone receptor,mediates P4-triggered BDNF release specifically from glia.To date, downstream signaling transduction consequent to Pgrmc1 activation has not been revealed.Here we provide evidence that P4 elicits a Pgrmc1/ERK5/KLF4 signaling cascade,which in turn,orchestrates glia-neuron communication via a BDNF (Brain-derived neurotrophic factor)-mediated intercellular crosstalk. We show that P4 triggered a significant release of mature BDNF from glia,and this effect was abolished by RNAi-mediated knock-down of Pgrmc1 or KLF4. Treatment of neuronal cultures with conditioned media from P4-treated astrocytes (P4-CM) induced a robust increase of synaptic marker expression,while blocking neurotrophin signaling can attenuate this effect,supporting that glia-derived BDNF induced synaptogenesis in neurons. In addition,P4-CM from glia significantly protected neurons against oxidative stress.Interestingly,over-expression of KLF4 in neurons result...
Critical Health Communication Methods: Challenges in Researching Transformative Social Change

This reflexive essay describes how methodological choices involved with critical commitments to understanding the economic and political roots of health status lead to challenges in the field that intersect with the politics of academic training, visibility, and publishing. Through the lens of my own research experiences, I discuss lessons learned as well as ways that I continue to struggle. I consider issues that are primarily personal and those that we should address as a field. In the essay, I describe six observations from my experiences researching transformative social change that have implications for critical health communication scholars and the discipline of health communication.