cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evidence of glutamatergic deficiency in schizophrenia

Studies of amino acid release were carried out using frozen sections from brains of schizophrenics and controls. Synaptosomes were prepared via differential centrifugation in Ficoll allowing the veratridine-induced release of aspartate, glutamate, glycine, and GABA to be measured. The release of glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) was reduced in the synaptosomes from schizophrenics. This decrease could be reversed partially by pre-incubation of the synaptosomes with haloperidol. Additionally, the activity of glutamate decarboxylase was decreased and partially restored by haloperidol pre-incubation. These data are consistent with the hypothesis of a glutamatergic/GABAergic deficit in schizophrenia.
Assessment of school wellness policies implementation by benchmarking against diffusion of innovation framework.

BACKGROUND The School Wellness Policy (SWP) mandate marks one of the first innovative and extensive efforts of the US government to address the child obesity epidemic and the influence of the school environment on child health. However, no systematic review has been conducted to examine the implementation of the mandate. The study examines the literature on SWP implementation by using the Diffusion of Innovations Theory as a framework. METHODS Empirically based literature on SWP was systematically searched and analyzed. A theory-driven approach was used to categorize the articles by 4 diffusion stages: restructuring/redefining, clarifying, routinizing, and multiple stages. RESULTS Twenty-one studies were identified, and 3 key characteristics of the reviewed literature were captured: (1) uniformity in methodology, (2) role of context in analyzing policy implementation, and (3) lack of information related to policy clarification. Over half of the studies were published by duplicate set of authors, and only 1 study employed a pure qualitative methodology. Only 2 articles include an explicit theoretical framework to study theory-driven constructs related to SWP implementation. CONCLUSIONS Policy implementation research can inform the policy process. Therefore, it is essential that policy implementation is measured accurately. Failing to clearly define implementation constructs may result in misguided conclusion.
Distribution and biological features of the common pandora, Pagellus erythrinus (Linnaeus, 1758), in the southern Tyrrhenian Sea (Central Mediterranean)

A synthetic analysis of the distribution, abundance and some biological traits of the common pandora (Pagellus erythrinus) was performed. Data were gathered in 15 experimental bottom trawl surveys carried out off the southern Tyrrhenian Sea from 1994 to 2008. A total of 2,166 P. erythrinus were found in the investigated area, with a preference for the upper continental shelf (10–100 m). The highest persistence was recorded in the trawl-banned areas. The sex ratio Sr = F/(F + M) ranged between 0.60 and 0.96 (overall 0.78). The size at which 50 % of the individuals were mature was 157 and 170 mm total length for females and males, respectively. The length–weight relationship for all individuals was described by the following parameters: a = 0.016 and b = 2.905. Growth was evaluated (sexes combined) by applying length-based methods; up to eight significant modal components were evidenced. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters for the whole population were estimated at L ∞ = 454 mm, K = 0.08 and t 0 = −2.57. The present results are in agreement with the information available for the other Mediterranean stocks suggesting common biological features.
Absolute stereochemical determination of chiral carboxylic acids.

Monoamidation of 1,4-diaminobenzene with α-chiral carboxylic acids leads to a carrier strategy for absolute stereochemical determination with bis-zinc porphyrin tweezers by exciton-coupled circular dichroism (ECCD). The helicity induced in the porphyrin tweezers upon complexation with the derivatized carrier originates from the preferred conformation of the Ccarbonyl−Cchiral bond. Correct ECCD signs can be predicted by the rotamer that places the large group perpendicular to the carbonyl group with the small group facing the porphyrin.
Advances in Hypergolic Propellants: Ignition, Hydrazine, and Hydrogen Peroxide Research

A review of the literature pertaining to hypergolic fuel systems, particularly using hydrazine or its derivatives and hydrogen peroxide, has been conducted. It has been shown that a large effort has been made towards minimizing the risks involved with the use of a toxic propellant such as the hydrazine. Substitution of hydrazines for nontoxic propellant formulations such as the use of high purity hydrogen peroxide with various types of fuels is one of the major areas of study for future hypergolic propellants. A series of criteria for future hypergolic propellants has been recommended, including low toxicity, wide temperature range applicability, short ignition delay, high specific impulse or density specific impulse, and storability at room temperature.
Essential role of conserved arginine 160 in intramolecular electron transfer in human sulfite oxidase.

Arginine 160 in human sulfite oxidase (SO) is conserved in all SO species sequenced to date. Previous steady-state kinetic studies of the R160Q human SO mutant showed a remarkable decrease in k(cat)/K(m)(sulfite) of nearly 1000-fold, which suggests that Arg 160 in human SO makes an important contribution to the binding of sulfite near the molybdenum cofactor [Garrett, R. M., Johnson, J. L., Graf, T. N., Feigenbaum, A., Rajagopalan, K. V. (1998) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 95, 6394-6398]. In the crystal structure of chicken SO, Arg 138, the equivalent of Arg 160 in human SO, is involved in the formation of a positively charged sulfite binding site [Kisker, C., Schindelin, H., Pacheco, A., Wehbi, W., Garnett, R. M., Rajagopalan, K. V., Enemark, J. H., Rees, D. C. (1997) Cell 91, 973-983]. To further assess the role of Arg 160 in human SO, intramolecular electron transfer (IET) rates between the reduced heme [Fe(II)] and oxidized molybdenum [Mo(VI)] centers in the wild type, R160Q, and R160K human SO forms were investigated by laser flash photolysis. In the R160Q mutant, the IET rate constant at pH 6.0 was decreased by nearly 3 orders of magnitude relative to wild type, which indicates that the positive charge of Arg 160 is essential for efficient IET in human SO. Furthermore, the IET rate constant for the R160K mutant is about one-fourth that of the wild type enzyme, which strongly indicates that it is the loss of charge of Arg 160, and not its precise location, that is responsible for the much larger decrease in IET rates in the R160Q mutant. Steady-state kinetic measurements indicate that IET is rate-limiting in the catalytic cycle of the R160Q mutant. Thus, the large decrease in the IET rate constant rationalizes the fatal impact of this mutation in patients with this genetic disorder.
On unweighted sums of squares in unbalanced analysis of variance

Abstract The well-known method of unweighted sums of squares (USSs) is examined using, as an example, a random two-way classification model with interaction. In particular, a better motivation is given to the association between the harmonic mean of the cell frequencies and the USSs. Furthermore, a procedure is developed for determining the adequacy of the USSs as approximate balanced analysis of variance (ANOVA) sums of squares. This procedure is easy to apply and provides a better insight into the effects of design and model’s variance components on such an approximation. The proposed methodology can be extended to higher-order models and other types of sums of squares.
The Negation of a Negation Fixed in a Form: Luigi Nono and the Italian Counter-culture 1964–1979

My goal in what follows is to trace the role of avant-garde music in the rise and development of the Italian counter-culture from the early 1960s until its destruction at the end of the 1970s. Instead of approaching this issue along quantitative, sociological lines, I will focus on one figure whose simultaneous engagement with musical innovation and sociopolitical revolution was exemplary in its intent (though exceptional in its extent): the avant-garde composer Luigi Nono, whose career parallels the rise of the Italian counter-culture during the 1960s and early 1970s. I will also briefly examine how the forcible destruction of the Italian counter-culture in 1979 is reflected in the last phase of Nono’s musical career.
A generalized model of commitment

Abstract The durability of economic relationships, such as employment or family relationships, is influenced by agents' willingness to “commit” by making match-specific investments or arrangements. This paper shows that many properties of optimal decisions and comparative statics in such models are quite robust, emerging from the abstract structure of commitment decisions rather than specific assumptions about functional or distributional forms. Recognizing this structure should enable future research to consider a broader set of empirically relevant complexities and may help to identify promising explanations for variations in commitment. The exercise also clarifies the circumstances under which increased uncertainty increases or decreases commitment.
In-situ FTIR study of ethyl xanthate adsorption on sulfide minerals under conditions of controlled potential

Abstract A spectroelectrochemical ATR cell has been constructed for in-situ FTIR measurements of ethyl xanthate adsorption on chalcocite, chalcopyrite, pyrite and galena at pH 9.2. It allows potential control while conditioning the mineral bed electrode and subsequently recording the spectra. The results obtained with chalcocite identify three different potential regions of xanthate adsorption, including chemisorption, copper ethyl xanthate formation on the surface and multilayer formation. On chalcopyrite, xanthate initially forms dixanthogen, followed by copper ethyl xanthate at higher potentials. Dixanthogen is the only surface species identified on the surface of pyrite. Lead ethyl xanthate-like species are formed on the surface of galena at potentials where the voltammogram shows a pre-wave for chemisorption.
Rotational vortex-flux characteristics of a type-II superconductor.

The rotation of a superconducting sample in a fixed field [bold H], starting in a hysteretic state, is known to produce a bifurcation of the vortex-flux density into a trapped rotational component [bold B][sub [ital R]], which turns rigidly with the sample, and a frictional component [bold B][sub [ital F]], which stays fixed relative to [bold H], reflecting the effects of vortex pinning and unpinning. Our rotational magnetic measurements on polycrystalline (Ba,K)BiO[sub 3] at 4.2 K now show that both [ital B][sub [ital R]] and [ital B][sub [ital F]] and their changes with [ital H] are the same for starting states on different branches of a major hysteresis loop. Moreover, for starting states after zero-field cooling, we find that [ital B][sub [ital R]] is zero for all [ital H] but that [ital B][sub [ital F]] rises at [ital H][sub [ital c]1] and rapidly joins the [ital B][sub [ital F]] values for the hysteretic starting states at higher [ital H]. Hence, regardless of the magnetic history before sample rotation, the frictional component [ital B][sub [ital F]] depends essentially only on [ital H] (at fixed temperature) and thus equilibrates with the magnetic environment.
Another utilization of MESA in the evaluation-grading of a class of Medex trainees.

Sunzrnary.-A recently proposed multidimensional similarity judgment analysis methodology (rhe Stone-Coles method) was used again to analyze the dimensionality of another class of Medex (physician's extension) trainees as perceived by the staff of the involved Medex training project. The extracted dimensions resembled rather closely, especially the primary dimension, those extracted from judgmental data pertaining to an earlier class of trainees. The results seemed to support a contention that multidimensional scaling of judgment may be valuable to use in personnel evaluation matters such as academic grading when the basis for such evaluation-grading is limited to the opinion of others (e.g., teachers). Stone, Bassett, Brosseau, DeMers, and Stiening ( 1973b) reported using a recently proposed multidimensional scaling procedure, the Stone-Coles method, to analyze the dimensionality of a class of Medex (physician's extension) trainees as perceived by the scaff of the involved Medex training project. The extracted dimensions associated with the "early-in-program" and the "about-to-be-graduated" perceptions accounted for 76 and 7996, respectively, of the judgmental similarity-estimation variances; all dimensions appeared to be readily interpretable. The major dimension for the last obtained judgments clearly seemed to represent some kind of "quality of trainee" characterization. This particular evaluative judgmental dimension was accepted by the involved training scaff, the judges (Is), as a satisfactory over-all "grading" measure for the trainees. This investigation concluded that such scaling can be used with advantage in the academic grading of student-trainees when the basis for such grading is limited to the evaluative opinion of Is, e.g., teachers.? The present investigation was undertaken to determine whether the prior results (Stone, et al., 1973b) would also be obtained from another independent class of Medex trainees.
Risk determination for patients with direct access to physical therapy in military health care facilities.

Study Design Nonexperimental, retrospective, descriptive design. Objectives This study was designed to ascertain whether direct access to physical therapy placed military health care beneficiaries at risk for adverse events related to their management. Background Military health care beneficiaries have the option at most US military hospitals and clinics to first enter the health care system through physical therapy by direct access, without referral from another privileged health care provider. This level of autonomous practice incurs broad responsibilities and raises concern regarding the delivery of safe, competent, and appropriate patient care administered by physical therapists (PTs) when patients are not first examined and then referred by a physician or other privileged health care provider. While military PTs practice autonomously in a variety of health care settings, they do not work independently within any facility. Military PTs and physicians rely on one another for sharing and collaboration o...
Swiss Cheese Fondue: Chemistry in the Kitchen

Cheese making and fondue making are among the earliest applications of chemistry to biotechnology. The history and chemistry of dairy products, cheese making, and fondue are discussed, and detailed directions for preparation of Swiss cheese fondue are given.
Alcohol and the Heart: An Ounce of Prevention

Moderate alcohol intake is beneficial to the heart and cardiovascular system. A J- or U-shaped response has been shown in the majority of studies examining alcohol’s effect on cardiovascular mortality and downstream cardio-metabolic effects, with heavy alcohol intake associated with worse outcomes. These effects apply to individuals with and without underlying coronary artery disease. However, care must be taken in defining “moderate” intake between the sexes. Males appear to have a wider therapeutic window and can afford 2 to 3 drinks per day whereas women should limit intake to 1 to 2 drinks per day (a “drink” being classified as 10 to 14 grams of alcohol). More than half of alcohol’s cardioprotective effects can be attributed to its effect on lipoproteins, specifically an increase in high-density lipoprotein. Interestingly, the risk of cardiovascular mortality in former heavy drinkers has been shown to ultimately approach the risk seen in lifelong abstainers.
S-waves and the measurement of CP violating phases in Bs decays

Heavy, as yet undiscovered particles, can affect measurements of $CP$ violation in the $B$ system. Measuring $CP$ violation in the ${B}_{s}$ system provides an excellent place to observe such effects since standard model sources are predicted to produce very small effects. The angle $\ensuremath{-}2{\ensuremath{\beta}}_{s}$, the ``phase of ${B}_{s}\ensuremath{-}{\overline{B}}_{s}$ mixing,'' thought to be best measured in ${B}_{s}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}J/\ensuremath{\psi}\ensuremath{\phi}$ decays is of order $\ensuremath{-}0.04$, while the $CP$ violating asymmetry in ${B}_{s}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\phi}\ensuremath{\phi}$ is predicted to be zero, due to the cancellation of the mixing phase with the decay phase. Recent measurements of ${\ensuremath{\beta}}_{s}$ in $J/\ensuremath{\psi}\ensuremath{\phi}$, while not definitive, are much larger than the standard model predictions. Measurements in the ${B}^{0}$ and ${D}_{s}^{+}$ systems of analogous modes point toward a 5\char21{}10% contamination of S-wave ${K}^{+}{K}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ under the $\ensuremath{\phi}$ peak. This S-wave was not taken into account in these recent analyses. Furthermore this S-wave can also materialize as a ${f}_{0}(980)$ meson that decays to ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$, making the final state $J/\ensuremath{\psi}{f}_{0}$ useful for measuring ${\ensuremath{\beta}}_{s}$ with the added advantage of not requiring an angular analysis. Rate estimates, while not precise, predict four to five times fewer such events than those in the $J/\ensuremath{\psi}\ensuremath{\phi}$ mode. The error on ${\ensuremath{\beta}}_{s}$, however, may be similar. We also remark on S-wave problems with the ${B}_{s}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\phi}\ensuremath{\phi}$ mode, and possible systematic checks using ${B}_{s}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\phi}{f}_{0}$.
Insulin/IGF-1 and TNF-α stimulate phosphorylation of IRS-1 at inhibitory Ser307 via distinct pathways

Serine/threonine phosphorylation of IRS-1 might inhibit insulin signaling, but the relevant phosphorylation sites are difficult to identify in cultured cells and to validate in isolated tissues. Recently, we discovered that recombinant NH2-terminal Jun kinase phosphorylates IRS-1 at Ser307, which inhibits insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1. To monitor phosphorylation of Ser307 in various cell and tissue backgrounds, we prepared a phosphospecific polyclonal antibody designated alphapSer307. This antibody revealed that TNF-alpha, IGF-1, or insulin stimulated phosphorylation of IRS-1 at Ser307 in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and adipocytes. Insulin injected into mice or rats also stimulated phosphorylation of Ser307 on IRS-1 immunoprecipitated from muscle; moreover, Ser307 was phosphorylated in human muscle during the hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp. Experiments in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and adipocytes revealed that insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of Ser307 was inhibited by LY294002 or wortmannin, whereas TNF-alpha-stimulated phosphorylation was inhibited by PD98059. Thus, distinct kinase pathways might converge at Ser307 to mediate feedback or heterologous inhibition of IRS-1 signaling to counterregulate the insulin response.
Inhibitors of active Ca2+ uptake by fragments of the sarcoplasmic reticulum of lobster muscle.

Abstract 1. 1. Vesicles from the sarcoplasmic reticulum of lobster muscle accumulate Ca 2+ if supplied with ATP as an energy source. A search was undertaken for inhibitors of Ca 2+ transport. 2. 2. p -Hydroxymercuribenzoate can completely inhibit Ca 2+ transport and ATP hydrolysis. 2–4 Dinitrophenol inhibits uptake but not hydrolysis. 3. 3. Sr 2+ , Ba 2+ and Zn 2+ inhibit uptake, perhaps by competing with Ca 2+ for a carrier. 4. 4. The vesicles contain acetylcholinesterase. Anticholinesterases can reduce —but not abolish—Ca 2+ uptake. Acetylcholine has no effect on the activity of the vesicles. 5. 5. Ca 2+ uptake is not affected by Mn 2+ , glutamate, pilocarpine, carnosine, caffeine, strophanthidin or tetraethylammonium. 6. 6. K + is needed for maximal activity of the uptake system but not for ATP hydrolysis. Apparently K + enhances the coupling between the energy supply and the carrier mechanism.
Altered exocrine pancreatic function in rats treated with nicotine.

Abstract The present study investigates the effects of nicotine treatment on exocrine pancreatic function. Adult male, Sprague-Dawley rats received nicotine via a time-release pellet, at a rate of 1.65 μg/min for 3 weeks. At the end of the experimental period, it was observed that although nicotine did not affect final body or pancreatic weight, the activities of amylase, trypsin, and chymotrypsin in pancreatic homogenates from nicotine-treated rats were 51, 29, and 35% higher, respectively, than in controls. Levels of immunoreactive cationic trypsin(ogen) were significantly higher in pancreatic homogenates and serum from nicotine-treated rats as compared with controls. In addition, concentrations of mRNA, encoding for pancreatic amylase, were higher in pancreatic homogenates from the nicotine-treated rats than in controls. In dispersed pancreatic acini isolated from nicotine-treated rats, basal secretion of amylase, trypsinogen, and chymotrypsinogen was 50% higher than controls and enzyme release following CCK-8 (100 p m ), secretin (1 μ m ), and carbachol (7.5 μ m ) stimulation was also significantly higher. These dat indicate that nicotine treatment, at levels comparable to those expected in moderate cigarette smokers, increases the content of digestive enzymes in rat pancreas, as well as their basal and secretagogue-induced release.
Active Extrusion of Heinz Bodies in Drug‐Induced Haemolytic Anaemia

Summary. A patient with repeated episodes of sulphonamide-induced haemolytic anaemia is reported. The haemolytic episodes were associated with a high percentage of Heinz bodies which had the unique feature of being actively extruded from the erythrocytes. Detailed morphological and biochemical studies are outlined, but the basis for the tendency to form Heinz bodies remains unclear. It is suggested that the phenomenon of active extrusion may provide an alternative route, independent of the reticuloendothelial system, for the removal of Heinz bodies. The close resemblance between the active expulsion of the Heinz bodies and the physiological denucleation of the maturing erythroblast is noted and a similar mechanism postulated.
On the Difference Between Statistical and Practical Significance in School-based Drug Abuse Prevention

In recent years, a large number of research reports and review papers have claimed that effective school-based drug abuse prevention strategies have been developed and tested. 'Effectiveness' in these papers is generally assessed in terms of statistical significance. However, it cannot be assumed that a statistically significant difference observed at follow-up between an intervention group and a control group is necessarily of any practical significance. Two large scale evaluations of school-based social influence programs are used to illustrate this point, and suggestions made as to how researchers might assess and report on practical significance in future studies.
Students’ Perception of an Integrated Approach of Teaching Entire Sequence of Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmacology, and Pharmacotherapeutics Courses in PharmD Curriculum

Purpose:To develop an integrated approach of teaching medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, and pharmacotherapeutics and to evaluate students’ perceptions of integration as they progress through the PharmD curriculum.Methods:Instructors from each discipline jointly mapped the course contents and sequenced the course delivery based on organ systems/disease states. Medicinal chemistry and pharmacology contents were integrated and aligned with respective pharmacotherapeutics contents to deliver throughout second and third year of the curriculum. In addition to classroom lectures, active learning strategies such as recitation, case studies, online-discussion boards, open book quizzes, and writing patient progress notes were incorporated to enhance student learning. Student learning was assessed by examination scores, patient progress notes, and writing assignments. The impact of course integration was evaluated by a Web-based survey.Results:One hundred and sixty-nine students completed the survey. Students exhib...
Tumor circulating DNA profiling in xenografted mice exposed to intermittent hypoxia

Intermittent hypoxia (IH) a hallmark characteristic of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), is proposed as a major determinant of processes involving tumor growth, invasion and metastasis. To examine whether circulating DNA (cirDNA) in blood plasma reflects changes in tumor cells under IH conditions, we used a xenografted murine model. Mice engrafted with TC1 epithelial lung cancer cells and controls were exposed to IH or room air (RA) conditions. Plasma cirDNA amounts were significantly increased in mice exposed to IH (p<0.05). Significant associations between plasma cirDNA concentrations and tumor size, weight and invasiveness also emerged (p<0.05). Using a methylation microarray-based approach, we identified 2,094 regions showing significant differential cirDNA modifications. Systems biology analyses revealed an association with molecular pathways deregulated in cancer progression and with distal and TSS-associated transcription factor binding sites. We detected clusters of highly variable regions in chromosomes 7, 13, 14 and X, which may highlight hotspots for DNA deletions. Single locus displayed high intragroup variation, suggesting cellular heterogeneity within the tissue may be associated to cirDNA release. Thus, exposures to IH increase the shedding of cirDNA into circulation, which carries epigenetic modifications that may characterize cell populations within the tumor that preferentially release their DNA upon IH exposure.
Gramene: Development and Integration of Trait and Gene Ontologies for Rice

Gramene (http://www.gramene.org/) is a comparative genome database for cereal crops and a community resource for rice. We are populating and curating Gramene with annotated rice (Oryza sativa) genomic sequence data and associated biological information including molecular markers, mutants, phenotypes, polymorphisms and Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL). In order to support queries across various data sets as well as across external databases, Gramene will employ three related controlled vocabularies. The specific goal of Gramene is, first to provide a Trait Ontology (TO) that can be used across the cereal crops to facilitate phenotypic comparisons both within and between the genera. Second, a vocabulary for plant anatomy terms, the Plant Ontology (PO) will facilitate the curation of morphological and anatomical feature information with respect to expression, localization of genes and gene products and the affected plant parts in a phenotype. The TO and PO are both in the early stages of development in collaboration with the International Rice Research Institute, TAIR and MaizeDB as part of the Plant Ontology Consortium. Finally, as part of another consortium comprising macromolecular databases from other model organisms, the Gene Ontology Consortium, we are annotating the confirmed and predicted protein entries from rice using both electronic and manual curation.
Synthesis and characterization of triglyceride-based polyols and tack-free coatings via the air oxidation of soy oil

The effect of time and temperature on the air oxidation of soybean oil in the absence of catalysts or added initiators was investigated. It was possible to divide the air oxidation of soybean oil into three regimes. The first regime of air oxidation resulted in insignificant change in the hydroxyl number. During this regime, it was proposed that natural antioxidants, which are present in raw soybean oil, were consumed and peroxide formation occurred. A drastic increase in hydroxyl number due to the formation and subsequent decomposition of peroxides marked the second regime of air oxidation. In the third regime of air oxidation, free radical crosslinking of the soybean oil occurred, and an insoluble gel was formed. The three regimes of air oxidation were used as a guide for the preparation of soy-based polyols and crosslinked polymers. Crosslinked, tack-free coatings were prepared from a metal catalyzed oxidation of soybean oil, where soybean oil and ambient oxygen were the only reactants. Higher temperatures (125°C) were more efficient than lower (50°C) for obtaining high gel fractions and tack-free coatings. Cure of the coatings was expedited with exposure of the coating to UV irradiation after initial heating. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 690–697, 2006
Activation of Pedunculopontine Tegmental PKA Prevents GABAB Receptor Activation–Mediated Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Suppression in the Freely Moving Rat

The pedunculopontine tegmental (PPT) GABAergic system plays a crucial role in the regulation of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. I recently reported that the activation of PPT GABAB receptors suppre...
Assessing community capacity and social capital in rural America: lessons from two rural observatories

This paper reviews the work of two rural observatories: the New Rural Economy project in Canada and the Ventures program in the state of Oregon. These observatories collect data to better understand the assets and liabilities of a selection of rural communities. Both observatories attempt to measure the social capital or capacity of each observed community.After a brief review of the theoretical literature on social capital, community capacity, and development, we draw on publications, reports, and personal communication with the principals of these observatories to review their efforts in measuring social capital and community capacity. Our aim is to look for lessons that can inform the design of a rural observatory to assess community capacity and social capital in rural communities in the United States.
Playbook: revision control and comparison for interactive mockups

When designing interactive interfaces and behaviors, interface designers compare and contrast multiple design ideas, often creating and testing many intermediate user interface prototypes before deciding on a final design. However, existing interface prototyping and creation tools do not effectively let designers explore, compare, or keep track of older versions of interface mockups, implicitly making the assumption that the users of these tools will work with one design alternative at a time. To explore how to enable designers to work with multiple designs in a prototyping tool, we created Playbook, a new system oriented towards helping interface designers keep track of, compare, and create interactive mockups. In this paper, we describe Playbook and discuss ways that future prototyping tools can better support the workflow of designers.
Molecular Subtyping of Treponema pallidum from North and South Carolina

Patients from five clinics in North and South Carolina who had lesions suggestive of primary or secondary syphilis were evaluated using molecular techniques that allow the differentiation of Treponema pallidum strains on the basis of two variable genes, tpr and arp. Lesion samples were screened for the presence of T. pallidum DNA using PCR for polA, which represents a segment of the polymerase I gene that is unique to the spirochete. Twenty-seven of 154 lesion samples were found to contain T. pallidum, 23 of which had typeable DNA. Seven molecular subtypes were found (10f, 12f, 13f, 14f, 14g, 15f, and 16f); one to four subtypes were identified at each clinic. Subtype 14f was found in 52% of the typeable specimens and was distributed in four of the five clinics. Subtype 16f was found in 22% of specimens and was concentrated at one clinic. Further data are needed to define the role of this technique in examining the epidemiology of syphilis.
TOWARD A NEW POLITICAL METHODOLOGY: Microfoundations and ART

▪ Abstract The past two decades have brought revolutionary change to the field of political methodology. Steady gains in theoretical sophistication have combined with explosive increases in computing power to produce a profusion of new estimators for applied political researchers. Attendance at the annual Summer Meeting of the Methodology Section has multiplied many times, and section membership is among the largest in APSA. All these are signs of success. Yet there are warning signs, too. This paper attempts to critically summarize current developments in the young field of political methodology. It focuses on recent generalizations of dichotomous-dependent-variable estimators such as logit and probit, arguing that even our best new work needs a firmer connection to credible models of human behavior and deeper foundations in reliable empirical generalizations.
An improved sequential search multistage vector quantizer

A new structure permits improved solutions which approximate the exhaustive-search multistage solution. A deterministic annealing design method capitalizing on this structure is formulated within the framework of information theory. The sequential search constraint is included as a prior, and the principal of minimum cross entropy is invoked. The method obtains improvement over both the standard sequential design and joint optimization approaches. >
GASEOUS JETS IN COMET HALE-BOPP (1995 O1)

We report the identification of gas jets in comet Hale-Bopp in OH, NH, CN, C2 and C3. This is the first time OH and NH jets without an obvious optical dust jet counterpart have been identified in narrowband comet images. We also confirm the existence of CN jets as reported by Larson et al. (1997) and Mueller et al. (1998). Jet features can be seen in the March and April 1997 datasets, approximately a month before and after perihelion. Our results contribute to the understanding of both the chemical properties of the comet as well as the physical mechanisms necessary to produce these features.
A cytoskeleton linearity measure

We developed a measure of cytoskeletal linearity in order to study the biological properties of normal and hyperphosphorylated Microtubule Associated Protein Tau (MAPT). The effect of site-specific tau phosphorylation on the microtubule network was examined and the stability of the actin cytoskeletal was evaluated to determine its state under the influence of P-tau. A custom ImageJ plugin using the linear Hough transform was developed to quantify the linearity of polymerized actin.
Nonlinear amplifier noise product ratio modeling and simulation

A noise product ratio (NPR) test and/or simulation is a traditional way of examining the nonlinearity of devices such as high-power amplifiers (HPAs). The advantage of NPR testing and/or simulation includes the ability to use a noise source and filters to obtain the band of noise with the appropriate notch for test purposes, which is typically more easily accomplished than performing BER testing and/or simulation for the specific modulated carriers that are anticipated to go through the HPA. Additionally, the types of signals anticipated to go through the HPA may be quite variable, and not all possibilities can be practically tested and/or simulated using conventional methods. NPR testing helps preclude the need for testing every possible signal combination. In this paper the authors discuss a simulation and modeling technique for determining NPR for a nonlinear amplifier with arbitrary AM/AM and AM/PM transfer curves. While NPR tests are typically done at radio frequency (RF), the model chosen is a baseband model. Specific examples of the transfer curves are chosen to demonstrate the utility and versatility of the simulation and modeling technique. Importantly, the approach described in this paper has been validated by detailed RF lab measurements.
The Effects of Perceived Stress on Reactions to Messages Designed to Increase Health Behaviors

This study examined the impact of perceived stress on responses to messages that encouraged the performance of health promotion and disease detection behaviors. It was hypothesized that increases in perceived stress would be associated with decreased processing of messages encouraging disease detection behaviors, and that increases in perceived stress would not effect the processing of messages encouraging health promotion behaviors. To test these hypotheses participants completed a perceived stress measure and then read a message that encouraged the performance of either a health promotion or a disease detection behavior. Then the participants were asked to indicate their agreement with the message and to attempt to recall the message. The results indicated that participants experiencing higher levels of perceived stress spent less time reading and recalled less of the messages about detection behaviors than of the messages about promotion behaviors. When participants were experiencing lower levels of perceived stress these differences disappeared.
Hyperbranched: a universal conjugated polymer platform.

Ein wandelbares Polymer: Die Sonogashira-Kupplung eines AB2-Monomers mit zwei Iodsubstituenten und einer Alkinfunktion fuhrt zu einem hochverzweigten konjugierten Polymer mit Iod-Endgruppen (kleine violette Quader im Bild). Die Iodsubstituenten sind ein hervorragender Angriffspunkt fur die effiziente Funktionalisierung nach der Polymerisation, um durch den Austausch von Endgruppen hochverzweigte fluoreszierende Poly(phenylenethinylene) zu erhalten.
Exploring teaching, learning, and instructional reform in an introductory technology course

The typical introduction to technology course focuses on helping preservice teachers develop skills for using technology and integrating it into their practice (Downs, 1992; McKenzie, 1994; Niess, 1991; Raiford & Braulick, 1995). Current national standards for technology in teacher preparation also emphasize the importance of developing skills and competencies for using technology (ISTE, 1997; Wiebe & Taylor, 1997). Thus, technology teacher educators tend to see teaching technology-related skills as the primary purpose for the introductory technology course.
A New Species of Nolanea with Quadrate Basidiospores

(1986). A New Species of Nolanea with Quadrate Basidiospores. Mycologia: Vol. 78, No. 1, pp. 136-138.
Effect of Insulin on Protein Metabolism.

The effect of insulin upon the protein metabolism of the rat was investigated by analyzing the entire carcass for urea and amino acid nitrogen within 1 to 4 hours after the commencement of the experiment.Each estimation consisted of the sum of the substance in question within the animal and that amount which had been excreted within the experimental period. The values obtained were compared with those from control animals which received injections of 1% sodium chloride. Marked increases in the rate of urea formation were observed. The amino nitrogen content of the whole animal decreased. The average decrease observed was approximately equal to the average increase in urea nitrogen. These results were found to be independent of the nature of the diet—high or low protein, upon which the animals had been maintained for the preceding 3 days.It is possible that the increased protein catabolism, here observed, is secondary to the accompanying hypoglycemia, and is due to a compensatory increase in the rate of gl...
A robust control design framework for substructure models with varying interface stiffness

A framework for modeling, analyzing, and designing robust control systems directly from substructure models and uncertainties is proposed. The dynamics a t the substructure interface is modeled by a n interface stiffness matrix which appears as a constant gain feedback in a control block diagram. The case when the interface stiffness varies is considered and is modeled as a parametric uncertainty in a multivariable robust control approach. Structured, singular value techniques are applied to analyze and design centralized and decentralized controllers tha t guarantee closed loop performance for a specific type of varying interface stiffness and a set of substructure uncertainties.
Search for the reaction. pi. /sup -/p. -->. psin near threshold

We have searched for the reaction ..pi../sup -/p ..-->.. psin near threshold. The search was motivated by the known strong enhancement in the analogous reaction ..pi../sup -/p ..-->.. phin near threshold. No events were found, corresponding to an upper limit of 1.1 nb (90% confidence level) for the total production cross section.
Quenching Bloch oscillations in a strongly correlated material: Nonequilibrium dynamical mean-field theory

Dynamical mean-field theory is generalized to solve the nonequilibrium Keldysh boundary problem: a system is started in equilibrium at a temperature $T=0.1$, a uniform electric field is turned on at $t=0$, and the system is monitored as it approaches the steady state. The focus here is on the Bloch oscillations of the current and how they decay after their initial appearance near $t=0$. The system is evolved out to the longest time allowed by our computational resources\char22{}in most cases we are unable to reach the steady state. The strongly correlated material is modeled by the spinless Falicov-Kimball model at half-filling on a hypercubic lattice in $d=\ensuremath{\infty}$ dimensions, which has a Mott-like metal-insulator transition at $U=\sqrt{2}$. The computational algorithm employed is highly efficient, parallelizes well, and scales to thousands of processors. For strong fields, we find beats develop with a period of $2\ensuremath{\pi}∕U$, while for strong interactions, the Bloch oscillations are sharply damped and become quite irregular in time.
Effects of low dose of levothyroxine on heart function in patients with congestive heart failure and low T3 syndrome

Objective:To investigate the effects of low dose of levothyroxine on heart function in patients with congestive heart failure(CHF)and low T3 syndrome. Methods:A cohort of 100 CHF patients complicated with low T3 syndrome were randomly divided into two groups:general therapy group(group 1,n=50)and low dose levothyroxine therapy group(group 2,n=50).All patients were followed up for 6 months.The thyroid function(FT3,FT4 and TSH),thyroid ultrasound,the levels of serum B-type natriuretic peptide(BNP),matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9)and left ventricular mass index(LVMI)were examined at baseline and 6 months.The rates of cardiovascular events and adverse effects in both groups were recorded. Results:At the end of this study,serum levels of BNP and MMP-9 were significantly decreased,and serum levels of FT3 were significantly increased in group 2 compared with group 1(P0.05).There were no significant differences between the two groups in LVMI and the rates of cardiovascular events.The adverse effects were not observed in group 2. Conclusion:Low dose of levothyroxine sodium salt might significantly decrease the serum levels of BNP and MMP-9,without causeing safety problems.
Climatic Niche Characterization of 13 North American Vitis Species

Climate change models predict that sites suitable for vineyards will shift over the next 50 years. In part through rootstocks and hybrid scions bred from North American Vitis species, cultivated grapevines can thrive in a variety of environments. However, relatively little is known about the range of climatic conditions under which natural populations of native North American Vitis species occur. In this study, we use geographic information system data to describe the climatic niches of 13 North American Vitis species that are distributed east of the Rocky Mountains and to compare climatic niches in a phylogenetic context. We extracted bioclimatic data from thousands of locality points and performed univariate and multivariate statistical analyses for each Vitis species. We then used these data to determine if phylogenetic relatedness was associated with similarities or differences in climatic niches. Finally, we performed Maxent modeling and multivariate environmental similarity surfaces analysis to identify suitable climate space for each species throughout the United States. Our results indicate Vitis species occur under a wide range of climatic conditions, including warm and wet (V. shuttleworthii), warm and dry (V. mustangensis), cold and wet (V. labrusca), and cold and dry (V. riparia) climates. Some clades within Vitis exhibit similarities in their climatic niches (niche conservatism), while others include species with notably different climatic niches (niche divergence). Additionally, we identify novel geographic locations where some species could potentially flourish. These data provide valuable insights into the abiotic environments occupied by natural populations of North American grapevines and may be useful in the development of rootstock genotypes to suit specific climates now and in the future.
Physicalism, Truthmaking, and Levels of Reality: Prospects and Problems

This paper considers the extent to which the notion of truthmaking can play a substantive role in defining physicalism. While a truthmaking-based approach to physicalism is prima facie attractive, there is some reason to doubt that truthmaking can do much work when it comes to understanding physicalism, and perhaps austere metaphysical frameworks in general. First, despite promising to dispense with higher-level properties and states, truthmaking appears to make little progress on issues concerning higher-level items and how they are related to how things are physically. Second, it seems that truthmaking-based approaches to physicalism will have a difficult time addressing the status of truthmaking itself without, in effect, appealing to the resources of alternative ways of conceptualizing physicalism.
An ecological systems approach to family narratives

We propose an ecological systems approach to family narratives that describes three dynamically interacting systems of family narratives: shared family narratives, communicative family narratives, and family history. We review developmental research on family storytelling within each of these levels and describe how they interact to create individual narrative identity, focusing on adolescence.
Buses, Bullies, and Bijections

The random—or orderly—seating of passengers on a bus is used to motivate several questions about cycles of permutations. These in turn motivates the investigation of bijections between special subs...
A simulation and optimisation procedure to model daily suppression resource transfers during a fire season in Colorado

Sharing fire engines and crews between fire suppression dispatch zones may help improve the utilisation of fire suppression resources. Using the Resource Ordering and Status System, the Predictive Services’ Fire Potential Outlooks and the Rocky Mountain Region Preparedness Levels from 2010 to 2013, we tested a simulation and optimisation procedure to transfer crews and engines between dispatch zones in Colorado (central United States) and into Colorado from out-of-state. We used this model to examine how resource transfers may be influenced by assignment shift length, resource demand prediction accuracy, resource drawdown restrictions and the compounding effects of resource shortages. Test results show that, in certain years, shortening the crew shift length from 14 days to 4 days doubles the yearly transport cost. Results also show that improving the accuracy in predicting daily resource demands decreases the engine and crew transport costs by up to 40%. Other test results show that relaxing resource drawdown restrictions could decrease resource transport costs and the reliance on out-of-state resources. The model-suggested assignments result in lower transport costs than did historical assignments.
Measuring the performance of an integrative patient similarity measure in the context of adverse drug events

Enabling personalized, evidence-based medicine requires measuring the similarity between patients in the clinic and patient records in claims and electronic health record (EHR) databases. In this paper we evaluate the performance of a patient similarity measure in the context of distinguishing patients who experienced adverse drug events after taking a new drug from those who did not. We consider two ways of evaluating performance, one that estimates the separation of the two clusters and the other using the weighted subspaces that define the cohort. Our effort highlights the importance of integrative, multi-modal similarity measures and the methods for evaluating their performance.