cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of nicotine on subjective arousal may be dependent on baseline subjective state

The often disparate and contrasting effects of nicotine on subjective arousal in smokers may be due in part to differences in presmoking subjective state. In Study 1, on each of 2 days, 10 male smokers were divided into high- and low-baseline subgroups on the basis of median split of resting predrug baseline subjective arousal. Then, subjects received intermittent nicotine (15 mu/kg) or placebo via measured-dose nasal spray, with drug conditions counterbalanced between days. In Study 2, 32 male and female smokers were similarly divided into high- and low-baseline subgroups on subjective arousal prior to either smoking or sham-smoking (n = 16 each) during a single session. Results were virtually identical between studies in showing that subjective arousal responses to nicotine (Study 1) or smoking (Study 2) were significantly inversely related to baseline arousal level; those initially low in arousal showed large increases following nicotine or smoking whereas those high in arousal showed little change. No such baseline dependency of responses was seen following placebo or sham smoking. Baseline dependency of cardiovascular responses to nicotine or smoking was also evaluated in similar fashion to determine generalizability of these effects to nonsubjective responses. In each study, systolic blood pressure response was related to baseline level but there was no effect of baseline level on heart rate and diastolic blood pressure responses. Implications of these results for explaining differential rewarding effects of smoking are discussed.
Intrinsic Organization of the Anesthetized Brain

The neural mechanism of unconsciousness has been a major unsolved question in neuroscience despite its vital role in brain states like coma and anesthesia. The existing literature suggests that neural connections, information integration, and conscious states are closely related. Indeed, alterations in several important neural circuitries and networks during unconscious conditions have been reported. However, how the whole-brain network is topologically reorganized to support different patterns of information transfer during unconscious states remains unknown. Here we directly compared whole-brain neural networks in awake and anesthetized states in rodents. Consistent with our previous report, the awake rat brain was organized in a nontrivial manner and conserved fundamental topological properties in a way similar to the human brain. Strikingly, these topological features were well maintained in the anesthetized brain. Local neural networks in the anesthetized brain were reorganized with altered local network properties. The connectional strength between brain regions was also considerably different between the awake and anesthetized conditions. Interestingly, we found that long-distance connections were not preferentially reduced in the anesthetized condition, arguing against the hypothesis that loss of long-distance connections is characteristic to unconsciousness. These findings collectively show that the integrity of the whole-brain network can be conserved between widely dissimilar physiologic states while local neural networks can flexibly adapt to new conditions. They also illustrate that the governing principles of intrinsic brain organization might represent fundamental characteristics of the healthy brain. With the unique spatial and temporal scales of resting-state fMRI, this study has opened a new avenue for understanding the neural mechanism of (un)consciousness.
Education research: A program perspective on learning how to teach.

Thank you so much. I am flattered. This is like being rewarded for eating chocolate cake. —C. Miller Fisher, upon receipt of a residency teaching award1 Not surprisingly, as neurologists we tend to take special pride in our role as teachers. It is common for trainees and attendings to cite examples of excellent teachers when asked to reflect upon their own initial attraction to neurology. This intangible bond between student and teacher often occurs outside of the classic setting of the lecture hall or conference room. Instead, it takes place on the wards and in the clinics, admixed with the daily chores of clinical care. This type of teaching eschews lecterns and problem sets in favor of observation, progressive responsibility, and apprenticeship; it is how we become mature physicians. As residents, fellows, and clinical staff, we participate in this educational process every day. It is surprising, then, how scant resources are spent teaching us “how to teach.” Being a good teacher is an art, backed by both time-honored techniques and evolving innovations. Too often, we tend to lecture rather than promote interactive dialogue or assess without providing adequate feedback.2 We can be more effective if we take the time to learn a more systematic approach. For example, trainees often arrive at each level of training with varying degrees of experience (e.g., some stroke fellows may have more experience administering IV-tPA than others, depending on their institution of residency).3 Assessing a student’s level of understanding, setting expectations, and then evaluating competencies all require a sophisticated understanding of the trainee as a learner. Recently, we administered a Web-based survey to all of the …
RecD Function Is Required for High-Pressure Growth of a Deep-Sea Bacterium

A genomic library derived from the deep-sea bacterium Photobacterium profundum SS9 was conjugally delivered into a previously isolated pressure-sensitive SS9 mutant, designated EC1002 (E. Chi and D. H. Bartlett, J. Bacteriol. 175:7533‐7540, 1993), and exconjugants were screened for the ability to grow at 280-atm hydrostatic pressure. Several clones were identified that had restored high-pressure growth. The complementing DNA was localized and in all cases found to possess strong homology to recD, a DNA recombination and repair gene. EC1002 was found to be deficient in plasmid stability, a phenotype also seen in Escherichia coli recD mutants. The defect in EC1002 was localized to a point mutation that created a stop codon within the recD gene. Two additional recD mutants were constructed by gene disruption and were both found to possess a pressuresensitive growth phenotype, although the magnitude of the defect depended on the extent of 3* truncation of the recD coding sequence. Surprisingly, the introduction of the SS9 recD gene into an E. coli recD mutant had two dramatic effects. At high pressure, SS9 recD enabled growth in the E. coli mutant strain under conditions of plasmid antibiotic resistance selection and prevented cell filamentation. Both of these effects were recessive to wild-type E. coli recD. These results suggest that the SS9 recD gene plays an essential role in SS9 growth at high pressure and that it may be possible to identify additional aspects of RecD function through the characterization of this activity. Increasing hydrostatic pressure results in a distinctive physical perturbation to biological systems which can be used as a tool both to uncover pressure-sensitive cellular processes and to discern aspects of pressure acclimation in barotolerant organisms capable of growth over a broad pressure range. The former application is useful for the isolation and characterization of conditional mutants in a manner analogous to that associated with temperature sensitivity or osmosensitivity. The latter approach is employed to study biochemical adaptation in the largest portion of the biosphere, the deep sea, where pressures can exceed 1,000 times that present on the planet’s surface. Studies with Escherichia coli indicate that elevated pressure can inhibit many cellular functions, including substrate trans
A duality theorem for plastic plates

Summary Limit analysis studies the asymptotic behavior of elastic-plastic materials and structures. The asymptotic material properties exist for a class of ductile metals and are designed into optimal structural members such as I-beams and composite plates. The analysis automatically ignores the relatively small elastic deformations. Classical lower and upper bound theorems in the form of inequalities are mathematically incomplete. A duality theorem equates the greatest lower bound and the least upper bound. Although some general statement has been made on the duality relation of limit analysis, each yield criterion will lead to a specific duality theorem. The duality theorem for a class of plastic plates is established in this paper. The family of ~-norms is used to represent the yield functions. Exact solutions for circular plates under a uniform load are obtained for clamped and simply supported boundaries as examples of the specific duality relations. Two classical solutions associated with Tresca and Johansen yield functions are also presented in the spirit of their own duality relations, providing interesting comparison to the new solutions. A class of approximate solutions by a finite element method is presented to show the rapid mesh convergence property of the dual formulation. Complete and general forms of the primal and dual limit analysis problems for the ~-family plates are stated in terms of the components of the moment and curvature matrices.
Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and TLR9 signaling results in HIV-long terminal repeat trans-activation and HIV replication in HIV-1 transgenic mouse spleen cells: implications of simultaneous activation of TLRs on HIV replication.

Opportunistic infections are common in HIV-infected patients; they activate HIV replication and contribute to disease progression. In the present study we examined the role of Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and TLR9 in HIV-long terminal repeat (HIV-LTR) trans-activation and assessed whether TLR4 synergized with TLR2 or TLR9 to induce HIV replication. Soluble Mycobacterium tuberculosis factor (STF) and phenol-soluble modulin from Staphylococcus epidermidis induced HIV-LTR trans-activation in human microvessel endothelial cells cotransfected with TLR2 cDNA. Stimulation of ex vivo spleen cells from HIV-1 transgenic mice with TLR4, TLR2, and TLR9 ligands (LPS, STF, and CpG DNA, respectively) induced p24 Ag production in a dose-dependent manner. Costimulation of HIV-1 transgenic mice spleen cells with LPS and STF or CpG DNA induced TNF-α and IFN-γ production in a synergistic manner and p24 production in an additive fashion. In the THP-1 human monocytic cell line stably expressing the HIV-LTR-luciferase construct, LPS and STF also induced HIV-LTR trans-activation in an additive manner. This is the first time that TLR2 and TLR9 and costimulation of TLRs have been shown to induce HIV replication. Together these results underscore the importance of TLRs in bacterial Ag- and CpG DNA-induced HIV-LTR trans-activation and HIV replication. These observations may be important in understanding the role of the innate immune system and the molecular mechanisms involved in the increased HIV replication and HIV disease progression associated with multiple opportunistic infections.
Is 2015 the Primetime Year for Prehypertension? Prehypertension: A Cardiovascular Risk Factor or Simply a Risk Marker?

The Comparative Risk Assessment module of the World Health Organization's Global Burden of Disease 2000 study[1][1] conducted a systematic assessment of changes in population health resulting from modifying exposure to 26 risk factors. These included atherosclerotic risk factors such as high blood
Solitons in two-dimensional lattices possessing defects, dislocations, and quasicrystal structures.

Localized nonlinear modes, or solitons, are obtained for the two-dimensional nonlinear Schrodinger equation with various external potentials that possess large variations from periodicity, i.e., vacancy defects, edge dislocations, and quasicrystal structure. The solitons are obtained by employing a spectral fixed-point computational scheme. Investigation of soliton evolution by direct numerical simulations shows that irregular-lattice solitons can be stable, unstable, or undergo collapse.
Mulch type affects growth and tuber production of yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus) and purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus)

Abstract Polyethylene mulch is an effective component of weed management in vegetable production. However, nutsedges are persistent and proliferate in these systems. Greenhouse studies evaluated the growth and tuber production of purple nutsedge and yellow nutsedge grown in pots covered with black-opaque polyethylene mulch, clear-colorless polyethylene mulch, or nonmulched. Single, presprouted nutsedge tubers were planted and growth evaluated over 16 wk. Relative to the nonmulched, yellow nutsedge shoot production was reduced 46 and 72% by black and clear mulch, respectively. The number of yellow nutsedge shoots that pierced and emerged through black and clear mulches was reduced 96% relative to emerged shoots in the nonmulched control. Yellow nutsedge in the nonmulched produced 366 tubers per initial tuber, whereas tuber production was reduced 49 to 51% in black and clear mulch. Growth of purple nutsedge shoots and tubers in black polyethylene mulch was similar to the nonmulched. Clear polyethylene reduc...
Approximating pure nash equilibrium in cut, party affiliation, and satisfiability games

Cut games and party affiliation games are well-known classes of potential games. Schaffer and Yannakakis showed that computing pure Nash equilibrium in these games is PLS-complete. In general potential games, even the problem of computing any finite approximation to a pure equilibrium is also PLS-complete. We show that for any ∈ > 0, we design an algorithm to compute in polynomial time a (3+∈)-approximate pure Nash equilibrium for cut and party affiliation games. Prior to our work, only a trivial polynomial factor approximation was known for these games. Our approach extends beyond cut and party affiliation games to a more general class of satisfiability games.A key idea in our approach is a pre-processing phase that creates a partial order on the players. We then apply Nash dynamics to a sequence of restricted games derived from this partial order. We show that this process converges in polynomial-time to an approximate Nash equilibrium by strongly utilizing the properties of the partial order. This is in strong contrast to earlier results for some other classes of potential games that compute an approximate equilibrium by a direct application of Nash dynamics on the original game. In fact, we also show that such a technique cannot yield FPTAS for computing equilibria in cut and party affiliation games.
Teaching Intracultural and Intercultural Communication: A Critique and Suggested Method

Within an increasingly global marketplace, discussions of intercultural communication are important in business and technical communication classrooms. Although many business and technical communication textbooks integrate discussions of intercultural communication, they do not go far enough in engaging the complicated nature of this issue. This article summarizes recent literature about the importance of paying attention to intercultural communication and analyzes the productive approaches in popular business and technical communication textbooks. It presents five challenges for business and technical communication teachers to consider and includes teaching modules that address these challenges. Although the article focuses on classroom practice, such intercultural explorations are also of value to authors of business and technical communication textbooks, who might consider integrating modules such as these into their textbooks.
Imperfect Competition and Anglo- German Trade Rivalry: Markets for Cotton Textiles before 1914

This article reappraises export performance on international markets before World War I by examinnig the case of cotton textiles. The German industry expanded its market share from the 1850s to 1914 despite remaining a high-cost industry relative to Great Britain. Evidence from contemporary accounts and analysis of trade data from 1913 suggests that German success arose in part from the importance of monopolistic competition in export markets for finished cloth. Germany’s relative wealth, geographic position, and perhaps the intensive marketing efforts of its industry may have enabled it to counter the cost advantage of its British rival.Their heads are still gay with crimson kerchiefs, but those kerchiefs do not come from Manchester.—E. E. Williams
Toward non‐parametric and clinically meaningful moderators and mediators

There is growing realization of the importance in randomized clinical trails (RCTs) and in risk research of understanding, not merely that a treatment or a risk factor has an effect on the outcome but specifically on whom in the population sampled does a treatment or a risk factor have such effects (via moderators), how those effects might be achieved (via mediators), and how clinically significant such effects might be (via effect sizes). Classic methods of detection of moderators and mediators have been based on statistical significance in linear models, procedures that often produce inconsistent results hard to interpret in terms of clinical significance. Methods based on non-parametric methods specifically designed to facilitate considerations of clinical significance are here introduced for binary moderators and mediators and the discussion opened for what would be needed in general.
Known in Part: The Transformational Power of Narrative Inquiry

This article explores the unique possibilities offered by narrative research for fostering continued communication between the researcher/self and diverse others. The first part of the article provides an overview of narrative research as a mode of inquiry and addresses representational and interpretive dilemmas arising in life history research with Shou Cher, a refugee from Laos. The second part of the article presents a series of narrative dialogues between Shou Cher and the researcher. These dialogues take the form of juxtaposed stories and interpretations, transcribed conversations, and reflections on the place of the poetic voice in qualitative research. The final part of this article contains some suggestions for others who may wish to explore the use of life history and narrative in their own journeys between the academy and the community, between the Self and the Other.
Reducing young driver road trauma: guidance and optimism for the future

This paper highlights lessons from each of the Expert Panel papers in the present supplement that provide guidance for future research and initiatives. Although some shortfalls still remain in our understanding, it is argued that much has been learned and we are ready for more translation, implementation, and evaluation of multilevel interventions to help reduce young driver road trauma. Non-use of restraints, speeding, driving at night and with passengers, and fatigue are highlighted as key risk factors to address. “Best practice” intervention is proposed as implementing and strengthening graduated driver licensing systems and complementary candidate programs and research, such as hazard perception training programs. A schematic cognitive-perceptual model to explain the crash sequence process is explored. There is optimism that meaningful impacts can be made, especially coupled with the advances in vehicle technologies, but caution is necessary in the absence of targeted “real world” evaluations and broader implementation and diffusion strategies.
Functional Improvement With Digital Prosthesis Use After Multiple Digit Amputations

Purpose Patients who sustain traumatic amputation of multiple fingers suffer both a functional and psychologic loss. Previous studies of prosthesis use for finger amputees have focused primarily on the psychologic benefits. Clinically our group noticed a functional improvement on hand function tests when patients with multiple digit amputations used a prosthesis. Given the expense of multiple finger prostheses we sought to determine if they led to a consistent functional improvement in these patients. Methods Ten consecutive patients performed a battery of hand function tests and rated their ability to perform a variety of activities of daily living both with and without their prosthesis using the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire. Results Our results show a significant improvement in 3-finger-pinch strength and grip strength and a trend of improvement of tip-pinch, lateral-pinch, and grip strength in dynamometer positions 1, 2, 3, and 4 in these patients when tested with and without their prostheses. Function in activities of daily living, as assessed by the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire, was improved globally with prosthesis use. In addition, significant improvement was noted in several specific activities including opening a jar, writing, and turning a key, among others. Conclusions These results show that prosthesis use provides a functional benefit to these patients in multiple activities.
System Identification and Proper Orthogonal Decomposition Method Applied to Unsteady Aerodynamics

The representation of unsteady aerodynamic e owe elds in terms of global aerodynamic modes has proven to be a useful method for reducing the size of the aerodynamic model over those representations that use local variables at discrete grid points in the e ow e eld. Eigenmodes and proper orthogonal decomposition modes have been used for this purpose with good effect. This suggests that system identie cation models may also be used to represent the aerodynamic e owe eld. Implicit in the use of a systems identie cation technique is the notion that a relative small state-space model can be useful in describing a dynamical system. The proper orthogonal decomposition model is e rst used to show that indeed a reduced-order model can be obtained from a much larger numerical aerodynamical model (the vortex lattice method is used for illustrative purposes ), and the results from the proper orthogonal decomposition model and the system identie cation methods are then compared. For the example considered the two methods are shown to give comparable results in terms of accuracy and reduced model size. Theadvantagesand limitationsofeachapproacharebriee y discussed.Both appearpromisingandcomplementary in their characteristics.
Autophagy, a Novel Pathway to Regulate Calcium Mobilization in T Lymphocytes

The T lymphocyte response initiates with the recognition of MHC/peptides on antigen presenting cells by the T cell receptor (TCR). After the TCR engagement, the proximal signaling pathways are activated for downstream cellular events. Among these pathways, the calcium signaling flux is activated through the depletion of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) calcium stores and plays pivotal roles in T cell proliferation, cell survival, and apoptosis. In studying the roles of macroautophagy (hereafter referred to as autophagy) in T cell function, we found that a pathway for intracellular degradation, autophagy, regulates calcium signaling by developmentally maintaining the homeostasis of the ER. Using mouse genetic models with specific deletion of autophagy related genes in T lymphocytes, we found that the calcium influx is defective and the calcium efflux is increased in autophagy-deficient T cells. The abnormal calcium flux is related to the expansion of the ER and higher calcium stores in the ER. Because of this, treatment with the ER sarco/ER Ca2+-ATPase pump inhibitor, thapsigargin, rescues the calcium influx defect in autophagy-deficient T cells. Therefore, autophagy regulates calcium mobilization in T lymphocytes through ER homeostasis.
p53 and Retinoid Chemoprevention of Oral Carcinogenesis

Abstract We studied p53 protein9s pattern of expression, association with retinoid response or resistance, and modulation by retinoid intervention in oral premalignancy. These p53 analyses were included in a prospective trial of the retinoid isotretinoin (1.5 mg/kg/day for 3 months) in 40 patients (45 oral premalignant lesions). Seven nonsmoking subjects (eight oral biopsies) were included as a control. Protein levels of p53 were determined separately for the whole epithelium and the basal, parabasal, and superficial layers. A wide range of accumulated p53 protein levels occurred in 40 (89%) of 45 lesions in basal and parabasal but not superficial layers. No p53 protein was detected in any normal controls. Accumulation of p53 increased in direct association with histological grade (P = 0.0004). An inverse relationship occurred between the levels of accumulated p53 protein and response to isotretinoin (P = 0.006). High-dose isotretinoin did not modulate accumulated p53 protein expression.
The absence of an association between oral contraceptive use and ulcerative colitis in patients

We recently published an article in Gastroenterology defining the absence of an etiologic association between oral contraceptive (OC) use and ulcerative colitis. In our paper we were very careful to mention that this case-control study was 1 of etiology and not of natural history. No statement in the article alludes to a recommendation for OC use in women with active disease predisposed to thromboembolic complications. It is with concern that we found the "This Month in Gastroenterology" feature to contain 2 misinterpreted statements. It is stated that "for sexually active women with IBD. . .physicians have been reluctant to prescribe OCs because of several studies suggesting an association between birth control pills and ulcerative colitis." The purpose of this study as stated in the introduction section of the article was to define the possible etiologic role of OCs and not to guide physician practices in ulcerative colitis patients. Furthermore it is stated in the feature that based on information from our study "women with ulcerative colitis considering the use of OCs can be advised that these agents do not appear to influence IBD adversely." Of course this is an incorrect inference from our study that offers inappropriate and incorrect advice to the casual reader of Gastroenterology. Our study cannot be used to answer this complex and potentially life-threatening issue. (full text) (2 references cited in original document)
Shades of T790M: Intratumor Heterogeneity in EGFR-Mutant Lung Cancer

In the setting of recent exciting clinical results and numerous ongoing trials, Piotrowska and colleagues explore mechanisms of acquired resistance to the mutant-specific EGFR inhibitor rociletinib, and demonstrate that loss of T790M, EGFR amplification, and small-cell transformation are all clinically relevant mechanisms of drug resistance. The authors provide a new paradigm for using quantitative assessment of the EGFR T790M:activation mutation allele frequency ratio to prognosticate responses to rociletinib and also demonstrate that plasma-based assessments of circulating tumor DNA can be used to monitor drug response and the emergence of drug resistance.
Reliability of the ATD Angle in Dermatoglyphic Analysis

The "ATD" angle is a dermatoglyphic trait formed by drawing lines between the triradii below the first and last digits and the most proximal triradius on the hypothenar region of the palm. This trait has been widely used in dermatoglyphic studies, but several researchers have questioned its utility, specifically whether or not it can be measured reliably. The purpose of this research was to examine the measurement reliability of this trait. Finger and palm prints were taken using the carbon paper and tape method from the right and left hands of 100 individuals. Each "ATD" angle was read twice, at different times, by Reader A, using a goniometer and a magnifying glass, and three times by a Reader B, using Adobe Photoshop. Inter-class correlation coefficients were estimated for the intra- and inter-reader measurements of the "ATD" angles. Reader A was able to quantify ATD angles on 149 out of 200 prints (74.5%), and Reader B on 179 out of 200 prints (89.5%). Both readers agreed on whether an angle existed on a print 89.8% of the time for the right hand and 78.0% for the left. Intra-reader correlations were 0.97 or greater for both readers. Inter-reader correlations for "ATD" angles measured by both readers ranged from 0.92 to 0.96. These results suggest that the "ATD" angle can be measured reliably, and further imply that measurement using a software program may provide an advantage over other methods.
Finding the world in the wave function: some strategies for solving the macro-object problem

We look at some strategies for solving the macro-object problem for wave function realism. This is the problem of finding an account of the existence of macroscopic objects assuming a metaphysics in which objects in space-time are not fundamental; rather what is fundamental is the quantum wave function, a field characterized by an assignment of values to points in a much different kind of space, one adequate to realizing the full range of possible quantum pure states.
Study of x-rays produced from debris-free sources with Ar, Kr and Kr/Ar mixture linear gas jets irradiated by UNR Leopard laser beam with fs and ns pulse duration

Abstract Experiments of x-ray emission from Ar, Kr, and Ar/Kr gas jet mixture were performed at the UNR Leopard Laser Facility operated with 350 fs pulses at laser intensity of 2 × 1019 W/cm2 and 0.8 ns pulses at an intensity of 1016 W/cm2. Debris free x-ray source with supersonic linear nozzle generated clusters/monomer jet with an average density of ≥1019 cm−3 was compared to cylindrical tube subsonic nozzle, which produced only monomer jet with average density 1.5–2 times higher. The linear (elongated) cluster/gas jet provides the capability to study x-ray yield anisotropy and laser beam self-focusing with plasma channel formation that are interconnecting with efficient x-ray generation. Diagnostics include x-ray diodes, pinhole cameras and spectrometers. It was observed that the emission in the 1–9 keV spectral region was strongly anisotropic depending on the directions of laser beam polarization for sub-ps laser pulse and supersonic linear jet. The energy yield in the 1–3 keV region produced by a linear nozzle was an order of magnitude higher than from a tube nozzle. Non-LTE models and 3D molecular dynamic simulations of Ar and Kr clusters irradiated by sub-ps laser pulses have been implemented to analyze obtained data. A potential evidence of electron beam generation in jets' plasma was discussed. Note that the described debris-free gas-puff x-ray source can generate x-ray pulses in a high repetition regime. This is a great advantage compared to solid laser targets.
Alabama Shakespeare Festival, 1981

In its tenth season, the Alabama Shakespeare Festival (ASF) continues to thrive. This summer the company played in repertory Oh, Coward! (a musical-comedy revue featuring Noel Coward songs), Goldoni's The Servant of Two Masters, the Marowitz Hamlet, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Much Ado About Nothing, and Henry IV, Part One. I hope ASF can keep it up. This lively professional group has attracted audiences to Anniston from all over the Southeast. In an area more readily associated with the Talledega 500 and the Crimson Tide than with first-rate classical theatre, ASF is a phenomenon to be cherished. Yet with this season's considerably varied bill there was some unevenness in the Shakespeare productions I attended. First the experiment, the Marowitz Hamlet. This is a playing on Shakespeare's Hamlet, a crazy quilt of bits and pieces from the original rearranged by Charles Marowitz. Its premiere was at the Akademie der Kunst, Berlin, in 1965. The play was conceived, according to Marowitz, as a "collage form" in which actors had to "forgo all the conventional means by which they usually achieved their effects. Nothing could build, for instance, for longer than two or three minutes; no scene could develop to a logical conclusion because no scene ever concluded but was abruptly intersected by another, invariably with a different texture and from another part of the play. The sustenance of character became secondary to the transmutation of character as a result of jumps in time and location" (The Marowitz Shakespeare [New York: Drama Books, 1978], p. 12). The aim of the play was to catch "the multitude of nuances and insights" in Shakespeare's work without resort to the direct dramatizing of a story (p. 10). But the aim of the play was also to attack what in Marowitz's opinion the character Hamlet represents in life: "by assaulting the character of Hamlet, one was deriding the supreme prototype of the consciencestricken but paralyzed liberal: one of the most lethal and obnoxious characters in modern times" (p. 13). Fortunately the text of the piece itself is free from such outrageous question-begging, although it does insist and nag rather shrilly about certain exceptionable points-that everyone in the play is Hamlet's father, for example, or that Hamlet is a bad actor.
Solid-State Quantitative (1)H and (31)P MRI of Cortical Bone in Humans.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays a pivotal role for assessment of the musculoskeletal system. It is currently the clinical modality of choice for evaluation of soft tissues including cartilage, ligaments, tendons, muscle, and bone marrow. By comparison, the study of calcified tissue by MRI is still in its infancy. In this article, we review the potential of the modality for assessment of cortical bone properties known to be affected in degenerative bone disease, with focus on parameters related to matrix and mineral densities, and porosity, by means of emerging solid-state 1H and 31P MRI techniques. In contrast to soft tissues, the MRI signal in calcified tissues has very short lifetime, on the order of 100 μs to a few milliseconds, demanding customized imaging approaches that allow capture of the signal almost immediately after excitation. The technologies described are suited for quantitatively imaging human cortical bone in specimens as well as in vivo in patients on standard clinical imagers, yielding either concentrations in absolute units when measured against a reference standard, or more simply, in the form of surrogate biomarkers. The two major water fractions in cortical bone are those of collagen-bound and pore water occurring at an approximately 3:1 ratio. Collagen-bound water density provides a direct quantitative measure of osteoid density. While at an earlier stage of development, quantification of mineral phosphorus by 31P MRI yields mineral density and, together with knowledge of matrix density, should allow quantification of the degree of bone mineralization.
Anesthesia for kidney transplantation- A review

Kidney transplant anesthesia can be a mentally challenging yet rewarding aspect of the anesthesiologist’s job. End stage renal disease (ESRD) patients tend to have a medical history that leads to very complex physiology. In this article we will review the pathophysiology of ESRD, the effects of ESRD on other body systems, and how it effects the perioperative management of the ESRD patient.
Near-Infrared Electrogenerated Chemiluminescence from Aqueous Soluble Lipoic Acid Au Nanoclusters

Strong electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) is detected from dithiolate Au nanoclusters (AuNCs) in aqueous solution under ambient conditions. A novel mechanism to drastically enhance the ECL is established by covalent attachment of coreactants N,N-diethylethylenediamine (DEDA) onto lipoic acid stabilized Au (Au-LA) clusters with matching redox activities. The materials design reduces the complication of mass transport between the reactants during the lifetime of radical intermediates involved in conventional ECL generation pathway. The intracluster reactions are highly advantageous for applications by eliminating additional and high excess coreactants otherwise needed. The enhanced ECL efficiency also benefits uniquely from the multiple energy states per Au cluster and multiple DEDA ligands in the monolayer. Potential step and sweeping experiments reveal an onset potential of 0.78 V for oxidative-reduction ECL generation. Multifolds higher efficiency is found for the Au clusters alone in reference to the standard Rubpy with high excess TPrA. The ECL in near-IR region (beyond 700 nm) is highly advantageous with drastically reduced interference signals over visible ones. The features of ECL intensity responsive to electrode potential and solution pH under ambient conditions make Au-LA-DEDA clusters promising ECL reagents for broad applications. The strategy to attach coreactants on Au clusters is generalizable for other nanomaterials.
Effects of Oxygen-Increasing Patterns in Paddy Fields on Rice Grain-Filling

The effects of oxygen-increasing patterns in paddy fields on rice yield formation and grain-filling dynamics were investigated in a two-year field experiment(2008-2009) under three oxygen-increasing patterns,including application of urea peroxide as topdressing(T1),application of calcium peroxide as topdressing(T2) and dry-wet alternate irrigation(T3),with continuous submerged irrigation as control(CK).The Richards equation was used to simulate grain filling processes of two rice genotypes(Guodao 1 and Xiushui 09) under different oxygen-increasing patterns.Compared with the control(CK),the yields of Guodao 1(indica) under T1,T2 and T3 were increased by 11.6%,8.5% and 13.6% in 2008 and 16.8%,14.4% and 23.0% in 2009;Similarly,the yields of Xiushui 09(japonica)under T1,T2 and T3 were increased by 6.6%,9.2% and 9.4% in 2008,and 14.6%,17.2% and 17.4% in 2009,respectively.Rice grain-filling process fitted well with the Richards equation(R20.989),and the main effects of oxygen-increasing patterns on rice grain-filling were as follows: 1) Maximum grain weight of inferior and superior grains were both increased with smaller difference in grain weight between the two genotypes and improved grain-filling synchronism;2) Inferior grains of the two rice genotypes had a full grain filling process.The oxygen-increasing patterns extended the grain-filling duration of inferior grains of Guodao 1,and increased the grain-filling rate of inferior grains of Xiushui 09.3) Full grain-filling of the inferior grains was mainly contributed to higher seed setting rate and yield of the genotypes under the increasing-oxygen patterns in paddy fields.
Analyzing the Role of Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans in Axon Guidance In Vivo in Zebrafish

One of the most fascinating questions in the field of neurobiology is to understand how neuronal connections are properly formed. During development, neurons extend axons that are guided along defined paths by attractive and repulsive cues to reach their brain target. Most of these guidance factors are regulated by heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs), a family of cell-surface and extracellular core proteins with attached heparan sulfate (HS) glycosaminoglycans. The unique diversity and structural complexity of HS sugar chains, as well as the variety of core proteins, have been proposed to generate a complex "sugar code" essential for brain wiring. While the functions of HSPGs have been well characterized in C. elegans or Drosophila, relatively little is known about their roles in nervous system development in vertebrates. In this chapter, we describe the advantages and the different methods available to study the roles of HSPGs in axon guidance directly in vivo in zebrafish. We provide protocols for visualizing axons in vivo, including precise dye labeling and time-lapse imaging, and for disturbing the functions of HS-modifying enzymes and core proteins, including morpholino, DNA, or RNA injections.
Management of Urinary and Fecal Incontinence in Patients With Complex Regional Pain Syndrome.

Background Urinary voiding dysfunction is reported in many patients with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). However, there is a gap in the literature for treating patients with CRPS who develop incontinence symptoms. Case We report a case describing the use of sacral neuromodulation therapy in a patient with urgency urinary and fecal incontinence who had a previously implanted spinal cord stimulator for type 1 CRPS, formerly known as reflex sympathetic dystrophy. Despite initial hesitation and treatment delay, sacral neuromodulation therapy was successful and effective in controlling both fecal and urgency urinary incontinence symptoms for the patient. This intervention continues to provide her with an improved quality of life 10 months after her procedure. Conclusions In this case, there was significant hesitation from the provider and patient to use invasive treatments for incontinence symptoms when the patient's pain symptoms have been well controlled with an existing spinal device. However, in this patient with type 1 CRPS, even in the setting of an existing spinal cord stimulator, sacral neuromodulation therapy was an effective treatment.
Perceived Discrimination and Mexican-Origin Young Adults' Sleep Duration and Variability: The Moderating Role of Cultural Orientations.

Perceived ethnic discrimination is central to the experiences of Latino young adults, yet we know little about the ways in which and the conditions under which ethnic discrimination relates to Latino young adults’ sleep patterns. Using a sample of 246 Mexican-origin young adults (M age = 21.11, SD = 1.54; 50 % female), the current study investigated the longitudinal links between perceived ethnic discrimination and both sleep duration and night-to-night variability in duration, while also examining the moderating roles of Anglo and Mexican orientations in the associations. The results revealed that perceived discrimination predicted greater sleep variability, and this link was not moderated by cultural orientations. The relation between perceived discrimination and hours of sleep, however, was moderated by Anglo and Mexican orientations. Individuals with high Anglo and Mexican orientations (bicultural) and those with only high Mexican orientations (enculturated), showed no association between discrimination and hours of sleep. Individuals with low Anglo and Mexican orientations (marginalized) displayed a positive association, whereas those with high Anglo and low Mexican orientations (acculturated) displayed a negative association. The results suggest that discrimination has long term effects on sleep variability of Mexican-origin young adults, regardless of cultural orientations; however, for sleep duration, bicultural and enculturated orientations are protective.
T. Wemyss Reid, [‘ “The Little Family” of the Brontës’] (1829–1849), in Charlotte Brontë: A Monograph (London: Macmillan and Co., 1877), pp. 26–8, 39–43, 94–8

Of the school-days of the Brontes nothing need be said here. Every reader of ‘Jane Eyre’ knows what Charlotte Bronte herself thought of that charitable institution to which she has given so unenviable a notoriety. There she lost her oldest sister, whose fate is described in the tragic tale of Helen Burns; and it was whilst she was at this place that her second sister, Elizabeth, also died. Only one thing need be added to this dismal record of the stay at Cowan Bridge. During the whole time of their sojourn there, the young Brontes scarcely ever knew what it was to be free from the pangs of hunger.
Abdominal pain: a survey of clinically important outcomes for future research.

Objective We aimed to use the consensus opinion of a group of expert emergency physicians to derive a set of emergency diagnoses for acute abdominal pain that might be used as clinically significant outcomes for future research. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey of a convenience sample of emergency physicians with expertise in abdominal pain. These experts were authors of textbook chapters, peer-reviewed original research with a focus on abdominal pain or widely published clinical guidelines. Respondents were asked to categorize 50 possible diagnoses of acute abdominal pain into 1 of 3 categories: 1) unacceptable not to diagnose on the first emergency department (ED) visit; 2) although optimal to diagnose on first visit, failure to diagnose would not be expected to have serious adverse consequences provided the patient had follow-up within the next 2-7 days; 3) if not diagnosed during the first visit, unlikely to cause long-term risk to the patient provided the patient had follow-up within the next 1-2 months. Standard descriptive statistical analysis was used to summarize survey data. Results Thirty emergency physicians completed the survey. Of 50 total diagnoses, 16 were categorized as "unacceptable not to diagnose in the ED" with greater than 85% agreement, and 12 were categorized as "acceptable not to diagnose in the ED" with greater than 85% agreement. Conclusion Our study identifies a set of abdominal pain conditions considered by expert emergency physicians to be clinically important to diagnose during the initial ED visit. These diseases may be used as "clinically significant" outcomes for future research on abdominal pain.
Holistic reliability: Accelerated testing of metallization

Understanding metallization reliability is crucial as two-thirds of all defects detected in fielded modules is directly related to cell and metallization problems. This coupled with the reduction in metallization laydown by 70% over the last 5 years poses a risk to long term module reliability. A critical issue is separating intrinsic vs. extrinsic effects on failure modes seen under testing of silver paste durability. We have varied the flux used in soldering of the ribbons to the cell and seen differentiation in durability. From these learnings we have then tested different silver pastes under damp heat and pressure cooker testing. Finally, we present a series of aged adhesion with temperature cycling to develop accelerated testing of adhesion.
Navigating Monogamy: Nonapeptide Sensitivity in a Memory Neural Circuit May Shape Social Behavior and Mating Decisions

The role of memory in mating systems is often neglected despite the fact that most mating systems are defined in part by how animals use space. Monogamy, for example, is usually characterized by affiliative (e.g., pairbonding) and defensive (e.g., mate guarding) behaviors, but a high degree of spatial overlap in home range use is the easiest defining feature of monogamous animals in the wild. The nonapeptides vasopressin and oxytocin have been the focus of much attention for their importance in modulating social behavior, however this work has largely overshadowed their roles in learning and memory. To date, the understanding of memory systems and mechanisms governing social behavior have progressed relatively independently. Bridging these two areas will provide a deeper appreciation for understanding behavior, and in particular the mechanisms that mediate reproductive decision-making. Here, I argue that the ability to mate effectively as monogamous individuals is linked to the ability to track conspecifics in space. I discuss the connectivity across some well-known social and spatial memory nuclei, and propose that the nonapeptide receptors within these structures form a putative ‘socio-spatial memory neural circuit’. This purported circuit may function to integrate social and spatial information to shape mating decisions in a context-dependent fashion. The lateral septum and/or the nucleus accumbens, and neuromodulation therein, may act as an intermediary to relate socio-spatial information with social behavior. Identifying mechanisms responsible for relating information about the social world with mechanisms mediating mating tactics is crucial to fully appreciate the suite of factors driving reproductive decisions and social decision-making.
The Biophysics of 3D Cell Migration

Three-dimensional (3D) cell culture systems have gained increasing interest not only for 3D migration studies but also for their use in drug screening, tissue engineering, and ex vivo modeling of m...