cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Factors affecting in vivo electrochemistry: electrode-tissue interaction and the ascorbate amplification effect.

Abstract While in vivo electrochemistry has been shown to be useful for discovering new neurophysiological phenomena, there is still considerable controversy about the identity of the compounds being measured and the concentration of those compounds in extracellular fluid in brain. We have found that carbon paste electrodes undergo changes in sensitivity and specificity for dopamine and other compounds after being implanted in brain. We have also examined the effect of ascorbate on the selective enhancement of catecholamine peaks to provide an explanation for the apparently very high concentrations of dopamine measured in the excellular fluid space. After temporary brain implantation (20 min), carbon paste electrodes tested in vitro showed increased sensitivity and lower oxidation potentials for dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin. These brain-treated electrodes also detected 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) as a distinct peak at +0.16 V, although the electrode sensitivity for DOPAC was some 25 times lower than that for dopamine. Brain treatment did not alter electrode sensitivity or oxidation potential for 5-HIAA. The oxidation current for ascorbic acid when processed as the semiderivative showed no distinct peak in the potential range −0.2 to +0.4V for either untreated or brain-treated electrodes. However ascorbic acid amplified the electrochemical peaks of catechols in direct proportion to the ratio of the concentration of ascorbate to the concentration of the catechol. In the physiologic concentration range of 300 μM ascorbate, the electrochemical signal for 1 μM dopamine was amplified 4250%. While ascorbate amplification improves detectability of dopamine and norepinephrine, it also introduces ambiguity since changing catechol concentrations cannot be distinguished from changing ascorbate concentrations.
Altered effects of potassium channel modulation in the coronary circulation in experimental hypercholesterolemia.

Objective: To evaluate the role of potassium channels in the regulation of coronary hemodynamics in experimental hypercholesterolemia. Background: Potassium (K+) channels play an important role in coronary vasoregulation. It has previously been demonstrated that experimental hypercholesterolemia is associated with altered coronary vasomotion; however, the role of K+ channels in modulating coronary blood flow in this pathophysiologic state has not been evaluated. Methods and results: Pinacidil (group 1, n=5) at 2 μg/kg per min, glibenclamide (group 2, n=5), or N-monomethyl-l-arginine (LNMMA) (group 3, n=4) at 50 μg/kg per min were infused into the left anterior descending artery of pigs prior to and following 10 weeks of 2% cholesterol diet. After 10 weeks of cholesterol feeding, intracoronary pinacidil resulted in a significant increase in coronary blood flow (CBF) and coronary artery diameter (CAD) compared to the normolipidemic state (111±10 versus 59±12%, and 6±1.1 versus 2.7±1.0%, respectively, P<0.05 for both comparisons), whereas intracoronary glibenclamide resulted in a significant decrease in CBF and CAD compared to the normolipidemic state (−17±5 versus 5±6%, and −0.8±1.4 versus 3.6±1.6%, respectively, P<0.05 for both comparisons). The effect of intracoronary LNMMA on CBF and CAD was significantly attenuated after 10 weeks of cholesterol feeding as compared to the normolipidemic state (−47±5.4 versus −0.8±6.8%, and −19.4±5.7 versus −2.3±3.3%, respectively, P<0.05 for both comparisons). Furthermore, pretreatment with intracoronary LNMMA did not alter the CBF response to pinacidil in normal pigs (group 4, n=4) (57.4±19 versus 59±12%, P=NS). Conclusions: The current study demonstrates an enhanced effect of coronary K+ channel modulation and confirms the attenuated basal NO activity previously reported in experimental hypercholesterolemia. Acute withdrawal of basal NO activity alone, however, does not explain the enhanced effect of coronary K+ channel modulation. These findings underscore the importance of the K+ channel pathway in the regulation of coronary vasomotor tone in pathophysiologic states.
Evaluation of beeswax-tricaprylin vehicle for pulmonary carcinogenesis studies.

Abstract The release properties of three compounds, representative of three different subfractions of cigarette smoke condensate (CSC), were characterized from a beeswax-tricaprylin matrix. These compounds were nicotine (weak base fraction), 3-methylcholanthrene (a polycyclic hydrocarbon similar to compounds in the neutral fraction), and phenol (weak acid fraction). The release profiles for the three materials vary greatly, indicating that the beeswax-tricaprylin vehicle does not provide a uniform administration of whole CSC or multicomponent fractions of CSC to the implant site. The pellets will produce a varying exposure of the CSC components to the tissue, based on the chemical nature of the individual component. The release of nicotine from the beeswax-tricaprylin vehicle was found to be rapid and dependent on the geometry of the pellet and concentration. The in vitro release data for nicotine correlated well both with the single component in vivo data and with in vivo data where nicotine was part of whole CSC in the implant pellet. The release of 3-methylcholanthrene was slow and had approximately zero-order kinetics. The phenol release profile was between nicotine and 3-methylcholanthrene, which correlates with the relative polarity of the three materials. Modeling the release characteristics of a component of CSC by testing its individual release properties in vitro was found to be a promising method (i) to establish the dose and dose rate of various components of CSC from implant vehicles, and (ii) to evaluate in vivo exposure data in terms of the exposure rate of the various components of CSC.
Coreo-política e coreo-polícia

A partir da recente enfase em filosofia politica (Ranciere; Agamben) da relacao ontologica entre estetica e politica, se analisa a possibilidade de uma pensar coreografico dissensual no urbano contemporâneo. Exemplos incluem os movimentos de ocupacao de pracas e ruas nos ultimos 18 meses (Tahir; Wall Street entre outros); a performance art de Tania Bruguera e William Pope.L; e a danca TURF, em Oakland, California. Avanca-se o conceito de coreo-policia, a partir das propostas de Jacques Ranciere sobre o conceito de "police."
Continuation High Schools: Youth at Risk for Drug Abuse

Students at alternative high schools may be at substantial risk for drug abuse. The present article provides a general overview of the drug use-related context of continuation high schools in southern California. A total of 144 students and ninety-six staff were interviewed from twenty continuation high schools. The interview data revealed that continuation school students show high levels of substance use. However, only 20 percent of the students report that they received any drug abuse prevention programming. Also, students at continuation high schools aspired to a productive life after high school including continued education. Thus, these youth may still be amenable to preventive educational interventions which deter them from drug use and help them to fulfill their future goals.
Geographic and Seasonal Variation in Alkaloid-Based Chemical Defenses of Dendrobates pumilio from Bocas del Toro, Panama

Poison frogs contain an alkaloid-based chemical defense that is derived from a diet of certain alkaloid-containing arthropods, which include mites, ants, beetles, and millipedes. Variation in population-level alkaloid profiles among species has been documented, and more than 800 different alkaloids have been identified. In the present study, we examine individual alkaloid variation in the dendrobatid poison frog Dendrobates pumilio among seven populations and between two seasons on Isla Bastimentos, located in the Bocas del Toro archipelago of Panama. Alkaloid profiles vary among populations and between seasons, illustrating that chemical defense in this species can vary on a small spatial and temporal scale. Alkaloid variation among populations is marginally correlated with geographic distance, and close populations have profiles more similar to each other than to distant populations. Individuals within populations also vary in alkaloid profiles. Differences are attributed to both spatial and temporal variations in the availability of alkaloid-containing arthropods. Many of the alkaloids present in the skin of D. pumilio appear likely to be of ant origin, supporting the importance of myrmecophagy in chemical defense among poison frogs. However, a variety of frog skin alkaloids was recently detected in mites, suggesting that mites may also play an important role in chemical defense.
Changes in gonadal hormones during oocyte development in the striped bass,Morone saxatilis

Wild striped bass,Morone saxatilis, were collected from coastal waters and spawning areas to describe the endocrine correlates of oocyte development in non-captive, migratory fish. The fish were classified according to their most advanced oocytes. Serum levels of estradiol (E2), testosterone (T) and 17α-20β-dihydroxyprogesterone (DHP) were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Females in the primary growth phase and early secondary growth phase (pre-vitellogenic) had low levels of plasma steroids, ovarian lipid content and gonadosomatic indices (GSIs). Significant increases in E2, T, ovarian lipid content and GSIs occurred during the vitellogenic phase. Maximum levels of all reproductive parameters were found in prespawning fish sampled in the Hudson River. Mean levels of E2, T, ovarian lipids and GSIs for these fish were 2.0±0.5 ng/ml, 3.0±0.3 ng/ml, 24±1 mg/g, and 5.6±0.3% (mean±SEM), respectively. In fish induced to spawn with human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), DHP levels (1.9±0.4 ng/ml) were significantly elevated. Similar levels were found in two fish captured during the spawning season, suggesting that DHP may serve as the maturation-inducing steroid in this species.
Mesothelioma with clear cell features: an ultrastructural and immunohistochemical study of 20 cases

Mesotheliomas with clear cell morphology are rare and only a few individual case reports have been documented in the literature. The author reports a series of 20 epithelioid mesotheliomas with clear features, 17 of which originated in the pleura and 3 in the peritoneum. Eighteen of the patients were men and 2 were women. Twelve patients had a history of asbestos exposure. Electron microscopy and special histochemical stains demonstrated that the cytoplasmic clearing seen in hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections resulted from multiple factors that can occur either singly or in combination. The most frequent cause of the cytoplasmic clearing was the accumulation of large amounts of intracytoplasmic glycogen. Another but somewhat less common factor was the accumulation of large amounts of lipid, which occurred alone or with glycogen. Other less common causes were marked mitochondrial swelling, the presence of numerous intracytoplasmic vesicles, and a large number of intracytoplasmic lumens. The value of immunohistochemistry in helping to distinguish epithelioid mesotheliomas from some carcinomas with clear cell morphology is emphasized. In addition, it was determined that because electron microscopy was decisive in establishing the cause of the cytoplasmic clearing in most of the cases, tissue for electron microscopy should routinely be procured for ultrastructural studies.
Heat transfer in turbulent non-Newtonian flow

The effect of non-Newtonian Prandtl number on the distribution of resistance to heat transfer is examined. Two new analogies between heat and momentum transfer are developed, one of which is shown, by comparison with experiment, to be superior to another more complex and recently published analogy-type expression. It is concluded that more accurate information is needed on conditions near the wall before reliable characterization of heat transfer can be made in such systems.
A singly-embedded nuclear polyhedrosis virus and entomophagous insects associated with populations of the bean leafroller Urbanus proteus L. (Lepid., Hesperiidae)

A singly-embedded nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV) was recorded from the bean leafroller larvae, Urbanus proteus representing the first documented report of a baculovirus from this lepidopterous defoliator. The incidence of virus disease, associated with late instar larvae, increased throughout the soybean growing season. An interesting interaction among the sarcophagid Sarcodexia innota, the Polistes sp. wasps and the epizootic of this NPV was observed. This sarcophagid developing mainly in diseased host larvae was not capable of undergoing successful adult eclosion. The tachinid, Chrysotachina alcedo, was the predominent larval parasitoid and emerged only from healthy U. proteus larvae. The predators, Euryhynchus floridanus nymphs and the adults of Polistes sp. were observed to be feeding on infected cadavers, in the field. Zusammenfassung Ein singulares Polyedrose-Virus sowie entomophage Insekten, vergesellschaftet mit Populationen des Bohnenblattrollers, Urbanus proteus L. (Lep., Hesperiidae) Bei Raupen von Urbanus proteus wurde eine singulare Kernpolyedrose festgestellt; dies ist der erste Nachweis eines Baculovirus bei diesem Blattzerstorer. Das Auftreten der Virose im letzten Raupenstadium nahm im Verlauf des Sojabohnenwachstums zu. Es wurde eine interessante Beziehung zwischen Parasitoiden, Pradatoren und der Virose beobachtet: die Sarcophagide Sarcodexia innota parasitierte vor allem virosekranke Raupen, doch konnten sich ihre Larven dann nicht zu Adulten entwickeln; die Tachinide Chrysotachina alcedo war der wichtigste Raupenparasit und schlupfte nur aus gsunden U. proteus-Raupen; die Pradatoren Euryhynchus floridanus (Nymphen) und Polistes sp. (Imagines) wurden beim Verzehren von Raupen, die an der Virose starben, beobachtet.
Cellular adaptation to ethanol

Abstract Adaptation to chronic ethanol consumption involves changes in the physical properties of membranes which appear to be associated with specific anionic phospholipid classes. These findings support a model for adaptation at the membrane level which involves lipid-lipid interactions in both the headgroup region and the hydrophobic core of the membrane. Ethanol stimulates phospholipase C in isolated cell systems. We hypothesize that this reaction may act as a trigger in inducing long-term adaptive responses at the cellular level.
Serious adverse events after cataract surgery.

Purpose of reviewOver the past several decades, there have been many advances in the equipment, instrumentation and techniques of performing cataract surgery. This review will address the impact of these advances on the safety profile of cataract surgery.Recent findingsRecent studies have demonstrat
Breakdown voltages of base−collector junctions of high-voltage power transistors with graded collectors

Recent work on current-mode second breakdown shows that a substantial measure of protection against failure by avalanche injections can be built into a transitistor by grading the impurity concentrations of the collector. The breakdown voltage of the base-collector junction is an important parameter for power transistors. In this paper, the open-emitter breakdown voltage of an epitaxial bipolar high-power transistor with graded collector is computed numerically. A general expression for breakdown voltage as a function of initial collector doping (doping at the collector side of the base-collector interface) and collector parameters as a function of open-base bulk breakdown voltage and current gain are also derived.
Comparative shock wave analysis during corneal ablation with an excimer laser, picosecond laser, and femtosecond laser

With the event of topographic steep central islands following excimer laser surgery and the potential damage to the corneal endothelium, shock waves are playing an increasingly important role in laser refractive surgery. With this in mind, we performed a comparative shock wave analysis in corneal tissue using an excimer laser, picosecond laser, and femtosecond laser. We used a Lambda Physik excimer laser at 308 nm wavelength, a Nd:YLF picosecond laser at 1053 nm wavelength and a synchronously pumped linear cavity femtosecond laser at 630 nm wavelength. The pulse widths of the corresponding lasers were 8 ns, 18 ps, 150 fs, respectively. The energy density of irradiation was 2.5 to 8 times the threshold level being 2 J/cm 2 (excimer laser), 86 J/cm 2 (picosecond laser) and 10.3 J/cm 2 (femtosecond laser). Shock wave dynamics were analyzed using time-resolved photography on a nanosecond time scale using the picosecond laser in corneal tissue, water and air. Shock wave dynamics using the femtosecond laser were studied in water only while the excimer laser induced shock wave during corneal ablation was studied in air only. We found the dynamics of shock waves to be similar in water and corneal tissue indicating that water is a good model to investigate shock wave effects in the cornea. The magnitude of the shock wave velocity and pressure decays over time to that of a sound wave. The distance over which it decays is 3 mm in air with the excimer laser and 600 - 700 micrometers in air with the picosecond laser. In water, the picosecond laser shock wave decays over a distance of 150 micrometers compared to the femtosecond laser shock wave which decays over a distance of 30 micrometers . Overall the excimer laser shock wave propagates 5 times further than that of the picosecond laser and the picosecond laser shock wave propagates 5 times further than that of the femtosecond laser. In this preliminary comparison, the time and distance for shock wave decay appears to be directly related to the laser pulse duration. The decay distance of the excimer laser shock waves appear to be 5 times longer than that of the picosecond laser in air while the picosecond laser shock wave distance appears to be 5 times longer than that of the femtosecond laser in water. The shorter shock wave distance of the picosecond laser is advantageous for corneal surgery by minimizing potential acoustic damage to the stromal and endothelial cells. Femtosecond lasers further minimize acoustic damage and their use should be considered in future corneal laser procedures.
Autoimmune hepatitis: a review

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is an inflammatory liver disease that predominantly affects females. The disease is characterized histologically by interface hepatitis, biochemically by increased aspartate and alanine aminotransferase levels, and serologically by the presence of autoantibodies and elevated levels of immunoglobulin G. AIH affects both adults and children, and is particularly aggressive in the latter group. It is a relatively rare but devastating disease, which progresses rapidly unless immunosuppressive treatment is started promptly. Treatment is often successful at inducing remission of disease, and this can lead to a normal life expectancy. However, progression to cirrhosis can and does occur in some. For those with advanced-stage disease and complications, consideration of liver transplantation is appropriate.
Increases of lead and chromium in drinking water from using cement—mortar-lined pipes: initial modeling and assessment

Abstract A mathematical leaching model was developed for assessing potential increases of lead and chromium in drinking water from using cement—mortar-lined pipes. The initial wetting process, dissolution, diffusion, and advection of metals in the lining, accumulation of metals in the static pipe water, and dilution of metals by the flowing water were considered. Values for physical and chemical parameters in the model were obtained from literature or were estimated. Based on the modeled results, the drinking water standards are likely to be exceeded by using cement with lead solubility larger than 70 ppb or chromium solubility larger than 540 ppb. For one cement kiln studied, it is recommended that cement kiln dust not be fully recirculated when hazardous waste fuel (HWF) has the maximum allowable amount of lead. It is also recommended that the maximum allowable amount of chromium in HWF be lowered.
Domain specificity of personal epistemology: Resolved questions, persistent issues, new models

Abstract Beliefs that individuals hold about knowledge and knowing, or what has been termed “personal epistemology”, are related to learning and achievement in complex ways. These beliefs are also differentiated by discipline (e.g., math, science, history) as well as by judgment domains (e.g., personal taste, morality, meaning). This commentary on five articles on the domain specificity of epistemic beliefs outlines the persistent issues in this field of research, including issues of terminology, methodology, and the interrelation of domain specificity and domain generality, and provides an overview of how the authors address these concerns. Also included are directions for future research and educational implications.
The end of an ice age. Ice harvesting as an occupation.

(1969). The End of an Ice Age. Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal: Vol. 19, No. 1, pp. 144-148.
Modulation of calcium oxalate monohydrate crystallization by citrate through selective binding to atomic steps

The majority of human kidney stones are composed primarily of calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) crystals. Thus, determining the molecular modulation of COM crystallization by urinary constituents is crucial for understanding and controlling renal stone disease. A comprehensive molecular-scale view of COM shape modification by citrate, obtained through a combination of in situ atomic force microscopy and molecular modeling, is presented here. We find that while the most important factors determining binding strength are coordination between COO- groups on citrate and Ca ions in the lattice, as well as H-bonds formed between the OH group of citrate and an oxalate group, the nonplanar geometry of the steps provides the most favorable environment due to the ability of the step-edge to accommodate all Ca-COO- coordinations with minimal strain. However, binding to all steps and terraces on the (010) face is much less favorable than on the (101) face due to electrostatic repulsion between oxalate and COO- groups. For example, the maximum binding energy, -166.5 kJ mol(-1), occurs for the [101] step on the (101) face, while the value for the [021] step on the (010) face is only -56.9 kJ mol(-1). This high selectivity leads to preferential binding to steps on the (101) face that pins step motion. Yet anisotropy in interaction strength on this face drives anisotropic changes in step kinetics that are responsible for shape modification of macroscopic COM crystals. Thus, the molecular scale growth kinetics and the bulk crystal habit are fully consistent with the simulations.
Maspin expression in CIN 3, microinvasive squamous cell carcinoma, and invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix

Maspin is a serine protease inhibitor with tumor suppression activity. It is expressed in normal breast and prostate tissue but is downregulated or absent in breast and prostate tumors. Recent reports have shown that decreased expression is associated with a greater propensity for metastasis in oral squamous cell carcinomas. We know that some high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia progress to invasive carcinomas while others either persist at the same degree of atypia or regress. The pattern of maspin expression in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia-grade 3, microinvasive squamous carcinomas and overtly invasive squamous cell carcinomas of the uterine cervix was studied to determine the relationship between the extent of maspin expression and the progression of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia to squamous cell carcinoma. In total, 36 cases were evaluated: 18 cases of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia-grade 3, seven cases of microinvasive squamous cell carcinoma and 11 cases of invasive squamous cell carcinoma. A monoclonal antibody was used on paraffin-embedded tissues. Immunoreactivity was scored semiquantitatively using a scale of 0-3. The sums of the scores of the different groups were compared using the Mann-Whitney U-test. A significant decrease in maspin scores was noted between cervical intraepithelial neoplasia-grade 3 vs invasive squamous cell carcinoma (P<0.005), microinvasive squamous cell carcinoma vs invasive squamous cell carcinoma (P<0.05), and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia-grade 3 vs tumor emboli (P<0.005). Although not statistically significant, scores of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia-grade 3 associated with invasive squamous cell carcinoma were lower compared to that cervical intraepithelial neoplasia-grade 3 without invasive squamous cell carcinoma. These findings suggest that maspin likely plays a role in disease progression from in situ to invasive carcinoma. Virtual absence of maspin immunopositivity in tumor emboli indicates that maspin may also play a role in metastasis.
Ketamine, Sleep, and Depression: Current Status and New Questions

Ketamine, an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, has well-described rapid antidepressant effects in clinical studies of individuals with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder (MDD). Preclinical studies investigating the effects of ketamine on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and on sleep slow wave activity (SWA) support its use as a prototype for investigating the neuroplastic mechanisms presumably involved in the mechanism of rapidly acting antidepressants. This review discusses human EEG slow wave sleep parameters and plasma BDNF as central and peripheral surrogate markers of plasticity, and their use in assessing ketamine’s effects. Acutely, ketamine elevates BDNF levels, as well as early night SWA and high-amplitude slow waves; each of these measures correlates with change in mood in depressed patients who respond to ketamine. The slow wave effects are limited to the first night post-infusion, suggesting that their increase is part of an early cascade of events triggering improved mood. Increased total sleep and decreased waking occur during the first and second night post infusion, suggesting that these measures are associated with the enduring treatment response observed with ketamine.
Solution characters of iterative coupling between energy simulation and CFD programs

Energy simulation (ES) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) provide important and complementary information for building energy and indoor environment designs. A coupled ES and CFD simulation can eliminate many assumptions employed in the separate ES and CFD computations and thus provide more accurate results. Through theoretical analysis and numerical experiment, this study verified that the solution of a coupled ES and CFD simulation does exist and is unique. The investigation also concluded that a converged and stable simulation can be achieved with three different data coupling methods. The study has further developed an improved iteration and control algorithm for the coupled simulation.
Interpretation of Hot Pressing Kinetics by Densification Mapping Techniques

Interpretation of the kinetics of final stage hot pressing has been accomplished through the use of deformation (or “densification”) mapping methods. Creep relations, modified to account for the presence of porosity and for constrained dies, were used to model the pressure-sintering densification rate behavior. These relations are displayed graphically such that boundaries delineate the regions in which any densification mechanism is dominant, and where contours of constant densification rate or constant stress exponent may be compared to experimental values. Examples are shown for the densification of cobalt monoxide. This method, and subsequent manipulation of the computer generated data, enables the quantitative analysis of hot pressing kinetics during final stage densification under conditions where either linearviscous or multimechanism plastic flow is observed.
Time‐Related Loss of Glutamine from Hippocampal Slices and Concomitant Changes in Neurotransmitter Amino Acids

A dramatic, time-dependent loss of L-glutamine was observed in mouse and rat hippocampal slices equilibrated in normal artificial CSF under static (no-flow) and superfused (constant-flow) conditions. Concomitant with the decline in L-glutamine, there was a significant, but less pronounced, decrease in levels of the neurotransmitter amino acids, gamma-aminobutyric acid, L-aspartate, and L-glutamate. The disappearance of L-glutamine was a result of diffusion from the tissue to the artificial CSF rather than chemical or biochemical transformation. The loss of amino acids from the hippocampal slices was prevented to different degrees by the addition of 0.5 mM exogenous L-glutamine to the artificial CSF. The levels of newly synthesized amino acids were also determined, because they may be more indicative of the neuronal activity than the total tissue levels of amino acids. The effects of perturbations in glutamine (length of the equilibration time and addition of exogenous glutamine) on newly synthesized glutamate were more pronounced under 4-aminopyridine-stimulated than control (unstimulated) conditions. Therefore, a loss of L-glutamine from the hippocampal slices may have neurophysiological effects and warrants further investigation.
Load-balancing algorithms for climate models

Implementations of climate models on scalable parallel computer systems can suffer from load imbalances due to temporal and spatial variations in the amount of computation required for physical parameterizations such as solar radiation and convective adjustment. We have developed specialized techniques for correcting such imbalances. These techniques are incorporated in a general-purpose, programmable load-balancing library that allows the mapping of computation to processors to be specified as a series of maps generated by a programmer-supplied load-balancing module. The communication required to move from one map to another is performed automatically by the library, without programmer intervention. In this paper, we describe the load-balancing problem and the techniques that we have developed to solve it. We also describe specific load-balancing algorithms that we have developed for PCCM2, a scalable parallel implementation of the Community Climate Model, and present experimental results that demonstrate the effectiveness of these algorithms on parallel computers. >
Bounds on the Bayes and minimax risk for signal parameter estimation

In estimating the parameter θ from a parametrized signal problem (with 0lθlL) observed through Gaussian white noise, four useful and computable lower bounds for the Bayes risk are developed. For problems with different L and different signal to noise ratios, some bounds are superior to others. The lower bound obtained from taking the maximum of the four, serves not only as a good lower bound for the Bayes risk but also as a good lower bound for the minimax risks. Threshold behavior of the Bayes risk is also evident, as is shown in the lower bound
Two Cases of Advanced Renal Cell Cancer with Prolonged Survival of 8 and 12 Years

The prognosis of Stage IV renal cell cancer (RCC) is poor. Most of the long-term survivors are patients with resected solitary metastases. We report two cases of inoperable Stage IV RCC with survival of 8 and 12 years. While it is possible that the natural history of the disease contributed to such survival, the long duration of stable disease was remarkable.
Design of VLSI switch for highly parallel multiprocessor system

The design of a large, multistage interconnection network that has been successfully constructed and used in a version of the RP3 system is described. The network hardware is scalable and can be used for systems consisting of anywhere from four to hundreds of processor and memory elements. An overview is given of the switch architecture, followed by the packaging structure. A description of the methodology used for logic design and verification of the large silicon chip is presented. >
SEX DIFFERENCES IN SPATIAL PERFORMANCE IN THE ELDERLY: A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE AND SUGGESTIONS FOR RESEARCH

This paper reviews the literature on sex differences in spatial performance in older persons, proposes a theory of measurement, operational psychogenetic structuralism, for the analysis of sex differences in cognition, and suggests research directions relevant to educational gerontology.
Results of a randomized trial of end-to-side portacaval shunt and distal splenorenal shunt in alcoholic liver disease and variceal bleeding

Since 1976, we have compared the end-to-side portacaval shunt (PCS) with the distal splenorenal shunt (DSRS) in patients with alcoholic liver disease and recurrent variceal bleeding. Fifty-four patients were randomly assigned to receive either shunt procedure. There were 27 patients in each group and both groups were highly comparable in clinical and laboratory characteristics. Median follow-up was 31 mo in each group. Postoperative complications and operative mortality (7% after PCS, 12% after DSRS) were comparable. Spontaneous portasystemic encephalopathy developed in 32% of the patients at risk after PCS and in 39% after DSRS. Rebleeding from varices occurred in 4% of the patients after PCS and in 27% after DSRS. Cumulative survival was not significantly different between groups (5-yr survival: 31% after PCS, 43% after DSRS). We have failed to demonstrate superiority of DSRS in our patients with alcoholic liver disease with respect to postoperative encephalopathy or survival, and have experienced an unusually high rate of variceal rebleeding after DSRS.
Farm Operators Under the Negative Income Tax

Income maintenance programs such as the negative income tax have been extensively discussed, but thus far little has been written about their impact on farm operators. This paper focuses on the effects of alternative definitions of income, including imputed returns to assets, on the accounting practices of farmers, and on the eligibility of farm families for payments. The influence of income maintenance on decision making of farm operators is analyzed, and attention is called to the need for further study of the consequences of major welfare reforms on the farm economy.
Adaptive sampling for transient signal detection in the presence of missing samples

The problem of interest is the detection of transient signals in additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) in the presence of missing signal observations (samples). Specifically, a fusion center aims at detecting the presence of transient signals by collecting measurements from individual sensors through erasure channels. Under the assumption that the fusion center can control the sampling procedure through a feedback channel, a strategy is proposed to adapt the sampling rate in response to sample missing with the goal of achieving accurate and timely decisions with the minimum communication cost measured by sampling rate. The proposed strategy is flexible in that it can be configured to suit different performance requirements. Compared with fixed-rate sampling, the proposed strategy achieves better tradeoff between Quality of Detection (QoD) and communication cost through dynamic adaptation.
Magnetite in human tissues: a mechanism for the biological effects of weak ELF magnetic fields.

Due to the apparent lack of a biophysical mechanism, the question of whether weak, low-frequency magnetic fields are able to influence living organisms has long been one of the most controversial subjects in any field of science. However, two developments during the past decade have changed this perception dramatically, the first being the discovery that many organisms, including humans, biochemically precipitate the ferrimagnetic mineral magnetite (Fe_(3)S_4). In the magnetotactic bacteria, the geomagnetic response is based on either biogenic magnetite or greigite (Fe_(3)S_4), and reasonably good evidence exists that this is also the case in higher animals such as the honey bee. Second, the development of simple behavioral conditioning experiments for training honey bees to discriminate magnetic fields demonstrates conclusively that at least one terrestrial animal is capable of detecting earth-strength magnetic fields through a sensory process. In turn, the existence of this ability implies the presence of specialized receptors which interact at the cellular level with weak magnetic fields in a fashion exceeding thermal noise. A simple calculation shows that magnetosomes moving in response to earth-strength ELF fields are capable of opening trans-membrane ion channels, in a fashion similar to those predicted by ionic resonance models. Hence, the presence of trace levels of biogenic magnetite in virtually all human tissues examined suggests that similar biophysical processes may explain a variety of weak field ELF bioeffects.
The Solution of Overdetermined Linear Equations as a Multistage Process

The concepts of dynamic programming and multistage process theory are used to determine an analytic, least-squares solution to overdetermined linear algebraic equations. The method requires the calculation of a secondary system matrix which, together with the primary matrix, makes evident the relative dependence of the system equations. It is shown that the minimum-sum-square residual, a measure of the fit of the solution, can be determined without explicit calculation of the solution.
The Eagle and the Dove: Roman Imperial Sonship and the Baptism of Jesus (Mark 1.9-11)

This essay argues that the common understanding of imperial divine sonship among biblical scholars can be reframed by emphasizing the importance of adoption in Roman society and imperial ideology. A case study from the Gospel of Mark—the portrayal of Jesus' baptism—demonstrates some of the pay-off for reading the NT with a newly contextualized perspective on divine sonship. Through engagement with diverse sources from the Hellenistic and Roman eras, the dove will be interpreted as an omen and counter-symbol to the Roman eagle, which was a public portent of divine favor, election, and ascension to power.
Gonococcal and Chlamydial Genitourinary Infections in Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Adolescent Women

To determine the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae endocervical infections in a group of adolescent women, gynecologic histories and evaluations were done on symptomatic and asymptomatic adolescent women presenting for pelvic examinations in an urban, hospital-based, adolescent clinic. C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae cultures and three nonculture diagnostic tests for chlamydia (two ELISA assays and one DNA-probe) were performed on each patient. Patients were 12 to 21 years of age (mean 17.0); 53% were African-American, and 47% were Caucasian. Two hundred twenty-eight women were asymptomatic and 249 women had symptoms. There were 64 cases of chlamydia and 19 cases of gonorrhea; an additional 11 patients had both chlamydia and gonorrhea. Approximately one third of patients with chlamydia, gonorrhea, or both had asymptomatic disease, an important reservoir of infection.
Self-recharging virtual currency

Market-based control is attractive for networked computing utilities in which consumers compete for shared resources (computers, storage, network bandwidth). This paper proposes a new self-recharging virtual currency model as a common medium of exchange in a computational market. The key idea is to recycle currency through the economy automatically while bounding the rate of spending by consumers. Currency budgets may be distributed among consumers according to any global policy; consumers spend their budgets to schedule their resource usage through time, but cannot hoard their currency or starve.We outline the design and rationale for self-recharging currency in Cereus, a system for market-based community resource sharing, in which participants are authenticated and sanctions are sufficient to discourage fraudulent behavior. Currency transactions in Cereus are accountable: offline third-party audits can detect and prove cheating, so participants may transfer and recharge currency autonomously without involvement of the trusted banking service.
A Low-Noise Preamplifier with Adjustable Gain and Bandwidth for Biopotential Recording Applications

We have developed a fully differential low-power low-noise preamplifier with multiple adjustable parameters for biopotential and neural recording applications. Common mode feedback has been utilized to guarantee the amplifier functionality by forcing the output DC level to a desired voltage. A switch is added to the output to achieve fast settling time in case the amplifier is saturated. The amplifier has been implemented in the AMI 1.5-mum 2M2P standard CMOS process and occupies 0.201 mm2 on chip. The amplifier current consumption is 8 muA at plusmn1.7 V supply, with two measured AC gains of 39.3 dB and 45.6 dB. The low cutoff frequency is 4-bit programmable from 0.015 Hz to 700 Hz. The high cutoff frequency can be adjusted from 120 Hz to 12 kHz at negligible load and 40 Hz to 4 kHz with a 2 pF active probe loading. The measured input referred noise is 3.6 muV over 20 Hz ~ 10 kHz. The amplifier also provides rail-to-rail input DC range, maximum input offset of 0.7 mV, common mode tuning range of plusmn600 mV, and output swing of plusmn0.9 V with minimum distortion.
Short Sales and Residential Real Estate Prices

Previous research identifies a negative externality associated with mortgage foreclosures. Houses in the neighborhood surrounding a foreclosed property sell for less, all things being equal. This paper explores the effect of short sales on condominium prices in downtown San Diego, California. The neighborhood in this research is defined as the building in which the condominium is located. The results suggest that not only is there a short sale “discount”, but buildings in which there are a large number of short sales also experience a general decline in market prices of housing units.
Metastatic breast cancer patients: attitudes toward tissue donation for rapid autopsy

Rapid autopsy (RA) offers a unique opportunity to obtain a large amount of metastatic tissue at death in order to deepen existing understanding of cancer evolution and heterogeneity. In breast cancer, understanding metastasis is particularly valuable given that treatment regimens are based on the traditional hormone and HER2 receptor status as well as evolving genomic data of the primary tumor. We aimed to elucidate the attitudes and interests of patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) toward RA, and to identify associated demographic or disease characteristics that may influence patient attitudes and interest. Ninety-seven patients with MBC were surveyed over the course of 12 months at a large, urban comprehensive cancer center's breast cancer outpatient clinic. 93/97 patients completed the survey sufficiently to be included in the analysis. Fisher's exact test was employed for categorical variables, and t test and rank-sum tests for continuous variables. p values ≤0.05 were considered statistically significant. Of the 93 patients with MBC analyzed, 87 % were willing to donate tissue at death. Marital status and younger age were associated with willingness to donate (p = 0.000, p = 0.025, respectively). Race, employment status, religion/spirituality, and cancer subtype were not associated with likelihood of donating. Forty-five percent of patients felt that doctors should ask about RA at diagnosis of early-stage breast cancer rather than during late-stage disease. These data provide evidence that an RA program would be welcomed by patients and requires initiative by providers.
Making sense of the sensory regulation of hunger neurons

AgRP and POMC neurons are two key cell types that regulate feeding in response to hormones and nutrients. Recently, it was discovered that these neurons are also rapidly modulated by the mere sight and smell of food. This rapid sensory regulation "resets" the activity of AgRP and POMC neurons before a single bite of food has been consumed. This surprising and counterintuitive discovery challenges longstanding assumptions about the function and regulation of these cells. Here we review these recent findings and discuss their implications for our understanding of feeding behavior. We propose several alternative hypotheses for how these new observations might be integrated into a revised model of the feeding circuit, and also highlight some of the key questions that remain to be answered.
Durkheim and Individualism: A Comment on Messner

In his attempt at testing a Durkheimian model of the relationship between societal development and homicide, Steven Messner committed an error which resulted in theoretical confusion and a false empirical conclusion. Relying on Anthony Giddens' (a, b) interpretation of The Division of Labor in Society, Messner reasoned that the level of solidarity found in societies as they developed would not vary significantly, but would only change in type, from mechanical to organic. Thus, homicide rates, as reflections of degree of social solidarity, should remain relatively constant as societies develop economically. Messner added that the trend toward organic solidarity was typically accompanied by a movement toward social equality and the rise of moral individualism. It was clear from Messner's exposition that equality should be related positively to solidarity and negatively to homicide. Confusion arose, however, over the part played by moral individualism in the theoretical model and in Messner's empirical test. At first, Messner quite clearly presents moral individualism as supporting organic solidarity and, by implication, as having a negative effect on homicide rates. Moral individualism, he emphasizes (following Giddens), is not the same as egoism. In fact, the distinction between the two is "the key to understanding Durkheim's theory of development." Egoism, as the pursuit of self-interest without regard for the welfare or rights of others, could never be the basis for social solidarity. Moral individualism, emphasizing concern for the rights of others, could promote cohesion, and, in fact, was necessary to the effective operation of organic solidarity. Giddens (a, 79-80) also notes that moral individualism is one area in which the conscience collective (associated with mechanical solidarity) becomes strengthened as organic solidarity expands. So, should not moral individualism be related positively to organic solidarity and negatively to homicide? It would seem so. But on the next
Exercise training alters length dependence of contractile properties in rat myocardium.

Myocardial function is enhanced by endurance exercise training, but the cellular mechanisms underlying this improved function remain unclear. Exercise training increases the sensitivity of rat card...
Effect of Interstimulus Interval on Pairing-Induced LTP ofAplysia Sensorimotor Synapses in Cell Culture

Lin, Xiang Y. and David L. Glanzman. Effect of interstimulus interval on pairing-induced LTP of Aplysia sensorimotor synapses in cell culture. J. Neurophysiol. 77: 667–674, 1997. Long-term potentia...
Simulation of Convective Heat Exchange in the Electrically Conducting Liquid in a Spherical Cavity. Algorithm of Solution

An algorithm is proposed for calculating the convective heat exchange in a spherical cavity modeling the liquid core of the Earth with account for the internal heat sources and the Joule dissipation in the electrically conducting liquid in it.