cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fcγ Receptors as Therapeutic Targets

IgG antibodies are highly potent molecules, with the unique ability to link foreign particles to innate immune cells. IgG antibodies recognize antigens with high affinity and bind cellular Fc receptors with low affinity individually. These interactions occur in the form of immune complexes, resulting in high-avidity interactions. In fact, the effector functions triggered by IgG antibodies are highly dependent on the type of Fc receptor that is bound; however, many aspects can influence Fc receptor binding by IgG antibodies, including the IgG isotype and the composition of the glycan on the IgG antibody. Further, FcγR expression is not stagnant but instead is affected by the inflammatory milieu. These considerations, and others that affect targeting of IgG Fcs to specific FcγRs to elicit desired effector functions, are discussed herein.
Endoscopy- and Monitored Anesthesia Care-Assisted High-Resolution Impedance Manometry Improves Clinical Management.

Background High-resolution impedance manometry (HRiM) is the test of choice to diagnose esophageal motility disorders and is particularly useful for identifying achalasia subtypes, which often guide therapy. HRiM is typically performed without sedation in the office setting. However, a substantial number of patients fail this approach. We report our single-center experience on endoscopy-assisted HRiM under monitored anesthesia care (MAC) in adults to demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of this approach. Methods Patients who had failed prior HRiM attempts received propofol under MAC. Patients then underwent an upper endoscopy, followed immediately by passage of a Diversateck HRiM motility catheter through the nares and under direct visualization into the stomach, often using the tip of the endoscope to guide the catheter. We then awakened the patients and asked them to perform 10 saline swallows. Results We successfully completed HRiM studies in 14 consecutive patients. Six patients had achalasia; two had esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction; two had absent contractility; one had distal esophageal spasm; one had ineffective esophageal motility; and one had a normal study. The majority of these patients were treated successfully with targeted interventions, including per oral endoscopic myotomy, gastrostomy, botox injection, medical therapy, and dietary modifications.
Effect of loading frequency on cyclic fatigue lifetime of a standard-diameter implant with an internal abutment connection

Abstract Objective To investigate the effect of loading frequency on the fatigue lifetime of one standard-diameter titanium dental implant system. Methods Thirty-six titanium dental implant specimens (Bone Level RC, Straumann) were assembled following manufacturer’s instructions and torqued into cylindrical holder blocks following the apparatus specified by the ISO 14801 test standard. Stainless steel loading hemispheres were bonded on the abutments with a moment arm of 11 mm. The holder blocks had layers of differing stiffness to simulate human jaw bone. Constant-stress fatigue lifetime testing was conducted at two frequencies (2 Hz and 15 Hz) with a stress ratio of 0.1 until fracture in deionized water at 37 °C on servo-hydraulic load frames (MTS). The fractured specimens were retrieved and examined using fractographic technique to determine the failure mode. The lifetime data were fit to a general log-linear regression model. Results The coefficient for the load amplitude term of the regression model indicated that increasing load amplitude had a statistically significant negative effect on the fatigue lifetime. The coefficients for the cyclic frequency term and the load-frequency interaction term were not significantly different from zero, which indicated that increasing loading frequency did not have an influence on the number of cycles to failure. Fractographic analysis showed that all specimens exhibited an identical combined fracture of abutment and abutment screw adjacent to the bone level. Significance Higher loading frequency at least up to 15 Hz may be used for future studies of some implant systems to improve the efficiency of fatigue testing.
Foreign threat and political party change: Russia and changes in party manifestos

Abstract How do political parties react to foreign security threats? There has been very little attention paid in the literature generally to how parties react to international events, particularly how parties react to foreign policy threats. Using data from the Comparative Manifesto Project, we examine how political parties in countries in Europe have reacted to Russian actions in terms of their emphasis on security issues. Based upon our analysis of the manifestoes from 331 parties in 36 countries we find that, generally, interstate threats have no significant effect on the military position adopted by political parties, although these effects vary by party type and by the type of threat. Russian based threats appear to be associated with the Far Left becoming more dovish (which is consistent with what would be expected by the literature) and the Far Right becoming significantly less hawkish.
ASHP national survey of pharmacy practice in hospital settings: Dispensing and administration—2005

Purpose. Results of the 2005 ASHP national survey of pharmacy practice in hospital settings that pertain to dispensing and administration are presented. Methods. A stratified random sample of pharmacy directors at 1173 general and children’s medical–surgical hospitals in the United States was surveyed by mail. Results. The response rate was 43.5%. Most hospitals had a centralized drug distribution system; however, there is evidence of growth in decentralized models compared with data from 2002. Automated dispensing cabinets were used by 72% of hospitals and robots by 15%. The percentage of doses dispensed in unit dose form increased, as did the use of two-pharmacist checks for high-risk drugs and high-risk patient groups. However, the percentage of medication preparation and dispensing quality-improvement programs declined over the past six years. Medication administration records (MARs) have become increasingly computerized over the past six years. Consequently, the use of handwritten MARs has declined substantially. Technology implemented at the administration step of the medication-use process is continuing to grow. Bar-code technology was implemented by 9.4% of hospitals, and 32.2% of hospitals had smart infusion pumps. Pharmacy hours of operation were stable, with 30% of hospitals providing around-the-clock services. About 12% of hospitals are using off-site medication order review and entry after hours. Pharmacy staffing has steadily increased over the past three years; however, hospital pharmacies reported a 5.6% vacancy rate. Conclusion. Safe systems continue to be in place in most hospitals, but the adoption of new technology is changing the philosophy of medication distribution. Pharmacists are continuing to improve medication use at the dispensing and administration steps of the medication-use process.
Predictors of students׳ achievement on NAEP-Economics: A multilevel model

Abstract Previous research has examined the role of formal classroom economics education on student learning. However, few studies have examined the role of both in school and out of school economics education exposure on student learning. Using data from the 2006 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)-Economics 12th grade assessment, we conducted an analysis using multilevel modeling to examine both student- and school-level effects on economics content knowledge. We analyzed the relationship among student-level variables including demographics, economics course structure, and instructional exposure. Unlike prior studies, we accounted for the nesting of students in schools and determined significant building-level effects associated with NAEP-E outcomes. We included district and state accountability policies (e.g., required testing and graduation requirements) as well as contextual variables (e.g., percent minority and percent college bound) at the building level. Findings offered a more nuanced interpretation of earlier NAEP-E studies and extended earlier analyses to include instructional exposure and building-level effects.
Abstract P1-10-05: Analysis of genetic mutation in ethnically diverse population with Breast and ovarian cancer: Single institution experience

Background: Long-term relative survival (RS) data for testicular germ cell tumor (TGCT) patients are scarce. We aimed to analyze long-term RS among TGCT patients diagnosed in Norway, between 1953 and 2012. Methods: Data sources were the Cancer Registry of Norway and the Norwegian Cause of Death Registry. TGCT patients diagnosed during 1953 to 2012 were classified by time of diagnosis, histology, age, and disease extent at diagnosis. Estimates for RS were obtained, and a test comparing overall RS was performed. Corresponding data were obtained for men diagnosed with localized malignant melanoma before age 50. Results: A total of 8,736 TGCT patients were included. RS generally continued to decline with increasing follow-up time, particularly beyond 15 to 30 years, unlike in localized malignant melanoma. Although RS was generally higher for seminomas, the continuing decline was more pronounced than for nonseminomas, even when diagnosed with localized disease. TGCT patients diagnosed before 1980 or after age 40 had lower RS. Conclusions: Although TGCT RS has improved in recent decades, it continues to decline even beyond 30 years of follow-up, regardless of disease extent at diagnosis. The main cause is probably treatment-induced late effects, particularly affecting seminoma patients. The continued use of adjuvant radiotherapy in seminomas until year 2000 is suspected as a culprit. Impact: Long-term TGCT survivors should be closely monitored for the development of late comorbidity. The challenge is to reduce negative consequences of previous and current TGCT treatment on RS while maintaining the excellent cure rates. Further research on causes of long-term morbidity and mortality among TGCT survivors is warranted. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 25(5); 773–9. ©2016 AACR.
Identifying Subtypes of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

There is growing recognition that obstructive sleep apnea is a heterogeneous disorder. Efforts to understand the heterogeneity have involved unsupervised clustering in relatively large samples of patients with the disorder. Different approaches have been used which largely differ on the input variables used for clustering. Focused approaches have used as input variables either physiological measures derived from the overnight sleep study or symptoms. Subgroups identified have different rates of cardiovascular disease. An increased rate of cardiovascular events is found in the subgroup of patients who are excessively sleepy. This result has implications for clinical practice and future research in this area.
Trajectory-selective dispersion engineering using cascaded metasurfaces (Conference Presentation)

Standard designs for dielectric metasurfaces suffer from significant chromatic dispersion, impeding their use in broadband systems. We present a fundamental relation between ray trajectories in an optical system and its chromatic dispersion, and describe an associated design procedure to create cascaded optical systems with arbitrary dispersion. We use this procedure to design cascaded metasurface systems with various dispersive characteristics, including an achromatic metalens exploiting the orbital angular momentum of light. As experimental validation, we demonstrate beam deflectors exhibiting several different chromatic dispersions.
Structure, function, and inhibitor targeting of HIV-1 Nef-effector kinase complexes

Antiretroviral therapy has revolutionized the treatment of AIDS, turning a deadly disease into a manageable chronic condition. Life-long treatment is required because existing drugs do not eradicate HIV-infected cells. The emergence of drug-resistant viral strains and uncertain vaccine prospects highlight the pressing need for new therapeutic approaches with the potential to clear the virus. The HIV-1 accessory protein Nef is essential for viral pathogenesis, making it a promising target for antiretroviral drug discovery. Nef enhances viral replication and promotes immune escape of HIV-infected cells but lacks intrinsic enzymatic activity. Instead, Nef works through diverse interactions with host cell proteins primarily related to kinase signaling pathways and endosomal trafficking. This review emphasizes the structure, function, and biological relevance of Nef interactions with host cell protein-tyrosine kinases in the broader context of Nef functions related to enhancement of the viral life cycle and immune escape. Drug discovery targeting Nef-mediated kinase activation has allowed identification of promising inhibitors of multiple Nef functions. Pharmacological inhibitors of Nef-induced MHC-I down-regulation restore the adaptive immune response to HIV-infected cells in vitro and have the potential to enhance immune recognition of latent viral reservoirs as part of a strategy for HIV clearance.
Abstract 14864: Parental Obesity Leads to Mild Diastolic Dysfunction and Impaired Exercise Tolerance, but Not Hypertension, in Female Offspring

We found that parental obesity leads to high blood pressure (BP) and diastolic dysfunction in male offspring. Here, we examined the impact of parental obesity on BP regulation, systolic and diastol...
Using head-mounted displays to examine adaptation and calibration under varying perturbations

Abstract Simulator sickness has been a pervasive problem as head-mounted displays (HMDs) grow in popularity. Recent work showed that people can adapt to constant latency in an HMD, but latency that varies has not been examined. In this study, participants performed a shooting task while wearing an HMD during three sessions separated by 48 h under conditions of constant or varying latency. Performance was assessed for both accuracy (targets hit) and speed (time-to-hit targets). It was hypothesized that participants would adapt to constant, but not varying latency as indicated by decreasing simulator sickness over time. Further, it was hypothesized that participants would improve performance over time for both conditions due to practice, but the constant latency group would improve at a faster rate. Results showed reduced sickness with session regardless of latency condition. A similar trend was shown where performance improved with each session, with no effect of the latency condition. Change in sickness and performance were not correlated, suggesting that the changes were independently driven. These findings showed that people reduced sickness and improved performance with repeated exposure, even when experiencing different perturbations. This finding has implications for both HMDs and general understanding of the relationship between latency and adaptation.
Therapeutic potential of nociceptin/orphanin FQ peptide (NOP) receptor modulators for treatment of traumatic brain injury, traumatic stress, and their co-morbidities

Abstract The nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) peptide (NOP) receptor is a member of the opioid receptor superfamily with N/OFQ as its endogenous agonist. Wide expression of the NOP receptor and N/OFQ, both centrally and peripherally, and their ability to modulate several biological functions has led to development of NOP receptor modulators by pharmaceutical companies as therapeutics, based upon their efficacy in preclinical models of pain, anxiety, depression, Parkinson’s disease, and substance abuse. Both posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) are debilitating conditions that significantly affect the quality of life of millions of people around the world. PTSD is often a consequence of TBI, and, especially for those deployed to, working and/or living in a war zone or are first responders, they are comorbid. PTSD and TBI share common symptoms, and negatively influence outcomes as comorbidities of the other. Unfortunately, a lack of effective therapies or therapeutic agents limits the long term quality of life for either TBI or PTSD patients. Ours, and other groups, demonstrated that PTSD and TBI preclinical models elicit changes in the N/OFQ-NOP receptor system, and that administration of NOP receptor ligands alleviated some of the neurobiological and behavioral changes induced by brain injury and/or traumatic stress exposure. Here we review the past and most recent progress on understanding the role of the N/OFQ-NOP receptor system in PTSD and TBI neurological and behavioral sequelae. There is still more to understand about this neuropeptide system in both PTSD and TBI, but current findings warrant further examination of the potential utility of NOP modulators as therapeutics for these disorders and their co-morbidities. We advocate the development of standards for common data elements (CDE) reporting for preclinical PTSD studies, similar to current preclinical TBI CDEs. That would provide for more standardized data collection and reporting to improve reproducibility, interpretation and data sharing across studies.
Recognition of similar epitopes on varicella-zoster virus gpI and gpIV by monoclonal antibodies.

Abstract Two monoclonal antibodies, MAb43.2 and MAb79.0, prepared against varicella-zoster virus (VZV) proteins were selected to analyze VZV gpIV and gpI, respectively. MAb43.2 reacted only with cytoplasmic antigens, whereas MAb79.0 recognized both cytoplasmic and membrane antigens in VZV-infected cells. Immunoprecipitation of in vitro translation products with MAb43.2 revealed only proteins encoded by the gpIV gene, whereas MAb79.0 precipitated proteins encoded by the gpIV and gpI genes. Pulse-chase analysis followed by immunoprecipitation of VZV-infected cells indicated reactivity of MAb43.2 with three phosphorylated precursor species of gpIV and reactivity of MAb79.0 with the precursor and mature forms of gpI and gpIV. These results indicated that (i) MAb43.2 and MAb79.0 recognize different epitopes on VZV gpIV, (ii) glycosylation of gpIV ablates recognition by MAb43.2, and (iii) gpIV is phosphorylated. To map the binding site of MAb79.0 on gpI, the pGEM transcription vector, containing the coding region of the gpI gene, was linearized, and three truncated gpI DNA fragments were generated. RNA was transcribed from each truncated fragment by using SP6 RNA polymerase, translated in vitro in a rabbit reticulocyte lysate, and immunoprecipitated with MAb79.0 and human sera. The results revealed the existence of an antibody-binding site within 14 amino acid residues located between residues 109 to 123 on the predicted amino acid sequences of gpI. From the predicted amino acid sequences, 14 residues on gpI (residues 107 to 121) displayed a degree of similarity (36%) to two regions (residues 55 to 69 and 245 to 259) of gp IV. Such similarities may account for the binding of MAb79.0 to both VZV gpI and gpIV.
What Do You Mean by “AI”?

Many problems in AI study can be traced back to the confusion of different research goals. In this paper, five typical ways to define AI are clarified, analyzed, and compared. It is argued that though they are all legitimate research goals, they lead the research to very different directions, and most of them have trouble to give AI a proper identity. Finally, a working definition of AI is proposed, which has important advantages over the alternatives.
The evolutionary history of Lipsothrix Loew (Diptera : Tipuloidea) inferred through systematic revision and historical biogeographical analysis

The evolutionary history of the crane fly genus Lipsothrix Lowe, 1873 was examined through a systematic revision of specimens maintained in natural history collections, parsimony analysis using TNT based on immature and adult morphology, and dispersal–vicariance analyses in RASP (Bayesian and S-DIVA). The genus Lipsothrix was found to contain 29 valid species, one subspecies (L. nobilis iranica) and three species maintained but in need of further evaluation (Lipsothrix burmica, L. heitfeldi, L. yakushimae). One species complex (L. shasta complex) was further resolved using ordination and cluster analyses. One new species is described, L. nullusarma, sp. nov., and three species are synonymised (L. fulva, L. mirifica, L. yamamotoana omogoensis). Phylogenetic analysis recovered a strongly supported and monophyletic Lipsothrix. The historical biogeographical analyses of Lipsothrix inferred an ancestral area in the Western Palearctic region that likely dates to the Eocene. One, or several, dispersal events occurred from the Western Palearctic before major diversification events occurred in the Oriental and Eastern Palearctic + Nearctic regions. Two major paleogeographical developments occurring in the Oriental and Eastern Palearctic + Nearctic regions are largely responsible for Lipsothrix diversification, the collision of the Indian plate with Asia and the rise of the trans-Beringian land bridges during the Tertiary and Quaternary.
《上海早期股票市场的殖民主义、民族主义和中国文化问题》 ('Questiopns of Colonialism, Nationalism, and the Early Shanghai Stockmarket’

摘要：本文以二十世纪二十年代初上海华人股票市场的迅速兴起及崩溃为例探讨殖民主义、民族主义和中国文化的问题。论文有三条相互交织的线索。第一部分介绍了上海交易所建立的事件和关键人物。第二部分介绍了民族主义的分支，帝国主义和城市的半殖民地结构—特别是民族主义者借以为股票交易所发展提供合法性证明和针对中国资本的民族单纯性而制造忧患意识的方式。第三部分介绍了在经济泡沫时期以及市场崩塌后出现于上海报刊的有关经济问题的大众讨论和分析以及从这些讨论和分析中产生的道德和意识形态窘境。仅参照经济学常规来解释上海交易所的运作并将其视为当时的中国人对西方模式的拙劣模仿是不够的。上海作为中西“交往区” 的特殊地域性和半殖民地性质所提供的多重模式、相互限制的殖民权威、政治及民族主义话语等都是催生并推动1920-1921年上海股票市场发展的主要因素。论文透过对那些导致众多上海股票交易所建立的事件和关键人物以及由这一新经济形式衍生的意识形态的概括介绍揭示了上海早期股票市场经历的多重不平等权力机构和思想文化的作用，特别是民族主义者制造忧患意识的方式。 关键词：上海 股票市场 民族主义 中西交往区 文化 道德
A Covering Problem in the Odd Graphs

The following problem originated in the design of interconnection networks: what is the graphical covering radius of an Hadamard code of length 2k−1 and size 2k−1 in the Odd graph O k ? Of particular interest is the case of k=2m−1, where we can choose this Hadamard code to be a subcode of the punctured first order Reed-Muller code RM(1,m). We define the w-covering radius of a binary code as the largest Hamming distance from a binary word of Hamming weight w to the code. The above problem amounts to finding the k-covering radius of a (2k, 4k) Hadamard code. We find upper and lower bounds on this integer, and determine it for small values of k.
Fully Printed Foldable Integrated Logic Gates with Tunable Performance Using Semiconducting Carbon Nanotubes

The realization of large-area and low-cost flexible macroelectronics relies on both the advancements in materials science and the innovations in manufacturing techniques. In this study, extremely bendable and foldable carbon nanotube thin film transistors and integrated logic gates are fabricated on a piece of ultrathin polyimide substrate through an ink-jet-like printing process. The adoption of a hybrid gate dielectric layer consisting of barium titanate nanoparticles and poly(methyl methacrylate) has led to not only excellent gating effect but also superior mechanical compliance. The device characteristics show negligible amount of change after up to 1000 cycles of bending tests with curvature radii down to 1 mm, as well as very aggressive folding tests. Additionally, the electrical characteristics of each integrated logic gate can be tuned and optimized individually by using different numbers of carbon nanotube printing passes for different devices, manifesting the unique adaptability of ink-jet printing as a digital, additive, and maskless method. This report on fully printed and foldable integrated logic gates represents an inspiring advancement toward the practical applications of carbon nanotubes for high-performance and low-cost ubiquitous flexible electronics.
Clonal analysis of quail neural crest cells: they are pluripotent and differentiate in vitro in the absence of noncrest cells.

Abstract To determine if neural crest cells are pluripotent and establish whether differentiation occurs in the absence of noncrest cells, a cell culture method was devised in which differentiation could be examined in clones derived from single, isolated neural crest cells. Single neural crest cells, which were isolated before the onset of in vivo migration, gave rise to three types of clones: pigmented, unpigmented, and mixed. Pigmented clones consisted of melanocytes only, whereas some unpigmented cells in mixed and unpigmented clones contained catecholamines, identifying them as adrenergic cells. Extracellular matrix derived from quail somite or chick skin fibroblast cultures stimulated adrenergic differentiation and axon formation. These results demonstrate for the first time the existence of pluripotent quail neural crest cells that give rise to at least two progeny, melanocytes and neuronal cells. They also suggest that continuous direct interactions with noncrest cells are not required for the differentiation of these two cell types. However, components of the extracellular matrix derived from noncrest cells may play an important role in expression of the adrenergic phenotype.
Anti-bredt monomers

1-Aza-6-oxabicyclo [3.2.1]octan-7-one 3 polymerized in bulk to polyurethane at 112–131°C with opening of the 5-membered urethane ring. Organometallic, cationic, anionic and organophosphoric initiators polymerized the strained bicyclic urethane to the polyurethane. In solution the monomer was shown to polymerize slowly under the influence of phosphoric acid. The driving force for the polymerization may be the relief of strain energy in the monomer caused by a boat conformation of the 6-membered ring.
Influence of Reduced Food Intake on Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Metabolism in Zinc-Deficient Rats

The influence of reduced food intake on metabolism of liver phospholipids (PL) in zinc-deficient (ZD) rats was measured. Wealing male Long-Evans rats were fed ad libitum zinc-deficient (2 micrograms Zn/g diet) and zinc-adequate (20 micrograms Zn/g diet) diets for 21 days. A pair-fed (PF) group was included. ZD and PF rats displayed significantly increased levels of linoleic (18:2 omega 6) and dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (20:3 omega 6). Both ZD and PF rats displayed increased levels of gamma-linolenic acid (18:3 omega 6), but the increase was significant only in PF rats. ZD and PF rats displayed decreased levels of arachidonic acid (20:4 omega 6), but the decrease was significant only in PF rats. Both ZD and PF rats displayed significantly reduced levels of 22:5 omega 6. Both ZD and PF rats displayed increased products of delta 6 desaturation and decreased products of delta 5 and delta 4 desaturation. Significantly increased products of delta 9 desaturation were noted in both ZD and PF rats. ZD and PF rats displayed significant increases in C20 elongation products. ZD and PF rats displayed significantly decreased levels of omega 6 metabolites but not total omega 6 acids. ZD rats showed significantly increased levels of total omega 3 acids and omega 3 metabolites. ZD and PF rats showed significant increases in omega 9 acids but not significant changes in omega 9 metabolites. This study does not indicate that zinc affects the delta 6 desaturase in the metabolism of essential fatty acids. The aberrations previously attributed to zinc deficiency are probably due to the accompanying decreased food intake.
A microsatellite linkage map of Drosophila mojavensis

Drosophila mojavensis has been a model system for genetic studies of ecological adaptation and speciation. However, despite its use for over half a century, no linkage map has been produced for this species or its close relatives. We have developed and mapped 90 microsatellites in D. mojavensis, and we present a detailed recombinational linkage map of 34 of these microsatellites. A slight excess of repetitive sequence was observed on the X-chromosome relative to the autosomes, and the linkage groups have a greater recombinational length than the homologous D. melanogaster chromosome arms. We also confirmed the conservation of Muller's elements in 23 sequences between D. melanogaster and D. mojavensis. The microsatellite primer sequences and localizations are presented here and made available to the public. This map will facilitate future quantitative trait locus mapping studies of phenotypes involved in adaptation or reproductive isolation using this species.
Nutrition, reproduction, and behavior.

Publisher Summary The relationship between nutrition and reproduction is demonstrated in species from every mammalian order, including primates. Successful pregnancy and lactation require tremendous amounts of energy. Ovulatory cycles, mating behavior, steroidogenesis, and lactation are inhibited by caloric restriction, especially in small mammals. This reproductive inhibition is caused by negative energy balance. Negative energy balance inhibits reproduction and available energy is allocated to immediate survival needs, such as maintaining body temperature, metabolism, and foraging. This ensures that reproduction is timed to coincide with resource abundance, which is favorable to survival of offspring. Reproductive inhibition in response to undernutrition correlates with alterations in gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) pulsatility. Food restriction inhibits the frequency of pulsatile release of GnRH. This decrease in GnRH pulse frequency is correlated with an overall decrease in luteinizing hormone (LH) pulse frequency and a decrease in plasma LH levels. The chapter also explains the nutritional regulation of mating behavior.
Sirio—The Story of My Life and Le Cirque, by Sirio Maccioni and Peter Elliot

As it states on the dust jacket, Sirio Macciono is a living legend, a restaurateur extraordinaire who has wined and dined high society in New York for nearly half a century. As I read this book, I ...
Acfie Life History: Tlie Ecology and Demography of a Foraging People

Acfie Life History: Tlie Ecology and Demography of. Foraging People. Kim Hill and A. Magdalena Hurtado. New York: Aldine de Gruyter, 1996. 561 pp.
Using a Data Management Plan Review Service as a Training Ground for Librarians

INTRODUCTION Research Data Management (RDM) offers opportunities and challenges at the interface of library support and researcher needs. Libraries are in a position of balancing the capacity to provide support at the point of need while also implementing training for subject liaison librarians grounded in the practical issues and realities facing researchers and their institutions. DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM/SERVICE The North Carolina State University (NCSU) Libraries has deployed a Data Management Plan (DMP) Review service managed by a committee of librarians with diverse experience in data management and domain expertise. By rotating librarians through membership on the committee and by inviting subject liaisons librarians to participate in the DMP Review process, our training ground model aims to develop needed competencies and support researchers through relevant services and partnerships. AUDIT OF PROGRAM/SERVICE This article presents an audit of the DMP Review service as a training ground to develop and enhance competencies as identified by the Joint Task Force on Librarians’ Competencies in Support of E-Research and Scholarly Communication. NEXT STEPS AND CONCLUSIONS The DMP Review service creates opportunities for librarians to learn valuable skills while simultaneously providing a time-sensitive service to researchers. The process of auditing competencies developed by participating in the DMP Review service highlights gaps needed to more fully support RDM and reinforces the capacity of the DMP Review service as a training ground to sustain and iterate learning opportunities for librarians engaged in research support and partnerships.
Case Report: Military Subcultural Competency

ABSTRACTThe military is comprised of numerous subcultures. These subcultures can dramatically impact perceptions of illness and care. Although efforts are currently underway to improve the military cultural competence of all health care providers, efforts to improve the subcultural competence of military providers require attention. Military providers, although part of the military culture, may not appreciate their patients' military subculture or be aware of the impact their own subculture plays on the encounter. To illustrate potential difficulties, a case is described where limited military subcultural competence disrupted care. As the military medical corps continues to integrate across service lines, this case underscores the importance of training military physicians to assess the influence of a service member's specific military subculture.
The Effects of Diet, Genetics and Chemicals on Toxicity and Aberrant DNA Methylation: an Introduction

In the early 1930s, the group of Banting and Best showed that the choline moiety of lecithin was responsible for the prevention of the fatty livers produced in pancreatectomized dogs treated with insulin. This was the first study linking abnormal methyl metabolism with disease. Since then, deficiencies of each of the four essential dietary sources of methyl groups (choline, methionine, vitamin B-12 and folic acid) have been associated with increased risk of a number of diseases. Choline-deficient diets were shown to enhance liver tumor formation in rats, and such diets frequently were found to lead to atherosclerosis. Although methionine deficiency per se was not extensively studied in vivo, its metabolic antagonist ethionine did cause liver cancer and pancreatic toxicity in rodents. Deficiencies of vitamin B-12 and of folic acid have long been shown to cause neurological disturbances and birth defects both in humans and in experimental animals. In 1969 inborn errors of metabolism leading to the accumulation of the demethylated metabolite of methionine, homocysteine, were proposed as contributing to the early onset of atherosclerosis. Before 1990, numerous studies described the abnormal methylation of DNA in tumors and transformed cells. Less frequently investigated, however, were the exogenous and endogenous agents leading to such abnormal methylation. These included genetic variants among rodent strains and the methyl-deficient diets that caused liver cancer. In addition, several chemicals, particularly carcinogens, were shown to alter DNA methylation. The possible links between chemically induced alterations in DNA methylation and development of other diseases were little explored. However, by 1990, a chain of causality had been established in experimental carcinogenesis linking dietary methyl deficiency with methyl insufficiency in vivo, as well as with the abnormal methylation of DNA and of specific genes. Also during this period, the diminished activity of the enzyme methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (EC 1.5.1.20), which is responsible for the actual de novo synthesis of methyl groups, was shown to be associated with increased risk of developing atherosclerosis, neurological disorders and birth defects. The exponential rise in studies on methyl metabolism and DNA methylation since then enables us to examine here the extent to which the mechanisms by which abnormal methylation processes seem to exert their toxic effects in one disease may be applicable to other pathologies.
Adolescent and Young Adult Smokers Who Self-Identify as Nonsmokers: Relationship With Cigarette-Related Withdrawal and Cravings.

Abstract Purpose. Examine the extent to which low-nicotine dependent daily smokers identify themselves as nonsmokers (smoking nonsmokers) over time, and examine the effect of nicotine-related withdrawal symptoms and cravings in predicting self-identified smoking status. Design. Longitudinal. Setting. National Youth Smoking Cessation Survey 2003–2005. Subjects. One hundred thirty-two adolescents and young adults (16–24 years). Measures. A questionnaire was used to assess smoking identity, withdrawal, cravings, and smoking intensity parameters. Analysis. Multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results. Among the 132 smoking nonsmokers at baseline, 45% remained smoking nonsmokers at the 2-year follow-up, with 55% transitioning to smoking (i.e., self-identified as smoking smokers in the interim). After adjustments, participants exhibiting greater restlessness and cravings over time, respectively, had 3.59 (p = .01) and 4.31 (p = .008) greater odds of being a smoking nonsmoker at baseline but then transiti...
serpent, a GATA-like transcription factor gene, induces fat-cell development in Drosophila melanogaster.

The GATA-like transcription factor gene serpent is necessary for embryonic fat-cell differentiation in Drosophila (Sam, S., Leise, W. and Hoshizaki, D. K. (1996) Mech. Dev. 60, 197–205) and has been proposed to function in a cell-fate choice between fat cell and somatic gonadal precursors (Moore, L. A., Broihier, H. T., Van Doren, M. and Lehmann, R. (1998) Development 125, 837–44; Riechmann, V., Irion, U., Wilson, R., Grosskortenhaus, R. and Leptin, M. (1997) Development 124, 2915–22). Here, we report that deregulated expression of serpent in the mesoderm induces the formation of ectopic fat cells and prevents the migration and coalescence of the somatic gonadal precursors. The ectopic fat cells do not arise from hyperproliferation of the primary fat-cell clusters but they do associate with the endogenous fat cells to form a fat body that is expanded in both the dorsal/ventral and anterior/posterior axes. Misexpression of serpent also affects the differentiation of muscle cells. Few body-wall muscle precursors are specified and there is a loss of most body-wall muscle fibers. The precursors of the visceral mesoderm are also absent and concomitantly the visceral muscle is absent. We suggest that the ectopic fat cells might originate from cells that have the potential, but do not normally, differentiate into fat cells or from cells that have acquired a fat-cell fate. In light of our results, we discuss the role of serpent in fat-cell specification and in cell fate choices.
Regulation of spatial selectivity by crossover inhibition.

Signals throughout the nervous system diverge into parallel excitatory and inhibitory pathways that later converge on downstream neurons to control their spike output. Converging excitatory and inhibitory synaptic inputs can exhibit a variety of temporal relationships. A common motif is feedforward inhibition, in which an increase (decrease) in excitatory input precedes a corresponding increase (decrease) in inhibitory input. The delay of inhibitory input relative to excitatory input originates from an extra synapse in the circuit shaping inhibitory input. Another common motif is push-pull or “crossover” inhibition, in which increases (decreases) in excitatory input occur together with decreases (increases) in inhibitory input. Primate On midget ganglion cells receive primarily feedforward inhibition and On parasol cells receive primarily crossover inhibition; this difference provides an opportunity to study how each motif shapes the light responses of cell types that play a key role in visual perception. For full-field stimuli, feedforward inhibition abbreviated and attenuated responses of On midget cells, while crossover inhibition, though plentiful, had surprisingly little impact on the responses of On parasol cells. Spatially structured stimuli, however, could cause excitatory and inhibitory inputs to On parasol cells to increase together, adopting a temporal relation very much like that for feedforward inhibition. In this case, inhibitory inputs substantially abbreviated a cell's spike output. Thus inhibitory input shapes the temporal stimulus selectivity of both midget and parasol ganglion cells, but its impact on responses of parasol cells depends strongly on the spatial structure of the light inputs.
An Application of the 4 × 4 Matrix Formalism to the Polar Magnetic Kerr Effect

Abstract Expressions for the elements of a 2 × 2 matrix describing the reflection of polarized light at oblique incidence from a surface with an applied magnetic field that is perpendicular to the plane of the surface are derived using the 4 × 4 matrix formalism. This reflection matrix can be used to calculate the changes in polarization of light reflected from such a surface. The formalism also provides insight into the behaviour of the classical electromagnetic fields within the reflecting material.
Olfactory sensitivity of gomphocerine grasshoppers to the odours of host and non-host plants.

Antennal responses to host and non-host odours were recorded, using the electroantennogram technique, from four gomphocerine grasshoppers with different feeding habits: Bootettix argentatus (monophagous on Larrea, a dicotyledonous plant), Ligurotettix coquilletti (oligophagous on dicotyledonous plants), Cibolacris parviceps (polyphagous) and Chorthippus curtipennis (graminivorous). The patterns of responses across the plant odours were similar for all four grasshopper species, but there was a relatively greater response to the odour of Larrea in B. argentatus and L. coquilletti which specialise on this plant. This suggests that there is considerable overall similarity in the make up of the olfactory receptor populations of these four grasshoppers species, but that some specificity for hostplant odour does exist at the antennal level. Resume Sensibilite olfactive d'orthopteres Gomphocerinae a l'odeur de plantes hotes et non hotes Les reponses antennaires ont ete examinees par electroantennogramme aux odeurs de plantes hotes et non hotes d'orthopteres Gomphocerinae de comportements alimentaires differents: Bootettix argentatus, monophage sur une dicotyledone, Larrea; Ligurotettix coquilletti, oligophage de dicotyledones; Cibolacris parviceps, polyphage; Chorthippus curtipennis, graminivore. Les types de reponse des quatre especes etaient tres voisins, mais les reponses aux odeurs de Larrea de B. argentatus et L. coquilletti, specialistes de cette plante, etaient relativement plus fortes. Ces resultats suggerent une similarite globale considerable dans la composition des populations de recepteurs olfactifs de ces quatre especes d'orthopteres mais aussi une certaine specificite pour les odeurs de la plante hote au niveau antennaire.
ANTI-INTERLEUKIN 8 (IL8) NEUTRALIZING ANTIBODY ABOLISHES THE IN VIVO EFFECT OF SUPERNATANT FACTOR (SF) FROM MINIMAL CHANGE (MC) PATIENTS IN RELAPSE ON ALBUMINURIA AND GLOMERULAR BASEMENT MEMBRANE (GBM) 35 S

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of neutralizing anti-IL8 antibody on the previously described increase in albuminuria and35 S GBM uptake induced in vivo, in rats by SF from MC patients in relapse.
Race impacts outcome in stage III/IV squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck after concurrent chemoradiation therapy

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of race on outcome in patients with stage III/IV squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) who have completed concurrent chemoradiotherapy. METHODS: The authors performed a retrospective analysis of 202 patients with stage III/IV SCCHN who were treated at the University of Maryland. Patients received daily radiation to a total dose of 70.2 Gray (Gy) (1.8 Gy/day), concurrently with weekly carboplatin (area under the curve [AUC] ¼ 2) and paclitaxel (45 mg/m 2 ) chemotherapy. RESULTS: There were 108 Caucasian (CA) and 94 African American (AA) patients. The median age was 56 years, and 81% were stage IV. The median follow-up was 33 months. The median overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were 33 months and 19 months, respectively. When analyzed by race, the median DFS was 33 months (CA) versus 12 months (AA) (P ¼.028). The median OS was 44 months (CA) versus 24 months (AA) (P ¼.071). The 3-year DFS for stage IV AA versus stage IV CA was 29% versus 50% (P ¼.031). The 3-year DFS for N2 disease in AA versus CA was 32% versus 51% (P ¼.046). The 3-year DFS for AA versus CA with oropharyngeal tumors was 30% versus 60% (P ¼.006). CONCLUSIONS: This analysis documents the inferior outcome for AA patients. They had inferior DFS and a trend toward worse OS. When stratified by several prognostic variables, the mediocre DFS in the AA patients remains. These data suggest that further investigation into the genetic characteristics of SCCHN in AA patients is warranted. Cancer 2009;115:1744–52. V C 2009 American Cancer Society.
Variations in hepatic progesterone 21-hydroxylase activity reflect differences in the microsomal concentration of rabbit cytochrome P-450 1.

Abstract A monoclonal antibody specific for cytochrome P-450 1 that extensively (>95%) inhibits the hepatic 21-hydroxylation of progesterone was used in a two-site immunoradiometric assay to estimate the concentration of cytochrome P-450 1 in microsomes prepared from 24 individual, untreated New Zealand White rabbits. The progesterone 21-hydroxylase activities of these microsomes ranged from 0.2 to 5.8 nmol min−1 mg microsomal protein−1. Scatchard analysis revealed similar slopes and thus apparent affinities between the antibody and microsome samples that varied >10-fold in 21-hydroxylase activity. The maximal extent of binding of the antibody to different microsomal preparations was greater for microsomes exhibiting high as compared to low 21-hydroxylase activity, suggesting that the level of binding reflects the microsomal content of P-450 1. Quantitation was based on the extent of binding of the 125I-labeled monoclonal antibody to P-450 1 sequestered from a sample by a heterologous monoclonal antibody adsorbed to the wells of a microtiter plate. These results indicate that the microsomal content of P-450 1 varies from
Theory of cone methods for null controllability of nonlinear control systems

Cone-valued Lyapunov functions have been used by several authors to examine the stability of nonlinear systems. However, the general problem of constructing a suitable cone given the nature of nonlinearity seems to be as difficult as that of constructing a suitable Lyapunov function. The construction of a suitable cone, at least in special cases, deserves further investigation. Lakshmikantham [1] has used the theory of cones for stability of nonlinear systems. A more unified theory of cones can be found in the book by Krasnosel'skii [2]. The objective of this paper is to use methods of the theory of cones to establish a sufficient condition of null controllability of \dot{x}(t)= A(t)+ g(t,x,u) .
Nonparametric change-point detection for two populations

Suppose F and G are unknow continuous distributions and one can observe sequential a series of independent random vectors (X1,Y1),(X2,Y2),...such that (Xi,Yi)'s initially have distribution F×F and at some unknow time their distribution may become F×G. Namely,a change in the distribution of the Y observations may occur for some reason, while the X observation maintain their distribution. We coinsider the case where the X observation maintain their distribution We consider the case where the post-change distribution is a Lehmann alternative of F, i.e.., G = Fδ for some δ > 0. The problem is to detect the change as soon as possible after its occurrence, subject to constriant on the rate of false alarms Let An k denote the likehood ratio of the ranks of the combined data(X1,...,Xn,Y1,...,Yn) for the test of no change versus na change to a Lehmann alternative at k+1 in the Y sequence. We consider the nonparmetric Shiryaev-Roberts stopping rule based on An k and compute its average run length to dectection by d...