cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Policy Feedback in the Welfare State: An Analysis of Public Support for the Welfare State in 11 States

Researchers interested in the political consequences of the welfare state argue that cross-country variations in the design of social policy institutions produce distinct patterns of public support for the welfare state. This research proposes an institutional feedback effect in which welfare institutions, once created, transform political debate, generate new constituencies, and alter how individuals and interest groups interpret their preferences. Existing research has found mixed results for these proposed institutional feedback effects on public opinion. This project contributes to research on institutional feedback through an analysis of cross-national variation in public support for three sectors of the welfare state. Dividing the welfare state into its component programs provides a unique opportunity for studying institutional feedback by avoiding problems with the measurement of key variables common to previous work in this area. This research offers evidence in support of institutional feedback effects by demonstrating links between the structure of welfare institutions and public attitudes.
The Single Conservation Law

In this chapter we shall obtain precise mathematical results on the existence and uniqueness of solutions for a single conservation law. In addition we shall also study the asymptotic behavior of our constructed solution. The existence problem will be attacked via a finite-difference method. Thus we shall replace the given differential equation by a finite-difference approximation depending on mesh parameters Δx and Δt. For every such pair (Δx, Δt) we shall construct a solution U Δx, Δt of the finite-difference equation, and we shall then obtain estimates which enable us to pass to the limit as the mesh parameters tend to zero in a certain definite way. The estimates which we obtain will be in the sup-norm and in the total variation-norm of the approximants, both sets of estimates being independent of the mesh parameters. It is worth noting that we are forced into obtaining bounds on the variation of the approximants, rather than (the usually encountered) bounds on derivatives, since the latter bounds would imply via the standard compactness criteria, that the limit would be continuous; we know that this is not generally true.
The Flyer: British Culture and the Royal Air Force, 1939–1945 – By Martin Francis

As the author admits, there are many books on the Royal Air Force (RAF) in the Second World War, particularly focusing on the “Few,” the Fighter Command pilots who fought the Battle of Britain. The...
The Determinants of REALTOR Income

The theory of human capital suggests that one's wage varies positively with one's formal education and informal training. A common proxy for informal training is experience. In the the real estate ...
Genetic Fuzzy Trees and their Application Towards Autonomous Training and Control of a Squadron of Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles

This study introduces the technique of Genetic Fuzzy Trees (GFTs) through novel application to an air combat control problem of an autonomous squadron of Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs) equ...
Contact, Support, and Friction Three Faces of Networks in Community Life

The networks literature has been bedeviled by an assumption that networks convey supportiveness to the exclusion of conflict. In this article, we discuss a method for distinguishing conflict, support, and simple contact network linkages in surveys. We then describe the results of applying this procedure to a random sample of households in several rural areas. We find that conflict does permeate personal relations. We also find that ego's and alters' genders affect the extent and type of frictions that engage them. We conclude by discussing implications of the findings for particular lines of research on stress and on community.
risk perception frames in environmental decision making

In environmental decision making, local community residents and activists frequently make claims about risk and its management that run counter to expert knowledge. Environmental practitioners who ...
A PLUM VOLATILE, 1-NONANOL: AN OPPOSITIONAL DETERRENT FOR CODLING MOTH

Codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.), is a major pest of apples, pears, and certain stone fruits and tree nuts. Alternatives to conventional insecticides are needed to manage codling moth infestations in the field and after harvest. In an earlier evaluation of codling moth ovipositional behavior on stone fruits, “Queen Ann” plums were found to be highly acceptable (Yokoyama and Miller 1988). We present preliminary testing of plum fruit volatiles for effect on the ovipositional behavior of codling moth, with emphasis on the ovipositional deterrent activity of 1-nonanol.
Influence of early life stress on intra- and extra-amygdaloid causal connectivity.

Animal models of early life stress (ELS) are characterized by augmented amygdala response to threat and altered amygdala-dependent behaviors. These models indicate the amygdala is a heterogeneous structure with well-differentiated subnuclei. The most well characterized of these being basolateral (BLA) and central nucleus (CeA). Parallel human imaging findings relative to ELS also reveal enhanced amygdala reactivity and disrupted connectivity but the influence of ELS on amygdala subregion connectivity and modulation of emotion is unclear. Here we employed cytoarchitectonic probability maps of amygdala subregions and Granger causality methods to evaluate task-based intra-amygdaloid and extra-amygdaloid connectivity with the network underlying implicit regulation of emotion in response to unconditioned auditory threat in healthy controls with ELS (N=20) and without a history of ELS (N=14). Groups were determined by response to the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire and threat response determined by unpleasantness ratings. Non-ELS demonstrated narrowly defined BLA-driven intra-amygdaloid paths and concise orbitofrontal cortex (OFC)–CeA-driven extra-amygdaloid connectivity. In contrast, ELS was associated with extensive and robust CeA-facilitated intra- and extra-amygdaloid paths. Non-ELS findings paralleled the known anatomical organization and functional relationships for both intra- and extra-amygdaloid connectivity, while ELS demonstrated atypical intra- and extra-amygdaloid CeA-dominant paths with compensatory modulation of emotion. Specifically, negative causal paths from OFC/BA32 to BLA predicted decreased threat response among non-ELS, while a unique within-amygdala path predicted modulation of threat among ELS. These findings are consistent with compensatory mechanisms of emotion regulation following ELS among resilient persons originating both within the amygdala complex as well as subsequent extra-amygdaloid communication.
Temporal integration in absolute identification of musical pitch.

Abstract The effect of stimulus duration on absolute identification of musical pitch was measured in a single-interval 12-alternative forced-choice task. Stimuli consisted of pure tones selected randomly on each trial from a set of 60 logarithmically spaced musical note frequencies from 65.4 to 1975.5 Hz (C2–B6). Stimulus durations were 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, and 1000 ms. Six absolute-pitch musicians identified the pitch of pure tones without feedback, reference sounds, or practice trials. Results showed that a 5 ms stimulus is sufficient for producing statistically significant above chance performance. Performance monotonically increased up to the longest duration tested (1000 ms). Higher octave stimuli produced better performance, though the rate of improvement declined with increasing octave number. Normalization by the number of waveform cycles showed that 4 cycles are sufficient for absolute-pitch identification. Restricting stimuli to a fixed-cycle waveform instead of a fixed-duration still produced monotonic improvements in performance as a function of stimulus octave, demonstrating that better performance at higher frequencies does not exclusively result from a larger number of waveform cycles. Several trends in the data were well predicted by an autocorrelation model of pitch extraction, though the model outperformed observed performance at short durations suggesting an inability to make optimal use of available periodicity information in very brief tones.
Molecular Dynamics on a Model for Nascent High-Density Lipoprotein: Role of Salt Bridges

The results of an all-atom molecular dynamics simulation on a discoidal complex made of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) and a synthetic alpha-helical 18-mer peptide with an apolipoprotein-like charge distribution are presented. The system consists of 12 acetyl-18A-amide (Ac-18A-NH2) (. J. Biol. Chem. 260:10248-10255) molecules and 20 molecules of POPC in a bilayer, 10 in each leaflet, solvated in a sphere of water for a total of 28,522 atoms. The peptide molecules are oriented with their long axes normal to the bilayer (the "picket fence" orientation). This system is analogous to complexes formed in nascent high-density lipoprotein and to Ac-18A-NH2/phospholipid complexes observed experimentally. The simulation extended over 700 ps, with the last 493 ps used for analysis. The symmetry of this system allows for averaging over different helices to improve sampling, while maintaining explicit all-atom representation of all peptides. The complex is stable on the simulated time scale. Several possible salt bridges between and within helices were studied. A few salt bridge formations and disruptions were observed. Salt bridges provide specificity in interhelical interactions.
Atomic layer deposition of tungsten using sequential surface chemistry with a sacrificial stripping reaction

Tungsten (W) films were grown with atomic layer control using a novel sequence of self-limiting surface reactions. The tungsten film growth was achieved by dividing the binary reaction WF6+Si2H6→W+2SiHF3+2H2 into two separate half-reactions. Alternating exposures to WF6 and Si2H6 in an ABAB… sequence produced tungsten deposition at temperatures between 425 and 600 K. The Si2H6 reactant served only a sacrificial role to strip fluorine from tungsten without incorporating into the film. FTIR spectroscopic investigations demonstrated that the WF6 and Si2H6 half-reactions were complete and self-limiting at T>400 K. In situ spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements determined a tungsten growth rate of 2.5 A/AB cycle with WF6 and Si2H6 reactant exposures sufficient for complete half-reactions. The surface topography of the deposited tungsten films was flat indicating smooth film growth. The tungsten films were either amorphous or composed of very small crystalline grains and contained no measurable silicon or fluorine. These results represent the first demonstration of atomic layer deposition of smooth single-element metal films using sequential surface chemistry.
Item-specific interference caused by cue-dependent forgetting.

Memory for A-B word pairs (e.g.,child-apple) was tested by a cued recall test (e.g.,child-app__). Showing an A-C “relative” (e.g.,child-bicycle) reduced recall, especially if it was shown recently and was highly accessible (Experiments 1 and 2). In Experiment 3, a relative facilitated recall if it was semantically similar to the target (A-B′:child-cookies) but interfered if it was semantically dissimilar (A-C:child-fever). The best explanation for these results is that the relative primed features that affected the functional retrieval cue, and that interference occurred if the cue did not match the trace for the target (Martin, 1972). In other words, the interference effects are an example of cue-dependent forgetting. Neither blocking nor a discrimination process can account for these findings, although some evidence for a discrimination process has been found with other materials
Spatial Distribution of Milk Constituents in Powders Made by Different Drying Techniques

Abstract Layers of milk solids were washed from the surfaces of five different types of powder granules by using a vacuum to draw successive 50-ml aliquots of water rapidly through a bed containing a mixture of 5g of milk powder and 60g of 20–30 mesh sand. Analysis of the washing's for total solids, fat, lactose, and protein, as well as determination of the freezing point and conductivity of the solutions, demonstrated that some migration of low molecular weight solutes towards the surface occurred during both the spray and foam drying processes. Instantizing apparently increased the amount of osmotically active material at the surfaces of two of the four samples studied. Foam-dried whole milk powder granules were found to be the most uniform in composition. No relationship could be established between the observed orientation of milk constituents within the powder granules and their dispersibility. A mathematical analysis of a model washing process is presented, as well as evidence for the conformation of the described technique with the model system.
Health practices of adult Hispanic women

Health practices of adult Hispanic women The purpose of this focused ethnography was to discover the patterns and variability of health practices used by Hispanic women aged 20–40 years. Seven adult Hispanic women from an urban New Mexico county were interviewed four to seven times each about their health practices. The women described their views of good health. They were aware of current health promotion practices such as good nutrition and exercise. They also practised safety measures for themselves and their families. These women did not report any information on specific cultural disease prevention behaviours and described few practices related to their Hispanic culture. A theme that also emerged from the data was an emphasis on the importance of spirituality and the integration of the spiritual dimension as important to healthy living. Implications for health care providers include knowing that urban adult Hispanic women are versed in contemporary health literature and take better care of their families than of themselves.
Increased Intra-Individual Reaction Time Variability in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder across Response Inhibition Tasks with Different Cognitive Demands.

One of the most consistent findings in children with ADHD is increased moment-to-moment variability in reaction time (RT). The source of increased RT variability can be examined using ex-Gaussian analyses that divide variability into normal and exponential components and Fast Fourier transform (FFT) that allow for detailed examination of the frequency of responses in the exponential distribution. Prior studies of ADHD using these methods have produced variable results, potentially related to differences in task demand. The present study sought to examine the profile of RT variability in ADHD using two Go/No-go tasks with differing levels of cognitive demand. A total of 140 children (57 with ADHD and 83 typically developing controls), ages 8–13 years, completed both a “simple” Go/No-go task and a more “complex” Go/No-go task with increased working memory load. Repeated measures ANOVA of ex-Gaussian functions revealed for both tasks children with ADHD demonstrated increased variability in both the normal/Gaussian (significantly elevated sigma) and the exponential (significantly elevated tau) components. In contrast, FFT analysis of the exponential component revealed a significant task × diagnosis interaction, such that infrequent slow responses in ADHD differed depending on task demand (i.e., for the simple task, increased power in the 0.027–0.074 Hz frequency band; for the complex task, decreased power in the 0.074–0.202 Hz band). The ex-Gaussian findings revealing increased variability in both the normal (sigma) and exponential (tau) components for the ADHD group, suggest that both impaired response preparation and infrequent “lapses in attention” contribute to increased variability in ADHD. FFT analyses reveal that the periodicity of intermittent lapses of attention in ADHD varies with task demand. The findings provide further support for intra-individual variability as a candidate intermediate endophenotype of ADHD.
A quantitative EEG index of the orienting response in children

Abstract The application of a new method of analysis to the description of the EEG response to various stimuli and ocular maneuvers in normal children was illustrated. The basic assumption was that all responses of the occipital EEG relevant to the orienting response were in the form of a disturbance followed by a recovery of the series of alpha intervals alternating with intervals of little or no-alpha. A quantitative method for evaluating this was described and illustrated under various conditions: eyes opened in darkness, eyes open with steady light, and feedback stimulation in which a stimulus was contingent upon presence or absence of alpha. A quantitative approximation to average disturbance and recovery series was developed and from it an index of orienting was described. To illustrate this index, children of different ages were compared. The index differentiated among the experimental conditions and among age groups. It was concluded that these new quantitative methods for evaluating the alpha-attenuation cycle were useful for studying the EEG correlates of the human orienting response.
Surface Properties and Membrane Packing in Hybrid Liposomes Composed of Tetraether and Diester Lipids

Archaeal bipolar tetraether lipids are extraordinarily stable against biochemical and physical stressors and non-toxic to animals; thus, they are appealing biomaterials that hold great promise for technological applications. Here, we used electrophoretic mobility measurements and TNS fluorescence to determine zeta potential and surface potential of liposomes (∼150 nm in diameter) composed of archaeal tetraether lipids and conventional diester lipids. We also used Laurdan fluorescence to explore membrane packing in the same membrane system. The polar lipid fraction E (PLFE) from the archaeon S. acidocaldarius was used as the tetraether component. PLFE lipids are asymmetric macrocyclic molecules carrying a negative charge on the phosphate moiety at one of the two polar ends at neutral pH. We found that zeta potential varies with PLFE content in a biphasic manner, being most negative when the PLFE content is ∼60 mol%. Surface potential is also PLFE content dependent, showing a minimum at ∼50 mol% PLFE. On the other hand, Laurdan GP (generalized polarization) data, inferentially membrane packing, displays a peculiar behavior at 20-40 mol% PLFE. In a separate study, we used the AAPH-induced Laurdan fluorescence intensity change to deduce information about membrane packing. AAPH (2,2'-azobis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride) is a water-soluble, free-radical generator. Upon addition of AAPH, there was a lag time (t), followed by a steady decrease in Laurdan fluorescence intensity due to probe oxidation. The t values as well as the initial rate (R) of AAPH-induced Laurdan oxidation were found to change with PLFE mole fraction in a non-monotonic manner, showing an anomaly between 20-50 mol % PLFE. These data together suggest that, in the range 20-50 mol %, these hybrid liposomes undergo major structural changes engendered by PLFE content.
Intracellular Light‐Activation of Riboswitch Activity

By combining a riboswitch with a cell-permeable photocaged small-molecule ligand, an optochemical gene control element was constructed that enabled spatial and temporal control of gene expression in bacterial cells. The simplicity of this strategy, coupled with the ability to create synthetic riboswitches with tailored ligand specificities and output in a variety of microorganisms, plants, and fungi might afford a general strategy to photocontrol gene expression in vivo. The ability to activate riboswitches by using light enables the interrogation and manipulation of a wide range of biological processes with high precision, and will have broad utility in the regulation of artificial genetic circuits.
Tumors of the spleen.

Splenic tumors are uncommon lesions that can be divided into two main categories: nonlymphoid and lymphoid. The most common nonlymphoid tumors are the vascular tumors, which include benign and malignant hemangiomas, lymphangiomas, and hemangioendotheliomas. The remaining nonlymphoid tumors, such as fibrosarcoma and lipoma, are so uncommon as to be only anecdotally reported. Of the lymphoid tumors, Hodgkin's lymphoma may rarely occur as a primary splenic tumor, but more commonly is seen as part of disseminated disease. The same is true of histiocytic lymphoma and plasmacytoma. Rare benign lymphoid lesions may simulate lymphoid tumors. Of the metastatic tumors to the spleen, melanoma, breast, and lung are the principal lesions, but metastases from many other neoplasms occur. Metastases to spleen are less common than to other parenchymatous organs for reasons yet unknown. The surgical approach to splenic tumors should conform to the principles of good tumor surgery with good access, extirpation without rupture, and correct handling of tissue for study. Partial splenectomy is an acceptable procedure for benign splenic cysts, and possibly for polar hamartomas.
Symmetry, broken symmetry, and handedness in bimanual coordination dynamics

The symmetrical dynamics of 1∶1 rhythmic bimanual coordination may be specified by an order parameter equation involving the relative phase between rhythmic components, and an interlimb coupling which determines the relative attractiveness of in-phase and anti-phase patterns. Symmetry breaking of these dynamics can occur via the difference in the natural frequencies, Δω, of the left and right rhythmic components, or by the intrinsic asymmetrical dynamics of the body. The latter is captured by additional terms that render the symmetrical coupling slightly anisotropic. A major prediction resulting from this step is that although Δω=0, as the frequency of coordination is increased, the asymmetrical coupling will increase and the symmetrical coupling will decrease. This results in a greater left-limb bias in left-handers and right-limb bias in right-handers. This “increased handedness” prediction was confirmed in an experiment in which 20 left-handed and 20 right-handed individuals performed 1∶ 1 coordination with hand-held rigid pendulums. Manipulations of left and right pendulum lengths controlled Δω, and the coupled frequency was determined by a metronome. Also confirmed was the prediction that the small shift in equilibria from in-phase and anti-phase due to the intrinsic asymmetry should be amplified in left-handers when Δω > 0 and in right-handers when Δω < 0. Further, the bias in left-handers was more consistent than the bias in right-handers, and a subgroup of right-handers was identified who performed similarly to left-handers. The coordination dynamics of functional asymmetry provides insights into the elementary synergy between the limbs, the dynamical mechanism that modulates it, and the nature of the asymmetry in left-handed and right-handed individuals.
Decisions, decisions, decisions.

Decisions, which are responses to questions such as “What shall we do?” and scientific conclusions, which are responses to questions such as “What are the facts?” are sufficiently different to justify the development of a decision methodolgy different from the classical Scientific Method which guides scientific research. The environment in which health care decisions are embedded, i.e., the life cycle of a health program or project, imposes requirements for a capability to communicate, discuss, review, and track the factors on which decisions are based. The information elements needed for decision making (alternatives, states, outcomes, risk, values), as well as the process needed to generate these decision elements, are described and the additional requirements which they impose on a decision methodology (rationality and the early formulation of an evaluation model) are identified. Decision and utility theory provide a philosophical framework plus two essential ingredients for explicitly implementing the decision process: (1) a rational basis for explicitly measuring preferences (value judgments) on a “utility” scale and (2) a rational rule for making decisions when outcomes are uncertain, i.e., maximize expected utility. A general objective function which combines measures of value (utility) and estimates of risk (probability) into an expression representing the computation of expected utility is presented and discussed. The objective function and the relationships of its elements to the activities of the decision process are illustrated with a relatively simple example. Some implications of simplified special cases of the general objective function are pointed out.
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE THOUGHT OF R. ISAAC HUTNER

The purpose of the present study is first and foremost to provide an entree, as it were, to Rabbi Isaac Hutner's "conceptuality"-i.e., to the structure of his Jewish, religious concepts and to the manner in which he derives these concepts from the classic texts of the Jewish tradition. In order to find this structure some peeling-away of his actual presentations is required, the way the facades of a house must be removed if one wishes to display its basic frame, because Pachad Yitzchak, the multivolumed publication of R. Hutner's lectures, consists of expatiations that are geared to their occasions (the Jewish holy seasons), to his public and its inherited forms of thought (R. Hutner's own yeshivot), and to his pedagogy. His hermeneutics in turn need to be defined in terms of their historical sources and of their logic. For these two purposes I shall use initially a particularly interesting chain of analysis and argument concerning the fundamental character of the Day of Atonement and its institutions as R. Hutner presents it, and I shall branch out from there to the broader conceptuality of which this chain is an integral part. Having thus gained an entree to R. Hutner's thought, I shall explore two suggestions that have previously been made, namely that his thought bears striking and suggestive resemblances to two, otherwise at first blush very different, modern Jewish thought-formations-that of the contemporary French "post-phenomenologist" Emmanuel Levinas and that of the radical neo-Kantian Hermann Cohen at the turn of the century. I shall first exemplify and explain these resemblances and, secondly, try to explain how they came about. Having accomplished this, we shall be left with an obvious and troublesome question: how can one make sense of the fact that three so
Relationship between early photosynthetic products, photorespiration, and stage of leaf development in Zea mays

Summary Early photosynthetic products were determined for three stages of leaf development in Zea mays. After a 10 second exposure to 14CO2, the major percentage of label resides in the four-carbon acids, malate and aspartate, in each leaf age examined. There is a decrease in the amount of C4 acids labeled during leaf ontogeny but this decrease does not lead to an increase in C3 cycle intermediates. Several minor photosynthetic products increase slightly in labeling. Photorespiratory activities for the ontogenetic series were also determined using a 14CO2 assay. Young and mature tissue had light to dark 14CO2 evolution ratios of less that 1.0, as expected of C4 plants. Senescent leaf tissue had a light to dark ratio of 3.3, a value typical for C3 plants, and the amount of 14CO2 evolved in the light was directly influenced by oxygen concentrations. The data indicates that there are physiological changes which occur during development of Zea mays leaves, particularly with respect to photorespiration.
Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion: a story of duloxetine-induced hyponatraemia

Hyponatraemia is the most commonly encountered electrolyte abnormality in clinical practice. Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH) accounts for nearly 60% of all hyponatraemias. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are well known to have side effects of SIADH. There have been few reported cases of serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) causing SIADH-induced hyponatraemia. Duloxetine is one type of SNRI used to treat several conditions, including depression and diabetic neuropathy. We present a case of a 76-year-old woman with a history of fibromyalgia who had recently been prescribed duloxetine for her condition. On admission to the hospital, her sodium decreased to a low of 118 mmol/L. Evaluation for other causes of hyponatraemia yielded negative results. Duloxetine was discontinued and after 3 days the patient9s sodium increased to 130 mmol/L. The purpose of this case report is to highlight the importance of having suspicion for rare but real side effects of medications such as duloxetine.
Cognitive-behavioral therapies with youth: Guiding theory, current status, and emerging developments.

This article begins with a brief description of the guiding theory behind cognitive-behavioral interventions with youth, such as a therapeutic posture, an important cognitive distinction, and a specific treatment goal. Next, on the basis of a review of the literature, the nature of cognitive functioning, the treatments, and the outcome of treatment studies are described and examined for (a) aggression, (b) anxiety, (c) depression, and (d) attention-deficit hyperactivity. Conclusions and emerging developments are provided.
Phylogenetic sequence analysis, recombinant expression, and tissue distribution of a channel catfish estrogen receptor beta.

Abstract An estrogen receptor β (ERβ) cDNA fragment was amplified by RT-PCR of total RNA extracted from liver and ovary of immature channel catfish. This cDNA fragment was used to screen an ovarian cDNA library made from an immature female fish. A clone was obtained that contained an open reading frame encoding a 575-amino-acid protein with a deduced molecular weight of 63.9 kDa. Maximum parsimony and Neighbor Joining analyses were used to generate a phylogenetic classification of channel catfish ERβ on the basis of 25 full-length teleost and tetrapod ER sequences. The consensus tree obtained indicated the existence of two major vertebrate ER subtypes, α and β. Within each subtype, and in accordance with established phylogenetic relationships, teleost and tetrapod ER were monophyletic confirming the results of a previous analysis (Z. Xia et al ., 1999, Gen. Comp. Endocrinol . 113, 360–368). Extracts of COS-7 cells transfected with channel catfish ERβ cDNA bound estrogen with high affinity ( K d = 0.21 nM) and specificity. The affinity of channel catfish ERβ for estrogen was higher than previously reported for channel catfish ERα. As determined by qualitative RT-PCR, the tissue distributions of ERα and ERβ were similar but not identical. Both ER subtypes were present in ovary and testis. ERα was found in all other tissues examined from juvenile and mature fish of both sexes. ERβ was also found in most tissues except, in most cases, whole blood and head kidney. Interestingly, the pattern of expression of ER subtypes in head kidney always corresponded to the pattern in whole blood. In conclusion, we isolated a channel catfish ERβ with ligand-binding affinity and tissue expression patterns different from ERα. Also, we confirmed the validity of our previously proposed general classification scheme for vertebrate ER into α and β subtypes and within each subtype, into teleost and tetrapod clades.
A Minimal Photocurrent Analog Multiplexer Using Edge-On Diodes

An edge-on diode (EOD) is a dielectrically-isolated lateral PN junction diode formed in a thin (2 ?m) layer of single-crystal silicon formed on an insulating substrate. EODs formed on sapphire have extremely low primary photocurrents because the junction areas and minority carrier lifetimes can be made very small. A 16-input analog multiplexer silicon on sapphire integrated circuit was fabricated to evaluate the EOD concept. The multiplexer met all electrical specifications and proved very fast, settling within 60 ns. While circuit radiation testing is not yet complete, individual diodes tested at a dense plasma focus x-ray source showed individual diode photocurrents of only about 100 ?A/1011 rads (Si)/s.
Optical activity of LSD-DNA mixtures.

REPORTS on the fluorescence-sensitive binding of d-LSD (d-lysergic acid diethylamide), 1-LSD and their 2-bromo derivatives to calf thymus DNA1, and on changes induced in DNA circular dichroism by LDS-25 (ref. 2), have led to the belief that it is the intercalation of the drug in DNA that causes the chromosomal damage3–6 and abnormalities in human offspring7 that have been associated with LSD. Our studies of circular dichroism, however, have failed to show that LSD has any effect on DNA conformation.
Statins as potential therapeutic agents in neuroinflammatory disorders.

Purpose of reviewMultiple sclerosis is a central nervous system inflammatory demyelinating disease that is thought to have an autoimmune pathogenesis. Recent results indicate that ‘statins’, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors, which are the most commonly used oral cholesterol
Treatment with imatinib improves drug delivery and efficacy in NSCLC xenografts

Imatinib, an inhibitor of PDGF-Rβ and other tyrosine kinase receptors, has been shown to decrease microvessel density and interstitial fluid pressure in solid tumours, thereby improving subsequent delivery of small molecules. The purpose of this study was to test whether pretreatment with imatinib increases the efficacy of traditional chemotherapy in mice bearing non-small cell lung carcinoma xenografts, and to investigate the effects of imatinib on liposomal drug delivery. Efficacy treatment groups included (n=9–10): saline control, imatinib alone (oral gavage, 100 mg kg−1 × 7 days), docetaxel alone (10 mg kg−1 i.p. 2 × /week until killing), and imatinib plus docetaxel (started on day 7 of imatinib). Tumours were monitored until they reached four times the initial treatment volume (4 × V) or 28 days. A separate experiment compared tumour doxorubicin concentrations (using high performance liquid chromatography) 24 h after treatment with liposomal doxorubicin alone (6 mg kg−1 i.v., n=9) or imatinib plus liposomal doxorubicin (n=16). Imatinib plus docetaxel resulted in significantly improved antitumour efficacy (0/10 animals reached 4 × V by 28 days) when compared to docetaxel alone (3/9 reached 4 × V, P=0.014) or imatinib alone (9/10 reached 4 × V, P=0.025). Pretreatment with imatinib also significantly increased tumour concentrations of liposomal doxorubicin. Overall, these preclinical studies emphasise the potential of imatinib as an adjunct to small molecule or liposomal chemotherapy.
17β-Estradiol and Progesterone Production by Human Granulosa-Luteal Cells Isolated from Human Menopausal Gonadotropin-Stimulated Cycles for in Vitro Fertilization*

Abstract The production of 17β-estradiol and progesterone (Prog) by human granulosa-luteal cells obtained from 24 aspirated follicles of 11 women undergoing laparoscopy in an in vitro fertilization program was studied. Follicular growth was stimulated with an individualized human menopausal gonadotropin regimen begun on either day 1 (group I; n = 5) or day 3 (group II; n = 6) of the menstrual cycle, and laparoscopy was performed 36 h after hCG administration. Granulosa-luteal cells were cultured for 2 h in culture medium alone or in the presence of either pregnenolone (10−7 M) or testosterone (10−7 M). Aromatase activity was present in the granulosa-luteal cells, as evidenced by a significant (P < 0.001) increase in E2 production in the presence of testosterone. The addition of pregnenolone did not augment Prog production. Granulosa-luteal cells derived from Group II patients produced significantly (P < 0.001) more Prog than those derived from group I patients. In addition, group II granulosa-luteal cells...
Temperature dependence of the photostimulated luminescence in KCl:Eu2+

Abstract The goal of this work is to understand the physical mechanism behind the signal stabilization process in KCl:Eu 2+ , a storage phosphor material that has generated renewed interest due to its potential in radiation therapy dosimetry application. The temperature dependency of the photostimulated luminescence (PSL) spectra and intensity vs. time post X-ray irradiation was measured. Commercial BaFBr:Eu 2+ materials were included in this study for comparison. Unlike BaFBr:Eu 2+ , broadening of the F(Cl − ) stimulation band and red-shift of the peak were observed for KCl:Eu 2+ with increasing temperature. For irradiations at temperatures lower than 200 K, PSL intensity of KCl:Eu 2+ showed recuperation behavior in the first 2 h post-irradiation and stayed almost constant with time thereafter. Moreover, spatially-correlated storage centers increased from 24% for irradiation at 50 K to 31% at 195 K and almost 100% at room temperature. The data suggest that certain types of charge storage-centers were mobile and contribute to the fast fading in PSL.
Comparative ultrastructural alterations in rabbit limb‐buds after a teratogenic dose of either hydroxyurea or methotrexate

Early changes in rabbit limb-bud fine structure subsequent to maternal administration of either hydroxyurea (750 mg HU/kg) or methotrexate (19.2 mg MTX/kg) on gestational day 12 have been analyzed in order to identify the morphologic sites of teratogenic action. Forelimb-buds were examined at 15 minutes to 32 hours posttreatment for ultrastructural alterations. HU caused early dispersion of ribosomes, condensation of nuclei, segregation of the granular portion of the nucleoli, and eventual fragmentation of mesenchymal cells. As a consequence of the extensive mesenchymal cellular death, the intercellular space among the remaining viable cells was increased. Cellular debris from fragmented cells was seen phagocytized within cells and in the intercellular space. In contrast, MTX caused an increase in cytoplasmic lipid, angular contours of nuclei, but relatively little cellular death. The most prominent change was a disruption of the normal mesenchymal architecture characterized by greatly increased intercellular space and a consequent reduction in the number of intercellular junctions. Nearly normal cytoarchitecture was restored by 32 hours. It was concluded that the primary morphologic sites of action are indeed different. Nevertheless, MTX and HU shared a common denominator since both caused disruption of intercellular contacts and possible breakdown of intercellular communication: HU through cytolethality, and MTX via disruption of intercellular junctions. This latter phenomenon may help to explain the similarities in limb defects caused by these two drugs.
Determination of nonmagnetic density profiles using polarized neutron reflectivity

It is in principle possible to recover phase information regarding an unknown, non-magnetic film structure in reflectivity measurements with polarized neutrons if the film is deposited on a substrate with a buried ferromagnetic layer of known thickness. One particular method is described here for inverting plus and minus neutron reflectivity data in the kinematic limit to obtain the chemical density profile of an 'unknown' layer. Application of this method in the dynamical regime is not as straightforward, and will be discussed. Nonetheless, experimental results demonstrate the value of simultaneously fitting plus and minus reflectivity data in the dynamical case in limiting the number of possible ambiguous results.
Integrating theoretical approaches to promote physical activity.

Abstract Context: Research on the promotion of physical activity has been based on a variety of conceptual models. These models generally target one level of analysis, such as the individual, community, or the environment, and differ in their relative contact with basic or applied science. There have been limited attempts to develop approaches that target multiple levels of analysis and can stimulate basic and applied research. Objective: Theoretical integration in a multidiscliplinary field such as promotion of physical activity should take into account that social, behavioral, and biomedical colleagues may use different explanatory models, and use different approaches to the development of scientific knowledge. This essay argues for the development of integration of theory across multiple domains that can incorporate methods and findings of basic and applied scientists, and that uses language and methods common to social, behavioral, and biomedical scientists. Method: Behavioral choice theory is presented as an example of one theoretical approach that bridges different approaches to physical activity intervention, and that can stimulate both basic and applied research on physical activity. Behavioral research on choice was discussed in relationship to basic research, human laboratory research, and community and clinical research. Conclusions: Implications of behavioral choice theory for community and environmental change was discussed. The essay ends with ideas for future directions in integration of theory for physical activity research.
In vivo evaluation of argon plasma coagulation in a porcine model.

Background Argon plasma coagulation (APC) is a noncontact form of monopolar electrocautery. One purported advantage of APC includes a limit to the depth of injury. It is unclear from previous studies whether the depth of injury is limited to superficial tissue layers with the settings used in clinical practice. Objective To evaluate the depth and the area of APC-induced injury by using new modes of APC delivery in an in vivo porcine model in the setting of colonoscopy. Design Blinded quasi-experiment. Subjects Six swine. Intervention Colonoscopy with the swine under general anesthesia, with application of APC in 2 different pulsed modes and varying power settings and duration of application. Main Outcome Measurements Surface area and depth of colonic mucosal injury. Qualitative histologic analysis of each site of APC application was performed on formalin-fixed specimens after euthanizing the swine. Results Muscularis propria injury occurred in 22% of lesions with 10 W, 62% of lesions with 20 W, 86% of lesions with 40 W, and 80% of lesions with 60 W. Muscularis propria injury occurred in 42% of lesions at 1 second, 66% of lesions at 3 seconds, and 69% of lesions at 5 seconds. Depth of injury was significantly correlated with total energy delivered ( P = .001, r=0.75). Surface area was significantly associated with total energy delivered ( P Limitations This study was performed in distal swine colon rather than human colon. Colon tissue response to APC injury may differ from swine to human colon. The application distance from the APC probe to the colonic tissue may have varied between applications. Conclusions Muscularis propria injury occurs across a broad range of clinically used APC settings. The frequency of deep injury and the surface area of the lesion increases with total energy delivered. The lowest power settings (10-20 W) and the shortest durations have the lowest risk of deep tissue injury.
Piezoelectric response of cellulosic materials to cantilever bending

Piezoelectric signals were produced by cantilever bending of beams of two cellulosic materials, bamboo and wood. Their response is similar to that of bone and tendon, which are collagenous tissues. Both the basic structural molecules in these tissues, cellulose and collagen, respectively, have large dipole moments. A theoretical model developed by Johnson, Williams and Gross and applied earlier to tendon and bone is suggested as applicable to bamboo and wood.
Identification of sources of pollutants in precipitation measured at the mid-Atlantic US coast using potential source contribution function (PSCF)

Abstract Potential source contribution function (PSCF) was employed to study the source receptor relationships for 14 chemical species (Mn, SO42−, Zn, Al, Fe, Cu, Cr, Ni, Cd, NO3, NH4+, K+, Mg2+,and Pb) found in precipitation collected at Lewes, Delaware. This study identified areas of the Eastern United States as possible emission source areas that could have contributed to the 14 element concentrations observed at Lewes. The identified regions in the Eastern United States generally coincide well with known emission source areas. The likely emission sources for these chemical species include oil- and coal-fired power plants, incinerators, motor vehicles, and iron and steel mills.
Moderators of Intervention Effects on Parenting Practices in a Randomized Controlled Trial in Early Childhood

The current study examined whether parent psychological resources (parenting stress, depression, and social support from friends and family) moderated the effects of early family preventive intervention on parenting among high-risk families. Ninety-two preschool-age children (M age = 3.94 years) at familial risk for conduct problems participated in a randomized controlled trial of a family intervention to prevent conduct problems. The majority of families were African American or Latino and experienced multiple stressors associated with poverty and familial antisocial behavior. Families were randomized to a 22-session group-based intervention or to a no-intervention, assessment-only control condition. Parents reported on their psychological resources (parenting stress, depression and social support from friends and family) at baseline. Parenting (responsive, harsh, stimulation for learning) was assessed through self-report and observational measures four times over 24 months. Previously-reported intervent...
Yttrium-90 Radioembolization for Unresectable Standard-chemorefractory Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma: Survival, Efficacy, and Safety Study

Purpose To assess the overall survival, efficacy, and safety of radioembolization with yttrium-90 (Y90) for unresectable standard-chemorefractory intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC).
Influence of compacting pressure on the permeability of vectorized membranes for liquids

The theory of liquid diffusive flow through graded membrane under applied pressure difference is developed and demonstrated on four simple models. The grading of the membrane, caused by a gradient of chemical composition or physical structure, results in a gradient of liquid uptake (hydration) which in turn is reduced by the compacting pressure existing in the membrane during the permeation experiment. The hydration established in equilibrium between the swelling tendency and compacting pressure determines the local permeability. It has different values K+ = K− for opposite flow direction. The total membrane permeability 〈K〉, however, depends on the current direction only in the case that the relative depression of local hydration, and hence of permeability by pressure, is not uniform but has a gradient. In mathematical formulation, the directionality of membrane requires the local permeability to be an irreducible function of location and pressure p, continuously increasing or decreasing with x. Th permeability of the membrane is higher if the driving pressure is applied at the side of the membrane with higher relative reduction of hydration and permeability by compacting pressure.
Opposite Modulation of Cocaine-Seeking Behavior by D1- and D2-Like Dopamine Receptor Agonists

Activation of the mesolimbic dopamine system is known to trigger relapse in animal models of cocaine-seeking behavior. We found that this "priming" effect was selectively induced by D2-like, and not by D1-like, dopamine receptor agonists in rats. Moreover, D1-like receptor agonists prevented cocaine-seeking behavior induced by cocaine itself, whereas D2-like receptor agonists enhanced this behavior. These results demonstrate an important dissociation between D1- and D2-like receptor processes in cocaine-seeking behavior and support further evaluation of D1-like receptor agonists as a possible pharmacotherapy for cocaine addiction.