cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lisuride reduces intravenous cocaine self-administration in rats

The maintenance of intravenous (i.v.) cocaine self-administration appears to depend upon activation of dopamine terminals within mesocorticolimbic areas. Since the nonaddictive ergot derivative lisuride is a direct dopamine receptor agonist, the present study was designed to investigate whether administration of lisuride to rats trained to lever-press for IV self-administration of cocaine could affect the intake of cocaine. IP administration of several doses of lisuride reduced, in a dose-dependent manner, cocaine self-administration. In a control experiment, lisuride did not increase the psychomotor-activating properties of cocaine as measured by locomotor activity, suggesting that lisuride did not simply potentiate the activating effects of cocaine. The present results show that lisuride reduced IV cocaine self-administration in rats; the possibility of a new therapeutic approach to the treatment of cocaine abuse in humans using lisuride may therefore deserve clinical attention.
Formation of electrophilic N-acetoxyarylamines in cytosols from rat mammary gland and other tissues by trans-acetylation from the carcinogen N-hydroxy-4-acetylaminobiphenyl

Abstract The 105 000 × g supernatant fractions of various rat tissues catalyze the transfer of the N-acetyl group of certain carcinogenic aromatic acethydroxamic acids to the O atom of aromatic hydroxylamines. The resulting N-acetoxyhydroxylamines are strongly electrophilic and have been detected and analyzed through their reaction with N-acetylmethionine to yield methylmercaptoaminoarenes. Of the rat tissues studied the liver had the highest activity; kidney and small intestinal mucosa were about 15–20% as active. The transacetylase activities of these tissues were similar with respect to their ability to use either N-hydroxy-2-acetylaminofluorene (N-hydroxy-AAF or N-hydroxy-4-acetylaminobiphenyl (N-hydroxy-AABP) as acetyl donors, their stability on storage at 2–3°C, and their elution patterns from Sephadex G-100 columns. Low transacetylase activity was found in spleen and muscle. Mammary tissue from 16–21 day pregnant rats had 20% of the transacetylase activity of rat liver when N-hydroxy-AABP was used as acetyl donor and N-hydroxy-4-aminobiphenyl (N-hydroxy-ABP) was the acetyl acceptor. This enzyme system from mammary tissue did not utilize the fluorene derivatives as either acetyl donor or acetyl acceptor, was much more labile than the liver, kidney, or intestinal mucosa systems, and had a pH optimum at 7.5, as compared to pH 6.8 for liver. The mammary tissue system was similar to the hepatic system in being inhibited by sulfhydryl reagents; it required a source of reduced pyridine nucleotides for maximum activity.
High throughput, parallelized 128-bit AES encryption in a resource-limited FPGA

This paper first highlights the mathematical properties of 128-bit AES encryption and decryption, and then uses these properties to develop a freeware, high-throughput, parallel implementation of the AES algorithm for resource-limited hardware. We compare our throughput results to advertised industry data throughput rates for comparable hardware settings. Our core can be utilized in various applications of 128-bit AES encryption and decryption. Different potential modes of operation for 128-bit AES were analyzed with respect to advantages and disadvantages in practical network settings, with a focus on Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) networks.
Impact of electronic health record transition on behavioral health screening in a large pediatric practice.

Objective:The objective was to determine whether transitioning from paper to electronic health records affected behavioral health screening rates in a large Northeastern pediatric practice. Methods:The study setting was a pediatric practice with seven pediatricians, serving about 6,000 patients. The patient population was diverse (54% nonwhite, 40% publicly insured or self-paying, and 31% non-English speakers). An interrupted times series design was used to evaluate the impact of electronic record implementation on behavioral health screening rates. The main outcome measure was the rate of such screening 18 months before and 36 months after implementation. Results:The rate of behavioral health screening increased from 70% to 91% during the baseline period. The training period—six months before electronic record implementation—was associated with a 28% decline in adjusted screening rates (from 83.3% to 55.5%). Only 50% of eligible youths were screened in the first month after implementation. The screening ...
Tradeoff between noise properties and local impulse response in statistical prior image constrained compressed sensing

The increase in the use of CT scanning in the clinical setting is raising concerns from the medical community. In order to reduce the dose of ionizing radiation imparted to patients during CT scans, statistical image recon­ struction was proposed. This family of algorithm aims at improving image noise characteristics by modeling the stochastic x-ray detection process in the reconstruction algorithm. It was shown however that statistical recon­ struction may lead to an anisotropic spatial resolution. In this abstract, we study this tradeoff in the context of a statistical formulation of the dose reduction using prior image constrained compressed sensing framework (DR-PICCS). Two numerically-simulated phantoms and a dataset acquired in vivo were used for this evaluation. It is demonstrated that the inclusion of a statistical model in DR-PICCS may whiten the NPS and uniformize the noise spatial distribution in the image. However, the images may suffer from an anisotropic spatial resolution while the images reconstructed using DR-PICCS without statistical model have more isotropic spatial resolution. Due to the flexibility offered in PICCS, a specially-designed prior image processing method has been used in statistical DR-PICCS to palliate for the anisotropy in spatial resolution.
Phenotype of Transgenic Mice Carrying a Very Low Copy Number of the Mutant Human G93A Superoxide Dismutase-1 Gene Associated with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease of the motor neuron. While most cases of ALS are sporadic, 10% are familial (FALS) with 20% of FALS caused by a mutation in the gene that codes for the enzyme Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1). There is variability in sporadic ALS as well as FALS where even within the same family some siblings with the same mutation do not manifest disease. A transgenic (Tg) mouse model of FALS containing 25 copies of the mutant human SOD1 gene demonstrates motor neuron pathology and progressive weakness similar to ALS patients, leading to death at approximately 130 days. The onset of symptoms and survival of these transgenic mice are directly related to the number of copies of the mutant gene. We report the phenotype of a very low expressing (VLE) G93A SOD1 Tg carrying only 4 copies of the mutant G93ASOD1 gene. While weakness can start at 9 months, only 74% of mice 18 months or older demonstrate disease. The VLE mice show decreased motor neurons compared to wild-type mice as well as increased cytoplasmic translocation of TDP-43. In contrast to the standard G93A SOD1 Tg mouse which always develops motor weakness leading to death, not all VLE animals manifested clinical disease or shortened life span. In fact, approximately 20% of mice older than 24 months had no motor symptoms and only 18% of VLE mice older than 22 months reached end stage. Given the variable penetrance of clinical phenotype, prolonged survival, and protracted loss of motor neurons the VLE mouse provides a new tool that closely mimics human ALS. This tool will allow the study of pathologic events over time as well as the study of genetic and environmental modifiers that may not be causative, but can exacerbate or accelerate motor neuron disease.
Reaction of triphenylphosphine with poly(ethylene terephthalate) and certain model compounds at elevated temperature

Triphenylphosphine and poly(ethylene terephthalate) react at 370°C to produce ethylene, triphenylphosphine oxide, carbon dioxide, benzoic acid, and terephthalic acid. The reaction proceeds by the initial formation of a zwitterionic species which then generates a phosphonium ylid and leads to the observed products. Any flame retardant activity from the use of triphenyl-phosphine may be attributed to the formation of triphenylphosphine oxide. The co-production of ethylene renders triphenylphosphine a less effective flame retardant than triphenylphosphine oxide.
The developmental program of fast myosin heavy chain expression in avian skeletal muscles

Abstract We have examined the types of fast myosin heavy chains (MHCs) expressed in a number of different developing chicken skeletal muscles by combining peptide mapping and immunoblotting to identify fast MHC-specific peptides among the total mixture of MHC digestion products. Using this technique, we have identified three different fast MHC patterns among the different fast and mixed (i.e., fast and slow) fiber type muscles of the adult. While the different muscles all underwent sequential changes in fast MHC isoform expression during their development, the exact sequence of these changes and the isoform patterns expressed varied from muscle to muscle. During late embryonic or fetal development, all muscles expressed a similar fast MHC pattern (designated here as the fetal pattern) which was replaced shortly after hatching with a different fast MHC pattern (the neonatal pattern). During the transition from the neonatal to the adult state that occurred sometime in the first year after hatching, many of the muscles underwent additional changes in fast MHC isoform expression. In muscles such as the pectoralis major and pectoralis minor, a new fast MHC isoform pattern was seen in the adult so that the developmental program of isoform switching in these muscles involved the sequential appearance of distinct fetal, neonatal, and adult fast MHCs. Other muscles, such as the sartorius and posterior latissimus dorsi, underwent a qualitatively different program of isoform switching and expressed as an adult a fast MHC pattern that was indistinguishable from that expressed during fetal development. Finally, in some muscles, such as the superficial biceps, no change in isoform pattern was detected during the neonatal to adult transition—in these muscles, expression of the neonatal MHC isoform pattern apparently persisted into the adult state. These data indicate that no single scheme or program of fast MHC isoform switching can describe all the developmental changes that occur in fast MHC isoform expression in the chicken and that at least three different programs of isoform switching and expression can be identified.
Microglia activation-induced mesencephalic dopaminergic neurodegeneration — an in vitro model for Parkinson’s disease

Uncontrolled and chronic microglia activation has been implicated in the process of dopaminergic neuron degeneration in sporadic Parkinson’s disease (PD). Elevated proinflammatory mediators, presumably from activated microglia (e.g., cytokines, PGE2, nitric oxide, and superoxide radical), have been observed in PD patients and are accompanied by dopaminergic neuronal loss. Preclinical studies have demonstrated the deleterious effects of proinflammatory mediators in various in vivo and in vitro models of PD. The use of in vitro studies provides a unique tool to investigate the interaction between neurons and microglia and is especially valuable when considering the role of activated microglia in neuronal death. Here we summarize findings highlighting the potential mechanisms of microgliamediated neurodegeneration in PD.
Evaluation of an Ambient Color Coded Display to Communicate Changes in the Patient's Condition to ICU Nurses and Improve the Therapeutic Environment:

PROBLEM STATEMENT: For Intensive Care Units (ICUs) patients frequent noise, confusing patient monitors and loud alarms decrease the quality of stay, and may event extend its length. Nurses frequent...
Student ICTD research and service learning abroad (abstract only)

This BOF is intended to allow faculty interested in global service learning, Information and Communication Technology and Development (ICTD) research, and other cross-cultural experiences an opportunity for information sharing. It takes a lot to get students out into the field. Challenges include developing partnerships, negotiating agreements, vetting the safety of destinations, identifying sources of funding, navigating the logistics of immunizations, visas, accommodations and flights to less-traveled places, reassuring parents as to the wisdom of their child's participation, managing development partner expectations, advising students' activities, and many more. And how can these experiences be evaluated? This BOF will provide a venue for sharing experiences, information, and identifying potential new collaborations. We will discuss means for sharing best practices, news, materials, and project artifacts. We will also explore opportunities for collaborating on projects and joint proposals.
A low fraction of nitrogen in molecular form in a dark cloud

Nitrogen is the fifth most abundant element in the Universe. In the interstellar medium, it has been thought to be mostly molecular (N2). However, N2 has no observable rotational or vibrational transitions, so its abundance in the interstellar medium remains poorly known. In comets, the N2 abundance is very low, while the elemental nitrogen abundance is deficient with respect to the solar value. Moreover, large nitrogen isotopic anomalies are observed in meteorites and interstellar dust particles. Here we report the N2H+ (and by inference the N2) abundance inside a cold dark molecular cloud. We find that only a small fraction of nitrogen in the gas phase is molecular, with most of it being atomic. Because the compositions of comets probably reflect those of dark clouds, this result explains the low N2 abundance in comets. We argue that the elemental nitrogen abundance deficiency in comets can be understood if the atomic oxygen abundance is lower than predicted by present chemical models. Furthermore, the lack of molecular nitrogen in molecular clouds explains the nitrogen anomalies in meteorites and interstellar dust particles, as nitrogen fractionation is enhanced if gaseous nitrogen is atomic.
Transport of AgBr2− in an emulsion liquid membrane using Mn+—DC18C6 carriers (Mn+ = Li+, Na+, K+, or Mg2+)☆

Silver transport, as AgBr2−, has been investigated in emulsion liquid membranes. In accordance with the requirements of electrical neutrality, this anion accompanies a diffusing cation—macrocycle complex across the organic membrane. An excess of MBrn (Mn+ Li+, Na+, K+, Mg2+) is added to aqueous AgNO3 to form source phase solutions consisting of Mn+, Br−, NO3−, and AgBr2-. The organic membrane is composed of a solution of DC18C6 in toluene. An aqueous solution of Li2S2O3 is used as the receiving phase because of the ability of S2O32− to strip the Ag+ from the AgBr2− at the membrane/receiving phase interface. The quantity of AgBr2− transported depends on the metal ion present and decreases in the order K+ > Na+ > Li+ > Mg2+ in accordance with the decrease in log K values for Mn+—DC18C6 interaction.
A Theory of the Origin of the State: Traditional theories of state origins are considered and rejected in favor of a new ecological hypothesis

In summary, then, the circumscription theory in its elaborated form goes far toward accounting for the origin of the state. It explains why states arose where they did, and why they failed to arise elsewhere. It shows the state to be a predictable response to certain specific cultural, demographic, and ecological conditions. Thus, it helps to elucidate what was undoubtedly the most important single step ever taken in the political evolution of mankind.
Improved peak selection strategy for automatically determining minute compositional changes in fuels by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Abstract During the development of automated computational methods to detect minute compositional changes in fuels, it became apparent that peak selection through the spectral deconvolution of gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) data is limited by the complexity and noise levels inherent in the data. Specifically, current techniques are not capable of detecting minute, chemically relevant compositional differences with sufficient sensitivity. Therefore, an alternative peak selection strategy was developed based on spectral interpretation through interval-oriented parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC). It will be shown that this strategy outperforms the deconvolution-based peak selection strategy as well as two control strategies. Successful application of the PARAFAC-based method to detect minute chemical changes produced during microbiological growth in four different inoculated diesel fuels will be discussed.
X-ray absorption spectroscopy of the zinc-binding sites in the class b2 metallo-β-lactamase ImiS from Aeromonas veronii bv. sobria

X-ray absorption spectroscopy was used to investigate the metal-binding sites of ImiS from Aeromonas veronii bv. sobria in catalytically active (1-Zn), product-inhibited (1-Zn plus imipenem), and inactive (2-Zn) forms. The first equivalent of zinc(II) was found to bind to the consensus Zn{sub 2} site. The reaction of 1-Zn ImiS with imipenem leads to a product-bound species, coordinated to Zn via a carboxylate group. The inhibitory binding site of ImiS was examined by a comparison of wild-type ImiS with 1 and 2 equiv of bound zinc. 2-Zn ImiS extended X-ray absorption fine structure data support a binding site that is distant from the active site and contains both one sulfur donor and one histidine ligand. On the basis of the amino acid sequence of ImiS and the crystal structure of CphA [Garau et al. (2005) J. Mol. Biol. 345, 785-795], we propose that the inhibitory binding site is formed by M146, found on the B2-distinct {alpha}3 helix, and H118, a canonical Zn{sub 1} ligand, proposed to help activate the nucleophilic water. The mutation of M146 to isoleucine abolishes metal inhibition. This is the first characterization of ImiS with the native metal Zn and establishes, for the first time, the location ofmore » the inhibitory metal site.« less
Lecithin Inverse Microemulsions for the Pulmonary Delivery of Polar Compounds Utilizing Dimethylether and Propane as Propellants

Lecithin inverse microemulsions were investigated as a means of pulmonary drug delivery, utilizing dimethylethyleneglycol (DMEG) and hexane as models for dimethyl ether (DME) and propane, respectively. Addition of lecithin to the model propellant mixtures increased the solubility of water in a nonlinear, solvent-dependent manner. The concentration of water necessary to fully hydrate cobalt(II) decreased as the solvent composition was varied from DMEG to hexane. Water proton chemical shift increased in the presence of lecithin, with the largest increases in high hexane content samples. Equilibrium dialysis and component diffusion rate determination (by pulsed-field gradient [PFG]-NMR) indicated the quantity of water associated with the dispersed phase. Collectively, these methods demonstrated that a greater fraction of water was associated with the microemulsion-dispersed phase as the solvent was varied from DMEG to hexane. Iodine solubilization indicated microemulsion formation (operational critical micelle concentration [cmc], 10 moles water per mole lecithin) at approximately 10(-4)-10(-5) molal lecithin. NMR data (trimethylammonium proton chemical shift, water, and lecithin T1) were consistent with microemulsion formation. Water-soluble compounds dissolved in lecithin inverse microemulsions in a lecithin- and water-dependent manner. Experiments with DME/lecithin demonstrated microemulsion characteristics similar to those in the model propellant. DME/lecithin metered-dose inhalers (MDIs) produced a particle size and a fine particle fraction (36% by twin impinger method) suitable for pulmonary drug delivery.
A new Lyginopterid pollen organ with alveolate pollen exines

A new lyginoptend pollen organ is described based upon specimens occurring in a single coal ball from the Providence, Kentucky locality. Seven to nine beaked sporangia are fused together at their proximal ends forming a common synangial chamber; synangia are joined together in clusters of two or three. In situ prepollen is similar to Cyclogranisporites and Verrucosisporites sporae dispersae. The thick exine has a lamellate nexine and a prominent alveolate sexine.
Damped Lyα Absorbers as Tracers of the Evolution of the Mass Spectrum of Interstellar Matter in the Galaxy Population

A generally accepted approach to the interpretation of the damped Lyα absorption systems seen in QSO spectra is to attribute them to cases in which the observer's sight line passes through high column density gaseous disks of galaxies, i.e., spiral galaxies or the progenitors of spirals. Here we consider an alternative natural possibility, consistent with available observational data, namely that the absorption is simply associated with neutral gas in giant hydrogen clouds that could be associated with any type of gaseous galaxy or protogalaxy. At high redshift such galaxies could be the progenitors of different types of galaxies (e.g., ellipticals, spirals, etc.) that are observed at the present epoch. We show that the observational data, which include low to moderate redshift data recently obtained with HST and moderate to high-redshift data compiled using large ground-based telescopes over the last decade, coupled with some reasonable assumptions about the properties of giant hydrogen clouds in galaxies, can be used to form the two-dimensional distribution for the number of damped Lyα systems in redshift and column density, d2/dz dNH I, over the redshift interval 0.1 < z < 3.5. This can be further extended to redshift z = 0 using information provided by 21 cm observations of nearby galaxies. By combining this result with the assumption that damped Lyα absorbers behave like the giant hydrogen clouds in our Galaxy and neighboring galaxies, we show that the mass spectrum of clouds responsible for the damped Lyα absorption systems can be derived. This mass spectrum can be used to study the evolution of the giant hydrogen cloud population associated with galaxies over cosmic time. An interesting feature of the mass spectrum is that its steepness increases systematically as the redshift decreases over the interval 3 < z < 0.75. This effect is likely to be related to intensive star formation processes, which lead to the destruction of high-mass clouds and the formation of numerous low-mass clouds.
Application of the equivalent area model to multi-area generation scheduling with tie-line constraints

Abstract In this paper, a new method is proposed for solving the multi-area generation scheduling problem. The problem includes unit commitment and economic dispatch modules. The objective is to obtain an economic operation without violating various system constraints. This is a mixed integer-nonlinear optimization process. In the proposed method, an artificial neural network (ANN) is used to obtain the initial unit commitment schedule for every area, with the assumption that there are no transmission flows among areas. In order to get the minimum operation cost for the entire system while preserving constrained units, areas and tie-lines, an iterative procedure is used to coordinate unit combinations and energy dispatch schedules. An expert system is employed to modify the initial unit commitment pattern of each area by reducing the number of committed units to a minimum while satisfying the area constraints. To consider tie-line limitations and incorporate transmission losses in the economic dispatch, an equivalent model for each area combined with the equal incremental cost method (λ method) is adopted for computing the generation assigned to every area and the power allocated to all committed units. A four-area system with 26 thermal units in each area is used to test the algorithm. The algorithm is implemented on a PC/386 and the experimental results show that the method is reliable, fast and computationally efficient.
Ionic transport in mixed sodium rubidium germanate glasses

Abstract Ionic conductivity measurements have been made as a function of temperature and Na/Rb ratio on four series of x (Na, Rb) 2 O: (1− x )GeO 2 glasses where x ≈0.09, 0.15, 0.19 and 0.29. The three series with x ⩾0.15 exhibit the common characteristic of mixed alkali glasses; a maximum in the enthalpy for conductivity, H m (max) for glasses with Na ( Na + Rb ) ≈ 0.5. The magnitude of the mixed alkali effect, as measured by the difference between H m (max)and the enthalpies for conductivity of the single alkali glasses of the same series, could not be correlated with changes in the glass network structure or the type and concentration of charge compensating centers in the glass network. The pre-exponential factors for the conductivity are analysed to obtain values of the physical correlation factor or percolation efficiency, f t . In each of the four series f t was a maximum at Na ( Na + Rb ) ≈ 0.5 and based on the changes in the percolation effeciency of the mixed alkali glasses a model is proposed to explain the mixed alkali effect.
Software engineering process support based on fuzzy imploding Petri nets

Software engineering process management and control is increasingly recognized as critical to the timely engineering of quality products. Automated process support within an integrated environment provides otherwise unachievable levels of insight, coordination, control, and flexibility in governing the activities and resources that comprise the engineering process. Crucial to process flexibility and robustness is the ability of a process to both withstand and react to the impact of unexpected or uncontrollable events. Using Petri nets as a basis for process modelling, this paper proposes an extension to fuzzy Petri nets which meaningfully models the impact of and response to the chaotic events that typically disrupt any complex process. Concepts introduced include: transition release thresholds, transition recall thresholds, transition backfiring. token recalls, token maturity, and token chains.
Gholecystokinin cholecystography in the differential diagnosis of acalculous gallbladder disease.

Forty-two patients with acalculous biliary tract disease were studied by means of cholecystokinin (CCK) cholecystography between 1959 and 1972. Comparing responses to CCK with normal responses in “control” subjects, several types of abnormal responses were recognized. Patients with cystic duct syndrome (CDS), previously identified, showed marked impairment of gallbladder emptying and minimal, if any, filling of bile ducts. Patients with partial obstruction at the sphincter of Oddi also showed impaired gallbladder emptying, but their common duct became prominent, dye refluxed into hepatic ducts, and no dye entered the duodenum. Sphincter spasm could be differentiated from sphincter stenosis by the response, or lack of it, to nitrates and/or anticholinergics. Marked hypercontraction of the gallbladder characterized patients with hyperplastic cholecystoses. All abnormal CCK responses were associated with reproduction of biliary tract pain. Treatment based on CCK cholecystography has been successful for a large majority of patients, with follow-up information ranging from 6 months to 11 years.
FAILURE-MODE TRANSITION SPEED IN THREE-DIMENSIONAL TRANSIENT DEFORMATIONS OF A MICROPOROUS HEAT-CONDUCTING THERMOELASTOVISCOPLASTIC PRENOTCHED PLATE

ABSTRACT We analyze three-dimensional finite coupled thermomechanical deformations of a rectangular plate with two parallel notches placed symmetrically about the horizontal centroidal plane of the plate. The edge surface of the plate between the two notches is struck by a cylindrical projectile of diameter equal to the distance between the notches and made of the same material as the plate. The plate material is modeled as heat-conducting, microporous, elastoviscoplastic, and isotropic. Both the brittle and the ductile failures initiate at points adjoining the notch-tip surface that are on the midplane of the plate and propagate toward the outer surfaces. Even for a relatively thin plate, the difference in the times of initiation of failures on the mid and front surfaces is significant. Also the two failure modes on the mid surface initiate much later than that predicted by the plane strain analysis. Thus an experimentalist observing fracture on the front or the back face of the plate will see it initiat...
Molecular orientation in channel flows of main-chain thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers

In situ wide angle X-ray scattering is employed for quantitative measurements of flow-induced molecular orientation in channel flows of thermotropic hydroxypropyl-cellulose (HPC). An extrusion die, constructed to allow X-ray access, generates slit flow, slit flow with superimposed contractions and expansions in cross-section, and slit flow past an obstruction. In slit flow, weak molecular orientation develops slowly with downstream position. Superimposed extension associated with contraction flows leads to a strong enhancement in orientation, which persists with distance further downstream of the contraction. Conversely, transverse extension present in expansion flows generates a bimodal orientation state and substantial reductions in average molecular orientation. These results are compared to earlier measurements on a commercial fully aromatic thermotrope. HPC is found to respond more strongly to superimposed extension, and more weakly to the prevailing inhomogeneous shear flow than the commercial material.
Fat is a Feminist Issue, but it is Complicated: Commentary on Fikkan and Rothblum

Fikkan and Rothblum (2011) review the literature on discrimination and bias against overweight and obese (fat) women. They provide convincing evidence that fat women face discrimination in the workplace, are treated disparately in medical, mental health, and educational settings, are at a disadvantage in social and romantic situations, and are either absent or portrayed negatively in the media. They conclude with the observation that feminists have largely ignored this issue that disproportionately affects women. While I agree that fat is a feminist issue, I also argue that the issue of gender differences in the experience of weight discrimination is more complicated than suggested in the Fikkan and Rothblum review. The commentary concludes with some possible explanations for why feminists have neglected this issue, emphasizing the historical changes in the feminist movement which have taken the focus off of issues primarily related to White middle-class women.
CLAY MINERAL ALTERATION IN SOME INDIANA SOILS1

X-ray analyses of samples from thirteen soil profiles that were formed on glacial till, loess, and Mississippian limestones of Indiana indicate that (1) in some soil profiles chlorite of the parent material is changed completely to montmorillonite with intermediate stages of random mixed layers of chlorite-vermiculite-montmorillonite; (2) some of the illite of the parent material produces montmorillonite through random mixed layering of illite-montmorillonite, but the illite is not entirely altered in any profile; and (3) kaolinite may be produced as a weathering product, or it may remain unchanged from the parent material.
Oxygen isotope systematics of eclogite mineral phases from South Africa

Abstract Eleven eclogite xenoliths from the Bobbejaan and Roberts Victor mines, South Africa have been characterized by a variety of geochemical techniques. The samples include nine bimineralic eclogites and two grospydites that span the range of mantle eclogite major element compositions. Primary phase end-member compositions range from Py 75 Al 16 Gr 09 , Jd 18 Di 82 CaEs 0 to Py 28 Al 21 Gr 51 , Jd 49 Di 36 CaEs 15 . Oxygen isotope analyses of mineral separates were performed for clinopyroxene and garnet. Isotopic values ( δ 18 O) range from +4.0 to +7.8 for clinopyroxene and +3.6 to +7.2 for garnet. Differences in isotopic values between the primary phases ( Δ = clinopyroxene minus garnet) range in value from −0.6 to 0.6. Although oxygen isotopes are not expected to fractionate at mantle temperatures, the anion electrostatic site potential values determined by Smyth (1989) are consistent with small degrees of fractionation in the mantle. Oxygen isotope fractionation between minerals may be calculated by the equation of Smyth and Clayton ( F= A×10 6 T 2 , where A =0.7911 eV). Fractionation values at 1300°K range from 0.6 (Jd-Pyr) to 0.03 (CaTs-Grs), while at 1600°K these values are between 0.39 and 0.02, respectively. The re-equilibration temperatures of the studied eclogite suite are 1050 to 1250°C at 30 kbar, therefore the obtained differences between the mineral phases are consistent with the calculated isotope fractionation values. The data obtained for eclogite oxygen isotopes suggest that 18 O may fractionate to a small extent at mantle PT -conditions.
Cadherin-mediated cell adhesion is critical for the closing of the mouse optic fissure.

Coloboma is a congenital disease that contributes significantly to childhood blindness. It results from the failure in closing the optic fissure, a transient opening on the ventral side of the developing eye. Although human and mouse genetic studies have identified a number of genes associated with coloboma, the detailed cellular mechanisms underlying the optic fissure closure and coloboma formation remain largely undefined. N-cadherin-mediated cell adhesion has been shown to be important for the optic fissure closure in zebrafish, but it remains to be determined experimentally how cell-cell adhesions are involved in the mammalian optic fissure closing process. α-catenin is required for cell adhesion mediated by all of the classic cadherin molecules, including N-cadherin. In this study, we used the Cre-mediated conditional knockout technique to specifically delete α-catenin from the developing mouse eye to show that it is required for the successful closing of the optic fissure. In α-catenin conditional mutant optic cups, the major cell fates, including the optic fissure margin, neural retina and retinal pigmented epithelium, are specified normally, and the retinal progenitor cells proliferate normally. However, adherens junctions components, including N-cadherin, β-catenin and filamentous actin, fail to accumulate on the apical side of α-catenin mutant retinal progenitor cells, where adherens junctions are normally abundant, and the organization of the neural retina and the optic fissure margin is disrupted. Finally, the α-catenin mutant retina gradually degenerates in the adult mouse eye. Therefore, our results show that α-catenin-mediated cell adhesion and cell organization are important for the fissure closure in mice, and further suggest that genes that regulate cell adhesion may underlie certain coloboma cases in humans.
Potential Climate Change Effects on Ice Covers of Five Freshwater Lakes

Ice-on and ice-off dates, ice cover duration, and ice thicknesses for four lakes in the United States and one lake in Canada were simulated. The model used is a one-dimensional, deterministic water...
Explanation of Light-Enhanced Annealing of Defects in Amorphous Silicon

Several recent measurements have shown that annealing of metastable defects in a- Si:H can be accelerated by the presence of light. This is the opposite of the usual light-induced defect generation, and no existing rate equation explains it while maintaining the necessary symmetry of generation and recovery processes, and consistency with the stretched-exponential transients that best describe observed generation and anneal behavior. This paper shows that this light-enhanced annealing (LEA) can be explained readily by the usual rate equation leading to stretched exponentials with no other terms by allowing a variation of coefficients with temperature or light intensity. This equation then leads to good simulations of observed LEA. Interpretation of these results in terms of distributional changes is presented, and an experimental test is proposed.
Policy Enabled ITA Sensor Fabric, A Distributed Framework for the Validation of Experimental Algorithms Using Real and Simulated Sensors

Research into the retrieval and dissemination of mission-specific information across sensor networks is leading to the development of many novel new algorithms and the definition of new paradigms for configuring and enforcing communication flow policies amongst the various components. Testing the relative merits of such algorithms and policies, and exploring interoperability issues between them, is difficult unless they share a common test and validation framework. The wide variety of algorithms being developed (including ontological, mission scripting, resource allocation, network routing, data fusion algorithms, and policies) presents unique challenges to the development of such a framework and its subsequent instrumentation to provide experimental results. This work demonstrates a prototype of such framework (or "Fabric"), built on top of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components, used in a real-world sensor network deployment to experiment with the deployment of algorithms and gathering of live sensor data.
Bilateral Low-Energy Simultaneous or Sequential Femoral Fractures in Patients on Long-Term Alendronate Therapy

Background: While alendronate therapy has been shown to decrease the risk of vertebral and femoral neck fractures in postmenopausal osteoporotic patients, recent reports have associated long-term alendronate therapy with unilateral low-energy subtrochanteric and diaphyseal femoral fractures in a small number of patients. To our knowledge, there has been only one report of sequential bilateral femoral fractures in patients on long-term bisphosphonate therapy. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the case log of the senior author over the last four years to identify patients who presented with a subtrochanteric or diaphyseal femoral fracture after a low-energy mechanism of injury (a fall from standing height or less) and who had been taking alendronate for more than five years. Radiographs were reviewed, and the fracture patterns were recorded. Serum calcium levels were recorded when available. Results: Seven patients who sustained low-energy bilateral subtrochanteric or diaphyseal femoral fractures while on long-term alendronate therapy were identified. One patient presented with simultaneous bilateral diaphyseal fractures, two patients had sequential subtrochanteric fractures, and four patients had impending contralateral subtrochanteric stress fractures noted at the time of the initial fracture. Of the latter four, one patient had a fracture through the stress site and the other three patients had prophylactic stabilization of the site with internal fixation. No patient had discontinued alendronate therapy prior to the second fracture. All patients were women with an average age of sixty-one years, and they had been on alendronate therapy for an average of 8.6 years. All fractures were treated with reamed intramedullary nailing and went on to union at an average of four months. Conclusions: In patients on long-term alendronate therapy who present with a subtrochanteric or diaphyseal femoral fracture, we recommend radiographs of the contralateral femur and consideration of discontinuing alendronate in consultation with an endocrinologist. If a contralateral stress fracture is found, prophylactic fixation should be considered. Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level IV. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Zero-Forcing Beamforming Codebook Design for MU-MIMO OFDM Systems

Zero-forcing (ZF) beamforming, an efficient technique for multiuser MIMO systems, requires perfect channel state information to be available at the base station. This is achieved by quantizing the channel and feeding back the information with a limited number of bits. A challenge of this method is the large downlink signaling overhead, which is due to the large size of the codebook that can be used at the base station for ZF beamforming. In this paper, we first analyze this problem and then present a technique designing codebooks with reduced size and minimal performance degradation. We also define the associated procedures required for the system implementation. Simulation results show that the size of the eNodeB codebook can be substantially reduced with only a small (5%) penalty in performance.
Role of gallbladder mucin in pathophysiology of gallstones.

A critical step in the formation of cholesterol gallstones in nucleation (i.e., the formation of cholesterol monohydrate crystals from supersaturated bile). The rate of nucleation of cholesterol depends upon a critical balance between pronucleating and antinucleating factors in bile. Mucin, a high molecular weight glycoprotein secreted by the gallbladder and biliary duct epithelium, is a pronucleating agent in experimental and human gallstone disease. Gallbladder mucin shares with other epithelial mucins the ability to bind lipids and bile pigment. The hydrophobic binding sites in the polypeptide core of mucin may provide a favorable environment for nucleation of cholesterol monohydrate from supersaturated bile. In nearly all animal models of cholelithiasis, mucin hypersecretion is prominent. The stimulus for gallbladder mucin hypersecretion appears to be a component of lithogenic bile. Prostaglandins regulate mucin release in gallbladder epithelium in vitro and probably in vivo. In the cholesterol-fed prairie dog, blockage of mucin release with aspirin inhibits gallstone formation. These findings suggest that inhibition of mucin release may prevent cholesterol stone formation during high-risk periods or after dissolution therapy with bile salts.
The Influence of Children's Cognitive Delay and Behavior Problems on Maternal Depression

Objective To determine the impact of children's cognitive delay and behavior on maternal depressive symptoms using a large national cohort of US families. Study design Data were drawn from 2 waves of the nationally representative Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort (n = 7550). Cognitive delay was defined at age 24 months by the lowest 10th percentile of the Bayley Short Form–Research Edition. At age 4 years, the children's behavior was assessed using the Preschool and Kindergarten Behavior Scales, administered to mothers and primary nonparental child care providers, and maternal depressive symptoms with the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. Weighted generalized estimating equation models examined whether the children's behavior mediated the relationship between their cognitive delay status at 24 months and 4-year maternal depressive outcomes. Results At age 4 years, 26.9% of mothers of children with cognitive delay reported high depressive symptoms, compared with 17.4% of mothers of typically developing children ( P P Conclusion Caring for a child with a cognitive delay influences maternal depressive symptoms in part through the child's behavior problems. Preventive interventions to ameliorate adverse outcomes for children with cognitive delay and their families should consider the impact of the children's behavior.
Simulation, design abstraction, and SystemC

SystemC is a system-level design and simulation language based on C++. We've been using SystemC for computer organization and design projects for the past several years. Because SystemC is embedded in C++ it contains the powerful abstraction mechanisms of C++ not found in traditional hardware description languages, such as support for object-oriented programming and generic programming (templates). This support for abstraction allows instructors to reinforce standard abstraction concepts such as information hiding, interfaces, and abstract data types, standard fare in a computer science curriculum. Furthermore, embedded software is often written in C++ and SystemC provides threading facilities useful for designing and implementing embedded software.
A Comprehensive Approach for Bulk Power System Reliability Assessment

This paper proposes a comprehensive approach for bulk power system reliability assessment. Specifically, a framework of security-constrained adequacy evaluation (SCAE) based on analytical techniques is developed to assess the ability of a bulk power system to supply electric load while satisfying security constraints. This approach encompasses three main steps: (a) critical contingency selection, (b) effects analysis, and (c) reliability index computation. Based on an advanced single-phase quadratized power flow, a state linearization approach is developed to improve contingency selection accuracy, and a non-divergent optimal quadratized power flow (NDOQPF) algorithm is proposed to perform contingency effects analysis realistically and efficiently while assuring the convergence of power flow solution. The NDOQPF algorithm is also capable of solving the RTO/ISO operational model in the deregulated environment. In addition, a breaker-oriented system network model is developed, based on which the SCAE framework can include the effects of protection system hidden failures on bulk power system reliability as well. The comprehensive approach is demonstrated with IEEE reliability test systems.
Cystic, mucin-producing neoplasms of the pancreas: the distinguishing features of mucinous cystic neoplasms and intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms

Perhaps due to the increasing use of sensitive cross-sectional imaging of the abdomen, cystic lesions of the pancreas are being increasingly recognized. In many such cases, biopsy or resection reveals a multilocular cyst lined by columnar mucinous epithelium. Over the past two to three decades, there have been many advances in our understanding of the clinical, pathological, and molecular features of cystic mucin-producing pancreatic neoplasms, most of which are now broadly classified as either mucinous cystic neoplasms (MCNs) or intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs). Although both share certain histological features and both are regarded to represent preinvasive neoplasms with the potential to progress to invasive carcinoma, there are many significant differences in their pathology and clinical management. The purpose of this review is to highlight the clinical and pathological characteristics of MCNs and IPMNs, with an emphasis of the features that distinguish them and allow proper pathological subclassification.
Hypertension alters GABA receptor-mediated inhibition of neurons in the nucleus of the solitary tract.

Previous studies have demonstrated that microinjection of baclofen, a GABAB receptor agonist, into the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) results in an enhanced pressor response in hypertensive (H...
The Orphan Drug Act: Provisions and Considerations

The United States Orphan Drug Act passed in 1983 provides four provisions to spur the development of medications for conditions that might otherwise have been abandoned. The Office of Orphan Drug Product Development was established to provide assistance in protocol development, and to administer a grants program. A tax credit incentive also was enacted but the most significant incentive has been the market exclusivity clause. Despite such measures, the act in the wake of technological and economic developments should continually be reexamined to enhance efficiency in development of orphan products, to ensure accessibility of these products to patients, and to minimize economic abuses by developers.