cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Software Package to Simplify Tikhonov Regularization withExamples for Matrix-Based Inversion of SMPS and HTDMA Data

Abstract. Tikhonov regularization is a tool for reducing noise amplification during data inversion. This work introduces RegularizationTools.jl, a general-purpose software package to apply Tikhonov regularization to data. The package implements well-established numerical algorithms and is suitable for systems of up to ~1000 equations. Included is an abstraction to systematically categorize specific inversion configurations and their associated hyperparameters. A generic interface translates arbitrary linear forward models defined by a computer function into the corresponding design matrix. This obviates the need to explicitly write out and discretize the Fredholm integral equation, thus facilitating fast prototyping of new regularization schemes associated with measurement techniques. Example applications include the inversion involving data from scanning mobility particle sizers (SMPS) and humidified tandem differential mobility analyzers (HTDMA). Inversion of SMPS size distributions reported in this work builds upon the freely-available software DifferentialMobilityAnalyzers.jl. The speed of inversion is improved by a factor of ~200, now requiring between 2 and 5 ms per SMPS scan when using 120 size bins. Previously reported occasional failure to converge to a valid solution is reduced by switching from the L-curve method to generalized cross-validation as the metric to search for the optimal regularization parameter. Higher-order inversions resulting in smooth, denoised reconstructions of size distributions are now included in DifferentialMobilityAnalyzers.jl. This work also demonstrates that an SMPS-style matrix-based inversion can be applied to find the growth factor frequency distribution from raw HTDMA data, while also accounting for multiply-charged particles. The outcome of the aerosol-related inversion methods is showcased by inverting multi-week SMPS and HTDMA datasets from ground-based observations, including SMPS data obtained at Bodega Bay Marine Laboratory during the Calwater 2/ACAPEX campaign, and co-located SMPS and HTDMA data collected at the U.S. Department of Energy observatory located at the Southern Great Plains site in Oklahoma, U.S.A. Results show that the proposed approaches are suitable for unsupervised, nonparametric inversion of large-scale datasets as well as inversion in real-time during data acquisition on low-cost reduced-instruction-set architectures used in single-board computers. The included software implementation of Tikhonov regularization is freely-available, general, and domain-independent, and thus can be applied to many other inverse problems arising in atmospheric measurement techniques and beyond.
A wake-up call for cancer DNA damage: the role of Schlafen 11 (SLFN11) across multiple cancers

DNA-damaging agents exploit increased genomic instability, a hallmark of cancer. Recently, inhibitors targeting the DNA damage response (DDR) pathways, such as PARP inhibitors, have also shown promising therapeutic potential. However, not all tumors respond well to these treatments, suggesting additional determinants of response are required. Schlafen 11 (SLFN11), a putative DNA/RNA helicase that induces irreversible replication block, is emerging as an important regulator of cellular response to DNA damage. Preclinical and emerging clinical trial data suggest that SLFN11 is a predictive biomarker of response to a wide range of therapeutics that cause DNA damage including platinum salts and topoisomerase I/II inhibitors, as well as PARP inhibitors, which has raised exciting possibilities for its clinical application. In this article, we review the function, prevalence, and clinical testing of SLFN11 in tumor biopsy samples and circulating tumor cells. We discuss mounting evidence of SLFN11 as a key predictive biomarker for a wide range of cancer therapeutics and as a prognostic marker across several cancer types. Furthermore, we discuss emerging areas of investigation such as epigenetic reactivation of SLFN11 and its role in activating immune response. We then provide perspectives on open questions and future directions in studying this important biomarker.
Gas path analysis based approach to evaluation of technical conditions of the passages of naval gas turbines in operation

The paper presents general possibilities of identification of technical state of the flow elements in a marine gas turbine. The identification was set on the basis of relative change of gas thermodynamical parameters. The paper contains some results of the research on the flow elements of a marine gas turbine in operation. The research contained measurements of thermodynamical parameters in a marine gas turbine and endoscopic inspection of its passages.
Automatic topics extraction from crowdsourced cyclists near-miss and collision reports using text mining and Artificial Neural Networks

Abstract Cycling is an eco-friendly and sustainable mode of transportation. Despite its benefits, the cyclists’ risk of collision is still high when interacting with other road users. This study analyzed self-reported near-miss and collision event descriptions for the United States provided by the crowdsourcing platform, BikeMaps.org. Innovative and efficient analytic methods are needed to generate useful information from unstructured textual data sources in the transportation domain. In this study, explorative text mining, topic modeling, and machine learning are utilized to gain insights from the unstructured textual descriptions of crowdsourced near-miss and collision events. The approaches are used to unveil prevalent words and word associations for near-miss and collision events. Structural Topic Modeling (STM) is deployed to autogenerate latent themes or topics from the event descriptions. The generated topic proportions are used as input in Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) to estimate the cyclist’s propensity to a collision. It was found that cyclists had a higher propensity to a collision in topics that articulated vehicle encroachment to the bike lane, on-street parking close or into the bike lane resulting in dooring, and drivers’ violations at the crosswalk. The results and methodology used in this study can assist engineers, policymakers, and law enforcement officers to proactively reduce potential cyclist collisions, prioritizing areas where cyclist safety improvements are needed, and ultimately promoting bicycle ridership in our communities.
Hypokalemia in Metabolic Alkalosis: A New Look at an Old Controversy

Metabolic alkalosis can be induced in humans either by potassium, or by chloride depletion, but the selective removal of one of these ions is almost invariably associated with losses of the other. As a result, a controversy persists concerning which of these ions is critical for the development of this common acid-base disorder. In the last decade, epithelial membrane ion transporters, identified in the loop and distal nephron, have provided new insights into the close linkage between K+ and Cl−transport in this part of the nephron. These transporters can also explain how each of these ions influences H+ and HCO 3 − transport. Results from membrane transport studies provide the basis for explaining the effect of K+ depletion on stimulating NH 4 − excretion, impeding Cl− reabsorption, and on stimulating W secretion. The membrane transport studies also show how Cl−depletion promotes K+ excretion and inhibits HCO 3 − excretion. Review of human and animal studies reveals a coherent story, which indicates that both K+ and Cl− depletion contribute to the pathogenesis and maintenance of metabolic alkalosis.
UNFOLDING THERMODYNAMICS OF DNA INTRAMOLECULAR COMPLEXES INVOLVING JOINED TRIPLE- AND DOUBLE-HELICAL MOTIFS

Our laboratory is interested in predicting the thermal stability and melting behavior of nucleic acids from knowledge of their sequence. One focus is to understand how sequence, duplex and triplex stabilities, and solution conditions affect the melting behavior of complex DNA structures, such as intramolecular DNA complexes containing triplex and duplex motifs. For these reasons, in this chapter, we used a combination of UV and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopies and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) techniques to obtain a full thermodynamic description of the melting behavior of six intramolecular DNA complexes with joined triplex and duplex motifs. The CD spectra at low temperatures indicated that these complexes maintained the “B” conformation. UV and DSC melting curves of each complex show biphasic or triphasic transitions. However, their corresponding transition temperatures (Tms) remained constant with increasing strand concentration, confirming their intramolecular formation. Deconvolution of the DSC thermograms allowed us to determine standard thermodynamic profiles for the transitions of each complex. For each transition, the favorable free energy terms result from the characteristic compensation of a favorable enthalpy and unfavorable entropy contributions. The magnitude of these thermodynamic parameters (and associated Tms) indicate that the overall folding of each complex depends on several factors: (a) the extent of the favorable heat contributions (formation of base-pair and base-triplet stacks) that are compensated with both the ordering of the oligonucleotide and the putative uptake of protons and ions; (b) inclusion of the more stable C+GC base triplets; (c) stabilizing the duplex stem of the complex; and (d) solution conditions, such as pH and salt concentration. Overall, the temperature-induced unfolding of each complex corresponds to the initial disruption of the triplex motif (removal of the third strand) followed by the partial or full unfolding of the duplex stem.
Pathobiology of aging: an old problem gets a new look.

The pursuit of investigations into the science of aging is really designed to understand why cellular processes begin to fail with advancing age, and what molecular events contribute to this failure. In this regard, the distinction between aging and the diseases associated with aging becomes less clear, and they are most likely driven by the same or similar events related to biological decline. With the launch of Pathobiology of Aging & Age-related Diseases, we hope to enlighten the scientific community by recognizing outstanding pathobiology-based scientific contributions, allowing scientists to communicate data that might be of less interest in other journals more focused on generic aging or specific scientific disciplines. Aging is indeed an ‘old’ problem and is being studied in a variety of ways that use mammalian model systems to identify mechanistic pathways that can be targeted to maintain healthy living. In this regard, we are providing a ‘new’ venue for disseminating information that specifically focuses on the pathobiological aspects of aging and the chronic diseases directly associated with aging. There will be a commitment to publishing manuscripts that meet the highest standards of science, but the nature of the journal will allow highly detailed and image-intensive descriptions of the pathology of aging and disease conditions associated with aging. The aim is to provide an interdisciplinary venue for pathology-based manuscripts that focus on the physiological function of aging in preclinical mammalian models. (Published: 1 June 2011) Citation: Pathobiology of Aging & Age-related Diseases 2011, 1 : 7281 - DOI: 10.3402/pba.v1i0.7281
Body Composition and Aging: A Study by In Vivo Neutron Activation Analysis

Human body composition can be organized into five levels; atomic, molecular, cellular, tissue-system and whole body. Six elements (carbon, nitrogen, calcium, potassium, sodium and chlorine) can be directly measured in vivo at the atomic level using three neutron-activation systems at Brookhaven National Laboratory. When combined with an estimate of total body water, the six elements can be used to quantify the major chemical components at molecular level. In the present report, we first describe the neutron-activation approach to evaluating chemical compartments in vivo. Then, we present an example of how in vivo estimates of human chemical composition can be used to study the validity of two-compartment indirect methods of quantifying total body fat in the elderly. Our studies and the work of other investigators at Brookhaven National Laboratory suggest that neutron activation analysis provides an important opportunity to study the relation between aging and changes in elemental and chemical composition of humans in vivo.
Reshaping Clinical Practice for the New Millennium.

In the new millennium, oppression will continue to affect social workers’ clients. This article discusses training clinical practitioners to address oppression. Drawing on poststructural, postmodern, feminist, and social constructivist theories, the article argues that to challenge oppression, clinical practice must address the dialectical relationship between private troubles and public issues while transforming professional relationships that disempower clients. The article describes a second-year MSW clinical practice sequence taught from feminist, poststructuralist, postmodern, and social constructionist perspectives, where students learn to assess the impacts of oppression, discover clients’ strengths, and respond in personal, social, and political contexts.
Self-Interest in Contemporary Public Policy Disputes

In this paper, we explore the influence of self-interest on people’s policy preferences. Past research has found self-interest has little impact on political attitudes. However, many previous studies are limited by closed-ended survey data and objective measures of self-interest. To address these shortcomings, we conduct in-depth interviews to investigate people’s subjective self-interest. The interviews show that people hold a number of beliefs about how policies will affect them personally, and that subjective self-interest influences policy preferences. Our research illustrates how people’s perceptions of their self-interest can differ from objective measure of self-interest. The findings also provide evidence that subjective self-interest is not completely idiosyncratic or simply a rationalization for political attitudes. This paper highlights the importance of subjective self-interest, and illustrates the need for research into the origins of subjective self-interest and their impact on policy preferences.
Control of steroidogenesis in pre-ovulatory cells. Luteinizing hormone stimulation of (14C)-acetate incorporation into sterols.

Abstract Cell suspensions prepared from gonadotropin primed rabbit ovaries were characterized according to their ability to incorporate labeled acetate into the various intermediates of cholesterol biosynthesis. The suspensions respond typically to luteinizing hormone (LH), with a reduction in labeled acetate incorporation into both esterified and non-esterified cholesterol. In contrast, radioactivity accumulated more rapidly and more extensively in lanosterol, as well as two unidentified sterols, in the LH-treated suspensions; squalene also demonstrates an enhanced labeled acetate concentration. LH does not affect the transport of acetate into the cells nor the incorporation of acetate into free fatty acids. Furthermore, other 27-carbon sterols are labeled to the same extent in the presence or absence of LH with the exception of 7-dehydrocholesterol, which, like cholesterol, was labeled to a lesser extent. Since these cell preparations have been shown to respond to LH with increased 14C-steroid hormone production, we conclude that the increased rate and extent of [14C]acetate accumulation into the sterols and squalene reflects an increased rate of synthesis of these compounds. The decrease of incorporation into certain 27-carbon sterols may result either from increased turnover of these intermediates or from exclusion of these sterols from the direct synthetic pathway to hormonal steroids. It does seem probable from these studies that LH stimulates steroidogenesis at sites prior to cholesterol synthesis in addition to its other sites of action.
‘I Really Felt White’: Turning Points in Whiteness Through Interracial Contact

Interracial contact has been much debated as a possible solution to the stereotyping and prejudice that are part of the foundation of racial inequality. The focus of most of the research on interracial contact has been on whether such contact can change whites’ attitudes. This paper, while exploring changes in whites’ attitudes based on their contact with people of colour, also shows, through analysis of autobiographical writing by young whites, how interracial contact may change white perceptions of what it means to be white.
VERBS AND VERB PHRASES AS INSTRUCTIONAL STIMULI IN THE CONTROL OF STIMULUS-EQUIVALENCE EFFECTS

This research examined in 26 undergraduate students a form of instructional control of certain emergent relations definitional of the stimulus-equivalence relationship. The subjects read 2 pages that explained a paper-and-pencil match-to-sample procedure, and then went on to solve 11 more pages of matching-to-sample problems. Each of the first 10 of these last 11 pages was introduced by an instruction of the form, "Matches means [verb]," for example, "Matches means EATS," followed by the facts that established two related conditional discriminations in the specific forms, A [verb] 1, B [verb] 2, 1 [verb] X, and 2 [verb]y' Of 12 subsequent probes on the same page, 4 tested for these original relations and 8 for any symmetry, transitivity, and symmetric-transitivity (often called equivalence) properties of those relations. The 11 th (final) page was introduced by the instruction: ''This time, no meaning of matches is specified." Of the 10 pages, 5 specifying a verb as the meaning of "matches" used equivalence verbs (EQUALS, IS, IS PARALLEL TO, GOES WITH, and MATCHES); another 5 specified nonequivalence verbs (EATS, OWES, PAYS, LIKES, and TEACHES). For 15 of 25 subjects, different verbs differentially controlled the emergence of the untrained relations revealing the symmetry, transitivity, and symmetric-transitivity properties of the original relations. For the remaining 10 subjects, these untrained relations either emerged uniformly despite verb differences (5 subjects), or were absent despite verb differences (5 subjects). The types of verbs or explanations provided by the subjects in response to the 11th problem, which offered no verb but requested an explanation of how the subjects had answered the probes, always reflected each subject's prior equivalence or nonequivalence responding to the earlier probes. Thus, imposing relevant instructions on two directly established interlocking conditional discriminations can account for much of the emergence of the new, untrained relations definitional of equivalence relations.
Kinetics of tumor-induced murine neutrophilia.

Abstract Marrow neutrophil production and blood neutrophil turnover were studied in splenectomized mice with tumor-induced neutrophilia. Blood neutrophils increased from 2000/µl to 50,000/µl by 4 wk after transplantation. The total marrow neutrophils (precursors and mature cells), estimated from the skeletal radioiron activity and distribution and femoral marrow differential counts, increased from 10.9 ± 1.6 × 109 cells/kg in controls to 42.2 ± 17.2× 109 cells /kg in tumor-bearing animals; the major portion of this increase was in the postmitotic pool (6.4 ± 1.0 × 109 cells/kg to 30.1 ± 13.9 × 109 cells/kg). This increase in marrow granulocytes was associated with histologic evidence of expansion of hematopoiesis to the peripheral bones. The neutrophil emergence time, determined by 3H-thymidine and autoradiography, was shortened from 81.6 to 45.6 hr. The marrow neutrophil production rate, calculated from the postmitotic pool size and the postmitotic pool transit time, was 2.04 × 109 cells /kg /day in control mice and 17.6 × 109 cells/kg/day in tumor-bearing mice at 4 wk after tumor transplantation. Blood neutrophil kinetics, as studied by transfusion of 3H-thymidine-labeled neutrophils and autoradiography, revealed the half-time (t1/2) of neutrophils in the circulation of tumor-bearing animals to be the same as that in control mice; the t1/2 was about 2.3 hr in both groups. The blood neutrophil turnover rate was calculated to be 2.0 × 109/kg/day in control mice and five to seven times normal in tumor-bearing mice. The studies indicated that this tumor-induced neutrophilia in mice is due to a major expansion of granulopoietic marrow, a marked increase in marrow neutrophil production, and increased blood neutrophil turnover.
Construction of harmonic surfaces with prescribed geometry

In this note we explain how a well-understood construction method for minimal surfaces can be used as flexible tool to explicitly parametrize harmonic surfaces with prescribed geometry of arbitrary finite topological type.
Majorization, range inclusion, and factorization for bounded linear operators

In this paper, relationships among the concepts, majorization, range inclusion, and factorization, are studied in a general setting for bounded linear operators. Some applications of these concepts are given.
RF cavities for the Positron Accumulator Ring (PAR) of the Advanced Photon Source (APS)

The cavities for the dual frequency system of the APS PAR are described. The system uses two frequencies: a 9.78 MHz fundamental system for the particle accumulation and a 117.3 MHz twelfth harmonic system for the bunch compression. The cavities have been built, installed, tested, and used for storing the beam in the PAR for about a year. The fundamental cavity is a reentrant coaxial type with a capacitive loading plunger and has 1.6 m length. The harmonic cavity is a symmetrical reentrant coaxial type and is 0.8 m long. Ferrite tuners are used for frequency tuning. During the accumulation period, the ferrite tuner of the harmonic cavity works as a damper to disable the cavity. During an injection cycle the 9.78 MHz system accumulates 24 positron bunches in a bucket and the 117.3 MHz system compresses the bunch into a shorter bunch. Measurements were made on the RF properties of the cavities.
A propensity analysis of cigarette smoking and mortality with consideration of the effects of alcohol

Although it is well established that cigarette smoking causes excess mortality, the extent of the increased risk has been challenged because self-selection biases and confounding factors may not have been adequately accounted for in prior studies. We therefore performed a propensity analysis on a population-based cohort. A logistic regression model was used to generate a propensity score for current smoking in 6,099 adults (mean age 46 years, 54% men, 36% current smokers) participating in the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute’s (NHLBI) Lipid Research Clinic Prevalence Study. During 12 years of follow-up, 513 subjects (8%) died. After adjusting for age, current smoking was strongly associated with death (compared with never and former smokers, relative risk [RR] 2.69, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.98 to 0.64, p <0.0001 and RR 1.79, 95% CI 1.26 to 2.55, p 5 0.001, respectively). After adjusting for a propensity score based on 27 covariates and the covariates themselves, current smoking remained strongly and independently predictive of excessive death risk in smokers compared with never and former smokers (adjusted RR 2.96, 95% CI 2.16 to 4.05, p <0.0001 and adjusted RR 1.87, 95% CI 1.31 to 2.67, p 5 0.0006, respectively). Although smokers were more likely to also drink alcohol, an interaction was noted, whereby, after adjustment for propensity score and other covariates, current smoking was associated with a moderately strong increase in mortality among drinkers (adjusted RR 2.00, 95% CI 1.42 to 2.82, p <0.0001), but was also associated with a markedly increased death risk among nondrinkers (adjusted RR 4.74, 95% CI 3.24 to 6.92, p <0.0001). The independent association of smoking with death even after a rigorous propensity analysis argues that it is highly unlikely that the link between smoking and mortality is materially biased or confounded. Q2001 by Excerpta Medica, Inc. (Am J Cardiol 2001;87:706 ‐711)
An Examination of the Static and Dynamic Performance of Interest Rate Option Pricing Models In the Dollar Cap-Floor Markets

This paper examines the static and dynamic accuracy of interest rate option pricing models in the U.S. dollar interest rate cap and floor markets. Alternative one-factor and two-factor term structure models of the spot and the forward rate are evaluated on the basis of their out-of-sample predictive ability in terms of pricing and hedging performance. In addition, the models are evaluated based on the stability of their parameters, the presence of systematic biases, and their numerical complexity and computational efficiency. The tests are conducted on daily data from March-December 1998, consisting of actual cap and floor prices across both strike rates and maturities. Results show that fitting the skew of the underlying interest rate distribution provides accurate pricing results within a one-factor framework. However, for hedging performance, introducing a second stochastic factor is more important than fitting the skew of the underlyingdistribution. Overall, the one-factor lognormal model for short term interest ratesoutperforms other competing models in pricing tests, while two-factor models perform significantly better than one-factor models in hedging tests. Modeling the second factor allows a better representation of the dynamic evolution of the term structure by incorporating expected twists in the yield curve. Thus, the interest rate dynamics embedded in two-factor models appears to be closer to the one driving the actual economic environment, leading to more accurate hedges.This constitutes evidence against claims in the literature that correctly specifiedand calibrated one-factor models could replace multi-factor models for consistentpricing and hedging of interest rate contingent claims.
Dpr Acts as a Molecular Switch, Inhibiting Wnt Signaling when Unphosphorylated, but Promoting Wnt Signaling when Phosphorylated by Casein Kinase Iδ/ε

The Wnt pathway is a key regulator of development and tumorigenesis. Dpr (Dact/Frodo) influences Wnt signaling in part through the interaction of its PDZ-B domain with Dsh's PDZ domain. Studies have shown that XDpr1a and its close relative, Frodo, are involved in multiple steps of the Wnt pathway in either inhibitory or activating roles. We found that XDpr1a is phosphorylated by casein kinase Iδ/e (CKIδ/e), an activator of Wnt signaling, in the presence of XDsh. Abrogating XDpr1a's ability to bind XDsh through mutation of XDpr1a's PDZ-B domain blocks CK1δ/e's phosphorylation of XDpr1a. Conversely, XDsh possessing a mutation in its PDZ domain that is unable to bind XDpr1a does not promote XDpr1a phosphorylation. Phosphorylation of XDpr1a and XDsh by CKIδ/e decreases their interaction. Moreover, the phosphorylation of XDpr1a by CKIδ/e not only abrogates XDpr1a's promotion of β-catenin degradation but blocks β-catenin degradation. Our data suggest that XDpr1a phosphorylation by CKIδ/e is dependent on the interaction of XDpr1a's PDZ-B domain with XDsh's PDZ domain, and that the phosphorylation state of XDpr1a determines whether it inhibits or activates Wnt signaling.
Relationships among maternal nutrient intake and placental biomarkers during the 1st trimester in low-income women

Purpose Pre-eclampsia is a multi-system disorder caused by inadequate placentation in early pregnancy; however, little is known about the influence of nutrient intake on placental development during the crucial 1st trimester. The objective of this study was to examine the relationships between nutrient intake and the raw values and ratios of angiogenic [placental growth factor (PlGF)] and antiangiogenic [soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) and soluble endoglin (sEng)] placental biomarkers in the 1st trimester.
The Role of a Sense of Self-in-Place and Risk Amplification in Promoting the Conservation of Wildlife

Conservation professionals often struggle in their efforts to protect species at risk, typically failing to account for the role played by social interaction and individual place-attachments that can amplify the perceived personal impacts of conservation policies. This article reviews various ways in which a sense of self-in-place can be applied in the context of landscape-scale planning to conserve species through the perspective of an amplification of risk framework. The perspective is extended to a suite of principles for incorporating a sense of self-in-place and risk amplification mechanisms into wildlife conservation contexts.
Mu and kappa1 opioid-stimulated [35S]guanylyl-5′-o-(γ-thio)-triphosphate binding in cynomolgus monkey brain

Agonist-stimulated [35S]GTPgammaS binding allows the visualization of receptor-activated G-proteins, thus revealing the anatomical localization of functional receptor activity. In the present study, agonist-stimulated [35S]GTPgammaS binding was used to demonstrate mu and kappa1 opioid-stimulated [35S]GTPgammaS binding in tissue sections and membranes from cynomolgus monkey brain using DAMGO and U50,488H, respectively. Concentrations of agonists required to produce maximal stimulation of [35S]GTPgammaS binding were determined in membranes from the frontal poles of the brain. Receptor specificity was verified in both membranes and sections by inhibiting agonist-stimulated [35S]GTPgammaS binding with the appropriate antagonist. Mu opioid-stimulated [35S]GTPgammaS binding was high in areas including the amygdala, ventral striatum, caudate, putamen, medial thalamus and hypothalamus. Dense mu-stimulated [35S]GTPgammaS binding was also found in brainstem nuclei including the interpeduncular nucleus, parabrachial nucleus and nucleus of the solitary tract. Kappa1 opioid-stimulated [35S]GTPgammaS binding was high in limbic and association cortex, ventral striatum, caudate, putamen, globus pallidus, claustrum, amygdala, hypothalamus and substantia nigra. These results demonstrate the applicability of [35S]GTPgammaS autoradiography to examine receptor-activated G-proteins in the primate brain and reveal functional mu and kappa1 opioid receptor activity that may contribute to the reported central nervous system effects of opiates.
Effect of Environment and Surface Condition on Strength of Lithium Fluoride Single Crystals

Lithium fluoride single crystals which had been annealed in various gases, abraded with papers of different grits, etched, polished, and coated with metals before testing were deformed in compression. Another series of tests was performed in which the specimens were deformed while immersed in mineral, fatty, dicarboxylic, and tricarboxylic acids and in xanthates, Aero-floats, amines, water, and bases. Attempts to correlate the observed mechanical properties and the environment or surface condition were partly successful. The appearance of the stress lines and the fracture characteristics of these crystals were also investigated.
EVIDENCE OF A "NEW" ALLELE OF RED CELL ACID PHOSPHATASE AcPk

Phenotypes of members of one Polish family have revealed a “new” allele in the AcP system: called AcPk. Quantitative data of the phenotypes are given.
Structural uncertainty and subsidy removal for economies in transition

Abstract Economies in transition are faced with a high degree of ‘structural uncertainty’ i.e., uncertainty about which it is possible to learn through experience. We study structural uncertainty's effects on a subsidy removal program. Subsidy removal causes unemployment, but yields fiscal benefits and facilitates private sector growth. When the policymaker does not know the speed with which the private sector absorbs the unemployed, he will be driven toward a more decisive, and therefore more informative, policy. The model also rationalizes policy reversals and implies that irreversibility constraints and political instability dampen the learning effect making policy more gradualist.
Surface Wave Scattering Reduction Using Beam Shifters

A surface wave beam shifter is designed using ring-mushroom unit cells. The unit cell consists of a rectangular ring that surrounds an interior patch and plated via. The unit cell is anisotropic, and surface waves propagate with different directions of phase velocity and power flow. Two adjacent regions are designed such that the shift direction in each region is mirrored. The result is that an incident beam is split apart, and power does not radiate in the original direction of the beam. It is shown that an object placed in line with a source scatters surface waves in multiple directions from the object. By using a beam-splitting surface, the incident beam avoids the object, and scattering is significantly reduced. When the wave is incident in series with the two beam shifters, the surface shifts the wave in one direction followed by a shift in the opposite direction.
Afferents of the ventral tegmental area in the rat‐anatomical substratum for integrative functions

The ventral tegmental area (VTA) is critically important to an organism's capacity to detect rewards and novelty and to enlist appropriate behavioral responses. Although there has been substantial progress concerning information processing at the single cell and molecular levels in the VTA, our knowledge of its overall afferent connections is based principally on the benchmark description by Phillipson ([1979] J. Comp. Neurol. 187:117-144). Given that, since then, the sensitivity of tracing methods and knowledge about the organization of brain structures have increased considerably, we undertook to reevaluate the VTA afferents of the rat. The retrograde tracer Fluoro-Gold was injected into different parts of the VTA, and labeled neurons were visualized by immunocytochemistry. Retrogradely labeled neurons were not confined to nuclei but rather constituted an elongated formation stretching from the prefrontal cortex rostrally to the medulla oblongata caudally. In the case of descending afferents, this formation was centered on the medial forebrain bundle and the fasciculus retroflexus. The input to the VTA in general was bilateral, with a smaller descending and comparable ascending projection from the contralateral side. Injections of the anterograde tracers Phaseolus vulgaris-leucoagglutinin or biotinylated dextran amine into selected forebrain structures revealed a surprisingly sparse terminal arborization in the VTA. Furthermore, structures projecting to the VTA innervate other brain areas with similar or greater robustness, which in turn also provide a strong input to the VTA, indicating an anatomical network. Given the importance of the VTA in basic behaviors, this organization might provide a basis for an extraordinary level of afferent integration.
Terahertz reflection time domain spectroscopy of branched alkanes

The temperature dependent spectroscopic properties of 2-methylpentadecane were measured over several path lengths using terahertz reflection time-domain spectroscopy. The variation of the index of refraction and absorption with temperature was consistent with the behavior of the linear chain n-alkanes in previous studies. However, an increased absorption coefficient was observed indicating a larger induced dipole moment compared to its structural isomers, the higher symmetry n-hexadecane and the highly branched alkane 2,2,4,4,6,8,8-heptamethylnonane.
New dimensions in G protein signalling: Gβ5 and the RGS proteins

Abstract The βγ complex of G-proteins regulates effectors independently of the Gα subunits, such that upon activation G proteins give may signal downstream along one or both pathways. The Gβ 5 isoform exhibits much less homology with other Gβ isoforms (∼50%) and is preferentially expressed in brain. The Gβ 5 isoform exhibits novel properties in its activation of effector pathways such as MAPK, phospholipase C-β, and adenylyl cyclase type II when compared to Gβ 1 . Recently specific native complexes between Gβ5 and the regulator of G protein signaling (RGS) protein-7 (RGS7) and between Gβ 5 L (a splice variant with a 42 amino acid N-terminal extension) and RGS9 have been isolated from different retinal fractions. Such findings are not accounted for by current models as only the Gα subunits and not Gβ had been previously implicated in RGS protein function. These recent novel observations further reinforce the view of Gβ 5 as a unique and highly specialized G protein subunit.
Limits of separation of a multi-capillary column with mixtures of volatile organic compounds for a flame ionization detector and a differential mobility detector

The resolving power of a multi-capillary column (MCC) was evaluated using 14 mixtures of volatile organic compounds with known composition and complexity which was incremented stepwise up to 129 constituents. The number of constituents in these mixtures versus the number of components separated and detected with a flame ionization detector showed a proportional rise, with a decreasing slope, to 76 peaks after which a plateau was reached. This was improved 23.7% to 94 constituents, or 73% of all compounds in the mixture, after simplex optimization of carrier gas linear velocity, initial temperature and program rate. When the detection method was differential mobility spectrometry (DMS), additional selectivity was introduced through ion formation and separation. Fifty nine compounds were detected by DMS and 46 were separated by retention time; 13 were co-eluted and 7 of these were resolved by differential ion mobility (90% of all components ionized). A correlation of -0.412 between retention time for gas chromatography (GC) and differential mobility for DMS suggested a significant level of orthogonal character and the method of GC-DMS should not be seen as sequential only.
3D ultrasound image segmentation using multiple incomplete feature sets

We use three features, the intensity, texture and motion to obtain robust results for segmentation of intracoronary ultrasound images. Using a parameterized equation to describe the lumen-plaque and media-adventitia boundaries, we formulate the segmentation as a parameter estimation through a cost functional based on the posterior probability, which can handle the incompleteness of the features in ultrasound images by employing outlier detection.
CONTRIBUTIONS OF SIGN LANGUAGE RESEARCH TO GESTURE UNDERSTANDING: WHAT CAN MULTIMODAL COMPUTATIONAL SYSTEMS LEARN FROM SIGN LANGUAGE RESEARCH

This paper considers neurological, formational and functional similarities between gestures and signed verb predicates. From analysis of verb sign movement, we offer suggestions for analyzing gestural movement (motion capture, kinematic analysis, trajectory internal structure). From analysis of verb sign distinctions, we offer suggestions for analyzing co-speech gesture functions.
Comparison of contraction times of a muscle and its motor units

The twitch contraction time (CT) for each of 13 soleus (SOL) and 13 medial gastrocnemius (MG) muscles was compared with the mean CT from a sample of its motor units (MUs; 356 total) to see if the CT of a whole muscle when tested at its optimal length (Lo) differed systematically from that of its MUs tested at their individual Lo's. The CTs of the whole muscle were significantly longer in the ratio of 1.13. This is consistent with a hypothesis that electrical-field effects result in a more protracted contraction of the individual muscle fiber.
Multilayer assembly and patterning of poly(p-phenylenevinylene)s via covalent coupling reactions

Poly(p-phenylenevinylene)s with amines and pentafluorophenyl esters on side chains were synthesized and assembled on solid substrates by sequential layer-by-layer (LBL) deposition. This approach enables the creation of robust multilayer thin films via in-situ covalent coupling reactions between successive layers. The buildup of the multilayers was followed by UV/vis absorption spectroscopy and ellipsometry. The observed complex assembly behavior suggests that both covalent and hydrogen-bonding interactions are involved in the formation of multilayer films. The organized structure and surface morphology of resultant multilayers were investigated by reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy. This covalent LBL method was further applied to generate conjugated polymer micropatterns using microstamped self-assembled monolayers as templates.
Ethical challenges of practicing in rural areas

Mental health professionals practicing in rural areas face ethical dilemmas different from those experienced by their urban counterparts and may find that the existing ethics literature and American Psychological Association (APA, 2002) ethics code not particularly helpful. We highlight parts of five standards from the APA ethics code to illustrate the dilemmas rural practitioners frequently confront and offer suggestions for how to handle them. We discuss competence, human relations, and confidentiality as specific areas and then examine assessment and therapy as broader situations in which dilemmas may occur. We use case examples to highlight complications that may arise in rural areas.
A material based finite element analysis of heterogeneous media involving Dirichlet tessellations

Abstract In this paper, a new finite element formulation has been developed for analysis of heterogeneous media, in which the second phase is randomly dispersed within the matrix. It introduces a tessellation based mesh generation technique to account for the arbitrariness in location, shape and size of the second phase. An assumed stress hybrid formulation has been implemented to utilize the resulting Voronoi polygons as elements in a finite element model. The effect of the second phase has been accounted for by introducing a transformation strain based constitutive formulation. Numerical examples have been conducted to validate the model.
The cannabinoid agonist Win55,212-2 inhibits calcium channels by receptor-mediated and direct pathways in cultured rat hippocampal neurons

Abstract The effects of the cannabinoid receptor agonist Win55,212 on Ca2+ channels were studied in rat hippocampal neurons grown in primary culture. Win55,212-2 inhibited whole-cell Ba2+ currents through Ca2+ channels by both CB1 receptor-mediated and direct mechanisms. The concentration dependent inhibition of the current showed two clear phases, a high-affinity receptor-mediated phase (IC50=14±2 nM) that was stereoselective and sensitive to a CB1 receptor antagonist, 300 nM SR141716, and a non-saturating phase that was neither stereoselective nor inhibited by SR141716. These concentration-dependent effects were paralleled by Win55212-induced inhibition of glutamatergic synaptic transmission. Win55,212-2 (100 nM) inhibited both ω-agatoxin IVA- and ω-conotoxin GVIA-sensitive currents. Thus, activation of cannabinoid receptors inhibits N- and P/Q-type Ca2+ channels. Activation of cannabinoid receptors inhibited only a fraction of the whole-cell Ca2+ channel current (17±2%) even though more than half of the whole-cell Ba2+ current was carried by N- and P/Q-type Ca2+ channels. Concentrations of agonist greater than 1 μM inhibited Ca2+ channels directly.
In vivo, trans‐synaptic tract‐tracing utilizing manganese‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MEMRI)

It is well established that manganese ion (Mn2+) can access neurons through voltage-gated calcium (Ca2+) channels. Based upon this fundamental principle, Mn2+ has long been used in biomedical research as an indicator of Ca2+ influx in conjunction with fluorescent microscopy. Additionally, after entry into neurons, Mn2+ is transported down axons via microtubule based fast axonal transport. Furthermore, Mn2+ is paramagnetic, resulting in a shortening of the spin-lattice relaxation time-constant, T1, which yields positive contrast enhancement in T1-weighted MRI images, specific to tissues where the ion has accumulated. Manganese-enhanced MRI (MEMRI) utilizes a combination of these properties of Mn2+ to trace neuronal pathways in an MRI-detectable manner. The focus of this review will detail some of the current MEMRI tract-tracing methodologies in mice and non-human primates as well as biological applications of MEMRI tract-tracing.
A STUDY OF CONFIDENCE AND ACCURACY USING THE RASCH MODELING PROCEDURES

This study investigated the relationship between students' actual performance (accuracy) and their subjective judgments of accuracy (confidence) on selected English language proficiency tests. The unidimensional and multidimensional IRT Rasch approaches were used to model the discrepancy between confidence and accuracy at the item and test level and to assess disattenuated strength of association between accuracy and confidence. The analysis results indicate a pattern of overconfidence bias (i.e., overestimation of success rate), which was related to item difficulty. In addition, the strength of association between accuracy and confidence dimension was relatively high: The confidence dimension explained 45% and 52% of the variability in the accuracy dimension for the two tests employed in this study.
A comparative biomechanical analysis of term fetal membranes in human and domestic species

Objective The purpose of this study was to biomechanically characterize and compare human, porcine, equine, and ovine fetal membranes. Study Design Noncontact metrology was used for topographic analyses. Uniaxial tensile testing was performed to resolve specific biomechanical values. Puncture force and radial stresses were determined with biaxial puncture testing. Microstructure and surface tortuosity were analyzed histologically. Results Equine and human membranes sustained larger magnitude loading, but ovine and porcine membranes exhibited stronger material properties. Biaxial puncture validated uniaxial results; human and equine groups accommodated the largest loads but lowest stresses. Equine membranes were mostly vascularized; tortuosity was highest in porcine membranes. Species' gestation length was correlated positively with membrane thickness. Conclusion The anatomy of placentation and length of species gestation show distinct relationships to membrane biomechanics. Unlike other species, human fetal membranes do not compensate for structural weakness with a thicker membrane. This finding may explain the high incidence of preterm premature rupture of membranes in humans.
Wedge indentation into elastic–plastic single crystals. 2: Simulations for face-centered cubic crystals

Abstract The asymptotic stress and deformation fields associated with the contact point singularity of a nearly-flat wedge indenter impinging on a specially-oriented single face-centered cubic crystal are derived analytically in a companion paper. In order to investigate the extent of the asymptotic fields, the indentation process is simulated numerically using single crystal plasticity. The quasistatically translating asymptotic fields consist of four angular elastic sectors separated by plastically deforming sector boundaries, as predicted in the companion paper. The asymptotic stress distributions are in accord with the analytical predictions. In addition, simulations are performed for a wedge indenter with a 90° included angle in order to investigate the consequences of finite deformation and finite lattice rotation. Several salient features of the deformation field for the nearly-flat indenter persist in the deformation field for the 90° wedge indenter. The existence of the salient features is validated by comparison to experimental measurements of the lower bound on geometrically necessary dislocation (GND) densities.