cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prepulse inhibition of the acoustic startle response in cocaine-withdrawn rats

Prepulse inhibition (PPI) of startle is a sensorimotor gating task in which a low-intensity acoustic stimulus presented prior to a high-intensity, startle-eliciting stimulus can attenuate the acoustic startle response (ASR). Previous studies on startle reactivity in cocaine-withdrawn rats have found minimal changes; the present study extends this work to the gating of ASR. In Experiment 1, rats were injected daily with either saline or cocaine (30 mg/kg ip) for 2 weeks. ASR and PPI were measured prior to, and at 3- and 14-day withdrawal from, the chronic treatment. No effect of cocaine treatment was found on either measure. In Experiment 2, treatment was extended to 8 weeks, and an earlier withdrawal time point (1 day) was added. Rats treated with cocaine for 8 weeks exhibited lower startle reactivity during withdrawal compared with saline-treated controls. PPI did not differ between treatment groups. Thus, extended chronic treatment with cocaine rendered significant effects on startle responsivity. Further, this finding mirrors the blunted ASR exhibited in chronic cocaine users [Neuropsychopharmacology 22 (2000) 89.].
Twist and writhe of a DNA loop containing intrinsic bends.

Abstract The finite-element method of solid mechanics is applied to calculation of the three-dimensional structure of closed circular DNA, modeled as an elastic rod subject to large motions. The results predict the minimum elastic energy conformation of a closed loop of DNA as a function of relaxed equilibrium configuration and linking number (Lk). We apply the method to four different starting states: a straight rod, two rods containing either one or two 20 degrees bends, and a circular O-ring. The results, here at low superhelix density, show the changes in writhe (Wr) and in twist (Tw) as Lk is progressively lowered. The presence of even a single intrinsic bend reduces significantly the linking number change at which Wr first appears, compared to an initially straight, bend-free rod. The presence of two in-phase bends, situated at opposite ends of a diameter, leads to the formation of at least two distinct regions of different but relatively uniform Tw increment. The O-ring begins to writhe immediately upon reduction of Lk, and the Tw increment distribution is sinusoidal along the rod. The mechanics calculations, unlike other theoretical approaches, permit us to calculate Tw and Wr independent of the constraint of constant Lk.
Person-Centered Planning for the Millennium: We're Old Enough to Remember When PCP Was Just a Drug

Person-centered planning for the millennium: We're old enough to remember when PCP was just a drug. PUBLISHED IN Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation (1997) 8(1), 285-297 Joe Marrone, M.Ed. Coordinator of Technical Assistance David Hoff, M.S.W. Training Associate David T. Helm, Ph.D. Coordinator of Interdisciplinary and Preservice Training Institute for Community Inclusion (UAP) Children's Hospital Boston, MA 02115 For reprints, contact:
Expression of the amino acid transporter ATB0+ in lung: possible role in luminal protein removal

Normal lung function requires transepithelial clearance of luminal proteins; however, little is known about the molecular mechanisms of protein transport. Protein degradation followed by transport ...
COMMUNAL STOCKING AND MULTIPLE REARING TECHNIQUE FOR CATFISH GENETICS RESEARCH

The correlation between gain in communal ponds and separate ponds for different strains, crossbreds, species, and hybrids of catfish in six experiments was 0.89 to 0.97 and averaged 0.93. The mean correlation between replicate communal ponds was 0.91. These high correlations were obtained within several experiments in which various genetic crosses, ages of fish, and stocking rates were involved. Rank of gain in communal ponds was the same as rank of gain in separate ponds. This allows the use of communal ponds for catfish genetics research. Three major variables determined the effect of initial weight on final weight. They were: the mean initial weight, the magnitude of the initial difference, and the harvest weight. These different conditions caused final differences of 2.6–16.7 g per g of initial difference. Multiple rearing is a technique where feeding is adjusted to ensure that fish are of similar sizes for the initiation of genetics experiments in communal or separate ponds. If compensatory gain exists in stunted channel catfish, the multiple rearing technique would not be valid for catfish genetics experiments. No growth differences (P > 0.05) were exhibited between stunted and normal fish after 26 days. Compensatory gain was not exhibited by channel catfish fingerlings; therefore the multiple rearing technique is valid for genetics experiments involving fingerling catfish.
Variable packet ALOHA networks

An analysis of the throughput for two variable-packet ALOHA network models is presented. Variable-packet ALOHA does not require (1) padded bits to fill up a packet to its specified length (which may significantly reduce the throughput of fixed-packet ALOHA), or (2) bit stuffing and destuffing logics (which increase equipment cost in fixed-packet ALOHA). The first model uses random two power levels to induce receiver capture. The second model considers the near/far effect between users and the base station in a local or mobile radio networkl. Analytical results that indicate a significant increase in throughput for both models are presented. >
Sexual dysfunction, informed consent and multimodality therapy for rectal cancer

Abstract Background: This study assessed the presurgical and preradiation discussion of the risk of posttherapy sexual dysfunction among patients who underwent potentially curative therapy for rectal cancer. The incidence of sexual dysfunction after treatment for rectal cancer was then determined. Methods: A retrospective review of the medical records of 52 consecutive patients who underwent potentially curative procedures for rectal cancer within 15 cm from the anal verge was performed. Results: Presurgical discussion of the risk of sexual dysfunction was not documented in the consent in 37 of 52 patients (71%). Among the 5 males who underwent local excision, none reported posttherapy sexual dysfunction. Of the 6 males who were treated by low anterior resection, only 1 had a postoperative complaint of sexual dysfunction. Five of 15 males (33%) treated with abdominoperineal resection (APR) alone reported postprocedure sexual dysfunction, whereas 6 of 8 males (75%) treated with APR and radiation reported dysfunction. Of the entire female cohort, only 1 of the 16 reported sexual dysfunction posttherapy. Conclusion: A discussion of the risks of posttherapy sexual dysfunction was documented for fewer than one third of the patients. Among males after APR, the use of postoperative radiation showed a trend toward an increase in sexual dysfunction. Surgery and/or radiation therapy did not impact on sexual dysfunction in females.
The vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque: pathogenesis and therapeutic approach.

Vascular inflammation not only plays a major role in the development of coronary atherosclerosis, but also contributes to the acute onset of thrombotic complications such as myocardial infarction, a leading cause of death in the United States [1]. Despite a gradual decrease in age-adjusted mortality attributable to acute myocardial infarction in the United States, cardiovascular disease is on the rise in many other countries. Macrophage accumulation and consequent production of proteolytic and thrombogenic molecules critically contribute to plaque disruption and thrombus formation, a frequent cause of fatal obstruction of the coronary arteries. A number of clinical studies suggest dyslipidemia as one of the major risk factors for coronary disease, and preclinical observations demonstrate that hypercholesterolemia promotes accumulation of oxidatively modified lowdensity lipoprotein (oxLDL) in the arterial wall, promoting endothelial cell (EC) dysfunction and, in turn, leukocyte invasion. Recent advances in vascular medicine have provided evidence that lipid-lowering therapy prevents acute coronary complications in patients, at least in part limiting inflammation in atheroma [2]. This article will review the role of dyslipidemia in the pathogenesis of vascular inflammation, and discuss the evidence for mechanisms by which lipid lowering prevents acute coronary events.
Effect of Different Administration Paradigms on Cholinesterase Inhibition following Repeated Chlorpyrifos Exposure in Late Preweanling Rats

Chlorpyrifos (CPS) is widely used in agricultural settings and residue analysis has suggested that children in agricultural communities are at risk of exposure. This has resulted in a large amount of literature investigating the potential for CPS-induced developmental neurotoxic effects. Two developmental routes of administration of CPS are orally in corn oil at a rate of 0.5 ml/kg and subcutaneously in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) at a rate of 1.0 ml/kg. For comparison between these methods, rat pups were exposed daily from days 10 to 16 to CPS (5 mg/kg) either orally dissolved in corn oil or subcutaneously dissolved in DMSO, both at rates of either 0.5 or 1.0 ml/kg. A representative vehicle/route group was present for each treatment. Both the low and high volume CPS in DMSO subcutaneous groups were lower than that of the low and high volume CPS in oil oral groups. At 4 h following the final administration, serum carboxylesterase was inhibited > 90% with all treatments. For cholinesterase activity in the cerebellum, medulla-pons, forebrain, and hindbrain, and serum, inhibition in the CPS-oil groups was similar and inhibition in the CPS-DMSO groups was similar. However, significantly greater inhibition was present in the high volume CPS-DMSO group as compared to the CPS-oil groups. Inhibition in the low volume CPS-DMSO group was generally between that in the CPS-oil groups and the high volume CPS-DMSO group. These data suggest that using DMSO as a vehicle for CPS may alter the level of brain ChE inhibition.
Kant's Perceiver

Who or what is Kant’s thinker? Both in the book under discussion (2011), and in her Kant’s Transcendental Psychology (1990), Patricia Kitcher takes the appealing view that Kant’s thinker is a human being, a part of the natural order. His or her knowledge of objects arises not from affection by noumena outside of space and time, but from the effects of spatio-temporal objects on her sense-organs. And the various “syntheses” which bring about the transition from sensory effects to more sophisticated forms of representation are, to a large extent, the stuff of empirical psychology and neuroscience. The present book departs from the earlier one, however, in its attention to the idea that Kant’s thinker is a rational being. While remaining a spatio-temporal human being affected by other spatio-temporal objects, she is capable not only of processing sensory information so as to arrive at knowledge of those objects, but also of appreciating the rational grounds of that knowledge. She not only finds herself in mental states which carry information about how things are around her, she also grasps rational relations among her states, recognizing, for example, her judgment that something is a body as rationally grounded on the judgment that it is extended (8), or her judgment that the puppy is in the room as rationally grounded on her perception that it is by the window (5, 139). This is the key to Kitcher’s interpretation of the
Genetic background regulates β-amyloid precursor protein processing and β-amyloid deposition in the mouse

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a multigenic neurodegenerative disorder characterized by distinct neuropathological hallmarks including deposits of the b-amyloid (Ab) peptide. Ab is a 39- to 43-amino acid peptide derived from the proteolytic processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP). While increasing evidence suggests that altered APP processing and Ab metabolism is a common feature of AD, the relationship between the levels of Ab and various APP products and the onset of AD remains unclear. We have undertaken a screen to characterize genetic factors that modify APP processing, Ab metabolism and Ab deposition in a genomic-based yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) transgenic mouse model of AD. A mutant human APP YAC transgene was transferred to three inbred mouse strains. Despite similar levels of holo-APP expression in the congenic strains, the levels of APP C-terminal fragments as well as brain and plasma Ab in young animals varied by genetic background. Furthermore, we demonstrate that age-dependent Ab deposition in the APP YAC transgenic model is dramatically altered depending on the congenic strain examined. These studies demonstrate that APP processing, Ab metabolism and Ab deposition are regulated by genetic background and that analysis of these phenotypes in mice should provide new insights into the factors that regulate AD pathogenesis.
Urban Pilot: a dynamic mapping tool for personalizing the city through collective memory

Investigates the use of hand-held mobile devices as exploratory personalized tools for dynamic navigation of the cityscape that go beyond cartographic limitations and directory-type services. Unfortunately, existing devices and their applications do not fully address the impelling potential of real-time, interactive tools. Moreover, the volatile, unpredictable randomness of the city life and its ever-changing patterns are rarely captured by static navigational means. This study proposes a tool which encourages personalized experiences of cities by providing a dynamic information space that overlaps the city with individual users, both spatially and temporally.
An intelligent approach for system separation to prevent a blackout

A system blackout is a hazardous fault to the security of operation of power systems. It causes heavy damage to the industry and social life. In this paper an on-line approach to determine the optimal separate point (s) is proposed. It includes the following parts: (1) To detect whether it is a transient stability disturbance. (2) If it is, a transient stability simulation is started to run until rotor angles between the leading generator and lagging one reaching 180 degrees. (3) Classify generators into leading group and lagging group by their angles at the instant of 180 degrees between the leading generator and lagging one. (4) Trip all lines between the leading group and lagging group, then the power system will be separated into two islands. (5) Adjust the separation points to make both islands nearly balanced (summation of active power in all lines flowing into and from either leading or lagging group should be minimum). IEEE 10 machine, 39 bus test system has been used as an example to test the validity of this approach.
Differences in Home Range and Habitat Use among Individuals in a Cattle Herd

Abstract Numerous studies suggest some cows use certain areas (e.g. riparian habitats) more than others (e.g. uplands), but the research generally has been based on observations of small numbers of animals or on general inspections of entire herds. Consequently, it is not known if individual animals differ in home range (HR) and habitat use (HU) or if behavioral characteristics are a valid selection tool to decrease cattle use of riparian habitats. We conducted field observations of the differences in HR and HU among adult cows on summer range in Idaho. We located 116 cows on 4970 occasions during 1990, and 87 cows on 3995 occasions during 1991. Individual cows occupied one of four HR areas, and the majority (78%) showed high consistency in HR, despite drought, ad hoc management procedures and occasional herding. Thirty-three percent (n = 29) of the 87 animals monitored during 1990 and 1991 exhibited total HR fidelity between years, whereas 45% (n = 39), 18% (n = 16) and 3% (n = 3) of the animals differed slightly, moderately and substantially in HR use. All cows tended to shift their activities (i.e., centroid) to the south, apparently in response to decreasing water availability between 1990 and 1991. Cows in the four HR groups differed in the degree to which they foraged and rested in riparian and upland habitats, largely depending on the physical characteristics of the HR area. Given the high degree of home range fidelity in our study and those of others, we submit that selective culling may effectively change cattle distribution and decrease the use of riparian areas.
Two Ships Passing in the Night

The authors reassert their position that the correlations between auditory skills and reading achievement scores found by Kavale, while statistically significant, are of limited pragmatic value to the field. They are of little use for screening or placement decisions. As Kavale admits, they offer no guidelines for selecting appropriate instructional methods. It remains unclear exactly how these correlations enhance our understanding of reading ability or reading instruction.
Effect of organic cosolvent‐induced skeletal muscle damage on the bioavailability of intramuscular [14C]diazepam

Abstract Organic cosolvents are used in many intramuscular formulations for solubilization of drugs and have been shown to cause skeletal muscle damage (myotoxicity). This study explored the influence of organic cosolvent‐induced myotoxicity on the bioavailability of a model compound, diazepam. A tracer (C 14 ) dose of diazepam was selected which did not elicit any systemic pharmacologic effects (viz., hypothermia and sedation) that might alter the pharmacokinetics of the drug. Male New Zealand White rabbits were injected with diazepam dissolved in three cosolvent:water mixtures (20% v/v propylene glycol, 20% v/v polyethylene glycol 400, and 50% v/v polyethylene glycol 400). These mixtures have similar physicochemical properties, but vary 10‐fold in their in vitro myotoxicity. Using plasma total radioactivity following intramuscular administration of diazepam, statistical differences were not detected in the area under the curve (AUC), the peak concentration, and the time of the observed peak concentration among these treatments, although the in vivo myotoxicity of these systems (measured by the plasma creatine kinase AUC) varied by 10‐fold (p
Monte Carlo study of strained GermaniumNanoscale bulk pMOSFETs

In this paper, we perform fullband Monte Carlo simulations of nanoscale strained Ge bulk pMOSFETs with compressive strain in the strained Ge layer. We consider transport in the presence of phonon, ionized impurity, surface roughness scattering and impact ionization. Quantum confinement in the inversion layer is taken into account in the form of a modified potential. Strained Gedevices gave higher drive current when compared with unstrained Ge devices for the device structures studied.
Salinity and sea level mediate elevated CO2 effects on C3–C4 plant interactions and tissue nitrogen in a Chesapeake Bay tidal wetland

Elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations ([CO2]) generally increase plant photosynthesis in C3 species, but not in C4 species, and reduce stomatal conductance in both C3 and C4 plants. In addition, tissue nitrogen concentration ([N]) often fails to keep pace with enhanced carbon gain under elevated CO2, particularly in C3 species. While these responses are well documented in many species, implications for plant growth and nutrient cycling in native ecosystems are not clear. Here we present data on 18 years of measurement of above and belowground biomass, tissue [N] and total standing crop of N for a Scirpus olneyi-dominated (C3 sedge) community, a Spartina patens-dominated (C4 grass) community and a C3–C4-mixed species community exposed to ambient and elevated (ambient +340 ppm) atmospheric [CO2] in natural salinity and sea level conditions of a Chesapeake Bay wetland. Increased biomass production (shoots plus roots) under elevated [CO2] in the S. olneyi-dominated community was sustained throughout the study, averaging approximately 35%, while no significant effect of elevated [CO2] was found for total biomass in the C4-dominated community. We found a significant decline in C4 biomass (correlated with rising sea level) and a concomitant increase in C3 biomass in the mixed community. This shift from C4 to C3 was accelerated by the elevated [CO2] treatment. The elevated [CO2] stimulation of total biomass accumulation was greatest during rainy, low salinity years: the average increase above the ambient treatment during the three wettest years (1994, 1996, 2003) was 2.9 t ha−1 but in the three driest years (1995, 1999, 2002), it was 1.2 t ha−1. Elevated [CO2] depressed tissue [N] in both species, but especially in the S. olneyi where the relative depression was positively correlated with salinity and negatively related with the relative enhancement of total biomass production. Thus, the greatest amount of carbon was added to the S. olneyi-dominated community during years when shoot [N] was reduced the most, suggesting that the availability of N was not the most or even the main limitation to elevated [CO2] stimulation of carbon accumulation in this ecosystem.
Responses to Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Change in Mice as Spermatogonial Stem Cells Form Progenitor Spermatogonia which Replicate and Give Rise to More Differentiated Progeny

Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are the foundation of spermatogenesis. These cells are classically defined as a subset of morphologically defined A single (As) spermatogonia, which can produce more SSCs or they can give rise to nonstem As cells that, upon replication, generate A paired (Apr) and then A aligned (Aal) spermatogonia. These latter two cell types, along with the nonstem As cells, function as transit-amplifying progenitor cells. It is known that glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is essential for maintaining all of these cells, but it is unknown if or how the responses of these cells change as they progress down the pathway to differentiated type A1 spermatogonia. We address this issue by using a chemical-genetic approach to inhibit GDNF signaling in vivo and an in vitro approach to increase GDNF stimulation. We show that inhibition for 2 days suppresses replication of As, Apr, and Aal spermatogonia to an equal extent, whereas stimulation by GDNF preferentially increases replication of As and Apr spermatogonia. We also test if inhibiting GDNF signaling causes As, Apr, and Aal spermatogonia to express Kit, an essential step in their differentiation into type A1 spermatogonia. Inhibition for 3 or 7 days produces a progressive increase in the percentages of As, Apr, and Aal undergoing differentiation, with the largest increase observed in Aal spermatogonia. Finally, we demonstrate that numbers of SSCs decrease more slowly than numbers of progenitor spermatogonia when GDNF signaling is inhibited. Taken together, these data suggest that there are significant changes in the responses to GDNF as SSCs give rise to progenitor spermatogonia, which replicate and gradually differentiate into type A1 spermatogonia.
An Example of non-quenched Convergence in the Conditional CLT for Discrete Fourier Transforms

A recent result by Barrera and Peligrad shows that the quenched central limit theorem holds for the components of the discrete Fourier transforms of a stationary process in L 2 orthogonal to the subspace of functions that are measurable with respect to the initial sigma-eld. In this paper we address the question of whether the quenched CLT remains true for the Fourier transforms without taking orthogonal projections, as could be expected in view of previous, related results about the annealed convergence of the process under consideration. We give a negative answer to this question by exhibiting an example of a pro- cess satisfying the hypothesis of Barrera and Peligrad's result for which the Fourier transforms, without substracting the respective components, do not satisfy a quenched limit theorem. The proof combines ideas from a construction due to Voln y and Woodroofe with an interpretation of the results by Barrera and Peligrad for the case of linear processes, and with applications of some previous results related to discrete Fourier transforms.
The Evolution of Intellectual Property Theory and the Right of Publicity in the U.S. Contemporary Application in the Entertainment and Sport Industry

Contemporary intellectual property law applications illustrate a very dynamic and rapidly evolving conceptual environment. The proverbial conflict has been between the protection of intellectual creation and the general freedom to create de novo, including expressions of one’s intellect that have been inspired by others. It is precisely this conflict that has triggered a continuous field day for contemporary scholarship, and volumes such as the one at hand significantly contribute to further understanding of such competing concepts. Given the cultural differences and different historical underpinnings among international jurisdictions, along with the globalization of business and constant exchange of human and intellectual capital, comparative intellectual property studies may become a norm. Additionally, it is of great importance that scholars, practitioners, and policy-makers define the limits, or alternatively attempt to describe the parameters for flexible applications, of the freedom of expression, encouraging creative and innovative ideas, thus ensuring society in its entirety benefits, whilst also upholding the creators’ rights to their intellectual property. One of the richest sources of intellectual property theory, given its social, political, and entrepreneurial environment, has been American legal theory and jurisprudence in the U.S. Moreover, through its early evolution as a distinct area of fundamental rights, to today’s elaborate amalgam of collective rights and free access via the public domain versus private rights protection, U.S. intellectual property theory and specifically the right of publicity continue to evolve through conditions and applications in the sectors of (new) media, entertainment, and sports.
The Rhetoric of Consciousness in Henry James

AbstractAlthough traditionally viewed from a phenomenological perspective, Henry James's compositional device of the center of consciousness can be understood rhetorically as a representational strategy that illustrates the problematics of figurative language and causality. The Jamesian reflector does not simply "re-flect" but crucially intervenes in the causal logic of the texts it claims to focalize. The reflector's relation to the material he or she mediates is one of catachresis, or of "translation," of figurative transfer without a nonfigurative ground. But the rhetorical consequences of this catachrestic mediation cannot be reconciled with James's claims for the center of consciousness as the formal and meta-physical ground of his fictions. James's center of consciousness texts typically reach a representational impasse that thematizes this incompatibility and sacri-fices the central consciousness himself or herself in an allegory of this rhetorical situation. (Literary criticism, rhetorical approach)
Filipino American College Students at the Margins of Neoliberalism.

This article analyzes the various ways that Filipino American students have navigated the system of higher education in lieu of expanding neoliberal public policies. In an era where neoliberalism h...
Nuclear diagnosis of disseminated cancer of the breast. Results of liver-, brain-, and tumor-directed imaging studies.

Radionuclide imaging technics to identify metastases in liver and brain have predictive values that show the expected variation depending upon the prevalence of metastatic disease in the population studied. Liver scanning combined with peritoneoscopy may prove more accurate than either study alone for routine use in staging. Brain scanning is most useful when reserved for patients selected because of suspicious neurologic findings or in following the response to therapy of established metastatic disease. ''Tumor-directed'' scanning agents are useful in certain cases where soft-tissue metastases are suspected but cannot be identified with more conventional procedures.
A Comparison of Predation Rates and Prey Handling times of Adult Notonecta and Buenoa (Hemiptera: Notonectidae)

With respect to quantifiable feeding patterns, Notonecta spp. differ from Buenoa spp. in higher predation rates, shorter prey handling times, and less food obtained from each prey. In all species, starvation results in both higher initial predation rates and shorter prey handling times.
Hypovolemic shock. Current clinical concepts of diagnosis and management.

Hypovolemic shock almost always responds favorably to blood volume replacement if the cause of the hypovolemia has been corrected. Time is of the essence. A balanced saline solution appears to be a valuable plasma volume expander. Drugs have a limited role in therapy. Experimental observations concerning various replacement fluids, the concept of irreversibility in shock, and the use of drugs and hormones are reviewed.
Growth-rate-dependent prediction of pile set-up and its application in driven pile foundation construction

ABSTRACTIn this paper research was presented on the development of a growth-rate-dependent model for pile set-up prediction using the restrike and static/statnamic load testing data collected from different projects. The data included: a) restrike records from ninety-five production piles and restrike and load test results of nine instrumented piles driven in soft clays from the relocation project of Highway No. 1 in Louisiana (LA-1); and b) restrike and static load testing data of five fully instrumented square PPC piles driven at four different bridge sites in various soil layers from sands to clays in Florida. Research effort was focused on the prediction of the ultimate shaft resistances with pile set-up formulated using the pile resistance growth rate-dependent model. The timeframe of interest was studied for a practical set-up magnitude such as 90% of the ultimate shaft resistance (Q90). As an application of the rate-dependent model, it was found that piles at the LA-1 relocation project, in general...
Further Applications of Core Theory to Market Exchange

The set of imputations in the core satisfy a number of inequalities of the type $$\sum\limits_{i\;in\;S} {{x_i} \geqslant v(S)} ,$$ (1) where xi is the imputation of individual i and v(S) denotes the value of the characteristic function for the coalition S. The term v(S) gives the largest amount that the members of S can guarantee themselves under the most adverse conditions. Therefore, v(S) gives the largest amount that the members of S can obtain by their own resources. If the individuals may join any coalition, then their imputations must satisfy the system of inequalities given by (1). In addition it must be true that $$\sum\limits_I {{x_i} \leqslant v(I)} ,$$ (2) where I is the set of all individuals. It is natural, therefore, to study the linear programming problem $$\min \sum {{x_i}} subject\;to\;(1), for\;all S \subset I and S \ne \;I.$$ (3) The solution of this problem gives the smallest amount that the individuals can obtain while satisfying all of the core constraints given by (1). Hence for the core to be nonempty it is necessary that $$\min \sum {{x_i} \leqslant v(I)} .$$ (4)
The Role of the Sertoli Cell in Spermatogonial Stem Cell Fate

This chapter discusses the role of Sertoli cell in spermatogonical stem cells. Spermatogonia proliferate actively, maintain their own numbers, and produce large numbers of spermatocytes. Therefore, the spermatogonia are considered to be a stem cell population, since the cells are able to renew themselves as well as give rise to differentiated elements. Primates, including monkeys and humans, have three types of spermatogonia: A dark , A pale , and B. Signals from the somatic Sertoli cells can regulate germ cell proliferation and differentiation. The c-kit receptor and its Sertoli cell produced ligand, SCF (kit ligand, steel factor, mast cell growth factor), play a significant role in postnatal development of the testis, particularly in the regulation of the more differentiated type A 1 to A 4 spermatogonial population and male fertility. Members of the Notch gene family also play an important role in the control of cell fate, proliferation, and survival in many developmental systems in both invertebrate and vertebrate species.
Adaptive Connectivity for Spectrum Agile VANETs in Fading Channels

This chapter presents the V2V connectivity for vehicular communications in fading channels by considering vehicles traveling in opposite directions as well as in same direction.
Coolant pH control for optimum ceramic grinding Part II Influence of the rebinder effect on the surface grinding of aluminum oxide

Variations in the grinding (machining) properties of aluminum oxide attributable to the Rebinder effect, an environment-caused variation in the hardness of rock, ceramic, or glass, were investigated using conventional surface grinding equipment. Systematic variation in normal force, tangential force, roughness average, waviness average, and post grinding flexural strength were attributable to the grinding condition (coarse or fine) and the pH of the coolant. Observations in this study are consistent with a ductile/brittle grinding transition for fine grinding, a brittle/brittle grinding transition for coarse grinding and pH control of plastic deformation.
Synthesis and Electrical Properties of Derivatives of 1,4-bis(trialkylsilylethynyl)benzo[2,3-b:5,6-b']diindolizines.

A new class of nitrogen-containing arene organic semiconductors incorporating fused indolizine units is described. This system, though having a zigzag shape, mimics the electronic properties of its linear analogue pentacene as a result of nitrogen lone pair incorporation into the π-electron system. Solubilizing trialkylsilylethynyl groups were employed to target crystal packing motifs appropriate for field-effect transistor devices. The triethylsilylethynyl derivative yielded hole mobilities of 0.1 cm2 V–1 s–1 and on/off current ratios of 105.
Thrombospondin-derived peptide attenuates Sjögren's syndrome-associated ocular surface inflammation in mice.

Sjogren's syndrome is the second most common rheumatic disease in which autoimmune response targets exocrine glands (salivary and lacrimal glands) result in clinical symptoms of dry mouth and dry eye. Inflammation of the lacrimal gland induces tear abnormalities that contribute to the inflammation of the ocular surface, which includes ocular mucosa. Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) plays a critical regulatory role in the ocular mucosa and as such TSP-1-/- mice develop spontaneously chronic ocular surface inflammation associated with Sjogren's syndrome. The autoimmune pathology is also accompanied by a peripheral imbalance in regulatory (Treg ) and inflammatory Th17 effectors. In this study, we demonstrate an in-vitro effect of a CD47-binding TSP-derived peptide in the induction of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1-secreting forkhead box protein 2 (Foxp3+ ) Tregs from activated CD4+ CD25- T cells and the inhibition of pathogenic T helper type 17 (Th17)-promoting interleukin (IL)-23 derived from antigen-presenting cells. The in-vivo administration of this peptide promotes Foxp3+ Treg induction and inhibition of Th17 development. Consistent with these results, topical administration of CD47-binding TSP peptide, both before and after the onset of the disease, attenuates clinical symptoms of SS-associated dry eye in TSP-1-/- mice. Augmented expression of Foxp3 detected in the draining lymph nodes of TSP peptide -treated mice compared to those treated with control peptide suggests the ability of TSP peptide to restore peripheral immune imbalance. Thus, our results suggest that TSP-derived peptide attenuates Sjogren's syndrome-associated dry eye and autoimmune inflammation by preventing Th17 development while promoting the induction of Tregs . Collectively, our data identify TSP-derived peptide as a novel therapeutic option to treat autoimmune diseases.
Interochanteric fractures of the femur (hip).

Summary The unstable intertrochanteric fracture in the older patient is best treated by gaining stability with medial displacement and impacting the calcar into the medullary canal. The absence of stress allows internal fixation to maintain the reduction. Operative time is shortened and postoperative complications are lessened. Early weight bearing proves advantageous and early healing is the rule.
What Numbers Could Be; What Objects Could Be

Paul Benacerraf’s “What Numbers Could Not Be” (Benacerraf 1965) has dominated thinking in the philosophy of mathematics for almost 50 years.
Missed diagnoses in African Americans with obsessive-compulsive disorder: the structured clinical interview for DSM-IV Axis I disorders (SCID-I)

Research on the utility of structured interviews in assessing OCD is scarce, and even more so, in its use for OCD in African Americans. The purpose of this study was to examine the utility of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-I) in detecting OCD in African Americans when used by well-trained, culturally competent clinicians. Seventy-four African American adults with OCD were assessed with the SCID-I and additional measures of OCD. Results revealed the poor diagnostic utility of the SCID OCD section (SCID-OCD), with 66.2% (N = 49) correctly identified and 33.8% (N = 25) incorrectly diagnosed. Participants receiving the correct diagnosis were more likely to endorse compulsive behaviors, specifically ordering compulsions, and experience greater symptom severity. The lack of sensitivity for identification of OCD is discussed as the SCID-OCD seems to often miss a true diagnosis of OCD in African Americans.
Responses to Feedback: The Role of Acceptance, Affect, and Creative Behavior:

The feedback literature has largely been developed under two divergent assumptions: individuals are either passive receivers or proactive seekers of feedback. We bridge these two literatures using affective events theory and expand understanding of the relationships between feedback delivered as part of a performance evaluation process and self-sought feedback (feedback seeking) by theorizing about feedback through a within-person, episodic lens while focusing on an important organizational behavioral outcome—creative behavior. We offer a dynamic theoretical and empirical account of how feedback acceptance and activating positive affect transmit the effects of supervisor developmental feedback and individuals’ self-sought feedback on creative behavior. We collected 10 days of data using experience sampling methodology to test our hypotheses with a multilevel model. Results revealed that supervisor developmental feedback and self-sought feedback from peers were positively related to feedback acceptance, wh...
The spectrum of borderline personality disorder: a neurophysiological view.

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) has been defined as a personality disorder in all editions of DSM since 1980; namely, DSM III through V. The criteria are a mixture of symptoms and traits; the etiology, a heterogeneous array of genetic, constitutional, and environmental factors. Until recently the diagnosis relied on clinical descriptions. In the last two decades, neurophysiological data, including MRI and fMRI, have established correlates in various brain regions, particularly those involving the frontal lobes and various limbic structures, that show promise of providing a more substantial basis for diagnosis—relying primarily on (internal) brain changes, rather than on (external) clinical observation. Some of the changes in BPD consist of decreased volume in the orbitofrontal and dorsolateral prefrontal cortices and smaller volume in both the amygdala and hippocampus, though with heightened reactivity in the amygdala. Similar abnormalities have been noted in bipolar disorders (BDs) and in ADHD, both of which often accompany BPD and share certain clinical features. Persons with strong genetic predisposition to BDs can develop BPD even in the absence of adverse environmental factors; those with extreme adverse environmental factors (chiefly, early sexual molestation) can develop BPD in the absence of bipolar vulnerability. In some BPD patients, both sets of factors are present. As ideal treatment depends on careful analysis of these factors, neurophysiological testing may permit both more rational, brain-based diagnostic decisions and more appropriate therapeutic strategies.
BLyS/BR3 Receptor Signaling in the Biology and Pathophysiology of Aggressive B-Cell Lymphomas

Lymphoid neoplasms usually display various genetic alterations that dysregulate normal immune functions, primarily through abnormal cellular growth and survival mechanisms that expand and immortalize a single neoplastic clone, to the detriment of the indigenous normal immune system, and eventually the host. In addition to the nonrandom genetic translocations, other important cellular abnormalities are also involved. The abnormalities in cellular regulation generally occur in one or more of the following four areas: cell death, cell cycle progression, NF-κB activation, or critical signal transduction pathways, usually from cell surface growth and survival receptors. Recent studies of BLyS/BAFF family members, BLyS and APRIL, have shown their importance in non-Hodgkin’s B-cell lymphoma (NHL-B), chronic lymphoid leukemia (CLL), and plasma cell myeloma cell growth and survival. In this chapter, we will discuss how BLyS is involved in mechanisms of tumor cell proliferation and survival in these malignant lymphoid cells. Potential therapeutic approaches to these lymphoid malignances through inhibition of BLyS signaling pathways are also discussed.
Incisional Hernias as Emergencies

Despite improvements in suture materials and techniques of closure of abdominal incisions, hernias continue to occur. Accepted risk factors include the disease process that led to the laparotomy, obesity, the type of incision, the technique of closure, and a deep wound infection in the postoperative period.
Eigenvalues of Dirac and Rarita—Schwinger Operators

Let M=S 1 × S n-1 with metric Lorentzian or Riemannian and non-trivial spin structure on S 1, Riemannian metric and standard spin structure on S n-1, and n even. We give explicit formulas for the eigenvalues of Dirac and Rarita—Schwinger operators on M.
the Role of comparative effectiveness Research in medicine and Health

today , more than ever , health C are systems need to do more with less. Clinicians, decision-makers, and other stakeholders are seeking evidence-based healthcare practices that control expenditures while improving patient care. Of particular concern is the paucity of supportive clinical data related to alternative therapeutic options for the treatment of acute and chronic conditions. The demand for high-quality pharmacoepidemiologic and pharmacoeconomic research is at unprecedented levels, with government agencies, foundations, and private industry collectively committing billions of dollars in funding for studies examining the beneficial and unintended effects of medications. 1,2 Pharmacoepidemiology provides vital insights into effectiveness and safety, while pharmacoeconomics addresses value and costs given limited healthcare resources.
Testosterone Decreases House Dust Mite-Induced Type 2 and IL-17A-Mediated Airway Inflammation.

As adults, women are twice as likely as men to have asthma; however, the mechanisms explaining this sexual dimorphism remain unclear. Increased type 2 cytokines and/or IL-17A, leading to increased airway eosinophils and neutrophils, respectively, are associated with asthma. Previous studies showed that testosterone, signaling through the androgen receptor (AR), decreased Th2-mediated allergic inflammation and type 2 innate immune responses during allergic inflammation. Therefore, we hypothesized that testosterone and AR signaling attenuate type 2 and IL-17A–mediated airway inflammation. To test our hypothesis, sham-operated and gonadectomized female and male mice were intranasally challenged with house dust mite (HDM) or vehicle (PBS) for 3 wk. Testosterone decreased and ovarian hormones increased HDM-induced eosinophilic and neutrophilic inflammation, IgE production, and airway hyperresponsiveness, as well as decreased the numbers of IL-13 + CD4 Th2 cells and IL-17A + CD4 Th17 cells in the lung. Next, using wild-type male and female mice and AR tfm male mice that are unable to signal through the AR, we determined AR signaling intrinsically attenuated IL-17A + Th17 cells but indirectly decreased IL-13 + CD4 Th2 cells in the lung by suppressing HDM-induced IL-4 production. In vitro Th2 and Th17 differentiation experiments showed AR signaling had no direct effect on Th2 cell differentiation but decreased IL-17A protein expression and IL-23R mRNA relative expression from Th17 cells. Combined, these findings show AR signaling attenuated type 2 and IL-17A inflammation through different mechanisms and provide a potential explanation for the increased prevalence of asthma in women compared with men.
Pulmonary infectious complications after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a practical guide to clinicians.

Purpose of reviewThe current review highlights the most relevant articles on lung infections following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) published over the last year. Between 30 and 50% of HCT recipients will develop pulmonary infiltrates. These pulmonary complications may be infectious
Practice that Transforms Intergenerational Programs: A Model of Theory- and Evidence Informed Principles

ABSTRACTIntergenerational practitioners have identified documentation of impact as the greatest challenge. Intergenerational program outcomes are best understood when interpreted through a theory-r...
A photoactivatable crosslinking system reveals protein interactions in the Toxoplasma gondii inner membrane complex

The Toxoplasma gondii inner membrane complex (IMC) is an important organelle involved in parasite motility and replication. The IMC resides beneath the parasite’s plasma membrane and is composed of both membrane and cytoskeletal components. Although the protein composition of the IMC is becoming better understood, the protein–protein associations that enable proper functioning of the organelle remain largely unknown. Determining protein interactions in the IMC cytoskeletal network is particularly challenging, as disrupting the cytoskeleton requires conditions that disrupt protein complexes. To circumvent this problem, we demonstrate the application of a photoreactive unnatural amino acid (UAA) crosslinking system to capture protein interactions in the native intracellular environment. In addition to identifying binding partners, the UAA approach maps the binding interface of the bait protein used for crosslinking, providing structural information of the interacting proteins. We apply this technology to the essential IMC protein ILP1 and demonstrate that distinct regions of its C-terminal coiled-coil domain crosslink to the alveolins IMC3 and IMC6, as well as IMC27. We also show that the IMC3 C-terminal domain and the IMC6 N-terminal domain are necessary for binding to ILP1, further mapping interactions between ILP1 and the cytoskeleton. Together, this study develops a new approach to study protein–protein interactions in Toxoplasma and provides the first insight into the architecture of the cytoskeletal network of the apicomplexan IMC.