cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Developmental Variations in Factors Related to Initial and Increased Levels of Adolescent Drug Involvement

The impact of maternal and adolescent factors on initial and increased levels of drug use by adolescents was examined in two groups of adolescents: 210 younger adolescents (ages 12-14 at initial assessment) and 199 older adolescents (ages 15-18). The adolescents and their mothers were interviewed at 2 points in time, 3 years apart. The results indicated that adolescent unconventionality is a crucial determinant for both initial and increased levels of drug use for both age groups, but intrapsychic distress is more important for the younger adolescent's initial use. Lack of maternal attachment and poor control techniques were associated with initial levels of drug use for both groups. However, the mother-child relationship and models of the mother's unconventionality had a greater impact on the older than on the younger group's increased involvement. Interactive results suggest that adolescents from both age groups who are well adjusted can offset the potential risks of maternal models of drug use.
A Meta-Analysis of Achievement Motivation Differences between Entrepreneurs and Managers*

As a result of conflicting conclusions in primary studies, most narrative reviews have questioned the role of personality in explaining entrepreneurial behavior. We examine one stream of this research by conducting a meta-analysis of studies that contrast the achievement motivation of entrepreneurs and managers. The results indicate that entrepreneurs exhibit higher achievement motivation than managers and that these differences are influenced by the entrepreneur's venture goals, by the use of U.S. or foreign samples, and, to a less clear extent, by projective or objective instrumentation. Moreover, when the analysis is restricted to venture founders, the difference between entrepreneurs and managers on achievement motivation is substantially larger and the credibility intervals do not include zero.
A Short Measure of Perceived Empathy

This paper concerns the development of a short measure of perceived empathy. Developed in the context of research on sales performance, the scale provided indicators for perceived empathy as both a cognitive as well as an affective construct. While not being able to differentiate cleanly between affective and cognitive empathy, the resulting single-factor scale demonstrates good internal consistency and validity, being predictive of successful versus unsuccessful sales encounters.
Electroinactive coatings on platinum electrodes in aqueous solution

Abstract The voltammetric behaviour of platinum electrodes coated with a mixture of poly(4-vinyl-pyridine-co-styrene) and hexadecyl-methane-sulfonate is unusual and enlightening in several important respects. The metal can be oxidized under this coating and the resulting surface oxide can be reduced in two distinct steps. The intermediate, half-reduced, species is a platinum-pyridyl complex which is also formed during the reduction of the surface oxide at platinum electrodes in aqueous pyridine solutions. The formation of this complex competes with the adsorption of aliphatic alcohols from solution. This inhibition provides an analytical response to a variety of alcohols with moderate detection limits.
Hypoxic preconditioning triggers myocardial angiogenesis: a novel approach to enhance contractile functional reserve in rat with myocardial infarction.

A modern experimental strategy for treating myocardial ischemia is to induce neovascularization of the heart by the use of "angiogens", mediators that induce the formation of blood vessels, or angiogenesis. Studies demonstrated that coronary collateral vessels protect ischemic myocardium after coronary obstruction; therefore we sought to examine a novel method of stimulating myocardial angiogenesis through hypoxic preconditioning at both capillary (using anti-CD31) and arteriolar (using anti- alpha smooth muscle actin) levels and also investigate whether such treatments could preserve left ventricular contractile functional reserve and regional blood flow by increasing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: normoxia+sham surgery (CS), normoxia+permanent left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) occlusion (CMI), hypoxic preconditioning+sham surgery (HS) and hypoxic preconditioning+permanent LAD occlusion (HMI). Rats in the preconditioned groups were subjected to systemic hypoxemic hypoxic exposure (10+/-0.4% O(2)) for 4 h followed by a 24 h period of normoxic reoxygenation prior to undergoing LAD occlusion. Rats in the normoxia group were time matched with the preconditioned group and maintained under normoxic conditions for a 28 h period prior to LAD occlusion. Western blot analysis was performed to measure VEGF expression and TUNEL staining with endothelial cell-specific antibody, anti-VWF, was used to examine endothelial apoptosis. One, two and three weeks after the LAD occlusion, baseline left ventricular pressures were monitored and recorded. Pharmacological stress tests with dobutamine infusion in progressively increasing doses revealed significantly elevated contractile reserve at each dose point in the HMI group compared to the CMI group. The HMI group displayed statistically significant increases in capillary as well as arteriolar density after 1, 2 and 3 weeks post-operation. Blood flow was also significantly elevated in the HMI groups when compared to the CMI group. The extent of endothelial cell apoptosis was found to be inversely proportional to VEGF expression. It was concluded that hypoxic preconditioning stimulates myocardial angiogenesis to an extent sufficient to exert significant cardioprotection in a rat model of myocardial infarction progressing to heart failure as evidenced by increased capillary/arteriolar density and enhanced ventricular contractile functional reserve.
Late effects from hadron therapy

Successful cancer patient survival and local tumor control from hadron radiotherapy warrant a discussion of potential secondary late effects from the radiation. The study of late-appearing clinical effects from particle beams of protons, carbon, or heavier ions is a relatively new field with few data. However, new clinical information is available from pioneer hadron radiotherapy programs in the USA, Japan, Germany and Switzerland. This paper will review available data on late tissue effects from particle radiation exposures, and discuss its importance to the future of hadron therapy. Potential late radiation effects are associated with irradiated normal tissue volumes at risk that in many cases can be reduced with hadron therapy. However, normal tissues present within hadron treatment volumes can demonstrate enhanced responses compared to conventional modes of therapy. Late endpoints of concern include induction of secondary cancers, cataract, fibrosis, neurodegeneration, vascular damage, and immunological, endocrine and hereditary effects. Low-dose tissue effects at tumor margins need further study, and there is need for more acute molecular studies underlying late effects of hadron therapy.
Oxidation of a water-soluble phosphine and some spectroscopic probes with nitric oxide and nitrous acid in aqueous solutions.

In acidic aqueous solutions, nitrogen monoxide oxidizes monosulfonated triphenylphosphine, TPPMS−, to the corresponding phosphine oxide. The NO-derived product is N2O. This chemistry parallels that reported for the reaction of NO with the unsubstituted triphenylphosphine in nonpolar organic solvents, but the rate constant measured in this work, 5.14 × 106 M−2 s−1, is greater by several orders of magnitude. This makes TPPMS− a useful analytical reagent for NO in aqueous solution. The increased rate constant in the present work appears to be a medium effect, and unrelated to the introduction of a single sulfonate group in the phosphine. The reaction between nitrous acid and TPPMS− has a 2:1 [TPPMS−]/[HNO2] stoichiometry and generates NH2OH quantitatively. The rate law, rate = 4kd[HNO2]2[TPPMS−], identifies the second-order self-reaction of HNO2 as the rate-limiting step that generates the active oxidant(s) for the fast subsequent reaction with TPPMS−. It appears that the active oxidant is N2O3, although the...
Barrier-controlled current conduction in field-controlled thyristors

Abstract An empirical analysis of the current conduction in field controlled thyristors under channel barrier height controlled current flow has been performed. This analysis shows that the device current increases exponentially with decreasing gate voltage and increases exponentially as the fifth root of the anode voltage. Based upon this analysis, an expression relating the blocking gain of these devices to the gate voltage and the anode current has been obtained.
Toward a general theory of fertility: a causal modeling approach

A general theory of fertility is derived hypothesizing that the demand for children is primarily an outcome of social psychological processes within the family, subject to certain socioeconomic constraints. Two broad social psychological processes are posited as determinants of fertility. The first suggests that the attitudes or tastes of family members influence the demand for children. The second maintains that the nature of the husband-wife interaction (in terms of power, conflict, decision making, and marital satisfaction) determines family size. Socioeconomic variables, in the form of the normative social structure and social stratification, and economic constraints, such as income and price, are hypothesized to influence fertility through their impact on social psychological processes within the family. The overall theory is tested on two independent samples—one in Ankara, Turkey, the second in Mexico City, Mexico—using a structural equation methodology.
Nil’s and Iosif’s Rhetoric of Starchestvo

The ideal master-disciple relationship or Starchestvo associated with Paisii Velichkovskii (1722-92) and his epigones rests on a complex monastic legacy stretching back to Christian Antiquity and includes early Russia’s two greatest native writing elders, Nil Sorskii (1433/4-1508) and Iosif Volotskii (1439/40-1515). Pedagogical networks, circulation of texts, structural continuities, and workings of the hierarchy’s nomenklatura system in the 16th century contributed to the solidification of Nil’s and Iosif’s literary and institutional legacy in which this rhetoric was embedded and expressed. Their genres and sub-genres combine testament, regulation, sermon, systematic exposition, polemic, hagiography, and epistle, all freely utilizing maxims, enthymemes (rhetorical syllogisms, sometimes as questions), emotional appeals, scare stories, and insults, as well as poetic imagery. Both recognize the disciples’ active role in master’s success, as they address a variety of audiences. Nil’s spiritual treatise discusses the need for the “reliable” teacher, while his epistles place each recipient in his proper relationship to authority. Iosif directly speaks in turn to the pastor and the senior elders and officials of their responsibilities; he shows the multiplicity of authority lines within the large cenobium; and he polemically defends formal structures and discipline. His hagiography depicts the ideal elder as advising hesychast-hermit, community disciplinarian, and politically indispensible supplicant to God. Crucial for our overall sense of Starchestvo, Iosif’s applies the New Testament maxims concerning “binding” and “loosing” to the teacher as teacher, while Nil’s Tradition/Instruction, specifying that only those qualified to listen and speak guide others, bridges to the modern era.
Comparison of signal peak detection algorithms for self-gated cardiac cine MRI

Self-gating (SG) is a cardiac MRI technique to synchronize data acquisition to the cardiac cycle based upon MR signal triggers as opposed to conventional ECG triggers. Fourteen healthy subjects underwent cardiac MRI scans in four different orientations: two chamber, three chamber, four chamber, and short axis. SG trigger times were computed using two methods, first difference and template matching, and ECG trigger times were also recorded for comparison. The root-mean-square (RMS) error was used to evaluate performance, defined as the variability relative to the mean difference between SG trigger times and ECG trigger times. The mean RMS error was lower for template matching than first difference approach for all scan orientations; the improvement in RMS error was statistically significant for all orientations except short axis. In conclusion, compared to the first difference approach, template matching improved the accuracy of trigger detection for two, three, and four chamber SG cardiac MRI scans.
The Effect of Nitrogen Sparging on the Long Term Stability of the Breakdown Electric Field Strength in a Repetitively Pulsed Oil Dielectric Switch

Summary form only given. Oil dielectrics, particularly hydrocarbon fluids, are often employed in applications involving dielectric breakdown. The reliability of the breakdown strength of the fluid, in its role as a switching medium, is frequently of great concern because unexpectedly low or high breakdown strength can produce timing errors, or worse yet, equipment failures. It is known from published investigations of breakdown electric fields that significant water contamination of an oil dielectric may significantly influence the breakdown strength of the oil. The effect of lowering the concentration of water in the oil, on the other hand, is less well known for most of the published experimental investigations of oil breakdown do not report the concentration of water present at the time of the tests. This paper explores the effects of water concentration on the repeatability of the breakdown strength of 1-decene, dimmer, which is known by its generic name, poly-alpha olefin, or PAO. Water concentration is controlled by passing dried nitrogen through the oil in a process known as 'gas sparging," which reduces the dissolved water suspended in the oil. Water concentration is monitored by periodically sampling the oil, utilizing a Karl-Fischer coulometric (water) analyzer to ascertain the concentration of water. The l-decene, dimer test fluid was allowed to remain in contact with the humid ambient environment for several months in order to accumulate a concentration of water. Prior to testing, the system was operated for 80times103 shots. Oil sampled before the experiment was found to have an initial water concentration of 19.9plusmn0.5 ppmv, and oil sampled following the sparging process was found to have a concentration of 16.2plusmn0.7 ppmv. The water content decreased to 10plusmn3 ppm following subsequent operation of the hydraulic pumping system and sparging. Our test results suggest that repetitive switching through a liquid dielectric may also reduce the water concentration of the dielectric.
Exploiting Chemical Switching in a Diels–Alder Polymer for Nanoscale Probe Lithography and Data Storage

Reversibly crosslinked polymer films have properties that are beneficial to scanned-probe data storage and lithographic applications that use thermomechanical nanoindentation as a write or expose mechanism. The novel polymer under study contains linkages based on thermally reversible Diels-Alder crosslinking. Thermomechanical properties on the nanometer scale are analyzed by indentation experiments on polymer thin films using heated tips. The underlying indentation mechanism is studied at varying tip temperatures and indentation times, revealing Arrhenius kinetics. This is in contrast to the Williams-Landau-Ferry kinetics usually observed for polymer systems. The discrepancy is explained by the reversible crosslinking incorporated into the structure of the polymer that allows switching between two different states: a rigid, highly crosslinked, low-temperature state, and a deformable, fragmented, high-temperature state. An individual indentation volume of less than 10 -20 L (10 000 molecule pairs) is estimated. These kinetics experiments demonstrate that a chemical reaction of only a few thousand molecules can be transduced into a mechanically measurable action. The ability to cycle between two sets of properties in these materials opens up new perspectives in lithography and data storage. Examples of data storage with densities up to 1 Tb in. -2 and maskless lithography with resolution below 20 nm are demonstrated at writing times of 10 [is per bit/pixel.
Determination of guided and leaky modes in lossless and lossy planar multilayer optical waveguides: reflection pole method and wavevector density method

Two numerical methods, the reflection pole method (RPM) and the wavevector density method (WDM), are introduced for determining the propagation constants of guided and leaky modes in lossless and lossy planar multilayer waveguides. These methods are based on the extraction of propagation constants from Lorentzian-type peaks of the reflection coefficient (RPM) or on the density of wavevectors of the structure (WDM). Furthermore, in the case of the RPM the propagation constants can be determined with the help of the phase variation of the denominator of the reflection coefficient in conjunction with an optimization procedure. Both methods are tested on numerically "challenging" multilayer waveguides such as a two-metal-layer waveguide, a multilayer lossy waveguide, and an ARROW waveguide. The results produced by both methods are in good agreement with other numerical techniques but are obtained without the need for solving a dispersion equation in the complex plane. In addition, an approximate but easily implementable method is proposed which verifies whether a cluster of radiation modes can be accurately represented by a single leaky mode.
Evidence of changes in brain tissue stiffness after ischemic stroke derived from ultrasound-based elastography.

OBJECTIVES Ischemia, edema, elevated intracranial pressure, and reduced blood flow can occur in the brain as a result of ischemic stroke, including contralateral to the stroke via a process known as diaschisis. In this study, ultrasound elastography, an imaging process sensitive to the stiffness of tissue, including its relative fluid content, was used to study changes in the stiffness of individual cerebral hemispheres after transient ischemic injury. METHODS Elastographic images of mouse brains were collected 24 and 72 hours after middle cerebral artery occlusion. The shear moduli of both ipsilateral and contralateral brain hemispheres for these mice were measured and compared to corresponding values of control animals. RESULTS At 24 hours (but not 72 hours) after induction of ischemic stroke, there was a significant decrease in the shear modulus in the ipsilateral hemisphere (P < .01) and a significant increase in the shear modulus in the contralateral hemisphere compared to that of control animals (P < .01). Significant differences were also evident between ipsilateral and contralateral shear modulus values at 24 and 72 hours after infarction (P < .01 for both). CONCLUSIONS The differences between intrahemispheric averages of shear moduli of the brains of animals with stroke at 24 and 72 hours after stroke induction likely reflect the initial formation of edema and reduction of cerebral blood flow known to develop ipsilateral to ischemic infarction, the known transient increase in intracranial pressure, as well as the known initial reduction of blood flow and subsequent development of edema in the contralateral hemisphere (diaschisis). Thus, elastography offers a possible method to detect subtle changes in brain after ischemic stroke.
Outbreak of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Colonization and Infection in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Epidemiologically Linked to a Healthcare Worker With Chronic Otitis

Objective To describe the investigation and interventions necessary to contain an outbreak of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization and infection in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Design Retrospective case finding that involved prospective performance of surveillance cultures for detection of MRSA and molecular typing of MRSA by repetitive-sequence polymerase chain reaction (rep-PCR). Setting Level III NICU in a tertiary care center. Participants Three neonates in a NICU were identified with MRSA bloodstream infection on April 16, 2004. A point prevalence survey identified 6 additional colonized neonates (attack rate, 75% [9 of 12 neonates]). The outbreak strain was phenotypically unusual. Interventions Cohorting and mupirocin therapy were initiated for neonates who had acquired MRSA during the outbreak. Contact precautions were introduced in the NICU, and healthcare workers (HCWs) were retrained in cleaning and disinfection procedures and hand hygiene. Noncolonized neonates and newly admitted patients had surveillance cultures performed 3 times per week. Results Two new colonized neonates were identified 1 month later. HCW X, who had worked in the NICU since June 2003, was identified as having chronic otitis. MRSA was isolated from cultures of swab specimens from HCW X's ear canal and nares. HCW X was epidemiologically linked to the outbreak. Molecular typing (by rep-PCR) confirmed that the isolates from HCW X and from the neonates were more than 90% similar. Retrospective review of NICU isolates revealed that the outbreak strain was initially cultured from a neonate 2 months after HCW X began working on the unit. The epidemic strain was eradicated after removing HCW X from patient care in the NICU. Conclusion An outbreak of MRSA colonization and infection in a NICU was epidemiologically linked to a HCW with chronic otitis externa and nasal colonization with MRSA. Eradication was not achieved until removal of HCW X from the NICU. Routine surveillance for MRSA may have allowed earlier recognition of the outbreak and is now standard practice in our NICU.
National Heroics: Bullfighters, Machismo and the Cult of Celebrity

Bullfighting, in its newly transformed format, served as a rich source for artists in its overt performativity. Although images of bull-related themes exist before 1700, it was not until the second half of the eighteenth century that taurine subjects became fashionable in Spanish visual culture. As the fighters achieved celebrity status, such heroics were often considered in patriotic terms. The bullfighters' bravado exemplified their bodily performance of machismo. Such machismo was regarded by many as an expression of national pride. By considering chiefly visual examples, I discuss the cult of celebrity that surrounded the bullfight during the late eighteenth century.
Human Pose Inference from Stereo Cameras

In this paper, a Bayesian mixture expert (BME) framework for the estimation of 3D human poses from two uncalibrated wide-baseline cameras is presented. The two cameras will reduce the ambiguities of the pose estimation greatly and is easy to implement. BME is learnt to conduct multimodal pose estimation regression. K-means algorithm considering Euclidean distance and maximum-value distance for the joint angle vector is used for the initial clustering in BME learning. This will give the better cluster results to separate the ambiguous poses into different experts. Also a weighted PCA is implemented in an expectation-maximization (EM) framework to learn the parameters of the BME. This can reduce the dimension of the training data more effectively compared with global PCA. The system is trained with synthesized silhouettes from motion capture data. The experimental results on synthesized and real images illustrate that our approach does not need precise camera calibration and can estimate the poses effectively
Initiation/promotion bioassay in rat liver: use of gamma glutamyltranspeptidase-positive foci to indicate carcinogenic activity.

Gamma Glutamyltranspeptidase (GGTase)-positive foci have been used to indicate activity in an initiation/promotion bioassay in rat liver. This rat liver foci bioassay has been proposed for inclusion in tier 2 of a three tier decision tree approach to carcinogenesis testing where it would function to confirm carcinogenic activity. The assay was sensitive to hepatocarcinogens and some non-hepatocarcinogens and was able to distinguish between tumor initiators and tumor promoters. The induction of GGTase-positive foci by methylating agents was associated with the formation of O6-methylguanine and not N-7 methylguanine, which would indicate a mutagenic origin for the foci. The foci once induced did not regress over the life time of the animal. Zonal induction of GGTase activity was induced by some promoters which confounded the scoring of foci incidence. The results to date indicate that the rat liver foci bioassay warrants further validation for inclusion in tier 2 and emphasizes the need to demonstrate the predictive and precursor relationship of GGTase-positive foci to cancer.
X-ray diffuse scattering study of irradiation induced dislocation loops in copper†‡

The use of X-ray diffuse scattering to carry out detailed investigations of vacancy and interstitial loops in ion and neutron irradiated copper is discussed. The theory and interpretation of asymptotic diffuse scattering near Bragg reflections are considered, and calculations are presented for the asymptotic diffuse scattering from faulted vacancy and interstitial loops in copper. Diffuse scattering measurements near the 222 reflection for copper irradiated with fast neutrons or with high energy Ni ions are analyzed to obtain separate size distributions for vacancy and interstitial loops, and the size distributions are discussed in relation to existing electron microscopy results. Asymptotic X-ray diffuse scattering is applied to the study of the thermal evolution of dislocation loops in Ni ion-irradiated copper as well.
Wideband powerline positioning for indoor localization

Fingerprinting techniques for indoor localization have been widely explored. A particular approach by Patel et al. suggested leveraging of the residential powerline as the signaling mechanism for a domestic location capability. In this paper, we critically examine that initial work, called powerline positioning (PLP). We find the proposed technique lacking in temporal stability, requiring frequent and undesired recalibration in some environments. We also determine that there is no a priori method to determine a pair of signaling frequencies that will reliably work in any space. We propose a wideband approach to PLP (WPLP) that injects up to 44 different frequencies into the powerline. We show that this WPLP approach improves upon overall positioning accuracy, demonstrates greatly improved temporal stability and has the added advantage of working in commercial indoor spaces.
Fiber Length Measurement by Image Processing

To act as an alternative to existing systems, image-based fiber length measurements must yield precise results in a reasonable amount of processing time. To be used as a calibration device for curr...
Current and future therapies for hepatitis C virus infection.

from less than 10% with the initial regimen of interferon monotherapy to more than 70% with current therapy. Moreover, many other drugs targeting viral or host factors are in development, and some will almost certainly be approved in the coming years. The questions of who should be treated and with what regimen will be increasingly complex to address and will require careful consideration. As therapy improves, systemwide identification and care of patients who need treatment will be the next challenge. Because most infected persons are unaware of their diagnosis, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently recommended screening for HCV all persons born between 1945 and 1965. 2,3 It is anticipated that in the course of such a screening process, a large number of persons will be found to be infected with the virus; whether it will be possible to treat all these people is unclear. This article reviews the current therapy for HCV infection and the landscape of drug development.
Peroxisome proliferators disrupt retinoic acid receptor alpha signaling in the testis.

Peroxisome proliferators include a diverse group of chemicals, some of which have been demonstrated to be testicular toxicants. However, the mechanism by which peroxisome proliferators, such as phthalates, cause testicular damage is not clear. It is known that retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARa) and its retinoic acid ligand, the acid form of vitamin A, are required for spermatogenesis. It has been demonstrated that the absence of RARa gene or vitamin A in the animal leads to testis degeneration and sterility. Therefore, any compound that disrupts the action of vitamin A in the testis could potentially be damaging to male fertility. The current investigation examined a novel hypothesis that a mechanism of degeneration by peroxisome proliferators in the testis is due, in part, to disruption of the critical RARa signaling pathway. We show that peroxisome proliferators were able to disrupt the retinoic acid-induced nuclear localization of RARa and the retinoic acid-stimulated increase in transcriptional activity of a retinoic acid-responsive reporter gene in Sertoli cells. Concomitantly, peroxisome proliferators increased the nuclear localization of PPARa and the transcriptional activity of a peroxisome proliferator-responsive reporter gene in these cells. These results indicate that peroxisome proliferators can indeed shift the balance of nuclear localization for RARa and PPARa, resulting in deactivation of the critical RARa transcriptional activity in Sertoli cells. Sertoli cells, spermatogenesis, steroid hormone receptors, testis, toxicology
RHEOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF CARBOXYMETHYLCELLULOSE SOLUTION UNDER ASEPTIC PROCESSING CONDITIONS

The rheology of Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) solutions, which are widely used as carrier fluids in aseptic processing simulations, was studied. Effects such as time dependency, recovery, and viscoelasticity were studied. A model was developed to determine the apparent viscosity of CMC solutions as a function of shear rate, temperature, and concentration. The model can be used in process design from both a fluid mechanics standpoint and a heat transfer standpoint. It was found that the solutions behaved as pseudoplastic fluids that were irreversibly thixotropic and also viscoelastic. La rheologie de solutions de carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), qui sont souvent utilisees en tant que fluides de transport dans des simulations de procede aseptique, est etudiee. Les effets tels que la dependance du temps, la recuperation et la viscoelasticite sont evalues. Un modele est developpe pour determiner la viscosite apparente des solutions de CMC en fonction du taux de cisaillement, de la temperature et de la concentration.
Perivascular epithelioid tumours (PEComas) of the gynaecological tract

Perivascular epithelioid tumours (PEComas) of the gynaecological tract are rare tumours which were first recognised and diagnosed within the last 20 years. They represent a unique diagnostic challenge with regard to their accurate and reproducible distinction from more common entities such as smooth muscle tumours of the uterine corpus. In this review article, we trace the development of the concept of the PEComa tumour family, highlight what is known about extra-gynaecological tract PEComa at an immunohistochemical, molecular and therapeutic level and then present a summary of all reported cases of gynaecological tract PEComa to date. In the summary, we highlight rare subtypes of gynaecological tract PEComa and compare the performances of extant prognostic classification systems for malignancy in these tumours.
Active site mutations change the cleavage specificity of neprilysin.

Neprilysin (NEP), a member of the M13 subgroup of the zinc-dependent endopeptidase family is a membrane bound peptidase capable of cleaving a variety of physiological peptides. We have generated a series of neprilysin variants containing mutations at either one of two active site residues, Phe563 and Ser546. Among the mutants studied in detail we observed changes in their activity towards leucine5-enkephalin, insulin B chain, and amyloid β1–40. For example, NEPF563I displayed an increase in preference towards cleaving leucine5-enkephalin relative to insulin B chain, while mutant NEPS546E was less discriminating than neprilysin. Mutants NEPF563L and NEPS546E exhibit different cleavage site preferences than neprilysin with insulin B chain and amyloid s1–40 as substrates. These data indicate that it is possible to alter the cleavage site specificity of neprilysin opening the way for the development of substrate specific or substrate exclusive forms of the enzyme with enhanced therapeutic potential.
Standardization of Serum Ceruloplasmin Concentrations in International Enzyme Units with o-Dianisidine Dihydrochloride as Substrate

We describe a method for calculating the absorptivity (in terms of substrate consumed) of the colored solution obtained when o -dianisidine dihydrochloride is oxidized by ceruloplasmin. By oxidizing o -dianisidine dihydrochloride with known amounts of hydrogen peroxide we could determine that the molar reacting ratio of o -dianisidine to hydrogen peroxide is 2:1. So calculated, absorptivity is 9.6 ml µmol -1 cm -1 , the figure used to estimate ceruloplasmin oxidase activity in terms of International Units.
Investors' Overreaction to an Extreme Event: Evidence from the World Trade Center Terrorist Attack

This paper investigates whether investors overreacted to the World Trade Center terrorist attack, using insurers' stock returns. Short-term abnormal return reversals are observed after the 9/11 attack. The reversals may reflect the substantially increased uncertainty surrounding insurer stocks after the event, meaning that the price reactions are efficient risk adjustments. However, after controlling for the change in risk, I still find evidence of price reversals, which I attribute to investor overreaction. To bolster this claim, I provide cross-sectional evidence that reversals are stronger for insurers with higher information asymmetry, which have wider ex-ante bid-ask spreads and smaller numbers of analysts following. This result indicates that the reversals are likely due to behavioral biases.
Residential Property Taxation: Is Periodic Reassessment Worth It?

Most of the states that tax residential property determine the tax base through a periodic reassessment (PR) of properties based on sales of comparable properties. Two states replaced the PR approach with assessment based on acquisition value (AV = purchase price) with an annual in‡ation adjustment. Many others continue to periodically reassess, but have directly or indirectly set low caps on the growth rate of taxable value. The research tested the null hypothesis that the PR approach yields no more taxable residential value than an AV approach, which costs less to administer and eliminates the threat that rising property values could evict someone from their home. The econometric analysis of an unbalanced panel from 31 states over the period 1979-2005 yielded mixed results. Consistent with conventional wisdom, terminating PR in favor of an AV approach can have a signi…cant short-run impact. But the short-run …nding is not robust. It is driven by the data for Oregon, and disappears or weakens signi…cantly if the Oregon data are adjusted for Oregon’s late-90’s assessment rollback. Consistent with the presence of long-term
Hybrid Optoplasmonic Structures and Materials: from New Physics to New Functionalities

We develop hybrid optoplasmonic architectures to tailor resonant energy transfer between trapped photons, plasmons, quantum emitters and elementary heat carriers for emission manipulation, radiative cooling, imaging, and ultrasensitive detection.
Phytophagous Insects on Carduus macrocephalus in Italy

One hundred nine species of phytophagous insects from 6 orders and 33 families fed or reproduced on the thistle, Carduus macrocephalus Desfontaines, a biennial or winter annual in Italy. About ½ the species attacking this plant were polyphagous. Fifteen species were restricted to the tribe Cynareae; and another 16 species were restricted to the subtribe Carduniae. Only 42 of the 109 species were endophagous. Among species host specific enough to permit consideration as biological control agents, only Psylliodes chalcomera (Illiger), Ceuthorrhynchidius horridus (Panzer), and Rhinocyllus conicus (Frolich) have been studied; Ceutorhynchus trimaculatus (F) and Cheilosia grossa (Fallen) are being studied; and Urophora stolstitialis (L.), U. sibynata Rondani, Cheilosia cynocephala Loew, Epiblema pflugiana Haworth, and Agromyza n.sp. near reptans should be studied.
Antinatriuretic effect of intramuscular cadmium in rats.

SummaryDuring the second day after an im injection of 1 mg of cadmium/kg of body weight, normal 200 g rats averaged 42 μEq less urinary sodium than control animals. This antinatriuretic effect increased with successive doses of cadmium, reaching an average of 68 μEq after the fourth such dose. There was a corresponding increase in weight on the day after each cadmium injection. Rebound natriuresis was observed 1 and 2 weeks after the first dose of cadmium; it was less evident after the second dose and was completely absent after the third and fourth doses. Cadmium produced no corresponding change in urinary volume, protein, potassium, cadmium, or zinc. Six months after the fourth cadmium injection, there was no hypertension but there was a suggestive, if insignificant, increase in peripheral renin as well as a decrease in responsiveness to nor-epinephrine but not to either angiotensin or cadmium.
Capillary Fragility and Vitamin C

Summary1. Determinations of capillary resistance to negative pressure were made in 100 normal individuals. 2. Attention is called to the high degree of variation in values for the capillary resista...
The Effect of Descriptive Norms on Pregaming Frequency: Tests of Five Moderators.

ABSTRACTBackground: Pregaming is highly prevalent on college campuses and associated with heightened levels of intoxication and risk of alcohol consequences. However, research examining the correlates of pregaming behavior is limited. Descriptive norms (i.e., perceptions about the prevalence or frequency of a behavior) are reliable and comparatively strong predictors of general drinking behavior, with recent evidence indicating that they are also associated with pregaming. Objectives: We tested the hypothesis that higher descriptive norms for pregaming frequency would be associated with personal pregaming frequency. We also tested whether this effect would be stronger in the context of several theory-based moderators: female gender, higher injunctive norms (i.e., perceptions of others' attitudes toward a particular behavior), a more positive attitude toward pregaming, a stronger sense of identification with the drinking habits of other students, and stronger social comparison tendencies. Methods: College ...
Inorganic Polyphosphate Promotes Cyclin D1 Synthesis Through Activation of mTOR/Wnt/β-catenin Signaling in Endothelial Cells

SummaryBackground Inorganic polyphosphate (polyP) elicits intracellular signaling responses in endothelial cells through activation of mTOR complexes 1 and 2. Glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3) is known to be a negative regulator of mTOR and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways. Objective The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of polyP on the expression, degradation and subcellular localization of the Wnt/β-catenin target gene, cyclin D1, in endothelial cells. Methods Regulation of cyclin D1 expression, phosphorylation and subcellular localization by polyP or platelet releasates was monitored in the absence and presence of pharmacological inhibitors and/or siRNA for specific molecules of the upstream mTOR/Wnt/β-catenin signaling network by established methods. Results Both purified polyP and boiled-platelet releasates induced the phosphorylation-dependent inactivation of GSK-3, thereby increasing the expression and nuclear localization, but inhibiting the degradation of cyclin D1. Inhibitors of mTORC1 (PI3K, AKT, PLC, PKC), rapamycin and siRNA for raptor (mTORC1-specific component) and β-catenin, all inhibited polyP-mediated regulation of cyclin D1 expression, phosphorylation and subcellular localization in endothelial cells. The signaling effect of polyP was effectively inhibited by the recombinant extracellular domain of the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) and/or by the RAGE siRNA. Specific pharmacological inhibitors and siRNA knockdown of ERK1/2 and NF-κB pathways indicated that polyP-mediated cyclin D1 expression and nuclear localization are IKKɑ- and ERK1/2-dependent, whereas its inhibitory effect on phosphorylation-dependent degradation of cyclin D1 is IKKβ-dependent. Conclusion We conclude that a RAGE-dependent polyP-mediated crosstalk between mTOR and GSK-3/Wnt/β-catenin signaling network can modulate important physiological processes in endothelial cells. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
On the Objective Function of an Economic System

Current economic theory is subdivided into a number of different branches, such as the microeconomic theory of value and prices, the macroeconomic theory of income determination, the theories of general equilibrium, welfare economics, international trade, public finance, and monetary theory. Subdivision of subject matter is natural in any science; as the science progresses and increases the breadth of its subject matter the subdivisions adjust to accomodate the increase in understanding: economics has been no exception to this process.
Expanding the Spectral Resolution of Single-Molecule Localization Microscopy with Bodipy-Based Photoswitchable Fluorophores

Single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM) has become an important tool for studying molecular biology. Through the use of photoswitchable fluorophores, SMLM can accurately localize individual molecules with 10-20 nm resolution, an order of magnitude better than conventional fluorescence microscopy. While SMLM succeeds in locating individual molecules, it is limited to 4-color emission based imaging due to the standard bandpass filter technology used to generate multicolor images, restricting the number of molecular entities that can be simultaneously localized in a single sample. The development of multi-spectral superresolution microscopy (MSSRM) improves the spectral resolution of SMLM enabling up to 20 color imaging in a single sample. However, MSSRM is currently restricted by the spectrally limited conventional fluorophores with adequate photoswitching for SMLM. Herein, we designed, synthesized and validated a series of novel BODIPY-based fluorophores with appropriate photoswitching for SMLM that span the visible spectrum permitting high-resolution, multi-color images using our MSSRM. The BODIPY-based probes were selected from a 110 member library of compounds synthesized through modification of a core BODIPY FL scaffold with diverse aromatic rings using a solid phase synthetic platform. All BODIPY-based probes were characterized for absorption and emission properties as well as key photoswitching properties to facilitate selection of the ideal probes for SMLM and MSSRM. Through labeling known cellular structures with selected BODIPY-based probes, we demonstrated that multiple fluorophores could be accurately resolved when excited by the same laser line due to varied length Stokes shifts. The developed BODIPY-based probes for SMLM will be beneficial in advancing understanding of cellular spatial organization by enabling the localization of an increased number of molecular compounds simultaneously.
Reward Seeking and Cognitive Control: Using the Dual Systems Model to Predict Adolescent Sexual Behavior

Research has provided support for the dual systems model of adolescent risk taking, but the model has rarely been applied to sexual behavior. Using data from the NICHD SECCYD (N = 958; Mage = 15.07, SD = 0.18), this study examined the effects of cognitive control, reward seeking, and their interaction on sexual behavior. Results of structural equation models revealed that performance on behavioral tasks assessing reward seeking and cognitive control uniquely predicted sexual intercourse, but the interaction between them was not significant. For oral sex, only cognitive control was a significant predictor. The findings provide additional support for the dual systems model, and suggest that reward seeking and cognitive control make unique contributions to adolescent sexual behavior.
Sepsis and Acute Myeloid Leukemia: A Population-Level Study of Comparative Outcomes of Patients Discharged From Texas Hospitals

Abstract Background In the United States, approximately 750,000 cases of sepsis occur annually, and 28% to 50% of affected people die. Treatment is costly, often involving admission to the intensive care unit and prolonged hospitalization. We evaluated outcomes of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and sepsis in Texas. Patients and Methods We conducted a population-based cohort study of adults discharged from Texas hospitals during 2011, using ICD-9-CM codes and the Texas Inpatient Data Collection. Results A total of 2,173,776 adults were discharged from hospitals in Texas, and 5501 (0.25%) had a diagnosis of AML. Among patients with AML, 40% were ≥ 65 years old, and 52% were men. The rate of sepsis for AML patients was 16% compared to 4% for non-AML patients. Among patients with AML, sepsis was associated with pneumonia, acute renal failure, and hematologic dysfunctions in 34%, 32%, and 29% of discharges, respectively. Median length of stay, intensive care unit admission rate, and median hospital charges per stay for patients with AML and sepsis were 13 days (range, 1-133 days), 72%, and $122,333, respectively. Among in-hospital deaths due to sepsis, mortality was 30% in AML patients compared to 21% in non-AML patients. Conclusion Patients with AML had a higher sepsis incidence and higher mortality rates overall, especially in relation to stem-cell transplant recipients and those with other types of cancer. Clinical trials are needed to determine whether early intervention or treatment in specialized centers could improve outcomes and reduce costs of care, particularly in the management of serious complications such as sepsis.
Nonlinear Endomicroscopy Imaging Technology for Translational Applications

Nonlinear endomicroscopic imaging technology has emerged as a strong candidate for potentially enabling clinical translation of the powerful multiphoton imaging microscopy technology. With the development of ultrafast light sources followed by the initial demonstration of multiphoton microscopy in 1990, the field of nonlinear optical imaging has been expanded rapidly towards assessing biological tissue microstructures and functions. In this book chapter we present an overview of the underlying theory of nonlinear signal generation, tight focusing and resolution, and explore the multiple challenges associated with designing nonlinear ultracompact endoscopic probes that are needed for in vivo imaging of internal organs and the various solutions available. Specifically, we cover light delivery, beam scanning and signal collection. Finally, we review a few emerging applications, including preterm birth diagnosis, lung and breast cancer imaging.