cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Non-contact adhesion to self-affine surfaces: A theoretical model

Abstract Strength of adhesion between materials is known to be strongly influenced by interface irregularities. In this work, I devise a perturbative approach to describe the effect of self-affine roughness on non-contact adhesive interactions. The hierarchy of the obtained analytical solutions is the following. First, analytical formulae are deduced to describe roughness corrections to the van der Waals interaction energies between a hemi-space adherend, bounded by a self-affine surface, and a point-like adherent. Second, the problem of two hemi-spaces, one of which has a planar surface, and the other is bounded by a self-affine surface, is solved analytically. In the latter case, a numerical analysis is performed to delineate the behavior of the roughness corrections as a function of the parameters, characterizing self-affine fractal surface roughness. The problem of two hemi-spaces, both bounded by self-affine fractal surfaces, is also addressed in this work. The modelʼs predictions are compared with previously reported theoretical results and available experimental data.
Differential Geometry and Symmetric Spaces

Elementary differential geometry Lie groups and Lie algebras Structure of semisimple Lie algebras Symmetric spaces Decomposition of symmetric spaces Symmetric spaces of the noncompact type Symmetric spaces of the compact type Hermitian symmetric spaces On the classification of symmetric spaces Functions on symmetric spaces Bibliography List of notational conventions Symbols frequently used Author index Subject index Reviews for the first edition.
The effect of blood glucose concentration on postasphyxia cerebral hemodynamics in newborn lambs.

ABSTRACT: The effect of preasphyxia blood glucose concentration on postasphyxia (PA) cerebral hemodynamics was examined in 21 newborn lambs. Glucose was unregulated in one group (n = 7), and controlled throughout the study by glucose clamp in hyperglycemic (n = 7) and hypoglycemic (n = 7) groups. Cerebral blood flow, determined using radiolabelled microspheres, and arterial and sagittal sinus O2 contents were measured at control, 5 min, 1, 2, and 4 h after resuscitation from an asphyxial insult. Preasphyxia blood glucoses were 6.48 ± 0.55 mM (mean ± SEM), 12.08 ± 0.80, and 2.66 ± 0.14 in the three study groups. In all three groups, 5 min PA cerebral blood flow was significantly increased from control. In the late period after asphyxia, the unregulated group had decreased cerebral blood flow compared with control, 53.2 ± 3.8 mL·100 g-1·min-1, mean ± SEM, P < 0.01; 49.6 ± 2.0, P < 0.005; 53.4 ± 3.0, P < 0.01, at 1, 2, and 4 h PA, respectively, versus 85.7 ± 6.9 at control, whereas both the hyper- and hypoglycemic groups did not differ significantly from control measurements. Cerebral oxygen consumption (CMRO2) was significantly decreased in all three groups 5 min PA and remained decreased in the late period after asphyxia in both the unregulated and hypoglycemic groups. In the unregulated group, CMRO2 was 191 ± 14 μM·100 g-1·min-1, mean ± SEM, P < 0.05; 200 ± 4; and 181 ± 10, P < 0.05 at 1, 2, and 4 h, respectively, PA versus 251 ± 12 at control. In the hypoglycemic group, CMRO2 was 170 ± 9 μM·100 g-1·min-1, mean ± SEM, P < 0.05; 174 ± 14, P < 0.05; and 183 ± 17 at 1, 2, and 4 h PA, respectively, versus 231 ± 15 at control. CMRO2 did not differ from control in the hyperglycemic group at 1, 2, and 4 h PA. In our newborn lamb postasphyxia model, CMRO2 was best maintained PA when the lambs were hyperglycemic before asphyxia and throughout the recovery period. To the extent that more rapid recovery of CMRO2 postasphyxia is a favorable outcome, these data may have implications for clinical management.
Learning from creoles

The study of reflexive marking in creoles is a wide topic and has received a remarkable input of scholarly work. When reviewing all this work, and the many findings that have been presented in it, one may wonder what justification there may be to add yet another treatment to the many other ones that are available. The main reason for doing so is to propose a perspective that differs somewhat from that of previous authors, one that applies grammaticalization theory to this subject matter. To this end, a number of parameters and distinctions are proposed that appear to be relevant for understanding why reflexive forms are structured the way they are.
Volumetric Calibration of Stereo Camera in Visual Servo Based Robot Control

The primary objective of the paper is to propose a calibration method for a stereo camera used in a visual servo control for a robot manipulator. Specifically, projection matrix between the stereo camera and world coordinates is established using few calibration points and solved using the single value decomposition technique. Then calibration accuracy is compared for a randomized and designed set of points, and economical number of calibration points is recommended. Additionally, the non-linear lens distortion is modeled and corrected to improve the accuracy. In addition, this research focuses on the development and implementation of a fully automated visual servo control system using a stereo camera that is calibrated by proposed method.
Autonomic systems for mobile robots

Mobile robots are an excellent testbed for autonomic computing research. The ultimate goal of robotics research is to develop a platform that can function autonomously in the face of hardware and software failures. This goal is becoming more important as robots are increasingly being deployed outside of controlled environments. In this paper, we discuss our work toward implementing an autonomic system for a mobile robot. This work is motivated by our experiences with existing mobile robot control software during real-world deployments.
Layered soil effects on Vivaldi antenna as wide-band radar receiver

This paper characterizes the Vivaldi antenna as the receiver in a synchronous impulse reconstruction (SIRE) radar system. In particular, the effects of layered soil which typically exists in a battle field environment are taken into account. Using the full-wave simulation package FEKO, the Vivaldi antenna model along with an infinite planar layered soil structure is analyzed. The general difference between the radiation patterns of the Vivaldi antenna under the influence of soil and those in free space is summarized. The observations may serve at the radar system design stage as the base for the development of smart control capability adapted to the environment.
Interface Phenomena in very thin Si-Ge Heterostructures

Interfacial properties of thin Si/Ge heterostructures are discussed. It is shown that (Si m Ge n ) p superlattices with well defined periodicity can be synthesized on both (100) Si and Ge using low temperature (350 °C) Molecular beam epitaxy. Multilayer structures are however intermixed over one or two monolayers and exhibit a roughness with lateral scale > 100 nm and an amplitude of the order of two Monolayers. On Si the roughness is strongly correlated from interface to interface, possibly due to small surface mobility during growth. Segregation of Ge during growth has also been evidenced by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and may explain some of the interface Mixing. The strong composition dependence of Ge diffusion in Si 1−x Ge x alloys causes anisotropie diffusion upon annealing whereby a large composition gradient can be preserved at the heterointerfaces due to the very slow diffusion rate of Ge atoms in pure Si. This effect is important in structures which alternate thin Ge and thick Si layers and is thus more prominent in superlattices grown on Si substrates.
Audiogenic stress response: behavioral characteristics and underlying monoamine mechanisms.

Behavioral characterization of the audiogenic stress response in rats revealed an intensity related multiphasic pattern including an initial, transient activation followed by prolonged periods of response suppression during the remainder of the noise exposure and excitation after noise offset. These observations emphasize the need to consider the temporal proximity between exposure to a stressor and either behavioral characterization and/or determinations of neurochemical changes relevant to the stress response.
Characterization of the immune status of CD8+ T cells in oral lesions of human immunodeficiency virus-infected persons with oropharyngeal Candidiasis.

Oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC) remains the most common oral infection in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease. In a high percentage of HIV+ persons with reduced CD4+ T cells, oral lesions with Candida present at the outer epithelium have an accumulation of CD8+ T cells at the epithelium-lamina propria interface associated with reduced expression of the mucosal cell-trafficking adhesion molecule E-cadherin. The purpose of the present study was to characterize the immune status of these CD8+ T cells. Immunohistochemical staining for phenotypic and activation and costimulation markers was performed on frozen biopsy tissue sections from HIV+ OPC+ persons with accumulated CD8+ T cells. CD8+ T cells consisted primarily of central memory cells by virtue of positive CD45RO (memory) and CD27 (central memory) expression. However, concomitant negative expression of CD62L and CCR7 (effector memory) was suggestive of a transitioning memory phenotype within the tissue. Despite this, the cells are considered to be activated on the basis of positive expression of CD69. The CD8+ T cells are not considered to be NK T cells or anti-HIV CD8+ T cells because of negative or low expression of CD161 and vascular cell adhesion molecule, respectively. These results suggest that the accumulated mucosal migratory-challenged CD8+ T cells are otherwise normal memory T cells in an activated state.
PHYTOSTEROLS IN HUMAN NUTRITION

▪ Abstract Phytosterols are cholesterol-like molecules found in all plant foods, with the highest concentrations occurring in vegetable oils. They are absorbed only in trace amounts but inhibit the absorption of intestinal cholesterol including recirculating endogenous biliary cholesterol, a key step in cholesterol elimination. Natural dietary intake varies from about 167–437 mg/day. Attempts to measure biological effects in feeding studies have been impeded by limited solubility in both water and fat. Esterification of phytosterols with long-chain fatty acids increases fat solubility by 10-fold and allows delivery of several grams daily in fatty foods such as margarine. A dose of 2 g/day as the ester reduces low density lipoprotein cholesterol by 10%, and little difference is observed between Δ5-sterols and 5α-reduced sterols (stanols). Phytosterols can also be dispersed in water after emulsification with lecithin and reduce cholesterol absorption when added to nonfat foods. In contrast to these suppleme...
Evaluating the State Children's Health Insurance Program: critical considerations.

▪ Abstract The Balanced Budget Act of August 1997 was intended to improve the insurance coverage of low-income children. Although no specific mandates for evaluation accompanied the legislation, states are expected to assess its impact. Insurance improves access to and use of health services. The extent to which this is associated with better health depends on the kinds of services received. Access to a regular source of care is a critical characteristic. If this source of care provides good primary care, a variety of benefits would be expected to accrue. Thus, evaluation of the benefits of the State Children's Health Insurance Program should address not only improved coverage by health insurance for eligible children, but also the extent to which children receive high-quality primary care, including appropriate referrals when needed. Maternal access to and use of services is also a critical factor. Targets for evaluation include state activities to (a) enroll through outreach, inform through education, a...
Integrated Electronics in the Car and the Design Chain Evolution or Revolution

To deliver better-performing, less-expensive, and safer cars with increasingly tighter time-to-market constraints imposed by worldwide competitiveness, the future development process for automotive electronic systems must provide solutions to: the design of complex functionality with tight requirements on safety and correctness; the design of distributed architectures consisting of several subsystems with constraints on nonfunctional metrics such as cost, power consumption, weight, position, and reliability; and the mapping of the functionality (often implemented as OEM application software) onto the components of a distributed architecture with tight real-time and communication constraints.
Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) biomass production in Florida.

Abstract A field study was conducted under the environmental conditions of central Florida to determine the seasonal effects on water hyacinth ( Eichhornia crassipes (Mart) Solms) cultured in agricultural drainage water, eutrophic lake water, primary sewage effluent and nutrient medium. Water hyacinth plants cultured in wastewaters produced a biomass yield of 50–60 t (dry wt) ha −1 year −1 ; however, yields of up to 106 y (dry wt) ha −1 year −1 can be potentially obtained if the system is optimized by manipulating the nutrient content of the culture medium. About 43–51% of the total yield was obtained during May–August, 17–30% of the total yield during September–December, 3–11% of the yield during January–February, and 16–31% of the total yield during March–April. Continuous steady biomass supply can be obtained by: (1) storing excess biomass (total yield minus biomass demand) in culture systems during the periods of active growing season, while harvesting the stored biomass when yield is lower than demand, and (2) culturing cold-tolerant plants such as pennywort ( Hydrocotyle umbellata ) in rotation with water hyacinth. Quality of biomass was significantly influenced by the culture medium.
Modeling bubble and drop formation in flowing liquids in microgravity

A theoretical model for the process of bubble and drop formation in flowing liquids, applicable for both terrestrial and microgravity environments, has been developed by using a force balance. The contact angle variation at the nozzle due to the bubble motion and the added mass coefficient of the bubble moving through a pipe have been theoretically analyzed, considering bubble motions during its expansion and detachment stages. Predictions of bubble size of the model show satisfactory agreement with available experimental results in the case of normal gravity. The effects of the nondimensional variables on bubble and drop size are evaluated in microgravity conditions. In microgravity, the bubble is detached from the nozzle only by the liquid flow drag, and in the region of low liquid velocity the bubble size becomes much larger than that in normal gravity.
Effects of Breathing Retraining in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Subjects with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were studied to evaluate the effects of breathing retraining (BRT) on exercise tolerance. Twenty-two subjects exercised on a treadmill three times weekly for six weeks. Twelve of the subjects (controls) then exercised for three more weeks; the other ten subjects received three more weeks of exercise reconditioning plus BRT. Results of routine pulmonary function and exercise tests were similar in both groups at the beginning of the study and after six weeks of exercise. However, in the last three weeks of the study, increments in exercise performance were significantly greater in the BRT subjects than in controls (P
Measurement of dielectric properties of carbon nanotube networks used to build planar transmission lines

In this paper, we explore building planar trans-mission line from carbon nanotube (CNT) networks. We are successful in fabricating the transmission line and verifying the feasibility of potential planar transmission lines where carbon nanotube networks replace the metallic lines. The experimental realization and the two-port microwave measurements enabled us to extract accurately the fundamental parameters of the proposed transmission line. The frequency-dependent phase velocity char-acteristics show clearly its dramatic reduction compared to speed of light in vacuum. The complex permittivity of CNT networks is also reported in our work.
Minimum delay packet-sizing for linear multi-hop networks with cooperative transmissions

We consider optimizing packet sizes and the reuse factor to minimize the delay required to send a message between two nodes in a linear multi-hop wireless networks subject to a reliability constraint. In earlier work, this problem was considered for a network in which each node only decoded the transmission of the previous node, treating the transmissions of all other nodes as noise. Here, we consider a cooperative transmission scheme in which a node uses the transmissions of all previous nodes to decode a given message. We analyze the growth of the delay as well as the optimized system parameters as a function of the message size.
Chemotypic and genotypic diversity in the ergot alkaloid pathway of Aspergillus fumigatus.

Aspergillus fumigatus is an opportunistic human pathogen that synthesizes a group of myco- toxins via a branch of the ergot alkaloid pathway. This fungus is globally distributed, and genetic data indicate that isolates recombine freely over that range; however, previous work on ergot alkaloids has focused on a limited number of isolates. We hypothesized that A. fumigatus harbors variation in the chemotype of ergot alkaloids and genotype of the ergot alkaloid gene cluster. Analysis of 13 isolates by high performance liquid chromatography revealed four distinct ergot alkaloid profiles or chemotypes. Five isolates completed the A. fumigatus branch of the ergot alkaloid pathway to fumigaclavine C. Six independent isolates accumulated fumigaclavine A, the pathway intermediate immediately before fumi- gaclavine C. One isolate accumulated only the early pathway intermediates chanoclavine-I and chanocla- vine-I aldehyde, and one isolate lacked ergot alkaloids altogether. A genetic basis for each of the observed chemotypes was obtained either by PCR analysis of the ergot alkaloid gene cluster or through sequencing of easL, the gene encoding the prenyl transferase that reverse prenylates fumigaclavine A to fumigaclavine C. Isolates also exhibited differences in pigmentation and sporulation. The ergot alkaloid chemotypes were widely distributed geographically and among sub- strate of origin.
A Fuzzy-PSO Based Controller for a Grid Independent Photovoltaic System

This paper presents a particle swarm optimization (PSO) method for optimizing a fuzzy logic controller (FLC) for a photovoltaic (PV) grid independent system consisting of a PV collector array, a storage battery, and loads (critical and non-critical loads). PSO is used to optimize both the membership functions and the rule set in the design of the FLC. Optimizing the PV system controller yields improved performance, allowing the system to meet more of the loads and keep a higher average state of battery charge. Potential benefits of an optimized controller include lower costs through smaller system sizing and a longer battery life
Sub-module integrated distributed maximum power point tracking for solar photovoltaic applications

This paper explores the benefits of distributed power electronics in solar photovoltaic applications through the use of sub-module integrated maximum power point trackers (MPPT). We propose a system architecture that provides a substantial increase in captured energy during partial shading conditions, while at the same time enabling significant overall cost reductions. This is achieved through direct integration of miniature MPPT power converters into existing junction boxes. We describe the design and implementation of a high-efficiency (>98%) synchronous buck MPPT converter, along with digital control techniques that ensure both local and global maximum power extraction. Through detailed experimental measurements under real-world conditions, we verify the increase in energy capture and quantify the benefits of the architecture.
Greening the Planet

In 1896 Swedish scientist Svante Arrhenius addressed a very important question: Why is the Earth a habitable temperature for humans and other forms of life? Why isn’t it too cold? The answer (building on the work of the British scientist Tyndall earlier in the century) was the greenhouse effect. He even did a quite accurate projection of what double preindustrial levels of CO2 would do to planetary temperature. What he would not have known was the detailed history of planetary temperature for the previous hundreds of thousands of years – in particular that the last 10,000 years were an unusually stable period of global climate and temperature. During those ten millennia, much of modern civilization (agriculture, human settlements) developed, and all ecosystems adjusted to a stable climate.
Regulation of Snai2 by estrogen receptor-alpha and glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta in human breast cancer

AACR Annual Meeting-- Apr 14-18, 2007; Los Angeles, CA 4402 Snai2 (Slug), a member of the Snail family of C2H2-type zinc finger transcription factors, represses E-cadherin, a process which mediates in part epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in human breast cancer. Whereas much is known about the functions of Snai2, little is known about the regulation of this gene. In this study we report that both estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3β) are key activators/regulators of snai2. ERα generally is thought to regulate gene expression by two mechanisms: direct activation/repression or proteolytic degradation of its target gene products through ubiquination pathways. Here, we report that snai2 is a target of ERα by both mechanisms. Our data show that treatment of ERα positive MCF-7 cells with 17-β estradiol (E2) decreases the level of snai2 mRNA and treatment of ERα-positive or negative cells with HDAC inhibitors leads to upregulation of snai2 expression. The snai2 mRNA increases when ERα is knocked down by shRNA in MCF-7 cells. Using the CHIP assay, ERα proteins bind to the upstream region of Snai2 promoter. Furthermore, in MCF-7 cells, N-CoR and SMRT bind to the same region of the snai2 promoter and ERα, N-CoR, SMRT, HDAC1 form a corepressor complex that suppresses the transcription of the snai2 gene. However, in the transgenic MDA-MB-468 cell line which expresses a full-size ERα, the levels of both snai2 mRNA and protein are found to increase, suggesting that ERα regulates snai2 transcription differently in a natively ERα negative line. Our data also show that ERα can bind with snai2 and promote the degradation of snai2 protein by ubiquination. With respect to GSK-3β, this kinase is a key activator of snai2. Using both the ERα negative MDA-MB-468 and -231 cell lines, we observed that the expression of snai2 is downregulated when the cell lines are treated with GSK-3 inhibitors and snai2 expression completely abolished when treated with LiCl, a specific GSK-3β inhibitor, indicating that it is GSK-3β and not GSK-3α, that regulates the expression of snai2. Snai2 expression also decreases when the cell lines are treated with IGF-I, which regulates the MAPK and the PI3K pathways. In contrast, the PI3K inhibitor, wortmannin, and the MAPK inhibitor, PD98059, increase snai2 expression suggesting that the release of suppression of GSK-3β correlates with the upregulation of snai2. We also found TGFβ decreases snai2 expression by suppressing GSK-3β through the MEK/ERK pathway. The same results were obtained from Wnt/frizzled/DSH pathway activation which leads to inhibition of GSK-3β with resulting inhibition of snai2 expression. GSK-3β plays a central and key role in activation of snai2. Predictably extracellular growth factors, such as TGFβ and IGF-I, also decrease snai2 expression through their regulation of GSK-3β. Both ERα and GSK-3β regulate snai2. These findings then link these genes to E-cadherin expression and EMT in human breast cancer.
Modal Logics II: Toward a Formal Analysis of Cultural Objects

In this essay we hope to make some progress toward an explication or rational reconstruction of the concept culture, which has been of interest to philosophers at least since the time of Hegel 8, and also to social scientists since the 1870’s, when Tylor 25 explicitly introduced the concept as an analytic category. Our aim is not only to clarify the concept, but also to indicate some unfortunate effects of philosophical naivete on the part of some social scientists, who have in fact been embroiled in problems calling for careful philosophical analysis, without recognizing the importance of philosophical techniques. We hope also to show the relevance of our analysis to some traditional philosophical problems, such as the realist-nominalist ontological debate, and the continuing critique of Aristotelian essentialism. And we remark finally that the problem is by no means artificial: we feel that the issues we hope to clarify have been genuinely perplexing both to philosophers and to social scientists.
Blum and Kalven at 50: Progressive Taxation, Globalization, and the New Millenium

This article considers the issue of progressive taxation a half-century after Blum and Kalven's classic work on the subject. In particular, the article considers the impact of three developments on progressivity: a more conservative governing philosophy, the concentration of poverty among women and minority groups, and the "globalization" of the international economy, which makes it difficult for one country to maintain progressive rates without losing businesses and (perhaps) talented individuals to other countries. In order to respond to these challenges, Prof. Livingston recommends that progressivity advocates be more open about the redistributive nature of progressive taxation, which he argues is part of a "modest meritocracy" that rewards private enterprise while maintaining residual doubts about the existing reward system. He further argues that critical tax scholars, who have often been critical of the progressivity concept, should be brought into the mainstream by accepting that the tax system's effect on women, minorities, and other disadvantaged groups is part of the progressivity equation. With respect to globalization, Prof. Livingston proposes a two-part strategy, under which scholars resist erosion of existing national tax bases and - as a long-term measure - begin planning for a transition to international supervision or at least cooperation in the setting and maintenance of progressive tax rates.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Guided, Open-Label, High-Frequency Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Adolescents with Major Depressive Disorder

Abstract Objective: Preliminary studies suggest that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) may be an effective and tolerable intervention for adolescents with treatment-resistant depression. There is limited rationale to inform coil placement for rTMS dosing in this population. We sought to examine and compare three localization techniques for coil placement in the context of an open-label trial of high-frequency rTMS for adolescents with treatment-resistant depression. Methods: Ten adolescents with treatment-resistant depression were enrolled in an open-label trial of high-frequency rTMS. Participants were offered 30 rTMS sessions (10 Hz, 120% motor threshold, left 3000 pulses applied to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex) over 6–8 weeks. Coil placement for treatment was MRI guided. The scalp location for treatment was compared with the locations identified with standard 5 cm rule and Beam F3 methods. Results: Seven adolescents completed 30 rTMS sessions. No safety or tolerability concerns ...
Sectioning and super-resolution using unknown random patterns

Random structured illumination patterns are used to demonstrate effective sectioning as well as super-resolution images in conjunction with an incoherent light source. By projecting patterns of varied spatial frequencies and using blind deconvolution of an unknown point spread function, super-resolution is achieved. Random patterns produce more consistent sectioning and super-resolution given an unknown optical transfer function. Further, using a randomly distributed pattern provides a low cost solution to obtaining information similar to that produced in confocal microscopy and other methods of structured illumination, without the requirement of precise projection patterns, coherent light sources, or fluorescence.
Fluoxetine disrupts motivation and GABAergic signaling in adolescent female hamsters

Initial antidepressant treatment can paradoxically worsen symptoms in depressed adolescents by undetermined mechanisms. Interestingly, antidepressants modulate GABAA receptors, which mediate paradoxical effects of other therapeutic drugs, particularly in females. Although the neuroanatomic site of action for this paradox is unknown, elevated GABAA receptor signaling in the nucleus accumbens can disrupt motivation. We assessed fluoxetine's effects on motivated behaviors in pubescent female hamsters - anhedonia in the reward investigational preference (RIP) test as well as anxiety in the anxiety-related feeding/exploration conflict (AFEC) test. We also assessed accumbal signaling by RT-PCR and electrophysiology. Fluoxetine initially worsened motivated behaviors at puberty, relative to adulthood. It also failed to improve these behaviors as pubescent hamsters transitioned into adulthood. Low accumbal mRNA levels of multiple GABAA receptor subunits and GABA-synthesizing enzyme, GAD67, assessed by RT-PCR, suggested low GABAergic tone at puberty. Nonetheless, rapid fluoxetine-induced reductions of α5GABAA receptor and BDNF mRNA levels at puberty were consistent with age-related differences in GABAergic responses to fluoxetine and disruption of the motivational state. Whole-cell patch clamping of accumbal slices also suggested low GABAergic tone by the low amplitude of miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents (mIPSCs) at puberty. It also confirmed age-related differences in GABAergic responses to fluoxetine. Specifically, fluoxetine potentiated mIPSC amplitude and frequency at puberty, but attenuated the amplitude during adulthood. These results implicate GABAergic tone and GABAA receptor plasticity in adverse motivational responses and resistance to fluoxetine during adolescence.
Field- and temperature-dependent 13C NMR studies of the EDTA-Zn2+ complex: insight into structure and dynamics via relaxation measurements.

The relaxation rates for the three different carbon types in EDTA (carbonyl, CH2 central, and CH2 lateral) were measured with and without Zn2+ as a function of field strength and temperature. The use of different field strengths in combination with NOE measurements allowed for the contribution of each relaxation mechanism (chemical shift anisotropy; spin rotation; dipole–dipole) to the total relaxation rate for each carbon to be determined. Temperature studies allowed for determination of the activation energy (Ea) for the motions of each carbon type. The most surprising result was the observation that the τc decreases significantly for the lateral carbon upon addition of Zn2+ at neutral pH, going from 54 to 8.6 ps at 298 K. This appears to be a pH-dependent phenomenon as other reports indicate that τc increases for the lateral carbon upon addition of Zn2+ under strongly basic conditions.
Effects of Stilbene-glycoside on Learning and Memory and Inflammatory Reaction of Brain in Dementia Mice

Objective To observe the effect of 2,3,5,4'-tetrahydroxy stilbene-2-β-D-glycoside (TSG)on learning and memory and free radicals metabolism in mice with dementia induced by β-amyloid(Aβ).Methods The mice models were established by injection of Aβ1-40 into the right lateral ventricle,and the treatment group was administered with TSG for 8 weeks by gastrogavage.Morris water maze and step-through test were performed in all the mice and then the mice were killed and radioimmunoassay was used to detect the content of interleukin-6(IL-6).Results The learning and memory in model mice were worse and the cortical IL-6 content increased compared to the normal control mice.TSG improved the learning and memory of Aβ-induced model mice and reduced cortical IL-6 content.Conclusion TSG could improve the learning and memory of dementia mice and decrease cortical IL-6 content,indicating a promising prospect in the treatment of dementia disease such as Alzheimer's disease.
Error dependent on renal function when monoexponential equation assumed

An example from the literature has been used to demonstrate errors involved in calculating drug clearance by inappropriate use of the apparent drug distribution volume Vdext. The Vdext is always an overestimate of the true volume of distribution in a multicompartment system, and the degree of overestimation in using it to calculate clearance for such a system will increase as renal function increases. Drug dosages calculated on the basis of overestimated clearance values may give rise to overdosage in normal individuals, or therapeutic failure in severely uremic patients. Problems associated with the use of an oversimplified pharmacokinetic model for clearance calculations are discussed, together with the concept of model-independent calculations.
Geographical differences in the tropical precipitation-moisture relationship and rain intensity onset

In this study, we show that the well-documented exponential increase in the precipitation-water vapor (P-r) curve over tropical oceans also applies to tropical land, but that the land curve starts its exponential increase at smaller values of column moisture than over ocean. We demonstrate that daytime surface heating contributes to this characteristic shape of the land P-r curves. There is also significant geographical variation in the shape of the P-r curve within land and ocean regions, with the Amazon, the Maritime Continent and the eastern edges of oceans as distinct outliers. We further show that convective and stratiform rain intensities exhibit a pickup that is separate from the corresponding rain areas in the tropical P-r curve while shallow convective rain has a yet another pickup. These variations of the P-r curve characteristics likely represent geographical variations of environmental controls on storm life cycle.
Anticoagulants in ischemia-guided management of non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes

Abstract Background The most recent joint guidelines from the American Heart Association (AHA) and American College of Cardiology (ACC) on the management of non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE-ACS) are a result of a substantial and considered undertaking, and those involved deserve much recognition for their efforts. However, the handling of anticoagulants seems somewhat inadequate, and this is a highly-relevant matter when managing NSTE-ACS. Objective of the review Among areas of potential uncertainty, emergency medicine professionals might still be left wondering about the particulars of anticoagulant therapy when pursuing ischemia-guided management of NSTE-ACS (that is, managing NSTE-ACS without an intent for early invasive measures, such as coronary angiography and revascularization). This review seeks to provide insight into this question. Discussion Relevant clinical trials are appraised and translated into clinical context for emergency medicine professionals, including the implications of noteworthy advancements in the management of NSTE-ACS. Conclusions Although current guidelines from the AHA and ACC suggest enoxaparin has better evidence than other anticoagulants in the setting of NSTE-ACS management, careful review of the evidence shows this is not actually clearly supported by the available evidence in the era of contemporary management. Unless and until better contemporary data emerge, emergency medicine professionals must carefully weigh the available evidence, its limitations, and the possible clinical implications of the various anticoagulant options when managing NSTE-ACS.
The Forgotten People: Multiracial Individuals

This paper offers an extensive review of the literature pertaining to the identity formation and experiences of multiracial people in the United States. Much of the attention they receive in the literature tends to be directed toward discussions of either the U.S. Census or identity issues. Offered in this critique of the literature is a discussion of the problems which arise when the government attempts to classify multiracial people into monoracial categories, an acknowledgment of the challenges which individuals of mixed race face while forming and developing their multidimensional identities, and an overview of concep­tualizations of race.
The melanocortin system regulates body pigmentation and social behaviour in a colour polymorphic cichlid fish

The melanocortin system is a neuroendocrine system that regulates a range of physiological and behavioural processes. We examined the extent to which the melanocortin system simultaneously regulate...
A model of the light dependent regulation of retinal rod phosphodiesterase, guanylate cyclase and the cation flux.

In the 1880’s Kuhn dissected dark adapted eyes and observed that the retina’s red/purple “visual pigment”, changed rapidly to a pale yellow upon illumination. Years later, George Wald and Ruth Hubbard chemically characterized the rod visual pigment as consisting of opsin and 11-cis retinal (Wald, 1968). They demonstrated that the photoisomerization of rhodopsin was driven by a photon induced change in the configuration of 11-cis retinal (to all-trans), which was accompanied by conformational changes in the protein opsin. Subsequently, Wald, Yoshizawa and others were able to identify a series of spectral intermediates that appeared in rapid succession following the illumination of rhodopsin. The early intermediates could only be captured by stabilization at low temperatures or ultrafast spectroscopy. The major opsin photoconformers are called batho, hypso, meta I, meta II and meta III rhodopsin (Wald 1968; Birge, 1981). The meta II conformation was subsequently found to be enzymatically active (see below).
Marketing Applications Using Big Data

Big Data applications abound in all disciplines. In this chapter we consider the practical applications of Big Data analytics in Marketing. Businesses spend significant human and financial resources in marketing their products and services to potential customers. In this chapter we look at how businesses use the data gathered from multiple sources and use that to promote their products and services to customers who are more likely to benefit from them. Typically, marketing involves communicating with the potential customer through multiple advertising and promotion mediums. Much of the information sent to the potential customer is either in print or electronic form. Businesses who use appropriate target marketing feel that a person within that market would eventually turn out to be a customer. With this in mind, the approaches businesses take are geared towards sending the right information to the right person. To gain this type of knowledge, businesses use extensive data from multiple sources. With the advancements in computing power, affordable resources and social media, businesses are in a better position to target their materials at the potential customer. Even though the cost of information dissemination is very small, if the information is sent to the wrong person then that person is not only going to discard the information but may resent being bombarded with unwanted information. In this chapter we show the various techniques real businesses use to target the right customer and send the information that will be used. In this effort Big Data techniques are helpful. We point out how the data was used in marketing and its success.
Diagnostic efficiency of the Child and Adolescent Symptom Inventory (CASI-4R) Depression Subscale for identifying youth mood disorders

This study examined the diagnostic and clinical utility of the Child and Adolescent Symptom Inventory–4 R (CASI-4 R) Depressive and Dysthymia subscale for detecting mood disorders in youth (ages 6–12; M = 9.37) visiting outpatient mental health clinics. Secondary analyses (N = 700) utilized baseline data from the Longitudinal Assessment of Manic Symptoms study. Semistructured interviews with youth participants and their parents/caregivers determined psychiatric diagnoses. Caregivers and teachers completed the CASI-4 R. CASI-4 R depressive symptom severity and symptom count scores each predicted mood disorder diagnoses. Both caregiver scores (symptom severity and symptom count) of the CASI-4 R subscale significantly identified youth mood disorders (areas under the curve [AUCs] = .78–.79, ps .05), whereas the teacher symptom cou...
Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Mutations Conferring QoI and SDHI Resistance in Alternaria solani Across the United States.

The application of succinate dehydrogenase inhibiting (SDHI) and quinone outside inhibiting (QoI) fungicide chemistries is a primary tactic in the management of early blight of potato, caused by Alternaria solani. Resistance to QoIs in A. solani has been attributed to the F129 L mutation, while resistance to SDHIs is conferred by five different known point mutations on three AsSdh genes. In total, 1,323 isolates were collected from 2013 through 2015 across 11 states to determine spatial and temporal frequency distribution of these mutations. A real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect the presence of the F129 L mutation. Molecular detection of SDHI-resistant isolates was performed using SDH multiplex PCR specific for point mutations in AsSdhB, AsSdhC, or AsSdhD genes and mismatch amplification analysis PCR detecting the point mutations in AsSdhB. Previous work in our research group determined that substitutions of histidine for tyrosine (H278Y) or arginine (H278R) at codon 278 on the As...
Habitat Diversity at the Field and Landscape Level: Conservation Biological Control Research in California Viticulture

The intensification of viticulture in California has led to the creation of grape monocultures characterized by an absence of non-crop plant diversity in and around vineyards. The continued expansion of vineyards into California native plant communities has also led to an aggregate reduction of non-crop habitats at the landscape scale (Heaton and Merenlender 2000). Such increased concentration of plant host resources and the reduction of non-crop habitats supporting natural enemies have been shown to increase pest densities, with associated crop losses and reduce overall crop productivity (Root 1973; Russell 1989; Corbett and Rosenheim 1996a; Altieri and Nicholls 2004). To manage recurring pest problems, California grape growers rely principally on the use of synthetic pesticides, including organophosphate and carbamate insecticides, known to pose a range of environmental quality and human health risks (Bentley 2009; CDPR 2009; UC IPM 2010b; Eskenazi et al. 2010).
High-throughput screening of encapsulated islets using wide-field lens-free on-chip imaging (Conference Presentation)

Islet transplantation has been used to treat diabetes, but is faced with various challenges such as the unavailability of donor organs and the requirement for immunosuppression. Islet encapsulation is a promising solution to some of these problems, helping to achieve insulin independence over longer time. Currently, the standard method to evaluate the encapsulation quality is based on manual microscopic screening of the sample, which is extremely low-throughput and laborious, due to the limited field-of-view (FOV) of standard optical microscopes. Here we report a high-throughput islet encapsulation quality screening system based on lens-free on-chip imaging, which can image/analyze over ~8,000 microcapsules in a single shot. The system utilizes a large format CMOS image sensor that has 60 megapixels, providing a sample FOV of 18.15cm2, which is >100-fold larger than the FOV of a lens-based optical microscope. The encapsulated islets are loaded into a custom-made chamber, which is placed onto the image sensor chip with <2mm gap between the sample and sensor planes. A blue LED provides illumination of the sample, casting in-line holograms of the islets onto the image sensor, which is then analyzed by a custom-written image reconstruction and processing software. The total count of the microcapsules, their size, intactness and whether they contain an islet or not, are analyzed, with the results provided to the user. Being high-throughput, low-cost and simple, this platform can be used for researchers to develop encapsulation protocols as well as a quality control tool before the actual transplantation into patients.
Task-based design of a synthetic-collimator SPECT system used for small animal imaging.

PURPOSE In traditional multipinhole SPECT systems, image multiplexing - the overlapping of pinhole projection images - may occur on the detector, which can inhibit quality image reconstructions due to photon-origin uncertainty. One proposed system to mitigate the effects of multiplexing is the synthetic-collimator SPECT system. In this system, two detectors, a silicon detector and a germanium detector, are placed at different distances behind the multipinhole aperture, allowing for image detection to occur at different magnifications and photon energies, resulting in higher overall sensitivity while maintaining high resolution. The unwanted effects of multiplexing are reduced by utilizing the additional data collected from the front silicon detector. However, determining optimal system configurations for a given imaging task requires efficient parsing of the complex parameter space, to understand how pinhole spacings and the two detector distances influence system performance. METHODS In our simulation studies, we use the ensemble mean-squared error of the Wiener estimator (EMSEW ) as the figure of merit to determine optimum system parameters for the task of estimating the uptake of an 123 I-labeled radiotracer in three different regions of a computer-generated mouse brain phantom. The segmented phantom map is constructed by using data from the MRM NeAt database and allows for the reduction in dimensionality of the system matrix which improves the computational efficiency of scanning the system's parameter space. To contextualize our results, the Wiener estimator is also compared against a region of interest estimator using maximum-likelihood reconstructed data. RESULTS Our results show that the synthetic-collimator SPECT system outperforms traditional multipinhole SPECT systems in this estimation task. We also find that image multiplexing plays an important role in the system design of the synthetic-collimator SPECT system, with optimal germanium detector distances occurring at maxima in the derivative of the percent multiplexing function. Furthermore, we report that improved task performance can be achieved by using an adaptive system design in which the germanium detector distance may vary with projection angle. Finally, in our comparative study, we find that the Wiener estimator outperforms the conventional region of interest estimator. CONCLUSIONS Our work demonstrates how this optimization method has the potential to quickly and efficiently explore vast parameter spaces, providing insight into the behavior of competing factors, which are otherwise very difficult to calculate and study using other existing means.