cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Functional Dissection of Basal Ganglia Inhibitory Inputs onto Substantia Nigra Dopaminergic Neurons

Substantia nigra (SNc) dopaminergic neurons respond to aversive stimuli with inhibitory pauses in firing followed by transient rebound activation. We tested integration of inhibitory synaptic inputs onto SNc neurons from genetically defined populations in dorsal striatum (striosome and matrix) and external globus pallidus (GPe; parvalbumin- and Lhx6-positive), and examined their contribution to pause-rebound firing. Activation of striosome projections, which target "dendron bouquets" in the pars reticulata (SNr), consistently quiets firing and relief from striosome inhibition triggers rebound activity. Striosomal inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs) display a prominent GABA-B receptor-mediated component that strengthens the impact of SNr dendrite synapses on somatic excitability and enables rebounding. By contrast, GPe projections activate GABA-A receptors on the soma and proximal dendrites but do not result in rebounding. Lastly, optical mapping shows that dorsal striatum selectively inhibits the ventral population of SNc neurons, which are intrinsically capable of rebounding. Therefore, we define a distinct striatonigral circuit for generating dopamine rebound.
Smart Scattering Scanning Near-Field Optical Microscopy

Scattering scanning near-field optical microscopy (s-SNOM) provides spectroscopic imaging from molecular to quantum materials with few nanometer deep subdiffraction limited spatial resolution. Howe...
Recent advances in targeted drug delivery for treatment of osteoarthritis.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW Osteoarthritis is associated with severe joint pain, inflammation, and cartilage degeneration. Drugs injected directly into intra-articular joint space clear out rapidly providing only short-term benefit. Their transport into cartilage to reach cellular targets is hindered by the tissue's dense, negatively charged extracellular matrix. This has limited, despite strong preclinical data, the clinical translation of osteoarthritis drugs. Recent work has focused on developing intra-joint and intra-cartilage targeting drug delivery systems (DDS) to enable long-term therapeutic response, which is presented here. RECENT FINDINGS Synovial joint targeting hybrid systems utilizing combinations of hydrogels, liposomes, and particle-based carriers are in consideration for pain-inflammation relief. Cartilage penetrating DDS target intra-cartilage constituents like aggrecans, collagen II, and chondrocytes such that drugs can reach their cellular and intra-cellular targets, which can enable clinical translation of disease-modifying osteoarthritis drugs including gene therapy. SUMMARY Recent years have witnessed significant increase in both fundamental and clinical studies evaluating DDS for osteoarthritis. Steroid encapsulating polymeric microparticles for longer lasting pain relief were recently approved for clinical use. Electrically charged biomaterials for intra-cartilage targeting have shown promising disease-modifying response in preclinical models. Clinical trials evaluating safety of viral vectors are ongoing whose success can pave the way for gene therapy as osteoarthritis treatment.
Integrating the study of personality and psychopathology in the context of gene-environment correlations across development.

Objective A key principle of individual differences research is that biological and environmental factors jointly influence personality and psychopathology. Genes and environments interact to influence the emergence and stability of both normal and abnormal behavior (i.e., genetic predisposition, X, is exacerbated or buffered under environmental conditions, Y, or vice versa), including by shaping the neural circuits underpinning behavior. The interplay of genes and environments is also reflected in various ways in which they are correlated (i.e., rGE). That is, the same genetic factors that give rise to personality or psychopathology also shape that person's environment. Methods In this review, we outline passive, evocative, and active rGE processes and review the findings of studies that have addressed rGE in relation to understanding individual differences in personality and psychopathology across development. Results Throughout, we evaluate the question of whether it is possible, not only to differentiate the person from their problems, but also to differentiate the person from their problems and their environment. Conclusions We provide recommendations for future research to model rGE and better inform our ability to study personality and psychopathology, while separating the influence of the environment.
Streamlining admissions to outpatient substance use treatment using lean methods

Waiting to be admitted to treatment poses a significant barrier to substance use recovery. Such delays occur when service demands exceed treatment capacity. One issue that contributes to this probl...
Home Improvement: Evaluating Secular Changes in NLSY HOME-Cognitive Stimulation and Emotional Support Scores.

This study evaluated changes over time in the quality of children's home environment, using the Home Observation Measurement of the Environment (HOME). Longitudinal increases in HOME scores were predicted by both theory and past empirical results. Analysis of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth Children data (N = 5715, aged 0-14) suggested that HOME scores have been increasing, and that the increase is a family-level phenomenon. The data were a sample of children born to mothers who were approximately representative of the United States in 1979. An increase in HOME scores occurred primarily for the three age categories younger than ten. Effect sizes were of approximately the same magnitude as the Flynn effect for intelligence. These results have implications for policy and future research regarding the home environment.
Toward a Synthesis of Conservation Traditions

There is an urgent need for greater dialogue between subscribers to the three traditions: economic, ecologic, and biocentric. One problem preventing dialogue is the institutional residency of the traditions. Residency is most clear cut for the biocentric tradition. It is resident in so-called special interest groups — Friends of the Earth, National Wildlife Federation, World Wildlife Fund and other conservation organizations. Economic efficiency permeates forest industry and, it is often claimed, the U.S. Forest Service. To some extent it also is dominant in forestry schools. The ecologic tradition resides primarily in university forestry, wildlife, and ecology departments, and to some extent in research branches of public agencies. The extremely large sums of money spent in litigation between, for example, biocentric organizations and public economic efficiency organizations is testimony to the need for more dialogue between them.
A J-band space-fed phased array

A J-band, space-fed transmissive array suitable to the constraints of space platform applications has been designed and an engineering model array has been fabricated and tested. Attention is given to the design of the aperture, radiating element, phase shifter module, and flatplate feed. Test results and performance are discussed with reference to gain, sidelobe level, and beamwidth as functions of frequency and scan angle.
A single dose of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) prevents severe pain after ureteric stent removal: a prospective, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? The problem of severe pain after ureteric stent removal, its incidence and prevention, has not been previously described. The present paper is the first to determine the incidence of severe pain after ureteric stent removal. It also shows that a single dose of NSAID before ureteric stent removal can prevent this pain in a significant number of patients. Objectives To determine the incidence of severe pain after ureteric stent removal. To evaluate the efficacy of a single dose of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) in preventing this complication. Patients and Methods A prospective, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was performed at our institution. Adults with an indwelling ureteric stent after ureteroscopy were randomised to receive either a single dose of placebo or an NSAID (rofecoxib 50 mg) before ureteric stent removal. Pain was measured using a visual analogue scale (VAS) just before and 24 h after stent removal Pain medication use after ureteric stent removal was measured using morphine equivalents. Results In all, 22 patients were enrolled and randomised into the study before ending the study after interim analysis showed significant decrease in pain level in the NSAID group. The most common indication for ureteroscopy was urolithiasis (14 patients). The proportion of patients with severe pain (VAS score of ≥7) during the 24 h after ureteric stent removal was six of 11 (55%) in the placebo group and it was zero of 10 in the NSAID group (P < 0.01). There were no complications related to the use of rofecoxib. Conclusions We found a 55% incidence of severe pain after ureteric stent removal. A single dose of a NSAID before stent removal prevents severe pain after ureteric stent removal.
Microbial Biotechnology: Plant–Microbe Interactions

Humans need food in order to survive, and most of the food in the modern world is the product of agriculture. In 1798, Thomas Robert Malthus published the famous essay in which he argued that the human population increases geometrically yet food production can increase only arithmetically. What he could not predict at that time was the contribution of science to the increased production of food. As Malthus foretold, the world population has increased at an almost alarming rate. It took slightly more than 100 years to double from the 1.25 billion in Malthus's day to 2.5 billion in 1950, but the next doubling, to 5 billion, was achieved in less than 40 years, as seen in Figure 6.1. However, the yield of major food crops per unit area (represented by wheat in Figure 6.1) has increased at an even steeper rate, tripling in slightly more than 40 years. One of the major contributing factors to this increase has been the development of high-yielding varieties of crops, for example, semi-dwarf varieties of wheat and rice, which direct a larger portion of their energy to the production of seeds (grains) than to plant growth; this development, which occurred in the 1960s and 1970s, is often called the “Green Revolution.” Thanks to this increase in yield, the world production of food (represented by cereals in Figure 6.1) could more than keep pace with the increase in population, in spite of the steadily decreasing total land area devoted to agricultural production.
Mistakes in interpretations of intraepithelial carcinoma.

Abstract 1. 1. Twenty-five cases in which a diagnosis of intraepithelial carcinoma was made by preoperative biopsy but not confirmed by laparotomy have been analyzed for their sources of error. 2. 2. The most common mistake leading to premature unnecessary operation has been a misinterpretation of varying degrees of basal-cell hyperactivity for genuine carcinoma in situ. 3. 3. Patients suspected of intraepithelial carcinoma should never be treated hastily and all cases should have repeat biopsy confirmation. Possible confusing and mimicking lesions should be ruled out where possible. 4. 4. Where biopsies are repeatedly equivocal, sharp conization of the cervix is recommended as a valuable diagnostic adjunct.
Therapeutic abortion and sterilization by vaginal hysterectomy

Abstract Two hundred consecutive cases of therapeutic abortion by vaginal hysterectomy are reviewed. The over-all febrile morbidity was 18 per cent, with a reduction from 42.5 to 11.9 per cent with the use of prophylactic antibiotics. Other complications were similar to those associated with a nonpregnant vaginal hysterectomy. In patients with medical indications or gynecologic abnormalities abortion by vaginal hysterectomy affords permanent sterilization and allows removal of the diseased organ.
Lattice Boltzmann model for the elder problem

Lattice Boltzmann models are rapidly proving their ability to simulate many fluid dynamics problems that previously required far more complex approaches. We use a multicomponent model to address the classic solute-induced buoyancy Elder problem (transient solute/density-induced convection in porous media), which has been widely adopted as a “benchmark” problem among density-dependent flow modelers. This work represents first steps in the development of lattice Boltzmann models for application to groundwater problems (e.g., salt-water intrusion) in coastal regions.
The use of a photoionization detector to detect harmful volatile chemicals by emergency personnel.

Objective: The objective of this investigation was to determine if a photoionization detector (PID) could be used to detect the presence of a simulated harmful chemical on simulated casualties of a chemical release. Methods: A screening protocol, based on existing radiation screening protocols, was developed for the purposes of the investigation. Three simulated casualties were contaminated with a simulated chemical agent and two groups of emergency responders were involved in the trials. The success-failure ratio of the participants was used to judge the performance of the PID in this application. Results: A high success rate was observed when the screening protocol was properly adhered to (97.67%). Conversely, the success rate suffered when participants deviated from the protocol (86.31%). With one exception, all failures were noted to have been the result of a failure to correctly observe the established screening protocol. Conclusions: The results of this investigation indicate that the PID may be an effective screening tool for emergency responders. However, additional study is necessary to both confirm the effectiveness of the PID and refine the screening protocol if necessary.
High-spin states of 99 Ag and 100 Cd

High-spin states of /sup 100/Cd up to J/sup ..pi../ = 8/sup +/ and an excitation energy of 2.5 MeV were studied by means of the /sup 64/Zn(/sup 40/Ca,2p2n..gamma..)/sup 100/Cd reaction. The J/sup ..pi../ = 8/sup +/ state was found to be isomeric with a half-life of 73 +- 5 ns. The proposed level scheme is in agreement with that proposed recently by Alber et al. and is discussed in terms of expectations for the spectrum of a unique ''pseudomagic'' nucleus, i.e., an isobar of doubly magic /sup 100/Sn which possesses a hole pair (protons) and a particle pair (neutrons) away from the magic number 50. Simultaneously, the /sup 64/Zn(/sup 40/Ca,3p2n..gamma..)/sup 99/Ag reaction was observed to populate states of /sup 99/Ag up to J/sup ..pi../ = ((272/sup +/). The excitation energies of both nuclides are compared to those found recently for the lighter isotones /sup 96/Ru, /sup 97/Rh, and /sup 98/Pd, and the systematic structures of the N = 52 nuclides are discussed
A 29 Year Old Man with Patchy Hair Loss

A 28-year-old man presents to a dermatologist for complaints of recent hair loss in several patches on the back of his scalp. He describes that the hair seems to have fallen out “overnight” and was noticed by his girlfriend about 1 month ago. He denies any itching or pain in the area, and has not tried any treatments. His past medical history is negative, but his family history is positive for hypothyroidism and diabetes. He denies any medications or medical allergies, only taking the occasional multi-vitamin, or acetaminophen over the counter. He denies any recent major illnesses or particularly stressful events in his life.
Metabolite Sensing in a Model Polymicrobial Community

The microbial composition of the human oral cavity has been well characterized using genomic and metagenomic techniques that have enabled rapid identification of microbial species. These studies indicate the presence of organisms in an environment, yet they do not provide information regarding the metabolic events that contribute to the oral pathology. By performing pure culture studies with secondary metabolites that A. actinomycetemcomitans encounters, novel responses to lactate and H2O2 were discovered. The future work will reveal additional polymicrobial interactions that enhance bacterial resistance to innate immunity. Riboswitches often control genes involved in biosynthesis and transport of metabolites, and they allow cells to rapidly change gene expression in response to intracellular metabolite levels. Additionally, several noncoding regulatory RNAs (ncRNAs) were upregulated during biofilm growth, indicating potential roles in biofilm development and bacterial group behavior. Overall, this study highlights the importance of ncRNAs in A. actinomycetemcomitans, particularly their potential roles in metabolism and group behavior.
Association of Statins with Sensory and Autonomic Ganglionopathy.

Objective: To examine if statins have an effect on small nerve fibers. Methods: This retrospective study evaluated the effect of statins in pure small fiber neuropathy. Outcome measures were symptom scales (numbness, tingling and autonomic symptoms), skin biopsies assessing epidermal nerve fiber density (ENFD), sweat gland nerve fiber density (SGNFD) and quantitative autonomic testing. Results: 160 participants with pure small fiber neuropathy were identified. 80 participants (women/men, age±sd 33/47, 68.1±11.6 years old) were on statins for 53.5±28.7 months for treatment of dyslipidemia and they were age and gender matched with 80 participants (33/47, 68.1±9.5) that were off statins. ANOVA showed reduced ENFD/SGNFD at the proximal leg in the statin group ((count/mm) 8.3±3.6/51.3±14.2) compared to the off statin group (10.4±3.8, p=0.0008/56.4±12.7, p=0.018). There was no difference in ENFD/SGNFD at the distal leg in the statin group (4.9±3.2/39.8±15.7) compared to the off statin group (5.9±3.4, p=0.067/41.8±15.9, p=0.426). Statins did not affect symptom scales and the outcome of autonomic testing. Conclusions: Statin use is associated with degeneration of sensory and autonomic fibers. The pattern of abnormalities, e.g. degeneration of proximal while sparing of distal fibers, is consistent with a non-length dependent process with lesions in the dorsal root and the autonomic ganglia. The statin-associated sensory and autonomic ganglionopathy is mild.
High-Performance RDMA-based Design of Hadoop MapReduce over InfiniBand

MapReduce is a very popular programming model used to handle large datasets in enterprise data centers and clouds. Although various implementations of MapReduce exist, Hadoop MapReduce is the most widely used in large data centers like Facebook, Yahoo! and Amazon due to its portability and fault tolerance. Network performance plays a key role in determining the performance of data intensive applications using Hadoop MapReduce as data required by the map and reduce processes can be distributed across the cluster. In this context, data center designers have been looking at high performance interconnects such as InfiniBand to enhance the performance of their Hadoop MapReduce based applications. However, achieving better performance through usage of high performance interconnects like InfiniBand is a significant task. It requires a careful redesign of communication framework inside MapReduce. Several assumptions made for current socket based communication in the current framework do not hold true for high performance interconnects. In this paper, we propose the design of an RDMA-based Hadoop MapReduce over InfiniBand and several design elements: data shuffle over InfiniBand, in-memory merge mechanism for the Reducer, and pre-fetch data for the Mapper. We perform our experiments on native InfiniBand using Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA) and compare our results with that of Hadoop-A [1] and default Hadoop over different interconnects and protocols. For all these experiments, we perform network level parameter tuning and use optimum values for each Hadoop design. Our performance results show that, for a 100GB TeraSort running on an eight node cluster, we achieve a performance improvement of 32% over IP-over InfiniBand (IPoIB) and 21% over Hadoop-A. With multiple disks per node, this benefit rises up to 39% over IPoIB and 31% over Hadoop-A.
Structures and Energetics of H6+ Clusters

Theoretical investigations of the equilibrium structures and associated isomerization reactions of the hydrogen clusters H(6)(+) have been carried out. Three equilibrium structures and three isomerization transition states were located on the electronic doublet and quartet states of the respective potential energy surfaces. The research employed ab initio self-consistent-field (SCF), coupled cluster (CC) with single and double excitations (CCSD), CCSD with perturbative triple excitations (CCSD(T)), and full triple excitations (CCSDT) wave functions and a wide variety of correlation-consistent polarized valence cc-pVXZ and aug-cc-pVXZ (where X = D, T, Q) basis sets. For each structure the geometry, energy, dipole moment, harmonic vibrational frequencies, and infrared intensities are predicted. Complete active space SCF (CASSCF) and multireference configuration interaction (MRCI) wave functions are used to analyze the effect of correlation on physical properties and energetics. Extensive focal point analyses (including CCSDTQ and full CI energies and basis sets up to sextuple zeta) are used to obtain complete basis set (CBS) limit energies. The H(2)(+)-core H(6)(+) cluster with D(2d) symmetry is the global minimum, lying 3.9 (4.2) +/- 0.1 kcal mol(-1) below the H(3)(+)-core H(6)(+) cluster with C(s) symmetry, where zero-point vibrational energy (ZPVE) corrected value are shown in parentheses. The barrier of the isomerization reaction between these two structures is 7.4 (5.2) +/- 0.1 kcal mol(-1). The dissociation energies for the H(2)(+)-core H(6)(+) isomer [H(6)(+) (D(2d)) --> 2H(2) + H(2)(+)] and the H(3)(+)-core H(6)(+) isomer [H(6)(+) (C(s)) --> H(3)(+) + H(2) + H] are 57.5 (50.9) +/- 0.1 and 12.3 (8.3) +/- 0.1 kcal mol(-1), respectively.
Clusters and Entrepreneurial Intnesity: The Influence of Economic Clusters on Entrepreneurial Activity

As interest in clusters has increased in recent decades, so has related research. To date, studies have explored the advantages of location within a cluster from an economic perspective, and much print has been devoted to describing clusters. Still to be addressed, however, is the question of whether economic advantage varies by cluster type and whether the competitive advantages that accrue to cluster firms vary according to both the location of the clusters and their concentration. Similarly, no empirical research has yet been carried out that specifically addresses the impact of clusters on entrepreneurial activity, in an effort to determine whether they enhance such activity. This paper begins by reviewing they key literature concerning cluster development and entrepreneurship. Hypotheses regarding the intensity of entrepreneurial activity in relation to cluster location and concentration are then presented and evaluated. The findings suggest that concentrations of multiple clusters do serve to enhance entrepreneurial activity and that, consequently, certain regions are naturally advantaged by the presence of these concentrations. A discussion follows, in which the implications of these findings for entrepreneurship and for regional policymakers are considered. Finally, directions for future research are proposed.
Suppress polystyrene thin film dewetting by modifying substrate surface with aminopropyltriethoxysilane

Abstract Aminofunctional organosilanes, such as 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES), have been widely utilized as adhesion promoters, and have also been found to have the ability to prevent dewetting of polymer thin films from substrates. The APTES molecule contains an active terminal amino group that can hydrogen bond with the multiple hydroxylated head groups in itself and hydroxyl groups on a substrate, thus forming cyclic structures and a complex loose network at ambient conditions. Upon heating, the hydrogen bond can be broken, allowing more silanol groups to condense with each other and form siloxane linkages, hence tightening the three-dimensional network. When a polymer thin film is in contact with the APTES layer during the thermal process, the polymer chains can diffuse/penetrate into the APTES network while the network is being tightened by the additional crosslinking. The penetrated and subsequently anchored chains could help to stabilize the thin film on the substrate. This hypothesis was verified by dewetting studies of thin films of polystyrene (PS), having molecular weights above and below the entanglement molecular weight ( M e ), from APTES and control surfaces when the systems were subjected to various treatments. Dewetting suppression was observed for PS/APTES that was thermally treated at ∼80 °C or 120 °C prior to the annealing of the thin film at higher temperatures. Much stronger suppression was noticed for PS having a molecular weight higher than M e . When PS thin films were deposited onto a precured APTES network, no dewetting suppression was observed.
Nutshell tables of mathematical functions for interpolation with calculating machines

Taylor Tables of Functions. The numerical values to ten decimal places of simple functions can be obtained from tables that cover only one page if a curvilinear interpolation will be applied, in a striking contrast to the familiar logaritmic and trigonometric thesauri which fill hundreds of pages. Only the interpolation formula must be adapted in a form convenient for calculating machines and the usual schema of differences replaced by a set of coefficients A, B, C... proportional to the higher derivatives. The formula reads as (3), where the constant multiplier ±t<1 once for all can be put into the keyboard of the machine. The table can be prepared very rapidly for any function of one variable (excepting, of course, those with short period disturbances). The coefficients can be computed by the aid of formulas (2), if the higher derivatives have simple mathematical expressions. In the other cases the coefficients can be obtained from the usual schema of differencesD using the formulas (4), or from the values of the function itself using the auxiliary table above the check formula (6). The tables can be used for numerical differentiations and integrations too. At last practical tables to ten decimal places of logarithms, antilogarithms and main trigonometric functions are given. Tables for the Computation of Long Geodetic Lines. The method ofLevallois andDupuy (Bull. geod. no 16) for the computation of long geodetic lines can be simplified by some special tables, which are given here. These tables can be made very concise using the idea of the author explained in a previous article (Bull. geod. no 29, p. 269). The accuracy of the method meets the highest demands of the present practical geodesy, and, neglecting the last decimal places, any degree of approximation can be obtained most economically.
Frequency locking for combustion synthesis in a periodic medium

Abstract Solutions of a 1D free-interface problem modeling solid combustion front propagating in combustible mixture with periodically varying concentration of reactant exhibit the classical phenomenon of mode locking. Numerical simulations show a variety of locked periodic, quasi-periodic and chaotic solutions.
Analytic solution to the conjugate heat transfer problem of flow past a heated block

Abstract An analytic solution has been developed for steady laminar two-dimensional conjugated heat transfer across a rectangular block with constant internal heat source and subjected to forced convection on top, different thermal boundary conditions at the sides, and adiabatic wall condition at the bottom. The idealized problem solution is of interest in the basic analysis of single-block cooling. Numerical results presented illustrate the effects of the Peclet number, conductivity ratio and type of thermal boundary condition on the temperature profiles and heat flux distributions along the upper surface of the block.
For Macrophages, Ndufs Is Enough

Proinflammatory macrophage activation is coupled to a metabolic switch toward glycolysis. In Cell Metabolism, Jin et al. (2014) show that this process is negatively regulated by mitochondrial electron transport chain complex I through both cell intrinsic and extrinsic pathways.
A novel under-voltage and over-voltage detection circuit with voltage detector using one transistor

This letter presents a novel under-voltage and over-voltage (UVOV) detection circuit which detects whether the supply voltage is within the operating range or not, with a simple configuration. The proposed circuit exploits only a transistor for detecting both under and over supply voltages and hence, it provides smaller area and better robustness to offset and mismatch compared to the previous ones. The prototype is implemented in 5um BCDMOS process with an active area of 0.0625mm2. The measurement results show that the prototype detects under and over voltages at 3.85V with 650mV of hysteresis and 48.45V with 700mV of hysteresis, respectively, while dissipating 18.7uA at 12V in simulation.
Effects of cycloheximide and puromycin on learning and retention in the cockroach, P. americana

Abstract A new one-session T-maze training procedure for cockroaches, in which animals were trained to turn right or left to avoid shock, is described. This paradigm was utilized to investigate effects of protein synthesis inhibiting drugs on learning and retention. Cycloheximide (CXM), which inhibited protein synthesis by over 90% during the training period, did not impair acquisition and did not produce retention deficits at any interval up to 1 day after training. Puromycin (PURO), which inhibited protein synthesis by about 70% during the training period, produced amnesia 5 hr after training, while acquisition was not affected. Thus invertebrates, as well as vertebrates, are susceptible to amnesic effects of puromycin. Although PURO-injected animals showed retention deficits as measured by the number of correct turns, no retention deficit occurred for the behavioral modification consisting of an increase in runway time during the training period. Therefore, PURO appears to show specificity for the different types of longer-term memories that are formed in a training situation.
An Integrative Model of Managerial Reward Allocation

An understanding of the variables that affect managerial reward allocation decisions is vital because of the effects of such rewards on employee behavior and organizational effectiveness. We present an integrative model of the reward allocation process in organizations, review previous research within the framework of the model, and suggest areas for future research.
Obesity is Associated with Reduced Brain Tissue Oxygen Tension After Severe Brain Injury

Obesity has been associated with compromised tissue oxygenation and reduced organ perfusion. The brain is critically dependent on oxygen delivery, and reduced brain tissue oxygen tension (PbtO2) may result in poor outcome after brain injury. We tested the hypothesis that obesity is associated with compromised PbtO2 after severe brain injury. Patients with severe brain injury (GCS score ≤ 8) who underwent continuous PbtO2 monitoring were retrospectively identified from a prospective single-center database. Patients, were classified by body mass index (BMI = weight (kg)/m2) and were included if they were obese (BMI ≥ 30) or non-obese (BMI = <30). Sixty-nine patients (mean age 46.4 ± 17.0 years) were included. Mean daily PbtO2 was 25.8 (9.6) mmHg for the 28 obese and 31.8 (12.3) mmHg for the 41 non-obese patients (P = 0.03). Initial PbtO2 and mean daily maximum PbtO2 measurements also were significantly lower in obese patients than in non-obese patients. Univariate predictors of compromised PbtO2 (defined as minutes PbtO2 < 20 mmHg) included elevated BMI (P = 0.02), presence of ARDS (P < 0.01), mean PaO2 (P < 0.01), maximum FiO2 (P < 0.01), mean PaO2:FiO2 (P < 0.01), and mean CVP (P < 0.01). In multivariable analysis, BMI was significantly associated with compromised PbtO2 (P = 0.02). Sex, age, and mean CVP were also identified as significant predictors of compromised PbtO2; ARDS and PF ratio were not. In patients with severe brain injury, obesity was found to be an independent predictor of compromised PbtO2. This effect may be mediated through obesity-related pulmonary dysfunction and inadequate compensatory mechanisms.
Iron-Rich Post-Perovskite and the Origin of Ultralow-Velocity Zones

The boundary layer between the crystalline silicate lower mantle and the liquid iron core contains regions with ultralow seismic velocities. Such low compressional and shear wave velocities and high Poisson's ratio are also observed experimentally in post-perovskite silicate phase containing up to 40 mol% FeSiO3 endmember. The iron-rich post-perovskite silicate is stable at the pressure-temperature and chemical environment of the core-mantle boundary and can be formed by core-mantle reaction. Mantle dynamics may lead to further accumulation of this material into the ultralow-velocity patches that are observable by seismology.
Subacromial/subdeltoid septic bursitis associated with isotretinoin therapy and corticosteroid injection.

Subacromial septic bursitis after corticosteroid injection is exceedingly rare. This report describes a case of Staphylococcus aureus subacromial septic bursitis after corticosteroid injection in a patient undergoing isotretinoin (Accutane) therapy. This case is only the third reported in the
The last 5 years of basic science investigation in transplant immunology

Many new insights have been gained over the past 5 years into the mechanisms that regulate immune reactivity to cell and organ transplants. This new knowledge is being applied to the development of innovative experimental strategies that may soon be evaluated in the clinic.
Biodiversity: Penguins in peril

Climate-driven demographic changes could cause drastic decline in the global emperor penguin population, driving some colonies to extinction.
The direct determination of cadmium in urine and perspiration using a carbon bed atomizer for atomic absorption spectroscopy

(1980). The direct determination of cadmium in urine and perspiration using a carbon bed atomizer for atomic absorption spectroscopy. Journal of Environmental Science and Health . Part A: Environmental Science and Engineering: Vol. 15, No. 6, pp. 635-662.
Fluorescence probes in biochemistry: an examination of the non-fluorescent behavior of dansylamide by photoacoustic calorimetry.

Photoacoustic calorimetry is shown to be a simple, precise, and accurate method for the quantification of the photophysics of a fluorescence probe, e.g., dansylamide, in a variety of solvents. This technique, which is described in detail, provides a direct measurement of the energy that is released nonradiatively following photostimulation, and can therefore be used to indirectly determine the amount of energy released via luminescent pathways. Photoacoustic calorimetry combined with established absorption and fluorescence methodologies provides a complete arsenal for characterizing the photophysical properties of many systems. Comparison of the photoacoustic signal for dansylamide versus standard compounds (ferrocene, tetraphenylethylene, 8-anilinonaphthalene-1-sulfonate, and/or 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) in 12 different solvents gave fh values (fraction of each absorbed 337.1-nm photon returned as heat) from a low of 0.530 in 1,4-dioxane to a high of 0.973 in water. The trend noted with solvent polarity is different and more revealing than that determined by the more classical approach of examining either the wavelength of the emission maximum or the fluorescence quantum yield.
Simultaneous automatic calibration and direction-of-time removal in frequency-resolved optical gating

We show that replacing the usual beam splitter with an etalon yields a simple method for automatically calibrating both the delay and the frequency axes of any frequency-resolved-optical-gating (FROG) device. It also simultaneously removes the direction-of-time ambiguity in second-harmonic-generation FROG.
Reproducing Italians: contested biopolitics in the age of ‘replacement anxiety’

In national and international discourses, Italians are often represented as a greying population failing to reproduce itself. Italian women are targeted for their very low birth rates, while migrant women are scrutinized for their ‘excessive’ fertility and abortion rates. These demographic concerns over differential reproduction reflect ‘replacement anxiety’ about the below-replacement rates of Italians and the replacement of Italians by immigrants. Demographic anxieties coalesce with the intensifying of Catholic ‘vitapolitics’ manifesting in the paradox of pro-natalist interventions coexisting with the curtailment of fertility-enhancing reproductive technologies. The children of migrants emerge in some population discourses as a threat rather than a contribution to the reproduction of the nation. Drawing on multi-sited ethnographic research in Milan, this paper examines how reproduction in contemporary Italy has emerged as a contested social, political, and moral issue that invests Italian and migrant wo...
Do we need to MEND the MELD

In response, a continuous disease severity score,the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score,which would be free of bias and would focus on organdistribution to the most ill patients, was proposed as amechanism to fairly allocate donor livers. The MELDwas developed as a tool for predicting mortality in pa-tients undergoing the transjugular intrahepatic porto-systemic shunt procedure for treatment of varicealbleeding or resistant ascites. The mathematical modelwas based on a small number of inexpensive, noninva-sive, and universally available laboratory measure-ments: total serum bilirubin concentration, serum al-bumin concentration, and prothrombin time.
Morphology of neurons containing monoamines within leech segmental ganglia

The monoamine-containing neurons within leech segmental ganglia are vitally and selectively stained by Neutral Red dye—a procedure facilitating the investigation of their morphology by means of intracellular injections of the tracer enzyme, horseradish peroxidase. The colossal Retzius cells are peripheral effector neurons which project large axons into the lateral roots and smaller axons into the anterior and posterior longitudinal connectives. All classes of the smaller ganglionic neurons which also contain serotonin (VL, DL, M, and E), as well as the catecholamine soma in the anterior root (AR), have extensive arborizations within the neuropile and project their axons only into the longitudinal connectives. Each of the five classes of small amine cell has a highly specific morphology and appears to be an interneuron.
Laser/Dry Silver Recorder

In the course of evolving a completely new news picture distribution system for the Associated Press, we have developed a facsimile system using laser scanners and dry silver paper. It is believed that a substantial improvement in cost/performance ratio has been achieved. The system features feedback intensity control of a modulatable He-Ne laser, a flat-bed double pass optical system, a galvanometer-driven mirror for horizontal scanning, paper motion for vertical scanning, and oven pro-cessing of the exposed paper. The tone scale is controlled with stable processing conditions and a non-linear amplifier to compensate for the D log E characteristic.© (1974) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The neurobiology of aggression and rage: role of cytokines

Recent studies have suggested an important relationship linking cytokines, immunity and aggressive behavior. Clinical reports describe increasing levels of hostility, anger, and irritability in patients who receive cytokine immunotherapy, and there are reports of a positive correlation between cytokine levels and aggressive behavior in non-patient populations. On the basis of these reports and others describing the presence or actions of different cytokines in regions of the brain associated with aggressive behavior, our laboratory embarked upon a program of research designed to identify and characterize the role of IL-1 and IL-2 in the hypothalamus and midbrain periaqueductal gray (PAG)--two regions functionally linked through reciprocal anatomical connections--in the regulation of feline defensive rage. A paradigm involved cytokine microinjections into either medial hypothalamus and elicitation of defensive rage behavior from the PAG or vice versa. These studies have revealed that both cytokines have potent effects in modulating defensive rage behavior. With respect to IL-1, this cytokine facilitates defensive rage when microinjected into either the medial hypothalamus or PAG and these potentiating effects are mediated through 5-HT2 receptors. In contrast, the effects of IL-2 are dependent upon the anatomical locus. IL-2 microinjected into the medial hypothalamus suppresses defensive rage and this suppression is mediated through GABA(A) receptors, while microinjections of IL-2 in the PAG potentiate defensive rage, in which these effects are mediated through NK-1 receptors. Present research is designed to further delineate the roles of cytokines in aggressive behavior and to begin to unravel the possible signaling pathways involved this process.
A Drug Delivery System Based on Polymer Nanotubes

A generic drug delivery system based on polymer nanotubes was design. Polymer nanotube bundles were used as drug delivery channels within a device. Because this device is very small and biocompatible, it can be implanted at any specific infectious location. The drug diffusion within the device was analyzed using the finite element method and the diffusion rate was calculated using Fick's law. The results showed the possibility of using this polymer-nanotube device as a drug delivery system that can provide a constant delivery rate and target a specific location.
Life cycle implications of product modular architectures in closed-loop supply chains

Most of the product life cycle costs and environmental impacts are determined during product design stage. A product supply chain network can be seen as a system dealing with product life cycle processes. Ideally, a product should be designed to have a structure yielding a good life cycle performance in its existing supply chain network. However, there is a lack of research related to modeling supply chain effects in the product design stage. This paper aims at investigating the supply chain effects on product modular design. The life cycle performance of a modular structure (life cycle cost and life cycle environmental impact) at various supply chain states is evaluated by a supply chain evaluation model and analyzed by statistical techniques. The preliminary results indicate that the supply chain-related effects on product life cycle performance are significant and modular structure optimization is effective in reducing the surge of life cycle cost and life cycle environmental impact caused by various supply chain states. The main supply chain effects are identified for use in product design improvement.
Determinants of pathological mineralization.

Purpose of reviewPhysiological mineralization is necessary for the formation of skeletal tissues and for their appropriate functions during adulthood. Pathological or ectopic mineralization of soft tissues, including articular cartilage and cardiovascular tissues, leads to morbidity and mortality. R
Global warming: science, money and self-preservation

Abstract The origin of the International Photochemical and Storage of Solar Energy (IPS) conferences can be traced to the oil crisis during the 1970s that emerged out of politically-driven shortage of supply. The next crisis will most likely emerge out of excess of supply. The solutions that were contemplated in the 1970s are still very relevant. We will focus here on human contributions to changes in the atmospheric chemical composition that will most likely have a major impact on the global climate. The key issue addressed is the prediction of the possibility that the system will self-adjust to achieve sustainable development and thus immunize us from the consequences of wrong decisions. We conclude with a presentation of a computer model that greatly accelerates the cause-effect choices that we make and incorporates renewable energy supply as an important part of the solution. To cite this article: M. Tomkiewicz, C. R. Chimie 9 (2006) .
The Bionic Man

When I hear the phrase “human-implantable electronics,” I must confess that I feel a bit queasy. It conjures up a more extreme image of pervasive computing than is usually justified. However, putting my emotional reaction aside, when I think about the possibilities of implantable technology, it actually begins to sound pretty cool.
Time scales of magma storage and differentiation of voluminous high-silica rhyolites at Yellowstone caldera, Wyoming

Ion microprobe dating of zircons from post-collapse rhyolites at Yellowstone caldera reveals the time scales of crystallization and storage of silicic magma in a differentiating magma reservoir, the role of recycling of crystals from the caldera-forming magmatism, and the timing and efficacy of crystal-melt separation. Zircons in the voluminous (~900 km3) Central Plateau Member lavas, which progressively erupted between 70 to 160 ka, yield 238U-230Th disequilibrium ages dominantly spanning the range from those of their respective eruptions to ~200 ka; mean zircon ages range to ca. 60,000 years before eruption. When considered together with the trace element and Sr- and Nd-isotope compositions of their host melts, the age distributions of the CPM zircons show that the rhyolites are cogenetic and differentiated tens of thousands of years prior to eruption from an evolving magma reservoir. Thus, the post-caldera CPM rhyolites were not erupted from a long-standing body of rhyolitic magma left over from the caldera-forming eruption, nor do they represent significant remobilization of the plutonic roots of the caldera. Rather, the CPM magma was generated and differentiated by episodes of effective crystal-melt separation at ~200 and ~125 ka and, sustained by thermal inputs, stored for timescales on par with estimates for other voluminous caldera-related rhyolites.
The Potential Role of Interleukin-17 in Severe Asthma

Asthma has long been characterized as a disease of dysregulated T-helper type 2 immune responses to environmental allergens. Clinical studies suggest that asthma is a heterogeneous disorder with distinct types of inflammatory processes. Accumulating evidence suggests that aberrant interleukin (IL)-17 production is a key determinant of severe forms of asthma. However, the identity of IL-17–producing cells and the factors regulating IL-17 production during the course of allergic inflammation remain elusive. In this review, we summarize the potential IL-17–producing cells and their involvement in the inflammatory responses that mediate distinct features of asthma. The role of proinflammatory cytokines and the complement pathway in regulating the generation of IL-17–producing T cells is also discussed. Understanding the biology of IL-17 in the context of allergic inflammation may be informative in the development of novel approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of asthma.