cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Spanish Forest Reconnaissance and the Search for Shipbuilding Timber in an Era of Naval Resurgence, 1737-1739

Between 1737 and 1739, Spanish naval officers conducted reconnaissance missions in nearly all forests within accessible range of naval shipyards to determine their suitability for shipbuilding. Spain’s top naval minister, the Marques de la Ensenada, oversaw the collection of these reports, which were meant to aid broader state-enhancement reforms. While the practice of Spanish naval forest reconnaissance was not new in this period, the scale and urgency was unprecedented and set in motion a new era of territorialization within Spain, strengthening the crown’s control of natural resources. Crown management of forests, based on more reliable knowledge of their quality, locations, and accessibility, was integral during a period of naval resurgence in the mid-eighteenth century, but remains poorly studied. The article analyzes the motivations, strategies, methods, and findings of numerous forest reconnaissance missions from across Spain during this period.
Variations in the Policies of Yugoslav Communes Developmental Imperatives Versus Regional Style

This article applies analysis of covariance to examine the impact of economic development level and regional political culture upon policy outputs and outcomes in Yugoslav communes. Both development and region exercise a significant impact on most of the 19 policy indicators under consideration, but five distinct causal patterns emerged from the analysis. This suggests that no single model of the nexus between political and economic factors in the public policy process is sufficient and that more analytic attention should be paid to discovering the conditions that determine which type of model applies.
A finite element formulation for composite structures based on a volume fraction mixture theory

Abstract This paper is concerned with developing an advanced finite element formulation for composite structures based on a volume fraction mixture theory. The development is unique in that each node of the finite element mesh is assumed to have double the number of degrees of freedom over that of a single continuum. In particular, the degrees of freedom represent the displacements of the individual constituents, thereby allowing for independent constituent motions. The behavior of the composite is then determined by the governing rules for summing constituent variables of the mixture. The primary advantage of developing such a theory is that detailed information regarding the state of the constituents is retained while at the same time performing structural analysis. Hence, the mixture theory represents a marriage of micromechanics to structural analysis. The mixture formulation is shown to capture the mechanical behavior of a unidirectional composite under both uniaxial and multiaxial loadings. Finally, an example of structural analysis is presented for a composite plate with a hole in it.
Effects of the state of stress on the toughness of polycarbonate

It is shown that the mechanical properties of polycarbonate are controlled by the state of stress of the test specimen. Whereas the yield stress of the material is relatively insensitive to the state of stress, the tendency of the material to microcavitate is strongly dependent on the residual stresses in the surfaces of a test specimen. The effects of quenching, annealing, post notching, solvent swelling and rate of testing on the modulus of toughness are all related to the state of compression on the free surfaces. The mechanism of deformation is shown by cinematography to consist of the nucleation of a shear band followed by microcavitation along the propagating band. Maximum toughness is obtained by suppressing microcavitation so as to promote shear yielding. When microcavitation occurs, it is the competition between propagating the microcavitation throughout the material and the generation of microcracks in the advancing shear band that controls the ultimate elongation.
WE-D-304A-07: A Novel Stereo-Scanning Tomosynthesis Scheme and Its Application in Image Guidance for Breast Radiotherapy

Purpose: In conventional digital tomosynthesis (DTS), images are generated by scanning an x‐ray source and flat‐panel detector pair on a one‐dimensional trajectory. A novel stereo‐scanning tomosynthesis (STS) is proposed in which the x‐ray source is allowed to scan on a two‐dimensional (2D) surface. By allowing the x‐ray source to project from more stereo angles, the scanning scheme of STS provides more coverage in the spatial‐frequency domain of the object, consequently better image quality. Method and Materials: The feasibility and effectiveness of STS is corroborated by computer simulations, using a three‐dimensional (3D) numerical breast phantom in its natural shape. Iterative algorithm in the form of total variation regulated expectation maximization (TV‐EM) is developed for image reconstructions. A STS scheme is proposed as the image guidance method for prone‐position breast radiotherapy.Results: The STS images possess excellent image quality for online tumor targeting, superior to conventional DTS. STS outperforms DTS in restoring certain features of the object and reducing artifacts, due to its more frequency‐domain coverage. Conclusion: By allowing more general scanning trajectories than conventional DTS, STS may provide more flexible imaging geometry or/and better image quality, in various clinical tasks of image guided radiotherapy and diagnostic imaging.
Scaling Relationships for Anisotropic Random Walks

Aspects of transport in a highly multiple-scattering environment are investigated by examining random walkers moving in media having anisotropic angular scattering cross sections (turn-angle distributions). A general expression is obtained for the mean square displacement 〈x2〉 of a random walker executing ann-step walk in an infinite homogeneous material, and results are used to predict scaling relations for the probabilityγ(ρ) that a walker returns to the planar surface of a semi-infinite medium at a distanceρ from the point of its insertion.
Width of Anodization Mask Required to Preserve a Metallic Phase during Porous-Type Anodization of Aluminum-Copper Films

Patterned arrays with alternating regions of the metallic phase and porous aluminum oxide are fabricated by using a dense layer of barrier aluminum oxide as a mask for porous-type anodization of 99.5% Al and 0.5% Cu films. The pore curvature at the interface between the metallic phase and porous aluminum oxide is investigated as a function of anodization voltage. The degree of anisotropy, which is defined as a ratio between vertical and lateral propagation of pores, increases slightly as anodization voltage increases. The pore curvature compromises the mask transfer during anodization due to the lateral pore propagation under the anodization mask. For miniaturization of regions composed of Al-Cu, it is important to establish the width of anodization mask required to preserve the metallic phase between two regions of porous aluminum oxide. Our results show that a 2 μm wide anodization mask is necessary during porous-type anodization of 3 μm thick Al-Cu films at a chosen set of anodization conditions (40 V, 3% w/v H 2 C 2 O 4 , 5°C).
Pentitol oxidoreductases in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum.

Pentitol: NADP and pentitol: NAD oxidoreductase were detected in cell-free extracts of mycelia and sclerotia ofSclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) D By. grown on synthetic liquid medium containingd-xtlose,l-arabinose ord-ribose. Both enzymes were similar to those reported from other fungi. The enzymes were not detected when the fungus was grown on a medium containingd-glucose.
The effects of cascade damage and self-ion injection on the swelling of irradiated materials

Abstract The effects on the void swelling of irradiated materials of cascade damage and (for self-ion bombardment) of self-ion injection are derived in a unified manner by means of rate theory. The collapse of vacancy clusters within cascades to form vacancy edge dislocation loops follows the general model investigated by Bullough, Eyre and Krishan, although in contrast with this previous development that given here is entirely analytical. The dependence upon macroscopic measurable quantities is thereby exposed and the complementary effects of cascade damage and self-ion injection are made evident.
Comparison of Combination Therapies in the Management of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Transarterial Chemoembolization with Radiofrequency Ablation versus Microwave Ablation

Purpose To compare retrospectively the outcomes and complications of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization with drug-eluting embolic agents combined with radiofrequency (RF) ablation or microwave (MW) ablation in treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Sites of distant recurrence and clinical outcomes in patients with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer: high incidence of central nervous system metastases.

Purpose To characterize the outcomes of patients with metastatic triple negative breast cancers, including the risk and clinical consequences of central nervous system (CNS) relapse.
Vanadium Dioxide Films Grown from Vanadium Tetrakis(t-Butoxide) by the Sol-Gel Process

Vanadium dioxide thin films have been grown from vanadium tetrakis (t-butoxide) by the sol-gel process. A new method for the synthesis of the vanadium precursor was developed. Films were deposited by dipcoating glass slides from an isopropanol solution, followed by post-deposition annealing of the films at 600 °C under nitrogen. The properties of these films, to a high degree, were a function of the preparation conditions. These gel-derived VO2 films undergo a reversible semiconductor-to-metal phase transition near 72 °C, exhibiting characteristic resistive and spectral switching comparable with near stoichiometric VO2 films prepared on non-crystalline substrates by other techniques. Paralleling the investigation of pure VO2, films were doped with hexavalent transition metal oxides to demonstrate lowering of the transition temperature.
A framework for the study of macronutrient intake in fish

A good understanding of the capabilities of commercially reared fish species to regulate intake of specific macronutrients has potential economic, welfare and environmental benefits. We present a conceptual and experimental framework for studying macronutrient intake in fish. This ‘geometric’ approach addresses the multidimensional and interactive nature of nutrition. It was developed from work on insect herbivores and has successfully been applied to mammals and birds. The various components of the framework are introduced in simple outlines, and key experimental designs are described for assessing whether or not fish specifically regulate their intake of macronutrients, how they balance over-ingesting some nutrients against undereating others when provided with suboptimal diets, and how they regulate growth post-ingestively.
Adaptation to selective visual scaling of short time scale processes in isometric force

This study investigated the effect of selectively increasing the visual scale of the high frequency components on isometric force control. The higher frequency bandwidths (4-8 Hz or 8-12 Hz) of the force output were amplified visually by a scaling factor (0, 2, 4, 6, 8). Four types of force targets (i.e. constant, sine function, pink noise, and brown noise) that required different control strategies were examined. In the constant and to a lesser extent the pink noise task the enhanced visual scaling information progressively reduced the contribution to the force signal of the respective (4-8 Hz or 8-12 Hz) bandwidth and also in the neighboring frequency bandwidths (0-4 Hz or 4-8 Hz). The frequency analysis in the constant target condition showed that selectively increasing the visual scale of the high frequency bandwidths changed the whole frequency spectrum of the potential adaptive force range (0-12 Hz) rather than only the specific bandwidth being scaled. This rescaling of the whole frequency spectrum led, however, to increase performance error in the constant and sine function targets. These findings show that the multiple time scale process of isometric force control are constrained by the predictive properties of the force output and the relative contribution of feedforward and feedback processes to task outcome.
Metabolic pathways and synthetic ability of leaves of several pyrus species

Abstract Relationship between type of metabolism and synthetic ability of leaves of several pear species was investigated. Species incorporating high quantities of labelled glucose into the alcohol insoluble fraction of the leaf respired through the Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas glycolitic pathway and citric-acid-cycle sequence. Species incorporating small amounts of glucose respired mostly through the pentose phosphate pathway. As leaves aged, their synthetic ability decreased, and respiration changed toward the pentose phosphate pathway. When species (having leaves of the same age) were compared, respiration through the pentose phosphate pathway seemed to be associated with small leaf size. It was concluded that the type of respiration in leaves was determined by the energy requirement for synthetic processes. When the energy requirement was low, metabolism of leaves proceeded through the pentose pathway. The synthetic ability in turn was influenced genetically, by environment, or by the age of the leaf.
Effects of parathyroid hormone infusion and primary hyperparathyroidism on serum prolactin in man.

Serum PRL, parathyroid hormone (PTH), and Ca levels were measured in 14 patients (8 women and 6 men) with primary hyperparathyroidism. Six normal volunteers (3 men and 3 women) received a 1-h control infusion of 5% glucose containing 2% human serum albumin, a 1-h infusion of the same fluid containing 450 U bovine PTH, and a repeated 1-h infusion of glucose and albumin. Serum PRL was measured during these infusion periods and showed a peak within 30 min of the start of bovine PTH infusion; PRL levels declined thereafter in spite of continued PTH infusion. Serum PRL levels returned to normal within1-h of discontinuance of bovine PTH infusion. The serum PRL levels in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism were within the normal range, and there was no correlation betweenserum PTH and PRL levels. These results suggest that the PRL response to PTH infusion is a pharmacological rather than a physiological or pathophysiological effect of PTH.
The Carathéodory–Toeplitz problem with partial data

Abstract We treat a positive extension problem in an algebra of periodic doubly infinite operator matrices. The given data have a stalactite-type pattern. The problem may be viewed as an operator-valued Caratheodory–Toeplitz problem with partially described data. Necessary and sufficient conditions are given for the existence of a solution, the set of all solutions is described and a maximum entropy result is obtained as well. In the matrix-valued case the problem was also considered by Alpay et al. [Linear Algebra Appl. 268 (1998) 247], where the problem was rephrased as an interpolation problem requiring symmetries and solutions were given in these terms. We shall also interpret our results in the context of cyclostationary stochastic processes.
Differences in induction of p53, p21WAF1 and apoptosis in relation to cell cycle phase of MCF-7 cells treated with camptothecin.

The DNA topoisomerase I (topI) inhibitor camptothecin (CPT), stabilizes so-called cleavable complexes which consist of topI covalently attached to 3' OH ends of DNA nicks. Collisions between the progressing DNA replication forks (occurring in S phase cells) or between the transcription driven RNA polymerase molecules (occurring in G1, S and G2 cells) and these complexes convert the latter into secondary DNA lesions which are unrepairable and lethal to the cell. Changes induced by CPT in the level of the tumor suppressor p53, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21WAF1 and proapoptotic protein Bax (all detected immunocytochemically), were measured separately in the nucleus and cytoplasm of individual human breast carcinoma MCF-7 cells by laser scanning cytometry (LSC) in relation to cell cycle position and induction of apoptosis. The initial transient cell arrest at the G1 checkpoint seen at 8-16 h of treatment with 0.15 microM CPT was accompanied by the rapid accumulation of p53 (preventable by cycloheximide) in the nucleus; the rise (>20-fold) in p53 was maximal for S phase cells. The magnitude of the nuclear p53 increase induced by CPT, at maximum, was 2-fold higher than that induced by the proteasome inhibitor N-acetyl-Leu-Leu-norleucinal (LLnL). While the accumulation of p53 was seen in all phases of the cycle, only G1 cells responded by induction ( approximately 60-fold increase) of p21WAF1. Inhibition of DNA replication by aphidicolin prevented the accumulation of p53 in S and G2/M but had no effect on its induction in G1 cells. Perturbation of cell progression through S phase was seen between 24-72 h of treatment, and it coincided with induction of Bax and apoptosis (both maximal in S phase cells). Thus, the changes observed in S phase cells (nuclear accumulation of p53 preventable by aphidicolin, induction of Bax, apoptosis), triggered by the collisions of DNA replication forks with the CPT-induced lesions, were distinct from the changes in G1 (nuclear p53 accumulation unaffected by aphidicolin, induction of p21WAF1) presumably triggered by collisions of RNA polymerase with the CPT-lesions. Great heterogeneity in expression of p53 and p21WAF1 of the G1 cell population in response to CPT was observed, which may reflect the intercellular variability in the rate of transcription (i.e., frequencies of collisions of RNA polymerase with the lesions). Thus, differences in the transcriptional activity of G1 cells may play a role in their sensitivity to CPT and similar topI inhibitors.
Structural Origin of Circularly Polarized Iridescence in Jeweled Beetles

Iridescent metallic green beetle, Chrysina gloriosa selectively reflects left circularly polarized light, possesses an exoskeleton decorated by nearly hexagonal cells (~10?m). These structures are analogous to defects on the free surface of a cholesteric fluid.
Progress in resonator quantum well infrared photodetector (R-QWIP) focal plane arrays

Abstract In this work, the performance of a 640 × 512 long-wavelength resonant quantum well infrared photodetector (R-QWIP) focal plane array (FPA) was evaluated as a function of operating temperature, bias, and photon flux using an F/2.2 optic. From these FPA measurements an assessment of the dark current, noise, conversion efficiency and noise-equivalent temperature difference is provided herein. Histogram results are used to support a statistical interpretation of operability and non-uniformity across the R-QWIP FPA. In addition, single pixel devices fabricated from the same wafer lot enabled supplemental noise gain and spectral response measurements. The spectral response of this R-QWIP structure was confirmed to peak around 8.3 microns with a spectral bandwidth or approximately 1 micron (full-width half maximum) and the noise gain measurements were used to provide an estimation of the expected external quantum efficiency (conversion efficiency = quantum efficiency ∗ gain).
Pion density in nuclei and deep-inelastic lepton scattering

Recent data indicate that quark densities in a high-A nucleus differ significantly from those measured in the free-nucleon case. We examine whether this effect can be explained in terms of deep-inelastic scattering from mesons responsible for nuclear binding. Although features of the data are reproduced qualitatively, we are unable to approach a quantitative description of the magnitude of the experimental effect at small x unless we postulate an enhanced pion density of about 0.4 extra pions per nucleon (roughly three times that provided by conventional nuclear models), and/or make assumptions about the small-x behavior of the meson structure function which are inconsistent with available data. These conclusions are insensitive to the manner in which we impose momentum conservation. The slope of the ratio of structure functions vs x is reproduced easily in the range 0.05
Recurrent fatal hydrops fetalis associated with a nucleotide substitution in the erythrocyte beta-spectrin gene.

Abstract We studied a kindred in which four third-trimester fetal losses occurred, associated with severe Coombs-negative hemolytic anemia and hydrops fetalis. Postmortem examination of two infants revealed extensive extramedullary erythropoiesis. Studies of erythrocytes and erythrocyte membranes from the parents revealed abnormal erythrocyte membrane mechanical stability as well as structural and functional abnormalities in spectrin, the principal structural protein of the erythrocyte membrane. Genetic studies identified a point mutation of the beta-spectrin gene, S2019P, in a region of beta spectrin that is critical for normal spectrin function. Both parents and two living children were heterozygous for this mutation; three infants dying of hydrops fetalis were homozygous for this mutation. In an in vitro assay using recombinant peptides, the mutant beta-spectrin peptide demonstrated a significant abnormality in its ability to interact with alpha spectrin. This is the first description of a molecular defect of the erythrocyte membrane associated with hydrops fetalis.
Local government policies toward environmentally sensitive areas in British Columbia, Canada; Washington and Oregon, USA

While there has been sustained debate on the issue of provincial and state versus local government environmental planning, maintaining privately owned natural resources in the public interest is increasingly viewed as beyond the scope of local governments alone. This paper describes and compares province- and state-level mandates and options for local governments (i.e., city, county, or district) to regulate land uses of environmentally sensitive areas (ESAs) in British Columbia in Canada and in Washington and Oregon in the United States. We define ESAs as landscape elements or places that are vital to the long-term maintenance of biological diversity, soil, water, and other natural resources, especially as they relate to human health, safety, and welfare, both on-site and in a regional context. Underlying similarities are that all three jurisdictions legally express the need for land-use planning by local governments in managing ESAs. Although all three jurisdictions exhibit similar problems in their attempt to accomplish this, ESA planning by local governments is an optional process in British Columbia and Washington but mandatory in Oregon. Furthermore, actual processes prescribed by each of the three jurisdictions are quite different. The information base upon which local regulation of privately held ESAs depends is variable, both within and between the province- and statelevel jurisdictions. Other than for some specific water-related resources, standard definitions and inventory methods for ESAs are lacking, as is coordination among local governments or among the province- and state-level governments. This study concludes that there is a need for a regional environmental information system in the Pacific Northwest based upon an integrated and scientific approach toward ESA structures and functions.
Evolutionary Foraging Models in Zooarchaeological Analysis: Recent Applications and Future Challenges

The last few decades have witnessed a rapid rise in the use of foraging models derived from behavioral ecology to explain and predict temporal and spatial differences in faunal assemblages. Although these models build on conventional ideas about utility firmly embedded in zooarchaeological analyses, when cast in an evolutionary framework these ideas produce some of the most sophisticated and elegant interpretations of archaeofaunas to date. In this article I review the methodological and practical strengths and weaknesses of current zooarchaeological applications of foraging models. Recent applications of foraging models to the zooarchaeological record reveal important variability in human-prey interactions across time and space. Case-specific applications generate theoretical and methodological advances that augment and are complementary to model building in allied fields. Recent applications also identify shortcomings in the underlying assumptions and rationale of some foraging models that mirror past and on-going discussions in anthropology and biology. I discuss how these shortcomings can fruitfully direct future applications and research in foraging economics.
Newes from Hell, Rome, and the Innes of Court: Images from the First Year of the English Civil Wars

By 1640, English society was in upheaval. Politically, Charles I had broken Parliamentary statutes by ruling alone for more than a decade, and many felt he violated the Church with his Catholic queen. As the political system crumbled, royal enforcement of press censorship broke down and London publishers produced a growing volume of anti-Catholic and pro-Parliamentary print. Meanwhile, pro-Royalist press flagged because the crown was resistant to its use. In 1642, the first year of the English Civil Wars, pro-Parliament publishers used the press to provoke anti-Royalist and anti-Catholic sentiment and to rally the citizenry to support the Parliament in its conflict with Charles I. An examination of images produced in 1642 reveals the turmoil of a divided country.
Sustained, coupled electrical and mechanical oscillations in a bimolecular lipid membrane in the presence of inorganic ions.

Abstract Bimolecular lipid membranes of oxidized cholesterol or phosphatidylethanolamine separating bathing solution compartments of potassium ferricyanide and potassium iodide can be set into regular, sustained electrical oscillations when the pH's of the two compartments are adjusted to 5 and 10, respectively. The period of the oscillations are in the order of 30 sec, and the amplitudes are about 30–40% of the self electromotive force, or conduction in an applied field. A mechanical oscillation of the membrane can be detected simultaneously, which has the same period as the electrical.
Investigation of the Electronic Ground States for a Reduced Pyridine(diimine) Uranium Series: Evidence for a Ligand Tetraanion Stabilized by a Uranium Dimer

The electronic structures of a series of highly reduced uranium complexes bearing the redox-active pyridine(diimine) ligand, MesPDIMe (MesPDIMe = 2,6-(2,4,6-Me3-C6H2-N═CMe)2C5H3N) have been investigated. The complexes, (MesPDIMe)UI3(THF) (1), (MesPDIMe)UI2(THF)2 (2), [(MesPDIMe)UI]2 (3), and [(MesPDIMe)U(THF)]2 (4), were examined using electronic and X-ray absorption spectroscopies, magnetometry, and computational analyses. Taken together, these studies suggest that all members of the series contain uranium(IV) centers with 5f 2 configurations and reduced ligand frameworks, specifically [MesPDIMe]•/–, [MesPDIMe]2–, [MesPDIMe]3– and [MesPDIMe]4–, respectively. In the cases of 2, 3, and 4 no unpaired spin density was found on the ligands, indicating a singlet diradical ligand in monomeric 2 and ligand electron spin-pairing through dimerization in 3 and 4. Interaction energies, representing enthalpies of dimerization, of −116.0 and −144.4 kcal mol–1 were calculated using DFT for the monomers of 3 and 4, resp...
On oraclizable networks and Kahn's principle

In this paper we investigate generalizations of Kahn's principle to nondeterministic dataflow networks. Specifically, we show that for the class of “oraclizable” networks a semantic model in which networks are represented by certain sets of continuous functions is fully abstract and has the fixed-point property. We go on to show that the oraclizable networks are the largest class representable by this model, and are a proper superclass of the networks implementable with the infinity fair merge primitive. Finally, we use this characterization to show that infinity fair merge networks and oraclizable networks are proper subclasses of the networks with Egli-Milner monotone input-output relations.
The Influence of Living Alone on Depression in Elderly Persons

The mental health effects of living alone on elderly persons are not well known. Using multiple regression models, the authors attempted to distinguish the influence of living alone on depressive s...
Flame Challenge Science Communication Contest

What is color? That is the question for this year's Flame Challenge, an international contest started by actor Alan Alda that asks scientists to communicate complex science in a way that would educate and spark the interest of an 11-year-old.
PRIM: A Fast Matrix Transpose Method

An efficient algorithm called PRIM is proposed for transposing an arbitraxy R ×C matrix which is too large to be stored in its entirety in working memory and which instead is stored by rows on disk. PRIM facilitates the execution of numerical matrix algorithms which operate both by rows and by columns.
Variations among individual mice in binding of growth hormone and insulin to membranes from animals of different ages.

Abstract Binding of 125I-labeled insulin and growth hormone to membranes from liver and hearts of C57BL/6J mice was measured and the data analyzed by the graphical method of Scatchard. Animals were studied at ages 2, 10, 20, and 31 months; preparations from each animal were analyzed individually. There was no signficant and progressive age-related difference in either dissociation constant or binding capacity for insulin in heart and liver, or for growth hormone in liver. Variations among individual animals were large; in some cases, the standard deviation exceeded the mean for a particular age group. We conclude that there are no large age-related differences in binding of these anabolic hormones to the target tissues studied, and that any small changes would be masked by the large variations among individual animals.
Selective dopamine D4 receptor antagonists

The discovery that the atypical antipsychotic clozapine has higher affinity for the dopamine D4 receptor relative to the D2 receptor touched off a search for more potent, highly selective D4 antagonists as a new class of antipsychotics. Many compounds achieving high potency and selectivity are now available including L-745,870 (Merck), NGD 94-1 (Neurogen), PNU-101,387 (Pharmacia & Upjohn), CP-293,019 (Pfizer), and PD-172,938 (Warner-Lambert). Unfortunately, L-745,870 did not improve psychotic symptoms in a Phase II clinical trial, causing many researchers to question the role of the D4 receptor in the aetiology of schizophrenia. Recent findings with new biological models and D4 selective agonists may help clarify D4 receptor physiology.
Lysis of collagen by human gingival bacteria.

SummaryCollagenolytic activity was demonstrated in mixed cultures of gingival bacteria from 13 of 19 individuals with chronic marginal gingivitis but from only 3 of 21 individuals with clinically normal gingivitis. This difference is statistically valid. The use of native collagen as a substrate, in the form of tendon, and the determination of the liberation of peptides containing hydroxyproline as an indication of collagenolysis are believed to make the results significant for the situation in vivo. Consequently, it is inferred that gingival bacteria may contribute to the destruction of the collagenous fibers of the periodontium seen in periodontitis.
Photoinduced cycloadditions of electron deficient nitrones to alkenes

Abstract Oxaziridines are proposed as intermediates in the photoinduced cycloadditions of electron deficient nitrones to dipolarophiles.
Regulation of the Werner helicase through a direct interaction with a subunit of protein kinase A.

Werner syndrome is a hereditary disease characterized by cancer predisposition, genetic instability, and the premature appearance of features associated with normal aging. At the molecular level this syndrome has been related to mutations in the Werner helicase, a member of the RecQ family of DNA helicases which are required to maintain genomic stability in cells. Here we show by a yeast two-hybrid screen that the Werner helicase can directly interact with the regulatory subunit (RIβ) of cAMP protein kinase A (PKA). We confirm that this interaction occurs in vivo. Interestingly, serum withdrawal causes a redistribution of the Werner helicase within the nucleus of mammalian cells. Raising intracellular cAMP levels or increased expression of the regulatory but not the catalytic subunit of PKA inhibits this nuclear redistribution stimulated by serum deprivation. These results suggest that similar to lower organisms, gene products linked to genomic instability and aging may be directly regulated by growth factor-sensitive, PKA-dependent pathways.
Wilson's Disease.

Patient 1: A 26-year-old man presented to a neurologist with a 6-month history of mild upper extremity tremor. He also felt that during the past year his memory was not as good as it used to be, and sometimes he had difficulty focusing mentally on tasks. Otherwise, the patient had been healthy. His family history revealed two ancestors on his mother’s side who had had mild tremor. Physical and neurological examinations were negative except for tremor. Laboratory studies were confined to blood counts and a biochemistry panel, which came back normal.
Development and evaluation of a new statistical model for structure-based high-throughput virtual screening

We have developed a High-Performance Computing (HPC)-based molecular docking scheme, termed HiPCDock, for drug discovery and development. To improve the statistical significance of our screening results, a bioinformatics approach, motivated by a sequence alignment package BLAST, was implemented. The statistical model was validated with ten known Thymidine Kinase (TK) binders and the real inhibitors showed significant statistics, in terms of low probabilities and expectation values. Our HiPCDock has been implemented to be used by both computational experts and experimental scientists. Thus it is an automated, easy-to-use, and efficient package for molecular docking-based high-throughput virtual screening in drug discovery.
Laminar flow and heat transfer in a channel with lateral injection

Nu = Nusselt number based on channel height, = hH/k P = dimensionless local pressure, = p/pv* qw = local wall heat flux Re = injection Reynolds number, = vwH/v Rec = local channel Reynolds number, = u(x)H/v Re0 = inlet channel Reynolds number, = U0H/v T0 = injection fluid inlet temperature Tw = local heated wall temperature U = dimensionless stream wise velocity, = u/u U0 = channel inlet velocity u, v = local velocities in the stream wise and lateral directions, respectively u = local average velocity in the channel V = dimensionless cross-stream velocity, = v/vw vw = injection velocity (X, Y) = dimensionless streamwise and cross-stream coordinates, respectively, == (x,y)/H
The Serotonin Transporter Polymorphism, 5HTTLPR, Is Associated With a Faster Response Time to Sertraline in an Elderly Population With Major Depressive Disorder

Rationale A common polymorphism (5HTTLPR) within the promoter region of the serotonin transporter gene (LSC6A4) has been shown to influence response time as well as overall response to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in subjects with major depressive disorder. We hypothesized that a similar effect in response time to sertraline would be observed and that no effect on response time would be seen in a placebo arm.
Stress and women with physical disabilities: identifying correlates.

Introduction We examined correlates of perceived stress among women with physical disabilities to identify variables that may be amenable to change through psychosocial interventions. Method The method for this investigation involved a correlational analysis of data gathered from 415 women living with physical disabilities on abuse and other health concerns. The women were recruited in outpatient clinics where they each participated in a face-to-face, semistructured interview. Results Based on multiple regression analyses, the findings indicate that demographic (age, income) and disability (mobility, level of assistance needed) variables explained a small but significant proportion of the variance in perceived stress. Variables judged to be potentially amenable to change through psychosocial interventions (i.e., social support, pain interference, and abuse) contributed significantly to stress over and above the demographic and disability variables. Conclusion Women with physical disabilities reported high levels of perceived stress. Particularly at high risk are women who are limited by pain, lack social support, and/or have experience with recent abuse. Stress management interventions for this population of women should consider incorporating components addressing pain, social support, and abuse.
Processing, Sensory and Chemical Properties of Wieners prepared from CO2, Brine and Conventionally Chilled Beef Raw Materials

Wieners were prepared from CO2-chilled hot-boned beef, brine-chilled hot-boned beef, and conventionally chilled beef raw materials after 0, 7, 14, and 21 days of storage (2 degrees C) in chub packages. Chilling method had little influence on the extractability and emulsifying capacity of salt-soluble proteins. Processing yields and sensory ratings for the wieners prepared from hot-boned beef were either equal to or superior to those prepared from cold-boned beef. Sensory panel ratings indicated that wieners may be processed from pre-rigor beef without a loss in palatability. Results from this study indicate that chilling hot-boned beef with CO2 or with brine does not significantly alter its functional properties as a sausage raw material.
The Narcotics Initiative: An Examination of the NYPD Approach to Drug Enforcement, 1995-2001

In the mid-1990s, the New York City Police Department (NYPD) developed a new approach to address drug conditions called the narcotics initiative. Centered on a three-prong enforcement strategy, the initiatives were concentrated in specific clusters of precincts and successively deployed over a period of several years throughout New York City. This study examines the impact of two initiatives deployed in Queens County, NY, and examines the effectiveness of the initiatives based on the decrease in crime and increase in enforcement associated with their deployment. Hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) is used to examine the data, and the results showed limited impact in community conditions after the initiatives were deployed.
Efficient dynamic simulation of an underwater vehicle with a robotic manipulator

In this paper, an efficient dynamic simulation algorithm is developed for an underwater robotic vehicle (URV) with a manipulator. It is based on previous work on efficient O(N) algorithms, where N is the number of links in the manipulator, and has been extended to include the effects of a mobile base (the URV body). In addition, the various hydrodynamic forces exerted on these systems in underwater environments are also incorporated into the simulation. The effects modeled in this work are added mass, viscous drag, fluid acceleration, and buoyancy forces. With efficient implementation of the resulting algorithm, the amount of computation with inclusion of the hydrodynamics is almost double that of the original algorithm for a six degree-of-freedom land-based manipulator with a mobile base. Nevertheless, the amount of computation still only grows linearly with the number of degrees of freedom in the manipulator. >
Effects of resveratrol on 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-induced oxidative events and gene expression in mouse skin.

Abstract Resveratrol (3,5,4′-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene) is a natural product shown to inhibit carcinogen-induced pre-neoplastic lesions in mouse mammary organ culture and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-promoted mouse skin tumors. Application of TPA to mouse skin induces oxidative stress, as evidenced by numerous biochemical responses, including significant generation of H2O2 and enhanced levels of myeloperoxidase and oxidized glutathione reductase activities and decreases in glutathione levels and superoxide dismutase activity. TPA treatment also elevates the expression of cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), c-myc, c-fos, c-jun, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). As currently reported, pre-treatment of mouse skin with resveratrol negated several of these TPA-induced effects in a dose-dependent manner. H2O2 and glutathione levels were restored to control levels, as were myeloperoxidase, oxidized glutathione reductase and superoxide dismutase activities. As judged by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), TPA-induced increases in the expression of c-fos and TGF-β1 were selectively inhibited. These data suggest that resveratrol inhibits tumorigenesis in mouse skin through interference with pathways of reactive oxidants and possibly by modulating the expression of c-fos and TGF-β1.
Short communication: The Mid-Atlantic Watershed Atlas (MAWA): Open access data search & watershed-based community building

The Mid-Atlantic region in the United States (US) is composed of a diverse range of gradients across its natural and human systems. These gradients encompass heavily urbanized population centers, agriculture dominated valleys, reforested headwaters, and some of the most important estuaries in North America. The Mid-Atlantic Watershed Atlas (MAWA) portal has been developed to encourage public access and use of a wide range of freely available data resources. Moreover, the system has been designed to facilitate emergent geospatial tagging to identify the individuals, groups, and agencies shaping the region's water resources. The goal of the system is to facilitate improved regional watershed knowledge, provide information to individual stakeholders, and support broad regional initiatives.
The Impact of Financial Flexibility on Capital Structure Decisions: Some Empirical Evidence

I empirically test the impact of financial flexibility on capital structure decisions on a large sample of publically traded U.S. firms from 1971 to 2006. I find that accounting for the marginal value of financial flexibility in capital structure models sheds light on several important capital structure questions. First, I show that when the marginal value of financial flexibility is high, variables traditionally shown to impact leverage (e.g., profitability, depreciation and amortization expense, fixed assets, etc.) become less important and explain less of the observed variation in leverage. This is consistent with the notion that financial flexibility is of first-order importance when firms make capital structure decisions. Second, consistent with the predictions of DeAngelo, DeAngelo, and Whited (2010), the results show that firms that have a high marginal value of financial flexibility tend to preserve debt capacity in the current period but are significantly more likely to embark on intentional, but temporary, deviations from their target leverage ratios in the near future. Further, firms which have a high marginal value of financial flexibility that do raise large amounts of financing in the current period are significantly more likely to issue equity than transitory debt in order to preserve debt capacity. This result helps to explain why young, high-growth firms tend to have lower debt ratios than the pecking order or traditional tradeoff models predict. Finally, I show that once the marginal value of financial flexibility is included in a dynamic partial adjustment model, it explains the asymmetric adjustment speeds reported by Byoun (2009). That is, I show that it is only the firms with the highest marginal value of financial flexibility that tend to be reluctant to lever up when they have below their target leverage. Overall, my results highlight the need to account for the marginal value of financial flexibility in empirical tests of capital structure theory.
Safety evaluation of tirofiban.

Importance of the field: Heightened platelet activity is pivotal in the thrombosis underlying acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor tirofiban is a powerful platelet inhibitor with demonstrated efficacy and safety across the spectrum of ACS. Despite tirofiban's impact on the platelet compared with placebo, only an excess in minor and importantly not major bleeding has been observed. Thrombocytopenia with tirofiban seems to be extremely rare and immediately reversible on infusion discontinuation.Areas covered in this review: The review includes the rationale for potent antiplatelet therapy in the management of ACS, particularly patients at high risk for ischemic complications. Additionally, it provides an overview of tirofiban's pharmacology and summary of the clinical efficacy and safety data of two dosing regimens.What the reader will gain: The reader will gain a perspective on the efficacy and safety data from the key trials of tirofiban.Take home message: Tirofiban is safe a...
A surface mold using iridium-192 seeds.

Abstract A radioactive mold for treating skin was constructed by embedding ribbons of iridium-192 seeds in bolus material. The mold was designed to match the treatment area outlined on the patient's skin. Computer-assisted pre-planning was performed to optimize the seed strength, number of seeds, and spacing of ribbons. An outline of the treatment area was transferred to the surface of a uniform slab of tissue-equivalent bolus material 13 to 1.4 cm thick and planned locations for the ribbons were marked. Seeds were loaded into the bolus material at a depth to place the sources approximately 1.0 cm from the skin. The resulting mold was flexible enough to conform to the patient's skin and the seeds were so tightly confined within the bolus that there was no possibility of loss. Isodose distributions for the mold on a flat surface agreed well with preplans. A velcro strap and neck collar were used to attach the mold to the anterior portion of the patient's neck. For situations in which radioactive surface applicators are desirable, the use of iridium-192 seeds offers uniform dose within a highly individualized treatment area.
The Teaching of Chest Auscultation During Primary Care Training: Has Anything Changed in the 1990s?

Objective To survey the teaching time and importance given to cardiopulmonary auscultation during internal medicine (IM) and family practice (FP) residencies, and to compare current practices to those of the early 1990s. Design A nationwide mail survey of IM and FP program directors (PDs). Setting All Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited IM and FP residencies. Participants A total of 538 of 939 PDs (57.5%). Measurements and main results In contrast to the early 1990s, when there had been no significant difference in teaching practices between IM and FP programs, more IM than FP residencies taught cardiopulmonary auscultation in 1999 (cardiac auscultation: IM residencies, 48%; FP residencies, 29.2% [p Conclusions This study indicates a significant gain over the last decade in the percentage of IM residencies offering structured teaching of cardiopulmonary auscultation. This same gain did not occur for FP programs. Whether these differences in attitudes and teaching practices will translate into improved auscultatory proficiency of IM trainees will need to be determined.