cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
New Research on Developmental Idealism: Introduction to the Special Issue

In this introduction, we offer an overview of developmental idealism (DI) theory and the contributions of this special issue. DI is a collection of values and beliefs about socioeconomic development and its causal links to other elements of societies. Within DI, some societal elements are identified as “modern,” inherently good, and helpful to development, while others are identified as “traditional,” undesirable, and unhelpful to development. DI theory posits that these schemas spread from Northwest European elites to ordinary people. In turn, people are motivated to adopt “modern” behaviors because they are seen as the means of achieving a good life and socioeconomic development. The articles in this special issue contribute to the empirical investigation of DI theory in a variety of ways. This issue enriches the DI methodological toolkit, demonstrating, for example, that DI measures are valid and reliable and that internet search queries can be used to examine DI. The articles also make strides in assessing the prevalence and nature of DI thinking, from the internet to far-flung geographic locations, including Albania, Kenya, Nepal, and Vietnam. Finally, this issue contributes to identifying pathways for the spread of DI, pointing to national elites, monetary incentives, and television.
Existence of stable allocations in matching markets with infinite contracts: A topological approach

Abstract In classic matching markets, individuals choose their partners and each pair chooses a contract from a finite set of feasible contracts; the existence of stable allocations then follows from the (generalized) Deferred Acceptance algorithm. We consider an extension where the contract set is a compact subset of a topological vector space (e.g., R k or ℂ [ 0 , 1 ] ) and give a simple topological argument, which leverages this classic algorithm, to establish the existence of stable allocations when payoffs are upper-semicontinuous.
A Real Power Injection Control Strategy for Improving Transient Stability

Transient stability is highly correlated to the inertia connected to the synchronous grid. Most of the modern control schemes for maintaining transient stability involve generator tripping schemes. However, these type of schemes may become difficult to implement because of the inertia reduction associated with the increase in inverter-based and distributed generation. This paper presents the effect of using machine acceleration feedback in a real-power injection control scheme to improve transient stability without generator tripping. This scheme is based on the equal area criterion and tested on a one machine infinite bus and a two machine system. Its applicability in a multimachine power system is demonstrated on a reduced-order western North American power system. Simulation results indicate that the proposed control strategy provides a simple and effective method for improving transient stability.
Operative Versus Nonoperative Treatment of Pediatric and Adolescent Clavicle Fractures: A Systematic Review and Critical Analysis

BACKGROUND: Despite being common injuries, there remains substantial controversy regarding the optimal treatment of displaced middle third clavicle fractures in pediatric and adolescents. Furthermore, risk factors for failure of conservative treatment have not been clearly defined. Therefore, we designed a systematic review and critical analysis to assess appropriate grades of recommendation for evidence-based treatment of middle third clavicle fractures in the pediatric and adolescent population. METHODS: We performed a systematic review in May 2017 searching PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases. Search terms were: clavicle, clavic*, …
Decreased risk for substance use disorders in individuals with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder

The objective of this study was to evaluate the risk for developing a substance use disorder (SUD, alcohol or drug abuse or dependence) in individuals with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Subjects with high-functioning ASD were derived from consecutive referrals to a specialized ambulatory program for ASD at a major academic center from 2007 to 2016. Age-matched controls and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) comparison subjects were derived from three independent studies of children and adults with and without ADHD using identical assessment methodology. Cox proportional hazard models were used to analyze the prevalence of SUD (alcohol or drug use disorder). Age of onset of SUD was analyzed with linear regression models. Our sample included 230 controls, 219 subjects with ADHD, and 230 subjects with ASD. The mean age for the ASD subjects was 20.0 ± 10.3 years. Among ASD subjects, 69% had a lifetime prevalence of ADHD, and the ASD subjects had significantly higher rates of other psychiatric psychopathology compared to ADHD and control subjects (p < 0.001) ASD subjects were at significantly decreased risk for developing a SUD compared to ADHD (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.22, p < 0.001) and control subjects (HR = 0.62, p = 0.04). The age of onset of a SUD was significantly older in ASD subjects, mean age 21.7 years, when compared to ADHD and control subjects (both p < 0.005). Individuals with ASD are at decreased risk to develop a SUD, and when they do, the onset is significantly later than ADHD and controls.
The Effect of Peacekeeping Operations on Violence Against Civilians in Africa: A Critical Re-Analysis

Can UN peacekeepers succeed in protecting civilians in civil war zones? In the pages of the AJPS, Hultman, Kathman, and Shannon (2013) test the effectiveness of peacekeepers using original data on 36 African conflicts from 1991-2008. They find that peacekeeping troops and police dramatically reduce violence against civilians. In this research note, I re-analyze their data. Taking into account temporal variation within conflicts, I find no evidence that peacekeepers have affected violence against civilians in the conflicts where they have been deployed.
Understanding social effects in online networks

Understanding the motives behind people's interactions online can offer sound bases to predict how a social network may evolve and also support a host of applications. We hypothesize that three offline social factors, namely, stature, relationship strength, and egocentricity may also play an important role in driving users' interactions online. Therefore, we study the influence of these three social factors in online interactions by analyzing the transitivity in triads or three-way relationships among users. Analyzing transitivity through the lens of triad census for four popular social networks, namely, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Slashdot, we find that: (i) users' interactions are largely influenced by intermediary relations, which enhances the mediators' stature; (ii) the strength of offline relationships plays a salient role in transitivity of relations online; and (iii) egocentricity, embodied in over-active and popular users, has a significant effect on the dynamics of online interactions.
IL-2Rβ–Dependent Signaling and CD103 Functionally Cooperate To Maintain Tolerance in the Gut Mucosa

A network of mechanisms operates to maintain tolerance in the gut mucosa. Although CD103 marks many lymphoid cells within the gut, its direct functional role in intestinal tolerance is poorly understood. CD103 may be part of a redundant pathway, as CD103 −/− mice do not exhibit autoimmunity. To reduce such redundancy, CD103 −/− mice were crossed to mice (designated Y3) whose T cells expressed a mutant IL-2Rβ–chain that lowers IL-2R signaling. Unlike overtly healthy Y3 mice, all Y3/CD103 −/− mice rapidly developed severe colitis. The large intestine of these mice contained an increase in CD4 + Th1 and Th17 effector cells and a reduced ratio of regulatory T cells (Tregs). Importantly, colitis was effectively prevented by the transfer of wild-type Tregs into Y3/CD103 −/− mice. Impaired intestinal tolerance was not attributed to an obvious lack of CD103-dependent gene regulation or intestinal homing/retention by Tregs nor a lack of functional activities typically associated with CD103 + dendritic cells, such as peripherally induced Treg development or imprinting CCR9 and α 4 β 7 homing molecules on Tregs and T effector cells. Transcriptome analysis of Tregs was consistent with altered homeostasis due to impaired IL-2Rβ–dependent signaling with minimal dysregulation added by the absence of CD103. Rather, the absence of CD103 functioned to alter the localization of the cells within the gut microenvironment that may alter Treg homeostasis. Thus, IL-2Rβ–dependent signaling and CD103 normally cooperate through distinctive processes to promote Treg homeostasis and immune tolerance.
Development of the Child Indicator Movement in the United States

— The development and use of indicators of child well-being have grown dramatically over the past 20 years. This article discusses some of the fundamental characteristics and uses of child well-being indicators. It also provides a short history of the development of the field in the United States, focusing heavily on 3 key interconnected initiatives. Finally, it explores a few of the key issues related to the future of the child well-being indicator field in the United States.
Quantitative measurement of feline colonic transit

Colonic transit scintigraphy, a method for quantitatively evaluating the movement of the fecal stream in vivo, was employed to evaluate colonic transit in the cat. Scintigraphy was performed in duplicate in five cats and repeated four times in one cat. After instillation of an 111In marker into the cecum through a surgically implanted silicone cecostomy tube, colonic movement of the instillate was quantitated for 24 h using gamma scintigraphy. Antegrade and retrograde motion of radionuclide was observed. The cecum and ascending colon emptied rapidly, with a half-emptying time of 1.68 +/- 0.56 h (mean +/- SE). After 24 h, 25.1 +/- 5.2% of the activity remained in the transverse colon. The progression of the geometric center was initially rapid, followed later by a delayed phase. Geometric center reproducibility was found to be high when analyzed using simple linear regression (slope = 0.92; r = 0.73; P less than 0.01). Atropine (0.1 mg/kg im) was found to delay cecum and ascending colon emptying and delay progression of the geometric center. These results demonstrate both 1) the ability of colonic transit scintigraphy to detect changes in transit induced by pharmacological manipulation and 2) the fact that muscarinic blockade inhibits antegrade transit of the fecal stream. We conclude that feline colonic transit may be studied in a quantitative and reproducible manner with colonic transit scintigraphy.
When Quitting is Fitting: The Need for a Reformulated Sexual Harassment/Constructive Discharge Standard in the Wake of Pennsylvania State Police v. Suders

The legal landscape with respect to constructive discharges resulting from sexually harassing conduct has been mired in confusion for the past two decades. Courts generally have applied a multi-step analysis that requires plaintiffs to establish both the existence of severe or pervasive sexual harassment as well as additional aggravating factors warranting an employee's resignation. The courts, however, have had a difficult time in defining the contours of the separate harassment and constructive discharge tests. The Supreme Court has weighed in on several occasions, but rather than opt for clarity, the Court has created new tests and new terminology that have compounded the confusion. The recent Pennsylvania State Police v. Suders decision is a case in point. In that 2004 decision, the Court ruled that an employer is strictly liable for harassment that results from a supervisor's official act, but is subject to liability for other types of supervisor harassment only if employer negligence is established. The Court's use of the "official action" and "constructive discharge" concepts in that case sets an unpredictable course and fails to correct the unfairness of the current multi-tiered analytical framework. This article attempts to simplify and recalibrate the sexual harassment/constructive discharge standard. We propose a Unitary Constructive Discharge Standard that would provide a single mode of analysis applicable to all claims of constructive discharge resulting from workplace sexual harassment. The proposal merges elements of the current strict liability and negligence tests and asks a single question: did the employer fail to redress sexual harassment of which it was or should have been aware such that quitting was a fitting response for the employee subjected to the harassment? The proposal jettisons two of the most unfair elements of the current calculus, namely the requirement that the harassment victim must always utilize formal complaint procedures and the requirement in some circuits that an employee quit is actionable only if the employer subjectively intended that result. While thereby removing the necessity for employees to make out a case of "aggravated" harassment in the constructive discharge context, the Unitary Standard nonetheless protects employer interests by ensuring that no liability will ensue in the absence of causal fault attributed to an agent of the employer. The result is a test that is both more simple and fair.
„Wir wissen, daß wir nichts wissen … ”︁

Podiumsdiskussion uber auserirdisches Leben anlaslich des 25. internationalen Raumfahrtkongresses der Hermann-Oberth-Gesellschaft Anfang September 1976.
YBa2Cu3O7−δ-based, edge-geometry SNS Josephson junctions with low-resistivity PrBa2Cu3O7−δ barriers

Abstract We investigated the properties of all-high- T c edge-geometry Josephson weak links using superconducting YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7−δ (YBCO) electrodes and PrBa 2 Cu 3 O 7−δ (PBCO) normal-metal layers. The fabrication of the weak links involved first ion-milling the base YBCO film using a MgO mask to form the edge and then depositing PBCO and YBCO layers in situ by pulsed-laser deposition. The optimum PBCO films had resistivities of 2 to 4 mΩ cm at room temperature and ≈30 mΩ cm at 4.2 K. Current-versus-voltage ( I–V ) characteristics were qualitatively consistent with the resistively-shunted-junction (RSJ) model. Strong Shapiro steps were present in the I–V characteristics of junctions under microwave irradiation and the critical current of the devices modulated with a Fraunhofer-like dependence as a function of magnetic field. The device parameters exhibited good scaling with area and PBCO thickness. The critical-current density varied exponentially with PBCO thickness, yielding a normal-metal coherence length of 9 nm for the PBCO.
CS/CB CoMP scheme with semi-static data traffic offloading in HetNets

Co-channel interference is considered as one of the most important issues limiting the performance of cellular systems. In LTE-A systems, the Coordinated Multi-Point (CoMP) transmission technology was introduced to effectively manage data traffic at the transmission nodes for reducing co-channel interference. CoMP transmission is realized by exchanging coordination information via backhaul links, typically available between the transmission nodes. However, in practical networks the backhaul links may have capacity constraints hindering the use of CoMP techniques with high-rate information exchange. In scenarios where ideal backhaul link is not available, coordinated scheduling and coordinated beamforming (CS/CB) CoMP schemes can be used. However, the conventional CS/CB CoMP scheme only assumes interference coordination between the transmission nodes which significantly limits the expected performance benefits that can be additionally achieved by using traffic management techniques. In this paper, we propose a CS/CB CoMP scheme with semi-static traffic offloading. Traffic management in the proposed scheme is achieved by using the cell range expansion concept that takes into consideration a limited set of the transmission points that can be simultaneously coordinated to reduce interference. For comparison, the LTE-A time-domain enhanced inter-cell interference coordination (eICIC) scheme with conventional cell range expansion is considered.
Molecular dynamics of antitumor ether-linked phospholipids in model membranes: a spin-label study

We have synthesized a spin-labeled derivative of ET-18-OCH3, a known antitumor ether-linked phospholipid. The spin-labeled analog was shown to be as potent as ET-18-OCH3 in inhibiting 3H-thymidine uptake of HL60 leukemic cells. Electron spin resonance (ESR) studies showed that the mobility of this ether-linked phospholipid in the membrane is more restricted when compared to its ester-linked counterparts. It is probable that the absence of the bulky carbonyl oxygens allows closer packing of the two alkyl chains in the ether-linked phospholipid, thereby reducing the angular amplitude of the motion of the alkyl chains. These findings may be of importance in elucidating mechanisms by which the antitumor ether-linked phospholipids perturb the structure of cellular membranes.
Direct Inference and the Problem of Induction

It would be difficult to overestimate the influence Hume's problem of induction exercises on contemporary epistemology. At the same time, the problem of induction has not perceptibly slowed the progress of mathe matics and science. This ironic state of affairs, immortalized by C. D. Broad's description of induction as "the glory of science" and "the scandal of philosophy,"1 ought in all fairness to give both sides some pause. And on occasion, it does: the mathematicians stop to concede that Hume has not yet been answered,2 the scientists worry about randomization of ex periments,3 and inductive skeptics stir uneasily in their chairs at the mention of certain mathematical theorems that seem palpably to have bearing on the problem.4 But even when there is some cross-pollination between fields, there is depressingly little sign of consensus on the underlying problem. Part of the difficulty lies in the babble of conflicting interpretations of probability, which has grown markedly worse since Broad's time.5 Part of it lies in the structure of Hume's original argument, which scarcely makes direct contact with the mathematically sophisticated approach of contemporary statisti cians and probabilists.6 And no small part of it lies in the conviction of a considerable number of philosophers that Hume's problem, or at any rate a refurbished modern version thereof, is quite simply and clearly insoluble.7 I aim to show that this pessimism is unfounded. To this end I will ar ticulate and defend the epistemic legitimacy of a very simple form of direct inference; a version so minimal, indeed, that the celebrated questions of confirmational conditionalization do not arise.8 This is tantamount to side stepping the delicate issue of competing reference classes, surely one of the most difficult problems facing any comprehensive theory of inductive
Phosphorylation-Dependent Regulation of PSF by GSK3 Controls CD45 Alternative Splicing

Signal-induced alternative splicing of the CD45 gene in human T cells is essential for proper immune function. Skipping of the CD45 variable exons is controlled, in large part, by the recruitment of PSF to the pre-mRNA substrate upon T cell activation; however, the signaling cascade leading to exon exclusion has remained elusive. Here we demonstrate that in resting T cells PSF is directly phosphorylated by GSK3, thus promoting interaction of PSF with TRAP150, which prevents PSF from binding CD45 pre-mRNA. Upon T cell activation, reduced GSK3 activity leads to reduced PSF phosphorylation, releasing PSF from TRAP150 and allowing it to bind CD45 splicing regulatory elements and repress exon inclusion. Our data place two players, GSK3 and TRAP150, in the complex network that regulates CD45 alternative splicing and demonstrate a paradigm for signal transduction from the cell surface to the RNA processing machinery through the multifunctional protein PSF.
Realistic range rendering for object hypothesis verification

In many model-based object recognition systems, a synthesize-and-verify technique is used to evaluate the quality of hypotheses. This technique synthesizes images of hypothesized objects in hypothesized poses, and compares them against the input imagery, producing a matching score. In this paper, we examine the image synthesis process in the context of triangulation-based range finding. We motivate the use of synthetically shadowed range data for verification, present a simple algorithm for generation of shadowed range imagery, and demonstrate its usefulness in a set of experiments on real imagery.
Inaccessibility to ligands of the amino-terminal region of plasma fibronectin

Abstract Fragments of plasma fibronectin can display properties not expressed by fibronectin. This work shows that the relative affinities of smaller fragments for gelatin or heparin increases with decreasing fragment size. When heparin or gelatin were added to fragments or to fibronectin, the affinities for the alternate ligand increased. The UV and CD spectra of a mixture of amino-terminal 29-kD and 50-kD fragments differed from that of the precursor, the intact 72-kD fragment, suggesting differences in secondary structure. Therefore, biologic activities of the 29-kD and 50-kD segments In fibronectin may be suppressed by structural constraints but may be expressed more fully by interaction with ligands.
Sonographic measurement of the thickness of subcutaneous tissues in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease versus other chronic liver diseases.

Purpose To measure an average subcutaneous tissue thickness in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and other liver diseases using bedside sonography and make comparisons of thickness between groups. The study also addressed whether a cut-off subcutaneous tissue thickness exists below which NAFLD is unlikely. Methods Sonograph was performed on 113 consecutive patients with chronic liver disease. Diagnosis was derived from serological data combined with liver biopsy in all cases. Distance was measured between the skin and the liver surface and was labeled the subcutaneous tissue thickness. Results Of the 113 patients, 16 were diagnosed with NAFLD, 56 were diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C, 17 were diagnosed with autoimmune liver disease, and 24 had miscellaneous diagnoses (hepatitis B, hemochromatosis, granulomatous hepatitis, and cryptogenic hepatitis). The subcutaneous tissue thickness was 25.6 mm ± 5.6 mm in NAFLD versus 19.5 mm ± 5.2 in the non-NAFLD patients (p < 0.001). The subcutaneous tissue thickness of the HCV group was 20.2 mm ± 4.8, and although it was not different than all other patients, it was different from the NAFLD patients (p < 0.01). Fifteen out of sixteen of the NAFLD patients had a greater than average subcutaneous tissue thickness (20 mm). Conclusions A sonographically measured subcutaneous tissue thickness of less than 20 mm makes the diagnosis of NAFLD unlikely. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound33:439–441, 2005
Silicon carbonitride: a rival to cubic boron nitride

Abstract It is common to divide hard materials into two groups: ultra-hard with diamond and cubic boron nitride and a second group of hard materials listed as SiC, TiC, etc. Between these two groups, a few ternary phases have a hardness overlapping that of cBN. We have perviously reported on the synthesis of B–C–Si, Si–O–C and Si–N–C crystalline phases. This paper reports on crystalline silicon carbonitride phase-synthesized using microwave plasmas with nitrogen or N2–CH4–H2 vapor etching silicon. The crystalline phase possesses the pseudo-α-Si3N4 structure. The microcrystals have a columnar form and an average size of 10 μm. The FTIR spectrum resembles that of α-Si3N4, but a set of new absorption peaks appears. This new material is much harder than the Si3N4 cutting tool insert, and it scratches single crystals of α-SiC, sapphire and even the (001) surface of diamond.
Application of Islamic Economic System in a Contemporary Economy: An Illustration with Poverty and Inequity in the USA

This article examines the feasibility of Islamic economic system in a modern economy. Contemporary economic system is sophisticated and very complex. Islam established the foundations of its economic system fourteen hundred years ago and its principles are deemed straightforward and simple. So the question arises: How can such a straightforward and simple system handle the complicated problems of a modern economy? This question is addressed here using the problems of poverty and inequity in the USA as an illustration. The choice of the USA is based on the level of its affluence and technological development, but its failure to eliminate the scourge of chronic poverty in spite of the availability of the means to do what. I first show the nature of the problems in terms of poverty, hunger, homelessness, lack of medical care, and inequity in the distribution of income and wealth, in stark contradiction to the affluence of the country. Then I demonstrate how the application of the Islamic principles can, within a very short time, solve these problems without at all stifling the prosperity of the society. This conclusion, however, should not be misconstrued as if Islam cannot deal with the problems in the context of developing countries — Islamic principles worked like miracles in solving these and other problems with the least amount of resources during the early days of Islam.
Velocity Characteristics of Local Exhaust Inlets Facing an External Boundary Surface

The purpose of this study was to investigate velocity characteristics for various shapes of exhaust inlets facing an external boundary surface. This configuration approximates some real world situations more closely than established data for designing freestanding inlets. Inlet shapes studied included plain, flanged, flared and rounded circular inlets and plain and flanged rectangular inlets ranging from square to slot having width-to-length ratios of 1.0, 0.50, 0.25 and 0.10. The inlets were tested under conditions typical of high velocity/low volume exhaust ventilation for which nondimensional centerline velocity gradients (percentage of average face velocity versus diameters/widths) from previous studies were found to be representative of conventional exhaust inlets. Centerline velocities decreased with decreasing distance to the boundary surface, with the extent of decrease being a function of inlet shape. An empirical scheme was developed to approximate the experimental results as an extension of pre...
Site-specific incorporation of [125I]iododeoxyuridine into DNA

Abstract A procedure for the incorporation of [125I]IdU into specific sites in DNA is described. The approach depends upon attachment of radioiododeoxyuridine to a controlled pore glass support which is then used for automated synthesis of an oligomer. The resulting oligomer, containing a terminal 3′[125I]iododeoxyuridine, is used as a primer during DNA synthesis catalyzed by the Taq polymerase employing thermal cycling. The product formed includes the radioiodonucleotide at a single internal site determined by the length of the oligomer.
Controlling the regiospecificity and coupling of cytochrome P450cam: T185F mutant increases coupling and abolishes 3‐hydroxynorcamphor product

Cytochrome P450cam (P450CIA1) catalyzes the hydroxylation of camphor and several substrate analogues such as norcamphor and 1-methyl-norcamphor. Hydroxylation was found experimentally at the 3, 5, and 6 positions of norcamphor, but only at the 5 and 6 positions of 1-methyl-norcamphor. In the catalytic cycle, the hydroxylation of substrate is coupled to the consumption of NADH. For camphor, the degree of coupling is 100%, but for both norcamphor and 1-methyl-norcamphor, the efficiency is dramatically lowered to 12% and 50%, respectively. Based on an examination of the active site of P450cam, it appeared that mutating position 185 might dramatically alter the product specificity and coupling of hydroxylation of norcamphor by P450cam. Analysis of molecular dynamics trajectories of norcamphor bound to the T185F mutant of cytochrome P450cam predicted that hydroxylation at the 3 position should be abolished and that the coupling should be dramatically increased. This mutant was constructed and the product profile and coupling experimentally determined. The coupling was doubled, and hydroxylation at the 3 position was essentially abolished. Both of these results are in agreement with the prediction.
Bidirectional paired-associate learning and transfer effects in the A-B, C-B and A-B, A-C paradigms

Paired-associate transfer effects were compared in the A-B, A-C and A-B, OB paradigms under a situation where Ss had unidirectional (A-B) or bidirectional (A-B and B-A) practice on List 1. For the A-B, OB paradigm bidirectional practice increased the degree of negative transfer (relative to the unidirectional practice condition). These results were interpreted in terms of the greater interference of List 1 (B-A) associations after bidirectional practice. Contrary to expectation, less negative transfer was found after bidirectional practice in the A-B, A-C paradigm.
Ontogeny of sex differences among newly-generated neurons of the juvenile avian brain.

Abstract In zebra finches, only males sing and brain regions controlling song exhibit sex differences in neuron number that stem from actions of estrogen during a critical developmental period. In certain song nuclei, these dimorphisms emerge long after neurogenesis and migration are complete, and estrogen promotes masculinization by preventing the death of welldifferentiated neurons. But in another region, the higher vocal center (HVC), cellular mechanisms underlying sex differences in neuron number are not so well understood. In the HVC, neurogenesis continues throughout the post-hatch period of sexual differentiation, and sex differences arise during this time because neuron number increases in males but not females. We used [ 3 H]thymidine autoradiography to establish when sex differences in neuron number first develop among a small group of HVC neuronal cohorts. We report that HVC neurons labeled by [ 3 H]thymidine on days 15 and 16 after hatching are sexually dimorphic in number within 10 days of their birth, even before all cells in this cohort complete their migration and/or differentiation. This suggests that the cellular mechanisms contributing to sex differences in neuron number in the HVC may differ from those in other sexually dimorphic neural regions of the vertebrate nervous system. In addition, we found that although many thymidine-labeled HVC neurons ultimately project to the robust nucleus of the archistriatum (RA), a sexually dimorphic target, sex differences in their number develop before this efferent projection is established. These results have important implications regarding the site(s) of hormone action, since they suggest that sexual differentiation acts on certain HVC neurons before they establish their efferent projections, and perhaps even before they arrive within the HVC.
Early atrial and ventricular arrhythmias following ventricular assist device implantation predict a poor prognosis

predict development of C REJ, CRB or allograft vasculopathy. VAD was not associated with sudden death post HT (VAD 3/48 vs. no VAD 2/50, p 0.6) In the entire group of 98, neither H REJ nor CRB predicted development of allograft vasculopathy. Longer ischemic time was correlated with C REJ (p 0.01). Conclusions: Patients bridged with ventricular assist device have increased PRA prior to heart transplantation, but this does not appear to translate into increased risk of either humoral or cellular rejection post-transplant or development of allograft vasculopathy as seen by coronary angiography.
Microsequencing of bovine cerebrospinal fluid apolipoproteins: Identification of bovine apolipoprotein E

In studies of bovine plasma lipoproteins, apolipoprotein E (apoE) was not found associated with α-lipoproteins isolated over a broad range of densities. However, studies of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) lipoproteins from other mammals have shown that apoE is a major apolipoprotein associated with high density lipoprotein, a fact that prompted us to determine if this were also the case in bovine CSF. CSF samples were obtained from animals with a surgically implanted catheter. Most analyzed samples were obtained from cows at various stages of the postpartum period; however, a few samples also were obtained at term or during pregnancy. Analyses of isolated ultracentrifugal fractions by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed the presence of two apo, with the expected molecular weights for apoE and apoA-I. By using both matrix-assisted laser desorption mass spectrometry and microsequencing techniques, we demonstrated that these apo are indeed apoE and apoA-I.
Catalytic Reduction of Acetic Acid, Methyl Acetate, and Ethyl Acetate over Silica-Supported Copper

Microcalorimetric, infrared spectroscopic, and reaction kinetics measurements are combined with quantum-chemical calculations based on density-functional theory to investigate the selective reduction of acetic acid, methyl acetate, and ethyl acetate over silica-supported copper catalysts. Experimental values for initial heats of dissociative adsorption of methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, acetaldehyde, methanol, and ethanol on silica-supported copper are estimated to be 124, 130, 130, 128, and 140 kJ mol−1, respectively. These values are in agreement with adsorption energies predicted from DFT calculations using Cu13 clusters. Experimental values of activation energies for the dissociation of acetic acid, methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, and acetaldehyde on copper are estimated to be 83, 67, 62, and 75 kJ mol−1, respectively. Results from DFT calculations also indicate that the activation energy for dissociation decreases from acetic acid to methyl acetate to ethyl acetate. The rate of reduction of n-alkyl acetates appears to be determined by the dissociative adsorption of these molecules and by the hydrogenation of surface acyl species.
Thermodynamic modeling of the C(CH2OH)4–(NH2)(CH3)C(CH2OH)2 binary system

Abstract A new calculated phase diagram of pentaerythritol [PE: C(CH 2 OH) 4 ]–2-amino-2-methyl-1,3-propanediol [AMPL: (NH 2 )(CH 3 )C(CH 2 OH) 2 ] ‘plastic crystals’ is presented. The low temperature PE-rich α phase has a tetragonal structure whereas the AMPL-rich β phase has a monoclinic structure. Upon heating, these low temperature α or β phases transform to high temperature γ or γ ′ plastic crystal phases. The PE-rich γ phase has an FCC structure and the AMPL-rich γ ′ phase has a BCC structure. The system exhibits complex behavior with one low temperature peritectoid, a high temperature eutectoid, and a peritectic. The α and β phases are assumed to be regular solutions and the plastic crystal phases ( γ and γ ′) are described using sub-regular solution models. The optimization for excess Gibbs energy parameters was performed using Thermo-Calc (TCC) software. The magnitudes of the interaction parameters are relatively large compared to those for similar plastic crystal binary systems.
Olin, quine, and the surprise examination

Proposition d'une solution (formulee dans le cadre de la logique epistemique des propositions inanalysees) du paradoxe de l'examen-surprise, deja traite par Quine, et plus recemment par D. Olin ("The Prediction Paradox Resolved", Philosophical Studies, 44, p. 225-233).
Photorefractive effect in annealed proton‐exchanged LiNbO3 waveguides

We compare the photorefractive effect in proton‐exchanged (PE) and annealed proton‐exchanged (APE) LiNbO3 optical waveguides at the irradiation wavelength of 488 nm. We measure the intensity dependence of the saturated index change, the build‐up time constant, and the photorefractive sensitivity in PE and APE waveguides. In APE waveguides the photorefractive sensitivity is about three times that of PE waveguides up to an irradiation intensity of 100 W/cm2. The contribution of the dark conductivity to the photorefractive effect in PE and APE waveguides is found to be dominant in the intensity range used in our experiments.
Scanning lidar measurements of marine aerosol fields at a coastal site in Hawaii

On the windward side of Oahu, a multi-wavelength Mie-Rayleigh (MR) scanning lidar is used on a regular basis for measuring aerosol attenuation in the marine boundaiy layer. The lidar data are being used for investigathg dynamic effects of marine aerosol fields on electro-optical (EO) properties. The lidar has been operated mostly at 532 and 1064 nm, and recently at 355 nm. We have observed that the vertical aerosol distribution can be very non-uniform. Under certain atmospheric conditions, ascending and descending streaks of aerosols with high extinction (2x 1O-4 per meter) have been observed, indicating that both the surface and cloud drizzle effects are important. Horizontal lidar scans at 6 meters above the sea surface indicate that aerosol is fairly uniform on a large scale but can exhibit significant variability on small scales particularly close to protruding reefs and shorelines. Above the reefthe enhanced aerosol fields have been observed to rise as high as 100 meters. As expected there is a strong correlation between wind speed and sea salt extinction values. The temporal and spatial distribution ofthese aerosol fields and their dependence meteorological parameters and wave height are discussed.
Intralesionally implanted cisplatin plus systemic carmustine for the treatment of brain tumor in rats.

Background and Objectives The benefit of conventional chemotherapy for the treatment of malignant brain tumors, although limited, is real. A major obstacle in the treatment of these lesions is the ability to deliver drug across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Local drug implantation, circumventing the BBB, has been a useful strategy for treatment of intracranial lesions, and may work synergistically with systemic chemotherapy. To test this hypothesis, either intraperitoneal (ip) carmustine or cisplatin was combined with the intracranial (ic) administration of polymer-delivered cisplatin in rats with intracranial tumors. Methods and Results 9L gliosarcoma tumor cells (5 × 103) were administered through a right frontal lobe cannula in rats 7 days prior to treatments. Cisplatin-loaded biodegradable polymer was then administered via the cannula, with free cisplatin or carmustine injected ip. Animals were monitored for 60 days post-treatment. In experiment 1, ic cisplatin at a dose of 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 mg/m2 resulted in a mean survival time of 34 ± 3, 39 ± 14, 47 ± 11, and 31 ± 20 days (MST ± SD), respectively, compared to 26 ± 4 days in the control group and 30 ± 7 days in the group treated with 50 mg/m2 ip free cisplatin. In experiment 2, ip free cisplatin at 25, 40, 50, and 100 mg/m2 resulted in a MST of 28 ± 3, 30 ± 4, 32 ± 3, and 14 ± 8 days, respectively, compared to 26 ± 1 days in the control group. In experiment 3, the MST in the groups treated with 0.5 mg/m2 of ic cisplatin, 25 mg/m2 of ip cisplatin, 10 mg/kg of ip carmustine, ic cisplatin (0.5 mg/m2) plus ip cisplatin (25 mg/m2), and ic cisplatin (0.5 mg/m2) plus ip carmustine (10 mg/ kg) was 30 ± 4 days (P > 0.05), 28 ± 2 (P > 0.05), 36 ± 4 (P < 0.01), 32 ± 3 (P < 0.01), and 50 ± 11 days (P < 0.01), respectively, compared to the tumor control group (26 ± 1 days). Long-term survivors (29%) were seen only in the ic cisplatin plus ip carmustine group. Additive toxicity was not observed. Conclusions Intralesional polymer-delivered (ic) cisplatin plus systemic (ip) carmustine is highly effective for the treatment of intracranial 9L gliosarcoma in tumors. J. Surg. Oncol. 1998;69:76–82. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Abiotic synthesis of ATP from AMP in the gas phase: implications for the origin of biologically important molecules from small molecular clusters

In spite of decades of research, little is known about the processes leading to the prebiotic formation of some of the key molecular components involved in the origin of life. We have undertaken a systematic investigation of small noncovalent clusters in the gas phase, using collisional activation to effect reactions between the cluster components, with the goal of identifying processes that lead to the production of chemical species which may have been key players at the threshold of life. Here, we report that collisional activation of a trimer of adenosine 5′-monophosphate (AMP) leads exclusively to formation of the important species adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP). The AMP trimer can be either cationic or anionic with each AMP present as the sodium salt. An additional sodium ion yields the cationic cluster, while the anionic cluster lacks one sodium ion. The energetics of this reaction are explored using PM5 semi-empirical calculations and density functional theory. The generation of polyphosphate bonds is not exclusive to the AMP trimer. Sodiated clusters of other nucleotides, ribose phosphate, or phosphate itself lead to the generation of other biologically important polyphosphates. The implications of this chemistry for chemical and biological evolution are discussed.
In Vitro Interaction of theEscherichia coli Cyclic AMP Receptor Protein with the Lactose Repressor

Abstract Sedimentation equilibrium studies show that theEscherichia coli cyclic AMP receptor protein (CAP) and lactose repressor associate to form a 2:1 complex in vitro. This is, to our knowledge, the first demonstration of a direct interaction of these proteins in the absence of DNA. No 1:1 complex was detected over a wide range of CAP concentrations, suggesting that binding is highly cooperative. Complex formation is stimulated by cAMP, with a net uptake of 1 equivalent of cAMP per molecule of CAP bound. Substitution of the dimeric lacI-18 mutant repressor for tetrameric wild-type repressor completely eliminates detectable binding. We therefore propose that CAP binds the cleft between dimeric units in the repressor tetramer. CAP-lac repressor interactions may play important roles in regulatory events that take place at overlapping CAP and repressor binding sites in the lactose promoter.
Parametric Investigation of Magnetic Particle Transport for Targeted Drug Delivery Applications

In recent years, there has been significant clinical and research interest in magnetic drug targeting (MDT). MDT allows the targeted delivery of drugs only to the affected sites, alleviating the rest of the body from the potential toxic or other side effects of the drug. The underlying concept of MDT is to attach drugs to small magnetic particles which can then be manipulated by a magnetic field designed to attract the drug carrying particles to the target site [1]. This will lead to increasing localized accumulation of the drug at the target site. MDT can have great implications on pharmaceutical treatments, ranging from oncology to cardiology and beyond [2, 3].Copyright © 2011 by ASME
An Update and Review of the Treatment of Myoclonus

Recent advances in medications and surgical therapy for neurological disorders may offer new therapeutic options for the treatment of myoclonus. Appropriate therapy for myoclonus depends on the etiology, and in some cases, myoclonus can improve when the provoking cause is eliminated. When the underlying cause for the movements is not immediately reversible, localization, disease pathophysiology, and etiology may each play a role in determining the most appropriate symptomatic treatment of disabling myoclonic jerks. While the use of many agents is still based on small, open-label case series and anecdotes, there is a growing body of evidence from head-to-head comparative trials in several types of myoclonus that may help guide therapy. New therapies for refractory myoclonus, including sodium oxybate and even deep brain stimulation, are also being explored with increasing enthusiasm.
Use of hyperspectral airborne observation to simulate cloud microphysical retrievals from AVHRR-K

Airborne hyperspectral radiometers provide the opportunity to obtain calibrated remote sensing data for simulation of the exact spatial and spectral resolutions of current and future satellite systems. This paper describes the use of the NASA advanced visible and infrared imaging spectrometer (AVIRIS) instrument, flown on an ER-2 jet in the lower stratosphere, to simulate shortwave radiances from the future AVHRR-K sensors on the NOAA polar-orbiting satellites. The high spatial resolution (20 m) and discrete 10 nm spectral channels of AVIRIS allow the spectral signatures of individual pixel types to be intercompared. Observations of multiple cloud types have been obtained using the AVIRIS instrument and were used in deriving estimates of cloud optical depth and particle size using visible and near-infrared spectral reflectances. These retrievals were then compared with similar retrievals from simulated AVHRR-K radiances, using spectral weighting and spatial averaging. Coincident cloud physical measurements provided verification of the cloud parameters. The analysis results are used to evaluate the impact of AVHRR pixel resolution and bandwidth on cloud retrievals.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Hepatic regeneration is associated with preservation of microsomal glucuronidation

Significant controversy exists regarding the regulation of glucuronidation during the process of hepatic regeneration. We used a partial hepatectomy rat model to elucidate the effects of hepatic regeneration on the various components of the microsomal glucuronidation system. Hepatic microsomes were prepared by standard sucrose density centrifugation, coupled with a modified technique involving Percoll centrifugation. Microsomal uridine diphosphate (UDP)-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) protein expression and UGT messenger RNA (mRNA) levels were measured by Western and Northern blotting. UGT enzyme activity was determined toward two prototypical aglycones, p-nitrophenol and estrone, in intact and digitonin-treated microsomes. Microsomal uptake of the cosubstrate for all glucuronidation reactions, UDP-glucuronic acid (UDP-GlcUA), was determined using a rapid-filtration assay. Microsomal enrichment after hepatectomy was preserved only when the Percoll method was used. Microsomal UGT protein expression and UGT mRNA levels were unaltered after hepatectomy. UGT enzyme activity toward estrone was unchanged 1 day posthepatectomy compared with sham laparotomy controls. Similarly, p-nitrophenol glucuronide formation was unaffected by hepatic regeneration 1, 2, and 5 days posthepatectomy when digitonin-treated microsomes were used. Glucuronidation of p-nitrophenol in intact microsomes was increased in partial hepatectomy compared with sham-operated controls at 1 and 2 days. This increase was not attributable to changes in microsomal UDP-GlcUA uptake, which was comparable in both groups. We conclude that microsomal glucuronidation, in contrast to other well characterized hepatic metabolic functions, is highly preserved during liver regeneration.
Glass preparation of the ZrO2SiO2 system by the sol-gel process from metal alkoxides

Abstract Glasses in the ZrO 2 SiO 2 system containing up to 50 mol.% ZrO 2 were prepared by heating the gels made from the mixed solutions of Zr(OC 3 H 7 ) 4 and partially prehydrolyzed Si(OC 2 H 5 ) 4 . The anionic network structure similar to that of glass was already formed in the gels. And it was observed that the properties of the gels were determined by the porosity in the gel rather than the gel constituting structure. Porous gels converted into the non-porous impervious glasses through three major reactions with increasing temperature: the removal of the adsorbed water, dehydration-condensation and sintering. Density, refractive index and hardness of the non-porous glasses increased with the increase of ZrO 2 content. Infrared spectra and molar refractivity showed that the Zr 4+ ion was incorporated in the interstices of the silica network structure.