cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Advances in tube hydroforming — An enabling technology for low-mass vehicle manufacturing — Material, lubrication, loading, simulation issues, and alternatives

The tube hydroforming process (THF) has recently found a wide application opportunity in the automotive industry, and is of increasing interest to other industries as well. The increased interest stems from the fact that, through the THF process, manufacturers are able to produce complex, consolidated, lightweight parts with reduced number of post-processing than through alternative metal forming techniques. In order to fully realize the benefits of this technology, various aspects have been under investigation in academia and industry world-wide. In this paper, effect of loading path, incoming material variation, and lu- brication on the robustness of the hydroforming process and final part specifications are summarized based on previous experimental and computational work. In addition, the simulation of hydroforming and examples are presented in comparison with experimental findings. Briefly, results emphasized the importance of the loading path design whereas material variation within the experimentally tested range was not found to be significantly effective on the final part specifications. Selection of a lubricant for hydroforming of a frame rail part was presented demonstrating several aspects of lubrication selection methodology. Results of friction experiments show that only thickness, axial feeding, and force measurements are good indications of lubri- cant performance as these are found to be strongly discriminative.
A novel computational technique for plasmonic structures based on stochastic representation

Feynman-Kac stochastic representation for elliptic equations is used to construct the solution of Helmholtz equation within a plasmonic structure. Comparison is shown with the exact solution for the field inside a plasmonic nanosphere driven externally by a vertical electric dipole at optical frequencies where the permittivity is described by the Drude model.
Discrete model reference adaptive control with an augmented error signal

Abstract In this paper a method for designing discrete model reference adaptive control systems when one has access to only the plant’s input and output signals, is given. Controllers for single-input, single-output, nonlinear, nonautonomous plants are developed via Liapunov’s second method. Anticipative values of the plant output are not required but are replaced by signals easily obtained from a low pass filter operating on the plant’s output. The augmented error signal method (introduced in [1] for continuous systems) is employed ensuring finally that the normally used error signal also approaches zero asymptotically.
Database-Supported and Web-Based Visualization for Daily 4D BIM

AbstractFour-dimensional (4D) building information modeling (BIM) (3D BIM plus time) is a powerful tool to visualize and communicate construction plans and milestones. A potential use of 4D BIM is ...
Abstinence-induced withdrawal severity among adolescent smokers with and without ADHD: disentangling effects of nicotine and smoking reinstatement

Individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) start smoking earlier, are more likely to progress to nicotine dependence, and have a more difficult time quitting smoking compared to their non-ADHD peers. Little is known about the underlying behavioral mechanisms associated with this increased risk, particularly at the adolescent stage. This study aimed to assess the effects of overnight nicotine abstinence and smoking reinstatement on subjective withdrawal states in adolescent smokers with and without ADHD. Adolescent daily smokers (27 with ADHD and 17 without ADHD) completed three experimental sessions: (1) a placebo patch followed by smoking a nicotine cigarette, (2) placebo patch followed by smoking a nicotine-free cigarette, and (3) nicotine patch followed by smoking a nicotine-free cigarette. Subjects abstained overnight before each session, and patches were administered 45 min before smoking. The primary outcome measure was a smoking withdrawal symptom questionnaire. ADHD smokers experienced greater difficulty concentrating and impatience/restlessness during abstinence than non-ADHD smokers. Smoking a cigarette improved abstinence-induced difficulty concentrating and restlessness, regardless of its nicotine content, and regardless of whether transdermal nicotine was received or not. Thus, sensorimotor aspects of smoking, rather than nicotine itself, appeared to relieve withdrawal. Although ADHD smokers report greater withdrawal symptoms than non-ADHD smokers, they responded strongly to the sensorimotor aspects of smoking during withdrawal. These findings suggest that even lighter, adolescent smokers with ADHD are vulnerable to smoking progression through altered smoking abstinence and withdrawal relief processes.
Analysis Of The Dimensional Stability Of Wood Based Composites

A three-dimensional mathematical model capable of predicting the hygroscopic expansions, which occur in layered wood composite materials under changing environments, has been developed.The model is...
Big data analysis on beam spectrum for handover optimization in massive-MIMO cellular systems

In 5G cellular systems with massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO), the process of acquiring the suitable beam for the target cell upon handover would greatly extend handover latency and cause service interruption. This paper proposes a self-optimization network (SON) function to efficiently acquire the target beam with short latency, based on big data analysis of beam spectrum. First, in the training phase, the big data storage of beam spectrum is initially built and dynamically updated by historical handover footprints. Then, in the execution phase, when a user enters the handover region, the suitable target beam is instantly derived by beam spectrum matching between this user and the previous users in the storage, without taking time in target beams field measurement prior to handover. The relevant big-data storage, management and processing in this function are illustrated. Simulation results demonstrate that the beamforming gain of the selected target beam by the proposed function can be greatly improved in non-line-of-sight (NLOS) channels compared with the prior-art approach that solely relies on the strongest beam in the source cell, and the loss compared with the result by field measurement is acceptable.
Coronary Blood Flow in Myocardial Stress with Catecholamine Administration in the Dog

When the oxygen supply to the myocardium is inadequate for its needs, adenosine formation and release as well as coronary blood flow increase(1). This holds true whether oxygen supply is reduced or oxygen demand is increased. Furthermore, adenosine release and coronary blood flow correlate well over a wide range of cardiac metabolic activity (2). With use of an adenosine uptake blocker (dipyridamole) adenosine release and coronary blood flow still show good correlation but both variables become independent of myocardial oxygen consumption (3).
On Genetic Information and Genetic Coding

One of the most striking developments in recent biology has been the proliferation of concepts such as coding, information, representation and programming, especially applied to genes. The idea that genes can be described as having semantic properties, as well as ordinary causal properties, has become so uncontroversial in many quarters that it now appears prominently in biology textbooks. Scott Gilbert’s widely used developmental biology text, to pick just one example, tell us that “the inherited information needed for development and metabolism is encoded in the DNA sequences of the chromosomes” (Gilbert 1997, p. 5).
The Heart of Innovation: Antecedents and Consequences of Creative Self-Efficacy in Organizations

Abstract This chapter reviews and evaluates the current state of the literature on creative self-efficacy (CSE) in organizational settings. Extensive research on CSE in organizations has provided valuable insights and has led to two metaanalytic reviews of the construct. Drawing from these efforts, we examine the: (a) the theoretical background underlying CSE, (b) antecedents of CSE, (c) outcomes (i.e., creativity) of CSE, (d) measurement of CSE, and (e) directions for future research. In each section, we discuss the results of the two quantitative reviews and highlight notable empirical findings across the CSE literature. Additionally, we include additional metaanalytic results on correlations not included in prior metaanalyses. These metaanalyses provide a strong foundation for future research on CSE and serve as a starting point for the next phase of unexplored topics on CSE.
Gray Matter Changes Following Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Patients With Comorbid Fibromyalgia and Insomnia: A Pilot Study.

Study Objectives:Insomnia frequently co-occurs with fibromyalgia, which is associated with gray matter atrophy. We examined the effect of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) and pain ...
Willingness as a mediator of the effects of personality on alcohol-related consequences between the first and second years of college: A longitudinal prospective study.

Abstract The present study used a prospective longitudinal design to examine whether willingness to experience negative alcohol-related consequences mediated the effects of personality on consequences (e.g., blacking out, getting into a fight, and regretted sex). Students (N = 2024) were assessed at three time points: fall semester of the students' first year in college (baseline), 6-months post-baseline, and one-year post-baseline. Personality constructs were assessed at baseline (i.e., impulsivity, sensation seeking, self-regulation), willingness to experience negative alcohol-related consequences was assessed at baseline and 6-months, and negative alcohol-related consequences were examined at baseline and one-year post-baseline. A structural path model was used to examine if willingness mediated the effects of personality on consequences. Baseline drinking was included as a covariate in the model. Results demonstrated willingness to experience consequences significantly mediated the effects of impulsivity, sensation seeking, and self-regulation on consequences. Findings from this study support the idea that consequence-specific cognitions, such as willingness, can explain changes in consequences associated with personality. This suggests that intervention efforts aimed at reducing negative alcohol-related consequences could benefit from the inclusion of consequence-specific cognitions, personality (e.g., impulsivity, sensation seeking, and self-regulation), and drinking.
Modeling the Continuous Heat Generation in the Cold Spray Coating Process

In cold spray, 5-150-µm particles (of metal, ceramic, composite, and other materials) are accelerated to supersonic velocities through a de Laval nozzle with an inert gas (generally He or N2) that can reach 1000 °C. In the process, the gas jet impingement on the target and the extreme plastic deformation of impacting particles cause heat generation in the coating layers and the substrate. The heat generation has been argued to cause residual stress, which may cause coating–substrate delamination. In this study, heat generation due to gas impingement and particle plastic deformation has been predicted from CFD and FEA simulations, respectively. Furthermore, a finite volume method has been presented for transiently simulating the coating buildup and bulk heat generation in the coating and the substrate. The model is intended to assist researchers to understand thermal affects in the coating process and help design more informed coating patterns to reduce negative thermal effects.
Automated early detection of obstetric complications: theoretic and methodologic considerations.

Compared with adults who are admitted to general medical-surgical wards, women who are admitted to labor and delivery services are at much lower risk of experiencing unexpected critical illness. Nonetheless, critical illness and other complications that put either the mother or fetus at risk do occur. One potential approach to prevention is to use automated early warning systems, such as those used for nonpregnant adults. Predictive models that use data extracted in real time from electronic records constitute the cornerstone of such systems. This article addresses several issues that are involved in the development of such predictive models: specification of temporal characteristics, choice of denominator, selection of outcomes for model calibration, potential uses of existing adult severity of illness scores, approaches to data processing, statistical considerations, validation, and options for instantiation. These have not been addressed explicitly in the obstetrics literature, which has focused on the use of manually assigned scores. In addition, this article provides some results from work in progress to develop 2 obstetric predictive models with the use of data from 262,071 women who were admitted to a labor and delivery service at 15 Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals between 2010 and 2017.
Radiofrequency phase encoded half-pulses in simultaneous multislice ultrashort echo time imaging.

Purpose To describe a simultaneous multislice (SMS) ultrashort echo time (UTE) imaging method using radiofrequency phase encoded half-pulses in combination with power independent of number of slices (PINS) inversion recovery (IR) pulses to generate multiple-slice images with short T2 * contrasts in less than 3 min with close to an eightfold acceleration compared with a standard 2D approach. Theory and methods Radiofrequency phase encoding is applied in an SMS (NSMS = 4) excitation scheme using "sinc" half-pulses. With the use of coil sensitivity encoding (SENSE) and controlled aliasing in parallel imaging (CAIPI) in combination with a gradient echo 2D spiral readout trajectory and IR PINS pulses for contrast enhancement a fast UTE sequence is developed. Images are obtained using a model-based reconstruction method. Sequence details and performance tests on phantoms as well as the heads of healthy volunteers at 3T are presented. Results An SMS UTE sequence with an undersampling factor of 4 is developed using radiofrequency phase encoded half-pulses and PINS IR pulses which enables the acquisition of 8 slices at 0.862 mm2 resolution in less than 3-min scan time. UTE images of the head are obtained showing highlighted signal of cortical bone. Image quality and T2 contrast are comparable to the one obtained by corresponding single slice acquisitions with only minor deviations. Conclusions The method combining radiofrequency phase encoded SMS half-pulses and PINS IR pulses presents a suitable approach to SMS UTE imaging. The usage of coil sensitivity information and increased sampling density by means of interleaved slice group acquisitions allows to reduce the total scan time by a factor close to 8.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Pilot Study of Intravenous Glyburide in Traumatic Brain Injury.

Pre-clinical studies of traumatic brain injury (TBI) show that glyburide reduces edema and hemorrhagic progression of contusions. We conducted a small Phase II, three-institution, randomized placebo-controlled trial of subjects with TBI to assess the safety and efficacy of intravenous (IV) glyburide. Twenty-eight subjects were randomized and underwent a 72-h infusion of IV glyburide or placebo, beginning within 10 h of trauma. Of the 28 subjects, 25 had Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores of 6-10, and 14 had contusions. There were no differences in adverse events (AEs) or severe adverse events (ASEs) between groups. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) percent change at 72-168 h from screening/baseline was compared between the glyburide and placebo groups. Analysis of contusions (7 per group) showed that lesion volumes (hemorrhage plus edema) increased 1036% with placebo versus 136% with glyburide (p = 0.15), and that hemorrhage volumes increased 11.6% with placebo but decreased 29.6% with glyburide (p = 0.62). Three diffusion MRI measures of edema were quantified: mean diffusivity (MD), free water (FW), and tissue MD (MDt), corresponding to overall, extracellular, and intracellular water, respectively. The percent change with time for each measure was compared in lesions (n = 14) versus uninjured white matter (n = 24) in subjects receiving placebo (n = 20) or glyburide (n = 18). For placebo, the percent change in lesions for all three measures was significantly different compared with uninjured white matter (analysis of variance [ANOVA], p < 0.02), consistent with worsening of edema in untreated contusions. In contrast, for glyburide, the percent change in lesions for all three measures was not significantly different compared with uninjured white matter. Further study of IV glyburide in contusion TBI is warranted.
Emergent life events in the delivery of a caregiver-mediated evidence-based intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder in publicly funded mental health services:

Mental health clinicians often report significant challenges when delivering evidence-based interventions in community settings, particularly when unexpected client stressors (or emergent life even...
The Catholic and Communist Mrs. Consumer

Placing its analysis in the context of Italy’s social and cultural Cold War battle between the Catholic Church and the Italian Communist Party (PCI), this chapter examines how the Catholic magazine, Famiglia Cristiana, and the female Communist magazine, Noi Donne, responded to the challenges posed by the increasing presence of American consumer culture, specifically that of beauty products and models, entertainment, and celebrity, in Italian women’s lives in the postwar period. This chapter delineates the similar moderate, yet diverse positions—the acceptance and promotion of a modern, consuming Italian woman who still represented core Communist or Catholic beliefs—adopted by both publications in dealing with this “American invasion” and explains the reasons behind these positions.
The prevalence and correlates of oral sex among low-tier female sex workers in Zhejiang province, China

Objectives Oral sex and its associated factors among low-tier female sex workers (FSWs) have not been documented in the Chinese literature. Here, we report this perspective in this group. Methods The data were derived from a large cross-sectional study conducted among low-tier FSWs using a structured questionnaire in 21 counties in Zhejiang province, China. The prevalence of oral sex and its associated factors among 2645 low-tier FSWs were analyzed using bivariate and multivariate analysis. Results Of all participants, 579 (21.9%) had performed oral sex with clients over the previous month. Multivariate analysis revealed that oral sex is related to being unmarried, low income, early initiation of commercial sex, having conducted commercial sex in more counties, longer duration of commercial sex, larger number of clients, ever having engaged in anal sex, less use of condoms and oral contraceptives during the previous month, low rate of adoption for contraception at the present time, and STI-related symptoms during the previous half year. Conclusion Oral sex practitioners among low-tier FSWs in China are at a higher risk of STI, HIV, and unwanted pregnancy compared to those who did not engage in oral sex. Behavioral interventions carried out among low-tier FSWs should specifically target low-tier FSWs who practice oral sex, should carefully take into account the characteristics of these FSWs, provide risk awareness education and training for condom use negotiation, and promote the availability of condom and reproductive health care, timely diagnosis, and treatment of STIs.
Transfer of learned cognitive flexibility to novel stimuli and task sets

Adaptive behavior requires learning about the structure of the environment to derive optimal action policies, and previous studies have documented transfer of such structural knowledge to bias choices in new environments. Here, we asked whether people could also acquire and transfer more abstract knowledge across different task environments, in particular, expectations about demands on cognitive control. Over three experiments, participants performed a probabilistic card-sorting task in environments of either a low or high volatility of task rule changes (requiring low or high cognitive flexibility) before transitioning to a medium-volatility environment. Using reinforcement learning modeling, we consistently found that previous exposure to high task rule volatility led to faster adaptation to rule changes in the subsequent transfer phase. This transfer of expectations about demands on cognitive flexibility was both task- (Experiment 2) and stimulus- (Experiment 3) independent, thus demonstrating the formation and generalization of environmental structure knowledge to guide cognitive control.
Possible inhibitory effects of terbinafine on aripiprazole metabolism: Two case reports.

Aripiprazole, an atypical antipsychotic, is a metabolic substrate for cytochrome P450 (CYP)3A4 and 2D6. Terbinafine, an antifungal agent used for onychomycosis, is a CYP2D6 inhibitor and could theoretically reduce the metabolism of aripiprazole. However, there are no published reports describing this interaction. We present 2 female patients hospitalized in a psychiatric unit who were both taking aripiprazole 15 mg daily and terbinafine 250 mg daily prior to admission. The first patient was a 58-year-old female who was prescribed aripiprazole and terbinafine concomitantly for approximately 5 months prior to admission. A commercial pharmacogenetic testing platform classified this patient as a normal metabolizer for CYP3A4 and 2D6. The first patient's serum trough aripiprazole concentration at steady-state concentration (Css) was 207.5 ng/mL. The second patient was a 43-year-old female who was taking aripiprazole and terbinafine concomitantly for approximately 2 weeks prior to admission who had a Css aripiprazole concentration of 278.9 ng/mL. Aripiprazole has a wide therapeutic range (100 to 350 ng/mL) and a reference dose-related drug concentration of 11.7 (mean) ± 5.6 (SD) ng/mL/mg/d. Our patients had Css aripiprazole concentrations 18% and 59% higher than guideline-supported dose-related drug concentrations. Through the use of therapeutic drug monitoring, pharmacogenetic data, electronic pharmaceutical claims data, and the Drug Interaction Probability Scale, we suggest terbinafine possibly increases aripiprazole concentrations 18% to 59%. Further reports are needed to confirm these findings prior to using this information in clinical practice.
Digestibility of alkali-treated wheat straw measured in vitro or in vivo using Holstein heifers.

Three experiments were conducted to determine the effect of different alkali solutions on in vitro degradation and in vivo digestibility of wheat straw. In Exp. 1, ground wheat straw was treated with 15 different alkali solutions grouped as NaOH, NH4OH, urea, and Ca(OH)2. The greatest (P < .05) 48-h in vitro NDF degradability was obtained with 5% NaOH and the combination of 2.5% NaOH + 2.5% Ca(OH)2. In Exp. 2, chopped wheat straw was treated with one of the following: 1) untreated; 2) 2.5% NaOH; 3) 5% NaOH; 4) 2.5% Ca(OH)2 + 2.5% NaOH; or 5) 5% Ca(OH)2. Five Holstein heifers were fed diets that contained 60% straw, 20% alfalfa hay, and 20% concentrate mix (DM basis) fed as total mixed rations in a 5 x 5 Latin square design. The greatest in vivo NDF digestibility (P < .05) was obtained with the NaOH and NaOH+Ca(OH)2 treatments. The 5% Ca(OH)2 treatment had higher fiber digestibility than the control and was equivalent to the 2.5% NaOH and 2.5% NaOH+Ca(OH)2 treatments. Rate of passage of straw was not affected by chemical treatment, whereas rate of passage of dietary alfalfa hay increased with NaOH. In Exp. 3, wheat straw ground through a 2-mm screen was treated with one of the following chemicals: 1) untreated (control); 2) 5% NaOH; 3) 5% NH4OH; 4) urea supplying N equivalent to 5% NH4OH; and 5) 5% Ca(OH)2 (all on DM basis).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Incorporating Model Uncertainty into Spatial Predictions

We consider a modeling approach for spatially distributed data. We are concerned with aspects of statistical inference for Gaussian random fields when the ultimate objective is to predict the value of the random field at unobserved locations. However the exact statistical model is seldom known before hand and is usually estimated from the very same data relative to which the predictions are made. Our objective is to assess the effect of the fact that the model is estimated, rather than known, on the prediction and the associated prediction uncertainty. We describe a method for achieving this objective. We, in essence, consider the best linear unbiased prediction procedure based on the model within a Bayesian framework.
Hamster oocyte membrane potential and ion permeability vary with preantral cumulus cell attachment and developmental stage

In vitro maturation of mammalian oocytes is an area of great interest due to its potential application in the treatment of infertility. The morphological and physiological changes that occur during oocyte development are poorly understood, and further studies are needed investigating the physiological changes associated with oocyte maturation. In this study we evaluated the membrane potential and the sodium/potassium permeability ratio of oocytes acutely isolated, and cumulus-oocyte complexes in metaphase II and preantral follicle stages. Intracellular electrical recordings revealed that cumulus-enclosed oocytes have a membrane potential significantly more negative at the preantral follicle stage than at metaphase II stage (-38.4 versus -19.7 mV, p < 0.0005). The membrane potential of the cumulus-free oocytes was not different between the preantral and metaphase II stages. The membrane potential of the cumulus cells forming preantral stage follicles was shown to be significantly different from that of the oocyte within the follicle (-28.6 versus -38.4 mV, p < 0.05). The sodium/potassium permeability measured in cumulus-enclosed oocytes at the preantral stage equaled a mean value of 0.33. The ratio was significantly lower when measured in oocytes denuded of cumulus cells or cumulus-enclosed metaphase II oocytes, 0.76, 0.79, 0.77 respectively (p < 0.001). These data show a change in the membrane potential and Na+/K+ permeability ratio during ooycte development from the preantral stage oocyte to the metaphase II stage. We have also demonstrated a change in the preantral oocyte membrane potential when surrounding cumulus cells are removed; either due to membrane changes or loss of cumulus cells.
Devaluing Death: An Empirical Study of Implicit Racial Bias on Jury-Eligible Citizens in Six Death Penalty States

Stark racial disparities define America’s relationship with the death penalty. Though commentators have scrutinized a range of possible causes for this uneven racial distribution of death sentences, no convincing evidence suggests that any one of these factors consistently account for the unjustified racial disparities at play in the administration of capital punishment. We propose that a unifying current running through each of these partial plausible explanations is the notion that the human mind may unwittingly contribute bias into the seemingly neutral concepts and processes of death penalty administration. To test the effects of implicit bias on the death penalty, we conducted a study on 445 jury eligible citizens in six leading death penalty states. We found that jury eligible citizens harbored the two different kinds of implicit racial bias we tested: implicit racial stereotypes about Blacks and Whites generally, as well as implicit associations between race and the value of life. We also found that death qualified jurors, those that expressed a willingness to consider imposing both a life sentence and a death sentence, harbored stronger implicit and self-reported (explicit) racial biases than excluded jurors. The results of the study underscore the potentially powerful role of implicit bias and suggest that racial disparities in the modern death penalty could be linked to the very concepts entrusted to maintain the continued constitutionality of capital punishment: its retributive core, its empowerment of juries to express the cultural consensus of local communities, and the modern regulatory measures that promised to eliminate arbitrary death sentencing.
An experimental robotic testbed for accelerated development of ankle prostheses

Biomechatronic devices show promise for restoring human performance, but development has been made inefficient by the need for specialized autonomous devices prior to testing benefits of proposed functionalities. This has severely limited exploration within and across intervention strategies. We have developed a laboratory testbed suitable for emulating and rapidly assessing wearable robot designs. The testbed is comprised of powerful off-board motor and control hardware, a flexible tether, and lightweight instrumented end-effectors worn by a person. We performed a series of benchtop tests to gauge mechatronic performance, and found significant improvements over prior candidate testbed platforms. In particular, this system has an unusual combination of low worn mass (less than 1 kg), high closed-loop torque bandwidth (17 Hz), and high peak torque (175 N·m), key to emulating specialized devices. We also performed walking trials to gauge dynamic torque control and versatility. Walking trials with a prosthesis end-effector demonstrated precise torque tracking (4 N·m RMS error), both in time and joint-angle space, and versatile mechanical behavior through systematic changes in high-level control law parameters. For example, we widely varied net ankle work (from -3 J to 9 J per step) using an impedance law relating joint angle and velocity to desired torque. These results suggest such testbeds could be used to emulate and evaluate novel assistive robot concepts prior to laborious product design.
Exposure of hippocampal slices to magnesium-free medium produces epileptiform activity and simultaneously decreases calcium and calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II activity.

Abstract The effect of magnesium-free medium on electrical and CaM kinase II activity in the rat hippocampal slice was examined. Experimental slices were incubated in 2 mM Mg, then exposed to magnesium-free medium for 1 h. Control slices were concurrently run in 2 mM Mg. Slices were then frozen and CaM kinase II activity was measured in homogenates. Exposure of hippocampal slices to magnesium-free medium resulted in spontaneous epileptiform activity and a concurrent 38 ± 5.47% decrease in CaM kinase II activity (range 38.8–75.4% of control; n = 7, P t test). The decrease in CaM kinase II activity was not reversible by treatment with protein phosphatases 1 and 2A (58.8 ± 4.77%of control activity; range 28.6–69.7, P t -test), indicating that the decrease in CaM kinase II activity cannot be accounted for exclusively by autophosphorylation. The results demonstrate that magnesium-free medium treatment can induce spontaneous epileptiform activity and simultaneous changes in CaM kinase II activity.
Techniques: Optical spectroscopy goes intramolecular

Optical spectroscopic imaging has taken a leap into the intramolecular regime with an approach that achieves subnanometre spatial resolution. The technique should find applications in photochemistry and nanotechnology. See Letter p.82 Raman spectroscopy is widely used to identify molecules by detecting their signature molecular vibrations. The technology has been refined to be effective at the single-molecule level by making use of strong localized plasmonic fields that can enhance spectral signals. This study goes further, with the demonstration of a technique related to 'tip-enhanced Raman scattering' (TERS) that allows precise tuning of the plasmon resonance and Raman spectral imaging with a spatial resolution below 1 nm, resolving even the inner structure of a single molecule and its configuration on the surface. The technique opens a new path to photochemistry at the single-molecule level, offering the potential to design, control and engineer the functionality of molecules on demand.
Factors from Durkheim's Family Integration Related to Suicidal Ideation among Men with Histories of Child Sexual Abuse

Men who were sexually abused during childhood represent a highly stigmatized, marginalized population at risk for a variety of long-term mental health problems. Using the family integration dimension of Durkheim's theory of suicide, factors associated with suicidal ideation among a purposive sample of 487 men with histories of child sexual abuse were examined. Four variables-length of cohabitation, maternal support after disclosure, parental divorce, and older age-were negatively related to suicidal ideation. The analysis provides partial support for Durkheim's model. Implications for education, clinical practice, and future research are presented. Language: en
Onlay bone graft augmentation for refined correction of coronal synostosis.

Abstract Objective: The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term result of an onlay bone graft augmentation of the supraorbital ridge at the time of primary correction of coronal suture synostosis. Design: The study is a retrospective review of 62 consecutive patients treated for coronal synostosis from June 1991 through February 1997. The surgical technique utilized involved a standard bilateral fronto-orbital advancement and calvarial reshaping with the addition of an onlay bone graft in the supraorbital region. Setting: All patients were treated at a tertiary care craniofacial center. Results and Conclusion: A total of 62 patients were treated by this technique. Fifty patients underwent primary correction as infants (mean age 9.8 months). An additional 12 patients were older (mean age 8.2 years) and were treated for residual deformity having previously undergone correction by another technique. Results with follow-up as long as 7 years demonstrate stable forehead and orbital symmetry...
Seasonality in Occurrence and Distribution of Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Upland and Lowland Areas on Kauai, Hawaii

Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis captitata (Wiedemann), was monitored with male lure trap collections and periodic collections of ripe fruits on the island of Kauai to determine its temporal appearance and distribution patterns. Results showed marked temporal differences in peak trap catches of the fly in lowland areas compared with upland areas. Flies were caught in two upland locations compared with catches in six lowland locations. Strawberry guava, Psidium cattleianum Sabine, and common guava, Psidium guajava L., form a discontinuous belt of plants around Kauai Infestation of this fruit by C. capitata was nearly absent in wet areas and consistent but variable in dry areas. The seasonal appearance of C. capitata in traps in Kokee and Polihale coincided with their emergence from collected fruits. The mean infestation rate of C. capitata in guava was 0.43 ± 0.27 (mean ± SEM) per kg of fruit compared with 37.5 ± 15.3 for Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel), Infestation of all fruits collected by B. dorsalis was widespread in all areas when these plants produced ripe fruits. Utilization of all fruits by C. capitata was very limited in comparison with the distribution and abundance of host plants.
Peripheral bulge—a causal mechanism for the Lower/Middle Ordovician unconformity along the western margin of the Northern Appalachians

Abstract This report proposes a plate tectonic model that can explain the Early/Middle Ordovician erosional unconformity observed along much of the western margin of the Appalachian orogen. In order for the model to apply, the Taconic allochthons must represent an outer arc (accretionary wedge) and the related subduction zone and Benioff zone must have dipped east (this report reviews the evidence for these assumptions). If these suppositions are correct, then the observed unconformity may have resulted from upwarp along a peripheral bulge (which occurs seaward of present-day oceanic trenches) as the Ordovician continental margin drifted east into the trench. Theoretical calculations show that the amount of uplift experienced by a continental plate over a peripheral bulge is on the order of the amount of uplift observed on the unconformity in Newfoundland. Furthermore, the sequence of events in Taconic times along the western margin of the Appalachian orogen supports the hypothesis that the paleocontinental margin drifted east over a peripheral bulge and on into the trench. The Ordovician shallow-water carbonate bank on the continental margin of the North American plate was uplifted (peripheral bulge) and then rapidly down-dropped to abyssal depths (continental margin entering trench) where it was first covered by flysch and then structurally overlain by the Taconic allochthons (continental margin underthrusting the outer arc). The present western boundary of the maximum relief on the unconformity would delineate the trend and approximate position of the bulge when the craton jammed the subduction zone and ceased convergence with the island arc (in Caradocian times).
Isolation and sequencing of the 5' end of the rat microtubule-associated protein (MAP1B)-encoding cDNA.

Abstract We have isolated and sequenced the 5′ end of the cDNA encoding the rat microtubule-associated protein 1B (MAP1B). We found that this region is highly homologous to the corresponding regions of the human [Lien et al., 22 (1994) 273–280] and mouse [Noble et al., J. Cell Biol. 109 (1989) 3367–3376] MAPIB genes. The combination of the sequence that we are presenting with the previously published sequence [Zauner et al., Eur. J. Cell Biol. 57 (1992) 66–74], represents the complete rat MAP1B cDNA coding sequence.
Isolation and indentification of a new toxin, altenuene, from the fungus Alternaria tenuis

Abstract A previously unknown metabolite was isolated from four week old cultured of the fungus, Alternaria tenuis. The compound shows cytotoxic activity against five bacteria tested by the paper-disc agar-plate method. After purification by column chromatography on silica gel, the metabolite crystallized from acetone: hexane mixtures as colorless neddles neddles that melted at 190–191° (corr.). High resolution mass spectrometry indicated a parent ion with mol. wt. 292.0938, which identified the empirical formula as C15H16O6. Structural assignments based on infrared, proton magnetic resonance, and ultraviolet spectra established the structure of the compound as 2′,3′,4′,5′-tetrahydro-3,3′,4′-trihydroxy-5-methoxy-6′-mehyl-dibenzo-α-pyrone to which we have given the trival name, altenuene. Altenuene is structurally related to two previously characterized A. tenius metabolites, alternariol and alternariol monomethyl ether.
11. Effective destruction of cancer stem cells by combing freezing and anticancer drug encapsulated in nanoparticles

Recent studies show that not all cancer cells in a tumor are equally tumorigenic, but only a subpopulation (up to ∼3%) of cancer cells (the so-called cancer stem or tumor initiating cells) that have the capability of creating the heterogeneity of a solid tumor. The putative cancer stem cells have been proposed to be responsible for cancer metastasis, resistance to conventional therapies such as chemo and radiotherapy, and cancer recurrence after treatment. As a result, it is of utmost importance to destroy the putative cancer stem cells for effective cancer destruction. In this study, we investigated the effect of freezing at various temperatures (from −5 to −20 °C) on destroying the putative cancer stem cells. Moreover, we further investigated the combination of freezing at the various temperatures and doxorubicin (an anticancer drug) that is either free or encapsulated in nanoparticles in augmenting destruction of the putative cancer stem cells. Our results show that the combination of freezing and doxorubicin encapsulated in nanoparticles is the most effective for killing cancer stem cells.
EXPOSURE TO SWINE HOUSING DUST MODULATES MACROPHAGE MORPHOLOGY AND FUNCTION

Swine Confinement Facility (SCF) dust consists of a complex mixture of feed grain particles, bacterial components, organic particulates and gases. When these particles are inhaled they deposit along the respiratory tract and mediate respiratory symptoms and disease in swine farmers and facility workers. Macrophages ingest and eliminate microbes and debris under chronic conditions; however, the role of macrophages in agricultural-related respiratory dis ease has not been fully elucidated. The goal was to evaluate the hypothesis that chronic exposure to SC F dust causes inflammation by modulating pulmonary protein levels and macrophage function. Balb/c mice were exposed to 5, 12.5 and 25% SCF Dust Extract (DE) via nebulization 30 min/day five days a week, for eight weeks with weekends excluded. Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid (BALF) was collected and analyzed for protein concentration, leukocyte distribution and macrophage morphology. For comparison, THP-1 monocytic cells were exposed to 0.110% DE overnight and evaluated for phagocytosis and reactive oxygen species production. Repeated exposure to DE via nebulizer caused a significant i ncrease in protein concentration and inflammatory c ell number, namely macrophages, in a dose-dependent manner within the lung as compared to controls. Macrophages with pseudopods and vacuoles were the most abundant leukocytes within BALF of mice exposed to DE. Similarly, in vitro studies with 10% DE treated THP-1 cells revealed e nhanced phagocytosis (p<0.05), pseudopodia and vacuolization following e xposure to compared to control cells. In addition, there were time- and dose-dependent increases of intracel lular ROS production by THP-1 cells exposed to 5 and 10% DE compared to control (p<0.01). These findings indicate repeated, long-term inhalation of swine confinement facility dust may mediate chronic airwa y and lung inflammation through modulation of protein concentration and macrophage function. The aerosolized dust-mouse inhalation model presented here may offer a good tool for studying particle mediated ch ronic inflammation of the tracheobronchial tree and lungs.
Condensed phase photoelectron asymmetry

Large directional asymmetries were observed in photoelectron distributions from core and valence levels in metals and adsorbate atoms. Intensities varied by factors up to 25 as the angle between A and p was varied. The energy dependence of asymmetry showed atomic behavior similar to that expected for free atoms, modified for the tendency p∥A.
Schools and the Delinquency Experience

The basic proposition examined here is that school experience is an important factor in understanding delinquency but that before this statement can be examined, it is necessary to elaborate an institutional theory which weaves together family-school-adult work role linkages. Secondary data and findings drawn from an ongoing cohort study of 284 adolescent males in the Pacific Northwest are used to show that adult success is related to school success, school success is related to family status characteristics, school status and social class exert independent effects on delinquency, and that adult careers, both successful and deviant, are functions of adolescent school and delinquency labels.
MMAPDNG: A new, fast code backed by a memory-mapped database for simulating delayed γ-ray emission with MCNPX package

Abstract The simulation of the emission of beta-delayed gamma rays following nuclear fission and the calculation of time-dependent energy spectra is a computational challenge. The widely used radiation transport code MCNPX includes a delayed gamma-ray routine that is inefficient and not suitable for simulating complex problems. This paper describes the code “MMAPDNG” (Memory-Mapped Delayed Neutron and Gamma), an optimized delayed gamma module written in C, discusses usage and merits of the code, and presents results. The approach is based on storing required Fission Product Yield (FPY) data, decay data, and delayed particle data in a memory-mapped file. When compared to the original delayed gamma-ray code in MCNPX, memory utilization is reduced by two orders of magnitude and the ray sampling is sped up by three orders of magnitude. Other delayed particles such as neutrons and electrons can be implemented in future versions of MMAPDNG code using its existing framework.
Aspergillosis in captive herring gulls.

Aspergillosis was diagnosed as the cause of mortality during an epizootic in which 32 of 140 captive herring gulls (Larus argentatus) died. The cause of disease was attributed to the individual or cumulative stresses of capture, transportation, confinement, and a nutritional deficiency allowing subclinical levels of Aspergillus fumigatus fungi present in the gulls at the time of capture to produce overt disease.
TRADABLE DEFICIT PERMITS. Efficient Implementation of the Stability Pact in the European Monetary Union

Tradable deficit permits Efficient implementation of the Stability Pact Borrowing from the experience of environmental markets, this paper proposes a system of tradable deficit permits as an efficient mechanism for implementing fiscal constraints in the European Monetary Union: having chosen an aggregate target for the Union and an initial distribution of permits, EMU countries could be allowed to trade rights to deficit creation. The scheme exploits countries’ incentives to minimize their costs, is transparent and flexible in accommodating idiosyncratic shocks and allows for adjustments in case of Europe‐wide recessions. In addition, it need not treat all countries identically and can be designed to penalize countries with higher debt to GDP ratios. Finally, the scheme rewards countries for reducing their deficit below the initial allowance, lending credibility to the Stability Pact’s goal of a balanced budget in the medium run. — Alessandra Casella
Simplified bicyclic pyridinol analogues protect mitochondrial function

Abstract Bicyclic pyridinol antioxidants have been reported to suppress the autoxidation of methyl linoleate more effectively than α-tocopherol in benzene solution. A few novel lipophilic analogues have recently been synthesized by conjugating a pyridinol core with the phytyl side chain of α-tocopherol; these have been shown to possess potent antioxidant activity. However, the complexity of the synthetic routes has hampered their further development. Herein, we describe a facile approach, involving only five synthetic steps, to simplified analogues (1a–1c) and their acetate ester precursors (2a–2c). Simple alkyl chains of different lengths were attached to the 6-methyl group of the antioxidant core via regioselective metalation. These analogues were found to retain biological activity and exhibit protective behaviour under conditions of induced oxidative stress, which could lead to the development of more readily accessible analogues as potential antioxidants capable of preserving mitochondrial function.
Intramolecular (electron) delocalization between aromatic donors and their tethered cation–radicals. Application of electrochemical and structural probes

To study the mechanism of electronic transduction along (poly)phenylene chains, a series of aromatic donors with general formula D–B–D has been synthesized [where D = 2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylphenyl donor and B = (poly)phenylene bridge]; and the corresponding cation–radical salts D–B–D+˙ SbCl6− have been isolated for X-ray crystallographic analyses. The magnitude of the electronic interaction between the D and D+˙ moieties through the various B bridges has been measured (i) as the difference between the first and the second oxidation potentials of D–B–D donors and (ii) as the structural changes induced in neutral D by the presence of the tethered D+˙ group in D–B–D+˙ cation–radicals. The intramolecular interaction of D and D+˙ groups was found to occur via π-conjugation of the bridging (poly)phenylene group. As such, the electronic interaction is highly dependent on the planarity of the (poly)phenylene bridge, and can be either inhibited or promoted by the deliberate modifications of the molecular conformation. Crystal structures of compounds A, B, B+˙+˙, 1, 1+˙, 2, 2+˙, 3+˙, 8 and 9+˙ are reported.