cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Oxytocin can impair memory for social and non-social visual objects: A within-subject investigation of oxytocin’s effects on human memory

Oxytocin is important to social behavior and emotion regulation in humans. Oxytocin’s role derives in part from its effect on memory performance. More specifically, previous research suggests that oxytocin facilitates recognition of social (e.g., faces), but not of non-social stimuli (e.g., words, visual objects). We conducted the first within-subject study to this hypothesis in a double-blind, placebo-controlled design. We administered oxytocin (24 IU) and placebo (saline) in two separate sessions and in randomized order to healthy men. To obtain a baseline measure for session-dependent memory effects, which are caused by proactive interference, an additional group of male subjects in each session received placebo unbeknownst to them and the experimenter. After administration, participants studied faces and houses. Exactly one day after each study session, participants were asked to make memory judgments of new and old items. In the first study-test session, participants administered with oxytocin showed reduced recollection of previously studied faces and houses. Oxytocin also interacted with proactive-interference effects. By impeding memory in the first session, it reduced proactive interference in the second. But oxytocin contributed additionally to the memory-reducing effect of proactive interference when administered in the second session. These results demonstrate that oxytocin can have a memory-impairing effect on both social and non-social visual objects. The present study also emphasizes the necessity of including a non-treated, baseline group in within-subject designs when investigating oxytocin’s effects on human memory.
Observation of Hyperfine Level Crossing in Stimulated Emission

Level crossing effect in stimulated emission and application to determination of hyperfine splitting in Xe 129 excited electronic state during laser transition
Droplet-based microfluidic lab-on-a-chip for glucose detection

Abstract A microfluidic lab-on-a-chip (LoC) platform for in vitro measurement of glucose for clinical diagnostic applications is presented in this paper. The LoC uses a discrete droplet format in contrast to conventional continuous flow microfluidic systems. The droplets act as solution-phase reaction chambers and are manipulated using the electrowetting effect. Glucose is measured using a colorimetric enzyme-kinetic method based on Trinder’s reaction. The color change is detected using an absorbance measurement system consisting of a light emitting diode and a photodiode. The linear range of the assay is 9–100 mg/dl using a sample dilution factor of 2 and 15–300 mg/dl using a sample dilution factor of 3. The results obtained on the electrowetting system compare favorably with conventional measurements done on a spectrophotometer, indicating that there is no change in enzyme activity under electrowetting conditions.
The valdivones, anti-inflammatory diterpene esters from the South African soft coral alcyonium valdivae

Abstract The South African soft coral Alcyonium valdivae contains five diterpene esters, valdivones A (1) and B (2), the corresponding methoxy ketals (3) and (4), and dihydrovaldivone A (5). Although the producing organisms are unrelated taxonomically, the valdivones are most closely related to the sarcodictins (e.g. 6) from the stoloniferan coral Sarcodictyon roseum. Valdivones A (1) and B (2) inhibit chemically-induced inflammation in the mouse ear assay.
The "Peripheral Cue Shift" Phenomenon Influence of Facial Expression and Level of Commission on Attribution of Responsibility

A total of 54 subjects read scenarios of a behavioral act and observed pictures of actors. The scenarios differed in levels of commission; that is, the degree to which an act was considered purposive, careless, or justified. Pictures showed the actors expressing emotions of anger, happiness, or sadness. Facial expressions were paired with scenarios to form a 3 x 3 Latin Square design with replications. Results revealed that both facial expression and level of commission affected attributions of responsibility. Facial expressions influenced attributions only on just if ed and careless commission, suggesting that when amgibuity exists concerning an actor's feelings about his or her actions, facial expression can provide clues guiding attributions. These results are interpreted as reflecting a tendency to use directly relevant cues when available, but to use more peripheral cues when such cues are lacking.
Comparison of in vitro motion and stability between techniques for index metacarpophalangeal joint radial collateral ligament reconstruction.

Purpose To evaluate a technique using interference screws to secure a tendon graft for reconstruction of the radial collateral ligament (RCL) of the index finger metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint. We hypothesized that this technique would provide equivalent stability and flexion as a 4-tunnel reconstruction. Methods We isolated the RCL in 17 cadaveric index fingers. A cyclic load was applied to the intact RCL across the MCP joint to assess flexion, ulnar deviation at neutral (UD 0), and ulnar deviation at 90° of MCP joint flexion (UD 90). The RCL was excised from its bony origin and insertion. We performed each reconstruction (4-tunnel and interference screw) sequentially on each specimen in a randomized order using a palmaris longus tendon graft. We repeated testing after each reconstruction and compared differences from the intact state between techniques using paired t -tests for all joint positions (flexion/UD 0/UD 90). Results There was no statistically significant difference in UD 0 or UD 90 between the intact state and after interference screw reconstruction. Compared with the intact state, there was significantly less UD 0 and significantly more UD 90 after 4-tunnel reconstruction. There was no statistically significant difference between techniques when we compared changes in –UD 0 or UD 90. Change in flexion was statistically significantly different, which indicates that the interference screw technique better replicated intact MCP joint flexion compared with the 4-tunnel technique. Conclusions Interference screw reconstruction of the index RCL provides stability comparable to 4-tunnel reconstruction and is less technically challenging. These results substantiate our clinical experience that the interference screw technique provides an optimal combination of stability and flexion at the index MCP joint. Clinical relevance Using an interference screw to reconstruct the index RCL is less challenging than 4-tunnel reconstruction and provides stability and range of motion that closely resemble the native MCP joint.
Investigations of the Factors Affecting the Stability of Dihydrogen Adducts of Platinum(II)

The preparation and study of Pt(II) H_2 adducts and Pt(IV) dihydride complexes are described. The species of interest are generated by protonation of hydridoplatinum(II) complexes of the type trans-(PCy_3)_2Pt(H)X [X = SiH_3, H, CH_3, Ph, Cl, Br, I, CN, CF_3SO_3] and [trans-(PCy_3)_2Pt(H)L][BArf_4] [L = CO, 4-picoline; BArf_4 = B(3,5-C_6H_3(CF_3)_2)_4]. The proton attacks one of three different sites on these complexes (hydride, platinum, or the trans ligand), depending on which ligand is trans to hydride. These studies reveal several factors affecting the stability and reactivity of Pt(II) σ adducts, which thus have implications for C−H activation by Pt(II).
Oral drug self-administration : an overview of laboratory animal studies

Many abused drugs can be established as orally delivered reinforcers for rhesus monkeys and other animals. Benzodiazepines, barbiturates, opioids, psychomotor stimulants, dissociative anesthetics, and ethanol can come to serve as reinforcers when taken by mouth. The principal problems in establishing drugs as reinforcers by the oral route of administration are (1) aversive taste, (2) delay in onset of central nervous system effects, and (3) consumption of low volumes of drug solution. Strategies have been devised to successfully overcome these problems, and orally delivered drugs can be established as effective reinforcers. Reinforcing actions are demonstrated by consumption of greater volumes of drug solution than volumes of the water vehicle, and supporting evidence for reinforcing effects consists of the maintenance of behavior under intermittent schedules of reinforcement and the generation of orderly dose-response functions. This article presents an overview of studies of behavior reinforced by oral drug reinforcement. Factors that control oral drug intake include dose, schedule of reinforcement, food restriction, and alternative reinforcers. Many drugs, administered by the experimenter, can alter oral drug reinforcement. Relative reinforcing effects can be assessed by choice procedures and by persistence of behavior across increases in schedule size. In general, reinforcing effects increase directly with dose. Rhesus monkeys prefer combinations of reinforcing drugs to the component drugs. The taste of drug solutions may act as a conditioned reinforcer and a discriminative stimulus. Consequences of drug intake include tolerance and physiological dependence. Findings with orally self-administered drugs are similar to many findings with other positive reinforcers, including intravenously self-administered drugs.
Atomic nanotube welders: Boron interstitials triggering connections in double-walled carbon nanotubes

Here we demonstrate that the incorporation of boron (B) atoms between double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWNTs) during thermal annealing (1400-1600 degrees C) results in covalent nanotube "Y" junctions, DWNT coalescence, and the formation of flattened multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs). These processes occur via the merging of adjacent tubes, which is triggered by B interstitial atoms. We observe that B atom interstitials between DWNTs are responsible for the rapid establishment of covalent connections between neighboring tubes (polymerization), thereby resulting in the fast annealing of the carbon cylinders with B atoms embedded in the newly created carbon nanotube network. Once B is in the lattice, tube faceting (polygonization) starts to occur, and the electronic properties are expected to change dramatically. Therefore, B atoms indeed act as atomic nanotube fusers (or welders), and this process could now be used in assembling novel electronic nanotube devices, nanotube networks, carbon nanofoams and heterojunctions exhibiting p-type electronic properties.
Time-resolved laser-induced saturated fluorescence measurements in a thallium see-through hollow cathode discharge: Evaluation of ground state number density and quantum efficiency

Abstract A thallium see-through hollow cathode lamp, or galvatron, was studied to evaluate its potential as a narrow band atomic line filter. Time-resolved laser-induced saturated fluorescence was used to evaluate the ground state number density of this glow discharge as a function of current. It was found to produce a sufficient number density at 16.0 mA to absorb 99.9% of incident light from a line source based on an absorption curve-of-growth calculation. A saturation curve was experimentally obtained and modeled with a time-dependent two-level model, as well as a time-dependent three-level model in the presence of a trap. The three-level model showed excellent agreement with the experimental data when a 10 ns pulse duration was used and when collisional rate constants were set to zero. The quantum efficiency of the system was found to be limited only by the spontaneous transition probabilities. Evaluation of these two parameters has shown that a thallium galvatron is an attractive atom reservoir for the applications as a narrow band atomic line filter.
Evidence for a K+, Na+ permeable channel in sarcoplasmic reticulum

Potassium and sodium cation permeabilities of skeletal sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles were characterized by means of3H-choline,22Na+ and86Rb+ isotope efflux and membrane potential measurements. Membrane potentials were generated by diluting K gluconate filled sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles and liposomes into Tris or Na gluconate media, in the presence or absence of valinomycin, and were measured using the voltage-sensitive membrane probe 3,3′-dipentyl-2,2′-oxacarbocyanine. About 2/3 of the sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles, designated Type I, were found to be permeable to Rb+, K+ and Na+. The remaining 1/3, Type II vesicles, were essentially impermeable to these ions. The two types of vesicles were impermeable to larger cations such as choline or Tris. Both were present in about the same ratio in fractions derived from different parts of the reticulum structure. Studies with cations of different size and shape suggested that in Type I vesicles permeation was restricted to molecules fitting through a pore with a cross-section of 4–5 A by 6 A or more. When vesicles were sonicated, vesicles permeable to K+ decreased more than those impermeable to K+. These data suggest the existence of K+, Na+ permeable channels which are probably randomly dispersed in the intact reticulum structure at an estimated density of 50 pores/μm2. The function of the channel may be to allow rapid K+ movement to counter Ca2+ fluxes during muscle contraction and relaxation.
Unusual EEG Theta Rhythms over Central Region in Rett Syndrome: Considerations of the Underlying Dysfunction:

In 10 female patients (age 2-26 years) with clinical evidence of Rett Syndrome (RS), unusual and prominent rhythmical theta activity (4-5/sec or 5-6/sec) proved to be the outstanding EEG feature. This pattern was present in waking state and/or sleep. When it was noted in the waking state, the localization (vertex, central region and vicinity) and blocking responses to active or passive movements suggested a slow equivalent of Rolandic mu rhythm (in two patients associated with a posterior 10-12/sec alpha rhythm). In sleep, rhythmical theta activity was either Rolandic or more diffuse, sometimes independently occurring with central spikes. The prominent rhythmical 4-5/sec or 5-6/sec activity and its relationship to Rolandic mu rhythm suggest a dysfunction of the motor cortex in RS. This would be congruent with the frequent observation of central spikes. EEG evidence of motor cortex dysfunction might be helpful in the understanding of this enigmatic disorder and conducive to the following hypothesis: RS is characterized by motor cortical dyscontrol due to primary frontal lobe dysfunction. The usefulness of EEG, however, is limited to insights into the (secondary) motor-cortex dysfunction.
Cryoablation and liver resection for noncolorectal liver metastases

Background: Liver resection for noncolorectal liver metastases has merit for selected primary tumor types. The role of cryosurgical tumor ablation within this cohort of patients has not been evaluated. This is a single institutional review of treatment outcomes using cryosurgical ablation and conventional resection techniques for noncolorectal liver metastases. Methods: The medical records of 42 patients undergoing 48 hepatic tumor ablative procedures from February 1991 through May 2001 at a single institution were retrospectively reviewed. Overall survival and local hepatic tumor recurrence-free survival were analyzed for different surgical procedures and primary tumor types. Results: Overall survival rates at 1, 3, and 5 years are 82%, 55%, and 39%, respectively (median survival, 45 months). Local hepatic tumor recurrence-free survival rates for resection only ( n 25) and cryosurgery with or without resection (n 23), at 3 years are 24% and 19%, respectively. The survival rates at 5 years are 40% and 37%, for resection only and cryosurgery with or without resection, respectively. Conclusion: Cryosurgical hepatic tumor ablation for metastatic noncolorectal primary tumors results in survival and local hepatic tumor recurrence rates similar to resection alone. The combination of cryosurgery and resection extends the cohort of patients with surgically treatable disease. © 2002 Excerpta Medica, Inc. All rights reserved.
Marine communities at Lundy - origins, longevity and change

The rich marine communities around Lundy, which include several species rarely encountered as far north as Britain, together with the isolated position of the island, led to its establishment as Britain's first statutory Marine Nature Reserve. Management of the reserve depends, in part, on knowledge about recruitment and longevity in the species of conservation importance. Preliminary results suggest many of the most interesting species are very long-lived, but recruit intermittently. Overall trends in their abundance are downwards. Whether this is part of a long-term pattern or a temporary downturn requires further study.
The distribution of dissolved copper in the Pacific

Abstract The general form of Cu-depth profiles is unique. In the central North Pacific, values decrease from a surface maximum of about 3 nmol/kg to 1.5 nmol/kg in the upper thermocline. Below about 750 m there is an increase to over 6 nmol/kg in the bottom waters with no mid-depth extremum. The profiles in the boundary regions are similar in the deep water but do not have the surface maximum. This unique elemental distribution is maintained by aeolean input to the surface waters comparable in magnitude to the fluvial component, ubiquitous scavenging in the subsurface and deep water, and a strong bottom source. Apparently the scavenging agent, presumably sinking particles, loses its Cu-binding capacity during early diagenesis. The half-life with respect to scavenging is about 1100 years and the overall residence time with respect to input or final removal about 5000 years.
Activation of protein kinase C by phorbol dibutyrate potentiates [3H]MK-801 binding in rat brain slices

Effects of activation of protein kinase C (PKC) on N-methyl-D-aspartate) NMDA receptor function were analyzed by quantitative autoradiography using [3H]MK-801 in rat brain slices. The density of [3H]MK-801 binding was highest in hippocampus and high levels were found in cortex, striatum and thalamus. Levels in brainstem and molecular layer of cerebellum were low. The receptor binding was markedly decreased in almost all areas by addition of 2. 5 mM Mg2+. After activation of PKC by 100 nM phorbol-12, 13-dibutyrate (PDBu), [3H]MK-801 binding was increased in most areas, but binding levels were not changed in brainstem and cerebellum. The elevated [3H]MK-801 binding produced by PDBu was significantly inhibited by addition of Mg2+ except in inferior colliculus and cerebellum. These results suggest that activation of PKC potentiates NMDA receptor function in a region-specific manner in the rat brain.
The influence of mist irrigatioin on the potato: III. Nutrient content of leaves

The influence of irrigation method on nutrient content of potato leaves throughout the season was assessed during three years. Low gallonage “mist” irrigation (M), furrow irrigation (F), mist plus furrow (MF), and no irrigation (NI) were compared. Leaf blades and petioles from Kennebec (1967, 1968, 1969) and Irish Cobbler (1968, 1969) plants were analyzed for P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Mo, Mn, Cu, B and N. Levels of Mo, Mn, Cu and B did not differ either between treatments or during the season. Leaves from different irrigation methods did not differ consistently in levels of N, K, Mg, Ca or Fe. However, during the latter part of two seasons NI plants contained less P and K and more Fe than M or MF plants. F plants were similar to NI plants in nutrient content except that P was lower in the latter. No matter what the irrigation method, N declined as plants matured. Irrigation treatment did not influence the K or Fe levels of petioles consistently. On several sampling dates MF plants were intermediate. Leaves and petioles of M and MF plants consistently contained more Zn throughout all three seasons than non-irrigated or furrow irrigated plants and, in conctrast to the latter, Zn content did not decline as plants matured.
Diet‐switching by gypsy moth: effects of diet nitrogen history vs. switching on growth, consumption, and food utilization

Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar (L.) (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae)) larvae were reared from hatch on 1.25% N or 3.5% N artificial diet (previous diet) and switched reciprocally to the other diet (current diet) after molting into the second, third, fourth, or fifth instar. The nitrogen concentration of food consumed during previous instars had a strong residual effect on the growth rate in subsequent instars when a diet switch was made during instars two through four, but did not affect growth rate of fifth-instar larvae despite effects on food consumption and utilization. In early instars, larvae reared on 1.25% N artificial diet and then switched to 3.75% N diet had lower mass-adjusted growth rates than larvae continuously reared on 3.75% N diet. Conversely, larvae reared on 3.75% N diet and switched to 1.25% N had higher mass-adjusted growth rates than larvae reared continuously on 1.25% N diet. Relative to larvae previously reared on 1.25% N diet, fifth-instar male larvae previously reared on 3.75% N diet had slightly lower consumption rates, higher net growth efficiency (ECD), and higher gross growth efficiency (ECI). Larvae previously reared on 3.75% N diet tended to have lower food assimilation efficiency (AD) and lower nitrogen assimilation efficiency (AD(N)). Although both previous and current diet nitrogen concentration strongly affected larval growth and food utilization, the interaction term between these was not significant for any response variables except ECD and ECI. Because the interaction term reflects the effect of switching per se, the results indicate that there was a metabolic cost associated with switching, but no inherent net cost or benefit of diet-switching to growth.
John Henry Welsh: his years, works and flock

John H. Welsh came down from Boothbay, Maine in the late twenties and landed at Harvard. There he launched his academic career, raised a family, raised an additional family of graduate students and postdoctoral associates, and (with them all) shaped and cultivated diurnal rhythmicity, the biology of neurosecretion, and comparative neuropharmacology. After about 45 yr in the vineyards of Cambridge, he returned to Boothbay and his garden, tree-farm, grandchildren, writings and other good works.
Assignment of tryptophan indole NH proton resonances of lysozyme.

Abstract Resonances of the indole N H protons for five of the six tryptophan residues of hen egg white lysozyme are resolved when the PMR spectrum is observed in H2O. Assignments of the resonances to specific tryptophan residues were accomplished by differential deuterium exchange rates, inhibitor perturbation and chemical modification. Indole N H resonances from all five tryptophan residues of human lysozyme also are observable.
Combination of Radiotherapy and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

The ability of ionizing radiation to cause cell death and inflammatory reactions has been known since the beginning of its therapeutic use in oncology. However, only recently this property of radiation has attracted the attention of immunologists seeking to induce or improve antitumor immunity. As immune checkpoint inhibitors are becoming mainstream cancer treatments, radiation oncologists have begun to observe unexpected out-of-the-field (abscopal) responses in patients receiving radiation therapy during immunotherapy. These unexpected responses were predicted by experimental work in preclinical tumor models and have clear biological bases. Accumulating experimental evidence that radiation induces an immunogenic cell death and promotes recruitment and function of T cells within the tumor microenvironment supports the hypothesis that radiation can convert the tumor into an in situ individualized vaccine. This property of radiation is key to its synergy with immune checkpoint inhibitors, antibodies targeting inhibitory receptors on T cells such as cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 and programmed death-1. By removing the obstacles hindering the activation and function of antitumor T cells, these agents benefit patients with pre-existing antitumor immunity but are ineffective in patients lacking these spontaneous responses. Radiation induces antitumor T cells complementing the activity of immune checkpoint inhibitors.
Demystifying Micro-Credit The Grameen Bank, NGOs, and Neoliberalism in Bangladesh

This article is an ethnographic study of the effects of micro-credit on gender relations in rural Bangladesh. Focusing on the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner, the Grameen Bank of Bangladesh and three other leading non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the country, I analyze the role of gender in the expansion of globalization and neoliberalism in Bangladesh. The Grameen Bank has become a global symbol of poor women’s empowerment and is celebrated for its 98 percent loan recovery. In this article, I examine some of the NGO tactics behind the loan recovery programs. In particular, I examine how Bangladeshi rural women’s honor and shame are instrumentally appropriated by micro-credit NGOs in the furtherance of their capitalist interests.
Cinderella's Sisters: A Revisionist History of Footbinding – By Dorothy Ko

When and where did footbinding originate, and why did it survive for a millennium? How could mothers comply with male principles of domination and subject their daughters to the sufferings and phys...
Devaluation and non-traded goods in a labor migration model

Abstract In a three-sector model with labor migration, a devaluation which lowers non-traded goods prices must raise labor's expected real wage as a group, though in some sectors the real wage may fall ex post.
Estimating a Multinomial Probit Model of Brand Choice Using the Method of Simulated Moments

The multinomial probit model of brand choice is theoretically appealing for marketing applications as it is free from the "independence of irrelevant alternatives" property of the multinomial logit model. However, difficulties in estimation have restricted its widespread use in marketing. This paper presents an application of the method of simulated moments, a new methodology that enables easy estimation of probit models with a large number of alternatives in the choice set. We describe the theoretical development of the technique and using pseudo-simulated data, conduct numerical experiments to compare the method with existing techniques for estimating probit models. Using the scanner panel data on the purchases of catsup, we provide an empirical application of the method of simulated moments to the estimation of the parameters of a multinomial probit model. Estimating the covariance structure associated with the underlying latent variable probit model enables us to identify broad patterns of similarities across alternatives. It also enables us to derive a pairwise similarity matrix across choice alternatives which when input into a multi-dimensional scaling routine provides us with a graphical representation of competitive structure in the catsup market. For completeness, we compare the substantive implications for the effects of marketing variables obtained from the multinomial probit model with those obtained from models in the extant marketing literature.
The Role of Money in the Zande Economy

IN THIS paper' I want to examine the part that money plays in the present Zande subsistence economy. The Azande are an amalgam of tribes living in the Belgian Congo, Sudan, and French Equatorial Africa. Just prior to European conquest, approximately 750,000 people of this territory had been merged into a remarkably homogeneous culture by a program of conquest and assimilation carried on by the Zande chiefs. In pre-European days, each family, consisting of a man with his wives and dependents, was a largely self-sufficient economic unit, producing most of the things which it consumed in ordinary life. There seems to have been little exchange among households, although iron tools and spears made from locally smelted ore had a limited application as a medium of exchange, being used primarily for marriage payments. Everyone was directly dependent upon the production of the household to which he belonged; there was only a sexual division of labor and there was no full-time occupational specialization. Even the chiefs and blacksmiths, who might be regarded as specialists, depended primarily upon the produce of their own establishments for necessities of life. Also, there was a remarkable absence of special goods designed for display or differentiation and even the wealthiest chiefs simply had a great deal more of everything possessed by the ordinary persons. Wealth was primarily in the form of perishable agricultural produce; little else could be accumulated, and there was a tradition of destroying the property of an individual when he died. How has the introduction of money influenced this subsistence economy? European administration brought with it a small number of merchants and limited amounts of money. Zande country is among the less developed regions in Africa because of its remoteness and its poverty in exportable commodities, and there has been little labor migration. When taxes were introduced in the early 1920's in Zande District of the Sudan, which is the portion of Zande country I know best, most men were not able to pay the annual tax (then about 250) and worked on the roads for five days each year in lieu of cash payment. The development of a small trade in wild pepper soon brought in enough money for most families to pay taxes in cash. Work for the administration and sale of forest produce were the major sources of money until the recent introduction of cotton as a cash crop. The cash income of the Azande is still relatively low, even by African standards. A rough average figure is about $10 per year per family, while a $50 annual income is a relatively high one. A laborer, working regularly, earned about $50 per year in 1955. Nonetheless, the Azande have been using money for about 50 years and they are universally familiar with it as a medium of exchange. Virtually all
Autoantibody Determination in the Diagnosis of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that usually develops in young women aged 18-50 years and is characterized by the presence of autoantibodies. Diagnosis is difficult as SLE is a great imitator of other diseases. When SLE is suspected clinically in a patient (involvement of two or more organ systems), an initial laboratory evaluation would be antinuclear antibody (ANA) testing. If ANA is negative, SLE is unlikely and results positive at less than 1:40 strongly argue against SLE. Other explanations for organ system involvement should be pursued. Results positive at greater than 1:40 may merit further evaluation for SLE and at times referral to a rheumatologist for a full SLE evaluation. While the American College of Rheumatology classification criteria for SLE are primarily a tool for research, they may be useful clinically, in that those patients fulfilling four or more criteria are highly likely to have SLE.
Vapor-liquid equilibria for dendritic-polymer solutions

Vapor−liquid equilibria for dendritic-polymer solutions were obtained using a classic gravimetric-sorption method; the amount of solvent absorbed by the dendrimer was measured as a function of solv...
Constructing the image of the teacher in a Reggio-inspired teacher preparation program

(2001). Constructing the image of the teacher in a Reggio-inspired teacher preparation program. Journal of Early Childhood Teacher Education: Vol. 22, No. 1, pp. 47-52.
On the stochastic measurement of incompatible spin components

Working in stochastic spin space and using POV measures as in the Davies and Lewis measurement scheme, we construct a formalism to describe the simultaneous measurement of incompatible spin components. The methods are illustrated with a new analysis of the Stern-Gerlach experiment, and with a discussion of spin dynamics in stochastic spin space. We also present a new short proof of a theorem on representations of spin-1/2 systems, find a joint spectral family for (noncommuting) spin components, and indicate the connection of our result with the Riesz extension theorem.
Tenure Decisions Under a Progressive Tax Structure

Although certain provisions of the federal tax code provide subsidies to homeowners, others provide subsidies to renters in the form of tax incentives for investments in rental housing. We demonstrate that the renter subsidies dominate for households in low tax brackets whereas homeowner subsidies dominate for households in high tax brackets. Moreover the dollar magnitude involved in the tenure decision can easily push a household across tax brackets. Based on this relation, we identify an upper bound on the value of a dwelling that a household with a given income will prefer to own rather than rent for tax purposes. If the household were to choose a dwelling valued in excess of this household-specific upper bound, the tax effect would reverse and favor renting. This complication provides a possible explanation for apparent tax anomalies in tenure decisions, i.e., high income renters and/or low income homeowners.
Best Practices Guidelines for Successfully Managing Application Service Providers (ASPs)

The purpose of this article is to identify various factors of success that can assist managers of Application Service Providers (ASPs) to develop and expand their firms’ businesses. These success f...
Spinal Cord Injury Triggers an Intrinsic Growth-Promoting State in Nociceptors

Abstract Although most investigations of the mechanisms underlying chronic pain after spinal cord injury (SCI) have examined the central nervous system (CNS), recent studies have shown that nociceptive primary afferent neurons display persistent hyperexcitability and spontaneous activity in their peripheral branches and somata in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) after SCI. This suggests that SCI-induced alterations of primary nociceptors contribute to central sensitization and chronic pain after SCI. Does SCI also promote growth of these neurons' fibers, as has been suggested in some reports? The present study tests the hypothesis that SCI induces an intrinsic growth-promoting state in DRG neurons. This was tested by dissociating DRG neurons 3 days or 1 month after spinal contusion injury at thoracic level T10 and measuring neuritic growth 1 day later. Neurons cultured 3 days after SCI exhibited longer neurites without increases in branching (“elongating growth”), compared to neurons from sham-treated or untreat...
Wear of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene moving along a circular path in a hip simulator

Abstract Multi-directional motion at the ball–socket interface of a hip replacement joint has been discovered as a fundamental feature that determines the magnitude of wear for ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). The present study considers the wear of UHMWPE moving along a circular path with a uniform angular change rate of the velocity vector defined by the curvature of the sliding circle. Experiments were conducted on a hip joint simulator with a biaxial rocking motion that results in a circular sliding path at the polar region of the acetabular cup that experiences the highest contact stresses and wear. The radius of sliding circle, r, depends solely on the radius of femoral ball, R, and the biaxial rocking angle, α, such that r=sin α. For non-crosslinked UHMWPE, the wear rate as defined by volume loss per unit sliding distance (mm3/mm) is directly proportional to the curvature of sliding circle (1/r) while the wear rate as defined by volume loss per cycle (mm3/cycle) is independent of the radius of sliding circle.
Extinctions and migrations of Devonian rugose corals in the Eastern Americas Realm

Oliver, W. A., Jr. 1990 04 15: Extinctions and migrations of Devonian rugose corals in The Eastern Americas Realm. Lethaia, Vol. 23, pp. 167–178. Oslo. ISSN 0024–1164. Detailed plotting of the stratigraphic ranges of Devonian rugose coral genera within the Eastern Americas Realm reveals new information about the extinctions and migrations of this largely endemic fauna. There were significant faunal turnovers in the Lochkovian, middle Eifelian and late Givetian. as well as in the often discussed late Frasnian. The late Givetian turnover was nearly as great as the Frasnian one. Inward migration was principally from western North America, and the greatest influxes were during the carly Givetian and Frasnian. It seems likely that there were several separate incursions and that some genera were introduced to the east two, or even three times.
Deep Economic Integration: Is Europe a Blueprint?*

This article revisits the long process of deep integration in Europe, asking which elements belong to a blueprint that could be used elsewhere, particularly in Asia. To that effect, it delves into those features that are not desirable and that should be avoided. The underlying theme is that integration is thoroughly controversial: delegation of power is of the essence but it comes at the expense of sovereignty; and economic integration is globally beneficial but creates losers alongside winners. As a consequence, compensating measures and diplomatic compromises are unavoidable, often at the expense of economic logic. This paper offers a number of suggestions designed to mitigate the negative effects of such unavoidable developments.
Histone deacetylase inhibitors and candidate gene expression: An in vivo and in vitro approach to studying chromatin remodeling in a clinical population

Abstract Objective The emerging field of psychiatric epigenetics is constrained by the dearth of research methods feasible in living patients. With this focus, we report on two separate approaches, one in vitro and one in vivo, developed in our laboratory. Method In the first approach, we isolated lymphocytes from 12 subjects and cultured their cells with either 0.7 mM valproic acid (VPA), 100 nM Trichostatin A (TSA), or DMSO (control) for 24 h based upon previous dose response experiments. We then measured GAD67 mRNA expression using realtime RT-PCR, total acetylated histone 3 (H3K9,K14ac) levels using Western blot analysis, and attachment of H3K9,K14ac to the GAD67 promoter using ChIP. In the second approach, we measured GAD67 mRNA and total H3K9,K14ac levels in lymphocytes from 11 schizophrenia and 7 bipolar patients before and after 4 weeks of clinical treatment with Depakote ER® (VPA). Results In the first approach, VPA induced a 383% increase in GAD67 mRNA, an 89% increase in total H3K9,K14ac levels, and a 482% increase in H3K9,K14ac attachment to the GAD67 promoter. TSA induced comparable changes on all measures. In the second approach, bipolar subjects had significantly higher baseline levels of H3K9,K14ac compared to subjects with schizophrenia. Subjects with clinically relevant serum levels of VPA (⩾65 μg/mL) showed a significant increase in GAD67 mRNA expression. Conclusions Our results utilizing two separate approaches for examining chromatin remodeling in real clinical time provide possible means to investigate epigenetic events in living patients.
Generating code from hierarchical state-based requirements

Computer software is playing an increasingly important role in safety-critical embedded computer systems, where incorrect operation of the software could lead to loss of life, substantial material or environmental damage, or large monetary losses. Although software is a powerful and flexible tool for industry, these very advantages have contributed to a corresponding increase in system complexity. In a previous investigation, the Irvine Safety Research Group developed a requirements specification language called the Requirements State Machine Language (RSML) suitable for the specification of safety critical control embedded systems. To simplify and automate the design and implementation process, we have investigated the possibility of automatically generating code from RSML specifications.
Topical 0.05% cyclosporin in the treatment of dry eye

Dry eye disease is a common and often underdiagnosed condition that affects > 10% of the adult population, > 65 years of age in the US. This condition has been classified into two separate, but ove...
Homogenous rapid detection of nucleic acids using two-color quantum dots

We report a homogenous method for rapid and sensitive detection of nucleic acids using two-color quantum dots (QDs) based on single-molecule coincidence detection. The streptavidin-coated quantum dots functioned as both a nano-scaffold and as a fluorescence pair for coincidence detection. Two biotinylated oligonucleotide probes were used to recognize and detect specific complementary target DNA through a sandwich hybridization reaction. The DNA hybrids were first caught and assembled on the surface of 605 nm-emitting QDs (605QDs) through specific streptavidin–biotin binding. The 525 nm-emitting QDs (525QDs) were then added to bind the other end of DNA hybrids. The coincidence signals were observed only when the presence of target DNA led to the formation of 605QD/DNA hybrid/525QD complexes. In comparison with a conventional QD-based assay, this assay provided high detection efficiency and short analysis time due to its high hybridization efficiency resulting from the high diffusion coefficient and no limitation of temperature treatment. This QD-based single-molecule coincidence detection offers a simple, rapid and ultra sensitive method for genomic DNA analysis in a homogenous format.
LTCP: improving the performance of TCP in highspeed networks

In this paper, we propose Layered TCP (LTCP for short), a set of simple modifications to the congestion window response of TCP to make it more scalable in highspeed networks. LTCP modifies the TCP flow to behave as a collection of virtual flows to achieve more efficient bandwidth probing. The number of virtual flows emulated is determined based on the dynamic network conditions by using the concept of virtual layers, such that the convergence properties and RTT-unfairness behavior is maintained similar to that of TCP. In this paper, we provide the intuition and the design for the LTCP protocol modifications and evaluation results based on ns-2 simulations and Linux implementation. Our results show that LTCP has promising convergence properties, is about an order of magnitude faster than TCP in utilizing high bandwidth links, employs few parameters and retains AIMD characteristics
Cognitively enhanced parent training

Parent training is one of the most effective interventions for behaviour problems in young children. Most models of parent training are largely behavioural in content and have been developed from social learning theory. As with developments in treatments for adult disorders, it is proposed that parent training implementation and parental engagement may be improved by the introduction of a cognitive component. In particular, the use of the “thoughts, feelings, behaviour cycle” throughout parent training is proposed as a tool for challenging parental beliefs and attributions regarding children's behaviour and increasing parental uptake of the behavioural strategies that are taught. Preliminary findings are discussed with reference to clinical implications and future research.
Managing vulnerabilities in networked systems

Most organizations recognize the importance of cyber security and are implementing various forms of protection. However, many are failing to find and fix known security problems in the software packages they use as the building blocks of their networks and systems, a vulnerability that a hacker can exploit to bypass all other efforts to secure the enterprise. The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) initiative seeks to avoid such disasters and transform this area from a liability to a key asset in the fight to build and maintain secure systems. Coordinating international, community-based efforts from industry, government and academia, CVE strives to find and fix software product vulnerabilities more rapidly, predictably, and efficiently. The initiative seeks the adoption of a common naming practice for describing software vulnerabilities. Once adopted, these names will be included within security tools and services and on the fix sites of commercial and open source software package providers. As vendors respond to more users requests for CVE-compatible fix sites, securing the enterprise will gradually include the complete cycle of finding, analyzing, and fixing vulnerabilities.
A versatile, programmable control and data acquisition system for complex integrated circuits

A versatile, user-friendly hardware/software system is described. It was designed for facilitating the testing, characterization, and application of complex integrated circuits intended for high- and low-energy physics instrumentation. The system consists of two CAMAC modules and a program generation and data analysis facility hosted by a VAX computer. Two higher-level applications of the system to studies made with the SVX chip are described. These are given as examples of the types of procedures which can be performed by this system. >
Molecular mechanics (MM2) calculations on peptides and on the protein crambin using the CYBER 205

The MM2 potential functions for amides and peptides have been further extended by examining the experimental crystal structures for cyclo-(-Ala-Ala-Gly-Gly-Ala-Gly-), I, and cyclo-(-Ala-Ala-Gly-Ala-Gly-Gly-), II. The force field obtained was then applied to a study of the structure of the hydrophobic protein Crambin, for which a high resolution crystal structure is available. The energy minimization was carried out using a version of MM2 adapted to the CYBER 205.
On the scaling laws of multimodal wireless sensor networks

In this paper, we consider dense wireless sensor networks deployed to observe multiple random processes. The requirement is to reconstruct an estimate of each random process at the corresponding collector node. This leads to multiple many-to-one data gathering wireless channels that interfere with one another. We derive the transport capacity that the network can provide to each process and characterize an achievable rate region for the dense multimodal network. We further investigate the number of processes that can be observed simultaneously by the network. Specifically, we show that it is possible to observe O (N/sup /spl beta//) processes simultaneously such that the transport capacity scales as /spl Theta/ (log (N)) for each of the observed processes, with a large number of sensors A; and a fixed total average power. We show this result using a simple scheme based on antenna sharing. We then proceed to show that it is possible to simultaneously observe O (N/sup /spl beta//) continuous, spatially bandlimited Gaussian processes using a fixed total average power, through a scheme composed of single dimensional quantization, distributed Slepian-Wolf source coding, and the proposed antenna sharing strategy.