cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Among Youth Involved in Juvenile Justice

More than three quarters of youth involved in the juvenile justice system have been exposed (usually repeatedly) to traumatic stressors, including abuse or family or community violence, life-threatening accidents or disasters, and interpersonal losses. The prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among justice-involved youth is three to ten times greater than in community samples. In addition, justice-involved youth with PTSD are at high risk for problems, including depression and suicidality, oppositional-defiant and conduct disorders, risk taking, and substance abuse. This chapter provides an overview of clinical epidemiology research on PTSD, comorbid emotional and behavioral disorders, and complex traumatic stress disorders associated with the poly-victimization experienced by many youth in the juvenile justice system. Evidence is described of complex forms of PTSD among justice-involved youth that include: (1) persistently reduced adaptive arousal reactions and episodic maladaptive hyperarousal, (2) impaired information processing and impulse control, (3) self-critical and aggression-prone cognitive schemas, and (4) deviant peer relationships that model and reinforce disinhibited reactions, maladaptive ways of thinking, and aggressive, antisocial, and delinquent behaviors. Findings are highlighted concerning PTSD and vulnerable subpopulations, including girls, ethnoracial minority youth, and juveniles charged with sexual offenses. Finally, the chapter concludes with a discussion of trauma-informed approaches for court proceedings, juvenile justice facilities and rehabilitation services, and mental health treatment.
Resultants, Implicit Parameterizations, and Intersections of Surfaces

A fundamental problem in computer graphics and computer aided design is to convert between a parameterization of a surface and an implicit representation of it. Almost as fundamental is to derive a parameterization for the intersection of two surfaces.
Joint analysis of gene expression levels and histological images identifies genes associated with tissue morphology

Histological images are used to identify and to characterize complex phenotypes such as tumor stage. Our goal is to associate histological image phenotypes with high-dimensional genomic markers; the limitations to incorporating histological image phenotypes in genomic studies are that the relevant image features are difficult to identify and extract in an automated way, and confounders are difficult to control in this high-dimensional setting. In this paper, we use convolutional autoencoders and sparse canonical correlation analysis (CCA) on histological images and gene expression levels from paired samples to find subsets of genes whose expression values in a tissue sample correlate with subsets of morphological features from the corresponding sample image. We apply our approach, ImageCCA, to three data sets, two from TCGA and one from GTEx v6, and we find three types of biological associations. In TCGA, we find gene sets associated with the structure of the extracellular matrix and cell wall infrastructure, implicating uncharacterized genes in extracellular processes. Across studies, we find sets of genes associated with specific cell types, including muscle tis- sue and neuronal cells, and with cell type proportions in heterogeneous tissues. In the GTEx v6 data, we find image features that capture population variation in thyroid and in colon tissues associated with genetic variants, suggesting that genetic variation regulates population variation in tissue morphological traits. The software is publicly available at: https://github.com/daniel-munro/imageCCA.
Obscured by Cloud: Educating in the Anthropocene

We are caught just now between acting in the face of an overwhelming environmental collapse, and trying to understand where to begin. How do we educate for this new reality? What are the stories that need telling, now? The answer, of course, isn't found in technological marvels or bio-engineering. To know the world, this place - the northeast Avalon Peninsula, attached to Newfoundland proper by a narrow isthmus - we have to be in it. We’ll take the sleet and the rain, the howling winds and the sudden downpours. We’ll take the swirl of May fogs, with the mercury struggling to break five degrees Celsius, that last for days like weeks. We need the mundane. The mundane defines us. It brings people together. It grounds us in stories that speak back years and generations, all rooted here.
An empirical investigation of eWOM and used video game trading: The moderation effects of product features

Abstract With the rise of social media platforms and online communities, the impact of electronic word of mouth (eWOM) increasingly interests academics and practitioners. Psychological theories of consumer choice suggest that consumers' reliance on online reviews varies based on their heterogeneous individual traits and preferences. We propose that firms can infer consumer heterogeneities through product features consumers are interested in. The video game market provides us an ideal research context to investigate whether and how consumers in each product sub-category would respond to eWOM differently. Specifically, this research empirically examines the effect of eWOM on used video games' price decline and investigates the moderating role of two product features: games' violence level and social orientation. In general, we find that the extent of used video games’ price decline is positively and significantly associated with review volume, negativity, subjectivity, and readability. Furthermore, our results reveal interesting contrasts between games with different violence levels as well as games with different social orientation. We find that players of high-violence games react more negatively to review volume than players of low-violence games. Meanwhile, compared to users of single player games, users of socially interactive games react more negatively to review readability and negativity. We contribute to eWOM literature by theoretically emphasizing and justifying the important moderating role of individual predispositions based on the psychological choice model. The results suggest how review platforms and firms can tailor review recommendations and presentations across various products even within the same product market.
Univ. of Texas at Austin’s DAGAR System

The DAGAR system was Raj’s thesis work at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and is being continued at the University of Texas at Austin. DAGAR includes scheduling and data path synthesis.
Selling Feminism: How Female Empowerment Campaigns Employ Postfeminist Discourses

Femvertising messages are advertisements aimed at empowering women through pro-female messages, and they are celebrated by the industry. But recent critical research has found femvertisements that ...
Intention to seek help among three categories of substance-using college students: which factors matter?

Background: The current study examined which promising help-seeking factors accounted for unique variance in help-seeking intention among substance-using college students. Participants included 8,4...
NeuroSim Validation with 40nm RRAM Compute-in-Memory Macro

Compute-in-memory (CIM) is an attractive solution to process the extensive workloads of multiply-and-accumulate (MAC) operations in deep neural network (DNN) hardware accelerators. A simulator with options of various mainstream and emerging memory technologies, architectures and networks can be a great convenience for fast early-stage design space exploration of CIM accelerators. DNN+NeuroSim is an integrated benchmark framework supporting flexible and hierarchical CIM array design options from device-level, to circuit-level and up to algorithm-level. In this paper, we validate and calibrate the prediction of NeuroSim against a 40nm RRAM-based CIM macro post-layout simulations. First, the parameters of memory device and CMOS transistor are extracted from the TSMC’s PDK and employed on the NeuroSim settings; the peripheral modules and operating process are also configured to be the same as the actual chip. Next, the area, critical path and energy consumption values from the SPICE simulations at the module-level are compared with those from NeuroSim. Some adjustment factors are introduced to account for transistor sizing and wiring area in layout, gate switching activity and post-layout performance drop, etc. We show that the prediction from NeuroSim is precise with chip-level error under 1% after the calibration.
Outpatient Versus Inpatient Anterior Lumbar Spine Surgery: A Multisite, Comparative Analysis of Patient Safety Measures.

ABSTRACT Background The frequency and complexity of spinal surgery performed in an ambulatory surgery center (ASC) is increasing. However, safety and efficacy data of most spinal procedures adapted to the ASC are sparse and have focused on anterior cervical surgery. The purpose of this study was to compare the 90-day complication and readmission rates of anterior lumbar spine surgery performed in an ASC or inpatient setting. Methods We performed a retrospective comparative analysis of 226 consecutive anterior lumbar surgeries (283 levels treated) completed in an ASC (n = 124) or in an inpatient tertiary care hospital (n = 102) over a 3-year period. These included anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF), artificial disc replacement (ADR), and hybrids. Patients undergoing simultaneous or staged posterior procedures within 3 months were excluded. Patient demographics and surgical parameters between the two surgical settings were compared. Ninety-day medical complications and readmission rates were assessed. One-way analysis of variance and Chi-square analysis were used. A P value of less than .05 was considered statistically significant. Results The two study groups had similar baseline characteristics. While there was a trend toward fewer complications, reoperations, and readmissions for the ASC cohort, the differences were not statistically significant. There were 7 intraoperative complications (5.6% minor vascular injury) in the inpatient cohort and 0 in the ASC cohort. The overall 90-day postoperative complication rate was 5.6% for the inpatient cohort and 0.9% for the ASC cohort. The 90-day readmission rate was 1.9% in the ASC cohort and 1.6% in the inpatient cohort. The 90-day reoperation rate was 0.8% for the inpatient cohort and 0% in the ASC cohort. The average hospital stay was 2.3 ± 1.5 days for the inpatient cohort. Conclusion The 90-day readmission rates were lower for outpatients than for inpatients, while the complication and reoperation rates were similar. Our results demonstrate that anterior lumbar procedures, including single-level and multilevel ALIF, ADR, and hybrid procedures, can be performed safely in an ASC. This has significant cost savings implications for the ASC setting.
Accurate Parameter Estimation in Fetal Diffusion-Weighted MRI - Learning from Fetal and Newborn Data

Recent works have used deep learning for accurate parameter estimation in diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI). However, no prior study has addressed the fetal brain, mainly because obtaining reliable fetal DW-MRI data with accurate ground truth parameters is very challenging. To overcome this obstacle, we present a novel method that uses both fetal scans as well as high-quality pre-term newborn scans. We use the newborn scans to estimate accurate parameter maps. We then use these parameter maps to generate DW-MRI data that match the measurement scheme and noise distributions that are characteristic of fetal scans. To demonstrate the effectiveness and reliability of the proposed data generation pipeline, we use the generated data to train a convolutional neural network for estimating color fractional anisotropy. We show that the proposed machine learning pipeline is significantly superior to standard estimation methods in terms of accuracy and expert assessment of reconstruction quality. Our proposed methods can be adapted for estimating other diffusion parameters for fetal brain.
The Epidemiology of Total Joint Arthroplasty Infections

Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a rare occurrence following joint arthroplasty, which has a significant impact on the patient population. This chapter critically reviews the literature to form a consensus on the epidemiology of PJI within total joint arthroplasty. PJI occurs in 0.7–1.1 % of total knee (TKA) and hip arthroplasty (THA) cases in the USA and internationally but is projected to grow to 6.5–6.8 % by 2030. The infection rate for TKA is higher than for THA and is performed almost twice as much. Infection is diagnosed within the first year for 60 % of primary surgeries, and the vast majority of cases occur within 2 years. Among reasons for revision, infection is projected to become the most frequent and is currently around 25 % of revisions for TKA and 15 % for THA. Infection is also more prevalent after previous revision for infection and can occur in 10–33 % of those cases. The largest risk factors for concern were found to be gender, BMI > 50, extended length procedures, lack of antibiotic bone cement, and comorbidities. Other arthroplasty procedures such as total disk replacement and total shoulder arthroplasty have similar infection rates to TKA that range from 1.3 to 3.8 %. In contrast though, total elbow arthroplasty can have infection rates as high as 12 %, which may be a result of the subcutaneous nature of the elbow joint and its surrounding thin soft tissue envelope.
A high-power and high-efficiency CMOS VCO

This letter presents CMOS voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) circuit, as a part of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) transmitter, operating at the center frequency of 980 MHz, delivers highest output power with highest efficiency ever reported to the best of authors’ knowledge. The 0.713 mm × 0.638 mm VCO chip fabricated using 0.18 μm CMOS technology exhibits the single-ended peak output power of 1.4 dBm and the differential peak output power of 4.4 dBm at the frequency of 1.097 GHz, with the frequency tuning range from 980 MHz to 1.1 GHz, and phase noise of −125 dBc/Hz at 1 MHz offset centered at the frequency of 980 MHz, consuming 48-mW power from 1.8-V supply, thus showing state-of-the-art performances. This promising result shows a path toward realizing high-power single-chip CMOS ADS-B transmitter. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 57:2437–2441, 2015
A Classroom Exercise to Examine the Trade‐off between Mission Capacity and Life Cycle Cost

This article presents a classroom exercise, centered on a simulation that has been used for 4 years in an MBA program to help students develop an understanding of the trade-offs involved in managing capital assets in the public sector. Though often ignored in business schools, mission is a key criterion that must be considered when managing such assets, and acts as a surrogate for profit. The case presents a rich environment in which the impact of cost reductions (or additional investments) on mission can be quantified, and trade-offs can be assessed and discussed. It gives students a chance to develop creative ideas for process improvement, and provides sufficient data for them to analyze the impact of their suggestions in a rigorous way.
Hybrid Unicast and Multicast Flow Control: A Linear Optimization Approach

In this paper, we present a solution to the general problem of flow control for both unicast and multicast IP networks. We formulate a convex optimization problem that can be analytically solved with a low complexity. We show that with the proper choice of parameters, our problem can be fine-tuned to reward multicast flows or to provide max-min fairness. Further, our formulation can be deployed in the form of a centralized, decentralized, or quasi-centralized flow control scheme. Using ECN marking to convey minimum per link or per zone flow information to the end nodes, our flow control schemes can be implemented with very little or no per flow state information.
Demystifying Legal Reasoning: Part II

"Demystifying Legal Reasoning" defends the proposition that there are no special forms of reasoning peculiar to law. Legal decisionmakers engage in the same modes of reasoning that all actors use in deciding what to do: open-ended moral reasoning, empirical reasoning, and deduction from authoritative rules. Part II (abstracted here) addresses common law reasoning, when prior judicial decisions determine the law. Part III addresses interpretation of texts. We conclude that, in both areas, the popular view that legal decisionmakers practice special forms of reasoning are false. In Chapter 2, we propose that there are two plausible models of common law reasoning, and only two. One is the natural model, in which courts resolve disputes by deciding what outcome is best, all things considered. The other is the rule model, in which courts treat rules announced by prior courts as serious rules of decision, then revert to natural decisonmaking when rules provide no answers. Despite the inescapable flaws of serious judicial rules, the rule model of common-law decisionmaking has advantages that we believe justify courts in adopting it. In Chapter 3, we explain why other supposed methods of legal reasoning are spurious. Analogical decisionmaking based on factual similarity between cases is either intuitive or deductive. If the process of identifying important similarities is intuitive, the precedent case does not constrain the outcome of the new case in any predictable or even detectable way. If the process is deductive, it is the rules or principles that govern similarity, rather than the outcome of the precedent. We also reject the possibility of reasoning from legal principles. As a matter of logic, legal principles cannot operate in the way their proponents suggest, as a medium by which past decisions constrain the outcome of natural reasoning in current cases. The notion of weight is too elusive, and the criterion of fit with prior decisions is too malleable, to sustain the argument that legal principles guide judges in reaching decisions. Moreover, if legal principles could in fact effectively constrain decisionmaking, their effects would be pernicious: legal principles entrench past errors without securing the benefits associated with legal rules. In Chapter 4, we address both the problems judges face as rulemakers and the descriptive gap between the rule model of decisionmaking we have proposed and prevailing judicial practice. Practices that appear to contradict the rule model of decisionmaking may have developed in response to the special problems that arise when a single authority must both resolve a particular dispute and also announce rules for a broader class of future cases.
The Innervation of the joints of the wrist and hand

The nerve supply of the joints of the wrist and hand was studied in dissections and in serial sections of fetal hands stained with silver. The radiocarpal joint was supplied mainly by branches of the anterior and posterior interosseous nerves. The inter-carpal and mid-carpal joints were supplied anteriorly by the anterior interosseous, median, and ulnar nerves, and by the deep branch of the ulnar nerve. Most of these joints were supplied posteriorly by the posterior interosseous nerve. Anteriorly the carpometacarpal joints were supplied by the ulnar nerve and its deep branch. Posteriorly they received fibers from the nerves running distally on the back of the hand. The deep branch of the ulnar nerve supplied all inter-metacarpal joints. The metacarpophalangeal and interphalangeal joints were supplied mainly by the palmar digital nerves. The metacarpophalangeal joints also received fibers from the dorsal digital nerves and from the deep branch of the ulnar nerve. The interphalangeal joint of the thumb, the proximal interphalangeal joint of the index finger, and both interphalangeal joints of the little finger received fibers from the dorsal digital nerves. The articular branch of the superficial branch of the radial nerve, first described by Winckler, was distributed to some of the inter-carpal and carpometacarpal joints on the lateral side of the wrist.
Geostatistical Borehole Image-Based Mapping of Karst-Carbonate Aquifer Pores.

Quantification of the character and spatial distribution of porosity in carbonate aquifers is important as input into computer models used in the calculation of intrinsic permeability and for next-generation, high-resolution groundwater flow simulations. Digital, optical, borehole-wall image data from three closely spaced boreholes in the karst-carbonate Biscayne aquifer in southeastern Florida are used in geostatistical experiments to assess the capabilities of various methods to create realistic two-dimensional models of vuggy megaporosity and matrix-porosity distribution in the limestone that composes the aquifer. When the borehole image data alone were used as the model training image, multiple-point geostatistics failed to detect the known spatial autocorrelation of vuggy megaporosity and matrix porosity among the three boreholes, which were only 10 m apart. Variogram analysis and subsequent Gaussian simulation produced results that showed a realistic conceptualization of horizontal continuity of strata dominated by vuggy megaporosity and matrix porosity among the three boreholes.
Partial purification and characterization of tryptophan hydroxylase from rabbit hindbrain.

With the use of a rapid, sensitive fluorometric assay, tryptophan hydroxylase from rabbit hindbrain has been partially purified. The enzyme resembles phenylalanine and tyrosine hydroxylases in many respects. For example, the hydroxylation reaction shows an absolute requirement for a tetrahydropterin and is stimulated by reduced pyridine nucleotide, dihydropteridine reductase, and catalase. Fe2+ also stimulates the reaction but only in the absence of catalase; this finding suggests that catalase or Fe2+ protects a sensitive component of the tryptophan hydroxylation system from inactivation by H2O2. Just as with the other pterin-dependent aromatic amino acid hydroxylases, the apparent Km of tryptophan hydroxylase for its amino acid substrate and for oxygen are markedly lower in the presence of tetrahydrobiopterin than they are in the presence of the cofactor analogue, dimethyltetrahydropterin. In addition, high concentrations of tryptophan inhibit the reaction in the presence of tetrahydrobiopterin, but not in the presence of the dimethylpterin. The stoichiometry of the reaction catalyzed by tryptophan hydroxylase in the presence of tetrahydrobiopterin has been determined.
EFFECT OF AMBIENT TEMPERATURE ON RADIAL TIRE ROLLING RESISTANCE

A test for determining the effect of ambient temperature on automobile tire rolling resistance has been used to study the rolling resistance characteristics under various ambient conditions. The results show that data obtained during tire warmup at normal laboratory conditions can be empirically extended to estimate tire rolling resistance over an ambient temperature range from -20 degrees C to 40 degrees C. A change in ambient temperature did not effect the relative ranking established for tires operating at equilibrium conditions in a normal laboratory environment. A reduction in ambient temperature results in an increase in tire rolling resistance and power consumption. At an ambient temperature of -20 degrees C the initial rolling resistance may double and the average power consumption on short trips may increase 35% over the values observed at ambient temperatures of 20 degrees C.
Cable Television's New Legal Universe: Early Judicial Response to the Cable Act

On October 29, 1984, a new era began in the relationship between law and cable television. On that day, the first major law regulation cable television, the Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984,was signed into law.Early judicial attempts to interpret the Cable Act revealed the difficulties judges had with understanding the new legal regimen. A common thread running through these varied cases, if any, was the courts' apparent lack of appreciation of the Act's complexity. Many, though not all, decisions appear to misread congressional language and misinterpret congressional intent. The first part of this Article will discuss this problem in regard to issues common to all sections of the Cable Act: the purposes of the Act, retroactivity and grandfathering, and the constitutionality of cable regulation. The second part of the Article will discuss judicial interpretation of specific sections of the Cable Act: rate regulation, modification, tenants' access to cable television and cable piracy.
[13] Use of Xenopus laevis expression system for structure-function analysis of G-protein-coupled receptor for parathyroid hormone and parathyroid hormone-related protein

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses methods to examine the effects that structural changes in the parathyroid hormone and parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTH/PTHrP) receptor, such as tail truncation and mutations in intracellular loops, have on the signal transduction through both cyclic AMP-and intracellular Ca 2+ -dependent pathways. The Xenopus oocyte expression system, therefore, provides some evidence as to the location of interaction sites in the receptor for the G proteins that signal through adenylate cyclase and PLC activation. Because of the relative ease of measuring both adenylate cyclase and phospholipase C (PLC) activation in Xenopus oocytes, this System is used to examine the effects of specific mutations on the functional properties of the PTH/PTHrP receptor. The injection of exogenous mRNAs encoding receptors or ion channels in oocytes will often lead to the synthesis of full-length proteins, which may then undergo posttranslational processing. Such proteins are then inserted into the plasma membrane in a functional form and can be screened for using an assay of receptor or ion channel function. The properties of oocytes, together with the tools of receptor mutagenesis and chimeric protein construction, have enabled the dissection of the functional roles of specific regions of receptors, ion channels, and other proteins using this system.
Localization of selected pathogens of cotton within the southern green stink bug

Southern green stink bugs, Nezara viridula (L.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), are pests of cotton recently shown to ingest, retain, and introduce some pathogens of cotton into bolls. The objective of this study was to determine where pathogen colonization occurs in N. viridula after ingestion. Laboratory-reared adult N. viridula were fed sterile green beans soaked in water (control) or beans previously soaked in a suspension of one of three opportunistic bacterial pathogens [Pantoea agglomerans (Ewing & Fife), Pantoea ananatis (Serrano) Truper & De’Clari, or Klebsiella pneumoniae (Schroeter)] or a yeast [Nematospora coryli (Peglion)]. The insect rostrum, head, and alimentary canal were subsequently processed to determine the presence of pathogenic organisms. Overall, the alimentary canal exhibited significantly more bacterial colony forming units per g tissue (mean ± SEM = 4 806.3 ± 397.2) than the head (443.4 ± 397.2) and rostrum (46.0 ± 397.2); concentrations in the head and rostrum did not differ significantly. All four pathogens were detected in the alimentary canal, but only P. agglomerans and N. coryli were detected in the rostrum and head. Although P. ananatis and K. pneumoniae were only detected in the alimentary canal, their ranges of concentrations were similar to those of P. agglomerans and N. coryli in this tissue. Non-selective media indicated that other bacterial fauna was also detected in all study insects. Thus, N. viridula does not discriminate with regard to ingestion of pathogens. The observed distribution pattern of tested bacteria and yeast in certain tissues of N. viridula clarifies the propensity for transmission of P. agglomerans and N. coryli. Results are discussed in relation to future research avenues examining selective colonization of certain pathogens and frequency of host infection by adults harboring the pathogenic organisms.
EFFECTS OF CROPPING SYSTEMS ON NO3-N LOSSES TO TILE DRAIN1

Diverse cropping systems can have significant impacts on nutrient losses through tile drain systems and to surface water bodies (rivers and streams). Increased transport of nitrogen to water bodies can reduce dissolved oxygen and enrich the supply of nutrients, resulting in hypoxic zones. With the objective of reducing the transport of nutrients from agricultural watersheds, long term studies (1990 to 1998) were conducted in Iowa to investigate the impact of tillage, crop rotation, and N-management practices on NO 3 -N leaching losses to tile drain water. Results of these studies indicated that continuous corn production systems required higher input of nitrogen fertilizers and resulted in significantly higher NO 3 -N leaching losses compared to rotated corn in plots either fertilized with manure or urea ammonium nitrate. Also, rotated corn gave higher corn yields, 8 megagrams per hectare (Mg/ha) versus 6 Mg/ha, than continuous corn. The higher N application rates resulted in increased NO 3 -N concentrations in tile water. A strip cropping system with alfalfa lowered NO 3 -N concentrations in tile water to less than 10 mg/l. These studies indicated that better land use practices can reduce NO 3 -N leaching losses to surface and ground water systems and will help in mitigating environmental concerns of the production agriculture.
The implications of gender stereotypes for the dentist-patient relationship.

This study assessed whether traditionally based gender stereotypes are applied to dentists. Awareness of gender-driven preconceptions can help dentists anticipate patient expectations that play a role in the clinician-patient relationship. A sample of 106 college students and fifty-four non-college students completed a one-page survey that assessed whether seven traits were viewed as more characteristic of male dentists, female dentists, or neither gender. While there was no trait that over 50 percent of respondents considered more typical of either gender, female dentists were viewed as significantly more likely to make patients feel relaxed and to take time to discuss ailments with them, perceptions found most frequently among those respondents who expressed a preference for a female dentist. Male dentists were perceived as significantly more likely to expect a patient to endure pain without complaints, more devoted to career than family, and more likely to seem to be in charge and to be attracted to the power of their profession. The findings indicate that dental students should be encouraged to consider how patients’ preconceived gender-based expectations and assumptions may influence rapport and communication between patients and dentists.
A comparison of nucleus accumbens neuronal firing patterns during cocaine self-administration and water reinforcement in rats

The firing patterns of nucleus accumbens (NA) neurons in the rat were recorded during cocaine self-administration and responding for water. Recordings were obtained from permanently implanted multiple-electrode arrays (eight microwires) inserted bilaterally into rostral portions of the NA in subjects (n = 18) exhibiting stable cocaine self-administration (0.33 mg/infusion), and during stable responding for water reinforcement. Electronically isolated and identified NA neurons exhibited four distinct patterns of phasic activity relative to the reinforced response. Three of these firing patterns were observed during both cocaine self-administration and water reinforcement sessions. Response-related activity was categorized by cells that showed an anticipatory increase in firing rate during the preresponse phase (type PR), and by cells that were excited (type RFE) or inhibited (type RFI) following the response in the reinforcement phase. PR and RFE cells showed significantly reduced peak firing during cocaine self-administration, compared to similar cells in water reinforcement sessions. A fourth type of NA firing pattern (type PR+RF) was observed only in cells recorded during cocaine self-administration sessions (Carelli et al., 1993b). PR+RF neurons exhibited two distinct peaks, one preceding the response and terminating at response completion (like PR cells), and a second peak immediately following the response (like RFE cells) with an inhibitory period between the two peaks (like RFI cells). The findings are discussed in terms of the role of the NA in mediating the reinforcing properties of both cocaine and water.
Failure to inhibit irrelevant information in non-clinical schizotypal individuals.

The present study compared negative priming performance in a non-clinical sample of individuals based on their schizotypal personality scale (STA) scores. There were 13 High STA and 19 Low STA individuals. High, but not Low, STA individuals displayed deficient negative priming, replicating previous findings. Converging evidence for this claim was observed in the correlation between negative priming and STA score, r = -.64, p < .01, supporting the notion that individuals with high STA scores exhibit an inability to adequately inhibit irrelevant information. Both groups did not differ on a simple reaction time control task, ruling out the possibility that observed negative priming differences across groups were the result of a simple motor reaction time difference.
Short-term effects of coronary angiographic contrast agents on thyroid function.

Objective: To determine the effect of two iodine-containing contrast agents used for coronary angiography on subsequent thyroid hormone concentrations. Methods: We prospectively studied thyroid fun...
Actin dynamics affect mitochondrial quality control and aging in budding yeast.

Summary Actin cables of budding yeast are bundles of F-actin that extend from the bud tip or neck to the mother cell tip, serve as tracks for bidirectional cargo transport, and undergo continuous movement from buds toward mother cells [1]. This movement, retrograde actin cable flow (RACF), is similar to retrograde actin flow in lamellipodia, growth cones, immunological synapses, dendritic spines, and filopodia [2–5]. In all cases, actin flow is driven by the push of actin polymerization and assembly at the cell cortex, and myosin-driven pulling forces deeper within the cell [6–10]. Therefore, for movement and inheritance from mothers to buds, mitochondria must "swim upstream" against the opposing force of RACF [11]. We find that increasing RACF rates results in increased fitness of mitochondria inherited by buds and that the increase in mitochondrial fitness leads to extended replicative lifespan and increased cellular healthspan. The sirtuin SIR2 is required for normal RACF and mitochondrial fitness, and increasing RACF rates in sir2Δ cells increases mitochondrial fitness and cellular healthspan but does not affect replicative lifespan. These studies support the model that RACF serves as a filter for segregation of fit from less-fit mitochondria during inheritance, which controls cellular lifespan and healthspan. They also support a role for Sir2p in these processes.
Phase Separation of Multi-Valent Signaling Proteins

Cells are organized on length scales from Angstroms to microns. However, the mechanisms by which Angstrom-scale molecular properties are translated to micron-scale macroscopic properties are not well understood. We have shown that interactions between multivalent proteins and multivalent ligands can cause liquid-liquid demixing phase transitions, resulting in formation of micron-sized liquid droplets in aqueous solution and micron-sized puncta on membranes. These transitions appear to occur concomitantly with sol-gel transitions to form large, dynamic polymers within the droplets/puncta. I will discuss how such transitions may control the spatial organization and biochemical activity of actin regulatory signaling pathways, and contribute to formation of PML nuclear bodies in the mammalian nucleus. Our data suggest a general mechanism by which cells may achieve micron-scale organization based on interactions between multivalent macromolecules.
Crosstalk between the connecting tubule and the afferent arteriole regulates renal microcirculation.

The renal afferent arterioles (Af-Arts) account for most of the renal vascular resistance, which is controlled similar to other arterioles and by tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF). The latter signal is generated by sensing sodium chloride concentrations in the macula densa; this in turn results in a signal which acts through the extraglomerular mesangium leading to constriction of the Af-Art. In the outer renal cortex, the connecting tubule (CNT) returns to the glomerular hilus and contacts the Af-Art suggesting that crosstalk may exist here as well. To investigate this, we simultaneously perfused a microdissected Af-Art and adherent CNT. Increasing the sodium chloride concentration perfusing the CNT significantly dilated preconstricted Af-Arts. We called this crosstalk 'connecting tubule glomerular feedback' (CTGF) to differentiate it from TGF. We tested whether entry of Na þ and/or CIinto the CNT is required to induce CTGF by replacing Na þ with choline þ . Increasing choline chloride concentration did not dilate the Af-Art. To test whether epithelial Na channels (ENaCs) mediate CTGF, we blocked ENaC with amiloride and found that the dilatation induced by CTGF was completely blocked. Inhibiting sodium chloride cotransporters with hydrochlorothiazide failed to prevent Af-Art dilatation. Finally, we tested whether nitric oxide released by the CNT mediates CTGF by the addition of a non-selective nitric oxide synthase inhibitor to the CNT. This potentiated CTGF rather than blocking it. We suggest that crosstalk exists between CNTs and attached Af-Arts, which is initiated by sodium reabsorption through amiloride-sensitive channels and this can contribute to the regulation of renal blood flow and glomerular filtration. The renal afferent arterioles (Af-Arts) account for most renal vascular resistance; they control glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and peritubular pressure, and thus renal function. In addition, Af-Art and efferent arteriole resistance control intraglomerular pressure, which is important not only for filtration pressure but also the development of glomerulo- sclerosis in hypertension and diabetes. Af-Art resistance is regulated by factors similar to other arterioles, and in addition is controlled in part by tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF). TGF operates via the macula densa: when concentra- tions of sodium and chloride in the macula densa are increased, a signal is transmitted through the extraglomerular mesangium that constricts the Af-Art. 1 In humans and other mammals, there is a transitional region of the nephron between the distal convoluted tubule and the cortical collecting duct, called the connecting tubule (CNT). This segment of the nephron plays a significant role in the
A Comparative Evaluation of Sulfonamides.

T HE place of sulfonamide compounds in the management of infectious diseases is of importance to the pediatrician for a number of reasons. In the past decade many new sulfonamides have been introduced which appear to have certain advantages over earlier preparations. Successful modifications of the sulfanilamide molecule designed to increase therapeutic effectiveness or to lessen the incidence of complications have been achieved. As selective inhibition increases the number of microorganisms resistant to the available antibiotics, new therapeutic problems are presented to the clinician. In some instances the management of infections due to resistant microorganisms may be improved through the use of sulfonamides, either alone or in combinations with an antibiotic agent. It seems probable that the more frequent use of sulfonamides for common clinical conditions may decrease the incidence of disease due
DSM-III personality disorder in agoraphobia

Abstract Sixty agoraphobia with panic patients completed the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire (PDQ), a self-rating scale designed to assess the Axis II personality disorders from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (ed 3) (DSM-III). Results showed that these agoraphobic patients were more likely to show dependent, avoidant, and histrionic personalities or traits than any other types; however, only 27% of the sample met a personality disorder diagnosis, and even avoidant and dependent traits were not ubiquitous. Cross-validation of the findings was provided by comparison with the Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI). Patients exhibiting a greater number of personality traits were also significantly more symptomatic on the Hopkins Symptom Checklist.
A Closed-Form, After-Tax, Net Present Value Solution to the Mortgage Refinancing Decision

Refinancing one's mortgage is often an attractive, wealth-enhancing option for homeowners in a declining mortgage rate environment. In some respects the decision is simple to analyze because future cash flows are relatively easy to define for fixed-rate mortgages. In other respects, however, the decision is nuanced by option pricing and tax considerations. The analysis must first begin with accurate after-tax, net present value solutions for varying potential holding periods. This study improves upon previous studies, which either ignore tax implications or address them iteratively in spreadsheet model solutions, by introducing a closed-form model that incorporates the ever-changing tax shield of the interest portion of each mortgage payment. Further, unlike many previous studies, our model does not assume that the current and replacement mortgages have equal remaining terms.
Smart vaults: thermally-responsive protein nanocapsules.

Synthetic modification of a recombinant protein cage called a vault with stimuli-responsive smart polymers provides access to a new class of biohybrid materials; the polymer nanocapsules retain the structure of the protein cage and exhibit the responsive nature of the polymer. Vaults are naturally occurring ubiquitous ribonucleoprotein particles 41 × 41 × 72.5 nm composed of a protein shell enclosing multiple copies of two proteins and multiple copies of one or more small untranslated RNAs. Recombinant vaults are structurally identical but lack the vault content. Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAAm), a polymer responsive to heat, was conjugated to recombinant vaults that were composed of ∼78 copies of the major vault protein (MVP) modified to contain a cysteine rich region at the N-terminus (CP-MVP). The polymer was synthesized using reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization to have a dansyl group at the alpha end and modified to have a thiol-reactive pyridyl disulfide at the...
Determination of free choline and phosphorylcholine in rat liver

A simple procedure for the determination of levels of free choline and phosphorylcholine in hepatic tissue is outlined. The method makes use of the enzyme acid phosphatase to liberate choline from phosphorylcholine and incorporates the ability of choline to react with potassium triiodide to yield choline periodide for the measurement of choline and phosphorylcholine in liver. The method is accurate for both entities (recovery of 97–100% for choline and 92–98% for phosphorylcholine). For phosphorylcholine, the method is markedly simpler than other methods previously described and the results for normally fed rats are of the same order of magnitude. The applicability of the method was shown when it was demonstrated that diets containing different amounts of choline influenced the level of choline and phosphorylcholine in liver.
Feeding Habits of Young-of-the-year Black and Copper Rockfish in Eelgrass Habitats of Humboldt Bay, California

Abstract Temperate eelgrass beds are temporally and spatially complex habitats that often provide a transition habitat for many species of juvenile fishes. The feeding habits of young-of-the-year Black Rockfish (Sebastes melanops) and Copper Rockfish (S. caurinus) inhabiting eelgrass (Zostera marina) beds in Humboldt Bay, California, were assessed in 2003 and 2004. A total of 16 prey types were noted for both species. Gammarid amphipods and copepods were the dominant prey types. Shifts in prey type were observed for Copper Rockfish as prey preference shifted from smaller planktonic prey to larger epiphytic prey types over time. No shifts in prey type were noted for Black Rockfish. Prey types for both species were consistent with previous studies conducted in temperate eelgrass habitats, which noted the importance of small crustaceans as prey.
A semiautomated method for the rapid determination of dopa: Comparison of plasma and erythrocyte-dopa concentration in levodopa-treated patients

Abstract A rapid, sensitive, and reproducible method for the semiautomated determination of plasma dopa has been developed. Dopa in deproteinized plasma or tissue is isolated by cation—exchange column chromatography, and is then processed through a Technicon AutoAnalyzer and quantitated as its hydroxyindole derivative by fluorescence spectrometry. Plasma-dopa concentrations as low as 0.3 μ m can be readily determined. Plasma and erythrocyte levels in parkinsonian patients are routinely assayed by this method in our laboratory. A correlation coefficient of 0.995 was given by a comparison between this automated method and the manual method. Plasma and erythrocyte levels of dopa and 3-O-methyldopa (OMD) were measured in 14 randomly selected patients, and correlations were made between these concentrations and the dosage of levodopa.
Effects of prey type on motor pattern variance in tetraodontiform fishes.

It is unclear whether the high variance of electromyographic parameters measured in feeding teleost fishes reflects functionally significant motor variation that is under control of the fish, or functionally insignificant variation characteristic of EMG data. We addressed this issue by examining the effect of three prey, differing in physical characteristics, on the feeding motor pattern in three fishes of the Order Tetraodontiformes: the filefish, Monacanthus hispidus; the triggerfish, Balistes capriscus; and the puffer, Sphoeroides nephelus. EMG recordings were made from subdivisions of the mouth closing adductor mandibulae muscle and the mouth opening levator operculi muscle in four fish from each species feeding on live fiddler crabs, live shrimp, and pieces of cut squid mantle. Analysis of variance was used to test for effects of prey type on the standard deviation of muscle burst duration, burst onset time, and average burst amplitude in the adductor muscles. The filefish exhibited a doubling of standard deviation of burst duration in all muscles when feeding on fiddler crabs; triggerfish showed increased standard deviations in onset times and duration of two muscles when feeding on squid mantle; and the puffer showed no effects of prey on motor variability. The observation that prey type can elicit more than a doubling in the standard deviation of some EMG traits indicates that a large portion of the within-prey type variance is under direct control of the individual fish, suggesting an even greater level of fine motor control in teleost feeding mechanisms than previously recognized. J. Exp. Zool. 286:563–571, 2000.© 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Some Efficient Optimization Methods for Solving the Security-Constrained Optimal Power Flow Problem

The security-constrained optimal power flow problem considers both the normal state and contingency constraints, and it is formulated as a large-scale nonconvex optimization problem. We propose a global optimization algorithm based on Lagrangian duality to solve the nonconvex problem to optimality. As usual, the global approach is often time-consuming, thus, for practical uses when dealing with a large number of contingencies, we investigate two decomposition algorithms based on Benders cut and the alternating direction method of multipliers. These decomposition schemes often generate solutions with a smaller objective function values than those generated by the conventional approach and very close to the globally optimal points.
Air bearing table mechanization and verification of a spacecraft wide angle attitude control system.

Spacecraft wide angle attitude control system stability analysis, using air bearing table simulation