cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Third international workshop on economics-driven software engineering research

The 7th International Workshop on Economics-Driven Software Engineering Research (EDSER-7) continues to be the leading forum for the discussion of emerging research ideas in software economics. The focus of the workshop is on the use of economic models for reasoning about technical issues and decisions in the definition, design, development, deployment, and evolution of software and software-intensive systems.
In situ visualization of Li/Ag2VP2O8 batteries revealing rate-dependent discharge mechanism

The functional capacity of a battery is observed to decrease, often quite dramatically, as discharge rate demands increase. These capacity losses have been attributed to limited ion access and low electrical conductivity, resulting in incomplete electrode use. A strategy to improve electronic conductivity is the design of bimetallic materials that generate a silver matrix in situ during cathode reduction. Ex situ x-ray absorption spectroscopy coupled with in situ energy-dispersive x-ray diffraction measurements on intact lithium/silver vanadium diphosphate (Li/Ag2VP2O8) electrochemical cells demonstrate that the metal center preferentially reduced and its location in the bimetallic cathode are rate-dependent, affecting cell impedance. This work illustrates that spatial imaging as a function of discharge rate can provide needed insights toward improving realizable capacity of bimetallic cathode systems.
Central neuron-glia interactions and neuropathic pain Overview of recent concepts and clinical implications

Neuropathic pain results from injury or disease causing dysfunction at any level of the somatosensory (primarily spinothalamic) system, including peripheral nociceptive axons, dorsal root ganglion (DRG), dorsal horn, spinothalamic pathway, and thalamus. The manifestations of neuropathic pain, including spontaneous pain, hyperalgesia, and thermal and mechanical allodynia, reflect excessive excitability of peripheral nociceptors (peripheral sensitization), central nociceptive neurons (central sensitization), or both. Sensitization reflects maladaptive plastic changes in the nociceptive system that result directly from axonal injury and from the effects of products of inflammation. There is abundant evidence that activation of microglia and astrocytes in the dorsal horn is common and constitutes an important amplification mechanism leading to neuropathic pain in the setting of peripheral nerve or spinal cord injury. Activated glial cells are also involved in sensitization of brainstem and thalamic neurons at a distance from the site of injury. The complex roles of the central glia and its mediators in the mechanisms of neuropathic pain have been extensively reviewed.1–9 The components of transmission of nociceptive information (“pain system”) include the nociceptive neurons of the DRG with unmyelinated C- and small myelinated Aδ axons that activate different types of neurons in the dorsal horn, particularly in lamina I and lamina V, which project via parallel pathways to the thalamus and to the brainstem. The primary DRG afferents also activate excitatory and inhibitory interneurons in lamina II that exert local control on nociceptive transmission.10–12 Similar organization occurs in the nociceptive trigeminal system. The nociceptive DRG neurons express different types of voltage-gated sodium (Na+) channels (particularly Nav1.7, Nav1.8, and Nav1.9), transient receptor potential (TRP) channels (including TRPV1 and TRPA), acid-sensitive channels, serotonin 5-HT3 receptors, and purinergic P2X receptors that are activated by noxious mechanical or chemical stimuli.11 In normal conditions, activation of Aδ and C-fiber nociceptors leads …
The study of the undiscovered mineral resources of the Tongass National Forest and adjacent lands, Southeastern Alaska

The quantitative probabilistic assessment of the undiscovered mineral resources of the 17.1-million-acre Tongass National Forest (the largest in the United States) and its adjacent lands is a nonaggregated, mineral-resource-tract-oriented assessment designed for land-planning purposes. As such, it includes the renewed use of gross-in-place values (GIPV's) in dollars of the estimated amounts of metal contained in the undiscovered resources as a measure for land-use planning. Southeastern Alaska is geologically complex and contains a wide variety of known mineral deposits, some of which have produced important amounts of metals during the past 100 years. Regional geological, economic geological, geochemical, geophysical, and mineral exploration history information for the region was integrated to define 124 tracts likely to contain undiscovered mineral resources. Some tracts were judged to contain more than one type of mineral deposit. Each type of deposit may contain one or more metallic elements of economic interest. For tracts where information was sufficient, the minimum number of as-yet-undiscovered deposits of each type was estimated at probability levels of 0.95, 0.90, 0.50, 0.10, and 0.05. The undiscovered mineral resources of the individual tracts were estimated using the U.S. Geological Survey's MARK3 mineral-resource endowment simulator; those estimates were used to calculate GIPV's for the individual tracts. Those GIPV's were aggregated to estimate the value of the undiscovered mineral resources of southeastern Alaska. The aggregated GIPV of the estimates is $40.9 billion. Analysis of this study indicates that (1) there is only a crude positive correlation between the size of individual tracts and their mean GIPV's: and (2) the number of mineral-deposit types in a tract does not dominate the GIPV's of the tracts, but the inferred presence of synorogenic-synvolcanic nickel-copper, porphyry copper skarn-related, iron skarn, and porphyry copper-molybdenum deposits does. The influence of this study on the U.S. Forest Service planning process is yet to be determined.
Problem Solving and Transfer

Problem solving is an important yet elusive educational goal. This article briefly reviews the research on the components of problem solving and two mechanisms for fostering the transfer of problem-solving strategies--low-road transfer and high-road transfer. The interactions between these two mechanisms and two types of content (domain-specific knowledge and higher order thinking) are then discussed. Exploratory research on one of the interactions (low-road transfer of higher-order thinking) is summarized, with a particular focus on the performance of students with disabilities. Finally, some implications for curriculum and instruction are outlined.
Clash of the Contagions: Cooperation and Competition in Information Diffusion

In networks, contagions such as information, purchasing behaviors, and diseases, spread and diffuse from node to node over the edges of the network. Moreover, in real-world scenarios multiple contagions spread through the network simultaneously. These contagions not only propagate at the same time but they also interact and compete with each other as they spread over the network. While traditional empirical studies and models of diffusion consider individual contagions as independent and thus spreading in isolation, we study how different contagions interact with each other as they spread through the network. We develop a statistical model that allows for competition as well as cooperation of different contagions in information diffusion. Competing contagions decrease each other's probability of spreading, while cooperating contagions help each other in being adopted throughout the network. We evaluate our model on 18,000 contagions simultaneously spreading through the Twitter network. Our model learns how different contagions interact with each other and then uses these interactions to more accurately predict the diffusion of a contagion through the network. Moreover, the model also provides a compelling hypothesis for the principles that govern content interaction in information diffusion. Most importantly, we find very strong effects of interactions between contagions. Interactions cause a relative change in the spreading probability of a contagion by em 71% on the average.
Split thickness skin grafting for recreation of the scrotum following Fournier’s gangrene

Fournier's gangrene is an infection of the genitals and perineum that is treated with extensive soft tissue debridement, often leading to loss of scrotal skin. Multiple options for reconstruction of the scrotum are available. Four cases of recreation of the scrotum with meshed split thickness skin grafts (STSG) are presented. The discussion includes a comparison of STSG with other treatment options. We conclude that STSG are a safe, technically easy treatment option with satisfactory cosmetic and functional results.
Least squares and maximum likelihood estimation of non-linear systems

Abstract A simple weighted version of least squares appears to be about as good as the conventional maximum likelihood method for the estimation of systems that are non-linear in the parameters. the possible implications for robust estimation are indicated.
Total skin electron beam therapy may be associated with improvement of peripheral blood disease in Sézary syndrome

Total skin electron beam radiation is an effective therapy for palliation of the cutaneous symptoms of the most common types of cutaneous T-cell lymphomas, mycosis fungoides and Sezary syndrome. We report 4 cases of patients with Sezary syndrome who had significant improvement in their blood burden of malignant cells in addition to complete cutaneous responses to total skin electron beam therapy. The data from these 4 patients illustrate the potential for total skin electron beam to be used as both a skin and blood tumor debulking agent, and not merely as a palliation for skin symptoms.
Improved analysis and experimental evaluation of the single filament pull-out test

Abstract The single filament pull-out test has received attention as a preliminary test for screening fiber surface treatments that are designed to modify the interface-sensitive behavior of fiber composite materials. Its merits are that it is a direct test of adhesive bonding at the fiber/matrix interface, that it requires only a small amount of material, and that it can be used with either brittle or ductile matrix materials. In spite of its merits, the single filament pull-out test is still controversial. This is because the analysis of the test has not been proved indisputably to be correct, leaving the impression that the test is still not totally understood. In the work described in this paper, we improved the analysis of the single filament pull-out test by adding a matrix compression contribution to the stored strain energy and by including the work of friction between the debonded fiber and matrix in the energy balance. In addition, we were able to extend the experimental data over a much wider range of embedded length by using a strong fiber combined with a weak interface. This allowed a comprehensive comparison of theory with experiment, and showed that the improved model not only predicts the experimental data better than before, but also predicts the stable crack propagation observed experimentally for specimens with large embedded lengths. Methods for determining interfacial fracture energy from single filament pull-out data are also described.
A systematic method for the detection of experimentally induced hyperplasia and early neoplasia in the urinary bladder.

Abstract A systematic method for the examination of urinary bladders in experimental animals has been devised. It consists of fixing the bladder in a partially distended state, methodically examining and dissecting it under a dissecting microscope, orienting strips of tissue in epoxy resin blocks cast in flat embedding molds, sectioning at the desired thickness and staining appropriately. The sections obtained allow detection of an increase of as little as 1 cell layer in the transitional epithelium of rodents.
Spinal estrogen receptor alpha mediates estradiol-induced pronociception in a visceral pain model in the rat

We previously reported that 17β-estradiol (E2) is pronociceptive in a visceral pain model in the rat. Subcutaneously (s.c.) administered E2 reversed the decrease in the colorectal distention (CRD)-evoked visceromotor response produced by ovariectomy (OVx) and CRD-induced nociceptive responses were greater in proestrous rats compared with met/diestrous rats. The site of action, the type of estrogen receptors activated, and the possible intracellular signaling pathway involved are yet to be established. In the present study, intrathecal (i.t.) E2 administered to OVx rats mimicked the effects of s.c. E2, suggesting that spinal estrogen receptors are involved. This is further supported by the observations that the anti-estrogen ICI 182,780 injected i.t. in intact female rats significantly decreased the visceromotor response to CRD, the response of colonic afferents was not affected by OVx, and colonic afferents did not label for estrogen receptor α (ERα). The ERα selective agonist, 4,4',4''-[4-propyl-(1H)-pyrazole-1,3,5-triyl]tris-phenol (PPT; s.c. or i.t.) facilitated the visceromotor response similar to E2, suggesting ERα activation is involved in mediating the pronociceptive effect of E2. PPT (s.c. or i.t.) increased the response of spinal dorsal horn neurons to CRD, indicating a spinal site of action. In addition, s.c. E2 or PPT increased CRD-induced spinal extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation that was not observed in OVx rats and a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase (MEK) inhibitor blocked facilitation of the visceromotor response by PPT. Taken together, the present study demonstrates that spinal ERα mediates the pronociceptive effect of E2 on visceral signal processing through activation of the MAPK pathway.
Brand Choice Modeling in Potential Cannibalism Situations

While the adverse impact of cannablism is well documented, it has received very little treatment in the marketing literature (Traylor 1986). The results suggest that the inclusion and Disproportional Cannibalism) does improve the fit to the data. Most models have attempted to avoid the Independence From Irrelevant Alternatives property by only modeling Disproportional Competition. The Asymmetric Market Share (AMS) model explicitly incorporates the influence on share of Disproportional Cannabalism as well as the influence on Disproportional Competition. Models such as the adjusted Logit model rely on some overall meausure of the influence of all other offerings. As such, they cannot distinguish between the two sources of disproportional influence on share. The AMS model overcomes this diagnostic weakness.
CHAOTIC CLOCKS : CHAOS IN 1 DIMENSIONAL DYNAMICS

We show how vector fields on the circle give rise to chaos when the requirement for uniqueness of solutions is eliminated.
Morphine-Induced Fetal Malformations I: Exencephaly and Axial Skeletal Fusions

High subcutaneous doses of morphine sulfate, 100–500 mg./kg., administered to CF-1 mice on Day 8 or Day 9 of gestation are teratogenic and result in a large number of fetuses with exencephaly and axial skeletal fusions. Retardation in food consumption is not primarily responsible for these effects even though fasting alone affects embryonic development. Based upon the narrow range between the maternal LD50 and the teratogenic doses in this species, the teratogenic potential of morphine sulfate is low.
Laser mass spectrometry: an overview of techniques, instruments and applications

Abstract Lasers have been used to produce intact molecular ions and structurally informative fragment ions of otherwise intractable biomolecules for examination by mass spectrometry. While laser microprobes have been used for this purpose, this paper focusses on other instrumental configurations, which require less focussed laser beams and which record ions that are produced by mechanisms which can be described thermodynamically. The time-of-flight and Fourier-transform ion-cyclotron resonance mass spectrometers emerge as the most suitable for use with pulsed laser desorption. Classes of compounds which are amenable to the technique include industrial polymers and carbohydrates.
Standard antennas designed with electro-optic modulators and optical fiber linkage

We describe the design of standard reference antennas that use an electrooptic transducer together with optical-fiber linkage to preserve the amplitude and phase information of the received signal. They will be used over a range from 10 MHz to 2 GHz at our open area test site in order to reduce measurement uncertainties attributable to the ambient electromagnetic spectrum. The transducer consists of an optical-fiber directional coupler with unbalanced legs and LiNbO3 phase modulators. The output signal is processed to servocontrol the wavelength of the laser and maintain the optimal optical bias point in changing environments. The complementary rf signals are subtracted to provide common mode noise rejection. The output signal is modeled to determine the design and operating parameters required for good repeatability and accuracy. The results show that spurious reflections in the modulator legs need to be < -50 dB in order to obtain the desired stability.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Linear DNA for Rapid Prototyping of Synthetic Biological Circuits in an Escherichia coli Based TX-TL Cell-Free System

Accelerating the pace of synthetic biology experiments requires new approaches for rapid prototyping of circuits from individual DNA regulatory elements. However, current testing standards require days to weeks due to cloning and in vivo transformation. In this work, we first characterized methods to protect linear DNA strands from exonuclease degradation in an Escherichia coli based transcription-translation cell-free system (TX-TL), as well as mechanisms of degradation. This enabled the use of linear DNA PCR products in TX-TL. We then compared expression levels and binding dynamics of different promoters on linear DNA and plasmid DNA. We also demonstrated assembly technology to rapidly build circuits entirely in vitro from separate parts. Using this strategy, we prototyped a four component genetic switch in under 8 h entirely in vitro. Rapid in vitro assembly has future applications for prototyping multiple component circuits if combined with predictive computational models.
A novel technique to measure the input impedance of on-chip microstrip patch antenna in standard CMOS technology

This paper describes a novel technique to measure the input impedance of on-chip microstrip patch antenna in standard CMOS technology. By using the measured impedance of IMPATT diodes fabricated in the same standard CMOS technology and three lateral IMPATT diodes integrated with a microstrip patch antenna at one of the radiating edges, oscillation can be achieved and accurate measurement of the antenna input impedance can be extracted. The antenna used is 1.4mm2 and it is designed at 77GHz by using the high frequency electromagnetic field solver Sonnet. The detected oscillation observed in the range of 75∼77GHz, with transmitted power of −62dBm at 77GHz. The measured input impedance is within 10% of the simulated one. It is hoped that this technique will provide accurate method to measure the input impedance in the millimeter-wave range of on-chip antenna with minimum near-filed perturbation.
Angiotensin II Type 1 (AT1) Receptor Expression and Regulation in Human Fetal Lung In Vitro 305

Specific angiotensin II (ANG II) receptors are present early in gestation and may play a role in organ growth and development. To investigate regulation of the AT1 receptor in human lung, we first characterized changes in AT1 mRNA levels in midtrimester human fetal lung explants, which spontaneously differentiate in culture. Northern blot analysis revealed that during four days in explant culture in serum-free medium, AT1 mRNA levels decreased to 19±3, 10±3, 8±2 and 5±2% (days 1, 2, 3, 4, respectively, all p<0.05) of control levels (day 0). The decrease in AT1 mRNA after 48 h in culture also occurred in the presence of 5% fetal calf serum. Immunostaining demonstrated a mesenchymal distribution of the AT1 receptor with limited expression in vascular smooth muscle. AT1 mRNA levels were unaltered after 48 h in culture with ANG II (10-5 to 10-9 M), the AT1 receptor antagonist losartan (10-5 to 10-9 M), or cortisol (10-6 and 10-9 M). Finally, abundance of AT1 mRNA was similarly decreased by incubation in 2% or 20% oxygen. These findings indicate that AT1 mRNA and protein are present in midtrimester fetal lung and that AT1 mRNA levels decrease in association with spontaneous differentiation of human fetal lung in vitro. AT1 mRNA in human fetal lung explants is not regulated by ligand, receptor antagonist, cortisol, or oxygen.
Detection and characterization of the prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) in tissue extracts and body fluids.

The prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) glycoprotein is recognized by the monoclonal antibody (MAb) 7E11-C5.3 as a predominant 100 kDa and minor 180 kDa component in LNCaP cell line extracts and its expression has been shown by immunohistochemistry to be highly restricted to prostate epithelium. The aim of the present study was to utilize Western blot analysis to determine if PSMA could be detected in human tissue extracts and body fluids and if so, which molecular forms were present. PSMA was detected as 120 and 200 kDa bands in normal, benign and malignant prostate tissues and seminal plasma. Further analysis demonstrated that the larger molecular form of PSMA may be a dimer of the lower m.w. species. The PSMA glycoprotein was not detected in the majority of non-prostate tissue extracts examined except for a low yet significant amount in normal salivary gland, brain and small intestine, suggesting that PSMA may not be as prostate-specific as originally thought. Since the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) has been shown to be maximally shed into the serum in high-grade and metastatic prostate carcinomas, it was surprising that PSMA could not be detected in serum by Western blot analysis even in patients with actively progressive metastatic disease. Second generation antibodies generated against different epitopes may be required to determine if PSMA is shed into serum. Our results support the hypothesis that PSMA is a novel prostate biomarker.
Split-belt treadmill adaptation shows different functional networks for fast and slow human walking.

New walking patterns can be learned over short time scales (i.e., adapted in minutes) using a split-belt treadmill that controls the speed of each leg independently. This leads to storage of a modified motor pattern that is expressed as an aftereffect in regular walking conditions and must be de-adapted to return to normal. Here we asked whether the nervous system adapts a general walking pattern that is used across many speeds or a specific pattern affecting only the two speeds experienced during split-belt training. In experiment 1, we tested three groups of healthy adult subjects walking at different split-belt speed combinations and then assessed aftereffects at a range of speeds. We found that aftereffects were largest at the slower speed that was used in split-belt training in all three groups, and it decayed gradually for all other speeds. Thus adaptation appeared to be more strongly linked to the slow walking speed. This result suggests a separation in the functional networks used for fast and slow walking. We tested this in experiment 2 by adapting walking to split belts and then determining how much fast regular walking washed out the slow aftereffect and vice versa. We found that 23–38% of the aftereffect remained regardless of which speed was washed out first. This demonstrates that there is only partial overlap in the functional networks coordinating different walking speeds. Taken together, our results suggest that there are some neural networks for controlling locomotion that are recruited specifically for fast versus slow walking in humans, similar to recent findings in other vertebrates.
Ultrasonic Studies of the Superconductivity of Doped Tin. II

Recent ultrasonic-attenuation studies have led to conflicting interpretations concerning the reduced anisotropy of the superconducting energy gap characteristic of impure Sn. Perz and Dobbs have concluded that the reduced anisotropy is only due to an averaging of the electron---sound-wave interaction over the Fermi surface, while we have concluded that under the specified conditions the reduced anisotropy is indeed a real measure of the superconducting properties. The two conclusions are discussed here in detail, and additional ultrasonic data are presented. Finally, comparison is made with recent thermal-conductivity measurements in impure Sn.
Extracellular Phytase (E. C. 3.1.3.8) from Aspergillus Ficuum NRRL 3135: Purification and Characterization

Extracellular phytase from Aspergillus ficuum, a glycoprotein, was purified to homogeneity in 3 column chromatographic steps using ion exchange and chromatofocusing. Results of gel filtration chromatography and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated the approximate molecular weight of the native protein to be 85-100-KDa. On the basis of a molecular weight of 85-KDa, the molar extinction coefficient of the enzyme at 280 nm was estimated to be 1.2 X 10(4) M-1 cm-1. The isoelectric point of the enzyme, as deduced by chromatofocusing, was about 4.5. The purified enzyme is remarkably stable at 0 degree C. Thermal inactivation studies have shown that the enzyme retained 40% of its activity after being subjected to 68 degrees C for 10 minutes, and the enzyme exhibited a broad temperature optimum with maximum catalytic activity at 58 degrees C. The Km of the enzyme for phytate and p-nitrophenylphosphate is about 40 uM and 265 uM, respectively, with an estimated turnover number of the enzyme for phytate of 220 per sec. Enzymatic deglycosylation of phytase by Endoglycosidase H lowered the molecular weight of native enzyme from 85-100-KDa to about 76-KDa; the digested phytase still retained some carbohydrate as judged by positive periodic acid-Schiff reagent staining of the electrophoresed protein. Immunoblotting of the phytase with monoclonal antibody 7H10 raised against purified native enzyme recognized not only native but also partially deglycosylated protein.
Binding of propylene oxide to porphyrin- and salen-M(III) cations, where M = Al, Ga, Cr, and Co.

The binding of propylene oxide (PO) to a series of metal cations LM(III)+, where for L = tetraphenylporphyrin (TPP) M = Al, Ga, Cr, and Co, and for L = (R,R)-N,N‘-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylidene)-1,2-cyclohexenediamine (salen) M = Al and Cr, was studied in the gas phase by electrospray tandem mass spectroscopy, and the relative stabilities of LM(PO)2+ and LM(PO)+ cations were determined. The chromium(III) and aluminum(III) cations most tenaciously bind PO, and for M = Al, coordination to the TPP ligated metal center was favored relative to salen. For (TPP)M(PO)2+, the dissociation of PO followed the order M = Al > Cr, but for (TPP)M(PO)+ the dissociation was M = Cr > Al. The single-crystal structural determinations on (R,R-salen)AlOCHMe(S)CH2Cl·0.5PO and (R,R-salen)AlO2CMe·1.5py grown in neat PO and pyridine, respectively, reveal five-coordinate aluminum(III) centers with the alkoxide/acetate ligands in the axial position of a square-based pyramid. These results are discussed in terms of the reactivity ...
Characterization of Crude Oil Equivalent Alkane Carbon Number (EACN) for Surfactant Flooding Design

Equivalent alkane carbon number (EACN) of crude oil reflects the hydrophobicity of the crude oils, thus it would be helpful to estimate the EACN of crude oil before fine tuning the surfactant selection for enhanced oil recovery field application. In this study, we used the titration methodology to quantify the EACN values for several crude oil samples retrieved from the targeted mature oil fields. The results showed that the method of using extended surfactant was simpler but reliable to determine the EACN of crude oils. The resulting EACN for these crude oils was found to be in the range of 6.0–11.3.
Seize the day.

THANK YOU SO much to the Selection Committee of the APA and to the colleagues who were kind enough to nominate me. It matters a great deal to me that this award comes from the APA—the organization that has been my academic home and whose members are my closest colleagues. I am truly honored to receive this award and particularly honored to be in the company of the past winners of this award, many of whom were my role models. I want to take this opportunity to thank my major mentors. So many colleagues and trainees have helped me to grow over the years that it is difficult not to name others. But there are 3 individuals whom I feel have had the greatest effect on my career. The reason I pursued an academic generalist career at all was because of the mentorship of Paul Wise, who first demonstrated to me the potential of research to directly impact health care policy. I was professionally transformed by the strength of his vision and became hooked on policy-relevant research. I then had the privilege of working with Caroline Hall, who taught me so much about the hows of research, improved my writing with scrupulous editing, and was a wonderful role model in successfully combining her artistic side (she conducted grant rounds in poetry) and her enormous talents as a scientist. My other major mentor has been Steve Berman, who in the past 20 years has allowed me to spread my wings and taught me so much about how to make research heard by those making policy. I am so grateful to these 3 and to many other colleagues who have taught me so much. Thank you also to my husband Dugan and to our 3 children, Emily, Maddy, and Lauren, for their love and support. I wanted to use my few minutes to deliver an optimistic message. Looking back over the past 25 years in which I’ve been engaged in health services research, I have seen the field slowly evolve in stature and productivity. But its scope and influence has really started to take off in recent years. I believe it is finally the moment for health services, outcomes, or, using newer terminology, translational researchers of the T3–T4 variety, to take a major role in guiding child care delivery and policy in this country. The translational researchers I’m referring to are to the right of this figure describing translation; they are involved in assessing effectiveness in real-world clinical settings
Effects of neuroleptics on rate and duration of operant versus reflexive licking in rats

Abstract Operant conditioning techniques were used to train one group of nine rats to lick a dry horizontal metal disk on a fixed ratio 15 schedule with water reinforcement delivered at a different location. Another group of seven rats licked reflexively from a water reservoir positioned with the same spatial arrangements as the metal disk. The distance the rats' rongues traversed (10 mm) to contact the licking surface was the same in both the operant and reflexive lick conditions. The effects of three neuroleptics, haloperidol (0.06, 0.12, 0.24, 1.0, 2.0 mg/kg), chlorpromazine (0.5, 1.0, 2.0 mg/kg) and clozapine (2.5, 5.0, 7.5 mg/kg) on average lick rate and median lick duration were assessed for both groups. Dose related decreases in average lick rate were observed in both groups of rats as a function of dose of each of these neuroleptics. Moreover, operant lick rates were proportionately more affected by neuroleptic treatment than were reflexive lick rates. The dose-response effect for the duration variable was different for the two lick conditions in tha reflexive lick duration was lengthened as dose increased, whereas operant lick duration was lengthened only at the lower doses of these drugs. The differential effect of these neuroleptics on operant vs. reflexive licking suggests that neuroleptics attenuate selectively those responses that require relatively more conditioning to acquire. These results may be analogous to the initiation deficit that has been suggested to account for neuroleptics' selective attenuation of avoidance, while leaving relatively intact the escape response in escape/avoidance procedures.
Hydralazine as antihypertensive therapy in obesity-related hypertension.

OBJECTIVE: The objectives were two-fold: (1) determine whether the use of hydralazine as antihypertensive therapy during obesity development exacerbated obesity-related cardioacceleration and hormonal abnormalities; (2) determine whether the absence of hypertension in obesity attenuated obesity-related abnormalities in hemodynamics, cardiac hypertrophy, and hormonal profile. DESIGN: Female New Zealand White rabbits were divided into lean control (n=12), lean hydralazine-treated (n=9), obese control (n=11), and obese hydralazine-treated (n=8) groups. Pretreatment mean blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were determined using telemetry. Pretreatment BP was maintained during 12 weeks of obesity development using hydralazine. MEASUREMENTS: Chronically measured BP and HR; plasma/blood volume; wet and dry ventricular weights; body fat/water; and hormonal profile (plasma renin activity, aldosterone, cortisol, atrial natriuretic peptide, adrenaline, and noradrenaline). RESULTS: Hydralazine treatment in obese animals attenuated obesity-related renin–angiotensin system (RAS) activation. In contrast, RAS was activated in lean hydralazine, as indicated by increased plasma aldosterone. The absence of hypertension in obese hydralazine did not result in attenuation of cardioacceleration, cardiac hypertrophy, or intravascular volumes. CONCLUSIONS: Hydralazine treatment in obese rabbits did not exacerbate obesity-related cardiovascular and hormonal alterations. Cardioacceleration and cardiac hypertrophy persisted in obese hydralazine despite BP control, suggesting hypertension-independent effects of obesity on these variables. Hydralazine's effects on RAS activation differed in lean and obese rabbits, suggesting that the systemic effects of hydralazine as a control therapy in evaluation of antihypertensive medications may differ depending on the underlying pathology.
Patterns of In-Home Care Among Elderly Black and White Americans

This study examines the use of informal and formal sources of care by elderly Black and White Americans (n = 2,847) who are functionally impaired and noninstitutionalized. The data are from the Asset and Health Dynamics Among the Oldest Old (AHEAD) study. Detailed baseline characteristics are provided and logistic regressions are used to assess the likelihood of (a) receiving in-home assistance from any source, (b) using any informal sources of in-home care, (c) using any formal sources, and (d) using formal sources of in-home care with informal sources of home care. Results of the logistic regressions indicate that, compared to Whites, Black elders were less likely to receive assistance and to use informal sources of home care.
Role of platelets in hypercholesterolemia-induced leukocyte recruitment and arteriolar dysfunction.

Objective: To define the contribution of platelets, specifically platelet-associated P-selectin, to the altered venular and arteriolar responses induced by hypercholesterolemia.Methods: Leukocyte and platelet recruitment in cremasteric venules, and endothelium-dependent relaxation (EDR) in arterioles were determined using intravital videomicroscopy. Wild-type (WT) mice were placed on a normal or high cholesterol diet. Hypercholesterolemic mice were treated with blocking antibodies against either P-selectin or PSGL-1, or were depleted of neutrophils (ANS) or platelets (APS). Bone marrow chimeras (P-selectin deficiency in platelets, but not in endothelial cells) were produced by transplanting bone marrow from P-selectin−/− into WT mice (P-sel−/−→ WT).Results: Hypercholesterolemia (HC) elicited the recruitment of adherent platelets and leukocytes in venules and an impaired EDR in arterioles. The exaggerated cell adhesion responses were absent in hypercholesterolemic mice treated with ANS, anti-P-selectin or ...
Nitrogen spatial heterogeneity influences diversity following restoration in a ponderosa pine forest, Montana.

The resource heterogeneity hypothesis (RHH) is frequently cited in the ecological literature as an important mechanism for maintaining species diversity. The RHH has rarely been evaluated in the context of restoration ecology in which a commonly cited goal is to restore diversity. In this study we focused on the spatial heterogeneity of total inorganic nitrogen (TIN) following restoration treatments in a ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa)/Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) forest in western Montana, USA. Our objective was to evaluate relationships between understory species richness and TIN heterogeneity following mechanical thinning (thin-only), prescribed burning (burn-only), and mechanical thinning with prescribed burning (thin/burn) to discern the ecological and management implications of these restoration approaches. We employed a randomized block design, with three 9-ha replicates of each treatment and an untreated control. Within each treatment, we randomly established a 20 × 50 m (1000 m2) plot in which we measured species richness across the entire plot and in 12 1-m2 quadrats randomly placed within each larger plot. Additionally, we measured TIN from a grid consisting of 112 soil samples (0–5 cm) in each plot and computed standard deviations as a measure of heterogeneity. We found a correlation between the net increase in species richness and the TIN standard deviations one and two years following restoration treatments, supporting RHH. Using nonmetric multidimensional scaling ordination and chi-squared analysis, we found that high and low TIN quadrats contained different understory communities in 2003 and 2004, further supporting RHH. A comparison of restoration treatments demonstrated that thin/burn and burn-only treatments created higher N heterogeneity relative to the control. We also found that within prescribed burn treatments, TIN heterogeneity was positively correlated with fine-fuel consumption, a variable reflecting burn severity. These findings may lead to more informed restoration decisions that consider treatment effects on understory diversity in ponderosa pine/Douglas-fir ecosystems.
The Pharmacogenomics of Vincristine-Induced Neuropathy: On Pins and Needles

Thevincaalkaloidvincristinehasbeenanessential componentof the treatmentofpediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) since combination chemotherapy first came into widespread use in the 1960s.Becausevincristinehas robust activity against both solid tumors and other malignant conditions, and because its lack of myelosuppression makes it suitable for combining at full doses with othermyelosuppressive drugs, vincristine remains one of themost widely used anticancer agents. However, the neurotoxic effects of vincristine (andothermicrotubule-targetingagents), includingboth sensory andmotorperipheral neuropathies, continue tohaveamajor impact onour ability todeliver vincristine at fully effectivedoses and dose intensities. A pharmacogenomic explanation of susceptibility to vincristine neurotoxicity would offer the potential for individualized dosing,which in turnmight improve outcomes. A number of genes implicated in various aspects of vincristine metabolism have been evaluated for an association with neurotoxic effects. One particular gene of interest is CYP3A5. Egbelakin et al1 performed CYP3A5 JAMA
The Social Determinants of Substance Abuse in African American Baby Boomers: Effects of Family, Media Images, and Environment

Grounded theory methodology was used to explore the social processes involved in the use of illicit drugs in older African Americans as an underpinning to the development of approaches to nursing care and treatment. Interviews were conducted with six older African American substance users who were currently in drug treatment programs. Responses to the questions were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using constant comparative methods. Three core themes emerged: (a) family, (b) media images, and (c) environment. The core issues of substance abuse, such as the environment and larger societal forces, cannot be addressed by one discipline and mandate that clinicians move to an interdisciplinary approach to achieve a plan of care for this growing population.
Complex Biomedical Systems: From Basic Science to Translation

The Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME) of the University of Southern California (BME@USC) has a longstanding tradition of advancing biomedicine through the development and application of novel engineering ideas. More than 80 primary and affiliated faculty members conduct cutting-edge research in a wide variety of areas, such as neuroengineering, biosystems and biosignal analysis, medical devices (including biomicroelectromechanical systems (bioMEMS) and bionanotechnology), biomechanics, bioimaging, and imaging informatics. Currently, the department hosts six internationally recognized research centers: the Biomimetic MicroElectronic Systems Engineering Research Center (funded by the National Science Foundation), the Biomedical Simulations Resource [funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH)], the Medical Ultrasonic Transducer Center (funded by NIH), the Center for Neural Engineering, the Center for Vision Science and Technology (funded by an NIH Bioengineering Research Partnership Grant), and the Center for Genomic and Phenomic Studies in Autism (funded by NIH). BME@USC ranks in the top tier of all U.S. BME departments in terms of research funding per faculty.
PPARγ: A molecular link between systemic metabolic disease and benign prostate hyperplasia

The emergent epidemic of metabolic syndrome and its complex list of sequelae mandate a more thorough understanding of benign prostatic hyperplasia and lower urinary tract symptoms (BPH/LUTS) in the context of systemic metabolic disease. Here we discuss the nature and origins of BPH, examine its role as a component of LUTS and review retrospective clinical studies that have drawn associations between BPH/LUTS and type II diabetes, inflammation and dyslipidemia. PPARγ signaling, which sits at the nexus of systemic metabolic disease and BPH/LUTS through its regulation of inflammation and insulin resistance, is proposed as a candidate for molecular manipulation in regard to BPH/LUTS. Finally, we introduce new cell and animal models that are being used to study the consequences of obesity, diabetes and inflammation on benign prostatic growth.
Power, Conflict, and Spirituality: A Qualitative Study of Faith-based Community Organizing

Organisierungsprozesse von Gemeinschaften werden meist von Gruppen mit geringer okonomischer und sozialer Macht initiiert, und in deren Verlauf kommt es zu Empowerment und zu kollektiven Aktionen. Durch diese Aktionen werden diejenigen Gruppen, die die Prozesse tragen, in die Lage versetzt, Einfluss auf gesellschaftlichen Systeme auszuuben, zumeist von Positionen auserhalb oder gegen bereits etablierte Machtverhaltnisse und Organisationsstrukturen. Insoweit sind Konflikte diesen Prozessen der Gemeinschaftsorganisation inharent. In die in diesem Beitrag vorgestellte Analyse sind ausfuhrliche Interviews mit besonders aktiven Mitgliedern von Gemeinschaften eingegangen, in deren Glaubigkeit eine wesentliche Rolle spielt. Die Auswertung zeigte vielfaltige Verbindungen zwischen den Dimensionen Macht, Konflikt und Spiritualitat. Hiervon ausgehend formulieren wir einige Hypothesen uber die Wirksamkeit von Macht und Konflikt in glaubensbasierten Organisierungsprozesse von Gemeinschaften. URN: urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs0801217
Social Networks Among Men and Women: The Effects of Age and Socioeconomic Status

Objectives. This study examines the main and interactive effects of age and socioeconomic status (SES) on social networks. Methods. Respondents are drawn from a regional stratified probability sample aged 40 to 93 years. Hierarchical regression analysis estimates the influence of age and SES on dimensions of social networks, controlling for marital status and health among men and women. Results. Among men, older age was associated with older networks. Professional men report networks that are less geographically proximal, however, occupational effects are most obvious in late life. Among women, age is associated with smaller networks that are older, less geographically proximal, and less frequently contacted. Whereas less education is associatedwithyoungernetworkmembersinmidlife,amongwomeninlaterlife,lowerlevelsofeducationarenotassociated with a younger network. Professional women report older networks composed of a higher proportion of friends than do homemakers.Higherlevelsofeducationarelinkedtolargerpersonalnetworksamongmenandwomen,butnottothenumber ofindividualsconsideredclosest.Amongwomen,higherlevelsofeducationarealsoassociatedwithlessproximalnetworks. Discussion. An examination of within-group variability reveals influences of age and SES on personal networks among men and women.
Claude Lefort: a political biography

Let me begin by noting that Claude Lefort would never have endorsed the title given to this chapter. The idea that the strictly political aspects of his life and work could be separated from the philosophical, professorial, and private richness of his life would have been abhorrent to him. From his earliest work, Lefort fundamentally challenged the positivist conception of a society seen as if from above, composed of distinct and autonomous spheres—of economic, legal, theoretical, and aesthetic authority—which are recombined in different ways by different political regimes. For the same reason, he did not consider his own life on this positivist model of separable fields of existence, as if there were only an external and accidental relation between his social, political, and cultural life. A student of Merleau-Ponty, Lefort remained a phenomenologist, whether he was writing on working-class politics, Soviet totalitarianism, or French or Renaissance history, and above all when he tried to understand the radical nature of democracy and of the democratic project.
Soliton fiber ring laser stabilization and tuning with a broad intracavity filter

The periodic perturbations to the soliton in passively mode-locked fiber soliton lasers cause dispersive wave shedding, which lead to sharp spectral sidebands that limit pulse duration. By using a broad intracavity birefringent plate filter, the side-bands are greatly reduced, and the pulse duration is shortened. The filter also allows wavelength tuning, and a 43 nm continuous tuning range is demonstrated for pulses of 311-357 is duration in a fully self-starting diode pumped system. >