cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transcriptional vs. posttranscriptional control of neuropeptide Y gene expression.

Human neuropeptide Y (NPY) gene expression occurs exclusively in the central and peripheral nervous systems requiring complex cell-specific regulation. In this study we have examined the effect of modulating the second messenger systems involving protein kinase A and protein kinase C on the expression of the NPY gene in different neuronal cell types. We report that the effects of 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and forskolin on a neuroblastoma cell line (LA-N-5) and a pheochromocytoma cell line (PC12) are mediated through both increased transcription of the NPY gene and through stabilization of NPY messenger RNA (mRNA). After 8 h of treatment TPA and forskolin increase the steady-state level of NPY mRNA 10- and 12-fold in LA-N-5 and PC12 cells, respectively. This response in neuroblastoma cells is due to an increase in the half-life of NPY mRNA. The response in PC12 cells is mediated by both increased mRNA stability and increased transcription. Transient transfection analyses using PC12 cells ...
A Portable Neutron Dose Equivalent Meter

A portable, battery-operated fast neutron monitor has been developed for use at reactors and accelerators. The instrument employs a polyethylene loaded proportional counter and reads directly in biologically equivalent units for neutrons from .1 MeV to over 15 MeV on eight scales ranging from 2 mrem per hour to 6000 mrem per hour. On the lower ranges, the input pulses are integrated for electronically determined time intervals, while on the higher ranges a ratemeter mode of operation is employed. All of the electronics, including the 1400 V power supply for the protonrecoil type detector requires only 25 milliwatts of power, permitting about 500 hours of continuous operation from a small 7 V mercury battery. Electronic voltage regulation and the use of field-effect transistors in the integrating and timing circuits provide a stability of calibration far beyond that normally associated with portable survey instruments.
Acoustruments: Passive, Acoustically-Driven, Interactive Controls for Handheld Devices

We introduce Acoustruments: low-cost, passive, and power-less mechanisms, made from plastic, that can bring rich, tangible functionality to handheld devices. Through a structured exploration, we identified an expansive vocabulary of design primitives, providing building blocks for the construction of tangible interfaces utilizing smartphones' existing audio functionality. By combining design primitives, familiar physical mechanisms can all be constructed from passive elements. On top of these, we can create end-user applications with rich, tangible interactive functionalities. Our experiments show that Acoustruments can achieve 99% accuracy with minimal training, is robust to noise, and can be rapidly prototyped. Acoustruments adds a new method to the toolbox HCI practitioners and researchers can draw upon, while introducing a cheap and passive method for adding interactive controls to consumer products.
Chemistry and provenance of detrital plagioclase

Electron-probe microanalysis for Ca, K, and Na in detrital feldspar can be used to determine the ultimate origin of plagioclase in arkosic sandstone. In volcanic rocks, K content of plagioclase increases with decreasing Ca content. The plagioclase of metamorphic rocks contains a negligible amount of K, and metamorphic plagioclase can be distinguished readily from volcanic plagioclase. Plutonic plagioclase contains an intermediate amount of K, and its compositional range overlaps in part the compositional range of both volcanic and metamorphic plagioclase. Hundreds of detrital plagioclase grains from various arkosic sandstones were analyzed for Ca, K, and Na. These detrital grains may be placed into seven provenance groups: volcanic; plutonic; metamorphic; volcanic or plutonic; volcanic or granophyre; plutonic or metamorphic; and plutonic, low-rank metamorphic or authigenic. The electron microprobe is a valuable tool for provenance study of detrital plagioclase. Microanalysis of detrital plagioclase can be used to detect provenance variations in sedimentary basins of active continental margins and might have bearing on plate-tectonics models. The electron microprobe deserves increased use by sandstone petrologists.
Identification, tissue expression and chromosomal localization of human Obscurin-MLCK, a member of the titin and Dbl families of myosin light chain kinases

Members of the Dbl family of guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) have important roles in the organization of actin-based cytoskeletal structures of a wide variety of cell types. Through the activation of members of the Rho family of GTP signaling molecules, these exchange factors elicit cytoskeletal alterations that allow cellular remodeling. As important regulators of RhoGTPase activity, members of this family are candidates for mediating the RhoGTPase activation and cytoskeletal changes that occur during cardiac development and during the myocardial response to hypertrophic stimuli. In this study, we characterize a novel human gene that is expressed in skeletal and cardiac muscle and has putative functional domains similar to those found in members of both the Dbl family of GEFs and the titin family of myosin light chain kinases (MLCK). The cDNA sequence of this gene, which has been designated Obscurin-myosin light chain kinase (Obscurin-MLCK), would be predicted to encode for at least 68 immunoglobulin domains, two fibronectin domains, one calcium/calmodulin binding domain, a RhoGTP exchange factor domain, and two serine-threonine kinase domains. The combination of the putative Rho GEF and two kinase domains has not been noted in any other members of the titin or Dbl families. Alternative splicing allows the generation of a number of unique Obscurin-MLCK isoforms that contain various combinations of the functional domains. One group of isoforms is comparable to Unc-89, a Caenorhabditis elegans sarcomere-associated protein, in that they contain a putative RhoGEF domain and multiple immunoglobulin repeats. Other isoforms more closely resemble MLCK, containing one or both of the putative carboxy-terminal serine-threonine kinase domains. The modular nature of the Obscurin-MLCK isoforms indicates that it may have an array of functions important to cardiac and skeletal muscle physiology.
A method for the uniform charged particle irradiation of large targets

Abstract A method which uses magnetic optical elements to increase the uniformity of beams used in irradiating large targets with charged particle beams is described. Among its potential uses are ion implantation, charged particle cancer therapy, radiation effects on biological systems and radiation material damage studies, and heavy ion irradiation of foils for microfilters.
COMPARISON OF IN VIVO AND IN VITRO RIBOSOMAL RNA SYNTHESIS IN NUCLEOLAR MUTANTS OF XENOPUS LAEVIS

Cells of embryos carrying a lethal nucleolar mutation have been maintained in vitro for extended periods of time. Normally these mutants live only 9 to 12 days after fertilization but their cells in culture will survive for more than 3 months. The extent of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) synthesis was determined in primary cultures prepared from normal embryos and nucleolar mutants having different numbers of ribosomal RNA genes. We found that the accumulation of radioactivity into rRNA for normal and mutant embryos was similar in vivo and in vitro. In primary cultures of normal embryos which have two nucleoli per cell and mutant embryos which have only one nucleolus per cell, the incorporation of radio-activity into rRNA was similar even though the normal cells have twice as many rRNA genes. Thus the mechanism which regulates dosage compensation of the rRNA genes operates both in vivo and in vitro.
Effect of wire size on the formation of intermetallics and Kirkendall voids on thermal aging of thermosonic wire bonds

Abstract Thermosonic bonding process is a viable method to make reliable interconnections between die bond pads and leads using thin gold and copper wires. This paper investigates interface morphology and metallurgical behavior of the bond formed between wire and bond pad metallization for different design and process conditions such as varying wire size and thermal aging periods. Under thermal aging, the fine pitch gold wire ball bonds (0.6- and 0.8-mil-diameter wires) show formation of Kirkendall voids apart from intermetallic compound growth. With 1- and 2-mil-diameter gold wire bonds, the void growth is less significant and reveals fine voids. Studies also showed that void formation is absent in the case of thicker 3-mil wire bonds. Similar tests on copper ball bonds show good diffusional bonding without any intermetallic phase formation (or with considerable slow growth) as well as no voids on the microscopic scale and thus promises to be a better design alternative for elevated temperature conditions.
A transmission electron microscope (TEM) calibration standard sample for all magnification, camera constant, and image/diffraction pattern rotation calibrations

A calibration sample for transmission electron microscopy (TEM) has been developed that performs the three major instrument calibrations for a transmission electron microscope: the image magnification calibration for measurements of images, the camera constant calibration for indexing diffraction patterns, and the image/diffraction pattern rotation calibration for relating crystal directions to features in the image. This offers an improvement over commercially available calibration standards, where up to five different samples are required to perform these three calibrations. The new calibration sample consists of an electron-transparent cross-sectional TEM sample made from a molecular beam epitaxy (MBE)-grown, single-crystal semiconductor wafer. When the calibration structure is viewed in a TEM, it appears as a series of light and dark layers where the layer thicknesses are very accurately known. The calibrated thickness measurements of these light (silicon) and dark (SiGe alloy) layers are based on careful TEM measurements of the {111} lattice spacing of silicon which is visible on the calibration sample itself, and are supported by X-ray diffraction measurements. Furthermore, the layer thickness variation across the entire silicon wafer has been verified to be less than 1%, allowing all samples prepared from the same wafer to have errors in the given layer thickness values of less than 1%. As the sample is a single crystal of silicon, the calibrations requiring electron diffraction information such as the camera constant calibration and the image/diffraction pattern rotation calibration can also be performed easily and unambiguously. One single calibration sample can therefore be used to provide all three of the major TEM instrument calibrations at all magnifications and all camera lengths. © 1995 Government of Canada.
Can I pass?: using affordances to measure perceived size in virtual environments

Perception of an accurate sense of the scale depicted in computer graphics is important for many applications. How to best characterize the accuracy of space perception in computer graphics is a question that does not have a simple answer. This paper describes the use of perceived affordances as a way of measuring the perceptual fidelity of virtual environments with respect to how well they convey information about geometric scale. The methodology involves a verbal indication that a particular action can or cannot be performed in a viewed environment. By varying the spatial structure of the environment, these affordance judgments can be used to probe how accurately viewers are able to perceive action-relevant spatial information. The result is a measure relevant to action, less subject to bias than verbal reports of more primitive properties such as size or distance, and applicable to non-virtual-environment display systems in which the actual action cannot be performed. We demonstrate the approach in an experiment comparing one type of affordance judgment, perceived passability, with judgments of size and distance in matched real world and virtual world environments.
ROENTGENOLOGIC AND CLINICAL EVALUATION OF ENDODONTICALLY TREATED TEETH.

Abstract 1. 1. Four hundred thirty-two endodontically treated teeth have been evaluated by roentgenogram from 1 year to nearly 5 years postoperatively. 2. 2. Of this number, there were 198 cases of vital pulp extirpation and 234 teeth in which the pulp had died and the root canal was infected. 3. 3. Of the vital pulp extirpation cases, 90.4 per cent were considered successful on x-ray checkup. 4. 4. Of the pulpless teeth, 89.3 per cent were successful, including those with small preoperative areas of rarefaction as well as those without such areas (putrescent pulp cases). 5. 5. Of 98 teeth with definitive areas of rarefaction, complete or progressive repair occurred in 85.7 per cent. The degree of repair was not altogether related to the size of the area in this series of cases. 6. 6. The percentage of successful results is higher in teeth treated with antibiotics (93.2 per cent) than in those treated with conventional medicaments (86.8 per cent). This may be due to lack of irritation from the antibiotics used. 7. 7. Of 94 cases in which root resection was performed, progressive or complete repair occurred in 95.8 per cent. These cases are in addition to the root canal treatment cases. 8. 8. There appears to be a direct relationship between age and repair of periapical damage, the greater percentage of repair occurring in the younger age group. 9. 9. Poorly filled root canals accounted for a large percentage of failures.
Physiological properties of the heart and cardiac ganglion of Limulus polyphemus.

Abstract 1. 1. The spontaneous electrical activity in the myocardial cells of Limulus polyphemus consists of an initial depolarization caused by the summation of junction potentials (j.p.s) and a subsequent sustained depolarization from a tetanic volley of j.p.s The resemblance to the vertebrate action potential is purely superficial. 2. 2. Each myocardial cell is innervated by at least six motor axons, three from its own and three from an adjacent segmental nerve, with the probability of many others from more distant segmental nerves. 3. 3. Stimulation of a motor axon within a segmental branch nerve results in a j.p. in a corresponding segmental muscle fiber and always evokes a contractile response. 4. 4. Glutamate in low concentrations (10−6 M) causes contraction in a deganglionated heart. In a spontaneously beating heart, higher concentrations (10−4 M) increase the myocardial tone but decrease the strength of the beat pulsations. 5. 5. GABA in concentrations of 10−4 M appears to mimic stimulation of the cardio-inhibitory nerves in every way. It decreases (a) frequency of the bursts of the ganglionic discharge, (b) the length of the discharge and (c) the number of units firing in a discharge. GABA has no effect on the electrical or mechanical activity of the cardiac neuromuscular system.
The load-bearing area in the knee joint.

Measurements were made of the location and size of the contact areas in cadaver knee joints, for a load of 150 Kgf applied for 5 sec down the long axis of the tibia. Results were obtained from a total of 4 knees, considering flexion angles from 0 to 120°. The methods used were to measure directly from castings of the joint cavity; and to calculate from measurements of radii of curvature and joint deflection. Average contact areas for lateral and medial condyles were 1·4 and 1·8 cm2 respectively. Areas for the medial condyle were greater than for the lateral condyle and also the areas diminished as flexion angle increased. The implications of the results to contact stresses, joint lubrication and ‘condylar replacement’ knee prosthesis design were discussed.
Microwave thickness measurement of lossy layered dielectric slabs using incoherent reflectivity

Radiative transfer theory is used to calculate the incoherent effective reflectivity (Γe) for a multilayer lossy dielectric medium backed by a conducting plate. The theoretical results of this formulation are compared with that of the coherent approach. Several test cases are presented to show the characteristics of Γe as a function of thickness, and dielectric constant of the dielectric layers, and frequency. The results can ultimately be used in nondestructive dielectric thickness measurement.
Institutional mistrust in the organization of pharmaceutical clinical trials.

In this paper I explore the politics of trust in the clinical testing of pharmaceuticals in the US. Specifically, I analyze trust in terms of its institutional manifestations in the pharmaceutical clinical trials industry. In the process of testing new drugs, pharmaceutical companies must (1) protect their proprietary information from the clinicians who conduct their studies, and (2) find a way to ensure human subjects’ compliance to study protocols. Concern with these two critical issues leads drug companies to approach clinicians and research subjects with an attitude of mistrust and the desire to exert control over their activities. This orientation results in an institutionalization of mistrust that structures the relationships and activities required for the clinical development of new pharmaceutical products.
Sexuality, intimacy and subjectivity in social psychoanalytic thought of the 1920s and 1930s

Homosexuality has been one of the most contested issues in the history of social psychoanalysis. To better understand the issue's medical and social significance, we need a micro-historical analysis illuminating doctor-patient interactions in changing historical contexts. This paper sheds light on the clinical practice of the well-known founder of interpersonal theory, Harry Stack Sullivan (1892–1949), with a focus on four patients: two from the 1920s and two from the 1930s. During these decades, many psychiatrists, including neo-Freudians like Sullivan, considered homosexuality a mental illness. But Sullivan himself was a gay man, and he attempted to create efficacious therapeutic relationships amid a generally homophobic medicine. This comported with his effort to create professional coalitions with social psychologists and sociologists. In both clinical and non-clinical settings, he tried to find solutions to individual problems by redefining a limiting socio-cultural environment of therapy. Ambitious as this plan was, his patients' response to his approach varied from cautious cooperation to apparent rejection, as his actions became more immersed in the ambiguous realm of sexual subjectivity. In examining this change, I raise the question of what constituted ethically sound, professionally acceptable behaviours and efficacious therapeutic relationships, particularly in the historical context of the emerging collaboration between psychoanalysis and social psychology. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Stabile cyclische Carbene und verwandte Spezies jenseits der Diaminocarbene

Der Erfolg der homogenen Katalyse kann hauptsachlich der Entwicklung einer breiten Palette von Ligandengerusten zugeschrieben werden, die vielfach genutzt wurden, um das Verhalten von Katalysatorsystemen gezielt abzustimmen. Spektakulare Ergebnisse auf diesem Gebiet wurden mit cyclischen Diaminocarbenen, den so genannten N-heterocyclischen Carbenen (NHCs), erzielt, die sich vor allem durch ihr starkes σ-Donorverhalten auszeichnen. Obwohl sich die Strukturen der NHCs recht einfach modifizieren lassen, erreichen sie bei weitem nicht die Vielfalt etwa der Phosphorliganden. Auch eine grose Zahl an stabilen acyclischen Carbenen ist bekannt, diese koordinieren aber entweder nur schlecht an Metalle oder fuhren zur Bildung sehr empfindlicher Metallkomplexe. In den letzten funf Jahren wurden neue Arten stabiler Carbene und verwandter C-Liganden entwickelt – bei denen es sich nicht um NHCs handelt –, die noch starkere σ-Donoreigenschaften aufweisen. In diesem Aufsatz beschreiben wir die Synthese, die Charakterisierung, die Stabilitat, die elektronischen Eigenschaften, das Koordinationsverhalten und die katalytische Aktivitat der daraus hergestellten Komplexe und stellen Vergleiche mit verwandten NHC-Spezies an.
Quantification of B0 homogeneity variation with head pitch by registered three-dimensional field mapping

Abstract In this study, we quantify the extent to which B 0 homogeneity in adult humans is dependent on head pitch relative to the B 0 vector. Three-dimensional, whole-brain B 0 field maps were acquired in five normal subjects for three generalized head pitch angles. Optimal first- and second-order shimming of the experimental B 0 maps were simulated numerically. The spatial B 0 distribution within the brain was analyzed following automated volumetric co-registration of all data. Increasing head pitch improves both the resonance offset and local homogeneity in the inferior frontal lobes, but introduces inhomogeneities in other regions of the brain which cannot be compensated by first-order shimming but are further improved by second-order shimming.
Elastic electron fine structure: First principle calculation

Abstract A first principle electron multiple scattering calculation is carried out for a two atom system to obtain total elastic scattering intensity as a function of energy. The total elastic electron scattering intensity from an amorphous material (Si) is calculated by averaging that from two atom systems. An excellent match is obtained between the calculated and experimental result. The calculation supports our interpretation of the fine structure found in the elastically reflected electron intensity and provides the theoretical foundation for the practical application of the technique in surface and interface studies.
Charge transfer in the lightning stroke as determined by the magnetograph

Abstract Records of the Tucson Magnetic Observatory were analyzed for the summer period of 1960. Sixteen stroke responses were found for which location data were available. The magnetometer reacts to a lightning stroke as a ballistic instrument so that the maximum deflection is proportional to charge. The average charge transferred was found to be between 143 and 256 coulombs. This charge magnitude is in agreement with previous ballistic measurements, but much larger than the generally accepted value of 20–30 coulombs. The lack of sensitivity of other methods to the smaller persistent current in many strokes may account for the discrepancy.
An unusual distribution of the niacin receptor in cattle

Responses to pharmacological doses of niacin, an agonist for GPR109A (niacin receptor), were different in cattle than in humans and rodents. Thus, the tissue distribution of GPR109A was investigated in cattle. Samples of tail head fat, back fat, perirenal fat, longissimus muscle, and liver were analyzed for abundance of GPR109A mRNA by quantitative real-time reverse transcription-PCR and for abundance of GPR109A protein by Western blotting. Niacin receptor transcript and protein were detected in all tissues analyzed. The mRNA for GPR109A was more abundant in liver than in the other tissues sampled (GPR109A:RPS9 mRNA abundance = 0.56 in liver compared with 0.06 in longissimus muscle, 0.15 in kidney fat, 0.11 in back fat, 0.23 in tail head fat; standard error of the mean = 0.028). Additionally, mRNA for GPR109A was found (GPR109A:RPS9 mRNA abundance ≥ 0.004) in each of the 5 regions of bovine brain that were analyzed: cerebral cortex, cerebellum, thalamus, hypothalamus, and brain stem. Evaluation of liver tissue by immunofluorescence suggested that GPR109A was expressed in parenchymal cells and not localized exclusively to immune-system cells. Finally, analysis of the putative bovine GPR109A sequence verified that AA residues required for binding niacin in human GPR109A are conserved, suggesting that the bovine sequence identified encodes a functional niacin receptor. The identification of GPR109A in bovine liver, muscle, and brain is a novel finding.
Narrow Bipolar Events as indicators of thunderstorm convective strength

[1] Narrow Bipolar Events (NBEs) are impulsive in-cloud lightning discharges that are commonly detected by both ground-based and satellite-based radio-frequency sensors. In this paper, NBE flash rates are shown to be statistically correlated to cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning flash rates as recorded by an array of electric-field-change sensors located in Florida. In addition, NBE source heights are found to generally increase with increasing NBE flash rates. The inference is that NBE flash rates and source heights are generally driven by the intensity/strength of the convective updraft in thunderstorms. As a consequence, NBEs represent a meteorologically important type of lightning and provide an excellent target of opportunity for future satellite-based very high frequency (VHF) global lightning monitors.
Effect of catalytic aging reactions on mechanical and solubility properties of films derived from neopentyl adipate polyesters and toluene diisocyanate

Although the necessary conditions are known for formation of tough films from polyurethane intermediates, the chemistry is too complex to allow certain predictions of how variances in the polymerization process effect molecular structure and polymer properties. This research examined the hope that a correlated study of solubility and mechanical behaviors might show the effect of different catalysts and environments on crosslinking or other structural features which can modify film quality. Films (0.01 in. thick) were cast on mercury of intermediates derived from reaction in solvent of 2 moles of diisocyanate per mole of hydroxyl terminated polyesters, catalysts like N-methylmorpholine, methyldiethanolamine, and cobalt and/or lead ions being used to promote film-forming reactions. The films, when dry, were aged at different levels of temperature and humidity. The solubility behavior was rated by measuring swelling ratios, rates of extraction, and intrinsic viscosity of extracts. Mechanical properties were rated by measuring tensile and stress relaxation behavior. The stress-induced microstructure and fracture process were observed microscopically in a few typical specimens. The data support the theory that hydrogen bonding provides a strong crosslinking mechanism which dominates even the effects of moderate covalent crosslinking. Polymers derived from the same intermediates show very similar mechanical properties, even though significant differences in solubility properties suggest variances in other details of molecular structure.
Co-occurring weight problems among children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder: the role of executive functioning

Co-occurring weight problems among children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder: the role of executive functioning
Instrumenting Bitstreams for Debugging FPGA Circuits

Since FPGAs are frequently used to improve the time to market for products, shortening the time for validating and debugging FPGA designs is, thus, important. Our paper discusses how directly instrumenting FPGA programming data, or bitstreams, with debugging hardware can improve the debugging productivity for designers and, thus, reduce a designs time to market. We also provide some background relating to the current state of the art in debugging FPGA designs and describe how bitstream instrumentation can be automated using JHDL, JBits and JRoute. When instrumenting designs with embedded logic analyzers at the bitstream level, we have witnessed design modification speed-ups ranging from about 6 to 19 times over more conventional techniques. We will also briefly mention other applications of bitstream modification in debugging FPGA designs.
Is unrecognized anaphylaxis a cause of sudden unexpected death

Summary Background: Serum tryptase levels reflect mast cell activation and correlate with anaphylactic reactions. Elevated post-mortem serum tryptase levels have been found in witnessed fatal anaphylaxis. Objective: This study was designed to examine whether or not unwitnessed anaphylaxis may be a hitherto unrecognized cause of sudden unexplained death. Methods: Mast cell tryptase was measured by immunoassay in 68 post-mortem sera remaining from a previous study which reported elevated venom-specific IgE antibodies in 22 (23%) of 94 victims of sudden unexpected death. Autopsies were performed in all cases. The cause of death was independently reported by pathologists unfamiliar with the nature of this study. Results: Serum tryptase levels were elevated (> 10ng/mL) in nine of 68 cases. The levels could not be predicted from the clinical circumstances surrounding death. Sera from four individuals contained both elevated tryptase and previously reported elevated venom-specific IgE. Conlusions: We conclude that mast cell activation may accompany up to 13% of sudden unexpected deaths in adults. Measurement of both tryptase and specific IgE antibody levels in post-mortem sera from persons experiencing sudden, unexpected death may identify a small subset of cases due to clinically unrecognized fatal anaphylaxis, including those due to insect stings.
Morphology of poly(phthalocyaninatogermoxane) crystals

The morphology of fully and partially polymerized poly(phthalocyaninatogermoxane), [Ge(Pc)O]n, crystals was studied by both scanning and transmission electron microscopy. It was found that the morphological units are lath-like crystals which aggregate into particles. Generally speaking, the thickness, width, and length of the laths are in the range of 1000–2000 A, 2000–10,000 A, and 1–5 μm, respectively. Each lath may possess a mosaic substructure. Selected-area electron diffraction patterns indicate that the rigid, extended [Ge(Pc)O]n chains are parallel to the large surface of the lath, and in most crystals the chains lie parallel to the lengthwise direction of the lath. However, in several cases, the chain orientation is at an angle of about 60° with respect to the long edge of the lath. The electron diffraction results are in accord with a tetragonal crystal structure (P4/m).
PERFORMANCE OF THIN FILM FERROELECTRICS WITH DOPANT-ION CHARGES

ABSTRACT This paper studied the effect of dopant-ion charges on the performance of thin film ferroelectrics. Field distributions and capacitance of ferroelectric thin films with different dopant-ion charge densities are analyzed. The non-linearity of the electric field inside the thin film increases with the dopant-ion charge density and decreases with the linear permittivity of the ferroelectric thin film. Once the applied voltage is strong enough, the field distribution will become linear. The FE thin film peak capacitance reduces with the dopant-ion charge density and the total area under the C-V curve between two large voltages with opposite signs is fixed.
Expressing exogenous functional odorant receptors in cultured olfactory sensory neurons

Background: Olfactory discrimination depends on the large numbers of odorant receptor genes and differential ligand-receptor signaling among neurons expressing different receptors. In this study, we describe an in vitro system that enables the expression of exogenous odorant receptors in cultured olfactory sensory neurons. Olfactory sensory neurons in the culture express characteristic signaling molecules and, therefore, provide a system to study receptor function within its intrinsic cellular environment. Results: We demonstrate that cultured olfactory sensory neurons express endogenous odorant receptors. Lentiviral vector-mediated gene transfer enables successful ectopic expression of odorant receptors. We show that the ectopically expressed mouse I7 is functional in the cultured olfactory sensory neurons. When two different odorant receptors are ectopically expressed simultaneously, both receptor proteins co-localized in the same olfactory sensory neurons up to 10 days in vitro. Conclusion: This culture technique provided an efficient method to culture olfactory sensory neurons whose morphology, molecular characteristics and maturation progression resembled those observed in vivo. Using this system, regulation of odorant receptor expression and its ligand specificity can be studied in its intrinsic cellular environment.
Behavioral Therapies for Substance Abuse

The authors review more than two decades of research in the use of behavioral interventions for the treatment of drug and alcohol abuse. This survey covers major areas of research activity, including the use of aversive stimuli (chemical, electrical, and covert), skills training, contingency management, extinction/desensitization, and combined behavioral treatments. The reviewers conclude that while many of these treatment interventions hold promise, few have been fully explored with the use of properly controlled group studies. Suggestions are offered which may facilitate research and aid in the evaluation of behavioral interventions for substance abuse.
Grapevine: a gossip generation system

Generating believable and contextual dialogue among non-player-characters (NPC) remains one of the major challenges in interactive entertainment. Dialogue scenes in virtual environments are crucial to narrative progression and user believability, yet they continue to demand heavy authorial burden. In this paper, we describe our project Grapevine, a system for generating gossip-style conversation. We model the gossip conversation with a series of speech-acts controlled by a dialogue manager. We model characters with traits derived from the Big Five theory of personality. Grapevine also maintains an independent belief matrix, allowing for modeling of phenomena such as dishonesty, misunderstanding and bias. The dialogue manager decisions are a function of both narrative progression and personality traits. Surface text realization is achieved using RealPro, an off-the-shelf realizer (Lavoie & Rambow, 1997) and stylistically enhanced with the PERSONAGE generator (Mairesse & Walker, 2007). We demonstrate the current performance of the system with sample output of a three character series of gossip dialogues and discuss results of our 50 person validation survey.
Familial dysautonomia (Riley–Day syndrome): When baroreceptor feedback fails

Abstract Familial dysautonomia (FD) is a rare hereditary disorder caused by mutations within the gene that encodes for I-κ-B kinase complex associated protein (IKAP). A deficiency of IKAP affects the development of primary sensory neurons including those carrying baroreflex afferent volleys, a feature that explains their characteristic sensory loss and labile blood pressure. This review describes the history, the genotype of FD and the unusual cardiovascular autonomic phenotype of these patients. We outline the main consequences of a failure to receive information from arterial baroreceptors, including the characteristic “autonomic storms” and severe end-organ target damage.
The Nevis Synchrocyclotron Conversion Project

The status of the Columbia University Nevis Synchrocyclotron modification program is presented. The machine will be converted to a three-fold symmetry spiral sector focussing AVF synchrocyclotron, having a long duty factor 550 MeV external proton beam. The time average external beam intensity is expected to be between 5 ?A and 40 ?A. The reasons leading to the particular approach of this conversion program are given.
The Mechanisms of Cerebral Vascular Dysfunction and Neuroinflammation by MMP-Mediated Degradation of VEGFR-2 in Alcohol Ingestion

Objective— Blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction caused by activation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) is a pathological feature in vascular/neurological disease. We describe the mechanisms of BBB dysfunction and neuroinflammation as a result of MMP-3/9 activation and disruption of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A/VEGFR-2 interaction, impairing effective angiogenesis. Methods and Results— We investigate the hypothesis in human brain endothelial cells and animal model of chronic alcohol ingestion. Proteome array analysis, zymography, immunofluorescence, and Western blotting techniques detected the activation, expression, and levels of MMP-3 and MMP-9. We found that degradation of VEGFR-2 and BBB proteins, for example, occludin, claudin-5, and ZO-1 by MMP-3/9, causes rupture of capillary endothelium and BBB leakiness. Impairment of BBB integrity was demonstrated by increased permeability of dye tracers and Fluo-3/calcein-AM–labeled monocyte adhesion or infiltration and decrease in transendothelial electric resistance. Alcohol-induced degradation of endothelial VEGFR-2 by MMP-3/9 led to a subsequent elevation of cellular/serum VEGF-A level. The decrease in VEGFR-2 with subsequent increase in VEGF-A level led to apoptosis and neuroinflammation via the activation of caspase-1 and IL-1β release. The use of MMPs, VEGFR-2, and caspase-1 inhibitors helped to dissect the underlying mechanisms. Conclusion— Alcohol-induced MMPs activation is a key mechanism for dysfunction of BBB via degradation of VEGFR-2 protein and activation of caspase-1 or IL-1β release. Targeting VEGF-induced MMP-3/9 activation can be a novel preventive approach to vascular inflammatory disease in alcohol abuse.
Biblical Framings of and Responses to Spousal Violence in the Narratives of Abused Christian Women

Through narrative, the authors examine the coping activities of three Christian women to learn how they used religion to organize actions intended to end spouse abuse. Findings suggest an apparent creative attempt to stop violation. Respondents formed coping strategies from biblical archetypes that resembled their oppression and clued a method to its end. However, their responses encouraged ownership of spousal change and impeded removal of violation. Given these confines, the authors address why religion became an important resource. A discussion on legal and cultural views surrounding abused women's responses and the contextual factors that limit but do not preclude acts of subversion is given.
Growth Characteristics of Pseudomonas fluorescens on Ovalbumin Substrates

Abstract INTRODUCTION ALTHOUGH quality loss of market eggs is due mainly to the natural aging of the egg contents, bacterial spoilage is also of great importance. Witter (1961) reported that among psychrophiles, organisms of the genus Pseudomonas are most frequently encountered in the spoilage of eggs. Several papers have appeared concerning the mechanisms by which bacteria penetrate the shell and membranes of the egg. Garibaldi and Stokes (1958) suggested that the egg shell, free from membrane material, cannot restrain the passage of bacteria when the latter are filtered through the shell. However, a combination of outer and inner membranes restrains all of the bacteria from aqueous suspensions containing as many as 20 million bacteria per ml. Florian and Trussel (1957) reported the inner shell membrane to be the principal barrier to bacterial penetration. Recent observations by Brown et al. (1965) suggests that an enzymatic degradation of the membranes is actively involved in . . .
Microwave excitation of phonons in superconductors

Abstract It is shown that the force exerted by an applied electromagnetic field on the ions in a dirty superconductor is reduced from that of the clean case by the ratio of the electron mean free path to the Pippard coherence length.
Axis-of-motion affects direction discrimination, not speed discrimination

The motion of an object can be described by a single velocity vector, or equivalently, by direction and speed separately. Similarly, our ability to see subtle differences in the motion of two objects could be constrained by either a velocity-based sensory response, or separate sensory responses to direction and speed. To distinguish between these possibilities we investigated whether direction discrimination and speed discrimination were differentially affected by changes in the axis-of-motion. Psychophysical data from 12 naive observers indicated that direction discrimination depended on axis-of-motion, but speed discrimination did not. The difference suggests that a velocity-based sensory response is not the limiting factor on the two tasks. Instead, the results imply that the sensory response which constrains speed discrimination is at least partially independent from the sensory response which constrains direction discrimination.
Refractory ventricular tachycardia complicating recovery from acute myocardial infarction: Treatment with map-guided infarctectomy

Recurrent ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF) complicating recovery from acute myocardial infarction (MI) present a formidable problem. When vigorous medical therapy with antiarrhythmic drugs, overdrive pacing, and the use of pharmacologic agents designed to reduce ischemia and improve left ventricular (LV) function fail to control ventricular arrhythmias, most of the patients die in the hospital or shortly following discharge.l A more radical mode of therapy in this very high-risk group of patients has used infarctectomy with or without myocardial revascularization.2-6 In the present study, the technique of guided endocardial excision,7p* in addition to infarct resection, was used as an urgent intervention in 10 clinically unstable patients, whose recovery from acute MI was complicated by poor LV function and recurrent VT refractory to medical therapy. This report describes our clinical, electrophysiologic, and angiographic findings and the postoperative followup in this group of 10 patients.
Dicer Cooperates with p53 to Suppress DNA Damage and Skin Carcinogenesis in Mice

Dicer is required for the maturation of microRNA, and loss of Dicer and miRNA processing has been found to alter numerous biological events during embryogenesis, including the development of mammalian skin and hair. We have previously examined the role of miRNA biogenesis in mouse embryonic fibroblasts and found that deletion of Dicer induces cell senescence regulated, in part, by the p53 tumor suppressor. Although Dicer and miRNA molecules are thought to have either oncogenic or tumor suppressing roles in various types of cancer, a role for Dicer and miRNAs in skin carcinogenesis has not been established. Here we show that perinatal ablation of Dicer in the skin of mice leads to loss of fur in adult mice, increased epidermal cell proliferation and apoptosis, and the accumulation of widespread DNA damage in epidermal cells. Co-ablation of Dicer and p53 did not alter the timing or extent of fur loss, but greatly reduced survival of Dicer-skin ablated mice, as these mice developed multiple and highly aggressive skin carcinomas. Our results describe a new mouse model for spontaneous basal and squamous cell tumorigenesis. Furthermore, our findings reveal that loss of Dicer in the epidermis induces extensive DNA damage, activation of the DNA damage response and p53-dependent apoptosis, and that Dicer and p53 cooperate to suppress mammalian skin carcinogenesis.
Laboratory simulation of inferior and superior mirages

A small scene, viewed over a heated plate, exhibits many of the typical inferior-mirage effects. As the viewing point is lowered, a mirage lake appears, and a vanishing line rises on the scene, showing objects apparently reflected in a rising surface of water. Several kinds of superior mirages are simulated by viewing objects through a water tank containing fresh water layered over salt water. The system simulates towering, stooping, various forms of the Fata Morgana, and the three-part mirage.
Social‐psychological Contributions to Peacemaking and Peacebuilding in the Middle East

On presente ici un programme de recherche-action consacrea la resolution des problemes d'interaction, ainsi que son application au conflit israelopalestinien. Dans cet article sont resumes les presupposes sociopsychologiques sous-tendant cette approche: (1) le moment ou, dans le processus d'interaction sociale des conflits internationaux l'individu devient l'unite d'analyse pertinente; (2) la dimension intergroupe du conflit international et sa solution: (3) le conflit en tant que processus pourvu d'une dynamique croissante auto-entretenue; (4) la necessite de faire appel a un large eventail de processus d'influence dans les relations internationales conflictuelles; et (5) le conflit comme phenomene dynamique marque par l'existence et la possibilite du changement. Dans la description de la methode d'intervention, on met l'accent sur les ateliers de resolution de problemes qui accueillaient des Israeliens et des Palestiniens politiquement influents. Puis on analyse les developpements recents, la contribution des ateliers a la percee de septembre 1993 dans les negociations israelo-palestinienne et enfin les contributions potentielles de ce travail a l'elaboration de la paix. An action research programme devoted to the development of interactive problem solving–an unofficial third-party approach to resolution of international and intercommunal conflicts–and its application to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are described. The article summarises the socialpsychological assumptions underlying the approach, referring to (1) the point in the societal and intersocietal process of international conflict at which the individual is the appropriate unit of analysis; (2) the intersocietal character of international conflict and its resolution; (3) conflict as an interactive process with an escalatory, self-perpetuating dynamic; (4) the need to use a wide range of influence processes in international conflict relationships; and (5) conflict as a dynamic phenomenon, marked by the occurrence and possibility of change. Next, the intervention methodology is described, focusing on the problemsolving workshops with politically influential Israelis and Palestinians that the author and his colleagues have been organising. Recent developments in the work are then presented, including a continuing workshop that met from 1990–93, and a current joint working group on the final-status political issues in the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. The article concludes with an analysis of the contributions that these and other unofficial efforts have made to the breakthrough in Israeli-Palestinian negotiations of September 1993, and of the potential contributions of this work to the peacebuilding that must accompany and follow the peacemaking process.
Proposed structures and models for polymers crystallized in bulk

Since many publications have been concerned with polymers which have been crystalized in single crystals where chain-folding represents the only way for explaining the arrangement of the long chain molecules, there are appearing increasingly more publications referring to chain-folding also on polymers crystallized in bulk. Assuming that a polymer molecule is randomly coiled whether in solution or in bulk where actually sister molecules represent the “solvent,” then on crystallization of polymers in bulk, like chain sections will aggregate whether belonging to the same molecule or to a nearby sister molecule. In the latter case, regular chain-folding should be very unlikely to occur. Using woolen yarn as a model substance which simulates both covalent and van der Waals binding forces (the latter by means of the fuzzy fibers), it is illustrated how bulk crystallization may be nicely imitated by parallel combing of randomly arranged yarn. This concept is also applied to explain changes in long-period as occurring on annealing and the formation of macrostructures, mainly spherulites.