cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Neurophenomenology and genetic epistemology as a basis for the study of consciousness

Abstract Analysis of the nature of consciousness and its relationship to epistemology establishes the need for a neurophenom-enological approach which provides an integrated basis from which to examine the biological and experiential aspects of consciousness. Epistemological, ontological, metaphysical, and methodological aspects of a neurophe-nomenological approach to the study of consciousness are addressed. Linguistic analysis shows that consciousness refers to a semantic domain ranging from biologically based abilities to culturally derived awarenesses and interactional potentials, reference, learning, and experience. Consciousness derives from physical, personal, social, and mental awarenesses and activities which provide the basis for the knower's relationships with and understandings of the environment. Consciousness and epistemology are both fundamentally concerned with the nature of human knowing. The ontology of consciousness resides in the epistemic structures mediating interaction between knower and known. Piaget's genetic epistemology and his perspectives on consciousness provide guidelines for a neurophe-nomenological study of consciousness. The study of both epistemology and consciousness require a linkage of neurological studies of brain function with phenomenological studies of contemplative practices and altered states of consciousness. Some neuroepistemological correlates of different consciousness conditions are briefly reviewed to illustrate the utility and necessity of this approach.
Inhibition of the Na+/H+ Exchanger Delays the Development of Rapid Pacing–Induced Atrial Contractile Dysfunction

Background—Atrial mechanical stunning due to atrial fibrillation may persist after restoration of sinus rhythm. Although the mechanism of rapid rate–related contractile dysfunction remains unknown, ischemia, pH changes, and calcium overload have been postulated as potential mechanisms. We hypothesized that blockade of the Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE) would alter atrial contractile dysfunction from rapid rates. Methods and Results—Twenty-three anesthetized dogs were studied and subjected to 5 hours of rapid right atrial pacing. Ten received an inhibitor of the NHE, 10 received saline, and 3 received nifedipine. All animals underwent placement of 2 sonomicrometers on the left atrium, transesophageal echocardiography, and invasive hemodynamic monitoring. All measurements were made in sinus rhythm. Except for baseline and postdrug measurements, reduction in left atrial fractional shortening was significantly less at all time points in the NHEI group than in the control and nifedipine groups (P=0.05). The percent ch...
The role of the synthetic enzyme GAD65 in the control of neuronal γ-aminobutyric acid release

We have studied GABAergic synaptic transmission in retinal ganglion cells and hippocampal pyramidal cells to determine, at a cellular level, what is the effect of the targeted disruption of the gene encoding the synthetic enzyme GAD65 on the synaptic release of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Neither the size nor the frequency of GABA-mediated spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs) were reduced in retina or hippocampus in GAD65−/− mice. However, the release of GABA during sustained synaptic activation was substantially reduced. In the retina both electrical- and K+-induced increases in IPSC frequency were depressed without a change in IPSC amplitude. In the hippocampus the transient increase in the probability of inhibitory transmitter release associated with posttetanic potentiation was absent in the GAD65−/− mice. These results indicate that during and immediately after sustained stimulation the increase in the probability of transmitter release is not maintained in GAD65−/− mice. Such a finding suggests a decrease in the size or refilling kinetics of the releasable pool of vesicles, and various mechanisms are discussed that could account for such a defect.
Auditory Training with Spectrally Shifted Speech: Implications for Cochlear Implant Patient Auditory Rehabilitation

After implantation, postlingually deafened cochlear implant (CI) patients must adapt to both spectrally reduced and spectrally shifted speech, due to the limited number of electrodes and the limited length of the electrode array. This adaptation generally occurs during the first three to six months of implant use and may continue for many years. To see whether moderate speech training can accelerate this learning process, 16 naive, normal-hearing listeners were trained with spectrally shifted speech via an eight-channel acoustic simulation of CI speech processing. Baseline vowel and consonant recognition was measured for both spectrally shifted and unshifted speech. Short daily training sessions were conducted over five consecutive days, using four different protocols. For the test-only protocol, no improvement was seen over the five-day period. Similarly, sentence training provided little benefit for vowel recognition. However, after five days of targeted phoneme training, subjects’ recognition of spectrally shifted vowels significantly improved in most subjects. This improvement did not generalize to the spectrally unshifted vowel and consonant tokens, suggesting that subjects adapted to the specific spectral shift, rather than to the eight-channel processing in general. Interestingly, significant improvement was also observed for the recognition of spectrally shifted consonants. The largest improvement was observed with targeted vowel contrast training, which did not include any explicit consonant training. These results suggest that targeted phoneme training can accelerate adaptation to spectrally shifted speech. Given these results with normal-hearing listeners, auditory rehabilitation tools that provide targeted phoneme training may be effective in improving the speech recognition performance of adult CI users.
Neuroscience education of undergraduate medical students. Part I: role of neurosurgeons as educators.

Object. Economic, demographic, and political pressures have mandated that medical schools increase the number of primary care physicians. The goal of this study was to determine the nature of the average medical student's exposure to neurosurgical issues. Methods. Surveys were sent to every neurosurgical program director in the United States and to the dean of every medical school in North America, querying the extent of neurosurgical involvement in medical student education. Specifically, the respondents were asked how medical students were educated about the management of low-back pain and radiculopathy, carotid artery disease, head and spine trauma, and headache. Survey results were obtained from 65 (67%) of 97 neurosurgery program directors and from 57 (40%) of 143 medical school deans. Only one program in North America reported having a required neurosurgical rotation for all medical students, and just over 50% (29 of 57 deans and 34 of 65 program directors) reported that neurosurgery was an option i...
Challenges of systematic reviewing integrative health care

This article is based on an extensive review of integrative medicine (IM) and integrative health care (IHC). Since there is no general agreement of what constitutes IM/IHC, several major problems were identified that make the review of work in this field problematic. In applying the systematic review methodology, we found that many of those captured articles that used the term integrative medicine were in actuality referring to adjunctive, complementary, or supplemental medicine. The objective of this study was to apply a sensitivity analysis to demonstrate how the results of a systematic review of IM and IHC will differ according to what inclusion criteria is used based on the definition of IM/IHC. By analyzing 4 different scenarios, the authors show that, due to unclear usage of these terms, results vary dramatically, exposing an inconsistent literature base for this field.
Small sample sensitivity analysis techniques for computer models.with an application to risk assessment

As modeling efforts expand to a broader spectrum of areas the amount of computer time required to exercise the corresponding computer codes has become quite costly (several hours for a single run is not uncommon). This costly process can be directly tied to the complexity of the modeling and to the large number of input variables (often numbering in the hundreds) Further, the complexity of the modeling (usually involving systems of differential equations) makes the relationships among the input variables not mathematically tractable. In this setting it is desired to perform sensitivity studies of the input-output relationships. Hence, a judicious selection procedure for the choic of values of input variables is required, Latin hypercube sampling has been shown to work well on this type of problem. However, a variety of situations require that decisions and judgments be made in the face of uncertainty. The source of this uncertainty may be lack ul knowledge about probability distributions associated with i...
Engineering cell metabolism for high-density cell culture via manipulation of sugar transport

Transporters mediate the influx of nutrients and excretion of metabolites in mammalian cells, playing a key role in the regulation of metabolism. They are natural targets for cell engineering to alter metabolic characteristics. The GLUT5 fructose transporter was stably expressed in a Chinese hamster ovary cell line, allowing clones to utilize fructose in place of glucose in culture medium. Compared to the ubiquitously expressed GLUT1 glucose transporter, the GLUT5 fructose transporter has a high K(m) value for its substrate. Fructose uptake by the GLUT5 transporter should supply sugar to cells at a more moderate rate, even in high fructose concentrations, avoiding the overflow of excess carbon to lactate. When cultured in fructose, selected GLUT5 expressing clones exhibited drastically reduced sugar consumption and lactate production rates. When those same clones were cultured in glucose, high sugar consumption and lactate production rates were observed. GLUT5 transcript expression levels and specific lactate production rates varied among the clones. Clones having a low expression level of the GLUT5 transporter were able to import fructose at more moderate rates in higher sugar concentrations. The reduced lactate production for these clones allowed a significant increase in the final cell concentration in fructose fed-batch processes.
An Experimental Study on the Kinetics of the Formation and Decomposition of Sulfanes in the Sulfur/H2S System

The question whether the sulfur transport in sour gases proceeds via physically solved elemental sulfur or the formation of volatile sulfanes is of great practical importance. A gas chromatographic technique has been worked out which allows one to determine the kinetics of the formation and decomposition of sulfanes in the sulfur-hydrogen sulfide system at high temperature. Quantitative kinetic data are of great importance not only for research in that field but also for various practical applications like, for example, the sulfur deposition problem in sour gas reservoirs. Kinetic measurements have been carried out at different constant temperatures in the range of 120--270 C in a chromatographic reactor, containing sulfur-coated glass beads and quartz powder, respectively. In order to determine the kinetic parameters, a numerical model of the gas chromatographic reactor has been developed. Based on the results obtained by fitting the experimental chromatograms to the model, a simplified reaction scheme is proposed. Preliminary results show that sulfane decomposition in the sulfur/H{sub 2}S system is a rather slow reaction.
THE DYNAMICS OF PROTEST-RELATED DIFFUSION ON THE WEB

Drawing on several larger literatures on diffusion processes, including literatures on the diffusion of innovations, disease spread, and the diffusion of information, this paper examines the classes of diffusion processes that may be relevant to understanding online protest and social movements. The author also argues that one commonly studied type of online, protest-related diffusion process – the online diffusion of information – has only minor theoretical implications for social movement theory. Two other diffusion processes – the diffusion of online, protest-related innovations and the diffusion of protest in its many forms as a problem-solving heuristic to new populations – are likely to qualitatively alter other (non-diffusion) social movement processes, creating important second-order, theoretical effects from these types of diffusion.
Spin coherence in semiconductor quantum dots

Femtosecond-resolved Faraday rotation is used to probe spin dynamics in chemically synthesized CdSe quantum dots 22--80 \AA{} in diameter from T=6--282 K. The precession of optically injected spins in a transverse magnetic field indicates that the measured relaxation lifetime of the spin polarization is dominated by inhomogeneous dephasing, ranging from \ensuremath{\sim}3 ns at zero field to 100 ps at 4 T. Fourier analysis reveals a multiperiodic Larmor precession, with several distinct g factors ranging from \ensuremath{\sim}1.1 to 1.7.
Catheter ablation of ventricular tachycardia after myocardial infarction: relation of endocardial sinus rhythm late potentials to the reentry circuit.

Abstract Objectives. We sought to determine whether endocardial late potentials during sinus rhythm are associated with reentry circuit sites during ventricular tachycardia (VT). Background. During sinus rhythm, slow conduction through an old infarct region may depolarize tissue after the end of the QRS complex. Such slow conduction regions can cause reentry. Methods. Endocardial catheter mapping and radiofrequency ablation were performed in 24 patients with VT late after myocardial infarction. We selected for analysis a total of 103 sites where the electrogram was recorded during sinus rhythm and, without moving the catheter, VT was initiated and radiofrequency current applied in an attempt to terminate VT. Results. Late potentials were present at 34 sites (33%). During pace mapping, the stimulus-QRS complex was longer at late potential sites, consistent with slow conduction, than at sites without late potentials (p Conclusions. Although sites with sinus rhythm late potentials often participate in VT reentry circuits, many reentry circuit sites do not have late potentials. Late potentials can also arise from bystander regions. Late potentials may help identify abnormal regions in sinus rhythm but cannot replace mapping during induced VT to guide ablation.
Properties of crystalline hexokinase from yeast. I. Analyses for possible Co-factors

Abstract Yeast hexokinase which is fully active contains no biotin as assayed with Neurospora crassa and Saccharomyces cerevisiae , 139, does not possess a readily demonstrable prosthetic group, and is not a metalloprotein. A perchloric acid-soluble fraction which remains associated with the enzyme is described.
Interacting Behavior of Two Myosin Va Motors Coupled via a DNA Scaffold

The number of processive motors attached to a cellular cargo influences its transport behavior. Altering either motor number or the ratio of different classes of motors can therefore be a mechanism to regulate intracellular transport. Jamison et al. recently showed that two kinesin-1 motors coupled by a DNA scaffold have transport properties that are often dominated by one of the motors. Here we perform a similar experiment with myosin Va (myoVa), which has a larger step size (∼36nm) and walks on a smaller track than kinesin. A heterodimeric myoVa was labeled on only one head with either a red or green quantum dot (Qdot). Two myoVa molecules were then linked to an ∼50 nm long double-stranded DNA scaffold. Only complexes with one red and one green Qdot were analyzed. Our results show that the complex has increased run length (∼1μm) compared to a single myoVa (∼0.6μm). Average run lengths are, however, smaller than those predicted for two myosins assuming motor stepping, binding, and detachment is unaffected by intermotor interactions. Furthermore, the motor complex moved with reduced velocity (0.19 μm/s versus 0.27 μm/s for the single motor case). A histogram of the distances between the labeled heads of the two motors contains multiple peaks at ∼85, 130 and 165 nm, indicating the system is flexible. The distance between motors changes in time and the stepping pattern of the two motors are variable, suggesting asynchronous motor stepping. After the first motor binds to actin, the second motor binds at ∼10 s-1. Our findings suggest that the walking behavior of two myoVa molecules is altered when they are coupled mechanically, but perhaps in a different way than multiple kinesins. Our technique constitutes a unique tool to understand collective motor behavior.
Renal responses to PTH in patients with hormone-resistant (pseudo) hypoparathyroidism.

Abstract Five patients with pseudohypoparathyroidism were compared to normal subjects and patients with hypoparathyroidism in their ability to respond to the infusion of parathyroid hormone (PTH) by altering excretion of calcium, sodium, potassium, phosphate and bicarbonate. In patients with pseudohypoparathyroidism, impairment in renal responses to PTH was more generalized than has been recognized. The patterns of responses varied from patient to patient. The most commonly observed abnormality, aside from lack of increase in urinary cyclic adenosine 5′-monophosphate (AMP), was failure to decrease the calcium to sodium clearance ratio, an indication of impaired renal calcium reabsorption. The responses which most closely approximated normal, including a normal decrease in the calcium to sodium clearance ratio, occurred in a patient (Case 1) who had the largest, although impaired, response in cyclic AMP excretion. Conversely, the most abnormal responses occurred in three patients (Cases 2, 4 and 5) who had the smallest increases in cyclic AMP excretion after the administration of PTH. The impaired renal reabsorption of calcium after the administration of PTH (lack of decrease in calcium to sodium clearance ratio) may, when present, be in part responsible for hypocalcemia.
Structure sensitivity of the low-temperature ionic conductivity of NaCl crystals☆☆☆

Abstract Measurements of the steady-state ionic conductivity of synthetic crystals of NaCl in the temperature range from 20° to 100°C are reported. It is found that annealing increases the conductivity over the value in the “as-received” condition, while plastic deformation followed by low-temperature recovery reduces it. Neither treatment affects the activation energy, which is found to be 1.07±0.05 eV. The results further indicate that the structure sensitivity of the steady-state conductivity is not related to the space-charge polarization phenomenon. Comparison of the present data with earlier results on the structure sensitivity of the X-ray coloration of similar crystals suggests that in both cases the effects of thermal and mechanical treatment are probably due to changes in the state of dispersion of impurities.
Clinical Characteristics of Adults With Chronic Rhinosinusitis and Specific Antibody Deficiency

Background Specific antibody deficiency (SAD) involves a deficient response to a polysaccharide vaccine in the setting of normal immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels and chronic infections. Patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) are often evaluated for SAD. There are limited data that describe patients with CRS and SAD. Objective The objective of this study was to better characterize the role of SAD in CRS. Methods We reviewed electronic records of adults with CRS who were evaluated for immunodeficiency with quantitative Ig levels and pre- and postantibody titers to a pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV). Results Fourteen pneumococcal serotypes were determined in 239 subjects from 2002 to 2009. Of these subjects, 64 had adequate protective titers of 1.3 μg/mL or higher in 7 or more serotypes of the 14 serotypes checked; 56 (23%) had less than 7 protective titers post-PPV and were diagnosed with SAD; and 119 had an adequate response to the vaccine with 7 or more serotypes being higher than 1.3 μg/mL (>50% response) and were characterized as "responders." Subjects with SAD received more antibiotic courses relative to responders in the 2 years after immunization (3.19 ± 2.64 vs 2.19 ± 2.24, P Conclusions Of the 239 patients with CRS with normal IgG levels evaluated for immunodeficiency, 56 (23.4%) had SAD. A majority of patients with SAD may not need Ig replacement; however, a subset of patients with SAD benefit from Ig replacement.
Gas‐Phase Electron‐Diffraction Investigation and Quantum‐Chemical Calculations of the Structure of 1,5‐Dimethylsemibullvalene‐2,4,6,8‐tetracarboxylic Dianhydride

The bridged homotropilidines have been of interest for decades because their molecules offer the potential for homoaromaticity. Although many of these have been shown not to be homoaromatic, the energy differences of the delocalized (homoaromatic) forms and the localized (nonhomoaromatic) ones, and the barriers to the interconversion of the localized forms via a Cope rearrangement, have been found to vary greatly. The title compound is a strong candidate for homoaromaticity, and, since the structures of the possible localized and delocalized forms could differ significantly, we have carried out an electron-diffraction investigation of it augmented by quantum-mechanical calculations with different basis sets at several levels of theory. Three models were explored: one representing a localized form of Cs symmetry, one a delocalized form of C2v symmetry, and one a 2 : 1 mixture of the localized/delocalized forms. Although none of the models could be ruled out, the experimental evidence slightly favors the Cs form. These results are consistent with those from the DFT B3PW91 calculations with basis sets ranging from 6-31G(d) to cc-pVTZ, which, surprisingly, predict essentially equal thermally corrected free energies for each. The results are discussed.
Acute polybrominated biphenyl toxicosis alters vitamin A homeostasis and enhances degradation of vitamin A.

A single oral dose of HBB (3,3′,4,4′,5,5′,-hexabromobiphenyl), a congener of the polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs), and a dioxin-type cytochrome P-450 enzyme inducer rapidly and dramatically altered the steady-state metabolism of vitamin A and caused an abnormal twofold enhancement in the metabolic output of degraded vitamin A in urine and feces of rats. The effects are most likely explained by an increased metabolism of vitamin A in kidney and deregulation of vitamin A metabolism in liver, this may lead to an increased dietary vitamin A requirement.
Voltage-Dependent F-/Cl- Selectivity in a Subclass of CLC Antiporters

A newly discovered class of F− riboswitch-controlled CLC F−/H+ antiporters (CLCFs) preferentially transport F− over Cl−, providing bacteria with a mechanism to protect themselves against F− toxicity. F− selectivity is essential for function, and how these proteins are capable of selecting F− over the much more abundant Cl− is a mystery. It has recently been shown that the preferential transport of F− over Cl− by CLCFs is influenced by the ionic environment the protein experiences. Reconstituted liposomes containing CLCFs are completely selective for F− over Cl− in symmetrical K+ conditions. However, with K+ inside and Na+ outside the liposomes, the protein now transports Cl− as well. These initial observations have led to the discovery that the altered selectivity is due to the presence of voltage across the liposomal membrane. As the membrane potential hyperpolarizes from 0 mV to −200 mV, the rate of F− transport increases 2-fold, while that of Cl− transport is steeply voltage-dependent, increasing much more dramatically over the same range. We aim to explore this finding using the CLCF homologue, CLC-eca, by monitoring anion fluxes in reconstituted liposomes.
Schwann cell-autonomous role of neuropilin-2.

Neuropilins and group A plexins are components of receptor complexes for class 3 semaphorins, gradients of which help to guide migration of neural progenitor cells and axonal growth cones during development. We demonstrated previously that neuropilins and class 3 semaphorins are induced in sciatic nerve by crush or transection. We now report that in cultured rat Schwann cells, expression of mRNA encoding neuropilin-2 (NRP2) and plexin-A3 (PlexA3), proteins involved in semaphorin-3F (Sema3F) signal transduction, is diminished markedly by forskolin, an adenylate cyclase activator that, like axonal contact, induces Schwann cell synthesis of myelin lipids and proteins. Interestingly, Schwann cell expression of mRNA encoding NRP1, which participates in Sema3A signaling, is not downregulated by forskolin. Antibodies that recognize ectodomains of NRP2 but not control antibodies prevented cultured Schwann cells from aligning in parallel and forming columns. These results are consistent with the view that in nerves undergoing Wallerian degeneration, Schwann cell NRP2 facilitates assembly of Schwann cells into the tubular aggregates (bands of Bungner) that guide regenerating axons.
Van Der Waals Attraction Between Macroscopic Bodies

Abstract A general dispersion formula is derived, which represents the dispersion energy between two bodies A and B by their macroscopic screened fluctuation fields. These fluctuation fields are calculated exactly in the case of half-spaces and spheres. In the case of half-spaces the Lifshitz dispersion formula is obtained. The dispersion energy between spheres is found to vary as 1/d for separations d small compared with the radii and to be proportional to 1/d 6 for separations d large compared with the radii. The effect of layers adsorbed on the surfaces of the spheres on the dispersion energy is calculated. The dielectric properties of the adsorbed layers predominate over those of the bulk material for separations d smaller than the layer thickness.
The dynein cortical anchor Num1 activates dynein motility by relieving Pac1/LIS1-mediated inhibition

Cortically anchored dynein orients the spindle through interactions with astral microtubules. In budding yeast, dynein is offloaded to Num1 receptors from microtubule plus ends. Rather than walking toward minus ends, dynein remains associated with plus ends due in part to its association with Pac1/LIS1, an inhibitor of dynein motility. The mechanism by which dynein is switched from “off” at the plus ends to “on” at the cell cortex remains unknown. Here, we show that overexpression of the coiled-coil domain of Num1 specifically depletes dynein–dynactin–Pac1/LIS1 complexes from microtubule plus ends and reduces dynein-Pac1/LIS1 colocalization. Depletion of dynein from plus ends requires its microtubule-binding domain, suggesting that motility is required. An enhanced Pac1/LIS1 affinity mutant of dynein or overexpression of Pac1/LIS1 rescues dynein plus end depletion. Live-cell imaging reveals minus end–directed dynein–dynactin motility along microtubules upon overexpression of the coiled-coil domain of Num1, an event that is not observed in wild-type cells. Our findings indicate that dynein activity is directly switched “on” by Num1, which induces Pac1/LIS1 removal.
An absolute charge sensor for fluid electrification measurement

An instrument has been developed that provides an absolute measurement, independent of such properties of the fluid as electrical conductivity and trace materials that contribute to zeta potentials. Through a shielded sampling probe, it periodically transfers a small volume of fluid to an electrically isolated Faraday cage. Fluid is pumped in and out by making a part of the Faraday cage a metal bellows driven by a digitally controlled linear actuation. If the fluid is to be returned to the system at a downstream location or to a relaxation region, a pair of check valves are used so that the existing fluid is not in the proximity of the sampling probe. The charge density is calculated from the known filling flow rate and either the current or voltage, measured by low- or high-impedance electrometers, respectively, connected to Faraday cage. The instrument has been designed to measure charge densities as low as 1 mu C/m/sup 3/ using a flow rate of 0.18 cm/sup 3//s with a programmable sampling period on the order of 1 min. A Couette charging apparatus, which simulates the electrification charging properties found in high voltage power transformers, has been used to test this instrument. >
l-Phenylalanine Ammonia-Lyase Activity During Germination of Phaseolus vulgaris

l-Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activity develops in excised bean axes after approximately 5 hours of incubation and reaches a maximum level after 14 hours of incubation. Light does not affect the development of activity, but puromycin, cycloheximide, actinomycin D, and 5-fluorouracil inhibit.During this period of incubation both d- and l-p-fluorophenylalanine stimulate fresh weight increase and both inhibit the development of PAL activity. Neither l- nor d-phenylalanine stimulates fresh weight increase while the former inhibits development of PAL activity and the latter has no effect. Neither d isomer is deaminated while l-p-fluorophenylalanine is deaminated at about one-half the rate of l-phenylalanine. It is suggested that fluorophenylalanine does not stimulate the fresh weight increase by its effects on the phenolics pathway.Trans-cinnamic acid was found to inhibit both the development of PAL activity and the in vitro deamination of l-phenylalanine. Various hydroxycinnamic acids, although inhibiting the development of PAL activity, had little or no effect on the in vitro deamination of l-phenylalanine.No tyrosine ammonia-lyase activity was found in the axes and l-tyrosine had no effect on the in vitro deamination of l-phenylalanine.The pattern of PAL development in intact seedlings differs markedly from that which occurs in the excised axes, although light also has no effect on the course of activity.
A Framework for Thinking About Developing a Global Community

This chapter consists of two main parts. The first part is concerned with presenting social psychological knowledge about groups: What are groups? How do groups form? How do they develop and function? How do people identify with the groups to which they belong? In the second part, the information presented in the first is employed to suggest how a global community could be developed: How can personal identification with a global community be fostered? How do we facilitate change to create a functioning global community? The chapter presents a framework for thinking about these issues rather than offering fully detailed suggestions.
Trophic Effects of the Cyclooxygenase-2 Product Prostaglandin E2 in Cardiac Myocytes

Interleukin-1β (IL-1β), a proinflammatory cytokine, induces cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in cultured neonatal ventricular myocytes (NVMs), resulting in the preferential production of prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ). To explain the preferential PGE 2 release by myocytes, we studied whether its specific synthase, PGE 2 synthase (PGES), is also induced by IL-1β. Because COX-2 has been extensively associated with cell growth, we questioned whether PGE 2 plays a role in cardiac cell growth. IL-1β–treated myocytes showed induction of PGES protein and mRNA by Western blot and reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction, respectively. Immunofluorescence studies revealed perinuclear localization of COX-2 and PGES in IL-1β–treated myocytes. Exogenous PGE 2 increased protein synthesis in NVMs, as indicated by a 1.6-fold increase in [ 3 H]leucine incorporation, comparable to the known hypertrophic factor phenylephrine (1.6-fold). Because PGE 2 exerts different effects through 4 receptor subtypes (EP 1 , EP 2 , EP 3 , and EP 4 ), we investigated whether these receptors are functional in myocytes. Treatment of NVMs with the selective EP 1 /EP 3 agonist sulprostone significantly increased protein synthesis (1.7-fold), whereas the EP 1 /EP 2 antagonist AH6809 blocked this effect by 43%. In contrast, AH6809 had no effect on PGE 2 -induced protein synthesis. Regarding second messengers, sulprostone had no effect on cAMP, whereas PGE 2 increased it. We concluded that (1) PGE 2 production requires the induction of its specific synthase; (2) in myocytes, the inducible enzymes COX-2 and PGES are perinuclear; and (3) PGE 2 and sulprostone induce cardiac myocyte growth but seem to activate a different subset of EP receptors.
On the nature of histamine-mediated slow hyperpolarizing synaptic potentials in identified molluscan neurones.

1. Standard intracellular stimulating and recording techniques were used to test the correspondence between monosynaptic post-synaptic potentials (p.s.p.s) evoked by histamine-containing C-2 neurones and responses to focally applied histamine recorded from two classes of identified post-synaptic neurones in the cerebral ganglion of Aplysia californica.2. Two types of p.s.p.s were examined: (1) a monophasic slow hyperpolarizing potential (I(s)p.s.p.) lasting 1-2 sec; and (2) a biphasic p.s.p. consisting of a fast depolarizing component <0.5 sec in duration (E(f)p.s.p.) plus a slow hyperpolarizing potential (I(s)p.s.p.) designated the E(f)I(s)p.s.p.3. Ionophoretic or pressure applied histamine mimicked both p.s.p.s and produced conductance increases in the post-synaptic neurones similar to those associated with the evoked p.s.p.s.4. The reversal potentials (E(rev)) for the I(s)p.s.p. and E(f)I(s)p.s.p., estimated by extrapolation, were -85+/-5.3, -35+/-5.5, and -83+/-8.1 mV (mean+/-S.D.), respectively. The I(s)p.s.p.s were produced by an increase in potassium conductance because their E(rev)s were shifted about 16 mV by doubling or halving the concentration of extracellular potassium and they could be eliminated by cooling or by intracellular injection of TEA ions.5. The average E(rev) values for the slow hyperpolarizing histamine responses were similar to those for the I(s)p.s.p.s; about -83 and -86 mV in neurones receiving the monophasic I(s)p.s.p.s and biphasic E(f)I(s)p.s.p., respectively.6. Cimetidine, an antihistamine drug that selectively blocks histamine receptors associated with potassium conductances in Aplysia, reversibly abolished the I(s)p.s.p.s and slow hyperpolarizing responses to focally applied histamine. In similar concentrations, cimetidine had no discernible effects on the E(f)p.s.p. and depolarizing response to histamine or on several different types of p.s.p.s mediated by the C-2 neurones.7. It is proposed that the I(s)p.s.p.s are mediated by histamine released from the C-2 neurones.
Nonlinear effects of the LMS adaptive predictor for chirped input signals

This paper investigates the nonlinear effects of the Least Mean Square (LMS) adaptive predictor. Traditional analysis of the adaptive filter ignores the statistical dependence among successive tap-input vectors and bounds the performance of the adaptive filter by that of the finite-length Wiener filter. It is shown that the nonlinear effects make it possible for an adaptive transversal prediction filter to significantly outperform the finite-length Wiener predictor. An approach is derived to approximate the total steady-state Mean Square Error (MSE) for LMS adaptive predictors with stationary or chirped input signals. This approach shows that, while the nonlinear effect is small for the one-step LMS adaptive predictor, it increases in magnitude as the prediction distance is increased. We also show that the nonlinear effect of the LMS adaptive predictor is more significant than that of the Recursive Least Square adaptive predictor.
What Drives Public Employment in Developing Countries

An excessive level of employment is a frequent complaint made about public-sector governance in developing economies. The explanation typically offered is that governments use public-sector employment as a tool for generating and redistributing rents. This article suggests an alternative hypothesis: relatively safe government jobs represent partial insurance againstundiversifiable external risk faced by the domestic economy. I show that countries that are greatly exposed to external risk have higher levels of government employment and have experienced faster rates of growth of government consumption. The basic finding on this (partial) correlation is robust against the hypotheses typically offered.
Molecular analysis of the hull-less seed trait in pumpkin: expression profiles of genes related to seed coat development11

We undertook a comparative study of molecular changes during development of seed coats in the wild-type and a recessive hull-less mutant of pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.), with the goal of identifying key genes involved in secondary cell wall development in the testa. The mature mutant testa has reduced amounts of cellulose and lignin as compared to the wild type. The expression patterns of several genes involved in secondary cell wall biosynthesis during the development of the testa are described. These genes are: CELLULOSE SYNTHASE, PHENYLALANINE AMMONIA-LYASE, 4-COUMARATE-CoA LIGASE, and CINNAMOYL-CoA REDUCTASE. Additionally, the expression patterns of a few genes that were differentially expressed in the two genotypes during testa development (GLUTATHIONE REDUCTASE, ABSCISIC ACID RESPONSE PROTEIN E, a SERINE-THREONINE KINASE, and a β-UREIDOPROPIONASE) are presented. The results show a coordinated expression of several genes involved in cellulose and lignin biosynthesis, as well as marked differences in the level of their expression between the two genotypes during testa development. There is generally a higher expression of genes involved in cellulose and lignin biosynthesis in the wild-type testa as compared to the mutant. The molecular data presented here are consistent with anatomical and biochemical differences between the wild-type and the mutant testae. An understanding of the genes involved in cell wall development in the testa will facilitate the manipulation of seed coat development in Cucurbita and other species for diverse commercial applications.
Gendered Facial Cues Influence Race Categorizations

Race and gender categories, although long presumed to be perceived independently, are inextricably tethered in social perception due in part to natural confounding of phenotypic cues. We predicted that target gender would affect race categorizations. Consistent with this hypothesis, feminine faces compelled White categorizations, and masculine faces compelled Asian or Black categorizations of racially ambiguous targets (Study 1), monoracial targets (Study 2), and real facial photographs (Study 3). The efficiency of judgments varied concomitantly. White categorizations were rendered more rapidly for feminine, relative to masculine faces, but the opposite was true for Asian and Black categorizations (Studies 1-3). Moreover, the effect of gender on categorization efficiency was compelled by racial phenotypicality for Black targets (Study 3). Finally, when targets' race prototypicality was held constant, gender still influenced race categorizations (Study 4). These findings indicate that race categorizations are biased by presumably unrelated gender cues.
Medical Evaluation of Man Working in AC Electric Fields

This paper covers an investigation of the effects of HV 60-Hz ac fields on human beings. Experimental results of the intensity of the electric fields to which linemen are subjected when doing maintenance work on energized HV lines are presented. The protection offered by Faraday screens is discussed. The results of a series of physiological examinations that were carried out on 11 linemen, some of whom used conventional hot stick methods and others worked barehanded from an aerial bucket connected to an energized conductor, are presented. The examinations, which extended over a 42-month period, were conducted by members of the staff of The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Md.
Impact of a Temporary Food Shortage on Children and Their Mothers

Kenya experienced a severe drought and temporary food shortage during a study on mild malnutrition. Effects of the temporary food shortage on energy intake, weight, and behaviors were evaluated in schoolchildren and in toddlers and their mothers. Schoolchildren were seriously affected, showing significant declines in their energy intake, age-corrected weight, activity on the playground, and classroom attention. Toddlers appear to have been somewhat protected since their energy intake, weight, and play and language behaviors were stable. Maternal caregiving of toddlers declined for the group as a whole, but individually those mothers who maintained family food levels delegated responsibility for toddlers to other caregivers. While the food shortage affected poorer families more than those of higher SES, declines in the behaviors of schoolchildren occurred regardless of SES and previous level of nutrition, suggesting that food shortages can have behavioral consequences for schoolchildren in all communities.
Robust boosting for learning from few examples

We present and analyze a novel regularization technique based on enhancing our dataset with corrupted copies of our original data. The motivation is that since the learning algorithm lacks information about which parts of the data are reliable, it has to make more robust classification functions. Using this framework, we propose a simple addition to the gentle boosting algorithm which enables it to work with only a few examples. We test this new algorithm on a variety of datasets and show convincing results.
Achieving consistent multiple daily low-dose Bacillus anthracis spore inhalation exposures in the rabbit model.

Repeated low-level exposures to Bacillus anthracis could occur before or after the remediation of an environmental release. This is especially true for persistent agents such as Bacillus anthracis spores, the causative agent of anthrax. Studies were conducted to examine aerosol methods needed for consistent daily low aerosol concentrations to deliver a low-dose (less than 106 colony forming units (CFU) of B. anthracis spores) and included a pilot feasibility characterization study, acute exposure study, and a multiple fifteen day exposure study. This manuscript focuses on the state-of-the-science aerosol methodologies used to generate and aerosolize consistent daily low aerosol concentrations and resultant low inhalation doses. The pilot feasibility characterization study determined that the aerosol system was consistent and capable of producing very low aerosol concentrations. In the acute, single day exposure experiment, targeted inhaled doses of 1 x 102, 1 x 103, 1 x 104, and 1 x 105 CFU were used. In the multiple daily exposure experiment, rabbits were exposed multiple days to targeted inhaled doses of 1 x 102, 1 x 103, and 1 x 104 CFU. In all studies, targeted inhaled doses remained fairly consistent from rabbit to rabbit and day to day. The aerosol system produced aerosolized spores within the optimal mass median aerodynamic diameter particle size range to reach deep lung alveoli. Consistency of the inhaled dose was aided by monitoring and recording respiratory parameters during the exposure with real-time plethysmography. Overall, the presented results show that the animal aerosol system was stable and highly reproducible between different studies and multiple exposure days.
A STUDY OF FIXATION FOR ELECTRON MICROSCOPY

Osmium tetroxide fixation of tissue blocks, as usually effected, is preceded by an acidification of the tissue. This acidification is probably responsible for morphological alterations which are notably disturbing in electron microscopy. The acidification and the resulting morphological alterations cannot be prevented by homogenizing the tissue directly in OsO4 solutions or by adding enzyme inhibitors (fluoride, iodoscetamide) to the fixative. Fixation experiments with buffered OsO4 solutions have shown that the appearance of the fixed cells is conditioned by the pH of the fixative. The quality of fixation can be materially improved by buffering the OsO4 solutions at pH 7.3-7.5, The acetate-veronal buffer appeared to be the most favorable of the buffers tested, Because of these findings, 1 per cent OsO4 buffered at pH 7.3-7.5 with acetate-veronal buffer is recommended as an appropriate fixative for electron microscopy.
Design of a two-level fuzzy controller for a reactive miniature mobile robot

This paper describes the design and implementation of the fuzzy control system for a small, reactive mobile robot which operates in an unknown, unpredictable, and dynamic environment. A modular, two-level fuzzy controller is used for navigation, obstacle avoidance, and target tracking. The fuzzy controller provides the mechanism for fusing noisy sensor data from multiple sensors which may present conflicting information. Competing behaviors of target tracking and obstacle avoidance are combined in a way that serves both functions, thereby resulting in an emergent intelligent behavior of the robot controller. The efficiency of the two-level fuzzy controller is demonstrated by implementing the system on a small mobile robot with two onboard processors and limited memory (2K per processor). >
Tissue tropism and bursal transformation ability of subgroup J avian leukosis virus in White Leghorn chickens.

Resumen RESUMEN. Nota de Investigacion—Tropismo y capacidad de transformacion de la bolsa de Fabricio por el subgrupo J del virus de la leucosis aviar en aves blancas tipo Leghorn. En el experimento 1 se empleo un anticuerpo monoclonal contra la glicoproteina 85 (gp85) del virus del subgrupo J de la leucosis aviar con el fin de estudiar la distribucion del virus en varios tejidos de aves blancas tipo Leghorn inoculadas a edad embrionaria con la cepa ADOL-Hc1 del virus J de la leucosis aviar. Se evaluo la presencia de la gp85 mediante la prueba de inmunohistoquimica en varios tejidos de aves infectadas y aves control no infectadas a las 2 y 6 semanas de edad. En el experimento 2, mediante el uso de la tincion de metil verde pironina se examino la transformacion de los foliculos de la bolsa de Fabricio a las 4 y 10 semanas de edad en secciones de bolsa de Fabricio de aves de la linea 15I5 × 71, inoculadas al nacimiento con el virus de la leucosis aviar subgrupo J o el virus asociado al sarcoma de Rous tipo ...
Challenging Arbitral Jurisdiction: The Role of Institutional Rules

One oft-discussed element in arbitration law relates to the judicial function in monitoring the basic integrity of the arbitral process, so the case will be heard by a tribunal that not listens before deciding, and which stays within its mission. Arbitrators must remain within the contours of confines of their authority, has been the subject of well-known national judicial decisions applying the hard law of statutes and treaties. Less-often debated, institutional rules play a vital jurisdiction role in complementing national and international legal norms. The 2012 ICC Arbitration Rules provide an intriguing study of how administrative decisions dovetail into jurisdictional rulings of the arbitral tribunal, both of which would normally remain subject to an ultimate scrutiny by national courts.