cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of a glucagon-like peptide-1 analog on appetitive and consummatory behavior for rewarding and aversive gustatory stimuli in rats

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is an incretin hormone that is essential for the regulation of food intake and approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity in humans. More recently, GLP-1 has been investigated for its ability to modulate motivation for food and drugs. Reward behavior can be divided into two components: 'motivational' (i.e., approach and consummatory behaviors) and 'affective' (i.e., perceived palatability). Studies show that GLP-1 analogs reduce the motivation to approach and consume palatable food, but the impact on affective responding is unknown. Thus, the present study tested the effect of the GLP-1 analog, Exendin-4 (Ex-4), on the appetitive response to intraorally delivered sucrose and quinine. Results showed that Ex-4 (2.4ug/kg ip) failed to alter passive drip, appetitive reactions (i.e., mouth movements, tongue protrusions, and lateral tongue protrusions) or aversive reactions (i.e., gapes) to sucrose. Paw-licking, however, was significantly reduced by Ex-4. Treatment with Ex-4 also failed to influence passive drip to quinine, but increased the latency to gape and reduced the total number of gapes emitted. In addition, Ex-4 reduced intake of quinine in water restricted rats, but did not reduce conditioned aversion (i.e., gapes) or avoidance (i.e., reduced intake) of a LiCl-paired saccharin cue. Thus, while Ex-4 had no effect on a learned aversion, it reduced approach and ingestion of sweet and bitter solutions, while leaving the appetitive affective response to the sweet almost intact, and the aversive affective response to the bitter reduced. Treatment with Ex-4, then, differentially modulates appetitive and consummatory components of reward, depending on the valence of the stimulus and whether its valence is learned or innate.
Effects of polysaccharide charge density on the structure and stability of carboxymethylcellulose-casein nanocomplexes at pH 4.5 prepared with and without a pH-cycle

Abstract Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) can stabilize acidic casein dispersions but the CMC charge density effect has not been studied. The objective of the present work was to study the structure and stability of CMC-casein nanocomplexes at pH 4.5 using CMC with the degree of substitution (DS) of 0.7, 0.9, and 1.2. Dispersions were prepared at 1%w/v casein and casein:CMC mass ratios from 5:1 to 1:1 with and without a pH-cycle. The calcium chelating capacity of CMC was strengthened as the DS increased, which enhanced the partial disassociation of casein micelles and therefore improved the dispersion clarity. The lowest dispersion turbidity was observed at a casein:CMC mass ratio of 3:1 for all three kinds of CMC, and the pH-cycle, by alkalizing dispersion pH to 11.3 followed by acidifying to pH 4.5, further lowered the dispersion turbidity. Electrostatic attraction was the mechanism of complex formation at pH 4.5, and the CMC on the complex surface was critical to the stability against aggregation. Furthermore, increasing the DS of CMC resulted in smaller complexes and clearer dispersions. Particularly, the dispersions with a CMC:casein mass ratio of 3:1 after the pH-cycle had the absorbance at 600 nm of 1.25, 0.85, and 0.57, and the mean hydrodynamic diameter of 379, 392, and 188 nm at the DS of 0.7, 0.9, and 1.2 respectively; the increased DS also increased the stability of complexes against aggregation and precipitation at elevated ionic strengths, from 50 mM to 200 mM NaCl. The present findings may broaden the application of caseins in acidic systems.
Why Hillbillies Matter in Social Studies: "Hillbilly Elegy" and Why WE Must Respond

In 2016, J. D. Vance, a previously unknown author, surprisingly hit the bestseller’s list with his memoir, Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis. However, historically scholars have pushed back against the stereotypes that Vance portrays and have argued for a narrative that embraces the diversity of the Appalachian region. Using content analysis, this research study investigated the frequency and context of key terms related to Appalachia across the K-12 social studies standards of states labeled as being part of the region by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). Results illustrate the lack of inclusion of these terms and that, when included, they do not represent the rich history or culture of the region. These results suggest that researchers, teacher educators, and teachers should consider the ways in which standards define curriculum on topics such as Appalachia and how these definitions interact with the powerful narratives being portrayed within our mainstream democracy. Guidance and suggestions for disrupting Appalachian stereotypes within social studies education are provided.
SU-E-T-221: Computational Evaluation of Proton Induced Gain in a Portable Faraday Cup

Purpose: The design of a new Portable Faraday Cup (PFC) used to calibrate proton accelerators was evaluated for energies between 50 and 220 MeV. Monte Carlo simulations performed in Geant4–10.0 were used to evaluate experimental results and reduce the relative detector error for this vacuum-less and low mass system, and invalidate current MCNP releases. Methods: The detector construction consisted of a copper conductor coated with an insulator and grounded with silver. Monte Carlo calculations in Geant4 were used to determine the net charge per proton input (gain) as a function of insulator thickness and beam energy. Kapton was chosen as the insulating material and was designed to capture backscattered electrons. Charge displacement from/into Kapton was assumed to follow a linear proportionality to the origin/terminus depth toward the outer ground layer. Kapton thicknesses ranged from 0 to 200 microns, proton energies were set to match empirical studies ranging from 70 to 250 MeV. Each setup was averaged over 1 million events using the FTFP_BERT 2.0 physics list. Results: With increasing proton energy, the gain of Cu+KA gradually converges to the limit of pure copper, with relative error between 1.52% and 0.72%. The Ag layer created a more diverging behavior, accelerating the flux of negative charge into the device and increasing relative error when compared to pure copper from 1.21% to 1.63%. Conclusion: Gain vs. beam energy signatures were acquired for each device. Further analysis reveals proportionality between insulator thickness and measured gain, albeit an inverse proportionality between beam energy and in-flux of electrons. Increased silver grounding layer thickness also decreases gain, though the relative error expands with beam energy, contrary to the Kapton layer.
Quadratic Weight Adjustment for the Enhancement of Feedback Properties

This paper presents a procedure for improving the feedback properties of a linear multivariable state feedback system which was designed using linear quadratic optimization. The procedure adjusts the quadratic weights using information obtained from a singular value analysis of the closed loop system. Although attention is focused primarily on the linear quadratic design method, the basic approach can be applied to adjust the design parameters of any design method.
Gravitational Core-Mantle Coupling and the Acceleration of the Earth

Gravitational core-mantle coupling may be the cause of the observed variable acceleration of the Earth's rotation on the 1000 year timescale. The idea is that density inhomogeneities which randomly come and go in the liquid outer core gravitationally attract density inhomogeneities in the mantle and crust, torquing the mantle and changing its rotation state. The corresponding torque by the mantle on the core may also explain the westward drift of the magnetic field of 0.2 deg per year. Gravitational core-mantle coupling would stochastically affect the rate of change of the Earth's obliquity by just a few per cent. Its contribution to polar wander would only be about 0.5% the presently observed rate. Tidal friction is slowing down the rotation of the Earth, overwhelming a smaller positive acceleration from postglacial rebound. Coupling between the liquid outer core of the Earth and the mantle has long been a suspected reason for changes in the length-of-day. The present investigation focuses on the gravitational coupling between the density anomalies in the convecting liquid outer core and those in the mantle and crust as a possible cause for the observed nonsecular acceleration on the millenial timescale. The basic idea is as follows. There are density inhomogeneities caused by blobs circulating in the outer core like the blobs in a lava lamp; thus the outer core's gravitational field is not featureless. Moreover, these blobs will form and dissipate somewhat randomly. Thus there will be a time variability to the fields. These density inhomogeneities will gravitationally attract the density anomalies in the mantle.
Efficient resource-bounded reasoning in AT-RALPH

Abstract Anytime algorithms have attracted growing attention in recent years as a key mechanism for implementing models of bounded rationality. The main problem, however, as with planning systems in general, is the integration of the modules and their interface with the other components of the system. We have implemented a prototype of ATRALPH (Anytime Rational Agent with Limited Performance Hardware) in which an offline compilation process together with a runtime monitoring component guarantee the optimal allocation of time to the anytime algorithms. The crucial meta-level knowledge is kept in the anytime library in the form of conditional performance profiles. These are extensions of an earlier notion of performance description – they characterize the performance of each elementary anytime algorithm as a function of run-time and input quality. This information, used by the compiler to produce the performance profile of the complete system, is also used by the runtime system to measure the value of computation and monitor the execution of the top-level procedure in the context of a particular domain. The result is an efficient and cheap meta-level control for real-time decision making that separates the performance components from the schedule optimization mechanism and automates the second task.
Structure and interpretation of signals and systems

1. Signals and Systems. 2. Defining Signals and Systems. 3. State Machines. 4. Composing State Machines. 5. Linear Systems. 6. Hybrid Systems. 7. Frequency Domain. 8. Frequency Response. 9. Filtering. 10. The Four Fourier Transforms. 11. Sampling and Reconstruction. 12. Stability. 13. Laplace and Z Transforms. 14. Composition and Feedback Control. Appendix A: Sets and Functions. Appendix B: Complex Numbers.
Effects of low density lipoproteins and mevinolin on sympathetic responsiveness in cultured chick atrial cells. Regulation of beta-adrenergic receptors and alpha s.

We have previously demonstrated that cultures of myocytes from embryonic chick atria grown in media supplemented with fetal calf serum from which lipoproteins have been removed demonstrate a nearly 10-fold increase in sensitivity of beating to the muscarinic cholinergic agonist carbamylcholine compared with cells grown with control medium. This increased response to carbamylcholine was associated with a 1.4-fold increase in total cell cholesterol, a 2-fold increase in the number of muscarinic receptors which bind agonist with high affinity, and a 2-fold increase in the levels of the alpha subunits of Go and Gi (Haigh, L. S., Leatherman, G. F., O'Hara, D. S., Smith, T. W., and Galper, J. B. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 15608-15618). In the studies reported here, we determined the responsiveness of cells grown in lipoprotein-depleted serum (LPDS) to beta-adrenergic stimulation. Isoproterenol stimulated a contractile response of 58% measured as an increase in amplitude of contraction with a half-maximal effect at 3 x 10(-7) M for cells grown in fetal calf serum, but had no significant effect on amplitude of contraction on cells grown in LPDS. In cells grown in media supplemented with fetal calf serum, isoproterenol (1 x 10(-3) M) stimulated adenylate cyclase activity 100% over basal with an EC50 of 7 x 10(-6) M compared with an increase of 32% in cells grown in media supplemented with LPDS. beta-Adrenergic receptor number as measured by the binding of 125I-pindolol decreased from 24 +/- 3 (+/- S.E., n = 6) fmol/mg protein in cells grown under control conditions to 12 +/- 2 (n = 6) fmol/mg protein in media supplemented with LPDS. The level of alpha s as measured both by ADP-ribosylation with cholera toxin in the presence of 32P-NAD and by immunoblotting with specific antibody to alpha s decreased by 3-fold in cells grown in media supplemented with LPDS compared with control. All of these effects of growth of cells in LPDS were reversed by incubating cells with LPDS plus 30 microM mevinolin, an inhibitor of endogenous cholesterol synthesis. These studies indicate that growth of cells in media supplemented with LPDS results in a coordinate decrease in the levels of beta-adrenergic receptors and alpha s. Taken together with our previous studies these data support the hypothesis that the receptors and guanine nucleotide-binding proteins which mediate sympathetic and parasympathetic responsiveness in the heart are reciprocally regulated.
Pyrometallurgical Processing Technologies for Treating High Arsenic Copper Concentrates

Various pyrometallurgical methods for treating copper concentrates that contain appreciable arsenic are reviewed. Various aspects of the engineering of these treatment methods are discussed. The methods discussed include: complete oxidation with arsenic fixation; selective volatilization of arsenic; acid baking, soda ash roasting, and others methods. Methods for the ultimate disposal, or marketing, of the arsenic are discussed.
Obscuring sexual crime: examining media representations of sexual violence in Megan's law

Sexual violence remains a pervasive and persistent social problem. In 1996, Congress enacted Megan’s Law, dictating mandatory community notification and potential civil commitment for those deemed by the State to be dangerous sexual offenders. In 2013, Megan’s Law continues to influence the treatment of sexual offenders under law and the social construction of a highly publicized, yet statistically rare, sexual crime – the rape and murder of a young female child by a depraved male stranger. This influence highlights the extent to which this personalized crime bill shapes the social construction of sexual violence in terms of sex and gender systems. This paper examines how sex and gender shape media discourses of the sexual offender and victim that are mobilized in the legislative debate on Megan’s Law. Drawing on theoretical ideas from cultural studies and feminist legal scholarship, we employ discourse analysis to analyze the legislative debate on Megan’s Law. We find that high-profile media images of se...
Oxide Electrodes at High Temperatures

High temperature fuel cells and electrolysers based on solid yttria stabilized zirconia electrolytes typically operate at 1000°C to reduce polarization losses. Much of the published work on electrode reactions has been carried out on precious metal electrodes (1–4). Using point contact electrodes eliminates the contribution of concentration polarization due to mass transport (5,6). The rate controlling step in the electrode reaction at 1000°C is the adsorption-desorption of oxygen (1,2,7,8). Oxide electrodes exhibited marked time dependence of polarization. Base metal oxide electrodes defect structures depend on oxygen partial pressure. The hysteresis is then associated with the slow equilibration of the defect structure with the applied overpotential (9,10). The present paper extends the application of the model and presents conclusions which can aid in high temperature electrode design.
A Pathogenetic Categorization of Clinical Syndromes Caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae

This chapter discusses clinical syndromes caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, categorizing them based on pathogenesis and immune response. The current understanding of hematogenous infection is based on an expanded understanding of events in which pneumococci “settle out in” or “seed” various body sites. The resulting infections include meningitis, primary peritonitis, septic arthritis, osteomyelitis, and soft tissue infection. Important in the pathogenesis of acute sinusitis is congestion of the mucosal membranes caused by allergy or viral infection; resulting obstruction at the osteomeatal complex prevents clearance of bacteria. Not surprisingly, the bacteriology of acute maxillary sinusitis is similar to that of otitis media, with S. pneumoniae and/or Haemophilus influenzae being isolated in the great majority of cases. The majority of patients with pneumococcal pneumonia do not have detectable bacteremia, and it is very uncommon for the laboratory to isolate pneumococci from sputum of a patient who does not have a clear clinical picture of pneumonia or acute purulent tracheobronchitis. Empyema, the most common complication of pneumococcal pneumonia in the preantibiotic era, occurred in about 5% of cases and remains the most common today, with an incidence of approximately 2%. S. pneumoniae, despite its somewhat limited array of tissue-damaging enzymes and toxins, remains a prominent cause of infection with a surprisingly broad array of manifestations.
Effects of leading edge entrainment on the double flame structure in lifted ethanol spray flames

Abstract OH planar laser-induced fluorescence and smoke visualization have been performed in the near field of a turbulent ethanol spray flame to investigate reaction zone structure and the effects of air entrainment on combustion. Annular air co-flow surrounds an axisymmetric spray injector utilizing a pressure-swirl atomizer to supply a hollow cone fuel spray. OH fluorescence demarcates reaction zone contours while smoke visualization indicates ambient air entrainment and turbulent mixing within the spray. A double flame structure is observed, appearing as two diverging flame fronts originating at the stabilization point, and consists of an outer diffusion flame with an inner structure that transitions from mixing controlled to partially premixed combustion downstream of the leading edge. Without co-flow, the inner branch of the double structure burns intermittently with large regions of local extinction often observed, resulting from a high droplet flux and possibly high strain/scalar dissipation rates. Addition of 0.29 m/s co-flow lifts the flame base enough to increase air entrainment and enhance inner zone combustion. The inner zone burns continuously, with no apparent local extinction, due to turbulent mixing between entrained oxidizer and fuel vapor generated by easily vaporized droplets present in the recirculations along the shear layer. The polydisperse spray distribution yields larger droplets which are able to cross the inner reaction zone and then vaporize in the hot region bounded by the double flame structure. This region serves as a fuel source to feed both the stable outer diffusion flame and the diffusive structures of the inner zone. In both cases, the flame leading edge stabilizes in the low-speed flow just outside the periphery of the spray cone, where flame propagation against the incoming flow is possible.
Italy and the reform of the UN Security Council

(1999). Italy and the reform of the UN Security Council. The International Spectator: Vol. 34, Special Core Issue: The Future of NATO, pp. 7-16.
Seed germination and seedling growth of Zostera marina L. (eelgrass) in the Chesapeake Bay

Abstract Seed germination and seedling growth of Zostera marina L. were monitored in the Chesapeake Bay in 1979 and 1980. Harvested seeds were placed in small acrylic tubes at several sites representing the salinity range of Z. marina distribution. Seed germination was observed first in late September and continued through May, with peaks in the fall and spring. The majority of seeds that germinated (66%) did so between December and March when water temperatures ranged from 0–10°C. There was no correlation between sites (different salinity regimes) and frequency of germination rates, indicating that salinity was not a major factor in the germination process in this study. Additional information on seed germination was available for seeds collected in 1977 and 1980 and subsequently monitored for germination at only one site. These data were similar to germination frequency recorded in 1979–1980. Seedling growth was measured from individuals collected from an existing Zostera marina bed. Seedlings were collected from November through May, at which time we could no longer distinguish seedlings from existing vegetative stock. Growth was characterized by the increased length of the primary shoot, number of leaves per shoot and numbers of shoots per plant. Seedling growth was slow during the winter months (water temperature ⩽ 10°C) but rapidly increased in the spring (temperatures > 10°C). The size range of the harvested seedlings indicated that seed germination in the field probably occurred from October through April, corroborating evidence from the seed germination experiments.
How do Adolescents Process Smoking and Antismoking Advertisements? A Social Cognitive Analysis with Implications for Understanding Smoking Initiation:

Youth tobacco use has increased substantially in the United States during the past decade. This increase can be attributed, in part, to the potency of cigarette advertising and relative ineffective...
Facile Method for Determination of Amine Speciation in CO2 Capture Solutions

A simple and quantitatively reliable method for determination of amine speciation is introduced. The method employs three experimental methods that should be readily accessible. The results for CO2 loaded aqueous solutions of 30 wt % monoethanolamine (MEA) are used for demonstration of the method and show promising agreement with the more complicated spectroscopic methods reported in the literature. The measurements were done at ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure, since theoretical calculations and experimental data from the open literature revealed no considerable difference in speciation at different temperatures. The procedure is based on acid and base titration of the CO2 loaded amine solution along with the determination of total CO2 loading. The quantitative results for the different species concentration in the example MEA solution is in agreement with other available spectroscopic methods, mainly NMR, particularly for the free amine, carbamate, and protonated amine concentrations. Aspen ...
Inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and protein kinase C attenuates extracellular matrix protein-induced vascular smooth muscle cell chemotaxis.

Abstract Purpose: Intimal hyperplasia (IH), a significant cause of vascular reconstructive failure, is characterized by abnormal vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) migration, proliferation, and extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition. The ECM proteins, thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1), fibronectin (Fn), and vitronectin (Vn) can induce VSMC migration; however, the cellular signaling pathways involved are not identical for each ECM protein. Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and protein kinase C (PKC) are two enzymes that have been associated with VSMC migration. We sought to elucidate the roles of these enzymes in TSP-1-, Fn-, and Vn-stimulated VSMC migration. Methods: Chemotaxis assays were performed by using a modified Boyden Chamber. TSP-1, Fn, or Vn (20 μg/mL) or serum-free media (SFM) was placed in the bottom wells of the chamber. Quiescent bovine aortic VSMC were preincubated with LY 294002 (100 μmol/L), a PI3K inhibitor, bisindolylmaleimide I (GF 109203X, 1 μmol/L), a PKC inhibitor, or in SFM alone for 30 minutes. VSMCs (50,000 cells per well) were then placed in the top wells of the chamber, and the assay was conducted for 4 hours at 37°C. Results were recorded as the number of cells migrated per five fields (400×) and analyzed by means of the paired t test, with P value less than.05 considered to be significant (n = 3). Results: The VSMC migration was significantly increased by TSP-1, Fn, and Vn. LY 294002 inhibited TSP-1-, Fn-, and Vn-stimulated VSMC migration (85% to 89%, P P Conclusion: These results suggest that TSP-1-, Fn-, and Vn-stimulated migration is at least partially dependent on PI3K. However, only TSP-1 stimulated migration is at least partially dependent on PKC. (J Vasc Surg 2000;31:1160-7.)
Rett Syndrome and the Impact of MeCP2 Associated Transcriptional Mechanisms on Neurotransmission

Subtle alterations in synaptic function contribute to the pathophysiology associated with several neuropsychiatric diseases. Modifications in synaptic vesicle trafficking can cause frequency-dependent changes in neurotransmission, alter information coding in neural circuits, and affect long-term plasticity. Rett syndrome, a neurodevelopmental disorder that arises from mutations in the methyl-CpG-binding protein-2 (MeCP2) gene, is a salient example for such a disease state in which synaptic transmission—in particular, spontaneous neurotransmission and short-term synaptic plasticity, have been altered. MeCP2 is widely believed to be a transcriptional repressor that silences methylated genes. Recent studies have identified synaptic deficits associated with the loss of MeCP2 in several brain regions, including the hippocampus. These findings suggest a synaptic basis for neurological symptoms associated with Rett syndrome and suggest an important role for transcriptional repression in the regulation of neurotransmission. These studies also highlight the importance of histone deacetylation and DNA methylation, two key epigenetic mechanisms in controlling synaptic function. These mechanisms are essential for chromatin remodeling in neurons as well as for repression of gene activation by MeCP2 and related methyl-binding proteins. Future work focusing on the regulation of DNA methylation and histone deacetylation by synaptic activity and how these epigenetic alterations affect neurotransmission will be critical to elucidate the mechanisms underlying Rett syndrome. In addition, this work will also help delineate a key pathway that regulates properties of neurotransmission in the central nervous system that may underlie additional neuropsychiatric disorders.
Safety design and radioactive-waste-disposal analysis for the TITAN-II reversed-field-pinch reactor design

Abstract Strong emphasis was given to safety engineering in the TITAN study. Instead of an add-on safety design and analysis task, the safety activity was incorporated into the process of design selection and integration at the beginning of the study. Low afterheat structural material, V3 Ti1 Si was used. Passive safety features like Ar cover gas, lithium drain tanks were used to minimize the likelihood and consequence of lithium fire. Plasma accident scenarios were evaluated and found that passive safety features can be incorporated into the design. Detailed safety analysis indicated that only the assurance of coolant-piping and vacuum-vessel integrity is necessary to protect the public. The TITAN-I design meets the definition of level 3 of safety assurance design “small-scale passive safety assurance”.
Breeding and moult of four bird species in tropical West Africa

The annual cycles of breeding and moult were studied in four species of birds in Liberia in tropical West Africa: Fiscal Shrike, Lanius collaris Linnaeus 1758; Vieillot's Black Weaver, Ploceus nigerrimus Vieillot 1819; Common Garden Bulbul, Pycnonotus barbatus (Destontaines 1789); and Little Greenbul, Andropadus virens Cassin 1857. Pronounced differences were observed. The insectivorous L. collaris reproduced during the wet season, with moult towards the end of the wet season. This species experienced significant weight loss during the dry season, when food was more scarce. In contrast, the omnivorous P. nigerrimus fed on rice during the dry season, with rapid moult and continuation of breeding during this time. Only male P. nigerrimus experienced significant weight loss during the dry season, possibly because of large energy expenditures associated with nest building. The omnivorous P. barbatus appeared to be non-seasonal in reproduction, with moult in the wet season. The omnivorous A. virens was non-sea...
Influence of design tools on conceptually driven processes

Design thinking literature suggests that design tools can influence early design activities in a bottom-up, data-driven manner. This study suggests that design tools can influence design thinking in a top-down manner and cause designers prematurely to fixate on the details of a design solution. Further, such fixation can take place before a designer actually utilizes these features to produce a sketch.
Are leadless pacemakers a niche or the future of device therapy

Pacemakers were developed in the 1950s primarily to treat life-threatening transient heart block after cardiac surgery. These were large external devices connected to epicardial electrodes placed surgically. Although life-sustaining, these devices were plagued by many problems including short
Positive C4d immunostaining of placental villous syncytiotrophoblasts supports host-versus-graft rejection in villitis of unknown etiology.

ABSTRACT Chronic villitis of unknown etiology (VUE) occurs in 5% of placentas submitted to pathology and is characterized by lymphohistiocytic infiltration of chorionic villi. VUE is associated with fetal growth restriction, preterm birth, and recurrent pregnancy loss. Accumulating evidence indicates that VUE may represent a host-versus-graft reaction analogous to transplant rejection. Pathologists routinely screen for antibody-mediated rejection in transplant biopsies by immunostaining for C4d, which highlights the recognition of donor cells by the host immune system. Since the hemochorial placenta is bathed in maternal blood, we hypothesized that cases of VUE may show C4d deposition onto villous syncytiotrophoblasts (STB). Chronic villitis was diagnosed in 82 of 1986 (4%) singleton placentas submitted to our department from 2007 through 2011. Forty randomly selected cases were gestational age-matched with 40 negative controls. Patient charts were reviewed and representative placental sections were immun...
Tat-SF1 Is Not Required for Tat Transactivation but Does Regulate the Relative Levels of Unspliced and Spliced HIV-1 RNAs

Background HIV-1 relies on several host proteins for productive viral transcription. HIV-1 Tat-specific factor 1 (Tat-SF1) is among these cofactors that were identified by in vitro reconstituted transcription reactions with immunodepleted nuclear extracts. At the onset of this work, the prevailing hypothesis was that Tat-SF1 was a required cofactor for the viral regulatory protein, Tat; however, this had not previously been formally tested in vivo. Methodology/Principal Findings To directly address the involvement of Tat-SF1 in HIV-1 gene expression, we depleted Tat-SF1 in HeLa cells by conventional expression of shRNAs and in T- Rex -293 cells containing tetracycline-inducible shRNAs targeting Tat-SF1. We achieved efficient depletion of Tat-SF1 and demonstrated that this did not affect cell viability. HIV-1 infectivity decreased in Tat-SF1-depleted cells, but only when multiple rounds of infection occurred. Neither Tat-dependent nor basal transcription from the HIV-1 LTR was affected by Tat-SF1 depletion, suggesting that the decrease in infectivity was due to a deficiency at a later step in the viral lifecycle. Finally, Tat-SF1 depletion resulted in an increase in the ratio of unspliced to spliced viral transcripts. Conclusions/Significance Tat-SF1 is not required for regulating HIV-1 transcription, but is required for maintaining the ratios of different classes of HIV-1 transcripts. These new findings highlight a novel, post-transcriptional role for Tat-SF1 in the HIV-1 life cycle.
The Delineation Of The Disturbed Rock Zone Surrounding Excavations In Salt

At the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in southeastern New Mexico, the Disturbed Rock Zone (DRZ, the zone of rock in which the mechanical and hydrologic properties have changed in response to excavation) has been characterized with visual observations, geophysical methods, and gas-flow measurements. The visual observations, geophysics, and gas-flow tests have defined a DRZ at the WIPP extending laterally throughout the excavation and varying in depth from 1 to 5 m. Desaturation and microfracturing has occurred to some degree within the zone. The dilation that results from the microfracturing in the DRZ provides a component of the observed closure. 19 refs., 7 figs.
Sleep duration and body mass index in children and adolescents with and without obstructive sleep apnea

The prevalence of pediatric obesity and short sleep duration has simultaneously increased in recent decades. Sleep plays a critical role in metabolic and endocrine regulation and insufficient sleep has been shown to be associated with changes in metabolism. Obesity, a major risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), has been also associated with metabolic dysregulation. Despite this, no study investigating short sleep and obesity has addressed the potential confounder of OSA. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between short sleep duration and obesity in children with and without OSA. In this retrospective study, 306 children who underwent polysomnography between January and December 2010 were included. A diagnosis of OSA was made if the apnea/hypopnea index on polysomnography is ≥1. Typical sleep times were obtained by parental report. Short sleep duration was defined as a reduction of >1 h from the minimum total sleep time (TST) recommended for age from the National Sleep Foundation (NSF). Overall, 32 % were obese, 39.5 % had short sleep duration, and 78 % had OSA. Children with OSA had a similar frequency of short sleep duration than those without (39.6 vs. 42.4 %, p = 0.950). In children with short sleep duration, the odds ratio for obesity was 2.5 (95 % CI 1.3–4.9; p = 0.009) compared to children with TST within normal limits even after accounting for the presence of OSA. A parental history of total sleep duration of only 1 h less than recommended per age by the NSF is associated with a higher risk for obesity in children independently of the presence of OSA.
Conversion of 1,4-butanediol to γ-hydroxybutyric acid in rat brain and in peripheral tissue

Abstract Experiments in rats demonstrated that brain, liver, kidney and heart can convert 1,4-butanediol to γ-hydroxybutyrate. The liver was by far the most active tissue studied. Although brain was capable of converting 1,4-butanediol to γ-hydroxybutyrate, it appeared that the majority of γ-hydroxybutyrate derived from systemically administered 1,4-butanediol is formed in the liver. Thus, partial hepatectomy reduced the formation of γ-hydroxybutyrate from 1,4-butanediol as well as markedly reducing the “sleep” normally produced by administration of 1,4-butanediol. Very little difference was observed in the ability of various brain regions to oxidize 1,4-butanediol to γ-hydroxybutyrate. In addition, regional brain areas did not appear to have any observed specificity for the binding or retention of newly formed γ-hydroxybutyrate when 1,4-butanediol was administered either intravenously or intraventricularly.
Melanotic Whitlow (Subungual Melanoma)1

Melanotic whitlow, § a relatively rare form of melanoma, is an entity seldom recognized for what it really is. We have found in the literature only 52 well-documented cases. In many of these cases the disease had been previously misdiagnosed and mistreated. It is the purpose of this study to define the clinical and pathologic entity of melanotic whitlow in the hope that its early diagnosis and treatment will be facilitated.
Trade concentration and homeland security on the Canada‐United States border

Abstract Peace, trade, and culture are the three pillars of Canadian foreign policy, yet the Canada‐U.S. Smart Border Declaration and 30‐point Action Plan for Creating a Secure and Smart Border demonstrate that trade is clearly first among equals. The events of September 11, 2001, have increased the political and administrative spotlight on border security with the prevailing rhetoric that an “efficient flow” of routine trade and traffic will allow border officials to focus on “higher risk” individuals and freight. However, the maintenance of a dangerous concentration of trade through a limited number of border crossings is an unintended consequence of this approach. This concentration poses its own threat to binational economic security and will likely be worsened because the 30‐point Action Plan has five points that facilitate increased concentration at the border and entirely lacks a focus on deconcentrating the flow of goods. The article concludes with a few speculative policy ideas for long‐term deco...
Quenching of Na resonance radiation; collisions of excited sodium with atoms, molecules and electrons in the ICP

Abstract Spatial distributions of Na resonance level lifetimes in the inductively coupled plasma (ICP) are measured by time-resolved laser-excited fluorimetry. In order to elucidate the quenching mechanism, the lifetimes obtained are compared to theoretical values estimated from the quenching rate coefficients and number densities of colliding species. As a result, it is shown that resonance level Na atoms are mainly deactivated by electrons at lower heights in the plasma, while collisions with nitrogen molecules entrained from the surrounding atmosphere dominated the quenching reaction in the tail flame region.
Delayed Stress Response Syndrome: Family Therapy Indications†

The paper draws upon the work of Mardi Horowitz and his colleagues in the explication of the delayed stress response syndrome. The syndrome is a form of chronic catastrophic stress disorder to be discussed in the new “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual.” The theoretical nature of the syndrome and its most characteristic symptoms are delineated within the context of treating Vietnam combat veterans. The paper outlines treatment implications within a family therapy program. Specific issues and procedures discussed include (a) diagnosis of the syndrome and the family pathology within which it is embedded, (b) identification of the particular family characteristics which tend to affect and be affected by the syndrome, and (c) the use of both the spouse and another survivor of the catastrophic event in the treatment program.
A Test of Highly Optimized Tolerance Reveals Fragile Cell-Cycle Mechanisms Are Molecular Targets in Clinical Cancer Trials

Robustness, a long-recognized property of living systems, allows function in the face of uncertainty while fragility, i.e., extreme sensitivity, can potentially lead to catastrophic failure following seemingly innocuous perturbations. Carlson and Doyle hypothesized that highly-evolved networks, e.g., those involved in cell-cycle regulation, can be resistant to some perturbations while highly sensitive to others. The “robust yet fragile” duality of networks has been termed Highly Optimized Tolerance (HOT) and has been the basis of new lines of inquiry in computational and experimental biology. In this study, we tested the working hypothesis that cell-cycle control architectures obey the HOT paradigm. Three cell-cycle models were analyzed using monte-carlo sensitivity analysis. Overall state sensitivity coefficients, which quantify the robustness or fragility of a given mechanism, were calculated using a monte-carlo strategy with three different numerical techniques along with multiple parameter perturbation strategies to control for possible numerical and sampling artifacts. Approximately 65% of the mechanisms in the G1/S restriction point were responsible for 95% of the sensitivity, conversely, the G2-DNA damage checkpoint showed a much stronger dependence on a few mechanisms; ∼32% or 13 of 40 mechanisms accounted for 95% of the sensitivity. Our analysis predicted that CDC25 and cyclin E mechanisms were strongly implicated in G1/S malfunctions, while fragility in the G2/M checkpoint was predicted to be associated with the regulation of the cyclin B-CDK1 complex. Analysis of a third model containing both G1/S and G2/M checkpoint logic, predicted in addition to mechanisms already mentioned, that translation and programmed proteolysis were also key fragile subsystems. Comparison of the predicted fragile mechanisms with literature and current preclinical and clinical trials suggested a strong correlation between efficacy and fragility. Thus, when taken together, these results support the working hypothesis that cell-cycle control architectures are HOT networks and establish the mathematical estimation and subsequent therapeutic exploitation of fragile mechanisms as a novel strategy for anti-cancer lead generation.
Assay for the quinocarmycin analog DX-52-1 in human plasma using high-performance liquid chromatography with automated column switching and low wavelength ultraviolet detection.

The hydrocyanated derivative of the antitumor antibiotic quinocarmycin, DX-52-1 (I), exhibits impressive activity against human melanoma xenograft models in vivo. Phase I clinical trials to evaluate this compound as an antineoplastic agent have been initiated by the US National Cancer Institute. We have developed an HPLC assay for the determination of I in human plasma involving automated column switching and UV detection at 210 nm. The preparation of samples for chromatographic analysis entails the preliminary removal of plasma proteins by precipitation with acetonitrile, acidifying the clear supernatant to pH 4.5, then extracting twice with tert.-butyl methyl ether to recover the drug. A heart-cutting procedure employing two HPLC columns with contrasting retention characteristics under isocratic reversed-phase conditions was used to achieve the selectivity required for low wavelength UV detection of the analyte. The sample extract was initially loaded onto a column packed with a cyanopropyl stationary phase. During the predetermined time interval that I eluted from this column, a fully automated six-position switching valve was used to direct the effluent onto an octadecylsilane analytical column. The assay has been thoroughly validated with regard to linearity, inter- and intra-day accuracy and precision, recovery, selectivity and specificity. Using a sample volume of 1.0 ml, the lowest concentration of I quantified with acceptable day-to-day reproducibility was found to be 2.56 ng/ml (R.S.D. 18.9%, n=21, 4 months). This proved to be sufficiently sensitive for pharmacokinetic drug level monitoring in cancer patients treated with a 6-h continuous intravenous infusion of I, even at the starting dose of 3 mg/m2. The successful performance and reliability of the assay has been demonstrated through extensive application to the routine analysis of plasma specimens acquired during a phase I clinical trial of the drug.
On the determination of the Hermaean magnetic moment: A critical review

The determination of Mercury's magnetic moment from the spatially and temporally limited observations obtained by the Mariner 10 mission is dependent upon the assumed nature of both the intrinsic planetary magnetic field and that of the magnetospheric current systems. In this paper the methods that have been used for this purpose are reviewed. The results that have been obtained are then considered in comparison with the constraints placed on the planetary field by the solar wind dynamic pressures and stand-off distances inferred from the Mariner 10 magnetic field data by Slavin and Holtzer (1979) which are consistent with an effective dipole moment of 6 + or - 2 x 10 to the 22nd G cu cm. It is found that the models which fit the observations with substantial quadrupole and octupole moments are not consistent with the magnetospheric boundary conditions, presumably owing to incorrect assumptions regarding the magnetopause position, incorrect assumptions regarding solar wind dynamic pressure, and/or averaging over temporal variations in the Mariner 10 data.
The Need for Axillary Lymph Node Dissection in T1/T2 Breast Cancer Surgery—Counterpoint

For breast cancer patients, the role of the axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in the management of clinically node negative breast cancer patient has shifted from routine, to selective, to increasingly rare. With the publication of the American College of Surgeons Oncology Group (ACOSOG) Z0011 trial results, some are ready to announce the time of death of this procedure. However, many questions remain regarding the design and statistical interpretation of the study, the treatments the patients actually received, and its applicability in clinical practice in light of other studies concerning regional management. Thus, the reports of the ALND's death may be greatly exaggerated. Careful acknowledgement of the study's strengths and shortcomings, and more recent trial data, suggest that although ALND may be safely avoided in a subset of sentinel lymph node positive, Z0011-eligible patients, others may require multidisciplinary review and consensus, and a careful conversation with the patient, before deciding it is not necessary. Cancer Res; 73(24); 7156–60. ©2013 AACR . See Point and Reply by Morrow, [p. 7151][1] and [p. 7161][2] [1]: /lookup/volpage/73/7151?iss=24 [2]: /lookup/volpage/73/7161?iss=24
Discourse Structure and the Perception of Incoherence in International Teaching Assistants' Spoken Discourse

Work by discourse analysts shows that listeners' interpretation of discourse is determined not only by a speaker's pronunciation and grammar but also by discourse-level patterns of language use. To date, relatively little is known about the discourse-level patterns typically found in the English of nonnative speakers, how they diverge from discourse produced by native speakers, or how differences in nonnative discourse patterns affect native English listeners' understanding of the discourse. Using a qualitative discourse-analytic framework, this paper compares the planned spoken English of a native speaker of Chinese whose English discourse was perceived by native speakers of English as difficult to follow with that of a native speaker of U.S. English. The analyses reveal a variety of differences in the use of discourse structuring devices, specifically in the areas of lexical discourse markers, lexical specificity, and syntactic incorporation. It is argued that these differences in discourse-level patterns interfere with the listeners' ability to construct a coherent interpretation of the Chinese speaker's discourse.
Kinetics of electron trapping reactions in amorphous solids; a non-Gaussian diffusion model

Decay patterns of trapped electrons in aqueous glasses have been analyzed over the time span of more than eight decades in terms of a time-dependent "rate constant" of the form ${t}^{\ensuremath{\alpha}\ensuremath{-}1}$, $0l\ensuremath{\alpha}l1$, which can be derived from the long-tail hopping-time distribution of Scher and Montroll. The curve fitting of experiments in our model is quite satisfactory with $\ensuremath{\alpha}\ensuremath{\sim}0.1$ and with another adjustable parameter which depends on the trapping species and varies within one order of magnitude from one system to another. The time-dependent spectral shift for the absorption spectrum of trapped electrons can also be fitted by $\ensuremath{\alpha}\ensuremath{\sim}0.1$, providing fairly direct evidence that non-Gaussian diffusion of electrons from shallow to deep traps underlies the ${t}^{\ensuremath{\alpha}\ensuremath{-}1}$ dependence.
Aqueous aerosol oxidation of nitrous acid by O2, O3 AND H2O2

Abstract We have measured the rate of oxidation of nitrous acid to nitric acid by O 2 , O 3 and H 2 O 2 in aqueous solution in the pH range 0–4. The rate expressions at 25 Celsius are: (moles l −1 s −1 ) − d ( O 2 )/ dt = 36( HNO 2 ) 2 ( O 2 ) (±50%)− d ( O 3 )/ dt = 5.0 × 10 5 ( O 3 )( NO 2 − )(±20%) −d(N III )/dt = 4.6 × 10 3 (H + )(H 2 O 2 )(HNO 2 ) (±20%) . An atmospheric calculation is given to show that the O 3 oxidation could be a significant sink for HNO 2 in clouds at pH approximately 4.5 and higher, and the H 2 O 2 reaction could be a significant sink at pH approximately 2.0 and lower.