cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact of substrate surface scratches on the laser damage resistance of multilayer coatings

Substrate scratches can limit the laser resistance of multilayer mirror coatings on high-peak-power laser systems. To date, the mechanism by which substrate surface defects affect the performance of coating layers under high power laser irradiation is not well defined. In this study, we combine experimental approaches with theoretical simulations to delineate the correlation between laser damage resistance of coating layers and the physical properties of the substrate surface defects including scratches. A focused ion beam technique is used to reveal the morphological evolution of coating layers on surface scratches. Preliminary results show that coating layers initially follow the trench morphology on the substrate surface, and as the thickness increases, gradually overcoat voids and planarize the surface. Simulations of the electrical-field distribution of the defective layers using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method show that field intensification exists mostly near the top surface region of the coating near convex focusing structures. The light intensification could be responsible for the reduced damage threshold. Damage testing under 1064 nm, 3 ns laser irradiation over coating layers on substrates with designed scratches show that damage probability and threshold of the multilayer depend on substrate scratch density and width. Our preliminary results show that damage occurs on the region of the coating where substrate scratches reside and etching of the substrate before coating does not seem to improve the laser damage resistance.
Overview of Coating and Compatibility Research for Fusion Energy in the U.S.

Planning for a U.S. test blanket module to operate in the internationally-sponsored ITER reactor has focused attention on the many coating and compatibility issues that will need to be solved before fusion energy moves from concept to commercial reality. Examples are given for (1) a dual-layer, electrically-resistant coating as a potential solution to reduce the magnetohydrodynamic pressure drop with liquid Li and (2) materials compatibility issues with eutectic Pb-Li for conventional alloys and SiC/SiC composites. Because of the reduced activity of Li in Pb-Li, a wider range of functional materials can be considered in this system. Nevertheless, an Al2O3 scale on FeCrAl was transformed to LiAlO2 after exposure to Pb-Li at 800°C.
Lupus anticoagulant, heparin use, and thrombocytopenia in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension: A preliminary report

PURPOSE : An increased occurrence of thrombotic events has been described in patients exhibiting a lupus anticoagulant (LA). In patients with chronic, major vessel thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, not only has there been a relatively high frequency of the LA, but also an unexpected association with heparin-related thrombocytopenia. This retrospective report emphasizes the frequency of this association. PATIENTS AND METHODS : We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 216 patients admitted to the University of California, San Diego, Medical Center who were being considered for surgical correction of their chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. For each patient, the following information was sought : presence of an LA, variation in platelet numbers during the preoperative evaluation, and determination of whether an observed thrombocytopenia was related to heparin use. RESULTS : An LA was found in 23 of the 216 patients (10.6%). Of the remaining patients, sufficient platelet data for comparison were available for 68 patients. These 68 patients constituted the control group. Within the LA group, platelet counts during the preoperative evaluation declined to 51.6% ± 16.7% of baseline counts, a highly significant difference (P <0.0001) compared with the non-LA control group, who underwent a comparable evaluation with similar heparin exposure. In addition, heparin-associated thrombocytopenia developed in 13 of the 23 LA patients (56.5%) and in none of the control patients. Heparin-induced arterial thrombosis was implicated as the cause of a myocardial infarction in 1 of the patients with heparin-associated thrombocytopenia. CONCLUSIONS : In patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, a high incidence of the LA and an accompanying association with heparin-related thrombocytopenia have been observed. Although further prospective studies of this relationship are needed, physicians should be alert to the possibility of thrombocytopenia when using heparin for patients exhibiting an LA.
Altered functional loading causes differential effects in the subchondral bone and condylar cartilage in the temporomandibular joint from young mice

Summary Objective Altered loading is an important etiological factor for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders. Studies examining altered loading of the TMJ have been done in rats but the response of the TMJ to altered loading in mice is largely unknown. Therefore, due to the potential usefulness of genetically engineered mice, the goal of this study was to develop a mouse TMJ altered functional loading model. Methods One hundred and thirty four, 21-day-old CD-1 female mice were divided into two groups: (1) normal loading (hard pellet diet) for 2–6 weeks and (2) altered functional loading (incisor trimming every other day and soft dough diet) for 2–6 weeks. The mandibular condylar cartilage was evaluated by histology, the subchondral bone was evaluated by microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) analysis and gene expression was evaluated by real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. Results Altered functional loading for 2–6 weeks caused significant reduction in the thickness of the condylar cartilage whereas, only at 4 weeks was there a significant decrease in the bone volume fraction and trabecular thickness of the subchondral bone. Gene expression analysis showed that altered functional loading for 4 weeks caused a significant reduction in the expression of SRY-box containing gene 9 ( Sox9 ), Collagen type X ( Col X ), Indian hedgehog ( Ihh ), Collagen type II ( Col II ) and Vascular endothelial growth factor ( Vegf ) and altered loading for 6 weeks caused a significant decrease in the expression of Sox9 , Col II , Vegf and Receptor activator of NF-κB ligand ( Rankl ) compared to the normal loading group. Conclusion Altered functional TMJ loading in mice for 2–6 weeks leads to a loss of the condylar cartilage and a transient loss in the density of the mandibular condylar subchondral bone.
Inter-program optimizations for conserving disk energy

Previous work has shown that intra-program optimizations, i.e., optimizations performed on individual programs in isolation, can be very effective in reducing disk energy in streaming applications. This paper investigates the potential additional benefits of inter-program optimizations where sets of programs are optimized together. Experimental results on different subsets of three streaming applications show that 7--49% additional energy savings (27.3% on average) can be obtained with negligible performance penalties using two novel inter-program optimizations, namely execution context sensitive buffer size selection and inverse barrier synchronization. These figures were obtained via physical measurements on two laptop disks
Gross Moist Stability and MJO Simulation Skill in Three Full-Physics GCMs

Previous studies have demonstrated a link between gross moist stability (GMS) and intraseasonal variability in theoretical and reduced-complexity models. In such simplified models, MJO-like moisture modes— convectively coupled tropical disturbances akin to the MJO whose formation and dynamics are linked to moisture perturbations—develop only when GMS is either negative or ‘‘effectively’’ negative when considering additional sources of moist entropy. These simplified models typically use a prescribed, timeindependent GMS value. Limited work has been done to assess GMS and its connection to intraseasonal variability in full-physics general circulation models (GCMs). The time-mean and intraseasonal behavior of normalized GMS (NGMS) are examined in three pairs of GCMs to elucidate the possible importance of NGMS for the MJO. In each GCM pair, one member produces weak intraseasonal variability, while the other produces robust MJOs because of a change in the treatment of deep convection. A strong linear correlation between time-mean NGMS and MJO simulation skill is observed, suchthatGCMswithlesspositiveNGMSproduceimprovedMJOeastwardpropagation.Thereductionintimemean NGMS is primarily due to a sharp drop to negative values in the NGMS component related to vertical advection, while the horizontal advection component has a less clear relationship with MJO simulations. Intraseasonal fluctuations of anomalous NGMS modulate the magnitude of background NGMS but generally donot changethesign ofbackgroundNGMS.NGMS declinesahead ofpeak MJO rainfalland increases during and after heaviest precipitation. Total NGMS fluctuates during MJO passage but remains positive, suggesting that other sources of moist entropy are required to generate an effectively negative NGMS.
Impact of dietary fat on the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in Ldlr−/− mice

The prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has increased in parallel with central obesity and is now the most common chronic liver disease in developed countries. NAFLD is defined as excessive accumulation of lipid in the liver, i.e. hepatosteatosis. The severity of NAFLD ranges from simple fatty liver (steatosis) to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Simple steatosis is relatively benign until it progresses to NASH, which is characterised by hepatic injury, inflammation, oxidative stress and fibrosis. Hepatic fibrosis is a risk factor for cirrhosis and primary hepatocellular carcinoma. Our studies have focused on the impact of diet on the onset and progression of NASH. We developed a mouse model of NASH by feeding Ldlr-/- mice a western diet (WD), a diet moderately high in saturated and trans-fat, sucrose and cholesterol. The WD induced a NASH phenotype in Ldlr-/- mice that recapitulates many of the clinical features of human NASH. We also assessed the capacity of the dietary n-3 PUFA, i.e. EPA (20 : 5,n-3) and DHA (22 : 6,n-3), to prevent WD-induced NASH in Ldlr-/- mice. Histologic, transcriptomic, lipidomic and metabolomic analyses established that DHA was equal or superior to EPA at attenuating WD-induced dyslipidemia and hepatic injury, inflammation, oxidative stress and fibrosis. Dietary n-3 PUFA, however, had no significant effect on WD-induced changes in body weight, body fat or blood glucose. These studies provide a molecular and metabolic basis for understanding the strengths and weaknesses of using dietary n-3 PUFA to prevent NASH in human subjects.
Cutaneous Resistance to Evaporative Water Loss in the Crab-eating Frog (Fejervarya cancrivora)

Abstract Resistance to cutaneous evaporative water loss has been examined in anuran amphibians that occupy a variety of habitats, except for the ocean. We measured evaporative water loss rate and cutaneous resistance to evaporation in the Crab-eating Frog, Fejervarya cancrivora, a euryhaline species that enters the sea. Studies were conducted on Hoga Island, southeastern Sulawesi, Indonesia. Area-specific evaporative water loss rate was significantly lower in living F. cancrivora than in agar replicas of the frogs and total water loss rate was dependent on body mass. Cutaneous resistance to evaporative water loss was 0.27 sec cm−1, which is the lowest significant resistance known for frogs. Cutaneous resistance may have evolved as a way for F. cancrivora to reduce water loss while on land, thereby offsetting high osmotic losses to seawater before frogs have fully acclimated to higher salinities.
Pay-for-Performance and Accountability: Related Themes in Improving Health Care

Value-based purchasing, or pay-for-performance, is a major emerging theme in U.S. health care. Forces enhancing adoption of pay-for-performance programs include continued increases in medical costs beyond overall economic growth, a body of evidence that the quality of health care provided to patients is not directly related to the volume of services received, increasing evidence to serve as a basis for the development of standards against which to measure clinical performance, and increasing acceptance by physician organizations and individual practitioners of the rationale underlying these efforts. In this context, employers, government payers, and health plans are establishing a wide variety of pay-for-performance programs. This article reviews the critical design features of such efforts, describes the current types of programs on offer, and comments on the implications of this emerging movement for the future of health care in the United States.
Chloride ion currents contribute functionally to norepinephrine-induced vascular contraction.

Norepinephrine (NE) increases Cl− efflux from vascular smooth muscle (VSM) cells. An increase in Cl− conductance produces membrane depolarization. We hypothesized that if Cl− currents are important...
A dynamic piezoelectric micropumping phenomenon

A dynamic micropumping phenomenon has been observed, which is based on acoustic streaming generated by a piezotransducer actuated in d 31 mode without check valve. The use of d 31 mode of a piezoelectric microtransducer can significantly enhance the pumping performance for application in miniaturization. Experimental study of the maximum local velocity has been conducted to investigate the effect of actuator tip configuration on the micropumping performance. In addition, this study also shows the quantitative measurement of the pumping performance such as the pressure head generated as a function of different relevant parameters like applied electrical field, AC frequency, and length of the actuator.
Structural and Electrochemical Characterization of Composite Layered-Spinel Electrodes Containing Ni and Mn for Li-Ion Batteries

The structural features of a series of intergrown "layered-spinel" composite materials with initial formulation xLi[Mn 1.5 Ni 0.5 ]O 4 ·(1 -x)(Li 2 MnO 3 ·Li[Mn 0.5 Ni 0.5 ]O 2 ), previously shown to have attractive properties as positive electrodes in lithium batteries, were studied. The existence of a layered and a spinel component in samples with 0 < x < 1 was confirmed by both X-ray diffraction and 6 Li magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS NMR) spectroscopy. The unit-cell volume of the layered component was shown to decrease as a function of x, while the unit-cell parameter of the cubic spinel phase did not vary significantly. The 6 Li MAS NMR spectra confirmed that the cation distribution in these layered-spinel composite structures is extremely complex; analysis of the data, particularly for intermediate values of x, suggested that Mn 4+ , Mn 3+ , Ni 3+ , and Ni 2+ ions are present, rather than just Mn 4+ and Ni 2+ as implied by the ideal formula xLi[Mn 1.5 Ni 0.5 ]O 4 ·(1-x) (Li 2 MnO 3 ·Li[Mn 0.5 Ni 0.5 ]O 2 ). The structural changes induced by the electrochemical removal and reinsertion of lithium in the composite electrode for x = 0.5 were followed by 6 Li MAS NMR and related to the different signatures in the composition-voltage profiles. The activity of both the layered and the spinel component within a 5-2 V voltage window was confirmed.
An industrial cause of carpal tunnel syndrome

A retrospective study was done to determine why a meat packing plant in Illinois had such an unusually high incidence of carpal tunnel syndrome. In the past 12 years, 14.8% of employees at this plant have had a carpal tunnel release. Only two of 117 patients remained unimproved at an average follow-up of 37.4 months. The most consistent result after release was relief of the paroxysmal attacks of burning pain and paresthesia. Weakness of grip was the most significant postoperative complaint in 78%. Highly repetitive motions involving extreme wrist positions, especially flexion and ulnar deviation while grasping, are predominant in meat cutting and probably contribute to the development of carpal tunnel syndrome in this industry. Previous reports of industrial carpal tunnel syndrome have not approached the incidence identified in this study. Patient awareness and Workers' Compensation benefits may account for the high numbers seeking treatment.
Overreaction, Momentum, Liquidity, and Price Bubbles in Laboratory and Field Asset Markets

Laboratory asset markets provide an experimental setting in which to observe investor behavior. Over more than a decade, numerous studies have found that participants in laboratory experiments frequently drive asset prices far above fundamental value, after which the prices crash. This bubble-and-crash behavior is robust to variations in a number of variables, including liquidity (the amount of cash available relative to the value of the assets being traded), short-selling, certainty or uncertainty of dividendpayments, brokerage fees, capital gains taxes, buying on margin, and others.This paper attempts to model the behavior of asset prices in experimental settings by proposing a "momentum model" of asset price changes. The model assumes that investors follow a combination of two factors when setting prices: fundamental value, and the recent price trend. The predictions of the model, while still far from perfect, are superior to those of a rational expectations model, in which traders consider only fundamental value. In particular, the momentum model predicts that higher levels of liquidity lead to larger price bubbles, a result that is confirmed in the experiments. The similarity between laboratory results and data from field (real-world) markets suggests that the momentum model may be applicable there as well.
Bioaccumulation of dietary 2,2′,4,4′,5,5′‐hexachlorobiphenyl and induction of hepatic arylhydrocarbon hydroxylase in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were fed either 5 or 20 μg 2,2′,4,4′,5,5′-hexachlorobiphenyl (245-HxCB)/g diet (wet wt.) for 4, 8, or 12 weeks. Hepatic xenobiotic-metabolizing enzyme activities and dietary 245-HxCB accumulation in liver, muscle, and remaining carcass were determined. Liver-to-body weight ratios were not altered by either of the two 245-HxCB concentrations. Relative growth rate increased with time but was not altered by 245-HxCB concentration. Bioaccumulation of 245-HxCB was dose and time dependent in all tissues without reaching apparent steady state. Hepatic arylhydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) activities increased with 245-HxCB dose and with time. Ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activities also increased in fish fed 20 μg 245-HxCB/g diet. No 245-HxCB-induced changes in uridine diphosphoglucuronosyl transferase (UDP-GT) or NADPH-cytochrome-c reductase (NCCR) activities were determined. High-resolution GC-MS analysis of the 245-HxCB standard revealed trace (0.4-0.5%) contamination by two mono-ortho pentachlorobiphenyls (PnCBs): 2,3,3′,4,4′-PnCB and 2,3,4,4′,5-PnCB. Total liver accumulation of these contaminants was inversely related with corresponding EROD and AHH activities and estimated to contribute minimally to their induction. Results from this study suggested that long-term dietary 245-HxCB exposures induced cytochrome P4501A activities in rainbow trout liver.
Parent lithology, surface-groundwater exchange, and nitrate retention in headwater streams

We address the ecological ramifications of variation in hydrologic interaction between streams and alluvial aquifers in catchments with alluvium derived from parent materials of contrasting geologic composition. We present a conceptual model in which solute retention in streams results from hydrologic retention (increased water residence time resulting from surface-groundwater exchange), biological nutrient cycling, and chemical processes. Solute injection experiments were done in study catchments comprised of sandstonesiltstone (site l), volcanic tuff (site 2), and granite-gneiss (site 3). Distribution of an injected conservative tracer (Br) illustrated that rate and extent of surface-water penetration into the alluvial aquifer increased across study catchments as was predicted from increasing alluvial hydraulic conductivity. Concurrently, groundwater inputs at baseflow represented between 13 and 57% of aboveground discharge at upstream transects, indicating bidirectional hydrologic exchange along the study reaches. N : P ratios in surface water ranged from 4 to 16, suggesting strong biotic demand for inorganic N. Coinjection of NaBr and NaNO, revealed longest nitrate uptake length (S,) at site 1, intermediate S, at site 2, and shortest uptake length at site 3. Modeling of transient hydrologic solute storage revealed that S, correlated with hydraulic storage, suggesting an important role for subsurface processes in total nitrate retention.
The David Rosen lecture: biological control in citrus

Abstract David Rosen was a scientist, professor, administrator, philosopher, organizer, family man, and friend to many. He made numerous and remarkable contributions to biological control in citrus. Much of his research was on the biosystematics of Aphytis parasitoids, but he also held strong convictions about the importance of biological control in citrus integrated pest management (IPM), and carried out research on genetic improvement of parasitoids. David was the first incumbent of the Vigevani Chair of Agriculture and Professor of Entomology at the Faculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Quality Sciences at the Rehovot campus of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. David served as an organizer of the XIV International Plant Protection Congress in Jerusalem, Israel, and his imprint on the congress was evident despite his absence. In addition to reviewing David's scientific contributions, I present an overview of the challenges facing biological control in the USA, including many that concerned David: increased scrutiny from regulatory agencies regarding the effects of natural enemies on nontarget species, loss of taxonomic experts, concerns about the accidental introduction of plant pathogens with the importation of natural enemies of insect vectors, and challenges to the tradition of international cooperation. If the increased demand for biological control is to be met in 21st century agricultural IPM programs, several scientific, social, and legal issues must be resolved.
Comparison of endotoxin detoxification by leukocytes and macrophages.

SummaryEndotoxin detoxification by leukocyte and macrophage sonicates was evaluated using the lead-sensitized rat shock bioassay. Leukocyte sonicates from both blood and peritoneal exudates did not inactivate endotoxin. In contrast, sonicates of macrophages from liver, lung, or peritoneal exudates displayed marked endotoxin detoxifying ability. During the development of peritoneal exudates to casein ip, the cell progression from a neutrophilia to a macrophage population was associated with the development of exudate endotoxin detoxifying ability. Endotoxin inactivation was demonstrated in the large granule fraction of peritoneal macrophages. The probable specificity of macrophage lysosomes in certain aspects of endotoxin detoxification is discussed.
Towards a formal foundation for domain specific modeling languages

Embedded system design is inherently domain specific and typically model driven.As a result, design methodologies like OMG's model driven architecture (MDA)and model integrated computing (MIC)evolved to support domain specific modeling language(DSMLs). The success of the DSML approach has encouraged work on the heterogeneous composition of DSMLs, model transformations between DSMLs, approximations of formal properties within DSMLs, and reuse of DSML semantics. However, in the effort to produce a mature design approach that can handle both the structural and behavioral semantics of embedded system design,many foundational issues concerning DSMLs have been overlooked. In this paper we present a formal foundation for DSMLs and for their construction within metamodeling frameworks. This foundation allows us to algorithmically decide if two DSMLs or metamodels are equivalent, if model transformations preserve properties, and if metamodeling frameworks have metametamodels. These results are key to building correct embedded systems with DSMLs.
Side Information Power Allocation for MIMO-OFDM PAPR Reduction by Selected Mapping

Multiple-input-multiple-output orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (MIMO-OFDM) has been receiving a great deal of attention as a solution for high-quality service for next generation wireless communications. However one of main problems of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) is its high peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) which seriously limits power efficiency of high power amplifier (HPA). In this paper, we present PAPR reduction technique of V-BLAST based MIMO-OFDM system. We use the selected mapping (SLM) technique as a PAPR reduction technique since it does not cause any signal distortion. As a special protection for side information (SI) of SLM technique, we propose SI power allocation technique. Simulation results show that proposed technique gives significantly better BER performance than ordinary SLM technique for MIMO-OFDM systems.
Nucleoside salvage pathway kinases regulate hematopoiesis by linking nucleotide metabolism with replication stress

Nucleotide deficiency causes replication stress (RS) and DNA damage in dividing cells. How nucleotide metabolism is regulated in vivo to prevent these deleterious effects remains unknown. In this study, we investigate a functional link between nucleotide deficiency, RS, and the nucleoside salvage pathway (NSP) enzymes deoxycytidine kinase (dCK) and thymidine kinase (TK1). We show that inactivation of dCK in mice depletes deoxycytidine triphosphate (dCTP) pools and induces RS, early S-phase arrest, and DNA damage in erythroid, B lymphoid, and T lymphoid lineages. TK1(-/-) erythroid and B lymphoid lineages also experience nucleotide deficiency but, unlike their dCK(-/-) counterparts, they still sustain DNA replication. Intriguingly, dCTP pool depletion, RS, and hematopoietic defects induced by dCK inactivation are almost completely reversed in a newly generated dCK/TK1 double-knockout (DKO) mouse model. Using NSP-deficient DKO hematopoietic cells, we identify a previously unrecognized biological activity of endogenous thymidine as a strong inducer of RS in vivo through TK1-mediated dCTP pool depletion. We propose a model that explains how TK1 and dCK "tune" dCTP pools to both trigger and resolve RS in vivo. This new model may be exploited therapeutically to induce synthetic sickness/lethality in hematological malignancies, and possibly in other cancers.
Nomograms in oncology: more than meets the eye

Nomograms are widely used as prognostic devices in oncology and medicine. With the ability to generate an individual probability of a clinical event by integrating diverse prognostic and determinant variables, nomograms meet our desire for biologically and clinically integrated models and fulfill our drive towards personalised medicine. Rapid computation through user-friendly digital interfaces, together with increased accuracy, and more easily understood prognoses compared with conventional staging, allow for seamless incorporation of nomogram-derived prognosis to aid clinical decision making. This has led to the appearance of many nomograms on the internet and in medical journals, and an increase in nomogram use by patients and physicians alike. However, the statistical foundations of nomogram construction, their precise interpretation, and evidence supporting their use are generally misunderstood. This issue is leading to an under-appreciation of the inherent uncertainties regarding nomogram use. We provide a systematic, practical approach to evaluating and comprehending nomogram-derived prognoses, with particular emphasis on clarifying common misconceptions and highlighting limitations.
The expression of cell adhesion molecules on the growth cones of chick cutaneous and muscle sensory neurons.

Abstract In the developing chick hindlimb, axons that will project along a given peripheral nerve sort out together, as they traverse the plexus region at the base of the limb, and become segregated from axons that will project along other peripheral nerves. This sorting out may involve, at least in part, the differential expression of various cell adhesion molecules (CAMs). To begin to explore this possibility, we have compared the relative levels of immunofluorescent labeling on the growth cones of two populations of sensory neurons whose axons become segregated from one another: cutaneous and muscle sensory neurons. We took a tissue culture approach, since this allowed us to readily visualize the immunofluorescent labeling of individual growth cones, and identified the two cell types by previous retrograde labeling with DiI. Two dorsal root ganglion explants, one containing DiI-labeled cutaneous neurons and the other containing DiI-labeled muscle sensory neurons, from opposite sides of the same embryo, were plated together in each culture dish. For all the CAMs we studied (NCAM, polysialylated NCAM, G4/L1, axonin-1, SC1/DM-GRASP/BEN, and N-cadherin), the intensity of immunofluorescent labeling typically was fairly uniform on the growth cone, its filopodia, and the portion of the neurite just proximal to the growth cone. Only one CAM, axonin-1, exhibited labeling that was especially intense at sites of interneuronal contact. Quantification of labeling intensities using image analysis showed that cutaneous and muscle sensory growth cones did not consistently differ from one another in their levels of expression of G4/L1 or of axonin-1. The latter finding stands in contrast to recent reports claiming that axonin-1 is not expressed on muscle sensory neurons. Each of the other CAMs (NCAM, polysialylated NCAM, SC1/DM-GRASP/BEN, and N-cadherin) also showed considerable overlap in the distribution of labeling intensities between the two populations, but overall, expression levels on muscle sensory growth cones were greater than on cutaneous growth cones. How the differential expression of some CAMs could potentially contribute to the way that cutaneous and muscle sensory growth cones become segregated from one another and the implications of these results for sensory neuron specification are discussed.
Prodromal symptoms and relapse prevention in schizophrenia

The value of monitoring for prodromal symptoms in patients with schizophrenia has been questioned by some investigators who point out that their positive predictive value, sensitivity, and specificity can be low in relation to relapse. This article focuses on methodological and conceptual issues which should be considered in evaluating the usefulness of prodromal symptoms and behaviors as part of the relapse process. The article presents the following conclusions: Many relapses are preceded by the appearance of prodromal symptoms and behaviors which may last from a few days to a few weeks or more. The presence of prodromal symptoms often does not predict impending relapse since the probability of progression to relapse depends on the complex interaction of many personal and environmental factors including the availability of prompt and effective psychiatric intervention. Finally, studies have shown that monitoring for prodromal symptoms and early intervention when they emerge is effective in reducing the likelihood of relapse in individuals with schizophrenia.
Altered Expression and Uptake Activity of Spinal Glutamate Transporters after Nerve Injury Contribute to the Pathogenesis of Neuropathic Pain in Rats

The central glutamatergic system has been implicated in the pathogenesis of neuropathic pain, and a highly active central glutamate transporter (GT) system regulates the uptake of endogenous glutamate. Here we demonstrate that both the expression and uptake activity of spinal GTs changed after chronic constriction nerve injury (CCI) and contributed to neuropathic pain behaviors in rats. CCI induced an initial GT upregulation up to at least postoperative day 5 primarily within the ipsilateral spinal cord dorsal horn, which was followed by a GT downregulation when examined on postoperative days 7 and 14 by Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Intrathecal administration of the tyrosine kinase receptor inhibitor K252a and the mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitor PD98059 for postoperative days 1-4 reduced and nearly abolished the initial GT upregulation in CCI rats, respectively. Prevention of the CCI-induced GT upregulation by PD98059 resulted in exacerbated thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia reversible by the noncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonist MK-801, indicating that the initial GT upregulation hampered the development of neuropathic pain behaviors. Moreover, CCI significantly reduced glutamate uptake activity of spinal GTs when examined on postoperative day 5, which was prevented by riluzole (a positive GT activity regulator) given intrathecally twice a day for postoperative days 1-4. Consistently, riluzole attenuated and gradually reversed neuropathic pain behaviors when the 4 d riluzole treatment was given for postoperative days 1-4 and 5-8, respectively. These results indicate that changes in the expression and glutamate uptake activity of spinal GTs may play a critical role in both the induction and maintenance of neuropathic pain after nerve injury via the regulation of regional glutamate homeostasis, a new mechanism relevant to the pathogenesis of neuropathic pain.
The Plank: designing a simple haptic controller

Active force-feedback holds the potential for precise and rapid controls. A high performance device can be built from a surplus disk drive and controlled from an inexpensive microcontroller. Our new design, The Plank has only one axis of force-feedback with limited range of motion. It is being used to explore methods of feeling and directly manipulating sound waves and spectra suitable for live performance of computer music.
Volatile and Nonvolatile Chemosignals of Female Rodents: Differences in Hormonal Regulation

Among rodents, males and females produce certain chemosignals that are different. These sexually dimorphic odors serve both to attract conspecifics and to coordinate reproductive physiology and behavior. In fact, among some rodents such as housemice and golden hamsters, chemoreception may constitute the single most important sensory modality for gender recognition and stimulation of sexual arousal.
Influence Factors for Duration of Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci's Spontaneous Decolonization

Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify the factors influencing the spontaneous decolonization period of vancomycin resistant enterococcus (VRE) species in pediatric patients. Methods: The medical records of patients presenting positive VRE cultures between January 2005 and November 2010 at a tertiary hospital in Seoul, Korea, were reviewed retrospectively. The subjects were divided into two groups according to the average number of days for decolonization (325 days). Clinical characteristics were compared between shorter VRE colonization patients (
Implications for Improving Fetal Death Vital Statistics: Connecting Reporters' Self-Identified Practices and Barriers to Third Trimester Fetal Death Data Quality in New York City.

Objectives Perinatal mortality prevention strategies that target fetal deaths often utilize vital records data sets shown to contain critical quality deficiencies. To understand the causes of deficient data, we linked survey responses of fetal death reporters with facility fetal death data quality indicators. Methods In 2011, we surveyed the person most responsible for fetal death reporting at New York City healthcare facilities on their attitudes, barriers, and practices regarding reporting. We compared responses by 2 facility data quality indicators (data completeness and ill-defined cause of fetal death) for third trimester fetal death registrations using Chi squared tests. Results Thirty-nine of 50 facilities completed full questionnaires (78 % response rate); responding facilities reported 84 % (n = 11,891) of all 2011 fetal deaths, including 329 third trimester fetal deaths. Facilities citing ≥1 reporting barrier were approximately five times more likely to have incomplete third trimester registrations than facilities citing no substantial barriers (37.5 vs 7.9 %; RR 4.7; 95 % CI [1.6–14.2]). Reported barriers included onerous reporting requirements (n = 10; 26 %) and competing physician priorities (n = 11; 28 %). Facilities citing difficulty involving physicians in reporting were more likely to report fetal deaths with nonspecific cause-of-death information (70.9 vs 56.6 %; RR 1.3; 95 % CI [1.1–1.5]). Conclusions Self-reported challenges correlate with completeness and accuracy of reported fetal death data, suggesting that such barriers are likely contributing to low quality data. We identified several improvement opportunities, including in-depth training and reducing the information collected, especially for early fetal deaths (<20 weeks’ gestation), the majority of events reported.
Proteolytic cleavage of bovine IgG by hypodermin A, a serine protease of Hypoderma lineatum (Diptera: Oestridae).

ABSTRAcr: Cattle grub larvae are able to survive a lengthy 8?2-mo internal migration within the naive bovine host connective tissues. Larval survival is observed even in the presence of host immunological responses to principal parasite proteins. In this study, data are presented that suggest that a digestive enzyme, hypodermin A, of the first-instar larvae effectively cleaves bovine immunoglobulin G in vitro. A (fab)'2 fragment is produced, and the heavy-chain fragments associated with the cleaved fc piece remain intact. Hypodermin A is not specific for bovine IgG as other species' IgGs are also degraded as are other bovine proteins. Destruction of the biological activity of bovine immunoglobulin G by hypodermin A suggests a potential parasite escape mechanism that may contribute to the survival of first-instar larvae within the bovine host.
PARAMETRIC INVESTIGATIONS OF A SINGLE DIELECTRIC BARRIER PLASMA ACTUATOR

This work presents the results of experimental investigations that are directly related to recently published plasma phenomenology findings. Several parameters were varied during tests on a flat plate substrate in still air (bench tests) and validated on a thin airfoil at low speeds. The aim was to build robust dielectric barrier discharge plasma actuators with good performance characteristics over wide operating ranges. These parameters included the signal waveform, signal frequency, electrode geometry, as well as power dissipated by the plasma generating system. The bench tests confirmed that of the many types of signal waveforms tested, the positive sawtooth produced not only the highest plasma duty cycle but the most force per unit of power delivered to the actuator system. Varying signal frequencies between 3 and 10 kHz made little difference in the net force production, but exhibited peak performance at 5 kHz. Net reaction forces increased in a near linear relationship to input power over a wide range of moderate power settings once the plasma was initiated. Surprisingly, actuators with larger dielectric thicknesses produced greater net forces. Reaction forces in the direction along the substrate surface were more than an order of magnitude greater than reaction forces normal to the substrate surface. For the NACA 0015 airfoil tests, a single plasma actuator was placed at 7% chord. Test results showed that an optimized plasma actuator gave substantial increases in the lift and reductions in the drag beyond the baseline stall angle of attack. These investigations have shown that plasmas do have predictable behavior and may be useful flow-control devices on future air vehicles.
Communal silk-spinning by larvae ofDendromyrmex tree-ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Dendromyrmex chartifex andD. fabricii are weaver ants: the mature larvae of these formicine species add silk to the arboreal carton nests. This material strengthens the layers of vegetable fibers, which form the bulk of the nests and are contributed by the workers. The communal silk spinning is the most primitive yet discovered and may represent the first stage in the evolution of weaving. The larvae, rather than the workers that hold them in their mandibles, make the lateral weaving movements, and their behavior differs from conventional cocoon spinning only in the orientation of the movements relative to the body. Moreover, larvae often contribute silk in this manner even when unattended by workers. Both male and worker-destined larvae spin communally; whether they contribute equal quantities per capita remains to be determined.
Ineffective Assistance of Counsel: A Plea Bargain Lost

This Note addresses the controversial moral and legal issues presented when ineffective assistance of counsel occurs at the plea bargaining stage of a criminal prosecution. Specifically, this Note focuses on the situation where a criminal defendant lost an opportunity to accept a pre-trial plea bargain offer, due solely to defense counsel's negligence, and later, after a fair trial and a conviction, received a more severe sentence than the sentence contemplated by the lost plea bargain. Two central questions are presented in these situations and addressed in this Note. First, has such a defendant been constitutionally harmed by the loss of the plea bargain? Second, what if any is the appropriate remedy in these cases? This Note concludes that while the law in California is presently unsettled in this area, the United States Constitution, as well as the rulings from various state and federal courts, suggests that such a defendant has indeed been constitutionally harmed, and the only remedy which will adequately compensate the defendant for this injury is the forced reinstatement of the lost plea bargain.
Partial replication of two rumination-related candidate gene studies

Two recent papers associated candidate genes with brooding rumination, a possible cognitive endophenotype for depression, in children ages 8-14 years. Stone et al. reported that BDNF val66met polymorphism predicted brooding in adolescence. Woody et al. reported that children carrying at least one copy of a CRHR1 TAT haplotype reported less brooding than their peers in the presence of maternal depression. We attempted to replicate and extend these findings in a sample of twins aged 12-16 years. We analyzed the BDNF val66met (rs6265) polymorphism and two (rs242924 and rs7209436) out of three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that Woody et al. used to create a CRHR1 haplotype. We controlled for maternal history of depression and clustering within families. Unlike Stone et al., we found higher brooding among BDNF Met carriers. This main effect was qualified by an interaction with pubertal status, with the effect driven by more physically mature participants. Similar to Woody et al., we found an interaction between CRHR1 SNPs and maternal depression, with the homozygous minor genotype acting as a protective factor against brooding in the presence of maternal depression. Findings provide partial support for the influence of candidate genes in two environmentally sensitive systems on brooding.
South Dakota's Disability Discrimination Laws: Limits and Vantages

South Dakota Codified Law provides protection against discrimination on the basis of disability in the context of employment, housing, and other environs. The plaintiff with a disability in South Dakota may select from either a federal (the ADA or Rehabilitation Act) or state law matrix (or both) in framing a complaint. In many respects, South Dakota's disability discrimination laws were drafted with clear advantages for defendants in comparison to federal laws.
Dangers from Floods

In the United States, historically flood damage has steadily increased despite our best mitigation efforts. This chapter begins with a discussion of stream flow data, the flood hydrograph, and the myth of the “100-year flood.” As a purely statistical quantity, a 100-year flood bears scant relationship to any given watershed – can the watershed even support a 100-year flood? This chapter presents several landforms within a watershed that can be seen on aerial photographs, and that lend themselves to estimating flood discharge and recurrence. The chapter ends with a caution about overlooking catastrophic events and provides a flood example from Arizona.
Millimeter-wave bandpass filter using high-Q conical inductors and MOM capacitors

This paper describes an efficient implementation of a lumped millimeter(mm)-wave narrow bandpass filter at 60 GHz. The mm-wave filter uses layout optimized conical spiral inductors which are shown to have higher quality factor (Q) and self resonant frequency values than standard spiral inductors. The filter also uses interdigital metal-oxide-metal capacitors which are shown to have Q values than nitride metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitors at these high frequencies. The filter is fabricated in 0.18 µm high resistivity RF silicon-on-insulator CMOS technology. The filter has a center frequency of 60 GHz and 3 dB bandwidth of 8 GHz, with a fractional bandwidth of 13.3% and a loaded Q of 7.5 occupying an area of (150×215)µm2. Monte-carlo simulations of the filter demonstrate excellent robustness against process variations due to usage of only two top thick metals and exclusion of MIM capacitors.
P-glycoprotein traffics from the nucleus to the plasma membrane in rat brain endothelium during inflammatory pain

P-glycoprotein (PgP), a drug efflux pump in blood-brain barrier endothelial cells, is a major clinical obstacle for effective central nervous system drug delivery. Identifying PgP regulatory pathways that can be exploited clinically is critical for improving central nervous system drug delivery. We previously found that PgP activity increases in rat brain microvessels concomitant with decreased central nervous system drug delivery in response to acute peripheral inflammatory pain. In the current study, we tested the hypothesis that PgP traffics to the luminal plasma membrane of the microvessel endothelial cells from intracellular stores during peripheral inflammatory pain. Using immunofluorescence microscopy, we detected PgP in endothelial cell nuclei and in the luminal plasma membrane in control animals. Following peripheral inflammatory pain, luminal PgP staining increased while staining in the nucleus decreased. Biochemical analysis of nuclear PgP content confirmed our visual observations. Peripheral inflammatory pain also increased endothelial cell luminal staining of polymerase 1 and transcript release factor/cavin1 and serum deprivation response protein/cavin2, two caveolar scaffold proteins, without changing caveolin1 or protein kinase C delta binding protein/cavin3 location. Our data (a) indicate that PgP traffics from stores in the nucleus to the endothelial cell luminal membrane in response to peripheral inflammatory pain; (b) provide an explanation for our previous observation that peripheral inflammatory pain inhibits central nervous system drug uptake; and (c) suggest a novel regulatory mechanism for PgP activity in rat brain.