cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Viral-Induced Spinal Motor Neuron Death Is Non-Cell-Autonomous and Involves Glutamate Excitotoxicity

Neuroadapted Sindbis virus (NSV) is a neurotropic virus capable of inducing the death of spinal motor neurons in mice and rats. In this study we investigated the mechanisms that underlie NSV-induced motor neuron death. We found that many degenerating spinal motor neurons were not infected directly with NSV, suggesting that bystander cell death occurs. An excitotoxic mechanism was confirmed when blockade of calcium-permeable AMPA receptors attenuated motor neuron death both in vitro and in vivo. Blockade of astroglial glutamate reuptake potentiated NSV-induced motor neuron loss in vivo, suggesting that astrocyte-mediated removal of perisynaptic glutamate is important in limiting NSV-induced excitotoxic injury. Astroglial glutamate transport was reduced markedly in the spinal cord during NSV infection, in advance of motor neuron injury in susceptible mice. In contrast, we found 5.6-fold elevated glutamate uptake in the spinal cords of mice resistant to NSV-induced paralysis. Likewise, minocycline markedly increased spinal cord glutamate transport and protected mice from NSV-induced motor neuron death. These studies suggest that NSV infection triggers a cascade of events in the spinal cord resulting in impaired astrocytic glutamate transport and excitotoxic injury of motor neurons mediated via calciumpermeable AMPA receptors. Similar changes may occur in other motor neuron disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or West Nile Virus-induced poliomyelitis, suggesting a common tissue injury pathway.
Excitatory amino acid neurotoxicity in the hippocampal slice preparation

Abstract The effect of sustained activation of excitatory amino acid receptors on neuronal survival was studied using slices of adult rat hippocampus and light and electron microscopy. Kainate, N-methyl- d -aspartate , quisqualate, and ibotenate all produce signs of severe neurotoxicity within 90 min. Neuronal damage occurs in the form of perikaryal and dendritic swelling, cytoplasmic and nucleoplasmic disintegration, and plasma and nuclear membrane ruffling and collapse. The toxicity is restricted to intrinsic neuronal somata, dendrites and spines, while afferent axons, boutons and glia are spared. Although damage is generally distributed throughout all areas of hippocampus, kainate has little effect on pyramidal neurons in the CA2 region. Quantitative analysis of neuronal survival indicates that agonists induce dose-dependent damage over concentration ranges known to be excitatory. Based on selective antagonism by dl -aminophosphonoheptanoate and the patterns of damage produced by each, N-methyl- d -aspartate , kainate, and quisqualate trigger neurotoxicity by acting on distinct receptor classes. It is concluded that, in hippocampal slices, excitatory amino acids induce neurotoxicity in a similar manner to their actions in vivo . The results support the hypothesis that hippocampal neurotoxicity is initiated by excessive excitation, and provide another example of the capacity of adult hippocampal neurons for rapid structural modification.
Fabrication and test of nano crossbar switches/MOSFET hybrid circuits by imprinting lithography

An integrated circuit combining imprinted, nanoscale crossbar switches with metal-oxide field effect transistors (MOSFET) was fabricated and tested. Construction of the circuits began with fabrication of n-channel MOSFET devices on silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrates using CMOS compatible process techniques. To protect the FET devices as well as provide a flat surface for subsequent nanoimprint lithography, passivation and planarization layers were deposited. Crossbar junctions were then fabricated next to the FETs using imprint lithography to first define arrays of parallel nanowires over which, a switchable material layer was deposited. This was followed by a second imprint proces to construct another set of parallel wires on top of, and orthogonal to the first, to complete the nano-crossbar array with a half pitch (hp) of 50 nm. The switchable crossbar devices were then connected to the gate of the FETs and the resulting integrated circuit was tested using the FET as the output signal follower. This successful fabrication process serves as a proof-of-principle demonstration and a platform for advanced CMOS/nanoscale crossbar hybrid logic circuits.
CoMFA and CoMSIA analyses of Pneumocystis carinii dihydrofolate reductase, Toxoplasma gondii dihydrofolate reductase, and rat liver dihydrofolate reductase.

In a continuing effort to develop potent and selective dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) inhibitors against opportunistic pathogens, we developed three-dimensional quantitative structure−activity relationship (3D QSAR) models for the inhibitory activity against Pneumocystis carinii (pc) DHFR, Toxoplasma gondii (tg) DHFR, and rat liver DHFR, using a data set of 179 structurally diverse compounds. To ensure a balanced distribution of more potent and less potent drugs in the training set, three different 90-compound training sets taken from the main data set were used, one for each enzyme, while the remaining 89 compounds in the main data set in each case were used as the test set. Three methods, namely, conventional CoMFA, all orientation search (AOS) CoMFA, and CoMSIA were applied to the training sets. While the AOS CoMFA models gave the best internal predictions (cross-validated r2 values from the training sets), which are satisfactory, CoMSIA models gave the best external predictions (predictive r2 values f...
Expert System Shells: What To Look For

Expert systems are interactive computer programs that ask the same questions a human expert would ask, and from the information given to them provide the same answer the expert would provide. If a body of knowledge can be codified into a set of questions and answers, it can be incorporated into an expert system. A good example of such a body of knowledge is the reference librarian's knowledge of the reference collection at his or her library; the set of questions asked by a librarian during a reference interview can be used to access this body of knowledge.
Electrical conduction in partially carbonized PAN-based fibers

The electrical resistivity in partially carbonized fibers fabricated from polyacrylonitrile has been measured between 2 and 300 K. The fibers had a maximum heat treatment temperature, THT, of 600, 675, 700 and 760°C. The temperature dependence of the resistivity can be interpreted on the basis of two different conducting mechanisms. Below THT ∼ 700°C, the electrical conduction is dominated by three-dimensional variable-range hopping of the localized electrons. At THT ∼ 700°C, thermally activated tunneling between small regions (∼ 10 A in diameter) of delocalized electrons begin to dominate the conduction.
The Cytoplasmic Tail of the Mouse Brown Locus Product Determines Intracellular Stability and Export from the Endoplasmic Reticulum

Several melanosome membrane proteins have been identified, forming a family of proteins known as tyrosinase related proteins. Human TRP-1/gp75 is sorted to melanosomes through the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complex to the endocytic pathway, directed by a sorting signal located in the cytoplasmic tail. This hexapeptide cytoplasmic sequence, which is conserved in the tyrosinase related protein family and through vertebrate evolution, was shown to act also as a sorting signal in mouse gp75, confirming that its sorting and cellular retention function is conserved between human and mouse. The cytoplasmic tail influenced the rate and efficiency of intracellular transport of gp75 from the endoplasmic reticulum to the cis-Golgi. Deletion of 33 or 27 amino acids from the carboxyl end of the 38 amino acid cytoplasmic tail of gp75 caused retention and rapid degradation of the truncated gp75 in the endoplasmic reticulum. This defective movement could be fully corrected by extending the truncated tail with the unrelated cytoplasmic tail of the low density lipoprotein receptor. Thus, the cytoplasmic tail of mouse gp75 not only determines sorting to the endocytic/melanosomal compartment, but also controls export from the endoplasmic reticulum to Golgi.
Coevolution of the checkerspot butterfly Euphydryas chalcedona and its larval food plant Diplacus aurantiacus: larval response to protein and leaf resin.

Prediapause larvae of the checkerspot butterfly Euphydryas chalcedona were raised from hatch until entrance into diapause on artificial diets. The proportions of protein and host plant leaf resin differed among the diets. Larval size growth rates and mortality were monitored and overall rates and efficiencies of food use were computed.
Ionospheric Error Modeling for Carrier Phase-Based Multiconstellation Navigation Systems

This paper describes the design, analysis, and evaluation of new ionospheric measurement error models for high-integrity multiconstellation navigation systems, The robustness of the newly derived models is experimentally evaluated using months of dual-frequency global positioning system (GPS) data collected at multiple locations, In parallel, an integrity analysis is devised to quantify the impact of traveling ionospheric disturbances on user position, Finally, overall carrier phase positioning performance is assessed over continental areas for various combinations of GPS and Galileo and Iridium satellites.
“I Thought I Hated Data”: Preparing MSW Students for Data-driven Practice

Social work is an applied profession using a combination of theory, research, and practice to meet the needs of client populations. First-hand experiential learning is central to social work education. Just as students learn clinical skills by interacting with clients in a practice setting, students need a forum to use real data to develop their skills in accessing, understanding, interpreting, and presenting answers to pertinent social work research questions. This paper describes one university's efforts to design and implement coursework opportunities for students to integrate the use of actual data to answer pertinent real-world research and evaluation questions.
Effects of oxygen content on the optical properties of tantalum oxide films deposited by ion-beam sputtering.

Ion-beam sputter deposition of tantalum oxide films was investigated for possible optical coating applications. Optical properties of such films were found to be a sensitive function of oxygen-to-argon ratio in the ion beam. Refractive index and absorption coefficient were determined in the 250–2000-nm wavelength range by spectrophotometric transmissivity. The different bonding states of the tantalum atoms were revealed by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The visible wavelength refractive index was found to be 2.18 and optical band gap 4.3 eV, so long as the films did not contain inclusions of metallic tantalum. Films with an admixture of oxygen deficient suboxide components had a low-energy tail of increasing magnitude in the absorption spectrum.
Evaluation of Urban Air Quality Models for Regulatory Use: Refinement of an Approach

Abstract Statistical measures for evaluating the performance of urban air quality models have recently been strongly recommended by several investigators. Problems that were encountered in the use of recommended performance measures in an evaluation of three versions of an urban photochemical model are described. The example demonstrates the importance of designing an evaluation to take into account the way in which the model will be used in regulatory practice, and then choosing performance measures on the basis of that design. The evaluation illustrates some limitations and possible pitfalls in the use and interpretation of statistical measures of model performance. Drawing on this experience, a procedure for evaluation of air quality models for regulatory use is suggested.
Pulsed laser crystallization of amorphous silicon for polysilicon flat panel imagers

Pulsed excimer-laser processing of amorphous silicon on glass substrates enables the fabrication of high-quality polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si) thin-film transistors. Here we describe the fabrication and testing of prototype imagers fabricated in CMOS poly-Si using a low-temperature, laser-crystallization process on glass substrates. Integrated shift registers and buffers for driving the gate lines of the array and integrated multiplexers on the data lines have been produced and are shown to run the imagers successfully without using external gate-line electronics. In addition, a three-transistor poly-Si circuit has been fabricated at each pixel, providing a charge gain of 11 for the small photo signal and a low noise level of 1200 electrons RMS.
Hypoxic and excitotoxic damage to cultured rat retinal ganglion cells

The cytotoxic effects of hypoxia and excitatory amino acids on cultured retinal ganglion cells were studied. The influence of coculture with retinal Muller glia and cortical astrocytes on cell survival was evaluated, as were the effects of the N-methyl-DL-aspartate inhibitor, MK-801. Dissociated retinal neurons from 7-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats were plated on a laminin substrate, neocortex-derived glial monolayers, or Muller cell monolayers. Ganglion cells were labeled by injection of DiI into the superior colliculus 2 days prior to dissociation. Exposure of cultured ganglion cells to glutamate and N-methyl-DL-aspartate showed a time- and concentration-dependent survival rate. Exposure of cells to hypoxia demonstrated a survival rate that was dependent on time and O2 concentration. Excitotoxic and hypoxic damage was entirely blocked by the specific non-competitive inhibitor of N-methyl-DL-aspartate, MK-801. Retinal ganglion cells cultured on cortical astrocytes and retina-derived Muller glia showed significantly better survival rates (P < 0.001) than cells cultured on laminin-coated dishes under control conditions, in hypoxia (9% to 15% O2), and after exposure to 200 microM glutamate. Retinal ganglion cells cultured on Muller glia showed significantly better survival rates (P < 0.01) than those cultured on cortical astrocytes under conditions of hypoxia (9% to 15% O2) and exposure to 200 microM glutamate. The results demonstrate that excitotoxic and hypoxic damage to cultured retinal ganglion cells is moderated by NMDA receptor blockade and by the presence of glial cells, especially retinal Muller cells. This system may provide a useful model for studying the pathophysiology of excitotoxicity and hypoxia on cultured retinal ganglion cells, and may be used to help identify potentially clinically useful therapeutic agents.
Foliar and microscopic observations of bean leaves exposed to hydrogen chloride gas

Abstract Pinto bean plants, eight days from seeding, were exposed for 20 min to different concentrations of gaseous HCl. Macroscopic injury to the primary leaves examined 24 hr later consisted of bifacial interveinal necrosis and glazing of the abaxial leaf surface. Only abaxial glazing was observed when less than 17.9 mg HCl m −3 was used. At higher concentrations, necrotic lesions were also present. The frequency of injured primary leaves, the number of primary leaves with necrotic lesions, and the necrotic area per primary leaf increased with increased HCl concentrations in the range of 6.0–54.2 mg m −3 . At all HCl concentrations, the distribution of injury was variable. At the end of the exposure period and at various intervals throughout the subsequent 24 hr period, segments were taken from the primary leaves and examined by light microscopy. Alterations noted in the treated tissues were plasmolysis, cytoplasmic vesiculation, cell wall deformation, transient appearance of crystalline figures in chloroplasts, and accumulation of particulates in vacuoles. The glazed abaxial epidermis was produced by complete collapse of the epidermal cells. Tissues most sensitive to HCl gas were the two epidermal layers in contrast with previous reports. The mechanism for HCl gas phytotoxicity may initially be a surface phenomenon rather than depending upon entry through stomates.
Operative experience of pelvic fractures in the obese.

Background Disruptions of the pelvic ring may be a significant short- or long-term source of morbidity and mortality. In the obese, temporary stabilization and definitive fixation of the injured pelvis is a much more difficult undertaking, requiring more surgeon expertise and larger surgical approaches. Complications that arise as a result of the operative fixation of pelvic ring injuries may significantly minimize any potential long-term benefits conferred by attempts at fixation.
Scale, birds, and human decisions: a potential for integrative research in urban ecosystems

Abstract Although humans are the primary force that change the structure and function of urban ecosystems, to date, few researchers have integrated human processes into an ecological study. With birds in urban environments, the question is how to study the connection between human decisions and their effect on avian populations. One possibility may be to study the linkage between the scales at which humans change urban landscapes and the scales at which birds respond to these changes. In this paper, I describe several integrated research methodologies that would involve ecologists, landscape architects, and social scientists. Organized around three research questions, I suggest several ways that scientists from different disciplines could collaborate to study how humans affect urban bird distributions. The questions are (1) which socio-economic factors affect the abundance and distribution of birds? (2) which landscape designs are preferred by humans and how do these designs impact different bird species? and (3) do estimates of how people rate the quality of an urban community correlate to presence or absence of certain bird species? Such integrated research will likely increase the dialogue among landscape architects and social and natural scientists, leading to novel approaches to study urban ecosystems as a whole.
Iterative pyramid-based approach to subpixel registration of multisensor satellite imagery

This paper compares different filters used to register images taken from different satellites to subpixel precision. The registration algorithm is one proposed by Thevenaz et al which uses a modified Levenberg-Marquardt process to find the rigid transform that best maps one image into another. Our findings are that while applied to single-sensor synthetic data, centered spline filters and the low pass band of Simoncelli steerable pyramid are equally sensitive to initial guess while the bandpass sub-band of the Simoncelli filters exhibits larger senstivity. For multisensor and noisy data, however, the bandpass filters produce the most consistent results.
The Diatoms, Productivity and Morphometry of 43 Lakes in New York State, U.S.A

Diatoms were examined in surface sediments collected from 43 lakes throughout New York State to determine the interrelationships among the abundances of various diatom taxa,' lake productivity and lake morphometry. Diatom ratios, including the A/C, C/P and five new quotients, were not well correlated with lake productivity, probably because of the diversity of the taxa which they employ. The abundance of individual genera or combinations of genera were better indicators of productivity. Cyclotella was the best single indicator of productivity being most abundant in low productivity lakes. Several fairly distinct diatom associations were identified by correlations between all possible pairs of diatom taxa. Finally, lake productivity was found to be significantly correlated with morphometry, being highest in small/shallow lakes.
Chlorophyll biosynthesis from glutamate or 5-aminolevulinate in intact Euglena chloroplasts

Chloroplasts observed, by electron microscopy, to be intact and uncontaminated, with high rates of light-dependent protein synthesis and CO2 fixation were isolated from cells grown on low-vitamin-B12 medium in the light or from cells grown in the same medium in the dark and then exposed to light for 36 h. Both types of chloroplasts were active but less variability was encountered with developing chloroplasts from 36-h cells. The 36-h chloroplasts showed good light-dependent incorporation of 5-amino-levulinic acid (ALA) or l-glutamic acid into chlorophyll (Chl) a which was linear for approx. 1 h. The specific activity of the Chl a remained the same after conversion to pheophytin a, methylpheophorbide a or pyromethylpheophorbide a and rechromatography, indicating that the label was in the tetrapyrrole. Incorporation of ALA was inhibited by levulinic acid, and by chloramphenicol and other inhibitors of translation of 70S-type chloroplast ribosomes at concentrations which did not appreciably inhibit photosynthesis but which blocked plastid protein synthesis nearly completely. Cycloheximide, an inhibitor of translation on 87S cytoplasmic ribosomes of Euglena, was without effect. The 70S inhibitors did not block uptake of labeled ALA. Although labeled glycine was taken up by the plastids, no incorporation into Chl a was observed. Thus the developing chloroplasts appear to contain all of the enzymatic machinery necessary to convert glutamic acid to Chl via the C5 pathway of ALA formation but the Shemin pathway from succinyl coenzyme A and glycine to ALA appears to be absent. The requirement for plastid protein synthesis concomitant with Chl synthesis indicates a regulatory interaction and also indicates that at least one protein influencing Chl synthesis is synthesized on 70S-type plastid ribosomes and is subject to metabolic turnover.
Imaging evaluation of traumatic hematuria in children

The 3 major causes of traumatic hematuria in children are accidents, iatrogenic damage, and child abuse. While computerized tomography plays a major role in the evaluation of accidental trauma, ultrasound and routine radiography are important in the work-up of iatrogenic hematuria and injuries caused by child abuse. This paper reviews the role of these imaging modalities in diagnosing traumatic hematuria in children.
Influence of physical properties on deformation characteristics of collapsible soils

Abstract The paper introduces structural pressure values as separation “points” between elastic and plastic states of any soil (including collapsible soils) subjected to loading. Collapsibility of soils is identified as a non-elastic deformation. The collapse of soils starts when the applied stress exceeds soil structural pressure values (initial collapse pressures, according to some official documents) which depend on change of some soil physical property(ies). New analytical expressions describing dependence of mechanical characteristics of collapsible soils on soil void ratios and moisture contents are proposed. The obtained equations were verified by published test results. The algebraic structure of previously obtained empirical expressions between mechanical characteristics of collapsible soils and their physical properties is similar to the structure of theoretically derived equations.
Filming the Middle Ages

Filming the Middle Ages, by Bettina Bildhauer, London, Reaktion Books, 2011, 264 pp., £25.00 (hardback), ISBN 9781861898081. Bettina Bildhauer's rigorously argued and researched book proposes that ...
The Biological Effects of Childhood Trauma

Trauma in childhood is a psychosocial, medical, and public policy problem with serious consequences for its victims and for society. Chronic interpersonal violence in children is common worldwide. Developmental traumatology, the systemic investigation of the psychiatric and psychobiological effects of chronic overwhelming stress on the developing child, provides a framework and principles when empirically examining the neurobiological effects of pediatric trauma. This article focuses on peer-reviewed literature on the neurobiological sequelae of childhood trauma in children and in adults with histories of childhood trauma.
Proton exchange and chemoselectivity in metal cation and hydroxide ion hydrolyses of phosphonoacetate diesters

Abstract Phosphonoacetate diesters exhibit base catalyzed D/H proton exchange and C-OR esterolysis, as well as (acidic) hydrolyses mediated by Th 4+ and Zr 4+ ions.
Cnidarian neurobiology: what does the future hold?

Cnidarians have long been recognized as occupying a unique position in nervous system evolution and, consequently, have attracted considerable attention from neurobiologists over the years. During the latter half of the 20th century, the application of a variety of electrophysiological and other methods provided us with a great deal of information about the scope and composition of the cnidarian nervous system. Here, I will briefly review what is known about cnidarian nervous systems, what remains to be found and, most importantly, discuss the status and future of the field.
Continuing the Story: Maximizing the Intersections of Cognitive Science and Sociology

This article is part of a special journal section addressing the sociology of culture and cognition and its future. In this essay, I use the areas of “serial position effects” and “sequencing” to illustrate ways of creating interdisciplinary dialogue between sociologists of culture and cognition and cognitive scientists. I view the body as an integral link in connecting these two fields.
Molecular response of the patellar tendon to fatigue loading explained in the context of the initial induced damage and number of fatigue loading cycles

Accumulation of sub-rupture fatigue damage has been implicated in the development of tendinopathy. We previously developed an in vivo model of damage accumulation using the rat patellar tendon. Our model allows us to control the input loading parameters to induce fatigue damage in the tendon. Despite this precise control, the resulting induced damage could vary among animals because of differences in size or strength among their patellar tendons. In this study, we used number of applied cycles and initial (day-0) parameters that are indicative of induced damage to assess the molecular response 7 days after fatigue loading. We hypothesized that day-0 hysteresis, elongation, and stiffness of the loading and unloading load-displacement curves would be predictive of the 7-day molecular response. Results showed correlations between the 7-day molecular response and both day-0 elongation and unloading stiffness. Additionally, loading resulted in upregulation of several extracellular matrix genes that suggest adaptation; however, several of these genes (Col-I, -XII, MMP 2, and TIMP 3) shut down after a high level of damage was induced. We showed that evaluating the 7-day molecular profile in light of day-0 elongation provides important insight that is lost from comparing number of fatigue loading cycles only. Our data showed that loading generally results in an adaptive response. However, the tendon's ability to effectively respond deteriorates as greater damage is induced.
Tail development and regeneration throughout the life cycle of the four-toed salamander Hemidactylium scutatum.

The salamander tail displays different functions and morphologies in the aquatic and terrestrial stages of species with complex life cycles. During metamorphosis the function of the tail changes; the larval tail functions in aquatic locomotion while the juvenile and adult tail exhibits tail autotomy and fat storage functions. Because tail injury is common in the aquatic environment, we hypothesized that mechanisms have evolved to prevent altered larval tail morphology from affecting normal juvenile tail morphology. The hypothesis that injury to the larval tail would not affect juvenile tail morphology was investigated by comparing tail development and regeneration in Hemidactylium scutatum (Caudata: Plethodontidae). The experimental design included larvae with uninjured tails and with cut tails to simulate natural predation. The morphological variables analyzed to compare normally developing and regenerating tails were 1) tail length, 2) number of caudal vertebrae, and 3) vertebral centrum length. Control and experimental groups do not differ in time to metamorphosis or snout-vent length. Tails of experimental individuals are shorter than controls, yet they display a significantly higher rate of tail growth and less resorption of tail tissue. Anterior to the site of tail injury, caudal vertebrae in juveniles display greater average centrum lengths. Results suggest that regenerative mechanisms are functioning not only to produce structures, but also to influence growth of existing structures. Further investigation of juvenile and adult stages as well as comparative analyses of tail morphology in salamanders with complex life cycles will enhance our understanding of amphibian development and of the evolution of amphibian life cycles. J Morphol 233:15-29, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Resonant frequency method for monitoring MEMS fabrication

MEMS surface-micromachining fabrication requires the use of many different tools to deposit thin-films, precisely define patterns using typical photolithography, and perform etching processes. As with any fabrication process there is inherent variation, which is acceptable when controlled within suitable limits. The ability to monitor and respond to this variation is paramount in maintaining a viable fabrication process. Electrostatic comb-drive resonators are candidate test structures used to validate uniformity in the MEMS fabrication process. Although directly dependent on mass and spring constant, a measure of their resonant frequencies generally provides a good indicator of both process repeatability and geometric variation. In this study, sets of five graduated comb-drive resonator structures, located at each die on a ¼ wafer, were stimulated to resonant frequency using the “blur envelope” technique. This technique facilitates fast, straightforward, and repeatable resonant frequency measurements usually with a resolution of approximately 50-100 Hz. Wafer maps of resonant frequency versus die position for a ¼ wafer reveal a pattern with comb-drive resonator devices exhibiting highest resonant frequencies at the center and lowest at the perimeter of the wafer. Using a numerical model, coupled with discrete geometric measurements, a method was developed which links resonant frequency to fabrication parameters.
Reduction of pain and nausea after laparoscopic sterilization with bupivacaine, metoclopramide, scopolamine, ketorolac, and gastric suctioning

Objective: To determine whether postoperative pain and nausea after laparoscopic sterilization can be reduced with a combination of bupivacaine, metoclopramide, scopolamine, ketorolac, and gastric suctioning. Methods: Women undergoing outpatient laparoscopic sterilization were randomized to protocol management or nontreatment groups. Each patient received standard general endotracheal anesthesia. Protocol subjects received intramuscular ketorolac 60 mg and scopolamine 0.25 mg, intravenous metoclopramide 10 mg, and gastric suctioning; bupivacaine (2.5 mg/mL) with epinephrine (5 μg/mL) was injected at trocar sites and dripped onto the fallopian tubes. The nontreatment group served as controls. Visual analogue scales were used to evaluate pain and nausea (measured in millimeters). Demographic characteristics, postoperative requirements for analgesics and antiemetics, time to discharge, and unscheduled admission were also evaluated. Results: During a 7-month period, 71 women were enrolled. Protocol subjects ( N = 35) reported pain severity of 27.9 ± 19.1 mm (mean ± standard deviation), whereas controls ( N = 36) reported 59.3 ± 23.3 mm ( P P P P r = 0.38166, P P Conclusion: This regimen reduced the severity of pain and nausea after outpatient laparoscopic sterilization. The need for additional analgesics and antiemetics was also reduced. Protocol patients were discharged earlier than controls. These benefits seem to accrue without significant risk. We believe that this regimen may also be useful in other ambulatory laparoscopic procedures.
The Uses of Juvenile Fiction and Self‐Help Books With Stepfamilies

This article advocates the use of bibliotherapy as an adjunct to counseling with stepchildren and remarried adults. Information to guide the selection and use of fiction and self-help books for children and adolescents is provided. Also mentioned are other audiences and uses for the adolescent fiction.
A weighted finite state transducer translation template model for statistical machine translation

We present a Weighted Finite State Transducer Translation Template Model for statistical machine translation. This is a source-channel model of translation inspired by the Alignment Template translation model. The model attempts to overcome the deficiencies of word-to-word translation models by considering phrases rather than words as units of translation. The approach we describe allows us to implement each constituent distribution of the model as a weighted finite state transducer or acceptor. We show that bitext word alignment and translation under the model can be performed with standard finite state machine operations involving these transducers. One of the benefits of using this framework is that it avoids the need to develop specialized search procedures, even for the generation of lattices or N-Best lists of bitext word alignments and translation hypotheses. We report and analyze bitext word alignment and translation performance on the Hansards French-English task and the FBIS Chinese-English task under the Alignment Error Rate, BLEU, NIST and Word Error-Rate metrics. These experiments identify the contribution of each of the model components to different aspects of alignment and translation performance. We finally discuss translation performance with large bitext training sets on the NIST 2004 Chinese-English and Arabic-English MT tasks.
Quasi-Lagrangian drifter studies of iron speciation and cycling off Point Conception, California

Abstract The distribution and speciation of dissolved Fe (dFe) were measured during four quasi-Lagrangian drogued drifter studies (~ 4 d duration each) that were conducted in the southern California Current System in May 2006 and April 2007. Three of the four drifter studies were within the coastal upwelling regime and one drifter study was in a warm-core anticyclonic eddy. Incubation bottle experiments were also conducted to determine the degree of phytoplankton Fe limitation and to assess changes in the concentration of Fe-binding ligands. In the coastal upwelling drifter studies, in situ dFe (1.4–1.8 nM) and macronutrients were initially high and declined over time. Fe addition incubation experiments indicated that the phytoplankton community was not Fe limited at the beginning of the coastal upwelling drifter experiments (when μM nitrate:nM dFe ratios were ~ 7–8). By the end of two of the three drifter studies (when μM nitrate:nM dFe ratios were ~ 12–19), Fe addition resulted in larger nitrate and silicic acid drawdown, and larger accumulations in chlorophyll a, particulate organic carbon and nitrogen, and diatom and dinoflagellate-specific carotenoid pigments. Fe speciation was measured in situ in three of the four drifter studies with stronger L 1 -type ligands found to be present in excess of dFe in all samples. In Fe speciation incubation experiments, L 1 -type ligand production was observed in conjunction with phytoplankton growth under Fe-limiting conditions. The results presented here support and add a quasi-Lagrangian perspective to previous observations of dFe and macronutrient cycling over space and time within the California coastal upwelling regime, including Fe limitation within the phytoplankton community in this region and the biological production of Fe-binding ligands concomitant with Fe limitation.
The International Financial Architecture: Old Issues and New Initiatives

Reform of the international financial architecture has made progress but has not dealt decisively with the need to involve private sector creditors in resolving debt-related crises. It has relied unduly on voluntary approaches combined with large-scale official financing. A comprehensive approach requires the use of temporary standstills to protect debtors against litigation. These can help to resolve ‘liquidity’ crises as well as ‘solvency’ crises. Proposals by Krueger (2001, 2002) provide a way to resolve the problem of a sovereign debtor with an unsustainable debt burden but offer no solution to problems involving private sector debt or to liquidity crises. They would also require an amendment to the Articles of Agreement of the International Monetary Fund, which could prove difficult. This paper proposes a less radical approach – adding rollover clauses and collective-action clauses to sovereign and private debt contracts, backed by strict limits on IMF financing. It resembles, but goes further than, the contractual approach favoured by the US Treasury.
Anisotropic Aerogels for Studying Superfluid 3He

It may be possible to stabilize new superfluid phases of 3He with anisotropic silica aerogels. We discuss two methods that introduce anisotropy in the aerogel on length scales relevant to superfluid 3He. First, anisotropy can be induced with uniaxial strain. A second method generates anisotropy during the growth and drying stages. We have grown cylindrical ∼98% aerogels with anisotropy indicated by preferential radial shrinkage after supercritical drying and find that this shrinkage correlates with small angle x-ray scattering (SAXS). The growth-induced anisotropy was found to be ∼90° out of phase relative to that induced by strain. This has implications for the possible stabilization of superfluid phases with specific symmetry.
Continuous Compression as an Effective Therapeutic Intervention in Treating Eccentric- Exercise-Induced Muscle Soreness

Context: Prior investigations using ice, massage, or exercise have not shown efficacy in relieving delayed-onset muscle soreness. Objectives: To determine whether a compression sleeve worn immediately after maximal eccentric exercise enhances recovery. Design: Randomized, controlled clinical study. Setting: University sports medicine laboratory. Participants: Fifteen healthy, non-strength-trained men, matched for physical criteria, randomly placed in a control group or a continuous compression-sleeve group (CS). Methods and Measures: Subjects performed 2 sets of 50 arm curls. 1RM elbow flexion at 60°/s, upper-arm circumference, resting-elbow angle, serum creatine kinase (CK), and perception-of-soreness data were collected before exercise and for 3 days. Results: CK was significantly (P < .05) elevated from the baseline value in both groups, although the elevation in the CS group was less. CS prevented loss of elbow extension, decreased subjects’ perception of soreness, reduced swelling, and promoted recov...
First Principles Calculations for Scintillation in Ce-Doped Y and La Oxyhalides

This work presents the results of first principles electronic structure calculations for Cerium (Ce) doped Yttrium (Y) and Lanthanum (La) oxyhalides performed using the pseudopotential method based on the local density approximation in the density functional theory. The relative position of the Ce 4f and 5d levels in the energy gap of the host are determined from the ground-state density of states for the Ce-doped material. Localization of the excited electron is determined from the calculations of the (Ce3+)* excited state. A qualitative prediction of Ce-activated scintillation is made based on these theoretical calculations. Our approach indicates that Ce-doped Y and La oxyhalides show progressively better luminescence as we move down the periodic table from oxyfluorides to oxyiodides. These families of materials have been synthesized and the experimental results agree qualitatively with our calculations.
How Complex Religion Can Improve Our Understanding of American Politics

Sociologists have long acknowledged the importance of religion for American politics, especially for two groups of people: (a) (white) conservative Protestants, who are increasingly affiliated with the religious right, and (b) progressives, who are more and more disaffiliated from organized religion. However, a comprehensive statement of the ways in which religion matters for politics, the context in which it matters and does not matter, and how this has changed over time is lacking. Recent reviews acknowledge that at best, the relationship between religion and politics in the United States is “not straightforward” (Grzymala-Busse 2012, p. 427). We contend that this is primarily a result of the fact that neither the sociology of religion nor political sociology adequately considers the role that inequality (especially race and class but also gender) play in religious affiliation (and nonaffiliation). As a result, both fields have neglected to systematically examine the ways in which class and race may sha...
Quantification of tryptophan transport and metabolism in lung tumors using PET

Abnormal tryptophan metabolism catalyzed by indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase may play a prominent role in tumor immunoresistance in many tumor types, including lung tumors. The goal of this study was to evaluate the in vivo kinetics of α-11C-methyl-l-tryptophan (AMT), a PET tracer for tryptophan metabolism, in human lung tumors. Methods: Tracer transport and metabolic rates were evaluated in 18 lesions of 10 patients using dynamic PET/CT with AMT. The kinetic values were compared between tumors and unaffected lung tissue, tested against a simplified analytic approach requiring no arterial blood sampling, and correlated with standardized uptake values (SUVs) obtained from 18F-FDG PET/CT scans. Results: Most non–small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) showed prolonged retention of AMT, but 3 other lesions (2 benign lesions and a rectal cancer metastasis) and unaffected lung tissue showed no such retention. Transport and metabolic rates of AMT were substantially higher in NSCLCs than in the other tumors and unaffected lung tissue. A simplified analytic approach provided an excellent estimate of transport rates but only suboptimal approximation of tryptophan metabolic rates. 18F-FDG SUVs showed a positive correlation with AMT uptake, suggesting higher tryptophan transport and metabolism in tumors with higher proliferation rates. Conclusion: Prolonged retention of AMT in NSCLCs suggests high metabolic rates of tryptophan in these tumors. AMT PET/CT may be a clinically useful molecular imaging method for personalized cancer treatment by identifying and monitoring patients who have increased tumor tryptophan metabolism and are potentially sensitive to immunopharmacotherapy with indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase inhibitors.
Hypothalamic Galanin‐Like Peptide Rescues the Onset of Puberty in Food‐Restricted Weanling Rats

Galanin-like peptide (GALP) is a known mediator of metabolism and reproduction; however, the role that GALP plays in the onset of puberty is unknown. First, we tested the hypothesis that central GALP administration could rescue puberty in food-restricted weanling rats. GALP treatment in food-restricted rats of both sexes rescued the timing of the onset of puberty to that seen in ad lib. fed controls. Second, we tested whether GALP translation knocked-down in ad lib. fed, prepubertal rats would alter the timing of puberty. Knock-down females, but not males, showed a significant (P < 0.01) delay in the onset of puberty compared to controls. Third, we sought evidence that the role of GALP in pubertal onset is mediated by the kisspeptin system. In situ hybridisation analyses showed a significant (P < 0.01) reduction in Kiss1 mRNA within the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus in food-restricted rats compared to ad lib. fed controls and this reduction was prevented with i.c.v. GALP administration. Furthermore, analyses of Fos-immunoreactivity (-IR) after i.c.v. GALP treatment did not elicit Fos-IR within any kisspeptin neurones, nor are GALP and kisspeptin peptides or mRNA colocalised. These data demonstrate that hypothalamic GALP infusion maintained the onset of puberty in food-restricted weanling rats, although probably not via direct innervation of kisspeptin neurones.
Effects of substrate preparation on the stress of Nb thin films

It is well known that intrinsic stress plays an important role in the superconducting material properties of niobium (Nb) thin films and in the resulting electrical characteristics of superconducting-insulating-superconducting (SIS) junctions made from these films. The role of sputtering pressure, gun operating parameters and substrate fixturing on Nb film stress has been investigated by a number of researchers. In this paper we discuss the role of wafer preparation on the stress of Nb thin films. We have found that ex-situ substrate cleaning and baking as well as in-situ cleaning and deposition sequencing have a significant effect on the resulting measured film stress.
An analysis of perceptual artifacts in MPEG scalable audio coding

We study coding artifacts in MPEG-compressed scalable audio. Specifically, we consider the MPEG advanced audio coder (AAC) using bit slice scalable arithmetic coding (BSAC) as implemented in the MPEG 4 reference software. First, we perform human subjective testing using the comparison category rating (CCR) approach, quantitatively comparing the performance of scalable BSAC with the nonscalable TwinVQ and AAC algorithms. This testing indicates that scalable BSAC performs very poorly relative to TwinVQ at the lowest bitrate considered (16 kb/s), largely because of an annoying and seemingly random mid-range tonal signal that is superimposed onto the desired output. In order to understand better and quantify perceptually the various forms of distortion introduced into compressed audio at low bit rates, we apply two analysis techniques: Reng probing and time-frequency decomposition. The Reng probing technique is capable of separating the linear time-invariant component of a multirate system from its nonlinear and periodically time-varying components. Using this technique, we conclude that aliasing is probably not the cause of the annoying tonal signal; instead, time-frequency analysis indicates that its cause is most likely suboptimal bit allocation.
Serial angiographic appearance of segmental arterial mediolysis manifesting as vertebral, internal mammary and intra-abdominal visceral artery aneurysms in a patient presenting with subarachnoid hemorrhage and review of the literature

Segmental arterial mediolysis (SAM) is a rare, non-inflammatory, non-atherosclerotic vasculopathy typically affecting the abdominal arteries although it may also affect the great vessels and cerebral vasculature. Diseased vessels manifest with aneurysms and/or dissections, often presenting clinically with catastrophic thromboembolic injury and less frequently with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The etiology of SAM remains indeterminate although there is evidence it may be an endogenous pathological response to vasospasm. The SAM literature is reviewed and a case of SAH related to a ruptured dissecting-type vertebral artery aneurysm is described. In addition to furthering awareness of SAM, this unique case offers insight into the acute phase of the disease and the potential role of vasospastic induction.
Thirteen new Costa Rican species belonging to the genus Triraphis Ruthe (Braconidae: Rogadinae) with their host records

Thirteen new species belonging to the genus Triraphis Ruthe are described and illustrated: Triraphis baios sp. nov., T. balteus sp. nov., T. chinusi sp. nov., T. cortazari sp. nov., T. defectus sp. nov., T. guarusa sp. nov., T. huidobroi sp. nov., T. ikelosops sp. nov., T. melasops sp. nov., T. paraholos sp. nov., T. proxilus sp. nov., T. simphlex sp. nov. and T. willei sp. nov. The lepidopteran hosts were feeding on 17 genera of plants within 16 families. Two families of Lepidoptera are reported as new hosts for Triraphis: Acraga sp. (Dalceridae) parasitized by T. paraholos sp. nov. and Norape sp. (Megalopygidae) by T. guarusa sp. nov. Moreover, four Triraphis species are treated as new combinations under the genus Triraphis sensu van Achterberg: Triraphis areatus (Cresson) comb. n., T. fasciipennis (Cresson) comb. n., T. fusciceps (Cresson) comb. n. and T. ornatus (Cresson) comb. n..