cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Revision surgery of the peroneal tendon

Revision peroneal surgery represents a small percentage of peroneal surgery overall; however, this makes the surgery even more difficult when encountered. This chapter will cover evaluating peroneals after surgery with advanced imaging modalities, anatomical variances regarding foot configuration, and surgical approaches. The chapter will touch on new surgical repairs, while avoiding surgical pitfalls. Initial exam can aid in correct diagnosis which can avoid unnecessary procedures. Finally, surgical technique will be covered including primary tenodesis to possible allograft reconstruction. Some controversial topics will also be addressed, such as peroneal groove deepening vs cartilaginous repair only. Overall, this chapter will provide a concise and informative stepwise approach from diagnosis to surgical strategies for the orthopedic surgeons’ armamentarium.
The application of flow cytometry for kelp meiospore isolation

Abstract The goal of this study was to evaluate flow-cytometric techniques for isolating individual kelp meiospores into 96-welled plates. Previously reported low success rates for sorting tens of thousands of meiospores at a time have been improved by technological developments, specifically, the low nozzle pressure of the commercially available, JSAN (Bay Bioscience Co. Ltd) instrument. We monitored growth and gametophyte development post-sorting for 10 months. Our data demonstrate that successful kelp meiospore isolations of up to 76% viability can be achieved with flow-cytometry. This method can save time as compared to traditional, manual isolations using pipettes and improves confidence that self-fertilized individuals will not contaminate specific crosses of resulting gametophytes. Our results highlight a new application for the flow cytometer to produce clonal kelp gametophytes with direct applications for germplasm and culture collection development.
SOCIAL OBJECTIVITY AND ENTREPRENEURIAL OPPORTUNITIES

An important conversation in entrepreneurship focuses on the question of whether entrepreneurial opportunities are objective or subjective. The discovery view suggests that they are objective. The ...
Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is one of the most exciting recent advancements and has been revolutionary in the treatment of patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). CRT is a well-accepted therapy for the treatment of symptomatic systolic heart failure in defined patient subgroups. In addition chronic right ventricular pacing leads to a nonphysiological and dyssynchronous electrical and mechanical pattern of activation of the ventricles and may predispose some patients to pacing-induced heart failure and cardiomyopathy. Permanent His bundle pacing is an emerging technique to deliver a more physiological pattern of ventricular pacing and has the potential to mitigate the adverse consequences of chronic right ventricular pacing and promote atrioventricular and intraventricular synchrony. In this book chapter we present a comprehensive review of CRT and His bundle pacing in the light of all available evidence.
Effect of Non-Newtonian Dynamics on the Clearance of Mucus From Bifurcating Lung Airway Models

Mucus hypersecretion is a common pathophysiological manifestation of several obstructive airway diseases in which the mucociliary clearance is impaired, and the airflow generated by a cough or a forced expiratory maneuver called the huff is primarily responsible for clearing mucus. This airflow driven clearance of mucus is a complex process that is affected by the mucus rheology, airflow rate, airway geometry, and gravity. This study examines the role of mucus rheology in the transport and distribution of mucus in idealized 3D airway geometries. The complex air-mucus interface was tracked by the volume-of-fluid (VOF) model, and the turbulence in the core airflow was modeled using the k-ω shear stress transport (SST) model. Mucus was modeled as a shear-thinning liquid by using a power-law model. The computational model was validated using in vitro experimental data available in the literature. Gravity-dominated eccentric core-annular flow was observed with the core biased toward the outer wall in the inclined daughter branches of the bifurcation models, which transitions into concentric core-annular flow in the trachea. The increase in tangential shear at the interface due to the secondary flow structures developed in the flow divider location resulted in a region of enhanced mucus clearance with reduced mucus layer thickness. Secondary flow developed due to the curvature in the airway geometry resulted in a local redistribution of mucus that reduced the eccentricity. The accumulation of mucus around the carinal ridges and the regions with reduced clearance are sites with the potential for microbial growth.
Mitochondrial Transfer of the Mutant Human ND6T14484C Gene Causes Visual Loss and Optic Neuropathy.

Purpose To evaluate the long-term effects of mitochondrial gene transfer of mutant human NADH ubiquinone oxidoreductase subunit VI (hND6T14484C) in the mouse eye. Methods Adult mice were injected intravitreally with mitochondrial-targeted adeno-associated virus carrying either hND6T14484C or mitochondrial encoded mCherry. The delivery and expression of the interest gene were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), quantitative PCR (qPCR), and immunostaining. The pathologic effects of the mutant gene in live mice were assessed with RNA-seq, serial spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), and pattern electroretinogram (PERG). Results Delivered hND6 was found 30-fold greater than endogenous mouse ND6 in microdissected retinal ganglion cells of hND6 -injected mice. Compared to controls injected with mCherry, PERG amplitude of hND6 mice dropped significantly at 3 (P = 0.0023), 6 (P = 0.0058), and 15 (P = 0.031) months after injection. SD-OCT revealed swelling of the optic nerve head followed by the progressive retinal and optic nerve atrophy in hND6 mice. Furthermore, RNA-seq data showed a change in 381 transcripts' expression in these mice compared to mCherry mice. Postmortem analysis showed hND6 mice had marked atrophy of the entire optic nerve, from the globe to the optic chiasm, and a significant loss of retinal ganglion cells compared to age-matched control mice (P = 1.7E-9). Conclusions Delivered hND6T14484C induces visual loss and optic neuropathy in mice, the hallmarks of human Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON). Translational relevance Results from this study will help establish a novel strategy not only to generate an LHON animal model but also to provide a potential to treat this or any other mitochondrial diseases.
Moderate Electric Field Treatment Enhances Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Cellulose at Below-Optimal Temperatures.

Abstract Saccharification of cellulosic biomass for the fermentation of transportation fuels faces several challenges. Cellulose is highly stable, and even with enzymatic assistance, decomposition of cellulose is slow. Additionally, the enzymes are expensive and sensitive to thermal and mechanical inactivation. In this work, we studied the effects of moderate electric field (MEF, in the range from 1 to 1000 V per cm) treatments on the effectiveness of enzymatic saccharification. MEF treatments were applied to determine their effects on enzyme activity. We considered the effects of field strength, frequency, application regime and temperature. It was found that the enzyme responded to alterations in the frequency of the waveform, with 50 to 60 Hz maximizing the effects of the field, although the effects of field strength and application regime were more significant. It was found that the electric field could have a positive, negative, or negligible effect depending on the field strength. Most notably, when MEF treatments were applied over a range of temperatures, it was found that MEF treatment significantly improved enzyme activity at lower temperatures, leading to the observation that MEF treatment imitates a temperature increase. Calculations simulating the electrophoretic motion of the enzymes verified that the magnitude of motion associated with the MEF treatments was qualitatively similar to the change in molecular motion associated with temperature increases.
SDSS, LSST and Gaia: Lessons and Synergies

The advent of deep, wide, accurate, digital photometric surveys exemplified by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) has had a profound impact on studies of the Milky Way. In the past decade, we have transitioned from a scarcity to an (over)abundance of precise, well calibrated, observations of stars over a large fraction of the Galaxy. The avalanche of data will continue throughout this decade, culminating with Gaia and LSST. This new reality will necessitate changes in methodology, habits, and expectations both on the side of the large survey projects as well as the astrophysics community at large. We argue, based on the experience with SDSS, that surveys should release data as early and often as possible incorporating incremental improvements in each subsequent release, as opposed to holding off for a single, big, final release. The scientific community will need to reciprocate by performing analyses and (re-analyses) appropriate to the current fidelity of the released data, understanding that these are continually evolving and improving products.
Disordered grids in the third dimension.

Grid cells produce exceptionally regular firing patterns as animals navigate in 2D spaces. Two new studies show that in flying and climbing animals, the activity patterns of these cells in 3D space are irregular. These results reveal an unexpected way in which the brain represents spatial location.
Effect of Traumatic Brain Injury, Erythropoietin, and Anakinra on Hepatic Metabolizing Enzymes and Transporters in an Experimental Rat Model

In contrast to considerable data demonstrating a decrease in cytochrome P450 (CYP) activity in inflammation and infection, clinically, traumatic brain injury (TBI) results in an increase in CYP and UDP glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) activity. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of TBI alone and with treatment with erythropoietin (EPO) or anakinra on the gene expression of hepatic inflammatory proteins, drug-metabolizing enzymes, and transporters in a cortical contusion impact (CCI) injury model. Microarray-based transcriptional profiling was used to determine the effect on gene expression at 24 h, 72 h, and 7 days post-CCI. Plasma cytokine and liver protein concentrations of CYP2D4, CYP3A1, EPHX1, and UGT2B7 were determined. There was no effect of TBI, TBI + EPO, or TBI + anakinra on gene expression of the inflammatory factors shown to be associated with decreased expression of hepatic metabolic enzymes in models of infection and inflammation. IL-6 plasma concentrations were increased in TBI animals and decreased with EPO and anakinra treatment. There was no significant effect of TBI and/or anakinra on gene expression of enzymes or transporters known to be involved in drug disposition. TBI + EPO treatment decreased the gene expression of Cyp2d4 at 72 h with a corresponding decrease in CYP2D4 protein at 72 h and 7 days. CYP3A1 protein was decreased at 24 h. In conclusion, EPO treatment may result in a significant decrease in the metabolism of Cyp-metabolized drugs. In contrast to clinical TBI, there was not a significant effect of experimental TBI on CYP or UGT metabolic enzymes.
Celiac sprue complicated by lymphoma presenting with multiple gastric ulcers

A 40-yr-old woman with celiac sprue, which had responded clinically and histologically to gluten elimination, subsequently developed gastrointestinal lymphoma. Although this has been described in the small intestine of patients with celiac sprue, the unique feature in this patient was her initial presentation with multiple gastric ulcers refractory to conventional medical therapy. This case demonstrates that lymphoma complicating celiac sprue may present with multiple refractory gastric ulcers in addition to those occurring in the small intestine.
The impact of climate on the disease dynamics of cholera

The size of infectious disease outbreaks frequently depends on climate influences as well as on the level of immunity in the host population. This is particularly the case with vectorborne and waterborne diseases, for which pathogen transmissibility critically depends on ecological conditions. Here, a mathematical model that was applied to the bacterium Vibrio cholerae to understand its disease dynamics in Bangladesh is reviewed. When interfaced with empirical case data on cholera, the model shows that climate plays a pivotal role in modulating the size of outbreaks, with local, regional, and global indices of climate variability showing a link with pathogen transmissibility. Furthermore, the incidence of cholera may occasionally be surprisingly low at times when climate seems to favour cholera transmission.
Evaluation of Aspergillus Differential Medium

The new Aspergillus differential medium distinguishes effectively between members of the Aspergillus flavus group and other Aspergillus species of interest in medical mycology.
Establishing a national high frequency radar network for the U.S. IOOS

Observations of surface currents in coastal waters are one of the most highly desired products in the various national and international ocean observing systems. In the US researchers have created a de facto surface current mapping system with over ninety antennas. This paper will describe the present state of the system in the US and the vision for making it operational. Issues include the transition from research to operations, identifying users, site acquisition, frequency allocation and determination of user needs.
Silicon-on-silicon multichip modules: technology and applications

The long awaited Multi-Chip Module (MCM) market has finally arrived. This paper presents the state-of-the-art of the silicon-on-silicon MCM technology and describes some typical MCM products for both high performance digital applications and low cost mixed signal applications. By low cost silicon-on-silicon MCMs, we mean a few chip MCMs on a small silicon substrate which can be packaged into a standard IC package. Low cost silicon-on-silicon MCMs will continue to pave the way for accelerating the commercial availability and utilization of the technology.
Use of contact force sensing technology during radiofrequency ablation reduces recurrence of atrial fibrillation: A systematic review and meta-analysis

The suboptimal outcomes of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation have been attributed to lack of transmural lesions during pulmonary vein isolation. The advent of contact force (CF) sensing technology enables real-time assessment of the applied force at the catheter-tissue interface and increases the chances of transmural lesions. We sought to perform a meta-analysis of data from eligible studies to delineate the true impact of CF technology. Database searches through April 2015 identified 9 eligible studies (enrolling 1148 patients). The relative risk of AF recurrence at follow-up was used as the primary end point and assessed with random-effects meta-analysis. Radiofrequency (RF) duration, total procedure length, and fluoroscopy exposure were assessed as secondary outcomes using weighted mean difference with the random-effects model. Compared with standard technology, the use of CF technology showed a 37% reduction (relative risk 0.63; 95% confidence interval 0.44-0.91; P = .01) in AF recurrence at a median follow-up of 12 months and a 7.3-minute reduction (95% confidence interval -14.05 to -0.55; P = .03) in RF use during ablation. There was no significant difference in total procedure length and fluoroscopy exposure between the 2 groups. In conclusion, this meta-analysis shows that the use of CF technology decreases AF recurrence at a median follow-up of 12 months and also led to decreased use of RF during ablation. There was no difference in total procedure length and fluoroscopy exposure.
Task switching: a high-density electrical mapping study.

Flexibly switching between tasks is one of the paradigmatic functions of so-called “executive control” processes. Neuroimaging studies have implicated both prefrontal and parietal cortical regions in the processing necessary to effectively switch task. Beyond their general involvement in this critical function, however, little is known about the dynamics of processing across frontal and parietal regions. For instance, it remains to be determined to what extent these areas play a role in preparing to switch task before arrival of the stimulus to be acted upon and to what extent they play a role in any switching processes that occur after the stimulus is presented. Here, we used the excellent temporal resolution afforded by high-density mapping of brain potentials to explore the time course of the processes underlying (1) the performance of and (2) the preparation for a switch of task. We detail the contributions of both frontal and parietal processes to these two aspects of the task-switching process. Our data revealed a complex pattern of effects. Most striking was a period of sustained activity over bilateral parietal regions preceding the switch trial. Over frontal regions, activity actually decreased during this same period. Strongest sustained frontal activity was in fact seen for trials on which no switch was required. Further, we find that the first differential activity associated with switching task was over posterior parietal areas (220 ms), whereas over frontal scalp, the first differential activity is found more than 200 ms later. These and other effects are interpreted in terms of a “competition” model in which preparing to switch task is understood as the beginning of a competition between the potentially relevant tasks that is resolved during the switch trial. Our findings are difficult to account for with models that posit a strong role for frontal cortical regions in “reconfiguring” the system during switches of task.
‘Pioneer of Olympism in the Middle East’: Gabriel Gemayel and Lebanese Sport

Since 1947, Lebanon has fielded a team for every Olympic competition except 1956, yet has won only four Olympic medals. While the country's medal count has been small, this article argues that Lebanon's participation in the Olympics was part of a broader effort to develop Lebanese interest in sports, as well as to enhance Lebanon's position regionally and internationally. One man led both efforts: Gabriel Gemayel, the founder and long-term head of Lebanon's National Olympic Committee. This article uses official International Olympic Committee publications to examine how Gemayel promoted Lebanon to the Olympic community and promoted sports in Lebanon. Gemayel's experience highlights the ways in which elites in small states can strategically use international organisations to bolster their state. More broadly, it highlights the important role that sports organisations play in shaping the national. It further suggests that while individuals heading these organisations can play a far outsized role, their impa...
Evaluation of Geo-Tagged Photo and Video Logging Methods to Collect Geospatial Highway Inventory Data

For many years, state departments of transportation (DOTs) and local agencies have collected and maintained highway inventory data (HID) to assist the decision makers at different levels. In light of the implementation of the recently published Highway Safety Manual (HSM) in 2010, many state DOTs have sought to tailor the various safety measures and functions to evaluate the safety in their jurisdictions. Insufficient HSM-required HID in many current DOTs’ databases, however, necessitates the collection of the absent features. To obtain these data, various techniques for different purposes have been used, including field inventory, photo and video log, integrated Global Positioning System/geographic information systems (GPS/GIS) mapping systems, aerial photography, satellite imagery, terrestrial laser scanners, airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR), and mobile LiDAR. Among many data collection methods, the photo and video log is widely employed by DOTs due to its simplicity and low cost. Therefore,...
Algorithm comparisons for Stark-profile calculations

Abstract The efficiency of several algorithms to calculate Stark broadened line shapes in the quasi-static ion approximation is compared. The algorithms can be grouped into three general approaches: simultaneous equation solvers, matrix decompositions, and model-reduction. It is emphasized that the tested algorithms do not rely on approximations beyond the quasi-static ion assumption. The comparisons show that model-reduction schemes are the most efficient and are more than 2 orders of magnitude faster than the conventional method for large-scale calculations. Consequently, complex line shape calculations become practical without the compromises often required in the past.
Mining activity pattern trajectories and allocating activities in the network

GPS enabled devices, generating high-resolution spatial–temporal data, are opening new lines of possibilities for transportation applications in both planning and research. Mining these rich and large datasets to infer people’s travel behavior, the activity patterns resulting from their behavior, and allocating activities in the network is the focus of this paper. Here we introduce a methodology that relies only on geocoded location data and socioeconomic characteristics to infer types of activities in which individuals engage at different locations in the network. Depending on the duration of the stop, arrival time and geographic distance to home location and previous activities, the type of activity is inferred at the census tract level using adaptive boosting algorithm. Then, using a model based on Markov chains with conditional random field to capture dependency between activity sequencing and individuals’ socioeconomic attributes, the spatial–temporal trajectory of activity/travel engagement is generated. The model is trained on data obtained from the California Household Travel Survey data 2000–2001 and subsequently applied to an out-of sample test set to validate the accuracy and performance.
Treatment of IgA nephropathy in children: efficacy of alternate-day oral prednisone

We have previously reported our experience with the use of alternate-day prednisone in the treatment of 6 patients with IgA nephropathy who have clinical or pathological risk factors for disease progression. We have now treated a total of 13 patients and followed them from 4 to 10 years. Patients received an alternate-morning dose of prednisone for 2–4 years. Dosage began at 60 mg/m2 for 3 month, was reduced to 30 mg/m2 by 1 year and 15 mg/m2 by 2 years. At last observation, urinary protein excretion was normal in 12 patients and no patient had hematuria. Twelve patients had normal estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and one had renal insufficiency (GFR=38 ml/min per 1.73 m2). A renal biopsy was performed in 11 patients after 2 years of treatment. Activity score decreased from 5.2 to 4.3 (P=0.03) and chronicity score increased from 2.2 to 2.8 (P=0.12). There were no complications of treatment. When compared with a historical group, the treated patients had a significant improvement in urinalysis (P<0.00001) and preservation of normal GFR (P=0.03). We conclude that alternate-day prednisone therapy may benefit patients with IgA nephropathy. A large prospective controlled trial is needed.
Fine polymeric powders from poly(aryleneether ketone)s

Abstract A relatively new method for graphite composite formation, aqueous dispersion prepregging, could potentially circumvent many of the environmental and processing problems of the current methods. However, aqueous dispersion prepregging requires that the high-performance polymer be in the form of a stable colloidal dispersion, preferably of small uniform particles. This research will examine the formation of submicrometre particles from the high-performance thermoplastic polymer, poly(ether ether ketone)(PEEK), for use in aqueous dispersion prepregging. The procedure will involve first the synthesis of the monomer 4,4′-difluoro(N-benzohydroxylidene aniline) and the polymerization of this monomer and hydroquinone to form the amorphous PEEK derivative poly(ether ether ketimine). 4,4′-Difluoro(N-benzohydroxylidene aniline) can also be copolymerized with 4,4′-difluorobenzophenone to form a semicrystalline, soluble PEEK derivative. The subsequent hydrolysis of these derivatives to semicrystalline PEEK results in the formation of submicrometre particles.
Clipper: faster dBase III applications

The Clipper database programming package can be used with dBase III files and indexes. The main advantage of Clipper is that it compiles programs which would be handled by an interpreter if done with dBase III.
Optimal interaction of respiratory and thermal regulation at rest and during exercise: Role of a serotonin-gated spinoparabrachial thermoafferent pathway

Recent evidence indicates that the lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPBN) in dorsolateral pons is pivotal in mediating the feedback control of inspiratory drive by central chemoreceptor input and feedforward control of body temperature by cutaneous thermoreceptor input. The latter is subject to descending serotonergic inhibition which gates the transmission of ascending thermoafferent information from spinal dorsal horn to the LPBN. Here, a model is proposed which suggests that the LPBN may be important in balancing respiratory and thermal homeostasis, two conflicting goals that are heightened by environmental heat/cold stress or exercise where the effects of respiratory thermolysis become prominent. This optimization model of respiratory-thermoregulatory interaction is supported by a host of recent studies which demonstrate that animals with serotonin (5-HT) dysfunction at the spinal dorsal horn--due to 5-HT antagonism, genetic 5-HT defects or spinal cord injury--all display similar respiratory abnormalities that are consistent with hyperactivity of the spinoparabrachial thermoafferent (and pain) pathway.
Evaluation of Three Surgical Techniques for Advancement of the Midface in Growing Children with Syndromic Craniosynostosis

Background:The purpose of this study was to compare clinical outcomes and 1-year postsurgical stability with three different techniques of Le Fort III midface advancement.Methods:The records of 212 syndromic craniosynostosis patients were reviewed from the period 1973 to 2006. A total of 60 patients
Step-edge barriers: Truths and kinetic consequences

Observations of individual atoms on metal surfaces have shown that the diffusion potential at descending steps is not the simple repulsive barrier usually assumed in crystal growth. Instead, atoms may be held in asymmetric traps at step edges, and there are significant distortions of the potential near ascending steps. That the presence of step-edge traps instead of repulsive barriers can have a crucial effect on atomic kinetics is demonstrated by analyzing three processes important in crystal growth: the lifetime of atoms before incorporating into a cluster, dissociation of atoms from lattice steps, and incorporation on vicinal surfaces.
Optical Birefringence of Polyisobutylene during Creep and Recovery

Creep and recovery rheooptical measurements were conducted on linear polyisobutylenes, with viscosity-average molecular weights in the range from 4.2 × 105 to 4.7 × 106 g/mol. To isolate the contribution of chain ends to the birefringence, the temperature of each experiment was adjusted to yield equivalent creep strains for each sample. Higher molecular weight PIB exhibited less change in the birefringence during creep, but the birefringence during recovery was independent of molecular weight. The sign of the birefringence during the stress-free recovery was opposite (i.e., corresponding to tension) to that during creep, even though the macroscopic deformation was compression.
In vitro calibration of a video-based method for measuring blood velocity in kidney medulla and other tissues subject to respiratory motion

Abstract Three problems must be solved to apply the dual-slit method for measuring mean erythrocyte velocity ( V R ) to the study of blood flow regulation in the kidney medulla: (1) An estimator is needed to calculate blood velocity ( V B ) from V R . This estimator must relate erythrocyte diameter to blood vessel diameter, and since fluids of the medulla are hypertonic, erythrocyte diameter may not be the same as in systemic blood. (2) In the usual experimental arrangement, respiratory movement is transmitted to the kidney, so that the image of the blood vessels moves with respect to fixed photodetectors. We have used a video adaptation of the dual-slit method to deal with this problem, but (3) this limits the estimates of erythrocyte transit time between the two slits to integer multiples of the video framing interval, if standard cross-correlation methods are used. We have therefore analyzed the time series in the frequency domain to provide continuous estimates of transit time. Glass tubes ranging in diameter from 16 to 28 μm were connected to a pump and perfused with blood at rates comparable to vasa recta flow rates. There was a dependence of V R V B on tube diameter, as expected, but little effect of osmolality, hematocrit, or velocity. Simulated respiratory noise was effectively eliminated, and an estimator that relates V B to V R was provided.
Revisiting Climate Region Definitions via Clustering

Abstract This paper introduces a new distance metric that enables the clustering of general climatic time series. Clustering methods have been frequently used to partition a domain of interest into distinct climatic zones. However, previous techniques have neglected the time series (autocorrelation) component and have also handled seasonal features in a suboptimal way. The distance proposed here incorporates the seasonal mean and autocorrelation structures of the series in a natural way; moreover, trends and covariate effects can be considered. As an important by-product, the methods can be used to statistically assess whether two stations can serve as reference stations for one another. The methods are illustrated by partitioning 292 weather stations within the state of Colorado into six different zones.
Endocannabinoids: Getting the message across

The endocannabinoids have emerged as important intercellular signals in the nervous system. The fatty acid amide arachidonylethanolamide (anandamide) is the prototypical endocannabinoid, i.e., an endogenous ligand of the G protein-coupled cannabinoid receptor in the brain, CB1, which binds the main psychoactive component of marijuana and other derivatives of Cannabis sativa (1). After a rise in intracellular calcium or activation of certain neurotransmitter receptors, endocannabinoids are synthesized by cleavage of phospholipid precursors that are present in cellular membranes (2). They often act as retrograde messengers, emanating from morphologically undifferentiated regions of postsynaptic principal cells and traveling backwards across synapses, where they transiently inhibit the release of either the inhibitory neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) or the excitatory transmitter glutamate (see Fig. 1 and ref. 3 for a review). This powerful influence on synaptic transmission enables the endocannabinoids to help regulate behaviors, such as feeding (4), fear (5), and anxiety (6). Fig. 1. Retrograde signaling by endocannabinoids. The endocannabinoids anandamide and 2-AG are synthesized in postsynaptic target cells such as hippocampal pyramidal cells (right). Synthesis is initiated by calcium influx through voltage-gated calcium channels, or by the activation of G protein-coupled neurotransmitter receptors, including type I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR) or muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChR) (3). The endocannabinoids gain access to the extracellular space and activate CB1 cannabinoid receptors found concentrated on certain nerve terminals, e.g., of cholecystokinin-containing GABAergic interneurons in hippocampus (2). CB1 activation causes presynaptic inhibition of GABA or glutamate release by inhibiting calcium channels, interfering with vesicle release, and activating potassium channels. The endocannabinoids are taken up into postsynaptic or presynaptic cells by the anandamide transporter (AT). The degradative enzyme FAAH is present in postsynaptic cells, and monoglyceride lipase (not shown), which degrades 2-AG, is found in presynaptic terminals (2). As is true of other intercellular messengers, the time course …
How the Visual System Detects Changes in the Direction of Moving Targets

To determine how the visual system represents information about change in target direction, we studied the detection of such change under conditions of varying stimulus certainty. Target direction was either held constant over trials or was allowed to vary randomly. When target direction was constant the observer could be certain about that stimulus characteristic; randomizing the target direction rendered the observer uncertain. We measured response times (RTs) to changes in target direction following initial trajectories of varying time and distance. In different conditions, the observer was uncertain about either the direction of the initial trajectory, or the direction of change or both. With brief initial trajectories in random directions, uncertainty about initial direction elevated RTs by 50 ms or more. When the initial trajectories were at least 500 ms, this directional uncertainty ceased to affect RTs; then, only uncertainty about the direction of change affected RTs. We discuss the implications ...
Strategies for Joint Ventures in the People's Republic of China

Preface China and Joint Ventures Chinese Socialist Ideology: Transformation and Construction Chinese Socialist Ideology: Ownership and Wage Distribution Chinese Economic Reforms Market Planning in China Pricing Mechanism in China Chinese Foreign Trade Regulatory Framework Chinese Perspectives on Joint Ventures The Chinese Joint Venture Law Foreign Partner's Perspectives on Joint Ventures Bargaining and Financing Considerations Bibliography Index
Efficient segmented thermoelectric unicouples for space power applications

Abstract This paper compares the performance of SiGe (Si 0.8 Ge 0.2 ) and skutterudite segmented thermoelectric unicouples (STUs) at a hot side temperature of 973 K and cold side temperatures of 300, 573 and 673 K and for the same total length and cross sectional dimensions of the p-leg. The area of the n-leg and lengths of and the interfacial temperatures between segments of various materials in the STU legs are determined using a global optimization methodology. Results indicate that the STUs could potentially achieve peak efficiencies of 7.8% and 14.7% when operated at a cold side temperature of 573 K, typical of that in current radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs), and 300 K, respectively. These efficiencies are 55% and 99% higher, respectively, than for SiGe at the same temperatures. However, due to the higher density of skutterudite, the electrical power densities corresponding to the peak efficiencies of the STUs are 39 and 109 W e /kg versus 92 and 232 W e /kg for SiGe at cold side temperatures of 573 K and 300 K, respectively. On the other hand, the heat inputs and heat rejection powers for the STUs are 42–55% and 39–53%, respectively, of those for SiGe at the peak efficiency and 70–75% and 67–77% of those of SiGe, respectively, at the peak electric power density. Therefore, when used in RTGs, STUs could halve the 238 PuO 2 fuel mass and the radiator area, while operating at >45% higher electrical power density (>7 W e /kg) than SiGe in current RTGs (∼5.5 W e /kg).
Questions on universal constants and four-dimensional symmetry from a broad viewpoint.—I

It is demonstrated that there is a flexibility in clock synchronizations and that the four-dimensional symmetry framework can be viewed broadly. A new viewpoint of the four-dimensional framework is discussed on the basis of a common time for all observers who may be in motion relative to each other. Such a common time can be realized by a special method of clock synchronization and it isnot absolute in the Newtonian sense. We suggest that the truly universal constants in physics areJ=0.35·10−37 g cm and\(\bar e\)=1.6 · 10-20 e.m.u. rather thanℏ,e (in e.s.u.) and the speed of light becauseJ and\(\bar e\) are independent of a special arrangement of the measuring apparatus—such as clock synchronizations.
Interaction of Hydrogen with Supported Ru Catalysts: High Pressure in Situ NMR Studies

An in situ H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technique has been employed to study the interaction of hydrogen with silica-supported ruthenium catalysts in the temperature range 300-473 K and at pressures of 10[sup [minus]5]-760 Torr. In addition to an upfield NMR peak (called [alpha]) occurring at [approximately] [minus]60 ppm and observed at low pressures (P 100 Torr). These two hydrogen populations represent adsorbed hydrogen interacting with Ru metal particles, as indicated by the observed Knight shifts. The [alpha] hydrogen species exists in the form of less mobile hydrogen species [alpha][sub 1], or a mobile hydrogen species [alpha][sub M] with heats of adsorption determined by microcalorimetry to be about 70 kJ/mol and 40 kJ/mol, respectively. The heat of adsorption of the [beta] species was determined to be approximately 10 kJ/mol. Hydrogen adsorption isotherms were obtained from the NMR peak intensities calibrated by a gadolinium-doped lanthanum hydride internal reference. A higher dispersion of metal particles correlated with a larger amount of the weakly adsorbed [beta] hydrogen species. The H/Ru[sub surface] ratio was observed to be in excessmore » of 5 at elevated pressures (>500 Torr). The high H/Ru[sub surface] was due to the adsorption of large amounts of [beta] hydrogen. 53 refs., 9 figs., 1 tab.« less
From Paper to Program: A Story from Elementary PROTEACH.

PROTEACH is a 5-year teacher education program that, for most students, culminates in a Master's degree and/or teacher certification.1 The name of the program indicates its dominant goal: the development of a PROfessional TEACHer. PROTEACH students can earn degrees in elementary education, special education, or secondary education. In one sense PROTEACH is a college-wide program. It was developed by college faculty, with advice from university faculty and administrators outside of education, and from the broader community of professional educators. Additionally, the three programs share a set of guiding principles, a number of common courses, and some common faculty. In other ways, however, the three programs are distinct. Prior to PROTEACH, this duality did not exist. Each program, housed in its own department, maintained an identity with little cross-departmental communication. During the creation of PROTEACH, it was necessary to
Determination of fracture toughness and bridging tractions from crack-opening displacement measurements in particulate composites of diamond in zinc sulfide

Abstract The fracture toughness of zinc sulfide ceramic and a series of ZnS diamond particle composites was studied through measurements of crack opening displacement profiles. Five composites were fabricated using weight fractions of 10, 20 and 30% of 0–1 μm diamond particles, and 10 and 20% of 1–3 μm particles in a ZnS matrix. The cracks were grown using a novel specimen geometry and a loading technique that permitted stable crack growth even in small specimens. The fracture toughness of each material was calculated on the basis of the displacement profiles and the material properties, as opposed to the applied loads and the specimen geometry. The pure zinc sulfide material exhibited nearly ideal brittle behavior, and the toughness measurements agreed closely with other methods. The greatest toughening occurred in the 1–3 μm particle size composites, in which weak bridging tractions (⩽ 100 MPa) over a short distance along the crack (50–100 μm) could explain the reduced displacements near the crack tip. Even smaller size bridging zones (5–10 μm) may have been present in the 0–1 μm particle size composites, but elastic shielding alone can explain the observed toughening. The specimen geometry used here permitted toughness measurements using small specimens (
Lysosome-Associated Membrane Protein-1 (LAMP-1) Is the Melanocyte Vesicular Membrane Glycoprotein Band II

Coated vesicles play a critical role in the process of melanogenesis. Antisera raised against a coated vesicle fraction from mouse melanoma cells recognize two major glycoprotein antigens, band I (47-55 kd) and band II (90-120 kd). We demonstrate that band II is lysosome-associated membrane protein 1 (LAMP-1) by the following criteria: 1) the molecular weight and abundance of LAMP-1 varies among tissues but is always identical to that of band II; 2) band II and LAMP-1 co-migrate in sucrose gradient sedimentation studies; 3) immunodepletion of cell extracts with antivesicle serum removes all LAMP-1; and 4) intact organelles immunoisolated with antivesicle serum contain band II and LAMP1. Our results further confirm the long-suspected relationship between melanosomes and the lysosomal lineage of organelles.
Complications of endoscopic bladder neck suspension

Endoscopic bladder neck suspension for female urinary incontinence can result in both intraoperative and postoperative complications. Intraoperative complications include hemorrhage and injury to the urethra, bladder or ureters. Postoperative complications include infection, myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolus, suprapubic pain, persistent incontinence, bladder calculi and urinary retention. All of these potential complications can be managed successfully by applying the guidelines outlined.
MOMENTUM AND EXTINCTION EFFECTS ON SELF‐INJURIOUS ESCAPE BEHAVIOR AND NONCOMPLIANCE

Previous research on applications of behavioral momentum has indicated that a high-probability (high-p) instructional sequence, in which a series of instructions for which there is a high probability of compliance is presented immediately before an instruction for which there is a low probability of compliance, is an effective method for increasing compliance. It is not clear, however, whether the procedure is effective when individuals actively attempt to escape from the instructional situation. In this study, we examined the effects of the high-p sequence, when implemented first alone and then later with an extinction component, as treatment for the self-injurious escape behavior of 2 individuals. Results showed that when the instructional sequence was implemented without extinction, rates of self-injury increased and percentage of compliance decreased. In addition, the percentage of trials occasioning escape behavior increased for both high- and low-probability instructions. When an extinction component was added to the high-p sequence, rates of self-injury and the percentage of trials containing self-injury decreased, and compliance increased. These findings suggest that extinction may be an important component of treatment when escape behavior such as self-injury accompanies noncompliance in instructional contexts and competes with compliant behavior.
Assessing and predicting the competency of juvenile court volunteer probation officers

Abstract The volunteer movement in criminal justice settings is burgeoning. It has been estimated that by the end of 1982 there will be over one million volunteers working in criminal-justice-related functions. The volunteer role that appears to be increasing most rapidly is that of the one-to-one counseling relationship with delinquent and young adult offenders on formal or informal probation. While the demand for volunteer probation officers is increasing rapidly, few of our courts have attempted to develop and validate screening instruments capable of assessing and predicting the general competency of the volunteer. The need for such instruments has been emphasized recently by Judge Keith J. Leenhouts, Director of Volunteers in Probation, a division of the National Council on Crime and Delinquency. The present study attempts to assess the usefulness of one such potential screening device, the Critical Incident Response Test (CIRT) developed by Traitel (1972) and others at the Oakland County Juvenile Court in Pontiac, Michigan. It is hoped that this study will motivate other probation departments and court volunteer programs to develop and validate similar selection instruments.
Immobilizing a Fluorescent Dye Offers Potential to Investigate the Glass/Resin Interface.

Silane coupling agents are commonly applied to glass fibers to promote fiber/resin adhesion and enhance durability in composite parts. In this study, a coupling agent multilayer on glass was doped with trace levels of the dimethylaminonitrostilbene (DMANS) fluorophore. The fluorophore was immobilized on the glass surface by tethering the molecule to a triethoxy silane coupling agent, creating the DMANS/silane coupling agent molecule (DMSCA). DMSCA was then diluted with commonly used coupling agents and grafted to a glass microscope coverslip to create a model composite interface. A 53-nm blue shift in fluorescence from the immobilized DMSCA can be followed during cure of an epoxy resin overlayer, giving this technique potential to monitor the properties of the fiber/resin interface during composite processing. Contact angle measurements on these coupling agent layers were similar in the presence or absence of the DMSCA molecule, suggesting that trace levels of the fluorescent probe did not affect the structure of the layer. The immobilized DMSCA molecule behaved similarly to the DMANS precursor in solution. Both showed longer wavelength fluorescence in more polar environments.
AB initio cluster calculations of the electronic structure of crystalline BeF2

Abstract Self-consistent unrestricted Hartree-Fock calculations have been performed to determine the electronic structure of beryllium fluoride in the idealized β-crystobalite crystal structure. Electronic correlation effects have been included to correct the Hartree-Fock one-electron energies. The band gap is found to be optically forbidden with a value of 10.7 eV. The effects of band order are discussed, and a satisfactory description of the optical spectrum is obtained.
An unusual suctorial montacutid bivalve from the deep Atlantic

The shell and internal anatomy of the montacutid bivalve Mysella verrilli is described for the first time. The species is remarkable in that the oesophagus has developed into a suctorial proboscis. This has been accompanied by the loss of the palps. In addition the gonads have been extended from the dorsal part of the body to form two gill-like extensions to which the reduced inner demibranchs attach along the postero–ventral margin. Mysella verrilli broods its young in the mantle cavity to the late veliger stage before releasing them. It is believed that the species is probably a suctorial ectoparasite on a soft-bodied benthic invertebrate.