cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Money and Prices in the 19th Century: Was Thomas Tooke Right?*

Two broad explanations of long-term sustained movements of the price level have coexisted since the earliest evolution of economic ideas. Nineteenth-century price history is no exception to this generalization. In recent work dealing with the issue, W. W. Rostow and W. A. Lewis’ have forcefully argued that real, not monetary, forces explain major periods of inflation and deflation in both the United States and Great Britain from 1797 to 1914. For them, changes in the relative growth rates of agricultural output’ induce changes in the relative prices of major commodities and in the overall price level. They regard monetary forces as passive, with money supply determined by demand and velocity a will o’ the wisp.3 Their argument, essentially a restatement of the views of Thomas Tooke in A History of Prices (1857): emphasizes the role of changing costs as the determinant of price level movements.’ Accordingly, their
CD44 and its v6 spliced variant in lung tumors: a role in histogenesis?

BACKGROUND CD44 is a polymorphic family of cell surface glycoproteins with a variety of functions including participation in cell adhesion and migration as well as modulation of cell-matrix interactions. Expression of the standard form of CD44 (CD44s) and its variant isoforms has been shown in both normal and neoplastic tissue and holds promise as a prognostic indicator. METHODS The authors investigated the expression of CD44s and its v6 isoform (CD44v6) immunohistochemically in 7 fetal lungs (gestational age between 11-36 weeks) and in 80 lung tumors of various histologic types, degrees of differentiation, and clinical stages. RESULTS In the fetal lung, CD44v6 was expressed as membranous and luminal staining of epithelial cells throughout gestation and basal staining of bronchial epithelium late in gestation. Nonneoplastic adult lung showed CD44v6 expression that was restricted to epithelial cells with membranous staining of basal bronchial cells and squamous metaplasia as well as basolateral membranous staining of type 2 pneumocytes. CD44s showed similar but less intense staining and was in addition present on lymphocytes and macrophages. Tumorlets and neuroepithelial bodies were CD44v6 negative. Nearly all squamous cell carcinomas (97%) were positive for CD44v6 with patterns similar to squamous metaplasia and with more intense staining at the periphery of tumor nests. Most adenocarcinomas (90%) were CD44v6 negative whereas most bronchioloalveolar cell carcinomas (71%) were CD44v6 positive with patterns similar to that in type 2 pneumocytes. Most large cell carcinomas (71%), carcinoid tumors (67%), and all small cell carcinomas were CD44v6 negative. CD44v6 expression did not correlate with clinical stage. CD44v6 expression in lymph node metastases was identical to that of the primary tumor. CONCLUSIONS The results of the current study show that CD44v6 is localized differently in fetal and adult lung, suggesting a difference in function. In the fetal lung, it may modulate growth factors important in morphogenesis and maturation. In the adult nonneoplastic lung, CD44v6 is associated with stem cells, namely basal cells and type 2 pneumocytes, and may act to anchor these cells to the matrix and be important in migration during repair or neoplasia. In addition, CD44v6 expression is maintained throughout tumorigenesis in squamous cell carcinoma and bronchioloalveolar cell carcinoma, suggesting a histogenetic relationship between the stem cells and the respective tumors. Conversely, most neuroendocrine tumors and the cells of the dispersive neuroendocrine system do not express CD44v6, implying a separate histogenetic lineage in these tumors. Cancer 1997; 80:34-41. © 1997 American Cancer Society.
Point mutations in AAUAAA and the poly (A) addition site: effects on the accuracy and efficiency of cleavage and polyadenylation in vitro

Abstract Three sequences in the vicinity of poly (A) addition sites are conserved among vertebrate mRNAs. We analyze the effects of single base changes in each position of AAUAAA and in the nucleotide to which poly (A) is added on 3' end formation in vitro. All 18 possible single base changes of the AAUAAA sequence greatly reduce addition of poly (A) to RNAs that end at the poly (A) addition site, and prevent cleavage of RNAs that extend beyond. The magnitude of reduction varies greatly with the position changed and the base introduced. For any given mutation, cleavage and polyadenylation are reduced to similar extents, strongly suggesting that the same factor interacts with AAUAAA in both reactions. Mutations at and near the conserved adenosine to which poly (A) is added disturb the accuracy, but not the efficiency, of 3' end formation. For example, point mutations at the conserved adenosine shift the 3' end of the most abundant 5' half-molecule downstream by a single nucleotide. The mechanism by which these mutations might exert their effects on the precision of 3' end formation are discussed.
Interpretive Velocity Estimation And Depth Migration

Three imaging projects are presented that demonstrate the successful integration of interpretation and depth migration. The first project studies the ability of a processor/interpreter to resolve a fault shadow problem using 2D prestack depth migration. The second is a case history of a subsalt imaging project involving iterative 3D post stack migration of data covering a 185 km* area. The third example demonstrates the extension of 2D processing to 3D by two-pass prestack migration of a 3D land survey. in this last method, interpretation of the velocity model is performed after 3D effects are removed. This allows the explorationist to perform depth imaging using familiar 2D migration tools.
Pernio: A vascular disease

Abstract Evidence has been presented that pernio is a vascular disease, affecting the smaller vessels of the skin, causing anoxemia of the supplied tissue, and resulting in necrosis and ulceration. Later, a definite sclerodermic-like change in the skin may occur. It is precipitated by a downward change in temperature, not necessarily freezing, but by mere cooling. This may occur at a temperature which, under ordinary circumstances, would not cause an appreciable change in normal skin, but which causes definite changes in susceptible persons. Characteristically, exacerbations of this condition occur in the fall and winter, and regression in the summer. In long-standing cases, however, complete recovery may not occur in the summer. We believe that this is due to the extensive vascular changes in the tissues. We have been able to demonstrate giant cells in our sections, but we have found no evidence of tuberculosis. We have very carefully checked our patients clinically with this in mind, so that we can make the definite statement that our patients were free from clinical and roentgenologic evidence of active tuberculosis at the time their leg lesions were active. The following tentative criteria are suggested for the diagnosis of pernio. 1. 1. It may occur in both sexes, predominantly in females. 2. 2. It usually commences in adolescence or early adulthood. 3. 3. It is associated with cool or cold weather and may show spontaneous recovery in warm weather. 4. 4. The lesions have a predilection for exposed areas, particularly the lower third of the leg, around the internal malleolus and calf. They may extend down to the dorsum of the foot and toes, and up the legs to below the knees. 5. 5. The clinical course of these lesions may be characterized briefly as (a) the formation of a reddened area which later becomes elevated, hard, and very painful; (b) this becomes violaceous and fluctuating; (c) it opens, producing an ulcer; (d) this oozes, drains, and heals, becoming less painful; (e) a violaceous scar remains; and (f) the following winter ulceration tends to recur in the same area. 6. 6. There is a definite pathologic picture. Most characteristic is, first, an angiitis of the smaller vessels; secondly, necrosis of the fat; and, thirdly, the presence of giant cells. This pathologic picture, while characteristic of all our cases, must not be considered morphologically specific, for a number of other vascular conditions present similar histologic changes. They all represent a chronic irritative process in the subepidermal tissue. Wherther the irritative phenomenon is secondary or primary cannot be definitely stated. Treatment of this condition is not specific, but the best results in our hands have been achieved by triweekly treatments with acetyl-betamethylcholine chloride (mecholyl) by iontophoresis, and by protection of the legs with proper clothing from undue exposure. Living in a warm climate should minimize the occurrence of the lesions. Early recognition of this syndrome, and treatment as suggested, will help to prevent permanent disfigurement and long periods of incapacitation.
Oligomerization of Rac1 gtpase mediated by the carboxyl-terminal polybasic domain.

The Rho family GTPase Rac1 mediates a variety of signal transduction processes leading to activation of NADPH oxidase, actin cytoskeleton reorganization, transcription activation, and stimulation of DNA synthesis. In this study, Rac1 was found to form a reversible monomer and oligomer in both the GDP- and GTP-bound statesin vitro and in cells. Mutational analysis and peptide competition experiments showed that the unique C-terminal domain of Rac1 consisting of six consecutive basic residues (amino acids 183–188) is required for the homophilic interaction. Oligomerization of Rac1-GTP led to a self-stimulatory GTPase-activating protein (GAP) activity, resulting in a significantly enhanced intrinsic GTP hydrolysis rate of Rac1-GTP. Deletion or mutation of the polybasic residues drastically decreased its intrinsic GTPase activity and resulted in a loss of the self-stimulatory GAP activity. In the oligomeric state, Rac1 became insensitive to the RhoGAP stimulation, albeit maintaining the responsiveness to the guanine nucleotide exchange factor. The ability of the Rac1 C-terminal mutants to activate the effector p21cdc42/rac-activated kinase-1 correlated with their oligomerization states, suggesting that oligomer formation potentiates effector activation. Furthermore, the oligomer-to-monomer transition of Rac1-GDP could be driven effectively by interaction with the Rho guanine nucleotide dissociation inhibitor. Building on previous characterizations of Rac1 interaction with regulatory proteins and effectors, these results suggest that Rac1 may employ yet another means of regulation by cycling between the monomeric and oligomeric states to effectively generate a transient and augmented signal.
Factors influencing U.S. consumer support for genetic modification to prevent crop disease.

Abstract This study examines support for the genetic modification (GM) of crops in the context of preventing “late blight,” a devastating potato and tomato disease that caused the Irish Potato Famine in the 1850s and results in substantial crop loss today. We surveyed U.S. adults who do the primary grocery shopping in their household (n = 859). Half of the respondents were randomly assigned to read a vignette describing late blight before responding to questions about GM, whereas the other half read a vignette about generic crop disease before responding to questions. We also examine how the perceived fairness of decision makers relates to GM support and the perceived legitimacy of GM decision making. We found that disease specificity mattered less to support and legitimacy than the perceived fairness of decision makers. The perceived risks of GM to human and environmental health negatively related to GM support and legitimacy, whereas the perceived benefits (e.g. reduced threats to crops and a more secure food supply) positively related to support and legitimacy. Objective knowledge about GM had a small, negative relationship with legitimacy whereas self-assessed familiarity with GM had a positive relationship. Overall, the results offer additional confirmation of past findings from more localized settings that perceived fairness of decision makers matters to support for GM and underscore the importance of considering how risk managers’ behaviors and actions are perceived alongside individuals’ perceptions about the risks and benefits.
Clinical and financial analyses of laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy versus abdominal hysterectomy.

Abstract Study Objective. To perform clinical and financial analyses of laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) and total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH). Design. During the 16 months between August 1991 and December 1992, 34 women who underwent LAVH were compared with 60 women having a TAH during 1990. Indications, surgical outcomes, complications, time to return to work, and hospital charges for each group were analyzed. Setting. A multispecialty group practice. Patients. The LAVH group included the first 34 cases by the senior author and were the only such procedures at this hospital. The TAH group included all patients having this procedure for benign conditions from the same group practice for 1990. Interventions. Either LAVH or TAH. Measurements and Main Results. The most common primary indication in both groups was fibroids. Only one LAVH failed and was converted to a TAH. Postoperative complications were significantly greater for TAH than for LAVH (45% vs 9%). The length of stay and time to return to work were significantly less after LAVH. Total hospital charges increased for LAVH over TAH ($7623 vs $4550) despite a significantly shorter length of stay after LAVH. Conclusions. Although LAVH has a significantly lower complication rate than TAH, it is more costly to perform. This higher cost, despite a shorter hospital stay, is attributed to high operating room charges. Employers and patients benefit from early return to work with LAVH.
Effects of oxygen content upon phase stability of (Pb,Cu)Sr2(Y,Ca)Cu2O7+σ

Abstract Thermogravimetric analyses of (Pb,Cu) 1212 cuprates show two stages of oxygen loss on heating. If samples are heat-treated at temperatures above the first stage of oxygen loss (@400 in air) they are superconducting. In this study we demonstrate that the second stage of oxygen loss (@900 in air) is associated with decomposition of the 1212 structure, resulting in an “SrCuO 2 ”-type phase and a 0223-related phase. In most previous studies, temperatures in excess of this decomposition temperature have been utilised to synthesise, sinter or optimise the (Pb,Cu)1212 cuprate.
Lung Immunogenicity, Rejection, and Obliterative Bronchiolitis

Evidence suggests that obliterative bronchiolitis (OB) following human heart-lung transplantation is a form of allograft rejection related to augmented expression of class II major histocompatibility complex antigens (MHCII) on airway epithelium and mediated by activated T cells. Other forms of OB, including those related to viral infection and autoimmune disease, may reflect a similar mechanism.
Psychological approaches to the management of pain in patients with advanced cancer

Although extremely valuable, cognitive-behavioral interventions are always integrated with and should never be a substitute for appropriate and comprehensive medical management. Cancer-related pain and associated distress significantly challenge the physical and mental well-being of patients with advanced cancer and their families. As patient demands require greater vigilance in the management of noxious symptoms, families have a parallel need for emotional support and the acquisition of coping skills. Under ideal circumstances, coping skills are taught to the patient and family when psychic and physical energy are relatively high. Consequently, these skills should be incorporated into the early phases of care, prior to advanced diseases or the final stages of the illness. Cognition, behaviors, and feelings are negatively affected by chronic illness, resulting in an overall diminution of psychic energy, coping, and adaptation. Patients frequently manifest symptoms and maladaptive behaviors that require specialized interventions to restore a sense of focus and control. Cognitive-behavioral interventions are uniquely suited to address the most common psychological and emotional problems of patients with advanced cancer and their families. As an adjunct to medical care, cognitive-behavioral interventions promote optimal functioning through the encouragement of active participation in the control of symptoms and acquisition of specific skills that increase self-efficacy and hope.
Ultrastructural features of canine hepatic auxiliary transplant rejection

Abstract Auxiliary canine hepatic homografts were examined electron microscopically 24 hours to 17 days after transplantation. Many nonspecific changes were present. Early, the endoplasmic reticulum was dilated and the mitochondria were abnormal. After the initial postoperative period, autophagic vacuoles, shedding of cytoplasm, light and dark cells, and acidophilic bodies were present and macrophages were common. Initial ischemic cell injury can be explained by vascular derangements inherent in the process of transplantation. Its persistency may result from impaired perfusion by excess mesenchymal cells in sinusoids and tissue spaces and by competition between these and hepatocytes for nutrients. An immunologic component is suggested by the presence of large mononuclear cells, with many ribosomes seen in delayed type hypersensitivity reactions. These were closely approximated to and indenting the hepatic parenchymal cells, but bridging between the mesenchymal cells or hepatocytes was not found. The similarity of the mesenchymal cells and their relation to hepatocytes in chronic active hepatitis in man supports the idea that in both transplant rejection and in the human disease an immunologic process mediated by cells adds to the destruction of hepatic tissue.
Assault Rates and Implementation of a Workplace Violence Prevention Program in the Veterans Health Care Administration

OBJECTIVE: : This study examined the relationship between changes in assault rates over time and the implementation of a workplace violence prevention (WVP) program in 138 Department of Veterans Affairs health care facilities. METHODS: : Data on WVP implementation were assessed for each facility by a three-person team. We computed three WVP dimension scores: training, workplace practices, and environmental control and security. We obtained 6 years of assault rate data from the national injury system. Using a linear mixed model, we analyzed whether the WVP implementation was associated with lower assault rates controlling for time and organizational characteristics. RESULTS: : Training implementation was negatively associated with assault rates. Facilities with smaller bed sizes and without academic affiliates had lower assault rates. CONCLUSIONS: : Particular attention should be given to these dimensions because they may be associated with lower facility-level assault rates. Language: en
Phoneme Intelligibility of Four Text-to-Speech Products to Nonnative Speakers of English in Noise

The study investigated the segmental intelligibility of four text-to-speech (TTS) products under 0 dB and 5 dB signal-to-noise ratios in a group of native and nonnative speakers of English. Each product—AT&T Next-Gen™, Festival version 1.4.2, FlexVoice™ 2, and IBM ViaVoice™ Version 5.1—uses a different algorithm for generating speech from text. The results, which benefit developers of TTS technology as well as developers of products that utilize TTS, showed that (1) all TTS products were less intelligible to nonnative speakers of English than native speakers, (2) the “hybrid” TTS product that combined concatenative and formant synthesis methods was the least intelligible of the four products investigated, (3) the remaining three products, which used formant, concatenative diphone based LPC, and concatenative waveform synthesis methods respectively, were equally intelligible to nonnative speakers, (4) none of the four TTS products was better at resisting intelligibility loss due to noise than others, and (5) listening to currently available unrestricted TTS under high noise conditions would probably require a greater amount of cognitive resources on the part of both native and nonnative speakers of English and may be difficult when other demanding activities are concurrently performed.
Effects of aging and long-term caloric restriction on hepatic microsomal monooxygenases in female fischer 344 rats: Alterations in basal cytochrome P-450 catalytic activities

The effects of aging and caloric restriction on uninduced levels of hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450s and specific P-450-related catalytic activities were evaluated in female Fischer 344 rats. Microsomes were isolated from livers of ad libitum (AL) fed rats 1, 3, 6, 16 and 26 months of age, and from calorie-restricted (CR) rats 6, 16 and 26 months of age. The recovery of microsomal protein was higher in CR than AL rats at 6, 16 and 26 months of age. Between ages 3 and 26 months there was a gradual decline in recovered microsomal P-450, but the differences between successive age categories were not significant. A different trend was observed for total cytochrome P-450 per liver. AL rats showed a 2-fold decline in P-450/liver between 6 and 26 months of age, while P-450/liver of corresponding CR rats increased 1.7-fold. Neither cytochrome b5 nor NADPH cytochrome C reductase varied consistently as a function of increased age, with all age groups showing greater reductase activity for CR rats than for AL rats. Phenobarbital (PB) and methylcholenthrene (MC) inducible cytochrome P-450 catalytic activities (pentoxy [PROD] and ethoxy [EROD] resorufin O-deethylases) exhibited similar age-related alterations that were distinctly different from the two other enzymes examined. Both PROD and EROD showed dramatic declines in activity between 1 and 3 months of age, with a slight increase in activity at 6 months and maintenance of the activity levels through 26 months. Benzphetamine N-demethylase (BND) and aniline p-hydroxylase (APH) activities were also altered as a function of increased age, with CR rats exhibiting increased isozyme activity above that seen for aging AL rats. Calorie restriction appears to have a modulating effect, compensating for an age-related decline of hepatic microsomal monooxygenase activity in female Fischer 344 rats.
Abdominal craniectomy implantation and thromboembolism prophylaxis resulting in wound hematoma.

BACKGROUND: Refractory intracranial hypertension often is treated with craniectomy to prevent herniation and irreversible neurologic decline in those with salvageable brain injuries. OBJECTIVE: We report 3 cases of iatrogenic abdominal hematoma at the site of craniectomy implantation secondary to abdominal subcutaneous deep vein thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of patients with abdominal wound complications after craniectomy and abdominal bone flap implantation at the University of Florida from 2004 to 2008 was performed. RESULTS: Three patients receiving subcutaneous DVT prophylaxis via abdominal injectons developed hematomas at the site of abdominal implantation. The hematomas occurred 17 days, 20 days, and 6 weeks postoperatively. All required urgent hematoma evacuation. All had evidence of needle sticks overlying the implantation site. CONCLUSION: To reduce the potential risk of wound hematoma, DVT prophylaxis injections should be performed remote to the surgical site in craniectomized patients with abdominal bone flap implantation.
Two-to-one structures

We investigate computability-theoretic properties of computable structures with single unary functions f such that, for every x in the image, f−1(x) has exactly two elements, which we call 2:1 structures. We also investigate structures for which f−1(x) has either exactly two or zero elements, which we call (2,0):1 structures. In particular, we are interested in the complexity of isomorphisms between these structures. We prove that a computable 2:1 structure A is computably categorical if and only if A has only finitely many Z-chains. We show that every computable 2:1 structure is ∆2-categorical. We further investigate computable and higher level categoricity of various natural subclasses of (2,0):1 structures, including highly computable and locally finite strufctures.
Matchings in Node-Weighted Convex Bipartite Graphs

Matchings in convex bipartite graphs correspond to the problem of scheduling unit-length tasks on a single disjunctive resource, given a release time and a deadline for every task. The unweighted case was studied by several authors since Glover first considered the problem in 1967 [Glover, F. 1967. Maximum matching in convex bipartite graphs. Naval Res. Logist. Quart.14 313--316] and until 1996, when Steiner and Yeomans found an algorithm whose running time is linear in the number of tasks [Steiner, G., J. S. Yeomans. 1996. A linear time algorithm for determining maximum matchings in convex, bipartite graphs. Comput. Math. Appl.31(12) 91--96]. We address a weighted variant of this problem. Given a node-weighted convex bipartite graph G=(X, Y, E) (where Y is linearly ordered and the neighborhood of each node of X is an interval of Y), we show that it is possible to find an X-perfect matching of maximum (or minimum) weight in O(|E| + |Y| log |X|) time and O(|X| + |Y|) space. For the case in which only the nodes of Y are weighted and their weights are positive, the algorithm can be used to find a maximum-weight (not necessarily X-perfect) matching.
Orientational disorder in solvent-free solid c70.

The high-temperature structure of solvent-free C70 has been determined with high-resolution x-ray powder difraction and electron microscopy. Samples crystallized from solution form hexagonal close-packed crystals that retain an appreciable amount of residual toluene, even after prolonged heating. Samples prepared by sublimation, which contain no detectable solvent, are primarily face-centered cubic with some admixture of a hexagonal phase. The relative volume of the hexagonal phase can be further reduced by annealing. The structures of both phases are described by a model of complete orientational disorder. The cubic phase contains an appreciable density of stacking faults along the [111] direction.
Polymers to Selectively Remove Oxidizing Anions from Non-Oxidizing Anions and NO3 − and NO2 − and NO2 − From Polluted Waters

Abstract A copolymer of 1-phenyl-2-diethylaminoethyl-p-aminobenzoate and polyvinyl-benzyl chloride was found to have a greater capacity for NO3 − and NO2 − than a previously reported nitron polymer but did not react as rapidly. The resin is readily regenerated with NH4OH or NH4Cl and is not affected by the pH of the water over the range of 4–10. A copolymer of 1-(4′-nitrophenyl)-2-diethyl aminoethyl-p-nitrobenzoate and polyvinylbenzyl chloride was found to react nearly as fast as the nitron polymer and have a larger capacity for NO3 − and NO2 −.
Insecurity and Economic Inequality in the United States

In recent memory, the United States has lived under a heightened sense of insecurity. This sense of insecurity, which initially emanated from the terrorist attacks in September 2001, subsequently has been extended to the employment and financial sectors. As a response to terrorism, multiple Congressional laws have put added restrictions on the movement of humans, capital, and goods and services. On the whole, such policy changes have contributed to a climate of securitization of the major areas of American life. The sense of insecurity has been correlated with a level of economic inequality previously unseen in American history. It is argued that to address both issues simultaneously, the United States should foster improved relations with both Mexico and Canada. The pending legislation in the US Congress on comprehensive immigration reform may hold one of the keys to addressing the problems of both insecurity and inequality in a meaningful way.
The Road to Somewhere: Why Health Reform Happened: Or Why Political Scientists Who Write about Public Policy Shouldn't Assume They Know How to Shape It

Why did comprehensive health care reform pass in 2010? Why did it take the form it did—a form that, while undeniably ambitious, was also more limited than many advocates wanted, than health policy precedents set abroad, and than the scale of the problems it tackled? And why was this legislation, despite its limits, the subject of such vigorous and sometimes vicious attacks? These are the questions I tackle in this essay, drawing not just on recent scholarship on American politics but also on the somewhat-improbable experience that I had as an active participant in this fierce and polarized debate. My conclusions have implications not only for how political scientists should understand what happened in 2009–10, but also for how they should understand American politics. In particular, the central puzzles raised by the health reform debate suggest why students of American politics should give public policy—what government does to shape people's lives—a more central place within their investigations. Political scientists often characterize politics as a game among undifferentiated competitors, played out largely through campaigns and elections, with policy treated mostly as an afterthought—at best, as a means of testing theories of electoral influence and legislative politics. The health care debate makes transparent the weaknesses of this approach. On a range of key matters at the core of the discipline—the role and influence of interest groups; the nature of partisan policy competition; the sources of elite polarization; the relationship between voters, activists, and elected officials; and more—the substance of public policy makes a big difference. Focusing on what government actually does has normative benefits, serving as a useful corrective to the tendency of political science to veer into discussions of matters deemed trivial by most of the world outside the academy. But more important, it has major analytical payoffs—and not merely for our understanding of the great health care debate of 2009–10.
Interpreting treatment effects when cases are institutionalized after treatment

Drug treatment clients are at high risk for institutionalization, i.e., spending a day or more in a controlled environment where their freedom to use drugs, commit crimes, or engage in risky behavior may be circumscribed. For example, in recent large studies of drug treatment outcomes, more than 40% of participants were institutionalized for a portion of the follow-up period. When longitudinal studies ignore institutionalization at follow-up, outcome measures and treatment effect estimates conflate treatment effects on institutionalization with effects on many of the outcomes of interest. In this paper, we develop a causal modeling framework for evaluating the four standard approaches for addressing this institutionalization confound, and illustrate the effects of each approach using a case study comparing drug use outcomes of youths who enter either residential or outpatient treatment modalities. Common methods provide biased estimates of the treatment effect except under improbable assumptions. In the case study, the effect of residential care ranged from beneficial and significant to detrimental and significant depending on the approach used to account for institutionalization. We discuss the implications of our analysis for longitudinal studies of all populations at high risk for institutionalization.
Effects of cocaine on fixed-interval behavior and schedule-induced alcohol consumption in male and female rats.

Abstract Three male and three female Wistar rats pressed a lever on a fixed-interval 60-s schedule of food reinforcement while they had simultaneous access to an alcohol solution. They were challenged with different doses of cocaine hydrochloride (vehicle, 1, 3, 10, and 30 mg/kg) once lever press rates and lick rates had stabilized. Low doses of cocaine (1 and 3 mg/kg) did not systematically affect lever press rates or lick rates. The administration of 10 and 30 mg/kg cocaine dose-dependently decreased lever press rates and schedule-induced licking to a greater extent in female than in male rats. Lick rates decreased even when cocaine administration did not affect the number of pellets obtained during an experimental session. Lever press rates accelerated throughout the interreinforcement interval during control sessions. Licking was mostly limited to the first 10 s (males) or 20 s (females) after pellet presentation. Cocaine administration did not affect the distribution of lever presses and licks during the interreinforcement interval. The results of the present experiment extend previous observations that cocaine's rate-dependent effects on lever press rates may be limited to situations in which changes in lever press frequency and/or distribution negatively affect reinforcement frequency and/or physiological consequences of schedule-induced behavior.
In Vitro fertilization: A cost-effective alternative for infertile couples?

Objective To evaluate the cost ofin vitro fertilization by calculating the cost of a live birth using this technology and determine cost variation according to the clinical characteristics of a particular population.
The role of serotonin in schizophrenia: an overview of the nomenclature, distribution and alterations of serotonin receptors in the central nervous system

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that is widely distributed throughout the central nervous system. The role of serotonin in schizophrenia is still unclear. Postmortem studies of serotonin receptor subtypes in schizophrenia have been inconclusive for the most part. The most promising findings involve a reduction in 5-HT2 receptors and 5-HT reuptake sites in the prefrontal cortex of schizophrenic patients. In this paper we review the function, distribution and pharmacological characteristics of serotonin receptors. Postmortem studies are also reviewed, focusing upon the role of these receptors in schizophrenia.
Development of an optical imaging platform for functional imaging of small animals using wide-field excitation

The design and characterization of a time-resolved functional imager using a wide-field excitation scheme for small animal imaging is described. The optimal operation parameters are established based on phantom studies. The performance of the platform for functional imaging and the simultaneous 3D reconstruction of absorption and scattering coefficients is investigated in vitro.
Diagnosing skills of statistical hypothesis testing using the Rule Space Method

Abstract This study illustrated the use of the Rule Space Method to diagnose students’ proficiencies in, skills and knowledge of statistical hypothesis testing. Participants included 96 undergraduate and, graduate students, of whom 94 were classified into one or more of the knowledge states identified by, the rule space analysis. Analysis at the level of proficiency groups showed that the critical difference, between low and medium proficiency groups was the understanding of statistical concepts and, knowledge while the critical skill discriminating the medium proficiency group from the high, proficiency group was to mange complex computational procedures. In addition, attribute profiles of, two students showed how students with the same total score can possess different strengths and, weaknesses.
One-step synthesis of silver nanoparticle-filled nylon 6 nanofibers and their antibacterial properties

A novel and facile one-step approach to in situ synthesize silver nanoparticle-filled nylon 6 nanofibers by electrospinning is reported. The method does not need post-treatments and can be carried out at ambient conditions without using additional chemicals. It employs the electrospinning solvent as a reducing agent for in situ conversion of AgNO3 into silver nanoparticles during the solution preparation. The resultant silver nanoparticle-filled nylon 6 hybrid nanofibers show an excellent fibrous structure (fiber diameter at 50–150 nm), with narrow size 2–4 nm silver nanoparticles uniformly dispersed throughout the nylon 6 matrix. DSC analysis shows that the in situ incorporation of silver nanoparticles increased the Tg and crystallinity of the resultant nanofibers. These silver nanoparticle-filled nylon 6 nanofibers exhibit a steady and long-lasting silver ion release behavior, and robust antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive B. cereus and Gram-negative E. coli microorganisms.
Regional probabilities of precipitation change: A Bayesian analysis of multimodel simulations

[1] Tebaldi et al. [2005] present a Bayesian approach to determining probability distribution functions (PDFs) of temperature change at regional scales, from the output of a multi-model ensemble, run under the same scenario of future anthropogenic emissions. The main characteristic of the method is the formalization of the two criteria of bias and convergence that the REA method [Giorgi and Mearns, 2002] first quantified as a way of assessing model reliability. Thus, the General Circulation Models (AOGCMs) of the ensemble are combined in a way that accounts for their performance with respect to current climate and a measure of each model's agreement with the majority of the ensemble. We apply the Bayesian model to a set of transient experiments under two SRES scenarios. We focus on predictions of precipitation change, for land regions of subcontinental size. We highlight differences in the PDFs of precipitation change derived in regions where models find easy agreement, and perform well in simulating present day precipitation, compared to regions where models have large biases, and/or their future projections disagree. We compare results from the two scenarios, thus assessing the consequences of the two alternative hypotheses, and present summaries based on their averaging.
Etest for antifungal susceptibility testing of yeasts

Comparison [+/- 1 dilution between minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs)] of fluconazole and flucytosine Etest MICs of 10 candidate quality control yeast isolates and 78 clinical isolates demonstrated good agreement (> or = 90%) with the reference method (National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards document M27-P). This study suggests that the Etest is a promising alternative method for antifungal susceptibility testing in the clinical laboratory, but that further evaluations are needed.
Trip to Russia and Uzbekistan, April 2013

The author reports on her trip to Moscow and Uzbekistan. In Moscow she attended and presented a paper at the conference Rumiantsevskie chteniia [Rumiantsev readings] 2013. After the conference she set up a new approval plan for Yale University Libraries with Natasha Kozmenko Booksellers. In Tashkent she participated in the seventh international conference Information and Library Resources for Science, Education, Culture, and Business: Central Asia 2013. She and some of the other participants also traveled to Samarkand.
Differential Modulation by Aromatic Hydrocarbon Receptor Agonist of Circulating Estradiol-17β and Estrogen-Receptor DNA-binding Capability in Female Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Abstract We report alterations in serum estradiol-17β (E2) and hepatic estrogen receptor (ER) DNA-binding activity in female rainbow trout given a single ip injection of 0, 6.25, 12.5, 25, or 50 mg s-naphthoflavone (BNF)/kg body weight, followed by sacrifice at 24 or 48 hr. BNF affected E2 in a dichotomous fashion at 24 hr, and reduced E2 at 48 hr with increasing BNF. DNA binding by ER was decreased in an apparently dosedependent manner after 24 hr and increased after 48 hr. These data suggest that the regulation of ER by AHR agonists may occur both at the ER promoter, and also secondarily via E2, and that the differential effects observed are both time and dose dependent.
Alkyl dinitrile complexes of cobalt(II), Nickel(II0 and zinc(II)

Abstract A series of alkyl dinitrile complexes of the type [M(NC(CH 2 ) n CN)Cl 2 ] 2 [n = 2–4; M = Co II , Ni II , Zn II ] has been prepared by the raction of the appropriate metal chlorides and dinitriles in 2− or t-butnol [ethanol/chloroform, for n = 2 and M = Co II ; ethanol, for n = 4 and M = Zn II ]. The observation of only blue-shifted (relative to the uncomplexed dinitriles) ν c ≡ N bands in the infrared spectra of the complexes supports their formulation as dinuclear species containing two N-bonded bridging dinitrile groups. The Co II and Ni II complexes undergo reversible hydration to form octahedral dinuclear complexes. The nature of the solvent, coupled with the chain length of the dinitrile and the nature of the metal, can markedly affect the course of the reaction. Zinc II , but not Hg II , catalyzes a reaction between malononitrile and ethanol which results in the formation of a pyridine derivative. No such reaction takes place if the malononitrile is replaced by adiponitrile. The effects of the charge on the metal, the energy level of the d orbitals of the metal, and the geometry of the ligand on the coordination behavior (CN triple bond coordination versus N-coordination) of NC(CH 2 n CN and NC(CH 2 ) n NR 2 molecules are also discussed.
Vibrationally resolved photoelectron spectroscopy of AlO− and AlO2−

Abstract Vibrationally resolved photoelectron spectra of AlO − and AlO 2 − have been obtained at two photon energies, 3.49 and 4.66 eV. Both the ground and first excited states are observed for AlO. The spectrum of AlO 2 − can only be obtained at the higher photon energy due to the high electron affinity (EA) of AlO 2 . The electron affinities of AlO and AlO 2 are measured to be 2.60(1) and 4.23(1) eV, respectively. The rather high EAs for both molecules are consistent with the fact that AlO − and AlO 2 − anions are closed-shell, isoelectronic with SiO and SiO 2 , respectively. The vibrational frequency of the AlO − anion is observed to be 900 (50) cm −1 . The vibrational frequencies and excitation energy obtained for AlO agree well with previous optical measurements. The totally symmetric vibrational frequency is observed to be 750 (40) cm −1 for AlO 2 and 680 (60) cm −1 for AlO 2 − . The AlO 2 molecule, as well as AlO 2 − , is concluded to have a linear OAlO structure from the spectroscopic information obtained.
Do comets have satellites

The impending return of Comet Halley to the inner solar system later in this decade has prompted a large upsurge of interest within the geophysical-planetary science community. Right now in the United States, major plans to intercept Comet Halley by spacecraft have been cancelled. Nonetheless, the quest for gaining an understanding of comets has become more enthusiastic now in anticipation of Halley (Halley goes through perihelion on February 9, 1986). Now is a time when the very concepts of comets are being examined, and different models of their properties are being developed.
pH-Responsive Polymeric Micelle Carriers for siRNA Drugs

The ability of small interfering RNA (siRNA) to efficiently silence the expression of specific genes provides the basis for exciting new therapies based on RNA interference (RNAi). The efficient intracellular delivery of siRNA from cell uptake through the endosomal trafficking pathways into the cytoplasm remains a significant challenge. Previously we described the synthesis of a new family of diblock copolymer siRNA carriers using controlled reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The carriers were composed of a positively charged block of dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) to mediate siRNA binding and a second pH-responsive endosome releasing block composed of DMAEMA and propylacrylic acid (PAA) in roughly equimolar ratios and butyl methacylate (BMA). Here we describe the development of a new generation of siRNA delivery polymers based on this design that exhibit enhanced transfection efficiency and low cytotoxicity. This design incorporates a longer endosomolytic block with increased hydrophobic content to induce micelle formation. These polymers spontaneously form spherical micelles in the size range of 40 nm with CMC (critical micelle concentration) values of approximately 2 μg/mL based on dynamic light scattering (DLS), (1)H NMR, electron microscopy, and selective partitioning of the small molecule pyrene into the hydrophobic micelle core. The siRNA binding to the cationic shell block did not perturb micelle stability or significantly increase particle size. The self-assembly of the diblock copolymers into particles was shown to provide a significant enhancement in mRNA knockdown at siRNA concentrations as low as 12.5 nM. Under these conditions, the micelle-based systems showed an 89% reduction in GAPDH mRNA levels as compared to only 23% (10 nM siRNA) for the nonmicelle system. The reduction in mRNA levels becomes nearly quantitative as the siRNA concentration is increased to 25 nM and higher. Flow cytometry analysis of fluorescent-labeled siRNA showed uptake in 90% of cells and a 3-fold increase in siRNA per cell compared to a standard lipid transfection agent. These results demonstrate the potential utility of this carrier design for siRNA drug delivery.
Morphological image analysis within the wavelet representation

Mathematical morphology, as originally described by Matheron and Serra, consists of the application of set theoretical operations between the image set X and a structure element set B. Image skeletons are very efficient representations of shape, and can be directly derived using the morphological operations of erode and open. If done at full image resolution, derivation of a skeleton can be very time consuming without dedicated signal processing hardware. This paper presents an alternative to the standard approach that relies on morphological operations within the wavelet coefficient space. In particular, the skeleton transformation can be done very efficiently at the reduced resolution of the coarse wavelet coefficient levels. We investigate the relationship between wavelet image compression and morphological transforms for the derivation of skeletons. We also report the results of some experimental studies on binary and gray scale images.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The practicality of chronic hepatic artery infusion therapy of primary and metastatic hepatic malignancies: Ten-year results of 124 patients in a prospective protocol

Ten-year results are presented of 124 patients with malignancy apparently limited to the distribution of the hepatic artery, treated to prospective protocol with continuous infusion of 5-FUdR through an hepatic artery catheter. Nearly all patients had moderate to massive hepatic replacement. Of 88 patients with colorectal carcinoma, 64 (73%) had clinically objective and subjective remission. Median survival for responders was 13 months; for the entire group, ten months. Of 13 patients with hepatoma, nine had clinically significant regression with a median survival of 11 months. Ten patients had carcinoma of the gall bladder or bile duct with seven obtaining clinically significant regression. Complications encountered are discussed and are similar to other series. Of the patients experiencing clinically significant remission, all but one reached the complete independence performance status, and 84% reached normal activity levels. Thus, for hepatic localized tumor, this therapy is worthwhile and practical.
The Wehrmacht: History, Myth, Reality – By Wolfram Wette

With this major study of the military in Nazi Germany, the author achieves three important goals. First, he establishes the ideological convergence between the German generals and the Nazi regime t...