cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cholecystokinin and neurotensin mRNAs are differentially expressed in subnuclei of the ventral tegmental area

Immunohistochemical studies of ventral tegmental area (VTA) neurons indicate that individual cells can contain dopamine as well as the neuropeptide neurotransmitters cholecystokinin (CCK) and neurotensin (NT). We have defined the distribution of the cells expressing the mRNAs encoding these two dopamine cotransmitter peptides in each of the subnuclei of the ventral tegmental area, and quantitated the extent of expression of each gene by using in situ hybridization methods. These studies reveal significant differences in the patterns of expression of each of these two genes within various subdivisions of the VTA. The rostral linear nucleus contained numerous CCK positive cells, some of which appeared to express preproCCK-mRNA at a very high level, but this nucleus contained relatively few NT-expressing cells. The parabrachialis pigmentosus contained numerous NT and CCK positive cells. The paranigralis and interfascicularis nuclei displayed positive CCK cells but with expression at only modest levels. NT cells were very few in these nuclei. The caudal linear nuclei contained the highest number of NT-expressing neurons and these cells expressed very high levels of NT mRNA. The selective distribution of these peptide genes within the VTA subnuclei may have specific consequences. Studies of the connectivity of neurons in the VTA show that the different subnuclei of this region project to several functionally and architectonically different regions of the cerebral cortex and subcortically to nuclei related to the limbic system. Results from our study show very prominent expression of CCK mRNAs in those subnuclei that project heavily to the prefrontal, other cortical areas, and the amygdaloid complex. The NT gene is expressed prominently in those subnuclei of VTA that project heavily to the entorhinal cortex and amygdaloid complex. These results provide support for a differential role for the NT-expressing neurons than that of CCK-expressing neurons of VTA in “reward” mechanisms and in drug-seeking and motivational behavior. These observations could be applied to create working hypotheses and experimental paradigms to test the differential functional activity of the subdivisions of VTA and their potential roles in the pathogenesis and treatment of drug-seeking behavior and other neuropsychiatric disorders.
Structure and dynamics of cellulose triacetate

Abstract Stochastic molecular dynamics calculations were carried out on a nanocrystallite of cellulose triacetate (CTA). Moment statistics were used to assess the rigidity of the CTA surface layer. The implications of both static and dynamic structural features along with an assessment of CTA flexibility are described in terms of CTA's use as a stationary phase in chiral chromatography.
The Graves Condition for Incompressible Finite Elasticity

The Graves and Weierstrass necessary conditions for minimizers are of central importance in the study of elastic materials that can undergo a change of phase. Proofs of these results applicable to the case of unconstrained materials abound. For the case of an incompressible material, however, only partial results have been established. Here, a complete proof is given.
Compact joint transform correlators in planar-integrated packages

Planar integration of diffractive-reflective optical systems around a glass substrate is an important concept for efficient, reliable, and compact packaging of optical interconnects. Realization of joint transform correlators in planar integrated packages is described. Such compact correlator packages can be combined with other integrated packages on an optoelectronic breadboard to build complex optical processors for various target recognition applications.
A scanning laser source and a microcantilever ultrasound receiver for detection of surface flaws in microdevices

In recent work at Northwestern University, we have shown that near-field scattering of ultrasound generated by a Scanning Laser Source (SLS) can be used to effectively identify surface flaws in macroscale structures. In past work, the laser ultrasound source was in the near-field of a scatterer and a piezoelectric detector was used to measure the ultrasound in the far field. It was observed that distinct variations are observed in the far-field signals as the SLS scans past surface-breaking flaws. These changes were attributed to the near-field scatterer redirecting parts of the ultrasonic beam (which might otherwise have gone into the bulk of the object) towards the far-field detector. We now propose an extension of the SLS approach to map defects in microdevices by bringing both the generator and the receiver to the near-field scattering region of the defects. For the purpose of near-field ultrasound measurement, the receiving transducer has to be made very small as well. To facilitate this, silicon microcantilever probes are fabricated and their acoustical characteristics are first investigated. Silicon cantilevers with tip and chip body are fabricated using isotropic reactive ion etching and anisotropic KOH etching. To characterize the free cantilever vibration, the chip body with the microcantilever is excited by an ultrasonic transducer and a Michelson interferometer is used to monitor the cantilever motion. The fundamental frequency of the microcantilever is measured and compared with analytically calculated fundamental frequency assuming the cross sections of the cantilevers are rectangular. Next, the performance of the fabricated microcantilevers as ultrasound detectors is investigated. The microcantilever is used essentially as a profilometer by contacting it to the specimen surface. Surface and bulk acoustic waves are generated with specific narrowband frequencies and the surface ultrasonic displacements are detected using the microcantilever probe. Next, broadband ultrasound is generated by a laser source and the resulting surface acoustic displacements are monitored using the microcantilever probe in the near-field of the source. Finally, both the laser-generated ultrasonic source and the microcantilever probe are used to monitor near-field scattering by a surface-breaking defect.© (2005) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Signalized Intersection Level of Service Incorporating Safety Risk

A methodology that quantifies potential conflicts between left-turning vehicles and opposing through vehicles and pedestrians is presented. The methodology was based on and designed to be compatible with the Highway Capacity Manual 2000. A model was developed to combine delay and safety to get a comprehensive level-of-service indicator, the delay and safety index (DS). A case study of two intersections shows that if potential conflict is not considered, the signal timing plan with permitted left turns delivers a better level of service than that with protected left turns. However, if potential conflict is considered, the level of service under protected left-turn phasing is better than that under permitted left-turn phasing, according to the DS, when the safety weight factors exceed a certain value. The proposed method models the trade-off between safety and efficiency explicitly and considers both vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian conflicts associated with left turns.
Studying National Character Through Comparative Content Analysis

The study of modal personalities on the national level has been abandoning its belletristic and speculative ways. It has turned more and more to the use of empirical techniques of research. In this paper, a comparative content analysis is used to recognize cultural values in a systematic way-which, in turn, may give us valid clues about national character.
Identification of an Amino Acid Defining the Distinct Properties of Murine β1 and β3 Subunit‐Containing GABAA Receptors

Murine gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) type A homomeric receptors made of beta1 subunits are profoundly different, when expressed in Xenopus oocytes, from beta3 homomeric receptors. Application of the intravenous general anesthetic pentobarbital, etomidate, or propofol to beta3 homomeric receptors allows current flow. In contrast, beta1 homomers do not respond to any of these agents. Through construction of chimeric beta1/beta3 receptors, we identified a single amino acid that determines the pharmacological difference between the two beta subunits. When the serine residue present in the wild-type nonresponsive beta1 subunit is replaced by an asparagine found in the same position in the beta3 subunit, the resulting point-mutated beta1S265N forms receptors responsive to intravenous general anesthetics, like the wild-type beta3 subunits. Conversely, after mutation of the wild-type beta3 to beta3N265S, the homomeric receptor loses its ability to respond to these same general anesthetics. Wild-type-to-mutant titration experiments showed that the nonresponsive phenotype is dominant: A single nonresponsive residue within a pentameric receptor is sufficient to render the receptor nonresponsive. In alpha1betax or alpha1betaxgamma2 heteromeric receptors, the same residue manifests as a partial determinant of the degree of potentiation of the GABA-induced current by some general anesthetics. The location of this amino acid at the extracellular end of the second transmembrane segment, its influence in both homomeric and heteromeric receptor function, and its dominant behavior suggest that this residue of the beta subunit is involved in an allosteric modulation of the receptor.
Law and people in colonial America

How did American colonists transform British law into their own? What were the colonies' first legal institutions, and who served in them? Did the special issue of gender play a significant role? Why did the early Americans develop a passion for litigation that continues to this day? In 'Law and People in Colonial America' Peter Charles Hoffer tells the story of early American law from its beginnings in the British mainland to its maturation in the crisis of the American Revolution. For the men and women of colonial America, Hoffer explains, law was a pervasive influence in everyday life. Because it was 'their' law, the colonists continually adapted it to fit changing circumstances. They also developed a sense of legalism that influenced virtually all social, economic, and political relationships. This sense of intimacy with the law, Hoffer argues, assumed a transforming power in times of crisis. In the midst of a war for independence, American revolutionaries labored to explain how their rebellion could be lawful, while legislators wrote republican constitutions that would endure for centuries. Today the role of law in American life is more pervasive than ever. And because our system of law involves a continuing dialogue between past and present interpreting the meaning of precedent and of past legislation the study of legal history is a vital part of every citizen's basic education. 'Law and People in Colonial America' provides an essential, rigorous, and lively introduction to the beginnings of American law. Peter Charles Hoffer is professor of history at the University of Georgia. His previous books include 'The Law's Conscience', 'Impeachment in America', 'Revolution and Regeneration', and 'Murdering Mothers: Infanticide in England and New England, 1558-1803.'
Techniques Mitigating Update-Induced Latency Overhead in Shingled Magnetic Recording

Shingled writing has recently emerged as a promising candidate to sustain the historical growth of magnetic recording storage areal density. However, since the convenient update-in-place feature is no longer available in shingled recording, in order to update one sector, many sectors must be read and written back, leading to a significant update-induced latency overhead. This work develops two simple design techniques that can reduce such a latency overhead. Because the spatial locality of update-invoked read operations naturally enables the use of the 2-D read channel signal processing, the first technique aims to reduce update-invoked read latency by trading the SNR gain obtained by a 2-D read channel for higher disk rotation speed. Since update-induced latency overhead strongly depends on the location of the sectors being updated within each shingled region, the second technique aims to reduce the latency overhead by leveraging the data access locality in most real-time workloads in order to determine appropriate data placement. Through extensive simulations, we show that disk rotation speed boost assisted by a 2-D read channel can reduce the update latency by up to 33%, and data access characteristic sector placement can reduce the update latency by over one order of magnitude.
The Relationship Between Anxiety Levels and Outcome of Cocaine Abuse Treatment

Although a number of studies have examined the comorbidity of anxiety disorders and substance use disorders, much less is known about the impact of anxiety symptoms on substance use and on substance abuse treatment outcome. In the current study, we examined how self-reported anxiety levels, as measured by the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, were related to cocaine use variables and patterns following substance abuse treatment. There were 108 patients in substance abuse treatment who met DSM-III-R diagnostic criteria for cocaine abuse or dependence who completed an assessment battery at pretreatment, posttreatment, and 3-month follow-up. State anxiety scores significantly declined from pre- to posttreatment and remained stable into the 3-month follow-up period regardless of relapse status. Trait anxiety was correlated positively with negative consequences due to cocaine use and negatively correlated with days in treatment. State and trait anxiety both were correlated positively with the Alcohol Composite Index of the Addiction Severity Index (ASI). These findings suggest that elevated anxiety scores at pretreatment subside with time, do not require clinical management of associated anxiety symptoms, and may be a temporary by-product of experiencing negative consequences due to recent cocaine use.
Universal Lying-Over Rings

A (commutative unital) ring R is said to satisfy universal lying-over (ULO) if each injective ring homomorphism R → T satisfies the lying-over property. If R satisfies ULO, then R = tq(R), the total quotient ring of R. If a reduced ring satisfies ULO, it also satisfies Property A. If a ring R = tq(R) satisfies Property A and each nonminimal prime ideal of R is an intersection of maximal ideals, R satisfies ULO. If 0 ≤ n ≤ ∞, there exists a reduced (resp., nonreduced) n-dimensional ring satisfying ULO. The A + B construction is used to show that if 2 ≤ n < ∞, there exists an n-dimensional reduced ring R such that R = tq(R), R satisfies Property A, but R does not satisfy ULO.
Comparison of analytic approaches for the economic evaluation of new technologies alongside multicenter clinical trials

Abstract Background In reporting economic evaluations of clinical trials, results are often stated without a description of the methodology used to derive the cost estimates. We compared methods for measuring costs from multicenter clinical trials to determine the extent to which the methodology affects results. Methods Patient-level data (n = 1849) from 3 multicenter clinical trials of percutaneous coronary revascularization were used to compare 4 methods of estimating costs: 1) hospital charges; 2) hospital charges converted to costs by use of hospital-level cost-to-charge ratios; 3) hospital charges converted to costs by use of department-level cost-to-charge ratios; 4) itemized catheterization laboratory costs with nonprocedural hospital costs generated from department-level cost-to-charge ratios. Results The method used to approximate costs did not affect the main results of the economic comparisons for any of the trials. The magnitude of the cost estimates and the cost differences between treatment groups varied considerably by method, however. Charges were approximately twice as high as hospital cost estimates. At the patient level, costs generated by use of method 1 were within 10% of those generated by use of method 4 for only 5% of patients, compared with 34% and 22% of patients with methods 2 and 3, respectively. Only method 3 produced estimates of between-group cost differences that were consistently within $500 of the reference standard. Conclusion Cost estimates derived from clinical trials in the cardiovascular arena vary substantially according to accounting methodology. Thus, in reporting the results of economic analyses, a detailed description of cost derivation is necessary, particularly when the absolute magnitude of the cost estimates is important to clinical decision-making or policy-level recommendations. For the purposes of group-level comparisons, conversion of hospital charges to costs on the basis of department-level cost-to-charge ratios appears to represent a reasonable compromise between accuracy and ease of implementation. (Am Heart J 2003;145:452-8.)
Perceptual Assignment of Opacity to Translucent Surfaces: The Role of Image Blur:

In constructing the percept of transparency, the visual system must decompose the light intensity at each image location into two componentsone for the partially transmissive surface, the other for the underlying surface seen through it. Theories of perceptual transparency have typically assumed that this decomposition is defined quantitatively in terms of the inverse of some physical model (typically, Metelli's 'episcotister model'). In previous work, we demon- strated that the visual system uses Michelson contrast as a critical image variable in assigning transmittance to transparent surfacesnot luminance differences as predicted by Metelli's model (F Metelli, 1974 Scientific American 230(4) 90^98). In this paper, we study the contribution of another variable in determining perceived transmittance, namely, the image blur introduced by the light-scattering properties of translucent surfaces and materials. Experiment 1 demonstrates that increasing the degree of blur in the region of transparency leads to a lowering in perceived transmittance, even if Michelson contrast remains constant in this region. Experiment 2 tests how this addition of blur affects apparent contrast in the absence of perceived transparency. The results demonstrate that, although introducing blur leads to a lowering in apparent contrast, the magnitude of this decrease is relatively small, and not sufficient to explain the decrease in perceived transmittance observed in experiment 1. The visual system thus takes the presence of blur in the region of transparency as an additional image cue in assigning transmittance to partially transmissive surfaces.
Anomalous behavior of a quantized Hall plateau in a high-mobility Si metal-oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistor

Measurements at 14 T and 340 mK of the quantized Hall resistance of the i=4 plateau of a Si metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (Si-MOSFET) made with a precision of 0.015 ppm and an accuracy of 0.005 ppm revealed unexpected irregularities. Smooth variations of \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.04 ppm were observed across the plateau even though the Si-MOSFET had a mobility of 1.2 ${\mathrm{m}}^{2}$/V s and a diagonal resistivity less than 0.002 ppm of the plateau resistivity. Furthermore, measurements over a period of several months indicated that the plateau shape is metastable. A variety of possible causes for these phenomena are discussed, but none provides a satisfactory explanation.
Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy by Light Coagulation

THE idea for the treatment of advanced diabetic retinopathy by light-coagulation was first introduced by Meyer-Schwickerath (1954) of Essen, Germany. The instrument used was the light-coagulation apparatus developed by Dr. H. Littman and manufactured by the firm of Carl Zeiss. Some of the changes in diabetic retinopathy are similar to those found in the retina in certain other neovascular diseases which are benefited by lightcoagulation. These include Leber's aneurysms, Eales's disease, and angiomatosis. Since it has been established that light-coagulation can destroy certain vessels within the eye and that firm chorio-retinal adhesions can be formed, it was felt that this treatment might be of some value in reducing the incidence of recurrent intra-ocular haemorrhage and detachment of the retina associated with this disease. Material and Method This series consists of 28 patients (42 eyes) involving a total 117 treatments. There were seventeen women and eleven men, their ages ranging from 26 to 78 years. They all had advanced diabetic retinopathy as manifested by retinitis proliferans and a history of recurrent haemorrhage into the vitreous, and were referred by physicians, who continued their medical management while the lightcoagulation therapy was being evaluated. The eyes were observed for from 12 to 43 months after treatment. A pertinent medical history was taken, including the onset of diabetes, the onset of ocular symptoms, and the degree of control. Careful and complete physical examination of the eye was carried out to find the best correctable visual acuity and the visual fields when feasible, with slit-lamp examination, ophthalmoscopy, tonometry, and serial retinal photographs. The light-coagulation was performed under local anaesthesia using 2 per cent. retrobulbar Xylocaine, the pupil being maximally dilated before each treatment. The amount of light delivered to the involved area was varied in each case according to what was felt to be the minimal reaction necessary to produce a mild retinal burn. This was altered somewhat depending upon the degree of abnormality of the lesion being treated. The light was directed to the geographic site of the retina showing the maximum diabetic involvement. An attempt was made to delimit the retinitis proliferans and to obliterate the neovascular tissues. Care was taken to avoid the macular and paramacular regions. Proliferation on the nerve head was not treated directly. Aneurysms and vessels suspected of recent haemorrhage were coagulated. In general, the course of the large vascular trunks where the proliferation or neovascularization was most prominent was followed, treatment being
Teaching an interdisciplinary approach to the treatment of chronic mental illness: challenges and rewards.

National policy makers and psychiatric educators have established the goals of teaching and promoting interdisciplinary care as high priorities. This article describes the implementation of an interprofessional seminar for which the dual aims were to provide a knowledge base for treating individuals with serious mental illness and to teach how to work collaboratively with other disciplines. A seminar, the “Treatment of chronic or recurrent mental illness: recovery, rehabilitation and interdisciplinary collaboration,” was developed in an academic community mental health center. Pre- and postseminar surveys were administered in order to test the hypothesis that the seminar would have a positive impact on trainees’ attitudes about working with the seriously mentally ill and within an interdisciplinary team. A combination of 5-point Likert scales and open-ended questions were used to gather the data. Paired samples t tests were conducted to test for significant differences between the pre- and postmeasures. The seminar participants included 24 students from psychiatry, nursing, social work, and psychology with a wide range of experience. Complete pre- and postseminar data were obtained from 14 participants. Although participants valued the seminar experience, they reported that the actual interdisciplinary work with the seriously mentally ill was less gratifying than expected. They described several advantages and challenges of care-oriented collaboration and shared learning. Bringing together a diverse group of graduate and postgraduate trainees to learn together and to learn about each other’s disciplines appeared to be a successful venture, but the authors were not able to detect a positive impact on their actual work life during the course of the year. Further development of strategies to inspire professionals to engage in and promote interdisciplinary care of the seriously mentally ill is needed.
How catalytic mechanisms reveal themselves in multiple steady-state data: I. Basic principles

Multiple steady states are often observed in isothermal continuous flow stirred tank reactors (CFSTRs) involving heterogeneous catalysis. At least, when certain physical conditions prevail, even fragmentary multiple steady-state data can be used to help determine the operative catalytic mechanism. This article describes theory that can ascertain both whether a given candidate mechanism has the capacity to support multiple steady states and, more importantly, whether the mechanism has the capacity to support a particular pair of steady states observed experimentally. In this article, hypothetical examples are used to illustrate the scope, purpose and methodology of this theory. The examples also demonstrate the way in which even partial multiple steady-state data provide a basis for highly refined discrimination between very similar mechanisms. In a companion article, actual multiple steady-state data are used to discriminate between proposed mechanisms for ethylene hydrogenation on rhodium. A public computer program is available that will allow the user to apply the theory described in this article without knowledge of any underlying theory.
Prenatal diagnosis of dyssegmental dwarfism

Fetal ultrasound evaluations at 18 weeks gestation on two consecutive pregnancies of a woman who previously gave birth to a stillborn female affected with dyssegmental dwarfism, resulted in accurate diagnoses of unaffected and affected fetuses. Marked disorganization of vertebral bodies and associated encephalocele found in two affected cases in this family are consistent with the original observation of this new syndrome as two major aspects which differentiate it from other forms of lethal dwarfism.
The structure and synthesis of annuloline, an oxazole alkaloid occurring in annual rye grass

Abstract Annuloline, the fluorescent alkaloid which occurs in the roots of Lolium multiflorum (annual rye grass) has been shown by synthesis to have the structure 2-( trans -3,4-dimethoxystyryl)-5-(4-methoxyphenyl) oxazole. This appears to be the first instance in which an oxazole ring has been demonstrated in a naturally occurring compound. The isomer, 5-(3,4 dimethoxyphenyl)-2-( trans -4-methoxystyryl) oxazole has also been synthesized.
Heterogeneity of hypertrophy in feline hypertrophic heart disease.

Eighty-six cats with non-dilated left ventricular myocardial hypertrophy were studied retrospectively. Cats were categorized by two-dimensional echocardiography as having symmetric ventricular hypertrophy (Type I), asymmetric with predominant septal thickening hypertrophy (Type II), and asymmetric hypertrophy with predominant free-wall thickening (Type III). The distribution of hypertrophy was judged subjectively and objectively. Subjective and objective results were similar (P= 0.03) although overlap existed between groups. Morphologic patterns (Types I, II, and III) were compared with breed, age, sex, heart rate, percent fractional shortening, left atrial size, serum creatinine concentration, and the presence (yes/no) of pleural effusion, pulmonary edema, pericardial effusion, heart murmur, dyspnea, thromboembolism, hyperthyroidism, and being alive at the time of study. Interventricular septal thickness, left ventricular free wall thickness, percent fractional shortening, and left atrial size additionally were compared to 3-month survival. Cats with Type HI hypertrophy were more likely to experience thromboembolism than cats with Type II hypertrophy (P= 0.05) and cats with Type I hypertrophy were more likely to have heart murmurs than cats with Type III (P= 0.02). No other significant associations were found in comparison to pattern of hypertrophy. Both left atrial size and percent fractional shortening significantly correlated with 3-month survival (P < 0.001 for each). The degree of interventricular septal wall thickness was associated with 3-month survival (P= 0.02) when known hyperthyroid cats were excluded from the study group, while left ventricular free wall thickness consistently was not associated with survival. This study demonstrates the heterogeneity of hypertrophy in cats with hyper-trophic heart disease and provides predictors of survival (left atrial size, percent fractional shortening, and interventricular septal wall thickness when compared with euthanasia/spontaneous death data).
Sexual Assault Training in the Military: Evaluating Efforts to End the “Invisible War”

Sexual assault is an insidious problem in the United States military. In 2005 the Department of Defense (DoD) created the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office, which centralizes responsibility for sexual assault training. However, this training initiative has undergone little evaluation by outside researchers. Addressing this need, we analyzed responses from over 24,000 active duty personnel who completed the 2010 DoD Workplace and Gender Relations Survey. We assessed whether sexual assault training exposure (None, Minimal, Partial, or Comprehensive) predicted accurate knowledge of sexual assault resources and protocols. Using a social-ecological framework, we investigated whether institutional and individual factors influenced Service members’ training exposure and judgment of training effectiveness. According to our results, exposure to comprehensive training predicted lower sexual assault incidence and superior knowledge. However, comprehensive training differed as a function of military branch, rank, gender, and sexual assault history. Judgments of training effectiveness also varied across these dimensions. Our results highlight the importance of considering context, gender, and victimization history when evaluating institutional efforts to end sexual violence. The DoD’s 2010 annual report on military sexual assault concluded that “most Active Duty members receive effective training on sexual assault” (p. 104). Our results cast doubt on that assertion.
Effects of nicotine on body weight, food intake and brown adipose tissue thermogenesis

Abstract Chronic treatment with nicotine results in reduced body weight gain without a change in food intake. To evaluate the role of brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenesis in this effect of nicotine, male Sprague-Dawley rats were chronically treated (3× daily, IP) over a 14 day period with either saline, 0.8 mg/kg nicotine, 10 mg/kg caffeine or a combination of 0.8 mg/kg nicotine and 10 mg/kg caffeine and were pretreated (once daily) with either saline or 20 mg/kg nadolol, a long-acting beta-adrenergic receptor blocker. Nicotine significantly reduced body weight gain but not food intake and nadolol did not reverse the effect of nicotine on body weight gain. To evaluate whether nicotine induces BAT thermogenesis, rats were injected IP with either saline or 0.8, 1.2 or 1.6 mg/kg nicotine hydrogen tartrate, with 5 mg/kg dl-phenylpropanolamine (dl-PPA) or with a combination of 0.8 mg/kg nicotine and 10 mg/kg caffeine with interscapular BAT (IBAT) temperatures recorded for 30 minutes after injection. No dose of nicotine produced a change in IBAT temperature whereas a combination of caffeine and nicotine produced a temperature increase in IBAT (0.95 degree C) 63% of that induced by 5 mg/kg dl-PPA. These data suggest that changes in body weight gain induced by nicotine treatment are not the result of an action of nicotine on BAT thermogenesis.
Microfluidic rotational flow generated by redox-magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) under laminar conditions using concentric disk and ring microelectrodes

Localized microfluidic rotational flow (Reynolds number < 1) confined to a cylindrical volume element (1,600 µm diameter, 620 µm high) with velocity magnitude ≤14 µm/s was achieved in a small cell (14.3 mm wide × 27.0 mm long × 620 µm high) contained over a chip by redox-magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) pumping. The chip consisted of an insulated silicon substrate patterned with pairs of concentric disk and ring gold microelectrodes. The MHD force (F B = j × B) was generated with ionic current density, j, from electrochemistry of 0.095 M K3Fe(CN)6 and 0.095 M K4Fe(CN)6 in a supporting electrolyte of 0.095 M KCl, and with an external magnetic field, B, from a 0.36 T NdFeB permanent magnet beneath the chip. Fluid flow was monitored between the edge of the disk (radius 80 µm) and the inner radius (800 µm) of the ring, using video microscopy to track 10-µm polystyrene latex beads in the redox solution. Data analysis was performed by particle image velocimetry software. Fluid speeds decreased approximately proportionally with radial position across the disk-ring gap, consistent with the decline of ionic current density. This behavior was visualized when half the solution over the disk (160 µm radius) and ring (1,600 µm inner radius) contained a red dye, where faster circulation near the disk caused the two solutions to pass through each other to form a spiral pattern, increasing the interfacial length, and improving opportunities for diffusional interchange. These results suggest a means for local mixing without the need for moving parts or sidewalls to guide the flow.
Influence of urbanization on ant distribution in parks of Tokyo and Chiba City, Japan II. Analysis of species

To study the influence of urbanization on the distribution of ant species, I compared the occurrence of several ant species in urban parks of different areas and ages in Tokyo and Chiba City, Japan. Analysis of the presence or absence of 42 species revealed that the probability of occurrence in a park was significantly associated with park area for 15 species (35.7%), with park age for five (11.9%), and with region for seven (16.7%). It is likely that different species respond differently to urbanization. Species sensitive to urbanization could be good bioindicators of urban environments. Furthermore, to estimate the influence of the modification of underground environments, Messor aciculatus was selected, because this species nests in an almost vertical shaft with many chambers, to a depth of up to 4 m. The probability of occurrence of the species in a park tended to be lower in reclaimed land and banked land than in other landforms. This fact suggests that M. aciculatus could be a bioindicator of underground modification.
SUBSTANTIA NIGRA PARS RETICULATA IS CRUCIALLY INVOLVED IN BARBITURATE AND ETHANOL WITHDRAWAL IN MICE

Sedative-hypnotic CNS depressant drugs are widely prescribed to treat a variety of disorders, and are abused for their sedative and euphoric effects. Physiological dependence and associated withdrawal episodes are thought to constitute a motivational force that sustains their use/abuse and may contribute to relapse in dependent individuals. Although no animal model duplicates depressant dependence, models for specific factors, like withdrawal, are useful for identifying potential neural determinants of liability in humans. Recent analyses implicate the caudolateral substantia nigra pars reticulata (clSNr) in withdrawal following acute and repeated ethanol exposures in mice, but did not assess its impact on withdrawal from other sedative-hypnotics or whether intrinsic neurons or fibers of passage are involved. Here, we demonstrate that bilateral chemical (ibotenic acid) lesions of the clSNr attenuate barbiturate (pentobarbital) and ethanol withdrawal. Chemical lesions did not affect convulsions in response to pentylenetetrazol, which blocks GABAA receptor-mediated transmission. Our results demonstrate that the clSNr nucleus itself rather than fibers of passage is crucial to its effects on barbiturate and ethanol withdrawal. These findings support suggest that clSNr could be one of the shared neural substrates mediating withdrawal from sedative-hypnotic drugs.
Attraction of Scolytus unispinosus bark beetles to ethanol in water-stressed Douglas-fir branches

Abstract Three similar-sized branches on each of seven Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) trees with a southern exposure were selected randomly to receive a water-stress, defoliation, or control treatment. All water-stressed branches were attacked by Scolytus unispinosus LeConte at 12–24 days after imposing the treatments, resulting in a significantly higher mean density of gallery holes (107 m−2) than in the defoliated or control branches, which were not attacked. Needles and woody tissues from stressed branches, sampled after being attacked, contained significantly higher ethanol concentrations (ranging from 2.91 to 15.26 μmol g−1 fresh weight) than tissue from defoliated or control branches (0.005–0.12 μmol g−1 fresh weight). Ethanol concentrations did not differ between defoliated and control branches. The water content in woody tissues and needles of stressed branches was 40.9 and 28.1% of the amount in control branches, respectively, when sampled for ethanol analysis. Woody tissues in defoliated branches remained moist, with 91.3% of the water in controls. Drying needles from water-stressed branches also lost 18.3–33.7% of their total monoterpenes compared to needles on the controls. The mechanism for ethanol synthesis in water-stressed branches appears to be distinctly different from that of logs overwintering on the forest floor. Ethanol synthesis in stressed branches probably was initiated by cytoplasmic acidification as a result of damage to cellular membranes from drying and heating. The ethanol that accumulated in needles and woody tissues of stressed branches functioned as a primary host attractant for S. unispinosus at our Willamette Valley, Oregon, site.
Optimized cluster theory, the Lennard-Jones fluid, and the liquid-gas phase transition

The optimized cluster theory is applied to the Lennard-Jones fluid. The coexistence curve obtained from the theory is presented. It represents the most accurate microscopic calculation of the liquid-gas phase diagram for a fluid with a realistic Hamiltonian. The theory is shown to be quantitatively accurate for all fluid states except those very close to the critical point. Phenomenological procedures are devised which extrapolate towards the critical point from regions in which the optimized cluster theory is accurate. The extrapolation calculations predict nonclassical values for the critical exponents which are in fairly good agreement with experiment. In addition to investigating the liquid-gas phase transition, the equilibrium pair correlation functions are calculated at several states. Further, the internal consistency of the optimized cluster theory is discussed.
The Zygnemataceae (Chlorophyta): a twenty-year update of research

I. NEILSON A.H. & LEWIN R.A. 1 974. The uptake and utilization of organic carbon by algae: an essay in comparative biochemistry (including the adden­ da by N.J. Antia). Phyc% gia 13: 227-264. 2. PROcrOR V.W. 1 975 . The nature of charophyte species. Phyc% gia 14: 971 1 3. 3. HOEK C. VAN DEN 1 975 . Phytogeographic prov­ inces along the coasts of the northern Atlantic Ocean. Phyc% gia 14: 3 1 7-330. 4. JOHANSEN H.W . 1 976. Current status of generic concepts in coralline algae (Rhodophyta). Phyco­ /ogia 15: 2 2 1 -244. 5 . W YNN E M.J. & LoISEAUX S. 1 976. Recent ad­ vances in life history studies of the Phaeophyta. Phyc% gia 15: 435-452. 6 . STARKS T.L.. SHUBERT L.E. & TRAINOR F.R. 1 98 1 . Ecology of soil algae: a review. Phyc% gia 20: 6580. 7 . MOESTRUP 0. 1 982. Flagellar structure in algae. A review with observations particularly on the Chrysophyceae. Phaeophyceae (Fucophyceae), Eu­ glenophyceae and Reckertia. Phyc% gia 2 1 : 427528. 8. WOELKERLING WM.J. 1 983. The A udouinella (Ac­ rochaetium-Rhodochorton) complex (Rhodophy­ ta): present perspectives. Phyc% gia 22: 59-92. 9 . STEIN J.R. & BORDEN CA. 1 984. Causative and beneficial algae in human disease conditions: a re­ view. Phyc% gia 23: 485-50 1 .
Bounded Monte Carlo simulation of critical information related to retirement planning

In the process of effective retirement planning, it is necessary to make assumptions about the future behavior of several key metrics. The most notable among these are annual return rates on equity, fixed income and cash investments, as well as the annual inflation rate. The simplest form of projection is to assume a constant rate for each of these into the future time frame under consideration; however, it is a virtual certainty that such projections will be in error. As a result, other approaches that attempt to account for the uncertainty surrounding future projections of these values have been developed, of which Monte Carlo simulation is a popular technique. However, even this approach, as it is commonly practiced, can produce results that are difficult to believe will ever actually occur. This article describes one approach to more effectively use available historical information on these key retirement planning metrics to produce more realistic and believable Monte Carlo simulation results.
Glass transition dependence of ultrahigh strain rate response in amine cured epoxy resins

Abstract Ultrahigh strain rate performance in a series of model amine cured epoxy resins was investigated as a function of the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the cured polymer network, where the network Tg was systematically varied through the monomer stiffness, structure, and size. The high rate response was characterized in terms of a projectile penetration velocity, V50BL(P) (ballistic limit, protection criteria), which describes the projectile velocity with a 50% probability of sample penetration. One factor that dictates the ballistic performance of the epoxy networks, at effective rates of 104–105 s−1, is the difference between the measurement temperature and the glass transition temperature of the network. Sub-Tg relaxations did not have a measurable effect on ballistic performance, and neither did the monomer structure and functionality outside of the influence of the resin Tg, while off-stoichiometric (excess amine) formulations improved V50BL(P) slightly with high Tg epoxies. The results have implications in protective materials for military, aerospace, transportation, and construction industries, where high strain rate insults from airborne debris, high rate collisions, and natural events are increasingly considered during product design.
Coding Across Finite Transport Blocks in Modern Wireless Communication Systems

Future wireless communications will face the dual challenge of supporting large traffic volume while providing reliable service for various kinds of delay-sensitive traffic. In light of this challenge, this paper investigates the throughput performance of wireless communication systems under channel coding over finite transport blocks (TBs) with the channel state sequence available only at the receiver. When we apply coding across multiple TBs, the underlying wireless channel can be effectively modeled as a finite-state Markov chain. By linking the characteristics of the underlying physical channel to the parameters of the Markov chain, we characterize the channel dispersion of the corresponding system. The channel dispersion is then used to assess the coding performance of various communication strategies. We also propose a communication scheme where the receiver determines the decoding time based on the available channel state sequence. Numerical results show that the proposed scheme significantly reduces the coding delay to achieve rates near the channel capacity.
Microbiologic counts during outpatient office-based cutaneous surgery

This study used microbiologic counts to evaluate bacterial contamination during cutaneous surgeries of the head and neck. Aerobic bacterial counts of the surgical field in cases with immediate closure (group A, n = 10 patients) and prolonged procedures such as Mohs micrographic surgery (group B, n = 15 patients) were performed three times during the operation. Cultures were taken before antiseptic application, 30 seconds after application, and before closure. Each group showed a statistically significant reduction in aerobic bacteria both 30 seconds after antiseptic application and before closure. All aerobic bacterial counts at both intervals were less than 100,000 colony-forming units/cm2 in each group. The consistent reduction in aerobic bacteria suggests that a clean technique for the two classes of office operating room surgeries provides low-risk conditions for infection in relatively healthy patients.
The Semistructured Interview for Consideration of Ethnic Culture in Therapy Scale: Initial Psychometric and Outcome Support.

There has been recent pressure for practitioners to consider cultural variables when implementing evidence-based interventions. Therefore, the Semistructured Interview for Consideration of Ethnic C...
Randomized clinical trial of magnesium, diazepam, or both after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of interventions aimed at improving neurologic outcome after cardiac arrest. Methods: The authors conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial with factorial design to see if magnesium, diazepam, or both, when given immediately following resuscitation from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, would increase the proportion of patients awakening, defined as following commands or having comprehensible speech. If the patient regained a systolic blood pressure of at least 90 mm Hg and had not awakened, paramedics injected IV two syringes stored in a sealed kit. The first always contained either 2 g magnesium sulfate (M) or placebo (P); the second contained either 10 mg diazepam (D) or P. Awakening at any time by 3 months was determined by record review, and independence at 3 months was determined by telephone calls. Over 30 months, 300 patients were randomized in balanced blocks of 4, 75 each to MD, MP, PD, or PP. The study was conducted under waiver of consent. Results: Despite the design, the four treatment groups differed on baseline variables collected before randomization. Percent awake by 3 months for each group were: MD, 29.3%; MP, 46.7%; PD, 30.7%; PP, 37.3%. Percent independent at 3 months were: MD, 17.3%; MP, 34.7%; PD, 17.3%; PP, 25.3%. Significant interactions were lacking. After adjusting for baseline imbalances, none of these differences was significant, and no adverse effects were identified. Conclusions: Neither magnesium nor diazepam significantly improved neurologic outcome from cardiac arrest.
Synergistic regulation of glutamatergic transmission by serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors in prefrontal cortical neurons.

The monoamine system in the prefrontal cortex has been implicated in various mental disorders and has been the major target of anxiolytics and antidepressants. Clinical studies show that serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) produce better therapeutic effects than single selective reuptake inhibitors, but the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. Here, we found that low dose SNRIs, by acting on 5-HT1A and α2-adrenergic receptors, synergistically reduced AMPA receptor (AMPAR)-mediated excitatory postsynaptic currents and AMPAR surface expression in prefrontal cortex pyramidal neurons via a mechanism involving Rab5/dynamin-mediated endocytosis of AMPARs. The synergistic effect of SNRIs on AMPARs was blocked by inhibition of activator of G protein signaling 3, a G protein modulator that prevents reassociation of Gi protein α subunit and prolongs the βγ-mediated signaling pathway. Moreover, the depression of AMPAR-mediated excitatory postsynaptic currents by SNRIs required p38 kinase activity, which was increased by 5-HT1A and α2-adrenergic receptor co-activation in an activator of G protein signaling 3-dependent manner. These results have revealed a potential mechanism for the synergy between the serotonin and norepinephrine systems in the regulation of glutamatergic transmission in cortical neurons.