cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of Ru substitution on the first charge–discharge cycle of lithium-rich layered oxides

The electrochemical properties of lithium-rich layered oxides are affected significantly by the first-cycle charge–discharge characteristics. Specifically, the lengths of the sloping and plateau regions of the first charge influence the charge capacity, irreversible capacity loss in the first cycle, reversible capacity, cyclability, and voltage decay. We present here an analysis and understanding of the first charge–discharge profiles by substituting Ru4+ for Mn4+ in Li1.2Mn0.6−xRuxNi0.2O2 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.60). While most of the X-ray diffraction peaks at low Ru contents could be indexed on the basis of the trigonal Rm structure, those for x ≥ 0.4 could be indexed on the basis of the monoclinic P12/m structure of Li2RuO3. Rietveld refinement data provides preliminary evidence of Ru–Ru dimer formation in these samples. The Ru substitution increases the sloping region, but decreases the plateau region corresponding to the loss of oxygen from the lattice. The shorter plateau region decreases the charge capacity and irreversible capacity loss. The dQ/dV plots and open-circuit voltage measurements indicate a decrease in cell voltage with increasing Ru substitution, largely due to the shifts in the positions of the Ru4+/5+:4d and O2−:2p bands. Ru–Ru dimerization that splits the Ru4+:t2g band into bonding/antibonding orbitals could explain the decrease in voltage and shortening of the oxygen-loss plateau due to a decreased overlap between the Ru4+/5+:4d and O2−:2p bands.
THE SEX RATIO AND WOMEN'S INVOLVEMENT IN CRIME: A CROSS-NATIONAL ANALYSIS

By extending an influential theory relating societal-level sex ratios to women's life circumstances (Guttentag and Secord 1983), this article formulates hypotheses linking the sex ratio with three ...
Intraspinal modulation of neuronal responses to uterine and cervix stimulation in rat L1 and L6 dorsal horn

This two-part study examined intraspinal processing of input from the uterus, cervix and skin within the caudal spinal cord of virgin rats in estrus. The first part examined the effects of removing either pelvic or hypogastric nerve input (by appropriate dorsal rhizotomies) on neuronal responses to stimulation of uterus, cervix and skin in either the L1 or L6 dorsal horn of decerebrate, spinalized unanesthetized rats. Bilateral section of the T13-L2 roots (through which most hypogastric afferents travel) eliminated almost all responses to uterine distension in L1 and L6. Such rhizotomies also decreased the inhibitory effects of cervix input on neurons in L6. Bilateral section of the L6-S2 roots (through which most pelvic afferents travel) had no effect on responses to uterus, but decreased the inhibitory effects of cervix input on neurons in L1. Sections of both sets of roots eliminated responses to cervix stimulation in L6. The second part examined neuronal responses in T13/L1 of urethane-anesthetized rats before and after a T10 spinal transection. Transection increased the probability of observing neurons excited by uterine stimulation. Transection also increased excitatory responses and decreased inhibitory responses to cervix stimulation. These results confirm previous findings that input from the uterus to the spinal cord is mainly by way of the hypogastric nerve, while that from the cervix is by way of both the pelvic and hypogastric nerves. The results also demonstrate that descending influences in the estrous rat mainly increase the ability of cervix stimulation to inhibit spinal neuronal activity and reduce the effectiveness of uterine stimulation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Neonatal administration of met-enkephalin facilitates maze performance of adult rats

Newborn rats were injected SC during the first week of life with 80 microgram/kg Met-enkephalin, DSIP, MIF-I, or diluent. When tested 3 months later in a 12-choice maze for a reward of food, hungry rats injected neonatally with Met-enkephalin were found to run the maze faster and with fewer errors than the controls. DSIP and MIF-I did not improve performance in the maze, indicating some specificity to the findings. Tyrosine hydroxylase and choline acetyltransferase activity in several parts of the brain were not significantly different among the groups. Radioimmunoassay of brain parts from a small number of adult rats indicated slightly more DSIP-like material in the thalamus and striatum of females injected neonatally with DSIP as compared with those injected with diluent. The results extend our previous observations of the persistence of central effects of peripherally injected Met-enkephalin from several minutes to three months when administration occurs early in life. The findings further suggest an effect of peptides on the organization of the developing brain.
Perioperative outcomes of the Prolift pelvic floor repair systems following introduction to a urogynecology teaching service.

The safety information of the vaginal mesh systems upon introduction to a teaching urogynecology service is limited to date. To determine the frequency of perioperative complications associated with the use of Prolift® kits (Gynecare/Ethicon, Somerville, NJ, USA) by a teaching urogynecology service, data from the first 100 consecutive women were analyzed. The primary outcome was any deviation from a normal intraoperative or perioperative course. Complications were graded using the Dindo morbidity scale. Univariate analyses were performed to identify risk factors. Complications included bladder perforation (2%), blood transfusion (2%), mesh exposure (4%), and urinary tract infections (28%). Eleven percent of women reported postoperative pain, and 34% required catheterization at discharge for incomplete bladder emptying. Univariate analysis showed no association between morbidities and patient characteristics, attending experience, or fellow involvement. The integration of Prolift® kits for prolapse repair into a urogynecology training program can be achieved with few perioperative complications.
Tri-plane correlation imaging for the detection of breast cancer: Effects of angular separation and correlation rule

Objective: Overlapping anatomy in projection mammography can degrade the detection of mammographic lesions and further create mass-like features that can confound computer-aided detection (CADe) systems and degrade their performance. Tri-plane correlation imaging (TCI) aims to reduce this impact by incorporating three projection images into CADe using a geometric correlation scheme. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of TCI for breast cancer detection. Materials and Methods: An image set of 198 human subjects was used from a breast tomosynthesis database. Each case included 25 projections acquired within a 45 degree angular span at an approximate total glandular dose equal to that of two-view mammography. Triplet images were derived from each case (the central projection along with two symmetrical images) and analyzed by two independent CADe programs. The CADe results from the three projections from each program were combined using two TCI correlation rules based on unanimous vote and majority vote. The findings were analyzed in terms of true positives (TP), sensitivity, false positives per breast volume (FP), and a positive predictive index combining the two figures (i.e., TP/(TP+FP)). Results: For the first CADe program, the TCI scheme using the majority voting rule improved sensitivity by 40% while maintaining specificity, leading to a 40% improvement in the PPI performance. For the second, a higher-sensitivity/lower-specificity CADe program, the TCI using the majority voting rule improved sensitivity by 10% while increasing false positives per breast volume by 3%, leading to an improvement of 8% in the PPI performance. The unanimous voting rule led to notably lower performance for both programs. For both CADe programs, an angular separation of six degrees (± 3 degrees) proved optimal. Conclusions: TCI was able to improve sensitivity over single projection imaging while maintaining specificity for both CADe programs, which suggests its potential as a supplement to standard mammography and as a complementary module to existing CADe algorithms.
CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT IN TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS: EVALUATION OF NEED

Configuration management, a process developed to control change in complex information technology-based systems, has attracted an increasing amount of attention from the transportation engineering community. As the intelligent transportation systems program accelerates and transportation departments develop and operate increasingly complex transportation management systems, the need for configuration management grows. In this research effort the need for configuration management within transportation management systems is examined by exploring the foundations of configuration management, analyzing the key functions of transportation management, surveying transportation officials, and conducting a case study to examine the configuration management process used by the Georgia Department of Transportation.
International Comparisons of the Experience of Deregulation and Restructuring of Natural Gas Transmission Industries

Abstract In many industrialized countries with mature gas pipeline systems, natural gas deregulation continues to change the structure of their gas transmission industries. This study identifies the general characteristics of such structural changes, and compares the experience of deregulation and restructuring in the United States, European Union, Canada, Australia, and Russia. The United States and European Union gas transmission industries are examined in relatively greater detail. The study shows that the unbundling of transmission networks, and the range of consumer choice and price levels, all reflect the state of competition that varies widely among these countries. On one extreme, is the most deregulated, radically restructured and very competitive United States natural gas transmission industry, and on the other end, the Russian Federation with the largest gas reserves in the world has a natural gas transmission industry that continues to operate as a government-controlled monopoly. The Russian g...
Conformational heterogeneity of an equilibrium folding intermediate quantified and mapped by scanning mutagenesis.

It is challenging to experimentally define an energy landscape for protein folding that comprises multiple partially unfolded states. Experimental results are often ambiguous as to whether a non-native state is conformationally homogeneous. Here, we tested an approach combining systematic mutagenesis and a Bronsted-like analysis to reveal and quantify conformational heterogeneity of folding intermediate states. Using this method, we resolved an otherwise apparently homogeneous equilibrium folding intermediate of Borrelia burgdorferi OspA into two conformationally distinct species and determined their relative populations. Furthermore, we mapped the structural differences between these intermediate species, which are consistent with the non-native species that we previously proposed based on native-state hydrogen exchange studies. When treated as a single state, the intermediate ensemble exhibited fractional Φ-values for mutations and Hammond-type behaviors that are often observed for folding transition states. We found that a change in relative population of the two species within the intermediate ensemble explains these properties well, suggesting that fractional Φ-values and Hammond-type behaviors exhibited by folding intermediates and transition states may arise more often from conformational heterogeneity than from a single partial structure. Our results are consistent with the presence of multiple minima in a rugged energy landscape predicted from theoretical studies. The method described here provides a promising means to probe a complex folding energy landscape.
Defective NF-κB activation in virus-infected neuronal cells is restored by genetic complementation

The interferon-beta (IFNβ) gene is not inducible in neuronal cells in response to measles virus (MV) due to lack of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) activation. NF-κB is normally sequestered in the cytoplasm by an inhibitor (IκBα). Previously, the authors demonstrated that the failure to activate neuronal NF-κB by MV was due to the inability to phosphorylate and degrade its inhibitor, IκBα. Here the authors demonstrate that transient transfection of a brain cDNA library into neuronal cells restores the ability of MV to activate NF-κB. In addition, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFαb), but not interleukin-1 (IL-1) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS), stimulation resulted in IκBα phosphorylation and degradation in two neuronal cell lines. These results indicate that failure of MV to activate neuronal NF-κB is due to a signaling defect and that MV utilizes an NF-κB signaling pathway distinct from that of TNFα, but may overlap with that for IL-l and LPS.
State Legislative Efforts to Support Fruit and Vegetable Access, Affordability, and Availability, 2001 to 2009: A Systematic Examination of Policies

Individual interventions to increase fruit and vegetable (FV 159 introduced (65 enacted in the healthier food retail topic area), respectively. Other topics included general access and affordability, food system support, and food policy councils. Legislation increased over time; 6 bills were introduced in 2001 (3 enacted), and 138 were introduced in 2009 (31 enacted). Policy surveillance of a food system approach to supporting F&V allows stakeholders from many fields to understand policy approaches to improving health and potential cobenefits of these policies. This article not subject to U.S. copyright law.
The Integration of Micro and Macro Practice: A Qualitative Study of Clinical Social Workers’ Practice With Domestic Violence Survivors

The domestic violence (DV) field has long been known for its commitment to the integration of micro- and macro-level practice. This study explores the views of social workers providing clinical ser...
Effect of Degassing on the Formation and Stability of Surfactant-Free Emulsions and Fine Teflon Dispersions

The results reported here demonstrate that the formation of surfactant-free, oil-in-water emulsions is significantly enhanced by the almost complete removal of dissolved gases. However, in an apparent contradiction, the reintroduction of dissolved gases does not destabilize already formed emulsions. Removal of dissolved gases enables the formation of much more turbid and stable hydrocarbon oil in water emulsions, which can be further studied without the effects of various additives, often needed as stabilizers. The observations reported here suggest that the dispersion of oil droplets in water is opposed by an attractive, hydrophobic force, which is dependent on the presence of dissolved gas. However, once formed, the stability of the emulsions appeared to be unaffected by any attractive hydrophobic force, in either gassed or degassed conditions. Degassing was also found to enhance the dispersion of fine Teflon particles in water.
Effects of a chemical stressor on the parental behavior of convict cichlids with offspring in early stages of development

Abstract Mated pairs of convict cichlids Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum were exposed to one of two acidities (pH 5.0–5.5 and pH 7.0) and allowed to breed. Two conspecifics similar in size to the parents were placed in the tank to act as objects of parental aggression. These conspecifics were isolated from the parents by a grid barrier that allowed free visual and chemical interchange between conspecifics and parents. Significant alterations in brooding behaviors and aggressive activities occurred in pairs exposed to pH 5.0–5.5 compared to those at pH 7.0. Females reduced brooding behaviors at lower pH and males increased brooding behaviors to compensate for reductions by females. Aggressive behaviors, especially by males, increased under low-pH stress. Increased visual aggression may reduce the need for physical altercation in stressed environments.
Cost analysis of the use of inhaled corticosteroids in the treatment of asthma: a 1-year follow-up

Abstract A retrospective cohort using pharmacy and medical claims was analysed to determine whether the differences in efficacy of various inhaled corticosteroids demonstrated in clinical trials lead to differences in costs of care observed in clinical practice. Subjects that had an ICD-9 (493.XX) code for asthma and a new pharmacy claim for inhaled fluticasone propionate 44 mcg (FP), beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP), triamcinolone acetonide (TAA), budesonide (BUD) or flunisolide (FLU) were identified and followed for 12 months. Annual asthma care charges (pharmacy and medical) over the 12-month observation period were significantly ( P
Fast ion production by laser filamentation in laser-produced plasmas.

Production of protons with energies of $\ensuremath{\sim}20\mathrm{keV}$ have been observed to originate from the interaction of a high intensity laser with a preformed underdense plasma. The energy and distribution of ions are explained by acceleration by the ponderomotive force resulting from filamentation.
Design of a C-band conformal series-fed phased-array antenna for airborne synthetic aperture radar

The Applied Physics Laboratory at the University of Washington (APL-UW) has developed a miniaturized along-track interferometry synthetic aperture radar for remote sensing of nearshore ocean and river surface current velocities. The system, which is operated on a Cessna 172 aircraft, consists of two radar transceivers, an inertial navigation system (INS), and six antennas. The antennas are mounted on the outside of the aircraft underneath the fuselage. They are regular flat-panel broadside antennas, and as such they are mechanically oriented in the proper directions. This introduces aerodynamic drag resulting in reduced fuel economy of the aircraft. In addition, the antennas and the related mounting structure weigh two thirds of the entire radar system. Substantial savings in operating costs could be achieved if the antennas were reduced in size and weight and mounted parallel to the fuselage. In addition, this would make it possible to move the entire radar system onto an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) resulting in further cost savings.
Mathematical models for emerging disease

It has been nearly 25 years since the publication of Infectious Disease of Humans ( 1 ), the “vade mecum” of mathematical modeling of infectious disease; the proliferation of epidemiological careers that it initiated is now in its fourth generation. Epidemiological models have proved very powerful in shaping health policy discussions. The complex interactions that lead to pathogen (and pest) outbreaks make it necessary to use models to provide quantitative insights into the counterintuitive outcomes that are the rule of most nonlinear systems. Thus, epidemic models are most interesting when they suggest unexpected outcomes; they are most powerful when they describe the conditions that delineate the worst-case unexpected scenario, and provide a framework in which to compare alternative control strategies. But what are the limits of mathematical models and what kinds provide insight into emerging disease?
A relation between landsat digital numbers, surface reflectance, and the cosine of the solar zenith angle

Abstract A method for estimating the reflectance of ground sites from satellite radiance data is proposed and tested. The method uses the known ground reflectance from several sites and satellite data gathered over a wide range of solar zenith angles. The method was tested on each of 10 different Landsat images using 10 small sites in the Walker Lake, Nevada area. Plots of raw Landsat digital numbers (DNs) versus the cosine of the solar zenith angle (cos Z) for the the test areas are linear, and the average correlation coefficients of the data for Landsat bands 4, 5, 6, and 7 are 0.94, 0.93, 0.94, and 0.94, respectively. Ground reflectance values for the 10 sites are proportional to the slope of the DN versus cos Z relation at each site. The slope of the DN versus cos Z relation for seven additional sites in Nevada and California were used to estimate the ground reflectances of those sites. The estimates for nearby sites are in error by an average of 1.2% and more distant sites are in error by 5.1%. The method can successfully estimate the reflectance of sites outside the original scene, but extrapolation of the reflectance estimation equations to other areas may violate assumptions of atmospheric homogeneity.
Degradations of Type 422 Stainless Steel in Aqueous Environments

The susceptibility of Type 422 stainless steel (UNS S42200) to stress corrosion cracking (SCC) and localized corrosion was determined in neutral and acidic aqueous solutions at ambient and elevated temperatures. No failures were observed in the neutral solution at constant load. SCC testing by the slow-strain-rate technique revealed reduced ductility, time-to-failure and true failure stress due to the combined effect of elevated temperature and lower pH. These parameters were further reduced due to the cathodic charging. The localized corrosion studies using the cyclic potentiodynamic polarization technique showed pits and crevices in all specimens. Metallographic and fractographic evaluations showed secondary cracks along the gage section, and a combination of ductile and brittle failures at the primary fracture face of the tested specimen, respectively, depending upon the test environment.
Social Justice Through the Education of a Rural and Tribal Child Welfare Workforce

The state of California has developed an infrastructure to address the workforce development needs of public human service agencies via the Title IV-E Social Work Training program. However, a recent analysis of student retention data indicates that the current infrastructure is not adequately addressing workforce needs for the rural and remote areas of the state. This article reports on a study conducted with county, tribal, community college, and staff stakeholders to explore rural workforce needs and possible solutions. Through the needs-assessment process, a collaborative pilot project using a blended learning model has been designed and initiated. Implications for the dual goals of improving rural workforce development and addressing the core social work value, social justice, through education are discussed.
Traveler Information Tool with Integrated Real-Time Transit Information and Multimodal Trip Planning: Design and Implementation

The chief objective of the PATH2Go multimodal traveler information application is to improve the accessibility and the quality of real-time traveler information and to make transit a known and viable choice for travelers. PATH2Go was developed as part of a field test on the US-101 corridor in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, with the primary hypothesis that travelers would benefit from real-time multimodal traveler information and therefore would be likely to consider using transit. PATH2Go integrates a web-based multimodal trip-planning tool that uses real-time transit, traffic, and parking information; a web-based search tool that finds real-time information about transit arrivals and schedules; and a mobile application that provides personalized en route transit trip information. PATH2Go integrates these major components of traveler information in one platform and makes real-time information easily accessible to travelers. The PATH2Go system architecture and major design considerations are des...
Enhancement of Diffusion in a High-Permeability Polymer by the Addition of Nanoparticles

A nanocomposite was formed by adding fumed silica to the high-permeability random copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) and 2,2-bis(trifluoromethyl)-4,5-difluoro-1,3-dioxole (PDD). The self-diffus...
A theoretical study of some possible alkyllithium hexamers

Using ab initio SCF calculations we optimized three possible structures of hexameric methyllithium each having a near octahedral geometry of lithium atoms with capping methyl groups. The isomer in which the vacant faces of the octahedron are trans to each other is the most stable. The alternative structure with the vacant faces in apical contact is 8.8 kcal/mol (6-31G*//4-31G) higher in energy while the edge contact isomer is 26.3 kcal/mol more energetic than the trans structure. The methyl groups were found not to be faced centered. These results are rationalized electrostatically.
The effect of oxygen tension on the growth and metabolism of a mammalian cell.

Abstract 1. 1. The studies reported here were performed with a mammalian cell, designated AH, which is similar in morphological and biochemical properties to the strain L mouse fibroblast. It is cultivated serially in free suspension. 2. 2. Multiplication of AH cells may be obtained in absolute nitrogen, i.e., in the virtual absence of oxygen. However, the rate is lower in moderate oxygen levels, and there is a marked sensitivity to experimental manipulation. 3. 3. Optimum growth is obtained from 10–35 per cent oxygen. In high oxygen tensions, cell proliferation is strongly inhibited. The inhibition may be reversed by lowering the oxygen tension within 48 hr. After longer periods of incubation in high oxygen, irreversible changes, including cellular degeneration, occur. 4. 4. The oxygen inhibition is apparently not mediated by hydrogen peroxide, since no accumulation of the latter could be detected. Added catalase or reducing agents also did not alleviate the inhibition. 5. 5. High concentrations of catalase (10−6−10−7 M) cause cessation of growth and rapid cellular degeneration. Added hydrogen peroxide and/or ethanol did not markedly alter this inhibition. 6. 6. No effects of high oxygen tension on glucose uptake, lactate production, and uptake of radioactive phosphate into cellular constituents was noted in short-term experiments. In long-term experiments the uptake of radioactive phosphate into nucleic acids, especially DNA, was markedly lower in 95 per cent oxygen than in 20 per cent oxygen. 7. 7. Cultivation of AH cells in absolute nitrogen, 20 or 95 per cent oxygen, did not result in marked alteration in the total soluble acid-labile phosphate compounds, nor in the quantities or proportions of adenine nucleotide present ultracellularly. 8. 8. The metabolic data are consistent with a rather specific inhibition by high oxygen tension at a site or sites closely linked with the process of cell multiplication.
LAND REFORM AS SOCIAL JUSTICE: THE CASE OF SOUTH AFRICA

Hayek argues that when governments violate people's rights by imposing discriminatory laws it may be necessary to do something to correct the situation. He suggests limiting corrective actions in two ways: only address harms that occurred in the relatively recent past, and impose no new discrimination. As a result of a very long history of discriminatory legislation, black South Africans suffered substantial harms at the hands of past governments. Following the political transition in 1994, the new government implemented land reform policies designed, in part, to satisfy calls for social justice. This paper examines these policies in the context of Hayek's arguments.
A study of intersymbol interference and transmission medium instability for an optical fibre system

A simple model is used to evaluate the power penalty accruing from nearest neighbour Intersymbol Interference (ISI) in a digital optical communications system using an integrate- and -dump decision process. The results compare closely with those obtained by Personick in a frequency domain analysis. An analysis of the effects of drift in the transmission bandwidth in the cable and of imperfect equalization indicates a simple design criterion for a fixed equalizer link.
Effects of Government Policies on Employment Opportunities for Blacks

UST TO enumerate ways in which government policies affect employment of blacks calls for considering the entirety of local, state, and federal spending as well as a gamut of laws and other actions. Startlingly few findings are available on the impacts of the policies. Too frequently discussion of the disadvantagement of blacks does not seriously consider policy impacts but degenerates into debating whether to do nothing or everything. Everything includes, but is not limited to, fostering inflation, wage and related labor policies, civil rights measures, credit, black capitalism, education and training, health, housing, revenue sharing and welfare. The present remarks consider impacts in a short space based on limited evidence available. Nevertheless, in place of a choice between nothing or everything they point definitely to a policy mix entailing, first, abandoning wellintentioned policies with adverse effects and, beyond this, focusing effort more sharply on certain policies offering hope of high payoff.
Molecular biology of insect olfaction:recent progress and conceptual models

Insects have an enormous impact on global public health as disease vectors and as agricultural enablers as well as pests and olfaction is an important sensory input to their behavior. As such it is of great value to understand the interplay of the molecular components of the olfactory system which, in addition to fostering a better understanding of insect neurobiology, may ultimately aid in devising novel intervention strategies to reduce disease transmission or crop damage. Since the first discovery of odorant receptors in vertebrates over a decade ago, much of our view on how the insect olfactory system might work has been derived from observations made in vertebrates and other invertebrates, such as lobsters or nematodes. Together with the advantages of a wide range of genetic tools, the identification of the first insect odorant receptors in Drosophila melanogaster in 1999 paved the way for rapid progress in unraveling the question of how olfactory signal transduction and processing occurs in the fruitfly. This review intends to summarize much of this progress and to point out some areas where advances can be expected in the near future.
Effects of dorsolateral frontal lesions on responsiveness to various stimulus parameters in the pigtail monkey.

Abstract We investigated the model of frontal lobe functioning which emphasizes attention and stimulus processing rather than the traditional learning and memory model. The first experiment investigated conditional discrimination and responsiveness to novel cues. Animals were trained on a sign-differentiated position discrimination. Those with dorsolateral frontal lesions were greatly impaired relative to controls. Half the controls were overtrained so they received as many exposures to the stimuli as those with frontal lesions and half were trained only to criterion. All animals then received preference trials where novel stimuli were paired with training stimuli. Both the animals with lesions and the nonovertrained controls chose novel stimuli more than overtrained controls, even though the former had been exposed to the training stimuli as much as the overtrained controls. Monkeys with frontal lesions had difficulty using spatial cues in the training part of the study and appeared to be overresponsive to novel stimuli during the preference testing. The second experiment utilized a reversal and nonreversal shift paradigm opposing size and form cues in each type of problem. Monkeys with frontal lesions were slightly, but not significantly impaired relative to controls. Contrary to the findings of previous studies of normal monkeys, reversal shifs were significantly more difficult to learn than nonreversal shifts.
A comparison of student outcomes following problem-based learning instruction versus traditional lecture learning in a graduate pharmacology course.

Purpose To determine if there would be a difference in students' performance and level of satisfaction when taught pharmacology in a problem-based learning format as compared to traditional lecture format. Data Sources Control (n = 12) and experimental (n = 10) group means for middle-of-term examina-tions, final examinations, end-of-course numerical averages, and numerical scores of satisfaction were analyzed with at test for statistically significant differences. Conclusions There was no significant difference between groups for any of the items measured, suggesting that problem-based learning and traditional lecture format may be equally effective course delivery methods. Replication with a larger sample is recom-mended. Implications The small sample size precludes generalizing results to the entire population, but outcomes of this pilot study suggest that problem-based learning may be at least as effective as traditional lecture and should be explored in larger studies.
The triangular density to approximate the normal density: decision rules-of-thumb

Abstract In this paper we explore the approximation of the normal density function with the triangular density function, a density function that has extensive use in risk analysis. Such an approximation generates a simple piecewise-linear density function and a piecewise-quadratic distribution function that can be easily manipulated mathematically and that produces surprisingly accurate performance under many instances. This mathematical tractability proves useful when it enables closed-form solutions not otherwise possible, as with problems involving the embedded use of the normal density. For benchmarking purposes we compare the basic triangular approximation with two flared triangular distributions and with two simple uniform approximations; however, throughout the paper our focus is on using the triangular density to approximate the normal for reasons of parsimony. We also investigate the logical extensions of using a non-symmetric triangular density to approximate a lognormal density. Several issues associated with using a triangular density as a substitute for the normal and lognormal densities are discussed, and we explore the resulting numerical approximation errors for the normal case. Finally, we present several examples that highlight simple decision rules-of-thumb that the use of the approximation generates. Such rules-of-thumb, which are useful in risk and reliability analysis and general business analysis, can be difficult or impossible to extract without the use of approximations. These examples include uses of the approximation in generating random deviates, uses in mixture models for risk analysis, and an illustrative decision analysis problem. It is our belief that this exploratory look at the triangular approximation to the normal will provoke other practitioners to explore its possible use in various domains and applications.
CaMKII-dependent regulation of cardiac Na(+) homeostasis.

Na+ homeostasis is a key regulator of cardiac excitation and contraction. The cardiac voltage-gated Na+ channel, NaV1.5, critically controls cell excitability, and altered channel gating has been implicated in both inherited and acquired arrhythmias. Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), a serine/threonine kinase important in cardiac physiology and disease, phosphorylates NaV1.5 at multiple sites within the first intracellular linker loop to regulate channel gating. Although CaMKII sites on the channel have been identified (S516, T594, S571), the relative role of each of these phospho-sites in channel gating properties remains unclear, whereby both loss-of-function (reduced availability) and gain-of-function (late Na+ current, INaL) effects have been reported. Our review highlights investigating the complex multi-site phospho-regulation of NaV1.5 gating is crucial to understanding the genesis of acquired arrhythmias in heart failure (HF) and CaMKII activated conditions. In addition, the increased Na+ influx accompanying INaL may also indirectly contribute to arrhythmia by promoting Ca2+ overload. While the precise mechanisms of Na+ loading during HF remain unclear, and quantitative analyses of the contribution of INaL are lacking, disrupted Na+ homeostasis is a consistent feature of HF. Computational and experimental observations suggest that both increased diastolic Na+ influx and action potential prolongation due to systolic INaL contribute to disruption of Ca2+ handling in failing hearts. Furthermore, simulations reveal a synergistic interaction between perturbed Na+ fluxes and CaMKII, and confirm recent experimental findings of an arrhythmogenic feedback loop, whereby CaMKII activation is at once a cause and a consequence of Na+ loading.
High-speed, Thermo-chemical Nanolithography for Biological Applications

Scanning probe-based chemical nanolithography has been recognized as an essential part of future nanofabrication processes. However, most of the present strategies still have significant limitations in terms of throughput, resolution and substrate variety. Recently, we have developed a new chemical nanolithography technique called thermo-chemical nanolithography (TCNL). TCNL utilizes a resistively-heated atomic force microscope tip to thermally activate a chemical reaction on an arbitrary organic or inorganic substrate surface. TCNL can write well-defined chemical features at a rate of mm/s, with sub-15 nm resolution [1]. In particular, we have demonstrated that carboxylic ester groups on a polymer surface can be deprotected by TCNL to give carboxylic acids and further modified to form anhydrides [2]. Therefore, TCNL can tune surface wettability with in situ write-read-overwrite capability. In addition, nanoarrays of TCNL-activated amine groups have been used as anchor sites to immobilize a variety of biological ligands [3]. This proves TCNL to be a powerful tool to control the physical placement of biomolecules and cells. It can be applied to a range of molecular cell biology studies such as ligand-receptor recognition and cell signaling.1. R. Szoszkiewicz, T. Okada, S. C. Jones, T.-D. Li, W. P. King, S. R. Marder, and E. Riedo, Nano Lett. 7, 1064 (2007).2. D. B. Wang, R. Szoszkiewicz, T. Okada, S. C. Jones, M. Lucas, J. Lee, W. P. King, S. R. Marder, and E. Riedo, Appl. Phys. Lett. 91, 243104 (2007).3. D. Wang, V. Kodali, W. D. Underwood, J. E. Jarvholm, T. Odaka, S. J. Jones, C. Rumi, W. P. King, S. R. Marder, J.E. Curtis and E. Riedo, (2008) in preparation.
Inpatient pain medication requirements after laparoscopic gastric bypass.

Introduction: One of the benefits of laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP) includes decreased pain, possibly resulting in decreased narcotic use, quicker recovery of bowel function, and shorter hospital stay. We utilize a pain management strategy for our patients undergoing laparoscopic RYGBP. We investigated this strategy as well as narcotic use and incidence of ileus. Methods: Inpatient data for patients who underwent laparoscopic RYGBP were collected. Our pain management strategy included a standing dose of ketorolac, morphine sulphate as needed, and propoxyphene hydrochloride/acetaminophen as needed after liquids were initiated. No PCAs were utilized. Results: There were 104 patients in this study. 12 patients did not undergo our pain management strategy due to reoperation (5), postoperative hemorrhage (2), and allergies (5). 2 patients required no pain medications other than ketorolac. Only 2 patients had a delay of discharge (postoperative day [POD] 3 and 5) due to lack of bowel function. An average of 11.2 mg of morphine and an average of 170 mg of propoxyphene (1.7 pills) were given by the end of POD 2. In addition, 74% of patients required no morphine on POD 2 and 48% of patients required no propoxyphene on POD 2. Bowel movements were reported in 65% patients on POD 1. Conclusions: After laparoscopic RYGBP, only a minimal amount of narcotic use is necessary. Few patients have an ileus when utilizing this pain management strategy after laparoscopic RYGBP.
Simulation Framework for Modeling Large-Scale Flexible Transit Systems:

Despite the prevalent use of simulation methods in a majority of areas in transportation research, transit and paratransit research has not relied heavily on simulation models, not only because traditional transit studies do not necessarily require simulation techniques but also because proper simulation packages are not available for modeling innovative transit systems. This study proposes a new type of simulation framework, targeting large-scale flexible transit systems with various vehicle operation schemes. The intent of this study is to describe the generalized concepts and the detailed architecture of the framework developed for urban transportation networks. A comprehensive process for the framework development, including considerations of simulation data conversion and user interface design, is discussed. Two real-time flexible transit applications are modeled with the proposed simulation framework: high coverage point-to-point transit and real-time shuttle service. Detailed simulation results are...
Induction of thermotolerance and enhanced heat shock protein synthesis in Chinese hamster fibroblasts by sodium arsenite and by ethanol.

Synthesis of a family of proteins called “heat shock” proteins is enhanced in cells in response to a wide variety of environmental stresses. This suggests that these proteins may have functions essential to cell survival under stressful conditions. A causative relationship between heat shock protein synthesis and development of thermotolerance would imply that agents known to induce heat shock protein synthesis, such as sodium arsenite, also induce thermotolerance. Conversely, agents known to induce thermotolerance, such as ethanol, would also enhance heat shock protein synthesis. To test this hypothesis, I have examined the effect of sodium arsenite or ethanol treatment on protein synthesis and cell survival in Chinese hamster ovary HA-1 cells. After either sodium arsenite or ethanol treatment, the synthesis of heat shock proteins was greatly enhanced over that of untreated cells. In parallel, cell survival was increased as much as 104-fold when cells exposed to either agent were challenged by a subsequent heat treatment. The synthesis of heat shock proteins correlated well with the development of thermotolerance. A qualitative analysis of individual proteins suggests that the synthesis of 70,000 and 87,000 molecular weight proteins most closely mirrored the development of thermotolerance. The results, therefore, strongly reinforce the hypothesis that a causal relationship exists between the enhanced synthesis of heat shock protein and cell survival under specific stresses.
New World primates, new frontiers: Insights from the woolly spider monkey, or muriqui (Brachyteles arachnoides)

Despite over 25 years of intensive research, much of our knowledge of primate behavior has been limited to a small number of Old World, semiterrestrial species. With the exception of chimpanzees, these species share consistent patterns of behavior, including aggressive competition between males, male dominance over females, male dispersal and female kin groups, that have come to characterize the Order Primates. However, as research has expanded to include a number of newly studied species, such generalizations about primate behavior are no longer appropriate. Data presented on the wooly spider monkey, or muriqui (Brachyteles arachnoides), provide examples of the ways in which traditional views of primate behavior are being reconsidered. In muriquis, and in several other New World monkeys, female kin groups do not occur because females disperse from their natal groups. In addition, aggressive competition between males is virtually absent; and, female muriquis appear to be codominant with males. Constraints on sexual dimorphism may help to explain why muriquis (and other New World primates) differ so fundamentally from the better known semi-terrestrial Old World monkeys.
Facile functional analysis of insect odorant receptors expressed in the fruit fly: validation with receptors from taxonomically distant and closely related species

With the advent of genomic sequences and next-generation sequencing technologies (RNA-Seq), multiple repertoires of olfactory proteins in various insect species are being unraveled. However, functional analyses are lagging behind due in part to the lack of simple and reliable methods for heterologous expression of odorant receptors (ORs). While the Xenopus oocyte recording system fulfills some of this lacuna, this system is devoid of other olfactory proteins, thus testing only the “naked” ORs. Recently, a moth OR was expressed in the majority of neurons in the antennae of the fruit fly using Orco-GAL4 to drive expression of the moth OR. Electroantennogram (EAG) was used to de-orphanize the moth OR, but generic application of this approach was brought to question. Here, we describe that this system works with ORs not only from taxonomically distant insect species (moth), but also closely related species (mosquito), even when the fruit fly has highly sensitive innate ORs for the odorant being tested. We demonstrate that Orco-GAL4 flies expressing the silkworm pheromone receptor, BmorOR1, showed significantly higher responses to the sex pheromone bombykol than the control lines used to drive expression. Additionally, we show that flies expressing an OR from the Southern house mosquito, CquiOR2, gave significantly stronger responses to the cognate odorants indole and 2-methylphenol than the “background noise” recorder from control lines. In summary, we validate the use of Orco-GAL4 driven UAS-OR lines along with EAG analysis as a simple alternative for de-orphanization and functional studies of insect ORs in an intact olfactory system.
Use of Electric Fields in Solvent Extraction: A Review and Prospectus

Abstract Electric fields have been used in applications related to solvent extraction for nearly seventy years, primarily to break aqueous-in-organic emulsions. It was not until about twenty years ago that the use of electric fields was contemplated as a means of driving and controlling extraction processes. The initial ideas revolved around droplet formation from charged nozzles and have led to development of several designs for continuous contacting devices. Electric field driven devices are not used to any signific an text entin industry, but recent results in this area, some of which are described in this paper, suggest that this technique may produce systems that are an order of magnitude more effective than present day machines.
Self-assessment: A model for involving students in the formulation of their IEPs

Abstract This article presents the self-assessment model as a vehicle for involving students in the formulation of their individual educational plans (IEPs). The five stages of the self-assessment process are described. Two examples are presented which assess the congruence between student selected objectives and those objectives selected by the interdisciplinary IEP team. Results suggest that students can accurately determine their own instructional levels and that the self-assessment model is a viable method for soliciting the input of students in the formulation of their IEPs.
Dihydrexidine, a novel selective high potency full dopamine D-1 receptor agonist

Short communication about the pharmacological activity of dopamine D-1 receptor agonist, dihydrexidine
Microtiter Plate-Based Determination of Multiple Concentration–Inhibition Relationships

The microtiter plate reader has been used to obtain data on the inhibition of aldehyde dehydrogenase over a wide range of inhibitor concentrations. Multiple reactions can be run simultaneously and assayed rapidly with repetitive determinations of enzyme activity using this technique. The microplate reader allows for the efficient generation of concentration-inhibition curves of excellent precision, using only small amounts of material under uniform experimental conditions. The microplate reader can be very useful for pharmacologic studies which make use of spectrophotometric assays.