cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Larger lessons from the Women's Health Initiative.

Most researchers are already well aware of recent findings from the Women's Health Initiative regarding the effects of estrogen plus progestin in healthy postmenopausal women.1 The results of this randomized placebo-controlled trial came as a surprise, because many of us assumed that the findings would support estimates obtained from observational cohorts (as well as expert rationale) that suggested that hormone replacement therapy would reduce coronary heart dis? ease and provide an overall benefit to recipients.2,3 The finding from the trial is quite the opposite?after an average of 5.2 years of follow-up of 16,608 women, clinically meaningful increases in breast cancer, coro? nary heart disease, stroke and pulmonary embolism, at? tributable to hormone therapy, convincingly offset the benefits of a reduced incidence of colorectal cancer and hip fracture. The study of combined estrogen and pro? gestin was ended early because of the strength of these findings, although the parallel WHI study of unopposed estrogen remains open. The current finding is important not only because the estimated effect for coronary heart disease is opposite that which was expected, but also because as many as 38% of postmenopausal women have been treated with hormone replacement therapy. This circumstance appears to represent what many observationalists had hoped would be a rare or impossible event, namely a strong discordance between risk estimates obtained from epidemiologic study designs and those obtained from randomized clinical trials (RCTs). In recent years, there has been a growing sentiment among some researchers that observational studies yield qualitatively and quantitatively similar estimates of treatment effects as RCTs. For example, a pair of papers written from this perspective was published 2 years ago in The New England Journal of Medicine S'5 Many readers understood these papers to support the idea that esti? mates of treatment effects from observational studies are similar to those from RCTs, calling into question the
Bluereach: harnessing synchronous chat to support expertise sharing in a large organization

We present a case study of BlueReach, an expertise sharing application that uses synchronous chat to connect question askers with subject-matter experts. We discuss how the solution evolved over time, and the generally high level of acceptance from users and volunteer experts. We include survey findings and usage data, which indicate that in spite of initial concerns that the experts would be overwhelmed by questions, usage has been fairly low and relatively flat. We examine this phenomenon and conclude with a discussion of lessons learned.
Geometric ergodicity of nonlinear first order autoregressive models

We consider the ergodic Markov chain satisfying where is a sequence of i.i.d. random variables, considered by Bhattacharya and Lee. After modifications of their sufficient conditions for ergodicity, we give slightly different sufficient conditions for geometric ergodicity on finiteness of an exponential moment of |∊n|. Our conditions are weaker than theirs concerning the main part h(Xn) of the Markov chain.
Corneal equivalents : a replacement model for in-vivo 1540 nm laser exposure studies

We investigate the use of in-vitro corneal equivalents as a replacement model for in-vivo rabbit corneas used in laser damage threshold studies. In-vitro corneal equivalents (CE) were exposed to 0.8 millisecond (ms), 1540 nanometer (nm) single laser light pulses ranging from 124 J/cm 2 to 58 J/cm 2 . After exposure, CE's were evaluated opthalmoscopcopically, imaged using confocal microscopy and examined histologically to investigate the mechanisms of laser induced damage. Preliminary results indicate that the 50% damage threshold for CE's, ED 50 , is approximately 70 J/cm 2 with a 0.5 mm diameter spot size. Additional data points are required to determine a statistically significant ED 50 . Preliminary exposures of in-vivo rabbit corneas using the same laser parameters as the CE's are also reported. Comparisons between the in-vivo and in-vitro models are presented. Histopathological images from both models show remarkable similarities in the location and extent of damage throughout the full thickness of each tissue.
Degradation ofO, O-dimethyl S-[α-(carboethoxy)-benzyl]phosphorodithioate (phenthoate) in soil

The degradation of ring-labeled14C-phenthoate in a moist sandy loam and silty clay loam soil was studied. Phenthoate degradation was attributed to the action of extracellular heat-labile soil enzymes which converted it to its carbon ester hydrolysis product, phenthoate acid. Thus, rate of phenthoate degradation was greatly retarded in autoclaved soil, but was equally rapid in nonsterile soil under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Degradation was also rapid even at a soil treatment of 100 ppm. Phenthoate acid was extensively degraded to14CO2 by soil organisms under aerobic conditions, but due to unfavorable factors, degraded only by slow first-order kinetics under anaerobic conditions and at the 100 ppm fortificiation level under aerobic conditions. Phenthoate and phenthoate acid were confirmed as the principal soil components by isolation and identification by IR and NMR data.
High-performance liquid chromatography separation of soybean isoflavones and their glucosides

A procedure for separation of naturally occurring isoflavone glucosides and isoflavone aglycones from soybean with reduced risk of catalytic decomposition is described using HPLC with mild solvents and reversed phase packing. The HPLC system and the solvents used are described and elution diagrams are presented, which show peaks at 258-262 nm. Soybean meal contains at least 3 isoflavone glucosides (daidzin, glycitein-7-β-O-glucoside, and genistin) and 3 isoflavone aglycones (daidzein, glycitein and genistein).
Using the RE-AIM framework to translate a research-based falls prevention intervention into a community-based program: lessons learned.

PROBLEM: Exercise-based research interventions demonstrate reduced risk and rates of falls for community dwelling older adults; however, little is known about effective mechanisms for the translation, implementation, and maintenance of these interventions in community settings. METHOD: The RE-AIM framework was used to assess the translatability of an effective exercise-based research intervention in a community setting. Questions included: Reach - Would the target population attend? Effectiveness - What was the adherence and compliance to the program? Were there individual improvements in falls risk factors? Adoption: Would staff at the center adopt the program and offer it past the funding period? Implementation - What adaptations, including optimal frequency and duration, should be made to meet the community needs, still adhere to core elements and achieve similar outcomes? Maintenance - Would the program be sustained by our community partners? DISCUSSION: The process of translating a controlled research intervention targeting older adults at risk of falls into a community setting was challenging. Licensed professionals developed the infrastructure to safely and effectively deliver the program. The end product was highly appealing program to our target audience, resulted in improved outcomes and was successfully adopted and maintained by the community partner. SUMMARY: Partnerships between community and healthcare providers are key to successful implementation of falls prevention interventions. Lessons learned from this experience can be applied to the translation of future exercise-based falls prevention interventions. Language: en
DNA amplification fingerprinting provides evidence that Discula destructiva, the cause of dogwood anthracnose in North America, is an introduced pathogen.

DNA amplification fingerprinting was used to characterize 28 isolates of Discula destructiva and three isolates of an undescribed species of Discula. These filamentous fungi cause anthracnose of various species of dogwood (Cornus). Isolates were obtained from throughout the disease range in the eastern and western United States and western Canada and DNA
Evaluation of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in diverse plants and soils

Summary-A regional study was made to identify vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi effective in promoting plant growth in diverse plant and soil systems. Eight cooperators in six states of the eastern United States evaluated six VAM fungal isolates on soybean (Glycine mux L. Merr.) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) in a shared soil and in at least one regional soil from each location. Plants were grown with high VAM inoculum densities (minimum of 20 VAM propagules ml-‘) for 42-57 days in pasturized soils in greenhouses or growth chambers. Shoot and root dry masses, total and colonized root lengths and shoot-P concentrations were determined at harvest. Under the experimental conditions tested, the VAM fungal isolate was more important than the soil or host plant in determining effectiveness. In the shared soil, inoculation with two isolates of Glomus (GE329 and GENPI) resulted in the greatest shoot masses for soybeans, while the same two isolates and GE312 provided maximum response in sorghum. In the regional soils, GE329 and GENPI had the widest range of growth promotion with both soybean and sorghum; however, for both plant species the mycorrhizal response was greatest in soils with less than 10 mg extractable P kg-‘. For soybeans, colonized root length was not related to VAM growth response. For sorghum, there was a positive correlation between colonized root length and plant growth response. We conclude that VAM isolates exist which are effective in promoting plant growth over a range of edaphic and host conditions.
Classification of House Characteristics in a Boston Residential Nitrogen Dioxide Characterization Study

Building characteristics of dwelling units in the metro- politan Boston area were statistically sorted on the basis of ob- served associations between the variables. First, associations be- tween categories of house characteristics were determined by cross-table analyses with a pair-wise chi-square test. The key characteristics, which have a significant relationship with many other characteristics, were used to classify the dwelling units into several groups. Two key characteristics, i.e. building type and size of building, were determined. Houses were divided into threee groups: single-unit building, small multi-unit (2 to 4 units) building, and large multi-unit (5+ units) building. The building type was not associated with indoor source, but was significantly associated with volume of dwelling unit, air exchange rate, and indoor and outdoor NO2 concentrations. Lower airflow, smaller volume units, and higher outdoor NO2 concentrations, in combi- nation with other factors, result in higher indoor NO2 concen- trations in multi-dwelling residential units (apartments and con- dominiums).
Common mechanisms regulate flowering and dormancy

In 1960, Chouard hypothesized that there might be a connection between vernalization (facilitation of floral competence) and release from endodormancy. In 2003 we reiterated this hypothesis and suggested potential mechanisms involving chromatin remodeling. Since then, there have been several papers from various laboratories working on several different perennial species that suggest common signaling components regulate flowering and the growth cessation that must precede endodormancy induction. This work has directly implicated FT, CENL1, and MADS-box transcription factor genes similar to SVP and/or AGL24 in growth cessation and endodormancy development. Numerous studies in other model systems have demonstrated the function and regulation of similar genes in floral regulation. Combined, these studies allow the development of a paradigm for future investigations designed to understand the nature and function of the regulatory mechanisms that control induction and release of endodormancy in perennial plants. Dicots, monocots, and gymnosperms have similar floral regulatory genes, suggesting that general regulation of flowering is highly conserved among perennial species. Likewise, reports of differential expression of particular MADS-box genes and putative FT orthologues during endodormancy transitions across multiple plant species suggest a conserved role for these genes in responses to endodormancy induction and maintenance. The limited but tantalizing linkage between floral regulatory machinery and seasonal growth cessation and bud set through regulation of FT and other FT-like genes suggest a general model for endodormancy regulation.
Predicting performance in a first engineering calculus course: implications for interventions

At the University of Louisville, a large, urban institution in the south-east United States, undergraduate engineering students take their mathematics courses from the school of engineering. In the fall of their freshman year, engineering students take Engineering Analysis I, a calculus-based engineering analysis course. After the first two weeks of the semester, many students end up leaving Engineering Analysis I and moving to a mathematics intervention course. In an effort to retain more students in Engineering Analysis I, the department collaborated with university academic support services to create a summer intervention programme. Students were targeted for the summer programme based on their score on an algebra readiness exam (ARE). In a previous study, the ARE scores were found to be a significant predictor of retention and performance in Engineering Analysis I. This study continues that work, analysing data from students who entered the engineering school in the fall of 2012. The predictive validi...
The preparation and biological activity of alpha estradiol-sensitized collodion particles.

Summary and AddendumCrystalline alpha estradiol may be dissolved in acetone solutions of collodion and the steroid incorporated in or on the collodion particles, prepared in the usual manner. Such particles are biologically active as shown by the onset of a cornified vaginal smear in spayed or immature mice and rats. Furthermore, the hormone stimulation appears to persist for prolonged periods, presumably due to the slow elution of the alpha estradiol from the collodion particle.The alpha estradiol-sensitized collodion particles were active after a storage period of four and one half months in the refrigerator. This was established by the onset of cornified cells in spayed rats.
Optical Properties of Gold−Silver Iodide Nanoparticle Pair Structures

Nanoparticle pair structures composed of metal (Au) and semiconductor (AgI) segments with radii ca. 16 nm have been prepared in porous anodic aluminum oxide via electrochemical template synthesis. The metal and semiconductor members can be prepared such that they are in contact or separated in the porous host. UV/visible spectra of composites in which the Au and AgI segments are in contact show a red-shifted and broadened Au particle plasmon resonance band and the absence of the AgI exciton peak normally observed at λ = 425 nm. A blue shift in the Au particle plasmon band and the reappearance of the AgI exciton peak occur as the average interparticle spacing is increased. The changes in plasmon resonance peak position are consistent with an increased probability of Au and AgI intermixing as the spacing parameter d12 is decreased. The absence of the AgI exciton peak in the case of contacting Au and AgI particles is consistent with a large increase in the effective static dielectric constant upon phase inte...
Maternal obesity and gestational diabetes are associated with placental leptin DNA methylation.

Objective In this study, we aimed to investigate relationships between maternal prepregnancy obesity and gestational diabetes mellitus and placental leptin DNA methylation. Study Design This study comprises data on 535 mother-infant dyads enrolled in the Rhode Island Child Health Study, a prospective cohort study of healthy term pregnancies. Prepregnancy body mass index was calculated from self-reported anthropometric measures and gestational diabetes mellitus diagnoses gathered from inpatient medical records. DNA methylation of the leptin promoter region was assessed in placental tissue collected at birth using quantitative bisulfite pyrosequencing. Results In a multivariable regression analysis adjusted for confounders, infants exposed to gestational diabetes mellitus had higher placental leptin methylation (β = 1.89, P = .04), as did those demonstrating prepregnancy obesity (β = 1.17, P = .06). Using a structural equations model, we observed that gestational diabetes mellitus is a mediator of the effects of prepregnancy obesity on placental leptin DNA methylation (β = 0.81, 95% confidence interval, 0.27–2.71). Conclusion Our results suggest that the maternal metabolic status before and during pregnancy can alter placental DNA methylation profile at birth and potentially contribute to metabolic programming of obesity and related conditions.
Serological responses of rams to a Brucella ovis-vitamin E adjuvant vaccine.

Rams which were vaccinated at 6–8 months of age with a water-in-oil Brucella ovis-vitamin E adjuvant vaccine had significantly higher serum antibody levels than rams vaccinated with a commercial B. ovis bacterin or B. melitensis Rev. 1. The adjuvant vaccine did not cause abscesses at the site of injection as some water-in-oil emulsions do. Two years after vaccination, the vitamin E adjuvant-vaccinated rams had higher antibody level than the other groups. This was most likely due to a secondary response to naturally occurring infection with B. ovis.
Stimulatory effect of human, but not bovine, growth hormone expression on numbers of tuberoinfundibular dopaminergic neurons in transgenic mice.

Mice transgenic for heterologous and ectopic GH expression serve as models for studying the feedback effects of elevated nonregulated GH on hypothalamic hypophysiotropic neurons as well as on peripheral function. For example, hypothalamic somatostatin expression has been shown to be increased markedly in mice bearing either bovine (b) or human (h) GH transgenes. Human, but not bovine, GH has lactogenic properties in mice, and appears to stimulate PRL-inhibiting tuberoinfundibular dopaminergic (TIDA) neurons. The present study was designed to determine the effect of a lifelong excess of hGH on dopamine (DA) expression in and numbers of TIDA neurons. Male mice of four transgenic lines were examined. The transgenic animals bore constructs of either bGH or hGH fused to either metallothionein (MT) or phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) promoters; brains of transgenic mice were compared morphologically with those of nontransgenic littermates. Formaldehyde-induced catecholamine histofluorescence and tyrosi...
Managerial tenure and recovery following M-form reorganization in diversified firms.

Abstract We identify two factors that affect how quickly highly interdependent diversified firms recover from the performance disruptions that typically accompany M-form reorganizations: (1) organizational tenure and (2) the tenure of top management teams. We find that top management teams with a rare combination of long organizational tenure and relatively short team tenure are associated with faster performance recovery in diversified firms with extensive business unit interdependencies. The effects of managerial tenure on recovery time were found to be inconsequential in unrelated diversified firms where the reorganization task is less complex.
Enhanced formation of 1223 phase by partial replacement of Bi for Tl in in-situ synthesized silver-sheathed superconducting tape of Tl1−xBixSr2−yCa2Cu3O9−δ

Abstract The in-situ synthesis method has been used in fabricating silver-sheathed superconducting tape of Tl 1− x Bi x Sr 2− y Ba y Ca 2 Cu 3 O 9−δ . It was surprisingly found that the partial replacement of Bi for Tl greatly enhanced the formation of superconducting 1223 phase, as compared to the partially Pb replaced superconductor Tl 0.5 Pb 0.5 Sr 1.6 Ba 0.4 Ca 2 Cu 3 O 9−δ . The critical current densities of tapes with composition in the range of x=0.0-0.4 and y=0.0-2.0 have been determined by transport measurements. We found that the partial substitutions of both Tl by Bi and Sr by Ba can vary over a wide range without drastic reduction of the J c values, with the highest J c values obtained reproducibly at x =0.22 and y =0.4. A pellet of composition Tl 0.78 Bi 0.22 Sr 1.6 Ba 0.4 Ca 2 Cu 3 O 9−δ was found to consist of a single 1223 phase according to the XRD patterns. At 77 K and in the absence of an external magnetic field, the observed J c is 1.33×10 4 A/cm 2 for the rolled tapes and 2.1×10 4 A/cm 2 for the rolled and pressed tapes. In the presence of the external magnetic field, the transport J c was limited by weak links.
Failure to prolyl hydroxylate hypoxia‐inducible factor α phenocopies VHL inactivation in vivo

Many functions have been assigned to the von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor gene product (pVHL), including targeting the alpha subunits of the heterodimeric transcription factor HIF (hypoxia-inducible factor) for destruction. The binding of pVHL to HIFα requires that HIFα be hydroxylated on one of two prolyl residues. We introduced HIF1α and HIF2α variants that cannot be hydroxylated on these sites into the ubiquitously expressed ROSA26 locus along with a Lox-stop-Lox cassette that renders their expression Cre-dependent. Expression of the HIF2α variant in the skin and liver induced changes that were highly similar to those seen when pVHL is lost in these organs. Dual expression of the HIF1α and HIF2α variants in liver, however, more closely phenocopied the changes seen after pVHL inactivation than did the HIF2α variant alone. Moreover, gene expression profiling confirmed that the genes regulated by HIF1α and HIF2α in the liver are overlapping but non-identical. Therefore, the pathological changes caused by pVHL inactivation in skin and liver are due largely to dysregulation of HIF target genes.
Waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), and disability among older adults in Latin American and the Caribbean (LAC)

Abstract Purpose To examine the association between WC and BMI on disability among older adults from LAC. Methods Cross-sectional, multicenter city study of 5786 subjects aged 65 years and older from the Health, Well-Being and Aging in Latin America and the Caribbean (SABE) study (1999–2000). Sociodemographic variables, smoking status, medical conditions, BMI, WC, and activities of daily living (ADL) were obtained. Results Prevalence of high WC (HWC) (>88 cm) in women ranged from 48.5% (Havana) to 72.7% (Mexico City), while among men (>102 cm) it ranged from 12.5% (Bridgetown) to 32.5% (Santiago). The associations between WC and ADL disability were “J” shaped, with higher risks of ADL disability observed above 110 cm for women in Bridgetown, Santiago, Havana, and Montevideo. The association in Sao Paulo is plateau with higher risk above 100 cm, and the association in Mexico City is closer to linear. Among men the associations were “U” (Bridgetown, Sao Paulo, and Havana), “J” shaped (Montevideo), plateau (Santiago), and closer to linear in Mexico City. When WC and BMI were analyzed together, we found that participants from Sao Paulo, Santiago, Havana, and Montevideo in the overweight or obese category with HWC were significantly more likely to report ADL disability after adjusting for all covariates. Conclusion The findings of this study suggest that both general and abdominal adiposity are associated with disability and support the use of WC in addition to BMI to assess risk of disability in older adults.
Land mine detection using a ground-penetrating radar based on resistively loaded Vee dipoles

Resistively loaded Vee dipoles are considered for use in a short-pulse ground penetrating radar (GPR) used to detect buried antipersonnel land mines. First, a study is made to select a short pulse to radiate that is most appropriate for the problem. A simple one-dimensional (1-D) analysis of some representative soils and a land mine is used to select a radiated pulse similar in shape to a differentiated Gaussian pulse with a spectral peak at 4 GHz. Based on previous studies, the conductivity of the arms of the Vee dipole is linearly tapered from the feed to the open ends. A fully three-dimensional (3-D) finite-difference time domain (FDTD) model is developed and used to simulate the GPR land mine detection problem. Using this model, a resistively loaded Vee dipole is selected and evaluated. Parametric studies related to the problem are conducted including: varying the height of the Vee above the ground, varying the position of the land mine both laterally and in depth, and examining the effects of the geometry of the land mine on the received signal. Environmental conditions are examined including signal returns from rocks and variations in the shape of the surface of the ground. The FDTD results are validated by comparisons with experimental data. These studies demonstrate that resistively loaded Vee dipoles can greatly reduce clutter related to the antenna, making the task of distinguishing land mines (targets) much easier.
A pH-Responsive Drug-Delivery Platform Based on Glycol Chitosan-Coated Liposomes.

Currently, a substantial amount of effort is focused on developing actively targeted, receptor-specific nanoparticles for the delivery of anticancer drugs and diagnostic imaging contrast agents.[1–7] Receptor-targeted nanoparticles hold much promise and are often shown to provide nanoparticle delivery beyond that seen with the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect alone. However, these nanoparticles still face considerable challenges as a result of the significant heterogeneity in receptor expression, not only between patients and tumor types, but also within individual tumors.[8] In many cases, the overexpressed receptor may also be present on normal tissues leading to detrimental off-target effects. Perhaps even more troubling is that several recent studies have shown that cancer stem cells may not even possess any known up-regulated receptor.[9] Therefore, targeting strategies that are more generalizable across a broad range of tumors than receptor-specific targeting are highly desirable.
A Carbon Nanotube Synapse with Dynamic Logic and Learning

A carbon nanotube (CNT) synapse emulates a biological synapse with its dynamic logic, learning, and memory functions induced by the interactions between CNTs and hydrogen ions in an electrochemical cell. A circuit of CNT synapses operates with extremely low-energy consumption and could potentially emulate the functions of the neuronal network.
Synthesis of 3D asynchronous state machines

A synthesis procedure for designing asynchronous controllers from burst-mode specifications, a class of specifications allowing multiple-input-change fundamental mode operation, is described. This implementation of burst-mode state machines uses standard combinational logic, generates low-latency outputs and guarantees freedom from hazards at the gate level. It requires no locally synthesized clock and no storage elements. In addition, primary outputs as well as additional state variables are used as feedback variables. The state assignment technique is based on the construction of a three-dimensional next-state table. >
Purifying Selection and Birth-and-death Evolution in the Histone H4 Gene Family

Histones are small basic proteins encoded by a multigene family and are responsible for the nucleosomal organization of chromatin in eukaryotes. Because of the high degree of protein sequence conservation, it is generally believed that histone genes are subject to concerted evolution. However, purifying selection can also generate a high degree of sequence homogeneity. In this study, we examined the long-term evolution of histone H4 genes to determine whether concerted evolution or purifying selection was the major factor for maintaining sequence homogeneity. We analyzed the proportion (p(S)) of synonymous nucleotide differences between the H4 genes from 59 species of fungi, plants, animals, and protists and found that p(S) is generally very high and often close to the saturation level (p(S) ranging from 0.3 to 0.6) even though protein sequences are virtually identical for all H4 genes. A small proportion of genes showed a low level of p(S) values, but this appeared to be caused by recent gene duplication. Our findings suggest that the members of this gene family evolve according to the birth-and-death model of evolution under strong purifying selection. Using histone-like genes in archaebacteria as outgroups, we also showed that H1, H2A, H2B, H3, and H4 histone genes in eukaryotes form separate clusters and that these classes of genes diverged nearly at the same time, before the eukaryotic kingdoms diverged.
MOS RF reliability subject to dynamic voltage stress-modeling and analysis

Dynamic stress on MOSFETs with 900-MHz inverter-like waveforms as well as static (or dc) stress were evaluated experimentally. It showed that the degradation due to dynamic stress is less than that of dc stress for our test transistors. A compact model is used to evaluate the degradation in radio frequency performances, such as transconductance, cutoff frequency, linearity, and noise figure. A class-AB power amplifier is presented as an example to demonstrate the effect of dynamic stress on RF circuit performance.
The Meaning of Pausing

Pausing of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) at the 5′ end of genes is a widespread phenomenon in metazoans, but the role of this event in gene regulation is poorly understood. Gilchrist et al. (2010) now demonstrate that RNAPII pausing counteracts DNA-influenced nucleosome organization to allow precise gene activation.
Brain–gut communication via vagus nerve modulates conditioned flavor preference

It is well known that the postingestive effect modulates subsequent food preference. We previously showed that monosodium L-glutamate (MSG) can increase flavor preference by its postingestive effect. The neural pathway involved in mediating this effect, however, remains unknown. We show here the role of the vagus nerve in acquiring this learned flavor preference and in the brain's response to intragastric glutamate infusion. Adult rats with an intragastric cannula underwent total abdominal branch vagotomies (TVX), common hepatic branch vagotomies (HVX), total abdominal branch vagotomies with the common hepatic branch intact (TVXh), or sham operations (Sham). Following recovery, rats were subjected to a conditioned flavor preference paradigm, in which they drank a flavored solution (CS+) paired with intragastric MSG or another flavored solution (CS-) paired with intragastric distilled water. After conditioning, the Sham and HVX groups demonstrated significantly higher intake of CS+ than CS-, whereas the TVXh and TVX groups showed no significant differences. We then conducted an fMRI study to identify the brain areas that responded to the intragastric glutamate in each group. In the Sham, HVX and TVXh groups, intragastric MSG significantly increased the BOLD intensity in the nucleus of the solitary tract. The amygdala, hippocampus and lateral hypothalamus were also activated in the Sham and HVX groups but not in the TVXh and TVX groups. These results indicate that the abdominal vagus nerve is necessary for acquiring preference and that the lateral hypothalamus and limbic system could be key areas for integrating the information on gut glutamate and oronasal stimuli.
Evidence that the FK506-binding immunophilin heat shock protein 56 is required for trafficking of the glucocorticoid receptor from the cytoplasm to the nucleus.

The FK506-binding immunophilin hsp56 (FKBP52) is one of several chaperone proteins associated with untrasformed steroid receptors in a multiprotein heterocomplex. The function of heat shock protein 56 (hsp56) with respect to receptor action is unknown. hsp56 is not required for glucocorticoid receptor heterocomplex assembly or for proper folding of the receptor hormone-binding domain into a high affinity steroid-binding conformation. In intact cells, the majority of the hsp56 is located in the nucleus, with a minority colocalizing with microtubules in the cytoplasm. hsp56 contains a conserved negatively charged domain that we speculate might serve as a nuclear localization signal recognition sequence. Here we show that injection of an antibody raised against this negative sequence into intact L cells impedes subsequent dexamethasone-mediated shift of the glucocorticoid receptor into the nucleus. Nonimmune rabbit serum and an antibody raised against another site on hsp56 do not affect receptor movement. In...
Will physical scalability sabotage performance gains

The most important physical trend facing chip architects is the fact that on-chip wires are becoming much slower relative to logic as the on-chip devices shrink. The author points out that it will soon be impossible to maintain one global clock over the entire chip, and sending signals across a billion-transistor processor may require as many as 20 cycles.
Limits on Cognitive Communications in the Wide-band Regime

This paper studies cognitive communication, where a cognitive transmit-receive pair utilizes an existing (occupied) wide-band spectrum for communication. The cognitive transmitter is assumed to have perfect knowledge on the signal levels of all the legitimate transmitters in the system and must cause negligible interference at all legitimate receivers. The goal of this research is to determine fundamental limits on communication in this setting. In particular, it is shown that communication with a minimum energy per bit arbitrarily close to that of a wide-band interference-free additive white Gaussian noise channel is possible using a pulse-position modulation scheme for the cognitive user in the wide-band limit.
Weight loss and wrestling training: effects on growth-related hormones

Roemmich, James N., and Wayne E. Sinning. Weight loss and wrestling training: effects on growth-related hormones.J. Appl. Physiol. 82(6): 1760–1764, 1997.—Adolescent wrestlers (n = 9, 15.4 yr) and ...
Retrograde pedal access technique for revascularization of infrainguinal arterial occlusive disease

Abstract Purpose To evaluate limb salvage after recanalization of lower extremity arteries using retrograde pedal access in patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI). Materials and Methods A retrospective review was performed of all patients in whom retrograde pedal arterial access was used for recanalization of infrainguinal occlusive disease between September 2002 and January 2013. Treatment was performed in 99 limbs in 92 patients (64 men and 28 women; median age, 71.6 y; range, 44–91 y) with CLI and no appropriate venous conduit for surgical bypass. Treated limbs were classified as Rutherford class 5 or 6 in 88% and class 4 in 12%. Retrograde and antegrade accesses were combined when occlusions could not be crossed from the antegrade direction. The treated occlusive segments were limited to the femoropopliteal arteries in 22% of procedures, runoff arteries in 32%, or both segments in 46%. Technical success was defined as successful crossing of the lesion and achievement of inline flow to the pedal vessel. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to determine limb salvage rate. Results Technical success was achieved in 88 of 99 (89%) treated limbs. Stents were placed for suboptimal angioplasty results in 41 of 88 (47%) successfully treated limbs. Major complications occurred in 8 of 99 (8%) procedures, 3 of which resulted in periprocedural mortality. Median follow-up was 8 months (mean, 17 mo; range, 1–98 mo). The limb salvage rate for technically successful cases was 74% at 6 months, 64% at 12 months, and 55% at 24 months. Conclusions Retrograde pedal access is a viable revascularization technique for achieving limb salvage in patients with CLI.
A Behavioral Health Toolkit That Can Support Researchers and Practitioners Alike

It is currently estimated that 35.6 million people worldwide are living with dementia and this number is expected to double by 2030 (World Health Organization, 2012). Dementia is an insidious disease that over time results in cognitive and behavioral decline. The most common behavioral and psychiatric symptoms of dementia (BPSD) include agitation, anxiety, irritability, apathy, and depression (Cerejeira, Lagarto, & Mukaetova-Ladinska, 2012). Difficulties with managing BPSD is a major reason why informal caregivers are burdened and people with dementia are institutionalized (Yaffe et al., 2002). Every formal caregiver working in a setting with older adults who have dementia will be challenged by the BPSD they encounter. Reported prevalence rates of BPSD are high. One recent systematic review of nursing home residents found a median prevalence rate of behavioral symptoms being 78% (with a range of 38%-92%) among the 58% (median rate with a range of 12%-95%) of residents with dementia (D. Seitz, Purandare, & Conn, 2010). Pharmacological interventions are often prescribed for BPSD, although the efficacy is generally modest at best and there are risks of adverse effects (Maher et al., 2011; D. P. Seitz et al., 2013).
Observed flow patterns at the initiation of convection in a horizontal liquid layer heated from below

An experimental investigation has been made of the flow patterns at the initiation of convection in a layer of a high Prandtl number liquid confined between rigid, horizontal surfaces and heated from below. The experiment was designed to overcome the limitations of earlier experiments and to correspond closely to the conditions of the theory. In particular, the upper and lower rigid surfaces which enclosed the layer were made of copper which has a high thermal conductivity. To aid in the analysis of the experimental results some supplementary observations of the flow patterns were made using a glass upper plate. For small fluid depths and large temperature differences between the upper and lower surface the initial flow was in the form of hexagonal cells as predicted theoretically. With increasing Rayleigh number the cellular flow appeared to transform into rolls as predicted. For large fluid depths and small temperature differences only circular plan-form rolls were observed. This is in agreement with the results of other experimenters. It is tentatively proposed that this non-appearance of an initial cellular flow is due to the shape of the test chamber having a dominating influence on the flow pattern when the temperature gradient in the fluid is small. Measurements were also made of the development time for the flow patterns and the critical Rayleigh number.
Facets and Scope of Large-Scale Disasters

Facets and scope of large-scale disasters are briefly discussed in this forum. A universal quantitative metric is proposed that puts all natural and human-derived disasters on a common scale. Issues of prediction, control, and mitigation of catastrophes are broadly introduced. The laws of nature govern the evolution of any disaster. In some cases, as for example weather-related disasters, those first-principles laws could be written in the form of field equations, but exact solutions of these often nonlinear differential equations are impossible to obtain, particularly for turbulent flows; heuristic models together with intensive use of supercomputers are necessary to proceed. In other cases, as for example earthquakes, the precise laws are not even known and prediction becomes somewhat problematic. Management of any type of disaster is more art than science. Nevertheless, much can be done by both social and physical scientists/engineers to alleviate the resulting pain and suffering.
Assumptions and Consequences of the War on Drugs: An Economic Analysis

little theoretical or empirical evidence to support these claims. In fact, it is possible that property and violent crime could increase as more police resouIces are allocated to the control of the drug trade. Below, the assumptions and outcomes of the “War on Drugs” are evaluated using recent evidence from the state of Florida. The evidence for Florida suggests that the stated goals of policy makers are not being met. Instead, there appear to be many unintended consequences. This paper has three components. The first section provides evidence of the effects of increased emphasis on drug law enforcement in Florida. The second section is a critical evaluation of the major policy assumptions. The third section considers alternative strategies to the Florida approach.
Death of a Patriarch

The following narrative requires a few introductory comments on the role of storytelling in Chipewyan culture. First, the Chipewyan, an Athapaskan (or Dene) speaking people who live in northern Canada, are fond of telling stories with "hooks" that sneak up on the listener. Understanding the full meaning of a story requires some degree of reflection. In fact sometimes, in the case of the stories elders tell children, the full meaning of the story might not become clear until adulthood is attained. A story can seem incomplete until the individual has had sufficient life experience to give it context. Regardless of the specific intent, the Chipewyan dislike explaining the meaning of a story; they would rather that you figure it out for yourself, no matter how long it takes. Only then can the listener really attain the full benefit, that is, the power, of a story. What Thomas Buckley says of the Yurok of northwestern California is true of the Chipewyan as well: "To explain too much is to steal a person's opportunity to learn, and stealing is against the Law" (Buckley 1979:31). "Law" means the ineffable sacred principle against which all behavior—good or bad, successful or unsuccessful—is measured (p. 30). Thus, I forewarn the reader about the ending of the story I call "Death of a Patriarch." In doing so I violate a rule of Chipewyan storytelling, detracting from the full benefit to be derived from the story. From the Yurok perspective, I'm also in violation of the Law. Second, the telling of stories, whether factual and historic or timeless mythic narratives, is a holy undertaking. Stories not only have practical and/or moral implications. The very sounds of the words are, in ways inscrutable to people raised in cultures where literary values dominate and where the stories of the elders are no longer central to the enculturation of children, full of power (see Smith 1985:77 and especially Walter Ong's magnificent work, The Presence of the Word, 1967). For the traditional Chipewyan, the elders' stories are essential. Merely thinking about a story can improve success in hunting or bring a better state of health (Smith 1985:75). The life of any individual is a story in which almost every incident has an ultimately sacred purpose and meaning, from which others may benefit when that story is told (see Cruikshank 1990; Smith 1993). Without the stories of the elders the people must eventually perish, for they do not receive the vitalizing power of the words, nor can they benefit from their practical and moral wisdom. This is why Frank, in the narrative below, was so concerned with saving the elders' stories. He quite literally believed that the survival of his people was at stake. Finally, I learned very early on that when the Chipewyan elders tell stories (as Samuel does in my narrative) they are to be regarded as gifts. The old-timers do not tell stories to any Tom, Dick, or Harry. A story is a life-enhancing present and a gesture of respect and love. Giving and receiving stories is a part of the broader theme of reciprocity unifying humans with humans, and humans with other-than-human beings (see Hallowell 1960).
VEGETATION TYPE AND THE INTERTIDAL MACROINVERTEBRATE FAUNA OF A BRACKISH MARSH: PHRAGMITES VS. SPARTINA

The responses of tidal marsh macroinvertebrate assemblages to the conversion of Spartina alterniflora marshes to marshes dominated by the invasive reed, Phragmites australis, are poorly understood Changes in edaphic, vegetative, hydrologic, and detrital conditions that attend conversion to Phragmites should produce changes in the intertidal fauna. We used core sampling (7.8-cm diameter, 4-cm deep) and litter packs to compare the intertidal macroinvertebrate fauna of Phragmites marshes and adjacent remnant Spartina marshes in a brackish reach of the Mullica River (0–17 ppt salinity during the study) in southern New Jersey, USA. Detrital and above-ground vegetative biomass and water velocity were greater in Phragmites marsh; stem density, microtopographic relief, and the density of standing-water microhabitats were greater in Spartina marsh. The intertidal assemblages varied between marsh types. Total macroinvertebrate density was greater in Spartina marsh (97,000 m−2) than in Phragmites marsh (82,000 m−2). Mean taxa richness (number of taxa per core sample) was greater in Spartina marsh (12.4 taxa sample−1) than in Phragmites marsh (9.4 taxa sample−1) and dominance (relative abundance of the three most abundant taxa) was lower. Oligochaeta, Nematoda, and the polychaete, Manayunkia aestuarina, dominanted the fauna (>75% of the total abundance) in both marsh types. Of these, oligochaetes were more abundant in Spartina marsh, and nematodes and polychaetes were slightly more abundant in Phragmites marsh. Most common subdominant taxa (100-4,000 m−2), including ceratopogonids, chironomids, mites, ostracods, isopods, and gastropods were more abundant in Spartina marsh. Collembolans were more abundant in Phragmites marsh; amphipods were about equally abundant in both marsh types. Invertebrate abundance and assemblage composition varied with distance from the edge of the marsh in both marsh types; overlap in assemblage composition between marsh types was greates at the edge of the marsh, where more frequent inundation may have moderated the influence of vegetation type on the marsh fauna. For mean taxa richness and for the density of most taxa, the effect of marsh type on density exceeded the effect of season, marsh position, or a local salinity gradient. We consider the greater density of intertidal standing-water microhabitats and probably of microalgal production as important sources of faunal variation between marsh types. Fewer refugia from predators during high tide in Phragmites marsh may also contribute to variation in faunal abundance and community structure between marsh types. Detritus biomass was probably a more important source of spatial variation in the fauna of the Phragmites marsh than in Spartina marsh.
Stress and Tidal Current in a Well-Mixed Estuary

A procedure for calculating the vertical shear stress distribution in tidal channels of well-mixed estuaries from current profile measurements is formulated. A linearized boundary layer form of the Navier-Stokes equation and an eddy viscosity representation of Reynolds shear stress are used to determine the depth and time dependence of current velocity and stress. A lower (near bottom) boundary condition on stress is employed rather than the usual no-slip condition on velocity. A verification experiment is described in which the theoretical model is used to calculate stress from current profile data taken in a tidal channel over a half tidal cycle. The predicted stress is then compared with a direct independent measurement of Reynolds shear stress. It is shown that for a one-layer estuary model best results are obtained using an eddy viscosity having a quadratic depth dependence.
Asymmetric optic nerve morphology is associated with astigmatism in Native American preschool children

Clinically significant astigmatism is widely prevalent among some Native American tribes (1), including the Tohono O’Odham.