cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Alzheimer’s disease and the processing of uncertainty during choice task performance: Executive dysfunction within the Hick–Hyman law

The Hick-Hyman law states that choice response time (RT) increases linearly with increasing information uncertainty. Neuroimaging studies suggest that the representation of uncertainty in support of response generation is mediated by the cognitive control network (CCN), which is disrupted in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Thus, we predicted that patients with AD would be sensitive to increased uncertainty particularly under conditions that place demands on the internal representation of uncertainty, and that choice RT performance under these conditions would be associated with performance on tests of executive function. Cognitively normal older adults (CN) and patients with AD completed card-sorting tasks that separately manipulated either externally cued uncertainty (i.e., number of sorting piles with a fixed probability of each stimulus type) or more internally driven uncertainty (i.e., the probability of each stimulus type with a fixed number of sorting piles). Consistent with our predictions, AD patients were impaired relative to CN particularly on the internally driven uncertainty task, and RT in this task was associated with performance on neuropsychological measures of executive functioning but not episodic memory. We suggest that this pattern of findings is consistent with presumed disruptions to the CCN in AD and provides neuropsychological evidence in support of the role of the CCN in the representation of uncertainty.
Development of context-sensitive pronunciation in reading: The case of ‹c› and ‹g›.

Abstract Writing systems sometimes deviate from one-to-one associations between letters and phonemes, but the deviations are often predictable from sublexical context. For initial ‹c› and ‹g› in English, deviations from the typical /k/ and /g/ pronunciations are influenced by adjacent context (the following vowel, as in center vs. canter) and nonadjacent context (the presence of a Latinate vs. basic suffix, as in gigantic vs. giggling). We conducted two experiments with participants ranging in reading level from early elementary school to university to study the development of context use. Experiment 1 focused on adjacent context, and Experiment 2 also examined nonadjacent context. Use of context developed slowly, and readers at all levels were not as influenced by it as would be expected given the contextual effects in the English vocabulary. We discuss possible reasons for these phenomena and the need to teach children to use context more effectively.
Recipients of the 2017 Early Career Investigator Awards.

This is the 12th year of competition for ATVB Early Career Investigator Awards. The Awards recognize articles published in ATVB in 2016 that were submitted by new investigators and judged to be the most outstanding in the Atherosclerosis/Lipoprotein, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology sections of the journal. The 3 awards are named for Dr Daniel Steinberg, who devised a method to determine the site of degradation of the proteins and lipids of …
Acute intranasal osteopontin treatment in male rats following TBI increases the number of activated microglia but does not alter lesion characteristics

Intranasal recombinant osteopontin (OPN) has been shown to be neuroprotective in different models of acquired brain injury but has never been tested after traumatic brain injury (TBI). We used a model of moderate-to-severe controlled cortical impact in male adult Sprague Dawley rats and tested our hypothesis that OPN treatment would improve neurological outcomes, lesion and brain tissue characteristics, neuroinflammation, and vascular characteristics at 1 day post-injury. Intranasal OPN administered 1 hr after the TBI did not improve neurological score, lesion volumes, blood-brain barrier, or vascular characteristics. When assessing neuroinflammation, we did not observe any effect of OPN on the astrocyte reactivity but discovered an increased number of activated microglia within the ipsilateral hemisphere. Moreover, we found a correlation between edema and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression which was decreased in OPN-treated animals, suggesting an effect of OPN on the HO-1 response to injury. Thus, OPN may increase or accelerate the microglial response after TBI, and early response of HO-1 in modulating edema formation may limit the secondary consequences of TBI at later time points. Additional experiments and at longer time points are needed to determine if intranasal OPN could potentially be used as a treatment after TBI where it might be beneficial by activating protective signaling pathways.
The Impact of Pharmacist-Based Services Across the Spectrum of Outpatient Heart Failure Therapy.

A multidisciplinary approach is vital to reduce mortality and hospitalizations in patients with heart failure. As members of the multidisciplinary team, pharmacists are uniquely positioned to care for patients across the spectrum of heart failure. This comprehensive review explores the different facets in which pharmacists can be utilized to impact the care for patients with heart failure, including those with cardiac transplant and left ventricular assist devices (LVADs), in the outpatient setting. Pharmacists can see heart failure patients in a variety of settings to reduce drug therapy–related issues, increase use of guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT), and reduce hospitalizations. Although there is limited data available, pharmacists have also been described in aiding the therapeutic drug monitoring of warfarin for patients with LVADs and immunosuppression agents in the transplant population. Through collaborative practice agreements, pharmacists can provide progressive services such as titration of GDMT and lab monitoring, in addition to medication reconciliation, education, and review for potential drug-related problems. Pharmacists can increase access to patient care by providing services through distance-visits, shared medical appointments, and home visits.
Application of a Two-Layer Model to Correct for Skin Pigmentation in Spatial Frequency Domain Imaging of the Healthy Breast

We describe the extension of a two-layer inverse model for optical property quantification in healthy breast and present a method for optimizing assignment of epidermal absorption coefficient in participants of varying skin tones.
Development of a rat model of simultaneous mammary and ovarian cancer: Expression of putative early markers of cancer risk and progression

6075 Although most women at increased risk for breast cancer are also at increased risk for ovarian cancer, preventive agents that decrease the risk for one disease may increase risk for the other (e.g. oral contraceptives). An animal model with simultaneous preneoplastic changes in both the mammary glands and ovaries to allow preclinical testing has yet to be developed. To address this need, we tested combinations of existing rat models of mammary and ovarian cancer. In the current study, Fisher 344 rats were hemiovariectomized and the remaining ovary was treated locally with vehicle or dimethylbenzanthacene (DMBA) to initiate ovarian neoplasia. Rats were then treated systemically with vehicle, DMBA (10 mg/kg p.o.), methynitrosourea (MNU, 50 mg/kg i.p.) or a sustained release implant containing estradiol-17β (E2, 3 mg) as mammary carcinogen resulting in four treatment combinations. These combinations were 1) vehicle (local ovarian)/vehicle (systemic), 2) DMBA/DMBA, 3) DMBA/MNU and 4) DMBA/E2, respectively. Rats from each group (n=6) were sacrificed at 3 and 6 months post-treatment and ovarian and mammary tissues examined (total = 48 animals). Ovarian DMBA and systemic E2 treatment was associated with aberrant ovarian follicular morphology by 3 months post-treatment and cystic or glandular epithelial changes in 40% of rats by 6 months. The DMBA/E2 group developed marked mammary hyperplasia by 3 months post-treatment. Additional pathologic changes varying from dysplastic foci, to ductal carcinoma in situ and invasive adenocarcinoma were noted in mammary tissue following treatment with DMBA/E2 for 6 months. Vehicle controls exhibited no preneoplastic changes in ovarian or mammary tissue. These preliminary data suggest that the combination of local ovarian DMBA and systemic estradiol supplementation provides simultaneous ovarian and mammary carcinogenesis with early changes mimicking human disease. This work was supported in part by the University of Alabama-Birmingham SPORE in Breast Cancer (5P50CA89019).
Social Capital Effects on the Relation between Neighborhood Characteristics and Intimate Partner Violence Victimization among Women.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) remains a public health issue plaguing families and communities in the USA. Despite considerable research devoted to individual-level factors affecting IPV and a smaller body of ecological IPV research, few studies explore the interaction between individual-level protective factors and neighborhood- or community-level factors in predicting the incidents of IPV among women. Moreover, most IPV studies utilize a unidimensional approach for social capital, despite strong empirical and theoretical support for a multi-dimensional conceptualization. In a sample of heterosexual women in the USA (N = 1884), we found that concentrated disadvantage, social and physical disorder, and community violence together significantly predicted increased rates of IPV victimization. Concentrated disadvantage and higher scores on the social capital index independently predicted a lower probability of victimization. Moderating effects were found for social capital: the protective effects of social capital on the probability of IPV were attenuated for those reporting community violence compared with women who did not report it. These findings enhance the field’s understanding of the synergistic relationship between individual- and neighborhood-level factors, providing important implications for community-based IPV interventions.
Passive Cavitation Mapping by Cavitation Source Localization From Aperture-Domain Signals—Part I: Theory and Validation Through Simulations

Passive cavitation mapping (PCM) algorithms for diagnostic ultrasound arrays based on time exposure acoustics (TEA) exhibit poor axial resolution, which is in part due to the diffraction-limited point spread function of the imaging system and poor rejection by the delay-and-sum beamformer. In this article, we adapt a method for speed of sound estimation to be utilized as a cavitation source localization (CSL) approach. This method utilizes a hyperbolic fit to the arrival times of the cavitation signals in the aperture domain, and the coefficients of the fit are related to the position of the cavitation source. Wavefronts exhibiting poor fit to the hyperbolic function are corrected to yield improved source localization. We demonstrate through simulations that this method is capable of accurate estimation of the origin of coherent spherical waves radiating from cavitation/point sources. The average localization error from simulated microbubble sources was 0.12 ± 0.12mm ( $0.15\,\,\pm \,\, 0.14\lambda _{0}$ for a 1.78-MHz transmit frequency). In simulations of two simultaneous cavitation sources, the proposed technique had an average localization error of 0.2mm ( $0.23\lambda _{0}$ ), whereas conventional TEA had an average localization error of 0.81mm ( $0.97\lambda _{0}$ ). The reconstructed PCM-CSL image showed a significant improvement in resolution compared with the PCM-TEA approach.
Workplace support and affirming behaviors: Moving toward a transgender, gender diverse, and non-binary friendly workplace

Background: The experiences of transgender, gender diverse, and non-binary (TGDNB) workers remain poorly understood and under-examined in the extant literature, with workplace support perceptions and affirming behaviors of these workers particularly misunderstood. Aims: We address this gap in the literature by presenting and empirically testing a theoretical model that suggests affirming behaviors are differentially related to various sources of TGDNB worker support. We further suggest these sources of support are differentially related to TGDNB employee satisfaction and gender identity openness at work. Methods: We collected data from trans-related social media groups, inviting TGDNB-identifying employees to participate in the study. Quantitative and qualitative data from 263 TGDNB employees were collected through survey administrations. Results: Supervisor and coworker support are related to job and life satisfaction, with supervisor support strongly connected to job satisfaction. The use of gender-affirming pronouns/titles and discouraging derogatory comments at work were related to perceived TGDNB support. Positive transgender organizational climate was strongly related to gender identity openness at work. Discussion: Results highlight a need for better workplace inclusivity and TGDNB-friendly environments, as well as more diversity training and company policy improvements that directly impact the workplace experiences of TGDNB people.
Understanding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on stress, mood, and substance use among young adults in the greater Minneapolis-St. Paul area: Findings from project EAT.

Abstract Rationale There is a need to understand how the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has affected the mental and behavioral health of young adults in the U.S. Objective This study used quantitative and qualitative survey data to identify young adults at highest risk for psychological distress during the U.S. outbreak of COVID-19 and to further understand how the pandemic has impacted their stress, mood, and substance use. Methods Participants were 670 young adult cohort members (ages 21–29) of the population-based longitudinal study EAT 2010–2018 who participated in the C-EAT study (COVID-19 Eating and Activity over Time). Results Among the sample, 84% (n = 561) reported pandemic-related changes to their mood or stress and 33% (n = 221) reported changes to their substance use. Linear regression analyses identified several meaningful risk factors for higher psychological distress during the pandemic, including female gender, White race, higher pre-pandemic depressive symptoms and perceived stress, and lower pre-pandemic stress management ability. A thematic analysis further identified five major themes related to changes in stress and mood following the COVID-19 outbreak describing specific emotional reactions, stress related to the direct impact of the pandemic as well as interpersonal connectedness and economic factors, and strategies for managing stress. In addition, two major themes were identified related to substance use during the pandemic detailing specific changes in and motivations for substance use. Conclusions These findings underscore the need to develop effective, scalable, and rapidly deployable public health resources that target the stressors commonly experienced among young adults to improve their psychological wellbeing during this pandemic.
Playing a Video Game and Learning to Think: What’s the Connection?

The present study examines whether playing a video game can help improve cognitive skills needed for successful performance on cognitive tasks, such as updating, which involves continuous monitoring of incoming information that results in rapid addition or deletion of information in working memory. For example, in the n-back task, the participant sees a series of rapidly presented letters on a screen and must press a key each time the current letter is the same as one presented n trials previously (e.g., 3 trials back). Young adults were randomly assigned to play CrushStations (a desktop game the authors designed to teach updating skill) or Bookworm (a commercially available word search game used as a control) for 4 30-min sessions spread over 9 days. Consistent with specific transfer theory, CrushStations players improved on performing the target skill in the game context across the four sessions (the highest level achieved). Consistent with specific transfer of general skill theory, CrushStations players outscored Bookworm players on a posttest involving accurately performing the target skill in a non-game context (n-back task). In contrast to general transfer theory, CrushStations players did not differ from Bookworm players on posttests measuring skills not directly targeted in the game (visuospatial memory task). These results show the benefits of designing educational games in line with the cognitive theory of game-based training (Parong et al., 2020).
In Situ Biomanufacturing of Small Molecules in the Mammalian Gut by Probiotic Saccharomyces boulardii

Saccharomyces boulardii is a probiotic yeast that exhibits rapid growth at 37 °C, is easy to transform, and can produce therapeutic proteins in the gut. To establish its ability to produce small mo...
Synthesis and Electrochemical Properties of Lepidocrocite Titanate- Graphene Heterostructures

Layered titanates with lepidocrocite structure can be used as anodes for lithium, sodium or potassium batteries in conventional or flow cell configurations. Although they are attractive owing to their low cost, low toxicity, and high abundancy, their low conductivity and poor cycling performance are major hurdles for these materials. Here, we used a self-assembly approach to overcome electronic transport limitations and to build in the conductivity by incorporating a conductive component such as reduced graphene oxide (rGO) or into nitrogen doped graphene (NDG) in the van der Waals gaps to make 2D heterostructures.In this presentation, solution-phase synthesis of K0.8[Ti1.73Li0.27]O4 (lepidocrocite titanate, LT) heterostructures with graphene is demonstrated. After synthesis by conventional solid-state routes, K0.8[Ti1.73Li0.27]O4 is proton exchanged and ion-exchanged with bulky cations, causing expansion of the structure, and exfoliated by mechanical shaking. Exfoliated layered titania sheets are self-assembled with either reduced graphene oxide (rGO) or dopamine into heterostructures through flocculation via counter cations (e.g. Mg2+, Na+) or in situ conversion of dopamine into nitrogen doped graphene (NDG), respectively. Both coagulated LT-rGO and LT-NDG heterostructures exhibit capacities which are more than two times higher than the capacities of pristine lepidocrocite titanate (K0.8[Ti1.73Li0.27]O4), and display good capacity retention after 50 cycles in sodium half-cells configurations.
Design of a Virtual Cybersecurity Escape Room.

As cybersecurity education and training methods endeavor to build a skilled workforce to meet the growing demands of government and industry, it is important to craft training exercises to build and assess a learner’s understanding of cybersecurity topics in a fun and meaningful way. To meet this need, we designed a concept map and virtual model of a collaborative, virtual cybersecurity escape room. Escape rooms, which are a form of serious games intended to increase knowledge and skills or measure learning outcomes, are scenario-based and interactive in nature. The artifacts described align the serious gaming elements with elements associated with the learning experience to assist game designers and educators in addressing the need for a collaborative virtual space where learners can practice skills associated with cybersecurity in a gamified manner.
Digestive ripening yields atomically precise Au nanomolecules

Digestive ripening (DR) is a synthetic method where a polydisperse colloid of metal nanoparticles upon refluxing with a free ligand in a high boiling point solvent gives monodisperse nanoparticles. Brust synthesis is known to form atomically monodisperse thiolate protected gold nanoparticles also known as gold nanomolecules (Au NMs). Unlike the Brust method which gives smaller (1–3 nm) atomically precise nanomolecules, DR has been used only for the synthesis of large nanoparticles (>5 nm) with good monodispersity. In thiolate protected gold nanoparticle Brust synthesis, the yellow colored phase transferred Au(III) solution is converted to a colorless Au(I) mixture after the addition of thiol by forming Au–SR, which is then reduced to form black colored Au NMs. However, in DR, by using the same primary chemicals, the two steps were reversed: the mixture was reduced before the addition of thiol. Here we show that in DR, adding thiol after 2 minutes of reduction gives larger particles (5 nm) as reported, whereas adding thiol 30 seconds after reduction results in smaller particles (<2 nm). In this work, for the first time, DR yields atomically precise Au25(SR)18 and Au144(SR)60 NMs. This is reported using two aliphatic thiols – hexanethiol and dodecanethiol – as the protecting ligands. DR was also repeated using an aromatic thiol, 4-tert-butyl benzene thiol (TBBT), which yields Au279(SR)84 NMs consistent with the Brust method, thereby establishing that both DR and Brust methods lead to the formation of atomically precise Au NMs, regardless of the order of thiol addition and reduction steps.
Clinical Outcome of Nerve Decompression Surgery for Migraine Improves with Nerve Wrap.

Background Chronic migraine headaches affect nearly 30 million Americans every year and are responsible for roughly 1.2 million emergency department visits annually. Many of the standard therapies commonly used to treat migraines are often unsuccessful and may furthermore introduce unwanted side effects. The purpose of this study was to identify independent predictors of clinical improvement in patients undergoing surgical nerve decompression for migraine. Methods A retrospective chart review between 2010 and 2020 was conducted. The primary endpoint was clinical improvement at 1-year follow-up, defined as an independence from prescription medications. Patients were stratified into two groups: clinical improvement and treatment failure. Backward multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the associations between migraine improvement and different patient characteristics. Results A total of 153 patients were included. In total, 129 (84.3%) patients improved and 24 (15.7%) did not. Significant associations with clinical improvement at multivariable logistic regression were found with acellular dermal matrix nerve wrap (OR = 10.80, 95%CI: 6.18-16.27), and operation of trigger sites four (OR = 37.96, 95%CI: 2.16-73.10) and five (OR = 159, 95%CI: 10-299). Conclusion The use of acellular dermal matrix nerve wraps in surgery was significantly associated with clinical migraine improvement, as was operation at trigger sites four and five.
The Posterior Parietal Cortex: Interface Between Maps of External Spaces and the Generation of Action Sequences

In primates as well as rodents, the posterior parietal cortex maps spatial relationships having both egocentric and external frames of reference. In this chapter, the form in which rat posterior parietal cortex neuronal activity maps position within trajectories through the environment is considered in detail and compared to the forms of spatial mapping observed for neurons of the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex. Evidence is presented to indicate that posterior parietal neurons simultaneously map positions both within and across segments of paths through an environment. It is suggested that the specific nature of posterior parietal cortex mapping of space serves, in part, to transition knowledge of position in the environment, given by hippocampus and entorhinal cortex, into efficient path-running behavior via projections to primary and secondary sensory and motor cortices. Posterior parietal cortex activity is also hypothesized to play a role both in driving trajectory dependence of hippocampal place cells and in anchoring spatially specific hippocampal and entorhinal cortical activity to the boundaries of the observable environment.
Computation from Geometry

Quantum computation is usually performed through optical or magnetic resonance and does not obviously have anything to do with geometry. But, as [Lloyd][1] explains in his Perspective, computation can benefit from geometry. He highlights the report by [ Duan et al .][2], who have found a way to exploit geometry to perform quantum computations more efficiently through sending quantum bits for walks through potential space. [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/292/5522/1669 [2]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/292/5522/1695
Microbiological Survey of Adirondack Lakes with Various pH Values

Nine high-altitude oligotrophic Adirondack lakes in upstate New York having water of pH 4.3 to 7.0 were surveyed for total bacterial numbers and possible adaptation of the microbial communities to environmental pH. The number of heterotrophic bacteria from water samples recoverable on standard plate count agar were low (10 to 10 per ml) for most of the lakes. Acridine orange direct counts were approximately two orders of magnitude higher than plate counts for each lake. Sediment aerobic heterotrophs recovered on standard plate count agar ranged from 1.4 x 10 to 1.3 x 10 per g of sediment. Direct epifluorescence counts of bacteria in sediment samples ranged from 3.0 x 10 to 1.4 x 10 per g. Low density values were consistent with the oligotrophic nature of all the lakes surveyed. There were no apparent differences in numbers of bacteria originally isolated at pH 5.0 and pH 7.0 between circumneutral lakes (pH > 6.0) and acidic lakes (pH < 5.0). Approximately 1,200 isolates were recultured over a range of pH from 3.0 to 7.0. Regardless of the original isolation pH (pH 5.0 or pH 7.0), less than 10% of the isolates grew at pH < 5.0. Those originally isolated at pH 5.0 also grew at pH 6.0 and 7.0. Those originally isolated at pH 7.0 preferred pH 7.0, with 98% able to grow at pH 6.0 and 44% able to grow at pH 5.0. A chi-square contingency test clearly showed (P < 0.005) that two distinct heterotrophic populations had been originally isolated at pH 5.0 and pH 7.0, although there is undoubtedly some overlap between the two populations.
Hand and Glove: How the Curriculum Promotes an Antiracism Commitment in a School for Social Work

The authors describe the curricular changes made as part of a 20-year commitment by Smith College School for Social Work (SCSSW), a graduate school with a clinical social work specialization, to become an antiracism institution. Unaware of precedents, faculty, administration, and students needed to develop structures and processes to confront inherent institutional racism at the SCSSW. In addition to multiple administrative actions, every aspect of the curriculum was reevaluated, leading to changes in courses offered and everything about them, from syllabi to pedagogy, as well as how faculty are trained and supported. The authors found that explicit and implicit curriculum must work together in intentional and synchronous ways. Critical intention across design, implementation, evaluation, accountability, and openness to process is emphasized here. They conclude that an antiracism commitment requires continuous engagement, connection, challenge, learning, and teaching and a curriculum that is fluid, flexib...
A Review of “Ethnographic Interviewing for Teacher Preparation and Staff Development: A Field Guide”

This text provides a comprehensive overview of ethnography and an ethnographic perspective in teacher preparation and practice. In addition, this book would add needed depth to any professional ser...
Oxytocin levels are lower in premenopausal women with type 1 diabetes mellitus compared with matched controls.

Background Oxytocin, a hormone most commonly associated with parturition and lactation, may have additional roles in diabetes complications. We determined oxytocin levels in premenopausal women with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) compared with non-diabetic controls and examined associations of oxytocin with health behaviours, clinical factors, biomarkers, kidney function and bone health. Lower oxytocin was hypothesized for T1DM. Methods A cross-sectional study of premenopausal women with T1DM (n = 88) from the Wisconsin Diabetes Registry Study, a population-based cohort of incident T1DM cases, and matched non-diabetic controls (n = 74) was conducted. Results Women with T1DM had lower oxytocin levels than controls adjusting for caffeine and alcohol use (p = 0.03). Health behaviours associated with oxytocin differed between women with and without T1DM: oxytocin was negatively associated with hormonal contraceptive use (quantified as lifetime contraceptive oestrogen exposure) in women with T1DM (p = 0.003), whereas positively related to hormonal contraceptive use (quantified as never/former/current) in controls (p < 0.001). Oxytocin had a positive association with adiposity (waist-to-hip ratio and leptin) in women with T1DM and a negative relationship with adiposity (weight gain) in controls. In T1DM only, oxytocin was positively associated with caffeine intake (p = 0.01) and negatively associated with alcohol use (p = 0.01). Oxytocin was not related to glycemic control, kidney function or bone health in T1DM. Conclusions Oxytocin levels are lower in women with T1DM than matched controls. Oxytocin also has opposing associations with hormonal contraceptives and adiposity in women with and without T1DM. Research is needed to determine if the altered oxytocin milieu in T1DM is associated with oxytocinher health outcomes. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
When sperm meets egg : biochemical mechanisms of gamete interaction.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the biochemical mechanisms of gamete interaction. The chapter focuses on three principal subjects: (1) the effect of the egg on the sperm; (2) the contact between sperm and egg; and, (3) the effect of the sperm on the egg. The most dramatic morphological response of the sperm to the egg is the acrosome reaction, in which a change that is a prerequisite for fertilization occurs in the head of sperm from many species. In mammals, sperms undergo a process known as capacitation before they respond to the egg. The moment of union of sperm and egg is the most dramatic of the events surrounding fertilization. The locus on the egg for interaction with sperm varies from species to species. Several enzymes have been implicated in the process of sperm–egg interaction. These enzymes play a role in sperm–egg membrane fusion, for it could lead to a transient state of membrane instability. The most dramatic effect of fertilization on the egg surface is the induction of the cortical reaction. The properties of the egg plasma membrane change enormously after cortical granule exocytosis.
Mixed monofunctional extractants for trivalent actinide/lanthanide separations: TALSPEAK-MME

The basic features of an f-element extraction process based on a solvent composed of equimolar mixtures of Cyanex-923 (a mixed trialkyl phosphine oxide) and 2-ethylhexylphosphonic acid mono-2-ethylhexyl ester (HEH[EHP]) extractants in n-dodecane are investigated in this report. This system, which combines features of the TRPO and TALSPEAK processes, is based on co-extraction of trivalent lanthanides and actinides from 0.1 to 1.0 M HNO3 followed by application of a buffered aminopolycarboxylate solution strip to accomplish a Reverse TALSPEAK selective removal of actinides. This mixed-extractant medium could enable a simplified approach to selective trivalent f-element extraction and actinide partitioning in a single process. As compared with other combined process applications in development for more compact actinide partitioning processes (DIAMEX-SANEX, GANEX, TRUSPEAK, ALSEP), this combination features only monofunctional extractants with high solubility limits and comparatively low molar mass. Selective...
EVIDENCE FOR A SEX-LINKED HAPLO-INVIABLE LOCUS IN THE CUT-SINGED REGION OF DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER

Many cytologically normal and rearranged cut mutants have been reported, but no known deficiency involves both ct and its close neighbor, singed. This fact prompted an investigation of the mutational response of the ct-sn interval. Approximately 24,000 F(1) female progeny of 7-day-old males given 2000 or 3000r X-ray exposures were examined for the presence of newly induced mutations at the Notch, carmine, ct, and sn loci. One sn, 2 cm-ct, 31 N, and 33 ct mutants were found, indicating that the frequency of recovery of ct mutants is much greater than that of either cm or sn, as high even as N. Among the F(1) female progeny were two deficiency mutants that expressed both cm and ct (separated by 21 bands), but none expressed both ct and sn (separated by only 14 bands). Of the 18 cytologically analyzed ct mutants, two proved to be deficiencies; neither extended farther to the right than 7C1. No reported ct deficiency extends with certainty farther to the right than 7C4. This fact, together with the scarcity of sn deficiencies, suggests the presence of a haplo-insufficient locus between ct and sn that prevents recovery of ct-sn deficiencies. The analysis of the deficiency component of Tp sn(S93), a short transposition which moves most of the ct-sn interval from 7BC to 8D, proved the existence, just to the left of sn, of a haplo-inviable locus that prevents the development of females heterozygous for its deficiency.-A marked similarity between mutants at the N and ct loci was noted.
Congenital adrenal hyperlasia and luteal dysfunction

Abstract A case of 21-hydroxylase deficiency diagnosed and first treated at the age of 3 years is presented. Although pubertal development was delayed, full reproductive function was attained, with menses occurring at 14–33-day intervals. Infertility evaluation at age 20 revealed elevated 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17Po) and androgen concentrations and reduced luteal phase progesterone levels consistent with inadequate luteal function. This was corrected with additional cortico-steroid replacement. Normal pregnancy and delivery followed.
Comparative quantitative morphology of the mammalian lung: trachea.

Abstract Measurements of trachea! dimensions in a variety of mammals, covering the extremes of body size, indicate that tracheal length is nearly proportional to M0.27, and tracheal radius is proportional to M0.39. The ratio of ventilation to cross-sectional area of the trachea is a constant for all species, hence average linear flow velocity in the trachea is the same in all mammals. Assuming dead space volume is proportional to tracheal volume, the dead space volume was found to be proportional to M1.05, in other words, it is proportional to both tidal volume and total pulmonary capacity; and since respiratory frequency is proportional to M−0.28, dead space ventilation is computed to be proportional to M0.78, and hence, is nearly proportional to expired ventilation. From this it may be inferred that alveolar ventilation is proportional to metabolic CO2 production in all mammals and thus alveolar PCO2, is the same in all mammals. Similarly, since alveolar ventilation is proportional to oxygen consumption, alveolar PO2 will also be nearly the same in all mammals at sea level.
How Did It Happen? A Memetic Theory of Interorganizational Information Systems Emergence and Evolution

Interorganizational information systems (IOISs) have become the core platform of today's digital economy. Despite their increasing importance, little is known about how they have emerged, evolved into their current operational form, and coevolved with social institutions that develop, regulate, use, and maintain them. Why certain IOIS features and functions are selected for implementation while others are not, and once implemented, why some features and functions remain in existence while others disappear have yet to be explained. Departing from the current research paradigm on IOIS emergence and evolution that focuses mainly at the macro level, we conceptualize IOIS as complex adaptive systems and look at the smallest elements that constitute their existence, i.e., memes or information, knowledge, and ideas that fuel their implementation and dictate their features and functions. We propose a memetic theory of IS emergence and evolution, and operationalize our theory with four propositions. A 17-year longitudinal case study is used to illustrate our meme-centered view of emergence and evolution.
Management Briefs: Short-Term Hooking Mortalities of Red Drums and Spotted Seatrout Caught on Single-Barb and Treble Hooks

Abstract Short-term (3-d) hooking mortalities of red drums Sciaenops ocellatus and spotted seatrout Cynoscion nehulosus caught with single-barb hooks were compared with hooking mortalities for those caught with treble hooks in Texas bays in the summers of 1989 and 1990. Natural baits (primarily penaeid shrimp) and artificial baits (spoons, worms, and fish-shaped lures) were used with both hook types. Overall mortality of 121 red drums was 4.1 % at the end of 3 d after capture, and there were no significant (P = 0.67) red drum mortality differences between hook types or bait types. Mortality of 124 spotted seatrout was 7.3% by 3 d after capture, and no significant (P = 0.27) differences between hook types or bait types were found. Restricting anglers to one hook type (either single-barb or treble hooks) would not reduce unintended fishing mortality for either species.
Operant Sensation Seeking Requires Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 5 (mGluR5)

Pharmacological and genetic studies have suggested that the metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) is critically involved in mediating the reinforcing effects of drugs of abuse, but not food. The purpose of this study was to use mGluR5 knockout (KO), heterozygous (Het), and wildtype (WT) mice to determine if mGluR5 modulates operant sensation seeking (OSS), an operant task that uses varied sensory stimuli as a reinforcer. We found that mGluR5 KO mice had significantly reduced OSS responding relative to WT mice, while Het mice displayed a paradoxical increase in OSS responding. Neither KO nor Het mice exhibited altered operant responding for food as a reinforcer. Further, we assessed mGluR5 KO, Het and WT mice across a battery of cocaine locomotor, place preference and anxiety related tests. Although KO mice showed expected differences in some locomotor and anxiety measures, Het mice either exhibited no phenotype or an intermediate one. In total, these data demonstrate a key role for mGluR5 in OSS, indicating an important role for this receptor in reinforcement-based behavior.
Simultaneous HPLC determination of vigabatrin and gabapentin in serum with automated pre-injection derivatization

Abstract A simple and partially automated method for the HPLC determination of the new anticonvulsants vigabatrin and gabapentin in serum samples from epileptic patients is described. The first step in sample pre-treatment is the precipitation of the serum proteins using an excess of acetonitrile to which two internal standards have been added. After centrifugation the supernatant fraction of the samples was placed into an autosampler of an HPLC apparatus which can be programmed with different automatic procedures for pre-injection derivatizations. The amino acids vigabatrin and gabapentin are derivatized by reactions with ortho-phthaldialdehyde (OPA) and mercaptoethanol. The OPA derivatives are separated on a reversed phase column and measured by fluorimetry. Detection of the gabapentin derivatives requires careful removal of oxygen from the mobile phase by degassing continuously with helium. In this respect the fluorescence signal of vigabatrin derivatives is less sensitive to a loss in intensity by the...
Neglected topics in chronic pain treatment outcome studies: determination of success

Although literature on chronic pain treatment outcome has made substantial strides in improving the quality of the studies reported, there remain a number of factors that lead to qualification of the generally positive results. In the two previous papers in this series a set of migrating factors was discussed, namely, representativeness of the samples treated in these outcome studies, relapse, and non-compliance with therapeutic recommendations. Additional limitations include the lack of agreement on the criteria on which to base evaluation of the success of treatment outcome and the percentage of treated patients included in follow-up data. In this paper, the most common methods for determining success are described (group effects based on standard and quasi-standard outcome measures). The limitations of this approach are discussed and alternative strategies are presented that focus not only on traditional criteria based on group means but on additional criteria including: (a) importance of change (i.e., clinical vs. statistical significance), (b) proportion of patients who improve, (c) cost, (d) efficiency in treatment delivery, (e) and consumer acceptance and satisfaction.
Radiotherapy alone or after subtotal resection for benign skull base meningiomas.

BACKGROUND The objective of the current study was to analyze the long-term local control and complications in a series of patients who were treated with radiotherapy for benign skull base meningiomas. METHODS Between January 1984 and July 2001, 101 patients were treated with radiotherapy alone (n = 66) or after undergoing subtotal resection (n = 35). Sixty-one patients had previously untreated tumors, and 40 patients had tumors that were recurrent after prior surgery. Patients had follow-up from 0.6 years to 19 years (median, 5.1 years). The follow-up of living patients ranged from 1.3 years to 19 years (median, 5.4 years). RESULTS The long-term local control rates were 95% at 5 years, 92% at 10 years, and 92% at 15 years. Multivariate analysis of local control revealed that none of the parameters evaluated significantly influenced this endpoint. The cause-specific survival rates were 97% at 5 years, 92% at 10 years, and 92% at 15 years; and the absolute survival rates were 86% at 5 years, 71% at 10 years, and 62% at 15 years. Multivariate analysis of cause-specific survival revealed that only gender significantly influenced this endpoint (P = 0.0185). Severe complications were observed in eight patients, and three patients experienced complications that were fatal. CONCLUSIONS The probability of long-term progression-free survival after radiotherapy exceeded 90% and was comparable to the results of complete resection and radiosurgery. Subtotal resection was useful for decompressing the tumor if improvement in neurologic function was anticipated after surgery. Extensive subtotal resection may result in permanent neurologic deficits and did not improve long-term local control. Cancer 2003;98:1473–82. © 2003 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.11645
The interaction of salinity, predators, light and copepod color

Previously I reported a color difference between populations of Diaptomus nevadensis found in two athalassic salt lakes of the Lower Grand Coulee, Washington State, USA (Hairston 1979a). In Soap Lake, which has a salinity ranging between 16 and 17‰, the copepods were bright red, while in Lake Lenore (1.5 to 1.9‰) they were for the most part pale blue or only slightly red. The red color was due to the presence of the carotenoid astaxanthin and its esters (Hairston 1976) and the blue resulted from this pigment forming an association with a protein (Zagalsky 1976). During a year-long study of this phenomenon, the color of D. nevadensis was recorded in two ways. First, extractions made from groups of whole adult copepods documented a nearly 10 fold difference in weight specific pigment content between the populations from the two lakes (Hairston 1979a).
Structural analysis of silica aerogels

Abstract Silica aerogels have numerous properties which suggest many applications such as ultrahigh-efficiency thermal insulation, and performance in these applications relates directly to the aerogel pore size distribution. The micro and meso pore size range can be investigated by normal small-angle X-ray scattering and possibly nitrogen adsorption. The measurement of larger pores (> 500 A) is accomplished by using combined small-angle scattering (both light and X-ray) techniques. These techniques were employed to study the change in wet gel pore structure during partial drying of alkoxide-prepared aerogel precursor gels as well as for aerogels produced from those wet gels of different solids content prepared by supercritical CO2 drying. Aerogels made with density varying from 0.17 to ⋍ 0.6 g/cm3 as well as the wet gel precursors showed a loss of the largest pores first during partial drying. As the degree of drying shrinkage increased, both the large pores surrounding individual aggregates and mesopores within the aggregates decreased in size. These results agree with earlier scattering studies on colloidal silica aerogels which had been isostatically compacted to different densities.
Statistical analysis and modeling of precipitation data

Abstract The objective of the present paper is to perform statistical analysis and modeling of actual precipitation data collected in 20 stations in Greece. Although our analysis and statistical modeling procedure utilizes precipitation data from Greece, the same methodology can be applied to similar data or other environmental variables. We identify the probability density function (PDF) that best characterizes the behavior of the data, that being the Frechet PDF, a member of the family of the Generalized Extreme Value (GEV) family of distributions. In addition to obtaining useful information, such as the expected rainfall along with its variance and confidence limits, we are able to cluster the stations into 7 groups that have similar response. Furthermore, we introduce time dependence into the Frechet probability distribution by characterizing the location and scale parameters to be functions of time and other well known, but more complex covariates such as the North Atlantic Oscillation index. This approach enables a more flexible and realistic model to quantify the uncertainty inherent into the system, and allows for more complex dependence patterns.
Ziprasidone as an adjuvant for clozapine- or olanzapine-associated medical morbidity in chronic schizophrenia

Objective This study sought to examine the effect of ziprasidone on olanzapine or clozapine-associated medical morbidity such as insulin resistance, diabetes mellitus (DM) and impaired fasting glucose, obesity, and hyperlipidemia in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Method This was a 6-week, open label trial of ziprasidone 160 mg/day added to a stable dose of olanzapine or clozapine in 21 schizophrenia or schizoaffective patients with DM, impaired fasting glucose, or insulin resistance. Results Ten olanzapine-treated subjects and 11 clozapine-treated subjects were enrolled in the study. There were no significant differences between the two groups at baseline for age, gender, education, ethnicity, BMI, cholesterol levels, or fasting glucose. At week 6, there were no significant changes in weight, BMI, cholesterol levels, or fasting glucose. There was no significant difference in psychotic, negative, or depressive symptoms. QTc significantly increased at week 2 but not at week 6. Conclusions The addition of 160 mg/day of ziprasidone was well tolerated but did not produce significant improvement in fasting glucose, insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia or lead to weight loss in olanzapine- or clozapine-treated subjects with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Atomic Force Microscopy, Electron Paramagnetic Resonance and X-ray Fluorescence Investigations of Self-Assembled Lines from Colloidal Solutions of Lamellar MnOx

In this article, we report AFM, EPR, and X-ray fluorescence studies of well-ordered linear patterns of manganese oxide deposited onto glass and quartz surfaces. The patterns reported here were gene...