cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gastrocardiac syndrome: A forgotten entity.

Abstract Symptomatic bradycardia due to gastric distension is a rarely reported entity in the field of medicine. The mechanism of gastrointestinal distention that contributes to bradycardia is complex. A 75-year-old female with recurrent episodes of dizziness in the setting of gastric distension was found to have severe sinus bradycardia which resolved upon resolution of gastric distension. No structural or functional abnormality of heart was found. The patient was treated with permanent pacemaker implantation due to recurrent episodes of dizziness in the setting of sinus bradycardia.
Dissociation of covalent binding from the oxidative effects of acetaminophen: Studies using dimethylated acetaminophen derivatives☆

The cytotoxic effects of 10 mM acetaminophen (APAP) in primary cultures of non-induced mouse hepatocytes are accompanied by depletion of intracellular glutathione (GSH), arylation of protein, and loss of protein sulfhydryl (PSH) groups. Investigation of the stoichiometry of the covalent binding and PSH loss after APAP exposure demonstrated a greater loss in PSH than could be accounted for by covalent binding to proteins and suggests that APAP exhibits both oxidative and arylative actions in cell culture. Subcellular fractionation revealed that the PSH oxidation induced by APAP was greatest in the microsomal fraction. Exposure of the hepatocytes to 10 mM 3,5-dimethyl-acetaminophen (3,5-DMA) or 2,6-dimethyl-acetaminophen (2,6-DMA) permitted dissociation of the oxidative and arylative properties of APAP. Even though treatment of cultured hepatocytes with 3,5-DMA did not result in covalent binding, there was a more rapid depletion of intracellular GSH, oxidation of PSH, and cytotoxicity compared to APAP. This investigation also provides the first evidence that the cytotoxic effects of both APAP and 3,5-DMA are accompanied by the formation of protein aggregates of high molecular weight that are not disulfide linked. The aggregates probably reflect the oxidative properties of these drugs and may be a mediator of their toxic effects. By contrast, 2,6-DMA, which did bind to cellular proteins and deplete GSH, did not lead to PSH loss, protein aggregation, or cytotoxicity. Since PSH oxidation and protein aggregation correlated well with cytotoxicity, these data suggest that the oxidative component of APAP and 3,5-DMA can play a significant role in eliciting cellular damage in cultured hepatocytes.
The Effect of Chemical Combination on Some Soft X-ray K and L Emission Spectra

X-ray spectrochemical analysis is a versatile technique that can be used to determine considerably more than just the elemental composition of a sample. X-ray lines and bands are, in many cases, influenced by the state of chemical combination of the element whose spectrum is being investigated. Significant effects due to changes in bonding are seen in the K and L spectra of the low atomic number elements which fall in the 20 to 90 A region. Results using primary excitation, a stearate crystal, and a flow proportional counter are shown for the K spectra of boron, carbon, and nitrogen. Chlorine and sulfur L spectra from some simple metal compounds of these elements are also shown.
The Mouse Oocyte Toxicity Assay

Certain chemicals, including energy-related pollutants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are highly destructive to mouse female germ cells (Felton et al., 1980). Like ionizing radiation, these chemicals readily kill oocytes, and the gametic cell loss can be quantified to provide dose-response curves and in vivo measurements of chemical cytotoxicity.
Genetic resources of vegetable crops and their safeguarding in Italy

Italy belongs to the Mediterranean gene centre proposed by Vavilov and is rich in endemic rare plants and many vegetables crops that belong to about species Horticultural landraces are a source of useful genes as well as a cultural heritage of extraordinary importance They are characterized by a specific adaptation to the environmental and cultivation conditions of the particular area where they have been selected so playing a crucial role in order to maintain and improve the efficiency and resilience of production systems Vegetable crops even if less threatened by genetic erosion than other crops would benefit of in situ and ex situ conservation that are complementary both for taking in account agronomic environmental and economic changes and for reintroducing lost germplasm into the original cultivation areas
Occipital-Cervical Approach and Stabilization

The spinal column is the most common site for skeletal metastases but involves the cervical spine in only 8–20% of cases. Metastatic disease is more common than primary spinal tumors, and surgery for metastatic spine disease is generally palliative. Due to its junctional location, metastatic disease from the occiput to C2 is more likely to cause instability, compared to the mobile subaxial spine. As such, patients most commonly present with refractory neck pain from mechanical instability. In the setting of cervical spine or craniovertebral junction tumors, the treatment goals for patients undergoing occipital-cervical stabilization are to decompress neural elements, realign the cervical spine, and stabilize the spinal column.
Hippocampal sub-regional differences in the microRNA response to forebrain ischemia.

Abstract Transient forebrain ischemia, as occurs with cardiac arrest and resuscitation, results in impaired cognitive function secondary to delayed neuronal cell death in hippocampal cornu ammonis-1 (CA1). Comparatively, hippocampal neurons in the adjacent dentate gyrus (DG) survive, suggesting that elucidating the molecular mechanisms underpinning hippocampal sub-regional differences in ischemic tolerance could be central in the development of novel interventions to improve outcome in survivors of forebrain ischemia. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding RNAs that modulate the translation of target genes and have been established as an effective therapeutic target for other models of injury. The objective of the present study was to assess and compare post-injury miRNA profiles between CA1 and DG using a rat model of forebrain ischemia. CA1 and DG sub-regions were dissected from rat hippocampi following 10 min of forebrain ischemia at three time points (3 h, 24 h, and 72 h) and at baseline. Pronounced differences between CA1 and DG were observed for several select miRNAs, including miR-181a-5p, a known regulator of cerebral ischemic injury. We complexed fluorescent in situ hybridization with immunohistochemistry to observe cell-type specific and temporal differences in mir-181a-5p expression between CA1 and DG in response to injury. Using established miRNA-mRNA prediction algorithms, we extended our observations in CA1 miRNA dysregulation to identify key functional pathways as potential modulators of CA1 ischemic vulnerability. In summary, our observations support a central role for miRNAs in selective CA1 ischemic vulnerability and suggest that cell-specific miRNA targeting could be a viable clinical approach to preserve CA1 neurons and improve cognitive outcomes for survivors of transient forebrain ischemia.
Divided Memory and the “New Cold War” Thesis: The Rise and Decline of a Double-Edged Analogy

During the last decade, renewed tensions between Russia and the West have inspired efforts to conceptualize current international relations in terms of a “new Cold War” (NCW). In this article, we explore the historical origins of the NCW analogy, its rise and decline in public discourse, and the terms of recent debates over its appropriateness. Whereas historical analogies are often employed to foster consensus, the NCW analogy is shown to be peculiarly divisive and double-edged—driving a wedge not only between proponents and their critics, but also between rival factions of proponents. Broadly, we suggest that analogies become double-edged, and potentially explosive, when they rely on divided memories of an earlier era.
BwShare: Efficient bandwidth guarantee in cloud with transparent share adaptation

Abstract Bandwidth guarantee (BwG) is a highly desired feature in cloud data centers for enabling tenants (i.e., users) to achieve predictable performances. However, such a function currently is not commonly available in clouds since it potentially lowers the utilization efficiency of the network fabric (i.e., denoted network efficiency). The reasons lie in two aspects. First, tenants often present a time-varying and/or spatially-varying bandwidth demands. Second, the current cloud network architecture makes it hard to enable tenants to reuse unused bandwidth guarantees efficiently. To tackle these challenges, we propose BwShare, a novel bandwidth guarantee scheme in cloud data centers that can effectively improve the network efficiency at both the guaranteed level and the best-effort level in a synergized manner, while current approaches only adopt one of them. Such a design goal is achieved through two components: an adaptive bandwidth guarantee adaptation module (i.e., BGAdaptor) and a transparent work conservation module (i.e., WCEnabler). BGAdaptor improves the network efficiency at the guaranteed level by adjusting bandwidth guarantees among VMs of the same tenant based on traffic monitoring. WCEnabler works at the best-effort level by enabling VMs to reuse idled bandwidth efficiently and freely without disrupting bandwidth guarantees. The two modules can also facilitate each other’s performance. Extensive experiments show that BwShare can effectively improve the network efficiency while providing the function of bandwidth guarantee in cloud data centers.
Chapter 21 – Figurative Language

Publisher Summary This chapter presents a new look at the continuing debates in psycholinguistics over what is special about figurative language use. Figurative language does not constitute a unified class of linguistic materials that are understood by special figurative processes. Nonetheless, the indeterminate nature of many aspects of figurative meaning, a fact that is not properly acknowledged in many psycholinguistic studies, raises important issues about the possible trade-off between minimizing cognitive effort and maximizing cognitive effects during figurative language processing. This trade-off can be empirically studied and form the basis for future psycholinguistic research on figurative language. One of the continuing difficulties with the psycholinguistics literature on figurative language understanding is that few scholars ever attempt to define the terms literal and figurative. A traditional assumption in many academic disciplines is that literal meaning is primary and the product of default language comprehension. Thus, in psycholinguistic terms, the human language processor is designed for the analysis of literal meanings. Nonliteral, indirect, and figurative meanings are secondary products, and dependent on some prior analysis of what words and expressions literally mean. This general theory implies that nonliteral meanings should always take more time to interpret than are literal meanings.
Engaging Technology in Elementary School: Flipgrid's Potential.

As the latest advances in technology make their way into the classroom, teachers are often overwhelmed with decisions about which technologies are the easiest to implement, best for student learnin...
Correlating interfacial fracture toughness to surface roughness in polymer-based interfaces

Statistical fractal characteristics are examined for polymer-based interfaces. Interfacial fracture behavior is modulated via exposure to varying levels of chemical contaminant concentration so as not to affect the initial interface roughness. The results of 1D height–height correlation analysis show a strong correlation between the interfacial fracture toughness and the resulting fracture surface roughness, and a toughness-independent roughness exponent; $$\beta \approx$$ 0.35 ± 0.04, which is the slope of the self-affine domain. The cut-off length scale of the self-affinity is found to scale with interface toughness, and equal the combined length scales of interfacial cohesive length and plastic zone size within the adhesive layer. The reported statistical characteristics of interfacial fracture surfaces is among the first to show the quantitative inter-correlation between interfacial adhesion and the resulting fracture surface roughness. With additional examination of other systems, the observed correlations have the potential to assess the interfacial fracture toughness for a wide range of polymer-based interfaces.
Auditory N2 Correlates of Treatment Response in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.

Emotional processing and cognitive control are implicated as being dysfunctional in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and targeted in cognitive processing therapy (CPT), a trauma-focused treatment for PTSD. The N2 event-related potential has been interpreted in the context of emotional processing and cognitive control. In this analysis of secondary outcome measures from a randomized controlled trial, we investigated the latency and amplitude changes of the N2 in responses to task-relevant target tones and task-irrelevant distractor sounds (e.g., a trauma-related gunshot and a trauma-unrelated lion's roar) and the associations between these responses and PTSD symptom changes. United States military veterans (N = 60) diagnosed with combat-related PTSD were randomized to either active or sham repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and received a CPT intervention that included a written trauma account element (CPT+A). Participants were tested before and 6 months after protocol completion. Reduction in N2 amplitude to the gunshot stimulus was correlated with reductions in reexperiencing, |r| = .445, and hyperarousal measures, |r| = .364. In addition, in both groups, the latency of the N2 event-related potential to the distractors became longer with treatment and the N2 latency to the task-relevant stimulus became shorter, ηp2 = .064, both of which are consistent with improved cognitive control. There were no between-group differences in N2 amplitude and latency. Normalized N2 latencies, reduced N2 amplitude to threatening distractors, and the correlation between N2 amplitude reduction and PTSD symptom reduction reflect improved cognitive control, consistent with the CPT+A objective of addressing patients' abilities to respond more appropriately to trauma triggers.
First Report of Rose Leaf Rosette-Associated Virus Infecting Rose (Rosa spp.) in California, U.S.A.

Rose leaf rosette-associated virus (RLRaV) is a member of genus Closterovirus, family Closteroviridae. The virus was first discovered in China in 2015 from a mixed infected wild rose (Rosa multiflora Thunb.) showing small leaf rosettes on branches, dieback and severe decline symptoms (He et al. 2015). In 2013, a rose plant (cv. Roses Are Red) was introduced to Foundation Plant Services (FPS, UC-Davis) rose collection. The plant was originated from a private rose breeder collection located in California. In 2019, total nucleic acids (TNA) were isolated from leaf tissues of one asymptomatic plant (Roses Are Red plant) using MagMax Plant RNA Isolation Kit (Thermo Fisher Scientific, USA). Extracted TNA were screened by reverse-transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) for six common viruses infecting roses, including prunus necrotic ringspot virus (PNRSV), apple mosaic virus (ApMV), rose spring dwarf associated virus (RSDaV), rose yellow vein virus (RYVV), rose rosette virus (RRV), and blackberry chlorotic ringspot virus (BCRV); however, the results were negative. Therefore, the sample was subjected to high throughput sequencing (HTS). Briefly, TNA was depleted of rRNA and advanced for cDNA library preparation using TruSeq Stranded Total RNA kit (Illumina, USA). HTS was performed on Illumina NextSeq 500 platform. The raw reads were trimmed, de novo assembled, and subsequently were annotated using tBLASTx algorithm (Al Rwahnih et al. 2018). HTS generated 23.6 million 75 nucleotide (nt) single-end raw data reads. De novo assembly generated a contig (16,528 nts) resembling RLRaV reference sequence (KJ748003) with 74% identity at the nucleotide level. Putative coat protein and heat shock protein 70-like protein were identified based on >90% identity with RLRaV genes. To confirm HTS results, RT-PCR was performed using two primer sets, 1) Clo-F4916 (5'-GGTGTTCCAACGCTATCGTG-3') and Clo-R5215 (5'- TGTCCTCAAACCGCCTACAT-3') targeting nucleotide sequences of putative polyprotein 1a, and 2) Clo-F10006 (5'-GATTCCGCGGACGAATTAAT-3') and Clo-R10311 (5'-GGTAACCGAAAGGTAAAGTATTC-3') targeting nucleotide sequences of putative protein p25. The RLRaV amplicons with expected size of 300 nt were confirmed using bidirectional Sanger sequencing. The near-complete sequence of the new RLRaV isolate was deposited in GenBank under accession number MW056181. In addition, HTS analysis showed that RLRaV was in mixed infection with two mycoviruses (rose cryptic virus with 8,267 mapped reads and rose partitivirus with 7,283 mapped readss). To our knowledge, this is the first report of RLRaV affecting roses in California. Further research is needed to determine the prevalence of RLRaV in California as well as evaluation of RLRaV effect on rose performance.
The Archaeology of Virginia’s First Peoples

The Archaeology of Virginia’s First Peoples is a welcome update to the first archaeological synthesis of Virginia’s first peoples published across four volumes between 1989 and 1992. This single-vo...
Aortic Dissection and Other Diseases of the Aorta

Aortic dissection is frequently a life-threatening condition and it is the most common emergency involving the aorta. In the United States, approx 10–20 cases per million people occur annually. If the condition is left untreated, the mortality rate has been reported to increase by 1–3% per hour after presentation, and is approx 36–72% within 48 h of diagnosis, and 62–91% within 1 wk.
Interfacing intelligent software to robotic peripherals

A paradigm for the specification of robotic behavior is proposed, based on a template of control and data elements replicated in a hierarchical lattice. Considerations from physiological psychology are proposed as control elements for the model. The resulting model allows freedom in implementational details within a symmetrical design, and should also provide a framework for evolving robotic behavior from relatively primitive to extremely complex. The model's implications for realizing learning capabilities in robotic systems are discussed, and its implementation and demonstration are described.
Understanding others: embodied social cognition

Publisher Summary The standard and dominant approaches to social cognition rarely emphasize intersubjective interaction, and even when they do mention interaction they frame the problem in terms of two minds that have to communicate across the seemingly thin air of an unbridgeable gap. From this viewpoint, interaction is not a solution but simply an another way to state the problem of other minds. On standard accounts of theory of mind (ToM) this gap between minds is bridged by some kind of cognitive processes in one mind providing the means to infer what is going on in the mind of the other, since the mind of the other is imperceptible. What one needs to bridge this gap is either theory (folk psychology), or simulation, or a combination of theory and simulation that will permit an inferential form of mind-reading or “mentalizing.” This chapter, after reviewing some of the traditional ToM models of social cognition, outlines an alternative model on the basis of evidence from developmental psychology and phenomenology. In this alternative model, embodied, second-person interaction plays a central (although not an exclusive) role in our ability to understand other people. Finally, the chapter discusses a recent development of simulation theory (ST) that champions an embodied simulationist approach. Traditional ToM accounts make little mention of how the body might fit into the process of understanding others.
Nonrigid autofocus motion correction for coronary MR angiography with a 3D cones trajectory.

Purpose To implement a nonrigid autofocus motion correction technique to improve respiratory motion correction of free-breathing whole-heart coronary magnetic resonance angiography acquisitions using an image-navigated 3D cones sequence. Methods 2D image navigators acquired every heartbeat are used to measure superior-inferior, anterior-posterior, and right-left translation of the heart during a free-breathing coronary magnetic resonance angiography scan using a 3D cones readout trajectory. Various tidal respiratory motion patterns are modeled by independently scaling the three measured displacement trajectories. These scaled motion trajectories are used for 3D translational compensation of the acquired data, and a bank of motion-compensated images is reconstructed. From this bank, a gradient entropy focusing metric is used to generate a nonrigid motion-corrected image on a pixel-by-pixel basis. The performance of the autofocus motion correction technique is compared with rigid-body translational correction and no correction in phantom, volunteer, and patient studies. Results Nonrigid autofocus motion correction yields improved image quality compared to rigid-body-corrected images and uncorrected images. Quantitative vessel sharpness measurements indicate superiority of the proposed technique in 14 out of 15 coronary segments from three patient and two volunteer studies. Conclusion The proposed technique corrects nonrigid motion artifacts in free-breathing 3D cones acquisitions, improving image quality compared to rigid-body motion correction. Magn Reson Med 72:347–361, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Modeling of Flexural Behavior of Continuous Fiber Ceramic Composites

The flexural behavior of 2-D continuous fiber-reinforced ceramic composites (CFCC) is modeled using a finite element analysis. This model extends the analysis of Steif and Trojnacki to account for the effect of the weak interlaminar properties of most 2-D CFCCs on their flexural behavior. The model predictions confirm the findings of Steif and Trojnacki that the slope of the slow decaying tail which arises from fiber pull-out and that would be observed experimentally in the tensile stress-strain curve when the test is conducted under displacement-controlled loading conditions is the most influential parameter in the difference between tensile and {open_quotes}flexural strengths{close_quotes}. The model predictions are used to explain the difference between tensile and {open_quotes}flexural strengths{close_quotes} and to assess the effect of specimen geometry (e.g. span and specimen thickness) on the bending behavior of 2-D CFCCs.
Some aspects of stratospheric chemical response to solar particle precipitations. I - Potential roles of N2/A3Sigma/ and ion-chemistry

Large amounts of long lived N2(A 3Σ) are created by the energy degradation of precipitating solar particles. Laboratory data suggest that in the stratosphere N2(A3Σ) are efficiently converted into N2O. Through reactions with O(1D), N2O may gradually release NO and thereby influence the long term aspects of stratospheric chemical response. During the daytime, negative ions may transform an active NOX into an inactive HNO3. At night both negative and positive ion chemistry generate HOX. Omission of ionic chemistry results in considerable underestimation of O3 depletion during the initial phases of solar particle events, and thereby introduces significant error in the estimation of the nature of the prompt response. For further progress more refined model calculations as well as additional laboratory verification of some of the key assumptions are needed.
Is Vygotsky Relevant? Vygotsky's Marxist Psychology.

This article explores the connections between Vygotsky's psychology and Marxism, arguing that his was a “Marxist psychology” in its “historical foundation”: a specific conception of history. This conception of history is evident in Vygotsky's analysis and diagnosis of the crisis in psychology. The creation of a Marxist, general psychology was the historical task that was defined by this crisis, and his developmental psychology was the historical project of such a psychology. In his practice of the methodology of this general psychology, Vygotsky recounted “child history”: the history of the genesis of mind. The conception of history evident in Crisis throws new light on Vygotsky's texts on child development: They tell a history of the objective tendencies of consciousness, of the dialectical processes of sublation, and of self-mastery. As Vygotsky interpreted the higher mental functions, they are manifestations of the child's ability to master himself or herself as a consequence of the “social moment” of ...
Roles of Proteoglycans and Glycosaminoglycans in Wound Healing and Fibrosis

A wound is a type of injury that damages living tissues. In this review, we will be referring mainly to healing responses in the organs including skin and the lungs. Fibrosis is a process of dysregulated extracellular matrix (ECM) production that leads to a dense and functionally abnormal connective tissue compartment (dermis). In tissues such as the skin, the repair of the dermis after wounding requires not only the fibroblasts that produce the ECM molecules, but also the overlying epithelial layer (keratinocytes), the endothelial cells, and smooth muscle cells of the blood vessel and white blood cells such as neutrophils and macrophages, which together orchestrate the cytokine-mediated signaling and paracrine interactions that are required to regulate the proper extent and timing of the repair process. This review will focus on the importance of extracellular molecules in the microenvironment, primarily the proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycan hyaluronan, and their roles in wound healing. First, we will briefly summarize the physiological, cellular, and biochemical elements of wound healing, including the importance of cytokine cross-talk between cell types. Second, we will discuss the role of proteoglycans and hyaluronan in regulating these processes. Finally, approaches that utilize these concepts as potential therapies for fibrosis are discussed.
Chem2Bio2RDF: A Linked Open Data Portal for Chemical Biology

The Chem2Bio2RDF portal is a Linked Open Data (LOD) portal for systems chemical biology aiming for facilitating drug discovery. It converts around 25 different datasets on genes, compounds, drugs, pathways, side effects, diseases, and MEDLINE/PubMed documents into RDF triples and links them to other LOD bubbles, such as Bio2RDF, LODD and DBPedia. The portal is based on D2R server and provides a SPARQL endpoint, but adds on few unique features like RDF faceted browser, user-friendly SPARQL query generator, MEDLINE/PubMed cross validation service, and Cytoscape visualization plugin. Three use cases demonstrate the functionality and usability of this portal.
Cercopagis pengoi as a new prey item for alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) and rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) in Lake Ontario

Diets of alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) and rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) were examined before (1997) and after (1998 and 1999) the establishment of the predatory cladoceran Cercopagis pengoi in Lake Ontario. Cercopagis pengoi was absent in both fish stomachs and zooplankton samples in 1997, but by August 1998, its distribution was lake-wide and spines of this organism were present in stomachs of both fish species. Incidence of C. pengoi spines was highest in adult alewives. Spines occurred in 72, 100, and 90% of stomachs in August 1998, August 1999, and October 1999, respectively. Spines were found in 15 and 53% of YOY alewife stomachs in August 1998 and October 1999, respectively. Cercopagis pengoi spines were least common in rainbow smelt stomachs (12% in August 1998 and 6% in October 1999). Low frequency of occurrence in rainbow smelt likely resulted from limited spatial overlap with C. pengoi. No C. pengoi spines were found in alewives > 66 mm total length (TL) which suggests that consumption of C. pengoi by YOY alewife is limited by the long caudal spine. Low consumption of C. pengoi by YOY alewife may explain the remarkably rapid population increase of C. pengo i in Lake Ontario in 1998 in the presence of a strong alewife year class. These results indicate that C. pengoi is a competitor of YOY alewives for zooplankton during the summer but also a potential prey item for larger fish throughout the year and for YOY alewife in the fall.
Jahn-Teller distortions for carbon interstitialcy configurations in diamond

Jahn-Teller distortions are calculated by the Extended Huckel Theory for the carbon 〈100〉 split and bond-centered interstitial in the diamond lattice. Previous calculations, which did not take into account such distortions, predicted these interstitialcies to be the energetically most favorable ones, with the 〈100〉 split interstitial being lowest. The present calculations maintain the essence of that prediction, because the energy gain due to the distortions is about 0.5 eV for both interstitials.
Impact of hydrogen bonds in polyaniline.AMPSAn/acid solutions

Abstract Water concentration in polyaniline (PANI)/acid solutions containing 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-l-propanesulfonic acid (AMPSA) significantly changes the solubility of PANI and the stability of its solutions. By varying trace amounts of water, we investigated the impact of hydrogen bonds (H-bonds) on PANI chain conformation in solutions of AMPSA/dichloroacetic acid (DCAA) or AMPSA/orthophosphoric acid. UV–vis–NIR spectral changes of these PANI solutions reveal that a competition between H-bond formation and protonation among PANI, AMPSA and water is an on-going process. The H-bonds between the PANI and AMPSA molecules can cause a large red shift in the π b → π q electron transition (the quinoid peak) from ∼630 nm into the near IR (NIR) region. Absent protonation peak (410–490 nm) and blue color of the solution suggest that the H-bond interaction, instead of protonation, is sufficient to cause PANI chains to adopt an “expanded coil” chain conformation in the PANI.AMPSA n /DCAA or H 3 PO 4 solutions. Protonation leads to the gelation of PANI solutions. The kinetic mechanism of protonation of the PANI.AMPSA n /DCAA solutions is studied. The activation energy of protonation in the PANI.AMPSA 0.6 /DCAA solutions is ∼60 kJ/mol.
Reliability of a flip-chip package thermally loaded between −55°C and 125°C

Low-temperature reliability of flip-chip plastic ball-grid array packages is a concern for manufacturers. Packages that perform well when thermally cycled from 20 to 120°C fail at an unacceptable rate when the temperature is extended down to −55°C. Electron-beam moire was used to study local deformations in a flip-chip package and the interactions among the various materials found within the package. The specimen was subjected to a total of ten complete thermal cycles from −55 to 125°C over several nonconsecutive days. Debonding initiated between the solderball and the solder mask where that interface meets the printed circuit board. Deformation was also induced within the solderball, becoming more pronounced with more thermal cycles. Out-of-plane strains appear to be the dominant mechanism for deformation at this location.
Efficacy of Auditory Interventions for Central Auditory Processing Disorder: A Response to Fey et al. (2011)

Purpose To provide a commentary on “Auditory Processing Disorder and Auditory/Language Interventions: An Evidence-Based Systematic Review” by Fey et al. (2011). Method Examination of the conclusions drawn by Fey et al. (2011) in the context of the American Academy of Audiology (2010a, 2010b) and American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (2005a, 2005b, 2005c) guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of auditory processing disorder, the evidence cited therein, and other pertinent published reports. Results The review provided by Fey et al. (2011) is limited due to the exclusion of pertinent efficacy studies from their analysis, inclusion of studies that did not employ strictly auditory-based therapies, and lack of well-defined experimental groups in many of the studies cited. Further, the questions posed by their literature review may not have addressed the efficacy of true auditory interventions in the remediation of auditory difficulties in children who have primary deficits in central auditory proce...
Peering into early neurogenesis with embryonic stem cells

Embryonic stem (ES) cells transplanted into the early mouse embryo have the capacity to differentiate into all cell types of the nervous system. A simplified culture system has been developed in which single ES cells transform into neural progenitor cells that go on to form neurospheres. This system is ideally suited for mechanistic studies of the earliest stages of neurogenesis. In this model, signaling via fibroblast growth factor and bone morphogenetic protein family members is important for the first steps of neural progenitor differentiation.
Explaining Variation in Perceptions of Inmate Crowding

The impact of population crowding on an individual's mental well-being has important implications for the goals of institutional corrections, making it worthwhile to understand what influences inma...
Rapid evolution of the ribonuclease A superfamily: adaptive expansion of independent gene clusters in rats and mice.

The two eosinophil ribonucleases, eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN/RNase 2) and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP/RNase 3), are among the most rapidly evolving coding sequences known among primates. The eight mouse genes identified as orthologs of EDN and ECP form a highly divergent, species-limited cluster. We present here the rat ribonuclease cluster, a group of eight distinct ribonuclease A superfamily genes that are more closely related to one another than they are to their murine counterparts. The existence of independent gene clusters suggests that numerous duplications and diversification events have occurred at these loci recently, sometime after the divergence of these two rodent species (∼10–15 million years ago). Nonsynonymous substitutions per site (d N) calculated for the 64 mouse/rat gene pairs indicate that these ribonucleases are incorporating nonsilent mutations at accelerated rates, and comparisons of nonsynonymous to synonymous substitution (d N / d S) suggest that diversity in the mouse ribonuclease cluster is promoted by positive (Darwinian) selection. Although the pressures promoting similar but clearly independent styles of rapid diversification among these primate and rodent genes remain uncertain, our recent findings regarding the function of human EDN suggest a role for these ribonucleases in antiviral host defense.
Binding of [3H]estradiol- and [3H]H1285-receptor complexes to rabbit uterine chromatin

Abstract In the present study we investigated the binding characteristics of estrogen and antiestrogen-receptor complexes to rabbit uterine chromatin. Activated or nonactivated estrogen receptors were partially purified by DEAE-cellulose chromatography using low (1 mM) or high (10 mM) concentrations of sodium molybdate. Activated [ 3 H]estradiol-receptor complexes showed enhanced binding to chromatin acceptor sites unmasked by 1 M, 4 M and 6 M guanidine hydrochloride. We also examined the chromatin-binding characteristics of the estrogen receptors when bound by the high-affinity triphenylethylene antiestrogen, H1285. The acceptor site activity for the [ 3 H]H1285-receptor complexes was markedly decreased at sites unmasked by 4 M and 6 M guanidine hydrochloride. Further, the nonactivated receptor complexes showed very low binding to deproteinized chromatin. The estrogen-receptor chromatin-acceptor sites were tissue specific and saturable. These chromatin acceptor sites differ in their affinity and capacity (number of binding sites per cell) for the estrogen- and antiestrogen-receptor complexes. Thus, we suggest that the differences in the physiological and physicochemical properties of estrogens and antiestrogens may be related to their differential interaction with uterine chromatin subfractions.
Excess target‐derived neurotrophin‐3 alters the segmental innervation of the skin

It is thought that dermatomes are established during development as a result of competition between afferents of neighbouring segments. Mice that overexpress neurotrophins in the skin provide an interesting model to test this hypothesis, as they possess increased numbers of sensory neurons, and display hyperinnervation of the skin. When dermatomal boundaries were mapped in adult mice, it was found that those in nerve growth factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor overexpressers were indistinguishable from wild-type animals but that overlap between adjacent segments was greatly reduced in neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) overexpressers. However, dermatomes in heterozygous NT-3 knockout mice displayed no more overlap than wild-types. In order to quantify differences across strains, innervation territories of thoracic dorsal cutaneous nerves were mapped and measured in adult mice. Overlap between adjacent dorsal cutaneous nerves was normal in nerve growth factor overexpressing mice, but much reduced in NT-3 overexpressers. However, this restriction was not reflected in the central projection of the dorsal cutaneous nerve, creating a mismatch between peripheral and central projections. Dorsal cutaneous nerve territories were also mapped in neonatal mice aged postnatal day 7-8. In neonates, nerve territories of NT-3 overexpressers overlapped less than wild-types, but in neonates of both strains the amount of overlap was much greater than in the adult. These results indicate that substantial separation of dermatomes occurs postnatally, and that excess NT-3 enhances this process, resulting in more restricted dermatomes. It may exert its effects either by enhancing competition, or by direct effects on the stability and formation of sensory endings in the skin.
Induction of mPer1 expression by GnRH in pituitary gonadotrope cells involves EGR-1.

Abstract We reported earlier that gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) activates period1 ( mPer1) gene expression in immortalized gonadotropes through protein kinase C and p42/44 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways. GnRH stimulation also leads to the upregulation of early growth response protein 1 (EGR-1), a critical transcription factor for GnRH-induced luteinizing hormone beta (LHβ) synthesis. The parallels between the GnRH–LHβ and the GnRH–mPer1 pathways led us to explore whether EGR-1 is involved in the regulation of mPer1 expression in gonadotropes. Of particular interest was the presence of an EGR-1 binding site in the proximal promoter of the mPer1 gene. Stimulation of LβT2 gonadotrope cells with a GnRH agonist caused the rapid induction of Egr-1 mRNA, which was rapidly followed by mPer1 expression. Chromatin immunoprecipitation revealed that the mPer1 promoter can bind EGR-1, while site-directed mutagenesis experiments confirmed the involvement of Egr-1 sequences in maintaining basal and allowing GnRH-stimulated mPer1 transcription. By means of RNA interference experiments, it could also be demonstrated that silencing of Egr-1 expression resulted in markedly lower mPer1 transcript levels. This silencing effect of the Egr-1 siRNA could be rescued by transfecting the cells with an EGR-1 overexpression vector. In summary, these results all point to a role for the EGR-1 protein in transactivating both the LHβ as well as the mPer1 gene in pituitary gonadotrope cells.
Behavioral responses to a novel predator and competitor of invasive mosquitofish and their non-invasive relatives ( Gambusia sp.)

Attributes of the recipient community may affect the invasion success of arriving non-indigenous organisms. In particular, biotic interactions may enhance the resistance of communities to invasion. Invading organisms typically encounter a novel suite of competitors and predators, and thus their invasiveness may be affected by how they cope with these interactions. Behavioral plasticity may help invaders to respond appropriately to novelty. We examined the behavioral responses of highly invasive mosquitofish to representative novel competitors and predators they might encounter as they spread through North America. We compared the behavior of invasive Gambusia holbrooki and G. affinis to that of two close relatives of lower invasive potential (G. geiseri and G. hispaniolae) in order to elucidate whether responses to novelty related to invasiveness. In short-term assays, female Gambusia were paired with a novel competitor, Pimephales promelas, and a novel predator, Micropterus dolomieu. Behavioral responses were measured in terms of foraging success and efficiency, activity, refuge use, predator inspections, and interspecific aggression. Contrary to a priori predictions, invasive and non-invasive responses to novel interactions did not differ consistently. In response to novel competition, both invasive species increased foraging efficiency, but so did G. geiseri. In response to novel predation, only G. holbrooki decreased consumption and activity and increased refuge use. No antipredator response was observed in G. affinis. We found consistent differences, however, between invasives and non-invasives in foraging behavior. Both in the presence and absence of the competitor and the predator, invasives foraged more efficiently and consumed more prey than non-invasives.
ACROSS-INDIVIDUAL, WITHIN-INDIVIDUAL AND RETURN ON EFFORT VERSIONS OF EXPECTANCY THEORY1

The author reviewed the conceptual, methodological, and empirical problems associated with across-individual tests of expectancy theory predictions of work behavior. Based on the literature it was hypothesized that within-individual expectancy theory predictions would be superior to across-individual predictions. Using a sample of 159 college students, results were generally supportive: mean across-individual and mean within-individual correlations were r=.24 and r=.35, respectively. Also, in light of the widespread use of incremental (marginal) decision algorithms in various disciplines, it was hypothesized that a return on effort (ROE) predictor would yield better correlations than the conventional maximum expected benefits predictor. As hypothesized, correlations using the ROE predictor consistently exceeded correlations using the maximum expected benefits predictor in both the across- and within-individual paradigms r=.27 versus r=.18, and r=.52 versus r=.35, respectively.
Reversibility of the “string sign” of the left internal mammary artery graft

We report a case that showed reversibility of a generalized narrowing of the left internal mammary graft in response to interruption of collateral flow to the distal vessel supplied by the graft. © 1993 Wlley-Liss, Inc
Comparison of Hearing-Aid Gain Using Functional, Coupler, and Probe-Tube Measurements

Measurements of functional gain were compared first to coupler gain for 57 subjects using one of three hearing aid—earmold combinations and second to probe-tube gain for 12 subjects using in-the-ea...
Forest composition following overstory mortality from southern pine beetle and associated treatmentsExperiment Station Project 06-08-109 of the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station, Lexington, Kentucky.

Bark beetle caused mortality continues to play a critical role in determining the composition and structure of forests in North America, and revegetation dynamics following these disturbances are poorly understood. We assessed forest composition following southern pine beetle, Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmermann, mortality and associated cut and leave suppression, and compared them with undisturbed loblolly pine, Pinus taeda L., stands in Texas. Abundant hardwood regeneration dominated the understory, with little loblolly pine regeneration following either mortality event. Disturbances eliminated loblolly pine dominance in these even-aged stands, thus stratifying forest structure and apparently increasing stem density (stems·ha–1), richness (species·ha–1), and diversity (ha) in the lower strata. Aspect and elevation, presumably through influences on site moisture, were the primary gradients associated with vegetation variation in the canonical correspondence analyses for new regeneration. Mortality from Den...
Treatment of a dental deep bite in a patient with vertical excess and excessive gingival display

The purpose of this report is to demonstrate the importance of developing an individualized treatment plan and treatment mechanics based on the patient's specific dental, skeletal, and profile problems. A case report is presented outlining the diagnosis and treatment planning for a patient who had a 100% deep bite combined with vertical facial excess and an excessive maxillary gingival display.
Unit Quaternion from Rotation Matrix

Often one must find the quaternion corresponding to a given rotation matrix. Of themanymethods that have been proposed for performing this computation [3–9], Shepperd’s algorithm [5], which is singularity free and requires only one square root, has been the most widely applied. In this Note, we review Shepperd’s algorithm and present a variant that always produces a normalized quaternion even if numerical errors cause the matrix A to be only approximately orthogonal. This modification of Shepperd’s algorithm also provides a very efficient method for computing an exactly orthogonal matrix that is close to an approximately orthogonal matrix.
Direct electron microscopic visualization of barbed end capping and filament cutting by intestinal microvillar 95-kdalton protein (villin): a new actin assembly assay using the limulus acrosomal process

We have re-examined the Ca(++)-dependent interaction of an intestinal microvillar 95- kdalton protein (MV-95K) and actin using the isolated acrosomal process bundles from limulus sperm. Making use of the processes as nuclei for assembling actin filaments, we quantitatively and qualitatively examined MV-95K's effect on filament assembly and on F- actin, both in the presence and in the absence of Ca(++). The acrosomal processes are particularly advantageous for this approach because they nucleate large numbers of filaments, they are extremely stable, and their morphology can be used to determine the polarity of any nucleated filaments. When filament nucleation was initiated in the presence of MV-95K and the absence of Ca(++), there was biased filament assembly from the bundle ends. The calculated elongation rates from both the barbed and pointed filament ends were virtually indistinguishable from control preparations. In the presence of Ca(++), MV-95K completely inhibited filament assembly from the barbed filament end without affecting the initial rate of assembly from the pointed filament end. The inhibition of assembly results from MV-95K binding to and capping the barbed filament end, thereby preventing monomer addition. This indicates that, while MV-95K is a potent nucleator of actin assembly, it is also a potent inhibitor of actin filament elongation. To examine the effects of MV-95K on F-actin in the presence of Ca(++), we developed an assay where MV-95K is added to filaments previously assembled from acrosomal processes without causing filament breakage during mixing. These results clearly demonstrated that rapid filament shortening by MV-95K results through a mechanism of disrupting intrafilament monomer-monomer interactions. Finally, we show that tropomyosin-containing actin filaments are insensitive to cutting, but not to capping, by MV-95K in the presence of Ca(++).
Dye-sensitized solar cells: sensitizer-dependent injection into ZnO nanotube electrodes.

Two porphyrin-based dyes with carboxylic acid tethers of differing acidity in both protonated and deprotonated forms were examined on ZnO nanotube electrodes. All of the dyes have similar surface coverage, but only the more acidic dye in the acid form injects electrons well; this dye is the only one that corrodes the ZnO. In control experiments on TiO2 nanoparticle electrodes, both dyes load and inject in protonated and deprotonated forms. These results are consistent with a requirement that the dye must partially corrode the ZnO surface in order for efficient injection to occur. Alternatively, it may possibly point to a coupling of electron injection to proton uptake.