cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of childhood maltreatment on the neural correlates of stress- and drug cue-induced cocaine craving

Childhood adversity negatively influences all stages of the addiction process and is associated with persistent alterations in neuroendocrine, autonomic and brain responses to stress. We sought to characterize the impact of childhood abuse and neglect on the neural correlates of stress- and drug cue-induced drug craving associated with cocaine addiction. Cocaine-dependent men with (n = 20) and without (n = 18) moderate to severe childhood maltreatment histories underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging during script-guided mental imagery of personalized stress, drug use and neutral experiences. Compared to the neutral script, the stress and drug use scripts activated striatal, prefrontal, posterior cingulate, temporal and cerebellar regions consistent with prior studies of induced states of stress and drug craving. For the stress script, maltreated men exhibited reduced activation of the anterior precuneus and supplementary motor area (SMA); the interaction of maltreatment severity and stress-induced craving responses predicted lesser rostral anterior cingulate cortex activation. For the drug use script, maltreated men exhibited greater left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex activation. The interaction of maltreatment severity and craving responses was associated with greater activation of the visual cortex and SMA, whereas a maltreatment-by-anxiety interaction effect included lesser ventromedial prefrontal cortex activation. The outcomes indicate an association of childhood maltreatment with a heightened appetitive anticipatory response to drug cues and a diminished engagement of regulatory and controlled action selection processes in response to stress- or drug cue-induced drug craving and anxiety responses for cocaine-dependent men. These findings provide novel insights into possible brain mechanisms by which childhood maltreatment heightens risk for relapse in drug-dependent individuals.
Pulmonary Critical Care and Mechanical Ventilation

Age-related diminution in function is felt the earliest in the respiratory system. Additionally, injury to and the reserve of the system has a disproportionately high impact on outcomes after trauma, especially in the elderly. Principals of management of the respiratory system, whether injured or not, relate to preventing alveolar collapse and maximizing gas exchange. Detecting deterioration and/or infection early with aggressive therapy forms the other pillars of management. If mechanical ventilation is required, utilizing lung protective strategies will optimize outcomes.
Military Famine, Human Rights, and Child Hunger A Cross-National Analysis, 1990-2000

Discussions of world hunger have focused on economic growth and international food aid, assuming that food supply is the critical issue. The authors show that food access rooted in social stratification and military power is the central problem. Synthesizing the entitlement and military famine approaches to hunger, the authors examine the effects of food supply, economic growth, social stratification, and military power on child hunger in less developed countries (1990-2000) using a cross-national analysis. Child hunger is largely due to gender stratification, militarization, and armed conflict. Halting wars, expanding political rights, and improving gender equity reduce child hunger. Economic growth and programmatic international food aid reduce child hunger, but there are no benefits from increased total food supply or international emergency relief. Child hunger is an access problem best addressed by expanding social and political rights, reducing armed conflict and militarization, and improving women'...
Electronic structure of (diamond C)/(sphalerite BN) (110) interfaces and superlattices.

Etude de la structure electronique en utilisant la methode de l'orbitale muffin-tin lineaire et la fonctionnelle de densite locale. Calcul des energies de formation de super-reseaux C 2n (BN) n pour n=1, 3, 5. On trouve des valeurs positives indicatives de l'instabilite thermodynamique de ces super-reseaux. Une comparaison de ces energies interfaciales aux estimations d'energies de dislocation de la surface, basees sur un argument de rupture de liaison, montre qu'une liaison forte, 10% seulement inferieure a celle dans les solides en volume, a lieu a l'interface
Depression in primary caregivers of patients listed for liver or kidney transplantation.

Background—No studies have examined depression in primary caregivers of adult patients listed for liver or kidney transplantation.Objective—To determine the prevalence of depression among primary caregivers of patients listed for liver or kidney transplantation and to compare these 2 groups.Design—A cross-sectional survey was conducted. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale and a demographic questionnaire were sent out and returned by mail.Results—Of 72 eligible primary caregivers, 42 (58%) participated; the participation rate was similar for caregivers of kidney and liver failure patients (21/32 [66%)] vs 21/40 [53%], P=.3). Mean caregiver age was 54.7 ± 13.6 years. Twenty-three caregivers (54.8%) were spouses, 15 (35.7%) were first-degree relatives, and 26 (62%) were women. Median depression scale score was 5.5 (0-36). Three (7%), 2 (5%), and 3 (7%) participants reported mild, moderate, and severe depression, respectively. Median Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale score wa...
Bioremediation of explosives contaminated soil.

This research paper presents two bioremediation technologies for the treatment of explosives-contaminated soil. The technologies include soil slurry reactor, and in situ bioremediation. Both bioremediation technologies showed promising results and these treatment methods used co-metabolic process with molasses as a co-substrate for bacterial growth. The soil slurry reactor removed the explosive contaminants present in the soil within three weeks of incubation period. The in situ treatment method also removed all the explosives present in the soil, but the treatment time was approximately 12 months. Each of the bioremediation methods described in this study has advantages and disadvantages. The major advantage in the soil slurry reactor method is the short treatment time, but the disadvantage is that it is labor intensive and expensive due to the excavation of soil, operation of slurry reactors, and post-treatment costs. The in situ treatment method has the advantage of lower treatment costs, but the disadvantage is the treatment time, which is considerably longer.
Load-release points of two novel ureteral stone-trapping devices.

Purpose: We compared the load-release points of the Stone Cone™ and the new Cook Urological NTrap™ devices using an in vitro model of the ureter. Materials and Methods: A strictured-ureter model was created using urethane tubing with a wire tie around it. A plastic bead was lodged above this narrowing. The Stone Cone, then the NTrap, was deployed in turn above this bead. The force required for each device to undeploy was measured over five trials. Results: Each device released the bead in every trial. The Stone Cone released at a mean of 0.190 lb, while the NTrap yielded at 0.861 lb. Conclusions: Both of the devices released the plastic bead reliably and at low loads, although the NTrap did require statistically significantly more force than the Stone Cone. However, the loads for both devices were <1 lb, so the devices are unlikely to result in ureteral trauma. Whether a slight increase in load-release force or differences in design result in better stone-clearing ability of one device should be assessed ...
Fatherhood as a Hidden Variable in Men's Development and Life Courses

Research on fatherhood has focused on the effects of father involvement on children. The authors instead examine the consequences of fatherhood for men's personal growth and identity, social relationships, health and well-being, and work and education. They argue that fatherhood is a critical but hidden variable beneath knowledge about men's lives. The authors highlight the growing groups of vulnerable fathers, but also suggest that these are, increasingly, every man. They discuss whether being a “good” father is becoming a new privilege, how social institutions and policies might be rearchitected to better support men and fathers, and new directions for scholarship.
Cerebrospinal fluid shunt complications after urological procedures in children with myelodysplasia.

OBJECTIVE: Invasive urological procedures, commonly performed on patients with myelodysplasia, may contribute to the occurrence of cerebrospinal fluid shunt complications. Shunt complications that occurred after urological procedures in children with myelodysplasia were studied. METHODS: Shunt complications occurring after urological procedures were examined in 29 patients. Differences between patients with or without complications were studied. Complications were analyzed according to the location of abnormality, the treatment, and the timing after shunt and urological surgery. RESULTS: The 1-year incidence of shunt complications after a urological procedure had been performed was 31% (overall incidence, 41.4%). Shunt complications were observed only after intraperitoneal urological procedures. Most complications were distal, occurring more than 1 year after the preceding shunt surgery. The patients in the shunt complications group had significantly more intraperitoneal urological procedures (3.2 versus 0.8, P = 0.004) and previous shunt revisions (2.0 versus 0.9, P = 0.015) than had the group without complications. As compared with the group of patients with extraperitoneal complications, the intraperitoneal group experienced significantly more infections (4 of 9 versus 0 of 10, P = 0.014) requiring more complex treatment, and their complications occurred significantly earlier in the follow-up period after the urological procedure had been performed (7.2 versus 27.3 mo, P = 0.006). The patients in the group with extraperitoneal complications experienced significantly more mechanical shunt malfunctions than did the intraperitoneal group (9 of 10 versus 4 of 9, P = 0.016), which required simple shunt revisions. CONCLUSION: Patients with spina bifida and shunted hydrocephalus may have an increased risk of developing intraperitoneal shunt complications after intraperitoneal urological procedures have been performed. These intraperitoneal shunt complications usually occur a few months after urological surgery and require complex treatment.
Sensor calibration in support for NOAA’s satellite mission

Sensor calibration, including its definition, purpose, traceability options, methodology, complexity, and importance, is examined in this paper in the context of supporting NOAA’s satellite mission. Common understanding of sensor calibration is essential for the effective communication among sensor vendors, calibration scientists, satellite operators, program managers, and remote sensing data users, who must cooperate to ensure that a nation’s strategic investment in a sophisticated operational environmental satellite system serves the nation’s interest and enhances the human lives around the world. Examples of calibration activities at NOAA/NESDIS/ORA are selected to further illustrate these concepts and to demonstrate the lessons learned from the past experience.
Theoretical π-π* absorption and circular dichroic spectra of β-turn model peptides

The dipole interaction model, treated by the partially dispersive normal mode method, is used to calculate pi-pi absorption and circular dichroic spectra of beta-turn model peptides in certain conformations. These include Ac-Gly-Gly-NHMe, Ac-L-Ala-L-Ala-NHMe, and Ac-L-Ala-Gly-NHMe in the standard beta-turn conformations I, II, and III of Venkatachalam and cyclo(L-Ala-Gly-epsilon-aminocaproyl), cyclo(L-Ala-L-Ala-epsilon-aminocaproyl), and cyclo(L-Ala-D-Ala-epsilon-aminocaproyl) in the minimum-energy conformations of Nemethy et al. Boltzmann average circular dichroic spectra of the cyclic compounds agree with experimental spectra in most respects. The results are compared with previous theoretical CD spectra for these molecules and with conformational assignments based on other evidence. Absorption spectra in the pi-pi band are predicted to be moderately sensitive to conformation.
Superoxide anion production by rat neutrophils at various stages of bleomycin-induced lung injury.

This study investigated the level of activation of neutrophils isolated from rats at various stages of bleomycin-induced lung injury. Neutrophils were collected from blood and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and their superoxide anion (O f2 p− )-generating capacity measured in response to phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and opsonized zymosan (OZ) stimulation. When stimulated with PMA, BAL neutrophils isolated from animals 3 days after bleomycin treatment had a significantly greater capacity to produce O f2 p− than BAL neutrophils from animals 7 days after bleomycin treatment. The O f2 p− levels of 7 day BAL neutrophils more closely resembled the resting levels obtained with circulating neutrophils from both control and bleomycin-treated animals. There were no differences observed in any of the neutrophils when stimulated with OZ. Myeloperoxidase levels were measured in plasma and BAL and found to be elevated only in plasma at 7 days after bleomycin. These data demonstrate that neutrophil activation does occur in this model and that the activation appears to be transient, in response to specific stimuli and compartmentalized between the lung and blood.
Understanding of Ethanol Decomposition on Rh(111) From Density Functional Theory and Kinetic Monte Carlo Simulations

Abstract Reaction mechanisms of ethanol decomposition on Rh(1 1 1) were elucidated by means of periodic density functional theory (DFT) calculations and kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) simulations. We propose that the most probable reaction pathway is via CH3CH2O* on the basis of our mechanistic study: CH3CH2OH* → CH3CH2O* → CH2CH2O* → CH2CHO* → CH2CO* → CHCO* → CH* + CO* → C* + CO*. In contrast, the contribution from the pathway via CH3CHOH* is relatively small, CH3CH2OH* → CH3CHOH* → CH3CHO* → CH3CO* → CH2CO* → CHCO* → CH* + CO* → C* + CO*. According to our calculations, one of the slow steps is the formation of the oxametallacycle CH2CH2O* species, which leads to the production of CHCO*, the precursor for C–C bond breaking. Finally, the decomposition of ethanol leads to the production of C and CO. Our calculations, for ethanol combustion on Rh, the major obstacle is not C–C bond cleavage, but the C contamination on Rh(1 1 1). The strong C–Rh interaction may deactivate the Rh catalyst. The formation of Rh alloys with Pt and Pd weakens the C–Rh interaction, easing the removal of C, and, as expected, in accordance with the experimental findings, facilitating ethanol combustion.
Differential responses of oligodendrocytes to tumor necrosis factor and other pro-apoptotic agents: role of ceramide in apoptosis.

Staurosporine induced apoptosis in a human oligodendroglioma cell line (HOG), neonatal rat oligodendrocyte (O2A(+)) precursors, and mature rat oligodendrocytes. In all three cell culture systems, the activation of caspase-3-like activity (CPP32) coincided with the increased formation of ceramide from sphingomyelin and the onset of DNA fragmentation. Further, the addition of exogenous C(2)-ceramide induced CPP32 activation and DNA fragmentation in all three culture systems. Raising endogenous ceramide levels by the addition of the ceramidase inhibitor, oleoylethanolamine, enhanced apoptosis in both a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (wortmannin and LY294002) also induced caspase-3 (CPP32) activation, increased ceramide formation, induced DNA fragmentation, and reduced cell viability. In contrast, cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) had a differential effect on the three cell cultures. Thus, TNF-alpha (160 ng/ml) induced 70% apoptosis in 24 hr in freshly isolated rat brain O2A(+) precursor cells, 60% apoptosis in 24 hr in a human oligodendroglioma (HOG) cell line, but no apoptosis in mature neonatal rat oligodendrocytes. Interferon-gamma augmented the activation of CPP32 by TNF-alpha in HOG cells and O2A(+) oligodendrocyte precursor cells but had no effect on mature oligodendrocytes. Thus, the death pathway appears to be similar in the three cell lines but the lack of coupling between TNF-alpha receptors and the apoptotic pathway leads to a lack of response to cytokines in mature oligodendrocytes.
Lamb-dip observation with a Q-switched CO 2 laser

Heterodyning a passively Q-switched CO(2) laser against a stable cw CO(2) laser produced a ~0.2-MHz-wide beat frequency. The line width of the Q-switched CO(2) laser is thus sufficiently narrow to stabilize the laser on the Lamb dip in the 4.3-microm fluorescence of CO(2).
Epidural analgesia for vaginal delivery in a patient with cystic fibrosis following double lung transplantation

The anaesthetic management is described of a patient with cystic fibrosis who had had a double lung transplantation for intractable respiratory failure. An epidural block provided analgesia/anaesthesia for vaginal birth and bilateral tubal ligation.
Correlates of anesthetic properties in isolated spinal cord: cyclobutanes

Abstract Two halogenated cyclobutanes, one anesthetic and one not, were compared on receptor-specific pathways in isolated neonatal rat spinal cord. The anesthetic 1-chloro-1,2,2-trifluorocyclobutane depressed the monosynaptic reflex (glutamate non-NMDA receptors) and abolished a slow ventral root potential (glutamate NMDA, non-NMDA and tachykinin receptors). This compound slightly enhanced the muscimol-evoked dorsal root potential (GABA A ) but reversibly depressed the dorsal root potential elicited by dorsal root stimulation. The non-anesthetic 1,2-dichlorohexafluorocyclobutane increased monosynaptic reflex, depressed slow ventral root potential, ∼ 50%, had little effect on muscimol-evoked dorsal root potential, and irreversibly depressed dorsal root-evoked dorsal root potential. Hypoxia accounts for slow ventral root potential depression, but not monosynaptic reflex enhancement. In this preparation and for this pair of compounds, anesthetic properties are related to blockade of transmission at glutamate synapses, with a small component of GABA A enhancement. Monosynaptic reflex increase may be related to the non-anesthetic cyclobutane's convulsant and anti-anesthetic properties.
Intramuscular ketorolac vs oral ibuprofen in emergency department patients with acute pain.

Objective: To determine whether IM ketorolac is superior to oral ibuprofen in patients presenting to an ED in moderate to severe pain. Methods: This prospective, randomized, double-blind study involved a convenience sample of 119 patients aged a 18 years who presented to an urban teaching hospital ED with a self-assessed pain intensity score of 5, 6, 7, or 8 (on a numerical rating scale of 0–10). Patients were randomized to receive either 60 mg of IM ketorolac and a placebo capsule or 800 mg of oral ibuprofen and a saline injection. Pain scores were measured at 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, and 120 minutes after dosing. Supplemental analgesics were allowed in accordance with standard medical practice. Results: There were 18 patients excluded who did not remain in the ED for the full 2-hour study period. Of those completing the trial, 53 patients received ketorolac and 48 patients received ibuprofen. There were no significant differences in pain scores between ketorolac and ibuprofen at any time during the study. However, there was a statistically significant decrease in pain over time in both treatment groups. Yet, 40% of the patients continued to report pain intensity scores of 5–8 at 2 hours after treatment. Conclusions: IM ketorolac and oral ibuprofen provide comparable levels of analgesia in ED patients presenting with moderate to severe pain. Unfortunately, 40% of all the patients had inadequate pain relief (pain score ≥5) from either ketorolac or ibuprofen.
Effects of the Different Screwdriver Handle Sizes on the Forearm Muscles Activities and Wrist Motion during Screw-driving Work.

[Purpose] This study investigated the difference screwdriver handle size has on forearm muscle activities and wrist motion during screw-driving work. [Subjects] Fourteen males aged 20–30 years, were recruited. [Methods] We measured the forearm muscle activities using a MP 150 System and wrist motion using a 3D motion system. The subjects performed screw-driving tasks with different screwdriver handle sizes. [Results] The wrist flexion and ulnar deviation angles and flexor carpi ulnaris muscle activity significantly increased and wrist extension angle significantly decreased during screwdriver work with a thin handle. [Conclusion] We consider that industrial workers should perform screw-driving work using a screwdriver with a thick handle.
A 1 Gb 2 GHz 128 GB/s bandwidth embedded DRAM in 22 nm tri-gate CMOS technology

An embedded DRAM (eDRAM) integrated into 22 nm CMOS logic technology using tri-gate high-k metal gate transistor and MIM capacitor is described. A 1 Gb eDRAM die is designed, which includes fully integrated programmable charge pumps to over- and underdrive wordlines with output voltage regulation. The die area is 77 mm 2 and provides 64 GB/s Read and 64 GB/s Write at 1.05 V. 100 μs retention time is achieved at 95°C using the worst case memory array stress patterns. The 1 Gb eDRAM die is multi-chip-packaged with Haswell family Iris Pro™ die to achieve a high-end graphics part, which provides up to 75% performance improvement in silicon, across a wide range of workloads.
Sesquiterpene lactones from Ambrosia confertiflora (Compositae)

Abstract We describe the isolation and chemistry of four eudesmanolides, reynosin (III), santamarine (IV), α-epoxysantamarine (V), and isotelekin (VII) and the germacranolide parthenolide (VI) from Ambrosia confertiflora collected in Mexico. Most of the populations which afforded one or more of the eudesmanolides also contained the previously described germacranolides, tamaulipin-A (I) and -B (II). Reynosin is a new natural product and this is the first report of epoxysantamarine from a natural source. The determination of ther stereochemistry of the epoxide function as α in epoxysantamarine and the experimental details for the structure determination of tamaulipin-B are reported. Other populations of the species from southwest Texas and north-central Mexico yielded the pseudoguaianolide dilactones, psilostachyin (VIII), psilostachyin-B (IX) and -C (X). Confertin (XI) and peruvin (XII) were isolated from a population of A. confertiflora from Fresnillo, Zacatecas, Mexico.
Fragrance material review on myrtenol

A toxicologic and dermatologic review of myrtenol when used as a fragrance ingredient is presented.
The limited vote alternative to affirmative districting

Abstract The Supreme Court may have effectively put affirmative districting off limits as a procedure to alleviate vote dilution in voting rights cases. If so, alternative voting systems seem logical, if not popular options. In this paper six voting systems at use in the US are evaluated utilizing nine measures of feasibility. Two traditional and popular voting systems — simple at-large, multi-seat and single-member districts — are compared to four alternatives — single transferable vote, cumulative voting, equal allocation cumulative voting and limited voting. The comparison along nine dimensions suggests that limited voting may be a viable alternative in situations where affirmative districting is not feasible or unlikely to withstand court oversight. Examination of jurisdictions in the US South which use limited voting shows that it is largely confined to Alabama and North Carolina. The results of elections before and after the adoption of limited voting shows that the number of minority candidates increases and their chance of winning goes up greatly when limited voting replaces simple at-large systems.
The inherent heterogeneity within the vitrinite maceral group

Abstract Research has been directed towards the characterization of ultra-fine coal. Equipment and procedures have been developed which permit full reflectance characterization on vitrinite particles as small as 1.5 μm diameter using rotational polarization techniques. The application of this technology towards the evaluation of vitrinite macerals separated using density gradient centrifugation has provided insights into the inherent heterogeneity of the vitrinite maceral group. It is concluded that much of the scatter in reflectance values obtained for a given coal is due to the presence of remnant cell structure. This structure cannot only be observed through etching, but can be directly measured using reflectance. Density gradient centrifugation can be used to separate and concentrate these remanent structures in high volatile bituminous vitrinite, provided the sample has been crushed to 5 μm or less. Within this rank range there is a strong trend towards increased reflectance with increasing vitrinite density.
Altered free cytosolic calcium changes and neutrophil chemotaxis in patients with juvenile periodontitis

Nearly 70–75% of patients with localized juvenile periodontitis (JP) have abnormal polymorphonuclear leukocytic (PMN) chemotaxis. The objective of this study was to determine whether the lower chemotactic response in PMNs from JP patients is associated with a defect in intracellular signal transduction, as measured by stimulus-induced changes in free cytosolic calcium (Ca2+) mobilization. We report that peptide chemoattractants such as N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) and the complement fragment C5a in direct comparative studies induced lower amounts of initial Ca2+ mobilization in PMNs from JP patients than healthy controls, as monitored by intracellular fura-2 fluorescence. The initial resting levels of free cytosolic Ca2+ in PMNs from JP patients and normal individuals were found to be similar. fMLP and C5a both mobilized Ca2+ in PMNs in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment of PMNs from 0.16 to 20 nM fMLP and 0.2 to 20 nM C5a resulted in elevated levels of free cytosolic Ca2+. However, above 20 nM fMLP and 5 nM C5a concentrations the extent of total Ca2+ mobilization did not differ significantly. Although fMLP and C5a caused Ca2+ mobilization in PMN cells from JP and healthy control subjects, fMLP stimulation induced higher levels of free cytosolic Ca2+ mobilization in PMN cells from healthy control subjects (141.29 ± 25.55 nM/ 2 ± 106 PMNs), than PMNs from JP patients (62.33 ± 23.76 nM/2 ± 106 PMNs). Similarly C5a induced higher levels of Ca2+ mobilization in PMNs from healthy control individuals (130.43 ± 18.26 nM Ca2+/2 ± 106 PMNs), when compared to JP patients (49.92 ± 14.92 nM Ca2+/2 ± 106 PMNs). JP patients also exhibited significantly lower chemotaxis towards fMLP (74.51 ± 6.31%) and C5a (69.25 ± 5.44%) as compared to healthy control subjects. The data suggest that PMNs from JP patients exhibit an intrinsic anomaly in the mechanism(s) responsible for intracellular Ca2+ mobilization which correlates with a PMN chemotactic defect.
Anomalous scaling of high cloud variability in the tropical Pacific

We have analyzed a full month of daily and hourly satellite infrared data covering the Central Pacific, with an eye to identifying and characterizing self-similar behavior of the cloud variability. It is found that the cloud outgoing longwave radiation field exhibits anomalous scaling, with parameters that are quite consistent across a broad range of synoptic situations. The presence of anomalous scaling means that, although the cloud field exhibits spatially self-similar behavior, the power spectrum alone is not sufficient to characterize the spatial structure of cloud variability. The scaling laws do not conform to what would be expected from passive scalar advection/diffusion, but they do closely resemble the scaling laws for temperature fluctuations in a turbulent convecting layer.
Transfer RNA methylase inhibitors in neoplastic and normal rat tissue.

Abstract With acid precipitation and dialysis, we show the presence of tRNA methylase inhibitors in normal adult rat liver. These inhibitors are virtually absent from the cortex of the highly malignant Walker-256 carcinoma from the rat. The tRNA methylase inhibitors of the rat liver are slowly dialyzable. It is proposed that the differences in the rate of tRNA methylase activity of normal and neoplastic tissues is in large part due to the difference in inhibitor content of each tissue.
Abstract 5180: Activation of NF- KB by Notch4/Int3 is Rbpj-independant.

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC Transgenic mice expressing the Notch 4 intracellular domain (ICD) (Int3) in the mammary gland have two phenotypes exhibited with 100% penetrance: arrest of mammary alveolar/lobular development and mammary tumorigenesis. Notch4 signaling is mediated primarily through the interaction of Int3 with the transcription repressor/activator Rbpj. Interestingly, Rbpj knockout mice (Wap-Cre+/Rbpj-/-/Wap-Int3) have normal mammary gland development also developed mammary tumors with a slightly longer latency than the Wap-Int3 mice. Thus, Notch-induced mammary tumor development is independent of this interaction. Here, we show that Int3 activates NF-κB in HC-11 cells and induces p50 Phosphorylation in absence of Rbpj. Also, Int3 regulates NF-κB in mammary tumors via IKK-mediated pathway. Treatment of Wap-Int3 baring tumors mice with IKK inhibitor resulted in tumors regression. Also, Wap-Int3/p50 knockout mice did not develop mammary tumors. The data indicates that the NF-κB canonical pathway is the Int3-Rbpj independent pathway. Citation Format: Ahmed M. Raafat, Sharon Bargo, Robert Callahan. Activation of NF- KB by Notch4/Int3 is Rbpj-independant. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5180. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-5180
A Bayesian approach to randomized controlled trials in children utilizing information from adults: the case of Guillain-Barre:

Background Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is a rare neurologic disease that occurs at all ages, causing a progressive, ascending paralysis that usually resolves over weeks or months. The disease app...
Magnetic and drift surfaces in stellarators

In this paper we study the structure of a stellarator field in toroidal geometry. A field line tracing code is developed to explore the structure of magnetic fields on the fine scale of the electron gyroradius pe, so as to explain anomalous electron transport. The magnetic field is modelled by a simple analytic representation with finite number of parameters, so that we can integrate the field lines to a high accuracy. In a typical Heliac field we find that (i) most of the magnetic surfaces are well behaved on the fine scale, even when there is no two-dimensional symmetry and (ii) the width of an island, formed in the vicinity of a magnetic surface with rational rotational transform i = n/m, decays exponentially with m. Among those numerical studies, we have an example where the island width w is less than the electron gyroradius pe for m greater than 17. This demonstrates that higher-order islands do not affect the electron transport. Our numerical results indicate that the anomalous electron transport observed in experiments may be due to the presence of an ambipolar electrostatic potential Φ. To reconfirm this proposition we compute the guiding center orbits of electrons and estimate the island widths of the drift surfaces that are swept out. We find that with a small electric potential depending on toroidal and poloidal angles, the drift surface island width w is an order of magnitude larger than that without the electric potential and decays exponentially at a slower rate. Since the drift step size is of the order of the maximum of pe and w, the electron transport, which scales like the square of the step size, is enhanced when there is an electric potential.
Habitability of the Phoenix landing site

[1] The Phoenix mission's key objective was to search for a habitable zone. Mission results are used to evaluate habitability where Phoenix landed. A habitability probability (HI) is defined as the product of probabilities for the presence of liquid water (Plw), energy (Pe), nutrients (Pch), and a benign environment (Pb). Observational evidence for the presence of liquid water (past or present) includes clean ice at a polygon boundary, chemical etching of soil grains, and carbonate minerals. The presence of surface and near subsurface ice, along with thermodynamic conditions that support melting, suggest that liquid water is theoretically possible. Presently, unfrozen water can form only in adsorbed films or saline brines but more clement conditions recur periodically due to variations in orbital parameters. Energy to drive metabolism is available from sunlight, when semitransparent soil grains provide shielding from UV radiation and chemical energy from the redox couple of perchlorate and reduced iron. Nutrient sources including C, H, N, O, P, and S compounds are supplied by known atmospheric sources or global dust. Environmental conditions are within growth tolerance for terrestrial microbes. Surface soil temperatures currently reach 260 K and are periodically much higher, the pH is 7.8 and is well buffered, and the water activity is high enough to allow growth when sufficient water is available. Computation of HI for the sites visited by landers yields Phoenix, 0.47; Meridiani, 0.23; Gusev, 0.22; Pathfinder, 0.05; Viking 1, 0.01; Viking 2, 0.07. HI for the Phoenix site is the largest of any site explored, but dissimilar measurements limit the comparisons' confidence.
Sex Differences in Hormonal Modulation of Anxiety Measured with Light-Enhanced Startle: Possible Role for Arginine Vasopressin in the Male

Increased acoustic startle in the presence of bright ambient light, a phenomenon called light-enhanced startle (LES), is dependent on the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. In contrast to gonadally intact male rats, LES was seen reliably in castrated male rats and in female rats, although it fluctuated significantly with reproductive state. Replacement with testosterone (T) or combined estradiol (E2) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT), but not with either E2 or DHT alone, attenuated LES in castrated rats. However, replacement with T or E2 in ovariectomized rats did not decrease LES. In contrast, no sex difference was seen in the central amygdala-dependent acquisition or expression of fear-potentiated startle. In addition, T did not reduce expression of fear-potentiated startle in castrated rats. T-replaced castrated males injected centrally with mixed arginine vasopressin (AVP) V1a/b receptor antagonists daily throughout the replacement period failed to show a reduction in the expression of LES. These data suggest that T attenuates LES, but not fear-potentiated startle, through a mechanism that may involve AVP.
The slow food story: politics and pleasure

The slow food story: politics and pleasure, by Geoff Andrews, Montreal, Kingston and Ithaca, McGill-Queen's University Press, 2008, 196 pp., US$19.95 (paperback), ISBN 978-0-7453-2745-7 The Slow Fo...
Optoelectronic implementation of a 256-channel sonar adaptive-array processor

We present an optoelectronic implementation of an adaptive-array processor that is capable of performing beam forming and jammer nulling in signals of wide fractional bandwidth that are detected by an array of arbitrary topology. The optical system makes use of a two-dimensional scrolling spatial light modulator to represent an array of input signals in 256 tapped delay lines, two acousto-optic modulators for modulating the feedback error signal, and a photorefractive crystal for representing the adaptive weights as holographic gratings. Gradient-descent learning is used to dynamically adapt the holographic weights to optimally form multiple beams and to null out multiple interference sources, either in the near field or in the far field. Space-integration followed by differential heterodyne detection is used for generating the system’s output. The processor is analyzed to show the effects of exponential weight decay on the optimum solution and on the convergence conditions. Several experimental results are presented that validate the system’s capacity for broadband beam forming and jammer nulling for linear and circular arrays.
The Electroencephalogram and Mental Activation

The mental activation (MA) is a simple test consisting of two questions and two commands given during the waking record. The responses are documented by + or - sign notations made by the technologist. In this manner, data were rapidly obtained from 1280 patients; there were 598 patients with EEG records within normal limits and 682 with various degrees of EEG abnormality. The MA serves the following purposes: a. to study the repercussions of the test on the EEG activity, b. to ascertain the optimal level of vigilance, c. to attempt a correlation of MA responses and the degree of EEG abnormality and d. to obtain brief information on the patient's mental state. The test is administered during conventional EEG recordings. It was found that alpha blocking or attenuation was the exception rather than the rule during the test. Diffuse and focal slowing also remained unchanged in the vast majority of the cases, whereas focal intermittent rhythmical delta activity (FIRDA) was blocked or reduced in most patients exhibiting this pattern. Epileptic conditions were also studied and it was found that, in a single observation, even the most difficult part of the test (item D: mental arithmetic) could be carried out during ictal-subclinical regional EEG activity.
Separation of Boron Isotopes. VI. Ethyl Ether, Ethyl Sulfide, and Triethylamine‐BF3 Systems

The BF3 complexes of ethyl ether, ethyl sulfide, and triethylamine were studied. Isotopic equilibrium constants for the reactions B10F3(g)+B11F3·donor(l)⇌B10F3(g)+B10F3·donor(l) were measured at several temperatures for each of the three systems. Vapor pressures of the ethyl sulfide complex, and rates of exchange of boron between BF3 and BF3·Et3N were also determined.
Internet emergency alert system

The emergency alert system available on television and radio media provides an effective means for dissipating information to the general population during emergencies. Demographic studies in the United States have shown an increasing trend towards the use of Internet by general population, and point to the fact that increased Internet usage is associated with decreased time on television and radio. Since there is no equivalent of the TV and radio emergency alert system on the Internet, a significant fraction of the population may be left without prompt information in the case of an emergency. In this paper, we explore the various options for designing an emergency alert system for users in Internet. We address the operational and technical challenges associated with each option, present alternative designs for an Internet emergency alert system, and compare the relative merits of the different approaches.
Exploring Meanings of Adolescent and Young Adult Alcohol/Other Drug Use: Perspectives of Students in Recovery

ABSTRACT This study addresses the meanings of alcohol/other drug use for those who, during adolescence, moved beyond experimentation to dysfunctional levels of use. Interviews were conducted with 12 students in recovery from alcohol/other drug dependency, all currently participating in a university-based recovery program. Interpretive phenomenological analyses of the interviews revealed that meanings ascribed to use were extensive, complex, and intertwining. Students viewed their alcohol/other drug use in negative ways—as an escape, as a mask to feelings, and as leading to a double life. Yet they also saw it as normative, developmentally significant, and as an integral part of their social interactions.
Benoxaprofen kinetics in renal impairment.

To establish therapeutic guidelines, benoxaprofen kinetics were examined in 26 adult subjects with normal and decreased renal function. Mean peak plasma concentrations after a single 600-mg dose ranged from 58 to 72 mg/l, independent of renal function. Elimination half-life and benoxaprofen plasma clearance correlated with creatinine clearance. Hemodialysis did not remove benoxaprofen from plasma. A dosage nomogram was derived from which a dose one half of the normal maintenance dose was suggested for patients with severe renal failure. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1982) 32, 190–194; doi:10.1038/clpt.1982.146
GPU-based streaming architectures for fast cone-beam CT image reconstruction and demons deformable registration.

This paper shows how to significantly accelerate cone-beam CT reconstruction and 3D deformable image registration using the stream-processing model. We describe data-parallel designs for the Feldkamp, Davis and Kress (FDK) reconstruction algorithm, and the demons deformable registration algorithm, suitable for use on a commodity graphics processing unit. The streaming versions of these algorithms are implemented using the Brook programming environment and executed on an NVidia 8800 GPU. Performance results using CT data of a preserved swine lung indicate that the GPU-based implementations of the FDK and demons algorithms achieve a substantial speedup—up to 80 times for FDK and 70 times for demons when compared to an optimized reference implementation on a 2.8 GHz Intel processor. In addition, the accuracy of the GPU-based implementations was found to be excellent. Compared with CPU-based implementations, the RMS differences were less than 0.1 Hounsfield unit for reconstruction and less than 0.1 mm for deformable registration.
Probing the Molecule−Electrode Interface of Single-Molecule Junctions by Controllable Mechanical Modulations

Presented here is an in-depth study to exploit the molecule−electrode interface effects on electronic transport properties in stabilized molecular junctions under controlled mechanical modulations. By monitoring and analyzing the conductance and force changes corresponding to the modulations, we isolated the effects of both the molecule terminating groups and the different contact configurations on electronic transport properties. The experimental results can be understood by our calculations developed based on simple and straightforward models. The results would be helpful not only to resolve the discrepancies of the recent scanning tunneling microscopy molecular break junction experiment results but also to add new insights into the understanding of the electronic transport mechanisms of molecular junctions.
Informed consent and investigational new drug abuses in the U.S. military.

Objective: The focal point of this investigation was to research the ethical issues surrounding the military's requests for informed consent waivers when using investigational drugs, and the recent debate surrounding the anthrax vaccine as an investigational new drug (IND). Design: The military's management of the informed consent process was examined using documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, Institutional Review Board (IRB) minutes, consent forms, legal pleadings, and protocols for specific investigational drugs. Results: In December 1990, prior to Operation Desert Storm, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) granted the Department of Defense (DoD) an unprecedented waiver to the federally mandated informed-consent requirement for the use of investigational drugs. However, the waiver approval was conditional, and the FDA insisted on several safeguards. Partially in response to the subsequent Gulf War Syndrome debate, the FDA recently evaluated the military's use of investigational d...
Changing work organisation in America : what has happened and who has benefited?:

In the USA, with a strong economy and falling unemployment, a large number of firms are still restructuring the workplace, including laying off workers. Coupled with this is a change in the employment relationship, giving some workers opportunities to use their knowledge and skills, while other workers are experiencing a deterioration in their working conditions. This paper, resulting from a survey carried out by the Sloan School of Management, MIT, in 1997, examines the spread of High Performance Work Systems and shows that managers accept that these innovations lead to higher productivity and quality. The survey also shows that workers welcome the higher levels of responsibility these work systems give. However, it also indicates that the balance of power within these firms is shifting away from employees to managers, resulting in higher possibilities of layoff and higher levels of income inequality.
Taxonomic status of Saguinus tripartitus (Milne-Edwards, 1878).

A review of specimens and field notes of Carlos Olalla and his sons showed that they collected Saguinus tripartitus and Saguinus fuscicollis lagonotus at the same place on the right bank of the lower Rio Napo in Peru. Thus, these two forms are sympatric, although they probably occur in different habitats. Therefore, Saguinus tripartitus should be treated as a distinct species, not as a subspecies of Saguinus fuscicollis.
In Search of the Actual Historical Frege

Hans Sluga has recently proposed reading Frege from an historical standpoint. He and several other Frege commentators have insisted that Frege’s concept of sense is a cognitive and not a linguistic concept. With both of these suggestions, I am in general agreement. I will however comment on both and indicate how they are to be understood and within what limits.
Mediational use of internal representations of food and no-food events by pigeons

Abstract Two experiments were conducted with pigeons to determine whether internal representations of food and no-food events can act as mediators in the formation of new associations. Specifically we asked if the representation of an anticipated event can replace the event itself in an established conditional discrimination. In Phase 1 of both experiments pigeons were differentially autoshaped to peck hue stimuli, only one of which was followed by access to food. In Phase 2 they were trained on a symbolic 0-delay matching-to-sample (DMTS) task with food and no-food samples and line-orientation comparisons. In Phase 3 the birds were tested on a symbolic DMTS task in which the hue stimuli from Phase 1 were substituted for the Phase 2 food-event samples. For the Pos group, the hue followed by food in Phase 1 was substituted for the food sample and the hue associated with no-food was substituted for the no-food sample so that the resulting sample/comparison pairings were consistent with the food-event mediator. For the Neg group the pairings were reversed so that the sample/comparison pairings were inconsistent with the food-event mediators. In Experiment 1, when the no-food event was the absence of an event, acquisition of the transfer task was significantly more rapid in the Pos than in the Neg condition. In Experiment 2, when the no-food event was the presentation of an empty food hopper, the Pos group transferred at a significantly higher level than the Neg group. The two experiments provide evidence that in pigeons, representations involving event anticipations can be substituted for, and are thus similar to, the events themselves.
Private Transfers, Informal Loans and Risk Sharing Among Poor Urban Households in Ethiopia

Abstract In this paper we examine how households in poor urban areas manage risks by use of transfers and loans. Compared to the sizeable literature dealing with the rural poor the literature on the urban poor is limited. This paper attempts to fill this gap by using household survey data from urban Ethiopia. We find that whereas both instruments – private transfers and informal loans – help households augment low and uncertain incomes, only transfers respond to observable signals of vulnerability, thus likely serving risk sharing purposes, while loans are largely dictated by household demand and resource proxies, therefore smoothing consumption though lacking the risk sharing property.