cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Temperature Effects on the Kinetics of Carbonate Radical Reactions in Near-Critical and Supercritical Water

Pulse radiolysis was used to generate the carbonate radical (CO3-•) in subcritical and supercritical water. The effect of the charge of the reaction partner on the kinetics of the reaction with aqueous carbonate radical was examined over the temperature range 30−400 °C, at 4150 ± 75 psia, pH 10.55. The rate constant for oxide transfer between two CO3-• radicals was insensitive to temperature below 200 °C, but increased by a factor of 300 from 1.61 × 107 to 2.90 × 109 M-1 s-1 between 200 and 400 °C. The rate constants for the one-electron oxidation of aniline, p-aminobenzoate, N,N-dimethylaniline, and p-N,N-dimethylaminobenzoate by CO3-• under the same conditions all displayed a negative temperature dependence at temperatures below 320 °C. Above 320 °C, the rate constants for the oxidation of the anionic aminobenzoates by CO3-• increased sharply, whereas those for the oxidations of the corresponding neutral anilines did not increase until 360 °C.
A multi-instrument comparison of the hot ISM in elliptical galaxies

Consistent metallicities are now obtained in X-ray bright galaxies, using the Chandra ACIS and XMM PN, MOS and RGS detectors. With two temperature models, the Fe metallicity of the gas is typically solar, similar to Mg, Si, and S, but the O abundance is about half solar. These values are in conflict with models, which predict a metallicity 3-5 times higher and a Fe to O ratio near unity. This suggests that a significant fraction of metals are not becoming mixed into the hot galactic atmosphere.
TWO-YEAR COMPARISON OF INCOME, EDUCATION, AND DEPRESSION AMONG PARENTS PARTICIPATING IN REGULAR HEAD START OR SUPPLEMENTARY FAMILY SERVICE CENTER SERVICES

Changes after 2 years in a Head Start Family Service Center Demonstration Project were assessed through pre-implementation and postimplementation interviews with 80 parents of Head Start children to evaluate changes during the project noted for the children's parents. Compared with parents in regular Head Start, parents in the supplementary Family Service Center project reported more contact with staff, increased their functional literacy scores, and increased their family incomes. The percentage of these parents with high depression scores decreased. These changes encourage implementation of more intensive social services within Head Start programs as a means of effectively assisting Head Start parents.
Neutrino astrophysics with IceCube

Abstract IceCube is a neutrino observatory in operation at the geographical South Pole. The main objective of IceCube is to conduct very-high-energy neutrino astronomy, including the search for the sources of cosmic rays. IceCube operates by measuring Cherenkov light from particles produced in neutrino–matter interactions. IceCube has made multiple observations including atmospheric neutrinos and cosmic ray anisotropy. For the first time, IceCube is reporting the observation of 28 events consistent with an astrophysical origin. The events have energies that range from ≈ 30 TeV to ≈ 1.2 PeV . The atmospheric origin of the events is excluded at the 4.1 σ level. In these proceedings we summarize the study of these 28 events. We also present the results of the search for neutrinos in coincidence with GRB 130427A.
Autoimmune Studies in Patients with Primary Myocardial Disease

Heart immunofluorescent autoantibody tests, the complement fixation test for Chagas' disease, the hemagglutination test for toxoplasmosis, and the latex flocculation test for rheumatoid disease were compared in 34 patients with primary myocardial disease and their paired control subjects. There was no difference in the incidence of elevated titers or in the actual titer levels between the group with primary myocardial disease and the control group for any of these tests. This study is limited in that it gives no information about an agent or mechanism for primary myocardial disease which is no longer demonstrable by serological test, particularly since the patients with primary myocardial disease were studied, at an average, 6 years after onset of symptoms. It is also possible that agents or mechanisms other than those included in this study may be causative of primary myocardial disease. We have, however, demonstrated that there is no serological evidence associating the parasites or immunological respon...
Bcl-2 protects against beta-lapachone-mediated caspase 3 activation and apoptosis in human myeloid leukemia (HL-60) cells.

We previously demonstrated that beta-lapachone (beta-lap) killed cancer cells solely by apoptosis. Beta-Lap induced apoptosis in HL-60 cells in a dose-dependent manner as measured by flow cytometry and DNA ladder formation. Cell cycle changes, such as accumulations in S and G2-phases, were not observed. Apoptosis was accompanied by activation of caspase 3 and concomitant cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) to an 89 kDa polypeptide. PARP cleavage was blocked by zDEVD-fmk or zVAD-fmk, caspase-specific cleavage site inhibitors. Retrovirally introduced bcl-2 prevented beta-lap-mediated caspase 3 activation and PARP cleavage and increased the viability of Bcl-2-expressing HL-60 cells compared to cells with vector alone. Various beta-lap-related analogs (e.g., dunnione and naphthoquinone derivatives) induced equivalent apoptosis in HL-60 cells, but no compound was more effective than beta-lap. These data provide further evidence that the primary mode of cell killing by beta-lap is by the initiation and execution of apoptosis in human cancer cells.
Large deviations for M-estimators

We study the large deviation principle for M-estimators (and maximum likelihood estimators in particular). We obtain the rate function of the large deviation principle for M-estimators. For exponential families, this rate function agrees with the Kullback–Leibler information number. However, for location or scale families this rate function is smaller than the Kullback–Leibler information number. We apply our results to obtain confidence regions of minimum size whose coverage probability converges to one exponentially. In the case of full exponential families, the constructed confidence regions agree with the ones obtained by inverting the likelihood ratio test with a simple null hypothesis.
To Foster the Spirit of Professionalism: Southern Scientists and State Academies of Science

"A welcome contribution to the history of science in the South during the period since the Civil War. . . . By considering the academies in the larger context of scientific professionalism, South and North, Midgette has produced a surprisingly wide-ranging and informative study. This is overall a judicious and carefully researched work. The writing is straightforward and admirably clear, while the topic is effectively organized and presented. The book is a commendably original addition to local and regional history as well as history of American Science." "Journal of American History """Midgette s study is thorough and well organized and should be consulted by anyone interested in American science and American higher education." "Florida Historical Quarterly """""A very useful survey." "Choice""""
Role of spatial location in learning face-name associations.

When a face appears at a constant location, formation of a face-name association is facilitated. This facilitation was demonstrated in three experiments. Six subsequent experiments demonstrated that a constant location has its effect primarily because location acts as an additional cue for the name. This conclusion is contrasted with a hypothesis that proposes that a constant location directly strengthens the face-name association. The latter hypothesis does not fit the data as well as thelocation-as-cue hypothesis does.
Scaling of individual phosphorus flux by caterpillars of the whitemarked tussock moth, Orygia leucostigma.

We conducted a laboratory study to evaluate the effects of body mass, environmental temperature, and food quality on phosphorus (P) efflux by caterpillars of the whitemarked tussock moth, Orygia leucostigma, J. E. Smith (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae). We found that individual phosphorus efflux rate (Q the rate at which excreted and unassimilated P was egested in frass, mgP/day) was related to larval mass (M, mg dry) and environmental temperature (T,K) as Q = e14.69 M1.00e-0.54/kT, where K is Boltzmann's constant (8.62 × 10-5 eV/K, 1 eV = 1.60 × 10-19J). We also found that P efflux was not related to food phosphorous concentration, and suggest that this result was due to compensatory feeding by larvae eating low quality leaves. The P efflux model resulting from this analysis was simple and powerful. Thus, it appears that this type of model can be used to scale P flux from individual larvae to the population level and link species of insect herbivores to ecosystem processes.
Scintillation of Liquid Helium under Pressure. I. 4.2>T>1.3 °K

The intensity of $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-particle-produced scintillations of liquid helium has been measured in the 1.3-4.2 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K temperature range and at pressures varying from the vapor pressure at 1.3 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K to 28 atm.
Differences in symmetry of lumbar region passive tissue characteristics between people with and people without low back pain.

Background Several investigators have suggested that passive tissue characteristics of the lumbar region may be altered in people with low back pain. Passive stiffness of the lumbar region has been examined during physiological movements in healthy individuals and intersegmental spine mobility and stiffness have been examined in people with and people without low back pain. However, no investigators have examined differences in passive tissue characteristics of the lumbar region during a physiological movement between people with and people without low back pain.
Between-visit workload in primary care.

Background The time spent and complexity of work done by primary internal medicine physicians between office visits has not been well studied.
Contractile activation in slow and twitch muscle fibres of the frog

VERTEBRATE slow and twitch skeletal muscle fibres differ qualitatively in many respects and constitute functionally distinct motor systems1,2. Little is known, though, of the respective contractile activation properties. Since triad contacts between transverse (T) tubules and sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), thought to be the pathway for activation of twitch fibres, are nearly identical in frog twitch and slow fibres3, similar processes would be expected to lead to Ca2+ release from the SR following T-tubule depolarisation in both muscle types. We describe here voltage-clamp studies of activating threshold contractions in slow and twitch fibres4,5. Activation kinetics in these physiologically very different fibre types are remarkably similar. Thus, a given membrane potential change may result in an equivalent amount of Ca2+ delivered to both slow and twitch myofibrils. Once activated, each fibre type would shorten at its characteristic velocity6, probably determined by the rate of actomyosin cross-bridge turnover7.
Managing Disruptive and Sustaining Innovations in Green IT

Green IT has gained significant attention, but specific guidance on how to implement and manage various green IT initiatives is largely underdeveloped. A new framework helps by classifying green IT used in organizations as sustaining or disrupting innovations.
Guest Editorial: Performance Evaluation of Computer and Telecommunication Systems

Welcome to this special issue of Simulation: Transactions of the Society for Modeling and Simulation International on ‘Performance Evaluation of Computer and Telecommunication Systems’. The papers included in this special issue are based mainly on selected extended versions of best papers accepted in the 2008 International Symposium on Performance Evaluation of Computer and Telecommunication Systems (SPECTS 2008). We have only accepted four papers in this special issue. This means that these accepted papers have undergone a thorough and critical review process by experts in the field. Heckmuller and Wolfinger proposed an analytical model which reflects in detail the load transforming impact of a token bucket mechanism on a given (primary) load. By assuming that the arrival process of requests and tokens to the token bucket device follows a Markovian process the authors were able to specify the transformed load. The authors presented a tool which allows them to transform the load being specified as a BMAP process. This extensible tool already comprises components to realistically reflect various practically relevant transformation functionalities which are very common in current computer networks, such as fragmentation, header generation, and token/leaky bucket regulation, among others. Furthermore, they validated the proposed model by comparing the properties of the generated load models to those of simulatively transformed load models. It was found that the generated load models were able to capture the desired characteristics of the departure process with high accuracy even though, in the simulation experiments the tokens were assumed to arrive in a deterministic fashion. Possible applications of the proposed procedure in
A gödelian ontological argument improved

G?del's ontological argument is a formal argument for a being defined in terms of the concept of a positive property. I shall defend several versions of G?del's argument, using weaker premises than Anderson's (1990) version, and avoiding Oppy's (1996 and 2000) parody refutations. I shall defend several versions of G?del's ontological argument that use weaker premises than Anderson's version (1990), and that, like Anderson's argu ment, avoid modal collapse. Moreover, the versions of the argument that I shall defend are not subject to Oppy's parody refutations (1996, 2000).
Theory of circular harmonic image reconstruction

A method is described for image reconstruction that processes the data in polar rather than rectangular coordinates and does not require backprojection. It is based on the decomposition of the object and its shadow (set of projections) into circular harmonics, or radial modulators of angular Fourier components. Inverse filters are derived that enable the radial modulators of the object to be reconstructed from those of the shadow. An optical system for reconstruction using the method is proposed.
Double-layer effects on low frequency dielectrophoresis-induced colloidal assembly

Strong frequency dependence of particle aggregation in applied ac-electric fields is reported for colloidal assembly under positive dielectrophoresis. A curious low-frequency threshold ωth on the order of 104–105Hz is observed for the onset of collecting submicron latex particles at the high-field regions near coplanar electrodes. Similar to the dielectrophoretic crossover frequency, ωth is independent of medium conductivity, σm at low-salt concentration, yet scales with σm0.5 at high-salt concentrations. This intriguing salt effect suggests the distinct contribution from Stern and diffuse layer conductance to the interfacial polarization mechanism of latex particles in nonuniform ac fields.
No School Left Behind

The goal of this special issue of Educational Psychologist is to consider the challenges of schooling in the age of accountability. Four experts were invited to review and evaluate the relationship between school accountability and school improvement, professional development, assessment, and student motivation. Each article provides suggestions for improving the effect that high-stakes accountability associated with No Child Left Behind has on schools and student achievement. A commentary of the articles is provided by Good, Wiley, and Sabers in which they critique the articles and make four suggestions for improving the accountability debate in the future. In addition, a conceptual framework is presented that links standards–based education to assessment, accountability, and school variables such as improvement, professional development, and motivation.
Effect of time and diet on carcass fatty acid composition of bobwhites, Colinus virginianus

Abstract 1. 1. Fatty acid composition of starved bobwhites returned to prestarved profiles within 20–30 days as bobwhites on a recovery diet regained lost weight. 2. 2. Percent composition of at least 50% of carcass fatty acids was significantly different from that of fatty acids in the bobwhite's diet. 3. 3. Nutritionally deprived bobwhites had a higher percent composition of arachidonic acid (20:4) than did birds on a nutritious diet. 4. 4. Bobwhites altered the fatty acids of most diets in a consistent manner. 5. 5. Discriminant analysis of carcass fatty acid composition correctly categorized 81% of the birds into their actual 20-day dietary treatment.
Policy Uncertainty and the Conduct of Stem Cell Research

A survey of U.S. stem cell scientists shows that uncertainty following the legal challenge to the Obama Administration's hESC research policy has negative scientific and economic impacts and affects a range of stem cell scientists, not just those working with hESCs. The international implications of these results are also discussed.
A converse of the mean value theorem

(1997). A Converse of the Mean Value Theorem. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 104, No. 10, pp. 939-942.
Mechanism of the isoproterenol hyperpnea in the cat.

To clarify the role of peripheral chemoreceptors in the abrupt hyperpnea induced by isoproterenol injection, we measured, in anesthetized cats, the time course of VE, PETCO2, H.R. and B.P. following i.v. bolus injection of 0.5--2 microgram isoproterenol before and after bilateral section of the carotid sinus (csx), aortic (ax) and vagus (vx) nerves. We compared the hyperpneic response of isoproterenol to that of 100 microgram injections of NaCN (CN), a drug known to stimulate peripheral chemoreceptors, during air and 100% O2 breathing. The ventilatory response to isoproterenol persisted for over 90 s, whereas the CN response lasted only 30 s. Also 100% O2 markedly attenuated the CN hyperpnea but had little effect on the ventilatory response to isoproterenol. The maximum increase in ventilation in response to isoproterenol was reduced by approximately 1/3 by csx, 1/2 by combined csx and ax, and 2/3 by combined csx, ax and vx. The residual hyperpnea after csx, ax, and vs is delayed in time and lagged behind the increase in PETCO2. It is concluded that the peripheral chemoreceptors and possibly vagal afferents play a major role in the hyperpnea caused by isoproterenol, but in their absence central chemoreceptors respond to the increased PaCO2 induced by the elevated cardiac output to stimulate ventilation.
Association of polymorphisms in oxidative stress genes with clinical outcomes for bladder cancer treated with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin.

Genetic polymorphisms in oxidative stress pathway genes may contribute to carcinogenesis, disease recurrence, treatment response, and clinical outcomes. We applied a pathway-based approach to determine the effects of multiple single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within this pathway on clinical outcomes in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) patients treated with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG). We genotyped 276 SNPs in 38 genes and evaluated their associations with clinical outcomes in 421 NMIBC patients. Twenty-eight SNPs were associated with recurrence in the BCG-treated group (P<0.05). Six SNPs, including five in NEIL2 gene from the overall and BCG group remained significantly associated with recurrence after multiple comparison adjustments (q<0.1). Cumulative unfavorable genotype analysis showed that the risk of recurrence increased with increasing number of unfavorable genotypes. In the analysis of risk factors associated with progression to disease, rs3890995 in UNG, remained significant after adjustment for multiple comparison (q<0.1). These results support the hypothesis that genetic variations in host oxidative stress genes in NMIBC patients may affect response to therapy with BCG.
Mechanical Features of Electron-Ring Compressors

The technology of electron-ring compressors draws more heavily on controlled thermonuclear research than on conventional accelerators. This is dictated by the rapidly rising, intense magnetic fields (> 50 kG in < 1 ms), the required ultrahigh vacuum (?10-9 torr), and the need for extensive diagnostics and instrumentation during the development phase. Interesting mechanical features of the Berkeley Compressor 3, Compressor 4, and Compressor 5 electron-ring research apparatus are described, including ceramic chamber design, ceramic-metal and ceramic-ceramic joining techniques, cryopumping, vacuum bakeout practices, and novel diagnostic probes suitable for ultrahigh vacuum service.
Monolithically-integrated laterally-arrayed multiple bandgap solar cells for spectrum-splitting photovoltaic systems

Abstract Spectrum-splitting photovoltaics is an alternative to multi-junction tandem cells which has been the subject of renewed interest in recent years as researchers try to push the limits of efficiency and cost-reduction for solar energy production. A myriad of solutions have been proposed for the spectrum-splitting optics, yet the basic cell technologies for these systems have received comparatively little attention. This paper reports on and reviews the most recent progress on a fundamentally different approach to cell design and fabrication: that of Monolithically-Integrated Laterally-Arrayed Multi-Band gap (MILAMB) solar cells. The essence of this concept is to fabricate multiple cells simultaneously on a single substrate using composition-graded semiconductor alloy nanowires to simplify the process, cut costs, and eventually achieve high efficiencies. After a brief introduction and overview of the existing approaches to spectrum-splitting photovoltaics, we present results of theoretical design and numerical studies using two candidate materials, CdPbS and InGaN. These design studies show that the MILAMB cells are capable of similar efficiency levels to those of multi-junction tandem cells, with potentially much reduced cost. Proof-of-concept two-subcell devices fabricated simultaneously on a single substrate using CdSSe nanowire ensembles are reviewed. Their performance is compared to similar thin-film cells to illustrate the current limits and potential benefits of this new approach. Finally, future challenges and possible directions for developing a practical MILAMB system are outlined.
How great is the risk of future bleeding for children with brain arteriovenous malformations

How great is the risk of future bleeding for children with brain arteriovenous malformations?
The Value of CT Angiography and Transcranial Doppler Sonography in Triaging Suspected Cerebral Vasospasm in SAH Prior to Endovascular Therapy

Transcranial Doppler sonography (TCD) is a noninvasive method for detecting arterial cerebral vasospasm (CVS) in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Computed tomographic angiography (CTA) has been increasingly used for CVS diagnosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the degree of agreement between TCD and CTA in diagnosing clinical CVS following SAH, and to define the role of CTA in triaging patients prior to digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and endovascular intervention. Fifty-five consecutive patients with aneurysmal SAH who underwent sequential TCD and CTA were analyzed. TCD CVS was defined as anterior circulation peak mean velocity (PMV) >160 cm/s, basilar artery (BA) PMV >90 cm/s, and Lindegaard ratio (LR) >6. CTA CVS was defined as >50% luminal narrowing in the affected vessel. Clinical CVS was defined as the onset of new focal neurological deficit attributed to delayed ischemic injury. Thirteen patients (24%) had clinical CVS and 42 patients (76%) were asymptomatic. All patients with clinical CVS had also radiological evidence of CVS (agreement 100%). In 35 patients without clinical CVS, both tests agreed for absence of CVS in 28 cases (agreement 83%). The remaining 7 asymptomatic patients had radiological CVS only, in disagreement with clinical absence of CVS (17%). Clinical evaluation and TCD can reliably diagnose CVS in symptomatic patients and PMV >180 cm/s, or can rule out CVS in asymptomatic patients with PMV <140 cm/s. In this category of patients, adding a CTA to clinical evaluation and TCD may not be warranted.
Development of a Robust Cytopathic Effect-Based High-Throughput Screening Assay To Identify Novel Inhibitors of Dengue Virus

We have developed a robust cytopathic effect-based high-throughput screening assay to identify inhibitors of dengue virus (DENV) infection. Screening of a small natural product library yielded 11 hits. Four of these were found to be potent inhibitors of DENV, although serotype differences were noted. Taken together, these data suggest that screening of larger and more complex molecule libraries may result in the identification of more potent and specific DENV inhibitors.
Minimalist landscape model of glass relaxation

Abstract The relaxation behavior of glass is of great scientific and technological importance. However, prediction of glass relaxation behavior using direct first principles techniques is currently infeasible for realistic laboratory time scales. The enthalpy landscape approach has proven to be successful in overcoming this time scale constraint and providing insights into the fundamental physics governing glass transition and relaxation behavior. However, it is still too computationally intensive to calculate representative enthalpy landscapes for multicomponent glasses of industrial interest. It is thus interesting to consider a simplified enthalpy landscape that captures the essential features of glass relaxation and can be solved analytically. Here, we present the analytical solution for such a “minimalist landscape” model that is complicated enough to capture both primary ( α ) and secondary ( β ) relaxation processes, yet simple enough to offer a closed-form solution. Using this minimalist landscape, we perform model calculations to illustrate the relative impact of activation barriers and entropy on glass relaxation behavior. The results of our model show that α and β relaxation processes are largely decoupled, in agreement with recently published experimental results.
Binary multiplication radix-32 and radix-256

Multipliers are used at many different places in microprocessor design. As the non-memory sub-blocks of the microprocessor with the largest size and delay, multipliers have a big impact on the cycle time of the microprocessor. Targeting deeper pipelines and higher clock frequencies, there is a growing demand for multiplier designs that can be split into shorter stages. For this purpose, the use of Booth recoding has been a popular method to cut down the number of partial products in a multiplier to reduce the delay of the partial product accumulation and to simplify the partition of the multiplier into several shorter stages. The complexity to pre-compute an increasing number of digit multiples of the multiplicand within the multiplier unit limits the use of Booth recoding mainly to radices 4 and 8. We propose novel encoding schemes for the implementation of higher radix multiplication. In particular we consider multiplication radix-32 and radix-256. The features provide more flexible multiplier designs that can be implemented in shorter pipeline stages. We compare the proposed designs with multipliers that use traditional Booth recoding.
Improvements in Policy Planning for Resource Recovery

Global shortages of raw materials and growing problems of solid-waste management have made resource recovery a pressing concern of public policy for many governments. The purpose of this paper is to review policy planning for resource recovery. Planning in this as well as related arenas appears to suffer from several interrelated difficulties. One difficulty of public-policy planning is the inaccurate modelling in policy analysis; another is the common resistance to uniform implementation guidelines. Both of these difficulties appear to hinge on the problem of behavioural change.
Impact of pyrolysis temperature and manure source on physicochemical characteristics of biochar.

Abstract While pyrolysis of livestock manures generates nutrient-rich biochars with potential agronomic uses, studies are needed to clarify biochar properties across manure varieties under similar controlled conditions. This paper reports selected physicochemical results for five manure-based biochars pyrolyzed at 350 and 700 °C: swine separated-solids; paved-feedlot manure; dairy manure; poultry litter; and turkey litter. Elemental and FTIR analyses of these alkaline biochars demonstrated variations and similarities in physicochemical characteristics. The FTIR spectra were similar for (1) turkey and poultry and (2) feedlot and dairy, but were distinct for swine biochars. Dairy biochars contained the greatest volatile matter, C, and energy content and lowest ash, N, and S contents. Swine biochars had the greatest P, N, and S contents alongside the lowest pH and EC values. Poultry litter biochars exhibited the greatest EC values. With the greatest ash contents, turkey litter biochars had the greatest biochar mass recoveries, whereas feedlot biochars demonstrated the lowest.
Using the NEDRES interactive database to find oceanographic information

The National Environmental Data Referral Service (NEDRES) enables marine scientists to search for oceanographic information. The NEDRES data base is an on-line computer catalog of descriptions of environmental data sets which refer the user to the holder of the data. NEDRES is accessible by computer terminal via telecommunication networks. Data base searching capabilities allow the user to search sources of data as desired and list the results. NEDRES contains descriptions of many oceanographic data sets. Examples of typical records and sample searches for different ocean areas and different parameters show the power of NEDRES. An example is over 526 data sets for the Atlantic Ocean. Searches may combine any desired descriptors. This tool is a valuable contribution to research since it directs the user to a wide variety of data sources.
Pharmacotherapeutic Effects of Opioid Antagonists in Alcohol-Abusing Patients with Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a devastating clinical disorder that affects ~1% of the general population. The prevalence of alcohol use disorders among schizophrenic patients is greater than the rate observed in the general population. While behavioral treatments have been developed to treat patients with comorbid schizophrenia and substance use, pharmacologic management may provide another therapeutic option for these patients. The opioid antagonist naltrexone was developed and approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat alcohol use disorders in noncomorbid patients. More recently, there has been interest in the use of opioid antagonist treatment for patients with schizophrenia and comorbid alcohol dependence. The evidence supporting the use of naltrexone in this group is from data from heterogeneous samples of dually diagnosed patients including those with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder and from one randomized trial in patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. The controlled clinical trial in patients with schizophrenia and alcohol use/dependence compared naltrexone to placebo augmentation of neuroleptic in 31 outpatients. Outcomes focused on alcohol use and craving, but also rigorously evaluated symptoms of psychosis, cognitive symptoms and side effects. The results consistently suggest that naltrexone is both safe and effective in this group of patients. Taken together, the data suggest that the opioid antagonist naltrexone may be a good therapeutic option to treat alcohol use disorders in patients with schizophrenia.
Automated 2-D nanoparticle manipulation with an atomic force microscope

Atomic force microscope (AFM) based nanomanipulation systems are generally slow, not repeatable and imprecise due to a lack of control on the success of limited attempts in the literature. To improve the amount of control, reliability and precision of such systems, this work proposes an automated nanomanipulation method. Spherical gold nanoparticles with 100 nm diameter are positioned mechanically on a flat mica substrate by contact manipulation by the AFM probe tip to a desired position autonomously. The most significant issue of the manipulation operation is the lack of real-time visual feedback. This issue is solved by developing a robust algorithm for particle center detection and using the AFM cantilever deflection (force) signals to detect contact losses in real-time and to repeat the manipulation again until the target location is reached. Using these solutions, an automated AFM manipulation system is developed and a statistical study is made, where gold nanoparticles are positioned for 50 times to random target positions in different directions and pushing distances. 86% of all the particles could be successfully positioned to the target positions with an accuracy less than 100 nm. Unsuccessful positioning operations are due to the particle sticking to either the tip (8%) or the substrate (6%). Additionally, performance of the successful manipulations are investigated on 60 manipulation operations in 12 different directions and 5 different distances. The metrics used to quantify performance are the final particle position error and the average manipulation speed.
Nutraceutical-mediated restoration of wild-type levels of IKBKAP-encoded IKAP protein in familial dysautonomia-derived cells.

Scope: The reported ability to modulate the production of the wild-type transcript in cells bearing the splice-altering familial dysautonomia (FD)-causing mutation in the IKBKAP gene prompted an evaluation of the impact of commonly consumed nutraceuticals on the splicing of this transcript. Methods and results: Screening efforts revealed the ability of the isoflavones, genistein, and daidzein, to impact splicing and increase the production of the wild-type, exon-20-containing, transcript, and the full-length IKBKAP-encoded IKB kinase complex associated protein (IKAP) in FD-derived cells. Genistein was also found to impact splicing in neuronal cells, a cell type profoundly impacted by FD. The simultaneous exposure of FD-derived cells to genistein and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) resulted in the almost exclusive production of the exon-20containing transcript and the production of wild-type amounts of IKAP protein. Conclusion: This study represents the first demonstration that the isoflavones, genistein and daidzein, possess splice-altering capabilities and that simultaneous treatment with genistein and EGCG reverses the splice-altering impact of the FD-causing mutation. These findings support the clinical evaluation of the therapeutic impact of the combined administration of thesetwocommonlyconsumednutraceuticalsonthispatientpopulationandsuggest abroader evaluation of the impact of these nutraceuticals on the in vivo RNA splicing process.
Eosinophils in repair and remodelling

Several studies in man suggest a role for the eosinophil in repair in remodelling. Skin biopsies taken at time intervals after allergen injection into human skin indicate that the formation of myofibroblast-like cells and activation of fibroblasts, as shown by tenascin and procollagen-1 production, may be partly under the control of infiltrating TGF-β1/IL- 13 eosinophils. Studies involving the infusion of an anti-IL-5 monoclonal antibody to atopic subjects indicate that eosinophils are unlikely to be essential for the redness, swelling and induration characteristic of late-phase allergic response but may play a role in repair/remodelling processes as shown by inhibition of tenascin deposition. Selective reduction of eosinophils by anti-IL-5 was also associated with a significant reduction in the up-regulated expression of ECM proteins in the reticular basement membrane of asthmatics. Furthermore, this reduction in the expression of matrix proteins occurred over a relatively short time period and despite only partial eosinophil depletion. Taken together these data provide direct evidence of a causal association between eosinophils and ECM protein deposition in mild atopic asthma.
Bilateral Transport Cost, Infrastructure, Common Bilateral Ties and Political Stability

Los costos de transporte son una de las mas importantes fuentes de barreras al comercio. Inspirados por este aspecto, utilizamos un modelo empirico ad-hoc con el fin de examinar los posibles determinantes de los costos de transporte. Utilizando una base de datos de costos de transporte bilaterales para el ano 1990, replicamos el trabajo de Limao y Venables (2001) y encontramos que el efecto de su ´indice de infraestructura sobre los costos de transporte no es robusto. Siguiendo a Micco (2004) y Micco y Serebrinzky (2005) calculamos dos ´indices alternativos de infraestructura. Utilizando estos ´indices encontramos que aparte de la distancia, la infraestructura, la estabilidad politica, las relaciones bilaterales comunes y los acuerdos de cielos abiertos son otros importantes canales mediante los cuales los costos de transporte pueden reducirse.
A Molecular Mechanism of Temperature Sensitivity for Mutations Affecting the Drosophila Muscle Regulator Myocyte Enhancer Factor-2

Temperature-sensitive (TS) mutations are a useful tool for elucidating gene function where a gene of interest is essential at multiple stages of development. However, the molecular mechanisms behind TS alleles vary. TS mutations of the myogenic regulator Myocyte enhancer factor-2 (MEF2) in Drosophila arise in the heteroallelic combination Mef230-5/Mef244-5. We show that the 30-5 mutation affects the N-terminal MADS domain, causing impaired DNA binding ability and failure of homozygous mutants to survive to adulthood. The 44-5 mutation deletes a downstream splice acceptor site and results in a truncated protein that is unable to activate MEF2 targets. 44-5 homozygotes consequently show severely impaired myogenesis and die as embryos. We propose that in heteroallelic mutants at the permissive temperature, 30-5/44-5 heterodimers form and have a sufficiently stable interaction with DNA to activate myogenic gene expression; at the restrictive temperature, 44-5 homodimers displace 30-5/44-5 heterodimers from target genes, thus acting in a dominant-negative manner. To test this, we show that 30-5/44-5 heterodimers can form, and we study additional Mef2 alleles for complementation with the 30-5 allele. An allele affecting the DNA binding domain fails to complement 30-5, whereas two alleles affecting downstream residues show temperature-dependent complementation. Thus, by combining one MEF2 isoform having weakened DNA binding ability with a second truncated MEF2 mutant that has lost its activation ability, a TS form of intragenic complementation can be generated. These findings will provide new insight and guidance into the functions of dimeric proteins and how they might be engineered to generate TS combinations.
The Shape of Frontier Rule: Governance and Transition, from the Raj to the Modern Pakistani Frontier

Abstract This essay examines British colonial debates about governance in India as a means of positing an analytical framework in which to address the current crises of governance in Pakistan's frontier. In light of the collapse of the antiquated system of tribal governance in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), and the spread of insurgent Talibanization into the heart of the ethnically Pashtun settled areas, this analysis maps several possible transition paths for governance reform in both the tribal and settled regions, and argues for an incremental approach that minimizes risks to political stability.
High Current Density in m c-Si PECVD Diodes for Low Temperature Applications

The development of microcrystalline diodes grown at low temperature by PECVD techniques is reported. Current densities near 200 A/cm2 at + 2 V, and rectification ratios on the order of 105 at +/- 1V and 107 at +/- 2V were obtained. The reverse currents were in the nano-ampere range. Correlations between deposition conditions and film quality are presented. The effects of mesa formation and subsequent treatments designed to reduce process damage are discussed: annealing conditions yield an increase in forward current, and a decrease in reverse current. Fabrication conditions are compatible with applications requiring low temperature processes (e. g., multi-layer structures, molecular layers, or plastic substrates and coatings).
Heptad Repeat 2-Based Peptides Inhibit Avian Sarcoma and Leukosis Virus Subgroup A Infection and Identify a Fusion Intermediate

Fusion proteins of enveloped viruses categorized as class I are typified by two distinct heptad repeat domains within the transmembrane subunit. These repeats are important structural elements that assemble into the six-helix bundles characteristic of the fusion-activated envelope trimer. Peptides derived from these domains can be potent and specific inhibitors of membrane fusion and virus infection. To facilitate our understanding of retroviral entry, peptides corresponding to the two heptad repeat domains of the avian sarcoma and leukosis virus subgroup A (ASLV-A) TM subunit of the envelope protein were characterized. Two peptides corresponding to the C-terminal heptad repeat (HR2), offset from one another by three residues, were effective inhibitors of infection, while two overlapping peptides derived from the N-terminal heptad repeat (HR1) were not. Analysis of envelope mutants containing substitutions within the HR1 domain revealed that a single amino acid change, L62A, significantly reduced sensitivity to peptide inhibition. Virus bound to cells at 4°C became sensitive to peptide within the first 5 min of elevating the temperature to 37°C and lost sensitivity to peptide after 15 to 30 min, consistent with a transient intermediate in which the peptide binding site is exposed. In cell-cell fusion experiments, peptide inhibitor sensitivity occurred prior to a fusion-enhancing low-pH pulse. Soluble receptor for ASLV-A induces a lipophilic character in the envelope which can be measured by stable liposome binding, and this activation was found to be unaffected by inhibitory HR2 peptide. Finally, receptor-triggered conformational changes in the TM subunit were also found to be unaffected by inhibitory peptide. These changes are marked by a dramatic shift in mobility on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, from a subunit of 37 kDa to a complex of about 80 kDa. Biotinylated HR2 peptide bound specifically to the 80-kDa complex, demonstrating a surprisingly stable envelope conformation in which the HR2 binding site is exposed. These experiments support a model in which receptor interaction promotes formation of an envelope conformation in which the TM subunit is stably associated with its target membrane and is able to bind a C-terminal peptide.
Cloud-Based Mobile Experience Sharing Through Automatic Multimedia Blogging

The rapid developments of smart mobile devices, wireless networks, and cloud computing have extended mobile phones with much more functionalities rather than only being used as voice communication tools. With an increasing trend, more and more people are using camera phones to record and share their daily experiences due to its mobility and realtiming. Camera phones are true multimedia devices capable of managing acquisition, processing, transmission, and presentation of multiple modal data, such as image, video, audio, and text information, as well as rich contextual information like location, direction, and velocity from the equipped sensors. All these provide sufficient information and channel to effectively share peoples experiences. However, due to the complexity and structureless of the raw multimedia and contextual data, experience sharing is still a nontrivial task. There is still lack of efficient tools that supports mobile, rapid, and realtime experience sharing. In this paper, we will propose a mobile + cloud system enabling rapid and near-realtime experience sharing through automatic blogging and microblogging, which are based on multimodal media content analyses and syntheses. An experimental system shows the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed scheme.
Membrane Lipid Composition Regulates Alpha-Synuclein Blockage of and Translocation through the Mitochondrial Voltage-Dependent Anion Channel

Alpha-synuclein (α-syn), an intrinsically disordered protein, is a major component of Lewy bodies, a hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD). α-Syn has been found to interact with both inner and outer mitochondrial membranes (MOM), impair electron transport complexes, and lead to neuronal apoptosis. Recently, using a channel reconstitution technique, we demonstrated that monomeric α-syn both reversibly blocks and translocates through the voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC) at nanomolar concentrations. Considering VDAC's major role in regulating metabolite fluxes across the MOM, a functional interaction between α-syn and VDAC could be essential for physiological adaptation of mitochondria and dysfunction in PD. Here we show that the α-syn-VDAC interaction is modulated by membrane lipid composition relevant to MOM. We have found that the on-rate of VDAC blockage by α-syn increases up to 10-fold with increase of phosphoethanolamine (PE) content in phosphocholine (PC) membranes. Remarkably, the off-rate was also lipid-dependent, as seen by a 5 mV increase of the turnover potential separating regimes of blockage and translocation with the increase of PE content. We have also found that at physiologically low salt concentrations, the on-rates increase more than 10-fold compared to experiments performed in high salt, while translocation of α-syn through VDAC is impeded. α-Syn differential binding to lipid membranes was also tested using independent methods. These results suggest that the blockage of VDAC by α-syn involves α-syn interaction with the membrane and is governed by both hydrophobic and electrostatic components. Such evidence provides further support for our hypothesis that α-syn needs to bind to the membrane prior to blocking and translocating through the VDAC pore. We propose a new regulatory role of mitochondrial lipids in the (patho-)physiology of monomeric α-syn interaction with mitochondria.
Psychometric functions for sentence recognition in sinusoidally amplitude-modulated noises

Listeners' speech reception is better when speech is masked by a modulated masker compared to an unmodulated masker with the same long-term root-mean-square level. It has been suggested that listeners take advantage of brief periods of quiescence in a modulated masker to extract speech information. Two experiments examined the contribution of such "dip-listening" models. The first experiment estimated psychometric functions for speech intelligibility using sentences masked by sinusoidally modulated and unmodulated speech-shaped noises and the second experiment estimated detection thresholds for a tone pip added at the central dip in the masker. Modulation rates ranging from 1 to 64 Hz were tested. In experiment 1 the slopes of the psychometric functions were shallower for lower modulation rates and the pattern of speech reception thresholds as a function of modulation rate was nonmonotonic with a minimum near 16 Hz. In contrast, the detection thresholds from experiment 2 increased monotonically with modulation rate. The results suggest that the benefits of listening to speech in temporally fluctuating maskers cannot be solely ascribed to the temporal acuity of the auditory system.