cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Overview and Status of the Divertor Erosion and Vapor shielding eXperiment (DEVeX)

The Divertor Erosion and Vapor shielding experiment (DEVeX) is being constructed at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to study how incident high enthalpy plasma flows interact with target materials representative of plasma facing components (PFCs). DEVeX consists of a conical, theta-pinch used to compress and expel plasmas relevant to fusion disruptions such as edge localized modes (ELMs). Modeling of the plasma compression, via a snow-plow model, shows expected plasma densities of 1021 m-3 with a temperature of approximately 1 keV for a duration of 100 mus. An overview of the design and performance of DEVeX will be presented along with current results.
The Role of Foreign Direct Investment and Imports of Capital Goods in the North-South Diffusion of Technology

Technology diffusion across industrial countries has been the subject of considerable research. During the last decade economists have measured extensively the extent to which productivity gains are transmitted across countries in the North. However, research on technology diffusion to developing countries has been relatively scarce. This is surprising considering the importance that this source of productivity represents for countries in the South. This paper seeks to fill this gap. The results underline the importance of North-South schemes of integration for technology transfers as long as they lead to larger flows of FDI and trade from developed to developing countries.
PTEN deletion from adult-generated dentate granule cells disrupts granule cell mossy fiber axon structure

Dysregulation of the mTOR-signaling pathway is implicated in the development of temporal lobe epilepsy. In mice, deletion of PTEN from hippocampal dentate granule cells leads to mTOR hyperactivation and promotes the rapid onset of spontaneous seizures. The mechanism by which these abnormal cells initiate epileptogenesis, however, is unclear. PTEN-knockout granule cells develop abnormally, exhibiting morphological features indicative of increased excitatory input. If these cells are directly responsible for seizure genesis, it follows that they should also possess increased output. To test this prediction, dentate granule cell axon morphology was quantified in control and PTEN-knockout mice. Unexpectedly, PTEN deletion increased giant mossy fiber bouton spacing along the axon length, suggesting reduced innervation of CA3. Increased width of the mossy fiber axon pathway in stratum lucidum, however, which likely reflects an unusual increase in mossy fiber axon collateralization in this region, offsets the reduction in boutons per axon length. These morphological changes predict a net increase in granule cell innervation of CA3. Increased diameter of axons from PTEN-knockout cells would further enhance granule cell communication with CA3. Altogether, these findings suggest that amplified information flow through the hippocampal circuit contributes to seizure occurrence in the PTEN-knockout mouse model of temporal lobe epilepsy.
Analysis of in vivo mutation induced by N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea in the hprt gene of rat lymphocytes.

The rat lymphocyte hprt assay measures in vivo mutagenicity by quantifying the frequency of 6-thioguanine-resistant (TG') spleen lymphocytes cultured in vitro. In this study we have examined the types of mutations induced in the hprt gene of TG' lymphocyte clones from female Fischer 344 rats exposed to 100 mg/kg N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU). Hprt exons 3 and 8 were amplified from DNA extracted from each of 249 clones, and the resulting products were screened for mutant:wild-type heteroduplex formation by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. The analysis revealed 59 clones with mutations in exon 3, and 20 clones with mutations in exon 8. DNA sequence analysis of the heteroduplexes identified 84 mutations: all of the mutations were base pair substitutions, and 88% were mutations of A:T base pairs. At least 82% were induced independently. These results suggest that the mutations found in TG' rat lymphocytes from ENU-treated rats were due mainly to ethylthymidine adducts. In addition, a comparison of these results with previously reported in vivo ENU mutational profiles indicates that the types of mutation detected by heteroduplex screening of rat hprt exons 3 and 8 are representative of mutation in the entire protein coding sequence. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.1
The transient response of transistor switching circuits

A model is presented for the interpretation of point-contact transistor switching phenomena. The assumption is made that the frequency cut-off is high when the transistor is not saturated and low when saturated. The low-frequency response in saturation can explain qualitatively the anomalous pulse requirements for switching transistors from saturation to cutoff. Some switching criteria are derived and the one-shot multivibrator is discussed.
Quality and correlates of parental attachment among late adolescents.

The value of attachment theory (Ainsworth, Blehar, Waters, & Wall, 1978) in describing parental relationships of late adolescents (N = 139) in trade and technical school programs was explored. Overall, students described positive attachments to parents, viewing them both as facilitating their autonomy and as being available as a source of emotional support. Male students who were attending schools farther away from their parents' homes described their parental attachments more positively than did students who attended schools closer to their parents' homes. Parental facilitation of autonomy was associated with self-reports of assertion for female students.
Clinical variables associated with failure of retinal detachment repair: the European vitreo-retinal society retinal detachment study report number 4.

Objective To identify risk factors associated with failure of anatomic reattachment in primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment repair. Design Nonrandomized, multicenter, collaborative study. Participants Primary procedures for 7678 rhegmatogenous retinal detachments reported by 176 surgeons from 48 countries. Methods We recorded specific preoperative clinical findings, repair method, and outcome after intervention. We performed univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analyses to identify variables associated with surgical failure. Main Outcome Measures Final failure of retinal detachment repair (level 1), remaining silicone oil at study conclusion (level 2), and need for additional procedures to repair the detachment (level 3). Results We analyzed 7678 cases of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment repair. Presence of choroidal detachment or significant hypotony was associated with significantly higher level 1 failure rates when grade 0 or B proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) was present and higher level 2 failure rates, regardless of PVR status ( P P = 2 × 10 −6 ). No difference was observed in level 1 failure rates when operated eyes were phakic versus pseudophakic. Level 1 failure was significantly higher when all 4 quadrants of retina (4.4%) were detached than when only 1 quadrant (0.8%) had subretinal fluid. With grade B or C-1 PVR, cases with large or giant tears had significantly higher level 1 failure rates. No association was observed between number of retinal breaks and failure rates. Multivariate analysis showed grade C-1 PVR, 4 detached quadrants, and presence of choroidal detachment or significant hypotony were independently linked with a greater level 1 failure rate; the presence of a smaller retinal break was associated with a lesser level 1 failure rate. Conclusions Choroidal detachment, significant hypotony, grade C-1 PVR, 4 detached quadrants, and large or giant retinal breaks were independent explanatory variables of retinal detachment repair failure. In contrast to earlier studies, the significance of phakic versus pseudophakic status was not confirmed.
Some observations on ceruloplasmin in burned patients

Abstract An abnormal form of ceruloplasmin has been observed in the serum of some severely burned patients. In patients with burn areas between 20 and 60 per cent the group showing abnormal ceruloplasmin had 1 survivor out of 16 cases; the group showing normal ceruloplasmin had 24 survivors out of 25 cases. A similar abnormal ceruloplasmin was observed in the freeze-dried plasma with which the groups were transfused on admission to the Wessex Regional Burns Centre. However, the appearance of the abnormal form in 2 long-surviving patients some weeks after transfusion had ceased, argues that the transfusion fluid is not the source of the abnormal protein.
Gender-Related Survival Differences Associated with EGFR Polymorphisms in Metastatic Colon Cancer

Evidence is accumulating supporting gender-related differences in the development of colonic carcinomas. Sex steroid hormone receptors are expressed in the colon and interact with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), a gene widely expressed in colonic tissue. Increased EGFR expression is linked with poor prognosis in colon cancer. Within the EGFR gene there are two functional polymorphisms of interest: a polymorphism located at codon 497 (HER-1 R497K) and a dinucleotide (CA)(n) repeat polymorphism located within intron 1. These germ-line polymorphisms of EGFR were analyzed in genomic DNA from 318 metastatic colon cancer patients, 177 males and 141 females, collected from 1992 to 2003. Gender-related survival differences were associated with the HER-1 R497K polymorphism (P(interaction) = 0.003). Females with the HER-1 497 Arg/Arg variant had better overall survival (OS) when compared with the Lys/Lys and/or Lys/Arg variants. In males the opposite was true. The EGFR dinucleotide (CA)(n) repeat also trended with a gender-related OS difference (P(interaction) = 0.11). Females with both short or=20 (CA)(n) repeats. In males the opposite was true. Combination analysis of the two polymorphisms taken together also revealed the same gender-related survival difference (P(interaction) = 0.002). These associations were observed using multivariable analysis. The two polymorphisms were not in linkage disequilibrium and are independent of one another. This study supports the role of functional EGFR polymorphisms as independent prognostic markers in metastatic colon cancer. As a prognostic factor, these variants had opposite prognostic implications based on gender.
Cold urticaria with vasculitis: report of a case with light and electron microscopic, immunofluorescence and pharmacological studies.

Summary An unusual form of essential acquired cold urticaria occurring in a 30-year-old woman is reported. Exposure of the skin to cold produced immediate wealing and angio-oedema with subsequent deep bruising, and severe systemic symptoms. Light microscopic, ultrastructural and immunofluorescence studies of serial biopsies from the cold-evoked skin lesions established a time course for the histological events occurring during the evolution of the inflammation. The appearance of complement (C3) in dermal blood vessels preceded the deposition of fibrin and immunoglobulin and obvious mast-cell degranulation. These secondary changes accompanied a perivascular infiltrate of mixed inflammatory cells and lysis of both neutrophil and eosinophil leukocytes. Later, disruption of vascular endothclium was notable. Elevated histamine levels in venous blood draining a cold-challenged limb indicated that histamine was released, possibly from skin mast cells, during the development of the urticaria.
The Early History of the Ham Sandwich Theorem

(2004). The Early History of the Ham Sandwich Theorem. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 111, No. 1, pp. 58-61.
Radix 4 SRT Division with Quotient Prediction and Operand Scaling

SRT division is an efficient method for implementing high radix division circuits. However, as the radix increases the size of a quotient digit selection table increases exponentially. To overcome the limitations of quotient prediction, a method in which a quotient digit is speculated has been proposed. The speculated quotient digit is utilised to update the possible partial remainders while the speculated quotient is corrected. In this paper, instead of using a huge quotient selection table an estimation and correction scheme is used for prediction of quotient digit. The prediction is done in parallel with the calculation of the partial remainder for the quotient predicted earlier thus improving the latency. In addition, since this method tends to consume less area as the radix increases compared to previous methods, it has the ability to improve higher radix implementations for SRT division
Biologists and the promotion of birth control research, 1918-1938.

In spite of these efforts in the 1920s and 1930s to initiate ongoing research on contraception, the subject of birth control remained a problem of concern primarily to the social activist rather than to the research scientist or practicing physician.80 In the 1930s, as has been shown, American scientists turned to the study of other aspects of reproductive physiology, while American physicians, anxious to eliminate the moral and medical dangers of contraception, only reluctantly accepted birth control as falling within their professional domain.
Age-probability spectra for examination of single-crystal dating results: Examples from Olorgesailie, southern Kenya Rift

Age-probability spectra are employed in the analysis of single-crystal, 40Ar39Ar age data obtained from volcanic strata of the Olorgesailie Formation, southern Kenya Rift. These spectra provide a powerful means of graphically representing a suite of age data. We believe this representation is an improvement over the box histograms that are often used because age-probability spectra avoid the problem of the choice of an appropriate bin width, specifically incorporate variable analytical uncertainties, and carry more visual detail.
Contextually Specific Effects and other Generalizations of the Hierarchical Linear Model for Comparative Analysis

Abstract Contextually specific differences among members of a context pose substantive and methodological problems in multilevel analysis. An important example is ethnic identity in comparative studies involving different societies. Ethnic (and religious) group membership in many societies is a basis not only for differentiation among members but also for the identification and maintenance of deeply rooted integrative ties. So important is ethnicity that the existence of different groups within societies sometimes delays or prohibits the taking of censuses. Moreover, even when ethnic information is available in national statistical data sources, researchers are sometimes prohibited from reporting the results of analyses that contain ethnic detail. Despite these constraints, information on ethnicity is often available for pluralistic societies. Where it is available, ethnicity poses a challenging analytic problem for comparative analysis. If researchers wish to compare different societies, how is ethnicity...
Reductive Dissolution of Biogenic Manganese Oxides in the Presence of a Hydrated Biofilm

The chemical reactivity of the biogenic Mn oxide produced by Pseudomonas putida strain MnB1 was assessed in the presence of bacterial cells and biofilm through reductive dissolution experiments at pH 4.4, 5.2, and 6.0. The reactivity of the biogenic Mn oxide was compared to that of a synthetic (chemically produced) birnessite at pH 6.0. In addition, the effect of bacterial cells and biofilm on the reactivity of the synthetic birnessite was examined at pH 6.0. One-to-one (1:1) mole per mole reactions between total ascorbic acid species, [asc]TOT, and Mn(IV), and 1:2 mole per mole reactions between [asc]TOT and Mn(III) were proposed to explain the observed deviation from the oxidation-reduction reaction stoichiometry, Mn(IV)O2(s) + [asc]TOT xrArr; Mn(II)(aq) + products. The observed stoichiometry of the oxidation-reduction reactions was consistent with the known average oxidation number of Mn in the synthetic birnessite studied. The average oxidation number of Mn in the biogenic Mn oxide, calculated from th...
A 5′ exoribonuclease from cytoplasmic extracts of mouse sarcoma 180 ascites cells

An exonuclease that appears to represent the predominant nuclease activity in cytoplasmic extracts of sarcoma 180 ascites cells has been partially purified and characterized. The enzyme attacks RNA chains in a 5' to 3' direction, and releases 5'-mononucleotides. The initial cleavage, however, can occur at either the first, second and probably third phosphodiester linkage in some RNAs. The enzyme attacks transcripts terminated with a 5'-triphosphate more slowly than those with a 5' monophosphate, and releases a compound larger than GTP from transcripts that begin with a pppG. Capped transcripts are cleaved at least as readily as those with a 5'-P, yielding a compound larger than 7mGpppGm. The occurrence of an such an exonuclease capable of attacking capped RNAs would make it possible for mammalian cells to initiate mRNA degradation by a 5' exonucleolytic mechanism.
Analysis of larval segmentation in lethal genotypes associated with the antennapedia gene complex in Drosophila melanogaster.

The segment pattern of larval cuticular structures was examined for individuals bearing lethal genotypes associated with the Antennapedia gene complex (ANT-C). The results provide new evidence for the role of this complex in body segmentation in Drosophila and demonstrate that the ANT-C, like the bithorax complex, effects both larval and imaginal tissues. Lethal genotypes involving new EMS induced lesions or dominant homoeotic mutations (Antp or AntpScx) of the Antennapedia complementation group show anomalies in the larval meso- and metathorax. The phenotype is interpreted as a homoeotic transformation of the meso- and metathorax to prothorax. We suggest that Antp+ functions in the elicitation of mesothoracic development above that of a prothoracic level in the ventral meso- and metathorax. The lethality of the Sex combs reduced complementation group, which includes the mutation Multiple sex combs (Msc), is characterized by incomplete head formation and the lack of definitive prothoracic ventral setal belts. These results indicate that Scr+ is necessary for normal development of the prothorax and are consistent with earlier interpretations based on adult phenotypes. Five other lethal complementation sites, assigned to polytene chromosome interval 84A-B1,2 have been analyzed. They are not associated with dominant homoeotic phenotypes in the adult. The terminal phenotype of individuals carrying lethal mutations in the W36, R11, or R14 complementation groups demonstrate that these loci are important in normal anterior development and/or body segmentation and suggest functional relationships to the homoeotic mutations previously localized to the 84A-84B1,2 polytene interval.
Effects of Class Size and College Major on Student Ratings of Psychology Courses

Further empirical evidence is presented to show that student ratings reflect variables other than teacher ability.
HIV testing of asymptomatic patients in U.S. hospitals.

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic and the prevalence of HIV-positive persons in the population has provoked marked anxiety among hospital staffs of acquiring nosocomially transmitted HIV infections. A national telephone survey of key staff in a sample of 561 acute-care hospitals was undertaken to describe the extent of asymptomatic HIV testing of patients, and variations between hospitals in testing practices. The interviews with the chiefs of medicine and surgery and the directors of nursing confirm the high level of anxiety among staff members about acquiring HIV from patients. In three of four hospitals, one or more of the three key clinical staff report asymptomatic testing of at least some patients. In 16.4% of the hospitals where asymptomatic testing is undertaken, one or more staff report that patients are either sometimes or never informed before testing and 38% are not counselled before testing. In 4.2% of the hospitals in which testing identified seropositive patients, infected persons are not always notified; one or more staff interviewed in 25.2% of the hospitals report that seronegative patients may not always be notified of results; likewise, 33.1% of the hospitals do not always include positive test results in hospital records, and 37.7% sometimes or always transfer, seropositive patients to another hospital. A major finding is that there is a lack of congruence between the reports of the three different staff members interviewed in each hospital. These conclusions consider the likelihood of developing uniform practices between and within hospitals.
Inhibition of diuretic stimulation of an insect secretory epithelium by a cGMP-dependent protein kinase

The rate of urine secretion by insect Malpighian tubules (MTs) is regulated by multiple diuretic and antidiuretic hormones, often working either synergistically or antagonistically. In the Drosophi...
The PHENIX Decadal Plan: Crafting the Future of RHIC

After ten years of running, the PHENIX Collaboration is starting to lay out the compelling physics that RHIC, as the most versatile hadron collider in the world, will be well positioned to explore beyond the program planned for upgrades already in progress. As the fields that RHIC set out to investigate have advanced and evolved, new questions and directions have arisen at the frontiers of QCD, and we have exciting opportunities before us to continue to confront the challenges and surprises of strong interactions into the next decade. The latest thoughts of the PHENIX Collaboration on this ongoing planning process for the future of RHIC are discussed.
A clinical report: The importance of leader preparation in the merging of two psychotherapy groups

It is felt that our successful experience in merging two adult outpatient psychotherapy groups demonstrates that this is a workable procedure. It may be applicable in a variety of clinical settings, but could particularly serve the needs of psychiatric centers in facilitating service to the community as well as the training of therapists.
Aberrant Behavior of the Likelihood Function in Discrete Cases

Abstract An example is given in which the likelihood ratio in favor of a true hypothesis, as opposed to some member of a countable family of pre- specified alternative hypotheses, tends to zero as the sample size becomes large, for any data. A slight modification of this example reveals a similar phenomenon, even when both data and parameter can take on only a known finite set of values.
Culture procedures in microbiologic assays with L. arabinosus and L. casei.

SummaryThe results indicate that the culture of L. arabinosus used in these studies |or microbiological assay was not easily affected by frequency of transfer of stock cultures or by incubation of assay tubes at fixed temperatures between 30°C and 37°C. In the case of the culture of L. casei, both the dilution of the inoculum and the age of the culture from which it was prepared affected assay titration values.
An Abundance of Violence and Scarcity of Words

Darfur: The Ambiguous Genocide Gerard Prunier Ithaca, Cornell University Press, 2007, 236 pp., ISBN 978-0-8014-7503-0, $17.95 War in Darfur: And the Search for Peace Alex de Waal (Ed.) Cambridge, M...
Flexibility of the α-Spectrin N-Terminus by EPR and Fluorescence Polarization

The structure and flexibility of the biologically important alpha-spectrin amino terminal region was examined by the use of fluorescence and EPR spectroscopy. The region studied has been previously demonstrated to be essential for the alpha-spectrin:beta-spectrin association of the tetramerization site. Appropriate spectroscopic probe moieties were coupled to this region in a recombinant fragment of human erythroid alpha-spectrin. There was good agreement between the EPR and fluorescence techniques in most of this region. Mobility determinations indicated that a portion of the region was relatively immobilized. This is significant, since although predictive methods have indicated that this region should be alpha-helical, previous experimental evidence obtained on smaller synthetic peptides had indicated that this region was disordered. Observed rigidity appears to be incompatible with such a disordered state, and has important ramifications for the flexibility of this molecule that is so integral to its role in stabilizing erythrocyte membranes.
Getting it right: Educating professionals to work together in improving health and health care

DedicationThis paper is based on a lecture given by LAH as the 2nd John Horder lecture at Imperial College, London on 11 April 2006. Dr. Horder has been influential in improving patient outcomes in multiple ways, including his contributions to professional education. He was instrumental in the development of the Royal College of General Practitioners, serving as president from 1979–1982 and acting as a key leader in establishing post-graduate training for general practitioners in the United Kingdom. Dr Horder went on to found the Centre for the Advancement of Interprofessional Education, in part because of what he observed about the power of interprofessional collaboration in his own primary care practice. It was an honor to give a lecture in tribute to Dr John Horder. It was an opportunity to reflect on what we know about educating health professionals in training about the improvement of health care, including work I've helped to lead in the United States (where I now serve as the Senior Associate Dean ...
The extracellular connections: the role of integrins in myocardial remodeling.

Background: Integrins are a large family of heterodimeric cell surface receptors that are present on all cells. These molecules link the extracellular matrix to the intracellular cytoskeleton and are multifunctional, playing roles in cell organization and differentiation, migration, alteration of gene expression, and cell survival. They signal bidirectionally across the cell membrane. Most interestingly from the cardiovascular viewpoint, they have been shown to function as mechanotransducers. Methods: Although a great deal of studies have been performed that document the biologic function of integrins in a general sense, only recently have data shown their role in the heart. The repertoire of integrins present on cells is modulated in the remodeled myocardium. Further, hemodynamic loading may alter key integrin-mediated signaling events. Perturbation of integrin function in the heart of intact animals has documented the importance of these molecules in the myocardium. Conclusion: Future work is required to gain additional information on the role of integrins in the normal and pathologic heart so that we can evaluate if integrins expressed on the cardiac myocyte should be considered as a therapeutic target during cardiac remodeling.
Restorative effect of warming on the fluorescence intensity and fluorescence induction of photosynthetic material at 77 °K

Abstract Irradiation of spinach chloroplasts or Chlorella at 77 °K causes a lowering of the fluorescence intensity 1–3 . In the present work we find that warming the irradiated material above 77 °K (but without melting) gives rise to a restoration of the fluorescence intensity as well as a recovery of the fluorescence induction at 77 °K. The degree of recovery and restoration are related to the temperature to which the sample is warmed. An internal fluorescence standard was employed to adjust for the variables introduced by freezing. An Arrhenius plot of the recovered fluorescence induction does not give a linear relationship. On the other hand, an Arrhenius plot of the restored fluorescence intensity gives linear relationships for each of the three fluorescence bands. For chloroplasts the activation energies for F735, F695 and F685 are −150, −300 and −170 cal, respectively. The activation energies for the restoration of the fluorescence bands indicate that different reactions are involved for each of the fluorescence centers. It is clear that the process operating for recovery of induction is different from that for restoration of fluorescence intensity.
Mechanism of interferon action motif I of the interferon-induced, RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR) is sufficient to mediate RNA-binding activity.

Abstract The interferon-induced P1/elF-2α protein kinase cDNA, designated PKR, was expressed both in Escherichia coli and in transfected monkey COS cells. TrpE-PKR fusion proteins and PKR nonfusion proteins were examined for their RNA-binding activity by Northwestern blot analysis. PKR is a RNA-binding protein that possesses two copies of a highly conserved motif, R I and R II , within the N-terminal region of the protein. Amino acid residues between 11 and 243 of PKR, which includes both copies of the R motif, displayed RNA-binding activity comparable to that of the full-length 551-amino-acid PKR protein. Analysis of substitution and deletion mutant PKR proteins revealed that motif R I was both necessary and sufficient for RNA-binding activity, whereas motif R II was not. Substitution of the highly conserved lysine at position 64 within the R I motif abolished RNA-binding activity, both of full-length PKR and the N-terminal 243-amino-acid truncated PKR. Finally, PKR substitution and deletion mutant cDNAs deficient for kinase function were expressed to much higher levels in transfected monkey cells than was the full-length wild-type PKR cDNA.
Relationships between the unsaturated electric and saturated hydraulic properties of soils

Abstract A basis for relationships between saturated hydraulic conductivity and the electrical resistivity of the same soils in an unsaturated state at natural water contents is developed. Such relationships provide the basis for using surface electrical resistivity methods for comparison and evaluation of alternate sites for artificial recharge of groundwater.
Ectopic G-protein expression in dopamine and serotonin neurons blocks cocaine sensitization in Drosophila melanogaster

Sensitization to repeated doses of psychostimulants is thought to be an important component underlying the addictive process in humans. In all vertebrate animal models, including humans, and even in fruit flies, sensitization is observed after repeated exposure to volatilized crack cocaine. In vertebrates, sensitization is thought to be initiated by processes occurring in brain regions that contain dopamine cell bodies. Here, we show that modulated cell signaling in the Drosophila dopamine and serotonin neurons plays an essential role in cocaine sensitization. Targeted expression of either a stimulatory (Gαs) or inhibitory (Gαi) Gα subunit, or tetanus toxin light chain (TNT) in dopamine and serotonin neurons of living flies blocked behavioral sensitization to repeated cocaine exposures. These flies showed alterations in their initial cocaine responsiveness that correlated with compensatory adaptations of postsynaptic receptor sensitivity. Finally, repeated drug stimulation of a nerve cord preparation that is postsynaptic to the brain amine cells failed to induce sensitization, further showing the importance of presynaptic modulation in sensitization.
Non-stationary recruitment dynamics of rainbow smelt: The influence of environmental variables and variation in size structure and length-at-maturation

Abstract Fish stock-recruitment dynamics may be difficult to elucidate because of nonstationary relationships resulting from shifting environmental conditions and fluctuations in important vital rates such as individual growth or maturation. The Great Lakes have experienced environmental stressors that may have changed population demographics and stock-recruitment relationships while causing the declines of several prey fish species, including rainbow smelt ( Osmerus mordax ). We investigated changes in the size and maturation of rainbow smelt in Lake Michigan and Lake Huron and recruitment dynamics of the Lake Michigan stock over the past four decades. Mean lengths and length-at-maturation of rainbow smelt generally declined over time in both lakes. To evaluate recruitment, we used both a Ricker model and a Kalman filter-random walk (KF-RW) model which incorporated nonstationarity in stock productivity by allowing the productivity term to vary over time. The KF-RW model explained nearly four times more variation in recruitment than the Ricker model, indicating the productivity of the Lake Michigan stock has increased. By accounting for this nonstationarity, we were able identify significant variations in stock productivity, evaluate its importance to rainbow smelt recruitment, and speculate on potential environmental causes for the shift. Our results suggest that investigating mechanisms driving nonstationary shifts in stock-recruit relationships can provide valuable insights into temporal variation in fish population dynamics.
Risk factors for serious alcohol and drug use: the role of psychosocial variables in predicting the frequency of substance use among adolescents

Reviews of the psychosocial risk factors of adolescent alcohol and drug use suggest that the highest risks can be summarized as: 1) psychological functioning, 2) family environment, 3) peer relationships, and 4) stressful life events. The purpose of this study is to describe the relationships among the most common risk factors among a clinical sample (n = 214) and to determine the collective importance of these risk factors on problems with substance use. Collectively, these risk factors were most effective in explaining alcohol use and binge drinking and marijuana use, which were the most frequent types of substance use in this sample. Antisocial peers and delinquent behavior were the strongest predictors of substance use. Implications are that treatment programs target different psychosocial factors depending on the substance being used, and put extra effort on understanding and altering the relationship between an adolescent's choice of peers and their own attitudes toward delinquency and drug use.
How useful are cystic fibrosis mouse models

Cystic fibrosis is a multi-system lethal genetic disorder. Mutations in the gene that encodes for the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) are the basis of this disorder. Currently, a variety of CF mouse models have been developed for in-depth studies. They provide significant insight into the pathophysiology; however, these models do not always mimic the human disease. In this review we will summarize the available models and highlight the characteristics that have made them important tools for advancing our understanding of CF pathophysiology and for drug development.
ACh, substance P and met-enkephalin in the locus coeruleus: pharmacological evidence for independent sites of action.

Abstract The purpose of the present study was to further characterize the nature of cholinergic, opioid and substance P receptors in the rat locus coeruleus (LC) and to determine the degree of specifity of their antagonists using microiontophoretic techniques. This pharmacological approach enabled us to also investigate whether the mode of action of substance P and enkephalin involved a specific modulation of cholinergic transmission in the CNS and whether substance P had any opioid agonist activity. Evidence that cholinergic transmission in the locus coeruleus is purely muscarinic was obtained by studying the potency of a series of cholinergic agonists and antagonists. Their selectivity was tested using glutamate as a control excitatory agent. The muscarinic antagonist scopolamine was found to block the response to ACh without modifying the excitation caused by glutamate or the inhibition due to GABA. Scopolamine did not modify either the excitation of locus coeruleus neurons by substance P or their inhibition by met-enkephalin thus demonstrating that these two neuractive peptides do not act in the locus coeruleus by modulating the release of ACh or by inteerfering with its postsynaptic activity. Naloxone, administered by iontophoresis, in very small amounts was found to be highly selective in antagonizing the action of met-enkephalin but neither altered the inhibition induced by GABA nor the excitation caused by substance P. These results taken together with the fact that substance P and met-enkephalin affect the firing of LC neurons in opposite directions indicate that SP has no opioid agonist or antagonist potency. Parachlorophenyl GABA (baclofen) antagonized the responses of LC neurons to all excitatory neurotransmitters (ACh, Glu, and SP) and thus can not be considered as a specific SP antagonist. In conclusion, these experiments demonstrate that ACh, met-enkephalin, and SP act upon pharmacologically distinct receptors within the LC.
Management of the patella during revision total knee replacement arthroplasty

Managing the patella and balancing of the patellofemoral joint space is one of the most difficult aspects of performing a primary total knee replacement (TKR). The situation is compounded in the revision situation. Unfortunately, an otherwise well-performed TKR will fail because of problems with the patella or the extensor mechanism. In this article, I would like to discuss various clinical aspects of the management of the patella and extensor mechanism during revision TKR with an objective of minimizing complications and maximizing functional outcomes. The topics that will be covered will include exposure of the patella and extensor mechanism during revision surgery, whether or not to remove all prior patellar implants, the technique for removal of a prior implant, the management of bone loss or fractures of the patella during revision TKR, the insertion (or noninsertion) and fixation of a new implant, and the balance of the patellofemoral joint space, including avoidance of patella baja or patella alta. What I will present will be a compilation of scientific and no-so scientific data and experience gleaned over the past 26 years of total knee replacement surgery.
A Simplified Murine Intimal Hyperplasia Model Founded on a Focal Carotid Stenosis

Murine models offer a powerful tool for unraveling the mechanisms of intimal hyperplasia and vascular remodeling, although their technical complexity increases experimental variability and limits widespread application. We describe a simple and clinically relevant mouse model of arterial intimal hyperplasia and remodeling. Focal left carotid artery (LCA) stenosis was created by placing 9-0 nylon suture around the artery using an external 35-gauge mandrel needle (middle or distal location), which was then removed. The effect of adjunctive diet-induced obesity was defined. Flowmetry, wall strain analyses, biomicroscopy, and histology were completed. LCA blood flow sharply decreased by ∼85%, followed by a responsive right carotid artery increase of ∼71%. Circumferential strain decreased by ∼2.1% proximal to the stenosis in both dietary groups. At 28 days, morphologic adaptations included proximal LCA intimal hyperplasia, which was exacerbated by diet-induced obesity. The proximal and distal LCA underwent outward and negative inward remodeling, respectively, in the mid-focal stenosis (remodeling indexes, 1.10 and 0.53). A simple, defined common carotid focal stenosis yields reproducible murine intimal hyperplasia and substantial differentials in arterial wall adaptations. This model offers a tool for investigating mechanisms of hemodynamically driven intimal hyperplasia and arterial wall remodeling.
Jet and Multijet Results from CMS

QCD measurements with jets are presented, from proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV at the CERN LHC. The data were collected with the CMS detector during the 2010 data-taking period, and correspond up to an integrated luminos of 36 pb−1. The measured inclusive-jet and dijet production cross sections are compared to perturbative QCD predictions at next-to-leading-order, and are found to be in good agreeme Observables sensitive to multijet production, such as the hadronic event shapes, the dijet azimuthal decorrelations, and the ratio of the 3-jet to 2-jet production cross section, are compared to the predictions of various QCD Monte-Carlo generators.
VOLVER A SEPÚLVEDA LEYTON: PARA UNA NUEVA NOVELA SOCIAL

This essay aims to revisit the production of a rather neglected Chilean writer, Carlos Sepulveda Leyton (1895-1941). Through the analyses of his novels Hijuna and Comrade, it argues that Sepulveda Leyton is not just a transitional figure in Chile‘s social novel tradition; on the contrary, his work constitutes a radicalization of the social novel and as such it should deserved a more notorious position in Chile‘s literary historiography. Finally, from the study of his work it emerges the need for a reconsideration of the traditional divisions between realism and avant-garde.
Acoustic Prediction of Voice Type in Women with Functional Dysphonia

The categorization of voice into quality type (ie, normal, breathy, hoarse, rough) is often a traditional part of the voice diagnostic. The goal of this study was to assess the contributions of various time and spectral-based acoustic measures to the categorization of voice type for a diverse sample of voices collected from both functionally dysphonic (breathy, hoarse, and rough) (n=83) and normal women (n=51). Before acoustic analyses, 12 judges rated all voice samples for voice quality type. Discriminant analysis, using the modal rating of voice type as the dependent variable, produced a 5-variable model (comprising time and spectral-based measures) that correctly classified voice type with 79.9% accuracy (74.6% classification accuracy on cross-validation). Voice type classification was achieved based on two significant discriminant functions, interpreted as reflecting measures related to "Phonatory Instability" and "F(0) Characteristics." A cepstrum-based measure (CPP/EXP ratio) consistently emerged as a significant factor in predicting voice type; however, variables such as shimmer (RMS dB) and a measure of low- vs. high-frequency spectral energy (the Discrete Fourier Transformation ratio) also added substantially to the accurate profiling and prediction of voice type. The results are interpreted and discussed with respect to the key acoustic characteristics that contributed to the identification of specific voice types, and the value of identifying a subset of time and spectral-based acoustic measures that appear sensitive to a perceptually diverse set of dysphonic voices.
Nanotube Confinement Denatures Protein Helices

In striking contrast to simple polymer physics theory, which does not account for solvent effects, we find that physical confinement of solvated biopolymers decreases solvent entropy, which in turn leads to a reduction in the organized structural content of the polymer. Since our theory is based on a fundamental property of water-protein statistical mechanics, we expect it to have broad implications in many biological and material science contexts.
On U.S. Foreign Policy in the Balkans in the 1990s: Spotlight on Croatia

In the 1990s, despite a change of administrations, U.S. policy towards the Balkans remained consistent. Post-Gulf War, the United States urged Europe to take the lead, but ultimately humanitarian considerations forced the United States to take an active, military role. Within the U.S. government, a struggle between ``incrementalism'' and a longer-term ``visionary approach'' characterized internal debate. Incrementalism ultimately prevailed. The framework for U.S. policy decisions, especially in the early 1990s, led the United States to active involvement, including a lack of consensus in the United Nations on the use of force. Events, culminating in the ``Washington Agreement'', led Croatia to seeing that its interests coincided with those of Bosnian Croats and Muslims. Only later did Croatian and U.S. interests diverge. Since Dayton, U.S. focus in Croatia has been on democratization, human rights, and the implementation of the accords. As U.S. Balkan policy evolved, seeing a stable European future for the region became a fundamental security interest of the United States. The Balkan Wars contributed significantly to changing perceptions of the transatlantic relationship and of the U.S. global role.
Yolk sac tumours of the ovary: an update.

Abstract Aims Yolk sac tumours of the ovary (YST), also called endodermal sinus tumours (EST) are rare and highly malignant tumours of utmost importance occurring in children and young adults. In the past, outcome was very poor and the disease was almost always fatal. With the refinement of chemotherapeutic regimens in the last several decades, survival rates have improved dramatically and fertility preserving surgery has become possible. The aim of this review is to provide the reader with an analysis of the available literature and a rational approach to patient management. Methods We performed a literature search in the PubMed database and the reference lists of relevant articles concerning yolk sac tumours of the ovary. Findings and conclusion There are no randomised studies relating to the management of YST of the ovary. The available literature is composed of retrospective reviews and case reports that span several decades. Prognosis nowadays is good in stage I and II but still comparable to that of ovarian epithelial cancer in stage III and IV. The overall good prognosis is due to the fact that most of ovarian YST are diagnosed at an early stage where 5 years survival reaches 95%. Appropriate surgical treatment for patients where fertility needs to be preserved consists in laparotomy with unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, peritoneal cytologic studies, omentectomy, multiple peritoneal and abdominal biopsies and resection of all visible disease. Three courses of BEP (bleomycin, etoposide, cisplatin) is the current standard therapy and four courses is recommended in case of bulky residual disease after surgery. Serum alpha-feto-protein (AFP) is a useful marker for the diagnosis and management of YST.
Accurate cold-test model of helical TWT slow-wave circuits

Recently, a method has been established to accurately calculate cold-test data for helical slow-wave structures using the three-dimensional (3-D) electromagnetic computer code, MAFIA. Cold-test parameters have been calculated for several helical traveling-wave tube (TWT) slow-wave circuits possessing various support rod configurations, and results are presented here showing excellent agreement with experiment. The helical models include tape thickness, dielectric support shapes and material properties consistent with the actual circuits. The cold-test data from this helical model can be used as input into large-signal helical TWT interaction codes making it possible, for the first time, to design a complete TWT via computer simulation.
Scaling clustering algorithms for massive data sets using data streams

Computing clustering techniques on massive data sets is still not feasible nor efficient today. For instance, raw satellite imagery data can be replaced with compressed counterparts for many scientific applications. However, to facilitate scientific data analysis the high order correlation between the attributes in the data set as well as their nonparametric distribution must be preserved in the reduced data set. Therefore, practical data reduction can be achieved by partitioning the overall data set via a coarse regular spatial grid, and compressing each grid cell individually by computing multivariate histograms or k-means clustering. Clustering spatial data in high dimensional spaces using k-means is expensive both with regard to computational costs and memory requirements. In a traditional k-means implementation all N data points belonging to a grid cell must be kept in memory to be clustered at a time, which often establishes a bottleneck for scientific data sets. Our objective is to define a clustering algorithm that scales automatically to any number of data points in a single grid cell, and provides high quality clustering results.