cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Release of Oxytocin and Prolactin by Suckling in Rabbits throughout Lactation

Plasma oxytocin and PRL were measured in serial samples of blood collected from lactating rabbits nursing five to seven (mean, six) young on a once-daily suckling regimen. Each suckling episode lasted 4.0 +/- 1.1 (+/- SD) min on the average. Samples were obtained by means of an indwelling cardiac catheter before and 1, 3, 5, 10, 20, 30, and 60 min after suckling began. Measurements were performed at several stages of early, mid-, and late lactation. Oxytocin levels rose to peak values during suckling and declined rapidly after suckling stopped. PRL levels, on the other hand, did not reach peak values until 1-5 min after suckling had stopped, at which time plasma PRL concentrations plateaued and, in early and midlactation, were sustained at peak levels for 2-3 h; in late lactation, PRL secretion was not sustained after suckling had ceased. Peak PRL levels were relatively constant throughout most of lactation, with no significant differences between groups until late in lactation, when peak levels fell rather abruptly from a mean of 74 +/- 33.5 to 10.5 +/- 13.3 (+/- SD) ng/ml around day 25 in spite of a constant number of young and constant suckling frequency. Suckling failed to elicit any PRL release on day 30, but the administration of fluphenazine, a dopamine antagonist, did cause a rise in plasma PRL. Oxytocin release increased with advancing lactation, rising, on the average, 40 pg/ml on day 2 and to 250 and 490 pg/ml in mid- and late lactation, respectively. Dopaminergic agonist and antagonist drugs given to the doe before the nursing episode did not influence oxytocin release in response to suckling. Without a rise in plasma oxytocin, the young obtained no milk, but above a threshold level, there was no significant correlation between peak oxytocin levels and milk yield. When suckling failed to induce PRL secretion, milk secretion ceased rapidly in spite of copious oxytocin secretion. The failure of suckling to induce PRL release in late lactation, therefore, appears to be an important factor in the cessation of lactation.
Pharmacological approaches to the prevention of autoimmune diabetes.

Insulin-dependent (type I) diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is the consequence of a chronic cell-mediated immune attack upon the insulin-producing β-cells. Progressive insulinopenia is characteristic of individuals who eventually develop IDDM. Autoimmunity develops because of a failure in self-nonself discrimination. Autoimmunity is usually detected when autoantibodies are present in the patient’s serum. However, autoantibodies are not synonymous with disease, as many autoantibody-positive individuals show no evidence of clinical disease. Studies initiated in the early 1980s demonstrated that short term remission from IDDM could be induced or lengthened with immunosuppressive therapy. However, no long term remissions were achieved.
Interventions to reduce the burden of caregiving for an adult with dementia: a meta-analysis.

Because of conflicting results, in order to clarify the state of the science it was necessary to do a systematic analysis of the literature on research testing the effect of interventions on the burden of persons caring for family members with dementia. The purpose of this study was to evaluate, using meta-analytic techniques, those intervention strategies (support group, education, psychoeducation, counseling, respite care, and multicomponent) designed to help caregivers cope with the burden of caregiving. Using meta-analytic methods developed by Glass, McGraw, and Smith (1981) and Hedges and Olkin (1985), 24 published research reports testing 27 treatments for caregivers of adults with dementia were synthesized. Overall, the analysis showed that collectively the interventions had no effect on caregiver burden. Only the category of multicomponent interventions significantly reduced caregiver burden. Burden may be too global an outcome to be affected consistently by intervention. Better and more precise measures are needed to evaluate the effects of caregiver interventions properly.
Modest Evidence for Linkage and Possible Confirmation of Association Between NOTCH4 and Schizophrenia in a Large Veterans Affairs Cooperative Study Sample

Wei and Hemmings [2000: Nat Genet 25:376-377], using 80 British parent-offspring trios, identified a number of NOTCH4 variants and haplotypes that showed statistically significant evidence of association to schizophrenia. Specifically, the 10 repeat allele of a (CTG)(n) marker and the 8 repeat allele of a (TAA)(n) marker demonstrated excess transmission to affected individuals; SNP21 and haplotypes SNP2-(CTG)(n) and SNP12-SNP2-(CTG)(n) also showed significant associations. In an attempt to replicate these findings, we tested for linkage and association between the same five markers used by Wei and Hemmings in 166 families collected from a multi-center study conducted by the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) Cooperative Study Program (CSP). The families include 392 affected subjects (schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, depressed) and 216 affected sibling pairs. The families represent a mix of European Americans (n = 62, 37%), African Americans (n = 60, 36%), and racially mixed or other races (n = 44, 27%). We identified moderate evidence for linkage in the pooled race sample (LOD = 1.25) and found excess transmission of the 8 (P = 0.06) and 13 (P = 0.04) repeat alleles of the (TAA)(n) marker to African American schizophrenic subjects. The 8 and 13 repeat alleles were previously identified to be positively associated with schizophrenia by Wei and Hemmings [2000: Nat Genet 25:376-377] and Sklar et al. [2001: Nat Genet 28:126-128], respectively.
Use of synthesized images to evaluate the performance of optical character recognition devices and algorithms

Synthesizing document images is a cost effective way to create a large test database and allows researchers to control typesetting and noise variables. Yet the effectiveness of using synthesized images in optical character recognition (OCR) research has not been extensively investigated. In this project, three kinds of test databases were used to study the performance of OCR devices: digitized `real world' documents, page images synthesized from ASCII files, and the synthesized images printed and digitized. The cleanest synthesized images were not necessarily recognized most accurately. Our results suggest that, in addition to typographical features and noise, linguistic features affect the performance of an OCR device.
Sn-1,2-diacylglycerol levels increase in progesterone-stimulated Xenopus laevis oocytes

Full-grown Xenopus laevis oocytes resume meiosis from prophase arrest in response to progesterone stimulation. Recent studies have shown that the tumor promoter, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA), a very potent activator of protein kinase C, can also induce the resumption of meiosis in amphibian oocytes. We have investigated the possibility that sn-1,2-diacylglycerol (DAG), the intracellular activator of protein kinase C, may be involved in the pathway normally used by progesterone. We have found that full-grown oocytes arrested in meiotic prophase contain 48 +/- 5 pmoles DAG/oocyte. This level increases within the first 5 minutes following the addition of progesterone and reaches a maximum of 75 +/- 10 pmoles following 60 minutes of steroid stimulation. Progesterone induces the up-regulation of a Na+/H+ antiport in the plasma membrane of the oocyte causing an increase in pHi following 60 minutes of steroid stimulation. We have found that the addition of 200 microM DAG (1,2-dioctanoylglycerol, diC8) to the culture medium can cause a partial up-regulation of this Na+/H+ pump in the absence of hormonal stimulation. These results suggest that DAG and protein kinase C may be involved in regulating certain aspects of meiotic maturation in progesterone-stimulated Xenopus oocytes.
Trade‐Offs between Species Conservation and the Size of Marine Protected Areas

: Moving from single-species- to ecosystem-based management requires an understanding of how community-level attributes such as diversity change with area. We used survey data from bottom trawls to examine spatial patterns of species richness in U.S. Pacific coastal fishes. Specifically, we generated and compared species–area relationships (SARs) for species classified into several groups on the basis of maximum body size, trophic level, diet, maximum depth, geographic affinity, and taxonomic order. Because SARs among groups were not parallel and z values varied significantly for several groups, groups of species were under- or overrepresented (depending on the size of the area) relative to their proportions in the entire community (i.e., entire U.S. Pacific coast). In this way, differences in SARs help demonstrate trade-offs between species representation and coastal area and suggest strategies (such as targeting the protection of habitats and locations where a particular species or groups of species are maximized) that may minimize the size of marine protected areas (MPAs) but protect diversity at the level of the community and functional group. Resumen: El traslado del manejo de una sola especie al manejo basado en ecosistemas requiere del entendimiento de los cambios en atributos de la comunidad como el cambio de diversidad con el area. Utilizamos datos de muestreo de redes de arrastre para examinar patrones espaciales de la riqueza de especies en peces costeros del Pacifico en E. U. A. Especificamente, generamos y comparamos relaciones especies–area (REAs) para especies clasificadas en varios grupos con base en la talla maxima, nivel trofico, profundidad maxima, afinidad geografica y orden taxonomico. Debido a que las REAs entre grupos no fueron paralelas y que los valores de z variaron significativamente para varios grupos, los grupos de especies estuvieron sub- o sobre- representados (dependiendo del tamano del area) en relacion con sus proporciones en toda la comunidad (i.e., toda la costa del Pacifico en E. U. A.). De esta manera, las diferencias en REAs ayudan a demostrar el balance entre la representacion de especies y el area costera y sugieren estrategias (como la proteccion de habitats y localidades donde se maximiza una especie o grupo de especies) que pueden minimizar el tamano de areas marinas protegidas pero proteger la diversidad al nivel de la comunidad y grupo funcional.
Inhibition of twisting of a green fluorescent protein-like chromophore by metal complexation

Substitution of a pyridyl for the hydroxyphenyl moiety in the Green Fluorescent Protein analog p-hydroxybenzylidene-dimethylimidiazolinone produces a chromophore which “turns on” fluorescence in the presence of Zn2+ or Cd2+ ions. Such a phenomenon provides “proof of principle” for using GFP chromophores in a variety of sensing applications.
Ion transport in silicone hydrogel contact lenses

Abstract Transport of ions through contact lenses is essential to maintain lens movement on the eye. We measure the effective diffusivity and partition coefficient of sodium chloride through silicone hydrogels by measuring kinetics of salt release and permeation in a diffusion cell. The results obtained from both approaches are compared and mechanisms related to linearity of transport and dominant transport mechanisms are explored. Also, transport parameters are measured from silicone hydrogels of several compositions to explore the dependency of ion transport on composition. Transport parameters are also correlated with the water fraction in the gel in the context of the free volume theory. Results show that the transport is linear in concentration and satisfies diffusive scaling suggesting that the transport of sodium and chloride ions can be lumped into an effective diffusion model. The permeation approach which is typically used for determining only the permeability can be utilized to yield both effective salt diffusivity and the partition coefficients if the short time transient data is fitted to a diffusion model. The values of diffusivity and partition coefficient obtained from both kinetic and permeation approach are comparable. The partition coefficient changes smoothly with variations in composition but there are discontinuities observed in diffusivity values likely due to changes in microstructure from dispersed to bicontinuous. The diffusivity cannot be related to the water content through the classical free volume theory because of the variations in the microstructure of the gels.
Predicting toughness of impact thermoplastics from high-speed tensile data

A photographic procedure is presented for evaluating uniaxial true stress-true strain tensile behavior of thermoplastics at strain rates typical of impact situations. The advantage of combining this information with observed macroscopic material changes which occur during tensile deformation is discussed in terms of establishing parameters which define end use abuse resistance of impact thermoplastics. In particular, test parameters are evaluated which provide a direct correlation with measured bottle drop failure resistance for selected materials. These test parameters are obtained by measuring the area under true stress-true strain curves obtained at impact strain rates. Area is measured up to the point of ultimate uniaxile tensile strain. Ultimate uniaxial tensile strain corresponds to either (a) strain at onset of necking in materials which produce necking during deformation, or (b) strain at fracture in materials which deform without necking. Measured test parameters are discussed in terms of modern theories of strength of materials. Pitfalls associated with quantitatively defining the abuse resistance of thermoplastics based on total energy for breaking, i.e., conventional numeric criterion of impact strength, it also discussed.
Frege's Theorem and the Peano Postulates

Two thoughts about the concept of number are incompatible: that any zero or more things have a (cardinal) number, and that any zero or more things have a number (if and) only if they are the members of some one set. It is Russell's paradox that shows the thoughts incompatible: the sets that are not members of themselves cannot be the members of any one set. The thought that any (zero or more) things have a number is Frege's; the thought that things have a number only if they are the members of a set may be Cantor's and is in any case a commonplace of the usual contemporary presentations of the set theory that originated with Cantor and has become ZFC. In recent years a number of authors have examined Frege's accounts of arithmetic with a view to extracting an interesting subtheory from Frege's formal system, whose inconsistency, as is well known, was demonstrated by Russell. These accounts are contained in Frege's formal treatise Grundgesetze der Arithmetik and his earlier exoteric book Die Grundlagen der Arithmetik. We may describe the two central results of the recent re-evaluation of his work in the following way: Let Frege arithmetic be the result of adjoining to full axiomatic second-order logic a suitable formalization of the statement that the Fs and the Gs have the same number if and only if the F sand the Gs are equinumerous.
Geometry and crystal symmetry

Abstract The beautiful external forms of crystals are manifestations of their internal structures. These structures, which can be regarded as infinite periodic patterns, are determined by local forces. In this article we discuss symmetry from the “local” point of view. First we show that the symmetry of an infinite regular point set (the atomic pattern of an ideal crystal) is a consequence of the symmetry of finite configurations in the pattern. Then we briefly discuss the basic structural feature of internal crystal symmetry, the space lattice, and its relation to the crystal's external form. This form is predicted by locally defined growth rules. We conclude with an open problem, the origin of the symmetry and form of crystal twins.
Differential cross section for electron impact excitation of metastable helium

By analyzing the time-of-flight distribution of metastable helium atoms produced by bombardment of a ground-state atomic beam by low-energy electrons, we have measured the differential cross section for excitation of the 2 /sup 3/S/sub 1/ state over the energy range 19.9--20.4 eV. The results are compared with those determined from electron energy-loss experiments as well as with various theoretical predictions.
A multichamber equilibrium dialysis apparatus

Abstract A method for inexpensively producing large quantities of equilibrium dialysis cells as well as two types of cell rotators is described. The method of production is simple enough that several hundred chambers can be produced in a single day. The assay procedure is flexible enough that any number of assays from one to several hundred may be completed in a short time. The chambers have proved extremely useful in the isolation and kinetic characterization of proteins which appear to be associated with membrane transport systems. They will also suffice for any of the other many uses for equilibrium dialysis. The large number of chambers available also provides an ideal means for determining the proper conditions for the growth of protein crystals by dialysis against the crystallizing agent. Microgram quantities of protein are easily crystallized by this technique.
Cellular transport processes of aminoguanidine, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, in the opossum kidney cell culture line.

Aminoguanidine has potential pharmacologic utility for diabetes and nitric oxide - mediated inflammation. Because aminoguanidine is positively charged at physiologic pH (pK(a) approximately 10), it is unlikely that simple diffusion is a predominant mechanism for cellular penetration. This study sought to determine the transport processes by which aminoguanidine, a cationic compound, traverses across cellular membranes. In cultured opossum kidney (OK) cell monolayers, aminoguanidine transport involved both saturable and non-saturable diffusion processes. At passage numbers below 67, the observed V(max) and K(m) for saturable influx were significantly lower than that observed at passages greater than 79 (V(max): low passage, 21.2+/-7.8 pmol/(min*mg protein), n=3; versus high passage, 129.7+/-24.3 pmol/(min*mg protein), n=3, P<0.05; K(m): low passage, 23.7+/-10.8 microM, n=3; versus high passage, 101.7+/-5.6 microM, n=3, P<0.05; mean+/-S.E.M.). Nonsaturable processes were not statistically different (k(ns): low passage, 1.6+/-0.1 pmol/(min*mg protein*microM), n=3; high passage, 1.1+/-0.2 pmol/(min*mg protein*microM) n=3). Saturable influx was temperature dependent, and independent of ATP energy, sodium gradients or changes in membrane potential. Other organic cations competitively inhibited and trans-stimulated saturable influx. Aminoguanidine influx was increased in the presence of an outwardly-directed proton gradient and was inhibited in the presence of an inwardly-directed proton gradient. Correspondingly, aminoguanidine efflux was trans79) express a saturable, bi-directional carrier-mediated process to transport aminoguanidine across cellular membranes.
Disparate sandstone weathering beneath lichens, red mountain, arizona

Though the ability of lichens to disaggregate and dissolve the substrate is understood, zones of disparate weathering mechanisms examined in this study were previously unobserved. On a steep (60°) ...
Intrastromal clefts in keratoconus patients with hydrops

Abstract Purpose: To report the clinical appearance and course of intrastromal clefts occurring with acute hydrops in keratoconus. Methods: In eight patients with bilateral keratoconus, nine eyes developed acute corneal hydrops complicated by intrastromal cleft formation. One patient developed this complication in both eyes. The patients, three female and five male, had a mean age of 20 years (range, 11 to 36 years) and were followed after onset of acute hydrops for a median of 8 months (range, 2.5 to 21 months). The patients in this retrospective study were identified and had been treated at one of two institutional cornea referral practices. Results: In eight of nine eyes with intrastromal clefts, complete cleft closure occurred between 6 weeks and 6 months. In one eye, cleft closure was nearly complete in a patient followed up for only 4.5 months after onset of hydrops. Corneal stromal neovascularization developed in six of the nine of eyes. At the last follow-up visit, four of the six untreated eyes had a best-corrected visual acuity of 20/200 or worse. The patient with intrastromal clefts in both eyes did not develop stromal neovascularization and achieved a contact lens corrected visual acuity of 20/40 or better in each eye without surgical intervention. Conclusions: Intrastromal cleft formation is a manifestation of corneal hydrops in keratoconus. Single or multiple clefts can occur, and bilateral involvement is possible. Clefts generally close over a period of months, but stromal neovascularization is common and may compromise future graft survival.
Evaporation of an Iodine Sphere: Hindered Diffusion and Langmuir’s Conjecture

Here we examine Langmuir’s conjecture (1918) regarding hindered diffusion in the context of the computation of a diffusion coefficient for iodine in air from experimental results. Using an expressi...
Beta-asymmetry studies on polarized 82Rb atoms in a TOP trap

Atoms of 82Rb (t1/2 = 76 s) confined in a time-orbiting-potential (TOP) magnetic trap make a favorable source for β-asymmetry studies by providing an essentially massless source of highly polarized atoms. An offline mass separator is coupled to a double magneto-optical trap (MOT) and TOP trap system. Once in the TOP trap the magnetic trap's rotating bias field defines the polarization axis and allows one to measure the correlation between the nuclear spin direction and the β emission direction using a single positron detector. A proof-of-principle experiment using this method has demonstrated that the parity violating ( β → ⋅ J → ) correlation can be studied. Here we outline improvements to the experiment with the goal of a 1% measurement of the β-asymmetry correlation parameter A in the Gamow-Teller decay of 82Rb which in the semi-leptonic sector would pose a competitive test of the Standard Model.
Model for an Exciton Mechanism of Superconductivity

The exciton mechanism of superconductivity is discussed with respect to a particular model, a thin metal layer on a semiconductor surface. In this model, the metal electrons at the Fermi surface tunnel into the semiconductor gap where they interact with virtual excitons, producing a net attractive interaction among the electrons in direct analogy with the phonon mechanism of superconductivity. The physical requirements for successful realization of the exciton mechanism in a metal-semiconductor system are explored in detail, and the relevant parameters are described. Estimates are made for electron tunneling and band-bending effects, and an electron-exciton coupling constant is defined and estimated. Finally, an appropriately modified integral equation for the superconducting energy gap is solved numerically to yield transition temperatures both for a pure-exciton mechanism and for the exciton and phonon mechanisms acting simultaneously.
Extracellular domain chimeras of the TSH and LH/CG receptors reveal the mid-region (amino acids 171–260) to play a vital role in high affinity TSH binding

Summary We constructed a series of TSH-LH/CG receptor chimeras by homologous substitution of relatively small regions of the TSH receptor extracellular domain for the corresponding region of the extracellular domain of the LH/CG receptor. Constructs were stably expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Of the five chimeric receptors, only TSH-LHR-14, which contains mid-region domain C (amino acid residues 171–260) of the extracellular component of the TSH receptor, exhibited TSH binding of relatively high affinity. Consistent with this TSH binding, chimera TSH-LHR-14 was the only one that demonstrated a functional response to TSH stimulation in terms of intracellular cAMP generation. These data indicate that domain C plays a vital role in TSH receptor function.
FoxI1e activates ectoderm formation and controls cell position in the Xenopus blastula.

The segregation of the vertebrate embryo into three primary germ layers is one of the earliest developmental decisions. In Xenopus , where the process is best understood, the endoderm is specified by a vegetally localized transcription factor, VegT, which releases nodal signals that specify the adjacent marginal zone of the blastula to become mesoderm. However, little is known about how the ectoderm becomes specified. In this paper, we show that the forkhead protein FoxI1e (also known as Xema) is required at the blastula stage for normal formation of both the central nervous system and epidermis, the two early derivatives of the ectoderm. In addition, FoxI1e is required to maintain the regional identity of the animal cells of the blastula, the cells that are precursors of ectodermal structures. In its absence, they lose contact with the animal cap, mix with cells of other germ layers and differentiate according to their new positions. Because FoxI1e is initially expressed in the animal region of the embryo and is rapidly downregulated in the neural plate, its role in neural and epidermal gene expression must precede the division of the ectoderm into neural and epidermal. The work also shows that FoxI1e plays a role in the embryo in the poorly understood process of differential adhesion, which limits cell mixing as primary germ layers become specified.
Renal function effects of dilevalol, a nonselective beta‐adrenergic blocking drug with beta‐2 agonist activity

The effects of dilevalol, a new β-adrenergic blocking agent with β-agonism, on renal function were determined in two groups of patients. Patients in group 1, all with normal renal function, received either dilevalol or atenolol. Patients in group II, all with impaired renal function, received either dilevalol or metoprolol. Parameters of renal function determined before and after chronic oral treatment included glomerular filtration rate (GFR), effective renal plasma flow, filtration fraction, mean arterial pressure (MAP), renal blood flow, and renal vascular resistance. Dilevalol lowered MAP by 14 mm Hg (P < 0.005) in group I and 25 mm Hg (P < 0.01) in group II but had no effect on other parameters of renal function, at either peak or trough drug levels. Atenolol and metoprolol also lowered MAP by 11 mm Hg (P < 0.01) and 15 mm Hg (P < 0.05), respectively. Atenolol reduced GFR by 23% at peak drug level, an effect that was partially ameliorated at trough drug level. The effect of atenolol on GFR appeared to vary as a function of baseline renal function in that greater reductions were seen in groups of patients with increasing baseline GFR. Metoprolol significantly decreased renal vascular resistance by 17% (P < 0.05). These data suggest that dilevalol effectively lowers blood pressure in hypertensive patients with normal or compromised renal function with no negative impact on parameters of renal function. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1988) 43, 393–399; doi:10.1038/clpt.1988.49
Licensed-assisted access for WiFi-LTE coexistence in the unlicensed spectrum

One of the effective ways to address the exponentially increasing traffic demand in mobile communication systems is to use more spectrum. Although licensed spectrum is always preferable for providing better user experience, unlicensed spectrum can be considered as an effective complement. Before moving into unlicensed spectrum, it is essential to carry out proper coexistence performance evaluations. In this paper, we analyze WiFi 802.11n and Long Term Evolution (LTE) coexistence performance considering multi-layer cell layouts through system level simulations. We consider a time division duplexing (TDD)-LTE system with an FTP traffic model for performance evaluation. Simulation results show that WiFi performance is more vulnerable to LTE interference, while LTE performance is degraded only slightly. However, WiFi throughput degradation is lower for TDD configurations with larger number of LTE uplink sub-frames and smaller path loss compensation factors.
Financial information systems service providers and the internal control report

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine if a conflict of interest arises when auditors opine on an internal control system that consists of an information system recently designed and implemented by their own firm.Design/methodology/approach – A sample of companies was selected that had a financial information design and implementation service (FISD) disclosure in 2000‐2001 and a Section 404 internal control report issued in 2004‐2005. Both descriptive statistics and logistic regression results provide insight into the relation between the type of internal control report issued and the FISD provider.Findings – After considering the type of auditor change (forced versus voluntary) and the timing of the consulting division split‐offs, the results suggest that a material weakness internal control report is less likely if the same audit firm issued the internal control opinion and performed the FISD service. This result lends some support to the regulator's concern that certain types of non‐audit se...
Prostate cancer: The androgen receptor remains front and centre

Abiraterone is an androgen biosynthesis inhibitor that further lowers testosterone in men receiving standard androgen deprivation therapy for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. Previously shown to improve survival in patients after treatment with docetaxel, abiraterone has demonstrated benefits in a new phase III trial in men who are chemotherapy naive.
Poverty, social disadvantage, and the black/white placement gap

Abstract In this paper, we examine whether county-level measures of poverty and social disadvantage are correlated with county-level variation in the black/white foster care placement gap. The black/white placement gap refers to the fact that when the rate of placement into foster care for black children is compared to the rate for white children living in the same area, the black placement rate is almost always higher than the rate for whites. Although differential exposure to poverty is often used to explain why the placement gap is so large, the problem has rarely been studied. Using Poisson event count models, we find that poverty, measured at the county ecological level, is associated with a narrower gap rather than a wider gap. The counterintuitive finding is due to the fact that the relationship between poverty and placement rates depends on race.
Primary Sjögren's syndrome in men.

OBJECTIVE--To describe the clinical expression of primary Sjogren's syndrome (SS) in men, focusing on extraglandular manifestations (EGM) and serological markers of disease. METHODS--In a cross sectional and comparative study, adult men with primary SS were identified from a cohort study on SS, and 26 age matched adult women with primary SS were selected as a control group. All patients met the European classification criteria for SS. They were compared for demographic, clinical and laboratory findings. RESULTS--Thirteen men with primary SS were identified. Mean age at onset was 39 (SEM 4) years and mean duration of disease was 7.8 (1) years. Sicca complex or parotitis was the presenting feature in eight patients (61.5%), and an EGM in five (38.5%). During the course of the disease, EGM were present in 12 patients (92%), polyarthralgias and lymphopenia being the most frequent (38.5% each). Rheumatoid factor was positive in 73% of patients, antinuclear antibodies in 85%, anti-(SS-A) in 62%, and anti-(SS-B) in 46%. No statistical differences in the frequency of EGM or in the presence of autoantibodies were observed between men and women. However, men patients were more likely to have EGM. CONCLUSION--Primary SS in men is an uncommon condition with clinical and serological characteristics similar to those observed in women. Sex hormones may be incriminated in the pathogenesis of SS. However, it remains poorly understood whether sex hormones play a major role in the severity of disease and have any importance with regard to treatment.
Dynamic Simulation of Multibody Systems Using a New State-Time Methodology

This paper presents a new methodology demonstrating the feasibility and advantages of a state-time formulation for dynamic simulation of complex multibody systems which shows potential advantages for exploiting massively parallel computing resources. This formulation allows time to be discretized and parameterized so that it can be treated as a variable in a manner similar to the system state variables. As a consequence of such a state-time discretization scheme, the system of governing equations yields to a set of loosely coupled linear-quadratic algebraic equations that is well-suited in structure for some families of nonlinear algebraic equations solvers. The goal of this work is to develop efficient multibody dynamics algorithm that is extremely scalable and better able to fully exploit anticipated immensely parallel computing machines (tera flop, peta flop and beyond) made available to it.
A Nonlinear Electromechanical Model of a Scalable Self-Excited Wind Energy Harvester

We present and validate a nonlinear aero-electro-mechanical model that describes the response of a scalable self-excited wind energy harvester. Similar to music-playing harmonica that create tones via oscillations of reeds when subjected to air blow, the proposed device uses flow-induced self-excited oscillations of a piezoelectric beam embedded within a cavity to generate electric power. Specifically, when the volumetric flow rate of air past the beam exceeds a certain threshold, the energy pumped into the structure via nonlinear pressure forces offsets the intrinsic damping in the system setting the beam into self-sustained limit-cycle oscillations. The vibratory energy is then converted into electricity through principles of piezoelectricity.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
A True Spatiotemporal Approach for Activation Detection in Functional MRI

A goal in functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) data analysis is determining whether a certain region of brain is activated by presented temporal stimuli. Since the fMRI data is a sequence of images, spatiotemporal models are needed and spatially and temporally correlated noise plays a crucial role in the models. Until very recently, most attention has focussed on temporally correlated but spatially independent models. And spatial correlation has been dealt with in an ad hoc fashion. We develop, for the first time, a properly formulated true spatiotemporal detection statistic based on a spatially and temporally correlated noise model. Additionally, we develop a theoretical performance analysis method for comparing different test statistics through Asymptotic Relative Efficiency (ARE) for the first time in fMRI. We perform simulations for the comparison of new test statistic with a standard statistic as well.
Messy, Butch, and Queer: LGBTQ Youth and the School-to-Prison Pipeline.

Emerging evidence suggests that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth experience disparate treatment in schools that may result in criminal sanctions. In an effort to understand the pathways that push youth out of schools, we conducted focus groups with youth (n = 31) from Arizona, California, and Georgia, and we interviewed adult advocates from across the United States (n = 19). Independent coders used MAXQDA to organize and code data. We found that LGBTQ youth are punished for public displays of affection and violating gender norms. Youth often experience a hostile school climate, may fight to protect themselves, and are frequently blamed for their own victimization. Family rejection and homelessness facilitate entry in the school-to-prison pipeline. Narratives highlight new opportunities to challenge inequity in schools.
Chlamydial Infection Increases Gonococcal Colonization in a Novel Murine Coinfection Model

Genital tract infections caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis serovars D to K occur at high incidence in many areas of the world. Despite high rates of coinfection with these pathogens, investigations of host-parasite interactions have focused on each pathogen individually. We describe here a coinfection model in which female BALB/c mice were first infected with the mouse Chlamydia species C. muridarum and then inoculated with N. gonorrhoeae following treatment with water-soluble 17β-estradiol to promote long-term gonococcal infection. Viable gonococci and chlamydiae were recovered for an average of 8 to 10 days, and diplococci and chlamydial inclusions were observed in lower genital tract tissue by immunohistochemical staining. Estradiol treatment reduced proinflammatory cytokine and chemokine levels in chlamydia-infected mice; however, coinfected mice had a higher percentage of vaginal neutrophils compared to mice infected with either pathogen alone. We detected no difference in pathogen-specific antibody levels due to coinfection. Interestingly, significantly more gonococci were recovered from coinfected mice compared to mice infected with N. gonorrhoeae alone. We found no evidence that C. muridarum increases gonococcal adherence to, or invasion of, immortalized murine epithelial cells. However, increased vaginal concentrations of inflammatory mediators macrophage inflammatory protein 2 and tumor necrosis factor alpha were detected in C. muridarum-infected mice prior to inoculation with N. gonorrhoeae concurrently with the downregulation of cathelicidin-related antimicrobial peptide and secretory leukocyte peptidase inhibitor genes. We conclude that female mice can be successfully infected with both C. muridarum and N. gonorrhoeae and that chlamydia-induced alterations in host innate responses may enhance gonococcal infection.
The Greater Complexity of Lived Race: An Extension of Harris and Sim*

Objectives. Harris and Sim (2002) recently demonstrated the complexity of lived race by exploring patterns of racial self-identification. They raised important sociological questions about the role of context in racial self-identification, but offered an incomplete picture of ethnic fluidity by excluding Hispanics from their analyses. We address this limitation with data on Hispanics from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health). Methods. Our social-psychological approach, using compositional analysis, focuses on the lived experience of race and ethnicity as qualitatively similar conceptual categories. Results. Informed by the cognitive process of social categorization, we find that considerably more individuals show fluidity in racial and ethnic self-identification across contexts than suggested by Harris and Sim. Conclusions. Harris and Sim's thesis is even more strongly supported by these findings than in their original analysis, and our findings reinforce their challenge to the assumed stability of racial and ethnic measurement in sociology. We conclude by proposing a change in the measurement of race/ethnicity in America.
High-power and high-linearity photodiodes

Recent progress in high current photodiodes now makes it possible to linearly detect over 250 mA at frequencies into X Band. This paper will discuss recent improvements in both PD power and linearity.
Glucocorticoid-Induced Osteoporosis Program (GIOP): a novel, comprehensive, and highly successful care program with improved outcomes at 1 year

Introduction Patients who take chronic glucocorticoids (GC) are at increased risk of osteoporosis and fracture. Only a minority of patients who take chronic GC receive optimal osteoporosis prevention, diagnosis, and/or treatment.
Histamine suppression of human lymphocyte responses to mitogens.

Abstract Exogenously added histamine in non-cytotoxic concentrations (10−5−10−3M) suppresses in vitro proliferation of lymphocytes induced by PHA or Concanavalin A. This suppressive effect was observed when histamine was present for as short as 1 2 hr in the beginning of the culture. Histamine, in concentrations as high as 10−3M, did not cause increased release of isotope from 51Cr-labeled lymphocytes following 4 hr of incubation. The histamine H2 receptor antagonist, metiamide, but not the H1 receptor antagonists diphenhydramine or chlorpheniramine, blocked the histamine suppressive effect. Some of the biological implications of these findings are discussed.
Problem-Based Learning: Teaching Skills for Evidence-Based Practice

Problem-based learning (PBL) is a pedagogical method that requires students to learn how to locate new information, work cooperatively with others and find solutions to practical problems. PBL teac...
Stabilizing and Destabilizing the “Ideal” Teacher in a Rural Teacher Book Group: Protective Guide, Moral Exemplar, and Purveyor of Middle Class Values

This research is an ethnographic case study of a book group focusing on the reading and teaching of multicultural literature in a rural, predominately white, middle school setting. We examine how participants co-constructed teacher identities through the parallel narratives they created about themselves and their students. We discovered that the socio-historical models of teaching circulating in the group were taken up, recontextualized, and contested according to local notions of the ideal female teacher, particularly as inculcators of middle-class values. Despite efforts to challenge limiting identity constructions of teacher and student through creating more liberatory narratives, participants struggled to imagine a pedagogy that interrupted their stable notions of teaching and selfhood. We found that the choices about what literature to read with students and how to engage with them in critical conversations about that literature were implicated in the possible teacher selves one could enact in the cl...
A partial scan methodology for testing self-timed circuits

This paper presents a partial scan method for testing control sections of macromodule based self-timed circuits for stuck-at faults. In comparison with other proposed test methods for self-timed circuits, this technique offers better fault coverage than methods using self-checking techniques, and requires fewer storage elements to be made scannable than full scan approaches with similar fault coverage. A new method is proposed to test the sequential network in this partial scan environment. Experimental data is presented to show that high fault coverage is possible using this method with only a subset of storage elements being made scannable.
“Once more, O ye Laurels”: Lycidas and the Psychology of Pastoral

Etude freudienne sur l'expression metaphysique et la repression symbolique de la jalousie dans Lycidias - a partir de la revision miltonienne de l'agon theocritien
Robust feedback tracking of autonomous underwater vehicles with disturbance rejection

This paper treats the practical and challenging control problem of tracking a prescribed continuous trajectory for an autonomous underwater vehicle immersed in the presence of gravity, buoyancy, hydrodynamic and other uncertain forces and moments. These uncertain forces and moments are bounded and may be difficult to model accurately, but they act persistently or over long periods of time. The trajectory is specified in terms of desired attitude and translational motion for a rigid body model of the vehicle. For an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) in a dynamic environment like the ocean, the presence of changing ocean currents create hydrodynamic forces and moments that are not well-known or predictable, even though they are bounded. In the absence of such forces and moments, it is possible to model the AUV dynamics very accurately and use the model for trajectory generation and tracking, as has been shown in prior research. However, the presence of uncertainties makes it difficult to accurately model the dynamics. This in turn makes the control task of tracking a desired or prescribed trajectory very challenging as an accurate model of the system dynamics is not available. We develop a robust feedback tracking scheme for autonomous underwater vehicles that can track a prescribed trajectory, while rejecting the effects of disturbances due to poorly known inputs with a simple yet general internal model.
Male reproductive cell development in Nicotiana tabacum: male germ unit associations and quantitative cytology during sperm maturation

Generative and sperm cells were examined at four stages of development from generative cell formation to sperm cell maturation using serial transmission electron microscopy. The generative cell and vegetative nucleus are associated in a male germ unit association during pollen maturation and tube elongation, except for generative cell mitosis. At late stages of prophase, this association loosens; the generative cell separates from the vegetative nucleus at metaphase. Slender, unbranched, or occasionally branched projections may be found at one or both ends of the generative cell, or they may be single, blunt, and short. Slender projections are rare during anaphase and telophase. The vegetative nucleus moves back into apposition with one sperm cell at the end of mitosis. During the re-establishment of the association, the vegetative nucleus first touches the end of the leading sperm cell and then moves next to the middle of the sperm nucleus. As the sperm cells enter interphase, a conventional association is re-established between one cell and the vegetative nucleus through one or more long and slender cytoplasmic extensions; these associations are maintained throughout later passage in the pollen tube. During maturation, a significant increase occurs in the surface area of the sperm cells (particularly in the sperm cell in association with the vegetative nucleus), and a lesser increase in nuclear volume and surface area. Other sperm cell parameters, including those of heritable organelles, remain unchanged during sperm cell maturation.
Connections between connexins, calcium, and cataracts in the lens.

There is a good deal of evidence that the lens generates an internal micro circulatory system, which brings metabolites, like glucose, and antioxidants, like ascorbate, into the lens along the extracellular spaces between cells. Calcium also ought to be carried into the lens by this system. If so, the only path for Ca2+ to get out of the lens is to move down its electrochemical gradient into fiber cells, and then move by electrodiffusion from cell to cell through gap junctions to surface cells, where Ca-ATPase activity and Na/Ca exchange can transport it back into the aqueous or vitreous humors. The purpose of the present study was to test this calcium circulation hypothesis by studying calcium homeostasis in connexin (Cx46) knockout and (Cx46 for Cx50) knockin mouse lenses, which have different degrees of gap junction coupling. To measure intracellular calcium, FURA2 was injected into fiber cells, and the gradient in calcium concentration from center to surface was mapped in each type of lens. In wild-type lenses the coupling conductance of the mature fibers was ∼0.5 S/cm2 of cell to cell contact, and the best fit to the calcium concentration data varied from 700 nM in the center to 300 nM at the surface. In the knockin lenses, the coupling conductance was ∼1.0 S/cm2 and calcium varied from ∼500 nM at the center to 300 nM at the surface. Thus, when the coupling conductance doubled, the concentration gradient halved, as predicted by the model. In knockout lenses, the coupling conductance was zero, hence the efflux path was knocked out and calcium accumulated to ∼2 μM in central fibers. Knockout lenses also had a dense central cataract that extended from the center to about half the radius. Others have previously shown that this cataract involves activation of a calcium-dependent protease, Lp82. We can now expand on this finding to provide a hypothesis on each step that leads to cataract formation: knockout of Cx46 causes loss of coupling of mature fiber cells; the efflux path for calcium is therefore blocked; calcium accumulates in the central cells; at concentrations above ∼1 μM (from the center to about half way out of a 3-wk-old lens) Lp82 is activated; Lp82 cleaves cytoplasmic proteins (crystallins) in central cells; and the cleaved proteins aggregate and scatter light.