cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Repeated Exposure to the κ-Opioid Receptor Agonist Salvinorin A Modulates Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase and Reward Sensitivity

Background Repeated exposure to drugs of abuse and stress increase dynorphin, a κ opioid receptor (KOR) ligand, in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). Acute KOR activation produces dysphoria that might contribute to addictive behavior. How repeated KOR activation modulates reward circuitry is not understood. Methods We used intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS), a method that provides a behavioral index of reward sensitivity, to measure the effects of repeated administration of the KOR agonist salvinorin A (salvA) (2 mg/kg) on the reward-potentiating effects of cocaine (5.0 mg/kg). In separate rats, we measured the effects of salvA on activation of extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK), cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) response element binding protein, and c-Fos within the NAc. Results SalvA had biphasic effects on reward: an immediate effect was to decrease the rewarding impact of ICSS, whereas a delayed effect was to increase the rewarding impact of ICSS. Repeated salvA produced a net decrease in the reward-potentiating effects of cocaine. In the NAc, both acute and repeated salvA administration increased phosphorylated ERK, whereas only acute salvA increased c-Fos and repeated salvA increased phosphorylated cAMP response element binding protein. The KOR antagonist nor-binaltorphimine (20 mg/kg) blocked the immediate and delayed effects of salvA and prolonged the duration of cocaine effects in ICSS. Conclusions Repeated salvA might trigger opponent processes such that "withdrawal" from the dysphoric effects of KOR activation is rewarding and decreases the net rewarding valence of cocaine. The temporal effects of salvA on ERK signaling suggest KOR-mediated engagement of distinct signaling pathways within the NAc that might contribute to biphasic effects on reward sensitivity.
Erodent particle characterization and the effect of particle size and shape on erosion

Abstract SiC, Al2O3 and SiO2 particles in various grit sizes are characterized by image analysis in terms of their area, area diameter, width, length, width-tolength ratio W/L and perimeter squared-to-area ratio P2/A. Along with the mean, median and r.m.s. deviation of these parameters, the cumulative frequency distributions of the area and W/L are also obtained. W/L and P2/A are used as the indicators of particle shape. The particles become more elongated and less circular as the size of SiC and A12O3 particles increases and that of SiO2 particles decreases. The characterized particles are used for erosion studies on 18Ni(250) maraging steel in aged condition in a sand-blast type rest rig. The variation of erosion is studied with changes in size and shape of these particles. Erosion rate increases with increasing particle size for SiC and Al2O3 particles up to a certain value and decreases for SiO2 particles. However, it increases with increasing P2/A and decreasing W/L for all three types of particles. Erosion behavior is analyzed considering the effect of rake angle in ploughing and microcutting as observed in erosion. It is the changing contribution from ploughing and cutting with changes in shape and size of particles that accounts for erosion variation.
LANDBIRDS ON OFFSHORE ISLANDS IN SAMOA

Abstract We surveyed birds on seven small (<3 km2) offshore islands in the Independent State of Samoa to investigate the distribution and abundance of landbirds relative to abiotic and biotic features of these islands. We recorded 17 of the 28 indigenous species of landbirds that reside in Independent Samoa. Species richness among the islands ranged from 3 to 12 species. Other than the domestic chicken, none of the non-native species common on the large islands of ‘Upolu and Savai'i was recorded on offshore islands. Nu'utele, the third-largest of the seven islands, had the greatest proportion of native forest and harbored the most species of landbirds, including five not found on any other offshore island (Tooth-billed Pigeon [Didunculus strigirostris], West Polynesian Ground-Dove [Gallicolumba stairi], Pacific Pigeon [Ducula pacifica], Samoan Whistler [Pachycephala flavifrons], and Samoan Flycatcher [Myiagra albiventris]). The similarly sized Apolima, which is inhabited and extensively cultivated, had on...
Analysis of DNA bending by transient electric birefringence.

Transient electric birefringence has been used to analyze DNA bending in six restriction fragments containing 171, 174, 207, 263, 289, and 471 bp in three different low ionic strength buffers. The target fragments contain sequences corresponding to the apparent bend centers in pUC19 and Litmus 28, previously identified by the circular permutation assay (Strutz, K.; Stellwagen, N. C. Electrophoresis 1996, 17, 989–995). The target fragments migrate anomalously slowly in polyacrylamide gels and exhibit birefringence relaxation times that are shorter than those of restriction fragments of the same size, taken from nonbent regions of the same plasmids. Apparent bend angles ranging from 30° to 41° were calculated for the target fragments by τ-ratio method. The bend angles of four of the target fragments were independent of temperature from 4°C to 20°C, but decreased when the temperature was increased to 37°C. The bend angles of the other two target fragments were independent of temperature over the entire range examined, 4°–37°C. Hence, the thermal stability of sequence-dependent bends in random-sequence DNA is variable. The bend angles of five of the six target fragments were independent of the presence or absence of Mg2+ ions in the solution, indicating most of the target fragments were stably bent or curved, rather than anisometrically flexible. Restriction fragments containing 219 and 224 bp, with sequences somewhat offset from the sequence of the 207 bp fragment, were also studied. Comparison of the τ-ratios of these overlapping fragments allowed both the bend angle and bend position to be independently determined. These methods should be useful for analyzing sequence-dependent bending in other random-sequence DNAs. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 70: 270–288, 2003
Jet spectroscopy of organic scintillation compounds: low-frequency modes of 2,5-diphenylfuran and related species

Abstract The fluorescence excitation spectra of a number of furan-based scintillation compounds, including 2,5-diphenylfuran (PPF), have been measured under jet-cooled conditions. While many of the species are effectively planar, steric crowding is found to force diphenylisobenzofuran into a non-planar ground state, so that two rotameric forms are observed. The molecule PBD is also found to be non-planar, consistently with literature data for biphenyl itself. Finally, evidence of torsional mode coupling is observed for α-naphthyl-substituted compounds.
Silhouette-based tracking for tactical IR systems

Pixel or image based tracking systems, which rely on correlation or contrast algorithms, have been shown to be unreliable for tracking of extended objects. We present an object based tracking algorithm which first segments the target from its background and then performs silhouette matching to perform tracking. Isssues of segmentation are discussed and a segmentation algorithm is presented which has been demonstrated in simulation and is presently being implemented in hardware. The segmentor selects an optimal threshold which maximizes the edge strength between target and background. A silhouette is than extracted for each segmented object and matched to the reference. Silhouette matching techniques are discussed and real-time implementation trade-offs are presented. A silhouette matcher that applies to a wide range of tactical scenarios is presented. The silhouette matcher finds the best object match despite partial occlusion and/ or the so-called "segmentation wobble" phenomenon. The resulting silhouette tracker is examined through extensive testing in both lab and field situations.
Examining the Relationship Between Race-Based Differential Item Functioning and Item Difficulty:

Recent research examining racial differences on standardized cognitive tests has focused on the impact of test item difficulty. Studies using data from the SAT and GRE have reported a correlation between item difficulty and differential item functioning (DIF) such that minority test takers are less likely than majority test takers to respond correctly to easy test items. The statistical techniques used and the effect sizes reported in these studies have been heavily criticized. This study addresses these criticisms by examining the relationship between item difficulty and DIF by using alternative statistical techniques based on item response theory and a different standardized test. The results replicate previous research and provide support for the generalizability of the findings.
Feeding patterns of monophagous, oligophagous, and polyphagous insect herbivores: The effect of resource abundance and plant chemistry

Leaf tissue preferences of monophagous, oligophagous, and polyphagous insect herbivores were determined using young and mature leaf tissue abundances and herbivore feeding observations. Larvae of monophagous and oligophagous herbivores preferred young leaf tissues while, overall, larvae of polyphagous species preferred mature leaves of their various host plants. Even though a species is often polyphagous over its geographical range, larvae from local populations may be very specialized in their diet. When this occurs these specialized larvae prefer the more nutritious and perhaps more toxic young leaves of some of their host plants. Resource abundance and plant chemistry are discussed as major factors influencing herbivore feeding patterns.
Stress and fracture during drying of gels

Abstract Two models of drying are examined in an effort to explain why cracking during drying is more likely if the gel is large and the drying rate is high, often occurs at the critical point (i.e., at the moment when shrinkage stops), and frequently yields only 2 or 3 pieces. A microscopic model assumes that local stresses result from sequential emptying of pores of different sizes, and stress fields on the scale of the pore size cause fracture. This model fails to explain the importance of gel size and drying rate. A macroscopic model attributes stresses to a pressure gradient extending throughout the sample. The stresses increase with drying rate and sample size, but show no singularity at the critical point. By assuming that the critical flaws result from the irregular shape of the drying front, and that they are subjected to the stress predicted by the macroscopic model, all of the behavior described above can be qualitatively explained. The cracking of films is a different phenomenon that seems to be related to the amount of mechanical energy stored in the film.
The biochemical cytology of an ascites hepatoma

Abstract 1. 1. The more noteworthy features of the morphology and cytochemistry of this ascites hepatoma cell are: 1.1. (a) Arrangement of the cytoplasm into a perinuclear zone rich in mitochondria and lipid droplets, and a peripheral zone with few organelles. Ribonucleoprotein predominates in the peripheral zone. 1.2. (b) High levels of apparent adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activity in the plasma membrane. Its presence over the entire surface may be related to active transport across the plasma membrane. 1.3. (c) The prescence of randomly distributed cytoplasmic particles with high acid phosphatase activity. These are thought to correspond to the lysosomes of de Duve. 2. 2. Other observations made on the acites hepatoma cell include: 2.1. (a) The localization of succinic dehydrogenase and also apparent ATPase activity in mitochondria. 2.2. (b) The localization of DPNH-diaphorase as well as lactic dehydrogenase activities in both mitochondria and background cytoplasm.
The dietary prophylaxis of allergic disease in infancy.

There is little doubt that the incidence of allergic disease is steadily increasing, both relatively and absolutely. Deesl reviewed evidence that the sickness rate for allergy had increased tenfold in the 20 years preceding 1960. Presently about 20 percent of children up to the age of 15 years are allergic,2 and in at least one-third of the children who visit the pediatrician's office the question of possible allergic disease must be considered.3 Nothing, however, has illustrated the importance of allergy in childhood as strikingly as the recent publication from the U. S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare4 which indicates that allergy accounts for about one-third of all chronic conditions reported in children under 17 years of age and that nearly one-fourth of the days reported lost from school because of chronic conditions in this age group were due to asthma. Even more startling is the report of Anderson.5 In a collaborative study involving pediatricians and pediatric allergists in the Dallas,...
Urbanism and Urbanity: Cities in an Urban-Dominated Society

The functions of cities in societies are discussed in this essay, the specialized functions performed and the integration of functions. The cities are seen as marketplaces of ideas, attitudes, arti...
Tyrosine hydroxylase and neuropeptide-Y immunoreactivity in pineal glands developing in situ and in pineal grafts

Postnatal development of the innervation of the pineal gland in situ as well as the reinnervation of pineal grafts by tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)- and neuropeptide Y (NPY)-immunoreactive nerve fibers were examined using the avidin-biotin-peroxidase immunohistochemical technique. TH-immunoreactive nerve fibers appeared in the pineal gland on the second postnatal day (P2) in both hamsters and gerbils. NPY-immunoreactive nerve fibers first appeared in the pineal gland of gerbils on P2 and in the hamsters on P3. By the seventh postnatal day (P7), the pineal glands of both hamsters and gerbils were richly innervated by TH- and NPY-fibers that appeared as smooth fibers or fibers with sporadic varicosities. By the age of 4 weeks, the innervation of the pineal glands of hamsters and gerbils by TH-and NPY-fibers was fully developed. Abundant TH- and NPY-fibers formed a dense meshwork in the parenchyma of the superficial and deep pineals. The great majority of the fibers bore a large number of varicosities. More NPY-fibers were found in the pineal glands of gerbils than hamsters. NPY fibers were distributed evenly throughout the pineal glands of the gerbil, but they were more often located in the central region of the superficial pineal of the hamster. For the pineal grafts, superficial pineals from neonatal and 4-week-old hamsters were transplanted to different sites in the third cerebral ventricle (infundibular recess, posterior third ventricle) or beneath the renal capsule. The pineal grafts from 4-week-old donors appeared to undergo severe degeneration and eventually disappeared. The pineal grafts from neonatal hamsters, however, successfully survived and became well integrated into their new locations. Abundant TH-and NPY-fibers in the host brain were found surrounding the pineal grafts placed in the third cerebral ventricle, but were only rarely seen entering the parenchyma of the grafts. A few TH-fibers were demonstrated in the renal grafts 4 weeks after transplantation. These studies describe the postnatal development of the innervation of the pineal glands in situ by TH-and NPY-nerve fibers, and demonstrate a lack of reinnervation of cerebroventricular pineal grafts by TH and NPY fibers from adjacent host brain.
Using the MC68901 multifunction peripheral

Abstract First-generation microprocessor peripheral chips were each dedicated to specific functions (e.g. serial interface, parallel interface, timer). Some of today's peripherals are designed to carry out a wide range of functions. The 68901 multifunction peripheral (MFP), for example, combines the functions of a serial interface, a parallel interface, a timer and an interrupt generator. It is not possible to go into detail about the MFP here — its data manual is the size of a small book. Instead, this note illustrates the design of a complete single-board microcomputer built around the 68901 and the 68008 microprocessor.
When should open surgery be the initial option for critical limb ischaemia

Abstract Objectives The treatment paradigm for patients with critical limb ischaemia (CLI) has changed over the past decade with an increase in endovascular interventions. Accompanying this shift has been a fundamental question as to whether open surgery or endovascular therapy represents the optimal treatment for CLI. Design Review. Methods A review of open versus endovascular surgery was performed. The supporting arguments by respective clinicians of both an ‘open first’ and an ‘endo first’ approach are summarised, followed by the available evidence in the literature for each. A summary of an informal survey of endovascular surgeons regarding five indications for an ‘open first’ approach to CLI are reviewed. Present and future clinical tools and research for providing a more objective decision for intervention in CLI are then summarised. Results Supporters of either an ‘open first’ or ‘endo first’ approach make claims which are not entirely supported by the current level 1 evidence. Five conditions which endovascular surgeons agree that patients with CLI should be treated primarily by open revascularisation include common femoral artery pathology; arterial occlusions caused by extrinsic compression pathologies; extensive foot gangrene/sepsis; young patients and those requiring dependent-free soft tissue reconstructions where durability is paramount; and infrageniculate popliteal and proximal tibial occlusion with single, distal tibial target vessel. Clinical scoring systems and mathematical modelling of lower extremity disease assist in making a prospective intervention decision. Conclusion The treatment of CLI has changed and continued clinical and research work is focussed on which intervention is more effective. While more attempts at endovascular treatment are made, there remain specific indications for open surgical treatment of CLI. As more work is done towards determining optimal intervention choices on a patient-specific basis, clearer indications for either intervention will emerge.
Sexually Active Adolescent Males’ Involvement in Pregnancy: Associations of Forced Sexual Contact and Risk Behaviors

Background Much of the research on adolescent pregnancy has focused on young women. Only recently has there been a recognition of the important role that adolescent men play in understanding and preventing pregnancy and births among teenagers. However, few studies have examined males who have been involved in a pregnancy. Studies have shown that sexually active adolescent males involved in a pregnancy are more likely than males not involved in a pregnancy to engage in risky and problem behaviors. However, being the victim of forced sexual contact or intercourse has not previously been examined as a risk factor for involvement in pregnancy by adolescent males. The purpose of this study was to determine whether sexually active adolescent males who report being the victims of forced sexual contact and engaging in more health risk and problem behaviors are more likely to be involved in a pregnancy. Methods 4,159 students in grades nine through twelve in 1995 in fifty-nine randomly selected public high schools in the state of Massachusetts were anonymously surveyed. Data were analyzed on 804 sexually active males. Demographic variables and indicators of sexual behaviors, pregnancy, violence and suicide were assessed. Data were analyzed with multiple logistic regression. Results 12.3% of sexually active males reported having been involved in a pregnancy 5.7% reported forced sexual contact. The proportion of males who reported being involved in a pregnancy increased with age. The number of sexual partners in the previous three months was found to be the strongest correlate with males’ involvement in a pregnancy (r=.21) Having had sexual contact against one's will was also independently associated with being involved in a pregnancy (Adjusted OR 3.56). Males who carried weapons on school property six or more times during the previous 30 days were 5.56 times more likely to having been involved in a pregnancy. Males who smoked more than 20 cigarettes per day on days they smoked during the past 30 days were 7.32 times more likely to having been involved in a pregnancy. These five variables correctly classified 89.9% of the males who were involved in a pregnancy. Conclusions This study highlights the association between health risk problem behaviors and involvement in a pregnancy by sexually active male high school students. In our analysis, a history of forced sexual contact appeared to heighten the risk of these high school males’ involvement in a pregnancy. These results strongly suggest the importance of screening sexually active males for a history of forced sexual intercourse and other health risk and problem behaviors in the effort to prevent teenage pregnancy and childbearing.
Galois Cohomology and Real Algebraic Quotients

Abstract Let G be a reductive complex algebraic group with a real structure. If H ⊂ G is reductive, then the affine variety G/H possesses a finite number of inequivalent real structures which are compatible with the left action of G. We show how to distinguish these equivalence classes using NGH/H-modules. The (harder) problem or separating the equivalence classes with G-modules is related to another problem:identifying the real points of an algebraic quotient V//G that come from the realpoints of V.
A. A. H. Lichtenstein’s (1794) Catalogus rerum naturalium rarissimarum sectio secunda on mollusks: an appraisal of taxa described in an overlooked tome

Anton August Heinrich Lichtenstein (1753–1816) was a member of a dynasty of natural scientists from Hamburg. He wrote an overlooked sales catalog of mollusks (1794) in which two new bivalve and 13 new gastropod taxa were described. The species' identities are evaluated based on the original text written in German and Latin. Only two of his new species could be positively identified. Conus vincoomnes Lichtenstein, 1794 (nomen oblitum) is C. nobilis victor Broderip, 1842 (nomen protectum) and Haliotis clathrata Lichtenstein, 1794 (non Reeve, 1846; suppressed by ICZN Opinion 1950) is H. elegans Philippi, 1844 (placed on ICZN Official List). All the other taxa are at best only tentatively identified and their names are considered nomina dubia.
Angle-multiplexed spatial-spectral interferometry for simultaneous measurement of spectral phase and polarization state

An angle-multiplexed spatial-spectral interferometry between an arbitrary polarized signal pulse and two orthogonal linearly polarized reference pulses is demonstrated to characterize the polarization state and relative spectral phase of a radially polarized laser pulse.
Career Counseling with Gay Men: Issues and Recommendations for Research

This article reviews the available literature on career issues facing gay men, identifies potentially crucial issues confronting practicing career counselors, and suggests how to work with gay men regarding career issues. Suggestions for future research are also presented.
Pastoralism, Provisioning, and Power at Bronze Age Acemhöyük, Turkey

ABSTRACT This article addresses the relationship between a major Anatolian Bronze Age center, the site of Acemhoyuk, and its pastoral hinterland with a focus on understanding the nature of the interactions and integration between rural pastoral producers and a centralized state. Through the analysis of faunal, archaeological, and ethnohistoric evidence, it is argued that although mobile herders provisioned Acemhoyuk with animal products, and the center itself was characterized by specialized systems of carcass processing and distribution, pastoralists operated largely outside of centralized controls focusing on the intensive production of wool in response to regional, rather than local, markets. These results suggest that the relationships between urban centers and their pastoral hinterlands in Bronze Age Anatolia were complex, with mobile herders likely playing a more prominent role in the development of Bronze Age commodity economies than previously realized. [pastoralism, Bronze Age, Anatolia, sheep and goats, Acemhoyuk] Ozet Bu makale TuncCag’nda Anadolu’nun buyuk merkezlerinden biri olan Acemhoyuk’un etrafndaki krsal bolge ile olan iliskisini incelemektedir. Incelemenin odak noktas krsal ureticiler ile merkezi devlet arasndaki ikili iliskilerin ve entegrasyonun dogasn anlamaktr. Makalede, zooarkeolojik, arkeolojik ve etno-tarihsel analizlerden elde edilen bilgilere dayanlarak, bir yandan gocebe coban topluluklarn Acemhoyuk’e hayvansal urunler sagladg, ote yandan da merkezin uzmanlasms et isleme ve dagtm sistemlerine sahip oldugu one surulmustur. Buna ragmen, krsal kesimde hayvanclk aktiviteleri merkezi kontrolun dsnda faaliyet gostermis, yerel degil bolgesel pazara hitap eden yun uretimine yonelmistir. Bu sonuclar TuncCag Anadolu'sunda merkezi yonetimler ile krsallar arasndaki iliskilerin karmask bir yapya sahip oldugunu ve gocebe coban topluluklarnn TuncCag ekonomisinde daha once sanldgndan daha onemli bir rol oynadklarn gostermektedir.
Analysis of Time Delays in the Gravitational Lens PG 1115+080

We present a new method for determining time delays among the light curves of various images in a gravitational lens. The method is based on constructing a simple model for the source variation and forming a ?2 measure of the agreement of this same variation with all of the light curves. While inspired by Press, Rybicki, & Hewitt, our approach is different since we do not assume a Gaussian process for the source variation. Our method has a number of desirable properties: first, it yields an approximate reconstruction of the source variation and of other parameters such as relative time delays; second, it easily incorporates different assumptions about the relations among the light curves and about the data measurement errors; finally, it can be applied to more than two light curves by the addition of ?2. We apply this method to the light curves of the quadruple gravitational lens PG 1115+080 measured by Schechter et al. Unlike Schechter et al., we include correlated measurement errors in the analysis, as well as the possibility that microlensing may cause different images to vary by different factors in flux. We find a value of 25.0 -->+ 3.3?3.8 days (95% confidence) for the delay between components B and C (close to the 24-day value of Schechter et al., and so leading to a similar value of the Hubble constant for a given lens model). However, the ratio tAC/tBA of the two intermediate delays is poorly determined at 1.13 -->+ 0.18?0.17 (68% confidence), close to the value predicted by the lens models (~1.4), unlike the Schechter et al. value (~0.7). The variation ratios of C with respect to A and of A with respect to B are both different from 1, 1.39 -->+ 0.16?0.20, and 0.79 -->+ 0.10?0.12 (95% confidence), respectively. This is an indication of a microlensing gradient, and this type of microlensing may allow us to conclude that the size of the quasar optical emission region is about 1000 AU.
Genome-wide polygenic scoring for a 14-year long-term average depression phenotype.

Background Despite moderate heritability estimates for depression-related phenotypes, few robust genetic predictors have been identified. Potential explanations for this discrepancy include the use of phenotypic measures taken from a single time point, rather than integrating information over longer time periods via multiple assessments, and the possibility that genetic risk is shaped by multiple loci with small effects. Methods We developed a 14-year long-term average depression measure based on 14 years of follow-up in the Nurses' Health Study (NHS; N = 6989 women). We estimated polygenic scores (PS) with internal whole-genome scoring (NHS-GWAS-PS). We also constructed PS by applying two external PS weighting algorithms from independent samples, one previously shown to predict depression (GAIN-MDD-PS) and another from the largest genome-wide analysis currently available (PGC-MDD-PS). We assessed the association of all three PS with our long-term average depression phenotype using linear, logistic, and quantile regressions. Results In this study, the three PS approaches explained at most 0.2% of variance in the long-term average phenotype. Quantile regressions indicated PS had larger impacts at higher quantiles of depressive symptoms. Quantile regression coefficients at the 75th percentile were at least 40% larger than at the 25th percentile in all three polygenic scoring algorithms. The interquartile range comparison suggested the effects of PS significantly differed at the 25th and 75th percentiles of the long-term depressive phenotype for the PGC-MDD-PS (P = 0.03), and this difference also reached borderline statistical significance for the GAIN-MDD-PS (P = 0.05). Conclusions Integrating multiple phenotype assessments spanning 14 years and applying different polygenic scoring approaches did not substantially improve genetic prediction of depression. Quantile regressions suggested the effects of PS may be largest at high quantiles of depressive symptom scores, presumably among people with additional, unobserved sources of vulnerability to depression.
Comparison of the extraction of RNA from rat liver by the diethyl pyrocarbonate-sodium dodecyl sulfate and phenol-chloroform methods.

Abstract A higher yield of RNA extracted from rat liver by the diethyl pyrocarbonate-sodium dodecyl sulfate method compared to the phenol-chloroform method was consistently obtained. There was no qualitative difference observed in the types of RNA isolated by the two methods. The diethyl pyrocarbonate-sodium dodecyl sulfate technique was shown to be an efficient method for the extraction of poly(A)-containing RNA from rat liver.
Nanophotonics Devices and Integration for Future Applications

IBM has established a sub-100nm technology platform for monolithic integration of deeply-scaled nanophotonics devices with analog mixed signal circuits. The CMOS-integrated nanophotonics technology is promising for cost-effective 25Gbps transceivers operating within extended temperature ranges. Article not available.
Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 regulates E2F transcription factor through phosphorylation of Rb protein in neurons

Recent studies have shown the involvement of cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) in cell cycle regulation in postmitotic neurons. In this study, we demonstrate that Cdk5 and its co-activator p35 were detected in the nuclear fraction in neurons and Cdk5/p35 phosphorylated retinoblastoma (Rb) protein, a key protein controlling cell cycle re-entry. Cdk5/p35 phosphorylates Rb at the sites similar to those phosphorylated by Cdk4 and Cdk2. Furthermore, increased Cdk5 activity elevates activity of E2F transcription factor, which can trigger cell cycle re-entry, leading to neuronal cell death. A normal Cdk5 activity in neurons did not induce E2F activation, suggesting that Cdk5 does not induce cell cycle re-entry under normal conditions. Taken together, these results indicate that Cdk5 can regulate cell cycle by its ability to phosphorylate Rb. Most importantly, increased Cdk5 activity induces cell cycle re-entry, which is especially detrimental for survival of postmitotic neurons.
The influence of silane coupling agent composition on the surface characterization of fiber and on fiber-matrix interfacial shear strength

It is well known that the fiber-matrix interface in many composites has a profound influence on composite performance. The objective of this study is to understand the influence of composition and concentration of coupling agent on interface strength by coating E-glass fibers with solutions containing a mixture of hydrolyzed propyl trimethoxysilane (PTMS) and n -aminopropyl trimethoxysilane (APS). The failure behavior and strength of the fiber-matrix interface were assessed by the single-fiber fragmentation test (SFFT), while the structure of silane coupling agent was studied in terms of its thickness by ellipsometry, its morphology by atomic force microscopy, its chemical composition by diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform (DRIFT), and its wettability by contact angle measurement. Deposition of 4.5 ‐ 10 m 3 mol/L solution of coupling agent in water resulted in a heterogeneous surface with irregular morphology. The SFFT results suggest that the amount of adhesion between the glass fiber and epox...
Simple means to alleviate sensitivity loss by trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) mobile phases in the hydrophilic interaction chromatography–electrospray tandem mass spectrometric (HILIC–ESI/MS/MS) bioanalysis of basic compounds

Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) is a commonly used additive in HPLC and LC-MS analysis of basic compounds. It is also routinely added to aqueous-organic mobile phases utilized in the hydrophilic interaction chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (HILIC-ESI/MS/MS) technique used in our laboratories for bioanalysis. However, TFA is known to suppress the ESI signals of analytes due to its ability to form gas-phase ion pairs with positively-charged analyte ions. The most common method to overcome this problem involves the post-column addition of a mixture of propionic acid and isopropanol. However the post-column addition setup requires additional pumps and is not desirable for continuous analysis of large amounts of samples. In this paper we present a simple yet very effective means of minimizing the negative effect of TFA in bioanalysis by direct addition of 0.5% acetic acid or 1% propionic acid to mobile phases containing either 0.025 or 0.05% TFA. A factor of two- to five-fold signal enhancement was achieved for eight basic compounds studied. Furthermore, chromatography integrity was maintained even with the addition of acetic acid and propionic acid to existing TFA mobile phases. This method has been successfully applied to the HILIC-ESI/MS/MS high-throughput analysis of extracted biological samples to support pre-clinical and clinical studies.
SENTINEL: Securing Legacy Firefox Extensions

Abstract A poorly designed web browser extension with a security vulnerability may expose the whole system to an attacker. Therefore, attacks directed at “benign-but-buggy” extensions, as well as extensions that have been written with malicious intent, pose significant security threats to a system running such components. Recent studies have indeed shown that many Firefox extensions are over-privileged, making them attractive attack targets. Unfortunately, users currently do not have many options when it comes to protecting themselves from extensions that may potentially be malicious. Once installed and executed, the extension is considered trusted. This paper introduces SENTINEL, a policy enforcer for the Firefox browser that gives fine-grained control to the user over the actions of existing JavaScript Firefox extensions. The user is able to define policies (or use predefined ones) and block common attacks such as data exfiltration, remote code execution, saved password theft, preference modification, phishing, browser window clickjacking, and namespace collision exploits. Our evaluation of SENTINEL shows that our prototype implementation can effectively prevent concrete, real-world Firefox extension attacks without a detrimental impact on the user's browsing experience.
45 Phylogeny and systematics of pseudodictyosphaerium, mychonastes and related coccoid green algae (chlorophyceae)

Species of Mychonastes, Pseudodictyosphaerium, and Korshpalmella all have spherical (or nearly so) coccoid cells without pyrenoids. Mychonastes and Pseudodictyosphaerium are apparently frequent components of the picoplankton of lakes, although they had not been reported from North America prior to our studies. We have examined several isolates of Mychonastes, Pseudodictyosphaerium, and Korshpalmella from lakes and ponds in Itasca State Park, Minnesota (USA) and Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge, North Dakota (USA). These isolates comprise 5 different 18S rDNA sequence types, none of which have a sequence identical to any published sequence for Mychonastes or Pseudodictyosphaerium. Four of these 18S types produce solitary cells, consistent with Mychonastes spp. However, other isolates all have identical 18S rDNA sequences, but are either unicellular, colonial with connecting stalks, or colonial in an amorphous matrix, consistent with Mychonastes spp., Pseudodictyosphaerium spp. or Korshpalmella spp, respectively. For some isolates, the colonial character is plastic, with different morphologies seen with different growth conditions. Ribosomal ITS and rbcL sequences also indicate little or no diversity among the isolates with various morphologies. These results suggest that the colonial habit is not a reliable generic character. Phylogenetic analyses of both rbcL and 18S rDNA sequences indicate that Mychonastes and Pseudodictyosphaerium spp. are a distinct lineage within the Chlorophyceae and should be placed in a new family. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant Nos. DEB-0128953, DEB-0129030, DBI-0070387 and MCB-0084188.
Changes of mean arterial pressure of the rat resulting from intracereboventricular injections of prostacyclin of 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 Alpha

Abstract Repeated intracerebroventicular injections of 1 μg prostacyclin reduce mean arterial pressure of conscious normotensive rats and reverse the elevation of blood pressure of conscious rats resulting from the intraventricular injection of angiotensin II. The reduction of blood pressure of normotensive rats by prostacyclin is enhanced by pretreatment with probenecid, an inhibitor of fatty-acid transport across biological membranes. Although probenecid does not completely inhibit the transport of fatty acids from the brain to the periphery, the greater effectiveness of prostacyclin in probenecid-treated animals suggests that centrally injected prostacyclin need not leak into the periphery to reduce blood pressure. When the dose of prostacyclin is reduced to 100 ng repeated each minute for 10 min, no change of blood pressure of normotensive rats is observed. The failure of the lower dose of prostacyclin to reduce blood pressure may be due to its rapid degradation. Ventricular injections of 6-keto-prostaglandin F 1a , a major product of prostacyclin metaolism, causes an increase of blood pressure which may counteract the action of prostacyclin itself.
Modeling time-dependent current through electronic open channels using a mixed time-frequency solution to the electronic equations of motion

A nonequilibrium Green's function model based on time-dependent perturbation theory is developed to propagate electronic structure and molecular conductance of extended electrode-molecule-electrode nanostructures. In this model, we use the two-time variable nature of the Kadanoff-Baym equations of motion to formulate a mixed time-frequency representation for the electronic density expressed by the appropriate Green's function $({G}^{l})$. This allows for the dynamical treatment of open systems. Furthermore, highly informative time-dependent Wigner distributions are used to shed light on the features of dynamical observables, such as electron current. Calculations, performed on model systems, resolve the dynamic current into direct and alternating components. The direct current is due to electronic open channels near the Fermi level and the alternating response is due to interference fringes from a superposition of extended states. We analyze the transient conductance with respect to the fundamental system's parameters, the effect of bound states, and the conductance driven by laser-induced coherence affected by detuning due to an applied dc bias. The amplitude of the alternating transient current can be adjusted by reshaping the bias pulse or by controlling the electronic coupling terms. Bound states may yield a persisting oscillating response depending on their relative electronic densities. In the analysis we utilize the calculated highly informative time-dependent current distributions.
High Glucose–Induced Downregulation of Connexin 30.2 Promotes Retinal Vascular Lesions: Implications for Diabetic Retinopathy

Purpose. To investigate whether high glucose (HG) alters expression of connexin 30.2 (Cx30.2) and influences gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) in retinal endothelial cells and promotes vascular lesions characteristic of diabetic retinopathy (DR).
Assessment of Carbon Contamination in Titanium Nitride Films Deposited from the Reaction of Titanium (IV) Ciiloride and Amines

The reaction of titanium (IV) chloride and amines in an atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition (APCVD) has been previously shown to produce high quality titanium nitride films. These films were gold in appearance with high infrared reflectivity and resistivities as low as 80 microhm-cm. In the present study, the carbon content of the amines was systematically increased and the carbon levels in the films measured by XPS. For primary amines carbon contamination was not detected. Films deposited from secondary and tertiary amines had measurable carbon contamination. Correlation of carbon contamination with electrical resistivity and infrared reflectivity is discussed. Scanning electron micrographs and x-ray diffraction of the films are presented.
Maximal objects and the semantics of universal relation databases

The universal relation concept is intended to provide the database user with a simplified model in which he can compose queries without regard to the underlying structure of the relations in the database. Frequently, the lossless join criterion provides the query interpreter with the clue needed to interpret the query as the user intended. However, some examples exist where interpretation by the lossless-join rule runs contrary to our intuition. To handle some of these cases, we propose a concept called maximal objects, which modifies the universal relation concept in exactly those situations where it appears to go awry—when the underlying relational structure has “cycles.” We offer examples of how the maximal object concept provides intuitively correct interpretations. We also consider how one might construct maximal objects mechanically from purely syntactic structural information—the relation schemes and functional dependencies—about the database.
System identification with the growing exponential function

A composite system comprising a linear time-invariant asymptotically stable operator in cascade with a memoryfree nonlinear operator is discussed. The input signal is a growing exponential function. The output signal plotted against the input signal yields a curve of the input/output relation of the nonlinear operator.
Computers in Statistical Research

During the years since 1982, research in a small number of leading statistics departments in the United States has undergone a dramatic change as these departments have acquired significant computational resources of their own. Primary support for the acquisition of this equipment has come from the instrumentation programs of the National Science Foundation and the Department of Defense. The purpose of this study is to provide a timely assessment of the current state of computing resources in statistics departments and a projection of future needs. During 1985 the Workshop conducted a mail survey of leading research-doctorate statistics departments and held extensive discussions during two two-day meetings. We have arrived at a series of recommendations directed, variously, at statistics departments, university administrations, professional organizations, and research sponsors.
Water suppression by coherence selection with absorptive lineshape without loss in sensitivity

In this communication, we describe a water-suppression scheme based on heteronuclear -coherence selection, which results in a normal amplitude-modulated signal with the full sensitivity of methods which do not employ coherence selection. This method can easily be implemented in almost every heteronuclear multiple- resonance experiment.
Risk Factors for 30-Day Postoperative Complications and Mortality Following Open Reduction Internal Fixation of Distal Radius Fractures

Purpose To identify the incidence and risk factors for 30-day postoperative morbidity and mortality following operative treatment of distal radius fractures in a multicenter cohort. Methods We retrospectively queried the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database for the years 2005–2011 for cases of closed distal radius fractures treated operatively with internal fixation. Patient demographics, comorbidities, and operative characteristics were analyzed. Thirty-day postoperative complications were identified and separated into categories of major morbidity or mortality, minor morbidity, and any complication. Risk factors were identified using univariate and multivariate analyses. Results We identified 1,673 cases of closed distal radius fractures managed with internal fixation. The overall incidence of having any early complication was 3%. Major morbidity was 2.1%, which included 4 patient deaths, and minor morbidity was 1%. The most common major morbidity was a return to the operating room (16 patients). The most common minor morbidity was urinary tract infection (6 patients). The multivariate analysis demonstrated ASA class III or IV, dependent functional status, hypertension, and myocardial infarction/congestive heart failure to be significant risk factors for any early complication. There was a 10.0% complication rate in the inpatient group and a 1.3% complication rate in the outpatient group. Conclusions The incidence of early complications following internal fixation for closed distal radius fractures was low, especially in the outpatient group. In the setting of an isolated injury to the distal radius, the data presented here can provide prognostic information for patients during informed consent for what is considered to be an elective procedure. Surgeons should consider risk of morbidity and mortality when considering surgery for patients with noteworthy cardiopulmonary disease, increased ASA class, or poor functional status. Type of study/level of evidence Prognostic II.
Modifications of evidence-based practices in community-based addiction treatment organizations: A qualitative research study

This qualitative research effort explored implementation of evidence-based practices (EBPs) in 100 community-based addiction treatment organizations (CBOs) nationwide. The study describes CBO program director attitudes on: (1) satisfaction with EBPs they were mandated to implement; (2) the extent to which their organization modified the EBPs; (3) reasons for modifications; and, (4) the standards they used for modifications. Findings indicate that program directors were highly positive both about EBPs implemented and the modifications made to those EBPs. A broad range of modifications were identified; most common were adding or deleting intervention sessions in efforts to serve the needs of a specific client population. Given the addiction treatment field's lack of standards for modifying EBPs, it is not surprising that little consistency occurred in modification efforts. As government funders of addiction treatments require that CBOs implement EBPs, standards need to be created for modifying and adapting the EBPs while maintaining their fidelity.