cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Polymer electrolytes confined in nanopores: using water as a means to explore the interfacial impedance at the nanoscale

Abstract Nanoscale impedance measurements were obtained for polyethylene oxide (PEO) polymer electrolytes confined in porous polycarbonate membranes. Data were acquired using an atomic force microscope coupled with a.c. impedance spectroscopy, which allowed nanometer-size areas of the surface to be examined. It was found that impedance varied little for measurements inside, at the edge or outside an individual pore. Impedance characteristics were also monitored under varying conditions of temperature and relative humidity, to explore the effects with exposure to water vapor. The combined AFM–impedance technique made it possible to monitor events such as water adsorption and absorption at the nanoscale. Impedance data showed little change with water adsorption on the surface. Upon water absorption into the film, impedance values immediately decreased. Absorption also resulted in the appearance of a shoulder on the low-frequency portion of the impedance curve. It is suggested that this feature indicates water absorption at the polyethylene oxide–polycarbonate interface.
Conceptual Framework for Assessing the Sustainability of Forest Fuel Reduction Treatments and Their Adaptation to Climate Change

Applying fuel reduction treatments (FRTs) to forested landscapes can alleviate undesirable changes in wildfire benefits and costs due to climate change. A conceptual framework was developed for determining the preferred FRTs across planning periods, adapting FRTs to future climate change, assessing the sustainability of adaptive responses to climate change, and evaluating the validity of the two premises motivating this issue of Sustainability. The conceptual framework: (1) accounts for uncertainty about future climate change and its effects on management objectives for FRTs; (2) employs biophysical simulation and mental models to estimate the management objectives for FRTs; (3) uses fuzzy TOPSIS to determine the preferred FRTs for climate futures; (4) employs the minimax regret criterion to identify the preferred FRT for each planning period; (5) determines the best strategy for adapting FRTs to future climate change; and (6) assesses landscape sustainability when using the preferred FRTs. The framework is demonstrated with constructed examples for adapting FRTs to climate change for privately- and publicly-owned forested landscapes. Based on the conceptual framework, current knowledge does not allow determining with certainty whether managers’ adaptations of FRTs to future climate change are sustainable or unsustainable due to type I and II decision errors.
Late presentation of allopurinol-induced Takotsubo syndrome

Article history: Received 13 October 2014 Accepted 20 October 2014 Available online 22 October 2014 In the present case the “acute” cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, does not show LVH orME. The late presentation (3 days after the development of the rash due to the ALL, and the associated distress) [1], is in keeping with the patient's “low blood pressure (90/46 mm Hg) with a normal heart rate (72 bpm)”, although this might have been partially due to her beta blocker therapy,which purports an autonomic parasympathetic overstimulation, in patients presenting late in their TTS course
Building Capacity for the Use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in Social Work Planning, Practice, and Research

The use of geographic information systems (GIS) has been steadily increasing since initial applications first appeared in the social work literature in the mid-1990s. However, this increase is not as substantial as one might think. A possible cause for this is the seeming lack of content on GIS that is included in the social work curriculum. In 2003, an elective course in GIS application was developed at a school of social work in the Northeast region of the United States. The course objective was to promote the use of GIS in the field for social services planning, practice, and research. Through hands-on tutorials, the course introduces students to the basic functions of a variety of GIS software including online programs, such as SocialExplorer and BatchGeo, as well as the commercial software package ArcGIS. Participants also learn to locate and manage data from public domain sources and are introduced to advanced spatial analysis tools. This training allows social work students and professionals to pur...
A spectral effect on phase evolution in neutron-irradiated aluminum?

It is proposed that the spatial distribution of transmutation-produced silicon precipitates formed in aluminum by capture of thermal neutrons is systematically modified by the fast neutron portion of the spectrum, and the tensile strength is altered accordingly. The concept is used to rationalize some previously erratic tensile data.
Impaired postural control of the lumbar spine is associated with delayed muscle response times in patients with chronic idiopathic low back pain.

Study Design. Balance performance in unstable sitting and trunk muscle response to quick force release were measured in 16 patients with chronic low back pain and 14 matched healthy control subjects.Objectives.To determine whether patients with low back pain will exhibit poorer postural control, whi
Monodella Texana N. Sp., an Extension of the Range of the Crustacean Order Thermosbaenacea To the Western Hemisphere 1)

Monodella texana n. sp. ist ein Mitglied der Crustaceen Ordnung Thermosbaenacea, welche bis zur Entdeckung dieser Art in Texas (U.S.A.) nur aus dem Mittelmeer-Gebiet bekannt war.
Osteoblastoma of the scaphoid: A case report☆

Abstract Wrist pain is a common complaint that is rarely due to a tumor. We have treated a patient whose wrist pain was caused by a rare tumor, osteoblastoma. The purpose of this report is to emphasize the need to uncover obscure causes of wrist pain.
Detection of parking spots using 2D range data

This paper addresses the problem of reliably detecting parking spots in semi-filled parking lots using on-board laser line scanners. In order to identify parking spots, one needs to detect parked vehicles and interpret the parking environment. Our approach uses a supervised learning technique to achieve vehicle detection by identifying vehicle bumpers from laser range scans. In particular, we use AdaBoost to train a classifier based on relevant geometric features of data segments that correspond to car bumpers. Using the detected bumpers as landmarks of vehicle hypotheses, our algorithm constructs a topological graph representing the structure of the parking space. Spatial analysis is then performed on the topological graph to identify potential parking spots. Algorithm performance is evaluated through a series of experimental tests.
The solar differential rotation and ‘Rossby-type’ waves

It has been suggested that the solar differential rotation might be maintained by nearly horizontal non-spherical convective circulation called the Rossby-type waves (the wave motions characterized by the close balance of the Coriolis force and pressure gradient in horizontal motions). In this paper, such Rossby-type waves which could be excited in the upper solar convection zone are considered, and the possibility of maintenance of the solar differential rotation by such waves is examined. A numerical estimate, in terms of the rate of conversion of the kinetic energy of such wave motions into the mean rotational motion, indicates this possibility. The implications and limitations of the results are also discussed.
Size Exclusion Chromatographic Determination of PEG 3350 in Human Plasma and Urine

Abstract A size exclusion chromatographic method is reported that quantitated PEG 3350 in human plasma and urine to a concentration of 10 μg/ml in plasma, or urine. The chromatographic system consisted of a 500 A gel permeation analytical column, a differential refractometer detector, and chloroform as the eluting solvent. Organic extraction was used as an initial separation technique. PEG 400 was used as the internal standard for PEG 3350, and showed similar extraction properties. Spiked plasma standards yielded standard calibration curves with correlation coefficients of greater than 0.99, and relative standard deviations (n=3) of 2.19% (500 μg/ml) and 6.97% (20 μg/ml). The analytical technique was used to estimate the elimination rate constant of PEG 3350 from 5 normal human subjects after oral administration of 240 grams of PEG 3350. KE was found to be 0.1079 hr−1 0.03781−1 hr (mean s.d.) using the Sigma-minus data analysis method on total urines collected from the 5 subjects at varying intervals.
A digitally-controlled power-aware low-dropout regulator to reduce standby current drain in ultra-low-power MCU

In this paper, we describe a fully-integrated digitally-controlled low-dropout regulator (LDO) with dual-loop architecture, providing core voltage to an ultra-low-power microcontroller (MCU). The fine-grained loop dynamically modulates the active-mode LDO drive-strength using the MCU power-modes information for a maximum load current of 6mA, thereby improving the active-mode current efficiency. The coarse-grained loop, enabled to regulate the output voltage only when the MCU enters the standby-mode, ensures ultra-low quiescent current consumption of 500nA, preventing standby drain. A thermometric binary-weighted power-switch matrix improves the transient response figure-of-merit (FOM) by switching between the different power modes. A charge-pump based voltage monitoring circuit is added to allow for wider input voltage range with reduced ripple. Fast digitally-controlled transient response of the LDO allowed the replacement of the (usually off-chip) large capacitor with a high-density on-chip ferroelectric capacitor, thus reducing the LDO sleep-to-active recovery time/energy and allowing full system-on-chip integration. The digitally-controlled LDO, with a wide input voltage range of 1.75–3.3V and nominal output of 1.2V is implemented in a 0.13µm CMOS technology with an active area of 0.034mm2, achieving a FOM of 4.44ps with standby-mode current efficiency of more than 90% for all practical purposes.
Stability and thermal equilibrium in cable-in-conduit conductors

The stability of modern superconductors depends not only on the cooling and the amount of copper in the cross section of the strands but also on the smoothness of the transition from the superconducting into the normal state. Frequently the latter factor is much more important than the cooling and the copper content. Superconductors with a broad transition are more stable and easier to control than the superconductors with a sharp transition, although the price for better stability might be somewhat lower operating current. The paper gives thermal equilibrium equations and stability criteria against small perturbations and determines the ultimate current that could be reached by a cable-in-conduit conductors depending on operating conditions. The effects of various factors (e.g., magnetic field profile, mass flow and smoothness of the transition to normal state) on the thermal equilibrium and ultimate current are studied and discussed.
Characterization of four cell lines persistently infected with measles virus

Persistently infected cell lines were established by infecting Vero cells with four different strains of measles virus: Edmonston "wild type", Schwarz vaccine strain passaged at high multiplicity of infection, Halle SSPE strain, and a temperature sensitive mutant of Edmonston strain, designated ts 841. The four cell lines have continued to produce virus at a constant low level over a period of more than two years, although cytopathology and hemagglutinating ability have varied with cell passage. Only virus from cells originally infected with ts 841 appears to be temperature sensitive. In each of the cell lines a sizable population of low density, interfering virus particles was generated, indicating that this is an important mechanism for these four cell lines in maintenance of the measles virus persistent infection.
Transcriptional analysis of HIV-specific CD8 + T cells shows that PD-1 inhibits T cell function by upregulating BATF

CD8(+) T cells in chronic viral infections such as HIV develop functional defects including loss of interleukin-2 (IL-2) secretion and decreased proliferative potential that are collectively termed 'exhaustion'. Exhausted T cells express increased amounts of multiple inhibitory receptors, such as programmed death-1 (PD-1), that contribute to impaired virus-specific T cell function. Although reversing PD-1 inhibition is therefore an attractive therapeutic strategy, the cellular mechanisms by which PD-1 ligation results in T cell inhibition are not fully understood. PD-1 is thought to limit T cell activation by attenuating T cell receptor (TCR) signaling. It is not known whether PD-1 also acts by upregulating genes in exhausted T cells that impair their function. Here we analyzed gene expression profiles from HIV-specific CD8(+) T cells in individuals with HIV and show that PD-1 coordinately upregulates a program of genes in exhausted CD8(+) T cells from humans and mice. This program includes upregulation of basic leucine transcription factor, ATF-like (BATF), a transcription factor in the AP-1 family. Enforced expression of BATF was sufficient to impair T cell proliferation and cytokine secretion, whereas BATF knockdown reduced PD-1 inhibition. Silencing BATF in T cells from individuals with chronic viremia rescued HIV-specific T cell function. Thus, inhibitory receptors can cause T cell exhaustion by upregulating genes--such as BATF--that inhibit T cell function. Such genes may provide new therapeutic opportunities to improve T cell immunity to HIV.
Southwestern Internal Medicine Conference: Renal Failure Following Radiologic Procedures

Radiologic procedures that employ intravascular contrast material with or without angiography may lead to renal failure. In procedures that use intravenous contrast alone, the mechanism of renal injury is not precisely known, but direct toxicity to renal tubular cells is likely to be a major factor. Ionic and nonionic contrast agents are both capable of causing this adverse reaction. Renal failure occurring during angiography may also be secondary to the effects of radiocontrast, but the additional possibility that micro cholesterol emboli have been dislodged from atheroma located on the intima of large vessels must be considered. The acute or subacute development of renal failure in the presence of skin changes (livido reticularis), hypertension, multiple organ failure or dysfunction, and a fatal outcome favors the later diagnosis.
Binocular detection of vertical and horizontal line segments.

Abstract Forced-choice detection of small foveally viewed rectangular flashes was examined under monocular and binocular viewing conditions. When the two eyes were independently stimulated by flashes of the same orientation, either horizontal or vertical, detection was significantly greater than expected on the basis of probability summation. When one eye received a horizontal flash and the other a vertical flash, detection rates were at the level expected from probability summation. These results support the conclusion that binocular combination is selective at threshold and not accompanied by inhibition.
Herbivore-induced responses and patch heterogeneity affect abundance of arthropods on plants

Plants respond to herbivore damage by inducing defences that can affect the abundance of herbivores and predators. These tritrophic interactions may be influenced by heterogeneity in plant neighbourhood. 2. In the present study, the effects of induced responses on the abundance of herbivores (flea beetles and aphids), omnivores (pirate bugs and thrips), and predators (lady beetles and spiders) on individual plants and their neighbours between and within patches composed of three tomato plants was investigated. 3. Herbivore damage was manipulated to create homogeneous patches where either all or none of the plants had defences induced by herbivore damage, and heterogeneous patches where only one of the plants was induced. 4. Arthropod abundance on plants at different scales was compared by testing between patch effects (patch level), for neighbourhood effects at the plant pheno- type level (neighbourhood level), and between near and far plants (within patch position). 5. At the patch level, plants in homogeneously induced patches contained fewer flea beetles and pirate bugs, but more lady beetles, compared with homogeneously non-induced patches. There was no effect of patch type on the abundance of aphids, thrips, and spiders on plants. 6. At the neighbourhood level, induced plants in heterogeneous patches contained more flea beetles and pirate bugs compared with induced plants in homogeneous patches, indicating that the abundance of some herbivores and omnivores on induced plants varied depending on the phenotype of the other plants within the patch. Within patch position, there was no evidence that the abundance of herbivores or predators on non-induced plants was affected by proximity to an induced plant. 7. Therefore, variation in plant neighbourhood generated by induced plant responses affected the abundance of three arthropods from three feeding guilds.
Thoracic aortic dissection and rupture in conotruncal cardiac defects: A population-based study.

Abstract Background Although the risk of thoracic aortic dissection and rupture (TAD) is well-known in bicuspid aortic valve (BAV), the risk of TAD in other congenital heart diseases (CHD), particularly conotruncal lesions like tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), truncus arteriosus, D-transposition of the great arteries (D-TGA), and double outlet right ventricle is currently unknown. The primary purpose of this study was to describe TAD in conotruncal CHD, and the secondary purpose was to explore whether an association exists between TAD and conotruncal CHD. Methods and results Using the Texas Inpatient Public Use Data File, an administrative database of all Texas hospitalizations, including >37.9 million hospitalizations from January 1999 through June 2012, 12,016 cases of TAD and 214 cases of TAD in CHD were identified. The most common lesions were BAV (42%), atrial septal defect (21%), aortic coarctation (7%), ventricular septal defect (6%), and patent ductus arteriosus (4%). Three patients with TOF, 2 with D-TGA, and 1 with truncus arteriosus were admitted with TAD. An exploratory case–control study in patients older than 1year using multilevel logistic regression models to evaluate the association between CHD and TAD that controlled for known TAD risk factors demonstrated a significant association between TAD and BAV (OR 10, 95% CI 8.2–13) but not coarctation of the aorta or any conotruncal lesion. Conclusions TAD in conotruncal CHD is exquisitely rare. In our hospitalized population, there was no increased occurrence of TAD in conotruncal CHD above what would be expected in the rest of the hospitalized population.
Clinical assessment of a profession: Roman Catholic clergymen.

The present study investigated the personality of the American Catholic priest by means of clinical procedures. It is based on a national randomly selected, representative sample. Recorded 2-hour clinical interviews plus a battery of standardized as well as specially designed psychological tests were administered to 271 Ss. A clinical report was written for each priest based on all the interview data. Four categories or types of classification were devised to describe and to distinguish the priests along a continuum of socio-psychological development: maldeveloped (8%), underdeveloped (57%), developing (29%), and developed (6%).
Dexamethasone enhances the effects of parathyroid hormone on human periodontal ligament cells in vitro.

Periodontal ligament cells (PDL) are thought to play a major role in promoting periodontal regeneration. Recent studies, focused on characterizing PDL cells, have been directed at establishing their osteoblast-like properties and determining biological mediators and/or factors that induce osteoblastic cell populations in the PDL. The glucocorticoid, dexamethasone (Dex), has been shown to selectively stimulate osteoprogenitor cell proliferation and to induce osteoblastic cell differentiation in many cell systems. In the present study the ability of Dex to modulate parathyroid hormone (PTH)-stimulated cAMP synthesis in cultured human PDL cells was examined. PDL cells, obtained from premolar teeth extracted for orthodontic reasons, were cultured with Dex (0–1000 nM) for 7 days prior to PTH (1–34) stimulation. The exposure of PDL cells to Dex resulted in a dose-dependent increase in cAMP production in response to PTH stimulation. This response was seen in cells obtained from three different patients. The first significant Dex effect was seen on day 7 when compared to day 1 for 100 nM Dex. PTH (1–34) stimulation caused a dose-dependent increase in cAMP synthesis after Dex (1000 nM) treatment for 7 days. Conversely, stimulation of the cells with PTH (7–34) (0–1000 nM) did not increase cAMP production in PDL cells after Dex treatment. Forskolin- (1 μM) and isoproterenol- (1 μM) stimulated cAMP synthesis was not augmented by Dex treatment. Dex treatment did not alter calcitonin-(1 μM) stimulated cAMP production in PDL cells. Glucocorticoid enhancement of PTH-stimulated cAMP synthesis in these cells supports the presence of an osteoblast-like population in the PDL, in vitro.
Schlafen 3 changes during rat intestinal maturation.

Abstract Background Understanding gut development may illuminate the adaptive response to massive small-bowel resection and facilitate enteral nutrition. We reported that Schlafen-3 (Slfn3) mediates differentiation in vitro in rat intestinal epithelial. We hypothesized that Slfn3 is involved in intestinal development in vivo. Methods We removed fetal intestines, liver, and lungs on day 20 of gestation, at birth, and on postnatal days 1 and 5. Expression of Slfn3, markers of intestinal differentiation, and Slfn5, to address specificity, were determined by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Results Villin expression increased on days 1 and 5 (8.7 ± .6 and 5.4 ± .4, respectively; P P Conclusions The data suggest that the developmental/maturation effects we observed correlate with Slfn3 but not Slfn5 and are more relevant to the intestines. A better understanding of how Slfn3 promotes intestinal differentiation could help promote intestinal maturation, improving outcomes in children or adults with short-gut syndrome.
Application of laser-excited atomic fluorescence spectrometry to the determination of iron

Abstract A frequency-doubled, flashlamp-pumped tunable dye laser is used to excite the Stokes direct-line atomic fluorescence transition of iron (296.7 nm/373.5 nm). Limits of detection are determined with single (0.6 ng/ml) and multipass (0.2 ng/ml) and with a l s time constant (a 0.06 ng/ml limit detection is obtained with an 8 s time constant). Noise sources limiting precision at both low (background flame emission shot and flicker noise) and high concentrations (laser pulse to pulse variability) concentrations are investigated and the technique is used for the determination of iron in simulated fresh water NBS SRM-1643), unalloyed copper (NBS SRM-394) and fly ash (NBS SRM-1633).
CALCULATIONS OF STOPPING CROSS SECTIONS FOR 0.8- TO 2.0-MeV ALPHA PARTICLES.

Calculations of $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-particle stopping cross sections based on the theories of Lindhard et al. using the Hartree-Fock-Slater atomic-charge distribution provide generally good agreement with previously obtained experimental results. In particular, the calculations are helpful in understanding the structure which results when, for fixed energy of the $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ particle, the stopping cross section is plotted against the atomic number of the stopping medium.
A Computational Approach for Full Nonparametric Bayesian Inference Under Dirichlet Process Mixture Models

Widely used parametric generalized linear models are, unfortunately, a somewhat limited class of specifications. Nonparametric aspects are often introduced to enrich this class, resulting in semiparametric models. Focusing on single or k-sample problems, many classical nonparametric approaches are limited to hypothesis testing. Those that allow estimation are limited to certain functionals of the underlying distributions. Moreover, the associated inference often relies upon asymptotics when nonparametric specifications are often most appealing for smaller sample sizes. Bayesian nonparametric approaches avoid asymptotics but have, to date, been limited in the range of inference. Working with Dirichlet process priors, we overcome the limitations of existing simulation-based model fitting approaches which yield inference that is confined to posterior moments of linear functionals of the population distribution. This article provides a computational approach to obtain the entire posterior distribution for mor...
An abstract Volterra integral equation in a reflexive Banach space

This paper discusses the existence, uniqueness, and asymptotic behavior of solutions to the equation u(t) + ∝0t a(t − s) Au(s) ds = f(t), where A is a maximal monotone operator mapping the reflexive Banach space V into its dual V′.
TCT-639 NR4A3 as a gene expression marker of acute atherosclerotic plaque rupture in STEMI

Circulating endothelial cells (CECs) that line the coronary artery endothelium are sloughed off during atherosclerotic plaque rupture preceding myocardial infarction (MI). Comparison of gene expression levels in these cells between those experiencing an MI and healthy controls may determine the
Formation, history and energetics of cores in the terrestrial planets

The size, evolution and energetics of the earth's core and the probable central, metalic cores of Mercury, Venus, the moon and Mars are discussed. The cores of Mercury, Mars and the earth are considered likely to decrease in relative mass and volume with distance from the sun; the moon does not fit this sequence and data from Venus are insufficient. Core formation is concluded to have occurred early (prior to four billion years ago) on the earth and Mercury, while that on the moon would have occurred over a longer interval and the core of Mars would have formed much later. Of the possible energy sources in planetary cores able to maintain a molten state and drive magnetic dynamos, the energy of core formation was probably spent too early in planetary history to provide much present power, and the energy gained from freezing an inner core in the earth and Mercury are considered at best marginally able to match conductive heat loss. Future measurements proposed to improve the quantitative understanding of core properties include a better documentation of the magnetic fields of Venus and Mars and the seismometry of Mars.
Emerging Opportunities for Site-Specific Molecular and Cellular Interventions in Autoimmune Hepatitis

Current corticosteroid-based treatments of autoimmune hepatitis frequently have incomplete or unsatisfactory outcomes, side effects, and excessive immune suppression. The goal of this review is to describe the advances in developing animal models of autoimmune hepatitis and in treating diverse immune-mediated diseases that make pursuit of site-specific molecular and cellular inventions in autoimmune hepatitis feasible. Prime source and review articles in English were selected by a Medline search through October 2009. A murine model infected with an adenovirus expressing human CYP2D6 is a resource for evaluating new therapies because of its histological and serological features, persistence, and progressive hepatic fibrosis. Synthetic analog peptides that block autoantigen expression, a dimeric recombinant human fusion protein of cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4, monoclonal antibodies against tumor necrosis factor-alpha, recombinant interleukin 10, tolerization techniques for disease-triggering autoantigens, T regulatory cell transfer, vaccination against antigen-specific cytotoxic CD8+ T cells, and gene silencing methods using small inhibitory RNAs are feasible interventions to explore. Treatments directed at dampening immunocyte activation with soluble cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4, inhibiting immunocyte differentiation with recombinant interleukin 10, and improving immunosuppressive activity with regulatory T cell modulation have the most immediate promise. Progress in the development of an animal model of autoimmune hepatitis and experiences in other immune-mediated diseases justify the evaluation of site-specific molecular and cellular interventions in this disease.
Photolysis of α-Azidoacetophenones: Trapping of Triplet Alkyl Nitrenes in Solution

Selective excitation of the ketone chromophore in α-azidoacetophenones, 1, leads to intramolecular triplet energy transfer to the azido group, which forms the corresponding triplet alkyl nitrene, 2. Azides 1 also undergo α-cleavage to form benzoyl and methyl azido radicals in competition with nitrene formation. Thus the major photoproduct, 2-benzoylamino-1-phenylethanone, 3, comes from trapping of 2 with a benzoyl radical. This appears to be the first observation of bimolecular trapping of triplet alkyl nitrenes in solution.
Analysis of the induction and deinduction of tyrosine aminotransferase in enucleated HTC cells.

Anucleate HTC cells have been used to determine the importance of the nucleus in the regulation of the intracellular levels of tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT) in hepatoma tissue culture (HTC) cells. In the absence of the nucleus, neither the induction of the enzyme by dexamethasone nor its deinduction upon removal of the hormone occurs. Degradation of the enzyme takes place when protein synthesis is inhibited in anucleates by cycloheximide. Therefore, the maintenance of induced levels of enzyme activity after dexamethasone withdrawal from pre-induced anucleates suggests that the nucleus is required for the inactivation of the TAT mRNA.
Membrane immunoglobulin-cytoskeletal interactions—II. Biochemical analysis of cytoskeletally associated IgM☆

In a previous paper [Albrecht and Noelle, J. Immun.141, 3915 (1988)], biochemical and flow cytofluorometric analysis revealed a 78,000 mol. wt cell surface protein that was constitutively associated with the detergent-insoluble fraction (cytoskeleton) of B lymphocytes. The identity of this band was serologically confirmed as IgM and was therefore referred to as cyto-IgM. Since cyto-IgM may play an integral role in mIgM-cytoskeletal interactions, the molecular nature of cyto-IgM was investigated. In its non-reduced form, cyto-IgM was pentameric. Treatment with endoglycosidase F revealed an Ig heavy chain with a mol. wt of 66,000, which was identical to secreted IgM. The cell surface location of cyto-IgM was independently verified by its sensitivity to protease digestion in intact cells. Conditions which eluted cytophilic Ig from the cell surface did not displace cyto-IgM. Cyto-IgM was present in resting B lymphocytes but absent in neonatal cells. The function of cyto-IgM is discussed in the light of these results.
DEMOCRATIZATION, POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS, AND ETHNIC CONFLICT A Pooled Time-Series Analysis, 1985-1998

Although there has been much debate about whether democratization causes ethnic conflict, and many comparativists have argued about which kinds of political institutions are best for managing commu...
Polyethylene glycol-based bidentate ligands to enhance quantum dot and gold nanoparticle stability in biological media

We describe a simple and versatile scheme to prepare a series of poly(ethylene glycol)-based bidentate ligands that permit strong interactions with colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals (quantum dots, QDs) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) alike and promote their dispersion in aqueous solutions. These ligands are synthesized by coupling poly(ethylene glycol)s of various chain length to thioctic acid, followed by ring opening of the 1,2-dithiolane moiety to create a bidentate thiol anchoring group with enhanced affinity for CdSe-ZnS core-shell QDs. These ligands provide a straightforward means of preparing QDs and AuNPs that exhibit greater resistance to environmental changes, facilitating their effective use in bioassays and live cell imaging.
Psychotropic and anticonvulsant drugs in subjects with autism: prevalence and patterns of use.

ABSTRACT Objective To survey the prevalence and patterns of psychotropic and anticonvulsant medication and vitamin treatments in patients with autism. Method Caregivers of 1,595 index cases were sent survey questionnaires by mail, and repeat questionnaires were sent twice if no reply was received. Results A total of 838 care providers (53%) responded to the survey. In all, 33.8% of the sample was taking some psychotropic drug or vitamin for autism or associated behavioral/psychiatric problems. A total of 19.2% reported having epilepsy, but only 13.2% were taking anticonvulsant drugs. More than 50% of the sample was taking some psychotropic, antiepileptic, vitamin, or “medical” agent. Of the agents taken, care providers were most satisfied with anticonvulsants, antidepressants, and stimulants. The use of each drug group was analyzed with respect to subject and demographic variables to evaluate medication patterns within this population. Conclusion As in the often related clinical population of mental retardation, psychotropic medication appears to be heavily used in patients with autism.
Gastrointestinal factors in hunger and satiety

The evidence for the participation of signals from the gastrointestinal tract in hunger and satiety is reviewed. Various methods of subjecting only certain portions of the gastrointestinal tract to food are described including sham feeding, crossing of the intestines of two animals, and intragastric, intraduodenal and intravenous feeding. These methods have revealed that animals eat more when only the mouth is exposed to food, but consume less when food enters the stomach directly and still less when feeding themselves intravenously. The role of the stomach in satiety is discussed in relation to the results of the many experiments in which intragastric loads were administered. These experiments generally revealed that gastric loads suppressed intake in proportion to their caloric value, but that compensation was not precise. A similar analysis is made of the role of the intestines in satiety. These studies present evidence for osmoreceptors and glucoreceptors, distention, and pressure, all of which may participate in satiety. The numerous effects of vagotomy on food intake are reviewed and an attempt is made to separate afferent from efferent effects and vagal effects from nonspecific surgical injury. The role of other afferents is explored. A brief survey of the most recent studies on humoral factors indicates that cholecystokinin is probably acting as a satiety agent, but its mode of action remains unknown. The changes in the gastrointestinal tract that accompany an increase or decrease in food intake reveal adaptive changes that occur in the organ. The evidence for gastrointestinal factors in satiety of the suckling animal is presented. Finally, a hypothesis is presented in which the various factors that bring a meal to an end are included. Preabsorptive satiety may consist of multiple factors which probably include signals from osmoreceptors and possibly other chemoreceptors in the upper small intestine. The signals from these receptors are neural while other products of digestion stimulate the release of humoral agents, such as cholecystokinin, which may act locally, in the liver, or on the central nervous system. Stretch or distention of the intestines at various locations may also contribute to preabsorptive satiety.
The Application of Bond Graphs to Electrical Machinery and Power Engineering

The bond graph technique, which has been related almost entirely to the field of mechanics, is a modeling procedure where emphasis is placed on the flow of power and energy in a system. Through specific digital simulation programs such as ENPORT IV and V and THTSIM the state space representation, associated output equations and system dynamic response are directly obtainable from the bond graphs. This approach has a great advantage where a complex system is composed of electrical, mechanical, thermal, hydraulic or pneumatic subsystems, such as would exist, for example; in a boiler, turbine, generator exciter system together with its associated controls.
Disc Mechanics With Trans-Endplate Partial Nucleotomy are not Fully Restored Following Cyclic Compressive Loading and Unloaded Recovery

Mechanical function of the intervertebral disc is maintained through the interaction between the hydrated nucleus pulposus, the surrounding annulus fibrosus, and the superior and inferior endplates. In disc degeneration the normal transfer of load between disc substructures is compromised. The objective of this study was to explore the mechanical role of the nucleus pulposus in support of axial compressive loads over time. This was achieved by measuring the elastic slow ramp and viscoelastic stress-relaxation mechanical behaviors of cadaveric sheep motion segments before and after partial nucleotomy through the endplate (keeping the annulus fibrosus intact). Mechanics were evaluated at five conditions: Intact, intact after 10,000 cycles of compression, acutely after nucleotomy, following nucleotomy and 10,000 cycles of compression, and following unloaded recovery. Radiographs and magnetic resonance images were obtained to examine structure. Only the short time constant of the stress relaxation was altered due to nucleotomy. In contrast, cyclic loading resulted in significant and large changes to both the stiffness and stress relaxation behaviors. Moreover, the nucleotomy had little to no effect on the disc mechanics after cyclic loading, as there were no significant differences comparing mechanics after cyclic loading with or without the nucleotomy. Following unloaded recovery the mechanical changes that had occurred as a consequence of cyclic loading were restored, leaving only a sustained change in the short time constant due to the trans-endplate nucleotomy. Thus the swelling and redistribution of the remaining nucleus pulposus was not able to fully restore mechanical behaviors. This study reveals insights into the role of the nucleus pulposus in disc function, and provides new information toward the potential role of altered nucleus pulpous function in the degenerative cascade.
A Tabletop Flexible Manufacturing Cell for Use in the Production/Operations Management Classroom

A simple tabletop flexible manufacturing cell (FMC) was developed for use in senior level operations management and quality assurance management courses. This article explores the use of this FMC in a variety of classroom situations, such as (a) in demonstrations and integrative case studies designed to increase student understanding of how to apply class materials and information; and (b) in MBA students' directed studies in the management of technology.
An Evaluation of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory Cray XT3

In 2005, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) received delivery of a 5294 processor Cray XT3. The XT3 is Cray's third-generation massively parallel processing system. The ORNL system uses a single-processor node built around the AMD Opteron and uses a custom chip—called SeaStar—for interprocessor communication. The system uses a lightweight operating system called Catamount on its compute nodes. This paper provides a performance evaluation of the Cray XT3, including measurements for micro-benchmark, kernel, and application benchmarks. In particular, we provide performance results for strategic Department of Energy applications areas including climate, biology, astrophysics, combustion, and fusion. Our results, on up to 4096 processors, demonstrate that the Cray XT3 provides competitive processor performance, high interconnect bandwidth, and high parallel efficiency on a diverse application workload, typical in the DOE Office of Science.
Hydrogen production by a hyperthermophilic membrane-bound hydrogenase in water-soluble nanolipoprotein particles.

Hydrogenases constitute a promising class of enzymes for ex vivo hydrogen production. Implementation of such applications is currently hindered by oxygen sensitivity and, in the case of membrane-bound hydrogenases (MBHs), poor water solubility. Nanolipoprotein particles (NLPs) formed from apolipoproteins and phospholipids offer a novel means of incorporating MBHs into a well-defined water-soluble matrix that maintains the enzymatic activity and is amenable to incorporation into more complex architectures. We report the synthesis, hydrogen-evolving activity, and physical characterization of the first MBH−NLP assembly. This may ultimately lead to the development of biomimetic hydrogen-production devices.
The Slippery Slope: Touch in Dynamic Psychiatry

Abstract This article is a telescoped narrative of a seven year psychodynamic therapy with a chronically depressed, chronically suicidal, often paranoid woman who presented with a classic Borderline Personality Disorder. An unexpected and powerful moment of physical contact in an otherwise austere therapeutic relationship marked a turning point in a treatment that was blocked. After the patient and clinician integrated this experience, there was a subtle but significant change in the transference reflecting a change in her core paranoid structure.
Loneliness: the experience of emotional and social isolation

Loneliness is among the most common distresses. In one survey, a quarter of Americans interviewed said that they had suffered from loneliness within the past few weeks. Yet for a condition so pervasive, loneliness has received little professional attention.Loneliness: The Experience of Emotional and Social Isolation brings together papers which attempt to capture the phenomena of loneliness with case materials that illuminate the descriptive and theoretical acccounts. It is organized into seven sections, covering: explanations for the neglect of loneliness, and an attept to describe the condition; mechanisms underlying some forms of loneliness; a discussion of situations in which loneliness is commonly found; loneliness among those suffering the loss of a loved one; the loneliness of social isolation; resources available to the lonely; and, finally, a look at issues yet to be dealt with and some suggestions for the management of loneliness. This book is a useful resource for social scientists, clinicians, and individuals who now or in the future may suffer from loneliness.
An Efficient Procedure for the Mild Oxidative Cleavage of Alkene-3-Ols: Application to the Preparation of 2-Alkoxy-2-(3,4,5-Trimethoxyphenyl)- Acetaldehyde

Abstract A new procedure for the oxidative cleavage of alken-3-ols to α-alkoxy aldehydes has been developed using a combination of OsO4/Et3N/KIO4/di-benzo-18-crown-6-ether in benzene/water. This extremely mild method has been applied to several 2-alkoxy-2-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)acetaldehydes.
A cognitive action theory of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Abstract Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder characterized in part by such phenomena as intrusive memories, flashbacks, numbing of affect, memory and attentional impairment, hyperalartness, and adjustment difficulties. In this paper we describe a new theoretical approach to understanding PTSD in combat veterans that has implications for understanding PTSD resulting from other life-threatening situations, and for understanding other anxiety disorders and ordinary cognitive processes. Previous approaches to understanding PTSD have derived from associative learning theory, from a reinterpretation of psychodynamic theory, or from general notions of information processing. The perspective presented in this paper integrates these previous approaches and elaborates them into a hierarchical network view of cognition and action. According to this view, emotion, action, and memory all flow from the processing of information by specific mental network structures. The symptoms of PTSD are derived from structures that were acquired during combat because they were then adaptive in promoting the soldier's survival, but now lead to actions that are inappropriate for the civilian environment. The presence of these structures continues to produce difficulties for some individuals. Such occurs because they are particularly susceptible to a vicious-cycle positive feedback loop in which mild evidence of threat activates threat-response structures that bias the individual to interpret ambiguous evidence as threatening. This, then, further raises the threat arousal, further activates the threat-response structures, and so forth. The implications of this view for the treatment of PTSD and other anxiety disorders are discussed.
Prevalence and risk and protective factors related to disordered eating behaviors among adolescents: relationship to gender and ethnicity

Abstract Purpose: To examine the current prevalence of disordered eating behaviors in a large sample of adolescents, by gender and ethnicity, and to identify gender and ethnic-specific risk and protective factors. Methods: The study population included 81,247 9th- and 12th-graders who completed the 1998 Minnesota Student Survey, a self-report, school-based survey which included questions about disordered eating behaviors and a variety of psychosocial characteristics. Results: Fifty-six percent of 9th-grade females and 28% of 9th-grade males report disordered eating behaviors (i.e. one or more of the following to lose or control weight: fasting or skipping meals, diet pills, vomiting, laxatives or smoking cigarettes; and binge-eating), with slightly higher rates among 12th-grade females and males, 57% and 31%, respectively. Among both genders, Hispanic and American Indian youth reported the highest prevalence of disordered eating. Risk factors for disordered eating among both males and females included cigarette smoking, appearance concerns, and alcohol use. Protective factors for both males and females were positive self-esteem, emotional well-being, school achievement, and family connectedness. While risk and protective factors were similar across gender, they differed across ethnicity particularly among females. Conclusions: Health professionals working with youth need to be aware of the high prevalence of these subclinical disordered eating behaviors, ask appropriate screening questions, and provide resources and referral, if necessary, for youth reporting these behaviors. Knowledge of risk and protective factors can serve to guide intervention and prevention efforts, particularly as they apply across ethnicity.
Preface to the special issue

The meeting series “International Symposium on Artificial Intelligence and Mathematics” (ISAIM) has been held every other year in Fort Lauderdale, Florida since 1990. The series is remarkable for the breadth of its scope, while still remaining within the meeting place of mathematics with AI. In recent years, the custom has been to have a few focused tracks as well as a general track. ISAIM 2012, the twelfth biennial ISAIM, featured three focused tracks:
A Review of Outcome Measures in Early Childhood Programs

Abstract The authors undertook a review of measures available for assessing outcomes of early childhood services for children with disabilities and their families. With principles of family-centered practice mandating the inclusion of both family and child outcome measures in effective evaluation plans, the review examined measures with established psychometric properties for (a) documenting the effectiveness of partnerships with families, and (b) documenting the effectiveness of services and supports for families. Constructs and their associated measures related to partnerships include satisfaction with the overall program and empowerment. The constructs for outcomes of supports and services include social support, parenting, and family quality of life. The authors reviewed measures for each of the five constructs. They note that the selection of appropriate measures to assess the outcomes of family support and services depends on the specific configuration of support services provided by the program and that each program may have to be explicit about the outcomes it wants to impact and therefore measure.