cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Neocortical Synapse Density and Braak Stage in The Lewy Body Variant of Alzheimer Disease: A Comparison with Classic Alzheimer Disease and Normal Aging.

Substantial numbers of cortical and subcortical Lewy bodies are seen in approximately one quarter of patients whose brains show sufficient histopathologic changes for a neuropathologic diagnosis of definite Alzheimer disease (AD). This subset of cases has been named the Lewy body variant of AD (LBV). Despite comparable dementia and the presence of neocortical senile plaques in LBV patients, the overall burden of neuropathologic changes, in particular neurofibrillary tangles (NET), is less than in classic AD. While NFT frequency correlates with dementia severity in classic AD, the cognitive impairment in patients with LBV cannot be completely explained by such changes. Since several studies have suggested a role for synapse loss in relation to dementia severity in classic AD, we decided to investigate the role of synapse loss as a candidate for the cognitive impairment of LBV. The Braak staging method is based upon the distribution and severity of neurofibrillary changes, and one therefore would expect LBV cases to be assigned to lower Braak stages. In the present study we assigned a Braak stage to 14 LBV cases, 31 classic AD cases, and a group of 10 non-demented aged controls. We compared the severity of synapse loss as determined by ELISA immunoassay for synaptophysin and Braak stage among the three diagnostic groups. When compared to normal controls, synaptophysin concentrations were statistically significantly lower in both demented groups. There was comparable synapse loss in LBV and AD despite significantly lower Braak stages in the LBV cases. These results suggest a major role for loss of synapses as the substrate of cognitive impairment in LBV.
Electrically controlled colour-changing textiles using the resistive heating properties of PEDOT nanofibers

Conductive PEDOT nanofiber mats were obtained by the electrospinning of oxidant fibers and subsequent vapour-phase polymerization of the EDOT monomer. The mats presented high conductivities as well as unprecedented resistive heating properties. Electrically controlled colour-changing textiles were produced by coating thermochromic inks on the PEDOT mats and triggering the colour change by applying current to the mat.
Transfusion vs Anesthesia-Related Hepatitis

To the Editor. —We read the article on safety of the blood supply by Dr Sloand and colleagues1with great interest. As anesthesiologists, we discuss the risks and safety of blood transfusions with a significant number of our patients and we appreciate this informative communication. The authors state that "residual cases of posttransfusion hepatitis are likely due to anesthetics, cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus, drugs, and unidentified viruses, and at least two new flavivirus-like agents have been reported in patients with hepatitis of unknown etiology." Unfortunately, in the postsurgical patient who has received a transfusion, the etiology of hepatic dysfunction and hepatitis may be more difficult to identify because of other confounding factors, including preoperative hepatic dysfunction, shock in the perioperative period, sepsis, surgical manipulation, and other drugs.2Although postoperative hepatic dysfunction from potent inhalation anesthetics may occur, it is rare. In fact, the incidence of halothane hepatitis is
Rotating Rayleigh-Be´nard convection: Ku¨ppers-Lortz transition

Abstract Rayleigh-Benard convection with rotation about a vertical axis is investigated for small dimensionless rotation rates 0
A new CMOS readout circuit approach for multispectral imaging

A new CMOS readout circuit that implements time-domain weighted superposition algorithm for real-time multispectral imaging is presented. To demonstrate the concept of continuous time-varying technique a test chip was designed, fabricated, and successfully tested using a 0.35um CMOS process.
NetGlean: A Methodology for Distributed Network Security Scanning

Network vulnerability analysis tools today do not provide a complete security awareness solution. Currently, network administrators utilize multiple analysis tools in succession or randomly in a patchwork fashion that provides only temporary assurance. This paper introduces NetGlean as a methodology for distributed network security scanning with a holistic approach to network analysis. NetGlean uses new and existing techniques in a continual, autonomous, evolutionary manner to provide powerful real-time and historical views of large and complex networks. This paper introduces the methodology and describes one implementation NetGleanIP, a scanner for IP and converged networks.
TORT REFORM AND MASS TORTS: TOBACCO AS AN EXAMPLE

: As data regarding the U.S. tort liability system become more refined and dependable, evidence of the importance of mass torts is emerging. Much of the impetus for and debate surrounding tort reform, however, has focused on individual tort claims. The purpose of this research is to consider the unique characteristics of mass torts, particularly those that generate from latent injuries, with regard to the likely effect of currently popular tort reforms. The various tobacco litigation efforts are employed as mechanisms within which to undertake this consideration. The results indicate that care in designing tort reforms is necessary if modifications are to be effective in reducing the litigation costs associated with mass torts. Furthermore, research into the social benefit of various system structures currently being debated is warranted. The risk management and insurance community is interested in the debate and related reforms, both for purposes of reducing costs and for the purpose of increasing certainty of liability outcomes.
Using small molecules to overcome drug resistance induced by a viral oncogene

We used small molecule screening to discover compounds and mechanisms for overcoming E6 oncogene-mediated drug resistance. Using high-throughput screening in isogenic cell lines, we identified compounds that potentiate doxorubicin's lethality in E6-expressing colon cancer cells. Such compounds included quaternary ammonium salts, protein synthesis inhibitors, 11-deoxyprostaglandins, and two additional classes of compounds-analogs of 1,3-bis(4-morpholinylmethyl)-2-imidazolidinethione (a thiourea) and acylated secondary amines that we named indoxins. Indoxins upregulated topoisomerase IIalpha, the target of doxorubicin, thereby increasing doxorubicin lethality. We developed a photolabeling strategy to identify targets of indoxin and discovered a nuclear actin-related protein complex as a candidate indoxin target.
Behavioral toxicology and risk assessment

In order to establish safe exposure levels to toxic chemicals, risk assessment guidelines have been developed. These guidelines evaluate epidemiologic and animal research data on a particular chemical, as well as dose-response relationships, animal to human extrapolation and assessment of exposure levels of populations. Using the guidelines, risk characterization is established in order to determine a strategy for reducing undesirable risk to human populations. Using both human neonatal lead exposure data and results from rodent and primate studies, this review examines the possibility that behavioral measurements are sufficient to provide adequate risk assessment guidelines for lead intoxication of the developing organism. The overall trend in these data during the past 10 years has been to show that exposures to inorganic lead at levels previously considered safe have long-lasting significant alterations in behavioral measures, suggesting that central nervous system function has been altered irreversibly. The conclusion is drawn that behavioral toxicology can provide sensitive, quantitative and reliable data for risk assessment and that in the future these methodologies could be used to set exposure guidelines for other neurotoxic chemicals.
SCNVSim: somatic copy number variation and structure variation simulator

Somatically acquired structure variations (SVs) and copy number variations (CNVs) can induce genetic changes that are directly related to tumor genesis. Somatic SV/CNV detection using next-generation sequencing (NGS) data still faces major challenges introduced by tumor sample characteristics, such as ploidy, heterogeneity, and purity. A simulated cancer genome with known SVs and CNVs can serve as a benchmark for evaluating the performance of existing somatic SV/CNV detection tools and developing new methods. SCNVSim is a tool for simulating somatic CNVs and structure variations SVs. Other than multiple types of SV and CNV events, the tool is capable of simulating important features related to tumor samples including aneuploidy, heterogeneity and purity. SCNVSim generates the genomes of a cancer cell population with detailed information of copy number status, loss of heterozygosity (LOH), and event break points, which is essential for developing and evaluating somatic CNV and SV detection methods in cancer genomics studies.
ESOM: An expert system for multicriteria scheduling

Abstract There exist situations in operations scheduling where the parameters of the scheduling decision are nonquantifiable, or appear as nonnumerical entries in a database. Scheduling techniques based on numerical algorithms may be difficult to use in such situations. In many service industries, the nonnumerical character arises from constraints or preference parameters associated with service tasks, service agents, and the business operation itself. The agent to task assignment problem is one of satisfying multiple objectives, by taking into account the various constraints and preferences inherent in such problems. In this paper, we describe the development of an expert system prototype called ESOM, that aims to automate the assignment decision process of a childcare referral agency. We discuss some key research issues pertaining to service scheduling in general, and to the childcare assignment problem in particular. ESOM provides useful guidelines to future researchers and practitioners interested in building expert systems for service scheduling. We demonstrate assignments made by our prototype through an application scenario.
Causal neuronal networks provide functional signatures of stimulus encoding

Graphical models are powerful tools to infer statistical relationships between simultaneously observed random variables. Here, we used Dynamic Bayesian Networks (DBN) to infer causal relationships between simultaneously recorded neurons in the rat somatosensory (barrel) cortex in response to whisker stimulation. DBNs attempt to explain the activity of the observed neurons by searching for the best network connectivity that explains the observed data. The results demonstrate that the networks inferred for the same whisker are stable across multiple repeated trials. In contrast to networks obtained using classical cross-correlograms, DBN was able to discriminate between direct and indirect connectivity. We also found strong consistency between the inferred connections and the sequence of neural firing relative to the stimulus onset.
Electrodermal predictors of functional outcome and negative symptoms in schizophrenia

The ability of electrodermal variables to predict negative symptoms and functional outcome over a 1-year period in schizophrenia was investigated in 78 young, recent-onset outpatients. Patients were stabilized on standardized medication and largely free of psychotic symptoms. Higher levels of both tonic (skin conductance level, nonspecific skin conductance response rate) and phasic (number of skin conductance orienting responses) activity were associated with more negative symptoms and with a combination of poorer social and occupational outcome at 1-year follow-up. This pattern was seen in both male and female patients, and in older and younger patients. Results are interpreted as suggesting that high levels of arousal and overreactivity to the environment may interfere with efficient cognitive processing in schizophrenia, contributing to poor outcome, and that negative symptoms might partially serve as a means of coping with overarousal.
Epiphytic cyanobacteria maintain shifts to macroalgal dominance on coral reefs following ENSO disturbance.

Macroalgal dominance of some tropical reef communities in the Eastern Pacific after coral mortality during the 1997-1998 El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) was facilitated by protection from herbivory by epiphytic cyanobacteria. Our results do not support that reduction in number of herbivores was a necessary precursor to coral reef decline and shifts to algal reefs in this system. Rather, macroalgae dominated the community for several years after this pulse disturbance with no concurrent change in herbivore populations. While results of microcosm experiments identified the importance of nutrients, especially phosphorus, in stimulating macroalgal growth, nutrient supply alone could not sustain macroalgal dominance as nutrient-stimulated growth rates in our in situ experiments never exceeded consumption rates of unprotected thalli. In addition, thalli with nutrient-enriched tissue were preferentially consumed, possibly negating the positive effects of nutrients on growth. These tropical reefs may be ideal systems to conduct experimental tests distinguishing phase shifts from alternative stable states. Shifts were initiated by a large-scale disturbance with no evidence of a changing environment except, perhaps, dilution in herbivory pressure due to increased algal cover. Community establishment was most likely stochastic, and the community was likely maintained by strongly positive interaction between macroalgal hosts and cyanobacterial epiphytes that uncoupled consumer control of community structure.
In situ mass spectrometry and ion chemistry in the stratosphere and troposphere

Abstract : Ions are generated in the atmosphere by a variety of ionization processes. These include photoionization, collisions with energetic particles and cosmic rays, and at ground level ionization from energetic particles released from radioactive decay of radon and other gases (1-10). Although the ionization process varies, the primary ions are usually similar. The primary ions result from ionization of the abundant neutrals N2 and 0, producing N+2, N+, O+2 and O+. A notable exception is the ionization of NO by Lyman a near the mesopause. The subsequent chemistry is then controlled by less abundant neutrals. As will be shown later, neutrals in the part-per-quadrillion range can affect the ion composition. Ions are lost by recombination with electrons or ions, and in the lower atmosphere loss to surfaces such as aerosols and the ground becomes important.
Levels in U 237 studied by resonant neutron capture

Primary and secondary $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ rays in $^{237}\mathrm{U}$ from resonant neutron capture in $^{236}\mathrm{U}$ have been measured with the fast chopper facility, the neutron monochromator, and 2- and 24-keV neutron beam filters. A level scheme was constructed including 27 levels with spin and parity assignments. Rotational band members of the Nilsson configurations [631\ensuremath{\downarrow}], [622\ensuremath{\uparrow}], [624\ensuremath{\downarrow}], [631\ensuremath{\uparrow}], [633\ensuremath{\downarrow}], and [501\ensuremath{\downarrow}] and of the vibrational bands {[622\ensuremath{\uparrow}] - ${2}^{+}$} and {[631\ensuremath{\downarrow}] + ${0}^{+}$} were identified. There are more levels below 800 keV, in particular, $K=\frac{1}{{2}^{\ensuremath{-}}}$ bands, than expected from comparison with $^{235}\mathrm{U}$ and $^{239}\mathrm{U}$. The neutron binding energy in $^{237}\mathrm{U}$ was determined to be 5125.9\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.5 keV.NUCLEAR REACTIONS $^{236}\mathrm{U}$($n$,$\ensuremath{\gamma}$), ${E}_{n}=5\ensuremath{-}125$ eV, 2 keV, 24 keV measured ${E}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}}$, ${I}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}}$, deduced $^{237}\mathrm{U}$ levels, transitions, $J$, $\ensuremath{\pi}$, photon strengths, Ge(Li) detector, three crystal spectrometer, enriched targets, nuclear structure, Nilsson model, vibrational excitations.
Classmates' Effects on Black Student Achievement in Public School Classrooms.

Abstract In this study we use a large, national, random sample of elementary school students to determine the effects that the racial composition of the classroom and the ability of a student's classmates have on a black student's performance on standardized tests for mathematics and reading. A unique feature of the data set permits us to recreate the classroom environment of each student. Based on our estimated results, we simulate the impact of a change in the classroom environment on student performance. The simulations reveal that, on balance, black students do not benefit enough from higher classmate achievement levels to offset the negative effects of a smaller proportion of students of their own racial background.
Quantitative determination of fragmentation kinetics and thermodynamics of colloidal silver nanowires by in situ high-energy synchrotron X-ray diffraction

Colloidal silver nanowires become instable and tend to fragment into shortened nanorods and nanoparticles at elevated temperatures. Such morphological variations are associated with the transformation of crystalline structures from the body-centered tetragonal (b.c.t.) lattices into the face-centered cubic (f.c.c.) ones. The crystalline phase transformation has been probed in real time with an in situ technique based on time-resolved high-energy synchrotron X-ray diffraction. Comprehensive analysis of the in situ measurements provides, for the first time, the quantitative understanding of kinetics and thermodynamics involved in the fragmentation of the colloidal silver nanowires.
Corticosteroid-induced vasoconstriction studied by xenon 133 clearance.

Cutaneous blood flow in corticosteroid-blanched skin was measured by xenon 133 clearance. Flow rates through symmetrical sites of the forearm in normal subjects revealed no significant differences. A comparison of control sites and those treated with flurandrenolide revealed a significant vasoconstriction at the test site. The results suggest that vasoconstriction activity of topical corticosteroids may be quantitated utilizing isotope clearance techniques.
Innovations in residency education: examples from general practice in the United Kingdom.

There are many similarities in the practice styles and residency training of family physicians in the United States and general practitioners in the United Kingdom. However, three important components of general practice training in the United Kingdom are not well developed in U.S. residencies. These are the final office-based training year, the summative assessment of the trainee, and region-wide educational courses. Each of these innovations offer advantages for efficient training and evaluation and is a potential model for strengthening family practice and other residencies in the United States.
A spatiotemporal model of Twitter information diffusion: an example of Egyptian revolution 2011

Recent social movements demonstrate an important role of social media information diffusion in promoting social changes. Transnational information diffusion may be influenced by spatial proximity between the origin nation and other parts of the world. Proximity implies more than just physical distance. This paper develops a mathematical spatiotemporal diffusion model based on partial differential equations, called "diffusion-advection" model. The model is applied to four sets of global spatial arrangements, respectively based on geographical, ideological, economic and diaspora perspective on proximity. Twitter data on Egyptian Revolution 2011 is used for the model validation. The developed model shows an acceptable accuracy rate. Among the different definition of proximity, ideology-based arrangement (i.e., democracy) explained most effectively the spatial diffusion process over the course of the revolution, showing that different types of messages are diffused at a different pace.
Transfer of reversal training on an odor-cued discrimination in the mouse.

A group of six mice received training on three successive reversals of an odor-cued discrimination problem. Another group of six mice received an equal amount of training on a single discrimination problem with the same stimuli. The mice that had received reversal training were faster in both the acquisition and reversal of a new odor task.
Couple complementarity and similarity: A review of the literature

Abstract This review examines couple complementarity and similarity, and their relationship to dyadic adjustment, from three perspectives: social/psychological research, clinical populations research, and the observations of family therapists. Methodological criticisms are discussed suggesting that the evidence for a relationship between similarity and attraction/satisfaction has been erroneously overstated. The views of family theorists emphasizing the role of complementary structures in dyads are presented, as well as a model of “failed” complementarity as a source of marital dissatisfaction. The few clinical studies available indicate that similarity is associated with marital success and is less associated with marital instability and divorce. Evidence suggests that dissimilarity per se is associated with instability and divorce. Within troubled dyads, there is some implication of a mechanism of stability-maintaining complementarity, as well as spousal differences in level of general emotionalism. Cli...
The testing effect in free recall is associated with enhanced organizational processes

In two experiments with categorized lists, we asked whether the testing effect in free recall is related to enhancements in organizational processing. During a first phase in Experiment 1, subjects studied one list over eight consecutive trials, they studied another list six times while taking two interspersed recall tests, and they learned a third list in four alternating study and test trials. On a test 2 days later, recall was directly related to the number of tests and inversely related to the number of study trials. In addition, increased testing enhanced both the number of categories accessed and the number of items recalled from within those categories. One measure of organization also increased with the number of tests. In a second experiment, different groups of subjects studied a list either once or twice before a final criterial test, or they studied the list once and took an initial recall test before the final test. Prior testing again enhanced recall, relative to studying on the final test a day later, and also improved category clustering. The results suggest that the benefit of testing in free recall learning arises because testing creates retrieval schemas that guide recall.
What's new in CASPER ?

We present some of the new open source radio astronomy instruments, hardware, gateware, GPUware, and software developed by the CASPER collaboration, including new ADC and FPGA boards, heterogeneous correlators, spectrometers, and pulsar instrumentation, as well plans for next generation CASPER tools and libraries.
Reproduction, Development, Longevity, and Host Mortality of Sympiesis marylandensis (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), a Parasitoid of Spotted Tentiform Leafminer (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), in the Laboratory

Sympiesis marylandensis Girault was reared on the spotted tentiform leafminer, Phyllonorycter blancardella (F.), in the laboratory. At 23°C, a photoperiod of 16:8 (L:D), and with abundant hosts, 19 S. marylandensis adult females lived 59 ± 5 (x ± SEM) d and parasitized 495 ± 26 hosts. Females killed an additional 279 ± 11 larvae by host-feeding and paralysis, for a total of 774 ± 35 larvae killed per female per lifetime. The overall sex ratio of offspring was 2.29:1 (male/female). Fourth-instar leafminer hosts yielded 99.3% male parasitoid offspring, whereas the sex ratio was nearly 1:1 on host fifth instars and pupae. The net reproductive rate ( R o) of S. marylandensis was 144.3 females per female per generation under these conditions. Mean generation time was 11 d. Adult parasitoids fed 10% sucrose or honeydew from apple aphids, Aphis pomi De Geer, lived significantly longer than adults given crab apple fruit or water only. Development time from egg to adult at five different constant temperatures was determined; the developmental threshold was 9.1°C for males and 8.3°C for females. Parasitoid fecundity, longevity, generation time, carbohydrate requirement, polyphagy, and restricted use of fourth instars may affect biological control of spotted tentiform leafminer.
On Evaluating the Scientific Contribution of the Apollo Moon Missions Via Information Theory: A Study of the Scientist-Scientist Relationship

This paper describes the difficulties in evaluating large-scale scientific programs. These difficulties are illustrated through a single case study of the Apollo moon program. The paper describes some of the results of a three and a half year investigation into the beliefs of 42 of the most eminent scientists who studied the moon rocks. The effect of the Apollo missions on the beliefs of the scientists with respect to certain key scientific hypotheses is measured by means of information theory. The paper shows why greater collaborative efforts between the physical and the social sciences are required if there are to develop better tools of evaluation, and ultimately, if we are to develop more informed models of science. The study [Mitroff, Ian I. 1974. The Subjective Side of Science: A Philosophical Enquiry into the Psychology of the Apollo Moon Scientists. Elsevier, forthcoming.] on which this paper is based documents the tremendous role that “irrational” factors play in the attainment of scientific objectivity. We need better models of science that are based, if only in part, on what scientists actually do.
Inhibition of the gastric (H+ + K+)-ATPase by fenoctimine

Abstract The effects of fenoctimine, an inhibitor of gastric acid secretion, on the microsomal (H + + K + )-ATPase were studied. In the micromolar concentration range, fenoctimine inhibited hydrolysis of ATP and π-nitrophenyl phosphate by the (H + + K + )-ATPase. Inhibition was reversible and non-competitive with substrate. The apparent K i was dependent on the concentration of membranes, being increased by added liposomes or high microsomal membrane concentrations. Over the concentration range that (H + + K + )-ATPase was inhibited, fenoctimine increased by the turbidity of microsomal suspensions. The effects of fenoctimine were not specific for the gastric (H + + K + )-ATPase, since the hydrolytic activities of the (Na + + K + )-ATPase and mitochondrial ATPase were also inhibited by the drug. These results suggest that inhibition of hydrolysis may not be the direct result of an interaction between the (H + + K + -ATPase and fenoctimine but the secondary effect of a fenoctimine-induced perturbation of the microsomal membrane.
Modelling of shearing behaviour of a residual soil with Recurrent Neural Network

Modelling of shear behaviour of residual soils is difficult in that there is a significant variability in constituents and structures of the soil. A Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) is developed for modelling shear behaviour of the residual soil. The RNN model appears very effective in modelling complex soil shear behaviour, due to its feedback connections from an hidden layer to an input layer. Two architectures of the RNN model are designed for training different sets of experimental data which include strain-controlled undrained tests and stress-controlled drained tests performed on a residual Hawaiian volcanic soil. A dynamic gradient descent learning algorithm is used to train the network. By training only part of the experimental data the network establishes neural connections between stress and strain relations. Although the soil exhibited significant variations in terms of shearing behaviour, the RNN model displays a strong capability in capturing these variabilities. Both softening and hardening characteristics of the soil are well represented by the RNN model. Isotropic and anisotropic consolidation conditions are precisely reflected by the RNN model. In undrained tests, pore water pressure responses at various loading stages are simultaneously simulated. With a RNN model designed for a special drained test, the network is able to capture abrupt changes in axial and volumetric strains during shearing courses. These good agreements between the measured data and the modelling results demonstrate the desired capability of the RNN model in representing a soil behaviour.
Repair of mitomycin C mono- and interstrand cross-linked DNA adducts by UvrABC: a new model

Mitomycin C induces both MC-mono-dG and cross-linked dG-adducts in vivo. Interstrand cross-linked (ICL) dG-MC-dG-DNA adducts can prevent strand separation. In Escherichia coli cells, UvrABC repairs ICL lesions that cause DNA bending. The mechanisms and consequences of NER of ICL dG-MC-dG lesions that do not induce DNA bending remain unclear. Using DNA fragments containing a MC-mono-dG or an ICL dG-MC-dG adduct, we found (i) UvrABC incises only at the strand containing MC-mono-dG adducts; (ii) UvrABC makes three types of incisions on an ICL dG-MC-dG adduct: type 1, a single 5 0 incision on 1 strand and a 3 0 incision on the other; type 2, dual incisions on 1 strand and a single incision on the other; and type 3, dual incisions on both strands; and (iii) the cutting kinetics of type 3 is significantly faster than type 1 and type 2, and all of 3 types of cutting result in producing DSB. We found that UvrA, UvrA+UvrB and UvrA+UvrB+UvrC bind to MC-modified DNA specifically, and we did not detect any UvrB- and UvrB+UvrC–DNA complexes. Our findings challenge the current UvrABC incision model. We propose that DSBs resulted from NER of ICL dG-MC-dG adducts contribute to MC antitumor activity and mutations.
Levo-tetrahydropalmatine decreases ethanol drinking and antagonizes dopamine D2 receptor-mediated signaling in the mouse dorsal striatum

An herb derived compound, levo-tetrahydropalmatine (L-THP), attenuates self-administration of cocaine and opiates in rodents. Since L-THP mainly antagonizes dopamine D2 receptors (D2R) in the brain, it is likely to regulate other addictive behaviors as well. Here, we examined whether L-THP regulates ethanol drinking in C57BL/6J mice using a two-bottle choice drinking experiment. L-THP treated mice consumed less ethanol compared to vehicle-treated mice during the 15% ethanol drinking session while water consumption remained similar between each group. We then examined the molecular basis underlying the pharmacological effect of L-THP in mice. Our results indicated that a single injection of L-THP increased active phosphorylated forms of PKA, AKT and ERK in the caudate-putamen (CPu), but not in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), of alcohol naive mice. Interestingly, we found that systematic treatment with L-THP for 4 consecutive days while mice were drinking 15% ethanol increased pPKA levels in the CPu, but not in the NAc. In contrast to the effect of acute L-THP treatment, no differences were detected for pAKT or pERK in either striatal regions. Together, our findings suggest that reduction of ethanol drinking by L-THP treatment is possibly correlated with D2R-mediated PKA signaling in the CPu.
The role of colony stimulating factors as an adjunct to lung cancer chemotherapy: A commentary

Neutropenia is the most common cause of treatment related morbidity and mortality in cancer chemotherapy patients. Patients developing fever in the setting of neutropenia require hospitalization, administration of broad spectrum intravenous antibiotics, and a diagnostic search for the etiology of the febrile event. The duration of antibiotic therapy and subsequent management are dictated by the recovery of the neutrophil count and whether infection is documented. With current management, in hospital mortality may approach 10% in patients with febrile neutropenia and documented infection [ 11. Although not well quantitated, additional out of hospital deaths clearly occur in patients with unrecognized neutropenia and infection. The morbidity of febrile neutropenia is substantial. Hospitalization may vary from a few days to > 2 weeks associated with numerous diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. The impact on quality of life for the patient and overall health care costs are significant. Such events are frequently associated with treatment delays and chemotherapy dose reductions, with potentially adverse effect on response and survival. In fact, the majority of chemotherapy regimens developed over the last two decades have been designed around the limitations of neutropenia, rather than being based on optimum dose and schedule suggested by pre-clinical and phase I data. A majority of the phase III clinical trial experience with the colony stimulating factors involved lung cancer patients. In the initial work by Bronchud [2], 12 patients with small cell lung cancer were treated with recombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) by continuous intravenous infusion over a dose range from I-40 ,uglkg per day beginning 24 h after completion of chemotherapy with ifosfamide, doxorubicin, and etoposide. Patients received G-CSF on alternating cycles of chemotherapy with substantial
Rising Incidence of Small Renal Masses: A Need to Reassess Treatment Effect

The incidence of kidney cancer has been rising over the last two decades, especially in cases where the disease is localized. Although rates of renal surgery parallel this trend, mortality rates have continued to rise. To investigate the basis of this "treatment disconnect" (i.e., increased rates of treatment accompanied by increased mortality rates), we analyzed patient data from nine registries of the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program. We assembled a cohort of 34503 kidney cancer patients and derived incidence, treatment, and mortality trends for kidney cancer, overall and as a function of tumor size. From 1983 to 2002, the overall age-adjusted incidence rate for kidney cancer rose from 7.1 to 10.8 cases per 100000 US population; tumors ≤4 cm in size accounted for most of the increase. Adjusted rates of renal surgery increased concurrently, most notably for tumors 7 cm. Our results demonstrate that the rising incidence of kidney cancer is largely attributable to an increase in small renal masses that are presumably curable. The fact that increased detection and treatment of small tumors is not reducing mortality argues for a reassessment of the current treatment paradigm.
A Multifaceted Intervention for Infants With Failure to Thrive: A Prospective Study

Objective: To determine whether a multifaceted intervention decreased the incidence of failure to thrive (FTT) in a group of preterm infants with low birth weights and improved the 3-year intelligence, health, growth, and behavior status of the children with FTT. Design: Three-year, prospective, randomized, clinical trial. Setting: Eight large university hospital sites throughout the United States. Sample: Nine hundred fourteen preterm infants with low birth weights who were born at the sites and met study criteria. Intervention: Home visits weekly during the first year of life and biweekly thereafter until the age of 3 years to provide family support and implement two curricula; and attendance at a child development center from 12 months until 3 years of age, 5 days a week, to deliver an early childhood educational intervention. Results: The incidence of FTT did not differ between the treatment and control groups (20% vs 22%). Overall, children with FTT in the treatment group were not different from children with FTT in the follow-up group on any of the outcome variables. However, after controlling for other factors, treatment group membership significantly contributed to the prediction model of 36-month IQ ( P =.005) for the children with FTT. In addition, children with FTT in the intervention group with higher compliance demonstrated higher 3-year IQ and better behavior scores than the children with FTT in the low-compliance group. Conclusions: The intervention did not change the incidence of FTT or the 3-year outcomes in this low-birth-weight, preterm cohort. After controlling for multiple independent variables, marked effects on 3-year IQ were noted. In addition, these beneficial effects were most pronounced in families that were most compliant with the intervention. (Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1994;148:1071-1077)
Grid coverage for surveillance and target location in distributed sensor networks

We present novel grid coverage strategies for effective surveillance and target location in distributed sensor networks. We represent the sensor field as a grid (two or three-dimensional) of points (coordinates) and use the term target location to refer to the problem of locating a target at a grid point at any instant in time. We first present an integer linear programming (ILP) solution for minimizing the cost of sensors for complete coverage of the sensor field. We solve the ILP model using a representative public-domain solver and present a divide-and-conquer approach for solving large problem instances. We then use the framework of identifying codes to determine sensor placement for unique target location, We provide coding-theoretic bounds on the number of sensors and present methods for determining their placement in the sensor field. We also show that grid-based sensor placement for single targets provides asymptotically complete (unambiguous) location of multiple targets in the grid.
Extending and Withholding Forgiveness to Josh Hamilton Exploring Forgiveness Within Parasocial Interaction

Forgiveness plays a prominent role in social interaction yet has received scant attention in the parasocial realm. This research addresses this gap by investigating people extending or declining fo...
Automated lateral sectioning for Knife-Edge Scanning Microscopy

Recent advances in high-throughput microscopy are used to acquire large-scale anatomical information at the microscopic level. One of these methods, known as knife-edge scanning microscopy (KESM), allows large volumes of tissue to be imaged using physical sectioning. This method has been limited, however, by constraints on the field of view of the objective and the need to prevent damage to tissue before it is imaged. In this paper, we describe a simple sectioning algorithm we use to overcome these constraints on tissue size. By maintaining a height field of the tissue surface, we are able to cut lateral sections while minimizing damage to un-imaged tissue. Although lateral sectioning introduces some deformation and tissue damage at the interface of the sections, the damage is minimal and the deformations can be compensated for using affine transformations.
Climate Simulations for 1951-2050 with a Coupled Atmosphere-Ocean Model

The authors simulate climate change for 1951‐2050 using the GISS SI2000 atmospheric model coupled to HYCOM, a quasi-isopycnal ocean model (‘‘ocean E’’), and contrast the results with those obtained using the same atmosphere coupled to a passive Q-flux ocean model (‘‘ocean B’’) and the same atmosphere driven by observed SST (‘‘ocean A’’). All of the models give reasonable agreement with observed global temperature change during 1951‐2000, but the quasi-isopycnal ocean E mixes heat more deeply and hence sequesters heat more effectively on the century timescale. Global surface warming in the next 50 yr is only 0.38‐0.48C with this ocean in simulations driven by an ‘‘alternative scenario’’ climate forcing (1.1 W m 22 in the next 50 yr), only half as much as with ocean B. From the different models the authors estimate that the earth was out of radiation balance by about 0.18 W m22 in 1951 and is now out of balance by about 0.75 W m22. This energy imbalance, or residual climate forcing, a consequence of deep ocean mixing of heat anomalies and the history of climate forcings, is a crucial measure of the state of the climate system that should be precisely monitored with full-ocean temperature measurements.
Enhancement of the superconducting transition temperature of MgB2 by a strain-induced bond-stretching mode softening

We report a systematic increase of the superconducting transition temperature T(c) with a biaxial tensile strain in MgB2 films to well beyond the bulk value. The tensile strain increases with the MgB2 film thickness, caused primarily by the coalescence of initially nucleated discrete islands (the Volmer-Weber growth mode.) The T(c) increase was observed in epitaxial films on SiC and sapphire substrates, although the T(c) values were different for the two substrates due to different lattice parameters and thermal expansion coefficients. We identified, by first-principles calculations, the underlying mechanism for the T(c) increase to be the softening of the bond-stretching E(2g) phonon mode, and we confirmed this conclusion by Raman scattering measurements. The result suggests that the E(2g) phonon softening is a possible avenue to achieve even higher T(c) in MgB2-related material systems.
Evaluation of Primary Critical Ischemia Time for the Deep Circumflex Iliac Cutaneous Flap in Cats

Objective— To evaluate the primary critical ischemia time for the deep circumflex iliac (DCI) cutaneous flap in cats. Study Design— In vivo model. Animals— Thirteen young adult female cats. Methods— An island skin flap was created on the right side of each cat based on the angiosome of the ventral branches of the DCI vessels. The cats were randomly assigned to a flap ischemia time ranging from 1 to 3 hours in 10-minute intervals. Microvascular clamps were used to occlude the artery and vein for the designated time. Flaps were sutured into position after the ischemic period. On day 3, fluorescein dye was administered and the flaps were evaluated under ultraviolet light to assess percent area of perfusion. On days 7 and 14, the percent area of survival was determined for each flap based on cutaneous morphometry. Results— All flaps had 100 percent area of survival throughout the study. On day 3, all flaps fluoresced uniformly compared with the surrounding skin. On days 7 and 14, all flaps were uniformly viable as confirmed by skin color, consistency, bleeding, and hair re-growth. Conclusion— The DCI cutaneous flap in cats can withstand up to 3 hours of ischemia with predictable survival. Clinical Relevance— In a clinical setting, high success rates can be expected with microvascular transfer of the DCI cutaneous flap in cats when the ischemia time is <3 hours and precise surgical technique is used.
Beam life-time with intrabeam scattering and stochastic cooling

A transport equation has been derived in terms of the longitudinal action variable to describe the time evolution of the longitudinal density distribution of a bunched hadron beam in the presence of intrabeam scattering and stochastic cooling. A computer program has been developed to numerically solve this equation. Both beam loss and bunch-shape evolution have been investigated for the /sup 197/Au/sup 79+/ beams during the 10-h storage in the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) currently under construction at the Brookhaven National Laboratory. >
Extending the Elemental Defense Hypothesis: Dietary Metal Concentrations Below Hyperaccumulator Levels Could Harm Herbivores

Previous work has shown that hyperaccumulator levels of some metals can defend plants against herbivores, but the possibility of defense by metal concentrations at accumulator or normal levels is unexplored. This study tested the hypothesis that metals can defend plants at low concentrations. We determined the relative toxicities of eight metals commonly acquired by plants: Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn. Larvae of the diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella), a representative crucifer specialist, were fed with artificial diet amended with concentrations of metal varying from 2 to 3,000 microg/g. Different concentration ranges were used for each of the eight metals, and larval survival at 10-14 days was calculated for each concentration. All metals were toxic to diamondback moth larvae at hyperaccumulator levels. All metals, however, were also toxic to larvae at accumulator concentrations, far below those found in hyperaccumulating plants. Five metals (Cd, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) were toxic below accumulator levels, Cd and Pb were toxic near the concentration ranges of normal plants, and Zn was toxic at a concentration within the normal range. Our results indicate that uptake of certain metals may provide a defensive benefit for plants, and that elemental defenses may be effective at concentrations far lower than previously hypothesized. This study implies that elemental defenses are more widespread in plants than previously believed, and that the ecological consequences of even low levels of metal accumulation need to be explored.
Synthesis of spatially variant lattices

It is often desired to functionally grade and/or spatially vary a periodic structure like a photonic crystal or metamaterial, yet no general method for doing this has been offered in the literature. A straightforward procedure is described here that allows many properties of the lattice to be spatially varied at the same time while producing a final lattice that is still smooth and continuous. Properties include unit cell orientation, lattice spacing, fill fraction, and more. This adds many degrees of freedom to a design such as spatially varying the orientation to exploit directional phenomena. The method is not a coordinate transformation technique so it can more easily produce complicated and arbitrary spatial variance. To demonstrate, the algorithm is used to synthesize a spatially variant self-collimating photonic crystal to flow a Gaussian beam around a 90° bend. The performance of the structure was confirmed through simulation and it showed virtually no scattering around the bend that would have arisen if the lattice had defects or discontinuities.
Big data infrastructure for cancer outcomes research: implications for the practicing oncologist.

Big data on real-world patients and practices are essential for answering questions regarding treatment effectiveness and long-term outcomes.
Exercise is medicine: a call to action for physicians to assess and prescribe exercise

Engaging in regular physical activity is one of the major determinants of health. Studies have demonstrated the benefits of exercise in the treatment and prevention of most every common medical problem seen today. It is clear that patients who engage in an active and fit way of life, live longer, healthier, and better lives. For these reasons, every patient should be asked about exercise at every visit using an exercise vital sign (EVS) and, when needed, provided with an exercise prescription that encourages them to get 150 minutes or more moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Physicians have an obligation to assess each patients exercise habits and inform them of the risks of being sedentary. Such an approach is critical to help stem the rising tide of deaths around the world due to noncommunicable diseases, which are so closely associated with a sedentary lifestyle.
Familie der Herpesviren

Mehr als 25 verschiedene Viren sind in der Familie Herpesviridae zusammengefast. Sie enthalten alle einen Innenkorper aus doppelstrangiger DNS und einen Proteinmantel, der die Symmetrie eines Ikosaeders zeigt und der wiederum von einer Hulle umgeben ist. Diese Hullmembran enthalt Lipide, so das die Infektiositat empfindlich gegen Ather ist. Die Virushulle besitzt einen Durchmesser von 100 bis 150 nm, das „nackte“ Virion von 100 nm und weist 162 Capsomere auf.