cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Measuring gas-liquid partition coefficients of aroma compounds by solid phase microextraction, sampling either headspace or liquid.

Hydrophobic compounds are important odorants and nutrients in foods and beverages, as well as environmental contaminants and pharmaceuticals. Factors influencing their partitioning within multi-component systems and/or from the bulk liquid phase to the air are critical for understanding aroma quality and nutrient bioavailability. The equilibrium partitioning of hydrophobic analytes between air and water was analyzed using solid phase microextraction (SPME) in the headspace (HS-SPME) and via direct immersion in the liquid (DI-SPME). The compounds studied serve as models for hydrophobic aroma compounds covering a range of air–water partition coefficients that extends over four orders of magnitude. By varying the total amount of analyte as well as the ratio of vapor to liquid in the closed, static system, the partition coefficient, Kv, can be determined without the need for an external calibration, eliminating many potential systematic errors. Kv determination using DI-SPME in this manner has not been demonstrated before. There was good agreement between results determined by DI-SPME and by HS-SPME over the wide range of partitioning behavior studied. This shows that these two methods are capable of providing accurate, complementary measurements. Precision in Kv determination depends strongly on Kv magnitude and the ratio of the air and liquid phases.
The Gratton effect remains after controlling for contingencies and stimulus repetitions.

The Gratton effect, the observation that the size of the Stroop effect is smaller following an incongruent trial compared to a congruent trial, is one pivotal observation in support of the conflict-monitoring hypothesis. Previous reports have demonstrated that non-conflict components, such as feature binding, also contribute to this effect. Critically, Schmidt and De Houwer (2011) report a flanker task and a button-press Stroop task suggesting that there is no conflict adaptation in the Gratton effect; it is entirely caused by feature binding. The current investigation attempts to replicate and extend this important finding across two experiments using a canonical four-choice Stroop task with vocal responses. In contrast to Schmidt and De Houwer, we observe reliable conflict adaptation after controlling for feature binding. We argue that the overall strength of conflict is critical for determining whether a conflict adaptation component will remain in the Gratton effect after explaining binding components.
The use of computers for educational and testing purposes

The authors suggest that much time and effort could be saved, in the long term, if CAE and CAT (computer-aided education and computer-aided testing) techniques were implemented in some of the lower-level EET (electrical engineering technology) classes. These programs would involve the use of a computer to generate circuits, solve the circuits, request the students to solve those circuits, and grade the student's answers. Tests would be randomly generated and filled out with random components and component values, allowing the students to effectively repeat a test numerous times since every test would be different. Many subject areas could utilize this type of program; however, the authors focus on a program that is to be used in introductory electrical and analog circuit courses. The authors report on the development and usage of such a computer-aided testing and instruction program. >
The "EP manager": a database management system for electrophysiology practice

A database program developed specifically for tracking all data collected during routine electrophysiology practice (EP) is described. The program is written in Filemaker Pro, a flat-file Macintosh based system. The database provides a standard of data entry and data integrity, easy retrieving and reporting clinical data. It assists in clinical decision making and improves the quality of care of patients as well as provides a historical data for future research and analysis. >
The source of matrix-degrading enzymes in human cancer: Problems of research reproducibility and possible solutions

Matrix degradation is central to tumor pathogenesis. Enzymes that degrade extracellular matrix are abundant in tumors. But which out of the complex mixture of cells that form a tumor produces them? Surprisingly, several hundred studies devoted to this question have provided confusion rather than clarity. Our analysis of these studies identifies likely reasons as to why this may be the case, which has implications for the broader issue of research reproducibility.
Achieving robust design through statistical effect screening

In the verification and validation of numerical models, statistical effect screening is useful to identify model parameters that influence predictions. Studies such as model calibration and uncertainty propagation can then be limited to the most influential variables, leading to potentially significant computational savings. Contrary to local, derivative-based sensitivity analysis, statistical effect screening assesses the influence on predictions exercised by individual variables, or combinations of variables, as they vary between their lower and upper bounds. Often, however, no formal distinction is made between design parameters and calibration variables. Design parameters are defined, here, as dimensions of the design space controlled by the analyst, while calibration variables are introduced by modeling choices. We argue that uncertainty introduced by design parameters should be treated differently from uncertainty originating from calibration variables, because it is of a different nature, and despite the fact that the two sets can interact to change the model predictions. This work proposes a method for effect screening to identify the influential design parameters while simultaneously being robust to the epistemic uncertainty of calibration variables. The objective is to screen out, that is, remove from analysis, the least influential design parameters while making sure that the ranking reached is not vulnerable to the uncertainty of calibration variables that might interact with design parameters. The robustness criterion guarantees the importance of design parameters within the design space, and irrespective of values taken by the calibration variables. The Morris one-at-a-time screening method is utilized to explore the design space and identify the most influential design parameters, while info-gap decision theory offers a criterion to guarantee that the sensitivity coefficients obtained are robust to the epistemic uncertainty introduced by calibration variables. The proposed method is applied to the NASA Multidisciplinary Uncertainty Quantification Challenge Problem, which is a black-box code for aeronautic flight guidance that requires a total of 21 calibration variables and 14 design parameters. The application demonstrates that a large number of variables can be handled without having to formulate any simplifying assumption about the potential coupling between calibration variables and design parameters. It further suggests that, when design optimization is focused on the most influential design parameters, as defined by our criterion of robustness to calibration variables, a better-performing design can be found. Because the computational cost of Morris sensitivity analysis only increases linearly with the number of variables, we conclude that the method proposed can be applied to even larger-dimensional problems. (Publication approved for unlimited, public release on October 9, 2013, LA-UR-13-27839, Unclassified.)
On Transversely Isotropic Elastic Media with Ellipsoidal Slowness Surfaces

We describe all classes of inhomogeneous, transversely isotropic elastic media for which the sheets associated to each wave mode are ellipsoids. These media have the property that elastic waves in each mode propagate along geodesic segments of certain Riemannian metrics. We study the intersection of the sheets of the slowness surface for these media, and, in view of applications to the analysis of propagation of singularities along rays, we give pointwise conditions that guarantee that the sheet of the slowness surface corresponding to a given wave mode is disjoint from the others. We also investigate the smoothness of the associated polarization vectors as functions of position and direction. We employ coordinate and frame-independent methods, suitable to the study of the dynamic inverse boundary problem in elasticity.
Finite Difference formulation to calculate the induced current density profile inside the retina by a microcoil array

Micromagnetic stimulation of the retina is currently being studied by our group. In this regard we analyzed the induced current density profiles inside the GCL of retina by an array of coils carrying time varying currents. We estimate a peak current density of around 100 A/m2 induced inside the GCL using a Magnetic stimulator circuit which uses the principles of under damped LCR oscillations. The induced current density profile shows a very good focus of currents just beneath each individual stimulator which is intended for good retinal stimulations. Further work is being carried out to implement an actual miniature magnetic stimulator circuit.
Combining Ability of Inbred Lines of Leghorns

Abstract THE use of the topcross test for evaluating the combining ability of inbred lines was originally proposed by corn breeders (Lindstrom, 1931; Jenkins and Brunson, 1932). The procedure has subsequently been adopted for use with poultry. Information in the literature concerning the combining ability of inbred lines of chickens is meager, although some use of the topcross has been made. Waters (1938) topcrossed inbred White Leghorn sires on outbred White Leghorn females. He observed that the topcross progeny were superior to both parents in hatchability and in viability at eight and 24 weeks of age. Waters (1941) also studied the egg weight of similar topcrosses. He found no significant difference between egg weight of the topcross progeny and that of the inbreds or the randombred Leghorns. Maw (1942) also crossed inbred Leghorn males with non-inbred Leghorn females and observed the topcross progeny to be superior to non-inbred Leghorns in viability …
An Overview of Symbolic Analysis Techniques Needed for the Effective Parallelization of the Perfect Benchmarks

We have identified symbolic analysis techniques that will improve the effectiveness of parallelizing Fortran compilers, with emphasis upon data dependence analysts. We have done this by comparing the automatically and manually parallelized versions of the Perfect Benchmarks?. The techniques include: symbolic data dependence tests for nonlinear expressions, constraint propagation, array summary information, and run time tests.
Target-Driven and Incentive-Aligned Power Control for Wireless Networks

In this paper, we examine the wireless network power control problem. We first consider two approaches that have evolved in parallel, catering to distinct concerns: (a) a distributed approach with convergence to 'hard' SIR targets, introduced by Foschini and Miljanic [1] and (b) an incentive- based, game theoretic approach, investigated by Saraydar, Man- dayam, and Goodman [2] among others. We then seek to reconcile these two approaches and explore the rich space in between by formulating a utility-based model in which users have 'soft' SIR targets. We prove that, under certain cost conditions, a Nash Equilibrium of the resulting game is identical to the convergence point of the Foschini-Miljanic (FM) algorithm. Thus, one can use the latter in an incentive-compatible way. If these conditions are not met, however, then the system necessarily will operate at a non-FM point, i.e. one in which some SIR targets are not attained. We propose an algorithm for this case and show by simulation that the resulting Nash points may have desirable power efficiency properties. Thus, under our model, the network can be either aligned or not aligned with the FM scheme, each of which potentially has its advantages.
Depressive Symptoms in Rural West Virginia: Labor Market and Health Services Correlates

The prevalence and socioeconomic correlates of depressive symptoms in rural West Virginia were assessed. A random-digit-dialed telephone interview was administered to a community-dwelling sample of adults, ages 18 to 64, residing in the 40 rural counties of the Appalachian State of West Virginia. Depressive symptoms were measured with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Overall rates of depressive symptoms were substantially higher than in the nation as a whole. Gender differences were lower than expected due to a high rate of depressive symptoms among men. Depressive symptoms were inversely associated with higher socioeconomic position. One-third of those who described themselves in "good mental health" reported depressive symptoms. About half who reported depressive symptoms had never seen a mental health professional or a physician for mental health problems. Efforts to increase awareness and access to mental health services are needed to promote the mental health of rural West Virginian populations.
Randomized PCA Algorithms with Regret Bounds that are Logarithmic in the Dimension

We design an on-line algorithm for Principal Component Analysis. In each trial the current instance is projected onto a probabilistically chosen low dimensional subspace. The total expected quadratic approximation error equals the total quadratic approximation error of the best subspace chosen in hindsight plus some additional term that grows linearly in dimension of the subspace but logarithmically in the dimension of the instances.
Comments on "Linearization of discrete-time nonlinear systems and a canonical structure

It is shown that Lemma 2 given in the above-titled paper by K. Nam (ibid., vol.34, p.119-22, Jan. 1989) is not true in general, and the main results of the paper will therefore not be valid for general cases. >
Scope of agency control: assertive community treatment teams' supervision of consumers.

Objective: Assertive community treatment teams have been criticized as being inherently coercive; however, base rates of control practices used by teams have not been well documented. The purpose of this study was to assess the rates at which different forms of agency control, such as involuntary outpatient commitment, representative payeeship, intensive medication monitoring, and agency-supervised housing, were used by assertive community treatment teams. Also examined were program, practitioner, and consumer correlates of agency control practices. Methods: A statewide survey was conducted of 23 assertive community treatment teams serving consumers with severe mental illness. Data were collected on both team attributes and practitioner attributes. Results: Extent of agency control was highly variable across sites. Intensive medication monitoring and representative payeeship were the most frequently used agency control practices. The strongest predictor of agency control was having a higher percentage of consumers on the caseload who were diagnosed as having a schizophrenia-spectrum disorder. Fidelity to the assertive community treatment model was not associated with agency control. However, lower quality of basic clinical services (for example, assessment and treatment planning) was associated with greater use of agency-supervised housing. Pessimistic practitioner attitudes were not significantly associated with agency control, but practitioner education was negatively associated with both representative payeeship and intensive medication monitoring. Conclusions: Assertive community treatment teams differed widely in their scope of agency control, and this variation was not associated with fidelity to the model. Consumer characteristics, such as a schizophrenia spectrum disorder and active substance use, were most closely associated with agency control. (Psychiatric Services 60:922–928, 2009)
Device Models, Circuit Simulation, And Computer-controlled Measurements For The IGBT

The implementation of the recently dcvel- oped IGBT device model into a circuit simulation program is described. It is shown that the circuit simulation program rapidly and robustly simulates the dynamic behavior of the IGBT for general external drive, load, and feedback circuit configurstions. The algorithms used to extract the IGBT de- vice parameters from computer-controlled measurements are also described, and it is shown that the model accurately de- scribes experimental results when the extracted parameters are used.
Statistical audit sampling for portfolio‐at‐risk in microfinance

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a rigorous, statistically correct, and low‐cost way to audit sample a lender's loan portfolio, be they a microlender or other type of lender. No other paper applies this method to loan portfolios, even though it is a high demand application.Design/methodology/approach – Standard techniques of audit sampling and dollar unit sampling with stratification are applied to the particular case of a microlender's portfolio. Unlike the audit sampling that almost all auditors use, no arbitrary rules of thumb are applied.Findings – The paper finds that statistical audit sampling for a lender's loan portfolio is simple, rigorous, and inexpensive.Practical implications – In audit sampling, most auditors use arbitrary rules of thumb and have no idea whether they are sampling enough items to actually be sure, with some desired level of confidence, that they have found no defects. This simple, inexpensive, and statistically rigorous technique will allow auditors who actual...
Number and distribution of polyadenylated RNA sequences in yeast

The poly(A)-containing RNA, isolated from the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, has been characterized with regard to the number and distribution of sequences by a kinetic analysis of RNA-cDNA hybridization. In agreement with results previously obtained on metazoan eucaryotes (Bishop et al., 1974), discrete complexity classes were observed. There exist low, medium, and high complexity classes which contain approximately 20, 400, and 2400 sequences, respectively. This measurements of the number of sequences has been verified by hybridization with single copy DNA. 20% of the single copy fraction of the yeast genome is rendered double-stranded by poly(A)-containing RNA. Assuming asymmetric transcription, this is equivalent to approximately 4000 poly(A)-containing sequences, verifying the results obtained with RNA-cDNA hybridization. In addition, the first-order kinetics of the hybridization with single copy DNA verified the notion that most of the sequence complexity is present at the same intracellular concentration. The same number and distribution of sequences were found in poly(A)-containing polysomal RNA and in total RNA, suggesting that most or all of the sequence complexity is on polysomes and is adenylated. The results indicate that RNA-cDNA hybridization is an accurate method for determining sequence complexity values and that yeast, grown under vegetative conditions, has 3000-4000 different mRNA sequences.
SYNTHESIS OF GLYCOPROTEINS IN BRAIN: IDENTIFICATION, PURIFICATION AND PROPERTIES OF GLYCOSYL TRANSFERASES FROM PURIFIED SYNAPTOSOMES OF GUINEA PIG CEREBRAL CORTEX

— Four glycoprotein:glycosyl transferases (a fetuin:N-acetylglucosaminyl transferase; a bovine submaxillary mucin: N-acetylgalactosaminyl transferase; a collagen: glucosyl transferase and an orosomucoid: galactosyl transferase) were purified 34-, 45-, 37- and 47-fold, respectively, from synaptosomes prepared from guinea pig cerebral cortex. Purifications were achieved by centrifugation and by column chromatography on Sephadex G-100 and G-150 of 0, 1% (w/v) Triton X-100 extractsof the purified cerebral cortical synaptosomes. The enzymes were separated from endogenous acceptors and were highly specific for specific macromolecular acceptors; small molecules were ineffective as acceptors. The fetuin: N-acetylglucosaminyl transferase functioned only with fetuin minus N-acetylneuraminic acid, galactose and N-acetylglucosamine; the bovine submaxillary mucin: N- acetylgalactosaminyl transferase with bovine submaxillary much minus N-acetylneuraminic acid and N-acetylgalactosamine; the collagen: glucosyl transferase with collagen minus glucose; and the orosomucoid: galactosyl transferase with either orosomucoid minus N-acetylneuraminic acid and galactose or fetuin minus N-acetylneuraminic acid and galactose. Each transferase required a specific (XDP)-monosaccharide for transfer. The transferases were entirely dependent on either Mn2+ or Mg2+ for activation and Fe2+ and Hg2+ inhibited each of the four enzymes. The optimum pH's for the enzymes were: for fetuin: N-acetylglucosaminyl transferase, 7, 4–8.0; for bovine submaxillary mucin: N-acetylgalactosaminyl transferase, 7, 7; for collagen: glucosyl transferase, 7, 7 and for orosomucoid: galactosyl transferase, 6, 6. The enzymes were distributed subsynaptosomally primarily in the synaptosomal plasma membrane and in the mitochondria of the synaptosome. The respective values for Km (μM) and Vmex (pmoles/h/mg of protein) for the transferases were: fetuin: N-acetylglucosaminyl transferase, 12 and 143; for bovine submaxillary mucin: N-acetylgalactosaminyl transferase, 25 and 166; for collagen: glucosyl transferase, 4 and 10 and for orosomucoid:galactosyl transferase, 8 and 111.
Oncogenic parallels in Alzheimer disease

Abstract Vulnerable neuronal populations in Alzheimer disease display a phenotype that is characteris-tic, in many ways, of cancer cells. This includes the ectopic expression of a hoard of proliferative cell cycle markers and aberrant activation of mitogenic and oncogenic signaling pathways. These findings have led us to hypothesize that neurodegeneration in Alzheimer disease, like cancer, is a disease of inappropriate cell cycle control. In this review, after a brief summary of cell cycle control, we discuss oncogenic and cell cycle alterations in Alzheimer disease and critically assess their relationship to other facets of disease pathogenesis. Key Words Alzheimer disease, apoptosis, cell cycle, cyclin-dependent kinase, oncogenesis, oxidative stress, presenilin-1 IJNN 2006 ; 2 (2): 80 – 85 REVIEW © RPA Publications. All rights reserved Introduction Alzheimer disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative condi-tion that results in the impairment of intellectual func-tion involving several aspects of mental activity in-cluding, but not limited to, language, memory, emo-tion and cognition.
Recent developments in IFE safety and tritium research and considerations for future nuclear fusion facilities

Abstract Over the past five years, the fusion energy group at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) has made significant progress in the area of safety and tritium research for Inertial Fusion Energy (IFE). Focus has been driven towards the minimization of inventories, accident safety, development of safety guidelines and licensing considerations. Recent technology developments in tritium processing and target fill have had a major impact on reduction of tritium inventories in the facility. A safety advantage of inertial fusion energy using indirect-drive targets is that the structural materials surrounding the fusion reactions can be protected from target emissions by a low-pressure chamber fill gas, therefore eliminating plasma-material erosion as a source of activated dust production. An important inherent safety advantage of IFE when compared to other magnetic fusion energy (MFE) concepts that have been proposed to-date (including ITER), is that loss of plasma control events with the potential to damage the first wall, such as disruptions, are non-conceivable, therefore eliminating a number of potential accident initiators and radioactive in-vessel source term generation. In this paper, we present an overview of the safety assessments performed to-date, comparing results to the US DOE Fusion Safety Standards guidelines and the recent lessons-learnt from ITER safety and licensing activities, and summarize our most recent thoughts on safety and tritium considerations for future nuclear fusion facilities.
Integrating Nanosphere Lithography in Device Fabrication

This paper discusses the integration of nanosphere lithography (NSL) with other fabrication techniques, allowing for nano-scaled features to be realized within larger microelectromechanical system (MEMS) based devices. Nanosphere self-patterning methods have been researched for over three decades, but typically not for use as a lithography process. Only recently has progress been made towards integrating many of the best practices from these publications and determining a process that yields large areas of coverage, with repeatability and enabled a process for precise placement of nanospheres relative to other features. Discussed are two of the more common self-patterning methods used in NSL (i.e. spin-coating and dip coating) as well as a more recently conceived variation of dip coating. Recent work has suggested the repeatability of any method depends on a number of variables, so to better understand how these variables affect the process a series of test vessels were developed and fabricated. Commercially available 3-D printing technology was used to incrementally alter the test vessels allowing for each variable to be investigated individually. With these deposition vessels, NSL can now be used in conjunction with other fabrication steps to integrate features otherwise unattainable through current methods, within the overall fabrication process of larger MEMS devices. Patterned regions in 1800 series photoresist with a thickness of ~700nm are used to capture regions of self-assembled nanospheres. These regions are roughly 2-5 microns in width, and are able to control the placement of 500nm polystyrene spheres by controlling where monolayer self-assembly occurs. The resulting combination of photoresist and nanospheres can then be used with traditional deposition or etch methods to utilize these fine scale features in the overall design.
Novel double prodrugs of the iron chelator N,N'-bis(2-hydroxybenzyl)ethylenediamine-N,N'-diacetic acid (HBED): Synthesis, characterization, and investigation of activation by chemical hydrolysis and oxidation.

Abstract The development of iron chelators suitable for the chronic treatment of diseases where iron accumulation and subsequent oxidative stress are implicated in disease pathogenesis is an active area of research. The clinical use of the strong chelator N,N′-bis(2-hydroxybenzyl)ethylenediamine-N,N′-diacetic acid (HBED) and its alkyl ester prodrugs has been hindered by poor oral bioavailability and lack of conversion to the parent chelator, respectively. Here, we present novel double prodrugs of HBED that have the carboxylate and phenolate donors of HBED masked with carboxylate esters and boronic acids/esters, respectively. These double prodrugs were successfully synthesized as free bases ( 7a - f ) or as dimesylate salts ( 8a - c , e ), and were characterized by 1 H, 13 C, and 11 B NMR; MP; MS; and elemental analysis. The crystal structure of 8a was solved. Three of the double prodrugs ( 8a - c ) were selected for further investigation into their abilities to convert to HBED by stepwise hydrolysis and H 2 O 2 oxidation. The serial hydrolysis of the pinacol and methyl esters of N,N′-bis(2-boronic acid pinacol ester benzyl)ethylenediamine-N,N′-diacetic acid methyl ester dimesylate ( 8a ) was verified by LC-MS. The macro half-lives for the hydrolyses of 8a - c , measured by UV, ranged from 3.8 to 26.3 h at 37 °C in pH 7.5 phosphate buffer containing 50% MeOH. 9 , the product of hydrolysis of 8a - c and the intermediate in the conversion pathway, showed little-to-no affinity for iron or copper in UV competition experiments. 9 underwent a serial oxidative deboronation by H 2 O 2 in N-methylmorpholine buffer to generate HBED ( k = 10.3 M −1 min −1 ). The requirement of this second step, oxidation, before conversion to the active chelator is complete may confer site specificity when only localized iron chelation is needed. Overall, these results provide proof of principle for the activation of the double prodrugs by chemical hydrolysis and H 2 O 2 oxidation, and merit further investigation into the protective capabilities of the prodrugs against H 2 O 2 -induced cell death.
Platelet-activating factor stimulates motion parameters of cryopreserved human sperm

Platelet-activating factor is a naturally occurring molecule that does not appear to cause the detrimental effects to sperm as have been reported for other synthetic stimulatory agents. Incubation of freeze-thawed sperm with low motility with PAF at concentrations greater than or equal to 1.0 microM significantly improved a number of motion parameters (% motility, VSL and LIN). Optimal incubation conditions for PAF were defined at 1 hour and at 25 degrees C. The success of assisted reproductive techniques employing cryopreserved sperm with poor motility may be enhanced by stimulation protocols employing PAF.
DFT Study of Solvent Effects in Acid-Catalyzed Diels-Alder Cycloadditions of 2,5-Dimethylfuran and Maleic Anhydride.

Density functional theory electronic structure calculations were used to explore the mechanism for the Diels–Alder reaction between 2,5-dimethylfuran and maleic anhydride (MA). Reaction paths are reported for uncatalyzed and Lewis and Bronsted acid-catalyzed reactions in vacuum and in a broad range of solvents. The calculations show that, while the uncatalyzed Diels–Alder reaction is thermally feasible in vacuum, a Lewis acid (modeled as Na+) lowers the activation barrier by interacting with the dienophile (MA) and decreasing the HOMO–LUMO gap of the reactants. A Bronsted acid (modeled as a proton) can bind to a carbonyl oxygen in MA, changing the reaction mechanism from concerted to stepwise and eliminating the activation barrier. Solvation effects were studied with the SMD model. Electrostatic effects play the largest role in determining the solvation energy of the transition state, which tracks the net dipole moment at the transition state. For the uncatalyzed reaction, the dipole moment is largely det...
Keratosis punctata of the palmar creases in a 68-year-old African-American man

A 68-year-old African-American man with a history of duodenal adenocarcinoma was found to have innumerable 1 mm hyperkeratotic depressions along his palmar creases bilaterally (figures 1⇓–3). The patient reported having these lesions since early in childhood. He also noted that all men in his family, dating back to his great-great-grandfather, had similar palmar crease pitting. He stated he was diagnosed with keratosis punctata of the palmar creases (KPPC) at an early age and failed to respond to prior therapies including topical retinoid cream …
Ablative Resurfacing: General Considerations

CO2 laser technology has been around for quite some time; however, with the advent of ultrapulse technology, CO2 laser resurfacing became a safe and effective for facial rhytids. The main downside of using the CO2 laser is the extended recovery period. Newer technologies focus on minimal downtime. With the multitude of new technologies, the patient and physician now have more options from which to choose, depending on the desired effect and available window and tolerance for recovery.
Psychophysiological Response Patterns in Anxiety

Prior to the re-classification of anxiety disorders in DSM-III,1 few attempts were made to distinguish subgroups of patients classified under the broad umbrella of “anxiety neurosis.” The discovery that antidepressants prevent the recurrence of panic attacks without affecting anticipatory anxiety or simple phobic reactions2 led to the separation of “panic disorder” from “generalized anxiety disorder.” In a survey of our anxiety clinic population, we found that the two disorders differed in cardiopulmonary symptomatology but not in muscular, gastrointestinal or psychic symptoms.
Emerging Technologies to Study Long Non-coding RNAs

It has been less than half a century since Robert W. Holley et al. used 140 kg of commercial baker’s yeast to characterize the first noncoding RNA (ncRNA), alanine tRNA. Now, 48 years later, advancements in genomic technologies have enabled scientists to study genomes, transcriptomes, and proteomes, on an unprecedented and high-throughput scale, and even at the single cell resolution. These discoveries have completely changed the classical view of the central dogma of molecular biology, as we now understand that protein coding genes account for less than 2 % of human genome, however, the vast majority of the genome is transcribed (Clark et al. 2011) {Lander, 2001 #41}. This means that the bulk of the genome encodes for ncRNA molecules, which can be further categorized into housekeeping and regulatory ncRNAs. The latter can be broadly classified based on their size as small ncRNAs ( 200 bp) (Nagano and Fraser 2011; Ponting et al. 2009). Many of the small ncRNAs have been identified and their mechanism of action has been heavily studied. However, the journey to study the lncRNAs has just begun (Gupta et al. 2010; Wilusz et al. 2009; Derrien et al. 2012).
Molecular Mechanism of LHRH Action in the Gonadotrope

Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone, (LHRH) is a hypothalamic decapeptide which stimulates the release of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) from pituitary gonadotropes. These glycoprotein hormones regulate steroidogenesis and gamete maturation in the gonadal tissue. LHRH and its analogs have great therapeutic potential as clinical and physiological studies indicate that the hormone can be used to regulate serum gonadotropin levels in vivo. Accordingly these compounds have been used successfully in the treatment of cryptorchidism, hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, endometriosis, steroid-dependent neoplasia and precocious puberty. Such clinical advances have occurred largely as a result of improved understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanism of action of LHRH at the gonadotrope.
Multiple Intramedullary and Extramedullary Intradural Tuberculomas in a Pediatric Patient (P1.305)

Objective: Spinal tuberculomas are exceedingly rare. We describe a pediatric case of thoracolumbar tuberculomas simultaneously present in the intramedullary and extramedullary intradural location in a child with previous history of fully treated tuberculous meningitis (TBM). Methods: A 3-year-old boy presented with right antalgic gait worsening over several months. At age of 1, he was successfully treated with anti-TB medications for TBM after presenting with hydrocephalus in India. Examination showed paraparesis worse on the right with depressed patellar reflexes and antalgic gait. MRI of spine showed two intramedullary lesions, an intensely enhancing lesion on the right at T12-L1 level and another non-enhancing lesion in the posterior cord at the T9 level. There was a third, enhancing intradural, extramedullary lesion at the L2 level with marked intramedullary edema and cord expansion. LP showed elevated protein and decreased glucose. Steroids, anti-TB regimen were started with complete resolution of symptoms. Results: Intramedullary spinal tuberculomas are the rarest form of non-osseous spinal cord tuberculosis with incidence around 2/100,000 cases of tuberculosis (2[percnt] of CNS tuberculosis). This case is unique in that it showed multiple tuberculomas in different stages. MRI findings are specific and correlate to the pathologic state, with acute stage tuberculomas showing even and intense enhancement. Target sign with rim enhancement is seen as the center of the tuberculoma undergoes caseous changes. The mainstay of treatment is medical. However, gross neurological deficits, worsening of neurological status despite treatment and paradoxical enlargement of lesion, are indications for surgery. Conclusions: Intramedullary tuberculomas have a classic MRI appearance. Though rare, it is important to be familiar with varied presentation of spinal tuberculosis, particularly in a child from a TB endemic region. Unnecessary and potentially risky surgical intervention can be avoided as radiologic features help distinguish the tuberculomas from tumors. Disclosure: Dr. Ng has nothing to disclose. Dr. Karkare has nothing to disclose. Dr. Maytal has nothing to disclose. Dr. Sy-Kho has nothing to disclose.
HEAT TRANSFER FROM A NONISOTHERMAL DISK ROTATING IN STILL AIR

The influence of a variation in the surface temperature on the heat transfer from a disk rotating in still air was studied. The temperature difference between the disk sur face and the fluid at rest was allowed to vary as a power function of the radius. The results are given as the ratio of the local Nusselt value for a power-function walltemperature variation to the isothermal Nusselt value. (C.J.G.)
Rocksteady: Fast Migration for Low-latency In-memory Storage

Scalable in-memory key-value stores provide low-latency access times of a few microseconds and perform millions of operations per second per server. With all data in memory, these systems should provide a high level of reconfigurability. Ideally, they should scale up, scale down, and rebalance load more rapidly and flexibly than disk-based systems. Rapid reconfiguration is especially important in these systems since a) DRAM is expensive and b) they are the last defense against highly dynamic workloads that suffer from hot spots, skew, and unpredictable load. However, so far, work on in-memory key-value stores has generally focused on performance and availability, leaving reconfiguration as a secondary concern. We present Rocksteady, a live migration technique for the RAMCloud scale-out in-memory key-value store. It balances three competing goals: it migrates data quickly, it minimizes response time impact, and it allows arbitrary, fine-grained splits. Rocksteady migrates 758 MB/s between servers under high load while maintaining a median and 99.9th percentile latency of less than 40 and 250 μs, respectively, for concurrent operations without pauses, downtime, or risk to durability (compared to 6 and 45 μs during normal operation). To do this, it relies on pipelined and parallel replay and a lineagelike approach to fault-tolerance to defer re-replication costs during migration. Rocksteady allows RAMCloud to defer all repartitioning work until the moment of migration, giving it precise and timely control for load balancing.
Effect of different substrates on the germination of seeds Cedrela fissilis Vellozo (Meliaceae)

The present study was to evaluate the Cedar seed germination and the handling of different substrates to elucidate what is the best condition for the species. The experiment was conducted in the laboratory, without control of incidence of light or temperature, leaving them as much as possible under natural conditions. Treatments consisted of four treatments and four repetitions, each repetition consisted of 10 subrepetitions, totaling 40 units (plastic cups) per treatment. Seeds were sown with two seeds per cup. The characteristics evaluated were the percentage of germination and germination speed index (GSI). It is concluded this way that the seeds subjected to the earth and sand worked to conduct tests for germination cedar seeds were those that gave higher percentages of germination and IVG. While the substrates, commercial and land forest were considered unfavorable for conducting germination tests for cedar seeds.
Building a University-Wide Agenda for Intercultural Competence and Understanding: Lessons Learned at the University of Minnesota.

Furthering intercultural competence in higher education requires colleges and universities to establish an intentional, mission driven strategic plan that embeds intercultural understanding and practice across the institution’s work. To secure broad-based buy-in and support, this plan needs to consider the various ways that different units within the academy define, interpret, and view intercultural work. For large, complex and multi-faceted colleges and universities, building this plan can prove daunting as different parts of the institution will ascribe different meanings, purposes, and intentions to intercultural advancement.In this paper, administrators from the University of Minnesota, who represent units that are highly engaged in intercultural competence work, share some of their struggles and lessons learned in their effort to build a comprehensive, campus-wide strategy to grow intercultural advancement. The administrators initiated this campus-wide strategic work following their participation in an international conference focused on intercultural competence. Since that time, they have developed recommendations for the foundational work required to establish a common university-wide framework and comprehensive plan for institutional intercultural advancement.
Ultrasonic Vocalizations in Rats as a Measure of Emotional Responses to Stress: Models of Anxiety and Depression

Abstract Exposure to stress is a risk factor for the development of several psychiatric disorders, including posttraumatic stress disorder and depression. The results of stress exposure can be conceptualized as a shift in the set point from a positive emotional state to a negative emotional state. In adult rats, frequency-modulated 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) have been shown to index positive emotional states whereas 22-kHz USVs reflect negative emotional states. A wide variety of stressors have been shown to reduce rates of hedonic 50-kHz USVs while simultaneously increasing rates of aversive 22-kHz USVs. Heterospecific rough-and-tumble play is hedonic in normal rats but aversive in stressed rats, indicating that stress shifts the set point for the induction of positive and negative emotional states. Importantly, a positive emotional state or antidepressant treatment can reverse stress effects on the emotional set point. At the physiological level, stress suppresses synaptic plasticity in the medial prefrontal cortex, a key structure for instigating the circuit for the hedonic 50-kHz USVs. These changes in plasticity could be reversed by antidepressant treatment or by a positive emotional state. At the biochemical level, hedonic rough-and-tumble play upregulates NMDA receptors as well as insulin-like growth factor-I signaling in the medial prefrontal cortex. Thus, stress shifts the threshold for the induction of a positive state and lowers the threshold for the negative emotional state, which is expressed as a suppression of synaptic plasticity in the medial prefrontal cortex positive emotional circuit. The facilitation of this form of plasticity via multiple independent mechanisms has therapeutic potential for the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders associated with stress.
The Racial Position of European Immigrants 1883–1941: Evidence from Lynching in the Midwest:

The racial position of European immigrants in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries vis-a-vis blacks and whites is debated. Some argue that many European immigrant groups were initially cons...
Molecular Mechanisms of the Modulation of Phospholipid Metabolism by Glucocorticoids

Glucocorticoids are hormones from the adrenal cortex and have diverse effects on the metabolisms of purines, fats, amino acids, and carbohydrates in a variety of tissues and organs. The actions of glucocorticoids have been well documented with respect to the capacity of organisms to resist environmental changes and noxious stimuli, especially stress (Axelrod and Reissin, 1984). These hormones are reported generally to act in concert with a variety of other hormones in a permissive manner. Many hormones, neurotransmitters, and drugs cause release of arachidonic acid, a precursor of leukotrienes and prostaglandins, from target tissues or organs, and glucocorticoids suppress such receptor-mediated release of arachidonic acid (Kuehl and Egan, 1980). Since prostaglandins and leukotrienes are now believed to be inflammatory mediators, the antiinflammatory activity, a major action, of glucocorticoids has been proposed to be associated with inhibition of this arachidonic acid release (Kuehl and Egan, 1980). In the present chapter, I describe the molecular mechanism of actions of glucocorticoids whereby these hormones block the release of arachidonic acid stimulated by hormones, neurotransmitters, and drugs.
Chimerism a natural ability to tolerate kin, evolutionary traits connecting mammalian and protochordates

In the middle of the 20th century, Owen (1945, 1954) and Billingham et al. (1953) immunologicalstudies suggested that fetal exposure to foreign antigens during pregnancy induce immunologictolerance in the fetus. Recently, Mold et al. found that a substantial number of maternal cells crossesthe placenta to reside in fetal lymph nodes and induces the development of regulatory T cells (Tregs)that suppress fetal anti-maternal immunity. These Tregs cells persist till, at least, early adulthood. Thisresult demonstrates how chimerism induces fetal tolerance to maternal antigens during mammalianpregnancy. Natural chimerism is the coexistence of two or more genomic lineages within the sameindividual. It is a common phenomenon which can be detected in a wide variety of multi-cellularorganisms. In mammals, natural chimerism can be established during pregnancy between the motherand the fetus or between fetuses in a multiple embryos pregnancy. Restriction of natural chimerismmainly to kin is also observed in colonial marine protochordates. In protochordates, like Botryllusschlosseri, natural chimerism can be established through fusion of vasculature, between a parentcolony and its progeny or between siblings (adult distinct colonies).The ability to tolerate a partialallogeneic individual and to create a chimeric entity between these colonies is determined by a single,highly polymorphic, fusion/histocompatibility locus (Fu/HC). Colonies that share at least one allele intheir Fu/HC locus would fuse upon contact. A pair that does not share any Fu/HC allele would not. Inthe chimera, cells transmigrate between partners and in some cases, replace the germline and/or thesomatic tissues of the host. This genotype replacement is mediated by stem cells (termedsomatic/germ cell parasitism). Botryllus colonies propagate asexually through budding, thereforesomatic stem cell parasitism in host colonies can induce the development of a partial allogeneic entity(buds) within the host colony. In this way, chimerism in protochordates serves as a state that enablesthe development of a “virtual embryo” within the host colony. In light of Mold et al., study, whichdemonstrates a role to chimerism in tolerance induction during pregnancy, studying the immunological mediators for natural acceptance of partial allogeneic allograft in protochordates may reveal the evolutionary precursors to the tolerance state during mammalian pregnancy.