cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Attenuation of Inflammatory Disease by Reduction of Interleukin-1 Production or Receptor Antagonism

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) is a 17-kDa pro-inflammatory cytokine synthesized from a variety of cell types primarily in association with disease states or during host perturbation such as immune responses. At pM or even fM concentrations, IL-1 triggers various responses in nearly all cells. It appears that there is little or no major role for IL-1 in homeostatic mechanisms. There are two IL-l’s (α and β) each with its distinct sequence; there are two IL-1 receptors. Disease states such as local and systemic infection, septic shock, degenerative arthritis, and autoimmune diseases such as nephritis, vasculitis, and inflammatory bowel disease appear to be mediated, in part, by IL-1. Organ failure, capillary leak, and death occur in animals after a combination of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and EL-1 which is more effective in inducing these changes than either cytokine alone. IL-1 is also a potent inducer of the endothelial cell adhesion molecules, IL-6, and IL-8, a neutrophil chemotactic and activating factor. Strategies for reducing the effects of IL-1 have been based on suppression of transcription, translation, or secretion; more recently, receptor blockade has been a new approach. A naturally occurring IL-l-specific receptor antagonist (IL-lra), which shares 40% conserved amino acid homology with IL-lb, binds to IL-1 surface receptors with the same affinity as IL-1 but does not possess agonist activity and acts as a competitive inhibitor of IL-1. Studies using the IL-lra to block endogenous IL-1 in a variety of animal disease models suggest that IL-1 plays a key role in triggering the cascade of inflammatory responses. In addition, the IL-lra reduces the spontaneous production of growth factors and proliferation of leukemic cells. The IL-lra may be an advantageous therapy in patients with sepsis, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, arthritis, and cancer.
Velocity correction for neutron activation diagnostics at the NIF

The velocity distribution of the hotspot in an inertial confinement fusion implosion changes the energy spectra of fusion neutrons emitted from the experiment as a function of viewing angle. These velocity-induced spectral changes affect the response of neutron activation diagnostics (NADs) positioned around the experiment and must be accounted for to correctly extract information about areal density (ρR) asymmetry from the data. Three mechanisms through which average hotspot velocity affects NAD activation are addressed: change in activation cross section due to the Doppler shift of the mean neutron energy, kinematic focusing of neutron fluence, and change in the scattering cross section due to the Doppler shift. Using the hotspot velocity inferred from neutron time-of-flight measurements of D-T and D-D fusion neutrons, the hotspot velocity is shown to account for the observed NAD activation asymmetry in a calibration shot with negligible fuel ρR. A robust method to evaluate uncertainties in spherical-harmonic fits to the NAD data due to the velocity correction and detector uncertainty is discussed.
Lineage Tracing in Humans Enabled by Mitochondrial Mutations and Single-Cell Genomics.

Summary Lineage tracing provides key insights into the fate of individual cells in complex organisms. Although effective genetic labeling approaches are available in model systems, in humans, most approaches require detection of nuclear somatic mutations, which have high error rates, limited scale, and do not capture cell state information. Here, we show that somatic mutations in mtDNA can be tracked by single-cell RNA or assay for transposase accessible chromatin (ATAC) sequencing. We leverage somatic mtDNA mutations as natural genetic barcodes and demonstrate their utility as highly accurate clonal markers to infer cellular relationships. We track native human cells both in vitro and in vivo and relate clonal dynamics to gene expression and chromatin accessibility. Our approach should allow clonal tracking at a 1,000-fold greater scale than with nuclear genome sequencing, with simultaneous information on cell state, opening the way to chart cellular dynamics in human health and disease.
REPORT ON THE WORKSHOP: “RECOGNITION OF LEUKOCYTE SUBPOPULATIONS BY CELL SPECIFIC MEMBRANE ANTIGENS”

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews a report of a workshop on the topic “Recognition of Leukocyte Subpopulations by Cell Specific Membrane Antigens.” This workshop reviewed the antigenic markers specific for leukocyte subpopulations in animal models and humans, it focused on the practical conditions for preparing adequate antisera, criteria for specificity, and use of these antisera for the characterization of differentiation stages and for the distinction between cell subsets. The surface expression of mouse T-lymphocyte alloantigens is determined by at least seven gene loci. The concentration of antigens such as thymus leukemia (TL) or Thy-1 on thymocytes or T lymphocytes is dependent on the stage of differentiation of the cell. Among peripheral lymphocytes with a Thy-1 phenotype, three subclasses of cells can be distinguished on the basis of their Ly expression, namely, Ly-123+, Ly-1+ cells, and Ly-23+ cells. The Ly-1+ cell subset can exhibit a helper function, while Ly-23+ cells are capable of killer activity or of suppressor activity. Ia antigens are expressed on the majority of B lymphocytes, on macrophages and on a T-cell subpopulation. The Ia T-cell subset includes suppressor cells but not helper cells. Thus, different cells are responsible for the suppressive and the helper activities. The presence of Fc receptors has also been used as a marker for T-cell subsets. Fc receptors can be demonstrated on mouse killer T-cells but not on helper cells.
A Preliminary Assessment of the Validity and Reliability of the Performance Diagnostic Checklist-Human Services

The Performance Diagnostic Checklist-Human Services (PDC-HS) is an informant-based tool used to identify the environmental variables contributing to employee performance problems in human service s...
Sexual reproduction is more prevalent in continental landscapes in the expanding arctic shrub, Salix glauca

Abstract The recent expansion of arctic deciduous shrubs has been well documented across a range of habitats, but the phenomenon is not universal. Their spread is often associated with increases in temperature and other abiotic factors, while variation in habitat moisture and herbivory can mediate the location and rate of this rise in abundance. Much less is known about the mode of increase of arctic shrubs. For one such shrub, Salix glauca, we used microsatellite markers to assess the prevalence of clonal growth (i.e. vegetative spread) and sexual reproduction (i.e. recruitment from seed) at sites with maritime and continental climates and differing in the density of large herbivores. We sampled individuals in plots reflecting the spatial scale of expansion in locations where S. glauca recently increased in abundance. The 400 samples collected across the four sites comprised 310 genotypes. Though evidence of sexual recruitment was common across all sites, coastal sites contained both more and larger clonal genotypes. While we expected soil conditions would be influential, the factors that best predicted the likelihood of clonality, genet size and vascular plant cover, suggest the light environment is of primary importance. Furthermore, in spite of the large distances between sites, there was no suggestion of genetic differentiation into distinct populations. These results indicate that differences in climate and herbivory can influence not only where and how extensively deciduous shrubs spread, but how they are likely to do so. We suggest future research integrating how mode of increase is associated with the rate of spread will advance projections of change in arctic ecosystems.
Incidence of delayed intracranial hypertension in children with isolated sagittal synostosis following open calvarial vault reconstruction

Delayed intracranial hypertension (DIH) occurs most frequently in children with syndromic or multi-suture synostosis after surgical correction. The rarity of DIH in children with isolated non-syndromic sagittal synostosis (ISS) warrants follow-up evaluation by large craniofacial centers until skeletal maturity. This study reports the incidence of DIH in children following open repair for ISS by our center’s craniofacial team. A single-center retrospective study of patients who underwent open calvarial vault remodeling (CVR) for ISS at our institution between November 2000 and November 2012 was performed. Syndromic and multi-suture synostosis patients were excluded. Demographic and follow-up data were extracted from the medical record for analysis until July 2017. One hundred five patients with ISS were identified who had undergone CVR in the aforementioned timeframe. Average age at initial surgery was 11.7 ± 15.32 months. Mean follow-up in our craniofacial clinic was 4.94 ± 3.53 years, with 69 patients (65.7%) having follow-up in craniofacial clinic ≥ 3 years and 74 (70.5%) having follow-up ≥ 3 years in any clinic at our institution. Four patients (3.8%) had intracranial pressure (ICP) monitors placed for symptoms concerning for DIH, one of which (0.95%) had confirmed DIH and underwent a second surgical procedure at 7.4 years of age. The patient presented late initially, having his first operation at 1.56 years of age. One patient out of 105 (0.95%) developed DIH, confirmed by ICP monitoring, and required reoperation. The occurrence of DIH, albeit rare, remains an important topic to include in parental discussions and mandates long-term follow-up in this population.
Inequal benefits from regionalization of cancer care: The pancreatic cancer surgery paradigm.

4059 Background: Regionalization has been proposed for high-level care, including multidisciplinary cancer treatment and complex procedures. Pancreatic resections can serve as a marker for both. Us...
Material balance equation for CBM reservoirs

Abstract The material balance equation (MBE) is a powerful reservoir engineering tool, which is used for evaluation of the initial gas-in-place (IGIP) and prediction of the production performance of the gas reservoirs. In a CBM reservoir the free gas, if present, only accounts for a very small fraction of the gas in reservoir and the vast majority of the gas is stored within the coal matrix by adsorption. Therefore, the MBE for CBM reservoir must account for the gas desorption as the reservoir decreases. A comprehensive MBE for CBM reservoirs has been developed that accounts for the gas desorption, water influx, water production, and water and formation compressibility. The MBE takes advantage of the practical and simple straight-line graphical method by introducing the unconventional gas reservoir deviation factor, z*. However, the determination of IGIP by this method requires iterative calculations. A number of modifications to this MBE have been proposed to account for moisture expansion, solubility of methane in water, and the porosity variation due to matrix shrinkage. However, these modifications do not have a significant impact on the accuracy of the estimated IGIP for most CBM reservoirs.
Impact of Graphic Warning Messages on Intentions to Use Alternate Tobacco Products

Graphic cigarette warnings increase quit attempts. Perceived message effectiveness and message avoidance are predictive of later quit attempts. We sought to examine whether randomized exposure to warning messages would inadvertently increase intentions to use alternate tobacco products while enhancing attempts to quit cigarettes. An online survey of 1392 adult smokers in the US asked participants to rate six randomly selected tobacco warnings (from a set of 319) on perceived effectiveness and avoidance intentions. These two indicators of message effectiveness were calculated at the message-level and then at the individual campaign-level to facilitate causal inference. After viewing a message campaign of six warning messages, participants indicated their intentions to use alternate tobacco products. Sixty-eight percent of participants reported some intention to use e-cigarettes and intentions to use other alternate tobacco products ranged from 31% to 40%. Campaigns of messages eliciting higher avoidance increased the odds of intending to use hookah (aOR: 4.32), smokeless tobacco (aOR: 4.88), and snus (aOR: 8.06), but not the intention to use electronic cigarettes. These relationships are mediated by intentions to quit smoking (all p <.05). Viewing campaigns with higher campaign-level perceived effectiveness increased the intentions to quit, which in turn increased intentions to try alternate tobacco products. Our findings increase the tobacco control community's understanding of unintended consequences of graphic tobacco warnings.
Presenting Symptom as a Predictor of Clinical course in Juvenile Onset Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis.

OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS Determine if the presentation of voice versus airway symptoms at the time of diagnosis of juvenile recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (JORRP) correlates with treatment and outcomes. STUDY DESIGN Original report, Retrospective review. METHODS Twenty year retrospective review of all patients with JORRP presenting at any time in treatment to a single tertiary children's hospital between 1997 and 2017. RESULTS Fifty-four patients presented with a diagnosis of JORRP during the 20 year study period. Of these, 32 were female and 22 were male. African American children made up the majority of the patients (65%), with 19% identifying as Caucasian, 9% Hispanic, and 7% Asian. Fifteen of the children presented initially to the ENT clinic (87% with hoarseness), 12 to the emergency department (92% with airway concerns), 11 to the voice clinic, and the remaining 12 at outside hospitals or clinics and care were transferred. Voice symptoms, namely hoarseness, was the presenting symptom in 31 (57%), airway symptoms, namely respiratory distress or stridor was predominate in 17 (32%), and the presenting symptom was unknown in six cases (11%). Children presenting with airway symptoms were younger at presentation (median 2.1 years, range 0.38-8.77 years) than those presenting with voice symptoms (median 6.7 years, range 0.98-15.13 years), and after adjusting for age underwent a greater number of surgeries in the first year to control disease. CONCLUSIONS Patients who present with airway symptoms present younger and have an increased number of surgeries in the first year compared to those presenting with voice complaints. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 4 Laryngoscope, 131:1670-1675, 2021.
Profinite completions and MacNeille completions of finitely presented MV-algebras

We prove that the profinite completion construction is a covariant functor from the category of (universal) algebras of a given type into the category of the corresponding Stone algebras. A Grothen...
A Comparative Cohort Study With a 20-Year Age Gap: Hip Resurfacing in Patients Aged ≤35 Years and Patients Aged ≥55 Years

Abstract Background This single-center retrospective cohort study aimed to evaluate and compare implant survival and patient-reported outcome measures in 2 distinct age groups separated by 20 years who underwent hip resurfacing arthroplasty (HRA). Methods Between 2005 and 2014, 2042 HRAs were performed by a single-surgeon, and 75 and 377 hips from patients aged ≤35 years and ≥55 years, respectively, were included in this study. Implant survival was determined for all available hips. Clinical features and patient-reported outcome measures were collected. Results Seven hips were revised, 4 for aseptic loosening of one or both components, one for infection, one for accelerated wear and metallosis, and one for femoral neck fracture. There was no difference in all-cause 10-year revision, with 97.1% (95% confidence interval 80.9 to 99.6) and 99.6% (95% confidence interval: 97 to 99.9) survivorship in younger and older patients, respectively (P = .246). Preoperatively, younger patients were less active than older patients on the Lower Extremity Activity Scale (LEAS) or University of California, Los Angeles, activity scale, but at follow-up, younger patients outpaced older ones. Conclusion Original to our study was the isolation and comparison of 2 distinct age groups. With excellent results in disparate age groups, HRA can be applied to a broad patient demographic and is suitable for those patients who want to achieve a high activity level as defined by Lower Extremity Activity Scale or University of California, Los Angeles, scores.
Switching Motion Control of Piezoelectric Actuators in Hybrid Circuit Breakers for MVDC System Protection

This paper presents a switching motion controller for a piezoelectric actuator used in fast mechanical switches, which are the essential parts in hybrid circuit breakers for protecting medium-voltage direct-current power systems. The proposed control strategy has improved switching operations of a prestressed piezoelectric stack actuator carrying a heavy load to reach a large displacement within one millisecond. A notch filter is used in the proposed controller to attenuate subsequent vibrations in travel curves that may cause switching delays and insulation failures in the fast mechanical switch. With optimized switching operations of the piezoelectric actuator in a fast mechanical switch, the overall hybrid circuit breaker can respond to short-circuit currents more rapidly and reliably, and the overall direct-current system can be better protected.
Introduction of NADH-dependent nitrate assimilation in Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002 improves photosynthetic production of 2-methyl-1-butanol and isobutanol

Abstract Cyanobacteria hold promise for renewable chemical production due to their photosynthetic nature, but engineered strains frequently display poor production characteristics. These difficulties likely arise in part due to the distinctive photoautotrophic metabolism of cyanobacteria. In this work, we apply a genome-scale metabolic model of the cyanobacteria Synechococus sp. PCC 7002 to identify strain designs accounting for this unique metabolism that are predicted to improve the production of various biofuel alcohols (e.g. 2-methyl-1-butanol, isobutanol, and 1-butanol) synthesized via an engineered biosynthesis pathway. Using the model, we identify that the introduction of a large, non-native NADH-demand into PCC 7002's metabolic network is predicted to enhance production of these alcohols by promoting NADH-generating reactions upstream of the production pathways. To test this, we construct strains of PCC 7002 that utilize a heterologous, NADH-dependent nitrite reductase in place of the native, ferredoxin-dependent enzyme to create an NADH-demand in the cells when grown on nitrate-containing media. We find that photosynthetic production of both isobutanol and 2-methyl-1-butanol is significantly improved in the engineered strain background relative to that in a wild-type background. We additionally identify that the use of high-nutrient media leads to a substantial prolongment of the production curve in our alcohol production strains. The metabolic engineering strategy identified and tested in this work presents a novel approach to engineer cyanobacterial production strains that takes advantage of a unique aspect of their metabolism and serves as a basis on which to further develop strains with improved production of these alcohols and related products.
A comparison of directed search target detection versus in-scene target detection in Worldview-2 datasets

Since the events of September 11, 2001, the intelligence focus has moved from large order-of-battle targets to small targets of opportunity. Additionally, the business community has discovered the use of remotely sensed data to anticipate demand and derive data on their competition. This requires the finer spectral and spatial fidelity now available to recognize those targets. This work hypothesizes that directed searches using calibrated data perform at least as well as inscene manually intensive target detection searches. It uses calibrated Worldview-2 multispectral images with NEF generated signatures and standard detection algorithms to compare bespoke directed search capabilities against ENVI™ in-scene search capabilities. Multiple execution runs are performed at increasing thresholds to generate detection rates. These rates are plotted and statistically analyzed. While individual head-to-head comparison results vary, 88% of the directed searches performed at least as well as in-scene searches with 50% clearly outperforming in-scene methods. The results strongly support the premise that directed searches perform at least as well as comparable in-scene searches.
A review of cesarean section at Sloane Hospital for women, 1942–1947☆

Abstract One of the most important changes that is taking place in obstetric practice is indicated by the trend of substituting the cesarean section operation for the more formidable, traumatizing vaginal delivery. Obviously this change is being effected only in proportion to the increasing safety of the operation. Recently, with the advent of positive and efficient means of treating infection and shock, the cesarean section mortality rate has been materially lowered. At the Sloane Hospital, for example, the last death directly attributable to the operation occurred in September, 1941. During the seven years since then we have done 1,266 cesarean sections with only one death, which in no way was related to the operation. It seems that such uniformly good results make it worth while to report our more recent experiences with this operation. The observations made in the course of studying the first 1,000 cases which were done after September, 1941, are the basis for this paper.
Formation and structure of the C5b-7 complex of the lytic pathway of complement.

The formation and structure of the complement cytolytic intermediary complex, C5b-7, were studied with the aim of determining the interactive regions of C5, C6, and C7. The structure of human complement component C5 was elucidated by the application of limited proteolysis which generated well characterized major polypeptide fragments of this molecule. Plasmin, thrombin, and kallikrein cleave C5b with greater facility than C5. The most useful cleavage of C5b was effected by plasmin because the fragmentation pattern was similar to the processing of C3b by factors H, I, and kallikrein. Plasmin hydrolyzes peptide bonds within the alpha‘-chain of C5b, resulting in a four-chain fragment, C5c (M(r) = 142,000), and a single chain fragment, C5d (M(r) = 43,000). Circular dichroism spectroscopic analyses indicated that C5d is substantially richer in alpha-helical content than is C5c (27 versus 9%). Polyclonal antibodies directed against C5c blocked the interaction of C5b-6 with C7, whereas antibodies directed against C5d inhibited the binding of C5 with C3b. Chemical cross-linking using a cleavable radioiodinated photoreactive reagent revealed that both C6 and C7 associate preferentially with the alpha‘-chain of C5b. The reversible interactions of C5 with C6, C7, and major polypeptide fragments derived from these were investigated with solid phase binding assays. The results indicate that the carboxyl-terminal domains of C6 and C7, which have cysteine-rich modules homologous to those found in factors H and I, have the capacity to link specifically with C5.
Nonnutritive Components in Foods as Modifiers of the Cancer Process

Key Points Dietary habits are instrumental in about 40% of cancers in men and 60% in women. Fruit and vegetable consumption is associated with decreased risk of several cancers. Fruits and vegetables contain many non-nutritive as well as nutritive compounds including carotenoids, dithiolthiones, flavonoids, glucosinolates, indoles, isothiocyanates, monoterpenes, phenols, sterols, sulfhydryls, and vitamins including folate, C, and E. Anticarcinogenic actions from dietary components in fruits and vegetables include the induction of detoxification enzymes, blockage of carcinogen formation (such as nitrosamines), shifts in hormone homeostasis, slowing of cell division, induction of apoptosis, depression in angiogenesis, and several others. There are critical interrelationships between diet, environment, and genetics that affect cancer risk. In addition to fruits and vegetables, teas, spices, and herbs consumed in the diet have been associated with reducing cancer risk in cell culture and animal models; epidemiological studies show similar associations, but there are very few intervention studies to date.
Self-Responsible Leadership: The Impacts of Servant-Transformational Leadership Style to Healing Family Pain; and Leading and Teaching in Postmodern Higher Education

In 2014, the large increasing numbers of young children, as young as 13, arriving alone at the U.S. border with Mexico prompted the president to declare a humanitarian crisis (Gamboa, 2014). This current immigration crisis becomes a legal responsibility of the United States government and the American education system. In this light, this paper seeks to highlight the problem of what appropriate leadership style/s can be effectively used through self-responsibility in addressing the structural and educational issues regarding the refugees of wars or civil unrest crisis abroad that are impacting our education system in the United States since the Vietnam War to the present. In doing this, I explain the impact of global perturbations to these refugees' lives by reflecting on my own professional experiences as a teacher to those least fortunate students based on my analyses on the works and philosophical perspectives of Frankl (1969, 1988), (Ferch, 2012), Hooks (2001), and Neitzsche (1967, 1968); and I discuss my leadership weaknesses as a self-responsible servant leader to my family. In addition, I review and analyze recent literature on the effects of servant and transformational leadership styles to the educational success of this diverse immigrant student population in the U.S., to clarify research questions on the definitions, benefits and challenges to implementing servant and transformational leadership styles in educational settings.
Localization of dopamine D2 receptor mRNA and D1 and D2 receptor binding in the rat brain and pituitary: an in situ hybridization- receptor autoradiographic analysis

Several lines of evidence suggest the existence of multiple dopamine receptor subtypes, referred to as D1 and D2. The present study examines the distribution of these dopamine binding sites in the rat brain and pituitary in relation to the distribution of D2 receptor mRNA using a combination of in vitro receptor autoradiographic and in situ hybridization techniques. 3H-Raclopride and 3H-SCH23390 (in the presence of 1 microM ketanserin) were used to label D2 and D1 receptor binding sites, respectively, while a 495 bp cRNA probe synthesized from the Sac I-Bgl II fragment of a rat D2 receptor cDNA was used to visualize the D2 receptor mRNA. Analysis of adjacent tissue sections in which receptor autoradiography and in situ hybridization had been performed revealed several brain regions where the D2 binding site and corresponding mRNA appear to be similarly distributed, including the caudate-putamen, nucleus accumbens, olfactory tubercle, globus pallidus, substantia nigra, and ventral tegmental area. In the pituitary gland, D2 binding sites and mRNA appear to be codistributed with very dense levels in the intermediate lobe and individually labeled cells in the anterior lobe. Brain regions demonstrating a lack of correspondence between the distribution of the D2 binding site and D2 receptor mRNA include the olfactory bulb, neocortex, paleocortex, hippocampus, and zona incerta. Several hypotheses are discussed to explain the lack of correspondence in certain brain regions; these include the localization of receptor binding sites on both fibers and cell bodies and receptor transport. These studies provide a better understanding of the anatomical distribution of the D2 receptor and serve as a framework for future regulatory and anatomical mapping studies. By focusing on specific brain regions, such as the nigrostriatal system, hippocampus, and olfactory bulb, they provide insights into D2 receptor synthesis, transport, and insertion into cell membranes.
Pneumocystis carinii Infection Presenting as an Intra-Abdominal Cystic Mass in a Child with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

We describe the case of a pediatric patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) with an unusual large, fluid-filled intra-abdominal cystic lesion in which Pneumocystis carinii trophozoites were identified. Extrapulmonary P. carinii infection should be considered in the differential diagnosis of an intra-abdominal cystic mass in a child with AIDS.
Permeation resistance of glove materials to agricultural pesticides.

The toxicities of many agricultural pesticides require that hand protection be used by persons who mix, load, and apply these products, as specified on the label and material safety data sheet. Selection of gloves for formulations that contain organic solvents is particularly problematic because a solvent that permeates the glove can carry with it the active ingredient of the pesticide formulation. With a test method that measures the simultaneous permeation of the carrier solvent(s) and active ingredient(s), in particular those active ingredients that have low solubility in water and low volatility, over 100 permeation tests (in triplicate) with approximately 20 pesticide formulations were conducted with 13 different glove materials. These results are summarized and generalizations are presented within the perspective of the large base of permeation data for neat chemicals and another large permeation study with pesticides. Key among the findings is that the carrier solvent generally permeates first and ...
Toward a Practical Method for Estimating Sediment Transport Rates in Gravel-bed Rivers

Estimates of sediment transport rates in gravel-bed rivers are typically developed from formulae or from a sampling campaign. The former are notoriously inaccurate; the latter require a large effort and may still not achieve acceptable accuracy. A wide range of geomorphological problems, particularly those at the watershed scale, could be addressed more accurately if reliable local estimates of transport rate could be incorporated routinely into such studies. This requires a method for estimating transport rate with acceptable accuracy and a minimum of effort. A consistent approach to estimating transport is not just a matter of which formula or sampler to use; a suitable approach requires a consistent and reliable scaling of the water discharge and an integral description of the sediment that is both meaningful and practical. An approach proposed here, using a few observations of small transport rates to calibrate a transport formula, is likely to provide a superior combination of accuracy and effort and substantially reduces flow-scaling error. Small transport rates can be measured effectively using pit samplers, which allow the sampling periods needed for accurate measurements. Grain size can be represented as two fractions, sand and gravel, which capture some of the important transport dynamics and effectively represent important environmental problems within a tractable methodological approach. The approach is nearly independent of the uncertainty associated with measuring slope and bed grain-size in the field. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
HIGHER MULTIPOLE DEFORMATION OF THE PAIRING DENSITY IN DEFORMED NUCLEI AND THEIR EFFECTS ON THE (p,t) AND (t,p) REACTIONS.

Abstract The Y4 and Y6 deformations of the nuclear pairing density of deformed nuclei are investigated both phenomenologically and microscopically. In the phenomenological study, the deformation parameters δλ; λ = 4 and 6, are introduced as unknowns whose values are to be fixed by fitting the theoretical DWBA cross sections to (p, t) reaction data. In the microscopic study, the values of δλ are calculated self-consistently. For this purpose, the expression for δλ is derived, taking into account the presence of both the deformed Hartree and pairing potentials and also assuming that the residual nuclear forces associated with these potentials are approximated by simple multipole-multipole and multipole-pairing forces.
Ionomer Solution Structure and Solution Diagram

Model polyurethane ionomer solution studies revealed that the critical parameters determining the solution behavior of ionomers are solvent polarity, solvent−backbone interactions, and ionic content of the ionomer. The three parameters are used to develop a novel ionomer solution diagram which provides a framework for discussion of ionomer solution behavior. The dissolution process of ionomers in low-polarity solvents is analyzed, and two different mechanismsdissociation and fragmentationare identified.
‘Women’ Detectives and Perceptions of ‘Oppressive’ Experiences: Exploring Experiential Essentialism and Phenomenology

The purpose of this paper is toexplore whether female Detectives’ perceptionsof their own work experiences include ‘oppressive’ experiences because of their sex. It attempts to evaluate these perceptions of‘oppressive’ work experiences or ‘lack thereof’via a feminist viewpoint that embraces variousaspects of phenomenology with regards to‘women’s’ experiences. More importantly, itrecognizes that experiential essentialistarguments cannot be ignored. The word ‘woman’is in quotes because it has been used,historically and presently, as a category toposition females according to mainstreamsociety’s standards. The word ‘oppressive’ isin quotes because even though the researcherdescribed oppressive instances in specificways, there were times, where some subjects didnot identify those experiences asoppressive. The majority of 60 female CanadianDetectives identified oppressive experiences,and an important task of this paper is toexamine experiences that fit the researcher’sdefinition but were not considered oppressiveby the subjects.
Aortic dissection associated with an obstructive aortic chondrosarcoma in a dog

A 6-year-old, 35-kg, female spayed German wirehaired pointer was referred for evaluation of collapse/seizure-like activity and a suspected mediastinal mass. Echocardiographic examination revealed an obstructive, intraluminal aortic mass with aortic dissection. Gross and histopathological findings confirmed the aortic dissection with right pulmonary artery compression and an aortopulmonary fistula. The mass was histologically consistent with an intraluminal chondrosarcoma. To the authors knowledge this case represents only the second case of aortic chondrosarcoma in a dog, and interestingly the first case in either a dog or human to have aortic dissection associated with aortic obstruction by an intraluminal aortic tumor.
Influence of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy on Radiotherapy for Breast Cancer

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is a standard treatment option for patients with locally advanced operable breast cancer and is increasingly used in early breast cancer. Initial randomized trials of neoadjuvant chemotherapy established equivalency to adjuvant chemotherapy in terms of survival, but they also demonstrated improved rates of breast conservation and the ability to modify the risk of locoregional recurrence after a favorable response to chemotherapy. High-quality nonrandomized data have helped to tailor radiotherapy treatment recommendations after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and breast-conserving surgery or mastectomy. Results from an ongoing phase 3 randomized trial (NSABP B-51/RTOG 1304) will help to clarify the value of locoregional radiotherapy for patients with clinical N1 disease that becomes node negative after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
Behavioral conceptualizations and treatments of Tourette's syndrome: A review and overview

This article reviews behavioral conceptualizations and approaches to the treatment of Tourette's Syndrome. The main purpose of the review is to point out the importance of associated aberrant behaviors that frequently coincide with Tourette's and discuss the efficacy of behaviour therapy as a viable option in the treatment of the disorder. There is discussion of past and present treatments, as well as comments on possible future directions in the behavioral treatment of the disorder.
Failing Georgia—The Case Against the Ban on Social Promotion

Our analysis begins with an examination of the state of Georgia's rationale for the decision regarding social promotion that was based on the perceived views that teachers have on the issue. Research suggests, however, that teachers hold contradictory opinions concerning the use of standardized tests for high stakes decisions, such as promotion, and are not aware of the consequences most children suffer when they fail a grade. Following a discussion that challenges the claims of success in Chicago, Baltimore, and Texas, we explore the viability of choosing litigation as a strategy to stop the use of high stakes tests given the adverse impact they have on protected minorities. From a study of the thirty-nine poorest counties in rural Georgia, the relationships between poverty, race and the Georgia Criterion Referenced Competency Test Results suggest that these tests do have an enormously disparate impact on impoverished African American children. Because chances for educational attainment will be severely limited by this test, most African American children will be discouraged from achieving a high school diploma. As a way to put a face on the data, a case study of a young girl who would probably fail her grade in school if the law was enforced is presented followed by recommendations that argue for changes in education policy and teaching. Rather than mandate a ban on social promotion, the state of Georgia should pursue improvement of socio-economic conditions, education policy and pedagogy.
Navigating a Sensorimotor Loop

Touch is an active process, but how do the body's somatic sensors influence its movement? In this issue of Neuron, Nguyen and Kleinfeld show that afferent activity from the whiskers on a rat's face trigger rapid and prolonged excitation of the motor neurons that drive movements of the same whiskers. Positive feedback through this sensorimotor loop may serve to optimize the interaction between sensors and stimuli.
Quantification of F2-isoprostanes as a biomarker of oxidative stress

Oxidant stress has been implicated in a wide variety of disease processes. One method to quantify oxidative injury is to measure lipid peroxidation. Quantification of a group of prostaglandin F(2alpha)-like compounds derived from the nonezymatic oxidation of arachidonic acid, termed the F2-isoprostanes (F2-IsoPs), provides an accurate assessment of oxidative stress both in vitro and in vivo. In fact, in a recent independent study sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), F2-IsoPs were shown to be the most reliable index of in vivo oxidant stress when compared against other well known biomarkers. This protocol details our laboratory's method to quantify F2-IsoPs in biological fluids and tissues using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). This procedure can be completed for 12-15 samples in 6-8 h.
Cortical Representation of Motion during Unrestrained Spatial Navigation in the Rat

Neural activity related to unrestrained movement through space was studied in rat sensorimotor and posterior parietal cortices during performance of an eight-arm, radial maze task. Nearly half of the cells exhibited movement-related activity that discriminated among three basic modes of locomotion: left turns, right turns, and forward motion. Correlates ranged from strong excitation (relative to the still condition) to strong inhibition, and were distributed among the movement modes in a variety of different ways. For example, cells that discriminated between clockwise and counterclockwise turns did so with either antagonistic responses or simple excitation or inhibition. Others showed either excitation or inhibition relative to both turning and the still condition, and hence were selective for forward motion. Many cells exhibited somatosensory responsiveness; however, in agreement with findings of others, motion correlates could rarely be sensibly explained by the somatosensory response. Moreover, movement correlates sometimes varied considerably with spatial context. Some cells exhibited more complex motion correlates, such as an apparent dependence on the nature of the preceding movement. Irrespective of the specific sensory or motor determinants of cell activity, which varied considerably among cells, the posterior neocortex of the rat appears to generate a robust and redundant internal representation of body motion through space. Such a representation could be useful in constructing "cognitive maps" of the environment.
Using mixtures of Weibull distributions to estimate mixing proportions

Abstract Mixture distributions characterize many physical measurements in which observable variates are generated from one of several component distributions. It is common to model such measurements as mixtures of normal distributions and often the primary interest is in the estimation of the mixing proportion(s). It is demonstrated that asymmetry in the component distributions can cause a substantial bias in these normal-based proportion estimators. We examine the use of minimum distance estimation based on component distributions belonging to the Weibull family, whose members can be either symmetric or skewed depending on parameter configurations. Minimum distance estimation in this setting provides a robust and computationally efficient alternative to the normal-based techniques currently in use.
Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans Mediate a Potent Inhibitory Signal for Migration of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

Migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) is a key step in vascular remodeling and formation of pathological lesions in diseased arteries and may be controlled by extracellular matrix (ECM) and by factors that regulate ECM composition, such as platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). In culture, PDGF-AB and -BB enhance but PDGF-AA (although having no effect alone) suppresses SMC migration stimulated by other PDGF isoforms. To determine whether the migration-inhibitory mechanism of PDGF-AA was mediated by ECM composition, we examined baboon SMC migration in a Boyden chamber assay using filters coated with different ECM proteins. PDGF-AA suppressed the PDGF-BB-induced migration of baboon SMCs on a filter coated with basement membrane proteins (Matrigel) and fibronectin but failed to inhibit cell migration on a type I collagen (Vitrogen)-coated filter. Fibronectin and fibronectin fragments that contain heparin-binding domains permitted PDGF-AA inhibition of cell migration, but a fragment lacking heparin-binding domains did not. Treatment of SMCs with heparin lyases II and III, but not with chondroitin ABC lyase, diminished the PDGF-AA-mediated inhibition of migration. PDGF-AA stimulated accumulation of proteoglycan (PG) in the cell layer more potently than did PDGF-BB, whereas the turnover of cell layer PG was unaffected by either PDGF-AA or -BB. Northern blot analysis revealed that PDGF-AA increased syndecan-1 mRNA expression more than did PDGF-BB, whereas both PDGF isoforms decreased perlecan expression. The changes in cell migration and PG synthesis induced by PDGF-AA were accompanied by changes in the morphology of SMCs. PDGF-AA dramatically induced the spreading of SMCs, whereas the heparin lyase treatment of PDGF-AA-stimulated cultures diminished cell spreading. The data suggest that PDGF-AA selectively modifies heparan sulfate PG accumulation on SMCs and thereby influences the interactions of SMCs with heparin-binding ECM proteins. These interactions, in turn, generate signals that suppress SMC migration.
Neural Growth Hormone Implicated in Body Weight Sex Differences

As for many human diseases, the incidence of obesity and its associated health risks are sexually dimorphic: worldwide the rate of obesity is higher in women. Sex differences in metabolism, appetite, body composition, and fat deposition are contributing biological factors. Gonadal hormones regulate the development of many sexually dimorphic traits in humans and animals, and, in addition, studies in mice indicate a role for direct genetic effects of sex chromosome dosage on body weight, deposition of fat, and circadian timing of feeding behavior. Specifically, mice of either sex with 2 X chromosomes, typical of normal females, have heavier body weights, gain more weight, and eat more food during the light portion of the day than mice of either sex with a single X chromosome. Here we test the effects of X chromosome dosage on body weight and report that gonadal females with 2 X chromosomes express higher levels of GH gene (Gh) mRNA in the preoptic area (POA) of the hypothalamus than females with 1 X chromosome and males. Furthermore, Gh expression in the POA of the hypothalamus of mice with 2 X chromosomes correlated with body weight; GH is known to have orexigenic properties. Acute infusion of GH into the POA increased immediate food intake in normal (XY) males. We propose that X inactivation-escaping genes modulate Gh expression and food intake, and this is part of the mechanism by which individuals with 2 X chromosomes are heavier than individuals with a single X chromosome.
Mediator-titrants for thin-layer spectroelectrochemical measurement of biocomponent Uo' and n values

Summary The spectropotentiostatic technique using an optically transparent thin-layer electrode to measure U o' and n of biological redox components is based on control of the solutions potential by the potential applied to a gold minigrid working electrode. The ranges of potential control for several mediator-titransts have been determined with a platinum indication electrode for measuring the potential of the thin solution layer. Individual mediator-titrants exhibit ranges of potential control varying from 70 to 330 mV. Methyl viologen; 2-anthraquinonesulfonic acid; 2,5-dihydroxy- p -benzoquirone; gallocynine; 1,2-naphtholquinone; 1,2-naphthoquinone-4-sulfonic acid; 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol; N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl- p -phenylenediamine; potassium ferricyanide; and porphyrexide were examined. A potential range of 800 mV can be controlled by a mixture of 2-anthraquinone sulfonic acid, gallocyanine and 1,2-naphthoquinone-4-sulfonic acid.
Alcohol and its relationship to blood pressure

Ethanol is a molecule of enduring research interest because its consumption has important social as well as medical implications. With excessive ethanol consumption, there is higher prevalence for hypertension, stroke, cardiomyopathy, and arrhythmias. A principal mechanism by which ethanol exerts these cardiovascular effects is through modulation of blood pressure. In this article, we focus on recent research that pursues information on the effects of alcohol on blood pressure in human subjects, regardless of whether they have hypertension or not. Known means by which alcohol exerts hemodynamic effects are briefly covered, and insights on novel biomediators, such as endothelin and gene-based mechanisms, are presented. Newer tools, such as the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption Questions (AUDIT-C) survey and carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) serum test, are also covered. Reducing excessive alcohol intake can produce a reduction in blood pressure of up to 4 mm Hg, on average, which could substantially affect the rates of stroke and ischemic heart disease.