cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Calcium channel blockade by certain opioids.

Abstract The calcium entry blocker, verapamil, enhanced morphine analgesia, but neither methadone nor propoxyphene analgesia was affected by verapamil in the mouse hot-plate test. To explain this, it was hypothesized that methadione and propoxyphene differ from morphine because they, like verapamil, block calcium channels and subsequent studies were done to confirm this. Verapamil, methadone and propoxyphene all depressed barium-induced bovine adrenal catecholamine release and KCl-induced contractions of guinea pig ileum, which are known to be calcium-dependent events. Calcium reversed opioid-induced inhibition in both tissues. Morphine did not affect either catecholamine release or ileal contractions. Procaine also did not influence catecholamine release or ileal contraction. Therefore, local anesthesia was eliminated as a mechanism for the inhibitory action of methadone and propoxyphene in these tissues. Opioids which block calcium channels should, like verapamil, produce bradycardia and hypotension. In the spinal vagotomized rat, methadone, propoxyphene, and verapamil produced bradycardia and hypotension, whereas, morphine produced tachycardia and (at low doses) hypertension. The results of this work suggest that methadone and propoxyphene, in contrast to morphine, block calcium channels in a manner similar to verapamil, and that some pharmacological and especially toxicological differences between these drugs are due to different degrees of verapamillike calcium channel blockade.
Frameworks, techniques, and theory : contributions of research consulting in social science

Three questions are addressed in this article: What is social science research consulting? How is this form of consulting performed? and What contributions have been made to social science theory and practice? The first question is discussed in terms of the match between a client's needs and the consultant's skills, the various roles consultants play, and the professional culture they share. The second question is considered in terms of such basics as preparing a winning proposal, dealing with both an internal (the firm) and external (the market-place) environment, and overcoming barriers to implementation. The third question is treated by giving examples of applied research projects implemented for clients. These include projects that analyze negotiating processes, develop models of political structures and processes, analyze intentions, evaluate techniques for enhancing performance, and design policy and training simulations. The article concludes with lessons learned from these experiences, contributin...
Trends in the Growth and Distribution of Skills in the U.S. Workplace, 1960–1985:

Using new measures of job skills and standard measures of education and earnings, the authors examine the effects of changing occupational and industry employment patterns on the skill composition of work between 1960 and 1985. The results show a strong upgrading of cognitive and interactive skills—combined, however, with a substantial slowdown in the rates of growth of those skills—and a declining demand for motor skills. The earnings mix of jobs did not show the same high correlation with employment growth as skill and education levels, because high-wage, low-skill jobs declined in the goods industries while low-wage jobs requiring at least moderate skill levels grew rapidly in the services.
Ice Calorimeter Thermal Design Project

A thermal engineering design project requiring the design, construction, and operation of a calorimeter that determines the enthalpy of fusion for water was assigned to a class of third-year mechanical engineering students in the fall of 2002. Working in groups, the students produced ice calorimeters of two different designs: one design used an electric heater and the other design involved mixing ice with water or aluminum. The 18 student groups plus the author produced 112 data points with a mean enthalpy of fusion value of 324.1 kJ/kg, which is 2.8% lower than the published value.
Ternary dissolution kinetics in the Fe-Ni-P system

The dissolution of (FeNi)3P in the ternary Fe-Ni-P system has been studied by optical and electron microprobe techniques. Precipitates of (FeNi)3P, initially in equilibrium with their ternary matrix (a at 750°C, y at 875°C), were examined after being partially dissolved by heating at 975°C. In addition, diffusion couples with starting compositions similar to the equilibrated ternary alloys were examined after also being heat treated at 975°C. Phosphide, (FeNi)3P, dissolution in the α or γ phase is diffusion controlled at 975°C. The ternary dissolution paths observed in each of the diffusion couples are unique and the same as those observed in the comparable alloys. The dissolution rate of (FeNi)3P is controlled by the diffusion rate of P in the α or y phases. The Ni interface compositions in (FeNi)3P and α or γ and the dissolution path through the ternary are determined by the rate of dissolution and the major Ni ternary diffusion coefficients. It is possible to calculate both the dissolution path and rate for (FeNi)3P by using the binary dissolution equations in combination with the Fe-Ni-P diagram and the major (ternary) diffusion coefficients. In addition, numerical solutions can be correctly calculated for diffusion controlled dissolution where impingement of overlapping gradients occurs.
The left-right axis is regulated by the interplay of Coco, Xnr1 and derrière in Xenopus embryos.

Formation of the left–right axis involves a symmetry-breaking signal originating in the node or its equivalents, which increases TGF-β signaling on the left side of the embryo and ultimately leads to asymmetric patterning of the viscera. DAN domain proteins are extracellular inhibitors of TGF-β ligands, and are involved in regulating the left–right axis in chick, mouse and zebrafish. We find that Coco, a Xenopus DAN family member, and two TGF-β ligands, Xnr1 and derriere, are coexpressed in the posterior paraxial mesoderm at neurula stage. Side-specific protein depletion demonstrated that left–right patterning requires Coco exclusively on the right side, and Xnr1 and derriere exclusively on the left, despite their bilateral expression pattern. In the absence of Coco, the TGF-β signal is bilateral. Interactions among the three proteins show that derriere is required for normal levels of Xnr1 expression, while Coco directly inhibits both ligands. We conclude that derriere, Xnr1, and Coco define a posttranscriptionally regulated signaling center, which is a necessary link in the signaling chain leading to an increased TGF-β signal on the left side of the embryo.
Enkephalin and a potent analog facilitate maze performance after intraperitoneal administration in rats.

Met-enkephalin and its analog [D-Ala2]-Met-enkephalin-NH2 were administered intraperitoneally (IP) at a dose of 80 μ/kg body weight to hungry rats which were tested over 3 days for their ability to run a complex, 12 choice Warden maze for reward of food. Animals receiving either peptide negotiated the maze significantly (p < 0.01) faster (74.1 and 73.5 vs. 128.8 sec) and made significantly (p < 0.01) fewer errors (5.5 and 5.4 vs. 9.1) than animals receiving the diluent vehicle. These findings did not seem to be explained by differences in appetite, thirst, olfaction, or general activity. Rats injected in a preliminary study with an analog, [D-Phe4]-Met-enkephalin, which has essentially no opiate activity appeared to run the maze as fast as rats injected with [D-Ala2]-Met-enkephalin-NH2 and with just as few errors. Injection of morphine seemed to result in slower running times and more errors in the maze. These results demonstrate that enkephalin and some of its analogs can exert significant behavioral changes after IP administration and that these behavioral effects probably can be dissociated from the opiate effects.
Unique Magnetic Properties of Single Crystal γ-Fe2O3 Nanowires Synthesized by Flame Vapor Deposition

Single crystal γ-Fe2O3 nanowires with 40–60 nm diameters were grown for the first time by single-step atmospheric flame vapor deposition (FVD) with axial growth rates up to 5 μm/minute. Because of their superior crystallinity, these FVD γ-Fe2O3 nanowires are single magnetic domains with room temperature coercivities of 200 Oe and saturation magnetizations of 68 emu/g.
Velocity blindness during shearing motion.

Abstract When two objects lie at different distances from a moving observer, there is a velocity step at the occluding boundary of the nearer object. When the differential motion is tangential to the boundary, the effect is as if a shearing is taking place. If all texture cues are removed by using similar random dot patterns on each side of the boundary, then 20% of the population cannot use this differential motion to locate the boundary when it is presented to the parafovea. These observers are thus abnormally insensitive to the differential rate of texture flow at boundaries undergoing shearing motion. As no such population differences were observed for differential motion perpendicular to the occluding boundary (occluding motion), we infer that independent mechanisms process shearing and occluding motion.
A Putative Selectivity Filter in the G-protein-coupled Receptors for Parathyroid Hormone and Secretin

The seven transmembrane segments (TMs) of many G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are thought to form a cavity into which cognate ligands insert, leading to receptor activation. Residues lining the cavity are often essential for optimal ligand binding and/or signal transduction. The present studies evaluated whether residues lining the cavity also contribute to specificity, using GPCRs for the polypeptides parathyroid hormone (PTH) and secretin as models. These ligands display no sequence homology with one another, and neither ligand cross-reacts with the other's receptor. However, mutation of a single amino acid in the second TM of the secretin receptor to the corresponding residue in the PTH receptor (N192I) resulted in a receptor that binds and signals in response to PTH. The reciprocal mutation in the PTH receptor (I234N) likewise unmasked responsiveness to secretin. Neither mutation significantly altered the response of the receptors to their own ligands. The results suggest a model of specificity wherein TM residues near the extracellular surface of the receptor function as a selectivity filter that restricts access of inappropriate ligands to an activation site in the transmembrane cavity.
An experience sampling investigation of workplace interactions, affective states, and employee well-being.

We report an experience sampling study examining the within-individual effects of workplace interpersonal interaction characteristics on affect at work and daily well-being. A sample of 60 full-time employees completed measures of interpersonal interaction characteristics and affective states during each of 10 workdays and a measure of job satisfaction at the end of each workday. Overall, the employees provided 380 day-level data points. Hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) results indicated that interpersonal interaction characteristics were associated with affective states and job satisfaction. Furthermore, the effects of workplace interpersonal interactions on job satisfaction were mediated by affective states. Finally, positive affect mitigated the detrimental association between negative affect and job satisfaction. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Epinephrine is associated with both erectile dysfunction and lower urinary tract symptoms

Objective To determine whether patients with erectile dysfunction (ED) have a higher incidence of insulin resistance (IR) when compared with controls. Design Prospective case–control study. Setting Academic medical center. Patient(s) Twenty-nine nondiabetic men aged 18–66 years were enrolled. Of these, 28 completed the study: 17 had ED, and 11 did not. Intervention(s) Validated ED questionnaires, examination, serum hormones evaluation, and oral glucose tolerance testing. Main Outcome Measure(s) Association of IR with ED. Result(s) The association between worsening degrees of both lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and ED was reaffirmed, as was a potential correlation between the two—epinephrine. There was a negative association between serum levels of epinephrine and scores on the 5-item version of the International Index of Erectile Dysfunction for ED (Spearman correlation coefficient=−0.38). On the other hand, men with ED were not more likely to have IR compared with controls. Conclusion(s) Epinephrine may be the common link between ED and LUTS.
Design And Implementation Of Natural Language Front Ends For Expert Systems

McCarthy and Hayesl defined AI in terms of epistemology and heuristics. Research in natural language processing has added a third - a linguistic - dimension to their dichotomy. In this paper, I provide a discussion of general issues, related to natural language interfaces, as well as an overview of GROK2 (Grammatical Representation of Objective Knowledge), a natural language front end for the medical expert system MDX3.
Historical deposition and fluxes of mercury in Narraguinnep Reservoir, southwestern Colorado, USA

Abstract Narraguinnep Reservoir has been identified as containing fish with elevated Hg concentrations and has been posted with an advisory recommending against consumption of fish. There are presently no point sources of significant Hg contamination to this reservoir or its supply waters. To evaluate potential historical Hg sources and deposition of Hg to Narraguinnep Reservoir, the authors measured Hg concentrations in sediment cores collected from this reservoir. The cores were dated by the 137 Cs method and these dates were further refined by relating water supply basin hydrological records with core sedimentology. Rates of historical Hg flux were calculated (ng/cm 2 /a) based on the Hg concentrations in the cores, sediment bulk densities, and sedimentation rates. The flux of Hg found in Narraguinnep Reservoir increased by approximately a factor of 2 after about 1970. The 3 most likely sources of Hg to Narraguinnep Reservoir are surrounding bedrocks, upstream inactive Au–Ag mines, and several coal-fired electric power plants in the Four Corners region. Patterns of Hg flux do not support dominant Hg derivation from surrounding bedrocks or upstream mining sources. There are 14 coal-fired power plants within 320 km of Narraguinnep Reservoir that produce over 80 × 10 6 MWH of power and about 1640 kg-Hg/a are released through stack emissions, contributing significant Hg to the surrounding environment. Two of the largest power plants, located within 80 km of the reservoir, emit about 950 kg-Hg/a. Spatial and temporal patterns of Hg fluxes for sediment cores collected from Narraguinnep Reservoir suggest that the most likely source of Hg to this reservoir is from atmospheric emissions from the coal-fired electric power plants, the largest of which began operation in this region in the late-1960s and early 1970s.
Pricing and production planning for reverse supply chain: a review

AbstractRecently, much attention has been devoted to research in reverse supply chain (RSC) and remanufacturing. This has been motivated both by academic interest and by the significant impact that the RSC activities, including remanufacturing, have on a nation’s economy. In 1996, remanufacturing alone accounted for 0.4% of the US economy, as a $53 billion industry. In this paper, we provide background information on RSC and a brief exposure on the breadth of RSC literature, focused on remanufacturing. Two research streams, namely, pricing of new and remanufactured products and production planning and control in the presence of remanufacturing, are reviewed in some depth. Our review has unveiled a significant gap in the literature, namely that the pricing models till date do not typically consider the per-unit cost of remanufacturing to be a function of the number of cores acquired. This is an important consideration since the pricing of remanufactured products is dependent on the production cost. As the ...
Blech Effect in Interconnects: Applications and Design Guidelines

The majority of the existing experimental, theoretical and modeling works on electromigration (EM) are focused on simple, via-to-via structures, but complex interconnect structures have not been studied well. The lack of correct models for such interconnects may result in either conservative or weak design decisions which may result in catastrophic reliability failures. This paper proposes a physical model which holds for material migration as well as for lattice vacancy generation/annihilation. Using the developed model, well known circuit level EM assessment methods are examined by finite element modeling and simulation. The paper provides a compact model for EM analysis which can be easily implemented in CAD tools. We also explain some recent experimental results and empirical models published by other researchers.
Development and operation of a database machine for online access and update of a large database

This paper describes the development of a fault‐tolerant database processor (DBP) system to replace OCLC's conventional file system, which not only improves overall system reliability and database availability, but also facilitates the operation and management of a large and rapidly growing online database. This database processor became operational on 16 October 1978, an achievement that represents a significant advance in the operation of information storage and retrieval systems.
Estrogen-Induced CCN1 Is Critical for Establishment of Endometriosis-Like Lesions in Mice

Endometriosis is a prevalent gynecological disorder in which endometrial tissue proliferates in extrauterine sites, such as the peritoneal cavity, eventually giving rise to painful, invasive lesions. Dysregulated estradiol (E) signaling has been implicated in this condition. However, the molecular mechanisms that operate downstream of E in the ectopic endometrial tissue are unknown. To investigate these mechanisms, we used a mouse model of endometriosis. Endometrial tissue from donor mice was surgically transplanted on the peritoneal surface of immunocompetent syngeneic recipient mice, leading to the establishment of cystic endometriosis-like lesions. Our studies revealed that treatment with E led to an approximately 3-fold increase in the lesion size within a week of transplantation. E also caused a concomitant stimulation in the expression of connective tissue growth factor/Cyr61/Nov (CCN1), a secreted cysteine-rich matricellular protein, in the lesions. Interestingly, CCN1 is highly expressed in human ...
Thyroxine and triiodothyronine in the human thyroid.

Thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) were measured in thyroid glands obtained from patients dying of nonthyroidal illnesses and from patients undergoing surgery for Graves' disease, follicular adenoma, colloid goiter, or chronic thyroiditis. The thyroid glands (saline extract, homogenate, or thyroglobulin [Tg]) were hydrolysed with Pronase under anaerobic conditions in the presence of 0.05m methylmercaptoimidazole and hydrolysates extracted with butanol-ethanol. Aliquots of the extracts were evaporated and analyzed for T4 content by competitive-protein binding and/or by radioimmunoassay and for T3 content by radioimmunoassay. The mean (± sem) T4 content (μg/g tissue) in 25 glands from euthyroid subjects was 172.2 ± 22.1 and the T4/T3 ratio 19.5 ± 1.97. Eight thyroid homogenates were processed by thin layer chromatography to separate T4 from T3 followed by iodometry. The T4/T3 ratio of 7.0 ± 1.0 so obtained was significantly lower than that (19.9 ± 3.3) obtained in these glands by specific radioimmunoa...
Temperature effects on morphology, reaction, and Fermi level movement at Ga/InP(110) interface

Abstract The Ga/InP(110) interfaces prepared at room temperature (300K) and low temperature (80K) have been investigated using photoelectron spectroscopy. Strong temperature dependence on the overlayer morphology, interfacial reaction, and Fermi level movement have been observed. In particular, the Fermi level stabilization at the 300K and 80K interfaces shows different patterns. A pinning position around 0.9 eV above the valence band maximum is observed at the 300K interfaces; whereas the Fermi levels are stabilized around 0.75 eV above the valence band maximum at the 80K interfaces. The implication of the Schottky barrier formation is discussed.
Dynamic allocation of processing capacity in a multiband radio

A configurable multiband radio (MBR) with the ability to generate multiple simultaneous waveforms from HF to SHF will play a significant role in future tactical military communications and in facilitating interoperability on the global grid communications infrastructure. The authors initiated work on processing strategies within an MBR with multiple processors. Traffic requirements and processing needs can be expected to vary widely for different channels from HF to SHF. Thus, rather than having dedicated processors, it will be advantageous to allocate processing power to each channel on demand. The authors describe a simulation model to understand the impact of shared processing in a MBR and related issues. They provide details on the simulation structure, the object comprising the simulation, and operation of the simulation. The simulation deals with sharing of MBR processing and RF assets among multiple simultaneous users within a network of such MBRs. A traffic model provides a variety of traffic scenarios including priority, point-to-point and multicast, voice or data media, and datagram, request/response and request/acknowledge protocols. Buffering on sending and receiving side is permitted. The authors conclude with some simulation results indicating tradeoffs between the number of processors and loss of messages due to processing demands, and the impact of task segmentation, buffering, and channel traffic levels. >
Magnetically induced currents in the canine heart: a finite element study

A moderately detailed three-dimensional (3-D) finite element model of the conductive anatomy of a canine thorax was used to determine the fields and currents induced by a time-varying magnetic field that has been shown to cause irregular heart beats in canines. The 3-D finite element model of the canine thorax was constructed from CT scans and includes seven isotropic tissue conductivities and the anisotropic conductivity of skeletal muscle. The authors use this model to estimate the stimulation threshold associated with stimulation of the heart by the time-varying magnetic field of a figure-eight coil. Variants of the thoracic model were also constructed to examine the sensitivity of model results to variations in model size, shape, and conductive inhomogeneity and anisotropy. The authors' results show that myocardial fields were only mildly sensitive to thoracic size. However, model shape and conductive inhomogeneity and anisotropy substantially influenced the magnitude and distribution of myocardial fields and currents. The authors' results suggest that an induced peak field magnitude of /spl ap/1 V/cm is required to stimulate the heart with the magnetic excitation simulated in this study. >
Spacing-error analysis of the eight-elemennt two-phase adcock direction finder

In the design of a modern high-frequency radio direction finder utilizing the Adcock principle, the sensitivity and spacing error limitations of the conventional four-element array requires the use of several arrays in order to cover a large portion of the frequency spectrum. An eight-element array is described which has an operating frequency range considerably greater than that of the familiar Adcock, while still maintaining the simplicity of two-phase goniometer azimuth scanning. Spacing error curves are plotted and an optimum design is selected. It is shown that element spacing values greater than one wavelength are possible, and that frequency coverage is sufficiently great to render considerations other than spacing error the limiting factors.
Orbital and Superorbital Periods of 1E 1740.7-2942 and GRS 1758-258

Five years of Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) observations of the Galactic black hole candidates 1E 1740.7-2942 and GRS 1758-258 show a periodic modulation with an amplitude of 3%-4% in each source at 12.73 ± 0.05 and 18.45 ± 0.10 days, respectively. We interpret the modulations as orbital, suggesting that the objects have red giant companions. Combining the RXTE data with earlier data (Zhang, Harmon, & Liang) from the Burst and Transient Source Experiment on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory, we find a long period or quasi-period of about 600 days in 1E 1740.7-2942 and a suggestion of a similar 600 day period in GRS 1758-258. These timescales are longer than any yet found for either precessing systems like Hercules X-1 and SS 433 or binaries like LMC X-3 and Cygnus X-1 with more irregular long periods.
Access to Protection: Domestic Institutions and Trade Policy in Democracies

Previous institutional explanations of trade policy have focused on the role of proportional representation on the promotion of free trade. This explanation generates numerous unsolved anomalies and provides limited guidance in explaining the difference between proportional representation countries and between majoritarian countries as well as within-country variation in trade policy. This article introduces a more general institutional theory that argues that the number of access points provided by institutions is the crucial institutional feature, as increasing the number of access points makes lobbying less costly, which benefits protectionists. From this, I hypothesize that the number of parties in government, the number of electoral districts, the nature of the vote, and other such institutions affect the level of protection and that, once these factors are controlled for, proportional representation has no impact on trade policy. I test this theory on tariff data in the post–World War II developed democracies and find broad support for these hypotheses.This article was previously presented at the 2004 Annual Meetings of the Midwest Political Science Association. I would like to thank Alan Deardorff, Rob Franzese, Matt Golder, Mike Hanmer, Jude Hays, Cherie Maestas, Corrine McConnaughy, Will Moore, James D. Morrow, Won-Ho Park, and Jeff Staton for advice and comments and Yoshi Ono for excellent research assistance. All errors, of course, remain my own.
Case Scenario: A Patient on Dual Antiplatelet Therapy with an Intracranial Hemorrhage after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a common procedure being performed approximately 600 000 times annually in the United States alone. PCI refers to balloon angioplasty with or without stent placement. The safety and efficacy of stents in reducing re-stenosis following angioplasty was highlighted by the BENESTENT (Belgian Netherlands Stent) and STRESS (Stent Restenosis Study) studies.1,2 Following these landmark studies, the rate of stent placement has increased exponentially, with stenting being performed in up to 84% of PCI procedures.3 Stenting necessitates the use of dual anti-platelet therapy (DAT) to prevent stent thrombosis (STH). However, the period when uninterrupted DAT is required, which is up to one year in the case of drug-eluting stents, can be problematic if surgery is required or if a bleeding complication occurs. This paper discusses the indications for PCI, the evolution of stent therapy and the management of an intracranial hemorrhage while on DAT.
Cooperative activation of Xenopus rhodopsin transcription by paired-like transcription factors

Background In vertebrates, rod photoreceptor-specific gene expression is regulated by the large Maf and Pax-like transcription factors, Nrl/LNrl and Crx/Otx5. The ubiquitous occurrence of their target DNA binding sites throughout rod-specific gene promoters suggests that multiple transcription factor interactions within the promoter are functionally important. Cooperative action by these transcription factors activates rod-specific genes such as rhodopsin. However, a quantitative mechanistic explanation of transcriptional rate determinants is lacking.
Faculty development strategies for overcoming the “curse of knowledge”

Research shows that novices and experts organize knowledge very differently. Experts may make huge leaps up an educational ladder of inference and often forget how to explain the reasoning process through which they arrived at their complex, deep understandings. Shortcuts become invisible. In an educational setting, this phenomenon is called ldquocurse of knowledgerdquo. It describes how being an expert in something may make it more difficult to infer what a novice requires in order to develop a deep, working knowledge of engineering and scientific content. In the paper, the authors explore potential faculty development strategies to increase awareness of the ldquocurse of knowledgerdquo and offer approaches through which faculty can use their expertise for effective teaching. Several approaches are offered: (i) principles to make messages sticky, (ii) developing more reflective approaches to understanding learning and teaching, (iii) encouraging construction of teaching portfolios, and (iv) ascertaining knowledge that students have at the beginning and throughout a course.
Increased cerebellar activation during sequence learning in DYT1 carriers: an equiperformance study

We have found that motor sequence learning and related brain activation is impaired in non-manifesting (nm) carriers of the DYT1 deletion for dystonia. In the present study we used a trial-and-error sequence-learning task in conjunction with an equiperformance study design to identify the neural substrates that support sequence learning in nmDYT1 mutation carriers. Six nmDYT1 mutation carriers and six control subjects were scanned with H215O PET during the performance of a trial-and-error guided, kinematically controlled motor sequence learning task and a matched motor execution task. Controls were matched for age and performance. PET data analysis was performed using statistical parametric mapping (SPM99). Although performing at matched levels, nmDYT1 mutation carriers overactivated the lateral cerebellum and the right inferotemporal cortex relative to age-matched controls (P < 0.001). In contrast, they showed relative activation deficits in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex bilaterally, as well as in the left anterior cingulate and the dorsal premotor cortex (P < 0.001). Prominent compensatory involvement of the cerebellum during target learning is consistent with our prior sequence-learning experiments in nmDYT1 mutation carriers. Contrasting to mutation carriers, normals used bilateral cerebellar activation in conjunction with a prominent prefrontal bilateralization only when confronted with a much higher task difficulty. nmDYT1 mutation carriers lack recruitment of these prefrontal regions that depend on modulation within the cortico-striato-pallido-thalamocortical (CSPTC) loops. Instead, they compensate solely using cerebellar activation. This observation is in keeping with recent evidence of impaired structure/function relationships within CSPTC networks in dystonia perhaps occurring on a neurodevelopmental basis. The inability to recruit the appropriate set of neocortical areas because of altered fronto-striatal connectivity may have led to the shift to cerebellar processing.
How do Governments get Great

Governments can play great roles in their countries, regions, and cities; facilitating or leading the resolution of festering problems and opening new pathways for progress. Examples are more numerous than one might imagine and raise an important question: How do governments get great? This paper identifies ten cases of great governments to answer four dimensions of this question: What kinds of interventions or changes help governments achieve greatness? Who leads these interventions or changes, and how? When do the interventions occur, and why? How are these changes sustained and implemented to ensure they yield results? The paper suggests two sets of answers to these concerns, combining such into rival theories that could explain how governments get great: 'Solution and leader driven change' (sldc) and 'Problem driven iterative adaptation' (pdia). It proposes using these two theories in future research about how governments foster the kinds of achievements one could call great and argues this research should employ a version of Theory Guided Process Tracking (TGPT) called systematic process analysis.
Multi-parameter homotopy for finding periodic solutions of power electronic circuits

Commonly used methods for calculating periodic steady state, such as forward integration and shooting, may fail for highly nonlinear circuits with multiple solutions and/or multiple time scales. Homotopy continuation methods, because of their potentially large or global regions of convergence, and suitability for finding multiple solutions, have been applied to the calculation of periodic steady state for such systems. This paper applies real and complex multi-parameter homotopy to finding periodic solutions of power electronic circuits. We show that multi-parameter homotopy methods can avoid period-doubling and cyclic fold bifurcations along solution paths, and find all stable and unstable periodic solutions along folding or period-doubling paths. We distinguish between circuit-direct and formulation-indirect homotopy, and show that the latter (with two real parameters) can avoid period-doubling bifurcations, while the former cannot. >
The effects of alcohol on the aggressive responding of women.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a range of alcohol doses on the aggressive responding of women. Method: The Point Subtraction Aggression Paradigm was used. It has two response options available to the subject: (1) point-maintained responding, emitting 100 responses on one button earned the subject 10 cents; and (2) aggressive responding, emitting 10 responses on an alternative button ostensibly subtracted 10 cents from another person also working to earn money. Aggressive responses were engendered by a random-time schedule of point loss (every 6 sec. to 120 sec.), and instructions attributed these point losses to button presses made by another fictitious subject. Ten female subjects participated, and each experienced placebos and three alcohol doses, 0.25, 0.50, and 1.00 g of 95% alcohol per kg of body weight. Results: The most important finding was that the 1.00 g/kg alcohol dose produced statistically significant increases in aggressive responding relative to placebo...
Childhood acne: evaluation and management.

: Acne is a disease that can be seen in the first year of life, early childhood, prepubertal age, and puberty. The purpose of this article is to review the clinical presentation and pathogenesis of the various forms of prepubertal acne and to propose guidelines regarding its evaluation and treatment. The early clinical recognition of the disease and prompt initiation of therapy in these age groups will help prevent the sequelae of emotional distress and severe scarring in both the child and parents.
Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt regulates the balance between plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and urokinase to promote migration of SKOV-3 ovarian cancer cells.

Abstract Objectives. Increased levels of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) are associated with shortened overall survival in ovarian cancer patients. Additionally, elevated levels of the serine protease inhibitor (serpin), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), a uPA inhibitor, have also been correlated with an unfavorable prognosis in ovarian cancer. Therefore, it is critical to understand the signaling pathways that regulate PAI-1 and uPA expression in cancer cell migration-invasion. Methods. We studied the PI3K/Akt, Rho kinase/ROCK, p38 MAPK and MEK pathways and their modulation of PAI-1 and uPA expression and wound-induced cell migration in SKOV-3 ovarian cancer cells. The PI3K/Akt pathway was further examined using pharmacological inhibitors (LY294002 and wortmannin), Akt siRNA, constitutively active Akt adenovirus and treatment with IGF-1/insulin in the SKOV-3 cells. Results. The PI3K/Akt pathway negatively regulates PAI-1 expression and positively correlates with migratory abilities and uPA expression in SKOV-3 cells. A reduction in active Akt results in an increase in PAI-1 expression coupled with a decrease in uPA expression to ultimately result in reduced cell migration and invasion. By contrast, an increase in Akt activity reduces PAI-1 expression and results in an increase in SKOV-3 wound-induced cell migration. Furthermore, IGF-1 and insulin stimulated SKOV-3 migration by altering the balance between uPA and PAI-1 to favor uPA, and the enhanced migration was attenuated by treatment with LY294002 indicating PI3K/Akt in this pathway. Conclusions. These results suggest an overall ovarian tumor-protective role for PAI-1, and that the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway regulates the ratio of PAI-1:uPA to either increase or decrease cell migration.
Finitary reconstruction of a measure preserving transformation

This paper considers thefinitary reconstruction of an ergodic measure preserving transformationT of a complete separable metric spaceX from a single trajectoryx, Tx, …, or more generally, from a suitable reconstruction sequence x=x 1,x 2, … withx i∈X. Ann-sample reconstruction is a functionT n: X n+1 →X; the map $$\hat T_n $$ (·;x 1, …,x n)is treated as an estimate ofT(·) based on then initial elements of x. Given a reference probability measureμ 0 and constantM>1, functionsT 1,T 2, … are defined, and it is shown that for everyμ with 1/M≤dμ/dμ 0≤M, everyμ-preserving transformationT, and every reconstruction sequence x forT, the estimates $$\hat T_n $$ (·;x 1, …,x nconverge toT in the weak topology. For the family of interval exchange transformations of [0, 1] a simple family of estimates is described and shown to be consistent both pointwise and in the strong topology. However, it is also shown that no finitary estimation scheme is consistent in the strong topology for the family of all ergodic Lebesgue measure preserving transformations of the unit interval, even if x is assumed to be a generic trajectory ofT.
A FAAH-regulated class of N-acyl taurines that activates TRP ion channels.

Fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) is an integral membrane enzyme that catabolizes several bioactive lipids in vivo. Most of the physiological substrates of FAAH characterized to date belong to the N-acyl ethanolamine (NAE) class of fatty acid amides, including the endocannabinoid anandamide, the anti-inflammatory lipid N-palmitoyl ethanolamine, and the satiating factor N-oleoyl ethanolamine. We recently identified a second structural class of fatty acid amides regulated by FAAH in vivo: the N-acyl taurines (NATs). Global metabolite profiling revealed high concentrations of long chain (≥C20) saturated NATs in the central nervous system (CNS) of FAAH(−/−) mice. Here, we use metabolite profiling to characterize the FAAH−NAT system in peripheral mouse tissues. Livers and kidneys of FAAH(−/−) mice possessed dramatic elevations in NATs, which, in contrast to those detected in the CNS, were enriched in polyunsaturated acyl chains (e.g., C20:4, C22:6). Peripheral NATs rose more than 10-fold within 1 h following ...
Response of the soil microbial community and soil nutrient bioavailability to biomass harvesting and reserve tree retention in northern Minnesota aspen-dominated forests.

Abstract Intensive forest biomass harvesting, or the removal of harvesting slash (woody debris from tree branches and tops) for use as biofuel, has the potential to negatively affect the soil microbial community (SMC) due to loss of carbon and nutrient inputs from the slash, alteration of the soil microclimate, and increased nutrient leaching. These effects could result in lowered forest productivity and threaten the long-term sustainability of forest management. Retaining organic material post-harvest, including greater amounts of harvesting slash and live trees, within harvested areas may ameliorate some negative effects of biomass harvesting on soil processes. We evaluated the effects of biomass harvests with reserve tree and slash retention on the SMC and soil nutrient bioavailability (assessed using plant-root simulator probes) in trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) forests in northern Minnesota during the spring and summer, 1–3 years after harvest. Variable biomass removal levels tested include complete removal (whole tree harvest of boles and branches), complete slash retention (bole only harvest), and 20% slash retention (amount suggested by regional biomass harvesting guidelines). Compared to the unharvested control, biomass harvests had no effect on the multivariate SMC composition or microbial biomass, but did result in a 1–4% increase in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal abundance and reduced bacterial stress two and three years after harvest. Additionally, biomass harvesting increased NH4 bioavailability during year one, and reduced NO3 bioavailability during year two when compared to unharvested controls. Among the three biomass harvests with differing levels of slash removal there were few differences in overall SMC composition, microbial biomass, and soil nutrients; however, the abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, gram positive and actinomycete bacteria were significantly higher in harvested treatments with more slash retained. These results are specific to single rotation biomass harvesting in aspen stands due to the unique relationships between plants and their associated SMCs, and may not be directly applicable to forest biomass harvesting of other commercial forest tree species, or multiple rotations.
Properties of the Ornstein-Uhlenbeck bridge

This paper presents a study of the properties of the Ornstein-Uhlenbeck bridge, specifically, we derive its Karhunen-Loeve expansion for any value of the initial variance and mean-reversion parameter (or mean-repulsion if negative). We also show that its canonical decomposition can be obtained using some techniques related to generalized bridges. Finally, we present an application to the optimal functional quantization of the Ornstein-Uhlenbeck bridge.
Moral Discourse and Personhood in Overseas Chinese Contexts

Resistance and agency have been important themes in archaeological sites of labor. But how should archaeologists address archaeological contexts where resistance seems attenuated? This article takes the construction of the transcontinental railroad (1865–1869) as a case study to explore this question, focusing on the High Sierras section of the railroad around Tahoe National Forest. Chinese laborers in the mid-19th century were oriented toward and empowered by a moral discourse quite different from that of their Western capitalist employers, and these moral differences were intimately connected with divergent understandings of personhood. While Western capitalists understood labor relations through the dominant discourse of possessive individualism and the spirit of capitalism, Chinese workers were invested in a discourse of relational personhood and filiality. Understanding these differences can transform archaeological interpretation of Chinese work camps in regard to the presence of agency and the significance of labor.
White Sturgeon Spawning in the San Joaquin River, California, and Effects of Water Management

Abstract Inadequate recruitment is a hallmark of declining sturgeon populations throughout the world. Efforts to understand and address the processes that regulate recruitment are of foremost impor...
Emerging roles for motor proteins in progenitor cell behavior and neuronal migration during brain development

Over the past two decades, substantial progress has been made in visualizing and understanding neuronal cell migration and morphogenesis during brain development. Distinct mechanisms have evolved to support migration of the various cell types that compose the developing neocortex. A specific subset of molecular motors, so far consisting of cytoplasmic dynein 1, Kif1a and myosin II, are responsible for cytoskeletal and nuclear transport in these cells. This review focuses on the emerging roles for each of these motor proteins in the migratory mechanisms of neocortical cell types. We discuss how migration can be cell cycle regulated and how coordination of motor activity is required to ensure migratory direction. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Retroviral Spongiform Polioencephalomyelopathy

Aging wild mice (Mus musculus domesticus) from several different trapping areas in southern California are uniquely prone to a naturally occurring hind-leg paralytic disease and/or lymphoma. Both conditions are caused by an indigenous ecotropic murine leukemia virus (MuLV). These mice have a lifelong persistent viremia with total immunologic tolerance to the virus. The characteristic pathologic features are centered on the anterior-lateral horns of the lumbosacral spinal cord and consist primarily of a noninflammatory spongiform change, with reactive gliosis and neuronal dropout. The main cause of neuronal death apparently is abortive intracytoplasmic replication of virus particles. Genetic control of the naturally occurring disease in wild mice is achieved by segregation of a dominant ecotropic virus restriction gene, Akvr-1R/Fv-4R. The neurologic and/or neoplastic diseases are readily reproduced by experimental inoculation of newborn susceptible laboratory mice with purified, cloned ecotropic virus derived from the affected wild mice. The biologic and pathologic features of the experimental paralysis closely resemble those of the natural disease. This nononcogenic retroviral disease is useful in understanding the molecular basis of direct, virus-induced, neuronal and glial cell degeneration and their sequelae.
Prey Consumption and Development of Thanasimus undatulus, a Predator of the Mountain Pine Beetle

Thanasimus undatulus Say is a common predator of the mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins, in lodgepole pine, Pinus contorta Douglas, according to DeLeon (1934), who listed it as T. dubius (F.). T. undatulus was reported also as being a predator of the spruce beetle, D. rufipennis (Kirby), and associated scolytids in Engelmann spruce, Picea engelmannii Parry (Knight 1961); a predator of the fir engraver, Scolytus ventralis LeConte, in Abies species (Struble 1957); an occasional predator of lps species in lodgepole pine logging slash (Reid 1957); and of the Douglas fir beetle, D. pseudotsugae Hopkins, in Douglas-fir, Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco (Cowan and Nagel 1965). The present study was done to obtain information on prey consumption and rate of development of T. undatulus to appraise more realistically the effect of this predator on populations of the mountain pine beetle in lodgepole pine.