cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
School-Based Attributes Instrumental in Student Success in a Florida Charter Middle School: a Formative Case Study

This article discusses the use of domains identified by Hattie (2009) as a research framework to conduct a qualitative, single-case study to identify attributes perceived to be instrumental in student success in a Florida Charter middle school. This study examined best practices contributing to the long-term sustained success of the middle school students in an effort to maintain and replicate high student achievement. The following question directed this study: “What school-based attributes do administrators and teachers perceive to be instrumental in student success in a Florida charter middle school?” Through research and synthesis of over 1200 meta-analyses, Hattie and his team of researchers identified 195 influences that impact learning in schools. Hattie categorized these influences into six domains identified as major contributors to learning. This case study addressed those domains under a school’s control: (a) school, (b) teacher, (c) curricula, (d) teaching. These categories provided the framework to examine the factors responsible for student success in the charter school. The data sources for the study were teacher interviews, administrator interviews, and classroom observations. The coding strategy integrated pre-figured codes aligned with Hattie’s (2009, 2011), Hattie’s (Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Psychology, 1(1), 79–91, 2015) domains (school, teacher, curricula, and teaching) while allowing for the possibility for emergent codes. Research credibility was established by (a) prolonged engagement of the researcher, (b) triangulation of data, (c) identification of potential bias, and (d) peer review. The conceptual framework used as a foundation for the study provided the structure to facilitate reliability of this research. Data collection and analysis led to the identification of three over-arching themes, flexibility, personalized learning, and high expectations, as key attributes contributing to student success.
MULKSG: MULtiple KSimultaneous Graph Assembly

This work shows how to parallelize multi K de Bruijn graph genome assembly simultaneously, removing the bottleneck of iterative multi K assembly. The expected execution time on a single node with 40 cores is variable, with the average execution time for the entire pipeline over 16 datasets tested being 1613 s for SPAdes vs. 1581 s for MULKSG, with the MULKSG graph creation and traversal averaging 15% faster than SPAdes. We implement a multi-node implementation for the graph creation and traversal portions of the assembly, showing the speedups in Fig. 4. We show that when implemented correctly with correction phases performed per graph in parallel, the expected outcome is very close to the original method, in some cases having less errors while keeping the same NGA50 and genome coverage %. We show this works in practice, implementing with the popular genome assembler SPAdes. Further, this algorithmic change gets rid of the single node sequential bottleneck on multi K genome assembly, allowing for the use of parallel error correction, graph building, graph correction, and graph traversal. We implement a parallel version of the assembly and show the statistics are the same as when run on a single node. The code is open source and can be found at https://github.com/cwright7101/mulksg.
Working with Organizational Culture: Ideas About Consulting

This chapter develops a number of alternative approaches to traditional Organization Development (OD) consulting practices. It analyzes the positivist nature of OD practices as derived from Lewin’s work and how they are out of alignment with the epistemological underpinnings of the system/process model of culture presented in this book. The chapter concludes with the presentation of two consultancies that help to illustrate the application of the alternative consulting principles discussed in the chapter.
Exploiting Imine Photochemistry for Masked N‐Centered Radical Reactivity

This report details the development of a masked N-centered radical strategy that harvests the energy of light to drive the conversion of cyclopropylimines to 1-aminonorbornanes. This process employs the N-centered radical character of a photoexcited imine to facilitate the homolytic fragmentation of the cyclopropane ring and the subsequent radical cyclization sequence that forms two new C-C bonds en route to the norbornane core. Achieving bond-forming reactivity as a function of the N-centered radical character of an excited state Schiff base is unique, requiring only violet light in this instance. This methodology operates in continuous flow, enhancing the potential to translate beyond the academic sector. The operational simplicity of this photochemical process and the structural novelty of the (hetero)aryl-fused 1-aminonorbornane products are anticipated to provide a valuable addition to discovery efforts in pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries.
Bilateral refractory subdural hygromas following intrathecal methotrexate injections for B-Cell Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia

Abstract Background Subdural hygroma (SDG) is an important complication after intrathecal injections of medications. SDG develops because of a cerebrospinal fluid leak into subdural space. Case description We report a case of 69 years old male who presented to the hospital with changes in mental status and hemodynamic instability. The patient was a known case of B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (B-ALL) and was undergoing intrathecal injections of methotrexate (MTX) and intensive chemotherapy. Patient focal neurological deficits were correlated with the neuroimaging findings which showed bilateral subdural hygromas. He has received intrathecal injections of MTX almost 6 weeks ago. Surgical drainage of subdural hygroma was done but the refractory nature of hygroma left the patient with residual mass effects and neurological deficits. Conclusion As physicians, we should be aware of a fatal but rare complication of intrathecal injections and one of them this patient developed as SDG.
Removal of cattle grazing correlates with increases in vegetation productivity and in abundance of imperiled breeding birds

Abstract Livestock grazing is the most prevalent land use practice in the western United States and a widespread cause of degradation of riparian vegetation. Riparian areas provide high-quality habitat for many species of declining migratory breeding birds. We analyzed changes in vegetation and bird abundance at a wildlife refuge in southeastern Oregon over 24 years, following cessation of 120 years of livestock grazing. We quantified long-term changes in overall avian abundance and species richness and, specifically, in the abundances of 20 focal species. We then compared the local responses of the focal species to population-scale trends of the same species at three different large spatial scales. Overall avian abundance increased 23% during the 12 years after removal and remained consistent from then through year 24. Three times as many species colonized the survey sites as dropped out. Of the focal species, most riparian woodland-tree or shrub dependent, sagebrush obligate, and grassland or meadow taxa increased in abundance or remained stable locally. As these species were generally of conservation concern, the population increases contradicted regionally declining or stable trends. In contrast, most riparian woodland-cavity nester species decreased in abundance locally, reflecting disruption of aspen stand dynamics by decades of grazing. Avian nest parasites and competitors of native species declined in abundance locally, matching regional trends. Restoring riparian ecosystems by removing livestock appeared to be beneficial to the conservation of many of these declining populations of migratory birds.
Abstract 3855: Oncogenic Kras-mediated regulation of the tumor microenvironment in lung cancer

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with an estimated 1.6 million deaths each year. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is with 85% by far the most common subtype of lung cancer, comprising adenocarcinomas and lung squamous cell carcinoma. Mutations in Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and anaplastic lymphoma receptor tyrosine kinase (ALK) genes are common with the worst overall survival for KRAS mutant adenocarcinoma patients. We have established a murine model of lung cancer, wherein expression of oncogenic Kras can be controlled genetically, allowing activation of oncogenic KrasG12D (Kras*) to initiate tumor growth, tumor eradication upon Kras* depletion and re-activation as a means to model relapse. Oncogenic Kras depletion (deactivation) has previously been reported to result in tumor cell apoptosis even in the presence of tumor suppressor loss. However, the mechanisms of apoptosis, the role of the immune system on these changes, and the mechanisms allowing some tumor cells to escape apoptosis, which typically results in tumor relapse, are unknown. Here, we interrogated the immune response in mediating tumor regression and relapse using this genetically engineered models. Multiplex immunohistochemistry as well as CyTOF provided insight into the changes in immune contexture upon Kras* depletion in mice haploinsufficient for tumor suppressor p53 or mutant for p53 (R172H). Interestingly, total number of T cells including cytotoxic T cells (CTLs) was elevated in lung tumors from p53 mutant mice supporting findings of heightened immune activation and overall response to immune therapy with an increased mutational burden. Kras* inactivation and thus inhibition of MAPK signaling resulted in an overall decrease in abundance of CTLs and antigen presenting cells (APC) as well as engagement of CTL with tumor cells and APCs indicating a decrease in immune presence likely due to proceeding tumor cell kill and immune recruitment. However, intracellular distance of CTL with tumor cells indicated active tumor cell kill of the CTLs to eradicate remaining tumor cells. In summary, these findings support recent observation of increased immune activation in tumors with higher mutational load as well as changes mediated by inhibition of MAPK signaling which both maybe harnessed for enhancing future immunotherapies. Citation Format: Nina Steele, Kristena Y. Abdelmalak, Sarah F. Ferris, Jennifer M. Lee, Carlos Espinoza, Yaqing Zhang, Sundaresh Ram, Craig Galban, Nithya Ramnath, Timothy L. Frankel, Marina Pasca di Magliano, Stefanie Galban. Oncogenic Kras-mediated regulation of the tumor microenvironment in lung cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 3855.
Diet Quality and Risk of Parkinson's Disease: A Prospective Study and Meta-Analysis.

Background Several dietary components have been shown to be neuroprotective against risk of neurodegeneration. However, limited observational studies have examined the role of overall diet quality on risk of Parkinson's disease. Objectives We examined the associations between diet quality and risk of Parkinson's disease in a prospective cohort study and meta-analysis. Methods Included in the cohort study were 3,653 participants (1,519 men and 2,134 women; mean age: 81.5 years) in the Geisinger Rural Aging Study longitudinal cohort in Pennsylvania. Diet quality was assessed using a validated dietary screening tool containing 25 food- and behavior-specific questions in 2009. Potential Parkinson's cases were identified using electronic health records based on ICD9 (332.*), ICD10 (G20), and Parkinson-related treatments. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) across diet quality tertiles were calculated using Cox proportional hazards models after adjusting for potential confounders. We further performed a meta-analysis by pooling our study with four published papers on this topic. Random-effects model was utilized to calculate the pooled risk ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results During a mean of 6.94 years of follow-up, 47 incident Parkinson's cases were documented. Having high diet quality at baseline was associated with lower Parkinson's disease risk (adjusted HR for the highest vs the lowest diet quality tertile = 0.39; 95% CI: 0.17, 0.89; p-trend = 0.02). The meta-analysis including 140,617 individuals also showed that adherence to high diet quality or a healthy dietary pattern was associated with lower risk of Parkinson's disease (pooled risk ratio = 0.64; 95% CI: 0.49, 0.83). Conclusion Having high diet quality or a healthy dietary pattern was associated with lower future risk of Parkinson's disease.
Modeling source parameters of quasi-periodic tremor

Modeling harmonic tremor recorded at volcanoes is an essential practice in improving eruption forecasting methods and warning systems. We model the conduit dynamics of quasi-periodic tremor (chugging) recorded at Karymsky, Tungurahua, and Fuego volcanoes to estimate its source characteristics. Chugging mechanisms are estimated using two theoretical models originally derived in Garce?s [1997, doi: 10.1029/1999JB900096] and Girona et al. [2019, doi: 10.1029/2019JB017482], respectively. Comparisons of the conduit and fluid output parameters suggests that chugging is primarily limited to near-surface oscillations and outgassing due to an accumulation of gas between eruptive episodes. The modeled results indicate clustered release of volatiles exsolved from a deeper magma conduit region, triggered by an initial explosion. This interpretation is consistent with both infrasonic and seismic observations at each volcano.
“Home is Home:” Exploring the Meaning of Home across Long-Term Care Settings

To feel “at home” in long term care (LTC) is an important programmatic goal. Few large studies, however, have examined resident perspectives about feeling at home across different types of LTC sett...
Transformation Theory for Systems with Continuous Spectra

So far, we have studied transformations from one basis to another only for basis vectors that are the eigenvectors of a set of commuting hermitian operators whose spectra are discrete. Moreover, we have studied finite-dimensional subspaces of these vector spaces, so our unitary transformation matrices were finite-dimensional. Commuting operators, however, such as the operators x, y, z or the operators p x , p y , p z exist with continuous spectra. Still other operators have both discrete and continuous spectra. We need to study the transformation theory for the base vectors of this type. In particular, the coordinate and momentum representations are of great importance.
Effect of Fiber Coating on Mechanical Properties of Nicalon Fibers and Nicalon-Fiber/SiC Matrix Composites

The effect of fiber-coating thickness on retained in-situ fiber strength and the resulting mechanical properties of composites was investigated. Flexure tests in a four-point-bend mode were used to evaluate ultimate strength and work-of-fracture of the composites with various fiber-coating thicknesses. Retained in-situ fiber strength in the fractured composites was evaluated by fractographic techniques. Retained in-situ fiber strength, ultimate strength, and work-of-fracture of the composites increased with increasing fiber-coating thickness, reaching a peak value at a coating thickness of {approximately}0.3{mu}m. Further increases in coating thickness did not improve the mechanical properties of either the fibers or the composites. A direct correlation between retained in-situ fiber strength and mechanical properties of the composites suggests that retained in-situ fiber strength has a significant influence on the mechanical properties of composites.
A Program to Determine an Accurate Trigonometric Parallax for the Hyades Cluster

A list is presented of very probable Hyades cluster members that are suitable for an accurate determination of the cluster’s trigonometric parallax.
Israel and Ethiopia: From a Special to a Pragmatic Relationship

From the mid-1950s to 1967, Israel enjoyed very good relations with numerous countries throughout Subsaharan Africa. Africa provided fertile ground for economic and military cooperation that brought political dividends to Israel. The Jewish state sought diplomatic support and/or strategic advantage in its ongoing conflict with its Arab neighbors, while the African states, almost all newly independent, sought military and economic assistance and technological knowhow. During these years, Egypt was Israel's only rival for influence on the African continent. As a result of the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, Israel occupied Egypt's Sinai peninsula, an action which damaged the Jewish state's relations with the countries of Subsaharan Africa, but with the exception of Guinea, did not result in the latter's severing of diplomatic ties.
Conducting Talk in Secondary Science Classrooms: Investigating Instructional Moves and Teachers’ Beliefs

Whole-class discussion is a common instructional approach used by secondary science teachers. When orchestrated well, such an approach can provide students with opportunities to engage in extensive science talk with the benefit of teacher guidance and feedback. Our study investigated teachers’ approaches to discussion during the piloting of an urban ecology curriculum designed to support student participation in science discourse as well as teachers’ beliefs about science talk. Participants included five secondary science teachers and their students (n = 116). Our analysis focused on transcripts of whole-class discussions and interviews with teachers about their beliefs regarding talk. We found that the students’ contributions during discussions were typically limited to simple phrases or short sentence responses that did not voluntarily include reasoning. The teachers’ framing of the lessons and the moves the teachers made during the discussions seemed to reinforce the limited nature of the students’ responses. Furthermore, we found that teachers rarely used probing questions or tossed back students’ ideas. The beliefs teachers expressed about their students, themselves, and external factors provided insight into why teachers continued to take an authoritative stance even though they believed teacher-driven discussion was not the ideal. © 2013Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Sci Ed 97:367–394, 2013
Das parlamentarische Gesetzgebungsverfahren II: Finanzgesetze und parlaments-ermächtigte Gesetzgebung

Bei der Finanzgesetzgebung greift ein von der anderen Gesetzgebung abweichendes Verfahren Platz. Auf keinem anderen Gebiet wirkt sich die Vormacht der Exekutive gegenuber der Legislative so entscheidend aus als auf diesem. Verfassungspolitisch gesehen ist dabei die Handlungsfreiheit des Unterhauses — nur dieses kommt seit dem Parliament Act von 1911 in Betracht — gegenuber dem Kabinett noch eingeschrankter als bei den gewohnlichen Gesetzen.
A Multilevel Analysis of Neighborhood Socioeconomic Effect on Preterm Births in Georgia, USA

This study estimates the neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES) effect on the risk of preterm birth (PTB) using multilevel regression (MLR) models. Birth data retrieved from year 2000 and 2010 Georgia Vital Records were linked to their respective census tracts. Principle component analysis (PCA) was performed on nine selected census variables and the first two principal components (Fac1 and Fac2) were used to represent the neighborhood-level SES in the MLR models. Two-level random intercept MLR models were specified using 122,744 and 112,578 live and singleton births at the individual level and 1613 and 1952 census tracts at the neighborhood level, for 2000 and 2010, respectively. After adjustment for individual level factors, Fac1, which represents disadvantaged SES, respectively generated an Odds Ratio of 1.056 (95% CI: 1.031-1.081) and 1.080 (95% CI: 1.056-1.105) for these two years, showing a modest but statistically significant effect on PTB. After adjusting for individual level factors and the census tract level factors, Intra-class correlation (ICC) was 1.2% and 1.4%, for year 2000 and 2010, respectively. The two IOR-80% intervals, 0.73-1.52 (year 2000) and 0.73-1.59 (year 2010) suggest large unexplained between census tract variation. The Median Odds Ratio (MOR) value of 1.21(year 2000) and 1.23 (year 2010) revealed that the un-modeled neighborhood effect was smaller than two individual-level predictor variables, race, and tobacco use but larger than the fixed effect of census tract-level predicting variable, Fac1 and all the other individual level factors. Overall, better census tract level SES was found to have a modest protective effect for PTB risk and the effects of the two examined years were similar. Large unexplained between census tract heterogeneity warrants more sophisticated MLR models to further investigate the PTB risk factors and their interactions at both individual and neighborhood levels.
The Comparative Advantage of Long-Term Contracts and Firms

This paper analyzes the choice between long-term contracts and firms. The basic setup is a two-stage version of a vertical integration problem. In stage one, the upstream and downstream managers, respectively, expend costreducing and revenue-enhancing effort. In the second stage, managers observe private information about upstream costs and downstream revenues, and a quantity decision is made. This paper focuses on the ex ante choice between long-term contracts and firms, before specific investment. The central contribution is to provide a simple, testable theory of the implicit efficiency tradeoffs between long-term contracts and firms. "Longterm contracts" are defined as arrangements where parties prespecify a nonlinear (transfer) pricing schedule before investment in specific assets. One firm then sets output, and each manager is compensated out of the residual earnings of the portion of production they manage. Under a "firm" one of these stages is owned by the other, and the manager of that stage is then
Effect of combined V1a/V1b vasopressin receptor blockade within the paraventricular nucleus on neurocardiovascular responses (1130.2)

The paraventricular nucleus (PVN) plays a critical role vasopressin (AVP) secretion by the neurohypophysis. AVP released from dendrites of magnocellular neurons within PVN influences systemic hemod...
The Turbulent Cascade for High Cross-Helicity States at 1?AU

We apply third-moment theory that describes the energy cascade within the inertial range of magnetohydrodynamic turbulence to observations of large cross-helicity states at 1 AU. We find that in contrast to intervals with smaller helicity that form the bulk of the observations, large helicity states demonstrate a significant back-transfer of energy from small to large scales. This occurs in such a manner as to reinforce the dominance of the outward-propagating fluctuations. We find no evidence of a significant anisotropy in the back-transfer dynamics and conclude that the process must be short-lived in order to be consistent with solar wind observations. We offer this as partial explanation for large helicity states in the solar wind.
Mechanistic explanations and animal model simulations in neuroscience

The ‘new mechanists’ assume that discovering neural mechanisms is a major aim of neuroscience where this constitutes a process of explaining. They strive to articulate the norms for good explanations. I argue that: the normative project of the ontic mechanistic explanation is unrealistic; the epistemological version of mechanistic explanation accounts for the practical epistemological constraints of neuroscience but fails normatively; hence a dilemma: either methodologically strong but unrealistic or epistemologically realistic but methodologically weak view of mechanistic explanation. I propose that the solution is in abandoning the idea that the study of mechanisms in neuroscience aims mainly at explaining. Model-building and simulating neural phenomena and mechanisms do not necessarily aim at providing explanations. Additionally, some of the cognitive goals attributed to explanation are actually served by simulation. Thus, the new mechanist approach needs to be revised so as to do better justice to the...
Effects of task, interval and order of presentation on time estimations

60 male adults estimated time passage for achievement-oriented and unfilled tasks. Significant task, interval, and order effects were associated with trial and total temporal estimations.
Electron impact dissociation of cyanobenzene radical cations by ion cyclotron resonance spectroscopy

Abstract Trapped ion cyclotron resonance spectroscopy has been used for the first time to study the electron impact dissociation of ions. Fragmentation of C6H5CH+ to produce C6H+4 and HCN is observed to occur at low electron energies (3–9 eV). The extent of dissociation is observed to be linear in emission current, rising from a threshold at 3.0 ± 0.5 eV to a maximum cross section estimated to be 6A2 at 7.5 ± 0.5 eV. The implications of these results are discussed.
Novel Sampling Device for Obtaining Process Near-Infrared Spectra of High-Pressure Gases

A novel sampling device for making real-time, on-line, near-infrared measurements of high-pressure gases has been constructed and tested. The design makes it possible to measure background spectra between each sample measurement. The position of a floating piston inside a cylindrical cell is controlled by the pressure differences between the sample gas and the background gas. The optical path is transverse to the cylinder axis so that the sample gas is in the beam when its pressure is highest and the background gas is in the beam when its pressure is highest. At 350 psia, a pressure difference of 20 psia will drive the piston to the end having the lower pressure and allow the spectrum of the higher pressure gas to be measured. Near-IR spectra of CO2 as a function of pressure and of 15 different natural gas samples were measured and analyzed.
ENERGY CURRENT AND THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY FOR JOSEPHSON-JUNCTION ARRAY MODELS OF GRANULAR SUPERCONDUCTORS

One model of granular superconductors is based on a Josephson-junction array with capacitive, or charging, terms. As a result of having these noncommuting terms in the Hamiltonian, energy transport is possible. We have obtained an expression for the heat current for this model and have employed it in calculating the thermal conductivity \ensuremath{\kappa}. We find that as the temperature is lowered through the system's order-disorder phase transition, \ensuremath{\kappa} increases by more than one order of magnitude. Effects of having a distribution of grain sizes are also calculated.
Compositional and order patterning in driven alloys: the role of external-forcing characteristic lengths

Abstract This paper discusses the role played by the characteristic lengths introduced by an external forcing. Modeling and simulations show that these lengths, when large enough, can trigger patterning of the composition and of the degree of chemical order. Two practical situations are discussed: alloys subjected to irradiation and alloys subjected to sustained shearing.
Exercise-Induced Cardiac Remodeling

Early investigations in the late 1890s and early 1900s documented cardiac enlargement in athletes with above-normal exercise capacity and no evidence of cardiovascular disease. Such findings have been reported for more than a century and continue to intrigue scientists and clinicians. It is well recognized that repetitive participation in vigorous physical exercise results in significant changes in myocardial structure and function. This process, termed exercise-induced cardiac remodeling (EICR), is characterized by structural cardiac changes including left ventricular hypertrophy with sport-specific geometry (eccentric vs concentric). Associated alterations in both systolic and diastolic functions are emerging as recognized components of EICR. The increasing popularity of recreational exercise and competitive athletics has led to a growing number of individuals exhibiting these findings in routine clinical practice. This review will provide an overview of EICR in athletes.
Gender role conflict, alcohol, and help seeking among college men.

The purpose of the present study was to examine how gender role conflict (GRC) may mediate the relationship between negative alcohol-related consequences, drinking motives, and attitudes toward psychological help among male college students. A total of 399 collegian men completed an Internet survey. Results suggest a complex interplay of variables in that negative alcohol-related consequences were partially mediated by GRC, whereas drinking motives were not mediated by GRC. Implications of the findings and areas for further research are discussed.
Low‐temperature low‐stress silicon nitride for optoelectronic Applications prepared by electron cyclotron resonance plasma Chemical‐vapor deposition

Silicon nitride films have been deposited with a single‐magnet electron‐resonance deposition system using nitrogen and silane as the reaction gases at substrate temperatures of 110°C and 300°C. The films are slightly nitrogen‐rich with no measurable Si‐H bonds measurable by Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy and the concentration of hydrogen present as N‐H bonds increases with increasing SiH 4 /N 2 . The stress levels in the films can be controlled from tensile to compressive by decreasing the SiH 4 /N 2 flow ratio and very low stress can be obtained with N‐H bond concentrations of 4 at. %. The optical bandgap for the layer with the lowest stress value (‐11.5 MPa), deposited at 300°C was 4.9 eV, as determined from a taue plot, and the waveguide loss at 632.8 nm was 2.3 dB/cm for 500 nm thick film deposited on fused silica.
Topiramate does not affect the acquisition or expression of ethanol conditioned place preference in DBA/2J or C57BL/6J mice.

Background: Topiramate, an anticonvulsant, has been reported to increase the number of abstinent days and decrease craving in alcohol-dependent individuals. However, the neurobiological basis for topiramate's effect is unknown. To assess topiramate's effect on ethanol's rewarding and conditioning rewarding effects, the present experiments examined the effects of topiramate on the acquisition and expression of ethanol-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) in DBA/2J and C57BL/6J mice. Methods: A biased apparatus and subject assignment were used. Mice received ethanol (2 g/kg) or saline paired with an initially nonpreferred floor (CS+) and saline paired with an initially preferred floor (CS−) for 5-minute conditioning trials. During the acquisition experiments, mice received a pretreatment of topiramate (0, 5, 10, 20, 50, or 100 mg/kg) 1 hour before the CS+ trials. On intervening CS− trials, mice received a pretreatment of saline. For the preference test, all mice received saline injections and were placed on a split floor for a 30-minute test. During the expression experiments, mice received no drug pretreatment on conditioning trials, but were pretreated with topiramate (0, 10, 50, or 100 mg/kg) 1 hour before the test session. Results: Ethanol-induced CPP was observed in both strains, but topiramate did not affect the acquisition or expression of ethanol-induced CPP in either strain. Despite its failure to alter CPP, topiramate produced dose-dependent locomotor activating effects in both strains. These effects were observed both in the presence and in the absence of ethanol. Conclusions: These findings indicate that topiramate has no effect on ethanol's rewarding or conditioned rewarding effects as indexed by the place conditioning procedure. Thus, these studies raise the possibility that topiramate's efficacy in the treatment of alcoholism results from its impact on brain areas other than those that mediate ethanol's rewarding or conditioned rewarding effects. One alternative possibility is that topiramate decreases withdrawal-induced negative affective states that normally contribute to relapse.
Risks of Synovial Sepsis Following Intrasynovial Medication in Ambulatory Practice, 2006–2011: 9456 Intrasynovial Injections

Aims To determine the incidence of synovial sepsis following intra-articular and intrathecal injections. Synovial sepsis is a serious potential complication of intrasynovial medication. Methods Available case records for all horses receiving intrasynovial medications (ISMs) performed by 9 ambulatory clinicians were examined over 5 years (2006–2011). Intrasynovial medications were defined as therapeutic interventions, based on clinical history and orthopaedic examination; nontherapeutic injections for diagnostic analgesia were excluded. Routine protocol was not to clip injection sites; the skin was prepared using standard aseptic technique. Scrupulous aseptic injection technique was employed at all times. All horses were under the care of a single practice, dealing with mainly Thoroughbred racehorses. Records were cross-referenced against synovial cytology submissions and hospital admissions for synovial sepsis. Development of 2 out of 4 clinicopathological signs of synovial sepsis (lameness, joint distension, synovial white blood cell count >10,000/l, synovial total protein >25 g/l) within 8 weeks of medication of the same synovial space was considered to represent a post medication complication (PMC). Failure of the PMC to resolve with conservative therapy was considered to represent post medication synovial sepsis (PMSS). Results During the study period 9456 ISMs were recorded, in 4332 sessions, in 1732 horses. Corticosteroids were included in 92.3% of ISMs, 94.8% included amikacin and 0.15% (14/9456) included polysulphated glycosaminoglycans (PSGAGs). Twelve horses developed PMC (0.0013% ISM), 4 horses developed PMSS (0.0004% ISM). All 4 horses returned to use following joint lavage. Administration of intrasynovial PSGAGs, was significantly associated with PMSS (P<0.0001 OR = 787 95% CI 145–20,337). Intrasynovial medications that included amikacin were less likely to develop PSSM (P = 0.005 OR = 0.0181 95% CI 0.0019–0.174); however if the PSGAGs group was excluded the difference became nonsignificant (P = 0.0981). Conclusions and practical significance The risk of iatrogenic sepsis following intrasynovial medication is extremely low. Intrasynovial medication with PSGAGs should be avoided without concomitant antimicrobials. Acknowledgements A. Wilson and K. Batteate for case collation. Ethical animal research Not required by this Congress: retrospective analysis of case records. Sources of funding: None. Competing interests: None.
INTERACTION OF NITRIC OXIDE AND TRANSFORMING GROWTH FACTOR-β1 INDUCED BY ANGIOTENSIN II AND MECHANICAL STRETCH IN RAT RENAL TUBULAR EPITHELIAL CELLS

Purpose: Changes in intrarenal pressure accompanying unilateral ureteral obstruction can result in tubular mechanical stretch and mediator release from renal tubules. Therefore, we examined the synthesis of nitric oxide and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), and their interaction in rat renal epithelial cells (NRK-52E) exposed to either angiotensin II or mechanical stretch.Materials and Methods: NRK-52E were exposed to either angiotensin II or mechanical stretch. Nitrite and TGF-β in the supernatant were assessed by the Greiss reaction and bioassay, respectively. The level of cell hypertrophy and intracellular TGF-β protein was determined by flow cytometry. TGF-β messenger RNA and inducible nitric oxide synthase protein were detected by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and Western blot, respectively.Results: Angiotensin II stimulated TGF-β1 and nitric oxide. The nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, N-nitro-L-arginine (L-NAME) or angiotensin II type I receptor blocker, losartan, inhibited nit...
Semisynthesis of Abrusoside A Methyl Ester

Abrusoside A methyl ester (6) was prepared from abrusogenin (1) through methylation (CH2N2) and a subsequent coupling reaction with 1-chloro-2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetylglucopyranose (3) in the presence of AgOTf and TMU in CH2Cl2, followed by deacetylation using K2CO3 in MeOH−H2O.
Mucin Release from Rabbit Tracheal Epithelium in Response to Sera from Normal and Cystic Fibrosis Subjects

Summarv submandibular gland cells exposed to CF serum. This effect also We have developed an assay for the release of mucous glycoproteins secreted by rabbit tracheal mucosa to study the mucusstimulating properties of cystic fibrosis (CF) serum. Glycoproteins are labeled to equilibrium with both (35j-sulfate and [3Hj-glucosamine. The relative secretory rate (RSR) of these glycoproteins is assessed after incubation with 50% (v/v) CF and control sera. Serum from all sources significantly increased the RSR for incubation times ranging from 10 min to 4 h. CF serum produced a significantly greater RSR than control serum after 10 min exposure, but not after longer exposure intervals. After 10 min, RSR for [35S041-glycoproteins was 3.6 + 0.2 in the presence of sera from healthy individuals, and 2.3 +- 0.4 in the presence of sera from control patients with lung disease. Heterozygote RSR values were usually higher than control values, but not different than CF homozvgote values. The CF serum activity was reduced by freezing and thawing. Increasing the calcium contknt of incubation medium did not alter serum effects. Calcium inophore A23187 did not mimic CF serum activity. High molecular weight and albumin, but not IgG, fractions from Sephadex (2-200 chromatography of CF and control sera generally contained high levels of mucin-release activity. No chromatographic pattern of activity was distinctive for CF.
Metabolic acidosis increases intracellular calcium in bone cells through activation of the proton receptor OGR1.

Metabolic acidosis increases urine Ca without increasing intestinal absorption, leading to bone Ca loss. It is unclear how bone cells detect the increase in proton concentration. To determine which G protein-coupled proton sensing receptors are expressed in bone, PCR was performed, and products were detected for OGR1, TDAG8, G2A, and GPR4. We tested the hypothesis that the G protein-coupled proton sensor, OGR1, is an H+-sensing receptor in bone. To determine whether acid-induced bone resorption involves OGR1, we incubated mouse calvariae in neutral pH (NTL) or acidic (MET) medium ± the OGR1 inhibitor CuCl2. CuCl2 decreased MET-induced Ca efflux. We used fluorescent imaging of perfused bone cells to determine whether MET increases Cai. Perfusion with MET induced a rapid, flow-independent, increase in Cai in individual bone cells. To determine whether transfection of OGR1 into a heterologous cell type would increase Cai in response to H+, we perfused Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells transfected with mouse OGR1 cDNA. Perfusion with MET induced a rapid increase in Cai in OGR1-transfected CHO cells. These data indicate that OGR1 induces an increase in Cai in response to MET and is a prime candidate for an osteoblast proton sensor.
Time and space efficient net extractor

Abstract An efficient algorithm is developed for net extraction. This algorithm is able to handle very large layouts efficiently even when memory is limited. This is done by using disk storage effectively. The algorithm has been programmed in Fortran and is superior to other existing net extractors.
A basic hybrid finite element formulation for mid-frequency analysis of beams connected at an arbitrary angle

Abstract When beams are connected at an arbitrary angle and subjected to an external excitation, both longitudinal and bending waves are generated in the system. Since longitudinal wavelengths are considerably longer than bending wavelengths in the mid-frequency region, the number of bending wavelengths in the beams is considerably larger than the number of longitudinal wavelengths. In this paper, plannar beams connected at arbitrary angles are considered. The energy finite element analysis (EFEA) is employed for modelling the bending behavior of the beams and the conventional finite element analysis (FEA) is utilized for modelling the longitudinal vibration in the beams. Thus, a basic hybrid FEA formulation is presented for mid-frequency analysis of systems that contain two types of energy. The bending vibration is associated with the long members in the system and the longitudinal vibration is associated with the short members. The long members are considered to have high modal overlap and to contain several wavelengths within their dimension, and uncertainty effects are present. The short members contain a small number of wavelengths, and exhibit a low modal overlap. Due to the low modal overlap the resonant frequencies are spaced far apart in the frequency domain, therefore the short members exhibit resonant or non-resonant behavior depending on the frequency of the excitation. In this work, the bending and the longitudinal vibration within the same beam member are treated as a long and as a short member, respectively. A hybrid joint formulation is developed between long and short members. Power reflection and transmission coefficients are derived for each joint. The distribution of the energy throughout the system demonstrates a strong dependency on the power transfer coefficients. Several systems are analyzed by the hybrid FEA and by analytical solutions, and good correlation between them is observed.
Urothelial papilloma of the bladder: A review of 34 de novo cases

Background Urothelial papilloma of the bladder is an uncommon entity when using restrictive diagnostic criteria. Design We retrospectively studied 34 patients who were diagnosed with urothelial papilloma of the bladder using the criteria of the 1998 WHO/ISUP classification system. Six cases were in-house and the remaining 28 were referred from other institutions as consults to one of the authors. In all cases, the diagnosis of papilloma was the first manifestation of urothelial neoplasia. Results The mean age of the patients at diagnosis was 57.8 years (range, 23-87 years). The male-to-female ratio was 2.4:1 (24 males and 10 females). The tumor size averaged 3.3 mm (range, 1-20 mm; median, 2 mm). Simple papillary fronds were seen in all cases; in 5 cases the additional finding of secondary budding off of small fronds from larger ones was also seen. In all cases, the fronds had a round morphology; yet in 4 cases elongated fronds were also noted. In 5 cases, dilated lymphatics within the fibrovascular fronds were apparent. One case had foamy histiocytes within the fibrovascular stalks. In all cases, the lining consisted of normal-appearing urothelium without hyperplasia, dysplasia, and/or mitotic figures. Some of the distinctive histologic features seen were changes in the umbrella cells: vacuolization (n = 4), prominence with cytologic atypia (n = 2), eosinophilic syncytial morphology (n = 1), apocrine-like morphology (n = 1), and mucinous metaplasia (n = 1). Follow-up was available in 26 cases with a mean follow-up for those without evidence of progression of 28.9 months (range, 3-127 months). Three patients (8.8%) developed recurrent papilloma 4, 15, and 18 months after the initial diagnosis of papilloma; 1 of these patients also showed progression to noninvasive low-grade urothelial carcinoma at the time of recurrence (15 months). Three patients (8.8%) progressed to higher-grade disease: 2 to noninvasive low grade urothelial carcinoma (11 and 15 months after the original diagnosis) and 1 to a papillary urothelial neoplasm of low malignant potential at 104 months and a noninvasive low-grade urothelial carcinoma at 141 months from the initial diagnosis of papilloma. None of the patients demonstrated progression to either lamina propria (T1) or muscularis propria (T2) invasion. Two patients died of unrelated causes. None of the patients died of bladder cancer. Conclusion Patients with urothelial papillomas have a low incidence of recurrence and rarely progress to develop urothelial carcinoma. It seems reasonable to avoid labeling these patients as having cancer. It remains to be studied whether and when patients with papillomas who have no evidence of recurrence or progression no longer need to be followed.
Strategic choices to reduce implantable cardioverter-defibrillator-related morbidity

The number of patients undergoing implantation of a cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) is increasing, as the indications for device therapy have broadened. Despite the mortality benefits associated with ICDs, they can also cause substantial complications. Drs. Wazni and Wilkoff explore the issues involved in managing patients with an ICD and discuss approaches for reducing these adverse effects, from prevention of infection, and the choice of lead and implantation technique, to strategies for programming and monitoring the device.
Honey bee circadian clocks: behavioral control from individual workers to whole-colony rhythms

Abstract In the field of insect circadian rhythms, the honey bee is best known for its foraging time-sense, or Zeitgedachtnis, which permits the forager bee to make precise associations between the presence of food and the time of day. A number of studies, now considered classics, established that bees could be trained to collect food at virtually any time of the circadian cycle and that this timekeeping ability was controlled by an endogenous circadian clock. Recently, behavioral rhythms in bees have been examined using a variety of approaches, in both laboratory and field studies. The following areas of new research are reviewed: (a) the ontogeny of behavioral rhythmicity in newly emerged worker bees; (b) the integration of behavioral rhythmicity with the colony's division of labor; (c) the evidence for social entrainment of behavioral rhythms and for a ‘clock of the colony’; (d) the potential linkage between circadian rhythms of general locomotor activity and the foraging time-sense; (e) learning and entrainment hypotheses proposed to explain the mechanism underlying the time-sense; (f) the interplay between extinction and persistence of the time-memory as revealed from the differential behavior of individuals within the foraging group; and (g) comparisons of the Zeitgedachtnis with food-anticipatory rhythms in other animals.
Separation of Visual and Motor Workspaces During Targeted Reaching Results in Limited Generalization of Visuomotor Adaptation

Separating visual and proprioceptive information in terms of workspace locations during reaching movement has been shown to disturb transfer of visuomotor adaptation across the arms. Here, we investigated whether separating visual and motor workspaces would also disturb generalization of visuomotor adaptation across movement conditions within the same arm. Subjects were divided into four experimental groups (plus three control groups). The first two groups adapted to a visual rotation under a “dissociation” condition in which the targets for reaching movement were presented in midline while their arm performed reaching movement laterally. Following that, they were tested in an “association” condition in which the visual and motor workspaces were combined in midline or laterally. The other two groups first adapted to the rotation in one association condition (medial or lateral), then were tested in the other association condition. The latter groups demonstrated complete transfer from the training to the generalization session, whereas the former groups demonstrated substantially limited transfer. These findings suggest that when visual and motor workspaces are separated, two internal models (vision-based one, proprioception-based one) are formed, and that a conflict between the two disrupts the development of an overall representation that underlies adaptation to a novel visuomotor transform.