cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The mixed alkali effect in lithium-sodium aluminosilicate glasses

The electrical conductivity of several series of lithium-sodium aluminosilicate glasses has been measured. The results indicate that the mixed alkali effect increases in magnitude with increasing alumina concentration, even though the total alkali oxide content of all glasses considered is identical. These results further indicate that the non-bridging oxygen content of the glass has no significant role in the mechanism responsible for the mixed alkali effect. Results of this study are discussed in terms of current theories proposed to explain this anomalous behavior.
Treatment of fingernail biting by habit reversal

Abstract Three adults who bit their fingernails were treated by the Azrin and Nunn operant-based habit reversal program. Gains in nail length ranged from 24 to 70% at a six-month follow-up evaluation.
Autism and gastrointestinal symptoms

Autism is a collection of behavioral symptoms characterized by dysfunction in social interaction and communication in affected children. It is typically associated with restrictive, repetitive, and stereotypic behavior and manifests within the first 3 years of life. The cause of this disorder is not known. Over the past decade, a significant upswing in research has occurred to examine the biologic basis of autism. Recent clinical studies have revealed a high prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms, inflammation, and dysfunction in children with autism. Mild to moderate degrees of inflammation were found in both the upper and lower intestinal tract. In addition, decreased sulfation capacity of the liver, pathologic intestinal permeability, increased secretory response to intravenous secretin injection, and decreased digestive enzyme activities were reported in many children with autism. Treatment of digestive problems appears to have positive effects on autistic behavior. These new observations represent only a piece of the unsolved autism "puzzle" and should stimulate more research into the brain-gut connection.
The near-rings on groups of low order

A near-ring is a triple (G, +, *) such that (G, +) is a group, (G, *) is a semigroup, and * is left distributive over + ; i.e. for a, b, ce G, a * (b + c) =a* b + a* c. For examples of near-rings that arise naturally, see some of the references, in particular [1], [2], and [4]. In Section I, the set L of left distributive binary operations is constructed for an arbitrary group (G, +). This set is analyzed for the properties of associativity, commutivity, right distributivity, and for those having an identity associated with them. The set of associative left distributive operations define all the near-rings on the group (G, +). This set is analyzed to determine which of these near-rings are isomorphic. For Section II the theory of Section I was used with the help of a digital computer to study the set L for the groups of order <__ 7. These results are given in Section II. Throughout this paper (G, +) will denote an arbitrary group; and a binary operation, left distributive over +, will be called a multiplication. We let E =Hom ((G, +), (G, +)); if X and Y are non-void sets, then yX denotes the set of all functions with domain X and range contained in Y. It is elementary to prove that x,0 =0 for every x~G if * is a multiplication on (G, .). I. Construction of the Near-rings on an Arbitrary Group In [3], necessary and sufficient conditions are given to construct all the nearrings whose additive group is finite and cyclic. We shall now generalize these conditions for an arbitrary group. 1.1. Theorem. If f ~ E G, then f defines a multiplication * on (G, +) by a * b = f~(b) where f defines the mapping a ~fa. Conversely, if * is a multiplication on G, then * defines an element f e E ~ by a ~ f , where f a (b) = a* b. These correspondences between E G and multiplications on (G, +) are inverse one-to-one correspondences. That is, if fsE ~ defines the multiplication *, and * defines geE G, then f =g; and if �9 defines fEE G andf defines *' in G, then *=*'. Proof. The proof is straight forward so will be omitted.
Long-term experimental warming decreased labile soil organic carbon in a tallgrass prairie

Climate warming has been hypothesized to influence dynamics of soil organic carbon (SOC), especially labile SOC due to its rapid response to changes in temperature and carbon (C) supply. In this study, we examined impacts of experimental warming on the labile and whole SOC pools in association with warming-induced vegetation changes from 2000 to 2008 in a tallgrass prairie in Oklahoma, USA. Infrared heaters were used to elevate soil temperature by approximately 2°C since November 1999. The modified potassium permanganate (KMnO4, 0.02 mol L−1) procedure was used to estimate chemically labile organic C (LOC). Warming significantly decreased chemically labile organic C (LOC) by an average of 15.56 %, but had little effect on SOC content. The decrease in LOC was probably attributable to increased soil respiration, enhanced soil erosion, and possibly stimulated C4 dominance under warming. Warming did not induce an instantaneous decrease in LOC. A 2-stage variation in LOC response to warming was observed, with no significant changes from 2000 to 2004 and significant decreases from 2005 to 2008. Lagged temporal dynamics of LOC (2 yrs) asynchronously correlated with warming-increased C4 proportion of aboveground biomass (AGB). Our findings suggest that staged decrease in LOC under warming may potentially relate to the increase in C4 biomass through detrital inputs, making it complex to predict the effect of warming on C cycling in this region.
Increase in dopamine content of the rat median eminence after long-term ovariectomy and its reversal by estrogen replacement.

The norepinephrine (NE) and dopamine (DA) concentrations of the median eminence and the remaining hypothalamus of female rats were assayed using a sensitive radioenzymatic method. There were no changes in the catecholamine concentrations of either brain region when measured in the mornings of the different days of the estrous cycle. Four to 5 weeks after ovariectomy there was a marked increase in the DA but not the NE content of the median eminence,, and the daily administration of estradiol benzoate for 7 days prior to sacrifice reversed the ovariectorayinduced increase in DA. Ovariectomy did not alter catecholamine concentrations in the remaining hypothalamus.
Do panic disorder patients indiscriminately endorse somatic complaints

Ehlers et al. (1986b) and Margraf et al. (1986) suggested that panic disorder patients indiscriminately endorse somatic complaints and that their responses to lactate infusion are nonspecific. Their Symptom Questionnaire was composed of anxiety/panic/lactate infusion relevant symptoms, while the Somatic Control Scale was composed of "irrelevant" symptoms. In an attempt to address and in part replicate the above findings among panic disorder patients, we adopted the SCS of Margraf et al. (1986) for use with our Acute Panic Inventory, an instrument similar to their Symptom Questionnaire. Contrary to their reports, we did not find a tendency for panic patients to indiscriminately endorse somatic complaints. Only Acute Panic Inventory scores differed significantly across assessment points.
Proteomic identification of proteins oxidized by Aβ(1–42) in synaptosomes: Implications for Alzheimer's disease

Protein oxidation has been implicated in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and can lead to loss of protein function, abnormal protein turnover, interference with cell cycle, imbalance of cellular redox potential, and eventually cell death. Recent proteomics work in our laboratory has identified specifically oxidized proteins in AD brain such as: creatine kinase BB, glutamine synthase, ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase L-1, dihydropyrimidase-related protein 2, alpha-enolase, and heat shock cognate 71, indicating that a number of cellular mechanisms are affected including energy metabolism, excitotoxicity and/or synaptic plasticity, protein turnover, and neuronal communication. Synapse loss is known to be an early pathological event in AD, and incubation of synaptosomes with amyloid beta peptide 1-42 (Abeta 1-42) leads to the formation of protein carbonyls. In order to test the involvement of Abeta(1-42) in the oxidation of proteins in AD brain, we utilized two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, immunochemical detection of protein carbonyls, and mass spectrometry to identify proteins from synaptosomes isolated from Mongolian gerbils. Abeta(1-42) treatment leads to oxidatively modified proteins, consistent with the notion that Abeta(1-42)-induced oxidative stress plays an important role in neurodegeneration in AD brain. In this study, we identified beta-actin, glial fibrillary acidic protein, and dihydropyrimidinase-related protein-2 as significantly oxidized in synaptosomes treated with Abeta(1-42). Additionally, H+-transporting two-sector ATPase, syntaxin binding protein 1, glutamate dehydrogenase, gamma-actin, and elongation factor Tu were identified as increasingly carbonylated. These results are discussed with respect to their potential involvement in the pathogenesis of AD.
Identification and Engineering of the Cytochalasin Gene Cluster from Aspergillus clavatus NRRL 1

Abstract Cytochalasins are a group of fungal secondary metabolites with diverse structures and bioactivities, including cytochalasin E produced by Aspergillus clavatus , which is a potent anti-angiogenic agent. Here, we report the identification and characterization of the cytochalasin gene cluster from A. clavatus NRRL 1. As a producer of cytochalasin E and K, the genome of A. clavatus was analyzed and the ∼30 kb ccs gene cluster was identified based on the presence of a polyketide synthase–nonribosomal peptide synthetases (PKS–NRPS) and a putative Baeyer–Villiger monooxygenase (BVMO). Deletion of the central PKS–NRPS gene, ccsA , abolished the production of cytochalasin E and K, confirming the association between the natural products and the gene cluster. Based on bioinformatic analysis, a putative biosynthetic pathway is proposed. Furthermore, overexpression of the pathway specific regulator ccsR elevated the titer of cytochalasin E from 25 mg/L to 175 mg/L. Our results not only shed light on the biosynthesis of cytochalasins, but also provided genetic tools for increasing and engineering the production.
Importance of the postdischarge interval in assessing major adverse clinical event rates following percutaneous coronary intervention.

In-hospital major adverse clinical event (MACE) rates after percutaneous coronary intervention serve as benchmarks of performance. However, accelerated clinical pathways, decreased lengths of stay, and potential delayed effects of percutaneous coronary intervention may result in an underestimation of this traditional measurement of outcome. Records from patients in the first 3 waves of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's Dynamic Registry (n = 6,676) were reviewed for rates of composite in-hospital MACEs (death, myocardial infarction, and any repeat target vessel revascularization) and postdischarge MACEs (death, myocardial infarction, repeat hospitalization, and repeat target vessel revascularization) through 30 days. Rates for each composite MACE were compared across waves to assess changes over time. Predictors of each MACE category were identified using multivariate analysis. In-hospital MACE decreased significantly (5.4% of wave 1, 4.9% of wave 2, 3.1% of wave 3, p
Biophysical Characterization of Structural Properties and Folding of Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist

Abstract Structural properties and folding of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), a therapeutically important cytokine with a symmetric β-trefoil topology, are characterized using optical spectroscopy, high-resolution NMR, and size-exclusion chromatography. Spectral contributions of two tryptophan residues, Trp17 and Trp120, present in the wild-type protein, have been determined from mutational analysis. Trp17 dominates the emission spectrum of IL-1ra, while Trp120 is quenched presumably by the nearby cysteine residues in both folded and unfolded states. The same Trp17 gives rise to two characteristic negative peaks in the aromatic CD. Urea denaturation of the wild-type protein is probed by measuring intrinsic and extrinsic (binding of 1-anilinonaphthalene-8-sulfonic acid) fluorescence, near- and far-UV CD, and 1D and 2D (1H–15N heteronuclear single quantum coherence (HSQC)) NMR. Overall, the data suggest an essentially two-state equilibrium denaturation mechanism with small, but detectable structural changes within the pretransition region. The majority of the 1H–15N HSQC cross-peaks of the folded state show only a limited chemical shift change as a function of the denaturant concentration. However, the amide cross-peak of Leu31 demonstrates a significant urea dependence that can be fitted to a two-state binding model with a dissociation constant of 0.95 ± 0.04 M. This interaction has at least a five times higher affinity than reported values for nonspecific urea binding to denatured proteins and peptides, suggesting that the structural context around Leu31 stabilizes the protein–urea interaction. A possible role of denaturant binding in inducing the pretransition changes in IL-1ra is discussed. Urea unfolding of wild-type IL-1ra is sufficiently slow to enable HPLC separation of folded and unfolded states. Quantitative size-exclusion chromatography has provided a hydrodynamic view of the kinetic denaturation process. Thermodynamic stability and unfolding kinetics of IL-1ra resemble those of structurally and evolutionary close IL-1β, suggesting similarity of their free energy landscapes.
Bradykinin-Induced Increase in Total and Effective Blood Flow in Skeletal Muscle

The effect of the synthetic peptide, bradykinin, on total and nutritional blood flow through mammalian skeletal muscle in anesthetized rats, cats, and rabbits was studied. The intra-arterial administration of the drug consistently and significantly increases total blood flow through the gastrocuemius muscle of chloralose-anesthetized cats and rabbits. A similar increase in clearance of the dye "Water Blue" from microinjection sites in the spino-trapezius muscle of the rat and clearance of iodide ions from skeletal muscle in the larger species was established. Bradykinin causes active dilatation of the nutritional circulation as well as increased total blood flow through muscle.
Radiative relaxation time of quasinormal optical modes in small dielectric particles

Abstract Radiative relaxation times of optical states in small dielectric particles of arbitrary shape are calculated in the quasistatic limit up to the second order of perturbation theory, assuming that the polarization distribution for the optical states is known. The concept of antisymmetrical optical states, previously developed for a system of discrete dipoles, is generalized for the case of a bulk dielectric particle. We use the integral form of Maxwell's equations to obtain a general expansion of solutions for the polarization function inside a particle in terms of eigenfunctions of the integral interaction operator. Then we calculate imaginary parts of corresponding eigenvalues, which determine the radiative relaxation times of optical excitations, treating the non-Hermitian part of the interaction operator as a perturbation. The imaginary parts of eigenvalues are expanded in terms of total multipole moments of corresponding eigenmodes. Particles with special properties of symmetry can possess pol...
Giardia lamblia: regulation of secretory vesicle formation and loss of ability to reattach during encystation in vitro.

Abstract Encystation of Giardia lamblia is required for survival outside the host, as well as for initiation of new infections. Previously, we induced cultured G. lamblia trophozoites to encyst in vitro for the first time. During encystation, we observed the appearance of a new class of large secretory vesicle (encystation-specific vesicle; ESV) within which cyst antigens are concentrated and transported to the nascent wall. The present kinetic and physiologic studies now show that ESV are the earliest morphologic change observed in encystation. Expression of ESV, as well as subsequent encystation, are regulated by exposure to bile at the slightly alkaline pH which is typical of the human intestinal tract. ESV formation appears to be less stringently regulated than formation of water-resistant cysts because omission of either encystation stimuli or alkaline pH preferentially inhibits encystation. Since cysts do not attach, we asked when in encystation this physiologic transition occurs. We found that most encysting trophozoites remain attached until they begin to round up (>24 hr). However, if they are made to detach, as early as 12 hr in encystation, well before they round up, they are defective in the ability to reattach. If trophozoites also become less able to reattach to the intestinal epithelium early in encystation in vivo, this would increase their exposure to lumenal encystation stimuli and promote encystation. These studies have provided new insights into the complex sequence of morphologic and physiologic alterations which occur during encystation of G. lamblia in vitro and their regulation by host intestinal factors.
Dopamine transporter binding in chronic manganese intoxication.

Chronic exposure to manganese may induce parkinsonism similar to idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, clinical manifestations of manganism also have some features different from PD. The mechanisms of manganese-induced parkinsonism remain not fully understood. 99mTc-TRODAT-1 is a cocaine analogue that can bind to the dopamine transporter (DAT) site reflecting the function of presynaptic dopaminergic terminals. The purpose of this study was to evaluate DAT function using 99mTc-TRODAT-1 to investigate the integrity of the presynaptic dopaminergic terminals in manganese-induced parkinsonism. Brain 99mTc-TRODAT-1 single photon emission computed tomography was performed in 4 patients with chronic manganese intoxication in a ferromanganese smelting plant in Taiwan. Twelve PD patients and 12 healthy volunteers served as abnormal and normal controls, respectively. Clinically, all manganism patients had a bradykinetic-rigid syndrome. The scores of the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale ranged between 19 and 64. The uptake values of the 99mTc-TRODAT-1 were 0.868±0.136 in the right corpus striatum and 0.865±0.118 in the left, as compared with 0.951±0.059 and 0.956±0.058, respectively for the normal controls. The data were significantly higher than 0.250±0.070 and 0.317±0.066 respectively for the PD patients. Interestingly, there was a mild decrease in the uptake of 99mTc-TRODAT-1 in the putamen and the ratio of putamen and caudate when compared with the normal controls. Although the DAT shows a slight decrease in the putamen of manganism patients as compared with that of the normal controls, the data indicate that the presynaptic dopaminergic terminals are not the main target of chronic manganese intoxication. In addition 99mTc-TRODAT-1 SPECT can provide a useful, convenient and inexpensive tool for differentiation between chronic manganism and PD.
Classical trajectory study of product state vector correlations: A model for the photodissociation of CF3NO

The photodissociation dynamics of CF3NO are modeled by three-dimensional classical trajectory calculations on the S0 and T1 electronic potential surfaces that include all vibrational and rotational degrees of freedom. The intramolecular potential energy surface for CF3NO was obtained by optimizing parameters in an analytical potential function to best fit spectroscopic data and the results of UMP2/6-31+G* level ab initio calculations. Initial parent molecule energy and angular momentum distributions are computed using a new method that simulates the conditions of molecular beam experiments. The calculations are directed at interpreting experimental measurements of correlated NO product state distributions in the photodissociation of the nitrosoalkanes. The results show that the v–j correlation of NO photofragment is primarily determined by the C–N–O bending force constant and exit channel barrier on the T1 surface.
Perceived Reasonableness and Morals in Service Encounters.

Companies have a moral responsibility to treat customers fairly. One way for companies to do so is to allow their employees to exercise reasonableness in their interactions with customers. We define reasonableness as a latitude or space that exists around expectations in the delivery of service. In this paper, we explore the concept of reasonableness from a customer’s perspective (i.e., perceived reasonableness) and the role that the morals of service personnel play in customers’ perceptions of reasonableness. First, through an open-ended survey on customers’ unreasonable service experiences, we identify themes of perceived reasonableness. We also discuss the role that the morals of service personnel play within these themes. Second, in order to identify the relationships between these themes, we create a cognitive map and discuss the implications of the identified relationships. Finally, we provide directions for future research on reasonableness.
Satisfaction with health care and cancer screening practices among women in a largely rural region of West Texas.

Abstract Background Satisfaction with medical care has been shown to influence patient behavior, but its effect on the use of preventive services is largely unstudied. This study examined whether women’s satisfaction with the accessibility and quality of care was associated with the odds of receiving an annual clinical breast examination, conducting a monthly self-breast examination, or receiving an annual Pap smear. Methods A telephone survey was conducted among 675 women in West Texas, an area with a relatively high proportion of rural residents and Hispanics. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to model the odds of each screening practice. Results Women who rated the overall quality of their health care as excellent had a higher odds of receiving an annual clinical breast examination, conducting a monthly self-breast examination, and receiving an annual Pap smear. No rural/urban differences were revealed, but Hispanic women had a lower odds of conducting a self-breast examination than non-Hispanic Whites. Conclusions Rural residence and Hispanic ethnicity were largely unassociated with cancer screening practices. Rather than directing outreach programs toward these subgroups, efforts to increase cancer screening among women may need to focus more on improving the quality of primary health care.
Epitope- and Antigen-specific Cancer Vaccines

Anti-idiotypic antibodies (Ab2) that functionally mimic epitopes associated with human cancer cells are the most specific cancer vaccines currently available. Ab2 can induce specific humoral anti-tumor immunity in cancer patients. However, the potential of Ab2 for inducing cellular immunity in cancer patients still requires demonstration. Clonotypic antibodies directed against the combining site for tumor Ag on human T-cell clones may provide highly effective reagents for inducing protective T-cell immunity against human cancer. A new generation of cancer vaccines, molecularly cloned tumor-associated antigens (Ag), has recently been developed. Recombinant Ag have been successfully expressed in vectors allowing large scale production of Ag for immunization of cancer patients. Recombinant tumor Ag was shown to induce specific and protective immunity in experimental animals. In contrast to Ab2, which may mimic a single cancer-associated epitope, recombinant Ag express multiple epitopes that are potentially immunogenic. Ag vaccines, therefore, may be more effective in arresting tumor growth than single epitope (Ab2) vaccines because tumor destruction by antibodies is dependent on antibody density on tumor cell surfaces. In light of the important roles that both B and T cells play in the control of tumor growth, the demonstration of induction of specific B and T cell-immunity by recombinant tumor Ag and Ab2 in experimental animals is encouraging. Ultimately, the immunomodulatory role of both types of vaccines has to be compared in cancer patients who are immunologically tolerant to many Ag/epitopes expressed by their growing tumors. The development of both Ab2 and recombinant Ag for single antigenic systems provides the first step towards this goal.
The garlic constituent diallyl trisulfide increases the lifespan of C. elegans via skn-1 activation

Medicinal benefits of Allium vegetables, such as garlic, have been noted throughout recorded history, including protection against cancer and cardiovascular disease. We now demonstrate that garlic constituent diallyl trisulfide (DATS) increases longevity of Caenorhabditis elegans by affecting the skn-1 pathway. Treatment of worms with 5-10 μM DATS increased worm mean lifespan even when treatment is started during young adulthood. To explore the mechanisms involved in the DATS-mediated increase in longevity, we treated daf-2, daf-16, and eat-2 mutants and found that DATS increased the lifespan of daf-2 and daf-16 mutants, but not the eat-2 mutants. Microarray experiments demonstrated that a number of genes regulated by oxidative stress and the skn-1 transcription factor were also changed by DATS treatment. Consistently, DATS treatment leads to the induction of the skn-1 target gene gst-4, and this induction was dependent on skn-1. We also found that the effects of DATS on worm lifespan depend on skn-1 activity in both in the intestine and ASI neurons. Together our data suggest that DATS is able to increase worm lifespan by enhancing the function of the pro-longevity transcription factor skn-1.
Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans Are Primarily Responsible for the Maintenance of Enzyme Activity, Binding, and Degradation of Lipoprotein Lipase in Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells

Various aspects of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) metabolism, including cell surface binding, degradation, and enzymatic activity, were compared between Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and two distinct proteoglycan-deficient CHO cell lines. The contribution of low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein in binding LPL was also analyzed by the use of a 39-kDa receptor-associated protein expressed as a glutathione S-transferase fusion protein (GST-RAP). Equilibrium binding data with 125I-LPL revealed the presence of a class of high affinity binding sites with a KD of 7.8 nM in CHO cells, whereas no high affinity binding was observed for proteoglycan-deficient cells. The high affinity binding of LPL in CHO cells appeared to be concentrated in cell surface projections and was not effectively inhibited by GST-RAP. Moreover, degradation of endogenous and exogenous LPL was significantly greater in control CHO cells than in proteoglycan-deficient cells. Degradation of LPL in CHO cells was not affected by GST-RAP, suggesting that proteoglycans and not low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein are responsible for the majority of binding and degradation of LPL in these cells. Our data also show that proteoglycan binding is not essential for the assembly of active LPL homodimers, although proteoglycan binding controls the distribution of LPL activity. Furthermore, LPL produced by CHO cells was more stable than LPL produced by proteoglycan-deficient cells.
An improved method for arylsulfatase a detection on polyacrylamide slab gels

Abstract An improved method for the detection of arylsulfatase A on polyacrylamide slab gels has been developed using a four-step reaction sequence which leads to the formation of a stable, localized, visible product. The reaction sequence involves the formation of nitrocatechol which, in turn, reduces cupric ferricyanide to form Hatchett's brown, an insoluble brown compound. The next steps involve polymerization of 3,3′-diaminobenzidine and osmication of the polymer. Since the initial reaction product, nitrocatechol, reacts quickly with the cupric ferricyanide to form the Hatchett's brown precipitate, little diffusion occurs and the observed bands of Hatchett's brown are highly localized. The formation of the Hatchett's brown can be observed as the arylsulfatase A reaction proceeds. The final osmium-stained product is very stable and has been stored for weeks without appreciable loss of light absorption or increase in band width. Analysis of arylsulfatase A activity in human leukocyte lysates after discontinuous electrophoresis in polyacrylamide slab gels demonstrated the presence of four bands of activity.
Optimal designs for experiments with a large number of factors

Optimal designs are considered for experiments with many binary factors. In the model, only main effects are considered and responses are normal with equal variances. The design objective is to determine factor settings that give a large expected response after experimentation. Asymptotically optimal designs are obtained using a Bayesian decision theoretic formulation in which factors are independent with finite Fisher information. Both the number of runs and the number of factors tend to infinity in the limit considered. In the derivation, Stein's identity provides accurate approximations for posterior risks. The optimal number of runs for experiments with many factors is determined.
Screening for visual field abnormalities with automated perimetry

Recent studies indicate that automated perimetry can serve as an effective method of screening for visual field abnormalities associated with ophthalmologic and neurologic disorders. The techniques have been successfully applied to the private practitioner's office for screening of patients and to mass visual field screening of the general population. This paper describes the principles underlying automated perimetric screening, evaluates the capabilities and limitations of such techniques, and provides some general guidelines for using automated perimetric screening procedures.
Substance Use and Health and Safety among Homeless Youth.

This study examines how substance use is associated with the health and safety of homeless youth using cross-sectional, self-report data from 285 homeless adolescents. Path models were used to examine concurrent relationships between youth’s substance use and multiple aspects of their health and safety, including measures of psychological distress, housing risk and instability, and medical problems. Substance use was examined with both global (i.e., a composite of days of use across various drugs and alcohol) and specific (i.e., rates of use of specific drugs, injection drug use) measures. After controlling for demographic and historical variables, number of days of use was significantly related to psychological distress, whereas injection drug use was significantly related to housing risk. Examination of specific drugs revealed relationships between psychological distress and the use of alcohol, cocaine, and amphetamines, and a specific relationship between housing risk and the use of heroin. None of the measures of substance use was significantly related to youth’s medical problems. Implications for interventions with homeless adolescents are discussed.
Identification of nuclear proteins that interact with platinum-modified DNA by photoaffinity labeling.

Interactions between cellular proteins and cisplatin-modified DNA are important in determining the anticancer activity of the drug. To develop a general approach for identifying proteins that mediate cellular responses to cisplatin, photoreactive cisplatin analogues having a tethered benzophenone moiety were prepared and used to form the major 1,2-intrastrand platinum−DNA cross-links. Upon irradiation of the platinated DNA dissolved in a HeLa nuclear extract, the appended photolabile benzophenone group generates a highly reactive species that binds irreversibly to cellular proteins that interact with the probe. Several DNA−protein cross-linked adducts were identified that may function in the cellular processing of cisplatin−DNA adducts. Of these, PARP-1 had not previously been demonstrated directly to contact Pt−DNA cross-links in human cells.
Phosphorylation of the High Molecular Weight Neurofilament Protein (NF-H) by Cdk5 and p35

The high molecular weight neurofilament protein (NF-H) is highly phosphorylated in the axon. The phosphorylation sites have been identified as KSP (Lys-Ser-Pro) repeats in the tail domain of NF-H. These KSP sequences are present more than 50 times in the NF-H tail, and most of these sites are normally phosphorylated in vivo. These KSP sites can be further divided into two separate consensus sequences, KSPXK and KSPXY (where Y is not K). The extensive phosphorylation of NF-H has been proposed to play a critical role in the determination of axonal diameter. Recent studies have shown that Cdk5, a kinase related to the cell cycle-dependent kinase Cdc2, is expressed in the brain and associates with the cytoskeleton. In vitro phosphorylation studies have shown that Cdk5 in conjunction with its activator, p35, is able to phosphorylate histone H1, dephosphorylated NF-H, as well as a synthetic peptide with the repetitive KSP motif. We have cloned the cDNAs for rat Cdk5 and p35 by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and cDNA library screening and studied the phosphorylation of NF-H both in vivo and in vitro. By transient transfection assays, we have shown that NF-H can only be extensively phosphorylated in the presence of both Cdk5 and p35. This phosphorylation can be inhibited by a Cdk5-dominant negative mutant, an observation which further supports that Cdk5 is a kinase that is able to phosphorylate NF-H. By immunoprecipitating Cdk5 and p35 from the transfected cells, we have been able to show that the KSPXK repeats are the preferred phosphorylation sites for Cdk5, while the KSPXY repeats are not directly phosphorylated by Cdk5 and p35.
Cocaine exposure causes long-term increases in impulsive choice

This study examined the long-term effects of prior exposure to cocaine on a delay-discounting task commonly used to measure impulsive choice. Male Long-Evans rats received daily i.p. injections of 30 mg/kg cocaine HCl or saline for 14 days. Following three weeks of withdrawal, rats began training. On each trial, rats were given a choice between two levers. A press on one lever resulted in immediate delivery of a single 45 mg food pellet, and a press on the other resulted in delivery of 4 pellets after a delay period. Impulsive choice was defined as preference for the small immediate over the large delayed reward. Three months after treatment, cocaine exposed rats displayed increased impulsive choice behavior. They also showed less anticipatory responding (entries into the food trough) during the delays prior to reward delivery, indicating that the enhanced impulsive choice in these rats may be related to deficits in bridging the delay between response and reward. These data demonstrate that cocaine exposure can cause enduring increases in impulsive choice behavior, consistent with observations in drug-addicted human subjects.
The influence of canopy gaps on overstory tree and forest growth rates in a mature mixed-age, mixed-species forest

Abstract The death of overstory trees creates gaps in forest canopies. These canopy gaps have positive impacts on forests, including enhancing species diversity. The relative contributions to canopy gap closure made by understory trees within gaps and overstory trees at gap edges determines the future structure and species composition of a forest. Most studies of tree growth responses to gaps have focused on understory trees or canopy expansion by overstory trees. Here we focus on the stem radial growth rates of overstory trees and forest growth rates, measured as stand basal area increment. Our study area was a mature mixed-age, mixed-species deciduous forest in south-central Pennsylvania, USA. A hierarchical regression analysis found that gap-edge trees ≥20 cm dbh (diameter at breast height, 1.3 m) had 26% higher stem radial growth rates than comparable trees not located at gap edges (P=0.004). Our hypothesis that smaller overstory trees would experience a greater growth benefit at gap edges was marginally supported (P=0.06). A tree’s position north or south of a gap did not influence its growth response to the gap. The results suggest that overstory trees make an important contribution to canopy gap closure. Canopy gaps reduced the area occupied by overstory trees by 16%. But based on our regression model of stem radial growth rates, nearly two-thirds of the stand basal area increment lost because of gaps was offset by the enhanced growth of trees at gap edges (considering trees ≥20 cm dbh only). A simple, spatially-explicit process model of tree and forest growth in relation to gaps supported this finding. These results demonstrate that the benefits of canopy gaps come at a cost in forest growth rates that is considerably less than the gap area indicates.
Inflatable Re-Entry Vehicle Experiment (IRVE) Design Overview

Inflatable aeroshells offer several advantages over traditional rigid aeroshells for atmospheric entry. Inflatables offer increased payload volume fraction of the launch vehicle shroud and the possibility to deliver more payload mass to the surface for equivalent trajectory constraints. An inflatable s diameter is not constrained by the launch vehicle shroud. The resultant larger drag area can provide deceleration equivalent to a rigid system at higher atmospheric altitudes, thus offering access to higher landing sites. When stowed for launch and cruise, inflatable aeroshells allow access to the payload after the vehicle is integrated for launch and offer direct access to vehicle structure for structural attachment with the launch vehicle. They also offer an opportunity to eliminate system duplication between the cruise stage and entry vehicle. There are however several potential technical challenges for inflatable aeroshells. First and foremost is the fact that they are flexible structures. That flexibility could lead to unpredictable drag performance or an aerostructural dynamic instability. In addition, durability of large inflatable structures may limit their application. They are susceptible to puncture, a potentially catastrophic insult, from many possible sources. Finally, aerothermal heating during planetary entry poses a significant challenge to a thin membrane. NASA Langley Research Center and NASA's Wallops Flight Facility are jointly developing inflatable aeroshell technology for use on future NASA missions. The technology will be demonstrated in the Inflatable Re-entry Vehicle Experiment (IRVE). This paper will detail the development of the initial IRVE inflatable system to be launched on a Terrier/Orion sounding rocket in the fourth quarter of CY2005. The experiment will demonstrate achievable packaging efficiency of the inflatable aeroshell for launch, inflation, leak performance of the inflatable system throughout the flight regime, structural integrity when exposed to a relevant dynamic pressure and aerodynamic stability of the inflatable system. Structural integrity and structural response of the inflatable will be verified with photogrammetric measurements of the back side of the aeroshell in flight. Aerodynamic stability as well as drag performance will be verified with on board inertial measurements and radar tracking from multiple ground radar stations. The experiment will yield valuable information about zero-g vacuum deployment dynamics of the flexible inflatable structure with both inertial and photographic measurements. In addition to demonstrating inflatable technology, IRVE will validate structural, aerothermal, and trajectory modeling techniques for the inflatable. Structural response determined from photogrammetrics will validate structural models, skin temperature measurements and additional in-depth temperature measurements will validate material thermal performance models, and on board inertial measurements along with radar tracking from multiple ground radar stations will validate trajectory simulation models.
Job-seeking behavior: A segment of vocational development

Abstract This paper reports two companion studies which establish that there is a significant relationship between an individual's personality characteristics and his pattern of job-seeking behavior. Individuals who are tough-minded, independent and nonneurotic had specified job goals and self-actualized behavior. They were highly successful in obtaining jobs. Individuals who were sensitive, dependent and neurotic had vague goals and passive behavior. They failed to get jobs. Individuals who exhibited a mixture of the cited characteristics and behavior were also exploring career options. They had a modicum of success in obtaining jobs. Job-seeking behavior as a process of vocational development is discussed.
Primary anaplastic glio-neuronal tumor of the pineal gland: a new type of pineal neoplasm?

Abstract Background: Tumors of the pineal gland are relatively rare. Most are solid, infiltrative lesions characterized by either germ cell, glial, or pineal parenchymal origin. To our knowledge, none have been described that contain an admixture of both anaplastic glial and neuronal elements. Case report: The authors present a case of a primary anaplastic glio-neuronal tumor of the pineal gland in a 78-year-old gentleman who presented with hydrocephalus. The patient underwent an endoscopic third ventriculostomy for treatment of his hydrocephalus as well as tumor biopsy under endoscopic visualization. Results: Sections of the tumor displayed a modestly to moderately cellular neoplasm infiltrating the residual pineal gland. The majority of the nuclei appeared hyperchromatic, spindle-shaped, and pleomorphic, with fibrillary cytoplasmic processes. Rare nuclei were round with vesicular chromatin and red nucleoli. Mitotic figures were easily identified, despite small sample size. GFAP immunostaining highlighted the fibrillar background and cytoplasmic processes while synaptophysin immunostains revealed intense, dot-like positivity in the rounder nuclei with vesicular chromatin. Although the different nuclear morphologies seen on the hematoxylin-eosin stained slides suggested both glial and neuronal origin, immunostains were required to confirm the presence of dual differentiation. Conclusion: We present the first case of a primary anaplastic glio-neuronal neoplasm of the pineal gland. Increased use of immunostaining may unveil additional cases in the future. Furthermore, additional research will be required to determine whether the dual differentiation has prognostic significance.
Solution Structure of Peptide Toxins That Block Mechanosensitive Ion Channels

Abstract Mechanosensitive channels (MSCs) play key roles in sensory processing and have been implicated as primary transducers for a variety of cellular responses ranging from osmosensing to gene expression. This paper presents the first structures of any kind known to interact specifically with MSCs. GsMTx-4 and GsMtx-2 are inhibitor cysteine knot peptides isolated from venom of the tarantula,Grammostola spatulata (Suchyna, T. M., Johnson, J. H., Hamer, K., Leykam, J. F., Gage, D. A., Clemo, H. F., Baumgarten, C. M., and Sachs, F. (2000) J. Gen. Physiol. 115, 583–598). Inhibition of cationic MSCs by the higher affinity GsMtx-4 (K D ∼500 nm) reduced cell size in swollen and hypertrophic heart cells, swelling-activated currents in astrocytes, and stretch-induced arrhythmias in the heart. Despite the relatively low affinity, no cross-reactivity has been found with other channels. Using two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy, we determined the solution structure of GsMTx-4 and a lower affinity (GsMTx-2; K D ∼6 μm) peptide from the same venom. The dominant feature of the two structures is a hydrophobic patch, utilizing most of the aromatic residues and surrounded with charged residues. The spatial arrangement of charged residues that are unique to GsMTx-4 and GsMTx-2 may underlie the selectivity of these peptides.
Unified wavelet and Gaussian filtering for segmentation of CT images; application in segmentation of bone in pelvic CT images.

Background The analysis of pelvic CT scans is a crucial step for detecting and assessing the severity of Traumatic Pelvic Injuries. Automating the processing of pelvic CT scans could impact decision accuracy, decrease the time for decision making, and reduce health care cost. This paper discusses a method to automate the segmentation of bone from pelvic CT images. Accurate segmentation of bone is very important for developing an automated assisted-decision support system for Traumatic Pelvic Injury diagnosis and treatment.
Molecular cloning of steroid hydroxylases.

Recombinant plasmids specific for bovine adrenocortical cytochromes P-450scc and P-45011β have been identified and characterized. Using these cDNA inserts as probes, it is found that tissue specificity of gene expression for these two proteins is as expected. Cytochrome P-450 mRNA is found in adrenocortical and corpus luteum RNA while cytochrome P-45011β mRNA is found only in adrenocortical RNA. Neither mRNA was detected in heart, liver or kidney RNA. Cytochrome P-450scc mRNA is found to be 1.9 kb in length while cytochrome P-45011β mRNA is found to be 4 kb in length. Treatment of bovine adrenocortical cells with ACTH or other modulators results in increased levels of cytochrome P-450scc and cytochrome P-45011β mRNAs. Cytochrome P-450scc is found to be encoded by a limited number or even a single gene.
β-Arrestin 2 Expression Determines the Transcriptional Response to Lysophosphatidic Acid Stimulation in Murine Embryo Fibroblasts *

G protein-coupled receptors often employ novel signaling mechanisms, such as transactivation of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors or G protein-independent signals transmitted by β-arrestins, to control the activity of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2). In this study we investigated the role of β-arrestins in lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptor-stimulated ERK1/2 activation using fibroblast lines derived from wild type, β-arrestin 1, β-arrestin 2, and β-arrestin 1/2 knock-out mice. LPA stimulation produced robust ERK1/2 phosphorylation in all four backgrounds. In cells lacking β-arrestin 2, >80% of LPA-stimulated ERK1/2 phosphorylation was mediated by transactivated EGF receptors. In contrast, ERK1/2 activation in cells expressing β-arrestin 2 was predominantly EGF receptor-independent. Introducing FLAG epitope-tagged β-arrestin 2 into the β-arrestin 1/2 null background restored EGF receptor-independent ERK1/2 activation, indicating that β-arrestin 2 expression confers ERK1/2 activation via a distinct mechanism. To determine the contributions of β-arrestin 2, transactivated EGF receptors, and ERK1/2 to LPA-stimulated transcriptional responses, we employed gene expression arrays containing cDNA markers for G protein-coupled receptor-mediated signaling. In the β-arrestin 1/2 null background, 1 h of exposure to LPA significantly increased transcription of seven marker genes. Six of these responses were EGF receptor-dependent, and two required ERK1/2 activation. In β-arrestin 2 expressing cells, three of the seven LPA-stimulated transcriptional responses observed in the β-arrestin 1/2 null background were lost. The four residual responses were independent of EGF receptor transactivation, but all were ERK1/2-dependent. These data indicate that β-arrestin 2 functions both to attenuate EGF receptor transactivation-dependent signaling and to promote a distinct subset of ERK1/2-mediated responses to LPA receptor activation.
Cultural emergency in conflict and disaster, edited by Berma Klein Goldewijk, Georg Frerks and Els van der Plas

Cultural emergency in conflict and disaster, edited by Berma Klein Goldewijk, Georg Frerks and Els van der Plas. NAI Publishers, Rotterdam, 2011, 399pp., photographs, endnotes, bibliography. ISBN: ...
PION--ANTIPION LIFETIME COMPARISON.

Abstract A measurement of the difference between π+ and π− lifetimes gave (τ+/τ−) −1 = 0.0056 ± 0.0028, while the absolute π+ lifetime was found to be 26.6 ± 0.2 ns.
A 3-Year-Old Boy's Chronic Diarrhea and Unexplained Death

Abstract The fatal case of a three year-old boy hospitalized for chronic diarrhea is described. The diagnosis of Munchausen's by Proxy is discussed, and the approach to such cases is explored. J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry , 1991, 30, 6:1015–1021.