cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
PONTINE BRAINSTEM NEURONAL ACTIVITY AND REM SLEEP CONTROL MECHANISMS

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the following aspects of pontine brainstem neuronal activity: first, specific pontine reticular neuronal activity associated with the phasic events within REM sleep; second, the reciprocal interaction model (REM) postulates that the REM sleep cycle occurs as a result of interaction between inhibitory monoamine-containing neurons in the locus coeruleus and rostral raphe nuclei and excitatory cholinergic and cholinoceptive neurons in the pontine reticular formation. Recordings of other medial pontine reticular formation (PRF) cells antidromically identified as projecting to spinal cord have indicated they have the requisite discharge timing as well as projections in the medial reticulo-spinal tract, to generate another phasic event of REM sleep, the muscle twitches. These cells are recorded within areas that have monosynaptic excitatory projections to spinal cord motoneurons. Rostral projections to midbrain of phasically firing FTG cells may account for phasic enhancement of REM sleep discharge rates in these areas. Rostral projections of tonically firing mPRF neurons may assist MRF neurons in the production of the EEG desynchronization of REM sleep.
Cannabinoids for the Treatment of Epilepsy: a Review

Treatment-resistant epilepsy (TRE) is associated with severe morbidity and mortality and affects over 30% of epilepsy patients. Despite advances in epilepsy management over the last 30 years, this rate has largely remained unchanged. Through a largely patient driven movement and despite federal regulations, cannabidiol (CBD) emerged as a candidate drug for improving the management of treatment-resistant epilepsies. This review highlights the available research on CBD and its therapeutic role in the treatment of TREs. Randomized controlled trials have established CBD as an add-on treatment option for the management of seizures in Dravet syndrome (DS) and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), and there is a growing body of additional literature supporting CBD’s use as an add-on therapy in other TREs. Several studies have shown CBD to be a safe anti-seizure medication with dose-dependent mild-moderate adverse events which resolve with treatment de-escalation. CBD does affect toxicity with other anti-seizure medications including clobazam and valproate. CBD is a safe and efficacious adjunctive therapy in the management of treatment-resistant epilepsies.
A ramp in nursery housing affects nursery pig behavior and speeds loading of market hogs

ABSTRACT Objective The objective of this study was to determine the effects of exposure to a ramp during the nursery period on growth, efficiency, and behavior in the nursery and during loading of market hogs. Materials and Methods Seventy-two crossbred hogs were enrolled at weaning and randomly assigned to 2 treatment groups: FLAT (housed in a conventional nursery pen) or RAMP (housed in a nursery pen with feed provided on a platform at the top of a ramp). Behaviors recorded in the nursery included feed and water consumption and interactions among pigs. Body weight and feed intake were also recorded. Pigs were randomly assigned to finish pens. At the time of transport to market, behavior and time spent on the truck loading ramp were recorded. Results and Discussion In the nursery, RAMP pigs consumed less feed than FLAT pigs, but ADG during the same period was not different. The RAMP pigs had fewer eating and drinking episodes and decreased aggressive interactions in the nursery compared with FLAT pigs. At marketing, the RAMP hogs required less time to ascend the ramp into the truck than FLAT hogs (30.52 ± 10.81 s vs. 58.87 ± 10.37 s, respectively; P = 0.04). No detrimental effects of ramped nursery housing were observed. Implications and Applications Adding ramps to nursery pig housing is a simple way to speed loading of market hogs, while providing benefits to efficiency and behavior in the nursery.
Use of Remote Sensing and Field Data to Quantify the Performance and Resilience of Restored Louisiana Wetlands

Typical goals of wetland restoration efforts are to conserve, create, or enhance wetland structure, and to achieve wetland function that approaches or exceeds natural conditions. Measuring wetland establishment, condition, and resilience can be difficult, especially because monitoring wetland function has traditionally been time-intensive, costly, and often required repeat field-based surveys. Remote sensing provides novel collections of data and facilitates rapid assessments of wetland landscapes, land cover, species/habitat composition, change detection, degradation, diversity, as well as system threats and pressures. A combination of remotely collected and in situ vegetation data were used in conjunction with landscape metrics and vegetative indices. These data were used to evaluate and compare changes and trends in condition, function and resilience of restoration sites and reference wetlands in southwest Louisiana, USA. Results of this work show the restored wetlands reached structural and functional equivalency to reference wetlands after approximately three to ten years post-construction. With adequate maturity, the restored wetlands outperformed the reference wetlands, having higher percentage of land, land aggregation, aboveground vegetation productivity and floristic quality. Supplementing traditional field-based methods with remote sensing applications provided enhanced metrics for inventorying and monitoring of wetland resources, forecasting of resource condition and stability, and adaptive management strategies.
Incorporating Evidence-Based Practice Into Informed Consent Practice:

This conceptual article argues that evidence-based practice (EBP) is best understood as a component of the informed consent process preceding treatment. The legally mandated informed consent/consen...
Health Effects of Night and Irregular Shiftwork: A Longitudinal Cohort Study of US Workers

Objectives Evidence suggests that shiftwork results in adverse occupational health outcomes. This paper contributes to the literature by estimating the separate health effects of night and irregular shiftwork on a longitudinal panel of US workers. Methods Data from a 20-year panel of worker surveys from the 1979 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth were used to predict self-reported health limitations related to night and irregular shiftwork using a series of random effects logit models. Results Separate and combined specifications of shiftwork as night and irregular effort significantly increase the odds of health limitations compared with working a regular daytime schedule, with more pronounced effects for irregular work (odds ratio [OR] = 1.09 to 1.52) over night shift (OR = 1.03 to 1.14). Conclusions The results suggest that both night and irregular shiftwork may have important negative implications on occupational health, with the deleterious effects particularly pronounced for irregularly scheduled work effort.
Causation in History

Following the practice of human beings everywhere historians distinguish the real or most significant cause(s) of an occurrence or state of affairs from ‘less important considerations’, ‘precipitating circumstances’, or ‘mere conditions’. I shall term claims that some phenomenon is most basically to be attributed to some one (or few) of the factors causally necessary for its occurrence attributive causal explanations or causal attributions and discusshere the extent to which moral convictions are constitutive of them.
Democracy and Moral Conflict

Introduction 1. The problem of deep politics 2. Against the politics of omission 3. Folk epistemology 4. Justifying democracy 5. Epistemic perfectionism Works cited.
Information Aggregation, Strategy, and Investment Decision in Buyer-Supplier Relationships

This paper examines whether aggregated cost information provided by suppliers to buyers can mitigate the hold-up problem that occurs with idiosyncratic investments. Hold-up implies that, given the opportunity, buyers pursue a self-interested strategy and do not reimburse suppliers for their idiosyncratic investment. In essence, buyers seek to maximize their own trade surplus at the expense of suppliers. However, evidence suggests some firms pursue a fair strategy. With such firms, research suggests that hold-up can be avoided. I propose and provide empirical evidence that the level of aggregation of the supplier-provided cost information (i.e., fine or coarse) will interact with buyer strategy (i.e., self-interested or fair) to affect investment in idiosyncratic assets and trade opportunism. Results show that coarse information leads to an increase in (no change in) self-interested (fair) buyers' offers and in an increase in suppliers' investments. Thus, suppliers are better off when they disclose coarse rather than fine cost information. Findings also suggest that buyers will benefit from requesting coarse instead of fine cost information from suppliers.
IκB Kinase β (IKKβ) Inhibits p63 Isoform γ (TAp63γ) Transcriptional Activity

Previously, we reported that IκB kinase-β(IKKβ) phosphorylates and stabilizes TAp63γ. However, the effect of this phosphorylation on TAp63γ transcriptional activity remains unclear. In this study, we showed that overexpression of IKKβ, but not its kinase dead mutant and IKKα, can surprisingly inhibit TAp63γ transcriptional activity as measured by luciferase assays and real-time PCR analyses of p63 target genes. This inhibition was impaired by ACHP, an IKKβ inhibitor, and enhanced by TNFα that activates IKKβ. Consistently, IKKβ inhibited the binding between TAp63γ and p300, a co-activator of TAp63γ, and consequently counteracted the positive effect of p300 on TAp63γ transcriptional activity. Through phosphorylation site prediction and mass spectrometry, we identified that Ser-4 and Ser-12 of p63 are IKKβ-targeting residues. As expected, IKKβ fails to suppress the transcriptional activity of the S4A/S12A double mutant p63. These results indicate that IKKβ can suppress TAp63γ activity by interfering with the interaction between TAp63γ and p300.
A paradigm for persistence: a vital challenge for the agricultural academy

The further economic development of modern, multi-functional and responsible agricultural and food systems must be set within a global context of ecological sustainability and social responsibility. This presents all of those who are concerned with such development, with a much more complex challenge than that posed by the relatively straightforward goals of the Green Revolution to increase production of staple grains in the pursuit of food security on a national scale. It is thus crucial that leaders within institutions of research and higher education in agriculture and related disciplines across the entire world come to terms with the intellectual, moral, practical and political challenges that are fundamental to this systemic change of focus. The situation demands nothing less than a paradigmatic revolution in education, research and extension with implications for the adoption of a very different strategic role for universities with respect to how they critically engage with the multi-stakeholders of...
Viscous flow around marine propellers using boundary layer strip theory

This paper presents a method to analyze the viscous flow around marine propellers using boundary-layer strip theory. A state- of-the-art two-dimensional boundary-layer formulation is coupled to a state-of-the-art perturbation potential panel method used in marine propeller flow analysis. The coupling procedure is applied along strips of the blade where two-dimensional boundary-layer flow is assumed. For this paper these strips were assumed to be constant radial strips of the blade. The resulting method is applied to a conventional marine propeller and comparisons to experiments are given. Results include the global quantities of thrust, torque, and efficiency and the local strip quantities of displacement thickness and section drag coefficient. The resulting comparisons, showing the applicability of the method to conventional marine propellers, are quite good.
BB0744 Affects Tissue Tropism and Spatial Distribution of Borrelia burgdorferi.

ABSTRACT Borrelia burgdorferi, the etiologic agent of Lyme disease, produces a variety of proteins that promote survival and colonization in both the Ixodes species vector and various mammalian hosts. We initially identified BB0744 (also known as p83/100) by screening for B. burgdorferi strain B31 proteins that bind to α 1 β 1 integrin and hypothesized that, given the presence of a signal peptide, BB0744 may be a surface-exposed protein. In contrast to this expectation, localization studies suggested that BB0744 resides in the periplasm. Despite its subsurface location, we were interested in testing whether BB0744 is required for borrelial pathogenesis. To this end, a bb0744 deletion was isolated in a B. burgdorferi strain B31 infectious background, complemented, and queried for the role of BB0744 following experimental infection. A combination of bioluminescent imaging, cultivation of infected tissues, and quantitative PCR (qPCR) demonstrated that Δ bb0744 mutant B. burgdorferi bacteria were attenuated in the ability to colonize heart tissue, as well as skin locations distal to the site of infection. Furthermore, qPCR indicated a significantly reduced spirochetal load in distal skin and joint tissue infected with Δ bb0744 mutant B. burgdorferi. Complementation with bb0744 restored infectivity, indicating that the defect seen in Δ bb0744 mutant B. burgdorferi was due to the loss of BB0744. Taken together, these results suggest that BB0744 is necessary for tissue tropism, particularly in heart tissue, alters the ability of B. burgdorferi to disseminate efficiently, or both. Additional studies are warranted to address the mechanism employed by BB0744 that alters the pathogenic potential of B. burgdorferi.
Theory of multiphoton ionization of atoms

The effects of very intense lasers on atoms have been the subject of active experimental and theoretical investigation over the past several years. Two intriguing experimental results emerged recently which have excited new developments and debate on the theory of these processes. Since the laser intensities have become large enough that the electric field is comparable to the interelectronic forces, the question has arisen as to whether new atomic physics has been or can be observed. The first of the two discoveries is called above threshold ionization (ATI). It was observed that the energy spectrum of the electrons emitted from multiphoton ionization experiments exhibited a large number of peaks separated by photon energy. This means that many more than the minimum number of photons required for ionization have been absorbed. Additionally, as the intensity increases, the lowest peaks in this spectrum sequentially disappear.
Effect of trans fatty acids on calcium influx into human arterial endothelial cells

Background A recent task force of The American Society for Clinical Nutrition and American Society for Nutritional Sciences recommended in a position paper on trans fatty acids that models be developed to assess the effects of changes in fat intake on disease risk. Objective The objective was to investigate, using human arterial endothelial cells as a model, the influence of trans fatty acids and magnesium on cell membrane composition and on calcium influx into arterial cells, a hallmark of atherosclerosis. Design Endothelial cells were cultured for 3 d in media with high (adequate) or low (inadequate) amounts of magnesium plus various concentrations of trans,trans linoelaidic; cis,cis linoleic; trans elaidic; oleic; or stearic acids. The cells were then harvested and the fatty acid composition and the amount of (45)Ca(2+) incorporated into the cell was determined. Results The percentage of fatty acids incorporated into the endothelial cells was proportional to the amount added to the culture medium. Adequate magnesium was crucial in preventing calcium influx into endothelial cells. Without an adequate amount of magnesium in the culture medium, linoelaidic and elaidic acids, even at low concentrations, increased the incorporation of (45)Ca(2+) into the cells, whereas stearic acid and oleic acid did not (P Conclusion Our model indicated that a diet inadequate in magnesium combined with trans fat may increase the risk of calcification of endothelial cells.
Autonomous laser diagnostics system for optical heterodyne frequency-shift-keyed communication systems

This paper describes an autonomous diagnostics system for the laser transmitter in an optical heterodyne frequency-shift-keyed (FSK) communication system. The system uses a Ne-filled discharge device and a static Fabry-Perot interferometer (Fig. 1) in conjunction with simple electronics and algorithms to set transmitter wavelength and the spacing between FSK tones.
Studies on the electron transport system. XXXII. Respiratory control in beef heart mitochondria

Abstract Respiratory control has been studied with preparations of beef heart mitochondria. The oxidation of pyridinoprotein substrates is strongly regulated by a respiratory control mechanism, while the oxidation of succinate is not. A small degree of control can be demonstrated for the oxidation of succinate, which is abolished upon addition of Amytal to the reaction mixture. These as well as other observations indicate the possibility that respiratory control is associated only with the first phosphorylation site in the DPNH oxidase system of beef heart mitochondria.
Complexity as a Cause of Failure in Information Technology Project Management

Project management success is often elusive, particularly in a complex, systems of systems environment (SOSE). In the information technology (IT) industry, failure rates are approaching 70 percent. Many reasons are cited for this high failure rate, including the shortage of skilled staff, constant changes in technology, too many known IT application constraints, inadequately defined requirements, and poor project management skills among others. This paper proposes a main cause of failure as complexity caused by discontinuities among project objectives and the worldviews, tools and ideas in standard practice in IT project management. This paper will also assert that many IT projects, by their very nature, are complex in design. An understanding of complexity and a change in thinking about IT project management in the modern engineering organization may be indicated. The conclusion of this paper will summarize future research necessary to close this gap.
Chronic Membrane Depolarization Regulates the Level of the Guanine Nucleotide Binding Protein Goα in Cultured Neuronal Cells

Chronic membrane depolarization results in an increase in muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) number in N1E-115 neuroblastoma cells. Because the mAChR interacts with the guanine nucleotide binding regulatory (G) proteins, Gi and Go, the effect of chronic membrane depolarization on the levels of subunits of these G proteins was examined. Quantitation of G protein subunit levels was performed using affinity-purified, monospecific antibodies in a quantitative immunoblot assay. Incubation with 50 microM veratridine (VTN), an activator of voltage-sensitive Na+ channels, induced a 48 +/- 15% increase in the level of the alpha subunit of Go. The effect of VTN was blocked by tetrodotoxin. On removal of VTN, the level of Go alpha decreased to control levels within 24 h. The levels of the alpha subunit of Gi and the common beta subunit were not affected by VTN treatment. These results show that in N1E-115 cells, the level of the alpha subunit of Go is regulated in a manner similar to the level of mAChR in response to chronic membrane depolarization.
Counts of labelled mitoses in the orthodontically-stimulated periodontal ligament in the rat.

Abstract Counts of labelled mitoses were carried out in the stimulated periodontal ligament (PDL) of the young adult rat. Early (pre-peak DNA synthesis period), peak (peak DNA synthesis period) and late-responding (post-peak DNA synthesis period) stimulated PDL fibroblasts were evaluated for Tc, Ts, T G 2 + 1 2M , and the percentage of initially labelled cells which gave rise to a second labelled mitosis. The data generated showed two discrete waves of labelled mitoses in all experiments, allowing direct measurement of Tc as well as of Ts and T G 2 + 1 2M ranged from 32 to 36 hr, Ts ranged from 8.5 to 9.5 hr, and T G 2 + 1 2M was from 2.3 to 2.8 hr. Seventeen per cent of the early and peak-responding fibroblasts gave rise to two labelled mitoses, while 34 per cent of those responding at a later period gave rise to a second labelled mitosis.
Molecular weights of viruses from isopycnic centrifugation with schlieren optics

Abstract Good results for molecular weights have been obtained for two viruses, bromegrass mosaic virus and ∅X174, from density gradient equilibrium experiments with the schlieren optics of the analytical ultracentrifuge. The main problem encountered was with density heterogeneity of the virus preparations which gave distorted and broadened bands. This problem was circumvented by a data-fitting procedure to extract the molecular weight from regions of the peak unaffected by additional components. Synthetic data were generated to simulate various amounts of an additional component to determine the effects upon molecular weight determinations. Since no preferential hydration of the virus was found, the two-component equation was found to be sufficient. This may be indicative of exclusion of water from the interior of the virus.
Photoreactivation of UV damage in cultured Drosophila cells.

Cell survival and photoreactivation of 254 nm ultraviolet (UV) light damage in a wild typeDrosophila cell line was assayed by colony formation in liquid medium. Fo, Fq, and extrapolation number for the exponential portion of survival curves are 21 J/m2, 3.6 J/m2, and 1.5 for non-photoreactivated cells and 110 J/m2, 11.2 J/m2, and 1.3 for those exposed to photoreactivating light. Maximal photoreactivation occurs at the 100 J/m2 region of the curve. At 10 and 50% survival, 75–80% of the UV damage was photoreactivable.
Integration of laboratory exercises in developmental biology and neurobiology courses using the Xenopus oocyte expression system

This collaborative laboratory exercise integrates two upper division laboratory courses (Developmental Biology and Neurobiology) offered to biology majors at Wake Forest University. The laboratory exercise involves the use of the Xenopus oocyte expression system to study the function of specific membrane receptors and ligand-activated channels. cDNA or mRNA for receptor proteins is injected into Xenopus oocytes. The oocytes are assayed for expression of receptor proteins and two-electrode voltage clamping is done to determine whether the expressed proteins are functional in the oocyte system. This series of laboratory exercises is innovative in its interdisciplinary and collaborative approach to undergraduate teaching, and in its use of sophisticated molecular biological and physiological techniques in the undergraduate teaching laboratory. Students learn first-hand how these techniques have been used to achieve a new level of understanding of both development and neurobiology. Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology (2000) 24, 353–358.
Organometallic condensation polymerization: Carbon–carbon bond formation by coupling of 1-phenylcyclohexenyl chromophores

Diolefins XV and XVII have been successfully polymerized with metallic lithium in tetrahydrofuran by a radical-anion, carbon–carbon coupling reaction. The coupling takes place in the mode known for the dimerization of α-methylstyrene and 1,1-diphenylethylene and shown herein for 1-phenylcyclohexene.
Reoperative thyroid surgery

Thyroid resection is often performed for a number of benign conditions including compression from multinodular goiter, for cosmetic reasons, or an inability to determine before surgery whether a thyroid nodule is benign or malignant. For goiters that are multinodular and bilateral, total thyroidectomy is definitive treatment and will prevent recurrent disease. Patients who have undergone partial thyroid resection for benign conditions may develop recurrent symptomatic disease in the remaining thyroid gland. The mass effect of recurrent thyroid disease, despite hormonal suppression, may progress to occlude adjacent anatomical structures such as the larynx, trachea, and/ or esophagus. The latter two structures can become compressed either in the neck or the mediastinum, and this compression necessitates not only dissection in the contralateral neck, but re-exploration of the ipsilateral thyroid bed to remove the offending thyroid tissue. Sometimes a large goiter may not necessarily cause compression, but is nonetheless deemed unsightly by an anxious patient Although uncommon, malignancy can subsequently develop in the remaining thyroid following partial thyroidectomy performed for benign disease.l” More commonly, partial thyroidectomy is initially performed for reported benign disease on frozen section examination, but is later determined postoperative11 as containing malignancy on final pathology sections. l, -6 Total thyroidectomy is the preferred surgical treatment for well-differentiated thyroid cancer greater than 1 cm in size, Hurthle cell cancer, cancer in a radiated thyroid, and early poorly differentiated thyroid cancer. The diagnosis of follicular variant of papillary cancer is particularly difficult to make on frozen section, as capsular invasion may be determined only on further sectioning of the permanent specimen.‘,* Patients, who underwent initial thyroid lobectomy for what is finally determined as thyroid cancer, are frequently considered for a second operation to “complete” the thyroidectomy. Few people advocate 1311 ablation of the remaining thyroid gland to achieve a total thyroidectomy because of the associated risks with multiple doses of radioactive treatment, secondary injury to adjacent parathyroid glands, and pulmonary fibrosis.4 The rationale for re-operation include four main reasons: 1) to identify and remove possible residual or multicentric foci of carcinoma in the contralateral lobe; 2) to allow for low-dose 1131 radioactive ablation of microscopic amounts of residual thyroid tissue postoperatively; 3) to facilitate the early detection of cancer recurrence with thyroglobulin levels and thyrogen-
Walking, Emotion, and Dwelling Guided Tours in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn

This article uses photography and ethnography to understand and represent residents’ emotional-phenomenological experiences of walks through their neighborhood. It addresses how narratives of the p...
Regulation of Axonal Transport by Kinesin Phosphorylation at S176

The means by which the neuron regulates axonal transport of cargo remains an open field for study. Recent experiments examining Huntington's disease (HD) have revealed a molecular basis underlying fast axonal transport deficits characteristic of HD. This mechanism involves activation of JNK3 and JNK3-mediated phosphorylation of the kinesin-1 heavy chain (KHC) at serine 176. We have generated a phosphomimetic KHC construct (S176D) to characterize the effects phosphorylation has on kinesin's ability to translocate along microtubules. Using total internal reflection florescence (TIRF) microscopy, we have measured a dramatic reduction in the processive run length of S176D, as compared to the unphosphorylatable variant S176A. While this observation reveals a mechanism by which neurons control anterograde trafficking, it also suggests a mechanism for tuning the bidirectional transport of vesicles by kinesin and dynein.
CATALYTIC DOMAIN COMPARISONS OF HUMAN FIBROBLAST-TYPE COLLAGENASE, STROMELYSIN-1, AND MATRILYSIN

Abstract The propeptide plus the catalytic domain of human fibroblast-type collagenase, stromelysin-1, and matrilysin were expressed in Escherichia coli to directly compare the properties of all three catalytic domains utilizing the same assays. Truncated fibroblast-type collagenase (mini-CL), truncated stromelysin-1 (mini-SL-1), and matrilysin, like their native counterparts, could be activated by organomercurials, trypsin, or SDS. The mini-CL and mini-SL-1 displayed catalytic properties similar to their native counterparts, except that the mini-CL could not cleave native type I collagen. The kcat/Km for matrilysin (355 μM−1 h−1) on the synthetic Mca-peptide was much higher than that for mini-CL (69 μM−1 h−1) or mini-SL-1 (23.6 μM−1 h−1). Mini-SL-1 and matrilysin, but not mini-CL, were capable of superactivating collagenase thus increasing the rate of collagen cleavage. Mini-CL and mini-SL-1, but not matrilysin, were able to form SDS-stable complexes with TIMP-1 when co-incubated with an organomercurial and TIMP-1. The second-order rate constant (kon) for TIMP-1 inhibition of mini-CL and mini-SL-1 were similar, 0.635·105 M−1 s−1 and 1.52·105 M−1 s−1, respectively. The kon for TIMP-1 inhibition of matrilysin was lower (0.130·105 M−1 s−1) supporting the observation that no SDS stable complexes were detected. This study demonstrates that these catalytic domains are distinct and play a major role in the specificity of these enzymes in regard to rate of catalysis, TIMP-1 binding, and superactivation of collagenase.
Glycine effects on in vitro motor pattern generation in mouse spinal cord

Abstract Bath applications of glycine typically inhibited electromyographm (EMG) activity in the gastrocnemius (G) and tibialis anterior (TA) muscles of neonatal mice, in vitro. Although rhythmic bursting occurred in response to glycine administration, cycle alternation between individual EMG bursts in G and TA muscles was not observed. That strychnine (a glycine 1 receptor antagonist) and cycloleucine (a glycine 2 receptor antagonist) could evoke motor rhythm, when given separately or in combination, confirms that glycine transmission is not required for motor pattern generation in mice. Strychnine application resulted in synchronized EMG bursting in G and TA muscles, suggesting that glycine 1 receptor activation does provide some reciprocal inhibition between the G and TA motor nuclei.
Association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D and type 2 diabetes.

If Ye and colleagues had focused on the results in their excellent fi gure 4, their paper would have represented a fi ne review of the compelling evidence from their meta-analysis that having one SD (25 nmol/L) below the average serum 25hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) was associated with a 22% increased risk of type 2 diabetes. They identifi ed 22 studies that reported a benefi t of higher serum 25(OH)D, including ten that were statistically signifi cant and 12 that had trends in the direction of an inverse association of 25(OH)D with risk of type 2 diabetes. No studies found a positive association. Unfortunately, erroneous application of mendelian randomisation methods detracted from what could otherwise have been a helpful review, and has led to misinterpretations and unwarranted conclusions in this paper and the accompanying Comment by Brian Buijsse. Mendelian randomisation was developed in an attempt to simulate randomisation in observational studies whose covariates are genetically determined, such as HLA and apolipoprotein E. However, mendelian randomisation is not applicable to serum 25(OH)D, which is almost entirely a function of exposure to solar ultraviolet B light. Without solar exposure, 25(OH)D is extremely low–eg, 0–10 nmol/L; if solar exposure is high, it is in the range of 150–175 nmol/L. There is little or no evidence that the concentration of 25(OH)D in serum varies because of a genetic rather than an environmental factor. The diff erences in 25(OH)D concentration per adverse allele in this study ranged from 2·5–5·5 nmol/L, with a mean of 3·4 nmol/L (1·4 ng/ml). Together, these four alleles accounted for only 3·6% of the variance in the serum 25(OH)D concentration. The association of the four alleles in this study with risk of type 2 diabetes also was weak. The odds ratio per allele ranged from 0.98 (95% CI 0·91 to 1·06) to 1·03 (0·99 to 1·06), and none was statistically signifi cant. These tiny per-allele odds ratios are of almost no predictive importance. In view of these well established fi ndings, mendelian randomisation was in appropriate in this study. The results of this study should not be used to discourage studies of the role of vitamin D in the cause and prevention of type 2 diabetes.
Group Chromatic Number of Graphs without K 5 -Minors

Let G be a graph with a fixed orientation and let A be a group. Let F(G,A) denote the set of all functions f: E(G) ↦A. The graph G is A -colorable if for any function f∈F(G,A), there is a function c: V(G) ↦A such that for every directed e=u v∈E(G), c(u)−c(v)≠f(e). The group chromatic numberχ1(G) of a graph G is the minimum m such that G is A-colorable for any group A of order at least m under a given orientation D. In [J. Combin. Theory Ser. B, 56 (1992), 165–182], Jaeger et al. proved that if G is a simple planar graph, then χ1(G)≤6. We prove in this paper that if G is a simple graph without a K 5-minor, then χ1(G)≤5.
Weighing the evidence for newborn screening for Hemoglobin H disease.

Objective To conduct a systematic review to assist the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services Advisory Committee on Heritable Disorders in Newborns and Children (SACHDNC) to determine whether Hemoglobin H screening should be included among the core recommended conditions for newborn screening. Study design We identified 21 articles in MEDLINE from 1989 to March 2010 that provided evidence regarding screening, treatment, and outcomes associated with Hemoglobin H disease. Results In California, newborn screening has identified 9 cases per 100 000 of deletional hemoglobin H disease and 0.6 cases per 100 000 of nondeletional hemoglobin H disease. Five cases of hemoglobin Bart's hydrops fetalis syndrome were also identified in over ten years of screening for Hemoglobin H disease. Although Hemoglobin H disease is associated with a wide range of morbidity, no studies were found that evaluated the benefits of early identification and treatment. Conclusions The SACHDNC found the data insufficient to recommend that states adopt newborn screening for Hemoglobin H disease.
Equilibria in Salt Systems with Deuterium Water

IN connexion with the letters of Bell1, of Partington and Stratton2 and with editorial notes3, it is of interest to note the degree of activity in this field. As is justly stated in the second letter cited above, ” measurements of dissociation pressures of salt hydrates are somewhat difficult”. By way of illustration, whereas Perperot and Schacherl4 report a value for the dissociation pressure equilibrium at 25° of cupric sulphate penta- and tri-deuterates which is 36 per cent lower than the corresponding value for the ordinary hydrates, two of us in 1934 had found this pressure difference to be only 8 per cent. We shall therefore welcome the promised results of Partington and Stratton. We have studied pressure equilibria in this and other univariant salt deuterate systems with and without the liquid phase (saturated solution) present, over a range of temperature.
Proton shielding anisotropy in benzene

(1970). Proton shielding anisotropy in benzene. Molecular Physics: Vol. 19, No. 2, pp. 285-287.
Fundamental studies of utility requirement for secondary batteries — lead-acid batteries

Abstract The performance characteristics of lead-acid batteries in an electric power storage system have been studied. The superposition of 0.1 - 4000 Hz altern
Cardiac arrhythmia following rapid imipramine withdrawal

Withdrawal symptoms following the discontinuation of tricyclic antidepressants (TCA) have been reported by several authors. Common withdrawal symptoms are gastrointestinal distress, insomnia, drowsiness or agitation, apathy, withdrawal, headaches, moodiness, and worsening recurrence of depressed mood (Anderson and Kristiansen 1959; Mann and MacPherson 1959; Kramer et al. 1961; Stein and Mendels 1980; Law et al. 1981). The incidence of reported withdrawal symptoms has varied considerably from 8 of 10 patients in one study to 2 of 20 in another (Mann and MacPherson 1959). Differences may depend on length of prior treatment and methodology (Shaten 1966). Boisvert and Chouinard (198 1) described a single case of a cardiac arrhythmia that was apparently related to imipramine (IMI) withdrawal, as it responded to restarting with IMI but not to benzodiazepines. Cardiac effects such as tachycardia, together with tachypnea and irritability, have also been observed in a few infants born to mothers on TCAs (Eggermont 1973; Webster 1973). We report the case of a woman with a preexisting nonspecific intraventricular conduction delay (IVCD) who developed multifocal premature ventricular contractions (PVCs), including pathological forms, after rapid withdrawal of IMI.
Identifying United States substance abuse treatment programs: a test in one mid-sized city.

ABSTRACT An accurate national listing of substance abuse treatment programs is essential for reporting data about the nation's treatment system and the clients entering that system. The National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services (NSSATS) is thought to provide the most comprehensive list of treatment providers. Therefore, we report a partial test of the concurrent validity of the NSSATS in a single mid-sized city. Using operational definitions of “substance abuse treatment” and “substance abuse treatment programs” derived from prior work by the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment; and working within the defined geographic boundaries of a single, mid-sized city, we compared the NSSATS list with an independently developed compilation of programs from 5 sources: (1) the Yellow Pages; (2) the Internet Infospace Directory; (3) a State directory of licensed substance abuse treatment services; (4) the Office of Applied Studies Directory; (5) the National Master Facility Inventory. With all sources, in...
Techno-economic modeling of a corn based ethanol plant in 2011/2012

As studies continue to examine new value added uses for ethanol coproducts, it is important to easily determine the feasibility of the processing steps involved. This study observed the sensitivity of a corn-based ethanol plant model to changes in input prices and various coproduct processing. The simulations verified that corn price had the greatest impact on the overall annual operating costs for the ethanol plant, and that the market price of ethanol had the greatest impact on annual revenues. It was apparent that coproducts are an essential component to the sustainability of an ethanol plant in that: (1) they have continued marketability to the livestock industry, and (2) processing is not overly expensive. This study has provided a basis for further exploration of the feasibility of new coproduct processing options, and illustrates the use of the model for determination of processing costs and revenues, as well as mass and energy balances.
Preferential Linkage and Network Evolution: A Conceptual Model and Empirical Test in the U.S. Video Game Sector

We examined how network structure (density overlap and embeddedness) and technology characteristics of a platform (dominance and newness) shaped interorganizational coordination of product launches in the U.S. video game industry. We found that the developers' choices to launch games for particular game consoles were significantly explained by these four factors using multiprobability regression on a primary data set of 2,815 launches between 1995 and 2002. This analysis was complemented with application of a network visualization technique.
Paradigm revisited: Another look at the physical and social sciences

The study reexamines the paradigm concept as presented by Lodahl and Gordon with respect to the concept of consistency in professional life. The results show that high paradigm disciplines are more consistent than low paradigm disciplines on selected measures of educational background and professional activity. The conclusions of this investigation suggest first that the paradigm concept works well by itself in researching academic professions, and second that the concept of consistency offers a new way of both classifying faculty and exploring the dimensions of faculty characteristics.
Spatial and temporal evolution of biogeochemical processes following in situ capping of contaminated sediments.

In situ capping has recently emerged as a remedial method for contaminated sediments and involves placing a layer of clean material at the sediment−water interface. The biogeochemical response of n...
Preliminary study of the pyrolysis of steam classified municipal solid waste.

Steam classified municipal solid waste (MSW) has been studied for use as a combustion fuel, feedstock for composting, and cellulytic enzyme hydrolysis. A preliminary study has been conducted using a prototype plasma arc pyrolysis system (in cooperation with Plasma Energy Applied Technology Inc., Huntsville, AL) to convert the steam classified MSW into a pyrolysis gas and vitrified material. Using a feed rate of 50 lbs/h, 300 lbs of the material was pyrolysized. The major components of this pyrolysis gas were H2, CO, and CO2. A detailed presentation of the emission data along with details on the system used will be presented.
Optical properties and energetics of oxygenated silicon ring-shaped clusters

Abstract The optical absorption spectra of equilibrium Si-based ring-shaped clusters have been calculated with the semi-empirical quantum mechanical Intermediate Neglect of Differential Overlap method and Configuration Interaction. The Neglect of the Diatomic Differential Overlap based AM1 geometry optimization calculations show that it is energetically favorable to attach the OH group to an isolated Si ring and to further incorporate the oxygenated Si clusters into an amorphous silica matrix. Substitution of oxygen atoms with nitrogen in such clusters lowers the binding energy of the participating atoms and therefore compromises the stability of the molecule. The calculated optical absorption spectra of the oxygenated Si-based rings consistently exhibit three peaks in the neighborhood of 200, 260 and 320 nm that are not influenced by the presence or absence of nitrogen atoms. A comparison has been made between the experimental results obtained and the properties of the spark-processed Si. The calculations suggest that Si ring clusters are contributing to the optical properties of this material.
Measuring Space‐Time Accessibility Benefits within Transportation Networks: Basic Theory and Computational Procedures

Accessibility is a fundamental but often neglected concept in transportation analysis and planning. Three complementary views of accessibility have evolved in the literature. The first is the constraints-oriented approach, best implemented by Hagerstrand's space-time prisms. The second perspective follows a spatial interaction framework and derives "attraction-accessibility measures" that compare destinations' attractiveness with the travel costs required. A third approach measures the benefit provided to individuals by the transportation/land-use system. This paper reconciles the three complementary approaches by deriving space-time accessibility and benefit measures that are consistent with the rigorous Weibull axiomatic framework for accessibility measures. This research also develops computational procedures for calculating these measures within network structures. This provides realistic accessibility measures that reflect the locations, distances and travel velocities allowed by an urban transportation network. Since their computational burdens are reasonable, they can be applied at the urban-scale using a GIS.
Conserved expression and functions of PDE4 in rodent and human heart

PDE4 isoenzymes are critical in the control of cAMP signaling in rodent cardiac myocytes. Ablation of PDE4 affects multiple key players in excitation-contraction coupling and predisposes mice to the development of heart failure. As little is known about PDE4 in human heart, we explored to what extent cardiac expression and functions of PDE4 are conserved between rodents and humans. We find considerable similarities including comparable amounts of PDE4 activity expressed, expression of the same PDE4 subtypes and splicing variants, anchoring of PDE4 to the same subcellular compartments and macromolecular signaling complexes, and downregulation of PDE4 activity and protein in heart failure. The major difference between the species is a fivefold higher amount of non-PDE4 activity in human hearts compared to rodents. As a consequence, the effect of PDE4 inactivation is different in rodents and humans. PDE4 inhibition leads to increased phosphorylation of virtually all PKA substrates in mouse cardiomyocytes, but increased phosphorylation of only a restricted number of proteins in human cardiomyocytes. Our findings suggest that PDE4s have a similar role in the local regulation of cAMP signaling in rodent and human heart. However, inhibition of PDE4 has 'global' effects on cAMP signaling only in rodent hearts, as PDE4 comprises a large fraction of the total cardiac PDE activity in rodents but not in humans. These differences may explain the distinct pharmacological effects of PDE4 inhibition in rodent and human hearts.
Instability of solutions of a semilinear heat equation with a neumann boundary condition

A semilinear heat equation u t = u x x + eup, 0 0, subject to u x (0,t) = 0,u x (1,t) = -u - q (1,t), q > 0 is studied. The set of stationary states is characterized, their instability is analyzed, and the large time behavior of positive solutions is discussed.
New Faculty Involvement for Women and Minorities.

I used variations of Astin's involvement model to guide a study of four cohorts of women and minorities as new faculty: two groups from a comprehensive university and two of them from a research campus. The two least demanding levels of inquiry for both interviewer and interviewee—unstructured and structured—provided rich descriptions of disappointments, problems, and values that distinguished nontraditional new hires from a matched sample of white male newcomers. More demanding levels of inquiry and analysis—a New Faculty Faring Index with 20 rating dimensions and a repeated exercise in career mapping—distinguished successful and unsuccessful new faculty in ways that suggest reliable sequences of career fault lines and specific interventions to avoid them. Thus, the most useful interviews were the most involving. Involvement notions also predicted the outcome of new faculty experiences: women and minorities tended to be less effectively immersed in their campuses and in self-help actions than were white males, but nontraditional newcomers who managed the highest levels of involvement evidenced the most promise for successful careers.