cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Differential activation in the primary motor cortex during individual digit movement in focal hand dystonia vs. healthy.

Purpose The pathophysiology of focal hand dystonia (FHD) is not clearly understood. Previous studies have reported increased and decreased cortical activity associated with motor tasks. The aim of this study was to investigate blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) signal changes in functional magnetic resonance imaging within the hand area of primary motor cortex during cued movement of individual digits. Methods Eight healthy individuals and five individuals with right hand FHD participated. Beta weight contrasts were examined within the hand area of the motor cortex. Results In both groups, BOLD signal changes in the hemisphere contralateral to the moving hand were greater in the left hemisphere than the right. Between groups, no difference was found during control of the left hand, but a significant difference was seen during right hand movement; specifically, individuals with dystonia showed increased contralateral and decreased ipsilateral cortical response associated with the affected hand as compared to healthy individuals. This suggests a similar, albeit exaggerated pattern of activation in individuals with FHD on the affected side. Conclusions These results suggest different levels of ipsilateral and contralateral activation between healthy and dystonic individuals but also show a relative difference between symptomatic and asymptomatic control within the patient population.
Changing glomerular filtration with progression from impaired glucose tolerance to Type II diabetes mellitus.

Glomerular filtration rate (iothalamate clearance) was measured serially for 48 months in 26 Pima Indians with impaired glucose tolerance and 27 with normal glucose tolerance. At baseline, the mean glomerular filtration rate (SEM) was 133 ± 8 ml/min in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance and 123 ± 5 ml/min in those with normal glucose tolerance (p = 0.12). In the 12 subjects with impaired glucose tolerance who progressed to Type II (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes during follow-up, mean glomerular filtration rate increased by 30 % (p = 0.011). Among the remaining 14 subjects with impaired glucose tolerance, 12 reverted to normoglycaemia. The glomerular filtration rate both at baseline and after 48 months in this subgroup exceeded the values of subjects with normal glucose tolerance by 20 % (p = 0.008) and 14 % (p = 0.013), respectively. A pronounced rise in the glomerular filtration rate occurs at the onset of Type II diabetes but a trend to hyperfiltration is also present in those with impaired glucose tolerance. [Diabetologia (1999) 42: 90–93]
Interactions of socioeconomic determinants, offspring sex preference, and fertility behaviour

Using path anaysis and the 5 per cent PUMS data of the 1990 and 2000 [US] censuses, this study examines: (1) the correlation between Chinese-American sex preference for children and their fertility behavior; and (2) the interaction between the sex preference and its socioeconomic determinants. Of the normative and non-normative factors investigated in this study, offspring sex preference is the greatest stimulus to Chinese fertility. Of the socioeconomic variables, women’s educational attainment plays a primary role in depressing the impact of son preference, in addition to their increasing stay in the host society. However, these two factors do not work on husbands in the same way, demonstrating men’s inflexible attitudes toward gender roles in the family and in society. Son preference exerts a positive impact on American-Chinese fertility and prevents further decline; still, this influence has been diminishing since 1990, as observed in this study.
Aptamers as Affinity Reagents in an Integrated Electrophoretic Lab-on-a-Chip Platform

Nucleic acid based affinity reagents (e.g., aptamers) offer several possible advantages over antibodies as specific recognition elements in biochemical assays. Besides offering improved cost and stability, aptamers are ideal for rapid electrophoretic analysis due to their low molecular weight and high negative charge. While aptamers have proven well-suited for affinity-shift electrophoretic analysis, demonstrating a fully integrated aptamer-based assay platform represents an important achievement toward low-cost point-of-care analysis, particularly for remote or resource poor settings where cost and ambient stability of reagents is a key consideration. Here we perform and evaluate the suitability of aptamer-based affinity assays for two clinically relevant target analytes (IgE using a known aptamer and NF-κB using a thio-modified aptamer) in an integrated electrophoretic gel-shift platform. Key steps of (i) mixing sample with aptamer, (ii) buffer exchange, and (iii) preconcentration of sample were success...
Composite filters for search time reduction for 3D model based object recognition

This paper investigates the role of composite filters in reducing the search time for 3D model based object recognition. When one moves from 2D to 3D, one is faced with a huge amount of information to deal with. The composite filter combined with a multistage scheme is developed for processing this huge information. The design scheme for the composite filters is also elaborated. The procedures discussed in this paper demonstrate how detection of these various model images might help formulate a new metric for recognition performance.
An evaluation of methods of dicumarol administration.

Abstract The physiological disposition of Dicumarol by the body is reviewed and its relationship to methods of Dicumarol dosage is discussed. An illustrative case in which Dicumarol was given by both the continuous (daily) and the intermittent dosage methods is presented. The case illustrates: (1) the relationship of prothrombin response to plasma Dicumarol concentration; (2) the difficulty of recognizing promptly when a given daily dose of Dicumarol is inadequate; (3) the danger of undetected accumulation of daily doses to excessively high plasma Dicumarol concentrations; (4) the importance of knowing not only what the prothrombin time is at the moment, but also the direction in which it is changing; and (5) the better control of prothrombin response afforded by the intermittent dosage method.
Turbine tent measurements of marine hydrocarbon seeps on subhourly timescales

[1] Three turbine seep-tents simultaneously measured marine seep gas fluxes with high time resolution (0.2 s) at multiple locations. Tents were inverted polyvinyl cones, 2-m diameter, 1-m tall, and weighted on their lower skirt edges. Rising gas bubbles induce vertical fluid motions, which were measured by laboratory-calibrated turbines in chimneys on top of the tents. Initial deployment was at an active seep area in the Coal Oil Point seep field, in the Santa Barbara Channel, California. The three tents simultaneously collected data for continuous time periods of 2 hours in both the morning and afternoon. Seabed temperature and pressure were acquired every 3 s over the same time periods as the flux measurements from a conductivity temperature depth, CTD, mounted on one tent. Results strongly suggest that oceanic swell had a significant forcing effect on the flux at a subhourly timescale. There was an inverse relationship between effect of swell height on the flux and flux. Swells from 1 to 4 m height and periodicities of 7 and 12 s caused variations of � 1% to 4% from the average flux. Proposed mechanisms to explain the observations are diffusion with surrounding sediments, termed gas charging, swell induced changes in fracture size, termed fracture forcing, and swell induced vent activation/deactivation, termed pore activation. On the basis of the seep frequency response, we propose pore activation was dominant.
Science education: A meta‐analysis of major questions

A multi-institutional endeavor was initiated to integrate the findings of extant research studies directed toward the major science education research questions. The research questions were selected by a largely empirical process of identifiying the most frequently researched questions in the literature. These questions were assigned to various researchers who developed coding sheets and procedures with many features in common. This article describes the overall operation of the project, the research questions identified, and some rudiments of meta-analysis. The results of the several meta-analysis are reported in the other articles of this issue of the Journal. The final article in this issue deals with research topics for which data are drawn from one or more of the separate meta-analyses.
Levinson's theorem for the Klein-Gordon equation in one dimension

In terms of the modified Sturm-Liouville theorem, the Levinson theorem for the one-dimensional Klein-Gordon equation with a symmetric potential V(x) is established. It is shown that the number N+ (N-) of bound states with even (odd) parity is related to the phase shift \(\) of the scattering states with the same parity at zero momentum as \(\) and \(\) The solution of the one-dimensional Klein-Gordon equation with the energy M or -M is called as a half bound state if it is finite but does not decay fast enough at infinity to be square integrable.
Cadmium toxicity and accumulation in southern naiad.

Cadmium salts are considered significant water pollutants not only because of their direct toxicity in water but also due to their ability to be concentrated and incorporated into the food chain by aquatic organisms and plants. The present investigation was conducted to determine the effects of three different levels of cadmium on the uptake and accumulation of this metal by a local pondweed, the southern naiad.
Modification of Subsonic Wakes Using Boundary Layer and Base Mass Transfer

The influence of boundary-laye r thickness and near-wake mass transfer on the turbulent near wake of a cylindrical blunt-based body aligned with a uniform freestream was experimentally investigated. Tests were conducted at Af =0.11 and 0.06 in a wind tunnel utilizing an upstream support system. Results indicate that the thickness of the approaching boundary layer has a dominant influence on base pressure. Base pressure increases with the thickness of the boundary layer. Base mass transfer into the near-wake increases base pressure, while base suction has the opposite effect. Both boundary-layer thickness and base mass transfer have a significant influence on the size, pressure, and velocity fields of the near wake.
PHIALIDE AND CONIDIUM DEVELOPMENT IN ASPERGILLUS CLAVATUS

A B S T R A C T Phialide formation in Aspergillus clavatus begins with the formation of thin areas in the vesicle wall. These thin-walled regions and adjacent cytoplasm then push out synchronously to produce the phialides. Mature phialides are broadly oval with an attenuated base and tapered apex. A secondary wall forms inside the phialide apex. The entire phialide apex pushes out to form the first conidium which is delimited by formation of a septum inside the mouth of the phialide. No collarette is present as the first conidium forms, but as the second conidium begins to develop, the outer wall breaks at the mouth of the phialide, leaving a collarette. The walls of the second and subsequent conidia are continuous with the inner wall of the phialide apex, from which they form. Conidia are held in chains by a connective which is a greatly thickened septum. WITH THE INCREASING use of conidium ontogeny as a basis for classifying the Deuteromycetes, it is necessary to have a clearer understanding of the various methods of conidium development. One fundamental type of conidium formation is the phialogenous or enteroblastic phialidic type (Barron, 1968; Kendrick, 1971), characterized by the production of basipetal chains of conidia from a fixed locus in a specialized conidiogenous cell called a phialide. Although this type of conidium development is relatively easy to recognize, there is disagreement in the literature concerning the exact manner of conidium formation, especially with regard to the first-formed conidium. The disagreement primarily concerns the behavior of the wall at the apex of the phialide, whether or not it surrounds the first-formed conidium. Evidence has been presented by various workers to indicate both that the phialide wall does surround the first-formed conidium and that it does not. In an attempt to clarify this point a detailed study was made of conidium development in Aspergillus clavatus Desm.
EFFECT OF PERINATAL FACTORS ON NICU LENGTH OF STAY IN VERY LOW BIRTHWEIGHT PRETERM INFANTS. 1556

EFFECT OF PERINATAL FACTORS ON NICU LENGTH OF STAY IN VERY LOW BIRTHWEIGHT PRETERM INFANTS. 1556
The effects of fixed bulk charge on the characteristics of metal-oxide-semiconductor transistors

The theory of the characteristics of the MOS transistors is developed based on a model in which both the bulk charge due to the ionized impurity in the semiconductor substrate and the difference between the electrostatic potential and the voltage drop in the channel are included. A detailed comparison of the theory is made with experimental data of gate capacitance, drain current voltage characteristics, and transconductance characteristics on both N-channel and P-channel silicon devices with thin (2000 A) and thick (6200 and 8400 A) oxides under the gate electrode. The correlation is good using the surface mobility as the adjustable parameter. Mobility reduction in the saturation transconductance characteristics is predicted in the theory and demonstrated in the experimental data. It arises entirely from the bulk charge, which modifies the device characteristics, and is not associated with some basic surface scattering phenomena, which further reduce the mobility. It is also demonstrated experimentally that to evaluate a physically meaningful surface mobility from the conductance of the channel, the interface surface state charge Q ss cannot be assumed constant in the devices used in this study.
Interdisciplinary foundations of urban ecology

Researchers have identified urban ecology as a new field integrating social and ecological science. Critics have portrayed the field as under-theorized with negative implications for research and urban environmental planning. Unprecedented urbanization and historical bias against research integrating social and ecological systems are identified as driving this deficit. Researchers have called for new integrative approaches to address this issue. In response, this paper applies ecology’s analytic framework of “patch dynamics”, Kuhn’s concept of “normal science” and Mazoyer and Roudart’s “evolutionary series” to demographic data and historical texts to perform an analysis of interdisciplinary contributions to theory applicable in the field of urban ecology. The subsequent exploration reveals a rich history of interdisciplinary inquiry along the nature/society divide. The paper concludes that these “largely ignored” contributions offer urban ecology the opportunity to claim much broader depth as a field gaining access to precedents and innovations accomplished during the field’s early theoretical development. Drawing upon this history, a framework for ecological urban development is suggested to inform and assist contemporary research in urban ecology and planning.
Osteogenic potential of culture-expanded rat marrow cells as assayed in vivo with porous calcium phosphate ceramic

It has been established that, when whole marrow is introduced into porous calcium phosphate ceramic, bone forms on the walls of the pores. To extend earlier studies, bone marrow cells derived from the femora of inbred rats were introduced into tissue culture and the adherent cells cultivated, mitotically expanded, passaged, harvested, placed in small cubes of porous calcium phosphate ceramics and grafted into subcutaneous sites of syngeneic rats. Marrow-derived, cultured mesenchymal cells introduced into ceramics showed strong osteogenic potential, with bone forming in the pore regions of ceramics as early as 2 wk after implantation. Osteogenesis could be observed after the eighteenth passage. With increasing passage number, the initiation of osteogenesis and the apparent rate of bone formation declined and the course of osteogenesis was delayed. In the future, it may be possible to culture marrow cells as a source for reparative cells for implantation back into autologous in vivo sites.
A prescription for public health

Will high drug prices and a lack of new medicines force the pharmaceutical industry to restructure and take a more personalized approach to research, asks Merrill Goozner.
Spin trapping by 5,5-dimethylpyrroline-N-oxide in Fenton media in the presence of Nafion perfluorinated membranes: limitations and potential.

Spin trapping by 5,5-dimethylpyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO) was used for the detection of radicals in Fenton media in the presence and absence of Nafion perfluorinated ionomers. For ethanol as solvent, t...
Einfluss der fütterungsfrequenz auf das ergebnis der stoffwechselorientierten lysinbedarfsbestimmung und der N‐bilanz bei masthähnchen‐küken

Es wurde der Einflus einer 2maligen Futterung (je 1 Stunde Fresdauer) im Vergleich zu einer 6maligen Futterung (je 1/2 Stunde Freszeit) auf das Wachstum, die N‐Bilanz und die stoffwechselorientierte Lysinbedarfsbestimmung gepruft. Der Lysingehalt der Diaten lag bei 9,5; 10,7; 11,9; 13,1; 14,3 bzw. 15,5 g Lysin/kg TS bei einem Rohproteingehalt von 24 % in der TS. Die Futteraufnahme und das Wachstum waren bei Diaten mit Lysinmangel bei 2maliger Futterung signifikant besser als bei sechsmaliger Futterung. Auch die N‐Bilanz lag bei 2maliger Futterung um 6 bzw. 7 % hoher. Anhand der 14CO2‐Ausscheidung nach i.v. Applikation von 14C‐U‐L‐Lysin wurde bei 2maliger Futterung ein bedarfsdeckender Lysingehalt zwischen 11,9 und 13,1 g Lysin/kg Futter‐TS ermittelt und bei omaliger Futterung zwischen 13,1 und 14,3 g Lysin/kg Futter‐TS. Eine Verbesserung der Verwertung von zugesetztem Lysin konnte bei einer omaligen Futterung gegenuber einer 2maligen Futterung bei wachsenden Kuken somit nicht erzielt werden.
A Comparative Study of the Wind Loads and Wake Characteristics of a Single-Rotor Wind Turbine and Dual-Rotor Wind Turbines

An experimental study was carried out to investigate the aeromechanics and wake characteristics of dual-rotor wind turbines (DRWTs) with co- and counter-rotating configurations, in comparison to those of a conventional singlerotor wind turbine (SRWT), in order to elucidate the underlying physics to explore/optimize design of wind turbines for higher power yield and better durability. The experiments were performed in a large-scale Aerodynamic/Atmospheric Boundary Layer (AABL) wind tunnel under neutral stability conditions. In addition to measuring the power output performance of DRWT and SRWT systems, static and dynamic wind loads acting on those systems were also investigated. Furthermore, a high resolution PIV system was used for detailed near wake flow field measurements (free-run and phase-locked) so as to quantify the near wake turbulent flow structures and observe the transient behavior of the unsteady vortex structures in the wake of DRWT and SRWT systems. In the light of the promising experimental results on DRWTs, this study can be extended further to investigate the turbulent flow in the far wake of DRWTs and utilize multiple DRWTs in different wind farm operations.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Psychophysiologic and neuroendocrine findings in posttraumatic stress disorder: a review of theory and research

Abstract Psychophysiologic and neuroendocrine investigations of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are reviewed. Patients with PTSD have higher resting heart rate and blood pressure than asymptomatic controls, and urinary catecholamines are more elevated in PTSD subjects than in psychiatric patients without PTSD. Combat veterans with PTSD, when exposed to combat-related laboratory stressors, exhibit greater autonomic arousal than do various groups of control subjects. Diagnostic sensitivity in discriminating PTSD from non-PTSD subjects using biological variables is moderate, although specificity is substantially greater. The evidence supports models of conditioned autonomic nervous system arousal in PTSD.
Photoautotrophic nutrient utilization and limitation during semi-continuous growth of Synechocystis sp. PCC6803

Microbial photosynthesis presents a valuable opportunity to capture abundant light energy to produce renewable bioenergy and biomaterials. To understand the factors that control the productivity of photosynthetic microorganisms, we conducted a series of semi-continuous experiments using bench-scale photobioreactor (PBR) systems, the cyanobacterium Synechocystis PCC6803 (PCC6803), and light conditions imitating actual day-night light irradiance (LI). Our results demonstrate that using normal BG-11 medium resulted in severe phosphate (P(i)) limitation for continuous operation. Mitigation of P(i)-limitation, by augmenting the P(i) content of BG-11, allowed higher biomass productivity; however, once P(i)-limitation was alleviated, limitation by inorganic carbon (C(i)) or LI occurred. C(i)-limitation was detected by a low total C(i) concentration (<5 mg C/L) and high and fluctuating pH. C(i)-limitation was relieved by delivering more CO(2), which led to a stable pH in the range of 7-9 and at least 5 mg/L of C(i) in HCO(3)(-). LI limitation, evidenced by an average LI <14 W/m(2) for PCC6803, was induced by a high biomass concentration of 1,300 mg/L. Thus, this work provides quantitative tools of stoichiometry and kinetics to evaluate limitation on PBRs.
Toward tuning the surface functionalization of small ceria nanoparticles.

Understanding and controlling the performance of ceria nanoparticle (CNP) catalysts requires knowledge of the detailed structure and property of CNP surfaces and any attached functional groups. Here we report thermogravimetric analysis results showing that hydrothermally synthesized ∼30 nm CNPs are decorated with 12.9 hydroxyl groups per nm2 of CNP surface. Quantum mechanical calculations of the density and distribution of bound surface groups imply a scaling relationship for surface group density that balances formal charges in the functionalized CNP system. Computational results for CNPs with only hydroxyl surface groups yield a predicted density of bound hydroxyl groups for ∼30 nm CNPs that is ∼33% higher than measured densities. Quantitative agreement between predicted and measured hydroxyl surface densities is achieved when calculations consider CNPs with both –OH and –Ox surface groups. For this more general treatment of CNP surface functionalizations, quantum mechanical calculations predict a range...
Positive, unbounded and monotone solutions of the singular second Painlevé equation on the half-line

Abstract In this paper we study singular boundary value problems on the half-line and we prove the existence of a global, monotone, positive and unbounded solution. The latter satisfies a Neumann condition at the origin and has prescribed asymptotic behavior at infinity. Our approach is based on a generalization of the Kneser's property (continuum) of the cross-sections of the solutions funnel, i.e. on the properties of the so-called consequent mapping and on properties of the associated vector field on the face space. Two applications, one on the well-known second Painleve-type equation (which is related to superconductivity theory) and a second in the theory of colloids, clarify our results.
The national cancer data base report on carcinoma of the anus

BACKGROUND The last 15 years have seen substantial advances in the management of anal carcinoma, primarily in the use of radiochemotherapy as definitive or adjuvant treatment. This study reviews the patterns of presentation, care, and outcome reflected in data from the National Cancer Data Base representing a broad range of medical centers. METHODS Data on patients with anal carcinoma (on 1050 patients from 1988 and 1289 patients from 1993) were reviewed for patterns of care and presentation. The 1988 cases were also reviewed for outcome data. RESULTS There was an increase in the use of chemotherapy between 1988 and 1993 (from 61.6% to 67.2%), and substantial differences were observed in the management of epidermoid carcinomas and adenocarcinomas. The majority of epidermoid carcinomas were managed nonsurgically, principally with combined chemotherapy and radiation, whereas three-fourths of patients with adenocarcinoma underwent surgery. The most important factors for favorable 5-year survival were early stage (ranging from 71.3% for Stage I to 23.1% for Stage IV), epidermoid carcinoma histology (57.6%, compared with 41.3% for adenocarcinoma), and female gender (56.2%, compared with 49.6% for males). For Stage I-II epidermoid carcinomas, the 5-year survival for patients who received nonsurgical treatment with radiochemotherapy was equivalent to that of patients who received surgical treatment (64.0% and 65.4%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS This study confirms a trend in patterns of care favoring nonsurgical management with radiochemotherapy for epidermoid carcinomas of the anus. For adenocarcinomas, there has been a trend toward increasing use of multimodality therapy with surgery and adjuvant radiochemotherapy. Survival data from the 1988 cases confirmed the efficacy of conservative treatment with radiation plus chemotherapy for epidermoid carcinomas. Cancer 1997; 80:805-15. © 1997 American Cancer Society.
Environmental factors and ecological processes controlling vegetation patterns in boreal forests

An individual tree model of forest dynamics was used to examine the environmental and ecological factors controlling forest vegetation patterns in upland boreal forests of North America. Basic life history traits that characterized the regeneration, growth, and death of individual trees were combined with species-specific responses to important environmental factors. This model simulated forest structure and vegetation patterns in conifer, hardwood, and mixed conifer-hardwood forests and woodlands in several bioclimatic sub-regions of the North American boreal forest zone. Model testing identified the processes and parameters required to understand the ecology of upland boreal forests and weaknesses in our current understanding of these processes. These factors included climate, solar radiation, soil moisture, soil temperature and permafrost, the forest floor organic layer, nutrient availability, forest fires, and insect outbreaks. Model testing also identified which of these factors were important in each bioclimatic sub-region.
The magnetospheres of Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus

The results published by U.S. scientists during 1983-1986 from studies related to the magnetospheres of Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus are discussed. Consideration is given to the magnetic fields of these planets, charged particle environments, the interactions between the planetary rings and planetary satellites, the solar wind interactions, radio emissions, and auroras. Special attention is given to observations of (1) a small flux of energetic electrons and protons in the otherwise radiation-free environment in the magnetosphere under the rings of Saturn (interpreted as interactions of Galactic cosmic rays with the rings), (2) spokes, and (3) Saturn ring erosion.
Suppression of drinking following rotational stimulation as an index of motion sickness in the rat

A suppression-of-drinking measure was used as an index of the duration and magnitude of rotation-elicited UCR. Thirsty rats suppressed drinking when they were rotated prior to being given access to water. The magnitude of suppression increased as a function of the duration of intermittent rotation. Periodically interrupted rotation sessions were found to suppress drinking for longer periods than continuous rotation sessions of comparable duration. Damage to the vestibular system substantially decreased the magnitude of suppression of drinking following rotation and prevented the acquisition of rotation-induced taste aversion. The failure of rotation-induced taste aversion to develop in rats sustaining vestibular damage was not attributable to an associative/sensory deficit as these rats acquired the aversion when lithium chloride poisoning was used as the UCS.
Tactile defensiveness in children with developmental disabilities: Responsiveness and habituation

Tactile defensiveness (TD) is characterized by behaviors such as rubbing, scratching, negative expressions, withdrawal, or avoidance in response to tactile stimulation. An inhibition deficit has been implied in the literature and is the focus of this study. School-aged children with developmental disabilities were first assessed for level of TD using three measures. Later, the children were presented with a repeated tactile stimulus while engaged in a computer game. Intensity, duration, and latency of the responses were recorded on each trial. It was hypothesized that higher levels of TD would be associated with (a) greater responsiveness and (b) slower habituation rates to the tactile stimulus. Correlations of three separate TD measures and a series of 3 x 10 (Level of TD by Responsiveness across trials) repeated measures ANOVAs were used to test the two hypotheses. Children who demonstrated higher levels of TD on some of the preliminary measures also showed higher responsiveness in the experimental situation. There was no general habituation effect, and the limited group by trials interactions were not interpretable. We conclude that there is evidence for a differential sensitivity in TD, but not an inhibition deficit. Another significant finding included a negative correlation between TD and developmental age.
Remarkable aliphatic hydroxylation by the diiron enzyme toluene 4-monooxygenase in reactions with radical or cation diagnostic probes norcarane, 1,1-dimethylcyclopropane, and 1,1-diethylcyclopropane.

Toluene 4-monooxygenase (T4MO) catalyzes the hydroxylation of toluene to yield 96% p-cresol. This diiron enzyme complex was used to oxidize norcarane (bicyclo[4.1.0]heptane), 1,1-dimethylcyclopropane, and 1,1-diethylcyclopropane, substrate analogues that can undergo diagnostic reactions upon the production of transient radical or cationic intermediates. Norcarane closely matches the shape and volume of the natural substrate toluene. Reaction of isoforms of the hydroxylase component of T4MO (T4moH) with different regiospecificities for toluene hydroxylation (kcat ≈ 1.9−2.3 s-1 and coupling efficiency ≈ 81−96%) revealed similar catalytic parameters for norcarane oxidation (kcat ≈ 0.3−0.5 s-1 and coupling efficiency ≈ 72%). The products included variable amounts of the un-rearranged isomeric norcaranols and cyclohex-2-enyl methanol, a product attributed to rearrangement of a radical oxidation intermediate. A ring-expansion product derived from the norcaranyl C-2 cation, cyclohept-3-enol, was not produced by ...
Germination and size-dependent mortality in Viola blanda

Early and late germinating classes of seedlings of a population of Viola blanda were censused for three years. Seedlings germinating later had a significantly higher probability of death, especially during a period of relatively high mortality three years after germination. Later germinating seedlings were consistently smaller than earlier germinating seedlings. Mortality was size-dependent and concentrated among smaller individuals. It is hypothesized that the effect of germination time on mortality three years later is mediated through differential growth.
FDG-PET Imaging Reveals Local Brain Glucose Utilization Is Altered by Class I Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors

The purpose of this work--the first of its kind--was to evaluate the impact of chronic selective histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor treatment on brain activity using uptake of the radioligand (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose and positron emission tomography ((18)FDG-PET). HDAC dysfunction and other epigenetic mechanisms are implicated in diverse CNS disorders and animal research suggests HDAC inhibition may provide a lead toward developing improved treatment. To begin to better understand the role of the class I HDAC subtypes HDAC 1, 2 and 3 in modulating brain activity, we utilized two benzamide inhibitors from the literature, compound 60 (Cpd-60) and CI-994 which selectively inhibit HDAC 1 and 2 or HDACs 1, 2 and 3, respectively. One day after the seventh treatment with Cpd-60 (22.5 mg/kg) or CI-994 (5 mg/kg), (18)FDG-PET experiments (n=11-12 rats per treatment group) revealed significant, local changes in brain glucose utilization. These 2-17% changes were represented by increases and decreases in glucose uptake. The pattern of changes was similar but distinct between Cpd-60 and CI-994, supporting that (18)FDG-PET is a useful tool to examine the relationship between HDAC subtype activity and brain activity. Further work using additional selective HDAC inhibitors will be needed to clarify these effects as well as to understand how brain activity changes influence behavioral response.
Fast calculation of a family of elliptical mass gravitational lens models

Because of their simplicity, axisymmetric mass distributions are often used to model gravitational lenses. Since galaxies are usually observed to have elliptical light distributions, mass distributions with elliptical density contours offer more general and realistic lens models. They are difficult to use, however, since previous studies have shown that the deflection angle (and magnification) in this case can only be obtained by rather expensive numerical integrations. We present a family of lens models for which the deflection can be calculated to high relative accuracy (one part in 100000) with a greatly reduced numerical effort, for small and large ellipticity alike. This makes it easier to use these distributions for modelling individual lenses as well as for applications requiring larger computing times, such as statistical lensing studies. A program implementing this method can be obtained from the author (or at this http URL).
Positive and negative modulation of the GABAA receptor and outcome after traumatic brain injury in rats

Glutamate-mediated excitotoxicity has been shown to contribute to cellular dysfunction following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Increasing inhibitory function through stimulation of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA(A)) receptors may attenuate excitotoxic effects and improve outcome. The present experiment examined the effects of diazepam, a positive modulator at the GABA(A) receptor, on survival and cognitive performance in traumatically brain-injured animals. In experiment 1, 15 min prior to central fluid percussion brain injury, rats (n=8 per group) were injected (i.p.) with saline or diazepam (5 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg). Additional rats (n=8) were surgically prepared but not injured (sham-injury). Rats pre-treated with the 5 mg/kg dose of diazepam had significantly lower mortality (0%) than injured, saline-treated rats (53%). Also, diazepam-treated (5 mg/kg) rats had significantly shorter latencies to reach the goal platform in the Morris water maze test performed 11-15 days post-injury. In experiment 2, at 15 min post-injury, rats were given either saline (n=5) or 5 mg/kg diazepam (n=6). Rats treated with diazepam did not differ in mortality from injured rats treated with vehicle. However, rats treated with diazepam at 15 min post-injury had significantly shorter latencies to reach the goal platform in the Morris water maze than injured, vehicle-treated rats. In experiment 3, the post-injury administration of bicuculline (1.5 mg/kg, n=8), a GABA(A) antagonist, increased Morris water maze goal latencies compared to injured animals treated with saline (n=8). These results suggest that enhancing inhibitory function during the acute post-injury period produces beneficial effects on both survival and outcome following experimental TBI.
Effects of the dopamine release inhibitor, CGS 10746B, on the locomotor stimulant and discriminative stimulus effects of cocaine and methamphetamine.

CGS 10746B or 5-(4-methyl-1 piperazinyl)-imadazo[2,1-b]1,3,5]benzothiadiazepine maleate is a clozapine analog that, unlike clozapine, produces decreases in neostriatal dopamine release without changing dopamine metabolism or occupying D2 receptors. CGS 10746B also blocks neuronal impulse flow. The ability of this atypical antipsychotic candidate to alter the discriminative stimulus effects induced by cocaine or methamphetamine in rats or the stimulation of locomotor activity in mice was evaluated. A range of doses of CGS 10746B was tested against maximally effective doses of the psychomotor stimulants. Although CGS 10746B completely blocked the locomotor stimulant effects of cocaine and methamphetamine, it also decreased spontaneous activity in mice over the same dose range. Rats were trained to discriminate 10 mg/kg cocaine or 1 mg/kg methamphetamine from saline. The discriminative stimulus effects of cocaine or methamphetamine were not blocked by CGS 10746B. Thus, in contrast to other potential atypical antipsychotic compounds (e.g., D1 receptor antagonists), CGS 10746B does not appear to produce selective blockade of these behavioral effects of psychomotor stimulant compounds.
Antiobesity-like effects of the 5-HT2C receptor agonist WAY-161503.

Abstract WAY-161503 ((4a R )-8,9-dichloro-2,3,4,4a-tetrahydro-1 H -pyrazino[1,2-a]quinoxalin-5(6 H )-one), a 5-HT 2B/C receptor agonist, was characterized in vitro using stable Chinese hamster ovary cell lines expressing each of the human 5-HT 2 receptors and in vivo in animal models of obesity. WAY-161503 displaced both agonist ([ 125 I]2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine (DOI)) and antagonist ([ 3 H]mesulergine) radioligand binding to the human 5-HT 2C receptor with derived Ki values of 3.3 ± 0.9 and 32 ± 6 nM, respectively. Relative to 5-HT 2C receptor binding, WAY-161503 was approximately 6-fold less potent at human 5-HT 2A receptors ([ 125 I]DOI) with a derived Ki value of 18 nM and 20-fold less potent at human 5-HT 2B receptors ([ 3 H]5-HT) with a derived Ki value of 60 nM. In functional studies, WAY-161503 was a full agonist in stimulating 5-HT 2C -receptor-coupled [ 3 H]inositol phosphate (IP) formation and calcium mobilization with EC 50 values of 8.5 nM and 0.8 nM, respectively. WAY-161503 was also a 5-HT 2B agonist (EC 50 s of 6.9 and 1.8 nM for IP and calcium, respectively). In IP studies, WAY-161503 was a weak 5-HT 2A partial agonist (EC 50 , 802 nM) yet potently stimulated calcium mobilization (EC 50 , 7 nM) in 5-HT 2A receptor-expressing cells. Functionally, WAY-161503 also stimulated the phospholipase A 2 -coupled arachidonic acid release in 5-HT 2C receptor expressing cells albeit with lower potency (EC 50 , 38 nM) and efficacy (Emax, 77%) compared with activation of the PLC pathway. In vivo, WAY-161503 produced dose-dependent decreases in 2-h food intake in 24 h fasted normal Sprague–Dawley rats, diet-induced obese mice, and obese Zuker rats with ED 50 values of 1.9 mg/kg, 6.8 mg/kg, and 0.73 mg/kg, respectively. The reduction in food intake in normal Sprague–Dawley rats was reversed by administration of the 5-HT 2C receptor antagonist SB-242084. Following chronic administration (10 days) in growing Sprague–Dawley rats, WAY-161503 decreased food intake and attenuated body weight gain. Finally, following chronic administration (15 days) of WAY-161503 to obese Zuker rats, the rats maintained a 30% decrease in food intake over the 15-day period combined with a 25 g decrease in body weight relative to vehicle-treated controls demonstrating a lack of tolerance to its anorectic effects.
T1–T2 squamous cell carcinoma of the glottic larynx treated with radiation therapy: relationship of dose-fractionation factors to local control and complications

Abstract This is an analysis of 304 patients with invasive, previously untreated T1–T2 squamous cell carcinoma of the glottic larynx treated with radiation therapy at the University of Florida between October 1964 and December 1984. All patients had a minimum 2-year follow-up and 82% had at least 5 years of follow-up. Patients were excluded from the analysis of local control if they died within 2 years of treatment with the primary site continuously disease-free; all patients were included in the analysis of treatment complications. Patients were staged according to the 1983 AJCC system. Stage T2 was subdivided into 2 groups as follows: T2a (normal mobility) and T2b (decreased mobility). The rates of local control with radiation therapy were as follows: T1, 159171 (93%); T2a, 5065 (77%); and T2b, 3143 (72%). Patients were further divided into subsets based on T stage and the surgical procedure that would have been required to resect the lesion. Local control was noted to improve with higher doses and dose per fraction in 4 of 7 subsets. In 2 of 3 subsets where a dose-fractionation relationship was not observed, there were no local recurrences in 1 subset and only 2 local recurrences in the other. The overall incidence of serious complications was 5304 (1.6%) and was associated with T stage and with increasing total dose and dose per fraction.
Liquid heating can cause denaturation of sensing layer in SAW biosensors

The acoustic streaming phenomenon, i.e., fluid motion induced from high intensity sound waves, can be used effectively to remove nonspecifically bound proteins to allow reuse of SAW biosensors. While the streaming effect is clearly beneficial, this longitudinal irradiation into the fluid medium can also be accompanied by a corresponding temperature rise of the fluid near the SAW interface due to viscous dissipation, which can lead to denaturation of biosensing layer. Finite element solution of coupled wave propagation (piezoelectric domain) and Navier-Stokes equation (fluid domain) in conjunction with the energy balance equations were used to model the temperature rise of a liquid loading on top of a SAW device. Based on the temperature profiles, we identify the conditions that preserve the activity of the sensing layer as well as those leading to significant heating of the fluid domain. Our computational study highlights the fact that such increase in temperatures of the interfacial liquid layer can have significant implications for designing reusable and highly sensitive biosensors.
Presence of Motor-Intentional Aiming Deficit Predicts Functional Improvement of Spatial Neglect With Prism Adaptation:

Background. Spatial neglect is a debilitating disorder for which there is no agreed on course of rehabilitation. The lack of consensus on treatment may result from systematic differences in the syn...
Hot gas and the origin of the nebular continuum in novae

A featureless blue continuum (with constant f(sub nu)) is a defining feature of declining classical novae. The fact that f(sub nu) is constant into the infrared, and the absence of a Balmer jump, suggests that this continuum originates in hot tenous gas. The electron temperature and density of the hot gas phase of classical nova QU Vul 1984 are estimated from ground-based optical and IUE ultraviolet observations. This region has a temperature of 10(exp 5) - 10(exp 6), and a density in the range of 2 x 10(exp 4) to 3 x 10(exp 5)/cu cm. In addition, a colder, denser shell composed of many 'clumps' or condensations is present, and it is responsible for most of the optical-to-ultraviolet emission lines. The hot has, however, may be much more massive and could dominate the energetics of the ejecta. The total returned mass could be as high as 10(exp -4) and 4 x 10(exp -3) solar mass, depending on conditions in the hot gas. The large mass of the shell, in combination with the high metallicity found in this nova, supports the idea that novae may be an important contributor to the chemical enrichment of the interstellar medium.
Toward an Understanding of the Correlates of Protective Immunity to HIV Infection

Considerable progress has been made recently in understanding the genetic, immunologic, and virologic factors in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals who either rapidly progress or do not progress to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). In addition, detection of HIV-specific immune responses in HIV-negative individuals who have been exposed to the virus multiple times suggests that natural immune responses to HIV may be protective in rare individuals. Understanding the correlates of protective immunity to HIV infection is critical to efforts to develop preventive HIV vaccines as well as to determine the feasibility of treating HIV infection by boosting immunity to HIV.
Thinking About Wall Drawings: Four Notes on Sol LeWitt

Sol LeWitt's first wall drawings, done in the autumn of 1968, follow by one year the publication of his seminal theoretical text, ‘Paragraphs on Conceptual Art’. The early wall drawings are complet...
Understanding the Dissemination of Sacral Neuromodulation

Objectives. To assess trends in the use of sacral neuromodulation and to measure the magnitude of variation in its use across geographic regions. Methods. We used the State Ambulatory Surgery Database (SASD) from 2002 to 2009 from Florida to identify patients implanted with a neuromodulator. Age- and gender-adjusted rates of implantation were calculated by year and by geographic region, defined by the Hospital Service Area. The coefficient of variation was estimated to quantify the magnitude of variation for different time periods. Results. Adjusted rates of sacral neuromodulation increased significantly from 1.1 per 100 000 population in 2002 to 10.4 per 100 000 population in 2009. The majority of cases were performed for overactive bladder. There was a very large amount of geographic variation in rates of these procedures as evidenced by the high coefficients of variation: 1.67 (2002 and 2003), 1.70 (2004 and 2005), 1.49 (2006 and 2007), and 1.05 (2008 and 2009). Conclusions. Rates of sacral neuromodula...
Syntheses of “oxidized” hemopyrrole and kryptopyrrole: Porphyric monopyrroles

Straightforward, short synthetic procedures have been developed to produce gram quantities of 4,5-dimethyl-3-ethyl-5-hydroxy-3-pyrrolin-2-one (1) and 3,5-dimethyl-4-ethyl-5-hydroxy-3-pyrrolin-2-one (2), which are, respectively, the oxidized hemopyrrole and kryptopyrrole factors associated with psychiatric and prophyric disorders.
Net immigration of gainful workers into the United States, 1870-1930.

This paper presents a socioeconomic occupational grouping of the foreign-born gainful workers of the United States at each census from 1870 through 1930. This series is then used to estimate the net immigration of gainful workers into the United States during each of the six decades from 1870 to 1930 cross classified by occupational group and sex. The following three conclusions are then drawn from the above two series.
Regional distribution of cholinergic parameters within the rat striatum.

Abstract The topographical distribution of choline acetyltransferase, muscarinic receptor binding and high affinity choline uptake was studied in 21 separate areas of the rat striatum. The areas of the nucleus chosen represented dorsolateral, dorsomedial, ventrolateral and ventromedial regions along the rostrocaudal aspect of the striatum, such that a three-dimensional distribution of the cholinergic parameters could be obtained. Within any given rostrocaudal section, no significant dorsoventral differences were noted for any of the cholinergic parameters. On the other hand, marked differences were found in a comparison of the medial and lateral striatum. Choline acetyltransferase, muscarinic receptor binding and high affinity choline uptake were more concentrated in the lateral striatum than the medial striatum, and the magnitude of this medio-lateral disparity increased from rostral to caudal regions of the nucleus. The lateral striatum exhibited no significant rostrocaudal variations in the cholinergic parameters; however, the medial portion of the striatum did exhibit differences along its rostrocaudal extent, with the rostral-most sections being enriched relative to the more caudal sections. These results suggest that the cholinergic system in the striatum is heterogeneously distributed within this nucleus, with the lateral portion possessing a greater cholinergic innervation than the medial portion. They further suggest that future neurochemical studies of cholinergic alterations in the striatum should include a consideration of the possibility of regional effects within the nucleus rather than treating the striatum as a homogeneous tissue.