cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Depression of cholesterol levels in human plasma following ethylenediamine tetracetate and hydralazine

Abstract Twenty-two patients received from 3 to 27 Gm. of intravenous EDTA. Six times after an average total dose of 18 Gm., and without change in other metal binding drugs, the total fasting plasma cholesterol fell an average of 75 mg. per 100 ml. of plasma. Initially low values were altered less. The average depression in 112 unselected hypertensive patients was 29 mg. following oral hydralazine therapy; however, among the 66 with high control levels the fall was 48.2 mg. in the first six months, and thereafter 43.5 mg. per 100 ml. of plasma. In 10 hypertensive patients who received an average of 13 Gm. of EDTA the blood pressure decreased an equivocal 108mm. Hg, although for 6 who took autonomic-blocking agents there was a simultaneous reduction of 34 per cent in the requirement for that drug. Of 9 patients who received single doses of 4 Gm. or more of EDTA, 8 quickly developed fever, and in 2 who received large total doses in relation to their body weight, mucocutaneous lesions were observed.
The role of active-site residues in naphthalene dioxygenase

The three-component naphthalene dioxygenase enzyme system catalyzes the first step in the degradation of naphthalene by Pseudomonas sp. strain NCIB 9816-4. A member of a large family of bacterial Rieske non-heme iron oxygenases, naphthalene dioxygenase is known to oxidize over 60 different aromatic compounds, and many of the products are enantiomerically pure. The crystal structure of the oxygenase component revealed the enzyme to be an α3β3 hexamer and identified the amino acids located near the active site. Site-directed mutagenesis studies have identified the residues involved in electron transfer and those responsible for controlling the regioselectivity and enantioselectivity of the enzyme. The results of these studies suggest that naphthalene dioxygenase can be engineered to catalyze a new and extended range of useful reactions.
Novel alkoxy-oxazolyl-tetrahydropyridine muscarinic cholinergic receptor antagonists.

The purpose of the present studies was to compare a novel series of alkoxy-oxazolyl-tetrahydropyridines (A-OXTPs) as muscarinic receptor antagonists. The affinity of these compounds for muscarinic receptors was determined by inhibition of [3H]pirenzepine to M1 receptors in hippocampus, [3H]QNB to M2 receptors in brainstem, and [3H]oxotremorine-M to high affinity muscarinic agonist binding sites in cortex. All of the compounds had higher affinity for [3H]pirenzepine than for [3H]QNB or [3H]oxotremorine-M labeled receptors, consistent with an interpretation that they are relatively selective M1 receptor antagonists, although none were as selective as pirenzepine. In addition, dose-response curves were determined for antagonism of oxotremorine-induced salivation (mediated by M3 receptors) and tremor (mediated by non-M1 receptors) in mice. In general, the A-OXTPs were equipotent and equieffective in antagonizing both salivation and tremor, although there were modest differences for some compounds. Dose-response curves also were determined on behavior maintained under a spatial-alternation schedule of food presentation in rats as a measure of effects on working memory. The A-OXTPs produced dose-related decreases in percent correct responding at doses three- to ten-fold lower than those which decreased rates of responding. However, only one compound, MB-OXTP, produced effects on percent correct responding consistent with a selective effect on memory as opposed to non-memory variables. The present results provide evidence that these alkoxy-oxazolyltetrahydropyridines are a novel series of modestly M1-selective muscarinic receptor antagonists, and that one member of the series, MB-OXTP, appears to be more selective in its effects on memory than previously studied muscarinic antagonists.
Neighborhood Characteristics, Child Maltreatment, and Child Injuries

The study reported here aimed to advance research methods by demonstrating the utility of observational rating scale to measure neighborhood physical and social characteristics. In a related vein, the study clearly points to the need for additional, focused research on neighborhood effects on child safety. The need to identify or develop the best possible indicators of child well-being, especially at small areas of geography is one of the more pressing challenges for indicators research.
The Limping Child

Limping is a symptom of varied diagnoses in children and adolescents and can present a difficult diagnostic challenge for primary care clinicians. A careful and systematic evaluation can shorten the long list of potential diagnoses to direct appropriate diagnostic tests to determine the cause of the problem. Trauma and infections are the most common causes of limping. Inflammatory conditions, developmental diagnoses,and overuse injuries are other causes. Although rare, malignancies such as osteosarcoma and blood cell cancers must also be considered as potential causes of limping in children and adolescents.• Limping presents a diagnostic challenge due to the number of possible causes.• On the basis of consensus, diagnostic laboratory tests that include complete blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate,C-reactive protein, and blood cultures should be ordered if suspicion is high for infectious etiology.• On the basis of consensus, orthopedic emergencies are vascular compromise, compartment syndrome, and open fractures.• On the basis of moderate evidence and consensus, compartment syndrome in children presents with the three "As" analgesia,anxiety, and agitation. (4)• On the basis of strong evidence and consensus, septic arthritis asa diagnosis increases with the number of Kocher criteria present(temperature >38.5°C, white blood cell count >12,000/mL[12109/L], erythrocyte sedimentation rate >40 mm/h, and inability to bear weight). (8)• On the basis of moderate evidence and consensus, laboratory studies are not always definitive for diagnosis of juvenile idiopathic arthritis. (13)• On the basis of consensus, it is always important to examine the joint above and the joint below the area of the chief compliant,specifically when looking at slipped capital femoral epiphysis and Legg-Calve-Perthes disease.
Secretory patterns of growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-I during peripubertal period in intact and castrate male cattle.

Fifteen Angus bulls and 15 Angus steers 9 months of age and 275 kg of body weight were bled at 20-min intervals over a 6-hr period and serum GH and IGF-I concentrations were measured by RIA. There were no differences between bulls and steers in the mean GH concentration, pulse frequency and amplitude when analyzed by the computer program PULSAR. Mean IGF-I concentration was not different between the two sex phenotypes, nor was there a significant correlation between the integrated IGF-I and GH concentrations. Subsequently, five bulls and five steers were selected from the 30 animals, full-fed a diet for growth in individual pens for 3 months and bled at 15-min intervals over a 24-hr period. Bulls tended to show a greater weight gain and feed conversion efficiency (P less than .10) than steers during the 3-month period. Serum GH concentrations had a pulsatile pattern in all animals with no apparent diurnal rhythm during the 24-hr bleeding. Although mean GH concentration was not different between the two sex phenotypes, bulls tended to have lower baseline levels (P less than .10) and greater peak amplitudes than steers. Serum IGF-I concentrations fluctuated within a two-fold concentration range, with no obvious pulsatility similar to that of GH. Mean IGF-I concentrations of each of the 10 animals were correlated with mean peak GH amplitudes (r = .79), but not with mean GH. These results suggest that gonadal hormone(s) modulates the GH secretory pattern and increases IGF-I secretion which may be related to the greater growth rate of bulls compared with steers.
Planning the Peace and Enforcing the Surrender: Deterrence in the Allied Occupations of Germany and Japan

Much is known about the efforts of the United States to democratize, reconstruct, and deliver humanitarian aid to Germany and Japan after their defeat in World War II. Much less is known about the willingness of the United States to use coercive tactics to deter and counter resistance to its military occupation of the two countries. Many of the scholars and politicians who consider the occupations of Germany and Japan to be models for success, largely because of their peaceful outcomes, often overlook the initial period of occupation, in which latent violence figured prominently. An understanding of this early period, however, is crucial to assessing the determinants of peace.
1. The role of governments and international agencies in conservation and rural development

Summary The role of intergovernmental and nongovernmental international agencies in conservation and rural development is contrasted with the role of governments. The inseparable relationship between conservation and development provides the only basis for the long-term success of either activity. Governments are advised to pay attention to the concept of ecodevelopment, in which provision is made for meeting basic needs, and achieving self-reliance within a context of ecological sustainability.
Ionic Hydrogen-Bond Networks and Ion Solvation. 1. An Efficient Monte Carlo/Quantum Mechanical Method for Structural Search and Energy Computations: Ammonium/Water

Hydrogen-bond networks about solvated ions can form many alternative structures, requiring extensive conformational searches with accurate but affordable energy computation. For this purpose we are combining Monte Carlo searches with a computationally efficient density-functional-based tight-binding (DFTB+) method. The approach is tested for the stepwise hydration energies of the ammonium ion in NH4+(H2O)n clusters (n = 1−8), for which experimental data are available. For each cluster size n, we perform Monte Carlo searches, where for each conformation we calculate the minimized energy using the DFTB+ method (and, for comparison, using MM3 or OPLS-AA force field). The Monte Carlo/DFTB+ search identifies the lowest energy structure that can be reoptimized with other quantum mechanical methods (here with HF, B3LYP, B3PW91, MP2, DFT, and CBS-Q, CBS-QB3, and CBS-APNO methods). Calculated geometries and charge densities for the clusters are also presented. The results show that the binding energies calculated ...
Adenylate cylase activity and motor behavior following cerebral ischemia in the unanesthetized gerbil

Abstract Five minutes of bilateral carotid occlusion in unanesthetized gerbils produced substantial changes in spontaneous locomotor activity. Behavior was decreased after 1 hr of reperfusion and was increased at 24 hrs post-ischemia. Adenylate cyclase activity was measured in homegenates of frontal cortex and hippocampus at 90 min and 24 hrs following 5 min of cerebral ischemia. Enzyme activity was determined in the absence and presence of the activators guanosine-5'-triphosphate (GTP), guanyly-5'-imidodiphosphate (GppNHp), isoproterenol (Iso) plus GTP, and forskolin (Fors) plus GTP. Homogenates responded with expected increases over basal adenylate cyclase activity with addition of all activators. An additional small increase in isoproterenol-stimulated activity was observed in frontal cortex homogenates at 90 min post-ischemia. No other significant changes in adenylate cyclase activity were observed after either 90 min or 24 hrs of reperfusion. The substantial increases in locomotor activity evident at 24 hrs after transient ischemia are not associated with measurable changes in adenylate cyclase activity in homogenates of frontal cortex or hippocampus.
Product distribution and reaction pathways for methylene chloride hydrolysis and oxidation under hydrothermal conditions

Abstract The product spectrum, yields, and distribution resulting from hydrolysis of methylene chloride in sub- and supercritical water and post-hydrolysis oxidation in supercritical water have been measured and analyzed to identify and prioritize likely reaction pathways of formation and destruction and their relative importance for all species observed. Reactions with dilute feeds were carried out at 246 bar in a tubular reactor system over temperatures ranging from 25 to 600°C and total residence times of 7 to 23 s. The products detected were formaldehyde, hydrochloric acid, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, methanol, and carbon dioxide, with trace amounts of methane, chloromethane, and other one- and two-carbon chlorinated hydrocarbons in the vapor phase. A complete reaction network for CH 2 Cl 2 and its products under hydrolysis conditions was developed. The main route for CH 2 Cl 2 breakdown was via subcritical hydrolysis to formaldehyde and HCl, followed by decomposition of formaldehyde to CO and H 2 , and subsequent CO conversion to CO 2 and H 2 by the water gas shift reaction. In the presence of O 2 , oxidation of HCHO, CO, H 2 , and CH 3 OH was significant, while CH 2 Cl 2 and the chlorinated hydrocarbons exhibited no oxidation conversion below 550°C. By 600°C and a 6 s residence time under oxidation conditions, however, CO 2 and HCl were the only products observed, signifying complete destruction of all compounds (>99.99% of total carbon) under these conditions.
Subfilter-Scale Modelling Using Transport Equations: Large-Eddy Simulation of the Moderately Convective Atmospheric Boundary Layer

We perform large-eddy simulation (LES) of a moderately convective atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) using a prognostic subfilter-scale (SFS) model obtained by truncating the full conservation equations for the SFS stresses and fluxes. The truncated conservation equations contain production mechanisms that are absent in eddy-diffusivity closures and, thus, have the potential to better parametrize the SFS stresses and fluxes. To study the performance of the conservation-equation-based SFS closure, we compare LES results from the surface layer with observations from the Horizontal Array Turbulence Study (HATS) experiment. For comparison, we also show LES results obtained using an eddy-diffusivity closure. Following past studies, we plot various statistics versus the non-dimensional parameter, Λ w /Δ, where Λ w is the wavelength corresponding to the peak in the vertical velocity spectrum and Δ is the filter width. The LES runs are designed using different domain sizes, filter widths and surface fluxes, in order to replicate partly the conditions in the HATS experiment. Our results show that statistics from the different LES runs collapse reasonably and exhibit clear trends when plotted against Λ w /Δ. The trends exhibited by the production terms in the modelled SFS conservation equations are qualitatively similar to those seen in the HATS data with the exception of SFS buoyant production, which is underpredicted. The dominant production terms in the modelled SFS stress and flux budgets obtained from LES are found to approach asymptotically constant values at low Λ w /Δ. For the SFS stress budgets, we show that several of these asymptotes are in good agreement with their corresponding theoretical values in the limit Λ w /Δ → 0. The modelled SFS conservation equations yield trends in the mean values and fluctuations of the SFS stresses and fluxes that agree better with the HATS data than do those obtained using an eddy-diffusivity closure. They, however, underpredict considerably the level of SFS anisotropy near the wall when compared to observations, which could be a consequence of the shortcomings in the model used for the pressure destruction terms. Finally, we address the computational cost incurred due to the use of additional prognostic equations.
Natural Gas Production From Coal Seams

The estimated 4 trillion tons of coal which lie buried beneath the U.S. at depths of less than 3,000 ft are thought to contain nearly 300 tcf of pipeline-quality natural gas. The mechanism by which this gas is released is believed to result from the diffusion of adsorbed gas through the microporous bulk matrix into the natural fractures where mass transport is governed by the principles of Darcy flow. This 2-step process may ultimately be controlled by conditions of critical flow, choked flow, in the micropores adjacent to the fractures. Several techniques have been developed to determine the gas content of a coal seam based primarily on the analysis of exploratory cores. Such methods generally yield quite different results when applied to the same core sample. A new technique which relies upon the analysis of decline curves constructed from gas desorption data obtained from a core, appears to give the most reliable results, and indirectly indicates that the Darcy flow mechanism controls the desorption process. (29 refs.)
Surface-Derivatized Nanoceria with Human Carbonic Anhydrase II Inhibitors and Fluorophores: A Potential Drug Delivery Device

Human carbonic anhydrase (hCAII) is a metalloenzyme that catalyzes the reversible hydration of carbon dioxide to bicarbonate and is associated with glaucoma (a major cause of blindness). The present study focuses on the use of cerium oxide nanoparticles (nanoceria) as a potential delivery device for hCAII inhibitors. Carboxybenzenesulfonamide, an inhibitor of the hCAII enzyme, was attached to nanoceria particles using epichlorohydrin as an intermediate linkage. Along with the CA inhibitor, a fluorophore (carboxyfluorescein) was also attached on the nanoparticles to enable the tracking of the nanoparticles in vitro as well as in vivo. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic studies carried out at each reaction step confirmed the successful derivatization of the nanoceria particles. The attachment of carboxyfluorescein was also confirmed by confocal fluorescence microscopy. Preliminary studies suggest that carboxybenzenesulfonamide-functionalized nanoceria retains its inhibitory potency for hCAII.
They’ll be dammed: the sustainability implications of the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) in Malaysia

This article examines the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy in Malaysia, or SCORE, a US $105 billion infrastructure development plan in Sarawak on the island of Borneo, from a sustainability standpoint. SCORE aims to build 20,000 megawatts of hydroelectric dams along a 320 km corridor comprising more than 70,000 km2 by 2030. The article begins by explaining social science methods utilized for its research interviews and site visits. It then argues that sustainability consists of seven principles articulated in international law: prudence, equity, responsibility, precaution, justice, governance, and compatibility. Next, the paper introduces readers to SCORE before assessing it according to these seven sustainability criteria. The paper finds that SCORE erodes environmental prudence by emitting millions of tons of carbon dioxide and feeding industries that will pollute the land and water. It worsens intergenerational equity by exacerbating poverty and consolidating wealth for corporations and politicians. It degrades responsibility by intensifying tropical deforestation and flaunts precaution by downplaying and ignoring risks to water quality and availability. It is unjust, imposing dams on communities and forcibly relocating thousands of indigenous people, mitigates good governance by condoning bribes and kickbacks along with the violent suppression of dissent, and is incompatible with Malaysia’s own energy policy targets and international standards.
The Molecular Biology of Memory Storage: A Dialog Between Genes and Synapses

The biology of learning, and short-term and long-term memory, as revealed by Aplysia and other organisms, is reviewed.
Diversity techniques for spectrum sensing in fading environments

A key feature of a cognitive radio (CR) is a reliable spectrum sensing technique which enables the CR to detect the so-called white spaces in the frequency band. This allows opportunistic access of the unlicensed (secondary) users to these white spaces without causing undue interference to licensed (primary) users. In many scenarios the CR may operate in a multipath fading environment where spectrum sensing must cope with the fading effects of the unknown primary signal. In this paper we first study the effects of multipath fading of the performance of the autocorrelation-based spectrum sensing algorithm. The results show that Rayleigh fading causes significant degradation in the detection and false alarm. This motivates us to investigate three diversity combining techniques, namely equal gain combining, selective combining, and equal gain correlation combining. For Rayleigh fading channels we evaluate the performance of these three techniques through simulation. The results show that for detection probabilities of interest (e.g., > .9), a system with a four-branch diversity achieves an SNR gain of more than 5 dB over the no-diversity system that uses the same number of received signal samples.
Imaging shoulder impingement

Appropriate imaging and clinical examinations may lead to early diagnosis and treatment of the shoulder impingement syndrome, thus preventing progression to a complete tear of the rotator cuff. In this article, we discuss the anatomic and pathophysiologic bases of the syndrome, and the rationale for certain imaging tests to evaluate it. Special radiographic projections to show the supraspinatus outlet and inferior surface of the anterior third of the acromion, combined with magnetic resonance images, usually provide the most useful information regarding the causes of impingement.
Outlier rejection by oriented tracks to aid pose estimation from video

This paper introduces a method for rejecting the false matches of points between successive views in a video sequence used to perform Pose from Motion for a mobile sensing platform. Typical methods for pose estimation require point correspondences to estimate the epipolar geometry between the two views. Algorithms for determining these correspondences invariably output false matches along with the good. We present an algorithm for identifying and removing these mismatches for scenes generated by a mobile scanning platform. The algorithm utilizes the motion characteristics of a rear-wheel drive sensing platform to identify correct point matches through their common motion trajectories. Our algorithm works in cases where the percentage of false matches may be as high as 80%, providing a set of correspondences whose correct/incorrect match ratio is higher than the mutual best match approach found in the literature. This algorithm is intended as a post-processing step for any point correspondence algorithm and its output can be used in standard pose estimation algorithms to enhance their speed and accuracy. Experimental results show the computational savings of our approach over the mutual best match method, resulting in comparable or better outlier rejection-increasing the true/false match ratio by 2-3 times-in only a fraction of the time.
Adult canine myocytes: isolation, morphology and biochemical characteristics.

Abstract A procedure is described for the routine and reproducible preparation of single myocytes from left ventricular tissue of the adult dog. Tissue dissociation was accomplished by repeated incubations of minced ventricle with a mixture of 0.05% trypsin and 0.05% collagenase. Studies by light microscopy and by transmission and scanning electron microscopy indicated that myocytes were cleanly separated at their lateral borders and at the intercalated discs. The intercalated discs retained structural characteristics observed in undissociated tissue and gave the appearance of hemidesmosomes. Approximately 60 to 90% of the cells were typical spindle-shaped myocytes and, of these, up to 80% initially exhibited contractile activity. However, since the cells do not depolarize spontaneously, contractile activity decreased within 1 h, and the myocytes remain quiescent unless stimulated by additions of Ca 2+ , ouabain or epinephrine. The specific activities of Mg 2+ -inhibited ATPase, creatine phosphokinase, hexokinase and isocitrate dehydrogenase in isolated myocytes were comparable to the levels in undissociated ventricular tissue. However, the level of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, which is low in intact tissue, was not measurable in myocytes. Canine myocytes metabolized glucose with kinetics for uptake and oxidation comparable to that obtained by intact organ perfusion. Furthermore, glucose oxidation was doubled when cells were incubated in the presence of insulin. Fatty acid oxidation was linear following an initial lag phase, and this was insensitive to extracellular carnitine. Canine myocytes demonstrated the ability to oxidize to extracellular leucine and linearly incorporated the amino acid into trichloroacetic acid-precipitable protein.
Self-constructing wavelet neural network algorithm for nonlinear control of large structures

An adaptive control algorithm is presented for nonlinear vibration control of large structures subjected to dynamic loading. It is based on integration of a self-constructing wavelet neural network (SCWNN) developed specifically for structural system identification with an adaptive fuzzy sliding mode control approach. The algorithm is particularly suitable when the physical properties such as the stiffnesses and damping ratios of the structural system are unknown or partially known which is the case when a structure is subjected to an extreme dynamic event such as an earthquake as the structural properties change during the event. SCWNN is developed for functional approximation of the nonlinear behavior of large structures using neural networks and wavelets. In contrast to earlier work, the identification and control are processed simultaneously which makes the resulting adaptive control more applicable to real life situations. A two-part growing and pruning criterion is developed to construct the hidden layer in the neural network automatically. A fuzzy compensation controller is developed to reduce the chattering phenomenon. The robustness of the proposed algorithm is achieved by deriving a set of adaptive laws for determining the unknown parameters of wavelet neural networks using two Lyapunov functions. No offline training of neural network is necessary for the system identification process. In addition, the earthquake signals are considered as unidentified. This is particularly important for on-line vibration control of large civil structures since the external dynamic loading due to earthquake is not available in advance. The model is applied to vibration control of a continuous cast-in-place prestressed concrete box-girder bridge benchmark problem seismically excited highway.
The Effect of Vitamin and Antibiotic Injections on Early Turkey Poult Growth and Mortality

Abstract Poor growth and high mortality were observed in Broad White poults during 0–10 days of age. In an attempt to ascertain the cause of the problem, various parenteral vitamin and antibiotic treatments were studied. Findings are reported herein. The poults were housed in standard starting batteries and supplied feed and water ad libitum. Rations, including that fed the poult’s dams, are listed in Table 1. Treatment details are given in Table 2 footnotes. In experiment 1, the poults receiving a complete B vitamin mixture by injection showed significantly improved growth but no decrease in the high mortality level. Poults given supplemental whole milk showed significantly higher viability, although growth remained unchanged. In experiments 2 and 3, poults injected with erythromycin or a B vitamin mixture gained at a more rapid rate than did their respective controls. Experiment 4 shows that in each case where folic acid was injected either…
Effect of extracellular magnesium on topoisomerase II activity and expression in human leukemia HL-60 cells

Topoisomerase II (TopoII) is a Mg-dependent enzyme involved in topological modifications of DNA that are crucial to the regulation of cell proliferation and possibly differentiation. To investigate the role of Mg availability in the modulation of TopoII in whole cells, we studied enzyme activity and expression in HL-60 cells grown in the presence of decreasing amounts of extracellular Mg (0.5, 0.03, and 0.01 mM MgSO4). In comparison to cells grown in 0.5 mM Mg, cells grown in 0.03 mM Mg exhibited a decrease in TopoII activity, as evidenced by reduced induction of DNA/TopoII cleavable complexes and apoptosis by etoposide and teniposide. Enzyme activity was restored by the readdition of Mg (0.5 and 1.5 mM) in the incubation medium, confirming that this effect was indeed modulated by extracellular Mg. Restriction of Mg to 0.01 mM was associated with a dramatic decrease in TopoII activity resembling that observed in HL-60 cells differentiated by dimethyl sulfoxide treatment. The restriction of Mg, while decreasing enzyme activity, was found to upregulate TopoII protein expression, determined by Western blot analysis. The increase of TopoII protein levels was correlative with the degree of Mg deprivation. Collectively, these results indicate that extracellular levels of Mg may control availability of intracellular Mg, thus affecting the regulation of TopoII activity/expression and downstream processes of cell proliferation and/or differentiation. J. Cell. Biochem. 78:325–333, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Nosocomial spread of an amikacin resistance gene on both a mobilized, nonconjugative plasmid and a conjugative plasmid.

Resistance to amikacin among members of the family Enterobacteriaceae at a hospital in Venezuela rose from 2% in 1979 to 5% in 1984 and 10% in 1985 as amikacin usage rose 20-fold to exceed gentamicin usage. Resistance to gentamicin remained at 25 to 27%. We examined the plasmids from 21 isolates obtained in 1984 and 1985. Nine of eleven in 1984 and three of ten in 1985 carried aacA and sul on a 3.8-kb BamHI fragment of pBWH300, a 10.4-kb nonconjugative plasmid that had been mobilized into strains of six species by at least two different coresident conjugative plasmids. Six 1985 isolates of two species carried these genes on a similar BamHI fragment of the 104-kb conjugative plasmid pBWH303. One isolate in 1984 and one in 1985 carried the 69-kb conjugative plasmid pBWH301, which had aacA as the promoter-proximal gene of an operon that also encompassed the cat and aadB resistance genes. Another conjugative plasmid, pBWH302, was found in a single isolate. It carried a different aacA allele on the functional transposon Tn654, which appeared to be closely related to Tn1331, a transposon previously isolated in Argentina and Chile. Increased selection may thus have led to dissemination of an endemic aacA allele on two endemic plasmids, one spread by mobilization, with occasional intrusion of additional aacA alleles from outside. Images
Deformation processes in polycrystalline Zr by molecular dynamics simulations

Abstract Molecular dynamics simulation is used to characterize the deformation behavior of polycrystalline Zr. The predictions of two different potentials, an embedded atom method potential and a charge optimized many body potential are compared. The experimentally observed prismatic dislocations, pyramidal dislocations and twinning behaviors are produced in the simulations of [ 1 1 2 ¯ 0 ] and [0 0 0 1] textured structures and in fully 3D structure simulations. The relationship between the generalized stacking fault energy and the mechanical properties is discussed. In particular we find that the different shapes of the generalized stacking-fault energy curve for the two different interatomic descriptions of Zr have a significant effect on the deformation mechanisms. The deformation behavior of Zr is compared with analogous simulations of deformation of polycrystalline Mg.
Thermal desorption mass spectrometry of oxygen chemisorbed on thermally etched and polycrystalline silver filaments

Abstract Thermal desorption spectra for oxygen chemisorbed on thermally etched and polycrystalline silver filaments have been obtained using a modified flash filament technique with mass analysis in an ultrahigh vacuum system. Cleaning and adsorption cycles were carried out at partial pressures −6 Torr while desorption measurements were obtained in a total pressure environment −9 Torr. The spectra from the two dissimilar surface structures differ primarily in the number of desorbing phases. For thermally etched silver, a single phase desorbs after exposures to 500–11000 Langmuirs of oxygen at adsorption temperatures of 375–510 °K. The adsorption is activated and the activation energy, E d , for the second order desorption reaction is estimated to be 34 kcal/mole. For polycrystalline silver, two phases desorb after exposures to 500–6000 Langmuirs of oxygen at temperatures of 300–535 °K. The doublet desorption spectra result from a nonactivated adsorbed phase with E d of ca. 27 kcal/mole and an activated adsorbed phase, with E d of ca. 37 kcal/mole. The desorption for both phases from polycrystalline silver is second order in concentration.
ONTOGENY OF PROLACTIN RECEPTORS IN FETAL RAT LUNG

Prolactin (PRL) is a polypeptide hormone found in high concentration in the fetus. Serum PRL levels are low in infants with respiratory distress syndrome and some studies have proposed a direct role for PRL in fetal lung maturation and surfactant production. PRL, being a peptide hormone, has to bind to cell surface receptors on the target organ before initiating a physiological action. Hence the ontogeny of PRL binding in fetal rat lungs from 18 through 22 days gestation was studied. Fetal lungs from timed (±12 hours) Sprague-Dawley pregnant rats were removed and immediately frozen on dry ice. Fetal lungs from one to three litters were pooled for each membrane preparation. PRL binding to the fetal lung membranes was determined, in duplicate, by incubating the membranes (0.3-0.8mg protein; overnight at room temperature) in the presence of [125I] Iodo-hGH (100×103cpm; 1.0 ng) with (non-specific binding) or without (total binding) a 2000 fold excess of non-radioactive ovine PRL. All data are reported as counts per minute (cpm) of hormone specifically bound (total binding minus non-specific binding). Specific PRL binding in fetal lungs is high at 18 days gestation and there is a significant decline in hormone binding as gestation nears term (r=0.774; p<0.0001). (This study was supported by BRSG RR5360).
Analytics of the institutions of informal cooperation in rural development

Abstract Local community-level water management is crucial for rural development in the poorest parts of the world, in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Local cooperative institutions have been successful in water management in some cases, but there are numerous cases of failure. The paper draws upon the relevant lessons from the theoretical literature on cooperation in game theory, both in economics and evolutionary biology. Then it goes into the evidence from field studies by anthropologists and others on the conditions for success or failure of local cooperation. This points to some additional insights which the theoretical models are yet too constricted to incorporate.
A tale of two STAT6 knock out mice in the induction of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

Abstract T helper 2 (Th2) cytokines are known to be important in protection against experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). To investigate the role of the signal transducer and activator of transcription factor 6 (STAT6) in EAE we used mice with two different targeted disruptions of the STAT6 gene. In this report, we show that mice with a targeted deletion of the first coding exon of the SH2 domain of STAT6 induce Th2 cell differentiation and are resistant to EAE induction. By contrast, STAT6 −/− mice generated by deletion of amino acids 505 to 584 encoding the SH2 domain of STAT6 are defective in Th2 cell differentiation and develop very severe EAE. These results suggest that an altered STAT6 gene can be more efficient than wild type STAT6 in regulating the autoimmune response in EAE.
Hurricane-associated ebb-tidal delta sediment dynamics

Bathymetric surveys conducted before and after the 2005 hurricane season at Little Pass Timbalier in the Mississippi River delta plain, United States, demonstrate that 9.1 (±2.4) × 10 6 m 3 of sediment was eroded from a 47.9 km 2 area. Between the two surveys, Hurricanes Cindy, Katrina, and Rita passed within 300 km of the tidal inlet. Comparison of before and after bathymetric data sets shows that the distal portion of the ebb-tidal delta (ETD) was the site of 63% of the total erosion, locally resulting in 400 m of shoreface retreat. Shoaling (0.75–1.0 m) in the seawardmost portion of the ebb channel and erosion in the landward portion (~1.5 m) resulted in a 160 m landward shift of the inlet throat. Collectively, these processes forced the landward migration of the entire tidal inlet and ETD system. There has been considerable discussion about large volumes of mineral sediment deposited on the Mississippi River delta plain interior marsh surface as a result of hurricanes; however, the origin of this sediment is unknown. We identify the distal portion of an ETD as one possible sediment source and hypothesize that ETD and shoreface sediment is mobilized by hurricane waves and transported landward by surge-induced currents. Our results emphasize the role of frequent and intense hurricanes in long-term coastal evolution and as a mechanism for regional sediment retention within the transgressive system beyond typical barrier overwash processes.
Combined direct and indirect reduction of comminuted four-part intraarticular T-type fractures of the distal femur

Five patients with identical severely comminuted four-part intraarticular T-type fractures of the distal femur were treated with a combination of direct reduction of the condylar anatomy and indirect reduction of the metaphyseal fragments using a 95 degree blade plate and femoral distractor. In all patients there was a coronal-axial fracture of the medial condyle anterior to the origin of the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) associated with disruption of the patellofemoral articulation (four-part fracture). There were no associated intraarticular or extraarticular knee ligament injuries with this specific fracture pattern. Following fracture stabilization all knees were stable. Anatomic reduction of the articular surface and restoration of alignment were obtained in every case. Functional results were rated as good to excellent in all patients.
Thoughts on growing a grammar

Grammars take time; they require data development; they must be planned; and their writing may span many years. Linguists should “grow” a grammar through the course of their involvement with the language. This paper gives practical advice about this process, such as the creation and management of a data corpus, the acquisition of useful intellectual tools, the choice of an effective authoring environment, the formation of habits and disciplines that contribute to successful grammar writing.
Model simulations of zeolite supralattices: Semiconductor Si clusters in sodalite

Periodic three-dimensional arrays of uniform nanosize clusters can be synthesized in the cages and channels of open framework materials. The aluminosilicate frameworks of zeolites have wide electronic band gaps. In addition, they are optically transparent, which opens up the possibility of forming new guest electronic states within the gap, similar to the rare-earth doping of garnets and other insulating matrices. Here we investigate theoretically the atomic geometries, energetics and electronic properties of small semiconducting Si clusters encapsulated in the all-silica sodalite \ensuremath{\beta} cages. The \ensuremath{\beta} cage of sodalite is a building block common to the structure of many zeolites. We find that introducing ``native'' semiconductor clusters within the cages of the host materials gives rise to extremely flat molecular electronic bands in the band gap of the host. The band gaps of the cluster can be altered by the silica potential, geometrical alteration of the cluster, and by quantum confinement.
On the Deuterium Abundance on Mars and Some Related Problems

Strong fractionation of deuterium in photolysis of H2O and above the hygropause reduces the production of HD relative to H2 on Mars by a factor of 3.7 total. The model by Y. L. Yung et al. (1988, Icarus76, 146–159) for deuterium fractionation in chemical reactions on Mars corrected for this factor results in (HD/H2)/(HDO/H2O)=0.43. This value may fit the deuterium abundance observed by V. A. Krasnopolsky et al. (1998, Science 280, 1576–1580) if the eddy diffusion coefficient does not depend on solar activity: K=1.4×1013n−1/2 cm2 s−1 (model 2). The Mariner 9 observations show very low variability of atomic oxygen at the 1.2 n bar pressure level (h∼125 km) with solar activity. This requires eddy diffusion to be proportional to the solar activity index F10.7: K=(F10.7 cm/30)×1013n−1/2 cm2 s−1 (model 1). The fractionation factor for escape of hydrogen isotopes is equal to 0.016 and 0.135 for models 1 and 2. These values have been averaged over the solar cycle. The three-reservoir model for hydrogen isotope fractionation suggested by Krasnopolsky et al. (1998) involves a reservoir composed primarily of water ice in the polar caps that isotopically interacts with the atmosphere. Assuming that water ice is half of the total volume of the polar caps and the polar-layered deposits, the total loss of water from Mars is equal to 65 and 120 m for models 1 and 2, respectively. Along with thermal and nonthermal escape, these values may include the loss of water by oxidation of regolith, if the released hydrogen escaped with isotopic fractionation. Although the solar-wind α particles are the main source of He on Mars, capture of the solar-wind H+ and D+ ions by Mars has a negligible effect on the thermospheric abundances of H and D. Improved observations of minor components in Mars' thermosphere may resolve the problem of eddy diffusion at various solar activity and choosing between the models.
Dynamic Response of a-InGaZnO and Amorphous Silicon Thin-Film Transistors for Ultra-High Definition Active-Matrix Liquid Crystal Displays

The dynamic response of hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) thin-film transistor (TFT) and amorphous In-Ga-Zn-O (a-IGZO) TFT are compared. We study the storage capacitor $(C_{\rm st})$ charging characteristics by applying gate and data voltage waveforms corresponding to ultra-high definition (UHD) active-matrix liquid crystal displays (AM-LCDs). We show that the charging behavior of the a-Si:H TFT is insufficient for UHD AM-LCDs and that the a-IGZO TFT is capable of supporting at least 8 K $\times$ 4 K display resolution at 480 Hz. The impact of $C_{\rm st}$ and gate voltage falling edge $(t_{\rm FE})$ on feedthrough voltage $(\Delta V_{\rm P})$ is investigated. Because of higher mobility of the a-IGZO TFT, it is possible to reduce $\Delta V_{\rm P}$ by mitigating channel charge redistribution with non-abrupt $t_{\rm FE}$ . The a-IGZO TFT shows no drawbacks in terms of $\Delta V_{\rm P}$ when compared to the a-Si:H TFT. In addition, a larger $C_{\rm st}$ can be used in combination with the a-IGZO TFT to reduce $\Delta V_{\rm P}$ with minimal impact on its charging behavior. Gate overdrive operation is also evaluated for the a-IGZO TFT, which may improve charging characteristics with no adverse effects on $\Delta V_{\rm P}$ . Our results show that the a-IGZO TFT is a suitable technology for UHD high-frame rate AM-LCDs.
An analysis of the sedimentation coefficient distribution of a sample of calf thymus DNA.

For the individual molecules in a particular sample of calf thymus DNA, we find: (1) The Eigner-Doty relation between viscosity and sedimentation coefficients is reasonably well obeyed below 25 s. Therefore, the polydispersity in sedimentation coefficient for these macromolecules is largely or entirely due to a polydispersity in molecular weights. (2) Above 25 s for this sample of calf thymus DNA, the observed viscosities fall below those which would be predicted by the Eigner-Doty curve. Above 42 s, the viscosity actually declines with increasing sedimentation coefficient. The probable explanation for these observations is that there is a change in shape of the more rapidly sedimenting DNA molecules, caused either by denaturation or by protein cross-linkages. We favor the latter possibility.
Seizure resistance without parkinsonism in aged mice after tau reduction

Abstract Tau is an emerging target for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other conditions with epileptiform activity. Genetic tau reduction (in Tau +/− and Tau −/− mice) prevents deficits in AD models and has an excitoprotective effect, increasing resistance to seizures, without causing apparent neuronal dysfunction. However, most studies of tau reduction have been conducted in <1-year-old mice, and the effects of tau reduction in aged mice are less clear. Specifically, whether the excitoprotective effects of tau reduction persist with aging is unknown and whether tau reduction causes neuronal dysfunction, including parkinsonism, with aging is controversial. Here, we performed a comprehensive analysis of 2-year-old Tau +/+ , Tau +/− , and Tau −/− mice. In aged mice, tau reduction still conferred resistance to pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures. Moreover, tau reduction did not cause parkinsonian abnormalities in dopamine levels or motor function and did not cause iron accumulation or impaired cognition, although Tau −/− mice had mild hyperactivity and decreased brain weight. Importantly, the excitoprotective effect in aged Tau +/− mice was not accompanied by detectable abnormalities, indicating that partially reducing tau or blocking its function may be a safe and effective therapeutic approach for AD and other conditions with increased excitability.
Parallel and Distributed Computing across the Computer Science Curriculum

Two recent curriculum studies, the ACM/IEEE Curricula 2013 Report and the NSF/IEEE-TCPP Curriculum Initiative on Parallel and Distributed Computing, argue that every undergraduate computer science program should include topics in parallel and distributed computing (PDC). Although not within the scope of these reports, there is also a need for students in computing related general education courses to be aware of the role that parallel and distributed computing technologies play in the computing landscape. One approach to integrating these topics into existing curricula is to spread them across several courses. However, this approach requires development of multiple instructional modules targeted to introduce PDC concepts at specific points in the curriculum. Such modules need to mesh with the goals of the courses for which they are designed in such a way that minimal material has to be removed from existing topics. At the same time the modules should provide students with an understanding of and experience employing fundamental PDC concepts. In this paper we report on our experience developing and deploying such modules.
Teaching creativity with computers

Some criticize computer use because computers — by their nature mechanistic and algorithmic — support only uncreative thinking and production. However, adults increasingly view computers as valuable tools of creative production. Educational research indicates that there is no single “effect” of the computer on creativity; technology can support either uncreative drill or creative production. Research also provides strong evidence that certain computer environments, such as Logo, word processing, and design tools, hold the potential for the computer's facilitation of creativity. There is equally strong evidence that the curriculum in which computer programs are embedded and the teacher who chooses, uses, and infuses these programs, are essential elements in realizing the full potential of technology.