cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tracer kinetic evidence for abnormal methyl metabolism in schizophrenia

The original transmethylation hypothesis of schizophrenia has evolved with time and experiment to the present concept that a defect in the methyl-carbon metabolic pathway may be causative in this illness. Various researchers have proposed that specific steps in the methyl-carbon pathway may be defective, and have presented evidence to support these possibilities. We have tested the general concept of the hypothesis by administering methionine labeled with 11C or 14C in the S-methyl carbon to patients with schizophrenia and to controls and measured the expiration of 11CO2 and 14CO2. We found that the rate and total expiration of labeled CO2 were three times less in the patients than in the controls, with no overlap of data points in the two groups. Specific steps in the methylcarbon pathway that might be defective and produce the results seen here are discussed in light of this and other researchers' findings.
Critique: Auditory form and gestural topology in the perception of speech

Some influential accounts of speech perception have asserted that the goal of perception is to recover the articulatory gestures that create the acoustic signal, while others have proposed that speech perception proceeds by a method of acoustic categorization of signal elements. These accounts have been frustrated by difficulties in identifying a set of primitive articulatory constituents underlying speech production, and a set of primitive acoustic‐auditory elements underlying speech perception. An argument by Lindblom favors an account of production and perception based on the auditory form of speech and its cognitive elaboration, rejecting the aim of defining a set of articulatory primitives by appealing to theoretical principle, while recognizing the empirical difficulty of identifying a set of acoustic or auditory primitives. An examination of this thesis found opportunities to defend some of its conclusions with independent evidence, but favors a characterization of the constituents of speech perception as linguistic rather than as articulatory or acoustic.
An Acoustic Profile of Normal Swallowing

Cervical auscultation has been proposed as a technique to augment the clinical evaluation of dysphagia to improve its accuracy in the diagnosis of dysphagia. Before using cervical auscultation to reliably diagnose disordered swallowing, it is necessary to first acoustically characterize normal swallowing for comparison with dysphagic swallowing. Ninety-seven healthy adult participants consumed teaspoon boluses of various consistencies while the sounds of swallowing were recorded. Descriptive statistics were reported for measures of duration, intensity, and frequency of the acoustic swallowing signal. Correlations between the variables and between bolus consistencies were computed. Overall, results compared favorably with previous research. Significant correlations were found among several of the variables, including an increasing duration of the acoustic swallowing signal with increasing age and decreasing intensity of the signal with increasing age. None of the variables differed significantly as a function of gender. Of potential clinical relevance, significant correlations between bolus consistencies for the duration and intensity variables indicated relative similarities across bolus consistencies. Duration and intensity of the acoustic signal appeared to be the most reliable of the variables measured. These results could serve as a reference point for future studies into normal swallowing across multiple bolus consistencies and volumes and eventually be compared with disordered swallowing.
Large-scale simulations of brittle and ductile failure in fcc crystals

Abstract We are simulating the failure of three-dimensional notched fcc solids under mode one tension using molecular dynamics, simple interatomic potentials and system of tens of millions of atoms. We have discovered that crystal orientation with respect to the uniaxial loading is important; the solid fails by brittle cleavage for a notch with (1 1 0) faces and by ductile plasticity for a notch with (1 1 1) faces or (1 0 0) faces. We argue that the competition between bond-breaking and interplanar slippage is governed by the nonlinearity and anisotropy of the crystal elasticity near materials failure. If the speed of the (1 1 0) brittle crack velocity reaches approximately one-third of the Rayleigh sound speed, a “brittle-to-ductile” transition occurs and is consistent with the onset of a dynamic instability of brittle fracture. Such an instability was seen in our earlier two-dimensional fracture simulations of rare-gas films and appears to be a general feature of the dynamic brittle fracture process. We close with a simulation showing the consequences of a brittle crack colliding with a void.
Lagois connections: a counterpart to Galois connections

Abstract In this paper we define a Lagois connection, which is a generalization of a special type of Galois connection. We begin by introducing two examples of Lagois connections. We then recall the definition of Galois connection and some of its properties; next we define Lagois connection, establish some of its properties, and compare these with properties of Galois connections; and then we (further) develop examples of Lagois connections. Via these examples it is shown that, as is the case of Galois connections, there is a plethora of Lagois connections. Also it is shown that several fundamental situations in computer science and mathematics that cannot be interpreted in terms of Galois connections naturally fit into the theory of Lagois connections.
Disruption of neuronal CXCR4 function by opioids: Preliminary evidence of Ferritin Heavy Chain as a potential etiological agent in neuroAIDS

The chemokine CXCL12 and its receptor, CXCR4, regulate neuronal migration, differentiation, and survival. Alterations of CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling are implicated in different neuropathologies, including the neurological complications of HIV infection. Opiates are important co-factors for progression to neuroAIDS and can disrupt the CXCL12/CXCR4 axis in vitro and in vivo. This paper will review recently identified mechanisms of opiate-induced CXCR4 impairment in neurons and introduce results from pilot studies in human brain tissue, which highlight the role of the protein ferritin heavy chain in HIV neuropathology in patients with history of drug abuse.
Living systems: Cross-level hypotheses

The preceding article considered salient characteristics of the subsystem and system-wide processes which generally occur at all levels of living systems. Using the concepts developed in that article, the present exposition states 165 hypotheses that may be applicable to two or more levels of living systems. Some are original with the author. Some have previously been proposed by other writers, usually as applying to systems at one level only, and often to only one type of system. These cross-level hypotheses, if supported by empirical evidence, can be very powerful in generating general theory of living systems, so long as differences among the various levels, types, and individual cases are taken into account. The numbered divisions of this paper deal with the same topics as do similarly numbered sections in the preceding article. Certain sections are omitted here because no material relevant to their topics was found.
Polyaphrons as Templates for the Sol-Gel Synthesis of Macroporous Silica

Macroporous silica was synthesized using polyaphrons as shape-directing templates in a sol–gel hydrolysis scheme using tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS). Polyaphrons are a special class of high internal phase ratio emulsions (HIPRE) that can potentially be used in the continuous processing of long range ordered macroporous solids. The structures so formed were examined using a scanning electron microscope after thermal curing to 400∘C. The majority of the pores in the silica structures were in the range between 0.1 and 10 μ m. Key parameters affecting the polyaphrons template characteristics were varied and their effects on the final silica structure were studied.
Word familiarity and spelling difficulty

Summary Experts in spelling instruction commonly have expressed the belief that children's familiarity with words and their ability to spell them are closely related. The findings of two studies of this relationship, presented to follow, question this assumption. Correlations obtained between children's familiarity with words and their abilities to spell them were found to be too low to have any value for predictive purposes. These findings suggest that learning to read and learning to spell are significantly different, and that systematic instruction in spelling therefore must attend to factors other than word familiarity.
A novel Raman-gain control method by detecting the Rayleigh backscarrering of pump lights

We report a novel Raman-gain control method with a simple setup in distributed Raman amplification systems. The method keeps Raman gain completely constant regardless of the variations in connector- and fusion-splicing losses by detecting the Rayleigh backscattering of multi-wavelength pump lights.
Correlation between Chlorophyll and Chlorogenic Acid Content in Tobacco Leaves

A positive correlation (r = 0.75, P < 0.01) was obtained between chlorophyll and chlorogenic acid content in the seedling leaves of burley and dark tobaccos. The dark tobaccos contained significantly higher concentrations of both constituents than the burleys. Such a correlation also occurred in a cytoplasmic mutant of chlorophyll-variegated tobacco when the green and yellow laminae were compared. In addition, the activity of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase and polyphenol-oxidase was higher in the green lamina than in the yellow tissue, which coincided with quantitative distribution of chlorogenic acid. Chlorophyll deficiency induced by streptomycin in tobacco seedlings resulted in a progressive decrease in chlorogenic acid content. However, an interruption of streptomycin treatment provoked accumulation of the two compounds. Dark-grown seedlings showed an increase in the content of chlorophyll and chlorogenic acid upon illumination. Incorporation of l-phenylalanine-U-(14)C into chlorogenic acid during leaf greening was drastically reduced owing to the presence of phenylpyruvate; the latter compound is a possible by-product of chlorophyll biosynthesis. This phenomenon was also evident with light-grown leaves. Results suggest that in addition to phenylalanine ammonia-lyase as a key enzyme regulating chlorogenic acid biosynthesis, an alternative pathway involving the conversion of phenylpyruvate to cinnamate may be functional in tobacco leaves. This pathway may bear importance as to higher chlorogenic acid content in dark tobaccos than in burleys.
Solution structure of the aminofluorene-intercalated conformer of the syn [AF]-C8-dG adduct opposite a--2 deletion site in the NarI hot spot sequence context.

This paper addresses structural issues related to the capacity of aminofluorene [AF] for frameshift mutations of the -2 type on C8 covalent adduct formation at the G3 site in the d(C-G1-G2-C-G3-C-C) NarI hot spot sequence. This problem has been approached from a combined NMR and relaxation matrix analysis computational structural study of the [AF]dG adduct in the d(C-G-G-C-[AF]G-C-C).d(G-G-C-C-G) sequence context at the 12/10-mer adduct level (designated [AF]dG.del(-2) 12/10-mer). The proton spectra of this system are of exceptional quality and are consistent with the formation of an AF-intercalated conformer with the modified guanine in a syn alignment displaced along with the 5'-flanking cytosine residue into the major groove. The solution structure has been determined by initially incorporating intramolecular and intermolecular proton-proton distances defined by lower and upper bound deduced from NOESY spectra as restraints in molecular mechanics computations in torsion angle space and subsequently refined through restrainted molecular dynamics calculations based on a NOE distance and intensity refinement protocol. Strikingly, the [AF]dG.del(-2) 12/10-mer duplex adopts only one of two potential AF-intercalation alignments for the [AF]dG adduct opposite the -2 deletion site in the NarI sequence context with the extrusion of the dC-[AF]dG step favored completely over extrusion of the [AF]dG-dC step at the lesion site. This polarity establishes that the structural perturbation extends 5' rather than 3' to the [AF]dG lesion site in the adduct duplex. This structure of the [AF]dG adduct opposite a -2 deletion site shows distinct differences with conclusions reported on the alignment of the related acetylaminofluorene [AAF]dG adduct opposite a -2 deletion site in the identical NarI sequence context [Milhe, C., Fuchs, R. P. P., and Lefevre, J. F. (1996) Eur. J. Biochem. 235, 120-127]. In that study, qualitative NMR data without computational analysis were employed to conclude that the extrusion at the lesion site occurs at the [AAF]dG-dC step for the AAF-intercalated conformer of the adduct duplex. The structure of the [AF]dG adduct opposite a -2 deletion site determined in our group provides molecular insights into the architecture of extended slipped mutagenic intermediates involving aromatic amine intercalation and base-displaced syn modified guanines in AF and, by analogy, AAF-induced mutagenesis in the NarI hot spot sequence context.
The effect of surgical and transcatheter aortic valve replacement on mitral annular anatomy.

Background The effect of aortic valve replacement on three-dimensional mitral annular geometry has not been well described. Emerging transcatheter approaches for aortic valve replacement employ fundamentally different mechanical techniques for achieving fixation and seal of the prosthetic valve than standard surgical aortic valve replacement. This study compares the immediate impact of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and standard surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR) on mitral annular anatomy. Methods Real-time three-dimensional echocardiography was performed in patients undergoing TAVR using the Edwards Sapien valve (n = 10 [Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA]) or AVR (n = 10) for severe aortic stenosis. Mitral annular geometric indexes were measured using Tomtec EchoView (Tomtec Imaging Systems, Munich, Germany) to assess regional and global annular geometry. Results Mixed between-within analysis of variance showed no differences between TAVR and AVR groups in any of the mitral annular geometric indices preoperatively. However, postoperative analysis did demonstrate an effect of AVR on geometry. Patients undergoing open AVR had significant decrease in annular height, septolateral diameter, mitral valve transverse diameter, and mitral annular area after valve replacement (p ≤ 0.006). Similar changes were not noted in the TAVR group. Conclusions Mitral annular geometry is better preserved by TAVR than by AVR. Thus, TAVR may be a more physiologic approach to aortic replacement.
Jet-wake thermal characteristics of heated turbulent jets in crossflow

This paper is one in a series reporting on jets discharging to crossflowing water streams. The experiments were carried out in the 0.61-m x 1.067-m semiclosed circuit water channel at Iowa State University. Hot water was injected vertically upward from a circular pipe located near the channel bottom to simulate the turbulent heated jet. Contours of mean and root-mean-square temperatures both across and along the jet are reported up to lateral and downstream distances of 1.15 and 37 jet diam, respectively, and for velocity ratios of 1, 2, 4, and 7. The contours were used to explain the complex interaction mechanism between the freestream and the jet in both the jet and wake regions.
Is a first acute symptomatic seizure epilepsy? Mortality and risk for recurrent seizure.

Summary Purpose: To compare mortality and subsequent unprovoked seizure risk in a population-based study of acute symptomatic seizure and first unprovoked seizure due to static brain lesions. Methods: We ascertained all first episodes of acute symptomatic seizure and unprovoked seizure due to central nervous system (CNS) infection, stroke, and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Subjects were residents of Rochester, Minnesota, identified through the Rochester Epidemiology Project’s records-linkage system between 1/1/55 and 12/31/84. Information was collected on age, gender, seizure type, etiology, status epilepticus (SE), 30-day and 10-year mortality, and subsequent episodes of unprovoked seizure. Results: Two hundred sixty-two individuals experienced a first acute symptomatic seizure and 148 individuals experienced a first unprovoked seizure, all due to static brain lesions. Individuals with a first acute symptomatic seizure were 8.9 times more likely to die within 30 days compared to those with a first unprovoked seizure [95% confidence intervals (CI) = 3.5–22.5] after adjustment for age, gender, and SE. Among 30-day survivors, the risk of 10-year mortality did not differ. Over the 10-year period, individuals with a first acute symptomatic seizure were 80% less likely to experience a subsequent unprovoked seizure compared with individuals with a first unprovoked seizure [adjusted rate ratio (RR) = 0.2, 95% CI = 0.2–0.4]. Discussion: The prognosis of first acute symptomatic seizures differs from that of first unprovoked seizure when the etiology is stroke, TBI, and CNS infection. Acute symptomatic seizures have a higher early mortality and a lower risk for subsequent unprovoked seizure. These differences argue against the inclusion of acute symptomatic seizures as epilepsy.
AN INTRODUCTION TO REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES AND THEIR POSSIBLE ROLES IN SUBSTANCE ABUSE

There is a growing body of information relating diverse diseases and the consequences of injury to generation and toxicity of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Recently, it has been shown that the fetus and its membranes are also vulnerable to this toxicity, suggesting that a number of obstetric diseases may result from exposure to ROS, which are ubiquitous in aerobic organisms. Endogenous antioxidants, including superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase are essential for defense against ROS. It is significant that all antioxidants appear to be down-regulated in the fetus and membranes, suggesting the possibility that any process that further depresses their activities or increases the burden of ROS may compromise fetal development or maternal health. When permitted to accumulate, ROS can damage all classes of macromolecules, including lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. Toxicity includes mutation, protein degradation, and lipid peroxidation, which can severely disturb membrane permeability and alter intracellular calcium and pH. An understanding of the generation and toxicity of ROS should help to define their potential roles in obstetric disease and lead to innovative preventive and therapeutic approaches.
Impact of site-specific N-glycosylation on cellular secretion, activity and specific activity of the plasma phospholipid transfer protein

Abstract The plasma phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) plays a key role in lipid and lipoprotein metabolism. It has six potential N-glycosylation sites. To study the impact of these sites on PLTP secretion and activity, six variants containing serine to alanine point mutations were prepared by site-directed mutagenesis and expressed in Chinese hamster ovary Flp-In cells. The apparent size of each of the six PLTP mutants was slightly less than that of wild type by Western blot, indicating that all six sites are glycosylated or utilized. The size of the carbohydrate at each N-glycosylation site ranged from 3.14 to 4.2 kDa. The effect of site-specific N-glycosylation removal on PLTP secretion varied from a modest enhancement (15% and 60%), or essentially no effect, to a reduction in secretion (8%, 14% and 32%). Removal of N-glycosylation at any one of the six glycosylation sites resulted in a significant 35-78% decrease in PLTP activity, and a significant 29-80% decrease in PLTP specific activity compared to wild type. These data indicate that although no single N-linked carbohydrate chain is a requirement for secretion or activity, the removal of the carbohydrate chains had a quantitative impact on cellular secretion of PLTP and its phospholipid transfer activity.
PERSON-CLUSTERS ON INTELLECTUAL ABILITIES AND ON MMPI ATTRIBUTES

When persons are observed on multiple dimensions discovered by the objective procedures of the cluster analysis of variables (V-analysis), they can then be allocated to person-clusters by the equally-objective procedures of object-clustering (O-analysis). These procedures, called the Condensation Method, are completely worked out on two empirical studies. In the first study on intellectual abilities (the Holzinger Problem) 301 children are assigned to 15 O-types. In the second study on self-conceptions (the MMPI), 310 psychiatric patients and normals are allocated to 14 O-types. The means of assigning new individuals to these master types are described. All procedures are executed by computer programs of the BC TRY System, in particular the components FACS, OTYPE, and OSTAT. The logic of the methods is fully developed.
COMPARISON OF HELICAL COMPUTERIZED TOMOGRAPHY, POSITRON EMISSION TOMOGRAPHY AND MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY SCANS FOR EVALUATION OF LYMPH NODE METASTASES IN PATIENTS WITH PROSTATE SPECIFIC ANTIGEN RELAPSE AFTER TREATMENT FOR LOCALIZED PROSTATE CANCER

ABSTRACTPurpose: We compare the detection of metastatic disease by helical computerized tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET) with F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose and monoclonal antibody scan with 111indium capromab pendetide in patients with an elevated prostate specific antigen (PSA) after treatment for localized prostate cancer.Materials and Methods: A total of 45 patients with an elevated PSA (median 3.8 ng./ml.) were studied following definitive local therapy with radical prostatectomy in 33, radiation therapy in 9 and cryosurgery in 3. CT of the abdomen and pelvis, and whole body PET were performed in all patients, of whom 21 also underwent monoclonal antibody scan. Lymph nodes 1 cm. in diameter or greater on CT were considered abnormal and were sampled by fine needle aspiration in 12 patients.Results: PET and CT were positive for distant disease in 50% of 22 patients with PSA greater than 4, and in 4 and 17%, respectively, of 23 with PSA less than 4 ng./ml. The detection rate for metastatic d...
Some constraints on dynamical fermion mass generation in simple gauge theories

Abstract Consistency conditions concerning dynamical fermion mass generation in simple gauge theories are examined in lowest order using the procedure of Nambu and Joma-Lasinio. The emerging constraints place strong limitations on the number of fermion multiplets and gauge groups allowed.
Re-examination of the surface EMG activity of the masseter muscle in young adults during chewing of two test foods

summary The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the texture of food on the masseter EMG activity during chewing. Fresh raw carrots and non-adhesive chewing gums of similar size and weight were used as representing a hard and a soft food respectively. The mean values for the IEMG activity, the duration of the chewing cycle, the chewing rate and the relative contraction time during chewing were significantly higher for the carrots while no significant difference was found in the chewing burst duration between the two test foods. Finally a strong inverse correlation was found between chewing rate and cycle duration. It was concluded that the texture of food has an obvious effect on EMG activity during chewing and that adjustments to changes in food consistency are made mainly by altering the chewing rate, the duration of the chewing cycle and the IEMG activity
A general deterministic treatment of derivatives in particle methods

A unified approach to approximating spatial derivatives in particle methods using integral operators is presented. The approach is an extension of particle strength exchange, originally developed for treating the Laplacian in advection-diffusion problems. Kernels of high order of accuracy are constructed that can be used to approximate derivatives of any degree. A new treatment for computing derivatives near the edge of particle coverage is introduced, using "one-sided" integrals that only look for information where it is available. The use of these integral approximations in wave propagation applications is considered and their error is analyzed in this context using Fourier methods. Finally, simple tests are performed to demonstrate the characteristics of the treatment, including an assessment of the effects of particle dispersion, and their results are discussed.
Testing assumptions of statistical learning: is it long-term and implicit?

Statistical learning has been studied as a mechanism by which people automatically and implicitly learn patterns in the environment. Here, we sought to examine general assumptions about statistical learning, including whether the learning is long-term, and whether it can occur implicitly. We exposed partici- pants to a stream of stimuli, then tested them immediately after, or 24 h after, exposure, with separate tests meant to measure implicit and explicit knowledge. To measure implicit learning, we analyzed reaction times during a rapid serial visual presentation detection task; for explicit learning, we used a matching questionnaire. Subjects' reaction time performance indicated that they did implicitly learn the exposed sequences, and furthermore, this learning was unrelated to explicit learning. These learning effects were observed both immediately after exposure and after a 24-h delay. These experiments offer concrete evidence that statistical learning is long-term and that the learning involves implicit learning mechanisms.
The Employment Fulcrum: Evaluating Local Economic Performance:

This article considers two aspects of publicly reported macroevaluations of local economies: the emphasis on job growth and the problematic relationship among the desired outcomes of local economic performance. At issue is the extent to which a jobs focus is either deceptive or in some other way detracts from our understanding of how local economies work. The purpose of this investigation is to create more sensitivity to the representational and political qualities of macroevaluations. Data from New York City are used to illustrate the argument.
Modeling Psychological Empowerment Among Youth Involved in Local Tobacco Control Efforts

The American Legacy Foundation funded 13 state health departments for their Statewide Youth Movement Against Tobacco Use in September 2000. Its goal was to create statewide tobacco control initiatives implemented with youth leadership. The underlying theory behind these initiatives was that tobacco control efforts can best be accomplished by empowering youth. To evaluate these initiatives, the authors developed a conceptual framework for youth empowerment that was used as a guide in developing standardized cross-site measures. This article describes the domains and attributes used to operationalize psychological empowerment as an outcome of youth involvement in these initiatives and presents results of our two-stage structural equation modeling. We conclude with a summary of lessons learned to date and recommendations for applying these findings to work in the field.
A Mobile Vision System with Reconfigurable Intelligent Agents

Performing face detection and tracking on a mobile robot in a dynamic environment is a challenging task with the real-time constraints. To realize a natural reactive behavior of the mobile robot, some efficient algorithms are applied for face detection and tracking due to the limited onboard computation power. Instead of pushing the limit of software development and the computational resources by implementing these algorithms on a software platform, a reconfigurable System-on-Chip (SoC) platform is adopted to achieve the higher real-time performance. A BDI intelligent agent model is proposed as a unified structure for both hardware and software. The real-world experimental results on a mobile vision system for face detection and tracking demonstrate the feasibility and efficiency of the reconfigurable intelligent agent model.
A novel ultra-wideband (UWB) pulse transmitting scheme

A novel pulse transmitting scheme is proposed based on the integration of RF modulators into a resonant antenna. Driven by the modulating signals, the modulators are able to modulate on the antenna radiation slots directly. Therefore narrow pulse sequences can be generated and radiated out simultaneously. Furthermore. the resonant behavior of the antenna., which limits the antenna's bandwidth can be significantly alleviated. The experimental results show that a patch antenna with a resonant frequency of 2.4 GHz and a 30 MHz bandwidth can transmit a digital modulated signal with beyond 200 MHz bandwidth.
TDplanner: Public Transport Planning System with Real-Time Route Updates Based on Service Delays and Location Tracking

This paper proposes an alternative to the problem of finding optimal paths in public transportation networks. The authors present a system architecture that has been implemented on the bus system in Boston using their new solution and completed for mobile devices. On user's request the system proposes an optimal path to a destination and provides with alerts during the journey. To the best of their knowledge, it is the first planning system with the ability to respond to route updates in real-time. If there are changes due to user's errors (user misses a bus, etc.) or service delays, an updated or a new route is offered.
Relationship of cell growth to the regulation of tissue-specific gene expression during osteoblast differentiation.

The relationship of cell proliferation to the temporal expression of genes characterizing a developmental sequence associated with bone cell differentiation can be examined in primary diploid cultures of fetal calvarial-derived osteoblasts by the combination of molecular, biochemical, histochemical, and ultrastructural approaches. Modifications in gene expression define a developmental sequence that has 1) three principal periods: proliferation, extracellular matrix maturation, and mineralization; and 2) two restriction points to which the cells can progress but cannot pass without further signals. The first restriction point is when proliferation is down-regulated and gene expression associated with extracellular matrix maturation is induced, and the second when mineralization occurs. Initially, actively proliferating cells, expressing cell cycle and cell growth regulated genes, produce a fibronectin/type I collagen extracellular matrix. A reciprocal and functionally coupled relationship between the decl...
Development of a Quantitative In-Shoe Measurement System for Assessing Balance: Sixteen-Sensor Insoles

Abstract —This work presents the first phase in the development of an in-shoe sensor system designed to evaluate balance. Sixteen force-sensitive resistors were strategically mounted to a removable insole, and the bilateral outputs were recorded. The initial results indicate that these sensors are capable of detecting subtle changes in weight distribution, corresponding to the subject's ability to balance. Preliminary analysis of this data found a clear correlation between the ability to balance and the state of health of the subject. I. I NTRODUCTION REVENTING falls in elders is likely to become increasingly important with the expected change in demographics over the next several decades and the associated increase in life expectancy. Falls are a large source of morbidity and mortality in the elderly population in general [1-3], and in the Parkinsonian population specifically [4]. Falls in these populations can result in serious injuries, hospital stays, increased healthcare costs. In addition, following even a single fall, fear of falling again increases [5]. If self-confidence and mobility are not restored, these factors can lead to a downward spiral of decreased quality of life and muscle atrophy. Falls can result from many factors, including decreased vision, prescription medications, environmental hazards, as well as impaired balance, changes in posture and gait changes [6]. To date, investigation of changes in gait due to impaired balance have focused on a few select parameters, such as gait speed and variability in stride timing [7-8]. In both the elderly and Parkinsonian populations, variation in stride-timing has been shown to correlate with the risk of falling [3, 8].
The effect of sublethal endrin exposure on rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri Richardson. I. Evaluation of serum cortisol concentrations and immune responsiveness

Two-hundred-and-forty rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri, were exposed for 30 days to sublethal concentrations of the pesticide endrin. On day 30, ten fish from each treatment group were sacrificed and examined for the ability of peritoneal macrophages to phagocytize latex beads. The remaining fish were immunized with 10 μg of Yersinia ruckeri O-antigen, and exposure to endrin continued. The migration inhibition factor assay (MIF), plaque forming cell assay (PFC), and serum agglutination titres (SAG) were performed 2, 14, and 30 days post-antigen inoculation. Serum was collected from all fish for serum cortisol concentrations. Endrin exposure had no effect on the phagocytic ability of peritoneal macrophages. However, the MIF, PFC and SAG responses were significantly reduced from control values. Serum cortisol concentrations were found to be significantly elevated in endrin-exposed fish. Serum cortisol concentrations were found to be significantly higher on days 44 and 60 (192 and 194 ng ml−1, respectively) when compared to days 30 and 32 (159 and 141 ng ml−1, respectively). Cortisol values for days 30 and 32 did not differ significantly, nor did those of days 44 and 60. The relationship between elevated serum cortisol concentrations and endrin exposure on the immune response is discussed.
Fairness and Gateway Classification Algorithm (GCA) in multihop Wireless Mesh Networks

Wireless Mesh Network (WMN) appears to be a promising alternative for next generation wireless networking. Wireless mesh networks have applications ranging from civilian wireless Internet applications to tactical and emergency response applications. Though wireless mesh networks appear as a viable alternative to the existing wireless infrastructure, there are still many issues which require more investigation. In this paper, we first analyze the fairness issue in WMNs by using simulation. We then propose Gateway Classification Algorithm (GCA) which classifies gateways into high data rate gateways and low data rate gateways. Simulation results show that the proposed GCA can improve the performance significantly.
Linearization of direct FM frequency modulators

Voltage controlled crystal oscillator (VCXO) frequency modulators have found increasing use in recent years in portable frequency modulation (FM) equipment as an alternative to a standard crystal oscillator followed by a phase modulator. The advantages of using a direct FM VCXO over an indirect FM phase modulator are considered. A model for the crystal and frequency control element will be developed and basic circuit design considerations will be presented. Conditions necessary to minimize audio distortion generated by the VCXO modulator will be dealt with in detail.
Imaging the Activity and Localization of Single Voltage-Gated Ca2+ Channels by Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence Microscopy

The patch-clamp technique has enabled functional studies of single ion channels, but suffers limitations including lack of spatial information and inability to independently monitor currents from more than one channel. Here, we describe the use of total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy as an alternative, noninvasive approach to optically monitor the activity and localization of multiple Ca2+-permeable channels in the plasma membrane. Images of near-membrane Ca2+ signals were obtained from >100 N-type channels expressed within restricted areas (80 × 80 μm) of Xenopus oocytes, thereby permitting simultaneous resolution of their gating kinetics, voltage dependence, and localization. Moreover, this technique provided information inaccessible by electrophysiological means, demonstrating that N-type channels are immobile in the membrane, show a patchy distribution, and display diverse gating kinetics even among closely adjacent channels. Total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy holds great promise for single-channel recording of diverse voltage- and ligand-gated Ca2+-permeable channels in the membrane of neurons and other isolated or cultured cells, and has potential for high-throughput functional analysis of single channels.
Impedances of an Elliptic Waveguide (For the /sub e/H/sub 1/ Mode)

The power-voltage, power-current and voltage-current impedances for the elliptical waveguide for the fundamental mode (/sub e/H/sub 1/ mode) are obtained by two different methods. The first method consists of using the exact fields inside a perfectly conducting elliptical pipe. Numerical results were obtained by numerical integration of the integrals involving Mathieu functions by the Gaussian Quadratures method by a digital computer. In the second method approximate fields which satisfy the boundary conditions were used. By this approximate method, actual expressions for the impedances are obtained as a function of minor to major diameter ratio with no need of numerical integration. The actual expressions for the impedance obtained by the approximate method give the impedance for elliptical waveguide within six per cent. On the basis of comparison with the exact numerical solution the expressions for the approximate impedance give the impedance of elliptical waveguide within three per cent if they are scaled by 1.03.
Tetanus toxin fragment C as a vector to enhance delivery of proteins to the CNS

The non-toxic neuronal binding domain of tetanus toxin (tetanus toxin fragment C, TTC) has been used as a vector to enhance delivery of potentially therapeutic proteins to motor neurons from the periphery following an intramuscular injection. The unique binding and transport properties of this 50-kDa polypeptide suggest that it might also enhance delivery of proteins to neurons after direct injection into the CNS. Using quantitative fluorimetry, we found that labeled TTC showed vastly superior retention within brain tissue after intracerebral injection compared to a control protein (bovine serum album). Fluorescence microscopy revealed that injected TTC was not retained solely in a restricted deposit along the needle track, but was distributed through gray matter in a pattern not previously described. The distribution of injected protein within the extracellular space of the gray matter and neuropil was also seen after injection of a recombinant fusion protein comprised of TTC linked to the enzyme superoxide dismutase (TTC-SOD-1). Injections of native SOD-1 in contrast showed only minimal retention of protein along the injection track. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that both TTC and TTC-SOD-1 were distributed in a punctate perineuronal and intraneuronal pattern similar to that seen after their retrograde transport, suggesting localization primarily in synaptic boutons. This synaptic distribution was confirmed using HRP-labeled TTC with electron microscopy along with localization within neuronal endosomes. We conclude that TTC may be a useful vector to enhance neuronal delivery of potentially therapeutic enzymes or trophic factors following direct injection into the brain.
Measuring Fate and Rate of Single-Molecule Competition of Amplification and Restriction Digestion, and Its Use for Rapid Genotyping Tested with Hepatitis C Viral RNA

We experimentally monitored, at the single-molecule level, the competition among reverse transcription, exponential amplification (RT-LAMP), and linear degradation (restriction enzymes) starting with hepatitis C viral RNA molecules. We found significant heterogeneity in the rate of single-molecule amplification; introduction of the restriction enzymes affected both the rate and the “fate” (the binary outcome) of single-molecule amplification. While end-point digital measurements were primarily sensitive to changes in fate, the bulk real-time kinetic measurements were dominated by the rate of amplification of the earliest molecules, and were not sensitive to fate of the rest of the molecules. We show how this competition of reactions can be used for rapid HCV genotyping with either digital or bulk readout. This work advances our understanding of single-molecule dynamics in reaction networks and may help bring genotyping capabilities out of clinical labs and into limited-resource settings.
Measurement of Stress Due to Thermal Expansion Anisotropy in Al2O3

The stress due to thermal expansion anisotropy in polycrystalline Al2O3 was measured. The broadening of spectroscopic R lines (692 and 693 nm, due to Cr3+ impurities) was used to measure the stresses (at 77 K) in samples with grain sizes of 50 to 150 μm that had been cooled, from 2150 K, at constant rates from 0.1 to 100 K/min. The maximum stress was found to vary from 80 to 100 MPa, depending on the thermal history of the sample. The results are compared to the predictions of a model based on stress relaxation by diffusional creep and are in good agreement for the dependence on cooling rate. No effect due to grain-size changes was observed due to the limited range of grain sizes accessible in this study.
The incorporation of HVDC equations in optimal power flow methods using sequential quadratic programming techniques

The author presents the formulation and solution method of an optimal power flow problem using a sequential quadratic programming technique for an AC-DC power system with one or more multiterminal DC systems. The algorithm developed has been tested on a number of sample AC-DC systems. The convergence characteristics, insofar as the number of the major iteration goes, is comparable with the Newton-Raphson approach. The economic advantage of being able to coordinate the DC system power transfers is illustrated by numerical examples based on the modified IEEE 30 and 118 bus systems. >
Tolerating hard faults in microprocessor array structures

In this paper, we present a hardware technique, called self-repairing array structures (SRAS), for masking hard faults in microprocessor array structures, such as the reorder buffer and branch history table. SRAS masks errors that could otherwise lead to slow system recoveries. To detect row errors, every write to a row is mirrored to a dedicated "check row". We then read out both the written row and check row and compare their results. To correct errors, SRAS maps out faulty array rows with a level of indirection.
Future trends in weight management

Although advances have been made in the treatment of obese and overweight patients, no "magic bullet" yet exists. Future targets for pharmacotherapy include the OB protein leptin, neuropeptide, beta 3-adrenergic receptors, uncoupling proteins 2 and 3, and protein kinase A. Cholecystokinin, bombesin, and glucogen-like peptide-1, receptors for gastrointestinal hormones, offer potential future pharmacologic agents that enhance energy expenditure, and they have proven promising for the development of appetite-suppressant pharmacotherapy. Receptor agonists for each of these proteins have been shown to be useful as appetite suppressants and reducing meal size. This article discusses various research modalities currently under consideration. Despite rapid strides toward an ideal antiobesity agent, the role of diet, exercise, and behavior modification must be considered the cornerstone for any potential future pharmacotherapy.
Changing Cold Environments: a Canadian Perspective

With continuing reports of the decline of Arctic sea ice and concerns over the susceptibility of high-latitude environments to climatic change, this is a timely volume and one to be welcomed by any...
Hot Dirac Fermion Dynamics and Interlayer Thermal Coupling in Epitaxial Graphene

Nondegenerate ultrafast pump-probe spectroscopy of epitaxial graphene is used to study hot electron relaxation and interlayer thermal coupling. The DT spectra are understood in terms of hot thermal carrier distributions with no electron-hole interaction.
Does Transparency Harm Traders: Evidence from a Disclosure Regulation

Does transparency harm block traders? In 2004, Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) mandated the disclosure of trades accumulating to more than 0.5% of existing float in a single day. Using unique transaction-level database from the National Stock Exchange (NSE) in India, we present evidence that block traders earn substantially higher returns by disclosing their trades than by executing bulk deals. Robustness checks show that liquidity provision or other explanations are not enough to explain this return differential. Disclosure leads to lower future spreads, lower price volatility and smaller price momentum and reversal. Hence, we argue that disclosing large trades lead to higher market efficiency.
Angoumois Grain Moth Egg Collection

In experiments where grain is to be infested with a specific number of larvae of the Angoumois grain moth, Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier), eggs must be collected and hatched. Female Angoumois grain moths deposit their eggs in cracks and crevices in the grain. This habit may be used to advantage in collecting eggs by offering strips of paper with seams where the moths can place their eggs.
Experiments in the Control of the Corn Earworm, Heliothis Obsoleta (FABR.), WITH Trichogramma Minutum RILEY

Studies in the dispersion of Trichogramma Minutum in cornfields and two experiments in the control of the corn earworm with Trichogramma minutum are described.
Synthesis of ethyl arachidonate‐19,19,20,20‐d4 and ethyl dihomo‐γ‐linolenate‐19,19,20,20‐d4

Ethyl 5,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoate-19,19,20,20-d 4 and ethyl 8,11,14-eicosatrienoate-19,19,20,20-d 4 were synthesized by Grignard coupling of the methanesulfonyl ester of 2,5-undecadiyn-1-ol-10,10,11,11-d 4 with 5,8-nonadiynoic acid and 8-nonynoic acid, respectively. The coupled products upon Lindlar reduction, followed by the preparation of their ethyl esters, yielded deuteriated ethyl arachidonate and ethyl dihomo-γ-linolenate, which were completely characterized by13C and1H nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectral analysis.
Blood urea nitrogen and creatinine.

The determination of serum creatinine and serum urea nitrogen levels is of great value in helping to ascertain the renal function in the clinical setting. These two serum determinations are best viewed in concert, observing their absolute levels as well as their relation to one another. The serum creatinine level is less influenced by extra-renal factors than is the serum urea nitrogen level, and is the more accurate test. Reproducibility of measurement is within 2 per cent. When the test results return, there are a number of questions to be asked: What is the normal range for the laboratory which analyzed the serum? Are the levels real; i.e., could the elevated levels be factitious? Are there extrarenal etiologies for the abnormal levels? What is the BUN to creatinine ratio? If the abnormal findings are secondary to intrinsic renal disease, what other tests will help to determine the etiology of the renal disease? The laboratory assessments of BUN levels and blood creatinine levels are "standard fare" in the assessment of renal function. They are relatively low-cost tests, are available in any standard hospital laboratory, and are relatively easy to run. They are essential in the assessment of renal function in the Emergency Department.