cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The anti-oxidization effect of high-potassium diet on hypercholesteremic rabbits

Objectives To observe the influence of high level potassium intake on lipid peroxidation and ox LDL Methods 30 New Zealand rabbits were randomized into three groups: Ⅰ. Non hypercholesteremic group, fed a normal diet; Ⅱ. Hypercholesteremic group, fed with hypercholesteremic diet; Ⅲ. Hypercholesteremic and potassium group, fed with hypercholesteremic diet plus potassium Observation indices of three groups were compared before the study and 7 days, 30 days and 45 days after the study Results The plasma TC, TG, LDL c, and HDL c levels in group Ⅱ and Ⅲ after the hypercholesteremic diet were both significantly higher than those in group I ( P 0 05-0 01) Cessation of the hypercholesteremic diet in Group Ⅱ and Ⅲ could remarkably decrease lipid levels ( P 0 05), but no difference of lipid levels existed between Group Ⅱ and Ⅲ ( P 0 05) From day 7 to day 45, plasma potassium concentration in Group Ⅲ was remarkably higher than in Group Ⅰ and Ⅱ ( P 0 05)?7 days and 30 days after the onset of the hypercholesteremic diet, the MDA level in Group Ⅱ was higher than in either Group I or Group Ⅲ ( P 0 05-0 01); 15 days after the cessation of the hypercholesteremic diet, the MDA levels in Group Ⅱ became higher; the MDA concentration in Group Ⅱ was similar to Group I in day 7, but the MDA in group Ⅲ was higher than in Group Ⅰ in day 30 ( P 0 05) As for SOD activity, no differences existed between Group Ⅱ and Group Ⅲ at any time, but 30 days after the onset of the hypercholes teremic diet, SOD activity in Group Ⅱ and Group Ⅲ were both lower than in Group Ⅰ. 30 days after the onset of the hypercholesteremic diet, the ox LDL level in Group Ⅲ was found to be higher than that in Group Ⅰ ( P 0 05), but 15 days after the cessation of the diet, its ox LDL level was lower and similar to that in Group I ( P 0 05) From the 7th to the 30th day, the PMAR level in Group Ⅱ was higher than that in Group I or Group Ⅲ, and the level remained relatively high 15 days after the cessation of the hypercholesteremic diet, while in Group Ⅲit gradually decreased until it reached the normal level Conclusions High level potassium intake may weaken lipid peroxidization, reduce ox LDL level and inhibit platelet aggregationRlevel inGroupⅡwashigherthanthatinGroupIorGroup Ⅲ ,andthelevelremainedrelativelyhigh 1 5daysafter thecessationofthehypercholesteremicdiet,whilein GroupⅢitgraduallyd
Nutrient intake and stimulant drugs in hyperactive children.

Stimulant drugs used to control undesirable behavior in hyperactive children may have an adverse effect on growth. Presented here are two case studies detailing the effects of two drugs at different dosages on nutrient intake and growth.
How much cash does your company need

In late 2001, the directors of Pfizer asked that very question. And with good reason. After its 2000 merger with rival Warner-Lambert, the New York-based pharmaceutical giant found itself sitting on a net cash position of $8 billion, which seemed extraordinarily conservative for a company whose products generated $30 billion in revenues. Most large companies with revenues that healthy would increase leverage, thereby unlocking tremendous value for shareholders. But knowledge-intensive companies like Pfizer, this author argues, are in a class apart. Because their largely intangible assets (like R&D) are highly volatile and cannot easily be valued, they are more vulnerable to financial distress than are firms with a preponderance of tangible assets. To insure against that risk, they need to maintain large positive cash balances. These companies' decisions to run large cash balances is one of the key reasons their shares sustain consistent premiums. Only by investing in their intangible assets can knowledge-based companies hope to preserve the value of those assets. A company that finds itself unable to do so because unfavorable market conditions reduce its operating cash flows will see its share price suffer almost as much as if it were to default on its debts. By the same token, with the right balance sheet, knowledge companies can profitably insure against the risk of failing to sustain value-added investments in difficult times. An optimal capital structure that calls for significant cash balances is certainly at odds with the results of a traditional capital structure analysis, the author demonstrates, but it explains the financial policies of many well-run companies, from Pfizer to Intel to ChevronTexaco.
ELEMENTS OF ENSEMBLE THEORY

This chapter provides an overview of the Ensemble theory. A rather large number of systems at a single instant of time are considered in the chapter, and all the systems are characterized by the same macrostate as the original system but are in all sorts of possible microstates. Under ordinary circumstances, it may be expected that the average behavior of any system in this collection—which is called an ensemble—would be identical with the time-averaged behavior of the given system. It is on the basis of this expectation that the ensemble theory is developed in the chapter. The microstate of a given classical system, at any time t , may be defined by specifying the instantaneous positions and momenta of all the particles that constitute the system. The chapter also discusses the Liouville's theorem, which states that the local density of the representative points, as viewed by an observer moving with a representative point, stays constant in time. Thus, the swarm of the representative points moves in the phase space in essentially the same manner as an incompressible fluid moves in the physical space. The Heisenberg uncertainty principle is used in the chapter to explain why there exists an area of order h around any point ( q , p ) in the two-dimensional phase space within which the position of the representative point cannot be pinpointed.
Legal Consequences of Animal Hoarding in New Zealand

A 10-year prohibition against a defendant from owning or exercising authority over any animals has been upheld by the New Zealand Court of Appeal in an animal hoarding case which has progressed thr...
(In)visible Cities: An Exploration of Social Identity, Anonymity and Location-Based Filtering on Yik Yak

The recent popularity of mobile, anonymous social interaction applications that filter content based on location (i.e., people see what others nearby have posted) has led to concerns about anonymity enabling negative behavior such as abuse or cyber-bullying. Anonymity can also have positive effects, however, and the social identity model of deindividuation effects (SIDE) suggests that people’s behavior in anonymous online environments can be affected by whether they identify more with the community or more as a disconnected individual. In location-filtered apps, however, online anonymity is combined with a physically local audience. This complicates our understanding of online anonymity because identities users feel can stem both from the online and offline environments. We present an exploratory mixedmethods study of Yik Yak, a popular location-filtered app. Results suggest that people use language to invoke a geographically local group identity via shared references. People’s responses to content, moreover, seem to be related to their identity as members of the online community.
Comparison of Comorbid Medical Conditions in the National Cancer Database and the SEER–Medicare Database

Physicians routinely factor comorbidities into diagnostic and treatment decisions. Analyses of treatment patterns and outcomes using the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) usually adjust for comorbidities; however, the completeness of comorbidity ascertainment in the NCDB has never been assessed. We compared the prevalence of comorbidities captured in the NCDB and Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)–Medicare among female breast, non-small-cell lung, and colorectal cancer patients aged ≥66. In the NCDB, ten fields were searched for comorbidities. In the SEER–Medicare dataset, Medicare claims were used to identify comorbidities for two time periods: 12 months prior to diagnosis (Prior) and Index claim alone. Chi-square tests were used to compare comorbidity prevalence using propensity score-matched subsamples from each dataset. Kaplan–Meier survival analyses by Charlson–Deyo comorbidity score and data source were conducted. Comorbidity prevalence in NCDB did not differ significantly from that identified in SEER–Medicare Index claims across all three cancer sites, except for congestive heart failure, chronic pulmonary disease, and renal disease. However, when compared to the prevalence identified through SEER–Medicare Prior claims, comorbidity prevalence in the NCDB was lower. Overall survival rates by NCDB comorbidity scores were nearly identical to those based on SEER–Medicare Index claims but were lower than those based on SEER–Medicare Prior claims, particularly in higher comorbidity score categories. The study found overall similarity of comorbidity prevalence between NCDB and SEER–Medicare Index claims, but much less similarity between NCDB and SEER–Medicare Prior claims. Future researchers should understand the limitation of comorbidities ascertained in the NCDB and interpret results accordingly.
Capture of micrococcin biosynthetic intermediates reveals C-terminal processing as an obligatory step for in vivo maturation

Thiopeptides, including micrococcins, are a growing family of bioactive natural products that are ribosomally synthesized and heavily modified. Here we use a refactored, modular in vivo system containing the micrococcin P1 (MP1) biosynthetic genes (TclIJKLMNPS) from Macrococcus caseolyticus str 115 in a genetically tractable Bacillus subtilis strain to parse the processing steps of this pathway. By fusing the micrococcin precursor peptide to an affinity tag and coupling it with catalytically defective enzymes, biosynthetic intermediates were easily captured for analysis. We found that two major phases of molecular maturation are separated by a key C-terminal processing step. Phase-I conversion of six Cys residues to thiazoles (TclIJN) is followed by C-terminal oxidative decarboxylation (TclP). This TclP-mediated oxidative decarboxylation is a required step for the peptide to progress to phase II. In phase II, Ser/Thr dehydration (TclKL) and peptide macrocycle formation (TclM) occurs. A C-terminal reductase, TclS, can optionally act on the substrate peptide, yielding MP1, and is shown to act late in the pathway. This comprehensive characterization of the MP1 pathway prepares the way for future engineering efforts.
Functional implications of orientation maps in primary visual cortex

Stimulus orientation in the primary visual cortex of primates and carnivores is mapped as iso-orientation domains radiating from pinwheel centres, where orientation preferences of neighbouring cells change circularly. Whether this orientation map has a function is currently debated, because many mammals, such as rodents, do not have such maps. Here we show that two fundamental properties of visual cortical responses, contrast saturation and cross-orientation suppression, are stronger within cat iso-orientation domains than at pinwheel centres. These differences develop when excitation (not normalization) from neighbouring oriented neurons is applied to different cortical orientation domains and then balanced by inhibition from un-oriented neurons. The functions of the pinwheel mosaic emerge from these local intra-cortical computations: Narrower tuning, greater cross-orientation suppression and higher contrast gain of iso-orientation cells facilitate extraction of object contours from images, whereas broader tuning, greater linearity and less suppression of pinwheel cells generate selectivity for surface patterns and textures.
HIT the price point with fondaparinux.

In this issue of Blood, Aljabri and colleagues report on their analysis of the cost-effectiveness of fondaparinux for the treatment of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) in the United States. 1 HIT is a relatively uncommon but serious complication of the use of heparin-containing products. 2 Treatment of HIT requires use of an alternate anticoagulant such as the direct thrombin inhibitors argatroban and bivalirudin. 3
Enzymatic studies on the skeletal myosin A and actomyosin of aging rats.

Myosin A and actomyosin were isolated from the skeletal muscle of old and young rats. The velocity of the Ca2+ activated myosin A ATPase was increased in the case of the older animals. On the other hand the velocity of the Mg2+ activated actomyosin ATPase was decreased in the skeletal muscle of the aging rats. At 5 × 10−5 m EGTA concentration the inhibition of the Mg2+ activated myosin B ATPase of the 1-month-old rats was two- to threefold smaller than that of the older animals. It was shown that the myosin A component of the actomyosin was responsible for the decreased troponin inhibition in the case of the 1-month-old rats. Between the ages of 1 month and 29 months the number of free myosin A SH groups decreases by 50%. The lipid peroxidation in the muscle tissue of the 29-month-old rats was threefold greater than that in the muscle of the 1-month-old animals. —Kaldor, G., and B. K. Min. Enzymatic studies on the skeletal myosin A and actomyosin of aging rats. Federation Proc. 34: 191–194, 1975.
Common Method Bias: A Full Collinearity Assessment Method for PLS-SEM

In the context of structural equation modeling employing the partial least squares (PLS-SEM) method, common method bias is a phenomenon caused by common variation induced by the measurement method used and not by the network of causes and effects in the model being studied. Two datasets were created through a Monte Carlo simulation to illustrate our discussion of this phenomenon: one contaminated by common method bias and the other not contaminated. A practical approach is presented for the identification of common method bias based on variance inflation factors generated via a full collinearity test. Our discussion builds on an illustrative model in the field of e-collaboration, with outputs generated by the software WarpPLS. We demonstrate that the full collinearity test is successful in the identification of common method bias with a model that nevertheless passes standard convergent and discriminant validity assessment criteria based on a confirmation factor analysis.
Inducible Tolerance to Agrochemicals Was Paved by Evolutionary Responses to Predators

Recent research has reported increased tolerance to agrochemicals in target and nontarget organisms following acute physiological changes induced through phenotypic plasticity. Moreover, the most inducible populations are those from more pristine locations, far from agrochemical use. We asked why do populations with no known history of pesticide exposure have the ability to induce adaptive responses to novel agrochemicals? We hypothesized that increased pesticide tolerance results from a generalized stressor response in organisms, and would be induced following sublethal exposure to natural and anthropogenic stressors. We exposed larval wood frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus) to one of seven natural or anthropogenic stressors (predator cue (Anax spp.), 0.5 or 1.0 mg carbaryl/L, road salt (200 or 1000 mg Cl–/L), ethanol-vehicle control, or no-stressor control) and subsequently tested their tolerance to a lethal carbaryl concentration using time-to-death assays. We observed induced carbaryl tolerance in tadpoles...
Abstract 15976: Comparison of Patients With Variant and Typical Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy

Background: Variant, or reverse, Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) is defined by left ventricular basal and/or mid-ventricular systolic dysfunction with preserved apical function. This condition is in...
A Hybrid Wind-Farm Parametrization for Mesoscale and Climate Models

To better understand the potential impact of wind farms on weather and climate at the regional to global scales, a new hybrid wind-farm parametrization is proposed for mesoscale and climate models. The proposed parametrization is a hybrid model because it is not based on physical processes or conservation laws, but on the multiple linear regression of the results of large-eddy simulations (LES) with the geometric properties of the wind-farm layout (e.g., the blockage ratio and blockage distance). The innovative aspect is that each wind turbine is treated individually based on its position in the farm and on the wind direction by predicting the velocity upstream of each turbine. The turbine-induced forces and added turbulence kinetic energy (TKE) are first derived analytically and then implemented in the Weather Research and Forecasting model. Idealized simulations of the offshore Lillgrund wind farm are conducted. The wind-speed deficit and TKE predicted with the hybrid model are in excellent agreement with those from the LES results, while the wind-power production estimated with the hybrid model is within 10% of that observed. Three additional wind farms with larger inter-turbine spacing than at Lillgrund are also considered, and a similar agreement with LES results is found, proving that the hybrid parametrization works well with any wind farm regardless of the spacing between turbines. These results indicate the wind-turbine position, wind direction, and added TKE are essential in accounting for the wind-farm effects on the surroundings, for which the hybrid wind-farm parametrization is a promising tool.
Swarm of autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles with 3D deconfliction

We present a swarm of autonomous Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) capable of persistent surveillance as well as engagement of the hostile targets identified on the ground. That is, for a given area of interest, that might be hostile, we design a capability of monitoring ground targets by the swarm of autonomous armed UAVs in persistent way that will be capable of engaging these targets if necessary. The UAVs decide by themselves when and how to come back to the maintenance site(s) in order to be recharged of refueled. A single Operating Control Unit (OCU) is sufficient to integrate with such a swarm of UAVs. Its role is mainly focused on sending high level commands, some of which might overwrite the UAVs autonomous intention. For example, a commander might request through OCU engagement of target(s), look for specific target(s), or immediate return of some UAVs to the maintenance sites. Since UAVs are autonomous then the communication links from OCU to UAVs do not need to be continuously maintained.
Modeling Rare Bone Diseases in Animals

The goal of this review is to highlight some of the considerations involved in creating animal models to study rare bone diseases and then to compare and contrast approaches to creating such models, focusing on the advantages and novel opportunities offered by the CRISPR-Cas system. Gene editing after creation of double-stranded breaks in chromosomal DNA is increasingly being used to modify animal genomes. Multiple tools can be used to create such breaks, with the newest ones being based on the bacterial adaptive immune system known as CRISPR/Cas. Advances in gene editing have increased the ease and speed, while reducing the cost, of creating novel animal models of disease. Gene editing has also expanded the number of animal species in which genetic modification can be performed. These changes have significantly increased the options for investigators seeking to model rare bone diseases in animals.
Atherogenic and thrombogenic mosaic.

The prevention of coronary heart disease, from the viewpoint of numbers, will certainly be the greatest achievement of modern medicine. Despite the recent foray of politicians into cancer research, simple arithmetic shows the urgency of the heart disease problem. Oddly, many seem to believe prevention of coronary heart disease would help only the aged and infirm, but the young business executive is far from immune. Obviously, prevention would more likely be achieved if we knew the cause of atherosclerosis.
Networks of hospital discharge planning teams and readmissions

Improving the hospital discharge process to prevent readmission requires a focus on the coordination and communication between interprofessional team members in and outside of the hospital as well as with patients and their caregivers. Yet little is known about how these actors currently communicate and coordinate during the discharge process. Network analysis allows for a direct look at this communication and coordination. This network analysis study utilized retrospective chart review to identify the individuals involved in the discharge planning and their communication with each other for 205 patients. Using this abstracted data, a network was created for each patient wherein a node was any individual involved in the patient's discharge planning process and a tie was any communication documented in the chart related to discharge planning between individuals. Graphical and structural network analyses were used to compare the networks of readmitted patients and non-readmitted patients. Networks of patients not readmitted were more hierarchical, unidirectional, streamlined compared to those readmitted. These findings demonstrate the feasibility and usefulness of conceptualizing discharge planning as a network. Future efforts to understand discharge planning and create interventions to improve the process may benefit by considering network patterns of communication.
A Review of Metal Exposure Studies Conducted in the Rural Southwestern and Mountain West Region of the United States

This review summarizes recent literature examining exposure to environmental metals in rural areas of the southwestern/mountain west region of the U.S. focusing on the range of exposures and exposure pathways unique to this region. Recent studies (2013–2018) indicated that exposures to arsenic (As), uranium (U), and cadmium (Cd) were the most commonly quantified metals in the study area. One or more of these three metals was analyzed in each study reviewed. The current review draws attention to the variety of exposure assessment methods, analytical tools, and unique non-occupational exposure pathways in this region. The reviewed studies identified potential sources of metal exposure including regulated and unregulated drinking water, particulate matter, and food items, and provided information about the levels of exposures experienced by populations through a variety of exposure assessment methods including spatial analysis methodologies. The findings suggest that exposure assessment methods could be further integrated with population studies to assess health effects of environmental metal exposure through pathways unique to southwestern and mountain west U.S.
Adaptive Expansion of Taste Neuron Response Profiles by Congruent Aroma in Drosophila

Pairing of food aroma with selected taste can lead to enhanced food flavor and eating euphoria, but how cross-modal sensory combinations are integrated to increase food reward value remains largely unclear. Here we report that combined stimulation by food aroma and taste drastically increased appetite in well-nourished Drosophila larvae, and the appetizing effect involves a previously uncharacterized smell-taste integration process at axon terminals of two Gr43a gustatory neurons. Molecular genetic analyses of the smell-taste integration reveal a G protein-mediated tuning mechanism in two central neuropeptide F (NPF) neurons. This mechanism converts selected odor stimuli to NPF-encoded appetizing signals that potentiate Gr43a neuronal response to otherwise non-stimulating glucose or oleic acid. Further, NPF-potentiated responses to glucose and oleic acid require a Gr43a-independent and Gr43a-dependent pathway, respectively. Our finding of adaptive expansion of taste neuron response profiles by congruent aroma reveals a previously uncharacterized layer of neural complexity in food flavor perception.
Gender and Public Issues Deliberations in Named and Anonymous Online Environments

Online deliberations in social studies classrooms are increasingly feasible as more schools incorporate online learning environments into their programs. The present study investigates student participation in online deliberations with particular attention to (1) the differences between opinion expression and participation in anonymous versus named conditions, (2) whether the magnitude of any such differences varies by gender, (3) whether males and females express a preference for deliberation in named or anonymous online environments, and (4) the impact of named and anonymous environments on developing students’ deliberative skills. When opinion expression and participation results are analyzed by gender, we find that differences between females and males that manifest in named conditions disappear when discussing anonymously. We find that female students are significantly more likely to prefer discussing in anonymous environments. Finally, we find that students deliberating anonymously express more opinions in a subsequent deliberation than those in the named condition.
Generalized iterative most likely oriented-point (G-IMLOP) registration

The need to align multiple representations of anatomy is a problem frequently encountered in clinical applications. A new algorithm for feature-based registration is presented that solves this problem by aligning both position and orientation information of the shapes being registered. The iterative most likely oriented-point (IMLOP) algorithm and its generalization (G-IMLOP) to the anisotropic noise case are described. These algorithms may be understood as probabilistic variants of the popular iterative closest point (ICP) algorithm. A probabilistic model provides the framework, wherein both position information and orientation information are simultaneously optimized. Like ICP, the proposed algorithms iterate between correspondence and registration subphases. Efficient and optimal solutions are presented for implementing each subphase of the proposed methods. Experiments based on human femur data demonstrate that the IMLOP and G-IMLOP algorithms provide a strong accuracy advantage over ICP, with G-IMLOP providing additional accuracy improvement over IMLOP for registering data characterized by anisotropic noise. Furthermore, the proposed algorithms have increased ability to robustly identify an accurate versus inaccurate registration result. The IMLOP and G-IMLOP algorithms provide a cohesive framework for incorporating orientation data into the registration problem, thereby enabling improvement in accuracy as well as increased confidence in the quality of registration outcomes. For shape data having anisotropic uncertainty in position and/or orientation, the anisotropic noise model of G-IMLOP enables further gains in registration accuracy to be achieved.
The Sandbox Paradox: Balancing the Need to Facilitate Innovation with the Risk of Regulatory Privilege

In recent years, “regulatory sandboxes” have gained a great deal of attention from policymakers, regulators, and regulatory scholars. Regulatory sandboxes are closed testing environments in which specific firms are able to experiment with new and innovative business models or products with reduced regulatory burden or expedited regulatory decisions. Sandbox advocates support or defend regulatory sandboxes as a way to promote entrepreneurialism and innovation within the financial sector while still maintaining mechanisms for consumer protection and regulatory oversight. Opponents of sandboxes tend to focus on the potential risk to the consumers who use the services being tested in the sandbox. However, there is a third group affected by regulatory sandboxes: the competitors of firms in the sandbox. By definition, regulatory sandboxes grant certain advantages to specific firms without extending those same privileges to other firms. The goal of this paper is to examine the potential regulatory advantages sandboxes offer, consider the possible risks and costs associated with those advantages — including the potential to distort the market and incentivize cronyism — and propose best practices that policymakers could use to mitigate those costs.
Thoracic Quantitative Dynamic MRI to Understand Developmental Changes in Normal Ventilatory Dynamics.

Background A database of normative quantitative measures of regional thoracic ventilatory dynamics, which is essential to understanding better thoracic growth and function in children, does not exist. Research Question How to quantify changes in the components of ventilatory pump dynamics during childhood via thoracic quantitative dynamic MRI (QdMRI)? Study Design and Methods Volumetric parameters were derived via 51 dynamic MRI scans for left and right lungs, hemidiaphragms, and hemichest walls during tidal breathing. Volume-based symmetry and functional coefficients were defined to compare left and right sides and to compare contributions of the hemidiaphragms and hemichest walls with tidal volumes (TVs). Statistical analyses were performed to compare volume components among four age-based groups. Results Right thoracic components were significantly larger than left thoracic components, with average ratios of 1.56 (95% CI, 1.41-1.70) for lung TV, 1.81 (95% CI, 1.60-2.03) for hemidiaphragm excursion TV, and 1.34 (95% CI, 1.21-1.47) for hemichest wall excursion TV. Right and left lung volumes at end-expiration showed, respectively, a 44% and 48% increase from group 2 (8 ≤ age Interpretation Normal right and left ventilatory volume components have considerable asymmetry in morphologic features and dynamics and change with age. Chest wall and diaphragm contributions vary in a likewise manner. Thoracic QdMRI can provide quantitative data to characterize the regional function and growth of the thorax as it relates to ventilation.
Exploratory investigation on the use of low-cost alternative media for ultrafine grinding of coal

In this study, the energy efficiency of three alternative grinding media including, coarse silica beads, fine silica beads, and granular sand, were evaluated and compared against standard stainless...
GPR40 and Postsynaptic NMDA Receptors: A Pair Against Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological condition characterized by abnormal brain activity, unusual behavior, and loss of awareness. One of the most common features is the spontaneous recurrence of unprovoked seizures that mainly affect the hippocampus and cortical regions of the brain. Although the exact cause of epilepsy is still unknown, a mix of genetic, neurological, and environmental factors play a role. A novel study by Yang et al. explores the metabotropic receptor GPR40 which is suspected to be involved in the regulation of epileptic seizures, specifically through its modulatory role on NMDA receptors in the central nervous system. Their findings suggest that GPR40 induces NMDA receptor endocytosis via direct interaction with NR2A and NR2B subunits of postsynaptic NMDA receptors. Through this mechanism, NMDA-mediated postsynaptic currents are altered, resulting in reduced seizure-like activity. This review article discusses these novel findings which not only shed light on the potential molecular mechanisms of epilepsy but also push the scientific community closer to developing a treatment for this disorder.
The Properties of Absorption-Line Selected High-Redshift Galaxies

The properties of the galaxies selected by the presence of metal-line absorption systems in the spectra of background QSOs are reviewed. We first describe the properties of these galaxies at redshifts where they can be compared to galaxies selected by other means; selection of galaxies by gas cross section picks out a population of relatively bright galaxies which has not evolved dramatically in either number or luminosity since z ~ 1. These are probably the predecessors of present—day normal field galaxies. Intrinsically faint galaxies or low surface brightness objects appear to contribute little to the total gas cross section (as defined by gas which is just optically thick in the H I Lyman continuum), as essentially no galaxies fainter than ~ 1.5 magnitudes below L * are identified as QSO absorbers. The implications for the evolution of normal galaxies are discussed. Absorption-line selection is possibly the most powerful criterion for isolating examples of very high-redshift (z ≫ 1) galaxies. We review the status of searches for galaxies associated with QSO absorption systems with z ≳ 2.
Plasma dextran concentrations in trauma patients administered hypertonic saline-dextran-70.

Abstract : To determine the plasma concentrations of dextran , sodium and potassium, blood samples were obtained from 13 trauma patients treated with hypertonic saline/dextran (HSD). Blood samples were taken 27 + 5 min after the administration of HSD. Plasma levels of sodium were increased while potassium concentrations were within normal range. Plasma dextran concentrations were significantly less than expected, thereby suggesting either a rapid rate of clearance, association with TCA-precipitable materials, or a larger volume of distribution. These data will provide the basis for future in vitro and in vivo studies as to the efficacy of HSD, and indicate that HSD administration does not result in dangerous alterations in serum electrolyte or dextran concentrations.
Built for Speed: Pleistocene Climate Variation and the Origin of Human Culture

The evolution of humans is a major event in the Earth’s biotic history. Never before has a single species of organism so dominated the planet. Hunting and gathering people penetrated to nearly every habitable scrap of the Earth’s surface by the end of the Pleistocene. Beginning about 10,000 years ago, food plant production, and its evolutionary sequelae, have made us a geochemical and geophysical force to be reckoned with. Most accounts of human origins take this ecological dominance as a sign of a qualitatively new and superior form of adaptation and ask, what evolutionary breakthrough led to the unique human adaptive complex—tool making, language, complex social organization, and other aspects of culture.
Synthesizing Asynchronous Circuits: Practice and Experience

Asynchronous circuit design has been a topic of study for over 40 years. Only recently has this study turned to the practical issues of building useful CAD tool support that approaches the level of functionality available in synchronous VLSI CAD systems. The existence of these asynchronous CAD systems enables today’s designers to construct asynchronous VLSI devices of significant size and scope. This chapter provides a reasonably detailed description of the process of developing a set of VLSI CAD tools which permit correct controller circuits to be synthesized from finite state machine style specifications. The tools were developed in two stages. The first stage resulted in a set of tools called MEAT, which were used to implement a 300,000 transistor multiprocessor routing chip called the Post Office. This Post Office experience provided the motivation for the second stage which resulted in the STETSON tool set which is integrated with the Mentor VLSI tool suite and was used to synthesize a low-power infrared transceiver chip called ABCS. The chapter presents a somewhat chronological view of the development of the CAD methods and provides examples of how well these methods worked in a practical design setting.
Aurocarbons: Binary Gold Carbides, Binary Carbon Aurides and their Derivatives

This chapter discusses diverse aurocarbons, organometallic species which in their simplest form, the first class, are composed of only carbon and gold: they may be understood as binary gold carbides, binary carbon aurides, and as hydrocarbons in which the hydrogens have been replaced by gold. Such species include the highly explosive solid C2Au2 and gas phase exohedral gold-fullerene complexes (C60)2Au+. The second class of aurocarbons are species of the first class in which ligands have been affixed to the gold atoms. This includes the stable C2Au2(P(C6H5)3)2 and the octahedral [C(AuL)6]2+ (L = phenyl(bis(p-tolyl)) phosphine, the latter isolable as the crystalline (BF4)− salt. The third class allows for the presence of “a few” hydrogens or other univalent groups and so includes salts of the anion [HCCCCAuCCCCAuCCCCH]2− and solutions of the cation [C6H5CC(AuP(C6H5)3)2]+. It is to be emphasized that there must be direct gold–carbon bonding and so the heterometallic cluster Rh10C2(CO)2[AuP(C6H5)3)4] is not an aurocarbon of any class even though it contains an allmetal polyhedron, ligated gold atoms, endohedral carbon atoms and a plethora of ligands. Keywords: aurocarbons; binary carbon aurides; binary gold carbides; cations and anions; classes of organometallic species; fullerenes; hydrocarbons; organogold complexes; phosphines ligand
SOME PARAMETERS OF FIXED-FREQUENCY BEKESY AUDIOMETRY.

Bekesy audiograms for interrupted and continuous tones of 4000 cps were obtained on a sample of 120 patients whose sensitivity ranged from 0–95 dB HL and whose cochlear function ranged from normal to severely impaired. Statistical analyses of measures made of these audiograms indicate that the width of the Bekesy tracing around the threshold for the continuous tone (Wc) is an adequate definition of a non-normal population and provides the only basis for reliable classification of fixed-frequency Bekesy audiograms into the categories of pathological or normal cochlear function.
The SUDA project: collaborative Web-based translation

SOL (Suda On Line) is a collaborative Internet-based project involving dozens of researchers to transform the Suda, a 10th-century Byzantine Greek historical encyclopedia, into a searchable electronic text in English translation. The text will include SGML tags to delimit content such as personal names, places, and treatises and will also contain bibliographic and other references, many of which will be hypertext links to other projects elsewhere. SOL allows us to identify translators, establish editorial control, allocate encyclopedia entries to translators, accept translations, have translators modify their accepted translations, have editors vet translations, present texts with Greek and English components, present overall translation status, and perform searches.
Protocolized post-operative pain management in infants; do we stick to it?

Background The American Academy of Pediatrics states that ongoing assessment of pain is essential for adequate pain treatment. Pain assessment by means of the COMFORT behaviour scale and the Numeric Rating Scale is therefore an important component of the post-operative pain treatment protocol for neonates and infants in our intensive care unit (ICU). Aim The study aims to determine degrees of staff compliance with this protocol. Patients and methods This retrospective chart review concerned post-surgical patients under the age of 3 years admitted to our level III ICU over a 1-year period. The degree of compliance to the post-operative pain protocol was measured by the frequency of deviations from protocol-dictated drug treatment and pain assessments. Results Records of 200 children with a median age at surgery of 98 days (interquartile range 6–320) were analysed. A mean of 11 assessments in the first 72 h post-operatively per patient had been recorded. A total of 2103 pain assessments were retrieved, of which 1675 (79.7%) suggested comfort. Compliance to the protocol (reassessment and correct medication) was provided in 66 (15.4%) of the 428 assessments suggesting pain or distress. Conclusion The post-operative pain protocol applied in our ICU appears to be effective; however, full compliance to the protocol was marginal, possibly leading to under-treatment of pain.
Instrumental with and use: modality and implicature

I present an analysis of the instrumental elements with and use, as in Betty cut the cake with a knife. A variety of evidence indicates that with and use do not make the same semantic contribution, casting doubt on the theory that these elements introduce the thematic role Instrument. For use, I adopt the analysis in Rissman (to appear): use expresses modal, goal-related content. For with, a modal reading may be implicated but is not entailed, explaining a variety of contrasts between with and use. The implications of this analysis for a theory of thematic roles is discussed.
Nevanlinna–Pick interpolation on distinguished varieties in the bidisk

Abstract This article treats Nevanlinna–Pick interpolation in the setting of a special class of algebraic curves called distinguished varieties. An interpolation theorem, along with additional operator theoretic results, is given using a family of reproducing kernels naturally associated to the variety. The examples of the Neil parabola and doubly connected domains are discussed.
Isothermal and nonisothermal, laminar, inelastic, non-Newtonian tube-entrance flow following a contraction

Abstract The general equations of motion, including inertial and axial-diffusion terms, and the equation of energy, including axial-diffusion and radial-convection terms, were coupled with a temperature-dependent form of the Powell-Eyring flow equation and then solved simultaneously by numerical methods employing quasilinearization and the method of lines for flow from a larger tube of circular cross section through an abrupt contraction into a smaller tube. The small-tube walls were at a temperature equal to or higher or lower than that of the entering fluid. The Powell-Eyring equation has been demonstrated to represent inelastic flow better than do other simple equations for many simple non-Newtonian fluids, including suspensions of solids in fluids. Results are reported for the case in which the fluid does not adhere to the upstream-tube surface but does adhere to the smaller-tube surface, which approximates flow into the tubes of shell-and-tube heat exchangers and reactors. The computer results presented here included radial and axial velocity profiles; temperature profiles; and lengths of the small tube, L eq , having a fully-developed-flow pressure loss equivalent to the excess pressure loss attributable to flow contraction and development in the tube. These are presented for a large-tube-small-tube-diameter ratio of 2 as functions of N Pe of 5–100; N Re of 0.01–100; z/D for the smaller tube; ψ( H ), a temperature factor; and the Powell-Eyring-equation constants. In plots of L eq against a normalized N Re , the isothermal-flow non-Newtonian data appear to be close to computed Newtonian functions at higher N Re . The effects of axial diffusion of momentum and energy and the conditions where they become important are quantatively shown. The results are in good agreement with previous reports in those circumstances where comparisons are appropriate.
Turnover Intentions and Turnover: The Moderating Role of Dispositional Affectivity

Turnover is often a costly problem for organizations, with severe consequences for individuals (Hom & Griffeth, 1995). Because turnover intention is the best predictor of turnover (Griffeth, Hom, &...
Advanced coded modulation for ultrahigh speed optical transmission

This tutorial represents an overview of advanced coded-modulation for optical communications. It describes the following ultra-high-speed optical transport enabling techniques: codes on graphs, adaptive coded-modulation, and turbo equalization.
HIV and thyroid dysfunction

Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) are associated with dysfunction of many endocrine organs and their axis. HIV infectivity leads to altered metabolism, poor oral intake and increased prevalence of weight loss and wasting which may have a role in thyroid dysfunction. Overt thyroid dysfunction occurs at similar rates as the general population while subclinical disease such as nonthyroidal illness (sick euthyroid syndrome), subclinical hypothyroidism and isolated low T4 levels are more frequent. Moreover, HAART therapy can complicate thyroid function further through drug interactions and the immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS). In this review we report the common thyroid dysfunctions associated with HIV before and after HAART therapy. We discuss presentation, diagnostic work up, treatment and follow up in each condition.
Asymptotic normality of test statistics under alternative hypotheses

The aim of this paper is to present a framework for asymptotic analysis of likelihood ratio and minimum discrepancy test statistics. First order asymptotics are presented in a general framework under minimal regularity conditions and for not necessarily nested models. In particular, these asymptotics give sufficient and in a sense necessary conditions for asymptotic normality of test statistics under alternative hypotheses. Second order asymptotics, and their implications for bias corrections, are also discussed in a somewhat informal manner. As an example, asymptotics of test statistics in the analysis of covariance structures are discussed in detail.
Friendship: Context and Content of Christian Religious Education.

Abstract Friendship renewal is offered as both content and context for Christian religious education. In the first section, four marks of genuine friendship are used to elaborate on the meaning of friendship: a shared story, embodied love and intimacy, committed reciprocity, and a shared vision that enables generativity. In the second section, it is suggested that friendship renewal provides an efficacious vehicle for renewing the life and mission of the church. Friendship enables bridges to be built across cultural divides and empowers the church to become a befriending community. In the final section, friendship renewal is discussed in relation to the what, why, where, and when questions regarding Christian religious education.
Resistance to Thyroid Hormone in Subjects from Two Unrelated Families Is Associated with a Point Mutation in the Thyroid Hormone Receptor β Gene Resulting in the Replacement of the Normal Proline 453 with Serine

Resistance to thyroid hormone (RTH) is a condition of impaired tissue responsiveness to thyroid hormone characterized by elevated free thyroid hormone levels in serum accompanied by nonsuppressed TSH. RTH has been associated with mutations in the thyroid hormone receptor (TR) β gene. We report studies carried out in 9 members of a family (F94) of Jewish ethnic origin and a single subject of Mexican origin. All subjects fulfilling the criteria of RTH (6 of family F94 and one of family F27) had the same point mutation in the T3-binding domain on one of the two alleles of the TRβ gene. This mutation resulted in the replacement of the normal proline-453 with serine (P453S). Nevertheless, the clinical characteristics of affected members of each of the two families differed as did the severity of hormonal resistance in terms of responses to the administration of L-T3. Genetic studies indicate that the same mutation occurred independently in each of the two families.
Techno-economic comparison of Silicon Photonics and multimode VCSELs

We compare Silicon Photonics and multi-mode short wavelength VCSEL technologies for various optical interconnect applications using addressable volume, relative cost, transmission reach, power consumption, and bandwidth-density as metrics.