cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Physicochemical Evaluation, in Vitro Human Skin Diffusion, and Concurrent Biotransformation of 3-O-Alkyl Carbonate Prodrugs of Naltrexone

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the physicochemical properties and in vitro human skin diffusion of the 3-O-alkyl carbonate prodrugs of naltrexone (NTX). Methods. Melting points and heats of fusion (ΔHf) were determined using differential scanning calorimetry. In vitro human skin permeation rates of NTX and its prodrugs were measured using a flow-through diffusion cell system. Drug disposition in the skin was quantified at the end of the diffusion experiment. The solubilities of the drugs were determined in mineral oil and isotonic buffer. Partitioning of the prodrugs from vehicle to skin was determined using isolated sheets of human stratum corneum (SC). Results. All the prodrugs hydrolyzed to NTX on passing through the skin, and the methyl NTX-3-O-carbonate (ME-NTX) provided the highest NTX flux, apparent permeability coefficient (Kp), and calculated relative thermodynamic activity from the melting point and ΔHf. The ME-NTX SC/vehicle partition coefficient was the highest of the prodrug series, although similar to the NTX SC/vehicle partition coefficient value. The shortest chain prodrugs underwent the highest extent of bioconversion to NTX upon passing through the skin. Conclusions. Within this 3-O-alkyl carbonate prodrug series, the shortest chain prodrug was the most skin-permeable compound with the highest partition coefficient and a significant extent of bioconversion.
Joint bilingual name tagging for parallel corpora

Traditional isolated monolingual name taggers tend to yield inconsistent results across two languages. In this paper, we propose two novel approaches to jointly and consistently extract names from parallel corpora. The first approach uses standard linear-chain Conditional Random Fields (CRFs) as the learning framework, incorporating cross-lingual features propagated between two languages. The second approach is based on a joint CRFs model to jointly decode sentence pairs, incorporating bilingual factors based on word alignment. Experiments on Chinese-English parallel corpora demonstrated that the proposed methods significantly outperformed monolingual name taggers, were robust to automatic alignment noise and achieved state-of-the-art performance. With only 20%of the training data, our proposed methods can already achieve better performance compared to the baseline learned from the whole training set.1
Preaching as Reimagining: Post-9/11 Khutbas in the United States and Canada

How have North American Muslims been equipped to deal with discouragement following September 11? One answer to this question is through khutbahs, or Friday sermons, in various Islamic centers in the United States and Canada. This may especially be true with khutbahs that exemplify “reimaginative preaching,” a type of preaching discussed by Old Testament scholar Walter Brueggemann that enables listeners to interpret their existence differently for the sake of new possibility. Utilizing Brueggemann’s framework provides a unique perspective on Islamic preaching. It reveals that by offering a key principle linked to a verse or brief portion of the Quran, preachers of certain khutbahs present an intended phenomenological structure of disruption and refiguration in order to enable listeners to deal with discouragement.
Posttranslational modifications of tubulin in teleost photoreceptor cytoskeletons

1. Posttranslational modifications of tubulin by acetylation and detyrosination have been correlated previously with microtubule stability in numerous cell types. 2. In this study, posttranslational modifications of tubulin and their regional distribution within teleost photoreceptor cones and rods are demonstrated immunohistochemically using antibodies specific for acetylated, detyrosinated, or tyrosinated tubulin. 3. Immunolocalization was carried out on isolated whole cones and mechanically detached rod and cone inner/outer segments. 4. Acetylated tubulin within rods and cones is found only in microtubules of the ciliary axoneme of the outer segment. Detyrosinated tubulin is also enriched in axonemes of both rod and cone outer segments. 5. Distributions of tyrosinated and detyrosinated cytoplasmic microtubules differ within cones and rods. In cones, detyrosinated and tyrosinated tubulins are both abundant throughout the cell body. In rods, the ellipsoid and myoid contain much more tyrosinated tubulin than detyrosinated tubulin. Comparisons between whole cones and cone fragments suggest that detyrosinated microtubules are more stable than tyrosinated microtubules in teleost photoreceptors. 6. Our findings provide further evidence that microtubules of teleost cones differ from rod microtubules in their stabilities and rapidity of turnover within the photoreceptor inner segment.
Growth Patterns of Extremely Low-Birth-Weight Hospitalized Preterm Infants

Objective To characterize the growth of extremely low-birth-weight (ELBW) infants during hospitalization in terms of weight gain, growth velocity, and relative change in weight. Design Retrospective, descriptive design. Setting Two neonatal intensive-care units located in the midwestern United States. Patients Thirty-five ELBW infants with a birth weight less than 1,000 g and appropriate for gestational age. Main Outcome Measures Clinical data related to the infant's growth and nutrition were obtained from a chart review. Birth weight and discharge weight were compared following conversion of the weights to z scores. The discharge weight was compared to the median weight of a fetus of comparable gestational age based on an intrauterine growth reference. Growth velocity was determined (grams/day). Results Weight-for-age z scores decreased significantly between birth and discharge. By discharge, 89% of the infants had discharge weights less than the 10th percentile. The mean discharge weight was significantly less than the median weight of a fetus of comparable gestational age. Days to regain birth weight significantly affected growth outcomes. Conclusion ELBW infants develop a growth deficit during the first few weeks of life that not only persists but also worsens during hospitalization. Potential causes of this growth deficit include the medical and nutritional management that are part of the usual care of ELBW infants. Because these infants are discharged with this growth deficit, catch-up growth will have to occur at home.
Latent TGF-β structure and activation

Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β is stored in the extracellular matrix as a latent complex with its prodomain. Activation of TGF-β1 requires the binding of αv integrin to an RGD sequence in the prodomain and exertion of force on this domain, which is held in the extracellular matrix by latent TGF-β binding proteins. Crystals of dimeric porcine proTGF-β1 reveal a ring-shaped complex, a novel fold for the prodomain, and show how the prodomain shields the growth factor from recognition by receptors and alters its conformation. Complex formation between αvβ6 integrin and the prodomain is insufficient for TGF-β1 release. Force-dependent activation requires unfastening of a ‘straitjacket’ that encircles each growth-factor monomer at a position that can be locked by a disulphide bond. Sequences of all 33 TGF-β family members indicate a similar prodomain fold. The structure provides insights into the regulation of a family of growth and differentiation factors of fundamental importance in morphogenesis and homeostasis. Members of the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily of growth factors are of fundamental importance in development and tissue homeostasis. TGF-β is secreted as an inactive complex that has to be activated to enable receptor binding and activation of downstream signalling events. Cell surface adhesion receptors of the integrin family are essential for the activation of TGF-β. Shi et al. present the structure of latent TGF-β and provide mechanistic insights into latency and force-dependent activation by integrins.
Trends in nanotechnology patents

An analysis of 30 years of data on patent publications from the US Patent and Trademark Office, the European Patent Office and the Japan Patent Office confirms the dominance of companies and selected academic institutions from the US, Europe and Japan in the commercialization of nanotechnology.
Post-natal development of electrophysiological properties of rat cerebral cortical pyramidal neurones.

1. The post-natal development of the electrophysiological properties of cortical layer V pyramidal neurons was investigated with intracellular recordings from rat sensorimotor cortical slices, in vitro. 2. At all ages post-natally (post-natal day 1 to day 36; P1-P36) neurons were capable of generating a train of Na+-dependent action potentials in response to intracellular injection of sufficient depolarizing current. During the second and third week post-natally, these action potentials changed substantially, becoming faster in both their rising and falling phases, shorter in duration, and larger in amplitude. 3. Both mature (greater than P21) and immature (P2-P4) cortical neurones could generate Ca2+-dependent action potentials only if a substantial portion of K+ conductances were blocked. The maximum rate of rise of Ca2+ spikes also increased with age. 4. The apparent input resistance, specific membrane resistance, and membrane time constant all decreased with age from P1 to P30. Immature neurones had I-V relationships that were substantially more linear than those of adult cells, although rectification was often present in both the hyperpolarizing and depolarizing range. Inward rectification in the depolarizing range was Na+ dependent and was substantially larger in mature versus immature neurones. 5. Single, or trains of, action potentials in immature neurones were followed by short duration (10-50 ms) and long duration (1-5 s) after-hyperpolarizations (a.h.p.s) respectively. The duration of the latter appeared to decrease with age. The presence of large a.h.p.s indicates that Ca2+ entry occurs during the action potential of immature, as well as mature, neurones. 6. Responses to intracellular injection of depolarizing current pulses indicated that immature neurones have frequency versus injected current (f-I) relationships which are in general less steep than those for adult neurones and more limited in terms of the range of firing frequencies. 7. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that there is a considerable increase in the density of voltage-dependent ionic channels underlying the electro-responsiveness of cortical pyramidal neurones during post-natal development.
A postmodernist’s progress: Thoughts on spirituality across the David Foster Wallace canon

David Foster Wallace is known more for his postmodern styling, his examination of addiction, his humorous journalism, and his 2008 suicide, than for his exploration of Christianity. However, Christ...
Light-induced modifications of DNA by gilvocarcin V and its aglycone.

Gilvocarcins are antitumor agents that have been reported to damage DNA upon activation by visible light. This activation is dependent on interaction with DNA. Here it is shown that gilvocarcin V and its synthetic aglyclone analogue can both introduce single-strand scission into plasmid DNA. Light irradiation is required for the reaction. The binding of gilvocarcin V to plasmid DNA in the absence of light decreased the DNA linking number in a fashion similar to known intercalating agents such as ethidium bromide. The use of oligonucleotides as substrates for gilvocarcin V demonstrated that one of the steps of the reaction following binding of gilvocarcin V to DNA involves covalent modification at thymidine and to a lesser extent, cytosine residues.
USE OF A THYROID SUPPRESSION TEST AS A GUIDE TO PROGNOSIS OF HYPERTHYROIDISM TREATED WITH ANTITHYROID DRUGS.

Fifty-three thyroid suppression tests were carried out at the end of a year of treatment of hyperthyroidism with antithyroid drugs. Two to 7 years later (average 47 months), 27 patients were well and 26 patients had relapsed or had experienced a recurrence within periods ranging from a few days to 69 months (average 7 months) after antithyroid drugs were discontinued. The average value of 24-hr 131I uptake after the test for those who remained well was 23%, in contrast to 58% for those in whom hyperthyroidism recurred (p <.001). The test indicates the likelihood of a prompt relapse of hyperthyroidism after treatment is discontinued if the value is 50% or more and a prolonged or permanent remission when it is 30% or less.
In situ wear studies of surface micromachined interfaces subject to controlled loading

Abstract Friction and wear are major limiting factors for the development and commercial implementation of devices fabricated by surface micromachining techniques. These tribological properties are studied using a polycrystalline silicon nanotractor device, which provides abundant, quantitative information about friction and wear at an actual microelectromechanical system (MEMS) interface. This in situ approach to measuring tribological properties of MEMS, combined with high-resolution atomic force microscope (AFM) images of wear tracks, provides insight into the effects of different MEMS surface processing on wear. In particular, monolayer coatings have a significant positive effect, while surface texturing does not strongly affect performance.
One-year prognosis of patients with normal planar or single-photon emission computed tomographic technetium 99m-labeled sestamibi exercise imaging.

The favorable prognostic significance of normal201Tl stress perfusion images, even in the presence of known coronary artery disease, has been well documented. Relatively few data are available with regard to the prognostic significance of normal planar and single-photon emission computed tomographic (SPECT) stress99mTc-labeled sestamibi (99mTc-sestamibi) images. The prognostic significance of normal exercise99mTc-sestamibi myocardial perfusion imaging was evaluated in 208 consecutive patients. All patients were referred for evaluation of chest pain syndrome. One hundred eight patients (52%) underwent SPECT imaging, 79 patients (38%) underwent planar imaging, and 21 patients (10%) underwent both planar and SPECT imaging. One hundred seventy-five patients (84%) had a normal or nondiagnostic exercise electrocardiogram, and 33 patients (16%) had a positive exercise electrocardiogram. Follow-up was 13.5 ±2 months and was complete in 99.5% of patients. No patient died of cardiac causes during follow-up. One patient (0.5%) had a nonfatal myocardial infarction and four patients (2%) had unstable angina necessitating revascularization. There was no difference in rate of cardiac events between men and women or whether SPECT or planar imaging was used. However, 33 patients with normal99mTc-sestamibi imaging and a positive exercise electrocardiogram had a significantly higher cardiac event rate than had patients with negative exercise electrocardiograms (9% vs 1%,p < 0.025). Patients with normal99mTc-sestamibi exercise SPECT or planar imaging results and a normal or nondiagnostic exercise electrocardiogram have a favorable 1-year prognosis. Patients with normal99mTc-sestamibi images and a positive stress electrocardiogram have a less favorable outcome.
A comparison of epidural analgesia provided by bupivacaine alone, bupivacaine + morphine, or bupivacaine + dexmedetomidine for pelvic orthopedic surgery in dogs

Abstract Objective To compare the analgesic efficacy of bupivacaine, bupivacaine + morphine, or bupivacaine + dexmedetomidine administered epidurally in dogs undergoing pelvic limb orthopedic surgery. Study design Prospective, randomized, double blinded clinical trial. Animals Sixty dogs weighing (mean ± SD) 35 ± 15.7 kg, aged 5 ± 3 years. Methods Dogs were assigned to receive a lumbosacral epidural containing bupivacaine (B) 0.5%, 1 mg kg−1; B, bupivacaine 0.5%, 1 mg kg−1 + morphine 1%, 0.1 mg kg−1; B + M, or bupivacaine 0.5%, 1 mg kg−1 + dexmedetomidine 0.05%, 4 μg kg−1; B + D. The anesthetic protocol was standardized. The median expired isoflurane concentration (E′Iso) and requirement for additional induction agent preventing purposeful movement were recorded. Pain was scored using visual analog (VAS) and modified University of Melbourne (UMPS) pain scales. Sedation was assessed using a 0–4 scale. All parameters were recorded preoperatively, and at extubation (t = 0), then at 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20–24 hours. Hydromorphone was administered postoperatively to patients with a VAS ≥ 35 and/or UMPS ≥ 9. Time to first voluntary urination and first motor activity were recorded. Results Postoperatively, B + D had a lower UMPS pain score than B at t = 1 hour (p = 0.013), but not compared to B + M. The B + D group had a shorter time to urination (p = 0.0131) and a longer time for return of motor function (p = 0.0068). There were no other differences between the treatments. Conclusion and clinical relevance Epidurally administered B, B + M, or B + D in dogs all provided acceptable analgesia to manage post–operative orthopedic pelvic limb pain. Epidural administration of B + D is an effective alternative to the analgesia provided by B or B + M, but is associated with increased time to return of motor function. The direct neurotoxic effects of epidural dexmedetomidine have not been fully tested.
NUCLEAR FLUORESCENCE EMPLOYING ANTINUCLEOSIDE IMMUNOGLOBULINS

Fluoresceinated antinucleoside globulins were shown to react with the nuclei of L cells. The pattern of nuclear fluorescence was similar to the distribution of nuclear DNA. This reaction was shown to be specific by the following control experiments: 1. Absorption of the specific antibody from an antiadenosine globulin eliminated all fluorescence. 2. Treatment of the cells with nonfluorescent antiadenosine globulin, followed by staining with the fluorescent antiadenosine eliminated almost all of the fluorescence of the nucleus. 3. Treatment of the cells with DNase destroyed the ability of the nucleus to react with antiuridine fluorescent antibodies. 4. Fluoresceinated anti-BSA did not produce nuclear fluorescence. Nuclear fluorescence occurred only in cells harvested during the period of maximum DNA synthesis as measured by the uptake of thymidine. This correlates with the previously demonstrated specificity of the antibodies for denatured DNA.
Serial magnetic resonance imaging in patients following acute myocardial infarction.

Abstract The detection of serial changes in magnetic resonance (MR) signal intensity of the heart following acute myocardial infarction may provide a useful method of characterizing tissue healing. Fourteen patients with acute Q-wave infarction underwent T 2 -weighted, spin-echo cardiac imaging during hospitalization, followed by one or more additional MR studies (total 31) over a 6- to 27-wk period (mean: 3 mo). Visual assessment of the images demonstrated a gradual reduction in signal intensity and localization of the bright signal to the subendocardium of the infarction region over the three-mo study period. A quantitative measurement of signal intensity (infarction/normal myocardium) fell from 1.81 ± 0.42 on the initial study to 1.34 ± 0.37 ( p
Molecular aspects of intracellular sterol esterification: the acyl coenzyme A: cholesterol acyltransferase reaction

The conversion of cholesterol to an esterified storage form by the enzyme acyl-coenzyme A: cholesterol acyltransferase, is a critical component of sterol and membrane homeostasis and represents a significant step in atherogenesis. The isolation in 1993 of the first molecular probe of acyl-coenzyme A: cholesterol acyltransferase provided a key to understanding this reaction and its regulation. The sequence is apparently ubiquitous in eukaryotes, often with multiple sequence homologs within an organism. Presented here is a review of the known molecular events that lead to intracellular sterol esterification.
Vertically tapered polymer waveguide mode size transformer for improved fiber coupling

We describe a novel vertical taper structure fabricated at the ends of polymer optical waveguide devices to improve the coupling be- tween channel waveguides and single mode fibers. The taper smoothly converts a highly elliptical waveguide mode into a large and more circu- lar mode for low loss coupling and relaxed fiber alignment tolerances. A vertical taper 0.5 to 2 mm in length is made in the upper cladding to reduce its thickness from a few micrometers to zero. The taper is sub- sequently covered by an upper cladding. The new upper cladding has an index higher than that of the previous upper cladding but slightly lower than that of waveguide core. In the taper, the channel waveguide mode gradually loses confinement by the upper cladding so that the mode size grows larger as light propagates toward the end of the device, whereas the confinement by the lower cladding and the lateral confinement are not significantly affected. The waveguide mode grows upward away from the lossy ground electrode and substrate commonly found in many poly- mer devices; therefore, no trade-off between mode size and propagation loss is involved. Two special but simple reactive ion etching techniques, shadow masked etching and etching with a tapered photoresist mask, are developed to make the vertical taper. Mode expansion and a 1.8 dB reduction in coupling loss per tapered end are demonstrated experimen- tally. The performance of the mode size transformer is found to be in- sensitive to both waveguide width and polarization. © 2000 Society of Photo- Optical Instrumentation Engineers. (S0091-3286(00)01206-X)
Secondary ion mass spectrometry for the determination of δ37Cl: Part I. Ion microprobe analysis of glasses and fluids

Abstract A detailed technique is presented for the determination of 37 Cl/ 35 Cl in natural glasses by Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS). This technique utilizes a large format high-resolution, high-transmission ion microprobe—the Cameca IMS 1270. The lateral spatial resolution achieved by the microprobe is 10–20 μm—providing the capability to measure δ 37 Cl in very small objects, such as igneous melt inclusions, or in fine-scale zoning in other natural glasses. An overall reproducibility of individual analyses better than 1.5‰ (2 σ ) is demonstrated for replicates of homogeneous glass reference material. This performance is achievable in samples with as little as 100–200 ppm total Cl. This technique has also been extended to the direct determination of 37 Cl/ 35 Cl in very small (1 μl) samples of natural fluids, containing only μg quantities of Cl. Using the simple approach of first integrating the dried fluids with graphite powder, these samples can also be analyzed with an overall reproducibility better than 1.5‰ (2 σ ). This latter procedure is particularly advantageous in cases where the available sample supply is severely limited in quantity.
Mechanical design and development of a high power target system for the SLC positron source

A summary is presented of the mechanical design and development of the new modular target system, its associated controls and software, alignment, and the quick removal system. Operational experience gained with the new system over the first running cycle is also summarized. >
Remembering when we last remembered our childhood experiences: Effects of age and context on retrospective metamemory judgments

People sometimes exhibit a ‘forgot-it-all-along bias’ in which they claim that they have gone for months or years without thinking about certain childhood experiences despite recently recalling those memories. The present study examines memory for memories of childhood experiences, expanding on prior work by using manipulations that require greater reflection when thinking about remembered experiences and when making retrospective metamemory judgments. Age-related differences in memory-for-memory accuracy were also examined. Young (18–20) and older adults (63–89) recalled various events while focusing on emotional or perceptual details for some, and several weeks later were asked to indicate the last time they had remembered various events. Results showed that young adults were more accurate than older adults overall, though both age groups still exhibited a forgot-it-all-along bias that was reduced but not eliminated when a contextual reminder was provided. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The asymptotic kurtosis for maximum likelihood estimators

In general, when moments exist, the dominant term in the fourth central moment of an estimator is three times the square of the asymptotic variance: this to the value three for the asymptotic kurtosis. Working on the approach given in Bowman and Shenton (1998) we now complete the basic asymptotic moment profile by giving an expression for the third order term in the fourth central monment of maximum likelihood estimator, assuming the existence of derivatives of n density and also the existence of the covariance matrix inverse. A four moment distributional model, such as the Pearson system, or Johnson translation system, may be used to approximate pcrccntage points of the estimators.
Conditional immune-gene suppression of honeybees parasitized by Varroa mites

The ectoparasitic mite, Varroa destructor, is the most destructive parasite of managed honeybee colonies worldwide. Since V. destructor transfers pathogens to honeybees, it may be adaptive for bees to respond to mite infestation by upregulating their immune responses. Mites, however, may overcome the host's immune responses by suppressing them, which could facilitate the mite's ability to feed on hemolymph. A humoral immune response of bees parasitized by V. destructor may be detected by studying the expression levels of antibacterial peptides, such as abaecin and defensin, known to be immune-responsive. Expression levels for these two antibacterial peptides changed non-linearly with respect to the number of mites parasitizing honeybee pupae. Bees exposed to low or moderate number of mites had fewer immune-related transcripts than pupae that were never parasitized or pupae with high mite loads. Although many of the pupae tested indicated the presence of bacteria, no correlation with mite numbers or immune-response levels existed. All bees tested negative for acute paralysis and Kashmir bee viruses known to be vectored by V. destructor.
Color signals through dorsal and ventral visual pathways

Explanations for color phenomena are often sought in the retina, lateral geniculate nucleus, and V1, yet it is becoming increasingly clear that a complete account will take us further along the visual-processing pathway. Working out which areas are involved is not trivial. Responses to S-cone activation are often assumed to indicate that an area or neuron is involved in color perception. However, work tracing S-cone signals into extrastriate cortex has challenged this assumption: S-cone responses have been found in brain regions, such as the middle temporal (MT) motion area, not thought to play a major role in color perception. Here, we review the processing of S-cone signals across cortex and present original data on S-cone responses measured with fMRI in alert macaque, focusing on one area in which S-cone signals seem likely to contribute to color (V4/posterior inferior temporal cortex) and on one area in which S signals are unlikely to play a role in color (MT). We advance a hypothesis that the S-cone signals in color-computing areas are required to achieve a balanced neural representation of perceptual color space, whereas those in noncolor-areas provide a cue to illumination (not luminance) and confer sensitivity to the chromatic contrast generated by natural daylight (shadows, illuminated by ambient sky, surrounded by direct sunlight). This sensitivity would facilitate the extraction of shape-from-shadow signals to benefit global scene analysis and motion perception.
Triarylmethanes and 9‐arylxanthenes as prototypes amphihydric compounds for relating the stabilities of cations, anions and radicals by C‐H bond cleavage and electron transfer

Thermodynamic stability properties of 11 p-substituted trityl and seven 9-phenylxanthyl carbocations are reported in sulfolane and of their conjugate carbanions in DMSO. The cations are compared by calorimetric heats of hydride transfer from cyanoborohydride ion, their first and second reduction potentials, their pKs in aqueous sulfuric acid, 13C chemical shifts and free energies of methoxy exchange. Carbanions are compared by their heats and free energies (pKHA) of deprotonation and their first and second oxidation potentials. Radicals are compared by their oxidation and reduction potentials. Their bond dissociation energies are derived by alternative routes: from the carbocation and its reduction potential and from the carbanion and its oxidation potential. The various properties are correlated against each other and against appropriate Hammett-type substituent parameters. Correlations between the different measured properties reported here range from fair to excellent. Despite their importance as historic prototypes for the three trivalent oxidation states of carbon, trityl and xanthyl systems are atypical models for comparing transmission of electron demand in other series of carbocations, radicals or carbanions with significantly different structures. The 9-arylxanthyl series is especially poor because of its insensitivity to substituent effects. The effects of substituents on various properties which represent the stabilities of R+s correlate surprisingly well against those for corresponding R−s. Accordingly, compensating effects on the oxidation and reduction of a series of related R·s may lead to a nearly constant electron transfer energy and absolute hardness for the series. In contrast, the free energies for interconversion of the carbocations and carbanions which determine the gap between pK and pKHA are very sensitive to structural change. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cochlear round window recorded responses to acetylcholine and click stimulation following decentralization.

The round window recordings of cats are distorted in the same way by either sectioning of the fibers at the internal meatus or placing lidocaine or dibucaine at the same site. The cleft between N1 and N2 grossly recovers within two hours following the section procedure or the use of lidocaine. Dibucaine causes a persistent distortion for the two hours. Due to the lack of correlation of the procedures and the distortion it is doubtful that the distortion is due to the presence of an injury potential. It is postulated that the block of efferents may be contributing to the changes produced. Intra-arterial injections of acetylcholine (20 μg) are equally effective in depressing N1 in the innervated as well as in the decentralized cochlea.ZUSAMMENFASSUNGIn Untersuchungen an Katzen wird gezeigt, dass Durchtrennen des Gehornerven am Eintritt in den Meatus acusticus internus und Injektion von Lidocain (Xylocain) oder Dibucain an der gleichen Stelle im wesentlichen gleichartige Veranderungen in den vom runden Fenst...
Feedback control of implicit singularly perturbed systems

Feedback control of implicit singularly perturbed linear systems is considered. Under certain conditions, given in the paper, the system equations can be brought into the standard singularly perturbed form via state transformation and/or feedback. It is shown that the controllability and observability properties of the slow and fast subsystems obtained after applying feedback are invariant with respect to the feedback gain.
Magnetoelastic resonance characterization of core plane assemblies

Magnetostrictively induced elastic resonance (MER) of a ferrite core serves as a technique for characterizing the core in the environment of the plane assembly and differentiating core anomalies from wiring induced anomalies not discernable by pulse techniques alone. The shifts of the resonant frequencies as a result of the change in a core from a constrained to an unconstrained mechanical state explains the ability of the MER technique to discriminate unambiguously between damaged and undamaged cores.
High spectral efficiency phase diversity coherent optical CDMA with low MAI

Spectrally phase-coded optical code division multiple access (OCDMA), demodulated with phase and polarization diversity devices, exhibits high spectral efficiency and low multiple access interference (MAI). Use in a passive optical network (PON) is discussed.
Membershipmap: a data transformation approach for knowledge discovery in databases

We propose a new data transformation approach that facilitates many data mining, interpretation, and analysis tasks. Our approach, called the membershipmap, strives to extract the underlying structure or sub-concepts of each raw attribute automatically, and uses the orthogonal union of these sub-concepts to define a new, semantically richer, space. The sub-concept labels of each point in the original space determine the position of that point in the transformed space. Since sub-concept labels are prone to uncertainty inherent in the original data and in the initial extraction process, a combination of labeling schemes that are based on different measures of uncertainty is presented. In particular, we introduce the crispmap, the fuzzymap, and the possibilisticmap. We outline the advantages and disadvantages of each mapping scheme, and we show that the three transformed spaces are complementary. The proposed transformation is illustrated with several data sets, and we show that it can be used as a flexible pre-processing tool to support such tasks as: sampling, data cleaning, and outlier detection.
Men and Women at Promise for Scientific Excellence: Similarity Not Dissimilarity

U.S. math-science graduate students possessing world-class talent (368 males, 346 females) were assessed on psychological attributes and personal experiences in order to examine how their talents emerged and developed. Comparisons were made, using similar assessments, with mathematically talented students (528 males, 228 females) identified around age 13 and tracked into adulthood by the Study of Mathematically Precocious Youth (SMPY). Well before college, both samples were academically distinguished; however, the graduate students could be identified during adolescence as a subset of mathematically talented youths based on their nonintellectual attributes. Their profiles corresponded to what earlier psychological studies found to characterize distinguished (and exclusively male) scientists: exceptional quantitative reasoning abilities, relatively stronger quantitative than verbal reasoning ability, salient scientific interests and values, and, finally, persistence in seeking out opportunities to study sc...
Neural Correlates and Mechanisms of Spatial Release From Masking: Single-Unit and Population Responses in the Inferior Colliculus

Spatial release from masking (SRM), a factor in listening in noisy environments, is the improvement in auditory signal detection obtained when a signal is separated in space from a masker. To study the neural mechanisms of SRM, we recorded from single units in the inferior colliculus (IC) of barbiturate-anesthetized cats, focusing on low-frequency neurons sensitive to interaural time differences. The stimulus was a broadband chirp train with a 40-Hz repetition rate in continuous broadband noise, and the unit responses were measured for several signal and masker (virtual) locations. Masked thresholds (the lowest signal-to-noise ratio, SNR, for which the signal could be detected for 75% of the stimulus presentations) changed systematically with signal and masker location. Single-unit thresholds did not necessarily improve with signal and masker separation; instead, they tended to reflect the units' azimuth preference. Both how the signal was detected (through a rate increase or decrease) and how the noise masked the signal response (suppressive or excitatory masking) changed with signal and masker azimuth, consistent with a cross-correlator model of binaural processing. However, additional processing, perhaps related to the signal's amplitude modulation rate, appeared to influence the units' responses. The population masked thresholds (the most sensitive unit's threshold at each signal and masker location) did improve with signal and masker separation as a result of the variety of azimuth preferences in our unit sample. The population thresholds were similar to human behavioral thresholds in both SNR value and shape, indicating that these units may provide a neural substrate for low-frequency SRM.
DSP architectural features for intelligence and control applications

The architectural features of digital signal processors (DSPs) that make them applicable to intelligent control are discussed. The impact of on-chip parallel features on numeric processing capabilities and efficient program execution is described. I/O and real-time features of DSPs are examined. The role of numerical computations in preprocessing vocal, visual and written input data in real-time AI systems is considered. The parallels between neural and DSP computations are illustrated. A node configuration for a virtually implemented neural network, based on a commercially available DSP chip, is proposed. >
Targeting nucleotide-requiring enzymes: implications for diazoxide-induced cardioprotection.

Modulation of mitochondrial respiratory chain, dehydrogenase, and nucleotide-metabolizing enzyme activities is fundamental to cellular protection. Here, we demonstrate that the potassium channel op...
Increase in plasma atrial natriuretic factor during ventriculoatrial pacing

Abstract Atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) is a peptide produced by the atria in response to increases in atria1 pressure, volume or stimulation frequency.1 ANF has been shown to be a potent arterial vasodilator at physiologic concentrations during arterial infusions in normal subjects.2 Previous studies from this laboratory have shown that ventriculoatrial (VA) pacing with a VA interval of 100 to 150 ms is associated with increases in right and left atria1 pressure.3 It has been suggested that increased ANF release due to atria1 distension may play a role in the hypotension that occurs in patients with pacemaker syndrome who have VVI pacemakers and intact (retrograde) VA conduction.4,5 We undertook this study to examine the relation between vascular tone measured by forearm venous occlusion plethysmography and circulating ANF during VA pacing.
The Strategy and Tactics of Revolutionary Terrorism

There is an enormous social-scientific literature on the concepts of politicalviolence, internal war, and social conflict (e.g., Nieburg, 1969;Eckstein, 1964; Oberschall, 1973). These categories are intended toexclude conventional military conflicts between recognized states on theone hand and purely interpersonal violence on the other hand. But the theoretical treatment of one variety of violent social conflict is more limited, and it is this that I want to discuss: revolutionary terrorism. The use of terrorist tactics would seem to be more widespread today than in the past, if newspaper headlines are to be relied upon, and certainly public concern about it is greater. It is therefore incumbent upon social science to attempt to contribute to an understanding of it.
Price-Sensitivity Measurement: a Tool for Restaurant Menu Pricing

Setting the correct price for hospitality products is a crucial management task that has a major influence on a firm's profitability. In general, there has been a lack of academic interest in the area of pricing in services. The restaurant industry typically establishes prices by marking up a variable cost percentage and by intuition, or by trial-and-error methods. This study illustrates how restaurant managers can use price-sensitivity measurement to assess their guests' price sensitivity. By means of a relatively simple survey, restaurant managers can gain insights about their menu pricing directly from their customers. This study uses data collected from a Hong Kong buffet restaurant, but the technique could be applied in virtually any restaurant setting. The results reveal price ranges that represent real value for dinner buffet patrons.
SIZE OF THE VOMERONASAL NEUROEPITHELIUM IN TWO SPECIES OF MICROTUS WITH DIFFERING LEVELS OF PATERNAL BEHAVIOR

Abstract Recent studies have suggested that the relatively large size of the vomeronasal neuroepithelium (VNNE) in the male mammal may be related inversely to the amount of parental care contributed. We tested this hypothesis using 2 species of Microtus that differ in reproductive strategies and in level of care of the offspring. We studied the nasal tissues of 8 male meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) and 8 male prairie voles (M. ochrogaster), captured between June and August, 1998. The heads were prepared histologically for serial sectioning at 10–16 μm, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Sections were examined by light microscopy, and the VNNE was quantified for each specimen using a computer 3-dimensional reconstruction technique. Receptor cells also were quantified with a Leica photomicroscope using an ocular grid calibrated by a stage micrometer. No (P > 0.05) differences occurred between species for length or volume of the VNNE when expressed as absolute measures or as ratios of somatic me...
Understanding gender-specific intimate partner homicide: A theoretical and domestic service-oriented approach

Research on intimate partner homicide has increased in recent years, partially due to growing efforts to disaggregate homicides into meaningful categories but also because of a growing interest in policy responses toward domestic violence. Much of this research tends to focus on two perspectives—exposure reduction and the backlash/retaliation hypotheses—when explaining the link between intimate partner homicide and domestic violence resources. Support has been found for both approaches even though they offer contradictory predictions. This frustrating finding is further complicated by methodological issues, such as the inability to address the rare nature of these events, offer a wide range of domestic violence services and resources and control for structural characteristics of urban areas where violence is found. This issue is addressed by offering a systematic examination of male- and female-victim intimate partner homicide in 2000. The current study investigates both exposure reduction and backlash arguments, in addition to economic deprivation and a number of structural factors relevant to homicide rates. Results suggest that while these perspectives are relevant to intimate partner homicides, there are statistically significant differences across the gender-specific models once the corrected statistical test for coefficient equality is estimated.
Evidence That the DNA Mismatch Repair System Removes 1-Nucleotide Okazaki Fragment Flaps

The DNA mismatch repair (MMR) system plays a major role in promoting genome stability and suppressing carcinogenesis. In this work, we investigated whether the MMR system is involved in Okazaki fragment maturation. We found that in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the MMR system and the flap endonuclease Rad27 act in overlapping pathways that protect the nuclear genome from 1-bp insertions. In addition, we determined that purified yeast and human MutSα proteins recognize 1-nucleotide DNA and RNA flaps. In reconstituted human systems, MutSα, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, and replication factor C activate MutLα endonuclease to remove the flaps. ATPase and endonuclease mutants of MutLα are defective in the flap removal. These results suggest that the MMR system contributes to the removal of 1-nucleotide Okazaki fragment flaps.
Stabilizing and Managing Patients with Altered Mental Status and Delirium

Present in all patient populations, altered mental status (AMS) is a common, but nonspecific emergency department (ED) presentation that can signify serious underlying pathology. Delirium is a more defined mental status change caused by another medical condition that carries a high morbidity and mortality if missed. However, ED physicians miss the condition in more than 50% of cases. The ED physician should maintain a high index of suspicion for delirium, because if missed in the ED, delirium is more likely to be missed on the floors as well. Management of delirium is directed toward treating the underlying course.
Towards a moral socio-environmental economy: A reconsideration of values

Abstract In this intervention article I contribute to discussions of moral economy by arguing that scholars should reconsider the nature of value. Neoliberalism considers only exchange value. As a consequence neoliberal policies try to manage problems such as climate change with economic systems and instruments that are mis-calibrated to the material realities they are meant to represent. Value has spatial and temporal characteristics. Recognizing the spatial and temporal dynamics of value leads to new means of resource valuation, such as extending the time-frame of instruments and changing the nature of privatization. In conclusion, I argue for the need for new theories of use value.
Decay of 14.1-h U 240 and 7.22-min Np m 240

The $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray spectrum of 14.1-h $^{240}\mathrm{U}$ was obtained almost free of interference by the much more intense $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ radiation from its $^{240}\mathrm{Np}^{m}$ daughter by means of continuous radiochemical separations. Thus 16 new transitions (49.1-299.8 keV) were revealed in addition to the single one at 44.1 keV previously identified, and a tentative decay scheme for $^{240}\mathrm{U}$ is proposed. A detailed study of separated $^{240}\mathrm{Np}^{m}$ showed $70\ensuremath{\gamma}$ transitions whose ${E}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}}$ and ${I}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}}$ values agree well with previous data, and in addition 29 new transitions were found. The absolute intensity of the 554.6-keV $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray transition is (20.6\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.5)%, the $^{240}\mathrm{Np}^{m}$ half-life is 7.22\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.02 min, and the fraction decaying by isomeric transition is (0.12\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.01)%. A decay scheme of $^{240}\mathrm{Np}^{m}$ is proposed which shows several new levels in $^{240}\mathrm{Pu}$ and some changes in previous ${I}^{\ensuremath{\pi}}$ and ${K}^{\ensuremath{\pi}}$ assignments. The isomeric state is assigned ${I}^{\ensuremath{\pi}}={1}^{(+)}$, ${K}^{\ensuremath{\pi}}={0}^{(+)}$ with the probable configuration ${\frac{7}{2}}^{+}{[633]}_{p}$, ${\frac{7}{2}}^{+}{[624]}_{n}$.RADIOACTIVITY $^{240}\mathrm{U}$, $^{240}\mathrm{Np}^{m}$ from $^{244}\mathrm{Pu}\stackrel{\ensuremath{\alpha}}{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}^{240}\mathrm{U}\stackrel{{\ensuremath{\beta}}^{\ensuremath{-}}}{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}^{240}\mathrm{Np}^{m}$; radiochemistry, Ge(Li) and $4\ensuremath{\pi}$ gas proportional detectors. Measured ${T}_{\frac{1}{2}}$, ${E}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}}$, ${I}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}}$; deduced ${I}_{\ensuremath{\beta}}$, $log\mathrm{ft}$, decay schemes, $I$, $\ensuremath{\pi}$, Nilsson assignments.
Exploring Dynamics and Cage–Guest Interactions in Clathrate Hydrates Using Solid-State NMR

Interactions between guest molecules and the water cages in clathrates are dominated by isotropic van der Waals forces at low temperatures because the cage structures satisfy the hydrogen bonding propensity of the water. However, above 200 K the water molecules become more labile and may interact strongly with the guests through hydrogen bonding. In this work we compare the dynamics of tetrahydrofuran (THF) and cyclopentane (CP) guests in the hydrate cages above 200 K. Since THF can form hydrogen bonds while CP cannot, the dynamics provide insight into host–guest hydrogen bonding. We use magic angle spinning (MAS) solid-state NMR to measure proton spin–lattice relaxation times (T1) of the guests as a function of temperature and find that the activation barrier to the motion of THF molecules is 4.7 kcal/mol (19.7 kJ/mol) at temperatures above 200 K. This is almost 5 times higher than the barrier at lower temperatures. In contrast, the barrier to guest motion in CP hydrate is found to be about 0.67 kcal/mol...