cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Biochemical characteristics of insecticide resistance in the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith)

Abstract A strain of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), collected from corn in Citra, Florida, showed high resistance to carbaryl (562-fold) and methyl parathion (354-fold). Biochemical studies revealed that various detoxification enzyme activities were higher in the field strain than in the susceptible strain. In larval midguts, activities of microsomal oxidases (epoxidases, hydroxylase, sulfoxidase, N -demethylase, and O -demethylase) and hydrolases (general esterase, carboxylesterase, β-glucosidase) were 1.2- to 1.9-fold higher in the field strain than in the susceptible strain. In larval fat bodies, various activities of microsomal oxidases (epoxidases, hydroxylase, N -demethylase, O -demethylases, and S -demethylase), glutathione S -transferases (CDNB, DCNB, and p -nitrophenyl acetate conjugation), hydrolases (general esterase, carboxylesterase, β-glucosidase, and carboxylamidase) and reductases (juglone reductase and cytochrome c reductase) were 1.3- to 7.7-fold higher in the field strain than in the susceptible strain. Cytochrome P450 level was 2.5-fold higher in the field strain than in the susceptible strain. In adult abdomens, their detoxification enzyme activities were generally lower than those in larval midguts or fat bodies; this is especially true when microsomal oxidases are considered. However, activities of microsomal oxidases ( S -demethylase), hydrolases (general esterase and permethrin esterase) and reductases (juglone reductase and cytochrome c reductase) were 1.5- to 3.0-fold higher in the field strain than in the susceptible strain. Levels of cytochrome P450 and cytochrome b 5 were 2.1 and 1.9-fold higher, respectively, in the field strain than in the susceptible strain. In addition, acetylcholinesterase from the field strain was 2- to 85-fold less sensitive than that from the susceptible strain to inhibition by carbamates (carbaryl, propoxur, carbofuran, bendiocarb, thiodicarb) and organophosphates (methyl paraoxon, paraoxon, dichlorvos), insensitivity being highest toward carbaryl. Kinetics studies showed that the apparent K m value for acetylcholinesterase from the field strain was 56% of that from the susceptible strain. The results indicated that the insecticide resistance observed in the field strain was due to multiple resistance mechanisms, including increased detoxification of these insecticides by microsomal oxidases, glutathione S -transferases, hydrolases and reductases, and target site insensitivity such as insensitive acetylcholinesterase. Resistance appeared to be correlated better with detoxification enzyme activities in larval fat bodies than in larval midguts, suggesting that the larval fat body is an ideal tissue source for comparing detoxification capability between insecticide-susceptible and -resistant insects.
A Simple Soil-Structure Interaction Model for Indirect Damage Assessment of Segmented Concrete Pipelines During PGD

This paper describes a simple soil-structure interaction model of a buried segmented concrete pipeline that can be used for indirect health monitoring during Permanent Ground Deformation (PGD). Buried pipelines are difficult to inspect visually, and thus accurate health monitoring systems can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of repair efforts immediately following an earthquake. A Winkler pipeline model is developed for indirect health monitoring that incorporates the two primary modes of failure observed in pipeline experiments, namely telescoping and rotation at the joints. Very approximate estimates of the model parameters are made, and the model results are compared to experimental results. In general the model captures both the magnitude and patterns of joint deformation. However, the model yields axial forces that are two orders of magnitude higher than the measured values. This suggests that the first order approximation of the joint as an elastic beam is inaccurate. Structural
Gating properties of girk channels activated by gαo‐ and Gαi‐Coupled Muscarinic m2 Receptors in Xenopus Oocytes: The Role of Receptor Precoupling in RGS Modulation

‘Regulators of G protein Signalling’ (RGSs) accelerate the activation and deactivation kinetics of G protein-gated inwardly rectifying K+ (GIRK) channels. In an apparent paradox, RGSs do not reduce steady-state GIRK current amplitudes as expected from the accelerated rate of deactivation when reconstituted in Xenopus oocytes. We present evidence here that this kinetic anomaly is dependent on the degree of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) precoupling, which varies with different Gαi/o-RGS complexes. The gating properties of GIRK channels (Kir3.1/Kir3.2a) activated by muscarinic m2 receptors at varying levels of G protein expression were examined with or without the co-expression of either RGS4 or RGS7 in Xenopus oocytes. Different levels of specific m2 receptor-Gα coupling were established by uncoupling endogenous pertussis toxin (PTX)-sensitive Gαi/o subunits with PTX, while expressing varying amounts of a single PTX-insensitive subunit (Gαi1(C351G), Gαi2(C352G), Gαi3(C351G), GαoA(C351G), or GαoB(C351G)). Co-expression of each of the PTX-insensitive Gαi/o subunits rescued acetylcholine (ACh)-elicited GIRK currents (IK,ACh) in a concentration-dependent manner, with Gαo isoforms being more effective than Gαi isoforms. Receptor-independent ‘basal’ GIRK currents (IK,basal) were reduced with increasing expression of PTX-insensitive Gα subunits and were accompanied by a parallel rise in IK,ACh. These effects together are indicative of increased Gβγ scavenging by the expressed Gα subunit and the subsequent formation of functionally coupled m2 receptor-G protein heterotrimers (Gα(GDP)βγ). Co-expression of RGS4 accelerated all the PTX-insensitive Gαi/o-coupled GIRK currents to a similar extent, yet reduced IK,ACh amplitudes 60-90 % under conditions of low Gαi/o coupling. Kinetic analysis indicated the RGS4-dependent reduction in steady-state GIRK current was fully explained by the accelerated deactivation rate. Thus kinetic inconsistencies associated with RGS4-accelerated GIRK currents occur at a critical threshold of G protein coupling. In contrast to RGS4, RGS7 selectively accelerated Gαo-coupled GIRK currents. Co-expression of Gβ5, in addition to enhancing the kinetic effects of RGS7, caused a significant reduction (70-85 %) in steady-state GIRK currents indicating RGS7-Gβ5 complexes disrupt Gαo coupling. Altogether these results provide further evidence for a GPCR-Gαβγ-GIRK signalling complex that is revealed by the modulatory affects of RGS proteins on GIRK channel gating. Our functional experiments demonstrate that the formation of this signalling complex is markedly dependent on the concentration and composition of G protein-RGS complexes.
Comparison of ontology reasoning systems using custom rules

In the semantic web, content is tagged with "meaning" or "semantics" that allows for machine processing when implementing systems that search the web. General question/answer systems that are built on top of reasoning and inference face a number of difficult issues. In this paper we analyze scalability issues in the context of a question/answer system (called ScienceWeb) in the domain of a knowledge base of science information that has been harvested from the web. In ScienceWeb we will be able to answer questions that contain qualitative descriptors such as "groundbreaking", "top researcher", and "tenurable at university x". ScienceWeb is being built using ontologies, reasoning systems and custom based rules for the reasoning system. In this paper we address the scalability issue for a variety of supporting systems for ontologies and reasoning. In particular, we study the impact of using custom inference rules that are needed when processing queries in ScienceWeb.
Enthalpies and entropies of solution of first row transition metals in liquid copper

Abstract New experimental data for the enthalpies of solution of the first row transition metals in liquid copper are compared with the semiempirical predictions of Miedema et al. For solute metals from vanadium to nickel the enthalpies of solution also are compared with Gibbs energy data to yield excess entropies of solution. For Cr, Mn and Fe in liquid copper it is noted that the observed excess entropies in large measure may arise from the difference between the disordering entropy resulting from the destruction of the quasi-bound magnetic impurity states and the electronic entropy of the pure metal.
Reversible ionic liquids designed for facile separations

Reversible ionic liquids can increase the application of traditional ionic liquids, such as those based on imidazolium cations, and generate new technologies along the way. While traditional ionic liquids have gained industrial and academic attention as solvents, many applications suffer from the difficulty associated with removing high boiling point products from non-volatile liquids. Reversible ionic liquids are those which can be reversed back and forth between molecular and ionic forms enabling facile separations through large in situ property changes. Thus these novel solvents lead to truly sustainable processes. An understanding of the phase behavior of these systems provides insight into the separation capability. Here we review both one- and two-component reversible ionic liquids and their applications with an emphasis on separations.
Multiscale Simulation of Multiprotein Assemblies: The Challenges of Ultra-Coarse-Graining

A multiscale theoretical and computational methodology will be described for studying biomolecular systems across multiple length and time scales, providing a systematic connection between molecular-scale interactions, coarse-grained models, and mesoscopic phenomena. At the heart of the approach is a methodology for deriving “ultra” coarse-grained models that embody the underlying molecular-scale interactions because the approach is based on systematic principles from statistical mechanics. However, a critical component of the methodology is also its connection to experimental structural data, such as cryo-EM or x-ray, when developing the ultra-coarse-grained models, thus making it “hybrid” in its character. Important results from our multiscale simulations will be presented that describe key features of large multiprotein complexes, such as the HIV-1 virus capsid, actin filaments, and (if time allows) protein-mediated remodelling of membranes.
University of Missouri-Rolla research on cold-formed steel structures

Abstract During the past 27 years, numerous research projects have been conducted at the University of Missouri-Rolla (UMR) under the sponsorships of the American Iron and Steel Institute, National Science Foundation, American Society of Civil Engineers, Metal Building Manufacturers Association, Steel Deck Institute, Metal/Lath Steel Framing Association, Chromium Center, Nickel Development Institute, and several steel companies located in the USA, Canada, and South Africa. The purpose of these investigations has been to study the structural strength of cold-formed steel members, connections, and structural systems. Some of the research findings have been used in the development of the AISI Specification for the Design of Cold-Formed Steel Structural Members, the AISI Automotive Design Manual, and the ASCE Standard Specification for the Design of Cold-Formed Stainless Steel Structural Members. This paper reviews the research work and other related activities on cold formed steel structures conducted at UMR.
Structure−Function Relationships for Inhibitors of β-Amyloid Toxicity Containing the Recognition Sequence KLVFF†

β-Amyloid (Aβ), the primary protein component of Alzheimer's plaques, is neurotoxic when aggregated into fibrils. We have devised a modular strategy for generating compounds that inhibit Aβ toxicity. These compounds contain a recognition element, designed to bind to Aβ, linked to a disrupting element, designed to interfere with Aβ aggregation. On the basis of this strategy, a hybrid peptide was synthesized with the sequence KLVFF (residues 16−20 of Aβ) as the recognition element and a lysine hexamer as the disrupting element; this compound protects cells in vitro from Aβ toxicity [Pallitto, M. M., et al. (1999) Biochemistry 38, 3570]. To determine if the length of the disrupting element could be reduced, peptides were synthesized that contained the KLVFF recognition element and a sequence of one to six lysines as disrupting elements. All compounds enhanced the rate of aggregation of Aβ, with the magnitude of the effect increasing as the number of lysines in the disrupting element increased. The greatest l...
MRI and DTI Characteristics of Natalizumab Associated PML during a Novel Treatment Protocol (P07.061)

Objective: To describe clinical and MRI features of natalizumab associated PML. Background Natalizumab is an effective therapy but is associated with risk of PML. PML is treated by removing natalizumab from blood by plasma exchange (PLEX). However, more active restoration of the immune cell migration may be associated with better outcome. Design/Methods: 26-year-old male developed PML after receiving 40 doses of natalizumab. PML produced new onset of nystagmus and left sided ataxia. MRI showed a non-enhancing left MCP lesion extending into the cerebellum. Treatment included PLEX, mefloquine 250mg daily, and mirtazapine 45mg daily; 1 week after PLEX: filgrastim 300mcg x 5 days, maraviroc 150 twice daily, zonisamide 100mg daily. Results: PML lesion volume on FLAIR MRI before PLEX was 9.8cc, but increased to 15.2 cc post PLEX and filgrastim. T1 volume increased from 5.6cc to 9.9cc. This was not associated with any gadolinium enhancement. After immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) and post IV steroids, the T2 FLAIR volume increased to 18.1 cc and T1 volume to 16.3 cc with little contrast enhancement. MS lesion activity did not change. DTI of the PML lesion showed decreased in FA and axial diffusivity but increase in radial diffusivity compared to non-lesion side. Prior to PML, patient had an EDSS of 4.5. At the time of PML, EDSS increased to 6.5. Three months after treatment for PML, the EDSS decreased to 5.5. Conclusions: Using this protocol, our patient had a favorable outcome. The enlargement of T2 FLAIR and T1 signal without much contrast enhancement may represent unmasking of a greater area of PML lesion. The clinical worsening during PML therapy may be due to a combination of unmasking of a greater PML lesion and IRIS. DTI imaging suggests both an axonal and myelin loss within the PML lesion. Disclosure: Dr. Javed has received personal compensation for activities with Teva Neuroscience, Bayer Pharmaceuticals, Serono, Inc., Novartis, Questcor and Biogen Idec as a consultant and/or speaker. Dr. Ko has received personal compensation for activities with Biogen Idec, Serono, Inc., and Teva Neuroscience for consulting services. Dr. Balabanov has received personal compensation for activities with Biogen Idec, Teva Neuroscience and Genzyme as a consultant, and speaker bureau honoraria from Biogen Idec and Teva Neuroscience.Dr. Balabanov has received research support from Biogen Idec. Dr. Stefoski has received personal compensation for activities with Biogen Idec, Acorda, Serono, Elan, and Teva Neuroscience. Dr. Stefoski has received royalty payments from Acorda Therapeutics. Dr. Stefoski has received research support from Biogen Idec, Novartis, Serono, and Pfizer.
Acute and chronic effects of methsuximide and mephenytoin on the delayed-matching-to-sample performance of pigeons.

Acute and chronic effects of methsuximide and mephenytoin were examined in pigeons performing under a delayed-matching-to-sample procedure. Acute administrations of methsuximide (25–175 mg/kg) and mephenytoin (40–160 mg/kg) produced generally dose-dependent decreases in accuracy. At the two highest doses, methsuximide decreased rate of responding to the sample stimulus; mephenytoin did so only at the highest dose. At low doses, both methsuximide and mephenytoin increased response rate over control. After 20 sessions of daily exposure to methsuximide (100 mg/kg) or mephenytoin (80 mg/kg), tolerance developed to the accuracy-decreasing effects of both drugs.
The anteroventral wall of the third ventricle and the angiotensinergic component of need-induced sodium intake in the rat

Abstract Because the anteroventral wall of the third ventricle (AV3V) has been implicated in the control of sodium intake it was studied in rats with damage of the AV3V region in the sodium-replete and sodium-deplete states, and when they were treated with either pulse intracerebroventricular (pICV) injection of renin to activate brain angiotensin or daily subcutaneous injections of deoxycorticosterone (DOCA). The response of rats with AV3V damage to sodium depletion was retarded and the excess sodium intake that is induced by pICV renin was absent, but their daily need-free sodium intake and the sodium intake that is induced by DOCA were essentially normal. The results suggest that the AV3V is responsible for the angiontensinergic, but not the aldosteronergic, component of the ANG II/ALDO synergy that controls need-induced sodium appetite in the rat. The integrity of the AV3V is not necessary for daily need-free sodium intake or for its enhancement by sodium depletions, suggesting that ANG II is probably not important for these phenomena. But ANG II action within the AV3V might be important for the rapid burst of sodium intake that immediately follows a period of depletion.
Gill area, Permeability and Na+,K+-ATPase Activity as a Function of Size and Salinity In the Blue Crab, Callinectes sapidus

Juvenile blue crabs, Callinectes sapidus, extensively utilize oligohaline and freshwater regions of the estuary. With a presumptively larger surface-area-to-body weight ratio, juvenile crabs could experience osmo- and ionoregulatory costs well in excess of that of adults. To test this hypothesis, crabs ranging over three orders of magnitude in body weight were acclimated to either sea water (1,000 mOsm) or dilute sea water (150 mOsm), and gill surface area, water and sodium permeabilities (calculated from the passive efflux of 3H2O and 22Na+), gill Na+,K+-ATPase activity and expression were measured. Juveniles had a relatively larger gill surface area; weight-specific gill surface area decreased with body weight. Weight-specific water and sodium fluxes also decreased with weight, but not to the same extent as gill surface area; thus juveniles were able to decrease gill permeability slightly more than adults upon acclimation to dilute media. Crabs 5 g in both posterior and anterior gills. Acclimation to dilute medium induced increased expression of Na+,K+-ATPase and enzyme activity, but the increase was not as great in juveniles as in larger crabs. The increased weight-specific surface area for water gain and salt loss for small crabs in dilute media presents a challenge that is incompletely compensated by reduced permeability and increased affinity of gill Na+,K+-ATPase for Na+. Juveniles maintain osmotic and ionic homeostasis by the expression and utilization of extremely high levels of gill Na+,K+-ATPase, in posterior, as well as in anterior, gills. J. Exp. Zool. 305A:233–245, 2006.© 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
An entrepreneur performance index

A measure of entrepreneur performance is important to identify current and future successful ventures, to further our understanding of the entrepreneurial process and to guide public policies to improve the success rate of start-ups. We propose a single value index of entrepreneur performance that ranges from one to zero, that is predicated on multiple inputs, and that mitigates the impact of outliers. The index is calculated for firms from the Kauffman Foundation Firm Survey for years 2004 through 2009. The average value of the index increases over time as firms either improve their performance or exit the data set due to failure. Survival analysis shows that the index serves as a leading indicator of success, although many additional factors are important.
The Effect of Pretreatment and Homogenization on the Precipitation of Spherical Al3Zr Phase in Aluminium Alloy Containing Trace of Zr

The number and size of the precipitation of spherical Al3Zr particles, in aluminium alloy containing trace of Zr which subjected to different heat treatments, have been investigated by transmission electron microscopy. The results show that, the number of spherical Al3Zr particles is determined by the pretreatment, and that the size is determined by the homogenization. The number of spherical Al3Zr particles increases with prolonging the time of pretreatment between 0h to 48h and rising the temperature of pretreatment between 200°C to 400°C, and the size of spherical Al3Zr particles turn out to be the same. The size of spherical Al3Zr particles increases with prolonging the time of homogenization between 0h to 48h and rising the temperature of homogenization between 470°C to 500°C.
INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH FACTOR 1 IN THE DEVELOPING RHESUS MONKEY

Although the rhesus monkey is an excellent model of human growth hormone physiology, no developmental survey of serum concentrations of the growth hormone dependent somatomedin, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), is available. Thus, we studied serum values of IGF-1 collected between birth (NB) and 17 years (17yr) of age in 83 animals in a cross-sectional study and between 3 months (3M) and 4 years (4yr) of age in 6 animals in a longitudinal study. RIA incorporated antibody to IGF-1 (provided by the NHPP), synthetic IGF-1 (provided by Dr. C.H. Li) as radioligand, and pooled rhesus monkey serum as standard. All sera were extracted with acid-ethanol to eliminate the effects of binding proteins. Results from the cross-sectional study were (values in U/ml): Pubertal animals of 2-4 years had significantly higher values than younger or older animals (p<.001). There was a correlation of bodyweight with IGF-1 values in the males (R2=.717, p<.0005). This trend was confirmed in the longitudinal study. In conclusion, the rhesus monkey, like the human being, has higher IGF-1 values during the pubertal period, and should afford a useful model of IGF-1 regulation in human development.
Effect of retention interval on showup and lineup performance

Abstract Showups – when a single suspect is presented to an eyewitness – are thought to be a more suggestive procedure than traditional lineups by the U.S. Supreme Court and social science researchers. The present experiment examined the impact of retention interval on showup identifications, because immediate showups might be no worse than, and perhaps even better than, a lineup conducted after a delay. Participants (N = 1584) viewed a mock-crime video and then were presented with a showup or a simultaneous lineup, either immediately or a 48 h delay. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses revealed that a showup never resulted in better identification accuracy than a lineup. We conclude with a discussion of whether showups should ever be used.
A new performance measure for scheduling independent real-time tasks

Abstract A new performance measure for scheduling tasks in hard real-time systems is proposed and analyzed. The proposed measure is the maximum normalized task flowtime over all tasks, called the system hazard , where the normalized flowtime of a real-time task is the flowtime of the task divided by the period between its arrival time and deadline. The system hazard is a better measure than simply meeting task deadlines because it also indicates how early tasks as a whole can be completed before their deadlines. For a single processor with only independent periodic tasks, optimal scheduling algorithms with respect to the system hazard are derived for both static and dynamic cases. Two best bounds of processor utilization for these optimal algorithms are also computed.
The 1,3,4-oxadiazole moiety, a protective synthon for indirect radioiodination

2-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole can readily be iodinated/radioiodinated to 2-(3,5-diiodo-4-hydroxy-phenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole which in a one-step hydrolysis-condensation serves as an indirect prosthetic moiety for iodination of carbonyl compounds.
Modulation of Protein Splicing of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Vacuolar Membrane ATPase Intein

Protein splicing of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae vacuolar membrane ATPase intein involves four highly coordinated reactions that result in precise cleavage and formation of peptide bonds. In this study, we investigated the roles of the last N-extein residue (-1 residue) and the intein penultimate residue in modulating splicing reactions. Most of the 20 amino acid substitutions at the -1 position had no effect on overall protein splicing but could lead to significant accumulation of thioester intermediates when splicing was blocked by mutation. A subset of -1 substitutions attenuated the initiation of protein splicing and enabled us to demonstrate in vitro splicing of a mesophilic intein containing all wild-type catalytic residues. Substitutions involving the intein penultimate residue allowed modulation of the branch resolution and C-terminal cleavage reaction. Our data suggest that the N-S acyl rearrangement, which initiates splicing, may also serve as the rate-limiting step. Through appropriate amino acid substitutions, we were able to modulate splicing reactions in vitro by change in pH or temperature or addition of thiol reagents. Both insertion and deletion were tolerated in the central region of the intein although splicing or structure of the intein may have been affected.
Combating global warming while enhancing the future

Abstract The world is trying to prevent the accumulation of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere from reaching a level that will produce irreversible damage to the world. The set of actions proposed here would, if pursued worldwide, accomplish that goal by mid-century. These actions can do little beyond that point to meet either the needs or aspirations of the current or growing population. It is imperative that the intellectual, political, and material resources be mustered to develop the requisite technology to carry us on after that date. Nuclear power, appropriately developed, has the potential to meet those needs. Present thermal reactors generate a threatening amount of radioactive waste that, if not disposed of, makes their extended use impractical. The development, implementation, and diffusion of fast-neutron reactors could reduce that waste to short-lived manageable amounts. Those reactors could reclaim almost all of the energy in the original uranium ore. The resulting energy could provide the power and water needed to change a suffering world to one of abundance.
Genomic Regulation of Hox Collinearity

During vertebrate limb development, Hoxd genes are transcribed in two temporal phases; an early wave controls growth and polarity up to the forearm and a late wave patterns the digits. In this issue of Developmental Cell, Tarchini and Duboule (2006) report that two opposite regulatory modules direct early collinear expression of Hoxd genes.
Li K spectra of Li/Be(0001)

Abstract We present Li 1s core photoemission and absorption spectra as a function ofoverlayer density for Li/Be(0001). The combination of these spectroscopies allows us to clearly identify atomic-like and substrate-derived features in the absorption spectra, which reflect the unoccupied levels of the core-excited final state. Both types of spectra also reflect the change in the electronic screening associated with the formation of an occupied overlayer band in the initial state. These measurements thus clearly indicate significant influence of the chemical environment on core excitation dynamics of metal adlayers on metal substrates.
Cell Cycle Control and Bifurcation for a Free Boundary Problem Modeling Tissue Growth

We consider a free boundary problem for a system of partial differential equations, which arise in a model of cell cycle with a free boundary. For the quasi steady state system, it depends on a positive parameter $$\beta $$ , which describes the signals from the microenvironment. Upon discretizing this model, we obtain a family of polynomial systems parameterized by $$\beta $$ . We numerically find that there exists a radially-symmetric stationary solution with boundary $$r = R$$ for any given positive number $$R$$ by using numerical algebraic geometry method. By homotopy tracking with respect to the parameter $$\beta $$ , there exist branches of symmetry-breaking stationary solutions. Moreover, we proposed a numerical algorithm based on Crandall---Rabinowitz theorem to numerically verify the bifurcation points. By continuously changing $$\beta $$ using a homotopy, we are able to compute non-radially symmetric solutions. We additionally discuss control function $$\beta $$ .
392 VITAMIN PREPARATIONS IN NEONATAL PARENTERAL NUTRITION (PN)

Toxicity to neonates from drug solvents is of concern. We reported serum hyperosmolarity due to Propylene Glycol (PG) in MVI-12. This study compared two groups of infants weighing 310mosmol/L. Mann, gr. 310mosmol/L. No diuretic effect of Mannitol was detected. MVI-Ped. in recommended doses may produce higher than desirable vit. E levels.
Young Asteroid 832 Karin shows no rotational spectral variations

We have made near-IR spectral observations of the very young (5.75 Myr) S-type asteroid 832 Karin, well sampled in rotational phase over its 18.35-h period. We find no significant variations in its reflectance spectrum. Karin, the brightest member of the Karin cluster (a sub-family of the larger, older Koronis dynamical family), was shown to be exceptionally young by Nesvorný et al. [Nesvorný, D., Bottke, W.F., Dones, L., Levison, H., 2002. Nature 417, 720–722], using backward numerical integration of orbital elements of cluster members. Their precise dating of the collisional breakup gives us an opportunity, for the first time and without age-dating of physical samples, to monitor time-evolution of processes, like space weathering, that operate on timescales of ∼1–10 Myr. Sasaki et al. [Sasaki, T., Sasaki, S., Watanabe, J., Sekiguchi, T., Yoshida, F., Kawakita, H., Fuse, T., Takato, N., Dermawan, B., Ito, T., 2004. Astrophys. J. 615, L161–L164; Sasaki, T., Sasaki, S., Watanabe, J., Sekiguchi, T., Yoshida, F., Ito., T., Kawakita, H., Fuse, T., Takato, N., Dermawan, B., 2005. Lunar Planet. Sci. XXXVI. Abstract #1590] had made similar measurements of Karin, although more sparsely sampled than ours, and claimed dramatically different colors as a function of rotational phase. Sasaki et al. interpreted their data to be showing the reddish, space-weathered exterior surface of the precursor asteroid, as well as an interior face, which had not had time to become space-weathered. On five nights over 2006 January 7–14 UT, we observed Karin with the SpeX (0.8–2.5 µm) spectrometer of the IRTF. We analyze data in 30 ◦ intervals of rotational longitude, some of which we sampled on two different nights. The spectra are consistent with little or no spectral variation as the asteroid rotates; certainly there are no changes as large as previously reported. The previous observations were probably spurious. Our average spectrum resembles the “blue” spectrum of Sasaki et al., which they interpreted to be the “fresh” surface. Karin is not quite as red as typical S-types, yet has rather shallow absorption bands. We surmise that the space-weathering process affecting Karin has had time to reduce spectral contrast, but has not operated long enough to redden its spectrum—an intermediate case of space weathering, which has gone to completion for most main-belt asteroids. This work sets an important constraint on the timescale for the ubiquitous space-weathering process affecting S-types, namely that its effects are evident, but not yet complete, at ∼ 6M yr.
Use of a transmission ultrasonic technique for the in vitro evaluation of bone ingrowth

The objective of this work was to apply the technique to a group of porous coralline hydroxyapatite (CH) specimens retrieved after implantation in dogs. The ultrasonic results were compared to traditional histomorphometric measures of ingrowth. Though the in vitro technique is not without limitations, it can be used as a non-destructive, qualitative tool to evaluate bone ingrowth into porous media
A comparison of the effect of long daily photoperiods on the pattern of energy storage in migratory and non-migratory finches

Abstract Caged white-crowned sparrows, Zonotrichia leucophyrs gambelli , when subjected to long daily photoperiods in mid-winter, deposit large amounts of subcutaneous and visceral fat and develop migratory behavior comparable to natural vernal migratory behavior. The altered metabolic state involved in this deposition of fat is characterized by a reduction in glycogen content of the pectoral muscles and liver and a suppression of the diurnal glycogen cycle in these organs. There is also a marked increase in the fat content of these tissues so that the total mobilizable energy in them is considerably greater than in the short-day winter birds. The thigh muscles show a similar reduction in glycogen content but only a very slight increase in fat content. This change in the pattern of energy storage may be regarded as one feature of the scheme which produces the metabolic alterations necessary for sustained migratory flight. The wintering population of the Oregon Junco, Junco oreganus montanus , in southeastern Washington responds, although less extensively, to long daily photoperiods. This may be correlated with its more restricted migratory movements. The non-migratory English sparrow, Passer domesticus , when subjected to long daily photoperiods, shows no such alteration in the pattern of energy storage in pectoral muscle and liver; rather there is a tendency toward a lower level of energy storage. Although Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii in mid-winter have much less glycogen in pectoral muscle and liver than the indoor caged birds, the pattern of energy storage may be consistent with that of the latter in experimentally induced migratory state if the restricted flight activity of the latter, the precapture activity of the former, and possible differences in temporal pattern of food intake are taken into consideration. The relatively small amount of glycogen available, and the extensive storage of fat, suggest that there must be very extensive use of fat or fatty acids directly by the pectoral muscles during flight.
Patterns of Psychological Aggression, Dominance, and Jealousy within Marriage

Few empirical studies with representative samples have focused on the gendered aspect of psychological aggression and its sub-constructs of dominance and jealousy. Those that do report on gender differences, often fail to report on important dyadic factors such as whether the aggression is unilateral or bilateral in nature. Differences in psychological aggression, dominance, and jealousy constructs were assessed in a representative sample of 453 married parents. Overall, women had significantly higher dominance, jealousy, and psychological aggression scores. Both male and female respondents in relationships where there was bi-directional severe psychological aggression demonstrated higher mean levels of severe psychological aggression, dominance, and jealousy than did their counterparts who were unilaterally severely aggressive. This is the first study to demonstrate that bilateral psychological aggression is associated with higher mean levels of psychological aggression, dominance, and jealousy scores for both male and female partners than unilateral aggression. Contrary to our hypothesis, there was no differential impact of severe psychological aggression by gender.
Collaboration Between the University of Michigan Taubman Health Sciences Library and the University of Michigan Medical School Office of Research

Librarians have traditionally facilitated research development resulting in grants through performing biomedical literature searches for researchers. The librarians at the Taubman Health Sciences Library of the University of Michigan have taken additional steps forward by instituting a proactive approach to assisting investigators. To accomplish this, the librarians have taken part in a collaborative effort with the University of Michigan Medical School Office of Research. Through this partnership, both units have created and adopted various techniques intended to facilitate the submission of grants, thus allowing researchers more time to conduct their primary activities.
Postdeployment alcohol use, aggression, and post-traumatic stress disorder

ABSTRACTCurrent military personnel are at risk of developing serious mental health problems, including chronic stress disorders and substance use disorders, as a result of military deployment. The most frequently studied effect of combat exposure is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). High-risk behaviors, including alcohol use and aggression, have been associated with PTSD, but the optimal cutoff score on the PTSD Checklist (PCL) for determining the risk for these behaviors has not been clearly delineated. Using postdeployment active duty (AD) and Reserve component military personnel, the relation between various cutoff scores on the PCL and engaging in high-risk behaviors was examined. AD personnel, for every outcome examined, showed significantly greater odds for each problem behavior when PCL scores were 30 or higher compared to those with PCL scores in the 17 to 29 range. A similar pattern was shown for Reserve component personnel with respect to several problem behaviors, although not for alcohol ...
Speech Perception in Noise by Children for Whom English Is a Second Language

Appropriate classroom acoustics and academic achievement of children is known to be correlated. To date, however, there remains a lack of research concerning the importance of classroom acoustics f...
“Smooth” Rhythms as Probes of Entrainment

If one hypothesizes rhythmic perception as a process employing oscillatory circuits in the brain that entrain to low-frequency periodicities in the neural firings evoked by an acoustic signal, then among the conceptually purest probes of those oscillatory circuits would be acoustic signals with only simple sinusoidal periodicities in the appropriate frequency range (perhaps from 0.3 Hz to 20 Hz). Such signals can be produced by the low- frequency amplitude modulation of an audible carrier wave by one or more sinusoids. The resulting rhythms are "smooth" in that their amplitude envelopes are smoothly varying with no obvious points of onset or offset. Because preliminary experiments with smooth rhythms have produced some unexpected results, and because smooth rhythms can be precisely controlled and varied (including, for example, the digital filtering of their Fourier components in the frequency domain), they are proposed as versatile stimuli for studies in rhythmic perception.
Seasonal variations in the growth rates of euphausiids ( Thysanoessa inermis , T. spinifera , and Euphausia pacifica ) from the northern Gulf of Alaska

The euphausiids Thysanoessa inermis (Kroyer 1846), Thysanoessa spinifera (Holmes 1900), and Euphausia pacifica (Hansen 1911) are key pelagic grazers and also important prey for many commercial fish species in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). To understand the role of the euphausiids in material flows in this ecosystem their growth rates were examined using the instantaneous growth rate (IGR) technique on the northern GOA shelf from March through October in 2001–2004. The highest mean molting increments (over 5% of uropod length increase per molt) were observed during the phytoplankton bloom on the inner shelf in late spring for coastal T. inermis, and on the outer shelf in summer for T. spinifera and more oceanic E. pacifica, suggesting tight coupling with food availability. The molting rates were higher in summer and lower in spring, for all species and were strongly influenced by temperature. Mean inter-molt periods calculated from the molting rates, ranged from 11 days at 5°C to 6 days at 8°C, and were in agreement with those measured directly during long-term laboratory incubations. Growth rate estimates depended on euphausiid size, and were close to 0 in early spring, reaching maximum values in May (0.123 mm day−1 or 0.023 day−1 for T. inermis) and July (0.091 mm day−1 or 0.031 day−1 for T. spinifera). The growth rates for E. pacifica remained below 0.07 mm day−1 (0.016 day−1) throughout the season. The relationship between T. inermis weight specific growth rate (adjusted to 5°C) and ambient chlorophyll-a concentration fit a Michaelis–Menten curve (r 2 = 0.48) with food saturated growth rate of 0.032 day−1 with half saturation occurring at 1.65 mg chl-a m−3, but such relationships were not significant for T. spinifera or E. pacifica.
On performance bounds for space-time codes on fading channels

We evaluate truncated union bounds on the frame-error rate (FER) performance of space-time (ST) codes operating over the quasi-static fading channel and compare them with computer simulation results. We consider both ST trellis and block codes. We make the following contributions. For the case of ST trellis codes, we develop a general method, which we denote as measure spectrum analysis, that characterizes ST codeword differences and accommodates the combined influences of the ST code and channel scenario. We propose a numerical bounding method that converges in the measure spectrum to within a very small fraction of a decibel to the simulated FER over the full range of signal-to-noise ratio. In addition, we demonstrate the existence of dominant quasi-static fading error events and detail a method for predicting them. Using only this set of dominant measure spectrum elements, very rapid and tight numerical estimation of FER performance is attained.
Fiber Length Distribution in Cotton Processing: Dominant Features and Interaction Effects

This study investigated the unique shape of cotton fiber length distribution and explored its main features. One prominent feature revealed by the examination of a multitude of distributions measured on a wide range of cotton samples was the modality of the distribution pattern. Based on the experimental data, significant interactions were identified and highlighted between the distribution modality (quantitatively described as a measure of departure from unimodality), some fundamental properties of cotton fiber including maturity and strength, and the extent/aggressiveness of the mechanical processes undergone by the cottons.
A simulation study of real-time MPEG traffic using forward error control scheme

MPEG coding dramatically reduces the amount of data required for video. On the other hand, its bursty and cyclic nature creates a challenge for transmission in ATM networks. Various methods have been proposed to transmit MPEG streams, such as priority coding, dynamic bandwidth allocation and smoothing. This paper suggests another scheme to solve the problem. The original MPEG streams are split into n substreams and the substreams are skewed by a fixed amount of time from each other. The substreams are transmitted with the forward error correction code. This provides a deterministic bound on the delay and has the implementation simplicity needed for high-speed video applications. We have tested the scheme on five real MPEG-coded video/movie stream traces and found that it significantly reduces the peak cell losses at the price of longer delay.
A sonographic screening method for Down syndrome

We describe a potential screening method for the second trimester detection of the fetus with Down syndrome by the use of standard sonographic biometry. Retrospective assessment of the biparietal diameter, femur length, and biparietal diameter/femur length ratio in 55 fetuses with Down syndrome and 544 control fetuses was performed at two medical centers. Adequate numbers of cases and controls were available to permit statistically significant comparisons between the groups at 15 to 23 weeks' gestation. Fetuses with Down syndrome displayed no statistically significant differences in the cephalic index or the biparietal diameter compared with controls at a given gestational age. Significant femur length shortening was observed, but the greatest statistical difference was noted for the biparietal diameter/femur length ratio. This ratio was found to decrease with gestational age in the normal population and was consistently elevated in the Down syndrome population (compared with control) throughout the second trimester. With a cutoff value of 1.5 SD above the normal population mean for the biparietal diameter/femur length ratio, 50% to 70% of fetuses with Down syndrome could be identified in 6% of the total population (p
Are Laws against Assisted Suicide Unconstitutional

The Supreme Court, reluctant to find constitutional rights in areas marked by divisive social and legal debate, is not likely to constitutionalize a right to assisted suicide. The Court should cleave to the tradition of discouraging suicide and criminalizing its assistance.
Incremental maximum flows for fast envelope computation

Resource envelopes provide the tightest exact bounds on the resource consumption and production caused by all possible executions of a temporally flexible plan. We present a new class of algorithms that computes an envelope in O(Maxflow(n, m, U)) where n, m and U measure the size of the flexible plan. This is an O(n) improvement on the best complexity bound for an envelope algorithm known so far and makes envelopes more amenable to practical use in scheduling. The reduction in complexity depends on the fact that when the algorithm computes the constant segment i of the envelope it makes full reuse of the maximum flow used to obtain segment i-1.
A Cross-Atlantic Dialogue: The Progress of Research and Theory in the Study of International Migration

The articles included in this issue were originally presented at a conference on Conceptual and Methodological Developments in the Study of International Migration held at Princeton University in May 2003. The conference was jointly sponsored by the Committee on International Migration of the Social Science Research Council (SSRC), the Center for Migration and Development (CMD) at Princeton, and this journal. Its purpose was to review recent innovations in this field, both in theory and empirical research, across both sides of the Atlantic. The conference was deliberately organized as a sequel to a similar event convened by the SSRC on Sanibel Island in January 1996 in order to assess the state of international migration studies within the United States from an inter-disciplinary perspective. A selection of articles from that conference was published as a special issue of International Migration Review (Vol. 31, No. 4, Winter), and the full set of articles was published as the Handbook of International Migration: The American Experience (Hirschman, Kasinitz and DeWind, 1999).