cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reversible cursive agraphia

A 56-year-old right-handed woman, with fine penmanship, presented with inability to perform cursive writing due to calvarial metastasis of a tibial osteosarcoma and left frontal lobe involvement (figures 1 and 2). Tumor resection resulted in a regained capacity for cursive handwriting. Allographs are variants of graphemic representations (upper vs lower case or cursive vs print). Writing requires activation of abstract graphemic representations, selection of the allograph, and formulation of a motor plan.1 Allographic agraphia is rare, affecting the second or third of these processes, differing from other forms of nonaphasic agraphia such as apraxia or visuospatial agraphias.2 It has been associated with left frontal lesions in clinical and imaging studies.2,3
The role of catastrophic injury or sudden death of the horse in race-day jockey falls and injuries in California, 2007-2012

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: If equine conditions with high likelihood of jockey injury can be determined and subsequently prevented, jockey safety can be enhanced. OBJECTIVE: To identify racehorse injuries or conditions with greatest risk for jockey falls and injuries. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective correlation of race-day jockey fall and injury data with racehorse fatality data. METHODS: Thoroughbred (TB) and Quarter Horse (QH) racehorse cause of death and jockey fall and injury data for California flat races were reviewed for a 6-year period. Race and jockey race ride population data were used to determine jockey fall and injury incidence rates relative to cause of racehorse death, and were assessed using Poisson regression. Differences in proportions were assessed using Fisher's exact, Pearson's χ(2) , and Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel tests. RESULTS: 707 racehorses experienced race-related catastrophic injury or sudden death. 199 jockeys had 601 falls with 325 injuries. Jockeys were 162 times more likely to fall (95% CI 137- 192; pCONCLUSIONS: Prevention of the most common catastrophic injuries and sudden death of the racehorse, e.g. fetlock injuries, may be most effective at decreasing rates of falls and injuries to horseracing jockeys during racing. Language: en
Human endonuclease activity for DNA apurinic sites.

APURINIC sites in cellular DNA may occur secondary to the slow hydrolysis of purines in physiological conditions1 or the rapid hydrolysis of alkylated purines2. Endonucleases which incise double-stranded DNA at apurinic sites have been purified from E. coli3, calf thymus4 and rat liver5. It has been proposed that such endonucleases hydrolyse the apurinic site as the first step of a repair process similar to excision-repair of ultraviolet photoproducts6. Lindahl and Nyberg calculated that spontaneous depurination, if unrepaired in postmitotic cells such as human neurones, would result in the loss of 3% of the total purines during a lifetime1. Such a loss could be sufficient to produce abnormal proteins which appear in ageing cells7. The more rapid depurination of alkylated bases could be related to the mutagenic and carcinogenic properties of alkylating agents8. Therefore, to relate the repair of apurinic sites to the pathogenesis of human disease, we have characterised the properties of apurinic site endonuclease activity in crude extracts of HeLa cells and then measured such activity in WI-38 cells and human skin fibroblasts. We then compared enzyme activity in skin fibroblasts from individuals with two diseases in which repair of apurinic sites might be defective—progeria, characterised by premature ageing9 and associated with abnormal thermolability of cellular enzymes10, and Fanconi's anaemia, associated with an increased incidence of malignancy and in vitro susceptibility to chromosome breakage by alkylating agents11.
Parameter optimization of directional dry adhesives for robotic climbing and gripping applications

This paper experimentally investigates the optimization of directional dry adhesives that can be used for robotic climbing and gripping applications. Directional dry adhesives are modeled on gecko setae. The adhesives are comprised of arrays of micro-scale polymer stalks. The geometry of the polymer stalks has a significant effect upon their adhesion properties. A set of parameters including stalk thickness, stalk angle, face angle and stalk curvature have been identified as factors that influence both normal and shear adhesion levels. A new micro-resolution rapid prototyping process is used to create adhesives with varying geometry and advanced features such as curved stalks. A series of experimental tests characterize the significance of each parameter. Tests indicate that the new curved stalk geometry presented here can provide the greatest overall adhesion and robustness to variations in pull-off angle.
Matrix-element distributions as a signature of entanglement generation

We explore connections between an operator's matrix-element distribution and its entanglement generation. Operators with matrix-element distributions similar to those of random matrices generate states of high multipartite entanglement. This occurs even when other statistical properties of the operators do not coincide with random matrices. Similarly, operators with some statistical properties of random matrices may not exhibit random matrix element distributions and will not produce states with high levels of multipartite entanglement. Finally, we show that operators with similar matrix-element distributions generate similar amounts of entanglement.
Circulating immune complexes in giant cell arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica

Sera from 74 patients with polymyalgia rheumatica or giant cell arteritis or both were tested for immune complexes by using the Raji cell radioimmunoassay. Levels in patients with active disease were higher than in patients whose disease had become inactive. There was no difference in levels of immune complex-like materials between patients with polymyalgia rheumatica alone and those with giant cell arteritis. Density gradient analysis of one serum showed immune complex-like materials mainly in the 19S region. Immune complexes may be important in the pathogenesis of these conditions.
Predation by a troop of olive baboons (Papio anubis).

During 1970–1971, a troop of 49 olive baboons was observed in a partially protected area in Kenya, not far from the village of Gilgil. The baboons were seen to catch and eat 47 small animals, a rate of predation far higher than has been reported for any other nonhuman primate. Prey animals included hares, small antelope and the neonatal young of larger antelope. Adult male baboons caught and ate all but three of the prey animals. Adult females caught hares three times, but only once was a female able to keep and eat most of the animal she had caught. There was no significant seasonal variation in the occurrence of this behavior. The baboons appeared to search out prey deliberately and to come upon it by accident. No instances of cooperative hunting or voluntary sharing were seen. Both incidence and form of this predatory behavior may be influenced by learned, local tradition.
Origin, diversity, and maturation of human antiviral antibodies analyzed by high-throughput sequencing

Our understanding of how antibodies are generated and function could help develop effective vaccines and antibody-based therapeutics against viruses such as HIV-1, SARS Coronavirus (CoV), and Hendra and Nipah viruses (henipaviruses). Although broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) against the HIV-1 were observed in patients, elicitation of such bnAbs remains a major challenge when compared to other viral targets. We previously hypothesized that HIV-1 could have evolved a strategy to evade the immune system due to absent or very weak binding of germline antibodies to the conserved epitopes that may not be sufficient to initiate and/or maintain an effective immune response. To further explore our hypothesis, we used the 454 sequence analysis of a large naive library of human IgM antibodies which had been used for selecting antibodies against SARS Coronavirus (CoV) receptor-binding domain (RBD), and soluble G proteins (sG) of Hendra and Nipah viruses (henipaviruses). We found that the human IgM repertoires from the 454 sequencing have diverse germline usages, recombination patterns, junction diversity and a lower extent of somatic mutation. In this study, we identified germline intermediates of antibodies specific to HIV-1 and other viruses as observed in normal individuals, and compared their genetic diversity and somatic mutation level along with available structural and functional data. Further computational analysis will provide framework for understanding the underlying genetic and molecular determinants related to maturation pathways of antiviral bnAbs that could be useful for applying novel approaches to the design of effective vaccine immunogens and antibody-based therapeutics.
Heterophilic interactions of the neural cell adhesion molecules Ng-CAM and Nr-CAM with neural receptors and extracellular matrix proteins

Ng-CAM/L1 and Nr-CAM are closely related neural cell adhesion molecules expressed on neurons and Schwann cells. Ng-CAM/L1 is prevalent on axons and is a potent promoter of neurite growth and axonal fasciculation. Although Nr-CAM does not appear to play a major role in these functions, its transient expression in the developing floor plate of the spinal cord is important for guidance of commissural axons. Ng-CAM and Nr-CAM can bind homophilicly and heterophilicly to several adhesion molecules. Different complexes of adhesion molecules are likely to control axonal growth and guidance as a consequence of their differential localizationsin vivo.
The Dallas-Fort Worth Earthquake Sequence: October 2008 through May 2009

This paper describes a sequence of small earthquakes ( m b≤3.3) that occurred at the Dallas–Fort Worth Airport, Texas, between 30 October 2008 and 31 May 2009. Analysis of records at regional station WMOK identified more than 180 earthquakes in the sequence; about 90 percent occurred in four clusters on 30 October–1 November, 20 November, 26 December and 15–17 May. After the sequence began, a six-station temporary local network obtained high-quality three-component records for 11 earthquakes occurring between 20 November and 1 December. Analysis of these data demonstrated that all 11 earthquakes originated from a focus near 32.855° N, 97.051° W, with an estimated depth ∼4.4 km. This location is less than 0.5 km from a well completed in August 2008 that extends to a depth of 4.2 km, drilled to dispose of brines collected during flowback of hydraulic fracturing fluids associated with the production of natural gas. Brine disposal commenced at the well on 12 September 2008. Seismograms and ( S - P ) intervals for the earthquakes are similar though not identical, and relative locations indicate they occurred along a north-northeast–south-southwest trend with horizontal and vertical dimensions of ∼1.1 km and 0.2 km, respectively. This trend is approximately coincident with that of a mapped normal fault in the subsurface, and consistent with the maximum horizontal in situ stress direction. Because of the absence of previous historical earthquakes, the proximity of the brine disposal well, and the similarity with other documented cases of induced seismicity, it seems likely that fluid injection induced the 2008–2009 sequence.
Accurate quantitation of protein expression and site-specific phosphorylation

A mass spectrometry-based method is described for simultaneous identification and quantitation of individual proteins and for determining changes in the levels of modifications at specific sites on individual proteins. Accurate quantitation is achieved through the use of whole-cell stable isotope labeling. This approach was applied to the detection of abundance differences of proteins present in wild-type versus mutant cell populations and to the identification of in vivo phosphorylation sites in the PAK-related yeast Ste20 protein kinase that depend specifically on the G1 cyclin Cln2. The present method is general and affords a quantitative description of cellular differences at the level of protein expression and modification, thus providing information that is critical to the understanding of complex biological phenomena.
Evaluation of the Orcamp Hybrid High-fidelity Environment for Simulation Training

e l l a “ e o a c c e c In the accompanying article examining operator appraisal of a high-fidelity procedure suite, Lonn et al (1) contend that simulation-based learning is enhanced by performing that training in a room that is made as close as possible to a real procedure suite or operating room by the use of a simulated procedural environment that includes a physical mockup of a C-arm and operating table. The authors describe face and content validity studies on an Orcamp room (Orzone, Gothenburg, Sweden), which housed a full-physics Vascular Instructional System Trainer virtual reality simulator (Mentice, Gothenburg, Sweden). (Full disclosure: I was the medical leader of the team that developed the Vascular Instructional System Trainer, but I have no conflicts of interest related to its invention.) The quantitative evaluation studies in this study (1) are performed on the space surrounding the simulator, not on the simulator itself, which has undergone numerous rigorous validity studies. Similar reports about the Orcamp system, but in the context of an operating room, have been reported at the Vascular and Endovascular Issues, Techniques and Horizons Symposium (2). The authors show high user ratings for the functionality and realism of the C-arm and “operating table” among a subject group of radiologists and cardiologists. Separately, they also show statistically significantly positive assessment ratings for the realism of the catheter, guide wire, fluoroscopy image, and physiologic readouts displayed by the simulator. However, these are two different categories of variable. The image display, fluoroscopic realism, physiologic monitoring, and catheter and guide wire realism are all components of the physics built into the simulator. Indeed, interactive real-time synthetic fluoroscopy was first created for this machine (3). Establishing face and content validity for the device that looks and acts like a C-arm and an operating table is the most base level of assessment of those objects. The authors conclude by stating that the hybrid operating room experience provides a higher fidelity level of training in a realistic context or the procedure suite (1). Yet,
Thermal chemical vapor deposition of fluorocarbon polymer thin films in a hot filament reactor

Abstract Formation of fluorocarbon polymer films with a linear (CF 2 –CF 2 ) n molecular structure similar to polytetrafluoroethylene, PTFE is described by a hot filament chemical vapor deposition method. Growth process is analyzed by infrared absorption and C(1s), O(1s) and F(1s) core level electron spectroscopy of films deposited at −5 and +70 °C. Absorption doublet at 1220 and 1160 cm −1 assigned to C–F 2 asymmetric and symmetric stretches, rock at 518 cm −1 and wag at 637 cm −1 indicate formation of linearly organized CF 2 groups with minimum hindrance to molecular vibration modes in CVD grown films. Absorption bands at 1660 and 3389 cm −1 show O and OH groups in the films which diminish on annealing. The C(1s) components, CF 3 , CF and C–CF bonding show branching, cross-liking and defects sites which increase as substrate temperature is increased. The O(1s) line analysis shows O 2 in fluorocarbon films is chemically bonded as C–O and F 2 C O with relative ratio depending on the film growth temperature. Both O 2 and OH are the result of additional reaction pathways involving the species generated from fragmentation of CF 3 C(O)F. Molecular structure of fluorocarbon polymer films involving these species are discussed which are in conformity with the XPS and IR absorption data.
Pyruvate metabolism by rat lung in vitro.

Rat lung slices were used to examine the net uptake of pyruvate and the incorporation of specifically labeled pyruvate-14C into CO2 and lipid fractions. Pyruvate uptake and pyruvate-2-14C incorporation into these fractions was increased by raising the pyruvate concentration in the incubation medium from 1 to 25 mM. The addition of 5 mM glucose to the incubation medium decreased the apparent oxidation of pyruvate-2-14C to CO2 but increased its incorporation into lung lipids. Glucose did not increase net pyruvate uptake by lung slices. The incorporation of pyruvate-1-14C and pyruvate-3-14C into CO2 and lung lipids was also examined. The results indicated that a major portion of the pyruvate utilized was oxidized to CO2 with substantial levels found in the fatty acid moiety of lung phospholipids. The low level of pyruvate conversion to phospholipid glycerol, possibly via the dicarboxylic acid shuttle, is of uncertain physiological significance.
On the Ultimate Peano Derivative

Abstract A function f : R → R is said to have an n th Generalized Peano Derivative (GPD) at x if f is continuous in a neighborhood of x and there exists an integer k ≥ 0 such that the k th primitive of f has a ( k + n )th Peano derivative at x . An example shows that sometimes no such k exists. In this case, C.-M. Lee has proposed a further generalization when the sequence of derivates, indexed by k , converges to a common value. This value is termed the n th Ultimate Peano Derivative (UPD) at x . Here we show that these generalizations of the Peano derivative are related to a certain Laplace integral for which the Tauberian theorem shows that any finite UPD is in fact a GPD.
The pervasive nature of unconscious social information processing in executive control

Humans not only have impressive executive abilities, but we are also fundamentally social creatures. In the cognitive neuroscience literature, it has long been assumed that executive control mechanisms, which play a critical role in guiding goal-directed behavior, operate on consciously processed information. Although more recent evidence suggests that unconsciously processed information can also influence executive control, most of this literature has focused on visual masked priming paradigms. However, the social psychological literature has demonstrated that unconscious influences are pervasive, and social information can unintentionally influence a wide variety of behaviors, including some that are likely to require executive abilities. For example, social information can unconsciously influence attention processes, such that simply instructing participants to describe a previous situation in which they had power over someone or someone else had power over them has been shown to unconsciously influence their attentional focus abilities, a key aspect of executive control. In the current review, we consider behavioral and neural findings from a variety of paradigms, including priming of goals and social hierarchical roles, as well as interpersonal interactions, in order to highlight the pervasive nature of social influences on executive control. These findings suggest that social information can play a critical role in executive control, and that this influence often occurs in an unconscious fashion. We conclude by suggesting further avenues of research for investigation of the interplay between social factors and executive control.
Sugar polyether polyols for rigid polyurethanes—propoxylation of disaccharides under alkaline condition

The propoxylation of lactose (a dairy waste by-product), under basic conditions, yields polyether polyols that have been found to be a good substitute for sucrose polyether polyols currently used in the rigid polyurethane foam industry. 13C-NMR analysis of polyethers of sugars indicate that while the disaccharide α (1 → 2′) linkage of sucrose remains intact during propoxylation, that of lactose breaks, giving polyethers of monosaccharides. In addition, IR spectra reveal the absence of unsaturation in the product. The presence of multiplicities of the different carbon peaks of propylene oxide in the NMR spectrum of the product implies a regioselective attack on the C-1 or C-2 of propylene oxide by the incoming nucleophile.
Two bouts of exercise before meals, but not after meals, lower fasting blood glucose.

BORER, K. T., E. C. WUORINEN, J. R. LUKOS, J. W. DENVER, S. W. PORGES, and C. F. BURANT. Two Bouts of Exercise before Meals, but Not after Meals, Lower Fasting Blood Glucose. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 41, No. 8, pp. 1606-1614, 2009. Introduction: Reduced counterregulatory responses to a next-day hypoglycemic challenge and hypoglycemia result from two spaced episodes of moderate-intensity exercise and have been characterized as exercise-associated autonomic failure. We hypothesized that this phenomenon is caused by postabsorptive state at the time of exercise rather than by autonomic failure. Methods: Participants were nine healthy postmenopausal women in a crossover study. Two hours of treadmill exercise at 43% of maximal effort were performed twice a day, separated by 5 h, either 1 h before (Before-Meals trial) or 1 h after a meal (After-Meals trial). Plasma insulin, counterregulatory hormones (glucagon, growth hormone, cortisol), and metabolites (glucose, free fatty acids, ketones) were measured to evaluate the effects of nutritional timing. Analyses of HR and vagal tone were measured to assess autonomic function. Results: Before-Meals exercise, but not After-Meals exercise, reduced postabsorptive plasma glucose by 20.2% during a 16-h period, without a change in counterregulatory response, and elicited postexercise ketosis. A 49% increase in insulin-glucagon ratio during meals, a 1 mM decline in glucagon glycemic threshold, and a reduced vagal tone during exercise were associated with Before-Meals but not with After-Meals trials. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that exercise performed in postabsorptive, but not in postprandial state, lowers glucoregulatory set point and glucagon glycemic threshold and is accompanied by reduced vagal tone, counterregulatory responses, and glucagon glycemic threshold and by increased insulin-glucagon ratio. Reduced counterregulatory response, altered neuroendocrine function, and sustained lowering of blood glucose are most likely the consequences of reduced carbohydrate availability during
Keratitis Associated with Chronic Iridocyclitis

Of a group of 187 patients with chronic iridocyclitis, 16 had keratopathy. Two types of corneal changes were noted: nummular keratitis (four patients; 2.1%) and an opaque band of thickened endothelium that involved the inferior 25% to 50% of the cornea (12 patients; 6.4%). Although not pathognomonic, these corneal changes should suggest the possibility of sarcoidosis in patients with chronic iridocyclitis.
Multivariate voronoi outlier detection for time series

Outlier detection is a primary step in many data mining and analysis applications, including healthcare and medical research. This paper presents a general method to identify outliers in multivariate time series based on a Voronoi diagram, which we call Multivariate Voronoi Outlier Detection (MVOD). The approach copes with outliers in a multivariate framework, via designing and extracting effective attributes or features from the data that can take parametric or nonparametric forms. Voronoi diagrams allow for automatic configuration of the neighborhood relationship of the data points, which facilitates the differentiation of outliers and non-outliers. Experimental evaluation demonstrates that our MVOD is an accurate, sensitive, and robust method for detecting outliers in multivariate time series data.
Generalized conjugate directions

Abstract This paper presents a simple unifying framework for a wide class of conjugate directions algorithms whose iterates minimize some quadratic functional over a subspace. Our approach is motivated by its advantages for nonlinear minimization, but the purpose of this paper is to present the greatly simplified convergence analysis that results for the linear case.
A Detailed Theoretical Study of the Mechanism and Energetics of Methane to Methanol Conversion by Cisplatin and Catalytica

The conversion of methane to methanol by dichloro(η2-{2,2‘-bipyrimidyl})platinum(II) [Pt(Bpym)Cl2] (Catalytica) and Pt(NH3)2Cl2 (cisplatin) [Science 1998, 280, 560] has been studied using hybrid density functional theory in conjunction with the conductor-like polarizable continuum solvent model (CPCM). We have determined the full potential energy profiles for plausible catalytic pathways along the three major phases of the catalytic cycle, namely, (a) C−H activation, (b) Pt(II) to Pt(IV) oxidation, and (c) functionalization. For Catalytica, oxidation of Pt(II) to Pt(IV) is the highest barrier step for all active catalytic forms considered. Oxidation of Pt(II) to Pt(IV) is significantly easier for cisplatin compared to Catalytica, explaining the faster catalytic transformation by cisplatin. Our calculations suggest that the oxidation barrier is significantly affected by the ligand environment on the Pt center of the catalyst. We predict that monoprotonation of the bipyrimidine ring of Catalytica significan...
Is what we think of as ‘‘rebound’’ really just income effects in disguise?

This paper examines the question of whether unexpectedly high energy use in the wake of energy efficiency gains can be explained as arising from increases in consumer wealth, as opposed to energy efficiency rebound effects. The analysis concludes that historical energy consumption increases were driven by more than just income levels, with the lowest-income consumers in the US using more energy in 2002 than they did in 1987 despite significant energy use efficiency gains and despite declining average incomes in this category. Further, direct use of energy in households increased for all income categories over this time period. These results point to rebound as being the culprit, not income effects.
Serotonin neurons project to small blood vessels in the brain

Electrolytic lesions of the nucleus raphe dorsalis and medianus reduce the concentration of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) within rat brain intraparenchymal blood vessels. The concentration of serotonin within these vessels increases or decreases after the administration of drugs that modify the biosynthesis and degradation of serotonin or destroy nerve terminals by an uptake-dependent mechanism. These studies provide evidence for the existence of a serotonin-containing pathway seemingly analogous to the neuronal projection that terminates on small parenchymal blood vessels from noradrenergic neurons of the locus coeruleus.
Seasonal panic disorder: a possible variant of seasonal affective disorder.

The present communication concerns a 30 year-old female patient with panic disorder in whom panic attacks appeared to be seasonally-related. Characteristically, attacks were more frequent and severe during the months of October to May with spontaneous remissions during the months of June to September. Since 70% of patients with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a variant of affective illness characterized by recurrent winter depressions with remissions in summer, suffer from anxiety disorders, we propose that seasonal panic disorder may be a variant of SAD. Since SAD is associated with phase delay of circadian rhythms, some forms of panic disorder may be related to phase instability of circadian rhythms. Moreover, since administration of artificial bright light therapy is currently the most effective treatment for SAD, it is suggested that patients with panic disorder should be questioned as to whether their symptoms are seasonally related. If a positive association is established, these patients should ...
Observation of the reactive component of Langmuir wave phase‐bunched electrons

[1] Observations from a new wave-particle correlator show clear evidence of phase bunching of the electrons by a monochromatic Langmuir wave electric field which varied slowly in amplitude. The electrons are found to be bunched at 90° with respect to the wave field indicating that they are the reactive component of the perturbed distribution function. This is in agreement with theory that predicts this phase relation for the transit of electrons through a very long wave field.
Waldo Lake, Oregon: Eutrophication of a Rare, Ultraoligotrophic, High-Mountain Lake

ABSTRACT Waldo Lake, Oregon, was described in 1970 as one of the most oligotrophic lakes in the world. But limnological data collected since then indicate that the lake has shifted toward a higher trophic status. This finding is based on three sets of evidence: (1) the spectral distribution of downward irradiance has changed, with blue light now being attenuated more rapidly, while the penetration of both green light and red light has increased; (2) phytoplankton primary production rates have increased 20-fold; and (3) zooplankton have become many times more abundant, and species composition has changed entirely. Although the cause of limnological change is uncertain, investigators believe that it has resulted largely from management and use of the lake. Accordingly, lake visitors have increased dramatically over the past 30 years, from a few hundred visits in 1967 to around 170,000 visits in 1994. Moreover, stocking the lake with 20 million fish between 1938 and 1990 may have disrupted the lake's seeming...
Lipid fluidity and composition of the erythrocyte membrane from healthy dogs and Labrador retrievers with hereditary muscular dystrophy.

Erythrocyte membranes and their liposomes were prepared from clinically normal dogs and Labrador retrievers with hereditary muscular dystrophy. The “static” and “dynamic” components of fluidity of each membrane were then assessed by steady-state fluorescence polarization techniques using limiting hindered fluorescence anisotropy and order parameter values of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) and fluorescence anisotropy values ofdl-2-(9-anthroyl)-stearic acid anddl-12-(9-anthroyl)-stearic acid, respectively. Membrane lipids were extracted and analyzed by thin-layer chromatography and gas chromatography. The results of these studies demonstrated that the lipid fluidity of erythrocyte membranes, and their liposomes, prepared from dystrophic dogs were found to possess significantly lower “static and dynamic components of fluidity” than control counterparts. Analysis of the composition of membranes from dystrophic dogs revealed a higher ratio of saturated fatty acyl chain/unsaturated chains (w/w) and lower double-bond index. Alterations in the fatty acid composition such as decrease in levels of linoleic (18:2) and arachidonic (20:4) acids and increase in palmitic (16:0) and stearic (18:0) acids were also observed in the membranes of dystrophic animals. These associated fatty acyl alterations could explain, at least in part, the differences in membrane fluidity between dystrophic and control dogs.
Committee proposals and restrictive rules.

I analyze a game-theoretic model of committee–legislature interaction in which a majority decision to adopt either an open or closed amendment rule occurs following the committee’s proposal of a bill. I find that, in equilibrium, the closed rule is almost always chosen when the dimension of the policy space is >1. Furthermore, the difference between the equilibrium outcome and that which would have occurred under the open rule can be arbitrarily small.
Thin nitride films on textured polysilicon to increase multimegabit DRAM cell charge capacity

A technique for increasing the charge storage capacity of advanced multimegabit dynamic RAMs (DRAMs) up to 34% without changing the cell area or dielectric thickness is discussed. The technique does not require an additional masking step. A polysilicon texturing process is combined with a dielectric which has bulk-limited electrical conduction. The leakage current is not affected by this process, and the field acceleration coefficient is considerably increased. >
CO2 capture by activated and impregnated anthracites

Porous materials are being proposed as suitable candidates for CO2 capture due to their highly developed porous structure. Although anthracites are known to produce high surface area activated carbons, there are very limited studies on the application of activated anthracites. Accordingly, in this work, high surface area activated anthracites were prepared by steam activation and their CO2 capacities were investigated. The activated anthracites are mainly microporous. The increase in activation time results in a continuous steady rise of the mesopore area and volume, while the micropore and total pore area and volume reach a maximum at 3 h. The surface areas go through a maximum with increasing solid yields. The adsorption capacity of the activated anthracites decreases rapidly with increasing adsorption temperature, probably due to the adsorption being a physisorption process. The anthracite with the highest CO2 adsorption capacity is the sample activated at 800 °C for 2 h, whose surface area was only 540 m2/g, and the adsorbed amount of CO2 was 65.7 mg-CO2/g-adsorbent. This is probably due to a relationship between microporosity and CO2 physisorption processes. Several surface treatment methods, including NH3 heat treatment and polyethylenimine (PEI) impregnation, were used to modify the surface properties of the activated anthracites in an attempt to increase their CO2 capture capacity at higher temperatures. The surface treatment methods investigated change the porous structure and surface chemistry of the anthracites, and therefore, affect their CO2 capacities.
Wave Overreflection and Shear Instability

Abstract It is shown that the necessary conditions for the instability of unstratified plane-parallel shear flow, rotating barotropic flows and rotating baroclinic flows are also sufficient conditions for the existence of propagating waves (essentially Rossby waves) and their overreflection (reflection coefficient exceeds 1 in magnitude) from critical levels (where flow speed and phase speed are equal). The identification of the unstable modes with overreflected waves is strongly suggested and allows greater insight into the meaning of various theorems such as Rayleigh’s inflection point theorem. The present results also suggest an important distinction between instabilities associated with, redistribution such as Benard convective instability and instabilities, such as those we are concerned with, associated with the self-excitation of waves.
The Educational Core of Development

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the educational core of development. In all development, there is an educational core. A central aspect of development actions, whether local, regional, national, or global, is purposeful learning. Education cannot be planned or put into practice as something separate. It must always be part of a wider totality. The major value systems that have underlain economic and social development in the last couple of centuries have been associated with production. Thus, education to a large measure has been valued as a contributor to production. There are obvious pitfalls in relating development and education as if they were mainly production matters. Educational programs are often inimical to development. If one accepts education and development as related processes of purposeful and organized change, then presently favored assumptions of straight-line, cause–effect associations between the two or computer-like input–output connections need to be replaced. Integrated approaches to development and education call for a new kind of educator. Professional educators will no longer have a monopoly of the teacher role. In a learning society, the educational function will be carried out by a great variety of people.
Functionalized poly(L-lactide) nanoparticles from electrospun nanofibers.

Crystalline poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) nanoparticles were prepared by aminolysis of electrospun PLLA nanofibers and subsequently labeled by a fluorescent colorant. The size of the nanoparticles could be controlled by either the conditions of the aminolysis reaction or the diameter of the original electrospun fiber. The latter method resulted in higher yield. Although the as-spun nanofibers were generally amorphous, the nanoparticles showed high crystallinity in the typical α-form of PLLA crystals, as revealed by X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry. Gel-permeation chromatography was used to determine the molecular weight of the formed particles in relation to aminolysis time. After aminolysis, PLLA nanoparticles spontaneously generated amine groups on the surface, which are available for further modifications. In this study the amine groups were reacted with isothiocyanate groups, and fluorescein-5'-isothiocyanate was successfully attached to the PLLA nanoparticles. Smaller particles showed...
Spin-Stretching of DNA and Protein Molecules for Detection by Fluorescence and Atomic Force Microscopy

We have developed a rapid and efficient way of stretching DNA and denatured protein molecules for detection by fluorescence microscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM). In the described method, a viscous drag created by a transient rotational flow stretches randomly coiled DNA molecules or denatured proteins. Stretching is achieved by dispensing a droplet of sample solution containing DNA or denatured protein on a MgCl2-soaked mica surface. We present fluorescent images of straightened λDNA molecules and AFM images of stress-sheared, reduced von Willebrand factor as well as straightened λDNA. The described quick and reliable spin-stretching technique will find wide applications in the analysis of single biopolymer molecules.
Development of The Competence Enjoyment Scale

Public Law 99-457 requires early interventionists to help families assess their strengths and needs for promoting their child's optimal development. The Competence Enjoyment Scale (CES) was developed to measure parental feelings of competence and enjoyment as they interact with their infant. The scale includes antonym pairs which are semantically linked to the constructs competence and enjoyment. A six-member international panel of experts in child development assisted in the development of the scale.Subjects were the biological mothers of 60 infants who were 3-5 months old (adjusted age). Preliminary results support the reliability and validity of the scale. The CES requires minimal time and effort for response and scoring. The scale allows parents and early interventionists to consider parental feelings of competence and enjoyment when setting priorities for early intervention. The CES was developed to fill a void in attitude assessment methodology and can be used to quantify parental feelings of compet...
Poly(p-Phenylene Sulfide) Hexafluoroarsenate: A Novel Conducting Polymer.

Abstract : Poly(p-phenylene sulfide) (PPS) is a melt and solution processible polymer which on treatment with AsF5 forms a blue-black material with a conductivity of 1 to 10/ohm cm. Thermopower measurements indicate that the resulting polymer is p-type, consistent with partial oxidation of the PPS by the AsF5. The rate and extent of this doping process prove to be particularly sensitive to the degree of crystallinity of the starting polymer. There is no evidence of crosslinking of the polymer chains during the reaction with AsF5. The details of both the chemistry and physics of the doping of PPS and several of its derivatives are presented. (Author)
Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy versus laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding for the treatment severe obesity in high risk patients

Background Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) has emerged as an alternative restrictive bariatric procedure to the most popular laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB). We analyze and compare the clinical and weight loss outcomes of LSG versus LAGB for the treatment of severe obesity in high-risk patients. Methods Forty severely obese veterans (20/group) received either LSG or LAGB and were followed prospectively for 2 years. Outcome measures included operating room (OR) time, estimated blood loss (EBL), length of hospital stay (LOS), morbidity, mortality, reoperations, readmission rates, and weight loss over time. Results The cohort primarily comprised high-risk and older male veterans. Patient's baseline demographics were similar between groups. LSG was associated with prolonged OR time (116±31 vs. 94±28min), higher EBL (34±28 vs. 17±19mL), and LOS (2±.9 vs. 1±.4days) when compared with LAGB. Minor morbidity and readmissions were similar between groups, while no major morbidity, reoperations, or mortality occurred. Total weight and BMI decreased significantly after surgery in both groups (LSG: 302±52 to 237lbs and 45±5 to 36±5kg/m(2) vs. LAGB: 280±36 to 231±29lbs and 43±5 to 36±5kg/m(2), respectively). Total weight loss was superior in the LSG vs. LAGB group at 2 years (TWL=65±24 vs. 49±28 lbs (P=.03); %EWL=51±20 vs. 46±23%; %EBMI loss=48±22 vs. 45±23%, and %BWL=21±8 vs. 17±9%, respectively). Conclusion In severely obese and high-risk patients, laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy provides superior total weight loss at 2 years.
Renormalization of twist-four operators in light-cone gauge

Abstract We compute one-loop renormalization group equations for non-singlet twist-four operators in QCD. The calculation heavily relies on the light-cone gauge formalism in the momentum fraction space that essentially rephrases the analysis of all two-to-two and two-to-three transition kernels to purely algebraic manipulations both for non- and quasipartonic operators. This is the first brute force calculation of this sector available in the literature. Fourier transforming our findings to the coordinate space, we checked them against available results obtained within a conformal symmetry-based formalism that bypasses explicit diagrammatic calculations and confirmed agreement with the latter.
The consumers of new information technology: A survey of the utilization of MEDLINE

Technical innovation in the field of information includes the design and implementation of large on-line automated systems for the retrospective search of scientific literature. An example of such technology is the MEDLINE bibliographic service of the National Library of Medicine which, with its 200 terminals, serves the biomedical scientific and professional community throughout the country. In the initial phase of the MEDLINE development, users of seven MEDLINE information centers were investigated in terms of characteristics, motivations, purposes and expectations in using the service. The study attempts to clarify the role of MEDLINE in basic and clinical research, and in the education and training of biomedical personnel. Some of the factors involved in the adoption of an innovation are analyzed.
Diterpenoid Biopolymers: New Directions for Renewable Materials Engineering

Most types of ambers are naturally occurring, relatively hard, durable resinite polymers derived from the exudates of trees. This resource has been coveted for thousands of years due to its numerous useful properties in industrial processes, beauty, and purported medicinal properties. Labdane diterpenoid-based ambers represent the most abundant and important resinites on earth. These resinites are a dwindling nonrenewable natural resource, so a new source of such materials needs to be established. Recent advances in sequencing technologies and biochemical engineering are rapidly accelerating the rate of identifying and assigning function to genes involved in terpenoid biosynthesis, as well as producing industrial-scale quantities of desired small-molecules in bacteria and yeast. This has provided new tools for engineering metabolic pathways capable of producing diterpenoid monomers that will enable the production of custom-tailored resinite-like polymers. Furthermore, this biosynthetic toolbox is continuously expanding, providing new possibilities for renewing dwindling stocks of naturally occurring resinite materials and engineering new materials for future applications. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 95: 71–76, 2011.
In vitro elution of amikacin and vancomycin from impregnated plaster of Paris beads.

Objective: To describe in vitro elution characteristics of amikacin and vancomycin from calcium sulfate hemihydrate 98% (plaster of Paris, POP) beads and characterize eluent inhibition of Staphylococcus spp. Study Design: Experimental study. Methods: POP beads were impregnated with amikacin or vancomycin alone or in combination and then incubated alone or in combination for 84 days at 37°C in plastic tubes containing sterile phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). Beads containing no antimicrobial served as negative control. Beads were intermittently moved to a new tube containing drug-free PBS. Antimicrobial was measured in the eluent using a polarized fluorescent immunoassay. Eluent inhibition of Staphylococcus spp. was determined at each time point. Results: Antimicrobial release from beads was characterized by an initial rapid phase then a slower phase. Although antimicrobial release from beads occurred throughout the 84 days, most was in the first 24 hours, except for vancomycin alone. Duration of eluent inhibition of Staphylococcus spp. growth ranged from 0.5 (amikacin alone) to 56 days (vancomycin alone). Control eluent did not inhibit bacterial growth. Conclusions: Amikacin elution from POP beads was rapid, inhibiting growth for <24 hours with or without vancomycin. Vancomycin elution was slower and inhibited growth for 56 days alone or for 5 days with amikacin. Clinical Relevance: Vancomycin-impregnated beads appear to be reasonable as a therapeutic option whereas amikacin-impregnated POP beads and amikacin and vancomycin combinations may require further study before considering as a therapeutic option.
Reichenbach and the Logic of Quantum Mechanics

It is generally agreed that quantum mechanics (QM) constitutes a revolutionary physical theory, and it has been suggested that the revolutionary character of QM penetrates even to the level of logic. This suggestion stems from at least two sources. First of all, there are the various foundational approaches to QM which propose to formulate quantum theory on the basis of ‘quantum logic’.1 This approach to the postulational foundations of QM originates with the seminal work of Birkhoff and von Neumann (1936), which is based on the Hilbert space formulation of quantum theory expounded by von Neumann in his classic treatise (1932) on the mathematical foundations of QM. A parallel and closely related treatment of QM was proposed by Martin Strauss (1937–38) and developed primarily by Kochen and Specker (see, e.g., 1967). Together these approaches comprise what may be called mainstream (or conventional) quantum logic.2 Secondly, there are a number of nonmainstream quantum logics which have been proposed,3 most notably perhaps by Hans Reichenbach. In his treatise on the philosophical foundations of QM (1944, henceforth PhF), Reichenbach proposed a three-valued truth-functional logic as a means of dealing with certain conceptual tensions arising in the quantum mechanical description of the world.
Orientational Ordering in a Strongly Chemisorbed System: Na on Ru(001)

This study of Na on Ru(001) at 80 K provides the first detailed examination of orientational ordering in a strongly chemisorbed monolayer. The relative orientation of a Na layer on Ru(001) varies with the Na-Ru lattice misfit in a way consistent with predictions from theoretical models that have been used to explain orientational ordering of rare gases physisorbed on graphite. The similarity between physisorbed systems and the chemisorbed Na on Ru system suggests a universal behavior of rigid overlayers on hexagonal substrates.