cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Relative Binding Affinities of Monolignols to Horseradish Peroxidase.

Monolignol binding to the peroxidase active site is the first step in lignin polymerization in plant cell walls. Using molecular dynamics, docking, and free energy perturbation calculations, we investigate the binding of monolignols to horseradish peroxidase C. Our results suggest that p-coumaryl alcohol has the strongest binding affinity followed by sinapyl and coniferyl alcohol. Stacking interactions between the monolignol aromatic rings and nearby phenylalanine residues play an important role in determining the calculated relative binding affinities. p-Coumaryl and coniferyl alcohols bind in a pose productive for reaction in which a direct H-bond is formed between the phenolic −OH group and a water molecule (W2) that may facilitate proton transfer during oxidation. In contrast, in the case of sinapyl alcohol there is no such direct interaction, the phenolic −OH group instead interacting with Pro139. Since proton and electron transfer is the rate-limiting step in monolignol oxidation by peroxidase, the ...
Ethics in Long‐Term Care

Caregiving offered within long-term care settings must balance safety and protection with honoring residents' dignity and independence. The residential care institutions of the past historically limited the freedoms of the people living within them, leading to the present aversion to nursing homes. Ensuring ethical treatment depends upon providing residents with the opportunities to make their own decisions. The presence of dementia can alter a caregiver's willingness to provide these opportunities. Substituted judgment and best interest are two practices that help caregivers promote autonomy and control for dementia sufferers. Keywords: decision making; dementia; ethics; institutionalization; nursing homes; quality of life
Impulse responses of visible phototubes used in National Ignition Facility neutron time of flight diagnostics

Neutron-induced visible scintillation in neutron time of flight (NToF) diagnostics at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) is measured with 40 mm single stage micro-channel plate photomultipliers and a 40 mm vacuum photodiode, outside the neutron line of sight. In NIF experiments with 14 MeV neutron yields above Y > 10 × 1015 these tubes are configured to deliver of order 1 nC of charge in the nominally 5 ns NToF into a 50 Ω load. We have examined a number of 40 mm tubes manufactured by Photek Ltd. of St. Leonards on Sea, UK, to determine possible changes in the instrument impulse response as a function of signal charge delivered in 1 ns. Precision NToF measurements at approximately 20 m require that we characterize changes in the impulse response moments to <40 ps for the first central moment and ∼2% rms for the square root of the second central moment with ∼500 ps value. Detailed results are presented for three different diode configurations.
A novel scalable model for simulating explosive blast propagation

Based on the linear wave equation, we propose a new model for propagating explosive blast waves. This scalable model could offer an attractive alternative to ray tracing methods for performing site specific blast calculations while still being compatible with models for shock front interactions that are intended primarily for use with ray based calculations. A scalable parallel implementation of the proposed model is presented and we show that it can solve blast problems on a scale of practical interest. Two specific features of the model are demonstrated in a preliminary validation study: (i) that wave fronts produced by the new model encompass all rays reported by two ray tracing calculations and (ii) the wave model captures all paths from the explosion to the target, whereas the ray tracing model may omit some paths.
A comparative evaluation of crowding stress on muscle HSP90 and myostatin expression in salmonids

Abstract Stress is a major factor that contributes to poor production and animal welfare concerns in aquaculture. As such, a thorough understanding of mechanisms involved in the stress response is imperative to developing strategies to mitigate the negative side effects of stressors, including the impact of high stocking densities on growth. The purpose of this study was to determine how the muscle growth inhibitor, myostatin , and the stress-responsive gene HSP90 are regulated in response to crowding stress in rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ), cutthroat trout ( Oncorhynchus clarki ), brook trout ( Salvelinus fontinalis ), and Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar ). All species exhibited higher cortisol and glucose levels following the handling stress, indicating physiological response to the treatment. Additionally, all species, except rainbow trout, exhibited higher HSP90 levels in muscle after a 48 h crowding stress. Crowding stress resulted in a decrease of myostatin-1a in brook trout white muscle but not red muscle, while, myostatin-1a and -2a levels increased in white muscle and myostatin-1b levels increased in red muscle in Atlantic salmon. In rainbow trout, no significant changes were detected in either muscle type, but myostatin-1a was upregulated in both white and red skeletal muscle in the closely related cutthroat trout. The variation in response to crowding suggests a complex and species-specific interaction between stress and the muscle gene regulation in these salmonids. Only Atlantic salmon and cutthroat trout exhibited increased muscle myostatin transcription, and also exhibited the largest increase in circulating glucose in response to crowding. These results suggest that species-specific farming practices should be carefully examined in order to optimize low stress culture conditions.
Equivariant Characteristic Classes (Commentary on [116])

I was trained as an algebraic geometer under Phillip A. Griffiths, but I have always had an abiding interest in topology, especially Raoul Bott’s kind of topology. In 1995 Raoul Bott gave a series of lectures at Brown University on equivariant cohomology. I was very much captivated by his presentation of the subject matter.
Colluded Applications Vulnerabilities in Android Devices

Modern smartphones may store user's very private information whose leakage may cause bad or even dramatic privacy and security violations. In this paper, we describe in details possible vulnerabilities whose exploitation can lead to a privacy leakage. These vulnerabilities depend on communication between colluded applications, which can employ either an overt or covert mode communication to bypass permission security mechanisms of the Android OS. Covert communication can even conceal the very fact of their communication act to help avoid a detection by anti-malware software. In the reported empirical study, we simulated various cases of both attack types on the Android device. By employing Android system monitor tools, signals characterizing application's allocated memory consumption and overall memory consumption as well as a CPU utilization have been recorded and analyzed over periods of time that included various attacks and only normal situation. The samples of recorded signals are presented. In these signals, distinctive patterns that can be used for the detection of colluded application attacks were identified.
Understanding adversarial attack and defense towards deep compressed neural networks

Modern deep neural networks (DNNs) have been demonstrating a phenomenal success in many exciting appli- cations such as computer vision, speech recognition, and natural language processing, thanks to recent machine learning model innovation and computing hardware advancement. However, recent studies show that state-of- the-art DNNs can be easily fooled by carefully crafted input perturbations that are even imperceptible to human eyes, namely “adversarial examples”, causing the emerging security concerns for DNN based intelligent systems. Moreover, to ease the intensive computation and memory resources requirement imposed by the fast-growing DNN model size, aggressively pruning the redundant model parameters through various hardware-favorable DNN techniques (i.e. hash, deep compression, circulant projection) has become a necessity. This procedure further complicates the security issues of DNN systems. In this paper, we first study the vulnerabilities of hardware-oriented deep compressed DNNs under various adversarial attacks. Then we survey the existing mitigation approaches such as gradient distillation, which is originally tailored to the software-based DNN systems. Inspired by the gradient distillation and weight reshaping, we further develop a near zero-cost but effective gradient silence (GS) method to protect both software and hardware-based DNN systems against adversarial attacks. Compared with defensive distillation, our gradient salience method can achieve better resilience to adversarial attacks without additional training, while still maintaining very high accuracies across small and large DNN models for various image classification benchmarks like MNIST and CIFAR10.
Ca(2+) signaling: an outlook on the characterization of Ca(2+) channels and their importance in cellular functions.

Calcium (Ca2+) is essential in regulating a plethora of cellular functions that includes cell proliferation and differentiation, axonal guidance and cell migration, neuro/enzyme secretion and exocytosis, development/maintenance of neural circuits, cell death and many more. Since Ca2+ regulates so many fundamental processes, it could be anticipated that numerous Ca2+ channels and transporters will assist in regulating Ca2+ entry across the plasma membrane. Towards this several Ca2+ channels such as voltage-gated channels, store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) channels, NMDA, AMPA and other ligand gated channels have been identified. In recent years research focus has been targeted towards identification of the precise function of these essential channels. Furthermore, characterization of these individual Ca2+ channels has also gained much attention, since specific Ca2+ channels have been shown to influence a particular cellular response. Moreover, perturbations in these Ca2+ channels have also been implicated in a spectrum of pathological conditions. Hence, understanding the precise involvement of these Ca2+ channels in disease conditions would presumably unveil avenues for plausible therapeutic interventions. We thus review the role of Ca2+ signaling in select ­disease conditions and also provide experimental evidence as how they can be characterized in a given cell.
Autoantibodies to beta2-glycoprotein I in systemic lupus erythematosus and primary antiphospholipid antibody syndrome: clinical correlations in comparison with other antiphospholipid antibody tests

Objective To examine relationships between anti-beta2-glycoprotein (beta2-GPI) antibodies and other antiphospholipid antibody (aPL) tests (aPL ELISA and the lupus anticoagulant or LAC) and the associations of each of these aPL tests with individual clinical manifestations of the antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS). Methods IgG and IgM anti-beta2-GPI antibodies were determined by ELISA in 281 patients with SLE, primary APS, or other connective tissue diseases. Frequencies, sensitivities, specificities, and predictive values and correlations of anti-beta2-GPI were compared to the aPL ELISA (IgG and IgM) and LAC for individual (and combined) features of APS. Results Among 139 patients with positive aPL ELISA and/or LAC tests, 57 (41%) had anti-beta2-GPI antibodies (IgG and/or IgM) compared to 11% of patients with SLE negative for these tests (p = 0.00001). In 130 patients with APS, anti-beta2-GPI occurred in 42% and tended to be more specific but less sensitive than the aPL ELISA or LAC. When all 3 aPL tests were combined, the best sensitivities and negative predictive values were achieved; however, specificity and positive predictive values remained low. Anti-beta2-GPI antibodies occurred more frequently in primary APS (58%) vs secondary antiphospholipid syndromes (33%) (p = 0.008, OR = 2.9). Among 79 patients with SLE negative by both aPL ELISA and LAC, 9 (11 %) were positive for anti-beta2-GPI, 7 of whom had clinical features consistent with APS (representing 5% of all with APS). Stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis revealed beta2-GPI to be most strongly associated with neurological syndromes other than stroke, deep venous thrombosis, and recurrent fetal loss, while LAC was most strongly correlated with stroke and thrombocytopenia. IgM aPL antibodies also were independently associated with neurological syndromes and recurrent fetal loss. Conclusion Testing for beta2-GPI antibodies may be clinically useful in the diagnosis of APS but cannot supplant other aPL ELISA or LAC. Multivariate analyses suggest that anti-beta2-GPI antibodies may play a more central role in certain clinical manifestations of APS than antibodies detected by the aPL ELISA or LAC.
An Introduction to Crystal Field Effects in Magnetism

Over the past one-hundred years the electronic properties of the free atoms and free ions have been extensively studied by optical spectroscopy.[1] These studies have led to an excellent understanding of the properties of both the electronic ground state and the electronic excited state configurations.[2,3] In general these free atom or ion properties are expressed as a simple ground state electronic configuration which has associated with it the appropriate spectroscopic term symbol that expresses in a shorthand notation the spin, orbital, and total angular momentum associated with the free atom or ion. The energies of the various states may be expressed in terms of sums and differences of two electron coulomb and exchange integrals.[4,5] These integrals are usually parameterized in terms of either the Condon and Shortley or Racah interelectronic repulsion parameters.
Influence of Age, Health, and Function on Cancer Screening in Older Adults with Limited Life Expectancy.

We examined the relationship between cancer screening and life expectancy predictors, focusing on the influence of age versus health and function, in older adults with limited life expectancy. Longitudinal cohort study National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) with linked Medicare claims. Three cohorts of adults 65+ enrolled in fee-for-service Medicare were constructed: women eligible for breast cancer screening (n = 2043); men eligible for prostate cancer screening (n = 1287); men and women eligible for colorectal cancer screening (n = 3759). We assessed 10-year mortality risk using 2011 NHATS data, then used claims data to assess 2-year prostate and breast cancer screening rates and 3-year colorectal cancer screening rates. Among those with limited life expectancy (10-year mortality risk > 50%), we stratified participants at each level of predicted mortality risk and split participants in each risk stratum by the median age. We assembled two sub-groups from these strata that were matched on predicted life expectancy: a “younger sub-group” with relatively poorer health/functional status and an “older sub-group” with relatively better health/functional status. We compared screening rates between sub-groups. For all three cancer screenings, the younger sub-groups (average ages 73.4–76.1) had higher screening rates than the older sub-groups (average ages 83.6–86.9); screening rates were 42.9% versus 34.2% for prostate cancer screening (p = 0.02), 33.6% versus 20.6% for breast cancer screening (p < 0.001), 13.1% versus 6.7% for colorectal cancer screening in women (p = 0.006), and 20.5% versus 12.1% for colorectal cancer screening in men (p = 0.002). Among older adults with limited life expectancy, those who are relatively younger with poorer health and functional status are over-screened for cancer at higher rates than those who are older with the same predicted life expectancy.
Asymmetric Epistemology: Field Notes from Training in Two Disciplines

The epistemic barriers to interdisciplinarity are understudied. To fill this gap, we ask whether a university initiative designed to reduce structural barriers to interdisciplinarity also facilitat...
“Fresh” free-hand, non-viable allografts for aortic valve replacement: Operative techniques and 15-year results

The first unstented allograft valve inserted orthotopically for replacement of the aortic valve (AVR) was performed by Duran and Gunning working with Mr. Donald Ross in London; these pioneering attempts were reported by Ross in 1962 (11) and by Barratt-Boyes in 1964 (1). These investigators, and others, have continued using this method for AVR in selected patients for nearly three decades, and have recently updated their long-term results (2, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12). At Stanford, our initial experience with free-hand allograft AVR was accumulated between 1964 and 1971. A hiatus of 11 years followed; renewed interest in the use of allografts for AVR in children and adolescents started in 1982 at Stanford, due to dissatisfaction with the 51/n 10-year durability of porcine xenograft valves in young patients, reports of reasonable long-term durability using both antibiotic stored (non-viable) and cryopreserved (“viable”) valves (7, 8), and the demonstration of cell viability in cryopreserved allograft valves (4) (although this latter hypothesis continues at the present time, in our opinion, to be unproved in terms of clinical significance). We have subsequently expanded the use of “fresh” (4 °C antibiotic storage for ≤ 241/n 48 h) allograft valves obtained locally from organ donors whose hearts cannot be used for transplantation and commercially marketed cryopreserved allografts (CryoLife, Inc.) for AVR in carefully selected patients in a cautious manner.
Stretch-Induced Deformation as a Model to Study Dopaminergic Dysfunction in Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is defined as damage to the brain that consequently disrupts normal function. Neuronal death, a hallmark of TBI, has been related to the development of neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson's disease (PD), where loss of dopaminergic neurons and dopaminergic dysfunction are observed. To date, no in vitro model exists in which the dopaminergic damage observed in TBI is replicated. In this study, we evaluated the effects of in vitro simulated TBI on human dopaminergic neurons. To simulate TBI, neurons were subjected to 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 25% and 50% deformation. 24 h after injury, cell viability and apoptosis were determined by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release and DNA fragmentation, as well as ethidium homodimer and caspase 3/7 staining. Dopamine (DA) levels were determined by ELISA. Levels of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and DA transporter (DAT) were determined by western blot. Only 50% stretch increased LDH release and ethidium homodimer staining, suggesting the induction of necrosis. On the contrary, 25% and 50% stretch increased DNA fragmentation while 15%, 25% and 50% increased caspase 3/7 staining, suggesting that moderate and severe TBI promote apoptosis. Levels of intracellular DA decreased in a stretch-dependent manner with 15%, 25% and 50% stretch, which were related with a decrease in TH expression. Extracellular DA levels increased only at 50%. Levels of DAT remained unchanged regardless of treatment. These data support the use of stretch as a model to simulate TBI in vitro in human dopaminergic neurons, replicating the acute effects of TBI in the dopaminergic system.
Precision angle sensor using an optical lever inside a Sagnac interferometer.

We built an ultra-low-noise angle sensor by combining a folded optical lever and a Sagnac interferometer. The instrument has a measured noise floor of 1.3 prad/Hz at 2.4 kHz. We achieve this record angle sensitivity using a proof-of-concept apparatus with a conservative N=11 bounces in the optical lever. This technique could be extended to reach subpicoradian/Hz sensitivities with an optimized design.
Segmented quantitative diffusion tensor imaging evaluation of acute traumatic cervical spinal cord injury.

Objectives:To evaluate segmented diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) white matter tract fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) values in acute cervical spinal cord injury (CSCI).Methods:15...
Bilateral Reduction Mammaplasty Facilitates Subsequent Weight Loss in Obese Patients (BMI ≥30).

BACKGROUND One of the most commonly discussed benefits of macromastia treatment surgery, bilateral reduction mammaplasty, is the potential for subsequent weight loss. There is limited research examining weight change after reduction mammaplasty and a definitive relationship remains to be established. Our study aims to investigate this relationship and to identify potential preoperative and operative factors associated with postoperative changes in weight. METHODS A retrospective chart review was performed of all patients who underwent bilateral reduction mammaplasty for symptomatic macromastia at a single academic institution (Stony Brook University Hospital) between January 1, 2000, and January 1, 2016. Patients had 12 months or longer of follow-up to track resultant postoperative weight. RESULTS Two hundred and fifty-six patients met our eligibility criteria. The patients were stratified into 2 groups based on preoperative body mass index (BMI). Group 1 consisted of 112 patients (44%) with a BMI less than 30 (ie, nonobese); group 2 consisted of 145 patients (56%) with a BMI of 30 or higher (ie, obese). The mean total weight of bilateral breast tissue resected for each group was 982 and 1719 g for groups 1 and 2, respectively. For both groups, the mean patient age was 38 years, and the mean follow-up period was approximately 5 years. Patients in group 1 (the nonobese group) had a mean preoperative BMI of 26.25 and postoperative BMI of 26.78 (P = 0.108). Postoperatively, these patients demonstrated an overall mean BMI increase of 0.90. Patients in group 2 (the obese group) had a mean preoperative BMI of 34.99 and postoperative BMI of 34.13 (P = 0.045). Postoperatively, they demonstrated an overall mean BMI decrease of 0.20. The difference in change of BMI between the 2 groups was determined to be significant (P = 0.047). There is a significantly larger mean decrease in BMI in the obese group, 3.86 than the nonobese group, 2.01 (P = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS We found that weight changes after undergoing bilateral reduction mammaplasty are significantly different between obese and nonobese patients. Obese patients (BMI, ≥30) experience greater weight loss than nonobese patients. As the desire for postoperative weight loss and increased physical activity are common reasons to undergo reduction mammaplasty, this study adds valuable data to the discussion.
Characteristics of patients with lymphoma presenting initially as a neck mass referral to otolaryngology.

e18054Background: Lymphomas that present initially as a neck mass can be challenging to diagnose as their onset is often insidious, frequently without classic symptoms, and fine-needle aspiration h...
Obesity and diabetes are associated with disability in women with hand osteoarthritis. Results from the EpiReumaPt nationwide study.

Background Hand osteoarthritis (HOA) is a highly prevalent rheumatic disease that predominates in females and causes pain and loss of functional capacity. Obesity and metabolic syndrome have been previously suggested to associate with the severity of HOA, but clarity on these associations is yet to be achieved. Objective Test the association between obesity and other components of the metabolic syndrome and disability in women with hand osteoarthritis (HOA). Design Individuals from EpiReumaPt epidemiological community-based study (2011-2013) are representative of the Portuguese population. Women with diagnosis of primary HOA were included. Primary outcome hand functional status, assessed by Cochin questionnaire. Secondary outcomes hand pain, assessed by visual analogue scale and tender hand joint count (THJ). Explanatory variables: obesity, diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. Possible associations between obesity and the other components of metabolic syndrome with Cochin score, hand pain and THJ were tested in a multivariable linear regression model. Potential confounders considered: age, education level and countrywide distribution. Results 473 women with primary HOA were included. Forty percent were overweight and 29% obese. Ninety-three (19.8%) participants had diabetes, 261 (55.8%) reported hypertension and 261 (55.9%) hypercholesterolemia. Mean Cochin score was 15.5±14.8, mean pain VAS was 4.7±2.6 and mean THJ 1.4±3. In the multivariable analysis, obesity (β 4.6 CI 0.7;8.5) and diabetes (β 4.0 CI 0.4;7.6) were found to significantly associate with HOA functional disability. In addition, diabetes, but not obesity, associated with hand pain. There was no association between obesity or diabetes with THJ. Conclusion In a Portuguese female population with primary HOA, obesity and diabetes mellitus independently associated with a worse hand functional status. These data add to evidence suggesting a role of metabolic factors in the severity of HOA.
The Role of Phospholipid Metabolism in Insulin Action

There are two major mechanisms whereby hormones and other agonists alter phospholipid metabolism and generate intracellular signaling substances in their respective target tissues, viz., phospholipase activation and phospholipid synthesis. The most widely popularized mechanism involves the activation of a specific phospholipase C which hydrolyzes phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2).1 This hydrolysis generates inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) and diacylglycerol (DAG), which, respectively, mobilize Ca++ from intracellular stores and activate protein kinase C2 and other possibly related kinases. This hydrolytic mechanism is probably operative in the action of most agonists which operate via cell surface receptors and use Ca++ as a major intracellular signaling substance. In addition to PIP2 hydrolysis, other types of phospholipase C may be activated, causing the hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine (PC),3 phosphatidylinositol (PI) or a PI-glucosamine complex (PI-glycan).4 While it is clear that cell surface receptors are coupled to the PIP2 phospholipase C through GTP-binding proteins (which may or may not be inhibited by pertussis toxin), little is known about the mechanisms whereby receptors activate other forms of phospholipase C.
Capitalization Versus Expensing: Evidence on the Uncertainty of Future Earnings from Current Investments in Pp&E Versus R&D

Accounting standards reflect a trade-off between relevance and reliability. This trade-off is intensely debated in the context of the accounting standard for R&D costs. However, almost all of the empirical research focuses only on the relevance of accounting disclosures about R&D costs. Little systematic evidence exists on the reliability of future benefits from R&D outlays. We propose and implement a new method to estimate the relation between investments in R&D and the uncertainty of future benefits from those investments. The empirical analysis compares the relative contributions of current investments in R&D and PP&E to future earnings variability using a sample of more than 50,000 firm-year observations. Evidence is strongly consistent with the hypothesis that R&D investments generate future benefits that are far more uncertain than benefits from investments in PP&E. Our results, together with the evidence on value relevance of R&D from previous research, should be helpful in the current discussion on accounting for R&D.
External debt and oil prices: some prospects for oil-exporting developing countries

Abstract This article examines the extent to which selected oil-exporting developing countries can continue to depend on their major source of hard currency earnings to service their external debt in particular and to promote the process of future economic growth in general. The four countries under consideration are: Ecuador, Egypt, Indonesia and Nigeria. Incorporated into the study are alternative sets of assumptions regarding future oil output, export potential, future oil prices, external debt levels and future interest rates. Both the effects of the recently formulated Baker Plan and the collapse of oil prices are examined within this context.
Anomalous Extracellular Diffusion in Rat Cerebellum

Extracellular space (ECS) is a major channel transporting biologically active molecules and drugs in the brain. Diffusion-mediated transport of these substances is hindered by the ECS structure but the microscopic basis of this hindrance is not fully understood. One hypothesis proposes that the hindrance originates in large part from the presence of dead-space (DS) microdomains that can transiently retain diffusing molecules. Because previous theoretical and modeling work reported an initial period of anomalous diffusion in similar environments, we expected that brain regions densely populated by DS microdomains would exhibit anomalous extracellular diffusion. Specifically, we targeted granular layers (GL) of rat and turtle cerebella that are populated with large and geometrically complex glomeruli. The integrative optical imaging (IOI) method was employed to evaluate diffusion of fluorophore-labeled dextran (MW 3000) in GL, and the IOI data analysis was adapted to quantify the anomalous diffusion exponent dw from the IOI records. Diffusion was significantly anomalous in rat GL, where dw reached 4.8. In the geometrically simpler turtle GL, dw was elevated but not robustly anomalous (dw = 2.6). The experimental work was complemented by numerical Monte Carlo simulations of anomalous ECS diffusion in several three-dimensional tissue models containing glomeruli-like structures. It demonstrated that both the duration of transiently anomalous diffusion and the anomalous exponent depend on the size of model glomeruli and the degree of their wrapping. In conclusion, we have found anomalous extracellular diffusion in the GL of rat cerebellum. This finding lends support to the DS microdomain hypothesis. Transiently anomalous diffusion also has a profound effect on the spatiotemporal distribution of molecules released into the ECS, especially at diffusion distances on the order of a few cell diameters, speeding up short-range diffusion-mediated signals in less permeable structures.
Continuous Cohomology, Discrete Subgroups, and Representations of Reductive Groups

The Description for this book, Continuous Cohomology, Discrete Subgroups, and Representations of Reductive Groups. (AM-94), will be forthcoming.
Rural HIV/AIDS Services

Abstract An exploratory study to investigate the needs of those living with HIV disease to determine related service challenges was conducted in 1997 and replicated in 1999. This study utilized qualitative and quantitative measures, surveyed both individuals who are living with HIV disease and HIV/AIDS service providers in predominately rural counties of a midwest -ern state with a low incidence of HIV infection. Respondents' perceptions were solicited regarding existing services in the areas of: (1) awareness; (2) satisfaction; and (3) gaps and barriers. Findings indicate: (1) the critical role AIDS service organizations have in rural service delivery; (2) service awareness is much stronger among those living with HIV disease than HIV/AIDS service providers; (3) satisfaction with available services is growing; and (4) there is a widening gap between important needs and available services.
Amyloid-like fibrils formed from intrinsically disordered caseins: physicochemical and nanomechanical properties.

Amyloid-like fibrils are studied because of their significance in understanding pathogenesis and creating functional materials. Amyloid-like fibrils have been studied by heating globular proteins at acidic conditions. In the present study, intrinsically disordered α-, β-, and κ-caseins were studied to form amyloid-like fibrils at pH 2.0 and 90 °C. No fibrils were observed for α-caseins, and acid hydrolysis was found to be the rate-limiting step of fibrillation of β- and κ-caseins. An increase of β-sheet structure was observed after fibrillation. Nanomechanic analysis of long amyloid-like fibrils using peak-force quantitative nanomechanical atomic force microscopy showed the lowest and highest Young's modulus for β-casein (2.35 ± 0.29 GPa) and κ-casein (4.14 ± 0.66 GPa), respectively. The dispersion with β-casein fibrils had a viscosity more than 10 and 5 times higher than those of κ-casein and β-lactoglobulin, respectively, at 0.1 s−1 at comparable concentrations. The current findings may assist not only the understanding of amyloid fibril formation but also the development of novel functional materials from disordered proteins.
Higher fasting glucose is associated with poorer cognition among healthy young adults.

Objective Obesity is associated with cognitive deficits; however, the mechanisms are unclear, especially among otherwise healthy adults. Our objectives were to examine (a) whether obesity is linked to elevations in fasting glucose and (b) whether these elevations are associated with cognitive impairment among otherwise healthy young adults. Method Participants were 35 normal weight adults and 35 young adults with obesity who completed a task from the Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics-4 (ANAM-4). Measured body mass index (BMI) and fasting blood glucose levels (mg/dL) were examined. Results Persons with obesity had higher fasting glucose levels than normal weight persons (p = .03). After applying Bonferroni correction for multiple tests, higher fasting glucose predicted less accurate performance on tests of inhibitory control: Go/No-Go Commission Errors (β = .33, p = .004). No effects were observed for sustained attention or working memory (ps ≥. 049). Persons with glucose levels in the prediabetes range had nearly twice as many errors as those with normal glucose, a large effect that was independent of BMI. Conclusions Young adults who were obese but otherwise healthy had higher fasting glucose levels compared with normal weight peers. Higher glucose levels were associated with poorer cognitive performance on tests of inhibitory control, especially among individuals with prediabetes levels. Thus, subclinical elevations in blood glucose may contribute to cognitive impairment and, ultimately, greater impulsivity-well in advance of the development of chronic disease states (e.g., insulin resistance or Type 2 diabetes) and independently of excess adiposity--though prospective studies are needed to determine directionality of this relationship.
Effects of heavy, ionizing, monoenergetic particles on the cerebral cortex. I. Production of laminar lesions and dosimetric considerations.

A technique is described that was used to produce laminar lesions at different depths of the cerebral cortex in rabbits, cats, and monkeys by means of heavy, ionizing particles delivered in a beam from a 60-in. cyclotron. Dosimetric problems are discussed in detail. Examination of 384 radiation lesions indicated that a laminar lesion was produced by peak doses of 15000 to 45000 rads. The corresponding surface and average doses were 3000 to 9000, and 5000 to 15000 rads respectively. A technique of multiple irradiations with a shift of the zone of maximal ionization is described. Some observations pertaining to the latent period of radiation lesions of the brain and data on the relation between the width of the laminar lesion and the magnitude of the radiation dose are presented and discussed. (C.H.)
Variations in normal sternoclavicular joints; a retrospective study to quantify SCJ asymmetry

Objective A wide degree of normal anatomical variation can occur at the sternoclavicular joint (SCJ). On occasion, this has led to concern for a pathological process, potentially resulting in a costly work-up, unnecessary patient worry and invasive diagnostic procedures such as biopsy. The purpose of this study was to determine the normal range of anatomical variation at sternoclavicular joints.
Test of density-functional approximations in an exactly soluble model.

We consider an exactly soluble model consisting of two electrons attracted to a common center by harmonic-oscillator forces with mutual Coulomb repulsion between the electrons. The exact wave function and energy for the singlet ground state is obtained by separating the Schr\"odinger equation in center-of-mass and relative coordinates and numerically integrating the relative-coordinate eigenvalue equation. The exact Kohn-Sham (KS) orbital for the two equivalent electrons with opposite spins is constructed from the exact density, and the Kohn-Sham equation is inverted, yielding the exact exchange-correlation potential as a function of position.The exact correlation potential, as a function of position, is then obtained by subtracting the exact exchange potential from the exact exchange-correlation potential. The exact ground-state energy, exchange potential, correlation potential, KS single-particle energy eigenvalues ${\ensuremath{\epsilon}}_{\mathrm{KS}}$, exchange energy, and correlation energy are compared to the results given by density-functional theory employing the local-density approximation (LDA) plus correction terms and the exact KS orbitals for values of the harmonic-oscillator spring constant that vary over 4 orders of magnitude. We find that although total energies are accurately given by LDA plus correction terms, the values of ${\ensuremath{\epsilon}}_{\mathrm{KS}}$ are significantly in error. We show that this is mainly due to errors in the exchange potential.In addition we show analytically that in a singlet ground state of a two-electron system, the exact expectation value of the exchange potential equals the exact exchange energy, whereas the LDA expectation value of the exchange potential is only (2/3) the LDA exchange energy. Furthermore, we show that although the gradient expansion approximations for the exchange energy are significant improvements over the LDA, neither of these approximations significantly decreases the error in the LDA for the expectation value of the exchange potential. Both the correlation energy and the expectation value of the correlation potential in the LDA plus corrections are significantly in error when compared with the results of the exact calculation, the most accurate results being given by the LDA with self-interaction correction.
Neural summation in human motor cortex by subthreshold transcranial magnetic stimulations.

Integration of diverse synaptic inputs is a basic neuronal operation that relies on many neurocomputational principles, one of which is neural summation. However, we lack empirical understanding of neuronal summation in the human brains in vivo. Here, we explored the effect of neural summation on the motor cortex using two subthreshold pulses of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), each with intensities ranging from 60 to 95 % of the resting motor threshold (RMT) and interstimulus interval (ISI) varying from 1 to 25 ms. We found that two subthreshold TMS pulses can produce suprathreshold motor response when ISIs were less than 10 ms, most prominent at 1, 1.5 and 3 ms. This facilitatory, above-threshold response was evident when the intensity of the subthreshold pulses was above 80 % of RMT but was absent as the intensity was 70 % or below. Modeling of the summation data across intensity suggested that they followed an exponential function with excellent model fitting. Understanding the constraints for inducing summation of subthreshold stimulations to generate above-threshold response may have implications in modeling neural operations and potential clinical applications.
Heterogeneous distribution of the limbic system-associated membrane protein in the caudate nucleus and substantia nigra of the cat

Abstract The limbic system-associated membrane protein is a glycoprotein selectively associated, in the adult, with dendrites and cell bodies of neurons of the limbic system and related brain regions. In the present study, the distribution of the limbic system-associated membrane protein was studied by immunohistochemistry in the caudate nucleus and substantia nigra of the cat to determine how its expression relates to the compartmentalization of these areas. In all areas of the caudate nucleus, the pattern of limbic system-associated membrane protein immunoreactivity was highly heterogeneous, labeling zones that were in register with areas expressing neurochemical markers that classically identify striosomes. The extrastriosomal matrix exhibited low levels of staining. The results show that the limbic system-associated membrane protein is expressed by neurons within the target areas (striosomes) of subsets of limbic afferents (originating mainly from the basolateral nucleus of the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex), whereas regions of the caudate nucleus (extrastriosomal matrix) receiving inputs from other subdivisions of the limbic system, such as the cingulate cortex and the ventral tegmental area, contain relatively low levels of limbic system-associated membrane protein immunoreactivity. Thus the expression of this antigen may reflect the targeting of specific groups of limbic afferents to regions that are intimately associated with distinct components of the limbic system. The presence of limbic system-associated membrane protein in neurons of the substantia nigra pars compacta does not appear to be related to the presence or absence of the protein in their striatal target areas. In the substantia nigra, immunoreactivity to the limbic system-associated membrane protein was intense in the cell-sparse zone of the pars compacta, an area known to project to the extrastriosomal matrix of the caudate nucleus. This contrasted with the absence of immunostaining in areas containing dense clusters of dopaminergic neurons (densocellular zone), which project to the limbic system-associated protein-rich striosomes. By analogy to findings in the caudate nucleus and in other brain areas, the results suggest that subgroups of nigral dopaminergic neurons identified on the basis of their terminal fields in the caudate nucleus, may also differ in their limbic afferents.
Rapid isotonic fluid resuscitation in pediatric thermal injury

Intravenous fluid resuscitation within the first 24 hours after a burn is critical to prevent shock and maintain organ function. The Parkland burn resuscitation formula suggests that one half of the first 24-hour fluid requirement be given in the first 8 hours. Results of recent studies in animals suggest that compression of the first half of the initial resuscitation from 8 to 4 hours may have a physiological benefit. We reviewed the medical records of 44 children under 12 years of age who had burns of greater than 29% of total body surface. Twenty-two children received a standard resuscitation of one-half volume given over the first 8 hours, followed by one-half volume over the next 16 hours. Twenty-two children received a rapid isotonic fluid resuscitation of one-half volume over 4 hours or less, followed by the remainder given over 20 hours. Vital signs, urine output, urine specific gravity, blood gases (acidosis), ventilator need, morbidity, and mortality were compared between the two groups. The rapid group had increased normalization of vital signs (P < .001), increased urine output and normalization of urine specific gravity (P < .01), and decreased requirement for ventilator support (P < .05). The authors conclude that rapid isotonic fluid resuscitation is well tolerated by pediatric patients and may be better than the standard burn resuscitation technique.
A Death-Promoting Role for ISG54/IFIT2

The cellular responses to infection are many, and include programmed cell death to inhibit microbial dissemination and the production and secretion of interferons (IFNs), which confer resistance to uninfected cells. In addition to the antimicrobial effects of IFNs, these cytokines have been used clinically for the treatment of various neoplasias to inhibit proliferation and stimulate apoptosis. However, the precise mechanisms of action of IFNs remain to be completely understood. One of the primary response genes induced after an infection or treatment with type I or III IFN is known as IFN-stimulated gene 54 (ISG54) or IFN-induced gene with tetratricopeptide repeats 2 (IFIT2). ISG54/IFIT2 is a member of a family of IFN-induced genes related in the sequence and structure. Expression of this protein has been found to promote cellular apoptosis by a mitochondrial pathway dependent on the action of Bcl2 proteins. ISG54/IFIT2 does not function as a monomer, and it forms complexes with itself and with the related ISG56/IFIT1 and ISG60/IFIT3 proteins to elicit complex cellular responses. The apoptotic response to ISG54/IFIT2 may contribute to other functions that have been reported, including translational regulation, inhibition of tumor colonization, and protection against a lethal viral infection.
Control of mitochondrial lipid biosynthesis by testosterone in male sex accessory gland tissue and liver of castrate rats.

Incorporation of 14C-acetate in vivo into total mitochondrial lipid was used as an index of mitochondrial biosynthesis in seminal vesicle, coagulating gland, ventral prostate and liver mitochondria of castrate rats receiving testosterone or equivalent amounts of vehicle. In target tissues, incorporation values were greater in mitochondria prepared from seminal vesicles and prostates after 18 hr of stimulation and in mitochondria from coagulating glands after 24 hr of stimulation. No significant differences in target organ weights or incorporation values were noted between experimental and control animals after 12 hr of androgen treatment. Incorporation of label into lipids of liver mitochondria was high but was unaffected by 3 days of androgen treatment. Comparison of incorporation values obtained from whole mitochondria and mitochondrial fragments suggests that lipids of mitochondria labeled in vivo with 14C-acetate are entirely membrane bound. (Endocrinology 82: 535, 1968)
Spatial and temporal patterns in the fish assemblages of individual pools in a midwestern stream (U.S.A.)

The composition and consistency of fish assemblages in 14 adjacent pools (6–120 m long) of a clear-water, limestone and gravel creek in midwestern U.S.A. were quantified in eight snorkeling surveys over 19 months, to establish a baseline of natural variation in the system at this scale. The fauna of the stream was dominated numerically by minnows (Cyprinidae), sunfish and black bass (Centrarchidae), and topminnows (Fundulidae). The pool fish fauna of the total 1 km reach (including all 14 pools) was highly consistent throughout the study, despite two major floods. Assemblages in individual pools generally were consistent, but there was more variation within pools than at the scale of the entire reach. Throughout the study, most individual pools remained within discrete subsets of the total occupied multivariate space in a principal components analysis based on fish species abundances. Sunfishes (Lepomis spp.) and bass (Micropterus spp.) were more consistent in their distribution among pools than were minnows (Cyprinidae) or a topminnow (Fundulus). There were 25 significant correlations in occurrence of species pairs among stream pools, out of 91 possible comparisons of the 14 most abundant taxa in the reach. Many pools contained assemblages either dominated by large centrarchids or by abundant cyprinids and juvenile centrarchids, but intermediate assemblages also were observed. The dynamics of distribution of fish species and fish assemblages among individual stream pools are likely influenced by a combination of species-specific behaviors and habitat selection, predator constraints on use of individual pools by small fishes, riffles as size-selective barriers to fish movements between pools, dispersal of young-of-the-year fishes, and abiotic phenomena like floods. Individual stream pools appear to be discrete habitat units for fishes, and do represent an appropriate scale for biologically meaningful studies of fish assemblages or their effects on streams.
Case report 571

A case of a 23-year-old man with deformities of the spine and hip is presented, demonstrating the bizarre long term effects of radiation on developing bone. The spectrum of radiation-induced growth abnormalities is reviewed. Multiple variables, including age of the patient, the quantity of radiation delivered, and the site of delivery, all effect the eventual radiographic appearance.