cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of gingival suppuration and supragingival plaque following 4 modalities of periodontal therapy

This study evaluated the effect of coronal scaling (CS), root planing (RP), modified Widman surgery (MW) and flap with osseous resectional surgery (FO) upon the presence of gingival suppuration and supragingival plaque. 75 patients completed split-mouth therapy and 2 years of maintenance care. Data were collected prior to the initiation of therapy, following initial therapy, following surgical therapy and yearly during 2 years of maintenance care. All 4 types of therapy reduced the prevalence of suppuration with RP, MW and FO producing a greater reduction than CS in sites greater than or equal to 5 mm. Sites were grouped according to presence of suppuration at 2 consecutive examinations. The mean changes in probing depth and probing attachment level for each time period were compared. Sites that began to suppurate between 2 exams or were suppurating at both exams had a less favorable response in mean probing depth reduction and mean probing attachment gain when compared to sites that stopped suppurating between exams or did not suppurate at either exam. The prevalence of supragingival plaque decreased during active therapy and 2 years of maintenance. There was no difference in the prevalence between the therapy groups except for FO-treated sites showing more plaque accumulation after surgical therapy. The presence or absence of supragingival plaque at specific sites was dynamic, frequently converting to a new status between 2 examinations.
Modeling of a Novel Multi-Jet Emitter for ESI-MS Applications

This paper presents the concept and simulation of a novel multiple electrospray emitters for electrospray ionization mass spectrometric (ESI-MS) applications. The proposed emitter is based on an array of carbon nanofibers (CNF) vertically grown around the orifice of a microscale thermoplastic capillary. The electrospray ionization process is simulated using a CFD code that utilizes Taylor-Melcher leaky-dielectric formulations for the electrohydrodynamics and volume-of-fluid (VOF) method for tracking the interface. The modeling results predict that under steady state conditions, individual cone-jets are established around each of the CNFs resulting in an array of electrosprays. Effects of several design and operational parameters on the electrospray performance are thoroughly investigated. The results of the present study will facilitate design, fabrication and experiments using the CNF emitter. Higher spray current and lower jet diameter indicate that the proposed emitter can perform equivalent to nanospray emitters exhibiting improved MS sensitivity while using a microscale orifice. Use of microscale orifice benefits in terms of higher sample throughput and eliminates potential clogging problem inherent in nanoscale capillaries. Overall, the proposed emitter is believed to be a suitable candidate for ESI-MS applications.© 2006 ASME
Vortex-induced oscillations in inclined cables

We describe a new apparatus for the experimental study of flow-induced transverse vibrations in marine cables. The system employs real-time numerical simulation, with force measurement and high-bandwidth feedback. As a specific case, we study the interaction of the fluid with a two-mode inclined-cable system. Lock-in to structural modes above and below the fixed-cylinder shedding rate is observed, as well as a double lock-in to both.
Increased avian diversity is associated with lower incidence of human West Nile infection: observation of the dilution effect.

Recent infectious disease models illustrate a suite of mechanisms that can result in lower incidence of disease in areas of higher disease host diversity–the ‘dilution effect’. These models are particularly applicable to human zoonoses, which are infectious diseases of wildlife that spill over into human populations. As many recent emerging infectious diseases are zoonoses, the mechanisms that underlie the ‘dilution effect’ are potentially widely applicable and could contribute greatly to our understanding of a suite of diseases. The dilution effect has largely been observed in the context of Lyme disease and the predictions of the underlying models have rarely been examined for other infectious diseases on a broad geographic scale. Here, we explored whether the dilution effect can be observed in the relationship between the incidence of human West Nile virus (WNV) infection and bird (host) diversity in the eastern US. We constructed a novel geospatial contrasts analysis that compares the small differences in avian diversity of neighboring US counties (where one county reported human cases of WNV and the other reported no cases) with associated between-county differences in human disease. We also controlled for confounding factors of climate, regional variation in mosquito vector type, urbanization, and human socioeconomic factors that are all likely to affect human disease incidence. We found there is lower incidence of human WNV in eastern US counties that have greater avian (viral host) diversity. This pattern exists when examining diversity-disease relationships both before WNV reached the US (in 1998) and once the epidemic was underway (in 2002). The robust disease-diversity relationships confirm that the dilution effect can be observed in another emerging infectious disease and illustrate an important ecosystem service provided by biodiversity, further supporting the growing view that protecting biodiversity should be considered in public health and safety plans.
Anion and cation binding by a new indole/pyridine/amine-based ion-pair receptor

Abstract A new ion-pair receptor bis(3-bromoindol-2-ylmethyl)(2-pyridylmethyl)amine ( 1 ) was synthesized and studied for its anion and cation binding behavior using ESI-MS and 1 H NMR spectroscopy. Among halides, 1 exhibits the strongest binding with Cl − to form a 1:1 adduct ( K a = 1042 ± 21 in CD 3 CN). Among alkali metal ions, Li + and Na + showed the strongest binding in the formation of a 1 ·M + complex. The simultaneous binding of Cl − and Li + to 1 was confirmed by 1 H NMR titration of a 1:1 mixture of 1 and Cl − with LiPF 6 in 83:17 v/v mixture of CDCl 3 and DMSO- d 6 . DFT-optimized structures of 1 ·Cl − , 1 ·Li + , and 1 ·Li + ·Cl − are consistent with the chemical shift changes observed in 1 H NMR studies.
Cocaine-induced rausch: overt behaviour and plasma concentrations in rhesus monkeys.

This study was designed to characterize the cocaine-induced rausch or hyperarousal syndrome in rhesus monkeys. This syndrome mimics the stage observed in human abusers bingeing on cocaine and its considered crucial in the progression from recreational use to compulsive abuse. However, little research has focused on this important aspect of cocaine use. Cocaine was administered i.v. at doses of 0.0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg/kg. Plasma concentrations were determined by gas chromatograph mass spectrometry (GC/MS) using deuterated internal standards d3 cocaine and d3 benzoylecgonine (BE). Mean plasma concentrations of cocaine, were on samples collected 1 min after infusion, 46 ± 31, 88 ± 15 and 275 ± 116 mg/μl in the 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg/kg dose groups, respectively. There were no detectable concentrations of BE in any of the specimens nor was cocaine detected in the saline controls. Analysis of the behavioural data revealed that the 0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg results were intermediate between the results obtained at doses of 0.0 and 2.0 mg/kg and that the 1.0 mg/kg dose produced a higher response than the 0.5 mg/kg dose up to the 12 min. Regarding individual behavioural signs, those designated escape attempts, checking, feinting, restlessness, searching, vocalizing, chewing, crouching and wide-eyed were noted most frequently. The results showed dose-response relationships for both plasma concentrations of cocaine and for the total number of overt behavioural signs. The plasma concentrations were in the range reported for human cocaine abusers.
Clinical studies of the effect of extracorporeal circulation on myocardial digoxin concentration

Abstract The radioactivity of serial myocardial biopsies was determined at operation in 11 patients previously digitalized and who were given tritium-labeled digoxin. Extracorporeal circulation, employed in 8 patients, resulted in decreases in radioactivity in the heart ranging from 10 to 28 per cent. The radioactivity of the blood increased five-fold after extracorporeal circulation but unchanged digoxin comprised only 14 per cent of the total. No changes in myocardial radioactivity were observed in 3 patients undergoing closed cardiac operations. These studies and clinical observations in 150 patients subjected to extracorporeal circulation indicate that cardiotonic compounds may be removed from the heart during open operations. Thus, if supplemental digitalis is required in the postperfusion period, it may be administered without fear of a reduced threshold of toxicity.
Role of N-terminal residues in Aβ interactions with integrin receptor and cell surface.

Abstract beta-Amyloid (Aβ) is the primary protein component of senile plaques in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and is believed to play a role in its pathology. To date, the mechanism of action of Aβ in AD is unclear. We and others have observed that Aβ interacts either with or in the vicinity of the α6 sub-unit of integrin, and believe this may be important in its interaction with neuronal cells. In this study, we used confocal microscopy and flow cytometry to explore the residue specific interactions of Aβ40 with the cell surface and the α6 integrin receptor sub-unit. We probed the importance of the RHD sequence in Aβ40 and found that removal of the residues or their mutation using the Aβ8-40 or the D7N early onset AD sequence, respectively, led to a greater interaction between Aβ40 and an antibody bound to the α6-integrin sub-unit, as measured by fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). These results suggest that the RHD sequence of Aβ40 does not mediate Aβ–α6 integrin interactions. However, the cyclic RGD mimicking peptide, Cilengitide, reduced the measured interaction between Aβ40 fibrils without the RHD sequence and an antibody bound to the α6-integrin sub-unit. We further probed the role of electrostatic forces on Aβ40–cell interactions and observed that the Aβ sequence that included the N-terminal segment of the peptide had reduced cellular binding at low salt concentrations, suggesting that its first 7 residues contribute to an electrostatic repulsion for the cell surface. These findings contribute to our understanding of Aβ–cell surface interactions and may provide insight into development of novel strategies to block Aβ–cell interactions that contribute to pathology in Alzheimer's disease.
On the Perfomance of Air Traffic Control Radar Beacon System

The sidelobe suppression and improved sidelobe suppression mode performance of terminal and enroute air traffic control radar beacon systems using the existing antenna and a typical improved antenna in the presence of perfectly dielectric flat ground are investigated theoretically. Necessary analytical expressions for various quantities characterizing the system performance have been derived. A general purpose computer program has been developed for the computation and tabulation of these quantities as functions of the elevation angle of the observation point and for different combinations of heights of the directional and omnidirectional antennas of the beacon. Although the discussions given here apply to some specific antenna configurations, the theoretical method developed has more general application in evaluating quantitatively the performance of the beacon system in a given situation.
Reactions forming pyrite and marcasite from solution: I. Nucleation of FeS2 below 100°C

Abstract Reaction paths for nucleation and growth of pyrite and marcasite from solution have been investigated experimentally. Conditions were chosen to avoid the precipitation of metastable Fe-S phases which can act as precursors for FeS2 formation. The experiments indicate that FeS2 nucleation is extremely slow below 100°C. Instead of FeS2 nuclei, the reaction of ferrous ions and polysulfide ions produces initially amorphous FeS. Although the nucleation of FeS2 is inhibited below 100°C, pyrite and marcasite can grow from solutions devoid of polysulfides and undersaturated with respect to possible Fe-S precursor phases. The inability of pyrite to rapidly nucleate explains high supersaturation with respect to pyrite and marcasite in anoxic environments. Although pyrite is the stable Fe-S phase in these environments, it will not control the Fe2+ and H2S (or HS−) concentrations until its growth rate exceeds the dissolution rate of far more soluble, metastable FeS precursor phases.
New CTTS absoprtion bands of iodide in the far-ultraviolet region

Abstract New absoprtion bands of iodide in the far-UV region down to 167 nm have been observed in a range of solvents and over a wide range of temperatures. These new bands respond to CTTS environmental perturbation, but with increased sensitivity compared to the doublet arising from 2 P 3 2 from 2 P 1 2 states.
The surface accumulation of larval fishes by hydrodynamic convergence within the Mississippi River plume front

Abstract In September 1987 and May 1988 densities of larval fishes at the surface were greater within the frontal zone of the Mississippi River plume than they were in plume or shelf waters. Sharp turbidity discontinuities of 10–50 m width accompanied by temperature and salinity discontinuities were embedded within this large-scale frontal zone, which itself spanned 2–20 km. Apparent convergent motion normal to turbidity discontinuities had velocities in the range of 0-0.8 m s−1: lateral shear was also evident. Exceptionally high densities of larval fishes were not always observed at turbidity discontinuities. Turbidity discontinuities, often sinuous in configuration, formed and dissipated over time scales of 2–6 h. Expected densities of larval fishes within frontal convergence zones, calculated with a simplified advection-diffusion model, approximated mean and median densities observed within the large-scale frontal zone.
Essential aspects of Wiener-measure regularization for quantum-mechanical path integrals

Abstract A pedagogical discussion is presented that leads the reader from the original, formal expression for a phase-space path integral to an improved version that resolves all issues of mathematical rigor and physical meaning.
Manipulation of the pill-free interval in oral contraceptive pill users: The effect on follicular suppression

Abstract Objective The purpose of this study was to compare follicular suppression that was produced by 3 different oral contraceptive regimens that differ by treatment in the pill-free interval. Study design In a university setting, 54 women were assigned randomly to receive either 20 μg ethinyl estradiol+100 μg levonorgestrel followed by 7 pill-free days, 20 μg ethinyl estradiol+150 μg desogestrel followed by 2 days of placebo then 10 μg ethinyl estradiol for 5 days, or 28 days of 20 μg ethinyl estradiol plus 150 μg desogestrel. Follicular suppression was evaluated by serial ultrasound scans and by serum and urinary hormone levels during a 2-month study period. Data were analyzed by nonparametric statistical tests. Results There was a significant difference in follicle count among the 3 groups ( P =.005). Women who were treated with a 7-day pill-free interval experienced the least suppression. Estrogen levels were more variable and led to an observation that overweight (body mass index, >25 kg/m 2 ) was associated with reduced follicle suppression (relative risk, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.0, 2.7) and higher estrogen levels (relative risk, 5.3; 95% CI, 1.3, 21). Conclusion Contraceptive pill users who were treated with a 7-day pill-free interval demonstrated less follicular suppression than women who were supplemented with either estrogen alone or estrogen plus progestin. Overweight women were less suppressed than women of normal weight.
Solar System dynamics and global-scale dust storms on Mars

Abstract Global-scale dust storms occur during the southern summer season on Mars in some Mars years but not in others. We present an updated catalog of Mars years including such storms (n = 9) and Mars years without global-scale storms (n = 11) through the year 2013. A remarkable relationship links the occurrence and non-occurrence of global-scale dust storms on Mars with changes in the orbital angular momentum of Mars with respect to the Solar System barycenter (LMars). All of the global-scale dust storms became planet-encircling in both latitude and longitude during periods when LMars was increasing or near maxima. Statistical significance at the 1% level is obtained for the clustering tendency of LMars phases for the 5 mid-season storms with Ls ranging from 208° to 262° (1956, 1971, 1982, 1994, and 2007). The 11 Mars years without global-scale dust storms exhibit mainly decreasing and minimum values of LMars during the first half of the dust storm season; this tendency is statistically significant at the 5% level. A systematic progression is present in the phasing of the solar irradiance and LMars waveforms for the global-scale storm years. LMars phases for the early season global-scale storms of 1977 and 2001 are advanced in phase with respect to those of the mid-season storms, while the phase for the late season storm of 1973 is delayed with respect to those of the mid-season storms cluster. Factors internal to the Mars climate system, such as a spatial redistribution of surface dust from year to year, must be invoked to account for the non-occurrence of global-scale dust storms in five years (1986, 2003, 2005, 2009, and 2013) when the LMars phase was otherwise favorable. Our results suggest that the occurrence of increasing or peak values of LMars immediately prior to and during the Mars dust storm season may be a necessary-but-not-sufficient condition for the initiation of global-scale dust storms on Mars.
Singular spectrum analysis in nonlinear dynamics, with applications to paleoclimatic time series

Two dimensions of a dynamical system given by experimental time series are distinguished. Statistical dimension gives a theoretical upper bound for the minimal number of degrees of freedom required to describe the attractor up to the accuracy of the data, taking into account sampling and noise problems. The dynamical dimension is the intrinsic dimension of the attractor and does not depend on the quality of the data. Singular Spectrum Analysis (SSA) provides estimates of the statistical dimension. SSA also describes the main physical phenomena reflected by the data. It gives adaptive spectral filters associated with the dominant oscillations of the system and clarifies the noise characteristics of the data. SSA is applied to four paleoclimatic records. The principal climatic oscillations and the regime changes in their amplitude are detected. About 10 degrees of freedom are statistically significant in the data. Large noise and insufficient sample length do not allow reliable estimates of the dynamical dimension.
Corn Production on a Subsurface-Drained Mollisol as Affected by Time of Nitrogen Application and Nitrapyrin

Time of N fertilizer application to corn (Zea mays L.) and use of a nitrification inhibitor are management strategies that can affect corn production and loss of NO 3 -N from the soil profile via subsurface, tile drainage. A field study was conducted from the fall of 1986 through 1994 on a tile-drained Canisteo clay loam soil [fine-loamy, mixed (calcareous), mesic Typic Endoaquolls] to determine the influence of time of N application and nitrapyrin [2-chloro-6-(trichloromethyl) pyridine] on yield of corn and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] in rotation and N uptake of corn. Four anhydrous ammonia (AA) treatments [(fall without nitrapyrin (NP), fall with NP, spring preplant, and split (40% preplant and 60% sidedress at V8 stage)] were replicated four times and applied at 150 kg N ha -1 (135 lb N acre -1 ) for corn each year. Fall applications occurred between 19 and 28 October when soil temperatures generally were ≤10°C. Seven-year average corn grain yields were least for fall N without NP (8.27 Mg ha -1 , 131 bu acre -1 ), intermediate for fall N with NP and spring N (8.72 Mg ha -1 , 139 bu acre -1 ), and greatest for the split N treatment (9.11 Mg ha -1 , 145 bu acre -1 ). Corn N uptake was not different among treatments in drier years but was generally greatest for the spring and split treatments in wet years. Apparent N recovery ranged from 31% for fall N without NP to 44% for the split treatment. Economic return to fertilizer was greatest for the split treatment ($239.40 ha -1 yr -1 ) and lowest for fall N without NP ($166.70 ha -1 yr -1 ). Application time strategies for AA considered to be best management practices for these poorly drained Mollisols include fall N with NP, spring preplant, and split application.
Improving the Functioning of Individuals with Alzheimer's Disease: Emergence of Behavioral Interventions.

Abstract Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative process that invariably results in diminished communicative functioning. Historically, it was thought that little could be done to improve the functioning of affected individuals. However, in recent years the value of behavioral interventions has increasingly been explored, resulting in a changing perspective. Some of the factors contributing to this changing view include: understanding that memory is not a unitary phenomenon, recognizing that certain types of memory are relatively spared in AD, a growing realization that conceptual knowledge is largely intact, and a greater understanding of how people learn and remember. Intervention techniques that capitalize on spared memory systems and take advantage of principles of learning and remembering have been successful in teaching individuals with AD new information and allowing them to maintain better functioning throughout the disease course. Learning outcomes (1) The participant will be able to describe the historical perspective on behavioral interventions, and four factors that have contributed to a changing perspective. (2) The participant will be able to list behavioral strategies that clinicians can use in order to improve functioning of individuals with AD.
Community’s Role and School’s Role in Protecting against Student Substance Use: A Spatial Analysis

Employing school catchment areas (SCAs) to represent communities in Alabama, this study hypothesized that student substance use would be most prevalent where structural disadvantages were most numerous and school- and community-bestowed encouragement of or rewards for students’ prosocial behaviors were scant. We employed data from the 2000 census and a secondary data set produced by the Alabama Department of Mental Health. Overall, we observed significant, strong effects on student substance use wielded by the community’s and school’s protective roles. Our results confirmed location as an explanatory factor, in that substance use in one community affected substance use in neighboring communities.
1560 BRAINSTEM AUDITORY EVOKED RESPONSES (BAER) IN. INFANTS WITH CONGENITAL ALVEOLAR HYPOVENTILATION SYNDROME(CAHS)

BAER may be useful in localizing nonstructural defects in the brainstem. Two infants with CAHS were evaluated with tests of ventilation {VE awake(AW)/PaCO2, VE asleep(AS)/PaCO2}, routine neurological studies and BAER in order to assess the correlation between BAER and loss of central control of ventilation. BAER were also measured in normal infants (CON) and in an infant with prolonged sleep apnea (PSA) but without alveolar hypoventilation.
Topical Review: Putative Neurotransmitter Abnormalities in Infantile Spasms: Cerebrospinal Fluid Neurochemistry and Drug Effects

The neuropharmacologic basis of infantile spasms and the mechanism by which adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) exerts its therapeutic effects are unknown. This is a critical review of cerebrospinal fluid neurotransmitters or their metabolites in infantile spasms before and during treatment with ACTH, and of clinical drug trials with drugs acting on neurotransmission. Cerebrospinal fluid studies have shown lower γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), ACTH, and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid concentrations in patients with infantile spasms compared to controls, elevated lysine and glutamate, variable or no differences in homovanillic acid, 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol, norepinephrine, corticotropin-releasing hormone, and β-endorphin. Chronic treatment with ACTH in infantile spasms reduces cerebrospinal fluid GABA, β-endorphin, and somatostatin, increases norepinephrine and tyrosine, and has variable or no effect on homovanillic acid, 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, histamine, and tryptophan...
Estimates for stable hypersurfaces of prescribed F-mean curvature

We consider immersed hypersurfaces Open image in new window:Mn→ℝn+1 with prescribed anisotropic mean curvature Open image in new window. Such hypersurfaces can be characterized as critical points of parametric functionals of the type Open image in new window with an elliptic Lagrangian F depending on normal directions and a smooth vectorfield Q satisfying Open image in new window. We establish curvature estimates for stable hypersurfaces of dimension n≤5, provided F is C3-close to the area integrand.
Structure and Diversity in Food Web Research

de Ruiter, Peter C., Volkmar Wolters, and John C. Moore, editors. Dynamic food webs: multispecies assemblages, ecosystem development, and environmental change. Elsevier, Burlington, Massachusetts. x + 590 p. $84.95, ISBN: 978-0-12-088458-2 (alk. paper).
Mutations that detoxify an aberrant T4 membrane protein.

Abstract We have investigated suppressors of the bacteriophage T4 rIIB toxic polypeptide encoded by the rIIB frameshift mutation FC238. We have found suppressors that eliminate the toxic polypeptide by creating new translational termination codons, that diminish the toxicity of the polypeptide by altering the amino acid sequence of the toxic protein, that alter the rIIA protein so as to influence toxicity, and that diminish the amount of toxic polypeptide by reducing the quantity of gene expression from the rIIB (FC238) gene. We propose that the toxicity of the FC238 polypeptide derives from its peculiar, bipartite structure and high membrane avidity. Suppressors that detoxify the FC238 polypeptide by missense probably disturb the bipartite structure and/or the affinity for the membrane. The distribution of transition mutations obtained with a variety of mutagens contributes to an appreciation of intrinsic mutability differences. Lastly, although suppressors of FC238 toxicity might emerge in phage genes other than rIIB and rIIA, none have been found.
Innovative Instructional Strategies for Speech Communication.

Abstract The new instructional strategies being widely adopted at all levels of education depend for their rationale upon some long‐standing, well‐substantiated principles of learning. These four principles are explained and then discovered in the three most accepted instructional innovations in speech communication: mini‐courses, games and simulations and out‐of‐class learning experiences. The article also discusses pitfalls in each new method. The three methods are not calculated to lighten teachers’ work, but do provide alternative instructional techniques.
Modeling and Analyzing the Implementation of Latency-Insensitive Protocols Using the Polychrony Framework

As Globally Asynchronous and Locally Synchronous (GALS) based System-on-chip (SoC) are gaining importance, a special case of GALS when the global clocking is preserved, but the interconnect delays of multiple clock cycles are to be tolerated has also been proposed, and used. In some cases, such designs, known as Latency-Insensitive Protocol (LIP) based SoC integration are also general enough to work when the global clocking is not present. In either case, the protocols are complex, and many optimized implementations of such protocols need verification that indeed they work correctly with respect to the specification of the system. Usually the specification of the system is fully globally clocked with negligible interconnect delays, so that the specification can be first implemented as synchronous design with traditional tools. GALS or LIP refinements are then applied to tolerate the multi-cycle interconnect delays, or fully asynchronous interconnect communication, as the case may be. Verifying that such refinements are correctness preserving, researchers have used model checking in the past. In this paper, we present static analysis based framework for such verification. Our framework makes use of the Polychrony framework and associated semantic analysis techniques, in the form of endo-isochrony. We show a number of LIP protocols to preserve the correctness with respect to their fully synchronous specifications using our framework. We believe, designers can verify LIP implementations with clever optimizations using our framework much more readily than when using model checking.
Radiofrequency catheter ablation of supraventricular arrhythmias in patients with congenital heart disease: results and technical considerations.

Abstract Objectives. The aim of this study was to report the results and techniques of radiofrequency ablation for treatment of supraventricular arrhythmias in patients with congenital structural heart disease. Background. The management of patients with congenital and other structural heart disease may be complicated by serious arrhythmias due to Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome or by atrial arrhythmias after cardiac surgery. Ablation techniques using radiofrequcncy current are revolutionizing the management of arrhythmias, but reports have included few with structural heart disease. Methods. Fifteen patients with significant heart disease underwent radiofrequency ablation: 11 with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and 4 with intraatrial reentrant tachycardia after atrial surgery. Seven had Ebstein's anomaly, complex in two, and the rest had other defects. Coexistence of structural defects introduced significant technical difficulties to radiofrequency ablation in patients with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and was accomplished by adaptation of current techniques. Ablation of intraatrial reentrant tachycardia was performed by finding early atrial activation sites with electrogram fractionation for radiofrequency application. Results. Radiofrequency ablation was initially successful in 14 of 15 patients, with cure in 10 and clinical improvement in 14. Two patients subsequently underwent cardiac surgery without perioperative arrhythmias. Conclusions. Radiofrequency ablation in patients with congenital heart disease and arrhythmias is both safe and effective and may be the preferred approach to treatment in some patients. In patients who are to undergo surgical correction or palliation, preoperative radiofrequency ablation of the tachycardia substrate is effective and may be preferred to operative accessory pathway division. The ablation of intraatrial reentrant tachycardia shows promise in the management of patients who have undergone extensive atrial surgery, and it may eventually become the preferred approach, particularly when there are contraindications to the use of antiarrhythmic agents.
Learning and Memory Impairments in Young and Old Alcoholics: Evidence for the Premature‐Aging Hypothesis

A battery of cognitive tests was administered to groups of younger (34--49) and older (50--59) alcoholics and nonalcoholic control subjects. Regardless of age, alcoholics were found to be impaired on essentially all measures of learning and memory. The relevance of these findings to the premature-aging hypothesis is discussed.
Availability and caloric density of the diet as determinants of meal patterns in cats

Patterns of food intake were examined in cats both under ad lib feeding conditions, and when the availability of food was constrained by requiring the completion of fixed ratio schedules of bar presses to obtain a meal. As the ratio requirement was increased, frequency of feeding decreased, while both meal size and meal duration increased. Body weight did not decrease until the highest ratio requirements. When the caloric density of the diet was decreased, cats maintained bulk rather than caloric intake under all conditions of availability. It was concluded that environmental variables, particularly the availability and nutritional properties of the diet, are major determinants of natural patterns of feeding.
Treatment of Childhood Headache with Dihydroergotamine Mesylate

SYNOPSIS This study was undertaken to determine whether pediatric patients with migraine without aura who have failed standard outpatient regimens including intravenous dihydroergotamine mesylate (DHE) in conjunction with oral metoclopramide would respond to an inpatient treatment protocol of intravenous DHE and oral metoclopramide. Thirty patients were evaluated in this study which was an open label, retrospective review of treatment. Independent of the duration of the refractory migraine, 80% of the patients responded to the protocol with only minimal side effect. The dose of DHE mesylate ranged from 0.1 to 0.5 mg. The dose of DHE is lower than is typically utilized in standard adult protocols. The patients received an average of five doses of DHE.
Retention of sulfur dioxide by nylon filters

Abstract Based on laboratory studies, recovery efficiencies of sulfur dioxide (SO2) were determined for nylon filters. The nylon filters used in these experiments were found to retain SO2. A relatively uniform amount (1.7%) was recoverable from each nylon filter, independent of relative humidity. An appreciable portion of SO2 was unrecoverable, and this increased from 5 to 16% as the RH increased from 28 to 49%. This unrecoverable SO2 may account for previous reports of a low bias for SO2 determinations employing filter packs using nylon filters. Additional characterization of nylon filters is recommended prior to their future deployment as an integrative sampling medium for ambient air.
Membrane potential dependent binding of scorpion toxin to action potential Na+ ionophore.

Abstract Depolarization of neuroblastoma cells causes a 70-fold increase in the apparent dissociation constant KD for scorpion toxin enhancement of activation of the action potential Na+ ionophore by veratridine and a large increase in the rate of reversal of scorpion toxin action. Depolarization also inhibits binding of 125I-labeled scorpion toxin to a small number of saturable binding sites on electrically excitable neuroblastoma cells and increases the rate of dissociation of scorpion toxin from these sites. The results suggest that scorpion toxin binds to a regulatory component of the action potential Na+ ionophore whose conformation changes on depolarization.
Effect of Redox Potential on Iron Valence in Model Systems and Foods

The effect of redox potential on the ionization and valence of four iron compounds was investigated. A model system was designed to control the redox potential of pH 4.2 phthalate buffers to which the iron was added. The applicability of predictions made from results obtained in the model systems was assessed by adding the same iron compounds to three food products of differing redox potentials and comparing trends of ionization and valence. A relationship between redox potential and the valence of ionized iron was observed.
Lysozyme (muramidase) in isolated chick oviduct nuclei.

Abstract We have recently observed lysozyme (muramidase) in histone fractions prepared from isolated chick oviduct chromatin. This communication contains a quantitation of the specific activity of nuclear lysozyme. The time course of appearance of nuclear and cytoplasmic lysozyme during hormonally induced tissue differentiation is shown. These and other results suggest that nuclear lysozyme is cytoplasmic in origin and has translocated to the nucleus of the tissue. Conditions are described for the satisfactory extraction of lysozyme from chromatin prepared from nuclei.
Density Functional Study of the CO Oxidation on a Doped Rutile TiO2(110): Effect of Ionic Au in Catalysis

We used density functional theory to examine whether doping oxides makes them better oxidation catalysts. We studied in detail titania doped with Au and used CO oxidation as a test of the oxidizing power of the system. We show that doping with Au, Ag, Cu, Pt, Pd, Ni reduces dramatically the bond of surface oxygen to titania or ceria, making them better oxidation catalysts. These calculations suggest that it is worthwhile to explore doped oxides as oxidation catalysts.
Segmental expression of Pax3/7 and Engrailed homologs in tardigrade development

How morphological diversity arises through evolution of gene sequence is a major question in biology. In Drosophila, the genetic basis for body patterning and morphological segmentation has been studied intensively. It is clear that some of the genes in the Drosophila segmentation program are functioning similarly in certain other taxa, although many questions remain about when these gene functions arose and which taxa use these genes similarly to establish diverse body plans. Tardigrades are an outgroup to arthropods in the Ecdysozoa and, as such, can provide insight into how gene functions have evolved among the arthropods and their close relatives. We developed immunostaining methods for tardigrade embryos, and we used cross-reactive antibodies to investigate the expression of homologs of the pair-rule gene paired (Pax3/7) and the segment polarity gene engrailed in the tardigrade Hypsibius dujardini. We find that in H. dujardini embryos, Pax3/7 protein localizes not in a pair-rule pattern but in a segmentally iterated pattern, after the segments are established, in regions of the embryo where neurons later arise. Engrailed protein localizes in the posterior ectoderm of each segment before ectodermal segmentation is apparent. Together with previous results from others, our data support the conclusions that the pair-rule function of Pax3/7 is specific to the arthropods, that some of the ancient functions of Pax3/7 and Engrailed in ancestral bilaterians may have been in neurogenesis, and that Engrailed may have a function in establishing morphological boundaries between segments that is conserved at least among the Panarthropoda.
Short-range Order in Two Eukaryotic Genomes: Relation to Chromosome Structure

Abstract Fourier transform techniques have been used to analyze the distributions of all ten independent DNA dinucleotide steps in two eukaryotic genomes and one prokaryotic genome, for periodicities of ≈2 to 500 bp. The results reveal systematic deviations from random expectation for certain dinucleotide steps over this entire range of periodicities, together with striking peaks at certain spatial periodicities for particular dinucleotide steps. Several dinucleotides yield peaks at a periodicity of ≈10.2 bp that are unique to the eukaryotic genomes. Certain members of this set of dinucleotide signals were previously identified as involved in nucleosome positioning, while others were previously unrecognized. In real-space, these dinucleotides are uncorrelated or even anticorrelated (relative to random expectation) at distances of 10 and 11 bp, despite having greater than random spectral power at the corresponding periodicity. Real-space correlations of these dinucleotides at distances of 10 and 11 bp are suppressed by another spectral component, a 3 bp periodicity attributed to codons, which has a local minimum probability at ≈10.5 bp. When the two eukaryotic genomes are encoded for the signal “AA or TT”, the peak at ≈10.2 bp periodicity is strengthened, whereas for the prokaryotic genome such a peak remains absent. For theCaenorhabditis elegansgenome, this peak becomes the dominant feature in the transform, surpassing a peak owing to the existence of codons in both height and integrated intensity. These results suggest that the requirements of chromosome structure place significant constraints on eukaryotic genome organization; they reveal additional signals that may be related to nucleosome positioning; and they reveal a wealth of additional new non-random aspects of genome sequence organization.
The synthesis and spectrum of trans-Isothiocyanatoaquobisethylenediaminechromium(III)

The synthesis of trans-Cr(en)2NCS(H2O)2+ is reported. This material results from reaction of trans-Cr(en)2NCSBr+ with Hg2+ in aqueous perchlorate solution; the complex is isolated in solution by ion-exchange chromotography. The spectrum of trans-Cr(en)2NCS(H2O)2+ has peaks at 5010A (52.4M−1 cm−1, asymmetrical to the high energy side, and at 3650 (49.6). It is also proven that the molecule previously assigned the structure trans-Cr(en)2NCS(H2O)2+ is in reality one of the two isomers of Cr(en)(H2O)3 NCS2+.
Forest Service Groundwater Plan Oversteps Bounds, Critics Say

The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) is at odds with some members of Congress and other critics about a proposed government directive on groundwater resource management. The USFS says the proposed directive is an innocuous internal measure to provide a consistent, systematic, and transparent agency-wide approach to groundwater management. However, some participants in a 10 September congressional hearing questioned the directive, saying that the agency is overstepping its bounds.
Chemisorption of hydrogen on different planes of graphite — A semi-empirical molecular orbital calculation

Abstract The semi-empirical extended Huckel molecular orbital theory is used to examine the feasibility and relative strengths of chemisorption of hydrogen on three faces of graphite: (0001) basal plane, (1010) zigzag face, and (1121) armchair face. Chemisorption of atomic hydrogen on zigzag and armchair faces is stable; however, the CH bond strength on zigzag face (∼ 89 kcal mol ) is significantly stronger than that on armchair face (∼ 71 kcal mol ). For the binding of hydrogen on basal plane, only metastable states exist and the adsorption is endothermic. The results also indicate that the free valence index of the zigzag edge carbon atoms is higher than that of the armchair edge atoms; hence zigzag edge possesses a higher reactivity for free radical reactions.
HypEs : an architecture for hypermedia-enabled expert systems

Abstract Expert systems and hypermedia constitute two important technologies for organizations to create, store, and manage information products. The purpose of our research is to develop an architectural blueprint for the construction of hypermedia-enabled expert systems. We propose an architecture termed HypEs ( Hyp ermedia-enabled E xpert S ystem) for the development of media-rich expert systems. The integration of hypermedia technologies and expert systems can provide significant potential benefits by enabling the storage and manipulation of non-textual knowledge, enhancing the effectiveness of both knowledge acquisition from the sources of expertise and knowledge transfer to non-expert users. An experimental analysis that contrasts the hypermedia-enabled and text-restricted expert systems provides results that underscore the usefulness of hypermedia techniques in enhancing the effectiveness of expert systems in practical applications.
Effects of soybean genotype on the glyceollin elicitation competency of cotyledon tissues to Phytophthora sojae glucan elicitors

In some soybean cultivars, wounding or hypersensitive (HR) cell death is required for the activation of the competency of immediately surrounding (proximal) cells to deploy defense responses to the cell wall glucan elicitor from the pathogen Phytophthora sojae. These proximal defense responses include phenolic polymer deposition and accumulation of the glyceollin phytoalexins. In Williams soybeans, elicitation competency is an induced and transient state and is triggered by two endogenous competency factors which are associated with wounded or HR dying cells. In this paper it is reported for the first time that certain cultivars, including Harosoy and Bragg, are at least partially inherently competent. That is, they do not require wound- or HR-associated factors for the glyceollin response to occur. The eAects on competency of several Rps genes for resistance to P. sojae are examined in near isolines of both Williams (incompetent) and Harosoy (competent) and genes controlling nodulation by Bradyrhizobium. Preliminary results suggest that genes that are linked to the Rps 1, 3 and 7 loci may modulate the signaling events required for the establishment of the competent state. * c 2001 Academic Press
Distinguishing patients with celiac disease by quantitative analysis of videocapsule endoscopy images

Background: Although videocapsule endoscopy images are helpful in the evaluation of celiac disease, their interpretation is subjective. Quantitative disease markers could assist in determining the extent of villous atrophy and response to treatment. Method: Capsule endoscopy images were acquired from celiac patients with small bowel pathology (N=11) and from control patients (N=10). Image resolution was 576x576 pixels in dimension, 256 grayscale levels, and had a 2s^-^1 frame rate. Pixel brightness and image texture were measured over 10x10 pixel subimages and then averaged for 56x56 subimages per frame. Measurements were obtained at five locations from proximal to distal small intestine in each patient. At each location, measurements were calculated using 200 consecutive image frames (100s). Mean frame-to-frame pixel brightness, image texture, and periodicity in brightness, an estimate of wall motion or intestinal motility, were computed and used for classification with a nonlinear discriminant function. Results: From pooled data, celiac images had greater texture than did images from control patients (p<0.001) and exhibited more frame-to-frame brightness variation as well (p=0.032). The dominant period of brightness was longer in celiacs (p=0.001), possibly indicating decreased motility. Using the markers for three-dimensional nonlinear classification of celiacs versus controls, sensitivity was 92.7% and specificity was 93.5%. The relationship between dominant period and small intestinal transit time was approximately linear for both celiacs and controls (r^2=0.42 and r^2=0.55, respectively). Conclusions: Videocapsule images can be quantified to detect villous atrophy throughout the small intestine, and to distinguish individuals with celiac disease from individuals lacking mucosal atrophy.
Laser cooling by 65 K of Yb/sup 3+/-doped ZBLANP glass

Summary form only given. Anti-Stokes photoluminescence cooling of a Yb/sup 3+/-doped ZBLANP optical fiber has been accomplished by optical pumping at 1015 nm. The temperature drop, as determined by temperature-dependent changes in the fluorescence spectrum, is 65 K.