cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Irradiation enhances hippocampus‐dependent cognition in mice deficient in extracellular superoxide dismutase

The effects of ionizing irradiation on the brain are associated with oxidative stress. While oxidative stress following irradiation is generally viewed as detrimental for hippocampal function, it might have beneficial effects as part of an adaptive or preconditioning response to a subsequent challenge. Here we show that in contrast to what is seen in wild-type mice, irradiation enhances hippocampus-dependent cognitive measures in mice lacking extracellular superoxide dismutase. These outcomes were associated with genotype-dependent effects on measures of oxidative stress. When cortices and hippocampi were analyzed for nitrotyrosine formation as an index of oxidative stress, the levels were chronically elevated in mice lacking extracellular superoxide dismutase. However, irradiation caused a greater increase in nitrotyrosine levels in wild-type mice than mice lacking extracellular superoxide dismutase. These paradoxical genotype-dependent effects of irradiation on measures of oxidative stress and cognitive function underscore potential beneficial effects associated with chronic oxidative stress if it exists prior to a secondary insult such as irradiation.
Catastrophic disturbances in headwater streams: the long-term ecological effects of debris flows and debris floods in the Klamath Mountains, northern California

Debris flows and debris floods are catastrophic disturbances in steep, mountainous landscapes throughout the world, but little is known about the long-term ecological effects of these events on hea...
Fifteen minutes of glory: A Burkean analysis of press coverage of Oliver north's testimony

Abstract Public esteem for Lt. Col. Oliver North prior to his testimony before the Iran‐contra Committee was low. As he testified, his popularity and support soared, and then tailed off after he left the witness stand. This analysis suggests that these dramatic shifts in audience response to the drama of Oliver North are attributable to the evocation of different audience values before, during, and after his testimony by press coverage of his story which placed differential emphasis on the elements of Kenneth Burke's dramatistical pentad. The differential impacts of print and electronic media to these audience effects are assessed through content analysis. Implications for political processes in general in our media society are discussed.
The intellectual content of taxonomy: a comment on DNA taxonomy

1 Tautz, D. et al. (2002) DNA points the way ahead in taxonomy. Nature 418, 479 2 Tautz, D. et al. (2003) A plea for DNA taxonomy. Trends Ecol. Evol. 18 DOI: 10.1016/S0169-5347(02)00041-1 3 Minelli, A. (2003) The status of taxonomic literature. Trends Ecol. Evol. 18 DOI: 10.1016/S0169-5347(02)00051-4 4 Knapp, S. et al. (2002) Taxonomy needs evolution, not revolution. Nature 419, 559 5 Godfray, H.C.J. (2002) Challenges for taxonomy. Nature 417, 17–19 6 Mallet, J. (2003) Taxonomy: renaissance or Tower of Babel? DOI: 10.1016/S0169-5347(02)00061-7 7 Lipscomb, D. et al. (2003) The intellectual content of taxonomy: a comment on DNA taxonomy. DOI: 10.1016/S0169-5347(02)00060-5
The Interspace: concept navigation across distributed communities

Within the next decade, computing technology will transform the Internet into the Interspace, an information infrastructure that supports semantic indexing and concept navigation across widely distributed community repositories. With the Interspace, the global information infrastructure will, for the first time, directly support interaction with abstraction. This infrastructure uses technologies that go beyond searching individual repositories to analyze and correlate knowledge across multiple sources and subjects. The Interspace will offer distributed services to transfer concepts across domains, just as Arpanet used distributed services to transfer files across machines and the Internet uses distributed services to transfer objects across repositories. The Community Architectures for Network Information Systems Laboratory has developed a working Interspace prototype that uses scalable technologies for concept extraction and navigation. They have successfully tested these technologies, which compute contextual frequency of document phrases within a community repository, on discipline-scale, real-world collections.
Information content of financial columns

Abstract This paper examines the information content of financial columns. Since the stock market uses information efficiently, no investor can extract excess returns by blindly following the advice of a financial column. But, the labor market for financial columnists is competitive, so a surviving columnist should provide some positive services. This paper demonstrates that a surviving columnist can provide consistently superior service in the short run but not in the long run. I also show that the surviving columnist's advice is better than tossing a fair coin. Hence an investor with his prior information should benefit positively from a financial column.
Variants and mimics of Guillain Barré Syndrome.

Background The clinical and pathologic spectrum of Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS) has expanded to include both demyelinating and axon loss forms. GBS may also have atypical presentations. For these reasons, clinicians are more likely to overlook unrelated disorders that mimic GBS. Review summary In this article, the classic presentation and variants of GBS are briefly reviewed. Disorders that mimic GBS are reviewed in detail, including those caused by neurotoxins, heavy metals, chemical toxins, drugs, vasculitis, hereditary disorders, infections, critical illness, and myelopathy. Illustrative case studies accompany a number of the descriptions. Conclusions Failure to recognize the mimics of GBS can lead to erroneous diagnosis, inappropriate treatment, and significant morbidity. Appropriate diagnosis requires a combination of careful history and examination, and accurate interpretation of diagnostic testing.
Projection structure of the bacterial oxalate transporter OxlT at 3.4 Å resolution

OxlT is a bacterial transporter protein with 12 transmembrane segments that belongs to the Major Facilitator Superfamily of transporters. It facilitates the exchange of oxalate and formate across the membrane of the Gram-negative bacterium Oxalobacter formigenes. From an electron crystallographic analysis of two-dimensional, tube-like crystals of OxlT, we have previously determined the three-dimensional structure of this transporter at 6.5 A resolution. Here, we report conditions to obtain crystalline, two-dimensional sheets of OxlT with diameters exceeding 2 microm. Images of the crystalline sheets were recorded at liquid nitrogen temperatures on a transmission electron microscope equipped with a field-emission gun, operated at 300 kV. Computed optical diffraction patterns from the best images display measurable reflections to about 3.4A, and electron diffraction patterns show spots to about 3.2 A resolution in the best cases. As in the case of the tube-like crystals, the new crystalline sheets also belong to the p22(1)2(1) symmetry group. However, the unit cell dimensions of 102.7A x 67.3 A are significantly smaller in one direction than those previously observed with the tube-like crystals that display unit cell dimensions of 100.3A x 79.0 A. Different regions of OxlT are involved in intermolecular contacts in the two types of crystals, and the improved resolution of the sheet crystals appears to be mainly attributable to this tighter packing of the monomers within the unit cell.
Defining Mild Cognitive Impairment: Impact of Varying Decision Criteria on Neuropsychological Diagnostic Frequencies and Correlates

Objective To examine the impact of varying decision criteria on neuropsychological diagnostic frequencies and on their correlates. Design Descriptive and correlational study. Setting Florida Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. Participants A sample of 373 individuals with comprehensive baseline analyses participating in a longitudinal study of cognitive decline and early Alzheimer disease. Measurements Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) diagnoses were made on the basis of four sets of decision criteria created by crossing two approaches: varying the number of impaired test results required for a diagnosis within any domain (1 test versus 2) and varying the performance level required to determine impairment (1.5 or 2 standard deviations [SDs] below the normative mean) for any test. Results Under each criteria set, single-domain amnestic MCI was the most frequent MCI diagnosis. MCI global and subtype diagnosis frequencies were inversely related to the stringency of the criteria. The single test-1.5 SD criterion identified the largest number of cases as qualifying for an MCI diagnosis, and the two test-2.0 SD cutoff identified the fewest. Across all sets of criteria, the authors found significant positive associations between neuropsychological diagnoses and Clinical Dementia Rating score categories. Significant relationships between diagnoses and both apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype and magnetic resonance imaging ratings of medial temporal atrophy (MTA) application were found only for the two test-1.5 SD and two test-2.0 SD cutoffs. Conclusion MCI diagnosis frequencies are substantively affected by the stringency of the criteria, but the relative rankings of MCI subtype diagnoses are fairly consistent regardless of the stringency of the criteria. Significant associations of neuropsychological diagnoses with independent markers such as APOE genotype and MTA are only found with more stringent criteria, suggesting that a coherent network of associations reflecting cognitive decline occurs with more restrictive definitions for impairment.
Identification and cloning of differentially expressed genes

Only a few of the methods currently used for identification of differentially expressed genes take advantage of the fact that (near) complete sets of cDNA clones and sequences representing all human and mouse genes will be available for high throughput survey of gene expression. Accordingly, strategies based on hybridization of complex (cDNA or RNA) probes to cDNA microarrays, either on glass slides or on chips, are likely to become increasingly more advantageous. Recognizing, however, that the power of these methods depends upon the availability of such resources, strategies are being pursued to facilitate completion of the ongoing efforts to identify all human and mouse genes.
Discussion of “Explicit relative performance evaluation in performance-vested equity grants”

Carter, Ittner and Zechman (2009) examine the use of explicit relative performance evaluation (RPE) conditions in performance-vested equity plans in a sample of United Kingdom (U.K.) firms in 2002. They find that factors suggested by economic theories (for example, removal of common shocks, tournament theory) are more closely associated with specific features of the plan than with the firm-level decision to use an RPE equity plan. My discussion focuses on the interpretation of these findings and the opportunities and implications for future research. I also summarize the views of five U.K. directors who were involved in the design and use of performance-vested equity plans.
An algorithm for the partial fraction expansion of a transfer function matrix

An algorithm is presented to explicitly determine the matrix of weighting factors used in the construction of residue matrices from the Rosenbrock coefficient matrices for the partial fraction expansion of a transfer function matrix. This matrix can also be used with the Stanley matrix to construct the inverse of the Vandermonde matrix. >
Cervical nerve root stimulation. Part II: Findings in primary demyelinating neuropathies and motor neuron disease

Abstract Objective Cervical nerve root stimulation (CRS) allows the assessment of conduction in the proximal segments of motor fibers destined to the upper extremities, which are not evaluated by routine nerve conduction studies (NCS). Since many primary demyelinating polyneuropathies (PDP) are multifocal lesions may be confined to the proximal nerve segments. CRS may therefore increase the yield of neurophysiologic studies in diagnosing PDP. Methods We reviewed clinical and neurophysiologic data from 38 PDP patients and compared them to 35 patients with motor neuron disease (MND), and 21 healthy controls (HC). Results Mean onset-latency was significantly prolonged in PDP patients. The optimal onset-latency cutoff necessary to distinguish PDP from MND and controls was 17.5 ms for the abductor pollicis brevis (APB) and abductor digiti minimi (ADM), and 7 ms for Biceps and Triceps. Mean reduction in proximal to distal CMAP amplitude to APB and ADM was significantly greater in PDP patients, with an optimal cutoff in proximal to distal CMAP amplitude reduction necessary to distinguish PDP from MND and HC being 45%. Conclusions CRS is effective in distinguishing PDP from MND and HC based on prolonged onset latency and conduction block criteria. Significance CRS may increase the diagnostic yield in cases where demyelinating lesions are confined to the proximal peripheral neuraxis.
Double-pulse laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

This paper describes the use of double-pulse laser ablation to improve ICP-MS internal (temporal relative standard deviation, %TRSD) and external (%RSD) precision. The first laser pulse is used to ablate a large quantity of mass from the sample surface. The second pulse is applied with a variable time delay after the first pulse to break the ablated mass into a finer aerosol, which is more readily transported to and digested in the ICP-MS. A factor of two improvement in %TRSD and factor of five in %RSD are demonstrated.
Crude protein and yield components of six kenaf cultivars as affected by crop maturity

Abstract Information concerning the influence of plant maturity on kenaf ( Hibiscus cannabinus L. Malvaceae) as a livestock feed is limited. Research was conducted during 1989 and 1990 to determine the effect of plant maturity on crude protein and yield components of kenaf. Crude protein and yield data were collected on six kenaf cultivars (‘Guatemala 4’, ‘Guatemala 45’, ‘Guatemala 48’, ‘Guatemala 51’, ‘Cuba 2032’ and ‘Everglades 41’) harvested at 76 and 99 days after planting (DAP) at Ladonia, TX, on a Tinn clay, 0–2% slope. Cultivars, harvest dates and years each significantly affected yield components. Crude protein percentages in the leaves, stalks and whole plants were significantly greater at 76 DAP than 99 DAP, while the reverse was true for total crude protein production. Guatemala 48 produced the greatest crude protein (558 kg/ha) of the tested cultivars. The effects of harvest maturity were consistent across cultivars and years, even though differences existed among cultivars for yield components and crude protein. The selections of harvest maturity and cultivar are important variables in producing maximum protein and dry-matter production.
Durability of FRP reinforcements for concrete

This paper covers the use of FRP reinforcements in concrete structures. In particular, the focus of this paper will be on the state of knowledge of the durability of FRP systems as they may be applied to concrete for the purpose of strengthening or repair. The commonly available materials for repair and strengthening are glass (GFRP), aramid (AFRP), and carbon (CFRP). These materials are applied to the surface of the concrete to provide additional flexural and shear strength as well as confinement for concrete columns. Many times the repair acts as a barrier to road salts to prevent further corrosion of the underlying reinforcing steel. The application of FRP systems is discussed along with durability issues that are of particular importance and past and current research.
Pharmacological Effects of Prilocaine

SUMMARY The neuromuscular and antiarrhythmic effects of prilocaine were studied in the cat. Although prilocaine per se did not consistently produce a neuromuscular block when given intravenously, a partial block produced by succinyl-choline or d-tubocurarine was increased by the intravenous injection of prilocaine. The intraarterial injection of prilocaine produced a neuromuscular block characterized by well sustained tetanus, absence of post-tetanic facilitation, and potentiation by edrophonium. Prilocaine was also effective in the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias produced by halopropane and carbon dioxide or cyclopropane and carbon dioxide. Preliminary studies suggest that prilocaine has an antiarrhythmic and neuromuscular blocking action in man.
Avian kidney mitochondrial hemeprotein P-4501α: isolation, characterization and NADPH-ferredoxin reductase-dependent activity

Abstract We describe the isolation of cytochrome P -450 1 α from chick-kidney mitochondria. Although, gel permeation HPLC yielded 41% of the total amount of P -450 present in cholate-solubilized hemeproteins, it produced a highly purified mixture from which the P -450 1 α could be purified to homogeneity in a final detergent-free state by a single-step application of hydrophobic interaction HPLC using hydroxypropyl silica. The purified P -450 1 α traveled as a single band in SDS gel electrophoresis with an apparent M r = 57 000. The absolute spectrum of the P -450 1 α (Fe 3+ ) form gave a λ max at 403 nm. This characteristic lends support to the anomalous high-spin heme electron paramagnetic resonance spectrum and the heme structure of P -450 1 α which we have previously reported (Ghazarian et al. (1980) J. Biol. Chem. 255, 8275–8281; Pedersen et al. (1976) J. Biol. Chem. 251, 3933–3941). In reconstitution experiments with ferredoxin-dependent NADPH-cytochrome c ( P -450) reductase complexes, P -450 1 α catalyzed the hydroxylation of 25-hydroxy-9,10-secocholesta-5,7,10(19)-trien-3β-ol at the C-1 position exclusively with a turnover number of 0.03 min −1 . This number is identical to that obtained from measurements of the catalytic activity in intact mitochondria, indicating that only one major species of cytochrome P -450 occurs in chick-kidney mitochondria. The complete responsiveness of cytochrome P -450 concentrations in intact mitochondria to the vitamin D status of chicks provided additional evidence that the major cytochrome P -450 species present in renal mitochondria is uniquely associated with vitamin D metabolism.
Help-Exchange

The problem of obtaining help over the Internet continues to be a perplexing challenge, especially as the Internet grows. Most existing systems do not scale well as the number of users increase. The Help-Exchange system has been developed in an attempt to facilitate person-to-person connections, especially across disciplines in a way that improves as the number of users increases. The system is based on a taxonomy of disciplines and arbitrates a dialogue between users by matching questions to experts. Early testing of the system demonstrates that it scales favourably as the number of users increase.
Biogenesis of Intranuclear Lead-Protein Inclusions in Mouse Kidney

Summary A single dose of lead (5 μg/g body weight), given as lead acetate by intracardiac injection, produces, within 8 hours, characteristic fibrillar intranuclear and intracytoplasmic inclusions in proximal tubular epithelial cells in mouse kidneys; after a dose of 30 μg/g body weight, such inclusions appeared within 6 hours. Their development was completely prevented by cycloheximide (one or more intraperitoneal injections of 20 μg/g body weight). The development of intranuclear inclusions was also noted in tubular epithelial cells explanted from normal mice and grown in vitro for 15 hours in a medium containging 20 μg lead/ml. Thus, the development of the characteristic fibrillar inclusion bodies depends upon de novo synthesis of inclusion body protein, induced by lead.
Epigenetic dysregulation by nickel through repressive chromatin domain disruption

Investigations into the genomic landscape of histone modifications in heterochromatic regions have revealed histone H3 lysine 9 dimethylation (H3K9me2) to be important for differentiation and maintaining cell identity. H3K9me2 is associated with gene silencing and is organized into large repressive domains that exist in close proximity to active genes, indicating the importance of maintenance of proper domain structure. Here we show that nickel, a nonmutagenic environmental carcinogen, disrupted H3K9me2 domains, resulting in the spreading of H3K9me2 into active regions, which was associated with gene silencing. We found weak CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF)-binding sites and reduced CTCF binding at the Ni-disrupted H3K9me2 domain boundaries, suggesting a loss of CTCF-mediated insulation function as a potential reason for domain disruption and spreading. We furthermore show that euchromatin islands, local regions of active chromatin within large H3K9me2 domains, can protect genes from H3K9me2-spreading–associated gene silencing. These results have major implications in understanding H3K9me2 dynamics and the consequences of chromatin domain disruption during pathogenesis.
Pharmacology of isomeric thiocyanobenzoic acids.

Summary1. The pharmacologic responses to the three isomeric thiocyanobenzoic acids have been investigated. 2. The meta and para compounds are powerful depressors. This action is not shared by the ortho compound. 3. p-Thiocyanobenzoic acid inactivates cytochrome oxidase in concentrations similar to cyanide. The meta compound is less active and the ortho isomer exhibits little inhibition. 4. All three isomers are relaxants to smooth muscle.
Pleiotropy and Heterogeneity in the Expression of Atherogenic Lipoproteins: The IRAS Family Study

Objective: Dyslipidemia is an important determinant of coronary disease. Phenotypic correlations between atherogenic lipids are well established, but the contribution of common gen
Further observations on the clinical use of vitamin K.

1. Several factors of interest to gastro-enterologists are important in the development of hypoprothrombinemia. These include inadequate intake of food that contains Vitamin K, impairment of absorption owing to lack of bile in the intestine and owing to a deficient intestinal absorptive surface, and hepatic injury. Starvation, impaired appetite, vomiting (functional or organic in origin), diarrhea, discharge from intestinal fistulas, continued aspiration of gastric or intestinal content, diseases of the intestinal mucosa, short-circuiting of the intestine, biliary obstruction, external biliary fistula, disease of the liver and operative procedures and complications are factors that may influence the concentration of prothrombin in the plasma. 2. The isolation of Vitamin K, demonstration of its quinoid nature and recognition of the antihemorrhagic properties of a number of naphthoquinones have given us a number of synthetic compounds for clinical trial. We have used four such compounds intravenously with excellent results. The intravenous administration possible with these compounds permits precise dosage, circumvents the variable factor of absorption and assures instant availability of potent antihemorrhagic substances. No local or systemic reactions have occurred and there has been no evidence of toxicity. 3. Evidence is presented to show that the rate of action of these compounds is very rapid. This rapidity of action is suggestive of possible enzymatic activity. 4. Failures with all these compounds were confined to cases of advanced disease of the liver, chiefly cirr-hosis. Failures encountered in the earlier use of Vitamin K have been largely eliminated by prescribing adequate dosage in prophylactic and curative treatment, constant care in suspecting the possibility of hypoprothrombinemia and the use of intravenous preparations.
Nash solutions for games with bounded memory

In [53 Smale considers a repeated game with bounded memory. In his model, the players only keep some kind of average of the past outcomes in their memory, and decisions are based on this memory. Thus, one has a dynamics on the outcome space of this game, depending on players’ memory strategies. A stationary point of this dynamics is called a solution of this game. Stability considerations about these solutions arise naturally in this setting. Nash solutions for a game with memory are defined in [5], which include the ordinary Nash solutions for the same game. It is proved that they are also Nash equilibria considered as an extended solution for the associated supergame. The first order necessary condition for Nash solutions is also obtained via the use of a kind of calculus of variations. In this paper, we investigate the following three general questions and a concrete model example: (1) Study first necessary conditions and second sufficient conditions for (local) Nash solutions. (2) Describe the game with memory strategies from a generic viewpoint. (3) Determine the payoff vectors associated to those Nash solutions. (4) Analyze the continuous prisoner’s dilemma in detail. The results of this paper provide satisfactory or nice answers to the above problems. Roughly speaking, we obtain the following: (1)
Effect of Broad-Spectrum Cephalosporins on the Microbial Flora of Recipients

The flora in the throat and the stools of 10 patients receiving chemotherapy for malignant diseases in a laminar air-flow room was studied during the prophylactic administration of ceftazidime. Ten percent of aerobic gram-negative bacilli, 41% of aerobic gram-positive organisms, 59% of anaerobes, and 70% of fungi persisted in stool specimens during ceftazidime administration. This drug had a less pronounced effect on the throat flora; 66% of organisms persisted during antibiotic administration. The throat and fecal flora of another eight patients were studied during the prophylactic administration of ceftriaxone. This antibiotic had a profound effect on the fecal flora; none of the gram-negative bacilli, only 24% of aerobic gram-positive organisms, and only 10% of anaerobes persisted during ceftriaxone administration. Like ceftazidime, ceftriaxone had a less marked effect on the throat flora; 59% of organisms persisted during antibiotic administration. The results show that new, expanded-spectrum cephalosporins can have a major suppressive effect on patients' endogenous microbial flora.
Transmission of light to the young primate retina: possible implications for the formation of lipofuscin.

The purpose of this study was to determine the transmission properties of the anterior segment of young primate eyes and potentially relate those changes to photochemical processes in the retina that lead to the early, rapid formation of lipofuscin. A simple method has been developed to determine the optical properties of the anterior segment of the intact eye. Using this technique, the transmission/absorption properties of primate cadaver eyes were determined. A young primate anterior segment has a maximum absorption at 365 nm due to the presence of the O-β-glucoside of 3-hydroxykynurenine in the lens. This is synthesized in the last trimester of gestation. Although this compound filters out most of the UV light from reaching the retina, there is a small window of transmission centered on an absorption minimum at 320 nm. This closes by the second decade of life. The window of transmission of UV light to the primate retina may explain the initial accelerated formation of lipofuscin in the young human retina by a photochemical process. This would be exacerbated by any decrease in the ozone layer with concomitant increase in UV-B reaching the earth’s surface.
Factors governing Yb magnetism in Yb0.95PtIn2 and other MgCuAl2-type structures

Abstract The ternary compound “YbPtIn2” has been synthesized and its crystal structure determined using single crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. The compound crystallizes in the MgCuAl2 structure, a ternary structure type often formed when rare earth metals, Group 10 transition metals, and indium are present in a 1:1:2 ratio. The unit cell is C-centered orthorhombic, space group Cmcm (#63) with lattice parameters of a=4.3410(1) A, b=10.3230(2) A, and c=7.8510(2) A. Evidence is found for a substantial non-stoichiometry on the Yb site, in contrast to the Pt and In sites which behave as expected, and it is believed that the stoichiometry of this compound is more properly described as Yb0.95PtIn2. Magnetic and resistivity measurements reveal that “YbPtIn2” is a weakly interacting, non-magnetic metal exclusively containing Yb2+, and with a resistivity (ρ) varying from 34 μΩ cm at room temperature to a residual resistivity ρ0 of 23 μΩ cm at 1.8 K. Density functional theory calculations suggest that the observed diamagnetic Yb behavior is expected for this compound, but that certain substitutions on the Pt or In site could help stabilize magnetic Yb3+ and potentially induce heavy fermion behavior.
Laboratory Studies with a New Broad-Spectrum Penicillin, Pirbenicillin

Pirbenicillin {6-[d-2-phenyl-2(N-4-pyridylformimidoylaminoacetamido) -acetamido]-penicillanic acid} showed broad-spectrum antibacterial activity in vitro and also in the treatment of experimental infections after parenteral administration to mice. Against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a three- to fourfold potency advantage over carbenicillin was seen both in vitro and in vivo. The in vitro antibacterial spectrum of pirbenicillin includes Escherichia coli, Serratia, Citrobacter, and Enterobacter isolates, against which it exhibited minimal inhibitory concentration values comparable to those of carbenicillin. However, mice infected with E. coli and Serratia were protected at doses of pirbenicillin that were two to four times lower than those required of carbenicillin. Pirbenicillin was more active than carbenicillin against gram-positive bacteria, especially Streptococcus faecalis. It was less active than carbenicillin against Proteus spp. and was inactive against ampicillin-resistant E. coli strains. Pirbenicillin was bactericidal at concentrations generally equal to or only two-fold higher than the minimal inhibitory concentration. With appropriately buffered media, pirbenicillin demonstrated eight- and fourfold better minimal bactericidal concentration values towards Pseudomonas isolates than those of carbenicillin and ticarcillin, respectively.
Quality Tier Competition: How Price Change Influences Brand Choice and Category Choice

The authors demonstrate that competition among brands in different quality tiers can be asymmetric both in brand choice (“what”) and in category choice (“whether”). They also investigate how compet...
Narrow bandwidth tunable optical parametric generator

The output of a periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) optical parametric generator (OPG) is filtered using an off axis Fabry-Perot etalon. The filtered output is then parametrically amplified in the same PPLN crystal resulting in a tunable narrow-band infrared source. The PPLN OPG is pumped with a10 nsec pulse duration, 1.064 μm singlefrequency pump laser, with an output signal and idler determined by the PPLN periodicity. The polarization of the pump laser is rotated so that only a portion of it is phase matched on the first pass through the PPLN crystal. The portion that is phase matched generates a signal that is directed to an off-axis Fabry-Perot etalon, which, in the off-axis configuration has a narrow bandwidth reflection. The pump beam is transmitted through a quarter wave plate and reflected with a mirror so that when passed back through the PPLN crystal, its polarization is rotated 90 degrees with respect to the input. Hence the portion of the pump not phase matched on the first pass is now phase matched for the second pass. The reflected and filtered signal is co-aligned with the pump resulting in a narrow bandwidth amplified signal. This system is capable of generating narrow bandwidth over the tuning range of the PPLN crystal and is only restricted by the etalon reflectivity range. We demonstrate tunability in the 1.4 μm -1.6 μm signal range (3.0 μm-4.4 μm idler range), which is restricted by our etalon reflectivity.
Effects of Geomorphology on the Distribution of Metal Abundance in Salt Marsh Sediment

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of salt marsh geomorphology on the distribution of surface metal content. Surface sediment samples (46) were taken along two transects across an intertidal salt marsh island. Abundance of Ca, Al, Fe, Ni, Cr, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, As, and Zr vary up to 300 % with statistically significant differences along transects and between transects. Along transect, metal abundances are strongly influenced by elevation and distance from the subtidal channel. Between transects, salt marsh morphodynamics, relative marsh age, and water sources seem to affect metal distribution. These observations lead us to hypothesize that at least three scales of variability can be expected for assessing salt marsh sediment metal distributions. Larger-scale variations associated with salt marsh sediment sources and age, and another related to local salt marsh geomorphic structure. Therefore, studies that characterize salt marsh metal loading should explicitly consider the variability imposed over a range of spatial scales.
Effect of Agricultural Operations and Precipitation on Vertical Distribution of a Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus in Soil

Abstract The Anticarsia gemmatalis nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AgNPV) was released in two soybean plots in September, 1991; the soil in the plots was then sampled periodically through July, 1992, to determine the effects of normal agricultural soil manipulations and precipitation on vertical distribution of the polyhedral occlusion bodies (POBs). The amount of AgNPV increased at all depths down to 37.5–50 cm as long as there was virus-contaminated plant matter, even dead soybean refuse, above the soil surface. Agricultural operations (disking, harrowing, mowing, planting, cultivating) had no effect on the amount or vertical distribution of AgNPV in soil. After the crop refuse was disked into the soil in November, the amount of POBs began decreasing at all depths; these decreases continued over winter and at times appeared to be associated with precipitation. The POBs were no longer detected below 37.5 cm by April, 1992, or below 25 cm by July, 1992. However, in July there were still 274 POBs/g in the top 2.5 cm of soil. Thus, agricultural operations should not hinder contamination of soybean leaves by AgNPV from its soil reservoir.
The effects of high school debating on critical thinking

(1943). The effects of high school debating on critical thinking. Speech Monographs: Vol. 10, No. 1, pp. 96-103.
Herpes simplex virus latent infection: reactivation and elimination of latency after neurectomy.

Abstract Section of the sciatic nerve during the period of herpes simplex virus (HSV) latent infection was performed to evaluate residual latency in mouse dorsal root ganglion. In control mice without sciatic neurectomy, latency was present in 90–100%, while in those which underwent a neurectomy procedure, latent infection was surprisingly decreased to 28–50%. To investigate the hypothesis that the decrease of latency resulted from HSV reactivation and replication (with subsequent neuron destruction), groups of mice were treated with acyclovir to inhibit HSV reactivation, after having undergone a neurectomy procedure. Acyclovir treatment largely prevented the neurectomy-related elimination of latency and supported the hypothesized mechanism.
Fatal graft v host disease in a child with neuroblastoma following a blood transfusion.

Abstract A 2-year-old girl being prepared for a bone marrow transplant for treatment of stage IV neuroblastoma suffered a fatal graft v host (GVH) reaction following a transfusion on nonirradiated packed RBC. GVH disease is a recognized complication of transfusion in patients with leukemia and lymphoma and is a frequent complication following bone marrow transplantation. GVH disease has also been reported in pediatric patients with solid tumors who have received sufficient chemotherapy to render them immunocompromised. GVH disease can be prevented by irradiating all blood products with at least 1,500 rad for patients having total lymphocyte counts less than 1,000/μL or for those who have received greater than 30 mg/kg/d of Cytoxan.
Hazardous to your wealth? The early and long-term performance of Mexican ADRs on the New York Stock Exchange

This paper examines the early and long-term performance of Mexican American depository receipts (ADRs) issued on the New York Stock Exchange from 1991 to mid-1996 (shortly before and after NAFTA took effect in early 1994). ADR return behaviour was measured using initial public offerings event study methodology and compared with that of other ADR performance studies. Overall, Mexican ADRs performed well in the early trading, but substantially underperformed the market benchmark in the long run.
Artifacts and the visualization of fetal distal extremities using three-dimensional ultrasound.

Objectives To demonstrate that acoustic shadowing in 3D US may give rise to artifacts simulating limb defects and provide a solution to eliminate its occurrence. Methods Twenty second trimester fetuses (gestational age 15–24 weeks) were scanned with three-dimensional ultrasound (3D US) using a sagittal acquisition plane. Fetal tibia/fibula and radius/ulna pairs were assessed for completeness of imaging. A further 20 fetuses (gestational age 20–26 weeks) were scanned in both axial and sagittal planes and the results compared to verify clear visualization of both bones. Results Shadowing from adjacent structures produced an apparent limb defect in 55% of the first 20 fetuses imaged only sagittally (18% of limb pairs). Acquiring data from more than one orientation avoided this artifact. Conclusions The 3D US is subject to the same artifacts as two-dimensional (2D US) in terms of acoustic shadowing, although their presentation may be different. Awareness of this fact is essential for correct interpretation of 3D US studies. Three-dimensional scanning protocols should be modified to ensure that fetal structures are adequately visualized by acquiring volume data in more than one acquisition orientation. Copyright © 2000 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Evidence-Based Assessment of Anxiety and Its Disorders in Children and Adolescents

We provide an overview of where the field currently stands when it comes to having evidence-based methods and instruments available for use in assessing anxiety and its disorders in children and adolescents. Methods covered include diagnostic interview schedules, rating scales, observations, and self-monitoring forms. We also discuss the main purposes or goals of assessment and indicate which methods and instruments have the most evidence for accomplishing these goals. We also focus on several specific issues that need continued research attention for the field to move forward toward an evidence-based assessment approach. Finally, tentative recommendations are made for conducting an evidence-based assessment for anxiety and its disorders in children and adolescents. Directions for future research also are discussed.
THE MATURING URBAN SYSTEM IN THE UNITED STATES, 1840–1910*

ABSTRACT Analysis of bank correspondent linkages reveals that the urban system of the United States achieved maturity between 1880 and 1910. The shift from a primate financial flow system to a modified four-level hierarchy with highlevel interdependencies was based on initial advantage, cumulative concentration, inertia, regional specialization, and hinterland competition among rising regional centers. Extension of the banking fields of individual cities was related to the changing efficiency of the correspondent system, reserve city status, urban specialization in wholesaling or manufacturing, and changing comparative advantage. Hierarchical nesting of bank hinterlands under New York's general influence developed simultaneously with nonhierarchical linkages that tied subsystems laterally to each other. This banking integration of the urban network paralleled the more general economic reorientation of the late nineteenth century.
Capacitive-division traveling-wave amplifier with 340 GHz gain-bandwidth product

We report capacitive-division traveling-wave amplifiers having measured midband gains of 8 dB with a 1-98 GHz 3-dB-bandwidth, and 11 dB gain with a 1-96 GHz bandwidth. The capacitive-division topology raises the input Q of each cell, giving the amplifier increased bandwidth over conventional designs with the same active device technology; using 0.15-/spl mu/m gate length InGaAs/InAlAs HEMTs, bandwidths exceeding 150 GHz are feasible. >
Precise determination of the natural abundance of 237Np and 239Pu in Katanga pitchblende

Abstract Improvements in instrumentation and techniques have made possible the accurate determination of the natural abundances of 237 Np and 239 Pu from the same sample of pitchblende ore weighing no more than 10g. It was found that the abundance of 237 Np in our sample of Katanga pitchblende was 2·16 × 10 −12 atoms per atom of 238 U, while that of 239 Pu was 3·10 × 10 −12 atoms per atom of 238 U. The uncertainties of the determinations were less than 5 per cent.
Biological Responses to Materials

▪ Abstract All materials intended for application in humans as biomaterials, medical devices, or prostheses undergo tissue responses when implanted into living tissue. This review first describes fundamental aspects of tissue responses to materials, which are commonly described as the tissue response continuum. These actions involve fundamental aspects of tissue responses including injury, inflammatory and wound healing responses, foreign body reactions, and fibrous encapsulation of the biomaterial, medical device, or prosthesis. The second part of this review describes the in vivo evaluation of tissue responses to biomaterials, medical devices, and prostheses to determine intended performance characteristics and safety or biocompatibility considerations. While fundamental aspects of tissue responses to materials are important from research and development perspectives, the in vivo evaluation of tissue responses to these materials is important for performance, safety, and regulatory reasons.
Survival of a child despite unusually high blood ethanol levels

Abstract A 30-month-old, 13-kg child reportedly ingested up to 16 ounces of a wine containing 20% ethanol. The child was brought into the emergency department by paramedics, and upon arrival was found to be comatose and unresponsive to deep stimuli but breathing spontaneously. The patient remained unconscious and unresponsive for three hours after admission. Despite an initial blood ethanol level of 98.78 mmol/L (455 mg/dL), recovery was complete without sequelae. Treatment consisted of prompt gastric decontamination and maintenance of adequate hydration and euglucemia. Elimination of ethanol was rapid in this child and appeared to follow first-order kinetics instead of the zero-order kinetics usually observed. To our knowledge, this is the highest initial blood ethanol level reported in a child with survival. Additionally, no significant metabolic or cardiorespiratory derangement occurred. Ethanol toxicity, elimination kinetics, and treatment are discussed.
Preventing deaths from cryptococcal meningitis: from bench to bedside.

Cryptococcal meningitis (CM), a fungal disease caused by Cryptococcus spp., is the most common form of meningitis and a leading cause of death among persons with HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. Detection of cryptococcal antigen, which is present several weeks before overt signs of meningitis develop, provides an opportunity to detect infection early. Screening persons with HIV for cryptococcal infection when they access healthcare can identify asymptomatic infected patients allowing for prompt treatment and prevention of death. A newly developed point-of-care assay for cryptococcal antigen, as well as growing evidence supporting the utility and cost–effectiveness of screening, are further reasons to consider broad implementation of cryptococcal screening in countries with a high burden of cryptococcal disease.
Clinical Review: The Reading Miscue Inventory A Promising Approach to Diagnosis of the Reading-Disabled

Reading Miscue Inventory—RMI—opens avenues of dealing with the reading process in a scientific and process-oriented fashion which can lead to further refining of the theoretical base upon which reading is founded as well as pro viding diagnostic information for use by reading specialists. From such information, reading specialists are able to develop remediation on an individualized basis. Appropriate materials, pro cedures, and practices are developed from the qualitative analysis of miscues rather than from the information provided by standardized achievement or diagnostic reading tests. Insights are gained regarding a child's ability to use the complex process of reading. Remediation of dis ability, at the appropriate place in the process, is based on assumptions regarding the inter relationship of thought and language.Reading specialists are looking to psycho- linguists for theoretical bases upon which to build models of the reading process. Qualitative miscue analysis is based upon recently pro posed...
Más-o-menos: A simple sign averaging method for discrimination in genomic data analysis

Motivation: The successful translation of genomic signatures into clinical settings relies on good discrimination between patient subgroups. Many sophisticated algorithms have been proposed in the statistics and machine learning literature, but in practice simpler algorithms are often used. However, few simple algorithms have been formally described or systematically investigated. Results: We give a precise definition of a popular simple method we refer to as mas-o-menos, which calculates prognostic scores for discrimination by summing standardized predictors, weighted by the signs of their marginal associations with the outcome. We study its behavior theoretically, in simulations and in an extensive analysis of 27 independent gene expression studies of bladder, breast and ovarian cancer, altogether totaling 3833 patients with survival outcomes. We find that despite its simplicity, mas-o-menos can achieve good discrimination performance. It performs no worse, and sometimes better, than popular and much more CPU-intensive methods for discrimination, including lasso and ridge regression. Availability and Implementation: Mas-o-menos is implemented for survival analysis as an option in the survHD package, available from http://www.bitbucket.org/lwaldron/survhd and submitted to Bioconductor. Contact: ude.sionilli@oahzds
S-Code: new MDS array codes with optimal encoding

In this paper, we present a new description of the X-Code, a class of MDS array code, using skews, named S-Code. The X-Codes result in codewords that are arrays of size n /spl times/ n, where n is prime. Our new description does not require n to be prime but requires n to be an odd number with smallest prime factor greater than 3. We prove that the S-Codes result in a distance-3 MDS code. We also give a description of which slopes other than 1 and -1 can be used to construct S-Codes.
Nuclear medicine at a crossroads.

The growth of molecular imaging heightens the promise of clinical nuclear medicine as a tool for individualization of patient care and for improvement of health-care outcomes. Together with greater use of integrated structure–function imaging, clinical nuclear medicine reaches beyond traditional specialty borders into diagnostic radiology and oncology. Yet, there are concerns about the future of nuclear medicine, including progressively declining reimbursement, the competitive advantages of diagnostic radiology, limited translation of research accomplishments to clinical diagnostic imaging and patient care, and an insufficient pool of incoming highly qualified nuclear medicine clinicians. Thus, nuclear medicine views itself as being at a critical crossroads. What will be important is for nuclear medicine to be positioned as the quintessential molecular imaging modality more centrally within medical imaging and for the integration of nuclear medicine with primary care specialties to be driven more by patient needs than by specialty needs. In this way, the full potential of nuclear medicine as an effective and efficient tool for improving patient outcomes can be realized.