cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Solution structure of the pleckstrin homology domain of Drosophila β-spectrin

Abstract Background: The pleckstrin homology (PH) domain, which is approximately 100 amino acids long, has been found in about 70 proteins involved in signal transduction and cytoskeletal function, a frequency comparable to SH2 ( src homology 2) and SH3 domains. PH domains have been shown to bind the β γ -subunits of G-proteins and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP 2 ). It is conceivable that the PH domain of β -spectrin plays a part in the association of spectrin with the plasma membrane of cells. Results We have solved the solution structure of the 122-residue PH domain of Drosophila β -spectrin. The overall fold consists of two antiparallel β -sheets packing against each other at an angle of approximately 60° to form a β -sandwich, a two-turn α -helix unique to spectrin PH domains, and a four-turn C-terminal α -helix. One of the major insertions in β -spectrin PH domains forms a long, basic surface loop and appears to undergo slow conformational exchange in solution. This loop shows big spectral changes upon addition of D- myo -inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP 3 ). Conclusion We propose that the groove at the outer surface of the second β -sheet is an important site of association with other proteins. This site and the possible lipid-binding site can serve to localize the spectrin network under the plasma membrane. More generally, it has to be considered that the common fold observed for the PH domain structures solved so far does not necessarily mean that all PH domains have similar functions. In fact, the residues constituting potential binding sites for ligands or other proteins are only slightly conserved between different PH domains.
Forest health monitoring in the United States: a program overview

Summary The Forest Health Monitoring Program in the United States is a science-based, comprehensive monitoring system that provides statistically precise and accurate baseline and forest health trend information to determine detrimental changes or improvements that occur in our forests overtime. This program, initiated in 1990 to provide information on forest health and sustainability, consists of four separate, interrelated activities, including detection monitoring, evaluation monitoring, research on monitoring techniques, and intensive site monitoring. Descriptions and examples are provided for each activity.
An Assessment of Surgery for Spinal Stenosis: Time Trends, Geographic Variations, Complications, and Reoperations

OBJECTIVE: To study temporal trends and geographic variations in the use of surgery for spinal stenosis, estimate short-term morbidity and mortality of the procedure, and examine the likelihood of repeat back surgery after surgical repair. DESIGN: Cohort study based on Medicare claims. SETTING: Hospital care. SUBJECTS: All Medicare beneficiaries 65 years of age or older who received a lumbar spine operation for spinal stenosis in 1985 or 1989 were followed through 1991 (10,260 patients from the 1985 cohort and 18,655 from the 1989 cohort). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Two outcomes were measured: (1) rates of operation for spinal stenosis by state and (2) on an individual level, operative complications (cardiopulmonary, vascular, or infectious), postoperative mortality, and time between first operation and any subsequent reoperation. RESULTS: Rates of surgery for spinal stenosis increased eightfold from 1979 to 1992 for patients aged 65 and older and varied almost fivefold among US states. Mortality and operative complications increased with age and comorbidity. Complications were more likely for men and for individuals receiving spinal fusions. The 1989 cohort experienced a slightly higher probability of reoperation than the 1985 cohort for the first 3 years of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: A rapid increase in surgery rates for spinal stenosis was identified over a 14-year period. The wide geographic variations and substantial complication rate from this elective surgical procedure (partly related to patient age) suggest a need for more information on the relative efficacy of surgical and nonsurgical treatments for this condition. The risks and benefits of particular surgical procedures for specific clinical and demographic subgroups as well as individual patient preferences regarding surgical risks and possible outcomes should also be evaluated further. These issues are likely to become increasingly important with the aging of the US population. J Am Geriatr Soc 44:285–290, 1996.
Achieving Millennium Development Goal 4

The statistics are stark: an estimated 10·5 million children aged under 5 years die every year from largely preventable conditions. That is a number roughly equivalent to the entire population of Portugal. Some 40% of these deaths occur within the first month of life. About half a million women die each year as a result of pregnancy most during delivery or in the first few days thereafter. The death toll is only part of the overall disease burden. Hundreds of millions more women and children are undernourished have an illness or a long-term disability. The two Lancet series on child and neonatal survival published in 2003 and 2005 reminded us of these harsh realities and helped galvanise international attention. If current trends continue the 60 countries with the highest under-5 mortality rates will fail by a wide margin to reach the Millennium Development Goal (MDG-4) of reducing under-5 mortality rates by two-thirds by 2015. (excerpt)
A modular simulation approach for automated material handling systems

Abstract In this paper, the authors present a modular simulation approach for the evaluation of automated material handling systems (AMHSs). The approach involves the use of high level modularity so that alternative AMHS scenarios can be evaluated using identical or nearly identical source code. The approach is implemented using the AutoMod simulation platform, and the efficacy of the strategy is demonstrated through a case study with the United States Postal Service. Results indicate that the approach is viable and that it is of value for the evaluation of AMHS scenarios in general.
Less is more: a framework for a sustainable university

The “lean manufacturing” paradigm, which is a philosophy intended to reduce cost and cycle time significantly throughout the entire value chain while continuing to improve product performance, was first identified by researchers associated with the international motor vehicle industry. In much the same way, the application of lean thinking and cost reduction strategies is becoming evident on college and university campuses. For example, the design of coursework is becoming more standardized and contracted out to part‐time instructors. The implementation of complex lean initiatives is critical for quality improvement and the sustainability of colleges and universities. However, the strategy for achieving sustainability is not clear to many decision‐makers. The intent of this paper is to provide a paradigm of how a lean sustainability initiative could be developed and implemented by colleges and universities. The research for this paper is based on a review of lean principles and practices and site visits to firms in the USA possessing best practices for long‐term sustainment.
Reconsiderations About Greek Homosexualities

Abstract Focusing his analysis on (mostly Athenian) vase paintings of the sixth-and early fifth-century and on a handful of texts from the late fifth-and early fourth-century (again Athenian), Dover depicted the pederastic relationship of erastes(age 20 to 30) and eromenos(age 12-18) as defined by sexual roles, active and passive, respectively. This dichotomy he connected to other sexual and social phenomena, in which the active/penetrating role was considered proper for a male adult Athenian citizen, while the passive/penetrated role was denigrated, ridiculed, and even punished. Constructing various social and psychological theories, Foucault and Halperin, along with a host of others, have extended his analysis, but at the core has remained the Dover dogma of sexual-role dichotomization. Penetration has become such a focal point in the scholarship that anything unable to be analyzed in terms of domination is downplayed or ignored. To reduce homosexuality or same-sex behaviors to the purely physical or se...
Growth factor receptor trafficking as a potential therapeutic target in pediatric cancer

Growth factor receptors (GFRs) are often aberrantly expressed in tumor cells, and altered GFR expression and activity contribute to the pathogenesis of many types of cancer. A variety of mechanisms have been identified that result in enhanced GFR expression and activity in cancer cells. Defects in the pathways responsible for GFR internalization and intracellular trafficking are likely to be involved in altered GFR expression in a variety of cancers. The roles of GFR trafficking pathways in the regulation of GFR expression, in the pathogenesis of tumors, and in the response of tumors to treatment have not been fully delineated, but the likely contributions of GFR signaling to the development and progression of various malignancies suggest that therapies that modify GFR trafficking may be effective as anticancer treatments. The intracellular trafficking of GFRs is regulated by a number of protein complexes and by protein ubiquitination. Many of the proteins required for this trafficking are products of tumor suppressor genes, and the expression and function of the protein machinery utilized for intracellular trafficking is frequently altered in tumor cells, consistent with the likely role of GFR trafficking in tumorigenesis. Many of the proteins involved in GFR trafficking have been identified as potential targets for anticancer treatment, and novel treatments directed against these targets are currently in preclinical development and in clinical trials. Ubiquitin ligases are critical for GFR trafficking and represent potentially important targets for the development of novel therapies. The genes for the ubiquitin ligases c-Cbl and UBE4B are located in chromosome regions commonly altered in a variety of tumors and therefore are likely to be important for tumorigenesis. c-Cbl ubiquitinates a number of GFRs and directs them for degradation. Mutations in c-Cbl have been identified in cases of myeloid leukemia and myelodysplasia, providing a link between GFR ubiquitination and trafficking and leukemogenesis. We have shown that UBE4B plays a crucial role in GFR trafficking and degradation in tumor cells, suggesting a previously uncharacterized link between UBE4B and tumorigenesis. With the critical need for new and effective therapies for pediatric malignancies, the recently identified roles for the GFR trafficking pathway in the pathogenesis of various forms of cancer confirm the importance of the further development of novel therapies targeting this pathway in children with cancer.
Postoperative irrigation-suction drainage after pelvic colonic surgery. A prospective randomized trial.

A 2-year randomized prospective clinical trial was undertaken to determine whether postoperative irrigation of the pelvis would result in a decreased incidence of local septic complications. Two hundred consecutive patients undergoing low pelvic procedures with rectal resection and entry of the presacral space by a single surgeon, were randomized. In the irrigation group, two of four presacral sump drains were placed to low intermittent suction and the remaining sumps infused continuously with saline until the effluent was clear. In the drainage alone group, all four presacral sump drains were placed to suction. Drains were removed when drainage was less than 50 ml/ 24 hours. Perioperative antibiotics and bowel preparation were identical. Postoperative complications included pelvic abscess (n=7), anastomotic leak/cuff sinus (n= 11), abdominal wound infection (n=19), and perineal wound infection (n=5). Postoperative irrigation of the pelvis did not result in a reduction in the overall rate of local pelvic septic complications. Positive intraoperative presacral cultures, the presence of anaerobes in the presacral space, and duration of pelvic drainage had no effect on the development of pelvic sepsis.
Internal Friction in Solids

It is shown from tests on eighteen different solids, including several metals, glass, celluloid, rubber and maple wood, that the internal friction for strains below the elastic limit does not obey the liquid viscosity law, as is usually assumed, according to which the frictional force depends upon the velocity of strain, but that the internal friction is entirely independent of strain velocity, so far as can be observed. It was found to depend upon the amplitude of strain during the strain cycles and approximately to obey the law: Energy loss per cycle per unit volume equals $\ensuremath{\xi}{{f}_{m}}^{2}$. In this expression ${f}_{m}$ is the maximum value of the stress during the stress cycle and $\ensuremath{\xi}$ a proportionality factor, which may be called the internal friction constant. The method used was to measure the transverse deflections of the end of a rod, about a meter long, of the material being studied, which transverse deflections were produced during rotation of the rod when its end was deflected downwards by suitable loads on it. The experiments differ from most previous work in that relatively large masses of material were employed, tending to reduce surface effects, which are likely to enter in the case of vibration decrement experiments on wires and on thin strips. A table of the internal friction constants obtained is given, and also a table of similar internal friction constants calculated from data of previous investigators. A reasonable agreement is found.
Antisettlement and Narcotic Action of Analogues of Diterpene Marine Natural Product Antifoulants from Octocorals.

Prevoius studies have determined that the octocorals Renilla reniformis and Leptogorgia virgulata contain diterpenes that are potent inhibitors of barnacle settlement. These antifoulants—the renillafoulins and pukalide—are, however, comparatively complex and thus are not amenable to commercial exploitation. The present study examined 19 analogues, based on the functional groups of lactone and furan rings in the parent molecules, for antisettlement activity and toxicity. The latter parameters are presented as EC50 values for inhibition of cypris settlement and naupliar swimming, respectively. Assays of a subset of the analogues indicated that they were active in solution rather than when bound to a surface and that at relatively high concentrations they had a narcotic action. The mechanism whereby some of the analogues were able to inhibit settlement at nontoxic concentrations has yet to be explained but suggests that there is merit in the present approach to antifoulant development.
Lymphocyte proliferation response of lactating dairy cows fed varying concentrations of rumen-protected methionine.

Six midlactation Holstein cows were used in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design to characterize the influence of dietary concentration of Mepron®85 (Degussa Corp., Allendale, NJ) on isolated mononuclear cell composition and lymphocyte proliferation. Cows were fed a common total mixed ration containing corn silage, legume silage, chopped legume hay, and a grain and mineral pellet that was top-dressed with one of three treatments. Treatments consisted of 1) 0 g/d of Mepron®85, 2) 15 g/d of Mepron®85 (11 g of rumen-protected Met), or 3) 30 g/d of Mepron®85 (22 g of rumen-protected Met). Cows were housed in a tie-stall barn, had continuous access to fresh water, and were fed once daily at 0900 h for ad libitum intake. Dry matter intake (DMI), orts, and milk yields were recorded daily, and weekly milk samples were collected for analyses of fat, protein, SCC, and milk urea nitrogen. Blood and milk samples were collected before the beginning of the experiment and during wk 2 and 4 of each 28-d treatment period. Blood was analyzed for serum methionine, lymphocyte proliferation, and phenotypic composition of isolated mononuclear cells. Milk samples were analyzed for phenotypic composition of isolated mononuclear cells. Least square means for DMI, milk yield, milk composition, and phenotypic mononuclear cell composition of blood and milk were not affected by treatment. Proliferative ability of peripheral blood T lymphocytes increased for cows consuming 30 g/d of Mepron®85.
RAFT Polymerization of Acrylonitrile and Preparation of Block Copolymers Using 2-Cyanoethyl Dithiobenzoate as the Transfer Agent

CRP is compat-ible with a wide range of monomers including acrylates,methacrylates, and styrene. Acrylonitrile (AN) is achallenging monomer because of its high reactivity andthe poor solubility of polyacrylonitrile (PAN). Neverthe-less, PAN is used in several important applications, suchas the preparation of carbon fibers,
High-Reynolds number Rayleigh-Taylor turbulence

The turbulence generated in the variable density Rayleigh–Taylor mixing layer is studied using the high-Reynolds number fully resolved 30723 numerical simulation of Cabot and Cook (Nature Phys. 2 (2006), pp. 562–568). The simulation achieves bulk Reynolds number, Re = H [Hdot]/ν = 32,000, turbulent Reynolds number, Re t = [ktilde] 2/νϵ = 4600, and Taylor Reynolds number, R λ = 170. The Atwood number, A, is 0.5, and the Schmidt number, Sc, is 1. Typical density fluctuations, while modest, being one quarter the mean density, lead to non-Boussinesq effects. A comprehensive study of the variable density energy budgets for the kinetic energy, mass flux and density specific volume covariance equations is undertaken. Various asymmetries in the mixing layer, not seen in the Boussinesq case, are identified and explained. Hypotheses for the variable density turbulent transport necessary to close the second moment equations are studied. It is found that, even though the layer width becomes temporally self-similar re...
Effects of proton irradiation on the microstructure and microchemistry of type 304L stainless steel

Abstract A research program has been undertaken to determine the origins of irradiation-assisted stress corrosion cracking (IASCC) in austenitic alloys in light water reactors, and the effect of impurities on IASCC susceptibility. Controlled purity alloys of 304L stainless steel were irradiated with protons at 400°C to a dose of 1 dpa and analyzed via Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). The alloys investigated were an ultra-high purity (UHP) alloy and UHP alloys containing phosphorus (UHP + P), sulfur (UHP + S), or silicon (UHP + Si). Microstructural and microchemical changes were quantified and compared with literature results for other irradiating species. Following irradiation, the alloys showed dislocation loop formation and growth, “black dot” loops, and a change in the nature of the dislocation network. AES and STEM microchemical analysis of the alloys revealed Cr depletion of up to 6 at% and Ni enrichment of up to 6.6 at% at the grain boundaries of the alloys, with more segregation observed in the alloys containing impurities than in the UHP alloy. Significant grain boundary enrichment of P and Si in the UHP + P and UHP + Si alloys, respectively, was also observed. The results of the analyses of proton-irradiated samples are shown to compare favorably with previous studies on samples irradiated with neutrons at or near LWR conditions.
The future impact of computation on planetary exploration

Informed speculations are advanced on plausible candidates for space exploration missions in decades ahead; while none are approved NASA projects, they are deemed accessible to current technology. A Venus radar mapper, a minirover system (several rovers) for Mars surface exploration (geology, areochemistry, meteorology, detection of biota), investigation of Halley's comet (1986 apparition) with the aid of a solar sail vehicle, flybys of Jovian (Galilean) satellites and a landing on Ganymede, and a soft landing on the Saturnian large satellite Titan for examination of its atmosphere and surface are sketched. Anticipated data rates, software, mission reliability, and spacecraft autonomy are discussed, along with anticipated improvements in information transmission hardware and software, and some conjectures beyond the turn of the century.
In vitro pharmacodynamic activity of gatifloxacin, gemifloxacin, moxifloxacin and levofloxacin against Streptococcus pneumoniae containing specific mutations in DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV

An in vitro pharmacodynatnic modeling apparatus (PDMA) generated specific bacterial kill profiles for single-dose regimens of gatifloxacin (GT), gemifloxacin (GM), moxifloxacin (MX) and levofloxacin (LV) against isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae with specific QRDR profiles: SP-WT (no modifications); SP-C (changes in parC); and SP-AC (changes in both parC and gyrA). No differences in 3-log reduction time or total log reduction were observed among the four agents for SP-WT; however, LV failed to achieve a 3-log reduction in SP-C and SP-AC, and total log reduction after 12 hrs was minimal compared to the other agents. GM and MX required less time for 3-log reduction of SP-AC compared to GT, but total log reductions in SP-AC were similar among the three newer quinolone agents (GM > MX > GT). The study isolates with QRDR modifications greatly reduced LV activity. GM and MX maintained the greatest degree of activity against all study isolates and their activity was not adversely influenced by the genetic modifications in SP-C and SP-AC. The dual targeting characteristic of GM was also assessed, but did not offer significant advantages relative to MX and GT.
Second Language Teacher Education: A Sociocultural Perspective by JOHNSON, KAREN E.

The article reviews the book "Second Language Teacher Education: A Sociological Perspective," by Karen E. Johnson.
Modeling hospital discharge policies for patients with pneumonia-related sepsis

Sepsis, the tenth-leading cause of death in the United States, accounts for more than $16.7 billion in annual health care costs. A significant factor in these costs is hospital length of stay. The lack of standardized hospital discharge policies and an inadequate understanding of sepsis progression have resulted in unnecessarily long hospital lengths of stay. In this paper, a general model of when to discharge a patient with pneumonia-related sepsis from the hospital is presented. The model is parameterized using patient-based disease progression data from a large clinical study in order to characterize optimal discharge policies for various problem instances. In the presented experiments, patient health is represented by SOFA scores, which are commonly used to assess sepsis severity. Control-limit policies for specific patient cohorts defined by age and race are demonstrated.
Parathyroid hormone: a determinant of posttransplant blood pressure regulation.

Persistent hyperparathyroidism and its attendant hypercalcemia have been implicated as possible etiologic factors in posttransplant hypertension. To better define the role of parathyroid hormone (PTH) and calcium in posttransplant blood pressure homeostasis, we measured the acute response of blood pressure, ionized calcium (Ca ++ ), plasma renin activity (PRA), and parathyroid hormone (PTH) to a 4-hr infusion of calcium (15 mg/kg) and an isoproterenol injection (0.15 mg SC) in seven normal subjects and 13 renal transplant (Tx) recipients with stable graft function and persistent hyperparathyroidism. Transient hypercalcemia produced a significant ( p p p ++ (ΔCa ++ ) or the change in PRA (ΔPRA) observed in the Tx recipients administered calcium. Following isoproterenol administration, SBP increased ( p p ++ was only minimally increased in the Tx recipients. A virtually identical, significant ( p ++ and ΔPRA, such a conclusion seems warranted. The implications of these findings for all subjects with renal disease requires further investigation.
Density Functional Theory Study of Degradation of Tetraalkylammonium Hydroxides

We report density functional theory (DFT) studies of the degradation mechanism of tetraalkylammonium cations which are of interest for anion exchange membrane fuel cells. Three mechanisms of attack by hydroxide anions are explored: an SN2 pathway leading to alcohol formation, an ylide pathway that gives rise to unstable intermediates, and Hofmann elimination. Tetramethylammonium, ethyltrimethylammonium, and benzyltrimethylammonium are the model cations studied here. SN2 attack on tetramethylammonium was found to have a free energy barrier of 17.0 kcal/mol at 298 K. In the case of ethyltrimethylammonium, the overall barrier for the SN2 pathway was found to be 23.0 kcal/mol while Hofmann elimination was 12.8 kcal/mol. The ylide and SN2 attacks on benzyltrimethylammonium show similar energy changes as in the case of tetramethylammonium. In the case of benzyltrimethylammonium, additional side reactions starting from the ylide intermediate are also shown to be feasible. We also discuss the influence of the imm...
Microwave spectrum of (D2O)2

Abstract Microwave spectra of the a-type Ka = 0 and 1 subbands of (D2O)2 for the A1±, B1±, A2±, B2±, and E± rotational-tunneling states have been recorded between 9 and 110 GHz using pulsed-nozzle Fourier-transform and electric-resonance optothermal spectrometers. The tunneling splitting for the Ka = 0, A 2 ± B 2 ± states is determined to be 1083.303(21) MHz, which is slightly lower than the 1172.115(14) MHz value observed previously for the A 1 ± B 1 ± states. From these splittings the tunneling matrix elements associated with the geared and antigeared proton-acceptor/proton-donor interchange motions are calculated to be h5v = −281.927(3) MHz and h7v = −11.102(3) MHz, respectively, using the notation of Coudert and Hougen [J. Mol. Spectrosc. 130, 86–119 (1988)]. For the Ka = 1 states, tunneling splittings of 1076.616(14) and 992.368(90) MHz are found for the A 1 ± B 1 ± and A 2 ± B 2 ± states, giving h5v = −258.623(11) MHz and h7v = −10.531(11) MHz for Ka = 1. The B + C rotational constant is relatively insensitive to tunneling state, whereas the asymmetry splitting, B - C, changes by nearly a factor of two from the A 1 ± B 1 ± to the A 2 ± B 2 ± state, indicating that corrections for tunneling effects need to be applied before B - C is used in a structural analysis.
Granulocytic sarcoma (chloroma) causing spinal cord compression

Granulocytic sarcoma (chloroma) is a rare solid tumor of myelogenous stem cells, usually appearing in patients with acute myelogenous leukemia and less commonly in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia or myeloproliferative disorders. We present a spinal epidural granulocytic sarcoma causing thoracic spinal cord compression in a patient with chronic anemia secondary to myelofibrosis.
High pressure study of hydrogen-bonded pyridine-water complexes

Abstract The ν1 and ν12 ring breathing vibrational modes of pyridine in aqueous solution were studied as functions of concentration (up to 12 M) and pressure (up to 40 kbar) in a diamond anvil cell. For high mole fractions of pyridine (>0.6), two ν1 modes are seen, previously assigned to pyridine uncomplexed and complexed with water. This is confirmed by the pressure dependence, which shows frequency shifts in opposite directions at the freezing point. Isotope effects attributed to complex formation also appear. For pyridine-h5, the pressure dependence is independent of concentration, but for pyridine-d5 it varies substantially with concentration. Similar experiments were done with a weakly associating solvent, N,N-dimethylformamide, and a nonassociating solvent, toluence. For these, the pressure dependence did not change with concentration; this is evidence that the dependence in aqueous solution does involve hydrogen-bonded pyridine-water complexes.
Multiple Paths to Encephalization and Technical Civilizations

We propose consideration of at least two possible evolutionary paths for the emergence of intelligent life with the potential for technical civilization. The first is the path via encephalization of homeothermic animals; the second is the path to swarm intelligence of so-called superorganisms, in particular the social insects. The path to each appears to be facilitated by environmental change: homeothermic animals by decreased climatic temperature and for swarm intelligence by increased oxygen levels.
Immobilization ofColeus blumei cells in a column reactor using a spray feeding system

Coleus blumei cells were immobilized in a column reactor packed withLuffa cylindrica pieces. Medium was fed from the top of the column using a spray system and cells maintained high viability for 52 days. Cell growth was slower but rosmarinic acid production was better compared to immobilized cells in the shake flasks.
ATP release from hypotonically stressed skate RBC: potential role in osmolyte channel regulation

A variety of cells, including skate RBC, release osmolytes (e.g. taurine) when hypotonically swollen as part of a regulatory volume decrease. In this study we show that skate RBC also release ATP into the incubation medium under the same conditions. Furthermore extracellular ATP as well as other nucleotides likely to be released from the RBC, inhibit the hypotonically activated transport of taurine. Therefore, ATP and other nucleotides released from hypotonically stressed RBC have the potential to act as modulators of osmolyte release during hyposmotic stress.
Traumatic brain injury produces impairments in long-term and recent memory

Abstract Traumatic brain injury (TBI) in humans typically produces neurological suppression and a longer lasting impairment of memory clinically defined as post-traumatic amnesia. An animal model that reliably reproduces the physiological changes associated with TBI was used to assess the memory deficits following brain injury. Prior to TBI, rats were trained to perform one of four tasks that assessed either motor performance, long-term or recent memory. Rats were randomly assigned to one of three groups (anesthesia only, sham operation or fluid percussion). Following fluid percussion, used to produce TBI, rats were tested for 6 test sessions. The first session occurred 1–2 min after the experimental manipulation. The next 5 sessions followed the training schedule maintained prior to experimental manipulation. Differences in long-term memory occurred only in the first post-operative test session. Differences in recent memory performance were found across all 6 test sessions. The memory deficits were clearly dissociated from motor deficits. The similar memory deficits observed following human head injury and the experimentally produced TBI injury demonstrate that fluid percussion is a useful approach to examine underlying neurobiological mechanisms involved in head injury and possible clinical interventions.
Oxygen supply failure revisited.

This is a report of a previously undescribed cause of oxygen supply failure during anesthesia, resulting from a worn main switch on a Narkomed 2A anesthesia machine (North American Drager Information Systems, Telford, PA). The implications of this incident are discussed.
Laboratory analysis of phacoemulsifier compliance and capacity.

Purpose To compare the compliance and capacity of 7 fluidics modules used by 6 phacoemulsifiers from 3 manufacturers. Setting Jules Stein Eye Institute, Los Angeles, California, USA. Design Experimental study. Methods Previous-model and current-model phacoemulsifiers from 3 manufacturers were subjected to laboratory analysis of compliance and capacity. Previous-generation models tested included the Legacy Advantec, Whitestar Sovereign Phacoemulsification System, and Millennium Microsurgical System. Current models tested were the Infiniti Vision System with standard and Intrepid cassettes, Whitestar Signature Phacoemulsification System, and Stellaris Vision Enhancement System. To measure compliance, the aspiration line was connected to an electronic pressure transducer and small volumes of fluid were injected or aspirated. To measure capacity, the space between the distal end of the aspiration line and the pump was filled with methylene blue–dyed fluid. Results The Legacy was the most compliant phacoemulsifier. The old and new Whitestar systems, Millennium system, and Stellaris system showed similar midrange compliances. The Infiniti Vision System with the Intrepid fluidic management system was the least compliant. The Infiniti cassettes had the greatest capacity, which is a detriment from a surge-control perspective, and Signature cassettes had the least capacity. Conclusions The Infiniti Intrepid system had the lowest compliance of the 6 units tested, which is optimum from a surge-control perspective. All other things being equal, the Infiniti should have the safest occlusion-break surge response. Financial Disclosure Mr. Injev is an employee of Alcon Laboratories. Dr. Miller is a consultant to and investigator for Alcon Laboratories. Ms. Nejad has no financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.
Backscatter Reduction for Artificially Illuminated In-Water Camera Systems

In order to optimize the lighting geometry of deep-sea camera systems, theoretical expressions have been developed for determining the loss of contrast due to backscatter. These expressions indicate that significant gains in area coverage result from increasing light-camera separation up to distances on the order of 10 m. This large a lateral separation is not practical for a towed system, so the LIght BEhind Camera technique was used. Field tests indicate that the LIBEC sys-tem has a better than 2 : 1 range advantage over the previously used equipment which had a 1 m lateral separation.
The anaerobic glucose metabolism of Bacterium tularense.

Abstract An explanation is presented for the observed inability of B. tularense to utilize glucose anaerobically. DPNH2 produced during the utilization of HDP is not reoxidized due to the absence of a lactic dehydrogenase which requires DPNH2 as a coenzyme or a comparable system which reoxidizes DPNH2. Addition of oxalacetate or mammalian lactic dehydrogenase to sonic extracts of B. tularense promotes rapid glycolysis. Sonic extracts are shown to possess a lactic dehydrogenase which does not need DPN as a coenzyme.
Comparison between two stable hybridized generalized 2D FDTD algorithms for multiscale analysis

In many practical situations it is necessary to hybridize two algorithms, e.g., the FDTD and FETD, to improve the accuracy of the solution without placing an inordinately heavy burden on the CPU. In order to accomplish this task, without having to use a very small time step throughout the computational domain to satisfy the Courant condition (A. Taflove and S.C. Hagness, "Computational Electrodynamics: The Finite Difference Time-Domain Method", ed. Artech House, MA.,2000.) (which is associated with the smallest length of the mesh edges in the entire computational domain), we have recently proposed two stable hybridized FDTD algorithms in 2D. They have been developed by using the cell method (CM) (M. Marrone and R. Mittra, IEEE Trans. Antennas Prop.) that enabled us to address both the problems of instability and connectivity, when dealing with a combination of a coarse mesh FDTD in one domain and either a fine mesh or a triangular one in the other. In this paper we present the results of some numerical tests, which serve to compare the accuracy and the computational complexity of the proposed algorithms with the same for the classical FDTD method.
A simple procedure to evaluate Sommefeld integrals in layered media problems

In this work, we develop a numerical method to evaluate the Sommerfeld Integrals appearing in layered media problems using Chebyshev polynomials of the first kind. Cheby- shev polynomials are important in approximation theory because the roots of the Chebyshev polynomials of the first kind can be used for polynomial interpolation to a high degree of accuracy. The resulting algorithm is much simpler than the conventional discrete complex image method. A few representative numerical examples are presented to illustrate the applicability of the new method.
Effects of nicaraven on nitric oxide-related pathways and in shock and inflammation

Expression of the inducible isoform of nitric oxide (NO) synthase, and the formation of peroxynitrite from NO and superoxide are responsible for some of the pathophysiological alterations seen during reperfusion injury and in various inflammatory conditions. Some of the effects of peroxynitrite are related to DNA single-strand breakage, and activation of poly (ADP-ribose) synthetase. Here we investigated the effect of nicaraven (2(R,S)-1,2-bis(nicotinamido)propane), a known hydroxyl radical scavenger compound and neuroprotective agent, on several NO- and peroxynitrite related pathways in vitro, and in shock and inflammation in vivo. Nicaraven, at 10 microM-10 mM, failed to inhibit the peroxynitrite-induced oxidation of dihydrorhodamine 123, indicating that the agent does not act as a scavenger of peroxynitrite. In RAW murine macrophages stimulated with peroxynitrite, nicaraven caused a dose-dependent, slight inhibition of poly (ADP-ribose) synthetase activation, possibly due to a direct inhibitory effect on the catalytic activity of poly (ADP-ribose) synthetase. Nicaraven partially protected against the peroxynitrite-induced suppression of mitochondrial respiration in RAW macrophages and caused a slight, dose-dependent inhibition of nitrite production in RAW macrophages stimulated with bacterial lipopolysaccharide. We next investigated the effect of nicaraven treatment in a variety of models of inflammation and reperfusion injury. Nicaraven (at 10-100 microg/paw) exerted significant protective effects in the carrageenan-induced paw edema model and (at 100 mg/kg i.v.) reduced neutrophil infiltration and histological damage in splanchnic artery occlusion-reperfusion injury. However, nicaraven failed to alter the course of hemorrhagic and endotoxic shock and arthritis in rodent models. The current data indicate the limited role of hydroxyl radicals in the pathogenesis of the inflammatory conditions tested.
Biological permanent magnets

Magnetotactic bacteria orient and migrate along magnetic field lines. Each cell is essentially a self-propelled magnetic dipole. The magnetic properties of these bacteria have been determined by a variety of techniques, including pulsed hysteresis measurements on single cells.
Proton magnetic resonance spectra of some 6- and 7-substituted 2-amino-4-hydroxypteridines

The conformations in solution of 6-phenyltetrahydropterin, 6,7-diphenyltetrahydropterin and 6-7, dimethyltetrahydropterin have been determined from their proton magnetic resonance spectra. The 6-phenyltetrahydropterin has the reduced pyrazine ring in a half chair conformation with the phenyl ring in the equatorial position. Both the 6,7-diphenyl- and 6,7-dimethyltetrahydropterins are of the cis configuration and have one substituent in an axial position. The enzymatic activity of these cofactors may be related to these conformations.
Nutritional factors that influence change in bone density and stress fracture risk among young female cross-country runners.

Stress fractures are common among young female competitive athletes, especially among those participating in track and field. There are limited data that suggest that disordered eating, low calcium and dairy product intake, and low dietary fat intake may be related to stress fracture incidence.1–10 Numerous dietary factors have been hypothesized to relate to BMD including calcium, vitamin D, phosphorous, potassium, vitamin C, fiber, protein, fat, and iron. However, few longitudinal studies have examined the role of diet on skeletal health in female endurance athletes, although this population may have unique nutritional requirements because of their intense physical activity. Potential interactions among foods in the diet may limit the evaluation of single nutrients and bone health. Therefore, it is important to consider the impact of food groups and dietary patterns of the whole diet on bone health. The goal of this study was to identify potential nutritional factors and dietary patterns that predict stress fractures and change in BMD in young female long-distance runners.
An Introduction to Formal Languages and Automata

Formal languages, automata, computability, and related matters form the major part of the theory of computation. This textbook is designed for an introductory course for computer science and computer engineering majors who have knowledge of some higher-level programming language, the fundamentals of
States of nature: Theorizing the state in environmental governance

J. Peter Brosius, Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing and Charles Zerner (eds) (2005) Communities and Conservation: History and Politics of Community-Based Natural Resource Management, Walnut Creek, CA: AltaMira...
Characteristics of the aftershock sequence of the Borah Peak, Idaho, earthquake determined from digital recordings of the events

Abstract The U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, deployed and maintained a network of twelve digital instruments over the 2 weeks following the 28 October 1983 Borah Peak, Idaho, earthquake. The network recorded 45 events with M ≧ 3.0, and 6 events with M ≦ 4.0. The epicenters are located in a narrow band which parallels the trace of the surface fauiting up to the Willow Creek summit; the depths of the events range from 5 to 16 km. In the south, the distribution of hypocenters delineate a plane which dips to the southwest at 50°; to the north, the hypocenters dip steeply to the east. Composite focal mechanisms for three groups of events show normal faulting mechanisms; the mechanism of the aftershocks in the north appear rotated in both strike and dip from the aftershocks in the south. The seismic moments of the aftershocks increase with increasing hypocentral depth below 12 km. The dynamic stress drops of the events do not show any systematic variation with depth, however. Most of the events with large stress drops are clustered in the northwest limb of the aftershock distribution; the average stress drop of the southern events is 31 ± 16 bars, while the average stress drop of the events in the northwest limb is 77 ± 52 bars. This clustering of events with large stress drops marks an apparent stress concentration, possibly associated with the arrest of the main shock rupture propagation by a fracture barrier at depth.
Warpage Behavior of 7075 Aluminum Alloy Extrusions

Extruded I sections of 7075-T6 aluminum were machined into four different sections shapes: L, short depth L, T, and short depth T. The furnace was preheated to 416 � C (780 � F) and the samples were placed inside. The temperature was raised to 471 � C (880 � F) and then the samples were quenched in either a 30% polyalkylene Glycol solution or water, both at 15 � C (59 � F). Points on the distorted samples were recorded before and after the solution treatment; the difference between the measurements indicated the extent of warpage.
New origin of life theory

A new theory about the chemical evolution of life proposes that simple self-replicating chemical systems rather than complex ones could have been the precursors of living cells more than 3.5 billion years ago. The new theory, published in a recent issue of the Journal of Molecular Evolution, was developed by David White, an assistant professor at the University of Santa Clara, Calif. White proposes that the first chemical ancestors of life were themselves ‘alive’ only in the sense that they could reproduce themselves and may have been far simpler than previously believed. The prevailing theory of the chemical evolution of life holds that natural energy, such as lightning, sunlight, and heat, interacted with the atmosphere, soils, and oceans of primordial Earth. The continuous interaction and evolution over millions of years eventually produced complex chemical systems that could reproduce themselves and that led to the first living cells. The problem lay in getting the right chemical building blocks together in the right place at the right time. The process that led to living cells is easier to explain, however, if the necessary components are simple and few in number.
Simulating Human Reasoning in Mine-Like Object Inspection Assignments for a Formation of Unmanned Underwater Vehicles

The purpose of this paper is to use human reasoning as a model for mine counter measure operations of a fleet of unmanned underwater vehicles. Learning from the complexities involved in information processing in real life scenarios, decision making processes by a fleet of unmanned underwater vehicles can be extensively simplified by the introduction of language-centered intelligence (LCI). LCI uses the logic associated with operating the vehicle, including the logic used for processing language, to evaluate scenarios and make decisions. Implementation of LCI occurred in two steps: first, a centralized inspection planner for a decentralized fleet of unmanned underwater vehicles was implemented, followed by a look-ahead inspections module which uses the inspections planner and portrays the application of LCI in a mine search operation.
The hisB463 Mutation and Expression of a Eukaryotic Protein in Escherichia coli

CERTAINTY in science is never achieved and can only be approached asymptotically. How close to the asymptote and what kind of evidence is necessary to demonstrate a scientific point beyond reasonable doubt? How important is missing information that may be difficult or impossible to obtain with the available technology?
Anterior Chamber Tube Shunt to an Encircling Band in the Treatment of Neovascular Glaucoma

A new procedure for neovascular glaucoma that has reduced intraocular pressure (IOP) significantly and has caused relatively few postoperative complications is introduced. Aqueous is shunted to the reservoir of an encircling no. 20 silicone band from which fluid is postulated to diffuse into the orbit. The anterior chamber tube shunt to an encircling band (ACTSEB) procedure was conducted in 19 eyes with neovascular glaucoma. After surgery 18 of the 19 eyes (95%) followed for periods ranging between five and 26 months (mean: 59 weeks) had controlled IOP using less than or equal to 20 mm Hg as normal, and one eye had partial control (eye 9) at 26 mm Hg. Despite the preoperative use of atropine sulfate, timolol maleate, acetazolamide, and 20% mannitol, the patients' average preoperative IOP was 54.1 mm Hg. After surgery the average IOP fell, dramatically, to 16.2 mm Hg. The mean change in IOP was 37.9 +/- 9.8 (SD). This change is statistically significant by the paired t-test, P less than 0.01. Minimal postoperative medications were required for pressure control. Postoperative complications included hyphema (21%), prolonged flat chamber (74%), localized peripheral lens opacity (5%), localized corneal opacity (5%), and possible acceleration of progressive cataract formation (25%). Results of current surgical procedures used to manage neovascular glaucoma are compared to the ACTSEB results.