cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Correlation of the mass spectral and photochemical behavior of some 1,3‐dieneiron tricarbonyl complexes

The mass spectra of a number of 1,3-dieneiron tricarbonyl complexes have been investigated. It has been shown that complexes derived from substituted 1,3-cyclohexadienes lose hydrogen or methane in the mass spectrometer to lead predominantly to the formation of odd electron ions containing the iron atom bonded to an aromatic system. The fragmentation route followed by these complexes and those from acyclic dienes is compared.
Ultrastructural localization of the plasmalemmal calcium pump in cerebellar neurons

In a previous study, fluorescence labeling of a plasmalemmal ATPase protein with the 5F10 monoclonal antibody revealed prominent antigen in the cerebellar molecular layer surrounding the somata and dendrites of Purkinje cells. In the present study, this antibody labeled with silver enhanced nano-sized gold particles on semithin plastic sections revealed a clearly demarcated plasma membrane outlining the somata and entire dendritic arbors of Purkinje cells including their spines. Ultrastructural analysis of horseradish peroxidase preparations showed reaction product along the plasmalemma and extending on to the sub-plasmalemmal endoplasmic reticulum. In the granular layer, somata of granule cells were reactive, as were their dendritic extensions into glomeruli where reactive claws surrounded voids formed by mossy fiber rosettes. Somata and dendrites of cerebellar nuclear cells also had reactive zones that were limited to the plasma membrane and a narrow zone of the sub-plasmalemmal endoplasmic reticulum. Comparative labeling of this protein and P channel protein revealed similar plasmalemmal locations. This study shows that a specific calcium ATPase pump protein is located on the plasmalemma of certain types of cerebellar neurons. The ultrastructural distribution of calcium pump and P channel antibodies occurred in punctate sites along the plasma membrane of dendrites and spines of Purkinje cells. The close association between P-type calcium channels and the plasma membrane calcium pump is consistent with rapid extrusion of intracellular calcium from neurons endowed with large numbers of voltage-gated calcium channels.
Initial stages of sintering of nanostructured WC-7wt.%Co

Abstract We report X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) studies of nanostructured WC-7 wt.% Co powders. Upon annealing up to 1250°C, we see evidence that Co covers the WC particles by a Co film of ∼1 atomic layer thick, which is interpreted as resulting from surface diffusion and/or Co vapor transport. Formation of this Co film is suggested to be an initial step in the sintering process.
Not just a rural occurrence: Differences in agricultural equipment crash characteristics by rural–urban crash site and proximity to town

PURPOSE: Although approximately one-third of agricultural equipment-related crashes occur near town, these crashes are thought to be a rural problem. This analysis examines differences between agricultural equipment-related crashes by their urban-rural distribution and distance from a town. METHODS: Agricultural equipment crashes were collected from nine Midwest Departments of Transportation (2005-2008). Crash zip code was assigned as urban or rural (large, small and isolated) using Rural-Urban Commuting Areas. Crash proximity to a town was estimated with ArcGIS. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate the odds of crashing in an urban versus rural zip codes and across rural gradients. ANOVA analysis estimated mean distance (miles) from a crash site to a town. FINDINGS: Over four years, 4444 crashes involved agricultural equipment. About 30% of crashes occurred in urban zip codes. Urban crashes were more likely to be non-collisions (aOR=1.69[1.24-2.30]), involve ≥2 vehicles (2 vehicles: aOR=1.58[1.14-2.20], 3+ vehicles: aOR=1.68[0.98-2.88]), occur in a town (aOR=2.06[1.73-2.45]) and within one mile of a town (aOR=1.65[1.40-1.95]) than rural crashes. The proportion of crashes within a town differed significantly across rural gradients (PCONCLUSIONS: Crashes with agricultural equipment are unexpectedly common in urban areas and near towns and cities. Education among all roadway users, increased visibility of agricultural equipment and the development of complete rural roads are needed to increase road safety and prevent agricultural equipment-related crashes. Language: en
Comparison of Three Mating Systems: II. Weights and Body Measurements of Heifers

Abstract Body dimensions and weights of female progeny from three systems of mating were studied from birth to first calving. Heifers produced by outcrossing to Holstein sires in artificial insemination were largest up to first calving, at which time the average of heifers produced by crossbreeding (Ayrshire, Brown Swiss, and Holstein sires) exceeded the outcrosses in weight and body length from withers to pins. Heifers produced by mild inbreeding within a separate line were consistently smaller than outcrosses and crossbreds. Brown Swiss x Holstein heifers were largest of the six crosses; Ayrshire X Holstein crosses were smallest. Brown Swiss X Holstein crosses were also larger than both purebred Holstein groups. Heifers born in November and born of fourth parity dams were generally larger than heifers born in other seasons or of other parity dams, either in weight or in aspects of body dimension.
Prevalence and infection intensity of Nosema in honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies in Virginia

Nosema ceranae is a recently described pathogen of Apis mellifera and Apis cerana. Relatively little is known about the distribution or prevalence of N. ceranae in the United States. To determine the prevalence and potential impact of this new pathogen on honey bee colonies in Virginia, over 300 hives were sampled across the state. The samples were analyzed microscopically for Nosema spores and for the presence of the pathogen using real-time PCR. Our studies indicate that N. ceranae is the dominant species in Virginia with an estimated 69.3% of hives infected. Nosema apis infections were only observed at very low levels (2.7%), and occurred only as co-infections with N. ceranae. Traditional diagnoses based on spore counts alone do not provide an accurate indication of colony infections. We found that 51.1% of colonies that did not have spores present in the sample were infected with N. ceranae when analyzed by real-time PCR. In hives that tested positive for N. ceranae, average CT values were used to diagnose a hive as having a low, moderate, or a heavy infection intensity. Most infected colonies had low-level infections (73%), but 11% of colonies had high levels of infection and 16% had moderate level infections. The prevalence and mean levels of infection were similar in different regions of the state.
Three-Component Porous-Carbon-Titania Nanocomposites through Self-Assembly of ABCBA Block Terpolymers with Titania Sols

We report the first use of a block terpolymer for the synthesis of three-component nanocomposites. Here, the use of three chemically distinct polymer blocks enabled control over each of the three final components: partially graphitic carbon, crystalline transition metal oxide, and porosity. Tuning of the individual block lengths and block fractions resulted in control over the three components. Specifically, two PAN-b-PEO-b-PPO-b-PEO-b-PAN pentablock terpolymers were synthesized starting with a functionalized P123 or F127 macroinitiator. The PEO blocks were selectively swelled with titania sols while the PPO primarily served as a mesoporosity source and the PAN served as a carbon source with high yield. Two subsequent heat treatments were used to form partially graphitic carbon which acted as an in situ hard template preserving the mesostructure through the crystallization of the titania sols. TEM and SAXS analysis revealed wormlike microphase separation. Nitrogen physisorption analysis revealed that the ...
A stratified approach for supporting high throughput event processing applications

The quantity of events that a single application needs to process is constantly increasing. RFID related events have doubled within the past year and reached 4 trillion events per day, financial applications in large banks are processing 400 million events per day, and Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) games are monitoring millions of events per second during peak periods. It is evident that scalability in event throughput is a major requirement for such applications. While the first generation of event processing systems is centralized, we see various solutions that attempt to use both scale-up and scale-out techniques. Alas, partitioning of the processing manually is difficult due to the semantic dependencies among event processing agents. It is also difficult to manually tune up the partition dynamically. This paper proposes a horizontal partition that is automatically created by analyzing the semantic dependencies among agents using a stratification principle. Each stratum contains a collection of independent agents, and events are routed to subsequent strata. We also implement a profiling-based technique for assigning agents to nodes in each stratum with the goal of maximizing throughput. A complementary step is to distribute load among different execution nodes dynamically based on their performance characteristics and the event traffic model. Experimental results show significant improvement in the ability to process high throughput of events relative to both centralized solutions as well as vertical partitions. We find this to be a promising approach to achieve high scalability particularly when the traffic model and network topology change frequently.
The interaction of nitrobenzene with the hydrate basal surface of montmorillonite: an ab initio study

The results of an ab initio Hartree–Fock study of the cluster molecular model mimicking the ditrigonal cavity of montmorillonite are reported. Full optimization of the geometry has been applied for the Si6Al6O30H18 cluster using the HF/6-31G(d) basis set. In order to obtain a model of the isomorphic substitution in the alumino oxygen layer of clay minerals, a magnesium atom has replaced one of the aluminium atoms of the alumino–oxygen layer in the cluster. To compensate for the negative charge which inevitably appears in this type of substitution, the Na+ exchangeable cation has been placed in the area with the most negative electrostatic potential in the basal plane of the cluster model. Finally, we have calculated the geometry and interaction energy for the adsorption complex which is formed by the interaction of nitrobenzene (the simplest nitroaromatic compound, having the chemical formula C6H5NO2) with the hydrated surface of clay minerals. The predicted BSSE corrected energy of the interaction is of the same order (11.8 kcal mol−1 at the B3LYP/6-31G(d)//HF/6-31G(d) level) as has been estimated for the adsorption of nitro-compounds interacting with full molecular contacts. We have concluded that this type of adsorption of nitro-compounds should be at least as effective as the adsorbtion which includes the donor–acceptor type of interactions with a nonhydrated silicon–oxygen surface.
A tandem flowing afterglow-triple quadrupole instrument

Abstract A new hybrid mass spectrometer is described for the characterization of structures of products generated in a flowing afterglow apparatus by triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry. Examples are given of isomeric ion differentiation using daughter spectra generated by collision-induced dissociation of mass selected ions. Parent spectra allow systematic characterization of the complex mixture of product ions produced by electron impact ionization and subsequent ion/molecule condensation reactions of Fe(CO)5. Cluster ions, including trimers consisting of three amines solvating a proton, can be generated and their unimolecular kinetics provides information about gas phase basicities. Small differences in dimer and trimer fragmentation behavior are interpreted in terms of steric effects operating in the trimer.
Socioeconomic Status and Neuropsychological Functioning: Associations in an Ethnically Diverse HIV+ Cohort

Objective: There is limited research examining the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and neuropsychological functioning, particularly in racial/ethnic minority and HIV+ populations. However, there are complex associations between poverty, education, HIV disease, race/ethnicity, and health outcomes in the US. Method: We explored these relationships among an ethnically diverse sample of 134 HIV+ adults using a standardized SES measure (i.e., the Hollingshead scale), a comprehensive NP test battery, and a functional evaluation (i.e., Patient’s Assessment of Own Functioning Inventory and Modified Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale). Results: Bivariate analyses showed that adult SES was significantly, positively correlated with neuropsychological performance on specific tests within the domains of verbal fluency, attention/concentration, learning, memory, processing speed, and executive functioning, and childhood SES was significantly linked to measures of verbal fluency, processing sp...
The role of TNF-α receptors p55 and p75 in acute myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury and late preconditioning

The specific role of TNF-alpha receptors I (TNFR-I, p55) and II (TNFR-II, p75) in myocardial ischemic injury remains unclear. Using genetically engineered mice, we examined the relative effects of TNF-alpha signaling via p55 and p75 in acute myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury under basal conditions and in late preconditioning (PC). Wild-type (WT) (C57BL/6 and B6,129) mice and mice lacking TNF-alpha (TNF-alpha(-/-)), p55 (p55(-/-)), p75 (p75(-/-)), or both receptors (p55(-/-)/p75(-/-)) underwent 30 min of coronary occlusion and 24 h of reperfusion with or without six cycles of 4-min coronary occlusion/4-min reperfusion (O/R) 24 h earlier (ischemic PC). Six cycles of O/R reduced infarct size 24 h later in WT mice, indicating a late PC effect. This late PC-induced infarct-sparing effect was abolished not only in TNF-alpha(-/-) and p55(-/-)/p75(-/-) mice, but also in p55(-/-) and p75(-/-) mice, indicating that TNF-alpha signaling via both p55 and p75 is necessary for the development of protection. In nonpreconditioned TNF-alpha(-/-), p55(-/-)/p75(-/-), and p75(-/-) mice, infarct size was similar to strain-matched WT mice. In contrast, infarct size in nonpreconditioned p55(-/-) mice was reduced compared with nonpreconditioned WT mice. We conclude that (i) unopposed p75 signaling (in the absence of p55) reduces infarct size following acute ischemia/reperfusion injury in naive myocardium, whereas unopposed p55 signaling (in the absence of p75) has no effect; and (ii) the development of the infarct-sparing effects of the late phase of PC requires nonredundant signaling via both p55 and p75 receptors. These findings reveal a fundamental, heretofore unrecognized, difference between the two TNF-alpha receptors in the setting of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury: that is, both p55 and p75 are necessary for the development of protection during late PC, but only signaling via p75 is protective in nonpreconditioned myocardium.
Direct measurement of the anisotropy of the resistivity in the a-b plane of twin-free, single-crystal, superconducting YBa2Cu3O7- delta.

We have measured the resistivity tensor in one nearly twin-free crystal and one twin-free crystal of ${\mathrm{YBa}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}$${\mathrm{O}}_{7\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\delta}}}$. The first crystal was grown with a large twin-free region. We removed the twins in the second crystal by applying a uniaxial stress. Using a modified Montgomery technique, we measured the electrical resistivities in all three crystal directions and found them to be linear in temperature above the superconducting transition temperature ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$. Our results for ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\rho}}}_{\mathit{a}}$ and ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\rho}}}_{\mathit{b}}$ at room temperature are among the lowest that have been reported in the literature, indicating that our samples are of high quality. The ratio ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\rho}}}_{\mathit{a}}$/${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\rho}}}_{\mathit{b}}$ is independent of temperature between 150 and 275 K, and its value, 2.2\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.2, indicates that the Cu-O chains contribute 60% of the current when the electric field is parallel to them, with the rest of the current being contributed by the Cu-O planes. This result, at zero frequency, is in good agreement with the recent conductivity at infrared frequencies obtained by Schlesinger et al.
Absorption spectra of spinach quantasomes and bleaching of the pigments.

Abstract Quantasomes obtained by sonication from the pigmented lamellae of spinach chlorplasts are observed to form aqueous suspensions which have absorption spectra corresponding closely to those of whole chloroplasts and intact leaves. The principal chlorophyll a absorption maxima at 678.5 and 437 mμ are not shifted from their position in vivo . The quantasome preparations have the advantage of giving very little light-scattering; the measured turbidity in the red is less than 1% of the absorbancy at 678.5 mμ. Aqueous suspensions of spinach quantosomes at 2° are observed to bleach rapidly in the light and slowly (over a period of 1 day) upon aging in the dark. In both cases the bleaching of chlorophyll a is accompanied by a slow shift of the red absorption band toward shorter wavelenghts. The dark bleaching has been studied in some detail. Removal of air from the suspensions markedly retards the dark bleaching, suggesting that it is an oxidation phenomenon. Spectra taken at successive intervals show that, in the dark, bleaching of the carotenoids precedes that of the chlorophylls. Difference spectra indicate that the absorption due to the carotenoids in the quantasomes possesses maxima at 485, 455 and 428 and a shoulder at 400 mμ. These maxima are 10–15 mμ to longer wavelengths from those in the ether-solution spectra of xanthophylls—the predominant carotenoids in spinach chloroplasts. A peak which appears at 470 mμ in the absorption spectra of the partially bleached quantasomes is attributed to the Soret band of chlorophyll b , which is not rapidly bleached in the dark. The rate of dark bleaching increases strongly with increasing temperature and is effectively inhibited by the presence of the soluble, colorless stroma substances. The dark bleaching is felt to be a complex phenomenon and a complete explanation must await further investigations.
Micellar properties of Quillaja saponin. 1. Effects of temperature, salt, and pH on solution properties

We used surface tension and dye solubilization measurements to demonstrate that quillaja saponin molecules aggregate into micelles above a critical micelle concentration (cmc), whose value ranges between 0.5 and 0.8 g/L at 298 K. Below the cmc, this surfactant forms a saturated interfacial layer with 2 μmol/m2. Increased temperature or pH increases the cmc, while increased salt concentration decreases this value. The size of saponin micelles was found to increase strongly with temperature but to have little dependence on salt concentration or pH. The effect of increased temperature on size is accompanied by a decrease in intrinsic viscosity, suggesting substantial dehydration of the micelles at higher temperatures. We also observed some differences between quillaja saponins obtained from various commercial sources. The knowledge gained from these studies of quillaja saponin solutions is useful in exploring their ability to extract solutes of biological significance and for understanding the functioning of...
Extrudate temperature control with disturbance prediction

Abstract Pulse-width-modulated heating and cooling actuators were designed and installed in a twin-screw food extruder. Step and pseudo-random binary signals were used to excite the system. Auto-regressive moving-average models with auxiliary input (ARMAX) were developed to describe extrudate temperature and specific mechanical energy input. A feedforward/feedback control system with disturbance prediction was designed and implemented to regulate extrudate temperature.
Tests of perturbative DFT total energy estimates implemented in a Gaussian basis

We derive and test an approximate expression for the Kohn–Sham eigenfunctions and total energy associated with a given exchange-correlation functional. The expression is closely related to the approximation given by Benoit et al. (Phys Rev Lett 2001, 87, 226401) but differs by removing an overly stringent orthogonality constraint. Tests on the Li, F, Ne, and Cr atoms done in Gaussian basis sets suggest that the approach is promising, particularly as an alternative to conventional self-consistent field or to the Harris scheme (Phys Rev B 1985, 31, 1770). © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2004
Can a decision aid enable informed decisions in neonatal nursery recruitment for a fragile X newborn screening study

Can a decision aid enable informed decisions in neonatal nursery recruitment for a fragile X newborn screening study?
Fostering Social Competence in Preschool Children Exposed to Intimate Partner Violence: Evaluating the Preschool Kids' Club Intervention

This study assessed whether participation in an intervention program enhanced social competence in 113 preschool-aged children who were exposed to intimate partner violence. Change in competence was evaluated from baseline to approximately five weeks postbaseline and compared preschool children who did and did not receive intervention services. Protective factors, such as exposure to less severe violence, were identified that predicted change in competence scores. Results indicated that children with the highest social competence pre-intervention exhibited a significant increase in their postintervention scores, if they participated in the program. The extent of this change was predicted by a higher preintervention score and exposure to less severe violence. This study indicates that even short-term intervention could result in meaningful change in key aspects of child functioning.
Legislative Parties and Leadership Choice: Confrontation or Accommodation in the 1989 Gingrich-Madigan Whip Race

Treating the selection of party leaders as strategic choices legislators make to advance party goals, this article examines conflict and consensus in leadership selection. Analysis of unique archival data from Newt Gingrich's 87 to 85 vote victory over Ed Madigan in the 1989 Whip race reveals that ideology, terms in office, and a prior commitment to majority building significantly determined individual legislators' support for Gingrich's confrontational style to build a Republican majority over Madigan's style of accommodating Democrats to win legislative concessions. Aconcluding discussion considers the applicability of these findings for developing theories of member choice in leadership elections.
Antifreeze Glycoprotein Activity Correlates with Long-Range Protein−Water Dynamics

Antifreeze proteins (AFPs) and antifreeze glycoproteins (AFGPs) enable the survival of organisms living in subfreezing habitats and serve as preservatives. Although their function is known, the underlying molecular mechanism was not understood. Mutagenesis experiments questioned the previous assumption of hydrogen bonding as the dominant mechanism. We use terahertz spectroscopy to show that antifreeze activity is directly correlated with long-range collective hydration dynamics. Our results provide evidence for a new model of how AFGPs prevent water from freezing. We suggest that antifreeze activity may be induced because the AFGP perturbs the aqueous solvent over long distances. Retarded water dynamics in the large hydration shell does not favor freezing. The complexation of the carbohydrate cis-hydroxyl groups by borate suppresses the long-range hydration shell detected by terahertz absorption. The hydration dynamics shift toward bulk water behavior strongly reduces the AFGP antifreeze activity, further supporting our model.
Skin conductance habituation in panic disorder patients.

Abstract Skin conductance habituation was compared between 38 patients meeting DSM-III criteria for Panic Disorder and 29 normal controls. Approximately half of each group was randomly assigned to be given 100 dB SPL tones and the other half 75 dB tones. All indices pointed to slowed habituation in patients compared with normals: number of trials to response habituation, total number of responses, and slope of decline of skin conductance level. Patient-normal differences were not significantly larger for 100 dB than for 75 dB. In addition, patients compared with normals had more nonspecific fluctuations, higher skin conductance levels, and a shorter response latency to the first stimulus. Stepwise discriminant analyses classified patients and normals better in the 100 dB than in the 75 dB condition, and showed that the various skin conductance variables were largely redundant at the higher intensity.
Cardiovascular stress responses in young adulthood associated with family-of-origin relationship experiences

OBJECTIVE: The impact of relationships within the family-of-origin on the development of physiological stress responses has significant consequences for long-term vulnerability to stress-related illness. METHODS: The current study evaluated systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and heart rate (HR) responses to a challenge task in 150 young adults from families characterized by parental loss, divorce, or intact marriages. RESULTS: Overall, higher-quality family relationships were associated with stronger recovery of SBP. For DBP and HR, interactions were found in which higher-quality family relationships were associated with stronger recovery in the loss group relative to the divorce and intact groups. Good support was found for a mediational model outlining self-regulatory abilities as a pathway linking family relationships to SBP reactivity and recovery. CONCLUSIONS: Findings provide further evidence that family-of-origin relationship experiences can affect cardiovascular responses to later-life stress.
Scala tympani cochleostomy I: results of a survey.

Objective: To assess current surgical techniques for scala tympani cochlear implantation among North American surgeons. Material: A survey was distributed to all cochlear implant surgeons participating in the 2006 William House Cochlear Implant Study Group in Toronto, Canada. Participants were asked to anonymously identify their routine surgical practices. Images of trans-facial recess approaches to the round window and cochlear promontory were used in a multiple-choice fashion to assess the surgeon's typical exposure and cochleostomy location. Returned questionnaires were electronically processed and evaluated. Results: Fifty-five (75%) of 73 returned surveys had adequate data validity and availability. Landmark identification and preferred cochleostomy locations varied greatly. About 20% of surgeons selected cochleostomy locations superior to the round window membrane. Cochleostomy size and location appeared to be influenced by surgical experience and whether or not the round window overhang was drilled off. Conclusion: This survey clearly documents marked variations in surgical techniques for scala tympani cochlear implantation. Future studies should more clearly define the surgical anatomy of this region for appropriate placement of a scala tympani cochleostomy. These findings may ultimately have an impact on hearing and neural preservation cochlear implant surgeries.
Cases from the greater Boston epilepsy society.

The Greater Boston Epilepsy Society (GBES) is an informal group consisting of academic physicians, private practice neurologists, researchers, neuropsychologists, neuropsychiatrists, social workers, nurses, and other professionals devoted to the care of patients with epilepsy. It was founded in 1995 by Dr. Andrew Cole from the Massachusetts General Hospital and Dr. Gregory Holmes, at the time from the Children's Hospital of Boston, with the goal of providing an informal educational forum and, perhaps more importantly, an opportunity to meet and establish camaraderie with other local epilepsy professionals. Three times a year, the members gather for dinner and an educational event. The first of these meetings, entitled “Great Cases in Epilepsy”, has been devoted to the discussion of clinical cases, typically presented in a case format by the clinical epilepsy fellows at a local teaching hospital. The Boston area, being blessed with a large concentration of independent epilepsy centers, provides a unique collective of clinical and research resources and as such draws a rich assortment of interesting or unusual cases of epilepsy. The case presentation forum accomplishes two objectives. Firstly, it provides a means for epileptologists, particularly residents and clinical fellows, to learn about cases in epilepsy that are sufficiently unusual that they might not be countered during their training but are of such importance that they should be recognized during the one or few times they may encounter them in their careers. Secondly, for a particularly vexing case, the collective wisdom of the group may often provide further insights into the diagnosis and management of the patient in question. We present this year's case presentations in this issue of Epilepsy & Behavior Case Reports. Dr. Marcus Ng uses the Creutzfeldt–Jakob Disease as a model to examine a rational approach toward the treatment of nonconvulsive seizures. Dr. Sandipan Pati presents an unusual patient with epilepsy and progressive focal cortical atrophy. Dr. Ammar Kheder presents an unusual case of burst suppression pattern on EEG that is a physiological, rather than pathological, phenomenon. Dr. Stephen VanHaerents describes a case of anti-NMDAR encephalitis with the newly described “extreme delta brush” pattern and provides what we believe is the first report of its persistence. Dr. Swapna Putta presents the clinical, electrographic, and radiological findings of an unusual case of occipital lobe seizures in a patient with diabetic nonketotic hyperglycemia. Dr. Matthew Rose's case on neuroschistosomiasis reminds us that the mundane first seizure presentation may be a result of a most unusual etiology (at least in Boston).
The External Debt Situation in Indonesia: Performance and Prospects

In interviews with bankers, government economists and academic observers, most of them attributed the absence of an Indonesian debt crisis during 1982–84 to the fact that a significant portion of external public debt, an average of 37 percent, was long-term concessionary loans from foreign governments and international agencies. Our analysis challenges this conventional explanation. We show that if Indonesia (1) had paid the same effective interest rate as Mexico, (2) had the same maturity structure as Mexican debt, and (3) had the same export-GNP ratio as Mexico, then its average 1980–82 total debt service-export ratio would have been 84.4% instead of the actual 30.1%. Our decomposition shows that concessional interest rates account for 5.8 percentage points of the gap, maturity structure for 17.7 percentage points and export orientation for 30.8 percentage points. We have concluded that the major cause for the favorable 1982–84 outcome is competent management of the exchange rate. The absence of protracted exchange rate overvaluation from 1979 onward was fundamental in maintaining a strong nonoil tradeable sector. The nonoil tradeable sector was able to earn enough foreign exchange to service Indonesian debts when the external shock of high interest rates increased debt service payments and the recession in industrialized countries lowered the price of oil. The absence of extended exchange rate overvaluation also kept the external debt down and the maturity structure on the long side by not encouraging capital flight. We ascribe this use of the exchange rate to protect the tradeable sector as much to the existence of an influential political constituency consisting of neoclassical economists, Javanese peasants and Outer Island residents as to balance-of-payments considerations. We recommend an aggressive exchange rate policy and two sets of supplementary measures to reduce the probability of a debt crisis in the medium run.
Discrimination between the binomial and hypergeometric models

This paper examines the problem of discerning whether sampling is being done with or without replacement. It is shown that with just one sample in the absence of additional information only a rather trivial solution is possible. For replicated samples, method of moments and graphically oriented procedures are considered. A simulation study reveals that there appears to be little advantage to employing any more sophisticated approach than the method of moments.
The virtual geographies of social networks: a comparative analysis of Facebook, LinkedIn and ASmallWorld

This study provided a comparative analysis of three social network sites, the open-to-all Facebook, the professionally oriented LinkedIn and the exclusive, members-only ASmallWorld.The analysis focused on the underlying structure or architecture of these sites, on the premise that it may set the tone for particular types of interaction.Through this comparative examination, four themes emerged, highlighting the private/public balance present in each social networking site, styles of self-presentation in spaces privately public and publicly private, cultivation of taste performances as a mode of sociocultural identification and organization and the formation of tight or loose social settings. Facebook emerged as the architectural equivalent of a glasshouse, with a publicly open structure, looser behavioral norms and an abundance of tools that members use to leave cues for each other. LinkedIn and ASmallWorld produced tighter spaces, which were consistent with the taste ethos of each network and offered less...
Optimizing Similar Scalar Subqueries for XML Processing in Microsoft SQL Server

XML is often used to represent objects that expose different sets of properties. This "property bag" scenario is a prominent use case for the XML support added to Microsoft SQL Server 2005. However, each property extraction in our initial implementation executed as a separate relational subquery. This was problematic since query performance became unacceptable even for small data sizes when returning an increasing number of properties. We addressed this problem by developing an interesting generalization of common subexpressions. This paper makes the following contributions: (1) it introduces an equivalence rewrite for relational query optimization to fold similar scalar subqueries. Several such subqueries are merged into a single equivalent multi-column subquery using both predicate disjunction and rowset pivoting. The rewrite operates at the logical operator level which makes it equally applicable to XML queries and SQL queries. (2) We explain how this optimization can be applied to the XML property bag scenario and how it has been implemented for the XML index in Microsoft SQL Server 2005. (3) An experimental investigation with Microsoft SQL Server 2005 studies the performance characteristics of the optimization. It shows that the optimization yields significant performance improvements - without limiting essential optimizer execution plan choices.
Using inquiry-based activities to repair student misconceptions related to Heat, energy and temperature

This study examines the effectiveness of inquiry-based activities for addressing student misconceptions related to four concept areas in the thermal sciences that have been identified as both important and difficult for students to master: (1) temperature vs. energy, (2) factors that affect the rate vs. the amount of energy transferred, (3) temperature vs. perceptions of hot and cold and (4) the effect of surface properties on thermal radiation. Students' conceptual understanding was assessed using the newly developed Heat and Energy Concept Inventory (HECI). In the control sample, student performance on the overall HECI improved from 49.2% correct to a post-instruction performance of 54.4% correct. Using inquiry-based activities, the mean performance on the HECI improved from 46.6% correct prior to instruction to a postperformance score of 65.7%. Significant learning gains were found in each of the targeted concept areas when the activities were used. The study also examined the impact of the activities on near vs. far transfer of learning and found statistically significant improvements for both, but larger learning gains on HECI items involving near transfer.
Endocytosis of growth factor receptors

Binding of a growth factor (GF) to its specific receptor on the cell surface causes the initiation of a signal transduction cascade which eventually results in mitosis. GF:receptor complexes are removed from the cell surface via receptor-mediated endocytosis, a process which involves clathrin-coated pits. After internalization into the endosomal compartment, a significant pool of GFs and GF receptors escape recycling to the cell surface and are sorted to the degradation pathway. The ligand-induced internalization and lysosomal degradation of GF receptors result in the dramatic loss of surface receptors, a phenomenon termed receptor down-regulation. In this review, we discuss relevant biochemical, morphological and kinetic studies of the mechanism of GF endocytosis, and the possible role of this process in mitogenic signaling by growth factor receptors.
Molecular Magnet Induced Transformative Effects in Molecular Spintronics Devices: A Monte Carlo Study

Molecular spintronics devices (MSDs) are capable of harnessing the controllable transport and magnetic properties of molecular device elements and are highly promising candidates for revolutionizing computer logic and memory. A MSD is typically produced by placing magnetic molecule(s) between the two ferromagnetic electrodes. Recent experimental studies show that the molecules produced unprecedented strong exchange couplings between the two ferromagnets, leading to intriguing magnetic and transport properties in a MSD. Future development of MSDs will critically depend on obtaining an in-depth understanding of the molecule induced exchange coupling and its impact on MSD’s switchability and temperature stability. However, the large size of MSD systems and unsuitable device designs are the two biggest hurdles in theoretical and experimental studies of magnetic attributes produced by molecules in a MSD. This research theoretically studies the MSD by performing Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) studies, which have the capacity to tackle large systems- such as MSD based on magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) test bed. The MTJ based MSD has the distinctive advantage that MTJ test bed can be subjected to experimental magnetic characterizations before and after transforming it into a MSD by bridging the molecules of interest between the two metal electrodes of a MTJ. Hence the result of our MCS can be verified experimentally.
Why is the initiation nick site of an AT‐rich rolling circle plasmid at the tip of a GC‐rich cruciform?

pT181 and other closely related rolling circle plasmids have the nicking site for initiation of replication between the arms of a GC-rich inverted repeat sequence adjacent to the binding site for the dimeric initiator protein. Replication is initiated by the initiator-induced extrusion of this sequence as a cruciform, creating a single-stranded region for nicking by the protein. Nicking is followed by assembly of the replisome without relaxation of the secondary structure. Following termination, the initiator protein is released with a short oligonucleotide attached to one subunit, which prevents it from being recycled, a necessary feature of the plasmid's replication control system. The modified initiator can cleave single-stranded substrates and can nick and relax supercoiled plasmid DNA weakly. Although it can bind to its recognition sequence in the leading strand origin, the modified protein cannot induce cruciform extrusion, and it is proposed that this inability is the key to understanding the biological rationale for having the nicking site at the tip of a cruciform: the need to provide the functional initiator with a catalytic advantage over the modified one sufficient to offset the numerical advantage and metabolic stability of the latter.
Genetic background influences immune responses and disease outcome of cutaneous L. mexicana infection in mice

The experimental model of high-dose Leishmania mexicana infection is used frequently to study molecular mechanisms regulating Th2 response since most inbred mice regardless of their genetic background display Th2 cytokine-dependent susceptibility to L. mexicana unlike Leishmania major. Here, we analyzed the course of L. mexicana infection in BALB/c, C57BL/6 and CBA/J mouse strains using low-dose ear infection model that mimics natural transmission. Although all three strains were equally susceptible to high-dose back rump L. mexicana infection, they displayed marked differences in their ability to control parasite growth after low-dose ear infection. Leishmania mexicana-infected BALB/c mice produced high levels of Th2-associated cytokines and developed non-healing lesions full of parasites, whereas CBA/J mice preferentially produced Th1-associated IFN-gamma but low levels of IL-4, and developed small self-resolving lesions. Both BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice produced comparable amounts of IFN-gamma following L. mexicana infection, but later produced less Th2-associated cytokines, and exhibited an 'intermediate' susceptibility phenotype characterized by lesion sizes that were significantly smaller than BALB/c mice but larger than CBA/J mice. Interestingly, all three strains also showed marked differences in trafficking of macrophages, CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells into their lesions. Finally, we analyzed the course of low-dose L. mexicana infection in signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) 6-/- and STAT6+/+ BALB/c mice. We found that STAT6-/- mice mount a Th1 response, produce high levels of IL-12 and IFN-gamma and develop smaller lesions containing fewer parasites as compared with STAT6+/+ mice. Our findings demonstrate that genetic background plays a critical role in determining susceptibility of inbred mice to low-dose L. mexicana infection. Furthermore, together with our previous findings, they show that STAT6-mediated signaling is involved in mediating susceptibility to L. mexicana following both high-dose back rump and low-dose ear dermis infection.
High-frequency application of MOS compact models and their development for scalable RF model libraries

The evaluation of MOS compact models, focusing on BSIM3v3, is performed with specific development described toward scalable RF libraries suitable for high-frequency mixed-signal circuit design. Additional parasitic elements are added to the compact model to better describe its operation at higher frequency. This extrinsic subcircuit includes the gate resistance and complex substrate admittance which are scalable and physically based, and a detailed parameter extraction procedure for each is described. Small-signal y-parameters and noise behavior of the extended model are used to verify the match to high-frequency on-wafer measurements.
Advice When Children Come Out: The Cultural “Tool Kits” of Parents:

The family is one of the main areas of social life where the normalization of gay/lesbian identity is incomplete. Most research analyzes the individual and psychological aspects of how families respond to children's disclosure of a gay/lesbian identity, and ignores the social, cultural, and historical contexts. An examination of the cultural discourses, tools, and strategies that are available to parents is necessary for a full understanding of how families respond to gay/lesbian children. We conduct an interpretive content analysis of 29 advice books in order to assess this cultural field and its institutional resources. We find three broad strategies offered to parents: relying on professionals for overcoming the grief of having a gay/lesbian child, normalizing gay/lesbian identity, and utilizing "good" parenting skills. We discuss how these strategies demonstrate the unsettled and often contradictory cultural field of gay/lesbian identity in the family and its implications for sexual identities beyond the closet.
It's just a toolbar!: using tangibles to help children manage conflict around a multi-touch tabletop

In this paper we present a case study of children's collaborative behavior around a multi-touch tabletop interface. The study includes data from four sessions with four children over a period of three weeks. The children in our study exhibited a diverse set of collaborative behaviors including territorial control of screen real estate, conflict over interface elements, and turn taking behavior, all of which seemed related to specific aspects of the interface design. Most notably, we observed conflict relating to a graphical toolbar that the children could drag around the screen. After observing this conflict, we redesigned the interface so that children were forced to use a tangible object (a wooden block) to make the toolbar appear on the screen. This tangible object seemed to help the children resolve their conflict and to promote spontaneous turn taking behavior. This paper is an effort to understand why the graphical toolbar alone seemed to spur conflict and why the introduction of a tangible object seemed to help children resolve the conflict on their own
Control of vascular smooth muscle cell growth by connexin 43.

Connexin 43 (Cx43), the principal gap junction protein in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), regulates movement of ions and other signaling molecules through gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) and plays important roles in maintaining normal vessel function; however, many of the signaling mechanisms controlling Cx43 in VSMCs are not clearly described. The goal of this study was to investigate mechanisms of Cx43 regulation with respect to VSMC proliferation. Treatment of rat primary VSMCs with the cAMP analog 8Br-cAMP, the soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulator BAY 41-2272 (BAY), or the Cx inducer diallyl disulfide (DADS) significantly reduced proliferation after 72 h compared to vehicle controls. Bromodeoxyuridine uptake revealed reduction (p<.001) in DNA synthesis after 6 h and flow cytometry showed reduced (40%) S phase cell numbers after 16 h in DADS-treated cells compared to controls. Cx43 expression significantly increased after 270 min treatment with 8Br-cAMP, 8Br-cGMP, BAY or DADS. Inhibition of PKA, PKG or PKC reversed 8Br-cAMP-stimulated increases in Cx43 expression, whereas only PKG or PKC inhibition reversed 8Br-cGMP- and BAY-stimulated increases in total Cx43. Interestingly, stimulation of Cx43 expression by DADS was not dependent on PKA, PKG or PKC. Using fluorescence recovery after photobleaching, only 8Br-cAMP or DADS increased GJIC with 8Br-cAMP mediated by PKC and DADS mediated by PKG. Further, DADS significantly increased phosphorylation at the MAPK-sensitive serine (Ser)255 and Ser279, the cell cycle regulatory kinase-sensitive Ser262 and the PKC-sensitive Ser368 after 30 min while 8Br-cAMP significantly increased phosphorylation only at Ser279 compared to controls. This study demonstrates that 8Br-cAMP- and DADS-enhanced GJIC rather than Cx43 expression and/or phosphorylation plays an important role in regulation of VSMC proliferation and provides new insights into the growth-regulatory capacities of Cx43 in VSMCs.