cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Review of Cases of Angiostrongyliasis in Hawaii, 2007-2017.

Angiostrongyliasis, also known as rat lungworm disease, is caused by the parasitic nematode Angiostrongylus cantonensis. Its primary host includes several species of rats, primarily those in the Rattus genus,1–5 in which mature A. cantonensis lay eggs. These eggs hatch into first-stage larvae, which are then expelled in the rat’s feces. Intermediate hosts, including snails and slugs, ingest the contaminated feces, and the first-stage larvae enter these hosts and develop into third-stage larvae. If a rat eats an infected intermediate host, the third-stage larvae infect the rat, in which they can continue to develop into mature adults, reproduce, and continue the cycle. Human infections with A. cantonensis occur when individuals ingest third-stage larvae of the parasite. In humans, however, the third-stage larvae are not able to develop into their adult stage and, therefore, eventually die after migrating to the central nervous system. The immune system’s reaction to the dead parasites is responsible for most symptoms associated with angiostrongyliasis.6 The primary clinical presentation of angiostrongyliasis is eosinophilic meningitis (EM). Common symptoms include headache, stiff neck, paresthesias, vomiting, and nausea; face or limb paralysis, photophobia, and disturbed vision can sometimes present as well.7,8 Uncommonly, in severe cases, high intracranial pressure caused by the infection can result in unconsciousness, coma, and sometimes even death.7,8 Signs and symptoms generally reflect those areas damaged by the migrating larvae and resulting inflammation. Treatment is mainly supportive; lumbar punctures, analgesics, and especially corticosteroids may be used to treat some of the associated symptoms.8 The use of anthelmintic drugs has been controversial with unclear benefits.8–10 Traditionally, since the first human Angiostrongylus infection was identified in 1945 in Taiwan,11 infections have been most commonly identified in Southeast Asia and the Pacific basin. However, with increased globalism, this parasite has continued to spread to other parts of the world, including to the Americas,4,12–14 with cases often identified in travelers returning from regions where angiostrongyliasis is endemic.15–18 In the United States, angiostrongyliasis has been present in Hawaii since at least 1959.19,20 However, recently, A. cantonensis has been found in both mollusk and rat hosts in the Gulf Coast region of the continental United States,21–23 and sporadic autochthonous cases have been identified in other areas as well.24,25 This suggests the range of the parasite continues to expand, and cases may continue to appear in regions previously unaffected. In Hawaii, angiostrongyliasis is endemic and has been reportable to the Hawaii Department of Health (HDOH) since 2007. Two previous assessments, from 1959 to 1965 and from 2001 to 2005,20,26,27 have examined cases of EM related to angiostrongyliasis in Hawaii. We report updated findings on the number and description of angiostrongyliasis cases in Hawaii from 2007 to 2017.
Learning of Artificial Sensation Through Long-Term Home Use of a Sensory-Enabled Prosthesis.

Upper limb prostheses are specialized tools, and skilled operation is learned by amputees over time. Recently, neural prostheses using implanted peripheral nerve interfaces have enabled advances in artificial somatosensory feedback that can improve prosthesis outcomes. However, the effect of sensory learning on artificial somatosensation has not been studied, despite its known influence on intact somatosensation and analogous neuroprostheses. Sensory learning involves changes in the perception and interpretation of sensory feedback and may further influence functional and psychosocial outcomes. In this mixed methods case study, we examined how passive learning over 115 days of home-use of a neural-connected, sensory-enabled prosthetic hand influenced perception of artificial sensory feedback in a participant with transradial amputation. We examined perceptual changes both within individual days of use and across the duration of the study. At both time scales, the reported percept locations became significantly more aligned with prosthesis sensor locations, and the phantom limb became significantly more extended toward the prosthesis position. Similarly, the participant’s ratings of intensity, naturalness, and contact touch significantly increased, while his ratings of vibration and movement significantly decreased across-days for tactile channels. These sensory changes likely resulted from engagement of cortical plasticity mechanisms as the participant learned to use the artificial sensory feedback. We also assessed psychosocial and functional outcomes through surveys and interviews, and found that self-efficacy, perceived function, prosthesis embodiment, social touch, body image, and prosthesis efficiency improved significantly. These outcomes typically improved within the first month of home use, demonstrating rapid benefits of artificial sensation. Participant interviews indicated that the naturalness of the experience and engagement with the prosthesis increased throughout the study, suggesting that artificial somatosensation may decrease prosthesis abandonment. Our data showed that prosthesis embodiment was intricately related to naturalness and phantom limb perception, and that learning the artificial sensation may have modified the body schema. As another indicator of successfully learning to use artificial sensation, the participant reported the emergence of stereognosis later in the study. This study provides the first evidence that artificial somatosensation can undergo similar learning processes as intact sensation and highlights the importance of sensory restoration in prostheses.
Movement Research: The Most Originally Mine

This chapter details experimental embodied inquiry that was practiced in the studio to investigate ecstatic states. The practices Mullis discusses were developed by members of a cast who contributed to a performance project about ecstatic Pentecostalism of the Southeastern United States. After describing various auto-affective techniques that were used to generate hyperarousal and dissociation, Mullis considers interviews with cast members about their studio and performance experience, theorizes the nature of auto-affection, and considers dramaturgical and choreographic implications of auto-affective behavior in theatrical and religious contexts.
Hop bioactive compounds in prevention of nutrition-related noncommunicable diseases

Nutrition-related noncommunicable diseases (NR-NCDs) such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes both negatively impact the quality of life of many individuals and generate a substantial burden on society, demonstrating a need for intervention. Phytochemicals are investigated as a potential approach for combating NR-NCDs, and those found in hops have gained increased attention in recent decades. Hops, the strobile of the plant Humulus lupulus, are grown primarily for the brewing industry as they confer taste and increased shelf-life. The bitter acids represent the main compounds of interest for improving beer quality. Additionally, bitter acids as well as the prenylated chalcone xanthohumol, exhibit a wide range of health beneficial properties. This review summarizes those beneficial effects of bitter acids and xanthohumol on NR-NCDs, including inflammatory and immune diseases, obesity and metabolic disorders, as well as cancer prevention.
Update on ketogenic diet therapies in epilepsy

Although the ketogenic diet(KD) has originally been used to treat epilepsies, plenty of evidence about the efficacy to intractable epilepsy has not accumulated until recently.These epilepsy or epilepsy syndrome include: Dravet syndrome, Doose syndrome, infantile spasms, Angelman syndrome with epilepsy, tuberous sclerosis complex and focal cerebral dysplasia or other structural epilepsy.It is worth paying more attention to the efficacy of KD on cognition, language development and behavior problems. Key words: Ketogenic diet; Intractable epilepsy; Structural epilepsy
Toward a revision of the bamboo corals: Part 1, species in the Muricellisidinae (Octocorallia: Isididae).

The subfamily Muricellisidinae was erected by Kukenthal in 1915 and placed in the family Isididae in order to accommodate an unusual species collected in Sagami Bay, Japan. In 1931, Thomson and Dean added a second species collected in Indonesia during the Siboga Expedition. The holotypes of both species have been re-examined. Muricellisis echinata was found to be an anthothelid living on the axis of a keratoisid bamboo coral and M. cervicornis is a melithaeid. Both species are redescribed.
Abnormal electrophysiological phenotypes and sleep deficits in a mouse model of Angelman Syndrome.

Angelman Syndrome (AS) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by impaired communication, motor and balance deficits, intellectual disabilities, recurring seizures and abnormal sleep patterns. The genetic cause of AS is neuronal-specific loss of expression of UBE3A (ubiquitin-protein ligase E6-AP), an imprinted gene. Seizure and sleep disorders are highly prevalent (> 80%) in the AS population. The present experiments were designed to identify translational, neurophysiological outcome measures in a model of AS. We used the exon-2 deletion mouse (Ube3a-del) on a C57BL/6J background to assess seizure, sleep and electrophysiological phenotypes. Seizure susceptibility has been reported in Ube3a-del mice with a variety of seizure induction methods. Here, we provoked seizures by a single high-dose injection of 80 mg/kg pentylenetetrazole. Novel experiments included the utilization of wireless telemetry devices to acquire global electroencephalogram (EEG) and neurophysiological data on electrographic seizures, power spectra, light–dark cycles, sleep stages and sleep spindles in Ube3a-del and WT mice. Ube3a-del mice exhibited reduced seizure threshold compared to WT. EEG illustrated that Ube3a-del mice had increased epileptiform spiking activity and delta power, which corroborates findings from other laboratories and recapitulates clinical reports in AS. This is the first report to use a cortical surface-based recording by a wireless telemetry device over tethered/fixed head-mount depth recordings. Less time in both paradoxical and slow-wave sleep, longer latencies to paradoxical sleep stages and total less sleep time in Ube3a-del mice were observed compared to WT. For the first time, we detected fewer sleep spindles in the AS mouse model. This study was limited to the exon 2 deletion mouse model, and future work will investigate the rat model of AS, containing a complete Ube3a deletion and pair EEG with behavior. Our data enhance rigor and translatability as our study provides important corroboration of previous reports on epileptiform and elevated delta power. For the first time we report neurophysiological phenotypes collected via translational methodology. Furthermore, this is the first report of reduced sleep spindles, a critical marker of memory consolidation during sleep, in an AS model. Our results are useful outcomes for therapeutic testing.
Chapter 8 Exercise Physiology and Sensory Responses

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on physiological systems and their interactions with sensory responses during positive continuous exercise. Sensation is defined as a central nervous response of the body as a direct result of the stimulation of a sense organ. Perception involves the combination (either cortical or subcortical) of different sensations and past experience. During the first few minutes of exercise, energy is produced by anaerobic biochemical processes, which are minimal sources in steady light to moderate exercise, but become the major supply in very heavy exercise. Oxygen debt often carries over after the activity has shown a general pattern, regardless of the type, duration, and intensity of exercise. Their data indicate that high energy phosphate (ATP/ADP) decreases and the increase of lactate acid are coupled. They postulate that the hydrogen ion concentration plays an important part in the regulation of anaerobic energy utilization. A successful attempt to model another controlling variable has been made. Changes in oxygen tension in muscle from a set value of 3.3 kPa serve as an error signal. As this increases, there are reductions in the resistance of vascular beds and increases in muscle blood flow.
Arterivirus Pathogenesis and Immune Response

The family Arteriviridae within the order Nidovirales includes a single genus, Arterivirus. Equine arteritis virus (EAV) is the type species of the genus, and the three other currently known members are lactate dehydrogenase-elevating virus (LDV), porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), and simian hemorrhagic fever virus (SHFV). Although the arteriviruses share many common biological and molecular features, the epidemiology and pathogenesis of the infections caused by each virus are distinct, as are the diseases they cause. The host range of individual arteriviruses is also highly restricted; however, all four viruses share the ability to cause prolonged or truly persistent infections in their natural hosts, and the humoral immune response to LDV, PRRSV, and SHFV in naturally infected animals is frequently weak and ineffectual. This chapter presents aspects of the epidemiology, pathogenesis, immune response, and, where appropriate, the treatment and prevention of EAV, PRRSV, LDV, and SHFV infections of their respective animal hosts.
School to Work: Beginning the Journey in Middle School

oday's employers expect entry-level employees to be self-aware about their skills and goals, in addition to being prepared academically. When those would-be workers are still in middle school, however, they have very little idea about their future occupational paths. Except through informal discussions with people in their lives, they typically have not examined career-related choices. Thus many adolescents enter high school ill-equipped to select courses that would support choices they must eventually make. A student may therefore fail to enroll in the courses or join in the types of activities that would contribute to a successful and satisfying career. In this article, I describe the effects of the Individual Career Planning Program, which was created as a result of a state of Ohio law requiring career planning for all students and which addressed the need, understood by schools and employers alike, to have students see the clear connections between school and work. Versions of the program varied from district to district, but all were built on statewide themes (see Ohio Career Development Blueprint themes in figures 1 and 2). The program objective for eighth graders, who were the participants in the study reported on here, was to have them become aware of various paths toward employment and the decisions a person must make along those paths. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there were significant changes between pretest and posttest scores on the Career Maturity Inventory among the eighth graders in 29 school districts served by the Montgomery County, Ohio, Joint Vocational School District during the 1992-93 school year.'
Community-wide surveillance of Campylobacter jejuni infection. Evaluation of a laboratory-based method.

Abstract Surveillance of infections due to Campylobacterjejuni is needed to further define the epidemiology of this disease in the U.S. We assessed one potential method of community-wide surveillance, a laboratory-based reporting network. Six microbiology laboratories that routinely culture fecal specimens for C.jejuni reported all isolates to Seattle-King County Health Department for an 18-month period. Further investigations on 476 cases reported from this broadly based network revealed that C.jejuni enteritis affected primarily children and young adults, occurred sporadically (with a summer-fall predominance), led to hospitalization in 13% of cases, was found negligibly in patients hospitalized or immunocompromised, and produced no fatalities. Comparative statistics showed that C.jejuni was reported more frequently than Salmonella and Shigella combined in individuals served by reporting laboratories. Because one participating laboratory was that of a 280,000-member health maintenance organization, it was possible to calculate age-specific incidence rates for bacterial enteric infections in that population. C.jejuni and Salmonella had high attack rates among 0–4-year-old children: 184 cases100,000 enrollees per year and 126100,000 per year, respectively. C.jejuni showed another peak at 20–29 years (108100,000 per year) that was absent in salmonellosis. This study demonstrates that a laboratory-based reporting system is a feasible approach to community-wide C.jejuni surveillance.
The Promise of Advanced Technology for Future Air Transports

Progress in all weather 4-D navigation and wake vortex attenuation research is discussed and the concept of time based metering of aircraft is recommended for increased emphasis. The far term advances in aircraft efficiency were shown to be skin friction reduction and advanced configuration types. The promise of very large aircraft, possibly all wing aircraft is discussed, as is an advanced concept for an aerial relay transportation system. Very significant technological developments were identified that can improve supersonic transport performance and reduce noise. The hypersonic transport was proposed as the ultimate step in air transportation in the atmosphere. Progress in the key technology areas of propulsion and structures was reviewed. Finally, the impact of alternate fuels on future air transports was considered and shown not to be a growth constraint.
Does Financial Aid Enhance Undergraduate Persistence

ABSTRACT The impact of financial assistance on students' decisions on whether to discontinue college studies was investigated. Students enrolled in either twoor four-year institutions were included. Grants, loans, and college work-study funds were considered as financial aid. A casual model was used to illustrate how withdrawal was affected by interacting variables, and path analysis was used to test the model's validity. The following variables were assessed: socioeconomic status, race, sex, academic aptitude, high school grade point average, occupational aspiration, degree level goal, college performance, institutional characteristics, and receipt of financial aid. The primary data source was the National Longitudinal Study of the High School Class of 1972. Of the sample of 4,838 students who entered college in the fall 1972, 36.4 percent were identified as dropouts. It was found financial aid was linked to completion of degrees, and was the third most important direct influence on persistence. Two variables had stronger direct effects on persistence: high school grade point average and degree-level goal. (SW)
Neural network with fuzzy dynamic logic

The paper describes a neural network utilizing models and extending fuzzy logic. The motivation is to explain the process of learning as joint model improvement and fuzziness reduction. An initial state of this neural network is highly fuzzy with uncertain knowledge; it dynamically evolves into a low-fuzzy state of certain knowledge. This neural system resembles several known mechanisms of the mind and overcomes certain long-standing difficulties in several application fields. We present an example and briefly discuss mechanisms of concepts, emotions, including aesthetic emotions, instincts, conscious, unconscious, imagination, perception, cognition and relate them to the introduced neural network and the novel mathematics of dynamic logic.
Copper and Oxygen NMR Studies on the Magnetic Properties of YBa2Cu3O7-y

Microscopic magnetic properties of the CuO2 layers in YBa2Cu3O7-y have been investigated from Cu and O NMR experiments on the y≃0 (Tc=92K) and y=0.37 (Tc=62K) materials. The Knight shift at the planar Cu and the planar oxygen sites are found to be proportional to a common spin susceptibility xs which depends on temperature and oxygen-content, strongly supporting a single component spin model for the CUO2 planes. In the y=0.37 material, xs shows a significant reduction with decreasing temperature in the normal state. The nuclear relaxation rate (1/T-1) in the y≃0 material, particularly different behaviors at Cu and O sites, can be accounted for by the hyperfine coupling of Cu and O nuclei to an antiferromagnetically correlated single spin system. Quite different behaviors of 1/T1 were observed in the y=0.37 material, which might be due to combined effects of antiferromagnetic correlations and a temperature-dependent spin susceptibility.
Development of a curriculum in nano and MEMS packaging and manufacturing for integrated systems to prepare next generation workforce

In this narrative author has described background of nano and MEMS and related Microsystems packaging and manufacturing revolution and thus evolved educational framework that is essential to create desired workforce. This technology and market driven revolution is at the stem of new economy and demands training of skilled workforce to harbor and progress realization of novel and advanced products. The highlighted findings and examples are based upon author's experience in the related research and education for the past eight years at the University of Arkansas, where there is a major attention in building a nano and micro packaging and manufacturing program.
A cantilever beam method for evaluating Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio of thermal spray coatings

Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio for thermal spray coatings are needed to evaluate properties and characteristics of thermal spray coatings such as residual stresses, fracture toughness, and fatigue crack growth rates. It is difficult to evaluate Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio of thermal spray coatings be-cause coatings are usually thin and attached to a thicker and much stiffer substrate. Under loading, the substrate restricts the coating from deforming. Since coatings are used while bonded to a substrate, it is desirable to have a procedure to evaluate Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio in situ.
Inelastic collisions of ultracold heteronuclear molecules in an optical trap.

Ultracold RbCs molecules in high-lying vibrational levels of the ${a}^{3}{\ensuremath{\Sigma}}^{+}$ ground electronic state are confined in an optical trap. Inelastic collision rates of these molecules with both Rb and Cs atoms are determined for individual vibrational levels, across an order of magnitude of binding energies. The long-range dispersion coefficients for the collision process are calculated and used in a model that accurately reproduce the observed scattering rates.
TH‐C‐350‐09: 4D Treatment Planning and Dosimetric Validation of Helical Tomotherapy Treatments of Moving Tumors

Purpose: The objectives of this study are to describe the 4D treatment planning process for moving targets and to evaluate the dosimetric consequences caused by target motion during tomotherapy delivery. Method and Materials: A lungcancer patient was CT scanned using our standard 4D‐CT protocols on Phillips brilliance 64 slice CT scanner. A maximum intensity projection CT dataset was used for treatment planning.Tumor motion trajectory and amplitude was determined from the inhale and exhale phases of the 4DCT. A three‐dimensional motion pattern was created by scaling the breathing form to an average magnitude of the target motion. The three‐dimensional trajectory was programmed into the Washington University 4D Phantom to simulate target motion. Eight EDR2 films were loaded into a phantom for dosimetric verification. Measurements were performed on a static phantom and then repeated on the oscillating phantom. Experiments were repeated for their reproducibility. Films were analyzed using Hi‐Art TPS. Results: To quantify the dose errors, gamma analysis was performed. In static phantom study, >97% of the points passed with a gamma criteria of 3% and 3mm. When the same criterion was applied for the oscillating phantom, 15–25% of the points failed. When the gamma threshold was increased to 8% and the gamma analysis window was tailored to be within the CTV, >98% of the points passed indicating that the dose errors are of the order of 5% for majority of the points. In order to find the maximum dose errors, the tolerance was increased until 100% of points passing the criteria. Conclusion: 4D treatment planning process for helical tomotherapy is discussed. Gamma analysis revealed that, the dose errors are of the order of 5% for majority of the points and the maximum dose error within the CTV was 11%. This work is supported in part by Tomotherapy Inc.
Comparison of anti-tumor efficacy of paclitaxel delivered in nano- and microparticles.

Abstract This research compares the anti-tumor efficacy of paclitaxel delivered intratumorally in PLGA nanoparticles, microparticles, or the commercial Paclitaxel Injection ® . The hypothesis of the research is that larger PLGA microparticles adhere to mucus on the cell surface, release paclitaxel locally, and enhance cellular association of paclitaxel. PLGA-paclitaxel particles of mean diameters 315 nm, 1 μm, and 10 μm were prepared and their drug content, in vitro release, and cellular association of paclitaxel into 4T1 cells quantified. These particles were injected intratumorally into tumor xenografts, and the tumor volumes monitored over 13 days. Mean tumor volumes of the groups that received placebo and the 315 nm nanoparticles increased 2 and 1.5 times, respectively. Tumor growth was arrested in groups that received 1 μm and 10 μm microparticles. Additional cell culture studies were performed to test the hypothesis. The size-dependent increase in cellular concentration of paclitaxel was independent of duration of incubation of PLGA particles with 4T1 cells, and was enhanced 1.5 times by coating the particles or 4T1 cells with mucin. These particles were not internalized by clathrin-mediated endocytosis or macropinocytosis. In conclusion, PLGA microparticles sustained drug release, increased cellular concentration, and enhanced anti-tumor efficacy of paclitaxel compared to nanoparticles and Paclitaxel Injection ® .
Paranasal sinus surgery planning using CT virtual reality

CT virtual reality using volumetric rendering can tag such structures as the nasofrontal ducts, osteomeatal complexes, the middle turbinates, as well as the planned surgical sites in patients undergoing endoscopic surgery for inflammatory disease. Frequently, anatomical landmarks are obscured by overlying disease, making the endoscopic surgeon's job difficult. We have evaluated the use of CT virtual reality of the paranasal sinuses in assisting the surgeon in these types of cases. This paper reviews 25 patients with 40 sites with significant paranasal sinus disease in whom endoscopic surgery was planned. The ability of volumetric virtual reality with the various surgical sites chosen from the preoperative 2D CT's dramatically improved the accuracy of the endoscopic surgeon in localizing their surgical window. In the sphenoid sinus, the addition of CT endoscopy would have allowed the endoscopist to operate on the correct sinus an additional 28% of the time and help them miss vital structures in 25%. In the frontal sinus, CT endoscopy correctly directed the endoscopist to the correct sinus in an additional 44%. The results of this study indicate CT endoscopy may significantly improve the accuracy of endoscopic surgery into the frontal and sphenoid sinuses.
Statistical Determinants of Selective Ionic Complexation: Ions in Solvent, Transport Proteins, and Other “Hosts”

To provide utility in understanding the molecular evolution of ion-selective biomembrane channels/transporters, globular proteins, and ionophoric compounds, as well as in guiding their modification and design, we present a statistical mechanical basis for deconstructing the impact of the coordination structure and chemistry of selective multidentate ionic complexes. The deconstruction augments familiar ideas in liquid structure theory to realize the ionic complex as an open ion-ligated system acting under the influence of an “external field” provided by the host (or surrounding medium). Using considerations derived from this basis, we show that selective complexation arises from exploitation of a particular ion's coordination preferences. These preferences derive from a balance of interactions much like that which dictates the Hofmeister effect. By analyzing the coordination-state space of small family IA and VIIA ions in simulated fluid media, we derive domains of coordinated states that confer selectivity for a given ion upon isolating and constraining particular attributes (order parameters) of a complex comprised of a given type of ligand. We demonstrate that such domains may be used to rationalize the ion-coordinated environments provided by selective ionophores and biological ion channels/transporters of known structure, and that they can serve as a means toward deriving rational design principles for ion-selective hosts.
The adverse effect of nitrogen limitation and excess-cellobiose on Fibrobacter succinogenes S85

Fibrobacter succinogenes S85 cultures that were cellobiose-limited converted cellobiose to succinate and acetate, produced little glucose or cellotriose, maintained an intracellular ATP concentration of 4.1 mM and a membrane potential of 140 mV for 24 h, did not lyse at a rapid rate once they had reached sta- tionary phase, and had a most probable number of viable cells that was greater than 10 6 /ml. When the cel- lobiose concentration was increased 6-fold (5 mM to 30 mM), ammonia was depleted and the cultures left 10 mM cellobiose. Cultures provided with excess cello- biose produced succinate and acetate while they were growing, but there was little increase in fermentation acids after the ammonia was depleted and growth ceased. The stationary-phase, cellobiose-excess cultures had a lysis rate that was 7-fold faster than that of the cellobiose-limited cultures, and the most probable number was only 3.3 · 10 3 cells/ml. The stationary- phase, cellobiose-excess cultures had 2.5 times as much cellular polysaccharide as the cellobiose-limited cultures, but the intracellular ATP and membrane potential were very low (0.1 mM and 40 mV respectively). Met- hylglyoxal, a potentially toxic end-product of carbohy- drate fermentation, could not be detected, and fresh inocula grew rapidly in spent medium that was supple- mented with additional ammonia. Stationary-phase, cellobiose-excess cultures converted cellobiose to glucose and cellotriose, but the apparent Km of cellotriose for- mation was 15-fold lower than the Km of glucose pro- duction (0.7 mM compared to 10 mM).
MECHANISMS OF THE GAS-PHASE REACTIONS OF AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS AND PAHS WITH OH AND NO 3 RADICALS

Chemical removal for the simple monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (benzene and the C 1 -C 3 alkylbenzenes) and naphthalene and the C 1 -C 2 alkylnaphthalenes in the atmosphere is by reaction with hydroxyl (OH) radicals. Naphthalene and the C 1 -C 2 alkylnaphthalenes may also be removed, but to a much lesser extent, by reaction with nitrate (NO 3 ) radicals. While rate constants for the gas-phase reactions of OH radicals and NO 3 radicals with many of the simple monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and with naphthalene and the C 1 -C 2 alkylnaphthalenes have been measured, the detailed mechanisms of these OH radical-and NO 3 radical-initiated reactions in the atmosphere are less well understood, especially for naphthalene and the alkylnaphthalenes. Here we present the available data on the reaction mechanisms occurring under laboratory conditions and attempt to reconcile these data with ambient atmospheric measurements. The OH radical reactions with benzene and alkylbenzenes and the OH radical and NO 3 radical ...
Children's choices and strategies in video games

It is important to develop an understanding of children's engagement and choices in learning experiences outside of school as this has implications for their development and orientations to other learning environments. This mixed-methods study examines relationships between the genres of video games children choose to play and the learning strategies they employ to improve at these games. It also explores students' motivations for playing the games they choose to play. One hundred eighteen fourth- and fifth-grade students participated in this study. Qualitative analyses of student responses resulted in a model for classifying motivation for game choices. Children primarily cite reasons that can be classified as psychological or cognitive reasons for choosing to play certain video games, and are motivated by the challenge and thinking required in the games. Analyses using Chi-square tests of association demonstrated significant relationships between video game genre and learning strategy used for two of the six learning strategies (p<.05). Children playing action games are more likely to use repetition to learn the game and children playing adventure games are more likely to use their imaginations to take on the role of the character in the game and think the way the character would to make decisions in the game. There were also several gender differences in learning preferences.
Some general strong laws for weighted sums of stochastically dominated random variables

For weighted sums, general strong laws of large numbers of the form almost certainly are established where the random variables are stochastically dominated by a random variable are suitable conditional expectations or are all 0. The hypotheses involve both the behavior of the tail of the distribution of ∣Y∣ and the growth behavior of the constants bn/an. In general, no assumptions are made regarding the joint distributions of . As special cases, both old and new results are obtained
Femtosecond dynamics of diradicals: transition states, entropic configurations and stereochemistry

With femtosecond-resolved mass spectrometry, we report real-time studies of the dynamics of reactive diradicals: trimethylene, tetramethylene and structurally-constrained (by a bridge) tetramethylene. These comparative studies elucidate the role of transition states, entropic configurations and IVR on the global potential energy surface. The critical time scale for rotational clocks in stereochemistry is illustrated in the reaction mechanism for cyclization and fragmentation products.
Measurement of fumonisins in corn with a fiber optic fluoroimmunosensor

A fiber-optic immunosensor was used to determine concentrations of the mycotoxin fumonisin B1(FB1) in both spiked and naturally contaminated corn samples. Samples were extracted with a mixture of methanol/water. Two methods were used to prepare the methanolic corn extracts before introduction to the immunosensor: (1) simple dilution of the methanolic corn extract; or (2) affinity column cleanup. The sensor displayed an IC50 of 70 ng FB1/mL when toxin was introduced in phosphate buffered saline. Simple dilution of methanolic corn extracts yielded an assay with an IC50 equivalent to 25 (mu) gFB1/g corn and a limit of detection of 3.2 (mu) g/g corn, while affinity cleanup of corn extracts yielded an assay with an IC50 of 5 (mu) gFB1/g corn and a limit of detection of 0.4 (mu) gFB1/g corn. The difference in sensitivity between the two cleanup techniques was due to concentration of fumonisins obtained from the affinity cleanup procedure. Naturally contaminated corn samples were also analyzed after either simple dilution or affinity column cleanup. For comparison the naturally contaminated corn samples were analyzed with an HPLC method after isolation of the fumonisins with strong anion exchange (SAX) solid phase extraction cartridges. The SAX/HPLC method and the immunosensor method agreed well except when large amounts of other fumonisins (i.e. fumonisin B2) were present. This was due in part to the cross-reactivity of the monoclonal antibody with other fumonisins. The immunosensor has the potential to screen individual corn samples for fumonisins within six minutes, and is among the fastest of the currently available FB1 detection methods.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Relationships among aspects of student alienation and self concept

This study investigated the relationships among previous experiences of student alienation and the various aspects of self concept. A total of 351 undergraduate students were administered the Student Alienation and Trauma Survey-Revised (SATS-R) and the Tennessee Self Concept Scale: Second Edition (TSCS:2). Students were asked to report on their worst experience in school, symptoms they had following this worst experience, and overall feelings about themselves. Results indicated a moderate negative correlation between self concept and student alienation. A stepwise multiple regression analysis indicated that among the subtests of the SATS-R, Hopelessness, and General Maladjustment scores best predicted poor student self concept.
Precision and accuracy of staged free-energy perturbation methods for computing the chemical potential by molecular simulation

Abstract We examine the performance of free-energy perturbation methods when applied to compute the chemical potential of the Lennard–Jones model by Monte Carlo simulation. We emphasize the accuracy and precision of various implementations of the methodology, particularly in the context of the relative effectiveness of `insertion' vs. `deletion' approaches. The study is limited to a single state point and system size. In accord with recent arguments made in the context of the hard-sphere model, we find that any single- or multi-stage approach that incorporates a `deletion' component shows greatly diminished accuracy and precision when compared to its `insertion' counterpart. We also confirm our earlier conjecture that the entropy rather than the free energy is the important quantity to examine when formulating optimal multistage free-energy perturbation schemes.
Seminal plasma proteins of fertile and infertile men analyzed by two-dimensional electrophoresis

Sperm-free seminal plasma from seminal fluid ejaculate of fertile and infertile men obtained in the presence and absence of aprotinin (500 kallikrein inhibitor units per milliliter) was analyzed by two-dimensional electrophoresis followed by silver staining. To evaluate postliquefaction proteolytic breakdown of seminal plasma proteins, protease inhibitors were added to the semen at 15, 30, and 60 minutes after ejaculation. Most seminal plasma proteins in normospermic men (n = 4) had molecular weights of 30,000 to 70,000 and were similar to those present in serum. The major non-serum protein in seminal plasma of all men was a basic product with an approximate molecular weight of 40,000. A group of proteins (molecular weights = 20,000 to 23,000) in seminal plasma analyzed immediately after liquefaction was detected in oligospermic men (n = 4) but not in normospermic men (n = 4) or azoospermic men (n = 4). When protease inhibitor was added to normospermic semen at greater than or equal to 15 minutes after liquefaction, these proteins (molecular weight = 20,000 to 23,000) and another group of proteins (molecular weights = 40,000 to 43,000) were readily identifiable but were further enhanced in the absence of protease inhibitors. These findings suggest that oligospermic men may have accelerated proteolysis of sperm or seminal plasma proteins that may contribute to subfertility.
Substance P attenuates and DAMGO potentiates amygdala glutamatergic neurotransmission within the ventral pallidum

The amygdala (AMG), nucleus accumbens (NA) and ventral pallidum (VP) influence goal-oriented behaviors. However, the nature of the interactions among these regions has not been well characterized. Anatomical studies indicate that excitatory amino acids are contained in VP inputs from the AMG, and the NA is a primary source of VP substance P (SP) and opioids. The present study was designed to functionally characterize the NA and AMG projections to the VP, and to assess if opioids and SP can modulate AMG-mediated excitatory neurotransmission within the VP. To do so, extracellularly recorded electrophysiological responses of single VP neurons to electrical activation of VP afferents were monitored during microiontophoretic application of treatment ligands in chloral hydrate-anesthetized rats. The anatomically described glutamatergic inputs from the AMG, and SP inputs from the NA, were pharmacologically verified. It also was determined that even though iontophoretically applied SP increased the spontaneous activity of VP neurons, at ejection current levels that were below those necessary to produce this effect (termed sub-threshold), the tachykinin attenuated AMG stimulation-evoked glutamatergic neurotransmission. SP failed to modulate the excitations induced by iontophoretically applied glutamate suggesting that SP modulation of AMG-evoked excitations were mediated via a decrease in the pre-synaptic release of glutamate. Like SP, the effects of sub-threshold ejection currents of μ opioid agonist DAMGO on AMG-evoked responses were not predicted by the opioid's effects on spontaneous VP neuronal activity; DAMGO inhibited spontaneous firing but potentiated AMG-evoked glutamatergic neurotransmission. The opioid also potentiated effects of exogenous glutamate implying an interaction at a post-synaptic site. These results indicate that tachykinin and opioid neuropeptides contained in NA projection neurons can differentially modulate AMG glutamatergic inputs to the VP.
A generalization of the cut-set

Abstract The usual definition of a cut-set in graph theory is extended to include both vertices and branches as its elements.This generalized cut-set is then classified in three categories.Properties of the three different classes are found and the relationship among them established.The effects of the generalized cut-set on dual graphs are also studied.A simple method of generating all basic cut-sets with respect to a pair of vertices is obtained.
Transvaginal ultrasonography and the assessment of luteal phase endometrium

Objective: The goal of this study was to determine if ultrasonography of the endometrium could be used to identify in a noninvasive manner patients with luteal phase defects. Study Design: Patients underwent midluteal transvaginal ultrasonography with photographing of the endometrial image, an endometrial biopsy, and two serum hormonal profiles. The ultrasonographic images were graded and compared with the histologic results and the serum hormonal profiles. Results: There was a trend toward a higher grade image being associated with normal histologic studies. There was no significant difference between the mean hormonal profiles in patients with normal and those with abnormal biopsy specimens. There was no significant difference between the hormonal values drawn before and those drawn after the biopsies. Conclusions: Although the endometrial appearance on ultrasonography appears to reflect secretory transformation, it cannot replace endometrial biopsy for full evaluation of luteal endometrial development. Short-term variability in serum concentrations of midluteal hormones was not demonstrated.
The hardest constraint problems: a double phase transition

Abstract The distribution of hard graph coloring problems as a function of graph connectivity is shown to have two distinct transition behaviors. The first, previously recognized, is a peak in the median search cost near the connectivity at which half the graphs have solutions. This region contains a high proportion of relatively hard problem instances. However, the hardest instances are in fact concentrated at a second, lower, transition point. Near this point, most problems are quite easy, but there are also a few very hard cases. This region of exceptionally hard problems corresponds to the transition between polynomial and exponential scaling of the average search cost, whose location we also estimate theoretically. These behaviors also appear to arise in other constraint problems. This work also shows the limitations of simple measures of the cost distribution, such as mean or median, for identifying outlying cases.
Isolation and expression of a murine purine phosphorylase-encoding cDNA and sequence similarity with the human message

Abstract To isolate murine purine nucleoside phosphorylase-encoding cDNA sequences ( PNP ), a murine BALB/c liver cDNA library in λgt10 was screened for recombinants hybridizing to a human PNP cDNA probe. Two of three clones recovered included inserts large enough to contain the full-length coding sequence. Sequence analysis of the largest clone revealed an 867-nucleotide open reading frame encoding 289 amino acids with 84% residue identity to that encoded by human PNP and 351 bp of 3′-untranslated region. The 5′ end of the murine PNP message was specifically amplified by PCR using the RACE (rapid amplification of cDNA ends) protocol, revealing a 5′-untranslated region of 78 bp. Northern hybridization using the murine PNP cDNA sequence as a probe identified a message of approx. 1.6 kb in mouse NIH3T3 cells which was slightly smaller than the human message observed in HeLa cells. The cloned murine PNP cDNA coding sequence was inserted into a mammalian expression vector under transcriptional regulation of the Moloney murine leukemia virus long terminal repeat. Transfection of this plasmid into human 293 cells resulted in the expression of PNP activity which co-focused with murine PNP activity extracted from NIH3T3 cells, verifying that the isolated murine PNP cDNA clone encoded catalytically active PNP protein.
Remote measurement of water color

This paper contains a discussion of the requirements and approaches which can be taken in the development of techniques for the analysis of remote multispectral imagery of natural bodies of water. There are two general approaches which can be used in the analysis of multispectral water color data collected by aircraft or satellite remote sensors. With the theoretical modeling approach, optically important constituents of natural waters are mathematically related to the upwelling radiance spectrum received by the remote sensor. With the empirical approach, the relationships are determined empirically by comparing remote sensing data with surface truth data. There are several levels of mathematical sophistication which can be applied to both approaches. The two approaches are discussed in some detail and it is concluded that the two approaches are closely related and should be pursued simultaneously for maximum utilization of the laboratory and field measurement data which will be needed. A set of minimum surface truth measurement parameters and techniques is suggested.
Activation and Inhibition of the Receptor Histidine Kinase AgrC Occurs through Opposite Helical Transduction Motions

Staphylococcus aureus virulence is regulated when secreted autoinducing peptides (AIPs) are recognized by a membrane-bound receptor histidine kinase (RHK), AgrC. Some AIPs are agonists of virulence gene expression, while others are antagonists. It is unclear how AIP binding regulates AgrC activity. Here, we reconstitute an AgrC family member, AgrC-I, using nanometer-scale lipid bilayer discs. We show that AgrC-I requires membranes rich in anionic lipids to function. The agonist, AIP-I, binds AgrC-I noncooperatively in a 2:2 stoichiometry, while an antagonist ligand, AIP-II, functions as an inverse agonist of the kinase activity. We also demonstrate the kinase and sensor domains in AgrC are connected by a helical linker whose conformational state exercises rheostat-like control over the kinase activity. Binding of agonist or inverse-agonist peptides results in twisting of the linker in different directions. These two observations provide a view of the molecular motions triggered by ligand binding in an intact membrane-bound RHK.