cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Visuospatial versus visuomotor activity in the premotor and prefrontal cortex of a primate

When visuospatial stimuli instruct a limb movement, the stimulus can be said to have both sensory and sensorimotor aspects. We studied the premotor and prefrontal areas of a rhesus monkey in order to identify neuronal activity related to the motor (or instructional) aspects of such stimuli. A rhesus monkey chose limb-movement targets according to one of two rules: (1) visuospatial stimuli instructed and triggered a limb movement toward their locations or (2) identical stimuli triggered a movement toward a predetermined target regardless of their location. Gaze and head fixation assured that each stimulus appeared at a constant location in both retinocentric and craniocentric coordinates, as well as in allocentric space. The task required that the spatial location cued by certain stimuli had to be either remembered or attended after stimulus presentation and before movement. Thus, the visuospatial information presented under one rule differed from that presented under the other only in its motor (instructional) significance and not in its attentional, spatial, mnemonic, or strictly sensory aspects. We could thereby test and confirm the hypothesis that the motor significance of visuospatial cues should commonly affect neuronal activity in the premotor cortex, but less commonly do so in the prefrontal cortex.
Altered cingulate and insular cortex activation during risk-taking in methamphetamine dependence: losses lose impact

AIMS: To determine if methamphetamine-dependent (MD) individuals exhibit behavioral or neural processing differences in risk-taking relative to healthy comparison participants (CTL). DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional study comparing two groups' behavior on a risk-taking task and neural processing as assessed using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). SETTINGS: The study was conducted in an inpatient treatment center and a research fMRI facility in the United States. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-eight recently abstinent MD individuals recruited from a treatment program and forty CTL recruited from the community completed the study. MEASUREMENTS: The study assessed risk-taking behavior (overall and post-loss) using the Risky Gains Task (RGT), sensation-seeking, impulsivity and blood-oxygenation level dependent activation in the brain during the decision phase of the RGT. FINDINGS: Relative to CTL, MD displayed decreased activation in the bilateral rostral anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and greater activation in the left insula across risky and safe decisions (p Language: en
Evaluation of vitamin B-6 status and function of rats fed excess pyridoxine.

We compared the vitamin B-6 status of 12-wk-old rats (n = 12) fed excess (1400 mg/kg diet) or the recommended level (7 mg/kg diet, control) of pyridoxine (PN) hydrochloride to test if excess vitamin B-6 would cause tissue depletion of pyridoxal phosphate (PLP), the active coenzyme form of vitamin B-6. Plasma PLP, tryptophan-load test results, food intake, and tissue and body weights were not different at wk 6. Red blood cell endogenous alanine aminotransferase activity and PLP concentration were elevated (P less than 0.01) in rats fed 1400 mg PN.HCl/kg diet. In contrast, PLP concentration in muscle was significantly lower (P = 0.01) in rats fed excess vitamin B-6 (9.7 +/- 0.8 nmol/g, mean +/- SEM) than in controls (14.9 +/- 1.4). PLP concentration in other tissues, including plasma, was not affected. In rats fed excess vitamin B-6, pyridoxal was increased in all tissues examined (P less than 0.05), and total vitamin B-6 was increased in plasma, red blood cells and kidneys (P less than 0.05). Total glycogen phosphorylase (a + b) activity in the gastrocnemius was not affected, but phosphorylase a activity was increased in rats fed excess vitamin B-6 (P = 0.025). Concentrations of dopamine and metabolites in the caudate nucleus of the basal ganglia were not affected. A transient, but significant, elevation in acoustic startle response, a central nervous system reflex, was observed in rats fed excess vitamin B-6. The depletion in muscle PLP could not hae been predicted by either plasma or red blood cell PLP concentration, although the latter did reflect vitamin B-6 intake.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
TaintDroid: an information-flow tracking system for realtime privacy monitoring on smartphones

Today's smartphone operating systems frequently fail to provide users with adequate control over and visibility into how third-party applications use their private data. We address these shortcomings with TaintDroid, an efficient, system-wide dynamic taint tracking and analysis system capable of simultaneously tracking multiple sources of sensitive data. TaintDroid provides realtime analysis by leveraging Android's virtualized execution environment. TaintDroid incurs only 14% performance overhead on a CPU-bound micro-benchmark and imposes negligible overhead on interactive third-party applications. Using TaintDroid to monitor the behavior of 30 popular third-party Android applications, we found 68 instances of potential misuse of users' private information across 20 applications. Monitoring sensitive data with TaintDroid provides informed use of third-party applications for phone users and valuable input for smartphone security service firms seeking to identify misbehaving applications.
Growth of polycrystalline silicon films on titanium and aluminum layers

Adherent, polycrystalline silicon films were vacuum deposited onto titanium passivated steel alloy substrates at substrate temperatures between 535 and 650°C and onto aluminum films at substrate temperatures between 480 and 520°C. Silicon films deposited onto titanium layers are characterized by a sub-micron grain size and a preferential orientation of the direction perpendicular to the growth surface. Resistivities of ∿104 ohm-cm are measured for the undoped films. Silicon films deposited onto aluminum layers have a larger grain size, ∿5μm, a columnar morphology and a preferential orientation of the direction perpendicular to the growth surface. As-deposited resistivities of ∿102 ohm-cm are measured for these films. Boron and phosphorus doped silicon films on titanium layers were annealed. The behavior with annealing of the electrical properties of the films depended on which doping impurity was used. Silicon films on aluminum were annealed to reduce lattice damage within the silicon grains and to dope the films with aluminum from the aluminum layer. Resistivities of several ohm-cm were measured for the annealed films on aluminum.
Oxidation of Two Isomeric Elastomers: Poly(Propylene Oxide) and Poly(Vinyl Methyl Ether)

Abstract Rates of oxygen absorption and chain scission have been measured for benzoyl peroxide initiated oxidation of the two isomeric hydrocarbons, poly(propylene oxide) and poly (vinyl methyl ether) in the temperature range 80–100° C and in the solid phase. Oxygen absorption data show that poly(propylene oxide) forms hydroperoxides 3.5 times as fast as poly (vinyl methyl ether). This may be attributed to steric hindrance in the propagation reaction. Chain scission, measured by stress relaxation of crosslinked samples, demonstrates that each initiating radical produces one scission in the poly(propylene oxide). The process appears to be less efficient in the poly(vinyl methyl ether). Two possible reactions are proposed to explain this observation.
Borders, ethnicity, and demographic patterns in the Russian Baltic provinces in the late nineteenth century.

In his pioneering and now classic 1953 study, Nationalism and Social Communication, Karl Deutsch laid out a social science agenda for the study of national consciousness in contemporary and historic populations. Central to this agenda was communication, and central to communication was language: ‘If we knew how to compare and measure the ability of groups and cultures to transmit information, we might gain a better understanding of their behavior and capacities.’ (Deutsch 1966, 93). At that time historians were not paying attention to social scientists as neither historical demography nor social science history had yet been born, and Deutsch’s call remained unanswered. It took the study of the secular decline of fertility in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries to raise the question again for the European past. When Watkins concluded that: ‘those people who spoke a common language appeared to behave in similar ways with respect to reproduction, but they behaved quite differently from those with whom they could not communicate’ (Watkins 1991, 7), she offered one answer to Deutsch’s inquiry about social communication and social behaviour (see also: Lesthaeghe 1977; Knodel & van de Walle 1997, Watkins 1986; Anderson 1986).
Examination of muscle activity with an elastic hamstring assistance device

Background: Hamstring injuries are common among athletes and recreationally active people. The goal of the study was to determine if the Hamstrong device was effective in reducing the activity of the hamstring muscles during isometric knee exercise. Materials and Methods: Electrodes were placed on the biceps femoris and semitendinosus in a bipolar configuration on the left leg of all the subjects (N = 12) in order to monitor muscle activity during the experimental procedure. The test involved isometrically holding 15%, 30%, 45%, and 60% of the participant's pre-determined maximum isometric force at 90° and 135° knee extension with and without the Hamstring apparatus. The raw electromyography (EMG) signal was low-pass filtered and amplified prior to being interpreted. Results: There was a significant difference in the signal from the biceps femoris determined via surface electromyography (sEMG) at 90 degrees of knee extension using 30% of peak isometric force as the load (P = 0.043). Additionally in the biceps femoris there were differences in the sEMG signal at 135 degrees of knee extension using 15% (P = 0.0492) and 30% (P = 0.0358) of peak isometric force. In the semitendinosus muscle, there was a significant difference in sEMG signal at 15° of knee extension with 60% of peak isometric force (P = 0.0025). Overall, clinical inferences revealed that the device could be considered 71.4% beneficial or substantially positive to 10.9% for reducing the EMG signal associated with isometric exercise in the biceps femoris (biceps femoris mean: With device 0.319 mV ± 0.13 and without device 0.361 mV ± 0.14). Similarly, six out of eight conditions resulted in lower muscle activation from the semitendinosus with the apparatus. For the semitendinosus muscle, the range was from 43.9% beneficial to 0.1% beneficial (semitendinosus mean: With device 0.327 mV ± 0.09 and without device 0.339 mV ± 0.09). Conclusion: The reduction in electrical activity of the biceps femoris and the semitendinosus during the isometric hold with the Hamstring apparatus suggests that the elastic hamstring assistance device effectively assists in knee flexion and could potentially be used for rehabilitation purposes.
Ophthalmic Research Lecture - Role of the vascular endothelial cell in uveitis

Of all the forms of inflammatory eye disease, posterior uveitis is the most likely to result in irreversible loss of vision. This disease results from: autoimmune disease; infection, most commonly toxoplasmosis; and in rare cases, B cell lymphoma. Patients with posterior uveitis frequently demonstrate clinical involvement of the retinal vasculature. Studies of rodent experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis conducted by other groups show that the lymphocytes that control this disease model access the retina via the retinal blood vessels. We have developed methods to isolate vascular endothelial cells from the retina of human cadaver donors; lymphocytes migrate readily across monolayers of these cells. In separate studies, we have observed that in comparison to other endothelial cell subtypes, retinal endothelial cells are relatively susceptible to infection with Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites; increased binding of tachyzoites to the retinal endothelium may contribute to this susceptibility. We have also detected the expression of B cell lymphoid chemokines by vascular endothelial cells, as well as malignant lymphocytes, in primary central nervous system B cell lymphoma. Profiling analyses of the human retinal vascular endothelial cell, using gene expression microarray and shotgun proteomics, may help to clarify the molecular mechanisms that mediate interactions between the retinal vascular endothelium and lymphocytes or microbes in posterior uveitis. As the “gate” of the retina in posterior uveitis, the retinal endothelial cell holds much promise as a target for highly specific therapies of this disease.
Mechanisms of antimicrobial defense in avian eggs

One of the greatest threats to the survival of avian eggs is the risk of infection by microbes; as such, a large number of parental defense mechanisms have evolved in response to the decreased fitness imposed by microbial infection. The existing literature on this topic has focused largely on the mechanisms of microbial invasion through eggshells and the identification of molecules with antimicrobial properties in eggs of commercial species. However, little is still known about antimicrobial mechanisms in wild birds or how they vary with environmental pressures. This review concentrates on recent findings that shed new light on the role of parental behaviors (including incubation and placement of vegetation with antifungal activity in the nest) and the physical properties of eggshells (including nanometer-scale spheres that prevent microbial attachment) that protect eggs from contamination in high-risk environments. In addition to presenting a summary of current information, we identify evident gaps in knowledge and highlight research avenues for the future.
Characteristics of Children and Teacher Expectancy: An Extension to the Child’s Social and Family Life

AbstractThis investigation examined the possibility that information about the child's sex, attractiveness, home life, and general abilities might affect teachers' expectations about the child's social effectiveness and family characteristics. A total of 490 public school teachers responded to experimentally designed cumulative folder information about a given child, predicting the child's perceived likelihood of becoming a class leader, the child's interpersonal pleasantness, family status, and family size. Teachers were found to have held differential expectations for attractive versus unattractive, and nonaffluent versus affluent children. The conclusion of the study was that complete understanding of teacher expectancy requires an examination of characteristics of the child as they affect the development of differential teacher expectations.
Additive envelopes of continuous functions

We present an iterative method for constructing additive envelopes of continuous functions on a compact set, with contact at a specified point. For elements of a class of submodular functions we provide closed-form expressions for such additive envelopes.
Development of a new detection technique for fluorescence lifetime-based chemical/biological sensor arrays monitoring: dual closed-loop optoelectronic auto-oscillatory detection circuit

We present a new detection instrument for chemical/biological fluorescence lifetime-based sensors. The instrument comprises a primary, closed loop with a secondary loop controlling a variable phase delay within the primary loop. The primary loop consists of a fluorescence excitation light source, a fiber-optic delay line (with a gap for placement of a fluorescent sensor), an electronic phase shifter, a photo-detector, and a resonance-type RF amplifier. The secondary loop consists of a long-wavelength-pass optical filter, multimode fiber, a PMT, and an electronic phase detector (which is connected to the phase shifter of the primary loop). The system exhibits self-oscillations in the form of RF sinusoidal intensity modulation with frequency dependent on the fluorescence lifetime. Since the primary loop does not contain an optical filter, it is easier to obtain self-oscillations (compared to single loop systems). The feedback also improves the stability of the detection platform. The detection system is simple, inexpensive, and scalable for sensor array purposes. We demonstrate the use of a cost-effective, multi-channel, computer-algorithm-based frequency counter with this new system. We illustrate the detection capabilities of this detection system with the pH-sensitive, fluorescent probe carboxy seminaphthofluorescein (SNAFL-2) and an immunosensor based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer.
Phase transition in U(1) configuration space : Oscillons as remnants of vortex-antivortex annihilation

We show that the annihilation of vortex-antivortex pairs can lead to very long-lived oscillon states in 2d Abelian Higgs models. The emergence of oscillons is controlled by the ratio of scalar and vector field masses, $\ensuremath{\beta}=({m}_{s}/{m}_{v}{)}^{2}$ and can be described as a phase transition in field configuration space with critical value ${\ensuremath{\beta}}_{c}\ensuremath{\simeq}0.13(6)\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2$: only models with $\ensuremath{\beta}l{\ensuremath{\beta}}_{c}$ lead to oscillonlike remnants. The critical behavior of the system obeys a power law $O(\ensuremath{\beta})\ensuremath{\sim}|\ensuremath{\beta}\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\beta}}_{c}{|}^{o}$, where $O$ is an order parameter indicating the presence of oscillons and $o=0.2(2)\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2$ is the critical exponent.
Just-in-time connectivity for very large neuronal networks

Memory storage remains a limitation when running very large neuronal networks (VLNN). With number of neurons n, connectivity storage grows as n2. With connectivity densities of 0.1–10%, 1e6 neurons will require 1e9-1e11 synapses. A single connection requires at least an associated weight and delay as well as additional pointers or offsets to store the connectivity matrix. Conservatively, this will require 10 bytes (e.g., 2 floats and 2 chars) which will then bring the total synaptic memory load to 10 GB-1 TB. The former value may be barely executable on a single large machine. We have exploited an algorithmic space-time trade-off to build large event-driven artificial-cell simulations in the NEURON simulator by utilizing just-in-time connections (JITCONs) that are generated at the time of presynaptic cell spiking. JITCON utilizes a presynaptic-cell-specific random-number-generator seed based on presynaptic-cell serial number that permits it to generate a list of postsynaptic cell targets on the fly, and seeds based on a multiple of presynaptic-cell and postsynaptic-cell serial numbers for generating weights. We have utilized the JITCON algorithm to readily run simulations of >2e6 neurons. These simulations include a moderate level of cellular detail with AMPA, NMDA, GABAA and GABAB synapses, as well as multiple intrinsic properties such as bursting, depolarization blockade and an afterhyperpolarizing "channel." Note that these are event-driven simulations and therefore do not utilize continuously integrated compartmental neurons. Since these simulations are event-driven, there is no overhead unless there is activity: simulation time varies widely depending on the level of network activity. An active network of 1.2e5 cells with >8.9e6 synapses, generating >1.1e7 spikes in 1 s simulation time, took 32.3 minutes to run on a 2.4 GHz AMD Opteron processor. Large, active simulations still develop space problems due to the need for a variable-size queue to accommodate varying delivery delays. This limitation is minimized by restrictions on the range and variability of permitted delays. We have begun to explore algorithms that permit a nuanced approach to the space-time trade-off. We permit individual presynaptic cells to store their list of postsynaptic targets in a compressed format. This additional storage can be turned on or off on a per-cell basis. We will explore making this storage dynamic so that a cell can maintain its connectivity list during a period of high activity and then return the memory when its activity is reduced. An additional direction for future development will be the incorporation of an entire encapsulated artificial-cell network as an independent piece of a compiled code (a mod file in NEURON). Such a network module could then be plugged in to other network modules or to a more detailed network that used compartmental models or compartmental/artificial cell hybrids, running in the main NEURON simulator. Running such simulations on parallel supercomputers will permit execution of very-VLNNs of order 100 million neurons.
Before the Enron Collapse: What Corporate CFOs Around the World Said About the Status of Accounting and Disclosure Practices

Corporate Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) in many countries at different levels of development and in various parts of the world considered financial statement disclosure and corporate corruption to be serious corporate problems long before the Enron debacle. This paper presents the results of a survey of CFOs conducted across 40 countries during the fall of 2000 and the spring of 2001. Most of the respondents, including those in the United States, considered the lack of adequate disclosure of information by companies to be a bigger issue than either corrupt business practices or a lack of effective accounting guidelines. Only in the United Kingdom did more CFOs consider the lack of effective accounting guidelines to be an issue of more concern than the lack of disclosure.
The recovery of radioactivity in methionine from labeled S-methyl-l-cysteine in leaves of Phaseolus vulgaris

Abstract The metabolism of methyl- and sulfur-labeled S -methyl- l -cysteine in excised kidney bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) leaves was studied. The carbon and hydrogens of the methyl group and the sulfur atom of methylcysteine can be recovered in methionine. The extent of this recovery is markedly influenced by the condition of the bean leaves (healthy, sulfur-deficient, etc.). Experiments with double-labeled methylcysteine showed that the sulfur is not transferred with the methyl group and that the methyl group is not transferred intact. The change in 3 H/ 14 C between the methylcysteine used and the methionine recovered indicated that two hydrogens of the methyl group of methylcysteine are lost in the transformation. This transfer of the methyl carbon from methylcysteine to methionine is reduced by the use of unlabeled formate. These results indicate that the methyl group of methylcysteine is oxidized to formate and then incorporated into the methyl group of methionine. These results are consistent with a degradation of methylcysteine to methyl mercaptan that is further oxidized to formate. No evidence for the transfer of a methyl group or a thiomethyl group was obtained.
Finite temperature sum rules in lattice gauge theory

Abstract We derive non-perturbative sum rules in SU ( N ) lattice gauge theory at finite temperature. They relate the susceptibilities of the trace anomaly and energy–momentum tensor to temperature derivatives of the thermodynamic potentials. Two of them have been derived previously in the continuum and one is new. In all cases, at finite lattice spacing there are important corrections to the continuum sum rules that are only suppressed by the bare coupling g 0 2 . We also show how the discretization errors affecting the thermodynamic potentials can be controlled by computing these susceptibilities.
Variable electric fields for high throughput electroporation protocol design in curvilinear coordinates.

The mathematical solution to the electric field equation in cylindrical coordinates, has suggested to us a new experimental methodology and device for reducing experimental effort in designing electroporation protocols. Using a new cylindrical electroporation system, we show, with an Escherichia coli cell model, how key electroporation parameters emerge precisely from single experiments rather than through interpolation from numerous experiments in the conventional Cartesian electroporation system. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2012; 109:2168–2171. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Balancing Theory versus Fact, Stasis versus Change: A Look at Some Introductions to International Relations

Do dramatic events in international relations (IR) signal fundamental changes in political behavior? How do international relations texts address change, and what are the implications of textbook design for the way that we teach undergraduate introductions to the field? This article provides an initial inquiry into these questions by surveying a sample of five international relations texts. Rather than seek to pick the best book, the article examines the methods by which the textbook authors balance theory versus facts, as well as stasis versus change, in formulating introductory frameworks. This analysis is motivated by way of a general comparison of the sample texts with Organski’s (1958) text, World Politics . Finally, the author discusses the strengths and weaknesses of different balancing strategies, and the implications of these strategies for teaching introductions to international relations.
The effects of aging and neurodegeneration on apoptosis-associated DNA fragmentation and the benefits of nicotinamide.

In this work, the tertiary butylhydroperoxide-(t-BuOOH) treated mouse was used as a model to study the oxidative stress that is associated with various neurodegenerative diseases. DNA was found to be an early target oft-BuOOH attack. Necrosis was associated with extensive DNA fragmentation that occurred in almost all regions of the brain within 20 min following intracerebroventricular (icv) injection of 109.7 mg/kgt-BuOOH. Apoptosis was associated with high levels of DNA fragmentation that was observed at 48 h after icv administration of 21.9 mg/kgt-BuOOH. Susceptibility to DNA damage was found to be age-dependent, since 24-mo-old mice exhibited consistently higher and more pervasive DNA damage than 8 mo-old-mice. Extensive DNA damage was seen in various brain regions in patients with Alzheimer disease (AD) and with both Alzheimer and Parkinson disease (AD-PD). These results directly implicate DNA damage in neurodegeneration. The DNA fragmentation ob-served can lead to both apoptosis and necrosis, as suggested by gel electrophoresis. Nicotinamide, a precursor of NAD in the brain, was able to prevent DNA fragmentation induced by low-doset-BuOOH, when coadministered with the toxin.
A Form-Factor Method for Determining the Structure of Distorted Stars

The equilibrium equations of a uniformly rotating and tidally distorted star are reduced to the same form as for a spherical star except for the inclusion of two form factors. One factor, expressing the buoyancy effects of centrifugal force, is determined directly from the integrated structure variables. The other factor, expressing the deviation from spherical shape, is shown to be relatively insensitive to errors in the assumed shape, so that accurate solutions are obtained in spite of the use of an a priori shape. The method is employed by adding computations for the factors to an existing spherical model program. Upper Main Sequence models determined by this method compare closely with results from the double approximation method even for critical rotation and tidal distortion.
Small animal absorbed radiation dose from serial micro-computed tomography imaging

To determine the radiation dose to mouse cancer xenografts from serial micro-computed tomography (CT) examinations. A nude mouse with a 15-mm subcutaneous pancreatic cancer xenograft in the rightflank was used. Radiation exposure to the subcutaneous tumor and the mouse pancreas (to simulate an orthotopic pancreatic tumor model) was measured using lithium fluoride thermoluminescent dosimeters. Ultrafast micro-CT was performed using 80 kVp, 0.26 mA, 0.156 mm slice thickness, 256 slices, 0.7 mm Al filtration, and 60-second image acquisition time (15 mA second). Micro-CT imaging acquisitions were repeated four times. We measured consistently low tumor doses (0.014 to 0.02 Gy; average = 0.017 Gy) per scan. Orthotopic doses in the region of the pancreas were also consistently low (0.014 to 0.018 Gy; average = 0.016 Gy) per scan. Radiation doses delivered during ultrafast micro-CT serial imaging in the mouse are low and are likely below the threshold to affect tumor growth.
Teacher Responses to Teaching Games for Understanding

(1996). Teacher Responses to Teaching Games for Understanding. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance: Vol. 67, No. 9, pp. 17-20.
Diastolic heart sounds as an adjunctive diagnostic tool with ST criteria for acute myocardial ischemia.

Aims/Methods: To investigate whether diastolic third or fourth heart sounds (S3 or S4) detect myocardial ischemia independently or in combination with the 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG), a prospective comparison study was conducted in a group with ischemia induced by percutaneous coronary intervention (n=19) and a non-ischemia group (n=18) without coronary artery disease or ischemic ECG evidence. Diastolic heart sounds were detected by computerized acoustic cardiography. Results: Of 37 patients, the mean age was 59.4±11.8 years. An S4 was more sensitive (74%) in detecting ischemia than an S3 (47%) or standard ST-T criteria (53%). All subjects with standard ST-T wave criteria for PCI-induced ischemia had an S3 or S4. All subjects without an S3 or S4 did not have ST-T wave criteria for ischemia. Using logistic regression, both an S3 and S4 were shown to detect ischemia (P<0.05), independent of ST-T criteria. The detection of ischemia was improved by 32% when the presence of an S3 or S4 was added to ST-T wa...
Induction of antifreeze protein production by juvenile hormone in larvae of the beetle,Dendroides canadensis

Larvae of the beetleDendroides canadensis accumulate protein antifreezes during the winter.D. canadensis which were collected in the early fall, prior to the initiation of cold hardening processes, were treated with either 3.3 or 6.6 μg juvenile hormone I topically in acetone and maintained for 21 days under normally non-inductive acclimation conditions (16 light/8 dark, 20 °C). Hormone treated animals significantly elevated the levels of antifreeze protein in their hemolymph compared to those of acetone treated and untreated controls or animals measured on the day of collection.
Behavioral studies with the β-carboline FG 7142 combined with related drugs in monkeys

The beta-carboline FG 7142 was studied alone and in combination with Ro 15-1788, CGS 8216 and lorazepam in squirrel monkeys trained to respond under a fixed-interval (FI) schedule of food presentation. FG 7142 (0.3-5.6 mg/kg i.v.) produced dose-related decreases in the rate of FI responding, effects opposite to those of moderate doses of lorazepam (0.03-0.3 mg/kg i.v.). Pretreatment with low doses of Ro 15-1788 (0.1 and 0.3 mg/kg i.v.) shifted the dose-response curve of FG 7142 progressively to the right indicating pharmacological antagonism at benzodiazepine recognition sites. In comparison, pretreatment with the pyrazoloquinoline CGS 8216 (0.1-1.0 mg/kg i.v.), which alone decreased responding, did not alter the effects of FG 7142 in a systematic manner. Combinations of behaviorally active doses of FG 7142 and lorazepam had primarily additive effects: the opposing actions of one drug tended to cancel the other's effect on responding. These results show that the reduction in behavior by FG 7142 is modified predictably by Ro 15-1788 but not by CGS 8216, and behaviorally active doses of both FG 7142 and lorazepam may be needed for their mutual antagonism.
Lifting the veil on amyloid drug design.

High resolution structures and computational methods have been used to identify compounds that prevent amyloid fibrils associated with Alzheimer’s disease from dissociating into toxic species.
An Analytical Modeling Framework for Primary Lateral-Load–Resisting Unreinforced Masonry Walls

This paper investigates an analytical modeling framework for the primary lateral-load–resisting walls, including out-of-plane effects, in unreinforced masonry (URM) building structures. Integral to...
Intermittent high dose oral methotrexate therapy in psoriasis.

SUMMARY.— Eighteen patients with intractable or severe psoriasis have been treated for up to 28 months with intermittent large oral doses of methotrexate. The disease was completely controlled in 9 and partially controlled in 5 patients. Severe clinical side-effects were seen in 5 patients, in 4 of whom therapy had to he abandoned. These effects were severe abdominal pain and vomiting in 2; reactivation of colitis, serious ataxia, and epidermal necrolysis in 1 patient each. Concurrent administration of aspirin probably contributed to toxicity by potentiating the action of methotrexate in 2 of these cases. No serious haematological or biochemical abnormalities developed but mild transient leucopenia occurred in 2, thrombocytopenia in 1, and raised serum transaminases in 7.
Macromarketing: A Social Systems Perspective Macromarketing: A Social Systems Perspective

The marketing system is a differentiated subsystem of the society, performing functions necessary if society is to adapt to its material environment. In the performance of these functions, the marketing system has an impact on other social systems, the cultural system, and the material environment. This dual relationship is derived from a modified social systems paradigm.
Preparing whole mounts of hard parts of recent bryozoa

Procedures are given for preserving, storing, cleaning and mounting calcareous Bryozoa on slides. Potassium hypochlorite digestion is preferred to incineration for cleaning because heated specimens eventually deteriorate. White glue is used instead of balsam to fix colonies to slides because balsam weakens with time. Ink or food coloring applied to dry specimens increases contrast. *** DIRECT SUPPORT *** A00BY049 00006
Preparation and characterization of rhenium(I) dicarbonyl complexes based on the meridionally-coordinated terpyridine ligand

Abstract The synthesis and characterization for a series of meridionally-coordinated terpyridine rhenium(I) dicarbonyl complexes from mer,cis -Re(tpy-κ 3 N )(CO) 2 Cl, 2 , are described. Reaction of the mer,cis -Re(tpy-κ 3 N )(CO) 2 Cl via halide extraction in acetonitrile produced the complex mer,cis -[Re(tpy-κ 3 N )(CO) 2 (NCCH 3 )] + , 3 . Complex 3 was found to undergo thermal substitution to produce mer,cis -[Re(tpy-κ 3 N )(CO) 2 (L)] + (where L = PPh 3 ( 4 ), NC 5 H 5 ( 5 ), and PEt 3 ( 6 )). The spectroscopic and structural characterizations are discussed.
Effect of anti-transforming growth factor-βbgr; antibodies in cyclosporine-induced renal dysfunction

Effect of anti-transforming growth factor-βbgr; antibodies in cyclosporine-induced renal dysfunction. Background Several experimental and clinical studies have implicated a role for transforming growth factor-βbgr; (TGF-βbgr;) in mediating the nephrotoxic effects of cyclosporine (CsA). To test this hypothesis, we administered neutralizing anti-TGF-βbgr; antibodies (α-TGF-βbgr;) in a well-described rat model of chronic CsA nephrotoxicity. Methods We studied three groups ( N = 9 per group) of adult, male Sprague-Dawley rats that received a low-salt diet (0.05% sodium). Normal controls were given vehicle subcutaneously and an alternate-day intraperitoneal injection of 3 mg of nonspecific mouse IgG (MIgG) for 28 days. The CsA group received 15 mg/kg/day of CsA subcutaneously and 3 mg of MIgG intraperitoneally on alternate days for 28 days. The CsA/α-TGF-βbgr; group received CsA and alternate-day α-TGF-βbgr; (3 mg) for 28 days. At the end of 28 days, creatinine clearance was measured by 24-hour urine collection. Histologic assessment was performed for tubulointerstitial damage and arteriolar hyalinosis. Northern analysis was performed for α1(I) collagen and TGF-βbgr;1 gene expression, and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was performed to measure levels of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), TIMP-2, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), and MMP-9. Results CsA-treated rats had significantly lower creatinine clearance as compared with normal controls (0.43 ± 0.07 vs. 0.67 ± 0.14 mL/min, P = 0.0002), increased interstitial damage and afferent arteriolar hyalinosis ( P = 0.0001), and increased α1(I) collagen (4-fold) and TGF-βbgr;1 (2.5-fold) mRNA expression. CsA-treated rats also had significantly increased TIMP-1 (7.4-fold, P P P P = 0.009 vs. CsA alone), the increase in afferent arteriolar hyalinosis ( P Conclusions In this rat model of CsA-induced nephrotoxicity, renal insufficiency and characteristic histologic changes are associated with altered expression of matrix and matrix-regulating molecules. Based on our results with α-TGF-βbgr; antibodies, many but not all of these nephrotoxic effects of CsA are mediated by TGF-βbgr;.
Rule based realtime motion assessment for rehabilitation exercises

In this paper, we describe a rule based approach to realtime motion assessment of rehabilitation exercises. We use three types of rules to define each exercise: (1) dynamic rules, with each rule specifying a sequence of monotonic segments of the moving joint or body segment, (2) static rules for stationary joints or body segments, and (3) invariance rules that dictate the requirements of moving joints or body segments. A finite state machine based approach is used in dynamic rule specification and realtime assessment. In addition to the typical advantages of the rule based approach, such as realtime motion assessment with specific feedback, our approach has the following advantages: (1) increased reusability of the defined rules as well as the rule assessment engine facilitated by a set of generic rule elements; (2) increased customizability of the rules for each exercise enabled by the use of a set of generic rule elements and the use of extensible rule encoding method; and (3) increased robustness without relying on expensive statistical algorithms to tolerate motion sensing errors and subtle patient errors.
Acoustic measures for linguistic features distinguishing the semivowels /w j r l/ in American English

Acoustic properties related to the linguistic features which characterize the semivowels in American English were quantified and analyzed statistically. The features can be divided into those which separate the semivowels from other sounds and those which distinguish among the semivowels. The features of interest are sonorant, syllabic, consonantal, high, back, front, and retroflex. Acoustic correlates of these features were investigated in this study of the semivowels. The acoustic correlates, which are based on relative measures, were tested on a corpus of 233 polysyllabic words, each of which was spoken once by two males and two females. For the most part, the appropriate distinctions are made by the chosen acoustic properties for features. However, for each property, there was some overlap in the acoustic correlates of features for the sounds being distinguished. An examination of the sounds in the overlap regions reveals that their surface manifestation varies substantially from the canonical form. In large part, the observed variability can be explained in terms of changes due to feature spreading and lenition.
Micellar electrokinetic chromatographic screening method for common sexual assault drugs administered in beverages

Recently, much attention has been given to benzodiazepines and gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) related compounds owing to their alleged widespread use as date-rape drugs. Toxicologists would greatly benefit from a screening method that allows for the simultaneous detection of both groups of substances. A new capillary electrophoresis (CE) method has been developed in the micellar mode to accomplish this separation in under 16 min using a sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)/sodium tetraborate/boric acid buffer with an acetonitrile organic modifier. Optimization of SDS and organic modifier concentration, along with pH, were performed on a set of standards containing eight benzodiazepines, GHB, gamma-butyrolactone, and the internal standard, sulfanilic acid. The method was shown to have a detection limit of less than 2 microg/ml for five out of eight benzodiazepines with a linear range of 2.5-100 microg/ml. The detection limit for GHB was 32 mg/ml with a linear range to 2500 microg/ml. This method was applied to the rapid analysis of spiked beverages. GHB spiked beverages were monitored after using a series of simple dilutions to determine the effects of time on the drug analysis. Possible interfering peaks from drugs of abuse and artifacts from a variety of different drink combinations were also studied in detail. A one-step liquid-liquid extraction was the only necessary sample pretreatment.
Some features of human adolescence viewed in evolutionary perspective.

This theoretical essay focuses on some of the apparently evolved features of human adolescence and their possible functions. These include the pubertal growth spurt, sexual size dimorphism and bimatur
Reconceptualizing Group Performance: A Review ofIn Search of Synergy in Small Group Performance

In Search of Synergy in Small Group Performance by James R. Larson, Jr. New York, NY: Psychology Press, 2010. 427 pp. ISBN 978-0-8058-5943-0. $90.00, hardcover. ISBN 978-0-8058-5944-7. $49.95, pape...
Steroidal influences on pup-killing behavior in mice

Abstract Four experiments were conducted in order to examine the biochemical pathway through which testosterone (T) acts to produce pup-killing behavior in ovariectomized female mice. Estradiol benzoate (EB) and testosterone propionate (TP) were both effective in stimulating the pup-killing response (Experiment 1). The nonaromatizable androgen dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and the aromatizable androgen testosterone (T) were equipotent in eliciting the behavior while the nonaromatizable androgen androstanedione (AA) was ineffective (Experiment 2). Pup-killing behavior was activated by the aromatizable androgen androstenedione (AE) but only if it was administered chronically at very high doses (Experiment 3). The combination of subthreshold doses of EB and DHT synergized to produce the pup-killing response (Experiment 4). These findings suggest that both aromatization and reduction may be important for the stimulation of pup-killing behavior in mice.
Current Policies and New Directions for Speech-Language Pathology Assistants

This article provides an overview of current American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) policies for the appropriate use and supervision of speech-language pathology assistants with an emphasis on the need to preserve the role of fully qualified speech-language pathologists in the service delivery system. Seven challenging issues surrounding the appropriate use of speech-language pathology assistants are considered. These include registering assistants and approving training programs; membership in ASHA; discrepancies between state requirements and ASHA policies; preparation for serving diverse multicultural, bilingual, and international populations; supervision considerations; funding and reimbursement for assistants; and perspectives on career-ladder/bachelor-level personnel. The formation of a National Leadership Council is proposed to develop a coordinated strategic plan for addressing these controversial and potentially divisive issues related to speech-language pathology assistants. This co...
Opportunity cost-based models for traffic incident response problems

Real-time traffic incident response strategies deal with the determination of optimal resource allocation policies in response to traffic incidents occurring on a network. Such strategies also should address the effect of loss in coverage caused by the nonavailability of response vehicles that currently are serving certain primary incidents. In this paper, we first formulate a mixed-integer programming (MIP) model MIMR-1 for the multiple-incident multiple-response (MIMR) problem using standard modeling techniques. The effect of loss in coverage is reflected in the model by including in the objective function a new term related to an opportunity cost for serving future (secondary) incidents that might occur probabilistically on the network. We next present an alternative, equivalent MIP model (MIMR-2) that injects a particular structure into the problem. This is shown to yield a dramatic improvement in the performance of the commercial software package CPLEX-MIP when applied to this revised model in comparison with its application to MIMR-1. Furthermore, for certain special cases of the MIMR problem, efficient polynomial-time solution approaches are prescribed that yield a far superior performance over CPLEX-MIP. An algorithmic module composed of the developed specialized solution procedures, model MIMR-2, and a prescribed heuristic scheme, has been incorporated into a real-time area-wide incident management decision support system.
Density fluctuations and particle-antiparticle annihilation

Abstract With the example of the primordial magnetic monopoles in mind, the time development of a system of particles and antiparticles undergoing irreversible annihilation is studied. The existence of spatial fluctuations in the initial particle and antiparticle densities is shown to lead to constraints on the asymptotic annihilation rate; the most general of these is based on causality considerations. The application of these constraints to several different types of systems is discussed, and computer simulations which were performed in order to test the constraints are described.
Effective stimulation distance for current from macroelectrodes

Abstract Effective spread of stimulating current from macroelectrodes was measured using antidromic responses of axons of the pyramidal tract as an indicator of excitation. Both monopolar and concentric bipolar electrode configurations were tested with stimulating distances as large as 7 mm. The effective stimulation distance was greater from monopolar electrodes especially at greater current strengths, but differences between the two configurations were frequently small and reversals of this trend occurred. There was no statistically significant difference between the estimates of effective stimulation distance made using large and small axons. The shape of current-distance curves was approximately parabolic using both bipolar and monopolar stimulation. A current strength of 0.5 to 1.0 mA will confine effective current from a monopolar electrode to a sphere of 2-mm radius, but will not stimulate all elements within that area. Even in a brain area as homogeneous as the pyramidal tract, there is still a great deal of variability from mean values in effective stimulation distance. Presumably, the variability would be even greater in more heterogeneous regions.
Work in progress: Identifying adequate level of instruction without hindering deeper learning in distance learning

At what point do instruction, online guidance, tutorials, and lecture notes lead students toward their learning goals too much? Many educators, especially those who teach at a distance, often have questions as to how much information is enough. In designing learning activities, are we directing students to just the information they need to earn a grade or complete an assignment, sabotaging their motivation to learn more deeply and develop better critical thinking skills about a subject? This paper will investigate these concerns both through review of current literature of instructional design, distance learning, direct instruction, and constructivist teaching strategies, as well as through research conducted in an undergraduate Organizational Leadership and Supervision (OLS) online course taught at Purdue University Calumet in Hammond, Indiana, United States.