cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Opitmal age and results in repair of large ventricular septal defects.

The hospital mortality rate was 9.1 per cent (three deaths) in 33 patients less than 2 years old undergoing primary repair of single large ventricular septal defects (VSD's) since January, 1972, and was not related to age; it was zero in 50 patients older than 2 years (Group A). The mortality rate with multiple VSD's was 36.4 per cent, not related to age. Age at operation, preoperative pulmonary vascular resistance, and pulmonary artery pressure were directly related to mean pulmonary artery pressure 5 or more years later in 74 patients (Group B) operated upon between 1955 and 1968. Over-all probability of “surgical cure” for single large VSD (surviving the early and late postoperative period with normal or near-normal pulmonary artery pressure 5 years later) is 92 per cent when pulmonary vascular resistance is 4 units · sq. M. and operation performed at age 27 months, 87 per cent when resistance is 8 and operation done at age 6 months, and 80 per cent when resistance is 12 and operation done at less than 6 months of age. These and other probability curves are examined and compared with natural history to determine optimal age for elective repair for large VSD's.
Corticosteroid-binding globulin and estrogens in maternal and cord blood.

Corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG) is produced by the liver in small concentrations and binds steroids with high affinity. Its concentration in the blood is sensitive to endogenous or exogenous estrogens in a dose-response manner and serves as a biological assay for estrogens. CBG concentrations were measured in sera collected from maternal and umbilical vein blood during labor and delivery and at elective cesarean section and correlated with endogenous estradiol and estriol concentrations. CBG and estradiol concentrations of maternal blood were significantly greater than that of the infant cord blood but estriol levels in cord blood significantly exceeded those of maternal serum. A highly significant increase in cord blood estriol concentration was found following vaginal delivery compared to elective cesarean section, indicating an increase in adrenal activity due to the stress of labor. CBG levels correlated directly with maternal estradiol but not estriol concentrations. Cord blood CBG concentration varied little despite a wide range of estrogen concentrations. The physiologic significance of CBG concentrations in maternal and fetal blood is discussed.
Contextual Differences in Parent–Child Play: Implications for Children's Gender Role Development

Parent–child play behavior of 33 preschool children (18 boys, 29 European-American, middle- and upper-middle-class families) was videotaped in separate pretend and physical play sessions. Children's play behavior with a same-sex peer also was observed. Analyses focus on contextual differences in parent–child play behavior, as well as associations between parent–child play and child–peer play. During the pretense play session parent–daughter dyads, particularly mother–daughter dyads, engaged in more pretense play than did parent–son dyads. During the physical play session father–son dyads engaged in more physical play than did father–daughter dyads. These data suggest that context may play an important role in gender differentiated patterns of parent–child play behavior. As for children's peer play behavior, consistent with previous evidence, girls were more likely than boys to engage peers in pretend play and boys were more likely than girls to play physically with peers. Children whose parents engaged in more pretense play engaged in more pretense play with a peer, whereas children's whose parents engaged in more physical play engaged in more physical play with a peer. These findings suggest that parents may contribute to children's gender-typed play behaviors with peers.
Global Hollywood 2010

Of course, at some level, I didn’t need to move west to understand Hollywood. We all understand it. We have to, given its presence on cinema, computer, telephone, and television screens. Each year, a sixth of the world’s population watches the Academy Awards on TV, and more movie tickets are sold than there are people on the planet, while film-going is not even popular by contrast with the computer games and television that are mostly conceived, made, and/or owned — with the latter perhaps the key word — by the California-based studios and sub-contractors that we call Hollywood. The very word symbolises an invitation to replication and domination, an invitation both desired and disavowed. The money made in Hollywood continues to be astronomical, transcending even the aerospace industry as the largest export industry the U.S. has.
Dw subtypes of DR4 in rheumatoid arthritis: evidence for a preferential association with Dw4.

Abstract We have determined the frequency of the DR4-associated Dw subtypes, defined by homozygous typing cells, in a group of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients on second-line drug therapy. The frequency of DR4 in these patients was 86%. Among Caucasians, the frequency of Dw4 in the DR4-positive patients was significantly increased (68%) as compared to DR4-positive normal individuals (46%; p
Pharmacokinetics of ethanol in pigtailed macaques: intersubject variability and effect of subchronic administration.

Abstract The pharmacokinetics of IV ethanol (0.6 g/kg) were examined in 11 male colony-bred pigtailed macaques ( Macaca nemestrina ) aged 3 to 13 years. The animals were either chaired during blood sampling (4 hr) or connected to a tether system that allowed injections and blood sampling while the animal moved freely about its cage. In all instances, ethanol pharmacokinetics could be described by a single Michaelis-Menten function; inclusion of a parallel first-order rate constant to account for non-alcohol dehydrogenase elimination of ethanol did not improve the fit. Volume of distribution was 0.802 ± 0.054 L/kg (mean ± SD), K m (the apparent in vivo Michaelis constant) was 0.063 ± 0.022 μ g/ml, and V max was 0.199 ± 0.039 g/kg/hr. The pharmacokinetic parameter values of chaired and tethered monkeys did not differ. Three of the tethered monkeys received 3 g/kg of ethanol daily for two weeks by IV infusion (subchronic administration). Ethanol pharmacokinetics, determined on five occasions before and five occasions after subchronic ethanol administration, showed that the treatment did not alter the volume of distribution or K m in any of the three monkeys. The value of V max increased approximately 23% in one of the three monkeys that received subchronic ethanol; this increase may have been due to a single, inadvertent administration of a 4.5-g/kg dose over a 20-min period. V max did not change in the other two monkeys.
Structural and Thermochemical Studies of Chiral Nucleophilic Carbenes in the Cp*RuCl(L*) (Cp* = η5-C5Me5; L* = Chiral Nucleophilic Carbene) System

The reaction of [Cp*RuCl]4 (1) with chiral nucleophilic carbene ligands L = 1,3-R2-imidazol-2-ylidene (R = (R)-1-cyclohexylethyl ((−)ICMe), (1S,2S,3S,5R)-isopinocamphenyl ((+)IiPCamp), (R)-α-methyl...
Classification of ot images of arthritic joints using spatial-fourier frequency coefficients

Fourier Transform coefficients of absorption and scattering distributions, reconstructed from OT scans of PIP joints II-IV, are used in conjunction with discriminate analysis to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis (91.0% sensitivity and 90.0% specificity).
The structure of actin-rich filaments of muscles according to x-ray diffraction.

From analysis of moderate- to small-angle x-ray diffraction patterns, in the light of similar experience with paramyosin, has been derived the following description for the structure of actin-rich filaments in "tinted" portions of the adductor muscle of the clam, Venus mercenaria : 1. Some 11 diffraction maxima, widely streaked along layer lines and occurring at moderate diffraction angles (spacings 7 to 60 A) appear to be accounted for as ( hk ) reflections of a net whose cell elements are, for dry material: a ≑ 82 A, b = 406 A (filament axis identity period), and γ ≑ 82° (angle between a and b axes). These reflections follow a selection rule which indicates that the net cell is non-primitive and contains 15 equivalent locations (nodes) arranged as shown in Fig. 5. An alternative net has b 9 = 351 A and 13 nodes per cell. 2. Another interpretation rolls the net into a large-scale helix and places the 15 (or 13) nodes along 7 (or 6) turns of a helical locus projecting 406 (or 351) A along the filament axis. Whether considered to be built of planar-net or helix-net cells, the individual filament contains a single cell width transverse to its axis. Transverse filament dimensions are, therefore, in either case similar (50 to 100 A). 3. Consideration of existing electron-optical, physicochemical, and x-ray diffraction data regarding isolated actin suggests that the net cell is built of rods, each containing in cross-section from one to four actin molecules which run parallel to or twisted about rod axes that extend at 12° to the filament axis along the (21) diagonals of the cell. Depending on monomer shape, 2 to 15 monomers furnish length to reach across two cells, and the actin molecules are built into each rod in such a way as to repeat (or nearly repeat) structure 15 (or 13) times along the double cell length. Further details of intra-rod structure cannot be suggested because of lack of wide-angle diffraction information. 4. The actin system is sensitive to treatment of the muscle with ethanol. Concentrations of 5 per cent or greater abolish the net reflections. Other solvents—water, benzene, ether, pyridine, acetone—do not alter the pattern materially. 5. Two other reflections, occurring at the first and second layer lines of an axial periodicity of about 400 A, do not clearly belong to the actin-net system. They represent either a superstructure built upon the filaments by parts of the actin molecules themselves or by incorporated other molecular species, or they arise from an additional macromolecular component (possibly myosin, or its homologues or fractions) of similar axial periodicity.
Poll: A Citation Text Based System for Identifying High-Impact Contributions of an Article

The body of scientific literature is growing yearly, presenting new challenges in accurate retrieval of relevant publications. Citation sentences stand to be a useful way to concisely represent the main contributions of a publication. In this paper, we present Poll, a prototype of an academic search engine which utilizes citation sentences to indicate the most important contributions of a cited publication.
Some effects on the aphid Myzus persicae of ingesting antibiotics incorporated into artificial diets

Abstract Ten antibiotics were incorporated individually at different concentrations into artificial diets fed to the aphid Myzus persicae . The survival and larviposition of apterous adult aphids, and the growth and development of larvae were severely affected by albamycin (sodium novobiocin), chloromycetin (chloramphenicol), ilotycin glucoheptonate (erythromycin glucoheptonate), and the tetracyclines aureomycin (chlortetracycline HCl), oxytetracycline HCl, and tetracycline HCl. Alata-production by the apterous adults that were maintained in groups on the diets was dramatically curtailed by these antibiotics, some at concentrations as low as 0·0001%. Mandelamine (methenamine mandelate), penicillin-G, streptomycin sulphate, and viomycin sulphate had a much lesser effect on larval growth, even when these antibiotics were incorporated into the diet at concentrations as high at 0·1%. The results are discussed in relation to the probable functions of the aphid's symbiotes in the nutrition of the aphid.
Sometimes There Is No Other Side: Chicanos and the Myth of Equality

This text tells how the political mood on campuses is being controlled and scientific inquiry perverted, and how academe and the courts are using concepts like truth and objectivity to subjugate minorities.
The rhodium, silver and indium content of some chondritic meteorites

Abstract By neutron activation analysis the rhodium, silver and indium content of five chondritic meteorites has been determined. The average data are 0.186 and 0.094 p.p.m. for rhodium and silver. The upper limit for the indium content is 0.001 p.p.m. The values for rhodium and silver are in fair agreement with the data estimated by Suess and Urey ; the indium values, however, are lower by a factor of 100 or more.
Fish, Money, and Science in Puget Sound

Reponse a un article de M. Barinaga paru dans Science (New & Comment, 9 Feb., p. 631) sur l'impact ecologique des fermes a saumon de Puget Sound dans l'etat de Washington (USA). Les auteurs contestent les chiffres sur le rejet de dechets solides et le fait que l'aquiculture a Puget Sound puisse etre consideree comme un desastre ecologique
Active learning to interactive design: the rise of web rich media to engage art dialogue

Flash Player is the world's most adopted pervasive software platform of Internet-enabled desktops. Flash movie becomes the universal client that allows educators to deliver effective rich media interactions not only for online courses but also in classroom settings. This paper fosters the development process of creating interactive Flash movies to engage active art and design learning. With active learning and interactive teaching theory in mind, tips, best practices, common mistakes, and misconceptions about applying technology to deliver curriculum and students projects are interrogated. Skill set and knowledge base about empowering authoring tools in interface design, course architecture development, and the reusability of online assessment are also examined. An open dialogue focuses on sharing thoughts to rethink the impact of interactive learning and how human factors will play in the future of interactive education.
Pathogenesis-based treatment of recurring subareolar breast abscesses.

Background. When a subareolar breast abscess (SBA) is incised and drained, an extraordinarily high frequency of recurrence is noted. Methods. To develop a pathogenesis-based treatment plan, 24 women with a total of 84 abscesses were monitored. Results. In nine women SBA was under the left areola, under the right, in 7 and in eight the SBA occurred either simultaneously or sequentially under both areolae. In 11 of 24 patients a chronic lactiferous duct fistula also existed. In four of 24 patients four SBAs were treated with antibiotics alone; all recurred. In 16 of 24 patients initial treatment was incision and drainage plus antibiotics; all recurred. When the abscess plus the plugged lactiferous duct was excised, there were no recurrences; however, in four patients a new abscess in a different duct occurred, which was treated by en bloc resection of all subareolar ampullae, without further recurrence. Patients with a fistulous tract had the fistula, its feeding abscess, and its plugged lactiferous duct excised, without recurrence. In first time SBA the organism was usually staphylococcus; in recurrences mixed flora was isolated. Pathologic findings ranged from squamous metaplasia with keratinization of lactiferous ducts to chronic abscess. Conclusions. The cause of SBA is plugging of lactiferous duct within the nipple by keratin. To prevent recurrence the abscessed ampulla with its plugged proximal duct needs excision.
A Quasi-Minimal Residual Method for Simultaneous Primal-Dual Solutions and Superconvergent Functional Estimates

The adjoint solution has found many uses in computational simulations where the quantities of interest are the functionals of the solution, including design optimization, error estimation, and control. In those applications where both the solution and the adjoint are desired, the conventional approach is to apply iterative methods to solve the primal and dual problems separately. However, we show that there is an advantage associated with iterating the primal and dual problem simultaneously since this enables the construction of iterative methods where both the primal and the dual iterates may be chosen so that they provide functional estimates that are "superconvergent" in that the error converges at twice the order of the optimal global solution error norm. In particular, we show that the structure of the Lanczos process allows for this superconvergence property and propose a modified QMR method which uses the same Lanczos process to simultaneously solve the primal and dual problems. Thus both the primal and the dual systems are solved at essentially the same computational cost as the conventional QMR method applied to the primal problem alone. Numerical experiments show that our proposed method does indeed exhibit superconvergence behavior.
Parallelization of a large‐scale computational earthquake simulation program

Here we detail both the methods and preliminary results of the first efforts to parallelize three General Earthquake Model (GEM)-related codes: (1) a relatively simple data mining procedure based on a genetic algorithm; (2) a mean-field slider block model; and (3) the Virtual California simulation of GEM. These preliminary results, using a simple, heterogeneous system of processors, existing freeware and an extremely low initial cost in both manpower and hardware dollars, motivate us to more ambitious work with considerably larger-scale computer earthquake simulations of southern California. The GEM omputational problem, which is essentially a Monte Carlo simulation, is well suited to optimization on parallel computers and we outline how we are proceeding in implementing this new software architecture. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Non-Contact Measurements of Thermophysical Properties of Titanium at High Temperature

Four thermophysical properties of both the solid and the liquid titanium measured using the high-temperature electrostatic levitator at JPL are presented. These properties are the density, the thermal expansion coefficient, the constant pressure heat capacity, and the hemispherical total emissivity.
Double-balloon enteroscopy and capsule endoscopy have comparable diagnostic yield in small-bowel disease: a meta-analysis

Background & Aims: The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic yield of capsule endoscopy (CE) with double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) in small-bowel (SB) disease using meta-analysis. Methods: We performed a search of studies comparing CE with DBE in SB disease. Data on diagnostic yield of CE and DBE were extracted, pooled, and analyzed. The weighted incremental yield (IYW) (yield of CE − yield of DBE) of CE over DBE and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for pooled data were calculated using a fixed-effect model (FEM) for analyses without, and a random-effect model (REM) for analyses with, significant heterogeneity. Results: Eleven studies compared CE and DBE; the pooled overall yield for CE and DBE was 60% (n = 397) and 57% (n = 360), respectively (IYW, 3%; 95% CI, −4% to 10%; P = .42; FEM). Ten studies reported vascular findings; the pooled yield for CE and DBE was 24% (n = 371) and 24% (n = 364), respectively (IYW, 0%; 95% CI, −5% to 6%; P = .88; REM). Nine studies reported inflammatory findings; the pooled yield for CE and DBE was 18% (n = 343) and 16% (n = 336), respectively (IYW, 0%; 95% CI, −5% to 6%; P = .89; FEM). Nine studies reported polyps/tumors; the pooled yield for CE and DBE was 11% (n = 343) and 11% (n = 336), respectively (IYW, −1%; 95% CI, −5% to 4%; P = .76; FEM). Conclusions: CE and DBE have comparable diagnostic yield in SB disease, including obscure gastrointestinal bleeding. CE should be the initial diagnostic test because of its noninvasive quality, tolerance, ability to view the entire SB, and for determining the initial route of DBE. Because of its therapeutic capabilities, DBE may be indicated in patients with a positive finding on CE requiring a biopsy or therapeutic intervention, if suspicion for a SB lesion is high despite a negative CE, and in patients with active bleeding.
Notch signaling as a novel regulator of metabolism

Evolutionarily unprepared for modern high-calorie diets and sedentary lifestyles, humans are now unprecedentedly susceptible to metabolic disorders such as obesity, type 2 diabetes (T2D), nonalcoholic fatty liver, and cardiovascular disease. These metabolic conditions are intertwined, together known as metabolic syndrome, and compromise human life quality as well as lives. Notch signaling, a fundamental signal transduction pathway critical for cell–cell communication and development, has recently been recognized as a key player in metabolism. This review summarizes the emerging roles of Notch signaling in regulating the metabolism of various cell and tissue types, with emphasis on the underlying molecular mechanisms and the potential of targeting this signal axis to treat metabolic diseases.
Gamma irradiation and oxidative degradation of a silica-filled silicone elastomer

The radiation oxidative degradation of a commonly used silica-filled silicone elastomer DC745 was investigated by a series of experimental techniques. This elastomer is known to be chemically and thermally stable, but insufficient data exist on its radiation resistance. In the present work, gamma doses up to 200 kGy were applied under air at room temperature and 1 Gy/s. Chemical changes due to radiation were investigated by NMR, FT-IR, resonance Raman, and mass spectroscopy. DSC and TGA experiments probed thermal transitions and thermal stability changes with exposure dose. SEM probed variations on the surface of the elastomer, and changes in the polymer network were investigated using solvent swelling methods. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) was employed to detect and identify free radicals. Uniaxial compression load tests at variable temperatures were performed to assess changes in the material's mechanical response as a function of radiation dose. Results demonstrate that, with increasing exposure, DC745 undergoes changes in chemistry that lead to an increase in thermal stability and cross-link density, formation of free radical species, decrease in heat of fusion and increase in stiffness at low temperatures. Taken together, these results indicate that oxidative cross-linking is the dominant radiolysis mechanism that occurs when this material is exposed to gamma irradiation in air.
Large-scale school reform as viewed from the self-determination theory perspective

Successful school reform requires that administrators, teachers, and students internalize the value of improved teaching and learning and of the policies, structures, procedures, and behaviors impl...
Semaphorin breaks symmetry.

Axon-dendrite polarity is likely instructed by extrinsic cues in the developing nervous system, though the mechanisms governing this process remain to be fully elucidated. In this issue of Neuron, Shelly et al. show that the axon guidance cue Semaphorin 3A can promote dendrite growth by inhibiting axon specification.
Isolation of genetic suppressor elements, inducing resistance to topoisomerase II-interactive cytotoxic drugs, from human topoisomerase II cDNA.

Abstract Many cytotoxic anticancer drugs act at topoisomerase II (topo II) by stabilizing cleavable complexes with DNA formed by this enzyme. Several cell lines, selected for resistance to topo II-interactive drugs, show decreased expression or activity of topo II, suggesting that such a decrease may be responsible for drug resistance. In the present study, etoposide resistance was used as the selection strategy to isolate genetic suppressor elements (GSEs) from a retroviral library expressing random fragments of human topo II (alpha form) cDNA. Twelve GSEs were isolated, encoding either peptides corresponding to short segments of the topo II alpha molecule (2.4-6.5% of the protein) or 163- to 220-bp-long antisense RNA sequences. Expression of a GSE encoding antisense RNA led to decreased cellular expression of the topo II alpha protein. Both types of GSE induced resistance to several topo II poisons but not to drugs that do not act at topo II. These results provide direct evidence that inhibition of topo II results in resistance to topo II-interactive drugs, indicate structural domains of topo II capable of independent functional interactions, and demonstrate that expression selection of random fragments constitutes an efficient approach to the generation of GSEs in mammalian cells.
Polychlorinated Biphenyls in House Dust and Yard Soil near a Superfund Site

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were measured in house dust and yard soil at 34 homes surrounding New Bedford Harbor during dredging of highly contaminated harbor sediments. PCBs can volatilize from sediments and seawater and subsequently deposit on surrounding soil, resulting in potential exposures for nearby residents. House dust was collected from carpet, while yard soil was collected from the main entryway to evaluate whether PCBs might be tracked indoors. All samples were analyzed for 65 PCB congeners to evaluate the relative importance of the harbor and indoor sources for human exposure. PCB concentrations (260-23 000 ng/g) in house dust were about 10 times higher than yard soil concentrations (15-1800 ng/g), although similar congener patterns were detected in these two media. Yard soil concentrations in neighborhoods closest to the harbor were significantly higher than those in comparison neighborhoods (23-1800 ng/g and 15-290 ng/g, respectively), while house dust concentrations did not differ significantly between these two locales (320-23 000 ng/g and 260-3600 ng/g, respectively). PCB concentrations in house dust were correlated with those in indoor air, but house dust and yard soil concentrations were not correlated, suggesting that track-in may not be the only source of PCBs in house dust.
More heat than light: Rumford's experiments on the materiality of light

Les experiences du Comte de Rumford ayant pour but de prouver que la chaleur et la lumiere ne sont pas des substances materielles constituent des episodes celebres dans l'histoire des sciences physiques. D'apres l'A., le fait que J. Joule et d'autres se referent a Rumford plusieurs annees plus tard prouve que ses efforts n'ont pas ete inutiles pour le developpement de la science
Restoration of osseous defects in maxillofacial casualties

Surgical procedures for the rapid and complete restoration of facial bones were investigated in a three-year study. Mandible restorations obtained with a combination marrow and bone graft, contained in filter-lined metallic implants, point to a superior method for restoring large avulsive defects sustained in high-velocity missile warfare. Further adaptation of this procedure offers improved approaches to the treatment of other problem defects encountered in oral surgery. Filter-lined metallic implants of bone and marrow were tested in facial wounds experimentally produced to simulate battle casualties. The surgical technic developed by this research is believed to be far superior to bone grafting methods previously used and has many potential applications to clinical dentistry.
The fluorescence of coumarin derivatives as a function of pH. II

Abstract The relative intensity and color of the fluorescence of 54 additional coumarin derivatives and of 5 new samples of compounds previously studied are reported for hydrogen-ion concentrations ranging from pH − 1.6 to 12.6. None of the pH-fluorescence curves of these derivatives are similar to those obtained with the unknown substances isolated from oat roots.
Low-Power Decoupling Sequences for High-Resolution Chemical-Shift and Local-Field NMR Spectra of Liquid Crystals

Abstract Various new and well-established multiple-pulse sequences that provide homonuclear dipolar decoupling are compared on a high-resolution spectrometer/probe configuration using low RF-irradiation powers. Proton-proton decoupled carbon-13 spectra of singly 13C-labeled benzene dissolved in a nematic liquid crystal and of the liquid crystal 152 are presented. Two classes of multiple-pulse sequences are studied that produce either broadband decoupled carbon spectra or separated local-held spectra. Several new approaches for the design of windowless sequences are demonstrated to be valuable in these heteronuclear experiments. They include implementations of the iterative MLEV scheme and the use of 270° pulses. Furthermore, noncyclic propagators have been found that exhibit advantages over closely related cyclic analogues in both classes of decoupling sequences.
Improving resident engagement in quality improvement and patient safety initiatives at the bedside: the Advocate for Clinical Education (ACE).

Quality improvement (QI) and patient safety (PS) are essential competencies in residency training; however, the most effective means to engage physicians remains unclear. The authors surveyed all medicine and surgery physicians at their institution to describe QI/PS practices and concurrently implemented the Advocate for Clinical Education (ACE) program to determine if a physician-centered program in the context of educational structures and at the point of care improved performance. The ACE rounded with medicine and surgery teams and provided individual and team-level education and feedback targeting 4 domains: professionalism, infection control, interpreter use, and pain assessment. In a pilot, the ACE observed 2862 physician-patient interactions and 178 physicians. Self-reported compliance often was greater than the behaviors observed. Following ACE implementation, observed professionalism behaviors trended toward improvement; infection control also improved. Physicians were highly satisfied with the p...
Glutathione peroxidase activity of glutathione-s-transferases purified from rat liver.

Abstract Gel filtration chromatography demonstrated the presence of two peaks of glutathione peroxidase activity assayed with cumene hydroperoxide in the soluble fraction of rat liver, brain, kidney, and testis. The peak with an approximate molecular weight of 45,000 (GSH-Px II) was purified from rat liver labeled in vivo with Na275SeO3. Chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, Sephadex G-150, DEAE-cellulose, and CM-cellulose resulted in the co-purification of glutathione-S-transferase activity measured with 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene and glutathione peroxidase activity assayed with cumene hydroperoxide, and in the removal of all detectable 75Se. Studies on GSH-Px II indicated that the apparent Km for both cumene and t-butyl hydroperoxides was considerably higher than that for purified seleno-glutathione peroxidase. The Vmax estimated with cumene hydroperoxide was only 1 300 of that determined for the selenoenzyme at pH 7.5 and with 1 mM GSH.
Biological, chemical and thermal indices of soil organic matter stability in four grassland soils

Abstract The various ecosystem functions of soil organic matter (SOM) depend on both its quantity and stability. Numerous fractionation techniques have been developed to characterize SOM stability, and thermal analysis techniques have shown promising results to describe the complete continuum of SOM in whole soil samples. However, the potential link between SOM thermal stability and biological or chemical stability has not yet been adequately explored. The objective of this study was to compare conventional chemical and biological methods used to characterize SOM stability with results obtained by thermal analysis techniques. Surface soil samples were collected from four North American grassland sites along a continental mean annual temperature gradient, each with a native and cultivated land use. Soil organic C concentrations ranged from 6.8 to 33 g C kg −1 soil. Soils were incubated for 588 days at 35 °C, and C mineralization rates were determined periodically throughout the incubation by measuring CO 2 concentration using an infrared gas analyzer (IRGA) to calculate biological indices of SOM stability. Hot-water extractable organic C (HWEOC) contents were determined before and after incubation as chemical indices. Finally, samples from before and after incubation were analyzed by simultaneous thermal analysis (i.e., thermogravimetry (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)) to determine thermal indices of SOM stability. Long-term incubation resulted in the mineralization of up to 33% of initial soil C. The number of days required to respire 5% of initial soil organic carbon (SOC), ranged from 27 to 115 days, and is proposed as a standardized biological index of SOM stability. The number of days was greater for cultivated soils compared to soils under native vegetation, and generally decreased with increasing site mean annual temperature. HWEOC (as % of initial SOC) did not show consistent responses to land use, but was significantly lower after long-term incubation. Energy density (J mg −1 OM) was greater for soils under native vegetation compared to cultivated soils, and long-term incubation also decreased energy density. The temperatures at which half of the mass loss or energy release occurred typically showed larger responses to land use change than to incubation. Strong correlations demonstrated a link between the thermal and biogeochemical stability of SOM, but the interpretation of the thermal behavior of SOM in bulk soil samples remains equivocal because of the role the mineral component and organo-mineral interactions.
Is There an Increased Risk of Hip Fracture in Multiple Sclerosis (MS)? Analysis of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) (P06.201)

Objective: To determine if people with MS have a higher rate of hip fractures and to explore the discharge disposition of MS patients with acute hip fracture. Background Impaired ambulation, frequent falls, and prolonged immobilization combined with the high rate of vitamin D deficiency in people with MS could lead to an increased risk of hip fracture. Design/Methods: Retrospective cohort analysis of 20 years of the NIS (HCUP, AGRQ.gov), a 20% stratified sample of US hospital admissions. Admissions with a primary diagnosis of acute hip fracture were identified, as was the subset with a secondary diagnosis of MS. Indirect adjustment was used to compare the prevalence of MS in this population, to that of the US (Noonan, Neurology, 2002). Because of the large number of records and multiple comparisons, p was set a priori at Results: 0.25% of 1,063,726 hip fracture admissions were for MS. Over the 20 years of this dataset the proportion with MS increased from 0.21% to 0.31%. There was a trend for lesser mortality for MS (0.25 vs. 2.97%, p Conclusions: In this nationwide sample of 20 years of US hospital admissions the rate of hip fracture for people with MS was more than twice predicted. While the risk of falls can be partially mitigated through physical therapy and fractures with vitamin D, bisphosphonates are less effective in pre-menopausal women. Disclosure: Dr. Dubinsky has received personal compensation for activities with Allergan Pharmaceuticals as a speaker.Dr. Dubinsky has received research support from Allergan Pharmaceuticals, Medevation Pharmaceuticals, and NIH. Dr. Bhattacharya has nothing to disclose.
The automatic activation and perception of emotion in word processing: Evidence from a modified dot probe paradigm

Ohman (1993) suggested that participants more readily pay attention to negative information than neutral information. Theoretically, this “automatic vigilance hypothesis” appears to be evolutionarily derived to ensure the proper detection of threatening stimuli thereby increasing the probability of survival. The current study was designed to examine the processing of both positive and negative emotion words in a nonclinical sample using a modified version of the attentional dot probe paradigm. In Experiment 1 the words were presented without a mask; however, in Experiment 2 the words were presented quickly, then masked. Regardless of the method of presentation, the key findings from Experiments 1 and 2 were identical. Specifically, participants responded faster to the probe when it appeared in the same location as the negative words than the neutral words. Findings are discussed with regards to the automatic processing of emotion words and their influence on the perception of emotional versus nonemotional...
Selective excitation of molecular species in flames by laser-excited molecular fluorescence

Abstract Pulsed tunable dye laser excited (nitrogen laser pumped) molecular fluorescence spectra of BaO, BaOH, and BaCl in an air-acetylene flame have been investigated and compared to the flame emission spectra of the same species. Molecular fluorescence of BaO and BaOH in flames was observed for the first time. Furthermore, BaO, BaOH and BaCl which have overlapping emission spectra in the wavelength region from 480 to 535nm can be selectively excited and observed by laser excited molecular fluorescence spectroscopy.
Homoplasy Slope Ratio: A Better Measurement of Observed Homoplasy in Cladistic Analyses

A method for quantifying levels of observed homoplasy in cladistic analyses is proposed. The homoplasy slope is a function that describes the relationship between number of taxa in a cladistic analysis and the observed number of extra steps per character. The homoplasy slope ratio (HSR) relates the homoplasy slope of a cladistic analysis (real data) to that of an analysis based on random binary data sets of the same size. Tests show that HSR is not correlated with numbers of characters and taxa, and this quality makes the index particularly useful for comparing the levels of observed homoplasy among cladistic analyses based on data sets of different sizes. All of the other homoplasy indices currently available-including the consistency index (CI), retention index (RI), and homoplasy excess ratio (HER)-are correlated with number of characters and/or number of taxa. (Homoplasy indices; homoplasy comparison; homoplasy slope ratio; consistency index; homoplasy excess ratio; retention index.) The discussion of homoplastic evolution commonly has focused on how it compli- cates the reconstruction of phylogenies. Systematists distinguish three kinds of nonhomologous similarity or homoplasy (Futuyma, 1986): parallelism, convergence, and reversal. These homoplasies are not a major problem for phylogenetic recon- struction if they are identified prior to the analysis and recoded or excluded from the data set. Additional homoplasies may be discovered during the cladistic analysis as incongruent character states that lengthen the cladogram beyond the sum of the range of the characters (Lmin) by any number of extra steps (EXS). The number of extra steps is thus a measure of character-state distri- butions that do not fit the hypothesized phylogeny. The literature about homoplastic evo-
Interference Method for Calibration of Recording Spectrographs

A system for the calibration of spectrum records produced by recording spectrographs is described. The method employs as a fiducial scale the recorded interference peaks produced in dispersed white light by a Fabry-Perot etalon and is consequently free of usual systematic calibration errors. Practical details of the method as used for measurements in the infrared with a grating instrument of high resolving power are outlined. Calibration equations are developed for this case and a discussion of factors determining the accuracy of measurement is presented.
Motivating and reinforcing functions of the male sex role: Social analogues of partial reinforcement, delay of reinforcement, and intermittent shock

After listening to a masculine male, female subjects learned an instrumental escape response reinforced by the opportunity to listen to an androgynous male. The results of three experiments revealed a striking correspondence between conventional learning variables and social analogues of acquisition, partial reinforcement, delay of reinforcement, and intermittent shock. Subject responses to a postconversation questionnaire indicated that the comments made by the androgynous male were judged as more appropriate and more honest, and he was rated as more likable, more intelligent, more moral, and more mentally healthy, than his masculine counterpart. Discussion focused on the importance of investigating male sex role action using additional theoretically relevant social analogues of conventional learning variables and other familiar learning paradigms.
Parallelism In Rule-Based Systems

Rule-based systems, which have proven to be extremely useful for several Artificial Intelligence and Expert Systems applications, currently face severe limitations due to the slow speed of their execution. To achieve the desired speed-up, this paper addresses the problem of parallelization of production systems and explores the various architectural and algorithmic possibilities. The inherent sources of parallelism in the production system structure are analyzed and the trade-offs, limitations and feasibility of exploitation of these sources of parallelism are presented. Based on this analysis, we propose a dedicated, coarse-grained, n-ary tree multiprocessor architecture for the parallel implementation of rule-based systems and then present algorithms for partitioning of rules in this architecture.
Partial vagal denervation increases vulnerability to vagally induced atrial fibrillation.

Partial Vagal Denervation on AF.Introduction: Cervical vagal stimulation shortens the atrial effective refractory period (ERP) primarily in the high right atrium (HRA) and facilitates induction of atrial fibrillation (AF) by single premature HRA extrastimuli. We hypothesized that vagal denervation of the HRA prevents both ERP shortening in the HRA and AF induction during vagal stimulation. Methods and Results: Vagal denervation of the HRA was achieved using radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFA) of the fat pad at the right pulmonary vein-atrial junction (RPV fat pad). Programmed stimulation was performed at each of four atrial sites to measure ERP and inducibility of AF during vagal stimulation. RPV fat pad RFA increased only the HRA ERP during vagal stimulation (70 ± 8.7 vs 117 ± 14.8, P < 0.05). RPV fat pad RFA increased measures of dispersion of refractoriness, the standard deviation of ERP (24 ± 2.1 vs 33 ± 2.0, P < 0.01), and the standard deviation of AF cycle length (11 ± 0.8 vs 22 ± 1.7, P < 0.001) during vagal stimulation. RPV fat pad RFA increased the incidence of AF (15/28 vs 24/28, P < 0.05) and the vulnerability (22 ± 4.7 vs 39 ± 5.6, P < 0.01) to AF induction during vagal stimulation, particularly from left atrial premature beats. After RPV fat pad RFA, premature beats induced AF by causing conduction block primarily in the HRA and macroreentrant activation around the block. Conclusion: Partial right atrial vagal denervation facilitated rather than prevented initiation of vagally mediated AF.
Transonic wing design using inverse methods in curvilinear coordinates

An inverse wing design method has been developed around an existing transonic wing analysis code. The original analysis code, TAWFIVE, has as its core the numerical potential flow solver FLO30, developed by Caughey and Jameson. Features of the analysis code include a finite-volume formulation, ah SLOR solution scheme, and a wing and fuselage fitted, curvilinear grid mesh. The development of the inverse method as an extension of previous methods existing for design in Cartesian coordinates is presented. Results are shown for inviscid wing design cases in supercritical flow regimes. The test case selected also demonstrates the versatility of the design method in designing an entire wing or discontinuous sections of a wing.
Ship Propulsion Equipment Driven by Air Compressed by Pressure Fluctuation in Blower Piping System

The characteristics of thrust for ship propulsion equipment directly driven by air compressed by pressure fluctuation in a blower piping system are investigated. The pressure in the piping system with a discharge opening under the surface of water is measured for the depth and the cross-sectional area of the discharge opening. An exhaust valve is positioned upon the air ejection hole, and the effects of the valve on the pressure in the pipes and the thrust for the propulsive nozzle were examined. The following results were obtained. The pressure fluctuation owing to the columnar resonance or Helmholtz resonance occurs at the certain specific depth or cross sectional area of the discharge opening. The pressure in the pipes decreases immediately after the exhaust valve was opened, and it increases just before the valve is closed. The dominant frequency of the pressure fluctuation in the pipes agrees with that of the opening-closing cycle for the exhaust valve. The thrust for the propulsive nozzle monotonically increases with increasing number of revolutions and depth. The interfacial wave in the nozzle appears in the frequency of approximately 4Hz, and it is important for the increase of the thrust to synchronize the opening-closing cycle for the exhaust valve with the generation frequency of the interfacial wave. The finite difference lattice Boltzmann method is helpful to investigate the characteristics of the flow in the nozzle.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
CNS siderosis and orthostatic headache as a delayed complication of spinal surgery

A 61-year-old man presented with orthostatic headaches and asymmetric sensorineural hearing loss (ASNHL) 8 years after cervical laminoplasty. Percussion of his cervical spine elicited Lhermitte sign. Brain MRI demonstrated trace intraventricular blood and mild superficial siderosis (figure 1); digital subtraction angiogram had normal results. CT myelogram revealed fractured hardware puncturing adjacent dura with resultant CSF leak (figure 2).
Faster rates with less catalyst in template-directed reactions

We have recently shown that the polycytidylic acid-directed polymerization of guanosine 5'-monophosphate 2-methylimidazolide (2-MeImpG) is amenable to kinetic study and that rate determinations as a function of 2-MeImpG concentration can reveal much mechanistic detail (Kanavarioti et al. 1993). Here we report kinetic data which show that, once the reaction has been initiated by the formation of dimers, the elongation of dimers to form longer oligomers is accelerated by decreasing polycytidylate (poly(C)) concentration from 0.05 to 0.002 M. This result is consistent with the previously proposed mechanism. The increase in the observed pseudo-first order rate constant for formation of the trimer, k3', and the corresponding constant for formation of oligomers longer than the trimer, ki' (ki' is independent of oligomer length for i > or = 4), with decreasing template concentration for a given monomer concentration is attributed to an increase in template occupancy as template concentration is reduced.
Discoloration of Tablets Containing Amines and Lactose

It has been noted by several workers that tablets of amine salts combined with lactose darken in color with aging, and this problem has been investigated. Results show that the darkening is due to a reaction occurring in the presence of amine base and not in the presence of the salt. The reaction in tablets can be accelerated with elevated temperature and high humidity. The release of free base from the amine salt is shown to be due to reaction of the alkaline lubricant, such as magnesium stearate, which removes hydrogen ion with the formation of stearic acid, furnishing an alkaline medium in the adsorbed moisture. The change in pH with time was recorded to illustrate the effects occurring in tablets. The use of neutral or acidic lubricants, such as glyceryl monostearate or stearic acid, prevents the discoloration from occurring. These findings are thought to be applicable to any combination of amine salt and lactose.