cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nested Set Union

We consider a version of the classic disjoint set union (union-find) problem in which there are two partitions of the elements, rather than just one, but restricted such that one partition is a refinement of the other. We call this the nested set union problem. This problem occurs in a new algorithm to find dominators in a flow graph. One can solve the problem by using two instances of a data structure for the classical problem, but it is natural to ask whether these instances can be combined. We show that the answer is yes: the nested problem can be solved by extending the classic solution to support two nested partitions, at the cost of at most a few bits of storage per element and a small constant overhead in running time. Our solution extends to handle any constant number of nested partitions.
The fibrinolytic enzyme system in the newborn

Abstract 1. 1. In confirmation of previous reports the plasminogen level in cord blood is shown to be low and decreases further in the first days of life. 2. 2. Plasmin, urokinase, and streptokinase inhibitor levels are in the normal adult ranges. 3. 3. Activator is present in cord blood and is considered to be responsible for spontaneous lysis in vitro when fibrinogen is used as a substrate. 4. 4. Wharton's jelly and umbilical vessels are free of tissue activator. 5. 5. If the activator inhibitor EACA is infused to pregnant women during labor, it passes the placental barrier, is found in the cord blood, and inhibits activator in the fetal blood. Plasminogen remains at the same low level, indicating that the decrease in plasminogen is not caused by consumption, but is due to a lack of synthesis by the immature liver. 6. 6. The fibrinolytic system in the newborn is considered as a physiologic protective mechanism against untoward clot formation.
Course modularization for improved delivery and assessment

Courses which are taught in unusual formats can present organizational difficulties for a lecturer. Often courses are organized around texts with chapters corresponding approximately to week-units of work. But courses with large lab components and schedules that fluctuate between semesters can challenge traditional lecture-and-homework course structures built around these texts. I propose an alternate organization around smaller learning modules that more closely correspond to learning objectives. In addition to making courses more manageable, this restructuring has improved learning assessment in my courses.
Effects of eighth-grade parental involvement on late adolescents' educational expectations.

A national sample was used to examine the influences of parents involvement in their children's education on children's postsecondary educational expectations. Parental involvement was assessed when children were in the eighth grade, and their educational expectations were assessed 6 years later. Educational expectations were operationalized as (a) expectation for less than a bachelor's degree, or (b) expectation for a bachelor's or higher degree. Student-reported home-based parental involvement was most strongly predictive of high educational expectations. Parent-reported involvement in school organizations was also predictive of high expectations. Parent-reported home-based involvement and student-reported school-based involvement were only weakly related to expectations. Measures of parental involvement also interacted with socioeconomic status (SES). That is, at higher levels of SES, the effects of parental involvement were stronger in a positive direction.
High-dose methotrexate for intraocular lymphoma.

Purpose: Intraocular lymphoma (IOL) frequently coexists with primary central nervous system lymphoma(PCNSL). We sought to determine the efficacy of high-dose methotrexate (MTX) alone in patients with IOL. We also sought to determine whether micromolar levels of MTX could be achieved in the aqueous and vitreous humor of the eye after i.v. administration of the drug. Experimental Design: Nine patients with concurrent PCNSL and IOL or isolated IOL were treated with MTX alone. All patients were treated with i.v. 8 g/m2 MTX. MTX concentrations in serum, aqueous humor, and vitreous humor were obtained in seven of nine patients with IOL and in one additional patient with PCNSL but no evidence of IOL. Results: Micromolar concentrations of MTX were present in both ocular chambers 4 h after completion of the infusion in eight of eight patients. Levels of MTX were lower in the vitreous humor compared with the aqueous humor in five of six patients in whom both chambers were assayed. Initial response of IOL to MTX was demonstrated by seven of nine patients (six complete responses and one partial response), whereas two patients had persistent IOL despite achievement of micromolar concentrations of MTX. In the patients with concurrent PCNSL and IOL, seven of seven had complete responses in the brain after treatment with MTX. Three of seven patients with initial response of IOL experienced relapse in the eye requiring orbital radiation, and four of nine patients had sustained response of IOL to MTX. Conclusions: A subset of patients with IOL may experience sustained remission when treated with high-dose i.v. MTX alone. Although micromolar MTX concentrations are present in the eye 4 h after infusion, the lower concentration achieved in vitreous humor may contribute to persistence of IOL.
Current State of Animal (Mouse) Modeling in Melanoma Research

Despite the considerable progress in understanding the biology of human cancer and technological advancement in drug discovery, treatment failure remains an inevitable outcome for most cancer patients with advanced diseases, including melanoma. Despite FDA-approved BRAF-targeted therapies for advanced stage melanoma showed a great deal of promise, development of rapid resistance limits the success. Hence, the overall success rate of melanoma therapy still remains to be one of the worst compared to other malignancies. Advancement of next-generation sequencing technology allowed better identification of alterations that trigger melanoma development. As development of successful therapies strongly depends on clinically relevant preclinical models, together with the new findings, more advanced melanoma models have been generated. In this article, besides traditional mouse models of melanoma, we will discuss recent ones, such as patient-derived tumor xenografts, topically inducible BRAF mouse model and RCAS/TVA-based model, and their advantages as well as limitations. Although mouse models of melanoma are often criticized as poor predictors of whether an experimental drug would be an effective treatment, development of new and more relevant models could circumvent this problem in the near future.
ABCG2 Transporter Expression Impacts Group 3 Medulloblastoma Response to Chemotherapy

While a small number of plasma membrane ABC transporters can export chemotherapeutic drugs and confer drug resistance, it is unknown if these transporters are expressed or functional in less therapeutically tractable cancers such as Group3 medulloblastoma (G3 MB). Herein we show that among this class of drug transporters only ABCG2 was expressed at highly increased levels in human G3 MB and a mouse model of this disease. In the mouse model, Abcg2 protein was expressed at the plasma membrane where it functioned as expected based on export of prototypical substrates. By screening ABC substrates against mouse G3 MB tumorspheres in vitro, we found that Abcg2 inhibition could potentiate responses to the clinically employed drug topotecan, producing a >9-fold suppression cell proliferation. Extended studies in vivo in this model confirmed that Abcg2 inhibition was sufficient to enhance antiproliferative responses to topotecan, producing a significant survival advantage compared to subjects treated with topotecan alone. Our findings offer a preclinical proof of concept for blockade of ABCG2 transporter activity as a strategy to empower chemotherapeutic responses in Group3 medulloblastoma.
Cardiac findings in Noonan syndrome on long-term follow-up.

Objective Noonan syndrome (NS) is the second most common genetic syndrome associated with cardiac abnormalities, including, most notably, pulmonary stenosis (PS) and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Little is known about the natural history of heart disease in this unique subset of patients. We sought to contribute information on the natural history of NS by looking at how the cardiac disease progresses with time. Design This is a retrospective review of the medical records of patients with NS seen at our institution between 1963 and 2011. Results Records were available for 113 patients. Average length of follow-up was 14.16 years (2 months to 44 years, median 12.5 years). Sixty-six percent (75/113) of our patients had PS; within this subset, 57% (43) were classified as mild, 9% (7) moderate, and 33% (25) severe. None of the cases of mild PS worsened with time. All of the severe cases had an intervention, as did some moderate cases. Fourteen percent (16/113) of our patients had HCM; 56% (9/16) were mild, diagnosed at an average age of 3.8 years. Seven of these were stable with time, while one did progress. Forty-four percent (7/16) of cases were classified as severe, diagnosed at an average age of 4.2 months, and all were managed medically, surgically, or both. Our cohort had seven deaths (ages 6 months and 6, 10, 20, 40, 49, and 50 years). Conclusion Mild PS in patients with NS is nonprogressive. Severe, and in some cases moderate, PS will invariably require a therapeutic intervention. It is uncommon for HCM to progress or have new onset beyond early childhood. Prognosis of heart disease in NS is influenced most by the findings on presentation.
ECOLOGICAL FACTORS INFLUENCING THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN KLEBSIELLA AND SHIGELLA IN MIXED CULTURE

Hentges, David J. (Loyola University, Chicago, Ill.), and MacDonald Fulton. Ecological factors influencing the relationships between Klebsiella and Shigella in mixed cultures. J. Bacteriol. 87:527–535. 1964.—Viable-cell counts of Shigella flexneri and Klebsiella (Aerobacter aerogenes) in pure and mixed culture were made during growth under predetermined conditions of temperature, pH, oxygen supply, and nutrient supply. In pure culture, environmental changes had marked effects on the Shigella populations. Klebsiella populations were not affected except at 44 C or when aerated; under these conditions, the populations were smaller. In nonaerated mixed culture, under different conditions of temperature, pH, and nutrient supply, Klebsiella interfered with the multiplication of Shigella. Exponential growth of Shigella was interrupted at about the time Klebsiella populations attained a maximal size. In contrast, the presence of Klebsiella in an aerated mixture had little or no effect on Shigella multiplication because Klebsiella failed to attain a maximal population. Different environmental conditions resulted in different Klebsiella to Shigella ratios in mixed cultures. When conditions were favorable for Shigella multiplication, as shown by pure culture controls, the proportion of Shigella in the mixture was generally greater than when conditions were unfavorable.
In Their Own Words: Staying Connected in a Combat Environment

ABSTRACTObjective: To describe communication issues experienced by soldiers in a combat environment. Methods: Qualitative design was used to guide data collection using semistructured interviews with six key informants all who had been deployed at least once in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). Content analysis and use of Invivo software enabled data analysis, coding, and sorting. Findings: Participants identified barriers to communication while in combat that emerged into four main themes—need to control communication, need to limit communication with home, value of peer communication, and involvement in a traumatic incident (that greatly influenced communication). Conclusions: Respondents uniformly chose to limit communication—their communication with their families, superiors, or subordinates. This was because of regulations, the need to exert some control, and the need to limit distraction from the mission. Peer communication served as an outlet and a source of support, and involvement in a traumatic inc...
Arginine as a contact residue in the hapten-binding site of protein 315.

Abstract A model for the hapten-binding site of protein 315 has been proposed by Haselkorn et al. (1974). One of the features of this model is a positive subsite which was deduced to be lysine 52 of the heavy chain. However, our results from maleytion of protein 315 (Klostergaard et al. , 1976) indicate that lysine 52 is not a contact amino acid in the site. We report here on the effects of glyoxalation of arignyl residues in protein 315; this modification of the protein results in a loss of hapten-binding sites. The loss can be largely prevented by the presence of hapten during glyoxalation, indicating the presence of an arginyl residue in the binding site. Therefore an arginyl residue rather than lysine 52 appears to be responsible for the positive subsite in the hapten-binding site of protein 315 as determined by Haselkorn et al. (1974).
Transverse momentum diffusion and broadening of the back-to-back di-hadron correlation function

Abstract We extend the Gyulassy–Levai–Vitev reaction operator approach to multiple elastic scattering of fast partons traversing dense nuclear matter to take into account the leading power corrections due to the medium recoil and to derive the change in the partons' longitudinal momentum. We employ a boost-invariant formalism to generalize previous treatments of the problem, which were specific to the target rest frame. We apply the transverse momentum diffusion results in a simple analytic model to evaluate the broadening of the back-to-back di-hadron correlation function in d+Au reactions.
Partial oxidation of methanol at millisecond contact times

Abstract The partial oxidation of methanol has been carried out on Pt- and Rh-coated α-alumina monoliths in an autothermal, short contact time reactor. This is seen as a possible first step in converting methanol to hydrogen for use in fuel cells for mobile applications. Methanol was readily converted to primarily CO and H 2 at CH 3 OH/O 2 ratios from two to five. Higher ratios produced lower temperatures, lower methanol conversions, and higher H 2 selecitivities. CO selectivity on both catalysts increased from CH 3 OH/O 2 =2 to 3–3.5, but decreased beyond this ratio. This was attributed to the water-gas shift reaction where equilibrium of this reaction becomes more favorable at higher ratios due to the decrease in reaction temperature. Platinum and rhodium gave very similar trends, suggesting that thermodynamic equilibrium, not catalyst properties, determines product composition.
Impact ionization in ZnSe and comparison with CdS

Abstract Using electrolyte blocking contacts we have observed impact ionization in conducting n-type single crystals of ZnSe. Use of the same technique with CdS failed to give any evidence for impact ionization.
Glucocorticoids regulate arrestin gene expression and redirect the signaling profile of G protein-coupled receptors

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) compose the largest family of cell surface receptors and are the most common target of therapeutic drugs. The nonvisual arrestins, β-arrestin-1 and β-arrestin-2, are multifunctional scaffolding proteins that play critical roles in GPCR signaling. On binding of activated GPCRs at the plasma membrane, β-arrestins terminate G protein-dependent responses (desensitization) and stimulate β-arrestin–dependent signaling pathways. Alterations in the cellular complement of β-arrestin-1 and β-arrestin-2 occur in many human diseases, and their genetic ablation in mice has severe consequences. Surprisingly, however, the factors that control β-arrestin gene expression are poorly understood. We demonstrate that glucocorticoids differentially regulate β-arrestin-1 and β-arrestin-2 gene expression in multiple cell types. Glucocorticoids act via the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) to induce the synthesis of β-arrestin-1 and repress the expression of β-arrestin-2. Glucocorticoid-dependent regulation involves the recruitment of ligand-activated glucocorticoid receptors to conserved and functional glucocorticoid response elements in intron-1 of the β-arrestin-1 gene and intron-11 of the β-arrestin-2 gene. In human lung adenocarcinoma cells, the increased expression of β-arrestin-1 after glucocorticoid treatment impairs G protein-dependent activation of inositol phosphate signaling while enhancing β-arrestin-1–dependent stimulation of the MAPK pathway by protease activated receptor 1. These studies demonstrate that glucocorticoids redirect the signaling profile of GPCRs via alterations in β-arrestin gene expression, revealing a paradigm for cross-talk between nuclear and cell surface receptors and a mechanism by which glucocorticoids alter the clinical efficacy of GPCR-based drugs.
Magnetic Nanoparticles as Mechanical Actuators of Inner Ear Hair Cells

Mechanical sensation by the auditory system is performed by hair cells, named in reference to the stereociliary bundles that protrude from their apical surface. They have been shown to exhibit active motility under in vitro conditions and a highly nonlinear dynamic response. To explore their mechanical properties, we developed a technique that utilizes paramagnetic beads to actuate the stereocilia. Steady-state deflections were imposed and seen to strongly affect the dynamic state of the bundle, inducing a transition from multi-mode to single-mode state, as well as the crossover from the oscillatory to the quiescent state. Numerical simulations capturing the behavior near the critical points will be presented.
The use of Calcofluor white in the histopathologic diagnosis of oral candidiasis.

Abstract Calcofluor white (CW) is a water-soluble, colorless dye that selectively binds to beta 1–4 polysaccharides (cellulose) in fungal cell walls. The planar, trans-form of the molecule fluoresces light blue when exposed to UV light (345 to 365 nm). Recuts of all biopsy specimens, accessioned over a 6-month period, that had been stained with Grocott's methenamine silver (GMS) were stained with CW and examined. Of the 34 cases from which specimens were reviewed, 17 had specimens that were positive for the presence of fungal organisms as indicated by both GMS and CW staining. Specimens from all of the 17 remaining cases were negative for the presence of fungal organisms, as staining with both GMS and CW indicated. Similar results were obtained with direct fungal smears. The CW technique has significant advantages over traditional methods, including rapidity, cost, sensitivity, simplicity, and absence of interference with permanent fungal stains.
Relationships between obesity and the pulse rate at rest and during work in young and older men.

1. The relationship between absolute body weight, relative body weight (in percent of normal weight predicted from age and height) percent body fat (determined by densitometry), and pulse rate at rest, and during and after walking on the treadmill was investigated in 45 sedentary young men (Group A), 26 more active young men (Group B), and 82 sedentary middle-aged men (Group C). 2. A significant correlation between resting pulse rate and relative obesity occurred in the sedentary groups A and C, but not in the active group B. 3. During walking, all groups exhibited a highly significant correlation between fat content and absolute and excess pulse rate. Relative and absolute body weight showed a similar relationship to a lesser degree. The correlation declined during recovery. 4. The correlation between fat content and excess work or recovery pulse rate was lowest in group C; this was confirmed in another group of 88 sedentary middle-aged men (Group D). 5. There was no correlation between the pulse rate and relative or absolute body weight during recovery after a step test in group D. 6. The decrease or loss of correlation between body fat and pulse rate with age is discussed.
Hygroscopicity and cloud droplet activation of mineral dust aerosol

[1] Hygroscopicity and cloud condensation nucleus (CCN) activity were measured for three mineral dust samples: one from the Canary Islands, representing North African dust transported across the Atlantic; one from outside Cairo, representing North African dust transported to the eastern Mediterranean; and Arizona Test Dust, representing dust in the southwestern United States. To reaerosolize bulk samples, dust samples were either suspended in high purity water and particles generated by atomization, or samples were resuspended in dry air using a fluidized bed. Only the Canary Island sample generated from aqueous suspension showed appreciable hygroscopic growth at subsaturated conditions; all other samples exhibited diameter growth factors of less than 1.1 for relative humidities ≤90%. Despite their low hygroscopicities at subsaturated conditions, all samples activated as cloud droplets at supersaturations lower than required for insoluble particles. We suggest that the CCN activity of these mineral dusts are well-represented using the hygroscopicity parameter 0.01 ≤ κ ≤ 0.08.
Rapid raman spectroscopy of musculoskeletal tissue using a visible laser and an electron-multiplying CCD (EMCCD) detector

Background fluorescence can often complicate the use of Raman microspectroscopy in the study of musculoskeletal tissues. Such fluorescence interferences are undesirable as the Raman spectra of matrix and mineral phases can be used to differentiate between normal and pathological or microdamaged bone. Photobleaching with the excitation laser provides a non-invasive method for reducing background fluorescence, enabling 532 nm Raman hyperspectral imaging of bone tissue. The signal acquisition time for a 400 point Raman line image is reduced to 1-4 seconds using electronmultiplying CCD (EMCCD) detector, enabling acquisition of Raman images in less than 10 minutes. Rapid photobleaching depends upon multiple scattering effects in the tissue specimen and is applicable to some, but not all experimental situations.
Lower extremity lymphedema: Update: Pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment guidelines

Lower extremity lymphedema is an important medical issue which causes morbidity and is frequently seen by dermatologists. The subject has not been adequately addressed in dermatologic literature for many years. Primary lymphedema is caused by an inherent malfunction of the lymph-carrying channel, in which no direct outside cause can be found. Secondary lymphedema is caused by an outside force, such as tumors, scar tissue after radiation, or removal of lymph nodes, which results in dysfunction of the lymph-carrying channels. Treatment is based on rerouting the lymph fluid through remaining functional lymph vessels. This is accomplished through elevation, exercises, compression garments/devices, manual lymph drainage, and treatment is combined with good skin care practices.
Haemolytic activity of the alpha and theta toxins of Clostridium welchii.

The lecithinase and haemolytic activity of thirty strains of Cl. welchii isolated from food, faeces, and soil, was studied. The strains from foods produced smaller amounts of lecithinase and were, in general, less haemolytic than the strains isolated from soil and faeces. The haemolytic activity of Cl. welchii on erythrocytes from different animal species displayed considerable variation. Sheep erythrocytes were the most sensitive to the action of alpha toxin, whereas rabbit blood was most sensitive to haemolysis by theta toxin. The degree of haemolysis was also dependent upon the concentration of the enzyme, and temperature and length of incubation. The haemolytic activity of commercial lecithinase was observed to be similar to the haemolytic activity of the alpha toxin of Cl. welchii . This finding provides further evidence that the haemolytic and lecithinase activities of Cl. welchii are due to one substance, the alpha toxin. Exposure of commercial lecithinase to heat resulted in the destruction of its haemolytic properties.
Government transparency and policymaking

We argue that making lawmakers more accountable to the public by making it easier to identify their policy choices can have negative consequences. Specifically, we analyze a model of political agency with a single lawmaker and a representative voter. In our model, the lawmaker has better information than the voter about the appropriateness of alternative policy courses. In addition, the voter is uncertain about the incumbent's policy preferences – specifically, the voter is worried the incumbent is an ideologue. Our model suggests that when lawmakers expect their policy choices to be widely publicized, for those lawmakers sufficiently concerned about reelection, the desire to select policies that lead the public to believe they are unbiased will trump the incentive to select those policies that are best for their constituents. Hence, lawmakers who would do the right thing behind close doors may no longer do so when policy is determined in the open.
Social heroes: games as APIs for social interaction

Social Heroes is a pervasive social game in which players trade points by tagging each other using Twitter. Through the accumulation of tags and points in defined combinations, they earn achievement awards and gain the ability to create their own tags and achievements. Taking the metaphor of APIs from software development and drawing parallels between the way we model game state, Social Heroes attempts to provide a ludic interface for our personal relationships. The result is a system for social play surrounding identity, relationships, and communication.
Effect of cortisone on the turnover of gastric parietal cells in the mouse.

The effect of cortisone on the uptake and retention of thymidine-3H in the glandular stomach was measured. Radioautography was utilized to follow the effect of cortisone on nuclear labeling of parietal cells. Cortisone at approximately 1.5 and 20 mg/kg doses administered a) prior to and during or b) after thymidine-3H injections did not alter either the uptake or the rate of decrease of radioactivity in the glandular portion of the stomach. The number of labeled parietal cells, however, was reduced in both experiments. After the initial relatively rapid turnover of the labeled parietal cells, the survival curves followed for 63 days were almost parallel. When cortisone was administered 5 days after the thymidine-3H injections,injections, at peak labeling, a rapid reduction of a portion of the labeled parietal cells occurred, but thereafter the rate of decrease of the remaining cells seemed unaffected. Serial time grain count curves of the labeled parietal cells did not shift with time; hence no parietal c...
Low-power high-speed current mode logic using Tunnel-FETs

Current mode logic (CML) circuits have been widely used in high-speed data transceivers. The lower-voltage-swing makes the switching speed of CML much higher than the static logic can achieve, so it is worthy to adopt the CML circuits at the cost of higher power consumption in the high-speed applications. In order to obtain a better power efficiency (Frequency/power) in CML, it is critical to reduce the power consumption while maintaining the high operating frequency. This paper proposes an alternative approach by building the CML circuits with tunneling-field-effect-transistor (Tunnel FETs or TFETs) to achieve a high-throughput, low-voltage interface circuit design. By taking advantage of its steep subthreshold slope (less than 60 mV/dec), TFET exhibits the same on/off current ratio at the input voltage swing interval much lower than that of the MOSFETs, which enables the supply voltage scaling in CML circuits. For a design target data-rate (20 Gbps for multiplexer and 50 Gbps for buffer), our simulations show that the proposed TFET CML circuits are able to reduce the supply voltage from 0.6 V in conventional Si FinFET CML circuits to as low as 0.3 V while using the same constant tail current. As a result, a power consumption reduction of approximately 50% is achieved by the proposed TFET CML circuits, making the TFET CML approach a promising candidate for future low-power, high-performance applications.
Clinical Success of Short Dental Implants: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on Randomized Controlled Trials

formation in cells derived from newborn rat calvariae (De Oliveira et al, 2007). Based on this, the aim of our study was to analyze the gene expression of key bone markers during differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into osteoblasts grown on Ti with nanotopography. Machined Ti discs, 12 mm in diameter, were chemically treated with H2SO4/H2O2 for four hours. Untreated discs were used as control. Human MSCs were obtained from bone marrow of iliac crest under the rules of the Committee of Ethics in Human Research and expanded in growth media until subconfluence. Cells were then subcultured in an osteogenic medium (2x10cells/disc) on both nanostructured and control Ti discs for periods of up to 17 days. At 4, 10 and 17 days the gene expression of key bone markers was analyzed by real-time PCR. The obtained data were compared by Mann-Withney U-test, for independent samples (n=3). Nanostructured Ti increased (p#0.05) gene expression of alkaline phosphatase (Alp) at day 4, type I collagen (Col) and osteopontin (Opn) at day 10 (p#0.05) and Runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), osteocalcin (Oc), Opn and bone morphogenetic protein 4 (Bmp-4) at day 17. In conclusion, our results showed that nanotopography upregulates the gene expression of key bone markers during distinct phases of the osteoblast differentiation of human MSCs compared with untreated discs, suggesting that this surface modification may favor the osseointegration of Ti implants.
Environmental enrichment in adulthood eliminates neuronal death in experimental Parkinsonism

Idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) affects 2% of adults over 50 years of age. PD patients demonstrate a progressive loss of dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). One model that recapitulates the pathology of PD is the administration of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). Here we show that exposure to an enriched environment (EE) (a combination of exercise, social interactions and learning) or exercise alone during adulthood, totally protects against MPTP-induced Parkinsonism. Furthermore, changes in mRNA expression would suggest that increases in glia-derived neurotrophic factors, coupled with a decrease of dopamine-related transporters (e.g. dopamine transporter, DAT; vesicular monoamine transporter, VMAT2), contribute to the observed neuroprotection of dopamine neurons in the nigrostriatal system following MPTP exposure. This non-pharmacological approach presents significant implications for the prevention and/or treatment of PD.
Designing RNA structures: natural and artificial selection

Messenger RNA (mRNA) sequences serve as templates for proteins according to the triplet code, in which each of the 43 = 64 different codons (sequences of three consecutive nucleotide bases) in RNA either terminate transcription or map to one of the 20 different amino acids (or residues) which build up proteins. Because there are more codons than residues, there is inherent redundancy in the coding. Certain residues (e.g. tryptophan) have only a single corresponding codon, while other residues (e.g. arginine) have as many as six corresponding codons. This freedom implies that the number of possible RNA sequences coding for a given protein grows exponentially in the length of the protein.Thus nature has wide latitude to select among mRNA sequences which are informationally equivalent, but structurally and energetically divergent. In this paper, we explore how nature takes advantage of this freedom, and how to algorithmically design structures more energetically favorable than have been built through natural selection. In particular:Natural Selection, -- We perform the first large-scale computational experiment comparing the stability of mRNA sequences from a variety of organisms to random synonymous sequences which respect the codon preferences of the organism. This experiment was conducted on over 27,000 sequences from 34 microbial species with 36 genomic structures. We provide evidence that in all genomic structures highly stable sequences are disproportionately abundant, and in 19 of 36 cases highly unstable sequences are disproportionately abundant. This suggests that the stability of mRNA sequences is subject to natural selection.Artificial Selection -- Motivated by these biological results, we examine the algorithmic problem of designing the most stable and unstable mRNA sequences which code for a target protein. We give a polynomial-time dynamic programming solution to the most stable sequence problem (MSSP), which is asymptotically no more complex than secondary structure prediction. We show that the corresponding least stable sequence problem (LSSP) is NP-complete, and develop two heuristics for the construction of such sequences.We have implemented these algorithms, and present experimental results placing the high/low stability sequences in context with both wildtype and random encodings. Our implementation has already been applied to the design of RNA "code-words" creating little or no secondary structure in RNA computing [1, 12], and we anticipate a variety of other applications of this work to sequence design problems [16].
Studies on sex difference in resistance to ouabain in the albino rat

The presence of sex difference to ouabain, as judged b the average lethal doses (LD50 's) in male and in female rats, has been confirmed and demonstrated. The LD50 at different age levels for rats has been determined and is reported. The influence of factors such as methods and frequency of administration, solvent, nature of anesthetic, and castration on sex difference in resistance to ouabain have been intensively studied and the results of these investigations are also reported.
Minimax Pointwise Redundancy for Memoryless Models Over Large Alphabets

We study the minimax pointwise redundancy of universal coding for memoryless models over large alphabets and present two main results. We first complete studies initiated in Orlitsky and Santhanam deriving precise asymptotics of the minimax pointwise redundancy for all ranges of the alphabet size relative to the sequence length. Second, we consider the minimax pointwise redundancy for a family of models in which some symbol probabilities are fixed. The latter problem leads to a binomial sum for functions with superpolynomial growth. Our findings can be used to approximate numerically the minimax pointwise redundancy for various ranges of the sequence length and the alphabet size. These results are obtained by analytic techniques such as tree-like generating functions and the saddle point method.
Locomotion, incidental learning, and the selection

In three experiments, we examined the effects of locomotion and incidental learning on the formation of spatial memories. Participants learned the locations of objects in a room and then made judgments of relative direction, using their memories (e.g., “Imagine you are standing at the clock, facing the jar. Point to the book”). The experiments manipulated the number of headings experienced, the amount of interaction with the objects, and whether the participants were informed that their memories of the layout would be tested. When participants were required to maintain a constant body orientation during learning (Experiment 1), they represented the layout in terms of a single reference direction parallel to that orientation. When they were allowed to move freely in the room (Experiment 2), they seemed to use two orthogonal reference axes aligned with the walls of the enclosing room. Extensive movement under incidental learning conditions (Experiment 3) yielded a mixture of these two encoding strategies across participants. There was no evidence that locomotion, interaction with objects, or incidental learning led to the formation of spatial memories that differed from those formed from static viewing.
Revitalizing the scatter plot

Computer-assisted interactive visualization has become a valuable tool for discovering the underlying meaning of tabular data, including categorical tabular data. The capabilities of the more traditionally mundane kinds of pictures like scatter plots can be expanded to usefully depict categorical tabular data by incorporating annotations and transforms, and by integrating the extensions into an interactive system.
Effects of test-wiseness training on test anxiety, locus of control and reading achievement in elementary school children

Abstract Fifth and sixth grade children were randomly assigned to either a control or an experimental condition in a pretest, posttest, delayed posttest design. The experimental group received instruction and practice in test-taking, and the control group received a placebo treatment. Dependent variables were four components of test anxiety, locus of control and achievement. Factor analysis of pretest data supported I. Sarason's four-factor conceptualization of test anxiety (worry, test-irrelevant thinking, tension, and bodily reactions to test taking). Posttest data generally supported the hypothesized treatment effects. As predicted, children in the experimental condition had higher reading scores, greater internality, and less test-irrelevant thinking. The delayed posttest scores indicated a diminished effect on the achievement and internality measures; however, the amount of test-irrelevant thinking remained lower in the experimental condition.
The urban prospect: Re-examining the basic assumptions

Abstract This conference ∗ has convened because of a concern over the condition of human settlements throughout the world. The problems are myriad, ranging from the much publicized fiscal plight of New York to the chronic human poverty of Calcutta. The purpose of this series and the other activities of the Habitat Forum, the non-governmental proceedings paralleling the official conference, is to mobilize the thinking of individuals independently of governments. It is in this context that I introduce the topic of “Human Needs and Natural Limits”. Existing U.N. projections show urbanization trends continuing unabated over the final quarter of this century. A world which was 29% urban in 1950 and 39% in 1975 is projected to be half urban by the year 2000. Can this rate of urbanization continue? Our research at the Worldwatch Institute on food and energy prospects and the future employment situation raises doubts as to whether projected urbanization rates will materialize. We do not expect the trends of the quarter century now beginning to be a simple extrapolation of the one just ended. The basic premise that urbanization trends will continue unaltered, leading to a world of huge agglomerations by the end of this century, is underpinned by three implied assumptions: food surpluses produced in the surrounding countryside or imported from abroad will be sufficient to feed the burgeoning urban populations, cheap energy will be available to underwrite the additional energy cost of urban living, and sufficient productive employment will become available in the cites. Neither these underlying assumptions nor, therefore, the basic premise are likely to hold.
Copulation of Glyptotendipes (Phytotendipes) paripes Edwards

AN investigation of the ethology of this chironomid has been carried out by a team of investigators from the Entomological Research Center of Florida State Board of Health, and a report of the results is under preparation. During this work it was found that the males frequently carried a spermatophore between the claspers. This position is an artefact as the spermatophore is normally carried inside the genital tract of the male, but when killed it is ejaculated into a position which probably is the one used during the copulation.
Predictive validity of demographically adjusted normative standards for the HIV Dementia Scale.

The aim of the current study was to develop and validate demographically adjusted normative standards for the HIV Dementia Scale (HDS). Given the association between demographic variables and the HDS summary score, demographically adjusted normative standards may enhance the classification accuracy of the HDS. Demographically adjusted normative standards were derived from a sample of 182 seronegative healthy participants and were subsequently applied to a sample of 135 HIV-1 seropositive individuals with multidisciplinary case conference diagnoses of HIV-1-associated neurocognitive disorders (e.g., HIV-1-associated dementia and minor-cognitive/motor disorder) in proportions consistent with published epidemiologic reports. In the normative sample, age and education (and their interaction) emerged as the only demographic factors significantly associated with the HDS. In comparison to the traditional HDS cut score (raw score total ≤10), use of the demographically adjusted normative standards significantly im...
Maternal ethanol consumption and hyperactivity in cross-fostered offspring

Both cross-fostered and natural-mother raised male offspring whose dams had received 8.5 g/kg/day of ethanol by intubation during the entire gestational period exhibited significantly increased locomotor activity at 2 months of age, as compared with equivalent groups whose mothers received saline intubation during that period. Weight differences were excluded as a causal factor. This lends support to the hypothesis that the direct effect of alcohol on the fetus through placental transmission is the cause of increased activity or hyperactivity in offspring. The hypotheses of genetic transmission and maternal interaction effects received no support.
Calcium-Stimulated Protein Kinase Activity of the Hypodermal-Mesocarp Plasma Membrane from Preharvest-Mature and Postharvest Muskmelon

Vanadate-sensitive H+-ATPase and calcium-dependent protein kinase (kinase) activities of hypodermal-mesocarp plasma membrane (PM) vesicles isolated from preharvest mature, harvested, and stored muskmelons (Cucumis melo L. var. reticulatus Naud.) decreased following harvest. Kinase activity is markedly stimulated by Ca2+ and is responsible for phosphorylation of many melon PM proteins. Specifically, a PM protein band at 97 kDa, immunodetected as H+-ATPase, appeared phosphorylated in mature fruits, but phosphorylation and the sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) gel protein band were not detected in PM from harvested or stored fruit. Kinase peptide, immunodetected at 63 kDa, was present in all PM tissues, but kinase phosphorylation activity decreased with fruit harvest and storage. However, PM kinase activity in the presence of exogenous Ca2+ and histone III−S was greatly increased in harvested, and stored fruit, indicating both a stimulatory effect of Ca2+ and a loss of a suitable endogenous kinase substrate in po...
Two consecutive yearly applications of orthene medicaps increase protection of grand fir against Western Spruce budworm

Abstract A random sample of Douglas-fir, Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca (Beissn.) Franco, and grand fir, Abies grandis (Dougl.), in Idaho in the United States, treated with Orthene Medicaps (acephate) in 1979 was treated again in 1980. One year after the second treatment in 1980, twice-treated (treated in 1979 and 1980) and once-treated (treated only in 1979) grand fir had significantly fewer western spruce budworm larvae per 100 buds than did control trees, and twice-treated grand fir had significantly fewer larvae than did once-treated. Defoliation of new shoots on twice-treated and once-treated grand fir was significantly less than that on control trees; defoliation did not differ significantly between twice-treated and once-treated trees for either species. Residues of acephate and methamidophos, its metabolite, monitored in midcrown foliage were detected 1 year after treatment.
On the interpretation of homodyne and heterodyne laser mode spectra

Abstract Homodyne and heterodyne techniques provide a useful means of obtaining high resolution data on laser mode structure. Caution is required in frequency shift methods, however, to avoid misinterpreting the results. Experiments with a high gain 3.51 μ xenon laser are described.
Genital Chlamydial Infection in Female and Male College Students

Abstract A review of more than 1,000 medical records of the University of South Florida students screened for gonorrhea, Chlamydia trachomatis, and syphilis during a period of 1 year in 1986–1987 showed genital chlamydial infection to be the most prevalent of these sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Among normal asymptomatic female students with no known recent STD contact, 6.9% had a positive chlamydial enzyme immunoassay. Female students with vaginal symptoms had a greater tendency to be positive, and 47.8% of those with a recent STD contact tested positive for chlamydia. Males with a clinical diagnosis of nonspecific urethritis had a 50% probability of having a positive chlamydia test. Data from this study clearly support a need for a screening policy and educational program on the campus to improve control of chlamydial infection.
Macrocyclic dinuclear Zn(II) complexes: synthesis, structure and hydrolysis of tris(p-nitrophenyl) phosphate

A series of mono- and dinuclear zinc complexes of 3,6,9,17,20,23-hexaaza-29,30-dihydroxy-13,27-dimethyl-tricyclo[23,3,1 1 1 , 1 5 ]-triaconta-1(28),11,13,15(30),25,26-hexaene (H 2 L or BDBPH) have been defined in solution by potentiometry. The crystal structure of [Zn 2 C 2 6 H 4 0 N 6 O 2 (CH 3 OH) 2 ].Br 2 has been determined by X-ray. Each zinc ion is coordinated to three nitrogen atoms, a bridged-phenolic oxygen atom, and a methanolic oxygen atom, which define a six-coordinated octahedron. Bond lengths of Zn N are in the range of 2.104(3) 2.120(3) A and distances between Zn and O (bridged-phenolic oxygen) are 2.052(2), 2.062(2) A. respectively. The dinuclear complexes: [Zn 2 L] 2 and [Zn 2 L(OH)] + play crucial roles in hydrolytic reaction of tris(4-nitrophenyl)phosphate. A possible mechanism showed that [Zn 2 L(OH)] + acts as a nucleophile and [Zn 2 L] 2 + stabilizes the formation of the intermediate: [Zn 2 L BNP].
Ultraviolet 2D fluorescence mapping system for the imaging of head and neck tumors

Fluorescence images of ex vivo head and neck tissues were acquired at multiple combinations of emission and excitation wavelengths. The wavelength combinations were selected to map different tissue molecules and structures whose fluorescence signatures have bene used to detect cancer. Fluorescence maps were generated by ratioing fluorescence image intensities. These ratio maps enhanced the ability to recognize regions of tumor and other features in tissues. Histopathological analysis was performed on the tissue samples. Location and shape of features observed in the fluorescence images were correlated with structures observed in histopathology.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Therapeutic targets in cancer cell metabolism and autophagy

The metabolism of cancer cells is reprogrammed both by oncogene signaling and by dysregulation of metabolic enzymes. The resulting altered metabolism supports cellular proliferation and survival but leaves cancer cells dependent on a continuous supply of nutrients. Thus, many metabolic enzymes have become targets for new cancer therapies. Recently, two processes—expression of specific isoforms of metabolic enzymes and autophagy—have been shown to be crucial for the adaptation of tumor cells to changes in nutrient availability. An increasing number of approved and experimental therapeutics target these two processes. A better understanding of the molecular basis of cancer-associated metabolic changes may lead to improved cancer therapies.