cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Burst Suppression Electroencephalogram Pattern in the Newborn: Predicting the Outcome

A neonatal burst suppression electroencephalogram (EEG) is usually associated with an ominous prognosis. It is controversial whether a reactive burst suppression pattern (ie, a burst suppression pattern that can be interrupted by stimulation) is predictive of a better outcome. We retrospectively studied 22 full-term newborns with burst suppression EEGs to examine their functional outcome. Follow-up (3 to 9 years) was by record review and telephone interview. On the basis of initial EEG pattern and prognosis, three groups were identified post hoc: group 1 (n = 16) had initially nonreactive burst suppression EEGs that remained abnormal; 11 patients died, 4 remained profoundly impaired (nonambulatory, nonverbal), and 1 was moderately impaired (unassisted ambulation, limited speech). Group 2 (n = 3) had initially nonreactive burst suppression EEGs that later improved substantially (within a mean of 7 weeks). At follow-up (3 to 8 1/2 years), each child was waLking (one with braces), talking, and enrolled in special education. Group 3 (n = 3) had reactive burst suppression EEGs initially. At follow-up (ages 3 1/2 to 9 years), each child was walking unassisted and speaking in sentences. Two children in group 3 were of preschool age, and the third was in a special needs program. Although most newborns with nonreactive burst suppression EEGs have a dire neurologic outcome, of those in whom the EEG improves early, the prognosis may be slightly more favorable. Infants with reactive burst suppression EEGs during the acute phase of illness appear to have the best prognosis.
An in vitro adherence assay reveals that Helicobacter pylori exhibits cell lineage-specific tropism in the human gastric epithelium

Helicobacter pylori is a microaerophilic bacterium found in the stomach of asymptomatic humans as well as patients with acid peptic disease and gastric adenocarcinoma. We have developed an in situ adherence assay to examine the cell lineage-specific nature of binding of this organism and to characterize the nature of cell surface receptors that recognize its adhesin. Fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled H. pylori strains were bound to surface mucous cells present in the pit region of human and rat gastric units but not to mucous neck, parietal, or chief cell lineages present in the glandular domains of these units. Binding was abolished by proteinase K treatment of tissue sections and by pretreatment of the bacteria with bovine submaxillary gland mucin, a rich source of fucosylated and sialylated carbohydrates. Several lines of evidence suggest that binding to surface mucous cells is not dependent upon terminal nonsubstituted alpha 2,3- and alpha 2,6-linked sialic acids in the adhesin receptor: (i) binding was not inhibited by incubating H. pylori strains with sialylated glycoconjugates such as fetuin and free sialyllactose; (ii) immunohistochemical stainings using the sialic acid-specific Sambucus nigra and Maackia amurensis lectins and the cholera toxin B subunit did not detect any sialylated glycoconjugates in these epithelial cells; and (iii) binding was not sensitive to metaperiodate under conditions that selectively cleaved carbons 8 and 9 of terminal nonmodified sialic acids. A role for fucosylated epitopes in the glycoprotein(s) that mediate binding of H. pylori to surface mucous cells was suggested by the facts that this lineage coexpresses the adhesin receptor and major fucosylated histo-blood group antigens, that monoclonal antibodies specific for histo-blood group antigens H, B, and Leb block binding, and that the lectin Ulex europaeus type 1 agglutinin, which is specific for alpha-L-fucose, also bound to the same cells that bound the bacteria. Furthermore, human colostrum secretory IgA inhibited adhesion in a metaperiodate- and alpha-L-fucosidase-sensitive but neuraminidase-independent fashion. The in situ adherence assay should be useful in further characterizing the H. pylori adhesin and its receptor and for identifying therapeutically useful compounds that inhibit strain-specific and cell lineage-specific binding of this human pathogen.
Sports policy in Kenya: deconstruction of colonial and post-colonial conditions

Sport policy is a primary organ that nations utilise in their attempt to meet national development goals; it provides guidelines and operational principles that governments and sport organisations can use in sports governance. The purpose of this paper was to examine the extent to which the general and political trends were reflected in sports policy in Kenya, with specific focus on (1) sport and public policy; (2) sport professionalisation; and (3) the quest for new sport policy. The sport and public policy section focuses on the evolution of sports from pre-colonial period to early 1990s, while sport professionalisation discusses the emergence of commercialisation of athletics. The internalisation of sports evokes a new paradigm in sports governance that required Kenya government to formulate new sport policy, which culminated in the enactment of the Sport Act of 2013. Implications for this study rest on the articulation of colonial and post-colonial conditions, which have informed contemporary sport la...
Posttranslational Regulation of Drosophila PERIOD Protein by Protein Phosphatase 2A

The posttranscriptional mechanisms that control the cycling of circadian clock protein levels are not known. Here we demonstrate a role for protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) in the cyclic expression of the PER protein. PP2A regulatory subunits TWS and WDB target PER and stabilize it in S2 cells. In adult fly heads, expression of tws cycles robustly under control of the circadian clock. Hypomorphic tws mutants show delayed accumulation of PER, while overexpression of tws in clock neurons produces shorter, weaker rhythms. Reduction of PP2A activity reduces PER expression in central clock neurons and results in long periods and arrhythmia. In addition, overexpression of the PP2A catalytic subunit results in loss of behavioral rhythms and constitutive nuclear expression of PER. PP2A also affects PER phosphorylation in vitro and in vivo. We propose that the posttranslational mechanisms that drive cycling of PER require the rhythmic expression of PP2A.
Petri net based simulation of construction schedules

Scheduling of a construction project requires: a) hierarchical decomposition of the project; b) incorporation of risk and uncertainty in the activity time and cost estimates; and c) modeling of dynamically allocated resources. Traditional network techniques that are being currently used by the construction industry provide limited modeling versatility and are ineffective in modeling a dynamic and stochastic system such as a construction project. In this paper a description of a hybrid scheduling technique that utilizes Petri Nets is provided. Petri Nets are graphical and mathematical modeling tools that can be used to perform static and dynamic analysis of systems. Under the proposed technique transitions and places, the two key elements of a Generalized Stochastic Petri Net (GSPN) are used to model the work tasks in a construction project. This automatically allows the incorporation of risk and uncertainty in the time and cost estimates of work tasks. Dynamic modeling of resources required to accomplish various construction work tasks is performed in the proposed system by using the concept of colored tokens and fusion places. Hierarchical transitions allow a systematic top-down breakdown of a construction project. The paper summarizes the steps required to perform scheduling of construction projects under the proposed hybrid technique and highlights its advantages. The objective of this paper is to illustrate the dynamic simulation capabilities of the proposed Petri Net based construction scheduling technique.
Landscape impacts from valuing core area in national forest planning

Abstract Forest core area was valued in a mathematical programming model to support decision-making for the most recent USDA Forest Service plans for national forests in Minnesota. A comparison of management schedules developed by the model to a strategy of simply designating pre-allocated areas for large patch production shows that valuing core area substantially increases the average patch size of mature forest. Analyses of maps of management schedules over the 100-year planning horizon using Fragstats, a computer program for spatial analysis, show substantial differences in spatial measures such as the overall distribution of patch sizes and edge-to-patch-area ratios. Model results reflect the fact that increasing patch sizes improves the efficiency of producing core area because less area of mature forest is then needed for buffer area to protect core area. Although the model cannot address patch size directly, results point to locations where large patches can likely be produced without large sacrifices in other objectives. Compared to other spatial modeling approaches, the approach is appealing because emphasis is on forest conditions rather than the size of harvested areas. Results demonstrate that multiple model runs can give forest planners insight regarding tradeoffs between spatial management objectives and other management objectives for areas as large as a national forest.
Bioengineered coagulation factor VIII enables long-term correction of murine hemophilia A following liver-directed adeno-associated viral vector delivery

Clinical data support the feasibility and safety of adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors in gene therapy applications. Despite several clinical trials of AAV-based gene transfer for hemophilia B, a unique set of obstacles impede the development of a similar approach for hemophilia A. These include (i) the size of the factor VIII (fVIII) transgene, (ii) humoral immune responses to fVIII, (iii) inefficient biosynthesis of human fVIII, and (iv) AAV vector immunity. Through bioengineering approaches, a novel fVIII molecule, designated ET3, was developed and shown to improve biosynthetic efficiency 10- to 100-fold. In this study, the utility of ET3 was assessed in the context of liver-directed, AAV-mediated gene transfer into hemophilia A mice. Due to the large size of the expression cassette, AAV-ET3 genomes packaged into viral particles as partial genome fragments. Despite this potential limitation, a single peripheral vein administration of AAV-ET3 into immune-competent hemophilia A mice resulted in correction of the fVIII deficiency at lower vector doses than previously reported for similarly oversized AAV-fVIII vectors. Therefore, ET3 appears to improve vector potency and mitigate at least one of the critical barriers to AAV-based clinical gene therapy for hemophilia A.
Pd-N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) organic silica : synthesis and application in carbon-carbon coupling reactions

Abstract The first Pd–N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complex in the form of organic silica was prepared using sol–gel method and its application in Heck and Suzuki reactions was demonstrated. These C–C coupling reactions proceeded efficiently under the influence of microwave irradiation, with excellent yield, without any change in catalytic activity for at least five reaction cycles, with negligible Pd concentration in the end product.
Cattle MIC is a ligand for the activating NK cell receptor NKG2D

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I chain-related (MIC) genes encode molecules that are expressed in response to stress, signalling immune system cells primarily via the activating receptor NKG2D. We investigated the expression of receptors for MIC in lymphocyte subsets found in peripheral blood, lymph node and gut in cattle and demonstrated their presence on natural killer (NK) cells, gammadelta T cells and CD8(+) T cells. Recognition of MIC by NKG2D was formally demonstrated using recombinant protein and an ELISA. Staining with a cross-reactive monoclonal antibody recognising both human and cattle MIC showed that MIC is constitutively expressed within cattle intestinal epithelium. A functional response to soluble MIC was observed in receptor-bearing cells in blood, lymph node and gut, the latter requiring relatively high levels of MIC to trigger a response. Results suggest that NKG2D is a functionally important activating receptor in cattle.
Reactivation of chick erythrocyte nuclei in heterokaryons with temperature-sensitive Chinese hamster cells.

Chinese hamster cell line K12 is temperature-sensitive for the initiation of DNA synthesis. K12 cells synchronized by serum deprivation were collected in early G1(G0).Heterokaryons were formed by fusing chick erythrocytes with serum-starved K12 cells through the use of UV-irradiated Sendai virus. At the permissive temperature (36.5‡ C), erythrocyte nuclei in heterokaryons enlarged, the chromatin dispersed, and erythrocyte nuclei synthesized DNA at about the same time as the K12 nuclei. At the restrictive temperature (41‡ C), erythrocyte nuclei enlarged, but neither erythrocyte nor K12 nuclei initiated DNA synthesis. When erythrocyte nuclei were fused with Wg-1A cells, the wild-type parent for ts K12 cells, both kinds of nuclei synthesized DNA at 36.5‡ C and 41‡ C. Activation of erythrocyte nuclei was inefficient in heterokaryons incubated in low-serum medium. The results indicate that serum factors and a cellular function defined by the K12 mutation are required for activation of chick erythrocyte nuclear DNA synthesis.
Investigation of metal attachment to polystyrenes in matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization

Cationization is essential to the matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometric analysis of a variety of synthetic polymers. This work studied polystyrene cationization in MALDI using the salts of eight different metals. It was found that only the salts of silver, copper, and palladium produced good metal—polystyrene cation signals. More interestingly, it was observed that MALDI could also produce metal-rich cluster cations and that the presence of polystyrenes tended to suppress formation of the metal-rich cluster cations. Based on these results and others, we propose that polystyrene cationization may proceed through gas-phase metal attachment reactions under the conditions used. With this argument, we were able to better explain a reported experimental observation that showed a strong cation concentration effect on measured molecular weight distributions of polystyrenes.
Surface finish effect on fatigue behavior of forged steel

Abstract The overall objective of this study was to conduct a systematic and comprehensive experimental investigation to evaluate and quantify forged surface finish effect at several hardness levels (19 HRC, 25 HRC, 35 HRC, and 45 HRC) on fatigue behavior of a commonly used forged steel. Specimens were subjected to reversed cantilever bending and rotating bending fatigue. Two surface conditions were evaluated, a smooth-polished surface finish to be used as the reference surface, and a hot-forged surface finish. The heating methods used for forging were gas furnace heating as well as induction heating, to allow comparison of the two heating methods, as decarburization depth differs between the two methods. Since shot blasting is commonly used as a forged surface cleaning process with the additional benefit of inducing compressive residual stress, the hot-forged surface finish was evaluated with and without shot blasting. Limited amount of testing was also conducted to investigate the effect of the flash left by the forging process. Fatigue test results indicate that the historical data commonly used for the as-forged surface condition are overly conservative. New forged surface finish factors and curves as a function of hardness or tensile strength and fatigue life were developed based on experimental data.
Technology and preferences in the Boserup model of agricultural growth

Abstract This paper is an attempt to formalize the model of intensification of land use by Boserup (1965). Boserup has argued that population density is a precondition for adoption of intensive techniques of land use. Unless population pressure is high, subsistence cultivators are not motivated to give up entensive but highly productive techniques for more intensive but less productive techniques. This paper argues that contrary to what has been implied by some recent papers on the subject, the crux of Boserup's model is a description of technology rather than behavior. The first part of the paper shows that the proper formalization of Boserup's description of technology is a convex but not strictly convex production set. The second part considers a complete model in which utility maximizing cultivators faced with this technology choose optimal consumption and labor supply for given levels of population density. It is shown that when two techniques coexist, a quasi-concave utility function always results in intensification and when only a single technique is in use, the necessary and sufficient condition for intensification is that the marginal rate of substitution between consumption and leisure be elastic with respect to consumption.
MADE IN THE WORLD: THE GLOBAL SPREAD OF PRODUCTION

We are moving rapidly into an age of transnational manufacturing, where things made in one country are shipped across national borders for further work, storage, sales, repair, remanufacture, recycle, or disposal; but our laws, policies, and management practices are slow in adjusting to this reality. They are often based on inaccurate premises. This article examines these premises and suggests what they imply for management of manufacturing. First, a common view is that manufacturing investment in the industrialized nations is declining and shifting to the developing countries. This is not true. Investment in manufacturing in both industrialized and developing nations is increasing and, in absolute value, there is a lot more investment in industrialized countries than in developing countries. Second, a related view argued by many is that manufacturing does not have a bright future in the rich countries. I argue that manufacturers can thrive in the industrialized countries if they learn how to add more value for the end users. They must go beyond productivity improvement to producing more technologically advanced and customized products, responding faster to changing customer demands, and appending more services to their products. Doing all this is easier in the industrialized countries because the needed skills and infrastructure are more readily available there. Third, another potentially misleading notion is related to why companies invest in manufacturing abroad. Access to low-cost production is not the main motivation in most cases; rather it is access to market. Superior global manufacturers use their foreign factories for much more: to serve their worldwide customers better, preempt competitors, work with sophisticated suppliers, collect critical marketing, technological, and competitive intelligence, and attract talented individuals into the company. They build integrated global production networks, not collections of disjointed factories that are spread internationally. Thus their investment in manufacturing abroad is not a substitute for investment at home, it is a complement. Building and managing such integrated global factor networks is the next challenge in manufacturing.
Tundra burning in 2007 - Did sea ice retreat matter?

Abstract The goal of this study was to assess the importance of the 2007 sea ice retreat for hydrologic conditions on the Alaskan North Slope, and how this may have influenced the outbreak of tundra fires in this region. This study concentrates on two years, 2007 and 1996, with different arctic sea ice conditions and tundra fire activity. The year of 2007 is characterized by a low summer sea ice extent (second lowest) and high tundra fire activity, while 1996 had high sea ice extent, and few tundra fires. Atmospheric lateral boundary forcing from the NCEP/NCAR Reanalysis drove the Weather Research and Forecast (WRF) model, along with varying sea ice surface forcing designed to delineate the role of sea ice. WRF runs successfully reproduced the differences between 1996 and 2007. Surprisingly, replacing sea ice conditions in 1996 run by those from 2007 and vice versa (2007 run with 1996 sea ice) did not change the overall picture. The atmospheric circulation in August of 1996 included a significant low-pressure system over the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas. However, in 2007, a high-pressure system dominated the circulation over the Beaufort Sea. It is argued that this difference in large-scale patterns, rather than retreat of sea ice, was responsible for anomalously dry and warm atmospheric conditions over the North Slope in summer and autumn 2007, suitable for high tundra fire activity. Circulation in 2012 is contrasted with that in 2007 to further stress its importance for local weather on the North Slope.
Combined Quantum Chemical/RRKM-ME Computational Study of the Phenyl + Ethylene, Vinyl + Benzene, and H + Styrene Reactions†

Reactions of phenyl radicals with ethylene (R1), vinyl radicals with benzene (R2), and H-atoms with styrene (R3) are important prototype processes pertinent to the formation and degradation of aromatic hydrocarbons in high-temperature environments. Detailed mechanisms for these reactions are elucidated with the help of quantum chemical calculations at the G2M level of theory. Reactions R1−R3 initially produce chemically activated intermediates interconnected by isomerization pathways on the extended [C8H9] potential energy surface. All kinetically important transformations of these isomeric C8H9 radicals are explicitly characterized and utilized in the construction of multichannel kinetic models for reactions R1−R3. Accurate thermochemistry is evaluated for the key intermediates from detailed conformational and isodesmic analyses. An examination of the G2M energetic parameters for reactions R1−R3 and for briefly revisited C6H5 + C2H2 and C6H6 + H addition reactions reveals common theoretical deficiencies ...
Overexpression and large-scale purification of recombinant hamster polymorphic arylamine N-acetyltransferase as a dihydrofolate reductase fusion protein

N-Acetyltransferases (NATs) are enzymes that catalyze the detoxification and/or bioactivation of a variety of xenobiotics. Rapid kinetic, biophysical, structural, and bioactivation studies on NATs require quantities of purified enzyme capable of being obtained only through recombinant DNA technology. This laboratory has previously developed a protein expression and purification system in which NATs are expressed as proteins fused to a FLAG octapeptide followed by a thrombin-cleavage site to allow liberation of the rNAT. Typically, however, only 0.5-1.5 mg of the recombinant NAT's could be readily purified in a single isolation sequence by immunoaffinity chromatography. Therefore, the expression system was modified by inserting the L54F dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) mutant gene sequence between the FLAG octapeptide and the thrombin-cleavage site. Expression was carried out with TOPP3 Escherichia coli cells. The new purification methodology utilizes the unique pH dependence of binding to a methotrexate (MTX)-affinity column by the L54F DHFR mutant. Unfortunately, the affinity chromatography strategy did not work satisfactorily. Although the specific activity of the purified rNAT2 was comparable to that of NAT2 obtained from hamster tissue, only 3% of the activity was recovered. The apparent cause of the low recovery is the unanticipated irreversible binding of rNAT2 to MTX. Ion-exchange chromatography was investigated as an alternative purification method. An initial DEAE anion-exchange column resulted in partial purification of the fusion protein. The fusion protein was cleaved with thrombin and reapplied to a DEAE anion-exchange column. The second DEAE column resulted in not only the separation of rNAT2-70D from FLAG-L54F DHFR, but also the purification of rNAT2-70D to near homogeneity. Application of the nearly homogeneous rNAT2-70D to a gel-filtration column resulted in recovery of homogeneous protein. The ion-exchange method of purifying rNAT2-70D is inexpensive and simple and yields more than 8 mg of pure enzyme from 1 liter of cell culture.
Thematic Mapper Image Quality: Registration, Noise, And Resolution

This paper provides an assessment of Thematic Mapper data quality in terms of band-to-band registration, periodic noise, and spatial resolution. Based on the Thematic Mapper images analyzed so far, the band-to-band registration accuracy is very good. For bands within the same focal plane, the mean misregistrations are well within the specification, 0.2 pixel, except for the thermal band. The thermal band was misregistered by three pixels in each direction in early data products. The error in the across-scan direction was close to zero in later data products. For bands between the cooled and uncooled focal planes, there was a consistent mean misregistration of 0.5 pixels along-scan and 0.2-0.3 pixels across-scan, larger than the specified 0.3 pixel error for bands between focal planes. An analysis of the standard deviation of the misregistration indicated all band combinations would meet the registration specifications if the mean misregistrations were removed by the data processing software. Analysis of the periodic noise in one image indicated a noise component in bands 1-4 with a spatial frequency of 0.31 cycles/pixel. Other lower amplitude periodic components were also present. The periodic noise components obscured detail in areas of low contrast. Modulation transfer function (MTF) analysis in a comparative mode showed no difference in MTF between the forward and backward scans. The difference in MTF between radiometrically corrected data and geometrically corrrected data appeared to be attributable largely to the cubic convolution resampling used to derive the geometrically corrected data.
Auditory Awakening Thresholds in Rem and Nrem Sleep Stages

The auditory awakening thresholds of the major electroencephalographically defined sleep stages were compared. A modification of the method of constant stimuli was used in an apparently successful attempt to minimize the incorporation of the experimental stimuli into the mental activity of the sleeper. A total of 319 experimental trials were distributed among seven human Ss who served for about six experimental nights each. The sequence and timing of experimental trials were counterbalanced to control for nights, habituation, amount of accumulated sleep, and amount of sleep since last awakening. The results showed approximately equal awakening thresholds during REM periods (the rapid eye movement stage of sleep) and stage 2 (low voltage EEG and 12 to 14 cps “sleep spindles”). Both these stages had lower awakening thresholds than delta sleep (large slow EEG waves). Awakening thresholds became lower with accumulated sleep, independent of sleep stage. There were no significant stage independent relationships...
Parallel synthesis of diarylureas and their evaluation as inhibitors of insulin-like growth factor receptor.

Diarylurea (DAU) compounds, particularly species composed of a heteroaryl ring system conjugated through a urea linkage to a substituted arene, were previously identified by the screening of a diverse chemical library to be active against the insulin growth factor receptor (IGF-1R). DAU compounds 4{a,b} were synthesized in parallel by the coupling of aryl amines 2{a} with aryl isocyanates 3{b}. Preparative RP-HPLC purification was found necessary to remove an impurity 5{b}, the symmetric urea resulting from the hydrolytic degradation of aryl isocyanates. Two libraries of DAU compounds were prepared to perform preliminary optimization of the two-ring systems for inhibitory activity against IGF-1R. In the first library, we explored a series of heteroaryl ring systems and found the 4-aminoquinaldine ring system to be optimal among those evaluated. The second library fixed the 4-aminoquinaldine ring system and we evaluated a series of substituted arenes conjugated to it. Overall, eight compounds based on the ...
Cova functions for unevenly and noncorrespondingly spaced process

Abstract A cova function is a representation of coherency of two time series, which is defined for unevenly and noncorrespondingly spaced series akin to the cross-variogram of geostatistics. Whereas cross-variogram calculation implicitly assumes that data are sampled at the same points in both processes, the cova functions introduced here are defined also for unevenly and noncorrespondingly spaced data processes. Residual cova functions are valid for nonstationary time series. In the program COVA, a FORTRAN 77-code is given for time series. As a demonstration, COVA is applied to simulated processes and thereafter used to compare climatological data with marine-geochemical data in order to investigate common variational patterns underlying the observations through time.
An analysis of communication mode in group support systems research

Group support systems (GSS) have been the subject of many investigations and meta-analyses over the past decade. This study presents, summarizes, and analyzes the results of 145 experiments that used communication mode as an independent variable. The results show that the modal outcome for GSSs compared to Face-to-Face (FtF) methods is "no difference," while the overall percentage of positive effects for results that compare GSS to FtF is 29.2%. The results suggest that the use of a GSS improves decision quality, depth of analysis, equality of participation, and satisfaction over manual methods. Additionally, more detailed analysis suggests that task type, GSS type and the interaction of both have a moderating effect on adaptation and outcome factors. Specifically, groups working on idea generation tasks using GSS decision room technology improve to 39.6% (GSS>FtF) effect. Conversely, asynchronous computer-mediated communication (CMC) groups working on decision making tasks improved to 46.4% (GSS>FtF) effect. FtF groups show higher levels of consensus and perceived quality, communicate more, and are more efficient (requiring less time to complete the tasks). No differences are observed between FtF and GSS groups on satisfaction and usability.
Effect of phentolamine administration into the amygdala complex of rats on time-dependent memory processes

Administration of the α-adrenergic antagonist phentolamine into the amygdala complex of Sprague-Dawley rats was observed to alter memory processes in a time-dependent manner. Bilateral administration of phentolamine (8.5 nmole) into the amygdala immediately after training significantly increased retention of passive avoidance conditioning. Delayed administration of the same dose 6 hr after training did not significantly alter retention. In addition, whereas post-training administration of the β-adrenergic antagonist propranolol (34.0 nmole) into the amygdala significantly decreased retention, concurrent administration of phentolamine (8.5 nmole) and propranolol (34.0 nmole) resulted in normal retention. The effects of α- and β-adrenergic antagonist administration on memory processes are discussed in terms of a possible opposing effect of these agents on norepinephrine function within the amygdala complex.
SEQUENTIAL FIXED-PRECISION ESTIMATION IN STOCHASTIC LINEAR REGRESSION MODELS

ABSTRACT The goal of this article is to address the problem of fixed-precision estimation of parameters in a linear regression setup with stochastic regressors. First in the case of a linear regression model where the regressor variable and the random errors have independent Gaussian distributions, sequential sampling schemes are proposed for fixed proportional accuracy estimation and fixed-width interval estimation of the regression-slope based on a Chebyshev inequality approach. The asymptotic second-order efficiency of these procedures is then established using the techniques developed in Aras and Woodroofe (1993)[2]. Asymptotic second-order expansions are derived for a lower bound of P (relative error < preassigned bound) in the fixed proportional accuracy estimation case and that of the coverage-probability in the interval-estimation case. In both cases, the possibility of relaxing the Gaussian assumption is explored, leading to a reconsideration of Martinsek's (1995)[15] fixed proportional accuracy ...
A simple mini-method to extract DNA directly from soil for use with polymerase chain reaction amplification

A rapid, simple method is used that yields amplifiable fungal and bacterial DNAs directly from soil. DNA is separated from soil contaminants by electrophoresis in low-melting-temperature agarose and used directly in polymerase chain reaction amplification. Fifty 20-mg samples can be processed in one day. Fragments of 16S and 18S ribosomal RNAs are amplified by polymerase chain reaction with DNA extracted from the soil. Universal primers are used that are capable of amplifying ribosomal DNA from a wide variety of bacteria and fungi. Eubacterial and fungal primers are used that are capable of distinguishing between eubacterial and fungal DNAs. Restriction enzyme digests are performed on amplified DNA fragments from five soil samples.
Hyaluronidase Expression in Human Skin Fibroblasts

Hyaluronidase activity has been detected for the first time in normal human dermal fibroblasts (HS27), as well as in fetal fibroblasts (FF24) and fibrosarcoma cells (HT1080). Enzymatic activity was secreted predominantly into the culture media, with minor amounts of activity associated with the cell layer. In both classes of fibroblasts, hyaluronidase expression was confluence-dependent, with highest levels of activity occurring in quiescent, post-confluent cells. However, in the fibrosarcoma cell cultures, expression was independent of cell density. The enzyme had a pH optimum of 3.7 and on hyaluronan substrate gel zymography, activity occurred as a single band corresponding to an approximate molecular size of 57 kDa. The enzyme could be immunoprecipitated in its entirety using monoclonal antibodies raised against Hyal-1, human plasma hyaluronidase. PCR confirmed that fibroblast hyaluronidase was identical to Hyal-1. The conclusion by previous investigators using earlier technologies that fibroblasts do not contain hyaluronidase activity should be reevaluated.
Three Women Writers and the “Jesuit Sublime”: Or, Jesuits in Love

The return of the repressed “Catholic” has been lurking at the edge of English literary consciousness since early modern times, especially in the shorthand form of the plotting Jesuit. In its combined familiarity and mystery, grandeur and meanness, legitimacy and treason, “the Jesuit” even constitutes a figure for the Sublime. Novels by Thackeray, Kingsley, and Shorthouse locate the Jesuit in the political history of the nation, as the seducer of young noblemen. But this essay studies lesser-known novels by Elizabeth Inchbald, Frances Trollope, and Mary Arnold Ward in which the plotting Jesuit, himself an object of allure in his un-Anglican “reserve” and his pre-Reformation Englishness, is suborned by his own humanity into the forbidden sublimities of love. As political threat and psychological object of desire, the Jesuit-in-love also represents Anglicanism's flirtation with Catholicism and with Queerness, his defeat/conversion sealing its commitment to its heterosexual priesthood and its post-Catholic modernity.
Gravitational effects on flame spread through non-homogeneous gas layers

Flame propagation through non-uniformly premixed gases occurs in several common combustion situations. Compared with the more usual limiting cases of diffusion or uniformly premixed flames, the practical concern of non-uniform premixed gas flame spread has received scant attention, especially regarding the potential role of gravity. This research examines a system in which a fuel concentration gradient exists normal to the direction of flame propagation and parallel with the gravitational vector. This paper presents experimental and numerical results for flame spread through alcohol/air layers formed by diffusive evaporation of liquid fuel at temperatures between the flash-point temperature and the stoichiometric temperature. A gallery, which had either the top and/or one end open to maintain constant pressure, surrounded the test section. The numerical simulations and experiments conducted include normal and microgravity cases. An interferometer was used, in normal gravity only, to determine the initial fuel layer thickness and fuel concentration distribution before and during flame spread. Both the model and experimental results show that the absence of gravity results in a faster spreading flame, by as much as 80% depending on conditions. This is the opposite effect to that predicted by an independent model reported earlier in this symposium series. Determination of the flame height showed that the flame was taller in microgravity, an effect also seen in the results of the numerical model reported here. Having a gallery lid results in faster flame spread, an effect more pronounced at normal gravity, demonstrating the importance of enclosure geometry. The interferometry and numerical model both indicated a redistribution of fuel vapor ahead of the flame. Numerical simulations show that, despite the rapid flame spread in these systems, the presence of gravity strongly affects the overall flow field in the gallery.
Viscosities of nonelectrolyte liquid mixtures. II. Binary and quaternary systems of some n -alkanes

This paper is the second in a series of viscosity and density studies on multicomponent mixtures of n-alkanes from 303 to 338 K. Reported here are the results of binary mixtures of n-tetracosane + n-octane as well as quaternary mixtures of n-tetracosane + n-octane + n-decane + n-hexane at 318.16, 328.16, and 338.16 K. Viscosities were determined using a standard U-tube Ostwald viscometer, and densities were determined using a flask-type pycnometer. Empirical relations tested include the Grunberg and Nissan equation and the method of corresponding states. In addition, comparisons were made regarding the behavior of this quaternary system and homologous binary mixtures of n-hexadecane + n-octane and n-tetracosane + n-octane at the same temperatures.
Regulated endocrine-specific protein-18: a short-lived novel glucocorticoid-regulated endocrine protein

Regulated endocrine-specific protein-18 (RESP18) is an 18-kilodalton endocrine-specific transcript whose expression is regulated by a number of different physiological and pharmacological stimuli in different tissues. RESP18 messenger RNA was identified in all cell types in the anterior pituitary, at levels that varied 2-fold from the lowest (corticotropes and thyrotropes) to the highest (gonadotropes, somatotropes, and mammotropes); the melanotropes of the intermediate pituitary have levels of RESP18 messenger RNA comparable to the highest levels in cells in the anterior pituitary. Mouse RESP18 was cloned and used as the basis for biosynthetic studies on RESP18 in AtT-20 cells, which express RESP18 endogenously; mouse RESP18 was highly homologous to rat RESP18. Pulse-chase biosynthetic labeling studies showed that AtT-20 cells expressed much less RESP18 than the endogenous prohormone, POMC, but that glucocorticoid treatment lowered POMC and raised RESP18 biosynthetic rates so that they were nearly equimo...
Trusting the open latent IC backdoors

Since the Integrated Circuits (ICs) form the core computing and communication kernels for the personal computing, industries, governments and defense in the modern era, ensuring IC trust -- in the presence of untrusted third-party foundries and unidentified supply chains -- has become a major challenge. The prohibitive cost of manufacturing state-of-the-art ICs in nano-meter scales has made the use of contract foundries and third party Intellectual Property (IP) the dominant microelectronics business practice. The hidden backdoors into the chips are a double-edge sword. On one hand, the clandestine backdoors embedded by the reliable designers or trusted supply chain providers enable tracking or having post-fabrication control of the ICs on the production line and while in-use. On the other hand, the latent backdoors (a.k.a., Trojans) implanted by the untrusted third-party manufacturer or unknown supply chain entities enable the potential external adversaries to control, monitor, or to spy the chip software/data contents and communications.In this talk, we question the contemporary IC backdoor research model directed by interested organizations, primarily defense and government. The talk then suggests better understanding of the hidden backdoor disclosure models to improve the quality and impact of the IC Trust research.
Surface wave and thermocapillary instabilities in a liquid film flow

A liquid film flowing down an inclined heated plane subject to surface wave and thermocapillary instabilities is studied. Three mechanisms exist by which energy can be transferred to the disturbance. Two of these mechanisms are associated with the thermocapillary forces and one with the shear stress of the basic flow at the deformed free surface. Depending on which mechanism is dominant, the instability can assume the form of either long transverse waves or short longitudinal rolls.
Bridging the divide between health and health care.

The US health care system can do a better job of providing patient care while moderating the rate of increase in cost, but it can do little about improving overall population health. This is because health care delivery accounts for only 10% of preventable deaths, with the remainder attributable to personal behaviors, social and environmental determinants, and genetic predisposition
Functional Molecular Imaging in Hepatology

S. Keiding and M. Sorensen, eds. Oak Park, IL: Bentham Science Publishers, 2012, 185 pages, $86 Functional Molecular Imaging in Hepatology is a well-written, informative, and useful e-book by knowledgeable, dedicated authors. The first chapter gives a good overview of the hepatic vascular anatomy
The lansce accelerator: A powerful tool for science and applications

The Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE) accelerator was built over 30 years ago. It consists of a 800-MeV proton linac, a proton storage ring, and facilities for isotope production, proton radiography, ultra-cold neutrons, weapons neutron research and for various sciences such as materials, biological and nanotechnology using neutron scattering. For national security, it plays a vital role in stockpile stewardship by providing important data on dynamic events during weapons detonation using proton radiography. The aging components of LANSCE will be refurbished and modernized in the next few years and the LANSCE will continue serving as a prominent facility for both science and national security in the years ahead. After SNS comes on line, it will play a complementary role and will also serve as a staging facility for some experiments to be carried out at SNS. Interesting science being conducted at LANSCE and the plans for the refurbishment and future enhancement of the facility will be presented.
Barred galaxy resonance rings: analytically explaining morphology and predicting dissipative misalignment

Many barred disc galaxies show rings of gas clouds and young stars thought to be in periodic orbits near the two-fold inner and outer Lindblad resonances (ILR and OLR) plus a four-fold ultraharmonic resonance (UHR) of the turning bar with oscillations about the disc orbital motion. To confirm and extend simulations by Schwarz and by Byrd et al. of resonance ring formation, we present an analytical formulation of the clouds’ orbital motion which includes dissipative damping of oscillations relative to the local interstellar medium plus the rotation curve, bar pattern speed, and strength. Observed ring morphology matches our plots of periodic orbits where the density is enhanced but clouds do not collide violently. Pairs of ‘outer rings’ bracket the OLR. Dimpled outer rings like that of ESO 507-16 can be matched by plots with strong bars. Slightly dimpled outer rings like that of ESO 509-98 can be matched by weak bar plots. For flat rotation curves, a pair of two-fold rings bracket the ILR; the smaller can be identified with the tiny ‘nuclear rings’. We find narrow UHR rings just outside this pair as well as just inside the OLR pair. We confirm the identification of the larger ILR ring and the inner UHR ring with ‘inner rings’. Disagreeing with the common identification, we associate the dimpled outer rings with the UHR just inside the OLR. See ESO 507-16 as an example. We predict that damping can misalign the ILR and OLR rings relative to the bar as seen in our match to ESO 507-16. We find that for weak bars, if the linearly rising portion of the rotation curve is a significant fraction of the corotation radius, nuclear and inner rings are absent with outer rings still present. We show this in a match to ESO 509-98. Success of the matches to ESO 507-16 and 509-98 shows how the analytic formulation can be used to estimate disc orientation and pattern speed if rotation curve observations are available.
Role of a conserved acidic cluster in bovine β1,4 galactosyltransferase-1 probed by mutagenesis of a bacterially expressed recombinant enzyme

The truncated catalytic domain of bovine beta1,4 galactosyltransferase-1 was expressed as inclusion bodies in E.coli and folded to generate 10-15 mg of active enzyme per liter of bacterial culture after extraction and purification under denaturing conditions. Mutations were introduced to investigate the roles of Trp312, Asp318, and Asp320, components of a highly conserved region of sequence in all known beta4GT-1 homologues that includes a cluster of acidic residues. Near and far UV CD spectra of the mutants indicate that the substitutions did not perturb the secondary and tertiary structure of beta4GT-1, and steady state kinetic studies indicate only minor effects on the response to an essential metal cofactor. However substitutions for the two aspartyl residues result in a reduction in catalytic efficiency of a magnitude that suggests they are important for catalysis. It seems possible that this anionic center may act in stabilizing a carbocation formed from the galactose component of the donor substrate in the transition state, reflecting a common reaction mechanism for beta-galactosyltransferase reactions.
Applying appearance standards to light reflection models

Appearance standards for gloss, haze, and goniochromatic color are applied to computer graphic reflection models. Correspondences are derived between both the gloss and haze standards and the specular exponent of the Phong model, the surface roughness of the Ward model, and the surface roughness of the Cook-Torrance model. Metallic and pearlescent colors are rendered using three aspecular measurements defined in a proposed standard for goniochromatic color. The reflection models for gloss and goniochromatic color are combined to synthesize pictures of clear coated automotive paint. Advantages of using appearance standards to select reflection model parameters include the small number of required measurements and the inexpensive commercially available instruments necessary to acquire the data. The use of a standard appearance scale also provides a more intuitive way of selecting the reflection model parameters and a reflection model independent method of specifying appearance.
The Allobrain: An interactive, stereographic, 3D audio, immersive virtual world

This paper describes the creation of the Allobrain project, an interactive, stereographic, 3D audio, immersive virtual world constructed from fMRI brain data and installed in the Allosphere, one of the largest virtual reality spaces in existence. This paper portrays the role the Allobrain project played as an artwork driving the technological infrastructure of the Allosphere. The construction of the Cosm toolkit software for prototyping the Allobrain and other interactive, stereographic, 3D audio, immersive virtual worlds in the Allosphere is described in detail. Aesthetic considerations of the Allobrain project are discussed in relation to world-making as a means to understand and explore large data sets.