cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Neurotransmitter receptor localizations: Brain lesion induced alterations in benzodiazepine, GABA, β-adrenergic and histamine H1-receptor binding

Abstract Selective neuronal lesions have been utilized in efforts to localize binding sites in rat brain for β-adrenergic, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), histamine H 1 and benzodiazepine receptors. The various receptors respond differentially to lesions both in extent of change and in time course. After kainate lesions in the corpus striatum, benzodiazepine receptors are depleted up to 45% at 45–78 days but are unaffected after 7 days. By contrast striatal GABA receptors are increased at 7 days but depleted at later times. Thus both striatal benzodiazepine and GABA receptors appear to be associated at least in part with intrinsic neurons. In the cerebellum both benzodiazepine and GABA receptors are reduced in kainate treated rats and in Nervous mice, mutants which lack Purkinje cells. The most pronounced dissimilarity between benzodiazepine and GABA receptors occurs in Weaver mice, which selectively lack granule cells and display a 60% reduction in GABA receptors but a 40% augmentation in benzodiazepine receptors. A major portion of cerebellar GABA receptors, therefore, appear to be localized to granule cells. Striatal β-adrenergic receptors are reduced following intrastriatal kainate injections but are unaffected by cerebral cortex ablation, suggesting an association with intrinsic neurons but not with axon terminals of the corticostriate pathway. While intraventricular injections of 6-hydroxydopamine enhance [ 3 H]dihydroalprenolol binding to β-adrenergic receptors in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus, such binding is not augmented in the corpus striatum, brain stem, midbrain or thalamus-hypothalamus by this treatment. Moreover, medial forebrain bundle lesions, which destroy ascending adrenergic neurons, fail to alter cerebral cortical or striatal β-adrenergic receptors. Thus denervation-elicited increase in β-adrenergic receptors vary with brain region and the type of denervating lesion. Histamine H 1 -receptors are the most resistant of all to neuronal lesions. In the corpus striatum [ 3 H]mepyramine binding is unaffected by cerebral cortex ablation, nigral injections of 6-hydroxydopamine or brain stem hemisection. In the hippocampus, medial forebrain bundle lesions, intrahippocampal kainate injection, and fimbria and fornix transection largely fail to alter [ 3 H]mepyramine binding. Accordingly, a major portion of these receptors may be associated with nonneuronal elements such as glia or blood vessels.
The role of neuropeptide S and neuropeptide S receptor 1 in regulation of respiratory function in mice

Genome-wide screening and positional cloning have linked neuropeptide S receptor 1 (NPSR1) with asthma and airway hyperresponsiveness. However, the mechanism by which NPSR1 regulates pulmonary responses remains elusive. Because neuropeptide S and its receptor NPSR1 are expressed in brain regions that regulate respiratory rhythm, and Npsr1-deficient mice have impaired stress and anxiety responses, we aimed to investigate whether neuropeptide S and NPSR1 regulate respiratory function through a central-mediated pathway. After neuropeptide S intracerebroventricular administration, respiratory responses of wildtype and Npsr1-deficient mice were monitored by whole-body or invasive plethysmography with or without serial methacholine inhalation. Airway inflammatory and hyperresponsiveness were assessed in allergen-challenged (ovalbumin or Aspergillus fumigatus) Npsr1-deficient mice. Analysis of breathing patterns by whole-body plethysmography revealed that intracerebroventricular neuropeptide S, as compared with the artificial cerebral spinal fluid control, increased respiratory frequency and decreased tidal volume in an NPSR1-dependent manner but did not affect enhanced pause. Following serial methacholine inhalation, intracerebroventricular neuropeptide S increased respiratory frequency in wildtype mice, but not in Npsr1-deficient mice, and had no effect on tidal volume. Intracerebroventricular neuropeptide S significantly reduced airway responsiveness to methacholine as measured by whole-body plethysmography. Npsr1 deletion had no impact on airway inflammation or hyperresponsiveness in ovalbumin- or A. fumigatus-induced experimental asthma. Our results demonstrate that neuropeptide S and NPSR1 regulate respiratory function through a central nervous system-mediated pathway.
Chemical closure and burning rates in premixed turbulent flames

Chemical closure for premixed turbulent flames is considered, and with a small number of assumptions regarding its form, a model expression for the mean rate of product formation is obtained: w = C[sub p]c(1 [minus] c) to fourth order in (c [minus] 1/2), with C[sub p] a proportionality factor. Any model regardless of its physical and chemical basis should give this result if the aforementioned assumptions are satisfied. The burning rate integral, B[sub T], is introduced, and a relationship between B[sub T] and C[sub p] is developed: B[sub T] = C[sub p]l[sub B] where l[sub B] is a measure of the flame thickness. It follows that measurements of B[sub T] can be used to find C[sub p], and that measurements of this type for a broad range of conditions can provide an empirical closure for w good to fourth order in (c [minus] 1/2). A method for measuring B[sub T] based on a control volume analysis and the use of conditional mean velocities is proposed and demonstrated with data from Miles. The model expression for w is specialized to the flamelet regime of turbulent combustion, and the result obtained is similar to the Bray, Moss, Champion and Libby crossing densitymore » model expression. A clear physical interpretation for C[sub p] valid for the flamelet regime, is offered.« less
Trauma and Resiliency in Grandparent-Headed Multigenerational Families

This study explored the experiences of 23 grandparents raising grandchildren to better understand the vulnerability and resiliency of grandparent-headed multigenerational families. Three key themes emerged: (a) family trauma with multigenerational impact, (b) multiple stressors impacting the custodial grandparents, and (c) family resiliency that can promote healing and growth. The discussion highlights complex intersections of trauma and stress, and resiliency and healing. Implications for social work practice include the importance of understanding the nature of trauma and resiliency in clinical interventions to ensure the healthy development of children and older adults. Implications for social work advocacy include the necessity to promote flexible policies that address the needs of grandparent-headed households.
Pharmaceutical Properties of Related Calanolide Compounds with Activity against Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Abstract The present studies were undertaken to compare the relative pharmacokinetic parameters and bioavailability of two chemically related natural products which are nonnucleoside inhibitors of reverse transcriptase. Both (+)-calanolide A (Cal A; NSC 675451) and (+)-dihydrocalanolide A (DHCal A; NSC 678323) are currently under development for the treatment of HIV infections. HPLC-based analytical assays were developed for both compounds using modifications of a previously published procedure. The assays were used to compare the intravenous pharmacokinetics of the dihydro analogue relative to the parent compound, Cal A, and to determine the relative oral bioavailability of each drug in CD 2 F 1 mice. Although the pharmacokinetic parameters of each drug were similar (Cal A, 25 mg/kg: AUC: 9.4 [ μ g/mL]• hr, t 1/2 β : 0.25 h., t 1/2 γ : 1.8 h, clearance: 2.7 L/h/kg versus DHCal A, 25 mg/kg: AUC: 6.9 [ μ g/mL]•hr, t 1/2 β : 0.22 h., t 1/2 γ : 2.3 h, clearance: 3.6 L/h/kg), the oral bioavailability of DHCal A ( F = 46.8%) was markedly better than that obtained for Cal A ( F = 13.2%). The relative ability of Cal A and DHCal A to change to their inactive epimer forms, (+)-calanolide B and (+)-dihydrocalanolide B, respectively, was also determined. While conversion of active to inactive forms of the drugs was noted to occur in vitro especially under acidic conditions, no epimer forms of either compound were noted in plasma of mice after administration of either CalA or DHCal A. Considered together with preliminary toxicology findings, the pharmacokinetic data obtained in the present series of experiments suggest that selection of the dihydro derivative of (+)-calanolide A may be a reasonable choice for further preclinical development and possible Phase I clinical evaluation.
Understanding physician agreement with varicella immunization guidelines.

Abstract Background. Although varicella vaccine was licensed in 1995, immunization rates are only moderate. This study identifies factors associated with physician self-reported likelihood of recommending varicella vaccination to patients. Methods. Two hundred eighty-one Minnesota and Pennsylvania primary care physicians who participated in surveys on barriers to vaccination in 1990–1991 and 1993 were surveyed in 1999, assessing physicians' beliefs about varicella disease and vaccine and their self-reported likelihood of recommending varicella vaccine to three age groups of children. Results. Most (79, 80, and 83%) were likely to recommend varicella vaccine for 12- to 18-month old, 4- to 6-year-old, and 11- to 12-year old children, respectively, and most (78%) agreed with national recommendations to vaccinate. If physicians believed that the vaccine would fail, they were less likely to recommend varicella vaccination for 12- to 18-month-old (70% vs 85%, P = 0.001) and 4- to 6-year-old (83% vs 85%, P = 0.001) children, than if they believed in its efficacy. Pediatricians were more likely to recommend varicella vaccine than were family physicians and general practitioners ( P Conclusions. Physicians, especially pediatricians, report that they recommend varicella vaccination when they agree with national recommendations, believe in the efficacy of the vaccine, and perceive that parents want the vaccine for their children.
THE ELIMINATION OF DIRECTOR LIABILITY AND STOCKHOLDER RETURNS: AN EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION

In this paper, the performance of the common stock of Delaware and non-Delaware firms is examined during the Delaware legislature's debate and approval of an amendment to the Delaware General Corporation Law permitting the elimination of director liability. In addition, stockholder returns surrounding the proxy and meeting dates for certain Delaware firms are examined. Results indicate that Delaware firms performed worse than non-Delaware firms during the legislative period; however, strong differences between the two groups are not documented.
Development of a directory of genetic probes as a shared institutional resource.

Abstract This report describes design and implementation of a genetic probe directory database for use by researchers in a medical school. The purpose of the database is to allow researchers to exchange descriptive information concerning probes available in their laboratories in order to facilitate collaboration. The Genetic Probe Database Browser (GPDB) allows multi-field constraints and wildcard searches of the database, e-mail upload and download of data, and provides simple database administrator tools. The GPDB is implemented in C under the UNIX operating system, and uses the ‘Curses’ character terminal package to provide access to users unable to use modern graphical user interfaces. Currently, 10 researchers have contributed approximately 250 genetic probes, and several research collaborations have been started because of this resource.
Parkinson's disease and cancer risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective To appraise the existing literature on cancer risk among patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD), determine the overall cancer risk ratio among patients with PD, explore reasons for variations in study results, and assess the potential for publication bias.
Implementation and evaluation of 4D cone beam CT (CBCT) reconstruction

Tumor angiogenesis is the process by which new blood vessels are formed from the existing vessels in a tumor to promote tumor growth. Tumor angiogenesis has important implications in the diagnosis and treatment of various solid tumors. Flat panel detector based cone beam CT opens up a new way for detection of tumors, and tumor angiogenesis associated with functional CBCT has the potential to provide more information than traditional functional CT due to more overall coverage during the same scanning period and the reconstruction being isotropic resulting in a more accurate 3D volume intensity measurement. A functional study was conducted by using CBCT to determine the degree of the enhancement within the tumor after injecting the contrast agent intravenously. For typical doses of contrast material, the amount of enhancement is proportional to the concentration of this material within the region of interest. A series of images obtained at one location over time allows generation of timeattenuation data from which a number of semi-quantitative parameters, such as enhancement rate, can be determined. Computer simulations prove the superiority of half scan over full scan in terms of more accurately delineating the time-intensity curve, and all the simulation parameter settings are based on the actual CBCT prototype. An experiment study was conducted on our prototype CBCT system, and a full and half scan scheme is used to determine the time-intensity curve within the ROI of the mouse. The CBCT has an x-ray tube, a gantry with slip ring technology, and a 40x30 cm Varian Paxscan 4030CB real time FPD.
Imaging Hindered Rotations of Alkoxy Species on TiO2(110)

We present the first scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) study of the rotational dynamics of organic species on any oxide surface. Specifically, variable-temperature STM and dispersion-corrected density functional theory (DFT-D) are used to study the alkyl chain conformational disorder and dynamics of 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-octoxy on rutile TiO(2)(110). Initially, the geminate pairs of the octoxy and bridging hydroxyl species are created via octanol dissociation on bridging-oxygen (O(b)) vacancy defects. The STM images provide time-averaged snapshots of octoxy species rotating among multiple energetically nearly degenerate configurations accessible at a given temperature. In the calculations we find that the underlying corrugated potential energy surface is a result of the interplay between attractive van der Waals dispersion forces, leading to weak attractive C...Ti and repulsive C...O(b) interactions which lead to large barriers of 50-70 kJ mol(-1) for the rotation of the octoxy alkyl chains across the O(b) rows. In the presence of the geminate hydroxyl groups we find that the relative populations of the various conformations as well as the rotational barriers are perturbed by the presence of geminate hydroxyl due to additional C...hydroxyl repulsions.
SELECTIVE SUPPRESSION OF DELAYED HYPERSENSITIVITY BY THE INDUCTION OF IMMUNOLOGIC TOLERANCE

Administration of DNP-BGG to newborn guinea pigs resulted, in more than half of the animals, in the specific suppression of delayed hypersensitivity to DNP-BGG and BGG, as shown after immunization with DNP-BGG in complete Freund's adjuvant. In contrast, all animals formed antibodies to DNP-BGG, whether or not delayed hypersensitivity to this antigen was present. No difference in antibody titers was found between pretreated and control animals. All animals had antibodies reacting specifically to the hapten DNP, and most of them to the carrier protein BGG, whether or not delayed hypersensitivity to the carrier protein was present. Furthermore, some animals with and without positive 24 hr skin test to DNP-BGG had antibodies with a combined hapten-carrier protein specificity to this antigen, i.e., a specificity which is similar to that of delayed hypersensitivity. Thus, delayed hypersensitivity and antibody formation to similar antigenic determinant were differently affected by injection of antigen in the neonatal period. The finding that delayed hypersensitivity and antibody formation could be dissociated by the induction of immunologic tolerance supports the assumption that delayed hypersensitivity and antibody formation are different immune processes which are not necessarily linked together.
Incremental data-flow analysis algorithms

An incremental update algorithm modifies the solution of a problem that has been changed, rather than re-solving the entire problem. ACINCF and ACINCB are incremental update algorithms for forward and backward data-flow analysis, respectively, based on our equations model of Allen-Cocke interval analysis. In addition, we have studied their performance on a “nontoy” structured programming language L. Given a set of localized program changes in a program written in L, we identify a priori the nodes in its flow graph whose corresponding data-flow equations may be affected by the changes. We characterize these possibly affected nodes by their corresponding program structures and their relation to the original change sites, and do so without actually performing the incremental updates. Our results can be refined to characterize the reduced equations possibly affected if structured loop exit mechanisms are used, either singly or together, thereby relating richness of programming language usage to the ease of incremental updating.
Dimensional crossover and its effects on localization/interaction and superconductivity in Si/Nb multilayers

Abstract The effect of the dimensional crossover on localization/interaction and superconductivity in ultrathin Si/Nb multilayers has been studied by systematically varying the Nb and Si layer thicknesses to separately control the degree of disorder and the anisotropy. A small coupling is sufficient to drive the strongly localized states into the weak localization regime. As a result, superconductivity may persist up to an R □ much larger than h (2e) 2 . The results are in qualitative agreement with a recently proposed anisotropic tight-binding model for localization.
Cognitive consequences of search

For some time now, the general goal of information retrieval (IR) has been to present a user with an optimally ranked set of results as quickly as possible. At first glance, things seem to be working well: users often find what they need on the first search results page, they do not have to create their own queries or read through multiple pages of text, and soon they may not even have to think of their own information needs. Researchers document success by showing reductions in time and amount of interaction, and increased user satisfaction, but do these measures really allow researchers to understand the impact of search?
Alternative biofacies model for dysaerobic communities

An abundant calcareous fauna has been discovered in the oxygen minimum zone (OMZ; 0.3 ml/l O2).
Do Flies Have A Red Receptor

(1) The compound eye of Musca exhibits characteristics which have heretofore frequently been considered evidence for color receptors: (a) The spectral sensitivity curve has several peaks whose relative heights can be altered by selective adaptation to colored lights, and (b) the shape of the retinal action potential varies with wave length. (2) The action spectrum for the red enhancement of on and off responses is compared with the "red receptor" calculated by Mazokhin-Porshnyakov from colorimetric data obtained in rapid color substitutions. Both have maxima at 615 to 620 mµ and appear to be different expressions of the same phenomenon. (3) A red receptor is absent. The evidence which suggests different types of receptors in the region 500 to 700 mµ can be accounted for by variations in the numbers of receptors stimulated. In red light there is a recruitment of additional ommatidia caused by leakage of long wave lengths through the pigment screen, and this spatial summation potentiates the on and off responses. The principal evidence is: (a) a white eye mutant which has no accessory screening pigments also lacks the peak of sensitivity in the red, even when adapted to violet light; (b) white-eyed flies give identical responses with large on and off effects at all wave lengths from 500 to 700 mµ; and (c) reducing the number of excited ommatidia by decreasing the size of the test spot makes the on and off transients smaller relative to the receptor component.
Sophomore Academic Retention Associated with a Freshman Study Skills and College Adjustment Course

Retention rates for two entering freshman classes were compared in the second semester of their sophomore year. Scores of 140 freshmen from the fall of 1988 were used to provide a regression equati...
French Wetland Agriculture in Atlantic Canada and Its European Roots: Different Avenues to Historical Diffusion

Wetland reclamation, a form of agricultural expansion and intensification, appeared in estuarine environments of northwestern Europe during medieval demographic expansion, prior to the Black Death....
Khomyakov's Critique of Western Christianity

JOSEPH L. WIECZYNSKI, Assistant Professor of History, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, Virginia Although frequently overlooked by Western scholars of Church history, theology and ecumenism, Aleksei S. Khomyakov (1804-1860), one of Russia's most original thinkers and most prolific and diverse writers of the nineteenth century, merits attention as one whose religious writings not only occupy a prestigious place in the history of Orthodox thought but greatly influence Orthodox thinkers today. If the nineteenth century can be regarded as the Renaissance of the Russian Empire, Khomyakov is an example of its Renaissance men. A poet of no little talent, historian, essayist, dramatist, inventor, philosopher, theologian and founder of the Slavophile school that undertook to discover and define Russia's cultural and historical significance, Khomyakov was indeed a man of many parts. But his pioneering efforts to delineate the essence of Russian Orthodox Christianity from that of its Western counterparts remain perhaps most noteworthy in the eyes of his countrymen. His theological accomplishments have led some modern Orthodox writers to regard him as the most important figure in Orthdox thought since the Patristic age; some of his ardent admirers have, in fact, named him a Father of the Russian Orthodox Church. His work to divine the natural strengths of the Russian people by exploring the special character of their national faith not only elicited Russian national self-consciousness but helped to foster the sentiment of religious exclusiveness that did much to prepare the way for a comprehensive system of Russian nationalism. These achievements prompt one of his biographers to rank him with Peter the Great, Lomonosov and Pushkin as one of the four most important men in all Russian history.' Although he was deeply interested in the problem of Christian unity and often emphasized that religious unity was one of the essential attributes of the Christian Church, Khomyakov is one of the most vehement and bitter critics of Western Christianity, particularly Roman Catholicism.2 He holds the Roman Church responsible for the East-West schism of 1054, the failure of later attempts to reunite the Latin and Byzantine Churches, the estrangement of Eastern and Western Christianity and the desiccation of true Christian life in the West. But Khomyakov is not content to restate in modern form the
Vacuum collapse of vented tanks

Process tanks and vessels can withstand internal pressures much larger than the vacuums needed to collapse them. Such tanks and vessels are often collapsed when they are emptied without proper venting, or when their vents are obstructed. It is also possible to collapse a vented tank, if it is filled with steam and cooled rapidly. Vacuum collapse of unvented process vessels is an occasional occurrence in the process industries. Properly vented vessels will not suffer vacuum collapse under ordinary circumstances. Vented tanks undergoing steaming have a greater risk of such vacuum collapse than do tanks undergoing other processes. The greatest risk appears to the the case of a steamed tank which is drenched by a cold cloudburst. The vent area requirement for this condition is substantially greater than that specified by API 2000. 9 refs., 5 figs.
Design and Construction of a Robotic Gripper for Activities of Daily Living for People with Disabilities

A new robotic gripper was designed and constructed for activities of daily living (ADL) to be used with the new wheelchair-mounted robotic arm developed at USF. Two aspects of the new gripper made it unique; one is the design of the paddles, and the other is the design of the actuation mechanism that produces parallel motion for effective gripping. The paddles of the gripper were designed to grasp a wide variety objects with different shapes and sizes that are used in every day life. The driving mechanism was designed to be simple, light, effective, safe, self content, and independent of the robotic arm attached to it.
Leave Me Alone: App-Level Protection against Runtime Information Gathering on Android

Stealing of sensitive information from apps is always considered to be one of the most critical threats to Android security. Recent studies show that this can happen even to the apps without explicit implementation flaws, through exploiting some design weaknesses of the operating system, e.g., Shared communication channels such as Bluetooth, and side channels such as memory and network-data usages. In all these attacks, a malicious app needs to run side-by-side with the target app (the victim) to collect its runtime information. Examples include recording phone conversations from the phone app, gathering WebMD's data usages to infer the disease condition the user looks at, etc. This runtime-information-gathering (RIG) threat is realistic and serious, as demonstrated by prior research and our new findings, which reveal that the malware monitoring popular Android-based home security systems can figure out when the house is empty and the user is not looking at surveillance cameras, and even turn off the alarm delivered to her phone. To defend against this new category of attacks, we propose a novel technique that changes neither the operating system nor the target apps, and provides immediate protection as soon as an ordinary app (with only normal and dangerous permissions) is installed. This new approach, called App Guardian, thwarts a malicious app's runtime monitoring attempt by pausing all suspicious background processes when the target app (called principal) is running in the foreground, and resuming them after the app stops and its runtime environment is cleaned up. Our technique leverages a unique feature of Android, on which third-party apps running in the background are often considered to be disposable and can be stopped anytime with only a minor performance and utility implication. We further limit such an impact by only focusing on a small set of suspicious background apps, which are identified by their behaviors inferred from their side channels (e.g., Thread names, CPU scheduling and kernel time). App Guardian is also carefully designed to choose the right moments to start and end the protection procedure, and effectively protect itself against malicious apps. Our experimental studies show that this new technique defeated all known RIG attacks, with small impacts on the utility of legitimate apps and the performance of the OS. Most importantly, the idea underlying our approach, including app-level protection, side-channel based defense and lightweight response, not only significantly raises the bar for the RIG attacks and the research on this subject but can also inspire the follow-up effort on new detection systems practically deployable in the fragmented Android ecosystem.
Stability of Executive Function Deficits in Girls with ADHD: A Prospective Longitudinal Followup Study into Adolescence

Neuropsychological deficits in the executive system are major sources of morbidity in individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). We conducted a 5-year longitudinal study of girls with (N = 140) and without (N = 122) ADHD, aged 6–18 years at baseline. Neuropsychological functioning was assessed using standard neuropsychological testing assessing executive functions (EFs). Girls with ADHD were significantly more impaired than controls in all neuropsychological domains except set shifting. Despite variability in the stability of individual domains of EFs, the majority (79%) of girls with ADHD that met the categorical definition of executive function deficits (EFDs, defined as two or more EF tasks impaired) at baseline continued to have EFDs at the five-year followup. These findings document the stability of EFDs in girls with ADHD from childhood into adolescence.
THE MAMMALIAN OVARY FROM GENESIS TO REVELATION

Two major functions of the mammalian ovary are the production of germ cells (oocytes), which allow continuation of the species, and the generation of bioactive molecules, primarily steroids (mainly estrogens and progestins) and peptide growth factors, which are critical for ovarian function, regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, and development of secondary sex characteristics. The female germline is created during embryogenesis when the precursors of primordial germ cells differentiate from somatic lineages of the embryo and take a unique route to reach the urogenital ridge. This undifferentiated gonad will differentiate along a female pathway, and the newly formed oocytes will proliferate and subsequently enter meiosis. At this point, the oocyte has two alternative fates: die, a common destiny of millions of oocytes, or be fertilized, a fate of at most approximately 100 oocytes, depending on the species. At every step from germline development and ovary formation to oogenesis and ovaria...
Evaluation of Phytase Enzyme with Chicks Fed Basal Diets Containing Different Soybean Meal Samples

SUMMARY Soybean meal contains approximately 0.62% total P of which 0.4% can be phytate P, which is considered less biologically available for poultry than other forms of P. Soybean meal is a key ingredient in poultry feeds and information is needed about the range of phytate P and nonphytate P in differentsoybean meals. The phytateP content of soybeansmay vary due toclimatic conditions, soil type and soybean variety. Previous research has shown that phytate P can be hydrolyzed in the gastrointestinal tract providing available P by adding a commercial phytase enzyme to poultry feed. The extent of phytate hydrolysis by dietary supplementation of phytase has been shown to vary depending on the type of dietary ingredients such as corn, soybean meal, canola meal, and wheat. Research is needed to determine if different commercially available soybean meals respond in a similar manner to a feed added phytase. Twenty-five soybean meal samples were collected from active soybean crushing plants in the United States and 18 of the samples were selected to evaluate the effect of a microbial phytase on phytate P disappearance using 5-d bioassays. The range of analyzed values in soybean meal samples for total P, phytate P, Ca, protein, and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) were 0.59 to 0.87, 0.32 to 0.42, 0.28 to 0.54, 40.44 to 51.69, and 7.78 to 16.09%, respectively. Bioassay results indicate that body weight, feed consumption, and feed conversion ratio improved significantly (P < 0.05) in some of the groups fed diets with enzyme compared with groups fed the same diet with no added enzyme. The range of total P retention and phytate P disappearance for groups fed diets with no enzyme were 21.35 to 48.41 and 13.64 to 37.13%, respectively. The addition of phytase increased total P retention and phytate P disappearance from 56.81 to 68.62 and 76.18 to 94.08%, respectively. The results indicate no correlation among components (total P, phytate P, Ca, protein, and NDF) of soybean meal samples, percentage of phytate P disappearance, and percentage of total P retention for groups fed diets with and without added phytase.
Inguinal Lymphadenitis Caused by Entamoeba histolytica: Case Report and Literature Review

Liver abscesses are the most common manifestation of extraintestinal infection by Entamoeba histolytica. Involvement of other sites, including the peritoneum, pericardium, brain, or genitourinary tract, is unusual. We de scribe a case of inguinal necrotizing lymphadenitis caused by E histolytica . Our patient responded well to surgical drainage, metronidazole, and paramomycin therapy. A literature review of genitourinary and other uncommon sites of E histolytica infection is included.
Analysis of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 drug resistance in children receiving nucleoside analogue reverse-transcriptase inhibitors plus nevirapine, nelfinavir, or ritonavir (Pediatric AIDS Clinical Trials Group 377).

In Pediatric AIDS Clinical Trials Group 377, antiretroviral therapy-experienced children were randomized to 4 treatment arms that included different combinations of stavudine, lamivudine (3TC), nevirapine (Nvp), nelfinavir (Nfv), and ritonavir (Rtv). Previous treatment with zidovudine (Zdv), didanosine (ddI), or zalcitabine (ddC) was acceptable. Drug resistance ((R)) mutations were assessed before study treatment (baseline) and at virologic failure. Zdv(R), ddI(R), and ddC(R) mutations were detected frequently at baseline but were not associated with virologic failure. Children with drug resistance mutations at baseline had greater reductions in virus load over time than did children who did not. Nvp(R) and 3TC(R) mutations were detected frequently at virologic failure, and Nvp(R) mutations were more common among children receiving 3-drug versus 4-drug Nvp-containing regimens. Children who were maintained on their study regimen after virologic failure accumulated additional Nvp(R) and 3TC(R) mutations plus Rtv(R) and Nfv(R) mutations. However, Rtv(R) and Nfv(R) mutations were detected at unexpectedly low rates.
Evidence that Ubiquinone Is a Required Intermediate for Rhodoquinone Biosynthesis in Rhodospirillum rubrum

Rhodoquinone (RQ) is an important cofactor used in the anaerobic energy metabolism of Rhodospirillum rubrum. RQ is structurally similar to ubiquinone (coenzyme Q or Q), a polyprenylated benzoquinone used in the aerobic respiratory chain. RQ is also found in several eukaryotic species that utilize a fumarate reductase pathway for anaerobic respiration, an important example being the parasitic helminths. RQ is not found in humans or other mammals, and therefore inhibition of its biosynthesis may provide a parasite-specific drug target. In this report, we describe several in vivo feeding experiments with R. rubrum used for the identification of RQ biosynthetic intermediates. Cultures of R. rubrum were grown in the presence of synthetic analogs of ubiquinone and the known Q biosynthetic precursors demethylubiquinone, demethoxyubiquinone, and demethyldemethoxyubiquinone, and assays were monitored for the formation of RQ3. Data from time course experiments and S-adenosyl-l-methionine-dependent O-methyltransferase inhibition studies are discussed. Based on the results presented, we have demonstrated that Q is a required intermediate for the biosynthesis of RQ in R. rubrum.
Separating essentials from incidentals: an execution architecture for real-time control systems

Source code for real-time control systems often intertwines several concerns such as functionality, data flow, control flow, synchronization, timing, and architectural style. This combination of concerns makes software harder to write correctly, harder to verify, and harder to reuse. This paper proposes an execution architecture that makes such systems more analyzable, verifiable, and reusable by separating "essential code" (software specific to the physical platform, the physical environment, and mission goals) from "incidental code" (all other software, particularly architectural support software for combining together essential components). This architecture elevates two forms of processing as first-class items: individual transformations of global state, as defined in pure functions, and rules of interaction of transformations, as managed by an engine that maintains certain invariants. Importantly, the explicit specification of these two forms of processing by systems engineers reduces sources of ambiguity in requirements
Why Did Poverty Become Less Geographically Concentrated in the 1990s

Objective. After increasing sharply in the 1970s and 1980s, the number of high-poverty neighborhoods in the United States unexpectedly and dramatically declined in the 1990s. This article examines the roles that residential and income mobility played in this decline. Methods. Using geocoded data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, this study analyzes changes during the 1990s and early 2000s in: (1) patterns of residential mobility between high-poverty and lower-poverty neighborhoods; and (2) patterns of income mobility for residents who remained in high-poverty neighborhoods. Results. Both patterns of residential and income mobility changed in the 1990s and early 2000s. While patterns of residential migration to high-poverty neighborhoods were largely unchanged over this period, patterns of residential migration from high-poverty neighborhoods changed significantly, with poor individuals—especially poor blacks—becoming more likely to relocate from high-poverty to lower-poverty neighborhoods. Patterns of income mobility for residents who remained in high-poverty neighborhoods also changed significantly, with nonpoor residents becoming less likely to become poor and poor residents becoming more likely to exit poverty. Conclusion. Poverty rates in high-poverty neighborhoods fell primarily because of the net upward income mobility of residents who remained in these neighborhoods.
Long-term continuously infused intrathecal baclofen for spastic-dystonic hypertonia in traumatic brain injury: 1-Year experience

Abstract Objective: To determine if the long-term use of continuously infused intrathecal baclofen (ITB) over a 1-year period will control spastic-dystonic hypertonia in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Setting: Tertiary care outpatient and inpatient rehabilitation center directly attached to a university hospital. Subjects: Persons with TBI and intractable spasticity and dystonia for more than 6 months' duration recruited in a consecutive manner. Design: TBI patients were admitted to the study after screening via a bolus injection of either intrathecal normal saline or 50μg of baclofen. Data for Ashworth rigidity scores, spasm scores, and deep tendon reflex scores were collected for both the upper extremities (UE) and lower extremities (LE). Patients whose LE Ashworth scores decreased an average of 2 points were then offered implantation of a computer-controlled pump for continuous ITB. Changes over time were assessed statistically via Friedman's analysis for ordinal data and ANOVA for linear data. Differences between set points in time were also assessed via Wilcoxon signed rank. Data Set: Seventeen patients (average age 29 ± 11yrs) with spasticity and/or dystonia treated over 1 year via a computer-controllable intrathecal delivery system for the delivery of ITB. Results: After 1 year of continuous ITB treatment the average LE Ashworth score decreased from 3.5 ± 1.3 (SD) to 1.7 ± 0.9 ( p p p p p p Conclusion: Continuous intrathecal infusion of baclofen is capable of maintaining a reduction in spasticity and dystonia in both the upper and lower extremities of TBI patients.
SULFUR AMINO ACID NUTRITION DURING MOLT IN THE WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW. 1. DOES DIETARY SULFUR AMINO ACID CONCENTRATION AFFECT THE ENERGETICS OF MOLT AS ASSAYED BY METABOLIZED ENERGY?

To test the hypothesis that the dietary intake of the sulfur-con- taining amino acids (SAA) methionine and cyst(e)ine affects energy intake or the allocation of energy to production and oxidation, respectively, we fed five groups of White-crowned Sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii) five isocaloric, isonitrogenous diets before, during, and after their postnuptial molt. The diets ranged in SAA content from sub- to superadequate in relation to standards es- tablished for poultry, and from very low to very high in relation to the SAA content of natural foods. The patterns of plumage replacement were indistin- guishable among the five groups. The body weights of all birds decreased sharply at the onset of molt, as is typical for this and other species, and then gradually increased through early molt and stabilized during mid- and late molt. The com- ponents of energy balance (gross energy intake, energy utilization coefficient, ca- loric density of excreta, total excretory energy output) did not differ significantly or consistently among the five groups. Likewise, the net energy of molt, as esti- mated by subtracting the maintenance requirement for metabolized energy from the expenditure during molt by the same birds, ranged from 582 to 611 kJ, but without significant differences among the groups and without consistent corre- lations to the diets. The grand average was 605 kJ/25-g bird. Hence, we are unable to verify the predictions of the amino acid model for the determination of the energy requirements of molt.
Surrogate-based evolutionary optimization for friction stir welding

Friction Stir Welding (FSW) is an innovative manufacturing process, which is used to join two pieces of metal with frictional heating and plastic deformation due to stirring action. Melting is avoided during the process, therefore problems related to microstructure phase transformation (i.e., cooling from the liquid phase) are avoided. The temperature distribution in the weld zone, as a function of the heat generation, highly affects the evolution of the residual stresses in the work piece, hence the performance of the final product. Therefore, thermal models play a crucial role in detailed analysis and improvement of this process. In this study, a previously developed and validated three-dimensional steady state thermal model of FS welding of AA2024-T3 plates has been used for evaluating the quality of the candidate solutions. It should be noted that this is a computationally expensive model and closed form formulations (i.e. analytical equations) for the underlying physics are not available, which forces us to use them sparingly during the optimization procedure. A mathematical correlation model, a surrogate in other words, is iteratively constructed to replace the FSW simulations and guide the search towards feasible and promising regions. A new surrogate-based optimization algorithm named EICTS, Expected Improvement with Constrained Tournament Selection has been developed. The striking difference of EICTS from other surrogate based constrained optimization methodologies that it needs to construct only two surrogates, i.e. one for the objective function and another one to handle all constraint functions (i.e., instead of approximating each of them individually). EICTS is first tested on some well-known engineering problems with multiple constraints and finally on the FSW problem briefly mentioned above. Its runtime and convergence performances are compared with EIPF (Expected Improvement with Probability of Feasibility) method and found very promising.
Group decision making method under given decision making environment

The paper defines separately the connections of decision makers and indexes,which are created by experts,they express their preferences under given problems as given decision making environment.Also the paper defines the given importance of experts and the given consistency of preference from the matrixes.The final conclusion is drawn by three adjustments,first justify the consistency of preference under the given importance of experts,second adjust the weights under the given consistency of preference,and finally aggregate all the information according to the impotence of experts.The method could find the special index so as to optimize the decision making flow more efficiently.
Observation on disinfectant efficacy and toxicity of chlorhexidine acetate disinfectand moistaser tissue

Objective:The main purpose is to observe the disinfection efficacy and the security of the usage of the germicidal.The main antibacterial component of this type of moistener tissue is the Chlorhexidine acetate.Methods:Tests of the neutralizer selection,the sterilization performance,the scene of the hand-disinfection,and the toxicity were done according to the book of "Technical Standard For Disinfection" of the edition of 2002.Results:The average killing rate within 5 minutes for the Staphylococcus aureus,Candidia albicans and Escherichia coli reached more than 99.9 percent.All the tests were non-toxic and non-irritating.And the average killing log for the natural bacteria on the volunteers' hands reached 2.38.Conclusion:The disinfectant moistener tissue has good hygiene disinfection effect and can be used safely.
Basic Science and Evolutionary Biology

Economic and public support of science relies on an explicit understanding of why basic science is relevant and important to people’s daily lives. Though basic science is essential to solving problems, its importance is often not understood by the general public. In the case of evolutionary biology, this lack of understanding is surprising, given that evolutionary principles underlie many of the strategies currently in use to solve some of world’s most pressing problems, including increasing food security, preserving the environment, and maintaining public health. Increasing awareness of how evolution impacts the daily lives of the public will likely have a positive impact on support for funding basic evolutionary science.
Steroid-induced glaucoma treated with trabecular ablation in a matched comparison with primary open-angle glaucoma.

BACKGROUND To evaluate the outcomes of trabectome-mediated ab interno trabeculectomy in patients with steroid-induced glaucoma (SIG). DESIGN A retrospective, observational cohort study performed in the Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. PARTICIPANTS The data of 60 patients with SIG and 484 controls with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) matched by age, gender and glaucoma index were collected from the Trabectome Study Group database. METHODS Reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP) and medications were compared between POAG and SIG by multivariate regression. Kaplan-Meier was used for survival analysis. Success was defined as IOP ≤21 mmHg and at least 20% IOP reduction from baseline for any two consecutive visits after 3 months without secondary glaucoma surgery. Postoperative IOP and number of medications were compared with baseline in the SIG subgroups by the Wilcoxon test. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Intraocular pressure reduction and 1-year success rate. RESULTS Patients with SIG had a higher baseline IOP (31.4 ± 10.4 vs. 24.1 ± 7.6 mmHg, P < 0.01) and obtained a greater IOP reduction than controls with POAG (48.4% vs. 31.5%, P < 0.01). Multivariate regression showed that patients with SIG had an IOP reduction of 6.7 ± 1.1 mmHg more than those with POAG. Survival rates at 12 months were comparable at 86% in the SIG group and 85% in the POAG group (P = 0.47). Patients with SIG with a high baseline IOP, younger age and advanced glaucoma experienced a larger IOP drop. CONCLUSION Trabectome appears to be an effective surgical treatment in reducing IOP for patients with SIG.