cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reduced thiols and the effect of intravenous nitroglycerin on platelet aggregation

Abstract Nitroglycerin inhibits platelet aggregation in vitro and this effect may be important in its overall mechanism of action. In addition, its use has been associated with prolonged bleeding times and hemorrhagic complications. Despite these experimental and clinical observations, no significant antiplatelet effect of nitroglycerin has been observed ex vivo during intravenous nitroglycerin administration to patients. Because the in vitro antiplatelet effects of nitroglycerin have been shown by one of the investigators participating in this study to depend on the presence of sufficient stores of reduced intracellular thiol—which are readily depleted ex vivo by nitroglycerin in the formation of S-nitrosothiols—an attempt was made to unmask nitroglycerin-mediated inhibition of platelet aggregation by exposing platelets taken from patients treated with nitroglycerin to the reduced thiol N-acetylcysteine ex vivo. The obtained data demonstrate that platelets taken from patients treated with intravenous nitroglycerin manifest attenuated aggregation responses ex vivo when thiol stores are repleted. It is therefore proposed that the mechanism of action of nitroglycerin is mediated in part by its antiplatelet effect and that this effect depends on the adequacy of reduced intracellular thiol stores.
On microscopic mechanisms of friction and wear

Abstract Under normal sliding conditions encountered in engineering applications, the frictional force is generated by plowing of surfaces by wear particles, asperity deformation and adhesion. Of these three basic contributing factors, the plowing of the surfaces by wear particles is found to be the most important in most sliding situations. Careful experiments are attempted to eliminate the mechanical effects of friction in order to measure only the inherent friction due to adhesive forces between two sliding surfaces. However, it has been found that it is extremely difficult to eliminate microstructural changes caused by mechanical interactions at the microscopic scale. Experimental results obtained using extremely smooth silicon and sapphire surfaces are described to support the claim that permanent damages are present in most friction tests, which may ultimately contribute to the formation of wear debris, particles, and sheets. A plausible model for a microscopic friction and wear process is presented.
RESOLUTION OF A PARADOX IN THE VARIATIONAL FORMULATION OF NUCLEAR-RESONANCE REACTIONS.

Lane and Robson have given a stationary-principle formulation of an approximation theory for resonance reactions. They stated a paradox in the stationary principle, which is resolved here in support of the approximation method.
Normal Theory and Bootstrap Confidence Interval Estimation in Assessing Diagnostic Performance Gain When Combining Two Diagnostic Tests

Many diagnostic tests may be available to identify a particular disease. Diagnostic performance can be potentially improved by combining. “Either” and “both” positive strategies for combining tests have been discussed in the literature, where a gain in diagnostic performance is measured by a ratio of positive (negative) likelihood ratio of the combined test to that of an individual test. Normal theory and bootstrap confidence intervals are constructed for gains in likelihood ratios. The performance (coverage probability, width) of the two methods are compared via simulation. All confidence intervals perform satisfactorily for large samples, while bootstrap performs better in smaller samples in terms of coverage and width.
Ovine Fetal-Placental Cocaine Pharmacokinetics During Continuous Cocaine Infusion:

OBJECTIVE To investigate fetal-placental cocaine clearance, and to determine the fetal catecholamine and cardiovascular responses to continuous intravenous cocaine infusion in fetal sheep. METHODS Eleven pregnant ewes and their fetuses (127 +/- 2 days' gestation; term 150 days) were chronically instrumented. Fetuses received intravenous cocaine at 0.05, 0.1, or 0.2 mg/kg/minute. Fetal cardiovascular and hematologic measurements were made before and serially for 90 minutes after initiation of the cocaine infusion. RESULTS Steady-state fetal plasma cocaine concentrations were observed by 15 minutes of infusion and averaged 136 +/- 11, 318 +/- 65, and 610 +/- 36 ng/mL, respectively, at each dose. Fetal-placental cocaine clearance rate was independent of dose (337 +/- 39 mL/kg/minute), indicating that it is a first-order pharmacokinetic process. Fetal plasma concentration of benzoylecgonine, a principle cocaine metabolite, increased throughout the study to approximately 25% above cocaine levels by 90 minutes. There were significant increases in fetal heart rate (from 169 +/- 11 to 242 +/- 36 beats per minute), mean blood pressure (from 53 +/- 4 to 63 +/- 5 mmHg), and systolic blood pressure (from 68 +/- 2 to 80 +/- 5 mmHg), with a corresponding increase in catecholamine levels seen in the fetuses infused with 0.2 mg/kg/minute. These changes were not seen in the fetuses given lower doses of cocaine. CONCLUSION Fetal-placental clearance of cocaine is a rapid, first-order pharmacokinetic process. During prolonged cocaine exposure, plasma benzoylecgonine concentrations accumulate significantly. Significant catecholamine and cardiovascular changes are seen in fetal sheep with a continuous infusion of cocaine at 0.2 mg/kg/minute or greater.
Structure-function relationships in human Class III alcohol dehydrogenase (formaldehyde dehydrogenase).

Human Class III alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), also known as glutathione-dependent formaldehyde dehydrogenase plays an important role in the formaldehyde detoxification and reduction of the nitric oxide metabolite s-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO). It follows a random bi bi kinetic mechanism and prefers bulkier substrates like long chain primary alcohols and glutathione adducts like s-hydroxymethylglutathione and GSNO over smaller alcohols like ethanol. The structure of the FDH.NAD(H) binary complex reported here, in conjunction with the other complexes of FDH, provide the structural basis of the kinetic observations. These structures show that the apoenzyme has a semi-open domain conformation that permits random random addition of alcohol or NAD(H). Moreover, there is no significant domain movement upon binding of the coenzyme or the substrate, 12-hydroxydodecanoic acid. Interestingly, two active site zinc coordination environments are observed in FDH. In the apoenzyme, the active site zinc is coordinated to Cys44, His66, Cys173 and a water molecule. In the FDH.NAD(H) binary complex reported here, Glu67 is added to the coordination environment of the active site zinc and the distance between the water molecule and zinc is increased. This change in the zinc coordination, brought about by the displacement of zinc of about 2 A towards Glu67 could promote substrate exchange at the active site metal during catalysis.
TCT-641 Comparison of Intravascular Ultrasound (IVUS) and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) assessment of Coronary Allograft Vasculopathy (CAV) in patients after orthotopic heart transplantation

Coronary allograft vasculopathy (CAV) in patients after orthotopic heart transplant (OHT) is a major cause of graft failure. Intravascular Ultrasound (IVUS) is more sensitive than angiography for detecting early CAV. The newer imaging modality of Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) has not been
Dopamine receptor antagonists modulate glucose uptake in rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells

A variety of dopaminergic ligands were evaluated for their ability to alter glucose transport in PC12 cells. Certain antipsychotic drugs which targeted D2 dopamine receptors, such as pimozide, fluphenazine and chlorpromazine, inhibited glucose uptake (with IC50’s in the range of 2–40 μM). By contrast, haloperidol and sulpiride (also D2 antagonists) showed marginal activity. The atypical antipsychotic drug, clozapine (a D4 antagonist), also effectively inhibited glucose transport by the cells. Ligands specific for D1 receptors did not interfere with glucose uptake. Time course studies revealed that a short incubation with the drugs (1–5 min) was sufficient to block glucose transport. These findings may have implications for the adverse effects of these drugs and for the interpretation of imaging studies of brain glucose metabolism in patients on antipsychotic medications.
The power of basis selection in fourier sampling: hidden subgroup problems in affine groups

Many quantum algorithms, including Shor's celebrated factoring and discrete log algorithms, proceed by reduction to a hidden subgroup problem, in which a unknown subgroup H of a group G must be determined from a quantum state ψ over G that is uniformly supported on a left coset of H. These hidden subgroup problems are typically solved by Fourier sampling: the quantum Fourier transform of ψ is computed and measured. When the underlying group is nonabelian, two important variants of the Fourier sampling paradigm have been identified: the weak standard method, where only representation names are measured, and the strong standard method, where full measurement (i.e., the row and column of the representation as well as its name) occurs. It has remained open whether the strong method is indeed stronger, that is, whether there are hidden subgroups that can be reconstructed via the strong method but not by the weak, or any other known, method.In this article, we settle this question in the affirmative. We show that hidden subgroups of semidirect products of the form ℤq × ℤp, where q | (p - 1) and q = p/polylog(p), can be efficiently determined by the strong standard method. Furthermore, the weak standard method and the "forgetful" abelian method are insufficient for these groups so that, in fact, it appears that use of the corresponding nonabelian representation theory is crucial. We extend this to an informationtheoretic solution for the hidden subgroup problem over the groups ℤq × ℤp where q | (p - 1) and, in particular, the affine groups Ap. Finally, we prove a simple closure property for the class of groups over which the hidden subgroup problem can be solved efficiently.
Bubble nucleation, growth and surface temperature oscillations on a rapidly heated microscale surface immersed in a bulk subcooled but locally superheated liquid under partial vacuum

Abstract The effect of ambient pressures below atmospheric, liquid subcooling and heating rate on bubble dynamics associated with rapid evaporation in highly superheated water is investigated. Platinum films of various aspect ratios are electrically heated under partial vacuum and the average metal film temperature monitored during a power pulse of duration of several tens of microseconds. At high liquid subcooling, the surface temperature of the pulse-heated thin platinum strips is shown to oscillate with a frequency on the order of 0.5 MHz. The oscillation frequency increases with ambient pressure in the range 0.02 MPa and 0.101 MPa, and decreases with increasing ambient temperature at a fixed pressure. An unusual dynamic instability is observed in which the surface temperature is constant before relaxing into oscillations, and the delay to oscillations increases with decreasing pressure. High speed imaging shows that the bubble growth phase of the oscillation is associated with surface heating and the collapse phase with surface cooling in the cyclic temperature history. These effects are explained by a bubble growth theory that includes a heat loss mechanism to the surrounding liquid. The nucleation temperature is unaffected by pressure in the sub-atmospheric range examined and it approaches the theoretical superheat limit for water at a heating rate of about 109 °C/s.
The "worth" of the worth four dot test.

Worth's four dot test was first described one hundred years ago. Despite many technological advances in equipment and techniques during the last century, this simple test is still used routinely by...
A morphing approach to address placement stability

Traditionally, research in global placement has focused on relatively few simple metrics, such as pure wirelength or routability estimates. However, in the real world today, designs are driven by not-so-simple issues such as timing and crosstalk. The future holds even more difficulties as physical models for devices and interconnects become increasingly complex and unpredictable. Adoption of an iterative methodology, where one incrementally fixes design errors, is a basic approach to tackling these problems. However, developers of placement algorithms have long neglected the need for an tool which can be easily adopted into an incremental design flow.We propose a novel placement approach called grid morphing, which is specifically tailored for an incremental approach to placement. In particular, our technique focuses on the stability of the placement, which is critical for minimization of perturbation of the final placement under changes applied to the input netlist. We comparethe stability of our approach to existing placement tools, and show through experiments that our approach still delivers good results under traditional placement metrics.
Secondary trajectories in inclusive reactions

It is shown that some recent conjectures concerning duality in the single-particle spectrum for the reaction $a+b\ensuremath{\rightarrow}c+\mathrm{anything}$ in the fragmentation region, together with factorization, imply the cancellation of leading secondary contributions in the central region for all reactions. A simple rule without this unlikely cancellation is pointed out and discussed. Some experimental tests concerning the secondary contributions are suggested.
Characterization of the Nucleoid-associated Protein YejK

Nucleoid-associated proteins play an important role in condensing chromosomal DNA and regulating gene expression. We report here the characterization of the nucleoid-associated protein YejK, which was detected in a yeast two-hybrid screen using the ParE subunit of topoisomerase IV as bait. The purified protein likely exists in a monomer-dimer equilibrium in solution and can form tetramers. Cross-linking of the protein bound to DNA suggests that the active form could be either a dimer or tetramer. YejK, which is present at about 24,000 copies of monomer per mid-log phase cell, binds double-stranded DNA with a site size of 12–14 base pairs/monomer, does not display a significant preference for either bent compared with straight DNA or supercoiled compared with relaxed DNA, and untwists DNA somewhat as it binds. YejK binds RNA, but not single-stranded DNA, with 65% of the avidity with which it binds DNA. However, cells deleted for yejK do not show defects in either RNA or protein synthesis. YejK interacts with all the subunits of both DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV and has measurable effects on their activities. In the presence of YejK, relaxation of negatively supercoiled DNA by topoisomerase IV becomes distributive, whereas relaxation of positively supercoiled DNA is stimulated. Relaxation of negatively supercoiled DNA by DNA gyrase is inhibited, whereas the extent of supercoiling of relaxed DNA is limited. A YejK-GFP chimera is an effective marker for the nucleoid in live cell imaging. Background: DNA-binding proteins help organize the nucleoid. Results: The nucleic acid-binding properties of the nucleoid-associated protein YejK have been characterized. Conclusion: YejK displays little preference for binding to any particular type of DNA but does affect the activity of DNA topoisomerases. Significance: Understanding the binding characteristics of these types of DNA-binding proteins helps to understand how the nucleoid is organized.
Validation of the Performance of Pervious Concrete in a Field Application with Finite Element Analysis

Pervious concrete is a paving material that has a number of stormwater and other environmental benefits. Most current applications of pervious concrete are in residential streets, parking lots, driveways, and sidewalks, and it is being considered for shoulders and more high volume applications. Characterizations of stress distribution and deflection patterns in pervious concrete systems may be useful parameters in the structural design of these high volume uses. Pervious concrete panels with tandem axle dual wheel loads were analyzed using finite element analysis. The wheel position was considered in the corner, center, and edge of the pavement. The critical stresses obtained from the analyses were compared against experimental tensile and compressive strengths obtained from samples from a field application for various pervious concrete layer thicknesses, and additional experimental data. It was found that pervious concrete panels of sufficient thickness have adequate strength to support the applied wheel loads. To compare the long term performance when subjected to cyclic loading, the critical tensile stresses for various pavement thicknesses were compared with pavement condition index (PCI) rating data obtained from a field application reflecting pavement performance of approximately 131,000 cycles of an 80 kN single-axle load. For this particular field application, it was found that, for cyclic loading, the required thickness of the pervious concrete layer was approximately 40 %–80 % higher compared with that for the static loading condition.
Placental serotonin: implications for the developmental effects of SSRIs and maternal depression

In addition to its role in the pathophysiology of numerous psychiatric disorders, increasing evidence points to serotonin (5-HT) as a crucial molecule for the modulation of neurodevelopmental processes. Recent evidence indicates that the placenta is involved in the synthesis of 5-HT from maternally derived tryptophan (TRP). This gives rise to the possibility that genetic and environmental perturbations directly affecting placental TRP metabolism may lead to abnormal brain circuit wiring in the developing embryo, and therefore contribute to the developmental origin of psychiatric disorders. In this review, we discuss how perturbations of the placental TRP metabolic pathway may lead to abnormal brain development and function throughout life. Of particular interest is prenatal exposure to maternal depression and antidepressants, both known to alter fetal development. We review existing evidence on how antidepressants can alter placental physiology in its key function of maintaining fetal homeostasis and have long-term effects on fetal forebrain development.
The hungry horse project power development

LOCATED ON THE South Fork of the Flathead River in northwestern Montana are the Hungry Horse Dam and Power Plant which constitute a key unit in a comprehensive program for multiple-purpose development of the vast resources of the Columbia River and its tributaries.
Mandatory environmental disclosures in a legitimacy theory context

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between mandatory environmental performance disclosure and subsequent environmental regulatory performance.Design/methodology/approach – Using legitimacy theory as the interpretive lens, regulatory non‐compliance disclosures threaten organizational legitimacy and non‐compliant firms are expected to respond to these threats. The potential effectiveness of different legitimation strategies for reducing these threats is evaluated.Findings – Regression analysis shows a negative correlation between the mandatory disclosure of environmental legal sanctions and subsequent regulatory violations using firms in the US oil refining industry. These results are interpreted as demonstrating that subsequent regulatory compliance is a tactic employed by managers to minimize the delegitimizing effect of organizational impropriety revealed by mandatory accounting disclosures.Practical implications – Implications for practice include linking financial report...
The Self in Mu’tazilah Thought

From Wāṣil ibn ‘Aṭā’ who died in Baṣrah in 131 A.H.*/749 A.C. to Abū al Ḥasan al Agh‘ari who died in Baghdād in 322 A.H./935 A.C. is a line of brilliant thinkers who constitute the Mu‘tazilah tradition.1 Their time was the formative period of Islamic thought. It was the time when Islam, having come to the Fertile Crescent, had to answer the enquiries of friend and foe, of those who were converted to, and those who resisted the new faith. The Fertile Crescent was the crossroads of Chirstianity, Judaism, Hellenism, Manichaeanism, Zoroastrianism and — by one degree removed — Indian religion. The array of ideas and thought-currents it presented to the observer was most bewildering. Until this time, the Muslim’s consciousness had been completely dominated by the vision of the divine pattern into the likeness of which the adherent of the faith stood under the command to transform space-time; and in his life, the Muslim had been too engaged in the business of making history to articulate his mission and ideology in systematic manner. He certainly argued about it, but controversy had no appeal for him. The greatest and final argument he had was “Voila !” pointing to himself and his fellow Muslims as exemplars of the faith; and both he and his opponents were convinced by this argument.
Biochemistry of cell cycle checkpoints at the G2/M and metaphase/anaphase transitions

Abstract Entry into mitosis is a highly regulated process essential for transmission of genetic information to the next generation. Biochemically, in fission yeast and higher eukaryotes, the decision to enter mitosis is mediated by checkpoints that regulate the tyrosine 15 phosphorylation state of Cdc2. The Wee1/mik1 tyrosine kinases and the Cdc25 phosphatase are the enzymes responsible for the phosphorylation/dephosphorylation of tyrosine 15, respectively, and both are also controlled by phosphorylation. In the case of Cdc25, Cdc2-dependent phosphorylation is activating and forms a positive feedback loop, whereas phosphorylation of Wee1 by other kinases is inhibitory. Evidence suggests that periodic changes in both protein phosphatase 1 and 2A also contribute to changes in Wee1 and Cdc25 activity during the cell cycle. Exit from mitosis is also a highly regulated process with potential checkpoint controls. The metaphase arrest of vertebrate eggs in Meiosis II by the mos protooncogene product is an apparent consequence of the ability of mos to phosphorylate and activate MAP kinase kinase and may involve cooperation with Cdk2/cyclin E.
Regulation of Human Hemopoietic Stem Cell Proliferation by Syngeneic Thymus-Derived Lymphocytes

Viable T lymphocytes stimulate the proliferation of human syngeneic hemopoietic stem cells, but not influence their differentiation. The biological significance of this activity is discussed and its possible physiological role in the regulation of hemopoiesis is considered
Heterodyne measurements on N2O near 1635 cm−1

Abstract Heterodyne frequency measurements have been made on eight lines of the 10 0 0–01 1 0 band of N 2 O between 1591 and 1673 cm −1 . These measurements were combined with other heterodyne frequency measurements to obtain improved frequency values for the 01 1 0-00 0 0 transitions from 520 to 660 cm −1 .
Comparative analysis of the intestinal bacterial and RNA viral communities from sentinel birds placed on selected broiler chicken farms.

There is a great deal of interest in characterizing the complex microbial communities in the poultry gut, and in understanding the effects of these dynamic communities on poultry performance, disease status, animal welfare, and microbes with human health significance. Investigations characterizing the poultry enteric virome have identified novel poultry viruses, but the roles these viruses play in disease and performance problems have yet to be fully characterized. The complex bacterial community present in the poultry gut influences gut development, immune status, and animal health, each of which can be an indicator of overall performance. The present metagenomic investigation was undertaken to provide insight into the colonization of specific pathogen free chickens by enteric microorganisms under field conditions and to compare the pre-contact intestinal microbiome with the altered microbiome following contact with poultry raised in the field. Analysis of the intestinal virome from contact birds (“sentinels”) placed on farms revealed colonization by members of the Picornaviridae, Picobirnaviridae, Reoviridae, and Astroviridae that were not present in pre-contact birds or present in proportionally lower numbers. Analysis of the sentinel gut bacterial community revealed an altered community in the post-contact birds, notably by members of the Lachnospiracea/Clostridium and Lactobacillus families and genera. Members of the avian enteric Reoviridae and Astroviridae have been well-characterized and have historically been implicated in poultry enteric disease; members of the Picobirnaviridae and Picornaviridae have only relatively recently been described in the poultry and avian gut, and their roles in the recognized disease syndromes and in poultry performance in general have not been determined. This metagenomic analysis has provided insight into the colonization of the poultry gut by enteric microbes circulating in commercial broiler flocks, and has identified enteric viruses and virus communities that warrant further study in order to understand their role(s) in avian gut health and disease.
Lateral circulation driven by boundary mixing and the associated transport of sediments in idealized partially mixed estuaries

Abstract A three-dimensional, hydrostatic, primitive equation numerical model with modern turbulence closures is used to explore lateral circulation and the associated transport of sediments in idealized, moderately to highly stratified estuaries. The model results suggest that boundary mixing on a sloping bottom can drive a significant amount of lateral circulation. This mechanism has received little attention to date in the estuarine literature. Good agreement with an analytical solution and similar vertical structures of lateral flows to observations from the Hudson River estuary support the importance of the boundary mixing mechanism. Boundary mixing is at least as important as differential advection for the modeled scenarios, when the two mechanisms are evaluated using the salt balance equation for model runs without rotation. Linearly superposing analytical solutions for lagged boundary mixing lateral flow and Ekman-forced lateral flow yields a good representation of the near-bottom lateral flow from the model with rotation. The 2 h lag required for the boundary mixing solution is roughly equal to the vertical diffusion time scale, indicating that lateral flow adjustment depends on development of a bottom mixed layer. Sediment dynamics at cross sections seaward and landward of the salt intrusion are very different. Seaward of the salt intrusion, sediments are eroded in the channel and preferentially deposited on the right slope (looking seaward), mainly due to the combination of high sediment concentration in the channel during flood with strong up-slope transport on that side (tidal pumping). Lateral sediment re-distribution landward of the salt intrusion is negligible due to weak residual lateral circulation.
ICU sedation after coronary artery bypass graft surgery: dexmedetomidine-based versus propofol-based sedation regimens

Abstract Objective: To compare dexmedetomidine-based to propofol-based sedation after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery in the intensive care unit (ICU). Design: Randomized, open label. Setting: Twenty-five centers in the United States and Canada. Participants: Two hundred ninety-five adults undergoing CABG surgery. Interventions: At sternal closure, patients in group A received 1.0 μg/kg of dexmedetomidine over 20 minutes and then 0.2 to 0.7 μg/kg/h to maintain a Ramsay sedation score ≥3 during assisted ventilation and ≥2 after extubation. Patients could be given propofol for additional sedation if necessary; group B patients received propofol-based care according to each investigator’s standard practice. Measurements and main results: Mean sedation levels were within target ranges in both groups. Mean times to weaning and extubation were similar, although fewer dexmedetomidine patients remained on the ventilator beyond 8 hours. Morphine use was significantly reduced in the dexmedetomidine group. Only 28% of the dexmedetomidine patients required morphine for pain relief while ventilated versus 69% of propofol-based patients (p Conclusion: Dexmedetomidine provided safe and effective sedation for post-CABG surgical patients and significantly reduced the use of analgesics, β-blockers, antiemetics, epinephrine, and diuretics.
Focusing of waves in turbulent inhomogeneous media

Growth of large fluctuations in the amplitude of high‐frequency waves or shocks propagating through turbulent, inhomogeneous media is investigated stochastically with geometrical acoustics. Previous efforts use linearization which is not uniformly valid at large distances and large variations in the ray tube area. The present analysis retains the nonlinear terms crucially important to focusing and growth of singular fluctuations in the amplitude. It is shown, in two dimensions, that the fluctuations of the ray‐tube area grow exponentially and caustics occur on every ray, repeatedly, on a distance scale of a σ−2/3, where the fluctuations in ray directions are still small, O(σ2/3). Here, σ≪1 is the standard deviation and a is the correlation length of the wave velocity distribution in the medium. Probability densities for the occurrence of caustics are given. Also, the moments of the ray‐tube area distribution and amplitude related statistics are developed for distances well into the region of caustic formation. Finally, a method is presented for relating the theoretical predictions to measurements on an image plane.
In Vitro Susceptibility of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to Spectinomycin Examined by a Broth Dilution Method

The in vitro susceptibility of 113 strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to spectinomycin was determined by the broth dilution method and was compared with their susceptibility to penicillin and ampicillin. All strains demonstrated a susceptibility to spectinomycin in a range between 2.5 and 20 μg/ml; 96% of these strains were susceptible in a range from 5 to 10 μg/ml. The same strains were susceptible to ampicillin at concentrations between 0.06 and 0.5 μg/ml and to penicillin between 0.02 and 1.25 units/ml. For the majority of strains, the minimal inhibitory and bactercidal concentrations were identical; however, with more than 10% of the strains, the minimal inhibitory concentration was lower than the minimal bactericidal concentration.
Relaxing on cue: The self regulation of asthma

Abstract A 41-yr-old woman with severe asthmatic difficulties was given brief training in muscular relaxation as a means of avoiding and reducing bronchospasm. A portable timer was used to cue naturalistic self-monitoring of muscle tension and self-relaxation. Client records of medication frequency indicated a dramatic improvement in respiratory functioning and excellent maintenance at a follow-up assessment. The encouraging results of this self-management strategy, when contrasted with years of unsuccessful medical treatment, suggest the need for more controlled research on applications of behavior therapy to respiratory disorders.
Serial spatial reversal learning in rats: comparison of instrumental and automaintenance procedures.

Abstract Serial reversals of a spatial discrimination were trained in rats under automaintenance conditions, in which food reward occurred regardless of responding. This automaintained reversal learning was compared to instrumental reversal learning in other rats trained under a similar procedure which required responding for reward. In the automaintenance (AU) procedure, rats received food after every retraction of a “positive” response lever (S+); retraction of a second, “neutral” lever (S°) was not paired with food delivery. Responses to the S+ were elicited at fairly constant rates during daily 100-trial conditioning sessions. Responses to the S° occurred early in each session but rapidly diminished across trials. When the valences of the levers were reversed, responding shifted to the new S+ and diminished on the new S°. Criterion for reversal was defined as a discrimination ratio (DR) of at least 90% responding to the S+ in two consecutive 10-trial blocks. With repeated reversals, acquisition of criterion performance occurred with increasing rapidity, reaching an asymptote below that required for the original discrimination. A second group of rats was trained on a similar instrumental schedule, in which at least one response to the S+ was required for food delivery. Response rates in this instrumental (IN) group were approximately double those of the AU group. However, ratios of S+ to S° response rates were similar to those of the AU group, and the serial reversal curves generated were qualitatively similar. Thus rats can show improvement across serial reversals of a spatial discrimination based entirely on pairings of stimulus events (automaintenance), in a manner similar to that observed in instrumental procedures, in which reward is contingent upon correct responding.
Practical Tips for Publishing Scholarly Articles. Writing and Publishing in the Helping Professions, 2nd edn

Rich Furman & Julie T. Kinn, Chicago, IL, Lyceum Books, Inc., 2012, 160 pp, ISBN: 978-1-935871-10-1 ((US$23.95) (pbk)) In the second edition of their book, authors Rick Furman and Julie Kinn provid...
Pocket PC Asset Manager using Radio Frequency Identification

Pocket personal computers (PPC), commonly used as cell phones and personal digital assistants, offer potential as low-cost asset tracking devices with the addition of radio frequency identification (RFID) peripherals and applications. These enhanced devices could be used to record and track inventory at lower cost than current solutions. However, their lower processing power and limited software environment might limit their viability to perform this function. The results below suggest they have good potential for this application, but further testing in an integrated environment is required.
In vitro and in vivo proteolysis of the Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis CryIVD protein by Culex quinquefasciatus larval midgut proteases

Abstract Proteases with trypsin-, chymotrypsin- and thermolysin-like specificity were detected in Culex quinequefasciatus larval midguts. Their activities were monitored by N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis of the Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis CryIVD toxin proteolytic fragments. These proteases are located in the larval midgut and in different fractions obtained during the preparation of brush border membrane vesicles. The activity of the midgut proteases increased with an increase in pH. Both the chymotrypsin- and thermolysin-like activities are involved in the processing of solubilized CryIVD toxin, whereas an additional trypsin-like protease is necessary for the CryIVD parasporal inclusion processing. The solubilized CryIVD toxin was first cleaved between Thr347 and Phe348 and between Phe348 and Tyr349, generating a 40-kDa N-terminal fragment and a 32.5-kDa C-terminal fragment. The C-terminal domain was resistant to further processing, with only a small amount of a 31-kDa product appearing due to the action of a thermolysin-like protease. However, the N-terminal domain was very unstable, and was further degraded to about 30 kDa. Unlike the solubilized CryIVD toxin, the processing of the CryIVD parasporal inclusion was very slow at neutral pH. Three protease-resistant products were detected at pHs higher than 9.5 with an overnight incubation at 37°C. The 30- and 28.5-kDa C-terminal peptides are proteolytic products of trypsin- and chymotrypsin-like proteases, respectively; while the 28-kDa N-terminal peptide has 27 amino acids deleted from the N-terminal end by a thermolysin-like protease.
Export Growth and Output Growth: An Application of Bounds Testing Approach

The short-run and the long-run relationship between export growth and economic growth has received a great deal of attention in the literature. Cointegration techniques that have been employed by previous researchers require that the variables to be non-stationary but their linear combination to be stationary. When variables are not integrated of the same order, they are excluded from analysis. This needs not to be the case with the introduction of the bounds testing approach. Indeed, the approach does not require pre-unit-root testing. This paper applies this new method to export and output data from 44 developing countries and provides support for the export-led growth hypothesis in 60% of the countries.
Optimal current patterns for three-dimensional electric current computed tomography

Basic investigations of the detectability of small targets in a three-dimensional cylindrical saline phantom are described. Distinguishability, a measure of target detectability, is defined, and the effects of electrode geometry, target volume and target height on distinguishability are reported. An algorithm that computes current patterns that maximize distinguishability in a three-dimensional electrode array is described and tested. The results show that the algorithm greatly increases distinguishability for small, off-center targets and converges quickly to optimal current patterns. >
Development of equine upper airway fluid mechanics model for Thoroughbred racehorses

Summary Reason for performing study: Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models provide the means to evaluate airflow in the upper airways without requiring in vivo experiments. Hypothesis: The physiological conditions of a Thoroughbred racehorse's upper airway during exercise could be simulated. Methods: Computed tomography scanned images of a 3-year-old intact male Thoroughbred racehorse cadaver were used to simulate in vivo geometry. Airway pressure traces from a live Thoroughbred horse, during exercise was used to set the boundary condition. Fluid-flow equations were solved for turbulent flow in the airway during inspiratory and expiratory phases. The wall pressure turbulent kinetic energy and velocity distributions were studied at different cross-sections along the airway. This provided insight into the general flow pattern and helped identify regions susceptible to dynamic collapse. Results: The airflow velocity and static tracheal pressure were comparable to data of horses exercising on a high-speed treadmill reported in recent literature. The cross-sectional area of the fully dilated rima glottidis was 7% greater than the trachea. During inspiration, the area of highest turbulence (i.e. kinetic energy) was in the larynx, the rostral aspect of the nasopharynx was subjected to the most negative wall pressure and the highest airflow velocity is more caudal on the ventral aspect of the nasopharynx (i.e. the soft palate). During exhalation, the area of highest turbulence was in the rostral and mid-nasopharynx, the maximum positive pressure was observed at the caudal aspect of the soft palate and the highest airflow velocity at the front of the nasopharynx. Conclusions and clinical relevance: In the equine upper airway collapsible area, the floor of the rostral aspect of the nasopharynx is subjected to the most significant collapsing pressure with high average turbulent kinetic during inhalation, which may lead to palatal instability and explain the high prevalence of dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP) in racehorses. Maximal abduction of the arytenoid cartilage may not be needed for optimal performance, since the trachea cross-sectional area is 7% smaller than the rima glottidis.
A high frequency of structural chromosome abnormalities in a south central texas cytogenetics laboratory

Abnormalities of chromosome number, such as the autosomal trisomies and sex chromosome aneuploidies, are considered to be sporadic events with low and constant recurrence risk across populations. On the other hand, abnormalities of chromosome structure can be generated by environmental agents and also transmitted in families and therefore may accumulate in certain populations. Evidence from several geographically diverse newborn infant screening studies and from clinical cytogenetics laboratories (including our own) supports the hypothesis that the frequency of structural abnormalities varies among populations, whereas the frequency of numerical abnormalities remains relatively constant among populations. The data from our laboratory, based on 1,201 patients over a 6-year period, suggest a two- to nearly fourfold higher frequency of structural defects over that of other populations (8.8% vs 4.2% and 2.5% of samples tested). Some of the problems associated with making comparisons among the published data sets are discussed, along with alternative explanations for the variability in the frequency of structural defects reported in different populations.
Fast time response measurements of gaseous nitrous acid using a tunable diode laser absorption spectrometer: HONO emission source from vehicle exhausts

[1] We present the measurement of gaseous nitrous acid (HONO) using a tunable diode laser absorption spectrometer. This method utilizes one strong absorption feature at 1713.511cm−1, which is free of interference and suitable for ambient HONO measurements. The detection limit for a 1-second integration time is determined to be better than 200 pptv. The measurement method has been demonstrated by sampling room air over an 11-day period. HONO mixing ratios ranged from below the detection limit (≤200 pptv) to 4.8 ppbv, with a mean value of 0.73 ppbv. A number of elevated HONO events lasting from several seconds up to hours were observed and have been associated with roadway traffic adjacent to the building where the measurements were performed. The variation in the ratio of HONO/NOx and its anti-correlation with ambient NOx measurements indicate that the source of HONO in this measurement study is mainly from the direct emission of traffic exhausts and local heterogeneous reactions. The demonstrated application of TDLAS fast response measurement technology is capable of providing new information on the sources and sinks of HONO in the environment.
Ethical Decisions and Gender Differences of European Hospitality Students

The purpose of this paper is to assess the sources influencing an ethical decision-making process of European hospitality students. Ten scenarios were used (1) to indicate whether the action posed was ‘ethical’, ‘unethical’, or ‘not a question of ethics’ and (2) to indicate what they would do if they were in this situation. We found that of the nearly 400 European hospitality students, 54 per cent females and 46 per cent males, both genders indicated that parents, close friends, and business management courses influenced their ethical beliefs the most. Additionally, we found that responses were significantly different for only one of the ten scenarios with regards to gender.The action responses to the proposed scenarios were, however, statistically significant for five scenarios; four of these five were business scenarios. Female European hospitality students were more likely to engage in ethical behaviour and are generally less tolerant of questionable practices than their male peers.
The Relationship of Maternal and Child Illness Uncertainty to Child Depressive Symptomotology: A Mediational Model

All correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Melanie C. Page, 116 North Murray Hall,Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, 74078. E-mail: melanie.page@okstate.edu.Received December 14, 2010; revisions received June 10, 2011; accepted June 21, 2011Objective To examine the relationship of parent and child ratings of illness uncertainty to depressivesymptomotology in children with a chronic illness using a mediational model framework.Method Mother–child dyads (N¼103 pairs) each completed measures of perceived illness uncertainty,while youth also completed a measure of depressive symptomotology. Results Maternal uncertaintywas directly related to child depressive symptoms; however, this relationship was mediated by childuncertainty. Conclusion It would appear that a key mechanism by which parent-related uncertaintyinfluences child depressive symptoms is through child uncertainty, underscoring the importance ofexamining cognitive appraisal variables and means of transmission in parent–child interactions.Key words adjustment; chronic illness; psychosocial functioning.
Virus-Cytoskeleton Interaction during Replication of Frog Virus 3

Frog virus 3 (FV3) induces selective and sequential changes in the eukaryotic cytoskeleton. Morphologically, the virus disrupts the microtubules, reorganizes the intermediate filaments, and disrupts and reorganizes the microfilaments. Biochemically, the virus selectively inhibits tubulin synthesis, increases the phosphorylation of vimentin, and modifies actin in an unknown manner. Functionally, the virus uses intermediate filaments in compartmentalizing viral genomes and viral proteins, and microfilaments in virus release. By studying how FV3 modulates the cytoskeleton for its own replication we may learn the roles of cytoskeleton (i) in the compartmentalization and movement of intracellular proteins and (ii) in the contractile mechanisms operative in virus release.
Visual field expansion after visual restoration therapy

Objective: To determine whether visual field expansion occurs with visual restoration therapy (VRT), using fundus-controlled microperimetry to assess visual fields.Design: This longitudinal cohort analysis assesses patients’ visual fields before and after visual restoration therapy using microperimetry and standard high-resolution perimetry.Subjects: Seven patients with stroke-induced homonymous field cuts were studied.Intervention: Visual restoration therapy is a computerized, home-based treatment aimed at reducing the size of the visual field defect of stroke patients with hemianopia through repetitive stimulation of the visual borderzone adjacent to the blind field. During twice-daily therapy for three months patients maintain central fixation while responding to eccentrically placed stimuli in the visual borderzone. The programme is adjusted monthly to changes in the patient’s visual field. Controversy exists as to whether expansion of visual fields measured at home with high-resolution perimetry is d...
Fontan conversion: identifying the high-risk patient.

Background Patients with atriopulmonary Fontan tend to undergo conversion to total cavopulmonary connections secondary to arrhythmias or poor flow dynamics. However, the ideal candidate is unknown. Methods Between December 1994 and May 2011, 70 patients (40 males [57%]) underwent Fontan conversion. Median age was 23 years (range, 4 to 46 years). Excluded were 1.5 ventricle conversions. The most common diagnoses included tricuspid atresia in 34patients (49%) and double-inlet left ventricle in 16 (23%). Atrial tachyarrhythmia was present in 62 patients (89%), 41 (59%) had atrioventricular valve (AVV) regurgitation, and 32 (46%) were in New York Heart Association class III or IV. Atriopulmonary Fontan was the original connection in 58 patients (83%), whereas the Bjork modification was performed in 8 (11%). Results Fontan was performed with an intraatrial conduit in 41 patients, an extracardiac conduit in 18, and a lateral tunnel in 11. Forty-nine patients (70%) underwent concomitant arrhythmia operations. Early death occurred in 10 patients (14%). Multivariate analysis revealed age older than 27 years ( p = 0.009), AVV regurgitation ( p = 0.016), lack of arrhythmia operation ( p = 0.04), and male sex ( p = 0.02) were predictors of perioperative death. Mean follow-up was 5 years (maximum, 17 years). Overall survival at 1, 5, and 10 years was 81%, 70%, and 67%, respectively, and 84% of patients were in New York Heart Association class I or II. Conclusions Proper selection of Fontan conversion candidates is critical. Concomitant arrhythmia operations may be associated with improved survival. Older age and AVV regurgitation increase the risk of poor outcome, and cardiac transplantation may be a better option.