cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Genetic Mouse Models of Parkinsonism: Strengths and Limitations

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder. Patients with PD display a combination of motor symptoms including resting tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia, and postural instability that worsen over time. These motor symptoms are related to the progressive loss of dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. PD patients also suffer from nonmotor symptoms that may precede the cardinal motor symptoms and that are likely related to pathology in other brain regions. Traditional toxin models of PD have focused on the nigrostriatal pathway and the loss of dopamine neurons in this region, and these models have been important in our understanding of PD and in the development of symptomatic treatments for the disease. However, they are limited in that they do not reproduce the full pathology and progression seen in PD, thus creating a need for better models. The recent discovery of specific genes causing familial forms of PD has contributed to the development of novel genetic mouse models of PD. This review discusses the validity, benefits, and limitations of these new models.
A model for the practical nonlinear analysis of reinforced-concrete frames including joint flexibility

Abstract A model is developed to simulate the nonlinear response of planar reinforced-concrete frames including all sources of flexibility. Conventional modeling approaches consider only beam and column flexibility using concentrated plasticity or springs to model this response. Although the joint may contribute the majority of the deformation, its deformability is typically not included in practice. In part, this is because few reliable, practical approaches for modeling all sources of frame nonlinearity are available. The research presented herein was undertaken to develop a practical, accurate nonlinear model for reinforced concrete frames. The model is appropriate for predicting the earthquake response of planar frames for which the nonlinearity is controlled by yielding of beams and/or non-ductile response of joints and is compatible with the ASCE/SEI Standard 41-06 nonlinear static procedure. The model was developed to facilitate implementation in commercial software packages commonly used for this type of nonlinear analysis. The nonlinearity is simulated by introducing a dual-hinge lumped-plasticity beam element to model the beams framing into the joint. The dual-hinge comprises two rotational springs in series; one spring simulates beam flexural response and one spring simulates joint response. Hinge parameters were determined using data from 45 planar frame sub-assemblage tests. Application of the model to simulate the response of these sub-assemblages shows that the model provides accurate simulation of stiffness, strength, drift capacity and response mechanism for frames with a wide range of design parameters.
An examination of latino immigrant youths' out-of-school technology practices

The majority of the existing research on youth and technology has focused on physical access, computer-related skills, or student attitudes. Less is known about the social and cultural aspects of young people's interactions with technology. However, understanding how youth use technology and the different factors that affect these uses can help us capitalize on students' strengths. Using survey and ethnographic data, this study is intended to contribute to a better understanding of youths' interactions with technology. Participants in the study were Latino immigrant students (fifth- and sixth-graders) from an elementary school located in a large metropolis in the United States. Results provide both an overall picture of the youths' technological practices as well as a deeper look at the ways in which engaging with technology was valuable and meaningful for them.
Death of HT29 adenocarcinoma cells induced by TNF family receptor activation is caspase-independent and displays features of both apoptosis and necrosis

The HT29 adenocarcinoma is a common model of epithelial cell differentiation and colorectal cancer and its death is an oft-analyzed response to TNF family receptor signaling. The death event itself remains poorly characterized and here we have examined the involvement of caspases using pan-caspase inhibitors. zVAD-fmk did not block death of HT29 cells in response to activation of the Fas, TRAIL, TNF, TWEAK and LTbeta receptors. The secondary induction of TNF or the other known bona fide death inducing ligands did not account for death following LTbeta receptor activation indicating that TNF family receptors can trigger a caspase-independent death pathway regardless of the presence of canonical death domains in the receptor. To provide a frame of reference, the phenotype of HT29 death was compared to four other TNF family receptor triggered death events; Fas induced Jurkat cell apoptosis, TNF/zVAD induced L929 fibroblast necrosis, TNF induced death of WEHI 164 fibroblastoid cells and TNF/zVAD induced U937 death. The death of HT29 and U937 cells under these conditions is an intermediate form with both necrotic and apoptotic features. The efficient coupling of TNF receptors to a caspase-independent death event in an epithelial cell suggests an alternative approach to cancer therapy.
Using Computer-Mediated Discussion To Facilitate Preservice Teachers’ Understanding of Literacy Assessment And Instruction

AbstractThe author summarized research conducted with preservice teachers who participated in the case study of struggling readers via asynchronous Computer Mediated Discussion (CMD) on Blackboard. Results revealed that themes about assessment and instruction of struggling readers emerged within and across discussion fora. Also, CMD both facilitated and limited these preservice teachers’ understandings of literacy assessment and instruction. This and other research studies in this area served as a base for recommendations regarding the use of CMD in university teacher education courses. Recommendations focused on issues of communication, collaboration, and the learning environment. Specific recommendations reveal that instructors should carefully consider the purpose and tasks for employing CMD in a university course. Also, instructors must find ways to increase motivation for those students with writing apprehension. Further, instructors can practice methods to facilitate increased interaction during CMD...
Realization of the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen paradox for continuous variables in nondegenerate parametric amplification

The Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen (EPR) paradox is demonstrated experimentally for continuous variables by employing a nondegenerate optical parametric amplifier (NOPA). Such a system is analogous to and under some ideal conditions is in one-to-one correspondence with the original system discussed by EPR. In particular, the quadrature-phase amplitudes for a signal beam are inferred in turn from those of a spatially separated but strongly correlated idler beam, where these optical amplitudes are analogous to canonical position and momentum variables. The variances for the two inferences are measured and their product is observed to be below the limit of unity associated with the Heisenberg uncertainty relation, in apparent contradiction with quantum mechanics according to the argument of EPR. The smallest product of inference variances achieved in the experiment is (0.70±0.01). Various other types of quantum noise for this system are also investigated, and a theory of a narrowband NOPA is presented with losses included. A comparison between experiment and this theory shows relatively good agreement. The question of a local hidden-variables description of the system is discussed.
Developing monitoring techniques for an on-line information retrieval system

Abstract One of the least understood and most ignored aspects of implementing on-line software is the problem of effective monitoring. This problem takes on many facets: gathering data on user interactions and errors, storing and processing these data, and generating summary reports which can be used to pinpoint deficiencies and to suggest modifications and improvements. Northwestern University has developed techniques to monitor an on-line information retrieval system, by using that system both to monitor itself and to process the data collected. RIQS (Remote Information Query System) is both a batch and on-line generalized, information retrieval system which operates on the CDC 6400. It is used by faculty and students for developing and searching data bases in medicine, political science, computer science, anthropology, astronomy, university administration and planning, etc. An on-line monitor program was developed to produce a RIQS-compatible data base of user interactions with RIQS-ONLINE. Using RIQS, this data base can then be interrogated and searched to generate reports, to create plots, or to produce input for a statistical package. Typical parameters which are studied include total real-time per user access to RIQS, real time and central processor time per query, number of records searched, number of records retrieved, number of search terms used, type and size of reports generated, number and type of language or syntax errors made by user, etc. This paper illustrates the use of these techniques by providing summary reports and plots from use of RIQS-ONLINE during the current academic year. System improvements are suggested from analysis of these reports.
Recent Investigations on the Nature of Sterol Intermediates in the Biosynthesis of Cholesterol

Lanosterol(4,4,14$\alpha $-trimethyl-cholesta-8,24-dien-3$\beta $-ol) has been proposed as the primary product of the cyclization of 2,3-epoxysqualene in animal tissues. Enzymic conversion of lanosterol to cholesterol requires reduction of the $\Delta ^{24}$ double bond, removal of the three extra methyl groups, and shift of the nuclear double bond from $\Delta ^{8}$ position to the $\Delta ^{5}$ position. Until very recently, all of the proposed sterol intermediates in the biosynthesis of cholesterol possessed nuclear double bonds in the $\Delta ^{8}$, $\Delta ^{7}$, $\Delta ^{5,7}$ or $\Delta ^{5}$ positions. Consideration of possible mechanisms for the removal of the methyl group at carbon atom 14 of sterol precursors led to our demonstration of the presence of cholest-8(14)-en-3$\beta $-ol in animal tissues and establishment of the convertibility of this sterol to cholesterol in rat liver homogenate preparations. Reports (from other laboratories) of the stereospecific loss of the 15$\alpha $-hydrogen of lanosterol upon enzymic conversion to cholesterol led to the demonstration of the convertibility of cholesta-8,14-dien-3$\beta $-ol, cholesta-7,14-dien-3$\beta $-ol, 14$\alpha $-methyl-cholest-7-en-3$\beta $,15-diol, cholest-8(14)-en-3$\beta $,15$\alpha $-diol, and cholest-8(14)-en-3$\beta $,15$\beta $-diol to cholesterol in rat liver preparations. We have recently developed chromatographic methods permitting the resolution of all of the C$_{27}$ sterols in question. The results of recent experiments directed towards an understanding of the detailed metabolism of these compounds are presented herein.
Lipase-catalyzed production of biodiesel

Lipases were screened for their ability to transesterify triglycerides with short-chain alcohols to alkyl esters. The lipase fromMucor miehei was most efficient for converting triglycerides to their alkyl esters with primary alcohols, whereas the lipase fromCandida antarctica was most efficient for transesterifying triglycerides with secondary alcohols to give branched alkyl esters. Conditions were established for converting tallow to short-chain alkyl esters at more than 90% conversion. These same conditions also proved effective for transesterfying vegetable oils and high fatty acid-containing feedstocks to their respective alkyl ester derivatives.
A three-zone model for mass transfer accompanied by equilibrium and very fast second-order irreversible reactions

Abstract A three-zone model for mass transfer accompanied by equilibrium and very rapid second-order irreversible chemical reaction is developed and the concept of an equilibrium plane is introduced. The model is applicable to both strong and weak electrolytes and is successfully used to model the dissolution of benzoic acid in sodium hydroxide.
Kinetic characterization of a slow-binding inhibitor of Bla2: thiomaltol.

The increasing prevalence of drug resistant bacteria is a pandemic problem. Metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs) are one of the main causes of drug resistance due to hydrolysis of β-lactam antibiotics. Thus, the development of effective inhibitors of MBLs remains urgent. The compound thiomaltol was used as a lead compound to investigate its ability to inhibit metallo-β-lactamase from Bacillus anthracis (Bla2), which causes anthrax. Kinetic evaluation with nitrocefin as a substrate indicates that thiomaltol inhibits Bla2 in a time-dependent manner with an IC50 value of 290 µM after 20 min preincubation. Progress curve analysis and reversibility tests suggest that thiomaltol is a reversible, slow-binding inhibitor with a Ki of 85 ± 30 µM. Furthermore, studies on the modality of inhibition and in silico analysis indicate thiomaltol to be a competitive inhibitor. The results demonstrate that thiomaltol is a promising lead compound for slow binding inhibitor design of Bla2.
A Navier–Stokes Analysis of the Stall Flutter Characteristics of the Buffum Cascade

Numerical stall flutter prediction methods are highly needed as modern jet engines require blade designs close to the stability boundaries of the performance map.A Quasi-3D Navier-Stokes code is used to analyze the flow over the oscillating cascade designed and manufactured by Pratt & Whitney, and studied at the NASA Glenn Research Center by Buffum et al. The numerical method solves for the governing equations with a fully implicit time-marching technique in a single passage by making use of a direct-store, periodic boundary condition. For turbulence modeling the Baldwin-Lomax model is used. To account for transition, the criterion to predict the onset location suggested by Baldwin and Lomax is incorporated.Buffum et al. investigated two incidence cases for three different Mach numbers. The low-incidence case at a Mach number of 0.5 exhibited the formation of small separation bubbles at reduced oscillation frequencies of 0.8 and 1.2. For this case the present approach yielded good agreement with the steady and oscillatory measurements. At high-incidence at the same Mach number of 0.5 the measured steady-state pressure distribution and the separation bubble on the upper surface was also found in good agreement with the experiment. But computations for oscillations at high-incidence failed to predict the negative damping contribution caused by the leading edge separation.Copyright © 2000 by ASME
Linear programming techniques for multidimensional analysis of preferences

This paper offers a new methodology for analyzing individual differences in preference judgments with regard to a set of stimuli prespecified in a multidimensional attribute space. The individual is modelled as possessing an “ideal point” denoting his most preferred stimulus location in this space and a set of weights which reveal the relative saliences of the attributes. He prefers those stimuli which are “closer” to his ideal point (in terms of a weighted Euclidean distance measure). A linear programming model is proposed for “external analysis”i.e., estimation of the coordinates of his ideal point and the weights (involved in the Euclidean distance measure) by analyzing his paired comparison preference judgments on a set of stimuli, prespecified by their coordinate locations in the multidimensional space. A measure of “poorness of fit” is developed and the linear programming model minimizes this measure overall possible solutions. The approach is fully nonmetric, extremely flexible, and uses paired comparison judgments directly. The weights can either be constrained nonnegative or left unconstrained. Generalizations of the model to consider ordinal or interval preference data and to allow an orthogonal transformation of the attribute space are discussed. The methodology is extended to perform “internal analysis,”i.e., to determine the stimuli locations in addition to weights and ideal points by analyzing the preference judgments of all subjects simultaneously. Computational results show that the methodology for external analysis is “unbiased”—i.e., on an average it recovers the “true” ideal point and weights. These studies also indicate that the technique performs satisfactorily even when about 20 percent of the paired comparison judgments are incorrectly specified.
Fatal air embolism in therapeutic pneumoperitoneum.

Introduction of air into the peritoneal cavity by means of needle puncture is an old procedure. It has been used for local treatment of tubercubous peritonitis as early as 1893, as a diagnostic procedure since 1902 and for the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis since 1933. The safety and simplicity of pneumoperitoneum have made it a widely utilized procedure in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis, however, ill effects from pneumoperitoneum have been witnessed. Among the complications to be considered are perforation of an abdominal viscus, pentoneal effusion and air embolism. With the increasing use of pneumoperitoneum, air embolism, the most serious of these complications, has occurred more frequently as indicated by recent reports.11’ Of 127 cases of air embolism reported in the medical literature, 74 have been fatal. The incidence of air embolism during pneumoperitoneum therapy is probably higher than indicated by these reports. The purpose of this paper is to report in detail one fatal case of air embolism which was observed at the Ohio Tuberculosis Hospital. During preparation of this report, six additional unreported cases were cited by personal communications from reputable sources.’31’ These six additional cases were also fatal, but details of these are not complete enough to warrant extensive presentation.
Fuzzy logic for improved dilemma zone identification

A Type II dilemma zone (DZ) is the segment of roadway on the approach to an intersection at which drivers have difficulty deciding whether to stop or proceed at the onset of the circular yellow (CY) indication. The safety of signalized intersections is improved when DZs are correctly identified and steps are taken to reduce the likelihood that vehicles will be caught in such zones. This research purports that using driving simulators as a means of collecting driver response data at the onset of the CY indication is a valid methodology for augmenting analysis of decisions and reactions made within the DZ. The data obtained were compared with data from previous experiments documented in the literature, and the evidence suggested that driving simulation was valid for describing driver behavior under the given conditions. After the data were validated, fuzzy logic was proposed as a tool for modeling driver behavior in the DZ, and three models were developed to describe driver behavior as it relates to the speed and position of the vehicle. These models were shown to be consistent with previous research on this subject and were able to predict driver behavior with up to 90% accuracy.
How Are Internal Medicine Residency Journal Clubs Organized, and What Makes Them Successful?

Background: While there has been extensive research on interventions designed to increase knowledge of research methods in the setting of journal clubs, little is known regarding other features that are of potential importance. To my knowledge, no research to date has described the attributes of journal clubs associated with high resident attendance and the avoidance of periodic abandonment. I sought to determine how journal clubs in postgraduate programs in internal medicine are organized and to identify the features associated with high attendance and continuous existence. Methods: Mailed cross-sectional survey of the 208 accredited residency programs in internal medicine in the eastern United States. The surveys were mailed to the chief resident in internal medicine in August 1992. Results: Data from 131 residency programs were available (response rate, 64.5%). Mean estimated attendance at the 124 programs with an active journal club was 58.5% (range, 7% to 100%); 86 (65.6%) of the clubs were in continuous existence for 2 years or longer. Fifty-two journal clubs (41.9%) were described as independent of any faculty clubs, and 62 (50.0%) emphasized original research. The number of articles reviewed per session ranged from one to six, but the majority reviewed two articles, usually during a 1-hour period, most often during the lunch hour. Seventy-two programs (58.1%) described club attendance as mandatory. The provision of food was a regular feature of 83 (66.9%) of the journal clubs, and the majority of clubs with food regularly rely on funding support for the food from pharmaceutical companies. Participation of faculty in the scheduling of the club, assigning articles, and overall coordination varied, but in 29 (22.1%) of the clubs, faculty provided formal teaching of critical appraisal skills, clinical epidemiology, and biostatistics. Fewer house staff, a mandatory attendance requirement, being independent of a faculty journal club, and formal teaching were associated with high attendance. The regular provision of food was associated with long, continuous existence. Reviewing only original research articles was associated with long, continuous existence but was negatively associated with high attendance. Journal clubs with both long, continuous existence and high attendance were associated with mandatory attendance, the provision of food, and fewer house staff. Conclusions: If residency journal club success is defined as having high attendance or long, continuous existence, then success is associated with smaller residency programs, making attendance mandatory, promoting a journal club independent of faculty, providing formal teaching of critical appraisal skills, making food available, and emphasizing original research articles. Residency programs in internal medicine seeking to establish journal clubs with long, continuous existence or high attendance should focus on these attributes. (Arch Intern Med. 1995;155:1193-1197)
Implementation of the unit commitment problem on supercomputers

This paper proposes the application of vectorization and parallelization techniques for solving the unit commitment problem on supercomputers. A modified dynamic programming method which takes full advantage of the vector processors present in a supercomputer is presented. Parallel processing is used to further speedup the computation time. Computer simulation of a 26-unit power system is performed on a CRAY Y-MP2/216 in both scalar and vector codes. The computation time results for the conventional dynamic programming algorithm and modified algorithm are compared to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. >
Dielectric-Parameter Measurements of SiC at Millimeter and Submillimeter Wavelengths

High-precision continuous spectra of the absorption coefficient, refractive index, complex dielectric permittivity, and loss tangent for several silicon carbide (SiC) specimens are reported in this paper over a broad millimeter- and submillimeter-wave range for the first time. Measurements have been successfully performed using three different types of specially constructed spectrometer systems: a dispersive Fourier transform spectroscopy, an automated 60-GHz open resonator, and a free-space quasi-optical millimeter-wave spectrometer equipped with high-power backward-wave oscillator sources and their associated state-of-the-art dielectric-measurement techniques. Data are presented as continuous functions of frequency from 30 to 600 GHz. The employment of various measurement systems and techniques ensured the measurement of polycrystalline SiC specimens with various degrees of absorption and dispersion characteristics over an extended frequency range with high precision. Results presented here provide comprehensive information of SiC on its optical and dielectric behavior as a function of frequency and purity for its potential application in semiconductor and radio-frequency devices and circuits. An error analysis of measured dielectric-parameter results is also provided.
Precision Sectioning of Wood

In discussing the theories and mechanism of sectioning, it is pointed out that virtually no concrete knowledge exists on the subject. The function of different mechanisms and their role in cutting different types of tissue, and the value of microtome knives versus safety razor blades is discussed. Razor blades failed to cut precise sections; a technic for sharpening a knife to give precise sections is outlined, pointing out errors to avoid in sharpening and sectioning. Various types of knife edges are illustrated by photomicrographs. The procedure of sharpening and sectioning technics for critical results is explained. The mechanism of cutting in wood appeared to be of the crushing and tearing type, indicating the necessity of final polishing in sharpening.
Effects of subgrid-scale turbulence on resolvable-scale velocity–scalar statistics

The effects of subgrid-scale (SGS) velocity and scalar and SGS models on the resolvable-scale velocity-scalar joint probability density function (JPDF) are studied. It is shown that the SGS stress and SGS scalar flux evolve the JPDF though the conditional mean SGS stress and flux, their production rates, and the SGS scalar variance production rate. The mean SGS stress and SGS scalar flux production rate are predicted using Lumley's assumption (Lumley, J. 1967 Physics of Fluids, 16, 3859–3867), which is consistent with Kolmogorov's hypothesis. Analyses of these statistics using data obtained in a slightly heated turbulent jet show that the mean SGS stress, SGS scalar flux, and their production rates have filter-scale dependences consistent with our predictions, suggesting that the SGS turbulence has diminishing influences on the lower-order resolvable-scale statistics for inertial-range filter scales. The Smagorinsky model predictions also have similar filter-scale dependences, suggesting that the models h...
The control net of Mars: May 1977

The development of planet-wide control nets of Mars is reviewed, and the May 1977 update is described. This updated control net was computed by means of a large single-block analytical triangulation incorporating the new direction of the spin axis and the new rotation rate of Mars, as determined from radio tracking data provided by the Viking lander spacecraft. The analytical triangulation adjusts for planimetric control only (areocentric latitude and longitude) and for the camera orientation angles. Most of the areocentric radii at the control points were interpolated from radio occultation measurements, but a few were determined photogrammetically, and a substantial number were derived from elevation contours on the 1976 USGS topographic series of Mars maps. A value of V, measured from Mars' vernal equinox along the equator to the prime meridian (Airy-0) is presented.
Functions of the N- and C-Terminal Domains of Human RAP74 in Transcriptional Initiation, Elongation, and Recycling of RNA Polymerase II

Transcription factor IIF (TFIIF) cooperates with RNA polymerase II (pol II) during multiple stages of the transcription cycle including preinitiation complex assembly, initiation, elongation, and possibly termination and recycling. Human TFIIF appears to be an α2β2 heterotetramer of RNA polymerase II-associating protein 74- and 30-kDa subunits (RAP74 and RAP30). From inspection of its 517-amino-acid (aa) sequence, the RAP74 subunit appears to comprise separate N- and C-terminal domains connected by a flexible loop. In this study, we present functional data that strongly support this model for RAP74 architecture and further show that the N- and C-terminal domains and the central loop of RAP74 have distinct roles during separate phases of the transcription cycle. The N-terminal domain of RAP74 (minimally aa 1 to 172) is sufficient to deliver pol II into a complex formed on the adenovirus major late promoter with the TATA-binding protein, TFIIB, and RAP30. A more complete N-terminal domain fragment (aa 1 to 217) strongly stimulates both accurate initiation and elongation by pol II. The region of RAP74 between aa 172 and 205 and a subregion between aa 170 and 178 are critical for both accurate initiation and elongation, and mutations in these regions have similar effects on initiation and elongation. Based on these observations, RAP74 appears to have similar functions in initiation and elongation. The central region and the C-terminal domain of RAP74 do not contribute strongly to single-round accurate initiation or elongation stimulation but do stimulate multiple-round transcription in an extract system.
Gnathostomulida from Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand

Of 54 species of Gnathostomulida known to date, only six have been reported from the Pacific Ocean. This paper describes 18 species of Gnathostomulida from the Pacific islands of Fiji. Tonga and northern New Zealand. Of these, three are species previously described from the northeastern Atlantic and Mediterranean: Haplognathia ruberrima (Sterrer 1966), or the northwestern Atlantic: Haplognathia rosacea (Sterrer 1970) and Pterognathia ctenifera (Sterrer 1970). Fifteen species are new to science, including three that represent two new genera: Cosmognathia arcus gen. et sp.n., Cosmognathia bastillae sp.n., Pterognathia crocodilus sp.n., Pterognathia vilii sp.n., Agnathiella sp., Tenuignathia vitiensis sp.n., Ratugnathia mukuluvae gen. et sp.n., Gnathostomula salotae sp.n., Gnathostomula raji sp.n., Gnathostomula maorica sp.n., Austrognathia singatokae sp.n., Austrognathia nannulifera sp.n., Austrognathia novaezelandiae sp.n., Austrognatharia homunculus sp.n., and Austrognatharia pecten sp.n.
Three Perspectives on Neutrality and Drift in Molecular Evolution

This article offers three contrasting cases of the use of neutrality and drift in molecular evolution. In the first, neutrality is assumed as a simplest case for modeling. In the second and third, concepts of drift and neutrality are developed within the context of population genetics testing and the development and application of the molecular clock.
Adaptive Network Coding in Two-Way Relaying MIMO Systems

We investigate physical-layer network coding for two-way relaying systems which employ multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) techniques. For single-antenna cases, it has been previously verified that adaptive network coding, whose mapping rule is dependent on channel state information (CSI), can offer good performance for two-stage relaying protocols. In this paper, we evaluate gains achieved by adaptive network coding over the conventional network coding in MIMO channels. We consider several different scenarios: any CSI is not available, only local CSI is available, and global CSI is available at transmitters. Optimal precoding is derived for each scenario to minimize pairwise error probability. We confirm that the adaptive network coding still outperforms the fixed network coding even for MIMO communications.
State Firearm Legislation and Nonfatal Firearm Injuries

Objectives. We investigated whether stricter state-level firearm legislation was associated with lower hospital discharge rates for nonfatal firearm injuries.Methods. We estimated discharge rates for hospitalized and emergency department–treated nonfatal firearm injuries in 18 states in 2010 and used negative binomial regression to determine whether strength of state firearm legislation was independently associated with total nonfatal firearm injury discharge rates.Results. We identified 26 744 discharges for nonfatal firearm injuries. The overall age-adjusted discharge rate was 19.0 per 100 000 person-years (state range = 3.3–36.6), including 7.9 and 11.1 discharges per 100 000 for hospitalized and emergency department–treated injuries, respectively. In models adjusting for differences in state sociodemographic characteristics and economic conditions, states in the strictest tertile of legislative strength had lower discharge rates for total (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 0.60; 95% confidence interval [CI...
REGULATION OF THE AUTOACTIVATION OF HUMAN 72-KDA PROGELATINASE BY TISSUE INHIBITOR OF METALLOPROTEINASES-2

To study the activation of human 72-kDa gelatinase, and its relation to tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 2 (TIMP-2), we purified human 72-kDa progelatinase both as a complex with TIMP-2 and as a free proteinase. Activation of progelatinase-TIMP-2 complexes with 4-aminophenylmercuric acetate yielded gelatinolytically active enzyme migrating at 62 kDa. TIMP-2 remained bound to the active enzyme. Removal of TIMP-2 from progelatinase by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid, followed by complete dialysis in neutral pH buffer, resulted in multiple fragments. These fragments were formed as a result of the cleavage of 72-kDa progelatinase at several locations. Cleavage at the amino terminus was restricted to the removal of the propeptide, except in the case of degradation leading to inactive fragments. Two active species autocatalytically evolved upon removal of TIMP-2 from progelatinase. The 62 kDa-activated gelatinase lacked the amino-terminal propeptide, which is known to be removed upon treatment with 4-aminophenylmercuric acetate. In addition, an active 42.5-kDa fragment lacking both the propeptide and a portion of the carboxyl terminus was formed. This low-molecular-weight active form of 72-kDa progelatinase retained its ability to bind and degrade gelatin. Self-activation and degradation of 72-kDa progelatinase can be prevented by agents that inhibit metalloproteinases, including 1,10-phenanthroline. Evidence presented here suggests that TIMP-2 binds to a stabilization site that is independent of the active site. This stabilization site does not bind TIMP-1 (TIMP). Occupation of this site by TIMP-2 prevents autocatalytic activation and degradation but does not prevent gelatinolysis by the enzyme-inhibitor complex.
Body-Composition Changes in the Simian Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Juvenile Rhesus Macaque

Background. Body-composition changes are common in individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus. The purpose of the present study was to measure, as a model of wasting in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), longitudinal body-composition changes in macaques infected with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV). Methods. Twelve juvenile macaques were inoculated with SlVmac239. Immunologic, virologic, somatometric, and dual-energy x-ray-absorptiometry measurements were performed prospectively every 4 weeks for 72 weeks and were compared to measurements taken from 8 uninfected control macaques. Results. During the first 4 weeks, body-fat percentage decreased in the SIV-infected macaques while lean-tissue percentage increased; during weeks 4-72, these macaques lost a greater percentage of total fat tissue but had more subcutaneous-fat deposition than did the uninfected control macaques. Just prior to death, the SIV-infected macaques that died (n = 7) had a greater loss in body-mass index, abdominal fat, fat tissue, and lean tissue, compared with that in SIV-infected macaques that survived (n = 5). Conclusions. Body-composition changes in SIV-infected juvenile macaques exhibit 3 phases: during acute infection, loss of body weight from fat tissue; a compensation period during which macaques grow, but at a reduced rate; and a terminal phase, during which tissue is lost from all body compartments. The SIV-infected juvenile macaque provides a useful model for the investigation of wasting in AIDS, particularly for pediatric AIDS wasting.
MicroRNA-124 promotes microglia quiescence and suppresses EAE by deactivating macrophages via the C/EBP-α–PU.1 pathway

MicroRNAs are a family of regulatory molecules involved in many physiological processes, including differentiation and activation of cells of the immune system. We found that brain-specific miR-124 is expressed in microglia but not in peripheral monocytes or macrophages. When overexpressed in macrophages, miR-124 directly inhibited the transcription factor CCAAT/enhancerbinding protein-a (C/EBP-a) and its downstream target PU.1, resulting in transformation of these cells from an activated phenotype into a quiescent CD45 low , major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II low phenotype resembling resting microglia. During experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), miR-124 was downregulated in activated microglia. Peripheral administration of miR-124 in EAE caused systemic deactivation of macrophages, reduced activation of myelin-specific T cells and marked suppression of disease. Conversely, knockdown of miR-124 in microglia and macrophages resulted in activation of these cells in vitro and in vivo. These findings identify miR-124 both as a key regulator of microglia quiescence in the central nervous system and as a previously unknown modulator of monocyte and macrophage activation.
A Review of: Moving Bodies: Kenneth Burke at the Edges of Language, by Debra Hawhee

Let's begin by taking this title at its words. The dominant word is bodies. This word prompts us to locate our reading of Burke on acts of symbolism and language in the context of bodily experience...
New Methods for Developing and Manufacturing Compliant Mechanisms Utilizing Bulk Metallic Glass

Compliant mechanisms rely on the elastic bending of thin members to generate motion. In the paper by Homer, et al., bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) are shown to have an optimal combination of mechanical properties and processing ability, making them ideal for complex, low-cost compliant mechanisms.
Automatic treatment planning implementation using a database of previously treated patients

Purpose: Using a database of prior treated patients, it is possible to predict the dose to critical structures for future patients. Automatic treatment planning speeds the planning process by generating a good initial plan from predicted dose values. Methods: A SQL relational database of previously approved treatment plans is populated via an automated export from Pinnacle3. This script outputs dose and machine information and selected Regions of Interests as well as its associated Dose-Volume Histogram (DVH) and Overlap Volume Histograms (OVHs) with respect to the target structures. Toxicity information is exported from Mosaiq and added to the database for each patient. The SQL query is designed to ask the system for the lowest achievable dose for a specified region of interest (ROI) for each patient with a given volume of that ROI being as close or closer to the target than the current patient. Results: The additional time needed to calculate OVHs is approximately 1.5 minutes for a typical patient. Database lookup of planning objectives takes approximately 4 seconds. The combined additional time is less than that of a typical single plan optimization (2.5 mins). Conclusions: An automatic treatment planning interface has been successfully used by dosimetrists to quickly produce a number of SBRT pancreas treatment plans. The database can be used to compare dose to individual structures with the toxicity experienced and predict toxicities before planning for future patients.
A hydroxycarbonate route to superconductor precursor powders

A precipitation process is described for the preparation of powders that can be thermally decomposed to form high critical temperature superconductors such as YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7/. In the process, a cationic solution (a concentrated chloride or nitrate solution) is instantaneously mixed with an anionic solution (a mixture of tetramethylammonium hydroxide and carbonate) to produce a metal-hydroxycarbonate precipitate having the metal stoichiometry of the desired superconducting oxide. The calcining and sintering of the precipitates is critical in controlling the structural integrity and morphology of the superconducting cermaics made from the chem-prep powders, as well as controlling superconducting properties. Under appropriate conditions, high density (>95%) materials that exhibit good superconducting characteristics can be prepared with the chem-prep powders. 6 refs., 3 figs.
A comparison of performance between third-year students completing a pediatric ambulatory rotation on campus vs in the community

Objective: To compare the performance of third-year medical students who completed the ambulatory component of their pediatric rotation in a community setting with the performance of third-year medical students who had their ambulatory experience on campus. Methods: As part of a pilot project to implement a thirdyear Multidisciplinary Ambulatory Clerkship, 61 thirdyear medical students spent 12 weeks rotating through the primary care disciplines of family medicine, internal medicine, and pediatric practitioners’ offices at sites distant from the university campus while 127 students remained on campus for their ambulatory experiences in these disciplines. The components of the overall pediatric grade consisted of a clinical performance evaluation in the ambulatory setting (4 weeks), a clinical performance evaluation on a 4-week inpatient rotation, and a grade from a multiple-choice final examination. Results: The overall mean±SD final pediatric grade of students receiving their ambulatory pediatrics experience in the Multidisciplinary Ambulatory Clerkship was 86.5±3.4 compared with 88.0±3.4 for students receiving their ambulatory experience on campus (P<.007). This difference was accounted for by performance on the written final examination. Multidisciplinary Ambulatory Clerkship students had a mean±SD score of 78.9±8.3 and a failure rate of 18% compared with a mean score of 83.7±8.1 and failure rate of 3.9% for students who remained on campus for their ambulatory experience (P<.001 for both comparisons). No differences were noted between the 2 groups on their clinical performance evaluations for their ambulatory or inpatient experiences. Conclusions: These data suggest a difference in the learning experience between students receiving their pediatric ambulatory experience in the community vs on campus. Differences in exposure to structured learning experiences that occurred more frequently on campus might account for some of the difference in final examination results. Development of a standardized, structured learning experience across community sites would seem to be an appropriate means of enhancing learning in the community setting. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1998;152:397-401
Measurement of Neutron Flux Spectra by a Multiple Foil Activation Iterative Method and Comparison with Reactor Physics Calculations and Spectrometer Measurements

A multiple foil activation iterative method has been used to experimentally determine neutron flux spectra in various types of neutron environments. The method involves irradiation of a set of diff...
Brain tumor simulating pregnancy.

Abstract Tumors pressing on the hypothalamus may cause amenorrhea and hypersomnolence. That they may also result in a positive Friedman test for pregnancy is shown by the case reported here. Further investigation of the Friedman test in such tumors may be of interest.
Multiparameter Flow Cytometric Assays to Quantify Effector and Regulatory T-Cell Function in Multiple Sclerosis

The immune system plays a major pathological and regulatory role in multiple sclerosis (MS) and, therefore, is a focus of extensive research. Animal models of MS have been crucial in understanding the pathological processes in MS and developing certain treatments, however, all crucial aspects of the human disease may not be appropriately modeled. With the exception of detecting oligoclonal bands and IgG synthesis in cerebrospinal fluids of MS patients, there has not been major progress in the development of immunologic tests that can be used for diagnosis of MS. Further, due to the lack of validated immune assays, routine monitoring of the immune system following therapy initiation is not a part of standard patient care in MS. This is critical since immunomodulatory therapies used for MS treatment are not benign and, more importantly, there is a considerable variation in clinical responses in MS patients initiating such therapies. Flow cytometry is a powerful tool that can be used for studying both the phenotype and function of immune cells. The studies described here will demonstrate how flow cytometry can be used to apply current knowledge about the MS immune system to develop a diagnostic laboratory test for the immunologic monitoring of this disease. Importantly, we will also show that the multiparameter flow cytometry based assay developed by us can also be implemented for the immunologic evaluation of therapeutic success in MS patients.
Benchmarking the CO2 Adsorption Energy on Carbon Nanotubes

We present benchmark interaction energy calculations of carbon dioxide physisorbed onto flat and curved polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as models of carbon nanotubes. The accuracy of the complete-basis-set second-order Moller–Plesset perturbation theory combined with a CCSD(T) coupled-cluster correction in a moderate basis set is first assessed for a series of CO2–(benzene, naphthalene, and pyrene) complexes to establish the basis set requirements. The same composite approach is then used to compute accurate interaction energies for 195 CO2–curved coronene geometries representing different intermolecular distances, orientations, and nanotube diameters. The CO2–curved coronene benchmark data set is then used to assess the performance of a wide variety of dispersion-including DFT functionals. Among them, only the nonlocal VV10 and double-hybrid B2PLYP-D3(BJ) functionals exhibit relative errors below 10%. Interestingly, all DFT variants deviate strongly from the benchmark at short-range because of overdampi...
Suppressing four-wave mixing in warm-atomic-vapor quantum memory

Warm-atomic-vapor cells may be employed as quantum-memory components in an experimentally convenient implementation of the Duan-Lukin-Cirac-Zoller protocol. Previous studies have shown the performance of these cells is limited by the combination of collisional fluorescence during the writing process and four-wave mixing during the reading process and have proposed to overcome this by a combination of optimized detuning and prepumping with circularly polarized write and read beams. Here we show that the Raman matrix elements involving the excited $P$ (${F}^{\ensuremath{'}}=I\ensuremath{-}\frac{1}{2}$ and ${F}^{\ensuremath{'}}=I+\frac{1}{2}$) levels of all alkali atoms are always equal in magnitude and opposite in sign when the write and the anti-Stokes (Stokes) photons have the opposite helicity, and the Raman transitions via the two levels interfere destructively. The existence of an optimal detuning is demonstrated for a given dark-count rate of the single-photon detector. The predicted behavior is observed experimentally in a warm Rb cell with buffer gas.