cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Studies of the function and location of two cysteines in the β2 subunit of tryptophan synthase

Abstract Our findings that the apo β2 subunit of tryptophan synthase of Escherichia coli is inactivated by the modification of one sulfhydryl residue per monomer by nitrothiocyanobenzoic acid and is reactivated by removal of the CN group indicate that the reactive sulfhydryl residue (SH-I) is essential for catalytic activity. SH-I is shown to be the same residue which was previously found to react with bromoacetylpyridoxamine phosphate and different from a sulfhydryl (SH-II) which reacts with N-ethylmaleimide in the presence of pyridoxal phosphate. The results of partial tryptic digestions of β2 subunit labeled selectively at SH-I or SH-II show that both sulfhydryl residues are located in the F1 fragment which also contains the pyridoxal phosphate binding site.
Canonical sources and duality in chiral media (antenna arrays)

The authors examine the characteristics of antenna arrays embedded in unbounded chiral media using the Green's dyadic for electric sources and the Green's vector for magnetic sources. The purpose is to bring to light the new characteristics of sources, both point and extended, which interact with this medium and to examine general characteristics of sources located in a medium with handedness. Very simple quality relations are presented that are characteristic of chiral media when the results are written in terms of the circular eigenmodes. Appropriate measures of chirality such as the chirality admittance and impedance and a dimensionless chirality factor are introduced as needed. It is shown that, in the far field, both point and extended sources, whether electric or magnetic, radiate two electromagnetic eigenmodes which are of opposing handedness. Sources that access only one of the eigenmodes of the medium are demonstrated. Several applications of the results and array performance in chiral media are noted. >
The evolution of protonephridia of the Platyhelminthes

Three types of flame bulbs are distinguished in the Platyhelminthes: type 1 has two cilia arising from a terminal cell and rootlets extending along the weir; type 2 has many cilia arising from a terminal cell and the proximal canal cell closely aligned with it; and type 3 has a non-terminal perikaryon forming many flame bulbs, each with many cilia and a single row of longitudinal ribs. Each type appears in various structural forms. Type 1 is found in the Catenulida; type 2 in the Macrostomida, Polycladida, Prolecithophora, Proseriata, Tricladida, Fecampiidae, and Neodermata; and type 3 in the Rhabdocoela and Lecithoepitheliata. The most likely evolutionary sequence is that type 3 is derived from type 2 and, perhaps, that type 2 is derived from type 1. Characters of the protonephridia show that the Rhabdocoela and the Neodermata form separate phylogenetic lineages; other similarities between these taxa are due to convergent evolution (or horizontal gene transfer?).
Effects of aerobic treadmill training on gait velocity, cadence, and gait symmetry in chronic hemiparetic stroke: a preliminary report.

It is widely assumed that only limited improvement in functional mobility is possible beyond the subacute period following ischemic stroke. Contrary to this notion, we studied "neurologically plateaued" stroke patients with chronic hemiparesis to assess whether a "task-oriented" treadmill-training regimen would improve walking speed, cadence, and gait cycle symmetry on a modified "Get-Up and Go" task. Five male patients with a mean age of 60.4 +/- 2.7 years (mean +/- S.D.) status post ischemic stroke (> 6 months prior) participated in this nonrandomized low-intensity treadmill exercise pilot study three times/week for 3 months. All patients had mild to moderate gait asymmetries due to residual hemiparesis. Patients were videotaped before and after 3 months of treadmill aerobic exercise (AEX) while performing a functional task consisting of arising from a chair, walking 3.1 m without an assistive device as fast as safely possible, and returning to sit. Gait events were timed using a 2-D Peak Motus video analysis system. After 3 months AEX training, times for the overall "get-up and return-to-sit" (GURS) task and the "straight-away walk" (SAW) segment decreased from 8.2 +/- 1.4 sec to 6.5 +/- 0.8 sec (mean +/- SEM) (p < 0.05), and from 3.7 +/- 1 sec to 2.8 +/- 0.7 sec (p < 0.05), respectively. These data represent improvements of 21% and 24% for the GURS and SAW segments, respectively. Mean velocity increased from 0.9 +/- 0.2 to 1.2 +/- 0.21 m/sec, a 33% improvement (p < 0.01). Mean cadence (steps/min) increased from 89 +/- 9 to 97 +/- 8, a 9% increase (p < 0.05). Mean stance and swing duration diminished for both paretic (P) and nonparetic (NP) limbs, and the intralimb stance/swing ratio values moved toward normal for both the paretic and nonparetic limbs. However, these latter changes reached significance only for the P limb. Interlimb stance symmetry was unchanged. The more impaired subjects experienced the greatest gains in gait velocity and temporal measures. Collectively, these findings indicate that treadmill exercise improves functional overground mobility in individuals with chronic, stable hemiparesis.
L‐LACTIC ACID ACCUMULATION DURING ACTIVITY STRESS IN Macrobrachium rosenbergii AND Penaeus duorarum

Energy demand during the stress of activity and handling of aquaculture animals often induces anaerobic metabolism causing lactic acidosis. Although noted in fish and some crustaceans the extent, or rate of lactic acid accumulation in commercial species of shrimp and prawns during exercise is unknown. Whole body lactic acid concentrations in resting and exhausted Macrobrachium rosenbergii and Penaeus duorarum were obtained after immersion in liquid nitrogen. Lactic acid increased sixfold from 0.091 ± .015 mg lactic acid/g body weight to 0.610 ± 0.045 mg/g after an average of 1.4 minutes of activity in M. rosenbergii. Similarly, concentrations increased over five-fold from 0.121 ± 0.040 mg/g to 0.630 ± 0.250 mg/g after an average of 0.9 minutes in P. duorarum. The implications of these large and rapid accumulations of lactic acid following handling stress are discussed with reference to disease and mortality as well as product quality.
Corrosion management in power plant cooling systems using tertiary-treated municipal wastewater as makeup water

Abstract Additional tertiary treatment of secondary-treated municipal wastewater (MWW) is necessary to reduce its scaling potential for use in power plant cooling systems. In this study corrosiveness of three tertiary-treated municipal wastewaters (acidified MWW, MWW treated by nitrification–filtration, and MWW treated by nitrification–filtration and granular activated carbon adsorption) towards mild steel, copper, and cupronickel alloys was assessed. pH, ammonia, and organic matter were identified as important corrosion influencing parameter in tertiary-treated municipal wastewater. Corrosiveness of wastewater towards metal alloys increased after tertiary treatments. However, corrosion of mild steel and copper alloys was controlled within acceptable limits using the corrosion inhibitor tolyltriazole.
Papillary or pseudopapillary tumors of the kidney

Abstract Papillary architecture is one of the most common morphological patterns in renal cell neoplasms. Many renal cell neoplasms can also exhibit, diffusely or focally, papillary growth pattern. This article reviews all the renal cell neoplasms with papillary or pseudopapillary architecture, with an emphasis on recently described new histological types. New insights into the “old” entities, including their immunohistochemical and genetic features, will also be discussed.
Alcohol-induced pancreatic oxidative stress: protection by phospholipid repletion.

Abstract Oxidative stress is considered to be a forerunner of pancreatitis. Since we had found polyenylphosphatidylcholine, a mixture of polyunsaturated phosphatidylcholines extracted from soybeans, to protect against hepatic oxidative stress, we now tested its effects on the pancreas. Sprague-Dawley rats were pair-fed for two months nutritionally adequate liquid diet containing ethanol (36% of energy) or isocaloric carbohydrate, with either polyenylphosphatidylcholine (3 g/1000 kcal) or safflower oil, with or without 5 g/1000 kcal carbonyl iron. Parameters of oxidative stress (F2-isoprostanes, 4-hydroxynonenal, reduced glutathione), ubiquinol-10, ubiquinol-9 and vitamin E, as well as phosphatidylcholine species, were assessed by GC/MS and/or HPLC. Alcohol feeding increased pancreatic 4-hydroxynonenal three-fold, F2-isoprostanes and ubiquinol-9 by more than 70%, whereas it decreased total phospholipids, several phosphatidylcholine species, ubiquinol-10 and glutathione, especially in iron fed rats. Polyenylphosphatidylcholine prevented the rise in 4-hydroxynonenal and F2-isoprostanes, the decrease in dilinoleoylphosphatidylcholine and oleoyllinoleoylphosphatidylcholine and opposed the alcohol-induced decrease of glutathione; α-tocopherol remained unchanged. Iron had no significant effect except for decreasing ubiquinol-10 in the pancreas and increasing aminotransferases in the plasma. Thus, the alcohol-induced oxidative stress in the pancreas was shown to be prevented by polyenylphosphatidylcholine which may act, in part, by correcting the depletion of several phosphatidylcholine species.
Ontogenesis of neurons producing luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) in the nervus terminalis of the rat.

Immunoreactive luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) was first detected at 15 days of gestation in ganglion cells associated with the peripheral, intracranial, and central parts of the nervus terminalis of the rat. LHRH was not detected in any other structure of the central nervous system at this age. In the 17-day-old fetal rat, 62% of the total LHRH-reactive neuronal population was found in ganglion cells of the nervus terminalis. At this same age, immunoreactive beta-luteinizing hormone (β-LH) was first seen in gonadotropes of the anterior pituitary gland. At 19 days of gestation, 31% of the total number of LHRH-reactive neurons observed in the rat brain was found in the nervus terminalis, and immunoreactive processes were first seen in the organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis and in the median eminence. Our data indicate that from 15 to 19 days of gestation the nervus terminalis is a principal source of LHRH in the fetal rat. Presence of the decapeptide in the nervus terminalis prior to appearance of β-LH in the anterior pituitary suggests a possible role for LHRH in this system on maturation of the gonadotropes and differentiation of the brain-pituitary-gonadal axis.
Synthesis and characterization of long‐chain fatty acid cellulose ester (FACE)

Long-chain fatty acid cellulose esters (FACE) were synthesized by the acid chloride-pyridine reaction with different degrees of substitution (DS). The hydrolyzed soybean oil was used as unsaturated fatty acids, its unsaturation degree, and composition were analyzed by 1H and 13C NMR methods. The chemical structures of FACE were confirmed by solid-state 13C NMR, and substitution reaction of fatty acid chloride on cellulose were analyzed by IR spectroscopy. FACE(s) are insoluble in common organic solvents, such as benzene, toluene, THF, etc., at refluxing temperature. As the DS increased, the tensile strength of extruded FACE films decreased, but elongation increased. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Use of collagenase ointment in conjunction with negative pressure wound therapy in the care of diabetic wounds: a case series of six patients

Background : Diabetic wounds with additional comorbidities are costly, time intensive, and difficult to heal. Often, multiple modalities may be necessary to achieve wound resolution, relying on the synergistic advantage of each therapy to affect wound healing. The selectivity of Clostridium collagenase is physiologically effective at degrading non-viable collagen fibers while preserving living collagen tissue. Additionally, negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has long been used to aid wound healing while concurrently depreciating biological wound burden time. Methods : Six patients were selected from those appearing to our university based limb salvage service. Inclusion criteria included patients with a recurrent mixed fibrotic and granular wound base, in which NPWT was indicated, without exclusion criteria. Patients enrolled were administered clostridial collagenase ointment at each regularly scheduled NPWT dressing change. Patients were followed until healing, with visual representations of wound progression and time to full healing recorded. Results : Tandem application of these therapies appeared to expedite wound healing by clearing degenerative fibrous tissue and expediting wound granulation without additional complication. Unfortunately, not all patients were able to reach full healing; with two patients experiencing ulcer recurrence, likely a result of their significant comorbid nature. Conclusion : In our experience, we have noticed a specific subgroup of patients who benefit greatly when collagenase enzymatic debridement therapy is combined with NPWT. It is our belief that this combination therapy combines the molecular clearing of non-viable collagen with the wound granulation necessary to advance complex wounds to the next step in healing despite the current paucity in literature discussing this specific pairing. Keywords : diabetes; ulcers; wound healing; negative pressure wound therapy; collagenase (Published: 27 January 2014) Citation: Diabetic Foot & Ankle 2015, 6 : 24999 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/dfa.v6.24999
Effects of Formaldehyde Fumigation of Housing on Carotenoid Pigmentation in Three Breeds of Chickens

Abstract Three breeds of chickens (two broiler breeds, A and B, and one layer breed, C) were raised from 1 day to 3 wk of age in either standard housing or housing additionally fumigated with formaldehyde. Groups of chicks from each breed in both housings received either regular poultry starter ration or this ration supplemented with marigold meal. At 3 wk of age, chicks of all three breeds had higher (111, 113, and 115%) mean body weights when raised in fumigated housing. There was no significant effect of supplemental carotenoids on body weight. Chicks of all three breeds raised in fumigated housing had significantly higher plasma carotenoid concentrations when fed either regular or supplemented feed, and, with the exception of Breed A on regular feed, also had significantly increased skin carotenoid values. No significant differences among breeds in plasma or skin carotenoid values were seen in chicks fed regular ration. However, significant differences were seen among groups of chicks fed supplemental carotenoids. The layer breed, C, had the highest percentage increase in carotenoid pigmentation when fed the carotenoid-supplemented diet in fumigated housing.
Caustic echoes from a Schwarzschild black hole

We present the first numerical approximation of the scalar Schwarzschild Green function in the time domain, which reveals several universal features of wave propagation in black hole spacetimes. We demonstrate the trapping of energy near the photon sphere and confirm its exponential decay. The trapped wavefront passes through caustics resulting in echoes that propagate to infinity. The arrival times and the decay rate of these caustic echoes are consistent with propagation along null geodesics and the large l limit of quasinormal modes. We show that the fourfold singularity structure of the retarded Green function is due to the well-known action of a Hilbert transform on the trapped wavefront at caustics. A twofold cycle is obtained for degenerate source-observer configurations along the caustic line, where the energy amplification increases with an inverse power of the scale of the source. Finally, we discuss the tail piece of the solution due to propagation within the light cone, up to and including null infinity, and argue that, even with ideal instruments, only a finite number of echoes can be observed. Putting these pieces together, we provide a heuristic expression that approximates the Green function with a few free parameters. Accurate calculations and approximations of the Green function are the most general way of solving for wave propagation in curved spacetimes and should be useful in a variety of studies such as the computation of the self-force on a particle.
Explosive eruptive record in the Katmai region, Alaska Peninsula : an overview

At least 15 explosive eruptions from the Katmai cluster of volcanoes and another nine from other volcanoes on the Alaska Peninsula are preserved as tephra layers in syn- and post-glacial (Last Glacial Maximum) loess and soil sections in Katmai National Park, AK. About 400 tephra samples from 150 measured sections have been collected between Kaguyak volcano and Mount Martin and from Shelikof Strait to Bristol Bay (∼8,500 km2). Five tephra layers are distinctive and widespread enough to be used as marker horizons in the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes area, and 140 radiocarbon dates on enclosing soils have established a time framework for entire soil–tephra sections to 10 ka; the white rhyolitic ash from the 1912 plinian eruption of Novarupta caps almost all sections. Stratigraphy, distribution and tephra characteristics have been combined with microprobe analyses of glass and Fe–Ti oxide minerals to correlate ash layers with their source vents. Microprobe analyses (typically 20–50 analyses per glass or oxide sample) commonly show oxide compositions to be more definitive than glass in distinguishing one tephra from another; oxides from the Kaguyak caldera-forming event are so compositionally coherent that they have been used as internal standards throughout this study. Other than the Novarupta and Trident eruptions of the last century, the youngest locally derived tephra is associated with emplacement of the Snowy Mountain summit dome ( 6 ka), two tephras (∼3,700 and ∼2,700 14C years B.P.), and a summit scoria cone with a crater still steaming today. Mount Katmai has three times produced very large explosive plinian to sub-plinian events (in 1912; 12–16 ka; and 23 ka) and many smaller pyroclastic deposits show that explosive activity has long been common there. Mount Griggs, fumarolically active and moderately productive during postglacial time (mostly andesitic lavas), has three nested summit craters, two of which are on top of a Holocene central cone. Only one ash has been found that is (tentatively) correlated with the most recent eruptive activity on Griggs (<3,460 14C years B.P.). Eruptions from other volcanoes NE and SW beyond the Katmai cluster represented in this area include: (1) coignimbrite ash from Kaguyak’s caldera-forming event (5,800 14C years B.P.); (2) the climactic event from Fisher caldera (∼9,100 14C years B.P.—tentatively correlated); (3) at least three eruptions most likely from Mount Peulik (∼700, ∼7,700 and ∼8,500 14C years B.P.); and (4) a phreatic fallout most likely from the Gas Rocks (∼2,300 14C years B.P.). Most of the radiocarbon dating has been done on loess, soil and peat enclosing this tephra. Ash correlations supported by stratigraphy and microprobe data are combined with radiocarbon dating to show that variably organics-bearing substrates can provide reliable limiting ages for ash layers, especially when data for several sites is available.
American Public Administration's Maturity: A Profile

Abstract American public administration as a field is “mature” in terms of its identity, roles, knowledge, and open-system nature. Yet it lacks maturity in the sense of an adequate sense of self-worth. This “inferiority complex” is revealed by the field's obsession with two intertwining, persistent themes: a perceived state of societal illegitimacy and of permanent need for reform.
Superconductivity of NbTiGe multilayers in weakly localized regime

Abstract The superconducting properties of NbTiGe multilayers have been studied in the weakly localized regime. By systematically varying the NbTi and Ge layer thicknesses, we studied the effect of disorder and interlayer Josephson coupling on Tc. The suppression of Tc with increasing Ge layer thickness suggests the importance of the barrier width in determining the superconducting properties in a multilayered system.
Political leadership and conflict resolution: an African example

Challenges to post-conflict leadership in African states highlight the need for democratic capacity building, with clear participatory processes involving communities and the leadership as a necessary condition to mitigate new or resurrected conflicts. This article explores transformational leadership and how it relates to democratic capacity building in Rwanda. We argue that community capacity building through grassroots leadership is a necessary and sufficient ingredient for the development and sustenance of democracy in postconflict societies. Reconciliation through justice, political reforms including decentralisation, and women’s empowerment as critical variables in this process characterise a transformational agenda to gradually achieve stability at the grassroots. Despite dilemmas of justice and democracy, transformative leadership in Rwanda continues to evolve at both state and grassroots levels through processes based on indigenous knowledge and practices like gacaca and ingando to achieve the greater good of reconciliation.
Brain putamen volume changes in newly-diagnosed patients with obstructive sleep apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is accompanied by cognitive, motor, autonomic, learning, and affective abnormalities. The putamen serves several of these functions, especially motor and autonomic behaviors, but whether global and specific sub-regions of that structure are damaged is unclear. We assessed global and regional putamen volumes in 43 recently-diagnosed, treatment-naive OSA (age, 46.4 ± 8.8 years; 31 male) and 61 control subjects (47.6 ± 8.8 years; 39 male) using high-resolution T1-weighted images collected with a 3.0-Tesla MRI scanner. Global putamen volumes were calculated, and group differences evaluated with independent samples t-tests, as well as with analysis of covariance (covariates; age, gender, and total intracranial volume). Regional differences between groups were visualized with 3D surface morphometry-based group ratio maps. OSA subjects showed significantly higher global putamen volumes, relative to controls. Regional analyses showed putamen areas with increased and decreased tissue volumes in OSA relative to control subjects, including increases in caudal, mid-dorsal, mid-ventral portions, and ventral regions, while areas with decreased volumes appeared in rostral, mid-dorsal, medial-caudal, and mid-ventral sites. Global putamen volumes were significantly higher in the OSA subjects, but local sites showed both higher and lower volumes. The appearance of localized volume alterations points to differential hypoxic or perfusion action on glia and other tissues within the structure, and may reflect a stage in progression of injury in these newly-diagnosed patients toward the overall volume loss found in patients with chronic OSA. The regional changes may underlie some of the specific deficits in motor, autonomic, and neuropsychologic functions in OSA.
Substance P Synthesis and Transport in Explants of Nodose Ganglion/Vagus Nerve: Effects of Double Ligation, 2-Deoxyglucose, Veratridine, and Ouabain

Substance P (SP), the widely distributed undecapeptide, is synthesized in cell bodies of vagal sensory ganglia and transported bidirectionally toward the CNS and thoracic and abdominal viscera. In explants of the guinea pig inferior (nodose) vagal sensory ganglion and attached 2 cm of distal vagus nerve, SP is synthesized within the ganglion and transported predominantly distally. The quantity of distal transport is similar to that observed in vivo and provides an index of ongoing synthesis within the ganglion. In this report, the model is further characterized. Double ligation of the explant distal to the ganglion demonstrates that all the transported peptide is derived from the ganglion; there is no evidence of intraaxonal processing of peptide precursor. Approximately 50% of the peptide is in a rapid transport vs. an apparent stationary compartment. Not only transport, but also synthesis, of SP was blocked by 20 mM colchicine. Ongoing SP biosynthesis is dependent on a nutrient medium [medium 199 (M-199)] and is partially inhibited with added fetal bovine serum (FBS; 10%): total explant content in M-199/FBS vs. M-199, 1,785 +/- 101 (n = 8) vs. 2,254 +/- 123 pg (n = 9); p less than 0.02. Addition of 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) decreased both total SP synthesis and transport (total explant content for 2-DG vs. control, 986 +/- 94 vs. 1,391 +/- 111; p less than 0.05). Medium supplemented with glucose to a final concentration of 600 mg/100 ml or with glucose (300 mg/100 ml) with or without insulin (50 ng/ml) did not alter explant SP content or transport. Veratridine (5 X 10(-6) M) inhibited both SP synthesis and transport; ouabain (10(-4) M) also inhibited synthesis, but less so transport. Tetrodotoxin reversed the effects of veratridine. These studies demonstrate the usefulness of this model, which can examine factors regulating both synthesis and transport of sensory neuropeptides in vitro. The results suggest that SP synthesis/transport may be under tonic inhibition, perhaps by both neural and humoral mechanisms.
An aqueous channel for filamentous phage export

Filamentous phage f1 exits its Escherichia coli host without killing the bacterial cell. It has been proposed that f1 is secreted through the outer membrane via a phage-encoded channel protein, pIV. A functional pIV mutant was isolated that allowed E. coli to grow on large maltodextrins and rendered E. coli sensitive to large hydrophilic antibiotics that normally do not penetrate the outer membrane. In planar lipid bilayers, both mutant and wild-type pIV formed highly conductive channels with similar permeability characteristics but different gating properties: the probability of the wild-type channel being open was much less than that of the mutant channel. The high conductivity of pIV channels suggests a large-diameter pore, thus implicating pIV as the outer membrane phage-conducting channel.
Hybrid Scalable Video Coding with Multiple Description and Layered Coding

We present a hybrid scalable video coding algorithm in which two types of scalabilities, i.e., layered scalability and parallel scalability, are combined to achieve higher order of flexibility for heterogeneous networks and mixed client requirements. In space domain, SNR scalable video coding is used to give layered scalability on frame quality; while in temporal domain, a multiple description approach, the Multiple State Video Coding (MSVC), provides parallel scalability to the base layer video. Two coarsely quantized sub-streams are yielded using MSVC and form the base layer. All residual signals of the video sequence are coded into a third sub-stream and form the enhancement layer. The hybrid scalable video protects the base layer using multiple description and has better performance than conventional layered scalable video when a base layer picture is damaged. It gives similar performance as SNR scalable video when the enhancement layer encounters errors. In general packet drop networks, the proposed scalable video achieves higher PSNR than the original MSVC video and single description video in high packet drop rate environments.
Case studies of children presenting with a history of ritualistic abuse.

TOPIC: Ritualistic child abuse is an alarming and controversial problem. Child psychiatric nurses need to increase their awareness of the clinical picture associated with this specific form of abuse. PURPOSE: This article reviews the literature to date on ritualistic child abuse and addresses the controversy surrounding the phenomena. SOURCES: A small research project using historical data collection methods reviewed hospital records of children with a documented history of ritualistic abuse. Results are organized into clusters of linked interrelated characteristics. CONCLUSION: The symptom characteristics of these children revealed medical/somatic symptoms, distortion of self-oncept and world view, and a variety of emotional disturbances. The findings of this study are presented with implications for nurses who care for clients with a history of ritualistic abuse. Language: en
Diurnal locomotor activity in rats: effects of hippocampal ablation and adrenalectomy.

In the present study, we have described a diurnal fluctuation in the open-field activity of rats. Hippocampal lesions greatly magnify this diurnal fluctuation, primarily by increasing the activity observed in the morning prior to the onset of light. To test whether this diurnal fluctuation is related to the cyclic release of adrenal hormones, the subjects were adrenalectomized. Adrenalectomy did not abolish the diurnal pattern of locomotor activity, but it reduced both the morning and evening activities of rats with hippocampal lesions.
Switching energy limits of waveguide-coupled graphene-on-graphene optical modulators

The fundamental switching energy limitations for waveguide coupled graphene-on-graphene optical modulators are described. The minimum energy is calculated under the constraints of fixed insertion loss and extinction ratio. Analytical relations for the switching energy both for realistic structures and in the quantum capacitance limit are derived and compared with numerical simulations. The results show that sub-femtojoule per bit switching energies and peak-to-peak voltages less than 0.1 V are achievable in graphene-on-graphene optical modulators using the constraint of 3 dB extinction ratio and 3 dB insertion loss. The quantum-capacitance limited switching energy for a single TE-mode modulator geometry is found to be < 0.5 fJ/bit at λ = 1.55 μm, and the dependences of the minimum energy on the waveguide geometry, wavelength, and graphene location are investigated. The low switching energy is a result of the very strong optical absorption in graphene, and the extremely-small operating voltages needed as the device approaches the quantum capacitance regime.
Shrinking Exponential Language Models

In (Chen, 2009), we show that for a variety of language models belonging to the exponential family, the test set cross-entropy of a model can be accurately predicted from its training set cross-entropy and its parameter values. In this work, we show how this relationship can be used to motivate two heuristics for "shrinking" the size of a language model to improve its performance. We use the first heuristic to develop a novel class-based language model that outperforms a baseline word trigram model by 28% in perplexity and 1.9% absolute in speech recognition word-error rate on Wall Street Journal data. We use the second heuristic to motivate a regularized version of minimum discrimination information models and show that this method outperforms other techniques for domain adaptation.
Regulation of Neuronal Activation by Alpha2A Adrenergic Receptor Agonist

Stress factors induce neuronal activation in brain areas that are related to anxiety and fear. High doses of caffeine induce neuronal activation with Ca2+ influx followed by expression of the immediate early gene c-fos. In the present study, we investigated c-Fos protein expression in stress-responsive brain areas induced by caffeine, as well as the role of alpha2A receptor in the regulation of neuronal activation. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that an acute effect of caffeine induced c-Fos protein expression in the hippocampus, the bed nucleus of stria terminalis (BNST), the lateral septum, the basolateral and central amygdala, the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (PVN), the locus coeruleus, and the lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPBN). However, c-Fos expression was attenuated after repeated treatment of caffeine, spaced 24 h apart, compared to a single acute effect. Alpha2A receptor activation with the agonist guanfacine attenuated the acute effect of caffeine in terms of c-Fos expression in neurons in the CA1–CA3 areas of hippocampus, the locus coeruleus and the LPBN as compared with effect of caffeine alone, whereas the number of c-Fos expressing neurons increased in the lateral septum, the dorsal BNST, the central amygdala, and the PVN, areas that are densely innervated by noradrenergic neurons. Guanfacine alone induced c-Fos protein expression in neurons in the central amygdala, the dorsal BNST, the PVN, the LPBN, and the caudal nucleus of the solitary tract. Guanfacine alone also induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) in neurons expressing c-Fos in the dorsal BNST, the central amygdala, and the LPBN. These results suggest that alpha2A receptor activation modulates synaptic transmission in neuronal circuits that are correlated with stress in vivo.
Toxicity of tissue culture media exposed to polyvinyl chloride plastic.

IT has become clear that some plastics contaminate materials or fluids with toxic substances1–4,8. I report here evidence that serum-containing solutions perfused through polyvinyl chloride administration tubing, of the type used routinely for blood transfusions, become highly toxic to heart cells isolated in tissue culture.
Sers investigation of interfacial Pb(II) species in weakly acidic aqueous halide media

Abstract Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has been used to study surface adsorbates at Ag electrodes from weakly acidic Cl −1 and Br −1 solutions containing Pb(II). Spectra in the low-frequency region ( −1 ) indicate the presence of hydroxolead(II) complexes ionically bonded to specifically absorbed halide ions at the Ag surface. Studies of the effect of pH and halide ion concentration on the measured SERS intensities suggest that the surface precipitate has a composition in the ratio Pb(II):OH −1 :X −1 of 1:1:1. The underpotential deposition of Pb quenches the intensities of these bands at different rates as a function of Pb coverage. These results suggest contributions from chemical effects in SERS of these systems. Additionally, a band at 110 cm −1 grows in intensity as the first Pb monolayer is deposited on the Ag surface in Cl −1 media. This vibration is tentatively assigned as Pb-Pb stretch.
Novel IL27p28/IL12p40 Cytokine Suppressed Experimental Autoimmune Uveitis by Inhibiting Autoreactive Th1/Th17 Cells and Promoting Expansion of Regulatory T Cells

IL-12 family cytokines are important in host immunity. Whereas some members (IL-12, IL-23) play crucial roles in pathogenesis of organ-specific autoimmune diseases by inducing the differentiation of Th1 and Th17 lymphocytes, others (IL-27 and IL-35) suppress inflammatory responses and limit tissue injury induced by these T cell subsets. In this study, we have genetically engineered a novel IL27p28/IL12p40 heterodimeric cytokine (p28/p40) that antagonizes signaling downstream of the gp130 receptor. We investigated whether p28/p40 can be used to ameliorate uveitis, a CNS inflammatory disease. Experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU) is the mouse model of human uveitis and is mediated by Th1 and Th17 cells. We show here that p28/p40 suppressed EAU by inhibiting the differentiation and inflammatory responses of Th1 and Th17 cells while promoting expansion of IL-10+- and Foxp3+-expressing regulatory T cells. Lymph node cells from mice treated with p28/p40 blocked adoptive transfer of EAU to naive syngeneic mice by immunopathogenic T cells and suppressive effects of p28/p40 derived in part from antagonizing STAT1 and STAT3 pathways induced by IL-27 and IL-6. Interestingly, IL27p28 also suppressed EAU, but to a lesser extent than p28/p40. The inhibition of uveitogenic lymphocyte proliferation and suppression of EAU by p28/p40 and IL27p28 establish efficacy of single chain and heterodimeric IL-12 family cytokines in treatment of a CNS autoimmune disease. Creation of the biologically active p28/p40 heterodimeric cytokine represents an important proof-of-concept experiment, suggesting that cytokines comprising unique IL-12 α- and β-subunit pairing may exist in nature and may constitute a new class of therapeutic cytokines.
Measurement of malonyldialdehyde production during sodium arachidonate-induced polymorphonuclear leukocyte aggregation

Sodium arachidonate stimulated canine polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) to aggregate and produce malonyldialdehyde (MDA). The MDA production was due to cellular processes during the aggregation, as boiled PMN suspension neither aggregated nor produced MDA. Aggregation and MDA production were not due to platelet contamination because epinephrine and ADP were unable to stimulate either of these responses in the PMN suspensions. Finally, use of the aggregatory modifiers indomethacin, 1-methylimidazole, and vitamin E dissociated aggregation from MDA production. These results suggest that the cellular process(es) resulting in MDA production is/are not responsible for canine PMN aggregation.
Elementary analytic methods in higher ramification theory

This paper offers proofs of a number of standard results in the higher ramification theory of discretely valued fields, using as tools only the Weierstrass Preparation Theorem and the theory of the Newton polygon and copolygon. The propositions proved are the functoriality of the Hasse–Herbrand transition function, Herbrandʼs Theorem, Senʼs Theorem on the rapidity of approach to the identity of successive p-power iterates of an invertible series in characteristic p, and the Hasse–Arf Theorem.
How much does bad data cost your company

A recent project at Motorola that addressed the cost of bad data accomplished several important goals. Among these, the project identified the cost of bad data for a certain data element and then calculated the percentage of cost of the element in terms of total cost. This contributed to the knowledge of reducing cost by understanding the cost drivers; it also helped managers in prioritization, resource management, and implementation of enterprisewide systems. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Glucose does not reverse impairments on spontaneous alternation induced by the noncompetitive NMDA antagonist MK-801

N-Methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonists have been demonstrated to impair acquisition in a variety of tasks, including maze learning. It was previously reported from this laboratory that glucose can reverse the deficits on spontaneous alternation resulting from administration of the competitive NMDA antagonist NPC 12626 in mice. The present study tested the ability of glucose to reverse deficits induced by the noncompetitive NMDA antagonist MK-801. Although subcutaneous administration of 0.10 mg/kg of MK-801 resulted in a deficit on spontaneous alternation, glucose (100 and 250 mg/kg) did not reverse the impairment. This difference in the ability of glucose to reverse the impairment caused by the two NMDA antagonists may reflect their different modes of actions at the NMDA receptor complex.
Effects of methadone plus alcohol on cognitive performance in methadone-maintained volunteers.

AbstractBackground: Methadone maintenance patients (MMP) often abuse other drugs, including alcohol. The combined use of methadone and alcohol could impair performance and daily functioning. Objective: To examine the effects of methadone in combination with alcohol, as well as acute increases in methadone, on performance outcomes. Methods: This double-blind, double-dummy, crossover study included eight opioid-dependent participants stabilized on methadone. Participants completed six inpatient sessions corresponding to methadone (100% or 150% of daily dose) and beverage (placebo, 0.25 or 0.50 g/kg alcohol). Performance tasks were completed before and after drug administration. Area under the time-course values were analyzed by a 2 (methadone dose) by 3 (alcohol dose) repeated measures analysis of variance. Results: Main effects of methadone were observed for two attention outcomes, suggesting reduced accuracy and slowed responding at an elevated methadone dose. In addition, main effects of alcohol were obs...
Cognitive impairment in isolated subtentorial stroke.

Background – Recent case reports have implicated subtentorial lesions of the brainstem or cerebellum as part of the neurocognitive circuitry. Aim – To determine whether cognitive impairment is part of the neurological deficit in isolated brainstem (IBSS) or cerebellar stroke (ICS), using bedside screening and formal neurocognitive assessment of higher cortical function. Methods – Accrual occurred through a hospital based stroke registry. Cognitive bedside tests and neuropsychological tests were employed for the detection of higher cortical function. Scores from each test were converted to age and education based z-scores. Scores at or below −1.5 SD were clinically defined ‘impaired’. Scores were averaged across tests in each functional area. Results – Of the stroke patients (n = 1360), the infarct was isolated within the brainstem (IBSS) in (45 of 120 or 38%) and isolated within the cerebellum (ICI) in (37 of 79 or 46.8%). Comparison of the IBSS patients with cognitive impairment in one or more domains to those with brainstem (24 of 45 or 53%) and hemispheric cerebral infarcts: (43 of 72 or 58%) (Pearson Chi Square) was not significantly different (P = 0.49). The admission Canadian Neurological Score (mean 10.2, 95% CI: 9.7–10.2) and Rankin score at 1 month (mean 1.7, 95% CI: 2.1–1.4). Comparison of the number of ICI patients with cognitive impairment in one or more domains (13 of 37 or 35.1%) to those with cerebellar and hemispheric cerebral infarcts who had abnormal cognitive testing in one or more domains (16 of 36 or 44.4%) (Pearson Chi Square) was not significantly different (P = 0.41). The mean admission Canadian Neurological Scores for the ICI cases was 10.9 (95% CI: 10.5–11.2) on average. Their mean admission Rankin score was 1.7 (95% CI: 1.4–2.1). Neuropsychological testing for frontal/executive skills, immediate and delayed memory, and visuospatial abilities (n = 15), revealed that frontal abilities were most impacted by the isolated strokes in these patients (average frontal impairment index = −1.29 ± 0.79) followed by delayed recall of verbal and visual information (mean = −1.18 ± 1.17). Immediate memory (−0.51 ± 0.75) and visuoconstructive skills (−0.06 ± 0.88) were relatively spared. Overall, 47% of the patients showed impairment on frontal tasks while 40% had significant impairment in delayed recall. In contrast, only 13% had scores below the cutoff for immediate memory and none fell below the cutoff for visuoconstructive skills. Conclusion – Cognitive impairment is a common sequel of isolated subtentorial stroke. The frequency of impairment is similar either because of isolated brainstem or isolated cerebellar infarct, and similar to cognitive impairment with cerebral hemispheric lesions. Frontal networks or metacognition is the most frequently involved domain.
A Review of Magnetic Induction Methods for Hyperthermia Treatment of Cancer

Magnetic induction methods of producing power absorption in tissue are used for achieving tumor hyperthermia in experimental cancer therapy. Electromagnetic field distributions and associated tissue energy absorption rates (SAR) of concentric, pancake, and coaxially paired current coils are discussed. Application of the bioheat transfer equation using these SAR distributions yields predictions of normal tissue and intratumoral temperature elevations. The corroboration of these predictions by phantom, animal, and human studies confirms the importance of bioheat transfer modeling in evaluation of these hyperthermia methods. Tumor sizes, depths, and locations likely to be therapeutically heated by magnetic induction techniques are reviewed, based upon available evidence.
A Memory Variable Approach to Modeling the Magneto-Mechanical Behavior of Magnetic Shape Memory Alloys

Magnetic shape memory alloys (MSMAs) have attracted interest because of their considerable recoverable strain (up to 10%) and fast response time (1 kilohertz or higher). MSMAs are comprised of martensitic variants that have tetragonal unit cells and a magnetization vector that is innately aligned with the short side of the unit cell. These variants rotate either to align the magnetization vector with an applied magnetic field or to align the short side of the unit cell with an applied compressive stress. This reorientation leads to a mechanical strain and an overall change in the material’s magnetization, allowing MSMAs to be used as actuators, sensors, and power harvesters.This paper builds upon the work of Kiefer and Lagoudas [4,5] as well as improvements proposed by LaMaster et al. [1] to present a thermodynamic based model to predict the response of an MSMA to axial mechanical loading and transverse magnetic loading. This work is unique, however, in its use of a memory variable, which references the last stable configuration. This is similar to the approach used by Saint-Sulpice [2] in modeling SMA wires. The resulting model has zero driving force for reorientation of variants at the beginning of any load and again when the load is removed. Thus the model predicts what is seen physically, that the material is stable when no magneto-mechanical load is present. Furthermore, this model is more physical and less empirical than others in the literature, having only 2 material parameters associated with the stress-strain or stress-field response. In addition, this model includes evolution rules for the magnetic domain volume fractions and the angle of rotation of the magnetization vectors based on thermodynamic requirements.The resulting model is calibrated and predictions are compared with both the more established Keifer and Lagoudas model as well as experimental data. Results show decent correlation with experiments. The model can be further improved by calibrating the demagnetization factor to experimentally measured changes in magnetic field.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Leucine-induced Dissociation of Escherichia coli Lrp Hexadecamers to Octamers

Abstract Lrp is a global regulator of metabolism in Escherichia coli that helps cells respond to changes in environmental conditions. The action of Lrp as a transcriptional activator or repressor is sometimes affected when the medium contains exogenous leucine. In this study, we examined the thermodynamics of leucine binding to Lrp and to a leucine response mutant, Lrp-1, and leucine-induced dissociation of Lrp hexadecamer to leucine-bound octamer. The results of dynamic light-scattering and fluorescence measurements suggest that Lrp has two leucine-binding sites, one a high-affinity site and the other a low-affinity site that is coupled to the dissociation reaction. The Gibbs free energy change for leucine binding to the high-affinity site is about −7.0 kcal/mol. Binding of two leucine molecules to low-affinity sites on the hexadecamer or one leucine molecule to one octamer induces the dissociation of hexadecamer to leucine-bound octamer. The Gibbs free energy change for leucine binding to the low-affinity site was estimated to be in the range −4.66 to −5.03 kcal/mol for leucine binding to an octamer or −6.01 to −6.75 kcal/mol for leucine binding to a hexadecamer. The thermodynamic parameters derived from this study were used together with other data to estimate the distribution of free Lrp hexadecamer, octamer, leucine-bound hexadecamer, and leucine-bound octamer in cells. Mathematical modeling, employed to simulate modulation of Lrp action in response to growth conditions, gave results that are consistent with known patterns of Lrp action on different operons.
Barbourofelis (Nimravidae) and Nimravides (Felidae), with a Description of Two New Species from the Late Miocene of Florida

A new species of Barbourofelis and a new species of Nimravides are described from the latest Clarendonian (late Miocene) Love Bone Bed local fauna, Alachua Co., Florida. The genus Barbourofelis is placed in the Nimravidae, a family characterized by a specialized dentition and by a primitive basicranium lacking a septum bullae. The Nimravidae are not ancestral to the Felidae. Barbourofelis is a member of the subfamily Hoplophoneinae, which also includes Hoplophoneus, Sansanosmilus , and Eusmilus. Nimravides , a true felid, possesses a septum bullae and is apparently derived from a North American species of Pseudaelurus .