cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
OBSERVATION ON THE PROPERTIES OF DOPAMINE-β-HYDROXYLASE1

— The activity of dopamine-β-hydroxylase is inhibited by copper. It is stimulated by a variety of substances, such as fumarate and sodium chloride, which exert salt-like effects. Both phenomena are mediated indirectly through an interaction of ascorbate with catalase. The latter is converted to the inactive catalase II, by the autoxidation of ascorbate and other electron donors. Copper accelerates the autoxidation, thereby enhancing the inactivation of catalase. The activity of DβH, which requires catalase, is therefore inhibited. At high ionic strength, i. e. in the presence of high levels of salt, the conversion of catalase to catalase II is prevented, and the DβH reaction proceeds.
The Relationship Between Static Lower Extremity Measurements and Rearfoot Motion During Walking

Despite the fact that clinicians regularly perform static lower extremity measurements on their patients, to date, little research has been published supporting their ability to predict dynamic rearfoot motion. The abilities of static measurements to predict dynamic foot motion could have important implications considering the fact that excessive rearfoot motion has been associated with various injuries of the lower extremity. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to determine if static lower extremity measurements could be used to predict the magnitude of rearfoot motion during walking. Rearfoot motion of each lower extremity was measured from videotape in 27 healthy young adult subjects with a mean age of 26.1 years. In addition, 17 static measurements were measured and recorded bilaterally for each subject. The results of a multiple regression analysis indicated that the only variable that was able to predict maximum rearfoot pronation was the "difference in navicular height" (r2 = .17). None of the 17 measurements were found to predict time to maximum pronation. These results indicate that static measurements of the lower extremity and foot are poor predictors of dynamic rearfoot motion as measured by maximum pronation or time to maximum pronation in healthy individuals without severe foot deformities.
Optimizing acquisition time in quantitative electromyography

Quantitative electromyography (QEMG) relies on a number of discharges of the same motor unit action potential (MUAP) from a train to create an averaged MUAP considered to be representative of a true potential. The train of potentials may be affected by changes in position of the electrode relative to contributing muscle fibers of the motor unit due to operator or subject movement. The effect of changes in electrode position, along with consideration for patient comfort, prompted this study to determine the shortest duration of recording time necessary for sufficient data acquisition for QEMG studies. We determined that 10 seconds of moderate muscle activity is the most reasonable acquisition duration to isolate up to 6 MUAPs at a given electrode site and minimize the effects of movement artifact in the signal.
MAP decoding of variable length codes over noisy channels

In this paper, we discuss the maximum a-posteriori probability (MAP) decoding of variable length codes(VLCs) and propose a novel decoding scheme for the Huffman VLC coded data in the presence of noise. First, we provide some simulation results of VLC MAP decoding and highlight some features that have not been discussed yet in existing work. We will show that the improvement of MAP decoding over the conventional VLC decoding comes mostly from the memory information in the source and give some observations regarding the advantage of soft VLC MAP decoding over hard VLC MAP decoding when AWGN channel is considered. Second, with the recognition that the difficulty in VLC MAP decoding is the lack of synchronization between the symbol sequence and the coded bit sequence, which makes the parsing from the latter to the former extremely complex, we propose a new MAP decoding algorithm by integrating the information of self-synchronization strings (SSSs), one important feature of the codeword structure, into the conventional MAP decoding. A consistent performance improvement and decoding complexity reduction over the conventional VLC MAP decoding can be achieved with the new scheme.
Ceramic Body Armor Single Impact Force Identification on a Compliant Torso Using Acceleration Response Mapping

This research proposes and experimentally implements a new method to identify the location and magnitude of a single impulsive excitation to body armor. The technique could easily be extended to other components that undergo rigid body dynamics. Impact loads are identified in two steps. First, the location of the impact force is determined from time domain acceleration responses by comparing them to attributes of either reference acceleration time histories or the responses generated by a proposed Newtonian analytical model. Then based on that location, appropriate reference frequency response functions are used to reconstruct the input force in the frequency domain through a least squares inverse problem. Both the analytical model and experiments incorporate the mechanical properties of a deformable dummy’s torso. Experimental results demonstrate the validity of this method both at low energy excitations, which are produced by a medium modally tuned impact hammer, and at high energy excitations, which ar...
Performance of the pediatric glasgow coma scale in children with blunt head trauma.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the accuracy of a pediatric Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score in preverbal children with blunt head trauma with the standard GCS score in older children. METHODS: The authors prospectively enrolled children younger than 18 years with blunt head trauma. Patients were divided into cohorts of those 2 years and younger and those older than 2 years. The authors assigned a pediatric GCS score to the younger cohort and the standard GCS score to the older cohort. Outcomes were 1) traumatic brain injury (TBI) on computed tomography (CT) scan or 2) TBI in need of acute intervention. The authors created and compared receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves between the age cohorts for the association of GCS scores and TBI. RESULTS: The authors enrolled 2,043 children, and 327 were 2 years and younger. Among these 327, 15 (7.7%; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 4.4% to 12.4%) of 194 who underwent imaging with CT had TBI visible and nine (2.8%; 95% CI = 1.3% to 5.2%) had TBI needing acute intervention. In children older than 2 years, 83 (7.7%; 95% CI = 6.2% to 9.5%) of the 1,077 who underwent imaging with CT had TBI visible and 96 (5.6%; 95% CI = 4.6% to 6.8%) had TBI needing acute intervention. For the pediatric GCS in children 2 years and younger, the area under the ROC curve was 0.72 (95% CI = 0.56 to 0.87) for TBI on CT scan and 0.97 (95% CI = 0.94 to 1.00) for TBI needing acute intervention. For the standard GCS in older children, the area under the ROC curve was 0.82 (95% CI = 0.76 to 0.87) for TBI on CT scan and 0.87 (95% CI = 0.83 to 0.92) for TBI needing acute intervention. CONCLUSIONS: This pediatric GCS for children 2 years and younger compares favorably with the standard GCS in the evaluation of children with blunt head trauma. The pediatric GCS is particularly accurate in evaluating preverbal children with blunt head trauma with regard to the need for acute intervention.
Exclusion of spheres by agarose gels during agarose gel electrophoresis: Dependence on the sphere's radius and the gel's concentration

Abstract Agarose gel electrophoresis of spheres (radius = R) has been used to determine the effective radius (PE) of the pores of an agarose gel (percentage of agarose in a gel = A). The value of PE at a given A was taken to be the R of the largest sphere that enters the gel. When log PE is plotted as a function of log A, the results can be represented by: PE = 118A−0.74 for 0.2 ≤ A ≤ 4.0 (PE in nm). However, the data suggest significant nonlinearity in this plot, the magnitude of the exponent of the PE vs A relationship increasing by about 20% as A increases from 0.2 to 4.0. From these data, PE's as big as 1500 nm and as small as 36 nm can be achieved with agarose gels formed with unmodified, unadulterated agarose and usable for electrophoresis.
Hypothalamus–Brain Stem Circuitry Responsible for Vagal Efferent Signaling to the Pancreas Evoked By Hypoglycemia in Rat

Circulating glucose levels significantly affect vagal neural activity, which is important in the regulation of pancreatic functions. Little is known about the mechanisms involved. This study invest...
Irradiation-Corrosion Evaluation of Metals For Nuclear Waste Package Applications in Grande Ronde Basalt Groundwater

The corrosion behavior of several iron-base and titanium-base alloys was studied in synthetic Grande Ronde Basalt groundwater at temperatures of 150/sup 0/C to 250/sup 0/C and under irradiation dose rates to 2 x 10/sup 6/ rad/h. The objective of these ongoing studies is to help select one or more materials for waste-package canisters that will maintain their integrity for time periods up to 1000 y in a nuclear waste repository constructed in basalt. The corrosion rates of iron-base alloys under irradiated conditions were generally 2 to 3 times as high as those obtained on similar materials under nonirradiated conditions. The titanium alloys exhibited low corrosion rates but absorbed significant amounts of hydrogen under irradiated conditions. 6 references, 3 figures.
Building heterogeneous reconfigurable systems using threads

Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) have long held the promise of allowing designers to create systems with performance levels close to custom circuits but with a software-like productivity for reconfiguring the gates. Unfortunately achieving this promise has been elusive. Modern FPGAs can now support a complete Multi-processor System on Chip (MPSoC) architecture that raises the design abstraction level from gates to processors. In this paper we present a new design flow and run-time system that enables developers to create a complete heterogeneous MPSoC from high-level programming model abstractions. This approach allows designers to eliminate synthesis times by using soft core processors thus enabling the creation of custom heterogeneous MPSoC architectures at software productivity levels.
Conditional Liberty: The Flag Salute Before Gobitis and Barnette

In the 1940 landmark case, Minersville School District v. Gobitis,1 the Supreme Court of the United States first heard arguments on the right of children to refuse to salute the American flag in public schools. Fifteen years earlier, these same issues were being discussed in the Superior Court of Whatcom County, Washington. In both instances, children with strong religious beliefs instilled oy their parents refused to participate in morning flag exercises and were expelled from school as a consequence. Also, in both instances, public opinion weighed heavily against those seeking to uphold their First Amendment rights. Why, then, did one case make it to the Supreme Court and not the other?
Age and Origin of the Citronelle Formation in Alabama

The sediments forming the Citronelle Formation occur as a nearly continuous blanket along the southern margin of the Coastal Plain and can be traced from Texas across the Gulf Coast into peninsular Florida. The lack of fossil evidence, however, has made this formation the subject of a heated age controversy since it was first described in 1916. At present, its age is given by various investigators as late Miocene, Pliocene, Plio-Pleistocene or Pleistocene. The recent discovery of abundant vertebrate fossils, at a site in northern Mobile County, Alabama, near the base of the formation, indicates that the maximum age of the Citronelle is mid-Pliocene (Hemphillian). Other evidence is present to indicate that the rocks of fossil zone represent a brackish estuary that was later filled by river encroachment, forming the overlying fluviatile sediments typical of the Citronelle Formation. Hence, the faunal evidence, coupled with existing pollen data from the upper sediments of the Citronelle in nearby Florida, now indicates that deposition of this formation began in the middle Pliocene and continued into the pre-Nebraskan Pleistocene.
Strain Localization in an Oscillating Maxwell Viscoelastic Cylinder.

Abstract The transient rotation responses of simple, axisymmetric, viscoelastic structures are of interest for interpretation of experiments designed to characterize materials and closed structures such as the brain using magnetic resonance techniques. Here, we studied the response of a Maxwell viscoelastic cylinder to small, sinusoidal displacement of its outer boundary. The transient strain field can be calculated in closed form using any of several conventional approaches. The solution is surprising: the strain field develops a singularity that appears when the wavefront leaves the center of the cylinder, and persists as the wavefront reflects to the outer boundary and back to the center of the cylinder. The singularity is alternately annihilated and re-initiated upon subsequent departures of the wavefront from the center of the cylinder until it disappears in the limit of steady state oscillations. We present the solution for this strain field, characterize the nature of this singularity, and discuss its potential role in the mechanical response and evolved morphology of the brain.
Chronic consumption of a low-fat diet leads to increased hypothalamic agouti-related protein and reduced leptin.

Abstract Objective This study examined the hypothesis that dietary fat under ad libitum feeding conditions influences expression levels (mRNA) of the mouse agouti-related protein (AgRP), leptin, leptin receptor (OBRb), and neuropeptide Y (NPY) at early stages of development. Methods C57Bl/6J male mice were placed on a high-fat diet (HFD) or a low-fat diet (LFD) shortly after weaning. Groups of mice were euthanized at various ages and real-time one-step reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was used to analyze gene expression in the hypothalamus (AgRP, NPY, OBRb), the adrenal gland (AgRP), the testis (AgRP), and epididymal fat (leptin). Results Leptin expression increased linearly with age but only under the HFD despite body weight gain under both diets. This pattern of expression coincided with reduced expression of hypothalamic AgRP under an HFD, whereas OBRb and NPY did not fluctuate in response to diet. By contrast, consumption of an LFD (i.e., high carbohydrate) increased hypothalamic AgRP and suppressed adipose leptin, which is consistent with the notion that leptin could regulate AgRP centrally. In contrast, AgRP expression in the adrenal gland initially decreased and then increased with age under both diets. Conclusions Dietary fat can have a tissue-dependent effect on AgRP that may be unfettered by leptin under an HFD.
Serial dilution with a confirmation step

A serial dilution test estimates the concentration of a microbe in a broth by inoculating several tubes with portions of the broth. The test may include both presumptive and confirmation steps. For the confirmation step considered here a portion of the contents of each tube indicating a change in the presumptive step is streaked on a plate. Several colonies are selected and examined to determine if the tube contained the target microbe. A statistical model accounts for the possibility of not selecting the target microbe from a tube that contains it and a similar appearing microbe. Simulations show that this model sometimes gives estimates similar to those currently used, but at other times can make large corrections. Also, a commonness measure helps check the validity of the assumptions of this statistical model.
Update on Cutaneous Manifestations of Infectious Diseases

Many emerging pathogens present in the skin and are of interest to dermatologists. Recent epidemics of measles, avian flu, and SARS demonstrated how an organism can rapidly spread worldwide because of airline travel. Travelers are often contagious before they are aware that they have the disease, contributing to the spread. This article reviews bacterial, mycobacterial, fungal, and viral pathogens important to dermatologists.
An application of multivariable adaptive control to chemical processes

Problems in controlling multivariable chemical systems are described. A brief description of a multivariable hybrid adaptive control technique is given. Simulation results will indicate reasonable success in achieving set point control of a double-effect evaporator and a distillation column in the face of variations of the parameters of the system.
Microscopic nuclear collective motion studied by classical equations of motion

Abstract The time-dependent variation principle is used to obtain generally non-canonical equations of motion from any class of quantum states which are parameterized by a set of continuous complex quantities. A class of states is presented whose associated classical dynamics is described by the five collective quadrupole degrees of freedom. Information about the classical dynamics of the system can be obtained from the non-canonical equations by finding physically interesting quantities which are coordinate independent and which characterize the low-energy collective motion. Approximate collective hamiltonians, of either a Bohr-Mottelson or an IBM type, can be found by insisting that the interesting physical quantities which describe the low-energy classical behavior of the many-body system are the same as those describing the classical behavior of the system given by the collective hamiltonian. The method is applied to two simple schematic models, one vibrational and one rotational, and IBM hamiltonians are obtained.
The ironic function of bacteriophage receptors

Abstract Iron transport has been revealed as the biochemical function of certain phage and bacteriocin receptors in the outer membrane of enteric bacteria.
A Tale of Two Charitable Campaigns: Longitudinal Analysis of Employee Giving at a Public University

In light of the current economic conditions and the subsequent increased pressure on nonprofit organizations to collaborate, many nonprofit organizations are developing and conducting cross-sector ...
The effect of polyacrylate microstructure on the impact response of PMMA/PC multi-laminates

Abstract Polymer armor is widely implemented in many military and commercial applications, particularly where optical clarity is required. The impact mechanics and energy absorption mechanisms of these multi-layered structures are not well understood. This experimental study focuses on the impact response of three-layered structures consisting of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and polycarbonate (PC) outlerlayers with various polyacrylate adhesives. Specifically, the effect of varying the microstructure of a soft interlayer incorporated into all-polymer multi-laminates is investigated. Four polyacrylates (VHB 4905, VHB 5925, VHB 4930 and VHB 4936) having a common acrylic base matrix with microstructural variations including combinations of compressible air gaps and rigid microsphere inclusions. To examine how interlayer microstructure affects impact resistance, an instrumented, compressed air driven, experimental setup is utilized to conduct intermediate velocity (9–30 m/s) normal impact testing. The setup is unique in that both force and displacement during impact are recorded independently using a shock accelerometer embedded impactor and optical displacement sensors measuring contact force and out-of-plane deflection, respectively. Quantitative metrics from the data are used to characterize and assess impact response between various configurations. Two impact velocities are tested: 12 and 22 m/s. Several correlations between adhesive microstructure and impact response are observed, including a secondary contact force decrease in multi-laminates having interlayers with microspheres and delamination in multi-laminates having interlayers without air gaps. The multi-laminates with VHB 5925 adhesives (air gaps only) showed the longest cracks and largest fracture area, which directly relates to the greatest displacements and pulsewidths, and smallest second force peaks. Increased fracture compromises structural integrity resulting in more deflection, prolonged impactor contact with the multi-laminate, and decreased elastically stored energy lessening impactor reload. It is demonstrated that this experimental methodology is capable of consistently probing and assessing the local impact response and modulation of an impact load when a multi-layered polymer includes a soft middle layer. Quantitative and qualitative effects of the interlayers’ microstructure on overall impact performance are presented.
Distortion of Surface Groups in CAT(0) free-by-cyclic Groups

Given a non-positively curved 2-complex with a circle-valued Morse function satisfying some extra combinatorial conditions, we describe how to locally isometrically embed this in a larger non-positively curved 2-complex with free-by-cyclic fundamental group. This embedding procedure is used to produce examples of CAT(0) free-by-cyclic groups that contain closed hyperbolic surface subgroups with polynomial distortion of arbitrary degree. We also produce examples of CAT(0) hyperbolic free-by-cyclic groups that contain closed hyperbolic surface subgroups that are exponentially distorted.
S-bend Loss of Depressed Cladding Semiconductor Laser Waveguides

The evolution of heterostructure lasers into quantum well graded-barrier (GBH) separate confinement heterostructure lasers has resulted in devices with very low threshold currents. One negative aspect of these lasers is associated with the elliptical shape of the far-field modes and the losses occurring from beam matching into fibers. However, if the heterostructure is used as a waveguide, semiconductor optical amplifier, or electro-optic modulator, the insertion loss in matching into a sub-Ao mode is of critical importance.
Historic importance of some aspects of research by O. Wilford Olsen on hookworms ( Uncinaria lucasi ) in northern fur seals ( Callorhinus ursinus ) and Steller sea lions ( Eumatopias jubatus ) in 1951 on St. Paul Island, Alaska

The purpose of this paper is to disseminate, more widely, certain historically important aspects of research by O. Wilford Olsen on hookworms (Uncinaria lucasi) in northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) and Steller sea lions (Eumatopias jubatus) in 1951 on St. Paul Island, Alaska. Highly meaningful facets of the research were recorded only in a report with limited availability by Olsen in 1952. Portions of his research presented here include measurements of hookworm free-living infective third-stage larvae (L3) and adults, photographs of bursae, and the conclusion that the species of hookworms (U. lucasi) is probably the same in both pinniped hosts. This information is especially important because very little has been published on taxonomy of hookworms in E. jubatus.
A Synthesis of Combinational Logic with NAND or NOR Elements

A synthesis technique is developed which forms an all NAND or all NOR structure from a combinational logical expression. The resultant structure has a maximum of three logic levels. It is shown that the structure can be obtained directly from the prime implicants describing the logical expression. Also, by grouping prime implicants into any one of three basic patterns, a reduction in the size of the structure can be realized. The paper uses the NAND element to develop the synthesis technique, and then extends the technique to include NOR synthesis.
The relationship between MOC reflex and masked threshold.

Otoacoustic emission (OAE) amplitude can be reduced by acoustic stimulation. This effect is produced by the medial olivocochlear (MOC) reflex. Past studies have shown that the MOC reflex is related to listening in noise and attention. In the present study, the relationship between strength of the contralateral MOC reflex and masked threshold was investigated in 19 adults. Detection thresholds were determined for 1000-Hz, 300-ms tone presented simultaneously with one repetition of a 300-ms masker in an ongoing train of masker bursts. Three masking conditions were tested: 1) broadband noise 2) a fixed-frequency 4-tone complex masker and 3) a random-frequency 4-tone complex masker. Broadband noise was expected to produce energetic masking and the tonal maskers were expected to produce informational masking in some listeners. DPOAEs were recorded at fine frequency intervals from 500 to 4000 Hz, with and without contralateral acoustic stimulation. MOC reflex strength was estimated as a reduction in baseline level and a shift in frequency of DPOAE fine-structure maxima near 1000-Hz. MOC reflex and psychophysical testing were completed in separate sessions. Individuals with poorer thresholds in broadband noise and in random-frequency maskers were found to have stronger MOC reflexes.
Effects of display format and colour coding schemes on visual monitoring performance using spatially and temporally distributed visual displays

Abstract The present study examined factors that decreased task complexity so that a technology which temporally, rather than spatially, distributed information (i.e. RAP COM, for rapid communication) would result in performace advantages. This was accomplished by physically integrating the stimulus information into either the display format (i.e. an analog format) or into the response coding scheme (i.e. a colour coding scheme). Performance using the RAP COM display indicated a lower proportion of errors for the analog than for the digital format; however, a longer mean response time for a correct response was found for the analog than for the digital format. Two colour coding response schemes were used: (a)_a continuous scheme that comparised gradual changes between red and blue; (b) a distinctive scheme consisting of the colours cyan, green, yellow, orange, red, mauve, purple and blue. When the continuous colour coding responses scheme was used, performance using the RAP COM display, as compared with the spatial display, was no different after extended practice. The results of these experiments taken together indicate that the RAP COM display type may be a viable technology for some limited ‘real world’ environments.
841 INTENSIVE PLASMA EXCHANGE (PE) IN REFRACTORY ACUTE AUTOIMMUNE HEMOLYTIC ANEMIA (AIHA)

Idiopathic AIHA in childhood is usually an acute self-limited disease, responding well to steroids and transfusion. In severe refractory cases, immunosuppressive agents may be of help, but the slow onset of effect (usually weeks) limits their usefulness. Presented with a 17 year-old boy with severe acute AIHA unresponsive to prednisone (10 mg/kg/d), exchange transfusion & splenectomy, we performed PE using the IBM model 2997 Blood Cell Separator. Before PE he required 20 u PRBC over 14 days to keep his Hb > 4 g/dl. Post-PE his Hb remained stable for 5 days. Azathioprine was begun, but when his Hb fell 2 days later a 2nd PE was performed. Again there was abrupt stabilization of Hb levels followed by return to normal over the next 3 weeks, without further transfusion. Total volumes of blood processed in the 2 PE were 8500 & 8250 ml, representing 4240 & 4140 ml plasma (incl. extracellular fluid). Transient coagulation defects were observed, but were corrected by fresh frozen plasma infused post-PE; no bleeding problems developed. Our observations in this case suggest that antibody removal by PE enabled prompt control of severe hemolysis, ‘buying time’ until the immunosuppressive effect of azathioprine took place. Further trial of this combined therapy seems warranted in cases of acute disease refractory to large doses of steroids, and perhaps in younger children with chronic drug-dependent disease prior to consideration of splenectomy.
Synagogue and Society in Imperial Ostia: Archaeological and Epigraphic Evidence

This study presents and analyzes evidence for the social location and organization of Jewish groups in the environs of Rome, specifically from the port city of Ostia. Scholars have generally recognized that the presence of a thriving Jewish community in Rome, as elsewhere in the eastern Mediterranean, is a crucial element to understanding developments in the Christian movement throughout the first centuries CE. Such discussions have become more common in recent studies. Still, one will look long and hard in New Testament and early Christian studies to find direct discussion of the primary data for the Jewish communities of metropolitan Rome.
Cerebral infusion of AAV9 vector-encoding non-self proteins can elicit cell-mediated immune responses.

There is considerable interest in the use of adeno-associated virus serotype 9 (AAV9) for neurological gene therapy partly because of its ability to cross the blood–brain barrier to transduce astrocytes and neurons. This raises the possibility that AAV9 might also transduce antigen-presenting cells (APC) in the brain and provoke an adaptive immune response. We tested this hypothesis by infusing AAV9 vectors encoding foreign antigens, namely human aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (hAADC) and green fluorescent protein (GFP), into rat brain parenchyma. Over ensuing weeks, both vectors elicited a prominent inflammation in transduced brain regions associated with upregulation of MHC II in glia and associated lymphocytic infiltration. Transduction of either thalamus or striatum with AAV9-hAADC evinced a significant loss of neurons and induction of anti-hAADC antibodies. We conclude that AAV9 transduces APC in the brain and, depending on the immunogenicity of the transgene, can provoke a full immune response that mediates significant brain pathology. We emphasize, however, that these observations do not preclude the use of AAV serotypes that can transduce APC. However, it does potentially complicate preclinical toxicology studies in which non-self proteins are expressed at a level sufficient to trigger cell-mediated and humoral immune responses.
Influence of extracellular pH on inhibition by ifenprodil at N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors in Xenopus oocytes

Ifenprodil is an atypical N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist that selectively blocks receptors containing the NR2B subunit. It has been proposed that ifenprodil may act at a stimulatory polyamine site on NMDA receptors, although interactions between ifenprodil and polyamines are non-competitive. NMDA receptors are also inhibited by extracellular protons, and an interaction between protons and polyamine stimulation has been described. Using voltage-clamp recording of recombinant NR1/NR2B receptors expressed in oocytes, ifenprodil inhibition was found to be pH sensitive with a smaller inhibition at alkaline pH. Similar effects of pH were seen on inhibition by nylidrin, eliprodil, and haloperidol, which are thought to act at the ifenprodil binding site. The pH sensitivity of ifenprodil block occurs at NR1B/NR2B as well as NR1A/NR2B receptors, suggesting that it is not influenced by the exon-5 insert that is present in NR1B but absent in NR1A. Protons may directly affect the ifenprodil binding site or may alter the coupling of ifenprodil binding to inhibition of channel gating.
The Utility of Discriminant Analysis for Predicting Graduation from a Master of Business Administration Program.

With universities facing enrollment ceilings and with increased competition for admission to graduate programs, it has become increasingly important for admissions committees to select those applicants who are most likely to complete their degrees. This study was concerned with the accuracy with which successful completion of the Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree could be predicted from readily available admissions data: sex of the student, student age, undergraduate grade point average, Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) Verbal score, and GMAT Quantitative score. As a mechanism for evaluating the predictive accuracy of the MBA admissions data, discriminant analysis was used. The sample for this study consisted of all students who had begun and in some way had concluded their MBA studies between 1969 and 1979. This total sample (N = 507) was randomly split into two parts, one part for deriving the discriminant function and one part for cross-validating the derived discriminant function...
A readability level prediction tool for K-12 books

The readability levels of books identify suitable reading materials. Unfortunately, the majority of published books are assigned a readability level range, which is not useful to readers who look for books at a particular grade level. Existing readability formulas/analysis tools require at least an excerpt of a book to estimate its readability level, which is a severe constraint, since copyright laws prohibit book contents from being made publicly accessible. To alleviate the constraint, we have developed TRoLL which relies on publicly accessible online book metadata, in addition to using a book's snippet, if it is available, to predict its readability level. Based on a multi-dimensional regression analysis, TRoLL determines the grade level of any book instantly, even without a sample of its text, and considers its topical suitability, which is unique. Furthermore, TRoLL is a significant contribution to the educational community, since its computed book readability levels can enrich K-12 readers' book selections and aid parents, teachers, and librarians in locating reading materials suitable for their K-12 readers, which can be a time-consuming and frustrating task that does not always yield a quality outcome. Conducted empirical studies have verified the prediction accuracy of TRoLL and demonstrated its superiority over well-known readability formulas/analysis tools.
Thermodynamics of Geysers: Application to Titan

General constraints on geyser phenomena are developed and applied to speculative methane geysers on Titan. Variation of boiling point with depth of ethane‐methane‐nitrogen fluids is found to be of order 0.3 K m −1 , in contrast with aroun d2Km −1 for water on Earth. It is found that geysers are possible on Titan but require enhancements of ∼100 above global-average geothermal heat flux, a factor similar to that required on Earth. Eruption velocities of order 25 m s −1 appear to be typical for 10-m-deep geyser vents on both Earth and Titan. While eruption velocities on Earth are usually limited by the low sound speed in water‐steam mixtures, sound speeds in Titan fluids are higher and the Titan limit is imposed by the available energy in the boiling fluid. Eruption intervals should be nearly the same for geysers with equivalent plumbing. There is an interesting symmetry between geysers on Titan and those on Earth: The volatility of the relevant fluid scales with the available heat flow. c � 2002 Elsevier Science (USA)
Variant MoFe proteins of Azotobacter vinelandii: effects of carbon monoxide on electron paramagnetic resonance spectra generated during enzyme turnover.

The resting state of wild-type nitrogenase MoFe protein exhibits an S=3/2 electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) signal originating from the FeMo cofactor, the enzyme’s active site. When nitrogenase turns over under CO, this signal disappears and one (sometimes two) of three new EPR signals, which also arise from the FeMo cofactor, appears, depending on the CO concentration. The appearance and properties of these CO-inducible EPR signals, which were also generated with variant MoFe proteins (αR96Q, αR96K, αQ191K, αR359K, αR96K/αR359K, αR277C, αR277H, and ΔnifV) that are impacted around the FeMo cofactor, have been investigated. No new CO-induced EPR signals arise from any variant, suggesting that no new CO-binding sites are produced by the substitutions. All variant proteins, except αR277H, produce the lo-CO signal; all, except αQ191K, produce the hi(5)-CO signal; but only two (αR96Q and ΔnifV) exhibit the hi-CO signal. FeMo cofactor’s environment clearly dictates which CO-induced EPR signals are generated; however, none of these EPR signals correlate with CO inhibition of H2 evolution observed with some of these variants. CO inhibition of H2 evolution is, therefore, due to CO binding to a different site(s) from those responsible for the CO-induced EPR signals. Some resting-state variants have overlapping S=3/2 EPR signals, whose intensities simultaneously decrease under turnover conditions, indicating that all FeMo cofactor conformations are catalytically active. Moreover, these variants produce a similar number of hi(5)-CO signals after turnover under CO to the number of resting-state S=3/2 signals. The FeMo cofactor associated with the hi(5)-CO signal likely contains two bridging CO molecules.
Quality of life in patients with TIA and minor ischemic stroke.

Objective: We investigated health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with TIA and minor ischemic stroke (MIS) using Neuro-QOL, a validated, patient-reported outcome measurement system. Methods: Consecutive patients with TIA or MIS who had (1) modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0 or 1 at baseline, (2) initial NIH Stroke Scale score of ≤5, (3) no acute reperfusion treatment, and (4) 3-month follow-up, were recruited. Recurrent stroke, disability by mRS and Barthel Index, and Neuro-QOL scores in 5 prespecified domains were prospectively recorded. We assessed the proportion of patients with impaired HRQOL, defined as T scores more than 0.5 SD worse than the general population average, and identified predictors of impaired HRQOL using logistic regression. Results: Among 332 patients who met study criteria (mean age 65.7 years, 52.4% male), 47 (14.2%) had recurrent stroke within 90 days and 41 (12.3%) were disabled (mRS >1 or Barthel Index Conclusions: Impairment in HRQOL is common at 3 months after MIS and TIA. Predictors of impaired HRQOL include age, index stroke severity, and recurrent stroke. Future studies should include HRQOL measures in outcome assessment, as these may be more sensitive to mild deficits than traditional disability scales.
The multidimensional nature of ageism: construct validity and group differences.

The authors investigated the factor structure and construct validity of the Fraboni Scale of Ageism (FSA; M. Fraboni, R. Saltstone, & S. Hughes, 1990) and the age and gender differences in ageism scores. Confirmatory factor analyses supported the multidimensional nature of FSA scores and generally corroborated the initial factor structure reported by M. Fraboni, with some notable exceptions. Essentially, the present findings were aligned with theoretical models of ageism that emphasize both cognitive facets and affective facets. That is, on the basis of their factor analytic findings, the authors redefined Fraboni's original factors of Antilocution, Avoidance, and Discrimination as Stereotypes, Separation, and Affective Attitudes, respectively, because of the clustering of items within factors. The revised 3-factor structure accounted for 36.4% of the variance in FSA scores. FSA factor scores significantly related to other scores from other measures of age-related attitudes, with higher correlations among...
Selection and maintenance of androdioecy in Caenorhabditis elegans

Caenorhabditis elegans is an androdioecious nematode composed of selfing hermaphrodites and rare males. A model of male maintenance demonstrates that selfing rates in hermaphrodites cannot be too high or else the frequency of males will be driven down to the rate of spontaneous nondisjunction of the X chromosome. After their outcrossing ability is assessed, males are found to skirt the frequency range in which they would be maintained. When male maintenance is directly assessed by elevating male frequency and observing the frequency change through time, males are gradually eliminated from the population. Males, therefore, appear to reproduce at a rate just below that necessary for them to be maintained. Populations polymorphic for a mutation (fog-2) that effectively changes hermaphrodites into females demonstrate that there is strong selection against dioecy. Factors such as variation in male mating ability and inbreeding depression could potentially lead to the long-term maintenance of males.
Trisomy 8 in bone marrow cells of patients with polycythemia vera and myelogenous leukemia.

In studying the bone marrow chromosomes of patients with polycythemia vera (PCV) and chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), we have recently identified, by the current banding techniques, two cases of acquired trisomy 8. One was a patient with typical PCV and the other had a diagnosis of atypical CML. An extra No. 8 chromosome was found in approximately 60% of the marrow cells of the patient with PCV and 75% of the marrow cells of the patient with CML. Lymphocyte cultures from both patients revealed a normal chromosomal constitution. To our knowledge, thus far, there have been at least 9 cases of acquired trisomy 8 identified in patients with either PCV or CML and a total of 6 cases of acquired trisomy 9 in various hematological disorders. It is possible that acquired trisomy 8 and 9 are the most commonly involved aneuploidies in various hematological disorders especially CML and PCV. The relationship of acquired trisomy 8 or 9 to blastic crisis is to be determined.
A Collaborative Approach to Teaching Sound Sculpting, Embodied Listening and the Materiality of Sound

This paper presents recent work in engaging both studentsand working professionals from a variety of disciplines andbackgrounds with the practice of collective and site-specificelectroacoustic music creation. The emphasis is placed onembodied, deep listening in tandem with a manual approachto sonic art creation that bridges an understanding of theinterplay between digital sound manipulation, largercomposed structures and the physical presentation of a workin a given space. Through a practice-oriented approach,participants gain insights into areas such as the abstractworld of digital sound recording and representation, theextreme influence on this content enacted by a given sounddelivery system and a given space, and the subjectiveexperience of listening to sounds from a variety oforientations and postures, and with varying levels ofunderstanding of the original source recordings. Finally,through a group approach to composing larger structures,participants begin to understand the often mysterious andunsaid processes involved in the normally solitary act ofcomposing electroacoustic music.
Differential effects of Rho-kinase inhibition on artery wall mass and remodeling.

Abstract Purpose Constrictive remodeling and new artery wall mass contribute to lumen narrowing in atherosclerosis and following injury. Rho-kinase, an important regulator of myosin phosphorylation and cytoskeletal reorganization, is critical to smooth muscle cell (SMC) growth and vasoconstriction, but its role in artery wall remodeling is poorly defined. We hypothesized that constrictive artery wall remodeling is dependent on Rho signaling so that blocking Rho-kinase would promote outward artery wall remodeling in response to intimal hyperplasia and thus limit lumen narrowing. Methods To test this hypothesis, we first studied the effects of the Rho-kinase inhibitor fasudil on SMC remodeling of collagen matrix in vitro. Mouse aortic SMCs were seeded into three-dimensional collagen gels with and without fasudil, and extent of contraction was measured at 24 hours. We then used the mouse carotid ligation model to study the effects of Rho-kinase inhibition on remodeling and intimal hyperplasia in vivo. C57B6/J mice were randomly assigned to fasudil (100 mg/kg per day) or vehicle and underwent unilateral carotid artery ligation or sham ligation. Remodeling and wall mass were measured after 28 days. Results Fasudil blocked SMC contraction of collagen gels in a dose-dependent manner. Complete inhibition of collagen gel remodeling was achieved between 10 and 30 μmol/L fasudil. In control mice, carotid ligation caused significant thickening of the adventitia, media, and intima ( P P P P = .04), medial ( P = .03), and adventitial thickening ( P = .07) versus controls. Opposite our hypothesis, however, fasudil did not enhance outward artery wall remodeling or improve lumen caliber. Rather, inhibiting Rho-kinase blocked outward remodeling in response to ligation. EEL area was significantly smaller in treated versus control animals ( P = .04) and slightly smaller versus shams ( P = NS). These data suggest that Rho activation contributes significantly to both hyperplasia and outward remodeling of the injured artery wall. Rho-kinase may prove an important target to limit intimal hyperplasia and prevent restenosis when remodeling is improved by other means (eg, stents).
Drug-drug interactions in cardiac and cardiothoracic intensive care units: an analysis of patients in an academic medical centre in the US.

Background: Mortality and morbidity are increased in patients experiencing drug-drug interactions. Unfortunately, there is a paucity of literature describing clinically significant drug-drug interactions occurring in the intensive care unit (ICU). Knowing the clinically significant drug-drug interactions allows the opportunity for prevention through knowledge and computer-assisted programmes.
Caspase-3 is required for apoptosis-associated DNA fragmentation but not for cell death in neurons deprived of potassium

Caspases are crucial effectors of the cell death pathway activated by virtually all apoptosis-inducing stimuli within neurons and nonneuronal cells. Among the caspases, caspase-3 (CPP32) appears to play a pivotal role and has been found to be necessary for developmentally regulated cell death in the brain. We have used mice lacking caspase-3 (−/−CPP32) to examine its involvement in cultured cerebellar granule neurons induced to undergo apoptosis by potassium deprivation (K+). We find that, following K+ deprivation, neurons from −/−CPP32 mice die to the same extent as those from normal (+/+) mice. Although a small delay in the induction of cell death is observed in −/−CPP32 neurons, the rate of cell death is generally comparable to that of +/+ cultures. Though not critical for neuronal death, caspase-3 is required for DNA fragmentation and chromatin condensation as judged by the absence of these apoptotic features in −/−CPP32 neurons. Boc.Asp.fmk, a pan caspase inhibitor, partially protects +/+ neurons from low-K+-mediated cell death and does so to the same extent in −/−CPP32 cultures, suggesting the involvement of a caspase other than caspase-3 in cell death. However, the protective effect of boc.Asp.fmk is not seen beyond 24 hr, suggesting that the effect of caspase inhibition is one of delaying rather than preventing apoptosis. The more selective caspase inhibitors DEVD.fmk, IETD.fmk, and VEID.fmk fail to affect cell death, indicating that members inhibited by these agents (such as caspases - 6 ,7, 8, 9 and 10) are also not involved in low-K+-mediated apoptosis. J. Neurosci. Res. 59:24–31, 2000 © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Biology of the TAM receptors

The TAM receptors--Tyro3, Axl, and Mer--comprise a unique family of receptor tyrosine kinases, in that as a group they play no essential role in embryonic development. Instead, they function as homeostatic regulators in adult tissues and organ systems that are subject to continuous challenge and renewal throughout life. Their regulatory roles are prominent in the mature immune, reproductive, hematopoietic, vascular, and nervous systems. The TAMs and their ligands--Gas6 and Protein S--are essential for the efficient phagocytosis of apoptotic cells and membranes in these tissues; and in the immune system, they act as pleiotropic inhibitors of the innate inflammatory response to pathogens. Deficiencies in TAM signaling are thought to contribute to chronic inflammatory and autoimmune disease in humans, and aberrantly elevated TAM signaling is strongly associated with cancer progression, metastasis, and resistance to targeted therapies.