cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Long Term Reduction of Nightmares with Imagery Rehearsal Treatment

An eighteen month follow-up of chronic nightmare sufferers treated with imagery rehearsal, a cognitive-behavioral method, demonstrated significant and clinically meaningful decreases in nightmare frequency. Sixty-eight percent of subjects decreased their nightmares below criteria for a “Chronic Nightmare Disorder”. Significant improvement was also noted for sleep quality and daytime anxiety. The findings support the theory that nightmares may be clinically conceptualized as a primary sleep disorder in some chronic sufferers.
Isocitrate Lyase Supplies Precursors for Hydrogen Cyanide Production in a Cystic Fibrosis Isolate of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonizes and can persist in the lungs of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients for decades. Adaptation of P. aeruginosa to the CF lung environment causes various genotypic and phenotypic alterations in the bacterium that facilitate persistence. We showed previously that isocitrate lyase (ICL) activity is constitutively upregulated in the P. aeruginosa CF isolate FRD1. We show here that high ICL activity in FRD1 contributes to increased hydrogen cyanide (HCN) production by this isolate. Disruption of aceA, which encodes ICL, results in reduced cyanide production by FRD1 but does not affect cyanide production in the wound isolate PAO1. Cyanide production is restored to the FRD1aceA mutant by addition of glyoxylate, a product of ICL activity, or glycine to the growth medium. Conversion of glyoxylate to glycine may provide a mechanism for increased cyanide production by P. aeruginosa growing on compounds that activate the glyoxylate pathway. Consistent with this hypothesis, disruption of PA5304, encoding a putative d-amino acid dehydrogenase (DadA), led to decreased cyanide production by FRD1. Cyanide production was restored to the FRD1dadA mutant by the addition of glycine, but not glyoxylate, to the growth medium, suggesting that loss of the ability to convert glyoxylate to glycine was associated with the dadA mutation. This was supported by increased glycine production from toluene-treated FRD1 cells with the addition of glyoxylate compared to FRD1dadA cells. This study indicates a larger role for ICL in the physiology and virulence of chronic isolates of P. aeruginosa than previously recognized.
Phase Transition, Stability, and Depolarization Field in Ferroelectric Thin Films

It is shown that the polarization in a thin ferroelectric film, which is sandwiched between semiconducting electrodes, is compensated incompletely. The associated depolarization fields are size dependent and change the magnitude of the polarization, transition temperature, coercive field, and the order of the phase transition. Thermodynamic considerations give stability requirements for thin films, which are different from the bulk. The properties of a thin ferroelectric film, which in bulk form exhibits a second-order phase transition, are investigated as a function of thickness, temperature, biasing potential, and electrode properties. Numerical results are presented for triglycinesulfate.
Nitroguanylhydrazones of Aldehydes: Their Antitubercular Activity, Ultraviolet Absorption Spectra and Structure*†

Some 30 nitroguanylhydrazones of aldehydes have been made. A number of these compounds show high in vitro antitubercular activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv. Citral and p-isopropyl benzaldehyde nitroguanylhydrazones showed complete inhibition of growth at concentrations of two parts per million, and p-nitrobenzaldehyde and p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde showed partial inhibition at concentrations of two parts per hundred million. The ultraviolet absorption of the compounds has been measured. The nitroguanylhydrazones absorb at longer wave lengths and have higher extinction coefficients than the corresponding aldehydes. The nitrimine structure for the compounds is consistent with the observed spectra.
Changes in mu opioid receptors and rheological properties of erythrocytes among opioid abusers.

Opioids, reported originally to bind to specific receptors in the brain, now also appear to bind to receptors on blood cells. The high prevalence of anemia among chronic opioid users leads us to propose that chronic opiate use results in elevated mu opioid receptor levels on human erythrocytes and that these receptor changes may affect erythrocyte membrane properties. Blood samples from 17 opioid-dependent subjects (based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition or DSM-IV) and 15 drug-free controls were assayed for mu opioid receptors on erythrocytes using a flow cytometry immunoassay. Deformability and the hydration status of erythrocytes were studied by ektacytometry. Data were analyzed by independent t-tests, tests of correlation, chi square and cluster analyses. As expected, the percentage of erythrocytes from opioid-dependent subjects with opioid receptors (opioid receptor levels) was significantly higher (47.4 ′ 38. 3%) than controls (22.8 ′ 30.1%) (t = 2. 01, df = 30, p < 0.05). Also, the opioid-dependent patients showed a wide variation in the percentage of erythrocytes bearing opioid receptors and data analyses of these patients showed two strongly defined clusters. One subgroup consisted of nine individuals with very high receptor levels (mean = 81.5%) while the other had eight patients with low receptor levels (mean = 9.1%) that were not significantly different than the receptor levels of controls. Ektacytometry of opioid dependent patients with high opioid receptor levels showed changes in rheological parameters of erythrocytes, such as deformability index and cellular hydration. For example, a positive correlation was observed between opioid receptor levels and deformability indices among opioid-dependent patients (r = 0. 74, p < 0. 005). Our findings indicate that the mu opioid receptor is present on human erythrocytes, although with considerable variation in receptor levels, and that the levels of this receptor are significantly elevated with chronic opioid exposure. Moreover, erythrocytes with high opioid receptor levels from chronic opiate users seem to have high deformability. This study may offer clues to the biological properties of peripheral blood cells that may be mediated by mu opioid receptors and lead to a better understanding of some of the clinical effects of opioid use.
Unmasking connections in transmembrane immune signaling.

The B cell transmembrane glycoprotein modulates immune signaling. Mice containing specific Cd22 mutations show that the extracellular glycan-binding function is regulatory and indicate unexpected complexity in CD22-ligand interactions.
Emerging interventions for PTSD: Future directions for clinical care and research

Efficacious therapeutic approaches for treating Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are needed given the significant psychosocial and physical impairment associated with the disorder (e.g., Hidalgo and Davidson, 2000; Jaycox and Foa, 1999; Stein et al., 2000). Although variations of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) effectively treat PTSD, non-response rates and dropout rates remain relatively high (Bradley et al., 2005; Schottenbauer et al., 2008). Thus, treatment outcome research is needed to improve the effectiveness of existing protocols, particularly within specific populations, develop new approaches for treating individuals who cannot access or do not benefit from traditional treatments, and evaluate the types of treatment that may be effective for particular individuals. The present review provides an overview of emerging treatment approaches for PTSD that attempt to address these remaining issues in the treatment outcome literature. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled 'Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder'.
Cloning and Overexpression of Two cDNAs Encoding the Low-CO2-lnducible Chloroplast Envelope Protein LIP-36 from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, a unicellular green alga, grows photoautotrophically at very low concentrations of inorganic carbon due to the presence of an inducible CO2-concentrating mechanism. During the induction of the CO2-concentrating mechanism at low-CO2 growth conditions, at least five polypeptides that are either absent or present in low amounts in cells grown on high-CO2 concentrations are induced. One of these induced polypeptides with a molecular mass of 36 kD, LIP-36, has been localized to the chloroplast envelope. The protein was purified and the partial internal amino acid sequences were obtained through lys-C digestion. Two cDNAs encoding LIP-36 have been cloned using degenerate primers based on the amino acid sequences. The two genes encoding LIP-36 are highly homologous in the coding region but are completely different in the 5[prime]-end and 3[prime]-end untranslated regions. The deduced protein sequences show strong homology to the mitochondrial carrier protein superfamily, suggesting that LIP-36 is a chloroplast carrier protein. The regulation of the expression of these two genes at high- and low-CO2 growth conditions is also different. Both genes were highly expressed under low-CO2 growth conditions, with the steady-state level of LIP-36 G1 mRNA more abundant. However, neither gene was expressed at high-CO2 growth conditions. The gene products of both clones expressed in Escherichia coli were recognized by an antibody raised against LIP-36, confirming that the two cDNAs indeed encode the C. reinhardtii chloroplast envelope carrier protein LIP-36.
Isotopic aspects of thermal and burial diagenesis of sandstones at DSDP site 445, daito ridge, Northwest Pacific ocean

Abstract Oxygen isotopic composition of zeolite pore-fill cements in andesitic volcaniclastic sandstones recovered from DSDP Site 445 ranges from + 30.1 to + 17.8%o (SMOW) downhole. This change is controlled by large heat flow from the basement which caused early diagenetic emplacement of zeolites during early basin rifting. δ 18 O-values of late calcite cements range from +25.1 to +27.4%c (SMOW); their petrographic relation and inferred temperature of formation suggest that calcite cements were formed during late stages of diagenesis. Isotopic composition in these sandstones is in agreement with mineral paragenesis determined microscopically.
RNA CoSSMos: Characterization of Secondary Structure Motifs—a searchable database of secondary structure motifs in RNA three-dimensional structures

RNA secondary structure is important for designing therapeutics, understanding protein-RNA binding and predicting tertiary structure of RNA. Several databases and downloadable programs exist that specialize in the three-dimensional (3D) structure of RNA, but none focus specifically on secondary structural motifs such as internal, bulge and hairpin loops. The RNA Characterization of Secondary Structure Motifs (RNA CoSSMos) database is a freely accessible and searchable online database and website of 3D characteristics of secondary structure motifs. To create the RNA CoSSMos database, 2156 Protein Data Bank (PDB) files were searched for internal, bulge and hairpin loops, and each loop's structural information, including sugar pucker, glycosidic linkage, hydrogen bonding patterns and stacking interactions, was included in the database. False positives were defined, identified and reclassified or omitted from the database to ensure the most accurate results possible. Users can search via general PDB information, experimental parameters, sequence and specific motif and by specific structural parameters in the subquery page after the initial search. Returned results for each search can be viewed individually or a complete set can be downloaded into a spreadsheet to allow for easy comparison. The RNA CoSSMos database is automatically updated weekly and is available at http://cossmos.slu.edu.
Latex allergy associated with the latex cover on the TonoPen

Abstract PURPOSE: To describe signs and symptoms of latex allergy associated with the use of the TonoPen (Mentor, Norwell, Massachusetts) in a patient with severe latex allergy. METHODS: Case report. In a 13-year-old girl with a history of severe latex allergy, intraocular pressure was obtained with a TonoPen. RESULTS: TonoPen covers that contained latex induced agitation, bilateral conjunctival injection, eyelid erythema, and eyelid edema in this latex-allergic patient. Use of a fingertip from a sterile nonlatex glove provided accurate intraocular pressure measurements with the tono-pen, without a local or systemic reaction. CONCLUSION: In patients with latex allergies, TonoPen covers that contain latex may induce a substantial local and systemic reaction.
Arsenic species and leachability in the fronds of the hyperaccumulator Chinese brake (Pteris vittata L.).

Abstract Arsenic speciation is important not only for understanding the mechanisms of arsenic accumulation and detoxification by hyperaccumulators, but also for designing disposal options of arsenic-rich biomass. The primary objective of this research was to understand the speciation and leachability of arsenic in the fronds of Chinese brake ( Pteris vittata L.), an arsenic hyperaccumulator, with an emphasis on the implications for arsenic-rich biomass disposal. Chinese brake was grown for 18 weeks in a soil spiked with 50 mg As kg −1 as arsenate (AsO 4 3− ), arsenite (AsO 3 3− ), dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), or methylarsonic acid (MMA). Plant samples were extracted with methanol/water (1:1) and arsenic speciation was performed using high performance liquid chromatography coupled with atomic fluorescence spectrometry. The impacts of air-drying on arsenic species and leachability in the fronds were examined in the laboratory. After 18 weeks, water-soluble arsenic in soil was mainly present as arsenate with little detectable organic species or arsenite regardless of arsenic species added to the soil. However, arsenic in the fronds was primarily present as inorganic arsenite with an average of 94%. Arsenite re-oxidation occurred in the old fronds and the excised dried tissues. Arsenic species in the fronds were slightly influenced by arsenic forms added to the soil. Air-drying of the fronds resulted in leaching of substantial amounts of arsenic. These findings can be of significance when looking at disposal options of arsenic-rich biomass from the point of view of secondary contamination.
Dynamic linear models for forecasting of radiation belt electrons and limitations on physical interpretation of predictive models

Relationships exist between radiation belt electron flux intensities and solar drivers such as solar wind speed, ion density, and magnetic fields. The particulars of these relationships, however, are not well understood. Many forecasting models have been developed in the last 25 years, attempting to make sense of these relationships and produce accurate forecasts for electron flux intensities. We discuss some of the inherent limitations that many forecasting models (e.g., static models) possess when trying to untangle the intricate and dynamic relationships between electron flux levels and solar wind drivers. Dynamics related to the solar cycle limit physical interpretations for static forecasting models to customized and narrow time windows. Furthermore, the interrelatedness of solar drivers severely limit the ability to uniquely partition and describe the relationship between any one solar driver with electron flux levels. We suggest an alternate approach using dynamic linear models (DLMs). DLMs avoid some of the inherent limitations of physical understanding static models possess. We compare the 1 day ahead forecast accuracy of a relatively simple DLM to the current NOAA relativistic electron forecast model (REFM). The REFM does produce a more favorable prediction efficiency averaged across years when compared to the relatively simple DLM (0.749 to 0.721). However, the competitiveness of the DLM suggests that further development may lead to more accurate and interpretable models in the future.
Illnesses within the first year of life

Summary Among 417 infants observed for attacks of illness within their first yearof life, the incidence of illness was not influenced by sex. The incidence of illness was 1.63 per infant per year. The frequency of illness increased as the infants approached 1 year of age.There was a definite seasonal fluctuation in the incidence of respiratory illnesses but not in the incidence of gastrointestinal illnesses. Respiratory illnesses comprised nearly 73 per cent of the illnesses during the first year of life. From a statistical standpoint the duration of breast feeding did not influence the rate of illnesses for the period studied. However, it must be remembered that many other factors predisposing to illness may have obliterated this single influence.
Astigmatic keratotomy: A review of basic concepts with case reports

Despite the use of small incisions, better wound closure, and other technical improvements in cataract and corneal surgery, astigmatism remains a problem for the cataract and refractive surgeon. Case reports illustrate the applicability of astigmatic keratotomy in post-cataract and idiopathic astigmatism. The basic concepts of corneal relaxing incisions are reviewed and the frequently misunderstood coupling phenomenon is explained in the light of the "law of elastic domes." Properly used, astigmatic keratotomy with coupling effectively corrects a wide variety of types of astigmatism.
Performance Analysis of Spindle System of NC Machine Tools

The performance of spindle system of machine tools directly affects the characters of machine tools. The static and dynamic stiffness of spindle system is one of the main factors that affect the machining precision of machine tools and the performance analysis of spindle system occupies an important position in the design of machine tools. Based on ANSYS, this paper analyzed static stiffness, vibration characters and harmonic response of spindle system of SSCK63-400-typed CNC lathe. Selecting improving the characters and saving the cost of spindle as optimization object and using APDL of ANSYS, the optimization of the spindle is completed by the optimization tools of ANSYS. This research provided the basis for statics and dynamics design of spindle system, shortened the design period and improved the design efficiency.
Behavioral indices of breeding readiness in female European starlings correlate with immunolabeling for catecholamine markers in brain areas involved in sexual motivation

In seasonally-breeding songbirds, lengthening photoperiod, increases in estradiol and exposure to male courtship facilitate breeding behavior in females in spring. However, there is extreme variability in the extent to which spring-condition females are attracted by male courtship or engage in nesting behavior. Here we explore possible links between catecholamines and individual differences in behaviors indicative of breeding readiness. Female European starlings were placed in conditions typical of the breeding season (spring-like) or the non-breeding season (fall-like). Although many females examined nesting locations, only a subset of spring-like females occupied nest sites. Labeling for dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH; the enzyme involved in norepinephrine synthesis) in the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMH) was densest in females that acquired nest sites compared to spring-like females without nest sites or fall-like females. Within the group of spring-like females, nesting behaviors correlated positively with DBH labeling in VMH. Females with nest sites had the lowest density of DBH labeling in the ventral tegmental area, and labeling correlated negatively with spring-like female nesting behaviors. Labeling for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH; the rate limiting enzyme for catecholamine synthesis) in putative nucleus accumbens was lowest in spring-like females without nest sites, and labeling correlated positively with nesting behavior in spring-like females. TH labeling density in the medial preoptic nucleus was highest in fall-like females, but a trend was observed for a positive correlation between TH labeling and spring-like female nesting behaviors. These results link distinct patterns of catecholamine activity in brain regions implicated in sexual motivation to female breeding readiness.
Analytic energy gradients for constrained DFT-configuration interaction

The constrained density functional theory-configuration interaction (CDFT-CI) method has previously been used to calculate ground-state energies and barrier heights, and to describe electronic excited states, in particular conical intersections. However, the method has been limited to evaluating the electronic energy at just a single nuclear configuration, with the gradient of the energy being available only via finite difference. In this paper, we present analytic gradients of the CDFT-CI energy with respect to nuclear coordinates, which gives the potential for accurate geometry optimization and molecular dynamics on both the ground and excited electronic states, a realm which is currently quite challenging for electronic structure theory. We report the performance of CDFT-CI geometry optimization for representative reaction transition states as well as molecules in an excited state. The overall accuracy of CDFT-CI for computing barrier heights is essentially unchanged whether the energies are evaluated at geometries obtained from quadratic configuration-interaction singles and doubles (QCISD) or CDFT-CI, indicating that CDFT-CI produces very good reaction transition states. These results open up tantalizing possibilities for future work on excited states.
A novel strategy for ab initio structure determination using micro-powder X-ray diffraction: structure solution and refinement of 3-bromophenylboronic acid and tris(4-bromophenyl)boroxine

Micro-powder X-ray diffraction patterns of two compounds, namely 3-bromo­phenylboronic acid and tris(4-bromophenyl)boroxine, were recorded with microgram quantities of sample using a recently developed method employing nylon loops with synchrotron radiation and an image-plate detector. This method, besides using small amount of samples, offers the advantage of recording the powder pattern in the shortest possible time (less than a minute). The structures of the two compounds have been solved by ab initio methods using real-space techniques (simulated annealing and/or parallel tempering) followed by Rietveld refinements with soft restraints on the bond lengths of the rigid bodies. The former compound crystallizes in the monoclinic system [a = 15.7797 (4), b = 5.3085 (2), c = 9.3757 (3) A, β = 93.357 (3)°; space group P21/c; Z = 4; Rp = 16.060, Rwp = 10.543, RB = 4.25] with sheets of individual molecules linked through an extended hydrogen-bonding network. Tris(4-bromophenyl)boroxine, displaying molecular disorder, crystallizes in the orthorhombic system [a = 18.9289 (6), b = 21.8872 (6), c = 4.8842 (2) A; space group Pnma; Z = 4; Rp = 13.270, Rwp = 12.083, RB = 6.06], with discrete molecules held by weak van der Waals forces in a zigzag fashion. It is believed that this is the first time that powder X-ray diffraction patterns using microgram samples have been successfully employed for the structure solution and refinement of molecules with reasonable complexity.
19 F NMR spectroscopy for the quantitative analysis of carbonyl groups in bio-oils

The carbonyl groups in pyrolysis oil have been reported to be responsible for the two most challenging properties with regard to the usage of pyrolysis oil – corrosion and aging problems; indeed, the carbonyl groups also bring huge difficulties for any required upgrading process. Therefore, a comprehensive and quantitative understanding of the structural information on these carbonyl groups is a challenging but crucial topic. However, owing to the highly complex nature of pyrolysis oil, how to quantitatively determine carbonyl groups appears to be very important. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that has used the 4-(trifluoromethyl)phenylhydrazine derivatization 19F NMR spectroscopy method for the quantitative analysis of carbonyl groups in various bio-oils. Different pyrolysis oils produced from various sources were analyzed after treatment with 4-(trifluoromethyl)phenylhydrazine followed by 19F NMR spectroscopy, and semiquantitative FT-IR spectroscopy, and were also quantitatively determined by the wet chemistry oximation method. The results indicated that the 19F NMR method can be regarded as more efficient (24 h vs. 48 h; single step vs. multiple steps) while being as reliable as the traditional oximation method.
Effects of phlorizin on glucose kinetics in the bovine.

Abstract Glucose excretion from phlorizin was established in calves given different diets and/or different phlorizin doses; the ability of phlorizin to alter gluconeogenesis then was investigated. In calves fed hay, maximum glucose excretion of up to 313 g/day was caused by about 2g of phlorizin per day. When calves were given only single doses of phlorizin subcutaneously, there was an increased glucose excretion with each increase in phlorizin up to 2g with either a hay or a grain diet. At all phlorizin dosages, calves fed a high-grain diet had over two times greater glucose excretion than those fed hay. In three grain-fed calves where phlorizin caused an average glucose excretion of 360 g/day, the only parameter of glucose kinetics that changed from control calves not given phlorizin was irreversible loss, which increased 8.2 g/h. Neither pool size nor total entry rate was affected. Phlorizin did not increase gluconeogenesis in fed ruminants.
Xenon and krypton adsorption on palladium (100)

Abstract The adsorption of Xe and Kr on the Pd(100) surface has been studied with thermodynamic, low energy electron diffraction, and work function experiments. Unlike on Ag(111), we observe no 2D island formation for Xe down to 10 K. Quantitative measurements of the liquid-like diffraction pattern show that the diffuse ring of intensity increases in diameter, narrows, and becomes more intense continuously with increasing coverage, suggesting repulsive adatom interactions. The isosteric heat versus coverage gives the average potential energy in the lateral interactions which suggests a steep repulsion at short distances and no attractive well. At high temperatures the results for Kr are similar but there is evidence for island formation near 10 K. The isosteric heat indicates a weak attractive interaction. The XePd vertical spacing is determined. Dipole moments and polarizabilities are estimated from the results of measurements of the work function change versus coverage. The thermodynamic and diffraction results are compared with published simulations for hard and soft disks. It is speculated that the additional interadatom repulsion on Pd is due to the direct overlap of the deformed electron distribution in the substrate.
Specificity and regulation of methionine transport in filamentous fungi

Abstract l -Methionine uptake by mycelium of Penicillium chrysogenum (under physiological conditions) is mediated by two distinctly different, independently regulated, stereospecific membrane transport systems (permeases). One of the systems is relatively specific for l -methionine. The other is a general (nonspecific) amino acid permease. The specific l -methionine permease develops upon sulfur-starvation. l -methionine transport by sulfur-starved mycelium is at least ten times more rapid than by sulfur-sufficient mycelium at low external methionine concentrations and is strongly inhibited only by analogs and derivatives of l -methionine (e.g., l -ethionine, ethionine and methionine sulfoxides, sulfones, sulfoximines, methyl and ethyl esters, and homocysteine). Nonsulfur amino acids show little or no inhibition. Sulfur-starvation has little effect on the rates of transport of nonsulfur amino acids. The specific system is (a) pH-dependent (optimum at pH 6 with 50% of maximum velocity at pH 3 and 9), (b) temperature-dependent ( Q 10 of 2 between 5 ° and 35 °), (c) energy-dependent (inhibited by 2,4-dinitrophenol, azide, and p -chloromercuribenzoate), (d) relatively insensitive to variations in the ionic strength of the incubation medium, (e) independent of metal ions for activity, and (f) independent of concurrent protein synthesis. Transport is concentration-dependent showing saturation kinetics. The V max in sulfur-sufficient and sulfur-deficient mycelia is 1–3 μmoles/gm-minute. Sulfur starvation results in a decrease in the K m for l -methionine from 10 −3 to 10 −5 m . Refeeding sulfur-starved mycelia with various sulfur compounds results in a rapid increase in the K m back to the sulfur-sufficient level. These results suggest that the specific l -methionine permease is regulated primarily by feedback inhibition-deinhibition rather than by repression-derepression. Inhibition studies suggest that the minimum structural requirements for strong interaction of a compound with the specific methionine permease include (a) a sulfur atom containing no ionizable groups, (b) two methylene groups between the sulfur atom and the α-carbon, (c) an unsubstituted l -α-amino group, (d) an unsubstituted α-hydrogen, and (e) a primary carbonyl group. The nonspecific transport system is deinhibited, or derepressed (or both), upon nitrogen starvation. l -methionine transport by nitrogen-deficient mycelia is 20–100 times more rapid than by nitrogen-sufficient mycelia at low external methionine concentrations, and is strongly inhibited by almost all neutral and basic l -α-amino acids. Nitrogen starvation results in an increase in the rates of transport of all other amino acids tested ( l -tryptophan, l -phenylalanine, l -leucine, l -serine, l -glutamic acid, and l -lysine).
Stochastic theory of diffusional planar-atomic clustering and its application to dislocation loops.

Atomic clustering into circular planar disks is an important process responsible for interstitial- loop formation in the bulk of irradiated materials, and the evolution of atomic planes during thin-film growth. We develop a stochastic theory for the formation of planar-atomic clusters by atomic diffusion. The theory accounts for the transient coupling between master equations representing small-size atomic clusters and a Fokker-Planck (FP) equation for larger ones. The FP equation is solved self-consistently, together with the master equations by the moments method. Equations for the rates of change of atomic species and for the nucleation rate of atomic clusters are simultaneously solved with appropriate equations for the average size and various moments of the distribution function. An application of the theory is given by comparing the results of calculations with experimental data on interstitial-loop formation in ion-irradiated nickel.
Neuropharmacological mechanisms underlying the neuroprotective effects of methylphenidate.

Methylphenidate is a psychostimulant that inhibits the neuronal dopamine transporter. In addition, methylphenidate has the intriguing ability to provide neuroprotection from the neurotoxic effects of methamphetamine and perhaps also Parkinson’s disease; both of which may likely involve the abnormal accumulation of cytoplasmic dopamine inside dopaminergic neurons and the resulting formation of dopamine-associated reactive oxygen species. As delineated in this review, the neuroprotective effects of methylphenidate are due, at least in part, to its ability to attenuate or prevent this abnormal cytoplasmic dopamine accumulation through several possible neuropharmacological mechanisms. These may include 1) direct interactions between methylphenidate and the neuronal dopamine transporter which may attenuate or prevent the entry of methamphetamine into dopaminergic neurons and may also decrease the synthesis of cytoplasmic dopamine through a D2 receptor-mediated signal cascade process, and 2) indirect effects upon the functioning of the vesicular monoamine transporter-2 which may increase vesicular dopamine sequestration through both vesicle trafficking and the kinetic upregulation of the vesicular monoamine transporter-2 protein. Understanding these neuropharmacological mechanisms of methylphenidate neuroprotection may provide important insights into the physiologic regulation of dopaminergic systems as well as the pathophysiology of a variety of disorders involving abnormal dopamine disposition ranging from substance abuse to neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease.
Observation of the graphite surface by reflection electron microscopy during STM operation

Abstract The basal plane of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) has been studied by reflection electron microscopy (REM) before, during, and after tunnelling with a scanning tunnelling microscope (STM). The STM was designed to replace the standard specimen holder of a commercially available transmission electron microscope (TEM). Three types of contrast are found to be causally linked to tunnelling: (1) A dark feature which follows the tip during scanning; we attribute this to reversible elastic shear strain due to repulsion between the surface and tip. This extends over tens of nanometers. (2) A permanent bright region which forms under the tunnelling tip with repeated scanning; we attribute this to the increase in RHEED reflectivity which results from cleaning of the surface by abrasion and/or oxidation, possibly catalysed by the W tip. WO3 particles from the tip may play a role in the oxidation reaction at the surface, as observed in independent HREM studies. (3) A permanent bright band of contrast extending beyond the tunnelling tip; further study of this defect is required.
Gender trends in the repair of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms and outcomes

Background This study evaluated gender-specific trends in the diagnosis and treatment of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (rAAAs) in the United States Medicare population. Methods The Medicare beneficiary database (1995 through 2006) was examined for patients with rAAAs using International Classification of Diseaes, 9th Edition, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes. Codes for endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) were only available for the year 2000 forward, and thus, analysis of EVAR was limited to 2000 through 2006. Proportions were analyzed by χ 2 and continuous variables by t -test. Factors associated with 30-day mortality and discharge home after surgery were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression. The effect of gender and repair type (open or EVAR) on death and the probability of discharge to home after repair were also evaluated. Results The rate of hospitalizations per 100,000 Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries for men decreased by 52% (from 40 to 19) and by 36% for women (from 11 to 7). The observed 30-day mortality rate was overall 7.7% higher for women vs men. The mortality rate for women was higher by 8.9% for open repair and higher by 7.1% for EVAR vs men. Female gender was associated with increased risk of death in multivariate analysis after controlling for age, year, and type of procedure. Women were 9.8% less likely to be discharged to home after rAAA repair, regardless of the type of repair. Conclusion In addition to the fact that we have failed to realize a change in the number of women diagnosed with or treated for rAAA, a significant gender difference remains in the outcomes after treatment for rAAA. This differential is present in both the 30-day mortality rate and in the potential to be discharged to home after repair.
Mechanistic studies on pyridoxal phosphate synthase: the reaction pathway leading to a chromophoric intermediate.

Two routes for the de novo biosynthesis of pyridoxal-5‘-phosphate (PLP) have been discovered and reconstituted in vitro. The most common pathway that organisms use is dependent upon the activity of just two enzymes, known as Pdx1 (YaaD) and Pdx2 (YaaE) in bacteria. Pdx2 has been shown to have glutaminase activity and most likely channels ammonia to the active site of the PLP synthase subunit, Pdx1, where ribose-5-phosphate (R5P), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate (G3P), and ammonia are condensed in a complex series of reactions. In this report we investigated the early steps in the mechanism of PLP formation. Under pre-steady-state conditions, a chromophoric intermediate (I320) is observed that accumulates upon addition of only two of the substrates, R5P and glutamine. The intermediate is covalently bound to the protein. We synthesized C5 monodeuterio (pro-R, pro-S) and dideuterio R5P and showed that there is a primary kinetic isotope effect on the formation of this intermediate using the pro-R but not the pro-S...
Effect of body size on breathing pattern and fine-particle deposition in children.

Interchild variability in breathing patterns may contribute to variability in fine particle lung deposition and morbidity in children associated with those particles. Fractional deposition (DF) of ...
Dimensions and forms of knowledge collaboration in software development

Nowadays few software systems can be produced by a single software developer. Most software systems require collaborative development due to the required brawn power brought by multiple hands. At the same time, because software systems are knowledge artifacts that involve knowledge from multiple domains that a single software developer often does not possess, collaboration also becomes a necessity due to the required brainy power brought by multiple minds. Merging the above two lines of requirements, we view knowledge collaboration as an essential elements in future software development technology and support environments. This paper discusses different forms of knowledge collaboration that exist in software development and suitable conditions for successful knowledge collaboration.
Thermal analysis of phase transitions in perovskite electroceramics

Perovskite oxide ceramics have found wide applications in energy storage capacitors, electromechanical transducers, and infrared imaging devices due to their unique dielectric, piezoelectric, pyroelectric, and ferroelectric properties. These functional properties are intimately related to the complex displacive phase transitions that readily occur. In this study, these solid–solid phase transitions are characterized with dielectric measurements, dynamic mechanical analysis, thermomechanical analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry in an antiferroelectric lead-containing composition, Pb0.99Nb0.02[(Zr0.57Sn0.43)0.92Ti0.08]0.98O3, and in a relaxor ferrielectric lead-free composition, (Bi1/2Na1/2)0.93Ba0.07TiO3. The (Bi1/2Na1/2)0.93Ba0.07TiO3 ceramic develops strong piezoelectricity through electric field-induced phase transitions during the poling process. The combined thermal analysis techniques clearly reveal the differences in unpoled and poled ceramics.
o‐Aminobenzaldehyde, Redox‐Neutral Aminal Formation and Synthesis of Deoxyvasicinone

o-Aminobenzaldehdye o-Nitrobenzaldehyde Iron powder Pyrrolidine 1,2,3,3a,4,9-Hexahydropyrrolo[2,1-b]quinazolin-9(1H)-one,2,3-dihydro- Deoxyvasicinone Potassium permanganate Keywords: Cyclization; Redox-neutral aminal formation; Deoxyvasicinone; Quinolines; Friedlander condensation; Aminobenzaldehydes; Natural products; Safety; Waste disposal
Event-Based Modeling of Driver Yielding Behavior to Pedestrians at Two-Lane Roundabout Approaches

Unlike other types of controlled intersections, drivers do not always comply with the "yield to pedestrian" sign at the roundabouts. This paper aims to identify the contributing factors affecting the likelihood of driver yielding to pedestrians at two-lane roundabouts. It further models the likelihood of driver yielding based on these factors using logistic regression. The models have been applied to 1150 controlled pedestrian crossings at entry and exit legs of two-lane approaches of six roundabouts across the country. The logistic regression models developed support prior research that the likelihood of driver yielding at the entry leg of roundabouts is higher than at the exit. Drivers tend to yield to pedestrians carrying a white cane more often than to sighted pedestrians. Drivers traveling in the far lane, relative to pedestrian location, have a lower probability of yielding to a pedestrian. As the speed increases the probability of driver yielding decreases. At the exit leg of the roundabout, drivers turning right from the adjacent lane have a lower propensity of yielding than drivers coming from other directions. The findings of this paper further suggest that although there has been much debate on pedestrian right-of-way laws and distinction between pedestrian waiting positions (in the street versus at the curb), this factor does not have a significant impact on driver yielding rate. The logistic regression models also quantify the effect of each of these factors on propensity of driver yielding. The models include variables which are specific to each study location and explain the impact size of each study location on probability of yielding. The models generated in this research will be useful to transportation professionals and researchers interested in understanding the factors that impact driver yielding at modern roundabouts. The results of the research can be used to isolate factors that may increase yielding (such as lower roundabout approach speeds), and can feasibly be incorporated into microsimulation algorithms to model driver yielding at roundabouts.
THROUGH WARY EYES: Indigenous Perspectives on Archaeology

AbstractArchaeology has been linked to colonialist attitudes and scientific imperialism. But what are the perspectives of Indigenous groups concerning the practice of archaeology? Numerous organizations recognize the distinctive needs of Indigenous communities throughout the world and have adopted agreements and definitions that govern their relationships with those populations. The specific name by which Indigenous groups are known varies from country to country, as local governments are involved in determining the appropriateness of particular definitions to populations within their borders. This paper begins with an examination of the various aspects that have been used to determine whether or not a group of people might be considered “indigenous” under various definitions, and then uses the history of the relationships between North American archaeologists and Indigenous populations as a background for the examination of some of the political aspects of archaeology that have impacted Indigenous popula...
Reproduction and Dispersal of Summer-Generation Colorado Potato Beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Colorado potato beetle dispersal and reproduction was investigated under field and laboratory conditions. Movement and mating of newly emerged summer-generation Colorado potato beetle adults was monitored in the field using a mark-recapture technique, and beetle mating within experimental plots was recorded. The number of degree-days (DD) required for the beetles to become reproductive was tested in an environmental chamber using 10°C as a developmental threshold. A computer-linked flight mill system was used to quantify the influence of mating on the flight behavior of male and female beetles. Adult dispersal started within the first 24 h after eclosion from the pupae, but a significant proportion of newly emerged beetles stayed close to the place of their larval development until reaching reproductive maturity. The beetles required at least 34 DD before mating produced viable offspring, and females did not start laying eggs until a minimum of 51 DD after eclosion. Mating had a pronounced effect on beetle flight, decreasing flight activity of the females and increasing flight activity of the males. Enhancing gene flow between beetles surviving on transgenic plants and susceptible beetles in refugia should be advantageous in managing beetle resistance to transgenic plants.
'Dual atrioventricular nodal pathways" in patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.

'Dual atrioventricular nodal pathways" were found in five patients who also had the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. All five patients had a re-entrant tachycardia that used the atrioventricular node for conduction in the anterograde direction and an accessory atrioventricular pathway for conduction in the retrograde direction. One of the patients also had a re-entrant tachycardia that originated within the atrium or the atrioventricular node. Dual atrioventricular nodal pathways were identified in three of the five patients during their first electrophysiological study because the effective refractory period of the accessory atrioventricular pathway in the anterograde direction was longer than the effective refractory period of the fast atrioventricular nodal pathway. In the other two patients the dual atrioventricular nodal pathways were found only after operative division of an accessory atrioventricular pathway. Re-entrant tachycardia that uses an accessory pathway may be cured by operative division of the accessory pathway. Tachycardia resulting from re-entry within the atrioventricular node cannot be cured by an operation unless the normal conduction system is divided and a permanent pacemaker implanted. These five patients indicate the importance of determining the aetiology of tachycardia by studying the tachycardia itself and not only the type of atrioventricular conduction present.
JUnitMX - A change-aware unit testing tool

Developers use unit testing to improve the quality of software systems. Current development tools for unit testing help with automating test execution, with reporting results, and with generating test stubs. However, they offer no aid for designing tests aimed specifically at exercising the effects of changes to a program. This paper describes a unit testing tool that leverages a change model to assist developers in the creation of new unit tests. The tool provides developers with quantitative feedback and detailed information about change effects, which not only facilitate the writing of more effective tests, but also motivate developers with an achievable coverage goal.
Heme, an Essential Nutrient from Dietary Proteins, Critically Impacts Diverse Physiological and Pathological Processes

Heme constitutes 95% of functional iron in the human body, as well as two-thirds of the average person’s iron intake in developed countries. Hence, a wide range of epidemiological studies have focused on examining the association of dietary heme intake, mainly from red meat, with the risks of common diseases. High heme intake is associated with increased risk of several cancers, including colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer and lung cancer. Likewise, the evidence for increased risks of type-2 diabetes and coronary heart disease associated with high heme intake is compelling. Furthermore, recent comparative metabolic and molecular studies of lung cancer cells showed that cancer cells require increased intracellular heme biosynthesis and uptake to meet the increased demand for oxygen-utilizing hemoproteins. Increased levels of hemoproteins in turn lead to intensified oxygen consumption and cellular energy generation, thereby fueling cancer cell progression. Together, both epidemiological and molecular studies support the idea that heme positively impacts cancer progression. However, it is also worth noting that heme deficiency can cause serious diseases in humans, such as anemia, porphyrias, and Alzheimer’s disease. This review attempts to summarize the latest literature in understanding the role of dietary heme intake and heme function in diverse diseases.
Fear, Greed, and Financial Crises: A Cognitive Neurosciences Perspective

Historical accounts of financial crises suggest that fear and greed are the common denominators of these disruptive events: periods of unchecked greed eventually lead to excessive leverage and unsustainable asset-price levels, and the inevitable collapse results in unbridled fear, which must subside before any recovery is possible. The cognitive neurosciences may provide some new insights into this boom/bust pattern through a deeper understanding of the dynamics of emotion and human behavior. In this chapter, I describe some recent research from the neurosciences literature on fear and reward learning, mirror neurons, theory of mind, and the link between emotion and rational behavior. By exploring the neuroscientific basis of cognition and behavior, we may be able to identify more fundamental drivers of financial crises, and improve our models and methods for dealing with them.