cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Toward living neuroprosthetics: developing a biological brain pacemaker as a living neuromodulatory implant for improving parkinsonian symptoms

Objective Therapeutic intervention for Parkinson's disease (PD) via deep brain stimulation (DBS) represents the current paradigm for managing the advanced stages of the disease in patients when treatment with pharmaceuticals becomes inadequate. Although DBS is the prevailing therapy in these cases, the overall effectiveness and reliability of DBS can be diminished over time due to hardware complications and biocompatibility issues with the electronic implants. To achieve a lifetime solution, we envision that the next generation of neural implants will be entirely "biological" and "autologous", both physically and functionally. Thus, in this study, we set forth toward developing a biological brain pacemaker (BBP) for treating PD. Our focus is to investigate engineering strategies for creating a multicellular biological circuit that integrates innate biological design and function while incorporating principles of neuromodulation to create a biological mechanism for delivering high-frequency stimulation with cellular specificity. Approach We engineer a 3D multicellular circuit design built entirely from biological and biocompatible components using established tissue engineering protocols to demonstrate the feasibility of creating a living neural implant. Furthermore, using 2D co-culture systems, we investigate the physiologically relevant parameters that would be necessary to further develop a therapeutic benefit of high frequency stimulation with cellular specificity within our construct design. Main results Our results demonstrate the feasibility of fabricating a 3D multicellular circuit device in an implantable form. Furthermore, we show we can organize cellular materials to create potential functional connections in normal physiological conditions, thus laying down the foundation of designing a high-frequency pacing system for selective and controlled therapeutic neurostimulation. Significance The findings from this study may lead to the future development of autologous living neural implants that both circumvent the issues inherent in electronic neural implants and form more biocompatible devices with lifelong robustness to repair and restore motor functions, with the ultimate benefit for patients with PD.
Unhealthy Opioid Use and COVID-19 Mortality Incidence in Older Adults: A Multicenter Research Network Study.

Opioid use has the potential to influence infectious respiratory diseases. The purpose of this research is to examine if there is an association of deaths from the respiratory infection, COVID-19, and unhealthy opioid use in older adults.Data about patients, ages ≥65 years, who had a COVID-19 infection between 1/20/2020 to 12/23/2020 (n = 533,153) were extracted using the TriNetX system. Mortality incidence between initial diagnosis and ninety days after contracting COVID-19 were determined. Comparisons were made between people with and without unhealthy opioid use.There were 7,547 COVID-19 patients with unhealthy opioid use (mean age, 71.8 years; standard deviation 6.3 years) and 525,606 COVID-19 patients (mean age, 74.1 years; standard deviation 7.3 years) without unhealthy opioid use. Of the total, 15,852 (3.0%) died within 3 months of COVID-19 diagnosis. The unadjusted risk ratio of the cohort with unhealthy opioid use compared with the cohort that did not have unhealthy opioid uses was 1.18 (95% CI: 1.05,1.33); p = 0.0069. The relationship failed to remain significant in analysis with propensity score matching (risk ratio = 0.96; 95% CI: 0.82, 1.14; p = 0.6606, ns).The public health implication is that although older adults are more vulnerable to COVID-19 than younger adults, a difference between older adults with or without unhealthy opioid use did not increase vulnerability to death from COVID-19 and should be not be considered if rationing of care becomes necessary.
Scholarly Digital Storytelling: Authentic Learning In The Classroom And Beyond

Location: Dewberry Hall In scholarly digital storytelling, students produce digital stories based on academic research. Interviews with students and faculty from 22 different institutions across five countries focused on the ways in which participation in scholarly digital storytelling influences studentsâ academic research, scholarly communication, and digital skills. Preliminary results indicate significant impact on student engagement, motivation, skills, and application of those skills beyond the classroom. Faculty similarly report authentic learning, student engagement, and skill development as well as their own learning and engagement in the teaching process. Scholarly digital storytelling is flexible and can be integrated into many learning environments, from mini-assignments to full-semester projects.
Development of Visual Aspect of Porsche Brand using CAD Technology

Abstract Brand identity is an important factor as it creates a connection between the product and the company. Consistent brand statement through its identification and differentiation is an important aspect towards the development of a successful product by which people can relate to the brand. However, due to inadequate understanding of brand by engineering, design and marketing, brand statement is difficult to preserve. This paper presents the novel CAD implementation technique to explore the visual aspects of Porsche car brand using shape grammar. A set of rule library is developed after a detailed investigation into the history of Porsche styling to highlight two – dimensional front view key elements of Porsche vehicles. This Porsche grammar supports in development of futuristic Porsche designs within its brand hierarchy.
Points for Improvement: Performance Measurement for Glycemic Control in Diabetes Patients in a Safety-Net Population

Article-at-a-Glance Background Diabetes complications account for significant worldwide morbidity and mortality. Improving glycemic control decreases microvascular complications, particularly among patients with the worst control. Current performance measures fail to prioritize such individuals. The categorization of glycemic control within a safety-net clinic population was compared using a common performance measure against one derived from a metric accounting for change in glycated hemoglobin (A1c) over time. Methods Retrospective cohort analysis of all patients in a safety-net primary care clinic population quality registry with confirmed diabetes mellitus who had at least two A1c values between 2007 through 2011. Patients were stratified into five groups on the basis of maximum and earliest A1c level ( Results Some 1,122 patients were included in the analysis, with mean A1c of 7.9%. There was a modest annual decrease in the average A1c, and ≥ 19% of patients improved by 1% or more during each of the previous three years. For patients who had maximum A1c values ≥ 10%, there was a significantly greater reduction in A1c ( p Conclusions It is feasible for safety-net clinics to analyze their patients with diabetes by level of disease control on the basis of change in A1c over time. Patients with the worst glycemic control tend to have the greatest improvement but are often overlooked by conventional performance measures. Improved performance measures should focus on longitudinal diabetes control and emphasize reducing risk of complications among patients at highest risk.
The way we work now : A survey of reference service arrangement in federal depository libraries

As the Government Printing Office completes its transition to an electronic distribution system for government information, reference services within the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) are changing as well. In addition to meeting new user needs and using new resources to do so, many government information librarians find themselves working in new environments within their libraries. Throughout the 1990s, many FDLP institutions reorganized reference services in order to provide government information assistance at the library's main reference service point. This article reports the results of a survey of FDLP institutions identifying the factors contributing to the reorganization of services, the process and success of reorganizing within these libraries, and the pros and cons of these service arrangements.
Transport control protocols for wireless connections

W/sup e/ study the effect of bit error rates and handoff disconnections on the performance of different TCP implementations (Tahoe, Reno, New-Reno, and SACK). Test scenarios with larger link-up periods, when the mobile is connected, but higher disconnection probability yielded better performance than scenarios with smaller link-up periods and smaller disconnection probability. Our performance tests show that the performance of TCP is more sensitive to the length of the link-up period than the error rate of the wireless link, or the mobile disconnection probability. While SACK TCP is well known to perform better than Reno TCP in wired networks, the tests show that this is not the case in mobile networks. The paper presents performance results for the four TCP implementations in a mobile wireless environment and provides comparisons based on important performance metrics (throughput, goodput, transfer time) and multimedia QoS measures (average packet delay).
Regulation of int gene transcription by bacteriophage λ: Location of the RNA start generated by an int constitutive mutation

Abstract The p I promoter of bacteriophage λ is positively regulated by the phage cII and cIII proteins to provide for expression of the λ int gene and differential regulation of int with respect to the adjacent xis gene. A sequence overlapping the start of the xis gene has been identified with p I based on the DNA sequence of this region and the sequence changes associated with regulatory mutations. One class of mutations, the intc point mutations, produce a high rate of int gene expression in the absence of cII/cIII in vivo and generate a transcription start site in vitro not found in wild-type λ; three of these mutations have been shown to alter the same base in the Pribnow box (−10 region) of the proposed p I sequence. We have analyzed the 5′-terminal sequence of the RNA transcribed in vitro from an intc DNA template and find that this RNA initiates with UTP at either of two adjacent bases, nine and ten base-pairs downstream from the center of the proposed Pribnow box of p I . We conclude that the proposed p I sequence can serve as a constitutive promoter in vitro when altered by the intc mutations. These results support the identification of the wild-type sequence as the cII-activated p I promoter.
Escherichia coli RNA polymerase mutants that enhance or diminish the SOS response constitutively expressed in the absence of RNase HI activity.

Escherichia coli rnhA mutants lacking RNase HI chronically express the SOS response (T. Kogoma, X. Hong, G. W. Cadwell, K. G. Barnard, and T. Asai, Biochimie 75:89-99, 1993). Seventeen rpoB (Rifr) mutant alleles, which encode altered beta subunits of RNA polymerase, giving rise to resistance to rifampin, were screened for the ability to enhance or diminish constitutive expression of the SOS response in rnhA mutants. Two mutations, rpoB3595 and rpoB2, were found to enhance the SOS response 5- and 2.5-fold, respectively, only when RNase HI is absent. These mutations rendered rnhA mutant cells very sensitive to broth; i.e., the plating efficiency of the double mutants was drastically reduced when tested on broth plates. Two mutations, rpoB8 and rpoB3406, were found to diminish constitutive SOS expression in rnhA mutants by 43 and 30%, respectively. It was suggested that RNA polymerase may have a property that influences the size of DNA-RNA hybrids, the frequency of their formation, or both and that the property resides at least in part in the beta subunit of the polymerase.
Latin Square Changeover Design in Physical Education Research

Abstract The Latin square changeover design, which may be applied to the study of physiological parameters, is investigated. The utility of the design in relation to identifying and estimating residual treatment effects is discussed, with an example of an application of the design. The example involves a caloric cost study in which each subject receives six different treatments. Therefore, the possibility of carry-over effects is considered. Analysis techniques are discussed, including problems related to the confounding of effects resulting from the design's nonorthogonality. The magnitudes of the carry-over effects are calculated. Finally, the design is compared to the randomized block and Latin square designs, and the relative efficiency of the changeover design is demonstrated.
Platelet Activating Factor-Acetylhydrolase Activity Following Chorionic Villus Sampling and Amniocentesis

OBJECTIVE Platelet activating factor (PAF) is essential for embryonic development and is a potent vasodilator. It increases vascular permeability and stimulates prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production. Platelet activating factor-acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH), the enzyme that degrades PAF, is synthesized by decidual macrophages. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that chorionic villus sampling (CVS) and/or amniocentesis might cause an increase in maternal PAF-AH activity. METHODS Maternal plasma PAF-AH activity was evaluated before and after genetic amniocentesis (N = 13) and transcervical CVS (N = 29). A control group (N = 9) was evaluated to study the effects of venipuncture. RESULTS Chorionic villus sampling caused a significant elevation in PAF-AH activity (P < .0005). No changes were noted in PAF-AH activity in the amniocentesis or the control group. CONCLUSIONS Chorionic villus sampling causes subclinical release of PAF-AH, possibly from the decidual macrophages. Increased PAF-AH activity might result in decreased PAF levels, which might lead to vasoconstriction in the placental circulation due to lack of the vasodilator effects of PAF and possibly PGE2. This mechanism might explain the increased risk for fetal limb reduction noted with CVS performed at very early gestational ages.
Developmental Brain Research With Participants From Underprivileged Communities: Strategies for Recruitment, Participation, and Retention

Challenges associated with recruitment and retention of participants from underprivileged social communities, in addition to neuroscience researchers' unfamiliarity with these communities, possibly explain the limited number of individuals from these communities who participate in neuroscience research studies. The consequence is a scarcity of data in this fast-growing segment of the population. In particular, developmental research involving children from ethnic minorities has yet to catch up with the number of studies available for middle-class White children (Flores et al., 2002). This underrepresentation can lead to disparities in health and social services for children from these communities, as well as to a nonrepresentative knowledge base of child neurodevelopment. Developing and utilizing innovative and culturally sensitive approaches to recruiting participants from underprivileged communities can maximize their participation in research, as behavioral researchers have known for some time. Here, based on our experience recruiting low-socioeconomic status (SES) Latino children from Los Angeles, we offer strategies to improve recruitment, involvement, and retention. We have a special focus on techniques relevant to recruiting for neuroimaging, which is associated with new challenges not faced to the same degree in research historically. Better inclusion of underrepresented children in research can ultimately lead to the development and improvement of effective public polices to support their needs, ranging from education to health care.
Identification of a Domain in the Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Determining Gq Coupling by the Use of Receptor Chimeras

The angiotensin II type 1 (AT1R) and type 2 (AT2R) receptors belong to the seven transmembrane receptor superfamily. Previous studies have suggested that the AT1R couples to a Gq signaling pathway, whereas the AT2R does not associate with Gq. To identify the role that individual intracellular domains play in AT1R function, AT1R/AT2R chimeric receptors were prepared by substitution of intracellular loops. CHO cells expressing these chimeras were used to test angiotensin II-induced c-fos expression and Ca2+ mobilization which are involved in the AT1R signaling pathway through Gq coupling. Substitution of the second intracellular loop (IC2) and the cytoplasmic tail between the two receptors did not affect AT1R function. However, exchange of the third intracellular loop (IC3) resulted in the loss of function in the AT1R and conferred to the AT2R the ability to constitutively activate the fos promoter. These findings suggest that the third intracellular loop of the AT1R is critical for Gq coupling. Substitution of discrete amino acid sequences of the third intracellular loop indicate that its N-terminal and C-terminal portions, especially the seven amino acids 219-225 in the N-terminal portion, are important for AT1R function, and that the intermediate portion of this loop is not required for Gq coupling.
Derivate des d‐Glucosamins, III 3.4.6‐Tribenzoyl‐β‐d‐thioglucosaminide

Durch Reaktion des in der I. Mitteilung beschriebenen 1-α-Brom-3.4.6-tribenzoyl-d-glucosamins mit Mercaptanen oder mit Thiophenol wurde eine Reihe von benzoylierten β-Thioglucosaminiden mit unsubstituierter Aminogruppe dargestellt.
Early use of xenografts as a biologic dressing in burn trauma.

Summary Frozen-irradiated xenografts and fresh refrigerated xenografts in antibiotic solution placed on burn defects in dogs showed no significant histologic difference in the granulating beds. Vascularization of the pigskin was not observed. Heterografts were applied to 150 patients with second and third degree burns as an immediate dressing. The grafts were covered with a layer of Sulfamylon-acetate gauze. Xenografts have been an effective temporary dressing. They have provided a marked reduction in pain, particularly over second degree burns. Clinically, early xenograft application reduced sepsis and hastened eschar separation. Eschar treated with pigskin remained pliable and allowed the patient a greater degree of joint mobility. Less difficulty in maintaining core temperature was noted. We believe that the early use of xenografts may decrease morbidity and that continued investigation is warranted.
Error Analysis and Threat Magnitude for Carry-on Bag Inspection:

A major part of aviation security research is prediction and improvement of systems performance to address different threat vectors. The current paper arises from the application of several ideas from the area of non-destructive inspection (NDI) to X-ray screening of carry-on baggage. The premise is that if findings from the security domain are similar to those in the NDI domain, then much prior research on inspection becomes directly applicable to security applications. Simulated threats were presented to 22 experts and 24 novices using 3 threat categories, 4 viewpoints and threats at 3 different image scales. Along with speed-accuracy trade-off, the applicability of "PoD Curve" analysis from NDI reliability was also explored along with individual differences. Results indicate support for speed-accuracy trade-off (SATO) and PoD models applied to security inspection, with large effects of expertise and smaller effects of age. Improvised explosive devices (IEDs) also produced a different pattern from guns or knives indicating that studies should include IEDs to be broadly applicable. Language: en
My life as a statistician

This article was written for a keynote speech to present a few highlights of my life as a statistician. It has seven sections beginning with an introduction in Section 17 some prospects of biostatistics in Section 2, and a tribute to J. Neyman in Section 3. In Section 4 is a sample of my work including motivation for my studies on the life table and competing risks, contributions and comments in survival analyses, a solution for Kolmogorov differential equations, and an explicit formula for the n-step transition probability in discrete time Markov chains.
Isolation and characterization of a repetitive DNA element from the genome of the human filarial parasite, Brugia malayi.

The genome of the human filarial parasite Brugia malayi contains at least two major repetitive DNA elements. One, referred to as the HhaI family, consists of 104–105 tandemly arrayed copies per haploid genome of a monomer of 322 base pairs and does not contain a cleavage site for the restriction endonuclease MboI. We constructed a library of MboI-digested genomic B. malayi DNA in BamHI-cut M13mp18 resulting in the exclusion of the HhaI repeat family from the library. Hybridization of this genomic library with nick-translated genomic DNA yielded several copies of a repeat family which we have named the BmMboI family. From sequence analysis of more than 50 monomers, which differ from each other in sequence and length, we have been able to divide the monomers into several regions based on the level of sequence conservation. Southern blot analyses of B. malayi genomic DNA digested with a variety of restriction endonucleases and probed with the isolated repeat demonstrate multiple bands of varying sizes except with HindIII-cut DNA, where the repeat is found only in very high-molecular-weight DNA.
Novel 7-DHCR mutation in a child with Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome

Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome (SLOS) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by minor facial anomalies, mental retardation, and multiple congenital abnormalities. Biochemically, the disorder is caused by deficient activity of 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase, which catalyzes the reduction of the Δ7 double bond of 7-dehydrocholesterol to produce cholesterol. Recently, mutations in the gene encoding 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase (7DHCR) were found to cause SLOS. We report the first molecular characterization of an Italian SLOS patient. Interestingly, his paternal 7DHCR allele, of Arab origin, harbored a novel P329L mutation which in combination with a maternal splice-site (IVS8-1 G>C) mutation resulted in a relatively milder phenotype. Am. J. Med. Genet. 91:138–140, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Point process models for self-similar network traffic, with applications

Self-similar processes based on fractal point processes (FPPs) provide natural and attractive network traffic models. We show that the point process formulation yields a wide range of FPPs which in turn yield a diversity of parsimonious, computationally efficient, and highly practical asymptotic second-order self-similar processes. Using this framework, we show that the relevant second-order fractal characteristics such as long-range dependence (LRD), slowly-decaying variance, and 1/f noise are completely characterized by three fundamental quantities: mean arrival rate, Hurst parameter, and fractal onset time. Four models are proposed, and the relationship between their model parameters and the three fundamental quantities are analyzed. By successfully applying the proposed models to Bellcore's Ethernet traces, we show that the FPP models prove useful in evaluating and predicting the queueing performance of various types of fractal traffic sources
Mathematical Literacy and Abstraction in the 21st Century

Ed Dubinsky received his Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Michigan in 1962 and for the next 25 years engaged in research in theoretical mathematics. In the mid-80′s he became interested in mathematics education and has worked exclusively in the area since then. In his research, he tries to understand how a person's mind might be working when he or she tries to understand mathematical concepts at the postsecondary level. Based on this research, he has conducted large-scale curriculum development projects in calculus, discrete mathematics, abstract algebra and cooperative learning. He has been editor or co-editor of UME Trends, Research in Collegiate Mathematics Education, and the Journal of Computers in Mathematics and Science Teaching. He has held faculty positions at 8 universities in 5 countries on 3 continents: Fourah Bey College (Sierra Leone), University of Ghana, Tulane University, McMaster University, Polish Academy of Sciences, Clarkson University, Purdue University, and Georgia State University. Dr. Dubinsky is presently retired and consults with several universities on education matters.
Order of information: impact on perceived level of functional independence.

The order in which information is reviewed can influence judgment. The present study examined the impact of information order on ratings of functional independence by occupational therapists and occupational therapy students. Eighty-six occupational therapists and students were assessed in a pretest-posttest design. At pretest participants read identical background information about an independent, elderly gentleman with suspected memory problems, and then estimated his functional independence. Then the participants read the same clinically relevant information in one of two randomly assigned orders. One group received information from a clinical interview first, followed by assessment results. The other group received the same information in the reverse order. Analysis revealed that information order affected the final estimation of functional independence. Participants who read the assessment results first rated the elderly gentleman as less independent than those who read the interview data first. The ...
Optical heterodyne interferometry technique for solution crystal growth rate measurement

A noncontact optical heterodyne technique was implemented for in situ measurement of crystal growth rate from solutions. A two- frequency Zeeman laser with a total output power of 1 mW (each polar- ized component is 0.5 mW) was used at 633 nm and is composed of two frequencies n 1 and n 2 that are collinear but polarized orthogonally to each other and separated by precisely 250 kHz. The sensitivity of the system was found to be 0.77 nm. This value is larger than the theoretical resolution limit of 0.065 nm because of the noise associated with the vibrations. The critical factors of the heterodyne technique for the moni- toring of solution crystal growth have been studied. The growth rate of L-arginine phosphate crystal was 6.1560.13 nm/s (0.53 mm/day) at the solution temperature of 28.2°C and seed crystal temperature of 26.0°C. This is the first experiment in which the heterodyne technique has been applied for real-time in situ measurement of crystal growth rate. © 1998 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. (S0091-3286(98)02302-2)
Mechanisms of regulation of phospholipase D1 and D2 by the heterotrimeric G proteins G13 and Gq.

Our earlier studies of rat brain phospholipase D1 (rPLD1) showed that the enzyme could be activated in cells by α subunits of the heterotrimeric G proteins G13 and Gq. Recently, we showed that rPLD1 is modified by Ser/Thr phosphorylation and palmitoylation. In this study, we first investigated the roles of these post-translational modifications on the activation of rPLD1 by constitutively active Gα13Q226L and GαqQ209L. Mutations of Cys240 and Cys241 of rPLD1, which abolish both post-translational modifications, did not affect the ability of either Gα13Q226L or GαqQ209L to activate rPLD1. However, the RhoA-insensitive mutants, rPLD1(K946A,K962A) and rPLD1(K962Q), were not activated by Gα13Q226L, although these mutant enzymes responded to phorbol ester and GαqQ209L. On the contrary, the PKC-insensitive mutant rPLD1(ΔN168), which lacks the first 168 amino acids of rPLD1, responded to Gα13Q226L but not to GαqQ209L. In addition, we found that rPLD2 was strongly activated by GαqQ209L and phorbol ester. However, surprisingly, the enzymatic activity of rPLD2 was suppressed by Gα13Q226L and constitutively active V14RhoA in COS-7 cells. Abolition of the post-translational modifications of rPLD2 did not alter the effects of GαqQ209L or Gα13Q226L. The suppressive effect of Gα13Q226L on rPLD2 was reversed by dominant negative N19RhoA and the C3 exoenzyme of Clostridium botulinum, further supporting a role for RhoA. In summary, Gα13 activation of rPLD1 in COS-7 cells is mediated by Rho, while Gαq activation requires PKC. rPLD2 is activated by Gαq, but is inhibited by Gα13. Neither Ser/Thr phosphorylation nor palmitoylation is required for these effects.
Some Topological Results on Sets of Measures Defined on the Structure Space of Banach Algebras

: We topologize the space of complex regular Borel measures on the space of maximal ideals of a commutative complex Banach algebra X, with identity, with a certain weak topology, and study some of its topological properties.
Cross-sensitization between foot shock stress and enkephalin-induced motor activity

Abstract Injection of the enkephalin analog d-Ala 2 -Met 5 -enkephalinamide (DALA) into the ventral tegmental area (VTA) of rats has been shown to activate dopamine (DA) neurons projecting to the nucleus accumbens, thereby increasing spontaneous motor activity. Furthermore, daily DALA injection into the VTA results in a progressive enhancement in the motor stimulant effect of subsequent administration of either DALA, intra-VTA, or amphetamine, intraperitoneally. A similar behavioral sensitization occurs after daily amphetamine administration, and cross-sensitization between stress and amphetamine has been demonstrated. Considering that the stimulant effect of both DALA and amphetamine is mediated, at least in part, via enhanced DA release, the present study determined whether or not cross-sensitization could be produced between intra-VTA injection with DALA and mild foot shock stress. It was found that rats receiving a daily injection with DALA (1.0 μg/side) into the VTA for 5 days demonstrated a significantly greater increase in DA metabolism in the nucleus accumbens and septum in response to foot shock (0.14 mA over 20 min) than did control rats. Conversely, rats receiving daily foot shock for 5 days had a significantly greater motor stimulant response to intra-VTA injection with DALA than sham-shocked rats. Furthermore, the foot shock-induced behavioral sensitization to DALA was persistent for at least 10 days. As enkephalin is found endogenously in the VTA, it is possible that hypersecretion of neuronal enkephalin could sensitize an individual to subsequent environmental stress. These data are discussed in terms of the DA hypothesis of schizophrenia.
Evaluation of electrochemical performance for surface-modified carbons as catalyst support in polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells

The electrochemical performance of platinum (Pt) catalyst deposited on various functionalized carbon supports was investigated and compared with that of a commercial catalyst, Pt on Vulcan XC-72 carbon. The supports employed were graphitic or amorphous with a wide range of surface areas. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and rotating disk electrode (RDE) studies on the supported catalysts indicated equivalent platinum catalyst activities. Fuel cell performance was determined for membrane electrode assemblies (MEA) fabricated from the supported catalysts. The use of high surface area supports did not necessarily translate into a higher electrochemical utilization of platinum. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements indicated lower ohmic losses for low surface area carbon MEAs. This is explained by the supported catalyst electrode microstructures and their intrinsic resistivities. Correlation of all data indicates that for low surface carbons, nature of the support does not significantly affect the Pt catalytic activity. The influence of the support is more critical when high surface area carbons are used because of the vastly different electrode morphology and resistivity.
Derivatized, swellable polymer microspheres for chemical transduction

Abstract Derivatized lightly cross-linked polymer microspheres that swell and shrink as a function of analyte concentration are useful chemical transduction elements that can be coupled to a variety of readouts, including methods based on changes in refractive index, physical displacement and electrical properties. We are preparing 0.3 to 3 μm diameter microspheres in one step by dispersion polymerization. To introduce porosity sufficient to allow analyte access to the interior of our microspheres, we are using polymer systems with hydrophilic backbones or using the particles prepared by dispersion polymerization as seed particles for two-step seeded emulsion polymerization which allows us to incorporate a porogenic solvent in the second step. Much of our work to date has been performed with pH-sensitive polymers, either aminated polystyrene or poly(4-hydroxy-3-nitro)styrene. More recently, we have incorporated ionophores into poly(4-hydroxy-3-nitro)styrene microspheres and demonstrated that ion binding accompanied by loss of a proton causes the polymer to swell. This provides a generic approach for incorporating ionophore selectivity into swellable polymer microspheres. We have been particularly interested in optical transduction with swellable polymer microspheres entrapped in a hydrogel. The measured parameter is the change in optical properties of the gel that accompany swelling. This can be measured in the near infrared using technology developed for fiber optic communications.
STORAGE QUALITY OF WAXED AND NONWAXED ‘DELICIOUS’ AND ‘GOLDEN DELICIOUS’ APPLES

Wax coatings on ‘Delicious’ apples reduced weight loss and improved the firmness, color and appearance. Waxed ‘Golden Delicious’ apples displayed improved color and reduced weight loss, but firmness was not influenced by waxing. Internal carbon dioxide and ethylene content were higher in waxed fruit regardless of wax type or cultivar. A 60° wax-drying temperature on ‘Golden Delicious’ apples resulted in increased firmness and more uniform color but increased weight loss. Wax-drying temperature did not affect quality of ‘Delicious’ apples. No quality differences were evident among the apples waxed with shellac, carnauba or resin-based waxes.
Camels and gnats: the Malthusian fundamentalism insurgency.

The authors challenge the arguments of Jacqueline R. Kasun concerning U.S. aid for family planning in developing countries. They see the roots of modern fundamentalist opposition to government support for family planning at home or abroad as being based in traditional Malthusianism in which the solution to population problems is to be found in a combination of moral restraint and a growth of material prosperity. (ANNOTATION)
Abstract 5641: Dual roles for ganoderic acid A in inducing apoptosis and enhancing HLA class II presentation in leukemia and lymphoma cells

Ganoderic acid A (GA-A), a natural extract isolated from the medicinal mushroom Ganoderma lucidum, was found to induce a remarkable cytotoxicity in various leukemia and lymphoma cell lines and primary tumors, with a minor toxicity to nonmalignant B-cells. The GA-A cytotoxicity and growth inhibitory effects resulted from an induction of apoptosis, which was characterized by a dose-dependent increase in expression and activity of activated caspases 3, 8, and 9. Mechanistic studies showed that GA-A treatment upregulated pro-apoptotic protein Bax proteins while downregulating anti-apototic proteins Bcl-2 and survivin. Data also demonstrated that cytochrome c and apoptotic protease activating factor-1 (Apaf-1) were significantly elevated in the cytoplasmic fractions of GA-A-treated cells, which may have activated caspases for cell death. Despite GA-A9s notable cytotoxic effects on leukemia and lymphoma cells, GA-A treatment enhanced HLA class II antigen (Ag) presentation and CD4+ T cell recognition of both malignant and nonmalignant B-cells. These data suggest that GA-A administration may play dual roles in inducing apoptosis and enhancing HLA class II Ag presentation, and could be used as novel adjunctive therapy for the treatment of hematological malignancies. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5641. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-5641
Characteristics of possible neutral-heavy-lepton production in muon reactions

We study the production of a neutral heavy lepton by an incident muon via the reaction ${\ensuremath{\mu}}^{\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}}+N\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\stackrel{(\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{})}{M}}^{0}+X$ followed by the decay ${\stackrel{(\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{})}{M}}^{0}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\mu}}^{\ensuremath{-}}{\ensuremath{\mu}}^{+}\ensuremath{\cdots}$. We analyze the experimentally observable characteristics of the resulting dimuon pair and present distributions in final-muon energy, hadron energy, total visible energy, muon transverse momenta, and dimuon invariant-mass and azimuthal-angle correlations. On the basis of this study we formulate a set of cuts and tests which can be used to search for the dimuon signal from the ${\stackrel{(\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{})}{M}}^{0}$. The main features of various backgrounds are briefly discussed from the viewpoint of discriminating between them and the ${\stackrel{(\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{})}{M}}^{0}$ signal. Our analysis is directly applicable to a current muon experiment being conducted by a Berkeley-Fermilab-Princeton collaboration.
Effect of sodium bicarbonate on in vitro conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin.

The effect of sodium bicarbonate on the conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin clot was investigated using fresh human whole blood and pure human fibrinogen. In vitro experimental data demonstrated that sodium bicarbonate interfered with fibrin clot formation during clotting. This study assessed the possibility of synergistic action of sodium bicarbonate with sodium citrate. As expected, sodium citrate potentiated the anticoagulant action of sodium bicarbonate.
Small fragments make small differences in efficiency when rendering grease from fractured artiodactyl bones by boiling

Abstract Part of the conventional wisdom of modern zooarchaeology is that in order for grease to be efficiently rendered from bones by boiling, skeletal elements must be broken into very small pieces. Experimental boiling of fresh long bones (humeri, femora, tibiae) of white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus ) reduced to various sizes indicates this is not necessarily true. No significant difference was found in the efficiency (rate) of rendering grease from bone fragments generated by hammerstone breakage (fragment maximum dimension ≤5 cm) or from bones cut into pieces of 4, 2, or 1 cm maximum dimension. All produced over 80% of their renderable grease in 2–3 h of boiling. Long bones cut into three pieces comprising the complete diaphysis and two epiphyses were the least efficiently boiled; 80% of their grease was rendered in 5 h. The small amount of grease rendered suggests that the extraction of fat-soluble trace nutrients other than lipids may be an additional reason that bone fragments were boiled.
Scatter transmission through an ideal grid.

An analytic expression is derived for the transmission of isotropic scattered radiation incident upon an ideal parallel grid. It is found that the expression for the transmission usually found in the literature overestimates the transmission by approximately a factor of two. Key words: ideal grid, scattered radiation
Influence of glycosidic linkage neighbors on disaccharide conformation in vacuum.

Correct description of the free energy of conformation change of disaccharides is important in understanding a variety of biochemical processes and, ultimately, in the manufacture of better food and paper products. In this study, we determine the relative free energy of a series of 12 disaccharides in vacuum using replica exchange molecular dynamics (repMD) simulations. The chosen sugars and the novel application of this method allow the exploration of the role of glycosidic linkage neighbors in conformer stabilization. In line with expectations, we find that hydrogen bonding (and therefore energetically preferred conformations) are determined both by the nature of the glycosidic linkage (i.e., 1 → 2, 1 → 3, or 1 → 4), the C1 epimer of the of the nonreducing monosaccharide, and by the configuration of carbon atoms once removed from the glycosidic linkage. Contrary to suggestions by prior authors for repMD more generally, we also demonstrate that repMD provides enhanced sampling, relative to conventional M...
Modeling compensated root water and nutrient uptake.

Abstract Plant root water and nutrient uptake is one of the most important processes in subsurface unsaturated flow and transport modeling, as root uptake controls actual plant evapotranspiration, water recharge and nutrient leaching to the groundwater, and exerts a major influence on predictions of global climate models. In general, unsaturated models describe root uptake relatively simple. For example, root water uptake is mostly uncompensated and nutrient uptake is simulated assuming that all uptake is passive, through the water uptake pathway only. We present a new compensated root water and nutrient uptake model, implemented in HYDRUS. The so-called root adaptability factor represents a threshold value above which reduced root water or nutrient uptake in water- or nutrient-stressed parts of the root zone is fully compensated for by increased uptake in other soil regions that are less stressed. Using a critical value of the water stress index, water uptake compensation is proportional to the water stress response function. Total root nutrient uptake is determined from the total of active and passive nutrient uptake. The partitioning between passive and active uptake is controlled by the a priori defined concentration value cmax. Passive nutrient uptake is simulated by multiplying root water uptake with the dissolved nutrient concentration, for soil solution concentration values below cmax. Passive nutrient uptake is thus zero when cmax is equal to zero. As the active nutrient uptake is obtained from the difference between plant nutrient demand and passive nutrient uptake (using Michaelis–Menten kinetics), the presented model thus implies that reduced passive nutrient uptake is compensated for by active nutrient uptake. In addition, the proposed root uptake model includes compensation for active nutrient uptake, in a similar way as used for root water uptake. The proposed root water and nutrient uptake model is demonstrated by several hypothetical examples, for plants supplied by water due to capillary rise from groundwater and surface drip irrigation.
Angiogenesis is confined to the transient period of VEGF expression that follows adenoviral gene delivery to ischemic muscle.

Angiogenesis is confined to the transient period of VEGF expression that follows adenoviral gene delivery to ischemic muscle
Clinical significance of circulating tumor cells detected by an invasion assay in peripheral blood of patients with ovarian cancer.

Objectives The invasive growth of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) propagates cancer metastasis. The aims of this study were to evaluate the association of invasive CTCs, detected by a novel cell invasion assay, with disease stage, CA-125 level and patient survival.
A macroeconomic analysis of agricultural terms of trade in Turkey, 1952–90

A two‐sector model of terms of trade (TOT) determination is developed and tested using time‐series data for Turkey. Empirical results support the structuralist ‘flex‐price agriculture fix‐price industry’ models. TOT is found to be sensitive to changes in nominal demand and the exchange rate. Rising nominal demand turns the TOT in favour of the agricultural sector provided that there are no supply constraints in the industrial sector. If industrial supply is constrained by import bottlenecks, then aggregate demand expansion turns the TOT in favour of the industrial sector. Devaluation turns the TOT against the agricultural sector primarily via the cost‐push factors in the industrial sector.
Prisoners of Childhood? Child Abuse and the Development of Heroes and Monsters in Ender’s Game

Alice Miller’s work provides a theoretical framework to assess the effects of child abuse and its relationship to the development of creativity, hatred, and violence in the novel Ender’s Game. Analysis focuses on the extent to which children are manipulated in order to meet the needs of adults, the presence of behaviors such as the repression of feelings and memories, the idealization of perpetrators, blind obedience to authority, and the expression of repressed feelings in destructive acts, and identification of a helping witness as predictors for the actions and outcomes in this story.
Roundness modeling of machined parts for tolerance analysis

Out-of-roundness of circular and cylindrical parts can greatly affect assembly accuracy. At present, the ASME Y14.5M-1994 specifies circularity tolerance based on two extreme circular boundaries to confine the highest peak and the lowest valley of a roundness profile; however, the profile variations within the two extreme boundaries are not accounted for. In this paper, we propose a harmonic roundness model using Fourier series expansion. In addition, a cutting profile model has been developed to illustrate the relationship between the radial error motion of a spindle and the resultant part profile. This relationship is then used to provide physical meanings to the harmonics generated by the proposed roundness model for a part profile, in particular those caused by fractional frequency spindle error motions. The proposed harmonic model has been verified statistically by a large number of real profiles produced by both turning and cylindrical grinding processes. The proposed roundness model is expected to provide insights into the advanced tolerance analysis of circular and cylindrical parts.
The Context and Consequences of Ocular Injuries From Air Guns

There is little available information on the context of air-gun inflicted ocular injuries. To address this need, we performed a systematic telephone survey of victims of severe air-gun ocular injuries, collected between January 1986 and August 1992, through the auspices of the National Eye Trauma System and the Alabama Eye Injury Registry. One hundred forty interviews were completed with injury victims or their parents. Pump-action rifles with BB ammunition were the most common weapons. Victims and shooters were predominantly male (91% and 89%, respectively) and their mean age was 13 years. Of the injuries, 95% were inflicted by individuals known to the victim; 40% of these were relatives. People were the intended targets in 45% of the injuries. Ricochets accounted for 26% of the injuries. Of those victims with penetrating injuries, 84% had visual acuity less than 20/200 despite numerous surgical attempts. Adults were present at the scene of the injury in only 11% of the incidents, implying that unrestricted access to these weapons by children is likely the principal risk factor for injury.
Synthesis and Characterization of a New Bi(V) Containing Perovskite BaBi2/3Zn1/3O3

Abstract A new Bi(V) containing cubic perovskite, BaBi 2/3 Zn 1/3 O 3 has been prepared under high oxygen pressure in a tetrahedral anvil press. The lattice parameter calculated from powder X-ray diffraction data is a = 4.208 ± 0.001 A (space group, Pm 3 m ), implying a disorder of Bi and Zn atoms at the B -site of the AB O 3 perovskite structure. The compound is an insulator and has a relatively high dielectric constant. No dielectric anomaly is observed between liquid nitrogen and room temperature.