cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Differences in Quality of Life Between Men and Women with Parkinson’s Disease (P2.081)

Objective: To identify differences in quality of life between men and women with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Background: In some studies, highlighting gender differences in PD symptomatology, women with PD report greater disability and worse quality of life while other studies assert that women experience a more benign phenotype and therefore less discomfort. Furthermore, it is unclear whether these differences are unique to PD or representative of gender differences within the general population. Design/Methods: The Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire-39 ( PDQ-39) scores of 704 men and 589 women were obtained from the National Institute of Neurological Disease and Stroke Parkinson’s Disease Biomarkers Program (PDBP) database (821 PD, 481 controls). PDQ-39 total score and eight disease dimension subscale scores were compared between men and women using a generalized linear model with a log link, adjusting for age, race, education level, Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating scale (MDS-UDPRS) part III score, disease duration, total Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) score, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) score, gender, and case/control status. Results: There was no difference between men and women for PDQ-39 total score (p=0.25). Before adjusting for covariates, 6 of the disease dimension subscale scores were significantly different between genders (excluding emotional and social support). After adjustment for confounders, including case/control status where men have a higher proportion of cases (71.7% vs. 52.1%), there was no significant difference in PDQ-39 total scores between men and women. There were significant differences in subscale scores: mobility and bodily discomfort scores in men were better than women (p=0.001, p=0.02). There were marginal differences in emotional, cognitive impairment, and communication scores between men and women. Conclusions: Men and women with PD experience the disease differently. These differences contrast those of controls, suggesting that the gender differences in quality of life are unique to PD. Disclosure: Dr. Gudavalli has nothing to disclose. Dr. Wang has nothing to disclose. Dr. Bakker has nothing to disclose. Dr. Yoritomo has nothing to disclose. Dr. Pantelyat has nothing to disclose. Dr. Dawson has nothing to disclose. Dr. Rosenthal has nothing to disclose.
Metaphors of Mathematics in Corneille's Theater

Mathematical metaphors are a distinctive and characteristic feature of Corneille's theater, closely tied to his dramatic aesthetics. I divide these metaphors into two groups, identities and combinatorics. The field of identities deals with different kinds of equations, from the level of language, where elements are equated or placed in some other relationship that can be expressed mathematically, to the level of plot, where, for example, the search for identity (e.g. who is Heraclius?) resembles an algebraic equation. Combinatorics involves the arrangements and combinations of elements, and finds its greatest application here in the question of the constitution of couples to be married. After a wide-ranging discussion of these two groups of mathematical metaphors, I move to an in-depth examination of Don Sanche d'Aragon, the play that combines, to the greatest degree, issues relating to identities and combinatorics. The perspective afforded by these mathematical metaphors is particularly useful for understanding the central shift of focus in the play from the choice of a mate for the queen to the mystery of the identity of Don Sanche. Finally, in the conclusion, the metaphors of mathematics are linked to larger issues of Corneille's dramaturgy involving both structure and sexuality.
Time Division Multiplexed Control of All-Optical Interconnection Networks

Circuit switching techniques are preferred in optical multiprocessor interconnection networks because they do not require any optical to electronic signal conversion to route messages. Thus, they can provide all-optical paths between message sources and destinations and the large communication bandwidth of optical signals is available to the nodes attached to the network. However, circuit switching techniques increase the complexity of managing the network, and thus may increase the communication delay. In a massively parallel processor, this added delay may affect the performance of a parallel program. In this chapter we model the performance impact of multiplexed circuit switched network management techniques. We show how program performance is affected by the choice of circuit switching techniques, by the multiplexing degree, and by the characteristics of the network.
Reoperations for Mitral Valve Disease: Surgical Approaches and Techniques

Approximately 10% of all adult cardiac operations involve redo thoracotomy, and clinically significant hemorrhage occurs in up to 8% of patients with a resultant increase in operative morbidity and mortality (Ann Thorac Surg 68: 2215–9, 1999). Indeed, in some reports, prior cardiac surgery increases the operative risk of mitral valve (MV) surgery almost twofold (J Am Coll Cardiol 37: 885–92, 2001; J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 131: 547–57, 2006). Reoperation for MV disease is necessary for a wide variety of problems, such as failure of a previously placed prosthesis, development of a paravalvular leak, endocarditis, or newly diagnosed valve disease in a patient with prior aortic valve replacement or coronary artery bypass. Careful attention to the planning and execution of the operation can minimize surgical risks, and this chapter details those methods that have proved helpful at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN)
The effects of added nanoparticles on aqueous kaolinite suspensions II. Rheological effects.

Abstract This series examines the effects of added silica nanoparticles on the properties and behavior of an aqueous suspension of kaolinite particles. Part I focused on the structural changes induced by the nanoparticles, primarily through scanning electron microscopy images. In this manuscript, we describe the changes in the rheological behavior of the kaolinite suspensions upon addition of the nanoparticles. In the absence of any additives, kaolinite platelets quickly aggregate and settle. When nanoparticles and salt (NaCl in these experiments) are added together, however, the suspensions begin to stabilize. When the salt and nanoparticle concentrations each exceed specific lower limits, the suspensions undergo a transition to a gel and develop a finite yield stress. Increasing the nanoparticle concentration or added salt concentration substantially increases the measured yield values, such that for the strongest samples, the yield stress exceeds the maximum for the rheometer to shear (3500 Pa). Plots of the complex viscosity, | η ∗ | , versus time suggest two different time scales for the gelation process—a short, initial time (e.g., less than 2 h) in which | η ∗ | increases rapidly, followed by a gradual rise over a much longer period. Measurement of the phase lag, δ, between the applied stress and response strain indicates that the long-term state of the suspension is either completely viscous ( δ = π / 2 ) or completely elastic ( δ = 0 ). Values of δ between 0 and π / 2 were only seen with suspensions that were transitioning from a liquid to a gel state.
Perceived vs. actual distractions in the emergency department.

Abstract Introduction The emergency department (ED) has been shown to be an interrupt-driven workplace fraught with potential for distractions and interruptions that increase the potential for medical error. Accuracy of provider perception of these distractions and interruptions has yet to be investigated. Methods An observational two-phase study was conducted over a 9-week period in the highest acuity zone of the ED at an urban, academic medical center with about 90,000 visits/year. Phase I, conducted over the initial 5-weeek period, consisted of observers recording the type and frequency of all overhead pages in the ED. In phase II, conducted over the final 4-week period, direct observation of faculty and residents was done to record all individual interruptions for different levels of training. Actual data was compared to provider perceptions, as determined by survey responses. Results 2438 overhead pages were recorded and occurred, on average, 23.2 times per shift. The perceived rate of overhead pages was 43.2 per shift. 333 individual interruptions occurred, on average, 4.26 times per shift. The perceived rate was 53.5 per shift. Attending providers perceived a significantly higher number of individual interruptions compared to all resident providers. Conclusion The perceived amount and rate of distractions and interruptions are significantly higher than the actual amount and rate of distractions and interruptions. Attending physicians both perceive and experience more distractions and interruptions. Further work should be done to evaluate the power of provider perception, and the potential contribution of inaccurate perception to medical error and provider burnout.
And the Dominant Cleavage Is … Democracy, Nationalism, and the Triumph of the Security Syntheses

In this chapter, I examine the efforts of the international administration to establish a democratic multiethnic political system and to shape political cleavages in the post-conflict Kosova. Their limitless legal powers notwithstanding, the international administration failed in its primary task of shaping cross-cutting cleavages that could be conducive to the establishment of a meaningful multiethnic democratic system and the formation of a civic nation in Kosova. The fundamental mistake made by the international institutions was their failure to properly address the issue of the final status of Kosova, the most salient issue according to the security syntheses of the Albanians and the Serbs alike. The international administration substituted the model of a democratic system based on respect and the expectation of equal rights and duties of every citizen with a system squarely based on representative quotas for ethnic collectivities. This categorization from above encouraged and sanctioned the emergence, the consolidation, and the intense salience of ethnic cleavage that was squarely and indisputably based on the security synthesis. The Serbs perceived these actions as giving in to the Albanians. The efforts of the international administration were widely perceived to be just efforts aimed at forcing the Albanians to accept some modus vivendi with the Serbian state, any settlement that would fall short of independence. This perception provoked, as I show here, a strong counter-reaction. The end result of this clash in priorities has been a dramatic increase in support for nationalist movements and political parties that have definitely torn Kosova society apart along the ethnic lines.
Cholecystectomy: Exploring the Interplay Between Access to Care and Emergent Presentation.

Abstract Background The burden of emergency general surgery leads to higher cost and less compensation to institutions; cholecystectomy accounts for >150,000 cases/y, the highest number of emergency general surgery cases that have a potentially elective course. We hypothesize that our cholecystectomy patient pool has unique characteristics informing health care access in our area. Methods We retrospectively identified cholecystectomy patients at our academic hospital over a 6-mo period from January to June of 2018 and classified them as emergent or elective. We excluded pregnant patients, patients aged Results Two hundred and sixty-seven patients were included in the study, with most patients (n = 196, 73.4%) presenting emergently. We found no differences in age, sex, or BMI between the two groups. Emergent patients were more likely to be minorities, less likely to have insurance or a primary care physician, and 25% required an interpreter. Although a greater percentage of patients in the elective setting had chronic symptoms, most emergent patients also had duration of symptoms of months to years. After multivariable analysis, insurance status, lack of a primary care provider, and chronic duration of symptoms remained significant predictors of emergent presentation. Conclusions Our findings indicate several targets for increasing access to elective surgical care. Most patients in the emergent group experienced chronic symptoms, indicating an opportunity to prevent emergency surgical treatment. This study provides local population characterization for improvements in access to care, which could lead to decreases in emergency gallbladder surgery.
Avoiding Shade To Grow Taller but Not Always Stronger: Phytochrome–Jasmonic Acid Interplay

The environment plays a major role in determining whether, when, and how growth occurs, and resource allocation toward growth is an important factor in many contexts. For example, plants whose defenses against pathogens are activated often grow less, and plants that must grow taller to reach the
Characterization of TP53 mutations in Pap test DNA of women with and without serous ovarian carcinoma

Abstract Objective Pap tests hold promise as a molecular diagnostic for serous ovarian cancer, but previous studies reported limited sensitivity. Furthermore, the presence of somatic mutations in normal tissue is increasingly recognized as a challenge to the specificity of mutation-based cancer diagnostics. We applied an ultra-deep sequencing method with the goal of improving sensitivity and characterizing the landscape of low-frequency somatic TP53 mutations in Pap tests. Methods We used CRISPR-DS to deeply sequence (mean Duplex depth ~3000×) the TP53 gene in 30 Pap tests from 21 women without cancer and 9 women with serous ovarian carcinoma with known TP53 driver mutations. Mutations were annotated and compared to those in the TP53 cancer database. Results The tumor-derived mutation was identified in 3 of 8 Pap tests from women with ovarian cancer and intact tubes. In addition, 221 low-frequency (≲0.001) exonic TP53 mutations were identified in Pap tests from women with ovarian cancer (94 mutations) and without ovarian cancer (127 mutations). Many of these mutations resembled TP53 mutations found in cancer: they impaired protein activity, were predicted to be pathogenic, and clustered in exons 5 to 8 and hotspot codons. Cancer-like mutations were identified in all women but at higher frequency in women with ovarian cancer. Conclusions Pap tests have low sensitivity for ovarian cancer detection and carry abundant low-frequency TP53 mutations. These mutations are more frequently pathogenic in women with ovarian cancer. Determining whether low-frequency TP53 mutations in normal gynecologic tissues are associated with an increased cancer risk warrants further study.
New Errands: The Undergraduate Journal of American Studies:

The Eastern American Studies Association and the American Studies Program at Penn State Harrisburg are pleased to present the Fall 2019 issue of New Errands, an online journal that publishes exemplary American Studies work by undergraduate students.
Racial disparities in positive airway pressure therapy adherence among veterans with obstructive sleep apnea.

Study Objectives:Black individuals are disproportionately affected by diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and OSA. Adherence to PAP therapy has been reported to be lower among black individu...
Queer love, Abrahamic morality, and (the limits of) American Muslim marriage

This article explores recent Muslim debates on sexuality through an analysis of American Muslim conversations on LGBTQI+ inclusion and sexual norms as they took place in the ‘Muslim American public...
Vibrio cholerae FeoB hydrolyzes ATP and GTP in vitro in the absence of stimulatory factors.

Feo is the most widely conserved system for ferrous iron transport in prokaryotes, and it is important for virulence in some pathogens. However, its mechanism of iron transport is not fully understood. In this study, we used full-length Vibrio cholerae FeoB (VcFeoB) as a model system to study whether its enzymatic activity is affected by regulatory factors commonly associated with FeoB proteins from other species or with G-proteins that have homology to FeoB. VcFeoB showed a higher rate of hydrolysis of both ATP and GTP than its N-terminal domain alone; likewise, ions such as K+ and Fe2+ did not modulate its nucleotide hydrolysis. We also showed that the three V. cholerae Feo proteins (FeoA, FeoB, and FeoC) work in a 1 : 1 : 1 molar ratio in vivo. Although both FeoA and FeoC are required for Feo-mediated iron transport, neither of these proteins affected the VcFeoB NTPase rate. These results are consistent with an active transport mechanism independent of stimulatory factors and highlight the importance of using full-length FeoB proteins as a reliable proxy to study Feo-mediated iron transport in vitro.
NASA NeMO-Net - A Neural Multimodal Observation & Training Network for Marine Ecosystem Mapping at Diverse Spatiotemporal Scales

We present NeMO-Net, the first open-source fully convolutional neural network (FCNN) and interactive learning and training software aimed at assessing the present and past dynamics of shallow marine systems through habitat mapping into geomorphological (9 classes) and biological classes (22 classes). Shallow marine systems, particularly coral reefs, are under significant pressures due to climate change, ocean acidification, and other anthropogenic pressures, leading to rapid, often devastating changes, in these fragile and diverse ecosystems. Historically, remote sensing of shallow marine habitats has been limited to meter-scale imagery due to the optical effects of ocean wave distortion, refraction, and optical attenuation. NeMO-Net combines 3D cm-scale distortion-free imagery captured using NASA's airborne FluidCam and fluid lensing remote sensing technology with low resolution airborne and spaceborne datasets of varying spatial resolutions, spectral spaces, calibrations, and temporal cadence in a supercomputer-based deep learning framework. NeMO-Net augments and improves the benthic habitat classification accuracy of low-resolution datasets across large geographic and temporal scales using high-resolution training data from FluidCam. NeMO-Net's FCNN uses ResNet and RefineNet to perform semantic segmentation and cloud masking of remote sensing imagery of shallow marine systems from drones, manned aircraft, and satellites, including FluidCam, WorldView, Planet, Sentinel, and Landsat. Deep Laplacian Pyramid Super-Resolution Networks (LapSRN) alongside Domain Adversarial Neural Networks (DANNs) are used to augment low resolution imagery with high resolution drone-based datasets as well as recognize domain-invariant features across multiple instruments to achieve high classification accuracies, ameliorating inter-sensor spatial, spectral and temporal heterogeneities. An online active learning and citizen science application is used to allows users to provide interactive training data for NeMO-Net in 2D and 3D, fully integrated within an active learning framework. Preliminary results from a test case in Fiji demonstrate 9-class classification accuracy exceeding 84%.
Effect of chronic mushroom intake on anthropometric measures and quality of life in older men and women (640.10)

Mushroom intake has been shown to be beneficial in weight management, immune function and quality of life. To determine the effect of chronic Portabella mushroom intake on anthropometric measures a...
Pneumatic microfinger with balloon fins for linear motion using 3D printed molds

Abstract Polymer-based pneumatic balloon actuators consisting of novel trapezoidal vertical microballoon fins were fabricated by three-dimensional (3D) printed molds and validated experimentally. The introduction of 3D printed molds for pneumatic actuation provides additional freedom in the design of actuators, removing the limitation of extruded 2D shapes that is present with conventional microfabrication. Whereas conventional balloon actuators exhibit nonlinear response to applied pressure, the presence of balloon fins with 100 s-μm width was shown to produce a linear change in bend angle with the injection of pressurized air. The balloon fins also mitigate stress concentrations that can lead to material failure. Static bending (exceeding 80° bend angle) and the mechanical force of the fabricated microfingers were tested and compared with analytical models. The expanded design space permitted by 3D printing allows actuator designs to achieve a given deflection with less stress in the material as compared to planar designs. Feasibility of this design flexibility and fast prototyping enabled by the 3D printed molding process was demonstrated by fabricating and testing various designs of microfingers. When grouped, the microfingers with balloon fins can successfully accomplish complex object transfer tasks (i.e., multi-directional actuation with independently controlled displacement).
An oriP expression vector containing the HIV-1 Tat/TAR transactivation axis produces high levels of protein expression in mammalian cells.

A mammalian gene expression vector based on cytomegalovirus (CMV)enhancer/promoter (CMVe/p) for the regulation of gene expression was further optimized by adding oriP elements derived from Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and the Tat/TAR transactivation axisfrom human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Using the Tat/TAR-oriP expression vector, a transient transfection system was optimized for an extended culture period to produce large amounts of secreted IL-2SA (an IL-2 mutein) in HKB11 cells. We observed a 4-fold increase in IL-2SA expression in cells transfected with vectors containing the HIV-1 transactivation axis (Tat/TAR) or oriP elements alone when compared to cells transfected with the control vector having a CMVe/p. Cells transfected with expression vectors equipped with both oriP and Tat/TAR showed an 18-fold increase in IL-2SA expression. This transient transfection system maintained high secretion of IL-2SA for a period of 10-day with no appreciable loss in expression. We demonstrate that during this 10-day culture period, it was possible to produce 1–100 mg of proteins using 500 μg of plasmid DNA.
Using signal processing techniques for DNA sequence comparison

The most widely used algorithm for the comparison of two sequences of DNA are O(m*n) on the lengths, m and n, of the sequences been compared. The authors present a comparison algorithm that is O(nlog n) on the length, n, of the longer sequence. This algorithm uses techniques developed for rapid comparison of two discrete signals, in particular, cross-correlation using the fast Fourier transform (FFT). The authors treat the DNA as a discrete signal with each nucleotide base represented by a single point in the signal. There are only four possible values that the signal can assume which they represent by one of four complex numbers. The comparison is made by performing a cross correlation between one signal and the complex conjugate of the other. Any significant peak in the resulting signal indicates a strong similarity between the two sequences. The authors present the results of comparison of two strains of the human immunodeficiency virus and of human and simian immunodeficiency viruses. Their results suggest that this technique is a powerful method for comparing very long sequences of DNA. >
High-frequency borehole seismograms recorded in the San Jcinto Fault zone, Southern California Part 2. Attenuation and site effects

We examine surface and downhole P - and S -wave spectra from local earthquakes recorded at two borehole seismometer arrays (KNW-BH and PFO-BH) installed in the Southern California Batholith region of the San Jacinto Fault zone by the U.S. Geological Survey to assess the influence of the weathered layer on the spectral content of high-frequency (2 to 200 Hz) seismic signals. Earthquake signals recorded downhole at both sites show significantly improved seismic bandwidth due to both a reduction in ambient noise levels and (especially) to dramatically increased levels of high-frequency signal. Significant seismic signal is observed up to approximately 190 Hz for P waves at KNW-BH. Stacked spectral ratios from these signals indicate that the highly weathered near-surface (between 0 and 150 m) at KNW-BH and PFO-BH exerts a much larger influence on seismic signals than deeper (between 150 and 300 m) material. Modeling of uphole/downhole spectral ratio data suggests Qα ≈ 6.5 and Qβ ≈ 9 between 0 and 150 m, increasing to Qα ≈ 27 and Qβ ≳ 26 between 150 and 300 m. An outcrop-mounted Anza network station, deployed approximately 0.4 km from KNW-BH, displays roughly similar high-frequency content to the KNW-BH downhole sensors, but it exhibits spectra that are significantly colored by directional resonances. Low-Q and low-velocity near-surface material forms a lossy boundary layer at these borehole sites that is advantageous to the high-frequency downhole environment; not only are noise levels reduced, but reflections from the surface and near-surface are greatly attenuated. As a result, high-frequency recordings from below the weathered zone more nearly resemble those recorded in a whole space than would otherwise be expected.
When is lymph node biopsy indicated in children with enlarged peripheral nodes

To better define the indications for diagnostic biopsy, 239 children who underwent peripheral lymph node biopsy were reviewed. The duration of the lymph-adenopathy by history, the consistency of the lymph nodes, and the presence of more than one site of palpable adenopathy were not specific in differentiating serious diseases involving lymph nodes from reactive hyperplasia. The differential diagnosis of specific causes for lymph node enlargement is approached based on the child's age, the location of the adenopathy, and the presence or absence of lymph node fixation and tenderness. Most children with supraclavicular adenopathy, children sick with fever of one week's duration or with weight loss for which a specific diagnosis is not readily made, and some children with fixation of the lymph node to the overlying skin should undergo early biopsy. Excluding the above findings, when a specific diagnosis is not apparent, serial measurements with a ruler over several weeks appears to be the most reasonable method, at the present time, of discriminating hyperplastic lymph nodes from nodes that are involved by a progressive disease process.
Enhancement of Compressed Images by Optimal Shift-Invariant Wavelet Packet Basis

A novel postprocessing method based on the optimal shift-invariant wavelet packet (SIWP) representation and wavelet shrinkage is proposed to enhance compressed images. At the encoder, the optimal (in the mean square error sense) SIWP basis is searched using a fast optimization algorithm and the location of the best basis in the entire SIWP library is transmitted as overhead information to the decoder. The selected basis is jointly optimal in terms of both the time-frequency tiling and the relative time-domain offset (or shift) between a signal and its wavelet packet representation. After the decoder reconstructs the compressed image, the postprocessor performs wavelet shrinkage using the optimal basis. Due to its powerful adaptability, the method is shown to achieve a better trade-off between enhancement performance and decoder complexity than both the orthonormal wavelet transform and the undecimated wavelet transform-based methods.
Racial recipients, social distance, and sharing behavior in children

Thirty-six preschoolers and 41 second graders were asked: (a) to rank, in order of preference, a white child, a black child, and an Indian child as recipients of sharing; (b) to share with the preferred recipient items of low and high value; and (c) to rank the 3 recipients as companions in several hypothetical, social interaction situations varying in social distance. The distributions of first choices for sharing indicated that the preschool participants preferred the white recipient most, the Indian recipient next, and the black recipient least, while the second graders preferred the Indian recipient over the white and black recipients. The second graders who preferred the black recipient shared a larger number of items than those who preferred to share with one of the other two recipients. The distributions of first choices for the social distance items were generally consistent with those for sharing, and participants from one school exhibited some differential sensitivity to the items of the social distance scale. The results of this investigation and those of previous research suggest that the influence of the race of the recipient on sharing behavior varies with the experimental design used.
Depolarization and Action Potential Duration in Cardiac Purkinje Fibers

The effect of depolarization on the duration of the action potential was studied in short cardiac Purkinje fibers. Membrane potential was altered by overdriving pacemaker fibers showing spontaneous diastolic depolarization (dog), by injecting constantcurrent pulses through an intracellular microelectrode (sheep), or by voltage clamping (dog). Test action potentials were elicited at the end of 50-300-msec depolarizations by extracellular stimuli in sheep fibers and by cathodal intracellular stimuli in dog fibers. In both species the duration of the test action potential was unchanged by subthreshold depolarization. In fibers showing spontaneous diastolic depolarization, action potential duration was not affected by the take-off potential within the range between -80 and -60 mv. In dog fibers depolarized from the threshold level (about -60 mv), action potential duration was shortened by 14-36%. After stronger depolarization (up to -10 mv), short action potentials could be elicited during the first 100-150 msec. This period coincided with the flow of net inward current. After longer suprathreshold clamps when the net membrane current reversed its polarity, the fibers were not excitable, and the clamp termination was followed by exponential decay of the membrane potentials. Our findings indicate that changes in take-off potential within the range between resting membrane potential and -60 my do not alter action potential duration.
Oligomerization of C5 Olefins in Light Catalytic Naphtha

Refinery gasoline contains C5 alkanes and alkenes that are being displaced due to regulations on maximum seasonal Reid vapor pressure (RVP) limits and increased blending of ethanol. As volumes of displaced C5ʼs increase, technologies for returning C5ʼs to the gasoline or diesel pools become increasingly important. Isolation of C5 streams followed by dimerization/oligomerization of the C5 olefins is one route to return displaced C5ʼs to the gasoline pool. Large pore, acidic zeolite catalysts have been evaluated for this purpose. The process results in an overall volume loss due to volume contraction and a possible loss of research octane number (RON).
Synergistic inhibition of growth of mung bean seedlings after a combination of low-level X-irradiation and low-level shock treatment

Abstract Seedlings of Phaseolus aureus were studied for the effect of low level irradiation, shock and combined treatments. Low levels of X-irradiation (100 R and 1000 R) decreased seedling height, hypocotyl length and root dry weight linearly, with significant curvilinear responses for the internode and leaf length. Low shock pressure levels (20 psi and 40 psi) inhibited growth of all plant characters. The radiation × shock interactions were significant for all plant characters except root dry weights. The combined treatments acted additively or synergistically to inhibit seedling height, hypocotyl, epicotyl, internode and leaf lengths, and shoot and root dry weights in at least one treatment level for each plant character.
Learned mastery in the rat.

Abstract In a series of five experiments, we investigated the bidirectional effects of prior experience with both control or lack of control over shock on subsequent shock-motivated activity and escape learning. Rats were tested with inescapable shock rather than escapable shock as is used in typical helplessness experiments. Naive rats initially shuttled frequently during shock but decreased activity as testing continued. Pretraining with inescapable shock reduced shuttle responding throughout testing. Unexpectedly, rats which first learned to lever press to escape shock continued unabated shuttling through 200 trials of 10-sec duration inescapable shocks (Experiment 1). These bidirectional effects were replicated using a shuttle escape response for pretreatment and lever pressing as the test response. During two uninterrupted 1000-sec duration inescapable shocks (Experiment 2), escape rats continued to lever press through the 2000-sec of shock. In the third experiment, escapable shock facilitated and inescapable shock hindered later learning when the escape contingency was degraded by a 3-sec delay of shock termination. The fourth and fifth experiments demonstrated that (1) this associative facilitation effect is not simply due to an increase in active responding by escape animals (Experiment 4), and (2) no associative facilitation is observed if the contingency is not initially degraded by a 3-sec delay (Experiment 5). Taken together, these results are the first demonstration of bidirectional effects of control on aversively motivated behavior in animals. In addition to typical helplessness effects, a “mastery” phenomenon is observed. This mastery induced by experience with escape learning is characterized by (1) a motivational effect: persistent general active behavior in the face of inescapable shock, and (2) an associative effect: facilitation in learning degraded response-shock contingencies. These are the opposite of helplessness effects, operationally and descriptively, and may be opposite in process as well.
Collision induced dissociation of H+2 and D+2 with H2 using a surface hopping trajectory method

The collision induced dissociation (CID) and charge transfer (CT) cross sections have been determined for H+2 and D+2 colliding with H2 using a surface hopping trajectory method. Approximately 40 000 trajectories have been analyzed for collisions at 4.0, 6.0, and 8.0 eV (center of mass) and for H+2 (D+2 ) in vibrational states from 0 to 10. Our results are consistent with the recent experiments of Guyon, Baer, Cole, and Govers [Chem. Phys. 119, 145 (1988)]. However we have come to a different understanding of the mechanism for dissociation. We find that there are two pathways for CID: (1) formation of a H+3 intermediate followed by dissociation and (2) direct dissociation of a H+4 transition state via vibrational excitation. The H+3 intermediate pathway predominates at low collisional and low H+2 (D+2 ) vibrational energies.
Effects of parachlorophenylalanine on indoleamines in maturing mouse brain.

Abstract 1. 1. The effects of parachlorophenylalanine (PCPA), the tryptophan-5-hydroxylase (T5-H) inhibitor, on the maturation of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and 5-hydroxy-indole acetic acid (5-HIAA) have been studied in regions of the maturing mouse brain. 2. 2. PCPA does not affect 5-HT levels in 1-day old mice treated on the day of birth, but does decrease it at all subsequent stages studied after 24 hr exposure. 3. 3. 5-HIAA level was unchanged in 1-day old and adult mice treated 24 hr earlier but was lower in almost all brain regions at other stages studied. 4. 4. The results lend support to the hypothesis that the newborn brain is able to synthesize more indoleamine than previously suspected but is unable to store it during the stages of neuronal outgrowth and terminalization.
Real-time quantitative phase and dual-channel fluorescence microscopy for studying cellular and biomolecular dynamics

We have developed a microscope that simultaneously captures quantitative phase measurements and two distinct fluorescence images on a single camera. This microscope is an effective tool for investigating cellular dynamics with molecular specificity.
A Real Time Tracking Algorithm Basing on Mixed Difference Algorithm

This paper presented a high real time target tracking algorithm – mixed difference tracking algorithm MDT. In the proposed algorithm, frame difference and background difference algorithms are combined to get the location of the target. With background difference algorithm the shape of the target can be extracted. Due to the affection of the dynamic background, single background difference algorithm can not get the location of the moving target. To solve this issue the frame difference algorithm is used to estimate the location, and then combine the results of the background difference algorithm and the frame difference algorithm the location and the size of the target can be extracted. And then filtering algorithm is used to remove noise and isolated points. In the experiment it can be seen that the proposed algorithm can tracking object precisely in real time.
Electron capture by metastable projectiles on He and Ne

Electron capture to n> or =2 levels of F/sup 7 +/ (1s2s) /sup 3/S projectiles lead to three-electron ions with an energetically allowed K-Auger decay channel. We have measured the F K-Auger emission spectra for collisions with thin gas targets of He and Ne with sufficiently high resolution to distinguish capture to several of the low-lying n values. The K-Auger production cross sections are reported as a function of the n level into which the electron is captured. The n-level dependence is measured for projectile energies of 6, 9, 12, and 15 MeV and is compared to the Oppenheimer-Brinkman-Kramers OBK model for charge transfer and to a 1/n/sup 3/ function. The measured K-Auger electron-production cross sections closely follow the 1/n/sup 3/ function which differs from the predicted OBK n dependence, even though the cross sections for the higher n levels agree with the predicted OBK energy dependence. The effects of cascading upon the calculated n dependence are also studied.
An adaptive memory technique for speech recognition

A new method for registering pattern features in electronic templates has been devised which does not use error-correction routines. It is easy to train, does not require additional training when categories are added, and uses low-cost, reliable, binarystorage devices. Three experimental models have been developed and tested. The first, using fixed assignments of electronic templates to categories, is suitable for adapting to an arbitrary library of 16 words for one speaker at a time. The second, using an adaptive assignment of electronic templates to categories, is adaptable to several speakers simultaneously or to different languages. The third is a new system for connected-word recognition, using adaptive assignment of templates according to size.
CKow: a dynamic model for chemical transfer to meat and milk.

The objective of this study is to increase the understanding and transparency of chemical biotransfer modeling into meat and milk and explicitly confront the uncertainties in exposure assessments of chemicals that require such estimates. In cumulative exposure assessments that include food pathways, much of the overall uncertainty is attributable to the estimation of transfer into biota and through food webs. Currently, the most commonly used meat and milk-biotransfer models date back two decades and, in spite of their widespread use in multimedia exposure models few attempts have been made to advance or improve the outdated and highly uncertain Kow regressions used in these models. Furthermore, in the range of Kow where meat and milk become the dominant human exposure pathways, these models often provide unrealistic rates and do not reflect properly the transfer dynamics. To address these issues, we developed a dynamic three-compartment cow model (called CKow), distinguishing lactating and non-lactating cows. For chemicals without available overall removal rates in the cow, a correlation is derived from measured values reported in the literature to predict this parameter from Kow. Results on carry over rates (COR) and biotransfer factors (BTF) demonstrate that a steady-state ratio between animal intake and meat concentrations is almost never reached. For meat, empirical data collected on short term experiments need to be adjusted to provide estimates of average longer term behaviors. The performance of the new model in matching measurements is improved relative to existing models--thus reducing uncertainty. The CKow model is straight forward to apply at steady state for milk and dynamically for realistic exposure durations for meat COR.
Assessment of Soil Moisture Dynamics of the Nebraska Sandhills Using Long-Term Measurements and a Hydrology Model

Soil moisture, evapotranspiration, and other major water balance components were investigated for six Nebraska Sandhills locations during a 6 year period (1998–2004) using a hydrological model. Annual precipitation in the study period ranged from 330 to 580 mm . Soil moisture was measured continuously at 10, 25, 50, and 100 cm depth at each site. Model estimates of surface (0–30 cm) , subsurface (30–91 cm) , and root zone (0–122 cm) soil moisture were generally well correlated with observed soil moisture. The correlations were poorest for the surface layer, where soil moisture values fluctuated sharply, and best for the root zone as a whole. Modeled annual estimates of evapotranspiration and drainage beneath the rooting zone showed large differences between sites and between years. Despite the Sandhills’ relatively homogeneous vegetation and soils, the high spatiotemporal variability of major water balance components suggest an active interaction among various hydrological processes in response to precipi...
The Endogenous Mu-Opioid Receptor Agonists Endomorphins 1 and 2 Have Novel Hypotensive Activity in the Rabbit

Abstract The endogenous peptides endomorphins 1 and 2 are newly isolated, potent, and selective μ-opioid receptor agonists. In the present study, responses to the endomorphin peptides were investigated in the systemic vascular bed of the rabbit. Endomorphins 1 and 2 induced dose-related decreases in systemic arterial pressure when injected in doses of 1-30 nmol/kg i.v. In terms of relative vasodepressor activity, endomorphins 1 and 2 were similar to the ORL 1 receptor ligand, nociceptin (Orphanin FQ), and met-enkephalin in decreasing systemic arterial pressure. Vasodepressor responses to endomorphins 1 and 2 were inhibited by the opioid receptor antagonist, naloxone, in a dose of 2 mg/kg i.v. These results demonstrate that endomorphins 1 and 2 have significant naloxone-sensitive, vasodepressor activity in the rabbit.
Some comments on proteins and protein structure.

I have been given the last word in this discussion, and I take advantage of the opportunity with some diffidence. The discussion has ranged widely over the field, but the major issues under dispute have been in the province of the crystallographers. I certainly cannot count myself among them, and am often quite incompetent to judge of the validity of what they say. However, the issues involved are of such importance to protein chemists, and to many biologists as well, that I offer com­ments on some of them. First of all, it is really amazing, to one who has been in the field of protein chemistry for a quarter of a century, that this discussion could be carried on, at this level, in the year 1952. Even five years ago it would have seemed almost incredible that we could have begun so soon to probe so deeply into the finer details of protein structure. The possibility of thinking in these terms has certainly been profoundly influenced by a development which has not found any but an incidental place in to-day’s discussion—the determination of the sequence of amino-acid residues in polypeptide chains (Sanger 1952). The outstanding achievement in this field hitherto is of course the complete determination of the sequence in the two kinds of peptide chain in insulin, by Sanger & Tuppy (1951) and Sanger & Thomp­son (1952). It appears that it remains only to fix the nature of the disulphide cross-links in order to have a complete structural formula for at least one protein.
Observation of a first-order phase transition in single-crystal ErRh/sub 4/B/sub 4/ at H/sub c/2

Detailed magnetization curves show a first-order phase transition in single-crystal ErRh/sub 4/B/sub 4/ at H/sub c/2 for the temperature range 3.3> or approx. =T> or approx. =1.4 K when the field is parallel to the a axis, along which the crystal shows strong paramagnetism. Below 3.3 K, the discontinuity in magnetization at H/sub c/2 grows with decreasing temperature and moves to lower fields, ultimately developing into the spontaneous moment in the ferromagnetic state. In the c direction, where the crystal exhibits weak paramagnetism, the superconducting magnetization curves show ordinary type-II behavior.
Glassy state transition and rice drying: development of a brown rice state diagram.

ABSTRACT The effect of moisture content (MC) on the glass transition temperature (Tg) of individual brown rice kernels of Bengal, a medium-grain cultivar, and Cypress, a long-grain cultivar, was studied. Three methods were investigated for measuring Tg: differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermomechanical analysis (TMA), and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). Among these methods, TMA was chosen, because it can also measure changes in the thermal volumetric coefficient (β) of the kernel during glass transition. TMA-measured Tg at similar MC levels for both cultivars were not significantly different and were combined to generate a brown rice state diagram. Individual kernel Tg for both cultivars increased from 22 to 58°C as MC decreased from 27 to 3% wb. Linear and sigmoid models were derived to relate Tg to MC. The linear model was sufficient to describe the property changes in the MC range encountered during rice drying. Mean β values across both cultivars in the rubbery state was 4.62 × 10-4/°C and ...
Norepinephrine-mediated protein phosphorylation in astrocytes.

Abstract Studies were conducted to determine if norepinephrine activates both protein kinase C and the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase in cultured rat astrocytes using phosphoproteins as markers. Norepinephrine was found to decrease 32 P incorporation into an acidic 80,000 M R protein. A similar response was observed with isoproterenol and cyclic AMP analogs. In contrast, phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) increased 32 P incorporation into this protein. Further studies looked at phosphorylation sites on glial fibrillary acidic protein and vimentin using two-dimensional tryptic phosphopeptide maps. The pattern of phosphorylation of these two proteins by norepinephrine resembles that of 8-bromo cyclic AMP and isoproterenol, and not that of PMA. Additionally, the effect of norepinephrine on the phosphorylation of GFAP and vimentin was blocked by alprenolol. One difference noted between norepinephrine and isoproterenol was the phosphorylation of an 18,000 M R protein. Norepinephrine increased, and isoproterenol decreased, 32P incorporation into this protein; however, the mechanism which mediates the norepinephrine effect remains to be determined. Overall, these studies indicate that the most prominent phosphorylation events mediated by norepinephrine are the consequence of the activation of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase.