cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Preparation and characterization of the fullerene diols 1,2-C(60)(OH)(2), 1,2-C(70)(OH)(2), and 5,6-C(70)(OH)(2).

The simple fullerene diols C60(OH)2 and C70(OH)2 were prepared by addition of RuO4 followed by acid hydrolysis. The 1,2-C60(OH)2 isomer was formed from C60, and two isomers (1,2 and 5,6) of C70(OH)2 were formed in the RuO4 hydroxylation of C70. These compounds are much more soluble in THF and dioxane than the parent fullerenes. More highly hydroxylated materials are formed as well.
A new grading system evaluating bleeding scale in filament perforation subarachnoid hemorrhage rat model.

The endovascular perforation rodent model for experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) studies is criticized for lack of control over bleeding. Presently, there is no practical grading system to categorize the severity of SAH depending on the amount of blood. We outline a simple and objective novel SAH grading system by examining the subarachnoid blood clots in the basal-cisterns, and evaluate for correlation with neurological status and cerebral vasospasm. Effects of simvastatin, known to reduce vasospasm, were examined using this grading system. Seventy-seven adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly into 3 groups: sham-operated (n=24), SAH (n=32), and SAH+simvastatin (n=25). High resolution brain pictures were used to grade the severity of SAH and categorize animals into mild, moderate and severe groups. The SAH grades were compared with neurological scores and internal-carotid artery parameters such as diameter, perimeter and wall-thickness at 24hrs. Two investigators verified the grading system independently. The SAH grade showed linear correlation functionally with neurological status (r=0.42, p 0.7, p<0.01), and also between two independent investigators (r=0.937, p<0.001). Simvastatin improved neurological score in moderate and severe (p<0.05) but not mild SAH groups (p=0.28). This grading system has the potential to be adopted for SAH experimental rodent models.
Symptoms of DSM-III-R major depression among Anglo, African and Mexican American adolescents

Ethnocultural differences in the phenomenology of DSM-III-R major depression among adolescents was examined in a sample of 334 Anglo, African and Mexican American patients 12-17 years of age. Diagnoses were made using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children, Version 2.1. Analyses of rates of individual symptoms as well as the nine DSM-III-R criteria revealed minimal differences among youths in the three ethnic groups who received a diagnosis of major depressive disorder. There also were minimal differences between boys and girls in symptom profiles.
Specific Residues in the Connector Loop of the Human Cytomegalovirus DNA Polymerase Accessory Protein UL44 Are Crucial for Interaction with the UL54 Catalytic Subunit

The human cytomegalovirus DNA polymerase includes an accessory protein, UL44, which has been proposed to act as a processivity factor for the catalytic subunit, UL54. How UL44 interacts with UL54 has not yet been elucidated. The crystal structure of UL44 revealed the presence of a connector loop analogous to that of the processivity subunit of herpes simplex virus DNA polymerase, UL42, which is crucial for interaction with its cognate catalytic subunit, UL30. To investigate the role of the UL44 connector loop, we replaced each of its amino acids (amino acids 129 to 140) with alanine. We then tested the effect of each substitution on the UL44-UL54 interaction by glutathione S-transferase pulldown and isothermal titration calorimetry assays, on the stimulation of UL54-mediated long-chain DNA synthesis by UL44, and on the binding of UL44 to DNA-cellulose columns. Substitutions that affected residues 133 to 136 of the connector loop measurably impaired the UL44-UL54 interaction without altering the ability of UL44 to bind DNA. One substitution, I135A, completely disrupted the binding of UL44 to UL54 and inhibited the ability of UL44 to stimulate long-chain DNA synthesis by UL54. Thus, similar to the herpes simplex virus UL30-UL42 interaction, a residue of the connector loop of the accessory subunit is crucial for UL54-UL44 interaction. However, while alteration of a polar residue of the UL42 connector loop only partially reduced binding to UL30, substitution of a hydrophobic residue of UL44 completely disrupted the UL54-UL44 interaction. This information may aid the discovery of small-molecule inhibitors of the UL44-UL54 interaction.
[Cardiovascular surgery in patients with HIV: epidemiology, current indications, and long-term outcome].

Introduction and objectives. The new highly active antiretroviral therapies used for the treatment of patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection have dramatically modified the natural history of the disease. Although these therapies may themselves have adverse cardiovascular side-effects, their use has also resulted in seropositive patients surviving long enough to be exposed to the same risk factors as the general population. As a consequence, referrals for cardiovascular surgery have increased. Methods. We carried out a retrospective analysis of 39 consecutive HIV patients who underwent cardiovascular surgery between January 1998 and December 2006. Results. The patients’ mean age was 49 (10) years and 77% (n=30) were male. The CD4-lymphocyte count was <500 cells/µl in 56% of patients (n=22). The main indications for surgery were endocarditis (n=18, 46%), coronary artery disease (n=12, 31%), and aortic disease (n=5, 13%). The in-hospital mortality rate was 5% (n=2). Postoperative complications included systemic infection (n=2, 5%), stroke (n=1, 3%), kidney failure (n=1, 3%), and respiratory failure (n=5, 13%). Repeat surgery for bleeding was necessary in 2 patients (5%). There were no postoperative complications in 29 patients (72%). After a clinical follow-up period of 8.2 years, the long-term mortality rate was 10.8% (4/37), giving survival rates at 1, 3, and 5 years of 91%, 86%, and 81% respectively. Conclusions. Cardiovascular surgery can be performed with complete safety in HIV patients, and with promising results. This study indicates that, currently, long-term survival in this particular group of patients is potentially greater than 80%.
Radiosynthesis of [11C]‐N‐methylacyclovir

A selective and potent analogue of the anti-herpes agent acyclovir has been labelled with 11C in good yield and at high specific activities. 1-[11C]-Methyl-9-(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl)guanine may be useful for detecting HSV encephalitis using positron emission tomography.
Controversy versus concurrence seeking in multi-grade and single-grade learning groups

The effects of controversy and concurrence seeking and participation is age-homogeneous and age-heterogeneous cooperative learning groups were compared on achievement, achievement motivation, perspective-taking accuracy, and interpersonal attraction. In addition, the interaction among students within the cooperative learning groups was observed. One-hundred-twelve 4th-, 5th-, and 6th-grade students were assigned to conditions on a stratified random basis controlling for age, sex, reading ability, and homerooms. In all conditions, students studied two controversial issues with materials representing both pro and con views. In the controversy condition each small group was divided into two halves representing the pro and con sides. In the concurrence-seeking condition each small group studied pro and con materials on alternating days and were told to learn the material without arguing or disagreeing with one another. In the multi-age conditions 4th-, 5th, and 6th-graders were placed in the same learning groups, while in the single-age conditions students were placed in small groups with peers of the same age. The results indicate that controversy promoted higher achievement, greater achievement motivation, and more accurate perspective taking than did concurrence seeking. Multi-age learning groups had greater achievement motivation than did the single-age groups.
Recording of intracellular Ca2+ from smooth muscle cells by sub-micron tip, double-barrelled CA2+-selective microelectrodes.

Abstract Novel, double-barrelled Ca 2+ -selective microelectrodes with tip diameters of approximately 0.1 μm were constructed by using Simon's neutral Ca 2+ ligand (ETH 1001). Concentric micropipettes were utilized for the first time for Ca 2+ -selective microelectrodes in which the Ca 2+ ligand was incorporated into a protruding inner pipette, surrounded by an outer reference electrode. In addition, they were made from high resistance aluminosilicate glass tubing (Corning Code 1724). These Ca 2+ -selective electrodes had linear responses from pCa 3 to pCa 7 in the presence of constant [K + ]. They provided on-line observation of changes in intracellular [Ca 2+ ] and in the resting membrane potential in single smooth mucles cells isolated from toad stomach. The mean concentration of intracellular Ca 2+ in resting cells was 163.6±20 nM (±SEM, n=16). Doubling the intracellular Ca 2+ level by exposure of cells to elevated [K + ] was sufficient to cause shortening.
Application of the condensed Fukui function to predict reactivity in core–shell transition metal nanoparticles

Chemical reactivity descriptors are a powerful means for understanding reactivity in a wide variety of chemical compounds. These descriptors, rooted in density functional theory, have found broad application in organic chemical reactions, but have not been as widely applied for other classes of chemical species such as nanoparticles, which are the subject of this article. Specifically, we explore application of the Fukui function, the global hardness and softness, the local softness, and the dual descriptor to pure metallic and core–shell nanoparticles, with and without a CO molecule bound to the surface. We find that the Fukui function is useful in predicting and interpreting chemical reactivity, and that it correlates well with the results of the popular d-band center method. Differences in the Fukui function before and after bonding of a CO molecule to the surface of a nanoparticle reveal interesting information about the reactivity of the nanoparticle surface. The change in the Fukui function when an electric field is applied to the molecule is also considered. Though the results are generally good, some of the limitations of this approach become clear.
Effects of Ro 15-4513 on ethanol discrimination in C57BL/6 mice.

Abstract Ro 15-4513, a partial benzodiazepine receptor inverse agonist, counteracts many of the effects of ethanol, however, its effects on ethanol discrimination in operant paradigms remains unclear. The present study examined the effects of Ro 15-4513 on ethanol discrimination by female C57BL/6 mice in a food-reinforced behavior-operant paradigm. Under the time and dosing conditions used in previous reports, Ro 15-4513 did not alter ethanol discrimination whether given prior to or after ethanol exposure. The drug did, however, attenuate ethanol discrimination for brief periods (
Corporate Governance and Economic Value Alignment

As a result of recent problems with corporate reporting and management, renewed interest in Corporate Governance has arisen. We analyze economic value alignment as a form of Corporate Governance, a concept similar to but more encompassing than economic value added and value-based management. We look at some specific ways that various companies and industries have applied economic value added analysis. The results show that the companies that use economic value alignment increase their value significantly over those that do not. The results show that discriminating investors and management should demand that their associated companies use EVA to improve overall financial reporting and to better manage assets. In turn, the SEC and Accounting Standard Setting Bodies should consider the long-term benefits of requiring certain sized companies to report relevant EVA data to key stakeholders.
Lock-on effect in GaAs photoconductive switches

The lock-on effect observed in high power, light-activated GaAs bulk switches is very important in determining the GaAs power device performance. An analytical model to explain the physical origin of this effect is presented. In this model, negative resistance associated with transferred-electron effect creates high-field-induced avalanche injection at the anode contact. A regional approximation is used to calculate the field distribution in the device and to derive the device f-V characteristics. Reported experimental results are in good agreement with the model over a wide range of device parameters.
Praising and correcting: prospective teachers investigate their teacherly talk

Abstract Despite recent calls for teachers to promote and increase students’ communication and discussion in their classrooms, prospective teachers have limited opportunities to explore issues of classroom talk during their teacher preparation programs. In this study, prospective teachers attending a mathematics methods course were encouraged to attend to and investigate their developing teacherly talk through a letter writing exchange with school students. This paper reports on their tendency to respond to the correct answers with praise and to supply the answers when students reached an incorrect result. It explores the ways in which they began to interrogate and problematize such practices and to consider alternative forms of teacher responses to students’ right and wrong answers. Features of the course's field-related experience and the teacher educators’ interventions that promoted and supported the preservice teachers’ investigations are also discussed.
Contextual amplification or attenuation of pubertal timing effects on depressive symptoms among Mexican American girls.

Abstract Purpose To examine the role of neighborhood contextual variation in the putative association between pubertal timing and depressive symptoms among Mexican-origin girls. Method Mexican-origin girls (N = 344; x age = 10.8 years) self-reported their total pubertal, adrenal, and gonadal events, along with levels of depressive symptoms in the 5th grade. Girls' residential addresses were geocoded into neighborhoods, and census data were obtained to describe neighborhoods along two dimensions: Hispanic cultural context and socioeconomic disadvantage. Two years later, when most of the girls were in the 7th grade, we reassessed the girls regarding depressive symptoms. Results Neighborhood Hispanic composition and neighborhood disadvantage were highly positively correlated. Using hierarchical linear modeling, we examined the moderating influence of neighborhood Hispanic composition and neighborhood disadvantage on the prospective associations between pubertal timing (total, gonadal, and adrenal) and depressive symptoms. Neighborhood Hispanic composition moderated the prospective association between total pubertal and gonadal timing and depressive symptoms. Neighborhood disadvantage did not moderate these associations. Conclusions Our results suggest that early maturing 5th grade Mexican-origin girls living in non-Hispanic neighborhoods are at the greatest risk for increased depressive symptoms in the 7th grade, even though these neighborhoods tend to be socioeconomically more advantaged. The protective cultural context of largely Hispanic neighborhoods may outweigh the potential amplifying effects of neighborhood disadvantage.
Fatty acid composition of lipids from broilers fed saturated and unsaturated fats.

SUMMARY— The effect of feeding saturated fat (tallow) and unsaturated fat (safflower oil) to broilers on the change in fatty acid composition of lipids deposited in broiler tissues at 4, 6, 8, and 10 wk of age was determined. Fatty acids from raw and cooked skin, excluding that on the neck and third wing joint, breast meat, thigh meat, and abdominal fat were identified by using gas liquid chromatography. Fatty acids from water in which carcasses were cooked were also identified. The degree of unsaturation of fatty acids in these tissues wars influenced by the degree of unsaturated fatty acids in the diet and tended to assume the fatty acid composition of the diet. In some cases, however, the higher levels of certain fatty acids in depot fat was not present in broilers fed the higher levels in the diet. Fatty acids in the larger amounts in all broiler tissues were palmitic, stearic, ofeic, and linoleic but varied in amount among the different age broilers fed the same ration as well as different rations. In most cases there tended to be an inverse relationship between oleic and linoleic acids in the tissues. Lipids from cooked tissues contained a larger amount of 18-carbon unsaturated fatty acids than the other fatty acids combined. Fatty acids collected from cooking water were similar to those in cooked tissues. The presence of 13- and 25-carbon chain fatty acids noted in tissues of 4 wk-old broilers suggests a difference in the metabolism of fat in different age birds. Futher research is needed to substantiate this finding.
Professionalism in Dance Education.

Professionalism in Dance Education is a complex construction. It can be imposed from the outside (degree completed, job status, salary) or can be identified from the professional herself. Seven graduate dance education students were interviewed with specific focus on the transition from student to professional and the feelings surrounding this transition. They had just completed conducting professional development workshops for other dance educators. The results were analyzed to answer the question: How do these educators know they have become professionals?
Two dimensional mechanism for insect hovering

Resolved computation of two dimensional insect hovering shows for the first time that a two dimensional hovering motion can generate enough lift to support a typical insect weight. The computation reveals a two dimensional mechanism of creating a downward dipole jet of counterrotating vortices, which are formed from leading and trailing edge vortices. The vortex dynamics further elucidates the role of the phase relation between the wing translation and rotation in lift generation and explains why the instantaneous forces can reach a periodic state after only a few strokes. The model predicts the lower limits in Reynolds number and amplitude above which the averaged forces are sufficient.
4-[5-Fluoro-3-[4-(2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)benzyloxy]phenyl]-3,4,5,6- tetrahydro-2H-pyran-4-carboxamide, an orally active inhibitor of 5-lipoxygenase with improved pharmacokinetic and toxicology characteristics.

Described herein are structure-activity relationships (SARs) of 4-[5-fluoro-3- [4-(2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)benzyloxy]-phenyl]-4-methoxy-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-2H-pyran (1, CJ-12,918), an imidazole 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) inhibitor. When 1 was tested in preclinical studies, cataract formation was observed in rats; however, this compound was metabolized extensively in vivo and showed low systemic exposure. To eliminate this side effect and enhance bioavailability, structural modification was focused on replacing the methoxy group of 1 by modulating lipophilicity (i.e., predicted log D at pH 7.4). The SARs led to the discovery of 4-[5-fluoro-3-[4-(2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)benzyloxy]phenyl]-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-2H-pyran-4-carboxamide (10, CJ-13,454), which was less lipophilic by 1.2 log D units and showed in vivo potency (ED 50 = 4-9 mg/kg) equipotent to 1. Enhanced metabolic stability resulted in fewer in vivo metabolites, as well as improved bioavailability and a better toxicological profile. Thus, 10 was found to be a more practical lead for an orally active 5-LO inhibitor.
Real-time adaptive control of nonlinear smart structural systems using neural networks

Neural network based controllers for vibration suppression of smart structural systems have been reported in several recent studies. These studies have shown that in addition to conventional controller design methodologies, neural networks offer an effective basis for design and implementation of controllers. With the introduction of neural network chips like the electronically trainable analog neural network (ETANN) chip i80170NX by Intel and the Ni1000 chip by Nestor Corp., stand alone hardware implementation of neural network based controllers is possible. In this paper the capabilities of Intel's ETANN chip to implement linear and nonlinear controllers for smart structural systems have been investigated. A neural network based optimizing controller design methodology that integrates the ETANN chip and its capabilities of on-line adaptation has been developed. Apriori information of the smart structural systems such as actuator/sensor bandwidth limits and control effort limits can be directly accommodated in this method. Simulation studies of the performance of a closed loop time varying linear and nonlinear system has also been presented with and without on-line adaptation.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Inactivation of Cdk1/Cyclin B in metaphase-arrested mouse FT210 cells induces exit from mitosis without chromosome segregation or cytokinesis and allows passage through another cell cycle

It is well known that inactivation of Cdk1/Cyclin B is required for cells to exit mitosis. The work reported here tests the hypothesis that Cdk1/Cyclin B inactivation is not only necessary but also sufficient to induce mitotic exit and reestablishment of the interphase state. This hypothesis predicts that inactivation of Cdk1 in metaphase-arrested cells will induce the M to G1-phase transition. It is shown that when mouse FT210 cells (in which Cdk1 is temperature-sensitive) are arrested in metaphase and then shifted to their non-permissive temperature, they rapidly exit mitosis as evidenced by reassembly of interphase nuclei, decondensation of chromosomes, and dephosphorylation of histones H1 and H3. The resulting interphase cells are functionally normal as judged by their ability to progress through another cell cycle. However, they have double the normal number of chromosomes because they previously bypassed anaphase, chromosome segregation, and cytokinesis. These results, taken together with other observations in the literature, strongly suggest that in mammalian cells, inactivation of Cdk1/cyclin B is the trigger for mitotic exit and reestablishment of the interphase state.
The effects of a novel stimulus change on responding in extinction following fixed-ratio training

The present study assessed the effects of a brief stimulus change not paired with food on the pattern of responding in extinction following fixed-ratio (FR) training. Four pigeons were trained to respond on a FR 100 schedule of food reinforcement. Two of these subjects were then exposed to four extinction sessions in which only this novel stimulus change followed completion of each FR 100. The other two pigeons were exposed to six extinction sessions with the unpaired stimulus change following completion of each FR 100 in odd-numbered extinction sessions. In even-numbered sessions, the stimulus change did not occur. A minimum of five retraining sessions occurred between extinction sessions. The results showed that the unpaired stimulus change controlled the location of pausing. Of the total number of pauses recorded during extinction, a greater proportion of these followed FR 100 schedules with stimulus change than without stimulus change. Consideration is given to the properties of the stimulus change responsible for these pause patterns.
Site characteristics impacting the survival of historic waterlogged wood : A review

Abstract Survival of waterlogged wood from hundreds and in rare cases millions of years presents scientists with a unique opportunity to examine wood specimens which, due to select properties of the wood itself and/or the depositional environment, have not been completely degraded. Although degradation patterns of various types of microbial wood decay have been studied in detail, the site parameters of the zone from which the wood was removed has not been systematically characterized and correlated to the specific types and cause of degradation. Studies have been conducted attempting to relate factors such as hydrogen-ion concentration (pH), redox potential (Eh), oxygen (O2) concentration, and ion species concentrations to specific environments, but there has been no unification of testing methodology. This paper proposes to review the literature concerning site characteristics that impact the biodegradation of historic submerged wood, and discuss the current research on archeological wood removed from waterlogged environments.
The interplay of steric and electronic factors affecting geometrical isomerism of diaryl ketimine derivatives

Abstract The evidence bearing on the mechanism of the Schmidt reaction with ketones is critically reexamined. It is shown that dehydration of an initially formed azidohydrin (I) to a ketiminodiazonium ion (II), which may or may not equilibrate between its geometrically isomeric forms (IIa or b), can account for the various reported ratios of isomeric amides produced from unsymmetrical ketones. The previously anomalous behavior of ortho-substituted diaryl ketones can be resolved by taking into account the influence of conjugative effects on the preferred rotational positions. The ratios of amides produced from a series of o-alkylbenzophenones by both the Schmidt reaction and oximation plus Beckmann rearrangement have been determined at different temperatures; there are appreciable differences in the product ratios and their temperature coefficients from the two reactions.
Tuning Intrusion Detection to Work with a Two Encryption Key Version of IPsec

Network-based intrusion detection systems (NIDSs) are one component of a comprehensive network security solution. The use of IPsec, which encrypts network traffic, renders network intrusion detection virtually useless unless traffic is decrypted at network gateways. Host-based intrusion detection systems (HIDSs) can provide some of the functionality of NIDSs but with limitations. HIDSs cannot perform a network-wide analysis and can be subverted if a host is compromised. We propose an approach to intrusion detection that combines HIDS, NIDS, and a version of IPsec that encrypts the header and the body of IP packets separately ("Two-Zone IPsec"). We show that all of the network events currently detectable by the Snort NIDS on unencrypted network traffic are also detectable on encrypted network traffic using this approach. The NIDS detects network-level events that HIDSs have trouble detecting and HIDSs detect application-level events that can't be detected by the NIDS.
Home bladder pressure monitoring in children with myelomeningocele.

AbstractPurpose: We evaluate a pressure gauge used at home for patients with myelomeningocele on clean intermittent catheterization to provide a system for inexpensive frequent monitoring of bladder pressures.Materials and Methods: Subjects with myelomeningocele using clean intermittent catheterization underwent cystometry in the laboratory. At home they obtained weekly volumes and bladder pressures before and after emptying. Home estimate of detrusor pressure was defined as full bladder pressure minus empty bladder pressure. Medication changes, subject position and urinary tract symptoms were noted.Results: A total of 11 subjects 10.5 +/− 7.3 years old have been enrolled and have made 16.7 +/− 12.6 weekly home bladder pressure and volume recordings in 4.7 +/− 3.1 months. Bladder capacities measured at home were 132 +/− 47% of cystometric capacities. At volumes of data overlap home full pressures (31 +/− 10 cm. water) were not statistically different from cystometric vesical pressures (25 +/− 9 cm. water)...
The influence of polymer conformation on turbulent drag reduction

In recent years, the search for more efficient turbulent drag reducers has motivated a number of interesting studies on molecular conformation and flexibility. The experimental results in this study support the concept that increased polymer extension in solution leads to better drag reduction. However, the elevated solution viscosities of highly extended conformations may offset any drag reduction enhancement at low Reynolds numbers and must be carefully accounted for. The friction factors for polyacrylamide or polyacrylic acid in deionized water, in high pH solution, and in 0.1M sodium chloride solution tend to merge together at high values of N/sub Re/, suggesting that in each solution the polymer coils approach the same degree of extension. The much higher value of the friction factor in low pH solution implies that the polymer coils have become stiffened, suggesting the presence of strong intermolecular bonding, most probably in the form of hydrogen bonds. (14 refs.)
Learning by design: Games as learning machines

, are long, complex, and difficult, especially for beginners. People are not always eager to do difficult things. Faced with the challenge of getting them to do so, two choices are often available. We can force them, which is the solution schools use. Or, a temptation when profit is at stake, we can dumb down the product. Neither option is open to the game industry, at least for the moment. They can’t force people to play and most avid players don’t want their games dumbed down. For people interested in learning, this raises an interesting question. How do good game designers manage to get new players to learn their long, complex, and difficult games—not only learn them, but pay to do so? It won’t do simply to say games are “motivating”. That just begs the question of “Why?”. Why is a long, complex, and difficult game motivating? I believe it is something about how games are designed to trigger learning that makes them so deeply motivating. So the question is: How do good game designers manage to get new players to learn long, complex, and difficult games? Of course, there are some forces in the game industry that want to dumb games down. That is not a very interesting answer to our question. Another answer that is not interesting, at least initially, is that some good games appear to be made only for people who are already adept game players. These games can be uninviting or frustrating for newcomers. Some thoroughly excellent games that fall into this category are
Out-of-body experiences: from Penfield to present

Can the brain, when stimulated, yield entirely novel experiences? Blanke et al. (2002) describe a patient who reported spontaneous out-of-body experiences during electrical stimulation of her angular gyrus. These findings, although apparently extraordinary, agree with much earlier reports from a patient tested by Wilder Penfield. Such studies can provide clues about the nature of conscious experience.
Access to health care. It's not rocket science--it's tougher.

(2001). ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE: IT'S NOT ROCKET SCIENCE – IT'S TOUGHER. Journal of Legal Medicine: Vol. 22, No. 2, pp. 235-245.
Dynamics of chromophoric dissolved organic matter and dissolved organic carbon in experimental mesocosms

Since CDOM can significantly influence the optical characteristics of Case II waters, we investigated potential sources of CDOM and DOC during a month-long mesocosm experiment. Nutrient additions resulted in a large phytoplankton bloom, followed by a rapid decline. Despite this, DOC and CDOM increased slowly and linearlyand were onlyweakly correlated with Chl a. However, there were stronger correlations between CDOM and bacteria, and sedimentary CDOM fluxes varied from 0 to a value large enough to explain the increase of CDOM in the tanks. These results suggest that bacteria and sediments may be more important in CDOM production than phytoplankton on this time scale.
Effects of Attention on the Reliability of Individual Neurons in Monkey Visual Cortex

To determine the physiological mechanisms underlying the enhancement of performance by attention, we examined how attention affects the ability of isolated neurons to discriminate orientation by investigating the reliability of responses with and without attention. Recording from 262 neurons in cortical area V4 while two rhesus macaques did a delayed match-to-sample task with oriented stimuli, we found that attention did not produce detectable changes in the variability of neuronal responses but did improve the orientation discriminability of the neurons. We also found that attention did not change the relationship between burst rate and response rate. Our results are consistent with the idea that attention selects groups of neurons for a multiplicative enhancement in response strength.
Bergmann's rule in nonavian reptiles: turtles follow it, lizards and snakes reverse it.

Bergmann's rule is currently defined as a within-species tendency for increasing body size with increasing latitude or decreasing environmental temperature. This well-known ecogeographic pattern has been considered a general trend for all animals, yet support for Bergmann's rule has only been demonstrated for mammals and birds. Here we evaluate Bergmann's rule in two groups of reptiles: chelonians (turtles) and squamates (lizards and snakes). We perform both nonphylogenetic and phylogenetic analyses and show that chelonians follow Bergmann's rule (19 of 23 species increase in size with latitude; 14 of 15 species decrease in size with temperature), whereas squamates follow the converse to Bergmann's rule (61 of 83 species decrease in size with latitude; 40 of 56 species increase in size with temperature). Size patterns of chelonians are significant using both nonphylogenetic and phylogenetic methods, whereas only the nonphylogenetic analyses are significant for squamates. These trends are consistent among major groups of chelonians and squamates for which data are available. This is the first study to document the converse to Bergmann's rule in any major animal group as well as the first to show Bergmann's rule in a major group of ectotherms. The traditional explanation for Bergmann's rule is that larger endothermic individuals conserve heat better in cooler areas. However, our finding that at least one ectothermic group also follows Bergmann's rule suggests that additional factors may be important. Several alternative processes, such as selection for rapid heat gain in cooler areas, may be responsible for the converse to Bergmann's rule in squamates.
Appointment scheduling on computer.

The program is well-written, intuitive, and easy to use once initial data, such as the available appointment slots, has been entered. While the effort may not seem worthwhile initially, the ability to access an office appointment book from several locations simultaneously and the reporting capabilities of the software make MEDSched a useful addition to any busy office practice or clinic. Please send your comments and suggestions to me at adm4@columbia.edu.
Cantilever-based resonant microsensors with integrated temperature modulation for transient chemical analysis

This work introduces a resonant cantilever platform with integrated temperature modulation for real-time chemical sensing. Embedded heaters allow for rapid thermal cycling of individual sensors, thereby enabling real-time transient signal analysis without the need for a microfluidic setup to switch between analyte and reference gases. Compared to traditional mass-sensitive microsensors operating in steady state, the on-chip generation of signal transients provides additional information for analyte discrimination.
A memory-efficient scheme for address lookup using compact prefix tries

We present a new memory-efficient scheme for address lookup that exploits the caching support provided by general-purpose processors. We propose compact prefix tries, in which prefixes occurring at multiple levels of a subtrie are compressed into a single node that fits in a single cache line. The scheme performs well in compressing dense as well as sparse tries. For an IP core router (Mae-West) database with 93354 prefixes, the simulation results for compact prefix tries show up to 70% improvement in lookup performance and up to 33% reduction in memory when compared with LC-tries. In fact, the entire forwarding table for Mae-West required only 829 KB space. Measurements for compact prefix tries, when compared with most existing schemes, show better results in terms of memory usage as well as lookup speeds. Moreover, as the memory usage is significantly less and sparse tries with long paths can be compressed into only a few nodes, this scheme is particularly attractive for IPv6.
A conductive plastic for simulating biological tissue at microwave frequencies

A conductive plastic composite that exhibits complex dielectric properties similar to biological tissues over the electromagnetic spectrum of 300-900 MHz has been synthesized from compressed carbon black mixed with a castable thermoplastic (polyethyl methacrylate). This paper presents the techniques used to control the electrical properties of the conductive plastic and describes the challenges encountered in fabricating a material containing a high proportion of carbon black. While developed to serve as a housing material for a microwave antenna array for imaging biological bodies, the composite should be useful in any setting requiring a stable, solid, high loss material that simulates biological tissues over the microwave spectrum.
A patient with anemia and a paraspinal chest mass.

(CHEST 2003; 124:732–734) A 56-year-old African-American man presented to the emergency department with mild chest pain and otalgia. He also noted a nonproductive cough of several days’ duration and mild back pain. He denied the presence of any fever, chills, or hemoptysis. His medical history was remarkable for homozygous sickle cell disease with multiple complications, including a cerebrovascular accident in September 1999 with resultant hemiparesis as well as peptic ulcer disease. The patient had a long history of hypertension, which was controlled by medication. He reported having undergone multiple blood transfusions, but none in the last 2 years. He denied any recent sickle cell crises. A physical examination revealed a well-nourished, afebrile black man who was in no acute distress. His hospital admission BP was 183/93 mm Hg, and his respiratory rate was 18 breaths/min with a pulse rate of 83 beats/min. A cardiovascular examination demonstrated a systolic murmur 3/6 at the upper left sternal border. Bibasilar and midlung crackles were noted. Laboratory studies showed normal levels of electrolytes, BUN, and creatinine, with a hemoglobin level of 7.8 g/dL and hematocrit of 24.9%. Prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time levels were in the normal range. A chest radiograph obtained after hospital admission revealed cardiac enlargement with a mildly prominent interstitial pattern in the lungs. A left paraspinal mass also was noted (Fig 1), prompting a CT scan of the chest (Fig 2).
EXCITATION FUNCTIONS FOR THE HELIUM-ION-INDUCED FISSION OF RHENIUM, LUTETIUM AND THULIUM.

The helium-ion-induced fission excitation functions of rhenium, lutetium, and thulium have been measured in the energy interval of 30 to 80 MeV using a "fission-track" technique with plastic films as detectors. By analyzing the ratio $\frac{{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{f}}{{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{n}}$, which measures competition between fission and neutron emission, fission thresholds of 22.4, 23.6, 27.5, and 28.7 MeV have been determined for ${\mathrm{Ir}}^{189}$, ${\mathrm{Ir}}^{191}$, ${\mathrm{Ta}}^{179}$ and ${\mathrm{Lu}}^{173}$, respectively. These values are obtained using a level-density parameter ${a}_{f}=\frac{A}{10}$, with the uncertainty of this choice introducing a possible error of \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2.5 MeV in the calculated barriers. The thresholds, which are of particular interest because the nuclides involved are removed from the closed-shell region, are in agreement with predictions of a recently proposed semi-empirical mass formulation based on a charged liquid drop. Correlations are given showing the relationship of $\frac{{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{f}}{{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{n}}$ with $\frac{{Z}^{2}}{A}$ and ${{E}_{f}}^{\ensuremath{'}}\ensuremath{-}{{B}_{n}}^{\ensuremath{'}}$, where ${{E}_{f}}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ and ${{B}_{n}}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ are the effective fission barrier and the neutron binding energy. The results suggest that shell effects tend to persist even at excitation energies of 30 MeV. Comparisons of the correlations with heavy-element data point out the marked discontinuity near $Z=90$, and support the general two-mode fission hypothesis.
Plasmonic Nanorattles with Intrinsic Electromagnetic Hot-Spots for Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering

The synthesis of plasmonic nanorattles with accessible electromagnetic hotspots that facilitate highly sensitive detection of chemical analytes using surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is demonstrated. Raman spectra obtained from individual nanorattles demonstrate the significantly higher SERS activity compared to solid plasmonic nanostructures.
Global visions and East/West intercultural communications: From Whitman to Kipling to Friedman

This essay analyzes poetic and journalistic articulations of global visions and intercultural communications as expressed by three writers: American poet and journalist Whitman; British poet, novelist, and journalist Kipling; and American writer and journalist Friedman, all of whom communicate messages across cultures and races to project visions of possible global unity.
The self-retracting glove—an aid to minilaparotomy

Abstract A simple technique is presented to help the surgeon gain additional exposure during open minicholecystectomy or any other open minimal abdominal procedure. The technique consists of a empty sterile glove inserted into the abdomen and filled with 500 mL saline. When filled with saline, the glove becomes soft and malleable—adjusting itself to fill the desired space. The resulting retraction is nontraumatic to the adjacent organs. The small laparotomy wound is spared the trauma from the deep retractors that would have been otherwise used to achieve exposure. The retracting glove is effective, easy to use, inexpensive, and safe.
Boron pollution in the Simav River, Turkey and various methods of boron removal

MgO can be used effectively at a Mg/B mo[ ratio of 20 for three cleaning cycles wl.h 85,,,0 removal efficiency but must be discharged and refreshed after the third cycle. Consumption of 18,100 tons of MgO per year in the removal system makes this process uneconomical. Boron-specific resin Amberlite IRA-743 in free-amine form is also uneconomical due to expensive regeneration steps. The capacity of this resin in salt-form was found to be 1.5 mg boron ml - ~ resin at 10Yo boron leakage and at a flow rate of 161 h - q - t. The possibility of reuse of 90Yo of the regenerant and production of 4400 tons of boric acid in the removal system with salt-form boron-specific resin, compensate the annual cost of chemicals and also bring in some profit.
Modulation of Env Content in Virions of Simian Immunodeficiency Virus: Correlation with Cell Surface Expression and Virion Infectivity

Specific mutations were created in the cytoplasmic domain of the gp41 transmembrane protein of simian immunodeficiency virus strain 239 (SIV239). The resultant strains included a mutant in which Env residue 767 was changed to a stop codon, a double mutant in which positions 738 and 739 were changed to stop codons, another mutant in which a prominent endocytosis motif was changed from YRPV to GRPV by the substitution of tyrosine 721, and a final combination mutant bearing Q738stop, Q739stop, and Y721G mutations. The effects of these mutations on cell surface expression, on Env incorporation into virions, and on viral infectivity were examined. The molar ratio of Gag to gp120 of 54:1 that we report here for SIV239 virions agrees very well with the ratio of 60:1 reported previously by Chertova et al. (E. Chertova, J. W. Bess, Jr., B. J. Crise, R. C. Sowder II, T. M. Schaden, J. M. Hilburn, J. A. Hoxie, R. E. Benveniste, J. D. Lifson, L. E. Henderson, and L. O. Arthur, J. Virol. 76:5315-5325, 2002), although they were determined by very different methodologies. Assuming 1,200 to 2,500 Gag molecules per virion, this corresponds to 7 to 16 Env trimers per SIV239 virion particle. Although all of the mutations increased Env levels in virions, E767stop had the most dramatic effect, increasing the Env content per virion 25- to 50-fold. Increased levels of Env content in virions correlated strictly with higher levels of Env expression on the cell surface. The increased Env content with the E767stop mutation also correlated with an increased infectivity, but the degree of change was not proportional: the 25- to 50-fold increase in Env content only increased infectivity 2- to 3-fold. All of the mutants replicated efficiently in the CEMx174 and Rh221-89 cell lines. Although some of these findings have been reported previously, our findings show that the effects of the cytoplasmic domain of gp41 on the Env content in virions can be dramatic, that the Env content in virions correlates strictly with the levels of cell surface expression, and that the Env content in virions can determine infectivity; furthermore, our results define a particular change with the most dramatic effects.
Neighborhood Context, Youthful Offending, and Peer Selection Does It Take a Village to Raise a Nondelinquent?

The purpose of this study was to determine whether neighborhood context, as measured by maternal ratings of neighborhood disorder, predicted future offending behavior and association with antisocial peers. Putative relationships between neighborhood context, peers, and offending behavior were tested in all 1,725 adolescent members of the National Youth Survey. Consistent with the hypothesis that neighborhood context can either promote or inhibit the delinquent peer selection process, neighborhood disorder predicted peer selection (own offending → delinquent peers) but not peer influence (delinquent peers → own offending). Gender moderated this relationship such that an effect was found only for boys. These findings indicate that a negative psychological environment resulting from neighborhood disorder and weak informal social control can encourage offending behavior in neighborhood boys and facilitate the selection of antisocial peers. As with the parent–peer selection relationship observed in an earlier ...
p Values, Hypothesis Tests, and Likelihood: Implications for Epidemiology of a Neglected Historical Debate

It is not generally appreciated that the p value, as conceived by R. A. Fisher, is not compatible with the Neyman-Pearson hypothesis test in which it has become embedded. The p value was meant to be a flexible inferential measure, whereas the hypothesis test was a rule for behavior, not inference. The combination of the two methods has led to a reinterpretation of the p value simultaneously as an "observed error rate" and as a measure of evidence. Both of these interpretations are problematic, and their combination has obscured the important differences between Neyman and Fisher on the nature of the scientific method and inhibited our understanding of the philosophic implications of the basic methods in use today. An analysis using another method promoted by Fisher, mathematical likelihood, shows that the p value substantially overstates the evidence against the null hypothesis. Likelihood makes clearer the distinction between error rates and inferential evidence and is a quantitative tool for expressing evidential strength that is more appropriate for the purposes of epidemiology than the p value.
A new species of Hydroscapha LeConte from northwestern Venezuela(Coleoptera: Myxophaga: Hydroscaphidae)

During the course of recent fieldwork on Venezuelan aquatic insects, a new species of Hydroscaphidae, Hydroscapha perijaensis Hall & Short sp. n., was discovered and is herein described, representing the first known South American species of the genus. The new species was found in association with rock seepages in both the wet and dry seasons. Locality data is provided, plus dorsal and ventral habitus images of both sexes, along with key characters separating the new taxon from other species within the genus.