cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Role of subcortical structures in the pathogenesis of infantile spasms: What are possible subcortical mediators?

Infantile spasms present a constellation of symptoms and laboratory findings that suggest a role of subcortical circuits in the pathogenesis of this illness. The clinical features of spasms and the influence of subcortical circuits in the regulation of the electroencephologram, along with frequent abnormalities in subcortical structure and functional anatomy, brain stem electrophysiology, sleep regulation, and subcortical neurotransmitter levels, point to the importance of subcortical circuits in the generation of spasms. Furthermore, laboratory evidence shows that modulation of subcortical nuclei may attenuate and ameliorate seizures. We review clinical evidence indicating abnormal function in subcortical circuits and present a hypothesis that the development of infantile spasms requires dysfunction in both cortical and subcortical circuits. The confluence of evidence suggesting a role of subcortical structures in the origin of spasms and laboratory data indicating an anticonvulsant role on some subcortical nuclei raise the possibility of novel approaches to the treatment of infantile spasms.
Molar tooth structures of the Neoarchean Monteville Formation, Transvaal Supergroup, South Africa. I: Constraints on microcrystalline CaCO3 precipitation

Molar tooth (MT) structures are enigmatic, contorted millimetre- to decimetre-long veins and spheroids of microcrystalline calcite that formed during very early diagenesis in Precambrian sediments. MT structures in the ca 2·6 Ga Monteville Formation are 600–800 Myr older than previously reported occurrences and establish that conditions necessary for MT genesis were met locally throughout much of the Precambrian. In the Monteville Formation, MT structures were formed shallow subtidally, extending to depths near storm wave base, in shale host sediments intercalated with storm-generated carbonate sand lenses. They are filled with microcrystalline calcite and rare pyrite. Microcrystalline calcite identical to that in MT structures fills other pore space, including porosity between grains in carbonate sand lenses, moldic porosity in sand grains, sheet cracks in columnar stromatolites, and shallow cracks on sandy bedding planes. Relationships in the Monteville Formation demonstrate that microcrystalline CaCO3 precipitated in fluid-filled cracks and pores; microcrystalline calcite characteristics, as well as the paucity of carbonate mud in host rocks, are inconsistent with injection of lime mud as the origin of MT structures. Locally, MT cracks were filled by detrital sediment before or during precipitation. Precipitation occurred in stages, and MT CaCO3 evolved from granular cores to a rigid mass of cores with overgrowths – allowing both plastic and brittle deformation of MT structures, as well as reworking of eroded MT structures as rigid clasts and lime mud. Crystal size distributions and morphology suggest that cores precipitated through nucleation, Ostwald ripening and size-dependent crystal growth, whereas overgrowths formed during size-independent crystal growth.
Music, Dance and the Art of Seduction

Originating as a set of conference papers, Music, Dance and the Art of Seduction is an uneven but undeniably valuable collection for anyone interested in the cross-cultural study of music and dance...
Ethical Issues in International Research

This article discusses four recent controversies in international collaborative research: the standard of care controversy, the obligation to provide ancillary care to clinical trial participants, the obligation to continue to provide trial interventions after completion of the research, and the requirement to be responsive to the health care needs of the host country. In each case the central positions and arguments in the debate are presented. Keywords: standard of care; ancillary care; outsourcing; post-trial benefits; responsiveness; multi-site trials
Intelligent control in the process industries: considerations for future research

Several exciting opportunities for the application of control technology have arisen over the last few years in the process industries. Particular topics of interest include autonomous systems, economic optimization, and system health management. Intelligent control-the synergistic integration of classical control with technologies such as neural networks, fuzzy logic, evolutionary computing, and chaos theory-is widely seen as a key to meeting these new challenges. However, the adoption of intelligent control by the control community requires a paradigm change-a progression from analytic to "post-analytic" control. Not just technology is at stake, but the processes and methodologies for research.
Age-dependent MDPV-induced taste aversions and thermoregulation in adolescent and adult rats

Adolescent rats are more sensitive to the rewarding and less sensitive to the aversive properties of various drugs of abuse than their adult counterparts. Given a nationwide increase in use of “bath salts,” the present experiment employed the conditioned taste aversion procedure to assess the aversive effects of 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV; 0, 1.0, 1.8 or 3.2 mg/kg), a common constituent in “bath salts,” in adult and adolescent rats. As similar drugs induce thermoregulatory changes in rats, temperature was recorded following MDPV administration to assess if thermoregulatory changes were related to taste aversion conditioning. Both age groups acquired taste aversions, although these aversions were weaker and developed at a slower rate in the adolescent subjects. Adolescents increased and adults decreased body temperature following MDPV administration with no correlation to aversions. The relative insensitivity of adolescents to the aversive effects of MDPV suggests that MDPV may confer an increased risk in this population.
Wave Functions and Form Factors for Relativistic Composite Particles. II

We extend our relativistic description of composite particles to the case of clusters of spin-\textonehalf{} particles. From this, explicit expressions for the nucleon vector current form factors are derived. We find that the nucleon's electric form factor has the form ${G}^{E}(t)={\ensuremath{\alpha}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}{S}_{0}(\frac{\ensuremath{-}t}{\ensuremath{\alpha}})\ensuremath{\Sigma}\stackrel{3}{i=1}{q}^{i}G_{\mathrm{ib}}^{1}(t)$ where ${S}_{0}$ is the nonrelativistic form factor, $\ensuremath{\alpha}=\frac{1\ensuremath{-}t}{4{M}^{2}}$, and ${q}^{i}$ is the charge and $G_{\mathrm{ib}}^{1}(t)$ the electric form factor for the $i$th quark. A similar expression is obtained for the magnetic form factor.
Ultrastructural studies on nucleic acids of nucleolar granular components in Novikoff hepatoma cells

Abstract The nucleolar ribonucleoprotein particles of Novikoff hepatoma cells were studied by means of electron microscopy at high magnifications after enzymatic digestion carried out in fixed cell suspensions. The ribonucleoprotein particles in nucleoli and in the cytoplasm contained thin filaments about 20 A in width. These filaments were sensitive to ribonuclease and they were also similar to the filaments (molecules) of ribonucleic acid in ultrathin sections. Therefore, these dense filaments in ribonucleoprotein particles appear to be molecules of ribonucleic acid in ribonucleoprotein particles. The possibility exists that the nucleolus contains some polysomes since a few ribonucleoprotein particles in the nucleolus were connected by a filament 20 A wide, as were also some of the ribosomes in the cytoplasm. Perinucleolar and intranucleolar chromatin fibers about 70–100 A in width were composed of coiled filaments about 20–25 A in width. Uncoiled chromatin filaments 20–25 A in width were observed within the nucleolus. Along with the biochemical evidence for rapid synthetic reactions in the nucleolus, the evidence that the nucleolus contains ribonucleoprotein particles virtually indistinguishable from the cytoplasmic ribosomal ribonucleoprotein particles provides support for the concept that the latter are assembled in the nucleolus [6, 7].
The amount of non-uniqueness for factored equations with Euler-Poisson-Darboux factors

Of concern are factored Euler-Poisson-Darboux equations of the type Π j=1 N (d 2 /dt 2 + (ρ/t)d/dt + A j )u(t) =0, where, for example, A j = -c j Δ, Δ being the Dirichlet Laplacian acting on L 2 (Ω), Ω⊂ R, and 0 < c 1 <... < c N . More generally -A j can be the square of the generator of a (C 0 ) group on a Banach space. When the constant ρ is negative, the initial value problem for the factored EPD equation is ill-posed. Nevertheless, we determine how many initial conditions are necessary to guarantee uniqueness of a solution. This number jumps up as ρ crosses a negative integer from right to left.
The Instauration of the New Man of Marxism: A Critique

Beyond the purview of religious teachings, I find the Marxian conception of the New Man the most intriguing one in the whole secular world. Is it chimerical to hope for the coming of this New Man, I ask myself? Is Marx the vaunt‐courier of this ideal really naive and the New Man nothing other than the last straw he could grasp, considering his philippics against capitalism and his traduction of Christianity? Was the New Man his only hope? The votaries of the free enterprise system have rejected him out of hand. Are the beaux esprits of Marxian doctrine no less naive than Karl Marx himself, clinging as they do to this fantastic belief? I would like here today briefly to review the Marxian concept of the instauration, the founding, the advent of the New Man, to examine its possibilities. Most of the authorities to whom I shall here have recourse are sons of France, forbidding me therefore from denying the French connection.
The Human Escort Protein Hep Binds to the ATPase Domain of Mitochondrial Hsp70 and Regulates ATP Hydrolysis

Hsp70 escort proteins (Hep) have been implicated as essential for maintaining the function of yeast mitochondrial hsp70 molecular chaperones (mtHsp70), but the role that escort proteins play in regulating mammalian chaperone folding and function has not been established. We present evidence that human mtHsp70 exhibits limited solubility due to aggregation mediated by its ATPase domain and show that human Hep directly enhances chaperone solubility through interactions with this domain. In the absence of Hep, mtHsp70 was insoluble when expressed in Escherichia coli, as was its isolated ATPase domain and a chimera having this domain fused to the peptide-binding domain of HscA, a soluble monomeric chaperone. In contrast, these proteins all exhibited increased solubility when expressed in the presence of Hep. In vitro studies further revealed that purified Hep regulates the interaction of mtHsp70 with nucleotides. Full-length mtHsp70 exhibited slow intrinsic ATP hydrolysis activity (6.8 ± 0.2 × 10-4 s-1) at 25 °C, which was stimulated up to 49-fold by Hep. Hep also stimulated the activity of the isolated ATPase domain, albeit to a lower maximal extent (11.5-fold). In addition, gel-filtration studies showed that formation of chaperone-escort protein complexes inhibited mtHsp70 self-association, and they revealed that Hep binding to full-length mtHsp70 and its isolated ATPase domain is strongest in the absence of nucleotides. These findings provide evidence that metazoan escort proteins regulate the catalytic activity and solubility of their cognate chaperones, and they indicate that both forms of regulation arise from interactions with the mtHsp70 ATPase domain.
Autologous blood transfusion after total knee arthroplasty: a randomized, prospective study comparing predonated and postoperative salvage blood.

A randomized, prospective study of the use of allogeneic blood was performed in a consecutive series of patients who underwent primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and had autologous transfusion either from one unit of predonated autologous blood or from postoperative unwashed blood salvage. In this study, 83 patients (88 knees) were included, with 47 knees in the salvage group and 41 in the predonation group. There were no differences between groups in average age, height, and weight, or gender, diagnoses, or anesthesia type. No significant difference was seen between the groups in the prevalence of allogeneic blood transfusion (5% for the predonation group and 0% for salvage group). Postoperative blood salvage was as effective as predonated autologous blood in preventing the risk associated with allogeneic blood after TKA.
The Effect of Local Triazine Restriction Policies on Recommended Weed Management in Corn

The potential health hazard posed by pesticides has raised public concern about their use. Herbicides are the most heavily used pesticides. As the most commonly encountered pesticide in groundwater, atrazine is especially troubling. Although its mammalian toxicity is low, atrazine causes concern because surveys have detected it in U.S. groundwater more often than any other herbicide (Hallberg; United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 1990, 1992). Atrazine metabolites may be equally toxic and have also been detected in groundwater. In midwestern corn production areas, early summer concentrations of atrazine in surface water sometimes exceed EPA tolerance levels for drinking water (Ribaudo). Not coincidentally, atrazine is the herbicide most commonly used in U.S. corn and sorghum production. Herbicides are more likely than other pesticides to enter ground and surface water because: (1) they are applied at higher rates than other pesticides; (2) many are applied directly to the soil in pre-plant incorporated or pre-emergence treatments; and (3) even post-emergence treatments are usually applied when crops and weeds are small and much soil is exposed. Where spray rigs are dumped or washed out, herbicides can create point source contamination in addition to the non-point contamination associated with normal chemical crop treatment. The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Reform Act of 1988 mandates the reregistration of all pesticides that were originally registered by the federal government for agricultural use prior to 1985. Atrazine is one such pesticide. Failure to pass reregistration for any specific use (on corn, for example) would have the same economic effect as a ban.
A fire station placement model

The authors have constructed an analytical model to solve the fire station placement problem. Quick and ready graphs have been prepared for its application by fire service personnel.
Relationship between genetic control of T-cell mitogen response and thyroiditis susceptibility in inbred rats.

Relationship between susceptibility to experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT) and mitogen response was investigated in CDF and SHR rats. Highly disease-susceptible CDF rats demonstrated significantly lower phytohemagglutinin responses compared to poorly susceptible SHR rats. Cross-breeding studies involving CDF and SHR rats showed that the IrRaTg gene does not segregate with the gene controlling mitogen response. Susceptibility to EAT is under polygenic control while PHA response is controlled by a major autosomal gene not linked to RT1.
misshapen encodes a protein kinase involved in cell shape control in Drosophila

We have identified a novel protein kinase encoded by the misshapen gene, which is required for the normal shape and orientation of Drosophila photoreceptor cells. misshapen is also expressed in the embryonic mesoderm, pole plasm and other sites of cell shape change or movement. We propose that msn may act in a signal transduction pathway leading to cytoskeletal re-arrangements.
Pleural effusion after plasmapheresis in Waldenström's macroglobulinemia.

Transudative pleural effusion developed after plasmapheresis in a patient with Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia and hyperviscosity. When albumin was added to the apheresis, the effusion resolved. We therefore suspect that rapid removal of high-molecular-weight IgM led to an abrupt decrease in intravascular colloid oncotic pressure and transudation of fluid into the pleural space. Plasmapheresis can cause pleural effusions in patients who were previously hemodynamically compensated at high levels of colloid oncotic pressure.
Milton Friedman's Capitalism and Freedom: A Binary Economic Critique

This article presents a binary economic critique of Milton Friedman's thesis that a competitive, free market, private enterprise, capitalist system is an essential condition for freedom. After iden...
Ink secretion by the marine snail Aplysia californica enhances its ability to escape from a natural predator

1. Aplysia californica incorporates toxins and pigments from its red seaweed diet into its body and ink, purportedly as a defense against predation. We tested ink's potential defensive function by assessing the survival of green seaweed-fed (red algal toxin deprived) snails in encounters with a natural predator, the sea anemone Anthopleura xanthogrammica. 2. Red seaweed-fed Aplysia secreted copious amounts of ink when ensnared in anemone tentacles. A similar amount of ink applied to “inkless” (green-fed) snails as they were engulfed by an anemone enhanced their survival [71% survived (ink) vs 7% (seawater control)]. Ink caused anemones to reject whitefish (a familiar food) [50% rejected (ink) vs 10% (seawater control)], triggering gastrovascular eversions, which ejected ink as well as prey from their digestive cavities. Snails with only a passive chemical defense (algal toxins, no ink) escaped less often than snails with only an active chemical defense (ink, no red algal toxins) (20% survived vs 71%) and about as often as “red algal toxin deprived” snails (20% vs 12%). Snails avoided ink by chemical orientation, thus avoiding potential sites of ongoing predation. 3. The survival value of ink and the snail's aversion to it supports ink's proposed anti-predator function.
Vapor-Phase Fuming Sulfuric Acid-Doped Poly(p-phenylene vinylene) as a Potential Humidity Sensor

Vapor-phase doping of poly(p-phenylene vinylene) (PPV) with fuming sulfuric acid has been investigated using the quartz crystal microbalance. Thin films of PPV were obtained on quartz crystal substrates by spin casting a precursor polymer, which is thermally converted to give the PPV product. Dopant mass uptake and the resistance of the film were recorded in situ during doping. A decrease in the resistance and therefore an increase in the conductivity of the film from the insulating to the metallic regime was observed. Mass uptake information was used to determine the dopant concentration at the maximum conductivity, the doping rate, and the diffusion coefficient of the polymer. The dopant concentration results were verified by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry and elemental analysis. The observation that the doped material tends to lose its metallic properties upon exposure to moisture in the atmospheric air has been used to investigate its potential as a humidity-sensing device. The golden metallic appearance of the film changes as well. The conductivity can be returned by application of a dynamic vacuum. Fuming sulfuric acid-doped films were exposed to a range of relative humidities, from 4 to 75%. A rapid and significant linear response (over four orders of magnitude) to all percent humidities was observed. Fuming sulfuric acid-doped PPV may have the potential for applications as a humidity sensor or as a disposable shut-off switch in moisture-sensitive devices.
Glacial deposits in Great Britain and Ireland

With the increasing awareness of environmental problems, there is a growing desire for a de--tailed understanding of superficial deposits in general, and glacial deposits in particular. This is because these sediments have a profound influence on groundwater protection, waste management and nature conservation. They are also of vital importance to civil engineering, because they provide the foundation for, as well as the materials extracted to build our roads and buildings. The greater part of the British Isles was glaciated, at least once, during the Quater--nary Era. In the regions subjected to glaciation, glacial deposits underlie much of the present land surface. Although there have been many recent publica--tions on various Quaternary geological topics, the present volume is the first dedicated to a detailed assessment of the glacial deposits of Britain and Ireland. After introductory chapters presenting the glacial history, the sedimentary sequences in 24 critical regions are discussed. These regions include all of Ireland, the gla--ciated area of Great Britain, and the adjoining offshore region of the North Sea. The controver--sial evolution of the Irish Sea Basin during the Last Glaciation is discussed from various view--points. A collection of 'critical topics' presented in the later part of the book range from the classification of glacigenic landforms and de--posits to the results of geophysical, geotechnical and geochemical analyses. The book includes 368 figures, 40 tables and 51 colour photographs, a detailed index and a list of over 1000 references. With 45 contributions by 48 scientists, this volume represents a truly contemporary view of this field of research. To--gether with its companion volume the Glacial deposits in North-West Europe, this book pro--vides an excellent textbook for the advanced student or the amateur, as well as an indispen--sible source- and guidebook for the professional scientist.
Theoretical study on the structure and property relationship of the cationic conjugated polyelectrolytes

A theoretical study using density functional theory was performed to understand the structure/property relationship of the cationic conjugated polyelectrolytes, poly[9,9-bis-(6′-N,N,N-trimethylammonium) hexyl] fluorene-alt-4,7-(2,1,3-benzothiadiazole)] (PFBT-X, where X = Br). The torsion angle between the fluorene and benzothiadiazole units in the PFBT monomer was found to substantially affect the structural and electronic properties of the cationic PFBT monomer. The changes of geometrical parameter, HOMO and LUMO energy levels, and band gap, as well as the absorption maximum are discussed in terms of the torsion in the PFBT monomer structure. For comparison, its neutral analogue, the monomer of poly(9,9-di-n-octylfluorene-alt-benzothiadiazole) (F8BT) was also studied. The length of conjugation backbone was also examined.
A Theoretical Model Study of the Influence of Fluid Stresses on a Cell Adhering to a Microchannel Wall

Abstract We predict the amplification of mechanical stress, force, and torque on an adherent cell due to flow within a narrow microchannel. We model this system as a semicircular bulge on a microchannel wall, with pressure-driven flow. This two-dimensional model is solved computationally by the boundary element method. Algebraic expressions are developed by using forms suggested by lubrication theory that can be used simply and accurately to predict the fluid stress, force, and torque based upon the fluid viscosity, μ , channel height, H , cell size, R , and flow rate per unit width, Q 2-d . This study shows that even for the smallest cells ( γ = R / H ≪1), the stress, force, and torque can be significantly greater than that predicted based on flow in a cell-free system. Increased flow resistance and fluid stress amplification occur with bigger cells ( γ >0.25), because of constraints by the channel wall. In these cases we find that the shear stress amplification is proportional to Q 2-d (1− γ ) −2 , and the force and torque are proportional to Q 2-d (1− γ 2 ) −5/2 . Finally, we predict the fluid mechanical influence on three-dimensional immersed objects. These algebraic expressions have an accuracy of ∼10% for flow in channels and thus are useful for the analysis of cells in flow chambers. For cell adhesion in tubes, the approximations are accurate to ∼25% when γ >0.5. These calculations may thus be used to simply predict fluid mechanical interactions with cells in these constrained settings. Furthermore, the modeling approach may be useful in understanding more complex systems that include cell deformability and cell-cell interactions.
Monte Carlo stochastic simulation of electric power generation system production costs under time-dependent constraints

Abstract Probabilistic production costing models are widely used in the electric power industry to forecast the cost of producing electricity. A widely used model due to Baleriaux and Booth provides an analytical formula for the expected production costs using the load duration curve (LDC) in place of chronological sequence of loads and the forced outage rates of the generating units. Since the chronological information is lost in the LDC, it cannot accurately simulate those aspects of production cost that are time dependent in nature. The paper points out that, in addition to the need for a chronological simulation of load to capture the time-dependent constraints, it is also necessary to model the frequency and duration of the generation outages. Monte Carlo results are given for a Markovian model for the frequency and duration of the outages where several unit commitment constraints are considered. It is shown that the mean and variance of the production costs may differ significantly if the failure and the repair rates of the generating units are changed although the respective forced outage rates remain unaltered. The paper also highlights the simplicity of using continuous-time simulation in the Markov model.
Elevated temperature and periodic water stress alter growth and quality of common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) and monarch (Danaus plexippus) larval performance

In this study, we examined the independent and interactive effects of temperature and water availability on the growth and foliar traits of common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) and performance of a specialist herbivore, larvae of the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus). Milkweed from multiple population sources collected across a latitudinal gradient in Wisconsin, USA, were grown under all combinations of ambient or elevated temperature and the presence or absence of periodic water stress. Elevated temperature marginally increased, while water stress decreased plant growth. Milkweed from more northerly latitudes experienced larger growth responses to elevated temperature and were more resistant to water stress, especially under higher temperatures. Elevated temperature and water stress also altered milkweed composite foliar trait profiles. Elevated temperature generally increased leaf nitrogen and structural compounds, and decreased leaf mass per area. Water stress also elevated foliar nitrogen, but reduced defensive traits. Monarch larvae performed well on milkweed under elevated temperature and water stress, but gained the most mass on plants exposed to both treatments in combination. Our findings suggest that milkweed populations from more northerly latitudes in the upper Midwest may benefit more from rising temperatures than those in southerly locations, but that these beneficial effects depend on water availability. Monarch larvae grew larger on plants from all experimental treatments relative to ambient condition controls, indicating that future changes in milkweed presence on the landscape will likely influence monarch populations more than the effects of future changes in plant quality on larval performance.
Ecdysone-induced changes in morphology and protein synthesis in Drosophila cell cultures.

Abstract Permanent cell lines derived from embryonic Drosophila melanogaster show pronounced morphological and biochemical changes in response to the addition of β-ecdysone, the moulting hormone, or two of its analogs. Schneider's line 3 cells, and the French line Kc, morphologically differentiate into what appear to be neural-like cells. During this period levels of acetylcholinesterase activity increase 10- to 30-fold, and DNA synthesis ceases. The level of choline acetyltransferase activity remains unchanged in line 3, and is very low. Schneider's line 2 cells show no morphological transformation in response to β-ecdysone, but undergo a marked change in the pattern of protein synthesis. The six major ecdysone proteins are not “heat shock” proteins.
POTENTIAL FUNCTION DESCRIBING THE FOLDING OF THE 30 NM FIBER

Most of the DNA in a eucaryotic cell nucleus is accurately described as an extremely long thin fiber which is smoothly folded by histones into a thicker fiber called the 30 nm fiber. For the DNA to remain biologically functional, the 30 nm fiber must be only marginally stable. Therefore, we assume that the 30 nm fiber has fluidlike properties under physiologic conditions. It does not possess a single well-defined structure, but rather at any given instant it will possess a structure that lies within specified limits in an energy landscape. We predict an energy landscape for the 30 nm fiber by modeling the fiber as an elastic rod (DNA) subjected to an external potential (histones). For this purpose, closed-form helix-on-a-linear-helix solutions for the equilibrium configuration of an elastic rod are parametrized to fit the dimensions of the so-called solenoid model of the 30 nm fiber. We introduce a method of including a Lennard-Jones type potential function into the elastic rod model that represents histone-DNA interactions, and we parametrize the potential according to known thermodynamic data. The resulting energy landscape for the 30 nm fiber allows for structural irregularities under physiologic conditions and for unfolding of the fiber when the DNA is sufficiently overor underwound. Our model predicts that forcing a change in the amount of twist in DNA of -6.5% or +4.5% from an intrinsic twist of 10.5 base pairs per turn is sufficient to unfold the 30 nm fiber. These results describe a self-activating mechanism which enables RNA polymerase to unfold chromatin during transcription. According to our model, formation of the open complex itself is sufficient to unfold over 200 base pairs of DNA.
A contest to democracy? How the UK has responded to the current terrorist threat

Britain's ‘Contest’ counter-terrorism strategy with its ‘4 Ps’ codification is often held up as a paradigm of an effective liberal democratic counter-terror strategy. However, while the strategy has had some success and been widely emulated internationally, questions remain about the ‘generational’ aspect frequently referred to by government and what kind of an impact such a wide-ranging approach might be having in the long-term upon the United Kingdom. This article seeks to explore the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of the British counter-terrorism strategy while probing some of the areas which may offer themselves as problematic in the longer term. In particular the author explores the ‘Prevent’ part of the strategy which seeks to prevent radicalization leading to terrorism from ever taking place, asking questions about how defined the strategy appears to be and how much the UK might in fact be setting itself up to counter a war without end.
A binding-site barrier affects imaging efficiency of high affinity amyloid-reactive peptide radiotracers in vivo.

Amyloid is a complex pathology associated with a growing number of diseases including Alzheimer’s disease, type 2 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and myeloma. The distribution and extent of amyloid deposition in body organs establishes the prognosis and can define treatment options; therefore, determining the amyloid load by using non-invasive molecular imaging is clinically important. We have identified a heparin-binding peptide designated p5 that, when radioiodinated, was capable of selectively imaging systemic visceral AA amyloidosis in a murine model of the disease. The p5 peptide was posited to bind effectively to amyloid deposits, relative to similarly charged polybasic heparin-reactive peptides, because it adopted a polar α helix secondary structure. We have now synthesized a variant, p5R, in which the 8 lysine amino acids of p5 have been replaced with arginine residues predisposing the peptide toward the α helical conformation in an effort to enhance the reactivity of the peptide with the amyloid substrate. The p5R peptide had higher affinity for amyloid and visualized AA amyloid in mice by using SPECT/CT imaging; however, the microdistribution, as evidenced in micro-autoradiographs, was dramatically altered relative to the p5 peptide due to its increased affinity and a resultant “binding site barrier” effect. These data suggest that radioiodinated peptide p5R may be optimal for the in vivo detection of discreet, perivascular amyloid, as found in the brain and pancreatic vasculature, by using molecular imaging techniques; however, peptide p5, due to its increased penetration, may yield more quantitative imaging of expansive tissue amyloid deposits.
Alkaline phosphatase histochemical staining in the study of germinal matrix hemorrhage and brain vascular morphology in a very-low-birth-weight neonate

We evaluated the utility of alkaline phosphatase (AP) histochemical staining for studying intraparenchymal vascular morphology in the brain of a 31-wk-gestation (1480 g) neonate who died of respiratory insufficiency after 23 h. In this baby, afferent cerebral vessels (arteries, arterioles, and capillaries) stained with AP, whereas efferent vessels (venules, veins) did not. The large periventricular channels in the germinal matrix were determined to be veins, according to AP staining criteria. Arterioles connected with these large periventricular veins after passing through 4- to 6-microns capillaries. Branchings and connections of the cerebral circulation were conventional; i.e. no arterial rete or arteriovenous shunts were found. With this method of differential vascular staining, bleeding in the germinal matrix was found to be perivenous only. No dilated capillaries or arterioles were seen. Smooth muscle was identified in extrastriatal medullary arteries. This preliminary investigation suggests that AP histochemical staining is an excellent method for studying brain vascular morphology and pathology of the very-low-birthweight neonate.
An effective medium treatment of the random bias problem

Abstract We consider here a general model for the incoherent transport of an electron or a one-dimensional disordered lattice. No special symmetry is assumed to hold between the hopping rates. This model is applicable then to charge transport in highly anisotropic disordered systems in the presence of a static electric field. We show how an effective medium theory for the diffusion constant and the velocity of an initially localised particle can be formulated directly from the equations of motion. The theory is shown to predict accurately the velocity for all values of the applied static field including the observed vanishing of the velocity at low values of the static field. The results for the diffusion constant are shown to be in agreement with known results for intermediate to high values of the applied field. We also discuss how the effective medium can easily be constructed in higher dimensions.
The NOAA Hydrometeorology Testbed Soil Moisture Observing Networks: Design, Instrumentation, and Preliminary Results

TheNOAAHydrometeorologyTestbed(HMT)programhasdeployedsoilmoistureobservingnetworksin the watersheds of the Russian River and the North Fork (NF) of the American River in northern California, andtheSanPedroRiverinsoutheasternArizona.Thesenetworksweredesignedtoservethecombinedneeds of the hydrological, meteorological, agricultural, and climatological communities for observations of soil moisture on time scales that range from minutes to decades. The networks are a major component of the HMT program that has been developed to accelerate the development and infusion of new observing technologies, modeling methods, and recent scientific research into the National Weather Service (NWS) offices and to help focus research and development efforts on key hydrological and meteorological forecast problems. These forecast problems are not only of interest to the NWS, but they also play a crucial role in providing input to water managers who work at the national, state, and local government levels to provide water for human consumption, agriculture, and other needs. The HMT soil moisture networks have been specifically designed to capture the changes in soil moisture that are associated with heavy precipitation events and runoff from snowpack during the melt season. This paper describes the strategies used to site the networks and sensors as well as the selection, testing, and calibration of the soil moisture probes. In addition, two illustrative examples of the data gathered by the networks are shown. The first example shows changes in soil moisture observed before and during a flood event on the Babocomari River tributary of the San Pedro River near Sierra Vista, Arizona, on 23 July 2008. The second example examines a 5-yr continuous time series of soil moisture gatheredat Healdsburg, California. The time series illustrates the transition from a multiyear wet period to exceptionally dry conditions from a soil moisture perspective.
Contaminated normal modeling with application to microarray data analysis

A contaminated beta model is often used to describe the distribution of -values arising from a microarray experiment. The authors propose and examine a different approach: namely, using a contaminated normal model to describe the distribution of statistics or suitably transformed statistics. The authors then address whether a researcher who has statistics should analyze them using the contaminated normal model or whether the statistics should be converted to -values to be analyzed using the contaminated beta model. The authors also provide a decision-theoretic perspective on the analysis of statistics. The Canadian Journal of Statistics 38: 315–332; 2010 © 2010 Statistical Society of Canada Un modele beta contamine est souvent utilise pour decrire la fonction de repartition des seuils provenant d'une experience sur les puces a ADN. Les auteurs proposent et etudient une approche differente : en particulier, l'utilisation d'un modele normal contamine pour decrire la distribution des statistiques ou des statistiques transformees de facon adequate. Par la suite, les auteurs s'interessent a savoir si un chercheur qui utilise des statistiques doit les analyser directement en utilisant un modele normal contamine ou les transformer en seuil et analyser ces derniers a l'aide d'un modele beta contamine. Les auteurs proposent aussi une approche decisionnelle pour l'analyse des statistiques . La revue canadienne de statistique 38: 315–332; 2010 © 2010 Societe statistique du Canada
Ga-Ga-Mehrfachbindungscharakter in Na2[Ga(GaTrip2)3] und ein Vergleich mit dem neutralen Ga(GaTrip2)3 (Trip=2,4,6-iPr3C6H2)

Uber das Ga4-Gerust delokalisiert sind die beiden Elektronen in Na2[Ga(GaTrip2)3], die bei der Oxidation zu Ga(GaTrip2)3 abgegeben werden. Die Ga-Ga-Bindungslange verlangert sich dabei um 0.08 A. Ar=2,4,6-iPr3C6H2 (Trip).
Non-destructive detection of phosphorus oxide layers on semiconductor wafers

Abstract A simple non-destructive technique using an i.r. spectrophotometer is described which detects accurately the presence of the phosphosilicate layer in the oxide structure on wafers used in fabricating silicon semiconductor devices. By comparing differences in phosphorus oxide thickness on the basis of absorption characteristics, this technique can be used to monitor the phosphorus content and, subsequently, reduce the failure incidence due to inversion in diodes and npn transistors.
Saline Ground Water — A Little Used and Unmapped Resourcea

Vast quantities of saline ground water await new commercial uses and economical demineralization processes for recognition as a valuable resource. Saline ground water is more widely distributed than any other natural resource, occurring throughout the United States and in geologic formations ranging from the oldest to the youngest. The Coastal Plain has the greatest reserve of fresh water in the country, but at depths ranging from a few feet to about 3,500 feet most of the fresh-water aquifers also contain large quantities of brackish water. Paleozoic formations in the east-central United States have long been producers of saline water as commercial brines and in association with oil and gas. The volume of saline ground water perhaps exceeds the fresh ground-water supply in the Great Plains Region. The greater part of the Western Mountain Region is generally deficient in fresh ground water; however, saline water is present in highly permeable deposits in numerous closed basins and along saline streams. In each of these major ground-water regions small to very large amounts of saline water can be pumped from wells ranging from a few tens of feet to several thousand feet in depth. Knowledge of saline water distribution is general and inadequate, having been attained as a by-product of investigations of fresh-water supplies. This knowledge should be expanded as technological advances in demineralization processes enhance the importance of saline water for potential supply in numerous water-deficient areas.
Extraction of erythropoietin from human urine and rabbit plasma.

Abstract In the presence of high concentrations of sodium chloride or lithium chloride erythropoietin of high specific activity can be extracted with ethanol from human urinary or rabbit plasma concentrates. The activity is further improved by ammonium sulfate or acrylamide gel column fractionation. An isolation scheme for human urine is given. The best fractions are non-dialyzable and cause large increases in hematocrits and blood volumes of normal mice.
Intonation and intelligibility of time-compressed speech. Supplementary report: English vs. French.

Comparative data are reported for the intelligibility of English and of French time-compressed speech when heard spoken either in normal intonation or in intonation patterns conflicting with underl...
Botulinum toxin type A is a safe and effective treatment for neurogenic urinary incontinence: results of a single treatment, randomized, placebo controlled 6-month study.

ABSTRACTPurpose: We determined the safety and efficacy of each of 2 doses of botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) (200 or 300 U BOTOX®) injected into the detrusor for urinary incontinence caused by neuro...
Understanding the Relative Importance of Positive and Negative Social Exchanges: Examining Specific Domains and Appraisals

Negative social exchanges have been more reliably related to psychological health than have positive social exchanges. Little research, however, has sought to understand how underlying appraisal processes link such exchanges to psychological health. This study examined the frequencies of occurrence and appraisals of four parallel domains of positive and negative exchanges in relation to positive well-being and psychological distress in a national sample of 916 older adults. Structural equation analyses revealed that negative exchanges were related both to less well-being and greater psychological distress, whereas positive exchanges were related only to positive well-being. Furthermore, results supported a process in which appraisals mediated the link between social exchanges and psychological health. This social appraisal process helps explain the disproportionate impact of negative exchanges on psychological health.
Mechanism of freeze-thaw damage in Pseudomonas F8.

Pseudomonas F8 was tested for freeze-thaw sensitivity after being washed several times with water. Survival increased to 85% in the fourth wash. Addition of 1% sodium chloride decreased survival to the level obtained when cells were frozen in brain-heart infusion broth. No differences were observed between cells grown at 5 or 23 °C. The freeze-thaw sensitivity of Pseudomonas may be due to the cell's exposure to concentrated medium salts during cooling and warming.
Prompting Discussions of Youth Violence Using Electronic Previsit Questionnaires in Primary Care: A Cluster Randomized Trial

Abstract Objective Youth violence (YV) screening during primary care visits is not routinely performed. Electronic previsit questionnaires (PVQs) are viewed favorably by adolescents and can prompt disclosure and discussion of sensitive health topics. This study aimed to determine the efficacy of an electronic PVQ in prompting YV discussions. Methods A 4-month cluster-randomized controlled trial was conducted in a large urban academic primary care clinic. The clinic's 4 practice groups were randomized to intervention or control assignment. A consecutive sample of adolescents aged 13 to 19 years presenting for annual visits were recruited. Participants completed an electronic PVQ (TickiT) either with (intervention) or without (control) YV questions. PVQ results were delivered to physicians before the visit. The frequency of YV discussions was measured using exit surveys of adolescents. Patients who reported YV discussion rated the helpfulness of the discussion. Multilevel mixed effect logistic regression was conducted to compare likelihood of YV discussion between intervention and control groups. Results A total of 183 adolescents (90% of eligible) participated. Overall, 30% of adolescents reported some YV involvement. Sixty-five percent of the intervention group and 42% of the control group reported discussing YV during their visit. Thirty-one percent of adolescents in the intervention group who disclosed YV involvement reported not having a YV discussion. The intervention group had 2.6 (95% confidence interval 1.2–5.6) times the odds of discussing YV. Sixty-six percent of adolescents who discussed YV with their doctor rated the discussion as very helpful. Conclusions An electronic PVQ with items related to YV is acceptable and feasible, and it significantly improves frequency of patient–provider YV discussion.
Open circuit voltage characterization of lithium-ion batteries

Abstract Several aspects of the open circuit voltage (OCV) characterization of Li-ion batteries as it applies to battery fuel gauging (BFG) in portable applications are considered in this paper. Accurate knowledge of the nonlinear relationship between the OCV and the state of charge (SOC) is required for adaptive SOC tracking during battery usage. BFG in portable applications requires this OCV–SOC characterization to meet additional constraints: (i) The OCV–SOC characterization has to be defined with a minimum number of parameters; (ii) It should be easily computable and invertible with few operations; and (iii) Computation of the model, its derivative and its inverse should be possible in a numerically stable way. With the help of OCV–SOC characterization data collected from 34 battery cells each at 16 different temperatures ranging from −25 °C to 50 °C, we present the following results in this paper: (a) A robust normalized OCV modeling approach that dramatically reduces the number of OCV–SOC parameters and as a result simplifies and generalizes the BFG across temperatures and aging, (b) Several novel functions for OCV modeling, (c) Efficient methods to simplify the computations of OCV functions, (d) Novel methods for OCV parameter estimation, and (e) A detailed performance analysis.