cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Impact of an Issue-Centered Problem-Based Learning Curriculum on 6th Grade Girls’ Understanding of and Interest in Computer Science

Abstract Many stakeholders have suggested that if girls are not engaged in computer science at an early age, the field of computer science (and computing-related fields) will continue to lack gender diversity. We need more explorations of how curriculum impacts girls’ interest in computer science at the elementary level. The focus of this research project was to examine how an elementary problem-based learning curriculum impacted girls’ understanding of and interest in computer science. By utilizing a curriculum focused on a problem that emphasized social activism, we hypothesized that PBL CS could increase interest in CS for girls. This study used a mixed-method sequential explanatory research design to examine the implementation of a CS PBL curriculum with four 6th grade teachers and their 263 students. We collected student CS knowledge pre-tests and post-tests, student attitude surveys, student focus group interviews, teacher interviews, and researcher observation reflection notes. The knowledge tests were analyzed using a mixed measures ANOVA. The survey responses were analyzed using ANOVAs and effect sizes for each comparison were calculated using partial eta squared. The qualitative data was analyzed using a thematic approach that required four researchers to come to a consensus. Results suggested that although girls had less understanding of CS at the beginning, by the end of the curriculum, girls and boys performed similarly. However, there were still elements that were not successful. Girls’ attitudes towards computer science were significantly lower than the boys. Conceptually, the curriculum needs to specifically address how computer science could impact values held by girls.
Recent Updates in Antimicrobial Stewardship in Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy.

Antimicrobial stewardship within acute care is common and has been expanding to outpatient areas. Some inpatient antimicrobial stewardship tactics apply to outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) and complex outpatient antimicrobial therapy (COpAT) management, but differences do exist. OPAT/COpAT is a growing area of practice and research with its own unique considerations for antimicrobial stewardship. Potential ideas for antimicrobial stewardship in the OPAT/COpAT setting include redesigning the regimen to COpAT instead of OPAT, ensuring the use of the shortest effective duration of antimicrobial therapy; using antimicrobials dosed less frequently, such as long-acting glycopeptides; optimizing antimicrobial susceptibility testing reporting for common OPAT/COpAT drugs; and establishing routine laboratory and safety monitoring. Future consensus is needed to determine validated OPAT program metrics and outcomes. As more focus is placed on outpatient antimicrobial stewardship, clinicians practicing in OPAT should publish more data regarding OPAT program methods and outcomes as they relate to antimicrobial stewardship. These can involve patient clinical outcomes, OPAT readmission rates, OPAT therapy completion, and central line-related complications.
Endogenous Selection of Institutions and Their Exogenous Effects

Institutions shape social outcomes, yet institutions themselves are products of political choices. When institutional choices are determined by the same political and social processes that they shape, institutions are endogenously selected. Here I address the question of whether this endogenous institutional selection necessarily implies endogenous institutional effects. If it does, the use of institutional parameters as independent variables explaining policy outcomes and properties of the resulting political regimes, widespread in the literature on comparative political institutions, is hard to justify. I argue, however, that strategic choice of the rules of the game implies designers' ability to obtain their preferred institutional effects only under conditions of complete information. Under incomplete information, ex-post institutional effects do not need to be endogenous, since at the time of designing the rules the designers were not in position to control the selection of these effects. The reason why the choice of the rules does not imply the choice of their effects lies in the intervening and interactive (rather than additive) role played by the environmental parameters, including players' own characteristics, that are not revealed at the time of the institutional choice. Additionally to the model which illustrates the logic of the argument and the workings of intervening structural effects, I find supporting evidence in the processes of design of election laws in post-communist Europe, where stages of design and implementation followed each other in a very quick succession yet were characterized by substantial changes in manifested institutional preferences of the key political players.
Early Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease by NIRF Spectroscopyand Nuclear Medicine

There is an urgent need for the early detection of diseases such as Alzheimer’s (AD) and Cancers in order to enable their successful treatment. Cancer is the second major cause of death after Heart Disease, and AD is the third major cause of death with major, human and financial/economics trillion dollar consequences for the society. Nuclear Medicine is concerned with applications in Medicine of Nuclear Science and Engineering techniques and knowledge. Three major Nuclear Medicine techniques that are established for diagnostic and research purposes are: Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and CAT/CT, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging (NMRI/MRI). However, these three techniques have also major limitations in terms of either cost or image resolution, as well as patient irradiation in the case of CAT/CT and PET. On the other hand, Near Infrared Chemical Imaging Microspectroscopy and certain Fluorescence spectroscopic techniques are capable of single cancer cell and/or single molecule detection and/or imaging. Such powerful capabilities, combined with low cost of diagnostics, make these novel techniques very attractive means for early detection of diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer’s, that are promising to reduce the fatality rate of patients through adequate diagnosis and treatment of such diseases at early stages.Currently NIH provides only inadequate funding for the clinical and research aspects of these novel investigation and clinical diagnostic techniques by FT-NIRS and Fluorescence spectrocopy for early detection of Alzheimer's and Cancers.
New challenges for risk analysis: systemic risks

Systemic risks are a product of profound and rapid technological, economic and social changes associated with three major transformations. They are characterized by high complexity, trans-boundary effects, stochastic relationships, and nonlinear cause-effect patterns with tipping points and often associated with less public attention than they deserve. The full range of sys-temic risks from natural hazards to cybersecurity will be used to illustrate these characteristics and their implications. Due to these characteristics, systemic risks are overextending established risk management and creating new, unsolved challenges for policy making in risk governance. Their negative effects are often pervasive, impacting fields beyond the obvious primary areas of harm. The paper relates to an integrative risk concept including evaluation criteria, different risk classes and corresponding management strategies for the handling of systemic risks. The paper argues that a deliberative approach is needed for risk management and policy making in risk governance to prevent, mitigate or control systemic risks.
Noise reduction during digital signal generation

Quantitative methods are presented for ensuring that the digital oscillator noise introduced into a digital signal generation circuit is below the quantization error of the digital-to-analog converter (DAC), and will thus not affect system performance. An overview of digital methods of generating RF waveforms is also presented. It is shown that careful selection of computer algorithms and attention to algorithm timing and table storage requirements can ensure that the DAC inputs are sufficiently close to a theoretically perfect sine wave that the difference is below the DAC resolution, or quantization error. This knowledge allows a calculation of RAM (random-access memory) and CPU performance requirements without expensive empirical tests. >
Solid-Phase Synthesis of Tetrasubstituted Pyrazoles, Novel Ligands for the Estrogen Receptor

Most ligands for the estrogen receptor (ER) are not well suited for synthesis by combinatorial means, because their construction involves a series of carbon−carbon bond forming reactions that are not uniformly high yielding. In previous work directed to overcoming this limitation, we surveyed various phenol-substituted five-membered heterocycles, hoping to find a system that would afford both high ER binding affinity and whose synthesis could be adapted to solid-phase methods (Fink et al. Chem. Biol. 1999, 6, 206−219.) In this report, we have developed a reliable and efficient solid-phase method to prepare the best of these heterocycles, the tetrasubstituted pyrazoles, and we have used this methodology to produce small, discrete libraries of these novel ER ligands. We used a combination of FT-IR and nanoprobe 1H NMR-MAS to characterize intermediates leading up to the final pyrazole products directly on the bead. We also developed a scavenging resin, which enabled us to obtain products free from inorganic ...
Lysis by Human Oral Bacteria of Collagen Altered By Ethylene Oxide

SummaryTreatment with ethylene oxide rendered reconstituted acid-soluble collagen readily digestible by combined pure cultures of human oral strains of fusiform bacilli, diphtheroid bacilli, streptococci, and veillonellae. The fact that only a few of these strains individually attacked such altered collagen to a slight extent indicates digestion by synergistic and symbiotic reactions between members of the oral microbiota. Concomitantly with increased digestibility from treatment with ethylene oxide, reconstituted collagen exhibited marked morphological changes as revealed by electron microscopy.
An epidemic of mass destruction

(2005). An epidemic of mass destruction. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists: Vol. 61, No. 6, pp. 80-80.
Relationship Between Public Opinion and Supreme Court Decisions Was Mr. Dooley Right

The role and function of public sentiment and sanction in democratic theory assumes that there is a relationship between the law as expressed in Supreme Court decisions and public opinion. Aspects for support for this hypothesis are: (1) when fewer than four in ten members of the public approved of a broad guarantee of free speech the court restricted the First Amendment; (2) when fewer than four in ten members of the public supported the First Amendment. the court's decisions were much more likely to be close ones in either direction but especially when rulings were adverse to free speech; and (3) when a low level of public favor for free speech rights of extremists was rising, the Court was more likely to render decisions upholding the First Amendment even though less than 50% of the public supported free speech for political extremists.
Prescription Omega-3-Acid Ethyl Esters for the Treatment of Very High Triglycerides

Triglyceride (TG) levels can increase for numerous reasons, including a sedentary lifestyle, an unhealthy diet, especially one rich in refined carbohydrates, and comorbidities. According to the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP), the normal TG level is or = 500 mg/dL) should be promptly managed and treated to reach lipid treatment goals, as determined by the NCEP. Lowering TG levels is the primary management goal in these patients, while lowering low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels are secondary goals. Therapeutic lifestyle changes are often recommended initially for patients with elevated TGs; however, concomitant drug therapy is often required. Data show that intake of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) can significantly decrease serum TGs, along with plasma concentrations of certain lipoproteins. Omega-3-acid ethyl esters are available by prescription or as dietary supplements. Clinical trials in adult patients with VHTGs show that four 1 g capsules of prescription omega-3 fatty acids, which contain 465 mg of EPA and 375 mg of DHA per capsule, can effectively decrease TG levels by up to 45%, and is generally well tolerated.
Paleocene‐Eocene data model integration

The warming at the Paleocene-Eocene boundary about 55 million years ago is the subject of intense research, as it has the potential to inform us about the effects of warming on the global ecosystem. Despite many years of research, many questions remain regarding the specifics and dynamics of this transitionally warm period known as the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM). The proposed source of this warming is a large increase in methane, carbon dioxide, or both, possibly from volcanic activity, methane hydrates buried along the continental slopes, and methane emissions from wetlands. Global climate models adapted with Eocene geography and high greenhouse gas levels have so far been unable to reproduce the warm climate of the high latitudes depicted by proxy data from this time. The integration of proxy data derived from the geologic and fossil record with model output is also a challenge, and requires cooperation of scientists from a broad array of disciplines.
Fat suppression at 7T using a surface coil: application of an adiabatic half-passage chemical shift selective radiofrequency pulse.

The selective suppression of fat using chemical shift selective (CHESS) sinc, gaussian presaturation, or binomial radiofrequency pulses are widely implemented techniques in magnetic resonance imaging. For applications wherein transmitter coils that generate inhomogeneous magnetic (B1), fields are used (e.g., surface coils), adiabatic radiofrequency pulses that are less susceptible to spatial variations in B1 amplitude will improve the spatial homogeneity of spin excitation angle. Herein, we describe the application of an adiabatic half-passage hyperbolic secant CHESS pulse suitable for acquiring fat-suppressed magnetic resonance images with surface coils on high-field systems. Images obtained from a water/fat phantom and from the abdominal region of a rat are presented indicating excellent suppression of fat signal from the entire coil-sensitive volume.
Simplicity Wins: How Germany's Mid-Sized Industrial Companies Succeed

The article reviews the book ‘Simplicity Wins: How Germany's Mid-Sized Industrial Companies Succeed,’ by Gunter Rommel, Jurgen Kluge, Rolf-Dieter Kempis, Raimund Diederichs and Felix Bruck.
Dilepton production from hot quark matter in an ultra-relativistic heavy-ion collision

Abstract The dilepton production mass spectrum from the decay of hot quark matter in an ultra-relativistic heavy-ion collision is calculated. Relativistic hydrodynamic equations are solved to obtain the space-time evolution of the quark matter fireball. Distinct enhancements of the dilepton mass spectrum below 600 MeV are predicted for a deconfinement transition temperature T c ⪅200MeV.
Histochemistry of the glycogen body of the turkey spinal cord

Enzyme histochemical studies of the glycogen body of the turkey showed very little activity of suocinic dehydrogenase and cytochrome oxidase in the glycogen body cells, and marked activity of lactic dehydrogenase, NAD-diaphorase and the hexosemonophosphate shunt enzymes. Gradients of histochemical staining intensity for lactic and succinic dehydrogenase in the glycogen body and spinal cord were confirmed by biochemical assays of homogenates of these tissues. It was concluded that glycogen body metabolism is predominantly glycolytic. Alkaline phosphatase activity was weak; acid phosphatase activity was moderate. There was no acetyl cholinesterase or nonspecific cholinesterase activity in the glycogen body.
The translation planes of order q2 that admit SL(2, q) as a collineation group. I. Even order

Abstract Let π be a translation plane of even order q2 that admits SL(2, q) as a collineation group. Then π is a Desarguesian, Hall, or Ott-Schaeffer plane or the Dempwolff plane of order 16.
Influence of vascular and transpulmonary pressures on the functional morphology of the pulmonary microcirculation.

Abstract The effects of airway and vascular pressures on pulmonary capillary morphology were examined by rapidly freezing in situ dog lungs under Zone 1, 2, and 3 conditions at transpulmonary pressures ( P tp ) of 5, 15, and 25 cm H 2 O. The tissue was preserved using a freeze substitution technique and analyzed by transmission electron microscopy. Capillary and septal wall widths were measured on random sections, and an estimate of the thickness of the blood:gas barrier was made. In addition, the depths of any folds penetrating into the capillary lumen were also measured. Under Zone 2 and 3 conditions, increasing the perfusing pressure increased the mean capillary width, but at higher P tp , this effect was reduced. Mean fold depth was reduced as P tp . was increased under both Zone 2 and 3 conditions. At low P tp (5cm H 2 O), mean fold depth was unresponsive to changes in perfusing pressure, but decreased significantly as perfusing pressure increased when the P tp , was 15 or 25 cm H 2 O. Wall thickness was unaffected by change in P tp . Under Zone 2 conditions, wall thickness was independent of perfusing pressure. However, under Zone 3 conditions, at P tp of 15 and 25 cm H 2 O, there was a significant decrease in wall thickness as perfusing pressure was increased. Presumably, this decrease in wall thickness is due to distention of pulmonary capillaries at medium and high inflation pressures.
Abstract 3934: Tumor-associated endothelial cells promote tumor metastasis by chaperoning circulating tumor cells and protecting them from anoikis.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most frequent cancer worldwide and five-year survival rates ( Citation Format: Arti Yadav, Bhavna Kumar, Jun-Ge Yu, Matthew Old, Theodoros N. Teknos, Pawan Kumar. Tumor-associated endothelial cells promote tumor metastasis by chaperoning circulating tumor cells and protecting them from anoikis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3934. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-3934
Analysis of the RSR' Complex in Lead V1

An RSR' complex was present in lead V1 in the electrocardiograms of 44 of 870 normal people from birth to 30 years of age; an overall incidence of 5 per cent. Analysis of the RSR' from these 44 patients demonstrated the importance of considering age when interpreting the RSR' complex. Criteria for distinguishing normal and abnormal RSR' complexes for various age groups was suggested. These criteria were 85 per cent successful in distinguishing the RSR' complex in patients with congenital heart disease from the RSR' complex in normal subjects.
Serum Injection on the HPLC Column for Pentobarbital Assay

Abstract Serum is injected directly on a polymeric PRP-1 (5 μm) column for pentobarbital assay and eluted with 12% acetonitrile in 15 mmol/L phosphate buffer, pH 11.8. The pentobarbital peak is well separated from other endogenous substances and common drugs in the serum.
Radium isotopes in coastal waters on the Amazon shelf

Abstract Radium isotope distributions on the continental shelf adjacent to the Amazon River are a complex function of salinity. The river and seawater endmembers for each radium isotope are low. Data from intermediate salinities plot as a highly scattered region above the conservative mixing line connecting the river and ocean endmembers. Spatial and temporal variability in sediment mixing and water residence times cause the scatter in the radium isotope data. We have used the distributions of 226 Ra, 228 Ra, and 224 Ra collected during four cruises representing different conditions on the shelf to construct inventories of radium due to nonconservative additions from sediments. Using estimates of water residence times, we calculate fluxes of these radium isotopes from the Amazon system. The amount of fresh river sediment entering the system each year is adequate to support the nonconservative flux of 226 Ra from the shelf sediments; however, the ultimate release of 226 Ra from the sediments requires weeks to months. To support the nonconservative flux of 228 Ra from this system, sediments of the 1–2 m thick surface mixed layer must be resuspended every two years. The resulting flux supports 15% of the 228 Ra entering the surface Atlantic Ocean. Release of 224 Ra from suspended sediments, primarily fluid mud, is more than adequate to support the inventory of 224 Ra on the Amazon shelf. Comparing the AmasSeds low discharge cruise (November 1991) to a low discharge sampling in December 1982 revealed no significant changes in the 226 Ra and 228 Ra distributions.
Development of a Patient-Specific Nonlinear Finite Element Model for the Simulation of Lung Motion During Cancer Radiation Therapy

Respiratory motion causes either over-dose to the tumor or under-dose to the organ at risk in radiation therapy treatment for cancer. In order to characterize the motion, a nonlinear finite element model of the lungs has been developed based on 4D computed tomography (CT) data of a cancer patient with a tumor in the right lung. Pressure-volume (PV) curve data was applied to deform the model in real time. Realistic results are obtained when contact conditions are imposed between the pleura and the thoracic cavity.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Device closure of membranous ventricular septal defects in adults: an alternative to surgical closure.

Ventricular septal defects (VSD) are the most common forms of congenital heart disease, accounting for approximately 30% of all defects. Moderate to large defects result in significant early left v...
Response of masticatory muscles to passive stretch stimulus - from perspectives of functional appliances.

OBJECTIVE The aims of this study were to examine whether a passive stretch stimulus by means of a functional appliance induces changes in the fiber composition of masticatory muscles and whether these changes are similar to the changes in stretched limb muscle fibers by using RT-PCR, western blot, and immunohistochemical assays. METHODS Five male New Zealand White rabbits were fitted with a prefabricated inclined plane on the maxillary central incisors to force the mandible forward (- 2 mm) and downward (- 4 mm). Further, 1 hind limb was extended and constrained with a cast so that the extensor digitorum longus (EDL) was stretched when the animal used the limb. The animals were sacrificed after 1 week and the masseter, lateral pterygoid, and EDL were processed and compared with those from control animals (n = 3). RESULTS The stretched EDL had a significantly higher percentage of slow fibers, whereas the stretched masticatory muscles did not show changes in the composition of the major contractile proteins after 7 days. CONCLUSIONS The transition of fiber phenotypes in response to a stretch stimulus may take longer in the masticatory muscles than in the limb muscles.
Bone growth and periosteal migration control masseter muscle orientation in pigs (Sus scrofa).

During growth the muscles of mastication alter their lines of action. Research on long bones indicates that the apparent migration of muscle attachments is due to the movement of the periosteum relative to the underlying bone. To assess whether the pig masseter muscle follows the periosteum during growth, implants of titanium granules in a gelatin matrix were placed simultaneously in various parts of the masseter muscle and its periosteal and bony attachments. Growth movements of these tissues were followed radiographically for 2 months. Granule position was verified histologically. Periosteal movement was the dominant growth process at the insertion of the masseter. All implants migrated caudally relative to the mandible. However, a strong position effect was seen dorsoventrally: implants placed high in the ascending ramus migrated dorsally as well as caudally; low implants migrated only caudally. This differential migration, ascribed to the influence of the condyle, accounts for the increasing horizontal orientation of dorsal fibers. A similar differential was seen along the rostrocaudal axis of the ramus. In contrast to the insertion, the origin of the masseter from the zygomatic arch shows no periosteal movement. Rather, the entire bone-muscle complex becomes displaced by sutural growth, leading to increasing vertical orientation of the masseter. Thus two different aspects of skull growth are responsible for the change in muscle anatomy. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Empirical analysis of ideal recombination on random decomposable problems

This paper analyzes the behavior of a selectorecombinative genetic algorithm (GA) with an ideal crossover on a class of random additively decomposable problems (rADPs). Specifically, additively decomposable problems of order k whose subsolution fitnesses are sampled from the standard uniform distribution U[0,1] are analyzed. The scalability of the selectorecombinative GA is investigated for 10,000 rADP instances. The validity of facetwise models in bounding the population size, run duration, and the number of function evaluations required to successfully solve the problems is also verified. Finally, rADP instances that are easiest and most difficult are also investigated.
Conflicts of interest between banks and firms: Evidence from Japanese mergers

Abstract This paper assesses conflicts of interest between banks and their client firms via the merger transaction by examining the wealth gain of merger acquirers who were listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 1990–2004. The paper reports two main findings. First, acquiring firms did not gain from their acquisitions. Second, acquirers with stronger bank ties experienced larger wealth loss than those with weaker bank ties. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that banks played a conflicted role in mergers during the examination period.
Delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity, lymphocyte count, and blood tests in patients with breast carcinoma

General immunocompetence was examined in 125 patients with various stages of breast cancer. Tests include peripheral blood lymphocyte count, serum protein electrophoresis, quantitative immunoglobulins, CEA level, and delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity (DCH) reaction to six recall antigens (PPD, Monilia, mumps, Varidase, histoplasmin, and coccidioidin). About one third of the patients responded positively to each of the first four antigens, whereas 12% reacted to histoplasmin and 4% to coccidioidin. In this study, DCH to recall antigens had no prognostic value because the distributions of skin test reactivity were similar among patients with different stages of breast carcinoma. And among patients with similar stage of disease the relapse rates were similar for those who reacted and those who were anergic. But peripheral lymphocyte count had definite prognostic value because patients with advanced stage (group III/IV) and those who were anergic had significantly lower lymphocyte counts. Among patients with relatively early stages of breast carcinoma (group I/II), those who had higher lymphocyte count (greater than or equal to 2,000/mm3) had lower chance of having relapse up to 5 years after mastectomy.
Refugee Geography and the Diffusion of Armed Conflict in Africa

Why are refugee populations associated with the spread of conflict? Do refugees upset local dynamics by increasing the mobilization opportunities of rebels? Work on rebel motivation predicts that the strategic impact of a location influences armed actors' decisions to fight there; thus, I identify two strategic aspects of refugee geography which may influence where conflict takes place in the host country – refugee mass and refugee accommodation type. I examine the influence of these factors using a new, disaggregated dataset on refugees in 26 African countries engaged in armed conflict during the period 2000–2010.
Prevention of apoptosis and preservation of function by protease inhibitors in cortical neurons exposed to glutamate

Traumatic injury and diseases of the central nervous system are often associated with release of L-glutamate that causes neuronal death and dysfunction. Rat primary cortical neurons exposed to 0.5 μmL-glutamate for 24 h died mostly by apoptosis (Wright staining, ApopTag assay). L-glutamate exposure also caused up-regulation of calpain and caspase-3 compared with β-actin, an internal control (Western blot). We tested calpain and caspase-3 inhibitors to prevent death and dysfunction in following L-glutamate exposure. Pre-treatment of cells with 0.2 μm calpeptin (calpain-specific inhibitor) or/and 100 μm z-DEVD-fmk (caspase 3-specific inhibitor) prevented apoptosis. Electrophysiological properties and whole-cell currents associated with voltage-gated Na+ channels, NMDARs, and kainate/AMPARs were measured. There were no significant differences in VREST, membrane capacitance and IBASAL at −70 mV for inhibitor only or inhibitor plus L-glutamate treated neurons relative to control neurons. The lack of a change in capacitance indicated that neurons treated with inhibitor plus L-glutamate did not undergo apoptotic shrinkage and maintained the same size as the control neurons. Currents associated with Na+ channels, NMDARs, and kainate/AMPARs were similar in amplitude and activation/inactivation kinetics for control and treatments with inhibitor plus L-glutamate. Spontaneous synaptic activity (as observed by miniature end-plate currents) was also similar in control, inhibitor only, and inhibitor plus L-glutamate treated cultures. Prevention of L-glutamate-induced apoptosis by protease inhibitors preserved normal electrophysiological properties and ion channel activity in cortical neurons. Acknowledgements: Supported by the grants from NIH-NINDS (NS31622, NS38146, NS41088).
Injections of muscimol into the paraventricular thalamic nucleus, but not mediodorsal thalamic nuclei, induce feeding in rats

The paraventricular thalamic nucleus (PVT) is a component of the midline thalamic group that is interconnected with several brain regions known to play important roles in the control of food intake, including the lateral hypothalamus and nucleus accumbens shell, suggesting that the PVT itself may be involved in mediating feeding behavior. In the current study, we examined whether inhibition of cells in the PVT with the GABA(A) agonist muscimol could alter food intake in non-deprived rats. To control for possible spread of the drug, we also observed food intake after injections of muscimol into the overlying ventricle or laterally adjacent mediodorsal thalamic nuclei (MD). We found that muscimol injections into the central PVT dose-dependently increased food intake. In contrast, intra-MD injections of muscimol resulted in a potent dose-dependent suppression of food intake, while those into the overlying ventricle had no effect. These results support the proposal that the PVT is a component of the neural circuitry controlling feeding behavior.
The Immunologic Barriers to Replacing Damaged Organs

Abstract:The recent years have brought breathtaking advances in the biomedical sciences and biomedical engineering. These advances offer the promise that diseases responsible for most disability and early death may soon be addressed by replacing damaged organs with bio-engineered substitutes. Applic
Functional interactions between cytochromes P450 1A2 and 2B4 require both enzymes to reside in the same phospholipid vesicle: evidence for physical complex formation

Previous studies have shown that the combined presence of two cytochrome P450 enzymes (P450s) can affect the function of both enzymes, results that are consistent with the formation of heteromeric P450·P450 complexes. The goal of this study was to provide direct evidence for a physical interaction between P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) and P450 2B4 (CYP2B4), by determining if the interactions required both enzymes to reside in the same lipid vesicles. When NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase (CPR) and a single P450 were incorporated into separate vesicles, extremely slow reduction rates were observed, demonstrating that the enzymes were anchored in the vesicles. Next, several reconstituted systems were prepared: 1) CPR·CYP1A2, 2) CPR·CYP2B4, 3) a mixture of CPR·CYP1A2 vesicles with CPR·CYP2B4 vesicles, and 4) CPR·CYP1A2·CYP2B4 in the same vesicles (ternary system). When in the ternary system, CYP2B4-mediated metabolism was significantly inhibited, and CYP1A2 activities were stimulated by the presence of the alternate P450. In contrast, P450s in separate vesicles were unable to interact. These data demonstrate that P450s must be in the same vesicles to alter metabolism. Additional evidence for a physical interaction among CPR, CYP1A2, and CYP2B4 was provided by cross-linking with bis(sulfosuccinimidyl) suberate. The results showed that after cross-linking, antibody to CYP1A2 was able to co-immunoprecipitate CYP2B4 but only when both proteins were in the same phospholipid vesicles. These results clearly demonstrate that the alterations in P450 function require both P450s to be present in the same vesicles and support a mechanism whereby P450s form a physical complex in the membrane.
Chorionic gonadotropin (α and β subunit RNA's are present in equine placental membranes by day 30 of pregnancy

Summary Northern analysis was used to investigate timing of transcrip tion of the genes for α and β subunits of chorionic gonadotropin (CG) by equine conceptuses. Two conceptuses were collected on each of days 26, 28, 30 and 32 after ovulation. Conceptus mem branes and embryos were separated and frozen immediately on dry ice. Total RNA was extracted, electrophoretically separated on agarose gels, and RNA was transferred to nitrocellulose membranes by osmotic blotting. Total RNA from equine liver, pituitary, testis and from a day 32 embryo sewed as control. The α and β subunits were both first detected in RNA extracted from day 30 conceptus membranes. The α subunit was detected in placental membrane RNA from both samples at day 30 and in both samples at day 32. The β subunit was detected in RNA in only one sample at day 30 and in both samples at day 32. Both α and β subunits were detected in equine pituitary RNA, but neither was detected in embryo, liver or testis RNA. These results indicate that transcription of the genes for α and β subunits of CG has begun by day 30 of gestation. This is well before the chorionic girdle cells invade the endometrium to form endometrial cups, and earlier than has been reported for presence of the hormone in serum or for in vitro production by girdle cells.
Sexual abuse and assault: A comprehensive program utilizing a centralized system

Abstract The Memphis Rape Crisis Program is a centralized, outpatient, nonhospital unit, employing professionally trained nonphysician personnel for the management and treatment of the sexually abused and assaulted victim. This unit provided immediate medical treatment and counseling services to 1,690 sexual assault victims during 1986. Of these, 661 were less than 12 years of age, and 328 were between the ages of 13 and 18 years. The advantages of this centralized, nonhospital system compared with the traditional hospital-based system are detailed. The feasibility of developing a similar program in other communities is discussed.
Carotenoid metabolism in mammals, including man: formation, occurrence, and function of apocarotenoids Thematic Review Series: Fat-Soluble Vitamins: Vitamin A

Vitamin A was recognized as an essential nutrient 100 years ago. In the 1930s, it became clear that dietary β-carotene was cleaved at its central double to yield vitamin A (retinal or β-apo-15′-carotenal). Thus a great deal of research has focused on the central cleavage of provitamin A carotenoids to form vitamin A (retinoids). The mechanisms of formation and the physiological role(s) of noncentral (eccentric) cleavage of both provitamin A carotenoids and nonprovitamin A carotenoids has been less clear. It is becoming apparent that the apocarotenoids exert unique biological activities themselves. These compounds are found in the diet and thus may be absorbed in the intestine, or they may form from enzymatic or nonenzymatic cleavage of the parent carotenoids. The mechanism of action of apocarotenoids in mammals is not fully worked out. However, as detailed in this review, they have profound effects on gene expression and work, at least in part, through the modulation of ligand-activated nuclear receptors. Understanding the interactions of apocarotenoids with other lipid-binding proteins, chaperones, and metabolizing enzymes will undoubtedly increase our understanding of the biological roles of these carotenoid metabolites.
Multiple voices in clinical discourse and as clinical intervention

Background: Grounded in sociocultural theories of language development and use, this paper explores the concept of dialogic voice. Building on the term ‘dialogue’, dialogic voice points to the fundamentally social nature of language‐in‐use. From this perspective, language emerges from specific histories and thus carries the multiple voices of previous speakers. People draw on these voices to think about and represent the world, communicate with others, construct their own identities, and engage in play. Prior () identified three key dimensions of dialogic voicing: typified social voices, re‐envoicing others' words and acts, and personalized voice.Aims: To present a theoretical framing for dialogic voice; to detail the dimensions of dialogic voice; and to offer a preliminary analysis of dialogic voicing in clinical discourse.Methods & Procedures: Data consisted of ten treatment sessions for a 67‐year‐old man with amnesia and aphasia, using a collaborative barrier task protocol. Discourse analysis and selec...
Synthesis of l-Daunosamine and l-Ristosamine Glycosides via Photoinduced Aziridination. Conversion to Thioglycosides for Use in Glycosylation Reactions

Application of photoinduced acylnitrene aziridination to the syntheses of L-daunosamine and L-ristosamine glycosides is reported. Photoreaction of methyl 4-O-azidocarbonyl-2,3,6-trideoxy- L-hex-2-enopyranosides, followed by aziridine opening, leads to 3-amino-3-N-,4-O-carbonyl-2,3,6-trideoxy precursors to the aminosugar methyl glycosides. Conversion of these precursors to their thioglycoside analogues followed by N-acetylation of the carbamate moiety permits high yielding and, in some cases, stereoselective glycosylations using the 1-benzenesulfinylpiperidine-triflic anhydride activation method developed by Crich and co-workers. Glycosylations involving activation with N-iodosuccinimide and silver triflate were also successful, but the stereoselectivities of these reactions in general were lower.
Patterns of Mortality in a Wild Population of White-footed Mice

Abstract Understanding causes of mortality in a population provides information about the selection pressures acting on individuals in that population. To obtain unbiased estimates of mortality, researchers must track individual animals until they die, retrieve dead animals, and make a forensic estimation to determine the cause. Given the limitations of traditional radio-tracking technology and the biases inherent in other methods of estimating mortality causes, little is known about causes of mortality in small mammals (<1 kg). Here we used an automated radio telemetry system to record activity patterns and detect mortality events in a wild population of Peromyscus leucopus (White-footed Mouse). Mice (n = 32) were fitted with small (1 g) radio-collars. Daily survival rate was 0.98 ± 0.01, which translates to a 50% chance of survival over a 29-day period. Although the species is well known as a vector for various diseases, we found only one death attributable to disease. Most mouse mortality (93%) was cau...
Response of the human infant to level of complexity of intermittent visual movement.

Abstract Three levels of visual stimulus complexity were presented to three independent groups of 12 2- to 4-month-old infants. The stimulus was a light which changed position 32 times in a 24-second experimental (E) trial. Three complexity levels were created by varying the predictability of the direction of light movement. Six 24-second E trials alternated with seven 24-second control (C) trials. S was shown the same movement pattern on the first three E trials. On the last three E trials only four Ss in each of the three complexity groups continued to see the same pattern. The remaining Ss in each group were shifted to one of the two levels of stimulus complexity not yet experienced. The dependent variables under observation were limb movement and sucking frequency. In the preshift phase of the experiment, limb movement was suppressed by the most simple and by the most complex levels of stimulation but was facilitated by the intermediate level. The response of hands and feet, although concordant over levels of some variables (e.g., preshift complexity) did not always correspond. There was a suggestion in the later phase of the experiment that a derived score representing a pattern of limb suppression was sensitive to changes in complexity level. Sucking behavior was fairly consistently suppressed by stimulation throughout the experiment. No systematic habituation of responsiveness was found.
Additive effects of inhaled nitric oxide and intravenous milrinone in experimental pulmonary hypertension.

Objective To determine whether inhaled nitric oxide (IN0) and intravenous milrinone have additive pulmonary vasodilator effects in a rat model of pulmonary hypertension. Design Prospective, experimental study. Setting Animal laboratory of a university medical center. Subjects Male New Zealand White rabbits. Interventions Anesthetized rabbits were mechanically ventilated and instrumented for measurement of systemic mean arterial pressure (MAP), pulmonary artery pressure (PAP), left atrial pressure, and cardiac output (CO). After baseline measurements, the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (30 mg/kg iv) was administered. Pulmonary hypertension was produced by the continuous infusion of U46619, a thromboxane A2 mimetic. INO (40 ppm) was added to the inspired gas, and hemodynamic measurements were obtained before and after INO. Milrinone was administered sequentially as a 30-mg/kg bolus followed by a 3-microg/kg/min infusion, a 100-mg/kg bolus followed by a 10-microg/kg/min infusion, and a 300-mg/kg bolus followed by a 30-microg/kg/min infusion (M3). Hemodynamic measurements were obtained with and without INO at each dose of milrinone. Measurements and main results During U46619-induced pulmonary hypertension, INO decreased PAP and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) but did not affect MAP, systemic vascular resistance (SVR), or CO. Milrinone dose dependently decreased PAP, PVR, MAP, and SVR and increased CO. At each dose of milrinone, INO further decreased PVR but not SVR. M3 decreased PVR 49%, and the addition of INO decreased PVR an additional 19% so that PAP and PVR decreased to baseline values. Conclusions Milrinone and INO both decrease pulmonary hypertension individually, and the combination produces additive effects. Combination therapy may produce potent and selective pulmonary vasodilation during the treatment of pulmonary hypertension.
An X-Band Radar Transceiver MMIC with Bandwidth Reduction in 0.13 µm SiGe Technology

This paper presents an X-band chirp radar transceiver with bandwidth reduction for range detection. The radar transceiver includes a super-heterodyne receiver including an ADC, a direct-digital synthesizer (DDS) based transmitter and a phase-locked loop (PLL) synthesizer. In a modified Weaver architecture, the down-converted baseband signal is further mixed with another chirp signal through stretch processing. The resulting waveform bandwidth is greatly reduced and thus relaxes the power and bandwidth requirements of the on-chip ADC. Therefore, the proposed radar transceiver achieves power and bandwidth reductions without degrading its range resolution. The radar-on-chip (RoC) MMIC was implemented in a 0.13 μm SiGe technology with die area of 3.5 × 2.5 mm 2 . With a 2.2 V supply for analog/RF circuits and a 1.5 V supply for the digital portion, the chip consumes 326 mW in the receive mode and 333 mW in the transmit mode, respectively.
Neural-Network-Based Autonomous Star Identification Algorithm

Most of the existing autonomous star identi cation algorithms use direct-match algorithms that prestore the star feature vectors in a database. During recognition, the measurements are compared with the reference feature vectors in sequence or by using binary-tree search. The computation time for the star recognitionwith a traditional model-based system is high, and it increases as the number of the feature patterns in the database increase. We propose an autonomous star identi cation algorithm using fuzzy neural logic networks. This is a parallel star identi cation algorithm with fast training speed. The simulation results based on the SKY2000 star catalog (Myers, J. R., Sande, C. B., Miller, A. C., Warren, W. H., and Tracewell, D. A., “The SKY2000 Master Star Catalog,”AAS/AIAA SpaceMechanics Symposium, AAS, SanDiego, 1997,pp. 1–16) show that the proposed system can achieve both high recognition accuracy and fast recognition speed. Errors due to starmagnitudemeasurement imprecision can also be minimized.
Corticosterone and the circadian pigeon cropsac response to prolactin.

Abstract 1. 1. Daily variations in the pigeon cropsac response to local intradermal injections of prolactin persist for at least 12 days under conditions of continuous light. 2. 2. The endogenous rhythm of cropsac sensitivity may be mimiced experimentally by injections of corticosterone and prolactin in various temporal relations. 3. 3. The cropsac response to prolactin is strongly inhibited when the intradermal injections of prolactin are made daily at 0 or 6 hr after the intradermal injections of corticosterone. 4. 4. The cropsac responses are not affected by corticosterone injections which precede prolactin by 12 or 18 hr. 5. 5. It is thought that the circadian variation in cropsac sensitivity is phased by corticosterone acting directly on the cropsac mucosa.
Frequency sharing for reuse partitioning and underlay system in sectorized wireless networks

In a typical mobile network, a group of channel sets identical the number of sectors in a cell is allocated to each cell type and reused symmetrically. Thus, deploying an underlay system requires costly modifications. A frequency allocation scheme called channel alternation and rotation for tiered wireless networks (CART) is proposed to exploit the scarce radio spectrum and current infrastructure build-outs. In CART, each cell type is allocated an extra channel set for rotating and alternating frequency channels among co-channel cells and between the two systems to enhance frequency reuse efficiency. In a typical environment requiring a carrier-to-interference ratio (C/I) about 17 dB, for example, CART increases offered traffic by 69 percent over a traditional two-tiered system. CART is simple and can also be easily modified for other wireless networks. Since infrastructure modification is not required, it incurs no additional costs.