cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
NMR crystallography of enzyme active sites: probing chemically detailed, three-dimensional structure in tryptophan synthase.

NMR crystallography--the synergistic combination of X-ray diffraction, solid-state NMR spectroscopy, and computational chemistry--offers unprecedented insight into three-dimensional, chemically detailed structure. Initially, researchers used NMR crystallography to refine diffraction data from organic and inorganic solids. Now we are applying this technique to explore active sites in biomolecules, where it reveals chemically rich detail concerning the interactions between enzyme site residues and the reacting substrate. Researchers cannot achieve this level of detail from X-ray, NMR,or computational methodologies in isolation. For example, typical X-ray crystal structures (1.5-2.5 A resolution) of enzyme-bound intermediates identify possible hydrogen-bonding interactions between site residues and substrate but do not directly identify the protonation states. Solid-state NMR can provide chemical shifts for selected atoms of enzyme-substrate complexes, but without a larger structural framework in which to interpret them only empirical correlations with local chemical structure are possible. Ab initio calculations and molecular mechanics can build models for enzymatic processes, but they rely on researcher-specified chemical details. Together, however, X-ray diffraction, solid-state NMR spectroscopy, and computational chemistry can provide consistent and testable models for structure and function of enzyme active sites: X-ray crystallography provides a coarse framework upon which scientists can develop models of the active site using computational chemistry; they can then distinguish these models by comparing calculated NMR chemical shifts with the results of solid-state NMR spectroscopy experiments. Conceptually, each technique is a puzzle piece offering a generous view of the big picture. Only when correctly pieced together, however, can they reveal the big picture at the highest possible resolution. In this Account, we detail our first steps in the development of NMR crystallography applied to enzyme catalysis. We begin with a brief introduction to NMR crystallography and then define the process that we have employed to probe the active site in the β-subunit of tryptophan synthase with unprecedented atomic-level resolution. This approach has resulted in a novel structural hypothesis for the protonation state of the quinonoid intermediate in tryptophan synthase and its surprising role in directing the next step in the catalysis of L-Trp formation.
INVENTORY MANAGEMENT AND CAPITAL BUDGETING: A PEDAGOGICAL NOTE

This paper shows, through an alternative development of the lot size model, how the methods of capital budgeting can be logically applied to the determination of optimal inventory levels. There is no reason why inventory management needs be treated any differently than the management of fixed assets. The rule that the stock of fixed assets should be expanded until the marginal rate of return equals the marginal cost of capital results from maximizing the present value of profits as a function of the investment level. In a like manner, the “square root” formula from inventory theory results from maximizing the present value of profits as a function of the investment in inventory. In addition, formulating the inventory problem as a capital budgeting problem has advantages for incorporating deterioration, obsolescence, and other costs into the model in a more logical and less intuitive way.
West valley-derived radionuclides in the Niagara river area of Lake Ontario

The presence of West Valley-derived radionuclides in the densely-populated Niagara River/Lake Ontario region is demonstrated through measurements on water and sediment samples. The 137Cs profile in a 210Pb-dated Lake Ontario sediment core is consistent with the pattern of West Valley discharges to the local aquatic environment in that the observed 137Cs activity maximum corresponds to the 1970 peak discharge and not the 1963 fallout peak activity. Preliminary mass balance estimate, based on a 137Cs/90Sr activity ratio of 1.5 and on the assumption that the dominant regional flow of Lake Erie transports most of the radionuclides to Lake Ontario va the Niagara River, shows that nearly all of the West Valley-delivered 137Cs is deposited in the bottom sediments of Lake Ontario. It is suggested that any accidental releases of radioactivity from the site are likely to provide additional radiation dose to the area residents using municipal water supplies.
Developmental change in children's analysis of spatial patterns.

This study examines the early development of spatial pattern analysis and focuses on changes in the way that preschool children segment and integrate the parts of simple spatial forms. The results from each of the three experiments in this study show that young children analyze spatial patterns in ways that differ systematically from that of older children and adults. Changes with development were observed in the parts children segmented out of the forms and in the relations they used to organize the parts forming the overall pattern. The youngest children segmented out simple, well-formed, spatially independent parts and used simple relational structures to bind these parts together. With development, children constructed forms that included increasingly complex parts and relations. These findings were consistent across several different stimuli using two construction mediums. In this study, we examined the early development of children's analysis of spatial patterns. We focused on the systematic patterns of change in the way that young children approach the problem of analyzing simple spatial forms and traced these patterns of change across the preschool period. In each experiment, we explored the nature of analytic processing in the young child and examined changes in the way that young children parse a spatial pattern into its constituent parts (segmentation) and synthesize those parts into a coherent whole (integration). This definition of analysis is consistent with other studies of analytic processing reported in the child (e.g., Elkind, 1969; Gibson, 1969; Kemler, 1983a; Werner, 1948) and adult literature (e.g., Garner, 1976; Pomerantz, Sager, & Stoever, 1977; Shepp, 1983), but states more precisely the functions that constitute the analytic process. It thus specifies in greater detail the ways in which children's analysis changes with development. Current theories of perception are generally in agreement that adults first encode features in the visual field prior to recognizing those features as patterns or objects (e.g., Julesz, 1984; Marr, 1982; Treisman & Gormican, 1988). However, there has not been similar agreement in the developmental literature. Historically in development, issues of segmentation and inte
Dynamics of elliptical beams in the anomalous group-velocity dispersion regime

We investigate 3D spatio-temporal focusing of elliptically-shaped beams in a bulk medium with Kerr nonlinearity and anomalous group-velocity dispersion (GVD). Strong space-time localization of the mode is observed through multi-filamentation with temporal compression by a factor of 3. This behavior is in contrast to the near-zero GVD regime in which minimal pulse temporal compression is observed. Our theoretical simulations qualitatively reproduce the experimental results showing the highly localized spatio-temporal profile in the anomalous-GVD regime, which contrasts to the weakly localized pulse in the normal-GVD regime.
Magnetoelectric coupling in zigzag graphene nanoribbons

Zigzag graphene nanoribbons can have magnetic ground states with ferromagnetic, antiferromagnetic, or canted configurations, depending on carrier density. We show that an electric field directed across the ribbon alters the magnetic state, favoring antiferromagnetic configurations. This property can be used to prepare ribbons with a prescribed spin-orientation on a given edge.
Interferon-beta-1-b (IFN-B) decreases induced nitric oxide (NO) production by a human astrocytoma cell line

Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is expressed by astrocytes in demyelinating regions of multiple sclerosis (MS) brain plaques, suggesting that NO contributes to MS pathology. Since the immunosuppressive cytokine IFN-B ameliorates MS disease activity, it is of interest to assess the modulatory role of IFN-B on NO production. We studied the effects of IFN-B, as well as dexamethasone, IL-10, and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-B), on cytokine-induced NO production by the human astrocytoma cell line, A172. L-NMMA and aminoguanidine, competitive inhibitors of iNOS suppressed NO production as measured by the NO byproduct, nitrite, as did IFN-B. Dexamethasone enhanced NO production, and IFN-B decreased the amount of the enhancement. Neither IL-10 nor TGF-B inhibited nitrite production. The therapeutic effect of IFN-B in MS may be partly due to suppression of pathogenic NO production.
A calendar savant with autism and Tourette syndrome. Response to treatment and thoughts on the interrelationships of these conditions

AbstractA case of a calendar savant with infantile autism and Tourette syndrome is presented. Pharmacotherapy and comorbidity issues are discussed in terms of the interrelationships of these conditions and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
The prevalence of headache and associated psychosocial factors in an urban biracial sample of older adults.

OBJECTIVE There are limited epidemiological data about headache in urban elderly persons in the United States, especially those from minority backgrounds. This article examines the prevalence of headache and associated psychosocial factors in a biracial sample of older adults in New York City. METHODS Data from a population-based sample consisting of 214 Caucasians and 859 Blacks aged 55 and over (mean age: 68 years) were analyzed using an adaptation of George's Social Antecedent Model of Psychopathology. The model consisted of 15 independent variables, one interactive variable, and a dependent variable that dichotomized headaches that bothered respondents into "none or little of the time" versus "some, a good part, or most of the time" in the past few weeks. RESULTS Controlling for design effects, 17.8% of the sample met headache criteria. For the entire sample, logistic regression analysis indicated that headache was significantly associated with anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, religiosity, and a smaller proportion of confidantes. When examined separately, headache among blacks was significantly associated with anxiety symptoms, larger social networks, and greater financial strain. Among Caucasians, headache was associated with anxiety symptoms, smaller social networks, religiosity, physical illness, and higher daily functioning. CONCLUSIONS The study confirms earlier findings that anxiety and depressive symptoms are associated with headache in older adults. The results also identify other psychosocial factors that may differ by race. These findings have important implications with respect to the etiology and management of headache in older adults.
Psychosexual milestones in women prenatally exposed to diethylstilbestrol

Thirty women aged 17 to 30 years with a record-confirmed history of prenatal exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES) were compared to 30 women of similar age and demographic background with a history of abnormal Pap smear findings. Heterosocial and heterosexual histories were assessed by systematic semistructured interviews. The groups differed neither in the age at menarche nor in the age at attainment of various psychosexual milestones.
Formulating and implementing profiling over adaptive ranges

Modern computer systems are called on to deal with billions of events every second, whether they are executed instructions, accessed memory locations, or forwarded packets. This presents a serious challenge to those who seek to quantify, analyze, or optimize such systems, because important trends and behaviors may easily be lost in a sea of data. We present range-adaptive profiling (RAP) as a new and general-purpose profiling method capable of hierarchically efficiently classifying streams of data in hardware. Through the use of RAP, events in an input stream are dynamically classified into increasingly precise categories, based on the frequency with which they occur. The more important a class, or range of events, the more precisely it is quantified. Despite the dynamic nature of our technique, we build upon tight theoretic bounds covering both worst-case error, as well as the required memory. In the limit, it is known that error and the memory bounds can be independent of the stream size and grow only linearly with the level of precision desired. Significantly, we expose the critical constants in these algorithms and through careful engineering, algorithm redesign, and use of heuristics, we show how a high-performance profile system can be implemented for range-adaptive profiling. RAP can be used on various profiles, such as PCs, load values, and memory addresses, and has a broad range of uses, from hot-region profiling to quantifying cache miss value locality. We propose two methods of implementation of RAP, one in software and the other with specialized hardware, for which we also describe our prototype FPGA implementation. We show that with just 8KB of memory, range profiles can be gathered with an average accuracy of 98p.
Using video indirect ophthalmoscopy to demonstrate retinopathy of prematurity findings

R etinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a significant cause of childhood blindness around the world. Because blindness from ROP can be reduced by appropriate screening and treatment, it is important that ophthalmologists examining at-risk infants are skilled in the nuances of ROP diagnosis, as defined by the International Classification of Retinopathy of Prematurity Revisited. Our goal in sharing these images is to demonstrate that video indirect ophthalmoscopy can be a useful tool to educate trainees and inexperienced ROP screeners on nuances in ROP screening. The Vantage Plus LED Digital Binocular Indirect Ophthalmoscope system (Keeler Instruments Inc, Broomall, PA) is a binocular indirect ophthalmoscope with an integrated camera that can capture and store still and/or dynamic digital images during the examination. In a previous study, we found that the Keeler system could capture still images of sufficient quality to show the presence of pre-plus or plus disease. We have also found that an ophthalmologist skilled inROP screening
An Audit of Referrals with Headaches to Paediatric Neurology at Sheffield Children's Hospital

An Audit of Referrals with Headaches to Paediatric Neurology at Sheffield Children's Hospital
Fitts’ index of difficulty predicts the 1/ f structure of movement amplitude time series

Studies using a variety of experimental tasks have established that when humans repeatedly produce an action, fluctuations in action output are highest at the lowest frequencies and fluctuation magnitude (power) systematically declines as frequency increases. Such time series structure is termed pink noise. However, the appearance of pink noise seems to be limited to tasks where action is executed in the absence of task-related feedback. A few studies have demonstrated that when action was executed in the presence of task-related feedback, power was evenly distributed across all spectral frequencies—i.e., white noise was revealed. Here, participants produced cyclical aiming movements under visual feedback conditions and we sought to determine whether variations of both the movement amplitude requirement (A) and the target width (W)—in the form of the index of difficulty [ID = log2(2A/W)]—would predict the structure of movement amplitude (MA) time series. There were two ID levels, and there was a small- and large-scale version of each ID: The A and W values of the large-scale version were twice those used for the small-scale version. Given that increases in ID are known to induce increased reliance on the available visual feedback, we predicted an ID-induced shift in MA time series structure from pink to white noise. Indeed, that is what we found. Further, there were no changes in MA structure when scale level changed within each ID level. Such scale invariance of MA time series structure reinforces the notion that MA structure depends on the combined influence of A and W.
Width minimization of two-dimensional CMOS cells using integer programming

We address the problem of CMOS cell width minimization in the general two-dimensional (2-D) layout style and propose a novel technique based on integer linear programming (ILP) to solve it exactly. We formulate a 0-1 ILP model whose solution minimizes cell width along with the routing complexity across the diffusion rows. We present experimental results that evaluate the performance of two ILP solvers that have very different solution methods, and assess the effect of the number of rows on cell width. Run-times for optimal layouts are in seconds for cells with up to 20 transistors. For larger cells, we propose a practical circuit pre-processing scheme that dramatically reduces the run time with little or no loss in optimality.
Nonrandom mating in wild radish : variation in pollen donor success and effects of multiple paternity among one- to six-donor pollinations

Nonrandom mating in plants may involve differential success of self- vs. outcross pollen, of pollen from relatives vs. nonrelatives, and of pollen from several compatible donors. Of these, the last is least understood. Wild radish plants were crossed with six pollen donors in all possible combinations to investigate differences in pollen donor performance and to compare multiply sired fruits with different numbers and identities of fathers. Pollen donors differed in number of seeds sired, position of seeds sired within fruits, and mass of seeds sired. Performance in single pollination was not a good predictor of performance in mixed pollination. Performance in two-donor pollinations was a better predictor of the outcome of multidonor pollinations. Multiply sired fruits were selectively filled, but not all multiply sired fruits were equal. Both the number and identity of donors affected fruit filling. These results and others with wild radish suggest that variation in pollen donor ability to sire seeds is relatively common in wild radish. Since wild radish plants in the field typically receive pollen from several donors, there may be considerable opportunity for selection at this stage of the life cycle in wild radish.
Respiratory effects of postoperative opioid analgesia

Summary Opioid analgesics will continue to play a key role in the treatment of many painful conditions. Their optimal use requires significant education, training, and preparation. This review has highlighted the understanding of the respiratory pharmacology of opioids as the foundation of their safe clinical use. The safe and effective administration of opioid analgesia entails a knowledge of (1) how opioids affect breathing, (2) the many different routes of administration that exist for opioids, (3) the many factors that influence opioid action, and (4) the monitoring, prevention, and appropriate treatment of opioid-induced respiratory depression. Although severe opioid-induced respiratory depression and resultant serious morbidity are uncommonly associated with opioid analgesia, heightened fears of such complications contribute to the inadequate treatment of pain. Clinicians can arm themselves with knowledge and safely administer opioid analgesia to the vast majority of their patients.
Partitioning Euclidean space

R denotes the set of real numbers. For any finite n, Rn denotes n-dimensional space with the usual (Hilbert space) metric, d.
From Silence to Propagation: Understanding the Relationship between “Stop Snitchin” and “YOLO”

Beginning in the early twenty-first century, “Stop Snitchin”—a technique of not speaking to police—was at the forefront of urban hip-hop culture. With the exponential growth of social media, however, the idiom switched to “YOLO”—You Only Live Once. This phrase has glamorized American values of individualism and exceptionalism, thus contradicting “Stop Snitchin,” as people use social media as a platform to display their exploits and apply “YOLO” to dismiss criminal and deviant behavior. This article examines the intersections of social media, crime, and deviance as well as the influence of the prison industrial complex on social promotion of crime and deviant behavior. Using cultural criminology, this article seeks to identify how power is achieved through different forms of impression management, moving from silence to broadcasting in three ways: (1) chance, (2) announced, and (3) rehearsed performances.
A complex interaction between a sponge (Halichondria melanadocia) and a seagrass (Thalassia testudinum) in a subtropical coastal ecosystem

Abstract Foundation species, such as oysters, corals, and seagrasses, form the basis for entire ecosystems and are characterized by positive interactions with community members. However, many species interactions are context dependent, where the outcome or strength of the interaction depends on the biotic or abiotic conditions. Therefore, a mechanistic knowledge of species interactions, especially those involving foundation species, may allow for a more complete understanding of how anthropogenic changes influence nearshore ecosystems. This study describes the interaction between the seagrass Thalassia testudinum and the sponge Halichondria melanadocia , a species that grows around the base of seagrass shoots. A combination of surveys and experimental manipulations on Abaco Island, The Bahamas, revealed that the interaction between T. testudinum and H. melanadocia is a commensal relationship with the sponge benefiting from the presence of T. testudinum up to medium shoot densities (589–615 shoots per m 2 ). The net neutral effect of H. melanadocia on T. testudinum is likely a balance of the negative effect of the sponge shading the seagrass with the positive effect of nitrogen and phosphorus supplied by the sponge. The mechanisms underlying the interaction between H. melanadocia and T. testudinum suggest that the interaction is likely context dependent. As such, environmental change, namely eutrophication, has the potential to shift the nature of this interaction from commensal to parasitic. A simple simulation showed that if this relationship becomes parasitic, above ground production in seagrass beds could be reduced. This study highlights the importance of a mechanistic understanding of species interactions involving foundation species when predicting human impact on the environment.
In situ cluster stability studies explored by cylindrical internal reflectance (CIR) spectroscopy: 1-pentene hydroformylation using phosphine-substituted Co4(CO)8P2(μ4-PPh)2 clusters

Abstract The stability of diphosphine-substituted cobalt clusters derived from Co4(CO)10(μ4-PPh)2 has been examined under hydroformylation conditions using Cylindrical Internal Reflectance (CIR) spectroscopy. The monodentate phosphine clusters Co4(CO)8(PPh3)2(μ4-PPh)2 (1) and Co4(CO)8[P(OMe)3]2(μ4-PPh)2 (2) undergo rapid P-ligand loss to give the corresponding monosubstituted cluster Co4(CO)9P(μ4-PPh)2 [where P=PPh3 or P(OMe)3] and Co4(CO)10(μ4-PPh)2 at 130 °C. No hydroformylation activity was observed at 130 °C. Increasing the reaction temperature to 150 °C affords the parent cluster as the only observable organometallic species. 1-Pentene hydroformylation is observed at 150 °C, and the working catalyst solution shows no evidence for the fragmentation of Co4(CO)10(μ4-PPh)2 to HCo(CO)4. In contrast, the bidentate-substituted dimethylphosphino(ethane) (dmpe) cluster Co4(CO)8(dmpe)(μ4-PPh)2 (3) appears to function as a hydroformylation catalyst without phosphine loss or declusterification at 130 °C. The greater stabilization of the dmpe-substituted cluster relative to the monodentate phosphine systems and the absence of cluster fragmentation, which has recently been reported in the hydroformylation of 1-pentene using Co4(CO)10(μ4-PPh)2, are discussed.
Understanding the glue of narrative structure: Children's on- and off-line inferences about characters’ goals

Abstract Because characters’ goals play a key role in the structure of narratives, the ability to make inferences about goals is essential to narrative comprehension. Despite their importance, no previous studies have examined the process by which children make these goal inferences. In the current study, we examined 6- and 8-year-old children's goal inference making processes through think-aloud protocols. We also examined the product of comprehension, the mental representation of text, through free recall and comprehension questions. The results revealed that children of both ages regularly made appropriate goal inferences while listening to narratives. In addition, the number of goal inferences predicted children's recall of the stories. Thus, children as young as 6 years old are sensitive to the vital role of characters’ goals in narrative structure, and they can engage in sophisticated cognitive processing while they listen to narratives to form coherent mental representations of them.
Rapid nitrate loss from a contaminated desert soil

Abstract A 1.6 ha plot of Atriplex canescens (fourwing saltbush) was established in a desert soil at a former uranium ore-processing plant, near Monument Valley, Arizona, to remediate nitrate and ammonium N contamination. The plants were irrigated to stimulate growth and N uptake. However, NO 3 − loss from the soil was unexpectedly rapid. Initially, the soil contained approximately 180 mg kg −1 NO 3 − –N distributed at depths up to 4.6 m, but concentrations decreased to 80 mg kg −1 after 41 months. Losses occurred throughout the plot at all soil depths. NH 4 –N remained unchanged (ca.180 mg kg −1 ). Soil moisture was generally below field capacity and soil–water flux showed no net downward movement over the course of the study. A salt balance showed a 10% decrease in soluble salts during the study, attributable to the loss in NO 3 − . Residual soluble soil N became progressively enriched in 15 N over time, consistent with biological denitrification. Additionally, microcosm studies indicate significant potential denitrification rates on the plot but not for control soils. Total losses of NO 3 − –N were 1360 kg ha −1 yr −1 . These findings of rapid denitrification in the vadose zone of a desert soil are unique and may offer a low-cost method for NO 3 − remediation at similar sites. These findings are also of interest due to the depth at which the losses occurred and the possibility that considerable amounts of naturally occurring NO 3 − in deep vadose zone desert soils in the southwestern US could be similarly mobilized by changing land use practices or climate change.
Comprehensive standard test suites for the performance evaluation of mobile robots

Robots must possess certain sets of capabilities to suit critical operations such as emergency responses. In the mobility function, ground robots must be able to handle many types of obstacles and terrain complexities, including traversing and negotiating positive and negative obstacles, various types of floor surfaces or terrains, and confined passageways. Additional mobility requirements include the ability to sustain specified speeds and to tow payloads with different weights. Standard test methods are required to evaluate how well candidate robots meet these requirements. A set of test methods focused on evaluating the mobility function has been collected into a test suite. Likewise, in other functions such as sensing, communication, manipulation, energy/power, Human-System Interaction (HSI), logistics, and safety, corresponding test suites are required. Also needed are test suites for aerial and aquatic robots. Under the sponsorship of DHS, NIST researchers are collaborating with others to establish such a collection of test suites under the standards development organization ASTM International. Apparatuses must be set up to challenge specific robot capabilities in repeatable ways to facilitate direct comparison of different robot models as well as particular configurations of similar robot models.
Food and Water Intake after Intrahypothalamic Injections of Carbachol in the Rabbit

Direct chemical stimulation With carbachol in the hypothalamus of the rabbit caused a significant increase in food intake, as a function of place stimuilated and concentration. Lower doses of carbachol injected near the supraoptic nuleus produced an increase in drinking without an increase in eating.
Pilot/vehicle analysis of a twin-lift helicopter configuration in hover

A pilot/vehicle analysis of a twin-lift helicopter configuration carrying a load suspended from a rigid spreader bar is undertaken. The task is one of lateral/vertical control in hover. A two-pilot manual control structure is formulated in which the pilot of the "master" helicopter maneuvers his vehicle in response to internally generated position commands. The pilot of the "slave" helicopter senses master helicopter transnational motion and uses it as a position command to his own vehicle. The required pilot equalization in all feedback loops is established using classical frequency domain pilot/vehicle analysis techniques based upon the crossover model of the human pilot. Closed-loop performance is assessed through computer simulation.
Event-related potentials in alcoholic men: P3 amplitude reflects family history but not alcohol consumption.

Multilead event-related potentials (ERPs), elicited by auditory and visual stimuli requiring a button press response and by a startling noise requiring no response, were recorded from male alcoholics and age-matched male controls (26-60 years old). Single-trial analyses of blink responses to the startling stimuli indicated that alcoholics startle less frequently but with equivalent amplitude as the controls. In contrast, single-trial analyses of P3 indicated that alcoholics generate a P3 as often as controls, but that their individual P3s are smaller. Alcoholics who reported a positive family history of problem drinking had larger startle blink amplitudes and smaller auditory and visual P3s than did alcoholics who reported a negative family history. Hierarchical regression analysis was used to demonstrate that smaller P3s in family history positive alcoholics were independent of lifetime alcohol consumption. HE P3 (OR P300) COMPONENT of the human T event-related potential (ERP) has often,’-4 but not always5-* been found to be smaller in chronic alcoholics than in controls. While this reduced P3 amplitude could be due to the neurotoxic effects of alcohol, it is frequently reported that P3 amplitude is also smaller in the unaffected ~hildren~-~-’’ of alcoholics, suggesting that small P3 amplitude may be a genetic marker for, and predate the development of, alcoholism. Laboratories failing to find small P3s in adult children of alc~holics,~~”~~ ~ may be using subjects past the age of risk who have not inherited the predisposition. Those failing to find small P3 amplitudes in adult alcoholics may have a preponderance of “nongenetic” alcoholics in their sample. While the effects are somewhat ephemeral, there is some suggestion that alcohol consumption does contribute to reduced P3 amplitude. Polich and Bloom,14 in a study of nonalcoholic college students, found a correlation between alcohol consumption history and P3 amplitude reduction, but only in family history positive subjects; unfortunately, they failed to confirm this relationship in a subsequent study.” Additionally, Baribeau et aI.l3 found that neither family history nor drinking history affected the auditory
Cities of consumption: the impact of corporate practices on the health of urban populations

The increasing concentration of the world’s population in cities and the growing accumulation of political and economic power by corporations create new threats to health and opportunities for improving global health. By considering the intersection of these two fundamental social determinants of well-being, we elucidate some of the mechanisms by which they influence the health of urban populations. After reviewing the changing historical impact of corporations on cities, we focus on the growth of consumption as a leading cause of mortality and morbidity and describe how the food, tobacco, automobile, and other industries promote unhealthy behaviors and lifestyles in urban settings. Cities are also sites for developing alternatives to unhealthy corporate practices, and we assess strategies used to modify practices that harm health.
Unified theory of photon echoes: The passage from inhomogeneous to homogeneous line broadening

Abstract We calculate the temporal profile of the photon echo signal from a collection of non-interacting two-level systems. whose frequencies undergo Gaussian random modulations. The model is exactly solvable and interpolates continuously between the inhomogeneous broadening limit in which a well-defined echo signal exists and the homogeneous broadening limit in which it is no longer present. The implications for the problem of concentration-dependent dephasing in mixed molecular crystals are discussed.
Biological studies of three caulimoviruses associated with dahlia (Dahlia variabilis)

AbstractTwo distinct caulimoviruses, Dahlia mosaic virus (DMV) and Dahlia common mosaic virus (DCMV), were found to be associated with dahlia mosaic disease. Additionally, an endogenous caulimovirus, Dahlia variabilis endogenous plant pararetroviral sequence (DvEPRS), was found to be present in many cultivated and wild Dahlia spp. Biological properties including mechanical and aphid transmission were investigated for DMV, DCMV and DvEPRS using Verbesina encelioides (crownbeard) as an experimental host. DMV and DCMV were transmitted by Myzus persicae at the rate of 50 and 73%, respectively. DMV and DCMV were mechanically transmissible to V. encelioides and the two effective buffers for mechanical transmission were phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) with nicotinic acid (1%) and sodium bisulfite (5%). Mechanical transmission rates of 58% and 36% were obtained for DMV and DCMV, respectively. DvEPRS was not transmissible by either aphids or mechanical inoculation. Availability of aphid and mechanical inoculation protoc...
Sensory regulation of open-field activity in mice: Visual stimulation and discontinuous development

Wabbler-lethal mice tested daily typically show a drop in open-field activity around 15 or 16 days of age. This drop is often preceded by opening of the eyes and can be delayed but not eliminated by running the mice under non-visual conditions. RIII/Crg1, DBA/2J and C57BL/10J inbred strains also show a discontinuous development of open-field activity, not necessarily corresponding to eye opening, It is suggested that total sensory influx tied to the maturation of multiple sensory modalities controls this response.
Laser Internal Aerodynamics And Beam Quality

Heat release in a laser with subsonic or supersonic flow of the lasing medium causes variation in gas density. Variations in gas density result in phase differences at the exit aperture of the laser beam. Beam quality is degraded. Using the linearized solutions for a line source of heat in subsonic, planar flow, equations are derived for the density perturbation Lip p. Lasers having subsonic flow in the cavity include electroaerodynamic lasers. The equations permit assessment of Mach number effects and wall shape. As Mach number increases, the influence of the heat source wakes becomes less important. A wall shape equivalent to operation in a flow of infinite extent gives smaller Lp/p than par-allel walls. To apply the aforementioned equations, it is necessary to know the heat release function, h(x,y). A simplified vibra-tional relaxation model is developed and coupled with Joule heating to arrive at estimates for h(x,y). The model predicts populations with and without laser power extraction.
An 18-GHz integrated double-balanced direct down-conversion mixer and emitter degenerated quadrature VCO in 47-GHz f t SiGe

An integrated 18 GHz double-balanced direct down-conversion mixer and emitter degenerated quadrature VCO is designed and fabricated in IBM 47 GHz ft SiGe BiCMOS process. A novel headroom optimization scheme is proposed to optimize mixer conversion gain and linearity. The mixer uses an LC tank to reduce voltage supply. With a 3.3 V supply voltage the mixer core consumes 16.5mW and the output buffer matched to 50 Ω consumes 33mW. Measurements indicate a conversion gain of 4.5 dB, a double-side band noise figure of 7.1dB, an IIP3 of -1dBm, and 1dB compression point at -12.2dBm output power. The mixer has the best figure-of-merit compared to recently published mixers operating at similar frequencies in a Si-based process. The voltage controlled oscillator uses an emitter degenerated LC oscillator core with both SiGe HBT and CMOS buffers to achieve oscillation providing direct downconversion for the aforementioned mixer. The oscillator has two anti-phase coupled cores to lower the phase noise through frequency locking, the unused output ports terminated with 50 Ω. The two circuits (several variants of each) are integrated monolithically, with an oscillator breakout with a phase noise performance of -99 dBc/Hz (at 1 MHz separation) with 1 GHz tuning range while pulling 19 mA from a 2.5 V rail. The paper will include all the necessary design equations used to optimize both circuits along with comparisons with other published results.
Feature fusion and redundancy pruning for rush video summarization

This paper presents a video summarization technique for rushes that employs high-level feature fusion to identify segments for inclusion. It aims to capture distinct video events using a variety of features: k-means based weighting, speech, camera motion, significant differences in HSV color space, and a dynamic time warping (DTW) based feature that suppresses repeated scenes. The feature functions are used to drive a weighted k-means based clustering to identify visually distinct, important segments that constitute the final summary. The optimal weights corresponding to the individual features are obtained using a gradient descent algorithm that maximizes the recall of ground truth events from representative training videos. Analysis reveals a lengthy computation time but high quality results (60% average recall over 42 test videos) as based on manually-judged inclusion ofdistinct shots. The summaries were judged relatively easy to view and had an average amount of redundancy.
Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors in Glucose Homeostasis: The Acute Hyperglycemic and Chronic Insulin-Sensitive Effects of Nicotine Suggest Dual Opposing Roles of the Receptors in Male Mice

Cigarette smoking causes insulin resistance. However, nicotine induces anti-inflammation and improves glucose tolerance in insulin-resistant animal models. Here, we determined the effects of nicotine on glucose metabolism in insulin-sensitive C57BL/J6 mice. Acute nicotine administration (30 min) caused fasting hyperglycemia and lowered insulin sensitivity acutely, which depended on the activation of nicotinic-acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and correlated with increased catecholamine secretion, nitric oxide (NO) production, and glycogenolysis. Chlorisondamine, an inhibitor of nAChRs, reduced acute nicotine-induced hyperglycemia. qRT-PCR analysis revealed that the liver and muscle express predominantly β4 > α10 > α3 > α7 and β4 > α10 > β1 > α1 mRNA for nAChR subunits respectively, whereas the adrenal gland expresses β4 > α3 > α7 > α10 mRNA. Chronic nicotine treatment significantly suppressed expression of α3-nAChR (predominant peripheral α-subunit) in liver. Whereas acute nicotine treatment raised plasma norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (Epi) levels, chronic nicotine exposure raised only Epi. Acute nicotine treatment raised both basal and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS). After chronic nicotine treatment, basal insulin level was elevated, but GSIS after acute saline or nicotine treatment was blunted. Chronic nicotine exposure caused an increased buildup of NO in plasma and liver, leading to decreased glycogen storage, along with a concomitant suppression of Pepck and G6Pase mRNA, thus preventing hyperglycemia. The insulin-sensitizing effect of chronic nicotine was independent of weight loss. Chronic nicotine treatment enhanced PI-3-kinase activities and increased Akt and glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3β phosphorylation in an nAChR-dependent manner coupled with decreased cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) phosphorylation. The latter effects caused suppression of Pepck and G6Pase gene expression. Thus, nicotine causes both insulin resistance and insulin sensitivity depending on the duration of the treatment.
Neuromuscular development of Felis catus

Summary Neuromuscular development was studied for 12 weeks in 22 kittens. Vertebral extensor, ftexor and combined dominance was recorded in several phases. Thoracic limb support began between days I and 10, while the initiation of pelvic limb support ranged up to day 25. Crossed extensor and Landau reftexes were present in most kittens at various times up to day )9, although the Magnus response was not seen. Auricular muscle control developed at 1·5 weeks, about the same time as claw control. The development of motor patterns has been studied extensively in prenatal kittens, with good documentation of foetal age, crown-rump length, and mobility (Windle & Griffin, 1931; Windle, O'Donnell & Glasshagle, 1932). Reflexes and motor responses in the postnatal kitten have not been studied thoroughly, nor have reports on their development been published.
Development of a Squid‐hydrolysate‐based Larval Diet and its Feeding Performance on Summer Flounder, Paralichthys dentatus, Larvae

Locally generated squid-processing byproduct was processed into concentrated hydrolysate (22% solids, 17.3% protein, and 3.0% lipid, primarily phospholipids—11.6% eicosapentaenoic acid/24.5% docosahexaenoic acid on a lipid weight basis). Two microparticulate diets (65% protein, 19% lipid, 7.5% carbohydrate, and 19.12 MJ/kg energy, on a dry weight basis) were prepared using squid hydrolysate (SH) and squid-herring hydrolysate as sole protein sources (73.3 and 78.65% of the whole diet, respectively). A 22-d feeding trial with summer flounder, Paralichthys dentatus, larvae of 17 d after hatch showed that the survival rate (92%) of larvae fed SH was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than those of larvae fed live Artemia nauplii (81%) and a commercial diet, Proton (65%), while specific growth rates (SGR) were comparable (2.23% /d for SH and 2.86% /d for Artemia) with the lowest for Proton (1.39% /d). After switching from commercial and Artemia diets to a SH diet for 17 d following the 22-d feeding, significant improvements were seen in survival rates of postweaning larvae fed previously commercial (65.28–76.57%) and Artemia diets (81.25–89.07%).
Local Anesthetics: Review of Pharmacological Considerations

Local anesthetics have an impressive history of efficacy and safety in medical and dental practice. Their use is so routine, and adverse effects are so infrequent, that providers may understandably overlook many of their pharmacotherapeutic principles. The purpose of this continuing education article is to provide a review and update of essential pharmacology for the various local anesthetic formulations in current use. Technical considerations will be addressed in a subsequent article.
Alterations in Multiple Measures of White Matter Integrity in Normal Women at High Risk for Alzheimer's Disease

There is evidence that disruption of white matter (WM) microstructure is an early event in the course of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the neurobiological bases of WM microstructural declines in presymptomatic AD are unknown. In the present study we address this issue using a multimodal imaging approach to the study of presymptomatic AD. Participants were 37 high-risk (both family history of dementia and one or more APOE4 alleles) women and 20 low-risk (neither family history nor APOE4) women. Groups were matched for age, education, neuropsychological performance, and vascular factors that could affect white matter. Whole-brain analyses of diffusion tensor imaging data [including fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (DA) and radial diffusivity (DR)] and volumetric comparisons of medial temporal lobe (MTL) structures were conducted. Results indicated equivalent entorhinal cortex and hippocampal volumes between risk groups. Nevertheless, the high risk group showed decreased microstructural integrity in WM tracts with direct and secondary connections to the MTL. The predominant alteration in WM integrity in the high AD-risk group was decreased FA not solely driven by either DA or DR changes alone in regions where no MD changes were observed. A second pattern observed in a smaller number of regions involved decreased FA and increased DR. These results suggest that disconnection of MTL-neocortical fiber pathways represents a very early event in the course of AD and suggest that demyelination may represent one contributing mechanism.
On the web at home: information seeking and web searching in the home environment

As more people gain at-home access to the Internet, information seeking on the Web has become embedded in everyday life. The objective of this study was to characterize the home as an information use environment and to identify a range of information seeking and Web-search behaviors at home. Twelve Northern California residents were recruited, and the data were collected through semi-structured at-home interviews based on a self-reported Search Activities Diary that subjects kept over a 3-5 day period. The data were analyzed on four levels: home environment, information seeking goals, information retrieval interaction, and search query. Findings indicated that the home, indeed, provided a distinct information use environment beyond physical setting alone in which the subjects used the Web for diverse purposes and interests. Based on the findings, the relationships among home environment, Web context, and interaction situation were identified with respect to user goals and information-seeking behaviors.
Inhibition of insulin release during hypovolemic shock

Abstract Hyperglycemia, a frequent occurrence during circulatory failure, is not associated with increased circulating insulin concentrations. In this study, large primates (baboons) were subjected to hemorrhagic hypotension for 2 hr to determine whether hypoinsulinemia was due to decreased pancreatic output of insulin or acceleration of insulin degradation. Within 5 min of the onset of hemorrhage, portal vein insulin, as well as peripheral venous concentrations declined substantially and remained below preshock levels throughout the experiment. Tolbutamide, injected after 60 min of shock, elicited only a minimal rise in portal and peripheral venous insulin levels, when compared to that observed in a group of nonshock animals. The disappearance of immunoreactive insulin from serum in another group of shocked animals was not accelerated beyond that of controls. Phentolamine, when injected after 1 hr of shock in another group of animals, was able to elicit a rise in serum insulin with a subsequent decrease in glucose levels. These studies demonstrate that the hypoinsulinemia of the shock state is due to reduced pancreatic output of insulin, which may be under complex adrenergic control and may play an important role in the glucose intolerance of circulatory failure.