cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization of a Modular, Cell-Surface Protein and Identification of a New Gene Family in the Diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana

We report the characterization of a cell-surface protein isolated from copper-stressed cells of the centric diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana Hasle and Heimdal (CCMP 1335). This protein has an apparent molecular weight of 100kDa and is highly acidic. The 100kDa protein (p100) sequence is comprised almost entirely of a novel domain termed TpRCR for T. pseudonana repetitive cysteine-rich domain, that is repeated 8 times and that contains conserved aromatic, acidic, and potential metal-binding amino acids. The analysis of the T. pseudonana genome suggests that p100 belongs to a large family of modular proteins that consist of a variable number of TpRCR domain repeats. Based on cell surface biotinylation and antibody data, p100 appears to migrate more rapidly with SDS-PAGE when extracted from cells exposed to high levels of copper; however, the discovery of a large family of TpRCR domain-containing proteins leaves open the possibility that the antibody may be cross-reacting with members of this protein family that are responding differently to copper. The response of the gene encoding p100 at the mRNA level during synchronized progression through the normal cell cycle is similar to previously characterized genes in T. pseudonana encoding cell wall proteins called silaffins.
Vitamin E supplementation reduces oxidative stress and improves blastocyst development rate.

IMPROVES BLASTOCYST DEVELOPMENT RATE Xia Wang, Rakesh K. Sharma, Jeffrey Goldberg, Marjan Attaran, Ashok Agarwal, Tommaso Falcone, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation Objective: Leukocytes and abnormal spermatozoa in the semen can produce high amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) resulting in oxidative injury to normal mature sperm. Excessive ROS production in semen results in both reduced sperm motility and the capacity for sperm-oocytes fusion. High ROS levels are also found in the peritoneal fluid of women with unexplained infertility. Our objective was to study the effect of artificial generation by activated leukocytes on the blastocyst development rate (%BDR), and to examine the protective effect of antioxidant supplementation (vitamin E) in reducing the adverse effect of ROS on mouse embryo development.
A photoacoustic imaging system employing a curved-phased ultrasonic array and parallel electronics

Real-time photoacoustic imaging requires ultrasonic array receivers and parallel data acquisition systems for the simultaneous detection of weak photoacoustic signals. In this paper, we introduce a newly completed ultrasonic receiving array system and report preliminary results of our measured point spread function. The system employs a curved ultrasonic phased array consisting of 128-elements, which span a quarter of a complete circle. The center frequency of the array is 5 MHz and the bandwidth is greater than 60%. In order to maximize the signal-to-noise ratio for photoacoustic signal detection, we utilized special designs for the analog front-end electronics. First, the 128 transducer-element signals were routed out using a 50-Ohm impedance matching PCB board to sustain signal integrity. We also utilize 128 low-noise pre-amplifiers, connected directly to the ultrasonic transducer, to amplify the weak photoacoustic signals before they were multiplexed to a variable-gain multi-stage amplifier chain. All front-end circuits were placed close to the transducer array to minimize signal lose due to cables and therefore improve the signal-to-noise ratio. Sixteen analog-to-digital converters were used to sample signals at a rate of 40 mega-samples per second with a resolution of 10-bits per sample. This allows us to perform a complete electronic scan of all 128 elements using just eight laser pulses.
Survival of Protein in an Organic-Rich Sediment: Possible Protection by Encapsulation in Organic Matter

Nitrogen is a major nutrient elementinfluencing the cycling of organicmatter in the biosphere. Both its or-ganic and inorganic forms are closelyrelated to biological productivity andtake part in a series of interconnectedreactions which form the nitrogen cy-cle [1–3]. Part of the nitrogen is in-corporated into organic material andis moved from the active pool and nolonger available for biological produc-tivity. Little is known of the chemicalcomposition of this refractory N orthe processes responsible for its recal-citrance. Traditionally, this refractorynitrogen has been viewed as consist-ing of heterocyclic nitrogen com-pounds [4, 5]. However, we reporthere solid-state
Late Brunhes polarity excursions (Mono Lake, Laschamp, Iceland Basin and Pringle Falls) recorded at ODP Site 919 (Irminger Basin)

Abstract Component natural remanent magnetizations derived from u-channel and 1-cm3 discrete samples from ODP Site 919 (Irminger Basin) indicate the existence of four intervals of negative inclinations in the upper Brunhes Chronozone. According to the age model based on planktic oxygen isotope data, these “excursional” intervals occur in sediments deposited during the following time intervals: 32–34 ka, 39–41 ka, 180–188 ka and 205–225 ka. These time intervals correspond to polarity excursions detected elsewhere, known as Mono Lake, Laschamp, Iceland Basin and Pringle Falls. The isotope-based age model is supported by the normalized remanence (paleointensity) record that can be correlated to other calibrated paleointensity records for the 0–500 ka interval, such as that from ODP Site 983. For the intervals associated with the Mono Lake and Laschamp excursions, virtual geomagnetic poles (VGPs) reach equatorial latitudes and mid-southerly latitudes, respectively. For intervals associated with the Iceland Basin and Pringle Falls excursions, repeated excursions of VGPs to high southerly latitudes indicate rapid directional swings rather than a single short-lived polarity reversal. The directional instability associated with polarity excursions is not often recorded, probably due to smoothing of the sedimentary record by the process of detrital remanence (DRM) acquisition.
Three conditions on conceptual naturalness

Abstract Human infants are predisposed to organize their experience in terms of certain concepts and not in terms of others. The favored concepts are called natural, the remainder, unnatural. A major problem in psychology is to state a principled distinction between the two kinds of concepts. Toward this end, the present paper offers three, formal necessary conditions on the naturalness of concepts. The conditions attempt to link the problem of naturalness to the distinctions between sense versus nonsense, simplicity versus complexity, and validity versus invalidity.
Surface-enhanced second-harmonic generation and Raman scattering

Emission from a variety of surface optical processes is significantly increased at interfaces with roughened noble metals. A general formalism, applicable to any optical process, is used to predict the enhancement in the radiated power for second-harmonic generation and Raman scattering from an electrochemically reformed silver surface. Experimental results for these enhancements at different wavelengths are reported. The intensity of the second-harmonic radiation can be understood strictly in terms of the strong macroscopic electric fields produced at the roughened surface by resonant structures. For Raman scattering, part of the enhancement also arises from microscopic local-field effects and the direct chemical interaction of the adsorbate and substrate. The surface-enhanced second-harmonic and Raman signals are studied as the silver sample undergoes oxidation and reduction in an electrolyte containing cyanide ions. The behavior of these two easily measurable probes is described and correlated with the system's surface chemistry.
Biochemical and ultrastructural studies of ectoglycosyltransferase systems of murine L1210 leukemic cells

Intact murine L1210 leukemic cells incorporated significant quantities of [3H]-N-acetylneuraminic acid directly from CMP-N-acetylneuraminic acid. When pretreated with Vibrio cholerae neuraminidase, incorporation increased sixfold to tenfold. Biochemical studies comparing incorporation of N-acetyl-neuraminic acid from the nucleotide sugar with that from free sugar demonstrated that the relatively high levels of incorporation from CMP-N-acetyl-neuraminic acid could not be due to the incorporation of free sugar generated by extracellular degradation of the nucleotide sugar. Very little N-acetylneuraminic acid was taken up or incorporated by L 1210 cells from free sugar and this incorporation was not increased by neuraminidase pretreatment. Moreover, extracellular breakdown of CMP-N-acetylneuraminic acid during incubations with L 1210 cells was rather insignificant. Electron microscope autoradiography of cells incubated with CMP-N-acetylneuraminic acid demonstrated that greater than 84% of the incorporated radioactivity was associated with the plasma membrane and less than 1% with the Golgi apparatus. These findings are consistent with the conclusion that incroporation of N-acetylneuraminic acid from CMP-N-acetylneuraminic acid is the consequence of a cell surface sialytransferase system. Pretreatment of cells with the nonpenetrating reagent, diazonium salt of sulfonilic acid, significantly inhibited this ectoenzyme system while only marginally affecting galactose uptake and incorporation at the Golgi apparatus. Interestingly, incorporation from CMP-N-acetylneuraminic acid declined as the viability of the cell population declined. When taken together, the above evidence develops a rigorous argument for the presence of a sialyltransferase enzyme system at the cell surface of L 1210 cells. Studies directed towards the detection of a similar ectogalactosyltransferase system were also undertaken. Cells incubated in the presence of UDP-[3H]-galactose incorporated radioactivity into a macromolecular fraction. The presence of excess unlabeled galactose in the incubation medium significantly reduced this incorporation. Electron microscope autoradiographs of cells incubated with UDP-[3H]-galactose, demonstrated that incorporation occurred primarily at the Golgi apparatus. The grain distribution in these autoradiographs was similar to that for free galactose. Thus, the incorporation observed for L-1210 cells incubated in UDP-[3H]-galactose was due primarily to the intracellular utilization of free galactose generated by extracellular degradation of the nucleotide sugar. Inability t o demonstrate an ectogalacto-syltransferase system on L1210 cells does not rule out the possibility that the enzyme is present but undetectable due t o the absence of appropriate cell surface acceptor molecules.
Instability of oscillatory shock profile solutions of the generalized Burgers-KdV equation

Abstract Oscillatory shock profile solutions of the Burgers-KdV equation are studied in the limit as the viscosity e → 0. A rigorous proof of their instability is obtained by showing that the linearized operator about such a solution has many unstable eigenvalues for sufficiently small e. The result is obtained by applying a topological method introduced by Alexander, Gardner and Jones to extract spectral information about the perturbed wave with slightly positive viscosity from particular “pieces” of the underlying wave which are approximated by a solitary wave solution of the reduced equation with no viscous dissipation.
Statistical acquisition of content selection rules for natural language generation

A Natural Language Generation system produces text using as input semantic data. One of its very first tasks is to decide which pieces of information to convey in the output. This task, called Content Selection, is quite domain dependent, requiring considerable re-engineering to transport the system from one scenario to another. In this paper, we present a method to acquire content selection rules automatically from a corpus of text and associated semantics. Our proposed technique was evaluated by comparing its output with information selected by human authors in unseen texts, where we were able to filter half the input data set without loss of recall.
Optical constants of amorphous and crystalline H2O-ice in the near infrared from 1.1 to 2.6 μm

Using new laboratory spectra, we have calculated the real and imaginary parts of the index of refraction of amorphous and crystalline H2O-ice from 20 to 150 K in the frequency range 9000–3800 cm−1 (1.1–2.6 μm) at a spectral resolution of 1 cm−1. These optical constants can be used to create model spectra for comparison to spectra from Solar System objects. We also analyzed the differences between the amorphous and crystalline H2O-ice spectra, including weakening of bands and shifting of bands to shorter wavelength in amorphous H2O-ice spectra. We have also observed two spectrally distinct phases of amorphous H2O-ice.
Nucleotide Salvage Deficiencies, DNA Damage and Neurodegeneration

Nucleotide balance is critically important not only in replicating cells but also in quiescent cells. This is especially true in the nervous system, where there is a high demand for adenosine triphosphate (ATP) produced from mitochondria. Mitochondria are particularly prone to oxidative stress-associated DNA damage because nucleotide imbalance can lead to mitochondrial depletion due to low replication fidelity. Failure to maintain nucleotide balance due to genetic defects can result in infantile death; however there is great variability in clinical presentation for particular diseases. This review compares genetic diseases that result from defects in specific nucleotide salvage enzymes and a signaling kinase that activates nucleotide salvage after DNA damage exposure. These diseases include Lesch-Nyhan syndrome, mitochondrial depletion syndromes, and ataxia telangiectasia. Although treatment options are available to palliate symptoms of these diseases, there is no cure. The conclusions drawn from this review include the critical role of guanine nucleotides in preventing neurodegeneration, the limitations of animals as disease models, and the need to further understand nucleotide imbalances in treatment regimens. Such knowledge will hopefully guide future studies into clinical therapies for genetic diseases.
The Contact Potential Between the Solid and Liquid Phases of Bismuth

Contact potential between the solid and liquid phases of bismuth.---In order to obtain as gas-free metal as possible, the bismuth was distilled into the highly exhausted apparatus. The contact potential was measured, by the standard Kelvin method, against a copper plate whose absolute potential was maintained constant by protecting it from the temperature changes incident to melting and solidifying the bismuth. The results were remarkably free from disturbing factors which arise from residual gas effects. Solid bismuth was found to be of the order of -0.020 volts with respect to the molten metal. Small variations from this value were caused, presumably, by the chance crystalline state of the solid surface.Relation between thermo-electric power and temperature change at contact potential.---The equation $\frac{\mathrm{dV}}{\mathrm{dt}}=\frac{\mathrm{dE}}{\mathrm{dt}}$, which expresses the equality of the thermoelectric power to the temperature rate of change of contact potential, has so far failed of experimental verification. The present experiment, though not adapted to a real test of the equation, yielded evidence that the discrepancy can be greatly reduced by improvement of experimental conditions.The effect of surface charges on melting conditions.---From the results on the contact potential between the two phases of bismuth, it can be shown thermodynamically, following Bridgman's treatment of the matter, that, when one coulomb per ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$ is added to the surface of bismuth at constant volume, pressure, and capacity the melting point of the metal increases by $(\frac{1}{\mathrm{v}})\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}0.02\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$C where v is the volume per unit area of the solid bismuth at its melting point.
Iron tris(dibenzoylmethane)-centered polylactide stars: multiple roles for the metal complex in lactide ring-opening polymerization.

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA)-supported dibenzoylmethane (dbm) and corresponding metal complexes have potential applications as biomaterials and catalysts. Using hydroxyl-functionalized dbm (i.e., dbmOH) as the initiator and Sn(oct)2 as the catalyst, lactide ring-opening polymerizations were unexpectedly slow (6 h), and PDIs broadened when molecular weights >10 000 were targeted. Because interactions between the dbm ligand and Sn(oct)2 may be responsible for the diminished catalyst activity and molecular weight control, iron(III) was employed as a protecting group to form Fe(dbmOH)3. Shorter reaction times (10 min) were noted with this trifunctional metalloinitiator and Sn(oct)2, and higher molecular weights were achievable. Moreover, it was discovered that Fe(dbmOH)3 serves not only as an initiator but also as a catalyst and activating group for the polymerization. Even without the tin catalyst, iron-centered polymers with low PDIs (<1.1) were obtained within 10 min (∼70% monomer conversion). The resulting Fe(...
Holographic-coordinate-transform-based system for direct Fourier tomographic reconstruction

In this paper, an optical tomographic system based on the Fourier Slice Theorem and using a holographic geometric transformation is described. A new decomposition is first proposed and used for the polar-to-cartesian coordinate transform, which is the most important procedure in the system. The characteristics such as mapping geometry, influence from singular points, the number of pixels required for accurate geometric mapping and system optimization are analyzed and compared with others. The holographic elements and optical systems are designed. The corresponding results in computer simulations and optical experiments, as well as computer-generated hologram (CGH) tests, are provided.
Measurement of Uncoupled Lateral Carcass Deflections With a Wireless Piezoelectric Sensor and Estimation of Tire Road Friction Coefficient

A new tire-road friction coefficient estimation approach based on lateral carcass deflection measurements is proposed. The unique design of the developed wireless piezoelectric sensor decouples lateral carcass deformations from radial and tangential carcass deformations. The estimation of the tire-road friction coefficient depends on the estimation of the slip angle and the lateral tire force. The tire slip angle is estimated as the slope of the lateral deflection curve at the leading edge of the contact patch. The lateral tire force is obtained by using a parabolic relationship with the lateral deflections in the contact patch. The estimated slip angle and lateral force are then plugged into a tire brush model to estimate the tire-road friction coefficient. A specially constructed tire test-rig is used to experimentally evaluate the performance of the tire sensor and the developed approach. Experimental results show that the proposed tire-road friction coefficient estimation approach is quite promising.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Na3MnCO3PO4 - A High Capacity, Multi-Electron Transfer Redox Cathode Material for Sodium Ion Batteries

Abstract Na 3 MnCO 3 PO 4 has been predicted via ab initio calculations (Hautier et al., 2011) to have a high specific capacity of 191 mAh/g, owing to its potential to deliver two-electron transfer reactions per formula via Mn 2+ /Mn 3+ and Mn 3+ /Mn 4+ redox reactions. This study demonstrates, for the first time, that Na 3 MnCO 3 PO 4 can indeed display a specific capacity of 176.7 mAh/g experimentally, reaching 92.5% of its theoretical. The low electronic conductivity is found to be the limiting factor for the previously observed low specific capacities for Na 3 MnCO 3 PO 4 . With a specific capacity as high as 176.7 mAh/g, Na 3 MnCO 3 PO 4 has a great potential to be a viable cathode material for Na-ion batteries.
The effects of anti-nerve growth factor on retrograde labelling of superior cervical ganglion neurones projecting to the molar pulp in the rat

Abstract The aims were to demonstrate sympathetic ganglion neurones projecting to the rat molar pulp and to determine whether deprivation of nerve growth factor (NGF) in neonatal rats eliminates this source of pulpal innervation. Newborn Sprague-Dawley rats were given subcutaneous injections of rabbit anti-mouse-NGF serum for 1 month. Control animals included litter mates treated with preimmune serum and untreated, age-matched rats. At 4 months of age, Fluoro-gold (FG) was applied to the pulp chamber of the right first maxillary molar. One week later, the animals were perfusion fixed, and the superior cervical ganglia (SCG) were removed, embedded in paraffin, and serially sectioned at 10 μm. FG-labelled cells were detected by epifluorescence microscopy with a u.v. filter set. Control animals had 5–10 FG-labelled neurones widely distributed throughout the SCG ipsilateral to the injection site and no labelled cells in the contralateral SCG. NGF-deprived animals had either no FG-labelled cells or a single labelled cell in the ipsilateral SCG. These results indicate that, in rats, (1) the number of SCG neurones projecting to the molar pulp is rather low, (2) SCG neurones that innervate the dental pulp of the maxillary molar pulp are dispersed throughout the ganglion, (3) the projection from SCG to the molar is exclusively ipsilateral, and (4) neonatal NGF deprivation induces a permanent, almost total, loss of sympathetic neurones projecting to the dental pulp.
Use of 18O labels to monitor deamidation during protein and peptide sample processing

Nonenzymatic deamidation of asparagine residues in proteins generates aspartyl (Asp) and isoaspartyl (isoAsp) residues via a succinimide intermediate in a neutral or basic environment. Electron capture dissociation (ECD) can differentiate and quantify the relative abundance of these isomeric products in the deamidated proteins. This method requires the proteins to be digested, usually by trypsin, into peptides that are amenable to ECD. ECD of these peptides can produce diagnostic ions for each isomer; the c · + 58 and z − 57 fragment ions for the isoAsp residue and the fragment ion ((M + nH)(n−1)+· − 60) corresponding to the side-chain loss from the Asp residue. However, deamidation can also occur as an artifact during sample preparation, particularly when using typical tryptic digestion protocols. With 18O labeling, it is possible to differentiate deamidation occurring during trypsin digestion which causes a +3 Da (18O1 + 1D) mass shift from the pre-existing deamidation, which leads to a +1-Da mass shift. This paper demonstrates the use of 18O labeling to monitor three rapidly deamidating peptides released from proteins (calmodulin, ribonuclease A, and lysozyme) during the time course of trypsin digestion processes, and shows that the fast (∼4 h) trypsin digestion process generates no additional detectable peptide deamidations.
Cultivation, serology, ultrastructure, and virus-like particles of spiroplasma 277F

Spiroplasma 277F, a helical, motile mycoplasma from rabbit ticks in Montana, was cloned and cultivated in liquid and solidified spiroplasma or mycoplasma media. Serum was required, glucose was fermented, and digitonin inhibited growth. Colonies of spiroplasma 277F possessed granular centers and were surrounded by smaller, subsurface “satellite” colonies. Cloned agent 277F was antigenically distinct from the suckling mouse cataract agent, the corn stunt organism, andSpiroplasma citri by growth inhibition and deformation tests, but exhibited weak cross-reactivity withS. citri in the precipitin ring tests. Although current passage levels did not cause cataracts in neonatal rats, kill embryonated hen's eggs, or cause bovine mastitis, definitive tests must await the availability of fresh isolates. Ultrastructurally, 277F closely resembledS. citri but displayed a system of 3-nm threadlike filaments in the exterior layer of its membranous covering. Two phagelike entities, similar to viruses associated withS. citri, were present.
Descriptive Norms and Male Youth Smoking in Rural Minya, Egypt: A Multilevel Analysis of Household and Neighborhood Normative Influences

INTRODUCTION Research links normative influence to youth smoking in Egypt. This analysis assesses the association of descriptive norms at the household and neighborhood levels with the smoking behavior of 1,366 men aged 15-24 in rural Minya governorate, Egypt. METHODS Data come from the 2004 Minya Village Health Survey of 6,096 people from 2,093 households. A two-level, random effects multivariate logistic regression model with individual data clustered at the neighborhood level was fit to the data. The strengths of normative influence at the household and neighborhood levels on male youths' smoking behavior were assessed, controlling for age, education, employment, outcome beliefs about smoking, and household wealth. RESULTS Male youths who lived in a household with an adult male who smoked were much more likely to smoke than were youth who lived in a household with adult male(s) who did not smoke (odds ratio [OR] = 2.73, 95% CI = 1.84-4.07, p < .001). Living with one or more male youth who smoked was also strongly associated with male youth smoking (OR = 1.91, 95% CI = 1.29-2.84, p = .001). Living in a neighborhood with an SD greater than the population mean proportion of males who smoked (both adult and youth) was associated with a 24% greater likelihood of youth smoking (OR = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.04-1.48, p = .017). Unmeasured factors at the neighborhood level accounted for 3.1% of the variability. CONCLUSIONS Young men in Minya who live with smokers or in neighborhoods with smokers are more likely to smoke. Policies and interventions enacted at the household and neighborhood levels may prevent youth smoking.
Clinical neuropharmacology of drugs of abuse: a comparison of drug-discrimination and subject-report measures.

Advances in molecular pharmacology and behavioral science have helped elucidate the structure and function of the central nervous system and its relationship to behavior and has sparked the development of pharmacological agents that have increasingly selective and potent effects with fewer adverse side effects. The sensitivity and predictive validity of the two most commonly used methodologies for assessing the neuropharmacological effects of centrally active drugs, subject report of drug effects and drug discrimination, were examined. The sensitivity of the measures was comparable across stimulant, sedative, and opioid drugs. Results with drug-discrimination methodologies were generally consistent with hypothesized neuropharmacological mechanisms across all drug classes, whereas subject reports conformed under more limited testing conditions. Firm conclusions regarding the relative utility of drug-discrimination and subjectreport measures for clinical studies of neuropharmacological mechanisms are limite...
Thoughts on Daniel Shapiro's "Is the welfare state justified?"

As is true of many books, the title suggests a topic that is a bit different from the one actually developed in the book. The welfare state is a productive state that provides services for people living in a polity. At the beginning of the modern era of political theory, Hobbes' suggested that the state should provide law and order in his Leviathan. To this, liberals of the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries added infrastructure and education. To these duties of governments, late nineteenth-century radical liberals and social democrats added services, such as housing, poor relief, old age pensions, and medical care. These normative theories were in turn supported by electoral majorities in most of the Western world from the early twentieth century. In most cases, the programs enacted to provide these services include the word “insurance,” doubtless because this is how many voters think of such programs. A majority of voters evidently desire a welfare state that provides a safety net to protect them and their families from the risks of ordinary life. The result has been called the welfare state, because such states are supposed to look after the welfare of “their” citizens. The merits and demerits of welfare states, however, are not analyzed in this book. Shapiro's book concerns not the level of the public safety net or its justification, as might have been expected from the title, but rather the best means for providing those services. He accepts the idea that a safety net should be funded with tax revenues (or tax credits), but suggests that market-based provision is better than direct state provision. His argument is similar in many respects to those economists use to support rent and educational voucher programs, rather than state-provided housing and schools. However, perhaps surprisingly as Shapiro is a philosopher rather than an economist, his analysis is less “utilitarian” than that which most economists would have developed. For example, rather than stressing the cost and innovative advantages of competition, he considers whether market-based systems of various kinds would undermine the moral intuitions that underpin most support for
Sideline Performance of the Balance Error Scoring System during a Live Sporting Event.

OBJECTIVE:: The purpose was to examine the influence of a live sporting sideline environment on balance error scoring system (BESS) performance. DESIGN:: Prospective longitudinal cohort study. SETTING:: The BESS was performed by all participants at 3 locations: (1) quiet laboratory, (2) football stadium sidelines, and (3) basketball arena sidelines. PARTICIPANTS:: The experimental group had 38 participants (age: 20.1 ± 1.1 years; height: 170.0 ± 7.7 cm; mass: 66.7 ± 9.5 kg) who were female intercollegiate student-athletes (SA). The control group consisted of 38 recreationally active female college students (age: 20.8 ± 1.1 years; height: 162.6 ± 6.0 cm; mass: 63.7 ± 10.6 kg). INTERVENTIONS:: The 2 groups performed the tests at the same locations, the SA group during live sporting events and the control group when no event was occurring. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:: The dependent variable was the total BESS score. Separate 2 × 3 mixed methods analyses of variance investigated the influence of the environment and practice effect. RESULTS:: There was a significant interaction for group by environment (P = 0.004), and the SA group committed more errors at both the football and the basketball settings than the control group. The SA group also committed more errors at football (P = 0.028) than baseline. The control group demonstrated a likely practice effect with fewer errors during each administration. CONCLUSIONS:: The BESS score deteriorated when performed on the sidelines of a live sporting event potentially challenging the clinical utility of the BESS. Clinicians need to consider the role of the local environment when performing the BESS test and should perform postinjury tests in the same environment as the baseline test. CLINICAL RELEVANCE:: When performing balance testing of patients with suspected concussions, clinicians need to consider the environment in which the test is performed and attempt to match the preseason testing environment. Language: en
The role of the pharmaceutical industry in teaching psychopharmacology: a growing problem

Objective To describe and examine the role of the pharmaceutical industry in the teaching of psychopharmacology to residents and medical students and to make recommendations for changes in curriculum and policy based on these findings.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GLOMERULAR FILTRATION RATE AND RADIOLOGICAL APPEARANCE OF THE RENAL PARENCHYMA IN CHILDREN

Summary Selective renal function studies with determination of the glomerular filtration rate (inulin clearance) have been carried out in more than 30 children aged 3 to 15 years. Most of the patients had a history of one or more urinary tract infections as well as pathological IVP-findings of varying degree. The selective studies were accomplished by means of external ureteral compression. Themethod proved to have an extremely good validity even in cases of severe ureteral reflux with dilatation of ureter and pelvis. No correlation could be found between radiological size of the kidney and glomerular filtration rate. In almost half of the patients with significant unilateral reduction of the renal parenchyma the glomerular filtration rate of this side was found to be more than 40% of the total glomerular filtration rate. In contrast the glomerular filtration rate of several of the kidneys estimated to be of normal size was significantly reduced. It is obvious from these findings that nephrectomy must never be carried out until selective renal function studies have been made. An additional finding was an apparently good correlation between the clinical and functional finding, i.e. the glomerular filtration rate appeared to be inversely correlated to the relapse frequency of the urinary tract infections. The fact that the. functional finding correlated well with the clinical finding but not with the radiological size of the kidney suggests various etiologies for the parenchymal reduction.
Endovascular treatment of aortic aneurysms: State of the art

Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) continue to be a leading cause of death, with increasing incidence and prevalence. Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) now represents the most common method of AAA repair in the United States. Ongoing improvements in endovascular stent-graft technology have occurred since the first published report of EVAR in 1991. These improvements have led to multiple US Food and Drug Administration-approved devices, streamlined operative techniques, and extended applicability of EVAR. Despite these facts, basic anatomic considerations still eliminate many patients from being offered EVAR. Distinct advantages of EVAR over open repair have been demonstrated, including a less invasive operative exposure, decreased transfusion requirements, shortened intensive care unit and hospital stay, and decreased perioperative mortality. It is our opinion that in 2009, anatomically suitable patients should be offered EVAR as first-line therapy, except for the less common scenario of the young and fit patient, for which open repair should be strongly considered. Use of EVAR for ruptured AAAs also has shown promise, yielding survival results commensurate with the best single-center results with open repair for rupture. However, questions remain regarding the long-term efficacy of EVAR in preventing aneurysm-related death for all patients treated with this technique. As device improvements and technical advances continue, it is reasonable to expect that long-term results will improve as well. Furthermore, the advent of fenestrated and multi-branch endograft technology is expanding indications, and will continue to enlarge the percentage of patients who will be considered acceptable candidates for EVAR. Lastly, randomized clinical trials are under way to determine whether the generally accepted threshold of 5.5 cm for elective open AAA repair should be decreased in patients who are candidates for EVAR. Until further data emerge, standard guidelines for elective aneurysm repair should remain the norm.
Projected load and generation data in support of an open access notional dynamic model of the Florida grid

In support of work to assess and ensure the reliability and resiliency of Florida's power generation, transmission, and distribution system as load and generation evolve in future years, groundwork is presented for the development of an open, dynamic model of the Florida grid and geographically distributed projections for growth in load and generation within the state. Using load forecasts provided by the state's major utilities, in conjunction with geographical population projections, load projections are developed for each of the state's counties. Projected load information is to be combined with both planned generation and information regarding the potential for renewable energy resources that may be brought to bear, in order to provide a probabilistic view of the future loads and insight into potential generation growth within the state for assessing the suitability and potential needs of Florida's power grid in an open research context. The framework for a flexible and representative model of Florida's electric power system is subsequently presented, and initial efforts toward construction of the model are discussed.
High resolution ultrasound imaging of skeletal muscle dynamics and effects of fatigue

A real-time high-frequency ultrasound acquisition system was used to describe coordination of individual muscle fibers during an isometric contraction. Effects of contraction size and muscle fatigue on axial strain and strain rate were examined in isolated leg muscles from a rat and mouse. Strain was estimated with a phase-sensitive speckle-tracking algorithm, capable of detecting displacements less than 100 nm. The spatial distribution of axial strain was not uniform and ranged from 0.5% - 5% during twitch stimulation. Also, strain and strain rate paralleled contraction size and degree of muscle fatigue. This potentially noninvasive technique may be appropriate to assess severity of movement disorders, such as cerebral palsy, and track coordination during therapy and rehabilitation after muscle injury.
Evaluation of the Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction/Probe Test of Serum Samples and Immunohistochemistry of Skin Sections for Detection of Acute Bovine Viral Diarrhea Infections

Bovine viral diarrhea viruses (BVDV) cause both acute and persistent infections. While diag- nostic tests have been designed to detect animals persistently infected (PI) with BVDV, the reliability of these tests in detecting acute BVDV infections is not known. It is also possible that acute BVDV infections may be confused with persistent infections in surveys for PI animals. In this study, 2 tests presently in use in diagnostic laboratories to test for PI animals, polymerase chain reaction amplification followed by probe hybridization (RT-PCR/probe) of serum samples and immunohistochemical detection of viral antigen in skin biopsies (IHC), were evaluated for their ability to detect acute BVDV infections. Sixteen colostrum-deprived, BVDV-free, and BVDV-antibody-free calves were infected with 6 different BVDV strains. Clinical signs, seroconversion, and virus isolation indicated that inoculated animals did replicate virus. Virus could be detected in 19% (3/16) of acutely infected animals by the RT-PCR/probe technique. No acutely infected animals were positive by IHC. Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), a pathogen of ruminants from the pestivirus genus of the flavivirus family, causes a number of diverse diseases affecting the reproductive, respiratory, digestive, and immune systems. Acute infections range from subclinical to highly fatal, depending on the viral strain, host im- mune status, host reproductive status, and the presence of other pathogens (for review see Houe
The gas‐phase decomposition of methylsilane. Part II. Mechanisms of decomposition under static system conditions

The static system pyrolysis of methylsilane (T ∼ 700 K, PT ∼ 150 torr), pure and in the presence of ethylene, propylene, and acetylene, has been investigated. It is proposed that in the uninhibited system, the major products (silane and dimethylsilane) are produced by free radical processes, and that the free radicals are formed at the walls from methylsilylenes. In the presence of olefins, the free radicals are trapped to form methylsilane adducts. In acetylene, trapping of methylsilylenes prevents free radical production and eliminates the free radical produced products of the pure and the olefin inhibited systems. Rates of initiation correlate with rates of reactant loss in acetylene inhibited systems, and with rates of hydrogen formation in olefin inhibited systems. Rough estimates of primary dissociation process yields give for the 1,1-H2 elimination ϕ1,1 ≅ 0.78, for the 1,2-H elimination ϕ1,2 ≅ 0.16, and for the methane elimination ϕCH4 ≅ 0.06 at 700 K. Deuteration lowers initial step kinetics by about 15%.
FINITE COVERINGS BY 2-ENGEL GROUPS

Baer's characterisation of central-by-finite groups as groups possessing a finite covering by abelian subgroups is the starting point for this investigation. We characterise groups with a finite covering by 2-Engel subgroups as groups for which the subgroup of right 2-Engel elements has finite index; and the groups having a finite covering by normal 2Engel subgroups are exactly the 3-Eugel groups among those having a finite covering by 2-Engel subgroups. The second centre of a group having a finite covering by class two subgroups does not necessarily have finite index. However, a group has a finite covering by subgroups in a variety containing all cyclic groups if the margin of this variety in the group has finite index.
Global nutrition transition and the pandemic of obesity in developing countries

Decades ago, discussion of an impending global pandemic of obesity was thought of as heresy. But in the 1970s, diets began to shift towards increased reliance upon processed foods, increased away-from-home food intake, and increased use of edible oils and sugar-sweetened beverages. Reductions in physical activity and increases in sedentary behavior began to be seen as well. The negative effects of these changes began to be recognized in the early 1990s, primarily in low- and middle-income populations, but they did not become clearly acknowledged until diabetes, hypertension, and obesity began to dominate the globe. Now, rapid increases in the rates of obesity and overweight are widely documented, from urban and rural areas in the poorest countries of sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia to populations in countries with higher income levels. Concurrent rapid shifts in diet and activity are well documented as well. An array of large-scale programmatic and policy measures are being explored in a few countries; however, few countries are engaged in serious efforts to prevent the serious dietary challenges being faced.
Tree species-specific effects on soil microbial residues in an upper Michigan old-growth forest system

Summary Microbial contribution to carbon and nitrogen cycling in forest soils is important, and may depend on tree species. The amount of amino sugars and their ratios can serve as reliable indicators for bacterial and fungal contribution. We compare forest fl oor microbial residues (amino sugars) beneath three canopy-tree species (Sugar Maple (SM), Acer saccharum Marsh; Basswood (BA), Tilia americana L.; Eastern Hemlock, Tsuga canadensis L.) replicated in fi ve plots in an upper Michigan old-growth forest. We hypothesized that because individual tree species develop a unique microbial community over time, they will accumulate microbial residues to different degrees. In this study at three tree species sites, the absolute amount of fungal residue (glucosamine (GluN)) was relatively constant, while absolute quantities of bacterial residues (galactosamine (GalN) and muramic acid (MurA)) were least in the Hemlock site. Amino sugar ratios revealed that microbial residues were compositionally distinct in the three sites. The lower ratios of GluN to GalN and GluN to MurA in BA and SM sites relative to Hemlock site indicate the lower net accumulations of GalN and MurA in Hemlock site. In terms of microbial contribution to carbon and nitrogen cycle in forest soils, we suggest that caution may be needed when using amino sugars as a tool, especially for nitrogen pool assessment, as the amino sugars are diluted by plant-derived litter. This study provides information on the microbial residues in undisturbed forest soils which may assist interpretation of data derived from managed or damaged forests in the future.
User-centered design for KDD

During initial development, KDD solutions often focus heavily on algorithms, architectures, software, hardware, and systems engineering challenges, without first thoroughly exploring how end-users will employ the new KDD technology. As a result of such "system-centered" design, many useless features are implemented that prolong development and significantly add to life cycle cost, while making the system hard to operate and use. This presentation will describe an alternate "user-centered" approach -- borrowed from the consumer products industry -- that can produce KDD solutions with shorter development cycles, lower costs, and much better usability.
Taste pathways to hypothalamus and amygdala

The projections of a third order gustatory relay in the dorsal pons of rats have been traced using tritiated proline autoradiography and antidromic activation of pontine neurons from electrodes in the thalamus and amygdala. Labelled axons collect in the central tegmental tract and ascend to the thalamic taste area in the medial extension of the ventrobasal complex. The majority of the fibers remain ipsilateral, but a few cross in the rostral pons and midbrain. The largest crossing occurs at the level of the thalamic termination. Many fascicles of fibers continue rostrally by passing beneath the thalamic taste area, piercing the medial lemniscus, and spreading out along the dorsomedial corner of the internal capsule (IC). The terminal field at this level caps IC from the subthalamic nucleus down into the far-lateral hypothalamus. Labelled axons grandually penetrate through the internal capsule, and ramify throughout the underlying substantia innominata. This terminal zone extends laterally into the rostral end of the central nucleus of the amygdala, which is densely labelled to its caudal exremity. At the caudal end of the amygdala labelled fibers are visible in one component of the stria terminalis. These fibers can be followed over the dorsal thalamus into a smaller, but equally dense terminal area in the dorsolateral bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. The electrophysiological data demonstrate that pontine gustatory units can be antidromically activated by electrodes located in or near the central nucleus of the amygdala. Since many of the same units can also be driven from the thalamic taste area, at least some of the axons traced autoradiographically probably convey gustatory information to the hypothalamus and amygdala.
The impact of electronic journals on use of print in geology

This study examines the use of geology journals at Washington State University (WSU), before and after electronic access was provided, to determine if the use of the print collection increased as in the previous studies at WSU of three other science disciplines. The number and source of articles cited by WSU geologists from 1998 to 2004 is also examined to determine the impact of electronic access on citation patterns. In light of inflation and package deals, librarians need to understand how faculty use journals. This analysis will assist librarians in better understanding journal usage to inform future serial purchasing decisions.
Cannabinoid potentiation of glycine receptors contributes to cannabis-induced analgesia

Cannabinoids enhance the function of glycine receptors (GlyRs). However, little is known about the mechanisms and behavioral implication of cannabinoid-GlyR interaction. Using mutagenesis and NMR analysis, we have identified a serine at 296 in the GlyR protein critical for the potentiation of I(Gly) by Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a major psychoactive component of marijuana. The polarity of the amino acid residue at 296 and the hydroxyl groups of THC are critical for THC potentiation. Removal of the hydroxyl groups of THC results in a compound that does not affect I(Gly) when applied alone but selectively antagonizes cannabinoid-induced potentiating effect on I(Gly) and analgesic effect in a tail-flick test in mice. The cannabinoid-induced analgesia is absent in mice lacking α3GlyRs but not in those lacking CB1 and CB2 receptors. These findings reveal a new mechanism underlying cannabinoid potentiation of GlyRs, which could contribute to some of the cannabis-induced analgesic and therapeutic effects.