cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A meta-analysis of the combined effects of elevated carbon dioxide and chronic warming on plant %N, protein content and N-uptake rate

Elevated CO2 (eCO2) and high temperatures are known to affect plant nitrogen (N) metabolism. Though the combined effects of eCO2 and chronic warming on plant N relations have been studied in some detail, a comprehensive statistical review on this topic is lacking. This meta-analysis examined the effects of eCO2 plus warming on shoot and root %N, tissue protein concentration (root, shoot and grain) and N-uptake rate. In the analyses, the eCO2 treatment was categorized into two classes ( 5 °C above ambient or control), plant species were categorized based on growth form and functional group and CO2 treatment technique was also investigated. Elevated CO2 alone or in combination with warming reduced shoot %N (more so at ≥300 vs. <300 ppm above ambient CO2), while root %N was significantly reduced only by eCO2; warming alone often increased shoot %N, but mostly did not affect root %N. Decreased shoot %N with eCO2 alone or eCO2 plus warming was greater for woody and non-woody dicots than for grasses, and for legumes than non-legumes. Though root N-uptake rate was unaffected by eCO2, eCO2 plus warming decreased N-uptake rate, while warming alone increased it. Similar to %N, protein concentration decreased with eCO2 in shoots and grain (but not roots), increased with warming in grain and decreased with eCO2 and warming in grain. In summary, any benefits of warming to plant N status and root N-uptake rate will generally be offset by negative effects of eCO2. Hence, concomitant increases in CO2 and temperature are likely to negate or decrease the nutritional quality of plant tissue consumed as food by decreasing shoot %N and shoot and/or grain protein concentration, caused, at least in part, by decreased root N-uptake rate.
Outcomes of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in influenza versus COVID-19 during the first wave of COVID-19.

PURPOSE: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a refractory treatment for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) due to influenza and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, also referred to as coronavirus disease 2019 [COVID-19]). We conducted this study to compare the outcomes of influenza patients treated with veno-venous-ECMO (VV-ECMO) to COVID-19 patients treated with VV-ECMO, during the first wave of COVID-19. METHODS: Patients in our institution with ARDS due to COVID-19 or influenza who were placed on ECMO between August 1, 2010 and September 15, 2020 were included in this comparative, retrospective study. To improve homogeneity, only VV-ECMO patients were analyzed. The clinical characteristics and outcomes were extracted and analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 28 COVID-19 patients and 17 influenza patients were identified and included. ECMO survival rates were 68% (19/28) in COVID-19 patients and 94% (16/17) in influenza patients (p = .04). Thirty days survival rates after ECMO decannulation were 54% (15/28) in COVID-19 patients and 76% (13/17) in influenza patients (p = .13). COVID-19 patients spent a longer time on ECMO compared to flu patients (21 vs. 12 days; p = .025), and more COVID-19 patients (26/28 vs. 2/17) were on immunomodulatory therapy before ECMO initiation (p < .001). COVID-19 patients had higher rates of new infections during ECMO (50% vs. 18%; p = .03) and bacterial pneumonia (36% vs. 6%; p = .024). CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 patients who were treated in our institution with VV-ECMO had statistically lower ECMO survival rates than influenza patients. It is possible that COVID-19 immunomodulation therapies may increase the risk of other superimposed infections.
Patient-Reported Outcomes Using Automated Chatbot for Breast Cancer Patients Receiving Radiation Therapy.

Purpose/Objective(s) We previously reported our experience using innovative and automated chatbots (“Health Chats”) in head and neck cancer patients during radiation treatment (RT). We created a breast cancer (BC) Health Chat. The aims of this pilot study are to 1) assess the usability of the Health Chats, 2) engage patients by providing frequent individualized education, and 3) identify areas of unmet needs specific to BC patients via collection of patient-reported outcomes (PROs). Materials/Methods Between January 2020 and December 2020, adults with BC aged ≥ 18 years who were English literate and were scheduled for RT at one of four academic hospitals were screened. Participants were sent chats 2 days before on-treatment visits during the duration of RT, then weekly for 4 weeks post-treatment, and monthly for an additional 3 months (“long-term follow-up”). Health Chats used PRO-CTCAE questions customized for BC patients. Clinicians were notified if any “red flag” symptoms were reported (PRO-CTCAE ≥ 3 or pain score ≥8). At the end of each chat, patients received customized educational material specific to symptoms reported. Results 20 breast cancer patients were enrolled, and 16 patients completed at least one chat. These 16 patients completed a median of 9 chats, out of a maximum of 10-12 chats. 11 patients continued to chat during the immediate post-treatment phase, and 10 patients continued to chat during long-term follow-up. Patient engagement with Chats is high, with 6 patients providing written feedback about the details of their symptoms, and 3 patients using unscheduled chats to contact the care team. The average System Usability Scale score (n = 9) was 82.77. A total of 811 pain or PRO-CTCAE scores were collected. There were 2 counts of pain scores ≥ 8, and no reports of grade 3+ skin toxicity or breast swelling. 5 out of 11 patients reported that their pain continued to worsen after finishing their last RT treatment, and 10 out of 11 patients reported that their breast pain, swelling, or skin toxicities peaked 2 weeks after RT. Patients reported severe and prolonged fatigue or insomnia: there were 4 counts of grade 3 fatigue and 3 counts of grade 4 fatigue, and 2 counts of grade 3 insomnia and 1 count of grade 4 insomnia. 4 out of 10 patients reported continued fatigue or insomnia during long-term follow-up. Of the 5 patients who screened positive for depression or anxiety using PHQ2 or GAD2 questionnaire, 3 patients continued to report persistent symptoms during long-term follow-up. Conclusion To our knowledge, this is the first study using chatbots to collect PROs for BC patients receiving RT. Our results show that BC patients are highly engaged and satisfied with Health Chats. As expected, patients report that pain and skin toxicities peak 2 weeks after RT. We also identify unexpectedly high rates of severe fatigue, insomnia, and persistent anxiety and depression. These toxicities are difficult to observe by clinicians and may represent unmet patient needs that should be addressed by future interventions.
Stress dependence of ultrasonic velocity in unidirectional graphite/epoxy composites for longitudinal waves propagating along the direction of stress

One effect of nonlinear elasticity on elastic wave propagation is that the velocity of the elastic wave is a function of the applied stress on the material. This effect has been used to characterize the nonlinear elastic properties of numerous materials and is also important in attempts to nondestructively characterize residual and applied stress in materials. In addition, investigations have established a possible correlation between the nonlinear elastic properties and ultimate strength in conventional materials such as aluminum [1] and carbon steel [2].
The Political Question Doctrine

This chapter addresses the extraordinary notion that the Constitution might insulate from federal judicial review some areas of environmental law, including even traditional common law tort causes of action. How? The answer lies in understanding the political question doctrine, under which a federal court concludes that a case is not justiciable because it is somehow textually or prudentially consigned to the elected branches of government. The doctrine's effect makes it particularly important to practitioners and to the very development of the law: A case dismissed under the political question doctrine ends without needing to reach the statutory, common law, or constitutional questions addressed with in this book. Moreover, pleadings, discovery, and motion practice are obviated, and the case is disposed of - merits aside - lock, stock, and barrel. Case closed.
Application of a 3-Step Kaizen Strategy for improvement of WIP flow in a semiconductor fab

IBM's 300mm line initiated a program in early 2014 using Kaizen principles to focus on finding small improvements each day to work more efficiently to improve WIP flow and to eliminate MUDA in all processes. This paper will describe the procedures adopted as well as key improvement ideas that were implemented.
Seeing the invisible by paramagnetic and diamagnetic NMR

Sparsely populated transient states of proteins and their complexes play an important role in many biological processes including protein–protein and protein–DNA recognition, allostery, conformational selection, induced fit and self-assembly. These states are difficult to study as their low population and transient nature makes them effectively invisible to conventional structural and biophysical techniques. In the present article, I summarize recent NMR developments in our laboratory, including the use of paramagnetic relaxation enhancement, lifetime line broadening and dark-state exchange saturation transfer spectroscopy, that have permitted such sparsely populated states to be detected, characterized and, in some instances, visualized. I illustrate the application of these methods to the elucidation of mechanisms whereby transcription factors locate their specific target sites within an overwhelming sea of non-specific DNA, to the characterization of encounter complexes in protein–protein recognition, to large-scale interdomain motions involved in ligand binding, and to the interaction of monomeric amyloid β-peptide with the surface of amyloid protofibrils and the internal cavity surface of the chaperonin GroEL.
Darkening Kinetics of Photochromic Glass at High Excitation Levels

A conventional copper sensitized photochromic glass was subjected to three excitation intensities, 21 mW/cm2, 45 mW/cm2, and 108 mW/cm2, between 0.3 μm and 0.4 μm. The effect of glass heat treatment as well as excitation intensity on the equilibrium absorption and the darkening rates is described. Results indicated that both the equilibrium absorption and the rate of darkening increase with excitation intensity.
Dynamic local distortions in KNbO3

Molecular dynamics simulations of the perovskite oxide KNbO3 are performed with a first-principles effective Hamiltonian. They reveal the prevalence of local polar distortions with short-range chain-like correlations, present even in the paraelectric phase far above Tc. The ordering of these dynamically fluctuating distortions yields the observed temperature sequence of ferroelectric phases. The simulations also reproduce the essential features of diffuse x-ray scattering measurements and the weak temperature dependence of diffuse streak patterns observed by Comes et al. These local distortions suggest an order-disorder character for the transitions. Softening of optical phonon branches is observed in the same simulations not only near q = 0, suggesting a displacive character for the transition, but also over large regions of the Brillouin zone. Dynamic real-space chains thus provide a unified framework for understanding both the order-disorder and displacive characteristics of these phase transitions.
Computer simulation of fluids using axisymmetric molecules

Molecular dynamics simulations have been performed using the Gaussian overlap potential in order to develop and test thermodynamic property predictive methods and to investigate the possibility of modeling real fluids as well. A first-order anisotropic reference-based perturbation theory and a temperaturedependent sphericalized potential have been tested and these methods are shown to work well, qualitatively for the original Gaussian overlap potential and qualitatively as well as quantitatively for the modified Gaussian overlap potential. It is also shown that the modified Gaussian overlap potential with the quadrupole moment works well for modeling benzene. Future possibilities are also discussed.
DETERMINATION OF VITAMIN B12, THIAMINE, AND BIOTIN IN LAKE TAHOE WATERS USING MODIFIED MARINE BIOASSAY TECHNIQUES1

Seawater bioassays for dissolved vitamin B12, thiamine, and biotin have been modified for freshwater samples. The assay algae are: Cyclotella nana; thiamine, Monochrysis lutheri; and biotin, Amphidinium carterae. The lowest detectable levels of dissolved vitamins are: B12, 0.1 ng/liter; thiamine, 4 ng /liter; and biotin, 0.4 ng/liter. Summer and winter samples in a water column near the center of Lake Tahoe were assayed using this method, and, with one exception, vitamins were found only in the euphotic zone.
From fragmentation to configuration

The rapid emergence of the policy science conception is a consequence of profound changes in the modern world, and in turn is affecting public and private decision. In broad outline European civilization has passed from a high level of homogeneity to increasing fragmentation, and more recently toward a new and comprehensive configurative outlook.
Synergistic photocatalysis mediated by TiO2: Mutual rate enhancement in the photoreduction of Cr(VI) and Cu(II) in aqueous media

Copper (II) ions were found to accelerate the heterogeneous photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI) in N2-purged UV-irradiated TiO2 suspensions. Conversely, Cr(VI) enhanced the rate of reduction of Cu(II) to metallic form on the TiO2 particle surfaces. Thus 800μM Cr(VI) was not completely converted to Cr(III) even after ∼4 h irradiation, in the absence of Cu(II), while the presence of 800μM Cu(II) resulted in complete Cr(VI) conversion within ∼20 min. Similarly, the half-life for the photocatalytic reduction of 600μM Cu(II) decreased from ∼1 h with no Cr(VI) to ∼5 min in the presence of 1.6 mM Cr(VI).
Bipolar reliability optimization through surface compensation of the base profile

Increased reliability of advanced bipolar devices was achieved by compensating the surface of the base doping profile with a shallow, low-dose arsenic implant. An order of magnitude increase in lifetime was obtained without a degradation in emitter coupled logic gate delay or f/sub T/, while a 100* improvement in lifetime was exhibited with approximately a 20% degradation in gate delay and f/sub T/. This technique is applicable to non-self-aligned as well as self-aligned bipolar devices. >
Engineering Service-Learning: A Model for Preparing Students for Engineering Practice while meeting Needs of the Underserved

Preparing tomorrow's global engineering leaders requires a strong technical foundation as well as a broad set of professional skills. Integrating these into the undergraduate curriculum can be challenging within traditional courses. One approach that has shown success is service-learning, which engages students in meetings needs of local or global communities. An engineering exemplar of service-learning approach is the EPICS (Engineering Projects in Community Service) Program founded at Purdue University and disseminated to more than 20 other universities. This paper describes the EPICS model and how it has been disseminated and discusses data on student perception and learning.
The SACO Program in the Lives of Our Institutions

This article reports the results of a survey sent to libraries and other institutions that have been active participants in the SACO (Subject Authority Cooperative) Program, a component of the Program for Cooperative Cataloging. The intent was to discover the ways in which SACO participation is related to the intellectual and cultural lives of libraries' home institutions or communities, and the nature and extent of interaction between those preparing SACO proposals and other stakeholders. Results indicate multiple ways in which SACO work reflects broader institutional life. Interaction is mainly limited to library or professional colleagues, and varies in nature.
Internally-Developed Online Adverse Drug Reaction and Medication Error Reporting Systems:

Online reporting systems for adverse drug reaction (ADR) and medication error (ME) reporting were developed at the University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center. Collaboration between Pharmacy Services, Information Services, and the Drug Information Center resulted in the creation of two stand-alone systems that input data directly into centrally-stored databases. Web forms were designed using Web-authoring tools, as well as javascript and server-side scripting. Medication error reporting incorporated an E-mail notification process for hospital personnel based upon patient location, medical service, and severity of the error. Adverse drug reaction reporting increased initially following implementation, but leveled out soon thereafter. Conversely, ME reporting greatly increased, and also captured a greater number of type A MEs (eg, situations with a capacity for error). A number of system changes and patient safety initiatives have been implemented in response to data obtained from the reporting systems. ...
The Public as Dummies Comments on American Ignorance

A number of recent public polls and commentaries on the media have suggested that the American public is woefully uninformed across a broad range of issues and topics, to the extent, as one such commentator argues, that citizens “are not mentally prepared to continue the society because they basically do not understand the society enough to value it.”A review of the literature does disclose vast areas of general-public ignorance, but the argument here is that those who see downward trends in public knowledge, most usually attributed to the advent of television, lack precision in their definitions of “the public” across time and data to suggest any true declines in public knowledge.
Do induced moods really influence health perceptions

Objective. To determine whether induced mood alters health reports. Design. Randomized experiments testing a) mood influence on two global self-rated health (SRH) assessments (Study 1; N = 168) and b) testing whether illness relevant thinking moderates the influence of induced negative mood on SRH and physical symptom reports (Study 2; N = 143). Main Outcome Measures. Two global SRH items. Results. Effect sizes for induced mood were near zero across both studies (r's = 0.00-0.07). Aggregate analyses of induced mood studies showed a small adverse effect of induced negative mood on SRH, but these analyses masked roughly equal instances of better SRH among groups with worse mood. Conclusion. Published experimental research shows no consistent pattern of poorer SRH following negative mood induction in college-aged samples. Sample size and gender may account for variation in health ratings among induced mood groups.
Heritability and Segregation Analysis of Deafness in U.S. Dalmatians

Hereditary loss of hearing affects many breeds of the domestic dog, but the Dalmatian has the highest prevalence. Approximately 30% are affected in the United States (U.S.) population. It is widely accepted that a relationship exists between deafness and pigmentation in the dog and also in other animals. While the Dalmatian exemplifies this relationship, the genetic origin and mode of inheritance of deafness in this breed are unknown. The goals of this study were to: (1) estimate the heritability of deafness in an extended kindred of U.S. Dalmatians and (2) determine, through complex segregation analysis, whether there is a major segregating locus that has a large effect on the expression of deafness. A kindred of 266 Dalmatians was assembled, of which 199 had been diagnosed using the brainstem auditory evoked response to determine auditory status. Of these, 74.4% (N = 148) had normal hearing, 18.1% (N = 36) were unilaterally deaf, and 7.5% (N = 15) were bilaterally deaf. A heritability of 0.73 was estimated considering deafness a dichotomous trait and 0.75 considering it as a trichotomous trait. Although deafness in the Dalmatian is clearly heritable, the evidence for the presence of a single major gene affecting the disorder is not persuasive.
A Practitioner’s Guide to Prescribing Zonisamide for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities

We developed this zonisamide guideline using drug prescribing ­information and reviewing the available literature on relevant neuropsychiatric disorders in populations without intellectual disabilities because of the dearth of available literature on the population with intellectual disabilities. This guideline includes indications, contraindications, assessments prior to and during treatment, dosing with particular focus on dosing modifications required by drug–drug interactions or personal characteristics, and adverse drug reactions. The procedures contained in this guideline may not fully account for all of the possible risks of treatment in this population because of the limited studies available; thus, there will be a need to periodically update this guideline as new information becomes available. Nevertheless, we believe that this guideline provides a useful resource for clinicians who treat epilepsy in adult individuals with intellectual disabilities. A zonisamide drug utilization review that summarizes this guideline is described.
A positive affect intervention for people experiencing health-related stress: Development and non-randomized pilot test

In this article we present background, theoretical rationale, and pilot data on the development of an intervention designed to increase positive affect in people living with serious health-related stress. This proof-of-concept study demonstrated that a multiple-component positive affect intervention is feasible and acceptable for people newly diagnosed with HIV. Retention in the intervention and adherence to home practice were high. Participants reported significant increases in positive affect and significant decreases in negative affect. This positive affect intervention can serve as a template for programs to be developed to help people experiencing health-related and other types of life stress.
Characteristics of the Phase-Dispersion Interference Filter*†

A filter in which the two high-reflection elements are dielectric multilayers of the type that show a rapid wavelength variation of the phase change on reflection yields several pass bands, some of which are very narrow. The grouping of these bands, and their various widths, depend in a characteristic way on the order in which the individual layers of the multilayers are arranged on the two sides of the spacer. Fair quantitative agreement is obtained between the theoretical and observed positions and widths of the bands. For an asymmetrical arrangement of the layers the filter shows, at one particular wavelength, no splitting of the pass band into polarized components at non-normal incidence.
Outlook for Long-Range Forecasting of Droughts

(1981). Outlook for Long-Range Forecasting of Droughts. Water International: Vol. 6, No. 1, pp. 16-25.
Stepwise unfolding of a β barrel protein by the AAA+ ClpXP protease

In the AAA+ ClpXP protease, ClpX uses the energy of ATP binding and hydrolysis to unfold proteins before translocating them into ClpP for degradation. For proteins with C-terminal ssrA tags, ClpXP pulls on the tag to initiate unfolding and subsequent degradation. Here, we demonstrate that an initial step in ClpXP unfolding of the 11-stranded β barrel of superfolder GFP-ssrA involves extraction of the C-terminal β strand. The resulting 10-stranded intermediate is populated at low ATP concentrations, which stall ClpXP unfolding, and at high ATP concentrations, which support robust degradation. To determine if stable unfolding intermediates cause low-ATP stalling, we designed and characterized circularly permuted GFP variants. Notably, stalling was observed for a variant that formed a stable 10-stranded intermediate but not for one in which this intermediate was unstable. A stepwise degradation model in which the rates of terminal-strand extraction, strand refolding or recapture, and unfolding of the 10-stranded intermediate all depend on the rate of ATP hydrolysis by ClpXP accounts for the observed changes in degradation kinetics over a broad range of ATP concentrations. Our results suggest that the presence or absence of unfolding intermediates will play important roles in determining whether forced enzymatic unfolding requires a minimum rate of ATP hydrolysis.
Anxiolytic effects of 3α-hydroxy-5α[β]-pregnan-20-one: endogenous metabolites of progesterone that are active at the GABAA receptor

The effects of intracerebroventricular administration of reduced metabolites of progesterone on locomotor activity and on exploration in the elevated plus-maze were assessed in adult female rats. Allopregnanolone (3 alpha-hydroxy-5 alpha-pregnan-20-one; 1.25, 5.0, and 10 micrograms) and pregnanolone (3 alpha-hydroxy-5 beta-pregnan-20-one; 2.5, 5.0, and 10 micrograms) elicited anxiolytic effects and, at the highest dose tested, allopregnanolone resulted in sedation. In contrast, the 3 beta-hydroxy-epimer of allopregnanolone was without effect in either behavioral paradigm. The anxiolytic response to pregnanolone was blocked by picrotoxin (0.75 mg/kg, i.p.), a dose that by itself did not affect behavior in the plus-maze. These data suggest that the anxiolytic effect of 3 alpha-hydroxy metabolites of progesterone is mediated by brain GABAA receptors in a stereospecific manner, and are in good agreement with the well-documented in vitro effects of these steroids as potent modulators of the GABAA receptor.
Video images of smoke dispersion in the near wake of a model building. Part II. Cross-stream distribution

Abstract In a wind-tunnel study, recorded video images of the top view of smoke dispersion in the wake of a building were analyzed. A continuous source of smoke was emitted at floor level, midway along the leeward side of the building. The applicability of analyzing video images of smoke is favorably demonstrated as a technique for studying building effects on smoke dispersion. The video image luminance intensity of the smoke-scattered light is related to a vertically integrated smoke particle density. Video image analyses are shown to be especially applicable to the temporal-spatial distribution of smoke, which is much more difficult to obtain from traditional point tracer measurements. The Statistics of a conditionally-sampled (according to intensity threshold) intensity are indicative of distributions downstream of ground-level sources where the plume core has been well mixed.
Can Peer Review Be Better Focused

Summary If we were to start from scratch today to design a quality-controlled archive and distribution system for scientific and technical information, it could take a very different form from what has evolved in the past decade from pre-existing print infrastructure. Recent technological advances could provide not only more efficient means of accessing and navigating the information, but also more cost-effective means of authentication and quality control. This article discusses relevant experiences of the past decade from open electronic distribution of research materials in physics and related disciplines, and describes their implications for proposals to improve the implementation of peer review.
Studies on the transformation of lymphocytes separated by suspension in dextran

Abstract Phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated cells were suspended in 10% dextran to prevent cellular aggregation. Cells suspended in dextran did not respond to PHA by any of the five parameters tested: [ 3 H]leucine, [ 3 H]uridine, and [ 3 H]thymidine incorporation into acid-insoluble products, lymphotoxin synthesis, or morphologic transformation. Dextran itself was not cytotoxic to the lymphocytes. However, one major technical problem is attaining a proper dextran “control.” The difficulty in culturing lymphocytes in dextran without simultaneously causing some cell dispersion yielded dextran “control” values that showed less stimulation than cells without dextran. These results suggest that cell contact is necessary for PHA-induced transformation as judged by both DNA synthesis and lymphotoxin secretion. This technique now provides an experimental system for biochemically assessing the effects of antigens and mitogens without the attendant problems caused by cell clustering.
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Endophenotypes, Structure, and Etiological Pathways

Several lines of research are revising our picture of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). I highlight four emerging themes. First, models from temperament and personality research have been fruitful in clarifying the basic pathways to ADHD and their relation to typical development. Second, many kinds of attention are normal in ADHD, but cognitive control and vigilance are not. These last two are among present candidates for clinical markers that may help identify causes of ADHD. Third, any one cognitive marker pertains to only a subset of the ADHD population; the syndrome’s heterogeneity increasingly is a focus of research. Fourth, along with energetic pursuit of genes related to ADHD, resurgent interest in environmental causes of ADHD is notable. New insights into environmental effects are illustrated by recent data concerning lead exposure and ADHD.
Selective effects of kainic acid on diencephalic neurons

Injections of kainic acid (KA) into the lateral hypothalamus (LH) produce neuronal loss in this region without apparent damage to medial forebrain bundle fibers passing through the area. Cellular destruction is not limited to the LH; the neuronal loss in the thalamic reticular nucleus, the subthalamic nucleus and zona incerta is more extensive than that in the LH. Since all of the nuclei of ventral thalamic origin except the ventral lateral geniculate nucleus (VLGN) were destroyed by LH injections of KA, we sought to determine whether this nucleus also is sensitive to KA. Injections directly into the VLGN produce total neuronal loss here as well as in the thalamic reticular nucleus, zona incerta and subthalamic nucleus. Other areas showing cell loss are the dorsal LGN, medial geniculate, lateral portion of the ventrobasal complex and midline thalamic nuclei. Injections of KA into medial hypothalamus adjacent to the suprachiasmatic nucleus produced no neuronal degeneration. In addition, no neuronal loss was noted in medial hypothalamic nuclei lying adjacent to areas of LH in which KA was injected. Therefore, the sensitivity of diencephalic nuclei appears to range from highly sensitive regions such as derivatives of ventral thalamus and midline thalamic nuclei to regions of moderate sensitivity such as the LH, geniculate nuclei and ventrobasal thalamic nucleus, to regions resistant to KA toxicity such as the suprachiasmatic nucleus and other nuclei and areas of medial hypothalamus.
Direct reading spectrochemical analysis with a rapid-scanning spectrometer

Abstract The optical, mechanical, and electronic features of a rapid-scanning spectrometer for direct reading spectrographic analysis are described. In this spectrometer the spectra are rapidly and repeatedly scanned past a single exit-slit, detector assembly, and the individual voltage pulses arising from the particular lines to be measured are electronically isolated, measured, and time integrated. Components of the instrument which are described in detail are as follows: a linear, variable-speed scanning mechanism; circuits for the cathode-ray tube presentation of wavelength versus intensity traces, or actual line spectra; circuits for the electronic isolation of the spectral lines of interest, i.e., master trigger pulse generator and circuits for the delay univibrators, gate univibrators, gate position indicator, and gated amplifiers; the spectral line intensity or pulse-height measuring unit with its associated scaling circuits and pulse counters; and an automatic intensity ratio computer and recorder. Typical analytical results obtained with the present version of the instrument for flame, d.c. arc, and spark discharges are described.
Beyond the average: Walking infants take steps longer than their leg length

Traditionally, infant walking is characterized by small steps, attributed to limited balance control and strength. However, analyses of individual steps revealed that infants occasionally take large steps exceeding their leg length. These large steps provide evidence of advanced balance control and strength.
The Rapid Change to Monotherapy With Valproic Acid in Children

A review of hospitalized epilepsy patients at Texas Tech University identified 20 children during a 4-year period who had undergone a rapid change from other anticonvulsants to valproate monotherapy. All patients had difficult-to-treat or intractable epilepsy syndromes. In each case, sodium valproate was introduced over a 2- to 4-day period as all other anticonvulsants were withdrawn quickly and sequentially. No acute side effects were seen during hospitalizations, and only one patient reported gastrointestinal complaints. At time of discharge, 12 of the 20 patients were seizure free. Fifteen of the 20 patients were maintained on monotherapy following discharge. By the end of the study period, 12 of the 20 patients showed improvement with valproate, with nine patients experiencing complete seizure control. A rapid switch to valproate monotherapy can be done safely in an inpatient setting.
Reduction of drug toxicity using dendrimers based on melamine.

Dendrimers based on melamine can reduce the organ toxicity of solubilized cancer drugs administered by intraperitoneal injection. Methotrexate and 6-mercaptopurine, both FDA approved anticancer drugs, are known hepatotoxins. The solubility of these molecules can be increased by mixing them with a dendrimer based on melamine. C3H mice were administered subchronic doses of methotrexate or 6-mercaptopurine with and without a solubilizing dendrimer. Forty-eight hours after dosing, the mice were sacrificed and serum was collected for biochemical analyses. The levels of alanine transaminase, ALT, were used to probe liver damage. When the drugs are encapsulated by the dendrimer, a significant reduction in hepatotoxicity is observed: ALT levels from the rescued groups (drug + dendrimer) were 27% (methotrexate) and 36% (6-mercaptopurine) lower than those of animals treated with the drug alone. Keywords: Drug delivery; toxicity; dendrimer; melamine; methotrexate; 6-mercaptopurine
Mitochondrial toxin 3-nitropropionic acid produces startle reflex abnormalities and striatal damage in rats that model some features of Huntington's disease

Systemic administration of the mitochondrial toxin 3-nitropropionic acid (3NP) to rats produces striatal lesions that mimic some aspects of pathology in Huntington's disease (HD). To evaluate whether 3NP-induced lesions cause sensorimotor gating deficits observed in HD, we measured prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the acoustic startle reflex after systemic administration of 3NP (10, 15, or 20 mg/kg) to 5-month-old rats. PPI, the reduction of startle magnitude by a weak auditory prestimulus, is significantly reduced in patients with HD. Two daily injections of 3NP produced gross histologic evidence of striatal lesions in some rats and significantly reduced PPI. Striatal lesions also significantly disrupted amphetamine-induced stereotypy, another index of dorsal striatal function. 3NP thus reproduces a specific objective and quantifiable gating deficit found in patients with HD.
High Pressure Liquid Chromatography of (Bay o 9867) Ciprofloxacin in Serum Samples

Abstract Quantitative analysis of ciprofloxacin using liquid chromatography and a traditional microbiological assay were compared and had a correlation coefficient of 0.9701. Liquid chromatography (LC) was a modification of that of Wingender et al. (1) and used a mobile phase consisting of water, acetonitrile, phosphoric acid, and tetrabutylammonium hydroxide. Separation on a reverse phase C18 column gave a retention time of 3.6 minutes.
Simulation of a Biscayne Bay, Florida commercial sponge population: effects of harvesting after Hurricane Andrew

The hardbottom communities of Biscayne Bay, Florida include populations of several commercial sponge species. These sponges have been subjected to harvesting, a major hurricane, trawling damage, and other stressors during the past 10 years. We developed a size-based matrix population model of the dominant commercial sponge species (Spongia graminea) as a tool to aid in assessing sponge population viability and potentially managing the sponge harvest. Repeated measurements of tagged sponges allowed estimation of growth, survival and fragmentation probabilities. Fecundity was estimated by solving for values of the reproductive size classes that matched the observed population growth when coupled with the observed transition probabilities. Three fecundity functions were applied to the sponge model: constant, a linear function of size class, and a function of sponge volume. All three models indicated a long-term decline in the sponge population (λ<1), attributed to poor recruitment, and significant vulnerability to harvesting. The responses were similar when either 7 or 2 size classes were assumed to be reproductively functional, and when using different methods and different assumptions of size-class distributions to fit the fecundity values. Models fit with the assumption of an open population (recruitment from outside the population) and with fecundity values increased to achieve a λ of 1 were less sensitive to harvest, but did not match the observed population dynamics.
Study on Dynamic Response of Assembly Type Gear-Rotor System

The dynamic model of a rotor system of assembled compressor is established. Based on the single axis analysis, and considering the tilting-pad bearing stiffness characteristics with speed variations, the paper analyses whole system’s nature characteristic with gearing mesh factors. It mainly expands with the form of amplitude-frequency drawing and spectrum charts, and examines the dynamic response with each key position of coupled systems under the two working conditions. The results show that, because of the existence of gear meshing effect, Low speed axis and high-speed axis in the corresponding speed shaft appeared a few larger vibration amplitudes, at high speed axis add unbalance force, can arouse resonance of this axis in the first two order critical speed, but in the other axis don’t have obvious display.
The use of speech patterns as an aid in prosthodontic reconstruction

Abstract Speech patterns are invaluable as an aid in denture fabrication. The restoration of the oral functions is one of the major objectives in the science of prosthodontics. Therefore, a comprehension of the muscle dynamics, motor innervation, memory factors, and sensory feedback, all of which make up the neuromuscular patterns is a requirement. Since the neuromuscular patterns for speech are the least affected by the removal of the teeth, they can be incorporated, under actual functional conditions, into other record making procedures. The reason is that during speech the sensory feedback, which consists of the combined kinesthetic senses of the facial musculature, the maxillomandibular musculature, and the temporomandibular joints, is little affected by the loss of the teeth. On the other hand, in the functions of mastication and salivary deglutition, occlusion is a major component of the kinesthetic sense. Consequently, the sensory feedback emanating from the periodontium is destroyed with the loss of the teeth. Hence, the neuromuscular patterns are made inoperative. When the artificial teeth are so arranged that their position is different than that of the natural teeth, they are foreign and antagonistic to the speech patterns and to the other functional patterns as well. They become obstacles in the way of functional movements. Tongue movements are impeded and speech sounds are obscured when the normal tongue space is encroached upon. Similarly, invasion of the normal interocclusal distance causes interceptive occlusal contacts in speech, in the swallowing threshold for salivary deglutition, and in mastication. Interference with functional movements causes the dentures to be buffeted about, thereby damaging, breaking down, and altering the underlying foundations. 7 For these reasons, the integration of the artificial teeth to the functional movements takes precedence over the fit of the denture base to its foundation. When the teeth do not conform to these functional patterns, the fit of the base cannot endure. Impression making, the recording of jaw relations, and the fabrication of dentures are basically technical procedures which may be adequate for the restoration of missing teeth, but quite inadequate for the restoration of the oral functions. To disregard the functional movements is to but half treat the edentulous patient, and that is not enough.
A novel compound, 7,10-dihydroxy-8(E)-octadecenoic acid from oleic acid by bioconversion

Sixty-two cultures from the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Culture Collection and 10 cultures isolated from soil and water samples in Illinois were screened for their ability to convert agricultural oils to value-added industrial chemicals. A new compound, 7,10-dihydroxy-8(E)-octadecenoic acid (DOD), was produced from oleic acid at a yield of greater than 60% by bacterial strain PR3 which was isolated from a water sample in Morton, IL. To our knowledge, DOD has not been previously reported. The optimum time, pH and temperature for the production of DOD were 2 days, 7.0, and 30°C, respectively. The production of DOD is unique in that it involves hydroxylation at two positions and rearrangement of the double bond of the substrate molecule.
Cocaine-induced Fos expression in rat striatum is blocked by chloral hydrate or urethane.

Abstract Anesthetics used in electrophysiological studies alter the effects of cocaine and amphetamine on neural activity in the striatum. However, the mechanism underlying this alteration has not been established. In the present study, we examined the effects of anesthetics on cocaine-induced neural activity in the striatum. We first assayed the ability of 20 mg/kg cocaine to induce Fos expression in the striatum following pretreatment with 400 mg/kg chloral hydrate or 1.3 g/kg urethane, two of the most commonly used anesthetics for in vivo electrophysiology. Chloral hydrate blocked, while urethane strongly attenuated cocaine-induced Fos expression without affecting basal levels of expression. We then examined dopaminergic and glutamatergic mechanisms for anesthetic effects on cocaine-induced Fos expression. Chloral hydrate and urethane did not attenuate basal or cocaine-induced increases of dopamine levels as assessed by microdialysis in dorsal striatum. In contrast, chloral hydrate attenuated glutamatergic neurotransmission as assessed by microdialysis in the presence of the glutamate transport blocker l - trans -pyrrolidone-2,4-dicarboxylic acid. Chloral hydrate attenuated basal levels of glutamate by 70%, while cocaine had no effect on glutamate levels. Since glutamate levels were tetrodotoxin-sensitive, the majority of glutamate measured in our assay was by synaptic release. To assess a causal role for a reduction of glutamatergic neurotransmission in anesthetic effects on cocaine-induced Fos expression, we injected the glutamate receptor agonists AMPA and NMDA into the dorsal striatum of chloral hydrate-anesthetized rats. The glutamate receptor agonists partially reinstated cocaine-induced Fos expression in anesthetized rats. We conclude anesthetics attenuate cocaine-induced neuronal activity by reducing glutamatergic neurotransmission.
Structural and optical properties of amorphous carbon nitride

Amorphous carbon nitride thin films have been grown by plasma decomposition of a feedstock of CH4 and N2. In the films with higher nitrogen concentration, the infrared absorption spectra are dominated by NH2 modes and give strong evidence of a polymeric structure. The optical absorption and photoluminescence spectra show that nitrogen incorporation decreases the bandgap and increases the structural order of these thin films.
Medical and psychosocial experiences of family caregivers with children fed enterally at home.

Background: Pediatric home enteral nutrition (HEN) studies that evaluate the psychosocial aspects of caregiving are limited. Overlooking the psychosocial needs of the caregiver may result in negative outcomes such as lack of adherence to the HEN regimen. This study determined whether caregivers report psychosocial situations more frequent and difficult to manage than medical situations. Methods: A questionnaire, which identified 10 psychosocial and 10 medical issues related to pediatric HEN, was mailed to 150 caregivers (37 responded), who rated the statements for frequency and difficulty. Each statement was ranked from most frequent/difficult to least frequent/difficult by mean cross-product score (frequency × difficulty). To indicate overall burden, a medical total composite score (MTCS) and a psychosocial total composite score (PTCS) were calculated by summing the cross-products of the respective problems. Paired t tests compared MTCS to PTCS and also the psychosocial frequency means and difficulty mea...
Spatial Heterogeneity of Reflected Radiance from Globally Distributed Clouds

Reflected spectral radiance measured by the Multiangle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) on the Terra satellite has been analyzed to determine the fraction of global cloudiness that appears to be spatially homogeneous over regions of various sizes.
Hemoglobin synthesis in mice after bone marrow transplantation.

SummaryThe hemoglobins synthesized in the spleen and bone marrow of mice protected by the transfusion of isogenic bone marrow from the lethal effect of whole-body irradiation have been studied under a variety of circumstances. Only adult hemoglobin synthesis was observed during the period of observation. The results are consistent with the evidence that the hemoglobins found in the fetal mouse are of extraembryonic origin and therefore are phylogenetically related to the human “Gower” hemoglobins and not hemoglobin F.
Initial flame acceleration in an explosive gas

The paper is concerned with pressure waves generated by a flame during the initial phase of its acceleration in a detonation tube filled with a stoichiometric hydrogen + oxygen mixture. The process was observed by means of streak schlieren photography with simultaneous pressure measurements at several stations in the tube. Experimental records revealed in considerable detail the characteristics of pressure waves and yielded information on the structure of the reaction zone with a noticeable effect of the transition from a wrinkled laminar to a turbulent flame. Marked influence of the mode of ignition (electrical obtained by spark discharge, chemical by pilot flame, and thermal by glow coil) on the process of flame acceleration was demonstrated. It is shown that the generation of pressure waves by the flame can be accounted for by the change in the rate of heat release brought about by the increase in the surface area of the combustion front. The computed acceleration of the flame and the structure of the pressure wave ahead of it were in a satisfactory agreement with experimental observation.