cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
21-Aminosteroids attenuate excitotoxic neuronal injury in cortical cell cultures

We studied the protective efficacy of novel 21-aminosteroids against several forms of neuronal injury in murine cortical cell cultures. Concentrations of 200 nM to 20 microM partially attenuated the damage induced by glucose deprivation, combined oxygen-glucose deprivation, or exposure to NMDA; maximal protection was less than that produced by NMDA antagonists, but the combination of a 21-aminosteroid plus an NMDA antagonist produced a greater benefit than either drug alone. 21-Aminosteroid addition did not attenuate NMDA-induced whole-cell current, but did block almost all of the damage induced by exposure to iron, a protective action consistent with inhibition of free radical-mediated lipid peroxidation. Lipid peroxidation may be a downstream event mediating a portion of the injury triggered by excess stimulation of NMDA receptors.
Evolution and atheism: Has Griffin reconciled science and religion?

The distinguished theologian, David Ray Griffin, has advanced a set of thirteen theses intended to characterize (what he calls) “Neo-Darwinism” and which he contrasts with “Intelligent Design”. Griffin maintains that Neo-Darwinism is “atheistic” in forgoing a creator but suggests that, by adopting a more modest scientific naturalism and embracing a more naturalistic theology, it is possible to find “a third way” that reconciles religion and science. The considerations adduced here suggest that Griffin has promised more than he can deliver. On his account, God is in laws of nature; therefore, any influence He exerts is natural rather than supernatural. But if the differences God makes are not empirically detectable, then Griffin’s account is just as objectionable as a theory of supernatural intervention. And Griffin has not shown that evolution as distinct from his idiosyncratic sense of Neo-Darwinism is incompatible with theism.
A study of the association of prenatal and paranatal factors with the development of tics in children: A preliminary investigation

Summary The hospital records of children withtics showed significantly more complications of pregnancy than did a similar number of matched controls. There were also a preponderance of males as was found in other neuropsychiatric disorders present in a hypothesized continuum of reproductive casualty, consisting of brain damage incurred during the prenatal and paranatal periods as a result of abnormalities during these periods, leading to a gradient of injury extending from fetal and neonatal death through cerebral palsy, epilepsy, mental deficiency, reading disability, and behavior disorder. However, owing to the small number of cases, and to finding no greater incidence of prematurity or neonatal abnormality in the patient only additional similar studies can indicate whether or not childhood tics should be included in the continuum.
NON-NATIVE EDUCATORS IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING. George Braine (Ed.). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum, 1999. Pp. xxi + 233. $49.95 cloth, $24.50 paper.

There exists a general belief that the ideal English teacher is a native speaker (NS). Because of this native speaker fallacy, it is undeniable that nonnative speaker (NNS) teachers have been marginalized in the English language teaching (ELT) profession. Until recently, however, the voices of NNS English teachers expressing their own concerns have rarely been heard. Non-Native Educators in English Language Teachingis the first and most comprehensive work done in the field to fill this gap. It focuses solely on the theme of NNS educators in ELT and provides a forum for language professionals to discuss the issues surrounding the NS-NNS dichotomy from linguistic, psychological, pedagogical, and sociopolitical perspectives. This anthology is unique and powerful. All of the contributors are NNS professionals from diverse linguistic and ethnic backgrounds. Because of the unique nature of its contributors, purpose, and contents, this volume makes a great impact on, and a valuable contribution to, the fields of TESOL and applied linguistics. It is powerful because the messages are coming from authorities on the theme—NNSs themselves.
Methods of Visually Rating Maturity in Tetraploid Dactylis L.

Plant maturity descriptors are important for many forage breeding decisions and in forage production research. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of genotypes, maturity rating scale, maturity rating unit, and observer on visual evaluations of maturity in Dactylis glomerata. Tetraploid clonal material was planted at three locations in Wisconsin in August of 1986. All plants were rated for maturity in early June 1987; locations were rated within 3 days of each other. For most family-location combinations, parents were more advanced in maturity than offspring family means. Family maturity could not be predicted from mean parent maturity scores. Genotype × location was the only significant interaction. On the average, the single digit rating scale led to an earlier assigned maturity value than the two-digit scale. The discrepancy between the rating scales was dependent on location. High phenotypic correlations between rating units and between rating scales suggested that ratings can be done on a whole-plant basis using either scale. However, if maturity is used as a covariate for another trait, a two-digit scale is preferred.
Experience as a prelude to disaster: American philosophy and the fear of death

Abstract By focusing on the thought of Classical American philosophers, this article addresses the existential problem of the fear of death. Drawing on the experiences and philosophies of Ralph Waldo Emerson, William James, and Jane Addams as a theoretical framework, a prescriptive claim regarding how to confront human mortality is advanced. It is suggested that embracing the notion of experience as a prelude to the disaster of death can be – despite appearances to the contrary – a useful approach to navigating exigencies connected with mortality and, in particular, fear of death. The essay contributes to a small but growing body of literature on the topic of death in American philosophy scholarship, while addressing a perennial problem receiving treatment in contemporary popular discourse.
TWINS WITH ACADEMIC LEARNING PROBLEMS: Antecedent Characteristics

Developmental histories of 46 children experiencing academic difficulties, all of whom had participated since birth in a longitudinal study of twins, were compared with a matched control group of twins. Genetic influences on the liability for academic difficulties are suggested, since identical pairs were more likely than fraternal pairs to be concordant both for academic difficulties and for preschool behavioral characteristics specific to the index group.
An appraisal of methods of evaluating training in psychiatry

Summary A survey of American chief residents ¶ in psychiatric training centres was carried out to assess how these training programmes gathered feedback on teacher effectiveness and programme content. The chief resident in each programme was asked to report how his or her department elicited information from their residents about course and teacher quality. Responses from 184 training centres in the United States were obtained and accounted for 75% of the existing centres. Fifty questionnaires were returned with the survey results and were analysed. The seven factors of clinical teacher effectiveness previously described in the literature were used to evaluate these questionnaires. The majority lacked consistent coverage of the teaching factors with the percentages of questionnaires covering a specific behaviour as follows: teacher organization, 58%; instructor knowledge, 42%; group interactional skills, 42%; instructor enthusiasm, 30%; clinical supervision skills, 25%; display of professional characteristics, 19%; and clinical competence, 17%.
Increased RhoA Prenylation in the loechrig (loe) Mutant Leads to Progressive Neurodegeneration

The Drosophila mutant loechrig (loe) shows age-dependent degeneration of the nervous system and is caused by the loss of a neuronal isoform of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) γ-subunit (also known as SNF4Aγ). The trimeric AMPK complex is activated by low energy levels and metabolic insults and regulates multiple important signal pathways that control cell metabolism. A well-known downstream target of AMPK is hydroxyl-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGR), a key enzyme in isoprenoid synthesis, and we have previously shown that HMGR genetically interacts with loe and affects the severity of the degenerative phenotype. Prenylation of proteins like small G-proteins is an important posttranslational modification providing lipid moieties that allow the association of these proteins with membranes, thereby facilitating their subsequent activation. Rho proteins have been extensively studied in neuronal outgrowth, however, much less is known about their function in neuronal maintenance. Here we show that the loe mutation interferes with isoprenoid synthesis, leading to increased prenylation of the small GTPase Rho1, the fly orthologue of vertebrate RhoA. We also demonstrate that increased prenylation and Rho1 activity causes neurodegeneration and aggravates the behavioral and degenerative phenotypes of loe. Because we cannot detect defects in the development of the central nervous system in loe, this suggests that loe only interferes with the function of the RhoA pathway in maintaining neuronal integrity during adulthood. In addition, our results show that alterations in isoprenoids can result in progressive neurodegeneration, supporting findings in vertebrates that prenylation may play a role in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s Disease.
Combustor Rebuild Effects on Gas Turbine Performance

The Institute for Aerospace Research of the National Research Council of Canada (NRCC), has established a program for the evaluation of component deterioration on gas turbine engine performance. The effort is aimed at investigating the effects of typical in-service faults on the performance characteristics of each individual engine component. As part of this project, a study of the effects of combustor rebuild tolerances on overall engine performance was undertaken. This study investigated the range of performance changes that might be expected for simply disassembling and reassembling the combustor module of a gas turbine engine, and how these changes would influence the results of any component modification testing.To evaluate the effects of rebuilding the combustor on the performance of a single spool engine, such as an Allison T56 turboprop engine, a series of three rebuilds was carried out. This study was performed in a similar way to two previous NRCC studies on the effects of compressor and turbine rebuilding. While the compressor and turbine rebuild studies found performance changes in the order of I% on various engine parameters, the effects of rebuilding the combustor have proven to be of similar magnitude. Based on the results of the combustor rebuild study, new methods to improve the assurance of the best possible tolerances during the rebuild process are currently being addressed.This paper describes the project objectives, the experimental installation, and the results of the performance evaluations. Discussed are performance variations due to combustor rebuilds on engine performance characteristics. As the performance changes were significant, a rigorous measurement uncertainty analysis is included.Copyright © 1995 by ASME
Sialyltransferase acceptor activity of "antifreeze" glycoproteins from an antarctic fish.

Summary The “antifreeze” glycoproteins from the Antarctic fish T. borchgrevinki function as effective acceptors for N-acetylneuraminic acid transfered from cytidine 5′-monophosphate N-acetylneuraminic acid by solublized enzymes from rat liver and a rat mammary adenocarcinoma. The properties of the two preparations are sufficiently similar to suggest that the same enzyme(s) are involved. The similarity between the glycoside structure that must result from this reaction and the known glycoside structures of some mucins and blood group substances invites the suggestion that the antifreeze glycoproteins were evolved during adaptation to a freezing environment by loss of the capability of transferring sialic acid to the antifreeze glycoprotein structure.
Fractal dimension of the bone marrow in metastatic lesions

We previously reported that the distribution of the cells in normal bone marrow is fractal and self-similar. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the same is true in metastatic tumors. Thirty-two bone marrow biopsy sections (3 to 5 microm thick) of 28 patients were used to measure the fractal dimensions of the metastatic tumor cells' distribution. Microscopic images were obtained and were used for the fractal measurements. In the two-dimensional images, the fractal dimensions were 1.98 +/- 0.02 (95% +/- 5% cellularity), suggesting a compact nonfractal structure. The dimensions, however, were 1.72 +/- 0.1 (56% +/- 11% cellularity) for the normal components, with a P-value of <.0001 that is in agreement with our previous study. These results suggest that loss of the fractal structure in the metastatic lesions may be attributable to loss or suppression of the regulatory mechanisms maintaining the fractal morphogenesis of the bone marrow. This report provides a novel objective approach in the study of pathophysiology of the bone marrow disorders.
Flow cytometric DNA analysis of carcinoid tumors of the lleum and appendix

Abstract Although all carcinoid tumors are considered potentially malignant, the biologic behaviors of appendiceal and ileal carcinoids are distinctly different. Appendiceal carcinoids often behave in a benign fashion, whereas ileal carcinoids pursue an aggressive course with frequent metastasis. Whether differences in DNA ploidy are related to this disparity in tumor behavior was addressed in this study. Flow cytometric DNA analyses were performed on paraffin blocks from 11 ileal and seven appendiceal carcinoid tumor cases. The mean coefficient of variation for all samples was 3.4 ± 0.7. DNA aneuploidy was seen in two of the appendiceal cases and in six of the ileal cases. Metastases were seen in one of the appendiceal carcinoid cases, and that tumor was aneuploid. In six cases of carcinoid of the ileum, metastases were seen; of these, five tumors were aneuploid. In the ileal cases, despite the low number of cases examined, the correlation between DNA aneuploidy and metastases nearly reached statistical significance ( P = .07) and showed a much stronger correlation than tumor size and metastases ( P = .4). Although no statistical significance was reached in this study, the results are highly suggestive of DNA aneuploidy being an important predictor of malignant behavior in carcinoids of the ileum.
Removal of the basement membrane enhances corneal wound healing

Recurrent corneal erosions are painful and put patients' vision at risk. Treatment typically begins with debridement of the area around the erosion site followed by more aggressive treatments. An in vivo mouse model has been developed that reproducibly induces recurrent epithelial erosions in wild-type mice spontaneously within two weeks after a single 1.5 mm corneal debridement wound created using a dulled-blade. This study was conducted to determine whether 1) inhibiting MMP9 function during healing after dulled-blade wounding impacts erosion development and 2) wounds made with a rotating-burr heal without erosions. Oral or topical inhibition of MMPs after dulled-blade wounding does not improve healing. Wounds made by rotating-burr heal with significantly fewer erosions than dulled-blade wounds. The localization of MMP9, β4 integrin and basement membrane proteins (LN332 and type VII collagen), immune cell influx, and reinnervation of the corneal nerves were compared after both wound types. Rotating-burr wounds remove the anterior basement membrane centrally but not at the periphery near the wound margin, induce more apoptosis of corneal stromal cells, and damage more stromal nerve fibers. Despite the fact that rotating-burr wounds do more damage to the cornea, fewer immune cells are recruited and significantly more wounds resolve completely.
Cyclopentadienyl Ring Metathesis with Organocalcium and Organopotassium Compounds

Cyclopentadienyl ring metathesis occurs between [Ca(C5Me5)2] and [Ln(C5H5)3] complexes in toluene to generate the mixed ring compounds [Ln(C5Me5)2(C2H5)] (Ln1-La, 1-Nd). 1-Nd has been characterized with X-ray diffraction as a sterically crowded monomer. Only one ring is exchanged between [Ca(C5Me5)2(thf)x] and [La(C5H5)3(thf)x] in toluene to yield [La(C5Me5)C5H5)2 (thf)] (2). In reaction with [M(C5H5)2] (MSn, Pb, Mn), [Ca(C5M5)2(thf)x] yields the corresponding [M(C5Me5)2] complexes. K[C5Me5] reacts with [La(C5H5)3(thf)], [Sn(C5H5)2] and [Pb[C5H5)2] in toluene to yield the ring-exchanged products 2, [Sn(C5Me5)2], and [Pb(C5Me5)2], respectively.
Electron diffraction and microscopy studies of the structure of grain boundaries in silicon

Abstract The diffraction effects expected from the periodic structure of twist boundaries in Si are determined by an examination of the reciprocal lattice of these boundaries. Methods of analysis are developed to distinguish between the real diffraction spots due to the periodic boundary structure and those due to double diffraction effects. The electron microscope images from the boundaries studied in Si bicrystals were frequently found to be complex and contained moire fringes which provided no information on the actual boundary structure. By analysing the electron diffraction patterns from these boundaries for the presence of new diffraction spots it is possible to show that all the Σ1 [001], Σ1 [111] and Σ3 [111] twist boundaries examined have a periodic structure.
Effect of proton transfer on neighboring hydrogen‐bond strength

The transfer of a proton from A to B in AH+‥B‥C to form A‥+HB‥C is expected to enhance the binding energy of C to the remainder of the H-bonded chain since C is now adjacent to a charged ion rather than to a neutral molecule. But since the actual proton motion between A and B is typically only 1 A or so, the interaction should be considerably less than that in isolated +HB‥C. Ab initio calculations with a variety of basis sets are used to quantitatively measure the enhancement of this binding energy. Systems investigated include the homotrimers of water and of ammonia, ammonium–formate–water, and formic acid–imidazole–water.
Biodegradation of pentachlorophenol and its commercial formulation

Biodegradation processes for pentachlorophenol (PCP) and a commercial PCP formulation were evaluated to delineate factors limiting the rate of PCP degradation in the aquatic environment. Analyses of the data on PCP disappearance and chloride ion release, as well as gas chromatography and UV-VIS (ultra-violet and visible spectroscopy) spectra of the fermentor broth strongly indicate that the bacterial culture acted on PCP by completely stripping off all the chloride ions from a molecule of PCP, rather than following the normal pattern of removing only one chloride ion at a time. The haloaromatic ring structure of PCP was completely broken down, and not channeled into the unproductive meta-cleavage pathway. Despite repeated transfers of the bacterial culture, an initial lag phase in PCP biodegradation was apparent in all experiments and was followed by a steady state, nearly linear rate of PCP degradation. Thus in the aquatic environment the biodegradation rate of a persistent contaminant is more likely to be regulated by whether or not this compartment has been previously subjected to a long or continuous exposure to a particular chemical. First-order kinetics alone cannot be used to predict accurately the fate of a persistent chemical in the environment, because of the inability of such a simple equation to accommodate the effects of rate-limiting factors such as the length of adaptation period on the overall biodegradation rate of a contaminant. For this reason, factors that may influence a chemical's biodegradability in the natural environment must be considered in the design of laboratory biodegradation experiments.
Potentiometric Detection of K+ Ions Using Gramicidin‐Ionophore/Lipid Bilayer Assembly on Polyaniline Electrode

Summary: Organic electronics have their advantage over traditional silicon orinorganic electrodes in their easy processing and ﬂexibility. For instance, polyanilinehas shown to be promising electrode material for various sensing opportunitiesincluding as a use of pH-meter. As the ion-to-electrode transduction may be optimalin these organic materials with high surface area and controllable electric doublelayer, selectivity has often been approached with the use of ionophores. We haveinserted a gramicidin ionophore in a lipid bilayer assembled on polyaniline surfaceand measured successfully K þ ion concentration potentiometrically. Keywords: gramicidin; ion selective electrode; lipid bilayer; polyaniline Introduction In the quest of scientists to developmaterials with great potentiality, polyani-line becomes widely investigated and usedconducting polymer not just because of itsintrinsic properties, but more for thevarious possibilities to functionalize thispolymerto uniqueand applicable materialsin the design of electronic, micro-electronicdevices,rechargeablebatteriesandsensors.Polyaniline ﬁlms are being increasinglyused in the design of bio-sensors, actuators,receptors and transducers because of theexceptional properties exhibited by suchﬁlms. The electrical conductivity of con-ducting polymers changes over severalorders of magnitudes in response to changein pH.
Slow rhythms and correlations in spike trains from midbrain neurons.

Abstract This paper describes auto-and cross-correlation histograms from single and simultaneously recorded spike trains in 57 neurons and 32 pairs of neurons in and around the reticular formation region in the midbrain of the rat. Firing patterns in most of these cells are random although some cells exhibit marked slow rhythms in firing, and closer inspection reveals the occurrence of slow rhythms which in many cells are partially masked by the more vigorous random activity. Sixteen percent of cells are markedly rhythmic in firing, 53% are moderately or marginally rhythmic, and 32% show no slow rhythms. At least three and at most six of nine neuron pairs recorded with single electrodes show short latency correlations in firing. At least two and at most five of 23 pairs recorded with separate electrodes show short latency correlations in firing. The occurrence of short latency correlations in firing between cell pairs in associated with the occurrence of rhythmicities in the firing patterns of the cells. Neuron pairs recorded with single electrodes exhibit broad rhythmic correlations which are in phase, while pairs recorded with separate electrodes exhibit broad rhythmic correlations which are out of phase. These observations suggest but do not necessarily imply the existence of slow rhythmic oscillations which propagate through midbrain tissue and engage to various degrees many of the constituent neurons.
A Review of Bilingual/Bicultural Programs for Deaf Children in North America

Each year the Joint CEASD/CAID Annals Committee selects a topic of current interest for inclusion in the annual reference issue. This issue's topic pertains to bilingual/bicultural programs for deaf children. While much has been said and written about the general topic, relatively little has been written about existing programs. Accordingly, the committee invited Dr. Michael Strong a researcher and an articulate proponent of this approach in the education of deaf children, to author this review. Please send any comments you wish to make pertaining to this review to Donald F. Moores, editor of the Annals literary issues. In a cover letter accompanying his manuscript, Dr. Strong wrote, "I kept evaluative comments to a minimum, but with great difficulty!" It has since been suggested that he submit a more self-expressive companion article for consideration in a future issue of the Annals .
Ethical challenges in geriatric care.

The growth of the elderly population presents numerous challenges to the practicing otolaryngologist. This commentary reviews some of the issues that come up in dealing with geriatric patients, reiterates some classic ethical principles, and looks to some philosophers who have addressed relevant issues over the past centuries. It is based on a presentation “Ethical Challenges in Geriatric Otolaryngology,” delivered at the annual meeting of the American Society of Geriatric Otolaryngology on April 30, 2008.
Reports from the Field: Assessing the Art and Science of Participatory Environmental Modeling

Since the work of Tansley 1935 and others, many have embraced the concept that an ecosystem is a synergy of its parts. Numerous science-centric approaches have been developed to address ecosystem management, while also taking into account the needs of the public. Participatory environmental modeling using system dynamics is an effective process for facilitating the integration of ecosystem science and social concerns. This integration helps break barriers between disciplines while also identifying important feedbacks between traditionally segregated types of data. Using the art of facilitation and the science of model building, the methodology creates a common language that integrates various types of information into simulation models. This paper describes a diversity of case studies, that have used system dynamics to create platforms through which stakeholders can simultaneously explore their system, stressors to that system, potential tipping points, resilience, and prospective policies that address the environment, social concerns, and long-term sustainability.
Electron paramagnetic resonance studies on nitrogenase. III. Function of magnesium adenosine 5′-triphosphate and adenosine 5′-diphosphate in catalysis by nitrogenase

Abstract The electron paramagnetic resonance spectra of azoferredoxin and molybdoferredoxin, components of the nitrogenase of Clostridium pasteurianum , disappear when the proteins are oxidized by certain dyes. When molybdoferredoxin and azoferredoxin were mixed in a 1 to 2 molar ratio, the electron paramagnetic resonance spectrum of the mixture was the sum of the two spectra with the exception of a slight change in the azoferredoxin signal. Addition of magnesium ATP and dithionite to this reconstituted nitrogenase resulted in a rapid change in the spectrum of both nitrogenase components; the molybdoferredoxin spectrum at all g -values decreased with a half-life less than 70 ms to 40% of its original size whereas the azoferredoxin signal changed in shape and size with a half-life of less than 40 ms. If an ATP-generating system was added instead of MgATP so that no ADP accumulated, then the molybdoferredoxin signal almost completely disappeared and the azoferredoxin signal changed in shape and slightly in size. These changes occurred at molar ratios of molybdoferredoxin to azoferredoxin from 1:14 to 1:0.2. If the reaction was allowed to consume the reductant, then the molybdoferredoxin signal(s) was restored but the azoferredoxin signal disappeared. The signal of azoferredoxin was restored and the signal of molybdoferredoxin again disappeared on addition of more reductant. The data suggest that for nitrogenase to catalyze the reduction of substrates, the magnesium ATP-reduced azoferredoxin complex is formed first and this complex then reacts with molybdoferredoxin to allow electron flow. In addition the data suggests that the rate-limiting reaction is an ATP-mediated electron flow from azoferredoxin to molybdoferredoxin. Finally the results show that no flow of electrons from azoferredoxin or molybdoferredoxin occurs when a mixture of ADP and ATP in a molar ratio of 2:1 is added initially or is reached by conversion of ATP to ADP and inorganic phosphate during reduction of protons. A mechanism consistent with these findings is proposed.
Student Engagement in an Independent Research Project: The Influence of Cohort Culture.

Student engagement is widely viewed as an important antecedent to learning and achievement; however, research finds that engagement declines sharply as students advance through school. Graduation projects and senior projects have been endorsed by practitioners and researchers for their rigor, content-area depth, and promise to engage students in advanced academic work. This study explores whether or not International Baccalaureate's extended essay realizes this promise and whether its effectiveness as a vehicle for engaging students is influenced by school or programmatic factors. A phenomenon called “cohort culture” helps to explain differences in students’ engagement levels. Cohort culture refers to the attitudes, values, and practices that students in a particular group negotiate through interaction with one another and in reaction to the requirements and expectations placed on them by their institutional context. For the students in this study, it was not only the characteristics of the task, the expe...
Biochemical and Morphological Changes Following Artificially Stimulated Decidualization in the Mouse Uterus

Chemical and morphological changes in the uterus following stimulation of the decidual cell reaction by the intraluminal injection of sesame oil were studed in hormone-primed ovariectomized mice. 2 distinct phases in the growth of the stimulated uterine horn were observed. Beginning at about 12 hours after stimulation uterine weight began to double. Uterine weight again began to increase at 30 hours and was approximately 20 times greater within 3-4 days. Uterine protein content was doubled and total DNA content was slightly increased during the 1st phase of growth. In the 2nd phase the increases in both protein and DNA content paralleled that in uterine weight. Decidual cells were observed on histological examination of uterine horns 39 hours after stimulation. The gross and histological features of the decidualization process showed a pattern similar to that observed after actual blastocyst contact.
Overview of the MicroPrecision Interferometer testbed

Gives an overview the Micro-Precision Interferometer (MPI) testbed and its major achievements to date related to mitigating risk for future spaceborne optical interferometer missions. The MPI testbed is a ground-based hardware model of a future spaceborne interferometer. The three primary objectives of the testbed are to: (1) demonstrate the 10 nm positional stability requirement in the ambient lab disturbance environment, (2) predict whether the 10 nm positional stability requirement can be achieved in the anticipated on-orbit disturbance environment, and (3) validate integrated modeling tools that will ultimately be used to design the actual space missions. The paper presents results which represent the latest advancements made on the testbed in the first two areas. Encouraging results from this testbed confirm that MPI provides an essential link between the extensive ongoing ground-based interferometer technology development activities and the technology needs of future spaceborne optical interferometers.
Part-of-speech histograms for genre classification of text

This work addresses the problem of classifying the genre of text, which is useful for a variety of language processing problems. We propose statistics of POS histograms as classification features, coupled with a quadratic discriminant classifier. In experiments on six different text and speech genres, we demonstrate enhanced performance compared to standard techniques using word frequency count features and POS trigram features. Experiments on genres that were not seen in training show intuitive overlaps with the training classes.
Acute pit gas (hydrogen sulfide) poisoning in confinement cattle

Rapid deaths in confinement cattle caused by exposure to hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas from manure pits has not been reported in the USA. In 1997, 158 cattle in 2 confinement pens were exposed to H2S gas as the manure in the pits under a slatted floor was agitated prior to pumping. Approximately 35 of the cattle were lying on the floor when the upper agitator was turned on. Within 5 minutes, many these cattle were down on their sides and paddling. Of these, 26 died within a few minutes. The survivors were treated and sent to slaughter. Cattle that did not show immediate signs of toxicosis remained clinically unaffected. Two steers that were near death were brought to the Purdue Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory for clinical evaluation, euthanasia, and necropsy. They were recumbent and unresponsive to visual and auditory stimuli. Necropsy examination yielded no significant gross lesions. No evidence of viral or bacterial infection was found. Ocular fluid nitrate concentrations were within normal limits, and no lead was detected in either animal. Microscopic examination revealed lesions consistent with H2S-induced central nervous system anoxia. Histologically, sections of brain demonstrated massive, diffuse cerebral cortical laminar necrosis and edema. Portions of the outer lamina contained hypereosinophilic and shrunken neurons. The subcortical white matter was vacuolated in some areas. The history, clinical signs, and histologic lesion of cerebral laminar necrosis led to a diagnosis of H2S toxicosis in these cattle.
Convulsing toward the pathophysiology of autism

The autisms and epilepsies are heterogeneous disorders that have diverse etiologies and pathologies. The severity of impairment and of symptoms associated with autism or with particular epilepsy syndromes reflects focal or global, structurally abnormal or dysfunctional neuronal networks. The complex relationship between autism and epilepsy, as reflected in the autism–epilepsy phenotype, provides a bridge to further knowledge of shared neuronal networks that can account for both the autisms and the epilepsies. Although epilepsy is not a causal factor for autism, increased understanding of common genetic and molecular biological mechanisms of the autism–epilepsy phenotype has provided insight into the pathophysiology of the autisms. The autism–epilepsy phenotype provides a novel model to the study of interventions that may have a positive modulating effects on social cognitive outcome.
The Application of Cloud Computing to Astronomy: A Study of Cost and Performance

Cloud computing is a powerful new technology that is widely used in the business world. Recently, we have been investigating the benefits it offers to scientific computing. We have used three workflow applications to compare the performance of processing data on the Amazon EC2 cloud with the performance on the Abe high-performance cluster at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA). We show that the Amazon EC2 cloud offers better performance and value for processor- and memory-limited applications than for I/O-bound applications. We provide an example of how the cloud is well suited to the generation of a science product: an atlas of period grams for the 210,000 light curves released by the NASA Kepler Mission. This atlas will support the identification of periodic signals, including those due to transiting exoplanets, in the Kepler data sets.
Nonlinear Modeling of Serial Immunologic Data: A Case Study

Abstract This article concerns the analysis of serial immunologic data from a clinical trial of immunosuppressive chemotherapy in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. The goal of the analysis is to relate levels of drug dose to levels of an immunologic outcome variable. I propose a new, nonlinear model for the analysis of such data. The model assumes that the mean function is the solution of an ordinary differential equation in time, parameters of which are related to the dose via a regression function. The defining differential equation is that which gives rise to the generalized logistic function, a flexible form that includes a number of popular growth models. We fit the model, which accounts for random effects and time series autocorrelation, by maximum likelihood. Results suggest strong treatment effects in two active-drug groups and a small but significant effect in a placebo group. These findings agree well with previously reported analyses of clinical outcomes from the trial. An empirical comparis...
Differentiation of the Properties of the Branching Isozymes from Maize (Zea mays).

The multiple forms of branching enzyme (BE) from developing maize (Zea mays) endosperm were purified by modification of previous procedures such that amylase activity could be eliminated completely from the BE preparation. Three distinct assays for BE activity (phosphorylase a stimulation assay, BE linkage assay, and iodine stain assay) were used to characterize and differentiate the properties of the BE isoforms. This study presents the first evidence that the BE isoforms differ in their action on amylopectin. BEI had the highest activity in branching amylose, but its rate of branching amylopectin was less than 5% of that of branching amylose. Conversely, BEII isoforms had lower rates in branching amylose (about 9–12% of that of BEI) and had higher rates of branching amylopectin (about 6-fold) than BEI. The implication of these findings to the mechanism of amylopectin synthesis in vivo are discussed.
Screening hospitalized injured older adults for cognitive impairment and pre-injury functional impairment

Cognitive and functional impairments are leading predictors of poor outcomes among older adults, yet few hospitals collect these variables for injured older adults (IOAs). In this prospective descriptive study, we sought to determine the feasibility of screening IOAs for cognitive and pre-injury functional impairment; and to examine the prevalence of impairment at two acute care hospitals, using the Mini-Cog or Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly (IQCDE), and Vulnerable Elder Survey (VES-13). Eighty patients were screened. Demographics included: mean age 78.7; female gender 83%; falls 89%. Cognitive impairment was present in 36 (44%) patients, and pre-injury functional impairment was present in 62 (78%) patients. Screening respondents included: patients: 53 (66%); adult children: 18 (23%); spouses: 5 (6%), and other 4 (5%). A combination of brief screening instruments for use with IOAs or surrogates is useful for capturing important variables for risk adjustment and care management.
Public diplomacy in a networked society: The Chinese government–NGO coalition network on acquired immune deficiency syndrome prevention

In the era of globalization, the line between domestic and international communication is becoming increasingly blurred. Public diplomacy communication is one such case. Public diplomacy has evolved from a focus on mass media to communication efforts to build transnational communication networks of relationships with respected international non-governmental organizations. This article explores how the Chinese government communicated with and collaborated with transnational human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome international non-governmental organizations. The findings of a network analysis of Chinese-international non-governmental organizations public diplomacy suggest that the Chinese government is strategically communicating with international organizations to help address a domestic issue. Additionally, the findings of a content analysis of international media coverage of China’s management of the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome issue suggest ...
Resuscitation with a blood substitute causes vasoconstriction without nitric oxide scavenging in a model of arterial hemorrhage.

Background The purpose of this study was to determine if a hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier, HBOC-201 (Hemopure, Biopure Corp), alters endothelial function and nitric oxide physiology when used for hemorrhagic shock. Study design Female swine (Sus scrofa) underwent catheterization of the femoral, circumflex iliac, and pulmonary arteries. Control animals (n = 3) underwent instrumentation only. Study animals underwent hemorrhage to mean arterial pressure of 30 ± 5 mmHg, were maintained for 45 minutes, and resuscitated to the baseline mean arterial pressure for 4 hours. Resuscitation fluids included: shed blood (SB) (n = 8), lactated Ringers plus shed blood (LRSB) (n = 8), and HBOC (n = 8). At baseline, 1, and 4 hours after resuscitation, acetylcholine was infused into the proximal iliac artery and endothelial-dependent relaxation was measured with M-mode ultrasonography. Nitric oxide levels were determined using a chemiluminescent assay. Results HBOC, SB, and LRSB provided equivalent survival and resuscitation as measured by mean arterial pressures (65.3 ± 2.48 mmHg); pulmonary artery mean pressures (15.8 ± 0.84 mmHg); and lactate levels (1.22 ± 0.19 mmol/L). HBOC group animals required the lowest resuscitation volume (SB, 41.5 ± 3.5 mL/kg; LRSB, 76.4 ± 1.1 mL/kg, HBOC, 14.6 ± 2.1 mL/kg, p Conclusions HBOC might be an alternative resuscitation agent in patients with hemorrhagic shock. Resuscitation with HBOC requires less volume than blood or crystalloid. These data suggest HBOC-201 has a vasoconstrictive effect that cannot be attributed soley to nitric oxide scavenging.
Set-Dueling-Controlled Adaptive Insertion for High-Performance Caching

The commonly used LRU replacement policy causes thrashing for memory- intensive workloads. A simple mechanism that dynamically changes the insertion policy used by LRU replacement reduces cache misses by 21 percent and requires a total storage overhead of less than 2 bytes.
Potential Antidepressant Role of Neurotransmitter CART: Implications for Mental Disorders

Depression is one of the most prevalent and debilitating public health concerns. Although no single cause of depression has been identified, it appears that interaction among genetic, epigenetic, biochemical, environmental, and psychosocial factors may explain its etiology. Further, only a fraction of depressed patients show full remission while using current antidepressants. Therefore, identifying common pathways of the disorder and using that knowledge to develop more effective pharmacological treatments are two primary targets of research in this field. Brain-enriched neurotransmitter CART (cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript) has multiple functions related to emotions. It is a potential neurotrophic factor and is involved in the regulation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and stress response as well as in energy homeostasis. CART is also highly expressed in limbic system, which is considered to have an important role in regulating mood. Notably, adolescents carrying a missense mutation in the CART gene exhibit increased depression and anxiety. Hence, CART peptide may be a novel promising antidepressant agent. In this paper, we summarize recent progress in depression and CART. In particular, we emphasize a new antidepressant function for CART.
Genetic Mapping of the Coding Regions for Three Heat-Shock Proteins in DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER

We describe variants of three heat-shock proteins of Drosophila melanogaster and their use to map the chromosome regions that contain the coding sequences for these proteins. All three map to a region on chromosome 3L that includes only one heat-shock puff, designated as 67B. The results imply that the genes coding for at least three heat-shock proteins are included within the 67B region.
Design of a cluster-randomized trial of electronic health record-based tools to address overweight and obesity in primary care.

Background:Primary care providers often fail to identify patients who are overweight or obese or discuss weight management with them. Electronic health record-based tools may help providers with the assessment and management of overweight and obesity.Purpose:We describe the design of a trial to examine the effectiveness of electronic health record-based tools for the assessment and management of overweight and obesity among adult primary care patients, as well as the challenges we encountered.Methods:We developed several new features within the electronic health record used by primary care practices affiliated with Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA. These features included (1) reminders to measure height and weight, (2) an alert asking providers to add overweight or obesity to the problem list, (3) reminders with tailored management recommendations, and (4) a Weight Management screen. We then conducted a pragmatic, cluster-randomized controlled trial in 12 primary care practices.Results:We random...
Bugs and drugs: oncolytic virotherapy in combination with chemotherapy

Single agent therapies are rarely successful in treating cancer, particularly at metastatic or end stages, and survival rates with monotherapies alone are generally poor. The combination of multiple therapies to treat cancer has already driven significant improvements in the standard of care treatments for many types of cancers. The first combination treatments exploited for cancer therapy involved the use of several cytotoxic chemotherapy agents. Later, with the development of more targeted agents, the use of novel, less toxic drugs, in combination with the more classic cytotoxic drugs has proven advantageous for certain cancer types. Recently, the combination of oncolytic virotherapy with chemotherapy has shown that the use of these two therapies with very distinct anti-tumor mechanisms may also lead to synergistic interactions that ultimately result in increased therapeutic effects not achievable by either therapy alone. The mechanisms of synergy between oncolytic viruses (OVs) and chemotherapeutic agents are just starting to be elucidated. It is evident, however, that the success of these OV-drug combinations depends greatly on the particular OV, the drug(s) selected, and the cancer type targeted. This review summarizes the different OV-drug combinations investigated to date, including the use of second generation armed OVs, which have been studied with the specific purpose of generating synergistic interactions with particular chemotherapy agents. The known mechanisms of synergy between these OV-drug combinations are also summarized. The importance of further investigating these mechanisms of synergy will be critical in order to maximize the therapeutic efficacy of OV-drug combination therapies in the future.
Hadacheck v. Sebastian

This short encyclopedia entry discusses Hadacheck v. Sebastian and its relevance to contemporary regulatory takings jurisprudence. The entry describes the Hadacheck litigation and the treatment of Hadacheck in the Supreme Court's more recent regulatory takings cases. It notes four reasons why caution should be used before applying Hadacheck to contemporary regulatory takings issues: (1) the case is ambiguous about the diminution in value actually suffered by the plaintiff; (2) Hadacheck was decided before Pennsylvania Coal v. Mahon, which arguably marked a shift in regulatory takings law; (3) the Court's holding in Lucas v. South Carolina Coastal Council that a total diminution in value is a per se taking undercuts one possible reading of Hadacheck; and (4) that the Court's recent decision in Lingle v. Chevron suggests that the substantive due process analysis in early cases like Hadacheck should not be a part of the regulatory takings analysis.