cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
What Cruising Infants Understand about Support for Locomotion.

“Cruising” infants can only walk using external support to augment their balance. We examined cruisers’ understanding of support for upright locomotion under four conditions: cruising over a wooden handrail at chest height, a large gap in the handrail, a wobbly unstable handrail, and an ill-positioned low handrail. Infants distinguished among the support properties of the handrails with differential attempts to cruise and handrail-specific forms of haptic exploration and gait modifications. They consistently attempted the wood handrail, rarely attempted the gap, and occasionally attempted the low and wobbly handrails. On the wood and gap handrails, attempt rates matched the probability of cruising successfully, but on the low and wobbly handrails, attempt rates under- and overestimated the probability of success, respectively. Haptic exploration was most frequent and varied on the wobbly handrail, and gait modifications—including previously undocumented “knee cruising”—were most frequent and effective on the low handrail. Results are discussed in terms of developmental changes in the meaning of support. OBLIGATORY AND SUPPLEMENTAL SUPPORT At some points in development, children cannot act on their own; external support is obligatory for successful performance of the action. At later
Protective Effects of PARP-1 Knockout on Dyslipidemia-Induced Autonomic and Vascular Dysfunction in ApoE-/- Mice: Effects on eNOS and Oxidative Stress

The aims of this study were to investigate the role of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP)-1 in dyslipidemia-associated vascular dysfunction as well as autonomic nervous system dysregulation. Apolipoprotein (ApoE)(-/-) mice fed a high-fat diet were used as a model of atherosclerosis. Vascular and autonomic functions were measured in conscious mice using telemetry. The study revealed that PARP-1 plays an important role in dyslipidemia-associated vascular and autonomic dysfunction. Inhibition of this enzyme by gene knockout partially restored baroreflex sensitivity in ApoE(-/-) mice without affecting baseline heart-rate and arterial pressure, and also improved heart-rate responses following selective blockade of the autonomic nervous system. The protective effect of PARP-1 gene deletion against dyslipidemia-induced endothelial dysfunction was associated with preservation of eNOS activity. Dyslipidemia induced PARP-1 activation was accompanied by oxidative tissue damage, as evidenced by increased expression of iNOS and subsequent protein nitration. PARP-1 gene deletion reversed these effects, suggesting that PARP-1 may contribute to vascular and autonomic pathologies by promoting oxidative tissue injury. Further, inhibition of this oxidative damage may account for protective effects of PARP-1 gene deletion on vascular and autonomic functions. This study demonstrates that PARP-1 participates in dyslipidemia-mediated dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system and that PARP-1 gene deletion normalizes autonomic and vascular dysfunctions. Maintenance of eNOS activity may be associated with the protective effect of PARP-1 gene deletion against dyslipidemia-induced endothelial dysfunction.
Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing in Lung Transplantation: A Review

There has been an increase in lung transplantation in the USA. Lung allocation is guided by the lung allocation score (LAS), which takes into account one measure of exercise capacity, the 6-minute walk test (6MWT). There is a paucity of data regarding the role and value of cardiopulmonary stress test (CPET) in the evaluation of lung transplant recipients while on the transplant waiting list and after lung transplantation. While clearly there is a need for further prospective investigation, the available literature strongly suggests a potential role for CPET in the setting of lung transplant.
Hemorrhage affects the ability of murine peritoneal macrophages to alkanize intracellular pH in acidic environments.

Although departures from the normal physiologic pH range, associated with states of shock, injury, and/or infection are thought to impair phagocytic function and chemotaxis, it remains unknown if the ability of the peritoneal macrophage (pMo) to gate H + is affected following hemorrhagic shock. To study this, male C3H/HeN mice were bled to a BP of 40 mm Hg and maintained at that level for 1 hr. Following resuscitation with the shed blood plus 2 X that volume as Ringer's lactate, pMo was harvested via lavage in bicarbonate-free RPMI 1640 and enumerated to 2 million cells/ml. PMo was then loaded with a pH-sensitive dye, BCECF (2 μg/ml), for 20 min and washed with a buffered Na + solution followed by phorbol myristate acetate stimulation (0.5 μg/ml). The capacity of the pMo to gate H + at an external pH of 7.35 or 6.7 was assessed via fluorescence spectrophotometry. PMo from hemorrhaged animals had a decreased ability to alkalinize intracellular pH compared to that of control (P < 0.05), indicating a decreased ability of these Mo to maintain internal pH in an acidic environment following hemorrhage. In additional studies, oxidative burst capacity was determined by employing a commercially available fluorogenic substrate, (Fc Oxiburst), which fluoresces during intracellular oxidation. Fluorescence (U X 10 6 ) was assessed with the ACAS 570 laser cytometer, after 0 and 200 sec following ingestion of substrate. The results demonstrate that pMo oxidative burst capacity was also decreased following hemorrhage and resuscitation. We propose that the underlying mechanism of decreased ability of pMo to alkanize intracellular pH and oxidative burst capacity may be due to loss of intracellular ATP following hemorrhage. This cellular derangement may be an important factor contributing to the depressed cellular immune function under such conditions. © 1995 Academic Press, Inc.
Stromal cells can contribute oncogenic signals

The majority of studies of neoplastic transformation have focused attention on events that occur within transformed cells. These cell autonomous events result in the disruption of molecular pathways that regulate basic activities of the cells such as proliferation, death, movement and genomic integrity. Other studies have addressed the microenvironment of tumor cells and documented its importance in supporting tumor progression. Recent work has begun to expand on these initial studies of tumor microenvironment and now provide novel insights into the possible initiation and progression of malignant cells. This review will address the transforming effect of stromal cells on epithelial components.
On the asymptotic number of inequivalent binary self-dual codes

Let @J"n be the number of inequivalent self-dual codes in F"2^2^n. We prove that lim"n"->"~(2n)[email protected]^-^1^2^n^(^n^-^1^)@J"n=1, where @[email protected]?"j"="1^~(1+2^-^j)~2.38423. Let @D"n be the number of inequivalent doubly even self-dual codes in F"2^8^n. We also prove that lim"n"->"~(8n)[email protected]^-^2^n^(^4^n^-^3^)@D"n=1.
Costing for ALARP

A key principle for achieving Tolerable Risk under the UK Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) approach is the reduction of risks to “As Low As Reasonably Practicable” or ALARP. This principle is founded on the ideal of reducing risks to a point of diminishing returns where additional risk reduction would cost “disproportionally” more than the risk reduction benefit achieved. The HSE approach of estimating the degree of disproportionality between the cost and benefits associated with a potential risk reduction measure is a variation of the Cost Effectiveness approach to ALARP Evaluation. A probabilistic cost-benefit analysis method is outlined for evaluating design options and establishing whether the conditions of ALARP are met. This paper demonstrates the value of probabilistic cost-benefit analysis for the selection of a target safety level and also presents an example of its practical application by way of a case history.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Quantitative characterization of wood microstructure

SUMMARY Stereological countings were applied to transverse sections of closely related and widely different species of hardwoods for quantitative characterization. Anatomical elements, such as the wall and lumen of vessels, fibres, and ray cells, were distinguished. Volume fraction, average size, average spacing, aspect ratios for oriented features, and size distribution parameters were then calculated. Sampling fields were strategically and systematically located within growth rings for characterization of the spatial distribution of the anatomical elements. Initially five species: paper birch, yellow birch, sugar maple, aspen, and sassafras cross-sections were subjected to quantitative stereological analysis. The two birch species were anatomically very similar, and somewhat similar to the sugar maple. Sassafras was very different in structure from the other three species studied. Aspen was typical diffuse-porous wood. The initial results were promising, and revealed certain subtle distribution patterns never before recognized. Second, all species including those which were very similar, were recognized by quantitative expression of their structural elements. Third, the method provided quantitative descriptions of the structural characteristics. It is expected that stereological analysis of wood structure will be used for prediction of properties and utilization potentials of the various species, as well as for their identification.
Transient effects of three photon pulses in resonant two-level atom systems

Abstract Using statistical quantum electrodynamics techniques, we compute the polarization of a two-level atom system following three pulses. Homogeneous and inhomogeneous broadening and pulse width are incorporated in the formalism. Phase conjugation by three-photon process is investigated.
The Value of convertible preferred stock in transactions with “relationship investors” like Warren Buffett

Abstract This research finds no evidence that private placement transactions of convertible preferred stock with relationship investors are designed in order to disguise special compensation offerred to such investors to provide management advice or to defend against an unwanted raider. In particular, the value of a sample of such securities was found to exceed the price by an amount (an average of 17%) that approximated the sum of the offering costs (about 5%) avoided by private placement and the illiquidity premium (about 10%) that would normally be required because trading in the special securities was restricted. In addition, empirical evidence is found that the transactions have positive effects on the combined economic welfare of the issuer and the relationship investor.
VINEYARD AND RIPARIAN HABITAT, NOT NEST BOX PRESENCE, ALTER AVIAN COMMUNITY COMPOSITION

Abstract In California, oak woodlands are being converted into vineyards, resulting in a loss of songbird nesting sites. Although many vineyards contain wooded riparian habitat, no previous research has examined the avian species composition in oak-vineyard landscapes. We compared the avian communities associated with vineyard, edge, and riparian habitats and examined to what degree the riparian habitat in vineyard landscapes continues to support birds associated with native oak woodland habitat that spanned the region before agricultural intensification. We further tested whether the presence of nest boxes in vineyard and riparian areas altered avian species composition in the landscape. Mist nets were used to survey the avian community in vineyard, edge, and riparian habitat at four sites during the breeding season. Permutational ANOVAs, using presence-absence data from captures, identified habitat, study sites, and time over the breeding season as highly significant main effects that explained differen...
Hemin induces neuroglobin expression in neural cells.

Neuroglobin is a newly identified vertebrate globin that binds O2 and is expressed in cerebral neurons. We found recently that neuronal expression of neuroglobin is stimulated by hypoxia and ischemia and protects neurons from hypoxic injury. Here we report that, like hemoglobin and myoglobin, neuroglobin expression can also be induced by hemin. Induction was concentration dependent and time dependent, with maximal (about 4-fold) increases in neuroglobin mRNA and protein levels occurring with 50 μM hemin and at 8 to 24 hours. The inductive effect of hemin was attenuated by the protein kinase G inhibitor KT5823 and the soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitor LY83583, was mimicked by treatment with 8-bromo–cyclic guanosine 3′,5′-monophosphate, and was accompanied by a greater than 10-fold increase in cGMP levels, suggesting that it is mediated through protein kinase G and soluble guanylate cyclase. In contrast, hypoxic induction of neuroglobin was blocked by the mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal–regulated kinase kinase inhibitor PD98059, indicating that hemin and hypoxia regulate neuroglobin expression by different mechanisms. These results provide evidence for regulation of neuroglobin expression by at least 2 signal transduction pathways.
Theoretical and Practical Application of Non‐Enzymatic Glycosylationin Diabetes

During heating or prolonged storage of food, a brown color results, in the presence of reducing sugars. This browning of foods (i.e. Maillard reaction) results from a direct non-enzymatic reaction between free amino groups in proteins and reducing sugars, and results in a decrease in nutritional availability of lysine. Non-enzymatic glycosylation occurs with proteins in vivo, is increased in diabetic subjects, and is dependent on concentrations of both proteins and sugars, turnover rates of proteins and accessibility of proteins to sugars. Functional changes have been demonstrated to occur in an increasing variety of proteins as a consequence of non-enzymatic glycosylation. Thus, aberrant function has been suggested with serum albumin, neural tubulin, collagen, low density lipoproteins, fibrin, lens crystallins following glucosylation.
Desire on the Menu

(2000). Desire on the Menu. Journal for the Study of Food and Society: Vol. 4, No. 2, pp. 29-38.
Remarkable Stereoelectronic Control in the Lewis Base Assisted [2,3]-Rearrangement of Cyclopropenylmethyl Phosphinites

A novel 2,3-rearrangement of cyclopropenylmethyl phosphinites to methylenecyclopropylphosphine oxides was demonstrated. It was found that, in striking contrast to the analogous rearrangement known for nonstrained allylic systems, this reaction does not proceed at all upon thermal activation; however, it can be efficiently mediated by Lewis bases. Unique stereoelectronic effects control the diastereoselectivity of this transformation, leading to predominant formation of the more sterically hindered products.
Economic and Clinical Impact of a Pharmacy Resident at a Large Academic Medical Center

PurposeTo define the financial impact of a pharmacy residency program at a large academic medical center, to assess physician evaluation of pharmacy residents on patient rounds, and to describe the...
Markers of B-vitamin deficiency and frailty in older women.

Objective: To evaluate the association between markers of vitamins B12, B6 and folate deficiency and the geriatric syndrome of frailty.Design: Cross-sectional study of baseline measures from the combined Women’s Health and Aging Studies.Setting: Baltimore, Maryland.Participants: Seven hundred three community-dwelling women, aged 70–79.Measurements: Frailty was defined by five-component screening criteria that include weight, grip strength, endurance, physical activity and walking speed measurements and modeled as binary and 3-level polytomous outcomes. Independent variables serum vitamin B6, vitamin B12, methylmalonic acid, total homocysteine, cystathionine and folate were modeled continuously and as abnormal versus normal.Results: Serum biomarker levels varied significantly by race. All analyses were race-stratified and results are reported only for Caucasian women due to small African American sample size. In polytomous logistic regression models of 3-level frailty, Caucasian women with increasing MMA, defined either continuously or using a predefined threshold, had 40–60% greater odds of being prefrail (p-values < 0.07) and 1.66–2.33 times greater odds of being frail (p-values < 0.02) compared to nonfrails after adjustment for age, education, low serum carotenoids, alcohol intake, cardiovascular disease and renal impairment. Both binary and polytomous frailty models evaluating vitamin B12 as the main exposure estimated odds ratios that were similar in trend yet slightly less significant than the MMA results.Conclusions: These results suggest that vitamin B12 deficiency may contribute to the frailty syndrome in community-dwelling older women. Future studies are needed to explore these relationships longitudinally.
Constructing a Family Health History to Facilitate Learning in a Health Psychology Seminar

This article describes a project to reinforce learning in an undergraduate health psychology seminar. The project required students to (a) profile the physical and mental health status of at least 15 family members, (b) identify trends or patterns related to health and illness in their families, and (c) develop an action plan for maintaining good health. Students' evaluations of the project suggested that the project reinforced learning from the class, enhanced knowledge about the causes for illnesses, and prompted them to monitor or change health-related behavior to maintain good health.
Mutational and structural analyses of the regulatory protein B of soluble methane monooxygenase from Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath)

Background The soluble methane monooxygenase (sMMO) system in methanotrophic bacteria uses three protein components to catalyze the selective oxidation of methane to methanol. The coupling protein B (MMOB) both activates the carboxylate-bridged diiron center in the hydroxylase (MMOH) for substrate oxidation and couples the reaction to electron transfer from NADH through the sMMO reductase. Although the X-ray structure of the hydroxylase is known, little structural information is available regarding protein B. Results Wild-type protein B from Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath) is very susceptible to degradation. The triple mutant protein B, Gly10→Ala, Gly13→Gln, Gly16→Ala is resistant to degradation. Analyzing wild-type and mutant forms of protein B using size exclusion chromatography and circular dichroism spectroscopy suggests that the amino terminus of MMOB (Ser1 -Ala25) is responsible for the proteolytic sensitivity and unusual mobility of the protein. We used the stable triple glycine protein B mutant to generate an affinity column for the hydroxylase and investigated the interaction between MMOH and MMOB. These results suggest the interaction is dominated by hydrophobic contacts. Conclusions A structural model is presented for protein B that explains both its proclivity for degradation and its anomalous behavior during size exclusion chromatography. The model is consistent with previously published biophysical data, including the NMR structure of the phenol hydroxylase regulatory protein P2. Furthermore, this model allows for detailed and testable predictions about the structure of protein B and the role of proposed recognition sites for the hydroxylase.
Modeling and Simulation of a Parametrically Resonant Micromirror With Duty-Cycled Excitation

High frequency large scanning angle electrostatically actuated microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) mirrors are used in a variety of applications involving fast optical scanning. A 1-D parametrically resonant torsional micromirror for use in biomedical imaging is analyzed here with respect to operation by duty-cycled square waves. Duty-cycled square wave excitation can have significant advantages for practical mirror regulation and/or control. The mirror's nonlinear dynamics under such excitation is analyzed in a Hill's equation form. This form is used to predict stability regions (the voltage-frequency relationship) of parametric resonance behavior over large scanning angles using iterative approximations for nonlinear capacitance behavior of the mirror. Numerical simulations are also performed to obtain the mirror's frequency response over several voltages for various duty cycles. Frequency sweeps, stability results, and duty cycle trends from both analytical and simulation methods are compared with experimental results. Both analytical models and simulations show good agreement with experimental results over the range of duty cycled excitations tested. This paper discusses the implications of changing amplitude and phase with duty cycle for robust open-loop operation and future closed-loop operating strategies.
Mechanisms of field emission from diamond coated Mo emitters

Abstract A combination of field emission energy distribution (FEED) and I–V measurements was used to study the field emission mechanisms of tip-shaped molybdenum emitters electrophoretically coated with nominally intrinsic diamond powders. Field-induced band bending was studied as a function of applied voltage and was interpreted in terms of a two-barrier model. Field emitted electrons originated from the conduction band minimum of diamond. Electron injection at the Mo/diamond interface was identified as the dominant field emission current limiting factor. It was concluded that potential negative electron affinity (NEA) properties of diamond did not contribute to a current enhancement. The latter statement was confirmed by the observation that graphite coatings enhanced emission currents in a similar way to diamond coatings.
Reduced herbivore resistance in introduced smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) after a century of herbivore-free growth

We compared resistance to insect herbivory in two introduced populations of smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) differing in their history of herbivory. One population in Willapa Bay, Washington, has spread in the absence of herbivory for more than a century, while another population in San Francisco, California, was introduced 20 years ago and is fed upon by the Spartina-specialist planthopper, Prokelisia marginata. The planthopper is a sap-feeder common on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of North America, where smooth cordgrass is native. Smooth cordgrass plants from Willapa Bay (WB), San Francisco Bay (SFB), and Maryland (the source of the SFB introduction) were exposed to P. marginata herbivory over two consecutive summers in a common greenhouse environment, and their growth was compared with that of control plants that were grown herbivore-free. The planthoppers had relatively little effect on the growth of SFB plants, with plants exposed to herbivores averaging 77% and 83% of the aboveground biomass of herbivore-free controls after the first and second season of herbivory, respectively. The growth of plants from Maryland was similarly little-affected by the planthoppers, with the plants exposed to herbivores averaging near 100% of the biomass of herbivore-free controls after two seasons. In contrast, the growth of the WB plants was greatly reduced by the planthopper, with the plants exposed to planthopper herbivory averaging only 30% and 12% of the aboveground biomass of herbivore-free controls after the first and second seasons of herbivory, respectively. By the end of the second season of herbivory, 37% of the WB plants exposed to herbivory had died, while none of the SFB plants exposed to herbivores had died. Among WB clones, there was variation in resistance; one WB clone suffered 0% mortality while another suffered 100% mortality when exposed to herbivores. Short-term herbivory experiments with the putative founder clone for the WB population suggested that the WB founder was similar to the more resistant WB clones in its susceptibility to planthopper herbivory. Nitrogen analyses of green leaf tissue indicated that WB plants, including the WB founder clone, averaged 70% more total leaf nitrogen than SFB and Maryland plants. In a planthopper choice experiment, more planthoppers were observed on WB plants than SFB plants after 95 days of exposure to herbivory. Planthopper preference for WB plants may have contributed to the lower resistance of WB plants to herbivory; however, even before planthoppers had become more abundant on the WB plants, the proportion of leaves with 50% or more dead tissue averaged significantly greater on the WB plants, suggesting a difference between populations in tolerance to herbivory as well. Multiple factors, including a founder effect, further loss of herbivore tolerance, and herbivore preference for WB plants, appear to account for the reduced planthopper resistance in the WB population.
PlantGSEA: a gene set enrichment analysis toolkit for plant community

Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) is a powerful method for interpreting biological meaning of a list of genes by computing the overlaps with various previously defined gene sets. As one of the most widely used annotations for defining gene sets, Gene Ontology (GO) system has been used in many enrichment analysis tools. EasyGO and agriGO, two GO enrichment analysis toolkits developed by our laboratory, have gained extensive usage and citations since their releases because of their effective performance and consistent maintenance. Responding to the increasing demands of more comprehensive analysis from the users, we developed a web server as an important component of our bioinformatics analysis toolkit, named PlantGSEA, which is based on GSEA method and mainly focuses on plant organisms. In PlantGSEA, 20 290 defined gene sets deriving from different resources were collected and used for GSEA analysis. The PlantGSEA currently supports gene locus IDs and Affymatrix microarray probe set IDs from four plant model species (Arabidopsis thaliana, Oryza sativa, Zea mays and Gossypium raimondii). The PlantGSEA is an efficient and user-friendly web server, and now it is publicly accessible at http://structuralbiology.cau.edu.cn/PlantGSEA.
Enhanced ordering of Pd8Mo and induced solute segregation in proton-irradiated PdMo alloys

Abstract Irradiation-enhanced ordering of the Pd 8 Mo phase was observed in PdMo alloys under 400 keV proton irradiation over the temperature range 100–420 °C in a 10 at.% Mo alloy and at 450 °C in an 18 at.% Mo alloy. Long-term post-irradiation annealing experiments indicate that Pd 8 Mo is thermodynamically stable at temperatures below 430 °C in the 10 at.% Mo alloy and is therefore an equilibrium phase. Irradiation-induced solute segregation was also observed in the 10 at.% Mo alloy irradiated at 420 °C and in the 18 at.% Mo alloy irradiated at 350 and 600 °C. This and other features of the irradiation-induced microstructures are discussed.
Nursing Shortage Generates Innovative Program Expansion.

Responding to an impending health crisis due to a national nursing shortage, Montgomery County Community College increased nursing admissions by 50% and graduates by 51% through implementing a Continuous Nursing Program (CNP). Through implementing three 14-week semesters per year, the CNP uses an accelerated timeframe while maintaining a nonaccelerated program design.
Improving symbolic execution for statechart formalisms

Symbolic execution is a program analysis technique that attempts to explore all possible paths through a program by using symbolic values rather than actual data values as inputs. When applied to Statecharts, a model-based formalism for reactive systems, symbolic execution can determine all feasible paths through a model up to a specified bound and generate input sequences exercising these paths. The main drawback of this method is its computational expense. This paper describes two efforts to improve the performance of symbolic execution within our previously developed framework for Statechart analysis. One method is a multithreaded symbolic execution engine targeted directly at our framework. A second, orthogonal, method is program specialization with respect to a particular model and Statechart semantics, which uses symbolic execution to rewrite the original code into an equivalent form that has fewer instructions and is easier to analyze.
Lifetime fluorescence spectroscopy for in situ investigation of osteogenic differentiation

Time-Resolved Laser-Induced Fluorescence Spectroscopy (TR-LIFS) represents a potential tool for the in-situ characterization of bioengineered tissues. In this study, we evaluate the application of TR-LIFS to non-intrusive monitoring of matrix composition during osteogenetic differentiation. Human adipose-derived stem cells, harvested from 3 patients, were induced in osteogenic media for 3, 5, and 7 weeks. Samples were subsequently collected and probed for time-resolved fluorescence emission with a pulsed nitrogen laser. Fluorescence parameters, derived from both spectral- and time-domain, were used for sample characterization. The samples were further analyzed using Western blot analysis and computer-based densitometry. A significant change in the fluorescence parameters was detected for samples beyond 3 weeks of osteogenic differentiation. The spectroscopic observations: 1) show increase of collagen I when contrasted against the time-resolved fluorescence spectra of commercially available collagens; and 2) are in agreement with Western blot analysis that demonstrated significant increase in collagen I content between 3- vs. 5-weeks and 3- vs. 7-weeks and no changes for collagens III, IV, and V. Our results suggest that TR-LIFS can be used as a non-invasive means for the detection of specific collagens in maturing connective tissues.
Effects of ontogeny and sexual dimorphism on scapula morphology in the mountain gorilla (Gorilla gorilla beringel)

Scapular measurements were obtained from growth series of the sexually dimorphic mountain gorilla (Gorilla gorilla beringei). Juveniles, subadults, and adults were compared to determine if scapula morphology varies with age. Analyses reveal significant (P < 0.05) differences in scapula form for shape ratios of length vs. breadth, length vs. infraspinous fossa length, and length vs. spine length. Males and females were also compared to determine if sexual dimorphism in scapula morphology is a consequence of differential extension of common patterns of relative growth. Analyses reveal that scapula proportions are ontogenetically scaled. Data indicate that male scapulae grow at a faster rate and for a longer duration than females. Results of comparisons of males and females suggest that unique adaptations to different ecological niches have not evolved between the sexes despite sexual differences in frequency of patterns of locomotor behavior. By contrast, age-related variation in scapula morphology may be linked to differences in locomotor behavior during ontogeny.
Schoolwork task performance of students at risk of delays

The purpose of this study was to determine whether students at risk differ from typically developing students in terms of their abilities to perform schoolwork tasks. The participants were 95 typically developing students and 84 students at risk from the School AMPS database who had been evaluated using the School Version of the Assessment or Motor and Process Skills (School AMPS) by calibrated reliable raters. The students were divided into five age groups as follows: 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 to 12 years of age. Two-way ANOVAs and post hoc t-tests revealed significant differences between the 7-year and 9- to 12-year groups for school motor ability and between all groups 6 years and older for school process ability. Effects sizes for students 6 years and above were medium to large. These results indicate that there is a difference in schoolwork task performance between at risk and typically developing students, 6 to 12 years of age. This difference emerged earlier than did academic discrepancies reported in the ...
Clinical and microbiological characteristics of communityacquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections now occur in healthy adults in community settings. We searched the PubMed database to identify relevant articles on the clinical presentation, epidemiology, virulence, and treatment of community-acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA) infections, including pneumonia. This information was summarized in a narrative review.MRSA infections cause approximately 30 infections per 100,000 people per year in the USA, and twenty percent of these infections are secondary to CA-MRSA. These community-acquired infections often involve the skin and subcutaneous tissue but can also involve visceral tissues such as the lung and bone. The overall mortality in patients with invasive disease is approximately 10%; it approaches 50% in patients with pneumonia. The bacterial isolates from these infections have the staphylococcal chromosome cassette mec types 4 and 5. This genetic characteristic produces beta-lactam resistance and helps distinguish these isolates from hospital- acquired MRSA, which usually have mec types 1-3. Some CA-MRSA isolates release the Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL), which causes neutropenia and tissue necrosis; other toxins also contribute to the virulence of these infections. Empiric therapy should include vancomycin or linezolid. CA-MRSA infections can have fulminant courses and high mortality rates. Physicians should consider these infections as possible emergencies with a high risk for organ system failure and shock.
A theoretical model of the cornea for use in studies of tonometry.

A theoretical model of the cornea based on corneal dimensions and reported properties is presented in this paper. It is shown that because of large differences in the thicknesses of the Bowman’s and Descemet’s membranes and the stroma, and because of the reported large differences in the elastic properties of the layers, a sandwich-shell model is a good approximation for the study of corneal deformation. The theory is applicable for applanation tonometry. A set of equilibrium equations based on Reissner’s theory is given. Shell parameters which determine the behavior of shells are expressed in terms of the corneal properties and dimensions. Numerical examples which show the effects of corneal parameters on the stress resultants due to intraocular pressure are also given.
Constitutive Somatostatin Receptor Subtype 2 Activity Attenuates GH Synthesis

Somatostatin signals predominantly through somatostatin receptor (SSTR) subtype 2 to attenuate GH release. However, the independent role of the receptor in regulating GH synthesis is unclear. Because we had previously demonstrated constitutive SSTR2 activity in mouse corticotrophs, we now analyzed GH regulation in rat pituitary somatotroph (GC) tumor cells, which express SSTR2 exclusively and are devoid of endogenous somatostatin ligand. We demonstrate that moderately stable SSTR2 overexpression (GpSSTR2(WT) cells) was associated with decreased GH promoter activity, GH mRNA, and hormone levels compared with those of control transfectants (GpCon cells). In contrast, levels of GH mRNA and peptide and GH promoter activity were unchanged in GpSSTR2(DRY) stable transfectants moderately expressing DRY motif mutated SSTR2 (R140A). GpSSTR(2DRY) did not exhibit an enhanced octreotide response as did GpSSTR2(WT) cells; however, both SSTR2(WT)-enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (eYFP) and SSTR2(DRY)-eYFP internalized on octreotide treatment. Suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), a histone deacetylase inhibitor, increased GH synthesis in wild-type GC cells and primary pituitary cultures. GpSSTR2(WT) cells induced GH synthesis more strongly on SAHA treatment, evident by both higher GH peptide and mRNA levels compared with the moderate but similar GH increase observed in GpCon and GpSSTR2(DRY) cells. In vivo SAHA also increased GH release from GpSSTR2(WT) but not from control xenografts. Endogenous rat GH promoter chromatin immunoprecipitation showed decreased baseline acetylation of the GH promoter with exacerbated acetylation after SAHA treatment in GpSSTR2(WT) compared with that of either GpSSTR(2DRY) or control cells, the latter 2 transfectants exhibiting similar GH promoter acetylation levels. In conclusion, modestly increased SSTR2 expression constitutively decreases GH synthesis, an effect partially mediated by GH promoter histone deacetylation.
The effects of a worksite health promotion program on the wives of fire fighters.

Abstract One method of increasing the cost-effectiveness of worksite health promotion programs is to develop programs that also have an impact on risk factors of family members and friends of the employees. In this study, 41 wives of fire fighters were interviewed concerning changes the fire fighters and they had made in their health habits—exercise, weight, and consumption of fats, fruits/vegetables, and cereal/whole grain breads—in the previous year. Thirty-two were wives of fire fighters who had received a worksite health promotion program and nine were wives of fire fighters who had not yet received the program. Findings of our exploratory study strongly suggest that wives of fire fighters who received information were more aware of the program (93% vs 56%), had greater exposure to the written diet plan (72% vs 11%) and guide to high fat foods (72% vs 0%) than controls. Furthermore, the intervention led to changes in the fire fighters' health habits that were reported by the views. No significant changes in the wives' health habits occurred as a result of the intervention, although the changes were in the predicted direction in every category; changes by the wives were, however, related to changes by fire fighters. Involvement of the fire fighters in the preparation of meals and sharing of information from the intervention program by the participant with the wife, were related to change in health habits of the wives. This study indicated that information from a worksite health program could be communicated to nonparticipating spouses, participants in the program could act as models for change in the spouces' behavior, and the participants' involvement in health-related activities with their wives could result in health habit change by the wives.
Neuromuscular blocking drugs: discovery and development.

The introduction of neuromuscular blocking drugs revolutionized the practice of anaesthesia. Before the advent of muscle relaxants, anaesthesia was induced and maintained by intravenous or inhalation agents. Tracheal intubation was uncommon, and muscle relaxation if needed was secured by deep inhalation anaesthesia with its attendant risks of respiratory or cardiac depression. After the introduction of muscle relaxants, anaesthesia underwent a conceptual change. Anaesthesia was redefined as a triad of narcosis, analgesia and muscle relaxation, specific drugs being used to produce each of these effects1. Muscle relaxants belong to two groups, the depolarizers and the nondepolarizers. Depolarizers mimic the effect of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction, first causing muscle contractions (fasciculations) and then paralysing. Suxamethonium, the only depolarizer in use, has the advantage of acting within 60 seconds. Muscle relaxation lasts for under 5 minutes. It is not reversed by anticholinesterases such as neostigmine but plasma cholinesterase causes the effect to wear off quickly. Unwanted effects include malignant hyperpyrexia, increased intraocular pressure and life-threatening hyperkalaemia. Several deaths attributable to hyperkalaemic cardiac arrest have occurred following the use of suxamethonium in children with undiagnosed muscular dystrophies. There is a clinical need for a safer drug that works equally quickly. Nondepolarizers have slower onset (2-3 minutes) and are therefore unsuitable for rapid control of the airway. They work by competitive blockade of the neuromuscular junction and are reversed with anticholinesterases such as neostigmine. There is no initial muscle fasciculation. Important features of some of the nondepolarizers are listed in Table 1. Table 1 Features of nondepolarizing agents
The role of native grammars in correcting errors in second language learning

This paper describes VP2, a system that has been implemented to tutor nonnative speakers in English. This system differs from many tutoring systems by employing an explicit grammar of its user's native language. This grammar enables VP2 to customize its responses by addressing problems due to interference of the native language. The system focuses on the acquisition of English verb-particle and verb-prepositional phrase constructions. Its correction strategy is based upon comparison of the native language grammar with an English grammar. VP2 is a modular system: its grammar of a user's native language can easily be replaced by a grammar of another language. The problems and solutions presented in this paper are related to the more general question of how modelling previous knowledge facilitates instruction in a new skill.
Warrior Chicks: Youthful Aging in a Postfeminist Prosperity Discourse

In a youth-oriented evangelical congregation where being perceived as “old” might marginalize member involvement and participation, a Hollywood, California congregation’s women’s ministry, God Chicks, presents aging women as possessing “godly wisdom,” endowing older women with spiritually charged energy, authority, and responsibility for training younger women to live “godly” lives. Ethnographic research and in depth media analysis of the God Chicks ministry reveals a particularly energizing evangelical postfeminist orientation that applies prosperity theology to contemporary challenges of changing women’s roles. Specifically, the God Chicks ministry provides “women over forty” with consumer and caretaking strategies for maintaining youthful selves and motivating younger women. A “God Chick” emerges as a compelling, youthful gendered religious identity that expects congregationally committed women to be strong, healthy, and active warriors who fight multiple relational and global humanitarian battles. Overall, this study demonstrates the construction of an innovative postfeminist evangelical identity through the tactical, opportunistic use of theological doctrine by ministry leaders within a particularistic geographic location.
Comprehensive management of eyebrow and forehead ptosis.

The forehead and eyebrows are under the constant influence of downward forces of gravity and the periorbital protractor muscles (orbicularis oculi, procerus, corrugator, and depressor supercilii). These downward forces are opposed by the elevating action of the frontalis muscle. In time, this constant ‘‘tug of war’’ between the downward and upward forces leads to a series of wrinkles in the forehead and downward displacement of the eyebrows and eyelids (Fig. 1). The inferior displacement of the eyebrows results in apparent redundancy of the upper eyelid skin and hooding in the multicontoured areas of the medial and lateral canthal regions. Patients often present to the aesthetic surgeon complaining of dermatochalasis and request blepharoplasty. When the eyebrows are raised to their normal position, however, there is often less redundant upper eyelid skin than anticipated and blepharoplasty may not be necessary or appropriate [1,2]. Correction of the redundancy in the periorbital multicontoured regions represents a great challenge to the aesthetic surgeon. It is imperative that the surgeon and patient understand that excision of the upper eyelid and lateral canthal skin without elevating or fixating the eyebrow pulls the eyebrow down. This results in further ptosis of the eyebrows and canthal webbing [3,4]. This can give the eyebrows an appearance of being sutured to the eyelids (Fig. 2). The re-establishment of the structural integrity of the eyebrow is fundamental to achieving an aesthetically acceptable surgical result for cosmetic and functional periocular surgery [5]. For these reasons, an increasing percentage of blepharoplasties are performed in conjunction with eyebrow lifts [6].
Mechanism of Evenness Interrupted (Evi)-Exosome Release at Synaptic Boutons

Wnt signaling plays critical roles during synaptic development and plasticity. However, the mechanisms by which Wnts are released and travel to target cells are unresolved. During synaptic development, the secretion of Drosophila Wnt1, Wingless, requires the function of Evenness Interrupted (Evi)/Wls, a Wingless-binding protein that is secreted along with Wingless at the neuromuscular junction. Given that Evi is a transmembrane protein, these studies suggested the presence of a novel vesicular mechanism of trans-synaptic communication, potentially in the form of exosomes. To establish the mechanisms for the release of Evi vesicles, we used a dsRNA assay in cultured cells to screen for genes that when down-regulated prevent the release of Evi vesicles. We identified two proteins, Rab11 and Syntaxin 1A (Syx1A), that were required for Evi vesicle release. To determine whether the same mechanisms were used in vivo at the neuromuscular junction, we altered the activity of Rab11 and Syx1A in motoneurons and determined the impact on Evi release. We found that Syx1A, Rab11, and its effector Myosin5 were required for proper Evi vesicle release. Furthermore, ultrastructural analysis of synaptic boutons demonstrated the presence of multivesicular bodies, organelles involved in the production and release of exosomes, and these multivesicular bodies contained Evi. We also used mass spectrometry, electron microscopy, and biochemical techniques to characterize the exosome fraction from cultured cells. Our studies revealed that secreted Evi vesicles show remarkable conservation with exosomes in other systems. In summary, our observations unravel some of the in vivo mechanisms required for Evi vesicle release.
Effects of septal lesions on bait-shyness in the rat

Abstract Rats with septal lesions were given a conditional pairing of flavored water (CS) followed by noxious effects of X-ray exposure (US) which produces a conditioned aversion (bait-shyness) for the fluid so paired. In contrast to the detrimental effects observed in buzzer-shock learning, septal animals display no impairment in gustatoryradiation conditioning even though the response measure (licking) is held constant. Apparently the neural mechanisms underlying gustatory-visceral associations differ from those involved in auditory-pain associations.
Subcortical Mechanisms of Feature-Based Attention

The degree to which spatial and feature-based attention are governed by similar control mechanisms is not clear. To explore this issue, I measured, during conditions of spatial or feature-based attention, activity in the human subcortical visual nuclei, which have precise retinotopic maps and are known to play important roles in the regulation of spatial attention but have limited selectivity of nonspatial features. Subjects attended to and detected changes in separate fields of moving or colored dots. When the fields were disjoint, spatially attending to one field enhanced hemodynamic responses in the superior colliculus (SC), lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN), and two retinotopic pulvinar nuclei. When the two dot fields were spatially overlapping, feature-based attention to the moving versus colored dots enhanced responses in the pulvinar nuclei and the majority of the LGN, including the magnocellular layers, and suppressed activity in some areas within the parvocellular layers; the SC was inconsistently modulated among subjects. The results demonstrate that feature-based attention operates throughout the visual system by prioritizing neurons encoding the attended information, including broadly tuned thalamic neurons. I conclude that spatial and feature-based attention operate via a common principle, but that spatial location is a special feature in that it is widely encoded in the brain, is used for overt orienting, and uses a specialized structure, the SC.