cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dreaming and waking: Similarities and differences revisited

Dreaming is often characterized as lacking high-order cognitive (HOC) skills. In two studies, we test the alternative hypothesis that the dreaming mind is highly similar to the waking mind. Multiple experience samples were obtained from late-night REM sleep and waking, following a systematic protocol described in Kahan (2001). Results indicated that reported dreaming and waking experiences are surprisingly similar in their cognitive and sensory qualities. Concurrently, ratings of dreaming and waking experiences were markedly different on questions of general reality orientation and logical organization (e.g., the bizarreness or typicality of the events, actions, and locations). Consistent with other recent studies (e.g., Bulkeley & Kahan, 2008; Kozmova & Wolman, 2006), experiences sampled from dreaming and waking were more similar with respect to their process features than with respect to their structural features.
Grammar formalisms viewed as evolving algebras

We consider the use ofevolving algebra methods of specifying grammars for natural languages. We are especially interested in distributed evolving algebras. We provide the motivation for doing this, and we give a reconstruction of some classic grammar formalisms in directly dynamic terms. Finally, we consider some technical questions arising from the use of direct dynamism in grammar formalisms.
A toast to health and performance! Beetroot juice lowers blood pressure and the O2 cost of exercise

the pioneering work of scientists such as A. V. Hill ([7][1]) and August Krogh ([10][2]), investigating the dynamics of O2 uptake during exercise, challenged our understanding of bioenergetics and energy homeostasis. Applied physiologists continue to advance our knowledge of altered energy transfer
Frequency of unrecognized, unreported, or underreported coronary artery and cardiovascular calcification on noncardiac chest CT

Abstract Background Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is correlated with cardiovascular outcomes and, therefore, can change management. Such calcifications are identifiable on noncardiac chest CT (NCCT), although there is no standard for interpretation. However, no data are published on the frequency of these findings being reported during NCCT interpretation. Methods To obtain population with a high likelihood of CAC, we identified 355 patients with known (n = 136) or suspected (n = 219) coronary artery disease in whom single-photon emission CT myocardial perfusion imaging and NCCT were ordered within 1 month of each other; their mean age was 63 years, and 204 were women. Single-photon emission CT reports, NCCT reports, and retrospective NCCT image interpretations were performed by the investigators independently. Results CAC was present in 207 of the 355 patients (58% of the group) but was recorded in the final radiology report as present in only 44% of these subjects. CAC in the left main coronary artery was evident on review in 139 patients but was specified in the final report in only 1 patient. Left anterior descending CAC was evident in 188 patients but reported in only 3%. Conclusions In this observational study, CAC on NCCT in this enriched population was often unreported. Although NCCT can indicate presence and location of CAC, these features are rarely reported, even when involving locations such as the left main coronary artery or left anterior descending artery. In view of its diagnostic and prognostic importance, evaluation of CAC should become a routine part of the interpretation of NCCT.
Influence of Initial Discontinuities on Relatively Undistorted Progressive Pulses in Inhomogeneous Elastic Bodies

The evolution of relatively undistorted progressing pulses in inhomogeneous elastic bodies is studied under the assumption that the wave is propagating into a homogeneous rest state and evolves from a disturbance which carries discontinuities of order two and higher in the space-time derivatives of the displacement field. An expression is obtained for the acceleration which is valid at the advancing wavefront, as well as on wavelets behind the lead characteristic; this expression reflects the influence of all initial discontinuities.
Midazolam oxidation by cytochrome P450 3A4 and active-site mutants: an evaluation of multiple binding sites and of the metabolic pathway that leads to enzyme inactivation

Midazolam (MDZ) oxidation by recombinant CYP3A4 purified from Escherichia coli and 30 mutants generated at 15 different substrate recognition site positions has been studied to determine the role of individual residues in regioselectivity and to investigate the possible existence of multiple binding sites. Initial results showed that oxidation of MDZ by CYP3A4 causes time- and concentration-dependent enzyme inactivation with K(I) and k(inact) values of 5.8 microM and 0.15 min(-1), respectively. The different time courses of MDZ hydroxylation by mutants that predominantly formed 1'-OH MDZ as opposed to 4-OH MDZ provided strong evidence that the 1'-OH MDZ pathway leads to CYP3A4 inactivation. Correlational analysis of 1'-OH formation versus 4-OH formation by the mutants supports the inference that the two metabolites result from the binding of MDZ at two separate sites. Thus, substitution of residues Phe-108, Ile-120, Ile-301, Phe-304, and Thr-309 with a larger amino acid caused an increase in the ratio of 1'-OH/4-OH MDZ formation, whereas substitution of residues Ser-119, Ile-120, Leu-210, Phe-304, Ala-305, Tyr-307, and Thr-309 with a smaller amino acid decreased this ratio. Kinetic analyses of nine key mutants revealed that the alteration in regioselectivity is caused by a change in kinetic parameters (V(max) and K(M)) for the formation of both metabolites in most cases. The study revealed the role of various active-site residues in the regioselectivity of MDZ oxidation, identified the metabolic pathway that leads to enzyme inactivation, and provided an indication that the two proposed MDZ binding sites in CYP3A4 may be partially overlapping.
Molecular structure of 2,2′-bipyridyldibenzylideneacetonepalladium(0)

Abstract The molecular structure of the complex 2,2′-bipyridyldibenzylideneacetonepalladium has been determined crystallographically. The crystal structure is composed of two weakly associated Pd(bipy)(DBA) molecules and a benzene solvate. Metals in both complex molecules are three coordinate with each Pd bound to one bipyridyl and one dibenzylideneacetone olefin. Palladium—carbon distances in both molecules indicate a Pd—olefin bond of intermediate strength. Structural differences between the two molecules suggest slight bonding dissimilarities.
High Precision Screening for Android Malware with Dimensionality Reduction

We present a new method of classifying previously unseen Android applications as malware or benign. The algorithm starts with a large set of features: the frequencies of all possible n-byte sequences in the application's byte code. Principal components analysis is applied to that frequency matrix in order to reduce it to a low-dimensional representation, which is then fed into any of several classification algorithms. We utilize the implicitly restarted Lanczos bidiagonalization algorithm and exploit the sparsity of the n-gram frequency matrix in order to efficiently compute the low-dimensional representation. When trained upon that low-dimensional representation, several classification algorithms achieve higher accuracy than previous work.
Response to Mackenzie

(2012). Response to Mackenzie. Educational Philosophy and Theory: Vol. 44, No. 7, pp. 707-709.
Regulation of Conjunctival Goblet Cell Secretion by Ca2+and Protein Kinase C

Conjunctival goblet cells secrete mucus in response to cholinergic (muscarinic) agonists, but the underlying signaling pathways activated in this tissue are not well understood. Cholinergic agonists usually activate phospholipase C to produce inositol 1,4,5 trisphosphate and diacylglycerol. Inositol 1,4,5 trisphosphate increases the intracellular Ca(2+)concentration ([Ca2(+)](i)) while diacylglycerol activates protein kinase C (PKC). PKC and Ca(2+), either by itself or with calmodulin, activate cellular functions. Goblet cell glycoprotein secretion, our index of mucin secretion, was measured from pieces of rat conjunctiva with an enzyme-linked lectin assay using the lectin Ulex europaeus agglutinin I (UEA-I). UEA-I selectively recognizes high molecular weight glycoproteins secreted by the goblet cells. Increasing the [Ca(+)](i)with the Ca(2+)ionophore ionomycin stimulated glycoprotein secretion from conjunctival goblet cells. Cholinergic agonist-induced secretion was completely blocked by chelation of extracellular Ca(2+)and by the Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase inhibitors KN93 and W7 as well as their inactive analogs KN92 and W5. Activation of classical and novel PKC isozymes by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate stimulated goblet cell glycoprotein secretion. When ionomycin and PMA were added simultaneously, secretion was additive. PKC isozymes were identified by Western blotting analyses with antibodies specific to nine of the 11 PKC isozymes (PKCgamma and zeta were not tested). All nine PKC isozymes were identified in the conjunctival epithelium. The cellular location of the PKC isozymes was determined by immunofluorescence microscopy. Goblet cells contained the classical PKC isozymes PKCalpha, -betaI and -betaII, the novel PKC isozymes PKCepsilon, -theta;, and - mu, and the atypical PKC isozyme PKCzeta. We were unable to determine if PKC activation is required for cholinergic-agonist induced secretion because the PKC inhibitors chelerythrine and staurosporine alone greatly increased secretion. We conclude that Ca(2+)plays a major role in cholinergic agonist-induced conjunctival goblet cell secretion, but this agonist appears not to use Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinases. We also conclude that activated PKC can stimulate goblet cell secretion and that seven different PKC isoforms are present in the goblet cells.
Measurement of progressive stress buildup during ion exchange in alkali aluminosilicate glass

Abstract A mixed-alkali aluminosilicate glass (glass transition temperature, Tg=460∘C) was ion exchanged at 375∘C in a fused silica cell in the hot-stage of a polarizing microscope. Buildup of stress-induced optical birefringence was measured as a function of the depth below the surface and time of exchange to 8 h. Surface compression increased steadily during this period. Upon rapidly cooling the specimen to room temperature, stresses decreased ∼20%, without a significant change in the thickness of the compression layer implying that the surface layer had a higher thermal contraction following the exchange. Differential thermal contraction of ion-exchanged layers could not have been the cause of either large differences between calculated stress magnitudes from those observed experimentally, or the observed “anomalous” tensile stress maximum. It is argued that the ion-exchanged layers are stuffed derivatives having physical properties different from those of the parent glass or the as-melted glasses of corresponding compositions.
α-Oxidation of endogenous fatty acids in fresh potato slices

Abstract The respiration of fresh potato slices is inhibited up to 30% by imidazole, an inhibitor of α-oxidation of long chain fatty acids; it is stimulated approximately threefold by the uncoupler, carbonylcyanide m -Cl-phenylhydrazone ( m -Cl-CCP). The stimulation by m -Cl-CCP is totally inhibited by imidazole. The release of 14 CO 2 from car☐yl-labelled long chain fatty acids is also stimulated by m -Cl-CCP in fresh slices, and inhibited by imidazole. The δ 13 C value of fresh tissue respiratory CO 2 —indicative of the 13 C/ 12 C ratio of the endogenous respiratory substrate—indicates lipid to be the predominant substrate in fresh slices, as well as in fresh slices treated with m -Cl-CCP. Aged slices are considerably less imidazole sensitive in all the above respects. The substrate for aged slice respiration as indicated by δ 13 C values is carbohydrate. The basal respiration in fresh potato slices apparently involves considerable lipid oxidation of a mixed nature, while the respiratory increment in the presence of m -Cl-CCP represents predominantly α-oxidation of long chain fatty acids.
A Shuttle Based Laser System For Space Communication

A key element of NASA-Goddard's plan for future laser space communications is the Space Shuttle-based Laser Technology Experiments Facility (LTEF), which will be designed to communicate with a cooperative laser system under development for the Advanced Communication Technology Satellite (ACTS) and will conduct a comprehensive set of acquisition, tracking, and communication experiments. Attention is presently given to the challenges faced by designers in achieving LTEF acquisition of the ACTS downlink beacon laser.
Internationalizing General Education: The First-Year Seminar on Political Self-Determination and Internet-Based Political Research

ABSTRACT This article explores ways by which first-year students develop global awareness, discover the academic expectations of college life, and confront moral issues that emerge from political conflict. Specifically, it describes the model of a first-year seminar on political self-determination, developed at Elizabethtown College, in which students prepare case studies of contemporary conflicts and present research at an undergraduate research conference. Moreover, attention is given to how students can perform effective research on global affairs through the Internet, how Internet resources can enhance teaching of introductory courses in international relations, and how research assignments are best evaluated through an assessment rubric.
General Psychology as a Terminal Review and Integrative Course

(1983). General Psychology as a Terminal Review and Integrative Course. Teaching of Psychology: Vol. 10, No. 1, pp. 50-51.
Local-level law enforcement: Muscovites and their uchastkovyy

The uchastkovyy, or beat officer, is at the front lines of Russian police work. This article investigates the general environment in which the uchastkovyy functions, using Moscow as an example. More specifically, this article examines the institutional structure within which the beat cop operates, his/her duties and resources, the quota system used to evaluate his/her performance, and the nature of the interaction between the uchastkovyy and the public. In so doing, the study disaggregates the monolith that is the Russian police, focusing on that component of the force (uchastkovyy) that interacts most directly with the citizenry. It relies on data from a survey of 1500 Muscovites and four focus group encounters organized by the author to elicit a broad range of public attitudes regarding the performance and conduct of uchastkovyy, exploring particularly what measures might be taken to enhance the level of public trust in their local beat officers.
14 Delayed Occlusal and Maxillofacial Deformities after Trauma

Certain unique problems are involved in the surgical correction of residual deformities that have been caused by trauma. These deformities include poorly occluding teeth, facial or jaw asymmetry, and limited jaw opening, and may result in a limited ability to chew, altered speech, and emotional and social problems. Osteotomy may be used to reposition malunited parts; prosthetic devices can aid movement of bony parts and help to achieve an optimal result.
Creation of a Continent Urinary Channel in Adults With Neurogenic Bladder: Long-term Results With the Monti and Casale (Spiral Monti) Procedures

Objective To describe our technique and long-term results with creation of a continent urinary channel in adults with neurogenic bladder (NGB) using a single piece of bowel. Methods From 2004 to 2013, 26 adult patients underwent creation of a continent urinary channel by a single surgeon. A retrospective medical record review was performed noting the indications, technique, concomitant procedures, complications, and outcomes. Continence outcome, ease of catheterization, and need for further surgical interventions are reported. Results Twenty women and 6 men were identified with a mean age of 48 years (range, 25-80) and a follow-up of 64 months (range, 22-100). The mean body mass index (BMI) was 30.5 kg/m 2 (range, 20.1-50.2). All patients had benign bladder disease, including 22 (85%) with known neurologic disease and 4 with a devastated bladder outlet. Creation of a continent urinary channel was performed using the single Monti tube in 1, double Monti tube in 7, and the Casale (Spiral Monti) in 18. Mean hospital stay was 10.5 days (range, 5-37). The most common complication was recurrent urinary tract infection that occurred in 14 patients (54%). There were 5 (19%) bowel complications and 1 (4%) bladder perforation. The percentage of patients continuing to catheterize via the stoma with a BMI of 2 , between 30 and 40 kg/m 2 and >40 kg/m 2 was 89%, 50%, and 25%, respectively. Conclusion The Monti and Casale procedures are effective in creating a long continent urinary channel for catheterization in the adult population with neurogenic bladder, regardless of BMI. However, despite an intact channel, stomal self-catheterization appears to be challenging in morbidly obese patients.
Purification and some properties of ATP-citrate lyase from rat brain

ATP-citrate lyase has been purified from rat brain by a new procedure which yields an enzyme of specific activity of 21 U/mg protein (37 degrees C) (2050-fold purification). Purity (by sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis) of the preparation was comparable to that of rat liver ATP-citrate lyase of similar specific activity. Both brain and liver ATP-citrate lyase have the same electrophoretic mobility, as well as the same immunoreactivity against specific rabbit anti-rat liver ATP-citrate lyase antibody. These data indicate that rat brain ATP-citrate lyase is similar or identical to that present in rat liver. Intraperitoneally injected 32Pi was incorporated into the structural phosphate of ATP-citrate lyase in rat liver but not into the rat brain enzyme.
Effects of Language Modeling and its Personalization on Touchscreen Typing Performance

Modern smartphones correct typing errors and learn user-specific words (such as proper names). Both techniques are useful, yet little has been published about their technical specifics and concrete benefits. One reason is that typing accuracy is difficult to measure empirically on a large scale. We describe a closed-loop, smart touch keyboard (STK) evaluation system that we have implemented to solve this problem. It includes a principled typing simulator for generating human-like noisy touch input, a simple-yet-effective decoder for reconstructing typed words from such spatial data, a large web-scale background language model (LM), and a method for incorporating LM personalization. Using the Enron email corpus as a personalization test set, we show for the first time at this scale that a combined spatial-language model reduces word error rate from a pre-model baseline of 38.4% down to 5.7%, and that LM personalization can improve this further to 4.6%.
Thermal current converters for accurate AC current measurement

A new 14-range set of thermal current converters consisting of shunted thermoelements has been constructed to measure ac-dc difference and ac current from 10 mA to 20 A at 20 Hz to 50 kHz. The ac-dc difference corrections for all ranges can be determined relative to two ranges by a 7-step intercomparison of certain adjacent ranges.
Micromachining of packaging materials for MEMS using lasers

New lithographic, deposition, and etching tools for micro fabrication on planar silicon substrates have led to remarkable advances in miniaturization of silicon devices. However silicon is often not the substrate material of choice for applications in which there are requirements for electrically or thermally insulating substrates, low capacitance, resistance to corrosion, or hermetic sealing. Some of the MEMS packaging materials such as ceramics, polymers, and glass are currently being used to fabricate many microdevices. To support the rapid advancements of non-silicon MEMS it is necessary to introduce innovative techniques to process these MEMS packaging materials. In this study we present the application of pulsed laser ablation of ceramics, polymers and glass (MEMS packaging materials) to assist in fabrication of MEMS devices. Microstructuring of Al2O3 ceramic, polymers Poly-Vinyl-Alcohol (PVA), polystyrene (PS), and Pyrex glass were performed and studied by pulsed lasers at 193-nm, 266-nm and 308-nm wavelengths.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Trypanosoma cruzi Infection Induces Myocardial Nitric Oxide Synthase.

Abstract Chagas’ disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi , is an important cause of myocarditis and cardiomyopathy. Acute and chronic infection is associated with myocardial dysfunction, including dysrhythmias, conduction disturbances, and congestive heart failure. Nitric oxide (NO) has been implicated in the myocardial dysfunction associated with diseases of the myocardium. The inducible form of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mediates the synthesis of NO and L-citrulline from L-arginine. An abundance of iNOS mRNA by Northern blot and a marked expression of iNOS protein by Western blot was demonstrated in the myocardium of mice 30 days postinfection with the Brazil strain of T. cruzi . Immunocytochemical staining of the myocardial sections from infected mice also revealed the expression of iNOS. Consistent with these observations, the myocardial L-citrulline content was higher in infected mice, confirming NO expression in vivo. In addition, Northern blot analysis revealed that interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) mRNA were induced during infection. These data suggest that the myocardial cytokine–iNOS pathway may be an important factor in the pathogenesis of chagasic heart disease. In addition, this pathway may be a potential target of future pharmacologic intervention.
Einstein, Darwin and conventional wisdom about Crohn's disease.

1 d cribe space. A fourth dimension, time, had to be added to he equation, such that space and time became a continuum. A similar if less cosmic revolution is occurring in our nderstanding of Crohn’s disease. Thirty years ago, we had omewhat naive hopes of fitting Crohn’s disease into a tidy ewtonian model. The Cleveland Clinic group saw Crohn’s isease as falling into a three-dimensional classification f ‘clinical patterns’ based on anatomic distribution—ileal, olonic and ileocolonic [1]. A little over 15 years ago, Mount inai authors viewed the same concept from a slightly diferent perspective as they focussed attention on ‘disease ehaviour’ as an organising principle [2]. Thus, another hree-dimensional system was proposed in Rome in 1992, omprising age, anatomic location and clinical behaviour as undamental descriptive categories [3]. This newly heightened emphasis on Crohn’s disease ‘beaviour’ was ultimately codified in three dimensions of its was one of its most important defining features [10]; hence Farmer et al.’s highlight on recurrence patterns [11] and longterm prognoses [12], as well as other early [13,14] and later [15–17] studies of the time course of postoperative recurrence. Nonetheless, it was Louis et al. and Cosnes et al. who focussed particular attention on the ‘natural’ time course of Crohn’s disease following diagnosis, in the absence of surgical intervention. Viewed against this historical background, the present report by Papi et al. [18], published in this issue of Digestive and Liver Disease, is a landmark study of how the clinical behaviour of Crohn’s disease evolves over time, and of the factors that predict its evolution. Although their study is limited by a mean follow-up of only 4.8 years, and even though their Kaplan–Meier curves do not show the numbers of patients still in follow-up at each time point, Papi et al. did at least have enough cases in their series of 139 to reach an outer wn [4]—non-stricturing non-penetrating (primarily inflamatory), stricturing (primarily obstructing) and penetrating primarily fistulising). The concept of clinical behaviour or limit of 23 years. Therefore, there should be reasonable validity to their estimate that 63% of Crohn’s disease patients experience a change in clinical behaviour by 12 years from t
Stromal derived factor 1α: a chemokine that delivers a two-pronged defence of the myocardium.

Alleviating myocardial injury associated with ST elevation myocardial infarction is central to improving the global burden of coronary heart disease. The chemokine stromal cell-derived factor 1α (SDF-1α) has dual potential benefit in this regard. Firstly, SDF-1α is up-regulated in experimental and clinical studies of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and regulates stem cell migration to sites of injury. SDF-1α delivery to the myocardium after AMI is associated with improved stem cell homing, angiogenesis, and left ventricular function in animal models, and improvements in heart failure and quality of life in humans. Secondly, SDF-1α may have a role in remote ischaemic conditioning (RIC), the phenomenon whereby non-lethal ischaemia–reperfusion applied to an organ or tissue remote from the heart protects the myocardium from lethal ischaemia–reperfusion injury (IRI). SDF-1α is increased in the serum of rats subjected to RIC and protects against myocardial IRI in ex vivo studies. Despite these potential pleiotropic effects, a limitation of SDF-1α is its short plasma half-life due to cleavage by dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4). However, DPP-4 inhibitors increase the half-life of SDF-1α by preventing its degradation and are also protective against lethal IRI. In summary, SDF-1 potentially delivers a ‘two-pronged’ defence of the myocardium: acutely protecting it from IRI while simultaneously stimulating repair by recruiting stem cells to the site of injury. In this article we examine the evidence for acute and chronic cardioprotective roles of SDF-1α and discuss potential therapeutic manipulations of this mechanism with DPP-4 inhibitors to protect against lethal tissue injury in the clinical setting.
Racial and ethnic differences in men's knowledge and attitudes about contraception.

Background: Little is known about racial/ethnic differences in men's contraceptive knowledge and attitudes. Study Design: We used multivariable logistic regression to examine racial/ethnic differences in contraceptive knowledge and attitudes among 903 men aged 18–29 in the 2009 National Survey of Reproductive and Contraceptive Knowledge. Results: Black and Hispanic men were less likely than Whites to have heard of most contraceptive methods, including female and male sterilization, and also had lower knowledge about hormonal and long-acting reversible methods. They were less likely to know that pills are ineffective when 2–3 pills are missed [Blacks: adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=0.42; Hispanics: aOR=0.53] and that fertility was not delayed after stopping the pill (Blacks: aOR=0.52; Hispanics: aOR=0.27). Hispanics were less likely to know that nulliparous women can use the intrauterine device (aOR=0.47). Condom knowledge was similar by race/ethnicity, but Blacks were less likely to view condoms as a hassle than Whites (aOR=0.46). Conclusions: Efforts to educate men, especially men of color, about contraceptive methods are needed. Published by Elsevier Inc.
Noise filtration in fluorescence-enhanced optical tomography: breast phantom studies

Noisy measurements may impact the quality of image reconstructions in fluorescence-enhanced optical tomography studies. In this contribution, different noise pre-filtration techniques were developed using fluorescence measurements of homogeneous breast phantoms. The noise pre-filtration techniques were determined based on correlation studies among various measurement parameters. We demonstrated that noise pre-filtration techniques can improve the target localization in image reconstructions when the target is deeply located (>2 cm) in imperfect uptake case (i.e. target: background fluorescence absoroption contrast ratio of 100 : 1). Moreover, filtration of measurement noise using different criteria can possibly differentiate the target from artifacts, potentially minimizing the false-positive cases in a clinical environment.
CONGENITAL ADRENAL HYPERPLASIA OWING TO 3β-HYDROXYSTEROID DEHYDROGENASE DEFICIENCY

Recent advances in the genetics of the family of 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3 beta-HSD) enzymes have helped in the understanding of the molecular basis and hormonal phenotype of bona fide 3 beta-HSD deficiency congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). This article revisits the clinical spectra of 3 beta-HSD deficiency disorders, pathophysiology of 3 beta-HSD deficiency CAH, and updates genotype findings and diagnostic hormonal criteria for bona fide classic and nonclassic 3 beta-HSD deficiency CAH. The delta-5 steroid abnormality for the nonclassic 3 beta-HSD deficiency CAH, proven by genotype study, is substantially greater than the hormonal criteria for the disorder published before the advent of molecular information on the gene encoding adrenals and gonads in humans. In hyperandrogenic children and women, the pathogenic mechanism of a subtle abnormality in adrenal 3 beta-HSD activity, determined by modestly elevated ACTH stimulated delta-5 steroid levels, which led to the diagnosis of mild nonclassic 3 beta-HSD deficiency in the past, is outside of the type II 3 beta-HSD gene which encodes adrenals and gonads in humans and remains to be further explored.
Quantum Mechanical Calculations of Rotational Transitions in H-H2 Collisions

We report quantum mechanical cross sections and rate coefficients for rotational transitions due to collisions of hydrogen atoms with hydrogen molecules. The sensitivity of the results to the nature of the potential energy surface and to the scattering formulation is investigated. We find that the rigid rotor and harmonic oscillator approximations are inadequate to describe the dynamics. We make use of the most reliable of the potential energy surfaces in a close-coupled description of the nonreactive scattering that takes the vibrational motion into account, and we calculate rate coefficients for rotational transitions at temperatures below 1000 K, where the reactive channels may be neglected.
The effect of plain-weaving on the mechanical properties of warp and weft p-phenylene terephthalamide (PPTA) fibers/yarns

Coarse-grained molecular statics/dynamics methods are first used to investigate degradation in the PPTA fiber/yarn tensile strength, as a result of the prior compressive or tensile loading. PPTA fibers/yarns experience this type of loading in the course of a plain-weaving process, the process which is used in the fabrication of ballistic fabric and flexible armor. The more common all-atom molecular simulations were not used to assess strength degradation for two reasons: (a) the size of the associated computational domain rendering reasonable run-times would be too small and (b) modeling of the mechanical response of multi-fibril PPTA fibers could not be carried out (again due to the limited size of the computational domain). However, all-atom simulations were used to (a) define the coarse-grained particles (referred to as “beads”) and (b) parameterize various components of the bead/bead force-field functions. In the second portion of the work, a simplified finite-element analysis of the plain-weaving process is carried out in order to assess the extent of tensile-strength degradation in warp and weft yarns during the weaving process. In this analysis, a new material model is used for the PPTA fibers/yarns. Specifically, PPTA is considered to be a linearly elastic, transversely isotropic material with degradable longitudinal-tensile strength and the longitudinal Young’s modulus. Equations governing damage and strength/stiffness degradation in this material model are derived and parameterized using the coarse-grained simulation results. Lastly, the finite-element results are compared with their experimental counterparts, yielding a decent agreement.
New liver cell mutants defective in the endocytic pathway.

Abstract To isolate mutant liver cells defective in the endocytic pathway, a selection strategy using toxic ligands for two distinct membrane receptors was utilized. Rare survivors termed trafficking mutants (Trf2–Trf7) were stable and more resistant than the parental HuH-7 cells to both toxin conjugates. They differed from the previously isolated Trf1 HuH-7 mutant as they expressed casein kinase 2 α″ (CK2α″) which is missing from Trf1 cells and which corrects the Trf1 trafficking phenotype. Binding of 125I-asialoorosomucoid (ASOR) and cell surface expression of asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR) were reduced approximately 20%–60% in Trf2–Trf7 cells compared to parental HuH-7, without a reduction in total cellular ASGPR. Based on 125I-transferrin binding, cell surface transferrin receptor activity was reduced between 13% and 88% in the various mutant cell lines. Distinctive phenotypic traits were identified in the differential resistance of Trf2–Trf7 to a panel of lectins and toxins and to UV light-induced cell death. By following the endocytic uptake and trafficking of Alexa488-ASOR, significant differences in endosomal fusion between parental HuH-7 and the Trf mutants became apparent. Unlike parental HuH-7 cells in which the fusion of endosomes into larger vesicles was evident as early as 20 min, ASOR endocytosed into the Trf mutants remained within small vesicles for up to 60 min. Identifying the biochemical and genetic mechanisms underlying these phenotypes should uncover novel and unpredicted protein–protein or protein–lipid interactions that orchestrate specific steps in membrane protein trafficking.
Graph partitioning models for parallel computing

Calculations can naturally be described as graphs in which vertices represent computation and edges reflect data dependencies. By partitioning the vertices of a graph, the calculation can be divided among processors of a parallel computer. However, the standard methodology for graph partitioning minimizes the wrong metric and lacks expressibility. We survey several recently proposed alternatives and discuss their relative merits.
HOXA9 modulates its oncogenic partner Meis1 to influence normal hematopoiesis.

ABSTRACT While investigating the mechanism of action of the HOXA9 protein, we serendipitously identified Meis1 as a HOXA9 regulatory target. Since HOXA9 and MEIS1 play key developmental roles, are cooperating DNA binding proteins and leukemic oncoproteins, and are important for normal hematopoiesis, the regulation of Meis1 by its partner protein is of interest. Loss of Hoxa9 caused downregulation of the Meis1 mRNA and protein, while forced HOXA9 expression upregulated Meis1. Hoxa9 and Meis1 expression was correlated in hematopoietic progenitors and acute leukemias. Meis1+/−Hoxa9−/− deficient mice, generated to test HOXA9 regulation of endogenous Meis1, were small and had reduced bone marrow Meis1 mRNA and significant defects in fluorescence-activated cell sorting-enumerated monocytes, mature and pre/pro-B cells, and functional B-cell progenitors. These data indicate that HOXA9 modulates Meis1 during normal murine hematopoiesis. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis did not reveal direct binding of HOXA9 to Meis1 promoter/enhancer regions. However, Creb1 and Pknox1, whose protein products have previously been reported to induce Meis1, were shown to be direct targets of HOXA9. Loss of Hoxa9 resulted in a decrease in Creb1 and Pknox1 mRNA, and forced expression of CREB1 in Hoxa9−/− bone marrow cells increased Meis1 mRNA almost as well as HOXA9, suggesting that CREB1 may mediate HOXA9 modulation of Meis1 expression.
The Problem of Pressure in Handwriting

(1957). The Problem of Pressure in Handwriting. The Journal of Experimental Education: Vol. 26, No. 2, pp. 151-178.
The electronic influence of ring substituents and ansa bridges in zirconocene complexes as probed by infrared spectroscopic, electrochemical, and computational studies.

The electronic influence of unbridged and ansa-bridged ring substituents on a zirconocene center has been studied by means of IR spectroscopic, electrochemical, and computational methods. With respect to IR spectroscopy, the average of the symmetric and asymmetric stretches (νCO(av)) of a large series of dicarbonyl complexes (CpR)2Zr(CO)2 has been used as a probe of the electronic influence of a cyclopentadienyl ring substituent. For unbridged substituents (Me, Et, Pri, But, SiMe3), νCO(av) on a per substituent basis correlates well with Hammett σmeta parameters, thereby indicating that the influence of these substituents is via a simple inductive effect. In contrast, the reduction potentials (E°) of the corresponding dichloride complexes (CpR)2ZrCl2 do not correlate well with Hammett σmeta parameters, thereby suggesting that factors other than the substituent inductive effect also influence E°. Ansa bridges with single-atom linkers, for example [Me2C] and [Me2Si], exert a net electron-withdrawing effect,...
A re-examination of the demand for money in Nigeria

This paper reexamines the demand for money in Nigeria and finds the real income and the expected rate of inflation to be important independent variables that explain over 80 percent of the variation in the real cash balance. The study shows that, in view of the low per capita income of Nigerians, permanent income and measure income are largely the same.
Design Optimization of a Novel Tripedal Locomotion Robot Through Simulation and Experiments for a Single Step Dynamic Gait

This paper presents the concept and design of a unique three-legged walking robot, and results from the simulation and experiments of a single step tripedal gait. The STriDER (Self-excited Tripedal Dynamic Experimental Robot) incorporates aspects of passive dynamic walking into a stable tripedal platform and is capable of changing directions. To initiate a step, the legs are oriented to push the center of gravity outside of the stance polygon, and as the body of the robot falls forward, the swing leg naturally swings in between the two stance legs and catches the fall. Once all three legs are in contact with the ground, the robot regains its stability and the posture of the robot is then reset in preparation for the next step. The changing of the direction is done by a unique way of changing the sequence of which of the three legs is the swing leg. To guide the design of the robot, a dynamic model was developed and a simulation of a single step tripedal gait was performed to allow for tuning of several design parameters, including the mass properties and link dimensions. By considering the two stance legs as a single effective link connected to the ground, the robot can be modeled as a planar four-link pendulum in the sagittal plane. Further development of the simulation also allowed for optimization of the design parameters to create an ideal gait for the robot. A self-excited method of actuation, which seeks to drive a stable system toward instability, was used to control the robot. This method of actuation was found to be robust across a wide range of design parameters and relatively insensitive to controller gains. The design of the first prototype and result from the experiments are presented with a discussion of future work.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Distributed Effects of Dopamine Modulation in the Crustacean Pyloric Networka

It is now clear that neuromodulators can reconfigure a single motor net- work to allow the generation of a family of related movements. Using dopamine mod- ulation of the 14-neuron pyloric network from the crustacean stomatogastric ganglion as an example, we describe two major mechanisms by which network out- put is modulated. First, the baseline electrophysiological properties of the network neurons can be altered. Dopamine can affect the activity of each neuron indepen- dently. For example, DA modulates IA in nearly every neuron in the pyloric network, but in opposite directions in different cells. Furthermore, DA usually modulates com- binations of ionic currents. In some cases, currents with opposing actions on cell excitability are simultaneously affected, and the net response reflects the sum of these opposing effects. Second, neuromodulators can alter the strength of synaptic interac- tions within the network, quantitatively "rewiring" the network. Every synapse in the network is affected by DA, with some increased and others decreased in strength. DA acts both pre- and postsynaptically to affect transmission: these actions are fre- quently opposing in sign, and the net response arises as the sum of these opposing actions. Finally, spike-evoked and graded transmission at the same synapse can be oppositely affected by DA. These results emphasize the distributed nature of modu- lation in motor networks.
The cold denatured state is compact but expands at low temperatures: hydrodynamic properties of the cold denatured state of the C-terminal domain of L9.

A point mutation of a small globular protein, the C-terminal domain of L9 destabilizes the protein and leads to observable cold-denaturation at temperatures above zero. The cold denatured state is in slow exchange with the native state on the NMR time scale, and this allows the hydrodynamic properties of the cold unfolded state and the native state to be measured under identical conditions using pulsed-field gradient NMR diffusion measurements. This provides the first experimental measurement of the hydrodynamic properties of a cold unfolded protein and its folded form under identical conditions. Hydrodynamic radii of the cold-induced unfolded states were measured for a set of temperatures ranging from 2 °C to 25 °C at pD 6.6 in the absence of denaturant. The cold unfolded state is compact compared to the urea or acid unfolded state and a trend of increasing radii of hydration is observed as the temperature is lowered. These observations are confirmed by experiments on the same protein at pD 8.0, where it is more stable, in the presence of a modest concentration of urea. The expansion of the cold-denatured state at lower temperatures is consistent with the temperature dependence of hydrophobic interactions.
Inositol trisphosphate does not release Ca2+ from permeabilized cardiac myocytes and sarcoplasmic reticulum.

Abstract The possibility that inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) may act as a Ca+-mobilizing second messenger in cardiac muscle in a manner analogous to its actions in other cell types has been examined using saponin-per-meabilized myocytes and isolated cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum. Myocytes permeabilized in the presence of MgATP2+ sequestered Ca2+ to a level of about 200 nM, similar to the cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration of intact cells, but addition of Ip3 was ineffective in causing Ca2+ release from intracellular stores. Similarly, IP, (up to 50 μM) was unable to inhibit Ca2+ uptake or cause Ca2+ release from isolated canine cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles in the presence of either EGTA or sodium vanadate. These results indicate that IP3 is unlikely to mediate mobilization of intracellular Ca2+ stores in myocardial cells. Co2+ uptakeCa2+ releaseCardiac myocyteSarcoplasmic reticulumJnositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate
Plasma and tissue levels of tea catechins in rats and mice during chronic consumption of green tea polyphenols.

To understand the relationship between tea consumption and its biological effects, plasma and tissue levels of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), (-)-epigallocatechin (EGC), and (-)-epicatechin (EC) were measured after rats and mice were given a 0.6% green tea polyphenol preparation as the drinking fluid for different periods of time. EGC and EC levels in rat plasma increased over time and reached peak values (3 times the Day 1 values) on Day 14. Then the plasma levels of tea catechins decreased, to Day 1 values on Day 28. The plasma concentrations of EGCG were much lower than those of EGC or EC. High levels of EGC and EC were found in urine, whereas high levels of EGCG were found in feces. The changes in the urinary and fecal excretions of tea catechins could not account for the above-described changes in the plasma levels. The amounts of catechins in different tissues reflected the ingestion, absorption, and excretion pattern. When the green tea polyphenol preparation was given to mice, the "increas...
Creativity, Depression, and Circannual Variation

Verbal creativity has been linked to personal and family histories of bipolar depression. The present studies investigated the relationship between creativity and atypical symptoms of bipolar depression such as seasonal mood variations. Although more creative individuals, as measured by scores on the Remote Associates Test and a writing sample, perceived seasonal fluctuations in their creativity, no significant differences in performance were found.
A new formulation of the ethical self through kierkegaard’s notion of subjectivity: in search of a new moral education

This paper examines in detail the distinctive features of Kierkegaard’s notion of subjectivity in an attempt to find a new theoretical formulation of moral education; that is, a self-regarding—as opposed to an other-regarding—ethics of moral education. Heavily relying upon an existentialist line of ethical questioning, my aspiration underlying this investigation is not presumptuous in claiming that the self-regarding approach to moral education can—or should—compensate the other-regarding one. For it reveals an ethically non-trivial aspect of human subjectivity which has been overlooked by dominant approaches to moral education, like the moral reasoning and care-ethics models, in such a way as to suggest a way of diagnosing the moral predicament in the contemporary (Korean) society.
Comments on “A multi-stage color model”

Abstract A critical review is offered for the article entitle ‘A multi-stage color model’ by De Valois and De Valois [(1993)Vision Research, 33 1053–1065]. This letter discusses (i) related literature, (ii) substantive problems, and (iii) the topic of color/luminance confounding.
Identification of the primary lesion in a protoporphyrin accumulating mutant of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

A group of chlorophyll deficient mutants (br s mutants) of Chlamydomonas accumulates protoporphyrin and has poorly developed chloroplast membrane systems (Wang et al. 1974). In order to determine whether a poorly developed chloroplast membrane system is the reason for, or the result of, the inability of the br s mutants to metabolize protoporphyrin to chlorophyll, a second mutation was selected which restored chlorophyll synthesis in br s mutants. One such double mutant (br s-2 g-4) was analyzed. The double mutant br s-2 g-4 has partially restored chlorophyll synthesis, but has defective photosystem II and photosystem I electron transport as well as abnormal chloroplast ultrastructure. Since these defects are not present in cells carrying only the g-4 mutation, they are presumed to be caused by the br s-2 mutation. It is concluded that a defect in chloroplast membrane development resulting from the br s-2 mutation causes an apparent defect in magnesium chelation by protoprophyrin. This is consistant with evidence that chlorophyll biosynthesis from magnesium protoporphyrin to chlorophyll takes place on the chloroplast membranes.
On the pressure saturation effect of the quenching of SO2(3B1) molecules

Abstract The phosphorescent lifetimes of SO2(3B1) molecules have been studied at excitation wavelength 2662 and 3631 A under high pressure conditions (1 torr ⩽ P ⩽ 400 torr) in the presence of foreign gases (CO2, CO and N2). The pressure saturation effect, which was found recently by Rudolph and Strickler, is confirmed. A mathematical formulation of the experimental results is suggested to fit all the data.