cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SELECTED PROBLEMS FACED BY FIRE AND CASUALTY INSURERS UNDER STATE AND LOCAL TAXATION

THE MAJORITY of states impose special taxes on fire insurance premiums. These taxes may be for the support of the state fire marshal's office, firemen's pension programs, the purchase of fire-fighting equipment, or all three. Thus the people who buy fire insurance pay for fire protection that benefits both those who buy fire insurance and those who do not buy fire insurance. In approximately twelve states, the local governments tax insurance companies. The objective of this thesis is twofold: first, to test the hypothesis that the taxation referred to above is inequitable and then, assuming that it is found to be inequitable, to investigate proposed solutions to the inequity and to develop other solutions. The taxpayers with whom this dissertation is concerned include the fire and casualty insurance carriers. The companies are subject to premiums taxes, licenses, and fees. The possible solutions that have been investigated and the solutions proposed are within the existing framework of the present system; that is, the only alternatives considered are those that appear to be politically feasible. Possible solutions to correct the alleged inequities can be broken down into solutions that affect the special state taxes, those that concern municipal taxes, and more general considerations that are not classifiable by level of government. One of the more desirable solutions to correct the inequities of the special state taxes would be an agreement between the states and the insurance industry whereby states would insert "in lieu of" provisions in a single premiums tax law. The insurance industry would be willing to pay a total amount at least equal to the total of all state and local taxes now in existence. Another possible solution would be a program of concerted litigation based on the constitutionality of the special taxes. In the case of municipal taxes it is the author's opinion that more can be accomplished in preventing new taxes through the use of the "in lieu of" provision than in attempting to eliminate the present
Increased drug use among old-for-grade and dropout urban adolescents

Abstract Introduction: In tracking the epidemic of drug use in our communities, much emphasis has been placed on identifying predictive variables. In this study, we examine the relationship between drug use and school progress among a sample of inner-city adolescents. Methods: A blinded, anonymous questionnaire covering a variety of health risk behaviors was administered to 1,720 adolescent patients who visited our outpatient clinic. Participants were classified as age-appropriate for last school grade completed, older than normal for grade, or as a dropout. A urine specimen was also collected in a blinded, anonymous fashion from each participant, and tested for five common substances of abuse. Results: Nearly 12% of participants tested positive for drugs. Participants who were old for grade were over 40% more likely to be positive for drugs than grade-appropriate respondents, while school dropouts were more than twice as likely to test positive. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that being old-for-grade (OFG) and being a dropout in our population are markers for being at higher risk of substance abuse.
Chaos in WDM Mesh FSO for Enhanced Link Security

Mesh FSO networks combined with WDM technology, carry an aggregate data rate of many Gbps. However, a large percentage of the enterprise data in the traffic is sensitive; thus, FSO links become a formidable target for eavesdropping. In order to maintain the proper level of data integrity and confidentiality, the vulnerabilities of mesh FSO communication links need to be understood and to develop an effective link security strategy and a security mechanism, which in addition to end-to-end cryptography assure intrusion-free operation and data security. In this paper we examine the security vulnerabilities of WDM mesh FSO links and describe how the link security using dynamically reconfigurable chaotic functions is enhanced.
Using in situ rheology to characterize the microstructure in photopolymerized polyacrylamide gels for DNA electrophoresis

Photopolymerized cross-linked polyacrylamide hydrogels are attractive sieving matrix formulations for DNA electrophoresis owing to their rapid polymerization times and the potential to locally tailor the gel pore structure through spatial variation of illumination intensity. This capability is especially important in microfluidic systems, where photopolymerization allows gel matrices to be precisely positioned within complex microchannel networks. Separation performance is also directly related to the nanoscale gel pore structure, which is in turn strongly influenced by polymerization kinetics. Unfortunately, detailed studies of the interplay among polymerization kinetics, mechanical properties, and structural morphology are lacking in photopolymerized hydrogel systems. In this paper, we address this issue by performing a series of in situ dynamic small-amplitude oscillatory shear measurements during photopolymerization of cross-linked polyacrylamide electrophoresis gels to investigate the relationship between rheology and parameters associated with the gelation environment including UV intensity, monomer and cross-linker composition, and reaction temperature. In general, we find that the storage modulus G' increases with increasing initial monomer concentration, cross-linker concentration, and polymerization temperature. The steady-state value of G', however, exhibits a more complex dependence on UV intensity that varies with gel concentration. A simple model based on rubber elasticity theory is used to obtain estimates of the average gel pore size that are in surprisingly good agreement with corresponding data obtained from analysis of DNA electrophoretic mobility in gels cast under identical polymerization conditions.
Thermal Activation of tert-Butyl Nitrite on Pt(111): tert-Butoxy Dehydrogenation and Oxametallacycle Formation

The adsorption and thermal reactions of an alkyl nitrite, t-C4H9ONO, on Pt(111) are reported. Dissociative chemisorption at the weak (171 kJ/mol) RONO bond accompanies adsorption at 115 K, forming ...
Characterization of a mouse interferon gene locus II. Differential expression of α-interferon genes

Abstract A cluster of four MuIFN-alpha genes was recently isolated and characterized (1); one of the genes in this cluster had, in the coding region, an internal deletion of 5 amino acids. Bacterial expression plasmids were constructed to examine the effect of this deletion on the antiviral activity of the MuIFN-alpha 4 peptide and it was found that the alpha 4 interferon peptide had a 100-fold lower antiviral activity than full length alpha-interferon proteins when expressed in E. coli. Three of the four MuIFN-alpha genes identified were expressed coordinately in L-cells infected with NDV. The relative levels of alpha 4 mRNA were substantially higher than the levels of the other alpha mRNAs. Comparison of the 5' end flanking sequences of these four alpha interferon genes revealed that the promoter sequences of alpha 1, alpha 5 and alpha 6 are more homologous to each other than to the alpha 4 promoter which also contains a G rich cluster not seen in the other three promoters.
Developmental Changes in the Neutral Α-Amino Acid Transport Systems of Rat Brain Over the First Three Weeks After Birth

Transport of seven different amino acids into brain slices increased as donor rats aged from 1 to 6 days. Uptakes of 2-aminoisobutyric acid, 2-(methyl- amino)isobutyric acid, and L-alanine then decreased by day 14, while uptakes of other amino acids continued to increase or remained fairly constant. Neutral a-amino acid transport systems were characterized by measuring inhibition of uptakes and kinetics for representative amino acids at different ages. Results indicate that 2-ami- noisobutyrate and 2-(methy1amino)isobutyrate used only one (and the same) system in brain slices from 6-day-old rats, with characteristics of system A (the major sodium- dependent system in most mammalian cells). They used at least two systems at ages 1, 14, and 23 days, but, of these, only at 1 day did they use the same systems in the Although several studies have described the gen- eral changes in amino acid transport in brain slices during development (Levi, 1973; Piccoli, 1976; Ser- shen and Lajtha, 1979), no detailed examination has yet been made of the transport systems for neutral amino acids at different times after birth of the rat. Changes in amino acid transport would be expected during growth and development of the brain in as- sociation with the altered requirement for protein synthesis during this time. In addition, it is during its development that brain is especially sensitive to changes in physiological conditions, such as thyroid hormone supply. Since this latter hormone is known to alter protein synthesis in developing brain (Gelber et al., 1964; Gee1 et al., 1967), the amount of thyroid hormone would be expected also to same proportions. Alanine and leucine used more than one system at all four ages, and somewhat different com- binations than used by each other or by 2-aminoisobu- tyrate or 2-(methy1amino)isobutyrate. Their transport characteristics showed they used mostly system ASC (a sodium-dependent system distinguished from A) and/or system L (sodium-independent). We conclude that system A increases as the brain ages from 1 to 6 days and declines thereafter. System L probably increases with
Full-duplex 60 GHz vector-signal radio-over-fiber system using heterodyne optical-carrier suppression

To overcome the fundamental limitation of conventional optical-carrier-suppression, we proposed a novel heterodyne optical-carrier-suppression to achieve centralized up/down-conversion in the radio-over-fiber system. Full-duplex 60-GHz BPSK transmission has been achieved after 25-km single-mode fibers.
People's Republic of China: Systematic and Structural Change in a North China Township

Dahe, a former people's commune which is now a township, has yielded to western researchers one of the richest data sets for all of rural China. The first installment was collected by Steve Butler when China opened to field research by western scholars in 1980, and the second installment was collected by Putterman in 1986. Putterman has begun to analyze some of these data and is planning to publish the dataset, thus making it available to all interested researchers. One of the central issues Putterman's paper addresses is whether socialized agriculture in Dahe was as inefficient as has been suggested by more aggregate data. Under the collective system in Dahe prior to 1978, some farming inputs must have been applied well beyond the point at which their marginal returns fell short of their marginal costs. That can be inferred from the post-1978 decline in crop yields, a decline that occurred despite the sharp increase in real prices farmers received for their output. Putterman's analysis provides us with a very important insight-that much of this inefficiency was not inherent within the cooperatives but was the result of rule setting at a higher level. Teams that distributed a larger share of their net output to workers and distributed a proportionately larger amount of it according to the work points that were earned rather than distributing income on an egalitarian basis did get more work effort and output per worker. In the postreform period, Putterman calculates that real farm income per capita from all sources rose by 104%, or about 12% per annum. He points out that half of this gain was from higher real prices that farmers received for selling farm output and that much of the rest was from income derived from increased local manufacturing, transport, construction, and other nonfarm activities. Although Putterman's paper does not provide precise data, the increase in agricultural output in Dahe since reform began appears quite modest. Thus, while Dahe has been successful in transferring farm labor to manufacturing and other nonfarm activities, its experience appears to undermine the presumption of the national agricultural strategy that farm output can continue to grow as labor is reallocated to higher productivity sectors. A major contribution of further examination of data from Dahe would be a more sharply focused explanation of the slow growth of farm output in Dahe since 1978 and a more detailed analysis of the implications of this for China's national agricultural development strategy. That analysis might treat investment issues more systematically, particularly the results of increased incentives during the 1980s for private investment in farming and the capacity of the new household-based system to maintain the irrigation systems and other infrastructure built up by labor mobilized by local party cadres during the collective era. Nicholas R. Lardy is a professor in the Jackson School of International Studies, University of Washington.
The cloned μ, δ and κ receptors and their endogenous ligands: Evidence for two opioid peptide recognition cores

Abstract The opioid peptides are derived from three prohormone precursors referred to as proopiomelanocortin (POMC), proenkephalin (ProEnk) and prodynorphin (ProDyn). Following specific cleavage, several biologically active peptides are generated that can bind the μ, δ and κ receptors. The present study examines the receptor binding affinities of the POMC, ProEnk and ProDyn peptides to the cloned μ, δ and κ receptors expressed transiently in transfected COS-1 cells. Consistent with previous findings using brain homogenates, competition studies demonstrate that no opioid peptide family can be exclusively associated with a specific opioid receptor type. Short ProEnk peptides, such as Leu- and Met-enkephalin are selective for δ, but C-terminally extended peptides such as Met-Enk-Arg-Gly-Leu and Met-Enk-Arg-Phe have a high affinity to μ, δ and κ. Similarly, Peptide E, the BAM peptides, and metorphamide have a high affinity for all three opioid receptors types. While dynorphin A peptides and α- and β-neoendorphin have a preference for κ, they also bind the cloned δ and μ receptors. Our findings do not easily fit a simple ‘message-address’ model where the Try-Gly-Gly-Phe core is extended and this gradually alters selectivity. Rather, the pattern appears more discontinuous, and would fit better with the idea of two similar but distinct cores; a Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe Met- or Leu core that is necessary and sufficient for μ and δ but not κ and a Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Met or Leu core with an Arg-X extension that is equally necessary and sufficient for κ.
Direct neuropeptide Y-induced modulation of gonadotrope intracellular calcium transients and gonadotropin secretion

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) has been shown to be capable of both the enhancement and suppression of gonadotropin secretion from pituitary cells. In order to elucidate the underlying cellular mechanisms which might account for these actions, we have examined the effects of NPY on gonadotropin secretion stimulated by either cell depolarization or by GnRH from primary cultures of rat pituitary cells. In one set of experiments, we measured single-cell [Ca2+]i using the Ca2+-sensitive intracellular fluorescent indicator Fura-2, in gonadotropes which had been identified using a reverse hemolytic plaque assay employing an antiserum to LH. In another group of investigations, we measured FSH and LH secretion in response to depolarization or stimulation with GnRH, and examined the influence of NPY on these patterns of secretion. NPY was active in inhibiting the amplitude of the [Ca2+]i signal induced by depolarization with 20 mM K+, as well as in substantially blocking the secondary plateau phase of the GnRH-induced eleva...
Predictors of Turnover of Female Factory Workers.

Abstract This study examines predictors of turnover of female factory workers in a multivariate framework. Findings indicate that organizational, job, and personal characteristics are equally important in explaining turnover. Variables significantly related to turnover were tenure, cycle time, peer leadership, communication flow, training time, family income, and satisfaction with pay. The AID technique was demonstrated as a means of identifying interaction effects.
Wave patterns generated by disturbances travelling horizontally in rotating stratified fluids

The pattern and propagation of waves generated by steady or oscillatory disturbances travelling horizontally in a rotating, stratified fluid are studied following a technique developed by Lighthill. Both two‐ and three‐dimensional distrubances are investigated. The results show how rotation modifies internal wave patterns in a stratified fluid and how stratification modifies inertial wave patterns in a rotating fluid. The results are used to compute the effective diminution of Taylor column length due to the presence of density stratification. They also show that the appearance of wave crests upstream of a disturbance is possible only when the disturbance is unsteady and that observations of upstream blocking in a two‐dimensional stratified flow can be explained by the existence of a certain class of plane waves as modified by viscosity.
Epigenetics of Aging and Aging-related Disease

Aging is associated with a wide range of human disorders, including cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative diseases. Long thought to be an inexorable road toward decline and diseases, aging is in fact remarkably plastic. Such plasticity could be harnessed to approach age-related diseases from a novel perspective. Although many studies have focused on the genes that impact aging, the nongenetic regulation of aging is gaining increasing attention. Specifically, aging is associated with profound epigenetic changes, resulting in alterations of gene expression and disturbances in broad genome architecture and the epigenomic landscape. The potential reversibility of these epigenetic changes that occur as a hallmark of aging offers exciting opportunities to alter the trajectory of age-related diseases. This short review highlights key epigenetic players in the regulation of aging, as well as both future goals and challenges to the utilization of epigenetic strategies to delay and reverse the main diseases of aging.
Frequency and clinical predictors of adverse reactions to chiropractic care in the UCLA neck pain study.

Study design Randomized clinical trial. Objectives To document the types and frequencies of adverse reactions associated with the most common chiropractic treatments for neck pain, and to identify possible clinical predictors of adverse reactions to chiropractic treatment. Summary of background data Chiropractic care is frequently sought by patients for relief from neck pain; however, adverse reactions related to its primary modes of treatment have not been well examined. Methods A total of 336 patients with neck pain presenting to 4 southern California health care clinics were randomized in a balanced 2 x 2 x 2 factorial design to manipulation with or without heat, and with or without electrical muscle stimulation (EMS); and mobilization with or without heat and with or without EMS. Discomfort or unpleasant reactions from chiropractic care were self-assessed at 2 weeks after the randomization/baseline visit. Results Of the 280 participants (83%) who responded, 85 (30.4%) had 212 adverse symptoms as a result of chiropractic care. Increased neck pain or stiffness was the most common symptom, reported by 25% of the participants. Less common were headache and radiating pain. Patients randomized to manipulation were more likely than those randomized to mobilization to have an adverse symptom occurring within 24 hours of treatment (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 1.44, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.83, 2.49). Heat and EMS were only weakly associated with adverse symptoms (heat: OR = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.54, 1.62; EMS: OR = 1.09, 95% CI = 0.63, 1.89). Moderate-to-severe neck disability at baseline was strongly associated with adverse neurologic symptoms (OR = 5.70, 95% CI = 1.49, 21.80). Conclusions Our results suggest that adverse reactions to chiropractic care for neck pain are common and that despite somewhat imprecise estimation, adverse reactions appear more likely to follow cervical spine manipulation than mobilization. Given the possible higher risk of adverse reactions and lack of demonstrated effectiveness of manipulation over mobilization, chiropractors should consider a conservative approach for applying manipulation to their patients, especially those with severe neck pain.
Pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution after intravenous administration of a single dose of amphotericin B cochleates, a new lipid‐based delivery system

Model independent pharmacokinetic analysis of intravenous (iv) amphotericin B cochleates (CAMB), a new lipid-based drug delivery system, in mice (0.625 mg/kg) shows a two-phase disposition profile in blood [area under the curve of concentration versus time from time zero to infinity (AUC(0-infinity)) = 1.01 microg. h/mL, half-life (t((1/2))) = 11.68 h, volume of distribution at steady state (V(ss)) = 9.59 L/kg, clearance (CL) = 10.36 mL/min/kg and mean residence time from time 0 to infinity (MRT(0-infinity)) = 15.41 h). In target tissues, maximum time (t(max)) ranged from 2 min (spleen and lung) to 10 min (liver) and lungs presented the highest AMB concentration (16.4 microg. h/g) followed by liver (8.56 microg/g), and spleen (6.63 microg/g). In addition, liver and spleen presented the longest elution half-life (75.03 and 66.71 h, respectively), MRT(0-infinity) (98.4 and 86.3 h, respectively), and AMB exposure:liver AUC(0-infinity) = 474 and 116.4 microg. h/g for the spleen. The large V(ss) and the extensive tissue AUC indicate large and efficient ability of cochleates to penetrate and deliver AMB. Differences in tissue uptake mechanism and pharmacokinetic data suggest a crucial role of macrophages in CAMB clearance from blood as well as an essential role of the liver and the spleen in AMB distribution to target tissues.
Molecular dynamics simulation of superoxide interacting with superoxide dismutase

Abstract Molecular dynamics simulations have been used to study the equilibrium distribution of a superoxide substrate molecule (O2−) in the channel to the active site of the enzyme Cu, Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD). The results are used to consider aspects of the kinetics of SOD.
Effects of Hyperpolarization-Activated Channel Blocker ZD7288 on Polar Excitations of Frog Sciatic Nerve

Previous studies have demonstrated that Ar+ laser irradiation shows a more selective blocking effect on the generation of anode-break-excitation (AE) than on cathode-make-excitation (CE), and that the effects of laser irradiation closely resemble those following the application of hyperpolarization-activated current (Ih) blocker, ZD7288. We therefore examined the effects of ZD7288 and tetrodotoxin (TTX) on polar excitations to reveal whether such a selective effect of ZD7288 on AE is specific in frog sciatic nerve. Supramaximal stimuli (10-ms pulse) were applied while for 30 min each channel blocker was applied to the stimulating sites. Analyses of chronological changes in polar excitations were performed using CEs induced by positive stimuli and AEs induced by negative stimuli, because both were generated on the same stimulating grid against the recording grids. TTX application (1 mM) decreased all types of polar excitations at 30 min after initiation of the application. When ZD7288 (1 mM) was applied, the amplitude of AE displayed a significant decrease after 30 min. When TTX or ZD7288 was applied to the middle portion between the stimulating and recording electrode grids, TTX showed the conduction block, but the latter yielded almost no effect. Western blotting analyses demonstrated expressions of the second and the third subunits of hyperpolarization-activated and cyclic-nucleotide-gated nonselective cation channels in frog sciatic nerve. Ih channels thus exist in the frog sciatic nerve, and its specific blocker, ZD7288, has the potential to selectively block the generation of AE.
The Relation of Parenting Styles and Inconsistencies to Adaptive Functioning for Children in Conflictual and Violent Families

Research of parenting in conflictual and violent families suggests that battered mothers (i.e., those experiencing verbal and/or physical abuse by their partner) may not parent very differently from demographically similar nonbattered mothers. However, battered mothers do report being less consistent in their discipline. In the present study, 104 mothers and their children from community nonviolent and violent families and shelter violent and violent abusive families participated in interviews to obtain information about child functioning and authoritative, authoritarian, and permissive parental practices. It was the case that authoritative practices were associated with more positive child functioning and that parental inconsistency, defined in terms of endorsing conflictual parenting practices, was associated with poorer child outcome. Groups of mothers were identified that fit different patterns of parenting practices, and these patterns were differentially related to children's functioning.
Case Study of Dynamic Soil-Structure Interaction

SMALL BUT MEASURABLE FOUNDATION MOTIONS WERE RECORDED DURING DYNAMIC TESTS (REPORTED PREVIOUSLY BY NIELSEN AND WISS) UPON THE CHIMES TOWER AT THE NEW YORK WORLD'S FAIR. USING THE MEASURED MOTIONS OF THE ENTIRE TOWER WHEN EXCITED AT THE FUNDAMENTAL FREQUENCY, IT IS POSSIBLE TO COMPUTE THE OVERTURNING MOMENT AND SHEAR FORCE AT THE FOUNDATION. COMBINING THE MOMENT AND FORCE WITH THE MEASURED MOTIONS OF THE FOUNDATION AT THIS SAME FREQUENCY, THE ROCKING AND SWAYING SPRING CONSTANTS OF THE FOUNDATION CAN BE COMPUTED. WHEN THESE FOUNDATION SPRING CONSTANTS ARE ADDED TO THE NIELSEN-WISS MODEL FOR THE STRUCTURE ITSELF, THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE OBSERVED AND COMPUTED FUNDAMENTAL FREQUENCY IS IMPROVED, THE MODEL INCLUDING FOUNDATION SPRINGS PREDICTS A NEW MODE (PREDOMINANTLY SWAYING OF THE FOUNDATION) THAT WAS NOT OBSERVED IN THE FIELD TESTS. IT IS POSTULATED THAT THIS MODE WAS SUPPRESSED BY THE LARGE RADIATION DAMPING THAT THEORY PREDICTS TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH SWAYING. /AUTHOR/
Seasonal changes in diurnal variation of potential gradient at Fargo, North Dakota

The atmospheric electric potential gradient was recorded continuously by a field mill at Fargo, North Dakota, for the period August, 1972–March, 1973. Hourly averages were taken by the equal areas technique to eliminate short period variations. The diurnal variation of monthly averages is shown for the fair weather periods and all weather. In addition, the diurnal variation is shown for all positive values of the potential gradient, which excludes periods of major local space charge generators, but includes periods when the potential gradient might be influenced by regional conditions not otherwise present during fair weather. For a given month the diurnal variation curves are generally similar, with the fair weather curve giving the highest values, and all weather curve giving the lowest values. The months September–November have similar curves with the lowest values and least deviation from the average. The months December–February have similar curves with the highest values. Harmonic analysis is used to compute the times of maxima and contributions to variance of the first four harmonics for each diurnal variation curve. The fair weather first harmonic accounts for the majority of variance and has a maximum near 19.5 h GMT. It is attributed to the global diurnal variation of potential gradient due to thunderstorm activity in the tropics. The second harmonic has one maximum occurring from 9–12 h local time and is attributed to the ‘austausch’ effect of convection, where ions affect the conductivity of the air locally. The differences in these monthly diurnal variation curves emphasize that the season of year, weather conditions, and length of time over which data is averaged must be specified in atmospheric electricity studies if meaningful conclusions are to be drawn.
Cloning of the cDNA for glutamyl-tRNA synthetase from Arabidopsis thaliana

We cloned and characterized a full-length cDNA that encodes a glutamyl-tRNA synthetase (GluRSAt) from Arabidopsis. The GluRSAt is coded by a single gene. A transcript of about 2.3 kb hybridized with the cDNA. The deduced protein from the cDNA contained 719 amino acids with an estimated molecular mass of 81 kDa. Expression of the GluRSAt in E. coli resulted in a protein of the expected size. Comparison of the amino acid sequence GluRSAt to other glutamyl-tRNA synthetases showed strong sequence similarity to cytoplasmic GluRS proteins.
Association of Dynamic Joint Power With Functional Limitations in Older Adults With Symptomatic Knee Osteoarthritis

Abstract Segal NA, Yack HJ, Brubaker M, Torner JC, Wallace R. Association of dynamic joint power with functional limitations in older adults with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis. Objectives To determine which lower-limb joint moments and powers characterize the level of gait performance of older adults with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (OA). Design Cross-sectional observational study. Setting University motion analysis laboratory. Participants Community-dwelling adults (N=60; 27 men, 33 women; age 50–79y) with symptomatic knee OA. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures Physical function was measured using the long-distance corridor walk, the Short Physical Performance Battery, and the Late Life Function and Disability Instrument (LLFDI Function). Joint moments and power were estimated using an inverse dynamics solution after 3-dimensional computerized motion analysis. Results Subjects aged 64.2±7.4 years were recruited. Ranges (mean ± SD) for the 400-m walk time and the LLFDI Advanced Lower-Limb Function score were 215.3 to 536.8 (304.1±62.3) seconds and 31.5 to 100 (57.0±14.9) points, respectively. In women, hip abductor moment (loading response), hip abductor power (midstance), eccentric hamstring moment (terminal stance), and power (terminal swing) accounted for 41%, 31%, 14%, and 48% of the variance in the 400-m walk time, respectively (model R 2 =.61, P R 2 =.32, P =.025). Conclusions There is evidence that men and women with higher mobility function tend to rely more on an ankle strategy rather than a hip strategy for gait. In higher functioning men, higher knee extensor and flexor strength may contribute to an ankle strategy, whereas hip abductor weakness may bias women with lower mobility function to minimize loading across the knee via use of a hip strategy. These parameters may serve as foci for rehabilitation interventions aimed at reducing mobility limitations.
Stress response of systemic organs to ischemia-reperfusion of rat hind limb – study of induction of 72-kD stress protein (HSP72)

Many investigators have examined the influence of ischemia-reperfusion of the lower leg on the systemic organs using pathological, physiological, and biochemical studies. However, there has been no study on HSP72 induction in systemic organs. The left hind limb of a rat was dissected, retaining the bone and femoral vessels. The vessels were clamped to produce ischemia. After 6 h, the clamps were removed, and six systemic organs (hypophysis, heart, lung, kidney, adrenal gland, liver) were removed at various times up to 72 h after reperfusion. The HSP72 induction was detected by Western blot analysis using anti-HSP72 monoclonal antibody. The density of the HSP72 bands was quantified using computer software. The survival study showed that the mortality rate was 0% within 24 h, 30% within 48 h, and 70% within 72 h in the ischemia-reperfusion group, while there was no mortality in the sham-operated group within 72 h. Histological findings showed that in the heart, hypophysis, liver, and adrenal gland, there were no significant histopathological changes. In the lung, parenchymal infiltration of leukocytes and erythrocytes was observed at 24, 48, and 72 h. At 72 h, the alveolar structure was markedly destroyed. In the kidney at 48 and 72 h, renal congestion was seen and vacuole regeneration was also observed in a part of the tubular cells. The levels of HSP72 increased gradually after reperfusion in the kidney, and at 24, 48, and 72 h after reperfusion, the levels were significantly higher than those in the sham-operated rats. In the remaining five organs, the levels of HSP72 indicated no significant elevation at the times studied as compared with sham-operated rats. These results demonstrated that, of the six organs studied (hypophysis, heart, lung, kidney, adrenal gland, and liver), only kidney HSP72 increased during reperfusion stage after 6-h ischemia of the lower leg.
Rapid fixation of methylene chloride by a macrocyclic amine.

A simple macrocyclic amine is alkylated by methylene chloride to give a quaternary ammonium chloride salt. When methylene chloride is the solvent, the reaction exhibits pseudo-first-order kinetics,...
The New-Year film as a genre of post-war Russian cinema

AbstractThis article argues that there is a genre of the Russian New-Year film (novogodnii fil'm). Drawing on Rick Altman's concept of genre on the syntactic and semantic level, the New-Year film is identifiable by six standard aesthetic and narrative elements: the on-screen representation of the New Year; release and screening dates that coincide with the New Year; time imagery representing the transition from one stage of life to the next; the presence of fairy-tale motifs; the preference of television and private viewing over public release; and the emphasis on private rather than public space. I explore the roots of this genre in the 1930s and 1950s in musical comedies (The Radiant Path, Carnival Night) before examining its crystallization in the post-war period with Irony of Fate (1975). I then discuss films from the Stagnation period, glasnost and perestroika, and the post-Soviet era, assessing the development of the genre while paying particular attention to films produced for television. In each o...
West Nile virus encephalitis with myositis and orchitis

This report documents the hospital course and autopsy findings of a 43-year-old man with a renal allograft who died of West Nile virus (WNV) encephalitis. Central nervous system (CNS) findings were those of severe necrotizing and hemorrhagic encephalitis affecting gray matter regions limited to the diencepahlon, rhombencephalon, spinal cord, and limbic system. The bilateral process exhibited preferential involvement of motor neurons. Brain imaging obtained 6 days before death demonstrated an unusual pattern of involvement corresponding with the autopsy findings, confirming that imaging may be a specific diagnostic guide in WNV encephalitis. Extra-CNS findings include myositis with T-lymphocyte infiltration of nerve fibers, suggesting that the virus may reach the CNS via peripheral nerves. Orchitis with dense T-lymphocyte infiltration and syncytial cell formation thought to be due to WNV were also noted.
The interfacial fracture characteristics of bimaterial and sandwich blister specimens

The interfacial crack initiation characteristics of bimaterial and sandwich strip blister specimens were compared. Interface cracks were grown along glass/epoxy interfaces and the corresponding loads, normal crack opening displacements (NCOD) and crack front geometries were measured. Finite element analyses were used to compare NCOD, extract fracture parameters and examine near front stress fields. On the small scale of crack extension that could be measured, the bimaterial specimens exhibited resistance curve behavior whereas none could be resolved in the sandwich specimens. The phase angle dependence of toughness in the bimaterial specimens was similar to that obtained in previous blister tests but was much steeper than has otherwise been measured. The toughness of the glass/epoxy interface in the sandwich specimen decreased with decreasing epoxy thickness in spite of the fact that it was never completely spanned by plastic zones.
Genetic programs constructed from layered logic gates in single cells

The creation of orthogonal ‘AND’ logic gates by combining DNA-binding proteins into complex, layered circuits opens the way to the design of programmable integrated circuits in synthetic biology. Synthetic genetic circuits tend to interfere with one another, a complication that restricts the number of circuits that can be used to program a cell. Chris Voigt and colleagues have mined a collection of DNA-binding proteins that depend on specific 'chaperone' proteins to activate the transcription of their target genes, and combined them into complex, layered circuits of orthogonal 'AND' logic gates. Using this system, the authors constructed one of the largest genetic programs built so far, consisting of seven integrated sensors/circuits and eleven regulatory proteins. This work opens the way for the design of programmable integrated circuits in synthetic biology. Genetic programs function to integrate environmental sensors, implement signal processing algorithms and control expression dynamics1. These programs consist of integrated genetic circuits that individually implement operations ranging from digital logic to dynamic circuits2,3,4,5,6, and they have been used in various cellular engineering applications, including the implementation of process control in metabolic networks and the coordination of spatial differentiation in artificial tissues. A key limitation is that the circuits are based on biochemical interactions occurring in the confined volume of the cell, so the size of programs has been limited to a few circuits1,7. Here we apply part mining and directed evolution to build a set of transcriptional AND gates in Escherichia coli. Each AND gate integrates two promoter inputs and controls one promoter output. This allows the gates to be layered by having the output promoter of an upstream circuit serve as the input promoter for a downstream circuit. Each gate consists of a transcription factor that requires a second chaperone protein to activate the output promoter. Multiple activator–chaperone pairs are identified from type III secretion pathways in different strains of bacteria. Directed evolution is applied to increase the dynamic range and orthogonality of the circuits. These gates are connected in different permutations to form programs, the largest of which is a 4-input AND gate that consists of 3 circuits that integrate 4 inducible systems, thus requiring 11 regulatory proteins. Measuring the performance of individual gates is sufficient to capture the behaviour of the complete program. Errors in the output due to delays (faults), a common problem for layered circuits, are not observed. This work demonstrates the successful layering of orthogonal logic gates, a design strategy that could enable the construction of large, integrated circuits in single cells.
Multiresonant behavior in nearly degenerate four-wave mixing: the ac Stark effect.

We have experimentally studied the effects of pump–probe detuning in nearly degenerate four-wave mixing. The data show multiresonant behavior as a function of the pump–probe detuning at both low and high intensities. At low intensities, the structure is the result of Doppler motion. At high intensities, five-peak structure is observed and is explained by the standing-wave modulation of the ac Stark splitting of the atomic levels.
Nitroprusside-epinephrine administration in acute myocardial ischemia.

Administration of nitroprusside (NP) and epinephrine (EP) was investigated in 2 groups of dogs during periods of acute myocardial ischemia. Blood flow to a normal area, to a marginal area of ischemia, and to an area of maximal ischemia was measured using the radioactive microsphere technique before periarterial balloon occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery, during NP infusion alone, and in combination with EP. In 10 awake, unanesthetized animals (group 1), NP infusion alone significantly increased blood flow to the subendocardium of the maximally ischemic zone. NP-EP infusion increased transmural and regional flow significantly to the marginal and normal zones. In a second group of 8 anesthetized animals, NP-EP infusion significantly increased coronary sinus flow without a corresponding increase in myocardial oxygen consumption, cardiac index, or left ventricular stroke work. As in group 1, significant increases in transmural flow were noted to the marginal and normal zones with NP-EP infusion. These findings suggest that the combination of a vasodilating agent and an inotropic agent will improve coronary flow during periods of acute myocardial ischemia, and favorably alter the ratio of oxygen supply to oxygen demand.
Coactivation of M1 Muscarinic and α1 Adrenergic Receptors Stimulates Extracellular Signal-Regulated Protein Kinase and Induces Long-Term Depression at CA3–CA1 Synapses in Rat Hippocampus

Intact cholinergic innervation from the medial septum and noradrenergic innervation from the locus ceruleus are required for hippocampal-dependent learning and memory. However, much remains unclear about the precise roles of acetylcholine (ACh) and norepinephrine (NE) in hippocampal function, particularly in terms of how interactions between these two transmitter systems might play an important role in synaptic plasticity. Previously, we reported that activation of either muscarinic M(1) or adrenergic alpha1 receptors induces activity- and NMDA receptor-dependent long-term depression (LTD) at CA3-CA1 synapses in acute hippocampal slices, referred to as muscarinic LTD (mLTD) and norepinephrine LTD (NE LTD), respectively. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that mLTD and NE LTD are independent forms of LTD, yet require activation of a common Galphaq-coupled signaling pathway for their induction, and investigated the net effect of coactivation of M(1) and alpha1 receptors on the magnitude of LTD induced. We find that neither mLTD nor NE LTD requires phospholipase C activation, but both plasticities are prevented by inhibiting the Src kinase family and extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) activation. Interestingly, LTD can be induced when M(1) and alpha1 agonists are coapplied at concentrations too low to induce LTD when applied separately, via a summed increase in ERK activation. Thus, because ACh and NE levels in vivo covary, especially during periods of memory encoding and consolidation, cooperative signaling through M(1) and alpha1 receptors could function to induce long-term changes in synaptic function important for cognition.
Television and children's gender schemata.

The world of television activates, cultivates, and alters the gender schemata that children bring to the viewing situation.
Neobladders and continent catheterizable stomas for the bladder cancer survivor.

Purpose of reviewHealth-related quality of life (HRQOL) following radical cystectomy for bladder cancer is an important outcome measure following radical cystectomy. Understanding HRQOL issues related to continent urinary diversion is crucial in the care and counseling of patients undergoing radical
Phage Display-selected Sequences of the Heavy-chain CDR3 Loop of the Anti-digoxin Antibody 26-10 Define a High Affinity Binding Site for Position 16-substituted Analogs of Digoxin

Abstract The heavy-chain CDR3 region of the high affinity (K a = 1.3 × 1010 m − 1) anti-digoxin monoclonal antibody 26-10 was modified previously to shift its specificity, by substitution of tryptophan 100 by arginine, toward binding analogs of digoxin containing substitutions at position 16. To further change specificity, two 5-mer libraries of the randomly mutagenized phage-displayed 26-10 HCDR3 region (positions 94–98) were panned against digoxin-bovine serum albumin (BSA) as well as against 16-acetylgitoxin-BSA. When a mutant Fab that binds 16-substituted analogs preferentially was used as a parent sequence, clones were obtained with affinities for digoxin increased 2–4-fold, by panning on digoxin-BSA yet retaining the specificity shift. Selection on 16-acetylgitoxin-BSA, however, resulted in nine clones that bound gitoxin (16-OH) up to 150-fold higher than the wild-type 26-10, due to a consensus mutation of SerH95 to GlyH95. The residues at both position H95 (serine) and position H100 (tryptophan) contact hapten in the crystal structure of the Fab 26-10-digoxin complex. Thus, by mutating hapten contact residues, it is possible to reorder the combining site of a high affinity antibody, resulting in altered specificity, yet retain or substantially increase the relative affinity for the cross-reactive ligand.
Improving the availability of supercomputer job input data using temporal replication

Storage systems in supercomputers are a major reason for service interruptions. RAID solutions alone cannot provide sufficient protection as 1) growing average disk recovery times make RAID groups increasingly vulnerable to disk failures during reconstruction, and 2) RAID does not help with higher-level faults such failed I/O nodes. This paper presents a complementary approach based on the observation that files in the supercomputer scratch space are typically accessed by batch jobs whose execution can be anticipated. Therefore, we propose to transparently, selectively, and temporarily replicate “active” job input data by coordinating the parallel file system with the batch job scheduler. We have implemented the temporal replication scheme in the popular Lustre parallel file system and evaluated it with real-cluster experiments. Our results show that the scheme allows for fast online data reconstruction, with a reasonably low overall space and I/O bandwidth overhead.
A TMO based approach to structuring real-time agents

Mobile agent structuring is an increasingly practiced branch of distributed computing software engineering. In this paper we discuss the major issues encountered in producing real-time (RT) agents which are designed to perform output actions in a manner meeting specified timing requirements. An approach to structuring RT agents, which is an extension of a high-level real-time distributed object programming approach called the time-triggered message-triggered object (TMO) programming scheme, is also presented. The TMO based approach is promising because it provides a sound framework in which timeliness issues can be resolved in a cost-effective manner.
An Adolescent With Hepatitis

UNLABELLED DATE: Thursday, October 20, 2011. SESSION TITLE Pediatric Fellows' Day Workshop Hosting Organization: Infectious Diseases Society of America. HOSTING EVENT 49th Annual Meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. LOCATION Boston, Massachusetts.
Variable temperature performance of a Si(Li) detector stack

New experimental data is presented which displays /sup 137/Cs resolution of both single Si(Li) devices and a detector stack 2 cm in height as a function of temperature (85 K/spl les/T/spl les/245 K). We also discuss variations in photopeak shape which indicate that detector charge collection may be temperature dependent over the range of interest. >
Human Immunodeficiency Virus–Associated Squamous Cell Cancer of the Anus: Epidemiology and Outcomes in the Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy Era

Purpose To evaluate and determine predictors of squamous cell carcinoma of the anus (SCCA) outcomes in the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) era for HIV-positive and -negative individuals using large national Veterans Affairs (VA) Administration databases. Patients and Methods We used the VA administrative databases to perform a retrospective cohort study in 1,184 veterans diagnosed with SCCA between 1998 and 2004. We calculated HIV infection rates and used logistic regression to identify epidemiologic factors that were associated with HIV infection. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards models were calculated to compare survival between HIV-positive and HIV-negative veterans. Results In our cohort, 175 patients (15%) were HIV positive. The median age of the HIV-negative and -positive patients was 63 and 49 years, respectively (P < .001). Individuals with HIV were eight times more likely to be male (P = .01) and three times more likely to be African American (P < .001). There were no...