cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reliable, Rapid, and Robust Speciation of Arsenic in Urine by IC-ICP-MS

Background Arsenic is a naturally occurring element with varying species and levels of toxicity. Inorganic arsenic (e.g., arsenite (AsIII) and arsenate (AsV)) are toxic, while its metabolites (e.g., monomethylarsonic acid (MMA) and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA)) are less toxic). Symptoms of exposure can include headaches, confusion, diarrhea, and drowsiness. As these symptoms overlap with many other conditions, arsenic exposure can often be overlooked as a cause. Arsenic toxicity may be treated with chelation and/or electrolyte replacement therapy. However, treatment is not without risks and is unnecessary for exposure to organic (nontoxic) forms of arsenic. This makes screening and differentiation of arsenic important for clinical testing. Method An IC-ICP-MS method was developed using a Dionex 5000 with ion exchange chromatography for separation and iCAP Q for detection. Nontoxic species are arsenobetaine and arsenocholine, and toxic species are AsIII, DMA, MMA, and AsV. Results Precision, linearity, and specificity studies produced acceptable results. For accuracy, proficiency testing and method comparison samples were analyzed and produced acceptable results. Carryover studies demonstrated single species carryover from the diluter at levels of 500 µg/L, which can be avoided by analysis rules in the standard operating procedure. Limit of detection studies yielded a lower limit of quantitation of 1 µg/L per species. Conclusions Here, we present a rapid and reliable method for quantifying and differentiating toxic and nontoxic forms of arsenic to allow for swift and appropriate management of patients with exposure.
3D Printed Passive Sensors—An Overview

Recent advances in 3D printed passive sensors have opened up new markets in a variety of applications. In order to function, passive sensors do not need any outside power and directly create an output response. These sensors either measure pressure or humidity or temperature or smoke or gases such as ammonia, SO2, CO, and CO2. Advanced 3D filaments/materials are enabling industry to design and manufacture reliable, accurate, and cost-effective sensors rapidly to address the requirements of food and drug industry, monitoring the environment, and biomedical, renewable energy, soft robotics-related applications. The paper will highlight improvements in the manufacture of these sensors and present various case studies. A summary of the market shares of 3D printed sensors will be presented.
Cannabinoids and Herbal Medicine

Cannabinoids are a current focal point of pain management owing to their variable legal status and the relative juvenile stage of research for chronic pain. Cannabinoids also exist in multiple formats whether discussing cannabidiol (CBD) versus marijuana versus synthetic form of the drug. Other herbal medications are commonly encountered in the chronic pain setting and can be useful in some scenarios to treat pain.
The dynamic effect of regulatory genetic variation on the in vivo ER stress transcriptional response

Abstract Genotype x Environment (GxE) interactions occur when environmental conditions drastically change the effect of a genetic variant. In order to truly understand the effect of genetic variation, we need to incorporate multiple environments into our analyses. Many variants, under steady state conditions, may be silent or even have the opposite effect under stress conditions. This study uses an in vivo mouse model to investigate how the effect of genetic variation changes with tissue type and cellular stress. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress occurs when misfolded proteins accumulate in the ER. This triggers the unfolded protein response (UPR), a large transcriptional response which attempts to return the cell to homeostasis. This transcriptional response, despite being a well conserved, basic cellular process, is highly variable across different genetic backgrounds, making it an ideal system to study GxE effects. In this study, we sought to better understand how genetic variation alters expression across tissues, in the presence and absence of ER stress. The use of different mouse strains and their F1s allow us to also identify context specific cis- and trans-regulatory mechanisms underlying variable transcriptional responses. We found hundreds of genes that respond to ER stress in a tissue- and/or genotype-dependent manner. Genotype-dependent ER stress-responsive genes are enriched for processes such as protein folding, apoptosis, and protein transport, indicating that some of the variability occurs in canonical ER stress factors. The majority of regulatory mechanisms underlying these variable transcriptional responses derive from cis-regulatory variation and are unique to a given tissue or ER stress state. This study demonstrates the need for incorporating multiple environments in future studies to better elucidate the effect of any particular genetic factor in basic biological pathways, like the ER stress response. Author Summary The effect of genetic variation is dependent on environmental context. Here we use genetically diverse mouse strains to understand how genetic variation interacts with stress state to produce variable transcriptional profiles. In this study, we take advantage of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response which is a large transcriptional response to misfolded proteins. Using this system, we uncovered tissue- and ER stress-specific effects of genetic variation on gene expression. Genes with genotype-dependent variable expression levels in response to ER stress were enriched for canonical ER stress functions, such as protein folding and transport. These variable effects of genetic variation are driven by unique sets of regulatory variation that are only active under context-specific circumstances. The results of this study highlight the importance of including multiple environments and genetic backgrounds when studying the ER stress response and other cellular pathways.
The Utility of Biomarkers for Risk Stratification in Barrett’s Esophagus:

Challenges remain to determine which patients with Barrett’s esophagus with no dysplasia or low-grade dysplasia would benefit from therapy or tailored surveillance intervals. Biomarkers have the po...
Technical Note: Dose prediction for head and neck radiotherapy using a three-dimensional dense dilated U-net architecture

Purpose Radiation therapy treatment planning is a time-consuming and iterative manual process. Consequently, plan quality varies greatly between and within institutions. Artificial intelligence shows great promise in improving plan quality and reducing planning times. This technical note describes our participation in the American Association of Physicists in Medicine Open Knowledge-Based Planning Challenge (OpenKBP), a competition to accurately predict radiation therapy dose distributions. Methods A three-dimensional (3D) densely connected U-Net with dilated convolutions was developed to predict 3D dose distributions given contoured CT images of head and neck patients as input. While traditional augmentation techniques such as rotations and translations were explored, it was found that training on random patches alone resulted in the greatest model performance. A custom-weighted mean squared error loss function was employed. Finally, an ensemble of best-performing networks was used to generate the final challenge predictions. Results Our team (SuperPod) placed second in the dose stream of the OpenKBP challenge. The average mean absolute difference between the predicted and clinical dose distributions of the testing dataset was 2.56 Gy. On average, the predicted normalized target DVH metrics were within 3% of the clinical plans, and the predicted organ at risk DVH metrics were within 2 Gy of the clinical plans. Conclusions The developed 3D dense dilated U-Net architecture can accurately predict 3D radiotherapy dose distributions and can be used as part of a fully automated radiation therapy planning pipeline.
Bits, bytes, words and numbers.

You have heard of 8-bit computers, 16-bit computers, and even 32-bit computers. These numbers refer to the word size. Vendors brag about the “word size” of their computer with phrases such as “a full 16-bit computer.” What does this “size” really mean and how does it affect a computer’s performance? To answer these questions, you need to know something about a computer’s inner workings—how it stores numbers and text, how it does arithmetic, and how it shuttles data and instructions from place to place within its memory.In this tutorial, we will explain these things and thus see how word size affects performnace.
Water Loss—Respiratory

If necessary it is possible to reduce water loss through the cuticle of an arthropod to very low levels. However, respiratory membranes, through which oxygen is absorbed from the gaseous phase, are moist, probably because the rate of diffusion of oxygen through water is some 34 times more rapid than through “chitin” (Dejours, 1975). Respiratory surfaces, essential for life as they are, therefore constitute a potential site for dehydration in land arthropods, and the form and function of the whole respiratory system can usually be seen as a compromise between the need for adequate oxygen and the need to conserve water. For reviews of these matters see Waggoner (1967), Bursell (1970), Berridge (1970), Edney (1974), and for insect respiration in general, see Miller (1974).
Development of an automated ontology generator for analyzing customer concerns

General Motors Company (GM) service representatives and service technicians generate large volumes of information related to customer concerns. These records are then stored for further analysis by GM Quality engineers. The challenge faced by quality engineers is efficiently processing this data to provide actionable insights to the Product Development staff in a timely manner. The overarching goal of this project is to save the quality engineers time and effort by automating the process of identifying and categorizing trends in product issues and customer concerns. Toward reaching this goal, this James Madison University capstone design team has developed the tool, OnGen, to assist quality engineers with analyzing this data to provide meaningful information with minimal time and labor. OnGen is built using Microsoft Excel and contains embedded macro features in order to run with minimal input from GM Quality engineers. Validation of this system was completed through testing with four functionally dissimilar systems. When comparing the GM-current process to the team’s automated process, the required preprocessing time has been reduced from days to minutes. GM Quality engineers will evaluate a prototype of the system prior to implementation.
Theoretical and Computational Approaches to Biomolecular Structure

Computational techniques for exploring three-dimensional (3D) structures of nucleic acids and proteins are now well recognized as invaluable tools for revealing details of molecular conformation, motion, and associated biological function. Over a decade ago, the theoretical chemist Henry Schaefer declared: “It is clear that theoretical chemistry has entered a new stage ... with the goal of being no less than full partner with experiment”[520].
On the Subunit Structure of Yeast Inorganic Pyrophosphatase

Abstract Evidence based upon a variety of experimental approaches is in accord with the conclusion that native yeast inorganic pyrophosphatase (EC 3.6.1.1, pyrophosphate phosphohydrolase) comprises two identical subunits approximately 32,000 in molecular weight with threonine and valine the NH2- and COOH-terminal residues, respectively. Gel filtration of reduced and carboxymethylated pyrophosphatase on a column of 6% agarose in 6 m guanidine hydrochloride revealed a single protein component of molecular weight 33,000; a value of 35,500 was obtained after exhaustive succinylation of the alkylated enzyme. The molecular weight thus derived for S-carboxymethylated pyrophosphatase was in close agreement with the values calculated from polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate and amino acid compositional data which were, respectively, 33,000 and 30,250. Threonine was identified as the sole NH2-terminal residue by the dimethylaminonaphthalene-5-sulfonyl chloride end group procedure. Hydrolysis of alkylated pyrophosphatase by carboxypeptidase A was attended by the rapid release of COOH-terminal valine in quantities stoichiometric with the amount of monomeric protein present. Peptide maps of trypsin digests from S-carboxymethylated enzyme revealed a total of 30 peptides, five of which gave a positive test for arginine and three of which stained positively for tryptophan. These results are in accord with what would be expected on the basis of the lysine, arginine, and tryptophan content of the enzyme subunit. Finally, the partial sequence of NH2-terminal amino acid residues presented below was elucidated by Edman degradation with the aid of automated sequencing equipment. [see PDF for sequence] Yields of the phenylthiohydantoin amino acid derivatives obtained after each cycle of the degradative procedure were consistent with the quantity of monomeric protein subjected to analysis.
Thinking Machines: Some Fundamental Confusions

This paper explores Church‘s Thesis and related claims made by Turing. Church‘s Thesis concerns computable numerical functions, while Turing‘s claims concern both procedures for manipulating uninterpreted marks and machines that generate the results that these procedures would yield. It is argued that Turing‘s claims are true, and that they support (the truth of) Church‘s Thesis. It is further argued that the truth of Turing‘s and Church‘s Theses has no interesting consequences for human cognition or cognitive abilities. The Theses don‘t even mean that computers can do as much as people can when it comes to carrying out effective procedures. For carrying out a procedure is a purposive, intentional activity. No actual machine does, or can do, as much.
Biochemical and Genetic Evidence for Participation of DevR in a Phosphorelay Signal Transduction Pathway Essential for Heterocyst Maturation in Nostoc punctiforme ATCC 29133

In a test of the hypothesis that DevR is a response regulator protein that functions in a phosphorelay signal transduction system involved in heterocyst development in Nostoc punctiforme ATCC 29133, purified affinity-tagged DevR was shown to be phosphorylated in vitro by the noncognate sensor kinase EnvZ. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to generate N. punctiforme mutants with single amino acid substitutions at the putative phosphorylation site of DevR. These mutants exhibited a Fox− phenotype like the original devR insertion mutant UCD 311, consistent with a phosphotransferase role for DevR.
Purchasing Power Parity Over Two Centuries: Strengthening the Case for Real Exchange Rate Stability Reply to Cuddington and Liang

Cuddington and Liang (2000)[Purchasing Power parity over two centuries? Journal of International Money and Finance, 19, 751-755] examine the long span of sterling-dollar real exchange rate data of Lothian and Taylor (1996) [Real exchange rate behavior: the recent float from the perspective of the past two centuries. Journal of Political Economy, 104, 488-509] and claim to reject long-run purchasing power parity by fitting time trends or by considering very high-order autoregressive representations. This reply demonstrates, however, that the central claims of Lothian and Taylor are in fact strengthened by the implications of Cuddington and Liang's analysis in that, while the economic importance of introducing trend terms is slight, this leads to a faster estimated speed of mean reversion.
Chapter 4: Heteromultimeric Gap Junction Channels and Cardiac Disease

Publisher Summary In the myocardium and other excitable tissues, coordination of physiological responses is accomplished through the rapid transmission of action potentials from cell to cell. In the heart, coordinated contraction is necessary to make the heart work efficiently as a pump. Coordination cannot occur without the flow of local circuit currents through the groups of channels that form plaques in specialized membrane regions known as “gap junctions.” Together with voltage-activated channels, intercellular coupling through gap junctions integrates individual cellular activity within a tissue in a pattern directed by the type, location, and number of gap junction channels. If multiple connexins are expressed in the heart, the formation of heteromultimeric channels with distinct conductive and gating properties constitutes a new type of regulatory mechanism capable of modulating the dispersion of electrical activity through the myocardium. Although extracellular loops have been considered important in the formation of heterotypic channels, other regions of the proteins are also important.
Embedding Theoretical Models in Neural Networks

A novel method for incorporating constraints and default models into neural networks is presented. The method involves a parallel arrangement of a default model and a radial basis function network. The training procedure accounts for equality and inequality constraints that must be satisfied for all future inputs to the network. In the case of linear equality constraints and no inequality constraints, training is reduced to a quadratic problem possessing an analytical solution. The extrapolation properties of the model-based network are controllable to a greater extent than previous network models.
Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases regulate ERK and p38 MAP kinases in canine colonic smooth muscle

In canine colon, M2/M3 muscarinic receptors are coupled to extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases. We tested the hypothesis that this coupling i...
The roles of segmental and tandem gene duplication in the evolution of large gene families in Arabidopsis thaliana

Background Most genes in Arabidopsis thaliana are members of gene families. How do the members of gene families arise, and how are gene family copy numbers maintained? Some gene families may evolve primarily through tandem duplication and high rates of birth and death in clusters, and others through infrequent polyploidy or large-scale segmental duplications and subsequent losses.
Description of a New Species of Norion (Copepoda, Anthosomatidae) and a Redescription of the Type Species, N. Expansus Von Nordmann

Diese Arbeit enthalt eine detaillierte Beschreibung von Norion globosus n. sp. Auf Grund der Charakteristika der neuen Art wird die fruhere Gattungsdiagnose von Lewis (1964) modifiziert. Eine detaillierte Uberprufung eines weiblichen Individuums von N. expansus hat gezeigt, das die Beschreibung dieser Art durch Lewis in gewissem Umfang inakkurat war. N. expansus wird daher eingehend beschrieben. Es wird ein Bestimmungsschlussel fur alle bekannten, validen Gattungen der Familie Anthosomatidae vorgelegt.
Cytoplasmic Retraction of the Amino Terminus of Human Multidrug Resistance Protein 1

Human multidrug resistance protein 1 (MRP1) is a member of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transport superfamily which also includes human multidrug resistance 1 (MDR1) gene product P-glycoprotein (Pgp). Overexpression of MRP1 or Pgp causes multidrug resistance in cancer cells. Different from Pgp, MRP1 contains an extra membrane-spanning domain (MSD1) with a putative extracellular amino terminus in addition to the core structure of two MSDs and two NBDs (nucleotide-binding domains). The structural and functional significance of the additional MSD1 in MRP1 remains elusive. In this study, we generated an IgG1 subclass monoclonal antibody, IU2H10, specific to the amino terminus of human MRP1 and mapped its epitope to 10 amino acids (S8ADGSDPLWD17). It can be used for Western blot, immunoprecipitation, and indirect immunofluorescence studies of human MRP1. However, surprisingly we found that IU2H10 cannot react with MRP1 unless cells are permeabilized. Furthermore, the IU2H10 epitope is exposed extracellularly...
Amphetamines and human physical aggression

Abstract The effects of amphetamine on aggressive behavior were investigated in three separate studies. In Experiment 1, relatively low doses of amphetamine were administered. Aggressive behavior was not found to increase as a function of amphetamine dosage. In Experiment 2, a placebo group was added and relatively higher doses of amphetamine were administered. Once again, amphetamine did not influence aggressive responding. The final experiment represented a partial replication of Study 2 with the addition of a measure of arousal (systolic and diastolic blood pressure). The results indicated that while blood pressure increased significantly over the course of the experiment in the high-drug group, the high-dose subjects were not significantly more aggressive than the low-dose subjects. The findings suggest that amphetamines, in moderate, clinically appropriate doses do not facilitate aggressive responding.
Extraosseous Ewing's sarcoma. A study of 42 cases

Fifty patients at the Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN) from 1935 to 1985 met the histologic criteria for extraosseous Ewing's sarcoma. Forty-two had soft tissue primaries without bony involvement and formed the basis for this retrospective study of the clinical behavior and management of extraosseous Ewing's sarcoma. There were 19 male and 23 female patients (mean age, 22 years). Metastases were documented in 30 of the patients, six at the time of presentation and 24 occurring up to 11 years later, most commonly to lungs or bone. Three patients were lost to follow-up. Sixteen of 35 patients (46%) had local recurrence. Overall survival was 15 of 39 (38.5%) at 5 years. Decreased survival was noted with pelvic tumors, incomplete resections, and presence of metastatic disease, whereas increased survival was associated with wide surgical resection with negative microscopic margins, adjuvant local radiation therapy, and presentation since 1970 (48% 5-year survival compared with 28% before 1970).
A maximal definable σ-ideal over ω1

The existence of a maximal definable nontrivial σ-ideal over ω1 is equiconsistent with the existence of a measurable cardinal.
Assessing a role for enhancer‐blocking activity in gene regulation within the murine T‐cell receptor α/δ locus

Although situated close together within the T-cell receptor (TCR) alpha/delta locus, TCR delta and TCR alpha gene segments are controlled by two developmental stage-specific enhancers and are activated according to distinct developmental programmes. We previously used a stable transfection colony assay to identify an enhancer-blocking element, blocking element alpha/delta-1 (BEAD-1), between the TCR delta and alpha gene segments of the human TCR alpha/delta locus. We hypothesized that enhancer-blocking by BEAD-1 might be required to prevent the TCR delta enhancer from activating TCR alpha gene segment transcription and rearrangement at the double negative stage of thymocyte development. Here, we used a transfection approach to define partial enhancer-blocking activity in an analogous position of the murine TCR alpha/delta locus. To test the functional significance of this activity in vivo, we used gene targeting to delete the region from the endogenous locus. We found no perturbation of TCR delta and TCR alpha gene expression and rearrangement on targeted alleles, indicating that enhancer-blocking activity in this region is not required to maintain the developmentally distinct activation profiles of the two genes. We suggest that appropriate regulation may be achieved as a result of intrinsic biases in enhancer-promoter interactions or a developmental stage specificity to promoter function that is distinct from any additional specificity imposed by the enhancers themselves.
Characterization of robust immune symmetric boolean functions

Fix a field �� $\mathbb {F}$ . The algebraic immunity over �� $\mathbb {F}$ of boolean function f : {0, 1} n � {0, 1} is defined as the minimal degree of a nontrivial (multilinear) polynomial g ( x ) � �� [ x 1 , � , x n ] $g(x) \in \mathbb {F}[x_{1}, \ldots , x_{n}]$ such that f(x) is a constant (either 0 or 1) for all x � {0, 1} n satisfying g(x) = 0. Function f is called k r o b u s t i m m u n e if the algebraic immunity of f is always not less than k no matter how one changes the value of f(x) for k ≤ |x| ≤ n � k. For any field �� $\mathbb {F}$ , any integers n, k � 0, we characterize all k robust immune symmetric boolean functions in n variables. The proof is based on a known symmetrization technique and constructing a partition of nonnegative integers satisfying certain (in)equalities about p-adic distance, where p is the characteristic of the field �� $\mathbb {F}$ .
Patients who talk and deteriorate

Patients who "talk and deteriorate" are defined as those who utter recognizable words at some time after head injury and then deteriorate to a severe head-injured condition (Glasgow Coma Scale score of 8 or less) within 48 hours of injury. They represent a very small but important subgroup of patients with brain injury. In approximately 75% of these patients, the cause of this deterioration is intracranial hematoma. Despite the fact that talking indicates nonlethal impact brain injury, deterioration is a marker of poor prognosis. Outcome depends on early recognition of deterioration and rapid removal of mass lesions. The challenge for emergency physicians is to distinguish patients at risk for deterioration from the many patients evaluated after head injury.
Built-in generation of multicycle functional broadside tests with observation points

Functional broadside tests allow overtesting to be avoided as part of a scheme that considers both test generation and the analysis of output responses, by ensuring that delay faults are detected under functional operation conditions. Compared with two-cycle tests, multicycle tests allow more faults to be detected with each test, thus reducing the number of tests that need to be applied. They also provide an opportunity for nonfunctional electrical effects, which are caused by switching between modes of operation, to subside before the clock cycles where delay faults are detected. Built-in test generation facilitates at-speed testing and reduces the test data volume. Motivated by these observations, this article describes the modification of a built-in test generation method for two-cycle functional broadside tests so as to generate multicycle functional broadside tests. The size of the hardware is not increased by the modification. The article investigates the following issues related to this method: (1) the effect of using multicycle tests on the number of tests that need to be applied; (2) fault simulation for tailoring the test generation hardware to a circuit that takes into account, to different extents, the need to allow nonfunctional electrical effects to subside; (3) the insertion of observation points in order to increase the transition fault coverage.
Rev-binding aptamer and CMV promoter act as decoys to inhibit HIV replication.

We examined whether the antiviral effect of an HIV-1 Rev-binding aptamer [RBE(apt)] could be enhanced by a ribozyme directed against the HIV-1 env gene, and whether the antiviral activity was affected by different promoters. The efficacy of the aptamer and ribozyme DNAs was tested in HeLa cells co-transfected with the HIV-1 proviral clones, HXBDeltaBgl or pNL4-3, using transferrin-lipoplexes. The RBE(apt) and anti-env ribozyme genes were inserted into the pTZU6+27 plasmid, or constructed under the control of the human cytomegalovirus (CMV) or Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) promoters. The parental vector plasmids were used as controls. Co-transfection of the pTZU6+27 RBE(apt) plasmid with HXBDeltaBgl, or pNL4-3, at a weight ratio of 5:1, inhibited p24 production by 70 and 45%, respectively. The RSV RBE(apt) plasmid co-transfected with either HIV clone, at the same weight ratio, reduced viral production by 88%. The addition of the anti-env ribozyme to the RSV RBE(apt) did not enhance its antiviral activity. When the constructs were under the control of the CMV promoter, the expression of the HIV plasmids was very low and was independent of the presence of the RBE(apt). Thus, the effect of the RBE(apt) was strongly dependent on the promoter of the tested construct. The anti-HIV activity of the CMV RBE(apt) construct was non-specific, because co-transfection with either pCMV. SPORT-betagal or pCMVlacZ significantly suppressed HIV production from the HIV proviral clones. The reduction in p24 could not be attributed to the non-specific toxicity of the transfection procedure. Transfection of acutely HIV-infected HeLa-CD4 cells with pCMV.SPORT-betagal reduced the p24 level by 35%, while the expression of the U6 RBE(apt) did not affect p24 production. The suppression of HIV production from the HIV proviral clones by the CMV promoter constructs in the co-transfection assays may be explained by competition for transcription factors (TFs) between HIV and CMV promoters. This observation points to the potential for misleading results in co-transfections involving CMV constructs and HIV.
Discriminative stimulus properties of pentylenetetrazol and bemegride: Some generalization and antagonism tests

In an operant procedure of lever pressing on a FR 10 schedule of food reinforcement, male hooded rats were trained to respond with a lever on one side of a food cup following a drug injection, and to respond with a lever on the alternate side following a 1ml/kg saline injection. All of 14 subjects learned to discriminate reliably between the effects of 20 mg/kg pentylene-tetrazol (PTZ) and saline. Seven of eight rats learned to discriminate between the effects of bemegride (5 mg/kg) and saline. None of 14 rats learned to discriminate between 5 mg/kg PTZ and saline. The bemegride discriminative stimulus generalized to PTZ (20 mg/kg) and was antagonized by chlordiazepoxide (10 mg/kg). Chlordiazepoxide, diazepam, flurazepam, clobazam, and meprobamate were all effective antagonists of PTZ in a dose-dependent manner. Bemegride and cocaine generalized to the PTZ discriminative stimulus in a dose-dependent manner, but d-amphetamine, methylphenidate, and nicotine did not. Since bemegride and PTZ are convulsants at higher doses, the discriminative stimulus properties of these drugs might be based on a subtle convulsive brain state. The anxiolytic properties of benzodiazepines and meprobamate suggest that the discriminative stimulus produced by these convulsants is related to an “anxiety-inducing” action.
Tobacco Barns and Chicken Houses: Agricultural Transformation in Western Kentucky

Tobacco is Kentucky's principal cash crop and integral to its economy, history, and culture. As tobacco came under increasing attack in the 1990s, the poultry industry eagerly expanded into the state. Absent in 1990, by 1998 Kentucky was home to four large chicken processing plants and some 2,000 breeder, pullet, and broiler houses that supply them. The Tobacco Belt and the Corn Belt meet in western Kentucky's Webster County, where 227 chicken houses were built between 1995 and 1998. In 1998, the author returned to Webster County to study his birthplace at this time of rapid and profound change in its agricultural economy and way of life.
Evidence-Based Medicine Is Not For Kids † 1913

Parents, payors and preceptors demand proof for what we do, but current, best evidence of efficacy for diagnostic and therapeutic manuevers is hard to come by. New reports appear daily - by the tens of thousands each year - but the busy clinician has little time, and often too few skills to evaluate them critically. A journal is now published by the American College of Physicians whose title [Evidence-Based Medicine(EBM)], editors [Haynes & Sackett], and statement of purpose [Vol 1,p 2] have promised valuable help by providing critical reviews with special focus on practical applications. We examined EBM's content for evidence of a selection bias against pediatric journals and pediatric content during its first year of publication. EBM abstracted and analyzed in detail 143 original articles from 35 peer-reviewed journals from 11/95 to 10/96. Of these, 98 [68.5%] were from 12 General-Medical [GM], 15[10.5%] from 8 Subspecialty-Medical [SM], 22 [15.4%] from 12 Other-Specialty[OS] and 8 [5.6%] from 3 Pediatric [P] journals. EBM abstracted another 7 articles on pediatric subjects,all from GM journals. Thus, < 6% of EBM abstracts were from P journals while almost half [7/15] of citations concerning pediatric topics were from GM journals. A total 17,558 original articles were published in the 35 journals reviewed by EBM as a source for their abstracts. Articles from the GM journals were three-times more likely to be abstracted and presented in detail [98/5,785 or 16.9/1,000] than those from the P journals [8/1,235 or 6.4/1,000; χ2=9.025, p=<0.005. This negative bias was equally evident for work from OS [22/5,488 or 4.0/1,000] and even from SM journals [15/5,050 or 3.0/1,000]. This bias was not explained by the proportion of clinical trials [CT], meta-analyses [MT], or practice guidelines [PG] between journals. The proportion [CT+MA+PG/total original articles] for the GM journals [738/5,785 or 12.8%] was similar to that for the OS [750/5,488 or 13.7%] and for the SM journals [700/5,050 or 13.9%]. In fact, the proportion was significantly higher for the P journals [230/1,235 or 18.6%; χ2=28.971, p<0.001. Yet, EBM abstracted articles four-times more commonly from GM [98/738 or 132.8/1,000 CT+MA+PG] than from P journals [8/230 or 34.8/1,000 CT+MA+PG; χ2=18.293, p<0.001]. Once again, this negative bias was also evident for work from the OS [22/750 or 29.3/1,000] and from the SM journals [15/700 or 21.4/1,000]. In summary, it is clear from these findings that the [unstated] purpose of EBM is to aid clinicians who engage in general medical practice. Those who practice other forms of primary care, specialty, or subspecialty medicine must look elsewhere for help.
Efficient parallel algorithms for molecular dynamics simulations using variable charge transfer electrostatic potentials

We present an algorithm developed for the efficient computation on parallel computers of molecular dynamics simulations of materials with electrostatic potentials that allow for dynamic charge evolution. This algorithm combines a hierarchical cell multipole method for the fast evaluation of the electrostatic potential with a Broyden–Fletcher–Goldfarb–Shanno scheme for approximate solutions to arbitrary precision of the electronegativity equalization condition, which defines charge transfer in the material. We apply this algorithm to the simulation of a model α-alumina slab at equilibrium. First, we demonstrate that simple fixed-charge models yield different bulk energies than do dynamic-charge models. Second, we compare our algorithm with two previously published techniques for the simulation of dynamic charges in electrostatic materials, discussing both computational speed and numerical accuracy. We show the relative computational speed-up of this scheme over a direct evaluation of the linear equations, and show that intrinsic flaws in other approximate dynamic-charge schemes can be avoided with this approach. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 80: 733–742, 2000
Six new melampolides from Tetragonotheca helianthoides

Abstract Chemical analysis of Tetragonotheca helianthoides L. yielded six new melampolide-type sesquiterpene lactones, tetrahelins A–F. All new compounds have the same medium ring skeleton and differ by the ester moieties at C-8 and C-9. Tetrahelin A and B contain the side chain 2-methyl-2,3-diacetoxybutanoate and tetrahelin E 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutanoate. Both ester side chains have previously not been found in sesquiterpene lactones.
Capturing strain localization behind a geosynthetic‐reinforced soil wall

This paper presents the results of finite element (FE) analyses of shear strain localization that occurred in cohesionless soils supported by a geosynthetic-reinforced retaining wall. The innovative aspects of the analyses include capturing of the localized deformation and the accompanying collapse mechanism using a recently developed embedded strong discontinuity model. The case study analysed, reported in previous publications, consists of a 3.5-m tall, full-scale reinforced wall model deforming in plane strain and loaded by surcharge at the surface to failure. Results of the analysis suggest strain localization developing from the toe of the wall and propagating upward to the ground surface, forming a curved failure surface. This is in agreement with a well-documented failure mechanism experienced by the physical wall model showing internal failure surfaces developing behind the wall as a result of the surface loading. Important features of the analyses include mesh sensitivity studies and a comparison of the localization properties predicted by different pre-localization constitutive models, including a family of three-invariant elastoplastic constitutive models appropriate for frictional/dilatant materials. Results of the analysis demonstrate the potential of the enhanced FE method for capturing a collapse mechanism characterized by the presence of a failure, or slip, surface through earthen materials. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Bright light therapy of subsyndromal seasonal affective disorder in the workplace: morning vs. afternoon exposure.

Objective: Bright light therapy in seasonal affective disorder (SAD) has been studied extensively. However, little attention has been given to subsyndromal seasonal affective disorder (SSAD) or the use of bright light in the workplace. Many patients using bright light boxes complain of the inconvenience of use. Much of this inconvenience involves the often-recommended early timing of the bright light therapy. Patients, who already have difficulty awakening, often have difficulty using the bright light therapy soon after awakening before going to work. If bright light could be used effectively in the workplace, the treatment would be more convenient; the improved convenience would probably improve compliance. In this study, we studied the effectiveness of bright light therapy in subjects with SSAD in the workplace, comparing morning bright light with afternoon bright light. Method: Morning and afternoon bright light treatment (2500 lux) were compared in 30 subsyndromal seasonal affective disorder patients using the bright light therapy in the workplace. Hamilton Depression Ratings and subjective measures of mood, energy, alertness and productivity were assessed before and after 2 weeks of light therapy. Results: Both morning and evening bright light significantly decreased the depression ratings and improved the subjective mood, energy, alertness and productivity scores. However, there were no significant differences between the two times of administration of the bright light treatment. Both bright light treatments were well tolerated. Conclusion: Bright light given in the workplace improves subjective ratings of mood, energy, alertness and productivity in SSAD subjects. Morning and afternoon bright lights resulted in similar levels of improvement.
Sexual differences and steroid-induced changes in metabolic activity in toadfish sonic muscle

Since the male oyster toadfish (Opsanus tau) is more active in sound production than the female, we hypothesized that sonic muscles of the male are biochemically specialized to perform more work. In order to categorize the muscle biochemically and test for sexual differences, we measured the activity of two anaerobic enzymes, 3-phosphoglyceraldehyde dehydrogenase (3PG) and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), and two aerobic enzymes, malate dehydrogenase (MDH) and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT). Males exhibited greater 3PG and GOT activity than females (p less than 0.05). Both MDH and LDH showed little activity in either sex. High 3PG and low LDH levels indicate a sustained level of glycolysis, with pyruvate shuttled into aerobic metabolism, and high GOT activity indicates a high level of aerobic metabolism. From this and other data, we conclude that toadfish sonic muscle can be classified as fast-twitch oxidative glycolytic or fast-twitch fatigue resistant. The endocrine basis for these sexual differences was examined by implanting steroid pellets into ovariectomized females. Testosterone induced a doubling of 3PG activity (p less than 0.02), and dihydrotestosterone induced an eight-fold increase (p less than 0.0005) in GOT concentration over controls. The steroids had no effect on LDH and MDH activities. Hormones, therefore, trigger one of the fundamental sexual differences underlying toadfish communication, namely a difference in metabolism, providing the male with the capacity for increased sound production.
Sleep dysfunction in women and its management.

Women generally have more complaints about sleep, compared with men of the same age. At various stages of reproduction, the reasons for these complaints become rather obvious—menstrual cramps and discomfort, pregnancy and postpartum factors, and menopausal hot flashes can fragment sleep. In addition, there are lifestyle factors, such as going to bed late and getting up early in order to attend to various family responsibilities, restricting the time allowed for sleep. Factors outside a woman’s control, such as caregiving for sick family members during the night, can also result in disrupted sleep patterns, with little opportunity to make up for the lost sleep on weekends or days off. This article discusses the types of insomnia commonly experienced by women during key reproductive stages of life and proposes gender-specific assessment and management strategies. Pharmacologic management of sleep problems is useful for brief episodes of insomnia, but not usually desirable during pregnancy and lactation, or for management of chronic insomnia. For most women, regardless of reproductive stage, nonpharmacologic strategies that involve behavioral therapies, or short-term focused use of hypnotics at key time points, are more effective for quality of life than is long-term use of pharmacologic interventions.
TOWARD UNDERSTANDING THE CONTENTS OF THE “BLACK BOX” FOR PREDICTING COMPLEX DECISION‐MAKING OUTCOMES

The purpose of this research is to show the usefulness of three relatively simple nonlinear classification techniques for policy-capturing research where linear models have typically been used. This study uses 480 cases to assess the decision-making process used by 24 experienced national bank examiners in classifying commercial loans as acceptable or questionable. The results from multiple discriminant analysis (a linear technique) are compared to those of chi-squared automatic interaction detector analysis (a search technique), log-linear analysis, and logit analysis. Results show that while the four techniques are equally accurate in predicting loan classification, chi-squared automatic interaction detector analysis (CHAID) and log-linear analysis enable the researcher to analyze the decision-making structure and examine the “human” variable within the decision-making process. Consequently, if the sole purpose of research is to predict the decision maker's decisions, then any one of the four techniques turns out to be equally useful. If, however, the purpose is to analyze the decision-making process as well as to predict decisions, then CHAID or log-linear techniques are more useful than linear model techniques.
Comparative studies of glutamine transaminases from rat tissues

Abstract 1. 1. There are at least three separate forms of glutamine transaminase in rat tissues: (a) The soluble L-form, whose major substrates include glutamine, methionine, α-keto-γ-methiolbutyrate, α-ketoglutaramate, β-mercaptopyruvate and glyoxylate. (b) The soluble K-form, whose major substrates include glutamine, phenylalanine, methionine and the corresponding α-keto acids. (c) The mitochondrial K-form which differs from the soluble K-form with respect to certain physical properties. 2. 2. Convinient specific assay procedures that distinguish between the L- and K-forms of the enzyme have been devised. Thus, the substrate pair L-albizziin and glyoxylate is virtually specific for the L-form, whereas l -phenylalanine and α-keto-γ-methiolbutyrate may be used for the selective determination of glutamine transaminase K. 3. 3. Recently, a number of transaminase activities has been described which have now been shown to be identical to glutamine transaminase K by application of specific assay methods and other procedures. 4. 4. This report provides a summary of the catalytic and physical properties of the glutamine transaminases and their distribution in rat brain, liver, and kidney. 5. 5. Although the glutamine transaminases interact with a number of amino acids and their α-keto analogs, the major physiological function of the enzymes appears to be associated with utilization of glutamine and the amination of α-keto acids. 6. 6. These enzymes therefore appear to play a role in the homoestatic metabolic mechanism for the preservation of amino acid balance in which glutamine, a dietary non-essential amino acid, functions to maintain the tissue levels of amino acids and to prevent loss of essential amino acid carbon chains.
Youth at the nexus: ideology in HIV prevention in Nairobi, Kenya

In the fight against HIV/AIDS, the Behavior Change Communication (BCC) model stands as international best practice in preventive education. Ideally, a BCC intervention aims to changes behaviors and attitudes by facilitating group negotiation and introspection, with a resultant improvement in health. However, introducing this best practice model to a group of youth in Nairobi resulted in suboptimal outcomes: they were unaccustomed to expressing themselves in the ways prescribed by the class. To explain this failure, I examine how local discourses produced by parents and teachers communicate agency, sexuality and health, and highlight the diverging practices invoked at home, school and by the BCC model to make these youth ‘health conscious’. At home and at school, the key commonality was the absence of any attempt to inculcate internal reasoning – in contrast to the BCC model. Rather, they relied on external pressures, through repetition, silence and behavioral discipline. Both local prevention schemes oper...