cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Contradictory Reforms: When NCLB Undermines Charter School Innovation.

The article discusses how instead of being parts of a concerted educational reform effort, No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and the development of charter schools are in fact contradictory initiatives. Basing itself on a theoretical framework that brings together issues inherent to outcome-based school reform and arguments supporting and criticizing both NCLB and charter schools, the article examines the case of a specific charter school whose program was significantly altered due to pressures imposed by NCLB. School reports, plans, programmatic descriptions, and other documents are reviewed to examine how the school responded over a three-year period to low test scores that may or may not have been a reflection of instructional quality and how NCLB requirements eventually led it to move far away from its original reform-minded mission. Implications regarding how NCLB can undermine the innovative possibilities of charter schools are discussed.
Study on Virtual Experiment Platform of Computer Network

The paper aims at studying how to design and develop a virtual experiment platform, and solving the difficulties of the course experiment project for Computer Network. By creating actual 3D scene and instruments, abundant human-machine interaction, humanistic experiment tips and intellective inquiring strategies, make the students have a feeling of reality, meanwhile, they can explore freely in the experiment platform and seek the means of analyzing and solving problems, which will be a powerful accessorial platform during the course learning for computer network.
Understanding the dynamics of cellular responsiveness to modifications of metabolic substrates in perifusion

A novel microperifusion system with capabilities for continuous, real-time, potentiometric monitoring of extracellular hydrogen ion concentration has been used to define the response of HeLa cells to abrupt changes in extracellular energy sources or introduction of an inhibitor of glycolysis. Glycolytic inhibition, induced by removal of glucose or introduction of iodoacetate, each led to a rapid, continuous decrease in acid release. The response to iodoacetate took longer than removal of glucose, perhaps due to the time required for binding and activation. Once inhibition began, however, the rate of change was greater than following glucose removal. Conversely, recovery time following iodoacetate inhibition was much slower than with glucose removal. Unlike the response to short-term glucose depletion, a second pulse of iodoacetate resulted in a faster response followed by an even longer recovery time. The response to switching between glucose and glutamine began almost without evident delay. The response patterns revealed that HeLa cells prefer glutamine to glucose, but, in the presence of both energy sources, some glucose continues to be used. In summary, these results indicate that continuous, real-time monitoring of the kinetics of hydrogen-ion release can be used to gain new insights into the dynamics of cellular response to perturbations of extracellular energy sources. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The Intelligent Island: Using COTS Equipment to Monitor an Island

There are many inexpensive and capable monitoring and information gathering systems available today. They can collect video, sense motion, monitor temperature and humidity, along with a variety of other quantities. This monitoring can be used both for security purposes and for environmental monitoring and control. Security is a serious concern these days, but it is essentially an overhead cost that adds nothing to the bottom line of most enterprises. Environmental monitoring can result in significant cost reduction that can justify the cost of the system. Providing a system that does both permits cost recovery to pay for part of the system. One problem is that many cost effective systems have limited communication capabilities and even when they can communicate they often do not communicate with one another. In addition, there are often legacy systems that represent a substantial investment, but which are isolated by their inability to communicate. In this paper, we present a progress report on the Intelligent Islandtrade Project. The goal here is to monitor Ayers Island, a 60 acre island located in Orono Maine. Ayers Island features an old mill building with 360,000 square feet of space along with several other outbuildings including a Civil War era barn. We show how we have been able to environmentally monitor the buildings and to detect potentially malicious activity as comprehensively and inexpensively as possible. The system also provides useful information to fire fighters and other first responders in an emergency.
A Global History of Doping in Sport: Drugs, Nationalism and Politics

The philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein admonished his fellow philosophers, saying ‘Don't think, but look!’1 Wittgenstein protested his field's desire to overly theoritise in lieu of actually going out...
A Small Ubiquitin-Related Polypeptide Involved in Targeting RanGAP1 to Nuclear Pore Complex Protein RanBP2

We have found that the mammalian Ran GTPase-activating protein RanGAP1 is highly concentrated at the cytoplasmic periphery of the nuclear pore complex (NPC), where it associates with the 358-kDa Ran-GTP-binding protein RanBP2. This interaction requires the ATP-dependent posttranslational conjugation of RanGAP1 with SUMO-1 (for small ubiquitin-related modifier), a novel protein of 101 amino acids that contains low but significant homology to ubiquitin. SUMO-1 appears to represent the prototype for a novel family of ubiquitin-related protein modifiers. Inhibition of nuclear protein import resulting from antibodies directed at NPC-associated RanGAP1 cannot be overcome by soluble cytosolic RanGAP1, indicating that GTP hydrolysis by Ran at RanBP2 is required for nuclear protein import.
Plasma interactions in the Space Shuttle Orbiter environment

Attempts to measure the ambient ionospheric plasma environment in the vicinity of the payload bay of the Space Shuttle Orbiter have shown that the plasma is quite different, in a variety of characteristics, from the ionospheric plasma at low earth orbit altitudes. It appears that the large size, complex geometry and various outgassing characteristics of a typical Orbiter payload can all contribute to modifications of the plasma environment of the Space Shuttle Orbiter. The measurements indicate that the plasma is often quite turbulent and contains populations more energetic than the ambient ionospheric plasma. Pronounced wake and ram effects have been observed, and at times the data can be interpreted as plasma number density enhancements of an order of magnitude or greater over the ambient, undisturbed plasma concentration. There is evidence that this enhanced plasma concentration contains molecular ions, not occurring naturally at low earth orbit altitudes. In addition to describing the observations, the electrodynamics of enhanced Orbiter-generated plasma and its possible impact on optical measurements from the Space Shuttle Orbiter will be discussed.
Transport of Strontium-90 in Runoff

Only a small portion of the strontium-90 that fell on cultivated soils was removed in runoff. The concentration of strontium-90 was usually about 10 times higher in the soil carried by the runoff than in the soil from the plow layer of the plots. Thus, a considerable concentration of Sr90 could occur in areas where runoff sediments accumulate.
Is the "perfect Fontan" operation routinely achievable in the modern era?

ObjectiveIn 1990, Fontan, Kirklin, and colleagues published equations for survival after the so-called “Perfect Fontan” operation. After 1988, we evolved a protocol using an internal or external polytetraflouroethylene tube of 16 to 19 millimetres diameter placed from the inferior caval vein to either the right or left pulmonary artery along with a bidirectional cava-pulmonary connection. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that a “perfect” outcome is routinely achievable in the current era when using a standardized surgical procedure.MethodsBetween 1 January, 1988, and 12 December, 2005, 112 patients underwent the Fontan procedure using an internal or external polytetraflouroethylene tube plus a bidirectional cava-pulmonary connection, the latter usually having been constructed as a previous procedure. This constituted 45% of our overall experience in constructing the Fontan circulation between 1988 and 1996, and 96% of the experience between 1996 and 2005. Among all surviving patients, the median follow-up was 7.3 years. We calculated the expected survival for an optimal candidate, given from the initial equations, and compared this to our entire experience in constructing the Fontan circulation.ResultsAn internal tube was utilized in 61 patients, 97% of whom were operated prior to 1998, and an external tube in 51 patients, the latter accounting for 95% of all operations since 1999. At 1, 5, 10 and 15 years, survival of the entire cohort receiving polytetraflouroethylene tubes is superimposable on the curve calculated for a “perfect” outcome. Freedom from replacement or revision of the tube was 97% at 10 years.ConclusionUsing a standardized operative procedure, combining a bidirectional cavopulmonary connection with a polytetraflouroethylene tube placed from the inferior caval vein to the pulmonary arteries for nearly all patients with functionally univentricular hearts, early and late survival within the “perfect” outcome as predicted by the initial equations of Fontan and Kirklin is routinely achievable in the current era. The need for late revision or replacement of the tube is rare.
Use of spatial statistics and isotopic tracers to measure the influence of arsenical pesticide use on stream sediment chemistry in New England, USA

Abstract Arsenical pesticides and herbicides, principally Pb arsenate, Ca arsenate, and Na arsenate with lesser use of other metal-As pesticides, were widely applied on apple, blueberry, and potato crops in New England during the first half of the twentieth century. Agricultural census data for this time period is used to define an agricultural index that identifies areas that are inferred to have used arsenical pesticides extensively. Factor analysis on metal concentrations in 1597 stream sediment samples collected throughout New England, grouped by agricultural-index categories, indicate a positive association of areas with stream sediment sample populations that contain higher As and Pb concentrations than samples from the region as a whole with sample site settings having high agricultural-index values. Population statistics for As and Pb concentrations and factor scores for an As–Pb factor all increase systematically and significantly with increasing agricultural-index intensity in the region, as tested by Kruskal–Wallis analysis. Lead isotope compositions for 16 stream sediments from a range of agricultural-index settings generally overlap the observed variation in rock sulfides and their weathering products; however, sediments collected from high agricultural-index settings have slightly more radiogenic Pb compositions, consistent with an industrial Pb contribution to these samples. Although weathering products from rocks are likely to be the dominant source of As and metals to most of the stream sediment samples collected in the region, the widespread use of arsenical pesticides and herbicides in New England during the early 1900–1960s appears to be a significant anthropogenic source of As and metals to many sediments in agricultural areas in the region and has raised background levels of As in some regions. Elevated concentrations of As in stream sediments are of concern for two reasons. Stream sediments with elevated As concentrations delineate areas with elevated background concentrations of As from both natural rock and anthropogenic sources that may contribute As to groundwater systems used for drinking water supplies. Conversion of agricultural land contaminated with arsenical pesticide residues to residential development may increase the likelihood that humans will be exposed to As. In addition, many stream sediment sites have As concentrations that exceed sediment quality guidelines established for freshwater ecosystems. Thirteen percent of the New England sediment sample sites exceed 9.79 mg/kg As, the threshold effects concentration (TEC), below which harmful effects are unlikely to be observed. Arsenic concentrations exceed 33 mg/kg, the probable effects concentration (PEC), above which harmful effects on sediment-dwelling organisms are expected to occur frequently, at 1.25% of the sediment sample sites. The sample sites that exceed the PEC value occur predominately in agricultural areas that used arsenical pesticides.
Characterization of Acinetobacter baumannii genotypes recovered from patients with repeated colonization or infection

Acinetobacter baumannii has become an important nosocomial pathogen associated with increasing prevalence of multidrug resistance. Effective strategies to prevent emerging and spreading multidrug-resistant A. baumannii have not been well developed because of limited understanding of the organism epidemiology. The aim of this study was to determine if infection/colonization with A. baumannii after the initial isolation of the organism was due to the persistence of identical strain in patients with repeated positive clinical cultures. Forty-one patients with two or more clinical isolations of A. baumannii separated by at least 30 days were identified. The genotype of the first isolate from each patient was compared with the pulsed-field gel electrophoresis types of subsequent isolates of the same patient. Persistence of a single strain was detected in 51% patients. In the remaining 49% patients, subsequent isolates were not identical to the first isolate. Patients with isolates initially identified as carbapenem (imipenem or meropenem) resistant were 5.2 times more likely to have closely related isolates obtained for all subsequent cultures than patients with initial carbapenem-intermediate or carbapenem-susceptible isolates.
Salivary protein and solCD44 levels as a potential screening tool for early detection of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Background Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a devastating disease usually diagnosed at a late stage when cure rates are 40%. We examined a simple and inexpensive molecular tool that may aid HNSCC detection. Methods Building on prior findings that total protein levels are elevated in 102 HNSCC cases versus 84 control subjects, we further analyzed these levels with respect to important risk and demographic variables and compared the results to soluble CD44 (solCD44). Using multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARSs)-logit modeling and logistic regression, we determined whether total protein, solCD44, or the combination best identifies HNSCC. Results Combined higher levels of solCD44 and protein were significantly associated with HNSCC (odds ratio [OR] = 24.90; 95% confidence interval [CI], 9.04–68.57; area under the curve [AUC] = 0.786). A model including protein plus solCD44 resulted in a better area (AUC 0.796) than either marker alone. Conclusion Oral rinse levels of solCD44 and protein seem to hold promise for detection of HNSCC. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2012
Lithium regulates the expression of dense core vesicle proteins

Abstract This review highlights our recent investigations of cellular and molecular targets that may contribute to the beneficial actions of lithium (Li) salts in the treatment of bipolar disorders. Our studies are guided by several considerations, which we propose are central to the task of understanding Li's role in psychotherapy. First, therapeutic concentrations of Li in serum are generally between 0.5–1.5 mM and must be kept in this range for effective prophylaxis. Second, toxicity is a common problem with Li therapy, and can lead patients to seek alternative medications. Third, the anti-manic effects of Li are not observed acutely, rather they develop over 1–2 weeks (implying that adaptive responses to Li may be important for its overall action). Fourth, because Li stabilizes aspects of mood and behavior, we infer that Li directly or indirectly modulates the activity of neurons that regulate these complex traits. These considerations are discussed in the context of our observation that Li influences the expression of dense core vesicle proteins in two model systems.
Targeted intervention improves knowledge but not self-care or readmissions in heart failure patients with mild cognitive impairment.

Aims Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is prevalent in heart failure, and can contribute to poor self-care and higher hospital readmissions. Strategies to improve self-care in patients with MCI have not been studied. This randomized controlled trial aimed to test the effect of a targeted intervention on self-care, heart failure knowledge, and 30-day readmissions. Methods and results The study included 125 patients hospitalized for exacerbation of heart failure who screened positive for MCI. The treatment group received a targeted self-care teaching intervention using principles of cognitive training. Self-care, heart failure knowledge, depression, and social support were assessed at baseline and 30 days post-discharge. Mean heart failure knowledge scores improved significantly in the intervention group, but decreased in the control group (P < 0.001). When controlling for other variables, patients in the intervention group showed a greater increase in heart failure knowledge than patients in the control group (P = 0.027). Black race was significantly associated with lower heart failure knowledge scores (P = 0.030). Mean change scores for self-care showed greater improvement in the intervention group when compared with the control group; however, this was not statistically significant. There was no difference in readmission rates between the groups. Conclusion It is feasible to conduct a randomized controlled trial in patients with MCI. Patients in the treatment group had greater heart failure knowledge at 30 days post-discharge; however, this did not impact readmission rates. Further research is needed to describe how MCI affects self-care and knowledge, and how race and other factors may influence outcomes in this population.
A visualization system for mineral elasticity

The authors have developed an efficient visualization system to gain insight into large collections of mineral elasticity data produced by an increasing number of both theoretical calculations and experiments. The system allows us to visualize multivariate elastic moduli (i.e., elastic constant tensors) and their variation with composition, pressure and temperature. Moreover, it supports visualization of elastic wave propagation in an anisotropic medium by rendering the wave velocity data, which are calculated as a function of propagation direction in a three-dimensional space. This paper describes the design, implementation and application of the visualization scheme we have developed for mineral elasticity. In particular, our scheme exploits a combination of parallel coordinates, star plot, scatter plot and polygon-surface rendering techniques, which are implemented using OpenGL, GLUI and C++. The result is a highly portable and flexible interactive visualization system. For illustration, the elastic properties of several important oxide and silicate minerals are successfully visualized as a function of pressure and temperature.
Mutually divisible semigroups

There exist mutually divisible monisomorphic semigroups. A simple proof of this fact is given. Also, countable semigroups which are divisible by every countable semigroup are characterized.
Tight-junctional modification as the basis of osmotic opening of the blood-brain barrier.

Osmotic opening of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) most likely is mediated by modification of interendothelial tight junctions, subsequent to shrinkage of cerebrovascular endothelial cells, and not by stimulation of transendothelial vesicular transport or by channel formation. This paper summarizes evidence for this conclusion: osmotic BBB opening is mediated by endothelial cell shrinkage, electron microscopy, with single or serial thin sections, demonstrates penetration of intravascular tracer into brain via tight junctional complexes, the BBB remains open after the brain is fixed, osmotic BBB opening is rapidly reversible, and is insensitive to phenothiazines, and BBB closure following osmotic treatment is size-dependent, indicative of a sieve (pore) mechanism with bulk flow. The entire mechanism of vesicular transport in normal tissue is, furthermore, in doubt, because vesicles that are found in tissue layers connected by tight junctions (e.g., frog nerve perineurium and capillary endoneurium) do not support macromolecular transport.
Target ranging using passive sensing approaches

An integrated approach to extract depth, efficiently and accurately, from a sequence of images is presented in this paper. The method combines the ability of the stereo processing to acquire highly accurate depth measurements and the efficiency of the spatial and temporal gradient analysis. As a result of this integration, depth measurements of high quality are obtained at speed approximately ten-times higher than that of the stereo processing. Without any a priori information of the locations of the points in the scene, the correspondence problem in the stereo processing is computationally expensive. In our approach, we use the spatial and temporal gradient analysis, which has been shown to provide depth with high efficiency but limited accuracy, to guide the matching process of stereo. Extensive experiments on real- scenes have shown the ability to acquire depth with mean error of less than 3 percent.
Generation and analysis of Lyapunov exponents for the buckled beam

Abstract In this paper, Lyapunov exponents are calculated for the one, two, three and four mode modal projections of the partial differential equation governing the buckled beam. The projection used was taken from a previous paper by Tang and Dowell [1]. Issues such as modal convergence and convergence of the values of the Lyapunov exponents are examined. Finally, the numerical values are compared to experimental values calculated from time series taken from an experimental apparatus also previously used in Tang and Dowell [1]. Power spectra calculated from the experimental time series are also compared with power spectra calculated from theoretical time histories. Conjectures concerning use of the Lyapunov dimension as an estimate of number of required modes are also advanced.
Choline metabolism as a basis for the selective vulnerability of cholinergic neurons

The unique propensity of cholinergic neurons to use choline for two purposes--ACh and membrane phosphatidylcholine synthesis--may contribute to their selective vulnerability in Alzheimer's disease and other cholinergic neurodegenerative disorders. When physiologically active, the neurons use free choline taken from the 'reservoir' in membrane phosphatidylcholine to synthesize ACh; this can lead to an actual decrease in the quantity of membrane per cell. Alzheimer's disease (but not Down's syndrome, or other neurodegenerative disorders) is associated with characteristic neurochemical lesions involving choline and ethanolamine: brain levels of these compounds are diminished, while those of glycerophosphocholine and glycerophosphoethanolamine (breakdown products of their respective membrane phosphatides) are increased, both in cholinergic and noncholinergic brain regions. Perhaps this metabolic disturbance and the tendency of cholinergic neurons to 'export' choline--in the form of ACh--underlie the selective vulnerability of the neurons. Resulting changes in membrane composition could abnormally expose intramembraneous proteins such as amyloid precursor protein to proteases.
High voltage dielectric isolation SCR integrated circuit process

High voltage integrated circuit SCR's are required for applications such as cross point switching in telephone networks. This paper describes a process which produces these components in integrated form using dielectric isolation to eliminate substrate current, isolation leakage and latch-up and to achieve improved packing density. Significant characteristics of the devices produced are: breakover voltage > 250V; V F 1mA per mil2of chip area; r on < 10 ohms; gate turn off by cathode gate. Analysis and experimental results of two effects unique to dielectric isolation will be presented. One is confinement of minority carriers in a limited volume by the impenetrable oxide isolation. The other is the effect on breakdown voltage bf spreading a depletion layer through a lightly doped region and against oxide isolation and the variation of this voltage with bias on the poly silicon substrate.
Cockroach exposure independent of sensitization status and association with hospitalizations for asthma in inner-city children.

Background Children with asthma living in urban environments experience disproportionately high asthma hospitalization rates. Excessive exposure to perennial allergens, including cockroach and house dust mite (HDM), have been implicated, but data are limited. Objective To examine the relation between cockroach and HDM exposure and measures of asthma morbidity and health care utilization. Methods Participants included 86 atopic asthmatic children living in New Orleans, Louisiana. Sensitization status was determined by means of serum specific IgE testing, and vacuum dust samples were collected for allergen analysis. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the odds of persistent wheezing, emergency department visits, and asthma hospitalization in those with high vs low levels of allergen exposure. Results Approximately 44% and 40% of children were exposed to Bla g 1 levels greater than 2 U/g and HDM levels greater than 2 μg/g, respectively, and 24% reported at least 1 hospitalization in the previous 4 months. The median Bla g 1 level was significantly higher in the homes of children hospitalized compared with those with no hospital admissions (7.2 vs 0.8 U/g). In multivariable models, the odds of hospitalization were significantly higher in children exposed to Bla g 1 levels greater than 2 U/g (adjusted odds ratio, 4.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.24–14.17), independent of sensitization status. Exposure to HDMs was not associated with any measure of morbidity. Conclusions Exposure to cockroach allergen was strongly associated with increased hospitalization in children with asthma. This effect cannot be explained entirely by IgE-mediated inflammation. Controlled interventional trials are needed to determine whether isolated cockroach abatement improves asthma control.
Approximating a closed-form solution for cotton fruiting dynamics

Abstract A nonlinear partial differential equation of the Von Foerster type is used to describe the fruiting dynamics of a cotton crop. An algorithm is developed and convergence proven that yields a functional approximation to the solution of the Von Foerster system of equations. Comparisons are presented which show excellent agreement between the algorithm results and field data for three cotton varieties.
Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) activation of nuclear protein kinase C in purified nuclei of rat splenocytes

We have examined the actions of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and certain other known immune modulators on a nuclear pool(s) of protein kinase C (PKC) in isolated rat splenocyte nuclei. Rat splenocyte nuclei pure by enzymatic and electron microscope criteria demonstrated a time- and concentration-dependent activation of nuclear PKC (nPKC) by VIP. A biphasic pattern of three bell-shaped curves was observed with peak phosphorylation at 10−15, 10−9 and 10−6M VIP. The phosphorylation of endogenous nuclear substrates was characterized as a PKC-mediated event by use of three known PKC inhibitors, 1-(5-isoquinolinylsulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H-7), sphingosine, and staurosporine, which produced similar phosphate incorporation measurements. Also, this activity was blocked with the addition of a monoclonal antibody to PKC. Inhibitors of the ability of VIP to activate nPKC included somatostatin, 8-bromo-cAMP, peripheral benzodiazepine receptor modulators, and the PKC inhibitors, sphingosine and staurosporine. These data have direct relevance to our knowledge of cell-mediated immunity.
RELIABILITY ANALYSIS OF MECHANICAL COMPONENTS AND SYSTEMS.

Abstract A six-point comprehensive definition of reliability is given and discussed. A fifteen-step “Design by Reliability” methodology is presented and illustrated. Methods for synthesizing the failure governing stress and strength distributions, and for calculating the associated reliability, are presented and illustrated. A method for determining the lower, one-sided confidence limit of the calculated reliability is given and illustrated. The data requirements for this design methodology are discussed, and such data generated at the Reliability Research Laboratory of The University of Arizona are presented. The methodology is compared with the conventional safety factor approach and a unification of the statistical safety factor with the reliability is given.
Recent National Patterns of Warfarin Use in Atrial Fibrillation

Background—Studies of selected populations suggest that anticoagulation in atrial fibrillation is underused and that nonclinical factors influence the use of this stroke-preventing therapy. We wished to examine recent national trends and predictors of warfarin sodium use in atrial fibrillation. Methods and Results—A nationally representative sample of office visits from the 1989 to 1996 National Ambulatory Medical Care Surveys was used. We selected 1125 visits by patients with atrial fibrillation, including 877 visits to cardiologists and primary care physicians in which apparent contraindications for anticoagulation were absent. The principal outcome measure was the proportion of visits with warfarin reported. We analyzed trends in warfarin use and statistically evaluated the predictors of warfarin use. Warfarin use increased from 13% of atrial fibrillation visits in 1989 to 40% in 1993 (P for trend <.001) in patients without contraindications. Between 1993 and 1996, however, there was no change in warfa...
The energy and mass balance of Los Angeles County

We conducted an urban “metabolic” study of inputs and outputs of food, water, energy, and pollutants from Los Angeles County, USA. This region has been the subject of recent debate about the nature of population density and distribution as it relates to urban form and associated environmental impacts. We found that with the exception of food imports and wastewater outputs, inputs of resources and outputs of pollutants generally declined on a per capita basis from 1990 to 2000. Reductions likely reflected a combination of changes in public policy, improvements in technology and public infrastructure, and impacts of increases in population density. However, in comparison to other municipalities and urban regions, resource consumption per capita was still relatively high in some categories, particularly inputs of water and transportation energy. Per capita greenhouse gas emissions were lower in Los Angeles County than for the average of the USA as a whole but higher than previous analyses of urban areas internationally, largely due to comparatively high emissions from the transportation sector. Wastewater discharge accounted for less than 40% of water inputs excluding precipitation; however the partitioning of water outputs through other potential losses, specifically evapotranspiration, runoff, and groundwater recharge, remains highly uncertain. We suggest that more detailed information about water losses will greatly improve future mass and energy accounting for analyses of urban environmental sustainability in this semi-arid region.
Alterations in mitochondrial number and function in Alzheimer’s disease fibroblasts

Mitochondrial dysfunction is observed in brains of Alzheimer’s Disease patients as well as many rodent model systems including those modeling mutations in preseinilin 1 (PSEN1). The aim of our study was to characterize mitochondrial function and number in fibroblasts from AD patients with PSEN1 mutations. We used biochemical assays, metabolic profiling and fluorescent labeling to assess mitochondrial number and function in fibroblasts from three AD patients compared to fibroblasts from three controls. The mutant AD fibroblasts had increased Aβ42 relative to controls along with reduction in ATP, basal and maximal mitochondrial respiration as well as impaired spare mitochondrial respiratory capacity. Fluorescent staining and expression of genes encoding electron transport chain enzymes showed diminished mitochondrial content in the AD fibroblasts. This study demonstrates that mitochondrial dysfunction is observable in AD fibroblasts and provides evidence that this model system could be useful as a tool to screen disease-modifying compounds.
Propofol Exposure in Pregnant Rats Induces Neurotoxicity and Persistent Learning Deficit in the Offspring

Propofol is a general anesthetic widely used in surgical procedures, including those in pregnant women. Preclinical studies suggest that propofol may cause neuronal injury to the offspring of primates if it is administered during pregnancy. However, it is unknown whether those neuronal changes would lead to long-term behavioral deficits in the offspring. In this study, propofol (0.4 mg/kg/min, IV, 2 h), saline, or intralipid solution was administered to pregnant rats on gestational day 18. We detected increased levels of cleaved caspase-3 in fetal brain at 6 h after propofol exposure. The neuronal density of the hippocampus of offspring was reduced significantly on postnatal day 10 (P10) and P28. Synaptophysin levels were also significantly reduced on P28. Furthermore, exploratory and learning behaviors of offspring rats (started at P28) were assessed in open-field trial and eight-arm radial maze. The offspring from propofol-treated dams showed significantly less exploratory activity in the open-field test and less spatial learning in the eight-arm radial maze. Thus, this study suggested that propofol exposure during pregnancy in rat increased cleaved caspsase-3 levels in fetal brain, deletion of neurons, reduced synaptophysin levels in the hippocampal region, and persistent learning deficits in the offspring.
Matrix Zeros of quadratic equations

Abstract Given a polynomial ( x − a )( x − b ) with a , b in a communtative principal ideal domain A , we describe (up to similarity) all its matrix zeros. In terms of representation theory, we describe and enumerate all representations of the ring A[x] (x − a)(x − b)A[x] over A .
IN VITRO AND IN VIVO STIMULATION OF GLYCOLYSIS IN PREPUBERTAL RAT OVARY BY LUTEINIZING HORMONE.

Luteinizing hormone has been shown to increase the rate of glucose uptake by isolated whole ovaries from prepubertal rats, whether administered to rats intravenously 4 hr before sacrifice or added directly to media in which the ovaries are incubated. The fraction of the utilized glucose which undergoes glycolysis to lactic acid under aerobic conditions is increased more by LH in vitro than by LH in vivo. Glucose oxidation is not significantly increased by either mode of hormone administration. Rates of glucose uptake and lactic acid production are substantially increased by anaerobic incubation. Under these conditions, LH in vivo is capable of exerting a still further stimulation of glycolysis, although LH in vitro is not. Under anaerobic conditions, more lactic acid is produced from endogenous materials, including glycogen, than under aerobic conditions. The stimulation of lactic acid production from glucose can be elicited by LH in vitro in concentrations as low as 0.2 μg /ml medium. Of the 3 other horm...
Atomic oxygen modeling in the upper thermosphere

Empirical models of atomic oxygen in the earth's thermosphere are discussed, and calibration problems in satellite drag and in situ mass spectrometer measurements are reviewed. Models based on drag data and mass spectrometer data are found to agree on average to within 15 percent, suggesting that the absolute values are reasonably well known in the upper thermosphere. Comparison of different models with various data sources show residuals of at least 15 percent which are the results of unmodeled magnetic storm, EUV, and geographical variations and smaller scale variations caused by gravity waves.
Events as fundamental entities in physics

Bergson and Whitehead have proposed a point of view where events rather than particles are fundamental entities. We follow this point of view as developed further by Capek and by Stapp by suggesting a framework in which fundamental events are taken to be point-like entities which interact with other fundamental events. Different kinds of fundamental events are to be distinguished by the rules of interaction. Examples of simple rules of interaction are given which lead to propagating patterns of events that can be interpreted as particles. The particles exhibit a wave structure and possess invariants, quantum numbers and quarklike constituents. They can react with each other and decay to form other particles, including antiparticles. A relativistic space-time co-ordinate system appears to be a natural way of organizing the event pattern. We argue that this kind of framework can provide a basis for unifying the concepts of quantum mechanics, elementary-particle structure and relativity.
Pyrimidine nucleoside monophosphate kinase from rat bone marrow cells: chromatographic, electrophoretic, and sedimentation behavior of active and inactive enzyme forms.

Abstract This paper describes the study of a highly purified pyrimidine nucleoside monophosphate kinase from rat bone marrow cells. Short-term storage (24 h at 4 °C) of the purified enzyme in the absence of dithiothreitol, a sulfhydryl reducing agent, led to considerable losses of enzyme activity. Most of the lost activity could be regained, however, by incubating the enzyme with 50 m m dithiothreitol. Enzyme stabilization by dithiothreitol and reactivation by dithiothreitol were enhanced in the presence of phosphate buffer. Severe enzyme inhibition was produced by micromolar concentrations of sulfhydryl group reagents. Chromatographic, electrofocusing, and sucrose gradient centrifugation experiments revealed that the enzyme has a molecular weight of about 26,000, an isoelectric point of 4.7, and a sedimentation coefficient of 2.5. These experiments were also carried out with enzyme preparations which had been almost completely inactivated by means of dialysis to remove dithiothreitol. Enzyme preparations of this type displayed at least one additional enzyme form. This form(s) was inactive but capable of being partially reactivated by dithiothreitol. The inactive form(s) exhibited the same apparent molecular weight as the native enzyme but possessed a higher isoelectric point (5.7). A working hypothesis was presented which states (1) that inactive enzyme forms arise because of disulfide bond formation, (2) that enzyme sulfhydryl groups are less susceptible to oxidation in the presence of phosphate buffer, and (3) that enzyme reactivation by dithiothreitol results from the regeneration of critical enzyme sulfhydryls.
Variation in Young's modulus along the length of a rat vibrissa.

Rats use specialized tactile hairs on their snout, called vibrissae (whiskers), to explore their surroundings. Vibrissae have no sensors along their length, but instead transmit mechanical information to receptors embedded in the follicle at the vibrissa base. The transmission of mechanical information along the vibrissa, and thus the tactile information ultimately received by the nervous system, depends critically on the mechanical properties of the vibrissa. In particular, transmission depends on the bending stiffness of the vibrissa, defined as the product of the area moment of inertia and Young’s modulus. To date, Young’s modulus of the rat vibrissa has not been measured in a uniaxial tensile test. We performed tensile tests on 22 vibrissae cut into two halves: a tip-segment and a base-segment. The average Young’s modulus across all segments was 3.3471.48 GPa. The average modulus of a tip-segment was 3.9671.60 GPa, and the average modulus of a base-segment was 2.9071.25 GPa. Thus, on average, tip-segments had a higher Young’s modulus than base-segments. High-resolution images of vibrissae were taken to seek structural correlates of this trend. The fraction of the cross-sectional area occupied by the vibrissa cuticle was found to increase along the vibrissa length, and may be responsible for the increase in Young’s modulus near the tip. & 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Effector CD8+CD45RO−CD27−T cells have signalling defects in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

A subset of circulating T cells (CD8+CD45RO−CD27−) with a naive phenotype, but mediating effector function, is considered to play an important role in host antitumour defence. To investigate the attributes of these effector T cells in patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the head and neck cancer, venous blood was obtained from 39 individuals with cancer and 45 normal controls (NC). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated, stained with labelled monoclonal antibodies specific for CD8, CD45RO, CD45RA, CD62L, CD27, TCR-ζ as well as isotype controls and examined by multicolour flow cytometry. Annexin V binding to CD8+ T cells and PMA/ionomycin-induced IFN-γ expression were also evaluated in patients and NC. The proportions of CD45RA+CD45RO− (naive) and CD45RA−CD45RO+ (memory) cells were found to be comparable within the CD8+ T-cell subset. However, relative to NC, the frequency of effector CD8+CD45RO−CD27− cells was strikingly increased in all SCC patients regardless of the disease status (P=0.0003). The proportion of these cells was found to increase with age in both patients and NC. In NC, stimulated IFN-γ expression was largely restricted to CD8+CD45RO−CD27+ cells, while in patients CD8+CD45RO−CD27− expressed IFN-γ after ex vivo stimulation. Expression of the TCR-associated ζ chain was decreased or absent in freshly isolated CD8+CD45RO−CD27− T cells in patients (P<0.0001). Annexin V was found to bind to a higher proportion of circulating CD8+ T cells in patients than NC (P<0.006), and significantly more Annexin V+ T cells were present in the effector (P<0.0059) than the naive subset within the CD8+CD45RO− compartment. The data indicate that the expanded CD8+CD45RO−CD27− T cells, which contain precursors of IFN-γ-producing T cells, are ζ-negative and sensitive to apoptosis in the circulation of patients with HNC.
Application of tracer techniques to studies on autoxidation reactions

The tracers containing deuterium, carbon isotopes, and heavy oxygen that may be applied to the studies on autoxidation reactions are described. The autoxidation of the deuterated compounds formed by replacing hydrogen atoms on the double bond has given concrete experimental evidence for the following phenomena of autoxidation reaction: a) initial attack of oxygen at the double bond and the inherent induction period, b) the propagation of autoxidation by attack on the methylenic group, alpha to the double bond during the steady state, c) the presence of resonance in the free radicals formed and consequent shifting of the double bond, and d) the location of the hydrogen atoms contributing to the formation of the major portion of the water. These investigations have led to the elucidation of some aspects of the mechanism of decomposition of peroxides and consequent formation of hydroxyl radicals, which attack the substrates at certain preferential points giving rise to water. They also provide the mechanisms of cleavage and formation of the volatile products. Our experiments have also established four different and distinct stages of autoxidation. Water formation in autoxidation is shown to be the outcome of the primary decomposition of peroxides, mainly hydroperoxides, and the formation of the organic volatile products to be that of the secondary decomposition at a later stage. These processes have been correlated to the bond strengths of the different atoms in the substrates and the resulting products. The advantages and disadvantages of the application of these tracer techniques to autoxidation reactions in general are also discussed.
The different effects on courtship of volatile compounds from mated and virgin Drosophila females

Abstract Virgin Drosophila melanogaster females, which are courted vigorously, emit pheromones which stimulate males to court each other ( Tompkins et al. , 1980). Females which have recently copulated are courted less vigrously, and volatile compounds produced by mated females stimulate less courtship between males. Analysis of these compounds from fertilized females by gas chromatography and behavioral assays indicates that mated females emit less of the sex attractant made by virgins and may also produce material which inhibits courtship. These changes in pheromone production are initiated after the first few minutes of copulation.
Influence of amount and degradability of dietary protein on nitrogen utilization by dairy cows

Abstract Four Holstein cows fitted with ruminal and T-type duodenal cannulas were utilized in a 4 × 4 Latin square design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. The TMR contained 25% alfalfa haylage, 25% corn silage, and 50% concentrate and provided either 16.4 or 19.6% CP, with ruminal degradability calculated to be 30 or 45%. Intakes of DM, OM, ADF, NDF, and N were not altered by either amount or degradability of CP. Intake and ruminal and postruminal digestibility of starch were greater when cows were fed diets high in undegradable CP but was not altered by amount of CP. Apparent total tract digestibilities for DM, OM, starch, ADF, and NDF were similar among treatments. Apparent total tract digestibility of N was 4.7 percentage units greater for diets low in ruminally degradable CP. Apparent digestibility of OM, ADF, and NDF and true digestibility of OM in the rumen were not altered by amount of CP or undegradable CP. Increasing the CP content of the diet and the proportion of undegradable CP in the diet increased NAN flow to the duodenum. Except for Met, flows of all AA to the duodenum were increased when CP was increased. Flow of Met to the duodenum was not altered by undegradable CP content of the diet. Production of milk, 4% FCM, and milk CP was not altered by amount of CP or undegradable CP. Milk fat content and yield were increased when diets high in undegradable CP were fed. Results suggest that all diets supplied adequate amounts of AA for these cows or that Met was deficient for all cows.
Understanding work-related injuries in children: a perspective in West Virginia using the state-managed workers' compensation system.

Abstract Background/purpose Little data exist that defines the consequences of occupational injuries in children. Traditional assessment of work-related injury is coupled with disability payments based on salary, which give little insight into etiology and severity. The authors hypothesize that the risk and pattern of occupational injuries in young workers are different then adults. Methods Claims from 1996 through 2000 were analyzed from the West Virginia Bureau of Workers Compensation. To define the significance of an injury, child and adult groups were subdivided into injuries that required surgery (ie, serious injuries). Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes for anesthesia and surgical procedures were cross referenced with the claims to ensure group designation. Relative risks (RR) were used to compare groups. Results Between 1996 and 2000, 364,063 claims were submitted, 14,093 in workers ≤19 years of age. Two hundred seventy claims in children required surgery. Serious injuries in children occur more often in boys 2.2× mainly in the (16 to 24 hours) evening (48% v 23.13%; P v 18.4; P Conclusions For any job category, injuries in children have unique features, tend to be more serious, and require a surgical intervention proportionately more frequently than adults.