cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A microcomputer current programmer for mass spectrometer direct exposure probes

An RCA Cosmac 1802 microcomputer has been used to program the sample heating wire current of a direct exposure probe used to obtain mass spectra of nonvolatile and thermally labile compounds. Programming is in machine language, which requires a minimum system, and is competitive in cost with hard-wired programmers, while possessing the flexibility available through software control. Current steps are synchronized with the rapid repetitive scanning of the mass spectrometer. The rapid desorption of the methyl ester of a bile acid is used for illustration of the operation.
Some Concerns when Using Data from the Cooperative Weather Station Networks:A Nebraska Case Study

Abstract In this study, daily temperature and precipitation amounts that are observed by the Cooperative Observer Program (COOP) were compared among geographically close stations. Hourly observations from nearby Automatic Weather Data Network (AWDN) stations were utilized to resolve the discrepancies between the observations during the same period. The statistics of maximum differences in temperature and precipitation between COOP stations were summarized. In addition, the quantitative measures of the deviations between COOP and AWDN stations were expressed by root-mean-square error, mean absolute error, and an index of agreement. The results indicated that significant discrepancies exist among the daily observations between some paired stations because of varying observation times, observation error, sensor error, and differences in microclimate exposure. The purpose of this note is to bring attention to the problem and offer guidance on the use of daily observations in the comparison and creation of wea...
Vitamin Prescriptions on a Hospital General Medical Ward: Results of a Drug Utilization Review

Records of 103 consecutive admissions to a general medical ward over 4 months in a Veterans Administration Medical Center were reviewed. Assessment was made of nutritional status and potential need for supplemental vitamin therapy based upon predetermined criteria. Thirty-five of the 103 patients received one or more vitamin supplements. No patient received unnecessary vitamins as defined by our criteria. However, 48 patients had indications for vitamin supplementation, but did not receive any. Analysis of data by indication for vitamin therapy revealed 125 indications for vitamin therapy in 83 patients. Of the 125 indications 54 were treated appropriately, but there were no vitamin prescriptions in 71 indicated instances. We conclude that indicated vitamin supplementation may be underutilized in hospitalized general medical patients. (Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition13:262-264, 1989)
International capital flows under asymmetric information and costly monitoring: implications of debt and equity financing

. The impact of increased equity trade on a small open economy is examined. Stochastic second-period output depends on first-period investment. Owing to information asymmetries, domestic agents cannot reveal credibly the level of first-period investment to international financiers. Consistent with recent proposals to strengthen the international financial system, domestic firms choose to incur self-monitoring costs to increase capital inflows. As an alternative to borrowing, domestic agents may sell ownership claims to second-period output. When equity claims convey information, equity trade is preferred to international borrowing, consistent with developing economies’ observed reliance on international equity relative to debt in recent years. JEL Classification: F41, G15 Flux internationaux de capitaux quand l’information est asymetrique et la surveillance couteuse : implications pour le financement par endettement et par transfert de propriete. Ce memoire etudie les impacts sur une petite economie ouverte d’un commerce accru de droits de propriete dans un monde d’information asymetrique. On developpe un modele a deux periodes dans lequel le produit stochastique de la seconde periode depend de l’investissement dans la premiere periode. Compte tenu des asymetries dans l’information, les entrepreneurs locaux ne peuvent reveler de maniere credible le niveau d’investissement de la premiere periode aux financiers internationaux. Le memoire examine d’abord les emprunts internationaux et montre que les entreprises locales choisissent de s’imposer des couts d’auto surveillance pour accroitre les flux de capitaux. Les agents locaux peuvent aussi, comme solution de rechange a l’emprunt, vendre des droits de propriete sur la production de la seconde periode. Quand ces transactions des droits de propriete communiquent de l’information, le commerce de droits de propriete est preferea l’emprunt.
The Theory of materia prima in Marsilio Ficino's Platonic Theology

This paper is an examination of the theory of materia prima of the fifteenth century Platonist Marsilio Ficino. It limits its discussion of Ficino's theory to the ontological and epistemic status of prime matter in his Platonic Theology. Ficino holds a "robust" theory of prime matter that makes two fundamental assertions: First, prime matter exists independent of form, and second, it is, at least in principle, intelligible. Ficino's theory of prime matter is framed in this paper with a discussion of the divergence among Scholastic philosophers over the nature of prime matter.
Retrograde transport of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) following infusion in neo‐and limbic cortex in rat: Relationship to BDNF mRNA expressing neurons

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) was the second member of the nerve growth factor (NGF) family to be isolated. The ability of BDNF to be retrogradely transported following intraparenchymal infusion represents a unique neurobiological tool to determine the location of putative neuron-specific BDNF-responsive neuronal systems. In the present study, we infused recombinant human (rh) BDNF into the rodent neo- and limbic cortex and used a turkey anti-BDNF antibody to determine specific populations of neurons which retrogradely transport this neurotrophin. Frontal cortex infusion retrogradely labeled neurons within the ipsilateral and contralateral frontal cortex, basal forebrain, lateral hypothalamus, centrolateral, mediodorsal, ventrolateral, ventromedial, ventral posterior, rhomboid, reuniens, and medial geniculate thalamic nuclei, and locus coeruleus. Occipital cortex infusion retrogradely labeled neurons in the frontal, temporal, occipital, and perirhinal cortices as well as the claustrum, basal forebrain, thalamus, epithalamus, hypothalamus, and raphe nuclei. Dorsal hippocampal infusion retrogradely labeled neurons within the septal diagonal band, supramammillary nucleus, and entorhinal cortex and was also transported within various hippocampal subfields. Entorhinal cortex infusion retrogradely labeled neurons within the perirhinal cortex, endopiriform nucleus, piriform cortex, dentate gyrus, presubiculum, parasubiculum, CA1-CA4 fields, amygdaloid nuclei, basal forebrain, thalamus, hypothalamus, periaqueductal gray, raphe nuclei, and locus coeruleus. Amygdala infusion labeled neurons in the endopiriform nucleus, temporal cortex, piriform cortex, paralimbic cortex, hippocampus, subiculum, entorhinal cortex, amygdala, basal forebrain, thalamus, hypothalamus, substantia nigra, pars compacta, raphe, and pontine parabrachial nuclei. In situ hybridization experiments demonstrated that virtually all areas which retrogradely transport BDNF also express its message. Neuroanatomical distributional studies of BDNF will unravel specific central nervous system neurotrophic-responsive systems.
Does the adoption of plagiarism-detection software in higher education reduce plagiarism?

In two studies, students at California State University, Northridge wrote papers that were checked for plagiarism using plagiarism-detection software. In the first study, half of the students in two classes were randomly selected and told by the professor that their term papers would be scanned for plagiarism using the software. Students in the remainder of each class were not informed that the software would be used. The researcher predicted that students who were explicitly warned about the use of the software would plagiarize less than students who were not, but the warning had no effect. In a second study, students wrote two papers in a series. Their knowledge about plagiarism-detection software was inversely correlated with plagiarism rates on the first paper, but no correlation was found between knowledge and plagiarism on the second paper. Instead, participants were discovered to draw repeatedly from the same sources of plagiarized material across papers.
Improving the Stability of a CaO-Based Sorbent for CO 2 by Thermal Pretreatment

Although the reversible absorption of CO2 by CaO at high temperature has been proposed as a promising method for capturing and removing CO2 from hot gas streams produced by the combustion of fossil fuels and other industrial processes, the activity of the sorbent has invariably declined when applied over many cycles of CO2 absorption and desorption. The objective of the present investigation was to extend the life cycle performance of the absorbent through improved thermal pretreatment as the absorbent was prepared from limestone, dolomite, calcium acetate, or plaster of Paris. The first three materials were converted to CaO by calcination, while the third being an impure form of CaSO4 required a combination of reduction and oxidation. The life cycle performance of an absorbent derived by calcination was found to depend on the calcination conditions including particle size, temperature, atmosphere, and length of treatment. Sorbent stability was favored by calcining fine-size particles (10 μm) at high temp...
Kinetics and mechanisms of surface reactions in epitaxial growth of Si from SiH4 and Si2H6

Surface science and kinetic modelling studies of the surface chemical mechanisms active during low pressure chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and chemical beam epitaxy (CBE) growth of Si from mono- and disilane are summarized. Time-of-flight direct recoiling (DR) is discussed as an in situ method to analyze the composition of the growth interface. Steady state measurements of surface hydrogen coverage (θH) are made by DR in situ during CBE Si growth from Si2H6 and SiH4, and are illustrated here. Key results using other experimental methods are briefly discussed.
Hydrography and circulation near the crest of the East Pacific Rise between 9° and 10°N

Abstract Topography has a strong effect on the physical oceanography over the flanks and crests of the global mid-ocean ridge system. Here, we present an analysis of the hydrography and circulation near the crest of the East Pacific Rise (EPR) between 9° and 10°N, which coincides with an integrated study site (ISS) of the RIDGE2000 program. The analysis is based primarily on survey and mooring data collected during the LADDER project, which aimed to investigate oceanographic and topographic influences on larval retention and dispersal in hydrothermal vent communities. Results indicate that the yearly averaged regional mean circulation is characterized by a westward drift of 0.5–1 cm s−1 across the EPR axis and by north- and southward flows along the western and eastern upper ridge flanks, respectively. The westward drift is part of a basin-scale zonal flow that extends across most of the Pacific ocean near 10°N, whereas the meridional currents near the ridge crest are a topographic effect. In spite of considerable mesoscale variability, which dominates the regional circulation and dispersal on weekly to monthly time scales, quasi-synoptic surveys carried out during the mooring deployment and recovery cruises indicate sub-inertial circulations that are qualitatively similar to the yearly averaged flow but associated with significantly stronger velocities. Weekly averaged mooring data indicate that the anticyclonically sheared along-flank flows are associated with core speeds as high as 10 cm s−1 and extend ≈ 10 km off axis and 200 m above the ridge-crest topography. Near the northern limit of the study region, the Lamont Seamount Chain rises from the western ridge flank and restricts along-EPR flow to five narrow passages, where peak velocities in excess of 20 cm s−1 were observed. Outside the region of the ridge-crest boundary currents the density field over the EPR near 10°N is characterized by isopycnals dipping into the ridge flanks. Directly above the EPR axis the ridge-crest boundary currents give rise to an isopycnal dome. During times of strong westward cross-EPR flow isopycnal uplift over the eastern flank causes the cross-ridge density field below the doming isopycnals to be asymmetric, with higher densities over the eastern than over the western flank. The data collected during the LADDER project indicate that dispersal of hydrothermal products from the EPR ISS on long time scales is predominantly to the west, whereas mesoscale variability dominates dispersal on weekly to monthly time scales, which are particularly important in the context of larval dispersal.
Regulation of vitamin D metabolism.

Vitamin D can be regarded as a prohormone and its most potent metabolite, 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, a hormone which mobilizes calcium and phosphate from bone and intestine. In true hormonal fashion, the biosynthesis of 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 by kidney mitochondria is feed-back regulated by serum calcium and serum phosphorus levels. The lack of calcium brings about a secretion of parathyroid hormone which stimulates 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 synthesis while low blood phosphorus stimulates 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 synthesis even in the absence of the parathyroid glands. For such regulation to occur, vitamin D must be present probably because 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 itself is needed for the regulation. The molecular and cellular mechanisms whereby 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 synthesis is regulated are unknown despite many recent reports. Likely the elucidation of these mechanisms must await a detailed investigation of the enzymology of the renal 25-hydroxyvitamin D3-1α-hydroxylase. In addition to the regulation at the 25-hydroxyvitamin D3-1α-hydroxylase step, vitamin D metabolism is regulated at the hepatic vitamin D-25-hydroxylase level. This regulation is a suppression of the hydroxylase by the hepatic level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 itself by an unknown mechanism. Much remains to be learned concerning the regulation of this newly discovered endocrine system but already the findings are not only relevant to calcium homeostasis but also to an understanding of a variety of metabolic bone diseases.
Cardiovascular and respiratory function of hypothermic rabbits, as influenced by dimethyl sulfoxide.

Abstract This study was conducted to assess the in vivo effect of DMSO on cardiovascular and respiratory functions of a mammal undergoing progressive hypothermia. Parameters investigated included: cardiac output (Fick principle: oxygen consumption, arterial, and venous pO 2 ), arterial pressure, ECG, respiratory rate, and blood pCO 2 and pH. Urethan-anesthetized, shaved, male albino rabbits were used. Fifty animals were injected intra-arterially with a 1-g per kg or 2-g per kg dose of DMSO as a 25% solution in saline, or with saline alone as control. Hypothermia was induced by placing the animals in a chamber at 4 °C and by increasing air movement. Recordings were made at selected body temperatures from normothermia to deep hypothermia. A typical hypothermia-induced cardiovascular depression occurred, which was not altered by DMSO treatment. The cardiac arrest temperature range was 10 to 14 °C, with no significant difference between control and experimental subjects. DMSO-treated animals did not, however, exhibit the increases in respiratory rate and oxygen consumption in the early stages of hypothermia which were present in the controls. This response could be due to an interference with shivering thermogenesis. In animals treated with 2 g per kg DMSO, respiration decreased and pCO 2 increased significantly faster than in control subjects, as the hypothermia progressed.
NOTE:CHEMICAL STABILITIES OF LIGNOCAINE HYDROCHLORIDE AND PHENYLEPHRINE HYDROCHLORIDE IN AQUEOUS SOLUTION

SUMMARY The chemical stabilities of lignocaine hydrochloride (lidocaine hydrochloride) and phenylephrine hydrochloride in a combination aqueous solution have been determined using stability-indicating high-performance liquid chromatographic methods. The drugs did not interact and were stable for at least 66 days at room temperature. The pH value changed from 6.0 to 5.8 after 66 days but was still within the optimum pH range for the stabilities of lignocaine and phenylephrine.
The Use of Vacuum Tubes as Variable Impedance Elements

The magnitude and phase angle of an impedance may be varied by means of circuits incorporating vacuum tubes. The analyses of several circuits show that they may be considered to be equivalent to a parallel combination of reactance and resistance. In certain circuits the effective resistance may be made infinite, these circuits acting like pure reactance, the magnitude of which may be controlled by means of electrode voltages. Vacuum-tube circuits containing only resistances and capacitances may act like an inductive reactance shunted by a negative resistance. Some types of "resistance-tuned" oscillators are based upon such circuits and may be readily analyzed from this point of view. By the use of an inverse-feedback amplifier it is possible to obtain very large effective capacitance or very low negative resistance, the magnitudes of which may be varied by means of the amplifier gain.
Language and reading in the right hemisphere: Highways or byways of the brain?

The literature pertaining to the representation of language in the right hemisphere of hemispherectomy and callosotomy patients is reviewed to ascertain whether it provides an empirical basis for the assertions that (1) the right hemisphere participates in the recovery of language in aphasia, (2) the right hemisphere mediates the reading errors of deep dyslexic and pure alexic patients, and (3) the right hemisphere plays a fixed role in normal reading processes. At present, there appears to be some support for the first assertion, limited support for the second (if individual variation in representation can be accepted), and disconfirming evidence for the third in the data from these populations.
Thirty-five years of secondary succession in a Festuca viridula – Lupinus latifolius dominated meadow at Sunrise, Mount Rainier National Park, Washington

Colonization patterns were investigated in a Festuca viridula – Lupinus latifolius dominated meadow at Sunrise, Mount Rainier National Park. Floristic records of a site profoundly disturbed in 1946...
Surface physicochemical properties of Pseudomonas fluorescens and impact on adhesion and transport through porous media

Abstract The physiological state of an examined Pseudomonas fluorescens strain had a significant impact on its adhesion to glass surfaces and transport through glass-bead columns. In both batch and column studies collision efficiencies, α , for exponential phase cells were much larger ( α ≈2–3) than for stationary or decay phase cells ( α ≈0.5–0.7). Centrifugation of exponential phase cells substantially reduced collision efficiencies (α≈0.8). Over the examined range (0.02–0.2 M), ionic strength had no impact on cell attachment. The Lewis acid/base (A/B) character of the cell surface varied with physiological states: exponential phase cells exhibited larger values of the electron–donor parameter of the polar surface tension component, γ S − , than stationary or decay phase cells, resulting in larger calculated cell hydrophilicities. A reduction in exponential phase cell ζ -potential was observed upon centrifugation. Traditional Derjaguin–Landau–Verwey–Overbeek (DLVO) interaction energy profiles (between cells and glass surfaces) indicated energy maxima of the order of 90–130 kT , and secondary energy minima of less than 10 kT . Extended DLVO modeling predicted infinite energy barriers attributable to repulsive A/B interactions, and similar magnitude secondary energy minima. A pseudo-chemical kinetic approach was used to calculate activation energies of adhesion from experimental collision efficiencies. Collision efficiencies were also predicted from a diffusion-governed mass transport model incorporating interacting force fields. Predicted energy barriers underestimated cell collision efficiencies, suggesting that secondary energy minimum interactions governed initial attachment of cells. The partial reversibility of adhesion upon ionic strength reduction supported the secondary minimum interaction hypothesis.
Windows and Doors Around the World—The Global Market for Fenestration Products

A look at the global market for fenestration productsBusiness Economics (2007) 42, 66–74; doi:10.2145/20070108
Adoption and Adaptation of Data Science in Oceanography

Ocean sciences in the US have had a cultural distinction between modeling and fieldwork: a researcher either wrote MATLAB code, or went on data collection cruises. Large-scale multi-institution collaborations, and adoption of data science tools and skills, are blurring this distinction. CSCW and STS often study data: its production, maintenance, management, and use. In my dissertation, I focus not on the data but oceanographer groups incorporating data science practice into their work. By studying challenges faced by collective actors, this ethnographic research will then lead to developing design and organization implications for supporting data science practice in scientific academic collaborations.
Organophosphate pesticide exposure in a group of washington state orchard applicators

As part of a study to investigate the potential for organophosphates to cause chronic neurologic sequelae, we assessed the pesticide exposure experience of a group of Washington State apple orchard applicators. Seasonal monitoring of cholinesterase activity for 48 regular organophosphate applicators and a control group of 40 slaughterhouse workers was performed. A subset of the pesticide applicators participated in an in-depth exposure assessment. This involved observation of spraying activities during 1 spray day, as well as cholinesterase monitoring and dermal exposure assessment using a fluorescent tracer in the pesticide formulation. Comparison of seasonal red blood cell cholinesterase change in pesticide workers according to exposure level, characterized by frequency of pesticide spraying and protective equipment use, showed lower cholinesterase levels among higher exposed groups compared to lesser exposed groups. In-depth exposure assessment revealed exposure primarily on the head and hand regions. Subclinical changes (less than 15% inhibition) in red cell cholinesterase correlated well with dermal exposure calculations. This study suggests that cholinesterase monitoring may be a useful biological marker for even subclinical organophosphate pesticide effects.
Path-Weighted Diffusivity Functions for Parameterization of Heat Deposition Processes

General parameterizations are constructed for spatial modulation of heat diffusion patterns according to energy deposition characteristics occurring within a volume of material where there exist inhomogeneous or anisotropic thermal diffusivity. These parameterizations are formulated in terms of path-weighted diffusivity functions. The construction of a general parameterization of energy deposition processes where spatially dependent thermal diffusivity exists is necessary for their inverse analysis. The structure of such a parameterization follows from the concepts of model and data spaces that imply the existence of an optimal parametric representation for a given class of inverse problems. Accordingly, the optimal parametric representation is determined by the characteristics of the available data, which, in principle, can contain both experimental measurements and numerical simulation data. Parameterizations for spatial modulation of heat diffusion follow from the observation that many different types of energy deposition processes can be represented by weighted sums of basis functions whose general forms are that of spatially modulated diffusion. The parameterizations presented are constructed according to a specific definition of the inverse heat deposition problem that provides a rigorous foundation for a highly flexible and general parameterization of energy deposition processes, which is essential for their inverse analysis.
Effect of Diabetes on Lipoprotein Size

The effects of diabetes on lipoprotein particle sizes were assessed using samples from 94 subjects with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. From a larger population of nondiabetic subjects who showed normal glucose tolerance, we selected an exact match in terms of age, sex, and menopausal status. We designed a protocol to make nondenaturing gradient gels for the resolution of LDL subfractions and generated two measures of LDL size: diameter of the predominant LDL species and proportion of LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) in particles larger than 25.5 nm (large LDL-C). Similarly, we made two measures of HDL size, large HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) and large HDL-apoAI, which represents the proportion of HDL-C and apoAI, respectively, occurring on particles larger than HDL-3. In pairwise comparisons, diabetes was associated with significantly (P < .004) smaller lipoprotein particles for all measures except large HDL-C. Each of the size measures was significantly and positively correlated with each of the others, suggesting that common metabolic mechanisms influence lipoprotein particle sizes across classes of lipoproteins. In addition, each of the size measures was correlated with a variety of measures of HDL and beta-lipoprotein concentrations, which included HDL-C, LDL-C, triglycerides, and apoAI, apoB, and apoE. We used stepwise regression analyses to select from the measures of lipoprotein concentrations those independently correlated with each of the lipoprotein size measures. After adjusting for these metabolic correlates of lipoprotein size measures, we found the effect of diabetes on lipoprotein size measures was no longer significant except for a modest effect (P = .027) on large HDL-apoAI.
Using curriculum vitae to compare some impacts of NSF research grants with research center funding

While traditional grants remain central in US federal support of academic scientists and engineers, the role of multidisciplinary NSF Centers is growing. Little is known about how funding through these Centers affects scientific output or (as is an NSF aim) increases academic collaboration with industry. This paper tests the use of CVs to examine how Center funding affects researchers' publication rates and their obtaining industry grants. Copyright , Beech Tree Publishing.
Radiative corrections in supersymmetric gauge theories

The effect of radiative corrections in a general supersymmetric gauge theory is studied when the gauge symmetry is partially broken at the tree level. Certain no-renormalization theorems are proved.
A rational approach to activated polyacrylates and polymethacrylates by using a combination of model reactions and SET-LRP of hexafluoroisopropyl acrylate and methacrylate

The transesterification of hexafluoroisopropyl esters mediated by two mild bases, 1,8-diazabicycloundec-7-ene (DBU) and 1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-ene (TBD) was investigated as model reaction for the transesterification of poly(1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropyl acrylate) [poly(HFIPA)] and poly(1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoropropyl methacrylate) [poly(HFIPM)]. Unexpectedly, the rate of transesterification of the hexafluoroisopropyl esters was higher than that of the more reactive pentafluorophenyl esters although the rate of uncatalyzed aminolysis followed the reverse trend. Subsequently SET-LRP of HFIPA up to [M]0/[I]0 = 92 at 25 °C and of HFIPM up to [M]0/[I]0 = 86 at 50 °C with activated Cu(0) wire as catalyst, Me6-TREN as ligand, and trifluoroethanol as solvent in the presence of acetic acid to generate the corresponding polymers with well-defined molecular weight, narrow molecular weight distribution and near-quantitative chain-end functionality was elaborated. Using reaction conditions established with model compounds a highly efficient transesterification of poly(HFIPA) and of poly(HFIPM) using DBU as catalyst at 25 °C has been developed. Therefore, this combination of experiments demonstrated that hexafluoroisopropyl esters provide a new class of activated carboxylic acids with applications in functional group transformation of interest both to organic and macromolecular synthesis.
Physical Activity and Neuroprotection in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Physical exercise exerts a wide range of benefits on an organism’s overall health and well-being. Exercise contributes positively toward an individual’s healthy weight, muscle strength, immune system, and cardiovascular health. Indeed, exercise has been demonstrated to reduce life-threatening conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. Of particular interest to this review, exercise has also been shown to be neuroprotective in both the central and peripheral nervous systems. Naturally, such findings apply broadly to the study of neurodegenerative disease with numerous reports demonstrating that exercise has beneficial effects on disease progression. One of the most devastating neurodegenerative diseases is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease in the United States, or motor neuron disease in the United Kingdom, resulting from the progressive loss of brain and spinal cord motor neurons. Several human studies show that moderate exercise regimens improve ALS patients’ scoring on functionality tests and ameliorate disease symptoms. Other promising recent works using transgenic mouse models of familial ALS have shown markedly slowed disease progression, improved function, and extension of survival in moderately exercised animals. Possible explanations for these findings include the exercise-induced changes in motor neuron morphology, muscle-nerve interaction, glial activation, and altering levels of gene expression of anti-apoptotic proteins and neurotrophic factors in the active tissue. Here we review the current literature on exercise and motor neuron disease, focusing on rodent and human studies to define the proper type, intensity, and duration of exercise necessary to enhance neuron survival as well discuss current mechanistic studies to further define the exercise-mediated pathways of neuroprotection.
Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 5 Is a Coreceptor for Alzheimer Aβ Oligomer Bound to Cellular Prion Protein

Soluble amyloid-β oligomers (Aβo) trigger Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathophysiology and bind with high affinity to cellular prion protein (PrP(C)). At the postsynaptic density (PSD), extracellular Aβo bound to lipid-anchored PrP(C) activates intracellular Fyn kinase to disrupt synapses. Here, we screened transmembrane PSD proteins heterologously for the ability to couple Aβo-PrP(C) with Fyn. Only coexpression of the metabotropic glutamate receptor, mGluR5, allowed PrP(C)-bound Aβo to activate Fyn. PrP(C) and mGluR5 interact physically, and cytoplasmic Fyn forms a complex with mGluR5. Aβo-PrP(C) generates mGluR5-mediated increases of intracellular calcium in Xenopus oocytes and in neurons, and the latter is also driven by human AD brain extracts. In addition, signaling by Aβo-PrP(C)-mGluR5 complexes mediates eEF2 phosphorylation and dendritic spine loss. For mice expressing familial AD transgenes, mGluR5 antagonism reverses deficits in learning, memory, and synapse density. Thus, Aβo-PrP(C) complexes at the neuronal surface activate mGluR5 to disrupt neuronal function.
Hydron transfer catalyzed by triosephosphate isomerase. Products of isomerization of (R)-glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate in D2O.

The product distributions for the reactions of (R)-glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate (GAP) in D2O at pD 7.5−7.9 catalyzed by triosephosphate isomerase (TIM) from chicken and rabbit muscle were determined by 1H NMR spectroscopy. Three products were observed from the reactions catalyzed by TIM: dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP) from isomerization with intramolecular transfer of hydrogen (49% of the enzymatic products), [1(R)-2H]-DHAP from isomerization with incorporation of deuterium from D2O into C-1 of DHAP (31% of the enzymatic products), and [2(R)-2H]-GAP from incorporation of deuterium from D2O into C-2 of GAP (21% of the enzymatic products). The similar yields of [1(R)-2H]-DHAP and [2(R)-2H]-GAP from partitioning of the enzyme-bound enediol(ate) intermediate between hydron transfer to C-1 and C-2 is consistent with earlier results, which showed that there are similar barriers for conversion of this intermediate to the α-hydroxy ketone and aldehyde products (Knowles, J. R., and Albery, W. J. (1977) Acc. Chem...
Ribozyme gene therapy: applications for molecular medicine

RNA enzymes--ribozymes--are being developed as treatments for a variety of diseases ranging from inborn metabolic disorders to viral infections and acquired diseases such as cancer. Ribozymes can be used both to downregulate and to repair pathogenic genes. In some instances, short-term exogenous delivery of stabilized RNA is desirable, but many treatments will require viral-mediated delivery to provide long-term expression of the therapeutic catalyst. Current gene therapy applications employ variations on naturally occurring ribozymes, but in vitro selection has provided new RNA and DNA catalysts, and research on trans-splicing and RNase P has suggested ways to harness the endogenous ribozymes of the cell for therapeutic purposes.
Structure of the Cochliobolus heterostrophus glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene.

A single gene (GPD1) encoding glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPD) was found in Cochliobolus heterostrophus. Homology with other fungal GPD-encoding genes was substantial at both the nucleotide and amino-acid levels. Positions of four introns found in GPD1 were conserved in the corresponding Aspergillus nidulans gpdA gene (which is known to have three additional introns absent in GPD1). The size (approximately 1300 nucleotides) of the single GPD1 transcript was consistent with the length (1011 bp) of the open reading frame. Several transcription initiation sites were identified, including major ones 45 and 40 bp upstream of the start codon. Conserved regulatory sequences were found in both the 5′ and 3′ flanding regions of GPD1.
A comparison of chemiluminescent and radioenzymatic methods for the measurement of acetylcholine released from a rat phrenic nerve-hemidiaphragm preparation

A chemiluminescent assay coupled to a periodide extraction method is described for the measurement of acetylcholine release from the vascular perfused rat phrenic nerve-hemidiaphragm preparation. A direct comparison of the chemiluminescent assay with an established radioenzymatic assay for acetylcholine demonstrates that the two assays are quantitatively equivalent and yield similar limits of sensitivity of approximately 2 pmol, and that the periodide extraction/chemiluminescent assay method is more consistent than the tetraphenylboron extraction/radioenzymatic assay method. Additionally, cholinergic drug interference with the chemiluminescent assay is minimal. The absence of radioactivity and the reduced cost of the chemiluminescent assay make it an attractive alternative to the radioenzymatic assay.
“I Hope I Can Make it Out There”: Perceptions of Women with Severe Mental Illness on the Transition from Hospital to Community

This study explores the experience of women with severe mental illness in transition from psychiatric hospital care to the community. Three focus groups were conducted among women with severe mental illness from transitional residences at two state psychiatric hospitals. Focus group transcripts and notes were coded according to women’s perceived challenges and facilitators of transition. Participants described several challenges including fear of insufficient treatment support, safety concerns, social isolation, stigma, and lack of resources to meet daily needs. The supports that women described as important were an orientation to the neighborhood and residence, access to treatment support with flexibility, and connection to social supports.
Some Unpublished Letters of Paul Hamilton Hayne

After receiving a positive review of his "Collected Poems" in "Harpers Monthly" (June, 1885) by Charles Dunham Deshler, Paul Hamilton Hayne ( 1830â€“1886) wrote Deshler and begins a correspondence with him. The letters from Hayne in this article reveal the toll the Civil War had taken on him as a "Traitor & Rebel."
Data association using fused data from multiple sensors

A data association technique based on the utilization of fused multisensor data which provides a compact description, consisting of both numerical and non - numerical attributes, of the targets present in the surveillance volume. The data association technique is comprised of two processes. The first is the process of seeded clustering --inwhich a cluster is sought around the predicted measurement from the existing track. The data contained in this cluster is fused to obtain a compact description of the targets constituting the cluster. The second is the process of target type matching --in which the target types contained in an existing track are matched with the target types contained in the seeded cluster. The presented method for data association provides a means by which a measure of confidence is assigned to each track (based on the evidence received) and it can be extended in a straight forward manner to handle data association in the context of multi-target tracking.
Airport noise exposure and the postnatal growth of children.

To determine whether chronic exposure to airport noise affects children, a study was conducted of the physical growth of children, aged 5-13 years, from two communities, one exposed to airport noise (n = 148) and another, not exposed (n = 102). Ten standard anthropometric measurements were made according to U.S. Health Examination Survey guidelines, and information on the social and biological characteristics of each family was collected in interviews. Hotelling's T2-tests were performed comparing the noise-exposed and nonnoise-exposed samples. There was no significant difference between the sample for measurements of social and biological characteristics of the families (including socioeconomic status and maternal reproductive history). Parental anthropometrics differed significantly (T2 = 24.32, P = 0.0001) as did child anthropometrics (T2 = 21.01, P = 0.032). For the child anthropometrics, noise-exposed children's slightly smaller measures of body bulk, together with their larger facial breadths, contributed to the significant T2. When the entire sample (n = 250) was analyzed by multiple linear regression, noise exposure was a significant predictor only of male triceps and subscapular skinfolds. For these two variables, and most other anthropometrics, however, the beta coefficients were negative for both sexes. In order to include information on the covariance structure among all variables, a canonical correlation analysis was performed. Noise exposure loaded negatively on the third canonical variate and was paired with positively loaded measures of body bulk. Taken together, the three analyses suggest that while there is some evidence for a slight effect of airport noise on measures of body bulk for males in this sample, most measures of postnatal growth for both males and females were unaffected by the noise levels experienced.
Novel processes invaginate the pre-synaptic terminal of retinal bipolar cells

Mixed-rod cone bipolar (Mb) cells of goldfish retina have large synaptic terminals (10 microm in diameter) that make 60-90 ribbon synapses mostly onto amacrine cells and rarely onto ganglion cells and, in return, receive 300-400 synapses from gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic amacrine cells. Tissue viewed by electron microscopy revealed the presence of double-membrane-bound processes deep within Mb terminals. No membrane specializations were apparent on these invaginating processes, although rare vesicular fusion was observed. These invaginating dendrites were termed "InDents". Mb bipolar cells were identified by their immunoreactivity for protein kinase C. Double-label immunofluorescence with other cell-type-specific labels eliminated Muller cells, efferent fibers, other Mb bipolar cells, dopaminergic interplexiform cells, and somatostatin amacrine cells as a source of the InDents. Confocal analysis of double-labeled tissue clearly showed dendrites of GABA amacrine cells, backfilled ganglion cells, and dendrites containing PanNa immunoreactivity extending into and passing through Mb terminals. Nearly all Mb terminals showed evidence for the presence of InDents, indicating their common presence in goldfish retina. No PanNa immunoreactivity was found on GABA or ganglion cell InDents, suggesting that a subtype of glycine amacrine cell contained voltage-gated Na channels. Thus, potassium and calcium voltage-gated channels might be present on the InDents and on the Mb terminal membrane opposed to the InDents. In addition to synaptic signaling at ribbon and conventional synapses, Mb bipolar cells may exchange information with InDents by an alternative signaling mechanism.
‘Stalin's socialism’—today's debates on socialism: theory, history, politics

In a secret report on 29 November 1935 political leaders were informed that the authors of a leaflet condemning the Stakhanovite working method had been arrested. The police found the leaflet in th...
Involvement of glutamate in gastrointestinal vago-vagal reflexes initiated by gastrointestinal distention in the rat.

Vago-vagal reflexes play an integral role in the regulation of gastrointestinal function. Although there have been a number of reports describing the effects of various stimuli on the firing rates of vagal afferent fibers and vagal motor neurons, little is known regarding the neurotransmitters that mediate the vago-vagal reflexes. In the present work, we investigated the role of glutamate in the vago-vagal reflex induced by gastrointestinal distention. Using single-cell recording techniques, we determined the effects of gastric and duodenal distention on the firing rates of gut-related neurons in the dorsal vagal complex, in the absence and presence of glutamate antagonists. Kynurenic acid, a competitive glutamate receptor antagonist, injected into the dorsal vagal complex, blocked the neuronal response of neurons in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus and the nucleus of the solitary tract to gastrointestinal distention. Injection of glutamate into the nucleus of the solitary tract produced inhibition of dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus neurons that were also inhibited by gastric and/or duodenal distention. Thus, the distention-induced inhibition of dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus neurons may be mediated by glutamate-induced excitation of gut-related nucleus of the solitary tract neurons. To investigate the role of the various glutamate receptor subtypes in the distention-induced events, we studied the effects of 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX), a selective non-NMDA receptor antagonist, and DL-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid (DL-AP5), a selective NMDA receptor antagonist. CNQX injected into the dorsal vagal complex either blocked or attenuated the inhibitory response of the neurons in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus and nucleus of the solitary tract neurons to gastric and duodenal distention. In contrast, DL-AP5 had less effect, especially in the vago-vagal reflex elicited by gastric distention. The results suggest (1) distention activates vagal afferents in the gastrointestinal tract; (2) the central branches of the vagal afferents from the gut terminate in the nucleus of the solitary tract and release glutamate that mainly act on non-NMDA receptors; (3) glutamate activates the inhibitory neurons in the nucleus of the solitary tract that project to the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus; and (4) the inhibitory neurotransmitter suppresses the activity of the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus neurons. For the excitatory neuronal responses of the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus neurons to gastrointestinal distention, the possible circuit is that the vagal afferents containing glutamate directly activate the receptors on the dendrites of the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus.
NOD2 gene polymorphism rs2066844 associates with need for combined liver-intestine transplantation in children with short-gut syndrome.

NOD2 Gene Polymorphism rs2066844 Associates With Need for Combined Liver–Intestine Transplantation in Children With Short-Gut Syndrome
Anomalous transport effects on the parallel E field in downward auroral current regions of the Earth's magnetosphere

[1] The physical processes that determine the fluid quantities and the self-consistent electric field (E∥) parallel to the magnetic field have been an unresolved problem in magnetospheric physics for over 40 years. We review a recently developed kinetic and multimoment fluid theory for inhomogeneous, nonuniformly magnetized plasma with temperature anisotropy in the guiding-center and gyrotropic approximation and apply the theory to solve for the quasi steady state in the long-range potential region of a downward Birkeland current sheet when electrostatic ion cyclotron turbulence is dominant. We find that an electron, bump-on-tail-driven ion cyclotron instability produces the turbulence and that a large enhancement in ∣E∥∣ by nearly a factor of 40 occurs when the turbulence is present compared to the case when it is absent. Anomalous momentum transfer (anomalous resistivity) by itself has a very small effect on E∥; however, the presence of the turbulence and the anomalous energy transfers (anomalous heating and cooling) that result have a very large effect on the entire solution. In the electron and ion momentum balance equations for E∥, the turbulence enhances the magnitude of E∥ by reducing the effect of the generalized parallel pressure gradients and thereby enhancing the effect of the mirror forces. A new, nonlinear formula for the current-voltage relationship in downward Birkeland current regions is also given.
THE ASSAY OF THE TRANSPLANTATION POTENTIAL OF FRESH AND STORED BONE MARROW BY TWO IN VIVO SYSTEMS

The transplantation of isologous mouse marrow in the fresh and thawed state was compared in two in vivo systems. Both assay techniques indicate good survival of the basic repopulating unit after storage in 15% glycerol. The spleen colony technique is more efficient and sensitive than the studies of mouse protection. Presumably, both techniques depend upon the ability of the marrow to repopulate. Itilizing this colony-assay system, dimethyl suifoxide appears iess efficient than glycerol in protecting the basic repopulating unit. (auth)
The role of relaxation in systematic desensitization.

Abstract Systematic desensitization has long been recognized as an effective technique for the treatment of a wide variety of phobias. However, there has been no consensus regarding the role of relaxation in this procedure. Research addressing this issue was reviewed and various theoretical explanations were examined in light of this research. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are considered.