cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mitochondrial Oxidative Stress Induced by Downregulation of Antioxidant Enzymes Leads to Nuclear Protein Carbonylation by Retrograde Signaling in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes

Obesity-linked insulin resistance is mechanistically connected to local inflammation of adipose tissue, which produces a metabolic state characterized by oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. Antioxidants enzymes such as Glutathione S-transferase A4 (GSTA4), peroxiredoxin 3 (Prdx3) and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPx4) expressions are selectively downregulated in adipose tissue of obese insulin-resistant mice and in human obesity-linked insulin resistance. Also, TNFα treatment of 3T3-L1 adipocytes resulted in decreased expression of GSTA4, GPx4, and Prdx3 and increased protein carbonylation. In addition, protein carbonylation is implicated as an initiating factor in mitochondrial dysfunction and ER-stress, providing a mechanistic connection between oxidative stress and metabolic disease. Histones are the primary components of chromatin and are notably susceptible to carbonylation because of their long lysine-rich tails. These modifications may have effects on histone code, leading to long lasting implications of human health, including insulin resistance. In this study GSTA4-Prdx3-GPx4-silenced 3T3-L1 adipocytes were evaluated for reactive oxygen species production (ROS), mitochondrial function and histones carbonylation. Downregulation of GSTA4, Prdx3 and GPx4 led to an significant increase in ROS, a significant increase in H3 and H4 histones carbonylation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. These results indicate that a downregulation of antioxidant enzymes in adipocytes leads to increased ROS production, mitochondrial dysfunction and nuclear protein carbonylation, and may contribute to the development of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.
Performance of photovoltaic cells in different segments of spatial-spectral distributions

Abstract In a single-bandgap solar cell, efficiency is limited by the inability to efficiently convert the broad range of energy that photons possess in the solar spectrum. One of the effective ways of enhancing the efficiency of solar cells is to split the broad solar spectrum into smaller energy ranges and to utilize each range with a photovoltaic (PV) cell of the appropriately tuned bandgap. The conventional approach to implementing this idea is to use stacks of PV cells sequentially placed in the order of increasing bandgap energy, with the highest bandgap cell at the top. Lateral spectrum splitting can avoid many of the disadvantages of this conventional approach. We demonstrate that spectrum splitting with a prism and a lens can achieve enhanced efficiency with a combination of GaAs and c-Si solar cells.
Athletic Training Preceptors' Perceived Learning Needs Regarding Preceptor Development

Context: Athletic training programs can develop their own content and mechanisms for developing preceptors. Ideally, preceptor development sessions should meet the needs of both the educational pro...
Soil amended with Brassica juncea plant tissue reduces sclerotia formation, viability and aggressiveness of Rhizoctonia solani AG1-IA towards rice

Abstract Brassica juncea plant tissue rich in glucosinolates has been used as a soil biofumigant for control of soilborne pathogens. Biocidal effects are attributed to volatile allyl isothiocyanate released upon hydrolysis of glucosinolates. In vitro inhibition of the mycelium growth of Rhizoctonia solani by B. juncea is well documented. The objective of this study was to determine the impacts of B. juncea as a soil amendment on the viability, aggressiveness, and sclerotia formation of R. solani AG1-IA, the causal agent of sheath blight in rice (Oryza sativa). In laboratory experiments, the effects of B. juncea amendment rate (0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8, 1.6 or 3.2% wt/wt) and duration of exposure (7, 14, or 28 days) on R. solani AG1-IA were evaluated. Mycelium exposed to soils amended with B. juncea at 0.2–3.2% with 7, 14 or 28 days of exposure resulted in significantly reduced sclerotia formation when compared to the mycelium exposed to the non-amended soil. The viability of sclerotia after exposure for 14 and 28 days to soils amended with 1.6 and 3.2% of B. juncea was significantly lower than that of sclerotia exposed to non-amended soil. Sclerotia or mycelium exposed to soil amended with 3.2% of B. juncea for 28 days, resulted in a reduction in aggressiveness as shown by smaller sheath blight lesion development on detached rice leaves than the non-treated controls. Results of this study demonstrate for the first time that B. juncea soil amendment can reduce the viability and aggressiveness of mycelium and sclerotia and further affect the formation of sclerotia of R. solani. The reduction of sclerotia formation by B. juncea introduction may result in the reduction of primary inoculum of sheath blight in the following rice season.
Does Ultrasound-Enhanced Instruction of Musculoskeletal Anatomy Improve Physical Examination Skills of First-Year Medical Students?

Objectives Ultrasound imaging is commonly used to teach basic anatomy to medical students. The purpose of this study was to determine whether learning musculoskeletal anatomy with ultrasound improved performance on medical students' musculoskeletal physical examination skills. Methods Twenty-seven first-year medical students were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 instructional groups: either shoulder or knee. Both groups received a lecture followed by hands-on ultrasound scanning on live human models of the assigned joint. After instruction, students were assessed on their ability to accurately palpate 4 anatomic landmarks: the acromioclavicular joint, the proximal long-head biceps tendon, and the medial and lateral joint lines of the knee. Performance scores were based on both accuracy and time. A total physical examination performance score was derived for each joint. Scores for instructional groups were compared by a 2-way analysis of variance with 1 repeated measure. Significant findings were further analyzed with post hoc tests. Results All students performed significantly better on the knee examination, irrespective of instructional group (F = 14.9; df = 1.25; P = .001). Moreover, the shoulder instruction group performed significantly better than the knee group on the overall assessment (t = –3.0; df = 25; P < .01). Post hoc analyses revealed that differences in group performance were due to the shoulder group's higher scores on palpation of the biceps tendon (t = –2.8; df = 25; P = .01), a soft tissue landmark. Both groups performed similarly on palpation of all other anatomic structures. Conclusions The use of ultrasound appears to provide an educational advantage when learning musculoskeletal physical examination of soft tissue landmarks.
Dual stimuli responsive self-healing and malleable materials based on dynamic thiol-Michael chemistry

Thiol-maleimide adducts have been used as dynamic crosslinkers to form soft, elastic, and stimuli responsive polymeric materials. Thiol-Michael adducts can undergo dynamic exchange at elevated temperature or elevated pH values. Due to the dynamic behaviour of thiol-Michael adducts, crosslinked polymeric materials display significant healing after cutting into half, and malleability upon exposure to solutions of elevated pH. These materials are also thermally responsive, showing self-healing properties and malleability at high temperatures (90 °C). The self-healing properties of these polymer materials are significantly higher than materials with non-dynamic crosslinkers. In addition, in mechanical stability experiments, these materials showed creep resistance and complete creep recovery at room temperature and pressure. These results indicate that the thiol-Michael reaction is dynamic and reversible in response to thermal and pH stimuli. These stimuli responsive self-healing, elastic, malleable, and mechanically stable polymeric materials open the door to have potential utilization in different applications such as coatings or elastomers with extended lifetimes.
Formulating Moral Objectivity

Objective moral facts are supposed to be independent from us, but it has proven difficult to provide a clear account of this independence condition. Objective moral facts cannot be overly independent of us, as even an objective morality would depend, in important respects, on features of us. The challenge is to respect these moral mind-dependencies without inappropriately counting too many moral facts as objective. In this paper, I delineate and evaluate several different versions of the independence condition in moral objectivity. I raise problems for these ways of formulating moral objectivity and then develop a better account of moral objectivity, one that avoids the pitfalls of other proposals.
A common subunit structure in Clostridium botulinum type A, B and E toxins

Abstract Tryptic activation of Clostridium botulinum type E progenitor toxin of 147,000 mol. wt. involves cleavage of the molecule into at least two polypeptides that are separable when the disulfide bond(s) linking them is reduced. The 50,000 and 102,000 mol. wt. of these chains compare with the 53,000 and 97,000 values of the disulfide-linked polypeptides of type A toxin of mol. wt. 145,000. Type E toxin resulting from trypsinization of its progenitor and naturally activated type A and B toxins have similar subunit structures.
Hemodynamic Factors Involved in the Regulation of Sodium Balance

Sodium salts constitute more than 90% of the total solute contained in extracellular fluid. Therefore, the content of the extracellular fluid volume is dependent on the regulation of sodium balance. Since sodium salts are excreted primarily by the kidney, it follows that the regulation of sodium balance will be determined by the relationship between sodium intake and the renal handling of sodium. In this chapter I briefly review the factors involved in the renal handling of sodium, emphasize how hemodynamic alterations may play a major regulatory role in the system, and, last, discuss the possible role of the dopaminergic receptor in this model.
The Case for Studying Co-occurrence

For decades, research examining different forms of interpersonal violence has proceeded in relative isolation. Large literatures have been generated on child maltreatment, bullying, intimate partner violence, teen dating violence, sexual violence, and elder abuse with few systematic efforts to understand connections among them. There are exceptions, such as work investigating links between intimate partner violence and child physical abuse, but for the most part, each field of study has developed its own conceptual models, knowledge base, and approaches to intervention.
Blood gas transport and 2,3-DPG.

Since the discovery of the sensitivity of oxygen-hemoglobin interaction to the concentration of red cell 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (Benesch and Benesch, 1967; Chanutin and Curnish, 1967), a great number of investigators have explored its biochemical, physiological and clinical ramifications. The following is a brief overview of this work, with particular emphasis upon the role of DPG in blood oxygen transport in health and disease.
Why Do They Just Sit? Apathy as a Core Symptom of Alzheimer Disease

ABSTRACT Objective Apathy is common in Alzheimer disease (AD) and has a far-reaching impact on patients’ clinical course and management needs. However, it is unclear if apathy is an integral component of AD or a manifestation of depression in cognitive decline. This study aims to examine interrelationships between apathy, depression, and function. Methods This was a cross-sectional study of well-characterized AD patients in the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center Uniform Data Set with a Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) between 0.5 and 2. Participants’ function was measured using the Functional Assessment Questionnaire. Apathy and depression were measured using clinician judgment and informant-reported Neuropsychiatric Inventory–Questionnaire. Dementia severity was categorized by CDR. Results Sample included 7,679 participants (55.7% men) with a mean (standard deviation) age of 74.9 (9.7) years; 3,197 (41.6%) had apathy based on clinician judgment. Among those with apathy, approximately half had no depression. Presence of apathy was associated with 21%, 10%, and 3% worsening in function compared with those without apathy in CDR 0.5, 1, and 2 groups, respectively. Depression was not independently associated with functional status. Results revealed no interaction between apathy and depression. Conclusion Apathy, but not depression, was significantly associated with worse function, with the strongest effects in mild dementia. Results emphasize the need for separate assessments of apathy and depression in the evaluation and treatment of patients with dementia. Understanding their independent effects on function will help identify patients who may benefit from more targeted management strategies.
The Effectiveness of a Packaged Intervention Including Point-of-View Video Modeling in Teaching Social Initiation Skills to Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders:

Deficits in social communication and interaction have been identified as distinguishing impairments for individuals with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). As a pivotal skill, the successful develo...
The numinosity of soul: Andre Delbecq’s legacy for MSR

The purpose of this piece is to offer a sense of Andre Delbecq as the pioneering founder of management, spirituality, and religion (MSR) as a field of scholarly inquiry. In his unique way, Andre, i...
Heterogeneous Surface Multisphere Models Using Method of Moments Foundations

Spacecraft can charge naturally to tens of kilovolts in geosynchronous orbit due to their interactions with the space plasma and the sun. This charging causes forces and torques that can perturb th...
Population Dynamics and Life History of Marine Cladocera in the Maryland Coastal Bays, U.S.A.

ABSTRACT Oghenekaro, E.U. and Chigbu, P., 2019. Population dynamics and life history of marine Cladocera in the Maryland coastal bays, U.S.A. Journal of Coastal Research, 35(6), 1225–1236. Coconut ...
Parent feedback to teachers and its association to student feedback: does Johnny tell mommy?

The primary purpose of this study was to provide a discriminating, reliable, and valid method for parents to give teachers feedback. Further, this study examined how student feedback to teachers is similar and dissimilar to parent feedback. The survey was developed with assistance from a judgment panel and stakeholders committee. The opportunity sample consisted of two school systems; one in the Southwestern United States and the other located in the Northeast. Customized scan forms were created for Country Green; Knottown maintained local control electing to use general purpose bubble sheets. The K-12 parent survey was subdivided into realms (communication, classroom environment, curriculum and instruction, assessment and evaluation, and homework) through nonstatistical generalization. Each realm contained questions which were answered using a Likert-type response mode. A comments section was also included. The data from the surveys were analyzed. Student surveys were used for each grade level; K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12. Comparable items on student and parent surveys were identified and analyzed for similarities and differences. Mass authorship of the parent survey provided social validity, the Cronbach Alpha statistical test established instrument reliability, and analysis of variance and ttests identified significant differences.
Variability by Donor Type, Sex, Race, BMI and Within Practitioner in Viscoelastic Response (VisR) Ultrasound Derived Mechanical Anisotropy Assessments in Healthy Kidney Allografts, In Vivo

Degree of mechanical anisotropy in renal cortex can be assessed by evaluating the ratio of viscoelastic response (VisR) parameters achieved when the long axis of a spatially asymmetric ARF excitation PSF is aligned along versus across nephrons. In this work, intra-observer reproducibility and variability in VisR derived DoA assessment in renal cortex due to donor type, sex, race, and BMI is evaluated in healthy human kidney allografts, in vivo. Transcutaneous, in vivo VisR imaging was performed in 20 kidney allografts 2 months post-transplantation using a Siemens Acuson Antares™ imaging system and a VF7-3 linear array transducer. Ratios of VisR derived relative elasticity (RE), relative viscosity (RV), and peak displacement (PD) obtained with the ARF short-axis aligned along versus across nephrons were calculated. Patients were divided based on their sex (male: N=14 versus female: N=6), race (African American: N = 6 versus Caucasian: N=14), donor type (living: N=14 versus deceased: N =6), and BMI (BMI >30: N= 8 versus BMI 0.05) due to sex, race, donor types, or BMI. The median absolute percent difference in (PD, RE, RV) ratios were (23, 13, 23) due to sex, (5, 3, 3) due to race, (0.35, 14, 13) due to donor type, and 8.6, 6, 12) due to BMI. Ratios of PD, RE, and RV were not statistically different between 1st and 2nd imaging events with mean percent difference in (PD, RE, and RV) ratios of (-0.04, -0.11, and - 0.01). These findings suggest that VisR outcome measures are robust to potentially confounding demographic factors and reproducible by a trained practitioner.
Imbalanced Learning for Cooperative Spectrum Sensing in Cognitive Radio Networks

We propose a novel cooperative spectrum sensing (CSS) framework for cognitive radio networks based on imbalanced learning techniques, which aims to resolve the skewed category distribution problems of signal data. For a radio channel shared by primary users (PUs) and secondary users (SUs), the signal data composed of energy vectors, in which each energy level is estimated by SU, can be used to detect the channel availability via a classifier. However, due to the nature of this application, the existing category-imbalance problem hinders the detection performance since the trained classifier has a better effect on the dominated category. To enhance the performance, sampling (e.g., oversampling, under-sampling, and combination) algorithms are employed to balance the training data set based on the imbalance degree metric of imbalance-ratio. The balanced training set then can be used to train classifiers with initial parameters, and the validation set can be utilized to tune as well as evaluate the classifiers. In the testing phase, the actual desired performance on unseen signal data can be determined based on the testing set, i.e., whether the channel is available or not. The performance of each sampling algorithm is measured in terms of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and area under the ROC curve (AUC). The simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed framework compared to traditional CSS methods.
Evaluating probability of containment effectiveness at a GCS site using integrated assessment modeling approach with Bayesian decision network

Improved scientific and engineering understanding of the behavior of geologic CO2 storage together with established regulatory framework and incentive structures raise the prospects for accelerated, large‐scale deployment of this greenhouse gas emissions reduction approach. Incentive structures call for the establishment of appropriate verification and accounting approaches to support claims of the integrity of a geologic storage complex and to justify taking credit for long‐term storage. In this study, we present a framework for assessing the probability of containment effectiveness over the lifetime of a geologic carbon storage site (e.g., after 70 years of injection and postinjection site performance) using forward stochastic model realizations based on site characterization data and using a monitoring‐informed Bayesian network based on hypothetical detectability from surface seismic surveys over the site injection and post‐injection phases. The National Risk Assessment Partnership's open‐source Integrated Assessment Model (NRAP‐Open‐IAM) was utilized to develop an ensemble of 10,000 a priori stochastic forecasts of CO2 containment. Those simulations were used to train the Bayesian network model to estimate the prior probabilities of the CO2 leakage mass into overlying, monitorable aquifers considering the uncertainties in the reservoir properties, permeability of potentially leaky wells and the overlying aquifers. The conditional probabilities in the Bayesian network were either learned from the NRAP‐Open‐IAM simulations or derived from the predefined detection thresholds for the monitoring method. Observations obtained from monitoring, over time during the site operation phases were then used to generate updated posterior probabilities of containment (and any loss from containment) in the Bayesian network by propagating the prior probabilities through the conditional probabilities. We demonstrate how to construct and use the Bayesian network for verifying the long‐term storage complex effectiveness informed by monitoring based on the NRAP‐Open‐IAM simulations previously developed for the FutureGen 2.0 site. This approach may have relevance for stake holders to demonstrate secure geologic storage, provide a defensible, probabilistic approach to claim credit for geologic storage, and to estimate the likelihood that any fraction of the claimed credit may need to be refunded to the creditor based on available monitoring information. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Distributional Effects of Government Spending Shocks in Developing Economies

We construct unanticipated government spending shocks for 103 developing countries from 1990 to 2015 and study their effects on income distribution. We find that unanticipated fiscal consolidations lead to a long-lasting increase in income inequality, while fiscal expansions lower inequality. The results are robust to several measures of income distribution and size of the fiscal shocks, to an alternative identification strategy, across expansions and recessions and across country groups (low-income countries versus emerging markets). An additional contribution of the paper is the computation of the medium-term inequality multiplier. This is on average about 1 in our sample, meaning that a cumulative decrease in government spending of 1 percent of GDP over 5 years is associated with a cumulative increase in the Gini coefficient over the same period of about 1 percentage point. The multiplier is larger for total government expenditure than for public investment and consumption (with the former having larger effect), likely due to the redistributive role of transfers. Finally, we find that (unanticipated) fiscal consolidations lead to an increase in poverty.
Adherence to Child Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Treatment Guidelines in Medical Homes-Results from a National Survey.

OBJECTIVE Having primary care delivered through a medical home is believed to improve mental health care delivery to children. Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are commonly treated in pediatric practices, yet little is known about ADHD treatment patterns in medical homes. Our objective was to assess for treatment variation depending on parent-perceived medical home (PPMH) status. We hypothesized that having a PPMH would be associated with receiving ADHD treatments recommended by clinical guidelines. METHODS We used the 2016 National Survey of Children's Health-a nationally representative cross-sectional survey of children in the United States. Analyses included an unweighted sample of 4,252, representing 5.4 million children aged 3 to 17 years with parent-reported ADHD. Child characteristics were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Associations between ADHD treatment types and PPMH status were assessed using a multinomial logistic regression, adjusting for child characteristics. RESULTS Having a PPMH was associated with increased prevalence odds of children's receipt of medications alone for ADHD (vs no treatment). The prevalence odds of receiving behavioral treatment alone (vs medications alone) for ADHD decreased by 43% when children had a PPMH (95% confidence interval, 0.38-0.85, p = 0.01). PPMH status was not associated with a statistically significant difference in prevalence odds of receiving combination treatment (vs medications alone) for pediatric ADHD. CONCLUSION Having a PPMH was associated with children's receipt of ADHD medications alone, but not behavioral treatments. Our findings suggest that medical homes may need further improvement to ensure that children with ADHD receive treatments as recommended by clinical guidelines.
Pain and ethnicity.

Biological and cultural differences affect the experience of pain, and misinformation and biases affect its treatment.
Next-to-next-to-leading logarithm resummation for s -channel single top quark production

I present the next-to-next-to-leading-logarithm (NNLL) resummation of soft and collinear gluon corrections to single top quark production in the s channel. Attaining NNLL accuracy involves the calculation of the two-loop soft anomalous dimension for the partonic subprocesses. Finite-order expansions of the resummed cross section are calculated through next-to-next-to-leading order. Numerical results are presented for s-channel single top quark production at the Tevatron and the LHC, including the dependence of the cross sections on the top quark mass and the uncertainties in the theoretical prediction. The higher-order corrections are significant for energies at both colliders and they decrease the theoretical uncertainty.
Unproven methods of treatment.

NOT INFREQUENTLY, within the field of medicine, we encounter situations where a form of therapy which many knowledgeable scientists consider valueless, is reported to give dramatically beneficial results, and is observed to achieve wide public acclaim. Certainly, it is well recognized that especially when one is dealing with conditions termed "hopeless" the victims and their relatives will seize upon any form of therapy whose proponents claim beneficial results. Recently, there have been recommended various unconventional treatments for children and adults suffering from congenital or acquired brain dysfunction. The wide and reportedly uncritical acceptance of such treatments has been a cause of some concern, and it is therefore important to be aware of certain special factors which may operate in this particular area of medicine.
Decoration day in the mountains: : traditions of cemetery decoration in the southern appalachians

[...]on page 38, the author states that he suggests the term "assemblage style" to refer to the modern custom of adorning graves with objects, notes, and personal mementos. here duty compels me to point out that this idea was presented earlier, in an article by Jean- nie banks thomas called "communicative communication and Graveside Shrines: Prin- cess Diana, Jim morrison, my 'bro' max and boogs the cat," in a volume i edited (Spontane- ous Shrines and the Public Memorialization of Death, Palgrave macmillan, 2006), and also that i developed the idea of the "folk assemblage" as a genre in a 1992 article "The Folk Assemblage of Autumn" (in Folk Art and Art Worlds, John michael Vlach and Simon J. bronner, eds., utah State university Press, 1992).
Chapter 44 – Overview

Publisher Summary This chapter presents an overview of the vascular causes of epilepsy. Cerebral vascular malformations of the central nervous system are developmental abnormalities associated with an abnormal configuration of the cerebral vasculature. Cavernous malformations are discrete lesions comprised of multiple blood-filled sinusoidal spaces lined with a layer of endothelium. The arteriovenous alformations (AVMs) are high-flow vascular lesions consisting of a central nidus of tangled, malformed vessels with single or multiple feeding arteries and dilated tortuous arterialized draining veins. Shunting of blood through the nidus can result in demonstrable regional hypoperfusion beyond the borders of the AVM lesion. Dural arteriovenous malformations are associated with plexiform arteriovenous fistulae within the pachymeningeal dural leaflets. Venous malformations are the most prevalent intracranial vascular malformation, detected in autopsy series and imaging studies in up to 4% of the population. Capillary telangiectasias consist of an abnormal region of dilated capillaries of varying caliber and may be associated with microhemorrhages and gliosis of the surrounding brain. While considering appropriate therapy for the patients with vascular malformations and epilepsy, the risks of disability from hemorrhage as well as seizure control must be taken into consideration. Particularly in patients with significant risk factors for hemorrhage, a more aggressive therapeutic stance may be necessary to prevent the sequelae of new or recurrent hemorrhage.
Recognition and treatment of neuropsychiatric disturbances in Parkinson’s disease

The non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD) have been attracting increasing attention due to their ubiquitous nature and their often devastating effects on the quality of life. Behavioral problems in PD include dementia, depression, apathy, fatigue, anxiety, psychosis, akathisia, personality change, sleep disorders and impulse control disorders. Some of these are intrinsic to the neuropathology while others occur as an interplay between pathology, psychology and pharmacology. While few data exist for guiding therapy, enough is known to guide therapy in a rational manner.
Amorphous iridium complexes for electrophosphorescent light emitting devices

Iridium complexes with fluorene-modified phenylpyridine ligands are resistant to crystallization and can be used in the fabrication of single layer light emitting diodes.
Microdetermination of Protein Nitrogen with a Dumbbell Diffusion Apparatus

The use of a two-chamber, sealed microdiffusion apparatus has been investigated for the determination of protein nitrogen on samples containing 0.5 mg. protein. The apparatus is constructed from a ground-glass ball-and-socket joint, and all operations including digestion are performed in the designed apparatus. The method has been applied to the determination of nitrogen in tobacco mosaic virus protein and found to be in good agreement with theoretical values.
Application of liquid-metal MHD generators to the LMFBR

Abstract The feasibility of coupling two-phase liquid-metal magnetohydrodynamic generators (LMMHD) to liquid-metal fast breeder reactors (LMFBR) is examined. Important constraints on the LMFBR-LMMHD system that were not accounted for in earlier studies have been included. A LMMHD cycle coupled to a gas turbine cycle yielded an overall cycle efficiency of 35.2% which is less than the efficiency of 36.2% when the gas turbine cycle is utilized by itself. However, a LMMHD cycle coupled to a steam cycle shows a slight advantage (38.9–39.8% overall cycle efficiencies for generator efficiencies varying from 80 to 90%) over the conventional steam cycle (38.5% efficiency).
Recurrent ventricular fibrillation: experience with first responders prior to advanced life support interventions.

Abstract Aim Following defibrillation, ventricular fibrillation (VF) frequently recurs during out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Prior studies have reported conflicting results regarding its association with survival. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of recurrent VF in the presence of first responders before advanced life support (ALS) interventions. Methods Electrocardiographic data from first responder automated external defibrillators (AEDs) were analyzed. A successful shock was defined as termination of VF for 5 s or longer. Recurrent VF was defined as any VF that occurred after a successful shock. The primary outcome was neurologically intact survival to hospital discharge (CPC 1–2). Results 108 patients within our emergency system experienced a witnessed VF arrest. Of these, 73 (68%) had at least one recurrence of VF. Median time to recurrence of VF was 25 s [interquartile range (IQR) 11–66 s]. Median time in recurrent VF was 180 s (IQR 105–266 s). Survival was observed in 25 (71%) of patients with no recurrent VF and in 36 (49%) who had recurrence. Recurrent VF was associated with a lower odds of survival on univariate analysis (OR 0.39, 95% CI 0.16–0.92, p = 0.0325). After adjusting for bystander CPR, gender and age, recurrent VF had a similar direction of effect but was no longer significantly associated with neurologically intact survival (OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.17–1.11, p = 0.081). Conclusions In the presence of first responders, VF recurred in 68% of patients. Recurrent VF was associated with a lower odds of survival, though its prognostic significance appeared to be blunted when considered in light of confounding variables. Recurrent VF may have significant survival implications, and further studies to assess its prognostic significance should be performed.
The effect of radiocarbon on the rate of carbon dioxide utilization during photosynthesis.

Abstract In view of the wide application of radioactive carbon dioxide in tracer experiments together with a reported anomalous effect of the isotope content on the tracer behavior, we have investigated the effect of varying specific activity of the carbon dioxide on both the rate and pattern of photosynthetic carbon fixation. We have found no effect of the carbon-14 other than the ordinary mass effect in both algae and higher plants.
Estimating Central Equatorial Pacific SST Variability over the Past Millennium. Part I: Methodology and Validation

AbstractConstraining the low-frequency (LF) behavior of general circulation models (GCMs) requires reliable observational estimates of LF variability. This two-part paper presents multiproxy reconstructions of Nino-3.4 sea surface temperature over the last millennium, applying two techniques [composite plus scale (CPS) and hybrid regularized expectation maximization (RegEM) truncated total least squares (TTLS)] to a network of tropical, high-resolution proxy records. This first part presents the data and methodology before evaluating their predictive skill using frozen network analysis (FNA) and pseudoproxy experiments. The FNA results suggest that about half of the Nino-3.4 variance can be reconstructed back to A.D. 1000, but they show little LF skill during certain intervals. More variance can be reconstructed in the interannual band where climate signals are strongest, but this band is affected by dating uncertainties (which are not formally addressed here). The CPS reliably estimates interannual varia...
Agglomerate formation during drying

The evolution of agglomerate structure during drying of particles from suspension has been studied for a nanocrystalline Y 2 O 3 (8% mol fraction)-stabilized ZrO 2 powder. Agglomerates in drying and dried suspensions were examined at the smallest size scales (I nm to 1 μm) using ultra-small angle x-ray scattering (USAXS) and at the largest size scales (100 nm to 10 μm) using scanning electron microscopy. The results were correlated with the degree of particle dissolution in each suspension (measured by flame absorption spectroscopy of the suspension filtrate) and the zeta potential of the particles in suspension prior to drying. Results show that large agglomerates readily form across a pH range from 2 to 9. The fact that Y + 3 ion dissolution varies by over four orders of magnitude in this range leads to the conclusion that there is little direct correlation between the degree of Y dissolution and agglomeration in this system (Zr ion dissolution was below the detection limit at all pH values studied). The observation of large agglomerates well before the introduction of air-water interfaces into the drying mass likewise leads to the conclusion that capillary forces are not essential to agglomerate formation. Instead, agglomerates appear to form as a direct consequence of increasing suspension concentration. Zeta potential also plays a role. Specifically, there was a notable change in agglomerate morphology as the isoelectric point was approached, at approximately pH 8. Here USAXS shows the particles in suspension to have a layered interior structure, with small primary particles aggregated in sheets to form each blocky particle. This is in contrast to the more rounded agglomerates formed away from the isoelectric point, which appear to be composed of the same primary particles arranged in chainlike structures. USAXS of powders from the dried suspensions confirms that the structures seen after drying are the same as those present in suspension. The two structural morphologies are attributed to diffusion-limited (sheets) versus reaction-limited (chains) aggregation, respectively.
Alzheimer's disease diagnosis in individual subjects using structural MR images: Validation studies

Abstract Objective To develop and validate a tool for Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnosis in individual subjects using support vector machine (SVM)-based classification of structural MR (sMR) images. Background Libraries of sMR scans of clinically well characterized subjects can be harnessed for the purpose of diagnosing new incoming subjects. Methods One hundred ninety patients with probable AD were age- and gender-matched with 190 cognitively normal (CN) subjects. Three different classification models were implemented: Model I uses tissue densities obtained from sMR scans to give STructural Abnormality iNDex (STAND)-score; and Models II and III use tissue densities as well as covariates (demographics and Apolipoprotein E genotype) to give adjusted-STAND (aSTAND)-score. Data from 140 AD and 140 CN were used for training. The SVM parameter optimization and training were done by four-fold cross validation (CV). The remaining independent sample of 50 AD and 50 CN was used to obtain a minimally biased estimate of the generalization error of the algorithm. Results The CV accuracy of Model II and Model III aSTAND-scores was 88.5% and 89.3%, respectively, and the developed models generalized well on the independent test data sets. Anatomic patterns best differentiating the groups were consistent with the known distribution of neurofibrillary AD pathology. Conclusions This paper presents preliminary evidence that application of SVM-based classification of an individual sMR scan relative to a library of scans can provide useful information in individual subjects for diagnosis of AD. Including demographic and genetic information in the classification algorithm slightly improves diagnostic accuracy.
The impact of input: language acquisition in the visually impaired

Variation in language development between blind and sighted children may result from a diminution of experience or differences in linguistic input, or it may be a product of other factors. Researchers argue about the relative weighting of these. We examine this argument by reviewing data and findings from our studies of blind children's language and we evaluate the possible impact of input, both environmental and linguistic. We show that variation cannot be uniquely attributed to either of these, but find evidence that experiential input may influence some areas while linguistic input more strongly affects others. Moreover, there is a complex interaction between these. We also find independent adaptive strategies by the children, pointing to a plasticity in the acquisition process itself.
Specific deamination of RNA by sodium bisulphite.

THE ability of nitrous acid to deaminate the cytosine residues of nucleic acids to uracil has made it valuable both as a mutagen1,2 and as an aid to studies of the structure3 and function4,5 of nucleic acids. Its use is, however, complicated by the fact that it also deaminates the adenine and guanine residues in nucleic acids6,7. Guanine, the reaction of which is least desirable for mutagenic purposes, is usually the base most reactive to nitrous acid8. In addition, nitrous acid causes the formation of nitro compounds8, the cross-linking of DNA (ref. 9), the destruction of guanine residues10, and other side reactions which diminish its usefulness.
A computational theory of prose style for natural language generation

In this paper we report on initial research we have conducted on a computational theory of prose style. Our theory speaks to the following major points:1. Where in the generation process style is taken into account.2. How a particular prose style is represented; what "stylistic rules" look like;3. What modifications to a generation algorithm are needed; what the decision is that evaluates stylistic alternatives;4. What elaborations to the normal description of surface structure are necessary to make it usable as a plan for the text and a reference for these decisions;5. What kinds of information decisions about style have access to.Our theory emerged out of design experiments we have made over the past year with our natural language generation system, the Zetalisp program MUMBLE. In the process we have extended MUMBLE through the addition of an additional process that now mediates between content planning and linguistic realization. This new process, which we call "attachment", provides the further significant benefit that text structure is no longer dictated by the structure of the message: the sequential order and dominance relationships of concepts in the message no longer force one form onto the words and phrases in the text. Instead, rhetorical and intentional directives can be interpreted flexibly in the context of the ongoing discourse and stylistic preferences. The text is built up through composition under the direction of linguistic organizing principles, rather than having to follow conceptual principles in lockstep.We will begin by describing what we mean by prose style and then introducing the generation task that lead us to this theory, the reproduction of short encyclopedia articles on African tribes. We will then use that task to outline the parts of our theory and the operations of the attachment process. Finally we will compare our techniques to the related work of Davey, McKeown and Derr, and Gabriel, and consider some of the possible psycholinguistic hypotheses that it may lead to.
Raman spectroscopy of C-S-H, tobermorite, and jennite

Raman spectra of single-phase calcium-silicate hydrate (C-S-H) samples with C/S ratios between 0.88 and 1.45 are consistent with a defect tobermorite model for the structure of these materials, in agreement with previously published nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic data for the same samples. The Raman spectra of C-S-H samples with C/S ratios 1 and Q 2 Si sites and indicate the possible presence of jennite-like environments. Raman spectroscopy, like infrared and NMR, is a probe of local structure on the atomic nearest neighbor and next-nearest neighbor scale, and thus provides significantly different information than diffraction methods. The Raman spectra of the C-S-H have a rich structure and contain peaks for Si-O stretching, Si-O-Si bending, internal deformation of the Si-O tetrahedra and Ca-O polyhedra, and characteristic peaks at lower frequencies. The spectra of jennite and 14A tobermorite are quite similar, confirming the result from NMR spectroscopy that jennite has dominantly Q 2 polymerization. The Raman spectra of 11A and 14A tobermorite are also similar, although our sample of 11A tobermorite has a significant concentration of Q 3 Si sites, which indicates cross-linking of the chains.
Nutrient imbalances in depressive disorders. Possible brain mechanisms.

We examined the utility of d-fenfluramine, a serotonin-releasing drug previously shown to diminish carbohydrate craving and weight gain in obese people, in treating patients with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a variant of depression that occurs each fall and winter and is usually associated with hyperphagia and carbohydrate craving. Eighteen patients participated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study in 1986-1987, each receiving, in random order, d-fenfluramine (15 mg p.o. twice daily) or a placebo for four weeks, separated by a two-week washout period. Symptoms of SAD were assessed before and after each treatment period using clinical interviews by a psychiatrist, and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDS) with a special SAD addendum (ADD). Subjects were also weighed. Patients' depression scores (mean +/- SEM) were identical before treatment with drug (20.9 +/- 1.3, HDS: 13.3 +/- 0.8 ADD) or placebo (21.4 +/- 1.2, HDS; 13.2 +/- 0.6 ADD). During placebo treatment, HDS scores declined by 22.6% (p less than 0.02) and ADD scores by 9% (p greater than 0.2). During d-fenfluramine treatment, HDS scores fell by 71% (p less than 0.0001) and ADD scores by 73% (p less than 0.0001). Thirteen of the subjects (72%) demonstrated complete reversal of their abnormal test scores on d-fenfluramine. In two others, test scores fell to normal levels with both the drug and its placebo; one subject responded only to placebo; and two failed to show therapeutic responses to either drug or placebo treatment. The group as a whole lost weight (1.2 kg) on d-fenfluramine (p less than 0.033) but not on placebo. A subsequent study on nine of the responders showed that improvements persisted for the full three-month duration of the SAD season. These results indicate that d-fenfluramine, a drug not previously identified as an antidepressant, may be useful in treating SAD. Moreover, since d-fenfluramine acts specifically to enhance serotonin-mediated neurotransmission, the data further suggest that serotonin is involved in both the affective and appetitive symptoms of SAD. Indeed, the carbohydrate craving of these patients may constitute a kind of substance abuse in which the nutrient is eaten precisely for its serotonin-mediated psychotropic effects.
Polypeptide Sequences Essential for RNA Recognition by an Enzyme

Many RNAs are complex, globular molecules formed from elements of secondary and tertiary structure analogous to those found in proteins. Little is known about recognition of RNAs by proteins. In the case of transfer RNAs (tRNAs), considerable evidence suggests that elements dispersed in both the one- and three-dimensional structure are important for recognition by aminoacyl tRNA synthetases. Fragments of alanine tRNA synthetase were created by in vitro manipulations of the cloned alaS gene and examined for their interaction with alanine-specific tRNA. Sequences essential for recognition were located near the middle of the polypeptide, juxtaposed to the carboxyl-terminal side of the domain for aminoacyl adenylate synthesis. The most essential part of the tRNA interaction strength and specificity was dependent on a sequence of fewer than 100 amino acids. Within this sequence, and in the context of the proper conformation, a segment of no more than 17 amino acids was responsible for 25% or more of the total synthetase-tRNA free energy of association. The results raise the possibility that an important part of specific RNA recognition by an aminoacyl tRNA synthetase involves a polypeptide segment that is short relative to the total size of the protein.
Treatment of acute nonlymphocytic leukemia in elderly patients. A prospective study of intensive chemotherapy

Twenty-seven patients over 60 years of age with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL) were prospectively treated with one of three intensive chemotherapeutic regimens. Complete remissions were achieved in eight patients (30%). Remissions were obtained in seven of 14 patients (50%) age 61 to 70 years, but in only one of 13 patients (8%) 71 years and older. The most effective regimen in patients 61 to 70 years consisted of a combination of daunorubicin and cytosine arabinoside. The median duration of remission for all eight responders is 9+ months and their median survival is 14+ months. Intensive therapy is indicated in the elderly patient 61 to 70 years of age with ANLL.