cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of short-term portacaval anastomosis on the peripheral and brain disposition of the blood–brain barrier permeability marker sodium fluorescein in rats

Contradictory results have been reported with regard to the effects of various models of hepatic encephalopathy on the blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability, which may be due partly to the use of brain concentrations of BBB markers without attention to their peripheral pharmacokinetics. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the effects of short-term portacaval anastomosis (PCA), a type B model of hepatic encephalopathy, on the peripheral pharmacokinetics and brain distribution of sodium fluorescein (FL), which is a small molecule marker of BBB passive permeability. A single 25mg/kg dose of FL was administered intravenously to 10-day PCA and sham-operated rats, and serial blood and bile (0-30min) and terminal (30min) brain samples were collected, and the concentrations of FL and its glucuronidated metabolite (FL-Glu) were measured by HPLC. Additionally, the free fractions of FL (fu) in all the plasma samples were determined, and the effects of bile salts on fu were investigated in vitro. Passive permeability of BBB to FL was estimated by brain uptake clearance (Kin) based on both the brain concentrations of FL and plasma concentrations of free (unbound) FL. PCA caused a 26% increase in the fu of FL in plasma, which was due to competition of bile acids with FL for binding to plasma proteins. Additionally, PCA reduced the biliary excretion of FL-Glu by 55%. However, free Kin values (µl/min/g brain) for the sham (0.265±0.034) and PCA (0.228±0.038) rats were not significantly different. It is concluded that whereas 10-day PCA alters the peripheral pharmacokinetics of FL, it does not significantly affect the BBB permeability to the marker.
Poster: Tracking and Visualizing the Evolution of the Universe: In situ Parallel Dark Matter Halo Merger Trees

We present a framework to study the behavior and properties of cosmological structures called dark matter halos. As part of the framework, we build an evolution history, called halo merger trees, which follows the evolution of the halos over time. The entire process from tracking to building the merger tree is performed in parallel and in situ with the underlying cosmological N-body simulation.
Parallel nucleation field in thin superconducting films

Nucleation of superconductivity in a thin film situated in a parallel magnetic field is considered. The field dependence of the coherence length is taken into account. In particular, the known result for the nucleation field H-italic near the critical temperature T-italic/sub c-italic/ is shown to hold only in the dirty limit. For a finite mean free path H-italic/sup 2/ depends linearly on T-italic as in the dirty limit. However, the slope d-italicH-italic/sup 2//dT at T-italic/sub c-italic/ may change sign to positive for thin and clean enough films.
Proton Pump Inhibitor Prescriptions and Subsequent Use in US Veterans Diagnosed with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

BACKGROUND Empiric proton pump inhibitor use is common for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), but initial proton pump inhibitor (PPI) prescription patterns in Veterans are unknown.
Continuous versus intermittent extraoral traction: an experimental study.

E xtraoral traction to the maxilla has proved to be clinically effective in the correction of anteroposterior discrepancies in occlusion. Recently, the effect of such traction on the bones of the craniofacial complex has also been recognized.5y i, 9, I*, 13, l6 In all previous experimental studies, with one exception,16 extraoral traction to the maxillas of monkeys has been achieved with continuously applied force (24 hours per day). However, the intermittent application of ext,raoral traction is a common clinical procedure, and investigation is indicated to compare different force-application schedules. This article will describe the treatment effects and the posttreatment stability of extraoral high-pull traction applied to the maxilla of Macaca nemestrina on an intermittent versus a continuous schedule. Duration of force application is the independent variable of study.
Koreans, Chinese, or Indians? Attitudes and Ideologies about Non-Native English Speakers in the United States.

L'A. analyse les reactions d'etudiants universitaires americains a l'egard de l'anglais parle par des locuteurs non-natifs (coreens). Ces etudiants etaient charges d'associer a des voix des caracteristiques liees au statut et au degre de solidarite du locuteur. Ces caracteristiques etaient divisees en traits positifs (intelligent, reussi, ambitieux, amical, sympathique, serviable) et negatifs (paresseux, inculte, incompetent, mechant, hypocrite, distant). Cette analyse rend compte des representations mentales qu'ont les etudiants du statut social de la communaute coreenne aux Etats-Unis. Ce statut est evalue de maniere plutot negative
Energy Level and Line Tables for One-Electron Atomic Spectra*

Tables are presented showing precise values of the energy levels and lines of the spectra 1H i to 40Ca xx according to an equation expected to exhibit a relative uncertainty of the order of 10−11Z7. Only one isotope per element is listed beyond Li iii. All levels are given up to n values ranging from 12 for H i to 4 for Ca xx and those of lowest and highest j up to n values ranging from 50 for H i to 8 for Ca xx. For each line complex with given n and n′, the wavenumbers of the two extreme lines and the statistical mean are given up to values ranging from n = 20, n′ = 12 f or 1H i to n = 7, n′ = 6 for 40Ca xx.
Improvements in Nitrogen-Corrected Apparent Metabolizable Energy of Peanut Meal in Response to Phytase Supplementation

Abstract A study was conducted to investigate the effect of phytase on the AMEn of peanut meal. One hundred twenty Ross × Ross broiler chicks of mixed sex were fed one of 4 experimental diets from 5 to 15 d of age. Diets used were Diet 1, a low P corn-soybean based basal diet; Diet 2, a 50% basal + 50% peanut meal diet; Diet 3, the basal diet supplemented with 24,000 phytase units (FTU) of Natuphos 5000 phytase/kg; and Diet 4, a phytase-supplemented 50% basal + 50% peanut meal diet. Chromic oxide was added to the basal diet at 0.1% as an indigestible marker. Apparent metabolizable energy was determined by substituting peanut meal at the expense of the basal diet. Other parameters measured included the phytate content of the diets as well as phytate P disappearance. Phytase significantly improved phytate P disappearance for both the corn and soybean meal basal diet (23.8 to 93.7%) as well as the 50% basal + 50% peanut meal diet (16.7 to 89.5%). Phytase increased the AMEn of peanut meal on a DM basis by approximately 9%, from 3,209 to 3,559 kcal/kg.
Blockade of Copulation-Induced Ovulation in the Rat by Anterior Hypothalamic Deafferentation

In confirmation of earlier reports, ovulation was induced in rats by coitus after the cyclic stimulus for release of ovulating hormone (s) had been blocked by pentobarbital during the critical period of proestrus. Posterior deafferentation of the hypothalamus at the level of the mammillary body did not block the coital stimulus. Anterior deafferentation behind the suprachiasmatic nucleus blocked “spontaneous ovulation” and interfered with mating behaviorWith anterior deafferentation rostral to the suprachiasmatic nucleus the rats would mate, but copulation was not followed by ovulation. Electrical stimulation of the median eminence in such ratsdid induce ovulation. It was concluded that the coital stimulus must ascend in the brain stem dorsal or lateral to the “half dome” of posterior hypothalamic deafferentation and must eventually reach the preoptic region, where it may influence the cyclic ovulatory “center” or descend independently into the median eminence-arcuate nucleus area. (Endocrinology 87: 1124...
Remote Backwards Emission in Air Via Stimulated Emission in Atomic Oxygen

We demonstrate and investigate coherent stimulated emission in the forward and backward direction form a remotely induced gain region created by an ultraviolet laser which dissociates molecular oxygen and excites atomic oxygen
Mitral stenosis: Left atrial dynamics reflect altered passive and active emptying

To assess the passive and the active phases of left atrial (LA) emptying, LA volumes and function were studied in 15 patients with mitral stenosis (MS) in sinus rhythm and in 11 normal subjects (NL) with two-dimensional echocardiography with simultaneous electrocardiograms. LA and left ventricular (LV) volumes were measured with the biplane area-length method. LA maximal and minimal volumes were measured at mitral valve opening and closure, respectively. In addition, LA volume was measured at onset of atrial systole (beginning of the P wave on the electrocardiogram). LA volumes were larger in MS compared with NL: Maximal 122 ± 65 cm3 versus 46 ± 12 cm3, p < 0.001; onset of atrial systole 108 ± 63 cm3 versus 29 ± 12 cm3, p < 0.001; minimal 90 ± 60 cm3 versus 18 ± 7 cm3, p < 0.001. LA passive emptying volume (maximal minus volume at onset of atrial systole) was not statistically different in MS compared with NL, while LA active emptying volume (volume at onset of atrial systole minus mimimal) was larger in MS compared with NL (17 ± 5 cm3 versus 11 ± 5 cm3, p < 0.05). The net result was normal LA total emptying volume (maximal minus minimal) MS 32 ± 11 cm3, NL 28 ± 5 cm3. In contrast, the LA emptying fractions were significantly decreased in MS compared with NL (passive 0.13 ± 0.08 versus 0.39 ± 0.1, p < 0.0001, active 0.19 ± 0.08 versus 0.38 ± 0.07, p < 0.0001, total 0.30 ± 0.1 versus 0.62 ± 0.07, p < 0.0001). Thus in MS in sinus rhythm the increased LA volumes compensated for the decreased LA emptying fractions and maintained LA total emptying volume.
Collagen’s Triglycine Repeat Number and Phylogeny Suggest an Interdomain Transfer Event from a Devonian or Silurian Organism into Trichodesmium erythraeum

Two competing effects at two vastly different scales may explain collagen’s current translation length. The necessity to have long molecules for maintaining mechanical integrity at the organism and supraorganism scales may be limited by the need to have small molecules capable of robust self-assembly at the nanoscale. The triglycine repeat regions of all 556 currently cataloged organisms with collagen-like genes were ranked by length. This revealed a sharp boundary in the GXY transcript number at 1032 amino acids (344 GXY repeats). An anomalous exception, however, is the intron-free Trichodesmium erythraeum collagen gene. Immunogold atomic force microscopy reveals, for the first time, the presence of a collagen-like protein in T. erythraeum. A phylogenetic protein sequence analysis which includes vertebrates, nonvertebrates, shrimp white spot syndrome virus, Streptococcus equi, and Bacillus cereus predicts that the collagen-like sequence may have emerged shortly after the divergence of fibrillar and nonfibrillar collagens. The presence of this anomalously long collagen gene within a prokaryote may represent an interdomain transfer from eukaryotes into prokaryotes that gives T. erythraeum the ability to form blooms that cover hundreds of square kilometers of ocean. We propose that the collagen gene entered the prokaryote intron-free only after it had been molded by years of mechanical selective pressure in larger organisms and only after large, dense food sources such as marine vertebrates became available. This anomalously long collagen-like sequence may explain T. erythraeum’s ability to aggregate and thus concentrate its toxin for food-source procurement.
Two Kinds of Research on Evaluation

Evaluation of research may be formative and summative as Scriven (1969) described. Formerly we spoke of applied and basic research.
Hybrid cluster model for the Ra-Th nuclei

Abstract Numerical calculations on E1 transitions in the radium and thorium isotopes are presented based upon a hybrid U(6) ⊗ U(4) cluster model. The different cluster properties of well deformed and near spherical radium and thorium nuclei are discussed in terms of the relative B (E1)/ B (E2) reduced transition matrix element ratios that show different dependents on J . They are related to simple changes in the IBA part of the model.
Structural and thermochemical characterization of lipoxygenase-catechol complexes.

A complex between native, iron(II) soybean lipoxygenase 3 and 4-nitrocatechol, a known inhibitor of the enzyme, has been detected by isothermal titration calorimetry and characterized by X-ray crystallography. The compound moors in the central cavity of the protein close to the essential iron atom, but not in a bonding arrangement with it. The iron ligands experience a significant rearrangement upon formation of the complex relative to their positions in the native enzyme; a water molecule becomes bound to iron in the complex, and one histidine ligand moves away from the iron to become involved in a hydrogen bonding interaction with the catechol. These changes in position result in a trigonal pyramid coordination geometry for iron in the complex. Molecular modeling and force field calculations predict more than one stable complex between 4-nitrocatechol and the central cavity of lipoxygenase 3, but the interaction having the small molecule in the same orientation as the one found in the crystal structure ...
Plastic deformation behavior of Al67Cr8Ti25 and Al67Cr8 Ti0.9Y0.1)25 intermetallic alloys at elevated temperatures

The temperature and strain rate dependence of the steady state flow stress of Al67Cr8Ti25 and Al67Cr8(Ti(0.9)Y(0.1))25 alloys are investigated. Al67Cr8Ti25 is a single L1(2) phase alloy and Al67Cr8(Ti(0.9)Y(0.1))25 includes about 12 vol pct of the second phase in the L1(2) matrix. This second phase was introduced by replacing 10 percent of titanium in the Al67Cr8Ti25 alloy with yttrium in order to improve creep resistance. It is shown that the matrix of the two-phase alloy is very similar to the single-phase alloy and most of the yttrium concentrates into the second phase. The grains are columnar with dimensions of 140 x 590 and 130 x 500 microns for Al67Cr8Ti25 and Al67Cr8(Ti(0.9)Y(0.1))25, respectively. Vickers hardness test results show that the two-phase alloy exhibits greater strength over the entire temperature range tested. Both alloys show positive temperature dependence of hardness between about 250 C and 350 C. The compression temperature range (700-800 C) is clearly higher than the anomalous temperature dependence region. 7 refs.
Solution of the Lubrication Problem and Calculation of the Friction Force on the Piston Rings

The Finite Element (FEM) is applied to solve the governing equations of lubrication of the piston rings and to calculate the friction force on each ring. The ring is assumed to have a circular profile in the direction of motion. This profile changes with time because tilting of the ring with the engine cycle is taken into account. In the circumferential direction, the ring is assumed to be a perfect circle and the bore cross-section is assumed elliptic. Mixed lubrication is considered when the oil film thickness becomes smaller than a certain value which depends upon the roughness of the surfaces in contact. The friction coefficient for this lubrication is taken as a function of the oil film thickness and the surface roughness. The predictions of the friction force are compared with experimental friction data for the same engine.
Speech discrimination in the language-innocent and the language-wise: a study in the perception of voice onset time.

Discrimination of synthetically produced stimuli differing along the voice onset time continuum was assessed for infants and adults within the context of the Visually Reinforced Infant Speech Discrimination (VRISD) paradigm. English-learning infants' discrimination abilities were compared with two groups of English-speaking adults (a phonetically naive and a phonetically sophisticated group). Contrary to the predictions of the innateness hypothesis, English-learning infants showed evidence of discrimination only across the English phoneme boundary. Adults, on the other hand, were very successful in discriminating both across and within a range of phoneme boundaries. These results are discussed in terms of the presumed relationship between categorical perception and linguistic processing and in terms of synthetic speech continua.
A magnetostratigraphic study of the sediments of the Ridge Basin, southern California and its tectonic and sedimentologic implications

A magnetic polarity zonation has been established for the upper Castaic Formation and lower Ridge Route and Peace Valley Formations of the Ridge Basin of the central Transverse Ranges of southern California. The zonation is based on the analysis of over 1900 samples from 669 sites in the 5800 m thick sedimentary sequence. Rock magnetic studies provide evidence that the carrier of the primary remanence is magnetite and that the magnetization was acquired at or shortly after deposition of the sediment. Although many samples contain a secondary, normal overprint, systematic analysis of the changes in direction upon demagnetization leads to an accurate determination of the original polarity. Thirteen polarity intervals are recognized. On the basis of biostratigraphic constraints imposed by a marine invertebrate faunaat the base of the sequence and a terrestrial vertebrate fauna at the top, the magnetic polarity zonation can be correlated to the magnetic polarity time scale. The studied interval extends from the Epoch 5/Epoch 6 boundary to the middle of Epoch 8. Polarity changes within the studied interval represent chronostratigraphic horizons which can be used to analyze tectonic and sedimentologic processes which are recorded in the sediments of the Ridge Basin. The locus of the tectonic activity within the basin has been dated as occurring on the Clearwater fault from 8.1 to 7.8 m.y. ago, on the Liebre faultfrom 7.3 to 6.1 m.y. ago and on the North Liebre fault from 6.0 to 5.0 m.y. ago. During this entire period of time, the San Gabriel fault on the western margin of the basin was continuously active, and a period of particularly vigorous activity has been dated at 7.3 to 7.0 m.y. The mean declinations of samples from the normal magnetozones provide no evidence for the existence of a major rotation of the Ridge Basin subsequent to about 8.5 m.y. ago. Sedimentation rates for interbedded sandstone and shale units within the basin have been separately determined as 0.2 m/1000 years and 3.0 m/1000 years, respectively. The water content of certain deformed structures within the sequence has been determined to have been 35% and 40% at the time of deformation.
Prolyl cis-trans isomerization as a molecular timer

Proline is unique in the realm of amino acids in its ability to adopt completely distinct cis and trans conformations, which allows it to act as a backbone switch that is controlled by prolyl cis-trans isomerization. This intrinsically slow interconversion can be catalyzed by the evolutionarily conserved group of peptidyl prolyl cis-trans isomerase enzymes. These enzymes include cyclophilins and FK506-binding proteins, which are well known for their isomerization-independent role as cellular targets for immunosuppressive drugs. The significance of enzyme-catalyzed prolyl cis-trans isomerization as an important regulatory mechanism in human physiology and pathology was not recognized until the discovery of the phosphorylation-specific prolyl isomerase Pin1. Recent studies indicate that both phosphorylation-dependent and phosphorylation-independent prolyl cis-trans isomerization can act as a novel molecular timer to help control the amplitude and duration of a cellular process, and prolyl cis-trans isomerization might be a new target for therapeutic interventions.
DNA sequence changes in mutations induced by ultraviolet light in the gpt gene on the chromosome of Escherichia coli uvr+ and uvrA cells

Sequence changes in mutations induced by ultraviolet light are reported for the chromosomal Escherichia coli gpt gene in almost isogenic E. coli uvr + and excision-deficient uvrA cells. Differences between the mutagenic spectra are ascribed to preferential removal of photoproducts in the transcribed strand by excision repair in uvr + cells. This conclusion is confirmed by analysis of published results for genes in both uvr + and uvr − cells, showing a similar selective removal of mutagenic products from the transcribed strand of the E. coli lacI gene and of the lambda phage cl repressor gene. Comparison of these data with published results for ultraviolet mutagenesis of gpt on a chromosome in Chinese hamster ovary cells showed that a mutagenic hot spot in mammalian cells is not present in E. coli; the possibility is suggested that the hot spot might arise from localized lack of excision repair. Otherwise, mutagenesis in hamster cells appeared similar to that in E. coli uvr + cells, except there appears to be a smaller fraction of single-base additions and deletions (frameshifts) in mammalian than in bacterial cells. Phenotypes of 6-thioguanine-resistant E. coli showed there is a gene (or genes) other than gpt involved in the utilization of thioguanine by bacteria.
Performance on a vigilance task under conditions of true and false knowledge of results.

A vigilance study comparing the effects of true and false knowledge of results is presented. The study determines at what point, if any, the effects of false knowledge of results (FKR) reflect the ...
Plasmons in nanostructures with reduced symmetry

Using the plasmon hybridization method, we investigate the plasmonic properties of nanoparticles and structures of reduced symmetry. We derive analytical expressions for prolate spheroidal particles including core-shell structures. We also explore the properties of the non-concentric spherical nanoshell geometry present in nanoeggs. Finally, we investigate the plasmonic properties of small nanoparticle aggregates such as trimers and quadrumers and show that group theory can be used to analyze their plasmonic structure.
Bombesin and Muscarinic Receptor Activation in Rat Pancreas Generate Cyclic Inositol Monophosphate: Possible Involvement of Different Phospholipase C Isoenzymes

Phospholipase C isoenzymes can generate different proportions of cyclic and non-cyclic inositol phosphates. Stimulation of [3H]-inositol labeled pancreatic minilobules by buffer, bombesin, neuromedin B or carbachol in presence of 10 mM lithium, followed by separation of inositol phosphates, yielded the following results for cyclic inositol monophosphate (cIP) [DPM/mg protein; Mean +/- SEM (n)]: control [21 +/- 6, (9)]; bombesin [145 +/- 24, (12)]; neuromedin B (99 +/- 22 (9)] and carbachol [512 +/- 60, (12)]. The generation of cIP and IP were significantly correlated [r2 = 0.72 (p < 0.05)] following carbachol activation, while no significant correlation was obtained following bombesin receptor activation by either bombesin or neuromedin B. Presence of zinc (100 microM) in the final incubation medium failed to amplify the bombesin-stimulated cIP accumulation. Based on our studies we postulate that different phospholipase C isoenzymes may be activated following muscarinic and bombesin receptor stimulation in pancrea.
Pharmacological studies of human erectile tissue: characteristics of spontaneous contractions and alterations in α‐adrenoceptor responsiveness with age and disease in isolated tissues

1. The pathophysiology of impotence related to vascular smooth muscle dysfunction in the male corpus cavernosum was studied on human isolated erectile tissue (HET). Studies were conducted on 140 sections of HET obtained from 38 male patients undergoing surgery for implantation of penile prostheses to correct underlying erectile dysfunction. 2. Spontaneous myotonic oscillations were characteristic of greater than 90% of all HET preparations at 37 degrees C. These spontaneous oscillations were markedly attenuated by indomethacin, BW755C, nifedipine, removal of extracellular Ca2+, or lower temperatures (less than or equal to 32 degrees C), but were not sensitive to inhibition by atropine, phentolamine or tetrodotoxin. Our data suggest that the oscillations may, at least in part, result from the generation and/or release of a stable cyclo-oxygenase product and a consequent increase in transmembrane Ca2+ influx. 3. The phenylephrine-induced contractions in HET may be reliably assayed up to 24 h after surgical removal, without significant alterations in the EC50, maximum response (Emax) or slope index of the steady-state concentration-response curve to phenylephrine. 4. The competitive and surmountable nature of the antagonism of phenylephrine-induced contractions by prazosin and yohimbine allowed calculation of antagonist dissociation constants. The calculated pKb values for prazosin and yohimbine, respectively, were 9.47 +/- 0.49 and 5.54 +/- 0.22. The rank order of agonist potency in HET was: noradrenaline = phenylephrine much greater than clonidine. These data indicate the presence of a population of membrane receptors that are predominantly of the alpha 1-adrenoceptor subtype.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Pulmonary blastomycosis: an appraisal of diagnostic techniques.

Objectives Pulmonary blastomycosis often mimics bacterial pneumonia or bronchogenic carcinoma, which may result in delayed therapy or the performance of unnecessary diagnostic procedures. We have reviewed the utilization of diagnostic techniques in the workup of patients with pulmonary blastomycosis, defined their diagnostic yields, and proposed an optimal diagnostic approach for the patient in whom pulmonary blastomycosis is considered. Design Retrospective chart review of all patients with the diagnosis of blastomycosis at a major academic medical center. Results Of the 119 patients with blastomycosis, 56 (47%) had pulmonary involvement. A total of 92 specimens were obtained by noninvasive means (sputa, 72 specimens; tracheal secretions, 5 specimens; and gastric washings, 15 specimens) in 35 patients. KOH smears were prepared from 22 of those specimens (24%). The diagnostic yield from these culture specimens obtained by noninvasive means was 86% per patient, and 75% per single sample. The diagnostic yields from KOH smears were 46% and 36%, respectively. Flexible bronchoscopy was performed in 24 patients and yielded a diagnosis in 22 (92%). Cultures of bronchial secretions (19 patients) and BAL fluid (6 patients) were positive in 100% and 67% of patients, respectively. The corresponding yields of KOH preparations were 17% (1 of 6 preparations) and 50% (3 of 6 preparations), respectively. Pathology specimens including those from bronchoscopic lung biopsies (nine patients), bronchial brushings (two patients), and bronchoscopic needle aspiration (one patient) were positive in 22%, 50%, and 0% of cases, respectively. Cytology was usually performed to exclude malignancy and was positive for Blastomyces dermatitidis in five patients (sputum, three patients; bronchial washings, two patients). Thoracotomy was performed in 11 cases, and in all patients the procedure yielded a diagnosis. Serology results were available in 25 patients. Immunodiffusion was positive in 10 patients (40%), and complement fixation in 4 patients (16%). Conclusions In patients with pulmonary blastomycosis, the positive yield from respiratory specimen cultures is high, but the confirmation of a diagnosis may take up to 5 weeks. Wet smears and cytology examinations of respiratory specimens provide quicker diagnoses but are underutilized. Their routine use is recommended in endemic areas. Commonly used serologic assays are insensitive and are not useful for diagnostic screening.
AN ISOTOPIC METHOD FOR ASSAYING THE CONDENSATION OF GLYOXYLATE WITH ACETYL-COA AND OTHER SHORT-CHAIN FATTY ACID ACYL-COA DERIVATIVES.

1. 1. An isotopic method has been described for assaying the malate synthetase reaction. This procedure is based on measuring the disappearance of 1-C14-glyoxylate as a function of acetyl-CoA. 2. 2. This assay is applicable for the determination of α-hydroxyglutarate, β-ethylmalate, and β-n-propylmalate synthetase activity. 3. 3. The method deseribed is specific and sensitive to changes in glyoxylate concentration of less than 0.001 μmole. 4. 4. This assay provides a sensitive and rapid procedure which can be used for investigating the enzymic condensations of glyoxylate with other short-ehain fatty acid acyl-CoA derivatives.
A job flow time regression model

The flow time of a job is the total time it spends in the computer system--from the time it is recognized to the time it is purged. The mean flow time is used to measure the service capability of a data processing shop because, the smaller the mean flow time, the more jobs that can be processed within a period of time. Since the progress of program development in a batch environment depends on the number of shots each programmer can have, a system management objective is to identify the factors which are essential to the flow time and ensure that the system is running optimally at all times.
Prediction Analysis and the Reliability of a Mastery Test.

The classical estimate of a binomial probability function is to estimate its mean in the usual manner and to substitute the results in the appropriate expression. Two alternative estimation procedures are described and then examined from several points of view. Emphasis is given to the single administration estimate of the reliability of a mastery test.
Interferon-Inducible p200-Family Proteins as Novel Sensors of Cytoplasmic DNA: Role in Inflammation and Autoimmunity

Deregulated innate immune responses that result in increased levels of type I interferons (IFNs) and stimulation of IFN-inducible genes are thought to contribute to chronic inflammation and autoimmunity. One family of IFN-inducible genes is the Ifi200 family, which includes the murine (eg, Ifi202a, Ifi202b, Ifi203, Ifi204, Mndal, and Aim2) and human (eg, IFI16, MNDA, IFIX, and AIM2) genes. Genes in the family encode structurally related proteins (the p200-family proteins), which share at least one partially conserved repeat of 200-amino acid (200-AA) residues. Consistent with the presence of 2 consecutive oligonucleotide/oligosaccharide-binding folds in the repeat, the p200-family proteins can bind to DNA. Additionally, these proteins (except the p202 proteins) also contain a pyrin (PYD) domain in the N-terminus. Increased expression of p202 proteins in certain strains of female mice is associated with lupus-like disease. Interestingly, only the Aim2 protein is conserved between the mouse and humans. Several recent studies have provided evidence that the Aim2 and p202 proteins can recognize DNA in cytoplasm and the Aim2 protein upon sensing DNA can form a caspase-1-activating inflammasome. In this review, we discuss how the ability of p200-family proteins to sense cytoplasmic DNA may contribute to the development of chronic inflammation and associated diseases.
Intralayer-versus-interlayer pairing in the copper oxide superconductors

We have investigated the competing roles of intralayer {ital s}-wave and interlayer BCS-like pairing in determining the {ital c}-axis versus {ital ab}-plane energy-gap anisotropy in layered superconductors with {ital N}=1,2 conducting planes per unit-cell edge {ital s}. For {ital N}=1, intralayer {ital s}-wave pairing leads to a conventional order parameter (OP) {Delta}{sub 0} with a transition temperature ({ital T}{sub {ital c}}) value {ital T}{sub {ital c}0} and isotropic energy gap 2{vert bar}{Delta}{sub 0}{vert bar}. For interlayer pairing, the four-vector gap function {tilde {Delta}}{sub 3}({ital k}{sub {ital z}}) contains a singlet OP {Delta}{sub {ital s}} and a vector triplet OP {Delta}{sub {ital t}}, with corresponding normalized gap functions {radical}2 cos{ital k}{sub {ital z}s} and {radical}2 sin{ital k}{sub {ital z}s}. Since {Delta}{sub {ital s}} and {Delta}{sub {ital t}} have identical {ital T}{sub {ital c}} values ({ital T}{sub {ital c}{ital s}}={ital T}{sub {ital c}{ital t}}), the free energy is minimized when {vert bar}{Delta}{sub {ital s}}{vert bar}={vert bar}{Delta}{sub {ital t}}{vert bar}, and the resulting gap 2{vert bar}{Delta}{vert bar} is found to be {ital isotropic}. However, 2{vert bar}{Delta}{vert bar} is completely {ital incompatible} with 2{vert bar}{Delta}{sub 0}{vert bar}. For {ital N}=2, there are two intralayer pairing OP's {Delta}{sub 0} and {Delta}{sub 1}, and two interlayermore » four-vector gap functions {tilde {Delta}}{sub 3}({ital k}{sub {ital z}}) and {tilde {Delta}}{sub 2}({ital k}{sub {ital z}}), all of which could contribute to measurable quantities in the Gaussian-fluctuation regime above the highest {ital T}{sub {ital c}} value.« less
Improved chronologic resolution of the Hawthorn and the Alum Bluff Groups in northern Florida: Implications for Miocene chronostratigraphy

Several geochronologic methods are used to constrain the ages of the early to middle Miocene Hawthorn and Alum Bluff Groups in the eastern Florida panhandle. The Dogtown Member of the upper Torreya Formation (Hawthorn Group) in northern Gadsden County contains an early Barstovian land-mammal fauna, has 87 Sr/ 86 Sr age estimates between 14.7 ± 1.5 and 16.6 ± 1.0 Ma, is of reversed magnetic polarity, and probably correlates with Chron C5B-R. These results constrain the age of the Dogtown Member in the study area to between about 15.3 and 15.9 Ma, significantly younger than previously recognized for the upper Torreya Formation. A second fossil locality from the Dogtown Member occurs in the same lithostratigraphic interval but is older, based on vertebrate biochronology. This indicates that the Dogtown Member is time transgressive, that is, younger to the north. Early Hemingfordian land-mammal faunas and an invertebrate fauna correlative with planktonic foraminiferal zones upper N5 and N6 are known from the lower Torreya Formation. One mollusc sample from the Seaboard locality produced a 87 Sr/ 86 Sr age estimate of 18.4 ± 1.0 Ma, consistent with the biochronology. The revised age of the Torreya Formation is late early to early middle Miocene, between about 19 and 15.3 Ma. The Chipola Formation has been interpreted to be late early or middle Miocene (N7 and N8) in age and younger than the Torreya Formation, based on the superposition of the Chipola over the Torreya at the only known stratigraphic contact and apparent biochronologic differences. Four samples from the Chipola Formation at Alum Bluff yield 87 Sr/ 86 Sr age estimates between 18.3 and 18.9 (±1.0) Ma (early Miocene), much older than previous interpretations. A small land-mammal fauna from an overlying unit supports the older age for the Chipola Formation. The discrepancy in ages is probably due to poor biostratigraphic correlation rather than erroneous 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ages. The lithostratigraphic relationship between the Chipola and the Torreya Formations is poorly known from cores only; chronostratigraphic evidence indicates that the Chipola and Torreya Formations overlap in age and may interdigitate, possibly representing transitional marine and nearshore/shelf facies.
Multicriteria decision making using fuzzy quantifiers

Multiple decision problems appear in many applications of financial decision making. We suggest the use of quantifier guided aggregations to model these problems. Use is made of the fuzzy set concept of a linguistic quantifier and ordered weighted averaging aggregation technique.
Association Mapping: Critical Considerations Shift from Genotyping to Experimental Design

The goal of many plant scientists' research is to explain natural phenotypic variation in terms of simple changes in DNA sequence. Traditionally, linkage mapping has been the most commonly employed method to reach this goal: experimental crosses are made to generate a family with known relatedness, and attempts are made to identify cosegregation of genetic markers and phenotypes within this family. In vertebrate systems, association mapping (also known as linkage disequilibrium mapping) is increasingly being adopted as the mapping method of choice. Association mapping involves searching for genotype-phenotype correlations in unrelated individuals and often is more rapid and cost-effective than traditional linkage mapping. We emphasize here that linkage and association mapping are complementary approaches and are more similar than is often assumed. Unlike in vertebrates, where controlled crosses can be expensive or impossible (e.g., in humans), the plant scientific community can exploit the advantages of both controlled crosses and association mapping to increase statistical power and mapping resolution. While the time and money required for the collection of genotype data were critical considerations in the past, the increasing availability of inexpensive DNA sequencing and genotyping methods should prompt researchers to shift their attention to experimental design. This review provides thoughts on finding the optimal experimental mix of association mapping using unrelated individuals and controlled crosses to identify the genes underlying phenotypic variation.
Release from short-term proactive interference with change in item duration

The results of three experiments suggest that in the release from proactive interference paradigm, increasing item duration facilitates recall but decreasing item duration does not. Two different interpretations of these findings were suggested: an explanation in terms of modification of encoding strategy and an explanation in terms of novelty-arousal.
NLSEmagic: Nonlinear Schrödinger equation multi-dimensional Matlab-based GPU-accelerated integrators using compact high-order schemes

Abstract We present a simple to use, yet powerful code package called NLSEmagic to numerically integrate the nonlinear Schrodinger equation in one, two, and three dimensions. NLSEmagic is a high-order finite-difference code package which utilizes graphic processing unit (GPU) parallel architectures. The codes running on the GPU are many times faster than their serial counterparts, and are much cheaper to run than on standard parallel clusters. The codes are developed with usability and portability in mind, and therefore are written to interface with MATLAB utilizing custom GPU-enabled C codes with the MEX-compiler interface. The packages are freely distributed, including user manuals and set-up files. Program summary Program title: NLSEmagic Catalogue identifier: AEOJ_v1_0 Program summary URL: http://cpc.cs.qub.ac.uk/summaries/AEOJ_v1_0.html Program obtainable from: CPC Program Library, Queen’s University, Belfast, N. Ireland Licensing provisions: Standard CPC licence, http://cpc.cs.qub.ac.uk/licence/licence.html No. of lines in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 124453 No. of bytes in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 4728604 Distribution format: tar.gz Programming language: C, CUDA, MATLAB. Computer: PC, MAC. Operating system: Windows, MacOS, Linux. Has the code been vectorized or parallelized?: Yes. Number of processors used: Single CPU, number of GPU processors dependent on chosen GPU card (max is currently 3072 cores on GeForce GTX 690). Supplementary material: Setup guide, Installation guide. RAM: Highly dependent on dimensionality and grid size. For typical medium–large problem size in three dimensions, 4GB is sufficient. Keywords: Nonlinear Schroodinger Equation, GPU, high-order finite difference, Bose-Einstien condensates. Classification: 4.3, 7.7. Nature of problem: Integrate solutions of the time-dependent one-, two-, and three-dimensional cubic nonlinear Schrodinger equation. Solution method: The integrators utilize a fully-explicit fourth-order Runge–Kutta scheme in time and both second- and fourth-order differencing in space. The integrators are written to run on NVIDIA GPUs and are interfaced with MATLAB including built-in visualization and analysis tools. Restrictions: The main restriction for the GPU integrators is the amount of RAM on the GPU as the code is currently only designed for running on a single GPU. Unusual features: Ability to visualize real-time simulations through the interaction of MATLAB and the compiled GPU integrators. Additional comments: Setup guide and Installation guide provided. Program has a dedicated web site at www.nlsemagic.com . Running time: A three-dimensional run with a grid dimension of 87×87×203 for 3360 time steps (100 non-dimensional time units) takes about one and a half minutes on a GeForce GTX 580 GPU card.
Quadriceps Muscle Function After Rehabilitation With Cryotherapy in Patients With Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Context: Persistent muscle weakness after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction may be due to underlying activation failure and arthrogenic muscle inhibition (AMI). Knee-joint cryotherapy has been shown to improve quadriceps function transiently in those with AMI, thereby providing an opportunity to improve quadriceps muscle activation and strength in patients with a reconstructed ACL. Objective: To compare quadriceps muscle function in patients with a reconstructed ACL who completed a 2-week intervention including daily cryotherapy (ice bag), daily exercises, or both. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Laboratory. Patients or Other Participants: A total of 30 patients with reconstructed ACLs who were at least 6 months post-index surgery and had measurable quadriceps AMI. Intervention(s): The patients attended 4 supervised visits over a 2-week period. They were randomly assigned to receive 20 minutes of knee-joint cryotherapy, 1 hour of therapeutic rehabilitation exercises, or cryotherapy f...
A Concept Analysis of Person-Centered Care

The term person-centered care (PCC) has been frequently used in the literature, but there is no consensus about its meaning. This article uses Walker and Avants’s method of concept analysis as a framework to analyze PCC. A literature search was completed and data were collected using several search engines (CINAHL, Medline, PubMed, and Cochrane Review). The key words used were “individualized-care,” “person-centered care,” “patient-centered care,” “client-centered care,” and “resident-centered care.” Attributes, antecedents, and consequences of PCC were identified. Empirical referents were provided to measure PCC from the perspective of the person receiving care and finally, a model case provides an exemplar of the concept.
Gastroesophageal Heterotopia and HER2/neu Overexpression in an Adenocarcinoma Arising From a Small Bowel Duplication

Small bowel duplications are congenital structures commonly lined by heterotopic gastric or pancreatic mucosa. Though benign in children, small bowel duplications have the potential for malignant degeneration in adulthood. Here, we present the first reported case of metastatic adenocarcinoma arising from a small bowel duplication lined by gastroesophageal mucosa. The cancer demonstrated overexpression of the HER2/neu oncoprotein and amplification of the HER2/neu gene. This represents the only report of HER2 overexpression in this type of lesion. The patient is being treated with traditional chemotherapeutic agents in addition to monoclonal antibody therapy directed at the HER2 protein, and has demonstrated a clinical benefit from treatment. This case demonstrates that the anatomic location of a mass may be distinct from its biological origin, and this difference may have important practical implications for diagnostic testing and treatment.
A case of recurrent giant cell tumor of bone with malignant transformation and benign pulmonary metastases

Giant cell tumor (GCT) of bone is a locally destructive tumor that occurs predominantly in long bones of post-pubertal adolescents and young adults, where it occurs in the epiphysis. The majority are treated by aggressive curettage or resection. Vascular invasion outside the boundary of the tumor can be seen. Metastasis, with identical morphology to the primary tumor, occurs in a few percent of cases, usually to the lung. On occasion GCTs of bone undergo frank malignant transformation to undifferentiated sarcomas. Here we report a case of GCT of bone that at the time of recurrence was found to have undergone malignant transformation. Concurrent metastases were found in the lung, but these were non-transformed GCT.
Explicating Media Salience: A Factor Analysis of New York Times Issue Coverage During the 2000 U.S. Presidential Election

Media salience—the key independent variable in agenda-setting research—has traditionally been explicated as a singular construct. Nevertheless, scholars have defined and measured it using a number of different conceptualizations and empirical indicators. To address this limitation in research, this study introduced a conceptual model of media salience, suggesting it is a multidimensional construct consisting of 3 core elements: attention, prominence, and valence. Furthermore, the model was tested through an exploratory factor analysis of The New York Times news coverage of 8 major political issues during the 2000 presidential election as a case study. The data revealed that 2 dimensions of media salience emerge: visibility and valence. Based on the factor analysis, 2 indices are created to measure the construct, which are intended for use in future investigations.
BotSeer: An Automated Information System for Analyzing Web Robots

Robots.txt files are vital to the Web since they are supposed to regulate what search engines can and cannot crawl. We present BotSeer, a Web-based information system and search tool that provides resources and services for researching Web robots and trends in Robot exclusion protocol deployment and adherence. BotSeer currently indexes and analyzes 2.2 million robots.txt files obtained from 13.2 million Websites, as well as a large Web server log of real-world robot behavior and related analyses. BotSeer provides three major services including robots.txt searching, robot bias analysis, and robot-generated log analysis. BotSeer serves as are source for studying the regulation and behavior of Web robots as well as a tool to inform the creation of effective robots.txt files and crawler implementations.
The effect of water content and cement content on the strength of portland cement-stabilized compacted fly ash

Abstract Class F fly ash, when combined with portland cement and hydrated, forms a high-strength material whose strength increases with increasing cement content and compaction effort, and is highest near optimum water content of around 20–30%. However, fly ash in stockpiles can be at a water content of around 50%, so completely drying to optimum water content may not be practical. If the material is left at its stockpile water content, the cement content required to achieve a given strength is about 2.5–3 times higher than the cement content required if compacting at optimum water content. However, strength can be predicted as a function of water content for water contents between the stockpile water content and the optimum water content.
The Role of Selected Auditory Skills in the Misarticulation of /s/, /r/ and /0/ by Third Grade Children

AbstractIn this study, the relationship of echoic memory, speech sound discrimination and speed of auditory processing to the consistency of correct production of certain speech sounds was examined. Thirty-seven children representing third grade normal and Is I, Irl and Idl defective speakers served as subjects. Each subject listened to tapes of pairs of vowel-consonant-consonant-vowel bisyllables under each of three conditions: (1). 25 seconds between bisyllables; (2) 2.0 seconds between bisyllables; and (3) 10.0 seconds between the bisyllables in each pair. The subjects' task was to determine whether the bisyllables in each pair were the same or different. Results of statistical analyses on the proportion of correct responses indicated that production errors on different sounds may be associated with different auditory skills. The findings are related to previous investigations of speech sound discrimination skills in articulatory defective children. Clinical implications also are discussed.