cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Amino Acid Composition of Food Proteins

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the amino acid composition of food proteins. The majority of the analyses of proteins and protein-containing foods discussed in this chapter are used to indicate the amino acid composition of foods and not for considerations of protein structure. Therefore, the relative amino acid composition of the various food proteins is of paramount importance and not the absolute amounts of each essential amino acid in percent of total nitrogen. The amino acids are listed first according to their essentiality and then according to their chemical grouping or mode of determination. Egg proteins are well balanced, rich in sulfur, and of the highest biological value. Casein (cheese) is very rich in lysine, tryptophan, and the leucines but somewhat low in the sulfur amino acids. Lactalbumin is unusually rich in tryptophan and lysine but somewhat low in histidine. Muscle proteins from different animal sources are almost identical. They all are rich in lysine. Sunflower seed proteins appear to be superior in lysine, methionine, and threonine to peanut and cottonseed proteins.
Introduction to Memory

Language learning draws heavily on memory, from the acquisition of vocabulary to the flexible application of combining words in novel ways. The human memory system relies primarily on the medial temporal lobe system but interacts with other brain regions, creating a network important for supporting language acquisition and expression. We discuss different kinds of memory, including autobiographical memory, semantic memory, and procedural memory. We identify the brain regions that support these various forms of memory and consider how sleep, the growth of new neurons, and the process of aging impact memory acquisition and retrieval. Finally, we discuss the role of these memory processes in the learning of new vocabulary and acquisition of the lexical rules subserving grammar, syntax, and morphology.
Diffusion in Homicide: Exploring a General Method for Detecting Spatial Diffusion Processes

This article proposes a new method for examining dynamic changes in thespatial distribution of a phenomenon. Recently introduced exploratoryspatial data analysis (ESDA) techniques provide social scientists with anew set of tools for distinguishing between random and nonrandom spatialpatterns of events (Anselin, 1998). Existing ESDA measures, however, arestatic and do not permit comparisons of distributions of events in the samespace but across different time periods. One ESDA method—the Moranscatterplot—has special heuristic value because it visually displayslocal spatial relationships between each spatial unit and its neighbors. Weextend this static cross-sectional view of the spatial distribution ofevents to consider dynamic features of changes over time in spatialdependencies. The method distinguishes between contagious diffusion betweenadjoining units and hierarchical diffusion that spreads broadly throughcommonly shared influences. We apply the method to homicide data, lookingfor evidence of spatial diffusion of youth-gang homicides acrossneighborhoods in a city. Contagious diffusion between neighboring censustracts is evident only during the year of peak growth in total homicides,when high local rates of youth-gang homicides are followed by significantincreases in neighboring youth- nongang rates. This pattern is consistentwith a spread of homicides from gang youth to nongang youth. Otherwise, theincreases in both youth-gang and youth- nongang homicides generally occursimultaneously in nonneighboring tracts.
A consideration of myeloid-erythroid balance in man.

The number of myeloid and erythroid cells in marrow, their turnover times and rates of production have been estimated from consideration of mitotic activities and related data. An approximation to the chronology of development in the steady state with constant population is presented and its implications are discussed. Estimates of myeloid and erythroid balance in man are compared with similarly derived values for the dog and rat.
Techniques for Upgrading Dust Collection Systems

Regulatory changes controlling the allowable contaminants inside plants and emissions of dusts to the air are forcing plants to review and replace or upgrade existing contaminant exhaust and collection systems. Replacing these systems represents significant cost. These costs can be minimized by upgrading existing collectors using the latest technology filter medias and by supplementing existing collector units with new integrated collectors located in the dust source to alleviate stress on existing collectors. Over time, production equipment additions and changes can overtax the original collectors by adding additional dust burdens and or additional airflow requirements. The result is a collector operating at high-pressure losses, requiring frequent filter changes and maintenance. Use of new high performance filter media reduces emissions, increases airflow capabilities and extends the filter life in existing filters. In addition, using the integrated collectors to reduce the dust and air flows to existing collectors, allows more air from the remaining hoods on the collectors which improves the hood capture efficiency which reduces the contaminants escaping into the workplace. Switching to performance filter media, alleviating the heavy burden on existing collectors using integrated collectors in hoods and a conscious maintenance program can reap rewards for worker productivity, safety and meet the latest EPA and OSHA requirements.
Antigenic structures of proteins. Their determination has revealed important aspects of immune recognition and generated strategies for synthetic mimicking of protein binding sites.

Studies in this laboratory have resulted in the delineation and synthetic verification of several complete protein antigenic structures that are recognized by antibodies. More recently, for the first time, the full profiles of the sites that are recognized by T cell have been localized and confirmed by synthesis for two proteins, myoglobin and lysozyme. These have thus far constituted the only complete antigenic strutures to be determined. The availability of these antigenic structures has enabled us to investigate in detail the molecular and cellular parameters responsible for immune recognition, responses to, and control and regulation of these responses to protein antigens at the molecular and submolecular levels. Moreover, these investigations have afforded general strategies for the synthetic mimicking of not only antigenic sites, but also protein binding sites involved in other biological activities.
On the Stability of Nuclear-Burning Regions in Red Giants

An instability criterion is presented which is suitable for both degenerate “core” flashes and non-degenerate “shell” flashes. It is applied to models of a low-mass star at the tip of the red giant branch and on the asymptotic giant branch.
Justified common knowledge

In this paper we introduce the justified knowledge operator J with the intended meaning of J ϕ as 'there is a justification for ϕ.' Though justified knowledge appears here in a case study of common knowledge systems, a similar approach is applicable in more general situations. First we consider evidence-based common knowledge systems obtained by augmenting a multi-agent logic of knowledge with a system of evidence assertions t:ϕ, reflecting the notion 't is an evidence for ϕ,' such that evidence is respected by all agents. Justified common knowledge is obtained by collapsing all evidence terms into one modality J. We show that in standard situations, when the base epistemic systems are T, S4, and S5, the resulting justified common knowledge systems are normal modal logics, which places them within the scope of well-developed machinery applicable to modal logic: Kripke-style epistemic models, normalized proofs, automated proof search, etc. In the aforementioned situations, the intended semantics of justified knowledge is supported by a realization theorem stating that for any valid fact about justified knowledge, one could recover its constructive meaning by realizing all occurrences of justified knowledge modalities Jϕ by appropriate evidence terms t:ϕ.
Memory data organization for improved cache performance in embedded processor applications

Code generation for embedded processors opens up the possibility for several performance optimization techniques that have been ignored by traditional compilers due to compilation time constraints. We present techniques that take into account the parameters of the data caches for organizing scalar and array variables declared in embedded code into memory, with the objective of improving data cache performance. We present techniques for clustering variables to minimize compulsory cache misses, and for solving the memory assignment problem to minimize conflict cache misses. Our experiments with benchmark code kernels from DSP and other domains on the CW4001 embedded processor from LSI Logic indicate significant improvements in data cache performance by the application of our memory organization technique.
Sibling Bereavement in Late Life

Elders are more likely to confront the death of a sibling than any other kinship bereavement. Yet we know almost nothing about the impact of sibling deaths on older adults. We used attachment theor...
Pion and nucleon twist-4 structure functions in the limit x → 1

Abstract The x → 1 behavior of the pion and nucleon structure functions is studied here within the framework of the operator product expansion. The work on the twist-4 structure functions is performed in the longitudinal operator basis, which has the advantage that all the exact information known about the operator matrix elements has been used during the transformation into this basis. The simplicity of the twist-4 operator matrix elements is such that it is possible to arrive at power counting arguments for the x → 1 behavior in analogy with the standard counting rules for the twist-2 structure functions.
Effect of feeding certain defined nutrients on cellulose digestion and volatile fatty acid concentration of the rumen.

Summary A functional approach to the design of a purified ration for ruminants has been developed. Purified nutrients were force-fed to two fistulated steers to determine the simplest combination that would maintain certain rumen functions over a short period. A ration of cellulose, corn starch, and urea was found to be the simplest combination capable of maintaining the cellulose-digesting ability of rumen ingesta for three days. Cellulose plus a purified soybean protein was more effective than cellulose plus urea. When the ration consisted of only cellulose, starch, and urea, a source of amino acids was required to maintain cellulose digestion for more than three days. With this ration, no deficiency of valeric or isovaleric acid was demonstrated, and yeast extract was the most effective additive. Determination of molar concentrations of volatile fatty acids indicated that feeding ground cellulose in addition to hay plus supplement or straw plus supplement lowered the ratio of acetic to propionic acid in the rumen. It is concluded that a functional approach would be useful in developing a purified ration for ruminants.
Harmonic analysis in grease rheology

Yield stress, and small- and large- amplitude oscillatory shear measurements were performed on greases in a cone-plate fixture. Below the yield point, the grease behavior mimics that of a lightly crosslinked polymer. In large-amplitude oscillations that exceed the yield stress, harmonic distortion appears in the stress waveform. The elastic component of the stress is continuous across the transition, while the viscous, or out-of-phase component, is a transient stress that occurs in the high shear rate portion of each oscillation cycle. Our newly proposed viscous slip model accurately reproduces the measured stress waveform for greases, as well as for other yield stress materials. From measured harmonic amplitudes, this model provides the strain amplitude dependence of the elastic modulus and the equivalent of a dynamic yield stress. These properties of channeling grease complement the conventional measurements of yield stress and worked and unworked penetration. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 90: 334–343, 2003
Computer-Aided Diagnosis for Improved Detection of Lung Nodules by Use of Posterior-Anterior and Lateral Chest Radiographs

Rationale and Objectives We developed a computerized scheme for detection of lung nodules in the lateral views of chest radiographs, in order to improve the overall performance in combination with the computer-aided diagnostic (CAD) scheme for posterior-anterior (PA) views. Materials and Methods We used 106 pairs of PA and lateral views of chest radiographs (122 lung nodules) for development of the CAD scheme. In the CAD scheme for lateral views, initial candidates of lung nodules were identified by use of a nodule enhancement filter based on the edge gradients. Thirty-four image features extracted from the original and the nodule-enhanced images were used for the rule-based scheme and for artificial neural networks (ANNs) for removal of some false-positive candidates. The computer performance was evaluated with a leave-one-case-out test method for ANNs. For PA views, we used the existing CAD scheme, which was trained with one-half of 924 chest images and then tested with the remaining images. Results When the CAD scheme was applied only to PA views, the sensitivity in the detection of lung nodules was 70.5%, with 4.9 false positives per image. Although the performance of the computerized scheme for lateral views was relatively low (60.7% sensitivity with 1.7 false positives per image), the overall sensitivity (86.9%) was improved (6.6 false positives per two views), because 20 (16.4%) of the 122 nodules were detected only on lateral views. Conclusions The CAD scheme by use of lateral-view images has the potential to improve the overall performance for detection of lung nodules on chest radiographs when combined with a conventional CAD scheme for standard PA views.
Microstructural Characterization of Adsorption and Depletion Regimes of Supercritical Fluids in Nanopores

Fluid accommodation in porous media has been studied over a wide range of pressures at three supercritical temperatures by small-angle neutron scattering. A new formalism gives for the first time the mean density and volume of the adsorbed fluid phase formed in the pores from experimental data; thus, excess, absolute, and total adsorption become measurable quantities without the introduction of further assumptions. Results on propane adsorption to a silica aerogel show the formation of a thin adsorption layer of high density at low bulk fluid pressures and densities. In that region, the density of the adsorption layer increases with increasing fluid density while its volume remains approximately constant. Depletion of the fluid from the pore space is found near and above the critical density, which leads to negative values of the excess adsorption. At high fluid densities, the pores are evenly filled with fluid of lower density than the bulk fluid. The total amount of fluid confined in the pore spaces inc...
Structure of Ice VI.

Ice VI, a high-pressure form of density 1.31 g cm^(-3), has a tetragonal cell of dimensions a = 6.27 A, c = 5.79 A, space group P4_2/nmc, each cell containing ten water molecules. The structure is built up of hydrogen-bonded chains of water molecules that are analogs of the tectosilicate chains out of which the fibrous zeolites are constructed. The chains in ice VI are linked laterally to one another to form an open, zeolite-like framework. The cavities in this framework are filled with a second framework identical with the first. The two frameworks interpenetrate but do not interconnect, and the complete structure can thus be considered a "self-clathrate." This structural feature is a natural way to achieve high density in tetrahedrally linked framework structures.
Gangliosides of plasma membranes from normal rat liver and Morris hepatoma.

Abstract Plasma membranes were isolated from normal rat liver and Morris hepatoma 5123tc by discontinuous sucrose gradient centrifugation. There was an average two and one-halffold enrichment of gangliosides in plasma membranes from normal liver and hepatoma as compared with their respective whole cells. The amount of total gangliosides in plasma membranes from hepatoma was eight times greater than that found in normal liver. This increase resulted from a fivefold increase in hematosides, an eightfold increase in monosialogangliosides and a twenty-twofold increase in disialogangliosides. Trisialogangliosides were present in normal liver but not in hepatoma.
Preclinical Evidence for Therapeutic Efficacy of Selective Estrogen receptor Modulators for Uterine Leiomyoma

Objective:Uterine leiomyoma are the most common gynecologic neoplasm and a primary cause of hysterectomy in premenopausal women. Preclinical studies were conducted in the Eker rat model to investig...
My Privileged Assumptions.

Carol Lundberg reminds us that it is important to be attuned to the sometimes complicated lives students bring with them to the classroom.
Lattice normal modes and electronic properties of the correlated metal LaNiO3

We use density functional theory calculations to study the lattice vibrations and electronic properties of the correlated metal LaNiO${}_{3}$. To characterize the rhombohedral-to-cubic structural phase transition of perovskite LaNiO${}_{3}$, we examine the evolution of the Raman-active phonon modes with temperature. We find that the ${A}_{1g}$ Raman mode, whose frequency is sensitive to the electronic band structure, is a useful signature to characterize the octahedral rotations in rhombohedral LaNiO${}_{3}$. We also study the importance of electron-electron correlation effects on the electronic structure with two approaches that go beyond the conventional band theory [local spin density approximation (LSDA)]: the local spin $\mathrm{density}+\mathrm{Hubbard}\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}U$ method ($\mathrm{LSDA}+U$) and hybrid exchange-correlation density functionals that include portions of exact Fock exchange. We find that the conventional LSDA accurately reproduces the delocalized nature of the valence states in LaNiO${}_{3}$ and gives the best agreement with the available experimental data on the electronic structure of LaNiO${}_{3}$. Based on our calculations, we show that the electronic screening effect from the delocalized Ni 3$d$ and O-2$p$ states mitigates the electronic correlations of the ${d}^{7}$ Ni cations, making LaNiO${}_{3}$ a weakly correlated metal.
Pituitary corticotropin-inhibiting peptide: properties and use in study of corticotropin action.

Abstract The biological properties of the naturally occurring pituitary peptide αh7–38-adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) have been investigated. αh7–38-ACTH is devoid of steroidogenic activity but inhibits competitively ACTH-induced steroidogenesis in vitro as well as in vivo. The long-term actions of ACTH on normal and tumor adrenal cells in culture are also antagonized by αh7–38-ACTH. The apparent Ki for the inhibition of cyclic AMP production by αh7–38-ACTH (301 ± 62 n m ) was significantly higher than the apparent Ki for the inhibition of corticosterone synthesis (21.6 ± 6.8 n m ). Analysis of the inhibition of ACTH-induced steroidogenesis and cyclic AMP production in normal rat adrenocortical cells indicates that two separate receptors may be involved in mediating these responses.
The role of the neurohormone melatonin as a buffer against macromolecular oxidative damage

This paper summarizes the recent findings which show that the neural hormone melatonin is a free radical scavenger and general antioxidant. When compared with other antioxidants melatonin seems to have greater efficacy in protecting against cellular oxidative stress. These findings illustrate that melatonin preserves macromolecules including DNA, protein and lipid from oxidative damage following the administration of the chemical carcinogen, safrole, after exposure to ionizing radiation, following glutathione depletion, and after administration of the free radical generating herbicide, paraquat. In vitro evidence shows that melatonin is a potent scavenger of the highly toxic hydroxyl radical and in vitro evidence suggests that melatonin is an important and powerful antioxidant. Considering its high lipophilicity and its non-toxic nature as well as its ability to readily cross the blood-brain barrier, the neurohormone melatonin may prove to be an effective and important molecule in the antioxidative defense system, especially in the central nervous system. Besides the ease with which melatonin enters the brain, neurons seem to accumulate readily this hormone.
Adherent self-renewable human embryonic stem cell-derived neural stem cell line: functional engraftment in experimental stroke model.

Background Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) offer a virtually unlimited source of neural cells for structural repair in neurological disorders, such as stroke. Neural cells can be derived from hESCs either by direct enrichment, or by isolating specific growth factor-responsive and expandable populations of human neural stem cells (hNSCs). Studies have indicated that the direct enrichment method generates a heterogeneous population of cells that may contain residual undifferentiated stem cells that could lead to tumor formation in vivo. Methods/Principal Findings We isolated an expandable and homogenous population of hNSCs (named SD56) from hESCs using a defined media supplemented with epidermal growth factor (EGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and leukemia inhibitory growth factor (LIF). These hNSCs grew as an adherent monolayer culture. They were fully neuralized and uniformly expressed molecular features of NSCs, including nestin, vimentin and radial glial markers. These hNSCs did not express the pluripotency markers Oct4 or Nanog, nor did they express markers for the mesoderm or endoderm lineages. The self-renewal property of the hNSCs was characterized by a predominant symmetrical mode of cell division. The SD56 hNSCs differentiated into neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes throughout multiple passages in vitro, as well as after transplantation. Together, these criteria confirm the definitive NSC identity of the SD56 cell line. Importantly, they exhibited no chromosome abnormalities and did not form tumors after implantation into rat ischemic brains and into naive nude rat brains and flanks. Furthermore, hNSCs isolated under these conditions migrated toward the ischemia-injured adult brain parenchyma and improved the independent use of the stroke-impaired forelimb two months post-transplantation. Conclusions/Significance The SD56 human neural stem cells derived under the reported conditions are stable, do not form tumors in vivo and enable functional recovery after stroke. These properties indicate that this hNSC line may offer a renewable, homogenous source of neural cells that will be valuable for basic and translational research.
Chloroplast outer membrane protein targeting and insertion

Proteins in the chloroplast outer envelope membrane are nuclear encoded and post-translationally targeted to the chloroplast. The targeting and membrane insertion of these proteins is not well understood. Although early work suggested otherwise, the best-studied outer membrane proteins (OMPs) use both proteins within the chloroplast and NTPs for insertion. There have been conflicting reports in the field regarding protein targeting and insertion, which have probably arisen because of differences in experimental methodology and different interpretations of reduction (versus abolition) of integration. This review summarizes what is known to date about the mechanism of chloroplast OMP targeting.
Process improvement versus enhanced inspection in optimized systems

This paper analyses the cost-quality implications of process improvement versus inspection enhancement for n-stage serial production processes. The analysis determines, For a given environment, the combination of process and inspection performance that minimizes the cost of each defect-Free unit produced. Insight into the process-improvement inspection-enhancement trade-off, is obtained by identifying a base-line environment and then varying key environmental parameters including: measures of production and inspection quality, functional relationships between these qualities and their costs, and penalty costs incurred by delivery of defective units to the customer. The results of the analysis are presented in the context of decisions or strategies for the immediate, short-run and long-run optimal combinations of process improvement and inspection enhancement.
Quality in Qualitative Evaluation: Issues and Possible Answers

Qualitative evaluation studies can differ markedly from quantitative ones in both purpose and method and therefore must be understood and evaluated on their own terms. This article defines qualitative evaluation research and describes key parameters of quality to be considered when conducting and evaluating these studies in terms that take their epistemological assumptions and unique methods into account. Dimensions discussed include clarity in the research question, identifying the epistemological framework, using theory and prior knowledge effectively, addressing ethical issues, documenting all aspects of the study method, ensuring trustworthiness of the data, and communicating findings effectively.
Information Sharing Strategies in Business-to-Business E-Hubs: An Agent-Based Study

Studies show that supply chain structure is a key factor affecting information sharing. Business-to-business B2B e-hubs have fundamentally changed many companies' supply chain structure, from a one-to-many to a many-to-many configuration. Traditional supply chains typically center around one company, which interacts with multiple suppliers or customers, forming a one-to-many structure. B2B e-hubs, on the contrary, usually connect many buyers and sellers together, without being dominated by a single company, thus forming a many-to-many configuration. Information sharing in traditional supply chains has been studied extensively, but little attention has been paid to the same in B2B e-hubs. In this study, the authors identified and examined five information sharing strategies in B2B e-hubs. Agent performances under different information sharing strategies were measured and analyzed using an agent-based e-hub model and practical implications were discussed.
Rapid fixation of non-native alleles revealed by genome-wide SNP analysis of hybrid tiger salamanders

Hybrid zones represent valuable opportunities to observe evolution in systems that are unusually dynamic and where the potential for the origin of novelty and rapid adaptation co-occur with the potential for dysfunction. Recently initiated hybrid zones are particularly exciting evolutionary experiments because ongoing natural selection on novel genetic combinations can be studied in ecological time. Moreover, when hybrid zones involve native and introduced species, complex genetic patterns present important challenges for conservation policy. To assess variation of admixture dynamics, we scored a large panel of markers in five wild hybrid populations formed when Barred Tiger Salamanders were introduced into the range of California Tiger Salamanders. At three of 64 markers, introduced alleles have largely displaced native alleles within the hybrid populations. Another marker (GNAT1) showed consistent heterozygote deficits in the wild, and this marker was associated with embryonic mortality in laboratory F2's. Other deviations from equilibrium expectations were idiosyncratic among breeding ponds, consistent with highly stochastic demographic effects. While most markers retain native and introduced alleles in expected proportions, strong selection appears to be eliminating native alleles at a smaller set of loci. Such rapid fixation of alleles is detectable only in recently formed hybrid zones, though it might be representative of dynamics that frequently occur in nature. These results underscore the variable and mosaic nature of hybrid genomes and illustrate the potency of recombination and selection in promoting variable, and often unpredictable genetic outcomes. Introgression of a few, strongly selected introduced alleles should not necessarily affect the conservation status of California Tiger Salamanders, but suggests that genetically pure populations of this endangered species will be difficult to maintain.
Developments in on-the-fly biomarking: a new method to rapidly identify chemical and biological aerosols

We report on the advances made in the basic research to label specific chemical or biological aerosols on-the-fly using an electrospray technique. Fluorescent biomarkers that have been created for specific targets, and that produce a detectable change in emission characteristics only upon binding, will be used to coat all aerosols in an air stream. Aerosols with appropriate receptors will be labeled in this manner, allowing them to be identified in near real-time using a simple laser-induced fluorescence technique. In effect, an immunoassay is quickly performed on the surface of single chemical or biological particles as they flow in an air stream, labeling specific ones for rapid, single-particle interrogation and identification among a diverse and dynamic background. This method permits the use of solutions containing mixtures of different biomarkers to simultaneously identify multiple types of chemical or biological aerosols. Some issues that are currently being investigated include the kinetics of biomarker surface binding to an aerosol in flight and the control of charged aerosols for efficient single particle interrogation.
Decomposition of chlorinated ethylenes and ethanes in an electron beam generated plasma reactor

An electron beam generated plasma reactor (EBGPR) is used to determine the plasma chemistry kinetics, energetics and decomposition pathways of six chlorinated ethylenes and ethanes: 1,1,1-trichloroethane, 1,1-dichloroethane, ethyl chloride, trichloroethylene, 1,1-dichloroethylene, and vinyl chloride. A traditional chemical kinetic and chemical engineering analysis of the data from the EBGPR is performed, and the following hypothesis was verified: The specific energy required for chlorinated VOC decomposition in the electron beam generated plasma reactor is determined by the electron attachment coefficient of the VOC and the susceptibility of the molecule to radical attack. The technology was demonstrated at the Hanford Reservation to remove VOCs from soils.
Functional topography of the human mu rhythm

Abstract Topographic and functional testing was conducted to determine if the Rolandic mu rhythm (rhytme en arceau) could be reliably detected from the human scalp, and to describe its spatiotemporal and functional characteristics in relation to the feline sensorimotor rhythm (SMR) and the human occipital alpha rhythm. Mu activity was rarely visualized clearly in referential recordings or from the major 10–20 system locations, but was detected by power spectral analysis and functional testing in 7 of 14 subjects studied. It was best recorded in closely spaced bipolar derivations from central areas posterior to the central sulcus as shown in topographic analysis of its occurrence at rest and its reactivity to contralateral hand movement. Mu activity was attenuated by voluntary movement and somatosensory stimulation but was minimally affected by visual stimulation. Its frequency ranged within the alpha band (mean of 10.1 c/sec), but was separate from the occipital alpha rhythm and stable in frequency across days. The anatomical and functional similarities between human mu activity and the feline SMR suggested that they are functionally analogous resting rhythms which are disrupted primarily by input to the somatosensory system. The concept of sensory-specific alpha rhythms was discussed, in which the mu rhythm was conceptualized as a central “somatosensory alpha rhythm” in contrast to the occipital “visual alpha rhythm”.
Quantifying surgical complexity with machine learning: Looking beyond patient factors to improve surgical models

Objective To investigate the use of machine learning to empirically determine the risk of individual surgical procedures and to improve surgical models with this information. Methods American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) data from 2005 to 2009 were used to train support vector machine (SVM) classifiers to learn the relationship between textual constructs in current procedural terminology (CPT) descriptions and mortality, morbidity, Clavien 4 complications, and surgical-site infections (SSI) within 30 days of surgery. The procedural risk scores produced by the SVM classifiers were validated on data from 2010 in univariate and multivariate analyses. Results The procedural risk scores produced by the SVM classifiers achieved moderate-to-high levels of discrimination in univariate analyses (area under receiver operating characteristic curve: 0.871 for mortality, 0.789 for morbidity, 0.791 for SSI, 0.845 for Clavien 4 complications). Addition of these scores also substantially improved multivariate models comprising patient factors and previously proposed correlates of procedural risk (net reclassification improvement and integrated discrimination improvement: 0.54 and 0.001 for mortality, 0.46 and 0.011 for morbidity, 0.68 and 0.022 for SSI, 0.44 and 0.001 for Clavien 4 complications; P Conclusion Machine learning provides clinically useful estimates of surgical risk for individual procedures. This information can be measured in an entirely data-driven manner and substantially improves multifactorial models to predict postoperative complications.
Use of KRS-XE positive chemically amplified resist for optical mask manufacturing

The traditional mask making process uses chain scission-type resists such as PBS, poly(butene-1-sulfone), and ZEP, poly(methyl a-chloroacrylate-co-a-methylstyrene) for making masks with dimensions greater than 180nm. PBS resist requires a wet etch process to produce patterns in chrome. ZEP was employed for dry etch processing to meet the requirements of shrinking dimensions, optical proximity corrections and phase shift masks. However, ZEP offers low contrast, marginal etch resistance, organic solvent development, and concerns regarding resist heating with its high dose requirements1. Chemically Amplified Resist (CAR) systems are a very good choice for dimensions less than 180nm because of their high sensitivity and contrast, high resolution, dry etch resistance, aqueous development, and process latitude2. KRS-XE was developed as a high contrast CA resist based on ketal protecting groups that eliminate the need for post exposure bake (PEB). This resist can be used for a variety of electron beam exposures, and improves the capability to fabricate masks for devices smaller than 180nm. Many factors influence the performance of resists in mask making such as post apply bake, exposure dose, resist develop, and post exposure bake. These items will be discussed as well as the use of reactive ion etching (RIE) selectivity and pattern transfer.
Handling and detection of 25 amol of near-infrared dye deoxynucleotide conjugates by capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence detection

Abstract Near-infrared dyes are attractive as labeling reagents to enhance sensitivity in trace analysis largely because background fluorescence is low in this spectral region. Here we demonstrate, towards a goal of detecting DNA adducts in small biological samples, that some near-infrared (IR) dye-labeled deoxynucleotides can be separated and detected with high sensitivity by capillary electrophoresis (CE)–laser-induced fluorescence detection (LIF) in a realistic way (handling detection limit of 25 amol) for near-IR dye-labeled deoxynucleotides. This detection limit is achieved by polarity-switching injection of 2.0 μl from a volume of 5.0 μl, in which the compounds are 5·10−12 mol/l in 50% aqueous methanol. Although the adenine and cytosine-containing conjugates co-migrated, the other three (guanine, N2-ethylguanine and thymine) were resolved.
Minimum 10-Year Follow-up of Arthroscopic Intra-articular Bankart Repair Using Bioabsorbable Tacks

Background: There are few long-term studies evaluating functional outcomes and rates of arthrosis after arthroscopic Bankart repair with bioabsorbable tacks.Purpose: We evaluated the clinical and radiographic results of arthroscopic Bankart repair using intra-articular bioabsorbable tacks at a minimum of 10 years’ follow-up.Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4.Methods: Thirty-two consecutive patients were retrospectively identified. Twenty patients (63%) were evaluated at a mean follow-up of 13.5 years (range, 10.75-17.5 years) and average age of 43 years (range, 28-73 years). The surgical shoulder (SS) was compared with a healthy control shoulder (CS) in 15 of 20 patients. Outcome tools included the Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index (WOSI) and Disabilities of the Shoulder, Arm, and Hand (DASH). Blinded, independent evaluators performed physical examinations and reviewed radiographs.Results: Thirteen patients (65%) had stable shoulders, 5 of 7 (25%) failed by dislocation, and 2 of 7 (1...
The effect of heparin on aldosterone secretion and metabolism in primary aldosteronism (1)

Abstract In 1957 it was reported that administration of heparin to patients with and without edema caused natriuresis and in some cases slight potassium retention (2). Subsequent work using heparin as well as certain heparinoids indicated that a concomitant decline in aldosterone excretion rates occurred when these agents were administered (3, 4, 5) and Veyrat and coworkers (6) have provided evidence that the heparinoid Ro I-8307 reduced aldosterone secretion in sodium depleted normal subjects. In order to investigate further the means by which heparin alters aldosterone production, two patients with primary aldosteronism were given heparin and aldosterone secretion rates and the excretion of metabolites of aldosterone were studied under metabolic balance conditions.
Implementation and Evaluation of a Drug Education Program for a Pharmacy School Curriculum.

As the result of a perceived need for some type of classroom attempt at approaching the subject of drug use in society, an interdisciplinary class was begun at the School of Pharmacy at the University of North Carolina. Using funding from Project SPEED, a NIDA contract with the Student American Pharmaceutical Association, and continuing then for a three year period, the program was able to substantiate both a significant change in the cognitive levels of knowledge about drugs and its effect in society, as well as significant changes in attitudes of students to that of a more accepting attitude toward drug users as well as greater desire for social change related to stereotypes and current social policy.
Development of an indoor radon information system

Abstract This paper describes data management software for the Indoor Radon Information System (IRISDAT) that was developed in order to enable users to perform database management operations on indoor radon data for Ohio. The software is a FORTRAN-77 based program written on a VAX 6420 which can access a commercial database management utility, DATATRIEVE (Digital Equipment Corporation, Maynard, MA). The system allows for data records consisting of numerous fields and is able to perform several useful data management manipulations. The database, which can be continually updated using the system, currently consists of nearly 51,000 records of data collected from commercial, governmental and university sources. The system has been used to create collections of data and to compute statistical parameters for investigating the controls on indoor radon concentrations and for performing initial health risk assessments.
High-rate bulk and shear responses of bovine brain tissue

Abstract This experimental study systematically investigates the dynamic response of bovine brain tissue under uniaxial strain and pure shear loading conditions. The combination of such stress states and strain rates are representative in the brain under blast loading in which both bulk and shear deformation may be involved. The dynamic uniaxial strain experiments (bulk response) were conducted on a modified Kolsky compression bar with an aluminum confinement collar. Bovine brain samples were sealed in the collar and loaded by the Kolsky bars so that the specimen only deformed in the axial direction. The resultant stress-strain curves reflected the pressure–volume relations from which the bulk modulus were obtained. The dynamic shear response was determined by using a recently developed Kolsky torsion bar technique for tissue materials characterization. Quasi-static torsion experiments were also conducted on an MTS system to construct a full set of shear stress-strain curves over a wide range of shear strain rates (0.01–700 s−1). The experimental results show that the dynamic bulk modulus of brain is in the range of 1.68–2.33 GPa which is close to the low rate values reported in the literature, while the shear responses show significant rate sensitivity over the tested strain rate range.
Trajectories of Maltreatment Re-Reports From Ages 4 to 12: Evidence for Persistent Risk after Early Exposure

This study identified trajectories of maltreatment re-reports between ages 4 and 12 for children first referred to Child Protective Services (CPS) for maltreatment prior to age 4 and either removed from the home or assessed by a CPS intake worker as moderately or highly likely to be abused/neglected in the future, absent intervention. Participants (n = 501) were children from the Southwest and Northwest sites of the Consortium for Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect (LONGSCAN). During the 8-year follow-up period, 67% of children were re-reported. Growth mixture modeling identified four trajectory classes: No re-report (33%), Continuous re-reports (10%), Intermittent re-reports (37%), and Early re-reports (20%). Membership in classes with relatively more re-reports was predicted by several factors assessed at age 4, including physical abuse; living with a biological/stepparent; caregiver alcohol abuse, depression, and lack of social support; receipt of Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC); and number of children in the home. For a subpopulation of high-risk children first reported in early childhood, risk for maltreatment re-reporting may persist longer than previously documented, continuing 8 to 12 years after the first report.
Needs in space education for the 21st century

Abstract There is increasingly broad concern in the USA today about the quality, vibrancy and appeal of science and technical education in general and space education in particular. There needs to be a robust link between the educational community (i.e. the primary and secondary schools as well as colleges and universities) and a well-defined space research and exploration agenda that is strongly supported by the space industry, NASA and other relevant US governmental agencies. Without such a renewal of mission and new goals it will be difficult to re-invigorate and expand quality space education programs. A workshop was therefore convened in 2003 to analyze the problem, discuss new initiatives, organize a survey inviting suggestions from a range of relevant players and draw conclusions on what the USA needs to do to improve space education in the 21st century. Although the focus of this workshop was on space education in the USA the international dimensions of this problem were also addressed and the firm conclusion was reached that similar issues and concerns apply in Europe, Canada, Japan and other spacefaring nations. This article is an edited version of a White Paper subsequently produced to highlight the problem, summarize the proceedings of the workshop and present the results of the survey. Greater clarity in the definition of national space goals, the upgrading of teachers’ skills and an increase in technical scholarships are among the steps recommended.
Epidermal fatty acid‐binding protein protects nerve growth factor‐differentiated PC12 cells from lipotoxic injury

Epidermal fatty acid-binding protein (E-FABP/FABP5/DA11) binds and transport long-chain fatty acids in the cytoplasm and may play a protecting role during neuronal injury. We examined whether E-FABP protects nerve growth factor-differentiated PC12 cells (NGFDPC12 cells) from lipotoxic injury observed after palmitic acid (C16:0; PAM) overload. NGFDPC12 cells cultures treated with PAM/bovine serum albumin at 0.3 mM/0.15 mM show PAM-induced lipotoxicity (PAM-LTx) and apoptosis. The apoptosis was preceded by a cellular accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and higher levels of E-FABP. Antioxidants MCI-186 and N-acetyl cysteine prevented E-FABP's induction in expression by PAM-LTx, while tert-butyl hydroperoxide increased ROS and E-FABP expression. Non-metabolized methyl ester of PAM, methyl palmitic acid (mPAM), failed to increase cellular ROS, E-FABP gene expression, or trigger apoptosis. Treatment of NGFDPC12 cultures with siE-FABP showed reduced E-FABP levels correlating with higher accumulation of ROS and cell death after exposure to PAM. In contrast, increasing E-FABP cellular levels by pre-loading the cells with recombinant E-FABP diminished the PAM-induced ROS and cell death. Finally, agonists for PPARβ (GW0742) or PPARγ (GW1929) increased E-FABP expression and enhanced the resistance of NGFDPC12 cells to PAM-LTx. We conclude that E-FABP protects NGFDPC12 cells from lipotoxic injury through mechanisms that involve reduction of ROS. Epidermal fatty acid-binding protein (E-FABP) may protect nerve cells from the damaging exposure to high levels of free fatty acids (FA). We show that E-FABP can neutralize the effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by the high levels of FA in the cell and protect PC12 cells from lipotoxic injuries common in Type 2 diabetes neuropathy. Potentially, E-FABP gene up-regulation may be mediated through the NFkB pathway and future studies are needed to further evaluate this proposition.
Treatment-induced neuropathy of diabetes: an energy crisis?

This scientific commentary refers to ‘Treatment-induced neuropathy of diabetes: an acute, iatrogenic complication of diabetes’ by Gibbons and Freeman (10.1093/brain/awu307).
CONCRETE BRIDGE DECKS CONSTRUCTED WITH FIBER-REINFORCED POLYMER STAY-IN-PLACE FORMS AND GRID REINFORCING

A description is given of laboratory testing, initial test results, and continuing research to develop design procedures and plans for construction of a two-span highway overpass on US-151 in the state of Wisconsin using only a fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) reinforcement system in the concrete bridge deck. The use of FRP reinforcing is being pursued to increase the durability of bridge decks and to reduce unit cost and time. The unique aspect of the new bridge is that it will use FRP stay-in-place formwork, placed over precast concrete I girders, to serve as formwork and as the bottom transverse reinforcement of the bridge deck. In addition, a heavy-duty prefabricated FRP grid will be used for the top layer of concrete reinforcing. Full-scale prototype laboratory testing is being used to develop design recommendations including effective distribution widths. From the spring to fall of 2003, a construction productivity study comparing the FRP deck construction sequence with that of identical adjacent stee...