cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Synonymous codon substitutions perturb co-translational protein folding and significantly impair cell fitness

Abstract In the cell, proteins are synthesized from N- to C-terminus and begin to fold during translation. Co-translational folding mechanisms are therefore linked to elongation rate, which varies as a function of synonymous codon usage. However, synonymous codon substitutions can affect many distinct cellular processes, which has complicated attempts to deconvolve the extent to which synonymous codon usage promotes or frustrates proper protein folding in vivo. Although previous studies have shown that some synonymous changes can lead to different final structures, other substitutions will likely be more subtle, perturbing only the protein folding pathway without altering the final structure. Here we show that synonymous codon substitutions encoding a single essential enzyme lead to dramatically slower cell growth. These mutations do not prevent active enzyme formation but instead alter the folding mechanism, leading to enhanced degradation. These results support a model where synonymous codon substitutions can impair cell fitness by altering co-translational protein folding mechanisms. Synonymous codons changes can therefore have a significant impact on fitness even when the native structure is preserved. Significance Many proteins are incapable of refolding in vitro yet fold efficiently to their native state in the cell. This suggests that more information than the amino acid sequence is required for proper folding of these proteins. Here we show that synonymous mRNA mutations can alter the protein folding mechanism in vivo, leading to changes in cellular fitness. This work highlights the important role of synonymous codon selection in supporting efficient protein production in vivo.
The safety and efficacy of intrathecal morphine in pediatric spinal deformity surgery: a 25-year single-center experience.

Pre-incision intrathecal morphine (IM) is a popular adjunct in adolescent idiopathic spinal deformity surgery. This study represents our 25-year experience with IM in all diagnostic groups undergoing posterior spinal fusion (PSF) and segmental instrumentation (SI). Our prospective Pediatric Orthopaedic Spine Database (1992–2018) identified all patients undergoing PSF and SI. We included patients 21 years of age or less, had a PSF with SSI, and received the recommended IM dose of 9–19 mcg/kg (up to 1 mg) or no IM. We assessed demographics, pain scores, duration of surgery, time to first dose of narcotics, pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission, length of hospital stay, and IM complications (respiratory depression, pruritus, nausea/vomiting). There were 984 patients who met inclusion criteria: 760 patients received IM, 224 did not (non-IM). They were divided into 5 diagnostic groups: idiopathic, neuromuscular, syndromic, and congenital scoliosis and kyphosis. The mean first post-operative opioid following IM administration was at 16.1 h in the IM group compared to 8.7 h in the non-IM group (p = < 0.001). The post-operative pain scores in the IM groups were significantly lower (p = < 0.001). Sixteen patients (2%) in the IM group were admitted to the PICU for observation secondary to respiratory depression, none requiring re-intubation. There were no other complications related to IM. Pre-incision IM is a safe adjunct for pain management in select children in all diagnostic groups undergoing spinal deformity surgery. There were no serious complications. III.
Fulminating Autoimmune Demyelination with Optic Neuropathy in a Case of Pediatric Cerebral Adrenoleukodystrophy: Case Report and Review of the Literature

X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) is a leukodystrophy characterized not only by progressive loss of myelin in the central nervous system due to dysmyelination, but also by acute, subacute, or chronic inflammatory demyelination. This results in the phenotypic variability of cerebral ALD (cerALD), which is independent of the genotype. In this manuscript, we report a fulminant presentation with fluctuating encephalopathy and visual loss in a patient with childhood onset cerALD. Brain MRI showed symmetric confluent occipito-temporal demyelination with severe disruption of the blood–brain barrier and prechiasmal optic neuropathy. The patient's cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) demonstrated an elevated IgG index, myelin basic proteins, and oligoclonal bands. Within 48 hours of receiving immunomodulating therapy, the patient's symptoms of psychomotor slowing, visual impairment, and areflexia partially resolved. High plasma C26:0 levels and high ratios of C24/22 and C26/22 were diagnostic of ALD. It has been shown that environmental factors play an important role in the inflammatory demyelination responsible for the severe phenotypes of cerALD.
Single-Cell Resolution of MET- and EMT-Like Programs in Osteoblasts During Zebrafish Fin Regeneration

While humans have limited potential for limb regeneration, some vertebrates can regenerate bony appendages following amputation. During zebrafish fin regeneration, mature osteoblasts at the amputation stump dedifferentiate and migrate to the blastema, where they re-enter the cell cycle and then re-differentiate to form new bone. Osteoblastic cells differentially exhibit mesenchymal and epithelial characteristics during fin regeneration, however little is known about how these transitions occur. Here, we performed single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) studies to elucidate osteoblastic transcriptional programs during zebrafish caudal fin regeneration. In contrast to existing scRNA-seq resources, our dataset captures a large number of osteoblastic cells, allowing for their in-depth analysis. We found osteoprogenitors are enriched with components associated with the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and its reverse, mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET). In trajectory analyses, osteoblastic cells solely expressed EMT components, or transiently expressed MET components prior to expressing those for EMT. We found that cdh11, a cancer EMT marker, is expressed during osteoblast dedifferentiation. We also found that esrp1, a regulator of alternative splicing in epithelial cells whose expression is important for MET, is expressed in a subset of osteoprogenitors during outgrowth. This study provides a valuable single cell resource for the study of osteoblastic cells during zebrafish fin regeneration, and identifies MET- and EMT-associated components which may be important for successful appendage regeneration.
Evaluating the impact of climate and demographic variation on future prospects for fish stocks: An application for northern rock sole in Alaska

Abstract Climate-enhanced stock assessment models represent potentially vital tools for managing living marine resources under climate change. We present a climate-enhanced stock assessment where environmental variables are integrated within a population dynamics model assessment of biomass, fishing mortality and recruitment that also accounts for process error in demographic parameters. Probability distributions for the impact of the associated environmental factors on recruitment and growth can either be obtained from Bayesian analyses that involve fitting the population dynamics model to the available data or from auxiliary analyses. The results of the assessment form the basis for the calculation of biological and economic target and limit reference points, and projections under alternative harvest strategies. The approach is applied to northern rock sole (Lepidopsetta polyxystra), an important component of the flatfish fisheries in the Eastern Bering Sea. The assessment involves fitting to data on catches, a survey index of abundance, fishery and survey age-compositions and survey weight-at-age, with the relationship between recruitment and cold pool extent and that between growth increment in weight and temperature integrated into the assessment. The projections also allow for an impact of ocean pH on expected recruitment based on auxiliary analyses. Several alternative models are explored to assess the consequences of different ways to model environmental impacts on population demography. The estimates of historical biomass, recruitment and fishing mortality for northern rock sole are not markedly impacted by including climate and environmental factors, but estimates of target and limit reference points are sensitive to whether and how environmental variables are included in stock assessments and projections.
Gold Nanorod Contrast-Enhanced Molecular Imaging of Choroidal Neovascularization using Dual Photoacoustic Ophthalmoscopy and Optical Coherence Tomography in a Rabbit Model

We present the potential of gold nanorods as a molecular contrast agent for multimodal photoacoustic ophthalmoscopy (PAOM) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) to visualize choroidal neovascularization in living rabbits.
Public Perception of Risk in Developing Technologies: A Case Study of a Business Community in Manhattan

A random sample of selected graduate classes (in an MBA program) was drawn to determine their feelings on five developing technologies: nuclear energy, nuclear weapons, robotics, genetic engineering and global mass communications. The population from which the selection was made is over eighty percent full-time employed in the New York City area and had recently been exposed to courses in probability and statistics.
Impacts of the IBM Cell Processor to Support Climate Models

NASA is interested in the performance and cost benefits for adapting its applications to the IBM Cell processor. However, its 256KB local memory per SPE and the new communication mechanism, make it very challenging to port an application. We selected the solar radiation component of the NASA GEOS-5 climate model, which: (1) is representative of column physics (approximately 50% computational time), (2) has a high computational load relative to transferring data from and to main memory, (3) performs independent calculations across multiple columns. We converted the baseline code (single-precision, Fortran) to C and ported it with manually SIMDizing 4 independent columns and found that a Cell with 8 SPEs can process 2274 columns per second. Compared with the baseline results, the Cell is approximately 5.2X, approximately 8.2X, approximately 15.1X faster than a core on Intel Woodcrest, Dempsey, and Itanium2, respectively. We believe this dramatic performance improvement makes a hybrid cluster with Cell and traditional nodes competitive.
Functional measurements using HL-60 cells.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses functional measurements using HL-60 cells. Exposure of HL-60 cells to a variety of agents induces terminal differentiation along either of two distinct pathways—one that bears many of the surface properties and functional characteristics of mature neutrophils and the other that resembles characteristics of monocytes/macrophages. HL-60 cells show some unique light scatter changes with differentiation. The chapter shows this change as there is a dramatic reduction in cell size and increase in 90° light scatter. As spontaneous differentiation is continually occurring, some differentiated cells are always present in so-called “undifferentiated” populations. A rapid method for checking the differentiation status of HL-60 cells is to evaluate the esterase content. Undifferentiated cells have reasonably high esterase content, which decreases in granulocytic differentiation and increases in monocytic differentiation. Differentiated HL-60 cells also express increased numbers of cell receptors such as CDllb.
Prognostic significance of psychosocial factors in African-American and white breast cancer patients: a population-based study.

BACKGROUND It has been suggested that psychosocial factors, such as coping and emotional support, influence cancer survival, but results have been inconclusive. Given the scarce data from racially/ethnically diverse populations, the authors investigated the prognostic significance of selected psychosocial variables in a cohort of African-American women and white women with breast cancer. METHODS The authors examined the effects of coping styles, perceived emotional support, fatalism, and health locus of control on survival for a population-based cohort of 145 African-American women and 177 white women who were diagnosed with breast cancer in Connecticut between January 1987 and March 1989 and were followed for survival for approximately 10 years. Cox proportional hazards models were adjusted for sociodemographic factors, biomedical factors (American Joint Committee on Cancer stage at diagnosis, histologic grade, comorbidity, obesity, menopausal status, and treatment), and lifestyle factors. RESULTS Fully adjusted models showed that lower perceived emotional support (disagreeing with the statement, “cancer is a topic I can talk about freely with my friends/relatives”) at diagnosis was associated with a higher risk of death from any cause (hazard ratio, 1.39; 95% confidence interval, 1.09–1.79). Adjustment for additional tumor characteristics (nuclear grade, estrogen and progesterone receptor status) and genetic alterations (p53, HER-2) did not alter the findings. No other psychosocial factors significantly predicted survival in patients with breast cancer. CONCLUSIONS Higher levels of perceived emotional support showed a moderate but significant association with increased survival in African-American and white women with breast cancer who were followed for 10 years after diagnosis when adjusting for known prognostic factors. Survival was not related to coping styles, fatalism, or health locus of control. Cancer 2003;98:1299–308. © 2003 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.11670
Chromium: Biological Relevance

The biochemistry of CrIII has been a poorly understood field of endeavor; studies of the biochemistry of none of the other transition metals have been as problematic. Despite four decades of investigation, only recently has a clear picture of the role of Cr been defined potentially. The biologically important form is the trivalent ion, although not in the form of the purported glucose tolerance factor. Apparently, CrIII is required for proper carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in mammals, although Cr deficiency is difficult to achieve. Conditions that increase circulating glucose and insulin concentrations increase urinary chromium output. Cr is excreted after an insulin challenge, probably in the form of the oligopeptide chromodulin. Chromodulin may be the key to understanding the role of Cr at a molecular level as the molecule has been found to bind to the activated insulin receptor, stimulating its kinase activity. A mechanism for the action of chromodulin has been proposed recently. The popular nutritional supplement chromium picolinate has been associated with potentially deleterious effects. The mechanism of toxicity of chromate (CrVI) is still an area of intense investigation. Keywords: chromium; chromodulin; insulin receptor; diabetes; glucose tolerance factor; chromium picolinate; chromate; carcinogen; low-molecular-weight chromium-binding substance; transferrin
The Notch Regulator Numb Links the Notch and TCR Signaling Pathways

Both the Notch and TCR signaling pathways play an important role in T cell development, but the links between these signaling pathways are largely unexplored. The adapter protein Numb is a well-characterized inhibitor of Notch and also contains a phosphotyrosine binding domain, suggesting that Numb could provide a link between these pathways. We explored this possibility by investigating the physical interactions among Notch, Numb, and the TCR signaling apparatus and by examining the consequences of a Numb mutation on T cell development. We found that Notch and Numb cocluster with the TCR at the APC contact during Ag-driven T cell-APC interactions in both immature and mature T cells. Furthermore, Numb coimmunoprecipitates with components of the TCR signaling apparatus. Despite this association, T cell development and T cell activation occur normally in the absence of Numb, perhaps due to the expression of the related protein, Numblike. Together our data suggest that Notch and TCR signals may be integrated at the cell membrane, and that Numb may be an important adapter in this process.
The Generate, Test, and Explain Discovery System Architecture

Abstract Discovery systems have the potential to make truly novel discoveries, although few of them actually do so. Because original discoveries are difficult to understand even when they are explained in lucid prose, discovery systems that make new discoveries should provide explanations of them that are easy for humans to understand, lest they go unnoticed. The generate, test, and explain discovery system architecture moves the machine discovery field a step closer to these two goals by: (1) Demonstrating on two real-world problems, financial time series analysis and secondary structure prediction, that discovery systems can deliver on their promise to make novel discoveries; and (2) Extending the autonomy [27] of discovery systems with an explanation facility that rephrases discoveries in terms that are easy to understand.
Designing for the community - The Defiance College approach

Defiance College is a four-year, liberal arts-based college located in Defiance, Ohio, USA. The culture of the college is characterized by a relentless emphasis on service learning. The college's core curriculum emphasizes critical reasoning, problem solving and communication skills development, focused on addressing world issues. The college is also home to the McMaster School for Advancing Humanity, a unique research program serving as a focal point for teaching, service, scholarship, and action to improve the human condition, both locally and internationally through the application of community-based research. Recently, a new major in Design has been established that focuses on creating objects to inform, assist, facilitate and benefit the daily lives of people. In the 3D concentration of the major, students fabricate objects close-to-hand using human-centered design principles informed by industrial design. Through the McMaster School, students majoring in Design will be afforded rich opportunities to perform need-driven design for underserved communities. This paper explores several such potential applications. It is intended to facilitate dialog and identify opportunities for collaboration with others in academia and industry.
A peptide inhibitor of cytochrome c/inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor binding blocks intrinsic and extrinsic cell death pathways

Apoptotic stimuli augment intracellular calcium concentration through inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors (IP3R) on endoplasmic reticulum calcium stores. We previously discovered an apoptotic cascade wherein cytochrome c binds to IP3R early in apoptosis, resulting in dysregulated calcium release. Here we show that cytochrome c binding to IP3R depends on a cluster of glutamic acid residues within the C terminus of the channel. A cell permeant peptide derived from this sequence displaces cytochrome c from IP3R and abrogates cell death induced by staurosporine treatment of HeLa cells and Fas ligand stimulation of Jurkat cells. Small-molecule inhibitors of cytochrome c/IP3R interactions may prove useful in treating disorders associated with inappropriate intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic signaling.
Development of the cerenkov ring imaging detector for the SLD

Results of recent beam tests of a physics prototype cerenkov Ring Imaging Detector (CRID) for the SLD are reported. The system includes both liquid (C6F14) and gas (isobutane) radiators and an 80 cm quartz TPC with a gaseous TMAE photocathode and proportional wire readout. Measurements of the quality factor (N0) and cerenkov angles of both radiators at various TMAE concentrations and beam momenta are presented. Other system characteristics, including electron lifetimes, spatial resolution, "photon feedback" and preliminary results from third coordinate charge division readout are discussed.
Coping with Parental Problems: Panel Assessments of Effectiveness

Four parental coping efforts—punitive disciplinary efforts, optimistic comparisons, selective ignoring, and resignation—are examined for their effectiveness in reducing parental distress and difficulties. Data are drawn from two sets of interviews with a large metropolitan population; effectiveness is assessed net of gender, socioeconomic status, ongoing marital problems, age and number of children, and initial level of difficulty. For both behavior problems of younger children and the future direction of older children, more frequent punitive disciplinary efforts and less optimistic comparisons were associated with greater parental distress. A resigned, impotent stance was also associated with greater parental distress for outcome concerns but not for behavior problems. None of the coping efforts directly affected later parental problems; rather, the initial level of difficulty and the composition of one's family (ages, number, and residence) were the primary influence. Within the range of coping efforts...
Negative refraction in indefinite media

Initial experiments on wedge samples composed of isotropic metamaterials with simultaneously negative permittivity and permeability have indicated that electromagnetic radiation can be negatively refracted. In more recently reported experiments [Phys. Rev. Lett. 90, 1074011 (2003)], indefinite metamaterial samples, for which the permittivity and permeability tensors are negative along only certain of the principal axes of the metamaterial, have also been used to demonstrate negative refraction. We present here a detailed analysis of the refraction and reflection behavior of electromagnetic waves at an interface between an indefinite medium and vacuum. We conclude that certain classes of indefinite media have identical refractive properties as isotropic negative index materials. However, there are limits to this correspondence, and other complicating phenomena may occur when indefinite media are substituted for isotropic negative index materials. We illustrate the results of our analysis with finite-element-based numerical simulations on planar slabs and wedges of negative index and indefinite media.
The effect of body mass index on surgical outcomes and survival following pelvic exenteration.

Objective We sought to evaluate whether preoperative body mass index (BMI) impacts surgical outcomes, complication rates, and/or recurrence rates in women undergoing pelvic exenteration.
On-line Assessment of Grandmother Experience in Raising Grandchildren

The purpose of this study was to compare the parenting styles of custodial, coresident, and nonresident grandmothers and their perceptions of satisfaction, success, and teaching with their grandparent caregiving role. The 124 subjects were custodial grandmothers (n = 79), coresident grandmothers (n = 21), and nonresident grandmothers (n = 23). Participants completed an online survey that combined quantitative and qualitative research methodologies. Scores on grandparent satisfaction, success, and teaching were derived from the Grandparent Skills and Needs Inventory (GSNI). The findings on the demographic data suggested that the custodial grandmother group was significantly lower than coresident and nonresident groups on the GSNI dimensions “satisfied” and “successful.” The qualitative data presented both positive and negative perceptions of grandmothers raising their grandchildren.
Identification of two populations of cardiac microsomes with nitrendipine receptors: correlation of the distribution of dihydropyridine receptors with organelle specific markers.

Conventional sarcolemma and microsome preparations from rabbit and cat ventricular muscle were fractionated on continuous linear sucrose gradients. The distribution of nitrendipine receptors was compared with the distribution of organelle specific markers. For the conventional sarcolemma preparation, the dihydropyridine receptor distribution matched the pattern for external membrane markers in position and shape. The number of nitrendipine receptors was three times the number of muscarine binding sites (∼1.0 pmol/mg protein) at the isopycnic point of the vesicles. In contrast, two populations of vesicles with nitrendipine receptors were found in the microsome preparations. One population banded with the external membrane vesicles at a mean buoyant density of 24% (ww) sucrose. The specific content of dihydropyridine receptors (0.2 pmol/mg) was 15 that for the muscarine receptors. The second and major population followed the distribution of an Mr 300K polypeptide, a marker for the junctional cisternae of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). Muscarine receptors, however, were also present throughout that band, albeit at a reduced specific content (∼0.1 pmol/mg) compared to the light vesicles. The nitrendipine specific content increased over threefold from that of the light vesicles such that the relative content (nitrendipine/muscarine) was twice that determined for the conventional sarcolemma preparation. Nitrendipine receptors were not associated with nonjunctional SR or mitochondria. The light and heavy microsome populations were incubated with 0.2 mg digitonin/mg protein, a treatment which preferentially perturbs the isopycnic point of external membrane vesicles. For the light vesicles, the membranes with muscarine and nitrendipine receptors became heavier than the bulk of the SR. In contrast, after digitonin treatment of the heavy vesicle population, the nitrendipine and muscarine receptors and the SR marker appeared to comigrate into a sharpened band at 39% sucrose. The possibility that the dihydropyridine binding sites in the heavy microsome population are on external membrane vesicles physically linked to the junctional SR is discussed.
Post-buckling analysis for the precisely controlled buckling of thin film encapsulated by elastomeric substrates

The precisely controlled buckling of stiff thin films (e.g., Si or GaAs nano ribbons) on the patterned surface of elastomeric substrate (e.g., poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS)) with periodic inactivated and activated regions was designed by Sun et al. [Sun, Y., Choi, W.M., Jiang, H., Huang, Y.Y., Rogers, J.A., 2006. Controlled buckling of semiconductor nanoribbons for stretchable electronics. Nature Nanotechnology 1, 201-207] for important applications of stretchable electronics. We have developed a post-buckling model based on the energy method for the precisely controlled buckling to study the system stretchability. The results agree with Sun et al.'s (2006) experiments without any parameter fitting, and the system can reach 120% stretchability.
Existence for non-isothermal fluid flows with Tresca's friction and Cattaneo's heat law

Abstract We consider a two dimensional non-isothermal incompressible fluid flow involving heat transfer and friction. The problem is described by the non-stationary Navier–Stokes system and by the hyperbolic heat equation derived from Cattaneo's heat flux law, which allows to overcome the paradox of infinite propagation speed. We assume a strong coupling due to temperature dependent viscosity and velocity dependent heat capacity. Moreover we consider Tresca's friction boundary conditions for the flow. We prove an existence result for this problem by using a fixed point technique.
History and analysis of soviet domestic bond policy

(1975). History and analysis of soviet domestic bond policy. Soviet Studies: Vol. 27, No. 4, pp. 598-614.
Imaging in appendicitis: a review with special emphasis on the treatment of women.

Abstract Objective Acute abdominal pain in women often presents the clinician with a diagnostic dilemma, especially if it is lower abdominal pain. Appendicitis is frequently entertained as a diagnosis, but until recently, the gold standard diagnostic procedure was operation, carrying a high false-negative rate. In recent years, computed tomographic (CT) scan has been advocated as a diagnostic aid. The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the accuracy of CT scan in diagnosing appendicitis. Data sources Investigators searched PubMed between January and July 2003 using the terms “CT scan” and “appendicitis” with the limits “All adults 19+ years” and “English [language].” In addition, reference lists of all obtained articles were reviewed for other potential citations. Methods of study selection All prospective studies of adults published in English were considered. Tabulation, integration, and results Initial searches and reviews yielded 248 citations. Twenty-three of the citations reported prospective studies; only two of these were randomized studies. Prospective studies report sensitivities ranging from 77% to 100%, specificities ranging from 83% to 100%, and accuracies ranging from 88% to 98% for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Information gained from CT scans in patients with suspected appendicitis results in alternative diagnosis in 6% to 36%. These values are similar for both men and women. Conclusion The data support routine use of CT scan in both men and women for the diagnosis of appendicitis.
Function follows form: Activation of shape and function features during object identification.

Most theories of semantic memory characterize knowledge of a given object as comprising a set of semantic features. But how does conceptual activation of these features proceed during object identification? We present the results of a pair of experiments that demonstrate that object recognition is a dynamically unfolding process in which function follows form. We used eye movements to explore whether activating one object’s concept leads to the activation of others that share perceptual (shape) or abstract (function) features. Participants viewed four-picture displays and clicked on the picture corresponding to a heard word. In critical trials, the conceptual representation of one of the objects in the display was similar in shape or function (i.e., its purpose) to the heard word. Importantly, this similarity was not apparent in the visual depictions (e.g., for the target “frisbee,” the shape-related object was a triangular slice of pizza – a shape that a frisbee cannot take); preferential fixations on the related object were therefore attributable to overlap of the conceptual representations on the relevant features. We observed relatedness effects for both shape and function, but shape effects occurred earlier than function effects. We discuss the implications of these findings for current accounts of the representation of semantic memory.
Cingulate epilepsy and secondary bilateral synchrony.

Abstract 1. 1. Focal epileptogenic lesions of one cingulate gyrus are capable of inducing a diffuse bilateral synchrony of the spontaneous and epileptiform activity of both cerebral hemispheres in catsanesthetized with a barbiturate. 2. 2. This synchrony is mediated through subcortical centers, possibly by means of the mesial thalamic reticular formation. 3. 3. These observations offer an experimental basis for the diffuse bilateral synchrony seen in some forms of human epilepsy with origins in the parasagittal, pericallosal cortex.
An optimal algorithm to generate rooted trivalent diagrams and rooted triangular maps

A trivalent diagram is a connected, two-colored bipartite graph (parallel edges allowed but not loops) such that every black vertex is of degree 1 or 3 and every white vertex is of degree 1 or 2, with a cyclic order imposed on every set of edges incident to the same vertex. A rooted trivalent diagram is a trivalent diagram with a distinguished edge, its root. We shall describe and analyze an algorithm giving an exhaustive list of rooted trivalent diagrams of a given size (number of edges), the list being non-redundant in that no two diagrams of the list are isomorphic. The algorithm will be shown to have optimal performance in that the time necessary to generate a diagram will be seen to be bounded in the amortized sense, the bound being independent of the size of the diagrams. We call this the CAT property. One objective of the paper is to provide a reusable theoretical framework for algorithms generating exhaustive lists of complex combinatorial structures with attention paid to the case of unlabeled structures and to those generators having the CAT property.
OBSERVATIONAL LEARNING IN THE SQUIRREL MONKEY.

adult males, who were estimated co be 5 yr. old and had served in a variety of learning set experiments, served alternately as demonstrator ( D ) and observer (0) for 150 problems. In design the apparatus closely approximated that described by C. L. Darby and A. J. Riopelle (Observational learning in the rhesus monkey. I. comp . physiol. Psychol.. 1959, 5 2 , 94-97), except there were four food wells instead of two on the stimulus tray. For each problem Step 1 consisted of training D to respond to the correct one of four stereometric objects to a criterion of three consecutive correct responses. 0 did not observe this training. The object to be rewarded for each problem was selected in the following manner. Four objects were placed over the food wells, and D was given three unrewarded presenc3cions. The object to be rewarded subsequently was randomly selected from those not chosen on these trials. Its position relative to the other objects was randomly determined for each problem. These procedures effectively excluded object and position preferences as reliable bases for correct responses by 0. In Step 2 0 observed D's responses for eight trials. The stimulus tray was then presented to 0 for Test Trial 1, with the placement of the objects reversed left to right relative to 0 's view during the demonstration trials. Another demonstration trial was then given, followed by observer Test Trial 2. Each S served as 0 for 75 problems. Ss were 4 hr. food deprived. For each S the 75 Test Trial 1 performances as 0 were dealt with as chree blocks of 2 5 trials. For one S %s of correct responses were 4496, 56%, and 48%; for the ocher S they were 32%, 32%, and 32%. Individually and combined their performances were significantly better than chance (@ < . 0 5 ) , wich .25 defined as chance. Very likely the method of selecting the object to be rewarded in each problem reduced the probability of 0 ' s being correct by chance on Tesc Trial 1 to less chan .25, for the rewarded object was non-preferred as well as one of four. 0s ' Tesc Trial 2 performances were about 8% better than those on Test Trial 1. Thus, these Ss learned by observing one another make correct responses in an objecr-quality discrimination situation. The superiority of the one S over
The Issue of Governance in Neighborhood-Based Initiatives

The authors of this issue-mapping article explore the rationale behind, and issues bearing on, the governance of community-based initiatives. They examine three issues relevant to the formation of ...
Fastigial nucleus modulation of medullary parasolitary neurons.

Abstract Input from the cerebellar fastigial nuclei to neurons at the lateral margin of the nuclei of the solitary tract, particularly to the area identified as the nucleus parasolitarius was investigated in acuteiy prepared, anesthetized dogs. Fastigial nucleus stimulation led to short latency excitation of nucleus parasolitarius units often followed by prolonged inhibition of spontaneous activity. Excitation from deep skeletal muscle afferents, converged on 25% of the spontaneously active units excited from the fastigial nuclei; these afferents originated primarily from the ipsilateral forelimb muscles. This study provides electrophysiological evidence for fastigial modulation of neurons previously demonstrated autoradiographically to receive presumed monosynaptic fastigial nucleus efferents. The convergence of forelimb muscle afferent information tentatively identified as being from Group la or Group II pressure stretch receptors suggests that the nucleus parasolitarius may be an integrative area for cerebellar, sensorimotor and/or autonomic information.
Comparison of Infant and Adult P300 from Auditory Stimuli.

Event-related brain potentials (ERPs) using auditory stimuli were recorded from 5- to 10-month-old infants and normal young adults with a passive tone sequence paradigm. A P3 (P300) component was obtained which demonstrated the same central-parietal maximum scalp distribution for both subject groups. P3 amplitude was smaller and its peak latency longer for infants compared to those of the adults across all electrode sites. P3 measures remained stable across stimulus trials indicating that ERP habituation was not occurring. Evaluation of individual subjects suggests that the P3 can be elicited from infants with auditory stimuli in a manner similar to that from adults and may serve as a useful index for the assessment of cognitive function in infants.
Functional osteology of the primate carpus with special reference to strepsirhini.

Preuschoft et al. ([1993] in H. Preuschoft and D. Chivers (eds.): Hands of Primates. New York: Springer-Verlag, pp. 245–256) used a theoretical biomechanical analysis to generate several predictions relating subordinal differences in primate hand proportions to differences in carpal morphology. This study tests these predictions using quantitative analyses of carpal morphology between extant haplorhine and strepsirhine primates. Results show that living strepsirhines have a significantly larger hamate hamulus than do haplorhines, supporting Preuschoft et al.'s (1993) predictions. Extant strepsirhines also have a significantly shorter pisiform body than do haplorhines and arboreal nonprimate eutherians and a larger scaphoid tubercle than New and Old World monkeys. These results contrast markedly with those expected under Preuschoft et al.'s (1993) model. Furthermore, strepsirhines and haplorhines do not differ significantly in the relative size of their radiocarpal articulations. These morphometric observations do not match the predicted morphological patterns because the kinematic assumptions upon which the biomechanical models are based are incorrect. Living strepsirhines appear to be derived in having very deep radial and ulnar margins of the carpal tunnel for well-developed extrinsic digital flexors. Moreover, tooth-combed prosimians differ from most haplorhines, early Tertiary adapiforms, and arboreal nonprimate eutherians in having a relatively short pisiform body, which gives the flexor carpi ulnaris less power to flex the wrist from extended (= dorsiflexed) positions. These structural observations suggest that powerful manual grasping and an emphasis on leaping and climbing, rather than palmigrade quadrupedal walking and running, are morphotypic for extant Strepsirhini. Am J Phys Anthropol 104:105–116, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Inhibitory circuitry involving Y cells and Y retinal terminals in the C laminae of the cat dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus

We previously established (Datskovskaia et al. [2001] J Comp Neurol 430:85-100) that roughly 40% of Y retinal terminals contact interneurons in the A lamina of the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN) of the cat. However, we did not establish whether the dendritic terminals of interneurons postsynaptic to Y retinal terminals subsequently contact Y thalamocortical cells. To begin to address this issue, we examined the synaptic targets of Y retinal terminals in the magnocellular C lamina of the dLGN, which is populated almost exclusively by Y thalamocortical cells and interneurons. We utilized material generated from our previous work, in which we injected the superior colliculus with biotinylated dextran amine to backfill the geniculate branches of Y retinogeniculate axons in the dLGN. Sections prepared for electron microscopy were stained for gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) to distinguish interneurons from thalamocortical cells. We found that the majority of profiles postsynaptic to Y retinal axons were the GABA-negative dendrites of thalamocortical cells (116/200, 58%). The remainder were GABA-positive dendrites of interneurons (84/200, 42%), many of which contained vesicles (F2 profiles; 54/200, 27%). In addition, we examined the synaptic targets of F2 profiles and found that almost all contacts of F2 profiles in the magnocellular C lamina were made onto the GABA-negative dendrites of thalamocortical cells (199/200, 99.5%). Thus, Y retinogeniculate axons contact interneurons and interneurons contact Y thalamocortical cells in the magnocellular C lamina of the dLGN. This indicates that interneurons are involved in modulation of the Y pathway.
Composite Blur Analysis

In an x-ray imaging system, there are three primary sources of blqr. These are the finite size of the x-ray tube focal spot, movement of the object during the exposure, and the inherent blur of the receptor. An analysis of the composite blur and the optimization of system performance can be greatly simplified by the use of a special nomograph. The quantity of blur, with respect to the dimensions of the object, is a function of the object's position between the focal spot and receptor surface. The position of the object is specified in terms of a parameter, s, which forms one scale of the nomograph. Blur values are linear functions of this parameter. Blur from each primary source is graphed as a function of object position by drawing straight lines between points located on the blur and focal-spot scales. A second nomograph is used to combine the blur from the different sources at a specific object location.© (1976) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Development and in vitro cytotoxicity of microparticle drug delivery system for proteins using l -tyrosine polyphosphate

l-Tyrosine polyphosphate (LTP), a “pseudo” poly (amino acid) polymer is characterized by a rapid degradation rate. Subsequently, formulation of a drug delivery system has been investigated by encapsulating fluorescein isothiocyanate–bovine serum albumin (FITC-BSA) within LTP microparticles. Characterization of surface morphology shows a mixture of spherical and discoid particles with a slightly rough surface morphology for all microparticle formulations. Dynamic laser light scattering (DLS) shows a decrease in particle diameters and size distribution upon FITC-BSA encapsulation. LTP microparticles are found to degrade over a period of 7 days, and complete release of FITC-BSA is observed over a period of 6 days. Cytotoxicity evaluation of LTP microparticles indicates that these microparticles do not cause severe cell death in cultured primary human dermal fibroblasts over a period of 10 days. Therefore, the LTP microparticles are promising candidates for short-term protein delivery applications.
Partitioning of BTEX constituents and chloroorganics in high-biomass systems

Henry's Law controls mass transfer rates for sparingly soluble organics and/or lower inlet VOC concentrations within a biofilter. We report measurements of apparent Henry's Law partitioning values for benzene, toluene, TCE, and chloromethane in systems that contain varying levels of biomass. The apparent air/liquid partition constant for benzene decreased from 2.9 × 10−3 atm m3 mol−1 to as low as 0.1 × 10−3 atm m3 mol−1 when biomass, in the form of yeast, was added to aqueous batch systems containing benzene. The constant for toluene decreased from 6.4 × 10−3 to 0.17 × 10−3 atm m3 mol−1. For TCE, the air/liquid partition constant decreased from 0.013 atm m3 mol−1 to less than 0.00013 atm m3 mol−1. Experimentally measured partition values were also used to calculate intrinsic “pure biomass” partitioning constants, which can be used to interpolate behavior. Apparent partitioning values for TCE were most heavily impacted by biomass levels, changing by two orders of magnitude. These data should allow other researchers to estimate and extrapolate the influence of biomass on their own biofiltration processes.
SU-GG-T-128: Rapid Dose Calculation for Dose Per MU Verification of IMRT Fields

Purpose: We have developed a fast algorithm to calculate patient specific 2D distribution of absolute dose per MU (D/MU) for megavoltage photon beams. Method and Materials: To calculate D/MU correctly, one has to perform the scatter‐integration with proper weights to account for the primary fluence distribution. In our PC‐based MU‐calculation program, the ratio of scatter‐to‐primary dose, Ds/Dp , for a 2‐D non‐uniform field is calculated as: SPR(x, y, d) = ∫ x ∫ y IM(x′, y′) IM(x, y) ⋅ a(d + d 0 ) 2 w ⋅ r + d + d 0 ) 2 ⋅ 2πr dx′ dy′ , with r = (x − x′) 2 + (y − y′) 2 and IM(x, y) = ∑ i ƒMU i p i (x′, y′) is the 2D intensity profile within the IMRT field, pi is 1 inside field and 0 outside field collimation for segment field i of the IMRT field. This convolution is calculated using a Fast Fourier Transform. The parameters a, w, and d0 characterize the phantom scatter properties and can be determined from measured PDD. Results: SPR can be calculated on an Intel Pentium 2.8GHz PC for 0.5‐cm grid size in less than 0.1 second for a 80×80 grid covering 40 × 40 cm2. For IMRT patients examined, the standard deviation of all comparisons is 1.5±3.9%. Conclusion: This algorithm is ideally suitable for calculating patient‐specific MU for quality assurance of patient specific IMRT fields for photon beams. The major attraction is the fast speed, which allows potential real‐time applications.
Maternally-supplied fish oil alters piglet immune cell fatty acid profile and eicosanoid production.

This study was designed to examine the incorporation of omega-3 (n−3) fatty acids into the immune tissues of pigs nursing fish oil-fed sows and to determine the effect of maternal dietary n−3 consumption onin vitro immune cell eicosanoid production. On day 107 of gestation, 12 sows were randomly allotted to a diet containing either 7% menhaden fish oil (MFO) or lard (LRD). The fatty acid profile of serum, liver, thymus, splenocytes and alveolar macrophages (AM) of 18–21-day-old pigs was significantly affected by the fat source provided to the sow. Arachidonic acid (20∶4n−6) content was typically reduced by more than 50% in MFO as compared with LRD pigs. In MFO pigs, eicosapentaenoic acid (20∶5n−3) was the major n−3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, and its levels matched or exceeded those of arachidonic acid. Basal release of prostaglandin E, thromboxane B and leukotriene B by AM was 60–70% lower in MFOvs. LRD pigs. However, when these immune cells were stimulated with calcium ionophore A23187, release of leukotriene B was similar in MFO and LRD pigs. In conclusion, substituting MFO for LRD in a sow's late-gestation and lactation diet greatly elevated the content of n−3 fatty acids in the nursing pig immune cells and generally reducedin vitro eicosanoid release by pig immune cells.
Successful transarterial Guglielmi detachable coil embolization of posttraumatic posterior communicating artery-cavernous sinus fistula: technical note.

OBJECTIVE: Carotid-cavernous fistulae are uncommon but well-documented sequelae of craniofacial trauma. A rare subset may arise from the posterior communicating artery instead of from the carotid artery proper. The presentation is similar to that of carotid-cavernous fistulae, with ocular pain, chemosis, and proptosis being the common symptoms. The first successful transarterial coil embolization of this type of lesion is described. METHODS: A 42-year-old man presented with severe craniocerebral injury, including multiple craniofacial fractures, after an industrial accident. He required emergent craniotomy for an open depressed cranial fracture and epidural hematoma. Six weeks after presentation, the patient began to exhibit progressive chemosis and proptosis. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed findings consistent with a carotid-cavernous fistula. RESULTS: Angiography revealed a fistula between the posterior communicating artery and the cavernous sinus. The origin of the fistuia in the posterior communicating artery was successfully obliterated with Guglielmi detachable coiling. Subsequent studies demonstrated no flow through the fistula and good opacification of the ipsilateral posterior cerebral artery by the vertebrobasilar system. CONCLUSION: Posterior communicating artery-cavernous fistulae are a rare sequel of trauma. They may be treated successfully with the use of transarteriai coil embolization.