cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Speech and Music Have Different Requirements for Spectral Resolution

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the evidence that speech and music are quite different in terms of their requirements for spectral resolution, suggesting that it is important to understand the demands of the listening task in order to understand the importance of spectral resolution. The number of spectral channels needed depends on the difficulty of the listening task and the situation. Speech recognition, because it is a highly trained pattern recognition process, requires only four spectral channels of envelope information in the appropriate tonotopic place. Six to eight spectral channels are required for speech recognition in noisy listening conditions or for difficult speech materials or for people who are not native listeners in the language. In contrast, music requires at least 16 spectral channels even for identification of simple familiar melodies played with a single stream of notes. Recognition and enjoyment of music that is more complex and music with multiple instruments require at least 64 channels of spectral resolution and possibly many more. This large difference between music and speech highlights the difference in how the brain utilizes information from the auditory periphery. To understand the processing in the auditory system it is important to understand the relative roles of fine detail from the periphery and topdown pattern processing by the brain for different tasks.
Quality of CPR: An important effect modifier in cardiac arrest clinical outcomes and intervention effectiveness trials.

Abstract Objectives To determine if the quality of CPR had a significant interaction with the primary study intervention in the NIH PRIMED trial. Design The public access database from the NIH PRIMED trial was accessed to determine if there was an interaction between quality of CPR performance, intervention, and outcome (survival to hospital discharge with modified Rankin Score (mRS) ≤3). Setting Multi-centered prehospital care systems across North America. Patients Of 8719 adult patients enrolled, CPR quality was electronically recorded for compression rate, depth, and fraction in 6199 (71.1%), 3750 (43.0%) and 6204 (71.2%) subjects, respectively. "Acceptable" quality CPR was defined prospectively as simultaneous provision of a compression rate of 100/min (±20%), depth of 5cm (±20%) and fraction of >50%. Significant interaction was considered as p Intervention Standard CPR with an activated versus sham (inactivated) ITD. Measurements and main results Overall, 848 and 827 patients, respectively, in the active and sham-ITD groups had "acceptable" CPR quality performed ( n =1675). There was a significant interaction between the active and sham-ITD and compression rate, depth and fraction as well as their combinations. The strongest interaction was seen with all three parameters combined (unadjusted and adjusted interaction p -value, p =0.006). The opposite was true for patients that did not receive "acceptable" quality of CPR. In those patients, use of an active – ITD led to significantly worse survival to hospital discharge with mRS ≤3 compared to sham (34/1012 [3.4%] versus 62/1061 [5.8%], p =0.007). Conclusions There was a statistically significant interaction between the quality of CPR provided, intervention, and survival to hospital discharge with mRS ≤3 in the NIH PRIMED trial. Quality of CPR delivered can be an underestimated effect modifier in CPR clinical trials.
Le modèle triadique des aspects neurobiologiques des comportements motivés à l’adolescence

Le comportement de prise de risque est une cause majeure de morbidite et de mortalite a l’adolescence. Dans le contexte d’une theorie de la decision et des comportements motives (c’est-a-dire dirige vers un but), la prise de risque reflete un motif de prise de decision qui favorise la selection du deroulement de l’action avec des consequences incertaines et potentiellement dangereuses. Nous presentons un modele triadique base sur les etudes de prise de decision chez l’adolescent realisees en neuroscience. Nous passons en revue le role fonctionnel et les resultats neurodeveloppementaux de trois structures cles dans le controle du comportement motive, c’est-a-dire l’amygdale, le noyau accumbens et le cortex prefrontal median/ventral. Nous adoptons une approche neuroscientifique cognitive du comportement motive qui utilise une fragmentation dans le temps de l’action motivee en general. Nous proposons des previsions sur les contributions relatives des noeuds triadiques pendant les trois etapes de l’action motivee pendant l’adolescence. La propension a l’adolescence a rechercher la recompense-nouveaute, malgre l’incertitude et un danger potentiel, peut etre expliquee par un systeme de recompense fort (noyau accumbens), un systeme d’evitement de la douleur faible (amygdale) et/ou un systeme de supervision inefficace (cortex prefrontal median/ventral). Des perturbations dans ces systemes peuvent contribuer a l’expression d’une psychopathologie, ce que nous illustrons avec la depression et l’anxiete. Un modele triadique, integre dans une carte organisee dans le temps de comportements motives, peut fournir un cadre utile qui suggere des hypotheses specifiques pour les bases neurales des comportements adolescents typiques et atypiques.
Highly Reliable E/sup 2/prom Cell Fabricated with Etox/sup Tm/ Flash Process

ETOX flash memory [1] was developed to give the lowest cost electrical reprogrammable memory. However, for some application, it is desirable to have low density of byte alterable FLOTOX memories [2].
DESIGNING A SYSTEM OF PLUG-IN HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS

In this paper we present a two-step approach for the design of a system of Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) charging stations. Our approach consists of a simulation model and a mathematical model. The simulation model formulates the charging station's ability to meet charging demand by using discrete event simulation. The mathematical model formulates the design decisions made when designing the charging stations, i.e. locations and configurations of charging stations, using the compromise Decision Support Problem (cDSP). Waiting time, service time, number of slots (chargers) and demand are key inputs for the simulation model. Output of the simulation model, which is the service level of the charging stations, is used as an input for the mathematical model. By compromising between maximizing the service level, maximizing the demand coverage, minimizing the installation cost for slots and minimizing distance between charging stations and demand nodes, design decisions are taken in the mathematical model. Our focus in this paper is on the method which is widely applicable. However the approach is presented and evaluated for a data set from Dallas County, Texas.
Phosphorylation of Plasma Membrane Proteins Dependent on Adenosine 3′,5′‐Monophosphatein Rat‐Glial C6 Cells

The presence of protein kinase(s) dependent on adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) and their endogenous substrates were demonstrated in a glial plasma-membrane preparation. Three proteins, C, D and E, are the major substrates for a cyclic-AMP-regulated phosphorylation system in the plasma membrane of C6 cells, a glial tumor cell line. Plasma-membrane fractions were isolated by a modification of the ZnCl2 method of Warren et al. and were endogenously phosphorylated in vitro in the presence of [γ-32P]ATP. Phosphorylated proteins were separated by electrophoresis in 7, 9 and 12% discontinuous gradient polyacrylamide gels. Phosphorylated protein bands were visualized by autoradiography. The time course of phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of protein bands C, D and E was regulated by cyclic AMP. The approximate molecular weights of these proteins are 51000, 47000 and 38000, respectively. Quantitative microdensitometry of the autoradiograms showed that the endogenous phosphorylation of the three proteins was affected by the concentration of cyclic AMP, cyclic GMP, ATP and divalent cations. The concentration of cyclic AMP required for optimal stimulation of the endogenous phosphorylation of the three proteins was in the range of 0.1 to 1 μM. Cyclic GMP gave maximal stimulation above 10 μM. Mg2+ was a more effective metal ion than either Mn2+ or Co2+. The optimal concentration of those divalent cations was in the range of 10–25 mM. When Mg2+ was replaced by Ca2+, Cu2+ or Zn2+, little or no phosphorylation was observed. However, two proteins, A and B, were specifically phosphorylated in the presence of Cu2+ and Zn2+ respectively, but not in the presence of Mg2+, Mn2+ or Ca2+. We propose that such cyclic-AMP-dependent phosphorylation of plasma-membrane proteins may mediate cyclic AMP action in regulating membrane functions, such as amino acid transport in C6 cells.
Spirocyclic Defensive Alkaloid from a Coccinellid Beetle

Abstract A new alkaloid, chilocorine B, was characterized from a coccinellid beetle, Chilocorus cacti. This compound represents the first spirocyclic example of the new “dimeric” alkaloid family whose structures are derived from two thirteen-carbon tricyclic subunits, 2-methylperhydro-9b-azaphenalene and 3,4-dimethyloctahydro-8bazaacenaphthylene.
On the relationship between the Glauber approximation and the watson multiple-scattering theory

Abstract The relationship between Watson's multiple-scattering theory and Glauber's approximate multiple-scattering theory for high energies is explored, and a direct derivation of the latter from the former is presented in the context of potential scattering. The cancelations between all off-shell contributions to the first A terms of the Watson series for the transition matrix (for a system of A scatterers) and the remainder of the infinite series are explicitly exhibited in the high-energy limit. This cancelation is complete for A = 2, but is only partial when A ⩾ 3 in which situation on-shell components of the first A terms also enter into canceling the remainder of the series. A comparison is given between these results and those of previous efforts to derive Glauber's approximation from the Watson theory.
Low error rate LDPC decoders

Low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes have been demonstrated to perform very close to the Shannon limit when decoded iteratively. However challenges persist in building practical high-throughput decoders due to the existence of error floors at low error rate levels. We apply high-throughput hardware emulation to capture errors and error-inducing noise realizations, which allow for in-depth analysis. This method enables the design of LDPC decoders that operate without error floors down to very low bit error rate (BER) levels. Such emulation-aided studies facilitate complex systems designs.
In-home health education for family day care providers: A rural community-based project

An in-home consultation program for educating rural family day care providers about child health and safety is described. Three home visits were made to forty-eight providers. For the first two visits, a public health nurse assessed provider needs and presented information. Topics most frequently requested by providers were about controlling infections, first aid and safety practices, infectious diseases, and skin problems. Evaluation of provider satisfaction was conducted on the third visit by an independent evaluator. All providers reported satisfaction with the delivery of information. Level of health knowledge was also assessed. The majority of providers were informed at least minimally about maintaining a healthy environment for their day care children. Nurses, however, observed providers using practices that could place themselves and children at risk for spread of fecal/oral and direct contact illnesses. Providers with some education beyond high school, particularly in child development, were likely to know more about injury prevention. Mandated preventive child health training was recommended for family day care providers.
On Orientalism, Self-Consciousness and History

In engaging with my work on the early formation of Islamic law, David Powers has in effect reproduced a paradigmatic account that exemplifies the dearth of theory and hermeneutical self-consciousness in the field of legal Orientalism. This article proffers, first and foremost, a prolegomenon to some of the fundamental theoretical issues with which this field has yet to reckon; and, secondarily, a response to the concrete claims that Powers has made.
Scaled impulse loading for liquid hydraulic response in IFE thick-liquid chamber experiments $

Abstract In an inertial fusion energy (IFE) target chamber using thick-liquid protection, placing liquid surfaces close to the fusion target helps to reduce pumping cost and final-focus stand-off distance. The impulse loading generated by the target on the adjacent jet surfaces provides the most important boundary condition for the subsequent liquid hydraulic response, pocket disruption, droplet generation, and pocket clearing and regeneration. However, liquid jets are difficult to use in current X-ray facilities that can simulate the X-ray ablation process. Instead, it is desirable to study liquid hydraulic response using water jets, employing scaled impulse loads delivered by chemical detonations or shock tubes. Because the pressure load generated by IFE targets is extremely short compared to the time required for significant liquid motion, only the time integrated impulse load is important to the liquid motion, not the detailed pressure history from ablation and venting. In this work, this impulse loading is determined using the 2-D gas dynamic code, TSUNAMI, and a comparison made between the impulse loads generated by IFE targets and by scaled chemical detonations.
Order transmission efficiency optimization in hierarchical organizations

Abstract This paper considers order transmission hierarchical organizations in which a decision-maker is situated in the root and executors in the leaves of a tree-like graph representing the structure of the organization. Reliability coefficients of transmission channels depend on quantities of allocated resources. The problem is to allocate a given amount of resource among all channels to maximize the efficiency of optimization. Descriptions of algorithms for one-level, two-level and multi-level organizations are included. The paper ends with remarks on the computational complexity of the algorithms and an example of their use.
Longitudinal Analyses of Classroom Behavior and School Achievement

Third-, sixth-, and ninth-grade teachers in a Wisconsin county nominated 982 children as consistently displaying socially approved behavior and 568 as consistently displaying aggressive-disruptive behavior in the classroom. Five years after the original nominations teacher grades in English, science, mathematics, and social studies; rank in graduating class for original ninth graders; and STEP scores were obtained. Analyses of covariance (ANACOVA) were made with IQ as the covariate and behavior, grade, sex, and home location as the independent variables. The results indicate clearly that the children whose behavior was aggressive and disruptive in the classroom achieved at significantly lower levels than their socially approved peers.
Aerosols as Heterogeneous Nuclei

Abstract The major purpose of determining the water and ice nucleating effectiveness of atmospheric aerosols is to evaluate their effects upon cloud and precipitation formation. A review of classical heterogeneous nucleation theory shows the nucleating effectiveness to depend in an important way upon so many complex factors that the only possible approach is direct measurement. The same complexities affect both the measuring technique and the action of the aerosol within clouds. Consequently the techniques must be adapted to the kind of natural environment that the aerosol will encounter, in each specific case, before any important conclusions can be drawn from nucleus measurements.
Randomized parallel speedups for list ranking

Abstract The following problem is considered: given a linked list of length n, compute the distance of each element of the linked list from the end of the list. The problem has two standard deterministic algorithms: a linear time serial algorithm, and an O((n log n)/p + log n) time parallel algorithm using p processors. We present a randomized parallel algorithm for the problem. The algorithm is designed for an exclusive-read exclusive-write parallel random access machine (EREW PRAM). It runs almost surely in time O(n/p + log n log ∗ n) using p processors. Using a recently published parallel prefix sums algorithm the list-ranking algorithm can be adapted to run on a concurrent-read concurrent-write parallel random access machine (CRCW PRAM) almost surely in time O(n/p + log n) using p processors.
Morphogenesis of the lamellar body in fetal lung tissue in vitro

Abstract By use of both biochemical and morphological techniques it has been reported that lysosomal enzymes are localized in the lung lamellar body. In the present investigation, the association between lysosomal enzymes and lamellar body morphogenesis in fetal lung was studied. We employed an organ culture system in which the epithelium of immature human fetal lung explants differentiates in vitro into an epithelium of type II pneumonocytes. The specific activities of two lysosomal marker enzymes, viz., N- acetyl -β- d - glucosaminidase and β-galactosidase, as well as phosphatidate phosphohydrolase were increased 2-fold in homogenates of lung explants that had been maintained in organ culture compared to the specific activities of the enzymes in homogenates of fetal lung tissues before culture. The increase in total activity of the lysosomal enzymes during culture was greatest in the heavy mitochondrial fraction (5 000 × g pellet). The greatest increase in the specific activity of these enzymes during the culture period was also in the heavy mitochondrial fraction. We subfractionated the mitochondrial fractions by use of a step gradient (20–60% sucrose). By electron microscopy we found that lamellar bodies were localized in the fraction with the lowest density, whereas lamellar body precursors (i.e., multivesicular bodies) were present principally in the next two fractions. Mitochondria were identified in high-density fractions of the sucrose step gradient. All of the lysosomal enzymes of starting lung tissue were enriched in the gradient fractions at high densities of the step gradient. However, after the tissue differentiated, the enzyme activities were enriched in the less dense fractions that contained lamellar and multivesicular bodies. The NADPH-cytochrome c reductase (a microsomal marker enzyme) activity increased after culture in the low-density fractions that contained lamellar and multivesicular bodies. Thus, an increase in the total and specific activities as well as a change in the subcellular localization of lysosomal enzymes takes place during type II cell differentiation. These data are suggestive that several lysosomal enzymes, as well as phosphatidate phosphohydrolase and a microsomal enzyme, NADPH-cytochrome c reductase, are associated with the morphogenesis of the mature lamellar body and its precursor i.e., the multivesicular body.
Beyond Semmelweis: Moving Infection Control into the Community

In this issue, Larson and colleagues found no difference in rates of infectious disease symptoms among families who used handwashing and household-cleaning products with and without antibacterial i...
Inverse modeling of velocities and inferred cause of overwash that emplaced inland fields of boulders at Anegada, British Virgin Islands

A combination of numeric hydrodynamic models, a large-clast inverse sediment-transport model, and extensive field measurements were used to discriminate between a tsunami and a storm striking Anegada, BVI a few centuries ago. In total, 161 cobbles and boulders were measured ranging from 1.5 to 830 kg at distances of up to 1 km from the shoreline and 2 km from the crest of a fringing coral reef. Transported clasts are composed of low porosity limestone and were derived from outcrops in the low lying interior of Anegada. Estimates of the near-bed flow velocities required to transport the observed boulders were calculated using a simple sediment-transport model, which accounts for fluid drag, inertia, buoyancy, and lift forces on boulders and includes both sliding and overturning transport mechanisms. Estimated near-bed flow velocities are converted to depth-averaged velocities using a linear eddy viscosity model and compared with water level and depth-averaged velocity time series from high-resolution coastal inundation models. Coastal inundation models simulate overwash by the storm surge and waves of a category 5 hurricane and tsunamis from a Lisbon earthquake of M 9.0 and two hypothetical earthquakes along the North America Caribbean Plate boundary. A modeled category 5 hurricane and three simulated tsunamis were all capable of inundating the boulder fields and transporting a portion of the observed clasts, but only an earthquake of M 8.0 on a normal fault of the outer rise along the Puerto Rico Trench was found to be capable of transporting the largest clasts at their current locations. Model results show that while both storm waves and tsunamis are capable of generating velocities and temporal acceleration necessary to transport large boulders near the reef crest, attenuation of wave energy due to wave breaking and bottom friction limits the capacity of storm waves to transport large clast at great inland distances. Through sensitivity analysis, we show that even when using coefficients in the sediment-transport model which yield the lowest estimated minimum velocities for boulder transport, storm waves from a category 5 hurricane are not capable of transporting the largest boulders in the interior of Anegada. Because of the uncertainties in the modeling approach, extensive sensitivity analyses are included and limitations are discussed.
Effects of psychology courseware use on computer anxiety in students

Abstract Recent use of computer-based learning programs (courseware) in psychology courses has led to concern over the potential for computer anxiety to impact students' performance and increase anxiety. Therefore, the relationship between computer anxiety and psychology courseware use was examined in an undergraduate Abnormal Psychology class using four computerized case simulations as part of their course work. Comparison of pre-versus posttest measures of computer anxiety indicated that computer anxiety did not interfere with simulation completion. Computer anxiety actually decreased concomitant to courseware use. Implications of the results are discussed with respect to using psychology courseware.
Characteristics of the adenyl cyclase of the central nervous system of Manduca sexta

Abstract 1. The enzyme is stimulated by fluoride at concentration of 8–25 mM. 2. For the basal enzyme the apparent K m is 97.2 μM, and the apparent V max is 12.8 pmoles cyclic AMP formed/min/mg of protein; in the presence of fluoride the K m is 90.4 and the V max 22.3 3. Basal activity was stimulated two-fold by 2 μM serotonin, and the EC 50 was 0.5 μM. No other neurotransmitters or β-ecdysone stimulated the enzyme. 5. Various parameters of neuronal- and glial-enriched fractions including adenyl cyclase are presented.
Bactericidal action of ampicillin/sulbactam against intracellular mycobacteria.

Abstract The resistance of mycobacteria to β-lactam antibiotics is attributed to their ability to synthesize β-lactamase. In our previous studies, β-lactam/β-lactamase-inhibitor combinations suppressed the growth of several mycobacteria in axenic cultures and ampicillin/sulbactam was bactericidal to Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv in vitro, and to Mycobacterium leprae multiplying in mouse foot-pads. Since both these organisms multiply in phagocytic cells in the host, it is important to know whether the drug combination is active against mycobacteria multiplying in macrophages. We tested the action of ampicillin/sulbactam against four potentially pathogenic (to humans or to animals) mycobacteria, M. simiae , M. haemophilum , M. avium , M. microti , when phagocytosed by mouse macrophages. Bacteria were exposed to monolayers of peritoneal macrophages harvested from BALB/c mice. Unphagocytosed bacilli were removed and three concentrations of ampicillin/sulbactam were tested. Optimum activity was observed at 100 mg/l which killed 58–97% of the mycobacteria within macrophages, as determined by the CFU. β-Lactam/β-lactamase-inhibitors, especially ampicillin/sulbactam, might provide an effective alternative therapy against infections caused by mycobacteria resistant to other drugs.
Spectroscopic signatures of photocharging due to hot-carrier transfer in solutions of semiconductor nanocrystals under low-intensity ultraviolet excitation.

We show that excitation of solutions of well-passivated PbSe semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) with ultraviolet (3.1 eV) photons can produce long-lived charge-separated states in which the NC core is left with a nonzero net charge. Since this process is not observed for lower-energy (1.5 eV) excitation, we ascribe it to hot-carrier transfer to some trap site outside the NC. Photocharging leads to bleaching of steady-state absorption, partial quenching of emission, and additional fast time scales in carrier dynamics due to Auger decay of charged single- and multiexciton states. The degree of photocharging, f, saturates at a level that varies from 5 to 15% depending on the sample. The buildup of the population of charged NCs is extremely slow indicating very long, tens of seconds, lifetimes of these charge-separated states. Based on these time scales and the measured onset of saturation of f at excitation rates around 0.05−1 photon per NC per ms, we determine that the probability of charging following a phot...
Ordinary-Mode Electromagnetic Instability in Colliding Plasma Streams

The instability of the electromagnetic linearly polarized mode propagating perpendicularly to the magnetic field is studied for a system composed of two colliding plasma streams, in each of which the electrons and ions are streaming at the same velocity. Using linearized Vlasov-Maxwell equations and allowing for anisotropic temperatures, it is found that in the presence of streaming ions the instability can occur in very low-beta plasmas. The plasma is increasingly susceptible to the electromagnetic instability with increasing values of beta, streaming velocity, temperature ratio of parallel to perpendicular electrons, and temperature ratio of perpendicular electrons to perpendicular ions.
Optical and scanning probe analysis of glycolipid reorganization upon concanavalin A binding to mannose-coated lipid bilayers

Molecular level associations between components within the lipid bilayer as proteins complex to the membrane surface are fundamental to the complete understanding of protein-membrane interactions. To characterize these protein-induced membrane-organizational processes, we have prepared a new fluorescently labeled glycolipid (PSMU) that enables monitoring of glycolipid aggregation within the lipid membrane. The glycolipid's mannosamine headgroup was specifically recognized by the lectin concanavalin A (Con A). Fluorescence studies with liposomes composed of 5 mol % PSMU/distearylphosphatidylcholine found that the membrane reorganized in response to Con A adsorption. Initially aggregated structures of glycolipid were dispersed as a consequence of specific affinity with the lectin through steric restrictions imposed by other bound Con A, the distance between mannosyl receptor sites, and possible protein insertion events. The protein binding and membrane reorganizational process was slow (ca. days). An association constant for Con A with the glycolipid membrane was estimated to be 3 x 10 6 M - 1 , around 2 orders of magnitude higher than that for methyl-D-a-mannopyranoside. Nanoscale imaging with the atomic force microscope found that the glycolipid formed 10 nm wide dendrite structures throughout the membrane and that the bound Con A was associated with those nanoscale features.
Syntheses of deuterated methyl 9,15‐octadecadienoate and methyl 9,12,15‐octadecatrienoate geometric isomers

Methyl 9,15-octadecadienoate-6,7-d2 isomers (12) were obtained by Wittig coupling between methyl 9-oxononanoate-6,7-d2 (6) and 6-nonenyltriphenylphosphonium bromide (11). Compound 11 was prepared from methyl 6-nonenoate (8) by reduction-With sodium bis(2-methoxyethoxy)aluminum-hydride, bromination with triphenylphosphine dibromide and further reaction with triphenylphosphine. Synthesis of compound 8 was achieved by Wittig coupling between propyltriphenylphosphonium bromide (7) and methyl 6-oxohexanoate (1) which was obtained by ozonolysis of cyclohexene. Compound 6 was prepared through the dimethoxy derivative from methyl 8-dioxanyloctanoate-6,7-d2 (4) which was obtained by deuteration of methyl 8-dioxanyloctanoate-6,7-d2(4) which was obtained by deuteration of methyl 8-dloxanyl-6-octenoate (3) with tris(triphenylphosphine)chlororhodium and deuterium gas. Compound 3 was obtained from compound 1 by chain extension with [2-(1,3-dioxan-2-yl)ethyl]triphenylphosphonium bromide (2). Chain extension of 6 with 2 yielded methyl 11-dioxanyl-9-undecenoate-6,7-d2(13). The latter was converted to methyl 12-oxo-9-dodecenoate-6,7-d2 (15) which was treated with 3-hexenyltriphenylphosphonium bromide (16) and butyl lithium to give methyl 9,12,15-octadecatrienoate isomers (17). Geometric isomers formed during each of the Wittig reactions were separated by silver resin chromatography.
The isolated, perfused head of the marine teleost fish,Myoxocephalus octodecimspinosus: Hemodynamic effects of epinephrine

An isolated, perfused-head preparation utilizing the marine teleost (Myoxocephalus octodecimspinosus) was developed, and the hemodynamic effects of epinephrine on this preparation were studied.
Aging enhances serum cytokine response but not task-induced grip strength declines in a rat model of work-related musculoskeletal disorders

We previously reported early tissue injury, increased serum and tissue inflammatory cytokines and decreased grip in young rats performing a moderate demand repetitive task. The tissue cytokine response was transient, the serum response and decreased grip were still evident by 8 weeks. Thus, here, we examined their levels at 12 weeks in young rats. Since aging is known to enhance serum cytokine levels, we also examined aged rats. Aged and young rats, 14 mo and 2.5 mo of age at onset, respectfully, were trained 15 min/day for 4 weeks, and then performed a high repetition, low force (HRLF) reaching and grasping task for 2 hours/day, for 12 weeks. Serum was assayed for 6 cytokines: IL-1alpha, IL-6, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, MIP2, IL-10. Grip strength was assayed, since we have previously shown an inverse correlation between grip strength and serum inflammatory cytokines. Results were compared to naive (grip), and normal, food-restricted and trained-only controls. Serum cytokines were higher overall in aged than young rats, with increases in IL-1alpha, IFN-gamma and IL-6 in aged Trained and 12-week HRLF rats, compared to young Trained and HRLF rats (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively, each). IL-6 was also increased in aged 12-week HRLF versus aged normal controls (p < 0.05). Serum IFN-gamma and MIP2 levels were also increased in young 6-week HRLF rats, but no cytokines were above baseline levels in young 12-week HRLF rats. Grip strength declined in both young and aged 12-week HRLF rats, compared to naive and normal controls (p < 0.05 each), but these declines correlated only with IL-6 levels in aged rats (r = -0.39). Aging enhanced a serum cytokine response in general, a response that was even greater with repetitive task performance. Grip strength was adversely affected by task performance in both age groups, but was apparently influenced by factors other than serum cytokine levels in young rats.
Transfusion Alternatives in Trauma

SUMMARY Restoration of oxygen-carrying capacity plays an essential role in the management of trauma patients. The potential risks associated with allogeneic blood, as well as the immunosuppressive potential of transfusions, have stimulated interest in alternatives to allogeneic blood transfusion. In the setting of trauma, the feasible alternatives are limited to autotransfusion and blood substitutes. Autotransfusion avoids infectious risks and obviates compatibility testing. However, coagulopathy remains a significant problem associated with autotransfusion. Hemoglobin substitutes offer many theoretical advantages over allogeneic transfusion. Several formulations have been investigated in clinical trials. Our experience has been exclusively with a polymerized, pyridoxylated stroma-free human hemoglobin-based solution (PolyHeme). In infusions up to 10 units (5 liters) PolyHeme has proved an adequate oxygen carrier without serious adverse effects, and has reduced the need for allogeneic blood. Given its safety, efficacy, and favorable immunomodulatory profile, PolyHeme appears to have tremendous potential as an alternative to transfusion.
Variability of Nares Strait ice flux

[1] Six years (1996–2002) of Arctic Ocean ice flux into the Nares Strait are estimated using RADARSAT ice motion. This represents a first consistent multi-year record of Nares Strait outflow for examination of seasonal and interannual variability. Across an ∼30 km gate at the entrance to Robeson Channel, the average annual (Sept–Aug) ice area flux is 33 × 103 km2 and ranges from 16 × 103 km2 in 2000 to 48 × 103 km2 in 1999. Uncertainties in the 3-day ice displacements and ice flux are small. Assuming 4 m thick ice, the average volume flux amounts to ∼130 km3 (∼4 mSv); this is ∼7% of the mean annual Fram Strait ice flux. Seasonally, ice flux is most active after July, ceases after the formation of an ice arch in mid- to late-winter, and re-commences after breakup in summer. The multiyear (MY) ice coverage of the area poleward of the gate is high (>80%). South of the gate, the MY ice coverage is highly variable and the strait may be filled with multiyear or seasonal ice. Our estimates are placed in the context of others and uncertainties in the other components of Canadian Archipelago ice flux and are discussed.
Grain growth kinetics and microstructure in the high Tc YBa2Cu3O7−δ superconductor

The grain growth and microstructure development of YBa2Cu3O7−δ have been investigated utilizing two different starting particle size distributions (normal and bimodal). The grain growth exponent, n, was found to be about 0.21 for both normal and bimodal samples. An activation energy of 125 kJ/mole was calculated. The low value of n might be attributed to the high anisotropy of grain boundary energy in this system. Samples made from the bimodal powder were found to accelerate grain growth without introducing abnormal grain growth. Although most of the samples attained fractional densities greater than 0.95, the presence of various amounts of porosity (particularly in the case of the bimodal starting powder) did not affect the growth kinetics. The measured aspect ratio of grains did not significantly change during growth. A significant difference in aspect ratio was measured between samples made from the two different starting powders. Critical currents ranged from 10 to 120 A/cm2, but no concrete relationship with grain size was established. This implies that the grains produced by this experiment were in the size range where other factors, presumably microcracking, severely limited the current carrying capacity by the weak link effect.
Using claims-based measures to predict performance status score in patients with lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Performance status (PS) is a good prognostic factor in lung cancer and is used to assess chemotherapy appropriateness. Researchers studying chemotherapy use are often hindered by the unavailability of PS in automated data sources. To the authors' knowledge, no attempts have been made to estimate PS using claims-based measures. The current study explored the ability to estimate PS using routinely available measures. METHODS: A cohort of insured patients aged ≥50 years who were diagnosed with American Joint Committee on Cancer stage II through IV lung cancer between 2000 and 2007 was identified via a tumor registry (n = 552). PS was abstracted from medical records. Automated medical and pharmaceutical claims from the year preceding diagnosis were linked to tumor registry data. A logistic regression model was fit to estimate good versus poor PS in a random half of the sample. C statistics, sensitivity, specificity, and R2 were used to compare the predictive ability of models that included demographic factors, comorbidity measures, and claims-based utilization variables. Model fit was evaluated in the other half of the sample. RESULTS: PS was available in 80% of medical records. The multivariable regression model predicted good PS with high sensitivity (0.88 or 0.94 depending on how good PS was defined), but moderate specificity (0.45 or 0.32) with a 0.50 prediction cutoff, and good sensitivity (0.64 or 0.83) and specificity (0.69 or 0.55) when the cutoff was 0.70. The goodness-of-fit c statistic was 0.76 or 0.78. CONCLUSIONS: PS can be estimated, with some accuracy, using claims-based measures. Emphasis should be placed on documenting PS in medical records and tumor registries. Cancer 2011. © 2010 American Cancer Society
Transformation of poplar by Agrobacterium tumefaciens

The ability to regenerate plants from poplar cells cultured in vitro suggests that poplars may prove a valuable model system for the application of recombinant DNA technology to deciduous trees. We report here the transformation of a hybrid Populus trichocarpa × deltoides with two strains of Agrobacterium tumefaciens, as demonstrated by phytohormone autonomous growth, opine production, and Southern blot analysis.
Role of sling integrity in the restoration of leak point pressure in the rat vaginal sling model.

ABSTRACTPurpose: We tested the hypothesis that cutting the sling at its suburethral section does not cancel its anti-incontinence effect. We also examined the long-term effects of the sling on bladder function in a recently validated rat model of vaginal sling.Materials and Methods: Stress urinary incontinence was created in 60 female Sprague-Dawley rats by the previously established method of bilateral pudendal nerve transection. Under anesthesia 20 animals received a vaginal sling, 20 received a vaginal sling in which the suburethral portion of the sling was cut immediately after placement and 20 received a sham vaginal sling. Six weeks after the procedures leak point pressure was determined and a cystometrogram was done using anesthesia in each animal via a previously implanted suprapubic catheter. Kruskal-Wallis and pairwise separate rank multiple comparison tests were performed with a significance level of 0.05.Results: The cut and intact slings increased leak point pressure similarly and these value...
Voyager mission telecommunication firsts

The communications firsts of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Voyager mission are discussed. These include achievements in radio telemetry with regard to distance, the spacecraft hardware, and the earth-based part of the system. Innovative coding techniques provided extremely low bit error probabilities. In navigation, the Neptune encounter was supported by the longest-distance ranging ever, Doppler, and the first operational use of delta very-long baseline interferometry. The Voyager mission was the first specifically designed to obtain radio-science data, by having very exacting requirements for radio system stability, both at S- and X-bands, and for frequency and timing system stability, both flight and ground. >
Pilot study of using neutral protamine Hagedorn insulin to counteract the effect of methylprednisolone in hospitalized patients with diabetes.

Patients and Methods We conducted a pilot study in 20 patients with cystic fibrosis–related diabetes (CFRD), after bone marrow or solid organ (liver, kidney, or lung) transplantation, who received methylprednisolone intravenously (10-60 mg) during admissions to the University of Colorado Hospital, Denver, Colorado. All patients received basal glargine and premeal lispro insulins. A total of 10 patients (randomized 1:1) received neutral protamine Hagedorn (NPH) insulin at the time of administration of methylprednisolone between 8 and 11 am (Group 1). The dose of NPH insulin was selected as follows: 1 unit (U) for 1 mg methylprednisolone for the first 20 mg of steroid; 0.5 U of insulin for 1 mg of methylprednisolone for the next 20 mg of steroid; and 0.25 U of insulin for each subsequent milligram of steroid. The average dose of NPH was 23 6 5 U. In the remaining 10 patients, the doses of glargine and lispro were increased according to the University of Colorado Hospital’s standard protocols for use of subcutaneous insulin to achieve the best possible control (Group 2). Point-of-contact glycemia immediately prior to initiation of steroids and for the 3 days of methylprednisolone administration was compared. Results are expressed as mean 6 standard deviation and compared using the Student t test with P value < 0.05 considered significant.
Age‐Associated Changes in Muscle Composition. The Isolation and Properties of a Collagenous Residue from Bovine Musclea

SUMMARY Age-associated changes in the chemical composition of bovine biceps femoris muscle were studied. Veal muscle had significantly lower Kjeldahl nitrogen and higher moisture contents than muscle from the three older age groups studied. Muscle from veal and from the oldest group (cows, 10 years) possessed less fat than muscle from the two intermediate groups (steers, 1–2 years, and cows, 5 years). A modified procedure for determination of hydroxyproline and its use directly on mean hydrolysates are described. Use of this technique failed to reveal any significant differences in the hydroxyproline content, and presumably the connective-tissue content, of muscle from the four groups. Warner-Bratzler shear-force values of cores from biceps femoris steaks from the three oldest groups indicated that tenderness decreased with age. A method is given for isolation of large quantities of connective tissue from biceps femoris. Chemical analyses of these connective-tissue residues are presented, and the possibility is discussed that the veal connective tissue contains large amounts of reticulin.
pH effects in the spontaneous reactivation of phosphinylated acetylcholinesterase.

Abstract Previous studies on the spontaneous reactivation of phosphorylated and phosphonylated cholinesterases report bell-shaped curves with reaction rate maxima between pH values of 7 and 9. By way of contrast, we found reactivation rate minima in the same pH region for a phosphinylated bovine erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase and three phosphinylated eel acetylcholinesterases. To further elucidate these observations, eel acetylcholinesterase was inhibited with racemic 4-nitrophenyl ethyl(phenyl) phosphinate. The spontaneous reactivation of the inhibited enzyme over the pH range 6.00 to 9.00 was monitored following 1 . both inhibition and spontaneous reactivation at the same pH, and 2 . inhibition at pH 7.60 followed by spontaneous reactivation at the selected pH. The combined plots of both studies gave overlapping pH curves with minima around pH 7.60. The results indicate that the minima in the rates of the spontaneous reactivation of phosphinylated acetylcholinesterases are not the consequence of a pH-controlled change in the relative inhibition rates of the P(+)- and P(−)-enantiomers participating in the inhibition reaction. Our results suggest that the orientation of the phosphinyl group in the active site of phosphinylated acetylcholinesterase is quite different from that of the inhibitor groups in phosphonylated or phosphorylated enzyme.
Evidence for an intestinal mechanism of pancreatic polypeptide release

The purpose of this study was to define the existence of an intestinal phase of pancreatic polypeptide (PP) release and to assess whether it was mediated by a cholinergic-sensitive mechanism. Four conscious dogs with 20-cm upper intestinal Thiry-Vella loops and chronic gastric fistulas were used. The Thiry-Vella (T-V) loops were perfused with 10% liver extract or 0.154 M NaCl at a rate of 1 ml/min for 120 min. In a separate experiment, 240 ml of 10% liver extract was infused over a 5-min period into the stomach via the gastric fistula. Basal PP levels were 29±4 fmol/ml. The gastric infusion of liver extract caused a significant increase of plasma PP levels to a peak of 215±29 fmol/ml (P 0.05). PP release by perfusion of the T-V loop with liver extract was abolished by atropine intravenous bolus (0.2 mg/kg). Although the combination of bethanechol (100 μg/kg/hr intravenous) and liver extract consistently increased the plasma levels of PP, the values did not attain statistical significance when compared to liver extract alone (P>0.05). The data presented are thus consistent with the hypothesis that there is an enteric phase of pancreatic polypeptide release and that this enteropancreatic reflex is mediated by a cholinergic-sensitive mechanism which might be hormonal or neural.
NISO Standard Z39.7—The Evolution to a Data Dictionary for Library Metrics and Assessment Methods

Standards are essential to guide both technical and information management in providing access to and delivery of content. Standards development, implementation, and use help the information community meet the needs of its users. The information community grapples with a myriad of methods for providing access to content and capturing transaction level information about access to and use of content. Publishers struggle with ways to manage increased content flow. The author discusses the 2002 revision of the Standard for Library Statistics, NISO Z39.7 (NISO is the National Information Standards Organization, a nonprofit association founded in 1939 and accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)), and the research and assessment that went into its evolution from a static index of data elements to a Web-based data dictionary embracing U.S. and international metrics for describing and measuring information services and delivery.
On the design of the coronary arterial tree: a generalization of Murray's law

Murray's law has been generalized to provide morphometric relationships among various subtrees as well as between a feeding segment and the subtree it perfuses. The equivalent resistance of each subtree is empirically determined to be proportional to the cube of a subtree's cumulative arterial length (L) and inversely proportional to a subtree's arterial volume (V) raised to a power of approximately 2.6. This relationship, along with a minimization of a cost function, and a linearity assumption between flow and cumulative arterial length, provides a power law relationship between V and L. These results, in conjunction with conservation of energy, yield relationships between the diameter of a segment and the length of its distal subtree. The relationships were tested based on a complete set of anatomical data of the coronary arterial trees using two models. The first model, called the truncated tree model, is an actual reconstruction of the coronary arterial tree down to 500 µm in diameter. The second model, called the symmetric tree model, satisfies all mean anatomical data down to the capillary vessels. Our results show very good agreement between the theoretical formulation and the measured anatomical data, which may provide insight into the design of the coronary arterial tree. Furthermore, the established relationships between the various morphometric parameters of the truncated tree model may provide a basis for assessing the extent of diffuse coronary artery disease.