cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sweetback's ‘Signifyin(g)’ Song: Mythmaking in Melvin Van Peebles’ Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song

“To create a hero is, indeed, to create a self.” —Robert Penn Warren, as quoted in Roberts From Trickster to Badman Myths are an integral part of every culture. While many myths disintegrate after ...
Effects of antimicrotubular agents on glycosaminoglycan synthesis and secretion by embryonic chick cartilage and chondrocytes

Abstract Colchicine and vinblastine, compounds known to disrupt microtubules and interfere with microtubule-mediated cellular functions, were shown to inhibit the synthesis of glycosaminoglycans by embryonic chick tibiae and to inhibit both secretion and synthesis of glycosaminoglycans by chondrocytes in culture. The data suggest that the intracellular movement of proteoglycans during the secretory process is mediated by microtubular elements. In tibial bone, concentrations of vinblastine which interfered with sulfation were less effective in reducing polymerization of glycosaminoglycans. These findings support the suggestion that the synthesis of the polysaccharide chain can be dissociated from sulfation but they do not exclude concurrent polymerization and sulfation in the absence of a metabolic block.
EPIZOOTIOLOGY OF BLUETONGUE: THE SITUATION IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Bluetongue was first reported in the United States in 1948 in sheep in Texas. The virus has now been isolated from sheep in 19 States. When the disease first occurs in a flock, the morbidity may reach 50 to 75% and mortality 20 to 50%. In subsequent years, the morbidity may be only 1 to 2% with very few deaths. Difference in breed susceptibility has not been observed. Natural bluetongue infection has not been observed in Angora or dairy goats. Bluetongue virus was first isolated from cattle, in Oregon, in 1959. The virus has now been isolated from cattle in 13 States. In cattle, the disease is usually inapparent but can cause mild to severe clinical disease and neonatal losses. Natural clinical bluetongue has also been reported in bighorn sheep, exotic ruminants in a zoo, mule deer, and white-tailed deer. Serological evidence of exposure to the virus has also been found in other species of ruminants in the wild. Inoculation of virulent bluetongue virus, vaccine virus, or natural disease can cause congenital deformities and neonatal losses in calves, lambs, and white-tailed deer fawns. Culicoides is considered the important insect vector of bluetongue. The virus has also been isolated from sheep keds and cattle lice. U.S. field strains of the virus fit into four serologic groups. No cross reactions were found between bluetongue and epizootic haemorrhagic disease of deer viruses. Cattle are considered significant virus reservoirs. It is necessary to use washed erythrocytes, rather than whole blood, and to inoculate susceptible sheep, rather than embryonated chicken eggs, to detect longer-term viraemia in cattle.
Distributed Representation of Single Touches in Somatosensory and Visual Cortex

Multi-voxel pattern analysis (MVPA) was used to analyze blood-oxygen level dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD fMRI) data, which were acquired as human subjects received brief vibrotactile stimulation of their hands and feet. Support vector machines trained and tested on the whole brain fMRI data were able to accurately decode the body site of single touches, with mean performance of 92% in a two-way discrimination task (chance performance 50%) and 70% in a four-way discrimination task (chance performance 25%). Primary and secondary somatosensory areas (S1 and S2) alone decoded the touched body site with high accuracy. S1 was more accurate at decoding touches closely spaced on the body surface (different fingers of the same hand) whereas S2 and S1 were equally accurate at decoding widely spaced touches (hand vs. foot). The hand and foot regions of S1 (S1hand and S1foot) were separately examined in a two-way classification task. S1hand was better able to decode the hand of stimulation (left vs. right), and S1foot was better able to decode the foot of stimulation. In addition to S1 and S2, vibrotactile responses were observed in a region of visual cortex, areas MST and STP (MST/STP) in lateral occipito-temporal lobe. MST/STP was able to accurately decode the hand but not the foot of stimulation, supporting the idea of a role for MST/STP in eye-hand coordination. Hum Brain Mapp 00:000-000, 2009. V V C 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Molybdenum(V) on an Oxide String. Formation and Solution Stability of the Linear Complex (μ-trans-Dioxo(tetraphenylporphyrinato)molybdenato(V))bis(oxo(tetraphenylporphyrinato)molybdenum(V)) Perchlorate

The unusual linear trinuclear complex [Mo3O4(TPP)3]+ is formed in solution upon the reaction of [MoO(TPP)(OClO3)] with {[MoO(TPP)]2O}, and an equilibrium between [Mo3O4(TPP)3]+ and its constituent species is rapidly established. Spectrophotometric experiments suggest that [Mo3O4(TPP)3]+ is the predominant species found in solutions resulting from the mixture of [MoO(TPP)(OClO3)] and {[MoO(TPP)]2O}, and its formation is strongly favored (log K = 5.5 ± 0.5 M-1). No evidence of higher oligomers has been observed. A mechanism for the formation of [Mo3O4(TPP)3]+ by the controlled hydrolysis of [MoO(TPP)(OClO3)] is proposed.
Factor Structure of a Sluggish Cognitive Tempo Scale in Clinically-Referred Children

"Sluggish cognitive tempo" (SCT) is a construct hypothesized to describe a constellation of behaviors that includes daydreaming, lethargy, drowsiness, difficulty sustaining attention, and underactivity. Although the construct has been inconsistently defined, measures of SCT have shown associations with symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), particularly inattention. Thus, better characterization of SCT symptoms may help to better predict specific areas of functional difficulty in children with ADHD. The present study examined psychometric characteristics of a recently developed 14-item scale of SCT (Penny et al., Psychological Assessment 21:380-389, 2009), completed by teachers on children referred for outpatient neuropsychological assessment. Exploratory factor analysis identified three factors in the clinical sample: Sleepy/Sluggish, Slow/Daydreamy, and Low Initiation/Persistence. Additionally, SCT symptoms, especially those loading on the Sleepy/Sluggish and Slow/Daydreamy factors, correlated more strongly with inattentive than with hyperactive/impulsive symptoms, while Low Initiation/Persistence symptoms added significant unique variance (over and above symptoms of inattention) to the predictions of impairment in academic progress.
DETERMINATION OF SEROTONIN IN TISSUES USING AN ION-EXCHANGE RESIN.

Abstract A simple method adaptable to multiple determinations is described for the assay of serotonin in tissues. Serotonin is extracted with ethanol, adsorbed on the cation exchange resin, Amberlite CG-50, eluted, and determined spectrophotofluoro-metrically. The method is suitable for studying alterations in tissue amine levels resulting from drug administration.
Mean age of rifting and volcanism on Venus deduced from impact crater densities

UNLIKE the extensively cratered highlands of the Moon and Mars, the surface of Venus does not preserve a record of heavy bombard-ment from the early history of the Solar System1-3. Those craters that are found on Venus appear to be statistically indistinguishable from a random spatial population and rarely show modification by folds, faults and lava flows1-3. Although the volcanic and tec-tonic history of Venus is still much debated2-5, there is mounting evidence for near-global resurfacing ~300-500 Myr ago1,2,6. Moreover, it has recently been noted that the density of impact craters on large volcanic structures is less than the average crater density of the planet, suggestive of significant activity after the resurfacing event7. It is not clear, however, whether these features represent late remnants of the global event or continuing volcanism and tectonism of a still active planet. To address this question, we have used the regional variations in crater density to date volcan-oes, rifts and coronae which, based on stratigraphic evidence, clearly post-date the main resurfacing event8-11. The calculated mean ages of 70-125 Myr exclude the possibility that the majority of these features represent the final stages of the global event.
Changes in Myocardial Backscatter Throughout the Cardiac Cycle

This investigation was performed to identify and quantify systematic variations of myocardial ultrasonic backscatter throughout the cardiac cycle. Using a broadband 5 MHz focused transducer coupled to the epicardial surface of the left ventricle in dogs, backscatter measurements were obtained from each of 7 intervals (windows) of 34 milliseconds duration evenly distributed throughout the cardiac cycle and referenced to backscatter from a steel reflector. Values of integrated backscatter obtained demonstrated a consistent and reproducible pattern throughout the cardiac cycle characterized by elevated values at end-diastole and significantly lower values at end-systole. The average maximum difference was 3.5 dB.
Methicillin Hemorrhagic Cystitis

Interstitial nephritis is a recognized complication of methicillin therapy. Hemorrhagic cystitis due to methicillin has not been emphasized. Evidence of hemorrhagic cystitis developed in six patients receiving methicillin therapy and was confirmed by cystoscopy in three of them.
Dynamics in Utah stakeholdersʼrepresentation, interest in wildlife, and evaluation of wildlife-related experiences, 1986-1998

Abstract A 1998 statewide study was compared to a study conducted in 1986 to determine whether the representation of selected stakeholder groups and public attitudes regarding selected wildlife management issues in Utah have changed over time. Specifically, the following constructs were examined: stakeholder group representation, overall hunting satisfaction across three groups of hunters, overall satisfaction among nonconsumptive users, and overall interest in wildlife. Results showed that, although satisfaction and interest levels have not changed much in the last 12 years, the representation of certain stakeholder groups has changed. This research provides insight regarding resource managers’ ability to understand public attitudes and preferences by identifying possible shifts in attitudes over time.
Size-dependent radiation tolerance in ion irradiated TiN/AlN nanolayer films

Interface effects on ion-irradiation tolerance properties are investigated in nanolayered TiN/AlN films with individual layer thickness varied from 5 nm to 50 nm, prepared by pulsed laser deposition. Evolution of the microstructure and hardness of the multilayer films are examined on the specimens before and after He ion-implantation to a fluence of 4 × 10 m at 50 keV. The suppression of amorphization in AlN layers and the reduction of radiation-induced softening are observed in all nanolayer films. A clear size-dependent radiation tolerance characteristic is observed in the nanolayer films, i.e., the samples with the optimum layer thickness from 10 nm to 20 nm show the best ion irradiation tolerance properties, and a critical layer thickness of more than 5 nm is necessary to prevent severe intermixing. This study suggests that both the interface characteristics and the critical length scale (layer thickness) contribute to the reduction of the radiation-induced damages in nitride-based ceramic materials. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Symptom severity, social supports, coping styles, and quality of life among individuals' diagnosed with Ménierè's disease.

ObjectivesTo (1) examine the quality of life of individuals with Meniere’s disease in relation to symptom severity, social supports, and coping styles and (2) develop a prediction model to identify factors most strongly associated with quality of life.MethodsData were collected using a web-based survey that included previously developed and validated measures (i.e. SF-12, Dizziness Handicap Inventory, Hearing Handicap Inventory for Elderly Screening Version, Iowa Tinnitus Handicap Questionnaire, Interpersonal Support Evaluation List, Brief COPES, Lehman’s Quality of Life). Ninety-five individuals with Meniere’s disease who were members of one of five online Meniere’s disease support groups responded to the survey.ResultsThe findings indicated that symptom severity was negatively associated with patients’ quality of life, social supports were positively associated with quality of life, and the use of negative coping styles (e.g. substance use, blaming) was negatively associated with quality of life. Four p...
Application of thin epitaxial hydrogenated si layers to high efficiency heterojunction solar cells on N-type si substrates

We show that a thin (<20nm) stack comprised of n+ doped hydrogenated crystalline silicon (c-Si:H) and n+ doped hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) can provide an effective back-surface-field for heterojunction solar cells on n-type crystalline silicon (c-Si) substrates. The c-Si:H and a-Si:H layers were grown in the same plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) reactor at deposition temperatures close to 200°C. This technique was used to fabricate heterojunction solar cells with open-circuit voltages over 700mV and active-area conversion efficiencies of 21.4% on n-type c-Si substrates.
A comparison of the potency and specificity of the direct muscle relaxant activity of azumolene and dantrolene

Dantrolene is a unique directly acting skeletal muscle relaxant that is clinically useful in the treatment of chronic muscle spasticity and malignant hyperthermia. Azumolene is a new dantrolene-like drug that has better aqueous solubility and that may also be of use in the treatment of acute muscle spasm. Potency of both compounds was determined in the anesthetized, curarized rat gastrocnemius (using different routes of administration) and the isolated chick biventer muscle preparations. The specificity of effects in vitro was evaluated by comparing effects in the chick biventer with those seen in the rat aortic strip. Route of administration governed potency for both drugs, with rank order i.v., i.p., and i.d. being the least potent. In vivo, dantrolene was approximately twice as potent as azumolene when administered by any of the routes tested. However, both drugs are equipotent in vitro. Reasons for the discrepancy between in vivo and in vitro potencies are discussed. The muscle relaxant effects of both azumolene and dantrolene are specific for skeletal muscle, being 10-fold more potent in skeletal than in arterial smooth muscle. The reasons for this specificity are probably due to basic differences in the physiology of smooth and skeletal muscle. We conclude that the new agent, azumolene, is a specific, potent skeletal muscle relaxant with properties qualitatively similar to those of dantrolene.
Parthenogenesis in a large‐bodied requiem shark, the blacktip Carcharhinus limbatus

Genetic evidence is provided for parthenogenesis in a large-bodied shark, the blacktip Carcharhinus limbatus, from the speciose and commercially important family Carcharhinidae, the first verified case of asexual development in this lineage and only the second for any chondrichthyan. The parthenogenetic embryo exhibited elevated homozygosity relative to its mother, indicating that automictic parthenogenesis is the most likely mechanism. Although this finding shows that parthenogenesis is more common and widespread in sharks than previously realized and supports the early existence of parthenogenetic abilities in vertebrates, the adaptive significance of automixis in these ancient fishes remains unclear.
Conformational studies of 3-hexyne

The microwave spectrum of 3-hexyne has recently been observed and can be assigned unambiguously to a syn-eclipsed C2v conformation. Owing to its nonpolar nature, a trans-conformer (C2h) would not be observable in microwave studies. A gauche conformer (C2), which would exhibit tunneling splittings because there are two equivalent structures corresponding to a torsional angle of ±τ, was also not experimentally observed. In the present study, we determine whether computational studies can be carried out with sufficient accuracy to support these experimental observations. The torsional barrier to rotation in this molecule is expected to be of the order of 10–20 cal/mol, similar to that observed in 2-butyne. This very low barrier offers a significant computational challenge. In an attempt to find a rigorous explanation for the observed stability of the C2v conformer, ab initio calculations were carried out at the Hartree–Fock (HF) and second-order Moller–Plesset (MP2) levels of theory with several basis sets, ranging from 6-311+G(d,p) to aug-cc-pVQZ. We find that the calculated potential energy surface for 3-hexyne is extremely flat for variation of the torsional angle. The relative stability of the conformers of 3-hexyne is quite dependent on the size of the basis set and tight convergence criteria must be used in the search for stable minima. Stable structures of nearly identical energy were found for the syn-eclipsed C2v conformation and a gaucheC2 structure. The trans-C2h structure is found to be a transition state for the basis sets that were used in this study. The C2v structure has the lowest calculated energy using the aug-cc-pVQZ basis, in agreement with experiment. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2006
Human fetal Radial glia cells generate oligodendrocytes in vitro

Limited knowledge about human oligodendrogenesis prompted us to explore the lineage relationship between cortical radial glia (RG) cells and oligodendrocytes (OLs) in the human fetal forebrain. RG cells were isolated from cortical ventricular/subventricular zone and their progeny was followed in vitro. One portion of RG cells differentiated into cells of OL lineage identified by cell-type specific antibodies, including platelet-derived growth factor receptor-alpha (PDGFRα), NG2, O4, myelin basic protein, and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein. Moreover, using Cre Lox fate mapping (brain lipid binding protein-Cre/Floxed-yellow fluorescent protein) we established a direct link between RG cells and OL progenitors. In vitro generation of RG-derived O4+ OL progenitors was enhanced by addition of sonic hedgehog (SHH) and reduced by the SHH inhibitor, cyclopamine, suggesting the role of SHH signaling in this process. In summary, our in vitro experiments revealed that a portion of cortical RG cells isolated from human forebrain at the second trimester of gestation generates OL progenitors and this suggests a role of SHH in this process. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Attraction of the diamondback moth (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) to volatiles of Oriental mustard: the influence of age, sex, and prior exposure to mates and host plants.

A Y-tube behavioral bioassay was developed to investigate attraction of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.), to volatiles from host plants. During the scotophase, male and female moths were attracted to volatiles of homogenized leaves of Oriental mustard, Brassica juncea (L.) Cosson, plants at the flower bud stage, and to the odor of Oriental mustard seedlings. The response of both sexes increased with age from 1 to 7 d. Females were more strongly attracted when they were allowed prior access to both mates and plants, but the effect of these factors on males was ambiguous. Neither sex responded to volatiles during the latter half of the photophase. Females that responded to volatiles in a standard bioassay subsequently laid more eggs than did nonresponders and yet still contained similar numbers of mature eggs in their ovaries. This implies that egg load is related to responsiveness to plant volatiles. The patterns of response are interpreted in relation to reproduction in this species.
Differentially Private Average Consensus with Optimal Noise Selection

Abstract This paper studies the problem of privacy-preserving average consensus in multi-agent systems. The network objective is to compute the average of the initial agent states while keeping these values differentially private against an adversary that has access to all interagent messages. We establish an impossibility result that shows that exact average consensus cannot be achieved by any algorithm that preserves differential privacy. This result motives our design of a differentially private discrete-time distributed algorithm that corrupts messages with Laplacian noise and is guaranteed to achieve average consensus in expectation. We examine how to optimally select the noise parameters in order to minimize the variance of the network convergence point for a desired level of privacy.
A study of the abortifacient effect of oxymetholone in early gestation

Abstract Oxymetholone, a steroid which inhibits progesterone synthesis, was administered orally for 7 to 10 days in a total dose of 350 to 3,000 mg to six pregnant women whose gestational age at the start of therapy was 32 days to 46 days, in an attempt to produce abortion. Serum HCG, progesterone, and estradiol levels were measured during and after oxymetholone treatment. None of the subjects demonstrated sustained alterations in levels of any of these hormones and none aborted. The results of this study indicate that oxymetholone is not a promising agent for the termination of early gestation.
Complexity leadership: the secret of Jack Welch's success

Leadership theory still focuses on vision and charisma and is stuck at the bottom of hierarchies. What style of leadership did Jack Welch actually use to manage the 350 business units comprising GE to increase its stock value 1,000s of percentage points higher than the Dow Jones Stock Index, stay in office for 20 years when most CEOs are 'temp workers', and produce some $480 billion in shareholder wealth. Welch is an instinctively great manager, but not well clued in on the action-specifics of why he did so well. Complexity science offers 12 'action-disciplines' that appear to be the means by which Welch was able to enable and steer GE to produce incredible wealth. He put complexity theory into practice. Put more dramatically, Welch replaced old-style, top-down 'management by objectives' with 'management by tension'. Evidence is offered to show that Welch's methods were not learned by all the GE-trained managers who became CEOs of other firms. But some outstanding CEOs of major firms appear to be using the complexity action-disciplines as well. This article explains the secret of his success.
Dietary plasticity in pikas as a strategy for atypical resource landscapes

Mammalian habitat specialists are suffering notable population declines and localized extinctions in response to climate change. Plastic behavioral responses, especially in foraging, may be critical for specialists to tolerate changes in temperature, precipitation, and resource availability. Here, we investigate the foraging behavior of a mammalian alpine specialist living in atypical habitat. American pikas (Ochotona princeps) are typically limited to high elevations in western North America; however, they persist near sea level in the Columbia River Gorge, well outside their previously assumed climatic niche. We hypothesized that utilizing unusual food resources contributes to pika persistence in this unusual climate. Moss comprised more than 60% of the diet at 2 sites, more than observed for any mammalian herbivore in the wild. Moss is available year-round in this habitat; thus, by specializing on moss, pikas do not have to construct large food caches to survive winter. These results suggest a larger degree of behavioral and dietary plasticity than previously assumed for this species. Understanding a species’ capacity to adapt its foraging strategies to new resource landscapes will be essential to assessing its vulnerability to future climate change and to developing conservation plans.
The experimental determination of the calibrated S-parameters of a single resonant-slot array element

A simple and quick experimental method has been developed for experimentally determining the calibrated scattering parameters of a single resonant-slot array element. The obtained calibrated scattering matrix is defined at two planar interfaces directly coincident with the front and back surfaces of the metal plate surrounding the slot. This measurement method determines different scattering matrices for the same slot, depending on the type of waveguide and the specific waveguide mode used to feed it. An example of a calibrated transmission response of a single slot, excited by the fundamental TE/sub 11/ mode of the cylindrical cavity used to feed it on either side, is presented. The slot resonance appears to be very wide and there is hardly any transmission-phase lag at its center. >
Dendrogeomorphology and high-magnitude snow avalanches: a review and case study

Abstract. The application of the principles of dendrogeomorphology for the dating of high-magnitude snow avalanches is well established in the natural hazards literature. A variety of methodologies are employed by different authors, however, and no standardization currently exists for appropriate sample sizes, the issue of "weighting" certain tree-ring responses as more important than others, or the minimum number of responding trees required in order to infer an avalanche event. We review the literature of dendrogeomorphology as it applies to snow avalanches, and examine the questions of sample size, type of ring reactions dated and weighted, and minimum responses. We present tree-ring data from two avalanche paths in the Rocky Mountains of Montana, USA, from trees uprooted by major snow avalanches in the winter of 2002. These data provide distinct chronologies of past avalanche events, and also illustrate how the critical choice of a minimum Index Number can affect the number of avalanche events in a final chronology based on tree-ring analysis.
Computational Modeling of Factor Xa Inhibition by Immobilized Tissue Factor Pathway Inhibitor

Coating surfaces of implanted devices with anticoagulants can reduce thrombosis and studies using a recombinant form of endogenous tissue factor pathway inhibitor (rTFPI) are promising. The anticoagulant function of immobilized rTFPI is thought to occur primarily by its inhibition of plasma clotting factor Xa (FXa); however the kinetics of this reaction at a surface are as yet unknown. To better understand the surface inhibition reaction under flow conditions, a theoretical model was developed delineating the roles of mass transport and reaction kinetics for an in vitro parallel plate device used in prior experimental studies [Hall et al., J. Biomech. Eng. 120:484-490, 1998]. As a first approximation, the kinetics of inhibition of FXa by rTFPI reported for static, homogeneous systems was considered. The unsteady convection-diffusion equation was solved for different wall-shear rates and inlet concentrations of FXa using the computational fluid dynamics software CFD-ACE (ESI Software Group). The results show that the heterogeneous inhibition reaction is diffusion controlled prior to saturation of the rTFPI. The experimental results compare favorably with the model at the lower shear rates (100-400 s(-1)). At higher shear rates (>400 s(-1)) the theoretical results follow the same trend as the experimental results but show a greater inhibition of FXa, implying an effect of flow or shear on the inhibition reaction.
Analysis of oleate and linoleate hydroperoxides in oxidized ester mixtures

The hydroperoxides in oxidized mixtures of methyl oleate and linoleate were reduced to the corresponding hydroxyesters, which were separated from unoxidized esters by thin layer chromatography on silica gel. The hydroxyesters from oleate and linoleate were converted to trimethylsilyl ethers and separated by gas chromatography on OV 225. The results suggest that methyl linoleate oxidizes about ten times faster than methyl oleate, but oleate hydroperoxides are formed in appreciable amounts, even in mixtures containing 87% methyl linoleate.
Traumatic uvulitis from a suction catheter.

Uvulitis is an inflammation of the uvula with several etiologies, including trauma, infection, neoplasm, or angioedema. The most important complication of uvulitis is uvular edema and airway obstruction. Patients can present with pharyngitis, dysphagia, odynophagia, foreign body sensation, gagging, and drooling. Uvulitis and uvular edema are described in the literature, but the explanation is brief in most textbooks. Furthermore, textbooks refer mostly to Quincke edema (angioedema of the uvula), an immunological process not easily treated with medications (1–3). Because uvular edema from trauma is rare, its management is not well defined.
Rapid and lasting increase in serine phosphorylation of rat spinal cord NMDAR1 and GluR1 subunits after peripheral inflammation

Previous studies have demonstrated that peripheral inflammation leads to long-term increases in spinal dorsal horn neuronal excitability (i.e. central sensitization) and behavioral hyperalgesia that is mediated by glutamate receptor activation. The present study has examined spinal cord changes in serine phosphorylation of the NMDA receptor NR1 and AMPA receptor GluR1 subunits after peripheral inflammation. Using site-specific antibodies, Western blots showed a significant increase in phosphorylation at serine residues 896 and 897 of the NR1 and at serine residues 831 and 845 of the GluR1 subunits in the rat spinal cord after injection of complete Freund's adjuvant into the hindpaw. For all four serine sites, the increased phosphoserine NR1 and GluR1 levels occurred as early as 10 minutes, lasted for at least 3 days, and returned to control level 7–14 days following inflammation. There was also an increase in total NR1 and GluR1 proteins after inflammation, but with a different time course. The phosphorylation of different serine residues of NR1 and GluR1 depended on input from the injured site. Local anesthesia of the inflamed paw with lidocaine (2%), blocked the increase in phosphoserine 896 (NR1) and phosphoserine 831 (GluR1) with a time course corresponding to the duration of anesthesia. However, the increased phosphoserine 845 (GluR1) was blocked only transiently and the concentration of phosphoserine 897 (NR1) was not affected by local anesthesia. Consistent with previous biochemical analysis, phosphorylation of serine 896 NR1 and serine 831 of GluR1 was blocked by intrathecal chelerythrine (0.01–1 nmol), a PKC inhibitor, and phosphorylation of serine 897 NR1 was blocked by H-89 (0.01–1 nmol), a PKA inhibitor. In addition, there appeared to be an interaction between the PKC and PKA cellular pathways because phosphorylation of serine 897 of NR1, a substrate of PKA, was also blocked by chelerythrine. These findings correlate serine phosphorylation of the NR1 and GluR1 subunits to spinal hyperexcitability and hyperalgesia, and indicate a role of serine phosphorylation of NMDA and AMPA receptors in initiating central sensitization.
Two Novel Genes Induced by Hard-Surface Contact of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides Conidia

Germinating conidia of many phytopathogenic fungi must differentiate into an infection structure called the appressorium in order to penetrate into their hosts. This differentiation is known to require contact with a hard surface. However, the molecular basis for this requirement is not known. Induction of this differentiation in the avocado pathogen, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, by chemical signals such as the host's surface wax or the fruit-ripening hormone, ethylene, requires contact of the conidia with a hard surface for about 2 h. To study molecular events triggered by hard-surface contact, we isolated several genes expressed during the early stage of hard-surface treatment by a differential-display method. The genes that encode Colletotrichum hard-surface induced proteins are designated chip genes. In this study, we report the characterization of CHIP2 and CHIP3 genes that would encode proteins with molecular masses of 65 and 64 kDa, respectively, that have no homology to any known proteins. The CHIP2 product would contain a putative nuclear localization signal, a leucine zipper motif, and a heptad repeat region which might dimerize into coiled-coil structure. The CHIP3 product would be a nine-transmembrane-domain-containing protein. RNA blots showed that CHIP2 and CHIP3 are induced by a 2-h hard-surface contact. However, disruption of these genes did not affect the appressorium-forming ability and did not cause a significant decrease in virulence on avocado or tomato fruits suggesting that C. gloeosporioides might have genes functionally redundant to CHIP2 and CHIP3 or that these genes induced by hard-surface contact control processes not directly involved in pathogenesis.
Bariatric Surgery in Hypothalamic Obesity

Craniopharyngiomas (CP) are epithelial neoplasms generally found in the area of the pituitary and hypothalamus. Despite benign histology, these tumors and/or their treatment often result in significant, debilitating disorders of endocrine, neurological, behavioral, and metabolic systems. Severe obesity is observed in a high percentage of patients with CP resulting in significant comorbidities and negatively impacting quality of life. Obesity occurs as a result of hypothalamic damage and disruption of normal homeostatic mechanisms regulating energy balance. Such pathological weight gain, termed hypothalamic obesity (HyOb), is often severe and refractory to therapy. Unfortunately, neither lifestyle intervention nor pharmacotherapy has proven effective in the treatment of HyOb. Given the limited choices and poor results of these treatments, several groups have examined bariatric surgery as a treatment alternative for patients with CP–HyOb. While a large body of evidence exists supporting the use of bariatric surgery in the treatment of exogenous obesity and its comorbidities, its role in the treatment of HyOb has yet to be defined. To date, the existing literature on bariatric surgery in CP–HyOb is largely limited to case reports and series with short term follow-up. Here we review the current reports on the use of bariatric surgery in the treatment of CP–HyOb. We also compare these results to those reported for other populations of HyOb, including Prader–Willi Syndrome, Bardet–Biedl syndrome, and hypothalamic melanocortin signaling defects. While initial reports of bariatric surgery in CP–HyOb are promising, their limited scope makes it difficult to draw any substantial conclusions as to the long term safety and efficacy of bariatric surgery in CP–HyOb. There continues to be a need for more robust, controlled, prospective studies with long term follow-up in order to better define the role of bariatric surgery in the treatment of HyOb.
THE EFFECT OF SUDDEN CHANGES OF TEMPERATURE ON PROTOPLASMIC STREAMING.

A sudden fall of temperature of 15° to 20° causes a complete cessation of the protoplasmic streaming in Nitella. The recovery of the normal rate follows a definite course and the time of recovery is dependent on the temperature. Evidence is adduced to show that the inhibition of streaming is due to a physical phenomenon.
Application of modern aluminum alloys to aircraft

Abstract Aluminum alloys have been the primary material of choice for structural components of aircraft since about 1930. Although polymer matrix composites are being used extensively in high-performance military aircraft and are being specified for some applications in modern commercial aircraft, aluminum alloys are the overwhelming choice for the fuselage, wing, and supporting structure of commercial airliners and military cargo and transport. Well known performance characteristics, known fabrication costs, design experience, and established manufacturing methods and facilities, are just a few of the reasons for the continued confidence in aluminum alloys that will ensure their use in significant quantities for the rest of this century and likely well into the next one. But most significantly, there have been major advances in aluminum aircraft alloys that continue to keep them in a competitive position. In the early years aluminum alloys were developed by trial and error, but over the past thirty years there have been significant advances in our understanding of the relationships among composition, processing, microstructural characteristics and properties. This knowledge base has led to improvements in properties that are important to aircraft applications. This review covers the performance and property requirements for airframe components in current aircraft and describes aluminum alloys and product forms which meet these requirements. It also discusses the structure/property relationships of aluminum aircraft alloys and describes the background and drivers for the development of modern aluminum alloys to improve performance. Finally, technologies under development for future aircraft are discussed.
Taste Properties and Synergisms of Beefy Meaty Peptide

The purpose of this study was to examine the sensory properties of beefy meaty peptide (BMP), an octapeptide first isolated from beef extract. BMP was synthesized and its recognition thresholds under different pH conditions and its synergisms with salt and monosodium glutamate (MSG) were determined by sensory evaluation. Recognition thresholds of BMP were not different (F>0.05) at different pHs. However, the descriptors of BMP changed with pH ; and at pH 6.5 BMP had the strongest umami taste. There were synergistic effects (p<0.05) of salt and MSG on BMP recognition threshold at pH 6.5. Diluted beef extract samples with BMP were different (p<0.05) from samples without BMP.
Managing resistance to classroom and student-learning assessment: lessons learned from the past

Selected in 1992 as Motorola's partner in the nationally competitive University Challenge Program: TQM on Campus, Purdue University renewed its commitment to and the pursuit of quality in higher education guided by the principles of total quality management. Pursuant to the School of Technology's commitment to continuous quality improvement, the Office of the Dean encouraged the development and implementation of a bi-directional support model (topdown and bottom-up) for implementing TQM. In addition, because it was recognized that the introduction and implementation of TQM could potentially create anxiety, uncertainty and stress that could adversely affect productivity, a model of managing change in an academic environment was implemented. The purpose of this paper is to describe both the bi-directional and change models and to revisit lessons learned from the past in order that they may serve as guides in the implementation of a school-wide assessment plan.
Chemical vapour deposition: Transition metal carbides go 2D

The unique properties of 2D materials, such as graphene or transition metal dichalcogenides, have been attracting much attention in the past decade. Now, metallically conductive and even superconducting transition metal carbides are entering the game.
Long-term regulation of urinary concentrating capacity.

Urinary concentrating capacity is regulated in part by a long-term adaptational process involving changes in the absolute abundance of the aquaporin-2 water channel in collecting duct cells. Alterations in aquaporin-2 abundance play key roles in the pathophysiology of several water balance disorders. Escape from the antidiuretic action of vasopressin, e.g. in the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion, involves a selective downregulation of aquaporin-2 expression. Excessive water retention causing hyponatremia in volume-expanded states such as congestive heart failure appears to be due in part to a failure of this escape mechanism.
Do Referral Patterns in Adolescents and Young Adults with Testicular Cancer Impact Oncologic Outcomes

Purpose: Oncologic outcomes in advanced testicular cancer (TC) depend on appropriate and timely care. Often this care is referred to tertiary academic medical centers (AMCs). The aim of this study was to compare oncologic outcomes of adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients with TC treated from the outset at an AMC to those whose care was initiated elsewhere with subsequent referral. Methods: An institutional TC database was reviewed, and those AYA patients initiating TC care either inside or outside an AMC were compared. Patients were classified as initiating care outside if they had any non-orchiectomy surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy for TC outside an AMC. Results: A total of 183 patients were reviewed, of whom 59 initiated TC care outside and 124 were managed initially at an AMC. Patients initiating care outside were more likely to have non-seminoma histology and more often presented with metastatic disease (Stage II [30.5%] or III [35.6%] vs. Stage II [19.4%] or III [19.4%]; p = 0.007). Lower ...
Compression in monetary user costs in the aftermath of the financial crisis: implications for the Divisia M4 monetary aggregate

ABSTRACTDifferences in Divisia and simple-sum money arise from appropriate weighing mechanisms in Divisia, which rely on information on the user cost of monetary assets. We show convergence in the growth rate of Divisia M4 and its simple-sum counterpart beginning in early 2009, shortly after the collapse in the Federal Funds rate. This phenomenon results from compression in user costs.
Relative frequency of B. coli communior in contaminated water

Some recent work of my students has been interesting in connection with the relative frequency of occurrence of the species of the B. coli group in water contaminated with human feces. The B. coli group consists of four species: B. communior (Durham), B. communis (Escherich), B. aerogenes (Escherich), B. acidi lactici (Hueppe). The general characteristics common to all species are: short, Gram-negative, cocco-bacilli, with rounded ends, non-spore bearing, fermentation of dextrose, glucose and lactose with gas production, non-liquefaction of gelatin after 14 days, indol production, and reduction of nitrates to nitrites. In general, also, litmus milk is acidified and coagulated. Further differentiation of the members of the group is possible by means of fermentation tests in the sugars dulcite, saccharose, mannite and raffinose. B. communior and B. communis ferment dulcite; B. aerogenes and acidi lactici do not. B. communior and B. aerogenes ferment saccharose. B. communis and B. acidi lactici do not. MacCo...
Effect of glucagon on gastric secretion.

Summary1. Diminution in gastric motility, gastric secretory rate, and hydrochloric acid production has resulted from glucagon administration in 17 patients. 2. These antiulcerogenic properties suggest that some factor other than glucagon is responsible for the severe peptic ulcerations commonly associated with non-insulin producing tumors of the pancreatic islets.
Airborne radar imaging of subaqueous channel evolution in Wax Lake Delta, Louisiana, USA

Shallow coastal regions are among the fastest evolving landscapes but are notoriously difficult to measure with high spatiotemporal resolution. Using Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar (UAVSAR) data, we demonstrate that high signal‐to‐noise L band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) can reveal subaqueous channel networks at the distal ends of river deltas. Using 27 UAVSAR images collected between 2009 and 2015 from the Wax Lake Delta in coastal Louisiana, USA, we show that under normal tidal conditions, planform geometry of the distributary channel network is frequently resolved in the UAVSAR images, including ~700 m of seaward network extension over 5 years for one channel. UAVSAR also reveals regions of subaerial and subaqueous vegetation, streaklines of biogenic surfactants, and what appear to be small distributary channels aliased by the survey grid, all illustrating the value of fine resolution, low noise, L band SAR for mapping the nearshore subaqueous delta channel network.
On closed-loop economic performance under Lyapunov-based economic model predictive control

An alternative terminal equality constraint design for Lyapunov-based economic model predictive control (LEMPC) is presented. The terminal constraint is computed at each time step by taking advantage of the availability of an explicit stabilizing feedback controller. The stabilizing feedback controller is also used in the design of specific stability constraints that are imposed in the LEMPC problem. With the terminal and stability constraints, guaranteed finite-time and infinite-time closed-loop performance under the LEMPC (to be made precise) may be shown. The LEMPC is applied to a chemical process example to demonstrate the approach.
Periscoping economics through someone else’s eyes: A real world (Twitter) app

Abstract Students and instructors alike are constantly seeking out real world examples of economic concepts. Current college students use their phone as extensions of themselves. While many students and instructors utilize Twitter, Periscope – an application (app) owned by Twitter – has not yet been capitalized on in the economics classroom. Periscope allows Twitter members to live stream video footage of their current location and to have text conversations between members. Periscope creates a unique opportunity for students to see life in other countries in real time while communicating with individuals abroad. We present an assignment that incorporates the use of Periscope as a means of analyzing and forecasting GDP and standard of living for countries across the globe.
Early child health in an informal settlement in the Peruvian Amazon

Informal settlements are common throughout the developing world. In Peru, land occupations, commonly “invasions” in Spanish, are a means by which the extremely poor attempt to obtain access to land. Here, we examine difference in child health between two communities in the Peruvian Amazon, one well-established and one newly formed by ‘invasion’, as captured incidentally by a prospective epidemiological cohort study. Between 2002 and 2006 a study designed to describe the epidemiology of pediatric enteric infections and child growth in a community-based setting enrolled 442 children in Santa Clara de Nanay, a community adjacent to the city of Iquitos, in Loreto, Peru. In early 2003, a land occupation, commonly called an “invasion” in Spanish, was organized by members of the Santa Clara community, and approximately 20 % of participating study families began occupying privately owned agricultural land adjacent to Santa Clara, thus forming the new community of La Union. Parents in families that chose to invade reported less education than parents in families that chose not to. Children in the new community experienced a higher incidence of diarrheal disease and non-specific fevers, although fewer helminth infections, than children who remained in the established community. At the time of the invasion, there were no differences in anthropometric status between the two groups; however children in the new community experienced greater progressive growth faltering over the course of the longitudinal study. Growth faltering in early childhood represents an enduring loss of human potential. Therefore, our data suggests the human cost of land invasion may be disproportionately borne by the youngest individuals. Innovative policy strategies may be needed to protect this vulnerable group.