cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sport activity levels following ankle fusion.

Ankle arthrodesis (AA) is frequently employed in the treatment of end-stage ankle arthritis, which is common following trauma and athletic injuries. While AA remains a popular therapeutic option, little data exists about activity and sporting capacity following AA. The objective of this research was to determine functional outcomes and sporting activity levels in patients following Ankle Arthrodesis. Validated questionnaires were emailed to 35 patients with a history of AA at an average follow-up of 52 months. Functional outcomes were assessed using the Foot and Ankle Disability Index (FADI), as well as the associated FADI-Sport. Responses were compared to those from a control population of 24 patients scheduled for AA, at an average pre-operative visit of three months. Activity levels were assessed prior to injury as well as pre- and post-operatively using the Tegner activity level scale. Average Tegner scores of the 35 surgical patients decreased from 3.82 ± 0.38 before their injury, to 1.15 ± 0.19 immediately pre-op, with recovery to 2.67 ± 0.26 following fusion. Average post arthrodesis FADI and FADI-sport scores in our patients were 76.5 ± 3.19% and 33.8 ± 23.06%. For the pre-operative control population, corresponding scores were 47.41 ± 2.61% and 22.24 ± 1.03%. Following AA, we found that patients improved upon their pre-op Tegner score, although they did not return to their pre-injury level of sporting participation. Additionally, patients reported that they had no current dysfunction with their lower leg. Patients undergoing Ankle Arthrodesis should expect improved lower leg function, though will not likely return to their pre-injury level of activity.
Matching One Sample According to Two Criteria in Observational Studies

Multivariate matching has two goals (i) to construct treated and control groups that have similar distributions of observed covariates, and (ii) to produce matched pairs or sets that are homogeneou...
Linear Associative Algebras

A vector space is called a linear algebra when besides addition of vectors and multiplication of vectors by scalars, a third operation, namely, multiplication of vectors by vectors is also defined in the vector space. In a finite dimensional linear associative algebra, multiplication is distributive with respect to addition. An algebra whose multiplication table is the operational table of a group is called “group algebra.” An algebra whose multiplication table is the operational table of a finite semi-group is called “semi-group algebra.” An algebra has no non-zero idempotent element if every element of the algebra is nilpotent. This chapter focuses on subsets of algebras. The one dimensional algebra of real numbers and the two dimensional algebra of complex numbers are the commutative division algebras over the field of real numbers. However, the four dimensional algebra of quaternion numbers is the non-commutative division algebra over the field of real numbers.
Applying Learning Algorithms to Music Generation.

Several automated composition systems have arisen that generate or facilitate understanding of blues chord progressions, jazz improvisation, or classical pieces. Such systems often work by applying a set of rules explicitly provided to the system to determine what sequence of output values is appropriate. Others use pattern recognition and generation techniques such as Markov chains. We propose a system in which sliding window sequential learning techniques are used to generate rules that correspond to a training set of musical data. This approach has the dual advantages of greater generality than explicitly specifying rules to a system and the ability to apply effectively a wide variety of powerful existing learning algorithms. We present the design and implementation of the composition process. We also illustrate several reasonably successful samples of its output and discuss ways in which it can be improved with additional work.
Has the atmospheric supply of dissolved calcite dust to seawater influenced the evolution of marine 87Sr/86Sr ratios over the past 2.5 million years?

[1] By analyzing the geochemistry of Chinese loess, this study examines if the flux of calcite dust from the Chinese Loess Plateau to the North Pacific influenced the evolution of marine 87Sr/86Sr ratios between 2.5 million years ago (Ma) and the present. Calcite comprises ∼10 wt% of Chinese loess and contains ∼1 × 104 nmol of Sr/g with an 87Sr/86Sr ratio of ∼0.711. A compilation of literature data suggests that the calcite dust flux emanating from eastern Asia has averaged either 2 × 1013 or 1 × 1014 g/yr since the onset of Northern Hemisphere cooling ∼2.5 Ma. The factor of 5 difference between the estimates reflects discrepancies inherent to methods for determining dust fluxes to seawater. At present, these discrepancies remain unresolved. Calcite dust is completely dissolved during transport in the atmosphere and ocean. Thus the marine Sr input from eolian calcite dissolution has averaged either 2 × 108 or 1 × 109 mol/yr. A mass balance model demonstrates that the lower estimate has very little influence on seawater 87Sr/86Sr ratios, whereas the higher estimate has possibly elevated seawater 87Sr/86Sr ratios by ∼18% since 2.5 Ma. When combined with previously reported effects of Northern Hemisphere glaciation on the riverine Sr flux, this shift is sufficient to reproduce the entire Plio-Pleistocene marine Sr record. While more research is required to constrain dust flux estimates, these findings suggest that the atmospheric supply of eolian calcite to seawater may represent a previously overlooked process linking climate change to the marine Sr cycle.
Evaluation of a Veterinary Glucometer for Use in Horses

Background: Glucose assessment and regulation are important factors in the treatment of hospitalized horses and foals. Hypothesis/Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare glucose measurement by a veterinary glucometer, adjusted by code for use in horses and foals, to a reference chemistry analyzer. It was hypothesized that the veterinary glucometer and reference analyzer would yield similar results and that interpretation of glucose values obtained from a veterinary glucometer would result in clinically appropriate decisions. Animals: Fifty blood samples from adult horses and 50 blood samples from neonatal foals admitted to the Colorado State University Veterinary Hospital or Equine Reproduction Laboratory for evaluation. Methods: Glucose concentrations from fresh whole blood samples were evaluated in duplicate with a veterinary glucometer and these values were compared with those obtained with a reference plasma chemistry analyzer. The accuracy of glucometer measurement was evaluated with a Clarke error grid. Results: The veterinary glucometer accurately measured whole blood glucose concentrations in both horses and foals when compared with a reference plasma chemistry analyzer. Nearly 97% of the glucometer values obtained in this study would have resulted in appropriate clinical decisions based on the Clarke error grid analysis. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: The veterinary glucometer evaluated has potential utility for point-of-care whole blood glucose evaluation in both horses and foals.
Diagnostic Equipment for Army Vehicles

THREE GENERATIONS OF EQUIPMENT ARE DISCUSSED. THE FIRST IS A FAMILY OF COMPUTER-CONTROLLED AUTOMATIC TEST EQUIPMENT FOR DIAGNOSIS OF A COMPLETE VEHICLE; IN THE SECOND, A TRANSDUCER KIT WILL BE PERMANENTLY IMSTALLED ON THE VEHICLES WITH PROVISION FOR CONNECTION TO THE COMPUTER; THE THIRD GENERATION WILL BE AN ON-BOARD GO/NO-GO SYSTEM TO INDICATE THE CONDITION OF MAJOR COMPONENTS (NO EXTERNAL TEST EQUIPMENT NEEDED).
The nature and prognosis of severe cryptogenic chronic active hepatitis

Abstract Background: Cryptogenic chronic active hepatitis may be an autoimmune or viral disease. Our aims were to determine the clinical features, human leukocyte antigen phenotype, and response to corticosteroid therapy of severe Cryptogenic chronic active hepatitis and to compare it with these other diseases. Methods: Twelve patients with Cryptogenic hepatitis were compared with 94 patients with autoimmune hepatitis and 30 patients with chronic viral hepatitis. Results: Patients with cryptogenic hepatitis were indistinguishable from those with autoimmune hepatitis by age, gender, and individual laboratory and histological findings. HLA B8 (75% vs. 49%, P = 0.2), DR3 (71% vs. 51%, P = 0.5), and A1-B8-DR3 (57% vs. 38%, P = 0.6) occurred as commonly in each group. Patients with cryptogenic hepatitis entered remission (83% vs. 78%, P > 0.9) and failed treatment (9% vs. 11%, P > 0.8) as frequently as those with autoimmune hepatitis during corticosteroid therapy. In contrast, patients with chronic viral hepatitis had lower biochemical abnormalities, less frequent multilobular necrosis at presentation, and different human leukocyte phenotypes than those with cryptogenic or autoimmune disease. Conclusions: Severe cryptogenic hepatitis has a clinical expression, genetic phenotype, and corticosteroid responsiveness that is similar to autoimmune hepatitis. It may be an autoimmune disorder that has escaped detection by conventional immunoserological markers.
Politicians and Poachers: The Political Economy of Wildlife Policy in Africa

Although wildlife fascinates citizens of industrialized countries, little is known about the politics of wildlife policy in Africa. In this innovative book, Clark Gibson challenges the rhetoric of television documentaries and conservation organizations to explore the politics behind the creation and change of wildlife policy in Africa. This book examines what Clark views as a central puzzle in the debate: Why do African governments create policies that apparently fail to protect wildlife? Moving beyond explanations of bureaucratic inefficiency and corrupt dictatorships, Gibson argues that biologically disastrous policies are retained because they meet the distributive goals of politicians and bureaucrats. Using evidence from Zambia, Kenya, and Zimbabwe, Gibson shows how institutions encourage politicians and bureaucrats to construct wildlife policies that further their own interests. Different configurations of electoral laws, legislatures, party structures, interest groups, and traditional authorities in each country shape the choices of policymakers - many of which are not consonant with conservation. This book will appeal to students of institutions, comparative politics, natural resource policymaking, African politics, and wildlife conservationists.
Mapping With Census Data And Landsat Imagery

Computer analysis of Landsat data can provide several types of useful information in urban and near-urban areas. Thematic classification gives a map of land cover or land use and multi-pass registration can detect areas of change or urban growth. These derived products have roughly the same character as Landsat; they are computer compatible, are in image format, and have a peculiar map projection. Geographic operations on these data require integration with standard digitized (vector) representations of point, line, and area data. One example is generation of maps superimposing image and boundary data. Another example is tabulation of the image data by district polygons.
An extension of inventory models with discretely variable holding costs

Abstract In a recent paper, Alfares [2007. Inventory model with stock-level dependent demand rate and variable holding cost. International Journal of Production Economics, 108 (1–2), 259–265] presented an inventory model with a stock-dependent demand rate and variable holding costs. The analysis imposed a terminal condition that the inventory level at the end of the order cycle drop to zero and utilized a cost-minimization objective. However, with a stock-dependent demand rate, this approach does not provide an optimal profit. Allowing ending inventory to be nonzero, a profit-maximization model and solution methodology are developed. Computational results indicate a substantial improvement in the solution realized by the proposed approach.
The reliability of the CIDI-SAM: a comprehensive substance abuse interview.

Summary The CIDI-SAM is a fully-structured interview that ascertains DSM-III, DSM-III-R, Feighner, RDC and ICD-10 diagnoses for alcohol, tobacco and nine classes of psychoactive drugs, h was designed at the request of the WHO/ADAMHA Task Force on Psychiatric Assessment instruments to expand the substance abuse sections of the CIDI. Using a test-retest design, the diagnostic and item reliabilities of this instrument were tested in a sample of 39 patients in substance abuse treatment at three St. Louis treatment facilities. Kappa values and their 95% confidence intervals, and Yule's Y values are reported. The average kappa for DSM-III substance disorders was 0.84, for DSM-III-R it was 0.82. We report, on the average, excellent kappa values for individual alcohol and drug symptoms. We also ascertained from the respondent's themselves the reasons why answers to specific questions might have been discordant. The findings from this unique,‘discrepancy interview’are reported.
HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP): Knowledge and attitudes among a New York city emergency department patient population

Background HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), in which HIV-negative individuals receive antiretroviral medications to prevent HIV acquisition, has shown potential as a means to reduce HIV incidence among high-risk persons. The acceptability of PrEP among at-risk persons will strongly impact the effectiveness of PrEP. This study aimed to assess knowledge and attitudes towards PrEP within a demographically-mixed community with high HIV prevalence. Materials and methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with a convenience sample of Emergency Department (ED) patients at two New York City municipal hospitals. Eligible participants completed an anonymous written survey about knowledge and acceptability of PrEP. Means and standard deviations were calculated for continuous variables and proportions for categorical variables. Standard bivariate methods were used to compare acceptability and knowledge by race, ethnicity and gender. Results 474 ED patients agreed to participate. The study population was 40.9% male, 40.7% Latino and 38.2% non-Hispanic Black. 7 participants (1.5%) self-identified as MSM. Mean age was 35.3, SD +/- 13.1 years. 66.4% reported inconsistent condom use and 78.4% had previously had an HIV test. 13.3% reported knowledge of either the term “PrEP” or the use of antiretroviral medications to prevent HIV acquisition. More people indicated they were unlikely or extremely unlikely to use PrEP (40.1%) than indicated they would likely take PrEP if available (32.2%). Many (27.7%) were unsure if they would or would not take PrEP. 44.4% thought that individuals would stop using condoms if on PrEP, while 27.0% thought that individuals would continue using them. Some participants (28.4%) incorrectly thought that PrEP needed to be taken only prior to sex. There were no differences in knowledge or acceptability of PrEP by gender. Latinos were more likely (17.6%) than blacks (8.8%) and others (12.4%) to report knowledge of PrEP. Conclusions Potential providers of PrEP must consider limitations in acceptability to this HIV prevention strategy. Future administration of PrEP must incorporate patient education to ensure user understanding of the technology and its potential limitations.
Deceptive updating and minimal information methods

The technique of minimizing information (infomin) has been commonly employed as a general method for both choosing and updating a subjective probability function. We argue that, in a wide class of cases, the use of infomin methods fails to cohere with our standard conception of rational degrees of belief. We introduce the notion of a deceptive updating method and argue that non-deceptiveness is a necessary condition for rational coherence. Infomin has been criticized on the grounds that there are no higher order probabilities that ‘support’ it, but the appeal to higher order probabilities is a substantial assumption that some might reject. Our elementary arguments from deceptiveness do not rely on this assumption. While deceptiveness implies lack of higher order support, the converse does not, in general, hold, which indicates that deceptiveness is a more objectionable property. We offer a new proof of the claim that infomin updating of any strictly-positive prior with respect to conditional-probability constraints is deceptive. In the case of expected-value constraints, infomin updating of the uniform prior is deceptive for some random variables but not for others. We establish both a necessary condition and a sufficient condition (which extends the scope of the phenomenon beyond cases previously considered) for deceptiveness in this setting. Along the way, we clarify the relation which obtains between the strong notion of higher order support, in which the higher order probability is defined over the full space of first order probabilities, and the apparently weaker notion, in which it is defined over some smaller parameter space. We show that under certain natural assumptions, the two are equivalent. Finally, we offer an interpretation of Jaynes, according to which his own appeal to infomin methods avoids the incoherencies discussed in this paper.
Developmental trends in correct /r/ articulation as a function of allophone type.

Eight normally developing preschool children manifesting incomplete mastery of /r/ articulation repeated three times at four week intervals sentences containing the allophones [ r ] embedded in various consonantal contexts. Two judges evaluated /r/ allophone production as correct or incorrect. Children whose /r/ production improved showed greater success with [ r] articulation than with []. Results indicate that normally developing children may be distinguished from more slowly developing children on the basis of differential success with production of various /r/ allophones.
Chain silicate glass-ceramics

Abstract Glass-ceramics based on chain silicates: enstatite (MgSiO 3 ), potassium fluorrichterite (KNaCaMg 5 Si 8 O 22 F 2 ), and fluorcanasite (K 2 Na 4 Ca 5 Si 12 O 30 F 4 ), display a combination of high flexural strength ( > 200 MPa) and high fracture toughness (> 3 MPa rmm 1 2 ). The relationships between composition, microstrcuture, and properties are discussed. Recent and potential applications are described.
Inhibition of Somatic Embryogenesis in Response to 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid in Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam. Cultured in vitro

Summary The mechanism by which exogenous auxins inhibit embryo development from embryogenic callus is not known. In sweet potato [ Ipomoea batatas, (L.) Lam.] we investigated the hypothesis that embryo development was subjected to endogenous IAA transport by studying embryogenesis from calli in response to various concentrations of either 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid (TIBA), 7-aza-indole (AZI) or p-chlorophenoxyisobutyric acid (PCIB). Additions of AZI and PCIB at 1 to 5 μM did not affect morphogenesis. Additions of TIBA and 2,4-D at 5 μM inhibited embryo formation and promoted embryogenic callus growth. Embryo development was restricted to increasingly earlier stages, i.e. from the torpedo stage toward the pro-embryo stage, as TIBA was gradually increased from 0 to 6μM, or as 2,4-D was gradually increased from 0 to 5μ/tM. TIBA specifically inhibits polar IAA transport, thus, our results suggest that embryo development may coincide with endogenous IAA transport and that, inhibition of embryogenesis from embryogenic calli by exogenously supplied auxins may be a consequence of the disruption by exogenous auxins of endogenous IAA efflux from embryogenic loci.
The efficacy of a parent-implemented program for teaching preschoolers personal safety skills

The purpose of this study was to determine whether preschool-age children can learn personal safety skills when taught by their parents. Fifty-two preschoolers were pretested, randomly assigned to either a home-based or a wait-list control program, and posttested. Following program participation, children as young as 3 1/2 years old demonstrated greater knowledge about sexual abuse and higher levels of personal safety skills compared to controls, and these gains were maintained at the two-month follow-up. The effect of the parent-taught program was also replicated in the design. No program-related increases in negative behaviors were reported by parents, nor were treatment children seen as more fearful subsequent to participation. These results suggest that parents can effectively teach their preschoolers personal safety skills, and that the program can be implemented safely and effectively at home. The advantages of homebased instruction for young children are discussed.
Modeling of the Internal Optical Structure of the Nuclei of B-cells

Inhomogeneity within B-cell nuclei is modeled according to the feature of intensity distribution in images of B-cells stained with a DNA-binding dye for light scattering simulations. Results from FDTD simulations are compared with experiment results.
Theoretical Simulation and Focused Ion Beam Fabrication of Gold Nanostructures for Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS)

This paper describes the fabrication of gold nanopillar and nanorod arrays and theoretical calculations of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) around ordered arrangements of these nanostructures. The EMFs of both single nanopillars and dimers of nanopillars—having nanoscale gaps between the two adjacent nanopillars forming the dimers—are simulated in this work by employing the finite-difference time-domain method. In the case of simulations for dimers of nanopillars, the nanoscale gaps between the nanopillars are varied between 5 and 20 nm, and calculations of the electromagnetic fields in the vicinity of the nanopillars and in the gaps between the nanopillars were carried out. Fabrication of gold nanopillars in a controlled manner for forming SERS substrates involves focused ion beam (FIB) milling. The nanostructures were fabricated on gold-coated silica, mica, and quartz planar substrates as well as on gold-coated tips of four mode and multimode silica optical fibers.
The Adrenergic Receptors in the 21st Century

Dianne M. Perez, PhD, ed 404 pages. Totowa, NJ: Humana Press; 2005. $165.00. ISBN 1-58829-423-4. “What we are allowed to see of a molecule’s properties is totally dependent on the techniques of bioassay we use.” — Sir James W. Black, Nobel Lecture, 1988 The search for the fundamental principle that governs the evolutionarily conserved “fight or flight” response to stress or exercise has fascinated biomedical researchers for more than a century, led to the discovery of neurohormones, norepinephrine, epinephrine, and adrenergic receptors (ARs), and opened the field of G protein–coupled receptor (GPCR) biology. Stimulation of ARs by these catecholamines regulates diverse physiological processes in response to a fight or flight situation, including heart beat rate and contraction strength, vascular and bronchial smooth muscle tone, energy metabolism, and central neuronal activities. During the 20th century, extraordinary progress was made in our understating of ARs. The first half of the 20th century was marked by the development of the concept of a receptor, the isolation of the first hormone (epinephrine), and the discovery of the first second messenger (cAMP). The last half of the century was signified by radioligand binding, receptor …
Automatic Shoulder Belt Manual Lap Belt Restraint Systems: Human Factors Analyses of Case Studies Data

Automatic shoulder belts combined with manual lap belts satisfy federal requirements for passive vehicle restraint systems. Previous studies show that usage rates of the lap belts in these systems is considerably lower that usage rates for manual three-point belts. Recent years have witnessed a substantial amount of litigation involving the automatic shoulder belt manual lap belt systems. Forty-one legal cases have been reviewed in which an occupant was injured or killed in an accident while wearing the shoulder belt but not the lap belt. Particular attention was given to issues of risk perception and warnings. Analyses of these cases indicate reasons for not wearing the lap belt include: (1) feeling belted or secure when the shoulder belt was in place; (2) forgetting to fasten the belt; and (3) not familiar with the type of seat belt system. The vehicle warning systems designed to encourage lap belt use generally fail to communicate the hazards and consequences of not wearing the lap belt.
Computational Analysis of HIV-1 Protease Protein Binding Pockets

Mutations that arise in HIV-1 protease after exposure to various HIV-1 protease inhibitors have proved to be a difficult aspect in the treatment of HIV. Mutations in the binding pocket of the protease can prevent the protease inhibitor from binding to the protein effectively. In the present study, the crystal structures of 68 HIV-1 proteases complexed with one of the nine FDA approved protease inhibitors from the Protein Data Bank (PDB) were analyzed by (a) identifying the mutational changes with the aid of a developed mutation map and (b) correlating the structure of the binding pockets with the complexed inhibitors. The mutations of each crystal structure were identified by comparing the amino acid sequence of each structure against the HIV-1 wild-type strain HXB2. These mutations were visually presented in the form of a mutation map to analyze mutation patterns corresponding to each protease inhibitor. The crystal structure mutation patterns of each inhibitor (in vitro) were compared against the mutati...
Laminar-turbulent transition

Die Bewegungsgleichungen eines Teilchens, auf das kleine statistische Storkrafte wirken, werden fur laminare Stromungen gelost. Das “Teilchen” wird mit Flussigkeitsballen identifiziert, wie sie in der turbulenten Stromung vollkommen ausgebildet sind, aber im laminaren Bereich in subkritischer Grosse schon vorkommen konnen. Als Stabilitatskriterium wird eine Bedingung hergeleitet, fur die das mittlere Verschiebungsquadrat schnell wachst. Es wird gezeigt, wie aus den Gleichungen die wohlbekannten Stabilitatsgesetze fur Geschwindigkeitsprofile mit Wendepunkten folgen. Die kritische Grosse eines Geschwindigkeitsballens in der Nahe des Umschlagpunktes ist wahrscheinlich identisch mit den kleinsten Turbulenzelementen. Es wird eine Formel hergeleitet fur die Brownsche Bewegung in Stromungen.
TH-C-BRD-08: The Effect of Embolization Glue On Gamma Knife Radiosurgery of Arterio-Venous Malformations

Purpose: Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery in combination with embolization or alone is a widely recommended treatment option for patients with arterio‐venous malformations (AVM) with estimated near 90% cure rate. A recently published report suggested that the failures to obliterate the AVM nidus were caused by up to 15% dose reduction in the target volume due to the effect of the embolization materials used prior to the Gamma Knife radiosurgery. This work aimed to resolve the issue. Method and Materials: 1) The apparent linear attenuation coefficients for 120keV to 140keV x‐rays in the embolized regions were retrieved from CT scans for several patients with AVM malformations. Based on these coefficients and our virtual model of Gamma Knife with basic ray tracing, we obtained the pathlengths and densities for the embolized regions. The attenuation of Co‐60 beams was then calculated for various sizes and positions of AVM embolized regions and the number of beams used for treatment. 2) Published experiments for several high atomic number materials were used to estimate the effective Co‐60 beam attenuation coefficients for N‐butylcyanoacrylate (doped with high Z) and Onyx (ethylene‐vinyl alcohol copolymerdoped with tantalum) used in the AVM embolizations. The dose reduction during Gamma Knife radiosurgery was calculated based on the Co‐60 energy attenuation coefficient. Results: Based on apparent CT (keV) attenuation coefficients, one may conclude that the cumulative effect of the glue would decrease the dose delivered in Gamma Knife radiosurgery from −8 to −15 %. However, using the true attenuation coefficient for Co‐60 energies in the dose calculation leads one to conclude that there is 0.2% dose reduction per beam and less than 0.01–0.2% dose reduction in total. Conclusion: Dose reduction due to attenuation of the Co‐60 beam by the AVM embolization glue material is negligible.
Biomimetic solubilization of a low rank coal : Implications for its use in methane production

There is substantial interest in processes that result in solubilization of low rank coal as a potential carbon source for anaerobic production of methane. It is known that certain fungi are able to solubilize selected low rank coals by secreting oxalate ions which chelate metal ions that are present. Apparently, metal ions form ionic bonds which link individual coal macromolecules. Once these metal ions are chelated and the ionic bonds are broken, the relatively polar coal macromolecules are soluble in water. Much research has focused on the coal-solubilizing ability of wood-rotting fungi. The wood-rotting fungi Trametes versicolor and Phanerochaete chrysosporium are known to be able to solubilize extensively an oxidized North Dakota lignite (leonardite). We have used a biomimetic approach to study oxalate-mediated solubilization of this low rank coal. A concentration of approximately 75 mM sodium oxalate was found to be near optimal for leonardite solubilization when the initial concentration of leonard...
PRIMARY CULTURES OF DISSOCIATED SYMPATHETIC NEURONS : II. Initial Studies on Catecholamine Metabolism

Initial studies are reported on the catecholamine metabolism of low-density cultures of dissociated primary sympathetic neurons. Radioactive tyrosine was used to study the synthesis and breakdown of catecholamines in the cultures. The dependence of catecholamine synthesis and accumulation on external tyrosine concentration was examined and a concentration which is near saturation, 30 µM, was chosen for further studies. The free tyrosine pool in the nerve cells equilibrated with extracellular tyrosine within 1 h; the total accumulation of tyrosine (free tyrosine plus protein, catecholamines, and metabolites) was linear for more than 24 h of incubation. Addition of biopterin, the cofactor of tyrosine hydroxylase, only slightly enhanced catecholamine biosynthesis by the cultured neurons. However, addition of reduced ascorbic acid, the cosubstrate for dopamine β-hydroxylase, markedly stimulated the conversion of dopamine (DA) to norepinephrine (NE). Phenylalanine, like tyrosine, served as a precursor for some of the DA and NE produced by the cultures, but tyrosine always accounted for more than 90% of the catecholamines produced. The DA pool labeled rapidly to a saturation level characteristic of the age of the culture. The NE pool filled more slowly and was much larger than the DA pool. The disappearance of radioactive NE and DA during chase experiments followed a simple exponential curve. Older cultures showed both more rapid production and more rapid turnover of the catecholamines than did younger cultures, suggesting a process of maturation.
Injury to Sugarcane by a small Weevil

The newly discovered injury to sugarcane by a small weevil, Anacentrus sp., is described. The character of damage is the destruction of the eyes of sugarcane and also killing of the young plants.
Velocity and surface pressure measurements in an open cavity

Subsonic flow of approximately Mach 0.2 over cavities with L/D ratios of 5.16 and 1.49 were studied experimentally using particle image velocimetry (PIV), surface pressure measurements, and hot-wire measurements. The incoming boundary layer was turbulent in both cases. The PIV data was analyzed to yield mean flow characteristics, vorticity field information, and two-point statistics for the velocity field. The hot-wire data was combined with surface pressure measurements to detail the correlations between velocity and pressure fluctuations. An analysis of the correlation between surface pressure measurements shows contrasting characteristics for the two cavity aspect ratios. The PIV data was combined with surface pressure measurements through the application of quadratic stochastic estimation to predict the time-dependent behavior of the velocity field. An examination of the results supports the existence of different cavity flow modes, as has been suggested in much of the literature.
Calculation of electron-transfer rate constants from intervalence transfer absorption bands

Abstract Rates of intramolecular electron transfer are calculated from the properties of intervalence transfer absorption bands for a series of mixed-valence ruthenium dimers. The calculations are based on theoretical results obtained by Duke, Hopfield, and others, and are shown to be in agreement with earlier results obtained from outer-sphere electron transfer rate constant measurements.
Thermomechanical coupling effects at high flight speeds

A comparative numerical study of the coupled vs uncoupled thermal-structural analysis of viscoplastic structures is presented. Deformations are assumed to be infinitesimal, and the viscoplastic behavior is described by using a unified constitutive model. The Galerkin finite element method is utilized along with a time-marching scheme to predict the quasistatic thermomechanical behavior of inelastic structures with rate and temperature-dependent material properties. In the coupled analysis, the displacements and temperature distribution at every time step are computed at once by solving the system of equations directly
Whisker stimulation metabolically activates thalamus following cortical transplantation but not following cortical ablation

Abstract Local cerebral glucose utilization was assessed during whisker stimulation by 2-deoxyglucose autoradiography. Whisker stimulation increased local cerebral glucose utilization in brainstem, thalamus and whisker sensory cortex in normal rats. Whereas whisker stimulation increased glucose metabolism in brainstem, whisker stimulation failed to increase glucose metabolism in thalamus of rats that had whisker sensory cortex ablated 5 h to five weeks previously. The failure of whisker stimulation to activate thalamus after cortical ablations was probably not due to decreased cortical input to thalamus because whisker stimulation activated thalamus after large cortical tetrodotoxin injections. Failure of whisker stimulation to activate thalamus at early times (5 h and one day) after cortical ablations was not due to thalamic neuronal death, since it takes days to weeks for axotomized thalamic neurons to die. The failure of whisker stimulation to activate thalamus at early times after cortical ablations was likely due to the failure of trigeminal brainstem neurons that project to thalamus to activate axotomized thalamic neurons. This might occur because of synaptic retraction, glial stripping or inhibition of trigeminal brainstem synapses onto thalamic neurons. The thalamic neuronal death that occurs over the days and weeks following cortical ablations was associated with thalamic hypometabolism. This is consistent with the idea that the thalamic neurons die because of the absence of a cortically derived trophic factor, since the excitotoxic thalamic cell death that occurs following cortical kainate injections is associated with thalamic hypermetabolism. The glucose metabolism of parts of the host thalamus was higher and the glucose metabolism in surrounding nuclei lower than the normal side of thalamus in rats that sat quietly and had fetal cortex transplants placed into cavities in whisker sensory cortex five to 16 weeks previously. Whisker stimulation in these subjects activated the contralateral host thalamus and fetal cortical transplants. This was accomplished using a double-label 2-deoxyglucose method to assess brain glucose metabolism in the same rat while it was resting and during whisker stimulation. The high glucose metabolism of parts of host thalamus ipsilateral to the fetal cortical transplants is consistent with prolonged survival of some axotomized thalamic neurons. The finding that whisker stimulation activates portions of host thalamus further suggests that the cortical transplants maintained survival of the host thalamic neurons and that synaptic connections between whisker brainstem and thalamic neurons were functional.
Structure of the lactose operator.

THE lac operon has long been an important model system for developing an understanding of the control of gene expression. Since the early studies of Jacob and Monod1 on the lac operon, much work has been devoted towards determining the mode of interaction between repressor and operator. Although it has been shown clearly that repressor physically binds operator2,3, the details of this interaction remain unknown. We report here results of experiments designed to investigate further the structure of the operator and its interaction with the repressor.
Blinks, Negative Flashes, and Visual Responses

Evoked visual responses that were triggered by spontaneous blinking were recorded from the human subject. Although their waveform resembled that of conventionally recorded responses, two differences were noted: there was an early potential that was seen only with blink responses, and the late negative potential was smaller than that seen with conventional recording. Off- and on- components were seen in the blink responses, and these were compared with those produced by switching the stimulus off and on. The amplitudes of all of the components increased with stimulus intensity. The results suggest that blinking may play a role in vision, per se, as well as acting to protect the cornea.
A developmental prehension assessment for handicapped children

A study consisting of three components is reported. During Phase One an extensive literature search led to a compiled set of norms for reflexive and voluntary prehensile development. Phase Two included the clinical use and revision of the resultant Erhardt Developmental Prehension Assessment (EDPA). Phase Three involved the testing of the EDPA for interrater reliability, which resulted in highly significant intraclass correlations. Single test item correlations were also analyzed to identify items needing clarification or alteration in preparation for final revision of the instrument. A sample application in the clinical field is illustrated by segments of an EDPA used to develop an Individualized Educational Plan, required by Federal Law 94-142 (Education of All Handicapped Children).
FAUST: An MOS Fault Simulator with Timing Information

This paper describes FAUST, an MOS fault simulator with timing information. FAUST simulates the effects of realistic physical failures on MOS circuits and uses a static concurrent fault-simulation technique to evaluate the fault-free circuit and all the faulty circuits in one pass. FAUST produces voltage waveforms as well as logic tables with delay information for the fault-free circuit and for each of the faulty circuits.
Ferrites as Microwave Circuit Elements

This paper is intended to be tutorial in nature and its purpose is the description of the effects of magnetically saturated ferrites in microwave structures from the more general approach of microwave circuit theory. This is done via the scattering matrix rather than the impedance matrix. Since most of the important properties of such circuits depend on the fact that the circuit behaves differently when the direction of propagation is reversed, the scattering matrix seems to be a more natural mode of description than the impedance matrix from which these effects are not immediately evident. The properties of the scattering of microwave junctions containing magnetically saturated media are discussed. It is shown that except for nonreciprocity, the scattering matrix of such junctions satisfy the same requirements as that of junctions containing ordinary scalar media. The general scattering matrix of a lossless two port device is given. The circulator is discussed and a particular microwave circuit, of which several proposed circulators are a special case, is treated. Conditions on the elements of this circulator, in order that it be a perfect circulator, are derived. Finally deviations from the ideal circulator conditions are considered.
A high molecular weight terminal pigment ("anchor polypeptide") and a minor blue polypeptide from phycobilisomes of the cyanobacterium Nostoc sp. (MAC): Isolation and characterization.

A 94 kD pigment-polypeptide, which is presumed to be involved in anchoring the phycobilisomes to the thylakoids, was isolated from Nostoc phycobilisomes by gel filtration in 63 mM formic acid. The isolation condition did not require detergents or denaturating reagents, as in previous procedures, and enzymatic degradation was not observed at the low pH of 2.5. The “anchor polypeptide” thus obtained had absorption (Abs) and fluorescence maxima (Em) at 658 and 673 nm, respectively, in 63 mM formic acid at room temperature. The maxima shifted to longer wavelengths in 100 mM potassium phosphate (pH 6.8), Abs 665 and Em 683 nm at room temperature, and Abs 665 and Em 684 nm at liquid nitrogen temperature. The fluorescence maxima at both temperatures correspond to the longest wavelength component resolved in phycobilisomes from second derivative spectra. A minor blue polypeptide was also found by this isolation method. The molecular weight of this polypeptide was ca. 18,000 and is probably similar to a polypeptide which has been found in the phycobilisome core of other cyanobacteria.
Shifting from Zero Tolerance to Restorative Justice in Schools

Many schools continue to have mandatory guidelines for dealing with a host of school behavioral problems that affect school climate and academic performance (Gonzalez, 2012). Even with the movement toward evidence-based methods and schoolwide intervention plans by related school services personnel, the disproportional suspension, expulsion, and referral to juvenile justice continues. "The frequent reliance on suspension does not yield the benefits proponents often claim it does, neither for deterrence nor academic achievement" (Skiba et al., 2003, p. 1). In fact, zero tolerance policies have been the catalyst for the school-to-prison pipeline, still occurring in many major metropolitan school districts throughout the United States (Fabelo et al., 2011; Gonzalez, 2012; Skiba et al., 2003). Researchers continue to question the need for zero tolerance policies and now charge that the "cure all" for school disciplinary problems needs replacing. A 10-year study of zero tolerance policies by the American Psychological Association concluded that the use of exclusionary policies "did not improve school safety" (Gonzalez, 2012). In a statewide investigation of the Texas public school system, tracking seventh- … Language: en
The path to the enhanced and advanced LIGO gravitational-wave detectors

We report on the status of the Laser Interferometric Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) and the plans and progress toward Enhanced and Advanced LIGO. The initial LIGO detectors have finished a two-year long data run during which a full year of triple-coincidence data was collected at design sensitivity. Much of this run was also coincident with the data runs of interferometers in Europe, GEO600 and Virgo. The joint analysis of data from this international network of detectors is ongoing. No gravitational wave signals have been detected in analyses completed to date. Currently two of the LIGO detectors are being upgraded to increase their sensitivity in a program called Enhanced LIGO. The Enhanced LIGO detectors will start another roughly one-year long data run with increased sensitivity in 2009. In parallel, construction of Advanced LIGO, a major upgrade to LIGO, has begun. Installation and commissioning of Advanced LIGO hardware at the LIGO sites will commence at the end of the Enhanced LIGO data run in 2011. When fully commissioned, the Advanced LIGO detectors will be ten times as sensitive as the initial LIGO detectors. Advanced LIGO is expected to make several gravitational-wave detections per year.
Age-Dependent Effect of Ozone on Pulmonary Eicosanoid Metabolism in Rabbits and Rats

Abstract Acute exposures to ozone have previously been shown to cause quantitative changes in the spectrum of arachidonic acid (AA) metabolites in lung lavage fluid. Since age appears to be an important variable in the toxicity of inhaled ozone, we investigated its effect on ozone-induced changes in pulmonary eicosanoid metabolism. Rats and rabbits ranging in age from neonates to young adults were exposed either to air or to 1 ppm ozone for 2 hr. Lung lavage fluid was collected within 1 hr following exposure and analyzed for its content of selected eicosanoids. In both species, there was a pronounced effect of age on ozone-induced pulmonary eicosanoid metabolism. Ozone-exposed animals at the youngest ages examined had severalfold greater amounts of two products of the cyclooxygenase pathway, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α), than did age-matched controls. This effect lessened and eventually disappeared as the animals grew toward adulthood. In rabbits, ozone also induced increases in 6-keto-prostaglandin F1α and thromboxane B2, but these changes were of lesser magnitude and evident only in the youngest rabbits exposed. There was no observed effect of ozone on lung lavage content of leukothriene B4. Indices of nonspecific pulmonary damage, i.e., protein concentration in lung lavage fluid and total number and viability of lavaged lung cells, were affected by ozone exposure, but not in an age-dependent manner that correlated with changes in pulmonary eicosanoid metabolism. In vitro ozone exposure of lung macrophages from naive rabbits of the same age range as those exposed in vivo demonstrated that ozone is capable of stimulating the elaboration of PGF2α and especially PGE2. However, the increase in lavage fluid PGE2 and PGF2α caused by ozone inhalation could not be attributed to macrophage metabolism conclusively since elaboration of PGE2 and PGF2α by cultured macrophages was not enhanced by prior in vivo ozone exposure. In an ancillary study it was shown that 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (PGDH) activity in rabbit lung homogenates was not affected by prior exposure to ozone, indicating that the increase in lung lavage fluid eicosanoids that occurred in these animals could not be explained by inhibition of PGDH.
Gas phase nucleophilic substitution reactions; Transaminations of silanamines

Abstract Ion cyclotron resonance spectroscopy has been employed in the study of gas phase transaminations of silanamines. The dominant reaction pathway is found to involve a bimolecular nucleophilic substitution at silicon. Under suitable conditions the ICR method permits direct observation of intermediate reaction complexes. The possible relationship of these complexes to SN2 intermediates is discussed.
Towards smart, flexible and efficient power systems: Vision and research challenges

The electric power infrastructure is transforming into a smarter, increasingly flexible, and more efficient system with the potential to play an integral role in the changing energy landscape. This paper and the accompanying tutorial session at the 2013 American Control Conference provide an overview of this transformation. It then highlights three emerging optimization and controls techniques that can help facilitate the necessary changes to power grid design, operation and management.