cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hubble Space Telescope Observations of Chromospheric Emission from the Population II Red Giant HD 216143

Spectra of the Hα and Ca II K line of Population II red giants exhibit evidence for chromospheric mass outflows only among stars brighter than MV = -1.7. In order to determine whether this phenomenon is indicative of a true physical onset in mass outflow, spectra of the 2800 A Mg II lines of the metal-poor halo red giant HD 216143 have been obtained with the Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph on the Hubble Space Telescope. This star has shown no Hα emission when observed on two separate occasions and has an absolute magnitude of MV = -1.5, placing it below the intrinsic brightness level at which Hα emission is seen among other Population II giants. In addition, a high-resolution Ca II K line spectrum shows no significant K3 velocity shift. Thus the Hα and Ca II K lines show no evidence of chromospheric outflow. Nonetheless, HD 216143 exhibits clear Mg II h and k emission profiles. These profiles are asymmetric in the sense expected for mass outflow from the chromosphere. The combined surface flux of these two emission lines is similar to fluxes of other Population II red giants for which the Mg II lines have been observed. The central k3 absorption feature is blueshifted with respect to the midpoint of the k emission profile by ~20 km s-1. The h3 feature shows a smaller blueshift, evidence possibly for an accelerated outflow in the outer atmosphere of HD 216143. It appears that outflows set in among halo red giants at brightnesses comparable to or fainter than MV = -1.5. Halo giants fainter than this tend to show no Hα emission and no significant velocity shifts in the K3 central absorption component of the Ca II K line. It seems that the search for the onset of mass outflows from such stars is best conducted using the Mg II line.
Two Ways to Solve ASEP

The purpose of this chapter is to describe two approaches to compute exact formulas (which are amenable to asymptotic analysis) for the probability distribution of the current of particles past a given site in the asymmetric simple exclusion process (ASEP) with step initial data. The first approach is via a variant of the coordinate Bethe Ansatz and was developed in work of Tracy and Widom in 2008–2009, while the second approach is via a rigorous version of the replica trick and was developed in work of Borodin, Sasamoto and the author in 2012.
Plessner's philosophical anthropology

Philosophical anthropology is a broad‐gauged study of man drawing on the findings of empirical sciences and the humanities. The paper is intended as a tribute to one of the pioneers in this field. The first part outlines central features of Plessner's conception, focusing on man's instinctual deficiency and his ‘eccentric position’ in the world; man from this perspective is an ‘embodied’ creature in the dual sense of experiencing the world through his bodily organs and of ‘having’ a body and being able to reflect on his mundane situation. In social terms the perspective implies that man can find himself only through embodiment in institutional settings and role patterns ‐ settings which, however, remain open to reinterpretation and revision. Subsequently Plessner's outlook is compared and contrasted with alternative views of the human condition. According to Gehlen, man's instinctual deficiency an openness need to be corrected through institutional stability and the standardization of role structures. Rev...
3D silicon neural probe with integrated optical fibers for optogenetic modulation

Optogenetics is a powerful modality for neural modulation that can be useful for a wide array of biomedical studies. Penetrating microelectrode arrays provide a means of recording neural signals with high spatial resolution. It is highly desirable to integrate optics with neural probes to allow for functional study of neural tissue by optogenetics. In this paper, we report the development of a novel 3D neural probe coupled simply and robustly to optical fibers using a hollow parylene tube structure. The device shanks are hollow tubes with rigid silicon tips, allowing the insertion and encasement of optical fibers within the shanks. The position of the fiber tip can be precisely controlled relative to the electrodes on the shank by inherent design features. Preliminary in vivo rat studies indicate that these devices are capable of optogenetic modulation simultaneously with 3D neural signal recording.
Prognostic Factors and Long-Term Survivors in Inflammatory Breast Cancer.

Background: Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC) carries a worse overall survival and demonstrates distinct clinicopathologic qualities which require refinement of prognostic indicators specific to IBC. We hypothesized that given IBC9s typically rapid course, nodal status would not be a significant prognostic factor. We also investigated the impact of treatment with radiation and surgery on IBC survival.Material and Methods: Retrospective data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results of the National Cancer Institute (SEER 13 and 17 registries) were used to evaluate the prognostic effects of nodal status, surgical resection, and radiation on mortality of patients with IBC. We compared survival between patients with or without positive lymph node status and treatment with radiation, surgery, and those patients treated with both. Data were subjected to multivariate statistical analysis.Results: A total of 3755 IBC patients were diagnosed and reported to SEER between 1995 and 2005. IBC survival appears independent of lymph node status with mean survival times of 34 months for node negative patients and 32 months for node positive patients (figure 1, p= 0.11). We identified 735 cases with adequate local treatment records and follow-up information. In this subset we compared survival between groups that received both surgery and radiation (SR), groups that received one of these therapies independently (S or R respectively), to those without either therapy (NT, no therapy) given positive lymph node status at diagnosis (fig. 2, p Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(24 Suppl):Abstract nr 4039.
Expression of prostate specific membrane antigen and three alternatively spliced variants of PSMA in prostate cancer patients

Prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is a folate gamma glutamyl carboxypeptidase that is oriented on the plasma membrane of normal and prostate cancer cells. A cytosolic version of PSMA, PSM', results from alternative splicing of the PSMA gene. Two additional alternatively spliced variants of PSMA, PSM-C and PSM-D, have been described recently. The ratio of PSMA to PSM' mRNA was higher in a small number of prostate cancer specimens compared to normal prostate cancer and benign prostatic hypertrophy (Su et al. Cancer Res 1995;55:1441). The intent of our study was to measure the gene expression of PSMA and the 3 PSMA splice variants in a large number of patient's tissues. A real-time, quantitative PCR assay was developed to quantify PSMA, PSM', PSM-C and PSM-D. Discrimination among the variants was achieved by designing unique primers and TaqMan probes for each gene. Amplification and detection was specific for the desired splice variant and was sensitive to one gene copy per reaction. The assay was used to quantify the gene expression in specimens of normal, benign, primary and metastatic prostate cancer from 72 patients. The mean PSMA expression (relative to 18S rRNA) was 2- to 3-fold lower in normal prostate (n = 4) compared to primary (n = 55, p = 0.31) and metastatic (n = 20, p = 0.33) prostate cancer. There was no difference in the PSMA expression between benign and cancerous prostate tissue from the same patients (n = 35). The ratio of PSMA to PSM' was lowest in the normal prostate and increased with increasing Gleason score (p < 0.001). The increased ratio in these tissues was a reflection of both increasing PSMA levels and decreasing PSM' mRNA. The expression of PSM-C did not differ in any of the tissue categories studied. The expression of PSM-D was similar in normal and primary prostate cancer but was 2-fold higher in lymph node (p < 0.005) and bone metastases (p < 0.05) compared to the primary tumors. Our results of the first detailed quantitative analysis of PSMA mRNA expression in patient's tissues demonstrate that PSMA and the 3 PSMA splice variants are expressed in normal, benign, cancerous and metastatic prostate cancer. We note increased PSMA expression in some malignant tissues, however, these increases are modest in magnitude. We also report that the expression of a novel splice variant, PSM-D, is elevated in prostate cancer metastases.
Sodium dependence of the nerve growth factor--regulated hexose uptake in chick embryo ganglionic cells.

Abstract Embryonic dorsal root ganglionic cells, when incubated in vitro in the absence of nerve growth factor (NGF) undergo a general metabolic degeneration which is preceded by certain changes in permeation properties. Previous studies demonstrated that NGF can rapidly modulate permeation properties which regulate the availability to the cell of an important energy source, glucose. Hexose uptake was determined by measuring the ability of the cells to accumulate [3H]labelled 2-deoxy- d -glucose. The work reported here shows that the NGF-dependent portion (about one-third) of the total specific hexose uptake was also dependent on the presence of Na+, with the apparent uptake constant (Kt) for deoxyglucose varying inversely with an external Na+ concentration of 70–140 mM; Vmax was unaffected in this range. Preincubation of ganglionic cells with 10 mM ouabain for 15–60 min, followed by a pulse with [3H]-deoxyglucose, also resulted in 50–95% reduction of the NGF-sensitive uptake. A similar pretreatment of cells with veratridine gave a 25–50% reduction in uptake. The NGF-controlled hexose uptake was also energy dependent, being diminished 50–95% after a 30–90 min preincubation with 2 mM 2,4-dinitrophenol. Uptake activities for other substrates (α-aminoisobutyric acid, uridine) which exhibited NGF regulation were likewise Na+-sensitive. These results indicate that availability of major energy substrates to NGF-dependent dorsal root ganglionic neurons is controlled by sodium gradients across their membranes. It is conceivable that NGF provides for maintenance and development of its target neurons by acting on such sodium gradients and, consequently, regulating the intake of essential nutrients.
Intraventricular alloxan eliminates feeding elicited by 2-deoxyglucose

Evidence suggests that alloxan reacts with membrane-bound glucoreceptors and that it competes with glucose molecules for these sites. We therefore administered small quantities of alloxan into the cerebrospinal fluid of rats to determine what effect this might have on their ability to react to changes of glucose concentration. Rats treated in this manner did not eat as much as controls in response to the intraperitoneal administration of 2-deoxyglucose or to a 24-hour fast, and they became hypoglycemic significantly sooner than controls when fasted. The data suggest that the function of brain glucoreceptors is to protect the body from sudden decreases of glucose and that these glucoreceptors play little if any role in the normal regulation or maintenance of feeding, body weight, or blood glucose concentrations.
MDM2 Binding Induces a Conformational Change in p53 That Is Opposed by Heat-shock Protein 90 and Precedes p53 Proteasomal Degradation

p53 protein conformation is an important determinant of its localization and activity. Changes in p53 conformation can be monitored by reactivity with wild-type conformation-specific (pAb-1620) or mutant conformation-specific (pAb-240) p53 antibodies. Wild-type p53 accumulated in a mutant (pAb-240 reactive) form when its proteasome-dependent degradation was blocked during recovery from stress treatment and in cells co-expressing p53 and MDM2. This suggests that conformational change precedes wild-type p53 degradation by the proteasome. MDM2 binding to the p53 N terminus could induce a conformational change in wild-type p53. Interestingly, this conformational change was opposed by heat-shock protein 90 and did not require the MDM2 RING-finger domain and p53 ubiquitination. Finally, ubiquitinated p53 accumulated in a pAb-240 reactive form when p53 degradation was blocked by proteasome inhibition, and a p53-ubiquitin fusion protein displayed a mutant-only conformation in MDM2-null cells. These results support a model in which MDM2 binding induces a conformational change that is opposed by heat-shock protein 90 and precedes p53 ubiquitination. The covalent attachment of ubiquitin may "lock" p53 in a mutant conformation in the absence of MDM2-binding and prior to its degradation by the proteasome.
Immune Escape and Immunotherapy of HPV-Related Oropharyngeal Cancer: Has the Future Arrived?

The epidemiology of human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated cancers indicates dramatically increased rates for HPV-related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) over the past two decades. This development accounts for the increasing significance and research focus in the fields of immunology, oncology, and otolaryngology. In this review, we provide an overview of the most important and recent developments in pathogenesis and therapy in HPV-related OPSCC with a focus on the disease’s immune escape mechanisms and strategies for their reversal. In order to introduce the therapeutic approaches that are currently used and under development, we summarize the viral pathway, genomic alterations, and functional carcinogenesis in relation to antiviral immunity. The different viral strategies to evade the host immune system and their influence in carcinogenesis provide a unique tumor microenvironment that is not completely understood. Immunotherapies under development aim to prevent viral and tumor immunoevasion and may provide new insights into why—despite manifold immunoevasion strategies—an improved clinical outcome can be observed in HPV-related OPSCC.
Intracranial vessel segmentation from time-of-flight MRA using pre-processing of the MIP Z-buffer: accuracy of the ZBS algorithm.

Abstract We evaluate the accuracy of a vascular segmentation algorithm which uses continuity in the maximum intensity projection (MIP) depth Z-buffer as a pre-processing step to generate a list of 3D seed points for further segmentation. We refer to the algorithm as Z-buffer segmentation (ZBS). The pre-processing of the MIP Z-buffer is based on smoothness measured using the minimum χ 2 value of a least square fit. Points in the Z-buffer with χ 2 values below a selected threshold are used as seed points for 3D region growing. The ZBS algorithm couples spatial continuity information with intensity information to create a simple yet accurate segmentation algorithm. We examine the dependence of the segmentation on various parameters of the algorithm. Performance is assessed in terms of the inclusion/exclusion of vessel/background voxels in the segmentation of intracranial time-of-flight MRA images. The evaluation is based on 490,256 voxels from 14 patients which were classified by an observer. ZBS performance was compared to simple thresholding and to segmentation based on vessel enhancement filtering. The ZBS segmentation was only weakly dependent on the parameters of the initial MIP image generation, indicating the robustness of this approach. Region growing based on Z-buffer generated seeds was advantageous compared to simple thresholding. The ZBS algorithm provided segmentation accuracies similar to that obtained with the vessel enhancement filter. The ZBS performance was notably better than the filter based segmentation for aneurysms where the assumptions of the filter were violated. As currently implemented the algorithm slightly under-segments the intracranial vasculature.
Making and repairing the mammalian brain—signaling toward neurogenesis and gliogenesis

Neural stem cells (NSCs) are subscribed extraordinary potential in repair of the damaged nervous system. However, the molecular identity of NSCs has not been established. Most NSC cultures contain large numbers of multipotent, bipotent, and lineage restricted neural progenitors, the majority of which appear to lose neurogenic potential after expansion. This review first discusses the neurogenic to gliogenic switch that is characteristic of progenitor development in vivo and in NSC cultures, and then the cell intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms regulating the sequential differentiation of neurons and glia. Finally, we discuss potential methods for maintaining the neurogenic potential of NSC cultures after expansion.
Seismic Response of High-Voltage Transformer-Bushing Systems Incorporating Flexural Stiffeners II: Experimental Study

High-voltage bushings have exhibited vulnerability during past earthquakes. The good performance of bushings mounted on a rigid base observed during shake table testing does not correlate well with...
Reverse transport of children from a tertiary pediatric hospital.

Introduction The purpose of this study was to determine the epidemiology and resources used and to study the potential savings of pediatric reverse transport patients. Methods A case control study was performed with patients undergoing a reverse or outbound transport from a large, pediatric hospital. Twenty-five children undergoing reverse transport were compared with matched controls. Lengths of stay and costs were compared between the reverse transport and matched control patients. Results Fifty-two percent of the reverse transport patients returned home, whereas 32% went home for end-of-life care and 16% went to other facilities. The average reverse transport was more than 400 miles and cost $6,064. The reverse transport of these patients did not save pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) days but did result in a shorter hospital stay compared with the matched controls (10 vs. 19 days, P = .03). Decreased utilization of bed days came from less use of intermediate care unit resources. Conclusions Pediatric patients undergo reverse transports for a variety of reasons, often for end-of-life care. The ability to reverse transport pediatric patients may not save PICU bed days but may offer pediatric tertiary care hospitals a means to provide more intermediate care bed availability.
Motor stereotypies and cognitive perseveration in non-human primates exposed to early gestational irradiation

A number of psychiatric illnesses have been associated with prenatal disturbance of brain development, including autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and schizophrenia. Individuals afflicted with these disorders exhibit both repetitive motor and cognitive behavior. The potential role that environmental insult to the developing brain may play in generating these aberrant behaviors is unclear. Here we examine the behavioral consequences of an early gestational insult in the non-human primate. Rhesus macaques were exposed to x-irradiation during the first trimester of development to disrupt neurogenesis. The behavior of five fetally irradiated monkeys (FIMs) and five control monkeys (CONs) was observed as they matured from juvenile (1.5 years) to adult ages (4-5 years). Home-cage behavior was indistinguishable in the two groups. In the testing cage, circling was prevalent in both groups at juvenile ages, persisting to adulthood in three of the five FIMs. One FIM executed a ritualized motor sequence marked by semi-circling and undulating head movements. Seven macaques (4 FIMs, 3 CONs) were tested on a spatial Delayed Alternation (DA) task as adults. Perseverative errors and non-perseverative errors were recorded in early stages of the testing, at the 0 delay interval. While performing DA, FIMs made more errors of perseveration than CONs yet the number of total errors committed did not differ between groups. The presence of motor stereotypies and cognitive perseveration in fetally irradiated non-human primates suggests that environmental insult to the embryonic brain may contribute to repetitive motor and cognitive behaviors in neuropsychiatric diseases.
Label-free, multiplexed, molecular sensing and imaging by stamping SERS

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is a spectroscopic technique, where Raman scattering is boosted primarily by enhanced electric field due to localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR). With advances in nanofabrication techniques, SERS has attracted great attention for label-free molecular sensing and imaging. However, the practical use of SERS has often encountered an inherent issues regarding a molecule transfer step where target molecules need to be within the close proximity of a SERS-active surface by either mixing with nanoparticles or coating onto surface-bound nanostructures. To address this issue, we have developed stamping surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (S-SERS) for label-free, multiplexed, molecular sensing and large-area, high-resolution molecular imaging on a flexible, non-plasmonic surface without solution-phase molecule transfer. In this technique, a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) thin film and nanoporous gold disk SERS substrate play the roles as molecule carrier and Raman signal enhancer, respectively. After stamping the SERS substrate onto the PDMS film, SERS measurements can be directly taken from the “sandwiched” target molecules. The performance of S-SERS is evaluated by the detection of Rhodamine 6G (R6G), urea, and its mixture with acetaminophen (APAP), in physiologically relevant concentration range, along with corresponding SERS spectroscopic maps. S-SERS features simple sample preparation, low cost, and high reproducibility, which could lead to SERS-based sensing and imaging for point-of-care and forensics applications.
TRANSSPHENOIDAL REMOVAL OF PITUITARY MICROADENOMAS IN THE TREATMENT OF CHILDHOOD CUSHING'S DISEASE

TRANSSPHENOIDAL REMOVAL OF PITUITARY MICROADENOMAS IN THE TREATMENT OF CHILDHOOD CUSHING'S DISEASE
Beneficial use of a new hand-held CO2 laser fiber in resection of a calcified and vascular intraventricular tumor.

Background The progression of laser technology in neurosurgery has been limited by the poor maneuverability of traditional line-of-sight carbon dioxide (CO2) lasers and the propensity of other laser energies to cause collateral thermal injury to adjacent neural structures. The advent of a dielectric omnidirectional reflector and the subsequent development of phototonic bandgap fibers (PBF) have transformed the CO2 laser into a low-profile instrument with considerable dexterity and many potential new neurosurgical applications. Case Description A 48-year-old woman presented with a large mass in the left lateral ventricle that was first diagnosed >20 years ago. The patient was asymptomatic until 1 month before presentation, when she began to experience progressive memory loss and neurocognitive decline. Results The hand-held CO2 laser was used to debulk the tumor. The CO2 laser vaporized neoplastic cellular material and simultaneously cauterized microvascular structures. Conclusions The CO2 laser was exceptionally useful in the resection of this long-standing and extremely calcified, yet vascular mass. A review of the evolution of laser technology applications in neurosurgery is presented, with a specific focus on the innovations that led to the development of the new PBF CO2 laser. This new technology may be advantageous in tumor surgery, particularly in the resection of long-standing calcified and vascular tumors that are not amendable to traditional surgical techniques.
Axial Ligand Modulation of the Electronic Structures of Binuclear Copper Sites: Analysis of Paramagnetic 1H NMR Spectra of Met160Gln CuA

CuA is an electron-transfer copper center present in heme-copper oxidases and N2O reductases. The center is a binuclear unit, with two cysteine ligands bridging the metal ions and two terminal histidine residues. A Met residue and a peptide carbonyl group are located on opposite sides of the Cu2S2 plane; these weaker ligands are fully conserved in all known CuA sites. The Met160Gln mutant of the soluble subunit II of Thermus thermophilus ba3 oxidase has been studied by NMR spectroscopy. In its oxidized form, the binuclear copper is a fully delocalized mixed-valence pair, as are all natural CuA centers. The faster nuclear relaxation in this mutant suggests that a low-lying excited state has shifted to higher energies compared to that of the wild-type protein. The introduction of the Gln residue alters the coordination mode of His114 but does not affect His157, thereby confirming the proposal that the axial ligand-to-copper distances influence the copper−His interactions (Robinson, H.; Ang, M. C.; Gao, Y. G...
Dynamic rider/bicycle pose estimation with force/IMU measurements

Pose estimation of human motor skills such as bicycling in natural environments is challenging because of highly-dimensional human motion. In this paper, we present a dynamic rider/bicycle pose estimation scheme that can be used in outdoor environments. The proposed estimation scheme is based on the integration of the rider/bicycle dynamic model with the measurements from the force sensor and inertial measurement units (IMU). We take advantages of the attractive properties of both the force and IMU sensors in the design, that is, the force measurements do not suffer drifting while the IMU measurements generate real-time attitude and acceleration information. The rider/bicycle dynamic model provides an underlying relationship between the force and the IMU measurements. We demonstrate the effectiveness and performance of the pose estimation design through extensive bicycle riding experiments.
Model interaction potentials for selenium from ab initio molecular simulations

We develop model interaction potentials for elemental selenium based on ab initio molecular simulations and cluster expansion theory. Our potentials are used in classical Monte Carlo simulations to characterize the structure of selenium glass.
Aldehydes release zinc from proteins. A pathway from oxidative stress/lipid peroxidation to cellular functions of zinc

Oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, hyperglycemia-induced glycations and environmental exposures increase the cellular concentrations of aldehydes. A novel aspect of the molecular actions of aldehydes, e.g. acetaldehyde and acrolein, is their reaction with the cysteine ligands of zinc sites in proteins and concomitant zinc release. Stoichiometric amounts of acrolein release zinc from zinc-thiolate coordination sites in proteins such as metallothionein and alcohol dehydrogenase. Aldehydes also release zinc intracellularly in cultured human hepatoma (HepG2) cells and interfere with zinc-dependent signaling processes such as gene expression and phosphorylation. Thus both acetaldehyde and acrolein induce the expression of metallothionein and modulate protein tyrosine phosphatase activity in a zinc-dependent way. Since minute changes in the availability of cellular zinc have potent effects, zinc release is a mechanism of amplification that may account for many of the biological effects of aldehydes. The zinc-releasing activity of aldehydes establishes relationships among cellular zinc, the functions of endogenous and xenobiotic aldehydes, and redox stress, with implications for pathobiochemical and toxicologic mechanisms.
Progesterone facilitates lordosis, but not LH release, in estradiol pulse-primed male rats

Abstract Gonadectomized (GDX) male and female rats received repeated cycles of estradiol pulses, which prime animals of both sexes to display progesterone-facilitated lordosis. One, three and six treatment cycles of estradiol pulses followed by progesterone induced progressively higher luteinizing hormone (LH) surges in GDX females. Six treatment cycles of estradiol pulses alone (i.e., without subsequent progesterone treatment) induced a small but significant (∼4 ng/ml) increase in LH levels in GDX females. In contrast, GDX males never produced LH surges in response to estradiol pulses alone or estradiol pulses followed by progesterone, regardless of the number of hormone treatment cycles. Thus, female patterns of steroid-induced sexual receptivity and LH release are not inextricably linked, as steroid treatments sufficient for induction of lordosis do not stimulate LH secretion in adult male rats. These data also suggest that the neural system governing the LH surge might be more firmly sexually differentiated than that responsible for sexual receptivity in rats.
A comparison of the diabetes-related attitudes of health care professionals and patients

The following study compares the diabetes-related attitudes of sampled health care professionals and patients with diabetes. Attitudes were measured with a revised version of the Diabetes Attitude Scale (DAS) which includes seven factors representing attitudes towards: (1) the need for special training in order to provide diabetes care; (2) patient compliance; (3) the seriousness of noninsulin-dependent diabetes (NIDDM); (4) the relationship between blood glucose levels and the complications of diabetes; (5) the impact of diabetes on the patient's life; (6) patient autonomy; and (7) team care. The highest levels of agreement among patients and professionals concerned the seriousness of NIDDM and the relationship between blood glucose control and the development of the complications of diabetes. The most striking finding of the study was that patients tended to express a significantly more judgmental, moralistic attitude toward patient behavior than did health care professionals.
A Diastereoselective Preparation of 7-Ethyl-7-methylbicyclo[3.2.0]HEPT-2-en-6-one(1)

Abstract Alkylation of 7-endo-ethylbicyclo[3.2.0]hept-2-en-6-one (2a) and 7-endo-methylbicyclo[3.2.0]hept-2-en-6-one (2b) with lithium diisopropylamide (LDA) and the appropriate alkyl iodide (methyl and ethyl iodide, respectively) afforded the title compound such that alkylation had occurred exclusively on the exo face of the bicyclo[3.2.0] system.
CHARACTERISTICS OF SEAMOUNTS NEAR HAWAII AS VIEWED BY GLORIA

Abstract Using images and data acquired from the GLORIA sonar system, 390 seamounts within the U.S. Hawaiian Exclusive Economic Zone (HEEZ) off Hawaii have been studied. Their diameters range from 1 to 57 km, with most less than 15km. Seamount abundance increases exponentially with decreasing size. The areal density of observed seamounts having diameters greater than 1 km is 182 10 6 km 2 . The theoretical abundance of seamounts of all sizes normalized to a unit area is (309 ± 17) 10 6 km 2 , about an order of magnitude less than other surveyed areas of the Pacific. This may reflect a lower abundance of Cretaceous seamounts in this region, the covering of small seamounts by sediment, or discrepancies from the use of different data sets to derive the abundance statistics. The seamounts have morphologies ranging from steep-sided, flat-topped structures to cones to more amorphous structures; they are similar to volcanoes found elsewhere on the seafloor. A suite of secondary features associated with the seamounts includes summit craters, summit mounds, coalesced boundaries, landslides, and graben. Several seamount chains are aligned parallel to Cretaceous fracture zones, consistent with an origin close to the ancestral East Pacific Rise. Others are aligned parallel to the Necker Ridge, suggesting that they formed contemporaneously with Necker in the plate interior. This observation, together with high abundances of seamounts where other intraplate igneous processes have occurred, suggests some seamounts formed since leaving the spreading center.
Nucleic Acid Sequence and DNase Hypersensitive Sites of the 5′ Region of the Mouse Progesterone Receptor Gene

Abstract To allow study of the control of the promoter of the mouse progesterone receptor gene and its specific elements, we have isolated nine individual clones and selectively sequenced the 5′ region, which includes 5′ promoter sequence and the non-coding region. Sequence comparison was performed versus the progesterone receptor genes of other species. Moreover, potential estrogen response elements, progesterone response elements, and other transcription factor recognition sites were determined by sequence analysis. In addition, since it has been confined that chromatin structures are important for regulation of gene expression, we also examined them in different estrogen target organs using the DNase hypersensitivity assay. A different pattern of the DNase hypersensitivity sites was detected between uterus and mediobasal hypothalamus and these sites were close to specific recognition elements.
Application of probabilistic imaging techniques to real-time systems

Many imaging problems require the use of computational algorithms based on advanced probabilistic concepts, such as random Markov fields, simulated annealing, maximum likelihood estimates and so on. These algorithms are applied to many tasks including image reconstruction, image restoration, segmentation, enhancement, detection, registration, etc. Yet, the designers of real-time imaging systems have been reluctant to adopt such algorithms for fear that they are too slow for real-time applications. Typically, the numerical algorithms resulting from the probabilistic framework include time consuming iterative schemes without clearly defined stopping rules. Three recent developments have made it possible to apply the advanced probabilistic techniques to realtime systems:
Developmental changes in modulation of calcium currents of rabbit ventricular cells by phosphodiesterase inhibitors.

BACKGROUNDWe have previously shown major differences in beta-adrenergic and muscarinic modulation of L-type calcium currents (ICa) in newborn and adult rabbit heart. However, little is known about developmental changes in modulation of ICa by phosphodiesterases (PDEs), which also regulate intracellular cAMP concentration by its hydrolysis.METHODS AND RESULTSEnzymatically isolated adult and newborn (1- to 3-day-old) rabbit ventricular myocytes were used to study the effects of PDE inhibitors on ICa measured by the whole-cell patch-clamp method. 3-Isobutyl-1-methyl-xanthine (IBMX), a nonselective PDE inhibitor, increased ICa in a dose-dependent manner for both groups. The maximal effect of IBMX, expressed as percentage increase in ICa over control levels, was greater for newborn myocytes than for adult myocytes, but the effects of IBMX applied alone were observed only at concentrations > 10 mumol/L. The concomitant use of 0.1 mumol/L isoproterenol produced a significant potentiation of the IBMX effect on IC...
Simulated Driving Assessment (SDA) for teen drivers: results from a validation study

Background Driver error and inadequate skill are common critical reasons for novice teen driver crashes, yet few validated, standardised assessments of teen driving skills exist. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the construct and criterion validity of a newly developed Simulated Driving Assessment (SDA) for novice teen drivers. Methods The SDA’s 35 min simulated drive incorporates 22 variations of the most common teen driver crash configurations. Driving performance was compared for 21 inexperienced teens (age 16–17 years, provisional license ≤90 days) and 17 experienced adults (age 25–50 years, license ≥5 years, drove ≥100 miles per week, no collisions or moving violations ≤3 years). SDA driving performance (Error Score) was based on driving safety measures derived from simulator and eye-tracking data. Negative driving outcomes included simulated collisions or run-off-the-road incidents. A professional driving evaluator/instructor (DEI Score) reviewed videos of SDA performance. Results The SDA demonstrated construct validity: (1) teens had a higher Error Score than adults (30 vs 13, p=0.02); (2) For each additional error committed, the RR of a participant9s propensity for a simulated negative driving outcome increased by 8% (95% CI 1.05 to 1.10, p Conclusions This study supports the concept of validated simulated driving tests like the SDA to assess novice driver skill in complex and hazardous driving scenarios. The SDA, as a standard protocol to evaluate teen driver performance, has the potential to facilitate screening and assessment of teen driving readiness and could be used to guide targeted skill training.
Paraquat toxicity and effect of hydrogen peroxide on thermophilic bacteria.

Abstract Paraquat (PQ++) increased cyanide-resistant univalent respiration in cell suspensions of five strains of obligately thermophilic bacteria. PQ++ was reduced by an NADH: or NADPH: paraquat diaphorase and selectivity for NADH, NADPH, or both electron donors varied among the thermophiles. Superoxide anion production that was dependent on the presence of PQ++ was shown by following the superoxide dismutase-inhibitable reduction of cytochrome c. In addition, the PQ++-dependent formation of hydrogen peroxide from superoxide anion was evident in two of the thermophilic strains. Catalase synthesis was induced by adding hydrogen peroxide to the growth medium of the thermophiles. The induction of catalase to eliminate hydrogen peroxide appears to be an important response of these thermophilic bacteria to oxygen toxicity.
The translocation and involvement of protein kinase C in mossy fiber-CA3 long-term potentiation in hippocampus of the rat brain.

Abstract The detailed mechanisms underlying long-term potentiation (LTP) are not known. In hippocampal CA1, translocation of protein kinase C (PKC) activity from cytosol to membrane and subsequent phosphorylation of growth associated protein (GAP)-43 have been demonstrated to be critical events for the maintenance phase of LTP. LTP in mossy fiber (MF)-CA3 pathway and the Schaffer collateral/commissural (SC)-CA1 pathway differ in a number of ways: SC-CA1 LTP depends on NMDA receptors while MF-CA3 LTP does not, and SC-CA1 LTP is primarily postsynaptic while MF-CA3 LTP is primarily presynaptic. The role of PKC in MF-CA3 LTP has not been studied. We investigated the role of PKC in CA3 and show that PKC inhibitors prevent LTP, but that PKC activators produce a reversible synaptic potentiation, indicating that PKC activation is an essential but not sufficient component of LTP in CA3. Then using antibodies against specific PKC isozymes we have determined the membrane vs. cytosolic distribution of various PKC isozymes in slices subjected to low or tetanic stimulation, or perfused with phorbol esters (PDAc). Compared with control, LTP and PDAc slices show greater PKC-α and -e immunoreactivity in the membrane fraction, indicating that both LTP and phorbol ester treatment induce translocation of PKC-α and -e from cytosol to membrane. However, with PKC-β and PKC-γ the only detectable translocation from cytosol to membrane was in the phorbol ester-treated slices. Thus, while phorbol ester treatment causes translocation of PKC-α, -β, -γ and -e, the only detectable translocation associated with CA3 LTP is that of PKC-α and -e.
Managerial and Organizational Cognition: Theory, Methods and Research

The book ‘Managerial and Organizational Cognition: Theory, Methods and Research,’ edited by Colin Eden and J. C. Spender, examines the nature of organizational knowledge, focusing specifically on the ‘level-of-analysis’ problem—that is, what we mean by the concepts of organizational cognition and organizational learning, given that only individuals have brains and think. The book draws on an eclectic set of ideas to examine the role of individual agency in managing the interaction between business organizations and their environments. The edited volume also addresses questions of both levels of analysis and individual agency by suggesting how organizational change can be engineered through the management of cognitive change among individual managers.
Psychology of Religion in Search of a Theory

Carole Rayburn's (2006) review of Handbook for the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality (Paloutzian & Park, 2005) invites a useful discussion. Mentioned in the review but not in the book, I am i...
Mechanical effects of sodium fluoride on bovine cortical bone.

Abstract Seventeen 5 to 6-month-old Holstein heifer calves were divided into three groups and fed either a control ration alone or a control ration with sufficient sodium fluoride added to furnish an additional 30 or 50 p.p.m. fluoride based on total dry matter intake. After 6 years of the feedings, mean (SEM) fluoride concentrations in the metacarpals were found to be 594.6 (66.2), 2663.8 (319.2), and 4500.0 (417.8) p.p.m. Bone mineral density and mechanical evaluations were also conducted on the harvested metacarpals after the 6-year period. Using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, mean (SEM) bone mineral densities of 3.030 (0.26), 2.801 (0.34), and 2.456 (0.19) g cm−2 for the control group, the group receiving 30 p.p.m. fluoride, and the group receiving 50 p.p.m. respectively were found. For the mechanical testing, specimens were cut and tested in compression parallel to the long axis of the metacarpals. Mean (SEM) ultimate stress of 204.53 (3.63), 208.83 (5.25), and 205.93 (5.12) MPa and mean (SEM) Young's elastic moduli of 20.82 (1.52), 22.68 (2.38), and 21.55 (1.60) GPa for the control, the 30 p.p.m., and the 50 p.p.m. fluoride groups respectively were determined. No significant differences were found between control and treatment groups for either mechanical properties or bone mineral density.
Mutant alleles for hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase: Codominant expression, complementation, and segregation in hybrid Chinese hamster cells

Chinese hamster ovary cell mutants resistant to the purine analogs 6-thioguanine or 8-azaguanine have been isolated following mutagenesis with ethyl methane sulfonate. The activities of hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl-transferase (HPRT) in three such mutants have been found to exhibit an increased K m for the substrate 5-phosphoribosyl-1-pyrophosphate. The isoelectric point of the mutant enzyme activity has also changed in two mutants. Hybrid cells containing one mutant and one wild-type allele express both genes. Segregants that have lost only the wild-type allele can be selected on the basis of drug resistance. Two mutants exhibiting different alterations in HPRT activity can complement in a hybrid cell to yield a wild-type growth pattern and enzyme activity with intermediate electrophoretic and kinetic properties. The results suggest intracistronic complementation between structural gene mutants of HPRT.
Scheduling distributable real-time threads in the presence of crash failures and message losses

We consider the problem of scheduling distributable realtime threads under run-time uncertainties including those on thread execution times, thread arrivals, node failures, and message losses. We present a distributed scheduling algorithm called ACUA that is designed under a partially synchronous model, allowing for probabilistically-described message delays. We show that ACUA satisfies thread time constraints in the presence of crash failures and message losses, is early-deciding, and has an efficient message and time complexity. The algorithm has also better "best-effort" real-time property than past thread scheduling algorithms.
The Stability of Self-Control: A Group-Based Approach

In A General Theory of Crime (1990), Gottfredson and Hirschi argue that self-control, fully developed in the early stage of life (around age 8 to 10), is a primary explanatory factor of deviance. Research consistently supports the relationship between self-control and deviance, while only limited studies have examined whether self-control is stable after age 10. Using a longitudinal national sample of South Korean youths from age 10 to 14, this study provides a rigorous test of three assumptions of the self-control stability thesis: first, if the development of self-control follows a homogenous process among individuals; second, if within-individual level of self-control stay unchanged over time (absolute stability); and third, if the age and self-control relationships parallel across individuals (relative stability). Both attitudinal and behavioral measures of self-control were used to investigate whether different measures yielded different results in the stability thesis. The results indicated that among individuals multiple developmental paths of self-control existed instead of a homogeneous path. The findings also showed different measures yielded divergent results in the stability thesis. While the analysis of the attitudinal measure revealed strong absolute stability for 50% of the sample, and strong relative stability for 99.7%, the analysis of the behavioral measure showed strong absolute and relative stabilities for 88.6% of the sample.
$B-L$ Violation in Supersymmetric SU(5)

Abstract We examine the consequences of the B − L violating terms that occur in the most general superpotential of globally supersymmetric SU(5) grand unified models. We find that some of the coefficients in the B − L violating sector of the theory must be very small in order to satisfy the experimental bounds on neutrino masses and proton decay. Various symmetries which forbid or suppress the B − L violating terms are discussed.
Transit-time design for diffusion through composite liners

Transit-time design methods are presented in this paper for determining the design thickness for composite liners consisting of a geomembrane and a compacted soil liner or geosynthetic clay liner. The design methods are based on a closed-form analytical solution for transient solute diffusion of volatile organic compounds in a composite liner and results from a numerical model. An analytical solution for diffusion in a two-layer soil profile, which is useful for transit-time design of composite liners, is also presented. The analytical solutions are used to develop graphical solution charts that can be used to design composite liners for which the effluent concentration and contaminant flux are less than a specified value. Design examples are included for a composite liner having a compacted soil liner and a composite liner having a geosynthetic clay liner. The method is relatively simple to apply and can be used for preliminary design of composite liners, evaluating experimental results, and verifying more complex numerical models.
Academic Advising and Philosophy.

The field of philosophy has much to contribute to academic advising, both because of the kinds of training philosophers typically receive and because of the sorts of projects on which they work. Because of these factors, philosophers have the potential to make excellent academic advisors, and they can broaden and enrich the theoretical investigations into the nature of academic advising. Philosophers can and should embrace the field of academic advising, both as a practice that is critical to a successful academe and as a potential research area. The reverse is also true: Any advisor would benefit from the study of philosophy.
Automated discovery of composite SAT variable-selection heuristics

Variants of GSAT and Walksat are among the most successful SAT local search algorithms. We show that several well-known SAT local search algorithms are the result of novel combininations of a set of variable selection primitives. We describe CLASS, an automated heuristic discovery system which generates new, effective variable selection heuristic functions using a simple composition operator. New heuristics discovered by CLASS are shown to be competitive with the best Walksat variants, including Novelty+ and R-Novelty+. We also analyze the local search behavior of the learned heuristics using the depth, mobility, and coverage metrics recently proposed by Schuurmans and Southey.
Determination of Bisphenol A in Receipts and Carbon Paper by HPLC-UV

A simple and efficient method for determination of Bisphenol A (BPA), an endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC), is developed without the requirement of derivatization. Due to the prevalence of exposure of BPA-containing products to the general public, high-quality testing and monitoring methods are essential. BPA was separated and quantified under reverse-phase conditions using a high-performance liquid chromatography/ultraviolet absorption (HPLC-UV) detection method. A silica hydride-based C8 column along with an effective gradient protocol yielded well-resolved peaks that allowed for the direct analyses of BPA in receipt paper and carbon copies of lab notebooks. Excellent linear correlation was observed (R2 = 0.9936) in the calibration curve obtained from the HPLC-UV analyses.