cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chapter 20 – Nucleopeptides

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the methods involved in nucleopeptides synthesis. Synthetic studies in 1971 ranged from an interesting approach to pyrimidinyl-and purinyl-peptides by the Pandit group to analogs of the new polyoxin nucleopeptide antibiotics. One of the natural products, polyoxin M, has been found to be a powerful inhibitor of yeast chitin synthetase, but several analogs prepared without the 5′-carboxyl and/or the 4′′-hydroxyl were inactive in terms of antibiotic activity. Recent contributions to this area were directed at analogs of N-[Δ-(6-purinylthio)-Val]-Gly-Gly-Gly-OEt, which had been observed to have some antineoplastic activity, and at preparation of 2′-or 3′-0-aminoacyl nucleoside and nucleotide derivatives for use in exploring the mechanism of the transpeptidation reaction in ribosomes. In the first instance, extending the tripeptide chain by one unit did not improve the antineoplastic activity. In the latter program, coupling reactions employing 5-chloroquino-lin-8-yl active esters OQ were found particularly useful.
Exam and Imaging of the Throwing Elbow

The throwing motion involves the entirety of the kinetic chain from the lower extremities to the fingertips. This activity subjects the elbow joint in particular to tremendous forces which risk overwhelming the static and dynamic stabilizers which protect the joint. Failure of these structures results in a predictable pattern of injuries common to overhead throwers, which can serve as a framework for the clinician caring for overhead throwing athletes. An understanding of the anatomy and biomechanics of the elbow coupled with a thorough history, comprehensive physical examination of the entirety of the kinetic chain, and judicious imaging studies allows the clinician to accurately diagnose and optimally manage elbow injury in the overhead throwing athlete.
Sources of regional and center-level variability in survival and cost of care for congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH).

PURPOSE Enormous variability in management and cost occurs in CDH care. The purpose of this study was to identify regional mortality and cost patterns underlying this variability. METHODS This is a retrospective study of neonatal CDH patients at U.S. hospitals using data from the Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS) database (2015-2018). Patients were risk-stratified using CDH Study Group predicted survival (CDHSG-PS), and mortality and costs were assessed by region (East, West, Mid-West, and South) and center. RESULTS Higher mortality and extracorporeal life support (ECLS) rates were found in the Mid-West and South (p<0.0001). Higher mortality was seen with ECLS among low-volume centers in the South (p=0.007). When broken down by CHDSG-PS, higher severity patients had higher mortality in the Mid-West and South (p=0.038). Cost was significantly lower for high severity nonsurvivors than survivors ($244,005 vs $565,487, p=0.0008). The East spent more on high-severity patients with lower mortality compared to other regions, but also spent 3.5 times more on low severity nonsurvivors than survivors. Costs were higher at high-volume centers for low- and medium-severity patients, but all centers spent the same on high-severity patients. CONCLUSION Center volume, region, and patient severity all contribute to the complex survival and cost disparities that exist in CDH care. Standardization of care may improve survival and reduce cost variability. TYPE OF STUDY Retrospective database study. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level II.
FXTAS presents with upregulation of the cytokines IL12 and TNFα

Abstract Introduction Fragile X Tremor and Ataxia Syndrome is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that develops in some FMR1 premutation carriers. The objective of this study is to characterize how cytokine levels are altered in the FXTAS brain. Methods Fresh frozen cerebellar tissue from FXTAS cases and controls was homogenized and analyzed for 12 different cytokines using a commercially available ELISA panel. Results Relative to controls, FXTAS cases showed large and significant increases in the cytokines IL-12 and TNFα. There were large but non-significant increases in the levels of IL-2, IL-8, and IL-10 in FXTAS cases. The cytokines IL-1A, IL-1B, IL-4 IL-6, IL-17A, IFNγ, and GM-CSF were not different between FXTAS and control subjects. Conclusions For the first time, we demonstrate an increase in the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNFα and IL-12 in the FXTAS brain, both of which are implicated in the pathogenesis of Multiple Sclerosis, another neurodegenerative disorder that predominantly consists of white matter disease.
Runoff Reduction by Four Green Stormwater Infrastructure Systems in a Shared Environment

AbstractGreen stormwater infrastructure (GI) imitates the hydrology of undeveloped land to mediate the impacts of stormwater runoff, but research is lacking that characterizes the performances of d...
Multi-Objective Digital PID Controller Design in Parameter Space and its Application to Automated Path Following

This paper presents a multi-objective digital PID controller design method using the parameter space approach of robust control. Absolute stability is treated first by finding the digital PID controller gain parameter space corresponding to closed loop poles being inside the unit circle. Additionally, phase margin, gain margin and a mixed sensitivity bound are treated as frequency domain constraints. Determination of digital PID controller parameter space regions satisfying these constraints is presented. All of these regions are superimposed to obtain a multi-objective digital PID controller gain parameter space solution region. The path following controller design of an automated driving vehicle is used as an example to illustrate the method. This multi-objective parameter space design approach can be extended to other digital controller forms also.
Teaching social work students the influence of explicit and implicit bias: promoting ethical reflection in practice

The profession of social work is deeply rooted in teaching Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) students the impact of social injustice and the skills required to advocate for equity and equality. The Cou...
Exploring the Acoustic Perceptual Relationship of Speech in Parkinson's Disease

Purpose Auditory perceptual judgments are commonly used to diagnose dysarthria and assess treatment progress. The purpose of the study was to examine the acoustic underpinnings of perceptual speech abnormalities in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD). Method Auditory perceptual judgments were obtained from sentences produced by 13 speakers with PD and five healthy older adults. Twenty young listeners rated overall ease of understanding, articulatory precision, voice quality, and prosodic adequacy on a visual analog scale. Acoustic measures associated with the speech subsystems of articulation, phonation, and prosody were obtained, including second formant transitions, articulation rate, cepstral and spectral measures of voice, and pitch variations. Regression analyses were performed to assess the relationships between perceptual judgments and acoustic variables. Results Perceptual impressions of Parkinsonian speech were related to combinations of several acoustic variables. Approximately 36%-49% of the variance in the perceptual ratings were explained by the acoustic measures indicating a modest acoustic perceptual relationship. Conclusions The relationships between perceptual ratings and acoustic signals in Parkinsonian speech are multifactorial and involve a variety of acoustic features simultaneously. The modest acoustic perceptual relationships, however, suggest that future work is needed to further examine the acoustic bases of perceptual judgments in dysarthria.
Rituximab-induced acute lympholysis and pancytopenia after COVID-19 vaccination

Rituximab and COVID-19 vaccine can cause massive hyperacute depletion of B cells and plasma cells, as well as subsequent cytokine release syndrome, coagulopathy, and pancytopenia. These effects differ from the adverse effects that have been reported for rituximab, and new guidelines regarding the timing of rituximab infusion and vaccination are urgently needed.
The Use of Insecticides to Manage the Western Corn Rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera, LeConte: History, Field-Evolved Resistance, and Associated Mechanisms

The western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte (Dvv) is a significant insect pest of maize in the United States (U.S.). This paper reviews the history of insecticide use in Dvv management programs, Dvv adaptation to insecticides, i.e., field-evolved resistance and associated mechanisms of resistance, plus the current role of insecticides in the transgenic era. In the western U.S. Corn Belt where continuous maize is commonly grown in large irrigated monocultures, broadcast-applied soil or foliar insecticides have been extensively used over time to manage annual densities of Dvv and other secondary insect pests. This has contributed to the sequential occurrence of Dvv resistance evolution to cyclodiene, organophosphate, carbamate, and pyrethroid insecticides since the 1950s. Mechanisms of resistance are complex, but both oxidative and hydrolytic metabolism contribute to organophosphate, carbamate, and pyrethroid resistance facilitating cross-resistance between insecticide classes. History shows that Dvv insecticide resistance can evolve quickly and may persist in field populations even in the absence of selection. This suggests minimal fitness costs associated with Dvv resistance. In the transgenic era, insecticides function primarily as complementary tools with other Dvv management tactics to manage annual Dvv densities/crop injury and resistance over time.
Glycosphingolipid β-Galactosidases II. ELECTROFOCUSING CHARACTERIZATION OF THE ENZYMES IN HUMAN GLOBOID CELL LEUKODYSTROPHY (KRABBE'S DISEASE)

Abstract Specific glycosphingolipid β-galactosidases were assayed in liver tissues from two controls and two patients with globoid cell leukodystrophy. Specifically labeled natural substrates, galactosylceramide, lactosylceramide, Gm1-ganglioside, and asialo Gm1-ganglioside, were used for the assays. Among the natural substrates tested, only galactosylceramide β-galactosidase was profoundly deficient in globoid cell leukodystrophy while other sphingolipid β-galactosidases were normal. When fractionated by electrofocusing, the distribution of lactosylceramide and asialo Gm1-ganglioside β-galactosidases was relatively normal, but the distribution of the reference enzyme, 4-methylumbelliferyl β-galactosidase, was abnormal in that, instead of the normal three peaks of activity, there was a major peak with the isoelectric point in the range of pH 4.6 to 4.8. The residual activities of galactosylceramide β-galactosidase were observed as a broad peak after electrofocusing around the isoelectric point of 4.6 in one case and of 4.8 in another. These isoelectric points corresponded to those of the abnormal 4-methylumbelliferyl β-galactosidase peaks in the respective cases. These findings suggest that the genetic mutation in human globoid cell leukodystrophy may cause more complex and extensive abnormalities among β-galactosidases than simple deficiency of one specific glycosphingolipid β-galactosidase.
Groundwater Flow and Thermal Modeling to Support a Preferred Conceptual Model for the Large Hydraulic Gradient North of Yucca Mountain

The purpose of this study is to report on the results of a preliminary modeling framework to investigate the causes of the large hydraulic gradient north of Yucca Mountain. This study builds on the Saturated Zone Site-Scale Flow and Transport Model (referenced herein as the Site-scale model (Zyvoloski, 2004a), which is a three-dimensional saturated zone model of the Yucca Mountain area. Groundwater flow was simulated under natural conditions. The model framework and grid design describe the geologic layering and the calibration parameters describe the hydrogeology. The Site-scale model is calibrated to hydraulic heads, fluid temperature, and groundwater flowpaths. One area of interest in the Site-scale model represents the large hydraulic gradient north of Yucca Mountain. Nearby water levels suggest over 200 meters of hydraulic head difference in less than 1,000 meters horizontal distance. Given the geologic conceptual models defined by various hydrogeologic reports (Faunt, 2000, 2001; Zyvoloski, 2004b), no definitive explanation has been found for the cause of the large hydraulic gradient. Luckey et al. (1996) presents several possible explanations for the large hydraulic gradient as provided below: The gradient is simply the result of flow through the upper volcanic confining unit, which is nearly 300 meters thick near themore » large gradient. The gradient represents a semi-perched system in which flow in the upper and lower aquifers is predominantly horizontal, whereas flow in the upper confining unit would be predominantly vertical. The gradient represents a drain down a buried fault from the volcanic aquifers to the lower Carbonate Aquifer. The gradient represents a spillway in which a fault marks the effective northern limit of the lower volcanic aquifer. The large gradient results from the presence at depth of the Eleana Formation, a part of the Paleozoic upper confining unit, which overlies the lower Carbonate Aquifer in much of the Death Valley region. The Eleana Formation is absent at borehole UE-25 p#1 at Yucca Mountain, which penetrated the lower Carbonate Aquifer directly beneath the lower volcanic confining unit. The Site-scale model uses an area of very low permeability, referenced as the east-west barrier, to simulate the large hydraulic gradient. The Site-scale model is further refined in this study to provide a base-case model for exploring the geologic causes of the large hydraulic gradient.« less
Power-controlled media streaming in the interference-limited wireless networks

We investigate a power-controlled transmission scheme for streaming media traffic in an interference-limited wireless environment, where many data-packet links (transmissions) coexist with the streamed media link. The transmissions from individual links in the system interfere with each other. The media server (source) transmits encoded media packets to the client (user) over the media link. The client stores the received packets into a fixed-size buffer and plays them out at a constant rate. Due to random and response-induced interference, the source needs to adapt its transmission power and rate to guarantee a certain level of received media quality (QoS) and to minimize the average power (energy consumption), thus to reduce the interference perceived by other links in the system. The QoS is primarily measured by the distortion due to packets missing their playtime deadlines at the receiver. We develop a modelling framework to identify the characteristics of the optimal power/rate control policy. Based on these characteristics, we propose two practical heuristic algorithms designed to operate in realistic interference-limited environments. Through simulation, the proposed algorithms show significant performance improvements when compared to standard benchmarks.
Mindfulness and eating behavior in adolescent girls at risk for type 2 diabetes.

Objective The purpose of this investigation was to examine the relationship of dispositional mindfulness to binge eating and associated eating attitudes and behaviors among adolescent girls at risk for type 2 diabetes (T2D). Methods Participants were 114 overweight or obese adolescents enrolled in a study of girls with a family history of T2D and mild depressive symptoms. Adolescent self-reports of mindfulness, eating in the absence of hunger, and depressive symptoms were collected. An interview was administered to determine presence of binge eating episodes and a behavioral task was used to assess the reinforcing value of food relative to other nonsnack food rewards. Body composition was assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Results In analyses accounting for race, percent body fat, lean mass, height, age, and depressive symptoms, dispositional mindfulness was associated with a lower odds of binge eating (p = .002). Controlling for the same potential confounds, mindfulness was also inversely associated with eating concern, eating in the absence of hunger in response to fatigue/boredom, and higher food reinforcement relative to physical activity (all p < .05). Discussion In girls with a family history of T2D, independent of body composition and depressive symptoms, intraindividual differences in mindfulness are related to binge eating and associated attitudes and behaviors that may confer risk for obesity and metabolic problems. Further research is needed to determine the extent to which mindfulness plays a role in the etiology and/or maintenance of disinhibited eating in adolescents at risk for T2D. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2015; 48:563–569)
Industrial espionage and targeted attacks: understanding the characteristics of an escalating threat

Recent high-profile attacks against governments and large industry demonstrate that malware can be used for effective industrial espionage. Most previous incident reports have focused on describing the anatomy of specific incidents and data breaches. In this paper, we provide an in-depth analysis of a large corpus of targeted attacks identified by Symantec during the year 2011. Using advanced triage data analytics, we are able to attribute series of targeted attacks to attack campaigns quite likely performed by the same individuals. By analyzing the characteristics and dynamics of those campaigns, we provide new insights into the modus operandi of attackers involved in those campaigns. Finally, we evaluate the prevalence and sophistication level of those targeted attacks by analyzing the malicious attachments used as droppers. While a majority of the observed attacks rely mostly on social engineering, have a low level of malware sophistication and use little obfuscation, our malware analysis also shows that at least eight attack campaigns started about two weeks before the disclosure date of the exploited vulnerabilities, and therefore were probably using zero-day attacks at that time.
The Potential Impact of Performance Incentive Programs on Racial Disparities in Health Care

Performance incentive programs – also known as pay-for-performance, public reporting, and value-based purchasing programs – continue to receive national attention. Although these programs have become even more diverse, their basic features have not changed and the potential mechanisms by which these programs may impact racial and ethnic disparities in health care in a neutral, narrowing, or widening manner remain the same. We repeated the systematic search of the literature for the 4 intervening years since the last edition of this book. We found that although hundreds of articles continue to be written on this subject each year, there were no additions to the empirical evidence regarding the impact of performance incentive program on disparities. While the 2009 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will significantly alter the American healthcare landscape, recommendations regarding particular aspects of program design should be approached with disparity-reducing goals in mind that also remain unchanged and may be somewhat more achievable. Given the changing landscape, it is even more important that incentive programs are evaluated for their intended effect, as well as for their unintended effect on racial/ethnic disparities in health care.
Earthquake rupture process recreated from a natural fault surface

What exactly happens on the rupture surface as an earthquake nucleates, spreads, and stops? We cannot observe this directly, and models depend on assumptions about physical conditions and geometry at depth. We thus measure a natural fault surface and use its 3-D coordinates to construct a replica at 0.1m resolution to obviate geometry uncertainty. We can recreate stick-slip behavior on the resulting finite element model that depends solely on observed fault geometry. We clamp the fault together and apply steady state tectonic stress until seismic slip initiates and terminates. Our recreated M~1 earthquake initiates at contact points where there are steep surface gradients because infinitesimal lateral displacements reduce clamping stress most efficiently there. Unclamping enables accelerating slip to spread across the surface, but the fault soon jams up because its uneven, anisotropic shape begins to juxtapose new high-relief sticking points. These contacts would ultimately need to be sheared off or strongly deformed before another similar earthquake could occur. Our model shows that an important role is played by fault-wall geometry, although we do not include effects of varying fluid pressure or exotic rheologies on the fault surfaces. We extrapolate our results to large fault systems using observed self-similarity properties and suggest that larger ruptures might begin and end in a similar way, although the scale of geometrical variation in fault shape that can arrest a rupture necessarily scales with magnitude. In other words, fault segmentation may be a magnitude-dependent phenomenon and could vary with each subsequent rupture.
The Churchill Research Range and Canada’s Space Research Program

The Churchill Research Range, located on the shores of Hudson Bay in the geographic centre of Canada, is unique in many respects. It is located in the middle of the zone of maximum occurrence of the aurora borealis and is ideally suited for scientific investigations of this and related geophysical phenomena. Sounding rockets have been launched from the Churchill Research Range for over a decade and currently nearly 80 major scientific rockets and nearly 200 meteorological rockets are launched annually on behalf of Canadian, American, and other scientists.
Victims’ Perceptions of Police Response to Intimate Partner Violence

Police officers have historically been criticized for ignoring the seriousness of intimate partner violence (IPV) and for dismissing victims’ needs. Many jurisdictions in the United States have implemented policies encouraging or mandating the arrest of IPV offenders in an attempt to address these shortcomings. However, a more aggressive police response has not necessarily changed victims’ perceptions of officers or improved victim–officer interactions. In this article, using both qualitative interview data and data from existing literature, I examine the victims’ understandings of IPV, particularly in the context of mandatory and preferred arrest policies, and consider how these understandings likely shape victims’ interactions with police officers. I also discuss implications for the future policing of IPV.
Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study of rhabdosphincter component of the prostatic capsule.

AbstractPurpose: There has been no complete agreement on functional anatomy of muscular components of the urethral sphincteric mechanism, particularly in the male patient. The prostatic capsule was studied to define its histological structure and to determine whether its rhabdosphincter component (prostatocapsular rhabdosphincter) consists only of slow twitch or slow and fast twitch striated myofibers.Materials and Methods: We studied 11 whole prostates, including 1 obtained at autopsy and 10 by radical prostatectomy. Samples of prostatic capsule from 4 operative specimens were studied by electron microscopy. Whole mount paraffin sections from transverse slices of the remaining 7 prostates were double labeled with avidin biotin conjugate immunostaining using the primary monoclonal antibodies anti-alpha smooth muscle actin plus anti-alpha sarcomeric actin (all striated myofibers) or antiskeletal myosin fast (fast myofibers only). Tissue components of the prostatic capsule, including smooth muscle and slow ...
Characterizing the weak organic acids used in low solids fluxes

The elimination of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other chlorinated cleaning solvents due to their long-term environmental impact has lead electronic assemblers to examine soldering fluxes that reduce or eliminate the need for post-solder cleaning. Today, low solids fluxes are replacing more traditional rosin-based and water-soluble fluxes because many of them can be used in a no-clean process. Most low solids fluxes use weak organic acids as active ingredient. It has been reported that some of these weak organic acids leave behind residues that are corrosive to copper. Surface Insulation Resistance (SIR) measurements of flux-processed comb patterns have been the main test method used to determine the corrosivity of flux residues. This test has been performed with test samples exposed to accelerated temperature and humidity conditions of 85°C and 85%RH and a 50 V bias. Recent data on some weak organic acids suggests that they slowly disappear at this temperature and a lower test temperature of 65°C has been introduced into the new Bellco Standard. In Europe, this test is normally performed at 40°C and 93% RH. This paper reports on the application of SIR tests to study the corrosive behavior of three carboxylic acids (succinic, glutaric, and adipic acids) that are commonly used as the active ingredients in soldering fluxes. Coupons treated with equi-molar solutions of the acids were either exposed to reflow-soldering conditions or wave soldered face-up to create partially heated residues. Both tests were run under two different accelerating conditions, 85°C/85%RH for 7 days or 40°C/93%RH for 20 days. This latter condition is being considered for inclusion in an IPC standard. At the end of the test period, both corrosion and SIR test samples were examined under a microscope and any residues or dendritic growth were documented. SEM and EDX characterization was also performed to determine the residue and dendrite composition.
An expression system for trypsin

The eukaryotic serine protease, rat anionic trypsin, and various mutants created by site-directed mutagenesis have been heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli. The bacterial alkaline phosphatase (phoA) promoter was used to control the expression of the enzymes in an induced or constitutive fashion. The DNA coding for the eukaryotic signal peptide of pretrypsinogen was replaced with DNA coding for the phoA signal peptide. The phoA signal peptide successfully directs the secretion of the mammalian trypsinogen to the periplasmic space of E. coli. Active trypsin was expressed in the periplasm of E. coli by deleting the DNA coding for the activation hexapeptide of the zymogen. The activity of trypsin in the periplasm suggests that the enzyme is correctly activated and has folded such that the 12 cysteine residues involved in the six disulfide bonds of rat anionic trypsin have paired correctly. A transcription terminator increased the level of expression by a factor of two. However, increasing the copy number of the plasmid decreased the levels of expression. Localization of the active enzyme in the periplasm allows rapid screening of modified trypsin activities and facilitates the purification of protein to homogeneity and subsequently to crystallinity.
GnRH-Regulated Expression of Jun and JUN Target Genes in Gonadotropes Requires a Functional Interaction between TCF/LEF Family Members and β-Catenin

GnRH regulates gonadotrope function through a complex transcriptional network that includes three members of the immediate early gene family: Egr1, Jun, and Atf3. These DNA-binding proteins act alone or in pairs to confer hormonal responsiveness to Cga, Lhb, Fshb, and Gnrhr. Herein we suggest that the transcriptional response of Jun requires a functional interaction between the T-cell factor (TCF)/lymphoid enhancer factor (LEF) family of DNA-binding proteins and β-catenin (officially CTNNB1), a coactivator of TCF/LEF. Supporting data include demonstration that GnRH increases activity of TOPflash, a TCF/LEF-dependent luciferase reporter, in LβT2 cells, a gonadotrope-derived cell line. Additional cotransfection experiments indicate that a dominant-negative form of TCF7L2 (TCFDN) that binds DNA, but not β-catenin, blocks GnRH induction of TOPflash. Overexpression of AXIN, an inhibitor of β-catenin, also reduces GnRH stimulation of TOPflash. Transduction of LβT2 cells with TCFDN adenoviruses diminishes GnRH stimulation of Jun mRNA without altering expression of Egr1 and Atf3, two other immediate early genes that confer GnRH responsiveness. Reduction of β-catenin in LβT2 cells, through stable expression of short hairpin RNA, also selectively compromises GnRH regulation of Jun expression and levels of JUN protein. Finally, overexpression of TCFDN attenuates GnRH regulation of Cga promoter activity, a known downstream target of JUN. Together, these results indicate that GnRH regulation of Jun transcription requires a functional interaction between TCF/LEF and β-catenin and that alteration of either impacts expression of JUN downstream targets such as Cga.
Multifaceted behavioral intervention for nocturnal enuresis

Abstract A ten-year-old girl, who had a lifetime history of nocturnal enuresis, was treated successfully by a multifaceted behavioral intervention. Treatment included a combination of conditioning, a modification of overlearning and token reinforcement. Previous conditioning alone, psychiatric treatment and medication had been ineffective.
Unit activity during focal cortical hypothermia in the normal cortex.

Abstract Changes in neuronal firing were measured by intracellular and extracellular microelectrode recording during focal cooling of cat sensory motor cortex using a Peltier cooling device. Analysis was confined to neurons followed through cooling and rewarming back to normothermic levels. Rapidly cooling the cortex to temperature levels (19–21 C) were no unit activity could be recorded was associated with a steady decrease in firing frequency until silence, and a steady widening and lowering of amplitude of the action potential. Rapidly cooling the cortex to, and maintaining it at moderate temperature levels (27–29 C) was associated after 8–10 min with a brief period of high frequency repetitive firing (seizure) followed by silence until rewarming began. Burst activity was sometimes seen during rewarming. These findings were interpreted as suggesting that cooling to moderate temperature levels impeded the pump mechanisms exchanging Na and K across the neuron membrane. Further cooling to lower temperatures blocked the passive exchange of Na and K across membrane pores. These differential effects of cooling explain some of the variability in reports in the literature on the association between hypothermia and seizures.
Propagation, interaction and linkage in normal fault systems

Abstract Recent advances are reviewed in the understanding of the geometry and development of steep, planar normal faults with up to hundreds of meters throw in multilayered sedimentary rocks. This essential class of structures is of particular importance in basin formation and hydrocarbon development. The role of interaction and linkage between fault segments is emphasized. Such normal faults usually consist of complex zones of overstepping and linked segments, within which relay ramps are significant structures. Displacement is transferred between normal faults that overstep in map view and that dip in the same direction by tilting of beds to form a relay ramp and by the development of minor faults. Oversteps and bends also occur along normal faults in cross-section, these commonly being controlled by lithological variations. Damage zones are zones of fractures developed around faults as they initiate, propagate, link and build up displacement. Various models have been developed to account for the accumulation of slip and the finite displacement on faults. Recent models emphasize the importance of fault interaction and other mechanical effects in causing variations in the displacement characteristics of faults. A population of normal faults typically displays a linear length–displacement ratio and obeys a power–law-scaling relationship for displacement. It is likely, however, that complex networks of faults and reverse-reactivated normal faults do not obey simple scaling relationships, with the pattern and history of deformation changing with scale.
Dynamical supersymmetry in maximally supersymmetric gauge theories

Abstract Maximally supersymmetric theories can be described by a single scalar superfield in light-cone superspace. When they are also (super)conformally invariant, they are uniquely specified by the form of the dynamical supersymmetry. We present an explicit derivation of the light-cone superspace form of the dynamical supersymmetry in the cases of ten- and four-dimensional super-Yang–Mills, and the three-dimensional Bagger–Lambert–Gustavsson theory, starting from the covariant formulation of these theories.
Variation in Voice Onset Time for Korean Stops: A Case for Recent Sound Change

Abstract. Acoustic data elicited from 34 native speakers of Korean living in the United States pro-vide evidence for diachronic change in the voice onset time (VOT) of phrase-initial aspirated and lax stop phonemes. While older speakers produce aspirated and lax stops with clearly differentiated average VOT values, many younger speakers appear to have neutralized this difference, producing VOTs for aspirated stops that are substantially shorter than those of older speakers, and comparable to those for corresponding lax stops. The data further indicate that, within each age group, older speakers manifest sex-based differences in VOT while younger speakers do not. Despite this appar-ent shift in VOT values, the acoustic evidence suggests that all speakers in this study, regardless of age, continue to mark underlying differences between aspirated and lax stops in terms of stop closure and the fundamental frequency of the following vowel. It is concluded that the data point to a recent phonetic shift in the language, whereby VOT no longer serves as the primary cue to differentiate between lax and aspirated stops. There is not, however, evidence of any reorganization of the lan-guage as the phonemic level: the language's underlying lax ~ aspirated ~ tense contrasts endure.
The crystal structure of c2a, the catalytic fragment of classical pathway c3 and c5 convertase of human complement.

Abstract The multi-domain serine protease C2 provides the catalytic activity for the C3 and C5- convertases of the classical and lectin pathways of complement activation. Formation of these convertases requires the Mg2+-dependent binding of C2 to C4b, and the subsequent cleavage of C2 by C1s or MASP2, respectively. The C-terminal fragment C2a consisting of a serine protease (SP) and a von Willebrand factor type A (vWFA) domain, remains attached to C4b, forming the C3 convertase, C4b2a. Here, we present the crystal structure of Mg2+-bound C2a to 1.9 A resolution in comparison to its homolog Bb, the catalytic subunit of the alternative pathway C3 convertase, C3bBb. Although the overall domain arrangement of C2a is similar to Bb, there are certain structural differences. Unexpectedly, the conformation of the metal ion-dependent adhesion site and the position of the α7 helix of the vWFA domain indicate a co-factor-bound or open conformation. The active site of the SP domain is in a zymogen-like inactive conformation. On the basis of these structural features, we suggest a model for the initial steps of C3 convertase assembly.
Thermal Transient Response and Its Modeling for Joule Heating in Cu/Low-κ Interconnects Under Pulsed Current

We propose a thermal transient response due to Joule heating and its modeling in Cu/low-κ interconnects. By incorporating a shape parameter on the model, the observed thermal response is more accurately represented compared to the conventional exponential function model. The effective thermal time constant in multilayered Cu/low-κ interconnects is experimentally investigated on the basis of the transient thermal response.
Kinetics of Oxygen Uptake and Recovery for Supramaximal Work of Short Duration

In order to follow the time pattern of oxygen uptake and recovery for supramaximal work of short duration, 35 male subjects (mean age 21.4 years, mean body weight 71.9 kg) pedalled a bicycle ergometer at maximal speed for 1 min. A constant frictional resistance of 5.5 kg was used, resulting in a total work output of 2890 kpm (85 revolutions, SD = 7.5). The total percent decrement in work output from the initial rate on this test was 59.7 %. The total oxygen uptake during the work averaged 2.35 l, the net oxygen recovery was 4.891, while the net work efficiency was 19.3 %. One and two component exponential curves fit the observed oxygen uptake and recovery measures with a high degree of accuracy. Comparison of the curve parameters with published data showed large differences for the post exercise oxygen recovery and the slow component of the recovery curve. The magnitude of the fast component of recovery was similar to other data. The total oxygen uptake during the test was found to be 10% lower than the maximal oxygen uptake determined on a seperate progressive step-increment test. It was shown, by curve analysis, that the maximal oxygen uptake would have been reached in approximately 2 min.
Determination of Kelthane and its dichlorobenzophenone degradation product by thin-layer chromatography and oscillopolarography.

In a search (1) for an analytical method to distinguish quantitatively between the o, p′- and p,p′-isomers of Kelthane, an unsuccessful attempt was made to do so with thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and oscillopolarography. However, it has now been found that this combination of analytical techniques will separate and quantitate p,p′-Kelthane and a gas chromatographic degradation product (2,3), p,p′-dichlorobenzophenone. 1/
Innate immune responses in hepatitis C virus infection

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major causative agent of chronic hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma worldwide and thus poses a significant public health threat. A hallmark of HCV infection is the extraordinary ability of the virus to persist in a majority of infected people. Innate immune responses represent the front line of defense of the human body against HCV immediately after infection. They also play a crucial role in orchestrating subsequent HCV-specific adaptive immunity that is pivotal for viral clearance. Accumulating evidence suggests that the host has evolved multifaceted innate immune mechanisms to sense HCV infection and elicit defense responses, while HCV has developed elaborate strategies to circumvent many of these. Defining the interplay of HCV with host innate immunity reveals mechanistic insights into hepatitis C pathogenesis and informs approaches to therapy. In this review, we summarize recent advances in understanding innate immune responses to HCV infection, focusing on induction and effector mechanisms of the interferon antiviral response as well as the evasion strategies of HCV.
Deconfinement transitions in dual QCD.

The QCD Lagrangean expressed in terms of dual potentials exhibits, at zero temperature, spontaneous symmetry breaking giving rise to dual superconductivity and therefore to color confinement. At a finite temperature, the spontaneous symmetry breaking disappears and so does confinement. We estimate the deconfining transition temperature using a high-temperature expansion.
Evidence of bulk attenuation in the asthenosphere from recordings of the Bolivia Earthquake

Radial modes excited by the 9 June 1994 Bolivia earthquake are analyzed to improve constraints on bulk attenuation in the Earth's interior. Using data recorded at 53 stations, quality factors for six radial modes are determined. The new observations are combined with previously published surface wave and normal mode attenuation measurements, and inverted for radial variations in shear and bulk attenuation, Qμ−1(r) and Qκ−1(r). The consequences of restricting finite Qκ to specific regions of the Earth's interior are investigated using a layered model parameterization. The optimal model is characterized by: 1) no bulk attenuation in the core, 2) a ratio of bulk to shear dissipation in the asthenosphere (∼30%) consistent with the presence of partial melt, and 3) a ratio in the remainder of the mantle (∼1%) consistent with solid-state mechanisms of attenuation.
Enhanced neuronal excitability in rat CA1 pyramidal neurons following trace eyeblink conditioning acquisition is not due to alterations in IM

Previous work done by our laboratory has demonstrated a reduction of the post-burst afterhyperpolarization (AHP) and accommodation following trace eyeblink conditioning in rabbit CA1 pyramidal neurons. Our laboratory has also demonstrated a reduction in the AHP in rat CA1 pyramidal neurons following spatial learning. In the current study we have extended our findings in rabbits by showing a reduction in both the AHP and accommodation in F344 X BN rat CA1 pyramidal neurons following acquisition of trace eyeblink conditioning. A component current of the AHP, IM, was evaluated with a specific blocker of this current, and showed no apparent contribution to the learning-related increase in neuronal excitability. Rather, a reduction in an isoproterenol-sensitive component of the AHP, presumably sIAHP, was observed to underlie the learning-specific change.
H 2 optimal semistable stabilization for linear discrete-time dynamical systems with applications to network consensus

In this paper, we develop H2 semistability theory for linear discrete-time dynamical systems. Using this theory, we design H2 optimal semistable controllers for linear dynamical systems. Unlike the standard H2 optimal control problem, a complicating feature of the H2 optimal semistable stabilization problem is that the closed-loop Lyapunov equation guaranteeing semistability can admit multiple solutions. An interesting feature of the proposed approach, however, is that a least squares solution over all possible semistabilizing solutions corresponds to the H2 optimal solution. It is shown that this least squares solution can be characterized by a linear matrix inequality minimization problem. Finally, the proposed framework is used to develop H2 optimal semistable controllers for addressing the consensus control problem in networks of dynamic agents.
Liquid Entrainment by Round Turbulent Gas Jets Submerged in Water

Entrainment characteristics of two-phase flow (liquid-gas) buoyant jets differ significantly from their single-phase flow counterparts. Past studies have not adequately described the mechanisms that cause the gas jet to entrain liquid from its surroundings and expand. In this work, Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) and shadowgraph flow visualization experiments have been conducted on submerged round gas jets of varying speeds and nozzle diameters with the goal of improving our understanding of the processes of entrainment and expansion in a two-phase jet. We hypothesize that liquid is entrained into the gas column through (1) shear entrainment due to instabilities at the interface between the fast-moving gas jet and stagnant liquid, and (2) convective entrainment that occurs when the jet begins to pinch off and transform into a bubbly plume. The total entrainment estimated using the PIV measurements is higher than the respective values that single-phase buoyant jet theory suggests, especially at low jet speeds. This may be an effect of increased convective entrainment as the jet slows down. The shadowgraph flow visualization experiments provide valuable information pertaining to the structure of the jet and the interfacial dynamics.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Student Teachers Speak Out

The high teacher attrition and early-career exodus of beginning teachers suggest that traditional methods fall short of providing the support needed by beginning teachers. This qualitative study examined the challenges encountered by student teachers during their practicum experience. Findings suggest that the attrition rate may be at least partially caused by a lack of realistic expectations on the part of student and beginning teachers. Student teachers reported feeling overwhelmed by the time requirements of teaching and lacked the skills to manage extremes of student behavior. The study suggests the need for the inclusion of stress reduction and time management courses to aid in the transition to the classroom.
Understanding Organizational Culture and Communication through a Gyroscope Metaphor

To fill a critical void in organizational culture pedagogy, the authors present an instructional system that employs the metaphor of a gyroscope to help students understand implicit assumptions in culture research. Working from Martin’s nexus approach to organizational culture and Fairhurst and Putnam’s tripartite theory of organizational discourse, the system in this study illustrates three interpretations of the relationships between culture and communication implicit in the literature. Each relationship is defined, exemplified with culture research, and critiqued. Pedagogical applications of the gyroscope metaphor are also outlined.
Depression and pregnancy: Use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in pregnancy

Abstract Treatment of depression must address somatic complaints (when they exist) and the depression, and when treating women of childbearing age, choice of antidepressant therapy must be based not only on ease of use and lack of side effects, but also on possible effects on the fetus. From a standpoint of toxicity and risk of overdose, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) appear to have an advantage and have achieved widespread use. Limited data are available with regard to effects of this class of agents on the developing fetus. Women who called the Pregnancy Safety Hotline during a 17-month period of study were followed prospectively after their inquiry about Prozac, Paxil, and Zoloft. Data were obtained by telephone interview, and birth defects were confirmed by calling the pediatrician with the consent of the mother. In the study period, a total of 2,819 calls were made to the Pregnancy Safety Hotline ; 105 (3.7%) of the calls were made by women exposed to SSRIs during pregnancy; 39 (37.1%) were available and consented to a telephone interview during the preliminary study period. In this group there were 6 spontaneous abortions, 6 elective terminations, 6 continuing pregnancies, and 21 delivered infants, No major birth defects were noted; two minor birth defects were found, and a trend was observed for slightly decreased birth weight with increasing duration of treatment. These findings are consistent with previous reports indicating no increase in major malformation rate and a possible slight association with decreased birth weight with longer duration of exposure, but additional data are needed.
Mechanics of a Strong Subsynoptic Gravity Wave Deduced from Satellite and Surface Observations

The three-dimensional structure and dynamics of a strong, tropospheric gravity wave event continuously observed from both satellite and surface facilities reveal the subsynoptic character of this 'wave of depression', suggesting that the gravity wave originated in the upper troposphere near a jet streak, and, being quasi-hydrostatic, was relatively nondispersive and long lived. Theory is applied in order both to explain and estimate gravity wave properties throughout the troposphere. Further improvements in the descriptions presented may require the development of solitary wave theory for deep depression waves in shear flow.
A New Pseudodineura Konow (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae) from Kasatochi Island, Alaska

Pseudodineura kasatochi Smith, n. sp., is described from Kasatochi Island, Alaska. This is the first record of a species of Pseudodineura from Alaska. The specimen was collected prior to a volcanic eruption in August 2008 that nearly destroyed all life on the island. It is separated from other Palearctic and Nearctic species of the genus.