cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lingual clamping procedures for measuring oral vibrotactile thresholds: II. Effects of using a lower clamping disk

Lingual vibrotactile thresholds were obtained from four experimental groups using different clamping procedures. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effects on sensitivity which occur when using a solid lower clamping disk vs. a ring-type bottom support. Findings indicated more sensitive thresholds across five frequencies for the conditions employing a solid lower clamping disk. Clamping conditions which do not compress lingual tissue also demonstrated differential sensitivity across frequencies. Implications of these results are discussed in reference to prior research concerned with the nature of lingual mechanoreceptors.
Ontogenetic histology of Apatosaurus (Dinosauria: Sauropoda): New insights on growth rates and longevity

ABSTRACT The bone microstructure of an ontogenetic series of Apatosaurus radii, ulnae, and scapulae suggests that Apatosaurus underwent three distinct osteogenic phases. Primary laminar to plexiform fibro-lamellar bone tissue, devoid of lines of arrested growth (LAG), occurs in individuals up to 91% adult size. LAGs and longitudinally vascularized lamellar tissue are deposited for the first time in the external cortices of sub-adult individuals. Slow growth and additional deposition of accretionary lamellar bone occurs in adulthood, and indicates attainment of maximum size in Apatosaurus. All scapulae examined show cyclicity in vascularity indicative of regular variation in speeds of osteogenesis. In contrast, Apatosaurus radii and ulnae show consistent bone depositional rates throughout ontogeny. Despite inter-element variability, all Apatosaurus bones sampled corroborate the hypothesis of sustained rapid growth rates for most of ontogeny, followed by gradual decline with attainment of maximum size. Esti...
Low Extra-Articular (Transcondylar) Fractures of the Distal Humerus

BackgroundWe reviewed our experience with low transcondylar, extra-articular distal humerus fractures to determine the prevalence of extra-articular distal humerus fractures, the percentage that ar...
On the use of electrical-resistance metallic foil strain gages for measuring large dynamic plastic deformation

The use of electrical-resistance metallic foil strain gages for measuring large plastic strain in dynamic experiments in studied. The maximum nominal strains obtained in this investigation are 35 percent in compression, 25 percent in tension. A linear variation of gage factor with strain is found in this range. The corrected maximum strains are in excellent agreement with permanent strains measured after the tests. Thus foil strain gages can be effectively used to measure the large dynamic plastic strains.
Low conductance sodium channels in canine cardiac Purkinje cells

Low conductance sodium (Na) channels have been observed in nerve, skeletal muscle, and cardiac cells. In cardiac tissues the higher amplitude, more commonly observed Na channel was first investigated in detail by Cachelin et al. (Cachelin, A.B., J.E. de Peyer, S. Kokubun, and H. Reuter, 1983, J. Physiol. (Lond.), 340:389–402). They also reported low amplitude Na channel events. We have studied this low conductance Na channel in single canine cardiac Purkinje cells using cell-attached patches. Patch pipette solutions contained either 140 or 280 mM NaCl, and cells were bathed in a solution of 150 mM KCl to bring their resting potential close to zero. In 140 mM Na+, during steps to -50 mV, the lower and higher openings had amplitudes of 0.57 +/- 0.2 and 1.2 +/- 0.2 pA (means +/- SD of Gaussian fits). In 280 mM Na+ at -50 mV, amplitudes were 0.72 +/- 0.2 and 1.55 +/- 0.2 pA. Over a substantial voltage range, the lower events had amplitudes of about one-third that of the higher events. The frequency of the low conductance openings varied in different patches from zero to 22% of total openings. Histograms of open durations and latencies at several voltages suggested no difference in kinetics between the two channel events. The behavior of the low conductance channels was more consistent with a second population of channels rather than a second open state.
A statistical analysis of parameter values for the rank-based ant colony optimization algorithm for the traveling salesperson problem

Ant colony optimization (ACO) is a metaheuristic for solving combinatorial optimization problems that is based on the foraging behavior of biological ant colonies. Starting with the 1996 seminal paper by Dorigo, Maniezzo and Colorni, ACO techniques have been used to solve the traveling salesperson problem (TSP). In this paper, we focus on a particular type of the ACO algorithm, namely, the rank-based ACO algorithm for the TSP. In particular, this paper identifies an optimal set of key parameters by statistical analysis applied to results of the rank-based ACO for the TSP. Specifically, for six frequently used TSPs available on the World Wide Web, we will solve a total of 27 000 instances for each problem.
Effects of Video Modeling on Implementation of Literature Circles in Inclusive Content Area Classrooms

Trends in special education favor inclusion and concurrently the implementation of inclusive instructional practices. As students with learning disabilities are increasingly placed in general education classrooms, the need to assist general educators in establishing inclusive classrooms becomes a major priority. Cooperative learning, in the form of literature circles, is offered as a means of providing support to academically diverse student populations. In light of research-to-practice challenges, this study investigated the potential for students with learning disabilities and their peers to learn about literature circles by viewing video models of the practice in action. Students in the video modeling group demonstrated significantly more effective implementation of literature circles including cooperative behaviors suggesting that video modeling could serve as a means of improving the translation of research on effective instructional strategies to actual practice in classrooms.
Effects of dopaminergic and adrenergic blockade on amphetamine-induced extravasation of protein into the brain of normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Abstract Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) rats were given saline or amphetamine sulfate (2.5 or 5.0 mg/kg). The amphetamine caused an increased extravasation of 113 I-labelled serum albumin (RISA) into the brain across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) which was associated directly with the change in the systemic blood pressure. Premedication with the dopaminergic blocking agents, haloperidol (2 mg/kg) or domperidone (6 mg/kg) blocked both the extravasation of the RISA and the elevation of the blood pressure caused by amphetamine. Premedication with the alpha adrenergic blocking agent, phentolamine (3 mg/kg), or with the beta adrenergic blocking agent, propranolol (2 mg/kg) both greatly increased the permeability of the blood-brain barrier to RISA and decreased the blood pressure in hypertensive animals only. Both of these blocking agents also prevented the increased extravasation of RISA caused by amphetamine. These results indicate that movement of large molecules, such as RISA, across the blood-brain barrier can be increased independent of increases in the systemic blood pressure in hypertensive rats.
PSYCHOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE AND THE NEW AMERICAN DILEMMA OF RACE

A discussion of the social issue race contrasts the American Dilemma of the 1940s, typified by moral uneasiness over the struggle of right versus wrong, with what is described as a “New American Dilemma,” characterized by moral conflict between right versus right—race-neutral and race-conscious social policies. Critical Race Theory (CRT) explanations for evidence of continuing and sometimes widening racial disparities in social and economic status are reviewed. Psychological Critical Race Theory (PCRT) is proposed as a way of accounting for the role of social psychological processes in continuing racial disparities. The components of PCRT—(1) Spontaneous and persistent influence of race; (2) Fairness is derived from divergent racial experiences; (3) Asymmetrical consequences of racial policies; (4) Paradoxes of racial diversity; (5) Salience of racial identity—are discussed. Implications for understanding the social issue of race are discussed.
Neuropsychological impairment in fibromyalgia: relation to depression, fatigue, and pain.

Abstract Objective: The present study assessed the relationship of depression, pain, and fatigue to subjective cognitive complaints and objective impairment in patients with fibromyalgia (FM), patients with other chronic pain disorders, and healthy controls. Method: Neuropsychological assessment was conducted on 28 FM patients, 27 chronic pain patients, and 21 healthy controls. Five FM patients and five chronic pain patients were excluded due to poor effort on cognitive tasks. Assessment included measures of depression, pain, fatigue, subjective cognitive complaints, memory, executive functioning, intellect, attention, and psychomotor speed. Analysis of covariance was used to assess group differences in cognitive complaints and cognitive test performance, after controlling for depression, pain, and fatigue. Hierarchical regression was used to assess whether objective test performance was related to subjective cognitive complaints, after controlling for depression, pain, and fatigue. Results: FM patients had more memory complaints and reported more fatigue, pain, and depression than other groups. Groups were not different in cognitive performance, after controlling for fatigue, pain, and depression; depression was related to memory performance and fatigue was related to psychomotor speed. Neuropsychological test results did not add significantly to the variance accounted for in subjective cognitive complaints, after accounting for depression, pain, and fatigue. Conclusion: Psychological factors, particularly effort, depression, and fatigue, are important in understanding both subjective cognitive complaints and objective cognitive impairment in FM and other chronic pain disorders.
ONTOGENESIS OP HEPATIC EPIDERMAL GROWTH FACTOR (EGF) METABOLISM IN NORMAL BALB MICE

To characterize the ontogenesis of the hepatic EGF system in normal Balb mice, we measured serum and liver concentrations of EGF, and liver concentrations of pre-pro EGF mRNA and EGF receptor binding. Male and female animals were studied at 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 and 10 wks of life. After sacrifice, body weight and length were measured and serum and liver tissues were collected for EGF determinations. Immunoreactive serum EGF (mean ± SEM) increased at 7 and 10 wks and was significantly higher (p<0.05) in males (465± 53 and 683±120 pg/ml) than females (188±52 and 235±64 pg/ml). Liver EGF concentrations were low at 1, 2, 3 and 5 wks, significantly increasing (p<0.01) at 10 wks to 268±50 and 179±36 pg/μg protein for males and females (males versus females p<0.05 at 10 wks). EGF receptor binding of 125I-EGF was low at 1, 2 and 3 wks increasing to 5.03±0.83 and 5.79±1.02 (fm/μg membrane protein) in males and 1.84±0.64 and 2.36±0.28 in females at 5 and 10 wks respectively. Values were significantly lower (p<0.01) in females. Pre-pro EGF mRNA was examined at 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 and 10 wks. EGF message increased in liver to highest values at 10 wks in both males and females. Conclusions: There is a parallel increase of serum and liver EGF concentrations, and liver EGF mRNA between 5 and 10 wks of postnatal life. EGF receptor binding also increases during this time. The results suggest that newborn liver may be an important source of circulating EGF in Balb mice.
The power stroke of myosin VI and the basis of reverse directionality

Myosin VI supports movement toward the (−) end of actin filaments, despite sharing extensive sequence and structural homology with (+)-end-directed myosins. A class-specific stretch of amino acids inserted between the converter domain and the lever arm was proposed to provide the structural basis of directionality reversal. Indeed, the unique insert mediates a 120° redirection of the lever arm in a crystal structure of the presumed poststroke conformation of myosin VI [Menetrey J, Bahloul A, Wells AL, Yengo CM, Morris CA, Sweeney HL, Houdusse A (2005) Nature 435:779–785]. However, this redirection alone is insufficient to account for the large (−)-end-directed stroke of a monomeric myosin VI construct. The underlying motion of the myosin VI converter domain must therefore differ substantially from the power stroke of (+)-end-directed myosins. To experimentally map out the motion of the converter domain and lever arm, we have generated a series of truncated myosin VI constructs and characterized the size and direction of the power stroke for each construct using dual-labeled gliding filament assays and optical trapping. Motors truncated near the end of the converter domain generate (+)-end-directed motion, whereas longer constructs move toward the (−) end. Our results directly demonstrate that the unique insert is required for directionality reversal, ruling out a large class of models in which the converter domain moves toward the (−) end. We suggest that the lever arm rotates ≈180° between pre- and poststroke conformations.
Microwave Observations of the Galactic Centre Region

THIS communication describes a new set of observations of the region surrounding the radio source Sagittarius A, at present assumed to be the galactic centre. The observations were made at a frequency of 5 Gc/s, and the results are summarized in the form of a contour map showing the various components of radiation in this region. The position of the Sagittarius A source appears to differ slightly from the zero of the lIIbII co-ordinate system. The spectral index of the source, derived by comparing the flux density at 5 Gc/s with other measurements in the microwave band, indicates that it is non-thermal.
Solution photochemistry of OCIO: excited-state dissociation and isomerization

The photodissociation dynamics of OClO in room temperature water solution were investigated using picosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. The time dependent data are consistent with the conclusion that following excitation at 355 nm, 90% of the OCIO molecules photodissociate forming ClO and 0 and 10% isomerize forming CIOO. The photochemically generated CIOO thermally decomposes into Cl and 0 2 with a rate constant of -6.7 x 1O 9 s -1 .
Serological specificity of antibodies to protein subunits of horse spleen ferritin.

Abstract 1. 1.|The serological specificity of the protein subunits of horse spleen ferritin was investigated by means of immunodiffusion and immunoelectrophoresis in order to learn whether antibodies specific for the subunits can be produced and used to distinguish subunits from intact molecules of ferritin and apoferritin. 2. 2.|Subunits were prepared by incubation of highly purified horse spleen ferritin for 30 min in a solution of 0.25% sodium dodecul sulfate in 0.025 M Tris-citrate buffer at pH 8.0 and 60°. The subunits were separated by ultracentrifugation. 3. 3.|Rabbits immunized with subunits produced (1) antibodies (IgG) precipitating with ferritin and apoferritin, and (2) antibodies (IgG) precipitating with subunits. After absorption with ferritin, only antibodies specific for subunits remained in solutions containing IgG from rabbits immunized with subunits. 4. 4.|Rabbits immunized with ferritin or apoferritin produced some antibodies (IgG) capable of precipitating subunits, but it remains to be determined whether or not the specificity of those antibodies differs from that of the subunit-specific antibodies which result from immunization with subunits. 5. 5.|It is proposed that the antibodies which precipitated only with subunits are directed against immunogenic determinants on the subunits that are hidden in assembled molecules of ferritin and apoferritin. 6. 6.|Subunit-specific antibodies may be used to explore intracellular pathways in the biosynthesis and assembly of ferritin.
Experimental cerebral infarction. II. Clinicopathological model of deep cerebral infarction.

Injection of silicone rubber cylinders into the internal carotid system permits selective occlusion of the proximal middle cerebral artery segment in the dog. Occlusions of this segment obstruct the mouths of the lenticulostriate arteries and result in deep cerebral hemisphere infarctions. Surface vessels distal to the occluded segment remain patent and the cortex of the hemisphere is spared, due to efficient collateral circulation. Hemorrhage in cortical infarctions may occur distal to the point of vascular occlusion and, therefore, may be a function of patent meningocerebral anastomoses. Hemorrhage into a deep infarction, however, occurred only when there was clinical and pathological evidence of distal migration of the embolus after an initial proximal occlusion. Infarctions of deep hemisphere structures were otherwise bland or "ischemic," probably because of the paucity of anastomoses among the penetrating blood vessels of the brain.
Absolutely continuous invariant measures for random maps with position dependent probabilities

Abstract A random map is discrete-time dynamical system in which one of a number of transformations is randomly selected and applied at each iteration of the process. Usually the map τ k is chosen from a finite collection of maps with constant probability p k . In this note we allow the p k 's to be functions of position. In this case, the random map cannot be considered to be a skew product. The main result provides a sufficient condition for the existence of an absolutely continuous invariant measure for position dependent random maps on [0,1]. Geometrical and topological properties of sets of absolutely continuous invariant measures, attainable by means of position dependent random maps, are studied theoretically and numerically.
Effective lagrangian for the open superstring from a 5-point function

We consider the zero-slope limit (α′ → 0) of a 5-point scattering amplitude of massless vector particles in open superstring theory. By expanding the 5-point function up to O(α′3), we find new operators in the effective lagrangian beyond what is previously known. We point out the similarity between the new operators we find from the 5-point function of the superstring and those which have been obtained from the three-point vertex in bosonic string theory.
Patient reactions to a no smoking policy in a community mental health center

The prevalence of cigarette smoking in a CMHC population was surveyed and patient attitudes and affective reactions regarding the implementation of a no smoking policy were assessed. The prevalence of smoking (80–84%) was in line with previous reports which have suggested that an extraordinarily high percentage of psychiatric patients engage in cigarette smoking. Significant differences were observed between smoker's and nonsmokers' reactions to the no smoking policy which resulted nonsmokers. Although a slight decrease in client satisfaction was observed, the emotional reactions of smokers were generally not clinically substantive. A 16 month follow-up survey of clinicians further supported the idea that the negative reactions of smokers were not of major magnitude and were probably transitory. The authors conclude that the primary effects of a mental health center smoking policy may be the protection of the service environment and improvements in the well-being of nonsmoking patients and staff who would otherwise be at risk for the effects of secondhand smoke.
A locality-improving dynamic memory allocator

In general-purpose applications, most data is dynamically allocated. The memory manager therefore plays a crucial role in application performance by determining the spatial locality of heap objects. Previous general-purpose allocators have focused on reducing fragmentation, while most locality-improving allocators have either focused on improving the locality of the allocator (not the application), or required programmer hints or profiling to guide object placement. We present a high-performance memory allocator called Vam that transparently improves both cache-level and page-level locality of the application while achieving low fragmentation. Over a range of large-footprint benchmarks, Vam improves application performance by an average of 4%-8% versus the Lea (Linux) and FreeBSD allocators. When memory is scarce, Vam improves application performance by up to 2X compared to the FreeBSD allocator, and by over 10X compared to the Lea allocator.
Twenty years' follow‐up of portal vein conduits in liver transplantation

Portal vein problems remain a formidable challenge in liver transplantation. In select situations, a portal vein conduit can provide a solution. No long-term results have been reported. This study was designed to assess the impact of portal vein conduits on graft survival after liver transplantation and the safety of portal vein conduits and to establish the long-term results (up to 20 years) of portal vein conduits. Data from 2370 adult liver transplants were prospectively collected into a computerized research database and analyzed. All portal vein conduits were constructed from the donor iliac vein obtained at the liver retrieval. Portal vein conduits were required in 35 (1.5%) first transplants. The long-term (up to 20 years of follow-up) graft survival after liver transplantation using portal vein conduits was excellent and comparable to that of the control group. The graft survival was 65% with the conduit versus 66% without the conduit at 5 years of follow-up, 58% versus 51% at 10 years, and 48% versus 35% at 15 years. There was a higher rate (8.6% versus 1.4%) of portal vein thrombosis after the portal vein conduit, and the majority occurred in the first 3 months after transplantation. For the same time period, there was no statistically significant difference in graft survival or patient survival for the retransplants with and without portal vein conduits. There was no statistically significant difference in graft survival or patient survival for the transplants with portal vein conduits and with portal vein thrombendvenectomy. In conclusion, portal vein conduits can be used safely for liver transplantation with no negative impact on long-term graft survival or patient survival. Despite the higher rate of portal vein thrombosis in the immediate postoperative period, excellent long-term results can be obtained.
Excess 3He in oceanic basalts: Evidence for terrestrial primordial helium

Abstract Helium trapped in the chilled glass rims of Pacific Ocean basalts is highly enriched in 3 He; the 3 He/ 4 He and 3 He/Ne ratios are respectively 10 and 1000 times the atmospheric ratios. We interpret these large enrichments as further evidence that primordial 3 He is still present in the interior of the earth. The 3 He/ 4 He ratio in basalt glass is the same as the isotope ratio of the “excess helium” in Pacific Ocean deep water, supporting the theory that the atmospheric escape rate of 3 He is balanced by a flux of primordial 3 He from the mantle.
Adaptation in stereoscopic depth constancy.

Stereovision is a complex process because perceived depth intervals depend not only on retinal disparity, but also on cues for distance. Because disparity decreases in proportion to the square of the object distance, a compensation process called constancy of stereoscopic depth makes the necessary correction in the perception of depth by taking object distance into account. This compensation process was altered by adaptation. Subjects were exposed to artificial conditions where disparity decreased in proportion to distance instead of distance squared. Alterations in depth perception amounting to 20% were obtained.
Rapid, semi-quantitative screening of sediments for aromatic compounds using sonic extraction and HPLC/fluorescence analysis

Abstract Awareness of contamination from anthropogenic sources in the environment has led to a demand for increasing numbers of analyses to evaluate the extent of the problem. As a result, there is a need for rapid, low cost methods to screen for contaminants in environmental samples to allow priorities to be set for the more expensive, detailed analyses. In this paper, we report a method to screen sediments for aromatic hydrocarbons. The method uses sonic extraction followed by size-exclusion HPLC with fluorescence detection to estimate the concentrations of fluorescent aromatic compounds in sediment samples. The concentrations of aromatic compounds determined by the screening method are highly correlated with the sum of the aromatic hydrocarbons determined by a standard analytical method which uses HPLC cleanup and GC/MS quantitation.
Definition of a factor Va binding site in factor Xa.

We reported previously that residue 347 in activated fX (fXa) contributes to binding of the cofactor, factor Va (fVa) (Rudolph, A. E., Porche-Sorbet, R. and Miletich, J. P. (2000) Biochemistry 39, 2861–2867). Four additional residues that participate in fVa binding have now been identified by mutagenesis. All five resulting fX species, fXR306A, fXE310N, fXR347N, fXK351A, and fXK414A, are activated and inhibited normally. However, the rate of inhibition by antithrombin III in the presence of submaximal concentrations of heparin is reduced for all the enzymes. In the absence of fVa, all of the enzymes bind and activate prothrombin similarly except fXaE310N, which has a reduced apparent affinity (∼3-fold) for prothrombin compared with wild type fXa (fXaWT). In the absence of phospholipid, fVa enhances the catalytic activity of fXaWT significantly, but the response of the variant enzymes was greatly diminished. On addition of 100 nm PC:PS (3:1) vesicles, fVa enhanced fXaWT, fXaR306A, and fXaE310N similarly, whereas fXaR347N, fXaK351A, and fXaK414Ademonstrated near-normal catalytic activity but reduced apparent affinity for fVa under these conditions. All enzymes function similarly to fXaWT on activated platelets, which provide saturating fVa on an ideal surface. Loss of binding affinity for fVa as a result of the substitutions in residues Arg-347, Lys-351, and Lys-414 was verified by a competition binding assay. Thus, Arg-347, Lys-351, and Lys-414 are likely part of a core fVa binding site, whereas Arg-306 and Glu-310 serve a less critical role.
Adrenergic innervation of the rat nucleus locus coeruleus arises predominantly from the C1 adrenergic cell group in the rostral medulla.

Abstract Focal iontophoretic injections of the retrograde tracer Fluoro-Gold into the locus coeruleus were combined with immunocytochemistry for phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase , the final enzyme in the synthesis of epinephrine. Retrograde labeling confirmed recent findings that the major afferents to the locus coeruleus are present in the ventrolateral (nucleus paragigantocellularis) and dorsomedial medulla (nucleus prepositus hypoglossi), areas containing the C1 and C3 adrenergic cell groups, respectively. The Fluoro-Gold label revealed morphologic details of locus coeruleus afferent cells. Labeled neurons in the prepositus hypoglossi region were typically round (10 μm diameter) or ellipsoidal and compressed against the ventricle wall ( 10 × 20μm ), while those in the paragigantocellularis were most often multipolar and ellipsoidal or triangular in shape ( 10 × 20−20 × 30μm ). Double labeling in the same tissue sections revealed that locus coeruleus afferent neurons are intercalated among phenylethanolamine N-methyltrans-ferase-positive C1 and C3 neurons. Twenty-one per cent of locus coeruleus afferent neurons in paragigantocellularis stained for phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase while only 4% of locus coeruleus afferents in the prepositus hypoglossi area exhibited phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase immunoreactivity. In paragigantocellularis, doubly labeled neurons were usually the smaller locus coeruleus afferents, while in the prepositus hypoglossi phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase labeling was found in all cell types that project to the locus coeruleus. Phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase-positive fibers from the C1 and C3 cell groups form an adrenergic fiber bundle in the dorsomedial medulla; in the pons, these fibers appear to exit this bundle and innervate the locus coeruleus. Fibers from the neurons of the C3 cell group also appear to ascend on the dorsal surface of the medulla to innervate the locus coeruleus. The phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase fiber innervation in the locus coeruleus was dense and highly varicose. Phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase innervation in the dorsal pons was not restricted to the locus coeruleus but was also prominent in neighboring areas such as Barrington's nucleus and the lateral dorsal tegmental nucleus of Gudden.
Tissue-Point Motion Tracking in the Tongue From Cine MRI and Tagged MRI

Purpose Accurate tissue motion tracking within the tongue can help professionals diagnose and treat vocal tract–related disorders, evaluate speech quality before and after surgery, and conduct vari...
Evaluation of a Scoring System for Assessing Prognosis in Pediatric Acute Liver Failure

Background & Aims Pediatric acute liver failure (PALF) results in death or need for liver transplantation (LT) in up to 50% of patients. A scoring system for predicting death or LT (Liver Injury Units [LIU] score) in PALF was previously derived by our group, and used peak values during hospital admission of total bilirubin, prothrombin time/international normalized ratio, and ammonia as significant predictors of outcome. The aims of this study were to test the predictive value of the LIU score in a subsequent validation set of patients and to derive a hospital admission LIU (aLIU) score predictive of outcome. Methods Data were obtained from 53 children admitted with PALF from 2002 to 2006. Outcome was defined at 16 weeks as alive without LT, death, or LT. Results Survival without LT at 16 weeks for each LIU score quartile was 92%, 44%, 60%, and 12%, respectively ( P P = .001). The receiver operating characteristic C index for predicting death or LT by 4 weeks was 83.7. Conclusions The original LIU score is a valid predictor of outcome in PALF. The aLIU score is promising and needs to be validated in subsequent patients.
Holocene records of Dendroctonus bark beetles in high elevation pine forests of Idaho and Montana, USA

Abstract Paleoecological reconstructions from two lakes in the U.S. northern Rocky Mountain region of Idaho and Montana revealed the presence of bark beetle elytra and head capsules (cf. Dendroctonus spp., most likely D. ponderosae , mountain pine beetle). Occurrence of these macrofossils during the period of time associated with the 1920/1930 a . d . mountain pine beetle outbreak at Baker Lake, Montana suggest that when beetle populations reach epidemic levels, beetle remains may be found in the lake sediments. In addition to the beetle remains found at Baker Lake during the 20th century, remains were also identified from ca. 8331, 8410, and 8529 cal yr BP. At Hoodoo Lake, Idaho remains were found at ca. 7954 and 8163 cal yr BP. These Holocene records suggest the infestations occurred during a period when climate changed rapidly to cooler and effectively wetter than present in forests dominated by whitebark pine. These two lake records provide the first preliminary data for understanding the long-term history of climatic influences on Dendroctonus bark beetle activity, which may be useful for predicting climate and stand conditions when mountain pine beetle activity occurs.
Monoclonal Antibody-Based Immunoenzymetric Assays for Quantification of Human IgG and its Four Subclasses

A panel of 5 immunoenzymetric assays (IEMAs) has been developed for quantification of the total and four subclasses of immunoglobulin G (IgG) in human serum using IUIS/WHO documented monoclonal antibodies (MoAb). Human IgG specific MoAb was adsorbed to microtiter plates and used to capture IgG from serum. Peroxidase conjugated forms of polyclonal mouse anti-human IgG Fc or a mixture of 4 MoAb (anti-kappa, anti-lambda, anti-IgG Fc PAN and anti-IgG Fd PAN) were used as detection antibodies. Use of monoclonal antibody in chromatographically purified form was required for acceptable assay sensitivity (S) and working ranges (WR). All 5 IEMAs displayed good precision (intra-assay %CV less than 5%, inter-assay %CV less than 12%) and parallelism (inter-dilutional CV less than 20%). Both HP6069 or HP6070 (anti-IgG1 Fc) worked well alone or together as capture antibodies in the IgG1 IEMA: WR = 20-1250 ng/ml, S = 15 ng/ml. HP6002 (anti-gG2 Fc) alone or in combination with HP6014 (anti-IgG2 Fd) produced an IgG2 IEMA with a WR of 5-200 ng/ml and S of 5 ng/ml. HP6047 (anti-IgG3 hinge) alone generated a sensitive IgG3 IEMA with a narrow working range: WR = 2-50 ng/ml, S = 1.6 ng/ml. Both HP6025 and HP6023 (anti-IgG4 Fc) worked equally well alone and together to produce a useful IgG4 IEMA: WR = 8-250 ng/ml, S = 7.8 ng/ml. HP6017 (anti-IgG PAN Fc) was combined in an equal molar ratio with HP6046 (anti-IgG PAN Fd) to produce a total IgG PAN IEMA with a WR of 5-530 ng/ml and a sensitivity of 5 ng/ml. All 5 IEMAs fulfilled requirements for robust clinical immunoassays that permit the quantitation of human IgG and its 4 subclasses.
A Short and Efficient Synthesis of the Pharmacological Research Tool GW501516 for the Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor δ

The most potent and selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor δ (PPARδ) agonist GW501516 (1) was synthesized in 4 steps and 78% overall yield starting from o-cresol by using a one-pot regiocontrolled dialkylation of mercaptophenol 5 as the key step.
The Reaction of Organozinc Reagents with Bis(N-Butoxymethyl)-t-Butylamine

Abstract In connection with our synthetic studies of new anticancer agents1 we required the hindered amino diester 1. Our recent success2 with dialkylation reactions involving bis(chloromethyl)ether and Reformatsky reagents, leading to the synthesis of the oxygen analog of 1, 2, suggested a similar approach might be successful if applied to the synthesis of 1. Since bis (chloromethyl)amines have never been isolated to our knowledge and related dichloroalkylamines exist only as highly reactive salts,3 a less reactive, but more easily obtainable alternative, bis(n-butoxymethyl)alkylamines, 3, were considered as potential bis alkylating reagents. These molecules have been shown to ionize in the presence of mild acids to give N, N-dialkylmethyl-eneimonium ions, 4, which are receptive to nucleophilic attack. Examples of monoalkylation of simple alkoxymethylamines by organo-metallic reagents have been reported.4
Public understanding of science and technology embedded in complex institutional settings

We use a constructivist analysis to describe how citizens learn and integrate highly technical scientific information about a new technology (bioremediation) within the context of a risk-based relationship with a federal agency in their own backyards. We engaged members of the general public in a workshop process where they produced a consensus report that describes how bioremediation works, characterizes the scientific issues not yet addressed, and sets the problem within the context of institutional arrangements for the production of knowledge. On the basis of their social roles in their communities, they applied new knowledge to their own experiences and worked at ways to translate their understanding of the technology into information that could be used in their multiple roles as learners in the workshop, as well as citizens and family members outside the workshop.
The First Stage in Two-Stage Template Matching

This paper formulates the problem encountered in the first stage of two-stage, binary template matching as a set of hypotheses to be tested, including a hypothesis of ``no object.'' Two new statistics R and G are proposed, based on a likelihood ratio, and are compared to the sum of absolute differences and a correlation measure by analytical approximations and Monte Carlo experiments. Statistical power and a measure of sensitivity to the true location of the object are the criteria. Parameters are the numbers of 1's in object and image, subtemplate size, and parameters reflecting intensity distortion between template and object. One of the proposed statistics R is much more computationally intensive than the other G. Although R is more powerful than G and the other statistics, G is generally more sensitive to the true object location. Statistic G is also more powerful than the sum of absolute differences and correlation. All statistics are robust to incomplete knowledge of distortion parameters. Experiments on Landsat images confirm the sensitivity of G and recommend it for application in the first stage.
A Quadratic Integer Program for the Location of Interacting Hub facilities

Abstract This paper reports a new formulation of a general hub location model as a quadratic integer program. Non-convexity of the objective function makes the problem difficult. A variety of alternative solution strategies are discussed. Computational results from two simple heuristics are presented for the task of siting 2, 3 or 4 hubs to serve interactions between sets of 10, 15, 20 and 25 U.S. cities. The effects of different computational shortcuts are examined.
Assessment of structural steel from the World Trade Center towers, part I: Recovery and identification of critical structural elements

The National Institute of Standards and Technology conducted a 3-year, $16 million investigation of the World Trade Center (WTC) disaster in response to the events of September 11, 2001. A primary goal of the WTC investigation was to explore the building materials and the construction and technical conditions that contributed to the outcome of the tragedy. This is one of a series of papers that describe various facets of the investigation involving the recovery and identification of the structural components and the evaluation of the steel with regard to damage and degradation as a result of the events of the day. This paper covers unique aspects of the recovery of the structural elements and the subsequent identification of their original as-built locations within the towers. A total of 236 pieces of WTC steel were cataloged, including several exterior and core columns from the impact and fire floors of WTC 1 and WTC 2.
State fragility and failure as wicked problems: Beyond naming and taming

Conceptualising state fragility and failure as a wicked problem set reveals the complex, ill-defined and interdependent nature of the reality behind these labels. This essay builds on the contributions to this special issue by examining why the fragile/failed state concept remains in good currency despite its analytic weaknesses. The discussion reveals that the parsing of state fragility into its component parts and the development of related indicators reflect efforts to tame the wickedness of the problem set; this has led to peace-building and state-building interventions whose plans and actions do not effectively take account of what is necessary to achieve their intended aims. A better problem-solving match would look beyond naming and taming, incorporating lessons from the implementation literature and international development practice. However, achieving this would depend upon the political will of both labellers and the labelled.
Choosing your own adventure: automatic taxonomy generation to permit many paths

A taxonomy organizes concepts or topics in a hierarchical structure and can be created manually or via automated systems. A major drawback of taxonomies is that they require users to have the same view of the topics as the taxonomy creator. Users who do not share that mental taxonomy are likely to have difficulty in finding the desired topic. In this paper, we propose a new approach to taxonomy expansion which is able to provide more flexible views. Based on an existing taxonomy, our algorithm finds possible alternative paths and generates an expanded taxonomy with flexibility in user browsing choices. In experiments on the dmoz Open Directory Project, the rebuilt taxonomies provide more alternative paths and shorter paths to information. User studies show that our expanded taxonomies are preferred compared to the original
Fatigue crack growth at the face sheet-core interface in a discontinuous ceramic-tile cored sandwich structure

Abstract The fatigue failure mechanism of a sandwich structure with discontinuous ceramic tile core is characterized. The sandwich structure in consideration comprises ceramic core tiles bonded to composite face sheet with a compliant adhesive layer. The discontinuous nature of the core results in a non-uniform stress field under in-plane loading of the sandwich. Static tensile tests performed on sandwich coupons revealed first damage as debonding at the gaps between adjacent tiles in the core. Tension–tension fatigue tests caused debonding at the gaps followed by initiation of cracks in the adhesive layer between the face sheet and core. Experimental data for crack length versus number of cycles is collected at various load levels. Crack growth rates ( da / dN ) are determined based on the experimental data acquired. The energy release rate available for crack propagation is computed using an analytical model and finite element analysis. Mode separation performed using the Virtual Crack Closure Technique (VCCT) revealed that crack propagation is completely dominated by shear (mode II). Fatigue crack growth behavior for the discontinuous sandwich structure is quantified by correlating the cyclic energy release rate with the rate of crack propagation. The loss of specimen stiffness with crack propagation is quantified using an analytical model.
Detecting similar HTML documents using a fuzzy set information retrieval approach

Web documents that are either partially or completely duplicated in content are easily found on the Internet these days. Not only these documents create redundant information on the Web, which take longer to filter unique information and cause additional storage space, but also they degrade the efficiency of Web information retrieval. In this paper, we present a new approach for detecting similar Web documents, especially HTML documents. Our detection approach determines the odd ratio of any two documents, which makes use of the degrees of resemblance of the documents, and graphically displays the locations of similar (not necessary the same) sentences detected in the documents after (i) eliminating non-representative words in the sentences using the stopword-removal and stemming algorithms, (ii) computing the degree of similarity of sentences using a fuzzy set information retrieval approach, and (iii) matching the corresponding hierarchical content of the two documents using a simple tree matching algorithm. The proposed method for detecting similar documents handles wide range of Web pages of varying size and does not require static word lists and thus applicable to different Web (especially HTML) documents in different subject areas, such as sports, news, science, etc.
Transcriptional activity of the human immunodeficiency virus-1 LTR promoter in fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe

Abstract We have analyzed the transcriptional activity of the human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-1) LTR promoter in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe (S.pombe). The ability of a series of 5'-deleted forms of the HIV-1 LTR promoter to direct transcription of the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene was studied. We found that the HIV-1 promoter is functional in S.pombe and that deletion of sequences upstream of the NF-kB binding site previously identified to contain the negative regulatory element (NRE) in mammalian cells, resulted in about thirty-fold increase in transcriptional activity. Sequences in the HIV-1 promoter that bind NF-kB were found to be essential for transcriptional activation in S.pombe. In mammalian cells, transactivation of the HIV-1 LTR requires TAR sequences and the viral Tat protein. In fission yeast, Tat failed to transactivate the HIV-1 LTR, suggesting that S.pombe may lack a cellular factor(s) required for the Tat transactivation process.
HYPOGONADISM AND METHADONE: HYPOTHALAMIC HYPOGONADISM AFTER LONG-TERM USE OF HIGH-DOSE METHADONE

Objective: To assess the relationship between hypogonadism and long-term administration of high-dose methadone. Methods: We present a case of a 47-year-old man with a history of heroin use and trea...
On the origin of mitochondrial mutants: evidence for intracellular selection of mitochondria in the origin of antibiotic-resistant cells in yeast.

In wild-type Sncchromyces cereuisiae, erythr3mycin and certain other antibacterial antibiotics inhibit the formation of respiratory enzymes in mitochondria by inhibiting translation on mitochondrial ribosomes. This paper is concerned with the origin of mutant cells, resistant to erythromycin by virtue of having a homogeneous population of mutant mitochondrial DNA molecules. Such mutant cells are obtained by plating wild-type (sensitive) cells on a nonfermentable substrate plus the antibiotic. Colonies of mutant cells appear first about four days after the time of appearance of established mutant cells; new colonies continue to appear, often at a constant rate, for many days. Application of the NEWCOMBE respreading experiment demonstrates that most or all of the mutant cells which form the resistant colonies on selective medium arise only after exposure of the population to erythromycin. It is suggested that this result is most probably due to intracellular selection for mitochondrial genomes. Resistant mitochondria arising from spontaneous mutatLon are postulated to be at a selective disadvantage in the absence of erythromycin; reproducing more slowly than wild-type sensitive mitochondria, they cannot easily accumulate in sufficient numbers in a cell to render it resistant as a whole. In the presence of erythromycin, resistant mitochondria can continue to reproduce while sensitive mitochondria cannot, until there is a sufficient number to make the cell resistant, i.e. to permit normal cell growth. The same phenomenon is seen with respect to chloramphenicol resistance. Intracellular selection is considered more likely than direct induction of mutation by the antibiotic, since mutant cells do not accumulate in the presence of erythromycin if the mitochondrial genome is rendered nonessential by growth on glucose or nontranslatable by chloramphenicol. Intracellular selection provides a mechanism for direct adaptation at the cell level, compatible with currently acceptable ideas of spontaneous miitation and selection at the organelle level. A crucial step in the development of microbial genetics was the demonstration that most hereditary variants in bacteria arise by selection of spontaneous mutants rather than by adaptation induced by the selective agent. Of the several experimental designs used to distinguish bntween these alternatives, the respread* Present address.
On the Growth of Relatively Free Semigroups

We consider the problem of calculating the growth of a finitely generated relatively free semigroup and give a survey of the author’s results in this direction. In particular, we present a method for constructing various examples of relatively free semigroups with intermediate growth and formulate new growth criteria.