cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Impact of Technology on Fighter Aircraft Requirements

Technology integration studies were made to examine the impact of emerging technologies on fighter aircraft. The technologies examined included advances in aerodynamics, controls, structures, propulsion, and systems and were those which appeared capable of being ready for application by the turn of the century. A primary impetus behind large increases in figher capability will be the rapid increase in fighter engine thrust-to-weight ratio. High thrust-weight engines, integrated with other advanced and emerging technologies, can result in small extremely maneuverable fighter aircraft that have thrust-weight ratios of 1.4+ and weight one-half as much as today's fighters. Future fighter aircraft requirements are likely to include a turn capability in excess of 7g's throughout much of the maneuver envelope, post-stall maneuverability, STOVL or VTOL, and a single engine for low cost.
Modeling Collegial Courts (3): Adjudication Equilibria

We present a formal game theoretic model of adjudication by a collegial court. The model incorporates dispute resolution as well as judicial policy making and indicates the relationship between the two. It explicitly addresses joins, concurrences and dissents, and assumes 'judicial' rather than legislative or electoral objectives by the actors. The model makes clear predictions about the plurality opinion’s location in 'policy' space; the case’s disposition; and the size and composition of the disposition, join, and concurrence - coalitions. These elements of adjudication equilibrium vary with the identity of the opinion writer and with the location of the case. In general, the opinion is not located at the ideal policy of the median judge. The model suggests new directions for empirical work on judicial politics. This paper substantially revises a prior post 'Modeling Collegial Courts (3): Judicial Objectives, Opinion Content, Voting and Adjudication Equilibria.' The current version presents the model more clearly but it lacks a number of illustrative examples and figures that appear in the prior version.
Nucleocapsid Protein Subunits of Simian Virus 5, Newcastle Disease Virus, and Sendai Virus

Helical nucleocapsids of each of the paramyxoviruses simian virus 5 (SV5), Newcastle disease virus (NDV), and Sendai virus have been isolated in two different forms. One form contains larger protein subunits and is obtained from mature virions or infected cells dispersed by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. The other form possesses smaller subunits and is obtained from infected cells dispersed by trypsin. The estimated molecular weights of the larger subunits in the three viruses are similar: SV5, 61,000; Sendai virus, 60,000; NDV, 56,000. The smaller nucleocapsid subunits are also very similar: SV5, 43,000; Sendai virus, 46,000; NDV, 47,000. The helical nucleocapsid composed of the smaller subunit appears to be less flexible and more stable than that formed by the larger subunit. There is suggestive evidence that conversion of the larger subunit to the smaller by proteolytic cleavage may occur intracellularly. The possibility that such a mechanism could be involved in the accumulation of nucleocapsid in cells persistently infected with paramyxoviruses is discussed.
Nitrites. XVII. Tetrahydroxyethylethylenediamine tetranitrate as a coronary artery dilator.

Abstract A new organic nitrate THEN has been studied pharmacologically and shown to be a coronary artery dilator that is tantamount in its activity to that of glyceryl trinitrate. The compound is effective upon oral administration and our animal studies indicate that the agent might serve effectively in the prophylactic treatment of angiospastic disease.
ConcurrenC: A New Approach towards Effective Abstraction of C-Based SLDLs

Embedded system design in general can only be successful if it is based on a suitable Model of Computation (MoC) that can be well represented in an executable System-level Description Language (SLDL) and is supported by a matching set of design tools. While C-based SLDLs, such as SystemC and SpecC, are popular in system-level modeling and validation, current tool flows impose serious restrictions on the synthesizable subset of the supported SLDL. A properly aligned and clean system-level MoC is often neglected or even ignored.
The Digital Library of the Astrophysics Data System

The Astrophysics Data System (ADS) provides access to astronomical bibliographic information, including references, abstracts, and full journal articles, as well as links to other on-line information sources like on-line electronic journals and on-line data.
Mothers at Work: Maternal Employment and Child Outcomes: The Direct Relationships

In this chapter, we turn our focus to an examination of the links between maternal employment patterns and child outcomes. As discussed in Chapter 1, previous research has demonstrated a few consistent differences between children of employed and nonemployed mothers. Daughters of employed mothers indicated greater academic achievements than daughters of non-employed mothers; likewise, children in poverty have been shown to report higher academic achievement in employed-mother families. For middleclass boys, however, the findings have been more mixed, with some studies reporting that sons of employed mothers have lower academic achievement than sons of nonemployed mothers. When socioemotional development is examined, daughters of employed mothers appear more independent and better adjusted than daughters of nonemployed mothers. For boys, however, these patterns have not been found. Overall, both sons and daughters of employed mothers report less adherence to traditional sex-role ideologies. In this chapter, we examine the direct relationships between the mother's employment status and child outcomes. Children with full-time employed mothers, part-time employed mothers, and nonemployed mothers are compared on several measures of cognitive and socioemotional functioning. Measures of cognitive and socioemotional functioning include peer reports of liking and behavioral characteristics; teacher reports of cognitive and social skills; child self-reports of perceived self-competence, locus of control, and adherence to sex-role stereotypical beliefs; and scores on standardized achievement tests. In these analyses, attention is given to gender, social class, ethnicity, and marital status.
Impact of having realistic tropical cyclone frequency on ocean heat content and transport forecasts in a high‐resolution coupled model

This study examines two sets of high-resolution coupled model forecasts starting from no-tropical cyclone (TC) and correct-TC-statistics initial conditions to understand the role of TC events on climate prediction. While the model with no-TC initial conditions can quickly spin-up TCs within a week, the initial conditions with a corrected TC distribution can produce more accurate forecast of sea surface temperature up to 1.5 months and maintain larger ocean heat content up to 6 months due to enhanced mixing from continuous interactions between initialized and forecasted TCs and the evolving ocean states. The TC-enhanced tropical ocean mixing strengthens the meridional heat transport in the Southern Hemisphere driven primarily by Southern Ocean surface Ekman fluxes but weakens the Northern Hemisphere poleward transport in this model. This study suggests a future plausible initialization procedure for seamless weather-climate prediction when individual convection-permitting cyclone initialization is incorporated into this TC-statistics-permitting framework.
Co-evolutionary data mining for fuzzy rules: automatic fitness function creation phase space, and experiments

An approach is being explored that involves embedding a fuzzy logic based resource manager in an electronic game environment. Game agents can function under their own autonomous logic or human control. This approach automates the data mining problem. The game automatically creates a cleansed database reflecting the domain expert's knowledge, it calls a data mining function, a genetic algorithm, for data mining of the data base as required and allows easy evaluation of the information extracted. The co-evolutionary fitness functions, chromosomes and stopping criteria for ending the game are discussed. Genetic algorithm and genetic program based data mining procedures are discussed that automatically discover new fuzzy rules and strategies. The strategy tree concept and its relationship to co-evolutionary data mining are examined as well as the associated phase space representation of fuzzy concepts. The overlap of fuzzy concepts in phase space reduces the effective strategies available to adversaries. Co-evolutionary data mining alters the geometric properties of the overlap region known as the admissible region of phase space significantly enhancing the performance of the resource manager. Procedures for validation of the information data mined are discussed and significant experimental results provided.
Contact Between Vessel Shell and Welded Pad in Nozzle Reinforcement

In the thin shell analysis of welded pad reinforced nozzles in pressure vessels, no contact between pad and vessel is often assumed. The significance of this contact force to the stress distribution in the structure is little known. In this paper, stress results from the finite element analysis, which includes the contact force between the pad and the vessel, are reported. A comparison of the finite element results with those from thin shell analysis and experiments shows that the finite element method with contact assumption yields improved theoretical prediction for the stress distribution. The effect of both the gap and friction between the pad and the vessel are also investigated.
Sequence elements critical for efficient RNA editing of a tobacco chloroplast transcript in vivo and in vitro

In tobacco chloroplast transcripts 34 nt are efficiently edited to U. No common consensus region is present around all editing sites; however, sites can be grouped in clusters that share short common sequences. Transgene transcripts carrying either the wild-type -31/+22 or -31/+60 sequence near NTrpoB C473, an editing site within tobacco rpoB transcripts, or three different mutated sequences, were all highly edited in vivo. Endogenous transcripts of rpoB, psbL and rps14, all of which contain common sequences S1, S2 and S3 5' to NTrpoB C473, NTpsbL C2 and NTrps14 C80, were less edited in transgenic plants that over-express transcripts from NTrpoB C473 transgenes. Extent of reduction of endogenous editing differed between transgenic lines expressing mutated -31/+22 regions, depending on the abundance of the transgene transcripts. The -20/-5 sequence contains critical 5' sequence elements. Synthetic RNA templates with alterations within this 5' region were less efficiently edited in vitro than wild-type templates, by either tobacco or maize chloroplast extracts. The tobacco chloroplast extract supports both RNA editing and processing of 3' transcript termini. We conclude that within the -20/-5 region, sequences common to editing sites in the transcripts of rpoB, psbL and rps14 are critical for efficient NTrpoB C473 editing.
The hyperthermophilic bacterium Thermotoga neapolitana possesses two isozymes of the 3-phosphoglycerate kinase/triosephosphate isomerase fusion protein.

The phosphoglycerate kinase (pgk), triosephosphate isomerase (tpi), and enolase (eno) genes from Thermotoga neapolitana have been cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. In high copy number, the pgk gene complemented an E. coli pgk− strain. In T. neapolitana, the pgk and tpi genes appear to be fused and eno is near those genes. Like T. maritima, T. neapolitana produces phosphoglycerate kinase as both an individual enzyme and a fusion protein with triosephosphate isomerase, and triosephosphate isomerase activity is not found without associated phosphoglycerate kinase activity. Unlike T. maritima, which forms only a 70-kDa fusion protein, T. neapolitana expresses both 73-kDa and 81-kDa isozymes of this fusion protein. These isozymes are present in both T. neapolitana cells and in E. coli cells expressing T. neapolitana genes.
Energy-Efficient Application Mapping in FPGA through Computation in Embedded Memory Blocks

FPGAs have emerged as the preferred prototyping and accelerator platform for diverse application domains such as digital signal processing (DSP), security and multimedia, which often impose real-time performance requirements. Most applications in these domains require efficient implementation of complex data paths or functions, e.g. transcendental functions which are spatially mapped in the configurable logic or embedded DSP blocks of a FPGA device. Requirement of elaborate computational resources to realize these operations impose a major barrier to energy efficiency. In this paper, we propose to use embedded memory blocks in FPGA for computing to significantly improve energy efficiency of the applications which are dominated by complex data paths and/or functions. Complex operations are decomposed into large multi-input/output lookup tables (LUTs); mapped to embedded memory blocks and evaluated through memory access over single or multiple cycles. Different parts of an application are selectively mapped into memory or logic/DSP blocks in a heterogeneous mapping framework to maximize energy efficiency. We explore optimal energy configuration of embedded memory for mapping applications of varying input size and develop a complete mapping flow including decomposition, fusion and packing. Effectiveness of the proposed flow is evaluated using a commercial state-of-the-art FPGA system (Alter a Stratix IV device). Finally the proposed framework is used to drastically trade-off energy vs accuracy at run-time for common signal processing applications.
Influence of magnetic field on vertical Bridgman-Stockbarger growth of InxGa1 − xSb

Abstract Ingots of In x Ga 1 − x Sb 9 mm diameter x 60 mm long showed 50% fewer straight boundaries and 30% fewer curved boundaries when solidified vertically with a 4 kilogauss horizontal magnetic field. The magnetic field almost entirely stopped formation of curved boundaries and greatly reduced formation of twins. There was no noticeable change in the normal rate of growing-out of grains and twins formed in the initial nucleation of the solid on the end of the silica ampoule. The reduction is attributed to the elimination of temperature fluctuations, which probably cause formation of grains and twins during freezing rate fluctuations due to transient constitutional supercooling.
Toxic effects of hydrogen peroxide on corneal endothelium

We have measured the effects of hydrogen peroxide on the ability of the isolated rabbit cornea to maintain normal hydration during perfusion, on the structure of the endothelial cells, and on the redox state of glutathione and the activity of the hexose monophosphate shunt in these cells. Swelling of isolated corneas was immediate and severe upon exposure to 50 μM H2O2 in the absence of glucose, or to 200 μM H2O2 in the presence of glucose. The presence of glucose with 50 μM H2O2 delayed the onset of swelling for two hours and markedly decreased its severity. The concentration of glutathione in the endothelium, and its redox state, were unaltered by 50 μM H2O2 in the presence of glucose, but in its absence glutathione loss was significant and the fraction in the oxidized state was greatly increased. H2O2 was removed from the medium by reaction with the cornea at a concentration-dependent rate. It was calculated that the reaction rate at 50 μH H2O2 was about twice that which could be accounted for by the i...
Pediatric martial arts injuries presenting to Emergency Departments, United States 1990-2003

Although an estimated 6.5 million United States (US) children aged 6-17 practiced a martial art in 2004, there have been no nationally representative studies comparing pediatric injuries among the three most popular disciplines, karate, taekwondo, and judo. Describe pediatric martial arts injuries presenting to a representative sample of US Emergency Departments (EDs) from 1990 to 2003. We reviewed all martial arts injuries captured by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC), National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS). An estimated 128,400 children </=17 years were treated in US EDs for martial arts-related injuries from 1990 to 2003. Injured tended to be male (73.0%) and had a mean age of 12.1 years. Most injuries were attributed to karate (79.5%). The most common mechanism of injury was being kicked (25.6%), followed by falling (20.6%) and kicking (18.0%). The majority of injuries occurred to the lower leg/foot/ankle (30.1%) and hand/wrist (24.5%). The most common injury diagnoses were sprains/strains (29.3%), contusions/abrasions (27.8%), and fractures (24.6%). Participants in judo sustained significantly higher proportions of shoulder/upper arm injuries than karate (IPR=4.31, 95% CI: 2.84-6.55) or taekwondo (IPR=9.75, 95% CI: 3.53-26.91) participants. There were also higher proportions of neck injuries sustained by judo participants compared to karate (IPR=4.73, 95% CI: 1.91-11.70) or taekwondo (IPR=4.17, 95% CI: 1.02-17.06) participants. Pediatric martial arts injuries differ by discipline. Understanding these injury patterns can assist with the development of discipline-specific preventive interventions.
The longitudinal and interactive effects of HIV status, stimulant use, and host genotype upon neurocognitive functioning

Both human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 infection and illicit stimulant use can adversely impact neurocognitive functioning, and these effects can be additive. However, significant variability exists such that as-of-yet unidentified exogenous and endogenous factors affect one's risk for neurocognitive impairment. Literature on both HIV and stimulant use indicates that host genetic variants in immunologic and dopamine-related genes are one such factor. In this study, the individual and interactive effects of HIV status, stimulant use, and genotype upon neurocognitive functioning were examined longitudinally over a 10-year period. Nine hundred fifty-two Caucasian HIV+ and HIV- cases from the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study were included. All cases had at least two comprehensive neurocognitive evaluations between 1985 and 1995. Pre-highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) data were examined in order to avoid the confounding effect of variable drug regimens. Linear mixed models were used, with neurocognitive domain scores as the outcome variables. No four-way interactions were found, indicating that HIV and stimulant use do not interact over time to affect neurocognitive functioning as a function of genotype. Multiple three-way interactions were found that involved genotype and HIV status. All immunologically related genes found to interact with HIV status affected neurocognitive functioning in the expected direction; however, only C-C chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) and CCL3 affected HIV+ individuals specifically. Dopamine-related genetic variants generally affected HIV-negative individuals only. Neurocognitive functioning among HIV+ individuals who also used stimulants was not significantly different from those who did not use stimulants. The findings support the role of immunologically related genetic differences in CCL2 and CCL3 in neurocognitive functioning among HIV+ individuals; however, their impact is minor. Being consistent with findings from another cohort, dopamine (DA)-related genetic differences do not appear to impact the longitudinal neurocognitive functioning of HIV+ individuals.
Postoperative analgesia in dogs receiving epidural morphine plus medetomidine

This investigation was carried out to compare the postoperative analgesia and plasma morphine concentrations in dogs given epidural morphine or epidural morphine combined with medetomidine prior to surgery. Twelve dogs (seven males and five females) with ruptured cranial cruciate ligaments presented to the Washington State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Six dogs received an epidural injection of morphine (0.1 mg/kg) and six dogs received epidural morphine (0.1 mg/kg) combined with medetomidine (0.005 mg/kg). Numeric rating scale (NRS) pain scores and cumulative pain scores (CPS) were assigned to 10-min segments of video. Video segments, heart rates and respiratory rates were recorded prior to premedication and at 4, 8, 12, 18 and 24 h after epidural injection. Blood was sampled from the cephalic vein at each of these times and during anesthesia at 0.5, 1, 2 and 3 h after epidural injection. Data were analyzed using either Friedman's test or one-way anova for repeated measures. In the morphine group, significant increases compared with premedication values were detected at 4, 8 and 12 h after epidural injection for NRS and at 4 and 12 h after epidural injection for CPS. In the morphine plus medetomidine group, NRS was significantly higher at 4 and 8 h whereas there were no differences from baseline values for CPS. Plasma morphine concentrations were not significantly different between treatment groups, but were significantly increased compared with preinjection values at 0.5, 1, 12, 18, and 24 h in the morphine plus medetomidine group. Epidurally administered morphine combined with medetomidine was associated with only minor benefits based on subjective pain scoring when compared with morphine alone in these dogs undergoing repair of a ruptured cranial cruciate ligament.
A NOTE ON NEIGHBORHOOD SIZE AND THE MEASUREMENT OF SEGREGATION INDICES

This note examines neighborhood segregation measures with respect to size and validity. Conventional measures, while related to within-neighborhood homogeneity, are not necessarily related to neighborhood size. An empirical test examines racial segregation for Baltimore in 1970 and 1980 using both census tract and specially formulated neighborhood aggregates. For both years, and for all measures of segregation, the values and trends are essentially unchanged by the level of aggregation.
Reaction of N-cyanoformimidates with some heterocyclic compounds. A new synthesis of 5-azaadenine and related compounds

3-Amino-1,2,4-triazoles and 2-aminobenzimidazole were reacted with N-cyanoimidates to give 5-amino-1,2,4-triazolo[2,3-a]-1,3,5-triazines (5-azaadenines) and 4-aminobenzimidazo[1,2-a]-1,3,5-triazines, respectively. The structures of the compounds obtained were confirmed through the comparison with some of the possible isomers prepared by independant methods.
Survival in chronic myelogenous leukemia: influence of treatment and extent of disease at diagnosis.

A retrospective study was conducted on the survival of 178 patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia from January 1948 through December 1967. Through analysis of survival time, comparison has been made between a group of 50 patients treated with chemotherapy alone vs. a group of 84 patients treated with radiation therapy to the spleen and chemotherapy. No difference could be found in these two major therapeutic groups (median survival 31 months for both). Further analysis has been made to determine whether survival could be correlated to the initial extent of disease. Initial hemoglobin value, WBC, platelet counts, absolute blast count, spleen size, and selected combination of these factors showed no significant correlation with survival. Acute blastic transformation occurred in 60% of 117 patients. Infection as a cause of death was less frequent in patients with progressive disease without acute blastic transformation, while renal failure due to hyperuricemia and thromboembolic phenomena occurred more often in this group as compared with patients dying in acute blastic phase.
Further studies on the effects of N-cyclopropyl-p-chloroamphetamine in rat brain.

Abstract N-Cyclopropyl-p-chloroamphetamine (N-cyclopropyl-PCA) lowered tryptophan hydroxylase levels in rat brain to less than half of control values at 6 and 24 hr, though at these times serotonin levels in brain are not lowered. The ultimate decline in brain serotonin levels measured at one week after N-cyclopropyl-PCA treatment was prevented by prior injection of fluoxetine—an inhibitor of uptake into serotonin neurones—suggesting that N-cyclopropyl-PCA like the parent drug (PCA) requires active uptake into serotonin neurones in order to deplete serotonin levels. Fluoxetine pretreatment did not alter inhibition of monoamine oxidase by N-cyclopropyl-PCA as measured by activity with any of four different substrates. The latter finding indicates that block of N-cyclopropyl-PCA uptake into serotonin neurones does not alter in a quantitatively detectable way the inhibition of total brain monoamine oxidase by N-cyclopropyl-PCA. Fluoxetine pretreatment did prevent the lowering of tryptophan hydroxylase by N-cyclopropyl-PCA at 6 hr, and serotonin levels were greatly increased at this time in fluoxetine-pretreated rats, since the effect of N-cyclopropyl-PCA on serotonin synthesis was eliminated whereas the effect on serotonin oxidation still occurred. These studies support the idea that N-cyclopropyl-PCA influences serotonin metabolism by multiple actions and that these multiple actions can to some extent be dissociated.
A review of driving risks and impairments associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and the effects of stimulant medication on driving performance.

Abstract Introduction Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) may interfere with driving competence, predisposing those with the disorder to impaired driving performance and greater risk for adverse driving outcomes. Effective treatment may minimize the risk in those with ADHD. Method We reviewed the scientific literature on driving risks and impairments associated with ADHD and the effects of stimulants on driving performance. Several lines of evidence were considered, including longitudinal studies and community-derived sample studies. The present review is based on a weekly review (by the first author) of all journals in the behavioral and social sciences indexed in the publication Current Contents spanning the past 15 years, as well as a search of the reference section of all studies found that pertained to driving risks associated with ADHD or to the treatment of ADHD as it relates to driving difficulties. Results The review of the scientific literature demonstrated well-documented driving risks and impairments associated with ADHD and the positive effects of stimulant medications on driving performance. Conclusions Clinicians should educate patients/caregivers about the increased risk of adverse outcomes among untreated individuals with ADHD and the role of medication in potentially improving driving performance. Impact on Industry Owing to the significantly higher risk of adverse driving outcomes, the use of stimulant medications to treat people with ADHD who drive may reduce such safety risks.
Biomechanical effects of a unilateral approach to minimally invasive lumbar decompression

Minimally invasive (MI) lumbar decompression became a common approach to treat lumbar stenosis. This approach may potentially mitigate postoperative increases in segmental motion. The goal of this study was to evaluate modifications to segmental motion in the lumbar spine following a MI unilateral approach as compared to traditional facet-sparing and non-facet sparing decompressions. Six human lumbar cadaveric specimens were used. Each specimen was tested in flexion-extension 0 N and 400 N of follower preload), axial rotation, and lateral bending. Each testing condition was evaluated following three separate interventions at L4–L5: 1) Minimally invasive decompression, 2) Facet-sparing, bilateral decompression, and 3) Bilateral decompression with a wide facetectomy. Range of motion following each testing condition was compared to intact specimens. Both MI and traditional decompression procedures create significant increases in ROM in all modes of loading. However, when compared to the MI approach, traditional decompression produces significantly larger increase in ROM in flexion-extension (p<0.005) and axial rotation (p<0.05). It additionally creates increased ROM with lateral bending on the approach side (p<0.05). Lateral bending on the non-approach side is not significantly changed. Lastly, wide medial facet removal (40% to 50%) causes significant hypermobility, especially in axial rotation. While both MI and traditional lumbar decompressions may increase post-operative ROM in all conditions, a MI approach causes significantly smaller increase in ROM. With an MI approach, increased movement with lateral bending is only toward the approach side. Further, non-facet sparing decompression is further destabilizing in all loading modes.
Accumulation of arginine by dog kidney cortex mitochondria

Abstract From experiments on mitochondria isolated from dog renal cortex it has been shown that: 1. 1. The volume of distribution of arginine is initially similar to that for sucrose (approx. 70% of mitochondrial pellet water) but slowly increases toward 100% of the pellet water at 0°. Incubation at 30° permits mitochondrial accumulation of arginine and the apparent volume of distribution quickly exceeds the pellet water; colling to 0° does not cause loss of the arginine but removal of arginine from the medium permits rapid reversal of uptake. 2. 2. The uptake of arginine obeys Michaelis-Menten kinetics with K m = 8.9 μ M and has an energy of activation of 10 kcal/mole. 3. 3. Arginine uptake is inhibited by ornithine, lysine, glycine and cystine and not by several other amino acids and metabolic inhibitors. 4. 4. Arginine uptake at 30° approaches a maximum value which obeys adsorption theory. It is suggested that arginine uptake into the sucrose-inaccessible space of mitochondria is carrier mediated and that excess uptake is on the basis of adsorption. The possible relationship to arginine reabsorption by the kidney is discussed.
Synthesis and processing of lysosomal α-fucosidase in cultured human fibroblasts

The lysosomal enzyme alpha-L-fucosidase from human skin fibroblasts is synthesized as a 53 kDa glycosylated precursor which is then proteolytically processed to a 50 kDa mature form. This was confirmed by pulse-chase labeling studies with chase times up to 72 h. In fibroblasts treated with 1-deoxymannojirimycin to prevent trimming of high mannose oligosaccharides, endoglycosidase H (endo H) treatment completely deglycosylated and reduced the size of immunoprecipitated alpha-fucosidase by 4-5 kDa, suggesting the presence of two oligosaccharide units. Endoglycosidase H and endo F studies on untreated alpha-fucosidase suggested the presence of one complex-type and one high mannose-type unit, and that the final processing from 53 to 50 kDa did not involve the removal of carbohydrate. Processing was inhibited by the thiol proteinase inhibitor Ep-459, but not by Ep-475 or leupeptin. Since Ep-459 treatment increased both alpha-fucosidase activity (3-fold) and the amount of immunoprecipitable alpha-fucosidase protein in normal human skin fibroblasts, this suggests a role for cysteine-like proteinases either directly or indirectly in lysosomal hydrolase processing and turnover. Subcellular fractionation studies revealed that the proteolytic processing of the 53 kDa precursor to the 50 kDa mature form occurred in the lysosome, or some other dense organelle.
Multi-valued characteristics and Morse decompositions

Abstract A rapid growth of molecular and systems biology in recent years challenges mathematicians to develop robust modeling and analytical tools for this area. We combine a theory of monotone input–output systems with a classical theory of Morse decompositions in the context of ordinary differential equations models of biochemical reactions. We show that a multi-valued input–output characteristic can be used to define non-trivial Morse decompositions which provide information about a global structure of the attractor. The previous work on input–output characteristics is shown to apply locally to individual Morse sets and is seamlessly incorporated into our global theory. We apply our tools to a model of cell cycle maintenance. We show that changing the strength of the negative feedback loop can lead to cessation of cell cycle in two different ways: it can either lead to globally attracting equilibrium or to a pair of equilibria that attract almost all solutions.
Overview of Physiology in Senescence

As one ages, blood pressure and hemodynamic changes become apparent. This is reflected in a fall in cardiac output and a gradual increase in total peripheral-vascular resistance. Systolic hypertension is one of the fundamental abnormalities of the cardiovascular system in the elderly. Baroreceptor function and cerebral blood flow likewise may be compromised and result in altered drug sensitivity. Renal function decreases with age and is manifested by a decrease in renal blood plasma flow and in glomerular filtration rate. There is a gradual blunting of sympathetic nervous system responsiveness demonstrated by a decrease in the activity of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Finally, pathways of drug biotransformation may be altered, resulting in adverse drug reactions.
Development of CdZnTe pixel detectors for astrophysical applications

Over the last four years we have been developing imaging Cadmium Zinc Telluride pixel detectors optimized for astrophysical focusing hard X-ray telescopes. This application requires sensors with modest area (~2cm X 2 cm), relatively small (≾ 500µm) pixels and sub-keV energy resolution. For experiments operating in satellite orbits, low energy thresholds of ~1 - 2 keV are also desirable. In this paper we describe the desired detector performance characteristics, and report on the status of our development effort. In particular, we present results from a prototype sensor with a custom low- noise VLSI readout designed to achieve excellent spectral resolution and good imaging performance in the 2 - 100 keV band.
ILEAD--ischemia of the lower extremities due to aortic dissection: the isolated presentation.

Background and hypothesis: Lower extremity symptoms accompanying dissecting hematomas of the aorta are well described. Isolated lower extremity ischemia as the presenting syndrome of aortic dissection is rare and frequently misinterpreted so that the diagnosis of aortic dissection is delayed or missed, often with catastrophic results. This study was undertaken to determine its common characteristics and to reinforce recognition of this life-threatening phenomenon. Methods: After the first patient in our series presented with isolated lower extremity ischemia due to aortic dissection, a prospective search for similar presentations was undertaken over 2 years. We also conducted a retrospective search for all aortic dissections at our hospital for the past 10 years and a MEDLINE search for all reported aortic dissections in the literature of the past 20 years, as well as for all reports of isolated ischemia of the lower extremities due to aortic dissection. Results: Three patients with isolated ischemia of the lower extremities due to aortic dissection were found prospectively after the index case. Over 10 years, 40 patients with acute aortic dissection were diagnosed at our hospital. The MEDLINE search revealed 1,751 aortic dissections of which 10% had lower extremity symptoms. Only 10 cases of aortic dissection were reported as lower extremity ischemia with symptoms isolated to one or both lower extremities. Smoking, hypertension, male gender, hypercholesterolemia, and recent history of coronary artery bypass grafting were common predisposing risk factors for this rare presentation. Conclusion: Symptomatic isolated ischemia of the lower extremities due to aortic dissection is rare and often missed. Awareness of its characteristics, aided by the acronym ILEAD, made it possible to suspect the true origin of this misleading syndrome.
Non-utilitarian lithic objects from the European Paleolithic

We present here previously unpublished non-utilitarian Paleolithic stone objects, within the contextual framework of similar objects from European sites. The occurrence of non-utilitarian lithic objects, often modified, in Middle Stone Age or Upper Paleolithic sites is now widely accepted as evidence of symbolic behavior associated with the appearance of Homo sapiens. However the occurrence of non-utilitarian and unusual objects in far earlier sites raises questions about their significance. Our purpose is not to discuss their meaning, which is unknown to us, but to approach their diversity and to trace their evolution. From the earliest beginnings of mankind, various objects have been found in the occupation sites that have no apparent functional link with any technical activity or food procurement. This type of object is more obvious from the Acheulian times onwards and then becomes common in the Late Pleistocene. The inventory and classification according to the object characteristics (raw material, color, shape, degree of transformation, etc.) and the context of the sites (chronology, stratigraphy, paleoenvironment) help in identifying specific hominin behavior. Perhaps they were intended to convey symbolic expression, quite vague in any case for the earliest periods, but at least their occurrence in the sites suggests some non-utilitarian concerns among the people who made them.
Sequence Identity and Antigenic Cross-reactivity of White Face Hornet Venom Allergen, Also a Hyaluronidase, with Other Proteins

White face hornet (Dolichovespula maculata) venom has three known protein allergens which induce IgE response in susceptible people. They are antigen 5, phospholipase A1, and hyaluronidase, also known as Dol m 5, 1, and 2, respectively. We have cloned Dol m 2, a protein of 331 residues. When expressed in bacteria, a mixture of recombinant Dol m 2 and its fragments was obtained. The fragments were apparently generated by proteolysis of a Met-Met bond at residue 122, as they were not observed for a Dol m 2 mutant with a Leu-Met bond. Dol m 2 has 56% sequence identity with the honey bee venom allergen hyaluronidase and 27% identity with PH-20, a human sperm protein with hyaluronidase activity. A common feature of hornet venom allergens is their sequence identity with other proteins in our environment. We showed previously the sequence identity of Dol m 5 with a plant protein and a mammalian testis protein and of Dol m 1 with mammalian lipases. In BALB/c mice, Dol m 2 and bee hyaluronidase showed cross-reactivity at both antibody and T cell levels. These findings are relevant to some patients' multiple sensitivity to hornet and bee stings.
Fiscal Decentralization and Revenue/Expenditure Disparities in China

A U. S.-based geographer investigates how decentralization, a central component of China's fiscal reforms in the 1980s and 1990s, has altered the foundation of underlying economic inequalities among its regions. More specifically, the paper examines the evolution of China's fiscal system during the reform era and corresponding changes in the character of central-local fiscal relations. It focuses on analyzing how patterns in regional fiscal disparities at multiple geographic levels have changed over time, laying the groundwork for further research on China's uneven regional development.
Spetzler-Martin Grade III arteriovenous malformations: surgical results and a modification of the grading scale.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze surgical results for the highly variable Spetzler-Martin Grade III arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), to demonstrate that outcomes vary among the different types of Grade III lesions, and to introduce a simple modification of the grading scale that might improve its usefulness for these AVMs. METHODS: In a consecutive series of 174 brain AVMs resected from 174 patients during a period of 4.8 years, 76 AVMs (45.2%) were Grade III. There were 35 small AVMs (S1V1E1) (46.1%), 14 medium/deep AVMs (S2V1E0) (18.4%), and 27 medium/eloquent AVMs (S2V0E1) (35.5%). No large Grade III AVM (S3V0E0) was treated. RESULTS: Complete AVM resection was accomplished for 74 patients (surgical obliteration rate, 97.4%). Three patients (3.9%) experienced permanent, treatment-associated, neurological morbidity, and three patients died (surgical mortality rate, 3.9%). Good outcomes (Rankin scale scores of <or=2) were observed for 59 patients (78.7%). Surgical risks (new deficit or death), according to the Grade III type, were 2.9% for small AVMs (S1V1E1), 7.1% for medium/deep AVMs (S2V1E0), and 14.8% for medium/eloquent AVMs (S2V0E1). CONCLUSION: Grade III AVMs are a heterogeneous group, with each type possessing different surgical risks, and the Spetzler-Martin grading scale should be modified accordingly. Grade III- AVMs (S1V1E1) have a surgical risk similar to that of low-grade AVMs and can be safely treated with microsurgical resection. Grade III+ AVMs (S2V0E1) have a surgical risk similar to that of high-grade AVMs and are best managed conservatively. Grade III AVMs (S2V1E0) have intermediate surgical risks and require judicious selection for surgery. Grade III* AVMs (S3V0E0) are either exceedingly rare, with a surgical risk that is unclear, or theoretical lesions with no clinical relevance.
Niclosamide Inhibits Androgen Receptor Variants Expression and Overcomes Enzalutamide Resistance in Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer

Purpose: Enzalutamide, a second-generation antiandrogen, was recently approved for the treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) in patients who no longer respond to docetaxel. Despite these advances that provide temporary respite, resistance to enzalutamide occurs frequently. Androgen receptor (AR) splice variants such as AR-V7 have recently been shown to drive castration-resistant growth and resistance to enzalutamide. This study was designed to identify inhibitors of AR variants and test its ability to overcome resistance to enzalutamide. Experimental Design: The drug screening was conducted using luciferase activity assay to determine the activity of AR-V7 after treatment with the compounds in the Prestwick Chemical Library, which contains about 1,120 FDA-approved drugs. The effects of the identified inhibitors on AR-V7 activity and enzalutamide sensitivity were characterized in CRPC and enzalutamide-resistant prostate cancer cells in vitro and in vivo . Results: Niclosamide, an FDA-approved antihelminthic drug, was identified as a potent AR-V7 inhibitor in prostate cancer cells. Niclosamide significantly downregulated AR-V7 protein expression by protein degradation through a proteasome-dependent pathway. Niclosamide also inhibited AR-V7 transcription activity and reduced the recruitment of AR-V7 to the PSA promoter. Niclosamide inhibited prostate cancer cell growth in vitro and tumor growth in vivo . Furthermore, the combination of niclosamide and enzalutamide resulted in significant inhibition of enzalutamide-resistant tumor growth, suggesting that niclosamide enhances enzalutamide therapy and overcomes enzalutamide resistance in CRPC cells. Conclusions: Niclosamide was identified as a novel inhibitor of AR variants. Our findings offer preclinical validation of niclosamide as a promising inhibitor of AR variants to treat, either alone or in combination with current antiandrogen therapies, patients with advanced prostate cancer, especially those resistant to enzalutamide. Clin Cancer Res; 20(12); 3198–210. ©2014 AACR .
Bupropion-sustained release as a treatment for SSRI-induced sexual side effects

Twenty-four subjects treated with serotonin reuptake inhibitors for a depressive disorder who had new-onset sexual side effects coincident with antidepressant treatment were treated with escalating doses of bupropion SR up to 300 mg daily for 7 weeks. Global response rates were 46% for women and 75% for men. All sexual side effects improved in response to bupropion SR in both men and women with no differential effect on any one sexual side effect. Most of the improvement (more than 50%) occurred within the first 2 weeks and at low dose (100-200 mg/day). When prescribed in an open fashion, bupropion SR appeared to be effective in treating all the major categories of sexual side effects.
Reliability and validity of cervical position measurements in individuals with and without chronic neck pain.

AbstractObjectives:The cervical range of motion device (CROM) has been shown to provide reliable forward head position (FHP) measurement when the upper cervical angle (UCA) is controlled. However, measurement without UCA standardization is reflective of habitual patterns. Criterion validity has not been reported. The purposes of this study were to establish: (1) criterion validity of CROM FHP and UCA compared to Optotrak data, (2) relative reliability and minimal detectable change (MDC95) in patients with and without cervical pain, and (3) to compare UCA and FHP in patients with and without pain in habitual postures.Methods:(1) Within-subjects single session concurrent criterion validity design. Simultaneous CROM and OP measurement was conducted in habitual sitting posture in 16 healthy young adults. (2) Reliability and MDC95 of UCA and FHP were calculated from three trials. (3) Values for adults over 35 years with cervical pain and age-matched healthy controls were compared.Results:(1) Forward head posit...
Late Wisconsin Paleoecologic Record from Swamp Lake, Yosemite National Park, California

A 7.86-m sediment core from Swamp Lake in Yosemite National Park, California, provides a continuous record of environmental change over the last ca. 16,000 yr, as inferred from pollen, macrofossil, and microscopic charcoal analyses. The core stratigraphy documents late Wisconsin (Tioga stage) deglaciation between >16,000 and 13,700 yr B.P., approximately 6000-3500 yr earlier than higher-elevation Sierra Nevada records. The core includes five volcanic ash layers, chemically identified as four Mono Craters ashes and the Tsoyawata ash (Mt. Mazama, Oregon). The fossil record shows that herbs and sagebrush dominated the glacial environment at Swamp Lake. By 12,000 yr B.P., a mixed conifer forest composed of high- and mid-elevation conifers grew around the lake, suggesting a cool, wet late-glacial environment. The modern Sierra montane forest did not become established until ca. 10,400 yr B.P., when maximum charcoal concentrations and minimum fir pollen percentages indicate an early Holocene xeric period. The record suggests that a cooling trend began ca. 6500 yr B.P. and persisted until ca. 3700 yr B.P. when the modern climatic regime was established.
On the suppression of shock-induced separation in Bethe–Zel'dovich–Thompson fluids

We consider the reflection of oblique compression waves from a two-dimensional, steady, laminar boundary layer on a flat, adiabatic plate at free-stream pressures such that dense-gas effects are non-negligible. The full Navier–Stokes equations are solved through use of a dense-gas version of the Beam–Warming implicit scheme. The main fluids studied are Bethe–Zel'dovich–Thompson (BZT) fluids. These are ordinary gases which have specific heats large enough to cause the fundamental derivative of gasdynamics to be negative for a range of pressures and temperatures in the single-phase vapour regime. It is demonstrated that the unique dynamics of BZT fluids can result in a suppression of shock-induced separation. Numerical tests performed reveal that the physical mechanism leading to this suppression is directly related to the disintegration of any compression discontinuities originating in the flow. We also demonstrate numerically that the interaction of expansion shocks with the boundary layer produces no adverse effects.