Geology and Energy Resources of the Arkoma Basin, Oklahoma and Arkansas

The Arkoma basin is a structurally defined basin that underlies an area of about 13,000 sq. mi. It extends from Little Rock, Arkansas, to Atoka, Oklahoma. The rocks in the basin grade upward from dolomite, some limestone, sandstone (Upper Cambrian to Upper Devonian) to shale and limestone (Upper Devonian to Lower Pennsylvanian) to shale, limestone, and sandstone (Lower Pennsylvanian) to shale and sandstone (Middle Pennsylvanian). The sediments that formed rocks in the lower part of the Atoka formation on the south side of the basin were deposited in a deep-water environment. All other sediments in the basin were deposited in shallow-water, littoral, or deltaic environments. Growth faults were restricted to the south side of the basin during Late Mississippian and Morrowan time but became common throughout the basin during Atokan time. During the Ouachita orogeny, the rocks were folded into east-west trending synclines and anticlines, and the anticlines along the southern part of the basin were ruptured by thrust faults. A small amount of oil has been produced from reservoirs of Ordovician, Silurian, and Pennsylvanian age in the extreme southwestern part of the basin. Approximately 4.9 trillion cu. ft. of natural gas have been produced from Ordovician to Pennsylvanian reservoirs. About 280 million short tons of coal have been produced from rocks of Atokan and Des Moinesian age

Detection of Alzheimer\u27s Disease and Other Diseases Using an Improved Photoaffinity Labeling Method

An improved method for diagnosing a disease comprising detecting a disease-specific biochemical marker macromolecule within a sample of extracted cerebral spinal fluid or serum is disclosed. In particular, a radioactively labeled photoaffinity probe is used to diagnose a disease. For instance, Alzheimer\u27s disease can be diagnosed by detecting a disease-specific protein having a molecular weight of about 42,000 daltons, i.e., glutamine synthetase. Also included is a method for detecting other disease states, such as cancer, by detecting the presence or absence of specific nucleotide binding proteins

Detection of Alzheimer\u27s Disease and Other Diseases Using an Improved Photoaffinity Labeling Method

A method for diagnosing a neurological disease comprising detecting a neurological disease-specific biochemical marker macromolecule within a sample of extracted cerebral spinal fluid is disclosed. In particular, a radioactively labeled photoaffinity probe is used to diagnose a neurological disease. For instance, Alzheimer\u27s disease can be diagnosed by detecting a disease-specific protein having a molecular weight of about 42,000 daltons, i.e., glutamine synthetase

Method of Ameliorating Oxidative Stress and Supplementing the Diet

A method of supplementing a diet and ameliorating oxidative stress in a mammal includes administering a pharmaceutically effective amount of lipid soluble, hydrophobic active compounds having a chemical structure . . . To see the remainder of this abstract, please download this patent

Thiol-Containing Compounds for the Removal of Elements from Tissues and Formulations Therefor

Methods and pharmaceutical formulations for ameliorating heavy metal toxicity and/or oxidative stress are disclosed, comprising administering pharmaceutically effective amounts of ligands according to the present disclosure. To see the remainder of the abstract, please download this patent

Nucleotide or Nucleoside Photoaffinity Compound Modified Antibodies, Methods for Their Manufacture and Use Thereof as Diagnostics and Therapeutics

Sites on antibodies having affinity for photoaffinity compounds, in particular purine or azidopurine containing compounds are taught. These sites provide for the site-specific attachment of nucleotide photoaffinity compounds to antibodies, e.g., ATP- or GTP-analog photoaffinity compounds by photochemical reaction. These nucleotide photoaffinity compounds may additionally be attached to molecules having a desired therapeutic or diagnostic activity, and the resultant conjugates used as diagnostics or therapeutics

Stern-Judging: A Simple, Successful Norm Which Promotes Cooperation under Indirect Reciprocity

We study the evolution of cooperation under indirect reciprocity, believed to constitute the biological basis of morality. We employ an evolutionary game theoretical model of multilevel selection, and show that natural selection and mutation lead to the emergence of a robust and simple social norm, which we call stern-judging. Under stern-judging, helping a good individual or refusing help to a bad individual leads to a good reputation, whereas refusing help to a good individual or helping a bad one leads to a bad reputation. Similarly for tit-for-tat and win-stay-lose-shift, the simplest ubiquitous strategies in direct reciprocity, the lack of ambiguity of stern-judging, where implacable punishment is compensated by prompt forgiving, supports the idea that simplicity is often associated with evolutionary success

Botulinum toxin treatment of spasticity in diplegic cerebral palsy : a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging study

This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of three doses of botulinum toxin A (BTX-A; Dysport®) in 125 patients (mean age 5.2 years, SD 2; 54% male)with dynamic equinus spasticity during walking. Participants were randomized to receive Dysport (10, 20, or 30 units/kg) or placebo to the gastrocnemius muscle of both legs. Muscle length was calculated from electrogoniometric measurements and the change in the dynamic component of gastrocnemius shortening at four weeks was prospectively identified as the primary outcome measure. All treatment groups showed statistically significant decreases in dynamic component compared with placebo at 4 weeks. Mean improvement in dynamic component was most pronounced in the 20 units/kg group, being equivalent to an increase in dorsiflexion with the knee extended at 19°, and was still present at 16 weeks. The safety profile of the toxin appears satisfactory

Gradual not sudden change: multiple sites of functional transition across the microvascular bed

In understanding the role of the neurovascular unit as both a biomarker and target for disease interventions, it is vital to appreciate how the function of different components of this unit change along the vascular tree. The cells of the neurovascular unit together perform an array of vital functions, protecting the brain from circulating toxins and infection, while providing nutrients and clearing away waste products. To do so, the brain’s microvasculature dilates to direct energy substrates to active neurons, regulates access to circulating immune cells, and promotes angiogenesis in response to decreased blood supply, as well as pulsating to help clear waste products and maintain the oxygen supply. Different parts of the cerebrovascular tree contribute differently to various aspects of these functions, and previously, it has been assumed that there are discrete types of vessel along the vascular network that mediate different functions. Another option, however, is that the multiple transitions in function that occur across the vascular network do so at many locations, such that vascular function changes gradually, rather than in sharp steps between clearly distinct vessel types. Here, by reference to new data as well as by reviewing historical and recent literature, we argue that this latter scenario is likely the case and that vascular function gradually changes across the network without clear transition points between arteriole, precapillary arteriole and capillary. This is because classically localized functions are in fact performed by wide swathes of the vasculature, and different functional markers start and stop being expressed at different points along the vascular tree. Furthermore, vascular branch points show alterations in their mural cell morphology that suggest functional specializations irrespective of their position within the network. Together this work emphasizes the need for studies to consider where transitions of different functions occur, and the importance of defining these locations, in order to better understand the vascular network and how to target it to treat disease

Eye spots do not increase altruism in children

The evolutionary legacy hypothesis proposes that an evolved reciprocity-based psychology affects human behavior in anonymous one-shot interactions when reciprocity is not explicitly possible. Empirical support rests on experiments showing that altruism among adults increases in the presence of stylized eye spots or faces. Such stimuli do not affect material payoffs, but they are assumed to activate a person’s reciprocity-based psychology. We identify two versions of the evolutionary legacy hypothesis. The weak hypothesis posits that reputational concerns can generate altruism in the absence of opportunities for a good reputation. The strong hypothesis posits that reputational concerns alone can explain anonymous one-shot altruism, and they can do so specifically in lieu of explanations based on group selection. A number of experimental studies support the weak hypothesis but are merely consistent with the strong hypothesis. To address both the weak and strong hypotheses, we conducted an eye spot experiment with children. Altruism can vary by age or sex in childhood, and under the strong hypothesis this kind of variation should reveal associated variation in sensitivity to eye spots. Although we found significant variation in altruism among children, we found no corresponding variation in sensitivity to eye spots. More generally, we found no eye spot effects of any kind. We discuss the possibility that eye spots might only affect altruism under specific conditions. We further argue that conditional effects do not refute the weak hypothesis in any way, but they do suggest potential limitations on the explanatory scope of the strong hypothesis