cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Distributed landscape response to localized uplift and the fragility of steady states

Abstract A primary goal of geomorphology is to infer from topographic form the processes that drive landscape evolution. Often implicit is the assumption that orogen-scale ( > 10 10 m2 planform area) transient landscape changes on Earth are driven by equally large-scale transient tectonics, climate, or sea level. Here we argue that meso-scale (105–1010 m2) uplift perturbations may affect landscapes on scales that far exceed their size and duration. We study the consequences of transient variations in uniform surface uplift that are localized in space, such as may occur in volcanic landscapes or during landslide emplacement. These localized uplift perturbations define a class of landforms that are larger than typical hillslope lengths but smaller than orogens, and grow at rates that are rapid compared to fluvial bedrock erosion. We use 1D and 2D landscape evolution models to show that uplift perturbations drive transient lateral migration and vertical amplification of nearby ridges, sometimes generating a spatially distributed imbalance between uplift and erosion that causes plateau-like topography. Relaxation to steady-state conditions, in which erosion balances uplift everywhere, depends on the degree to which wave-like adjustment within channels or of ridges dominates subsequent landscape erosion. We find that the spatial structure and timescales of landscape response are predictable given uplift perturbation parameters. In 2D models, localized uplift generates a radial pattern of channel network and drainage divide reorganization that remains long after the perturbation is eroded. The spatial pattern of ridges and channels in a landscape thus may record both the scale and pace of perturbations to the uplift field.
Spatial trends and environmental drivers of epibenthic shelf community structure across the Aleutian Islands

Abstract The continental shelf around the Aleutian Islands supports important commercial and subsistence fisheries as well as multiple seabird and marine mammal populations. To sustainably manage these populations, more information is needed on the distribution of the benthic communities that support some of the top level consumers. Given the vast size and highly variable physical environment of the Aleutian Islands, it is likely that epibenthic community structure on the continental shelf will vary among geographic areas according to their physical and oceanographic conditions. This project examined spatial patterns in Aleutian epibenthic shelf communities among oceanographic regions (defined here as island groups separated by major oceanographic passes) and islands within these regions, and identified environmental drivers responsible for variation in these communities. Benthic trawls were conducted at 12 Aleutian islands that spanned four oceanographic regions to characterize epibenthic shelf community structure. Specifically, variability in shelf community structure among regions and islands within each region was examined for correlations with multiple environmental variables, including bottom water temperature, water depth, distance from shore, hydrodynamic exposure, bottom rugosity, sediment grain size, sediment chlorophyll content, and drift algal (i.e., food subsidies) biomass. Overall, these communities varied both among regions and among islands within regions. In particular, communities in the Far Western region (Near Strait to Buldir Strait) differed from communities in other regions, largely due to a high density of sand dollars in the Far West. However, none of the measured environmental characteristics explained this difference. Additionally, there was no evidence for a break in epibenthic shelf community structure across Samalga Pass between the East and the Central regions, even though this pass represents a biogeographic break for other Aleutian community types. Within the Central region, a soft-sediment community characterized by the flatfish Atheresthes spp. and the crabs Labidochirus splendescens and Chionoecetes bairdi distinguished Adak Island from other Central islands. Compared with groundfish trawl surveys conducted by the Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC), this study captured fewer fish but more invertebrate biomass, which is likely related to differences in the sampling gear used by the two studies. This study provides information on the distribution of Aleutian shelf communities that complement existing information from AFSC surveys. In particular, an important division in epibenthic shelf communities was observed across Buldir Strait. Furthermore, this study suggests that future assessments of Aleutian epibenthic communities should utilize multiple sampling gear types to better represent various epibenthic taxa.
Developing a MLC modifier program to improve fiducial detection for MV/kV imaging during hypofractionated prostate volumetric modulated arc therapy

PURPOSE To develop an Eclipse plug-in (MLC_MODIFIER) that automatically modifies control points to expose fiducials obscured by MLC during VMAT, thereby facilitating tracking using periodic MV/kV imaging. METHOD Three-dimensional fiducial tracking was performed during VMAT by pairing short-arc (3°) MV digital tomosynthesis (DTS) images to triggered kV images. To evaluate MLC_MODIFIER efficacy, two cohorts of patients were considered. For first 12 patients, plans were manually edited to expose one fiducial marker. Next for 15 patients, plans were modified using MLC_MODIFIER script. MLC_MODIFIER evaluated MLC apertures at appropriate angles for marker visibility. Angles subtended by control points were compressed and low-dose "imaging" control points were inserted and exposed one marker with 1 cm margin. Patient's images were retrospectively reviewed to determine rate of MV registration failures. Failure categories were poor DTS image quality, MLC blockage of fiducials, or unknown reasons. Dosimetric differences in rectum, bladder, and urethra D1 cc, PTV maximum dose, and PTV dose homogeneity (PTV HI) were evaluated. Statistical significance was evaluated using Fisher's exact and Student's t test. RESULT Overall MV registration failures, failures due to poor image quality, MLC blockage, and unknown reasons were 33% versus 8.9% (P < 0.0001), 8% versus 6.4% (P < 0.05), 13.6% versus 0.1% (P < 0.0001), and 7.6% versus 2.4% (P < 0.0001) for manually edited and MLC_MODIFIER plans, respectively. PTV maximum and HI increased on average from unmodified plans by 2.1% and 0.3% (P < 0.004) and 22.0% and 3.3% (P < 0.004) for manually edited and MLC_MODIFIED plans, respectively. Changes in bladder, rectum, and urethra D1CC were similar for each method and less than 0.7%. CONCLUSION Increasing fiducial visibility via an automated process comprised of angular compression of control points and insertion of additional "imaging" control points is feasible. Degradation of plan quality is minimal. Fiducial detection and registration success rates are significantly improved compared to manually edited apertures.
Symptoms and Critical Illness Among Obstetric Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Infection.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize symptoms and disease severity among pregnant women with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection, along with laboratory findings, imaging, and clinical outcomes. METHODS: Pregnant women with COVID-19 infection were identified at two affiliated hospitals in New York City from March 13 to April 19, 2020, for this case series study. Women were diagnosed with COVID-19 infection based on either universal testing on admission or testing because of COVID-19-related symptoms. Disease was classified as either 1) asymptomatic or mild or 2) moderate or severe based on dyspnea, tachypnea, or hypoxia. Clinical and demographic risk factors for moderate or severe disease were analyzed and calculated as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% CIs. Laboratory findings and associated symptoms were compared between those with mild or asymptomatic and moderate or severe disease. The clinical courses and associated complications of women hospitalized with moderate and severe disease are described. RESULTS: Of 158 pregnant women with COVID-19 infection, 124 (78%) had mild or asymptomatic disease and 34 (22%) had moderate or severe disease. Of 15 hospitalized women with moderate or severe disease, 10 received respiratory support with supplemental oxygen and one required intubation. Women with moderate or severe disease had a higher likelihood of having an underlying medical comorbidity (50% vs 27%, OR 2.76, 95% CI 1.26-6.02). Asthma was more common among those with moderate or severe disease (24% vs 8%, OR 3.51, 95% CI 1.26-9.75). Women with moderate or severe disease were significantly more likely to have leukopenia and elevated aspartate transaminase and ferritin. Women with moderate or severe disease were at significantly higher risk for cough and chest pain and pressure. Nine women received ICU or step-down-level care, including four for 9 days or longer. Two women underwent preterm delivery because their clinical status deteriorated. CONCLUSION: One in five pregnant women who contracted COVID-19 infection developed moderate or severe disease, including a small proportion with prolonged critical illness who received ICU or step-down-level care.
Suburbs and Urban Peripheries in a Global Perspective

Herbert Gans’ classic book, The Levittowners, has inspired generations of urban sociologists studying American suburbs, but it has also confined the field’s focus to studies of the local community....
Robust Dynamic Event-Triggered Coordination With a Designable Minimum Interevent Time

This article revisits the classical multiagent average consensus problem for which many different event-triggered control strategies have been proposed over the last decade. Many of the earliest versions of these works conclude asymptotic stability without proving that Zeno behavior, or deadlocks, do not occur along the trajectories of the system. More recent works that resolve this issue either: propose the use of a dwell time that forces interevent times to be lower bounded away from zero but sacrifice asymptotic convergence in exchange for practical convergence (or convergence to a neighborhood); guarantee non-Zeno behaviors and asymptotic convergence but do not provide a positive minimum interevent time guarantee; or are not fully distributed. Additionally, the overwhelming majority of these works provide no form of robustness analysis on the event-triggering strategy. More specifically, if arbitrarily small disturbances can remove the non-Zeno property then the theoretically correct algorithm may not actually be implementable. Instead, this article for the first time presents a fully distributed, robust, dynamic event-triggered algorithm, for general directed communication networks, for which a desired positive minimum interevent time can be chosen by each agent in a distributed fashion. Simulations illustrate our results.
Axillary artery variation: The rule not the exception

Introduction: Anatomic morphology commonly depicted in atlases or textbooks is often emphasized in gross anatomy classrooms; however, considerable variation may be observed in cadavers during dissection, particularly in the vascular system. This study statistically assesses the frequency of the classic versus variant axillary artery branching pattern and compares these observations to the incidence of variation described in the literature. Material and Methods: Axillary artery branching pattern was studied in 62 cadaver limbs. A Chi square goodness of fit test with post hoc analyses on the adjusted standardized residuals was used to evaluate branching patterns. Results: A statistically significant difference existed between the observed and expected frequencies of the classic presentation (P
How, when, and where relic DNA biases estimates of microbial diversity

Extracellular or "relic" DNA is one of the largest pools of nucleic acids in the biosphere. Relic DNA can influence a number of important ecological and evolutionary processes, but it may also bias estimates of microbial abundance and diversity, which has implications for understanding environmental, engineered, and host-associated ecosystems. We developed models capturing the fundamental processes that regulate the size and composition of the relic DNA pools to identify scenarios leading to biased estimates of biodiversity. Our models predict that bias increases with relic DNA pool size, but only when the species abundance distributions (SAD) of relic and intact DNA are distinct from one another. We evaluated our model predictions by quantifying relic DNA and assessing its contribution to bacterial diversity using 16S rRNA gene sequences collected from different ecosystem types, including soil, sediment, water, and the mammalian gut. On average, relic DNA made up 33% of the total bacterial DNA pool, but exceeded 80% in some samples. Despite its abundance, relic DNA had no effect on estimates of taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity, even in ecosystems where processes such as the physical protection of relic DNA are common and predicted by our models to generate bias. Rather, our findings are consistent with the expectation that relic DNA sequences degrade in proportion to their abundance and therefore may contribute minimally to estimates of microbial diversity.
Perceptions of patients with wounds due to chronic limb-threatening ischemia

Patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) face numerous barriers to caring for lower extremity wounds. We explored the perceptions of CLTI patients to their wound/management and sought to determine attitudes towards their vascular provider as well as willingness for management through telemedicine. Patients admitted to hospital for treatment of Rutherford Grade 5 and 6 CLTI were asked complete a wound evaluation survey and took part in a semi-structured interview. Semi-structured interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using an inductive coding strategy. Codes were grouped for thematic analysis and aggregated into assertions. Eleven patients with a mean age of 60 years (35-79 years) were interviewed. All patients had peripheral artery disease (PAD) and eight patients had diabetes as well. Three overarching themes were identified. First, patients appear to have limited coping mechanisms and are overwhelmed by the care of their wounds. Second, in this cohort of patients, many had become passive observers of their care as demonstrated by a limited understanding of their disease processes and detachment from wound management. The third theme was how strong the desire to do everything to prevent limb loss was, but patients acknowledged this is hard to translate into real life with limited resources. Patients with CLTI have concerns that vascular providers must recognize and address to build strong patient-provider relationships and increase activation for management of their wounds and other medical conditions. Patients who have access to technology and with guidance may be able to understand getting care through remote medicine.
Now the Hard Part: Creating a Culture of Safety

In 2020, the coronavirus pandemic killed 1,800,000 people, 346,000 of them Americans. In that same year, if recent estimates are correct, about the same number died as a result of medical errors, all despite the enormous effort of the past 20 years to eliminate preventable harm, an effort that has involved people at all levels: policy makers, government agencies, oversight bodies, quality improvement organizations, major health-care systems, and thousands of providers and caregivers on the frontline.
Cancer Care in the Wake of a Cyberattack: How to Prepare and What to Expect.

PURPOSE:Cyberattacks targeting health care organizations are becoming more frequent and affect all aspects of care delivery. Cancer care is particularly susceptible to major disruptions because of ...
Identification of transcriptional programs regulated by p63 in primary epithelial cells

4408 p63, a p53 homologue, is required for normal development of stratified and glandular epithelia such as the skin, breast, and prostate. Along with a developmental role, p63 is often overexpressed in squamous epithelial cancers as a result of genomic amplification. To discover transcriptional programs regulated by p63 in epithelial cells, we have carried out whole genome chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) to identify genomic loci bound by p63 in normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEK). From this dataset, we sequenced over 5,000 candidate binding sites for p63, representing 2,879 candidate target genes. These genes group into several enriched ontological classes, with “tissue development,” “cell-cell signaling/interaction,” and “cell morphology,” representing the most significant matches. Parallel microarray analysis following RNAi-mediated p63 depletion in NHEKs identified 86 genes that were present in our ChIP dataset and also displayed significant transcriptional changes following p63 knockdown. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) validated a number of the candidate genes such as CALML5, BDKRB1, FOSL2, IL1A, ITGA6, NRG1, and RAB38 as direct transcriptional targets of p63 in human keratinocytes. Further, these target genes are regulated during calcium-induced differentiation of keratinocytes, a process known to result in down-regulation of p63. Further, using our expression analyses, we derived a p63 gene “signature” that we used to query the Connectivity Map (Lamb, et al., 2006) to identify perturbagens or drugs that would modulate either endogenous levels of p63 and/or epithelial cell differentiation. In addition to a number of molecules known to modulate keratinocyte differentiation, this approach identified other drugs able to modulate p63 expression in human keratinocytes. Thus, the use of newly identified target genes aided in the discovery of small molecules capable of modulating the expression of p63. Future use of this approach carries the potential to identify drugs or small compounds that may act to treat specific cancers and/or skin diseases that are driven by the deregulation of the p63 signaling pathway. Lamb et al., The Connectivity Map: using gene expression signatures to connect small molecules, genes, and disease. Science. (2006) 313(5795):1929-35.
Crustal structure of the northwestern Basin and Range Province and its transition to unextended volcanic plateaus

[1] The northwestern margin of the Basin and Range Province is characterized by a transition from low-magnitude (∼20%) extension in northwestern Nevada to relatively unextended volcanic plateaus in northeastern California. Seismic-velocity and potential-field modeling provides new control on the Mesozoic-to-present tectonic evolution of this poorly understood portion of the U.S. Cordillera. We document ∼20% crustal thinning associated with Basin and Range extension from a crustal thickness of ∼37 km under northeastern California to ∼31 km under northwestern Nevada that is consistent with the amount of extension recorded in the upper crust in northwestern Nevada, suggesting the crustal response to extension was relatively homogeneous over the entire crustal column. Our modeling also shows a well-defined, 80-km-wide zone of unusually low upper-crustal velocities (∼5.9–6.1 km/s) that coincide with the surface location of sparse Cretaceous granites, locating the elusive northern extension of the Sierra Nevada batholith through northwestern Nevada for the first time in the subsurface. Combining geological and geophysical data, we reconstruct the late Cretaceous-to-present crustal evolution of this region, documenting an interplay between magmatic addition to the crust, erosional exhumation, sedimentation, and extension that has reversed the direction of crustal thinning from a west-facing continental margin to an east-facing interior basin margin over this time interval. Finally, we find no evidence in northwestern Nevada for unusually thick crust (>40 km) prior to Basin and Range extension.
LV-RV Shape Modeling Based on a Blended Parameterized Model

Making a generic heart deformable model to be able to analyze normal and pathological hearts is important. Such a generic model gives more stability and accuracy for segmentation, analysis and classsification. Due to the conflicting demands of shape generality and shape compactness, such a generic heart model is difficult to define. In order to be useful, a generic heart model should be defined with a few number of parameters. In all the previous work on the modeling of the LV-RV shape the deformable model is built from the given datasets. Therefore such methods have limitations that the quality of shape estimation are dependent on the quality of the datasets. In this paper, we introduce a blended deformable model approach with parameter functions which is generic enough to deal with the different heart shapes. Using a method we are able to model the 3D shape of the heart which include the left ventricle (LV) and the right ventricle (RV). We also include the inflow and outflow tract of the RV basal area, so that the full LV-RV shape can be estimated.
Is Tetranychus urticae suitable prey for development and reproduction of naïve Coleomegilla maculata

The lady beetle Coleomegilla maculata De Geer is an omnivorous predator that could help suppress aphid and spider mite populations on plants in greenhouses, plantscapes or interiorscapes. We are assessing the nutritional requirements and feeding behavior of C. maculata on target prey (spider mites) and factitious (unnatural) food. Our ultimate goal is to develop an efficacious diet to mass produce C. maculata. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that Tetranychus urticae Koch (two-spotted spider mite) is not suitable prey for development and reproduction of naive C. maculata (i.e., with no prior exposure to T. urticae). Our objectives were to (i) provide baseline data on the effects of consuming T. urticae on C. maculata life history, (ii) to compare the effects of consuming all stages of T. urticae versus eggs of Musca domestica L. (common housefly), and (iii) to determine if the consumption of plant products was beneficial. We used C. maculata from a colony reared only on Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Mediterranean flour moth) eggs. In experiments, C. maculata larvae were reared from the first instar to adult stage with prey/food in replicated arenas; adult females were paired with a single male with prey/food. The results showed that naive C. maculata readily attacked and consumed T. urticae. Nevertheless, T. urticae was less suitable than M. domestica eggs for C. maculata development and reproduction. Applying a synthetic pollen-Chlorella alga powder (SPCA) in arenas containing T. urticae appeared to boost C. maculata female development and reproduction.
Toward a circuit theory for sensor networks with fading channels

For Rayleigh fading wireless channels, there exists an interesting similarity between resistive circuits and time and path diversity mechanisms in multihop wireless sensor networks. A resistor-like circuit element, the erristor, representing the normalized noise-to-signal ratio, is introduced. Given an end-to-end packet delivery probability, the nonlinear mapping from link reception probabilities to erristor values greatly simplifies the problems of power allocation and the selection of time and path diversity schemes. Thanks to its simplicity, the formalism that is developed also provides valuable insight into the benefits of diversity mechanisms, and it reveals an interesting analogy to electric circuits as the signal-to-noise ratios exhibit resistor-like properties.
Physical Studies on the Light Density Ribonucleoprotein Complex of Macrophage Cells

Abstract A ribonucleoprotein complex of low molecular weight has been isolated from macrophage cells exposed in vitro to selected antigens. This ribonucleoprotein complex has the capacity to induce the formation of antibody directed against these antigens. The complex has a banding density of 1.588 g per cc in cesium sulfate solution and an s20,w of 1.8. An approximate molecular weight of the complex, derived from its sedimentation coefficient, is 12,000. After removal of the protein component, the s20,w falls to 1.3 S. The ribonucleoprotein complex has an Rf in 5% polyacrylamide gels of 0.35 and appears to be homogeneous with respect to molecular size in these systems.
The Role of Electronic Structure Calculation in Mechanistic Analysis of Electron Transfer Reactions in the Liquid Phase

Model calculations have been employed in elucidating the mechanism of electron transfer reactions in aqueous solution. The contribution of inner shell OH bonds to activation barriers has been estimated from calculation for metal ion hydrates. Calculated electron transfer matrix elements (Haf) for redox processes of the type, ML6 2+ + ML6 3+ = ML6 3+ + ML6 2+, M = Fe, Co, or Ru, L = H2O or NH3, have been analyzed in terms of various orbital concepts. The matrix elements are based on ab initio wavefunctions for model supermolecule clusters of the type, (MLn •••LnM)5+ with n = 1 or 3. The analysis shows that the many-electron Hif quantities can in fact be expressed to good approximation as effective 1-electron expressions of the type, Hif ∝ (λ↑)2 NchLlLr, where λ ’is the metal-ligand covalency parameter, hLlLr is a local 1-electron matrix element for ligand orbitals in contact in the transition state, and Nc is the number of such contacts. A least-squares fit of the data implies a value of ~ 5000 cm-1 for hLlLr showing that significant coupling can occur in the absence of formal bonding between reactants.
Timing of Emergency Medicine Student Evaluation Does Not Affect Scoring

Abstract Background Evaluation of medical students rotating through the emergency department (ED) is an important formative and summative assessment method. Intuitively, delaying evaluation should affect the reliability of this assessment method, however, the effect of evaluation timing on scoring is unknown. Objective A quality-improvement project evaluating the timing of end-of-shift ED evaluations at the University of Arizona was performed to determine whether delay in evaluation affected the score. Methods End-of-shift ED evaluations completed on behalf of fourth-year medical students from July 2012 to March 2013 were reviewed. Forty-seven students were evaluated 547 times by 46 residents and attendings. Evaluation scores were means of anchored Likert scales (1–5) for the domains of energy/interest, fund of knowledge, judgment/problem-solving ability, clinical skills, personal effectiveness, and systems-based practice. Date of shift, date of evaluation, and score were collected. Linear regression was performed to determine whether timing of the evaluation had an effect on evaluation score. Results Data were complete for 477 of 547 evaluations (87.2%). Mean evaluation score was 4.1 (range 2.3–5, standard deviation 0.62). Evaluations took a mean of 8.5 days (median 4 days, range 0–59 days, standard deviation 9.77 days) to complete. Delay in evaluation had no significant effect on score ( p = 0.983). Conclusions The evaluation score was not affected by timing of the evaluation. Variance in scores was similar for both immediate and delayed evaluations. Considerable amounts of time and energy are expended tracking down delayed evaluations. This activity does not impact a student's final grade.
Characterization of absorption and scattering properties of small-volume biological samples using time-resolved spectroscopy.

Abstract With time-resolved spectroscopy, we develop an experimental approach by sample substitution to measure the absorption (μ a ) and reduced scattering (μ′ s ) coefficients of small-volume biological samples. To investigate the method, small-volume control samples are substituted into a large-size host medium during increases in the absorber (or scatterer) concentration of the host. By characterizing the deviation of the spectra taken with and without the sample, we determine the matching points where the sample and surrounding medium are optically identical. We show that this method can result in correct values of the μ a and μ′ s for the sample within 6% error if the matching conditions for both the μ a and the μ′ s are fully realized. The results also indicate that this method can give approximate values of the μ a and μ′ s in a reasonable range if either the μ a or the μ′ s matching between the two media is realized. This method has been applied to the studies of absorption properties of a human finger and of scattering properties of yeast.
Vegetation impoverishment despite greening: A case study from central Senegal

Abstract Recent remote sensing studies have documented a greening trend in the semi-arid Sahel and Sudan zones of West Africa since the early 1980s, which challenges the mainstream paradigm of irreversible land degradation in this region. What the greening trend means on the ground, however, has not yet been explored. This research focuses on a region in central Senegal to examine changes in woody vegetation abundance and composition in selected sites by means of a botanical inventory of woody vegetation species, repeat photography, and perceptions of local land users. Despite the greening, an impoverishment of the woody vegetation cover was observed in the studied sites, indicated by an overall reduction in woody species richness, a loss of large trees, an increasing dominance of shrubs, and a shift towards more arid-tolerant, Sahelian species since 1983. Thus, interpretation of the satellite-derived greening trend as an improvement or recovery is not always justified. The case of central Senegal represents only one of several possible pathways of greening throughout the region, all of which result in similar satellite-derived greening signals.
Central Nervous System Tuberculosis with the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome and Its Related Complex

Central nervous system tuberculosis occurred in three patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and seven patients with AIDS-related complex who were evaluated for 48 months. Nine patients were intravenous drug abusers and one was Haitian. Five patients had cerebral-ring-enhancing lesions and three had hypodense areas. The clinical spectrum included meningitis in two patients, multiple cerebral abscesses in one, and tuberculomas in four. All Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates were sensitive to standard antituberculous drugs. All patients received treatment with isoniazid, rifampin, and pyrazinamide; six patients also received streptomycin. Three patients with AIDS died of opportunistic infection preceded by central nervous system tuberculosis. Among the patients with the AIDS-related complex, three improved with treatment, three were lost to follow-up, and one died. Tuberculosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of central nervous system mass lesions in intravenous drug abusers with AIDS or AIDS-related complex. Because patients with tuberculosis can be cured, biopsy of accessible brain mass lesions should be mandatory. Preventive therapy may be indicated in drug abusers without disease.
4-Hydroxy-3-nitrosobenzamide and its ferrous chelate from Streptomyces murayamaensis

Abstract Two new colored metabolites of Streptomyces murayamaensis have been isolated and characterized as 4-hydroxy-3-nitrosobenzamide and its ferrous chelate. These structures have been confirmed by synthesis via a modified Baudisch reaction. A sample of 3-amino-4-hydroxy[2-2H]benzoic acid was fed to S. murayamaensis, affording a sample of the 4-hydroxy-3-nitrosobenzamide ferrous chelate deuterated at C-2 (28.5% enrichment, 3.2% incorporation).
Helping Rural Communities Manage Growth and Protect Natural Resources.

A learning needs assessment survey was conducted by the Green Valley Institute in the Quinebaug Shetucket National Heritage Corridor in Connecticut and Massachusetts. This survey was designed to assess educational interests, perceived knowledge, and importance relating to land use, community planning and design, and natural resources. Findings show that respondents are interested in learning more about these topics and that there is a link between this interest and prior knowledge. The more people know about the impacts of growth and the problems that occur when we do not protect our natural resources systems, the more they will be able to manage these development pressures.
Simultaneous detection and deconvolution of congested NMR spectra containing three isotopically labeled species.

We present a procedure for isolating subspectra corresponding to individual protein or peptide components in a ternary mixture or complex. Each of the three-component species is labeled differently: species A uniformly with 15N, species B uniformly with 15N and 13C, and species C uniformly with 15N but selectively with 13C′ or 13Cα. By using the dual carbon label selective HSQC (DCLS-HSQC) pulse sequence and exploiting differences in 1J 15N−13C coupling patterns to filter selected 15N resonances from detection during a constant time period, a subspectrum from each species can be generated from three spectra acquired from a single sample. Many important biological pathways involve dynamic interactions among members of multicomponent protein assemblies, and this approach offers a powerful way to monitor such processes.
GAMMA RAYS FOLLOWING RESONANT NEUTRON CAPTURE IN $sup 56$Fe.

The spectrum of $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ rays following neutron capture at the 1167-eV resonance in $^{56}\mathrm{Fe}$ has been measured at 90\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} and 135\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} to the incident beam. The partial widths for radiative decay have been determined and compared to the Weisskopf estimates. The $M1$ and $E1$ $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray strengths are found to be comparable, and a sizable $E2$ $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ ray in the resonance has been recorded. On the basis of the $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray measurements at two angles, and from what has been determined from other experiments, the spin and parity of the 1167-eV resonance are shown to be ${\mathrm{\textonehalf{}}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$.
The indenyl effect in zirconocene dihydride chemistry

The second-order rate constants for the insertion of cyclohexene into substituted bis(indenyl)zirconocene dihydrides, (η5-C9H5-1,3-R2)2ZrH2 (R = SiMe3, CHMe2), to yield the cyclohexyl hydride compl...
Effects of isotopic substitution on the vibrational spectra of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene

Abstract The gas phase FT-i.r. spectra of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene and various 2H and 15N substituted analogues are recorded at temperatures above the melting point of each compound. AM1 calculations are used to predict the fundamental vibrational frequencies of each isotopic analogue. Solid state (KBr) spectra and solvent effects aided in the vibrational assignments.
A Time to Tan: Proximal and Distal Effects of Mortality Salience on Sun Exposure Intentions

According to the dual defense model of terror management, proximal defenses are engaged to reduce the conscious impact of mortality salience, whereas thoughts of death outside of conscious awareness motivate distal defenses aimed at maintaining self-esteem. Two experiments examined these ideas by assessing women's intentions to engage in tanning-related behavior. In Study 1, when concerns about death (relative to dental pain) were in focal attention, participants increased intentions to protect themselves from dangerous sun exposure. In contrast, when thoughts about death were outside of focal attention, participants decreased interest in sun protection. In Study 2, participants primed to associate tanned skin with an attractive appearance responded to mortality concerns outside of focal attention with increased interest in tanning products and services. These findings are discussed in relation to the dual-defense model of terror management, societal determinants of self-esteem, and implications for health risk and promotion.
Galaxy cluster to cloud - genomics at scale

Fueled by the radically increased capacity to generate data over the past decade, the field of biomedical research has been constrained by the ability to analyze data. Galaxy, an open genomics and biomedical research platform, has been democratizing access to data analysis tools with its effective and accessible web interface. However, the scale of data and the scope of tools required have proven to be a significant challenge for any monolithic deployment of the Galaxy application. We have found that a distributed and federated approach to utilizing compute and storage resources is necessary. This paper describes the ongoing efforts in creating a ubiquitous platform capable of simultaneously utilizing dedicated as well as on-demand cloud resources.
Agrin requires specific proteins to selectively activate γ-aminobutyric acid neurons for pain suppression.

Abstract Agrin, a heparan sulfate proteoglycan functioning as a neuro-muscular junction inducer, has been shown to inhibit neuropathic pain in sciatic nerve injury rat models, via phosphorylation of N-Methyl- d -aspartate receptor NR1 subunits in gamma-aminobutyric acid neurons. However, its effects on spinal cord injury-induced neuropathic pain, a debilitating syndrome frequently encountered after various spine traumas, are unknown. In the present investigation, we studied the 50 kDa agrin isoform effects in a quisqualic acid dorsal horn injection rat model mimicking spinal cord injury-induced neuropathic pain. Our results indicate that 50 kDa agrin decreased only in the dorsal horn of neuropathic animals and increased 50 kDa agrin expression in the dorsal horn, via intra-spinal injection of adeno-associated virus serum type two, suppressed spinal cord injury-induced neuropathic pain. Also, the reason why 50 kDa agrin only activates the N-Methyl- d -aspartate receptor NR1 subunits in the GABA neurons, but not in sensory neurons, is unknown. Using immunoprecipitation and Western-blot analysis, two dimensional gel separation, and mass spectrometry, we identified several specific proteins in the reaction protein complex, such as neurofilament 200 and mitofusin 2, that are required for the activation of the NR1 subunits of gamma-aminobutyric acid inhibitory neurons by 50 kDa agrin. These findings indicate that 50 kDa agrin is a promising agent for neuropathic pain treatment.
Micro method for determination of borohydride with NAD

A spectrophotometric method for the determination of borohydride is described. It involves the reduction of NAD’ to a number of isomeric forms of NADH by borohydride. In the standard assay procedure herewith presented, there is a direct proportionality between the absorption at 340 nm and the amount of borohydride in solution over the range IO-100 nmoles, with an effective “molar extinction coefficient” of 12.2 X IO”. The method is simple, rapid, and sensitive.
Iron(II)/reductant(DH2)-induced activation of dioxygen for the hydroxylation and ketonization of hydrocarbons; Mimics for the cytochrome P-450 hydroxylase/reductase system

Several metal complexes [(FeII(DPAH)2 (DPAH2 = 2,6-dicarboxyl pyridine), FeII(PA)2 (PAH = picolinic acid), FeII(bpy)2(2+), FeII(OPPh3)4(2+), (Cl8TPP)FeIIIX (X = Cl, OH, SCH2Ph) [Cl8TPP = tetrakis (2,6-dichlorophenyl)porphyrin], (TPP) FeIIICl (TPP = tetraphenylporphyrin), and CuI(tpy)2+ (typ = 2,2'-6,2"-terpyridine)] in combination with one of several reductants [DH2; PhNHNHPh (mimic of dihydroflavin), PhNHNH2, ascorbic acid (H2asc), and PhCH2SH (model ligand for cysteine residue)] catalytically activate O2 (1 atm) for the hydroxylation of saturated hydrocarbons (e.g. c-C6H12-->c-C6H11OH). This chemistry closely parallels that of cytochrome P-450 proteins, and both appear to involve a Fenton-like reactive intermediate), [LxFeOOH(DH)]. With cyclohexane as the substrate the dominant product is its ketone (as well as significant amounts of its hydroperoxide). 1,4-Cyclohexadiene (with two double-allylic carbon centers) undergoes dehydrogenation to give benzene, but also yields substantial amounts of phenol via ketonization of an allylic carbon. The 1:1 FeII(bpy)2(2+)/(PhNHNH2 or H2asc), FeII(PA)2/H2asc, and (Cl8TPP)FeIIICl/PhNHNH2 combinations initiate the autoxidation of 1,4-cyclohexadiene with turnover numbers (moles of product per mole of reductant) from 71 to 26, respectively (alpha-tocophenol reduces the turnover numbers by 20-80%). With respect to aerobic biology, the present results indicate that dysfunctional transition metals (degradation products of metalloproteins) in combination with biological reductants activate O2 for reaction with organic substrates. The level of activation is similar to that for Fenton reagents and cytochrome P-450 hydroxylases. Hence, dysfunctional transition metals, reductants, and O2 are a hazardous combination within a biological matrix.
Source apportionment and organic compound characterization of ambient ultrafine particulate matter (PM) in the Los Angeles Basin

In this study, quasi-UFP (PM0.25, dp < 0.25 μm) were collected for 24 h once per week from April 2008 to March 2009 at 10 different locations in the Los Angeles Basin. Samples were chemically analyzed and organic constituents of PM0.25 were grouped into polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs), hopanes and steranes, n-alkanes, and levoglucosan, with concentration levels ranging from 0.16 to 5.5, 0.09 to 2.2, 9.3 to 48, and 2.2 to 106.2 ng m−3 over all sites and seasons, respectively. A molecular marker-based chemical mass balance (MM-CMB) model was applied to estimate the relative contributions from the following primary sources: mobile sources (combined gasoline and diesel vehicles), wood smoke, natural gas combustion, vegetative detritus, and ship emissions. Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) tracers were not included in the model; however their contributions were estimated from non-biomass burning water soluble organic carbon (WSOCnb) and un-apportioned OC from MM-CMB model (“other OC”). High correlation (R2 = 0.8) between “other OC” and WSOCnb in summer suggests that “other OC” is highly impacted by SOA, however un-apportioned primary sources may contribute to “other OC” as well. Mobile sources were expectedly the major primary contributor to PM0.25, with seasonal average contributions of 31 ± 12% in summer and 57 ± 17% in winter. “Other organic matter” was the second largest contributor to PM0.25 in all seasons, across the basin, with substantially higher contribution during warmer spring and summer seasons (27%), while lowest during cold seasons (13%). Wood smoke was the third major contributor to PM0.25 in winter, whereas its contribution was lowest in summer. As expected, ship emissions displayed the highest contribution at the near-harbor HUD site, and their levels continually decreased as a function of distance from coast. Two other primary sources, vegetative detritus and natural gas combustion, collectively contributed to 1.3 ± 0.8% of PM0.25 on an annual average basis over all sites. Comparison of our results to PM2.5 OC apportionment, conducted at central LA, shows that contribution of mobile sources to PM0.25 OC is more than two times higher than PM2.5 (75% and 30%, respectively), while “other OC” contributed significantly higher to PM2.5 OC compared to PM0.25 (56% and 21%, respectively).
IC yield modeling and statistical circuit simulation

An important concern whether designing a new process or maintaining an existing one is the cost of production and hence the chip yield. In order to maximize chip yield, the most significant process parameters need to be identified so that variations in these critical parameters can be minimized resulting in the highest possible chip yield. Presented in this paper is a software-based methodology for facilitating the identification of critical process parameters and relating them to circuit level performances using statistical analysis techniques and conventional simulators.
Expanding the Visible Light Photoswitch Library: A Red-Shifted, Fast-Relaxing Azobenzene Photoswitch for Reversible Activation of Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors

We have previously described a two-component optochemical genetic method for controlling both ion channels (LiGluR) and G-protein coupled receptors (LimGluR). The components, a cysteine mutant of the desired protein and a photoswitchable tethered ligand (PTL), covalently bind to impart precise temporal and spatial control of protein function with light. We focus on the PTL family of Maleimide-Azobenzene-Glutamate (MAG) compounds that rely on the photoisomerization of the azobenzene moiety to change conformation and thus present or remove the ligand (glutamate) from the ligand binding domain. First generation MAG compounds are limited by the requirement of UV light (380 nm) illumination, which poorly penetrates tissue, and are bistable, requiring two specific wavelengths of light to toggle between conformations. By changing the substitution on the azobenzene core, the wavelength of trans to cis isomerization can be red-shifted and the thermal stability of the cis isomer can be significantly reduced. Here we describe the synthesis and characterization of a new red-shifted MAG compound in conjunction with modified group II metabotropic glutamate receptors, mGluR2 and mGluR3. Whole-cell patch clamp experiments on HEK293 cells expressing the mGluR3 cysteine mutant labeled with the new MAG also expressing GIRK1 as an electrophysiological readout showed visible light dependent activation that rapidly reverses in the dark. Thus, the new red-shifted MAG further validates that the two-component system tolerates variation of the PTL and provides tunable control of channel photoactivation properties.
Tissue concentrations of MPTP and MPP+ in relation to catecholamine depletion after the oral or subcutaneous administration of MPTP to mice.

One hour after MPTP was given to mice at a dose of 30 mg/kg s.c., its concentration in tissues varied in the order kidney greater than liver greater than lung greater than brain greater than heart. When the same dose of MPTP was given orally, concentrations in most tissues were much lower at 1 hr than after s.c. administration, although the MPTP concentration in liver was only slightly lower. The concentrations of MPP+ (a metabolite of MPTP) at 1 hr were as high or higher than those of MPTP in all tissues except kidney, and MPP+ disappeared from the various tissues with half-lives from 3-20 hrs. The highest concentrations of MPP+, both absolute and relative to MPTP, were in heart. After oral administration of MPTP, no MPP+ was found in brain, and MPP+ concentrations in other tissues were lower than those after s.c. dosing. The depletion of heart norepinephrine was similar after MPTP administration by either route of administration even though MPTP and MPP+ concentrations in heart were lower after oral administration, suggesting that other metabolites of MPTP might also contribute to heart norepinephrine depletion.
Risk Management in Agricultural Markets: A Review

This article surveys and evaluates the current state of knowledge about producers' marketing strategies to manage price and revenue risk for farm commodities. The review highlights gaps between concepts and their implementation. Many well-developed models of price behavior exist, but appropriate characterization and estimation of the probability distributions of commodity prices remain elusive. Hence, the preferred measure of price risk is ambiguous. Numerous models of optimal marketing portfolios for farmers have been specified, but their behavior appears to be inconsistent with most, if not all, of these models. In addition, some research suggests that farmers can earn speculative profits, which is inconsistent with notions of efficient markets. The conclusions discuss what academic research can and cannot accomplish in relation to assisting producers with risk-management decisions. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 21:953–985, 2001