cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Energy-constrained open-system magmatic processes 3. Energy-Constrained Recharge, Assimilation, and Fractional Crystallization (EC-RAFC)

[1] Geochemical data for igneous rock suites provide conclusive evidence for the occurrence of open-system processes within thermally and compositionally evolving magma bodies. The most significant processes include magma Recharge (with possible enclave formation and magma mixing), Assimilation of anatectic melt derived from wallrock partial melting and formation of cumulates by Fractional Crystallization (RAFC). In this study, we extend the Energetically Constrained Assimilation and Fractional Crystallization (EC-AFC) model [Spera and Bohrson, 2001; Bohrson and Spera, 2001] to include the addition of compositionally and thermally distinct recharge melt during simultaneous assimilation and fractional crystallization. Energy-Constrained Recharge, Assimilation, and Fractional Crystallization (EC-RAFC) tracks the trace element and isotopic composition of melt, cumulates and enclaves during simultaneous recharge, assimilation and fractional crystallization. EC-RAFC is formulated as a set of 3 + t + i + s coupled nonlinear differential equations, where the number of trace elements and radiogenic and stable isotope ratios modeled are t, i, and s, respectively. Solution of the EC-RAFC equations provides values for the average wallrock temperature (Ta), mass of melt within the magma body (Mm), mass of cumulates (Mct) and enclaves (Men), mass of wallrock involved in the thermal interaction (Mao), mass of anatectic melt assimilated (M*a), concentration of t trace elements and i + s isotopic ratios in melt (Cm), cumulates (Cct), enclaves (Cen), and anatectic melt (Ca) as a function of magma temperature (Tm). Input parameters include the equilibration temperature (Teq), the initial temperature and composition of pristine melt (Tmo, Cmo, emo), recharge melt (Tro, Cro, ero), and wallrock (Tao, Cao, eao), temperature-dependent trace element distribution coefficients (Dm, Dr, Da), heats of transition for wallrock (Δha), pristine melt (Δhm), and recharge melt (Δhr), and the isobaric specific heat capacity of assimilant (Cp,a), pristine melt (Cp,m), and recharge melt (Cp,r). The magma recharge mass function, Mr(Tm), is specified a priori and defines how recharge magma is added to standing magma. The present EC-RAFC simulator incorporates a weak coupling to major element mass balance and phase relations based on laboratory experiments or Gibbs Energy minimization [e.g., Ghiorso, 1997]. EC-RAFC can be applied to a variety of magmatic systems including volcanic suites that show evidence of magma mixing, layered mafic intrusions, and granitoid plutons. Predictions for masses, as well as compositions of magmatic products, are part of the EC-RAFC solution. The “systems” approach provides an opportunity to quantitatively assess the roles of assimilation, fractional crystallization, and magma recharge in magma evolution using trace element and isotopic constraints together with energy conservation.
Discovering identities in web contexts with unsupervised clustering

We describe the application of unsupervised clustering methodologies to the problem of discriminating among ambiguous names found in short passages of text that appear on Web pages. We show how to tailor these methods to handle the very noisy data that we typically find on the Web. We experiment with several variations in feature selection, two methods that automatically determine the number of clusters in the data, two different representations of the contexts to be discriminated, and with dimensionality reduction. Our evaluation is carried out using Web contexts for five different ambiguous names that were manually disambiguated to use as a gold standard.
Energy‐Constrained Recharge, Assimilation, and Fractional Crystallization (EC‐RAχFC): A Visual Basic computer code for calculating trace element and isotope variations of open‐system magmatic systems

[1] Volcanic and plutonic rocks provide abundant evidence for complex processes that occur in magma storage and transport systems. The fingerprint of these processes, which include fractional crystallization, assimilation, and magma recharge, is captured in petrologic and geochemical characteristics of suites of cogenetic rocks. Quantitatively evaluating the relative contributions of each process requires integration of mass, species, and energy constraints, applied in a self-consistent way. The energy-constrained model Energy-Constrained Recharge, Assimilation, and Fractional Crystallization (EC-RaχFC) tracks the trace element and isotopic evolution of a magmatic system (melt + solids) undergoing simultaneous fractional crystallization, recharge, and assimilation. Mass, thermal, and compositional (trace element and isotope) output is provided for melt in the magma body, cumulates, enclaves, and anatectic (i.e., country rock) melt. Theory of the EC computational method has been presented by Spera and Bohrson (2001, 2002, 2004), and applications to natural systems have been elucidated by Bohrson and Spera (2001, 2003) and Fowler et al. (2004). The purpose of this contribution is to make the final version of the EC-RAχFC computer code available and to provide instructions for code implementation, description of input and output parameters, and estimates of typical values for some input parameters. A brief discussion highlights measures by which the user may evaluate the quality of the output and also provides some guidelines for implementing nonlinear productivity functions. The EC-RAχFC computer code is written in Visual Basic, the programming language of Excel. The code therefore launches in Excel and is compatible with both PC and MAC platforms. The code is available on the authors' Web sites http://magma.geol.ucsb.edu/and http://www.geology.cwu.edu/ecrafc) as well as in the auxiliary material.
Sharp Eccentric Rings in Planetless Hydrodynamical Models of Debris Disks

Exoplanets are often associated with disks of dust and debris, analogs of the Kuiper Belt in our solar system. These "debris disks" show a variety of non-trivial structures attributed to planetary perturbations and utilized to constrain the properties of the planets. However, analyses of these systems have largely ignored the fact that, increasingly, debris disks are found to contain small quantities of gas, a component all debris disks should contain at some level. Several debris disks have been measured with a dust-to-gas ratio around unity where the effect of hydrodynamics on the structure of the disk cannot be ignored. Here we report that dust-gas interactions can produce some of the key patterns seen in debris disks that were previously attributed to planets. Through linear and nonlinear modeling of the hydrodynamical problem, we find that a robust clumping instability exists in this configuration, organizing the dust into narrow, eccentric rings, similar to the Fomalhaut debris disk. The hypothesis that these disks might contain planets, though thrilling, is not necessarily required to explain these systems.
Bank Executive Overconfidence and Delayed Expected Loss Recognition

While prior work shows that delayed expected loan loss recognition is related to lending propensity (Beatty and Liao, 2011), bank risk (Bushman and Williams, 2011), and bank risk taking (Bushman and Williams, 2012), we provide evidence that executive overconfidence is a potential driver of delayed expected loan loss recognition. We find that overconfident bank CEOs and CFOs recognize lower loan loss provisions and incorporate current and future deterioration in nonperforming loans in their loan loss provisions less than other bank CEOs and CFOs. Our evidence of delayed expected loss recognition is driven primarily by CFOs, consistent with CFOs being closer to the financial reporting function than CEOs. The study is important because it demonstrates that manager characteristics can have meaningful economic consequences for financial institutions through the reporting of asset risk.
Radiation hydrodynamics in a foam-filled hohlraum heated by multi-kilojoule one micron light on the omega laser facility

Summary form only given. The radiation hydrodynamics of a 13-beam, 6 kilojoule, nanosecond laser pulse is modeled in a cylindrical hohlraum filled with CH foam having a density of tens of milligrams per cubic centimeter. The obliquely incident laser light produces a hard M-shell radiation field that impinges on and propagates through the foam. Simulations are compared to experiments performed on the Omega Laser Facility at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics. The temporal and spatial characteristics of the radiation wave as it evolves to Planckian in various foam densities are presented.
Streamflow responses to past and projected future changes in climate at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, New Hampshire, United States

[1] Climate change has the potential to alter streamflow regimes, having ecological, economic, and societal implications. In the northeastern United States, it is unclear how climate change may affect surface water supply, which is of critical importance in this densely populated region. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of climate change on the timing and quantity of streamflow at small watersheds at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in New Hampshire. The site is ideal for this analysis because of the availability of long-term hydroclimatological records for analyzing past trends and ample data to parameterize and test hydrological models used to predict future trends. In this study, future streamflow projections were developed with the forest watershed model PnETBGC, driven by climate change scenarios from statistically downscaled outputs of atmospheric-ocean general circulation models. Results indicated that earlier snowmelt and the diminishing snowpack is advancing the timing and reducing the magnitude of peak discharge associated with snowmelt. Past increases in precipitation have caused annual water yield to increase significantly, a trend that is expected to continue under future climate change. Significant declines in evapotranspiration have been observed over the long-term record, although the cause has not been identified. In the future, evapotranspiration is expected to increase in response to a warmer and wetter environment. These increases in evapotranspiration largely offset increases in precipitation, resulting in relatively little change in streamflow. Future work should aim to decrease uncertainty in the climate projections, particularly for precipitation, obtain a better understanding of the effect of CO2 on vegetation, determine if climate-induced changes in tree species composition will influence discharge, and assess the impacts of changing hydrology on downstream water supplies.
Analysis of the Yersinia pestis V Protein for the Presence of Linear Antibody Epitopes

The V protein expressed by pathogenic Yersinia pestis is an important virulence factor and protective immunogen. The presence of linear B-cell epitopes in the V protein was investigated by using a series of 17 overlapping linear peptides. Groups of 10 mice were immunized intraperitoneally with 30 microg of each peptide on days 0, 30, and 60. Although the V protein-specific antibody response to the peptides varied, most of the peptides elicited high antibody titers. The immunized mice were challenged subcutaneously with 60 50% lethal doses (LD50) (1 LD50 = 1.9 CFU) of a virulent Y. pestis strain, CO92. None of the peptide-immunized mice survived challenge. The animals immunized with the V protein were completely protected against challenge. The immunogenicity of some of the V peptides was increased by conjugating them to keyhole limpet hemocyanin. Only one peptide (encompassing amino acids 1 to 30) conjugate demonstrated some protection; the others were not protective. In additional experiments, V peptides that reacted well with sera from mice surviving Y. pestis infection were combined and used to immunize mice. Although the combined peptides appeared to be very immunogenic, they were not protective. Therefore, the protective B-lymphocyte epitope(s) in the V protein is most likely to be conformational.
Macrophage fusion, giant cell formation, and the foreign body response require matrix metalloproteinase 9

Macrophages undergo fusion to form multinucleated giant cells in several pathologic conditions, including the foreign body response (FBR). We detected high levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 during macrophage fusion in vitro and in foreign body giant cells (FBGCs) in vivo. Wild-type (WT) bone marrow-derived macrophages were induced to fuse with IL-4 in the presence of MMP-9 function-blocking antibodies and displayed reduced fusion. A similar defect, characterized by delayed shape change and abnormal morphology, was observed in MMP-9 null macrophages. Analysis of the FBR in MMP-9 null mice was then pursued to evaluate the significance of these findings. Specifically, mixed cellulose ester disks and polyvinyl alcohol sponges were implanted s.c. in MMP-9 null and WT mice and excised 2-4 weeks later. Histochemical and immunohistochemical analyses indicated equal macrophage recruitment between MMP-9 null and WT mice, but FBGC formation was compromised in the former. In addition, MMP-9 null mice displayed abnormalities in extracellular matrix assembly and angiogenesis. Consistent with a requirement for MMP-9 in fusion, we also observed reduced MMP-9 levels in MCP-1 null macrophages, previously shown to be defective in FBGC formation. Collectively, our studies show abnormalities in MMP-9 null mice during the FBR and suggest a role for MMP-9 in macrophage fusion.
Detectability decreases with off-normal viewing in medical liquid crystal displays.

Rationale and Objectives To quantify the reduction in detection performance of subtle signals at off-normal viewing directions in medical active-matrix liquid crystal displays (AMLCDs). Materials and Methods Fifty synthetic image pairs per viewing condition (a total of 350) were used in a two-alternative forced-choice experiment in which 11 trained observers viewed images at 0, 30, and 45 degrees from the display normal, along the diagonal axis of a 5 million pixel in-plane switching monochrome AMLCD. The images were generated using white-noise backgrounds. A Gaussian signal was added to the signal-present set with three different signal amplitudes (4, 8, and 12 gray levels in a 10-bit scale). Results The average percent correct achieved for a signal of 4 gray levels was 79.6 (95% confidence intervals based on reader and case variability: 71.6–86.9), 63.4 (CI 56.0–71.3), and 55.3 (CI 48.4–62.0), for 0, 30 and 45 degrees from the display normal, respectively. When the signal amplitude was increased by a factor of two, the performance was 76.9 and 57.0 for 30 and 45 degrees, respectively, and 95.3 and 85.3 when the amplitude was increased by a factor of three. The observers took on average about twice as long and as much as seven times as long to reach decisions in off-normal viewing. Conclusions Off-normal viewing of diagnostic images in AMLCDs significantly reduces the detection of low-contrast abnormalities. Increased off-normal signal amplitudes were required to regain the detection performance measured for normal viewing. We observed this decrease in detection performance for off-normal viewing even when measured decision times were about twice as long as for normal viewing.
First satellite detection of volcanogenic carbon monoxide

Measuring and tracking the gases that vent from an erupting volcano is a project fraught with potential dangers and difficulties. Taking measurements on the ground places researchers in harm's way, as does taking airborne samples. These approaches also may suffer from issues around accurately representing the spatial and temporal shifts in gas emissions rates. As such, satellite-based remote sensing techniques are becoming a preferred way to assess the dispersion and concentrations of various volcanic gases. Devising a functional remote sensing scheme, however, depends on identifying a satellite sensor that can reliably identify the chemical species in question and pick the volcanic emissions out from the background concentrations. Such efforts have so far been successful for only a few volcanic gases: sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, and hydrogen sulfide.
Efficiency and accuracy trade-offs in process detection

Hidden Discrete Event Systems Models (HDESM) are discrete event dynamical system models whose underlying internal state spaces are not directly observable. Observations on such systems are artifacts of the hidden, internal states and are not deterministically or uniquely associated with the hidden states. The distribution of an observation of a HDESM is typically given by a probability distribution conditioned on the hidden state of the system. Classical linear systems, Hidden Markov Models (HMM) and certain types of Petri Net models are examples of HDESM's. A major challenge in working with this type of model is the estimation of an HDESM's hidden states based on a sequence of observations. In some cases, well-known algorithms can be used to solve this problem. In many cases of practical interest, however, the complexity of those algorithms is too high to be practical. New ideas and algorithms are therefore needed for effective solutions to the state estimation problem. In this paper we will investigate sub-classes of HDESM's whose structure would allow efficient state estimation algorithms to exist. Such structures could be related to the sparsity and/or equivalence class structure of transition dynamics within the underlying discrete event system. Efficient algorithms that compute approximate solutions will be investigated with the goal of understanding the trade-offs between computational efficiency and estimation accuracy. Ideas on how to implement such trade-offs also are proposed.
Capillary electrochromatography of proteins and peptides with a cationic acrylic monolith.

Abstract For the separation of proteins and peptides by capillary electrochromatography (CEC), columns with a monolithic stationary phase were prepared from silanized fused-silica capillaries of 50 μm I.D. by in situ copolymerization of glycidyl methacrylate, methyl methacrylate and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate in the presence of propanol and formamide as porogens. The epoxide groups at the surface of the porous monolith were reacted with N-ethylbutylamine to form fixed tertiary amino functions with ethyl- and butyl-chains. A mixture of ribonuclease A, insulin, α-lactalbumin and myoglobin was separated isocratically by counterdirectional CEC with hydro–organic mobile phases containing acetonitrile and sodium phosphate buffer, pH 2.5. The separation of four angiotensin type peptides by CEC was also achieved under similar conditions. The elution order of proteins was similar to that obtained in reversed-phase chromatography. Plots of the migration factors for proteins and peptides against the acetonitrile concentration exhibit opposite trends. This is most likely due to the greater chromatographic retention and lower electrophoretic migration velocity of proteins than that of peptides in the counterdirectional CEC system. From this it is concluded that the separation is governed by a dual mechanism that involves the complex interplay between selective chromatographic retention and differential electrophoretic migration.
In-situ X-ray studies of phase transformations in lead zirconate titanate thin films during annealing

Lead zirconate titanate (PZT) thin films were prepared by a sol-gel method on platinized Si and (100) MgO substrates. The evolution in the crystallinity was then studied in real time during annealing with an in-situ X-ray diffraction system using a Ruud-Barrett position-sensitive scintillation detector. Annealing rates of 50 °C min−1 and 100 °C min−1 were utilized to study the growth of an intermediate phase and the perovskite phase. This provided direct evidence on the structure evolution during heat treatment. It was observed that an intermediate phase, possibly the pyrochlore, existed over the temperature range 433–580 °C. The film transformed to the perovskite phase as soon as the temperature reached the range 595–600 °C and progressively grew as the temperature approached 650 °C. These results suggested that it may be difficult to bypass intermediate phase formation at this annealing rate. However, for a 100 °C min−1 heat treatment, the amount of intermediate phase was suppressed from the 50 °C min−1 case on both platinized Si and MgO substrates.
Sensitivity to the motoric effects of a dopamine receptor antagonist differs as a function of age at the time of dopamine depletion.

The ability of the mixed D1/D2 dopamine (DA) receptor antagonist cisflupentixol to impair locomotor behavior in adult rats depleted of DA as weanlings was determined. Rats received lateral ventricular injections of 6-hydroxydopamine (100–200 μg/hemisphere) or its vehicle solution on postnatal Day 20, 27, or 35. We compared the ability of cis-flupentixol (.06, .25, and 1.0 mg/kg, i.p.) to impair the initiation of voluntary locomotion (i.e., akinesia) in control and DA-depleted subjects. Despite the fact that analyses of tissue homogenates revealed comparably large (93–96%) depletions of striatal DA across the three ages, the lesioned animals differed markedly in their sensitivity to the behavioral effects of the receptor antagonist. Surprisingly, rats depleted of DA on Day 20 or 27 were no more sensitive than vehicle-treated controls to the akinesia-inducing effects of each dose of flupentixol. In contrast, rats depleted of DA on Day 35 were supersensitive to the effects of the drug as they exhibited akinesia after a low dose of flupentixol that had no effect in any controls or animals depleted of DA at younger ages. These results suggest clear age-dependent differences in the plasticity of residual striatal DA neurons following subtotal damage. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 30: 293–300, 1997
Chemical microscopy of inorganic phosphorus-nitrogen compounds. Identification by their o-tolidine, ammonium, or silver salts

Abstract Procedures for obtaining crystalline o -tolidine, ammonium, or silver salts of four phosphorus-nitrogen compounds are described. These compounds are phosphoramidates, phosphorodiamidates, trimetaphosphimates, and tetrametaphosphimates. Photomicrographs of the crystals are shown.
Mothers' and Fathers' Discipline of Hard-to-Manage Toddlers

This study compares discipline strategies of mothers and fathers with hard-to-manage toddlers. Discipline strategies of 38 parents (19 couples) were assessed using both observational and self-report methods. Parents were observed interacting individually with their children in a structured laboratory situation, and parents completed a self-report measure of discipline. Both assessments indicate that mothers were more overreactive in their discipline than fathers, however no difference in lax parenting was found. Depression and time spent in child care tasks were examined as possible determinants of mothers' greater overreactivity.
Comparison of stimulated Brillouin scattering thresholds and spectra in nonpolarization-maintaining and polarization-maintaining passive fibers

Stimulated Brillouin Scattering (SBS) is a polarization-dependent, nonlinear process that is often the limiting factor for high-power fiber laser applications. We report the results of experiments measuring the SBS thresholds and the SBS gain bandwidths in several passive optical fibers. Fibers with nearly identical mode-field diameters and loss coefficients from different manufacturers were selected. Observations from these experiments indicate that the SBS gain coefficient for fibers from different manufacturers varied significantly resulting in a 70% deviation in SBS threshold. Also, polarization-maintaining (PM) fiber exhibited a significant increase in the SBS threshold for a linearly polarized pump beam that is launched into the PM fiber at 45° relative to the fiber's slow axis. This increase in threshold was not mirrored in non-PM fiber. These results suggest that the polarization multiplier in the SBS threshold equation may be highest when a PM fiber is used with the appropriate launch conditions, rather than a non-PM conventional single-mode fiber. We will present the experimental results and a theoretical model demonstrating the polarization dependent gain properties in both PM and non-PM fiber.
Fluorescent antibody techniques for identification of Coccidioides immitis and Histoplasma capsulatum. (Ecological and epidemiological aspects).

This is a review of practical uses of immunofluorescence in detection of the two fungi in host and environment and in identification of their cultures, as well as in serologic case finding. Reagents directed at the yeast phase ofHistoplasma capsulatum have been fairly successful in differentiating this species from others, the main difficulty being the tendency to cross-react withBlastomyces dermatitidis andH. duboisii. Conjugates for the mycelial phase ofH. capsulatum tend to cross-react withSepedonium andChrysosporium, but careful absorption may yield specific reagents. Anti-yeast-phase conjugates are a valuable adjunct to cultural and clinical methods when used to detect and identifyH. capsulatum in sputum and other clinical specimens. Conjugates specific for the spherules or tissue phase ofCoccidioides immitis have yielded false negative results when applied to clinical specimens. The fluorescent-inhibition procedure is useful for serologic case finding in histoplasmosis and the same technique has shown fairly good agreement in coccidioidomycosis with complement-fixation and tube-precipitin methods. Immunofluorescence reagents for the two species have been useful in screening surgical and autopsy specimens, animal tissues, and soils.
Faster and more versatile tools for super-resolution fluorescence microscopy.

Two methods for estimating fluorophore positions provide useful new options to researchers performing either single-particle tracking or super-resolution imaging.
Distinct sites within the vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) cytoplasmic domain regulate VCAM-1 activation of calcium fluxes versus Rac1 during leukocyte transendothelial migration.

Vascular adhesion molecules regulate the migration of leukocytes from the blood into tissue during inflammation. Binding of leukocytes to vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) activates signals in endothelial cells, including Rac1 and calcium fluxes. These VCAM-1 signals are required for leukocyte transendothelial migration on VCAM-1. However, it has not been reported whether the cytoplasmic domain of VCAM-1 is necessary for these signals. Interestingly, the 19-amino acid sequence of the VCAM-1 cytoplasmic domain is 100% conserved among many mammalian species, suggesting an important functional role for the domain. To examine the function of the VCAM-1 cytoplasmic domain, we deleted the VCAM-1 cytoplasmic domain or mutated the cytoplasmic domain at amino acid N724, S728, Y729, S730, or S737. The cytoplasmic domain and S728, Y729, S730, or S737 were necessary for leukocyte transendothelial migration. S728 and Y729, but not S730 or S737, were necessary for VCAM-1 activation of calcium fluxes. In contra...
The measurement of internal stresses during creep of al and Al-Mg alloys

Abstract Current experimental techniques are described for measuring average interdislocation internal stresses. Measurements of internal stresses during steady state creep of Al and AI—Mg are reported. The predicted recovery rate based on the measured internal stress dependence of the steady state creep rate agrees with Friedel's network growth model when one accounts for the position dependence of the internal stress. The variation of internal stress during normal and inverted primary creep is reported. From transient creep measurements it is possible to evaluate the stress dependence of the average dislocation velocity and mobile dislocation density. Results of measurements on Al 5 % Mg indicate that the average dislocation velocity depends linearly on the effective stress while the mobile dislocation density varies reciprocally with the internal stress.
Behavioral Effects of Endocrine-disrupting Substances: Phytoestrogens

A major source of endocrine-disrupting substances, usually not considered in laboratory animal experiments, is the diet used in research investigations. Soy represents the main protein source in almost all natural-ingredient commercially available formulated diets. Soy-derived isoflavones are the most abundant and in many ways the most studied phytoestrogens, and phytoestrogens (isoflavones) are known endocrine disruptors. Research is reviewed that identifies the physiological and behavioral endocrine-disrupting effects of dietary phytoestrogens (isoflavones) in animal diets, including most of the isoflavones, which are in a glycoside form and biologically inactive, and those in the gastrointestinal tract, which are biologically active. The isoflavones genistein and daidzein have similar molecular weights and structural characteristics to that of 17-beta estradiol, which may enable them to exert estrogenic and antiestrogenic properties are described and characterized. Daidzein can be further metabolized to the potent and abundant molecule equol, which in rodents is produced in very large amounts and represents the major circulating metabolite among all biologically active isoflavones. Equol has the unique and important ability to specifically bind 5 alpha-dihydro-testosterone, and to act in turn to inhibit the action of this potent androgen. The specific influence of dietary soy phytoestrogens on consumptive, learning and memory, and anxiety-related behaviors is identified. Regulatory behaviors such as food and water intake, adipose deposition and leptin, and insulin levels affected by dietary isoflavones are also discussed.
Filtering Valve Implant Surgery for Eyes with Neovascular Glaucoma

We performed filtration surgery with a unidirectional, pressure-sensitive valve implant in 40 eyes with neovascular glaucoma. The device consisted of an open Supramid tube (outside diameter 0.58 mm, inside diameter 0.38 mm) sealed to a Silastic tube with a slit valve. The Supramid tube was inserted at the corneoscleral limbus 1 to 4 mm into the anterior chamber and the Silastic portion was located under a lamellar scleral flap. Twenty-seven of 40 eyes (68%) had a postoperative IOP less than or equal to 24 mm Hg with a mean follow-up of 13.8 months. Ten of these 27 eyes required postoperative medical therapy to achieve this level of IOP control. The glaucoma valve implant failed to return IOP to normal in 13 of the 40 eyes (32%), 11 of these as a consequence of scarring of the external bleb.
The passage of oxygen through isolated sheets of human stratum corneum.

SummaryThe rate of passage of oxygen through isolated sheets of human stratum corneum was measured in vitro and compared to other materials. There was a significant passage of oxygen through the stratum corneum, comparable to that through cellulose acetate, but less than through teflon, and more than through Kodar or Al-foil. Some limitations and therapeutic applications of these experiments are discussed.
Drug-sensitive ecto-ATPase in human leukocytes

An ecto-ATPase has been described in human leukocytes. The enzyme is present in both granulocytes and lymphocytes, exhibiting higher activity and substrate affinity in the latter cells, I$,, values ranged from 0.06 mM in lymphocytes to 0.3 mM in the unresolved leukocyte fraction. Enzymatic activity had a pH optimum in the physiological range, required MgZc, and was insensitive toward ouabain and Ca2*. Potent inhibitors of ecto-ATPase were tricyclic antidepressants and substituted phenothiazines, to which the enzyme in lymphocytes was most susceptible. These drugs also decreased the phagocytic ability of leukocytes. However, while drug inhibition of the enzyme was reversible by washing, the effect dn phagocytosis was not. We have described previously an ecto-ATPase in rat leukocytes and reported the potent inhibition of the enzymatic activity by tricyclic antidepressants and substituted phenothiazines (l, 21. These drugs also markedly inhibited phagocytosis (3). The inhibitory effects were not reproduced by a variety of drugs of different structures, investigated at identical con- centrations. In human platelets, inhibition of ecto- ATPase has been linked to the loss of aggregating ability (4). Our preliminary work provided evidence for the existence of ecto-ATPase in human leuko- cytes (S). In view of the unknown function of this enzyme, and considering its potent inhibition by a number of drugs of wide ciinical use, it was of interest to investigate further the properties of the ecto- ATPase in human leukocytes, including granulocytes and lymphocytes, and to characterize its interaction with drugs.
Olfactory cues in discrimination among individuals in dominance hierarchies in the cockroach, Nauphoeta cinerea

. The purpose of this study was to explore the olfactory recognition mechanisms used by individual subordinate male cockroaches, Nauphoeta cinerea (Olivier), in a dominance hierarchy. Results of two independent sets of experiments, one using an olfactometer and the other using an arena, suggest that olfactory cues are important to males. Subordinate males did not avoid dominant male odour in an olfactometer but could discriminate between the odours of familiar and unfamiliar individual dominant males, preferring the odour of the dominant male with which they had previous social contact. Since test subordinates did not avoid dominant male odours in the olfactometer, it is possible that the distance an individual remains from a dominant is important. To test this, individual dominant and subordinate males were tethered in the centre of an arena. Subordinate males were introduced into the arena and allowed to approach the tethered male. They approached tethered dominants and subordinates differently, and tended to keep away from the dominants. Tethered males unfamiliar to the test animals were avoided as well.
Time-to-Solution and Energy-to-Solution: A Comparison between ARM and Xeon

Most High Performance Computing (HPC) systems today are known as "power hungry" because they aim at computing speed regardless to energy consumption. Some scientific applications still claim more speed and the community expects to reach exascale by the end of the decade. Nevertheless, to reach exascale we need to search alternatives to cope with energy constraints. A promising step forward in this direction is the usage of low power processors such as ARM. ARM processors target low power consumption in contrast with Xeon that are conventional on HPC aiming at computing speed. This paper presents a comparison between ARM and Xeon to evaluate if ARM is the future building block to HPC. We choose to use time-to-solution, peak power, and energy-to-solution to evaluate both processors from the user's perspective. The results point that although ARM having lower peak power, Xeon has still a better tradeoff from the user's point-of-view.
The effect of thyroid stimulating hormone upon the iodide collecting mechanism of thyroid tissue slices.

IN SPITE of an increasing number of techniques for the assay of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), none of the methods has been generally adopted. The reported assays continue to be limited in usefulness because of their complexity, variability, and limited sensitivity. Sensitivity is most important since it is desirable to measure directly and without an intervening concentration procedure the small amounts of the hormone present in body fluids. The present communication describes conditions for studying radioiodide uptake and release from beef thyroid slices as these processes were altered by the in vitro addition of TSH. It is hoped that these experiments will provide a basis for the development of an assay for TSH. Tissue slice experiments have several advantages over in vivo systems for detecting TSH: (1) the added TSH can be confined in a small volume with the target tissue, thus avoiding dilution throughout the body as occurs in in vivo experiments; (2) only the isolated target tissue is present, a...
Pollen morphology of the Onagraceae

Abstract This incomplete but comprehensive survey based upon the pollen of 21 genera and over 100 species of the Onagraceae shows the following pollen types: 1. ( 1 ) Pollen in tetrads and disarticulated tetrads. The single grains usually have a thicker ring at the base of the somewhat aspidote pore. This condition occurs in Epilobium (in part), Zauschneria, Ludwigia (in part), Boisduvalia, Oenothera arenaria and Oenothera cardiophylla . 2. ( 2 ) Distinctly papillose projections in Heterogaura, Gaura, Xylonogra, Stenosiphon, Circaea , most species of Oenothera, Clarkia (in part) and the 2-pored species of Fuchsia . 3. ( 3 ) Pollen in which the pore structure is essentially internal, although at times the pores may be slightly aspidote, can be divided into ( a ) grains which are sharply triangular as in Diplandra, Riesenbachia, Lopezia ; and ( b ) the obtusely angled grains as in Semieandra, Pseudolopezia, Gayophyton, Burragea, Gongylocarpus, Hauya, Clarkia (in part), two subgenera of Oenothera , and the 3-pored species of Fuchsia . There are obvious differences in shape, size, marking, pore structure, wall thickness which for the most part readily delimit genera and in many instances a few species in a genus. The pollen morphology in general supports Munz's generic concepts. These preliminary studies indicate the feasibility of a detailed study of all species. However, several samples of the same species should be studied because of the variability in aperture number for some. Other workers have correlated the number of pores and phases of ploidy for certain species. Pore number is not an absolute indicator of polyploidy. It appears to the writer after reviewing much of the genetical studies, the peculiarities of chromosome divisions, that the number and percentage of pores is of biological significance. Deviation from thpical number suggests meiotic irregularities which occur so frequently in this family. Obviously the 1-pored grains seen in many slides are aborted. What will be the phenotypic expression where a normal ovule is fertilized by nuclei from 2-, 4-, or 5-pored pollen grains?
Spatially adaptive Bayesian penalized regression splines (P-splines)

In this article we study penalized regression splines (P-splines), which are low-order basis splines with a penalty to avoid undersmoothing. Such P-splines are typically not spatially adaptive, and hence can have trouble when functions are varying rapidly. Our approach is to model the penalty parameter inherent in the P-spline method as a heteroscedastic regression function. We develop a full Bayesian hierarchical structure to do this and use Markov chain Monte Carlo techniques for drawing random samples from the posterior for inference. The advantage of using a Bayesian approach to P-splines is that it allows for simultaneous estimation of the smooth functions and the underlying penalty curve in addition to providing uncertainty intervals of the estimated curve. The Bayesian credible intervals obtained for the estimated curve are shown to have pointwise coverage probabilities close to nominal. The method is extended to additive models with simultaneous spline-based penalty functions for the unknown funct...
Thermomechanical fatigue, oxidation, and Creep: Part II. Life prediction

A life prediction model is developed for crack nucleation and early crack growth based on fatigue, environment (oxidation), and creep damage. The model handles different strain-temperature phasings(i.e., in-phase and out-of-phase thermomechanical fatigue, isothermal fatigue, and others, including nonproportional phasings). Fatigue life predictions compare favorably with experiments in 1070 steel for a wide range of test conditions and strain-temperature phasings. An oxide growth (oxide damage) model is based on the repeated microrupture process of oxide observed from microscopic measurements. A creep damage expression, which is stress-based, is coupled with a unified constitutive equation. A set of interrupted tests was performed to provide valuable damage progression information. Tests were performed in air and in helium atmospheres to isolate creep damage from oxidation damage.
Sol-gel processing of 0.91Pb(Zn13Nb23)O3-0.09PbTiO3: Stabilization of the perovskite phase

Abstract 0.91Pb(Zn 1 3 Nb 2 3 )O3-0.09PbTiO3 was prepared by a sol-gel route in which Zn and Nb were prereacted to form “Zn[Nb(OEt)6]2” in situ. Calcination conditions were varied to optimize the percentage of perovskite phase stabilized. The maximum amount of perovskite phase stabilized was 75%, which occurred at a calcination temperature of 1000°C.
A PH domain within OCRL bridges clathrin‐mediated membrane trafficking to phosphoinositide metabolism

OCRL, whose mutations are responsible for Lowe syndrome and Dent disease, and INPP5B are two similar proteins comprising a central inositol 5-phosphatase domain followed by an ASH and a RhoGAP-like domain. Their divergent NH2-terminal portions remain uncharacterized. We show that the NH2-terminal region of OCRL, but not of INPP5B, binds clathrin heavy chain. OCRL, which in contrast to INPP5B visits late stage endocytic clathrin-coated pits, was earlier shown to contain another binding site for clathrin in its COOH-terminal region. NMR structure determination further reveals that despite their primary sequence dissimilarity, the NH2-terminal portions of both OCRL and INPP5B contain a PH domain. The novel clathrin-binding site in OCRL maps to an unusual clathrin-box motif located in a loop of the PH domain, whose mutations reduce recruitment efficiency of OCRL to coated pits. These findings suggest an evolutionary pressure for a specialized function of OCRL in bridging phosphoinositide metabolism to clathrin-dependent membrane trafficking.
Ureaplasma parvum infection alters filamin a dynamics in host cells

Ureaplasmas are among the most common bacteria isolated from the human urogenital tract. Ureaplasmas can produce asymptomatic infections or disease characterized by an exaggerated inflammatory response. Most investigations have focused on elucidating the pathogenic potential of Ureaplasma species, but little attention has been paid to understanding the mechanisms by which these organisms are capable of establishing asymptomatic infection. We employed differential proteome profiling of bladder tissues from rats experimentally infected with U. parvum in order to identify host cell processes perturbed by colonization with the microbe. Tissues were grouped into four categories: sham inoculated controls, animals that spontaneously cleared infection, asymptomatic urinary tract infection (UTI), and complicated UTI. One protein that was perturbed by infection (filamin A) was used to further elucidate the mechanism of U. parvum-induced disruption in human benign prostate cells (BPH-1). BPH-1 cells were evaluated by confocal microscopy, immunoblotting and ELISA. Bladder tissue from animals actively colonized with U. parvum displayed significant alterations in actin binding proteins (profilin 1, vinculin, α actinin, and filamin A) that regulate both actin polymerization and cell cytoskeletal function pertaining to focal adhesion formation and signal transduction (Fisher's exact test, P < 0.004; ANOVA, P < 0.02). This phenomenon was independent of clinical profile (asymptomatic vs. complicated UTI). We selected filamin A as a target for additional studies. In the BPH-1 model, we confirmed that U. parvum perturbed the regulation of filamin A. Specifically, infected BPH-1 cells exhibited a significant increase in filamin A phosphorylated at serine2152 (P ≤ 0.01), which correlated with impaired proteolysis of the protein and its normal intracellular distribution. Filamin A dynamics were perturbed in both models of infection. Phosphorylation of filamin A occurs in response to various cell signaling cascades that regulate cell motility, differentiation, apoptosis and inflammation. Thus, this phenomenon may be a useful molecular marker for identifying the specific host cell pathways that are perturbed during U. parvum infection.
Transistor 2-terminal switches

A 2-terminal self-biased memory-type switching device is an electronic bistable switch which has only two accessible terminals to all voltage and current sources. Such a switch can be realized with a single multiterminal semiconductor device exhibiting negative resistance, if advantage is taken of the "blocking voltage" concept. The blocking voltage is defined here as the forward voltage at a P-N junction at which the incremental conductance is a hundredfold greater than the incremental conductance at zero voltage. By proper circuit connections, the blocking voltage may be utilized to block injection of minority carriers in a semiconductor device until the voltage applied to the device exceeds a peak value. Such a device may exhibit low or negative a-c resistance after the peak value is exceeded. It is shown in the following discussion how the blocking-voltage concept may be applied to obtain negative resistance behavior from a junction transistor, a point-contact transistor, a modified double-base diode, or a modified tetrode. A few applications, mainly in the telephone field, are also indicated.
The Effects of Parental Divorce During Childhood on College Students

Abstract This study compared 87 college students who experienced parental divorce between the ages of 8 and 18 with 67 who experienced parental death at the same ages, and 87 whose parents have been continuously married. All participants were currently ages 18 to 28. Adult offspring of divorced parents reported significantly more current life stress, family conflict, and avoidant coping, and less supportive parenting (before divorce), family cohesion, and friend support than the other two comparison groups. Further, these variables were significantly related to children of divorced parents' greater reports of current antisocial behavior, anxiety, and depression than their peers. The results suggest that these variables are useful targets for preventive interventions for college students.
On the inequivalence of generalized Preparata codes

If m is odd and \sigma /in Aut GF(2^{m}) is such that x \rightarrow x^{\sigma^{2}-1} is 1-1 , there is a [2^{m+1}-1,2^{m+l}-2m-2] nonlinear binary code P(\sigma) having minimum distance 5. All the codes P(\sigma) have the same distance and weight enumerators as the usual Preparata codes (which rise as P(\sigma) when x^{\sigma}=x^{2}) . It is shown that P(\sigma) and P(\tau) are equivalent if and only if \tau=\sigma^{\pm 1} , and Aut P(\sigma) is determined.
Analytical Solutions for Multicomponent, Two-Phase Flow in Porous Media with Double Contact Discontinuities

This article presents the first instance of a double contact discontinuity in analytical solutions for multicomponent, two-phase flow in porous media. We use a three-component system with constant equilibrium ratios and fixed injection and initial conditions, to demonstrate this structure. This wave structure occurs for two-phase injection compositions. Such conditions were not considered previously in the development of analytical solutions for compositional flows. We demonstrate the stability of the double contact discontinuity in terms of the Liu entropy condition and also show that the resulting solution is continuously dependent on initial data. Extensions to four-component and systems with adsorption are presented, demonstrating the more widespread occurrence of this wave structure in multicomponent, two-phase flow systems. The developments in this article provide the building blocks for the development of a complete Riemann solver for general initial and injection conditions.