cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Polygenic risk scores differentiate schizophrenia patients with toxoplasma gondii compared to toxoplasma seronegative patients.

Abstract Schizophrenia (SCZ) is an etiologically heterogeneous disease with genetic and environmental risk factors (e.g., Toxoplasma gondii infection) differing among affected individuals. Distinguishing such risk factors may point to differences in pathophysiological pathways and facilitate the discovery of individualized treatments. Toxoplasma gondii (TOXO) has been implicated in increasing the risk of schizophrenia. To determine whether TOXO-positive individuals with SCZ have a different polygenic risk burden than uninfected people, we applied the SCZ polygenic risk score (SCZ-PRS) derived from the Psychiatric GWAS Consortium separately to the TOXO-positive and TOXO-negative subjects with the diagnosis of SCZ as the outcome variable. The SCZ-PRS does not include variants in the major histocompatibility complex. Of 790 subjects assessed for TOXO, the 662 TOXO-negative subjects (50.8% with SCZ) reached a Bonferroni corrected significant association (p = 0.00017, R2 = 0.023). In contrast, the 128 TOXO-positive individuals (53.1% with SCZ) showed no significant association (p = 0.354) for SCZ-PRS and had a much lower R2 (R2 = 0.007). To account for Type-2 error in the TOXO-positive dataset, we performed a random sampling of the TOXO-negative subpopulation (n = 130, repeated 100 times) to simulate equivalent power between groups: the p-value was 0.354. We found intriguing evidence that the SCZ-PRS predicts SCZ in TOXO-negative subjects, as expected, but not in the TOXO-positive individuals. This result highlights the importance of considering environmental risk factors to distinguish a subgroup with independent or different genetic components involved in the development of SCZ.
Abstract P205: A National Study Examining Association Between Frequency Of Cannabis Use And Demographic, Socioeconomic, And Behavioral Risk Factors

Background: Cannabis use is becoming increasingly common. Yet, little is known about the frequency of past month cannabis use and how it is associated with demographic, socioeconomic and behavioral...
Vicarious Trauma and Professional Self-Care for the Trauma Clinician

Shared trauma in the wake of a global pandemic has created a unique bond between the clinician and the client. While navigating one’s own fears, anxieties, and losses, the clinician must also serve as an anchor to the client in an unsteady and unpredictable world. The profound impact of collective catastrophic events can create immense hardship for clinicians living and working in traumatogenic environments. Even outside of the pandemic, clinicians who specialize in the treatment of trauma and complex trauma have a distinct susceptibility to vicarious trauma (VT) due to the repeated exposure to the harrowing details of their clients’ traumatic experiences. VT refers to the experience of indirect trauma which can include the clinicians’ continuous emotional engagement with a clients’ traumatic material. This can create cognitive distortions and changes in core belief systems of the clinician, which, in turn, can adversely impact overall functioning and emotional well-being. Many clinicians enter into the profession to compassionately witness, heal, and affirm their clients due to their own lived experiences of trauma. Without adequate use of clinical supervision, professional boundaries, and self-care, repeated exposure to trauma can be precarious to the clinician’s well-being, causing retraumatization or compassion fatigue. Chapter 11 provides a conceptualization of VT before exploring how this may impact upon the clinician and the therapeutic alliance. Secondly, this chapter reviews the impact of countertransference before proposing strategies to effectively manage its adverse effects. Finally, this chapter explores the role of professional supervision and the importance of self-care for the trauma clinician.
The cAMP-dependent protein kinase A pathway perturbs autophagy and plays important roles in development and virulence of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

Abstract Previous research has demonstrated that sclerotia production is suppressed by exogenous cyclic AMP (cAMP) in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and enhanced upon deletion of the adenylate cyclase gene. This study focuses on further functionally characterizing the cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) signaling pathway in S. sclerotiorum. Here, we demonstrate functions for two components of cAMP signaling: the catalytic, SsPKA, and the regulatory, SsPKAR, subunits of cAMP-dependent PKA. Growth and virulence were greatly reduced by disruption of either Sspka2 or SspkaR in addition to deficiencies in appressorium development. Surprisingly, disruption of both Sspka2 (dSspka2) and SspkaR (dSspkaR) display an up-regulation of autophagy without nutrient starvation suggesting that properly regulated PKA activity is required for control of autophagy. SsPKAR is demonstrated to be required for carbohydrate metabolism and mobilization, which are required for appressorium development and sclerotium initiation. A closer examination of dSspkaR during Nicotiana benthamiana infection revealed that an oxalic acid (OA)-independent necrosis protein(s) or metabolite(s) may be involved in the lesion development in dSspkaR-N. benthamiana interaction. In summary, these data demonstrate that the cAMP-dependent PKA signaling is essential for multiple forms of S. sclerotiorum development as well as virulence which rely on optimal regulation of autophagy.
Are There Connections Between the Mathematical Thought and Architecture of Sir Christopher Wren

The massive reconstruction effort after the Great London Fire of 1666 was led by Christopher Wren and Robert Hooke, both of whom were founding members of the Royal Society, and, until the Great Fire, both were best known for their work in mathematics, physics and astronomy. Wren has been credited with designing St. Paul’s Cathedral as well as more than 50 parish churches that were built as part of the post-fire restoration of the City of London. Current scholarship indicates that the parish churches were most likely designed by Wren, Hooke and others that worked in their office. However, based on Hooke’s diaries and some parish vestry minutes, it is possible to link certain specific church designs with Wren or Hooke. Using the church architecture of Wren and Hooke as illustrations, this paper discusses the evidence for and against the notion that Wren’s mathematical and scientific knowledge directly influenced his architectural designs.
Associations among within-litter differences in early mothering received and later emotional behaviors, mothering, and cortical tryptophan hydroxylase-2 expression in female laboratory rats

This article is part of a Special Issue "Parental Care". The effects of differential maternal care received on offspring phenotype in rodents has been extensively studied between litters, but the consequences of differential mothering within litters on offspring neurobehavioral development have been rarely examined. We here investigated how variability in maternal care received among female rat siblings (measured four times daily on postnatal days 4, 6, 8, and 10) relates to the siblings' later emotional and maternal behaviors. As previously reported, we found that some female pups received up to three times more maternal licking bouts compared to their sisters; this difference was positively correlated with the pups' body weights. The number of maternal licking bouts that females received was negatively correlated with their later neophobic behaviors in an open field during periadolescence, but positively correlated with their anxiety-related behavior in an elevated plus maze during adulthood. Licking received was also positively correlated with females' later likelihood to retrieve pups in a maternal sensitization paradigm. In addition, females' neophobia during adolescence and anxiety-related behavior during adulthood predicted some aspects of both postpartum and sensitized maternal responsiveness. Medial prefrontal cortex expression of tryptophan hydroxylase-2 (TPH2; enzyme necessary for serotonin synthesis) was negatively associated with early maternal licking received. Interestingly, cortical TPH2 was positively associated with the maternal responsiveness of sensitized virgins but negatively associated with it in postpartum females. These results indicate that within-litter differences in maternal care received is an often neglected, but important, contributor to individual differences in offspring socioemotional behaviors as well as to the cortical serotonin neurochemistry that may influence these behaviors.
Microbial Oxidation of Methane and Methanol: Crystallization of Methanol Dehydrogenase and Properties of Holo- and Apo-Methanol Dehydrogenase from Methylomonas methanica

Procedures are described for the purification and crystallization of methanol dehydrogenase from the soluble fraction of the type I obligate methylotroph Methylomonas methanica strain S1. The crystallized enzyme is homogeneous as judged by acrylamide gel electrophoresis and ultracentrifugation. The enzyme had a high pH optimum (9.5) and required ammonium salt as an activator. In the presence of phenazine methosulfate as an electron acceptor, the enzyme catalyzed the oxidation of primary alcohols and formaldehyde. Secondary, tertiary, and aromatic alcohols were not oxidized. The molecular weight as well as subunit size of methanol dehydrogenase was 60,000, indicating that it is monomeric. The sedimentation constant (s(20,w)) was 3.1S. The amino acid composition of the crystallized enzyme is also presented. Antisera prepared against the crystalline enzyme were nonspecific; they cross-reacted with and inhibited the isofunctional enzyme from other obligate methylotrophic bacteria. The crystalline methanol dehydrogenase had an absorption peak at 350 nm in the visible region and weak fluorescence peaks at 440 and 470 nm due to the presence of a pteridine derivative as the prosthetic group. A procedure was developed for the preparation of apo-methanol dehydrogenase. The molecular weights, sedimentation constants, electrophoretic mobilities, and immunological properties of apo- and holo-methanol dehydrogenases are identical. Apo-methanol dehydrogenase lacked the absorption peak at 350 nm and the fluorescence peaks at 440 and 470 nm and was catalytically inactive. All attempts to reconstitute an active enzyme from apo-methanol dehydrogenase, using various pteridine derivatives, were unsuccessful.
Adequacy of Economic Resources in Retirement and Returns-to-scale in Consumption

Most assessments of the adequacy of retirement resources are expressed as a comparison of preretirement income to immediate post-retirement income. Yet, among couples a substantial fraction of retirement years is eventually spent by the surviving spouse living alone. To the extent that singles need less than couples to maintain the same standard of living, assessments of the adequacy of economic resources that make no adjustment for widowing will systematically misstate economic preparation. We estimate returns-to-scale parameters in spending by older households, using data from the Consumption and Activities Mail Survey and apply these to assessments of adequacy of retirement resources.
Real-Time endoscopic mosaicking

With the advancement of minimally invasive techniques for surgical and diagnostic procedures, there is a growing need for the development of methods for improved visualization of internal body structures. Video mosaicking is one method for doing this. This approach provides a broader field of view of the scene by stitching together images in a video sequence. Of particular importance is the need for online processing to provide real-time feedback and visualization for image-guided surgery and diagnosis. We propose a method for online video mosaicking applied to endoscopic imagery, with examples in microscopic retinal imaging and catadioptric endometrial imaging.
Phenological Response of an Arizona Dryland Forest to Short-Term Climatic Extremes

Baseline information about dryland forest phenology is necessary to accurately anticipate future ecosystem shifts. The overarching goal of our study was to investigate the variability of vegetation phenology across a dryland forest landscape in response to climate alterations. We analyzed the influence of site characteristics and climatic conditions on the phenological patterns of an Arizona, USA, ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) forest during a five-year period (2005 to 2009) that encompassed extreme wet and dry precipitation regimes. We assembled 80 synthetic Landsat images by applying the spatial and temporal adaptive reflectance fusion method (STARFM) to 500 m MODIS and 30 m Landsat-5 Thematic Mapper (TM) data. We tested relationships between site characteristics and the timing of peak Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) to assess the effect of climatic stress on the green-up of individual pixels during or after the summer monsoon. Our results show that drought-induced stress led to a fragmented phenological response that was highly dependent on microsite parameters, as both the spatial autocorrelation of peak timing and the number of significant site variables increased during the drought year. Pixels at lower elevations and with higher proportions of herbaceous vegetation were more likely to exhibit dynamic responses to changes in precipitation conditions. Our study demonstrates the complexity of responses within dryland forest ecosystems and highlights the need for standardized monitoring of phenology trends in these areas. The spatial and temporal variability of phenological signals may provide a quantitative solution to the problem of how to evaluate dryland land surface trends across time.
The effects of repetitive vibration on sensorineural function: biomarkers of sensorineural injury in an animal model of metabolic syndrome

Exposure to hand-transmitted vibration in the work-place can result in the loss of sensation and pain in workers. These effects may be exacerbated by pre-existing conditions such as diabetes or the presence of primary Raynaud's phenomena. The goal of these studies was to use an established model of vibration-induced injury in Zucker rats. Lean Zucker rats have a normal metabolic profile, while obese Zucker rats display symptoms of metabolic disorder or Type II diabetes. This study examined the effects of vibration in obese and lean rats. Zucker rats were exposed to 4h of vibration for 10 consecutive days at a frequency of 125 Hz and acceleration of 49 m/s(2) for 10 consecutive days. Sensory function was checked using transcutaneous electrical stimulation on days 1, 5 and 9 of the exposure. Once the study was complete the ventral tail nerves, dorsal root ganglia and spinal cord were dissected, and levels of various transcripts involved in sensorineural dysfunction were measured. Sensorineural dysfunction was assessed using transcutaneous electrical stimulation. Obese Zucker rats displayed very few changes in sensorineural function. However they did display significant changes in transcript levels for factors involved in synapse formation, peripheral nerve remodeling, and inflammation. The changes in transcript levels suggested that obese Zucker rats had some level of sensory nerve injury prior to exposure, and that exposure to vibration activated pathways involved in injury and re-innervation.
ECTOS-reusable software for navigation, guidance and control applications

Honeywell has developed the Embedded Computer Toolbox and Operating System (ECTOS), a reusable software approach for design and development of applications for use in aircraft navigation systems, land-based navigation systems, and navigation, guidance, and control of unmanned air vehicles (UAVs), missiles, standoff weapons, and munitions. ECTOS provides the user with a custom Ada run-time system, tasking executive, I/O drivers, built-in-test (BIT), navigation and Kalman filtering, and mode control. In addition, ECTOS provides the user with the Embedded Computer Toolbox (ECT) software, a core set of interfaces with Honeywell's Embedded Computer Operating System (ECTOS), allowing the user to reduce the time required to develop application specific software and provides greater flexibility in easily accommodating various mission requirements. This paper describes the ECTOS architecture and the benefits this architecture provides Honeywell and Honeywell's customers in the development of avionics systems. The role of ECTOS in two sample avionics developments (McDonnell Douglas Delta Clipper Experimental and Sikorsky Cypher UAV) is also described.
Integrating New Media and Old Media: Seven Observations of Convergence as a Strategy for Best Practices in Media Organizations

This study examines convergence as both a concept and a process. I examine the current state of convergence, various definitions of convergence, convergence practices, and I identify Seven Observations of Convergence to be used as a strategy for best practices for organizations to integrate new and old media. Everett Rogers (1995) diffusion of innovations and the five stages of the innovation process in organizations, coupled with innovation management research are theoretical foundations used to examine the infusion of technological changes into business practices in the media industry. The study is based on research conducted during the summer of 2002 that included in-depth interviews, participation-observation, and archival documents from three leading corporate media groups and convergence pioneers-Tribune Company, Media-General, and Belo Corp at their integrated business units in Chicago, Dallas, and Tampa, Florida. The three organizations were selected for field study because they are convergence pioneers that fell under the grandfather clause of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission 1975 cross-ownership rule and were allowed to maintain ownership of their television broadcast and newspaper business units in the same market. link
Photopolymerization of amorphous formaldehyde: a mechanistic study

Abstract Thin amorphous films of formaldehyde doped with small amounts of molecular chlorine were subjected to visible and UV laser photolysis in order to investigate the mechanism of photopolymerization. The samples were prepared by vapor deposition of the gaseous reagents directly onto the surface of an optical window mounted at the cold tip of a liquid nitrogen Dewar. Fourier transform IR (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to identify the reactants and products, and the integrated peak intensities of the IR bands were used for quantitative analysis. The results are consistent with a reaction mechanism in which chlorine atoms formed by photodissociation of molecular chlorine react with CH2O to form HCl and HCOCl. The HCl initiates a polymerization reaction of neighboring formaldehyde molecules, which form oligomers averaging 6.6 ± 0.5 monomer units in size. Growth of the oligomers in the range 10–90 K is limited by orientational disorder in the amorphous solid. A statistical model of chain growth in disordered solids is presented. Post-polymerization annealing experiments show that this orientational disorder can be overcome by warming to the glass temperature of the solid, resulting in growth of the oligomers into longer chain polymers.
Magnetic vibrational circular dichroism of the haloforms

Abstract The magnetic vibrational circular dichroism of the three haloforms, CHCl 3 CHBr 3 and CHI 3 , is presented. In the a 1 symmetry C-H stretch B 0 / D 0 increases from t6 to ≈ 3 × 10 −5 /cm −1 from Cl to I. These values are correlated to Δ E for electronic excitation and to the methyl halide results.
Accurate full spectrum test robust to simultaneous non-coherent sampling and amplitude clipping

For spectral testing of Built-in Self-Test Analog to Digital Converters, it is a very challenging task to precisely control the amplitude and frequency of input sinusoid signal. Amplitude over-range results in clipping ADC output and non-coherent sampling results in spectral leakage. In this paper, a new method is proposed that provides accurate spectral results even when the input to ADC is both over-ranged and non-coherently sampled. This relaxes the condition to have precise control over the input signal and thus decreases the cost. The method includes fundamental identification, removal and residue interpolation to obtain accurate spectral results. Simulations show the functionality and robustness of proposed method with both non-coherency and amplitude over-range. Measurement results of a commercially available 16-bit SAR ADC are used to verify the method for both functionality and robustness.
Computing motion using analog VLSI vision chips: an experimental comparison among different approaches

We have designed, built and tested a number of analog CMOS VLSI circuits for computing 1-D motion from the time-varying intensity values provided by an array of on-chip phototransistors. We present experimental data for two such circuits and discuss their relative performance. One circuit approximates the correlation model while a second chip uses resistive grids to compute zero-crossings to be tracked over time by a separate digital processor. Both circuits integrate image acquisition with image processing functions and compute velocity in real time. For comparison, we also describe the performance of a simple motion algorithm using off-the-shelf digital components. We conclude that analog circuits implementing various correlation-like motion algorithms are more robust than our previous analog circuits implementing gradient-like motion algorithms.
Retinal structure in vitamin A deficiency as explored with multimodal imaging.

Purpose To define the retinal structural abnormalities in a patient with vitamin A deficiency.
Development, Social Change, and Islamic Finance in Contemporary Indonesia

Summary The global spread of Islamic finance has transformed the financial systems of many Muslim countries, but analysts know little about the factors that shape individuals’ demand for Islamic finance. This paper examines the socioeconomic origins of consumer demand for Islamic financial products, using original survey data from Indonesia, where a growing Islamic financial market coexists with a large conventional financial system. Modernization and globalization play critical roles in shaping individual use of Islamic financial products. Perhaps surprisingly, there is no evidence that Islamic piety has any systematic effect on consumers’ choice of Islamic versus conventional financial products.
Hand preference in capuchin monkeys varies with age

The purpose of this research was to examine the influence of age on hand preference in capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella). Twenty-two capuchins, aged 6 months to 30 years, were presented with a task that involved reaching for food and a task that involved using sponging tools to absorb juice. Adults exhibited a greater percentage of right-handed actions in each task than did immature subjects. Adults also exhibited a stronger lateral bias than did immature subjects in the sponging task. These results are consistent with hypotheses: a) adult capuchin monkeys are biased toward use of their right hand for reaching; b) adult capuchins exhibit a greater incidence of right-hand preference than do immature capuchins; and c) primates exhibit age-related differences in the strength and direction of hand preference in tasks that involve the use of tools.
Effect of an Al overlayer on interface states in poly-Si gate MOS capacitors

The presence of an aluminum overlayer on the polysilicon gate of MOS capacitors was found to enhance the generation of interface states strongly by ionizing radiation and Fowler-Nordheim electron injection. The effect is eliminated by removal of the metal before, but not after, sintering. The reduction, during the sinter, of water-related species by the aluminum, producing atomic hydrogen, is suggested as the probable cause of this behavior. >
Amino acid substitutions in the CA protein of Moloney murine leukemia virus that block early events in infection.

Abstract The capsid domain (CA) of the retroviral Gag protein is a major constituent of the virion core. To examine the role of this protein in M-MuLV morphogenesis and replication, a series of substitution mutations affecting the central region of CA were introduced into an infectious proviral DNA. The altered DNAs were introduced into cells, and the resulting lines were analyzed for production of infectious virions. Only one of the replication defective mutants analyzed was blocked in virion assembly. The remaining mutant DNAs induced the formation and release of particles containing genomic RNA and polymerase protein. The reverse transcriptase associated with these mutant virions was capable of transcribing both minus strand strong stop and extended DNA products using the endogenous genomic RNA as template in vitro. Upon infection of fresh cells, however, no viral DNA synthesis could be detected either by Southern analysis or by an RNase protection assay developed specifically to detect intermediate products of reverse transcription. The results indicate that the bulk of the CA mutants are blocked before reverse transcription of the viral genome and suggest an important role for the capsid protein in an early stage of viral replication.
Drugs of abuse that cause developing neurons to commit suicide.

Abstract When neuronal activity is abnormally suppressed during the developmental period of synaptogenesis, the timing and sequence of synaptic connections is disrupted, and this causes nerve cells to receive an internal signal to commit suicide, a form of cell death known as “apoptosis”. By altering glutamate and GABA transmission alcohol suppresses neuronal activity, causing millions of nerve cells to commit suicide in the developing brain. This proapoptotic effect of alcohol provides a likely explanation for the diminished brain size and lifelong neurobehavioral disturbances associated with the human fetal alcohol syndrome. These findings have public health significance, not only in relation to fetal alcohol syndrome, but also in relation to several other drugs of abuse and various drugs used in obstetric and pediatric medicine, because these additional drugs (e.g. phencyclidine, ketamine, benzodiazepines, barbiturates) also suppress neuronal activity and drive developing neurons to commit suicide.
Development, Evaluation, and Demonstration of a Virtual Refrigerant Charge Sensor

Proper refrigerant charge level is critical for vapor-compression cycle refrigeration systems to operate efficiently and safely. The current practice of accurately determining charge levels is very time consuming and costly. Technicians must stop and evacuate the system, weigh the removed charge, and add the correct amount of charge to the system using a scale. This paper presents a method for obtaining accurate estimates of refrigerant charge level using noninvasive temperature measurements obtained while the system is operating. The method could be used as part of a permanently installed control or monitoring system to indicate charge level and/or to automatically detect and diagnose low or high levels of refrigerant charge. It could also be used as a stand-alone tool by technicians to determine existing charge and during the process of adjusting the refrigerant charge. The accuracy of the virtual refrigerant charge sensor is evaluated using laboratory data for seven different systems and over a wide ra...
Super-Joule heating in graphene and silver nanowire network

Transistors, sensors, and transparent conductors based on randomly assembled nanowire networks rely on multi-component percolation for unique and distinctive applications in flexible electronics, biochemical sensing, and solar cells. While conduction models for 1-D and 1-D/2-D networks have been developed, typically assuming linear electronic transport and self-heating, the model has not been validated by direct high-resolution characterization of coupled electronic pathways and thermal response. In this letter, we show the occurrence of nonlinear “super-Joule” self-heating at the transport bottlenecks in networks of silver nanowires and silver nanowire/single layer graphene hybrid using high resolution thermoreflectance (TR) imaging. TR images at the microscopic self-heating hotspots within nanowire network and nanowire/graphene hybrid network devices with submicron spatial resolution are used to infer electrical current pathways. The results encourage a fundamental reevaluation of transport models for network-based percolating conductors.
Time-dependent and time-averaged turbulence structure near the nose of a wing-body junction

The behaviour of a turbulent boundary layer on a flat surface as it encounters the nose of a cylindrical wing mounted normal to that surface is being investigated. A three-component laser anemometer has been developed to measure this highly turbulent three-dimensional flow. Measurements of all the non-zero mean-velocity and Reynolds-stress components have been made with this instrument in the plane of symmetry upstream of the wing. These data have been used to estimate some of the component terms of the turbulence kinetic energy equation. Histograms of velocity fluctuations and short-time cross-correlations between the laser anemometer and a hot-wire probe have also been measured in the plane of symmetry. In all, these results reveal much of the time-dependent and time-averaged turbulence structure of the flow here.Separation occurs in the plane of symmetry because of the adverse pressure gradient imposed by the wing. In the time mean the resulting separated flow consists of two fairly distinct regions: a thin upstream region characterized by low mean backflow velocities and a relatively thick downstream region dominated by the intense recirculation of the mean junction vortex. In the upstream region the turbulence stresses develop in a manner qualitatively similar to those of a two-dimensional boundary layer separating in an adverse pressure gradient. In the vicinity of the junction vortex, though, the turbulence stresses are much greater and reach’ values many times larger than those normally observed in turbulent flows. These large stresses are associated with bimodal (double-peaked) histograms of velocity fluctuations produced by a velocity variation that is bistable. These observations are consistent with large-scale low-frequency unsteadiness of the instantaneous flow structure associated with the junction vortex. This unsteadiness seems to be produced by fluctuations in the momentum and vorticity of fluid from the outer part of the boundary layer which is recirculated as it impinges on the leading edge of the wing. Though we would expect these fluctuations to be produced by coherent structures in the boundary layer, frequencies of the large-scale unsteadiness are substantially lower than the passage frequency of such structures. It therefore seems that only a fraction of the turbulent structures are recirculated in this way.
Crop loss prediction tables for potato late blight epidemics

The yield loss prediction equation of MacKenzie and Petruzzo was used to determine expected yield losses resulting from over 1000 computer-generated late blight epidemics. The epidemics varied according to time of disease onset, initial inoculum, and apparent infection rate. The MacKenzie-Petruzzo equation was found to provide a reliable estimate of losses, and a table of expected yield losses was constructed for specific r values. These loss estimates demonstrated the value of complete early season blight control in currently planted varieties and documented the need for the development of commercially acceptable “slow-blighting” varieties for the Northeastern United States.
Acute kidney injury is associated with increased hospital mortality after stroke.

Background Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common and is associated with poor clinical outcomes. Information about the incidence of AKI and its effect on stroke outcomes is limited. Methods Data were analyzed from a registry of subjects with ischemic stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) hospitalized at a single academic medical center. Admission creatinine was considered to be the baseline. AKI was defined as a creatinine increase during hospitalization of 0.3 mg/dL or a percentage increase of at least 50% from baseline. Multivariate logistic regression models were created for both stroke types, with hospital mortality as the outcome. Covariates included gender, race, age, admission creatinine, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score at admission, the performance of a contrast-enhanced computed tomographic scan of the head and neck, and medical comorbidities. Results There were 528 cases of ischemic stroke with 70 deaths (13%), and 829 cases of ICH with 268 deaths (32%). The mean age was 64 years; 56% of patients were men and 71% were white. AKI complicated 14% of ischemic stroke and 21% of ICH hospitalizations. In multivariate analysis stratified by stroke type, AKI was associated with increased hospital mortality from ischemic stroke (odds ratio [OR] 3.08; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.49-6.35) but not ICH (OR 0.82; 95% CI 0.50-1.35), except for those surviving at least 2 days (OR 2.11; 95% CI 1.18-3.77). Conclusions AKI occurs frequently after stroke and is associated with increased hospital mortality. Additional studies are needed to establish if the association is causal and if measures to prevent AKI would result in decreased mortality.
Simple formulae for light-yield considerations in the design of scintillator-Fe and scintillator-Pb sampling calorimeters

Abstract Recent designs of sampling hadron and electromagnetic calorimeters for hadron collider experiments incorporate scintillating tile-fiber technology in which scintillation light is transported to phototubes through optical fibers. A major technical challenge has been to develop designs in which energy resolution is not limited by low photostatistics. Minimum light yield requirements in scintillator-Fe and scintillator-Pb sampling calorimeters are discussed, and several simple formulae are derived for estimating the contribution of photostatistics to energy resolution without resorting to detailed Monte Carlo calculations.
Time-related changes in hemodynamic parameters and pressure-derived indices of left ventricular function in a porcine model of prolonged pneumoperitoneum.

Background: Advanced laparoscopic procedures require prolonged pneumoperitoneum. Increased intra-abdominal pressure causes a number of hemodynamic changes including a drop in cardiac output, but it is unclear whether there is a direct effect on cardiac contractility. In this experimental study, we sought to determine whether there is a direct impact of pneumoperitoneum on cardiac contractility. We also examined the time-related changes taking place during the insufflation period.
Impression creep of lead

The impression creep behavior of lead was investigated using a 100 μm diameter punch at ambient and elevated temperatures (433 K-563 K) under punching stresses of 6–70 MPa. The results were compared with the data obtained from conventional creep tests reported in the literature. Unlike the indentation creep test, the impression creep test showed a steady-state velocity after a short transient period when the flat-end cylindrical punch was pushed against the lead surface by a constant load. Both the temperature and stress dependences were comparable to those of the constant stress tensile creep tests under similar conditions. A master curve for lead was established by collecting data from the impression creep tests and the constant stress tensile creep tests. The indentation creep measurements for lead were included also. However, the indentation data depend on the load applied.
Computer Modeling of Morphogenesis

SYNOPSIS. Computer simulation is a valuable tool to help solve some problems of morphogenesis.An embryo is shaped by the behavior of its cells, but in an embryo it is often impossible to sort out which cell behaviors are active in morphogenesis because attempts to isolate one cell behavior may affect others. Computer simulation of a model of morphogenesis provides independent evidence that putative driving forces can produce a change of form. The development of a computer simulated model requires that assumptions and steps in reasoning be stated explicitly. This process brings added rigor to analysis of the biological system, improved observations of the embryo itself, and suggestions for new experiments. An interplay develops between the two systems, the actual and the simulated, in which hypotheses and experimental results from each system can be used to modify the perceptions of the other. A successful simulation can be used to simulate experiments that may not be possible on the embryo. Specific examples of how computer modeling helped analyze the shaping of the newt neural plate are discussed, as well as the prospects of extending the models to analysis of neural tube formation.
A critical evaluation of the use of filipin-permeabilized rat hepatocytes to study functions of the endoplasmic reticulum in situ.

We have used transmission (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and leakage of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH; EC 1.1.1.27) to evaluate two published procedures which use filipin to render isolated rat hepatocytes permeable to ionic substrates. Cells treated by the procedure of Jorgenson and Nordlie6 retained less than 10 per cent of their LDH. TEM revealed severe damage to the internal structure of these cells, which included swelling, disintegration and extensive vesicularization of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Hepatocytes treated with filipin by the procedure of Gankema et al.13 retained 65–75 per cent of their LDH and displayed incomplete but highly variable permeability to Trypan blue. SEM revealed the loss of microvilli, other signs of swelling, and the presence of large lesions in the plasma membrane. TEM revealed signs of cell swelling, but the nuclei and the mitochondria were only moderately altered. The rough ER was not swollen, but significant fragmentation was evident and characteristic stacks of lamellar ER were never seen. We conclude that useful information about the functions of the ER in situ cannot be obtained from studies of filipin-treated cell. Our results indicate that retention of LDH is not a sufficient criterion of preservation of cell morphology and that staining with Trypan blue may significantly underestimate the permeability of cells to small ionic metabolites.
Isolation of lipid glucuronic acid and N-acetylglucosamine derivatives from a rat fibrosarcoma.

Abstract Incubation of labeled UDP-GlcUA and UDP-GlcNAc with microsomes of a fibrosarcoma yielded labeled glycolipids resistant to hydrolysis with dilute alkali. These compounds have been tentatively identified as lipid-GlcNAc, lipid-GlcNAc-GlcUA and lipid-tetra and hexasaccharides containing both GlcUA and GlcNAc.
Cholesterol affects divalent cation-induced fusion and isothermal phase transitions of phospholipid membranes

Abstract The influence of cholesterol on divalent cation-induced fusion and isothermal phase transitions of large unilamellar vesicles composed of phosphatidylserine (PS) was investigated. Vesicle fusion was monitored by the terbium/dipicolinic acid assay for the intermixing of internal aqueous contents, in the temperature range 10–40°C. The fusogenic activity of the cations decreases in the sequence Ca2+ > Ba2+ > Sr2+ ⪢ Mg2+ for cholesterol concentrations in the range 20–40 mol%, and at all temperatures. Increasing the cholesterol concentration decreases the initial rate of fusion in the presence of Ca2+ and Ba2+ at 25°C, reaching about 50% of the rate for pure PS at a mole fraction of 0.4. From 10 to 25°C, Mg2+ is ineffective in causing fusion at all cholesterol concentrations. However, at 30°C, Mg2+-induced fusion is observed with vesicles containing cholesterol. At 40°C, Mg2+ induces slow fusion of pure PS vesicles, which is enhanced by the presence of cholesterol. Increasing the temperature also causes a monotonic increase in the rate of fusion induced by Ca2+, Ba2+ and Sr2+. The enhancement of the effect of cholesterol at high temperatures suggests that changes in hydrogen bonding and interbilayer hydration forces may be involved in the modulation of fusion by cholesterol. The phase behavior of PS/cholesterol membranes in the presence of Na+ and divalent cations was studied by differential scanning calorimetry. The temperature of the gel-liquid crystalline transition (Tm) in Na+ is lowered as the cholesterol content is increased, and the endotherm is broadened. Addition of divalent cations shifts the Tm upward, with a sequence of effectiveness Ba2+ > Sr2+ > Mg2+. The Tm of these complexes decreases as the cholesterol content is increased. Although the transition is not detectable for cholesterol concentrations of 40 and 50 mol% in the presence of Na+, Sr2+ or Mg2+, the addition of Ba2+ reveals endotherms with Tm progressively lower than that observed at 30 mol%. Although the presence of cholesterol appears to induce an isothermal gel-liquid crystalline transition by decreasing the Tm, this change in membrane fluidity does not enhance the rate of fusion, but rather decreases it. The effect of cholesterol on the fusion of PS/phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) vesicles was investigated by utilizing a resonance energy transfer assay for lipid mixing. The initial rate of fusion of PS/PE and PS/PE/cholesterol vesicles is saturated at high Mg2+ concentrations. With Ca2+, saturation is not observed for cholesterol-containing vesicles. The highest rate of fusion for both Ca2+- and Mg2+-induced fusion is observed with vesicles containing 30 mol% cholesterol.
Inoculations Old and New

The stereotype inoculation theory that Nilanjana Dasgupta proposes does a terrific job of summarizing a great deal of the existing research on the effects of stereotypes on achievement, engagement,...
Abstract C263: mTOR inhibition specifically sensitizes colorectal cancers with KRAS or BRAF mutations to BCL-2/BCL-XL inhibition by suppressing MCL-1.

Colorectal cancers (CRCs) harboring KRAS or BRAF mutations are refractory to current targeted therapies. Using data from a high-throughput drug screen, we have developed a novel therapeutic strategy that combines targeting of the apoptotic machinery using the BCL-2 family inhibitor ABT-263 (navitoclax) in combination with a TORC1/2 inhibitor, AZD8055. This combination leads to efficient apoptosis specifically in KRAS mutant (MT) and BRAF MT but not wild-type (WT) CRC cells. This specific susceptibility results from TORC1/2 inhibition leading to suppression of MCL-1 expression in mutant, but not wild-type CRCs, leading to abrogation of BIM/MCL-1 complexes. This combination strategy leads to tumor regressions in both KRAS MT colorectal cancer xenograft and genetically-engineered mouse models of CRC, but not in the corresponding KRAS WT CRC models. These data suggest that the combination of BCL-2/XL inhibitors with TORC1/2 inhibitors constitutes a promising targeted therapy strategy to treat these recalcitrant cancers. Citation Information: Mol Cancer Ther 2013;12(11 Suppl):C263. Citation Format: Erin M. Coffee, Anthony C. Faber, Carlotta Costa, Anahita Dastur, Hiromichi Ebi, Aaron N. Hata, Alan T. Yeo, Elena J, Youngchul Song, Ah Ting Tam, Jessica L. Boisvert, Randy J. Milano, Jatin Roper, David P. Kodack, Rakesh K. Jain, Ryan B. Corcoran, Miguel N. Rivera, Sridhar Ramaswamy, Kenneth E. Hung, Cyril H. Benes, Jeffrey A. Engelman. mTOR inhibition specifically sensitizes colorectal cancers with KRAS or BRAF mutations to BCL-2/BCL-XL inhibition by suppressing MCL-1. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2013 Oct 19-23; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2013;12(11 Suppl):Abstract nr C263.
Petalostetin, a new isoflavone from Petalostemon candidum

occurrence and it is significant because the oestrogenic Si gel. Using petrol with increasing amounts of C,H, as activity of a synthetic sample was found to be one fourth eluent sitosterol, lupeol, and rand p-amyrin were of that of the isomeric 5.7,4’-trihydroxyisoflavone [4]. isolated and identified by direct comparison with authenA comparison of the UV values of the aglucone with tic samples. those of the glucoside suggested the presence of the sugar moiety at position 7. Methylation of the glucoside with CH,N, for 30 hr and subsequent hydrolysis gave a Acknow!rtlgrinent -The authors are grateful to Prof. R. H.
Chromosome behavior and sterility of hybrids between the common onion, Allium cepa , and the related wild A. oschaninii

Four hybrid plants were obtained when cytoplasmic male-sterile onion inbreds, Allium cepa L., were pollinated with a wild cepa-like allium introduced from northeastern Iran and identified as A. oschaninii O. Fedtsch. It has been proposed on morphological grounds that A. oschaninii is wild A. cepa or the ancestor of A. cepa. Nevertheless, chromosome irregularities and complete sterility in the hybrids suggest that there may be a greater sterility barrier between A. cepa and A. oschaninii than between A. cepa and 3 other species reported to cross with A. cepa, namely A. fistulosum L., A. galanthum Kar. et Kir., and A. pskemense B. Fedtsch.
Immersive Tendency, Feeling of Presence, and Simulator Sickness: Formulation of a Causal Model:

Three virtual environment (VE) constructs were studied and a model was generated to explain the relations among them. Data were gathered using the Immersive Tendency Questionnaire (ITQ), the Presen...
Dissemination of Youth ESTs: Ready for Prime Time?

Herschell, McNeil, and McNeil (this issue) provide a thoughtful assessment of and potential remedies for obstacles to dissemination of empirically supported child and adolescent treatments. Despite the compelling case for disseminating such treatments to clinical service settings, substantial differences between service clinics and research clinics justify the need for systematic effectiveness trials as part of the dissemination process. It is proposed that evidence from effectiveness trials will reveal features of treatments, such as engagement strategies, that require development or modification in order to optimize outcomes. Clear evidence for the superiority of empirically supported treatments (ESTs) over treatment as usual in service clinics will promote acceptance and implementation of ESTs in clinic practice. Key words: dissemination, empirically supported treatments, clinical child psychology, therapeutic alliance, clinical service settings, treatment outcomes, effectiveness trials.
Hypercalcemia associated with squamous cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis is uncommon, accounting for approximately 10% of all renal pelvic tumors.' Associated humoral hypercalcemia is even less frequent with fewer than 10 cases reported.2 As in lung and renal cell carcinoma, ectopic production of parathyroid hormone-like protein is the postulated etiology. We describe a patient with squamous cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis and humoral hypercalcemia, and briefly review the prognosis and management.