cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Direct estimation of diffuse gaseous emissions from coal fires: Current methods and future directions

Abstract Coal fires occur in nature spontaneously, contribute to increases in greenhouse gases, and emit atmospheric toxicants. Increasing interest in quantifying coal fire emissions has resulted in the adaptation and development of specialized approaches and adoption of numerical modeling techniques. Overview of these methods for direct estimation of diffuse gas emissions from coal fires is presented in this paper. Here we take advantage of stochastic Gaussian simulation to interpolate CO 2 fluxes measured using a dynamic closed chamber at the Ruth Mullins coal fire in Perry County, Kentucky. This approach allows for preparing a map of diffuse gas emissions, one of the two primary ways that gases emanate from coal fires, and establishing the reliability of the study both locally and for the entire fire. Future research directions include continuous and automated sampling to improve quantification of gaseous coal fire emissions.
Lost Watersheds: Barriers, Aquatic Habitat Connectivity, and Salmon Persistence in the Willamette and Lower Columbia River Basins

Abstract Large portions of watersheds and streams are lost to anadromous fishes because of anthropogenic barriers to migration. The loss of these streams and rivers has shifted the distribution of accessible habitat, often reducing the diversity of accessible habitat and the quantity of high-quality habitat. We combined existing inventories of barriers to adult fish passage in the Willamette and Lower Columbia River basins and identified 1,491 anthropogenic barriers to fish passage blocking 14,931 km of streams. We quantified and compared the stream quality, land cover, and physical characteristics of lost versus currently accessible habitat by watershed, assessed the effect of barriers on the variability of accessible habitats, and investigated potential impacts of habitat reduction on endangered or threatened salmonid populations. The majority of the study watersheds have lost more than 40% of total fish stream habitat. Overall, 40% of the streams with spawning gradients suitable for steelhead (anadromo...
New Technology for Estimating Seed Production of Moist-Soil Plants

Abstract Waterfowl biologists estimate seed production in moist-soil wetlands to calculate duck-energy days (DEDs) and evaluate management techniques. Previously developed models that predict plant seed yield using morphological measurements are tedious and time consuming. We developed simple linear regression models that indirectly and directly related seed-head area to seed production for 7 common moist-soil plants using portable and desktop scanners and a dot grid, and compared time spent processing samples and predictive ability among models. To construct models, we randomly collected approximately 60 plants/species at the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge, USA, during September 2005 and 2006, threshed and dried seed from seed heads, and related dry mass to seed-head area. All models explained substantial variation in seed mass (R2 ≥ 0.87) and had high predictive ability (R2predicted ≥ 0.84). Processing time of seed heads averaged 22 and 3 times longer for the dot grid and portable scanner, respectiv...
Membrane assembly modulates the stability of the meiotic spindle-pole body

Spore formation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is driven by de novo assembly of new membranes termed prospore membranes. A vesicle-docking complex called the meiosis II outer plaque (MOP) forms on the cytoplasmic faces of the spindle-pole bodies at the onset of meiosis II and serves as the initiation site for membrane formation. In this study, a fluorescence-recovery assay was used to demonstrate that the dynamics of the MOP proteins change coincident with the coalescence of precursor vesicles into a membrane. Proteins within the MOP exchange freely with a soluble pool prior to membrane assembly, but after membranes are formed they remain stably within the MOP. By contrast, constitutive spindle-pole-body proteins display low exchange in both conditions. The MOP component Ady4p plays a role in maintaining the integrity of the MOP complex, but this role differs depending on whether the MOP is associated with docked vesicles or a fully formed membrane. These results suggest an architectural rearrangement of the MOP coincident with vesicle fusion.
The interaction between plasma filaments in dielectric barrier discharges and liquid covered wounds: electric fields delivered to model platelets and cells

The treatment of wounds by atmospheric pressure plasmas in the context of plasma medicine typically proceeds through a liquid layer covering exposed cells. The wounds and their liquid covering often have irregular shapes with electrical properties (i.e. conductivity and permittivities) that may differ not only from wound-to-wound but also for a single wound as healing proceeds. The differing shapes and electrical properties extend into the liquid within the wound that typically contains cellular materials such as blood platelets. The plasma, wound, liquid and intra-liquid cellular components represent an interacting system of mutual dependence. In this paper, we discuss the results from a computational investigation of the treatment of small, liquid-covered wounds by filamentary dielectric barrier discharges. The sizes of the wounds are of the order of the plasma filaments and the liquid within the wound, an approximation of blood serum, contains idealized blood platelets. We find that the electrical properties of a wound can have significant effects on the spreading of the plasma on its surface by virtue of the deformation of the vacuum electric fields due to the shape, the effective capacitance of the wound and the discontinuities in electrical permittivity. This in turn effects the penetration of the electric field to cells under the liquid. The orientation and permittivity of the platelets relative to the liquid determines the electric fields that may stimulate the platelets.
BioMap: toward the development of a knowledge base of biomedical literature

Biological literature databases continue to grow rapidly with vital information that is important for conducting sound biomedical research. As data and information space continue to grow exponentially, the need for rapidly surveying the published literature, synthesizing, and discovering the embedded "knowledge" is becoming critical to allow the researchers to conduct "informed" work, avoid repetition, and generate new hypotheses. Knowledge, in this case, is defined as one-to-many and many-to-many relationships among biological entities such as gene, protein, drug, disease, etc. The knowledge discovery process basically involves identification of biological object names, reference resolution, ontology and synonym discovery, and finally extracting object-object relationships. The overall goal of this work is to investigate and develop a complete knowledge base, called BioMap, using the entire MEDLINE collection of (over 12 million) bibliographic citations and author abstracts from over 4600 biomedical journals worldwide and to develop an interactive knowledge network for users to access this secondary knowledge (BioMap) along with its primary databases such as the MEDLINE. In this paper we present the organization of a distributed database system to maintain the knowledge base of BioMap and some preliminary results on biological object name identification problem based on an initial set of 30,000 MEDLINE abstracts.
HUMAN TUMOR EXTRACELLULAR PH AS A FUNCTION OF BLOOD GLUCOSE CONCENTRATION

Abstract Purpose: Mammalian cells are sensitized to hyperthermia when the extracellular pH (pH e ) is acutely reduced to Methods and Materials: The change in tumor pHe was measured as a function of the change in blood glucose concentration after oral administration of 100 g glucose in 25 fasting, nondiabetic patients. pH 3 was determined by needle microelectrodes, and blood glucose determined by "Chemstrips" and a glucometer. In some patients blood glucose concentration rose with time after ingestion to a peak change of 50–100 mg/dL between 30–70 min and then began to decrease. In another group of patients glucose concentration increased by 100–200 mg/dL over 30–90 min and remained elevated as if the patients in this group were Type II diabetics. Results: In 14 transient hyperglycemic patients (56%), as blood glucose increased tumor pH e decreased by a mean of -0.17 ± 0.04 pH units ( p ≤ 0.0001, range of -0.41–+0.07). By contrast in eight persistent hyperglycemic patients, tumor pH e remained unchanged or actually increased an average of 0.03 ± 0.04 pH units (range of −0.15 – 0.14). Normal tissue pH 3 in five patients was unchanged by hyperglycemia, pH e = 7.33 ± 0.03. Among all patients, 52% exhibited a pH e decrease ≥ 0.1 pH unit, and 24% exhibited a pH e decrease ≥ 0.2 pH unit. In five transient hyperglycemic patients whose preglucose tumor pH e was between 6.90 and 7.22, the average decrease in pH e induced by hyperglycemia was 0.25 ± 0.05 pH unit. A linear relationship was observed between the change of pH e and the maximum change in blood glucose such that the greatest decrease in tumor pH e occurred when the glucose change was minimal. The slope was 0.0017 ± 0.0005 pH units/mg/dL glucose ( p ≤ 0.005). The linear relationship included both tumors in transient hyperglycemic patients and in persistent hyperglycemic patients. Conclusion: Since patients who exhibited the lowest change in blood glucose exhibited the greatest decrease in tumor pH e , it may be that cells in these patients were better able to transport glucose intracellularly which in tumor cells would permit a more rapid production of lactic acid from aerobic and/or anaerobic glycolysis. These data may be helpful in predicting the response of individual patients to oral hyperglycemia as a clinical thermosensitizer.
Dielectrophoretic Force Microscopy of Aqueous Interfaces

A novel scanning probe microscopy technique has allowed dielectrophoretic force imaging with nanoscale spatial resolution. Dielectrophoresis (DEP) traditionally describes the mobility of polarizable particles in inhomogeneous alternating current (ac) electric fields. Integrating DEP with atomic force microscopy allows for noncontact imaging with the image contrast related to the local electric polarizability. By tuning the ac frequency, dielectric spectroscopy can be performed at solid/liquid interfaces with high spatial resolution. In studies of cells, the frequency-dependent dielectrophoretic force is sensitive to biologically relevant electrical properties, including local membrane capacitance and ion mobility. Consequently, dielectrophoretic force microscopy is well suited for in vitro noncontact scanning probe microscopy of biological systems.
Predicting Preschoolers' Attachment Security from Fathers' Involvement, Internal Working Models, and Use of Social Support.

Associations between preschoolers' attachment security, fathers' involvement (i.e. parenting behaviors and consistency) and fathering context (i.e. fathers' internal working models (IWMs) and use of social support) were examined in a subsample of 102 fathers, taken from a larger sample of 235 culturally diverse US families. The authors' predicted that fathers' involvement would mediate associations between children's attachment security and less proximal fathering context. Fathers completed questionnaires regarding their parenting behaviors, IWMs of adult relationships, their use of social support, and an attachment Q‐list to assess their preschoolers' attachment security. Fathers' involvement mediated the relationship between fathering context and children's attachment security. Findings support an ecological view of children's attachment security within a multilayered system.
Design and simulation of opera lighting and projection effects

A major problem challenging opera designers is the inability to co-ordinate lighting, projection systems, and set designs in the preliminary planning phase. New computer graphics techniques, which provide the set and lighting designer the opportunity to evaluate, test, and control opera designs prior to the construction of full scale systems are presented. These techniques---light source input, simulation of directional lighting, modeling of scenic projection systems, and full three-dimensional simulation---show the potential for the use of computer graphics in theater design.The light source input component consists of a program for assigning light source attributes with a set of theater lighting icons. This module allows a designer to specify light source characteristics in a way familiar to the discipline and to make preliminary evaluations of the lighting conditions.An extended progressive radiosity method is introduced to simulate the directional lighting characteristics which are specified by the input program.A new projection approach is presented to simulate the optical effects of scenic projectors. In addition, a solution to the distortion problem produced by angular projections is described.The above components are integrated to produce full three-dimensional simulations of the global illumination effects in an opera scene.
Identifying Kinds of Reasoning in Collective Argumentation

We combine Peirce’s rule, case, and result with Toulmin’s data, claim, and warrant to differentiate between deductive, inductive, abductive, and analogical reasoning within collective argumentation. In this theoretical article, we illustrate these kinds of reasoning in episodes of collective argumentation using examples from one teacher’s practice. Examining different kinds of reasoning in collective argumentation can inform how students engage in generating and examining hypotheses using inductive and abductive reasoning and move toward the deductive reasoning required for proof. Mathematics educators can build on their understanding of these kinds of reasoning to support students in reasoning in productive ways.
Melt preparation and nucleation efficiency of polylactide stereocomplex crystallites

Abstract A melt blending procedure was developed for the preparation of poly( l -lactide) (PLLA)/poly( d -lactide) (PDLA) stereocomplex crystallites dispersed in a PLLA matrix. All PLLA/PDLA blends were prepared in a batch melt mixer with ≥95% PLLA. Three PDLA homopolymers with a range of molecular weights were used as the minority (≤5%) component. The presence of the stereocomplex in the PLLA matrix was verified by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and optical microscopy. The effectiveness of the in situ formed stereocomplex crystallites for nucleating PLLA crystallization was evaluated using self-nucleation and non-isothermal DSC methods. With only 3 wt% of the 14 kg mol −1 PDLA, nucleation efficiencies near 100% could be obtained. In addition, fast crystallization kinetics were observed in isothermal crystallization experiments at 140 °C. The stereocomplex crystallites were much more effective at enhancing the crystallization rate of PLLA compared to talc, a common nucleating agent.
Evaluating white LEDs for outdoor landscape lighting application

A laboratory experiment was conducted to understand the acceptability of different white light emitting diodes (LEDs) for outdoor landscape lighting. The study used a scaled model setup. The scene was designed to replicate the exterior of a typical upscale suburban restaurant including the exterior facade of the building, an approach with steps, and a garden. The lighting was designed to replicate light levels commonly found in nighttime outdoor conditions. The model had a central dividing partition with symmetrical scenes on both sides for side-by-side evaluations of the two scenes with different light sources. While maintaining equal luminance levels and distribution between the two scenes, four types of light sources were evaluated. These include, halogen, phosphor white LED, and two white light systems using RGB LEDs. These light sources were tested by comparing two sources at a time placed side-by-side and by individual assessment of each lighting condition. The results showed that the RGB LEDs performed equal or better than the most widely used halogen light source in this given setting. A majority of the subjects found slightly dimmer ambient lighting to be more typical for restaurants and therefore found RGB LED and halogen light sources to be more inviting. The phosphor white LEDs made the space look brighter, however a majority of the subjects disliked them.
Semisupervised mixture modeling with fine-grained component-conditional class labeling and transductive inference

This paper introduces a new generative semisupervised (transductive) mixture model with a more fine-grained class label generation mechanism than that of previous works. Our approach effectively combines the advantages of standard semisupervised mixtures, which achieve label extrapolation over a mixture component when there are few labeled samples, and nearest-neighbor (NN) classification, which achieves accurate classification in the local vicinity of labeled samples. Toward this end, we propose a two-stage stochastic data generation mechanism, with the unlabeled samples first produced and then the labeled samples generated conditioned on both the unlabeled data and on their components of origin. This nested data generation entails a more complicated (albeit still closed-form) E-step evaluation than that for standard mixtures. Our model is advantageous, compared with previous semisupervised mixtures, when mixture components model data from more than one class and when within-component class proportions are not constant over the feature space region “owned” by a component. Experiments demonstrate gains in classification accuracy over both the previous semisupervised mixture of experts model and over K-NN classification on data sets from the UC Irvine Repository.
Identification and expression of maebl, an erythrocyte-binding gene, in Plasmodium gallinaceum

Avian malaria is of significant ecological importance and serves as a model system to study broad patterns of host switching and host specificity. The erythrocyte invasion mechanism of the malaria parasite Plasmodium is mediated, in large part, by proteins of the erythrocyte-binding-like (ebl) family of genes. However, little is known about how these genes are conserved across different species of Plasmodium, especially those that infect birds. Using bioinformatical methods in conjunction with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and genetic sequencing, we identified and annotated one member of the ebl family, merozoite apical erythrocyte-binding ligand (maebl), from the chicken parasite Plasmodium gallinaceum. We then detected the expression of maebl in P. gallinaceum by PCR analysis of cDNA isolated from the blood of infected chickens. We found that maebl is a conserved orthologous gene in avian, mammalian, and rodent Plasmodium species. The duplicate extracellular binding domains of MAEBL, responsible for erythrocyte binding, are the most conserved regions. Our combined data corroborate the conservation of maebl throughout the Plasmodium genus and may help elucidate the mechanisms of erythrocyte invasion in P. gallinaceum and the host specificity of Plasmodium parasites.
Bilirubin inhibits neointima formation and vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration.

Bilirubin is a heme metabolite generated by the concerted action of the enzymes heme oxygenase and biliverdin reductase. Although long considered a toxic byproduct of heme catabolism, recent preclinical and clinical studies indicate the bilirubin exerts beneficial effects in the circulation. In the present study, we determined whether local administration of bilirubin attenuates neointima formation following injury of rat carotid arteries. In addition, the ability of bilirubin to regulate the proliferation and migration of human arterial smooth muscle cells was investigated. Local perivascular administration of bilirubin immediately following balloon injury of rat carotid arteries significantly attenuated neointima formation. Bilirubin-mediated inhibition of neointimal thickening was associated with a significant decrease in ERK activity and cyclin D1 and A protein expression, and an increase in p21 and p53 protein expression in injured blood vessels. Treatment of human aortic smooth muscle cells with bilirubin inhibited proliferation and migration in a concentration-dependent manner without affecting cell viability. In addition, bilirubin resulted in a concentration-dependent increase in the percentage of cells in the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle and this was paralleled by a decrease in the fraction of cells in the S and G2M phases of the cell cycle. Finally, bilirubin had no effect on mitochondrial function and ATP content of vascular SMCs. In conclusion, these studies demonstrate that bilirubin inhibits neointima formation after arterial injury and this is associated with alterations in the expression of cell cycle regulatory proteins. Furthermore bilirubin blocks proliferation and migration of human arterial smooth muscle cells and arrests smooth muscle cells in the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle. Bilirubin represents an attractive therapeutic agent in treating occlusive vascular disease.
A Comparison of Pressure-Transient and Tracer-Concentration/Time Data for Layered Reservoirs Under Injection

This paper reports hypothetical tracer and pressure-transient test responses computed for a production well in a developed, five-spot, unit-mobility-ratio injection/production pattern. The reservoir was a noncommunicating Dykstra-Parsons layers system. Layer effects were evident in tracer results, but pressure-transient results indicated a single layer of averaged properties. Conventional layer system humps were not present for the buildup pressure-transient data.
Drift velocity and deflection in non-perpendicular electric and magnetic fields

Abstract Accurate tracking in inhomogeneous and arbitrarily oriented magnetic fields requires the velocity and direction of the drifting ionization to be known to high precision. A semi-empirical method of calculating drift velocities and magnetic deflection angles is presented for non-perpendicular electric and magnetic fields. Data obtained using a drift chamber rotated in a B -field verify the calculation. The model is used to restore accuracy in the L3 forward/backward muon detector where non-orthogonal and inhomogeneous electric and magnetic fields are present.
Objectives of a Second‐Year German Course

IN this article I shall endeavor to describe the work done in my secondyear German class, stating the aims and objectives of the course, the method employed to attain the desired goal, and the benefits one can hope to gain from such a study. First of all, a thorough foundation in first-year German is presupposed. This foundation, plus a real interest on the part of the student, will do much to help him achieve satisfactory results. Naturally, the student does not plunge immediately into advanced German literature in his secondyear work, because the second-year course is still considered primarily as a language course. Not until the student has a thorough knowledge of German grammar and syntax, and has read and discussed numerous short stories and plays in German, is he ready to appreciate the serious study of German literature.
Induction of λ prophage by gamma-irradiated and 32P-treated P1

Abstract Indirect induction of prophage λ was thought to be limited to ultraviolet-irradiated DNA. Results presented here show that phage P1 that has sustained gamma irradiation and 32 P decay is as effective as ultraviolet-irradiated P1 in indirectly inducing prophage λ.
Classical general relativity derived from quantum gravity

Abstract The existence of long range macroscopic attractive forces between masses implies the existence of a mediating helicity ± 2 particle in special relativistic quantum particle theory. It is shown that this fact alone, without assuming the existence of an underlying tensor field, uniquely determines the long wavelength structure of quantum gravitation to be that of Einstein's theory. This equivalence is shown by deriving, from the Ward identities associated with the graviton propagator, the tree graph structure of the graviton-graviton and graviton-matter interaction and establishing that the classical Einstein action is the generating functional. Some properties of closed loop effects are also exhibited.
Novel antisense oligonucleotides containing hydroxamate linkages: targeted iron-triggered chemical nucleases

Antisense oligonucleotides with iron binding hydroxamate linkages are designed to act as sequence-selective cleaving agents of complementary nucleic acids through Fenton chemistry. Oligothymidylate analogs with hydroxamate linkages were efficiently synthesized from coupling of nucleoside intermediates, activated as p-nitrophenyl carbonates, with hydroxylamine derivatized nucleosides. Iron binding studies showed that hydroxamate linked oligonucleotides are effective iron chelators when there are three nonadjacent internucleosidic hydroxamate linkages available in the same oligonucleotide molecule. However, analysis of the CD spectra of an oligothymidylate 16mer, which contained complete substitution of all phosphates with hydroxamates, indicated that the hydroxamate linkage was too rigid to allow the analog to base pair with the complementary DNA d(A16). Syntheses of mix-linked thymidine oligomers with up to three hydroxamate linkages incorporated in the center of the sequence are also reported. Iron binding of the thymidine oligomer with hydroxamate linkages was confirmed by matrix assisted laser desorption mass spectrometry analysis. Nuclease stability assays showed that the modified oligonucleotides have enhanced resistance toward nuclease S1 (endonuclease) compared to natural oligonucleotides. A thymidine 16mer with three hydroxamate linkages incorporated in the center of the sequence was shown to be able to bind with both iron and its complementary polyA strand. A small destablizing effect was observed when the phosphodiester linkage was changed to the hydroxamate linkage. Under Fenton chemistry conditions, this novel iron binding oligothymidylate analog cleaved the complementary DNA strand sequence-selectively.
Fundamental equation of thermodynamics for protein-ligand binding.

Abstract For the internal energy and every thermodynamic potential that can be defined by a Legendre transform, there is a fundamental equation that contains all the thermodynamic information about a system. For a system involving the binding of molecular oxygen and hydrogen ions by a protein, fundamental equations are given for the Gibbs energy G, the transformed Gibbs energy G′ at specified pH, and the further transformed Gibbs energy G″ at specified pH and specified concentration of molecular oxygen. The Maxwell equations for these various Gibbs energies are important because they provide the connection with experimentally determined properties and increase our understanding of these properties. Measurements of the average number of oxygen molecules bound as a function of T, pH and concentration of molecular oxygen make it possible to calculate ΔfG″o of the reactant. Maxwell equations make it possible to calculate the average number of hydrogen ions bound, ΔfS″o, ΔfH″o and their partial derivatives. These relations are illustrated with numerical calculations on a simple reaction system.
Diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of the thrower’s elbow

The overhead throwing motion generates enormous force in the elbow. Repetitive near failure loads lead to chronic adaptive changes and occasionally acute injury. The physician caring for the thrower must understand the complex anatomy and function of the elbow joint, along with the biomechanics of throwing, to accurately diagnose and treat elbow pathology. Evaluation of elbow pain in the throwing athlete must begin with a thorough and detailed throwing history including duration of symptoms, location of pain, timing during the phases of throwing motion, and associated symptoms. Physical examination should include inspection, range of motion, palpation, and specific tests to better define the pathology. A detailed history and physical examination will allow the astute clinician to obtain the proper diagnosis and start the appropriate operative or nonoperative treatment often without reliance on ancillary testing. Treatment and rehabilitation of these injuries must be tailored to the pathology present and focused towards a return to the athlete's activity.
Hierarchical Streamline Bundles

Effective 3D streamline placement and visualization play an essential role in many science and engineering disciplines. The main challenge for effective streamline visualization lies in seed placement, i.e., where to drop seeds and how many seeds should be placed. Seeding too many or too few streamlines may not reveal flow features and patterns either because it easily leads to visual clutter in rendering or it conveys little information about the flow field. Not only does the number of streamlines placed matter, their spatial relationships also play a key role in understanding the flow field. Therefore, effective flow visualization requires the streamlines to be placed in the right place and in the right amount. This paper introduces hierarchical streamline bundles, a novel approach to simplifying and visualizing 3D flow fields defined on regular grids. By placing seeds and generating streamlines according to flow saliency, we produce a set of streamlines that captures important flow features near critical points without enforcing the dense seeding condition. We group spatially neighboring and geometrically similar streamlines to construct a hierarchy from which we extract streamline bundles at different levels of detail. Streamline bundles highlight multiscale flow features and patterns through clustered yet not cluttered display. This selective visualization strategy effectively reduces visual clutter while accentuating visual foci, and therefore is able to convey the desired insight into the flow data.
Electron microscopic observation of bacteria growing on the skin surface.

Des observations au microscope electronique ont ete faites sur des bacteries se developpant a la surface de la peau. En utilisant la technique de fixation deRyter-Kellenberger, les auteurs ont obtenu bonne preservation des microorganismes, ce qui a permis l'etude de leur fine structure.
Gel electrophoresis in the presence of soluble, aqueous polymers: horizontal sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels.

Because little is known about the use of aqueous polymers in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, we undertook a feasibility study that enables the discontinuous Laemmli-formulated system of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to be performed in a horizontal format by the addition of large-sized aqueous polymers (i.e., dextrans and methylcelluloses). We studied four parameters: the cross-linking agent (bisacrylamide vs AcrylAide) and the polymer concentration, nature, and size. Three concentrations of each polymer were used. The best differentiation between the standard markers and the sharpest bands were obtained using concentrations of 2.5 and 0.06% (w/v) for Dextran T-500 and methylcellulose 4000, respectively. There was no predictable pattern to the variation in the plots of log Mr vs Rf caused by varying the concentration and length of the dextrans; however, the methylcellulose patterns suggest that gel viscosity is important. The results suggest that the combination of 0.06% methylcellulose 4000 polymers with bisacrylamide is a convenient and inexpensive means of performing flatbed Laemmli SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.
Time-dependence of the voltage-sensitivity of second harmonic generation from styryl dyes

Many styryl dyes have been developed for use in imaging electrophysiology given the fast electrochromism of their fluorescence. The molecular characteristics responsible for electrochromism also make them strong harmonophores. Second harmonic generation (SHG) from a number of these dyes has been investigated for use in a new method of imaging electrochemical activity in neurons, cardiomyocytes and other cells. Depending on the choice of dye and excitation wavelength, the voltage-sensitivity of SHG may be up to four times as large as the voltage-sensitivity of fluorescence (one- or two-photon), as is well characterised by "slow" voltage-switching experiments. While some fluorescent dyes respond to changes in trans-membrane potential by slow mechanisms, such as a change in partitioning between the cell membrane and the extracellular medium, styryl dyes were developed because they respond rapidly, using a fast electrochromic shift of their fluorescence excitation and emission spectra. For use in imaging mammalian nerves, for instance, a response time of the order of a millisecond is necessary. Here we report on our characterisation of the time dependence of the voltage-sensitivity of SHG from styryl dyes using "fast" voltage-switching experiments, as compared with simultaneous two-photon fluorescence imaging for a number of different dyes.
Active control of structurally radiated noise using multiple piezoelectric actuators

A modal approach in conjunction with quadratic optimal control theory is used to derive the optimal voltages to the piezoelectric actuators necessary to minimize the radiated acoustic power. The results show that an impressive reduction in radiated acoustic power can be achieved with proper choice of size, number, and location of actuators
Essay Review: The Transatlantic Emerson

Patrick J. Keane Columbia, U of Missouri P, 2005 xv + 555 pp. Lawrence Buell Cambridge, Belknap P of Harvard UP, 2003 xii + 397 pp; 5 illustrations In 1834, Ralph Waldo Emerson penned a letter, rem...
Ohio statewide quality-improvement collaborative to reduce late-onset sepsis in preterm infants.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to reduce late-onset bacterial infections in infants born at 22 to 29 weeks9 gestation by using collaborative quality-improvement methods to implement evidence-based catheter care. We hypothesized that these methods would result in a 50% reduction in nosocomial infection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted an interrupted time-series study among 24 Ohio NICUs. The intervention began in September 2008 and continued through December 2009. Sites used the Institute for Healthcare Improvement Breakthrough Series quality-improvement model to facilitate implementation of evidence-based catheter care. Data were collected monthly for all catheter insertions and for at least 10 observations of indwelling catheter care. NICUs also submitted monthly data on catheter-days, patient-days, and episodes of infection. Data were analyzed by using statistical process control methods. RESULTS: During the intervention, NICUs submitted information on 1916 infants. Of the 242 infections reported, 69% were catheter associated. Compliance with catheter-insertion components was >90% by April 2009. Compliance with components of evidence-based indwelling catheter care reached 80.4% by December 2009. There was a significant reduction in the proportion of infants with at least 1 late-onset infection from a baseline of 18.2% to 14.3%. CONCLUSIONS: There was a 20% reduction in the incidence of late-onset infection after the intervention, but the magnitude was less than hypothesized, perhaps because compliance with components of evidence-based care of indwelling catheters remained
Increased cell buoyant densities of protein overproducing Escherichia coli cells.

Summary Escherichia coli K12 cells carrying recombinant plasmids directing a high level accumulation of either β-galactosidase or its nonsense protomer X90 have high stationary cell buoyant densities ranging from 1.11 to 1.13 g/ml. In contrast, the buoyant densities of control cells are 1.08–1.09 g/ml. The increased cell buoyant densities are found when the cytoplasmic inclusion bodies are formed.
Central corneal thickness correlates with oxygen levels in the human anterior chamber angle.

Purpose To measure oxygen (pO 2 ) in eyes of patients undergoing intraocular surgery and identify correlations with central corneal thickness (CCT). Design Prospective, cross-sectional study. Methods setting: Institutional. patient population: 124 patients undergoing cataract and/or glaucoma surgery. observation procedure: Prior to surgery, an oxygen sensor was introduced into the anterior chamber (AC) via peripheral corneal paracentesis. The tip of the flexible fiberoptic probe was positioned for 3 measurements in all patients: (1) near central corneal endothelium; (2) in mid-AC; and (3) in AC angle. In patients undergoing cataract extraction, additional measurements were taken (4) at the anterior lens surface and (5) in the posterior chamber. main outcome measures: pO 2 measurements at 5 locations within the eye were compared to central corneal thickness measurements by multivariate regression analyses. Results There was a statistically significant inverse correlation between CCT and pO 2 in the anterior chamber angle ( P = .048). pO 2 was not significantly related to CCT at any other location, including beneath the central cornea. Regression analysis relating CCT to age, race, and oxygen levels in all 5 locations in the anterior segment revealed an association of a thinner cornea with increasing age ( P = .007). Conclusions Physiologic correlations with central corneal thickness may provide clues to understanding why a thinner cornea increases the risk of open glaucoma. Associations between glaucoma risk, CCT, and pO 2 in the AC angle suggest that exposure of the outflow system to increased oxygen or oxygen metabolites may increase oxidative damage to the trabecular meshwork cells, resulting in elevation of intraocular pressure.
Abstract IA4: Outcome prediction from the pattern of aberrations in prostate cancer genomes

One of the greatest challenges in prostate cancer care is distinguishing men with high-risk disease requiring aggressive therapy from those who can be managed with active surveillance. Therefore, we are pursuing an ongoing integrative genomic analysis of human primary and metastatic prostate cancers. We explore the clinical importance and pathogenicity of genomic lesions and their association with canonical features of prostate cancer biology. Previously, we found that global patterns of DNA copy number alterations (CNAs) in primary tumors were associated with disease recurrence after radical prostatectomy. Here, we will discuss our efforts to extend this discovery by validating the clinical importance of CNAs and structural rearrangements in independent cohorts, at multiple scales, and with orthogonal methods. Our principal goal is to deliver a clinical diagnosis informed by genomic abnormalities that impacts definitive treatment decisions in men diagnosed with prostate cancer. Citation Format: Barry S. Taylor, Haley Hieronymus, Nikolaus Schultz, Charles L Sawyers, on behalf of the MSKCC Prostate Cancer Oncogenome Group. Outcome prediction from the pattern of aberrations in prostate cancer genomes [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Advances in Prostate Cancer Research; 2012 Feb 6-9; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(4 Suppl):Abstract nr IA4.
Auroral Phenomenology and Magnetospheric Processes: Earth and Other Planets

The dancing glow of the aurorae, the long tendrils of light that seem to reach up into space, has mesmerized scientists for centuries. More than a beautiful display, the aurorae tell us about the Earth—about its atmosphere, its magnetic field, and its relationship with the Sun. As technology developed, researchers looking beyond Earth's borders discovered an array of auroral processes on planets throughout the solar system. In the AGU monograph Auroral Phenomenology and Magnetospheric Processes: Earth and Other Planets, editors Andreas Keiling, Eric Donovan, Fran Bagenal, and Tomas Karlsson explore the many open questions that permeate the science of auroral physics and the relatively recent field of extraterrestrial aurorae. In this interview, Eos talks to Karlsson about extraterrestrial aurorae, Alfven waves, and the sounds of the northern lights.
Effects of palindromes on in vivo DNA replication and mutagenesis in bacteriophage phi X174 RF DNA.

Bacteriophage phi X174 mutants with insertions of palindromic DNA sequences are rapidly outgrown by competing wild-type phage (Muller & Turnage, J. Mol. Biol. 189: 285). The basis for this defect was investigated and found to be due to an exclusion event early in the infectious cycle, in which phage genomes with palindromic inserts were preferentially excluded by wt phage. In addition, we have obtained further evidence for a palindrome induced genetic instability. Both defects are dependent on palindrome size and sequence, consistent with a model which involves formation of cruciforms, or cruciform-like structures. We propose that formation of unusual DNA secondary structures reduces the effectiveness of replicative form (RF) DNA to interact with limiting replication factors or membrane binding sites, possibly because of interaction with the host recombination system.
Potassium isocyanatopentacyanocabaltate(III): Synthesis and spectral studies

Abstract The first synthesis of [Co(CN)5NCO]3− has been accomplished by an ambient temperature substitution reaction, in methanol, between NCO− and [Co(CN)5− OP(OC2H5)3]2−, the latter being generated by the reaction of [Co(CN)5N3]3− with NOClO4 in triethyl phosphate. The coordinated azide ion is attacked by the nitrosyl ion, yielding N2 and N2O. The substitution reaction yields the N-bonded isomer, isolated as the potassium salt, as the predominant (if not exclusive) product, as determined by the infrared and visible-ultraviolet spectral studies.
Rationale, design, and sample characteristics of a randomized controlled trial of directly observed antiretroviral therapy delivered in methadone clinics.

Background Directly observed therapy (DOT) programs for HIV treatment have demonstrated feasibility, acceptability, and improved viral suppression, but few have been rigorously tested. We describe a randomized controlled trial testing the efficacy of an antiretroviral DOT program in methadone maintenance clinics. Our objective was to determine if DOT is more efficacious than self-administered antiretroviral therapy for reducing HIV viral load, improving adherence, and reducing drug resistance among opioid dependent drug users receiving methadone treatment.
Nonlinear associations between chronic stress and cardiovascular reactivity and recovery

A mixed literature on the influence of chronic and acute stress on cardiovascular reactivity (CVR) and recovery suggests a need for improved modeling of these associations. We examined these associations using both linear and nonlinear (quadratic) models. Data were collected on 129 healthy adults [59% female, ages 18-29 years]. Participants completed the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) after engaging in a mental arithmetic and a stress recall task. Heart rate (HR), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP) were measured during rest, task, and recovery periods. Hierarchical ordinary least squares regression was used to examine the association of chronic stress to CVR and recovery with initial cardiovascular values and body mass index entered first as covariates. Hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) was also used for recovery. For reactivity, a quadratic relationship between PSS scores and DBP was observed in females such that those scoring at moderate levels of stress displayed lesser reactivity than those scoring either low or high. For recovery, a quadratic model was supported for SBP among females, with moderate levels of stress associated with greater recovery relative to either low or high levels. For females the quadratic model was also supported for SBP and DBP when examined using HLM. Quadratic modeling may better represent current theories of how chronic stress influences CVR and recovery. Our findings further suggest that these associations may be differentially evident by gender, perhaps due to gender differences in reported stress levels or gender-related task relevance.
The politics of black identity: Slave Ship and Woza Albert!

Abstract Both Apartheid South Africa and white America relied on images or representation to mediate and distort the identity of blacks. In the United States, the misrepresentation dates as far back as 1619, when the first African slaves were brought to Virginia. In South Africa, the distortion predates 1652, the year Jan van Riebeeck landed at the Cape, but was intensified in 1948, when the nationalists came to power on an agenda of racial discrimination and separation. The enormous investments in the arts in both societies would ultimately create a semiotic ensemble that, while systematically erasing the identity of blacks, posited a white structure of value as the point of reference. Woza Albert! and Slave Ship are designed to counteract such images. As products of the Black Power Movement and the Black Consciousness Movement respectively, they constitute a mode of intervention, political and aesthetic, into a world or discourse that sought to annihilate blacks.
Dynamic control of extracellular environment in in vitro neural recording systems

A technique is presented for rapid fabrication of microfluidic channels on top of multichannel in vitro neural recording electrode arrays. The channels allow dynamic control of both stable and transient flow patterns over localized areas of the array, over biologically relevant timescales. A cellular model consisting of thermally sensitive dorsal root ganglion neurons was integrated into the devices. The device was used to demonstrate precise control of the extracellular microenvironment of individual cells on the array. Since the methods presented here are not specific to a particular cell type or neural recording system, the technique is amenable to a wide range of applications within the neuroscience field.
Effect of drying methods on the physical properties and microstructures of mango (Philippine 'Carabao' var.) powder

Abstract Mango powders were obtained at water content below 0.05 kg water/kg dry solids using Refractance Window® (RW) drying, freeze drying (FD), drum drying (DD), and spray drying (SD). The spray-dried powder was produced with the aid of maltodextrin (DE = 10). The chosen drying methods provided wide variations in residence time, from seconds (in SD) to over 30 h (in FD), and in product temperatures, from 20 °C (in FD) to 105 °C (in DD). The colors of RW-dried mango powder and reconstituted mango puree were comparable to the freeze-dried products, but were significantly different from drum-dried (darker), and spray-dried (lighter) counterparts. The bulk densities of drum and RW-dried mango powders were higher than freeze-dried and spray-dried powders. There were no significant differences ( P ⩽ 0.05) between RW and freeze-dried powders in terms of solubility and hygroscopicity. The glass transition temperature of RW-, freeze-, drum- and spray-dried mango powders were not significantly different ( P ⩽ 0.05). The dried powders exhibited amorphous structures as evidenced by the X-ray diffractograms. The microstructure of RW-dried mango powder was smooth and flaky with uniform thickness. Particles of freeze-dried mango powder were more porous compared to the other three products. Drum-dried material exhibited irregular morphology with sharp edges, while spray-dried mango powder had a spherical shape. The study concludes that RW drying can produce mango powder with quality comparable to that obtained via freeze drying, and better than the drum and spray-dried mango powders.