cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Orientationally ordered and patterned discotic films and carbon films from liquid crystal precursors

This article demonstrates techniques for fabricating novel organic and carbon films, in which liquid crystal surface anchoring and flow are exploited to precisely control molecular structure (in organic films) or crystal structure (in carbon films). Surface anchoring states were first measured for AR mesophase on spin-coatable organic resins, including commercial polyimide and photoresist. These results were used to develop a lithographic technique for ordering AR surfaces in preprogrammed orientational micropatterns. AR was also processed into radial or star symmetry films by forced spreading combined with edge-on anchoring templates. Additional thin films were prepared from alternative liquid crystalline precursors composed of sulfonated polyaromatic dyes. These disk-like planar molecules undergo massive π-stacking in aqueous solution to form rod-like aggregates. At high concentrations or on surfaces, these rods or molecular columns align by repulsive interactions (lyotropic behavior), giving raise to a transverse alignment of the stacked polyaromatic disks. Here the lyotropic dye indanthrone disulfonate is used to make fully dense ordered carbon films by spin coating or Meyer-bar coating thin films on quartz followed by direct carbonization (without oxidative stabilization). These films exhibit surfaces rich in graphene edge-sites and are either anisotropic unidirectional (by bar coating) or multi-domain with long-range isotropy (by spin coating).
Developmental regulation of a turkey intestinal peptide transporter (PepT1)

A cDNA encoding a turkey intestinal peptide transporter, tPepT1, was isolated from a turkey small intestinal cDNA library. The tPepT1 cDNA encodes a 714-amino acid protein with 12 predicted transmembrane domains. The amino acid sequence of tPepT1 is 94.3% identical to chicken PepT1 and approximately 60% identical to PepT1 from rat, sheep, rabbit, and human. Using a 2-electrode voltage-clamp technique in Xenopus oocytes expressing tPepT1, Gly-Sar transport was pH dependent but was independent of Na+ and K+. For the dipeptides Gly-Sar and Met-Met, the evoked inward currents indicated that the transporter was saturable and had high affinity (0.69 +/- 0.14 mM and 0.23 +/- 0.04 mM, respectively) for these substrates. However, transport of the tetrapeptide, Met-Gly-Met-Met, exhibited apparent substrate inhibition at high substrate concentrations. To study developmental regulation of PepT1 mRNA in turkey embryos, embryos (6 males and 6 females) were sampled daily from 5 d before hatch to the day of hatch (d 0). The abundance of PepT1 mRNA in the small intestine was quantified densitometrically from Northern blots after hybridization with full-length tPepT1 cDNA as probe. A 3.2-fold increase in PepT1 mRNA was observed in intestinal tissue from 5 d before hatch to d 0. This increase in PepT1 mRNA abundance indicates that the PepT1 gene is developmentally regulated and that there may be an important role for PepT1 in the neonatal poult.
The LAMPF 805 MHz RF System

The LAMPF 805 MHz RF system was available 97.7% of the scheduled beam time (2,432 h) during experiment cycles 25 and 26, January to June 1980. The tube lifetimes, operation, maintenance, and processing which lead to this reliability are discussed. The LPT-44 triode, used as a switchtube in the modulator has a mean life > 16,000 h. The 805 MHz L-5120A klystron has a mean life > 10,000 h and the 805 MHz klystron VA-862A apparently will have a mean life > 50,000 h. Tube life data is plotted. Fault and failure modes are discussed and tabulated.
WKBJ Approximation of the Stability of a Frontal Mean State

The baroclinic instability of a frontal mean state is investigated using the WKBJ approximation. The results are compared with numerical calculations performed on the same mean state. Excellent agreement (within 5 percent) is found for jets whose half-width is as a Rossby radius of deformation. For jets 20 percent broader, the agreement is almost perfect.
Analysis of rapid, large-scale protein quaternary structural changes: time-resolved X-ray solution scattering of Nudaurelia capensis omega virus (NomegaV) maturation.

Time-resolved small-angle X-ray scattering (TR-SAXS) was used to study the kinetics of a large conformational change that occurs during the maturation of an icosahedral virus. Virus-like particles (VLPs) of the T=4 non-enveloped RNA virus Nudaurelia capensis omega virus (NomegaV) were shown to undergo a large pH-dependent conformational change. Electron cryo-microscopy (cryoEM) and X-ray solution scattering were used to show that the precursor VLP (procapsid) was 16 % larger in diameter than the resulting capsid, which was shown by the cryoEM study to closely resemble the infectious mature virion. The procapsid form of the VLPs was observed at pH 7.5 and was converted to the capsid form at pH 5.0. Static SAXS measurements of the VLPs in solutions ranging between these pH values determined that the half-titration point of the transition was pH 6.0. Time-resolved SAXS experiments were performed on VLP solutions by initiating a pH change from 7.5 to 5.0 using a stopped-flow device, and the time-scale of the conformational change occurred in the subsecond range. Using a less drastic pH change (lowering the pH to 5.8 or 5.5), the conformational change occurred more slowly, on the subminute or minute time-scale, with the detection of a fast-forming intermediate in the transition. Further characterization using static SAXS measurements showed that the conformational change was initially reversible but became irreversible after autoproteolytic maturation was about 15 % complete. In addition to characterizing the large quaternary conformational change, we have been able for the first time to demonstrate that it takes place on the subsecond time-scale, a regime comparable to that observed in other multisubunit assemblies.
Improving fine motor function after brain injury using gesture recognition biofeedback.

Purpose: We developed a gesture recognition biofeedback (GRB) device for improving fine motor function in persons with brain injury using surface muscle pressures of the forearm to provide real-time visual biofeedback. The GRB apparatus is easy to don by moderately impaired users and does not require precise placement of sensors. Method: The efficacy of GRB training with each subject was assessed by comparing its effectiveness against standard repetitive training without feedback. The outcome was measured using a nine-hole peg test (HPT) administered before and after each condition, in a cross-over study design. Results: GRB was shown to be effective for short-term improvement of fine motor function of 12 impaired participants, reducing their average time to completion of the HPT by 15.5% (S.D. 7.14%). In a subset of impaired subjects, this effect was significant in comparison to similar training without biofeedback (p < 0.05). Control subjects experienced negligible change in HPT time. Conclusions: This ...
Influence of HIV Infection on Manifestations and Natural History of Other Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the most devastating sexually acquired infection. As sexual transmission of HIV continues to occur worldwide the concomitant presence of other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in HIV-infected persons is being seen with increasing frequency. The profound effects on host immunity that HIV exerts appear to influence the clinical course of numerous bacterial protozoal and viral pathogens. These problems have recently been explored by Wasserheit who coined the term "epidemiologic synergy" to describe the interrelationships between HIV infection and STDs including the effects of STDs on HIV transmission and progression as well as the effects of HIV on progressive STD transmission and in the clinical course of STDs. This paper addresses specifically the influence of HIV on each of the major STDs. (excerpt)
Joint evaluation instruments for children and adults with haemophilia

With the heightened interest in protocols to prevent or treat complications of haemophilia related to recurrent haemarthroses, there is a need for sensitive joint-evaluation tools. The World Federation of Haemophilia (WFH) Physical Joint Examination instrument, which was developed for persons with haemophilia worldwide, is not sensitive enough to detect early structural or functional abnormalities. Therefore, we have expanded the WFH instrument to detect more subtle abnormalities of joint structure and function, and in addition, developed a new scale specifically tailored to the dynamic growth and gait development of children. We compared the original and three new instruments in 43 children with haemophilia. The three new scales all showed better correlation with the WFH pain instrument than did the original WFH physical examination instrument (P 0.05 for the WFH instrument). In addition, results of the new child physical examination instrument best conformed to a normal distribution (P=0.35) and this instrument had better overall statistical performance. This instrument should be studied further in prospective, longitudinal clinical trials of young children.
Metapopulation Extinction Thresholds in Rain Forest Remnants

Abstract: Although habitat fragmentation is a major threat to global biodiversity, the demographic mechanisms underlying species loss from tropical forest remnants remain largely unexplored. In particular, no studies at the landscape scale have quantified fragmentation’s impacts on colonization, extinction, and local population growth simultaneously. In central Amazonia, we conducted a multiyear demographic census of 292 populations of two leaf‐inhabiting (i.e., epiphyllous) bryophyte species transplanted from continuous forest into a network of 10 study sites ranging from 1, 10, and 100 to >10,000 ha in size. All populations experienced significantly positive local growth ( \documentclass{aastex} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{bm} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{pifont} \usepackage{stmaryrd} \usepackage{textcomp} \usepackage{portland,xspace} \usepackage{amsmath,amsxtra} \usepackage[OT2,OT1]{fontenc} \newcommand\cyr{ \renewcommand\rmdefault{wncyr} \renewcomman...
FAÀ DI BRUNO'S FORMULA AND NONHYPERBOLIC FIXED POINTS OF ONE-DIMENSIONAL MAPS

Fixed-point theory of one-dimensional maps of ℝ does not completely address the issue of nonhyperbolic fixed points. This note generalizes the existing tests to completely classify all such fixed points. To do this, a family of operators are exhibited that are analogous to generalizations of the Schwarzian derivative. In addition, a family of functions f are exhibited such that the Maclaurin series of f ( f ( x ) ) and x are identical.
Online patient resources for hernia repair: analysis of readability.

Abstract Background The limited functional health literacy of a significant portion of the adult US population negatively affects their access to appropriate online health information about hernia repair surgery. The National Institutes of Health and American Medical Association recommend that patient-directed content should be written at a sixth-grade reading level. This study aims to evaluate readability of the most frequently used Internet resources for patient information about hernia repair relative to average American literacy. Methods A web search for “hernia repair surgery” was performed, and the top 12 Web sites were identified. Relevant articles ( n = 102) with patient-directed content immediately available from the main sites were downloaded. The 12 most popular consumer magazines in circulation were also identified, and using the same method, the first 10 articles were downloaded from each magazine's Web site for comparison. Readability was assessed using 10 established analyses. A t -test was used to compare the average grade level of hernia repair and magazine articles for each readability test. Results Web-based information about hernia repair had an overall average reading grade level of 13.6. All 102 articles were above the recommended sixth-grade reading level; these were significantly more difficult to read than the comparison group of articles from popular magazines. Conclusions Online patient-directed information about hernia repair uniformly exceeds the recommended reading level and may be too difficult to be understood by a large portion of the US population.
Visible absorption spectra of crystal violet in supercritical ethane - methanol solution.

Abstract The effects of concentration and mole fraction of methanol in supercritical ethane on the absorption spectra of crystal violet (CV) were examined. Keeping the concentration of CV in the cell constant at 50 μmol l−1, both the methanol concentration (from 0.4 to 1.2 mol l−1) and pressure of ethane (from 60 to 150 bar) were varied. The degree of solvation of CV depends both on the mole fraction and concentration of cosolvent. The dimerization of CV was found to decrease with pressure, and with the ratio between methanol and CV concentrations.
Generalised arrays and shortest path problems

Real world problems are often formulated as flow optimization problems on large networks, with thousands of nodes but with a restricted number of arcs. The average number of arcs having a given node as origin or terminal node (node degree) may be limited even to a few units. Standard optimization methods, mainly matrix methods for complete or strongly connected graphs, may become unpractical; recent results have shown the superiority of advanced methods based on suitable data structures.In this study the classical shortest path problem, one of the basic techniques in network flow optimization, is approached, in APL environment, using: i) standard matrix methods, ii) methods that handle irregular structures element by element, and iii) advanced methods using generalized arrays. Preliminary results indicate which approach should be preferred, according to problem characteristics and size.
Indications for examination of spontaneous abortion specimens: a reassessment

The clinical evaluation of recurrent pregnancy loss is assessed in light of recent technical advances in trophoblast culture, ultrasonography, and chromosome analysis. With an algorithm based on karyotype results, cost-benefit calculations confirm that an average savings of $1099.47 per patient could be achieved if a policy of karyotype analysis of recurrent abortion specimens was emphasized. It is estimated that a specific chromosomal cause could be identified in 45% to 70% of such cases. A more concerted effort should be made to culture trophoblast tissue from recurrent pregnancy losses; such a policy would result in both emotional and financial rewards.
Earth science. Mantle cookbook calibration.

Doubts about a fundamental model of the chemistry of Earth's deep interior have now been transmuted into doubts about a standard used to calibrate these studies — gold's equation of state.
Evaluating the weighted-keyword model to improve clinical question answering

Physicians ask many complex questions during their encounters with patients. Question answering systems provide immediate and direct answers to ad hoc clinical questions, and because these systems might aid in the practice of evidence-based medicine, we are developing the clinical question answering system, AskHERMES, to generate answers to such questions. In this study, we report the evaluation of a new weighted-keyword model for improving our question answering system. As part of this development, a physician manually examined AskHERMES' answers to 20 ad hoc clinical questions created with and without the weighted-keyword model. The results show that the weighted-keyword model improves quality in question answering. AskHERMES can be accessed at http://www.AskHERMES.org.
Advances in transoral fundoplication for oesophageal reflux

Abstract Background The purpose of this review was to evaluate transoral fundoplication devices for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease that have been commercially available within the last 5 years. Methods Literature databases including Medline and Pubmed were searched from January 2005 to November 2010. Both blinded and unblinded randomized studies were evaluated. Results We reviewed the literature for evaluations of primary transoral endoluminal fundoplication devices which included EndoCinch, NDO Plicator, Esophyx, and Stretta. Reviews of all studies with greater than 20 patients were evaluated to assess the efficacy and safety of transoral fundoplication devices. These endoluminal devices were primary matched against sham procedures. The EndoCinch and Stretta procedures were the only devices compared to laparoscopic fundoplication, the current standard for surgical management of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. Conclusion The field of endoluminal treatment of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease has gained popularity over the last several years. Endoluminal treatment of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease has been shown to be safe and effective in recent studies. We still believe more randomized prospective studies need to be carried out to determine if endoluminal therapies will be a durable option for patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. Continuing research will further the advancement of endoluminal gastro-oesophageal reflux disease procedures in the future.
Some applications of the virial theorem to molecular force fields: the zero virial reaction coordinate and diatomic potentials from the normalized kinetic field functions

For a fixed-angle potential energy surface (PES), W(Q), following the zero virial path (ZVP), on which ..sigma../sub ..mu..//sup N/Q/sub ..mu../ . del /sub ..mu../W(Q) = 0, provides an efficient way for locating the transition state and generating a good approximation to the minimum-energy reaction path; vector Q = (Q/sub 1/, ..., Q/sub N/ stands for nuclear coordinates. An algorithm which employs the ZVP following is proposed for exploring PESs when starting from the reactant (or product) region. It seems that this approach allows one to avoid some discontinuities in the reaction coordinate, which often result from the bottom-following procedures. The implications of the integral forms of the virial theorem are examined and a new way of constructing potential energy functions W(R) for diatomic molecules is proposed. It starts with the normalization of the kinetic component T(R) of the potential: integral/sub 0//sup infinity/(T(R) - T(infinity))dR = Z/sub A/Z/sub B/, where Z/sub A/ and Z/sub B/ are the nuclear charges and R is the internuclear distance. The modified potentials are derived for four different analytical representations of T(R), T/sub X(R)(X = M, R, RM, and HH) by the Morse, Rydberg, Rosen--Morse, and Hulbert--Hirschfelder functions, respectively. The three-parameter modified potentials (X = M,more » R, and RM) are tested against known spectroscopic data for H/sub 2//sup +/ and H/sub 2/.The modified potentials require one less experimental constant to fit the potential parameters than do their original analogs. It follows that the Morse and Rydberg functions constitute satisfactory representations of the kinetic component T(R), and that enforcing its normalization improves predictions of spectroscopic constants and relations between them. 46 references.« less
A Neurodevelopmental Approach to Understanding Memory Processes Among Intellectually Gifted Youth With Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Intellectual giftedness is associated with strong strategic verbal memory while attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with strategic verbal memory deficits; however, no previous research has explored how this contradiction manifests in gifted populations with diagnoses of ADHD. The purpose of this study was to explore strategic verbal memory processes among intellectually gifted youth with and without ADHD to provide clarification regarding this specific aspect of neuropsychological functioning within this population. One hundred twenty-five youth completed neuropsychological evaluations including the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Fourth Edition and California Verbal Learning Test-Children's Version (CVLT-C). Results revealed significant differences between groups, with intellectually gifted youth with ADHD achieving lower T scores on CVLT-C Trials 1 through 5 compared with intellectually gifted youth without ADHD, and intellectually gifted youth with ADHD achieving higher T scores than youth of average intellectual abilities with ADHD. Additionally, repeated-measures analysis of variance revealed a main effect improvement among gifted youth with ADHD in short-delay recall when provided with organizational cues. Findings revealed new evidence about the role of twice exceptionality (specifically intellectual giftedness and ADHD) in strategic verbal memory and have important implications for parents, educators, psychologists and neuropsychologists, and other mental health professionals working with this population.
Quasi-Optimal Dual-Phase Scheduling for Pigeon Networks

In situations where communication infrastructures are destroyed or do not exist at all, implementing a disruption/delay-tolerant network (DTN) may be the only choice. A special type of DTN, which is known as a pigeon network, utilizes controllable special-purpose vehicles called pigeons to convey messages among segregated nodes and gateways. This paper studies a basic scenario in a pigeon network, where the segregated nodes are in an area that is far from the gateway. Our focus is on the optimal scheduling problem that determines how long a pigeon should stay at each node so that the average delay of messages is minimized. Although this problem is related to the server vacation model, existing literature in this area mainly focuses on the performance evaluation of different scheduling schemes, whereas the study on the optimal scheduling schemes is rarely seen, particularly for bursty traffic. In search of the optimal scheduling scheme, we first introduce a peak-valley message generation model and investigate the optimal scheduling schemes for the peak phase and the valley phase, respectively. Based on the analytical result, we then propose a quasi-optimal dual-phase (QODP) scheme. We further design a robust phase identification scheme such that a pigeon is able to apply the locally optimal scheduling scheme at the corresponding phase. Simulation studies have demonstrated QODP's adaptability in facing different types of traffic and its significant performance improvement over the existing scheduling schemes.
Medial or lateral mammographic lesions: down and out is down and out ... sometimes.

When there is doubt whether a mammographic lesion is medial or lateral to the nipple, the "down and out" rule is commonly employed. This states that a density moves inferiorly (down) on the mediolateral compared with the mediolateral oblique view if it is lateral (out) to the nipple. The author found areas in each breast, however, where the down and out rule does not apply.
Enhancing the utility of unnatural amino acid synthetases by manipulating broad substrate specificity.

Many unnatural amino acidsynthetases have been evolved to enable the site-specific in vivo incorporation of many useful functionalities into proteins. While these unnatural amino acid-tRNA synthetase–tRNACUA pairs do not incorporate endogenous amino acids, their substrate specificity has not been assessed for other unnatural amino acids. Here we demonstrate that the unnatural synthetases can be permissive to many unnatural amino acid substrates. The utility of unnatural synthetases can be further expanded by manipulating the synthetase active sites by mutagenesis. Here we have also shown that an L-2-naphthylalanine synthetase can be converted into a permissive L-4-benzoylphenylalanine synthetase with a single mutation without compromising fidelity. Permissive unnatural amino acidsynthetases should significantly expand the tool set available for manipulation of proteins.
Short communication: Milk fat depression induced by conjugated linoleic acid and a high-oil and low-fiber diet occurs equally across the day in Holstein cows

Abstract Recently, a circadian rhythm of milk and milk component synthesis has been characterized that is partially dependent on the timing of feed intake. Our objective was to determine if inhibition of milk fat synthesis during diet-induced milk fat depression occurred to a higher degree during certain phases of the day. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 2 experiments that induced milk fat depression while milking cows 3 times per day at equal intervals. The response at each milking was analyzed using mixed model ANOVA with repeated measures. In experiment 1, nine multiparous Holstein cows were arranged in a 3×3 Latin square design, and treatments were control, 3-d intravenous infusion of 10g/d of trans- 10, cis- 12 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), and a low-forage and high-fat diet for 10 d. In experiment 2, ten multiparous ruminally cannulated cows were arranged in a replicated design and milk samples were collected during a control period or after 5 d of abomasal infusion of 10g/d of CLA. The daily pattern of milk fat concentration and yield did not differ between treatments in either experiment. In experiment 1, an effect was found of treatment and milking time on milk fat concentration and yield. Similarly, in experiment 2, main effects were found of treatment and milking time on milk fat concentration and an effect of treatment, but no effect of milking time on milk fat yield. Milk fat percent was increased from 3.41 to 4.06% and 3.25 to 3.48% from the morning to the afternoon milking in experiments 1 and 2, respectively. Additionally, milk fatty acid profile, including trans intermediates, was changed over the day in experiment 1, but the magnitude of the changes were small and the pattern did not differ among treatments. A daily rhythm of milk fat concentration and yield was observed in cows milked 3 times a day, but milk fat depression decreases milk fat yield equally over the day.
Cytochrome c Oxidase Immobilized in Stable Supported Lipid Bilayer Membranes

The voltammetry of cytochrome c oxidase immobilized in lipid bilayer membranes on gold electrodes and amperometric data of cytochrome c reacting at these electrodes under flow conditions are report...
YAES: a modular simulator for mobile networks

Developing network protocols for mobile wireless systems is a complex task, and most of the existing simulator frameworks are not well suited for experimental development. The YAES simulation framework was specifically developed such that it allows the fast prototyping of networking protocols, and support real-time experimentation and refactoring. By providing a large set of abstractions and generic implementations, a number of frequently used techniques such as genetic algorithms or neural networks can be created in matter of minutes. Our experience shows that by requiring only Java programming skills which computer science and engineering students commonly possess, YAES can be a useful tool for classroom use, as well.This paper presents the considerations behind the YAES architecture and provides a description of the system. As a case study, we present the steps necessary for running experiments on the energy efficiency behavior of the Weighted Clustering Algorithm (WCA).
Mask error factor impact on the 130-nm node

The aggressive schedule for downscaling of gate dimensions and need for tight CD control for the 130nm node has created the need to seriously consider the use of a Levenson phase shift mask with 248nm lithography tools. The improvements in exposure latitude and depth of focus of strong phase shift over binary patterning are well known and have been clearly demonstrated. What is less well understood is the impact of the mask error factor.
The molecular weight and temperature dependence of polymer surface tension: Comparison of experiment with interface gradient theory

Abstract The Cahn-Hilliard density gradient theory was used in conjunction with the Flory, Orwoll, and Vrij (FOV) and the Sanchez and Lacombe (SL) equations of state theories to predict surface tensions (γ) with bulk pressure-volume-temperature data. Wide temperature and molecular weight (MW) ranges for each polymer were studied in an attempt to clarify previous discrepancies reported between polymer and low MW liquids and the predictions of density gradient theory. Surface tensions were measured using the modified Wilhelmy technique for both nonpolar and highly polar polymers including poly(dimethyl siloxanes), polyethylenes, polystyrenes, poly(ethylene oxides) (PEO), and poly(propylene oxides) as a function of temperature. Included in the study were PEOs with different chain end functionalization. With one adjustable parameter for a given polymer series, the agreement of FOV theory was better than 1% in terms of the temperature and MW dependence indicating that bulk liquid properties govern surface tension and that the density gradient formalism adequately describes the phenomena. With no adjustable parameters the FOV theory predicts γ to better than 8% for all polymers and oligomers. From the comparison between experiment and theory it is found that the contribution of surface configurational entropy is negligibly small. Some deficiencies of the SL equation of state are traced to its description of the entropy of the system based on the lattice construction.
Porcine malignant hyperthermia--failure of dantrolene dose response to diagnose susceptibility (halothane effect).

Dantrolene, a skeletal muscle relaxant, has been proven prophylactic and therapeutic for malignant hyperthermia (MH) in swine. This study examined the feasibility of using a dantrolene dose response as measured by indirectly evoked foretoe twitch depression as a means to safely discriminate MH susceptibility in swine. The effect of halothane on the dantrolene response was quantified. Subjects were five Poland China malignant hyperthermia susceptible (MHS) and five Hampshire malignant hyperthermia resistant (MHR) swine. Dantrolene dose response was determined twice in each anaesthetized subject, once with thiopentone and subsequently with thiopentone and halothane. Dantrolene in incremental doses, 0.15mg kg-1, was given to a cumulative dose of 2-3 mg kg-1. Under thiopentone anaesthesia, the dantrolene dose responses were similar in MHS and MHR animals. The presence of halothane augmented dantrolene twitch depression in MHS but not MHR animals when compared to their response under thiopentone. Under halothane, the MHS animals had significantly augmented dantrolene response compared to MHR pigs, but three MHS animals had developed the MH syndrome prior to receiving dantrolene. We conclude that dantrolene muscle relaxant dose response cannot be used as a diagnostic test for MHS in swine. Halothane augments dantrolene twitch depression in MHS swine.
Evolutionary Significant Units versus Geopolitical Taxonomy: Molecular Systematics of an Endangered Sea Turtle (genus Chelonia)

Taxonomic rank is an important criterion in assessing the conservation priority of an endangered organism: the sole member of a distinct family will generally receive a higher priority than a semi-isolated population in a polytypic species. When cryptic evolutionary partitions are discovered in endangered species, these findings are heralded as a positive step in the conservation process. The opposite action, demoting the taxonomic rank of an endangered organism, can be resisted by the conservation community because it is per- ceived as detrimental to preservation efforts. We explore the arguments for and against the species status of the endangered black turtle ( Chelonia agassizii ) and contribute an additional data set based on DNA se- quences of single-copy nuclear loci. These data are concordant with previous mtDNA surveys in indicating no evolutionary distinction between C. agassizii and adjacent green turtle ( C. mydas ) populations. Although the black turtle is morphologically identifiable at a low level, much of its distinction is based on size and color differences that are highly variable throughout the range of C. mydas . Thus the black turtle would be more ac- curately classified at the subspecific or population level. There is no strong scientific case available to defend the species status of C. agassizii , and yet that designation has persisted for over a century. We suggest that the maintenance of this name is based on geographical and political considerations, and we propose a pragmatic category for this type of taxonomy: the geopolitical species . Furthermore, we argue against the practice of pre- serving species status for conservation purposes. There are several good reasons to preserve the black turtle, including morphological diversity and the possibility that it is an incipient evolutionary lineage with novel adaptations; taxonomic rank, however, is not one of them.
Government Interest and Involvement in DA from the Sandia Viewpoint

Sandia National Laboratories is owned by the Department of Energy (DOE) and operated under contract by Western Electric. The basic charter of the laboratory includes the development of systems for military, satellite and energy programs for DOE, DOD, and NASA.To support the development of modern electronic systems, a custom integrated circuit design and fabrication facility has been developed. This capability was initially established to fill a void in the availability of custom radiation-hardened integrated circuit designs and fabrication services as a result of scarce and/or unavailable commercial resources during the mid 1970s and has evolved to support in-house design and production of custom, high reliability, radiation-hardened circuits.The Sandia design and fabrication resources are utilized by a number of government agencies and have recently been designated by the Department of Energy as the Center for Radiation-hardened Microelectronics (CRM).The successful development of the CAD system will meet the CRM objectives in establishing a basic LSI/VLSI design system which can be replicated at other government laboratories or contractors.
Association of a single nucleotide polymorphism in SPP1 with growth traits and twinning in a cattle population selected for twinning rate.

Continued validation of genetic mark- ers for economically important traits is crucial to estab- lishing marker-assisted selection as a tool in the cattle industry. The objective of the current study was to eval- uate the association of a SNP (T9/T10) in the osteopontin gene (SPP1) with growth rate in a large cattle popula- tion spanning multiple generations and representing alleles from 12 founding breeds. This population has been maintained at the US Meat Animal Research Cen- ter since 1981 and subjected to selection for twinning rate. Phenotypic records for this population included twinning rate and ovulation rate, providing an opportu- nity to examine the potential effects of SPP1 genotype on reproductive traits. A set of 2,701 animals was geno- typed for the T9/T10 polymorphism at SPP1. The geno- typic data, including previously genotyped markers on chromosome 6 (BTA6), were used in conjunction with pedigree information to estimate genotypic probabili-
Time reversal for damage detection in pipes

Monitoring the structural integrity of vast natural gas pipeline networks requires continuous and economical inspection technology. Current approaches for inspecting buried pipelines require periodic excavation of sections of pipe to assess only a couple of hundred meters at a time. These inspection systems for pipelines are temporary and expensive. We propose to use guided-wave ultrasonics with Time Reversal techniques to develop an active sensing and continuous monitoring system. Pipe environments are complex due to the presence of multiple modes and high dispersion. These are treated as adverse effects by most conventional ultrasonic techniques. However, Time Reversal takes advantage of the multi-modal and dispersive behaviors to improve the spatial and temporal wave focusing. In this paper, Time Reversal process is mathematically described and experimentally demonstrated through six laboratory experiments, providing comprehensive and promising results on guided wave focusing in a pipe with/without welded joint, with/without internal pressure, and detection of three defects: lateral, longitudinal and corrosion-like. The experimental results show that Time Reversal can effectively compensate for multiple modes and dispersion in pipes, resulting in an enhanced signal-to-noise ratio and effective damage detection ability. As a consequence, Time Reversal shows benefits in long-distance and lowpower pipeline monitoring, as well as potential for applications in other infrastructures.
Cancer-relevant biochemical targets of cytotoxic Lonchocarpus flavonoids: A molecular docking analysis

A molecular docking investigation has been carried out on cytotoxic prenylated flavonoids from Lonchocarpus haberi with cancer-relevant chemotherapeutic targets known to be inhibited by flavonoids. Two molecular docking programs, Molegro and ArgusDock, were used to compare the binding energies of Lonchocarpus flavonoids with other flavonoids, inhibitors, or known ligands, to aromatase (CYP 19), fatty acid synthase (FAS), xanthine oxidase (XO), cyclooxygenases (COX-1 and COX-2), lipoxygenase (LOX-3), ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), protein tyrosine kinase (PTK), phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase C (PKC), topoisomerase II (ATP binding site), ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporter, and phospholipase A2 (PLA). The Lonchocarpus flavonoids examined in this study exhibited docking energies comparable to or stronger than other flavonoids that had been previously shown to be effective inhibitors of these enzymes. Furthermore, prenylated flavonoids, such as the Lonchocarpus flavonoids and xanthohumol, generally showed greater binding energies than the non-prenylated flavonoids. We conclude, therefore, that the Lonchocarpus flavonoids possibly owe their cytotoxic activity by inhibition of one or more of these enzymes.
Ethical, social and legal implications of genetic testing in liver disease

Advances in molecular genetics challenge the hepatology community to understand and implement genetic knowledge. Despite excitement about the potential benefits of new genetic information, concerns have been raised about the inappropriate use of genetic testing, clinicians' incorrect ordering and misinterpretation of test results, and discrimination in employment and insurability based on tests results. Among the public there is fear and mistrust, in part based on horrifying historical events that were gross violations of medical ethical standards. Clinicians, scientists, patient advocacy groups, and government agencies worldwide are debating the optimal legal protections to prevent abuse. In addition, these groups are developing clinical guidelines for optimal use. Traditional ethical and legal standards of confidentiality between physicians and their patients are under scrutiny. A new principle, "the duty to warn," is emerging that has applications specific to genetic testing and may conflict with the duty to maintain patient confidentiality. Emerging ethical, legal, and social issues involve the appropriate use and protection of confidential data in tissue and serum banks. Education of the profession and the public at many levels will increase the likelihood that the unraveling of the human genome will maximally benefit society. If fear of genetic testing can be alleviated, selection bias in research could be reduced. Professional and lay organizations concerned with liver disease should consider a more active role in the public and professional debate, and foster education at all levels.
Public And State Responses To High‐Level Nuclear Waste Disposal: Learning From Policy Failure

Nuclear waste policy in the United States has jailed in large part because of public and state opposition to repository siting. However, that outcome was not inevitable. This paver argues that better policy design and greater attention to the crucial tasks of policy legitimation both by the U.S. Congress and by the Department of Energy might have significantly increased the chances for successful implementation. Even though the program now has a highly uncertain future, suggestions are offered for policy learning and change that may increase the probability of success.
Measurement of cesium diffusion coefficients in graphite IG-110

Abstract An understanding of the transport of fission products in High Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactors (HTGRs) is needed for operational safety as well as source term estimations. We have measured diffusion coefficients of Cs in IG-110 by using the release method, wherein we infused small graphite spheres with Cs and measured the release rates using ICP-MS. Diffusion behavior was investigated in the temperature range of 1100–1300 K. We have obtained: D Cs = ( 1.0 × 10 - 7 m 2 / s ) exp - 1.1 × 10 5 J / mol RT and, compared our results with those available in the literature.
The cardiac response to exercise training: Echocardiographic analysis at rest and during exercise

Abstract The effect of exercise training on left ventricular dimensions at rest and during steady state exercise was studied. Fourteen healthy sedentary students were studied with echocardiograms performed at rest and during the 3rd minute of supine bicycle exercise (300 kilopond-meters/min) before and after 14 weeks of vigorous interval bicycle training. Ventricular dimensions at end-systole and end-diastole were measured and stroke dimension and dimensional shortening (stroke dimension/end diastolic dimension) were calculated. Maximal rate, measured before training during maximal exercise testing, oxygen consumption increased 31 percent ± 6 (mean ± standard error of the mean); heart rate decreased 9 ± 3 percent at rest and 11 ± 3 percent during exercise (p Exercise was associated with an increase in stroke volume mediated by an increase in contractility. The Frank-Starling effect was not demonstrable. Training resulted in increased stroke volume at rest mediated by enhanced preload (Frank-Starling effect) and increased dimensional shortening, unexplained by a decrease in blood pressure. Exercise after training was associated with an increase in stroke dimension and dimensional shortening from the higher value at rest. These changes are suggestive of an enhanced contractile state at rest and during exercise consequent to training.
Neurophysiology of converging synaptic inputs from the rat prefrontal cortex, amygdala, midline thalamus, and hippocampal formation onto single neurons of the caudate/putamen and nucleus accumbens

Neurophysiological responses mediated by projections from five telencephalic and diencephalic regions (the infra- and prelimbic portions of the prefrontal cortex, amygdala, midline and intralaminar thalamic nuclei, entorhinal cortex and subiculum/CA1) to the caudate/putamen (CPu) and nucleus accumbens (Acb) of the dorsal and ventral striatum were studied in chloral-hydrate-anesthetized rats. Both extra- and intracellular in vivo recording techniques were used. A retrograde tracer (wheatgerm agglutinin-apo-horseradish peroxidase-5 nm colloidal Gold) was deposited in some animals in the vicinity of recording sites to confirm that stimulating electrodes were located near cells that projected to the striatum. Electrical stimulation of these five regions, respectively, evoked excitatory responses in 60%, 22%, 51%, 25%, and 17% of striatal neurons. Some responses, particularly with thalamic stimulation, showed short-term frequency potentiation in which 5/s stimulation increased the probability of spike firing. About half of responsive cells showed convergent excitation to more than one stimulating site. It was possible with convergent excitatory responses to show synaptic interactions: simultaneous activation of more than one site produced spatial and temporal summation to increase the probability of spike firing. Up to 5-way convergence onto single striatal neurons and up to 3-way interactions could be shown. These results indicate that functional influences from the hippocampal formation can converge with other excitatory input onto single striatal neurons to effect synaptic integration.
Phase Improvement by Multi-Start Simulated Annealing Refinement and Structure-Factor Averaging

Macromolecular crystallography increasingly pushes the limits of the size and complexity of the molecules and assemblies under study. Conformational variability in these assemblies frequently results in limited diffraction or in poorer phase information than that typically obtained from smaller macromolecules. Current methods for solving and refining crystal structures often perform poorly under these adverse conditions and thus new methods must be developed. Atomic-model refinement is particularly sensitive to the low information content of limited diffraction data. Here a multi-start procedure is presented for simulated annealing refinement. After multi-start refinement, poorly fitted regions of the model often display increased variability compared with correctly fitted regions. Structure-factor averaging over the resulting models improves the quality of phases derived from atomic models and reduces model bias. Averaging can be performed even at a minimum Bragg spacing of 3.5 A, taking into account variability of atomic positions due to errors or intrinsic flexibility even when individual B factors cannot be refined. The average structure factor is thus closer to the true structure factor and should provide a better starting point for estimations of σA values for electron-density-map calculations. Test cases show increased phase quality of the average structure factor. The method is most useful when the initial model is poor or when only moderate-resolution diffraction data are available and may allow meaningful phase improvement through atomic-model refinement where it was not previously possible.
A Qualitative Analysis of Barriers, Challenges, and Successes in Meeting the Needs of Hurricane Katrina Evacuee Families

Hurricane Katrina caused many individuals to evacuate to towns and cities throughout the United States. Psychological First Aid (PFA) is a treatment program designed to help clinicians and other disaster relief workers address the needs of adults, youth, and families immediately following disasters. We conducted focus groups with disaster relief and evacuee service providers in the Kansas City Metro Area as an exploratory study to identify their perceptions of the needs of evacuees. Participants identified a number of mental health needs, as well as displacement-related challenges, including loss of social support, material loss, unemployment, and other stressful life events that were secondary to the hurricane. Many of these needs are consistent with principles presented in the PFA manual. We also found that service providers faced unique challenges when attempting to assist evacuees. We discuss implications of these findings for treatment programs and provide suggestions for addressing barriers to care.
The Role of Collagen in Pulmonary Hypertension-Induced Large Artery Stiffening

Hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (HPH) leads to stiffening of large pulmonary arteries, which affects right ventricular afterload. We hypothesized that vascular collagen accumulation is the major cause of large pulmonary artery (PA) stiffening in HPH. We tested this hypothesis with transgenic mice that produce collagen type I resistant to degradation (Col1a1R/R) and wild type littermate controls (Col1a1+/+) exposed to hypoxia and allowed to recover. Pressure-diameter testing on left PAs demonstrated that stiffness in control mice increased with hypoxia and decreased with recovery (p < 0.05). Preliminary tests in degradation-resistant mice suggest that PA stiffness decreases less with recovery than in controls. Quantitative measurements of vascular collagen content in right PAs are planned to develop statistical correlations between structure and function.Copyright © 2008 by ASME