cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Plasmon Dispersion and Anisotropy in Polymeric Sulfur Nitride, (SN) x

Plasmon dispersion and anisotropy in the metallic polymer ${(\mathrm{SN})}_{x}$ were investigated directly by electron-energy-loss spectroscopy. A positive dispersion relation was observed for plasmons propagating along the polymer-chain $b$ axis. As the plasmon wave vector changes from parallel to perpendicular to the $b$ axis, the plasmon energy decreases from 2.5 to 1.5 eV consistent with the view that ${(\mathrm{SN})}_{x}$ is a poor conductor in the perpendicular direction rather than a quasi-one-dimensional metal.
Super-Resolution Mapping of the Dynamics of Periodic Structural Defects in Collagen Fibrils

Single-molecule tracking of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) moving on fibrillar collagen reveals a regular binding pattern with a 1.1 µm periodicity. The binding sites exhibit collective motion that preserves the distribution but not the phase of the binding pattern. Over short timescales (∼1 s), the motion of individual binding sites is consistent with diffusion in a harmonic potential. At longer timescales (∼20 s), the potential wells slowly migrate, bifurcate, and merge. The dynamic nature of the binding sites suggests that they correspond to transient local defects in the collagen fibril structure. However, the long-range order of their pattern, exceeding any known structural scale of the fibril, indicates a collective defect formation process. We propose a model in which internal strain energy in fibrillar collagen is relieved by the formation of defects that are distributed along its length. This model falls into the general class of mechanical instabilities that generate long-range spatial patterning in physical systems ranging from mud cracking to skin wrinkling. However, unlike cracks and wrinkles that are stable structures, the microscopic fibril features thermally excited structural dynamics and self-healing of defect states. One physiological consequence of the proposed model is that external tension opposing the internal strain in the fibril can suppress defect formation and exposure of the MMP binding sites. Experiments showing that external loading attenuates the enzymatic degradation of fibrillar collagen are consistent with this prediction of the model. More generally, many aspects of collagen degradation, including cleavage initiation, processivity, and kinetics, may largely be a consequence of a previously unrecognized structural heterogeneity in the underlying fibrillar substrate. Thus, mapping the periodic array of defects in the molecular architecture of collagen elucidates a key feature regulating enzymatic activity and remodeling of the extracellular matrix.
Crater size-shape profiles for the moon and Mercury - Terrain effects and interplanetary comparisons

Crater size-shape data were compiled for 221 fresh lunar craters and 152 youthful Mercurian craters. Terraces and central peaks develop initially in fresh craters on the moon in the 0-10 km diameter interval. Above a diameter of 65 km all craters are terraced and have central peaks. Swirl floor texture is most common in craters in the size range 20-30 km, but it occurs less frequently as terraces become a dominant feature of crater interiors. For the moon there is a correlation between crater shape and geomorphic terrain type. These crater data suggest that there are significant differences in substrate and/or target properties between maria and highlands. Size-shape profiles for Mercury show that central peak and terrace onset is in the 10-20 km diameter interval; all craters are terraced at 65 km, and all have central peaks at 45 km. The crater data for Mercury show no clearcut terrain correlation. Comparison of lunar and Mercurian data indicates that both central peaks and terraces are more abundant in craters in the diameter range 5-75 km on Mercury. Differences in crater shape between Mercury and the moon may be due to differences in planetary gravitational acceleration.
Magnetic ordering and effects of crystal electric field anisotropy in the hexagonal compounds R PtIn ( R = Y , Gd – Lu )

Single crystals of RPtIn $R=\mathrm{Y}$, Gd\char21{}Lu were grown out of In-rich ternary solution. Powder x-ray diffraction data on all of these compounds were consistent with the hexagonal ZrNiAl-type structure (space group $P\overline{6}2m$). The $R=\mathrm{Tb}$ and Tm members of the series appear to order antiferromagnetically (${T}_{N}=46.0$ and 3.0 K, respectively), whereas the $R=\mathrm{Gd}$, Dy\char21{}Er compounds have at least a ferromagnetic component of the magnetization along the $c$ axis. The magnetic ordering temperatures of all of these systems seem to scale well with the de Gennes factor, whereas the curious switching from ferromagnetic to antiferromagnetic ordering across the series is correlated with a change in anisotropy, such that, in the low-temperature paramagnetic state, ${\ensuremath{\chi}}_{ab}g{\ensuremath{\chi}}_{c}$ for the antiferromagnetic compounds and ${\ensuremath{\chi}}_{c}g{\ensuremath{\chi}}_{ab}$ for the rest. In order to characterize the magnetic ordering across the $R$PtIn series, a three-dimensional model of the magnetic moments in ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{2}\mathrm{P}$-type systems was developed, using the three coplanar Ising-like systems model previously introduced for the extremely planar TbPtIn compound: given the orthorhombic point symmetry of the $R$ sites, we assumed the magnetic moments to be confined to six nonplanar easy axes, whose in-plane projections are rotated by 60\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} with respect to each other. Such a model is consistent with the reduced high-field magnetization values observed for the $R$PtIn compounds $R=\mathrm{Tb}\text{\char21{}}\mathrm{Tm}$, and qualitatively reproduces the features of the angular dependent magnetization of ${\mathrm{Ho}}_{x}{\mathrm{Y}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}\mathrm{PtIn}$ at $H=55\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{kG}$.
Theoretical studies of the effects of anharmonicity on polymer dynamics: temperature dependence of heat capacity

Abstract The molecular dynamics method is used to study the effects of anharmonicity on the dynamics of various polymer chains. The results show that there is a transition from a regime where the harmonic approximation to the molecular vibrations is adequate to a regime where the motion can no longer be accurately described with a harmonic approximation. The group vibrations which make up the optical branch of a dispersion curve become chaotic in this regime.
Antiviral and Anticancer Activity of Cisplatin Derivatives of Tilorone

Cisplatin derivatives containing tilorone and a tilorone derivative were synthesized and characterized employing IR analysis, mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, and chain length. The polymeric cisplatin derivatives prevent growth of four transformed cell lines, L929, 143, Vero, and BS-C-1 and effectively inhibit four viruses including the DNA viruses; herpes simplex-1, vaccinia, and Varicella zoster, and the RNA virus, reovirus in the micrograms/mL range. The tilorone polymers display activity against both transformed cells and DNA and RNA viruses at biologically important concentrations.
The Genetic Architecture of Degenerin/Epithelial Sodium Channels in Drosophila

Degenerin/epithelial sodium channels (DEG/ENaC) represent a large family of animal-specific membrane proteins. Although the physiological functions of most family members are not known, some have been shown to act as nonvoltage gated, amiloride-sensitive sodium channels. The DEG/ENaC family is exceptionally large in genomes of Drosophila species relative to vertebrates and other insects. To elucidate the evolutionary history of the DEG/ENaC family in Drosophila, we took advantage of the genomic and genetic information available for 12 Drosophila species that represent all the major species groups in the Drosophila clade. We have identified 31 family members (termed pickpocket genes) in Drosophila melanogaster, which can be divided into six subfamilies, which are represented in all 12 species. Structure prediction analyses suggested that some subunits evolved unique structural features in the large extracellular domain, possibly supporting mechanosensory functions. This finding is further supported by experimental data that show that both ppk1 and ppk26 are expressed in multidendritic neurons, which can sense mechanical nociceptive stimuli in larvae. We also identified representative genes from five of the six DEG/ENaC subfamilies in a mosquito genome, suggesting that the core DEG/ENaC subfamilies were already present early in the dipteran radiation. Spatial and temporal analyses of expression patterns of the various pickpocket genes indicated that paralogous genes often show very different expression patterns, possibly indicating that gene duplication events have led to new physiological or cellular functions rather than redundancy. In summary, our analyses support a rapid early diversification of the DEG/ENaC family in Diptera followed by physiological and/or cellular specialization. Some members of the family may have diversified to support the physiological functions of a yet unknown class of ligands.
The Things We Carry: Finding/Creating the Object and the Analyst’s Self-Reflective Participation

I reflect on the interaction between the analyst’s dedicated attention to the patient’s internal object relations and the analyst’s self-reflective participation. Our stops and starts of attention to the patient’s internal objects and our own is in some sense one of the most important elements of our personal participation. I suggest that the patient’s and analyst’s needs for privacy and the illusion of privacy in the presence of the other, undertheorized within relational theory, is not at odds with an emphasis on valuing the patient’s capacity for a “read” on the analyst. Needs for privacy and the illusion of privacy held by patient and analyst need to be integrated into any psychoanalytic theory and form part of the basis of intimate regulatory systems between two people.
Short-term prediction of influent flow in wastewater treatment plant

Predicting influent flow is important in the management of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). Because influent flow includes municipal sewage and rainfall runoff, it exhibits nonlinear spatial and temporal behavior and therefore makes it difficult to model. In this paper, a neural network approach is used to predict influent flow in the WWTP. The model inputs include historical influent data collected at a local WWTP, rainfall data and radar reflectivity data collected by the local weather station. A static multi-layer perceptron neural network performs well for the current time prediction but a time lag occurs and increases with the time horizon. A dynamic neural network with an online corrector is proposed to solve the time lag problem and increase the prediction accuracy for longer time horizons. The computational results show that the proposed neural network accurately predicts the influent flow for time horizons up to 300 min.
Structural, Electronic and Transport Properties of Gd/Eu Atomic Chains Encapsulated in Single-walled Carbon Nanotubes

Structural, electronic, and transport properties of Gd/Eu atomic chains encapsulated in single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are studied by using first-principles density functional theory and the nonequilibrium Green’s function method. We find that the linear single-atom Gd and Eu chains occupy an off-centered position when encapsulated in the (8,0), (10,0), and (6,6) SWCNTs and considerable electrons are transferred from the Gd and Eu chains to the SWCNTs. The resulting composites are all ferromagnetic metals, with the conductivity significantly larger than those of the pristine SWCNTs and the free-standing Gd/Eu linear single-atom atomic chains. The spin polarization of the finite Gd linear single-atom chain at the Fermi level is 67% when encapsulated in the (8,0) SWCNT from the quantum transport calculation.
An iterative approach for estimating component reliability from masked system life data

Life data from systems of components are often analysed to estimate the reliability of the individual components. These estimates are useful since they reflect the reliability of the components under actual operating conditions. However, owing to the cost or time involved with failure analysis, the exact component causing system failure may be unknown or ‘masked’. That is, the cause may only be isolated to some subset of the system's components. We present an iterative approach for obtaining component reliability estimates from such data for series systems. The approach is analogous to traditional probability plotting. That is, it involves the fitting of a parametric reliability function to a set of nonparametric reliability estimates (plotting points). We present a numerical example assuming Weibull component life distributions and a two-component series system. In this example we find estimates with only 4 per cent of the computation time required to find comparable MLEs.
Combined radiation therapy and extrafascial hysterectomy in the treatment of stage IB barrel-shaped cervical cancer

Seventy-five patients with bulky barrel-shaped Stage IB cervical cancers, treated at the University of Kentucky from 1965 to 1981, were the subjects of this investigation. Thirty-two of these patients were treated with radiation therapy alone and 43 were treated with radiation followed by extra-fascial hysterectomy. There were no significant differences in age, gravidity, or tumor cell type between the two treatment groups. Patients were seen at regular intervals from 2 to 11 years after treatment and none were lost to follow-up. Recurrent cancer was noted in 47% of patients treated by radiation alone as compared to 16% of those treated with combined therapy (P less than 0.01). The incidence of pelvic recurrence was reduced from 19% to 2% and extrapelvic recurrence from 16% to 7% in patients treated by combination therapy. No rectal or urinary tract fistulae were noted after extra-fascial hysterectomy. The findings of this study suggest that the use of extra-fascial hysterectomy following radiation therapy in patients with bulky Stage IB cervical cancer causes a significant reduction in tumor recurrence without producing an increase in treatment-related complications.
Contact damage initiation in silicon nitride in Hertzian indentation: role of microstructure

A bearing-grade silicon nitride with fine microstructure and a turbine-grade silicon nitride with coarse microstructure were studied with respect to the influence of their microstructures on (a) crack-growth-resistance behavior, (b) strength degradation due to Vickers indentation, and (c) crack initiation in quasi-static indentation with WC spheres. The turbine grade exhibited strong rising crack-growth resistance and less strength degradation due to Vickers indentation as compared to the bearing grade. Partial-ring or C cracks initiated in Hertzian indentation and the critical loads exhibited linear (Auerbach) variation with indenter radius above a critical value. For smaller radius, indentation plasticity preceded C-crack initiation. The bearing grade exhibited higher critical loads for C-crack initiation, but showed greater extension toward a ring crack than the turbine grade. These differences in crack initiation and growth were consistent with the differences in crack initiation and propagation toughness of the two grades. A ball-on-ball impact analysis was used to predict the critical velocities for initiating C cracks in the impact of silicon nitride surfaces with WC spheres.
Improved fully-balanced current-mode integrator

A high CMRR fully-balanced current-mode integrator structure is presented. The proposed structure improves the CMRR at low frequencies by a factor of g/sub m//g/sub o/. Moreover, the structure provides more flexibility to guarantee stability and is significantly less sensitive to process mismatches. The differential and common-mode gains and CMRR at low and high frequencies are analysed as well as verified in simulation.
Sanitary dips with calcium propionate, calcium chloride, or a calcium amino acid chelate maintain quality and shelf stability of fresh-cut honeydew chunks

Freshly cut honeydew chunks were dipped for 30 s in a solution containing 1.9 mM hypochlorous acid (ClO) without or with a 40 mM concentration of calcium (Ca) propionate, Ca amino acid chelate formulation (Ca chelate), calcium chloride (CaCl2), or not treated. Respiration and ethylene production rates, firmness, translucency, microbiological and sensory characteristics, surface color, volatile abundance, and tissue calcium content were evaluated during 7 d at 10 8C. Nontreated samples developed the highest respiration and ethylene production rates during storage, followed by samples dipped in ClO, ClO /CaCl2 or ClO /Ca chelate, and ClO /Ca propionate. Calcium salt and chelate treatments more than doubled tissue Ca content and inhibited changes in melon firmness, surface color, and the development of tissue translucency during storage. Treatment with ClO alone increased tissue translucency development, but inhibited surface microbial development. Microbial development was higher on nontreated melon samples than on ClO /Ca propionate-treated samples. Total quality-associated volatile abundance increased throughout storage and was higher in ClO /Ca propionate-treated samples than in other treated and nontreated samples. No sensorial preference was observed by consumer panels among ClO-, ClO /Ca propionate-, or ClO /Ca chelate-treated samples. The results indicate that a sanitary dip with Ca is a better alternative to a sanitary dip alone for quality maintenance and shelf-life stability of fresh-cut honeydew melon tissue. Published by Elsevier B.V.
The sea surface temperature deviation at very low wind speeds; is there a limit?

Laboratory and field measurements of the temperature drop across the boundary layer at the upper surface of evaporating and cooling water in turbulent free convection show that greater values are possible than previously indicated. An upper limit on the surface temperature deviation is imposed only by the maximum heat loss occurring in the earth's most extreme climates. DOI: 10.1111/j.2153-3490.1977.tb00729.x
The endothelial cell in ischemic acute kidney injury: implications for acute and chronic function

Recent evidence suggests that injury to the renal vasculature may play an important role in the pathogenesis of both early and chronic ischemic acute kidney injury (AKI). Established and new data support the suggestion that vascular injury, in particular, endothelial cell injury, participates in the extent and maintenance of AKI by pathways that are related to vascular tone. Early alterations in peritubular capillary blood flow during reperfusion has been documented and associated with loss of normal endothelial cell function, which can be replaced pharmacologically or with cell replacement interventions. Distorted peritubular capillary morphology is associated with loss of barrier function that may contribute to early alterations in vascular stasis. In addition, ischemia induces alterations in endothelial cells that may promote inflammation and procoagulant activity, thus contributing to vascular congestion. Reductions in microvasculature density may play a critical part in the progression of chronic kidney disease following initial recovery from ischemia/reperfusion-induced AKI. The exact nature of how capillary loss alters renal function and predisposes renal disease is thought to be due at least in part to hypoxia. Finally, the loss of endothelial cell function may represent an important therapeutic target in which nitric oxide, vascular trophic support, and/or endothelial progenitor cells may show potential importance in ameliorating the acute and/or chronic effects of ischemic AKI.
Soil temperature is an important regulatory control on dissolved organic carbon supply and uptake of soil solution nitrate

Abstract The role of abiotic processes on dissolved organic matter (DOM) production is often underappreciated. However, abiotic processes appear to be especially important in subsoils where, with increasing depth, microbial activity declines and soil organic matter (SOM) becomes a progressively more important contributor to DOM. Within three soil depths (20, 40, and 60 cm) in a temperate forest, soil temperature was positively associated with dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration ( R 2 = 0.23–0.77) and the DOM humification index ( R 2 = 0.35–0.72) for soil solutions in slow and fast flowpaths. With increasing soil temperature from 5 to 24 °C, average DOC concentrations increased by 86% at 20 cm, 12% at 40 cm and 12% at 60 cm soil depths. Our data suggest that DOM supply, especially in subsoils, is temperature dependent. We attribute this to the influence of temperature on DOM replenishment through direct processes such as SOM dissolution, diffusion and exchange reactions as well as indirect processes such as rhizodeposition and exoenzyme activity. In contrast, negative relationships ( R 2 = 0.71–0.88) between temperature and nitrate concentrations in subsoil suggested that the temperature-dependent supply of DOM drives microbial processes such as dissimilatory and assimilatory nitrate consumption.
Acidosis, not azotemia, stimulates branched-chain, amino acid catabolism in uremic rats.

Acidosis, not azotemia, stimulates branched-chain, amino acid catabolism in uremic rats. To investigate branched-chain, amino acid metabolism (BCAA) in muscle in chronic renal failure (CRF), we studied rats with moderately severe uremia (PUN 110 ˜ mg/dl) and spontaneous metabolic acidosis (bicarbonate, 19 ± 1 mEq/liter). Plasma BCAA levels in CRF compared to pair-fed control rats were ˜ 15% lower and muscle valine was 93 µM lower (P 14 C]valine or L-[l- 14 C]leucine in the presence and absence of insulin. BCAA decarboxylation was increased (P 3 which corrected the acidosis, but not the azotemia. BCAA decarboxylation in muscle was reduced in CRF rats given NaHCO 3 , and this was reflected in increased plasma and muscle BCAA concentrations. We conclude that in CRF, chronic metabolic acidosis stimulates BCAA decarboxylation in skeletal muscle and this could contribute to the reduced intra- and extracellular concentrations of BCAA. Correction of acidosis should be a goal of therapy in CRF, especially when dietary regimens restrict intake of BCAA.
Optical Diffusion in Blood

Light is absorbed and scattered by whole blood. At very low hematocrit values scattering is small, but for hematocrit ?0.05 light patterns in blood indicate that scattered photons obey the diffusion equations. Diffusion theory predicts the circular light patterns observed in normal whole blood. Transmittance measurements by small fiberoptic probes in a blood medium give data which are in good agreement with diffusion theory. Values of the diffusion penetration depth ? d are obtained from the data, which give a quantitative measure of light penetration into blood.
Effects of stimulus change and drive level on extinction of the conditioned eyelid response.

Summary.-Rate of extinction of the conditioned eye blink was investigated as a function of maintained drive level in extinction and amount of stimulus change from conditions of acquisition to those of extinction. 50 Ss were given 90 acquisition trials undcr a partial reinforcement schedule in which the UCS was either delayed or omitted on half the trials. Half of the Ss conditioned under each procedure were givcn 20 extinction trials with the UCS delayed and half were exungu~shed with t:he UCS omitted. There was no evidence for an effect of either drive or amouat of stimulus change determining rate of extinction. Following a partial reinforcement schedule during acquisition, a procedure of delaying the UCS in extinction res~~lts in a slower rate of extinction than omitting che UCS altogether (McAllister, 1953; Reynolds, 1958; Spence, 1966). Following continuous reinforcement in acquisition, however, both Reynolds and Spence, Rutledge, and Talbott (1963) have found no difference in rates of extinction for delayed and ornitced UCS conditions. Recently, Spence ( 1966) has advanced a type of discrimination hypothesis to account for the discrepancy in findings regarding delayed vs omitted UCS conditions of extinction following partial and continuous reinforcement. According to this hypothesis, as S discerns a change in the conditions of extinction from those of acquisition, he adopts an inhibitory set not to respond to the CS. If, however, the onset of extinction is unnoticed by S, no such higher process occurs and the rate of extinccion is a function of nonreinforcement and motivational level. Following continuous reinforcement, boch delayed and omitted UCS extinction procedures are discriminable thus S inhibits his responses and extinction is equally rapid under both conditions. Since extinction following parcial reinforcement involves less stimi~lus change, S is noc likely to inhibit his responses and a delayed-UCS procedure should extinguish at a slower rate than one where the UCS is omitted due to the maintained motivational level in the former. A number of studies, however, have shown a s~~periority of the delayed to the omitted UCS conditions following continuous as well as partial reinforcement (Price, Abbott, & Vandarnent, 1965; Spence, Homzie, & Rutledge, 1964). Alternative to a type of disrriminacion hypothesis is the assumption that extinction is slower with the UCS delayed solely because drive level is maintained, without reference to cognitive factors or to amount of stimulus change.
Cell-specific expression of activin and its two binding proteins in the rat decidua: role of alpha 2-macroglobulin and follistatin

Rat decidual tissue is formed by two distinct decidual cell populations located either antimesometrially or mesometrially in the uterus. They differ in morphology, the genes they express, the proteins they secrete, and the role they play during pregnancy. Recently, we have shown that rat decidua expresses follistatin and alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2-MG), two binding proteins to activin. In the present study, we determined whether the decidua of pregnant and pseudopregnant rats also expresses activin, whether activin messenger RNA (mRNA) is confined to a particular cell population, and whether it is regulated by its binding proteins. Decidual and placental tissues were collected at different stages of pseudopregnancy or pregnancy. mRNA expression was examined by in situ hybridization, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and Northern analysis. Developmental studies revealed that activin A became highly expressed in the antimesometrial decidua only from day 11 at a time when this tissue was un...
Wavelength- and Isomer-Dependent Photochemistry of Styryl- and (Phenylethynyl)fluorenones

Fluorenones substituted with cis- and trans-styryl and phenylethynyl groups at C-1, C-2, and C-4 were synthesized, as were the trans-2- and trans-4-(3,4-dimethoxystyryl) and β-methyl-2-styryl derivatives. The static absorption and fluorescence spectra of these compounds were measured, as were their redox potentials in acetonitrile. Transient spectra in a range of solvents were obtained on a microsecond time scale. The compounds showed marked solvent-dependent behavior. In solvents of low polarity, the principal photochemical process for the styryl derivatives is cis−trans isomerization via triplet intermediates. In polar solvents, singlet processes become more important, including photoionization from upper excited states. There are also significant regiochemical differences. The triplets from the 2-substituted fluorenones have microsecond lifetimes and λmax values in the 400−500-nm range, indicating that they have a trans configuration. By contrast, 1- and 4-substituted fluorenones give rise to triplets ...
A practical undergraduate introduction to software engineering

Much has been written about proper software engineering methods and how to teach these techniques to students. Several authorities have analyzed our present techniques as needing significant improvement [1]. This paper discusses a practically oriented introduction to software engineering aimed at introducing students to sound development habits and life-cycle thinking early in their careers.
Will the real Cowden syndrome please stand up: revised diagnostic criteria

Cowden syndrome (CS, MIM 158350) is an autosomal dominant disorder with age related penetrance characterised by multiple hamartomas and a high risk of breast, thyroid, and perhaps other cancers. These hamartomas can arise in tissues derived from all three embryonic germ cell layers, in accordance with the prominent expression of the susceptibility gene throughout human embryonic and fetal development.1 The cardinal features of CS include trichilemmomas, which are hamartomas of the infundibulum of the hair follicle, and mucocutaneous papillomatous papules, which occur in the great majority (>90%) of affected subjects.2 3 Lesions in the breast or thyroid occur in at least two thirds of CS cases. The incidence of CS before gene identification was estimated to be 1 in a million in a population based Dutch clinical epidemiological study.2 4 However, after gene identification, this figure was revised to 1 in 200 000,5 which is almost certainly an underestimate. This is because CS has variable expression and often can have nothing but subtle skin signs, and so this condition is difficult to recognise and remains underdiagnosed. Before 1996, little was known about the molecular aetiology of the inherited hamartoma syndromes, including CS. For purposes of localising the CS gene, the International Cowden Consortium proposed a set of operational diagnostic criteria to ascertain CS families and to assign affected status within families (table 1).4 6 These criteria have been adopted by the US based National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Genetics/High Risk Cancer Surveillance Panel, whose task is to present evidence based or expert consensus practice guidelines.7 View this table: Table 1 International Cowden Consortium operational criteria for the diagnosis of CS, Ver 1995 The susceptibility gene for CS was mapped to 10q22-23 and identified a year later as PTEN …
Multi-stranded Deoxyribonucleic Acid as determined by X-Irradiation

The decay in molecular weight induced by irradiation of desoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) from calf thymus, sea urchin sperm, and Pneumococcus was examined as a function of x-ray dose. Molecular weights were determined by light scattering. Results suppont conclusions that DNA molecules from non-proliferating sources are double helices, whereas molecules from proliferating sources consist of linked pairs of double helices.
Relationship between gastro-oesophageal reflux and gastric activity in newborns assessed by combined intraluminal impedance, pH metry and epigastric impedance.

Abstract The pathogenesis of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) is complex and multifactorial. A motility disorder resulting from immaturity of the gastro-oesophageal tract may be involved. We have combined multichannel intraluminal impedance (MII) and pH monitoring with epigastric impedance (EGI) to evaluate the activity of this tract in neonates with suspected GORD. Multichannel intraluminal impedance, pH and EGI were followed for 3 h in 30 newborns displaying apparent life-threatening events and signs of GORD. Simultaneous application of MII and pH monitoring identifies reflux episodes and illustrates their duration, height and pH. Episodes detected by MII were placed on the EGI curve and the contemporaneous gastric filling state and emptying velocity were calculated. During the total measuring time, 248 reflux episodes were revealed. An inverse correlation was evident for reflux frequency and gastric emptying velocity (r2 = 0.94; P < 0.001), and between acid refluxes and the gastric filling state (r2 = 0.95; P < 0.001), whereas a positive correlation was found between the reflux level and the gastric filling state (r2 = 0.52; P < 0.05). Simultaneous MII, pH and EGI monitoring provided new information on the relationship between refluxes and gastric activity. Data suggest that gastric emptying patterns influence the frequency, level and pH of reflux episodes.
Learning from our transgender youth.

Gender is in themind, and sex is in the body. There is now a generally accepted recognition that gender exists on a continuum and does not always followbirth assignment across an individual's lifespan. The increased visibility of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, questioning (LGBTQ) culture in media and literature is evidence of this recognition. The story of an individual's emerging narrative of self and identity that does not match his or her body receives much attention in lay and professional literature (DSM5diagnosis of gender dysphoria) andmedia. There is also informal discussion around the need for a new phobia, transphobia, to become part of our language. In fact a newword, cisgender, has emerged. Cisgender initially was defined as the individual experience of feeling comfortablewith the gender assigned at birth, the opposite of transgender (Schelt &Westbrook, 2009). However, now the meaning has morphed to indicate the invalidation of an individual's own understanding of their own gender and bodies (Ansara & Hegarty, 2012). This type of thinking expands the concept of gender from a male/female dichotomy to more of a kaleidoscope as described by Spade and Valentine (2013).
Adaptive control for systems with hard saturation

The augmented error signal concept, recently introduced, can be useful in designing model reference adaptive systems for plants with inputs which are subject to hard saturation. Liapunov's Direct Method is used as the basis for these designs. Figure 1 shows the configuration for the types of systems considered. The adaptive control acts to null the augmented error, and, in the process, also assures that the true error between plant and model approaches zero.
Beyond Brahmanical Asceticism: Recent and Emerging Models of Female Hindu Asceticisms in South Asia

In the last 25 years, significant conceptual and interpretive shifts have occurred in the scholarship on asceticism in South Asia that broaden not only ‘what counts’ as asceticism, but also ‘who counts’ as an ascetic. Moreover, the recent surge of anthropological and ethnographic studies, particularly those focusing on female asceticism, has contributed innovative and alternative models of asceticism to the more dominant, Sanskritic literary model(s). This essay is an introductory survey of the literature on Hindu asceticism and has the following objectives: to discuss the text-based structural studies on asceticism that have helped to shape the field and to present the recent and emerging scholarship on female Hindu asceticism that challenges and/or supplements the dominant Brahmanical textual model by illuminating the role of female-centered social values and practices and of bhakti traditions in the constitution of gendered traditions of asceticism. This essay is intended as a preliminary research tool for scholars and students with which to navigate the topography of Hindu asceticism and to understand the crucial developments in the field that have changed the ways that scholars theorize both the category and phenomenon of asceticism in South Asia. Finally, it suggests some fruitful avenues for future research through consideration of ascetics’ performative practices as a strategy for creating non-orthodox asceticism(s) as an alternative to the dominant and orthodox model.
Effects of caffeine, cAMP and A23187 on ion transport by the midgut of tobacco hornworm

Abstract 1. Caffeine (1–30 mM) inhibits the short circuit current ( I sc ) of the isolated posterior midgut of the tobacco hornworm Manduca sexta . After incubation in 10 mM caffeine for 20 min, I sc is decreased to a mean of 75% of the value expected in the absence of treatment. 2. The depression of I sc can be accounted for in large part by inhibition of active transepithelial K + transport. 3. The inhibitory effect of caffeine on midgut ion transport cannot be due to inhibition of phosphodiesterase, since exogenous cAMP (8 bromoadenosine 3':5' cyclic monophosphate, 1 mM) stimulates I sc and net K + transport. 4. The effects of the Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ specific ionophore A23187 on I sc are similar to those of caffeine.
Why is tetrazole formation by addition of azide to organic nitriles catalyzed by zinc(II) salts

The mechanism by which zinc(II) catalyzes the union of an azide ion with organic nitriles to form tetrazoles is investigated by means of density functional theory using the hybrid functional B3LYP. The calculations indicate that coordination of the nitrile to the zinc ion is the dominant factor affecting the catalysis; this coordination substantially lowers the barrier for nucleophilic attack by azide. Relative reaction rates of catalyzed and uncatalyzed tetrazole formation also provide experimental support for this conclusion.
Geomorphic Evidence for Late-Wisconsin and Holocene Tectonic Deformation, Death Valley, California

Eastward tilting of the Death Valley-Panamint Range structural block has resulted in segmentation of alluvial fans in south-central Death Valley. The youngest segment is generally near the fanhead on the east side and always near the toe on the west side. Six episodes of tilting have occurred, three of which postdate the last major high stand of Lake Manly, herein named the Blackwelder stand, which ended about 10,500 yrs ago. Estimates of the volume of sediment deposited after each episode of tilting suggest that distinct tectonic events occurred approximately 200, 1,000, 6,000, 17,000, 30,000, and 42,000 yrs ago. The average tilting rate appears to have increased exponentially with time. On the Black Mountains, immediately east of the structural block, deposits of tufa and of carbonate-cemented lacustrine, alluvial, and colluvial gravel of diverse age are presently perched at elevations up to 100m above present fans in positions where they could not have formed without support from older fans. On the west side of the valley, shorelines cut during the Blackwelder stand are about 30 m lower than these perched tufa and gravel deposits. Calculations based on these observations suggest that the average tilting rate doubled every 23,000 yrs during the late Wisconsin. The present rate is about 0.016 degrees/1,000 yrs.
2,2′-bipyridine- and 1,10-phenanthroline-N-oxide chelates with chromium(III) and iron(III) nitrates[1]

Abstract The syntheses and characterization of Cr(III) and Fe(III) nitrate chelates with 2,2′-bipyridine- and 1,10-phenanthroline-N-oxides(N-bipyO and N-phenO, respectively) are reported. Cr(NO3)3 yields chelates of the types [Cr(N-bipyO)(O2NO)2] (NO3) and [Cr(N-phenO)2(O2NO)] (NO3)2·2C2H5OH, involving both N-oxide and nitrato ligands in the complex cations. Lattice ethanol is also present in the latter complex. In the case of Fe(NO3)3, both 1:3 and 1:2 complexes with these ligands were obtained. The 1:3 complexes are of the type [FeL3](NO3)3(L = N-bipyO, N-phenO) and are characterized by subnormal, for a high-spin configuration, room temperature magnetic moments, which were attributed to spin-free-spin-paired equilibria, on the basis of studies of magnetic susceptibility variations with temperature. The 1:2 complexes are of the types [Fe(N-bipyO)2(ONO2)2] (NO3) and [Fe(N-phenO)2(O2NO)] (NO3)2, the former involving unidentate and the latter bidentate coordinated nitrate. These chelates, as well as the new Cr(III) chelates, are magnetically normal, high-spin compounds.
Investigation of the potential causes of partial scan artifacts in dynamic CT myocardial perfusion imaging

In recent years, there have been several findings regarding CT number variations (partial scan artifact or PSA) across time in dynamic myocardial perfusion studies with short scan gated reconstruction. These variations are correlated with the view angle range corresponding to the short scan acquisition for a given cardiac phase, which can vary from one cardiac cycle to another due to the asynchrony between heart rate and gantry rotation speed. In this study, we investigate several potential causes of PSA, including noise, beam hardening and scatter, using numerical simulations. In addition, we investigate partial scan artifact in a single source 64-slice diagnostic CT scanner in vivo data sets, and report its effect on perfusion analysis. Results indicated that among all three factors investigated, scatter can cause obvious partial scan artifact in dynamic myocardial perfusion imaging. Further, scatter is a low frequency phenomenon and is not heavily dependent on the changing contrasts, as both the frequency method and the virtual scan method are effective in reducing partial scan artifact. However, PSA does not necessarily lead to different blood volume maps compared to the full scan, because these maps are usually generated with a curve fitting procedure.
Applications of black walnut husks can improve orchardgrass and red clover yields in silvopasture and alley cropping plantings

Black walnut (Juglans nigra L.) produces both valuable lumber and a nut crop. Because of this, it is an important tree for agroforestry plantings in the Midwest USA. However, during processing of the nut crop, the outer tissue of the nut (husks) accumulates in great quantities. Applying this material to pastures is a possible method of disposal. However, black walnut has been implicated in allelopathic interactions with numerous plant species and may inhibit the growth of pasture species. Greenhouse and field studies and a chemical analysis of the husks were conducted to determine the effects of applying walnut husks to orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) or red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) pastures. Applying husks at rates up to 68 Mg ha−1 to pot-grown orchardgrass resulted in root and shoot yields that were greater than in pots receiving no husks. Field studies indicated that orchardgrass and red clover benefited from the application of husks. For orchardgrass, significant increases in growth occurred when husks were applied at a rate of 34 Mg ha−1 while red clover responded to rates up to 68 Mg ha−1. A chemical analysis of husks indicated that significant quantities of N and K were present in walnut husks. A whole effluent toxicity test (WETT) indicates that runoff from walnut husk-treated pastures, at the rates used in this study, would not adversely affect aquatic organisms.
Genetic variation in insulin receptor beta-chain exons among members of familial type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetic pedigrees.

Insulin resistance appears to be an essential component of Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus. Both hyperinsulinaemia and insulin resistance are inherited and may precede the onset of Type 2 diabetes. To determine whether insulin receptor gene mutations, and specifically whether mutations of the β-chain could account for the observed insulin resistance, we studied members of 16 pedigrees ascertained for two or more Type 2 diabetic siblings and members of four additional pedigrees ascertained for a mixture of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. We previously demonstrated insulin resistance among unaffected members of these pedigrees. Each pedigree was initially examined with insulin receptor restriction fragment length polymorphisms to determine whether any allele segregated with Type 2 diabetes in these pedigrees. Of the 16 pedigrees ascertained for Type 2 diabetes, at least one recombinant event between diabetes and the insulin receptor locus was present in seven pedigrees. An additional two pedigrees showed no linkage if individuals with impaired glucose tolerance were also considered affected. In all but one of the remaining pedigrees, apparent sharing of haplotypes may have resulted from insufficient polymorphism to distinguish all parental alleles. Subsequently, exons 13–21 of each allele which appeared in a Type 2 diabetic individual were examined by single strand conformation polymorphisms to detect any mutations in this region. A total of five mutations were detected, but DNA sequence analysis showed each mutation to be silent and thus not likely to result in defective insulin receptor function. No mutation detected in this fashion was present on an allele which appeared to segregate with Type 2 diabetes. We conclude that although some insulin receptor exon mutations are very common, the insulin receptor gene and particularly the β-chain region, including the tyrosine kinase domain, is unlikely to be a significant cause of Type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance among White familial Type 2 diabetic pedigrees.
Identification of a Sex Pheromone Component for the Blueberry Leafminer, Caloptilia porphyretica

Coupled gas chromatographic–electroantennographic detection (GC–EAD) of both gland extracts and effluvial collections from female blueberry leafminer, Caloptilia porphyretica Braun (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), showed that females produced a single EAD-active compound. The amount of the compound collected from virgin female C. porphyretica was below GC and mass spectrometry (MS) detection thresholds, even with highly concentrated gland extracts (∼150 female equivalent). (E)-11-Hexadecenal (E11-16:Ald) was determined to be a sex pheromone component mainly by comparison of retention times with authentic standards on both polar and nonpolar capillary columns, microreaction-GC–EAD analyses, and field trapping tests. GC–EAD experiments showed that synthetic E11-16:Ald exhibited extraordinarily high electrophysiological activity, stimulating significant male antennal responses at as low as 10 fg. Traps baited with E11-16:Ald alone were attractive to males. Addition of 1 or 3% of its geometric isomer, Z11-16:Ald, to E11-16:Ald did not significantly increase trap captures, but an inhibitory effect was observed at the 10% level. The influence of two kinds of rubber septa on attraction was also evaluated. Male moth captures were higher in traps baited with red rubber septa than with gray rubber septa at 30–300-μg doses. Monitoring of adult flight activity with 3-μg doses of E11-16:Ald indicated at least three distinct flight periods throughout the 2003 season.
The next decade: cardiovascular risks, outcomes, prevention, and treatment in pediatric HIV infection

espite advances in the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), the disease continues to be a global problem. As of November 2008, the United Nations Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) estimated 33.4 million people were living with HIV or AIDS worldwide, including 2.1 million children.
Doping studies of heterogeneous langmuir—blodgett thin films containing poly(3‐hexyl thiophene)

Langmuir-Blodgett multilayer thin films fabricated from mixed monolayers containing poly(3-hexyl thiophene) and stearic acid were rendered electrically conductive with strong oxidizing agents such as SbCl5, I2 and NOPF6. In-situ doping studies using dopants introduced in the gas phase revealed that the increase in conductivity was due to the formation of bipolaron-type charged defect sites on the polymer backbone. The highest level of conductivity was achieved by doping with NOPF6 from solution (about 3 S/cm). Solution phase doping, however, was found to disrupt the molecular organization of the multilayer film completely. In contrast, doping could be accomplished with retention or modification of the original molecular organization if carried out in the gas phase using either SbCl5 or I2. The resultant in-plane conductivities were a few orders of magnitude lower than films doped from solution due to the heterogeneous nature of the doped multilayer film. The conductivity of multilayer films doped with SbCl5 was found to be stable in vacuum whereas the conductivity of films doped with I2 decayed rapidly in either vacuum or air.