cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Encoding morphology in oxide nanostructures during their growth.

Programmable control over the overall structure of SnO2 nanowires grown by vapor-solid synthesis is shown to be possible by pulse modulating the flow rate of the carrier gas in which oxygen (one of the reactants) is entrained. The control is shown to depend on the local oscillation of the supersaturation condition for the SnO vapor (another reactant) in the vicinity of the growing nanostructure. The latter triggers dramatic, reproducible oscillations in the lateral dimensions of the nanostructure and in the direction of its growth. The method provides a means for producing predictable morphological and compositional variations in 1D nanostructures, thereby potentially resulting in a high yield of custom-designed nanostructures.
Asymptotic behavior of the critical probability for ρ-percolation in high dimensions

We consider oriented bond or site percolation on ℤ d +. In the case of bond percolation we denote by P p the probability measure on configurations of open and closed bonds which makes all bonds of ℤ d + independent, and for which P p {e is open} = 1 −P p e {is closed} = p for each fixed edge e of ℤ d +. We take X(e) = 1 (0) if e is open (respectively, closed). We say that ρ-percolation occurs for some given 0 0 for p > p c . Here we find lim d →∞d 1/ρ p c (ρd, bond) = D 1 , say. We also find the limit for the analogous quantity for site percolation, that is D2 = lim d →∞d1/ρp c (ρ, d, site). It turns out that for ρ < 1, D 1 < D 2 , and neither of these limits equals the analogous limit for the regular d-ary trees.
Complete nucleotide sequences of 84.5- and 3.2-kb plasmids in the multi-antibiotic resistant Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium U302 strain G8430.

Abstract The multi-antibiotic resistant (MR) Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium phage type U302 strain G8430 exhibits the penta-resistant ACSSuT-phenotype (ampicillin, chloramphenicol, streptomycin, sulfonamides and tetracycline), and is also resistant to carbenicillin, erythromycin, kanamycin, and gentamicin. Two plasmids, 3.2- and 84.5-kb in size, carrying antibiotic resistance genes were isolated from this strain, and the nucleotide sequences were determined and analyzed. The 3.2-kb plasmid, pU302S, belongs to the ColE1 family and carries the aph(3′)-I gene (KanR). The 84.5-kb plasmid, pU302L, is an F-like plasmid and contains 14 complete IS elements and multiple resistance genes including aac3, aph(3′)-I, sulII, tetA/R, strA/B, blaTEM-1, mph, and the mer operon. Sequence analyses of pU302L revealed extensive homology to various plasmids or transposons, including F, R100, pHCM1, pO157, and pCTX-M3 plasmids and TnSF1 transposon, in regions involved in plasmid replication/maintenance functions and/or in antibiotic resistance gene clusters. Though similar to the conjugative plasmids F and R100 in the plasmid replication regions, pU302L does not contain oriT and the tra genes necessary for conjugal transfer. This mosaic pattern of sequence similarities suggests that pU302L acquired the resistance genes from a variety of enteric bacteria and underscores the importance of a further understanding of horizontal gene transfer among the enteric bacteria.
Regulation of parathyroid hormone-related protein expression in a canine squamous carcinoma cell line by colchicine.

Summary The regulation of parathyroid hormone-related protein expression by colchicine, vinblastine, nocodazole, taxol, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGFβ1), and epidermal growth factor (EGF) was investigated in a canine squamous carcinoma cell line (SCC 2/88 cells). SCC 2/88 cells were stably transfected with a human P2/P3 PTHrP promoterluciferase reporter gene construct and gene expression was measured after chemical treatments. The greatest increase in reporter gene expression was observed after colchicine treatment and small increases occurred after treatment with vinblastine, taxol, TGFβ1, or EGF. Nocodazole had no significant effect on reporter gene expression. Colchicine also increased PTHrP steady state mRNA expression and PTHrP secretion by SCC 2/88 cells. These results demonstrated that PTHrP production was increased in SCC2/88 cells by colchicine and suggested that factors or events during mitosis are capable of stimulating PTHrP production. An increase in PTHrP production during mitosis of malignant epithelial cells may be important in the pathogenesis of humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy.
Results of an aortic endograft trial: impact of device failure beyond 12 months.

Abstract Purpose: Analysis endpoints of patient survival and aortic rupture at a reporting interval of 12 months are regularly used to compare endograft aortic aneurysm (EAG) repair to conventional open surgical (COS) repair. This study reports a multicenter EAG repair versus COS repair parallel cohort trial at 12 months and additional observations of specific device failure types and their impact on an aortic endograft design beyond that follow-up period. Methods: From August 1997 to September 1998, 240 patients who were treated with bifurcation EAG repairs and 28 patients who were treated with straight EAG repairs were compared with 98 patients who were treated with COS repair for elective infrarenal aortic aneurysm repair. Allocation to treatment was based on aneurysm anatomy. All cohorts underwent infrarenal procedures. Data from concurrent, nonrandomized patient accrual from 17 United States institutions were prospectively gathered and independently adjudicated for safety and efficacy. An independent core laboratory evaluated all imaging data. Results: There were 308 men and 58 women (mean age, 72 years; range, 42-94 years) treated for infrarenal aortic aneurysm (mean diameter, 55 mm; range, 40-115 mm). Mean preoperative aneurysm diameters were clinically similar (EAG repair, 54 mm vs COS repair, 57 mm). The two cohorts were not significantly different in terms of gender ( P = .30) or age ( P = .32). EAG repair technical success (aneurysm exclusion, graft patency, patient survival) at 30 days was 89.2%. Five patients required immediate conversion to COS repair, four caused by access complications and one caused by operator-induced EAG repair malposition. The 30-day mortality rate was 1.5% for EAG repair and 3.1% for COS repair ( P = .59). The 12-month survival rate was 94.3% for EAG repair and 95.9% for COS repair. The intermediate-term cumulative survival rate at 24 months was 84.9% for EAG repair and 80.3% for COS repair ( P = .48). EAG repair device failure occurred from fabric erosion in six patients, with two deaths from ruptured aneurysm at 18 and 28 months after endografting and four device failures resolved by secondary procedures. Five endograft limb dislocations were all resolved by secondary endovascular procedures. Major or minor endograft migration required secondary procedures in five patients, including conversion in two patients. Conclusion: The clinical outcome at 12 months demonstrated effective aneurysm treatment and comparable safety between EAG repair and COS repair by conventional endpoints. Ongoing follow-up beyond 12 months revealed device-related adverse events that required endograft design changes. Diligent surveillance of outcomes beyond 12 months is necessary to adequately evaluate EAG repair devices. (J Vasc Surg 2001;33:S55-63.)
Inclusions in synthetic quartz

Abstract Synthetic quartz grown in steel autoclaves under standard conditions in Na2CO3 solution (with trace Li) traps secondary phase particulates during growth. Identification of these particulates, although difficult due to small size (
CHMOS improves system efficiency

Although accepted as the semiconductor technology best suited to low-power-consumption applications, the efficiency of the CMOS process may be guestioned on the grounds of its fabrication complexity, low speed and low function density. The cross-breeding of CMOS with HMOS promises to overcome these problems.
New Directions In Multi-Sensor Fusion

ABSTRACT We discuss the Dempster-Shafer theory of evidence. We suggest that alternative aggregation procedures to Dempster's rule may be appropriate in certain environments. We provide a arithmetic type of aggregation. We also look at the question of making decisions in the face of knowledge in the form of Dempster-Shafer belief structures.1. INTRODUCTIONThe Dempster-Shafer theory of evidence El-23 has been used on a number of occasions as a means for aggregating information obtained from multiple sensors C3-53. The original work on this application of the D-S theory is that of Lowrence and Garvey C33. The application of the Dempster-Shafer theory to this multi-sensor fusion problem can seem to consist of two distinct parts. The first part consists of the use of belief structures from this theory to represent the inputs from the various sensors. The second part consists of using Dempster's rule to aggregate the multiple sensor information to obtain the overall fused value. In particular if m*, m2, ... m^ represent the various sensor inputs then m - D<mt ,m2,...m^) represents the multi-sensor fused value. It should be pointed out that Dempster's rule is essentially a conjunction of the input sensor values. That is Dempster's rule assigns probabilities (belief) to subsets of the input space which all the sensors agree that the object of interest can lie.
Ultrafast learning in a hard-limited neural network pattern recognizer

As we published in the last five years, the supervised learning in a hard-limited perceptron system can be accomplished in a noniterative manner if the input-output mapping to be learned satisfies a certain positive-linear-independency (or PLI) condition. When this condition is satisfied (for most practical pattern recognition applications, this condition should be satisfied,) the connection matrix required to meet this mapping can be obtained noniteratively in one step. Generally, there exist infinitively many solutions for the connection matrix when the PLI condition is satisfied. We can then select an optimum solution such that the recognition of any untrained patterns will become optimally robust in the recognition mode. The learning speed is very fast and close to real-time because the learning process is noniterative and one-step. This paper reports the theoretical analysis and the design of a practical charter recognition system for recognizing hand-written alphabets. The experimental result is recorded in real-time on an unedited video tape for demonstration purposes. It is seen from this real-time movie that the recognition of the untrained hand-written alphabets is invariant to size, location, orientation, and writing sequence, even the training is done with standard size, standard orientation, central location and standard writing sequence.
Learning hierarchical models: advice for the rest of us.

Ionides, E. L., C. Breto, and A. A. King. 2006. Inference for nonlinear dynamical systems. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (USA) 103:18438-18443. Lele, S. R., B. Dennis, and F. Lutscher. 2007. Data cloning: easy maximum likelihood estimation for complex ecological models using Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo methods. Ecology Letters 10:551-563. Little, R. J. 2006. Calibrated Bayes: a Bayes/frequentist roadmap. American Statistician 60:213-223. Mayo, D. G., and A. Spanos. 2006. Severe testing as a basic concept in a Neyman-Pearson philosophy of induction. British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 57:323-357. McCulloch, C. E., and S. R. Searle. 2001. Generalized, linear, and mixed models. John Wiley and Sons, New York, New York, USA. Mignani, S., and R. Rosa. 2001. Markov chain Monte Carlo in statistical mechanics: the problem of accuracy. Technomet rics 43:347-355. Morris, C. N. 1983. Parametric Empirical Bayes inference: theory and applications. Journal of the American Statistical Association 78:47-55. O'Hagan, A. 1994. Kendall's advanced theory of statistics. Volume 2B: Bayesian inference. Oxford University Press, New York, New York, USA. O'Hagan, A. 2003. HSSS model cricitism. Pages 423^144 in P. J. Green, N. L. Hjort, and S. Richardson, editors. Highly structured stochastic systems. Oxford University Press, New York, New York, USA. Robins, J. M., A. van der Vaart, and V. Ventura. 2000. Asymptotic distribution of P values in composite null models. Journal of the American Statistical Association 95: 1143-1156. Royall, R. M. 1997. Statistical evidence: a likelihood paradigm. Chapman and Hall, New York, New York, USA. Rubin, D. B. 1984. Bayesianly justifiable and relevant frequency calculations for the applied statistician. Annals of Statistics 12:1151-1172. Snover, M. L. 2008. Comments on "Using Bayesian state-space modelling to assess the recovery and harvest potential of the Hawaiian green sea turtle stock." Ecological Modelling 212: 545-549. Spiegelhalter, D. J., N. G. Best, B. R. Carlin, and A. van der Linde. 2002. Bayesian measures of model complexity and fit. Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series B?Statistical Methodology 64:583-616. Ye, J. M. 1998. On measuring and correcting the effects of data mining and model selection. Journal of the American Statistical Association 93:120-131.
Outcome at 6 months for 50 adolescents with major depression treated in a health maintenance organization.

ABSTRACT Objective To examine the short-term outcome of adolescents with major depressive disorder treated in a health maintenance organization (HMO) setting. Method Fifty consecutive adolescents meeting DSM-IV criteria for major depressive disorder at intake to an HMO clinic completed a Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Columbia Impairment Scale, and Youth Self-Report (YSR), and a parent completed a Child Behavior Checklist at intake and 2, 4, and 6 months later. Results Thirty-three percent, 40.6%, and 33% of reporting subjects showed improved mood (defined as BDI score >9), with 78%, 64%, and 72% reporting (defined as completing a BDI) at 2, 4, and 6 months, respectively. Initial level of impairment correlated with BDI score at 2 months ( p = .02) and 4 months ( p = .01). Attention problems at intake as measured by the YSR correlated with BDI score at 2 months ( p = .002) and 6 months ( p = .003). Conclusions A minority of adolescents treated with limited, nonspecific psychotherapy and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors have a BDI score of less than 9 at 2, 4, or 6 months. Self-report of attention problems at intake correlates with ongoing depressive symptomatology.
Classification of common conserved sequences in mammalian intergenic regions

Comparisons between orthologous intergenic regions of related genomes reveal numerous hits, i.e. pairs of relatively short highly similar sequences that evolved slowly, perhaps due to selective constraint. We analyzed and classified 2638 hits found within 100 pairs of complete, orthologous intergenic regions of human and murine genomes. We identified all common fragments of hits that align well with many other hits and constructed their classification. Our analysis revealed 20 abundant classes each containing 10 or more fragments. Fragments of the same class may perform the same function, e.g. bind a particular protein. Ten of the abundant classes apparently correspond to known functional consensuses, whereas others may represent novel conserved sites. Thus, large-scale comparative analysis of slowly evolving intergenic sequences can provide valuable insights into their function.
Apoptosis and In Vitro Development of Preimplantation Porcine Embryos Derived In Vitro or by Nuclear Transfer

Apoptosis occurs during preimplantation development in both in vivo- and in vitro-produced embryos, and it may contribute to embryonic loss. The present study investigated the development of porcine nuclear transfer (NT) embryos reconstructed by using fetal fibroblasts as compared to embryos produced by in vitro fertilization (IVF). The onset and the frequency of apoptosis in NT and IVF embryos were examined via morphological and nuclear changes and TUNEL assay. The NT blastocysts had a similar number of nuclei as compared to IVF blastocysts and appeared to be morphologically similar. Relative to IVF embryos, the NT embryos had a lower cleavage rate (42.7% vs. 71.0%) and a lower developmental rate (11.1% vs. 28.6%) to the blastocyst stage. The earliest positive TUNEL signals were detected in the NT embryos on Day 5 of culture. The percentage of cells undergoing apoptosis in the NT embryos was higher than that of the IVF embryos and increased with time in vitro. Some of the abnormal morphological changes observed during early development related to apoptosis. Cytoplasmic fragmentation, developmental arrest, and nuclear condensation were typical characteristics of embryos undergoing apoptosis. Some mechanisms of the apoptotic pathway were triggered by changes in the NT embryos. The developmental rates of NT embryos might be improved by identifying specific apoptotic pathways and then intervening in these pathways to improve development.
DC power pattern of rectifier-antennas

This paper addresses calculations and a measurement procedure for rectifier-antenna DC power patterns. The pattern of a rectifier-antenna is dependent on the antenna gain G(θ,⊘) and the rectifier efficiency Vrf-dc. This makes the pattern dependent not only on the angles θ and ⊘ but also on frequency, RF input power to the rectifier (P rf, in ) and the DC load (R L ). Example of a 1.96GHz patch rectifier-antenna is presented in the paper. It is shown that measured patterns of the integrated rectifier-antenna match theoretical predictions at incident power density levels form 25–200μW/cm2
Structural study of two N(4)-substituted thiosemicarbazones prepared from 1-phenyl-1,2-propanedione-2-oxime and their binuclear nickel(II) complexes

Abstract The crystal structures of the oxime/thiosemicarbazones 1-phenyl-1-{N(4)-methyl- and 1-phenyl-1-{N(4)-ethylthiosemicarbazone}-2-oximepropane, H2Po4M and H2Po4E, were found to have the oxime and thiosemicarbazone moieties on opposite sides of the carbon–carbon backbone. Intermolecular hydrogen bonding involves the oxime function forming a symmetrical dimer for both compounds. The structures of the binuclear nickel(II) complexes, [Ni(Po4M)]2 and [Ni(Po4E)]2, show that bridging by the oximato N–O results in a centrosymmetric arrangement of the two planar nickel centers in each complex. The coordinated thiosemicarbazonato moieties undergo the expected changes in bond distances and angles compared to H2Po4M and H2Po4E.
Expectations for the effects of aging on sexuality in parents and average married couples

Abstract The expectations of 229 college students about sexual activity during each decade from age 20 to age 80 were assessed. Approximately half of the subjects made estimations of their parents' intercourse frequency during these age periods; the remainder estimated married couples “on the average.” All subjects filled out the Profile of Mood States (POMS) immediately after estimating sexual activity. Results indicated that, in all decades but the 70's and 80's, subjects who estimated intercourse frequencies for their parents reported significantly lower means than the group who estimated married couples on the average. Subjects who estimated parental intercourse were significantly more anxious and depressed on the POMS than subjects who estimated married couples on the average. Effects for confusion and hostility were in the same direction but of borderline significance. There was also a dramatic main effect for age, with subjects expecting a steep linear decreasing pattern for intercourse frequency w...
Gliomas and brain lymphomas in HIV-1/AIDS patients: reflections from a 20-year follow up in Mexico and Brazil

Opportunistic infections and invasive primary tumors represent major causes of morbidity and mortality in HIV-1-infected individuals. HIV-1 involvement of the central nervous system (CNS) affects nearly half of seropositive patients, being the primary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL) a hallmark neoplasia of this population. Interestingly, the incidence of other brain tumors (e.g. gliomas) is exceedingly rare in AIDS patients, and their co-morbidity has been limited to case reports. Here, we share our 20-year experience following brain tumors in HIV-1/AIDS patients from major referral hospitals in Mexico and Brazil. Additionally, we provide the most updated compilation of reported glioma cases in AIDS patients, with a thorough epidemiological analysis. Furthermore, we discuss HIV-1-driven mechanisms that would theoretically increase malignant transformation of glial cells; while offering newly reported explanations as to why protease inhibitors, key components of multi-drug anti-retroviral schemes, may be responsible for such a low co-incidence of gliomas in HIV-1 infected individuals.
At the Violet Hour: Modernism and Violence in England and Ireland

Since Elaine Scarry's The Body in Pain (1985) it has been commonplace for studies of culture and violence to insist on the silence that shrouds experiences of injury and bodily suffering.1 In a phr...
Endogenous IGF-I protects human intestinal smooth muscle cells from apoptosis by regulation of GSK-3β activity

We have previously shown that endogenous IGF-I regulates human intestinal smooth muscle cell proliferation by activation of phosphatidylinositol 3 (PI3)-kinase- and Erk1/2-dependent pathways that j...
Intraventricular migration of silicone oil: A mimic of traumatic and neoplastic pathology

We describe an 80-year-old woman with intraventricular silicone oil mimicking traumatic pathology upon presentation to the emergency department after a ground-level fall. Intraventricular migration of silicone oil from prior intraocular endotamponade is rare having only been described in a handful of case reports. While it has a unique and characteristic appearance on imaging, intraventricular silicone oil can be confused with intraventricular hemorrhage or calcified ventricular neoplasms. Recognition and differentiation of intraventricular silicone oil from more sinister pathology is essential for the radiologist, neurologist and neurosurgeon and can be done with routine head CT scan. We discuss the imaging findings of intraventricular silicone oil and review the current understanding of this unusual phenomenon.
Towards agile control of ship auxiliary systems

An agile control system is a set of distributed controllers designed for the management of complex, interconnected systems that are able to change their structure in response to faults and damage events. Structural changes include dynamic reconfiguration of communication, agent scoping, and control algorithms.We propose that information theory will be a valuable tool in the design and analysis of such a controller, in that the information-theoretic characteristics of the system affect the utility of the information gathered and processed in the course of generating a control strategy. In particular, the rate at which the information content of a prior observation becomes irrelevant to the current state of the system is studied, called entropic drag. This paper summarizes recent work by researchers at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab into components of an agile controller for ship auxiliary systems.
MEMS techniques for the parallel fabrication of Chip Scale Atomic Devices

The Atomic Devices and Instrumentation Group at NIST Boulder is working with the MEMS and Nanotechnology Exchange (MNX) to develop an Atomic MEMS process technology module for Chip Scale Atomic Devices (CSADs). Such devices are of continuing research interest as a key technology in a number of U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) programs and are being investigated for use in advanced frequency referencing, magnetometry and inertial sensing. The pursued module is designed to reduce development time and cost in CSAD research programs by providing a proven process to fabricate the elements commonly needed in most CSAD projects at the wafer level. The integrated platform provides thermal isolation, cell heating and electromagnetic control forming a ‘smart’ package for miniature atomic vapor cells. This paper describes the design of the package made available through the MNX module. The device will able to thermally stabilize a vapor cell at 150°C with less than 5 mW of heater power. In addition, a system is currently under development at NIST Boulder designed to allow wafer-level, parallel fabrication of micromachined atomic vapor cells. The fabrication system will be suitable for use in the R&D fabrication facilities, such as those comprising the MNX network.
Angiotensin receptor type 1 single nucleotide polymorphism 1166A/C is associated with malignant arrhythmias and altered circulating miR-155 levels in patients with chronic heart failure

Background Sudden cardiac death (SCD) from ventricular tachyarrhythmias accounts for approximately 450,000 annual deaths in the United States; many of these cases involve patients with chronic heart failure (HF). Prediction of which HF patients are most susceptible to SCD is difficult, and it is uncertain whether gene polymorphisms associated with HF outcomes are also linked to arrhythmic risk. Methods We evaluated 485 patients with chronic HF to see whether the angiotensin receptor type 1 (AT1R) 1166A/C or angiotensin-converting enzyme insertion/deletion (ACE I/D) polymorphisms were associated with a higher rate of ventricular arrhythmias requiring implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) therapies over a 5-year period. We assessed the correlation between polymorphisms and antitachycardia pacing (ATP) and/or ICD shocks. Results Patients with AT1R-1166CC genotype had an increased rate of all events: ATP plus ICD shocks ( P = .02). There was no association between ACE I/D genotype and ICD therapies. Furthermore, circulating levels of microRNA-155 (miR-155), a microRNA known to posttranscriptionally regulate AT1R expression, were significantly decreased in the CC compared with the AC and AA genotypes and were associated with ICD events. Conclusion Our study suggests that the AT1R-1166CC genotype is associated with increased ICD therapies in patients with chronic HF, and the level of circulating miR-155 may be a potential marker for arrhythmic risk. Although these findings are novel, they will need replication and validation in larger cohorts of chronic HF patients.
Development of Low Oil-Uptake Donuts

Reduced oil donuts are one goal of the donut industry. In this investigation, donuts were developed using wheat flour and various additives. Donut properties were analyzed including dough consistency (DC), firmness (FN), moisture content (MC), and oil uptake (OU). Replacement of wheat flour with long-grain or waxy rice flour resulted in lower DC and MC, and higher FN and OU. Replacement with gelatinized rice flour or acetylated rice starch resulted in generally higher DC, MC and FN and lower OU. Donuts formulated with wheat flour and up to 50% gelatinized rice flour were comparable to wheat donuts in general characteristics but as much as 64% lower in oil uptake.
Crystallization of Enzyme IIB of the Cellobiose-specific Phosphotransferase System of Escherichia coli

Abstract Crystals of enzyme IIB of the cellobiose-specific phosphotransferase system have been obtained from 15% polyethylene glycol 4000 using both streak-seeding and macroseeding techniques at 4°. Crystals were grown with the hanging drop method of vapour diffusion. Addition of 2-propanol and benzamidine/HCl proved essential to obtain single crystals suitable for X-ray analysis. The crystals diffract to 1·8 A resolution and have the monoclinic space group P21, with cell dimension a = 53·6 A, b = 31·7 A c = 60·0 A and β = 101·7°. From a self-rotation function it seems likely that there are two molecules in the asymmetric unit related by a non-crystallographic 2-fold axis.
INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION OF CO2 SENSITIVITY BY NUCLEAR GENE DLY AND A TRANSMISSIBLE AGENT FROM DELAYED-RECOVERY DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER

Flies of stocks designated delayed-recovery by McCrady and Sulerud (1964) remain temporarily paralyzed after exposure to carbon dioxide. This condition is similar to CO2-sensitivity, which occurs in flies infected with the maternally transmitted sigma viruus, but is due, at least in part, to the third chromosome mutant gene Dly. Because earlier work indicated that extracts of delayed-recovery flies could occasionally transmit CO2 sensitivity when injected into resistant recipients, we have tested the possibility that some delayed-recovery stocks contain a sigma-like transmissible virus, in addition to the Dly gene. We found that TDR-orange, a stock derived from the original delayed-recovery line, and temperature-cured populations of the same stock, both contain some agent that is transmissible by injection. TDR-BC3f, a stock derived by backcrossing through the male line to eliminate maternally transmitted factors, does not appear to contain such an infectious agent, but remains sensitive to CO2. These observations lead us to the conclusion that the originally described delayed-recovery stocks harbor an infectious extrachromosomal agent, in addition to possessing the Dly gene, and each is capable of producing a sensitivity to carbon dioxide.
Seasonal concentrations of organic contaminants at the fall line of the Susquehanna River basin and estimated fluxes to northern Chesapeake Bay, USA

Riverine fluxes of several pesticides and other organic contaminants from above the fall line of the Susquehanna River basin to northern Chesapeake Bay, USA, were quantified in 1994. Base flow and storm flow samples collected at the fall line of the river from February to December 1994 were analyzed for both dissolved and particulate phase contaminants. Measured concentrations of the organonitrogen and organophosphorus pesticides varied mainly in response to the timing of their application to agricultural fields. Conversely, the concentrations of the more particle-sorptive contaminants such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine (OC) insecticides, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were more directly correlated with river flow throughout the year. Annual fluxes were almost entirely in the dissolved phase for the organonitrogen and organophosphorus pesticides, distributed between the dissolved and particulate phases for the PCBs and OC insecticides, and primarily in the particulate phase for the PAHs.
Ionic currents underlying spontaneous action potentials in isolated cerebellar Purkinje neurons.

Acutely dissociated cell bodies of mouse Purkinje neurons spontaneously fired action potentials at ∼50 Hz (25°C). To directly measure the ionic currents underlying spontaneous activity, we voltage-clamped the cells using prerecorded spontaneous action potentials (spike trains) as voltage commands and used ionic substitution and selective blockers to isolate individual currents. The largest current flowing during the interspike interval was tetrodotoxin-sensitive sodium current (approximately −50 pA between −65 and −60 mV). Although the neurons had large voltage-dependent calcium currents, the net current blocked by cobalt substitution for calcium was outward at all times during spike trains. Thus, the electrical effect of calcium current is apparently dominated by rapidly activated calcium-dependent potassium currents. Under current clamp, all cells continued firing spontaneously (though ∼30% more slowly) after block of T-type calcium current by mibefradil, and most cells continued to fire after block of all calcium current by cobalt substitution. Although the neurons possessed hyperpolarization-activated cation current ( I h ), little current flowed during spike trains, and block by 1 mm cesium had no effect on firing frequency. The outward potassium currents underlying the repolarization of the spikes were completely blocked by 1 mm TEA. These currents deactivated quickly (
The Impact of Going Concern Audit Opinions on Nonprofit Revenues and Expenses

Prior studies in the for-profit literature document a negative market reaction to going concern opinions. We extend this literature by focusing on the link between the going concern opinion and the revenues and expenses of nonprofit organizations. Our study employs a two-stage model. In the first stage, we predict the likelihood of a going concern. The second stage tests the relationships between a going concern and the organizations revenues and expenses. Our results indicate that while donors do appear to incorporate the signal of financial distress provided by a going concern into their contribution decisions, those who receive goods or services in return for their support do not. This evidence suggests that donors incorporate the organizations financial health into their decisions to the extent that they do not receive other services from the organization.
Ren-1 and Ren-2 loci are expressed in mouse kidney

Inbred strains of mice can be categorized into two groups based on the absence or presence of a duplicated copy of the renin structural gene; one-gene strains carry a single renin gene (Ren-1), whereas two-gene strains carry two renin genes (Ren-1 and Ren-2). To investigate the contribution that each locus makes to the composite levels of renin mRNA observed to accumulate in different tissues of two-gene strains, we have developed two assays capable of distinguishing the highly homologous Ren-1 and Ren-2 transcripts. Both methods take advantage of established base sequence differences between Ren-1 and Ren-2 coding regions by using reverse transcriptase-mediated primer extension of oligonucleotide primer/mRNA hybrids in the presence of appropriate deoxy-and dideoxynucleotide phosphates. Using these techniques we found that Ren-1 and Ren-2 mRNAs accumulate in the kidney of two-gene strains to approximately equal levels. These observations are discussed in light of potential mechanisms regulating the tissue-specific expression of the Ren-1 and Ren-2 loci.
Iraqi refugees and the humanitarian costs of the Iraq war: What role for social work?

Harding S, Libal K. Iraqi refugees and the humanitarian costs of the Iraq war: what role for social work? The US-led invasion and war in Iraq has created one of the most significant refugee crises in recent decades. International nongovernmental organizations have partnered with local organizations in Jordan and Syria to provide humanitarian aid to some two million displaced Iraqis. Field research indicates that, as with other humanitarian crises, few trained social workers have contributed to policy and practice with displaced Iraqis. The case of Iraq provides an opportunity to consider how the social work profession can shape comprehensive global refugee policies and programs. This role is appropriate, given mandates for the profession to promote social justice and human rights. Using the case of Iraqi displacement, we illustrate the complexities of humanitarian services provision and the need for trained social workers to participate in humanitarian relief and development programs. We argue that a variety of social work institutions and actors should become more robust advocates for shaping just refugee policy and practice.
A Patient Referred for Steroid-Resistant Asthma*

(Chest 1990; 98:149.5-96) A 31-year-old white woman was referred for evaluati()n of steroid-resistant asthma. She was well until 16 months earlier when respiratory wheezing and dyspnea on exertion developed. A diagnosis of asthma was made by a family physician. Medical therapy with oral theophylline, ipratropium bromide and albuterol metered dose inhalers was begun for progressive shortness of breath. Pred-
Removal of Acidic Impurities from Corn Stover Hydrolysate Liquor by Resin Wafer Based Electrodeionization

Dilute acid (sulfuric acid) pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass releases monomeric xylose, xylo-oligomers, and acetic acid by degradation of hemicellulose. Acids inhibit both the enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose to monomeric sugars and downstream fermentation of sugars to biofuels. Removal of acetic acid and sulfuric acid, as well as the nonionic toxic impurities, from the hydrolysate liquor prior to enzymatic hydrolysis may improve biofuel yields. Development of an efficient acid separation technique is essential for enhanced process performance and cost-effective biofuel production. We evaluated the use of an electrically driven membrane separation technique, resin wafer based electrodeionization (RW-EDI), for the removal of ionic impurities (acetic acid and sulfuric acid) from corn stover hydrolysate liquor. RW-EDI provides the capability to control solution pH in situ by voltage adjustment. In situ pH control enables pKa-selective recovery of acids (or bases). The results indicate that RW-EDI is ...
Oxygen Requirement of Pathogenic Bacteria Under Starving Conditions

Conclusions and SummaryUnder partial starvation some aerobic and facultative anerobic bacteria, yeasts, and fungi grow only in a fine, dense layer below the surface of the shake-cultures where the relation between nutrient-content and oxygen is an optimum. Under increasing starvation bacteria become increasingly sensitive against oxygen. Oxygen causes a bacteriostatic effect, the rate of which is in relation to the nutrient content of the medium. The less the medium contains of carbon compounds which may act as oxygen acceptor, the more inhibitory is the action of oxygen on the organisms. Variation in temperature below and above the optimal temperature and exposure to light increases the sensibility against oxygen.
Effects of sodium diphenylhydantoinate upon isolated small intestine of the rabbit.

Summary(1) Dilantin has a direct effect upon isolated rabbit gut. It reduces tone, reduces the amplitude and rate of contractions, and in higher concentrations can completely abolish the contractions. (2) The effect of Dilantin upon the isolated gut is rapidly reversible by simply replacing the gut in fresh Tyrode solution. (3) This effect of Dilantin is not due to its alkalinity. (4) Dilantin has a much more marked effect upon the gut than has sodium phenobarbital. (5) The clinical implications of these effects of Dilantin upon isolated gut are discussed briefly.
Artificial Seawater Media Facilitate Cultivating Members of the Microbial Majority from the Gulf of Mexico.

ABSTRACT High-throughput cultivation studies have been successful at bringing numerous important marine bacterioplankton lineages into culture, yet these frequently utilize natural seawater media that can hamper portability, reproducibility, and downstream characterization efforts. Here we report the results of seven experiments with a set of newly developed artificial seawater media and evaluation of cultivation success via comparison with community sequencing data from the inocula. Eighty-two new isolates represent highly important marine clades, including SAR116, OM60/NOR5, SAR92, Roseobacter, and SAR11. For many, isolation with an artificial seawater medium is unprecedented, and several organisms are also the first of their type from the Gulf of Mexico. Community analysis revealed that many isolates were among the 20 most abundant organisms in their source inoculum. This method will expand the accessibility of bacterioplankton cultivation experiments and improve repeatability by avoiding normal compositional changes in natural seawater. IMPORTANCE The difficulty in cultivating many microbial taxa vexes researchers intent on understanding the contributions of these organisms to natural systems, particularly when these organisms are numerically abundant, and many cultivation attempts recover only rare taxa. Efforts to improve this conundrum with marine bacterioplankton have been successful with natural seawater media, but that approach suffers from a number of drawbacks and there have been no comparable artificial alternatives created in the laboratory. This work demonstrates that a newly developed suite of artificial-seawater media can successfully cultivate many of the most abundant taxa from seawater samples and many taxa previously only cultivated with natural-seawater media. This methodology therefore significantly simplifies efforts to cultivate bacterioplankton and greatly improves our ability to perform physiological characterization of cultures postisolation.
Cannabinoid receptor interacting protein suppresses agonist-driven CB1 receptor internalization and regulates receptor replenishment in an agonist-biased manner.

Cannabinoid receptor interacting protein 1a (CRIP1a) is a CB1 receptor (CB1R) distal C-terminus-associated protein that modulates CB1R signaling via G proteins, and CB1R down-regulation but not desensitization (Blume et al. [2015] Cell Signal., 27, 716–726; Smith et al. [2015] Mol. Pharmacol., 87, 747–765). In this study, we determined the involvement of CRIP1a in CB1R plasma membrane trafficking. To follow the effects of agonists and antagonists on cell surface CB1Rs, we utilized the genetically homogeneous cloned neuronal cell line N18TG2, which endogenously expresses both CB1R and CRIP1a, and exhibits a well-characterized endocannabinoid signaling system. We developed stable CRIP1a-over-expressing and CRIP1a-siRNA-silenced knockdown clones to investigate gene dose effects of CRIP1a on CB1R plasma membrane expression. Results indicate that CP55940 or WIN55212-2 (10 nM, 5 min) reduced cell surface CB1R by a dynamin- and clathrin-dependent process, and this was attenuated by CRIP1a over-expression. CP55940-mediated cell surface CB1R loss was followed by a cycloheximide-sensitive recovery of surface receptors (30–120 min), suggesting the requirement for new protein synthesis. In contrast, WIN55212-2-mediated cell surface CB1Rs recovered only in CRIP1a knockdown cells. Changes in CRIP1a expression levels did not affect a transient rimonabant (10 nM)-mediated increase in cell surface CB1Rs, which is postulated to be as a result of rimonabant effects on ‘non-agonist-driven’ internalization. These studies demonstrate a novel role for CRIP1a in agonist-driven CB1R cell surface regulation postulated to occur by two mechanisms: 1) attenuating internalization that is agonist-mediated, but not that in the absence of exogenous agonists, and 2) biased agonist-dependent trafficking of de novo synthesized receptor to the cell surface. The CB1R-interacting protein CRIP1a functions to differentially modulate agonist-promoted versus non-agonist-mediated CB1R internalization and cell surface equilibrium. Association of CRIP1a with the CB1R precludes agonist-driven internalization via a mechanism involving β-arrestin, clathrin and dynamin. CRIP1a also functions to fine-tune CB1R cell surface levels through delivery of newly synthesized CB1R receptors to the plasma membrane.
Soil — Vegetation — Atmosphere Relations: Process and Prospect

The driving mechanism of the climate system and the primary instrument of climate change is the capture of solar energy, and the way this energy is shared within the atmosphere. On average about half of the sun’s energy reaches the earth’s surface. From there it returns to the atmosphere in different forms — as reflected or emitted radiation, or as latent or sensible heat, depending on the nature of the underlying surface (Verstraete and Dickinson, 1986). The way in which such solar energy is shared is determined in substantial measure by the extent and availability of water at or near the surface.
Tobacco-Specific Nitrosamines in the Tobacco and Mainstream Smoke of U.S. Commercial Cigarettes

Tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) are N-nitroso-derivatives of pyridine-alkaloids (e.g., nicotine) present in tobacco and cigarette smoke. Two TSNAs, N′-nitrosonornicotine (NNN) and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), are included on the Food and Drug Administration’s list of harmful and potentially harmful constituents (HPHCs) in tobacco products and tobacco. The amounts of four TSNAs (NNK, NNN, N-nitrosoanabasine (NAB), and N′-nitrosoanatabine (NAT)) in the tobacco and mainstream smoke from 50 U.S. commercial cigarette brands were measured from November 15, 2011 to January 4, 2012 using a validated HPLC/MS/MS method. Smoke samples were generated using the International Organization of Standardization (ISO) and Canadian Intense (CI) machine-smoking regimens. NNN and NAT were the most abundant TSNAs in tobacco filler and smoke across all cigarette brands, whereas NNK and NAB were present in lesser amounts. The average ratios for each TSNA in mainstream smoke to filler content is 29% ...
Medial Malleoli Fractures: Clinical Comparison Between Newly Designed Sled Device and Conventional Screws.

Background. The Trimed Medial Malleolar Sled is a newer device designed to treat medial malleolus fracture. The purpose of this study was to compare the outcome of medial malleolar fractures treated with the sled and conventional malleolar screws. Methods. After obtaining an institutional review board approval, we conducted a retrospective study to identify all skeletally mature patients who sustained an ankle fracture with medial malleolar involvement treated with the sled and we identified a matched cohort treated with conventional malleolar screws. The patients were divided into 2 groups: group A included patients treated with malleolar screws and group B included patients treated with the sled device. The outcomes measured included rate of union, implant removal, and pain over the implant site. Results. Eighty-five medial malleolar ankle fractures were divided into 2 groups: group A included patients (n = 64) treated with malleolar screws and group B included patients (n = 21) treated with the sled de...
Abstract LB-095: Distribution and clearance of single-walled carbon nanotubes in mouse tissues: in situ detection, imaging and analysis

Proceedings: AACR 106th Annual Meeting 2015; April 18-22, 2015; Philadelphia, PA Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) are the subject of expanding research in the fields of targeted drug delivery and biosensors for disease treatment and monitoring. Functionalization of the SWCNT has proven to enhance the efficiency of distribution in the organism. The goal of this project was to establish and standardize methods of detection and characterization of the local tissue distribution of functionalized SWCNT in mouse models. We investigated the distribution and clearance of SWCNT in several tissues at various times after injection, up to one month. We also try to standardize methods of tracking SWCNT in both live and fixed tissues and image analysis protocols to quantify the distribution of the SWCNT in tissues. Another aim is to evaluate local immune response to SWCNT. We have analyzed liver, kidney, spleen, lung, brain, ovary, colon and small intestine from mice sacrificed 24 hours, 3 days, 7 days and 30 days following the injection of SWCNT. Our evaluation revealed that some organs, like kidney and small intestine, retain SWCNTs for at least a month. Slow rates of SWCNT removal from these organs do not appear to affect the overall health of the animals. We have made multiple attempts to image anesthetized live animals and detect SWCNTs in situ, however, the fluorescent signal emitted from SWCNT is too low to be reliably detected. The tissues must be fixed and signals amplified through immunodetection. Detection of immune markers, especially in immunologically active tissues such as spleen is a challenge for histological experiments, but is extremely important and such experiments is underway. Our findings of SWCNT persistence in certain organs 30 days post-injection is surprising and should be studied further. This observation opens further questions about the effect of long-term presence of SWCNT in some tissues and shows that careful investigation into the advantages and disadvantages of SWCNT retention is necessary. Citation Format: Afsar Barlas, Ke Xu, Yevgeniy Romin, Simone Alidori, Dmitry Yarilin, Ning Fan, Mesruh Turkekul, Sho Fujisawa, David A. Scheinberg, Michael R. McDevitt, Katia Manova-Todorova. Distribution and clearance of single-walled carbon nanotubes in mouse tissues: in situ detection, imaging and analysis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-095. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-LB-095