cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Energy balance and greenhouse gas emissions of dryland camelina as influenced by tillage and nitrogen

Abstract Despite the great potential of camelina ( Camelina sativa L. Crantz) as a promising biofuel feedstock, in-farm energy flow of the crop and its associated environmental impacts has not received sufficient attention from researchers. In order to assess net energy gain and to identify energy saving and environmental friendly production operations, a two year study was conducted at central Montana. We investigated the effects of tillage method (CT (conventional tillage) vs. NT (no-tillage)) and N (nitrogen) fertilizer rate (0, 45, 90 kg N ha −1 ) on energy balance and GHG (greenhouse gas emission) of dryland camelina production. Results indicated that energy input and GHG emission were 5 and 8% lower in NT than in CT. Application of 45 and 90 kg N ha −1 increased camelina energy input by 186 and 365%, while increased energy output by only 21 and 64%, respectively. There was no significant difference in net energy gain in response to N fertilization, but lower energy efficiency in response to higher N inputs. Averaged across tillage systems, the GHG emission was 32.0 kg C eq ha −1 with 0 N applied, and the GHG emission increased by 206 and 389% when 45 and 90 kg N ha −1 was applied. Overall, N fertilizer had the biggest share in total energy input. Averaged over all experimental treatments, 14,945 MJ ha −1 net energy was obtained from camelina crop in this study which shows the potential of this crop as a bioenergy feedstock. Our result showed that implementation of NT is strongly recommendable for camelina production in this region. Moreover, improvement of N use efficiency has the highest priority to improve energy performance and reduce GHG emissions in camelina production.
Diabetic renal injury is not prevented or reduced by increasing renal arginine availability (689.11)

Our recent publication showed that pharmacological blockade of arginases confers kidney protection in diabetic nephropathy via a nitric oxide synthase 3 (NOS3)-dependent mechanism. Arginases compete with NOS for the common substrate L-arginine. L-arginine or L-citrulline supplementation showed beneficial effect in patients with hypertension, angina and erectile dysfunction by improving endothelial function with enhanced NO synthesis. Therefore, we hypothesized that L-arginine or L-citrulline supplementation would prevent or reduce diabetic renal complication. DBA mice injected with multiple low doses of vehicle or streptozotocin (STZ; 50 mg/kg ip for 5 days) were provided drinking water (DW) supplemented with L-arginine, L-citrulline, isonitrogenous nonessential amino acid control or no amino acids (DW control) for 9 weeks. Diabetic mice with DW control showed significant increases in urine albumin excretion (p<0.05), albumin/creatinine ratio (p<0.05), kidney weight/body weight ratio (p<0.05), plasma crea...
Oxidative activation of K-Cl cotransport by diamide in erythrocytes from humans with red cell disorders, and from several other mammalian species.

Red blood cells (RBCs) from different mammalian species were investigated for the presence of diamide-induced oxidative activation of K-Cl cotransport reported to be present in sheep but absent in human RBCs. K efflux was measured in RBCs from human with hemoglobin (Hb) A or S, glucose-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) and a cytoskeletal deficiency, and from rat, mouse and rabbit. RBCs were incubated with diamide (0-1.0 mm) in K-free Cl or NO3 media of variable osmolalities (200-450 mOsM). Cl-dependent K efflux or K-Cl cotransport (estimated as the difference between K efflux rate constants in Cl and NO3) was activated by diamide in a sigmoidal fashion. Relative maximum K-Cl cotransport followed the sequence: human HbA (1) human Hb A (1) > rabbit (0.75) > human HbS and rat (0.67). Cell swelling in 200 mOsM doubled K-Cl cotransport in diamide, both in human HbA and S cells but reduced that in rat RBCs. In contrast, cell shrinkage at 450 mOsM obliterated K-Cl cotransport in human HbA and S but not in rat RBCs. Human RBCs with G6PDH and a cytoskeleton deficiency behaved like HbA RBCs. In mouse RBCs, diamide-activated K-Cl cotransport was 30% higher in isotonic than in hypotonic medium. In human HbA and S, and in low or high K sheep RBCs fractionated by Percoll density gradient, diamide increased the activity of K-Cl cotransport, an effect inversely correlated with cell density. Analysis of pooled data reveals that K-Cl cotransport accounted for about 80% of all K flux in Cl. There was a statistically significant correlation between K-Cl cotransport and K efflux in Cl (P < 0. 00001) and in NO3 (P < 0.00001). In conclusion, a diamide-activated K-Cl cotransport was present in human RBCs and in all other mammalian RBCs tested, with a large inter-, and for human and sheep, intraspecies variability for its maximum activity.
On the identification of input-output-noise models

Abstract The problem of consistently estimating all parameters of an input-output noise model is considered. It is shown that the parameters of the input-output (deterministic) port of the model may first be estimated consistently when a pure auto-rogressive structure of that part is considered. Subsequently, if a consistent estimation procedure of the noise model is employed, a consistent estimate of the parameters of the complete input-output-noise model is shown to be obtainable.
Structure activity relationship studies of 17-cyclopropylmethyl-3,14β-dihydroxy-4,5α-epoxy-6α-(isoquinoline-3'-carboxamido)morphinan (NAQ) analogues as potent opioid receptor ligands: preliminary results on the role of electronic characteristics for affinity and function.

Abstract 17-Cyclopropylmethyl-3,14β-dihydroxy-4,5α-epoxy-6α-(isoquinoline-3′-carboxamido)morphinan (NAQ) was previously designed following the ‘message-address’ concept and was identified as a potent and highly selective mu opioid receptor (MOR) ligand based on its pharmacological profile. We here report the preliminary structure activity relationship (SAR) studies of this novel lead compound. For the new ligands synthesized as NAQ analogues, their binding assay results showed that a longer spacer and a saturated ring system of the side chain were unfavorable for their MOR selectivity over the kappa and delta opioid receptors. In contrast, substitutions with different electronic properties at either 1′- or 4′-position of the isoquinoline ring of the side chain were generally acceptable for reasonable MOR selectivity. The majority of NAQ analogues retained low efficacy at the MOR compared to NAQ in the 35S-GTP[γS] binding assays while electron-withdrawing groups at 1′-position of the isoquinoline ring induced higher MOR stimulation than electron-donating groups did. In summary, the electronic characteristics of substituents at 1′- or 4′-position of the isoquinoline ring in NAQ seem to be critical and need to be further tuned up to achieve higher MOR selectivity and lower MOR stimulation.
Processes Vis-A-Vis Systems: Toward a Model of the Enterprise and Administration

It is the central thesis of this paper that the enterprise can usefully be described as a man-directed, dynamic network of processes and facilitating systems, and that a useful model of the adminis...
Random Surface Roughness Effect on Microtube Heat Transfer

We propose a novel bottom-up approach to generate a rough microtube surface. This approach starts from four corner points with two defined coordinates and roughness height created by a Gaussian number generator, and uses a bi-cubic Coons patch repeatedly to form the curved surface. A computational fluid dynamics solver is used to isolate the roughness effect and solve the three-dimensional N-S equations for the flow through the generated rough microtubes with diameter D = 50μm and length L = 100μm. The boundary conditions are carefully defined for results comparison between smooth and rough microtubes. It is found that when the mean diameter of the rough microtube is used as the hydraulic diameter, the roughness has little effect on the averaged Nusselt number and it still can be predicted by the conventional theory because the effects of peaks and valleys are counteracted for the whole microtube. The local Nusselt numbers along the microtube randomly distribute below the theoretical value with a very small deviation.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
The sodium cycle and the age of the ocean

Abstract Review of the chemical composition and discharge of the rivers of the world has confirmed F.W. Clarke's (1924, p. 155) estimate of sodium transport by rivers. At the present rate of delivery, all of the sodium dissolved in sea water can be accounted for in a few hundred million years. The new data permit an evaluation of the possible errors in a computation of the age of the ocean by this method. Previously suggested errors are inadequate to account for the discrepancy between the radiometric and geochemical estimates of the age of the ocean. By considering the gross rate of return of sodium to the land as uplifted sediments, however, instead of the net rate over a long period of time, and the sodium content of the metasedimentary rocks, the sodium cycle can almost be balanced. Consideration of the ocean as a long-term steady-state system suggests that the standard geochemical calculation of the total mass of the sediments is unjustified. It concerns only a small part of the total mass that has passed through the cycle of erosion and implies an unreasonably young age for the earth as a geologic system. By accepting direct measurements of the mass of the sediments, however, a method analogous to the standard one permits estimation of the mass of the metasediments.
Evidence for diverse oxidations in the catabolism of toluene by Rhodococcus rhodochrous strain OFS.

Rhodococcus rhodochrous strain OFS grew on toluene as a sole source of carbon and energy with a maximum growth rate of 0.011 h−1. Initial reaction products were extracted, derivatized and identified by GC-MS. Oxygen consumption studies indicated that OFS grown on an aliphatic substrate required an induction period before oxidizing toluene. OFS grown on toluene transformed an array of aromatic ground water pollutants including styrene, ethylbenzene and chlorobenzene. Products of these transformations were identified. The sole product of chlorobenzene biotransformation was 4-chlorophenol. Products from toluene oxidation included 3- and 4-methylcatechol as well as benzyl alcohol, p-cresol and cis-toluene dihydrodiol. The identification of these and the products of other aromatic substrate conversions affirm that oxidation occurred on the functional group as well as directly on the aromatic nucleus.
Magnetic and Electric Properties of Natural and Synthetic Single Crystals of Magnetite

When a crystal of magnetite has been cooled through the low temperature transition (near -164\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C) in a demagnetized state, the magnetization undergoes a large and abrupt increase in the three principal crystallographic directions [100], [110], and [111] upon warming. The behavior of the magnetization upon cooling in a magnetic field is influenced by crystallographic orientation as well as by the strength of the applied field. The form of the magnetization curve at temperatures below the transition depends on the crystallographic direction and on the magnetic treatment of the specimen while cooling through the transition. Barkhausen experiments lead to tentative ideas concerning domain orientation. Significant information concerning the nature of the transition was also obtained from measurements of thermal expansion and saturation magnetostriction.The magnetic effects in the low temperature transition region appear to be influenced by the establishment of internal stresses which cause a "freezing-in" of preferential domain directions below the transition region. The stress and domain pattern resulting appears to depend on the magnetic treatment of the crystal during its passage through the transition region.The temperature dependence of the electrical resistivity is in agreement with the results of Verwey and de Boer for sintered magnetite. Some preliminary observations are reported on the effects of magnetic fields on the resistivity.
Effect of pentadecan-2-one on lipid metabolism in HeLa cells

HeLa cells exposed to trace amounts of pentadecan-2-one showed changes in metabolism of 1-14C-palmitate. These changes consisted of an increased incorporation of radioactivity into the triglycerides and free fatty acids and a decreased14C incorporation into the ether moiety of alk-1-enyl acyl phosphoglycerides. Chemical analysis of the several lipid fractions showed a threefold increase in triglyceride content but no change in the amount of alk-1-enyl acyl or diacyl phosphoglycerides in the treated cells. Pentadecan-2-one added to the culture medium apparently gains entrance to the cell since both pentadecan-2-one and pentadecan-2-ol were detected in the ketone-treated cells and their culture medium.
An added dimension to the pediatric health maintenance visit: the spiritual history.

Abstract The initial pediatric health maintenance visit gives the nurse practitioner (NP) an opportunity to gather information about a family that can be used to devise an effective and culturally sensitive plan of care. NPs have a history of exploring spirituality as a segment of a family's culture to help children and their parents cope with an acute or chronic illness. However, spirituality should also be discussed with a family because it may affect their normal, everyday lives. Religious traditions, values, and ethical concerns may provide rich insight into a family's dynamic, which can increase an NP's understanding. The mnemonic B-E-L-I-E-F is used to guide NPs through a discussion of spirituality within a pediatric health care maintenance context. This framework, which incorporates an added dimension of spirituality into the health history, will further advance efforts to assist families in fostering optimal childhood growth and development during a routine health care maintenance visit. J Pediatr Health Care. (2000). 14 , 216–220.
BEEAMATE: A honeybee colony genetics models

Abstract BEEAMATE is a computer model that simulates the genetic composition of a honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) colony, and determines the number of individuals carrying particular combinations of alleles at any time (t). Determination of a colony's genetic composition is made as a function of the genotype of the queen and the drones with which she mates. BEEAMATE is constructed to be a module to a larger honey bee colony population model (BEEPOP). Population size is predicted by the BEEPOP model, and is divided into subpopulations with different genotypes by BEEAMATE. Simulations were conducted to determine the number of brood cycles needed to change the genetic composition of a colony depending upon the time of year during which the queen is introduced, weather conditions, and the size and genetic composition of the initial colony population. How BEEAMATE simulations might be used to conceptualize the Africanization of European hives is also discussed.
The effect of phospholipase A2 on bacterial translocation in a cell culture model.

The activity of phospholipase (PL)A2 is elevated in the intestinal epithelia of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Recently, we reported that lysophosphatidylcholine (L-PC), the PLA2 hydrolysis product of phosphatidylcholine (PC), stimulates bacterial translocation (BT) in an enterocyte cell-culture model. These two observations stimulated us to examine the effects of extracellular PLA2 on intestinal epithelial permeability. Human Caco-2 enterocytes were grown to confluence on porous filters in the apical chamber of a two-chamber cell-culture system. Monolayer integrity and tight-junction permeability were measured by dextran blue (DB) permeability and transepithelial electric resistance (TEER). Monolayers were treated with PC, L-PC, or PLA2 with and without PC. The magnitude of BT was determined 2 h after treatment by adding Escherichia coli to the apical chamber followed by quantitatively culturing basal chamber samples. Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) was utilized to verify PLA2 hydrolysis of PC to L-PC. Statistical analysis was performed by one-way analysis of variance. The magnitude of BT across monolayers pretreated with PLA2 + PC significantly increased compared to either PC or PLA2 (6.83 ± 0.069, 2.41 ± 0.46, and 3.06 ± 1.14 log10 colony forming units/ml, respectively, P < 0.05). Absence of DB-permeability in any group confirmed monolayer integrity. TLC of PL samples harvested from the apical monolayer surface confirmed PC hydrolysis. PLA2 mediates hydrolysis of PC to L-PC when both are applied to the apical surface of cultured enterocyte monolayers, resulting in increased BT and increased TEER with no damage to monolayer integrity. These observations may have implications in the pathogenesis and treatment strategies for IBD.
Heat flow on the Pacific-Antarctic Ridge

Abstract Twenty-four heat flow measurements are clustered in 5–20 m.y. and 60–80 m.y. old seafloor on the crest and northern flank of the Pacific-Antarctic Ridge. The crestal heat flow stations are characterized by (1) low mean heat flow relative to that predicted by theoretical models, (2) thin sediment cover, and (3) high ratio of standard deviation to mean heat flow, all of which indicate a system dominated by convective heat transfer. The measurements made on older seafloor of the northern flank have (1) mean heat flow equal to the theoretical predictions of conductively-cooling lithospheric plate models, (2) thick sediment cover, and (3) low ratio of standard deviation to mean heat flow. Thus convective loss associated with hydrothermal circulation is not considered to be important in 60–80 m.y. old seafloor on the Pacific-Antarctic Ridge. The pattern of heat flow on this ridge is thus similar to that in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans: hydrothermal circulation is dominant on the ridge crest but is suppressed on the flanks, possibly due to a difference in the hydraulic admittance of the sediment between the two regions.
Deliquescence, Efflorescence, and Water Activity in Ammonium Nitrate and Mixed Ammonium Nitrate/Succinic Acid Microparticles

Atmospheric aerosols have a direct impact on the earth’s radiation balance, an effect opposite in sign to that of the greenhouse gases. By scattering incoming solar radiation, either directly or indirectly as cloud particles, aerosols exert a cooling effect on the earth’s climate. In addition, they may provide catalytic sites for heterogeneous reactions to occur. The extent to which atmospheric particles will scatter light and be chemically reactive is directly related to their size, composition, and physical state. Tropospheric aerosols, both natural and anthropogenic in origin, are mostly composed of hygroscopic inorganic salts such as ammonium nitrate yet may contain organic compounds. These mixed particles may behave quite differently from the pure particles under changing relative humidity (RH) conditions. Therefore, in order to gain an understanding of these atmospheric processes and provide accurate input for regional climate models, it is imperative to understand the thermodynamics and kinetics of internally mixed particles under variable
Practical Guide for Reporting Effect Size in Quantitative Research in the Journal of Counseling & Development

The purpose of this article is to assist researchers in meeting the requirement of reporting effect sizes in quantitative research studies submitted to the Journal of Counseling & Development. This requirement is detailed in the “Guidelines for Authors” included in this issue. The authors provide practical information on generating, reporting, and interpreting effect size estimates for various types of statistical analyses. Information is provided on the meaning of effect sizes within the larger knowledge base.
Examining the stability of Angoff's delta item bias statistic using the bootstrap

Item bias indices are frequently used in the process of screening items. Although many bias indices exist and much has been written about the agreement between indices, relatively little has been done to investigate the stability of a particular index across comparable samples. Using the bootstrap methodology, this study investigated the stability of the Angoff delta item bias index. The results support this use of the new methodology, but suggest that sampling error in estimating the statistic needs to be closely monitored.
Regulation of the neutrophil respiratory burst oxidase. Identification of an activation domain in p67(phox).

Superoxide generation by the neutrophil respiratory burst oxidase (NADPH oxidase) can be reconstituted in a cell-free system using flavocytochrome b 558 and the cytosolic proteins p47phox, p67phox, and Rac. p47phox functions as an adaptor protein; it increases the affinity of p67phox and Rac in the NADPH oxidase complex, but is not essential when high concentrations of these proteins are used (Freeman, J. L., and Lambeth, J. D. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271, 22578–22582), implying that p67phoxand/or Rac directly regulates enzyme activity. Herein, we describe an activation domain in p67phox that is essential for NADPH oxidase activity. A series of C-terminal truncation mutants of p67phox showed that residues 211 to the C terminus (residue 526) are not needed for cell-free activity. However, shorter truncations were inactive, pointing to an activation domain within the region spanning residues 199–210. p67phox mutated at single amino acid residues within this region showed diminished activity, and p67phox V204A was completely inactive. The effects of mutations on activity were independent of p47phox, and mutations did not affect the binding of p67phox to Rac. In the presence of wild-type p67phox, the V204A mutant was a potent inhibitor of superoxide generation, and inhibition was partially reversed by high concentrations of p67phox, but not by p47phox or Rac. The V204A mutant competed with native p67phox for translocation to neutrophil plasma membrane, indicating that p67phox V204A assembles to form an inactive complex. The data imply a direct activation of flavocytochrome b 558 by an activation domain in p67phox.
3345 Incidence of complications within 30 days of outpatient endoscopy: what you don't know can hurt you.

Background: Although the incidence of early complications of endoscopy has been well described, there is a paucity of data on late outcomes.A recent study reported a 30-day complication rate of 16.6% after outpatient endoscopy (Gastrointest Endosc 1999;50:322). However, this study focused on colonoscopy and the majority of the procedures were performed by GI attendings. Our aim was to determine the incidence of complications within 30 days of outpatient EGD, colonoscopy, and flexible sigmoidoscopy (FS) in a training program setting. Methods: 1000 consecutive patients undergoing outpatient endoscopy performed by GI fellows under direct attending supervision were mailed a survey 30 days after the procedure. Patients were asked about symptoms that were possibly related to the endoscopy, if they had to see a physician, or if they were admitted to the hospital within 30 days of the procedure. A minimum of 3 attempts was made to contact all patients by telephone who did not return the survey. Complications were categorized as major (resulting in a physician visit or hospital admission) or minor. We also determined the proportion of major and minor complications that were known to the GI service and discussed at our QA or M&M conference. Results: Of the 1000 patients, 867 (86.7%) were contacted. The 30-day incidence of complications was 14.3%, of which 0.6% were major and 13.7% were minor. Major complications (n = 5) included 1 colon perforation, 1 post-polypectomy bleed, 1 admission for abdominal pain, 1 transient hypoxia requiring narcan, and 1 physician visit for rectal pain. No patient died within 30 days of endoscopy. Minor complications included abdominal pain (5.9%), sore throat (4.7%), nausea or vomiting (3.1%), mild shortness of breath (3.1%), headache (2.8%), rectal bleeding (2.3%), change in bowel habits (2.2%), pain at the IV site (1.6%), and dizziness (1.5%). The 30-day incidence of complications was 17.1% for EGD, 15.0% for colonoscopy, 24.4% for same-day EGD + colonoscopy (P
Optimal solutions to variational inequalities on Banach lattices

Abstract We study the existence of maximum and minimum solutions to generalized variational inequalities on Banach lattices. The main tools of analysis are the variational characterization of the generalized metric projection operator and order-theoretic fixed point theory.
An airborne test of three sulfur dioxide measurement techniques

Abstract Measurements of sulfur dioxide (SO2) were made from an aircraft over the Eastern Colorado Plains in August of 1988. Three different SO2 measurement techniques were used. A high-flow filter pack collection system was operated by the University of Washington, a diffusion denuder/ion chromatography system by Texas Tech University and a commercial pulsed fluorescence SO2 analyzer was operated by the Air Resources Laboratory of NOAA. Measurements ranged from less than 0.1 ppbv to in excess of 1 ppbv. Although measurements from the three techniques showed considerable scatter, all three sets of measurements were significantly correlated.
APICAL ORGANIZATION IN ROOTS OF THE CONVOLVULACEAE

A B S T R A C T A sampling of radicles and germinated primary roots was obtained for several species of the Convolvulaceae in order to study ontogenetically the organization of the protomeristem. The findings differ from earlier studies in that only a few radicles and primary roots exhibited protomeristems with layered initials. Most radicles exhibited a pattern of layered initials in which the outer cell layers of cortex were not aligned with a layer of cortical initials but with cells at the base of the columella. In long primary roots the protomeristem, consisting of central cylinder initials, lateral rootcap-epidermal initials, and common initials for the cortex and columella, was the general pattern for the members of the family. The reorganization of the protomeristem from a layered condition to common initials generally occurred upon germination. Different expressions of intermediate patterns indicated that periclinal divisions in the outer layers of cortex near the initials or in the immediate derivatives of the cortical initials were responsible for cellular displacements and new cell alignments. After reorganization, periclinal divisions in the peripheral portions of the common initials maintained the cellular continuity from the cortex into the columella. In addition, a few primary roots with a degenerated columella and a transversal meristem were observed.
Fine mapping of the Bmgr5 quantitative trait locus for allogeneic bone marrow engraftment in mice.

To identify novel mechanisms regulating allogeneic hematopoietic cell engraftment, we used forward genetics and previously described identification, in mice, of a bone marrow (BM) engraftment quantitative trait locus (QTL), termed Bmgr5. This QTL confers dominant and large allele effects for engraftment susceptibility. It was localized to chromosome 16 by quantitative genetic techniques in a segregating backcross bred from susceptible BALB.K and resistant B10.BR mice. We now report verification of the Bmgr5 QTL using reciprocal chromosome 16 consomic strains. The BM engraftment phenotype in these consomic mice shows that Bmgr5 susceptibility alleles are not only sufficient but also indispensable for conferring permissiveness for allogeneic BM engraftment. Using panels of congenic mice, we resolved the Bmgr5 QTL into two separate subloci, termed Bmgr5a (Chr16:14.6–15.8 Mb) and Bmgr5b (Chr16:15.8–17.6 Mb), each conferring permissiveness for the engraftment phenotype and both fine mapped to an interval amenable to positional cloning. Candidate Bmgr5 genes were then prioritized using whole exome DNA sequencing and microarray gene expression data. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the genetic interaction between the Bmgr5a and Bmgr5b QTL and identify causative genes and underlying gene variants. This may lead to new approaches for overcoming the problem of graft rejection in clinical hematopoietic cell transplantation.
Advances in multilevel approaches to understanding the epidemiology and prevention of sexually transmitted infections and HIV: an overview.

The distribution of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV infection across individuals and subgroups within societies and across populations still preoccupies scientists of multiple disciplinary backgrounds. Systematic observation of how such distributions change over time in the presence and absence of preventive interventions underscores the complex almost mysterious multilevel multifactorial causation of the epidemiological profile of STIs. The importance of attention to both the individual- and population-level factors that cause and prevent chronic and communicable diseases has been emphasized elsewhere. During the past 10–15 years we have witnessed remarkable advances in a number of scientific domains each of which has important implications for our understanding of the epidemiology and prevention of STIs. The emergent linkages and overlaps among these domains are reminiscent of Wilson’s concept of consilience—that is the interlocking of causal explanation across disciplines. These converging advances promise even faster growth in our understanding of the determinants and potential for prevention of STIs in populations in the near future while simultaneously offering us important insights at the present time. (excerpt)
Optimal energy offsets for organic solar cells containing a donor/acceptor pair

Abstract Optimal energy levels and offsets of an organic donor/acceptor binary-type solar cell have been analyzed using the classic Marcus electron transfer theory to identify the most efficient photo-induced charge separation. This study reveals that, an exciton quenching parameter ( Y eq ) yields one optimal donor/acceptor energy offset where the photo-induced exciton is converted to charges most efficiently, and a recombination quenching parameter ( Y rq ) yields a second optimal donor/acceptor energy offset where the ratio of charge separation rate constant over charge recombination rate constant becomes maximum. Another energy offset is also identified where charge recombination becomes most severe. This information would be useful for evaluating and fine tuning frontier energy levels of a donor/acceptor pair for optimum solar cell applications.
How Nonfiction Reveals the Nature of Science.

In this article, the authors consider whether children’s trade books promote an authentic understanding of the nature of science. They begin by discussing the characteristics of the nature of science and then examine existing research in children’s science books for evidence of the visibility of these features. They describe the problems science educators have with literature that constructs what has been called an “architecture of scientific myths.” Instead, the authors suggest using the literature of inquiry, books that promote scientific understanding by developing an authentic context for science. The authors provide an indepth discussion of three exemplary books, each an example of the literature of inquiry. They end with suggestions for explicitly discussing the nature of science in children’s nonfiction.
Photomodification of Semicontinuous Silver Films with ps Pulses -- New Spectrum-Structure Optimization Technique

Semicontinuous silver films were photomodified with picosecond laser operating at 10.6µm. Slow spectral and structural changes were obtained. This technique allows the creation of filters for mid-IR wavelengths and optimization of films for sensing applications.
The Hollywood teachers' perspective on authority

A number of scholars have pointed out the problematic nature of Hollywood's conceptions of schools and teaching: stereotypical views of class, race and adolescence; an over-reliance on individualism as overcoming all personal and societal problems; the portrayal of schools as failed institutions. However, few have looked closely at the actual teaching that goes on in these films. What is the model of excellent, ground-breaking teaching that Hollywood puts forth to the movie-going public? In this investigation of six canonical films about teaching, the authors investigate Hollywood teachers' perspectives on authority in the classroom and their approach to instruction, in particular the forms of classroom discourse that are showcased in these films. Can Hollywood instructional episodes be characterized as ‘dialogic’ where student ideas play a central role in classroom discourse? The author(s) find that the modal portrayal of instruction shows a teacher's journey from an ineffective, incorporative or teacher...
The Border Logics of Adolescent Development in Cherríe Moraga's Giving up the Ghost

Through the character of Corky/Marisa, Cherrie Moraga in Giving Up the Ghost offers a rare instance in which a Chicana adolescent queer is placed front and center, notably as a model of liberation. In this article, I argue that Ghost demonstrates lives forced to play out a “border logics”—which draws specific attention to the idea that Chicanos/Mexican Americans often must function within and between two or more frames of reference. By exploring the inner shadows of Corky/Marisa, Moraga offers a critical dialogue about the local and transnational histories lying within the complex grid that constitutes the U.S.-Mexican borderlands. In the light of the decades since its first publication in 1986, the point to be made is that Moraga's play continues to acquire critical social meaning precisely because Moraga utilized the stage not as a place for forgetting, but for remembering, for drawing attention to the continuing erasure of Chicana/o cultural landscapes and presences by policy makers, popular culture, a...
Vascular endothelial growth factor gene expression in ovine placenta and fetal membranes

Abstract OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to explore the gene expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in placental cotyledon, chorion, and amnion of the ovine fetus. STUDY DESIGN: Time-dated pregnant sheep with singleton or twin fetuses at a gestational age ranging from 100 to 140 days were used for the study. Placental cotyledonary, chorionic, and amniotic tissues were collected and processed for messenger ribonucleic acid analysis by Northern blotting and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: By use of a phosphorus 32-labeled human VEGF complementary deoxyribonucleic acid probe, a prominent VEGF messenger ribonucleic acid transcript of 3.7 kb was detected in the cotyledon, chorion, and amnion. A minor band of 1.7 kb was also found but only in the cotyledon and chorion. The abundance of mesenger ribonucleic acid encoding VEGF was highest ( p 121 , VEGF 165 , VEGF 189 , and VEGF 206 were identified by ethidium bromide. In addition, a polymerase chain reaction fragment corresponding to VEGF 145 was observed. These fragments produced specific hybridization signals with the human VEGF radioactive probe where the intensity of the signal was strongest for VEGF 165 and weakest for VEGF 189 . CONCLUSIONS: VEGF gene expression was detected in the cotyledon, chorion, and amnion of the near-term ovine fetus. These findings suggest that vascular endothelial growth factor may play a role in the induction of angiogenesis and promotion of permeability in the microvessels that perfuse the placental and fetal membranes.
Michael addition of thiols with 4-methyleneglutamic acid: preparation of adducts, their properties and presence in peanuts.

Abstract The thioethers, S-(4-amino-2,4-dicarboxybutyl)cysteamine, S-(4-amino-2,4-dicarboxybutyl)cysteine and S-(4-amino-2,4-dicarboxybutyl)glutathione, were synthesized by a Michael addition between 4-methyleneglutamic acid and the respective thiol. In dilute aqueous solution, the reactions exhibit second order kinetics; glutathione reacts much slower than cysteine or cysteamine. The adducts were characterized chromatographically, electrophoretically, and by their infra-red and nuclear magnetic resonance spectra. None of these thioethers was detected in peanut plants ( Arachis hypogaea L.), even though large amounts of 4-methyleneglutamic acid, its amide, and glutathione are synthesized during peanut germination.
Severity of coronary artery stenosis at preoperative angiography and midterm mammary graft status

Abstract Background . The purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation between the midterm angiographic results of mammary artery grafts and the preoperative stenosis of the target vessel. Methods . We analyzed preoperative and postoperative angiograms of 93 patients who underwent postoperative midterm (≥3 years) angiograms of an internal mammary artery (IMA) to left anterior descending artery graft for clinical or study purposes. Patients were divided into three groups on the basis of the percentage of the coronary artery stenosis at preoperative angiography: 90% stenosis. Results . Preoperative characteristics were similar in the three groups. The overall incidence of IMA occlusion was 19% in the entire population, without significant differences between groups (19% versus 29% versus 14%). The mean mammary artery diameter significantly increased in direct proportion to the severity of the coronary stenosis (2.0 ± 0.2 mm in the 90% series; p Conclusions . Chronic native competitive flow does not significantly affect midterm graft status but does influence mammary graft diameter.
Frequency of thromboprophylaxis and incidence of in-hospital venous thromboembolism in a cohort of emergency department patients.

Prior work suggests that in-hospital pulmonary and venous thromboembolism (VTE) could be decreased if the rate of prophylaxis for VTE in high-risk patients were increased at the time of admission. Our objective was to quantify the rate of thromboprophylaxis and incidence of in-hospital VTE, based upon risk of VTE, in a cohort of patients admitted through the emergency department (ED). We performed a prospective cohort study at an urban ED with >100,000 visits. All medical patients >17 years admitted from the ED were prospectively identified on a random sample of days for one year. Using a structured data form we collected each patient’s risk factors for VTE, and prophylaxis measures. We computed a validated risk score of each patient, with a score ≥4 high-risk (HR) and a score <4 low risk (LR). The main outcome was VTE during the hospitalization, diagnosed after admission from ED. Of 4732 patients, VTE was diagnosed during hospitalization in 44 (0.9%). 437 (9%) patients were HR for VTE and HR patients had significantly higher frequency of VTE vs. LR patients, 1.8 vs. 0.8% (95% CI for difference of 1% = 0.1–3%). Only 36% of HR patients received thromboprophylaxis. There were no significant differences in the frequency of observed inpatient VTE events between patients who were prescribed prophylaxis compared with those who were not prescribed prophylaxis in either risk group. These data suggest only a modest opportunity for ED-based policy for thromboprophylaxis in admitted medical patients.
Acute normovolemic hemodilution during surgery

Abstract Acute normovolemic or isovolemic hemodilution (ANH) is the rapid removal of blood and simultaneous replacement with cell-free fluid. The blood is withdrawn immediately prior to or following induction of anesthesia. While ANH is employed frequently during procedures involving cardiopulmonary bypass, it is not widely used with other types of surgery. Discussion will be limited to applications of the technique in non-cardiac surgery.
Sheared magnetic field structure in Jupiter's dusk magnetosphere: Implications for return currents

[1] The configuration of the magnetic field near 100 RJ in the dusk sector of the Jovian magnetosphere varies with distance from the equatorial current sheet. The changing twist out of meridian planes is consistent with flows that lag corotation near the equator but that may lead corotation at higher latitudes. Although a portion of the field perturbation may be produced by magnetopause currents, we argue that the observed sheared field structure requires field-aligned current flowing toward Jupiter’s ionosphere inside the magnetopause but beyond � 100 RJ. This current must include a portion of the return current of the system that enforces partial corotation of outward moving magnetospheric plasma and may also be fed by boundary layer currents of the region 1 type. We estimate the total current into the auroral ionosphere as � 6 MA, and this current would flow into a narrow band of latitude (<2� ) poleward of the main auroral oval. INDEX TERMS: 5737 Planetology: Fluid Planets: Magnetospheres (2756); 2756 Magnetospheric Physics: Planetary magnetospheres (5443, 5737, 6030); 2740 Magnetospheric Physics: Magnetospheric configuration and dynamics; 2731 Magnetospheric Physics: Magnetosphere—outer; KEYWORDS: planetary magnetosphere, Jupiter’s magnetosphere, field-aligned currents, magnetospheric configuration
Synthesis of [3,5-125I]triiodo-l-thyronine of high specific activity

Abstract Two methods for the synthesis of [3,5- 125 I]triiodo- l -thyronine of high specific activity are described. This triiodthyronine which carries the iodine label exclusively in the nonphenolic ring has not been available so far. Both methods start from [3,5- 125 I]diiodo- l -thyronine which is iodinated either with iodine in potassium iodide or with iodide and chloramine T. The concentration of the iodinating agent is critical in both methods and the pH of the reaction mixture must be high enough (∼11) to cause complete ionization of the phenolic group of the substrate. The triiodothyronine obtained in over 70% yield is purified by ion-exchange chromatography.
Distributed Optimization Methods for Wide-Area Damping Control of Power System Oscillations

Abstract This paper presents a distributed optimization algorithm to address the problem of wide-area damping control of large-scale electric power systems using Synchrophasors. Our approach consists of a three-step strategy First, Synchrophasors from selected nodes in a power network are used to identify offline dynamic models of the dominant areas of the network. Thereafter, a linear controller is designed for this reduced-order model to shape the inter-machine oscillation dynamics. Finally, algorithms are developed to invert this design to realistic local controllers in each area by optimizing the controller parameters until their interarea response matches the closed-loop inter-machine response achieved in the second step. A model reference control design following this three-step strategy was recently proposed in [1] using a centralized controller. Our results in this paper extend that design by posing the problem purely from a perspective of distributed optimization.
Solar, volcanic, and CO2 forcing of recent climatic changes

The climate, as represented by the mean Northern Hemisphere temperature, has shown substantial changes within the past century. The temperature record is utilized as a means of elucidating the relative importance of anthropogenic CO2 increase, volcanic aerosols, and possible solar insolation variations in externally forcing climate changes. Solar luminosity variations, suggested by observed solar radius variations on an ≈ 80 yr time scale, allow a self-consistent explanation of the hemispheric temperature trends. Evidence for solar influences on the climate is also found on the shorter 11 and 22 yr time scales present in solar activity cycles.
Plant Anticancer Agents V: New Bisindole Alkaloids from Tabernaemontana johnstonii Stem Bark

The isolation and structure elucidation of the three new bisindole alkaloids, gabunamine, tabernamine, and 19,20-epoxyconoduramine, from Tabernaemontana johnstonii stem bark are described. The isolation of the seven known alkaloids, conodurine, conoduramine, gabunine, isovacangine, ibogamine, pericyclivine, and perivine, from the same source also is noted. The alkaloids gabunamine, gabunine, and tabernamine showed significant cytotoxicity against the P-388 cell culture system.
Nebalia Daytoni N. Sp. a Leptostracan From Southern California (Phyllocarida)

The leptostracan Nebalia daytoni new species, is common of the San Diego coast (Southern California), USA, on the sandy sea floor from 8 to 35 meters in depth. Unlike other California Nebalia it inhabits clean, oligotrophic sands rather than enriched sediments. The species is most easily recognized by its eye which has a flat anterior margin bordered by a superior and inferior protuberance. It is also easily distinguishable from other California Nebalia by its short antennular flagellum.
Delineating the scope of Reintegrative Shaming theory: An explanation of contingencies using Russian data

Abstract Drawing on predictions derived from self-control theory, general strain theory, and deterrence theory, we attempt to improve Braithwaite’s shaming theory by identifying conditions under which its causal process might be more effective in explaining misbehavior. Using data elicited from 224 Russian respondents, we put the elaborated version of shaming theory to the test in its. In line with previous research, study findings indicate that, contrary to the theory’s predictions, being reintegratively shamed is positively associated with projected deviance. While some of the hypothesized contingencies seem to condition the effects of shaming on projected deviance, none of our findings confirm original hypotheses. These results, in conjunction with the accumulated body of research, suggest that reintegrative shaming theory may be in need of further revision.
Electroconvulsive therapy for refractory status epilepticus: a case series.

Background Status epilepticus refractory to conventional anti-epileptic drugs typically has a poor prognosis, but patients may recover well if seizures can be stopped. Case reports suggest that electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may stop seizures in patients with refractory status epilepticus, and we sought to examine its effectiveness in a series of patients.
Learning to Rank Atlases for Multiple-Atlas Segmentation

Recently, multiple-atlas segmentation (MAS) has achieved a great success in the medical imaging area. The key assumption is that multiple atlases have greater chances of correctly labeling a target image than a single atlas. However, the problem of atlas selection still remains unexplored. Traditionally, image similarity is used to select a set of atlases. Unfortunately, this heuristic criterion is not necessarily related to the final segmentation performance. To solve this seemingly simple but critical problem, we propose a learning-based atlas selection method to pick up the best atlases that would lead to a more accurate segmentation. Our main idea is to learn the relationship between the pairwise appearance of observed instances (i.e., a pair of atlas and target images) and their final labeling performance (e.g., using the Dice ratio). In this way, we select the best atlases based on their expected labeling accuracy. Our atlas selection method is general enough to be integrated with any existing MAS method. We show the advantages of our atlas selection method in an extensive experimental evaluation in the ADNI, SATA, IXI, and LONI LPBA40 datasets. As shown in the experiments, our method can boost the performance of three widely used MAS methods, outperforming other learning-based and image-similarity-based atlas selection methods.