cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Soil Arthropod Community of a Chicago Expressway Margin

Soil arthropods were collected at each of eight stations along a 21—km, E—W expressway margin in Chicago, Illinois. Community diversity and species distribution are not affected by proximity to the city. Expressway margin soil arthropod species are more aggregated than species in a Wisconsin prairie collection. The expresswey margin population is less diverse, and composed of greater proportions of soil—surface and root—feeding individuals than is the prarie population. See full-text article at JSTOR
Pharmaceutical Contaminants in Potable Water: Potential Concerns for Pregnant Women and Children

There has been increasing concern of late over measurable levels of pharmaceutical contaminants in drinking water. Because most data on water contaminants pertains to aquatic organisms, we wished to assess the risk of these contaminants to human health at currently reported levels. Unlike most other chemicals, there are large amounts of information for the effects of most pharmaceuticals to humans and the current model uses the clinical dose required to cause biological effects as an endpoint to assess risks for pregnant women, children, and the healthy adult population. Twenty-six drugs have been detected in water systems worldwide: 7 in drinking water, 16 in ground water and post-treatment effluent, and 3 in both. Current water treatment practices, clearly, do not always remove pharmaceutical residues. Although healthy adults are unlikely to be adversely affected at the levels of exposure reported, children were shown to have up to eightfold higher risk and may be exposed to several drugs that are contraindicated or not established for safe use in pediatric medicine. The time taken to ingest a single clinically used dose was 3.4–34,000 years. In addition, pregnant women may be exposed to several drugs that are teratogenic (range of % single doses ingested over 36 weeks was 0.0006–12.6%) and in the post-natal period to drugs that are not recommended during breastfeeding. Albeit at low levels, the exposure of pregnant women and children to contraindicated drugs through drinking water is of concern. Further research in this area should focus on integrated ecological and human health consequences of long-term, low-level exposure to pharmaceutical contaminants, particularly in pregnancy and childhood.
Phosphorylation of Cellulose with Some Phosphonic Acid Derivatives

Cellulose is readily phosphorylated with phosphonic acid derivatives upon heating at elevated temperatures. In this paper, various properties of cotton fabrics phosphorylated with 1-hydroxyethylide...
Ocean tidal solutions in Antarctica from GRACE inter-satellite tracking data

[1] Long-wavelength components of the oceanic tides surrounding Antarctica are estimated directly from three years of GRACE satellite-to-satellite ranging measurements. An inversion is performed for the major constituents M2, O1, and S2, with K1 excluded because of inadequate phase sampling. The tides are parameterized as localized average mass anomalies over areas approximately 3002 km2; other parameters, including satellite state adjustments, are estimated simultaneously with the tides. Qualitative comparison of our solutions with in situ tide measurements shows agreement in spatial pattern, clearly indicating regions where our adopted prior model is inadequate. To exploit these solutions, follow-on work must assimilate these long-wavelength components into a high-resolution numerical tidal model.
Steady state mathematical theory for the insulated gate field effect transistor

A two-dimensional mathematical analysis is presented of the mechanisms of operation for an insulated gate field effect transistor (IGFET). Included in this analysis are qualitative and quantitative comparisons between conventional one-dimensional theory and a rigorous two-dimensional computer solution for the IGFET. It is shown that many characteristics of device operation deduced from conventional theory cannot be verified on a two-dimensional basis because of mechanisms not presently taken into consideration by the theory. A modified one-dimensional mathematical theory is therefore proposed, to account for these mechanisms, that is in adequate agreement with a rigorous two-dimensional computer solution for this semiconductor problem.
The Mechanism of Intrinsic Transcription Termination

Abstract In bacteria, an intrinsic transcription termination signal appears in RNA as a hairpin followed by approximately eight uridines (U stretch) at the 3′ terminus. This signal leads to rapid dissociation of the ternary elongation complex (TEC) into RNA, DNA, and an RNA polymerase. We demonstrate that the hairpin inactivates and then destabilizes TEC by weakening interactions in the RNA–DNA hybrid–binding site and the RNA-binding site that hold TEC together. Formation of the hairpin is restricted to the moment when TEC reaches the point of termination and depends upon melting of four to five hybrid base pairs that follow the hairpin's stem. The U stretch–induced pausing at the point of termination is crucial, providing additional time for hairpin formation. These results explain the mechanism of termination and aid in understanding of how cellular factors modulate this process.
Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome: A Neurologic Phenomenon in Cancer Patients

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome is a well-recognized entity associated with a variety of benign and malignant conditions. This syndrome typically manifests itself with headache, visual loss, and seizures. Radiographic abnormalities consist of white matter edema involving the posterior parietal and occipital lobes, manifested as increased T2 and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery signal intensity on magnetic resonance imaging. In the last decade, there has been a reported increase in the incidence of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in cancer patients. The diagnosis can be challenging in this patient population. Early recognition and initiation of appropriate therapy with removal of the causative agent is essential in order to prevent permanent neurologic sequelae.
Numerical simulations of the two-dimensional Hubbard model: Dynamic properties

Abstract Numerical techniques have provided new insight into the physical properties of the two-dimensional Hubbard model. Here we review what has been learned from Monte Carlo and Lanczos calculations about the dynamic properties of the repulsive and attractive Hubbard models.
Hepatocyte‐specific high‐mobility group box 1 deletion worsens the injury in liver ischemia/reperfusion: A role for intracellular high‐mobility group box 1 in cellular protection

High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is an abundant chromatin-associated nuclear protein and released into the extracellular milieu during liver ischemia-reperfusion (I/R), signaling activation of proinflammatory cascades. Because the intracellular function of HMGB1 during sterile inflammation of I/R is currently unknown, we sought to determine the role of intracellular HMGB1 in hepatocytes after liver I/R. When hepatocyte-specific HMGB1 knockout (HMGB1-HC-KO) and control mice were subjected to a nonlethal warm liver I/R, it was found that HMGB1-HC-KO mice had significantly greater hepatocellular injury after I/R, compared to control mice. Additionally, there was significantly greater DNA damage and decreased chromatin accessibility to repair with lack of HMGB1. Furthermore, lack of hepatocyte HMGB1 led to excessive poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase 1 activation, exhausting nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and adenosine triphosphate stores, exacerbating mitochondrial instability and damage, and, consequently, leading to increased cell death. We found that this was also associated with significantly more oxidative stress (OS) in HMGB1-HC-KO mice, compared to control. Increased nuclear instability led to a resultant increase in the release of histones with subsequently more inflammatory cytokine production and organ damage through activation of Toll-like receptor 9. Conclusion: The lack of HMGB1 within hepatocytes leads to increased susceptibility to cellular death after OS conditions. (Hepatology 2014;59:1984–1997)
Role of arginine vasopressin in control of ACTH and LH release during stress.

Abstract To determine the role of arginine vasopressin (AVP) in stress-induced release of anterior pituitary hormones, AVP antiserum or normal rabbit serum (NRS) was micro-injected into the 3rd ventricle of freely-moving, ovariectomized (OVX) female rats. A single 3 μl injection was given, and 24 hours later, the injection was repeated 30 min prior to application of ether stress for 1 min. Although AVP antiserum had no effect on basal plasma ACTH concentrations, the elevation of plasma ACTH induced by ether stress was lowered significantly. Plasma LH tended to increase following ether stress but not significantly so; however, plasma LH following stress was significantly lower in the AVP antiserum-treated group than in the group pre-treated with NRS. Ether stress lowered plasma growth hormone (GH) levels and this lowering was slightly but significantly antagonized by AVP antiserum. Ether stress also elevated plasma prolactin (Prl) levels but these changes were not significantly modified by the antiserum. To evaluate any direct action of AVP on pituitary hormone secretion, the peptide was incubated with dispersed anterior pituitary cells for 2 hours. A dose-related release of ACTH occured in doses ranging from 10 ng (10 p mole)-10 μg/tube, but there was no effect of AVP on release of LH. The release of other anterior pituitary hormones was also not affected except for a significant stimulation of TSH release at a high dose of AVP. The results indicate that AVP is involved in induction of ACTH and LH release during stress. The inhibitory action of the AVP antiserum on ACTH release may be mediated intrahypothalamically by blocking the stimulatory action of AVP on corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) neurons and/or also in part by direct blockade of the stimulatory action of vasopressin on the pituitary. The effects of vasopressin on LH release are presumably brought about by blockade of a stimulatory action of AVP on the LHRH neuronal terminals.
Feedback Control of Karman Vortex Shedding

A computational study of the feedback control of the magnitude of the lift in flow around a cylinder is presented. The uncontrolled flow exhibits an unsymmetric Karman vortex street and a periodic lift coefficient. The size of the oscillations in the lift is reduced through an active feedback control system. The control used is the injection and suction of fluid through orifices on the cylinder; the amount of fluid injected or sucked is determined, through a simple feedback law, from pressure measurements at stations along the surface of the cylinder. The results of some computational experiments are given; these indicate that the simple feedback law used is effective in reducing the size of the oscillations in the lift.
Ising models with n >~ 2 -component order parameters

The dimensionality of the order parameters of several spin-1/2 Ising models with competing interactions is discussed. It is argued that many such models are described by n > or = 2 component order parameters.
Quantitative cerebral blood flow in dynamic susceptibility contrast MRI using total cerebral flow from phase contrast magnetic resonance angiography

Dynamic susceptibility contrast magnetic resonance imaging (DSC-MRI) during bolus injection of gadolinium (Gd) contrast agent is commonly used to investigate cerebral hemodynamics. The large majority of clinical applications of DSC-MRI to date have reported relative CBF values due to dependence of the result on the accuracy of determining the arterial input function (AIF), the robustness of the singular value decomposition (SVD) algorithm, and others. We propose a calibration approach that directly measures the total (i.e. whole brain) cerebral blood flow (tCBF) in individual subjects using phase-contrast (PC) magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). The method was applied to data from 11 patients with intracranial pathology. The sum of squares variance about the mean (uncorrected: white matter =105.6, gray matter=472.2; corrected: white matter=34.1, gray matter=99.8) after correction was significantly lower for white matter (p=0.045) and for gray matter (p= 0.011). The mean gray and white matter CBF in the contralateral hemisphere were not significantly altered by the correction, however. The proposed PC-MRA calibration technique appears to be one of the most direct correction schemes available for DSC-MRI CBF values and can be performed rapidly, requiring only a few minutes additional scan time.
Reactor cavity cooling system (Rccs) experimental characterization

Abstract The development of a new concept for a high temperature gas cooled reactor is strictly correlated to the Reactor Cavity Cooling System (RCCS) design. This is the latest heat sink designed to ensure the cooling down of the vessel and other structural materials during an accident scenario. An experimental facility was built at Texas AM also, they show the complexity of the flow regime inside the cavity due to natural circulation. The experimental conditions were a vessel surface temperature of about 300 °C heated at fixed power and different flow rates for the cooling pipes.
Diffusion on two-dimensional percolation clusters: Influence of cluster anisotropy.

This paper investigates the influence of geometric anisotropy of two-dimensional percolation clusters on diffusion. Monte Carlo simulation indicates that the ensemble of all random walks starting from any given origin is typically anisotropic as determined by the local geometry of the cluster. Single-particle (or tracer) diffusion is described by the position-correlation matrix (PCM). A mean-field equation is developed for the PCM of the random walker in terms of the moment of inertia tensor of the cluster as a function of the chemical distance from the origin. In contrast, the ensemble of all random walks starting from all possible origins, weighted by the stationary probabilities, leads to essentially isotropic diffusion due to self-averaging over many regions within the cluster. The diffusion of an ensemble of particles in the latter case may be characterized by the velocity-correlation matrix (VCM). It is proved that the VCM is symmetric when a detailed balance condition holds and stationary initial conditions are used. An evolution equation for the VCM is constructed using a generalized Langevin equation with a power-law friction kernel. The kernel is a phenomenological characterization of the diffusion process in a fractal medium.
A software architecture for physical layer wireless network emulation

Despite their widespread deployment, many aspects of wireless network performance are poorly understood, and there is great room from improvement in wireless network reliability and performance. A key obstacle to understanding and improving wireless networks has been the lack of a realistic yet flexible experimental methodology. Physical layer wireless network emulation promises to achieve much of the flexibility of wireless simulators while maintaining much of the realism of real wireless networks. We have developed a software architecture that tames the complexity of physical layer wireless network emulation, and presents users with a powerful yet ease-to-use interface. We present several case studies showing how this software architecture allows complex wireless experiments to be conducted in an efficient manner while still enabling novice users to quickly run simple experiments.
Effect of electron beam-induced deposition and etching under bias.

Electron-beam-induced deposition (EBID) and etching (EBIE) provides a simple way to fabricate or etch submicron or nanoscale structures of various materials in a direct-write (i.e.nonlithographic) fashion. The growth rate or the etch rate are influenced by many factors such as beam energy, beam current, temperature of the substrate material, pressure of the chamber, and geometry of the gas injector etc. The mechanism of EBID and EBIE involves the interaction of the incident electron beam or emitted electron from the target material. The role of these electrons is still not completely understood although the contribution of low energy secondary electrons (SE) has been assumed to be the dominant contributor of EBID and EBIE based on its overlap with the dissociation cross section. We have studied the growth and etching phenomenon under various biasing conditions to investigate how low voltage biasing of the substrate affects secondary electron trajectories and subsequently modifies electron-beam-induced deposition and etching.SCANNING 29: 000–000, 2007. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Affinity Monoliths for Ultrafast Immunoextraction

Affinity monoliths based on a copolymer of glycidyl methacrylate and ethylene dimethacrylate were developed for ultrafast immunoextractions. Rabbit immunoglobulin G (IgG) and anti-FITC antibodies were used as model ligands for this work. The antibody content of the monoliths was optimized by varying both the polymerization and immobilization conditions for preparing such supports. The temperature and porogen composition used during polymerization showed significant effects on monolith morphology and on the amount of antibodies that could be coupled to these materials. The effects of various immobilization procedures and coupling conditions were also evaluated, including the coupling temperature, pH, protein concentration, and use of high buffer concentrations. The maximum ligand density obtained for rabbit IgG was approximately 60 mg/g. When a 4.5 mm i.d. × 0.95 mm monolith disk containing anti-FITC antibodies was used, 95% extraction of fluorescein was achieved in 100 ms. These properties make such monol...
The Reliability and Internal Consistency of One-Shot and Flicker Change Detection for Measuring Individual Differences in Visual Working Memory Capacity

We investigated the psychometric properties of the one-shot change detection task for estimating visual working memory (VWM) storage capacity-and also introduced and tested an alternative flicker change detection task for estimating these limits. In three experiments, we found that the one-shot whole-display task returns estimates of VWM storage capacity (K) that are unreliable across set sizes-suggesting that the whole-display task is measuring different things at different set sizes. In two additional experiments, we found that the one-shot single-probe variant shows improvements in the reliability and consistency of K estimates. In another additional experiment, we found that a one-shot whole-display-with-click task (requiring target localization) also showed improvements in reliability and consistency. The latter results suggest that the one-shot task can return reliable and consistent estimates of VWM storage capacity (K), and they highlight the possibility that the requirement to localize the changed target is what engenders this enhancement. Through a final series of four experiments, we introduced and tested an alternative flicker change detection method that also requires the observer to localize the changing target and that generates, from response times, an estimate of VWM storage capacity (K). We found that estimates of K from the flicker task correlated with estimates from the traditional one-shot task and also had high reliability and consistency. We highlight the flicker method's ability to estimate executive functions as well as VWM storage capacity, and discuss the potential for measuring multiple abilities with the one-shot and flicker tasks.
A 16-kDa Protein Functions as a New Regulatory Protein for Hsc70 Molecular Chaperone and Is Identified as a Member of the Nm23/Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinase Family

Cytoplasmic Hsc70 is a multifunctional molecular chaperone. It is hypothesized that accessory proteins are used to specify the diverse chaperone activities of Hsc70. A 16-kDa cytosolic protein (p16) co-purified with Hsc70 obtained from a fish hepatocyte cell line, PLHC-1. Hsc70 also co-immunoprecipitated with p16 from PLHC-1 cells and fish liver. p16 was identified as a member of the Nm23/nucleoside diphosphate (NDP) kinase family based on its amino acid sequence similarity, NDP kinase activity, and recognition by anti-human NDP kinase-A antibody. This antibody also co-immunoprecipitated Hsc70 and NDP kinase from human HepG2 cells. p16 monomerized Hsc70 and released Hsc70 from pigeon cytochrome c peptide (Pc) but not from FYQLALT, a peptide specifically designed for high affinity binding. Therefore, p16 may modulate Hsc70 function by maintaining Hsc70 in a monomeric state and by dissociating unfolded proteins from Hsc70 either through protein-protein interactions or by supplying ATP indirectly through phosphate transfer. p16 did not affect basal or unfolded protein-stimulated ATPase activity of bovine brain Hsc70 using in vitro assays. Interestingly, bovine liver NDP kinase did not dissociate the Hsc70·;Pc complex. In addition, two nonconservative amino acid subsitutions were found near the amino terminus of p16. Therefore, p16 may be a unique Nm23/NDP kinase that functions as an accessory protein for cytosolic Hsc70 in eukaryotes.
Diversity in representations; uniformity in learning

Henrich et al.'s conclusion that psychologists ought not assume uniformity of psychological phenomena depends on their descriptive claim that there is no pattern to the great diversity in psychological phenomena. We argue that there is a pattern: uniformity of learning processes (broadly construed), and diversity of (some) mental contents (broadly construed).
Positive correlation of image analysis by mini-endoscopy with micro-PET scan and histology in rats after esophagoduodenal anastomosis

Visual inspection of induced carcinogenic transformation is of crucial interest when evaluating growth patterns and therapeutic effects. In previous studies we have used micro-PET scan to analyze the esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) transformation in an intact rat model of esophagoduodenal anastomosis (EDA), in which intestinal metaplasia and EAC were reproduced successfully. Our current study aimed to test the feasibility of evaluating the outcomes of our EDA model with a recently developed mini-endoscope. EDA was performed as described previously. Postoperative rats underwent evaluation with upper endoscopy with the mini-endoscope (±endoscopic biopsy) and a micro-PET scan with 18F-FDG 3 months after the EDA procedure. Rats were euthanized and the esophagi were collected for histological observation, immunohistochemical staining, and TdT labeling assay. We compared the endoscopic images with the radiographic images of 18F-FDG uptake by micro-PET scan and correlated the endoscopic images with the histological changes in the EDA rats. The endoscope provided visualization of the entire esophageal tract and upper stomach, with the smallest detectable lesion being 0.5 mm in diameter. Mini-endoscopy was performed regularly and was tolerated without any significant procedure-related alterations in the esophageal tract. The visualized esophageal lesion correlated well with the micro-PET image and the histological changes in the EDA rats. The new mini-endoscope constitutes a practical and reliable tool for diagnosis and regular follow-up of the esophagus in rats. Lesions identified by endoscopic observation were consistent with the changes found in the micro-PET scan, histopathology, and alteration of cellular and molecular events in esophageal mucosa. This instrument will allow for serial endoscopic evaluations, similar to endoscopic screening in humans, which will significantly enhance the preclinical development and evaluation of experimental intravesical antitumor therapies.
Axial and radial distribution of the bronchial vasculature in sheep.

Abstract A morphometric analysis was made on the bronchial vasculature of intrapulmonary airways in sheep lungs. This study provides the parameters to calculate the quantity of soluble gas diffusion between the vasculature and airways for use in a mathematical model describing heat and mass exchange in the lungs. To achieve these results, the lungs of four adult sheep (30–36 kg.) were excised, fixed, dissected and microtomed to obtain airway cross-sections for measurement. Blood vessel size and airway proximity was measured using a microscope interfaced with a computer. Distance from airway lumen to most airway vessels ranged from 30 to 270 μm. It was found that the bronchial vessels surrounding intraparenchymal airways can be described by a right-skewed distribution. Most importantly, a practical description of the bronchial capillary size and airway proximity as a function of airway diameter was found using a weighed average. This analysis facilitates calculation of soluble gas flux from the bronchial vasculature to the airway for use in a mathematical model.
Error analysis with deconvolution algorithms

Iterative deconvolution algorithms can be used to obtain an estimate of a signal that has been distorted by an impulse response function and corrupted by additive noise. The decision to continue iterating is usually based on some minimum error or convergence rate criterion being satisfied. However, in some classes of systems, there are pitfalls with respect to the error calculation that must be understood. One of these pitfalls is examined. >
Light storage in a magnetically dressed optical lattice

Differential Stark shift compensation for ground-state {sup 87}Rb atoms trapped in an elliptically polarized optical lattice and 'magic' magnetic field was recently proposed and demonstrated experimentally by N. Lundblad et al. [e-print arXiv:0912.1528] and analyzed theoretically by A. Derevianko [e-print arXiv:0912.3233]. Here we demonstrate enhanced hyperfine coherence times using the magic field technique. We observe coherent light storage with a 0.32-s lifetime in an atomic Rb gas confined in a one-dimensional optical lattice and magnetic field.
Abundance, growth rate and parasitism of Brevicoryne brassicae and Myzus persicae (Homoptera : Aphididae) on broccoli grown in living mulches

Abstract In 1990 and 1991, populations of the cabbage aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae, and the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae, were monitored on broccoli interplanted with three leguminous cover crops (the living mulches) and compared with broccoli without cover crop (clean cultivation). The cover crops used were white clover (Trifolium repens L.), strawberry clover (Trifolium fragiferum L.) and a mixture of birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) and red clover (Trifolium praetense L.). Fertilizer was applied as compost or synthetic fertilizer crossed with cropping system regime. Brevicoryne brassicae can reach pest status in Brassica cropping systems, whereas M. persicae is generally innocuous. Both aphids are attacked by the parasitoid Diaeretiella rapae. Seasonal aphid abundance, parasitism and population growth rates were analyzed. No significant effect of fertilizer was found for any of the parameters analyzed. The living mulches had lower aphid populations overall, although differences with clean cultivation were greatest early in the season for M. persicae and diminished over time. No effect of cropping system on population growth rate was seen for Brevicoryne brassicae, but for M. persicae growth rates were higher in living mulches compared with clean cultivation. Parasitism was highest on clean cultivated broccoli for both aphid species in 1990 and for M. persicae in 1991, but no differences were found for Brevicoryne brassicae in 1991. This suggests that differential population growth rates and parasitism seen for M. persicae are a result of inhibition of D. rapae in the living mulches. Possible reasons for differences in parasitism between the two aphid species in living mulches and clean cultivation are discussed.
DEPRIVATION OF EXOGENOUS GLUTAMINE AND GLUTAMINE SYNTHETASE INHIBITION ALTER GROWTH AND MORPHOLOGY OF HT-29 CELLS. † 477

DEPRIVATION OF EXOGENOUS GLUTAMINE AND GLUTAMINE SYNTHETASE INHIBITION ALTER GROWTH AND MORPHOLOGY OF HT-29 CELLS. † 477
Decreased raphe unit activity in a rat model of endogenous depression.

Abstract One theory about the pathogenesis of endogenous depression is that decreased serotonergic (5-HT) neurotransmission is involved in producing the disorder. A key component of brain 5-HT neurotransmission is the discharge rate of 5-HT neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN), a major aggregation of 5-HT neurons. We tested the hypothesis that the discharge rate of 5-HT neurons in the DRN was decreased in a new animal (rat) model of human endogenous depression. In this model, rats are treated neonatally with the antidepressant chlorimipramine. When adult, these animals exhibit several behavioral, REM sleep, and treatment response features of the human disorder. We found in single unit measurements in adult, pentobarbital-anesthetized rats that, compared with ‘non-depressed’ control rats, the ‘depressed’ rats had a lower discharge rate of 5-HT neurons in the DRN. This correlation is consistent with the theory that 5-HT neurotransmission is diminished in endogenous depression.
282 DEVELOPMENT OF FETAL CANINE HEPATIC METABOLISM

To determine the maturation of hepatic metabolism during the last week of gestation, 7 premature fetal pups (53d) were compared to 6 term fetal pups (60d); weight was 143±16 vs 253±12 g p<0.001. Hepatic tissue from term pups had greater glycogen (756±39 vs 308±11 umol/g p<0.001) and greater total glycogen synthase activity (31.7±4.9 vs 10.9±1.3 umol/rain-mg protein p<0.01). Both the active and total glycogen phosphorylase activity was also, greater at term. Hexokinase activity did not change, however, glucokinase increased at term (7.80±1.4 vs 4.52±0.62 p<0.05). Hepatic glucose and lactate levels did not change, however, glucose 6-phosphate was lower at term (0.073±0.006 vs 0.167±0.035 p<0.01). Pyruvate (0.188±0.013 vs 0.106±0.021 p<0.01) and phosphoenolpyruvate (0.108±0.013 vs 0.061±0.012 p<0.05) were higher at term'while citrate was unchanged. Pyruvate kinase activities (1.3 and 6.6 mM-Km) increased during the last week of gestation while the active component of pyruvate dehydrogenase was also higher in more mature pups (2.67±0.71 vs 0.82±0.35 p<0.02). The gluconeogenic enzyme, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, did not change during this time. Hepatic energy status was augmented at term as ATP increased (2.28±0.12 vs 1.78±0.16 p<0.02). The increase of hepatic glycogen and ATP together with the developmental pattern of glycogen synthase, glucokinase, pyruvate kinase and pyruvate dehydrogenase suggests increased utilization of circulating glucose for both glycogen synthesis and glycolytic energy production at term, (values m±SE)
Integrating Herbicide-Resistant Corn Technology in a Kura Clover Living Mulch System

Previous research has shown that with adequate suppression, kura clover (Trifolium ambiguam M. Bieb.) can be managed as a living mulch in corn (Zea mays L.); however, significant yield loss was observed in some environments. This study evaluated two herbicide-resistant corn hybrids at three levels of kura clover living mulch suppression over multiple environments. In 1999 and 2000 near Arlington and in 2000 near Lancaster, WI, glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine]-resistant corn (Roundup Ready corn, RRC) and glufosinate [2-amino-4-(hydroxymethylphosphinyl) butanoic acid]-resistant corn (Liberty Link corn, LLC) hybrids were planted where kura clover had been (i) killed for monocrop corn, (ii) strongly suppressed with glyphosate and dicamba (3,6-dichloro-2-methoxybenzoic acid), or (iii) lightly suppressed with only glyphosate. Suppressed kura clover also had a 25-cm clopyralid (3,6-dichloro-2-pyridinecarboxylic acid) plus dicamba-killed band into which corn was planted. Subsequent postemergence applications of glyphosate or glufosinate herbicide were made for each hybrid. Corn whole-plant yield ranged from 17.3 to 19.9 Mg ha -1 , and grain yield ranged from 10.8 to 12.3 Mg ha -1 . Yield of whole-plant and grain across both corn hybrids did not differ between monocrop corn and corn in strongly suppressed kura clover. Whole-plant yield of monocrop corn was 8 to 11% greater and grain yield 8 to 9% greater than in lightly suppressed kura clover, respectively. Both hybrids had similar corn whole-plant yield, but LLC grain yield was lower than that of RRC. Kura clover recovery in the season following corn production was similar among living mulch suppression treatments by mid-July. Herbicide-resistant corn technology allowed for consistent kura clover living mulch management with little or no whole-plant or grain yield loss.
The Role of Risk Factors in the Identification of Appropriate Subjects for Caries Clinical Trials: Design Considerations

In seeking new and more effective therapies to delay or prevent caries development, investigators must design clinical trials focused on high-risk populations with a predictable incidence of caries over a limited period of time. In children and adolescents, the strongest predictors of caries incidence appear to be baseline levels of caries activity (present caries, e.g., dmfs, DMFT, caries lesions in first molars). Other predictors of caries risk typically include oral hygiene level, counts of cariogenic micro-organisms in plaque and saliva, fluoride history, sucrose intake, and parent's socio-economic level. This paper will briefly review existing literature to address the most useful and relevant prognostic factors for predicting future caries onset. The relative merits of identifying high-risk subjects based on these factors, either singly or in combination, will be explored in terms of statistical efficiency. Particular attention will focus on the advantages of covariate adjustment in the context of s...
Enhancement of Trichloroethylene Degradation in Aquifer Microcosms Bioaugmented with Wild Type and Genetically Altered Burkholderia (Pseudomonas) cepacia G4 and PR1

The effects of bioaugmentation on the aerobic cometabolism of trichloroethylene (TCE) in groundwater were investigated using small-column aquifer microcosms. Nonsterile nonbioaugmented microcosms fed phenol as a primary substrate mimicked observed in-situ behavior at the Moffett Field site (1), cometabolizing approximately 60 μg/L TCE while fed 6.5 mg/L phenol. High-density single bioaugmentation with Burkholderia (Pseudomonas) cepacia G4 increased TCE removal in sterile aquifer material, while producing mixed results in nonsterile material. Low-density semicontinuous bioaugmentation enhanced TCE transformation in nonsterile microcosms. A nonrecombinant NTG-induced mutant of G4 (PR1 301 ) capable of uninduced constitutive degradation of TCE in the absence of phenol or toluene was developed for environmental release. Phenol-fed microcosms augmented with either B. cepacia strain G4 or PR1 301 transformed twice as much TCE as the nonaugmented phenol-fed microcosm. In addition, should primary substrate addition be a regulatory concern, TCE degradation was observed without primary substrate addition through bioaugmentation using organisms expressing the TCE-transforming enzyme.
Decomposition of linear sequential machines

Linear sequential machines can sometimes be decomposed into parallel and series connections of smaller linear sequential machines. Necessary and sufficient conditions are given for such decompositions to exist for finite linear sequential machines.
Repoussé: automatic inflation of 2D artwork

We describe a new system for the interactive enhancement of 2D art with 3D geometry. Repousse creates a 3D shape by inflating the surface that interpolates the input curves. By using the mean curvature stored at boundary vertices as a degree of freedom, we are able to control the inflated surface intuitively and efficiently using a single linear system. Repousse handles both smooth and sharp position constraints. Position constraint vertices can also have curvature constraints for controlling the inflation of the local surface. We show the applications of our system in font design, stroke design, photo enhancement and freeform 3D shape design.
Direct photoaffinity labeling of cellular retinoic acid-binding protein I (CRABP-I) with all-trans-retinoic acid: identification of amino acids in the ligand binding site.

Cellular retinoic acid-binding proteins I and II (CRABP-I and -II, respectively) are transport proteins for all-trans-retinoic acid (RA), an active metabolite of vitamin A (retinol), and have been reported to be directly involved in the metabolism of RA. In this study, direct photoaffinity labeling with [11,12-3H]RA was used to identify amino acids comprising the ligand binding site of CRABP-I. Photoaffinity labeling of CRABP-I with [3H]RA was light- and concentration-dependent and was protected by unlabeled RA and various retinoids, indicating that the labeling was directed to the RA-binding site. Photolabeled CRABP-I was hydrolyzed with endoproteinase Lys-C to yield radioactive peptides, which were separated by reversed-phase HPLC for analysis by Edman degradation peptide sequencing. This method identified five modified amino acids from five separate HPLC fractions: Trp7, Lys20, Arg29, Lys38, and Trp109. All five amino acids are located within one side of the “barrel” structure in the area indicated by...
Scheduling to a common due date on parallel uniform processors

We consider scheduling a set of jobs on parallel processors, when all jobs have a common due date and earliness and lateness are penalized at different cost rates. For identical processors, the secondary criteria of minimizing makespan and machine occupancy are addressed. The extension to different, uniform processors is also solved.
Addressing historic environmental exposures along the Alaska Highway.

Background. AWorld War II defense site at Northway, Alaska, was remediated in the 1990s, leaving complex questions regarding historic exposures to toxic waste. This article describes the context, methods, limitations and findings of the Northway Wild Food and Health Project (NWFHP). Objective. The NWFHP comprised 2 pilot studies: the Northway Wild Food Study (NWFS), which investigated contaminants in locally prioritized traditional foods over time, and the Northway Health Study (NHS), which investigated locally suspected links between resource uses and health problems. Design. This research employed mixed methods. The NWFS reviewed remedial documents and existing data. The NHS collected household information regarding resource uses and health conditions by questionnaire and interview. NHS data represent general (yes or no) personal knowledge that was often second hand. Retrospective cohort comparisons were made of the reported prevalence of 7 general health problems between groups based on their reported (yes or no) consumption of particular resources, for 3 data sets (existing, historic and combined) with a two-tailed Fisher’s Exact Test in SAS (n=325 individuals in 83 households, 24 of which no longer exist). Results. The NWFS identified historic pathways of exposure to petroleum, pesticides, herbicides, chlorinated byproducts of disinfection and lead from resources that were consumed more frequently decades ago and are not retrospectively quantifiable. The NHS found complex patterns of association between reported resource uses and cancer and thyroid-, reproductive-, metabolic- and cardiac problems. Conclusion. Lack of detail regarding medical conditions, undocumented histories of exposure, time lapsed since the release of pollution and changes to health and health care over the same period make this exploratory research. Rather than demonstrate causation, these results document the legitimacy of local suspicions and warrant additional investigation. This article presents our findings, with discussion of limitations related to study design and limitations that are inherent to such research. Keywords: endocrine disruption; persistent organic pollutants; military waste; environmental toxics; complexity; uncertainty (Published: 5 August 2013) This paper is part of Supplement 1, 2013, ICCH15 Proceedings . More papers from this Supplement can be found here . Citation: Int J Circumpolar Health 2013, 72 : 21187 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/ijch.v72i0.21187
Valvular aortic stenosis causing angiodysplasia and acquired von Willebrand's disease: Heyde's syndrome.

A 70-year-old man with a medical history of hypertension, coronary artery disease and aortic stenosis (AS) was admitted with symptoms of worsening chest pain and exertional dyspnoea. He also reported melanotic stools and was found to be profoundly anaemic with a haematocrit value of 25%. His last hematocrit a month prior was 36%. Laboratory data revealed normal vitamin B12 and folate levels, but iron levels were consistent with mild iron deficiency anaemia (serum iron 45 μg/dL, transferrin saturation 20% and serum ferritin 68 ng/mL). Stool guaiac test was positive. He underwent an oesophagogastroduodenoscopy, which showed stomach wall coated with old blood with no active bleeding lesions (figure 1A), 10–12 petechial submucosal haemorrhages in the jejunum and active bleeding in the second part of the duodenum (D2; figure 1B). He underwent clipping at the bleeding site (figure 1C). Mesenteric angiogram showed hypervascularity and extravasation seen in the second part of the duodenum supplied by the superior mesenteric and gastroduodenal artery (figure 2A,B). Transthoracic echocardiogram revealed severe valvular AS with aortic valve area of 0.7 cm2, and mean transvalvular gradient of 40 mm Hg. He received 6 units of packed red blood cells. Octreotide infusion …
Effect of soil type and vermicompost applications on tomato growth

Background Vermicomposts (VC) improve plant growth and development beyond that normally observed from just soil nutrient transformation and availability. These increases in plant productivity have been attributed to improved soil structure and soil microbial populations that have higher levels of activity and greater production of biological metabolites, such as plant growth regulators. Although there have been many studies on the benefits of VC as a fertilizer source, little research has focused on the effects and/or interactions of soil type and VC application rates on vegetable crop productivity. This paper identifies optimum application rate(s) of VC on tomato growth responses for three different textural classes of soils (loamy sand, silt loam, and silty clay). Results Soils with high VC rates (0.4 and 0.8 g/g) produced taller plants with more leaf and flower numbers, higher leaf chlorophyll content, greater plant biomass, and more total leaf area compared to soils with low VC rates (0.05, 0.1, and 0.2 g/g). Tomato growth increases were also observed at the low VC soil amendment rates compared to the nontreated control. Tomatoes grown in the sandy soil amended with VC generally had the greatest growth responses (plant height, leaf and flower number, and leaf chlorophyll content) compared to the clay or silt loam soils, with the silt loam soil generally providing the least response. Conclusions This research indicated that VC is a suitable alternative fertilizer for tomato, with approximately 0.5‐0.6 g/g VC added to soil resulting in optimal tomato plant growth. Moreover, this rate provided tomato growth results similar to the standard inorganic fertility program. The sandy soil with VC amendments generally increased tomato plant growth parameters the most compared to the clay and loam soils, with the loam soil generally providing the least.
Soil and plant characteristics of landfill sites near Merseyside, England

An ecological survey of the plant and soil characteristics was carried out on three landfill sites near Merseyside, England. It was discovered that bare ground at two of the landfill areas had high levels of methane contained in the soil air (Sefton Meadows landfill: 6–8% at 35 cm and 16–35% at 65 cm below soil surface; Coalgate Lane landfill: 1–24% at 35 cm and 39–45% at 40 cm below soils surface), causing the appearance of dark grey reduced regions in the soil, a phenomenon similar to flooded soil. The wellvegetated areas at the two sites had lower levels of methane (under 7%).
A possible mechanism of action of the neurotoxic agent iminodiproprionitrile (IDPN): a selective aggregation of the medium and heavy neurofilament polypeptides (NF-M and NF-H)

Abstract Juvenile male rats treated acutely with the neurotoxic agent, iminodiproprionitrile showed no changes in the levels of total neurofilament subunit mRNA or protein for up to 28 days. However, the drug promoted aggregation of the neurofilaments, both spontaneously upon isolation and in an in vitro reassembly assay. This observation correlated with a basic p I shift of the heavy neurofilament subunit, due to a yet to be identified modification. Because of the crucial involvement of this neurofilament subunit in axonal integrity, it is likely that iminodiproprionitrile produces a major portion of its neurotoxicity through this mechanism.
Comparisons Between Seismic Earth Structures and Mantle Flow Models Based on Radial Correlation Functions

Three-dimensional numerical simulations were conducted of mantle convection in which flow through the transition zone is impeded by either a strong chemical change or an endothermic phase change. The temperature fields obtained from these models display a well-defined minimum in the vertical correlation length at or near the radius where the barrier is imposed, even when the fields were filtered to low angular and radial resolutions. However, evidence for such a feature is lacking in the shear-velocity models derived by seismic tomography. This comparison suggests that any stratification induced by phase or chemical changes across the mid-mantle transition zone has a relatively small effect on the large-scale circulation of mantle material.
Expedient drug synthesis and diversification via ortho-C-H iodination using recyclable PdI2 as the precatalyst.

Pd(II)-catalyzed ortho-C−H iodination reactions of phenylacetic acid substrates have been achieved using recyclable PdI2 as the precatalyst. This class of substrates is incompatible with the classic amide formation/ortho-lithiation/iodination sequence. The power of this new technology is demonstrated by facile drug functionalization and drastically shortened syntheses of the drugs diclofenac and lumiracoxib.
Coordinated interaction of Down syndrome cell adhesion molecule and deleted in colorectal cancer with dynamic TUBB3 mediates Netrin-1-induced axon branching

Modulation of actin and microtubule (MT) dynamics in neurons is implicated in guidance cue-dependent axon outgrowth, branching and pathfinding. Although the role of MTs in axon guidance has been well known, how extracellular guidance signals engage MT behavior in axon branching remains unclear. Previously, we have shown that TUBB3, the most dynamic β-tubulin isoform in neurons, directly binds to deleted in colorectal cancer (DCC) to regulate MT dynamics in Netrin-1-mediated axon guidance. Here, we report that TUBB3 directly interacted with another Netrin-1 receptor Down syndrome cell adhesion molecule (DSCAM) and Netrin-1 increased this interaction in primary neurons. MT dynamics were required for Netrin-1-promoted association of DSCAM with TUBB3. Knockdown of either DSCAM or DCC or addition of a function blocking anti-DCC antibody mutually blocked Netrin-1-induced interactions, suggesting that DSCAM interdependently coordinated with DCC in Netrin-1-induced binding to TUBB3. Both DSCAM and DCC were partially colocalized with TUBB3 in the axon branch and the axon branching point of primary neurons and Netrin-1 increased these colocalizations. Netrin-1 induced the interaction of endogenous DSCAM with polymerized TUBB3 in primary neurons and Src family kinases (SFKs) were required for regulating this binding. Knockdown of DSCAM only, DCC only or both was sufficient to block Netrin-1-induced axon branching of E15 mouse cortical neurons. Knocking down TUBB3 inhibited Netrin-1 induced axon branching as well. These results suggest that DSCAM collaborates with DCC to regulate MT dynamics via direct binding to dynamic TUBB3 in Netrin-1-induced axon branching.