cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Radiative feedbacks on land surface change and associated tropical precipitation shifts

Changes in land surface albedo and land surface evaporation modulate the atmospheric energy budget by changing temperatures, water vapor, clouds, snow and ice cover, and the partitioning of surface energy fluxes. Here idealized perturbations to land surface properties are imposed in a global model to understand how such forcings drive shifts in zonal mean atmospheric energy transport and zonal mean tropical precipitation. For a uniform decrease in global land albedo, the albedo forcing and a positive water vapor feedback contribute roughly equally to increased energy absorption at the top of the atmosphere (TOA), while radiative changes due to the temperature and cloud cover response provide a negative feedback and energy loss at TOA. Decreasing land albedo causes a northwards shift in the zonal mean intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ). The combined effects on ITCZ location of all atmospheric feedbacks roughly cancel for the albedo forcing; the total ITCZ shift is comparable to that predicted for the albedo forcing alone. For an imposed increase in evaporative resistance that reduces land evaporation, low cloud cover decreases in the northern mid-latitudes and more energy is absorbed at TOA there; longwave loss due to warming provides a negative feedback on the TOA energy balance and ITCZ shift. Imposed changes in land albedo and evaporative resistance modulate fundamentally different aspects of the surface energy budget. However, the pattern of TOA radiation changes due to the water vapor and air temperature responses are highly correlated for these two forcings because both forcings lead to near-surface warming.
PTX-symmetric metasurfaces for sensing applications

In this paper, we introduce an ultra-sensitive optical sensing platform based on the parity-time-reciprocal scaling (PTX)-symmetric non-Hermitian metasurfaces, which leverage exotic singularities, such as the exceptional point (EP) and the coherent perfect absorber-laser (CPAL) point, to significantly enhance the sensitivity and detectability of photonic sensors. We theoretically studied scattering properties and physical limitations of the PTX-symmetric metasurface sensing systems with an asymmetric, unbalanced gain-loss profile. The PTX-symmetric metasurfaces can exhibit similar scattering properties as their PT-symmetric counterparts at singular points, while achieving a higher sensitivity and a larger modulation depth, possible with the reciprocal-scaling factor (i.e., X transformation). Specifically, with the optimal reciprocal-scaling factor or near-zero phase offset, the proposed PTX-symmetric metasurface sensors operating around the EP or CPAL point may achieve an over 100 dB modulation depth, thus paving a promising route toward the detection of small-scale perturbations caused by, for example, molecular, gaseous, and biochemical surface adsorbates.
REVERSAL OF PARALYSIS AND PREVENTION OF PREMATURE DEATH IN A MOUSE GERMLINE MODEL OF LEIGH SYNDROME CAUSED BY A MUTATION IN MITOCHONDRIAL ATP SYNTHASE (S51.003)

Objective: To provide the FDA required preclinical data of our proposed gene therapy for Leigh syndrome (LS) and NARP (neurogenic muscle weakness, ataxia, and retinitis pigmentosa). Background: Mitochondrial DNA-associated LS and NARP are progressive neurodegenerative disorders caused by mutated mitochondrial T8993G DNA that encodes for the ATP6 subunit of complex V. Children develop a subacute necrotizing encephalomyelopathy characterized by hypotonia, spasticity, movement disorders, ataxia and neuropathy. Half die by 3–5 years of age, the rest by age 10. Adults develop NARP with vision loss and die in their 30s–40s. There is no treatment. Design/Methods: We created a mutant T8993G ATP6 transgenic mouse (A6) by microinjection of mito-targeted AAV2 containing the mutant human ATP6 gene linked to fluorescent mCherry into mouse zygotes. Females with mCherry detected by CLSO were backcrossed with wild-type males for 6 generations. A rescue AAV9 vector was assembled by appending the COX8 presequence to VP2 capsid of AAV2 containing a wild-type ATP6 gene that was administered intravenously prior to or after disease onset. Results: Transgenic A6 mice developed hallmarks of LS and NARP including premature death (mortality ~ 80%), paralysis (see video), seizures and vision loss. Neuropathology showed spongiform encephalopathy and loss of retinal neurons. Intravenous mito-targeted AAV9 with wild-type ATP6 was injected into two groups of A6 mice, (I) without disease onset at three months of age and (II) the other group with LS at eighteen months. After 1.5 years, treated A6 mice of group I had 100% survival, while untreated A6 mice mortality was 70% suggesting mito-targeted AAV9 prevented A6 mice disease onset. The second group of A6 mice with paraplegia typically seen prior to spontaneous death was reversed 3 days after intravenous mito-targeted AAV9 containing wild-type ATP6 (see video). Conclusions: Mito-targeted AAV9 wild-type ATP6 gene therapy may be a novel approach for LS or NARP caused by the ATP6 mutation. Disclosure: Dr. Guy has nothing to disclose. Dr. Yuan has nothing to disclose.
Determinants of Outcomes Among Patients Who Presented with Covid-19 to a Southeast Michigan Hospital

Background & Objectives: Race plays an important role in healthcare disparities often resulting in worse health outcomes. It is unclear if the interactions of other patient factors and race may influence mortality in patients with COVID-19. We aimed to evaluate how multiple determinants of all-cause in-hospital mortality from COVID-19 were linked to race. Methods: A retrospective observational study conducted at two hospitals in Detroit, Michigan. We identified patients age ≥ 18 who had tested positive for COVID-19 and were admitted between March 9 through May 16, 2020. A multivariable logistic regression was performed assessing predictors of all-cause in-hospital mortality in COVID-19. Results: We identified 1064 unique patients, 74% were African Americans (AA). The all-cause in-hospital mortality was 21.7% with majority of deaths seen in AA (65.4%, p=0.002) and patients 80 years or older (52%, p 80 year-old), dementia and CKD were associated with worse all-cause in-hospital mortality. Conclusion: Gender significantly modified the association of race and COVID-19 mortality. African American females had the lowest all-cause in-hospital mortality risk compared to other gender-race groups. Funding: None to declare. Declaration of Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. Ethics Approval Statement:This study was submitted to and approval by Ascension Providence Hospital Institutional Review Board.
Terrorism, crime, and public policy

1. The nature of terrorism 2. Theories of aggression and terrorism 3. A brief history of terrorism 4. Two trajectories of humankind: globalization or clash? 5. Religion, the state, and terrorism 6. Nonreligious extremism and terrorism 7. Technology and terrorism 8. Terrorism throughout the world 9. Responses to terrorism 10. Fear of terrorism 11. Preventing terrorism: short-term approaches 12. Preventing terrorism: long-term strategies 13. Balancing security and rights to liberty and privacy 14. Toward a safer and saner 21st century.
Stacking energies in DNA.

Variations in base mono- and dipoles result in variations in stacking energies for the 10 unique neighbor pairs in DNA. Stacking energies for pair M on N, expressed as TMN, were derived by matrix decomposition of a large set of linear algebraic expressions relating the measured Tm for subtransitions emanating from large polymeric DNAs, and the fractional neighbor frequencies, fMN, for the domains responsible for the transitions, Tm = sigma fMNTMN. Tm were determined for subtransitions that dissociate in approximately all-or-none fashion in high resolution melting profiles of partially deleted and recombinant forms of pBR322 DNA. Three different analytical maneuvers were undertaken to resolve subtransitions: site-specific cleavage of domains; deletion of domains; and addition of domains. Three dozen domains of widely divergent, quasi-random neighbor frequencies were identified and assigned, resulting in a unique set of values for TMN with standard deviation, sigma = +/- 0.23 degree C. The average difference between calculated and experimental Tm for domains is only +/- 0.17 degree C, indicating that the thermodynamic properties of these domains are not in any way unusual. Assuming delta S to be constant for all pairs, the corresponding delta HMN are found to have a precision of +/- 10 calories.mol-1 and an accuracy of +/- 606 calories.mol-1. TMN used to calculate melting curves by statistical mechanical analysis of sequences of the different plasmid specimens in this study were in quantitative agreement with observed curves for most sequences. These TMN differ significantly from those determined previously and also correlate poorly with values determined by quantum chemical analysis. Stabilities of neighbor pairs, expressed as the difference in free energy between that for a given pair (MN) and that for the average of like pairs (M, N), depend on the relationship of stacked purines and pyrimidines as follows. delta delta Gpu-py(-466 cal) greater than delta delta Gpu-pu(+52 cal) greater than delta delta Gpy-pu(+335 cal) Differences between experimental Tm and Tm calculated with TMN for the isolated neighbor pairs in the B-conformation are useful in the identification of altered structures and unusual modes of dissociation of helixes. A significantly higher Tm is observed for the highly biased repeated sequence synthetic helixes dA.dT, d(AGC).d(GCT), and d(GAT).d(ATC), reflecting auxiliary sources of stability such as bifurcated hydrogen bonds and/or altered structures for these helixes.
Theoretical expectations for magnetic field measurements in molecular cloud cores

The currently most viable methods to estimate magnetic field strengths in molecular cloud cores are Zeeman measurements and the Chandrasekhar-Fermi (CF) method. The CF-method estimates magnetic field strengths from polarimetry and relies on equipartition between the turbulent kinetic and turbulent magnetic energy in the observed region. Thus, its application to objects not dominated by hydromagnetic turbulence is questionable. We calibrate the CF-method and Zeeman measurements against numerical models of self-gravitating molecular cloud cores. We find -- in agreement with previous results -- that the CF-method is on the average accurate up to a factor of 2, while a single estimate can be off by a factor of 7. The CF-method is surprisingly robust even when applied to regions not dominated by hydromagnetic turbulence and in the face of small-number statistics. Zeeman measurements can systematically overestimate the field strength in high-density regions, if the field is predominantly oriented along the line of sight, while they tend to underestimate the field in other cases.
A moving boundary diffusion model for the corrosion of concrete wastewater systems: simulation and experimental validation

An experiment is constructed which provides data from which the efficacy of a moving boundary reaction-diffusion based model for the sulfide corrosion of concrete can be established. The model is derived and its finite dimensional approximation is discussed. A diffusion rate is identified using data supplied by the experiment. The results of the experiment and the comparison of experimental data with simulation studies based upon the model are discussed.
The power system challenge-understanding the total picture

The task of designing an optimal power system for a server system is very challenging. For a power supply vendor, understanding the specific application is very critical to recommend alternate power system architectures that are more suitable than what the customer has in mind. The paper covers various issues and trade off for designing a power system specifically for server applications. AC redundancy, AC/DC redundancy and DC/DC redundancy issues are described for the systems and an effort is made to highlight some very important issues concerning power system availability, imbedded or plug-in regulators, and centralized power systems versus distributed power architectures. The availability, the flexibility and the cost trade off are covered using specific examples. Ultimately, it is the power system designer's responsibility to have in-depth knowledge of the server system and future technology trends if a cost effective power system has to be designed.
Identification of tyrosine 706 in the kinase insert as the major colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF-1)-stimulated autophosphorylation site in the CSF-1 receptor in a murine macrophage cell line.

Abstract The receptor for colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF-1) is a ligand-activated protein-tyrosine kinase. It has been shown previously that the CSF-1 receptor is phosphorylated on serine in vivo and that phosphorylation on tyrosine can be induced by stimulation with CSF-1. We studied the phosphorylation of the CSF-1 receptor by using the BAC1.2F5 murine macrophage cell line, which naturally expresses CSF-1 receptors. Two-dimensional tryptic phosphopeptide mapping showed that the CSF-1 receptor is phosphorylated on several different serine residues in vivo. Stimulation with CSF-1 at 37 degrees C resulted in rapid phosphorylation on tyrosine at one major site and one or two minor sites. We identified the major site as Tyr-706. The identity of Tyr-706 was confirmed by mutagenesis. This residue is located within the kinase insert domain. There was no evidence that Tyr-973 (equivalent to Tyr-969 in the human CSF-1 receptor) was phosphorylated following CSF-1 stimulation. When cells were stimulated with CSF-1 at 4 degrees C, additional phosphotyrosine-containing phosphopeptides were detected and the level of phosphorylation of the individual phosphotyrosine-containing phosphopeptides was substantially increased. In addition, we show that CSF-1 receptors are capable of autophosphorylation at six to eight major sites in vitro.
Fate of Sorbed Lead During Treatment of Contaminated Soils by Catalyzed H2O2 Propagations (Modified Fenton's Reagent)

The release of lead sorbed onto three soils was studied during treatment with catalyzed H2O2 propagations (CHP) (modified Fenton's reagent). Soils from the Hanford Reservation, WA, Kamiak Butte, WA, and the front range of Colorado were spiked with lead, treated with CHP at pH 3 and pH 7, and analyzed for soluble lead. At pH 3, lead release was minimal from the Hanford soil while small releases occurred in the Kamiak Butte and Colorado soils. At pH 7, lead was not released from any of the soils. Because the Kamiak Butte and Colorado soils contained more soil organic matter (SOM) than the Hanford soil, the release at pH 3 may be due to the destruction of SOM with concomitant release of lead. CHP treatment at pH 7 also likely destroyed SOM in the Kamiak Butte and Colorado soils; however, the lead released then likely precipitated due to the higher oxidation-reduction potential of the pH 7 system. When hydroxyl radical was scavenged from the reactions, leaving the reductant superoxide as the primary reactant,...
Differences in the anatomic distribution of immediate-early gene expression in amygdala and angular bundle kindling development

Kindling is a model in which fleeting changes of neuronal activity produce a lifelong modification of neuronal structure and function in the mature nervous system. Immediate-early genes (IEGs) such as c-fos have been implicated as a causal link in the chain of molecular events coupling fleeting pathologic activity to lasting hyperexcitability. Identification of the brain structures exhibiting IEG expression during the evolution of kindling is necessary to guide investigations of the phenotypic consequences. We used in situ hybridization histochemistry to identify the structures exhibiting expression of multiple IEGs during the evolution of amygdala kindling and compared this to the pattern following angular bundle kindling. The principal findings included that: (1) generalized limbic and clonic motor (class 5) kindled seizures evoked by stimulation of one amygdala induced the expression of IEGs in a small subset of limbic structures with remarkable symmetry between the two hemispheres; (2) the anatomic extent of seizure-evoked expression of c-fos mRNA expanded progressively following focal limbic and motor (classes 0–3) seizures during the development of amygdala kindling; c-fos mRNA was detected first ipsilaterally in AM, ACO, and PC and with higher-class seizures in hippocampal formation and homologous structures contralaterally, and (3) class 5 seizures evoked by stimulation of two different sites in the limbic system (amygdala or angular bundle) induced IEG expression in distinct but partially overlapping anatomic structures. We propose that synaptic activation of glutamate receptors contributes to the expression of these diverse IEGs throughout the forebrain. The findings provide a constellation of anatomic structures in which to investigate the structural and functional consequences of IEG expression.
“Figuring” the Self: Unity and Multiplicity in Clinical and Theological Imagination

This paper considers the relationship of unconscious fantasy to theory, with the focus on the issue of unity and multiplicity. The purpose of the paper is to explore the deep structure of unconscious fantasy, which is understood as that which promotes and organizes our experiences of the “one” and the “many” and serves as a driving force in the formation of the self. Using Thomas Ogden’s reformulation of Melanie Klein’s theory of fantasy (phantasy) and his vision of the Kleinian subject, alongside Christian Trinitarian theology, the paper argues that unity and multiplicity persist in a generative and interpenetrating dialectic that unfolds within/toward a transcendent unity-in-process, an eternal “becoming one.”
Bleb-related ocular infection in children after trabeculectomy with mitomycin C.

Objective: The purpose of the study is to report the clinical course of bleb-related ocular infection in children after trabeculectomy with adjunctive mitomycin C. Design: The study design was a retrospective review of all patients with a diagnosis of bleb-related ocular infection after trabeculectomy with adjunctive mitomycin C. Participants: Three children were identified in whom late postoperative bleb-related ocular infection developed. Intervention: Treatment consisted of vitreous biopsy with intravitreous antibiotic and corticosteroid injection and/or bleb culture with topical and intravenous antibiotic administration. Main Outcome Measures: Visual acuity and intraocular pressure were measured. Results: Bleb-related ocular infection developed an average of 16.7 ± 10.9 months after trabeculectomy (range, 4–23 months). The mean age at presentation was 7.0 ± 2.6 years (range, 4–10 years). Vitreous cultures were positive for staphylococci in two cases. A bleb culture from the third case also grew staphylococcus. All of the children recovered their initial vision after treatment of infection. However, one lost six lines of vision after a subsequent retinal detachment. Additional glaucoma surgery was required in one patient. Conclusions: Late bleb-related ocular infection may occur in children after trabeculectomy with mitomycin C and is characterized by abrupt onset, bleb infiltration, and rapid progression. Despite early preservation of vision after treatment of infection, significant late visual loss can occur.
A Carbon-13 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Study of Some Pentanedionato Complexes of Silicon and Germanium

The 13C NMR spectra of Si(acac)2Cl2 Si(acac)2(acetato)2, Si(acac)3Cl, Ge(acac)2 Cl2, Ge(acac)2Br2 and Ge(acac)3I are reported. The data is consistent with the disproportionation of Si(acac)2Cl2 into Si(acac)3Cl and SiCl4, whereas Si(acac)2(acetato)2 Ge(acac)2Cl2 and Ge(acac)2Br2 each exist in solution as a mixture of cis and trans isomers. The carbon atoms of the cis isomers of these compounds are not exchanging at room temperature.
Oviposition of Tanytarsus dissimilis (Diptera: Chironomidae) in Avoidance Trials with Coal Liquid Water-Soluble Components

Oviposition site preference (OSP) of the chironomid Tanytarsus dissimilis (Johannsen) was evaluated in avoidance trials with acutely toxic concentrations of a coal liquid water-soluble fraction (WSF). Tests conducted with groups and with single organisms indicated that ovipositing adults had no significant preference (α = 0.05) for either river water (control) or a coal liquid WSF. Egg strand size was reduced in the coal liquid WSF, suggesting that toxicant detection occurred despite lack of avoidance. The OSP trials conducted with single organisms were advantageous because of lack of independence in group tests and because greater sample size could be obtained with less effort. This type of behavioral study may have an application to hazard evaluation of other toxic substances.
Epidemiology of interstitial cystitis

Abstract Objectives To discuss what is currently known about the population prevalence of interstitial cystitis (IC) and demographic characteristics of IC patients. Methods Changes over time in the criteria for diagnosis of IC are described. The 3 published studies of the population prevalence of IC are reviewed. Epidemiologic issues important in the design of studies of IC are cited. Results IC is a disease of chronic voiding symptoms. There is very little reliable information published on the etiology, risk factors, or number of persons affected. The criteria used for diagnosis of IC by different investigators have been variable. In 1988, research criteria for a case definition of IC were published, to be applied for IC patients enrolled in National Institutes of Health-funded studies. Three published studies of the population prevalence of IC are available. Each study used different criteria for defining a case of IC, and none used the NIH research criteria to define a case. Prevalence estimates for IC vary significantly, from 10 cases/100,000 reported in Finland in 1975, (based on hospital record review), to 30/100,000 in the United States in 1987, (based on a mailed survey of board certified urologists), to 510 cases/100,000 in the United States in 1989, (based on participant self-report in the 1989 National Health Interview Survey). It is unclear the extent to which these estimates represent true differences in prevalence, rather than reflect the different methods used to define an IC case. Several investigators have reported demographic characteristics of the IC patients followed in their clinics. All studies of adults show a marked female predominance, with reported onset of symptoms generally in the middle years of life. Patients may experience a delay of years from the onset of symptoms to the time of definitive diagnosis. The natural history of symptoms of IC has been reported to be that of a subacute onset with a rapid peak in severity, and then a relatively constant plateau of chronic symptoms thereafter. However, many patients do experience remissions and flares in their disease symptoms. Conclusions Few therapies for IC have been evaluated using rigorous epidemiologic methods. Many questions remain to be answered. New studies of IC should include epidemiologic consultation at the stage of study design.
Surface modification of carbons for enhanced electrochemical activity

Abstract Graphitic materials have at least two distinct types of surface sites, namely the basal plane and edge plane sites. It is generally regarded that the active sites for electrochemical reactions are associated with the edge plane sites, while the basal plane is relatively inactive. In this study, controlled gas-phase reactions for oxidation/reduction were used to modify the surface of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite and carbon fibers by introducing edge plane sites. In some experiments, catalysts were used to enhance the formation of edge sites. The effects of the gas-phase treatments were monitored by electrochemical measurements of the double layer capacitance and the kinetics of oxygen reduction in alkaline electrolyte. The correlation between the electrochemical results and changes to the surface microstructure is discussed. The measurements clearly show that the electrochemical behavior is improved by introducing more edge sites or defects on the carbon surface. These results are consistent with other studies
Interorganizational communication from a resource‐dependence perspective

Explores the relationships between organizational communication and organization theory. Focuses on interorganizational communication and assesses several models of interorganizational relations. Proposes and discusses a method for studying interorganizational communication.
Canopy reflectance response to plant nitrogen accumulation in rice

Tools to quantify the nitrogen (N) status of a rice canopy during inter-nodal elongation (IE) would be valuable for mid-season N management because N accounts for the largest input cost. The objective of this paper was to study canopy reflectance as a potential tool for assessing the mid-season status of N in a rice crop. Three field plot experiments were conducted in 2002 and 2003 on cultivars Wells and Cocodrie to study the canopy reflectance response of rice to plant N accumulation (PNA) during IE and to identify the wavelengths and vegetation indices that are good indicators of PNA. Each experiment included six pre-flood N treatments of 0, 33.6, 67.2, 100.8, 133.4 and 168 kg N ha−1. Rice canopy reflectance, biomass, tissue N concentration and PNA were measured weekly during IE. The wavelengths most strongly correlated to PNA at the beginning of IE were 937 and 718 nm. Several vegetation indices were examined to determine which were strongly correlated (>0.7) with PNA at the beginning of IE. Multiple linear regression models of PNA on selected vegetation indices explained 53–85% of the variation in PNA during the first week of IE. This study identifies the best combinations of vegetation indices for estimating PNA in rice.
Nitromethyl Radical, Cation, and Anion. A Neutralization and Electron Photodetachment-Reionization Mass Spectrometric and ab Initio Computational Study of [C,H2,N,O2] Isomers

Nitromethyl radical (1) was generated in the gas phase by collisional electron detachment from the stable anion CH2NO2- (1-) and characterized by neutralization−reionization mass spectrometry. Radical 1 was stable on the 3.7 μs time scale. Laser electron photodetachment was also used to generate 1 and probe it by collisional reionization and mass spectrometry in a new experiment denoted as -PR+MS. The heat of formation of 1 was obtained by G2(MP2) and G2 calculations of enthalpies of atomization, isodesmic, and dissociation reactions as 126 kJ mol-1, in excellent agreement with the value from CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ calculations, ΔH° f,298(1) = 127 kJ mol-1. The dissociation energy of the C−H bond in nitromethane was calculated as 425 kJ mol-1. No stable structure was found for singlet cation 1+ in accord with complete dissociation of vertically ionized 1+. Several anionic, radical, and cationic isomers of the general formula [C,H2,N,O2] were identified by ab initio calculations and investigated experimentall...
Effect of Bronchodilators on Lung Mechanics in the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)

The acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a disorder of diffuse lung injury secondary to a wide variety of clinical insults (eg, sepsis) and is manifested by impaired oxygenation, pulmonary edema, and decreased static and dynamic compliance. More recently, airflow resistance has been shown to be increased in humans with ARDS. We designed a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover trial to determine the presence and reversibility of increased airflow resistance in ARDS. We studied eight mechanically ventilated patients with ARDS (criteria: PaO2 < or = 70 mm Hg with FIO2 < or = 0.4; diffuse bilateral infiltrates; and pulmonary artery wedge pressure < or = 18 mm Hg). Each was intubated with a No. 8.0 orotracheal tube. We measured dynamic compliance (Cdyn), static compliance (Cstat), airflow resistance across the lungs (RL), shunt fraction (Qs/Qt on FIO2 = 1.0), minute ventilation (VE), PaO2/PAO2, and dead space to tidal volume ratio (VD/VT). Patients were blindly assigned to receive either metaproterenol (1 mL 0.5% in 3 mL saline solution) or saline solution (4 mL) aerosolized over 15 min 6 h apart and in random order so that patients served as their own controls. Metaproterenol significantly reduced RL, peak and plateau airway pressure, and increased Cdyn. Metaproterenol tended to increase PaO2/PAO2, but had no effect on pulmonary shunt or dead space ventilation. We conclude that the increase in airflow resistance of ARDS is substantially reversed by aerosolized metaproterenol without affecting dead space. These data suggest that abnormalities of RL are at lest partially due to bronchospasm.
Vitamin D, its precursors, and metabolites do not affect melanization of cultured human melanocytes.

Exposure of the skin to sunlight results in both tanning and vitamin D3 production. It has therefore been suggested that vitamin D3 or its active metabolite 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 may be the mediator of UV-induced melanogenesis. To test this hypothesis, newborn foreskin-derived melanocytes were cultured in paired dishes in hormone- supplemented medium with 2% serum containing no detectable vitamin D3 or in the same medium containing 10-8 or 10-10 M of either provitamin D3, lumisterol, previtamin D3, vitamin D3, 25-hydroxyvitamin D3, or 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. After 10 days, cell number in cultures containing vitamin D compounds was 93%-140% of unsupplemented controls and melanin content was 60% – 120% of control, with no significant difference in either parameter for any compound tested. In separate experiments, human melanocytes and Cloudman S91 melanoma cells were repeatedly irradiated with physiologic doses of simulated sunlight and incubated between irradiations with provitamin D3, previtamin D3, vitamin D3, or 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. Irradiated cultures had a 90% – 95% inhibition of cell growth associated with a 200% – 800% increase in melanin content per cell relative to controls, but there was no effect of any vitamin D compound on either cell type. Neither cultured human melanocytes nor S91 cells showed evidence of the cytosolic 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 receptor binding by sucrose density gradient analysis using radiolabeled 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. The combined data strongly suggest that neither vitamin D3 nor its precursors or metabolites directly mediate melanogenesis in these cells.
Improved estimation of variance components in mixed models

Taking Albert's (1976) formulation of a mixed model ANOVA, we consider improved estimation of the variance components for balanced designs under squared error loss. Two approaches are presented. One extends the ideas of Stein (1964), The other is developed from the fact that variance components can be expressed as linear combinations of chi-square scale parameters. Encouraging simulation results are presented.
Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with bone-patellar tendon-bone autograft two-incision technique

Abstract Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction can be performed with a variety of techniques. Multiple graft sources for reconstruction are also available. The senior author (JRS) has used an arthroscopically assisted technique with 2 incisions that has achieved consistently good results. One incision is made over the patellar tendon, allowing harvest of the bone-patellar tendon-bone graft and tibial tunnel placement and graft fixation. A second lateral incision is used for femoral tunnel placement and fixation. This method has produced predictably good results and avoids some of the potential complications of endoscopic ACL reconstruction.
Nuclear sex of testicular teratomas of infants.

ABOUT a third to a half of the testicular teratomas of adults are positive for female sex chromatin according to the Barr technique1–3. This observation is in accord with theories of origin of these tumours from haploid germ cells, either by auto-fertilization or by parthenogenesis. Testicular teratocarcinomas of the mouse arise during foetal life long before morphological evidence of meiosis, and so it is not surprising that they are karyotypic males in agreement with the sex of the host4.
Picosecond geminate charge recombination: the dependence of reaction kinetics on initial pair separation

Abstract The recombination kinetics of geminate electron-cation pairs in liquid hexane depends on the photoionization wavelength used for charge pair creation. Pairs generated by two-photon ionization of anthracene with 355 nm light exhibit a first half-life for recombination of 108 ps at 191 K; 266 nm light, 930 ps. Longer recombination times are attributed to a greater electron thermalization length in the liquid. The initial pair is studied both by the temperature dependence of the escape probability and by kinetic calculations based on the Smoluchowski diffusion equation.
Infrared laser optogalvanic spectroscopy of molecules

Infrared laser optogalvanic spectra of portions of the NH3 nu3 band at 9.5 microns and the NO2 nu3 band at 6.2 microns have been recorded using CW tunable diode lasers to probe dc electrical discharges in pure NH3 and an NO2/He gas mixture. Two contributions to the optogalvanic signal are identified: one which corresponds to an increase in discharge impedance and is seen only for irradiation of the negative glow region; and a second which corresponds to a decrease in discharge impedance and is seen for irradiation of all other discharge regions and the volume outside the interelectrode region. Mechanisms by which infrared laser irradiation may cause impedance changes in the discharge are proposed.
Spectromètre de masse à plasma à couplage inductif (ICP-MS) à cellule de collision/ réaction (CC/R) pour l'analyse clinique. Performances et applications à l'analyse élémentaire et à la spéciation

Rapide, multielementaire, combinant a la fois de faibles limites de detection et une linearite sur plusieurs ordres de grandeur – jusqu'a 9 selon les appareils – le spectrometre de masse a plasma a couplage inductif (ICP-MS) se revele un outil analytique particulierement performant pour les analyses inorganiques. Un seul instrument permet de remplacer avantageusement l'absorption atomique flamme et four ainsi que le spectrometre a couple inductif et detecteur optique (ICP-OES ou ICP-AES). Ainsi, la capacite de l'ICP-MS a tolerer l'introduction de matrices urine analysis will highlight the analytical figures of merit in en fait un instrument de choix dans les applications cliniques. Au travers de differents exemples d'analyse d'echantillons de sang, de serum et d'urine, les performances analytiques de l'ICP-MS en termes de limites de detection, de justesse et de stabilite seront presentees. De plus, l'apport de la derniere generation d'appareil a cellule de collision/reaction (CC/R) utilisant un gaz inerte comme l'helium permettant de supprimer l'ensemble des interferences polyatomiques avec un seul jeu de conditions quelle que soit la matrice sera souligne. Enfin, les capacites a coupler l'ICP-MS avec une technique separative seront illustrees par la speciation de l'arsenic dans l'urine.
Neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity in neurons of the solitary tract nuclei: vesicular localization and synaptic input from GABAergic terminals.

Abstract The ultrastructural localization of neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity (NPY-LI) was examined in the medial nuclei of the solitary tracts (mNTS) of adult rat brain. Peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) reaction product was localized extensively to the central lumen of large (100–150 nm), dense-core vesicles. The labeled vesicles were seen in axon terminals of untreated, control animals and in perikarya and dendrites of rats receiving intraventricular injections of colchicine 24 h prior to sacrifice. The labeled terminals were of two types. The first type contained numerous small, clear vesicles that were rimmed with peroxidase product and 1–6 large, densecore vesicles that were labeled throughout their central lumen. The second type contained a more homogeneous population of labeled large, dense-core vesicles. Axon terminals showing NPY-LI formed wither asymmetric synapses with unlabeled dendrites or were without recognized junctions. Within labeled terminals, as well as within perikarya and dendrites, the majority of the dense-core vesicles were located near non-synaptic portions of the plasmalemma that were heavily ensheathed with glial processes. Only a few unlabeled terminals penetrated the glial investments to form synaptic contacts on soma or dendrites containing NPY-LI. These synaptic contacts were of both symmetric and asymmetric types. Combined immunoperoxidase labeling for glutamic acid decarboxylase and immunogold labeling for NPY further established that at least some of the terminals forming symmetric junctions on the NPY-immunoreactive dendrites were GABAergic. These results provide ultrastructural evidence that in the mNTS, NPY-LI is localized principally to large dense-vesicles within neurons whose output is partially regulated by GABA. The preferential distribution of the labeled vesicles along non-synaptic, glial-invested portions of the plasmalemma suggests that neuronal NPY may modulate the activity of nearby astrocytes. Additionally, the localization of NPY-LI in terminals containing a mixed population of synaptic vesicles and forming asymmetric axodendritic junctions suggests that NPY and/or coexisting transmitter may also exert certain known hypotensive effects by excitation of local intrinsic or projection neurons in this brain region.
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in 2012

Case presentation: A healthy 32-year-old man presents for evaluation of exertional dyspnea and syncope. A murmur is noted, and echocardiography reveals marked septal hypertrophy with a resting left ventricular outflow tract gradient of 68 mm Hg (online-only Data Supplement Movie I and Figure I). His father died of an MI at 38 years of age, and his paternal uncle died as the driver in a single-car accident at 30 years of age. His younger brother is thought to have athlete's heart (Figure 1A). After discussing his diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and implications for his family, he asks, “What will happen to my kids? Will I be able to feel well enough to exercise again?” Figure 1. Family management in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). A , Pedigree based on clinical evaluation: The proband (arrowhead) presented with symptoms, physical examination, and echocardiogram diagnostic for HCM. There are 6 other family members at risk for HCM (arrows). The diagnosis of athlete's heart in his brother (a recreational athlete) is ambiguous. Guidelines recommend longitudinal clinical screening for his 4 first-degree relatives (children and siblings [*]).1 B , Pedigree based on clinical and genetic evaluation: A pathogenic myosin heavy chain ( MYH7 ) mutation was identified in the proband and predictive genetic testing performed in first-degree relatives. Longitudinal clinical screening can now be focused on mutation carriers (+). Relatives who have not inherited the family's pathogenic mutation (−) are not at risk for developing HCM or transmitting risk to their children. Only the proband's daughter, the 1 mutation carrier currently without evidence of clinical HCM (arrow), is at risk and requires prospective serial follow-up (*) to monitor for disease development. His brother's diagnosis is clarified as HCM and appropriate care instituted. Circles indicates females; squares, males; solid symbols, clinical diagnosis of HCM; gray symbol, unclear clinical phenotype; slash, …
Linkages Between Children’s Behavior and Nonresident Father Involvement: A Comparison of African American, Anglo, and Latino Families

This study examines the relationships between ethnicity-based variations in nonresident fathers’ involvement and children’s behavior. Using weighted least squares regression analysis, this study investigates nonresident father involvement and children’s behavior based on a nationally representative sample of children in the National Survey of America’s Families. After controlling for family context variables, nonresident father involvement through increased frequency of visits was positively associated with better child behavior. The payment of formal or informal child support by nonresident fathers was also associated with better behavior. This study suggests that the impact of nonresident father involvement on child behavior varies among African American, Anglo, and Latino families.
Collaboration is an essential part of materials development

Under the right circumstances, collaboration can be the most efficient means for developing a new material. A leading motivation for collaboration is the expectation that development time can be dramatically shortened while the technical risk that the new material will meet or exceed the requirements of its intended application is reduced. This strategy increases the probability that investments in the new materials technology will pay off across the supply chain. The 10th International Symposium on Superalloys, held in September 2004, featured a panel session on developing materials as part of a team. This article provides a summary of that session.
Growth of uranium dioxide crystals using tellurium tetrachloride and argon

Abstract The use of large diameter fused quartz tubes in the chemical vapor transport method results in single crystals of UO 2 as large as 1 g each.
Distinct Genetic Architectures for Male and Female Inflorescence Traits of Maize

We compared the genetic architecture of thirteen maize morphological traits in a large population of recombinant inbred lines. Four traits from the male inflorescence (tassel) and three traits from the female inflorescence (ear) were measured and studied using linkage and genome-wide association analyses and compared to three flowering and three leaf traits previously studied in the same population. Inflorescence loci have larger effects than flowering and leaf loci, and ear effects are larger than tassel effects. Ear trait models also have lower predictive ability than tassel, flowering, or leaf trait models. Pleiotropic loci were identified that control elongation of ear and tassel, consistent with their common developmental origin. For these pleiotropic loci, the ear effects are larger than tassel effects even though the same causal polymorphisms are likely involved. This implies that the observed differences in genetic architecture are not due to distinct features of the underlying polymorphisms. Our results support the hypothesis that genetic architecture is a function of trait stability over evolutionary time, since the traits that changed most during the relatively recent domestication of maize have the largest effects.
SmartScan - Hierarchical test compression for pin-limited low power designs

IP cores that are embedded in SoCs usually include embedded test compression hardware. When multiple cores are embedded in a SoC with limited tester-contacted pins, there is a need for a structured test-access mechanism (TAM) architecture that allows compressed test data stimuli and responses to be efficiently distributed to the embedded cores. This paper presents SmartScan, a TAM architecture that is based on time-domain multiplexing of compressed data. Results on industrial designs show that high quality compressed ATPG patterns can be efficiently re-applied in a very low-pin SoC test environment with very low overhead.
Impacts of air temperature variations on the boro rice phenology in Bangladesh: implications for irrigation requirements

Abstract Air temperature significantly affects crop phenology. Numerous experiments have shown that prevailing air temperature determines the length of crop growth stages. Irrigation field requirements depend on the length of the crop growth stages. In the present study, a physically based parametric model, YIELD, has been applied to estimate the impacts of fluctuating air temperature (due to inter-annual climatic variability and global warming) on evapotranspiration water requirements and the length of growth stages of the irrigated boro rice in Bangladesh. The YIELD model is crop specific and crop-growth-stage specific which is a compromise between area-specific regression models and complex crop growth simulation models. The model was tuned to Bangladesh's environment to represent appropriate agro-ecological conditions including soil type, depth of ground water, field size, wind regime, and percolation losses. YIELD has been validated for the length of the growth stages, length of growing season, final yield, and evapotranspiration. A baseline estimate for the boro rice phenology has been established by running the model for 12 meteorological stations located in the major rice growing regions. Based on the analysis of the past variations of air temperature and general circulation model (GCM) predictions, ten scenarios have been created to estimate the effects of these variations on the boro rice growth stages. These applications find that the planting date plays an important role in the boro rice phenology. This effect is most noticeable during initial growth stages. This study has found a non-linear relationship between decreasing air temperature and the length of the initial growth stage and a predominantly linear relationship with other growth stages. Model applications show that an increase in air temperature will provide longer and more stable thermal conditions for boro rice maturing stage. A 5% increase and a 4% decrease in seasonal total evapotranspiration will occur under each 1° cooler and warmer air temperature conditions, respectively. A rise in evapotranspiration will cause higher demands for irrigation water. Such conditions will put pressure on the current irrigation infra-structural facilities in Bangladesh and result in reduction of boro yields. Furthermore, variations in the percent of time required for the completion of different growth stages under various air temperature conditions will demand a reorganization of irrigation schedules.
Dielectric constant dependence of Poole-Frenkel potential in tantalum oxide thin films

Abstract A change of more than five orders of magnitude of leakage current density has been observed in tantalum oxide films with a dielectric constant ranging from 20 to 45. The films were deposited by a simple DC reactive sputtering technique. The measured leakage current density dependence on the film's dielectric constant can be explained by the Poole-Frenkel potential barrier model in which the barrier height is inversely proportional to the dielectric constant of the material. This intrinsic dielectric constant dependence of the trap barrier may give a limit on the lowest leakage current density that one can obtain in a high dielectric constant film.
Two-body rearrangement collision of atom—diatomic-molecule system: Role of wave-number matching

A concise interpretation of the perturbation potential in the distorted-wave Born-approximation representation is given for state-to-state rearrangement collisions. We discuss the usefulness of the kernel and radial overlap distributions for understanding reaction mechanisms. For example, the cause of backward scattering in product angular distributions is explained from the study of the kernel distribution. The reaction zone is seen to be well defined by the domain of the kernel distribution with the exclusion of the region interior to the channel radii corresponding to the classical turning points in the initial- and final-arrangement channels. However, the domain of the overlap distribution sharply defines the reaction zone on the channel coordinate plane. Unlike the case of a few- nucleon transfer reaction involving a massive target nucleus, wave-number matching alone is not a sufficient condition for yielding the maximum cross sections for the state-to-state rearrangement-collision processes of heterotriatomic systems.