cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Polarity reversals in geodynamo models with core evolution

Abstract Numerical dynamos with time-variable control parameters that simulate the secular evolution of the core are used to interpret long-term trends in geomagnetic field behavior, including polarity reversal frequency. Dynamos with incremental changes in convective forcing and rotation rate show continuous trends in dipole field intensity and fluid velocity, with systematic variations in polarity chrons in some cases. Otherwise similar dynamos with constant forcing and rotation rate have statistically stationary dipole field intensity and fluid velocity, with random polarity chrons. A reversing dynamo with steady rotational deceleration constrained by tidal friction and a decreasing (regular) inner core growth rate constrained by core thermal history evolves over 10 Myr with minor trends in average dipole intensity, fluid velocity, and polarity chron length. In contrast, a dynamo started in a non-reversing state and subject to an increasing (anomalous) inner core growth rate and constant rotation evolves over 20 Myr to a reversing state with substantial trends in dipole intensity and polarity chron length. The dispersion of polarity chron lengths in the dynamo model with anomalous evolution is qualitatively similar to the observed dispersion of geomagnetic polarity chrons since the end of the Cretaceous Normal Superchron, and the model dipole field frequency spectra are qualitatively similar to estimates of the geomagnetic spectrum at very low frequencies.
Near-infrared photoluminescence properties of neodymium in in situ doped AlN grown using plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy

We present luminescence spectroscopy measurements of in situ Nd doped AlN grown by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy. A Nd concentration as high as 0.08 at. % is incorporated into the host material. The Nd incorporation efficiency within the AlN matrix is found to be highly sensitive to the Al flux but independent of the substrate temperature (between 800 °C to 950 °C). Photoluminescence, photoluminescence excitation, and combined excitation-emission spectroscopy (CEES) spectra are used to identify the Stark sublevels of the following manifolds: 4I9/2, 4I11/2, 4I13/2, 4F3/2, 4F5/2, 2H9/2, 4F7/2, 4S3/2, 4G5/2, and 4G7/2. A main Nd incorporation site and two minority sites are identified using CEES measurements.
Serum immunoglobulins and risk of infection: how low can you go?

Objectives To determine the relationship between the levels of serum immunoglobulin (Ig) levels and risk of infection. The following 2 main questions are addressed: (1) At what level do reduced serum concentrations of the different Ig species (focusing on IgA, IgG, and IgM) significantly increase the risk of infection above background and (2) For how long can Ig depletion be tolerated before an increased risk of infection becomes apparent. Methods Information was gathered from a search of PubMed and relevant congress abstracts up to and including November 2007. Results Sustained, very low levels of IgA, IgG, or IgM, as occur in primary immunodeficiency syndromes, are associated with significantly increased risks of infections, primarily respiratory tract infections of bacterial origin. Patients with IgG levels suggests that such changes are not generally associated with an increased risk of infections. Conclusions While prolonged, very low levels of IgG and/or IgM are associated with a heightened risk of infections, transient or less severe immunodeficiency appears to be tolerated in most subjects.
Acute toxic effects of an isolate of moniliformin-producing Fusarium oxysporum and purified moniliformin on rats

An isolate of Fusarium oxysporum (MT-6) was obtained from pasture soil in New Zealand in 1987. The isolate was grown on rice and fed to rats in a ratio of 50% and 10% of a complete diet. All rats died within 16 hr and showed mild intestinal and thymic hemorrhage. The major identifiable toxin was moniliformin found at a concentration of 9 mg/g in the rice culture. Purified crystals of moniliformin fed to rats at concentrations of 8, 5 and 3 mg/g of rat diet caused hemorrhaging in the intestines and death of 3 of 3 rats within 16 hr. Dietary concentrations of 2.5 and 2 mg/g of moniliformin killed 2 of 3 rats and concentrations of 1.5 and 1 mg/g killed 1 of 3 rats. No lesions were observed in 3 groups of 3 rats fed a diet containing 0.75, 0.5 or 0.25 mg/g of moniliformin. Intragastric intubation of moniliformin caused hemorrhage of the small intestine and death in 5 of 5 rats at each concentration of 100, 80, 60 and 40 mg/kg body weight and death of 4 of 5 rats at 20 mg/kg. No observable toxic effects were observed in groups of 5 rats each receiving 10, 5 and 2.5 mg of moniliformin/kg body weight.
On good algorithms for determining unsatisfiability of propositional formulas

This paper is concerned with an algorithm that provides short certificates of unsatisfiability with high probability when an input I is a random instance of 3-SAT. Rather than build a refutation DAG, the algorithm finds bounds on nI(true), the number of variables that must be set to true, and nI(false), the number that must be set to false, if all clauses of I are to be satisfied. If the sum nI(true) + nI(false) is greater than the number of variables in I then I must be unsatisfiable. Bounds on nI(true) and nI(false) may be found by throwing out all clauses except those having only negative or only positive literals and finding nI+(true) for the remaining positive clause set I+ and nI-(false) for the remaining negative clause set I-. These questions can alternatively be stated as 3-hitting set problems on I+ and I- separately. It is shown that a good enough approximation algorithm for 3-hitting set can determine useful bounds on nI(true) and nI(false) (high probability of success for large enough constant ratio of clauses to variables). Although a good enough algorithm seems evasive, one that comes fairly close is proposed and analyzed.
Primary care management of sexually transmitted urethritis in adolescent males.

Purpose To describe current knowledge about diagnosis, screening, and treatment of sexually transmitted urethritis among adolescent and young adult males. Data Sources Current research, systematic reviews, consensus guidelines and the author's clinical experience. Conclusions Urethritis, the most common sexually transmitted syndrome in young males, is most frequently caused by Chlamydia trachomatis and/or Neisseria gonorrhea. Symptoms include dysuria and penile discharge, although up to 50% of males are asymptomatic. Risky sexual behaviors and lack of access to healthcare increase incidence of this infection. Transmission to female partners can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, and neonatal infection. Implications for Practice Young males with urethritis must be treated as soon as diagnosis is established. Consensus guidelines exist for diagnosis and treatment of gonococcal and non-gonococcal urethritis. Careful patient education is necessary to ensure successful treatment. Prevention of repeat infections requires partner treatment and detailed education about safer sexual practices. Improved access to preventive services for young males should be a healthcare priority.
Analysis of the expression of murine glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase: in vitro and in vivo studies.

Abstract Glutaric acidemia type I (GAI) is an autosomal recessive organic acidemia caused by a mutation in the gene encoding glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase (GCD). Clinically, GAI is characterized by progressive dystonia, resulting from degeneration of neurons in the caudate and putamen nuclei of the striatum. In an attempt to understand the basis for the specific neuropathology in GAI, we have analyzed the expression of the murine GCD gene using both in vitro and in vivo approaches. Transfection studies mapped the mouse GCD promoter to a 500-bp region of DNA 5′ of the translation start site. The promoter lacks a TATA consensus sequence, but includes possible binding sites for several transcription factors with roles in the regulation of nuclear genes encoding mitochondrial proteins. Western blot and RT/PCR analyses of mouse tissues demonstrated that GCD is ubiquitously expressed, with the highest levels of expression in liver and kidney, consistent with its role in amino acid oxidation. Expression in multiple regions of the brain was also detected by Western blotting. Based on these results we conclude that the specific neuropathology associated with GCD deficiency in GAI cannot be accounted for by its expression pattern.
Strong Langmuir turbulence in laser-created plasmas

Abstract Concepts of strong Langmuir turbulence are used (1) to interpret experimental results from laser-matter interaction experiments performed at Los Alamos and Osaka University and (2) to discuss the anomalous transport of absorbed laser energy into electron heating and acceleration. We derived new heated electron “temperature” scaling laws which employ results from strong turbulence models advanced by Sagdeev et al. and Nicholson et al. Agreement between the Los Alamos CO 2 and the Osaka glass laser-target data and proposed analytic model data confirm the validity of the new heated electron “temperature” scaling laws. Computational results for other plasma parameters such as absorption coefficient and maximum electron energy are also presented. We develop design criteria to minimize plasma turbulence effects for laser-target experiments.
Tacrolimus leukoencephalopathy: A neuropathologic confirmation

Tacrolimus leukoencephalopathy has well documented clinical and neuroradiologic features.1 The latter suggest endothelial dysfunction as the underlying etiology.2 Confirmatory neuropathologic data have been lacking. A 40-year-old woman with biopsy-proven acute rejection was admitted 3 weeks after an orthotopic liver transplant for alcoholic cirrhosis. Alanine aminotransferase was elevated at 226 IU/L (<50 IU/L). She also had elevated cholesterol levels (237–411 IU/L) and was hypertensive (approximately 160/90). Erythrocytes showed anisocytosis and poikilocytosis (spiculated, fragmented, and targets). Tacrolimus 4 mg BID had been started the day after transplantation. The patient had 2 days of toxic tacrolimus levels of 25 ng/mL and 29 ng/mL (>20 ng/mL), followed 4 days later by new onset seizures and mental status changes (lethargy to agitation). BP just after the seizure was 172/104. The last reading prior to her seizure was 144/88. MRI revealed two large white matter lesions in the right frontal lobe without mass effect (figure 1A). There was minimal peripheral enhancement, as well as scattered white matter lesions in the frontal and parieto-occipital lobes bilaterally (figure 1B). Her condition continued to deteriorate over the next 2 days with increasing seizure activity culminating in unresponsiveness. Brain biopsy was performed to exclude a treatable infectious process. Her platelet count at this time was 329,000/μL (445,000/μL upon admission); her prothrombin time and partial thromboplastin time were normal. However, that same day bleeding at the biopsy site …
Wax synthesis by an enzyme system from the honey bee

Abstract 1. 1. A cell-free system prepared from the worker honey bee, containing enzymes from active wax glands, is described which readily incorporated a long-chain fatty alcohol, [1- 3 H]tetracosanol (24:0), into wax esters. About 16% of the label is recovered in the wax ester fraction after 1 hr of incubation at 37°C. 2. 2. ATP, CoA, Mg 2+ , and a pH of 7.1 are required for maximum activity. The fatty acid component of the wax ester is derived from the endogenous lipids of the enzyme preparation. The wax-synthesizing enzyme is not highly specific for the longer chain fatty alcohols, since hexadecanol (16:0) was also incorporated into wax by the system. The system is highly sensitive to detergents. 3. 3. The findings indicate the monoester wax component of beeswax is biosynthesized by the reaction of a long-chain alcohol, such as tetracosanol, with a fatty acyl-CoA.
Control of functional site location for thermosetting latexes

The location of hydroxyl functionality was investigated for thermosetting acrylic latexes. Large and small latex particles with and without hydroxyl functionality were also synthesized and characterized. Large and small latex particles with and without hydroxyl functionality were blended together, and the latexes were crosslinked. The location of hydroxyl groups in the small or large latex particles had an effect upon the thermomechanical properties and hence on the ultimate performance of the crosslinked latexes. The packing of the large and small latexes was dependent on small-to-large particle ratio, and in addition had an effect upon the speed of film formation. The higher concentration of hydroxyl groups in the small latex particles contributed more to the tensile properties of the latexes than the functionality of the large particles.
Initial decomposition ofNymphoides peltata (Gmel.) O. Kuntze (Menyanthaceae), as studied by the leaf-marking method

In this paper the leaf-marking method as used for the study of the development and initial decomposition of floating leaves is described and the reliability of the various measurements is tested and/or discussed. Some general results obtained withNymphoides peltata (Gmel.) O. Kuntze in tanks and in the field are presented and crltically discussed. Autolysis followed by microbial decay was in all cases the most important factor by which leaves disintegrated. In the field plots animals were responsible for the disappearance of 22% of the total leaf area produced during a growth season. This is, however, the combined effect of consumption and damage succeeded by microbial decay. Real grazing can be estimated to be no more than 10% of the production of floating leaves. Fungi can have an important role in initial decomposition, especially after the flowering period, as is demonstrated forSeptoria villarsiae Desm. All damage types show temporal and, in the case of animals, also spatial distribution patterns.
Evolutionary annealing: global optimization in measure spaces

Stochastic optimization methods such as evolutionary algorithms and Markov Chain Monte Carlo methods usually involve a Markov search of the optimization domain. Evolutionary annealing is an evolutionary algorithm that leverages all the information gathered by previous queries to the cost function. Evolutionary annealing can be viewed either as simulated annealing with improved sampling or as a non-Markovian selection mechanism for evolutionary algorithms. This article develops the basic algorithm and presents implementation details. Evolutionary annealing is a martingale-driven optimizer, where evaluation yields a source of increasingly refined information about the fitness function. A set of experiments with twelve standard global optimization benchmarks is performed to compare evolutionary annealing with six other stochastic optimization methods. Evolutionary annealing outperforms other methods on asymmetric, multimodal, non-separable benchmarks and exhibits strong performance on others. It is therefore a promising new approach to global optimization.
Preventing Wildlife Crimes: Solutions That Can Overcome the ‘Tragedy of the Commons’

The 'tragedy of the commons' dilemma occurs when individuals working independently of one another, will overuse a common-property resource for short-term benefits while decimating the resource for long-term use (Hardin 1968). This is often found in the field of wildlife crimes where species become overexploited to increase short-term profits while endangering and eliminating a natural resource for future users. Wildlife crimes suffering from the ‘tragedy’ need to be prevented in order for species to avoid extinction while also conserving a natural resource that monetarily benefits numerous people and their respective communities. Current approaches to the illegal wildlife trade include implementing trade bans or regulatory schemes at the national and international level, yet their effectiveness of reducing the trade is unknown. Perhaps, a better approach in reducing the illegal wildlife trade is a combination of making it more difficult to poach (i.e. situational crime prevention) and incentivizing locals to abstain from poaching. This paper will first review the literature on wildlife crimes and then use a case study approach that will examine the literature on the illegal parrot trade, the market for wildlife skins, and over-fishing. Through these case studies, a comprehensive review of the problem will be detailed as well as innovative conservation solutions that show promise in reducing the poaching and exploitation of species. Amongst these solutions will be the use of situational crime prevention that has shown immediate reductions in crime when tailored towards highly-targeted areas and crimes.
BULK AND FILM CONTRIBUTIONS TO FLUID/FLUID INTERFACIAL AREA IN GRANULAR MEDIA

The interface between wetting (W) and non-wetting (NW) fluids in a porous medium includes contributions from three morphologies. One is the interface between the bulk connected volumes of W and NW phases. A second arises when blobs of one phase become disconnected from the parent bulk phase. Examples of this morphology include pendular rings of W phase held at grain contacts and lenses of W in pore throats. Finally, there is the thin film of W coating the walls of pores containing NW. We describe a theoretical means of estimating these contributions during drainage (NW displacing W). The technique is based on a physically representative and geometrically determinate network model of granular media that allows a priori predictions of pore-scale transport phenomena. The predicted total from all three wetting phase morphologies agrees with the trend of measurements reported in the literature, indicating that the experimental techniques used did not discriminate between the morphologies.
Tensile strength of wet granula materials

The dimensionless tensile strength σd/α of wet granular materials with saturation levels in the plateau region of the pendular state was correlated with the void fraction of the agglomerate. The correlation fitted well with experimental measurements carried out on glass beads of diameter 93 μm and with literature data, and was an improvement over the traditional Rumpf model. The tensile strength at other saturations could be easily derived from the proposed correlation. The effects of bed height in the tester cell, liquid saturation levels in the agglomerate, chemical additives and non-uniformity of the packing of the powder mass were also investigated.
Segmentation of intestinal gland images with iterative region growing

A region growing algorithm for segmentation of human intestinal gland images is presented. The initial seeding regions are identified based on the large vacant regions (lumen) inside the intestinal glands by fitting with a very large moving window. The seeding regions are then expanded by repetitive application of a morphological dilate operation with a much smaller round window structure set. False gland regions (nongland regions initially misclassified as gland regions) are removed based on either their excessive ages of active growth or inadequate thickness of dams formed by the strings of goblet cell nuclei sitting immediately outside the grown regions. The goblet cell nuclei are then identified and retained in the image. The gland contours are detected by applying a large moving round window fitting to the enormous empty exterior of the goblet cell nucleus chains in the image. The assumptions based on real intestinal gland images include the closed chain structured goblet cell nuclei that sit side-by-side with only small gaps between the neighbouring nuclei and that the lumens enclosed by the goblet cell nucleus chains are most vacant with only occasional run-away nuclei. The method performs well for most normal and abnormal intestinal gland images although it is less applicable to cancer cases. The experimental results show that the segmentations of the real microscopic intestinal gland images are satisfactorily accurate based on the visual evaluations.
Soil carbon and nitrogen content and stabilization in mid-rotation, intensively managed sweetgum and loblolly pine stands

Intensive forestry has resulted in considerable increases in aboveground stand productivity including foliar and belowground biomass which are the primary sources of soil organic matter. Soil organic matter is important for the maintenance of soil physical, chemical and biological quality. Additionally, sequestering carbon (C) in soils may provide a means of mitigating increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations. In this study, we examined soil C and nitrogen (N) contents and stabilization in 12-year-old, intensively managed sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua L.) and loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) stands. The treatments examined include: (1) complete weed control; (2) weed control plus drip irrigation; (3) weed control plus drip irrigation and fertigation; and (4) (pine only) weed control plus irrigation, fertigation, and pest control. C and N stabilization was analyzed sequentially by fractionating the soil samples into six fractions using solutions of increasing density. These fractions represented increasingly stable organic matter pools. There was a trend towards increasing C and N contents with increasing management intensity that increase stand productivity; however, these differences were only significant for soil C content in sweetgum. Across all the sweetgum plots, soil C content generally increased with basal area (BA); no such relationship was found in loblolly pine although its BA was equal or higher than that of sweetgum. Generally, across all depths most C was found in the two lightest and in the heaviest fractions. These results suggest that changes to soil C due to increased forest management intensity which increases forest productivity, when they did occur, mostly did not change the percentages of C among soil density fractions over the 12 years of the experiment suggesting minimal inputs of recalcitrant C into the soil; however, even these transient changes may be still be important if intensive management is maintained over subsequent rotations. Published by Elsevier B.V.
Thoughts on the Manchester Manifesto

George Church is a professor at Harvard University and founder of the personal genome project. He has patents in the fields of genome reading and writing, automation and instrumentation, and advocates open source and transparency; for example, by developing the open access next generation sequencing platform (Polonator.org) and the open access human genome plus trait dataset (PersonalGenomes.org).
Codimensional non-Newtonian fluids

We present a novel method to simulate codimensional non-Newtonian fluids on simplicial complexes. Our method extends previous work for codimensional incompressible flow to various types of non-Newtonian fluids including both shear thinning and thickening, Bingham plastics, and elastoplastics. We propose a novel time integration scheme for semi-implicitly treating elasticity, which when combined with a semi-implicit method for variable viscosity alleviates the need for small time steps. Furthermore, we propose an improved treatment of viscosity on the rims of thin fluid sheets that allows us to capture their elusive, visually appealing twisting motion. In order to simulate complex phenomena such as the mixing of colored paint, we adopt a multiple level set framework and propose a discretization on simplicial complexes that facilitates the tracking of material interfaces across codimensions. We demonstrate the efficacy of our approach by simulating a wide variety of non-Newtonian fluid phenomena exhibiting various codimensional features.
Increased Erythropoiesis in Mice Injected With Submicrogram Quantities of Pseudouridine-containing mRNA Encoding Erythropoietin

Advances in the optimization of in vitro-transcribed mRNA are bringing mRNA-mediated therapy closer to reality. In cultured cells, we recently achieved high levels of translation with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-purified, in vitro-transcribed mRNAs containing the modified nucleoside pseudouridine. Importantly, pseudouridine rendered the mRNA non-immunogenic. Here, using erythropoietin (EPO)-encoding mRNA complexed with TransIT-mRNA, we evaluated this new generation of mRNA in vivo. A single injection of 100 ng (0.005 mg/kg) mRNA elevated serum EPO levels in mice significantly by 6 hours and levels were maintained for 4 days. In comparison, mRNA containing uridine produced 10–100-fold lower levels of EPO lasting only 1 day. EPO translated from pseudouridine-mRNA was functional and caused a significant increase of both reticulocyte counts and hematocrits. As little as 10 ng mRNA doubled reticulocyte numbers. Weekly injection of 100 ng of EPO mRNA was sufficient to increase the hematocrit from 43 to 57%, which was maintained with continued treatment. Even when a large amount of pseudouridine-mRNA was injected, no inflammatory cytokines were detectable in plasma. Using macaques, we could also detect significantly-increased serum EPO levels following intraperitoneal injection of rhesus EPO mRNA. These results demonstrate that HPLC-purified, pseudouridine-containing mRNAs encoding therapeutic proteins have great potential for clinical applications.
Vaults bind directly to microtubules via their caps and not their barrels.

Vaults are large (13 Mda) ribonucleoprotein particles that are especially abundant in multidrug resistant cancer cells and have been implicated in nucleocytoplasmic drug transport. To understand how these large barrel-shaped complexes are transported through the cytosol, we examined the association of vaults with microtubules both in vitro and in vivo. Within cells, a subpopulation of vaults clearly associates with microtubules, and these vaults remain associated with tubulin dimers/oligomers when microtubules are disassembled by nocodazole treatment. In vitro, a microtubule-pull down assay using highly purified rat vaults and reassembled microtubules reveals that vaults exhibit concentration-dependent binding to microtubules that does not require the carboxyl terminal end of tubulin. Remarkably, negative staining for electron microscopy reveals that vault binding to microtubules is mediated by the vault caps; more than 82% of bound vaults attach to the microtubule lattice with their long axes perpendicular to the long axis of the microtubule. Five to six vault particles were bound per micron of microtubule, with no crosslinking of microtubules observed, suggesting that only one end of the vault can bind microtubules. Taken together, the data support the model of vaults as barrel-shaped containers that transiently interact with microtubules.
Thyroid hormones act at the level of the pituitary to regulate thyrotropin and growth hormone secretion in hatchling slider turtles (Pseudemys scripta elegans)

Pituitaries from hatchling turtles (Pseudemys scripta elegans) were incubated with different doses of L-thyroxine (T4: 1–500 ng/ml) or 3,5,3′-triiodothyronine (T3: 1–50 ng/ml) for various times (1–48 hr) to assess their effects on basal thyrotropin (TSH) and growth hormone (GH) secretion and responsiveness to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH: 10 ng/ml). Pretreatment with a pharmacological dose of T4 (500 ng/ml) for 1 hr inhibited the TSH response to TRH, and physiological doses were effective after slightly longer times. The TRH effect was reduced by exposure to 50 ng/ml T4 for 1 hr, and abolished after 4 hr. Pretreatment with 50 ng/ml T4 or T3 for 6 hr did not affect basal TSH secretion, but the attenuation of the TRH response persisted for at least 20 hr after removal of thyroid hormones. Longer exposure (16 hr) to 50 ng/ml T4 or T3 reduced both TSH basal secretion and the response to TRH. A low dose (1 ng/ml) of T4 or T3 for the same amount of time had no effect on basal TSH secretion and only slightly reduced the TRH response; T3 was more potent than T4. Basal secretion and TRH responses of glands pretreated with 5 ng/ml T4 were not different from controls after 4 and 6 hr, but were significantly reduced after 24 hr of exposure; 15 ng/ml T4 reduced the TRH response after 6 hr, but basal secretion was not affected until 24 hr. Treatment with 2 ng/ml T4 for 48 hr reduced the response to TRH but did not affect the baseline. Basal and TRH-stimulated GH secretion was also inhibited by thyroid hormones, but the onset of these effects were delayed (16 to 24 hr after exposure) and required a relatively high dose (50 ng/ml). These data are consistent with an earlier report from this laboratory (Denver and Licht: J. Exp. Zool. [in press], '88) that in vivo treatment with thyroid hormone or a goitrogen alters in vitro pituitary hormone secretion in turtles and provide evidence for a direct action of thyroid hormones at the level of the pituitary.
Inhomogeneous interface laser mirror coatings.

Methods of improving the durability of thin-film laser mirror coatings for 10.6 μm using thorium fluoride, zinc selenide, and zinc sulfide materials have been investigated. The largest improvement in film durability was obtained by using inhomogeneous interface fabrication for all the dielectric–dielectric interfaces and by incorporating cerium fluoride protective overcoating material into the film design. Experimental results are given for enhanced reflectors, polarization-selective coatings, and buried-grating aperture-sharing coatings designed for high-power laser applications.
Increased biliary excretion of thyroxine by microsomal enzyme inducers.

Abstract The extrathyroidal mechanism by which endocrine disruptors promote thyroid tumors has been proposed to be increased glucuronidation and biliary elimination of thyroxine (T 4 ), followed by disruption of the hypothalamic—pituitary–thyroid axis. The ability of a chemical to increase T 4 glucuronidation in vitro correlates with the ability to reduce serum T 4 concentrations. Pregnenolone-16α-carbonitrile (PCN), 3-methylchloranthrene (3-MC), and Aroclor 1254 (PCB) each increase T 4 glucuronidation in rat liver microsomes and reduce serum T 4 . However, whether reductions in serum T 4 result directly from increases in T 4 glucuronidation and biliary excretion in vivo has not been thoroughly examined. It is also unclear whether reduced serum T 4 concentrations following microsomal enzyme inducer treatment elicit increases in serum thyrotropin (TSH), the primary stimulus for thyroid cell proliferation, because only PCN treatment increases serum TSH. This study sought to determine whether increases in T 4 -glucuronide biliary excretion in vivo are responsible for reductions in serum T 4 and increases in serum TSH. Male rats were fed control diet or diet containing either 1000 ppm PCN, 250 ppm 3-MC, or 100 ppm PCB for 7 days. Animals were then given [ 125 I]T 4 iv, and bile was collected for 2 h. Radiolabeled metabolites in bile were analyzed by reverse-phase HPLC with γ-detection. PCN, 3-MC, and PCB treatments reduced serum T 4 concentrations by 42, 45, and 73%, respectively, while TSH was only increased by PCN (180%). The biliary excretion of [ 125 I]thyronines was increased 103% by PCN, 157% by 3-MC, and 193% by PCB. T 4 -glucuronide was the primary metabolite in bile, accounting for up to 86% of the radiolabeled metabolites in controls. The amount of T 4 -glucuronide excreted in bile was increased 161% and 226% by 3-MC and PCB, respectively, but was only increased 55% by PCN. None of the treatments had any effect on the urinary excretion of [ 125 I]T 4 . Thus, increased glucuronidation and biliary excretion of T 4 appears likely to be responsible for reductions in serum T 4 produced by microsomal enzyme inducers. Furthermore, increases in T 4 biliary excretion produced by microsomal enzyme inducer treatment are not consistent with changes in TSH. Thus, it can be concluded that differential changes in serum TSH do not stem from differential increases in T 4 biliary excretion.
Resistant Hypertension in Diabetes Mellitus

Resistant hypertension in diabetes is associated with poor cardiovascular and renal outcomes. This brief review will examine the definitions and epidemiology of resistant hypertension and consider the differences between apparent resistant hypertension and truly resistant or refractory hypertension. It will review the role of the sympathetic nervous system in resistant hypertension. It will consider the relationship between obesity and leptin resistance and sympathetic signaling; the role of obstructive sleep apnea in resistant hypertension; and the role of aldosterone in resistant hypertension. It will conclude by mentioning briefly renal nerve ablation.
Spatially patterned states in systems of interacting catalyst particles

Abstract Considering an assemblage of identical catalyst particles exposed to uniform surroundings, we show in this theoretical study that interparticle interactions give rise to spatially patterned steady states under some conditions. In such patterned states, the rate of reaction on one particle differs from the rate on all or some of the neighboring particles. Results, which are based on simple geometric configurations and on the assumption that a single nonisothermal reaction occurs, show that spatially patterned states of two types exist. The first occurs only if a single isolated particle has multiple steady states. The second type, not inferable from the behavior of a single isolated particle, is attributable to the instability of a spatially uniform state caused by particle-particle interactions. This type may occur in cases where the steady state of an isolated particle is unique and globally stable. Though the study is not extended here to complex assemblages, the results suggest that these phenomena may occur in fixed bed reactors and lead to insidious nonuniformities in reactor temperature and catalyst activity.
Two digital approaches for calculating the area of regions affected by the great American flood of 1993

(1994). Two digital approaches for calculating the area of regions affected by the great American flood of 1993. Geocarto International: Vol. 9, No. 4, pp. 53-59.
cAMP and arachidonic acid simulate long-term structural and functional changes produced by neurotransmitters in aplysia sensory neurons

Abstract The efficacy of the synapses between the sensory and motor cells of Aplysia, as well as the number of presynaptic sensory cell varicosities in vitro, can undergo long-term increases and decreases, respectively, following application of the facilitatory modulator serotonin or the inhibitory modulator FMRFamide. We here report that CAMP and arachidonic acid, two second messenger systems mediating some of the short-term actions of serotonin and FMRFamide on sensory cells, reproduce some of the long-term changes in the structure of the sensory cells, and these structural changes in turn parallel the long-term changes in the functional effectiveness of the synapses. cAMP enhances the strength of the connections between the sensory and motor cells and increases the number of sensory varicosities. Conversely, arachidonic acid decreases the strength of the connections and decreases the number of sensory varicosities. Thus, each of the modulatory neurotransmitters may activate the same intracellular second messenger system to establish both short and long lasting functional changes in synaptic efficacy, as well as to produce enduring structural changes in neuron connectivity.
A review of mild head trauma. Part II: Clinical implications

In Binder et al. (1997) a metal-analytic review revealed a small effect size attributable to a history of mild head trauma (MHT). The results suggested a weak association between MHT and persistent neuropsychological deficits. In this paper, additional outcome data are summarized and the results are discussed. On a chronic basis, 7-8% of MHT patients remain symptomatic and 14% are disabled from work. Magnetic resonance studies of acutely injured persons may show lesions that are not detected in usual clinical practice. It is likely that the effects of these lesions dissipate with time, consistent with the neuropsychological data. The association between MHT and cognitive deficits, symptoms, and disability may not be casual; data suggest that MHT patients have more psychosocial problems prior to injury than do non-injured persons. The examiner of the MHT patient with chronic complaints must consider alternative medical and psychiatric explanations and perform a differential diagnosis. The possibility of a neurological basis for sustained neuropsychological problems cannot be completely dismissed. Presently, however, there is little evidence for neurological causation of most persisting complaints.
Review of gemcitabine plus taxane combination therapy in the first-line treatment of metastatic breast cancer

The development of new chemotherapeutic therapies has led to an increase in treatment options for metastatic breast cancer. Using different types of agents in combination has resulted in anti-tumour activity that is greater than can be achieved with single-agent therapy, and has contributed to an increase in survival rates in the last 20 years. Some drug combinations only display synergistic effects when they are used in a certain sequence, and this is particularly true of the combination of a taxane followed by gemcitabine. Gemcitabine plus paclitaxel was recently added to the preferred combinations of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Practice Guidelines in Oncology, as it demonstrated an increased time to disease progression and overall survival when compared with paclitaxel alone. The combination of gemcitabine plus docetaxel demonstrated similar efficacy to capecitabine plus docetaxel, but was associated with fewer drug-related discontinuations. Bi-weekly dosing regimens may optimise synergistic mechanisms and should be tested further in randomised clinical trials.
Female Neurogenic Sexual Dysfunction Secondary to Clitoral Neuropathy

We herein present several cases of female sexual dysfunction related in part to organic neurologic pathophysiology. These cases emphasize the role of the central and peripheral nervous systems in female sexual function.
Maximum-Energy Traveltimes Enhance Imaging In Complex Structures - A Gulf of Mexico Salt Example

Even for gentle structures, seismic energy does not reflect from points directly below the source and receiver midpoint. Data must be migrated using a velocity model so that reflectors are positioned at their true spatial locations. In the usual Kirchhoff method of depth migration, we assume that a single first-arrival raypath (and traveltime) connects a source (or receiver) location to each point in the subsurface and the migration is straightforward. However, in areas of complex velocity structure, such as near a GOM salt body, seismic energy can travel from the surface to a subsurface point in a variety of raypaths and therefore may have multiple arrivals. The first arrivals do not necessarily carry most of the seismic energy. Migration results using traveltimes for different arrivals can be quite different. In this paper, we will show that the depth image around a GOM salt body is improved by using the "maximum energy" traveltimes instead of the first-arrival traveltimes. Furthermore, the improvements are related to the geometry of the data acquisition relative to the salt body. The largest improvements are seen when the data are collected in a direction tangent to the salt body.
The idiopathic form of West syndrome

The clinical and electroencephalographic data of 31 children with cryptogenic West syndrome (WS), selected from a series of 103 WS patients, with a follow-up between 4 and 12 years, were studied retrospectively to verify whether this group included patients who fulfilled the criteria for an idiopathic etiology. The results identified a possible idiopathic etiology in 17 patients (55%), who had a family history of other forms of idiopathic epilepsy or febrile convulsions, or who developed, during the follow-up, an EEG genetic trait such as a photoconvulsive response or spike-and-wave discharges, or rolandic spikes. All 17 children had a favorable outcome and all had normal neuropsychological development. Four children (13%) fulfilled the criteria for a true cryptogenic etiology, a causative lesion being suspected, but never proved. At the end of the follow-up all four had seizures, or developmental delay or both, all signs that suggest an underlying cerebral lesion. The other 10 children, representing 32% of the cryptogenic cases, had a good prognosis, with early disappearance of spasms and hypsarrhythmia, and normal neurological development, but none had an EEG epileptic trait or family history of epilepsy or febrile convulsions; although they could have had an idiopathic WS, this was not proved. We conclude that among the children classified as having a cryptogenic WS, many--in our series at least 55%--fulfill the criteria for an idiopathic etiology.
Testing Claims for On-Line Conferences

On-line computer conferences have been of increasing interest to teachers of composition who hope to provide alternative forums for student-centered, collaborative writing that involve all members ...
The Macaque Face Patch System: A Window into Object Representation

The macaque brain contains a set of regions that show stronger fMRI activation to faces than other classes of object. This “face patch system” has provided a unique opportunity to gain insight into the organizing principles of IT cortex and to dissect the neural mechanisms underlying form perception, because the system is specialized to process one class of complex forms, and because its computational components are spatially segregated. Over the past 5 years, we have set out to exploit this system to clarify the nature of object representation in the brain through a multilevel approach combining electrophysiology, anatomy, and behavior. These experiments reveal (1) a remarkably precise connectivity of face patches to each other, (2) a functional hierarchy for representation of view-invariant identity comprising at least three distinct stages along the face patch system, and (3) the computational mechanisms used by cells in face patches to detect and recognize faces, including measurement of diagnostic local contrast features for detection and measurement of face feature values for recognition.
REGULATORY AND TOXICOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF FOOD IRRADIATION

A major difficulty with food irradiation from a regulatory point of view is that it is related to many food issues, such as safety, labeling and consumer acceptance. Food that is intentionally irradiated is judged to be adulterated under current law unless there is a regulation for such use. As a first step in the rulemaking process, the Bureau of Foods has developed criteria useful for evaluating the safety of irradiated food by considering present knowledge in radiation chemistry and toxicity testing. These criteria will be used for evaluating existing toxicology studies and for developing policy on food irradiation.
Collagen degradation by human gingival fibroblasts. I. In vivo phagocytosis.

An electron microscopic survey and stereological analysis were made of the lamina propria of human gingival tissues from 8 patients with periodontitis and 6 patients clinically free of pathology (normal). The connective tissue was classified and divided into Zones A, B, and C, according to their collagen content, fibroblastic status (active or inactive), and numbers of inflammatory cells. Fibroblastic phagocytosis of collagen was most prominent in relatively stable areas (Zone A) where the collagen content was high, fibroblasts were classified as inactive (resting), and there were no inflammatory cells. Active (synthesizing) fibroblasts were conspicuous in Zone B, where intercollagenous spaces were wide and mononuclear cells occurred. Phagocytosis of collagen in the human gingiva was found to be a minor function of fibroblasts in Zone B and the highly inflamed Zone C.
Preconditioned iterative methods and finite difference schemes for convection-diffusion

We conduct experimental study on numerical solution of the two dimensional convection-diffusion equation discretized by three finite difference schemes: the traditional central difference scheme, the standard upwind scheme and the fourth-order compact scheme. We study the computed accuracy achievable by each scheme, the algebraic properties of the coefficient matrices arising from different schemes and the performance of the Gauss-Seidel iterative method, the preconditioned GMRES iterative method, and the multigrid method, for solving linear systems arising from these schemes.
Climate is changing, can we? A scientific exhibition in schools to understand climate change and raise awareness on sustainability good practices

Climate change is recognised as the most urgent environmental problem we are facing today. Communication initiatives can play a key role in addressing people’s perception of climate change possibly driving them to change their lifestyles. The Institute of Biometeorology of Italian National Research Council realised in 2006–2007 a communication campaign through a science exhibition visited by more than 2000 students with the aim of raising awareness on climate change impacts and sustainability “good practices”, involving also 240 students in a carbon diet contest. This work describes the concept of the educational exhibition and the impressive carbon cuts obtained by students.
Comparison of daytime and nighttime oxidation of biogenic and anthropogenic VOCs along the New England coast in summer during New England Air Quality Study 2002

[1] Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and some of their oxidants (O3, NO3) were measured on board the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration research ship R/V Ronald H. Brown along the coast of New England, downwind of New York, Boston, and Portsmouth and large forested areas in New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts in July and August 2002. The diurnal variations of isoprene, monoterpenes, and aromatics were mainly dependent on their emissions and the abundance of the oxidants OH and NO3. Elevated mixing ratios of short-lived VOCs were only encountered at the ship, which was about 1–6 hours downwind of the sources, when the concentrations of the oxidants were low. For the biogenic compounds this was generally the case during morning and evening hours, when the lifetime of the biogenics was long because of low OH and NO3 concentrations. Most anthropogenic VOCs do not react with NO3, and therefore their mixing ratios remained elevated during the night. The products of isoprene oxidation, methyl vinyl ketone, methacrolein, and peroxymethacrylic nitric anhydride (MPAN) were, on average, more abundant than isoprene itself. Only during the transition periods from day to night, when oxidation rates were at a minimum, could isoprene exceed its products. The loss of the biogenic VOCs was dominated by reactions with NO3, whereas the loss of anthropogenics came mostly from reactions with OH. The oxygenated VOCs are the major contributor to the OH loss, except in close vicinity of emission sources. The total loss of biogenic compounds during the night was so effective that after one night of transport they were in most cases completely reacted away, whereas the mixing ratios of the anthropogenic compounds remained high during the night. The pool of reactive hydrocarbons at sunrise was thus typically dominated by anthropogenic VOCs.