cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rates for Parallax-shifted Microlensing Events from Ground-based Observations of the Galactic Bulge

The parallax effect in ground-based microlensing (ML) observations consists of a distortion to the standard ML light curve arising from the Earth's orbital motion. This can be used to partially remove the degeneracy among the system parameters in the event timescale, t0. In most cases, the resolution in current ML surveys is not accurate enough to observe this effect, but parallax could conceivably be detected with frequent follow-up observations of ML events in progress, providing the photometric errors are small enough. We calculate the expected fraction of ML events where the shape distortions will be observable by such follow-up observations, adopting Galactic models for the lens and source distributions that are consistent with observed microlensing timescale distributions. We study the dependence of the rates for parallax-shifted events on the frequency of follow-up observations and on the precision of the photometry. For example, we find that for hourly observations with typical photometric errors of 0.01 mag, 6% of events where the lens is in the bulge, and 31% of events where the lens is in the disk (or ≈ 10% of events overall), will give rise to a measurable parallax shift at the 95% confidence level. These fractions may be increased by improved photometric accuracy and increased sampling frequency. While long-duration events are favored, the surveys would be effective in picking out such distortions in events with timescales as low as t0 ≈ 20 days. We study the dependence of these fractions on the assumed disk mass function and find that a higher parallax incidence is favored by mass functions with higher mean masses. Parallax measurements yield the reduced transverse speed, , which gives both the relative transverse speed and lens mass as a function of distance. We give examples of the accuracies with which may be measured in typical parallax events. Fitting ML light curves, which may be shape-distorted (e.g., by parallax, blending, etc.), with only the three standard ML parameters can result in inferred values for these quantities that are significantly in error. Using our model, we study the effects of such systematic errors and find that, due primarily to blending, the inferred timescales from such fits, for events with disk lenses, tend to shift the event duration distribution by ≈ 10% toward shorter t0. Events where the lens resides in the bulge are essentially unaffected. In both cases, the impact parameter distribution is depressed slightly at both the low and high ends.
Pain and Symptoms after Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: Should Technology Play a Role in Self-Management?

Abstract Background Those with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) often experience pain and symptoms long after their initial injury. A gap in current knowledge is how persons would prefer to monitor and manage these symptoms following mTBI. Aims The purpose of this study was to explore self-management strategies to inform design of an informatics tool to support self-management of pain and symptoms following mTBI. Design A qualitative descriptive approach using semi-structured interviews of participants was used. Settings Participants were interviewed by phone. Participants Seven female participants with recent mTBI completed interviews. Methods A descriptive approach was utilized to determine what the tool should address, and which features should be included in a future tool. Themes were identified using a Qualitative Description analysis approach, which is based in naturalistic inquiry. Results Participants described difficulty coping with symptoms, limited access to or knowledge of treatments and trial and error with compensatory strategies. These challenges often led to difficulty keeping up with work, school and other commitments. All participants indicated that they were interested in a tool that addresses pain, memory and concentration. The main features that participants wanted were pain and symptom tracking as well as suggestions based on tracking information. Conclusions Patients are interested in using technology to help with self-management of their pain and symptoms following mTBI. Tools that help patients with self-management should integrate into health systems and provide ways to effectively interact with providers during the most vulnerable phases of recovery.
The Multiphase Intracluster Medium in Galaxy Groups Probed by the Lyα Forest

The case is made that the intracluster medium (ICM) in present-day spiral-rich galaxy groups probably has undergone a much slower evolution than that in elliptical-rich groups and clusters. The environments of protoclusters and protogroups at z > 2 are likely similar to spiral-rich group environments at lower redshift. Therefore, like the ICM in spiral-rich groups today, the ICM in protogroups and protoclusters at z > 2 is predicted to be significantly multiphased. The QSO Lyα forest in the vicinity of galaxies is an effective probe of the ICM at a wide range of redshift. Two recent observations of Lyα absorption around galaxies by Adelberger et al. and by Pascarelle et al. are reconciled, and it is shown that observations support the multiphase ICM scenario. Galaxy redshifts must be very accurate for such studies to succeed. This scenario can also explain the lower metallicity and lower hot gas fraction in groups.
Biomimetic Zirconia with Cactus-Inspired Meso-Scale Spikes and Nano-Trabeculae for Enhanced Bone Integration.

Biomimetic design provides novel opportunities for enhancing and functionalizing biomaterials. Here we created a zirconia surface with cactus-inspired meso-scale spikes and bone-inspired nano-scale trabecular architecture and examined its biological activity in bone generation and integration. Crisscrossing laser etching successfully engraved 60 μm wide, cactus-inspired spikes on yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (Y-TZP) with 200–300 nm trabecular bone-inspired interwoven structures on the entire surface. The height of the spikes was varied from 20 to 80 μm for optimization. Average roughness (Sa) increased from 0.10 μm (polished smooth surface) to 18.14 μm (80 μm-high spikes), while the surface area increased by up to 4.43 times. The measured dimensions of the spikes almost perfectly correlated with their estimated dimensions (R2 = 0.998). The dimensional error of forming the architecture was 1% as a coefficient of variation. Bone marrow-derived osteoblasts were cultured on a polished surface and on meso- and nano-scale hybrid textured surfaces with different spike heights. The osteoblastic differentiation was significantly promoted on the hybrid-textured surfaces compared with the polished surface, and among them the hybrid-textured surface with 40 μm-high spikes showed unparalleled performance. In vivo bone-implant integration also peaked when the hybrid-textured surface had 40 μm-high spikes. The relationships between the spike height and measures of osteoblast differentiation and the strength of bone and implant integration were non-linear. The controllable creation of meso- and nano-scale hybrid biomimetic surfaces established in this study may provide a novel technological platform and design strategy for future development of biomaterial surfaces to improve bone integration and regeneration.
Cryo-EM of a viral RNA and RNA-protein complex reveals how structural dynamics and novel tRNA mimicry combine to hijack host machinery

Abstract Viruses require multifunctional structured RNAs to hijack their host’s biochemistry, but their mechanisms can be obscured by the difficulty of solving conformationally dynamic RNA structures. Using cryo-EM, we visualized the structure of the mysterious viral tRNA-like structure (TLS) from brome mosaic virus (BMV), which affects replication, translation, and genome encapsidation. Structures in isolation and bound to tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase (TyrRS) show that this ∼55 kDa purported tRNA mimic undergoes large conformational rearrangements to bind TyrRS in a form that differs dramatically from tRNA. Our studies reveal how viral RNAs can use a combination of static and dynamic RNA structures to bind host machinery through highly noncanonical interactions and highlights the utility of cryo-EM for visualizing small conformationally dynamic structured RNAs.
Knowledge-guided Self-supervised Learning for estimating River-Basin Characteristics.

Machine Learning is being extensively used in hydrology, especially streamflow prediction of basins/watersheds. Basin characteristics are essential for modeling the rainfall-runoff response of these watersheds and therefore data-driven methods must take into account this ancillary characteristics data. However there are several limitations, namely uncertainty in the measured characteristics, partially missing characteristics for some of the basins or unknown characteristics that may not be present in the known measured set. In this paper we present an inverse model that uses a knowledge-guided self-supervised learning algorithm to infer basin characteristics using the meteorological drivers and streamflow response data. We evaluate our model on the the CAMELS dataset and the results validate its ability to reduce measurement uncertainty, impute missing characteristics, and identify unknown characteristics.
Computational Complexity of Geometric Symmetry Detection in Graphs

Constructing a visually informative drawing of an abstract graph is a problem of considerable practical importance, and has recently been the focus of much investigation. Displaying symmetry has emerged as one of the foremost criteria for achieving good drawings. Linear-time algorithms are already known for the detection and display of symmetry in trees, outerplanar graphs, and embedded planar graphs. The central results of this paper show that for general graphs, however, detecting the presence of even a single axial or rotational symmetry is NP-complete. A number of related results are also established, including the #P-completeness of counting the axial or rotational symmetries of a graph.
The process of infection with coliphage T7. VII. Characterization and mapping of the major in vivo transcription products of the early region.

Bacteriophage T7 early RNA's, as transcribed in vivo by Escherichia coli RNA polymerase, have been observed as bands on polyacrylamide gels. The wildtype pattern has been compared to that of several deletion mutants. Analyses of these patterns allow us to determine the order of the five largest messenger RNA's. Starting from the left and given in terms of their molecular weights, the order of the early mRNA's is 0.24, 0.70, 1.15, 0.24, and 0.47 × 106 daltons, respectively.
THE MULTIPLICATION OF HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS. I. THE PROGRAMMING OF VIRAL DNA DUPLICATION IN HEP-2 CELLS.

Abstract This paper reports the results of two series of experiments. In one series it was estimated with the aid of 5-iodouracildeoxyriboside (IUdR) that in HEp-2 cells, Herpes simplex virus (HSV) DNA accumulates at an exponential rate between 4 and at least 14 hours after infection. The time required to duplicate one molecule of viral DNA cannot be more than 40 minutes; the time interval between completion of DNA and its encapsidation is estimated to be 120–150 minutes. In the second series, infected cells were exposed to IUdR or to puromycin for brief intervals of time. IUdR added to cells for brief intervals had no demonstrable effects during the first 2 hours. In cells exposed to IUdR during the third and fourth hours virus multiplication was delayed, but the rate of accumulation of virus was unaffected. However, the inhibition of virus multiplication in cells treated for 2 hours between 4 and 14 hours after infection could not be reversed. Incorporation of IUdR-H3 into viral DNA could not be shown. Brief treatment of infected cells with puromycin during the first 4 hours of infection delayed, but did not affect the rate of, viral DNA synthesis and virus maturation. The inhibition produced later in the infection could be reversed by withdrawing the drug. These results are interpreted as follows: (1) Protein synthesis must precede viral DNA synthesis. (2) The enzymes required for the utilization of thymidine in the synthesis of viral DNA are made approximately between the second and fourth hours after infection. The synthesis of these enzymes ceases after the onset of viral DNA synthesis. (3) The duplication of viral DNA begins when one or more specific precursors of DNA synthesis reach a critical concentration.
Ephrin-As are required for the topographic mapping but not laminar choice of physiologically distinct RGC types.

In the retinocollicular projection, the axons from functionally distinct retinal ganglion cell (RGC) types form synapses in a stereotypical manner along the superficial to deep axis of the SC. Each lamina contains an orderly topographic map of the visual scene but different laminae receive inputs from distinct sets of RGCs, and inputs to each lamina are aligned with the others to integrate parallel streams of visual information. To determine the relationship between laminar organization and topography of physiologically defined RGC types, we used genetic and anatomical axon tracing techniques in wild type and ephrin-A mutant mice. We find that adjacent RGCs of the same physiological type can send axons to both ectopic and normal topographic locations, supporting a penetrance model for ephrin-A independent mapping cues. While the overall laminar organization in the SC is unaffected in ephrin-A2/A5 double mutant mice, analysis of the laminar locations of ectopic terminations shows that the topographic maps of different RGC types are misaligned. These data lend support to the hypothesis that the retinocollicular projection is a superimposition of a number of individual 2-D topographic maps that originate from specific types of RGCs, require ephrin-A signaling, and form independently of the other maps.
Buying in and Checking out: Identity Development and Meaning Making in the Practice of Mathematics Homework.

This paper presents findings from an ethnographic study of the role and meaning of mathematics homework in the lives of middle school students. The study conceptualizes and examines homework as a social practice, with a focus on how students make meaning out of their experiences and the role of identity development in meaning making. Specifically, the study examines how middle school students come to value or reject mathematics homework. Case study analyses revealed two ways of characterizing students’ experiences with homework. Students who buy into homework develop aspects of their identities related to school, math and homework that support them in valuing homework. Students who check out develop aspects of their identities that support them in rejecting homework. The concepts of buying in and checking out have implications for theory development around motivation and identity and for school practices around homework.
Viral Vectors for Gene Delivery and Expression in the CNS

Viral vectors have emerged as an important tool for manipulating gene expression in the adult mammalian brain. The adult brain is composed largely of nondividing cells, and therefore DNA viruses have become the vehicle of choice for neurobiologists interested in somatic gene transfer. Recombinant viral vectors based upon adenovirus or herpes simplex virus have been created in which a gene essential for viral replication is removed and a gene of interest is inserted in the viral genome. While this eliminates pathogenicity due to viral replication, retention of viral genes and continued expression of these genes may limit the potential of the current generation of vectors. Defective viral vectors represent a different approach, in which only viral recognition signals are used to allow packaging of foreign DNA into a viral coat while eliminating the possibility of viral gene expression within target cells. The defective HSV vector has been used to transfer genes into the adult rat brain. This vector has also been used for analysis of the preproenkephalin promoterin vivo,and important regions of this promoter have been identified using this technique. A modification ofin situPCR has been developed as an adjunctive tool for sensitively documenting the presence of vector DNA within target cells duringin vivopromoter studies. Finally, the adenoassociated virus vector has been used as the first fully defective DNA viral vector, which also eliminates any contamination by helper viruses. This vector can transfer genes into the mammalian brain and has shown significant behavioral recovery in a rodent model of Parkinson's disease. Future work will undoubtedly result in still more diverse and improved vectors; however, these studies have documented the importance of viral vectors to both basic neurobiology and the potential treatment of neurologic disease.
Comparison of seismic force reduction factors used in U.S.A. and Japan

This paper compares the seismic force reduction factors used in the United States and Japan. Since these factors appear in a very different format in the two countries, for comparison purposes, a general expression relating the force reduction factor to the structural ductility and overstrength factors is first established. This study shows that (i) the seismic design limit state philosophy applied to moderate and severe earthquakes is treated differently in each country; (ii) the Japanese code requires the designer to check explicitly the serviceability limit state, while the American codes do not require the member's strength be checked for the serviceability limit state; (iii) the force reduction factors used in Japan for the ultimate limit state check are significantly smaller than those used in the United States, and (iv) the force reduction factors used in Japan are even smaller if structural overstrength is not explicitly checked by designers.
Mixed Valence Self-Assembled Monolayers: Electrostatic Polarizabilities of the Mixed Valence States

Kelvin probe force microscopy is used to examine the electronic polarizability of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of mixed valence species. Tetrathiafulvalene (TTF)-based SAMs exhibit much greater polarizability in the delocalized monocationic state. A TTF+PF6− SAM exhibits 61% of the capacitance of the neutral SAM, and a charge transfer complex with tetracyanoethylene exhibits 63%. The large difference relative to the neutral SAM is attributed to the delocalized electronic charge in the mixed valence cation, which creates an internal dipolar field that offsets the applied electric field. Comparison of ferrocene- and ferrocenium-based monolayers shows that the major contribution to the polarizability of the TTF system is the delocalized electronic structure and not the charge-separated ionic state.
A chamber for measuring volatilization of pesticides from model soil and water disposal systems

Abstract A chamber for measuring volatilization of pesticides from model soil pit and evaporation pond disposal systems gave 72–86% recoveries of volatilized chemical for six pesticides. Volatilization measurements from a glass surface and from water correlated well with pesticide physico-chemical properties and previously published work.
The isolated ureter. A model for study of ureteral rejection.

Abstract An animal model is demonstrated in which it is possible to study the histologic and functional characteristics of the isolated ureter. This is possible by means of a staged procedure and demonstrates that blood flow sufficient to maintain a viable ureter will develop from the bladder by four weeks following reimplantation. This isolated ureter, if not obstructed or dilated, will continue to produce normal action potentials and contractions when stimulated and will have normal histologic appearance when biopsied. This model is suggested as a means to investigate the problem of ureteral allograft rejection without the influence of renal rejection.
Induction of Human Herpesvirus 8 Gene Expression in a Post-transplantation Primary Effusion Lymphoma Cell Line

Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8 or Kaposi's sarcoma herpesvirus) is a gamma herpesvirus that is most likely the etiologic agent of both Kaposi's sarcoma and primary effusion lymphoma (PEL), a rare HIV-associated lymphoma. The role of HHV-8 in post-transplant lymphoma is less well characterized. We demonstrate that HHV-8 is constitutively present in LH5-21 cells, an atypical patient derived posttransplant PEL cell line. LH5-21 cells lack detectable Epstein-Barr virus, express T cell-associated surface markers and have undergone immunoglobulin heavy chain gene rearrangement. Incubation with 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol- 13-acetate or butyrate induces high levels of several HHV-8 encoded genes that are associated with lytic replication. The patient from whom this cell line was derived demonstrated a dramatic clinical response to withdrawal of immunosuppressive therapy. While HHV-8 associated PELs in the post-transplant setting are rare, this study suggests that improvement in the host immunologic function might help in the management of some PELs.
The Relationships Among Social Comparisons, Body Surveillance, and Body Dissatisfaction in the Natural Environment

We examined the relationships among social comparisons (i.e., body, eating, and exercise), body surveillance, and body dissatisfaction in the natural environment. Participants were 232 college women who completed a daily diary protocol for 2 weeks, responding to online surveys 3 times per day. When the contemporaneous relationships among these variables were examined in a single model, results indicated that comparing one's body, eating, or exercise to others or engaging in body surveillance was associated with elevated body dissatisfaction in the same short-term assessment period. Additionally, individuals with high trait-like engagement in body comparisons or body surveillance experienced higher levels of body dissatisfaction. Trait-like eating and exercise comparison tendencies did not predict unique variance in body dissatisfaction. When examined prospectively in a single model, trait-like body comparison and body surveillance remained predictors of body dissatisfaction, but the only more state-like behavior predictive of body dissatisfaction at the next assessment was eating comparison. Results provide support for the notion that naturalistic body dissatisfaction is predicted by both state- and trait-like characteristics. In particular, social comparisons (i.e., body, eating, and exercise) and body surveillance may function as proximal triggers for contemporaneous body dissatisfaction, with eating comparisons emerging as an especially important predictor of body dissatisfaction over time. Regarding trait-like predictors, general tendencies to engage in body comparisons and body surveillance may be more potent distal predictors of body dissatisfaction than general eating or exercise comparison tendencies.
Observation of the ghost critical field for superconducting fluctuations in a disordered TaN thin film

We experimentally study the ghost critical field (GCF), a magnetic field scale for the suppression of superconducting fluctuations, using Hall effect and magnetoresistance measurements on a disordered superconducting thin film near its transition temperature ${T}_{c}$. We observe an increase in the Hall effect with a maximum in field that tracks the upper critical field below ${T}_{c}$, vanishes near ${T}_{c}$, and returns to higher fields above ${T}_{c}$. Such a maximum has been observed in studies of the Nernst effect and identified as the GCF. Magnetoresistance measurements near ${T}_{c}$ indicate quenching of superconducting fluctuations, agree with established theoretical descriptions, and allow us to extract the GCF and other parameters. Above ${T}_{c}$, the Hall peak field is quantitatively distinct from the GCF, and we contrast this finding with ongoing studies of the Nernst effect and superconducting fluctuations in unconventional and thin-film superconductors.
Quantitative analysis of intramembranous particles in rapidly frozen 10T1/2 cell monolayers.

SUMMARY A simple method for ultrarapid freezing of cell cultures in monolayers was developed. Unfixed and unglycerinated cells were grown on glass substrates. No special treatments of the glass or cells were necessary to facilitate freeze-fracture along the upper plasma membranes. A reliable nonbiased method was developed to detect intramembranous particles (IMP) from the background by totally automatic means using the Cambridge Instruments Quantimet 920 Image Analysis system. Size and density data of IMP from a large number of electron micrographs can be rapidly and objectively quantitated. The automatic determination of locational coordinates for each IMP enables subtle determination of spatial distributional differences by the nearest neighbour function and the differential density distribution function, which are measurements of randomness. Quantitative analysis of the IMP distribution on the fracture face of C3H/10T1/2 mouse embryo fibroblasts upon various drug treatments was demonstrated.
Teachers expanding pedagogical content knowledge: learning about formative assessment together

The present study explores the ways in which participating in a study group helped five US middle school teachers alter their construction of knowledge. The members came together to improve their knowledge on assessment for learning in response to school‐level and district‐level pressures. The analysis was a recursive review of teacher statements and actions in the study group as well as the classroom through the lens of pedagogical content knowledge. The support and collegiality of the group demonstrates how collaborative groups can develop professional growth. The examination of the data looked at how participation in a study group focused on assessment for learning changed the structure of pedagogical content knowledge for participating teachers and what components of the study group led to those changes.
HALOTHANE EFFECTS ON VENTILATORY RESPONSES TO CHANGES IN INTRAPULMONARY CO2 IN GEESE

Abstract Experiments were conducted to test the hypothesis that halothane anesthesia functionally disrupts CO 2 -sensitive intrapulmonary chemoreceptors (IPC) in birds. Halothane effects on ventilatory reflexes elicited by changes in lung CO 2 without extrapulmonary halothane or CO 2 effects were studied in 6 anesthetized (pentobarbital, 30 mg/kg) and unidirectionally ventilated geese. Each lung was independently ventilated. Halothane was added only to gases ventilating the left lung. The left pulmonary artery was occluded to prevent changes in P CO 2 or halothane concentration within the left lung from affecting arterial blood. The right lung allowed control of arterial blood gases and was vagally denervated. Left lung CO 2 reflexes were observed at different levels of halothane concentration between 0 and 2% while arterial P CO 2 and P CO 2 were held constant. Higher levels of chemical drive were necessary to initiate ventilatory movements in geese Pa CO 2 = 40–60mmHg) relative to previous reports on chickens using similar experimental procedures (Pa CO 2 ⩽ 30mmHg). The amplitude of sternal movements or respiratory amplitude (RA) increased as left lung P CO 2 increased from 6 to 55 mmHg, and then reached a plateau. Adding halothane (1 or 2%) to the left lung increased RA through a limited range of P CO 2 , but had no effect on its maximum value. Neither CO 2 nor halothane in the left lung had any effect on respiratory frequency. We conclude that halothane impairs lung CO 2 reflexes largely due to its effects on IPC since intrapulmonary halothane augments ventilatory activity at low, but not high intrapulmonary P CO 2 . Effects of halothane on IPC may play a role in the unique ventilatory effects of halothane anesthesia in intact, spontaneously breathing birds relative to mammals at equipotent anesthetic levels.
Efficient atypicality detection in chest radiographs

Expert radiologists are able to quickly detect atypical features in chest radiographs because they have developed a sense of what textures and contours are typical for each anatomic region by viewing a large set of “normal” chest radiographs.
Development of transgenic mice that inducibly express an active form of c-Src in the epidermis

Recent work from our laboratory has shown that elevated src kinase activity enhances tumor promotion, malignant progression, and metastasis during multistage skin carcinogenesis. In this study, we have generated "gene-switch" src(530) transgenic mice to further analyze the role of this nonreceptor tyrosine kinase in multistage carcinogenesis. Target transgenic mice that have an activated form of the human c-src (src(530)) gene fused with GAL4 binding sites upstream of the thymidine kinase (TK) promoter were generated. Two lines of epidermis-specific transactivator mice were used that targeted the expression of GLVPc or GLp65 transactivators, fusion molecules containing a truncated progesterone receptor with a GAl4-DNA binding domain, with either a mouse loricrin (ML) or human keratin 14 (HK14) promoter, respectively. The transactivator mice (ML.GLVPc or HK14.GLp65) and the target mice (TK.src(530)) were mated to generate bitransgenic mice, and src(530) transgene expression was induced by topical application of RU486 (mifepristone, a progesterone receptor antagonist). In both ML.GLVPc/TK.src(530) and HK14.GLp65/TK.src(530) bitransgenic mice, histological analysis revealed that only the bitransgenic mice had marked epidermal hyperplasia and hyperkeratosis after treatment with RU486. Neither the nontransgenic mice nor the mice hemizygous for either the transactivator transgene or the target transgene alone showed any response to treatment with RU486. In addition, no differences were observed in the skin of the bitransgenic mice versus nontransgenic littermates without treatment of RU486. Interestingly, in HK14.GLp65/TK.src(530) bitransgenic mice, squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) arose along the periphery of the area of the punch biopsies in 25% of the bitransgenic mice several weeks after taking the biopsy and subsequent to RU486 treatment. Collectively, the data support a role of c-src activation in epidermal hyperproliferation. Furthermore, the data support the conclusion that src activation can substitute for an initiating event in the presence of a tumor promoting stimulus (i.e., wounding). Finally, inducible src(530) transgenic mice provide a new tool for dissecting the role of src activation in multistage carcinogenesis by allowing temporal control of the expression of this oncogene.
Subjective comparison of 2 daily disposable contact lenses: Focus Dailies with AquaRelease and Proclear 1-Day.

Abstract Background Focus Dailies® with AquaRelease™ (CIBA Vision, Duluth, Georgia) is the daily disposable contact lens currently with the highest market share. Proclear® 1-Day (CooperVision, Irvine, California) is a new introduction into the daily disposable market. This study compares the subjective preference of these 2 lenses in an independent, head-to-head comparison. Methods Forty-one subjects were fit successfully with both brands of daily disposable contact lenses. Subjects wore the lenses for 10 consecutive days. The subjects were surveyed after the 10 days of wear to determine which lens was preferred in terms of comfort, handling, and overall preference. Results Surveys were collected from 40 subjects. Twenty-four of 40 chose Proclear 1-Day as more comfortable at the end of the day ( P = 0.0003). Nineteen of 40 chose Proclear 1-Day as their overall preference ( P = 0.0364). Conclusion This study found that Proclear 1-Day was subjectively preferred for end-of-the day comfort and overall preference when compared with the Focus Dailies with AquaRelease or no preference. The authors hope this will give insight to eye care practitioners when deciding which daily disposable contact lens to fit.
Modeling the thermodynamic parameters of six endmember garnets at ambient and high pressures from vibrational data

Raman and infrared spectroscopic data at ambient and high pressures were used to compute the lattice contribution to the heat capacities and entropies of six endmember garnets: pyrope, almandine, spessartine, grossular, andradite and uvarovite. Electronic, configurational and magnetic contributions are obtained from comparing available calorimetric data to the computed lattice contributions. For garnets with entropy in excess of the computed lattice contribution, the overwhelming majority is found in the subambient temperature regime. At room temperature, the non-lattice entropy is approximately 11.5 J/mol-K for pyrope, 49 J/mol-K for almandine, and 19 J/mol-K for andradite. The non-lattice entropy for pyrope and some for almandine cannot be accounted for by magnetic or electronic contributions and is likely to be configurational in nature. Estimates of low temperature non-lattice entropies for both spessartine and uvarovite are made in absence of calorimetric measurements and are based on low temperature calorimetry of other minerals containing the Mn2+ and Cr3+ cations as well as on solid solution garnets containing these cations. The estimate for uvarovite non-lattice entropy is approximately 18 J/mol-K, while for spessartine, approximately 45 J/mol-K. Neither of these cations is expected to provide electronic contributions to the entropy. For both iron-bearing garnets, a small electronic or magnetic entropy contribution continues above ambient temperatures. High pressure data on pyrope, grossular and andradite permit calculation of the thermodynamic parameters at high pressures, which are important for computation of processes in the Earth’s mantle. Thermal expansion coefficients of these materials were found to be 1.6, 1.5, 1.6×10−5 K−1 at 298 K, respectively, using a Maxwell relation. These closely match the literature values at ambient conditions.
Effects of dietary phytoestrogens on core body temperature during the estrous cycle and pregnancy

Phytoestrogens have received increased investigative attention due to their potential protective effects in connection to age-related diseases and hormone-dependent cancers. Phytoestrogens appear to be an effective treatment during perimenopause where symptoms, such as hot flashes are reduced. However, little is known about the influence of phytoestrogens on core body temperature during various hormonal conditions. This study examined the effects of dietary phytoestrogens on core body temperature during estrous cycles or pregnancy by feeding Long-Evans rats either a diet rich in phytoestrogens (Phyto-600) versus a diet relatively low in phytoestrogens (Phyto-free). Independent of treatments, body temperature was highest at proestrus and declined during estrus and diestrus. Moreover, the consumption of the Phyto-600 diet moderately decreased body temperature during proestrus, estrus and diestrus versus Phyto-free-fed animals. During pregnancy, independent of treatments, core body temperature decreased as a function of increasing gestational length. Phyto-600-fed rats displayed significantly decreased body temperatures (by approximately 0.5 degrees C) from gestation days 6 to 19, compared to Phyto-free values. The results from this study indicate that consumption of dietary phytoestrogens alters the neuroendocrine mechanism of core body temperature regulation that may help explain, in part, the beneficial effects of phytoestrogens for hot flashes.
Effect of Temperature and Host Plants on Progeny Production of Four Biotypes of Corn Leaf Aphid, Rhopalosiphum maidis

Reno, Spartan, and Kentucky I barley; Clintland and Dodge oats; Comanche wheat, and Piper sudan 428-1 ( Sorghum vulgare ) were tested a t constant temperatures of 45, 55, 65, 75, 85 and 90°F, at a constant light intensity of approximately 1500 ft-c for 16 hr daily. Significant differences were noted in rate of reproduction by each of the biotypes of the corn leaf aphid under different temperatures. Also at each temperature there were differences between biotypes on all hosts except on Spartan barley at 55°F. KS2 survived best on most hosts at high temperature, KS. on most hosts at low temperature.
Acclimation to ozone stress in radish: leaf demography and photosynthesis

summary Whole plant acclimation to ozone exposure in growth-chamber cultivated radish (Raphanus sativus L. cv. Cherry Belle) was investigated. The primary goal was to separate developmental from physiological ozone acclimation processes. Plants were grown for 37 days at two different lengths of ozone exposure and a control treatment. After germination, seedlings were transplanted into controlled growth chambers and exposed to daytime (10 h) ozone (0.12 μl 1−1) either on the next day (continuous ozone treatment) or three days later (intermediate treatment) and compared to a control (average ambient ozone concentration (0.01–0.02 μml 1−1). Plants grown in ozone after transplanting accumulated considerably less biomass than the controls, but had higher dry weights than the intermediate treatment, implying an acclimation response. Photosynthetic capacity and nitrogen content of leaves decreased at high levels of ozone exposure resulting in an accelerated leaf senescence. No distinct leaf-level physiological acclimation to ozone exposure was seen based on gas exchange measurements. As an apparent compensatory response, plants exposed to ozone had higher leaf production rates than control plants, at the expense of root and hypocotyl growth. This developmental, whole-plant response appeared to be the most effective acclimation response to ozone exposure seen in radish. However, it did not fully compensate for the damage caused by ozone, since plants still showed considerable reductions in growth.
A relational database for the monitoring and analysis of watershed hydrologic functions: II. Data manipulation and retrieval programs

With increasing hydrologic and water quality data being collected for monitoring and research purposes, it has become evident that storing data in traditional spreadsheet formats are no longer a practical means of managing these large datasets. The Watershed Monitoring and Analysis Database (WMAD) was developed to ease the burden of handling watershed-scale hydrology, water quality, and meteorology data. WMAD is a relational database designed to make the management of large hydrologic datasets more efficient and less prone to manipulation errors. However, this increased efficiency comes at the cost of needing to understand relational database engines, including the ability to write queries to retrieve data. To facilitate the use of WMAD, we have applied the WMAD structure using the Microsoft Access database application. Separate WMAD applications were developed within the Access environment that allow users to access and manage data without having to understand details of the database. These applications are graphically based and allow the user to perform a series of tasks including: data import, data management, basic calculations, and data export. A constituent flux or load calculation was developed to perform flux calculations using a time-weighted algorithm. This paper highlights these applications and their tasks to assist new WMAD users in quickly becoming proficient in using WMAD for data management.
A tracer study of dispersion in an urban street canyon

A study of retention time, defined as the length of time for a pollutant concentration with its source turned off to reach e−1 of its original value, has been carried out with SF6 tracer gas in an urban street canyon for the case of ambient winds perpendicular to the street. Retention times are found to be between 0.7 and 3.8 min for ambient winds ranging from 1.7 to 4.5 m s−1. The associated ventilation velocity, representing an average velocity of pollutant transported out of the canyon, is found to range between 15 and 80 cm s−1. A suggested semi-empirical formula is designed to predict street-level pollutant concentrations from the ambient meteorological and pollutant conditions.
Post-mortem physiological and morphological changes of rumen mucosal tissue.

Abstract Rumen mucosa from the cranial sac was incubated in a volatile fatty acid medium, either immediately or after immersion in Krebs-Ringer (K-R) for 20 to 40min, to study methods of maintaining viability. The metabolic activity of mucosa immersed in 39C K-R for 40min before incubation was not significantly different from that of mucosa incubated immediately; however, mucosa immersed in ice-cold K-R at 0C for the same period was significantly less active. Immersion of mucosa in K-R at 39C for 20min and then in K-R at 0C for 20min did not reduce metabolic activity; whereas, reversing the treatments caused a marked reduction. In an attempt to explain the loss of metabolic activity after immersion at 0C, rumen mucosa immersed in 39C or 0C K-R was compared with nonimmersed tissue from the gross to the ultrastructural level. The site of β -hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase action (involved in the metabolism of butyrate) was localized in the mitochondria of the epithelial layer of the mucosa with a standard histochemical technique. Electron microscopic studies indicated that immersion at 39C caused an apparent coagulation of intracellular material and distortion of mitochondria, although cristae often are identifiable. Immersion in 0C K-R resulted in a generally washed-out appearance, with distorted and exploded mitochondria, usually with an apparent lack of cristae.
894. Selective Targeting of GABAergic Neurons Using rAAV: The Potential Role of EAAC1 in Seizure Susceptibility

Glutamate transporters function to control excitatory signaling by removal of glutamate from the synaptic cleft. Of this transporter family, low level expression of EAAC1/EAAT3 is primarily localized in a perisynaptic fashion on postsynaptic neurons. Unique to GABAergic neurons, EAAC1 is expressed presynpatically and functions to supply a primary source of glutamate for the synthesis of GABA via GAD65/GAD67. During excitotoxic insult, GABA response is enhanced to counter strong glutamate mediated signaling. Prior studies have noted diminished GABA synthesis in the presence of GABA synthesis and GABA stores increased susceptibility to seizure. The influence of enhanced EAAC1 expression has yet to be defined. While prior studies offered insight into the potential influence of EAAC1 on the GABA system, these studies lacked the ability to selectively evaluate the role of GABAergic EAAC1 in GABA synthesis and role of this glutamate transporter in seizure susceptibility.
Inhibition of Telomerase Recruitment and Cancer Cell Death

Continued proliferation of human cells requires maintenance of telomere length, usually accomplished by telomerase. Telomerase is recruited to chromosome ends by interaction with a patch of amino acids (the TEL patch, for TPP1 glutamate (E) and leucine (L)-rich patch) on the surface of telomere protein TPP1. In previous studies, interruption of this interaction by mutation prevented telomere extension in HeLa cells, but the cell culture continued to grow. We now show that the telomerase inhibitor BIBR1532 acts together with TEL patch mutations to inhibit the growth of HeLa cell lines and that apoptosis is a prominent mechanism of death of these cells. Survivor cells take over the population beginning around 40 days in culture. These cells no longer express the TEL patch mutant TPP1, apparently because of silencing of the expression cassette, a survival mechanism that would not be available to cancer cells. These results provide hope that inhibiting the binding of telomerase to the TEL patch of TPP1, perhaps together with a modest inhibition of the telomerase enzyme, could comprise an effective anticancer therapy for the ∼90% of human tumors that are telomerase-positive.
Molecular Genetics of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Results of behavioral genetic and molecular genetic studies have converged to suggest that both genetic and nongenetic factors contribute to the development of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). We review this literature, with a particular emphasis on molecular genetic studies. Family, twin, and adoption studies provide compelling evidence that genes play a strong role in mediating susceptibility to ADHD. This fact is most clearly seen in the 20 extant twin studies, which estimate the heritability of ADHD to be .76. Molecular genetic studies suggest that the genetic architecture of ADHD is complex. The few genome-wide scans conducted thus far are not conclusive. In contrast, the many candidate gene studies of ADHD have produced substantial evidence implicating several genes in the etiology of the disorder. For the eight genes for which the same variant has been studied in three or more case-control or family-based studies, seven show statistically significant evidence of association with ADHD on the basis of the pooled odds ratio across studies: DRD4, DRD5, DAT, DBH, 5-HTT, HTR1B, and SNAP-25.
Contribution of Aquaporins to Cellular Water Transport Observed by a Microfluidic Cell Volume Sensor

Here we demonstrate that an impedance-based microfluidic cell volume sensor can be used to study the roles of aquaporin (AQP) in cellular water permeability and screen AQP-specific drugs. Human embryonic kidney (HEK-293) cells were transiently transfected with AQP3- or AQP4-encoding genes to express AQPs in plasma membranes. The swelling of cells in response to hypotonic stimulation was traced in real time using the sensor. Two time constants were obtained by fitting the swelling curves with a two-exponential function, a fast time constant associated with osmotic water permeability of AQP-expressing cells and a slow phase time constant associated mainly with water diffusion through lipid bilayers in the nontransfected cells. The AQP-expressing cells showed at least 10× faster osmotic water transport than control cells. Using the volume sensor, we examined the effects of Hg2+ and Ni2+ on the water transport via AQPs. Hg2+ inhibited the water flux in AQP3-expressing cells irreversibly, while Ni2+ blocked th...
Prevention of Calcification of Bioprosthetic heart Valve Leaflets by Ca2+ Diphosphonate Pretreatment

Calcification frequently causes failure of bioprosthetic heart valves (BHV) fabricated from glutaraldehyde-pretreated porcine aortic valve or bovine pericardium. Systemic diphosphonate therapy inhibits this disease process, but with adverse effects on overall growth, bone development, and calcium metabolism. The present study was designed to examine the hypothesis that the immobilization of ethanehydroxydi-phosphonate (EHDP) within BHV as the poorly soluble Ca2+ salt would inhibit calcification at drug levels insufficient to produce side effects. Glutaraldehyde-pretreated pericardial BHV tissue was exposed to a physiologic concentration of Na2EHDP (0.14 M in 0.05 M HEPES, pH 7.4) and subsequently washed in a NaCl or CaCl2 (0.14 M in 0.05 M HEPES, pH 7.4) solution to precipitate the Na or Ca2+ salts of EHDP on/ within the tissue, respectively. Incorporation of CaEHDP into BHV ranged from 74.8 nM/mg (after 1 h, 37 °C) to 353 nM/mg (2 weeks, 22 °C). None of the Na2EHDP was incorporated into BHV without exposure to CaCl2. In vitro release of CaEHDP from BHV into a physiologic buffer not containing Ca2+ was rapid, with >95% removed after 4 d, while release of CaEHDP into buffer containing a physiologic concentration of Ca2+ ion (1.5 mM) was markedly reduced, with 30% of the precipitated CaEHDP remaining immobilized on or within the tissue matrix following 21 d. Subdermal implants of CaEHDP-pretreated BHV tissue in rats (21-d old, male, CD strain) had significantly less calcification than untreated tissue following 21 d (Ca2+ 2.59 ± 0.264 μg/mg, control 103 ± 10.8 μg/mg) and 60 d (Ca2+ 41.0 ± 11.1 μg/mg, control 150 ± 23.0 μg/mg), and explanted pretreated tissue from the 21- and 60-d studies showed no calcification by microscopic examination. The BHV that were pretreated with the Na2EHDP solution and subsequently washed in either a NaCl or CaCl2 solution did not undergo any detectable morphologic changes. No abnormalities in serum calcium levels, femur development, or overall weight gain were noted. It is concluded that CaEHDP preincorporation into BHV effectively inhibited calcification without adverse systemic effects. However, rapid time-dependent efflux of CaEHDP from the pericardial tissue may limit its usefulness in long-term heart valve replacements.