cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Methane emissions from groundwater pumping in the USA

Atmospheric methane accumulation contributes to climate change, hence quantifying methane emissions is essential to assess and model the impacts. Here, we estimate methane emissions from groundwater pumping in the Los Angeles Basin (LAB), north-eastern Pennsylvania, and the Principal aquifers of the USA using the average concentrations of methane in groundwater and annual groundwater pumping volumes. High average methane concentrations, 44.1 mg/L, and extensive groundwater pumping, ~3.1 × 1011 L/a in the LAB, result in the annual emission of ~2.9 × 10−3 Tg of microbial methane. Ethane emissions in the LAB were 3.5 × 10−6 Tg/a. Lower methane emissions estimated for NE Pennsylvania, ~3.0 × 10−6 Tg/a, reflect lower methane concentrations and groundwater pumping, 0.7 mg/L and 4.27 × 109 L/a, respectively. Methane concentrations and groundwater withdrawals, 1.06 × 1014 L/a, across the USA enabled the estimation of the total emissions of methane from Principal aquifers (92% of total pumping) of 0.044 Tg/a in the year 2000, which represents a small percentage (~0.2%) of the total annual US methane emissions, but a previously unquantified flux in the global methane budget. Globally, groundwater-pumping methane emissions were estimated to be 0.53 Tg/a, 0.2% of global methane emissions, by adopting a global estimate for groundwater extraction, and an average methane concentration in older groundwater of 0.44 mg/L. Groundwater pumping contributes a small, but previously unquantified, flux to the global methane budget. A large percentage of the United States’ population obtains its drinking water from groundwater. However, its extraction releases methane, naturally accumulated as a result of microbial action. Justin Kulongoski and Peter McMahon from the United States Geological Survey quantify such methane emissions for the principal aquifers of the USA, using data from the year 2000. Extrapolating results from the Los Angeles Basin, north-eastern Pennsylvania, and 15 Principal aquifers, groundwater pumping is estimated to release 0.044 Tg methane per year across the United States. This represents 0.2% of annual US methane emissions, a percentage that also holds when generalising for global methane fluxes. While results are based on limited groundwater locations and samples, they demonstrate an important methane source that warrants further investigation.
Reflections on Hypothesis Testing in Response to Ulrich

Hypothesis testing, like any paradigm, is not a formula for judging debates but an attempt normatively to model the nature of argumentation itself. Once the nature of the paradigm is understood, Ul...
Subjective Communication Difficulties in Very Mild Aphasia.

Purpose In comparison to the large literature on moderate to severe aphasia, very little is known about aphasia of the mildest severity and whether intervention may be warranted. The purpose of thi...
Role of Price in the Allocation of Water Resources

Examination of price-cost function in allocation and utilization of water resources in United States; analysis of market valuation process, factors affecting determination of municipal water rates, and shifts of costs that result from different water uses.
The Role of Multisystem Disease in Composition of Autologous Serum tears and ocular surface symptom improvement.

Abstract Purpose Autologous serum tears (AST) contain growth factors and vitamins similar to those in healthy tears and are an effective treatment option for ocular surface disease. This study determined the differences in composition of AST in patients with systemic diseases versus patients with localized ocular surface diseases and the effects on ocular surface symptom improvement. Method An observational study was performed on 53 patients with either systemic diseases (Group I) or localized ocular surface diseases (Group II) who were prescribed AST. Concentrations of epidermal growth factor (EGF), interleukin 8 (IL-8), fibronectin, vitamin A, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were determined through ELISA assays from patients in both groups. The Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) scores were calculated prior to and 6 weeks after initiation of treatment with AST for new patients. Results The average concentration of EGF in Group I (29.39 pg/ml ± 52.85 pg/ml) was significantly lower than in Group II (88.04 pg/ml ±113.75 pg/ml) (p Conclusion Serum tears are a promising therapy for management of ocular surface disease and associated symptoms. The differences between levels of EGF in patients with localized ocular surface disease and systemic inflammatory disease may account for differences in therapeutic outcome.
Endometrial thickness measurements among Asherman syndrome patients prior to embryo transfer.

STUDY QUESTION Is there an association between endometrial thickness (EMT) measurement and clinical pregnancy rate among Asherman syndrome (AS) patients utilizing IVF and embryo transfer (ET)? SUMMARY ANSWER EMT measurements may not be associated with successful clinical pregnancy among AS patients undergoing IVF. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Clinical pregnancy rate after IVF is significantly lower in patients with a thin endometrium, defined as a maximum EMT of <7 mm. However, AS patients often have a thin EMT measurement due to intrauterine scarring, with a paucity of data and no guidance on what EMT cutoff is appropriate when planning an ET among these patients. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION This is a retrospective cohort study of 45 AS patients treated at a specialized advanced hysteroscopic clinic from 1 January 2015, to 1 March 2019. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Review of EMT measurements prior to a total of 90 ETs, among 45 AS patients. The impact of the maximum EMT measurement prior to ET on clinical pregnancy rate was analyzed. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE A total of 25/45 (55.6%) AS patients ultimately went on to have ≥1 clinical pregnancy following a mean ± SD of 2.00 ± 1.26 ET attempts. There was a total of 90 ETs among the 45 AS patients, with 29/90 (32.2%) ETs resulting in a clinical pregnancy. Younger patient age (P = 0.05) and oocyte donation (P = 0.01) were the only variables identified to be significant predictors for a positive clinical pregnancy outcome on bivariate analysis. The mean EMT measurement prior to all ETs among AS patients was 7.5 ± 1.6 mm. EMT measurement prior to ET did not predict a positive clinical pregnancy on either bivariate (P = 0.84) or multivariable analysis (odds ratio 0.91, P = 0.60). 31.8% of EMT measurements measured <7.0 mm. In this small cohort, no difference in the clinical pregnancy rate was detected when comparing ETs with EMT measurements of <7.0 mm versus ≥7.0 mm (P = 0.83). The mean EMT measurement decreased with increasing AS disease severity; 8.0 ± 1.6 mm for mild disease, 7.0 ± 1.4 mm for moderate disease and 5.4 ± 0.1 mm for severe disease. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Our small sample size limits our ability to draw any definitive conclusions. In addition, patients utilized various infertility clinics. This limits our ability to evaluate the consistency of EMT measurements and the IVF care that was received. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS EMT measurement cutoff values should be used with caution if canceling a scheduled ET in AS patients. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This study was not funded. K.I. reports personal fees from Karl Stroz and personal fees from Medtronics outside the submitted work. The other authors have no conflicts of interest. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER N/A.
Prognostic implications of differences in forced vital capacity in black and white US adults: Findings from NHANES III with long-term mortality follow-up.

Abstract Background Because Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) is reduced in Black relative to White Americans of the same age, sex, and height, standard lung function prediction equations assign a lower "normal" range for Black patients. The prognostic implications of this race correction are uncertain. Methods We analyzed 5,294 White and 3,743 Black participants age 20–80 in NHANES III, a nationally-representative US survey conducted 1988–94, which we linked to the National Death Index to assess mortality through December 31, 2015. We calculated the FVC-percent predicted among Black and White participants, first applying NHANES III White prediction equations to all persons, and then using standard race-specific prediction equations. We used Cox proportional hazard models to calculate the association between race and all-cause mortality without and with adjustment for FVC (using each FVC metric), smoking, socioeconomic factors, and comorbidities. Findings Black participants’ age- and sex-adjusted mortality was greater than White participants (HR 1.46; 95%CI:1.29, 1.65). With adjustment for FVC in liters (mean 3.7 L for Black participants, 4.3 L for White participants) or FVC percent-predicted using White equations for everyone, Black race was no longer independently predictive of higher mortality (HR∼1.0). When FVC-percent predicted was “corrected” for race, Black individuals again showed increased mortality hazard. Deaths attributed to chronic respiratory disease were infrequent for both Black and White individuals. Interpretation Lower FVC in Black people is associated with elevated risk of all-cause mortality, challenging the standard assumption about race-based normal limits. Black-White disparities in FVC may reflect deleterious social/environmental exposures, not innate differences. Funding No funding.
Bridging juvenile justice and behavioral health systems: development of a clinical pathways approach to connect youth at risk for suicidal behavior to care

Justice-involved youth have high rates of suicidal behavior and co-morbid psychiatric disorders, yet low rates of service use. Implementation efforts aimed at supporting cross-agency linkage protocols may be useful components of interventions promoting behavioral healthcare service access for youths on probation. The purpose of this study was to develop clear referral Pathways for three suicide risk classifications of youth, across 10 counties in a single state through a community-academic partnership in New York state, a strategic planning process between county Probation departments and community Behavioral Health. We sought to clarify service destinations for youth in three classes of risk for suicidal behavior: Class I (Crisis, Imminent Risk); Class II (Crisis, Non-Imminent Risk); and Class III (Non-Crisis but in Need of Service). Prior to Pathway Meetings, there was a low degree of agreement between Probation and Behavioral Health leadership for the appropriate service destination for youths in crisis, whether at imminent risk (Class I: 57.8% overlap) or at lower than imminent risk (Class II: 45.6% overlap). Options for referral destinations for Classes I and II decreased significantly (indicating greater overlap) as a result of Pathway Meetings [(Class I: from 2.5 to 1.1 (t(9) = 3.28, p < 0.01); Class II: from 2.8 to 1.3 (t(9) = 4.025, p < 0.003)]. Pathway Meetings allowed Behavioral Health and Juvenile Justice systems to make joint decisions regarding referral pathways, resulting in innovative solutions, such as the use of mobile crisis. The community-academic partnership served to bring internal (Juvenile Justice) and external (Behavioral Health) contexts together to successfully generate agreed upon Pathways to care for youths demonstrating risk for suicidal behavior. Bridging Behavioral Health and Juvenile Justice systems together to agree to referral Pathways for each risk class can increase appropriate service use. ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT03586895 . Registered 21 June 2018, https://register.clinicaltrials.gov/prs/app/template/EditRecord.vm?epmode=Edit&listmode=Edit&uid=U0003B7I&ts=4&sid=S00080NN&cx=-n4kinh
Modernism, Satire and the Novel

In this groundbreaking study, Jonathan Greenberg locates a satiric sensibility at the heart of the modern. By promoting an antisentimental education, modernism denied the authority of emotion to guarantee moral and literary value. Instead, it fostered sophisticated, detached and apparently cruel attitudes toward pain and suffering. This sensibility challenged the novel's humanistic tradition, set ethics and aesthetics into conflict and fundamentally altered the ways that we know and feel. Through lively and original readings of works by Evelyn Waugh, Stella Gibbons, Nathanael West, Djuna Barnes, Samuel Beckett and others, this book analyzes a body of literature - late modernist satire - that can appear by turns aloof, sadistic, hilarious, ironic and poignant, but which continually questions inherited modes of feeling. By recognizing the centrality of satire to modernist aesthetics, Greenberg offers not only a new chapter in the history of satire but a persuasive new idea of what made modernism modern.
Central Bank Responsibility, Seigniorage, and Welfare

The money stock, in almost every country in the world, does not contract. This paper attempts a welfare-based explanation for this observation. We study an overlapping generations model with return dominated money. A reserve requirement forces agents to hold money. There is a government that has to raise a fixed amount of revenue solely for the purposes of making transfers to the old. It has two revenue generating options: lump-sum taxes (money creation) under the control of the treasury (central bank). We restrict the amount of seigniorage collected to be non-negative, and also require that the government's budget constraint be satisfied on a per-period basis. The question we then pose is: if the government is benevolent, should the central bank be asked to bear at least some responsibility for revenue generation? Alternatively, can we find stationary monetary competitive equilibria which are also welfare maxima, in a world where the money stock cannot contract. Computational experiments reveal, somewhat surprisingly, that the answer is yes. Indeed, in our setup, benevolent governments may require that at least part, if not all of the revenue, be raised via money creation.
Two forms of human thrombin. Isolation and characterization.

Abstract When preparations of human prothrombin are rapidly activated to thrombin (EC 3.4.4.13) in the presence of a partially purified enzyme from Taipan snake venom (Oxyuranus scutellatus scutellatus), the thrombin activity isolated from the activation mixture by ion exchange chromatography is associated with a single molecule of molecular weight of approximately 39,000. The subunit structure of this blood-clotting enzyme was examined by sodium dodecyl sulfate electrophoresis and was found to consist of two polypeptide chains connected by disulfide bonds, of molecular weight of approximately 32,000 and 7,000. NH2-terminal amino acid analysis by the 5-dimethylaminonaphthalene-1-sulfonyl procedure indicated that the larger chain contained NH2-terminal isoleucine while the smaller chain contained NH2-terminal threonine. With time, the enzyme self-digests itself without change in the clotting activity of the system to produce a smaller thrombin molecule of molecular weight of approximately 26,000, which consists of a 19,000 and a 7,000 molecular weight peptide with NH2-terminal isoleucine and threonine, respectively. The other peptide, which is inactive against fibrinogen, is split from the larger chain of the parent molecule presumably because of autolysis. It was found to have a molecular weight of approximately 11,000 and to contain a single NH2-terminal glycine. These structural changes were confirmed by isolation of the various thrombin peptides by gel filtration in 10% acetic acid. Slow and incomplete activation of human prothrombin in the presence of concentrated citrate solution or activation with a human Factor Xa preparation results in the isolation of a mixture of both thrombin molecules from the activation systems, including the inactive thrombin peptide. These molecules showed the same sequence of structural changes due to autolysis without a corresponding change in clotting activity as did the venom-derived enzyme. Thrombin preparations containing a mixture of the larger and smaller molecules, particularly those in which the smaller molecule predominates, have a significantly higher clotting activity than preparations containing only the larger molecule. No evidence was obtained for the existence of a three-chain polypeptide human thrombin molecule as has been reported by others for the bovine enzyme. Since preliminary observations seemed to indicate that under our conditions of study bovine and horse thrombin preparations contain similar species of molecules as those described above for human thrombin, methods of preparation of prothrombin or activation (or both) employed by others may account for this apparent discrepancy. These studies suggest that the thrombin derived from human, bovine, and possibly horse prothrombin appear quite similar in size, NH2-terminal amino acids, and subunit structure, their relative composition in a prothrombin activation mixture being dependent only upon the rate or yield (or both) of thrombin generated from its zymogen, rather than the source of activators.
Aggregation Bias in Repeat-Sales Indices

The repeat-sales methodology has become a standard approach for estimating real estate price indices. This article examines the underlying assumptions inherent in the repeat sales model and provides an empirical test for both included and omitted variables as sources of aggregation bias. The results indicate that virtually all price indices may be biased, the degree of bias being dependent upon the number of variables examined and the instability of their parameters over time.
Islamic Health Sciences: A Model for Health Education and Promotion

(1992). Islamic Health Sciences: A Model for Health Education and Promotion. Journal of Health Education: Vol. 23, No. 4, pp. 227-231.
University bioinformatics programs on the rise

Fueled by strong demand from students and industry's need for trained bioinformaticists, universities are increasing their offerings in this fast-growing field.
On Advocacy by Environmental Scientists: What, Whether, Why, and How

Debate about the nature and appropriateness of advocacy by environmental scientists is important—it represents understanding the role of these citizens in our society. Much has been written about advocacy by scientists, and that literature describes substantial diversity in reasons why advocacy by scientists is or is not appropriate. Despite the nature of this literature there has been no comprehensive, system- atic review of why some favor and others oppose advocacy by environmental scientists. Through a literature review we catalogued, categorized, and critiqued the arguments used for and against the appropriateness of advocacy by environmental scientists. Most arguments, whether for or against advocacy, are characterized by some significant deficiency. From our analysis of the literature an argument emerges that to date has never been fully articulated: that advocacy is nearly unavoidable, and that scientists, by virtue of being citizens first and scientists second, have a responsibility to advocate to the best of their abilities, to improve their advocacy abilities, and to advocate in a justified and transparent manner. We also discuss the meaning and relevance of advocacy being justified and transparent. We suggest scientists expend their efforts to better understand what constitutes appropriate advocacy and spend less effort pondering whether they should advocate.
Neural Mechanisms for the Generation of Visual Complex Cells

Abstract In 1962, Hubel and Wiesel reported what they later described as "the first description of a clear function for the cerebral cortex, in terms of clear differences between input and output" (Hubel and Wiesel, 1998). Martinez and Alonso (2001)([this issue of Neuron ]) now provide evidence for the hierarchical neural circuit that Hubel and Wiesel proposed to explain the cortical transformation from simple to complex cells.
Specters of Finance: Limits of Knowledge and the Politics of Crisis

The recent financial crisis has shaken not only trading markets, but the conviction that the rule of experts reigns in a knowledge society. Instead, the class that was based on a social compact of autonomous control over specialized domains of expertise—the professional managerial class, has seen that capacity come undone. Finance has unleashed an extensive managerialism that has compromised professional autonomy as it has associated professionals under the sign of it’s chief innovative force, the derivative. The derivative logic applies as much to labor as to capital, as much to countermobilization as to dominance, as much to generative interdependence as to expropriating enclosure, how might we begin to recognize and revalue what is otherwise most typically described as a baleful situation for a politics of the social? While arbitrage may seem the apotheosis of anomie, of monadic self-interest, the actions of hedging have manifestly deepened the extent to which what some are able to do is contingent upo...
Chromophore-derivatized semifluorinated polymers for colorimetric and turn-on fluorescent anion detection

Abstract Semifluorinated polymers incorporating π-conjugated segments diphenylbithiophene and a distyrylbenzene derivative as chromophoric main chain subunits have been prepared via a transition metal-free polymerization technique, and explored as anion sensors. One polymer exhibits visually identifiable colorimetric changes and photoluminescence enhancement in response to fluoride or cyanide over other common anions such as OAc − , P 2 O 7 4− , Cl − , Br − , I − , PO 4 3− , or HSO 4 − in THF. Modest dissociation constants of 4.5 × 10 −5 M and 6.7 × 10 −3 M were determined for binding of fluoride and cyanide, respectively, to the most responsive polymer.
Canine prosomatostatin: Isolation of a cDNA, regulation of gene expression, and characterization of post-translational processing intermediates

Abstract Somatostatin is a tetradecapeptide (SS-14) initially isolated from the hypothalamus that is also found in D cells of the stomach and pancreas where it exerts an inhibitory action on a variety of gastrointestinal functions. Since many of concepts important to an understanding of gastrointestinal physiology are derived from experiments in the dog we examined somatostatin gene expression and post-translational processing in the canine fundus, antrum and pancreas. The canine somatostatin cDNA which is highly homologous to other known mammalian somatostatins was used to examine somatostatin expression in isolated canine fundic D-cells. Somatostatin expression induced by cholecystokinin (10 −8 M) was inhibited by the somatostatin analog, octreotide (10 −7 M). To examine somatostatin processing in the canine gut we noted that synthesis of SS-14 and somatostatin octacosapeptide (SS-28) involves endoproteolytic cleavage of prosomatostatin (proSS) at both paired and single basic amino-acid residues, respectively. Antisera capable of recognizing the amino-terminal residues of SS-28, SS-28 (1 – 14) and SS-28 (1 – 12) were characterized and identified concentrations of SS-28 (1 – 12) but not SS-28 (1 – 14) in the fundus, antrum and pancreas equivalent to those of SS-14. Since previous biosynthetic studies in canine fundic D-cells showed that SS-14 was synthesized without the appearance of a SS-28 intermediate, we hypothesize that proSS is sequentially cleaved at a dibasic site to produce SS-14 followed by monobasic cleavage that results in the formation of SS-28 (1 – 12) . Furthermore, equivalent amounts of SS-14 and SS-28 (1 – 12) were co-released from canine fundic D-cells by CCK (10 − 8 M) suggesting that the generation of these products occurs within the same regulated pathway of secretion.
Building technology foresight: using scenarios to embrace innovation

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe the application of scenario planning methods to: identifying disruptive innovations at an early stage, mapping out potential development paths for such innovations, and building appropriate organizational capabilities.Design/methodology/approach – A combination of scenario planning with technology road‐mapping, expert analysis and creative group processes. The techniques described can be integrated with traditional tools of strategic technology planning. The paper presents a short illustrative case study and examples from practice.Findings – Scenario techniques can be successfully applied to analysing disruptive innovation.Practical implications – Scenario techniques help guide managers to more effective decision making by preparing for a wide range of uncertainty and by counteracting typical biases of over‐optimism and decision “framing”. The techniques presented can be used in executive development and in strategic planning for innovative and high‐tech ...
Posterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy Associated With Migraine

Anterior ischemic optic neuropathy is a well-recognized clinical syndrome that has been described in patients after an episode of migraine with visual aura (classic migraine) and, less commonly, after an episode of visual aura without headache (acephalgic migraine). Little emphasis, however, has been placed on migraine-associated retrobulbar or posterior ischemic optic neuropathy. We report two cases of visual loss presumed to be due to posterior ischemic optic neuropathy that occurred in the setting of otherwise typical migraine episodes. We review the English language literature on ischemic optic neuropathy associated with migraine. Although most cases of ischemic optic neuropathy associated with migraine are of the anterior variety, posterior ischemic optic neuropathy should be considered in the differential diagnosis of any patient with acute loss of vision and evidence for a retrobulbar optic neuropathy, during or after an attack of migraine headache or following an otherwise typical episode of visual aura without headache (acephalgic migraine).
A direct experiment on the problem of the light sensitivity of the iris.

Small areas of the human iris were illuminated in situ by means of a photic stimulator attached to a contact lens. A local contraction of the iris tissue as found in Amphibians was not observed.
Improving the diffraction quality of MTCP-1 crystals by post-crystallization soaking

Significant improvement in the resolution and quality of the X-­ray diffraction of crystals of MTCP-1 protein was observed on post-crystallization soaking. The MTCP-1 crystals grown from 1.5 M ammonium sulfate diffracted to only 3.0 A resolution with some disorder in the diffraction. After post-crystallization soaking in a solution containing 2.0 M ammonium sulfate, the disorder was eliminated and diffraction extended to better than 2.0 A resolution. Both native and selenomethionine-enriched crystals demonstrated better diffraction after soaking for several months. This simple technique may be useful to improve the diffraction quality of protein crystals generally.
Trends in the emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from light-duty gasoline vehicles tested on chassis dynamometers in Southern California

Abstract We present fleet average VOC emission rate trends for the longest running in-use light-duty gasoline Vehicle Surveillance Program (VSP) in Southern California. Tailpipe emissions data from a limited number of vehicles tested as part of the VSP show that the 2003 fleet average emissions decreased by about 80% for most VOCs relative to the 1995 fleet. Vehicle evaporative emission rates decreased more than 90% for most compounds from the 1999 to the 2003 fleet. Tailpipe benzene-normalized emission rate ratios for most compounds were relatively stable. Evaporative emission rate ratios and weight percentages have changed significantly from the 1999 fleet to the 2003 fleet indicating a significant change in the evaporative emission species patterns. The tailpipe NMHC (Non-Methane HydroCarbon) emission reductions observed between the 1995 fleet and the 2003 fleet likely resulted from the retirement of non-catalyst vehicles in the fleets (49%) and the combined effect of the turn-over of catalyst-equipped vehicles and switch to Phase III gasoline (27%). Our results are consistent with those observed in the Swiss tunnel study. Benzene-normalized emission rate ratios for C2 compounds, aldehydes, and 1,3 butadiene are much higher in tailpipe exhaust than those in evaporative emissions. C4–C5 hydrocarbon ratios in evaporative emissions are much higher than those in exhaust. C8 aromatic compound ratios are comparable for tailpipe and evaporative emissions (hot-soak). Such ratio differences can be used to estimate the relative contributions of vehicle exhaust and evaporative emission to ambient VOCs. The contribution of emissions from malfunctioning vehicles to total fleet emissions increased from 16% to 32% for the 1995 fleet to the 2003 fleet even though the percentage of malfunctioning vehicles in the fleet decreased from 10% to 5%. Most malfunctioning vehicles are vehicles that are at least 10 years old and generally have higher acetylene emission rate ratios. The effective identification and control of these malfunctioning vehicles will become increasingly important for improving mobile source emission estimates as well as reducing future tailpipe emissions.
Sex differences in the effects of prenatal stress on stress-induced analgesia

Abstract Prenatal stress (PS) is known to cause demasculinizing and feminizing effects on sexually dimorphic behavior in laboratory animals. In three separate experiments performed on the same subjects at 10 week intervals, nociceptive sensitivity and the analgesic response to a cold-water swim stress were assessed in adult male and female Swiss–Webster mice that were either stressed prenatally or nonstressed (NS) control subjects. Experiment 1 showed analgesic magnitude to increase in female mice as a result of PS compared to nonstressed controls, whereas no changes were noted in male subjects. The increase in analgesia in female mice is maintained by estrogen, as gonadectomy eliminated the increase in Experiment 2, and estrogen replacement restored it in Experiment 3. Withdrawal latency to a noxious heat stimulus (hot-plate test) was also influenced by the PS manipulation; a decrease in hot-plate latency (indicating greater nociceptive sensitivity) was noted in PS subjects of both sexes in Experiment 1. Repeated testing (and/or age) may influence the effect of PS on nociceptive responses in a sex-dependent manner. The reduction in hot-plate latency was only present in males in Experiment 2, and was not present in either sex by Experiment 3. Thus, PS influences both baseline pain sensitivity and stress-induced analgesia responses in a sex- and hormone-dependent fashion.
Blind deconvolution of fluorescence micrographs by maximum-likelihood estimation

We report some recent algorithmic refinements and the resulting simulated and real image reconstructions of fluorescence micrographs by using a blind-deconvolution algorithm based on maximum-likelihood estimation. Blind-deconvolution methods encompass those that do not require either calibrated or theoretical predetermination of the point-spread function (PSF). Instead, a blind deconvolution reconstructs the PSF concurrently with deblurring of the image data. Two-dimensional computer simulations give some definitive evidence of the integrity of the reconstructions of both the fluorescence concentration and the PSF. A reconstructed image and a reconstructed PSF from a two-dimensional fluorescent data set show that the blind version of the algorithm produces images that are comparable with those previously produced by a precursory nonblind version of the algorithm. They furthermore show a remarkable similarity, albeit not perfectly identical, with a PSF measurement taken for the same data set, provided by Agard and colleagues. A reconstructed image of a three-dimensional confocal data set shows a substantial axial smear removal. There is currently an existing trade-off in using the blind deconvolution in that it converges at a slightly slower rate than the nonblind approach. Future research, of course, will address this present limitation.
Comparative studies on the structure and diffusion dynamics of aqueous and nonpolar liquid films under nanometers confinement

Aqueous hydration water confined between two mica surfaces and nonpolar liquid argon confined between two solid crystals have been comparably studied through molecular dynamics simulations. A liquid–vapor molecular ensemble developed in previous studies (Leng 2008 J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 20 354017) has been used to investigate the solvation structures and diffusion dynamics of confined films. We find that water always tends to diffuse even under two-layer extreme confinement (D = 0.73 nm), whereas liquid argon undergoes a spontaneous liquid-to-solid phase transition at an appreciable large distance (n = 9 layers) between the two crystal solids. Vacancy diffusion in the solid phase of argon is observed. We attribute this phase transition of argon to the tendency of argon molecules to form a close-packed structure to maximize the cohesion energy contributed from weak van der Waals attractions.
The influence of solvent parameters upon the surface roughness of matrix assisted laser deposited thin polymer films

Abstract Matrix assisted pulsed laser evaporation utilizing an infrared laser has been used to deposit poly(methyl methacrylate) and polystyrene thin films. The surface morphology has been investigated by surface sensitive techniques and it was found that the ‘goodness’ of the solvent (as defined by solubility parameters) strongly influences the morphology of the deposited films.
Changes in the Level of Vitamin A and Carotene in the Blood Plasma of Dairy Cows Associated with Parturition and Beginning Lactation

Summary The changes in blood-plasma vitamin A and carotene associated with parturition and beginning lactation were studied in 28 dairy cows. The total output of vitamin A and carotene in the colostrum during the first 3 days of lactation in 26 of these cows was also determined. Both vitamin A and carotene were found to decrease markedly in the blood plasma at the time of parturition and beginning lactation. Under the conditions of this experiment the maximum decrease in blood-plasma carotene was reached one week following parturition and amounted to 46 per cent of the 3-week pre-partum level. The maximum decrease in blood-plasma vitamin A for the entire group was reached 3 days following parturition and amounted to 52 percent of the pre-partum level. The total output of vitamin A and carotene in the colostrum during the first 3 days post-partum averaged 48,847 micrograms of vitamin A and 56,524 micrograms of carotene.
A late replicating DNA protein complex from cells in meiotic prophase.

Abstract DNA protein complexes were isolated from meiotic cells during the several intervals of DNA synthesis by extracting isolated nuclei with 0.1 M phosphate, pH 8. Macromolecular complexes with distinctive buoyant densities were detected at each of these intervals. The complex extracted from cells in zygonema, the stage of chromosome pairing, was stable in solutions of high ionic strength but was dissociated by sodium dodecyl sulfate. Its presence, as inferred from its extractability, was transient and appeared to be associated with newly replicated DNA. It contained phospholipid and was capable of synthesizing DNA from triphosphate precursors. The possible role of this DNA replicating complex in chromosome pairing is discussed.
Solvolysis of 9-chloropentacyclo[4.3.0.02,4.03,8.05,7]nonane (“Coates' chloride”) under pressure

Abstract The title reaction at 30.00° in 80% aqueous ethanol has an activation volume of −19 cm 3 /mol, in sharp contrast to t -butyl chloride (−40 cm 3 /mol); this difference, qualitatively expected on the basis of charge delocalization, is somewhat larger than expected.
Maximizing the effect of an α7 nicotinic receptor PAM in a mouse model of schizophrenia-like sensory inhibition deficits.

Abstract Positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) for the α7 nicotinic receptor hold promise for the treatment of sensory inhibition deficits observed in schizophrenia patients. Studies of these compounds in the DBA/2 mouse, which models the schizophrenia-related deficit in sensory inhibition, have shown PAMs to be effective in improving the deficit. However, the first published clinical trial of a PAM for both sensory inhibition deficits and related cognitive difficulties failed, casting a shadow on this therapeutic approach. The present study used both DBA/2 mice, and C3H Chrna7 heterozygote mice to assess the ability of the α7 PAM, PNU-120596, to improve sensory inhibition. Both of these strains of mice have reduced hippocampal α7 nicotinic receptor numbers and deficient sensory inhibition similar to schizophrenia patients. Low doses of PNU-120596 (1 or 3.33 mg/kg) were effective in the DBA/2 mouse but not the C3H Chrna7 heterozygote mouse. Moderate doses of the selective α7 nicotinic receptor agonist, choline chloride (10 or 33 mg/kg), were also ineffective in improving sensory inhibition in the C3H Chrna7 heterozygote mouse. However, combining the lowest doses of both PNU-120596 and choline chloride in this mouse model did improve sensory inhibition. We propose here that the difference in efficacy of PNU-120596 between the 2 mouse strains is driven by differences in hippocampal α7 nicotinic receptor numbers, such that C3H Chrna7 heterozygote mice require additional direct stimulation of the α7 receptors. These data may have implications for further clinical testing of putative α7 nicotinic receptor PAMs.
An In Vivo Study of Cardiac Pacemaker Optimization by Pulse Shape Modification

This paper is an experimental extension of theoretical work previously published by one of the authors. Results of pacing a canine heart using four different increasing exponential and ramp-like waveforms are presented. It is shown that these waveforms reduce the cardiac threshold energy by as much as 14 percent when compared with a pure rectangular pulse shape and by about 21 percent when compared with a standard cardiac pacer pulse. It is also found that above threshold energy is reduced by 50-60 percent. These results offer promise of increasing the life of certain new pacer power sources currently being tested. In addition, it may now be possible to pace at lower energy levels, thereby reducing tissue damage near the stimulating electrode, without running as much of a risk of exit block as with a comparable rectangular pulse pacer.
Learning to Reach to Locations Encoded from Imaging Displays.

Abstract The present study investigated how people learn to correct errors in actions directed toward cognitively encoded spatial locations. Subjects inserted a stylus to reach a hidden target localized by means of ultrasound imaging and portrayed with a scaled graph. As was found previously (Wu et al., 2005), subjects initially underestimated the target location but corrected their responses when given training with feedback. Three experiments were conducted to examine whether the error correction occurred at (1) the mapping from the input to a mental representation of target location, (2) the mapping from the representation of target location to the intended insertion response, or (3) the mapping from intended response to action. Experiments 1 and 3 disconfirmed Mappings 1 and 3, respectively, by showing that training did not alter independent measures of target localization or the action of aiming. Experiment 2 showed that the output of Mapping 2, the planned response—measured as the initial insertion ...
Measurement of the optical conductivity of graphene.

Optical reflectivity and transmission measurements over photon energies between 0.2 and 1.2 eV were performed on single-crystal graphene samples on a ${\mathrm{SiO}}_{2}$ substrate. For photon energies above 0.5 eV, graphene yielded a spectrally flat optical absorbance of $(2.3\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.2)%$. This result is in agreement with a constant absorbance of $\ensuremath{\pi}\ensuremath{\alpha}$, or a sheet conductivity of $\ensuremath{\pi}{e}^{2}/2h$, predicted within a model of noninteracting massless Dirac fermions. This simple result breaks down at lower photon energies, where both spectral and sample-to-sample variations were observed. This ``nonuniversal'' behavior is explained by including the effects of doping and finite temperature, as well as contributions from intraband transitions.
Spin resonance of an organic conductor: Tetramethyltetrathiafulvalene tetracyanoquinodimethane

Abstract Evaluation of the magnetic gaps of the (TMTTF) and (TCNQ) stacks with the help of the temperature dependence of the measured g-values leads to the conclusion that the (TCNQ) stack is driving the metal-insulator transition. The relative sizes of the magnetic gaps on the (TMTTF) and (TCNQ) stacks are compatible with the existence of only one phase transition. A comparison with (TTF)(TCNQ) is made and the lower transition temperature observed for (TMTTF)(TCNQ) is in agreement with the smaller gap observed in this compound for the (TNNQ) stack.
Evolution of Oviductal Gestation in Amphibians

Oviductal retention of developing embryos, with provision for maternal nutrition after yolk is exhausted (viviparity) and maintenance through metamorphosis, has evolved indepen- dently in each of the three living orders of amphibians, the Anura (frogs and toads), the Urodela (salamanders and newts), and the Gymnophiona (caecilians). In anurans and urodeles obligate vivi- parity is very rare (less than 1% of species); a few additional species retain the developing young, but nutrition is yolk-dependent (ovoviviparity) and, at least in salamanders, the young may be born be- fore metamorphosis is complete. However, in caecilians probably the majority of the approximately 170 species are viviparous, and none are ovoviviparous. All of the amphibians that retain their young oviductally practice internal fertilization; the mechanism is cloaca1 apposition in frogs, spermato- phore reception in salamanders, and intromission in caecilians. Internal fertilization is a necessary but not sufficient exaptation (sensu Gould and Vrba: Paleobiology 8:4-15, '82) for viviparity. The sala- manders and all but one of the frogs that are oviductal developers live at high altitudes and are subject to rigorous climatic variables; hence, it has been suggested that cold might be a "selection pressure" for the evolution of egg retention. However, one frog and all the live-bearing caecilians are tropical low to middle elevation inhabitants, so factors other than cold are implicated in the evolu- tion of live-bearing. Viviparity might facilitate life in a rigorous environment, but likely is not "caused by such an existence. o 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc. Oviductal retention of developing embryos has evolved independently several times in members of the Class Amphibia-twice in Anura (frogs and toads), once in Urodela (salamanders and newts), and at least twice, perhaps three times, in Gymno- phiona (caecilians). Each group has effected retention in rather different ways, and none have developed placentas (with the possible exception of a pseudo- placenta in one group of caecilians). In all species of amphibian oviductal embryo retainers for which there are data, either little to no nutrition is sup- plied in addition to yolk, though there may be gas- eous exchange across vascularized membranes (ovoviviparity), or cells of the oviductal epithelium secrete a highly nutritious material that is orally ingested by the developing fetuses after yolk is re- sorbed (viviparity) (Amoroso, '52, '68). Amphibians may present a special case in that viviparity and ovoviviparity can be rather clearly delineated in terms of presence or absence of significant mater- nal nutrition (a protein, carbohydrate and lipid-rich material, depending on the stage of development) following yolk resorption. I therefore will use the restrictive definitions mentioned above for vivipar- ity and ovoviviparity in this discussion, since the "grey areas" of nutrient uptake found in placental reptiles, and in fishes, seem not to obtain in amphibians. Of nearly
Feedback regulation of vitellogenin synthesis in Aedes aegypti and Aedes atropalpus

Abstract Blood-fed hemiovariectomized Aedes aegypti synthesized vitellogenin at the same rate as intact females. Removal of both developing ovaries from blood-fed females diminished vitellogenin synthesis gradually. To determine the concentration of circulating vitellogenin, vitellin was purified using hydrophobic affinity chromatography. A titration curve of antibody-antigen complex was developed and the concentration of vitellogenin circulating in ovariectomized females was found to be five-fold higher than that in intact females. Ovaries removed from vitellogenic donors did not induce vitellogenin synthesis in non-vitellogenic (blood-fed, decapitated) recipients. Implanting a pinocytotic ovary into blood-fed females in which vitellogenesis was arrested by ovariectomy, restored vitellogenin synthesis. These results indicate that vitellogenin synthesis in Aedes aegypti is controlled by a feedback-inhibition mechanism, rather than an ovarian factor, and the ovary acts as a sink.
An exact solution of a limit case Stefan problem governed by a fractional diffusion equation

Abstract An anomalous diffusion version of a limit Stefan melting problem is posed. In this problem, the governing equation includes a fractional time derivative of order 0 s = t γ , γ = β α + 1 . This result is consistent with fractional diffusion theory and through appropriate choice of the order of the time and space derivatives, is able to recover both sub-diffusion and super-diffusion behaviors for the melt front advance.
Gangliocytic Paraganglioma: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Gangliocytic paraganglioma is a rare tumor, which occurs nearly exclusively in the second portion of the duodenum. Generally, this tumor has a benign clinical course, although rarely, it may recur or metastasize to regional lymph nodes. Only one case with distant metastasis has been reported. We present a case of duodenal gangliocytic paraganglioma treated first by local resection followed by pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy. Examination of the first specimen revealed focal nuclear pleomorphism and mitotic activity, in addition to the presence of three characteristic histologic components: epithelioid, ganglion, and spindle cell. In the subsequent pancreaticoduodenectomy specimen, there was no residual tumor identified in the periampullary area, but metastatic gangliocytic paraganglioma was present in two of seven lymph nodes. This case report confirms the malignant potential of this tumor. We review the published literature on gangliocytic paragangliomas pursuing a malignant course. We conclude that surgical therapy of these neoplasms should not be limited to local resection, as disease recurrence, lymph node involvement, and rarely distant metastasis may occur.
Synthesis and solution characterization of [Ru(bpy)2]2+ modified polyazines.

A series of [Ru(bpy)2]2+ complexes linked by a controlled number of azine units (one to seven) were synthesized and studied in the solution phase. Polymers and dimer model compounds were examined b...