cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
High-Frequency Spin Dynamics of a Magnetic Antivortex

Magnetic vortices have been studied extensively in recent years because of their rich physics as well as their potential for applications and other topological spin states, especially skyrmions, are also attracting interest. In contrast, comparatively few experimental investigations have been conducted on the magnetic antivortex (AV) spin configuration, in part because they are more difficult to create. The AV, the topological counterpart of a magnetic vortex, involves spins that sweep in towards a central core from two opposing directions and away in the other directions. It is a potentially interesting configuration for magnonics devices since AV's will form at cross-like intersections and the spin configuration in these structures is such that the magnetization blends smoothly from the intersection region into the wires, which should facilitate SW propagation. In this work, we show that the AV state can be reliably created in micron-sized Permalloy nanostructures with a pound-key-like shape by using shape anisotropy to control the reversal process [1], and we show experimental measurements of the high-frequency spin dynamics of the magnetic AV's in these structures, made using micro-focus Brillouin light scattering (micro-BLS) [2]. Micro-BLS spectra, measured at ~250-nm spots at various locations on the patterned structures for samples in both the AV and saturated configurations, show that the dynamics of an AV are more complex than those of a magnetic vortex. Strong modes were detected in the 5–6 GHz range independent of the spin configuration and spatial scans show that these modes are more closely associated with the microstrips than the intersection; however, at lower frequencies, distinct dynamics were observed for the AV. Several of the detected AV modes are close in frequency to azimuthal-like modes observed in micromagnetic simulations and, furthermore, the simulations at the azimuthal spin wave frequencies show that intersection spin state can influence the dominant wavevector in the structure legs, which is of potential interest for magnonics devices since many proposed devices require high wavenumber excitations. This work was supported by DOE-BES ER46854.
Precision Timing Detectors with Cadmium Telluride Sensors

Precision timing properties of high energy physics detectors in high luminosity colliders has become an important requirement for the success of particle detection, of which new calorimeter with timing precision of few tens of ps is the main interest. In this paper, we presented the first calorimetry and timing performance measurement of Cadmium-Telluride (CdTe) as the active material of sampling calorimeter, using 2 GeV to 200 GeV electron beam from CERN beamlines. A good energy performance is achieved due to the better sensitivity of CdTe to X ray photons in the secondary shower than other semi-conducting sensors such as silicon. The timing resolution of the tested CdTe sensor is measured to be down to 21 ps under the best conditions.
Dim light at night impairs recovery from global cerebral ischemia.

Abstract Nighttime lighting is one of the great conveniences of modernization; however, there is mounting evidence that inopportune light exposure can disrupt physiological and behavioral functions. Hospital patients may be particularly vulnerable to the consequences of light at night due to their compromised physiological state. Cardiac arrest/cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CA) was used to test the hypothesis in mice that exposure to dim light at night impairs central nervous system (CNS) recovery from a major pathological insult. Mice exposed to dim light at night (5 lx) had higher mortality in the week following cardiac arrest compared to mice housed in dark nights (0 lx). Neuronal damage was significantly greater in surviving mice exposed to dim light at night after CA versus those housed in dark nights. Dim light at night may have elevated neuronal damage by amplifying pro-inflammatory pathways in the CNS; Iba1 immunoreactivity (an indication of microglia activation) and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression were elevated in mice exposed to dim light at night post-CA. Furthermore, selective inhibition of IL-1β or TNFα ameliorated damage in mice exposed to dim light at night. The effects of light at night on CA outcomes were also prevented by using a wavelength of nighttime light that has minimal impact on the endogenous circadian clock, suggesting that replacing broad-spectrum nighttime light with specific circadian-inert wavelengths could be protective. Together, these data indicate that exposure to dim light at night after global cerebral ischemia increases neuroinflammation, in turn exacerbating neurological damage and potential for mortality.
The Pitfalls of Manufacturing a Market: Why Carbon Will Not Just Sit Down, Shut Up, and Behave Like a Proper Commodity

Shouldn’t carbon prices behave like those of the energy commodities that release it? For several reasons, the trading behavior of carbon emitters differs from that of other commodity traders. As a result, it isn’t carbon’s price volatility that makes its market seem uncharacteristic of commodities markets. It is the fact that its volatility seems arbitrary. As carbon cap-and-trade makes its way across the pond to the U.S., regulators have much to learn from the mistakes of the European Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). However, it isn’t Europe’s implementation flaws that have caused precariousness in carbon prices as much as it is the political nature of the financial product itself. Therefore, while the U.S. could see a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions due to cap-and-trade, the carbon market will never behave much like those of the commodities that release CO2.
Tropical forecasting - Predictability perspective

Results are presented of classical predictability studies and forecast experiments with observed initial conditions to show the nature of initial error growth and final error equilibration for the tropics and midlatitudes, separately. It is found that the theoretical upper limit of tropical circulation predictability is far less than for midlatitudes. The error growth for a complete general circulation model is compared to a dry version of the same model in which there is no prognostic equation for moisture, and diabatic heat sources are prescribed. It is found that the growth rate of synoptic-scale errors for the dry model is significantly smaller than for the moist model, suggesting that the interactions between dynamics and moist processes are among the important causes of atmospheric flow predictability degradation. Results are then presented of numerical experiments showing that correct specification of the slowly varying boundary condition of SST produces significant improvement in the prediction of time-averaged circulation and rainfall over the tropics.
Development of Adjustment Factors for MEPDG Pavement Responses Utilizing Finite-Element Analysis

AbstractThe Mechanistic-empirical pavement design guide (MEPDG) provides theoretically superior methodology, as compared with its predecessor, for the design and analysis of pavement structures. Th...
Quantification of drug uptake, efflux and modulation in MDR cells in vitro and in vivo

3234 Multidrug Resistance (MDR) is one of the major reasons for anti-cancer chemotherapy failure. The molecular mechanisms of MDR in cancer cells are involved in the over-expression of ATP-Binding Cassette (ABC) transporters on cell membranes. These transporters mediate the efflux of the structurally and functionally unrelated anti-neoplastic drugs from cells and thereby decrease intracellular drug accumulation. Using confocal microscopy we have conducted in vitro and in vivo studies on the roles of P-glycoprotein (Pgp), one of the ABC transporters, in the uptake and efflux of doxorubicin (DOX) and mitoxantrone (MX), and on the effects of Pgp modulators in MDR transduced human cancer MDA-MB-435 cells (MDR). IC50s of DOX and MX in MDA-MB-435 wild type (WT) cells are 0.60 ± 0.04 µM and 0.13 ± 0.008 µM, respectively. The MDR cells were about 9- and 12-fold more resistant to DOX and MX than the WT cells. Intracellular accumulation of DOX and MX in the MDR cells was only 19% and 33% of that in the WT cells. Lower DOX net uptake in the nuclei and stronger DOX efflux in the cytoplasm were the main reasons for the decreased DOX intracellular accumulation in the MDR cells. Compared to the WT cells, MDR cells had lower net uptake of MX in both nuclei and cytoplasm, which was the major cause of the reduced MX intracellular accumulation in the cells. In MDA-MB-435 tumor xenografts in living mice, the accumulation of DOX and MX in MDR tumors was 68% and 42% of that in WT tumors. Pgp inhibitor, PSC833 increased the accumulation of DOX and MX in MDR cells to 65 % and 85% of that in the WT cells in vitro and reversed the fluorescent intensity of DOX and MX in MDR tumors to 94 % of that in the WT tumors in vivo. Taken together, Pgp causes reduced intracellular accumulation by decreasing drug net uptake and/or increasing drug efflux and the Pgp inhibitor PSC833 reverses the effects of Pgp in cancer cells. In addition, Pgp processes individual anticancer compounds differently, which may be related to the anti-neoplastic mechanisms of these drugs.
The Demand of the Concrete: The Non-Contingency of Language

This chapter argues that for Maimonides and Spinoza, history, culture, and language are not secondary or accidental to the achievement of the good and intellect, but rather are in an important respect essential for it, or rather, are non-contingent to the generation of ethical-intellectual perfection. Taking language as the exemplary mode of historical and cultural transmission, I examine how Maimonides and Spinoza develop a critical approach to and perspective on language so to induce intellectual and singular perfection in their readers. For both, language expresses and represents concrete embodied activities and inheritances that cannot be easily subsumed by a universalist-rationalist perspective that would seek to reduce the necessary role of historical affects in language. Instead, the extrinsic mediations expressed through and by language, if properly managed and understood as unique and necessary, can generate singular conditions through which an embodied individual may achieve appropriate knowledge of their singular good.
Assessing the Early Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Spine Surgery Fellowship Education

Study design This was a cross-sectional study. Objective The objective of this study is to report the impact of COVID-19 on spine surgery fellow education and readiness for practice. Summary of background data COVID-19 has emerged as one of the most devastating global health crises of our time. To minimize transmission risk and to ensure availability of health resources, many hospitals have cancelled elective surgeries. There may be unintended consequences of this decision on the education and preparedness of current surgical trainees. Materials and methods A multidimensional survey was created and distributed to all current AO Spine fellows and fellowship directors across the United States and Canada. Results Forty-five spine surgery fellows and 25 fellowship directors completed the survey. 62.2% of fellows reported >50% decrease in overall case volume since cancellation of elective surgeries. Mean hours worked per week decreased by 56.2%. Fellows reported completing a mean of 188.4±64.8 cases before the COVID-19 crisis and 84.1% expect at least an 11%-25% reduction in case volume compared with previous spine fellows. In all, 95.5% of fellows did not expect COVID-19 to impact their ability to complete fellowship. Only 2 directors were concerned about their fellows successfully completing fellowship; however, 32% of directors reported hearing concerns regarding preparedness from their fellows and 25% of fellows were concerned about job opportunities. Conclusions COVID-19 has universally impacted work hours and case volume for spine surgery fellows set to complete fellowship in the middle of 2020. Nevertheless, spine surgery fellows generally feel ready to enter practice and are supported by the confidence of their fellowship directors. The survey highlights a number of opportunities for improvement and innovation in the future training of spine surgeons. Level of evidence Level III.
Abnormal phase discontinuity of alpha- and theta-frequency oscillations in schizophrenia

Abstract Background Schizophrenia patients have abnormal electroencephalographic (EEG) power over multiple frequency bands, even at rest, though the primary neural generators and spatiotemporal dynamics of these abnormalities are largely unknown. Disturbances in the precise synchronization of oscillations within and across cortical sources may underlie abnormal resting-state EEG activity in schizophrenia patients. Methods A novel assessment method was applied to identify the independent contributing sources of resting-state EEG and assess the phase discontinuity in schizophrenia patients (N = 148) and healthy subjects (N = 143). Results A network of 11 primary contributing sources of scalp EEG was identified in both groups. Schizophrenia patients showed abnormal elevations of EEG power in the temporal region in the theta, beta, and gamma-bands, as well as the posterior cingulate gyrus in the delta, theta, alpha, and beta-bands. The higher theta-band power in the middle temporal gyrus was significantly correlated with verbal memory impairment in patients. The peak frequency of alpha was lower in patients in the cingulate and temporal regions. Furthermore, patients showed a higher rate of alpha phase discontinuity in the temporal region as well as a lower rate of theta phase discontinuity in the temporal and posterior cingulate regions. Conclusions Abnormal rates of phase discontinuity of alpha- and theta-band, abnormal elevations of EEG power in multiple bands, and a lower peak frequency of alpha were identified in schizophrenia patients at rest. Clarification of the mechanistic substrates of abnormal phase discontinuity may clarify core pathophysiologic abnormalities of schizophrenia and contribute to the development of novel biomarkers for therapeutic interventions.
The clinical spectrum of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Gaucher disease: Effect of both a pandemic and a rare disease that disrupts the immune system.

Abstract Introduction The impact of SARS-CoV-2 in rare disease populations has been underreported. Gaucher disease (GD) is a prototype rare disease that shares with SARS-CoV-2 a disruption of the lysosomal pathway. Materials-methods Retrospective analysis of 11 patients with Type 1 GD who developed COVID-19 between March 2020 and March 2021. Results Seven male and 4 female patients with Type 1 GD developed COVID-19. One was a pediatric patient (8 years old) while the remainder were adults, median age of 44 years old (range 21 to 64 years old). Two patients required hospitalization though none required intensive care or intubation. All 11 patients recovered from COVID-19 and there were no reported deaths. Conclusions Our case series suggests that GD patients acquired COVID-19 at a similar frequency as the general population, though experienced a milder overall course despite harboring underlying immune system dysfunction and other known co-morbidities that confer high risk of adverse outcomes from SARS-CoV-2 infection.
TU-G-BRB-00: Clinical Trials in Proton and Particle Therapy

Proton therapy, in particular, and ion therapy, just beginning, are becoming an increasing focus of attention in clinical radiation oncology and medical physics. Both modalities have been criticized of lacking convincing evidence from randomized trials proving their efficacy, justifying the higher costs involved in these therapies. This session will provide an overview of the current status of clinical trials in proton therapy, including recent developments in ion therapy. As alluded to in the introductory talk by Dr. Schulte, opinions are diverging widely as to the usefulness and need for clinical trials in particle therapy and the challenge of equipoise. The lectures will highlight some of the challenges that surround clinical trials in particle therapy. One, presented by Dr. Choy from UT Southwestern, is that new technology and even different types of particles such as helium and carbon ions are introduced into this environment, increasing the phase space of clinical variables. The other is the issue of medical physics quality assurance with physical phantoms, presented by Mrs. Taylor from IROC Houston, which is more challenging because 3D and 4D image guidance and active delivery techniques are in relatively early stages of development. The role of digital phantoms in developing clinical treatment planning protocols and as a QA tool will also be highlighted by Dr. Lee from NCI. The symposium will be rounded off by a panel discussion among the Symposium speakers, arguing pro or con the need and readiness for clinical trials in proton and ion therapy. Learning Objectives: 1. To get an update on the current status of clinical trials allowing or mandating proton therapy. 2. Learn about the status of planned clinical trials in the U.S. and worldwide involving ion therapy. 3. Discuss the challenges in the design and QA of clinical trials in particle therapy. 4. Learn about existing and future physical and computational anthropomorphic phantoms for charged particle clinical trial development and support. Research reported in this presentation is supported by the National Cancer Institute of the National; Institutes of Health under Award Number P20CA183640.
Influence of Growth Field on NiFe, Fe $_3$ O $_4$ , and NiFe/Cr/Fe $_3$ O $_4$ Spin-Valves

Thin films of Ni80Fe20, Fe3O4, as well as Ni80Fe20/Cr/Fe3O4 spin valves, have been grown with and without magnetic fields applied during the deposition, and their magnetotransport properties have been studied at room temperature. The applied field induces an anisotropy in both single layer films, which causes notable differences in their anisotropic magnetoresistance. In the spin valve system, the applied field enables the parallel and antiparallel states to be more well-defined, which reveals a possible giant magnetoresistance in the system. The origin of this signal is likely the interaction of electrons that have been polarized by spin-dependent reflection from the Cr/Fe3O4 interface with the Ni80Fe20 interface.
A Mathematical Model of the Bone Remodeling Process

The bone remodeling process maintains the structure and function of the skeletal system. Understanding interruptions in this process can give insight on why bone diseases exist, how they can be prevented, and what therapies may help overcome such diseases. Mathematical models of bone cell populations have been influential in discovering the organization of the bone multicellular units (BMU) which is an integral part of the bone remodeling process. However, there are currently very few cell-population models that include external mechanical stimulus and microdamage, and their effect on the activation of BMU. In this work, a spatio-temporal model is constructed to study the natural initiation of cortical BMU. The new model extends an existing mathematical model by including the role of osteocytes and lining cells in sensing mechanical stress and microdamage, as well as in communicating with each other and other cells. Numerical simulations are performed to compare the model predictions to available data in the scientific literature.
Processing of histidine transfer RNA precursors. Abnormal cleavage site for RNase P.

The 5'-terminal guanylate residue (G-1) of mature Escherichia coli tRNA(His) is generated as a result of an unusual cleavage by RNase P (Orellana, O., Cooley, L., and Soll, D. (1986) Mol. Cell. Biol. 6, 525-529). We have examined the importance of the unique acceptor stem structure of E. coli tRNA(His) in determining the specificity of RNase P cleavage. Mutant tRNA(His) precursors bearing substitutions of the normal base G-1 or the opposing, potentially paired base, C73, can be cleaved at the +1 position, in contrast to wild-type precursors which are cut exclusively at the -1 position. These data indicate that the nature of the base at position -1 is of greater importance in determining the site of RNase P cleavage than potential base pairing between nucleotides -1 and 73. In addition, processing of the mutant precursors by M1-RNA or P RNA under conditions of ribozyme catalysis yields a higher proportion of +1-cleaved products in comparison to the reaction catalyzed by the RNase P holoenzyme. This lower sensitivity of the holoenzyme to alterations in acceptor stem structure suggests that the protein moiety of RNase P may play a role in determining the specificity of the reaction and implies that recognition of the substrate involves additional regions of the tRNA. We have also shown that the RNase P holoenzyme and tRNA(His) precursor of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, unlike their prokaryotic counterparts, do not possess these abilities to carry out this unusual reaction.
Environment-dependent reversal of a life history trade-off in the seed beetle Callosobruchus maculatus.

Abstract Environmental manipulations have consistently demonstrated a cost of reproduction in the capital-breeding seed beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus, as females deprived of seeds or mates lay fewer eggs and thereby increase their longevity. Yet fecundity and longevity tend to be positively correlated within populations, perhaps as a consequence of individual differences in resource acquisition. We conducted a split-brood experiment that combined a manipulation of seed availability (seeds present or absent) with a quantitative-genetic analysis of fecundity and lifespan in each environment. Each trait was significantly heritable in each environment. Seed availability not only altered mean fecundity and longevity between environments, but also modified how the traits were correlated within environments. The signs of both the phenotypic and genetic correlations switched from positive when seeds were present to negative when seeds were absent. This reversal persisted even after the effect of body mass (a potential indicator of resource acquisition) was statistically controlled. Cross-environment genetic correlations were positive but significantly less than one for each trait. We suggest that the reversal of the fecundity–longevity relationship depends on a shift in the relative importance of resource-acquisition and resource-allocation loci between environments. In particular, a cost of reproduction may be apparent at the individual level only when seeds are scarce or absent because differences in reproductive effort become large enough to overwhelm differences in resource acquisition. Despite their common dependence on resources acquired during larval stages, fecundity and lifespan in C. maculatus do not appear to be tightly coupled in a physiological or genetic sense.
Rapid development of application-specific network performance tests

Analyzing the performance of networks and messaging layers is important for diagnosing anomalous performance in parallel applications. However, general-purpose benchmarks rarely provide sufficient insight into any particular application's behavior. What is needed is a facility for rapidly developing customized network performance tests that mimic an application's use of the network but allow for easier experimentation to help determine performance bottlenecks. In this paper, we contrast four approaches to developing customized network performance tests: straight C, C with a helper library, Python with a helper library, and a domain-specific language. We show that while a special-purpose library can result in significant improvements in functionality without sacrificing language familiarity, the key to facilitating rapid development of network performances tests is to use a domain-specific language designed expressly for that purpose.
Emerging Options for Emergency Contraception

Emergency post-coital contraception (EC) is an effective method of preventing pregnancy when used appropriately. EC has been available since the 1970s, and its availability and use have become widespread. Options for EC are broad and include the copper intrauterine device (IUD) and emergency contraceptive pills such as levonorgestrel, ulipristal acetate, combined oral contraceptive pills (Yuzpe method), and less commonly, mifepristone. Some options are available over-the-counter, while others require provider prescription or placement. There are no absolute contraindications to the use of emergency contraceptive pills, with the exception of ulipristal acetate and mifepristone. This article reviews the mechanisms of action, efficacy, safety, side effects, clinical considerations, and patient preferences with respect to EC usage. The decision of which regimen to use is influenced by local availability, cost, and patient preference.
A Sensor System for Determining Position and Orientation of Robot Targets

The objective of the system described in this paper is to locate target objects without using vision systems. A scanning laser range finder is used to locate a special reflective material attached to the object and to determine the spherical coordinates of the object. These coordinates are then transformed to robot coordinates and the end effector is moved to this location. A proximity sensor, which is housed in the end effector, is then used to determine the orientation of the target object.
Empirical Fallacies of Evidence Law: A Critical Look at the Admission of Prior Sex Crimes

In a significant break with traditional evidence rules and policies, Federal Rules of Evidence 413-414 allow jurors to use the accused's prior sexual misconduct as evidence of character and propensity to commit the sex crime charged. As reflected in their legislative history, these propensity rules rest on the assumption that sexual predators represent a small number of highly deviant and recidivistic offenders. This view of who commits sex crimes justified the passage of the sex-crime propensity rules and continues to influence their continuing adoption among the states and the way courts assess such evidence under Rule 403. In depending on this image of sex crime perpetrators, legislators and judges have ignored the contrary psychological and criminological evidence. Most critiques of the sex-propensity Rules concentrate on the unfairness part of the Rule 403 equation, but we approach them in a novel way, focusing instead on the absence of empirical support for their so-called probative value. This article examines the empirical support for the probative value of such evidence, revealing that current policy rests on bogus psychology and false empirical assertions. Rules 413-414 typify the regrettable seat-of-the-pants psychologizing on which evidence rule drafters rely too often; the approach eschews a nuanced approach to questions of recidivism and the different types of sex offenders. We argue that rulemakers should look to the disciplines engaged in the empirical study of perpetrator behavior before asserting notions of deviance and recidivism to justify radical changes to evidence law. Finally, we offer specific guidance to judges about how to conceptualize the probative value of evidence of prior sexual misconduct and how to incorporate this knowledge in applying their discretion in admitting sex-crime propensity evidence.
Unusual Yersinia enterocolitica isolates not associated with mesenteric lymphadenitis.

Thirteen Yersinia enterocolitica were recovered from a variety of clinical sources. Of these, only one was associated with mesenteric lymphadenitis and belonged to serotype 8. The 12 remaining strains were isolated from nonmesenteric sources and belonged to serotype 17. All strains exhibited the main characteristics of Y. enterocolitica which differentiated them from other Enterobacteriaceae, i.e., motility at 22 C but not at 37 C, positive urease and ornithine decarboxylase activities, and negative phenylalanine deaminase. These 12 strains differed, however, from other Y. enterocolitica previously described in the United States in that they fermented rhamnose and raffinose at 22 C, and failed to grow on Salmonella-Shigella and Hektoen-Enteric agars.
Post-ovulatory aging of oocytes disrupts kinase signaling pathways and lysosome biogenesis

Post-ovulatory aging of oocytes results in the progressive loss of fertilization and developmental competence. This degradation of oocyte quality has been the object of numerous investigations, primarily focused on individual signaling pathways which provide limited insight into the status of global signaling events. The purpose of the present investigation was to comprehensively assess broad patterns of signaling pathway activity during in vitro aging as an initial step in defining control points that can be targeted to prevent the reduction in oocyte quality during prolonged culture. An antibody microarray-based phospho-proteome analysis performed on oocytes before and after eight hours of culture revealed significant changes in the abundance or activation state of 43 proteins that function in a wide variety of protein kinase-mediated signaling pathways. Several of the most significantly affected kinases were studied by Western blot and confocal immunofluorescence to corroborate the array results. Prolonged culture resulted in global changes in the abundance and activity of protein kinases that regulate the response to calcium, stress, and cell-cycle control. Examination of intracellular structures revealed a previously unrecognized increase in the abundance of large autophogagic lysosomes, which correlates with changes in protein kinase pathways. These results provide insight into the stresses experienced by oocytes during culture and the diversity of responses that results from them. The observed increase in autophagy-related activity, together with the disruptions in calcium signaling, cell-cycle, and stress-response pathways, have the potential to negatively impact oocyte quality by interfering with the normal sequence of biochemical changes that constitute egg activation following fertilization.
Food intake with and without water after different durations of food deprivation.

Food intake was measured in rats after 10 food-deprivation periods ranging from 0 to 168 hr. in duration. Half the Ss in each deprivation condition had water available during the food-intake period; the other half did not. Results showed greater intake after the shorter deprivation periods for Ss without water and greater intake after the longer deprivation periods for Ss with water. These findings were discussed in terms of the limitations on intake imposed by stomach capacity and aversiveness of dry food.
A novel and efficient excitation- and ionization-scheme for laser resonance ionization of mercury

Abstract A novel, efficient scheme for mercury atomic resonance ionization is proposed and experimentally studied with wavelengths λ 1 =254 nm, λ 2 =313 nm and λ 3 =626 nm. The cross-sections of mercury photoionization from different excited states were estimated using a new imaging method of resonance ionization signal measurement. Almost 100% efficiency of Hg resonance ionization was achieved using the first harmonic of a dye laser at 626 nm to ionize mercury atoms excited into the 6 3 D 2 state. The photoionization cross-section from this state was found to be 1.5×10 −18 cm 2 . Suppression of the ionization signal by coherent effects (electromagnetically-induced transparency) and the efficiency of resonance ionization were also studied.
Insertional Mutants of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii That Require Elevated CO2 for Survival

Aquatic photosynthetic organisms live in quite variable conditions of CO(2) availability. To survive in limiting CO(2) conditions, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and other microalgae show adaptive changes, such as induction of a CO(2)-concentrating mechanism, changes in cell organization, increased photorespiratory enzyme activity, induction of periplasmic carbonic anhydrase and specific polypeptides (mitochondrial carbonic anhydrases and putative chloroplast carrier proteins), and transient down-regulation in the synthesis of Rubisco. The signal for acclimation to limiting CO(2) in C. reinhardtii is unidentified, and it is not known how they sense a change of CO(2) level. The limiting CO(2) signals must be transduced into the changes in gene expression observed during acclimation, so mutational analyses should be helpful for investigating the signal transduction pathway for low CO(2) acclimation. Eight independently isolated mutants of C. reinhardtii that require high CO(2) for photoautotrophic growth were tested by complementation group analysis. These mutants are likely to be defective in some aspects of the acclimation to low CO(2) because they differ from wild type in their growth and in the expression patterns of five low CO(2)-inducible genes (Cah1, Mca1, Mca2, Ccp1, and Ccp2). Two of the new mutants formed a single complementation group along with the previously described mutant cia-5, which appears to be defective in the signal transduction pathway for low CO(2) acclimation. The other mutations represent six additional, independent complementation groups.
β-Blocker toxicity: A clinical diagnosis

An overdose of the beta-blocking agent metoprolol is presented in which the patient remained asymptomatic despite blood levels that were more than 25 times that reported to be the upper limit of therapeutic. This case emphasizes the need to diagnose beta-blocker toxicity on clinical grounds, not on blood levels that correlate poorly with the severity of symptoms. Furthermore, the question is raised as to whether patients are at any subsequent risk for morbidity, if they have not demonstrated signs or symptoms within 4 hours of ingestion.
Progress in understanding structure-function relationships in respiratory chain complex II.

Complex II (succinate:quinone oxidoreductase) of aerobic respiratory chains oxidizes succinate to fumarate and passes the electrons directly into the quinone pool. It serves as the only direct link between activity in the citric acid cycle and electron transport in the membrane. Finer details of these reactions and interactions are but poorly understood. However, complex II has extremely similar structural and catalytic properties to quinol:fumarate oxidoreductases of anaerobic organisms, for which X-ray structures have recently become available. These offer new insights into structure–function relationships of this class of flavoenzymes, including evidence favoring protein movement during catalysis.
Solitary Fibrous Tumor of the Sinonasal Tract: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Nonepithilial tumors of the nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, and nasopharynx are uncommon. Awareness of the variety of tumors to be found and their distinguishing characteristics allows for proper ...
A new kind of radio: FM broadcasting in India:

In 2001, India’s first private FM station – Radio City, Bangalore – came on air, ending an era of state broadcasting that began in 1930. In the past decade, FM radio has enjoyed spectacular success...
An Ecological Approach to Culturally Sensitive Intervention for Arab American Women and Their Families

An ecological perspective toward intervention recognizes the relevance of multiple influences and contexts on intervention with a given population. Ecological issues in psychotherapy with Arab American women would include both macro system issues such as historical events, internal and external culture, societal beliefs and stigmas and micro system issues such as family dynamics and community participation. The intersections of these systemic issues are also addressed in this article.
Metallization of vanadium dioxide driven by large phonon entropy

Phase competition underlies many remarkable and technologically important phenomena in transition metal oxides. Vanadium dioxide (VO2) exhibits a first-order metal-insulator transition (MIT) near room temperature, where conductivity is suppressed and the lattice changes from tetragonal to monoclinic on cooling. Ongoing attempts to explain this coupled structural and electronic transition begin with two alternative starting points: a Peierls MIT driven by instabilities in electron-lattice dynamics and a Mott MIT where strong electron-electron correlations drive charge localization. A key missing piece of the VO2 puzzle is the role of lattice vibrations. Moreover, a comprehensive thermodynamic treatment must integrate both entropic and energetic aspects of the transition. Here we report that the entropy driving the MIT in VO2 is dominated by strongly anharmonic phonons rather than electronic contributions, and provide a direct determination of phonon dispersions. Our ab initio calculations identify softer bonding in the tetragonal phase, relative to the monoclinic phase, as the origin of the large vibrational entropy stabilizing the metallic rutile phase. They further reveal how a balance between higher entropy in the metal and orbital-driven lower energy in the insulator fully describes the thermodynamic forces controlling the MIT. Our study illustrates the critical role of anharmonic lattice dynamics in metal oxide phase competition, and provides guidance for the predictive design of new materials.
Pressure Tuning Optical Absorption Spectroscopy of Erbium-Doped Silicon Nanocrystals

High-pressure optical absorption spectroscopic measurements of both erbium-doped and undoped Si nanoparticles have been carried out in a diamond anvil cell up to pressures of 180 kbar. The emphasis here is with respect to (a) the effect of particle size on the pressure dependence of the band gap as well as (b) indirect examination of the structural impact of the erbium dopant on the pressure-induced phase transition(s). It is found that in terms of electronic structure these Er-doped Si nanocrystals act very much like indirect gap silicon, with an observed band gap pressure dependence of −1.4 × 10-6 eV/bar. Measurements of the optical spectra in terms of integrated area as a function of pressure of these doped nanoparticles reveal that the first-order phase transition must lie above 180 kbar, substantially elevated from the bulk value of 120 kbar. Thus, doped nanocrystals of this dimension maintain a significant elevation in the phase transition pressure (known in homogeneous Si nanocrystals relative to b...
“It’s More Than a Class”: Leisure Education’s Influence on College Student Engagement

As universities and colleges continue to seek out ways to improve student engagement on their campuses, attention has been given to the role that on-campus leisure opportunities can play in developing this engagement. Yet, little research has analyzed the influence of leisure education on student engagement in the higher education setting. The purpose of this study was to explore how for-credit Leisure Skills classes at a mid-sized southeastern university may build engagement. The results indicate that leisure education provides a uniquely positioned environment for building students’ sense of engagement with their institution through an enhanced sense of community, enhanced sense of self, and active learning.
The Nuclear Receptor FXR Uncouples the Actions of miR-33 From SREBP-2

Objective—To determine whether activation of farnesoid X receptor (FXR) alters cellular and plasma cholesterol homeostasis as a result of regulation of Srebp-2 and miR-33. Approach and Results—Chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing data identified an FXR response element within intron 10 of the Srebp-2 gene. Consistent with this observation, treatment of mice with FXR-specific agonists (GSK2324 or GW4064) rapidly increased hepatic levels of Srebp-2 mRNA, precursor sterol response element binding protein 2 (pSREBP-2) protein, and miR-33. Furthermore, miR-33 targets, that include ABCA1 (ATP binding cassette transporter A1), NSF (N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor), and CPT1 (carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1), were all reduced in GSK2324-treated mice. In contrast, neither nuclear SREBP-2 protein (nSREBP-2) nor SREBP-2 target genes were induced after FXR activation. The inability to process pSREBP-2 to nSREBP-2 is likely a consequence of the induction of insulin INSIG-2A (induced gene 2A) by FXR agonists. Fi...
Detection of amplified sequences in mammalian DNA by in-gel renaturation and SINE hybridization.

The presence of amplified sequences in mammalian DNA can be determined by in-gel renaturation of labeled restriction digests of total genomic DNA, provided that such sequences comprise at least 20–30 copies per haploid human or hamster genome or 40–50 copies per mouse genome. To detect amplified DNA in mouse cells at a lower level of amplification, a new procedure has been developed. This procedure combines in-gel DNA renaturation with Southern hybridization using a cloned probe containing a short interspersed repeated element (SINE). Using mouse cell lines containing amplified dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR)or c-Ki-rasgenes as a model system, and the cloned B2 repeated sequence as a SINE probe, we have shown that this technique can detect gene amplification at a level as low as 10–15 copies of amplified DNA per haploid mouse genome. In-gel renaturation-SINE hybridization was used to assay for DNA amplification in different tissues and in different mouse strains. No tissue-specific DNA amplification has been detected, but comparison of B2-containing repeated fragments between three inbred mouse lines revealed strain-specific polymorphism.
Adenosine Kinase Inhibitors. 5. Synthesis, Enzyme Inhibition, and Analgesic Activity of Diaryl-erythro-furanosyltubercidin Analogues

Adenosine is an endogenous neuromodulator that when produced in the central and the peripheral nervous systems has anticonvulsant, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties. However, efforts to use adenosine receptor agonists are plagued by dose-limiting cardiovascular side effects. As an alternative, we explored the use of adenosine kinase inhibitors (AKIs) as potential antiseizure agents and demonstrated an adenosine receptor mediated therapeutic effect in the absence of overt cardiovascular side effects. These activities were associated with elevation of extracellular adenosine concentrations due to inhibition of AK in a site and event specific manner. Several tubercidin based AKIs, including the ribo- and lyxo-furanosyltubercidin analogues as well as the newly discovered erythro-furanosyltubercidin analogues, designed to prevent 5‘-O-phosphorylation and associated toxicities, were tested for their analgesic activity in the rat formalin paw model. Described herein are the synthesis, enzyme inhibition...
Ignition of composite propellants in a stagnation region under rapid pressure loading

Ignition of AP-based composite solid propellants located at the tip of an inert crack wasinvestigated both experimentally and theoretically. The ignition process was observed by simultaneously using a high-speed (≈40,000 pictures/s) camera and a fast-response photodiode system. Heat flux to the propellant surface was measured with a thin-film heat-flux gage. Effects of pressurization rate, crack-gap width, and igniter flame temperature on the ignition process were studied experimentally. Experimental results indicate that the ignition-delay time decreases and the heat flux to the propellant surface increases as the pressurization rate is increased. Results of the theoretical analysis which employed separate solid-phase energy equations for fuel and oxidizer and the measured heat flux to the propellant surface are in good agreement with experimental data. The decrease in ignition delay with increasing pressurization rate is caused by enhanced heat feedback to the propellant surface at higher pressurization rates. This augmentation in heat feedback to the propellant at higher pressurization is believed to be a result of a combination of the following mechanisms: heating due to compression-wave reflection at the closed end; heat release due to burning of unreacted igniter species near the tip, behind the compression wave; and enhanced heat transfer due to recirculating hot gases near the tip.
Definition and identification of homology domains

A method is described for identifying and evaluating regions of significant similarity between two sequences. The notion of a 'homology domain' is employed which defines the boundaries of a region of sequence homology containing no insertions or deletions. The relative significance of different potential homology domains is evaluated using a non-linear similarity score related to the probability of finding the observed level of similarity in the region by chance. The sensitivity of the method is demonstrated by simulating the evolution of homology domains and applying the method to their detection. Several examples of the use of homology domain identification are given.
ATRAZINE DEALKYLATION ON A MANGANESE OXIDE SURFACE

Abstract In this paper we report the first observation of abiotic N-dealkylation of the herbicide, atrazine[6-chloro-N-ethyl-N″-(1-methylethyl)-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine], by synthetic manganese oxide (δ-MnO2). The degradation reaction of the adsorbed herbicide was quantified at 30°C by combined calorimetry, manometry, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, liquid chromatography, and electron spin resonance spectroscopy. These combined methodologies gave clear evidence for the production of N-dealkylated forms of atrazine over a 48 h period of reaction on the surface of δ-MnO2. This surface-catalyzed, non-photochemical abiotic N-dealkylation of the herbicide differs from known microbial pathways in soils by a higher rate of reaction and a different distribution of products among N-dealkylated forms.
A closed-form solution to oblique shock-wave properties.

Oblique shock wave properties with free stream Mach number and flow deflection angle as independent variables, noting explicit solution
Current Perspectives on Latino Men’s Health:

Health concerns for Latinos, the largest ethnic minority in the United States, merit attention by policy makers. Given the importance of the Latino population to the economic well-being of the Unit...
Seasonal variation in Daucus carota leaf-surface and leaf-tissue chemical profiles

The purpose of this work was to document seasonal changes in leaf-surface and whole-leaf chemistry of Daucus carota cohorts that differed in life-cycle phenology (winter annual, annual, or biennial), with particular focus on compounds that serve as contact oviposition stimulants for Papilio polyxenes, the black swallowtail butterfly. Cohorts of carrot plants exhibiting different life-cycle phenologies were established, and plants from each cohort were sampled periodically over two growing seasons. Extracts of leaf surfaces and leaf tissues were analyzed using HPLC and were compared quantitatively for the content of chlorogenic acid (CA), luteolin-7-O-(6″-O-malonyl)-β-D-glucopyranoside (L7MG), and luteolin-7-glucoside (L7G). The pattern of seasonal variation in L7G and L7MG concentrations in leaf tissues of each cohort followed the predictions of the tissue value hypothesis: flavonoid concentrations are highest in the tissues of new alternate leaves of the reproductive shoot or in new spring foliage. Chlorogenic acid concentrations in leaf tissues increased throughout the growing season. Patterns of leaf-surface seasonal variation did not correlate with patterns in leaf-tissue chemistry for any carrot cohort. Rather, leaf-surface amounts of CA, L7G, and L7MG were highest at the point in the lifecycle when plants were differentiating or bolting.