cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Role of epoxide hydrolases in lipid metabolism

Epoxide hydrolases (EH), enzymes present in all living organisms, transform epoxide-containing lipids to 1,2-diols by the addition of a molecule of water. Many of these oxygenated lipid substrates have potent biological activities: host defense, control of development, regulation of blood pressure, inflammation, and pain. In general, the bioactivity of these natural epoxides is significantly reduced upon metabolism to diols. Thus, through the regulation of the titer of lipid epoxides, EHs have important and diverse biological roles with profound effects on the physiological state of the host organism. This review will discuss the biological activity of key lipid epoxides in mammals. In addition, the use of EH specific inhibitors will be highlighted as possible therapeutic disease interventions.
Phosphaturic mesenchymal tumor diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration and core biopsy: A case report and review of literature

Oncogenic (tumor-induced) osteomalacia is a rare paraneoplastic syndrome of phosphate wasting that is frequently associated with phosphaturic mesenchymal tumor (PMT). As the cytologic features of this tumor apparently have not been reported, we describe the fine-needle aspiration (FNA) findings for PMT that arose from the gluteal soft tissue in a patient with hypophosphatemia and multiple fractures secondary to osteomalacia. Smears from the computerized tomography (CT)-guided FNA showed groups of spindle cells having elongated nuclei, fine to moderately coarsely granular chromatin, inconspicuous nucleoli, and delicate cytoplasm. Marked nuclear atypia, mitotic figures, and necrosis were absent. The differential diagnosis included a variety of benign and malignant spindle cell neoplasms such as monophasic synovial sarcoma, leiomyoma, peripheral nerve sheath tumor, fibrosarcoma, and, less likely, metastatic melanoma and sarcomatoid carcinoma. The bland-appearing cytologic features of a spindle cell tumor in a patient with osteomalacia should suggest the diagnosis of PMT.
Climatic influence on the skeletal nasal aperture

Abstract Climate is thought to be one of the factors affecting the distribution of nasal form as represented by the breadth and height of the skeletal nasal aperture. A model of nasal function is developed to predict influences on the skeletal nasal dimensions by selection acting upon the external nasal passage and aperture. Cranial series from Alaska and Australia, each series representing a climatic continuum from warmer and moister conditions to cooler and drier conditions, verify the predictions. These data suggest conditions for testing hypotheses about human variation.
Surgical treatment of colic in the miniature horse: a retrospective study of 57 cases (1993-2006).

Summary Reasons for performing study: It has been suggested that the rate of post operative abdominal adhesions in miniature horses is higher than that for other breeds. However, few reports exist in the veterinary literature describing complications and long-term survival following surgical treatment of colic in these horses. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of surgical lesions in miniature horses with acute abdominal disease in terms of clinical signs, surgical management, post operative treatment and complications, as well as short- and long-term survival. Methods: Medical records of 57 American Miniature Horses undergoing surgical treatment for acute abdominal pain at the Michigan State University Large Animal Veterinary Teaching Hospital 1993–2006 were evaluated for clinical information. Owners and trainers were contacted to gain information regarding long-term survival. Results: The most common surgical lesion was a faecalith (38/57 cases) located primarily within the descending colon and most frequently diagnosed in horses age <6 months (19/38 cases). Short-term survival to hospital discharge for horses recovered from anaesthesia was 98% (55/56) with the most common post operative complications being diarrhoea and inappetance. Intra-abdominal adhesions were identified in 2/8 horses requiring a second celiotomy. Long-term follow-up was available for 45 horses and 87% (39/45) were alive at least 12 months after surgery. Conclusions: As previously reported, faecalith obstruction is a frequent surgical lesion in the miniature horse and is most common in miniature horses age <6 months. The incidence of adhesion formation may be lower than previously reported. Clinical relevance: Ischaemic intestinal lesions are uncommon in miniature horses, as is laminitis, which may be why short-and long-term survival is better in this breed compared to others following colic surgery.
Density of Imported Cabbageworms (Lepidoptera: Pieridae), Cabbage Aphids (Homoptera: Aphididae), and Flea Beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) on Glossy and Trichome-Bearing Lines of Brassica oleracea

Two new glossy lines, the broccoli ‘Broc 5’ and the cauliflower ‘Glossy Andes’ with new genes for glossiness, had similar patterns of insect resistance to those of most other, previously tested glossy lines. Imported cabbageworm larvae, Pieris rapae (L.), were 80% fewer in natural infestations on glossy lines than on normal-wax standard varieties of the same crop, and cabbage aphids, Brevicoryne brassicae (L.), were reduced by over 95%. Unfortunately, all glossy lines tested were highly susceptible to the flea beetles Phyllotreta cruciferae (Goeze) and P. striolata (F.). A trichome-bearing broccoli line developed from an interspecies cross with Brassica incana Tenore was no better than the glossy lines because it had similar levels of flea beetle susceptibility, only a 55% reduction in imported cabbageworm larvae, and a 76% reduction in cabbage aphids, even in a line selected for relatively high trichome density. Artificial infestation of glossy and nornlal-wax lines with imported cabbageworm eggs showed that resistance in glossy lines acted on both the egg and larval stages; thus, even when ovipositional nonpreference was eliminated as a factor, there were 50-85% fewer imported cabbageworm larvae on glossy lines than on normal-wax standard lines.
Which Form of Dopamine Is the Substrate for the Human Dopamine Transporter: the Cationic or the Uncharged Species?

The question of which is the active form of dopamine for the neuronal dopamine transporter is addressed in HEK-293 cells expressing the human dopamine transporter. The Km value for [3H]dopamine uptake fell sharply when the pH was increased from 6.0 to 7.4 and then changed less between pH 7.4 and 8.2. The KI for dopamine in inhibiting the cocaine analog [3H]2beta-carbomethoxy-3beta-(4-fluorophenyl)tropane binding displayed an identical pH dependence, suggesting that changes in uptake result from changes in dopamine recognition. Dopamine can exist in the anionic, neutral, cationic, or zwitterionic form, and the contribution of each form was calculated. The contribution of the anion is extremely low (</=0.1%), and its pH dependence differs radically from that of dopamine binding. The increase in the neutral form upon raising the pH can model the results only when the pKa1 (equilibrium neutral-charged) is set to a much lower value (6.8) than reported for dopamine in solution (8.86). The sum of cationic and zwitterionic dopamine concentrations remained constant over the entire pH range studied. These forms are the likely transporter substrates with pH-dependent changes occurring in their interaction with the transporter. The binding of dopamine, a hydroxylated phenylethylamine derivative, displays the same pH dependence as guanethidine, a heptamethyleniminoethyl- guanidine derivative fully protonated under our conditions. An ionizable residue in the transporter could be involved that does not interact with or impact the binding of bretylium, a quaternary ammonium phenylmethylamine derivative that is always positively charged and shows only a minor reduction in KI upon increasing pH.
Brain enzyme changes as markers of brain damage in rat cardiac arrest model. Effects of corticosteroid therapy.

Abstract Apneic asphyxia to cardiac arrest (CA) in rats of 10 min was reversed by cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and after controlled ventilation and controlled normotension for 20 min, was followed by decapitation and brain freezing, and determination of brain concentrations of cytosolic and lysosomal enzymes. Normal values came from a control group of 10 rats without CA. In 20 rats with CA brain cytosolic enzymes CK, LD, and ASAT decreased postarrest, while lysosomal enzyme changes were variable (Table D. Brain lactate increased 8–10-fold post-CA. To test the model, effect of methylprednisolone (MP) was studied. The 20 rats with CA were divided into 4 groups: Group I, received placebo pre-CA; Group II, MP 30 mg/kg i.v. pre-CA; Group III, placebo post-CA; and Group IV, MP post-CA. The post-CA MP Group IV was the only one without norepinephrine requirement and with return of EEG activity at 20 min. Brain CK, LD, and ASAT losses post-CA were not different between groups; and showed no differences between MP groups II and IV vs. placebo Groups I and III. When comparing both pre-CA Groups (I and II) with both post-CA Groups (III and IV), post-CA CK and ASAT levels were the same, but LD was higher in the post-CA treatment group. The lysosomal enzymes acid phosphatase, mannosidase, β-glucuronidase and hexosamidase showed variable concentration changes post-CA in the four groups, with a trend toward a lesser increase of some after MP or after post-treatment. Brain enzyme changes in our asphyxial CA rat model can serve as markers of brain damage. MP post-CA might enhance cardiovascular and EEG recovery, but does not seem to influence brain enzyme levels at 20 min post-CA.
A Facile Solvothermal Synthesis of Octahedral Fe3O4 Nanoparticles

Magnetic nanoparticles are of great technological interest because they promise numerous potential opportunities in biomedicine and data storage. Although intriguing, these applications require exquisite control over nanostructure morphology in order to appropriately harness their magnetic properties. Most synthesis strategies reported to date are unable to routinely produce anisotropic Fe3O4 nanostructures with appropriate sizes to enable integration into biological systems. Here, we report a simple solvothermal synthesis for obtaining octahedral Fe3O4 nanoparticles with suitable sizes for cellular internalization. Furthermore, these ferromagnetic Fe3O4 octahedrons exhibit substantial saturation magnetization with minimal remanence, suggesting their potential applicability for a host of biomedical applications.
Interruption of sedation for early rehabilitation improves outcomes in ventilated, critically ill adults

Question Does early provision of rehabilitation improve the likelihood of functional independence at discharge in ventilated, critically ill patients? Design Randomised, controlled trial with concealed allocation and blinded assessment of some outcomes. Setting Two tertiary medical centres in the USA. Participants Adults in a medical intensive care unit (ICU) who had been on mechanical ventilation for less than 72 hours and were expected to continue for at least another 24 hours, and who had been functionally independent two weeks before admission. Exclusion criteria included: rapid onset neuromuscular disease, cardiopulmonary arrest, irreversible disorders with high mortality, and raised intracranial pressure. Randomisation of 104 participants allotted 49 to receive the early intervention and 55 to a control group. Interventions Both groups received sedation guided by the Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale and underwent daily interruption of sedatives or narcotics or both, unless contraindicated. Weaning from mechanical ventilation and insulin for glycaemic control were also protocol-directed. During the daily interruption of sedation, the intervention group commenced rehabilitation as appropriate to their clinical status: passive movements for those who were unresponsive, and active assisted or active movements in supine for those who were responsive. If well tolerated, these exercises were progressed to sitting balance activities, activities of daily living, transfer training, pre-gait exercises, and walking. Extensive physiological stability criteria guided whether the intervention could be initiated or continued. Overall progression of the intervention was continued until the participant regained functional independence or was discharged from hospital. Outcome measures The primary outcome was return to functional independence by discharge from hospital (ie, able to walk, bathe, dress, groom, transfer, and toilet independently). Secondary outcome measures included the number of hospital days with delirium, the duration of mechanical ventilation, lengths of stay in the ICU and in hospital, and adverse events. Results All participants were followed up. Functional independence at discharge was more likely in the intervention group (59% vs 35%, p = 0.02). The intervention group also had fewer days of delirium in hospital (median 2 vs 4 days, p = 0.02), and shorter duration of mechanical ventilation (median 3.4 vs 6.1 days, p = 0.02). Adverse events were rare and discontinuation of the intervention (most commonly, due to perceived patient-ventilator asynchrony) occurred in only 4% of all intervention sessions. Conclusion Early rehabilitation during daily interruption of sedation was safe and well tolerated. It reduced the duration of delirium and mechanical ventilation, and improved functional status at hospital discharge.
Synthesis of antisense oligonucleotides with minimum depurination.

Abstract The removal of 4,4′-dimethoxytrityl (DMTr) groups from oligonucleotides at low pH and the acid lability of the glycosidic linkage of purine nucleotides constitute an inherent conflict in preparative oligonucleotide chemistry. The use of a mildly acidic NaOAc buffer (10 mM, pH 3.0–3.2) allows adjustment of the pH in a range where the progress of the DMTr removal reaction can be monitored conveniently by HPLC and the optimum reaction time can be calculated. As a result, oligonucleotides with minimum depurination are obtained.
Accurate Numerical Solutions for Elastic-Plastic Models

The accuracy of two integration algorithms is studied for the common engineering condition of a von Mises, isotropic hardening model under plane stress. Errors in stress predictions for given total strain increments are expressed with contour plots of two parameters: an angle in the pi plane and the difference between the exact and computed yield-surface radii.
A Hybrid Particle Filter for Dynamic Thermal Characterization of Metallic Micro- and Nanowires Using the 3ω Method

We report a hybrid particle filter for measurement of specific heat, cp, and thermal conductivity, κ, of a micro- or nanowire using the well-known 3ω method. In the 3ω method, current at frequency ω is passed through the sample, and the 3ω component of the voltage response is measured. The data analysis approach used by previous authors neglects time-varying and higher-order terms in a series expansion of the 1D transient heat equation. This approximation is inaccurate at high currents and high frequencies. We remove this source of estimation error with a transient electrothermal finite element model. A Kalman filter estimates the temperature distribution in the wire, while a particle filter estimates κ and cp. Experiments on a ∼ 30 μm diameter platinum wire confirm that current and frequency sensitivity are reduced using our approach. Furthermore, our method is applicable to compensation of other geometric and material effects that cannot be handled by the previous formulation.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Direct photochemical patterning and refunctionalization of supported phospholipid bilayers.

A wet photolithographic route for micropatterning fluid phospholipid bilayers is demonstrated in which spatially directed illumination by short-wavelength ultraviolet radiation results in highly localized photochemical degradation of the exposed lipids. Using this method, we can directly engineer patterns of hydrophilic voids within a fluid membrane as well as isolated membrane corrals over large substrate areas. We show that the lipid-free regions can be refilled by the same or other lipids and lipid mixtures which establish contiguity with the existing membrane, thereby providing a synthetic means for manipulating membrane compositions, engineering metastable membrane microdomains, probing 2D lipid−lipid mixing, and designing membrane-embedded arrays of soluble proteins. Following this route, new constructs can be envisaged for high-throughput membrane proteomic, biosensor array, and spatially directed, aqueous-phase material synthesis.
Codessa-based theoretical QSPR model for hydantoin HPLC-RT lipophilicities.

A quantitative structure property relationship investigation was performed on the lipophilicities of a number of hydantoin derivatives as measured by the RP-HPLC retention times provided by Scholl et al. (Scholl, S.; Koch, A.; Henning, D.; Kempter, G.; Kleinpeter, E. Struct. Chem. 1999, 10, 355−366). The lipophilicities (S) were correlated with the theoretical molecular descriptors of the hydantoins obtained using the CODESSA program from the AM1-optimized geometry and electron wave functions. This study discloses enhanced correlations of the lipophilicities with the molecular descriptors, wherein the influence of the entropy factor is found to predominate.
Steady heat release rate by the moment–area method†

A simple mathematical procedure is described for computing temporal averages of heat release rate (HRR) data from the moments and area of the history. The moment–area method was used to calculate average HRRs for over 200 specimens having a wide range of chemical composition and sample thickness tested on a bench-scale fire calorimeter at various external heat fluxes. The average values of HRR obtained by the moment–area method are essentially independent of sample thickness and are potentially useful for ranking material flammability and determining material combustion properties. Published in 2007 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Consideration of background exposures in the management of hazardous waste sites: a new approach to risk assessment.

The current approach to health risk assessment of toxic waste sites in the U.S. may lead to considerable expenditure of resources without any meaningful reduction in population exposure. Risk assessment methods used generally ignore background exposures and consider only incremental risk estimates for maximally exposed individuals. Such risk estimates do not address true public health risks to which background exposures also contribute. The purpose of this paper is to recommend a new approach to risk assessment and risk management concerning toxic waste sites. Under this new approach, which we have called public health risk assessment, chemical substances would be classified into a level of concern based on the potential health risks associated with typical national and regional background exposures. Site assessment would then be based on the level of concern for the particular pollutants involved and the potential contribution of site contaminants to typical background human exposures. While various problems can be foreseen with this approach, the key advantage is that resources would be allocated to reduce the most important sources of human exposure, and site remediation decisions could be simplified by focussing on exposure assessment rather than questionable risk extrapolations.
Magnetization of Random and Nonrandom (Cd,Mn)Te Alloys

Pulsed-field magnetization measurements up to 40 T by Faraday rotation were made for random alloy Cd1−xMnx Te with 0.1 < x < 0.5. At liquid helium temperature the magnetization can be separated into the sum of two components: a paramagnetic Brillouin-like part that saturates by B=15 T, and a part linear in B. For large x, the linear part dominates and becomes independent of x. Mean-field calculations suggest that an enhanced magnetization can be obtained with new ordered-alloy crystal structures which have reduced antiferromagnetic cancellations.
Persistent Listeria monocytogenes subtypes isolated from a smoked fish processing facility included both phage susceptible and resistant isolates

Contamination of Ready-To-Eat foods with Listeria monocytogenes can typically be traced back to post-processing contamination from environmental sources; contamination is often linked to subtypes that persist in food associated environments. Although phage-based biocontrol strategies have been proposed for controlling this pathogen, information on the efficacy of phage treatment against diverse L. monocytogenes subtypes from food associated environments is still limited. We identified subtypes that were repeatedly found ("persistent") in a smoked fish processing facility by using EcoRI ribotyping data for isolates obtained in 1998-2009. PFGE analysis of 141 isolates (9 ribotypes) supported persistence for up to 11 years. Characterization of selected isolates, representing persistent subtypes, against a panel of 28 listeriaphages showed a wide range of likelihood of phage susceptibility, ranging from 4.6% (for 7 ribotype DUP-1043A isolates) to 95.4% (for 7 ribotype DUP-1044A isolates). In challenge studies with 10(5) and 10(6) CFU/ml L. monocytogenes, using phage cocktails and a commercial phage product at different phage-host ratios, one isolate (ribotype DUP-1043A) was not affected by any treatment. A reduction in L. monocytogenes counts of up to 4 log units was observed, after 8 h of treatment, in isolates of two ribotypes, but subsequent re-growth occurred. Survivor isolates obtained after 24 h of treatment showed decreased susceptibility to individual phages included in the phage cocktail, suggesting rapid emergence of resistant subtypes.
Input Design for Large-Scale Sheet and Film Processes

Manipulated variable moves are computed to maximize the information contained in experimental data collected from sheet and film processes. The experimental design procedure minimizes the confidence ellipsoid of the critical model parameters over the manipulated variables subject to their physical constraints. For a simulated blown film process, the model is 1 order of magnitude more accurate than that identified from the industrial standard bump test experiments. The improved accuracy results in a 37% reduction in closed-loop thickness variations. This indicates that substantial benefits can be achieved by incorporating the optimal experimental design algorithm into industrial sheet and film process control algorithms.
Vini, Vidi, Vici… Restructured Format for Condensed Abstracts

“To the Physicians, of the United States…this is no other than an endeavor to obtain an accurate & annual account of those general diseases which reign each season, over every part of the United States . [Subjects to include] The State of the Atmosphere…New methods of curing diseases…
Urinary steroid excretion after total adrenalectomy. I. Levels of 17-ketosteroids in cancer patients maintained on varying amounts of cortisone acetate and glycyrrhizin.

PROMPTED by the reports of Groen (1, 2) concerning successful use of glycyrrhizinic acid for maintenance of a patient suffering from Addison's disease, we have recently investigated the feasibility of using the same compound as replacement medication in cases of total bilateral adrenalectomy. Glycyrrhizin is, from the standpoint of structural formulae, but distantly related to the adrenocortical steroids. Nevertheless, it has been shown (3) to influence many of those metabolic phenomena previously considered to be under the control of the adrenal cortex. Therefore, it has seemed reasonable to investigate the possible in vivo conversion of glycyrrhizin to biologically active steroids. For this purpose, patients maintained on decreasing daily dosages of cortisone acetate have been studied. Two females with advanced disseminated carcinoma of the breast and 1 male with metastatic prostatic carcinoma were utilized for this study. Both of the females were postmenopausal, and the male had previously been castrat...
Altering combustion of silicon/polytetrafluoroethylene with two-step mechanical activation

Abstract Though silicon (Si) has been widely considered as a reactive fuel, the ability to tune its ignition and combustion characteristics remains challenging. One means to accomplish this may be mechanical activation (MA), which has been shown to be effective with aluminum fuels. In this work, a two-step MA process was developed to prepare fuel-rich Si/polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) composite reactive powders. The process consisted of cryogenic milling, followed by high intensity milling at room temperature. This resulted in particle refinement of the hard, brittle silicon particles and also dispersion within the more ductile PTFE matrix. Surface area of the as-milled powder was found to be moderate, ranging from 1.75 ± 0.06 m 2 g −1 (44/51 Si/PTFE) to 5.37 ± 0.10 m 2 g −1 (90/10 Si/PTFE) and was driven by the fraction of refined Si powder not dispersed in a PTFE matrix. Combustion enthalpies ranged from 15.6 ± 0.4 kJ g −1 (44/51 Si/PTFE) to 21.8 ± 2.2 kJ g −1 (90/10 Si/PTFE) and were higher than a physical mixture of the precursors. Combustion experiments showed that burning rates ranged from 1.6 to 2.1 mm s −1 and combustion temperatures (as measured from gray body emission) ranged from 1708 to 1889 K. The combustion performance of MA Si/PTFE was comparable to mixtures prepared with nanoscale and nanoporous silicon powders, indicating that the reactivity of silicon fuel had been successfully altered inexpensively without many of the major drawbacks associated with using high specific surface area powders.
Dilatometric measurement of bound water in wastewater sludge

The dilatometric technique is used to measure bound water in aerobically digested sludge. It is found that air liberated from the sludge sample during the freezing of the sludge water affects the quantity of unfrozen water (interpreted as bound water) determined by dilatometry. Both the freezing temperature and the solids concentration affect the measured bound water content. It is also found that the precision of dilatometry decreases with decreasing solids concentration and that the accuracy of dilatometry cannot be determined since there is no independent measure of unfrozen water.
System Availability: Time Dependence and Statistical Inference by (Semi) Non-Parametric Methods

Abstract : This paper addresses the assessment of simple system availability when there is concern about (a) time-dependence, so demands for system performance are not necessarily when the system is in steady-state,' as is often assumed, and when (b) information about system failures and repairs is in the form of observed data so questions of statistical influence arise. The methods and models involved lean towards the semi-parametric or non-parametric; in particular we employ the empirical Laplace transform in the time-dependent scenarios of interest. The authors propose analytically simple approximations to time-dependent system behavior, and assess the effects of model specification (up and down time dependence) upon rates of approach to a long-run steady state as the latter are estimated from available data (assumed to be a random sample).
Environmental Health: Nickel-and-Diming It

Researchers in environmental toxicology should endorse the argument advanced by B. M. Lester, L. L. LaGasse, and R. Seifer (Policy Forum, Science's Compass, 23 Oct., p. [633][1]) on how to interpret the outcome of cocaine abuse during pregnancy. A predicted epidemic of “crack babies” never
Regulation of Voltage-Gated Calcium Channel Activity by Palmitoylation: A Fatty Acid Tale

The phospholipid phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphospate (PIP2) interacts with voltage-gated Ca2+ channels to facilitate their opening. Conversely, inhibition of channel activity following activation of Gq-protein coupled receptors is associated with PIP2 breakdown. PIP2's freed fatty acid tails appear to remain associated with channels, stabilizing closed conformations. My lab is testing a model where an accessory β-subunit CaVβ2a acts as a phospholipid mimic resistant to metabolism; its two palmitoyl groups bind to the channel at a site normally occupied by PIP2's two fatty acid tails. To test this model, we have concentrated on examining N-type Ca2+ channel modulation in a recombinant system where CaV2.2 is coexpressed with α2δ-1 and one of four CaVβ subunits. M1 muscarinic or neurokinin-1 receptor stimulation inhibits N-current from CaVβ1b-, CaVβ3-, or CaVβ4-containing channels, but enhances N-current from CaVβ2a-containing channels. Exogenously applied arachidonic acid produces the same pattern of modulation. Further studies with mutated, chimeric CaVβ subunits and free palmitic acid revealed palmitoylation of CaVβ2a is essential for loss of inhibition. Loss of inhibition appears independent of kinetic changes that occur with different channel complexes. In contrast, channel mutations that reorient CaVβ2a's relative position to CaV2.2 rescue inhibition suggesting that in these experiments, the palmitoyl groups become sufficiently displaced that endogenously released arachidonic acid can once again bind to the inhibitory site. These findings suggest a new dynamic function for palmitoylation and predict that other doubly palmitoylated proteins reach up into the membrane with their lipid fingers to interact with and change the functioning of transmembrane proteins.(Funded by the NIH, AHA and the UMass Medical School).
Structures and Energies of Isolobal (BCO) n and (CH) n Cages

The structures and energies of isolobal (CH)n and (BCO)n polyhedral species, computed at the B3LYP density functional theory level, reveal contrasts in behavior. The strain energies of the (BCO)n cages are much smaller. Also unlike the (CH)n cages, the most stable (BCO)n polyhedra (n > or = 10) prefer structures with the largest number of three-membered rings. The planar (or nearly planar) faces of the cage systems were modeled by computations on planar, isoelectronic (CH2)n (Dnh) and (HBCO)n (Cnv) rings. While the strain energies of all the planar carbon rings, relative to the most stable D5h (CH2)5, were large, the strain energies of all the planar (HBCO)n (Cnv) rings were small. Remarkably, the three-membered (HBCO)3 (C3v) ring was the most stable. Finally, large (BCO)n systems prefer tubelike rather than cage structures.
Temporal Changes in Streamflow and Attribution of Changes to Climate and Landuse in Wisconsin Watersheds

Previous historic trends analyses on 21st Century hydrologic data in the United States generally focus on annual flow statistics and have continued to use USGS hydro-climatic data network (HCDN) stations, although post-1988 diversions and runoff regulations are not reflected in the HCDN. Using a more recent dataset, Geospatial Attributes of Gages for Evaluating Streamflow, version II (GAGES II), compiled by Falcone (2012), which includes more watersheds with reference conditions, a comprehensive analysis of changes in seasonal, and annual streamflow in Wisconsin watersheds is demonstrated. Given the pronounced influence of seasonal hydrology in Wisconsin watersheds, the objective of this study is to elucidate the nature of temporal (annual, seasonal, and monthly) changes in runoff. Considerable temporal and regional variability was found in annual and seasonal streamflow changes between the two historic periods 1951-1980 and 1981-2010 considered in the study. For example, the northern watersheds show relatively small changes in streamflow discharge ranging from −6.0 to 4.2%, while the southern watersheds show relatively large increases in streamflow discharge ranging from 13.1 to 18.2%. To apportion streamflow changes to climate and nonclimatic factors, a method based on potential evapotranspiration changes is demonstrated. Results show that nonclimatic factors account for more than 60% of changes in annual runoff in Wisconsin watersheds considered in the study.
Two-dimensional growth of continuous Cu2O thin films by magnetron sputtering

We present results on the in situ, two-dimensional growth (as opposed to the more commonly encountered island-coalescence mechanism) of continuous epitaxial Cu2O films on MgO(011) using dc facing-magnetron sputtering from metallic Cu targets in an oxygen/argon atmosphere. Film growth was studied as a function of deposition time and the dc power applied to the guns. Control of the latter leads to either continuous or island-/rodlike film morphologies.
Synthesis of Homofascaplysin C and Indolo[2,3-a]carbazole from Ditryptophans

The 2,2‘-biindole core of ditryptophan cross-links is prominent in the fascaplysins and the indolocarbazole glycoside natural products. N-Acyliminium ions derived from the C-terminus of ditryptophan peptides cyclize in one of two modes: N-alkylation or C-alkylation. The surrounding peptide offers some control over the course of the cyclization and allows the preparation of homofascaplysin C or indolo[2,3-a]carbazole. These targets are modest, but they are generated through carbocyclic intermediates rich in stereochemistry, and decidedly non-peptide in character.
Photosynthetic electron transport in genetically altered photosystem II reaction centers of chloroplasts.

Abstract Using a cotransformation system to identify chloroplast transformants in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, we converted histidine-195 of the photosystem II reaction center D1 protein to a tyrosine residue. The mutants were characterized by a reduced quantum efficiency for photosynthetic oxygen evolution, which varied in a pH-dependent manner, a reduced capacity to oxidize artificial donors to photosystem II, and P680+ reduction kinetics (microsecond) that were essentially similar to wild type. In addition, a dark-stable radical was detected by ESR in mutant photosystem II particles but not in wild-type particles. This radical was similar in g value and lineshape to chlorophyll or carotenoid cations but could have arisen from a tyrosine-195 cation. The ability of the photosystem II trap (P680+) to oxidize tyrosine residues suggests that the mutant tyrosine residue could be used as a redox-sensitive probe to investigate the environment around the photosystem II trap.
Alternative and Opportunity Dryland Crops and Related Soil Conditions in the Southern Great Plains

Dryland winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor(L.) Moench] yield favorably when rotated or grown continually in the southern Great Plains, but improved water conservation practices make other systems possible for these crops. Also, farmers can now produce other crops without losing government payments. Winter wheat, grain sorghum, and opportunity crop performance; alternative crop adaptability; and system effects on soil properties were determined. Wheat yielded 1.82 Mg ha -1 when rotated with grain sorghum or fall canola (Brassica napus L.) and 1.21 Mg ha -1 when grown continually or rotated with spring canola. Soil water contents at planting resulted in the differences. Grain sorghum yielded 2.89 and 3.02 Mg ha -1 when rotated with wheat or grown continually and 2.24 Mg ha -1 when rotated with kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.), although water contents at planting were similar. Kenaf produced only 2.3 Mg ha -1 plant material, but contained 327 g kg -1 protein at 32 d after planting and 195 g kg -1 when killed by frost. Canola crops failed. Triticale (× Triticosecale Wittmack) produced more forage, but less grain than wheat. Soil water contents at planting and precipitation strongly influenced opportunity crop yields. Mean soil C contents increased from 5.52 to 5.94 g kg -1 during the study. Aggregate diameters and percentages <0.25 mm in diameter showed no definite trends. Few bulk density and no aggregate water stability results differed. Some alternative and opportunity crops produced favorably, but generally no better than wheat or grain sorghum.
3-Stannyl-1-silyloxycyclohex-1-enes: synthetic equivalents for ketone α, β-dianions

Abstract The preparation of 3-stannyl-1-silyloxycyclohex-1-enes and their use as synthons for α,β-dianions for cyclohexanone are described.
Children's Use of Different Information Types When Learning Homophones and Nonce Words

Abstract This study examines whether 3-year-olds are able to use ontological distinctions in homophone and nonce word acquisition. In the homophone (denotation-1 present) condition, children heard stories introducing second meanings of homophones; for example, a skate (i.e., fish). Stories contained perceptual information, information about theory-based properties, or filler material. Children identified the referent from 3 drawings depicting the familiar meaning, the secondary meaning, and a distractor. In the homophone (denotation-1 absent) condition, the picture of the familiar meaning was replaced with a distractor. The nonce word condition, a control condition, was identical to the homophone (denotation-1 present) condition except that a nonce word replaced the homophone. Children were rarely able to construct a second homophone interpretation when the familiar denotation was available. Interestingly, in the remaining conditions, children used information about the animate-inanimate distinction in choosing the referent. We discuss children's use of this ontological distinction when inducing word meaning.
Effects of collective emission on multiphoton excitation and ionization near a three-photon resonance

Abstract We show that collective emission strongly affects excitation and the enhancement of multiphoton ionization near resonances involving odd numbers of photons. Such effects lead to striking shifts and broadening of resonantly enhanced multiphoton ionization signals near the odd photon resonance, and to a strong decrease in the ionization with increasing pressure.
Exchange, Theft and the Social Formation of Property

Abstract We design a laboratory experiment to explore whether and how property endogenously arises in a specialization and exchange environment where “theft” is costless. Additional treatments make available optional private protection mechanisms. We find that although an absence of exogenous enforcement does not hamper property's emergence in all cases, the private options tend to worsen outcomes on average. Property emerges when subjects self-organize groups, understand potential gains from trade, convince group members that all benefit by avoiding theft, and display credible commitment to cooperation in their actions. In other words, as Hume argued in 1740, property is a convention.
Tube by tube analysis of field uniformity for gamma cameras

AbstractThis paper describes a computer program that is used to analyze the field uniformity of gamma cameras.The daily floods collected on the gamma camera are digitized and analyzed. The program calculates a numberof quantities that pertain to the flood image as a whole and also the counts and the standard deviation insmall areas centered over each photomultiplier tube. These daily results are compared either to a standardreference image or to the results averaged over the previous five days. Changes in the region of each photo -multiplier tube are displayed as an artificially constructed image. Observers find it easier to detectchanges in this artificially constructed image than in the original image.IntroductionIt has long been recognized that the use of a computer could improve the analysis of the daily uniformitystudies that are done on all gamma cameras. 1 In the past year there have been several presentations onusing the computer for generally analyzing quality control of a gamma camera. 2,3 We feel that a computeranalysis of flood images should focus on two fundamental considerations. The first is that the most likelything to change over a time is the gain of the photomultiplier tube preamplifier combination. The second isthat one is usually interested in changes in the flood field over a course of time rather than in absolute
Deuteron Photodisintegration at Intermediate Energies

The differential and total cross sections for the photodisintegration of the deuteron are calculated for incident gamma-ray energies in the range from 6 to 28 Mev. The following cases are treated: (1) Approximation I, in which shape-independent wave functions are used corresponding to a 50 percent charge-exchange central force, (2) Approximation II-C, in which a central Hulth\'en potential with a variable percentage of charge exchange forces is used, (3) Approximation II-NC, in which approximate noncentral Hulth\'en wave functions and an approximate noncentral Hulth\'en potential with 50 percent charge-exchange force, is used. In all these calculations, use is made (where possible) of a form for the interaction between the deuteron and radiation that gives the results of the interaction to all multipole orders automatically. We also estimate the possible effect of exchange currents on the cross section by a calculation making use of the phenomenologically derived exchange moments of Berger and Foldy.
Seasonal Variation in Conception in Rural Uganda and Mexico

Using data from rural Uganda and Mexico, this study explores the use of multivariate statistical procedures for examining the combined effects of certain socio-cultural and climatic variables on seasonal variations in conception. In addition, it fails to support the hypotheses advanced by Nurge (1970) that more conceptions occur during periods of heavy work and that more births occur during periods of light work. Different results and alternative conclusions are presented.
Stresses and magnetic domains in amorphous metal ribbons

A simplified description of the relation between stresses, magnetoelastic anisotropy, and zerofield domain structures in amorphous metal ribbons is presented and applied to experimental observations on ribbons in various stress states. Elastic bending produces regions of uniaxial and biaxial tension and uniaxial and biaxial compression, leading to three different magnetic easy axes in different regions of the ribbon. In regions where the easy axis is normal to the ribbon plane, fine closure-domain patterns form to reduce stray flux. Such patterns are seen in regions of biaxial compression on bent Fe81.5B14.5Si4 (positive magnetostriction) ribbons, and in regions of biaxial tension on bent Co80B20 (negative magnetostriction) ribbons. Other stress states considered are twisting, radial, balanced biaxial, shallow biaxial (from ion-implantation), and complex residual stress patterns in ascast ribbon. Eine vereinfachte Beschreibung der Beziehung zwischen Spannung, magnetoelastischer Anisotropie und Domanenstruktur in amorphen metallischen Bandern wird gegeben und wird auf experimentelle Beobachtungen fur Bander in verschiedenen Spannungszustanden angewendet. Elastisches Biegen erzeugt Gebiete von einachsiger und zweiachsiger Spannung und einachsiger und zweiachsiger Kompression und fuhrt zu drei verschiedenen magnetischen leichten Richtungen in verschiedenen Gebieten des Bandes. In Gebieten, in denen die leichte Richtung senkrecht zur Bandebene ist, bilden sich feine Abschlusdomanenmuster, um den Streuflus zu vermindern. Solche Domanenmuster werden in Gebieten von zweiachsiger Kompression in gebogenen Fe81,5B14,5Si4 Bandern (positive Magnetostriktion) und in Gebieten von zweiachsiger Spannung in gebogenen Co80B20 Bandern (negative Magnetostriktion) beobachtet. Andere berucksichtigte Spannungszustande sind tordiert, radial, ausgleichend zweiachsig, flach zweiachsig (mit Ionenimplantation erzeugt); ebenfalls wurden komplizierte Restspannungsmuster in gegossenen Bandern betrachtet.
Headaches in patients with traumatic lesions of the cervical spinal cord.

SYNOPSIS We established the occurrence of headache in a group of 20 patients with traumatic transections of the cervical spinal cord. All but two patients had complete sensory lesions at levels varying from C2-3 to C7-8. Only three patients claimed to have no headaches at all although one of them had nuchal pains with fever. Twelve patients had “bladder” or “bowel headaches” or had had them in the past. These headaches were mostly generalized, throbbing or pounding in nature and severe in intensity. They were caused by obstruction of urinary flow and fecal impaction, respectively, and were associated with autonomic dysreflexia. Otherwise the headaches reported by the patients were mild although frequent in four, i.e. once per week or more. These headaches were also mostly bilateral and lasted a relatively short time, i.e. less than one or two hours. The causes of these headaches were nonspecific for the group studied except for stimulation of the body which, however, probably depended on a mechanism similar to that of the bladder and bowel headaches. Migraine, either classic or common, was not reported by any of the patients.
Evaluation of Virtual Source Beam Configurations for Rapid Tomographic Reconstruction of Gas and Vapor Concentrations in Workplaces

Beam path average data from an Open Path Fourier Transform Infrared (OP-FTIR) spectrometer can be used to reconstruct two-dimensional concentration maps of the gas and vapor contaminants in workplaces and the environment using computed tomographic (CT) techniques. However, a practical limitation arises because in the past, multiple-source and detector units were required to produce a sufficient number of intersecting beam paths in order to reconstruct concentration maps. Such a system can be applied to actual field monitoring situations only with great expense and difficulty. A single monostatic OP-FTIR system capable of rapid beam movement can eliminate this deficiency. Instead of many source and detector units, a virtual source arrangement has been proposed using a number of flat mirrors and retroreflectors to obtain intersecting folded beam paths. Three virtual source beam configurations generated for a single-beam steerable FTIR system were tested using 54 flat mirrors and four retroreflectors or 54 flat mirrors and 56 retroreflectors mounted along the perimeter walls of a typical 24- x 21-ft test room. The virtual source CT configurations were numerically evaluated using concentration maps created from tracer gas concentration distributions measured experimentally in a test chamber. Synthetic beam path integral data were calculated from the test maps and beam configurations. Computer simulations of different beam configurations were used to determine the effects of beam geometry. The effects of noise and peak reducing artifacts were evaluated. The performance of the tomographic reconstruction strategy was tested as a function of concentration and concentration gradients.
Receptivity to Roughness, Acoustic, and Vortical Disturbances in Supersonic Boundary Layers Over Swept Wings

The receptivity and interaction of stationary and traveling crossflow instability of three-dimensional supersonic boundary layers over a swept biconvex wing with a blunt leading edge are numerically investigated for a freestream Mach number of 3. The steady and unsteady flow fields are obtained by solving the full Navier-Stokes equations. The receptivity of the boundary layer to surface roughness, freestream acoustic waves, and freestream vorticity waves are numerically investigated. The initial amplitudes of the stationary vortices generated by 1 micron roughness elements is about 2000 times larger than the initial amplitudes of the traveling disturbances generated by vortical disturbances. The interaction of stationary and traveling disturbances was investigated by solving the equations with both surface roughness and vortical disturbances. When the initial amplitudes of the stationary disturbances are large compared to the traveling disturbances, the stationary vortex dominates the perturbation field. When the amplitudes are comparable, the traveling vortex prevails and the stationary vortex is suppressed.