cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Land use change in California, USA: Nonpoint source water quality impacts

California’s population increased 25% between 1980 and 1990, resulting in rapid and extensive urbanization. Of a total 123,000 ha urbanized in 42 of the state’s 58 counties between 1984 and 1990, an estimated 13% occurred on irrigated prime farmland, and 48% on wildlands or fallow marginal farmlands. Sixty-six percent of all new irrigated farmland put into production between 1984 and 1990 was of lesser quality than the prime farmland taken out of production by urbanization. Factors dictating the agricultural development of marginal farmlands include the availability and price of water and land, agricultural commodity prices, and technical innovations such as drip irrigation systems that impact the feasibility and costs of production. The increasing amount of marginal farmland being put into production could have significant water quality consequences because marginal lands are generally steeper, have more erodible soils, poorer drainage, and require more fertilizer than prime farmlands. Although no data exist to test our hypothesis, and numerous variables preclude definitive predictions, the evidence suggests that new irrigated marginal lands can increase nonpoint source (NPS) pollution for a given size area by an order of magnitude in some cases.
Inactivation of L-type Ca channels in embryonic chick ventricle cells: dependence on the cytoskeletal agents colchicine and taxol

This article shows that colchicine and taxol strongly influence the kinetics of L-type Ca channels in intact cardiac cells, and it suggests a mechanism for this action. It is known that colchicine disassociates microtubules into tubulin, and that taxol stabilizes microtubules. We have found that colchicine increases the probability that Ca channels are in the closed state and that taxol increases the probability they are in the open state. Moreover, taxol lengthens the mean open time of Ca channels. In this regard, taxol is similar to Bay-K 8644; however, Bay K works on inside-out patches, but taxol does not. Neither colchicine nor taxol alters the number of Ca channels in a patch. We have quantified these results as follows. It is known that L-type channels in embryonic chick heart ventricle cells have voltage- and current-dependent inactivation. In 10 mM Ba, channel conductance is linear in the range -10 to 20 mV. The conductance is 12 +/- 1 pS, and the extrapolated reversal potential is 42 +/- 2 mV (n = 3). In cell-attached patches, inactivation depends on the number of channels. One channel (holding at -80 mV and stepping to 0 mV for 500 ms) shows virtually no inactivation. However, three channels inactivate with a time constant of 360 +/- 20 ms (n = 6). In similar patches, colchicine (80 microM for 15 min) decreases the inactivation time constant to 162 +/- 33 ms (n = 4) and taxol (50 microM for 10 min) virtually abolishes inactivation (time constant 812 +/- 265 ms (n = 4)).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Temperature sensitive mutations affecting ribosome synthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Abstract Studies have been carried out on the effects of mutations in nine distinct genes which regulate ribosome biosynthesis in yeast. Although some mutants have more extensive effects than others, in each case there is an inhibition by 50 to 80% of the synthesis of ribosomal precursor RNA. In each case there is an inhibition of the processing of that RNA which is made, ranging from 80 to 95%. In each case there is degradation of 50 to 70% of that RNA which is processed. Much of the RNA which survives to become the mature 25 s and 18 s species is found in functioning polyribosomes. In three of the mutants, ribosomal protein synthesis has been examined. At the restrictive temperature there is a rapid decline in the synthesis of ribosomal proteins to about 25% of normal. The rate of decline is several-fold faster than the average rate of messenger RNA degradation, leading to the possibility that there is some translational control of this synthesis. The inhibition of ribosome synthesis has enabled us to demonstrate that three proteins become associated with the 60 s subunit only after it reaches the cytoplasm. In none of the mutants is there any accumulation of precursor RNA, of defective precursor particles, or of one of the mature ribosomal subunits. We conclude that there is a stringent regulation of all facets of ribosome biosynthesis in yeast. An interruption at any step rapidly causes a feedback inhibition of all other steps.
Anti-inflammatory Activity of d-α-Tocopherol (Vitamin E) and Linoleic Acid

CELLULAR membranes, especially those of lysosomes, become unstable in a variety of conditions—reviewed by Thomas—for example, the Arthus and Schwartzman reactions; exposure to streptolysin, ultraviolet light and carbon tetrachloride; and the muscular dystrophy of tocopherol deficiency1. Cortisone is inhibitory in most of these conditions, and has been shown to have antioxidant properties2, so we thought that other antioxidants might be effective anti-inflammatory agents. Lysosomal membranes, as well as other membranes, are composed largely of lipids and we also thought that their lysis could result from damage to such structural lipids. This idea is supported by work of Austin and Brocklehurst3, showing that the release of histamine and slow reacting substances (SRS-A) from sensitized guinea-pig lung is inhibited by long chain fatty acids. Accordingly d-α-tocopherol (vitamin E) and linoleic acid were tested as anti-inflammatory agents and found to be effective.
Application of Resonant Grounding in Power Systems in the United States

Previous investigations indicated a trend toward increased application of resonant grounding in the United States. The application of resonant grounding in power systems operating at voltages from 2.4 kv to 230 kv has been analyzed on the basis of answers to a questionnaire received from all organizations using such grounding. Experience with resonant grounding has been very satisfactory. The equipment requires practically no maintenance and hardly any attention since detuning is permissible within reasonable margins. The major field of application of resonant grounding is at voltages of 69 kv and below. Operation on sustained faults has been successful in many systems for hours and even days. More equipment designed for extended time rating than for ``10-minute'' rating has been installed in the last few years. Many users of ``10-minute'' equipment feel that operation on sustained faults would have additional advantages. ERIC T. B. GROSS is Professor of Power Systems Engineering at the Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, Ill., and EDWARD W. ATHERTON is with the I-T-E Circuit Breaker Company, Philadelphia. Pa. Mr. Atherton was an Instructor in Electrical Engineering at the Illinois Institute of Technology when most of this investigation was made.
The effects of resistance training on functional outcomes in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Aerobic exercise training is used for rehabilitation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), although it has little effect on muscle weakness and atrophy. Resistance training may be a useful addition to aerobic programs for these patients. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of resistance training in addition to aerobic training on functional outcomes in patients with COPD. Seventeen COPD patients enrolled in an aerobic-based program that met twice a week were assigned to a 12-week control/aerobic [CON: n=8; 63 (8) years; mean (SD)] or a resistance/aerobic group [RES: n=9; 61 (7) years]. RES trained an additional twice a week on 12 resistance machines, performing three sets of 8–12 repetitions at 32–64% of their one-repetition maximum (1-RM) lifts. RES (P<0.05) increased upper (36%) and lower (36%) body strength, as well as lean body mass (5%), while CON showed little to no change. The 12-min walk distance increased (P<0.05) in only the RES [676 (219) to 875 (172) m]. Measurements of three of the eight tasks of activities of daily living improved in RES (P<0.05) compared to CON. This study demonstrated that progressive resistance training was well tolerated and improved functional outcomes in COPD patients that were currently involved in an aerobic training program.
Comparison of the effects of the CO2 surgical laser and conventional surgical techniques on healing and wound tensile strength of skin flaps in the dog.

Objective— To determine if CO2 laser was superior to conventional surgical techniques (CST) for creation of skin flaps in dogs as determined by hemostasis, wound healing, and wound tensile strength. Study Design— In-vivo model Animals— Six large, mixed-breed dogs. Methods— On each dog's trunk, 3 pairs of identical, dorsally based, pedicled skin flaps were created and sutured back into position. Based on a Latin Square design, flaps on one side were created with a CO2 laser and on the other side by CST. Intraoperative hemorrhage was measured by weighing sponges used to absorb blood. On days 7, 10, and 14, specimens from the flap-skin junction and the central portion of each pair of flaps were collected. Specimens were subjected to tensile strength testing and histologic examination to evaluate wound healing. Results— Mean (± standard error of mean [SEM]) hemorrhage was significantly less (P= .02) with CO2 laser (4.70 ± 1.37 g) than CST (10.82 ± 1.37 g). Wound tensile strength (N/m2) after CST (0.49 ± 0.049) was significantly greater (P= .01) than with CO2 laser (0.17 ± 0.049). Laser incisions had partial necrosis of the wound edges and a more extensive inflammatory response; however, healing of the wound beds were similar regardless of technique. Conclusions— The CO2 laser provided better intraoperative hemostasis than CST. However, overall healing and increase in tensile strength of the skin-flap junction of the flaps created by the laser may be delayed during the first few weeks of wound healing. Clinical Relevance— Skin flaps used to repair large skin defects in dogs can be created and elevated with a CO2 laser. In areas of increased skin mobility or tension, skin flaps created with CO2 laser may be more susceptible to complications such as dehiscence, and care should be taken to minimize these complications.
Optimal life histories and age-specific costs of reproduction: two extensions.

Dans le cadre d'etudes sur la productivite des populations. On presente une nouvelle approche mathematique palliant aux approches precedentes
Liquefaction of human vitreous in model aphakic eyes by 300-nm UV photolysis: monitoring liquefaction by fluorescence.

After the lens is removed in cataract surgery, the vitreous presumably receives all of the ambient 300-nm light that has filtered through the cornea. Using this model for aphakic eyes, we progressively irradiated intact vitreous samples of a 49-year-old human with 300-nm light and monitored changes in absorption, fluorescence, and circular dichroism (CD) properties. CD and fluorescence measurements of unirradiated vitreous samples showed a) a strong tryptophan fluorescence band of non-collagenous protein at 336 nm and a very weak band around 430 nm due to N-formylkynurenine (N-FK), a photoproduct of tryptophan, and b) a strong, negative CD band below 250 nm representing a composite spectrum of hyaluronic acid, collagen, and non-collagenous protein. Upon irradiation, the tryptophan emission band at 336 nm progressively decreased with time and the band maximum was concomitantly red-shifted; the N-FK fluorescence band at 430 nm, on the other hand, continually increased with the time of irradiation. A signifi...
What Is a Lacune? Dogged déjà vu doggerel

To the Editor: “Then you should say what you mean,” the March Hare went on. “I do,” Alice hastily replied; “at least–at least I mean what I say–that’s the same thing, you know.” “Not the same thing a bit!” said the Hatter. “Why, you might just as well say that ‘I see what I eat’ is the same thing as ‘I eat what I see’!” Alice in Wonderland —Lewis Carroll Dr Wardlaw’s plaintive query1 documents 21st century survival of clinical science confusion driven by hopelessly specious terminology: “lacune,” “lacunar infarct,” “lacunar stroke,” “clinical stroke syndrome with typical symptoms and signs referable to a small subcortical or brain stem lesion,” “clinically evident lacunar infarct,” “clinical stroke syndrome of lacunar type where the underlying lesion is an infarct on brain-imaging,” “3 to 15 mm cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-filled cavities in the basal ganglia or white matter, frequently observed coincidentally …
Is Childhood Abuse or Neglect Associated With Symptom Reports and Physiological Measures in Women With Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Purpose Early childhood traumatic experiences (e.g., abuse or neglect) may contribute to sleep disturbances as well as other indicators of arousal found in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This study compared women with IBS positive for a history of childhood abuse and/or neglect to IBS women without this history, on daily gastrointestinal (GI), sleep, somatic, and psychological symptom distress, polysomnographic sleep, urine catecholamines and cortisol, and nocturnal heart rate variability (HRV).
Temporal evolution of the nanostructure of Al(Sc,Zr) alloys: Part II-coarsening of Al3(Sc1−xZrx) precipitates

Abstract The coarsening behavior of four Al(Sc,Zr) alloys containing small volume fractions (
Nutritional quality of irradiated orange juice

Single-strength orange juice was exposed to 0, 0.89, 2.24, 4.23 and 8.71 kGy gamma radiation at 5C, and then stored at 23C for 6 days and 7C for 21 days. Conversion of ascorbic acid (AA) to dehydroascorbic acid (DHA), and loss of AA, total AA (TAA = AA plus DHA) and total antioxidants increased with radiation dose. Rate of TAA loss due to irradiation was much less than that of AA loss. Compared to nonirradiated juice (0 kGy), juice irradiated at 2. 24 kGy or less had similar rates of AA and TAA loss during storage while juice irradiated at 4.23 and 8.71 kGy had higher rates of AA and TAA loss. Loss of total antioxidants in irradiated orange juice appeared to result from loss of AA. Cette etude evalue l'effet d'une irradiation gamma sur la qualite nutritionnelle d'un jus d'orange pendant l'irradiation et pendant l'entreposage qui suit a differentes temperature. La conversion de l'acide ascorbique (AA) en acide deshydroascorbique (DHA), les pertes en AA, en AA totaux (AA+DHA) et en antioxydants totaux augmentent avec les doses d'irradiation. Un jus d'orange irradie a des doses de 2,24 kGy ou moins presente, pendant l'entreposage, des taux de pertes en AA et AA totaux equivalentes a celles d'un jus non irradie.
Renal arterioureteral hemorrhage: a complication of acucise endopyelotomy

The Acucise ureteral catheter is a ureteral cutting balloon device that recently received approval for retrograde endopyelotomy. We report a case of a postoperative lower pole renal arterioureteral hemorrhage after retrograde endopyelotomy requiring interventional radiographic treatment. Significant gross hematuria after Acucise endopyelotomy may indicate a communication between the vasculature and collecting system. Prompt arteriography with embolization should be considered in this clinical situation.
Putting a price on education: hours and dollars for a general surgery curriculum.

Abstract Background In 2005, a new curricular model was implemented for general surgery residents and a Division of Education created for administrative support. These changes forced an evaluation of available resources to maintain a new curricular model. Methods A retrospective review of resources expended during curricular sessions (June 2007–June 2008) provided to 42 surgical residents was conducted. Resources were evaluated in terms of the number, division, department, and rank of faculty involved. Contact hours and monetary costs were calculated. Results Total numbers of faculty involved in the postgraduate year (PGY)1, PGY2, and PGY3–5 curriculums were 79, 39, and 22, respectively. Faculty teaching time was 321 hours (PGY1), 187 hours (PGY2) and 36 hours (PGY3–5) for a combined 544 hours. Average teaching time commitment for faculty in the Division of Education was 26.5 hours, compared with 6.7 hours for departmental faculty in other divisions ( P = .0002). Total monetary cost was $219,254. Conclusions The cost to maintain an educational general surgery curriculum is substantial and administrative support must be considered. Faculty with an explicit teaching commitment and responsibility are needed.
Tribological properties and rolling-contact-fatigue lives of TiN/SiNx multilayer coatings

We reported in an earlier study the use of amorphous SiNx to periodically interrupt the growth of TiN in order to suppress the columnar structure. X-Ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy studies confirmed that the columnar growth was effectively suppressed. In this paper, we showed that these TiN/SiNx multilayer coatings attain lower dry friction coefficient (half of TiN) and better nanoscratch resistance than TiN coatings. Block-on-ring wear tests showed that the wear rate of optimized TiN/SiNx multilayer coatings is three times better than that of TiN coatings. Most important, the rolling-contact-fatigue life of the M50 bearing rod, coated with a 0.75 μm thick TiN/SiNx multilayer coating, is more than 10 times (test stopped manually before failure) better than that of uncoated ones and five times better than rods coated with conventional TiN coatings. The optimum TiN/SiNx coating thickness appears to be approximately 0.75 μm. This remarkable fatigue performance appears to be due to a combination of improved microstructure, adhesion, hardness and surface topography.
Interactions between the encelia leaf beetle and its host plant, Encelia farinosa : The influence of acidic fog on insect growth and plant chemistry

The impact of acidic deposition on interactions between the plant Encelia farinosa and the herbivorous beetle Trirhabda geminata (Chrysomelidae) was determined under greenhouse conditions. Acidic fogs (pH 2.75) did not significantly affect the overall foliar concentrations of water or soluble protein as compared with control fogs (pH 5.6). Nonetheless, E. farinosa foliage was altered by exposure to three 3-h acidic fogs such that growth and biomass gain by T. geminata increased by more than 30% as compared to beetles feeding on control-fogged plants. Thus, previous indications that changes in soluble proteins or water content were responsible for increased biomass gain and growth of T. geminata cannot be substantiated by this study. Additionally, changes in the plant defensive chemistry were not responsible for increased herbivore growth, as farinosin, encecalin, and euparin foliar concentrations did not vary significantly between fog treatments. Significant increases in CO2 assimilation rates of E. farinosa exposed to acidic fogs were documented at 3, 7, and 21 days following treatment, suggesting that carbohydrate-based products of increased plant metabolism may have played a role (e.g. soluble carbohydrates). However, the key factors responsible for increasing herbivore performance on acidic-fogged E. farinosa remain largely unknown.
Present, future, and novel bioclimates of the San Francisco, California region

Bioclimates are syntheses of climatic variables into biologically relevant categories that facilitate comparative studies of biotic responses to climate conditions. Isobioclimates, unique combinations of bioclimatic indices (continentality, ombrotype, and thermotype), were constructed for northern California coastal ranges based on the Rivas-Martinez worldwide bioclimatic classification system for the end of the 20th century climatology (1971–2000) and end of the 21st century climatology (2070–2099) using two models, Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) model and the Parallel Climate Model (PCM), under the medium-high A2 emission scenario. The digitally mapped results were used to 1) assess the relative redistribution of isobioclimates and their magnitude of change, 2) quantify the loss of isobioclimates into the future, 3) identify and locate novel isobioclimates projected to appear, and 4) explore compositional change in vegetation types among analog isobioclimate patches. This study used downscaled climate variables to map the isobioclimates at a fine spatial resolution −270 m grid cells. Common to both models of future climate was a large change in thermotype. Changes in ombrotype differed among the two models. The end of 20th century climatology has 83 isobioclimates covering the 63,000 km2 study area. In both future projections 51 of those isobioclimates disappear over 40,000 km2. The ordination of vegetation-bioclimate relationships shows very strong correlation of Rivas-Martinez indices with vegetation distribution and composition. Comparisons of vegetation composition among analog patches suggest that vegetation change will be a local rearrangement of species already in place rather than one requiring long distance dispersal. The digitally mapped results facilitate comparison with other Mediterranean regions. Major remaining challenges include predicting vegetation composition of novel isobioclimates and developing metrics to compare differences in climate space.
OBJECTIVITY AS RESPONSIBILITY

Definition de la notion d'objectivite en terme de responsabilite, dans le cadre analytique du pragmatisme de Dewey, de la theorie feministe et des etudes scientifiques. L'A. se propose de developper une conception de l'objectivite qui puisse servir de guide aux processus de recherche comme a l'action, ouvrant la voie a une recherche plus responsable
Electrohydrodynamic size stratification and flow separation of giant vesicles

We demonstrate an electrohydrodynamic (EHD) technique for separating giant unilamellar vesicles by size in polydisperse suspensions. An oscillatory electric field (∼30Hz) generates EHD flow around each vesicle close to an electrode. Nearby vesicles are entrained in the flow and the vesicles move toward one another. Upon aggregation, smaller vesicles are pulled underneath the larger vesicles, which ultimately lifts them off of the electrode. A brief spike in the electric field then serves to irreversibly adhere the bottom layer of smaller vesicles to the electrode, and the large vesicles are subsequently removed by flow. We demonstrate that a single application of this technique can remove more than 90% of the smallest vesicles (diameter <20μm) from a suspension of electroformed giant lipid vesicles.
Kinetics of the formation of hafnium silicides on silicon

We have investigated the composition and growth kinetics of hafnium silicides (HfSi and HfSi2) formed from thin films of hafnium sputter deposited on silicon. Backscattering of MeV He ions was used to monitor the growth of the silicide phases and to determine the Si/Hf concentration ratios. Seemann‐Bohlin x‐ray diffraction techniques provided identification of the phases and an estimate of the crystallite size of the films. The stable‐phase HfSi forms in the temperature region 550–650 °C. The reaction initiates at the Hf/Si interface and the thickness of the HfSi increases proportional to the square root of time. The HfSi grows by diffusion of Si through the already formed phase with an interdiffusion constant D ≃ 2.4 exp(−EA/k T) cm2/sec with EA = 2.5 eV. Different behavior is observed for the formation of the HfSi2. In this case the silicide forms simultaneously throughout the HfSi layer at temperatures above 750 °C. We propose that the HfSi2 nucleates at the grain boundaries of the HfSi, rather than at the Si/HfSi interface. The transition to HfSi2 is completed rapidly because of the large density of nucleation sites and the small grain size of the film.
Effect of exercise on the thyroid gland.

WHILE testing the hypothesis that exercise increases the rate of renewal of thyroidal iodine in the rat we found that the total amount of iodine in the thyroid gland depends on activity (exercise). Usually a month or more is necessary1 to replace completely the iodine in the thyroid gland so that the total can be estimated by the technique of isotopic equilibrium2,3, and we assumed that if rats were exercising the increased expenditure of calories would be associated with an increased utilization of dietary iodine for the production of thyroid hormone, which would in turn lead to an increased turnover of iodine in the thyroid and a decreased isotopic equilibration period. The experimental results did not confirm this, but they did reveal that the exercising rats stored only about half as much iodine in the thyroid as did the non-exercising controls.
Molecular analysis of CYP321A1, a novel cytochrome P450 involved in metabolism of plant allelochemicals (furanocoumarins) and insecticides (cypermethrin) in Helicoverpa zea

Cytochrome P450 monooxygenases play a significant role in the detoxification of hostplant allelochemicals and synthetic insecticides in Lepidoptera. In the corn earworm Helicoverpa zea, a noctuid of considerable economic importance, metabolisms of xanthotoxin, a toxic furanocoumarin, and alpha-cypermethrin, an insecticide, are mediated by at least one P450 with a catalytic site capable of accepting both substrates. To further the characterization of P450s in this species, we have cloned three full-length cDNAs encoding two CYP4M subfamily members and a novel CYP321A subfamily member. RNA analyses have demonstrated that the CYP321A1 gene is highly induced (51-fold) in larval midguts in response to xanthotoxin but not cypermethrin. Both CYP4M genes are expressed at negligible levels that are not increased by xanthotoxin or cypermethrin. Baculovirus-mediated expression of the full-length CYP321A1 cDNA has demonstrated that the CYP321A1 protein metabolizes xanthotoxin and angelicin, like the CYP6B1 protein in the furanocoumarin specialist Papilio polyxenes, and alpha-cypermethrin, like the CYP6B8 protein previously characterized in H. zea. In contrast, the CYP4M7 protein does not metabolize xanthotoxin at any detectable level. We conclude that at least two xanthotoxin-inducible P450s from highly divergent subfamilies (CYP6B and CYP321A) contribute to the resistance of H. zea larvae to toxic furanocoumarins and insecticides. Genomic PCR analysis indicates that the CYP321A1 gene has evolved independently from the CYP6B genes known to be present in this insect.
Unusual bridgehead hydroxylations via selenoxides: evidence for carbocations

Abstract Treatment of C-6-phenylselenyl bicyclo[4.2.2]piperazinediones with H2O2 affords the C-6-peroxy and C-6-hydroxy bicyclic piperazinediones and is rationalized on the basis of intermediate bridgehead carbocations.
A potential link between dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus NPY and energy balance.

The function of dorsomedial hypothalamic neuropeptide Y (NPY) in energy balance has largely been restricted to lactation-induced hyperphagia. In this issue, Chao et al. (2011) expand this role to include inhibition of both brown fat thermogenesis and conversion of white-to-brown adipocytes in a white fat depot, resulting in reduced energy expenditure.
Effects of Top-Loading a Zero-Link Bovine Hemoglobin, OxyVita, on Systemic and Microcirculatory Variables

ABSTRACTThis study was designed to test the effect of top-load infusions of increasing doses of two versions of the novel, high molecular weight hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier, OxyVita and OxyVita C solution ([Hb] = 6 g/dL), on mean arterial pressure (MAP), arteriolar diameter, and tissue oxygenation. Experiments were carried out on 18 anesthetized male Sprague–Dawley rats in which microcirculatory observations were made on the spinotrapezius muscle. Intravenous infusions of four increasing doses of the OxyVita solutions (2, 22, 230, and 780 mg/kg) were made for each group, and a separate group of animals was used for volume control. Tissue oxygenation was measured as interstitial fluid (ISF) PO2 using phosphorescence quenching microscopy. Increasing doses of either OxyVita solution or Lactated Ringer's solution (LRS, volume control) were associated with increasing MAP. For LRS infusions, MAP returned to baseline between each incremental dose injected, whereas there was an incomplete return for either of...
A Hitchhiker's guide to antisense and nonantisense biochemical pathways

Antisense pharmaceutical research has sought to provide drugs that would yield effective therapies for diseases resulting from the production of deleterious proteins. The original concept was straightforward: eliminate production of unwanted proteins, such as oncogenic proteins, by blocking the function of their mRNAs; and block their mRNAs by adding "antisense" nucleic acids that bind them through complementary base pairing. However, it has proven difficult to develop clinically useful antisense strategies. Conventional antisense nucleic acids are large, highly charged, complex molecules that interact with a wide variety of unintended cellular and microbial components, often causing "nonantisense effects." It is now clear that a broad knowledge of nucleic acid biochemistry will be needed to optimize antisense molecules for use in patients. The efficacy of naturally occurring antisense molecules and the success of antisense agricultural strategies prove that antisense approaches can be powerful and specific. Pharmaceutical antisense research can be expected to yield many valuable products once sufficient information about antisense mechanisms has been gathered and applied. This article explains the biochemical events that give rise to both antisense and nonantisense effects and provides guidelines for designing and evaluating antisense experiments.
How Well Has President Barack Obama Chosen from Among the Available Means of Persuasion

This essay answers the question, “How well did President Obama choose from among the available means of persuasion in the early years of his presidency?” by probing the ways in which his pre-inaugural speech at the Lincoln Memorial blurred the rhetorical roles of nominee and president-elect; the absence of a digestive statement in his inaugural; the failure of his nationally telecast BP oil spill address to respond to the expectations created by his campaign rhetoric and by the speech itself; the ways in which the setting of his speech after the Tucson tragedy sabotaged an otherwise powerful speech; and the insurmountable challenges posed by the decision to address the nation as the DOW tumbled in the wake of the S and P downgrade.
A comparison of the maximal endurance of normal children and patients with congenital cardiac disease

A technique to measure maximal endurance in children is described, and the results of its application to normal children and to those with congenital cardiac lesions are recorded. The children with heart disease were unable to achieve pulse rates as high as could the normal ones, and had considerably less endurance. The maximal endurance score of a child with cardiac disease tended to reflect his functional status as indicated by cardiac catheterization studies.
Broadband Modulation Of CO2 Lasers Using Bulk Electro-Optic Crystals

An instantaneous modulation bandwidth of 1 GHz and a mechanically tunable bandwidth of 3 GHz with an efficiency of 27% has been obtained for the output frequency of a CO 2 laserusing the linear electro-optic effect in single crystal CdTe. The microwave (modulating) field is applied on a pulsed basis to reduce crystal damage due to heating. A CW efficiency of 0.15% was obtained. By choosing a particular crystal orientation 90% efficiency was obtained on a pulsed basis.© (1980) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Liquid chromatography of polar aromatic compounds on cation-exchange resins and porous polymer gels

Abstract The retention and separation of some 12 polar aromatic compounds, some of them weak acids and ampholytes, have been studied on cation-exchange resins and a non-ionic macroporous styrene-divinylbenzene polymer. The effects of pH, counter-ions and ion-pairing reagents have been measured. Ammonium ions extend the absorption of weak acids (p K a above 8) to higher pH values on an ion-exchange resin. The porous polymer has more selectivity than the ion-exchange resins, but plate numbers are less. Gradient elution may be used with the porous polymer, but radical solvent changes affect the quality of the packing.
Multimedia computer technology and performance-based language testing: a demonstration of the computerized oral proficiency instrument (COPI)

The field of language testing has long led the way in integrative, performance-based assessment. However, the use of technology in language testing has often meant limiting assessment options. We believe computer-mediated language assessment can enrich opportunities for language learners to demonstrate what they are able to do with their second language. In this paper, we describe the rationale and operation of the Computerized Oral Proficiency Instrument (COPI), a multimedia, computer-administered oral proficiency test. While at present speech performances on the COPI are evaluated by trained raters using a national standard, the COPI affords an excellent opportunity to investigate the use of Natural Language Processing for computer-assisted evaluation.
Comparison of first year growth among field, hatchery- and laboratory-raised juvenile red king crab, Paralithodes camtschaticus (Tilesius, 1815), in Alaska

In an effort to better understand juvenile growth in the first year and to determine potential effects of hatchery larval rearing, we compared growth of juvenile red king crab, Paralithodes camtschaticus (Tilesius, 1815), in the field and under laboratory-rearing conditions. Glaucothoe were obtained from the Alutiiq Pride Shellfish Hatchery and field; once molted to first stage juveniles, both sets were raised individually in the laboratory under ambient conditions (hereafter called hatchery/laboratory-reared and wild/laboratory-reared, respectively) and measured at each molt. Field-surveyed juveniles were observed and measured monthly in the intertidal in Juneau, AK, USA. Size, molt interval, cumulative molt interval, and molt increment did not differ significantly between hatchery/laboratory-reared and wild/laboratory-reared crab or between male and female crab over one year. Crab reached an average size ± SD of 13.6 ± 2.1 mm CL after 10-11 molts/year with 24% average molt increment at ambient temperatures. Carapace lengths of hatchery/laboratory-reared, wild/laboratory-reared, and field-surveyed juveniles were not significantly different in five of eight months from January through August, with small differences in January, February, and May, likely resulting from differences in hatch timing. Spine lengths differed from January through March but not from April through August. Spine lengths of hatchery/laboratory-reared crab were significantly larger than field-surveyed crab from January through March. Wild/laboratory-reared crab had significantly longer spine lengths than field-surveyed crab in February and March. In conclusion, growth did not differ significantly among juveniles reared in the laboratory and from the field.
Novel Oral Anticoagulants for DC Cardioversion Procedures: Utilization and Clinical Outcomes Compared with Warfarin

Background Novel oral anticoagulant (NOAC) agents dabigatran, rivaroxaban, and apixaban are increasingly utilized as thromboembolic prevention for patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing direct current cardioversion (DCCV) with post hoc analyses of clinical trials suggesting satisfactory safety and efficacy. This study characterizes utilization, effectiveness, and complications of NOAC agents for stroke prophylaxis in the setting of DCCV. Methods Comparison of warfarin and NOAC agents as periprocedural anticoagulation for DCCV procedures performed at Cleveland Clinic from January 2009 through December 2013. Variables of interest include utilization rates for each NOAC agent stratified by clinical parameters including CHADS2 score, and associated clinical outcomes including cerebrovascular accident (CVA), transient ischemic attack (TIA), peripheral arterial embolism (PAE), and bleeding events during 8 weeks of postprocedure follow-up. Results Among 5,320 DCCV procedures, 673 (12.6%) cases were excluded due to inadequate follow-up. Warfarin was utilized in 3,721 (80.1%), dabigatran in 719 (15.5%), rivaroxaban in 159 (3.4%), and apixaban in 48 (1.0%) with a steady increase in NOAC utilization from 2011 to 2013. There were low rates of CVA/TIA (warfarin: 0.97% vs NOAC 1.62%, P = 0.162) and bleeding (warfarin: 1.02% vs NOAC: 0.5%, P = 0.247) and no significant differences detected between agents. Higher CHADS2/CHA2DS2-VASC scores were associated with thromboembolic and bleeding risk. Increasing age, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, coronary disease, and deep vein thrombosis/pulmonary embolism were associated with increased bleeding risk. Conclusion In a high-volume, single-center experience, NOAC utilization has grown to account for over a third of cardioversion procedures, and these agents appear safe and effective compared to warfarin with low rates of thromboembolic and bleeding complications.
ANTAGONISM OF BACTERIAL COMPETITORS TOWARD LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES IN ENRICHMENT CULTURE

A study was made of the competitiveness toward Listeria monocytogenes (Lm82) in Listeria enrichment broth (LEB) by bacteria isolated from foods and by strains of Enterococcus and other Gram-positive bacteria. Competitive (i.e., able to mask during enrichment in LEB for 24 h) and noncompetitive bacteria were tested for production ofanti-Lm82 agents in diffusion zone assays on deMann-Rogosa-Sharpe (MRS) agar with added beta-glycero-phosphate (MRSB) and in Listeria enrichment agar (LEA). Enterococci were the most active competitors. The presence of small (2–6 mm diameter) inhibitory zones on MRSB correlated significantly with competitive activity in LEB; however, the correlation was not due to the metabolic activity that produced inhibitory zones on MRSB. Zone-producing bacteria were more likely to be competitors than were nonzone producers, but not all zone producers were competitors. Similarly, about 15% of bacteria that did not produce zones were competitive. The few inhibitory zones on LEA indicated that competitor activity in the selective enrichment broth may only rarely be due to the production of diffusible inhibitors. The most important factor in competitiveness was the ability of enterococci and some other bacteria to maintain superior numbers in the presence of prolisterial selective agents in LEB. With their superior numbers, competitors significantly decreased the pH of LEB. faster than did noncompetitors. Diffusible inhibitors produced in LEA by bacteria may also contribute significantly to competitiveness.
Analysis of the Evacuation of the World Trade Center Towers on September 11, 2001

This paper provides an analysis of the evacuation of the World Trade Center towers culled from telephone and face-to-face interviews with survivors. The first investigation explored where occupants were located when each tower was attacked. Regression analysis explored the sources of variance in occupants’ time to reach the stairwell, as well as stairwell evacuation time (how long the average occupant spent in the stairwells per floor). Finally, issues identified as contributing to either slowing or aiding the evacuation process were also explored.
A fracture mechanics approach to describe the propagation of abfractions

Abfrations (non-carious cervical lesions in teeth) are a severe problem in dental health care. Abfractions cause sensitivity to heat and cold causing discomfort and can ultimately lead to tooth failure. Currently, there is little understanding of the mechanisms of abfraction formation and propagation. A better understanding of abfraction etiology will be beneficial for dental care. This study will deepen the understanding of abfractions and how they propagate through the tooth by applying a linear fracture mechanics approach to dentin.
A top–down, multidisciplinary study of the structure and function of the pack-ice ecosystem in the eastern Ross Sea, Antarctica

We used a top-down, multidisciplinary approach to examine the physical and biological environment of the pack ice of the eastern Ross Sea (approximately 125-170 ◦ W) during the austral summer of 1999/2000 from RVIB Nathaniel B. Palmer and its ship-based helicopters. The approach focused on pack-ice seals while incorporating studies of biotic and abiotic factors that may influence the distribution and abundances of these apex predators in the Ross Sea to yield a holistic understanding of the structure and function of this complex, large marine ecosystem. This research represented the US component of the international Antarctic Pack Ice Seal (APIS) program, which was designed to document the circumpolar distribution and abundance of Antarctic pack-ice seals. The eastern Ross Sea is one of the two major areas in the Southern Ocean where substantial pack ice exists throughout summer. We found that vast multi-year ice floes (>20 km diameter) and smaller floes north of the shore-fast ice front provide a unique habitat for seals and penguins (apex predators) to forage and haul out while molting in late summer. Farther north, more Ross seals were observed than in any previous surveys in the circumpolar pack ice, perhaps because they are attracted to the area in summer to molt on large stable first-year ice floes. Extensive fast ice along the coastline and drifting pack ice in the shelf-slope boundary zone provided haul-out areas for seals and penguins with access to feeding in the coastal shelf region. Distributions of potential prey for seals and penguins varied over the study area, as determined by nets, acoustics, and diving surveys. Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba )w ere found throughout the survey region, overlapping the distributions of two smaller species, Thysano¨
Quantitation of CD8+ T Cell Responses to Newly Identified HLA-A*0201–restricted T Cell Epitopes Conserved Among Vaccinia and Variola (Smallpox) Viruses

Immunization with vaccinia virus resulted in long-lasting protection against smallpox and was the approach used to eliminate natural smallpox infections worldwide. Due to the concern about the potential use of smallpox virus as a bioweapon, smallpox vaccination is currently being reintroduced. Severe complications from vaccination were associated with congenital or acquired T cell deficiencies, but not with congenital agammaglobulinemia, suggesting the importance of T cell immunity in recovery from infection. In this report, we identified two CD8+ T cell epitopes restricted by the most common human major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I allele, HLA-A*0201. Both epitopes are highly conserved in vaccinia and variola viruses. The frequency of vaccinia-specific CD8+ T cell responses to these epitopes measured by interferon (IFN)-γ enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay and HLA/peptide tetramer staining peaked 2 wk after primary immunization and then declined, but were still detectable 1 to 3 yr after primary immunization. 2 wk after immunization, IFN-γ–producing cells specific to these two epitopes were 14% of total vaccinia virus-specific IFN-γ–producing cells in one donor, 35% in the second donor, and 6% in the third donor. This information will be useful for studies of human T cell memory and for the design and analyses of the immunogenicity of experimental vaccinia vaccines.
The Culture of Technology: An Alternative View of the Industrial Revolution in the United States

The purpose of this essay is revisionist on two counts: first, that the American colonies and early United States republic kept pace with Great Britain in reaching a relatively advanced stage of industrialization by the early nineteenth century and second, that the Middle Atlantic States shared equally with New England the innovative role in creating America's industrial revolution. In both cases the industrial leaders achieved their preeminence by different routes. By concentrating on the importance of the sources of machine power as the defining characteristic of industrialism, scholars have overlooked alternative paths to industrial change. In Britain steam power and the textile industry were the foundations of an industrial revolution. But in American colonies the use of water power and the growth of industries such as woodworking and building led to an equally revolutionary change in the production of machine-made products. Benign geography in colonial America provided abundant wood and water power and an excellent transportation system based on navigable rivers and a hospitable coastline. But the crucial factors were cultural: the compelling urge to do things with less human work, the open reception to new immigration, a younger and more venturesome population, a favorable legal and fiscal environment for enterpreneurs. In the American context the tendency of scholars to emphasize the leadership of New England was largely a result of the greater local availability of manufacturing records. But recent research has demonstrated that Philadelphia, the largest port of entry in the eighteenth century, was quite naturally a center of innovation in construction materials, woodworking machinery and shipbuilding to meet the needs of the expanding agricultural hinterland and the coastal trade. In sum, the values of an expanding, youthful, skilled population replenished by fresh and venturesome sources from abroad helped shape cultural values that were particularly favorable in the geographic environment of North America for alternative paths of rapid industrial growth.
Biophysiologic considerations in cryoablation: a practical mechanistic molecular review

Cryotherapy techniques date back as far as the mid-1800s, when James Arnott demonstrated the effectiveness of salt/ice mixtures in palliation of breast, uterine, and skin cancers. Subsequent advances saw the use of liquid air and solid carbon dioxide in the treatment of various conditions, particularly benign dermatologic lesions (1). Cooper and Lee introduced the first automated cryosurgical apparatus cooled by circulating liquid nitrogen in 1961 and initially used it for treating neuromuscular disorders (2). Liquid nitrogen probes were soon being used in the treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy and prostate cancer, though complications were quite common, resulting in the procedures falling out of favor until the 1990s, when intraoperative ultrasound techniques were developed, allowing more accurate monitoring of the freezing process (1). The advent of "third-generation" argon and helium gas probes in 2000 and preoperative computer thermal mapping techniques have allowed even more precise placement, temperature control, and further reduction in post-procedural morbidity (3). Cryosurgical techniques are currently used to treat a wide variety of conditions, but significant urologic indications include treatment of low and intermediate risk prostate cancer and renal cell carcinoma < 4 cm in diameter.
The Geographic Mobility of Displaced Workers: Do Local Employment Conditions Matter?

Using data drawn from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and County Business Patterns, this study investigates whether displaced workers adjust their job search strategies in response to local market conditions to favor migration out of declining labor markets. Empirical results from a Cox partial-likelihood proportional hazards model are supportive. A low density of local employment and low average wage levels are associated with shorter wait times to migration. Conversely, high local employment growth rates, high wages, and low unemployment rates correlate with an increased likelihood of obtaining local employment following displacement.