cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Concise Review: Wharton's Jelly-Derived Cells Are a Primitive Stromal Cell Population

Here, the literature was reviewed to evaluate whether a population of mesenchymal stromal cells derived from Wharton's jelly cells (WJCs) is a primitive stromal population. A clear case can be made for WJCs as a stromal population since they display the characteristics of MSCs as defined by the International Society for Cellular Therapy; for example, they grow as adherent cells with mesenchymal morphology, they are self-renewing, they express cell surface markers displayed by MSCs, and they may be differentiated into bone, cartilage, adipose, muscle, and neural cells. Like other stromal cells, WJCs support the expansion of other stem cells, such as hematopoietic stem cells, are well-tolerated by the immune system, and they have the ability to home to tumors. In contrast to bone marrow MSCs, WJCs have greater expansion capability, faster growth in vitro, and may synthesize different cytokines. WJCs are therapeutic in several different pre-clinical animal models of human disease such as neurodegenerative disease, cancer, heart disease, etc. The preclinical work suggests that the WJCs are therapeutic via trophic rescue and immune modulation. In summary, WJCs meet the definition of MSCs. Since WJCs expand faster and to a greater extent than adult-derived MSCs, these findings suggest that WJCs are a primitive stromal cell population with therapeutic potential. Further work is needed to determine whether WJCs engraft long-term and display self-renewal and multipotency in vivo and, as such, demonstrate whether Wharton's jelly cells are a true stem cell population.
THE RELATIVE REACTION WITHIN LIVING MAMMALIAN TISSUES XII. THE FIXATION FOR HISTOLOGICAL PURPOSES OF ERYTHROLITMIN AFTER VITAL STAINING, WITH A NOTE ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE INDICATOR

A method for fixing erythrolitmin in tissues for subsequent histological examination is described. Some features are recorded of the distribution of the indicator in animals receiving it in large quantity.
Thyroid Hormone Deiodinases and Cancer

Deiodinases constitute a group of thioredoxin-containing selenoenzymes that play an important function in thyroid hormone homeostasis and control of thyroid hormone action. There are three known deiodinases: D1 and D2 activate the pro-hormone thyroxine (T4) to T3, the most active form of thyroid hormone, while D3 inactivates thyroid hormone and terminates T3 action. A number of studies indicate that deiodinase expression is altered in several types of cancers, suggesting that (i) they may represent a useful cancer marker and/or (ii) could play a role in modulating cell proliferation - in different settings thyroid hormone modulates cell proliferation. For example, although D2 is minimally expressed in human and rodent skeletal muscle, its expression level in rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS)-13 cells is 3-4 fold higher. In basal cell carcinoma (BCC) cells, sonic hedgehog (Shh)-induced cell proliferation is accompanied by induction of D3 and inactivation of D2. Interestingly a 5-fold reduction in the growth of BCC in nude mice was observed if D3 expression was knocked down. A decrease in D1 activity has been described in renal clear cell carcinoma, primary liver cancer, lung cancer, and some pituitary tumors, while in breast cancer cells and tissue there is an increase in D1 activity. Furthermore D1 mRNA and activity were found to be decreased in papillary thyroid cancer while D1 and D2 activities were significantly higher in follicular thyroid cancer tissue, in follicular adenoma and in anaplastic thyroid cancer. It is conceivable that understanding how deiodinase dysregulation in tumor cells affect thyroid hormone signaling and possibly interfere with tumor progression could lead to new antineoplastic approaches.
Comparison of the photoelectric properties of the system TiO2−x with the system TiO2−xFx

Abstract The system TiO 2−x has been prepared and its photoelectric properties have been characterized as a function of x. A comparison is made between the members of the systems TiO 2−x and TiO 2−x F x . The role of vacancies is discussed in connection with the differences between the photoelectric behaviors observed in the two systems.
Colloid stability and complex chemistry

Abstract The effects of complex formation in the electrolyte environment and/or at the solid/solution interface on generation and stabilization of colloidal particles are discussed in detail. The relationship of chemical complexing and the stability of colloidal sols is illustrated on systems exhibiting weak and strong interactions between solutes and solids, respectively. Various types of interfacial reactions, such as ion exchange, surface coordination, and chemisorption, are identified and their role in sol destabilization or restabilization (by charge reversal) quantitatively explained.
Activity-based diubiquitin probes for elucidating the linkage specificity of deubiquitinating enzymes

We report a new class of deubiquitinating enzyme (DUB) probes that resemble the native diubiquitin with a same linkage size and contain a Michael addition acceptor for trapping the DUB active-site cysteine. Both K63- and K48-linked diubiquitin probes were generated using a facile chemical ligation method. The diUb probes were demonstrated to label DUBs from different families and revealed intrinsic linkage specificities of DUBs.
The Human Glycinamide Ribonucleotide Transformylase Domain: Purification, Characterization, and Kinetic Mechanism

Abstract Glycinamide ribonucleotide transformylase catalyzes the third reaction of de novo purine biosynthesis, namely, the conversion of glycinamide ribonucleotide to N -formylglycinamide ribonucleotide, with concomitant conversion of 10-formyltetrahydrofolate to tetrahydrofolate. This activity has been shown to be a target for cancer chemotherapy, which has generated renewed interest in both the enzyme and the pathway. Moreover, in higher eukaryotes this activity constitutes the C-terminal domain of a monomeric protein which also catalyzes two additional reactions of de novo purine biosynthesis. In this study, the human glycinamide ribonucleotide transformylase domain has been expressed to high levels in Escherichia coli and purified to homogeneity. Our improved expression–purification system produces the desired activity exclusively in a soluble form and in higher abundance than previously achieved. The kinetic constants have been determined and the kinetic mechanism has been established as ordered–sequential, with the folate substrate binding first. The correspondence of these data to those obtained for the glycinamide ribonucleotide transformylase activity of the mammalian trifunctional enzyme indicates that the recombinant enzyme is fully functional.
Visual Servoing-Based Autonomous 2-D Manipulation of Microparticles Using a Nanoprobe

In this paper, autonomous 2-D manipulation and pattern formation of microparticles under an optical microscope by pushing and pulling them with a sharp nanoprobe is presented. For calibration of the camera and to achieve a larger bandwidth on position control, an iterative sliding mode parameter observer is designed that satisfies the Lyapunov stability criterion. A procedure that allows particles to stick near the tip of the nanoprobe while pushing/pulling and to release them when placed to the target position is used for manipulation. For pattern formation, a trajectory planning algorithm based on a metric that defines the blockage of trajectories by particles and target positions is used to order manipulation of particles such that the particle that blocks the most number of trajectories is pulled/pushed to the target position that blocks the least number of trajectories. This ordering of manipulation performs better than the conventional distance-based approaches due to the fact that it minimizes the number of blockages to the linear trajectories. Efficiency of the approach is demonstrated on simulation and experimental results by positioning 4.5-mum diameter polystyrene particles on a flat glass substrate autonomously. The average accuracy of the pushing/pulling operations is less than 0.64 mum.
Effect of pulsatile or continuous administration of pituitary-derived chicken growth hormone (p-cGH) on lipid metabolism in broiler pullets.

1. The effects of pulsatile and continuous intravenous administration of exogenous, pituitary-derived chicken growth hormone (p-cGH) on lipid metabolism and endocrine/metabolite levels of broiler-strain pullets were studied. 2. Eight-week-old pullets were administered p-cGH or vehicle over a 10 min period every 90 min for 7 days. 3. Pullets were also administered the same daily amount (123 μg/kg of body weight/day) continuously for 7 days. 4. Feed intake, body weight gain, in vitro lipogenesis and hepatic enzyme activities were determined with certain hormones identified with the control of growth. 5. Pulsatile p-cGH administration for 7 days lacked effect on weight gain, feed efficiency, muscle or bone development. 6. Abdominal fat pad size was decreased (P < 0.05) by pulsatile but not continuous administration of p-cGH. Pulsatile p-cGH administration also decreased (P < 0.05) in vitro lipogenesis. Liver malic enzyme and isocitrate dehydrogenase activities were increased (P < 0.05) by pulsatile but not continuous administration of p-cGH. In contrast, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase activity was increased by a continuous infusion of p-cGH. 7. Plasma concentrations of T4 corticosterone and triglycerides were decreased (P < 0.05) by a pulsatile but not a constant infusion of p-cGH. 8. Plasma T3 and GH were increased (P < 0.05) by pulsatile p-cGH compared to both a continuous infusion of p-cGH and the saline controls. 9. This study is the first to prove that in the broiler chicken, the pattern of exogenous p-cGH administration is a factor influencing in vitro responses to the hormone.
Long-time behavior of the N -finger solution of the Laplacian growth equation

Abstract The non-singular N -finger solutions of the Laplacian Growth Equation, Im [ ovbar | ∂ f ( x , t )∂ t ) (∂ f ( x , t )/∂ x )] = 1, describing the motion of the interface in numerous non-equilibrium processes, such as dendritic growth, flows through porous media, electrodeposition, etc., is analyzed. The motion of the interface is described by N + 1 moving singularities (simple poles) in the upper-half of an auxiliar “mathematical plane”. In the long-time limit these singularities tend to the real axis, following an exponential law. Meanwhile, the physical interface develops at most N separated fingers. In the case of enough separation, each of the gaps between fingers corresponds to one singularity while each finger is locally similar to the Saffman-Taylor one. The analogy with the N -soliton solutions of exactly integrable PDE's, such as Korteweg-de Vries, Nonlinear Schrodinger, and sine-Gordon equations, is discussed. Using the asymptotic properties of the N -finger solution, canonical variables of “action-angle”-type are introduced.
SU-E-I-50: Assessment of Measured, Simulated and Displayed Values of CTDI Volume

Purpose: Computed tomography dose index (CTDI) is the most commonly used dose descriptor for imaging protocol optimization and patient dose estimation. The purpose of this research was to examine the CTDI Volume (CTDIVOL) variability by comparing measured values of CTDIVOL against simulated and machine displayed values. Methods: A GE LightSpeed VCT scanner was used in this study. Measured values of CTDIVOL were determined using a 100 mm pencil ionization chamber in standard CT PMMA head and body phantoms. A Monte Carlo (MC) simulation of the CT scanner was developed using the MCNPX software package. The CT phantoms were modeled, and the resulting simulated dose was used to calculate CTDIVOL. The machine displayed values, which are based on patient scan protocols, were recorded directly from the CT scanner. The value presented by the scanner is actually the dose to air within a CT phantom which is about 12% higher than the dose to the phantom material. The machine displayed values have been corrected in order to make valid comparisons. Results: The machine displayed values of CTDIVOL and the results from the MC simulation were compared against the measured values. The displayed values of CTDIVOL matched the measured values within 56% for both the head and body CT phantoms. The values from the MC simulation of CTDIVOL were 7–% higher for the head phantom and 5–9% lower for the body phantom. Conclusion: This study demonstrated the variations among the measured, simulated and displayed values of CTDIVOL. The displayed values were recently included in patient dose reports, so they should be calibrated periodically to avoid under or over estimating patient specific dose. The discrepancies between the simulated and measured values of CTDIVOL indicate the CT simulation model should be machine specific so it can be used for reliable patient organ dose evaluation.
A viscoelastic model for cytokinesis in animal cells.

Abstract The cell membrane is modeled as a spherical membrane of non-linear, viscoelastic material. The membrane undergoes large deformations under the action of a contractile ring force in its equatorial plane. The numerical results are compared with the experimental results available in the literature and the results of the previous elastic models. The conclusions obtained from the study of the present viscoelastic model are similar to those of the previous elastic model. The results for the present viscoelastic model indicate that the cell membrane stiffness must increase during the early stages of cleavage and it must decrease during the later stages for the stiffness-related variables of the present mathematical model to agree with the experimental results.
Allocatable Fixed Inputs and Jointness in Agricultural Production: Implications for Economic Modeling

Allocatable fixed inputs, such as land, are a potentially important source of jointness in agriculture. As with other causes of jointness, they necessitate multiple-product systems for modeling product supply and input demand. In other important ways, however, their analytical implications are very different from other causes of jointness. Model specification differs. Demand functions for the quantities of each input used in the production of individual commodities can be derived if a primal approach is used, but such allocation equations cannot in general be identified from a dual specification. Available allocation data are not even useful in such dual estimations.
The vibrational spectra and assignments of tetraiodoethylene

Abstract The infrared, far infrared and Raman spectra of tetraiodoethylene are given with assignments of all the active fundamental vibrations and observed combination and overtone bands. A tentative assignment of the torsion mode is made based on the assignment of observed combination bands. The fundamental frequencies are assigned as A g : 1490, 184, 110; A u : 53; B 1 g : 775, 149; B 1 u : 226; B 2 g : 422; B 2 u : 639, 95; B 3 u : 525, 131, all in cm −1 . An observed enchancement of B 1 g intensities in the Raman spectrum is ascribed to vibronio interactions.
Variation in Tenacity of Protein Adsorption on Self-Assembled Monolayers with Monolayer Order As Observed by X-ray Reflectivity

Differences in the adsorption of human serum albumin (HSA) to hydrophobic self-assembled monolayers of hexadecyltrichlorosilane (HTS) with different layer packings have been observed using X-ray reflectivity. The monolayers with various thicknesses and electron density parameters were prepared using different deposition times. After the monolayers were exposed to 0.1 mg/mL solutions of HSA, a layer of albumin molecules was found adsorbed to the surface. When eluting with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), all adsorbed protein was removed from the more densely packed surfaces. In contrast, a significant fraction of protein molecules adsorbed to less densely packed layers resisted elution with SDS. We conclude that more mobile, less densely packed HTS layers can better accommodate the albumin molecules, which results in more tenacious binding.
Light Trapping in Plasmonic Solar Cells

Subwavelength nanostructures enable the manipulation and molding of light in nanoscale dimensions. By controlling and designing the complex dielectric function and nanoscale geometry we can affect the coupling of light into specific active materials and tune macroscale properties such as reflection, transmission, and absorption. Most solar cell systems face a trade-off with decreasing semiconductor thickness: reducing the semiconductor volume increases open circuit voltages, but also decreases the absorp- tion and thus the photocurrent. Light trapping is particularly critical for thin-film amorphous Si (a-Si:H) solar cells, which must be made less than optically thick to enable complete carrier collection. By enhancing absorption in a given semiconductor volume, we can achieve high efficiency devices with less than 100 nm of active region. In this thesis we explore the use of designed plasmonic nanostructures to couple incident sunlight into localized resonant modes and propagating waveguide modes of an ultrathin semiconductor for enhanced solar-to-electricity conversion. We begin by developing computational tools to analyze incoupling from sunlight to guided modes across the solar spectrum and a range of incident angles. We then show the potential of this method to result in absorption enhancements beyond the limits for thick film solar cells. The second part of this thesis describes the integration of plasmonic nanos- tructures with a-Si:H solar cells, showing that designed nanostructures can lead to enhanced photocurrent over randomly textured light trapping surfaces, and develops a computational model to accurately simulate the absorption in these structures. The final chapter discusses the fabrication of a high-efficiency (9.5%) solar cell with a less than 100 nm absorber layer and broadband, angle isotropic photocurrent enhance- ment. Moreover, we discuss general design rules where light trapping nanopatterns are defined by their spatial coherence spectral density.
Mitotic checkpoint genes in budding yeast and the dependence of mitosis on DNA replication and repair.

In eukaryotes a cell-cycle control termed a checkpoint causes arrest in the S or G2 phases when chromosomes are incompletely replicated or damaged. Previously, we showed in budding yeast that RAD9 and RAD17 are checkpoint genes required for arrest in the G2 phase after DNA damage. Here, we describe a genetic strategy that identified four additional checkpoint genes that act in two pathways. Both classes of genes are required for arrest in the G2 phase after DNA damage, and one class of genes is also required for arrest in S phase when DNA replication is incomplete. The Gz-specific genes include MEC3 (for mitosis entry checkpoint), RAD9, RAD17, and RAD24. The genes common to both S phase and G2 phase pathways are MECl and MEC2. The MEC2 gene proves to be identical to the RAD53 gene. Checkpoint mutants were identified by their interactions with a temperature-sensitive allele of the cell division cycle gene CDC13-, cdcl3 mutants arrested in G2 and survived at the restrictive temperature, whereas all cdcl3 checkpoint double mutants failed to arrest in G2 and died rapidly at the restrictive temperature. The cell-cycle roles of the RAD and MEC genes were examined by combination of rad and mec mutant alleles with 10 cdc mutant alleles that arrest in different stages of the cell cycle at the restrictive temperature and by the response of rad and mec mutant alleles to DNA damaging agents and to hydroxyurea, a drug that inhibits DNA replication. We conclude that the checkpoint in budding yeast consists of overlapping S-phase and G2-phase pathways that respond to incomplete DNA replication and/or DNA damage and cause arrest of cells before mitosis.
Reduced expression of a human V beta 6.1 T-cell receptor allele.

Abstract We have previously described an allelic polymorphism in the V beta 6.1 T-cell receptor gene. The V beta 6.1B allele is associated with disease in a subgroup of patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Limited sequence data demonstrated nucleotide differences that resulted in two amino acid changes between the two alleles in positions predicted to be important in major histocompatibility complex/antigen recognition. The present study demonstrates substantially reduced expression of mRNA from the disease-associated allele (V beta 6.1B) in peripheral blood and thymic tissue. The complete genomic sequence of both alleles revealed two additional amino acid changes in the V beta 6.1B gene as well as nucleotide differences in the promoter and intron. A cysteine-to-arginine substitution at position 92 in the disease-associated allele makes this a non-functional beta chain, since this conserved cysteine is involved with disulfide bonding to cysteine-23 to form an immunoglobulin-like domain structure, thus resulting in a potential hole in the T-cell receptor repertoire.
Culture, Intellectual Property and Territorial Rural Development

This paper explores some of the uses of local cultural identity in European rural development, particularly in the latter’s shift towards local territorial activity. It proposes the term ‘cultural economy’ and a four-way typology. In order to contribute to a theorization of such development activity – whether policy driven or emerging from the ‘bottom-up’– local cultures are characterized as forms of intellectual property that may allow local rural economies to impose some level of control over social and economic development.
Hyperleptinemia in horses: Responses to administration of a small dose of lipopolysaccharide endotoxin in mares and geldings

Mares and geldings in good body condition selected for hyperleptinemia vs. normal leptin concentrations were studied to determine whether the hyperleptinemic condition affected various characteristics of the hematologic and hormonal systems after a challenge with lipopolysaccharide endotoxin. Four mares and 4 geldings that were determined to be hyperleptinemic (mean plasma leptin concentrations of 10.0 to 15.5 ng/mL) and 4 mares and 4 geldings with mean plasma leptin concentrations between 2.4 and 5.5 ng/mL were administered Escherichia coli O55:B5 endotoxin (35 ng/kg of BW in 500 mL of saline over a 30-min infusion), or saline only, in pairs in a single-switchback design, with horses and treatments randomly assigned for the first infusion. Physiological variables and blood components were monitored for 24 h after the onset of infusions. Treatments were switched and the second infusions were administered 8 d later. Relative to vehicle infusion, endotoxin infusion increased (P < 0.01) the rectal temperature, heart rate, respiration rate, plasma total protein concentration, and blood packed cell volume; there was an interaction of leptin status, endotoxin treatment, and time for heart rate (P = 0.039), respiration rate (P = 0.018), and plasma total protein concentration (P = 0.054). Blood concentrations of leukocytes, lymphocytes, and neutrophils all decreased (P < 0.001) after endotoxin infusion; there was an interaction (P = 0.0057) between sex and leptin status for blood platelet concentration. Plasma leptin concentrations increased (P = 0.013) after endotoxin infusion in both hyperleptinemic horses and those with reduced leptin concentrations. There were interactions (P < 0.037) of sex with endotoxin treatment and time for plasma concentrations of cortisol and prolactin, whereas plasma GH concentrations were affected (increased; P < 0.001) only by time after infusion. Given that the effects of hyperleptinemia were generally minor, it was concluded that the hyperleptinemic condition, and its associated type-2 diabetic symptoms, has a minimal impact on the components of the hematologic and hormonal systems studied.
Genome-wide Comparative Analysis of Simple Sequence Coding Repeats among 25 Insect Species

Abstract We present a detailed genome-scale comparative analysis of simple sequence repeats within protein coding regions among 25 insect genomes. The repetitive sequences in the coding regions primarily represented single codon repeats and codon pair repeats. The CAG triplet is highly repetitive in the coding regions of insect genomes. It is frequently paired with the synonymous codon CAA to code for polyglutamine repeats. The codon pairs that are least repetitive code for polyalanine repeats. The frequency of hexanucleotide and dinucleotide motifs of codon pair repeats is significantly (p Drosophila species compared to the non- Drosophila species. However, the frequency of synonymous and non-synonymous codon pair repeats varies in a correlated manner (r 2 = 0.79) among all the species. Results further show that perfect and imperfect repeats have significant association with the trinucleotide and hexanucleotide coding repeats in most of these insects. However, only select species show significant association between the numbers of perfect/imperfect hexamers and repeat coding for single amino acid/amino acid pair runs. Our data further suggests that genes containing simple sequence coding repeats may be under negative selection as they tend to be poorly conserved across species. The sequences of coding repeats of orthologous genes vary according to the known phylogeny among the species. In conclusion, the study shows that simple sequence coding repeats are important features of genome diversity among insects.
Towards a Tree-Based Taxonomy of Anonymous Networks

In the boundless digital world and global society of the Internet, anonymity and privacy are becoming increasingly important issues. Many anonymous networking protocols have been proposed and numerous empirical investigations over these networks analyzed; however, no known taxonomies exist for consumers to quickly and easily identify which anonymity properties are offered by the disparate wired and wireless anonymous networks. This paper proposes a novel tree-based taxonomy (TBT) which allows the consumer to choose a desired classical or state-of-the-art anonymity protocol depending upon their specific network environment and anonymity requirements. The two key anonymity properties of unidentifiability and unlinkability and various network types are explored. This paper highlights the expanding definition of anonymity and aids consumer and researcher classification of state-of-the-art technological privacy-preserving anonymous networks.
Failures and Successes at the Second Hague Conference

It is inevitable that any undertaking should be judged primarily from the point of view of what was originally attempted by the participants and expected by onlookers rather than by a strict standard of actual achievement. In most of the unfavorable discussion that has been current during and since the conference, the point of criticism is the opinion that the conference has not fulfilled its avowed purpose, rather than a complete denial of the usefulness of such results as actually have been accomplished. At the very opening session of the conference, M. Nelidoff in his presidential address pointed out in disillusioned language the impossibility of realizing certain general ideals that had been entertained with respect to these great meetings. He admitted that “we need not be discouraged from dreaming of the ideal of universal peace and the fraternity of peoples, considering that the essential condition of all progress is the pursuit of an ideal towards which we always strive without ever reaching it. Nevertheless, we should not be too ambitious.” He concluded by saying: “Let us set bravely to work, our path lit up by the bright star of universal peace which we shall never reach but which will always guide us.” While some among M. Nelidoff's audience approved of his cautious conservatism, others felt that his utterances had received an unduly pessimistic tinge from the unfortunate position in which Russia has found herself since the war. Nevertheless, when we now review the efforts and the accomplished work of the conference, we may take as the keynote, the words of the presiding officer, pointing out inevitable limitations and bidding us look for results not in sweeping resolutions, but in detailed and specific arrangements which at first sight may appear somewhat trivial and of a purely technical nature.
Mullerian inhibiting substance in humans: normal levels from infancy to adulthood

Mullerian-inhibiting substance (MIS) is a gonadal hormone synthesized by Sertoli cells of the testis and granulosa cells of the ovary. To facilitate the use of MIS for the evaluation of intersex disorders and as a tumor marker in women with MIS-expressing ovarian tumors, we measured MIS in 600 serum samples from males and females. These data show that mean MIS values for males rise rapidly during the first year of life and are highest during late infancy, then gradually decline until puberty. In contrast, MIS values in females are lowest at birth and exhibit a minimal increase throughout the prepubertal years. Whereas MIS is uniformly measurable in all prepubertal boys studied, it is undetectable in most prepubertal female subjects. These data reveal an easily discernible sexually dimorphic pattern of expression and confirm that MIS can be used as a testis-specific marker during infancy and early childhood. MIS values that are above the upper limits for females are discriminatory for the presence of testicular tissue or ovarian tumor, and those below the lower limits for males are consistent with dysgenetic or absent testes or the presence of ovarian tissue. These data will enable normal and abnormal levels of MIS to be differentiated with higher precision and will facilitate the use of MIS in the management of gonadal disorders.
High frequency shot noise in Schottky barrier diodes

Abstract Noise measurements have been performed on forward biased Schottky barrier diodes at 30 MHz and 60 MHz. These measurements were performed in a higher frequency range and with greater accuracy than has been previously reported. The method of measuring the equivalent noise temperature is presented along with the calibration techniques used to establish the measurement system performance. The equivalent noise temperatures measured were found to be in good agreement with the simple shot noise theory of semiconductor diodes at current levels where the metal-semiconductor interface effects can be neglected.
El Niño, water vapor, and the global positioning system

The 1997-1998 El Nino had a profound impact on at- mospheric circulation in the tropical Pacific and aected weather patterns world-wide. Precipitable water estimates from Global Positioning System (GPS) sites in the western tropical Pacific capture the sudden onset of large-scale sub- sidence, a phenomenon proposed as a possible mechanism driving the eventual decline of El Nino episodes. The atmo- spheric drying associated with this anomalous high-pressure ridge and the turnabout as the warm episode transitions into the subsequent La Nina are clearly visible in the GPS observations.
A fair deal for PhD students and postdocs

The relentless expansion that threatens the sustainability of biomedical research in the US takes a heavy toll on young researchers.
Integrating Trustee Issues into a Balanced Response: Working Toward a Common Goal1

ABSTRACT In February 2002, a Unified Command (UC) comprised of the United States Coast Guard (USCG), the California Department of Fish and Game's Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR), and other state and federal agencies tested a sample of oil taken from the water near the wreck SS Jacob Luckenbach. Oil from this fifty-year-old wreck, submerged in 176 feet of water 17 miles off San Francisco, matched oil that had impacted thousands of birds and miles of shoreline since November 2001. It also matched oil from mystery spills in this area dating back to 1992. Now that the source of this extensive pollution was found, the next step seemed simple: remove the oil from the vessel. Yet there were many issues surrounding this vessel and its location that required significant cooperation with many agencies and trustees. The Luckenbach is an historic property, protected by the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). It is submerged in the Gulf of Farallones National Marine Sanctuary - one of the most bi...
Dust emission variability at the Salton Sea, California, USA

Abstract A field study conducted through a series of four field campaigns between 2005 and 2007 investigated the potential for dust emissions around the Salton Sea in California, USA. This paper explores the landform related controls on fugitive PM 10 dust emissions from soil surfaces surrounding the Salton Sea by measuring soil properties combined with estimating the in situ PM 10 dust emissions using a novel small portable field wind tunnel (PI-SWERL). The locations surrounding the Salton Sea were selected to encompass varying geomorphic landforms, including exposed shoreline areas with playa characteristics, barnacle covered beaches, dry washes, interdunes, and exposures of ancient Lake Cahuilla. The largest variation in potential dust emissions over the sampling period was from the playa-like surfaces that are near the open water and exhibited surface salt crusts, with the highest emissions measured from these surfaces during the winter. However, the largest emitting landform over the entire period were the dry washes that only exhibited a small degree of silt/clay crust, if any and were composed mainly of sand-sized particles. The highest emissions from all surfaces are compared with dust fluxes measured from Owens Lake and are within the same order of magnitude as those also measured with wind tunnels. Salt content did not show any statistically significant correlation with PM 10 dust emissions during any sampling period for the soils tested, which is attributed to the complications associating soil salt contents with particular salt crystal habit.
A neutron scattering study of the heavy fermion system UBe13

Abstract Neutron scattering measurements were performed on polycrystalline samples of UBe 13 in order to establish more accurately the structure and probe the dynamics of the spin fluctuations. The structure was confirmed to be cubic with space group O 6 h (Fm3c) with BeII positional parameters y = 0.1763(1) and z = 0.1150(1). The inelastic spectrum at T = 10 K exhibits a broad response with half width at half maximum of 15 meV.
UPC-CHECK: a scalable tool for detecting run-time errors in Unified Parallel C

Unified Parallel C (UPC) is a language used to write parallel programs for distributed memory parallel computers. UPC-CHECK ( http://hpcgroup.public.iastate.edu/UPC-CHECK/ ) is a scalable tool developed to automatically detect argument errors in UPC functions and deadlocks in UPC programs at run-time and issue high quality error messages to help programmers quickly fix those errors. The run-time complexity of all detection techniques used are optimal, i.e. O(1) except for deadlocks involving locks where it is theoretically known to be linear in the number of threads. The tool is easy to use, and involves merely replacing the compiler command with upc-check. Error messages issued by UPC-CHECK were evaluated using the UPC RTED test suite for argument errors in UPC functions and deadlocks. Results of these tests show that the error messages issued by UPC-CHECK for these tests are excellent.
The distribution of some fission product radionuclides in sea and estuarine sediments

Abstract As part of a scientific programme to assess the consequences of the discharge of radioactive liquid effluents from the Windscale fuel reprocessing plant, regular measurements have been made, over a number of years, of the radioactivity associated with seabed and estuarine sediments in the area. Results of these surveys are given and relationships derived between the degree of contamination of bottom sediments, the rates of discharge of individual radionuclides, and the distance from the Windscale outfall. Some measurements are also reported on the distribution of radionuclides with respect to depth in sediment. The influence of particle size and the organic content of sediments on the reconcentration factors of sediments is examined.
Voltage-Gated Na+ Channel β1 Subunit-Mediated Neurite Outgrowth Requires Fyn Kinase and Contributes to Postnatal CNS Development In Vivo

Voltage-gated Na(+) channel beta1 subunits are multifunctional, participating in channel modulation and cell adhesion in vitro. We previously demonstrated that beta1 promotes neurite outgrowth of cultured cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs) via homophilic adhesion. Both lipid raft-associated kinases and nonraft fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptors are implicated in cell adhesion molecule-mediated neurite extension. In the present study, we reveal that beta1-mediated neurite outgrowth is abrogated in Fyn and contactin (Cntn) null CGNs. beta1 protein levels are unchanged in Fyn null brains, whereas levels are significantly reduced in Cntn null brain lysates. FGF or EGF (epidermal growth factor) receptor kinase inhibitors have no effect on beta1-mediated neurite extension. These results suggest that beta1-mediated neurite outgrowth occurs through a lipid raft signaling mechanism that requires the presence of both fyn kinase and contactin. In vivo, Scn1b null mice show defective CGN axon extension and fasciculation indicating that beta1 plays a role in cerebellar microorganization. In addition, we find that axonal pathfinding and fasciculation are abnormal in corticospinal tracts of Scn1b null mice consistent with the suggestion that beta1 may have widespread effects on postnatal neuronal development. These data are the first to demonstrate a cell-adhesive role for beta1 in vivo. We conclude that voltage-gated Na(+) channel beta1 subunits signal via multiple pathways on multiple timescales and play important roles in the postnatal development of the CNS.
U1-mediated exon definition interactions between AT-AC and GT-AG introns

A minor class of metazoan introns has well-conserved splice sites with 5'-AU-AC-3' boundaries, compared to the 5'-GU-AG-3' boundaries and degenerate splice sites of conventional introns. Splicing of the AT-AC intron 2 of a sodium channel (SCN4A) precursor messenger RNA in vitro did not require inhibition of conventional splicing and required adenosine triphosphate, magnesium, and U12 small nuclear RNA (snRNA). When exon 3 was followed by the 5' splice site from the downstream conventional intron, splicing of intron 2 was greatly stimulated. This effect was U1 snRNA-dependent, unlike the basal AT-AC splicing reaction. Therefore, U1-mediated exon definition interactions can coordinate the activities of major and minor spliceosomes.
The effectiveness of design and innovation consulting

Although the risks and rewards of outsourcing product design have been argued extensively in the literature, little hard data on project outcomes exist to inform the discussion, and even these are methodologically suspect. To address this gap, this paper uses novel random sampling techniques to locate projects and measure the distribution of project outcomes in one particular type of design outsourcing, domestic design consulting. The results suggest that design consulting outcomes are generally good but vary significantly between projects and consultancies. Overall rates of product commercialization and market success compare favorably to results previously reported for in-house product design, and client satisfaction levels are comparable to those of other service industries.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Heterogeneity of chromatin fragments produced by micrococcal nuclease action

Digestion of calf thymus chromatin with micrococcal nuclease produces a mixture of apparently well defined nucleoprotein fragments which have been partially resolved by sedimentation on linear (5-20%) sucrose gradients. Sedimentation patterns reveal a predominant peak at the 11S position, three slower components, which have not previously been reported, at the 3.4S, 5.3S and 8.6S positions, and three faster components at the 17S, 22S and 26S positions. DNA isolated from the 3S to 12S region of gradients has been resolved on polyacrylamide gels into nine to ten discrete components ranging from 47 to 156 base pairs in length. A nearly identical pattern of small DNA products was obtained from chromatin digested in intact nuclei. These data suggest that chromatin contains either several types of subunits or predominently a single type of subunit which can be asymmetrically cleaved at any one of four or more sites.
Laser flash photolysis of chlorobenzene in polar solvents

Abstract The laser flash photolysis of chlorobenzene at 266 nm was studied in methanol (MeOH) and other polar solvents. The triplet state properties in MeOH were determined: φT = 0.7 ± 0.2; λmax = 305 nm; ϵ305 = 6500 ± 800 M−1 cm−1; τ = 715 ± 20 ns. In the presence of LiCl a long-lived transient absorption with λmax = 350 nm was observed and it was assigned to Cl-rad2. Part of the absorption was formed immediately after the laser pulse and a slow growth was also observed in the following microsecond. This was interpreted as being partly due to a singlet state very fast CCl bond homolysis and partly due to a triplet-mediated generation of Cl·. Also the characteristic absorption of solvated electrons was found in MeOH. A photo-ionization quantum yield of 0.03 ± 0.01 was estimated. The triplet lifetime was determined in various solvents and it was found to decrease with increasing dielectric constant. The photolysis mechanism of chlorobenzene is discussed in terms of a singlet state photosubstitution reaction with the radical cation as an intermediate, and a singlet and triplet homolytic CCl bond breakage.
Rickettsial Actin‐Based Motility

Actin-based motility (ABM) is employed by spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiae, such as Rickettsia rickettsii, to promote cell-to-cell spread. Time-lapse video microscopy revealed that ABM is not strictly confined to SFG rickettsiae as typhus group R. typhi moved at approximately the same rate as R. rickettsii (approximately 4 micro m/min), but in a highly erratic fashion. A number of common behaviors were observed between ABM of R. typhi and R. rickettsii, such as entrance into plasma membrane protrusions, formation of new actin tails only on the old surface of newly formed daughter cells, and quick (within 15 sec) reassembly of the actin tail to the opposite pole upon contact with cellular structures that impede forward movement. This last behavior suggests that the rickettsial protein(s) required for ABM is uniformly localized to both poles of the bacterium and possibly throughout the rickettsial surface. Functional roles in rickettsial ABM for neuronal Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (N-WASP) and the actin-related protein (Arp)2/3 complex, critical regulators of ABM of other pathogens, have not been established. Domains of N-WASP that have characterized inhibitory effects on N-WASP or Arp2/3 complex function were expressed in HeLa cells infected with R. rickettsii. Shigella flexneri-infected cells were used as a control. When ectopically expressed, the VCA domain of N-WASP (VCA) acts as a dominant/negative with respect to Arp2/3 complex function and N-WASP missing VCA (DeltaVCA) acts as a dominant/negative form of N-WASP. Expression of VCA or DeltaVCA severely inhibited S. flexneri ABM (no Shigella motility observed in the majority of expressing cells) while only moderately inhibiting ABM of R. rickettsii (approximately 35% decrease in the rate of ABM). In addition, ectopically expressed full-length GFP-N-WASP was recruited by S. flexneri but not R. rickettsii, and Arp3 was detected by indirect immunofluorescence in S. flexneri actin tails but not within R. rickettsii actin tails. Collectively, these data suggest that rickettsial ABM is independent of N-WASP and Arp2/3 complex function.
Purification of thyroid proteases by cellulose column chromatography.

Several methods for purification of thyroid protease have been investigated. Chromatography on diethylaminoethyl and carboxymethyl cellulose resulted in purification and separation of two distinct acidic proteases. One protease showed a pH optimum of 3.8 and the other of 5.7. A combination of chromatography on both types of cellulose colums resulted in 500 fold purification of both enzymes.
Thalidomide, age, and future use in multiple myeloma

The introduction of thalidomide into the management of relapsed refractory multiple myeloma has been the most significant advancement in the treatment of the disease since the introduction of melphalan and prednisone in the 1960s. Not only did the drug impact the disease therapeutically, but
Satellite remote sensing of biomass burning, dust storms, carbon monoxide, and radiative fluxes: regional and global analysis

Using multi-spectral Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (A VHRR) data, the spatial distribution of smoke aerosols from biomass burning and dust aerosols are detected. Fires from biomass burning are determined using the spectral information from the A VHRR. The regional radiative impact at the top of atmosphere (TOA) are estimated using coincident Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE) data and the downward shortwave irradiances are also computed in the presence of biomass aerosols and validated against field measurements. Using empirical relationships, carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations estimated from the A VHRR are compared with space shuttle measurements. Results indicate that biomass burning :frres produce large amounts of smoke aerosols that have a significant regional radiative impact. The instantaneous net radiative forcing is on the order of -24 to -40 W/m2 which indicates a cooling effect at the surface. During April 1994 over tropical Asia, carbon monoxide concentrations range from 160-200 ppbv over active biomass burning areas. Keywords : biomass burning, dust storms, aerosols, radiative forcing, carbon monoxide, A VHRR, MAPS.
Critical behaviour at the transition by breaking of analyticity in the discrete Frenkel-Kontorova model

The authors study numerically the transition by breaking of analyticity which occurs in the incommensurate ground state of the Frenkel-Kontorova model (1938) when the amplitude lambda of its periodic-potential V(u) is increased beyond a critical value lambda c. A brief review of the properties of this transition and its connection with the standard map is given. They consider four quantities which are critical when lambda goes to lambda c from upper values: the gap in the phonon spectrum, the coherence length of the ground state, the Peierls-Nabarro barrier and the depinning force. The numerical method is discussed and the authors show in particular that the mapping method is unpracticable for lambda > lambda c. They observe the transition by breaking of analyticity and show that in the stochastic region ( lambda > lambda c) the ground state is never chaotic. Nevertheless in this region metastable chaotic states can be obtained. The numerical calculations, performed with a ratio of the atomic mean distance to the period of the potential V(u), l/2a=(3- square root 5)/2 equivalent to the golden mean, show that critical exponents can be defined for the four critical quantities studied. Their values reveal two scaling laws which are empirically explained.
Influence of iron content on quality of cigar wrapper tobacco

Abstract Investigations were conducted to determine the cause of severe leaf quality deterioration of cigar wrapper tobacco in the Georgia‐Florida area. Studies indicated that Fe was associated with “purple leaf”;, a term used to describe brittle, tender, dark brown to purple cured leaves which have poor burning characteristics and an undesirable flavor. Excessive Fe was found to be absorbed by the leaves with some adsorbed on the surface of leaves following irrigation with pond water containing an excess of 1.5 ppm Fe. Iron content of the water was highest in ponds having an excessive growth of aquatic plants or in those that were pumped to a level where overflow was restricted.