cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Aerosol light scattering effect on terrestrial plant productivity and energy fluxes over the eastern United States

[1] This study reports the first regional-scale assessment of aerosol effects on plant productivity and surface energy fluxes over the eastern United States. Analysis is conducted using an established modeling framework, which is composed of a regional land surface model, regional daily aerosol optical depth (AOD) estimates, and meteorological forcings. The sensitivity experiments were conducted from May to September in 2000 and 2001 over the eastern United States with and without the aerosol light scattering effect. Results show that the aerosol light scattering effect results in enhanced productivity for high-LAI and optimum temperature environments under cloudless-sky conditions around noon, while it results in least productive for low-LAI, low-temperature environments under cloud-sky conditions in early morning or late afternoon. As a result, domain-averaged plant productivities, measured as net primarily production, are changed by −0.71 g C m−2 (−0.09%) in 2000 and +5.00 g C m−2 (+0.5%) in 2001. These responses of plant productivity and photosynthesis to the aerosol light scattering effect uniquely modulate the surface flux as follows. The aerosol light scattering effect reduces the surface downwelling solar radiation (14.9 W m−2 in 2000 and 16.0 W m−2 in 2001) and net radiation in vegetation canopy, but simultaneously increases the photosynthesis and stomatal conductance. Consequently, surface latent heat flux (transpiration and evaporation) is reduced by a small amount particularly over the forests, while aerosol loading often results in larger reduction in the sensible heat flux. For the whole domain, latent heat flux is changed by −3.10 W m−2 (−2.1%) in 2000 and −3.12 W m−2 (−2.1%) in 2001, sensible heat flux is changed by −7.57 W m−2 (−12.9%) in 2000 and −8.36 W m−2 (−11.3%) in 2001, and surface skin temperature is changed by −0.25 K (−0.1%) in 2000 and −0.27 K (−0.1%) in 2001.
Sense of Humor, Stable Affect, and Psychological Well-Being

A good sense of humor has been implicated as a quality that could contribute to psychological well-being. The mechanisms through which sense of humor might operate include helping to reappraise threats, serving as a character strength, or facilitating happiness. The current research attempts to integrate these possibilities by examining whether a good sense of humor might operate globally by helping to maintain a more stable positive affect. Stable positive affect has been shown to facilitate more effective problem solving and to build resilience. However, not all humor is adaptive humor, so we also examine the roles that different styles of humor use might play. Individual differences in humor styles were used to predict stable levels of affect. Then, in a longitudinal design, humor styles and stable affect were used to predict subsequent resilience and psychological health. The results indicated that stable affect was related to resilience and psychological well-being, and that a sense of humor that involves self-enhancing humor, humor based on maintaining a humorous perspective about one’s experiences, was positively related to stable positive affect, negatively related to stable negative affect, and was mediated through stable affect in influencing resilience, well-being and distress. Thus, while a good sense of humor can lead to greater resilience and better psychological health, the current results, focusing on stable affect, find only self-enhancing humor provides reliable benefits.
Resolution in 13C NMR of organic solids using high-power proton decoupling and magic-angle sample spinning

Abstract The 13C NMR linewidths observed in organic solids by means of high-power proton decoupling and magic-angle sample spinning are roughly 10 to 100 times broader than resonances in the liquid phase. This paper investigates important 13C line-broadening mechanisms in organic solids and their dependences on experimental parameters, notably static and rf magnetic field strength. The discussion is limited to glassy (disordered, partially mobile) and crystalline (ordered, rigid) organics at natural isotopic abundance. Excluded are elastomers and systems with a third dipolar coupled nuclear species. Experimental data, primarily at 1.4 T, for glassy and semi-crystalline polymers as well as crystalline materials, illustrate and confirm the linebroadening mechanisms identified. For some specimens, 13C linewidths are compared at 1.4 and 4.7 T. It is found that a substantial linebroadening (0.5 to 6 ppm) corresponding to a dispersion of isotropic chemical shifts can arise from distributions of anisotropic sources of magnetic susceptibility, bond angles, or frozen molecular conformations; in other cases, the resonance lines may be split into many distinct lines by magnetic inequivalences present in the solid but not the liquid phase. For crystalline materials, methods for reducing the broadening from anisotropic bulk susceptibility are discussed. Other broadening mechanisms considered are: insufficient proton-decoupling fields, off-resonance decoupling, imperfections in magic-angle sample spinning, and motional modulation of both the carbon-proton dipolar coupling and the carbon chemical shift anisotropy. On consideration of these mechanisms, it is anticipated (and shown experimentally in limited cases) that no significant gain in resolution will be enjoyed at high magnetic fields, especially when variable-temperature operation is available. In some instances, degradation of resolution may occur at high field if large rf field strengths or high spinning rates cannot be achieved.
Maximize Discovery and Minimize Cost

This article explores how medical libraries can often provide their patrons with a comprehensive database search tool using the resources they already pay for combined with free online tools. Institutions subscribing to EBSCOhost databases can employ EBSCO's simple and no-cost Search Box Builder to create a single search box for searching multiple complementary tools. The authors present a case study of one such combined searching tool and a comparison of results from this tool and one of the preeminent discovery services. The authors argue that health care-focused libraries can find much of the functionality of an expensive discovery service minus the outlay of scarce funds by blending already held and available resources.
Uniqueness of one-dimensional continuum Gibbs states

We investigate one-dimensional continuum grandcanonical Gibbs states corresponding to finite range superstable many-body potentials. Absence of phase transitions in the sense of uniqueness of the tempered Gibbs state is proved for potentials without hard-core by first proving uniqueness of the Gibbs measures for related hard-core potentials and then taking an appropriate limit of those Gibbs measures.
Mortality Differentials and Religion in the United States: Religious Affiliation and Attendance

Using data from the Health and Retirement Study, I examine the relationship between adult mortality and religious affiliation. I test whether mortality differences associated with religious affiliation can be attributed to differences in socioeconomic status (years of education and household wealth), attendance at religious services, or health behaviors, particularly cigarette and alcohol consumption. A baseline report of attendance at religious services is used to avoid confounding effects of deteriorating health. Socioeconomic status explains some but not all of the mortality difference. While Catholics, Evangelical Protestants, and Black Protestants benefit from favorable attendance patterns, attendance (or lack of) at services explains much of the higher mortality of those with no religious preference. Health behaviors do not mediate the relationship between mortality and religion, except among Evangelical Protestants. Not only does religion matter, but studies examining the effect of "religiosity" need to consider differences by religious affiliation.
ANTIGENIC UNIQUENESS OF BENCE JONES PROTEINS.

MUCH information about the structure of the human immunoglobulins has derived from investigations of the antigenic characteristics of Bence Jones proteins. The two major antigenic groups of Bence Jones proteins have immunological counterparts in the light (L) chains of the normal population of γ2-, γ1A- and γ1M-globulins1. Using group specific rabbit antisera, we have shown that Bence Jones proteins of the same immunological group from different patients contain antigenic determinants not overtly present in pooled human 7S γ-globulin from normal individuals2. It is probable that some degree of the antigenic uniqueness of Bence Jones proteins is related to the individual antigenic specificity of single immunizing proteins2. Another variable determining at least a part of the immunological difference between Bence Jones protein and normal unreduced γ-globulin is related to the unmasking of hidden antigenic determinants of L chains when they are either not incorporated into or cleaved from the parent γ-globulin molecule3. It has been suggested that certain potential antigenic sites of L-polypeptide chains are inaccessible in the intact γ-globulin molecule due to steric hindrance of adjacent H chain4.
Effect of site-specific DNA methylation and mutagenesis on recognition by methylated DNA-binding protein from human placenta

Methylated DNA-binding protein (MDBP) from human placenta is the first protein shown to bind specifically to certain DNA sequences only when they are methylated at cytosine residues. Among the sites recognized by MDBP is pB site 1, a pBR322-derived sequence which has a high affinity for MDBP when methylated at all CpG positions. We have substituted pB site 1 with 5-methyl-cytosine (m5C) residues at one to three of its CpG dinucleotides on one strand by the use of m5C-containing oligonucleotides. MDBP binds best when all three CpG dinucleotides in the region 5'-ATCGTCACGGCGAT-3' are methylated. Even more binding is obtained when both strands are methylated. Alteration of various residues in this binding site by oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis decreased the binding. However, two mutations which increased the dyad symmetry of part of the binding site yielded ligands with a higher affinity for MDBP.
Newly described tumours of the thyroid

Abstract Thyroid tumours have attracted great interest among clinicians and pathologists despite their relative rarity. They exhibit a wide range of morphological and clinical features which may account for this interest: the thyroid gives rise to papillary carcinoma, an extremely indolent cancer, and to anaplastic carcinoma, one of the most virulent of all human neoplasms. We review in this paper newly described morphological entities in thyroid tumour pathology and attempt to define their clinical significance when known.
Growth of a debonded void at a rigid secondary particle in a viscous metal

When a ductile two-phase material is subjected to a high strain-rate deformation, the secondary particles nucleate voids, which will grow and coalesce, in a viscous matrix, leading to a dynamic ductile fracture. If the secondary particle is strong, the void nucleates at the matrix—particle interface and will grow without the shattering of the secondary particle. In this paper the growth of a debonded void at the secondary particle in a viscous metal has been studied theoretically in order to simulate the dynamic ductile fracture of two-phase materials. It has been assumed that the matrix is viscous and that the second-phase consists of randomly-dispersed rigid spherical particles. The analytical technique used in our study is a combination of the equivalent inclusion method of Eshelby and the back stress analysis method of Mori and Tanaka, by which the interaction between debonded voids are accounted for; hence the results presented are valid even for large volume-fractions of debonded voids. The theoretical results obtained in this study are compared with those for the case of complete voids nucleated by the shattering of weak particles.
SIMPLE RELATION BETWEEN CROSS SECTIONS FOR NEUTRINO SCATTERING AND TOTAL MUON-CAPTURE RATES BY NUCLEI.

Using the closure approximation, we derive a simple relation between the total forward cross section for elastic scattering of neutrinos by nuclei and the corresponding total muon-capture rates. This relation is in good agreement with previous estimates of neutrino scattering cross sections, but still in disagreement with recent experimental data.
The Precariousness of Genre: German-Language Poetry from the Holocaust

AbstractWhile publications on all aspects of Holocaust literature continue to abound in German Studies, the study of German-language poetry written during the Holocaust in situations of internment has been surprisingly marginalized, particularly in comparison to the multitude of publications on poetry written 'after Auschwitz'. Guided by John Frow's reflections in Genre, who views texts as performances of genre and, ultimately, as bearers of discursive power, this article explores the reasons for the imbalance by tracing uses of the term Holocaust Poetry in West Germany and by illustrating perceptions and readings of German-language poetry from the Holocaust. The article engages with current research on poetry written in the camps to illustrate the various modalities and combinations that constitute the hybrid nature of poetic texts, especially of those produced by prisoners in the Theresienstadt transit camp between 1941 and 1945.
Velocity modulation laser spectroscopy of negative ions: The infrared spectrum of hydrosulfide (SH−)

We report the measurement and analysis of the fundamental vibration–rotation bands of 16OH− and 18OH− near 3550 cm−1 by velocity modulation spectroscopy with a color center laser. These bands were analyzed with a least squares fit yielding vibration–rotation constants through sextic distortion terms. From the band origins of the two isotopes, harmonic frequencies and anharmonicities were calculated and a dissociation energy was estimated assuming a Morse potential. Comparisons with high level ab initio calculations are presented. The OH− concentration is found to be dramatically dependent on the presence of metal sputtered on the discharge cell wall.
On measurement and prediction of the solid fraction within mushy layers

Abstract We present a mathematical model of a mushy layer that incorporates transport of heat and solute by the flow of interstitial fluid caused by expansion during solidification. We also reinterpret the data of Shirtcliffe et al. J. Crystal Growth 113 (1992) 566, by taking into account the anisotropy of the mushy layer, in order to determine better estimates of the local solid fraction in mushy layers produced experimentally. Very good agreement is found between the theoretical predictions and the experimental results, which suggests that certain geometrical effects that were thought to have influenced the experimental measurements may in fact be negligible.
Geographic Information and Technologies in Academic Research Libraries: An ARL Survey of Services and Support

One hundred fifteen academic libraries, all current members of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), were selected to participate in an online survey in an effort to better understand campus usage of geographic data and geospatial technologies, and how libraries support these uses. The survey was used to capture information regarding geographic needs of their respective campuses, the array of services they offer, and the education and training of geographic information services department staff members. The survey results, along with review of recent literature, were used to identify changes in geographic information services and support since 1997, when a similar survey was conducted by ARL. This new study has enabled recommendations to be made for building a successful geographic information service center within the campus library that offers a robust and comprehensive service and support model for all geographic information usage on campus.
Temperature activated absorption during laser-induced damage: the evolution of laser-supported solid-state absorption fronts

Previously we have shown that the size of laser induced damage sites in both KDP and SiO{sub 2} is largely governed by the duration of the laser pulse which creates them. Here we present a model based on experiment and simulation that accounts for this behavior. Specifically, we show that solid-state laser-supported absorption fronts are generated during a damage event and that these fronts propagate at constant velocities for laser intensities up to 4 GW/cm{sup 2}. It is the constant absorption front velocity that leads to the dependence of laser damage site size on pulse duration. We show that these absorption fronts are driven principally by the temperature-activated deep sub band-gap optical absorptivity, free electron transport, and thermal diffusion in defect-free silica for temperatures up to 15,000K and pressures < 15GPa. In addition to the practical application of selecting an optimal laser for pre-initiation of large aperture optics, this work serves as a platform for understanding general laser-matter interactions in dielectrics under a variety of conditions.
Research of localization approach for the new comer in wireless sensor networks

When some sensor nodes of wireless sensor networks (WSN) can not work forever because of long-term work or failure caused by attack, a few new comers need to be put into the network. For the application of the new comer in WSN, an accurate and effective localization algorithm based on received signal strength indicator (RSSI) is proposed. Through a few necessary nodes’ participation and the collaboration between the new comer and its one-hop and two-hop neighbor nodes, the accurate localization of the new comer is achieved. Simulation results show that the localization accuracy is about 17% of sensor node’s radio frequency (RF) transmission range, when the measurement error is 10% and the standard deviation for Gauss error of original sensor nodes’ coordinate is about 20% of sensor node’s RF transmission range. Simulation results also verify nice stability and adaptability of the new comer’s location algorithm.
Distribution of gastrin releasing peptide--bombesin-like immunostaining in rat brain.

Abstract Several antisera were raised in rabbits against synthetic gastrin releasing peptide (1–27)(porcine)(GRP(1–27)) and GRP(1–16). In immunohistochemical staining experiments on frozen brain sections from rats, the antisera raised against GRP (1–27) also labeled substance P neurons. This substance P-like immunostaining was selectively blocked by incubation of the sections with GRP(1–27) antiserum in the presence of an excess concentration (50 μM) of synthetic substance P. A residual immunostaining was observed in sections stained with substance P absorbed GRP(1–27) antisera. This staining was blocked by addition of an excess concentration (10 μM) of synthetic GRP(1–27) or bombesin, but it was not blocked by a 10 μM concentration of GRP(1–16) or by a 100 μM concentration of vasoactive intestinal peptide, oxytocin, vasopressin, or by a further addition of 50 μM substance P. The antisera raised against GRP(1–16) did not label substance P neurons. The immunostaining produced by GRP(1–16) antisera was blocked by an excess (10 μM) concentration of GRP(1–16) or GRP(1–27). In the brainstem of normal rats both the substance P absorbed GRP(1–27) antisera and GRP(1–16) antisera labeled fibers in the ventral aspect of the medulla-pons region. In colchicine treated rats occasional cell bodies were seen in this ventral region. A group of cell bodies on the lateral border of the solitary nucleus was also visualized. Staining of 2.5 μm thick serial sections with substance P absorbed GRP(1–27) antisera and with GRP(1–16) antisera demonstrated that both antisera were labeling the same cells. In the forebrain of normal rats, the substance P absorbed GRP(1–27) antisera stained primarily axonal fibers and terminals in the suprachiasmatic nucleus. In colchicine treated rats the substance P absorbed GRP(1–27) antisera labeled cell bodies in the suprachiasmatic nucleus and in the parvocellular part of the paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus. Unlike substance P absorbed GRP(1–27) antisera, antisera raised against GRP(1–16) produced only a faint immunostaining in these hypothalamic regions. These findings suggest that perhaps a differential processing of GRP-like peptides occurs in different brain regions or alternatively several forms of a GRP/bombesin-like peptide may exist.
A stochastic Iwan-type model for joint behavior variability modeling

Abstract This paper focuses overall on the development and validation of a stochastic model to describe the dissipation and stiffness properties of a bolted joint for which experimental data is available and exhibits a large scatter. An extension of the deterministic parallel-series Iwan model for the characterization of the force–displacement behavior of joints is first carried out. This new model involves dynamic and static coefficients of friction differing from each other and a broadly defined distribution of Jenkins elements. Its applicability is next investigated using the experimental data, i.e. stiffness and dissipation measurements obtained in harmonic testing of 9 nominally identical bolted joints. The model is found to provide a very good fit of the experimental data for each bolted joint notwithstanding the significant variability of their behavior. This finding suggests that this variability can be simulated through the randomization of only the parameters of the proposed Iwan-type model. The distribution of these parameters is next selected based on maximum entropy concepts and their corresponding parameters, i.e. the hyperparameters of the model, are identified using a maximum likelihood strategy. Proceeding with a Monte Carlo simulation of this stochastic Iwan model demonstrates that the experimental data fits well within the uncertainty band corresponding to the 5th and 95th percentiles of the model predictions which well supports the adequacy of the modeling effort.
Human endogenous retrovirus (HERV-K) particles in megakaryocytes cultured from essential thrombocythemia peripheral blood stem cells.

Abstract Objective The aim of this study was to determine the extent of human endogenous retrovirus (HERV) gene translation in megakaryocytes cultured from peripheral blood stem cells of patients with essential thrombocythemia previously reported with platelet-associated HERV sequences and reverse transcriptase activity. Materials and methods Terminally differentiated megakaryocytes derived from circulating stem cells in serum-free medium supplemented with stem cell factor and thrombopoietin were processed for electron microscopic immunostaining using a monoclonal antibody against the gag protein of HERV-K10 and an electron dense gold-labeled secondary antibody. Results We found that HERV-K gag protein was detected as clusters in the cytoplasm as well as associated with viral particles budding from the cell membrane and into intracellular vacuoles in megakaryocytes from two patients with essential thrombocythemia. None of these structures was observed in megakaryocytes from a normal control or from a patient with chronic myelocytic leukemia. Conclusion This is the first evidence of HERV-K protein synthesis (gene translation) in human tissue other than seminomas, placenta, or fetal tissue. Translation of the HERV-K gag gene with subsequent packaging of the protein product into viral particles adds a new and important dimension to future studies on the role of HERVs in the myeloproliferative diseases.
Primary Retroperitoneal Abscess Caused by Candida glabrata

Abstract Clinically, retroperitoneal abscesses present insidiously and the diagnosis may be delayed. This, with inadequate drainage, may result in increased morbidity and mortality. Most cases result from a renal or gastrointestinal process, but in a small number of patients there is no identifiable source and the abscess is designated as “primary.” Most retroperitoneal abscesses are polymicrobial, and cultures often reveal organisms such as Proteus mirabilis , Staphylococcus species, Peptostreptococcus , Enterococcus , Enterobacter , Escherichia coli and Bacteroides species. Fungal causes appear to be very rare, and in this study, a case of a patient with primary Candida glabrata retroperitoneal abscess is reported.
Microprocessor ratemeter for kinetic determinations

Abstract A simple, compact, easy-to-implement microprocessor ratemeter for kinetic determinations based on initial rate, fixed time, and variable time is presented. The hardware and software are such that the ratemeter can be used with almost any transducer or instrument to monitor reactions in a wide variety of chemical systems. The performance of the ratemeter is demonstrated by its application to the determination of phosphorus by stoppedflow spectrometry, glucose by amperometry, and alkaline phosphatase activity in control sera by visible spectrophotometry.
Large pillow fullerenes hydrogenated at the inter-sheet seam

Abstract In a previous paper on large “pillow” fullerenes, various systems were described with 12 pentagons connecting 2 parallel hexagonal arrays of benzenoid rings (graphene fragments functioning as the faces of the “pillow”) on top of each other. Additional bonds between these identical arrays formed only from sp2‐hybridized carbon atoms gave rise to hexagons and 12 pentagons along the “seam” or “rim.” High steric strain was associated with curvature around the pentagons due to connections between the 2 pillow faces involving bonds between 2 sp2‐hybridized carbon atoms. The present paper examines similar “quasi‐graphitic” structures in which some carbon atoms of the rim between the two raphene faces have hydrogen atoms attached to them, i.e., have sp3‐hybridization, alleviating thereby some strain.
Reduction kinetics of bacterial cytochromes c2.

Abstract In a continuing effort to understand the mechanism of electron transfer by c -type cytochromes we have extended our investigations of the oxidation and reduction of Rhodospirillum rubrum cytochrome c 2 . We have utilized the oxidant, oxidized azurin, and the reductants SO 2 − , S 2 O 4 2− , sodium ascorbate, and reduced azurin. The results of these studies demonstrate that, as found previously with the iron hexacyanides, electron transfer apparently takes place at the exposed heme edge. Furthermore, we report studies on the reduction of ferricytochrome c 2 from Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides , Rhodopseudomonas capsulata, Rhodomicrobium vannielii , and Rhodopseudomonas palustris by potassium ferrocyanide. Based on the amino acid sequence homology between the various cytochromes c 2 and presumed structural homology, the observed rates of electron transport are analyzed in terms of the structure in the region of the exposed heme edge.
The Nursing Home Falls Self-Efficacy Scale: Development and Testing

We examined a brief measure of falls self-efficacy in nursing home residents participating in a pilot randomized controlled trial to study the effects of hip protectors on the prevention of fractures (N = 116, mean age 82 ± 8, 72% female). Internal consistency reliability was acceptable with Cronbach's alpha of .79. Factor analysis supported two factors representing self-efficacy expectations and outcome expectancy. Contrasted groups comparisons and construct validity were examined. We found lower falls self-efficacy in participants who needed help with mobility, in people with lower executive function, and in participants who reported fear of falling. Scores were not associated with prospective falls or adherence with hip protector use. The findings of this study provide preliminary support for the reliability and validity of the scale for future research.
Antiproton production in the nuclear fireball model of relativistic heavy ion collisions

Abstract The ratio of antiprotons to π − produced in heavy ion collisions is computed within the framework of the nuclear fireball model. It is expected that at a fireball temperature of 100 MeV, the number of p ′ s to π − is about 2 × 10 −6 . This is well within the limits of detectability of experiments now being planned. The experimental determination of this ratio should significantly improve knowledge of properties such as the fireball temperature and pion absorption in a collision.
Motivation and emotion and the society for the study of motivation: A joint venture

Motivation and Emotion is pleased to become the official journal of the recently formed Society for the Study of Motivation (SSM). We are especially pleased to support SSM, the emergence of which reflects the resurgent vitality of the field of motivation as it reclaims its place at the center stage of behavioral sciences. As regular readers of Motivation and Emotion know, this journal too is resurgent, mirroring our changing field. In the past 4 years, with the support of its publishers at Springer and a new editorial team, Motivation and Emotion has well more than doubled in yearly submissions and nearly doubled in the number of publications. That is, we are more selective, yet printing more contributions. We also virtually doubled in page size, providing more content per article, and over this short period, our impact ratings have doubled as well. While such numbers are interesting, we are not focused on the numbers but on a mission: To provide a high-quality venue for new empirical research and ideas in this field. Our new association with SSM reflects our desire at M & E to become even more representative of the field of motivation and emotion as a whole. Two upcoming special issues, for example, exemplify some of the most active areas of current research. Already in process is a special issue on implicit and explicit processes in motivation and emotion edited by Hugo Kehr, Rex Wright, and Todd Thrash. And soon to be announced (look in our June issue!) will be a call for papers for a special issue on neuroscience perspectives on motivation and emotion, edited by Jack van Honk, Eddie Harmon-Jones and Johnmarshall Reeve. We look for some exciting contributions in both of these special issues, and to continuing to print the latest developments in our regular issues. It is our hope that the association between Motivation and Emotion and the Society for the Study of Motivation will constitute a synergistic effort that supports rigorous empirical scholarship in motivational and affective processes that cuts across biological, psychological, and cultural perspectives and methods of inquiry. It is a joint venture to build more great science in an area of utmost importance to our disciplines, and to our world.
Reciprocal modulation of astrocyte stellation by thrombin and protease nexin-1.

: When cultured astroglia are treated with agents that elevate intracellular cyclic AMP, they become process-bearing stellate cells and resemble differentiated astrocytes in vivo. Thrombin rapidly reversed the stellation induced by dibutyryl cyclic AMP, forskolin, or isoproterenol in cultured rat astrocytes; half-maximal and maximal effects occurred at 0.5 and 8 pM, respectively. The proteolytic activity of thrombin was required for stellation reversal, as thrombin derivatized at its catalytic site serine with a diisopropylphospho group was inactive. Two thrombin inhibitors, protease nexin-1 and hirudin, blocked and reversed the effect of thrombin. The stellation reversal effect of thrombin was specific, as 300–1,000-fold higher concentrations of other serine proteinases, including plasmin, urokinase, trypsin, and T cell serine proteinase-1, were ineffective. Thrombin is a mitogen for astrocytes at concentrations in excess of 30 pM. Thrombin increased both cell number and ornithine decarboxylase activity, an early marker for mitogenic stimulation, in astrocyte cultures. The lowest thrombin concentrations that completely reversed astrocyte stellation, however, did not increase ornithine decarboxylase activity. Moreover, several other mitogens for astrocytes did not reverse dibutyryl cyclic AMP-induced stellation. Thus, the stellation reversal effect of thrombin is distinct from the mitogenic response.
Image processing of medical radiographs for single image display

There are two reasons for the processing of medical images. First, the image processing should increase the likelihood that a physician will make the correct diagnosis from the image, and, second, the result should increase the efficiency and thereby lower the cost of the process of diagnosis. Each missed diagnosis is a lost opportunity for the patient to get well faster. Each inefficiency added by layers of image processing increases the cost to the health care system which is already burdened by high costs. Often, these two competing demands result in tradeoffs that are usually expressed covertly, rather than openly. It is the combination of engineers, radiographers and physicians that can reach the best compromise. Images can be considered as consisting of context and content. There are images that result in improved diagnosis of certain diseases in which the context is destroyed. There are situations in which the context is destroyed and the content is thereby lost. The image processing of certain images can be quite context specific. It may work in one part of the body because of the context, in this case the underlying anatomic structure, and fail in another because of a different context. Thus, the image processing must be specific to the area of the body studied and the diagnoses likely to be encountered. The goal, which we have been working toward is a single image display: a single display of the image digital data set that provides all of the clinically relevant information within that data set in an easy-to-see form.
The Mediterranean Vocabulary of the Vine

In any area of culture, classical and Near Eastern literatures share a common "Mediterranean" vocabulary to the extent that culture has actually spread through trade, war, diplomacy or emigration.1) Nowhere is there a thicker cluster of shared vocabulary than around the vine. The familiar names of the plant itself are local: 5a3, i perhaps it shows the word "wine" already domesticated in some Italic
The Divisive Coverage Effect: How Media May Cleave Differences of Opinion Between Social Groups

The media often depict public opinion as divided by gender, race, or political affiliation. Can this type of reporting help create the group differences portrayed? Two experiments investigated whether exposure to divisive coverage could widen the gulf between real groups. Participants in Experiment 1, some of whom were affiliated with pan-Hellenic (Greek) organizations, viewed a videotape depicting the tribunal of a fraternity member accused of vandalism. Interviews with other students ostensibly from the same university preceded the tribunal scene and depicted either (a) all Greek interviewees supporting the fraternity member and all non-Greek interviewees opposing him (divisive coverage) or (b) Greek and non-Greek interviewees holding equally mixed opinions (nondivisive coverage). Only the divisive coverage condition led to significant differences between Greek and non-Greek participants, with Greek participants judging the defendant less harshly. Experiment 2 replicated the divisive coverage effect usi...
A Hormone-Like Action of H-Y Antigen and Gonadal Development of XY/XX Mosaic Males and Hermaphrodites* **

The Y-linked histocompatibility antigen (H-Y antigen) was discovered during the course of reciprocal skin grafts among individual mice of a highly inbred strain. As expected, grafts between males, between females as well as from females to males were permanently accepted, whereas male skins grafted to females were
Role of electrostatic interactions in allosteric proteins

Abstract Electrostatic interactions between charged groups can occur over large distances. These forces are enhanced in the low dielectric medium of the interior of protein molecules. Allosteric interactions have usually been interpreted as a result of alterations in the three-dimensional structure of the enzyme in the presence of ligand. Electrostatic attraction and repulsion between charged ligands and ionic groups on proteins could explain many allosteric properties. A number of experimental studies on allosteric proteins which suggest the importance of electrostatic forces are discussed.
Applicability of daylighting computer modeling in real case studies: comparison between measured and simulated daylight availability and lighting consumption

The objective of this work is to investigate the accuracy of the Adeline lighting software in simulating the illuminance distribution from daylighting and the electrical lighting consumption of an existing atrium building. The case study is an enclosed atrium space equipped with an automatic on/off lighting control system and roofed by a skylight made of several glazing systems. Field monitoring of the atrium space was conducted during summer and winter and included measurements of horizontal indoor and outdoor illuminance, solar radiation and electrical lighting system time-of-use. The computer simulation included the creation of one simple and one complex computer model used to simulate the daylighting performance of the atrium space. The software accuracy was evaluated based on comparisons between the predicted and the on-site measured illuminance distribution and lighting energy consumption.
Measuring Visceral and Hepatic Fat in Clinical Practice and Clinical Research

ABSTRACT Objective To review how visceral and hepatic fat are measured in clinical practice and clinical research. Methods We examine different methods employed to assess visceral and hepatic fat in the literature. Results Fat in the human body is located in 2 main compartments: subcutaneous and visceral, which also includes liver fat. Visceral and liver fats are associated with the metabolic complications of obesity like hypertension, diabetes, and atherosclerosis. Therefore, there is a need to detect those fats early in life before the development of cardiometabolic syndrome (CMS). Many modalities have been proposed to measure visceral and liver fat. Indirect measurements can be done through waist circumference (WC), dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), ultrasound, and bioelectric impedance, whereas direct methods include computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). An ideal measurement method should be noninvasive, reliable, suitable for all body sizes, widely available, cost and time effective, show low variability, and have no or limited radiation exposure. Conclusion Measuring visceral and liver fat is not a straightforward procedure in clinical practice or research; several variables may affect measure accuracy and validity. (Endocr Pract. 2013;19:587-595)
Oscillations of liquid drops : results from USML-1 experiments in Space

Oscillations of low-viscosity drops were studied in the microgravity environment of a Space shuttle flight. From the damped oscillation data, the inviscid frequency shift, due to nonlinearity, has been extracted using a central-averaging scheme. For the classical case of the oscillations of a free low-viscosity drop, it has been found that the frequency shift agrees well with the predictions of the inviscid nonlinear theory of Tsamopoulos & Brown (1983) for e < 0.3. But for the oscillations of a rotating low-viscosity drop, under acoustic levitation, the frequency shift is smaller, and the percentage of time spent in prolate displacement is significantly less than that for the classical case.
Balancing data sharing requirements for analyses with data sensitivity

Data sensitivity can pose a formidable barrier to data sharing. Knowledge of species current distributions from data sharing is critical for the creation of watch lists and an early warning/rapid response system and for model generation for the spread of invasive species. We have created an on-line system to synthesize disparate datasets of non-native species locations that includes a mechanism to account for data sensitivity. Data contributors are able to mark their data as sensitive. This data is then ‘fuzzed’ in mapping applications and downloaded files to quarter-quadrangle grid cells, but the actual locations are available for analyses. We propose that this system overcomes the hurdles to data sharing posed by sensitive data.
Vowel amplitude variation associated with the heart cycle.

Modulation of the acoustic amplitude of a sustained vowel across the cardiac (ECG) cycle was examined by signal‐averaging techniques. Ten normal men prolonged [a] at a comfortable F0 maintained within three SPL ranges: 60–68, 70–78, and 80–88 dB. Peak‐to‐peak amplitude variation associated with the heart cycle averaged 8.5% (s.d.=5.4) re: mean, varying from about 14% at low SPLs to approximately 3% at high SPLs. The amplitude modulation was estimated to account for 11.8% of the measured short‐term amplitude perturbation (shimmer), ranging from about 5% to almost 22% for individual samples. The mean deterministic shimmer (Sd ) was 0.036 dB (s.d.=0.019), with a trend toward decreasing Sd with increasing SPL. Additionally, fundamental frequency variation across the heart cycle within these phonations was comparable to that observed by Orlikoff and Baken [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 85, 888–893 (1989)], and was shown to be uninfluenced by vocal SPL, although deterministic jitter (Jd) did decrease with vocal intensity...
Wedge loading of a semi-infinite strip with an edge crack

The problem of a semi-infinite strip containing an edge crack is considered. It is assumed that the strip is loaded by a frictionless rigid wedge pressed into the crack. The resulting crack-contact problem is formulated in terms of a system of singular integral equations. The behavior of the solution near the singular points is studied in detail. A series of numerical examples is given and the results are compared with those obtained by the method of boundary collocation and by the simple beam theory.
Geochemistry and isotope chemistry of CaNaCl brines in Silurian strata, Michigan Basin, U.S.A.

Abstract Formation waters from Silurian-aged reefs in the northern and southern trends of lower Michigan were collected and analyzed for major, minor and isotope compositions. The results were combined with an analysis of an exceptionally concentrated (TDS 640 g/l) Silurian brine reported by Case in 1945 to determine the origin and possible evolutionary pathways for the chemical and isotope components of the brines. The waters are extremely concentrated(TDS> 450g/l) Ca Na Cl brines. Bromide values support that they originated from seawater concentrated into the MgSO 4 and possibly the KCl salt facies. The brines have, however, evolved considerably from an expected seawater composition and now contain a dominant Ca Cl composition. Dolomitization appears to have been very important in the brine evolution, but this process cannot explain all the Ca present in these brines. Four scenarios may explain the enrichment in Ca: (1) halite dissolution accompanied by the exchange of Na for Ca; (2) reactions involving aluminosilicate minerals, carbonates and halite; (3) an input of CaCl 2 solutions derived from altered MgCl 2 fluids released during the metamorphism of carnallite into sylvite; and (4) a pre-existing enrichment of Ca Cl in the Early Paleozoic seawater that filled the basin. All four are possible, but the favored explanation involves the diagenesis of the Salina A-1 potash salts. The isotope composition of the waters is consistent with evaporated seawater, perhaps enriched by exchange with carbonates or by the input of hydration water from evaporite minerals. The isotopic evolution, however, is equivocal but the brine composition does not indicate they have been diluted with meteoric water. This implies the waters have remained isolated from surface-controlled hydrological systems.
1081 NEONATAL SEPSIS: PREDICTIVE VALUE OF 48 HOUR CULTURE RESULTS

Traditionally, antimicrobial therapy is discontinued in neonates with suspected sepsis when the cultures are reported negative at 72 hours. Rising hospitalization costs and the trend towards early discharge led us to examine the reliability of 48 hour culture results as a guide towards discontinuation of antimicrobial therapy. In a two-part study (Retrospective 69 months; Prospective 2 months), 48 and 72 hour reports of blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cultures from term neonates were evaluated. The following pathogens were isolated: Group B and D Streptococcus, E. coli, Enterococcus, H. influenzae, and Streptococcus pneumoniae. The single blood culture that was reported positive at 72 hrs but not at 48 hrs was due to H. influenzae; this symptomatic infant received a full course of antibiotics. Discontinuation of antibiotic therapy in clinically well infants based on 48 hr culture results does not appear to compromise quality of medical care and could even facilitate early discharge of term neonates.
Thermal sputtering as a gas-dynamic process

Abstract Thermal sputtering, which has traditionally been interpreted either as true vaporization or as vaporization from an elastic collision spike, was suggested by Urbassek and Michl to be more correctly a gas-dynamic process. We here develop a gas-dynamic analysis based on one-dimensional unsteady adiabatic expansion (UAE). We assume UAE from a system with finite extent, with an initially uniform temperature which exceeds the thermodynamic critical temperature ( T tc ), and with an initially uniform density like that of the target. We take the UAE as ceasing abruptly and becoming collision-free molecular flight when the gas density falls to a critical value. We conclude that the experimental claim that the energy flux appropriate to thermal sputtering has Maxwellian form is largely acceptable given the experimental uncertainties, that the reported temperatures are also largely acceptable, and that the yields will greatly exceed those predicted for collisional sputtering. Perhaps the most important conclusion, however, is that there is nothing unphysical about the inequality T > T tc , a problem that has long beset models of thermal sputtering based on true vaporization.