cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quantitative dynamic geology of the Pineda anticline, Wyoming, U.S.A.: an application of a two dimensional simulation model

Abstract Vertical line-fault behavior is allowed for within a two dimensional basin simulation model. The fault model permits relative movement of the faulted blocks (normal and reverse), and open or closed fluid flow conditions. Simultaneous simulation of a number of vertical line faults, horst and graben is included, making the 2-D model of great flexibility. Application of this model to the Pinedale anticline, Green River Basin, Wyoming, showed that the model can (1) simulate sedimentation processed, including normal sedimentation, erosion and hiatus, (2) simulate structural development, including general structural styles (anticlinal or synclinal), faults, and horst and grabens, and (3) predict the geothermal history and the evolution of geological parameters such as formation temperature, fluid pressure, abnormal pressure and vitrinite reflectance. From these parameters maturation of organic matter is assessed. Finally, (4) the model can quantify oil generation, migration and accumulation through geological time. The model behaviors are shown to be consistent with downhole data taken at the present time. The results can be output as graphs either in one dimension or in two dimensions, providing a pictorial representation of evolution of the Pinedale Anticline.
Reaction mechanism of 20 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase determined by equilibrium rate exchange.

Abstract The reaction mechanism of 20β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (20β-hydroxysteroid:NAD-oxidoreductase; EC 1.1.1.53) has been investigated by measuring the rate of isotopic exchange between substrate-product pairs while varying concentrations of unlabeled reactants. The results show that the reaction is partially compulsory in that the major pathway involves an enzyme:cofactor binary complex. A detectable degree of reaction, however, occurs with steroid forming the binary complex. It was also determined that the conversion of the ternary complexes was not a rate-limiting step in the reaction.
A semantic entropy metric

This paper presents a new semantically-based metric for object-oriented systems, called the Semantic Class Definition Entropy (SCDE) metric, which examines the implementation domain content of a class to measure class complexity. The domain content is determined using a knowledge-based program understanding system. The metric's examination of the domain content of a class provides a more direct mapping between the metric and common human complexity analysis than is possible with traditional complexity measures based on syntactic aspects (software aspects related to the format of the code). Additionally, this metric represents a true design metric that can measure complexity early in the life cycles of software maintenance and software development. The SCDE metric is correlated with analyses from a human expert team, and is also compared to syntactic complexity measures.
Dual-mode potential oscillations on an immobilized acetylcholinesterase membrane system

We have studied by numerical stimulations the effects of varying external salt concentration on a multibarrier kinetic model of a synthetic membrane system bearing AChE and BSA. For certain parameters, we find a “spiky” high frequency modulation imposed on a “bursting” low frequency carrier. In the absence of added salt, oscillations with only one mode arise, consistent with the experimental result of Friboulet and Thomas. From this study, we suggest how periodic ionic permeability changes of ions may arise in excitable membranes.
Advances in thin film photonics: materials, science, and technology

Control of refractive index in amorphous silicon materials is investigated. Elementary waveguide structures were prepared on two micron thick amorphous silicon by photon lithographic patterning of a silver masking layer. Hydrogen was implanted at fluence of ~5×1017 cm2 for three energies, 50, 100 and 175 KeV yielding a total does of ~1.5×1018 cm2 consistent with a 10% increase in atoms due to the hydrogen addition. The optical properties of the implanted and non-implanted regions were probed as a function of low temperature annealing. The optical band gap shift to higher energy was consistent with hydrogen addition. Some darkening, absorption increase, were noted on the implanted regions. However, low temperature annealing is known to remove dangling bond damage in amorphous silicon. Prospects of utilizing these waveguides to probe light induced optical changes in amorphous silicon is described as well as the prospects of more advanced devices.
Evaluation of a Concentration Procedure to Detect Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis Virus in Water

Abstract A virus adsorption-elution (viradel) method for use with positively charged microporous filters was previously developed in our laboratory to concentrate waterborne infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV). In the present study, this method was evaluated for the detection of IPNV in water of laboratory aquaria containing IPNV-infected rainbow trout Onchorhynchus mykiss. Waterborne IPNV samples concentrated by the viradel method were compared with samples of sediment, fish tissue homogenate, and untreated water to determine how much the viradel method could improve rapidity and efficiency of virus detection. Results of three separate experiments indicated a significant, positive correlation between the virus titers in fish tissue and in the viradel method samples and between the sediment and untreated water samples.
The site of ionization in the acetylation of aliphatic esters by [(CH3CO)3]+

A series of esters RCOOR′ (where R, R′ = CH3, CH3CH2, (CH3)2CH, (CH3)3C) were reacted with the [(CH3CO)3]+ ion from biacetyl in an ion cyclotron resonance spectrometer. A steric effect influences the rate of formation of stable products [RCOOR′·CH3CO]+ and is used to determine that either oxygen of the ester may be initially acylated by [(CH3CO)3]+.
Validity and reliability of a home environment inventory for physical activity and media equipment

Little is known about how the home environmental supports physical activity and screen media usage. The purpose of this study was to develop and test the reliability and validity of a self-report instrument to comprehensively reflect the availability and accessibility of physical activity and screen media equipment in the home environment. Ten families participated in the initial field testing to provide feedback for instrument development. Thirty one adult participants, each of whom had at least one child 10–17 years old, completed two Physical Activity and Media Inventory (PAMI) instruments. The first PAMI was completed simultaneously, but independently, with a research assistant to assess validity. A second PAMI was completed by the participant one week later to assess reliability. The adult participants were mostly mothers/female guardians, mean age 38 ± 7.2 years, mostly Caucasian (52%), college educated (65%), living in single family homes (74%). Test-retest reliability was acceptable to strong for all summary variables (physical activity equipment, ICC = 0.76 to 0.99; media equipment, ICC = 0.72 to 0.96). For validation, reports from participants and research assistants were strongly correlated (physical activity, 0.67 – 0.98; media, 0.79 – 0.96). Compared to participants, research assistants reported a greater percentage of physical activity equipment as "in plain view and easy to get to" and a smaller percentage of items as "put away and difficult to get to". Our results indicate strong evidence for the reliability and validity of the variables calculated from the PAMI. This self report inventory may be useful in assessing the availability of physical activity and screen media equipment in the home environment and could be used in conjunction with other home assessment tools (food availability, parenting styles and feeding practices) to identify obesogenic home environments.
Comparative Toxicity of Glucose and Lidocaine Administered Intrathecally in the Rat

Background and Objectives Glucose is a common component of anesthetic solutions used for spinal anesthesia. However, its possible contribution to recent injuries occurring with spinal anesthesia has not been adequately addressed. Accordingly, the present studies compare the functional and morphologic effects of intrathecally administered glucose with those of lidocaine. Methods Twenty rats, implanted with intrathecal catheters, were divided into three groups to receive a 1-hour infusion of 5% lidocaine (n = 6), 10% glucose (n = 7), or normal saline (n = 7). Four days after infusion, animals were evaluated for persistent sensory impairment using the tail-flick test. Three days later, the animals were sacrificed, and the spinal cord and nerve roots were examined by a neuropathologist blinded to the solution received and the results of sensory testing. Results Lidocaine-treated animals exhibited persistent sensory impairment, whereas glucose- and saline-treated animals did not. Neuropathologic evaluation revealed moderate to severe nerve root injury in lidocaine-treated animals. Histologic changes in glucose- and saline-treated animals were minimal, similar, and restricted to the area adjacent to the catheter. Morphologic damage associated with lidocaine preferentially affected the nerve roots, with relative sparing of the spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia. Conclusions These results suggest that, at clinically relevant concentrations, glucose does not induce neurologic injury, providing indirect evidence that recent clinical injuries occurring after spinal anesthesia resulted from a neurotoxic effect of the local anesthetic. Additionally, the present studies suggest that deficits resulting from neurotoxicity of intrathecally administered anesthetic result from injury to the axon.
Setting the normative boundaries: crucial epistemological benchmarks in comparative education

Historians of comparative education have ordinarily viewed the development of that field as having progressed in stages, from impressionistic traveller tales to systematic investigations, with each stage eclipsing the previous one in rigour and acceptability. In this essay, I show that this common ‘Darwinian’ view is simplistic and distorts the real development of comparative education. Rather than in stages, I contend that the field has developed within three epistemological streams: positivist, relativist, and historical functionalist. These streams, each shaped over many decades, continue to be alive and well and delineate the field’s normative boundaries. Indeed, comparativists differ markedly in defining the field, because their definitions arise out of whichever particular epistemological stream they embrace. What we need is a definition that encompasses all normative streams, and the one that I propose is: comparative education is the application of the intellectual tools of history and the social ...
Conservative mutageneic perturbations of amino acids connecting helix 12 in the 1α,25(OH)2-D3 receptor (VDR) to the ligand cause significant transactivational effects

Abstract The positioning of helix 12 activation domain of nuclear receptor proteins is critically important for gene regulation. Perturbations of the helix 12 by larger analogs may alter interactions with transcriptional machinery which might give rise to selectivity. To explore the topology of the ligand binding pocket and how the bound ligand conceivably gives rise to altered transcriptional efficiencies, we have targeted 4 hydrophobic residues which contact the 25-carbon of the ligand, 1α,25(OH)2-vitamin D3, and made a series of 13 mutants. Substitution of a smaller hydrophobic residue was poorly tolerated compared to a larger one for transactivation. The larger amino acids are likely better tolerated by promoting stronger Van der Waals forces with the ligand. Valine-418 mutants demonstrated an extreme example of this observation with mutation to leucine being transactivationally unaffected with alanine being the most affected of all single mutants. V418L resulted in a 1.3-fold increase in EC50 for 1,25-D mediated transactivation whereas V418A resulted in a 53-fold increase when compared to wildtype VDR. Importantly, this difference is not explained by ligand binding data but by differential VDR protease sensitivity implying that V418L-VDR mutation assumes a better conformational interaction surface for coactivator than V418A. Importantly, the V418 location may accommodate larger sidechains and may even enhance the interaction with specific nuclear coactivators.
Evolutionary algorithm search for connectivity patterns conducive to bursting in respiratory neural networks

The respiratory neural network in the pre-Botzinger complex of the ventrolateral medulla controls and flexibly maintains the breathing rhythm, coordinating network-wide bursting to signal the inspiratory phase of the breath. Interestingly, however, the connectivity of the network by which it achieves this coordination is still a subject of active research. We search for connectivity patterns which yield high performance in a measure of network bursting, using an evolutionary algorithm (EA)-based approach, in networks of leaky integrate-and-fire (LIF) and conductance-based model (CBM) neurons. In LIF networks, the connectivity patterns of bursting networks are characterized by regularities in several network statistics: closeness centrality(CC), betweenness centrality (BC) and out-degree (OD) distributions. We find additionally that intentionally selecting for these statistical regularities in CC, BC and OD leads to steady improvement in the network bursting measure. We examine the extent to which these trends in network statistics are present in well-adapted networks of CBM neurons without intrinsically bursting neurons, finding that the regularities in BC and OD are also visible. We also present initial results on the statistical regularities in networks of CBM neurons with intrinsic bursters. Figure 1 illustrates the regularities in closeness centrality (CC), betweenness centality (BC) and out-degree (OD) distributions in well-adapted networks of LIF neurons. In well-adapted networks with (a) 2, (b) 3, (c) 4 and (d) 5 tonically spiking neurons present ...
Dietary Intake of Females Recovered From Disordered Eating

Abstract LEARNING OUTCOME: To develop an awareness about food selections of females with histories of eating disorders and the implications for dietary adequacy. Dietary intakes were compared for 25 females (16-22 years of age) with a history of eating disorders (HED) to 25 females with no history of eating disorders (NHED). HED and NHED subjects were matched for age, height, and weight. Nutrient analyses were conducted on two day food records and two 24h recalls using Nutritionist IV computer software. For the HED group the mean distribution of energy intake from protein was 14%, fat 23%, and carbohydrate 64% (mean Kcal/d = 1502±306 SD). For the NHED group, protein was 14%, fat 30%, and carbohydrate 56% of the mean energy intake/day (Kcal = 2062±457 SD). The NHED group had significantly higher intakes of riboflavin (p=.006), calcium (p=.0004), iron (p=.02), zinc (p=.005), fat (p=.0001), and protein (p=.004) than the NHED group. Major differences occurred between the two groups in the frequency that calcium containing foods were consumed. The NHED group reported drinking milk three times and cheese two times more frequently per week than the HED group. As a source of calcium, canned salmon, sardines, tofu, and quiche were never or eaten less than monthly by both groups. The HED group had a lower energy intake and limited the dietary fat by careful food selection and infrequent use of certain food groups such as dairy. Although females with HED may improve their diets, dietetic practitioners need to strongly advise their clients about the necessity for certain nutrients that are related to the prevention of adult osteoporosis.
A trace facility for intelligent terminals

Intelligent terminals require numerous, complex, non-descriptive codes to implement their extensive capabilities. This article describes a trace facility written in APL that transforms these codes into readable trace reports. These reports are useful in debugging and documenting those applications programs that use intelligent terminals extensively.
Influence of the Pulpal Route on Uptake of 45Ca in Enamel and Dentin of Developing Rat Molars

45Ca uptake in developing enamel and dentin was studied by autoradiography. The findings indicate that the pulpal route does not supply significant amounts of calcium to the rapidly mineralizing enamel. Disruption of the odontoblastic layer did not seem to result in altered penetration of calcium into the dentin in a manner similar to that described for disruption of the matrix secreting cell layer of enamel and of bone.
Pulmonary Edema as a Consequence of Hypothalamic Lesions in Rats

Rats were observed for the incidence of pulmonary edema after the placement of hypothalamic lesions by radio frequency thermocoagulation or d-c electrolysis. In the animals with electrolytic lesions, 31 percent died with pulmonary edema and marked signs were observed in another 20 percent. Moderate transient signs appeared in only 3.7 percent of the animals with radio-frequency lesions, and there were no deaths attributable to this syndrome in this group. These results suggest that this syndrome is an irritative consequence of the electrolytic lesion process rather than a "release" phenomenon.
Recent advances of terahertz quantum cascade lasers

In the past decade, tremendous development has been made in GaAs/AlGaAs based THz quantum cascade laser (QCLs), however, the maximum operating temperature is still limited below 200 K (without magnetic field). THz QCL based on difference frequency generation (DFG) represents a viable technology for room temperature operation. Recently, we have demonstrated room temperature THz emission (~ 4 THz) up to 8.5 μW with a power conversion efficiency of 10 μW/W2. A dual-period distributed feedback grating is used to filter the mid-infrared spectra in favor of an extremely narrow THz linewidth of 6.6 GHz.
Bad Rap for a Neck Scarf

Do purple designer kufiyas spell the end of Palestine solidarity?Kufiyas, especially multicolored ones, started becoming fashionable U.S. urban hipster wear around 2005. They are so trendy, in fact, that W's Meggan Crum called the restyled kufiya featured in French designer Nicholas Ghesquiere's fall 2007 Balenciaga fashion line, and worn by Brazilian supermodel Flavia de Oliveira, one of “Fall 2007's Top Ten Accessories.” Meanwhile, over the last couple of years, kufiyas of all colors have been spotted on such celebrities as Mary-Kate Olsen, Kirsten Dunst, Cameron Diaz, Colin Farrell, David Beckham, Justin Timberlake, and even John McCain's daughter Meghan. In spring 2007, Urban Outfitters marketed the kufiya, in several colors, as an “anti-war woven scarf” until protests prompted the cancellation of the line—but not the sale of the item. It is available in the winter 2008 catalog, described now as a “houndstooth scarf.”
Monotonicity implies generalized strategy-proofness for correspondences

We show that Maskin monotone social choice correspondences on sufficiently rich domains satisfy a generalized strategy-proofness property, thus generalizing Muller and Satterthwaite’s (1977) theorem to correspondences. The result is interpreted as a possibility theorem on the dominant-strategy implementability of monotone SCCs via set-valued mechanisms for agents who are completely ignorant about the finally selected outcome. Alternatively, the result yields a partial characterization of the restrictions entailed by Nash implementability of correspondences.
Investigation of the cut location in hydrogen implantation induced silicon surface layer exfoliation

The physical mechanisms of hydrogen induced silicon surface layer exfoliation were investigated using the combination of ion beam analysis, secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and cross section transmission electron microscopy (XTEM). A 〈100〉 oriented silicon wafer was implanted with 175 keV protons to a dose of 5×1016 cm−2. The implanted wafer was bonded to a silicon oxide capped 〈100〉 silicon wafer and then heated to an elevated temperature of 600 °C to produce exfoliation. The hydrogen-implanted sample was analyzed in the as-implanted state as well as after the cleavage of the silicon wafer. The depth distribution of the implantation damage was monitored by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) in channeling condition and XTEM imaging. Elastic recoil detection analysis and SIMS was performed to examine the hydrogen depth distribution. Cross section SEM and RBS channeling was used to measure the thickness of the exfoliated layer after cleavage. A comparison...
Optimization of Material Properties and Process Parameters for Tube Hydroforming of Aluminum Extrusions

Analysis of process optimization for hydroforming of central-bulge and T-branch from AA6063 tubes is conducted for W-temper and T4 heat-treated conditions. Systematic characterization of AA6063 mechanical properties as a function of aging time was also conducted. It was found that hydroforming in the W temper facilitates forming of a bigger T branch (due to available greater ductility), but limits the strength (hardness) of the final component compared to that formed in the T4 condition. By optimizing the material heat-treatment conditions and the process parameters during hydroforming, strains well in excess of the traditional forming limits can be achieved in the finished components. The relevant microstructural kinetics during hydroforming of the above two geometries in the two heat treated conditions and the associated strengthening mechanisms in aluminum alloys are discussed.
A deterministic model of growth factor-induced angiogenesis

Understanding the formation and structure of a capillary network is critical for any reparative strategy since the capillary network dictates tissue survival, hemodynamics, and mass transport. Vascular assembly and patterning has largely been studied using a reductionist approach where a particular endothelial cell molecular pathway or cellular mechanism is investigated as a relatively closed system. This trend of research has yielded a staggering wealth of genes, proteins, and cells that play critical roles in angiogenesis and some have resulted in successful targeted angiogenic therapies. However, these genes, proteins, and cells do not exist in discrete closed systems, rather they are intimately coupled across spatial and temporal dimensions. Designing experiments to study a single or group of perturbations is fraught with confounding complications. An integrative tool is required that incorporates gene, protein, and cell information and appropriately describes the complex systems behavior of vascular assembly and patterning. In this paper, we propose a new deterministic mathematical formulation to model growth factor-induced angiogenesis. Conductivity of the extracellular matrix for the movement/extension of capillary sprouts is a new concept introduced to account for the heterogeneity and anisotropy of the extracellular matrix. The replacement of traditional endothelial cell density by the capillary indicator function enhances the capabilities of capturing the capillary network sharply in a fine scale (i.e., tracking the dynamics of the tip in uni-cellular scale). Major mechanisms including cell proliferation, sprout branching, and anastomosis are incorporated directly into this continuous mathematical model and model parameters are perturbed to determine the strength of their effect on angiogenesis. The model is fully deterministic and generates the overall dendritic structure of the capillary network morphologically similar to those observed in vivo. The simulations "capture" significant vascular patterning, such as vascular loops and backward growth. Moreover, the simulations provide a deeper understanding of the influence of extracellular matrix on angiogenesis and vascular patterning. An advantage of this model is that the complex physical, chemical and biological processes in angiogenesis can be described and consequently analyzed by a mathematical system with self-contained information.
'Because I Said So' Is a Reason – But Not a Reasoning Technique

Law students often give an answer – but not a reason for it. This gap in our students’ reasoning usually comes in the form of “because I said so” conclusions. Even though we teach two totally different types of courses – one contracts, the other legal writing – we both see the same reasoning gap. Students have the law, and they have the facts, but they don’t always bridge the two. This article explains how a contracts professor and a legal writing professor joined forces to teach students how to bridge the gap between the law and the facts so students can come to reasoned conclusions. The bridge we give students is built of the nine reasoning techniques most used by the United States Supreme Court: apply the rule’s plain language, analogize, hypothesize, quantify, infer, imply, clarify fact and law, evaluate arguments, and characterize law. The bridge gives structure. It helps students see and use reasoning.
Interdisciplinary research and the undergraduate biology student.

With scientific research becoming more interdisciplinary, it is important to consider changing the way we teach undergraduates about science.
Modeling and prediction of the wireless vector channel encountered by smart antenna systems

In this paper, a Kalman-filter-based, vector autoregressive (VAR) model is used to forecast mobile user uplink spatial signatures and improve downlink signal-to-interference ratio in time-division duplex (TDD) systems. Results are presented from computational electromagnetic (CEM) simulations of a smart antenna system operating at 1.8 GHz in an urban microcellular environment. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 35: 281–283, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.10582
Simulating accelerator structure operation at high power

The important limiting factors in high-gradient accelerator structure operation are dark current capture, RF breakdown and electron multipacting. These processes involve both primary and secondary electron field emission and produce plasma and X-rays. To better understand these phenomena, we have simulated dark current generation and transport in a linac structure and a square-bend waveguide, both high power tested at SLAC. For these simulations, we use the parallel, time-domain, unstructured-grid code Tau3P and the particle tracking module Track3P. In this paper, we present numerical results and their comparison with measurements on energy spectrum of electrons transmitted in a 30-cell structure and of X-rays emitted from the square-bend waveguide.
From Router to Front Row: Lubricious Transfer and the Aesthetics of Telematic Performance

ABSTRACT This article describes experiments in live telematic performance linking U.S. East and West Coast dancers via Internet2. Alternating between a first-person account of one particular stage performance and a theoretical exploration of the same, the authors come to terms with the audiences' newly constituted relationship as technological ruptures alter the immersive pull of live performance.
Differential Regulation of Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I (IGF-I) and IGF-II Release from Cultured Neonatal Mouse Calvaria by Parathyroid Hormone, Transforming Growth Factor-β, and 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3*

In a previous study we found that PTH stimulated bone resorption and release of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and IGF-II from cultured neonatal mouse calvaria. Since IGF-I and IGF-II stimulate osteoblast proliferation and collagen synthesis, these results suggested that increased release of IGFs during resorption could mediate in part coupling of bone formation to bone resorption. In the present study two other osteolytic agents, transforming growth factor-beta (TGF beta) and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25-(OH)2D3 were examined for effects on IGF release from neonatal mouse calvaria. Like PTH, TGF beta stimulated resorption and increased release of IGF-I and IGF-II. 1,25-(OH)2D3, however, stimulated resorption and IGF-II release comparable to PTH, but inhibited release of IGF-I. 1,25-(OH)2D3 (0.1-100 nM) inhibited basal release of IGF-I, and 10 nM 1,25-(OH)2D3 inhibited release of IGF-I induced by PTH or TGF beta. The effects of 1,25-(OH)2D3 were specific to this vitamin D metabolite and did not occur with 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 or 24,25-(OH)2D3 at the same concentration. Calcitonin (50 mU/ml) decreased 1,25-(OH)2D3 stimulation of resorption, but did not affect 1,25-(OH)2D3 stimulation of IGF-II release and inhibition of IGF-I release. This evidence that effects of 1,25-(OH)2D3 on release of the IGFs were independent of bone resorption supports the conclusion that 1,25-(OH)2D3 modulated the production and secretion of IGF-I and IGF-II in calvarial cells. The results of this and the previous study suggest that PTH, TGF beta, and 1,25-(OH)2D3 differentially regulate mouse calvarial cell IGF-I and IGF-II production.
THE OCCURRENCE AND DISTRIBUTION OF ATROPINESTERASE, AND THE SPECIFICITY OF TROPINESTERASES

Atropinesterase was found to exist in approximately one out of every four rabbits, and no relation could be observed between the incidence of the enzyme and season, sex, color, age, or weight. The occurrence of the enzyme was also shown to be unrelated to that of cholinesterase. The distribution of atropinesterase in the blood and organs of rabbits was studied; the animals devoid of the enzyme in their blood contained no demonstrable activity in any of the organ extracts tested. The presence of atropinesterase in frog liver, and its absence from the serum, has been confirmed. Hydrolysis of homatropine, but not atropine, by guinea pig liver was observed, while the serum was without action on either of the compounds. On this basis the possibility arises that guinea pig liver contains a homatropinesterase enzyme separate from atropinesterase. It was shown that lack of atropinesterase activity in certain rabbits is not likely to be due to the presence of a naturally occurring inhibitor. It has been demonstrated that contrary to previous indications neither fresh egg white nor yolk possess atropinesterase activity. The specificity of tropinesterases was investigated and evidence was presented for the possible existence of two distinct enzymes, cocainesterase and tropacocainesterase.
The human vomeronasal organ. III. Postnatal development from infancy to the ninth decade.

The large literature on the human vomeronasal organ (VNO) offers little consensus as to its persistence in the adult. We have already documented the existence of the VNO from embryonic day 33 through the neonatal stages. This has now been extended to human adults: 27 cadaver nasal septa, aged 2–86 y, were either dissected or decalcified, serially sectioned, stained and examined. The consistent presence of the VNO is reported as a homologue, in the form of a duct-like structure on the nasal septum at all ages. Also reported are size variability, pronounced bilateral asymmetry, a nonchemosensory pseudostratified ciliated epithelium with considerable structural variation and generally without medial–lateral differentiation, nasal septal glands opening into the VNO lumen, a lack of correlation between postnatal age and VNO size, visualisation of the human VNO with certainty by histological means alone, and a minute opening as its only visible surface feature. The human VNO is a discrete structure that should not be confused with the nasopalatine fossa, the septal mucosal pits or VNO openings.
Functional Requirements of a Web-Based Solution for Engaging Chronic Disease Patient to Deliver Preventative Care through Self-Management, Interaction and Outreach

Studies demonstrate a positive correlation between favorable health outcomes (i.e. patients achieving and sustaining good health) and patients who are engaged with managing their care plan. The advancement and adoption of IT solution in the health delivery setting has empowered providers to communicate health information with other providers and patients themselves. Patient portals have become the standard health information technology (HIT) tool for engaging patients with their care. As a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliant tool, patient portals have allowed providers to share health information to patients without restraints. However, patient portals have many improvement opportunities in order to truly engage patient with their care. In a broad perspective, there is a need for bi-directional interaction between patients and providers. This paper identifies key issues that have contributed to the dissatisfactions associated with patient portals and requirements that would effectively address these issues. Moreover, this proposal will discuss how an alternate web-based solution can engage high-risk patient population, diabetics, through functions that will empower patients to manage their health, interact with multiple providers, and benefit from provider outreach efforts.
Membrane Lipid Peroxidation in Copper Alloy-Mediated Contact Killing of Escherichia coli

Copper alloy surfaces are passive antimicrobial sanitizing agents that kill bacteria, fungi, and some viruses. Studies of the mechanism of contact killing in Escherichia coli implicate the membrane as the target, yet the specific component and underlying biochemistry remain unknown. This study explores the hypothesis that nonenzymatic peroxidation of membrane phospholipids is responsible for copper alloy-mediated surface killing. Lipid peroxidation was monitored with the thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) assay. Survival, TBARS levels, and DNA degradation were followed in cells exposed to copper alloy surfaces containing 60 to 99.90% copper or in medium containing CuSO(4). In all cases, TBARS levels increased with copper exposure levels. Cells exposed to the highest copper content alloys, C11000 and C24000, exhibited novel characteristics. TBARS increased immediately at a very rapid rate but peaked at about 30 min. This peak was associated with the period of most rapid killing, loss in membrane integrity, and DNA degradation. DNA degradation is not the primary cause of copper-mediated surface killing. Cells exposed to the 60% copper alloy for 60 min had fully intact genomic DNA but no viable cells. In a fabR mutant strain with increased levels of unsaturated fatty acids, sensitivity to copper alloy surface-mediated killing increased, TBARS levels peaked earlier, and genomic DNA degradation occurred sooner than in the isogenic parental strain. Taken together, these results suggest that copper alloy surface-mediated killing of E. coli is triggered by nonenzymatic oxidative damage of membrane phospholipids that ultimately results in the loss of membrane integrity and cell death.
Rationale and development of sentinel lymph node dissection.

Little doubt exists as to the validity of the sentinel node hypothesis. When melanoma and breast cancer metastasizes tolymph nodes, it does so in a nonrandom fashion and the node or nodes at greatest risk for harboring metastatic disease can be identified by operative techniques originally demonstrated to be feasible in a feline model and subsequently proven to be useful in patients. The search for an operative technique to identify cutaneous melanoma patients who could potential benefit from a therapeutic lymphadenectomy, while sparing the vast majority of individuals who are node negative the morbidity of that procedure has revolutionized the surgical approach to cutaneous melanoma and breast cancer and hold promise to further refine our understanding of the biology of not only of these two disease but solid neoplasms in general.
Antichounergic Psychotomimetic Agents

Publisher Summary The chapter discusses anticholonergic psychotomimetic agents and emphasizes on the structure-activity relationships of this class of agents as well as upon their possible mode of action upon neuronal and other excitable systems. The agents described in the chapter are classified various groups, which are, group I that consists of esters of substituted glycolic acid derivatives and heterocyclic amino alcohols, group II consisting of esters of substituted glycolic acid derivatives and substituted piperazino alcohols, and group III consisting of miscellaneous analogs of I and II. The agents are examined for their anticholinergic and central properties. Anticholinergic potency is determined by the ability of the agent to block the contraction of the isolated guinea pig ileum by acetylcholine. The results are expressed as the ED50, that is, the concentration of the agent necessary to produce a 50% blockade of a contraction induced by acetylcholine.The chapter discusses the evaluation of psychomimetic potency in humans.
Decellularized skin/adipose tissue flap matrix for engineering vascularized composite soft tissue flaps ☆

Abstract Using a perfusion decellularization protocol, we developed a decellularized skin/adipose tissue flap (DSAF) comprising extracellular matrix (ECM) and intact vasculature. Our DSAF had a dominant vascular pedicle, microcirculatory vascularity, and a sensory nerve network and retained three-dimensional (3D) nanofibrous structures well. DSAF, which was composed of collagen and laminin with well-preserved growth factors (e.g., vascular endothelial growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor), was successfully repopulated with human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), which integrated with DSAF and formed 3D aggregates and vessel-like structures in vitro . We used microsurgery techniques to re-anastomose the recellularized DSAF into nude rats. In vivo , the engineered flap construct underwent neovascularization and constructive remodeling, which was characterized by the predominant infiltration of M2 macrophages and significant adipose tissue formation at 3 months postoperatively. Our results indicate that DSAF co-cultured with hASCs and HUVECs is a promising platform for vascularized soft tissue flap engineering. This platform is not limited by the flap size, as the entire construct can be immediately perfused by the recellularized vascular network following simple re-integration into the host using conventional microsurgical techniques. Statement of Significance Significant soft tissue loss resulting from traumatic injury or tumor resection often requires surgical reconstruction using autologous soft tissue flaps. However, the limited availability of qualitative autologous flaps as well as the donor site morbidity significantly limits this approach. Engineered soft tissue flap grafts may offer a clinically relevant alternative to the autologous flap tissue. In this study, we engineered vascularized soft tissue free flap by using skin/adipose flap extracellular matrix scaffold (DSAF) in combination with multiple types of human cells. Following vascular reanastomosis in the recipient site, the engineered products successful regenerated large-scale fat tissue in vivo . This approach may provide a translatable platform for composite soft tissue free flap engineering for microsurgical reconstruction.
Binding of Hydrophobic Organic Contaminants to Humalite-Derived Aqueous Humic Products, with Implications for Remediation

In order to assess the potential of commercial humic products in environmental remediation, their binding to heptachlor, hexachlorobenzene, hexachloroethane, 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene and n-hexane was measured. The binding was similar in tests with two colloidal-phase humic products prepared from humalite (naturally occurring, oxidized organic deposits found adjacent to coal) from Alberta, Canada (Luscar Ltd.). There were minor or negligible changes in binding strength for these two products over the full range of aqueous concentrations tested (1.67 to 33.4 g organic C/L), and for Aldrich humic acid. Aldrich humic acid was a stronger binder of the hydrophobic organic compounds than the two Luscar humic products, by factors of approximately 3 to 7. The binding of hydrophobic organics to the two Luscar humic products was similar in strength to that predicted for humic substances that occur in natural aquatic environments. Our binding data suggest that the use of concentrated Luscar humic products as colloidal-phase flushing agents would increase the aqueous concentrations of some hydrophobic organic contaminants in soils or aquifers by up to several hundred fold.
Spatial distribution and seasonal fluctuations ofDrosophilaon Santa Catalina Island with an emphasis on the repleta species group

Santa Catalina Island is a small island off the coast of southern California and for its modest size harbors several species of flies from the Drosophila genus. We performed an island-wide survey of Drosophila species to ascertain which species were endemic to the island and where they were most abundant. In doing so, we have assembled useful sampling information for researchers who wish to conduct field studies on Santa Catalina Island. From this survey, we determined that Drosophila hamatofila, Drosophila mainlandi, and Drosophila mettleri were the prominent repleta species on the island. Other repleta species encountered included Drosophila mojavensis and Drosophila wheeleri. Non-repleta species sighted on the island include Drosophila melanogaster, Drosophila pseudoobscura, Drosophila simulans, and an unknown species not seen before on the island. Additionally, we performed seasonal collections at two locations on the island and observed that species abundance and composition at these two sites vary between seasons. One of the seasonal sites was sampled in two consecutive summer seasons, which revealed that species composition had shifted between years, but relative abundances were approximately the same.
A low-cost system for coil tracking during transcranial magnetic stimulation.

PURPOSE Accurate coil placement over a target area is critical during transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), as small deviations can alter testing outcomes. Accordingly, frameless stereotaxic systems (FSS) are recommended for reliable coil placement during TMS applications. However, FSS is not practical due to the cost associated with procuring such systems. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to develop a low-cost TMS coil tracking approach using simple webcams and an image processing algorithm in LabVIEW Vision Assistant. METHODS A system was created using two webcams, retroreflective markers, and computer stereovision, for tracking the TMS coil over a target area. Accuracy of the system was validated in both the global and local reference frames, while repeatability was measured within- and between-days for placement of the TMS coil over the target area relative to the head. The feasibility of our system was also verified by collecting motor evoked potentials (MEPs) of first dorsal interosseous muscle from human subjects. RESULTS The results of this study indicated that the system was highly accurate and repeatable, and could track the coil position with <5 mm error and orientation <1.1° error from the target. We also observed larger and more consistent MEPs when stimulating the brain using feedback from the coil tracking system than when the examiner attempted to stimulate without any feedback. CONCLUSION The findings suggest that webcam-based coil tracking is a feasible low-cost solution to track coil positions during TMS procedures.
Insights into How Cyclic Peptides Switch Conformations

Cyclic peptides have recently emerged as promising modulators of protein–protein interactions. However, it is currently highly difficult to predict the structures of cyclic peptides owing to their rugged conformational free energy landscape, which prevents sampling of all thermodynamically relevant conformations. In this article, we first investigate how a relatively flexible cyclic hexapeptide switches conformations. It is found that, although the circular geometry of small cyclic peptides of size 6–8 may require rare, coherent dihedral changes to sample a new conformation, the changes are rather local, involving simultaneous changes of ϕi and ψi or ψi and ϕi+1. The understanding of how these cyclic peptides switch conformations enables the use of metadynamics simulations with reaction coordinates specifically targeting such coupled two-dihedral changes to effectively sample cyclic peptide conformational space.
Ion Accumulation and Migration Effects on Redox Cycling in Nanopore Electrode Arrays at Low Ionic Strength

Ion permselectivity can lead to accumulation in zero-dimensional nanopores, producing a significant increase in ion concentration, an effect which may be combined with unscreened ion migration to improve sensitivity in electrochemical measurements, as demonstrated by the enormous current amplification (∼2000-fold) previously observed in nanopore electrode arrays (NEA) in the absence of supporting electrolyte. Ionic strength is a key experimental factor that governs the magnitude of the additional current amplification (AFad) beyond simple redox cycling through both ion accumulation and ion migration effects. Separate contributions from ion accumulation and ion migration to the overall AFad were identified by studying NEAs with varying geometries, with larger AFad values being achieved in NEAs with smaller pores. In addition, larger AFad values were observed for Ru(NH3)63/2+ than for ferrocenium/ferrocene (Fc+/Fc) in aqueous solution, indicating that coupling efficiency in redox cycling can significantly a...
Breeding of the PTGMS Line Y58S with Wide Adaptability in Rice

Y58S, developed by crossing Annong S-1 (TGMS gene donor) with Changfei 22B and Lemont (fine grain quality and multiple resistance) and Pei′ai 64S (good plant type and high combining ability), is a new PTGMS line with wide ecological adaptability in rice. It is characteristic of good plant type, low critical sterility-inducing temperature, good flowering habits, high outcrossing rate, strong stress and disease resistances, high combining ability and fine grain quality. Especially, because of its low critical temperature and physiological lower limit temperature, it is favourable to its safe hybrid seed production and high-yielding multiplication. Y58S is suitable for developing new super hybrid rice combinations with wide adaptability, good quality and super high yield, and shows a good prosperity in productional application.