cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of the endogenous gibberellins in the shoots and roots of vernalized and non-vernalized chinese spring wheat seedlings

Abstract Endogenous gibberellins (GAs) in Chinese Spring wheat seedlings were isolated by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and identified by combined capillary gas chromatography-selected ion monitoring (GC-SIM). Gibberellins A 1 , A 3 , A 19 , A 20 , A 44 , and A 53 were identified in the shoots, A 19 and A 20 in the roots. The identification of these 13-hydroxylated GAs demonstrates the presence of the early-13-hydroxylation pathway in wheat seedlings. Based on peak area of total ion response of five characteristic ions by GC-SIM, the approximate levels of GAs in the shoots is GA 44 > GA 19 > GA 1 = GA 3 > GA 20 for the non-vernalized wheat seedlings, and GA 44 > GA 19 > GA 53 = GA 3 > GA 1 = GA 20 for the vernalized wheat seedlings. The C 20 GAs, GA 53 , GA 44 and GA 19 , are present in shoots of the vernalized (flowering) wheat seedlings at somewhat higher levels than that in the non-vernalized (rapidly growing) wheat seedlings. Approximate levels of the C 19 GAs, GA 20 , GA 1 and GA 3 were lower in the shoots of the vernalized wheat seedlings than in the non-vernalized wheat seedlings. The conversion of GA 19 to GA 20 (C 20 to C 19 GAs) may be a rate-limiting step in the vernalized wheat seedlings.
Relationship of serotonin transporter gene polymorphisms and haplotypes to mRNA transcription

The serotonin transporter (5HTT; chromosomal location 17q12) is an important regulator of serotonergic neurotransmission and is the site of action for a number of antidepressant medications. Sequence variation at a VNTR known as the 5HTTLPR, which is 1.4 kb upstream of the translation start of 5HTT, has been associated in some studies with increased vulnerability to depression, neuroticism, and autism. Support for these clinical observations has included laboratory findings that 5HTTLPR variation is associated with changes in 5HTT gene translation. We re-examined these earlier laboratory findings by directly measuring 5HTT mRNA levels and genotyping four loci spanning the 5HTT gene using RNA and DNA prepared from 85 independent lymphoblast cell lines. Using this data, haplotypes were inferred and the resulting single point and haplotypes data analyzed by univariate and regression analyses. Consistent with the original findings, we found a significant effect of the 5HTTLPR on mRNA production. In contrast to previous reports, the effect on 5HTT mRNA production appeared to be mediated through an additive, not dominant, mechanism. Neither genotype nor haplotype at three other 5HTT loci were associated with alterations in mRNA production, although the small number of samples homozygous for the three most common haplotypes limits these findings. We conclude that further examination of the role of 5HTT sequence variation in regulating 5HTT mRNA production is warranted.
The WERCAP Screen and the WERC Stress Screen: psychometrics of self-rated instruments for assessing bipolar and psychotic disorder risk and perceived stress burden

Abstract Background Identification of individuals in the prodromal phase of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia facilitates early intervention and promises an improved prognosis. There are no current assessment tools for clinical risk symptoms of bipolar disorder, and psychosis-risk assessment generally involves semi-structured interviews, which are time consuming and rater dependent. We present psychometric data on two novel quantitative questionnaires: the Washington Early Recognition Center Affectivity and Psychosis (WERCAP) Screen for assessing bipolar and psychotic disorder risk traits, and the accompanying WERC Stress Screen for assessing individual and total psychosocial stressor severities. Methods Prevalence rates of the WERCAP Screen were evaluated among 171 community youth (aged 13–24 years); internal consistency was assessed and k -means cluster analysis was used to identify symptom groups. In 33 participants, test–retest reliability coefficients were assessed, and ROC curve analysis was used to determine the validity of the psychosis section of the WERCAP Screen ( p WERCAP) against the Structured Interview of Psychosis-Risk Symptoms (SIPS). Correlations of the p WERCAP, the affectivity section of the WERCAP Screen ( a WERCAP) and the WERC Stress Screen were examined to determine the relatedness of scores with cognition and clinical measures. Results Cluster analysis identified three groups of participants: a normative (47%), a psychosis–affectivity (18%) and an affectivity only (35%) group. Internal consistency of the a WERCAP and p WERCAP resulted in alphas of 0.87 and 0.92, and test–retest reliabilities resulted in intraclass correlation coefficients of 0.76 and 0.86 respectively. ROC curve analysis showed the optimal cut-point on the p WERCAP as a score of >30 (sensitivity: 0.89; specificity: 1.0). There was a significant negative correlation between a WERCAP scores and total cognition (R = −0.42), and between p WERCAP scores and sensorimotor processing speed. Total stress scores correlated significantly with scores on the a WERCAP (R = 0.88), p WERCAP (R = 0.62) and total cognition (R = −0.44). Conclusions Our results show that the WERCAP Screen and the WERC Stress Screen are easy to administer and derived scores are related to cognitive and clinical traits. This suggests that their use could have particular benefits for epidemiologic studies and in busy clinical settings. Longitudinal studies would be required to evaluate clinical outcomes with high questionnaire scores.
Method for Evaluating Electrically Actuated Hybrid Wing–Body Control Surface Layouts

Hybrid wing–body configurations are currently an active field of research as potential candidates to meet NASA Environmentally Responsible Aviation N+2 goals. One characteristic of these configurations is the presence of a large number of redundant flight control surfaces. However, the design process and decision rationale for a given control surface layout is rarely discussed in the open literature. This work investigated tradeoffs between drag, control authority, actuator weight, and actuation power requirements as a function of the number and spacing of elevons. The actuators were sized based on hinge moments computed during nominal and failed control flight conditions. These effects were propagated upward to estimate changes to fuel burn, a system-level metric important to the Environmentally Responsible Aviation program, via the Breguet range equation. A model of the NASA N2A-EXTE hybrid wing–body configuration concept was used to demonstrate these tradeoffs. The study concluded that adjacent elevons...
Theory of the Effect of Temperature on the Reflection of X-Rays by Crystals. III. High Temperatures. Allotropic Crystals

In previous comparisons of the theoretical and experimental temperature effect for the reflection of x-rays, a marked discrepancy was found at high temperatures. It is here shown that this discrepancy disappears when proper account is taken of the variation of the characteristic temperature with temperature. Further, a relationship is found between the temperature factors for two allotropic modifications of the same element.
Selection on a Haploid Genotype for Discrimination Learning Performance: Correlation Between Drone Honey Bees (Apis mellifera) and Their Worker Progeny (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Successful bidirectional selection for discriminative olfactory learning is reported for drone honey bees (Apis mellifera). Learning performance was evaluated using a discrimination conditioning procedure that required drones to discriminate between an appetitively reinforced odorant and one that was followed by punishment. Selective breeding produced high- and low-learning-performance lines of worker progeny that diverged from performance of workers whose fathers were selected at random. Furthermore, we show that levels of sucrose-induced sensitization are not correlated to learning performance. These results corroborate earlier findings and further demonstrate the power of selection on a haploid (drone) genotype. In addition, this study now shows that the demonstrated differences in learning performance cannot be completely accounted for by alteration of sucrose-induced sensitization. Thus, using this technique, it may be possible to select for associative conditioning without a pleiotropic increase in sensitization. The honey bee will be ideally suited to these types of correlation analyses in future studies.
Tracking water droplets under descent and deformation

We present a system for tracking the movement and deformation of drops of water in free fall and collision. Our data comes from a high-speed camera which records 60,000 frames per second. The data is noisy, and is compromised by an unfortunate camera angle and poor lighting which contribute to caustics, reflections, and shadows in the image. Given an input video, we apply techniques from image processing, computer vision and computational geometry to track the the droplet's position and shape. While our tool could monitor the movement of transparent fluids in a more general environment, our data specifically depicts water colliding with hydrophobic materials. The output of our processing is used by materials scientists to better our understanding of the interactions between water and hydrophobic surfaces. These interactions have direct application in the materials engineering of next generation printing technologies.
Influence of aggression on erythropoiesis— the hypersympathetic syndrome

Abstract Male CF 1 mice were isolated for 3 weeks at weaning. Pairs were then selected for similarity in weight and placed together for two 30 min periods per day for 21 days. A dominant-subordinate relationship was established by fighting. The subordinate animals developed a marked splenomegaly, decreased hematocrit and increased reticulocyte count while dominant and control mice showed no change in these parameters. The experiment was repeated using splenectomized individuals. Again the subordinates showed decreased hematocrits and increased reticulocyte counts with no change observed in dominants and controls. An hypothesis is advanced which suggests that the behaviorally induced stimulus to erythropoiesis results from a series of events which we have termed a hypersympathetic syndrome.
Living in utility scarcity: energy and water insecurity in Northwest Alaska.

This study explored the links between energy and water insecurity in rural Inupiaq Eskimo villages in Alaska's Northwest Arctic Borough. High energy costs and the need for fuel-based transportation are 2 significant factors in domestic water access for these communities. Dramatic increases in the costs of energy have led to decreased domestic water access, with adverse effects on household hygiene practices. I traced the ways in which the high costs of energy determine water consumption from production to household acquisition and use. Improving sanitation and access to domestic water requires considering the water–energy nexus: the amount and cost of energy required to treat and distribute water as well as manage waste. I use the term utility scarcity to underscore the relationship between domestic water, energy, and health.
Acceleration of erosion above geologic norms

Introduction—Soil-erosion as a term refers to the acceleration under certain conditions of a process which is older than sedimentary rocks. The water-cycle of evaporation, precipitation, and runoff has been the most active agent in degrading major land-surfaces throughout the long record of geologic time. Wind has in arid regions of lesser extent played an important and often a dominant part; but flowing water, armed with abrasive materials fragmented from rock by weathering processes, has tirelessly and endlessly cut its way into uplifted rock-formations, and created erosional potentials within drainage-areas. Flowing water has at the same time swept the products of denudation and erosion with equal persistence toward the sea. Products of erosion have undergone a wide vicissitude of movements and depositions before finding their place finally in sedimentary beds. They may have been deposited many times on the way as shoal banks and as alluvium on flood-plains and in alley-fills, later to be moved stage by stage further seaward. Closed basins of inland continental regions have been the scenes of lesser cycles of denudation, erosion, and deposition, in which occur special conditions of importance in hydrology and dynamics of stream-action. As a geologic process, erosion is as old as rain-storms, but may be accelerated in soils by baring surfaces of pristine mantles of vegetation by man and his agencies.
The lunar farside: The nature of highlands east of Mare Smythii

Available lunar orbital data were studied in detail to determine the nature and origin of geochemical variation in a portion of the farside highlands east of the Smythii basin. Such data exist for the elements Al, Mg, Fe, Ti, and Th (Clark and Hawke, 1981; Davis, 1980; Metzger et al., 1977). As in our previous studies (Clarke and Hawke, 1981, 1987), averages and ranges of concentrations for these elements are calculated and correlated for photogeologically defined units associated with features such as Babcock, King, Al-Khwarezmi, Langemak, Pasteur, and Sklodowska and with the region as a whole. In addition, comparisons are made between this and other highland regions which have been investigated by other workers in a similar manner (Andre et al., 1977; Haines et al., 1978; Maxwell and Andre, 1981). The region is shown to be distinctively enriched in the anorthositic end-members of the ANT-suite. Anomalies which have been reported for this region (Hawke et al., 1985) are confirmed by this study. An area south of Pasteur shows enrichment in some mafic components, giving evidence for the presence of buried mare basalt, and lending support to the hypothesis that volcanic activity may be fairly widespread even in the farside highlands. The units just southeast of Mare Smythii appear to be geochemically related to the area partly surrounding the Smythii on the west (Clark and Hawke, 1987). Considerable geochemical heterogeneity exists in this area, as in areas of the nearside highlands (Clark and Hawke, 1981, 1982, 1987; Hawke et al., 1985).
Prediction of the Elastic-Plastic Stress/Strain Response for Injection-Molded Long-Fiber Thermoplastics

This article proposes a model to predict the elastic-plastic response of injection-molded long-fiber thermoplastics (LFTs). The model accounts for elastic fibers embedded in a thermoplastic resin that exhibits the elastic-plastic behavior obeying the Ramberg-Osgood relation and J-2 deformation theory of plasticity. It also accounts for fiber length and orientation distributions in the composite formed by the injection-molding process. Fiber orientation was predicted using an anisotropic rotary diffusion model recently developed for LFTs. An incremental procedure using Eshelby's equivalent inclusion method and the Mori-Tanaka assumption is applied to compute the overall stress increment resulting from an overall strain increment for an aligned-fiber composite that contains the same fiber volume fraction and length distribution as the actual composite. The incremental response of the latter is then obtained from the solution for the aligned-fiber composite by averaging over all fiber orientations. Failure during incremental loading is predicted using the Van Hattum-Bernado model that is adapted to the composite elastic-plastic behavior. The model is validated against the experimental stress-strain results obtained for long-glass-fiber/polypropylene specimens.
Regional synaptic pathology in Alzheimer's disease

Abstract —Synaptic pathology in Alzheimer's disease (AD) may occur diffusely or may have regional predilections. A new antibody called EP10 which detects synaptophysin-like immunoreactivity was used to study synapses in postmortem brain tissue. Four brain regions from cases of AD and controls were studied. Controls with a wide range of ages were used to investigate the possibility of age-related changes in synaptophysin-like immunoreactivity. A significant reduction in the EP10 antigen was observed to occur with age in the control caudate but not in the hippocampus or temporal or occipital cortices. Antigen levels were significantly reduced in the hippocampus (77%) and the temporal cortex (54%) in AD. The expected abnormal pallor of the outer two-thirds of the dentate gyrus molecular layer was observed with immunocytochemistry. In the temporal cortex, the reduction in synaptophysin-like immunoreactivity was inversely correlated with the neurofibrillary tangle count. No such relationship existed in the hippocampus. These results suggest that at least certain components of the synaptic loss in AD occur regionally and are disproportionately large in the hippocampus.
On the exact ordered binary decision diagram size of totally symmetric functions

This note corrects a previously reported result in JETTA [1] regarding the maximum number of interior vertices in an OBDD of a totally symmetric function. The exact maximum reported in [1] is shown to be an underestimate for functions as small as 6 variables. The correct equation is derived, and the error in the previously reported equation is shown to increase with the number of function variables.
Strategies of effective low share businesses

Previous research has suggested that low share market businesses have dismal prospects. This study examines low share businesses which are effective. In particular, it examines the product-market choices and competitive strategies of effective low share businesses, comparing them with two control groups: effective high share and ineffective low share businesses. Data are drawn from PIMS data bases and hypotheses are tested using cluster analysis and discriminant analysis. Effective low share businesses are found to locate in stable rather than protected environments. Their competitive strategies are strongly characterized by selective focus on specific strengths.
THE MERKEL CELL SYSTEM AND A COMPARISON BETWEEN IT AND THE NEUROSECRETORY OR APUD CELL SYSTEM

The Merkel cell, a neural crest migrant to the skin, possesses a characteristic intranuclear rodlet, cytoplasmic membrane-bound granules and horn projections and is usually associated with nerve terminations. It is also associated with all types of known organizations of sensory nerve endings in the skin and possesses characteristic enzyme reactions in relation to the ending. The Merkel cell is found in the skin and the oral mucous membranes, and similar cells are observed in the taste buds and pulmonary tissue. A comparison between the Merkel cell and the APUD cell system of polypeptide hormone and amine-producing cells reveals many structural and chemical similarities.
Pulmonary embolism in the ECT patient: a case report and discussion.

Abstract Objectives Our objective was to discuss the risk for pulmonary embolism (PE) in the patient population with comorbid psychiatric and medical issues and risk management. It was also our objective to discuss the potential use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) following a PE with a case presentation format. Methods We present a case report, a review of the literature and a discussion. Results We report on the case of a 68-year-old man with bipolar disorder who had a PE after two ECTs. He required stabilization and treatment in the intensive care unit before returning to the psychiatry unit for completion of a course of ECT, which was well tolerated and highly effective. Conclusions Patients with comorbid medical and psychiatric illness are at high risk of developing deep venous thrombus/PE and need to be monitored for this. They often require ECT, which can be administered safely even after a PE.
Preoperative percutaneous coronary intervention in patients undergoing open thoracoabdominal and descending thoracic aneurysm repair

Objective Current guidelines have recommended against coronary revascularization before noncardiac surgery in patients with asymptomatic coronary artery disease. However, myocardial infarction after thoracic aneurysm (TA) repair dramatically increases the morbidity and mortality. Revascularization with coronary artery bypass grafting before TA repair minimizes the incidence of perioperative ischemia. However, the recovery can be prolonged, and a percentage of patients will either never return for aneurysm repair or will develop a rupture during convalescence. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) before TA repair might be preferable. Previous studies examining PCI before major vascular surgery included few patients with TAs. We examined the outcomes of patients undergoing PCI before TA repair. Methods From 1997 to 2012, 592 patients underwent TA repair. Patients presenting for elective repair underwent cardiac catheterization before surgery. Those with significant single- or double-vessel coronary artery disease underwent PCI. The perioperative outcomes were examined and compared with those of patients undergoing TA repair without revascularization. Results A total of 44 patients (7.4%) underwent PCI with bare metal stents before surgery. No PCI-related complications occurred. Dual antiplatelet therapy was administered for 4 to 6 weeks. No instances of aneurysm rupture occurred in the interval between PCI and surgery. The incidence of stent thrombosis, myocardial infarction, and mortality for those undergoing PCI was 0. No bleeding complications occurred. Conclusions PCI is safe and efficacious in patients undergoing TA repair. Aneurysm rupture did not occur in the interval before surgery. Antiplatelet therapy did not increase the risk of bleeding complications. Stent thrombosis was not seen. We recommend PCI those with significant single- or double-vessel coronary artery disease before elective TA repair.
Discrete Hubbard-Stratonovich transformation for fermion lattice models

We discuss a new functional-integral formulation of interacting fermion systems on a lattice such as the Anderson or Hubbard models: the fermion-fermion interaction is eliminated by introducing auxiliary Ising variables. The resulting model for a $d$-dimensional quantum system is a ($d+1$)-dimensional Ising model with complicated interactions. The new transformation is particularly useful for performing numerical studies of these models using Monte Carlo techniques. We study its convergence properties and compare it with the usual Gaussian formulation for the case of the Hubbard model.
Pontocerebellar hypoplasia in association with de novo 19p13.11p13.12 microdeletion

The pontocerebellar hypoplasias (PCHs) are a group of clinically variable disorders characterized by abnormally small cerebellum and brainstem, generally inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern. While PCHs have been grouped into six subtypes, clinical diagnosis is equivocal until a genetic diagnosis is established. We report a patient with PCH, intrauterine growth restriction, ventricular septal defect, rib anomalies, midgut malrotation, and facial dysmorphic features. Using SNP analysis, we identified three de novo deletions of: 1.055 Mb at 6q24.3q25.1 (148174730–149229583); 169 kb at 16p13.2 (6565411–6733934); and 2.530 Mb at 19p13.11p13.12 (13857587–16387798), which were confirmed by FISH. 19p13 deletions are rare aberrations. Of patients previously described with overlapping 19p13.12 deletions and multiple anomalies, only one presented with PCH. Deleted in both that patient and the patient reported here, is DDX39, a DEAD-box RNA helicase. DDX39 is part of the homeostatic machinery that regulates the switch of cellular proliferation and differentiation. It is highly expressed in the developing central nervous system and optic cup of Xenopus laevis. The brain abnormalities in the patient reported here were more severe than the previously reported patient, which may be due to additional deletions or undetected point mutations in the nondeleted allele. Notably, the patient reported here also has a partial deletion of RBFOX1 (A2BP1), which lies within the autism susceptibility locus on 16p13.2. Our findings suggest chromosomal microarray analysis may be useful in determining etiology of syndromic PCH. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A Comparison of the Measured Pulse Response of Layered Materials Using Time- and Frequency-Domain Systems [Measurements Corner]

A comparison is made between two systems used to measure the pulse response of layered materials. The first system was a direct time-domain system, using a pulse generator and a sampling oscilloscope. The second system was a frequency-domain system, and used a network analyzer with conversion to the time domain performed using Fourier analysis. The calibration procedure is described in detail, and the benefits and drawbacks of each system are discussed. Finally, typical results obtained using each system are examined.
Correlation and dating of Quaternary alluvial-fan surfaces using scarp diffusion

Great interest has recently been focused on dating and interpreting alluvial-fan surfaces. As a complement to the radiometric methods often used for surface-exposure dating, this paper illustrates a rapid method for correlating and dating fan surfaces using the cross-sectional shape of gullies incised into fan surfaces. The method applies a linear hillslope-diffusion model to invert for the diffusivity age, κt (m2), using an elevation profile or gradient (slope) profile. Gullies near the distal end of fan surfaces are assumed to form quickly following fan entrenchment. Scarps adjacent to these gullies provide a measure of age. The method is illustrated on fan surfaces with ages of approximately 10 ka to 1.2 Ma in the arid southwestern United States. Two areas of focus are Death Valley, California, and the Ajo Mountains piedmont, Arizona. Gully-profile morphology is measured in two ways: by photometrically derived gradient (slope) profiles and by ground-surveyed elevation profiles. The κt values determined using ground-surveyed profiles are more consistent than those determined using photo-derived κt values. However, the mean κt values of both methods are comparable. The photometric method provides an efficient way to quantitatively and objectively correlate and relatively-date alluvial-fan surfaces. The κt values for each surface are determined to approximately 30–50% accuracy.
Mutagenicity and clastogenicity of proflavin in L5178Y/TK +/- -3.7.2.C cells.

We evaluated the ability of proflavin to induce specific-locus mutations at the heterozygous thymidine kinase (tk) locus of L5178Y/TK+/−−3.7.2C mouse lymphoma cells, which appears to permit the recovery of mutants due to single-gene and chromosomal mutations. Proflavin was highly mutagenic at the tk locus, producing 724–965 TK mutants/106 survivors (background = 56–85/106; survival = 29–32%). Most of the mutants were small colonies, which suggested that proflavin may induce chromosomal mutations. The potent clastogenicity of proflavin was confirmed by cytogenetic analysis for chromosomal aberrations. At the highest dose analyzed (1.5 μg/ml), proflavin produced 82 aberrations/100 metaphases (background = 2/100). The large-colony TK mutant frequency produced by proflavin (48–109/106 survivors; background = 23/106; survival = 57–61%) was similar to published HPRT mutant frequencies produces by proflavin in L5178Y and CHO cells (50–100/106 survivors; background = 2–50/106; survival = 50–62%). These results lead to the conclusion that proflavin is a potent clastogen and induces a high frequency of small-colony TK mutants; however, it induces a low frequency of HPRT mutants and a low frequency of large-colony TK mutants.
An Optimal Control Model of Arms Races

Lewis Frye Richardson's simple differential equations model of armaments races has been long criticized for its lack of incorporation of the goals of nations. Using the mathematics of optimal control theory, the authors formulate a model which incorporates national goals into an “arms balance” objective function. The goals used are based on the traditional concerns in the balance-of-power literature. From an objective function together with the Richardson model an optimal armaments policy is derived. The United States-Soviet, NATO-WTO, and Arab-Israeli arms races are used as empirical examples, and the parameters in the model are estimated by means of functional minimization techniques. The optimal control model is further examined for its equilibrium and stability properties. The equilibrium and stability conditions are assessed with respect to the empirical examples. The findings are that while the United States and the Soviet Union in direct confrontation pursue strategies that lead to a lack of equilibrium and stability, when taken as part of NATO and WTO, the major powers and their alliance partners do pursue stable and equilibrium strategies. The Israeli policy is found to lead to equilibrium and stability while the Arab policy does not.
Simulation of a small molecule analogue of a lithium ionomer in an external electric field

We have investigated the ion dynamics in lithium-neutralized 2-pentylheptanoic acid, a small molecule analogue of a precise poly(ethylene-co-acrylic acid) lithium ionomer. Atomistic molecular dynamics simulations were performed in an external electric field. The electric field causes alignment of the ionic aggregates along the field direction. The energetic response of the system to an imposed oscillating electric field for a wide range of frequencies was tracked by monitoring the coulombic contribution to the energy. The susceptibility found in this manner is a component of the dielectric susceptibility typically measured experimentally. A dynamic transition is found and the frequency associated with this transition varies with temperature in an Arrhenius manner. The transition is observed to be associated with rearrangements of the ionic aggregates.
Ultrafast Electron Transfer in the [Co(Cp)2|V(CO)6] Radical Pair

We have reexamined our earlier report of electron transfer in the [Co(Cp)2|V(CO)6] radical pair using ultrafast infrared transient absorption spectroscopy. The radical pair is created from the [Co(Cp)2+|V(CO)6-] ion pair by ultrafast visible charge-transfer excitation. Transient absorption experiments with <75 fs resolution reveal two major direct electron-transfer (ET) components with ∼700 fs and ∼5 ps time constants. A small ET component with a ∼75 ps time constant is due to some separation and re-formation of the radical pairs. Transient absorption experiments monitoring the recovery of the ion-pair state show that both fast components are due to ET rather than some other vibrational relaxation (VR) process in the radical state. By modeling the visible charge-transfer band, the two fast ET decay times are assigned to two ion-pair contact geometries with absorption origins different by about 1250 ± 350 cm-1. The ∼700 fs ET lifetime depends on the vibrational quantum state of the nontotally symmetric CO ...
Immune cytokine inhibition of beta-adrenergic agonist stimulated cyclic AMP generation in cardiac myocytes

We hypothesize that reversible depression of cardiac function in cardiac allograft rejection and lymphocytic myocarditis reflects down modulation of the beta-adrenergic receptor system by a soluble product of activated immune cells. Thus, exposure of cultured cardiac myocytes to mixed lymphocyte culture or activated splenocyte supernatants produces 70% inhibition of isoproterenol-stimulated cAMP concentrations (Ki = 5% supernatant) in the absence of gross cellular injury or control media effects. This cAMP suppressive factor is not dialyzable and is ammonium sulfate precipitable. Beta-adrenergic receptor density, binding constant and affinity states are unaffected. These results demonstrate the existence of a cytokine inhibitor of cAMP accumulation that may mediate, in part, depression of cardiac contractility observed when immune cells invade the myocardium.
Isotopes of tellurium, xenon and krypton in Allende meteorite retain record of nucleosynthesis

Various mixtures of r-, p- and s-nucleosynthesis products have been observed in the isotopes of tellurium, xenon and krypton extracted from mineral separates of the Allende meteorite. The presence of several isotopically distinct components in these high Z elements and the close association of isotopically normal low Z elements with particular isotopes of the high Z elements suggest that our Solar System may have formed directly from the debris of a single precursor star, approximately concentric with the present Sun.
On the relationship of thunderstorm ice hydrometeor characteristics and total lightning measurements

Satellite-borne and ground-based devices for the detection of lightning offer the opportunity to explore relationships–on all significant scales up to global–between lightning frequency, f, and other thundercloud parameters. Calculations predict that f is proportional to the product of the downflux p of solid precipitation and the upward mass flux, I, of ice crystals. This prediction has received support from limited computational studies. The physical reasons for such a relationship are explained in terms of the paramount role of ice in the electrification of thunderstorms. Herein, this prediction is subjected to further, preliminary examination through analysis of lightning and dual-polarimetric radar data collected during the STERAO experiment conducted in Northern Colorado during the summer of 1996. The analysis has yielded some highly provisional support for this flux hypothesis. Computed trends of radar derived hydrometeor fractions of solid precipitation and small ice show correlation to the total lightning frequency and raise the possibility of determining values of p and/or I from lightning measurements. It is shown that the extent to which the observed correlations between f and both solid precipitation and small ice trends are or are not strong can provide an indication as to whether the lightning activity is limited by the available concentrations of precipitating or non-precipitating ice in the upper regions of the charging zone of the thundercloud, where most of the charge transfer occurs. It is demonstrated that the most accurate determinations of precipitation rate p from measurements of lighting frequency f are likely to be for conditions where the field-growth is limited by the availability of graupel pellets. It is shown that the simultaneous time variations of f and solid precipitation trends of the type obtained in the STERAO experiment could enable us to determine the nature of the dominant glaciation process operative in the thunderclouds studied.
A tunable liquid lens driven by a concentric annular electroactive actuator

We present a membrane sealed fluidic lens that is hydrostatically connected to a concentric ring-shaped electroactive elastomer. Electrical activation deforms the ring-shaped elastomer, which induces fluid passage between the lens part and the actuation part of the membrane. This changes the lens's shape and therefore the focal length. The focal length ranges from 25.4 mm to 105.2 mm can be obtained with a voltage bias of 1.0 kV. Comparing to the existing fluidic lenses driven by electroactive polymers, this lens has a wider range of refractive power at a significantly lower actuation voltage. Our device finds applications in miniaturized optical components where adaptive focalization is paramount.
A numerical study of geothermal well flow with salts and noncondensables present

Modelisation de l'ecoulement dans un puits geothermique renfermant des gaz non condensables. Determination de leur solubilite dans l'eau, de la concentration a partir de laquelle ils sont relâches et de leur teneur en phase vapeur
Energy levels of 16O between 10.0 and 17.1 MeV excitation

Abstract A phase-shift analysis has been performed on 12C(α, α0)12C cross sections which were measured over a broad angular range from 4.0 to 13.3 MeV in 15 to 50 keV increments. In addition to confirming the presence and determining the J, π, Γ, Γα, of the levels at 10.36, 11.50, 11.60, 12.47, 13.10, 13.11, 13.13, 13.25, 13.89, 14.07, 14.6, 14.82, 14.87, 15.47 and 16.30 MeV excitation in the 16O compound system, the results include the observation of a new 0+ level at 15.17 MeV. Definite Jπ values of 4+, 5− and 3− have been assigned for the levels at 14.6, 14.82 and 15.47 MeV respectively. Refined level parameters are given for the 0+ (14.07 MeV) and 6+ (14.87 MeV) levels.
Effect of oxygen and solute on PGE and PGF production by rat kidney slices

Abstract Increasing oxygen from 5% to 95% resulted in an increased production of both PGE's and PGF's. The release of prostaglandins from slices of rat kidney cortex and outer and inner medulla was measured. Prostaglandin production was observed predominantly in the inner medulla, was close to the lower limit of detection in the outer medulla, and was undetectable in the cortex. Increasing oxygen concentration resulted in a threefold increase in inner medullary prostaglandin production. Synthesis at 95% O 2 was less at 2100 mOsm than at 300 mOsm, while synthesis at 5% O 2 was not affected by high solute concentration. The implications of these results with respect to kidney function are discussed.
Novel aminoglycosides increase SMN levels in spinal muscular atrophy fibroblasts

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is the leading genetic cause of infant mortality. SMA is caused by the homozygous absence of survival motor neuron-1 (SMN1). SMN2, a nearly identical copy gene, is retained in all SMA patients and encodes an identical protein as SMN1; however, SMN1 and SMN2 differ by a silent C to T transition which results in the production of an alternatively spliced isoform (SMNΔ7), which encodes a defective protein, demonstrating that the absence of the short peptide encoded by SMN exon 7 is critical in SMA development. Previously, we have shown that for some functions heterologous sequences can compensate for the exon 7 peptide, suggesting that the SMN C-terminus functions non-specifically. Consistent with this hypothesis, we now identify novel aminoglycosides that can induce SMN protein levels in patient fibroblasts. This hypothesis was supported, in part, by a novel fluorescent SMN read-through assay. Interestingly, however, through the development of a SMN exon 7-specific antibody, results suggested that levels of normal full-length SMN might also be elevated by aminoglycoside treatment. These results demonstrate that the compounds that promote read-through may provide an alternative platform for the discovery of compounds that induce SMN protein levels.
Lectotype and type locality of Turdus trichas Linnaeus, 1766 (Aves: Parulidae: Geothlypis)

Abstract Turdus trichas Linnaeus, 1766 is a composite of two species. To preserve the name as currently used for the Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas, the specimen illustrated by Edwards (1758) is designated as lectotype and Charleston, South Carolina, is designated as the revised type locality.
Disassembling real-time fault-tolerant programs

We focus on decomposition of hard-masking real-time fault-tolerant programs (where safety, timing constraints, and liveness are preserved in the presence of faults) that are designed from their fault-intolerant versions. Towards this end, motivated by the concepts of state predicate detection and state predicate correction, we identify three types of fault-tolerance components, namely, detectors, weak S-correctors, and strong S-correctors. We show that any hard-masking program can be decomposed into its fault-intolerant version plus a collection of detectors, and, weak and strong S-correctors. We argue that such decomposition assists in providing assurance about dependability and time-predictability of embedded systems.
Code Compaction of an Operating System Kernel

General-purpose operating systems, such as Linux, are increasingly being used in embedded systems. Computational resources are usually limited, and embedded processors often have a limited amount of memory. This makes code size especially important. This paper describes techniques for automatically reducing the memory footprint of general-purpose operating systems on embedded platforms. The problem is complicated by the fact that kernel code tends to be quite different from ordinary application code, including the presence of a significant amount of hand-written assembly code, multiple entry points, implicit control flow paths involving interrupt handlers, and frequent indirect control flow via function pointers. We use a novel "approximate decompilation" technique to apply source-level program analysis to hand-written assembly code. A prototype implementation of our ideas on an Intel x86 platform, applied to a Linux kernel that has been configured to exclude unnecessary code, obtains a code size reduction of close to 24%.
Effect of lesion location on fixation strength of the meniscal viper repair system: an in vitro study using porcine menisci.

Purpose: The Meniscal Viper Repair System (Arthrex, Naples, FL) is a novel suture-based all-inside meniscal repair system. This study was performed to test whether the Meniscal Viper Repair System would provide superior fixation characteristics for vertical longitudinal meniscal lesions located closer to the periphery compared with those located further away from the periphery. Methods: Vertical longitudinal lesions were created either 1 to 2 mm or 3 to 4 mm away from the periphery of porcine menisci. After repair with the Meniscal Viper Repair System, fixation characteristics were studied during cyclic (500 cycles, 5 to 50 N) and load to failure testing (5 mm/min) in a servo hydraulic device. Results: Meniscal lesion repair location did not show significant differences in displacement or stiffness during cyclic testing. During load to failure testing, meniscal lesion repairs located 1 to 2 mm from the periphery showed superior load at failure (188.8 ± 45.4 N) compared with repairs located 3 to 4 mm from the periphery (114.4 ± 35.0 N) ( P = .01). Stiffness and displacement during load to failure testing did not show statistically significant differences. Conclusions: The Meniscal Viper Repair System provides stronger meniscal repair strength when lesions are located within 1 to 2 mm of the periphery. Clinical Relevance: The Meniscal Viper Repair System is better suited for repair of peripheral meniscal lesions located within 1 to 2 mm of the periphery. For lesions located in zone 2 (within the central 50%), careful assessment of their distance from the periphery is recommended. For lesions located more than 3 to 4 mm away from the periphery, alternative repair systems or augmentation with other devices may be prudent.
Spontaneous Parametric Down-Conversion in Structured Environments

I analyze, in a general and quantitative way, the ability of transverse and longitudinal structure in an optical system to enhance the flux and modal purity of spontaneous parametric down-conversion.
Health Reform Redux: Learning From Experience and Politics

The 2008 presidential campaign season featured health care reform proposals. I discuss 3 approaches to health care reform and the tools for bringing about reform, such as insurance market reforms, tax credits, subsidies, individual and employer mandates, and public program expansions. I also discuss the politics of past and current health care reform efforts.Market-based reforms and mandates have been less successful than public program expansions at expanding coverage and controlling costs. New divisions among special interest groups increase the likelihood that reform efforts will succeed.Federal support for state efforts may be necessary to achieve national health care reform. History suggests that state-level success precedes national reform. History also suggests that an organized social movement for reform is necessary to overcome opposition from special interest groups.
Narrow-Strip Conjunctival Autograft for Treatment of Pterygium

Purpose To determine the efficacy of narrow-strip conjunctival autograft surgery in the treatment of pterygium. Design Retrospective noncomparative interventional case series. Participants Twenty-one consecutive interventions between 1994 and 2005 in 20 eyes of 18 patients for primary (n = 17 cases) or recurrent (n = 4 cases) pterygia. Intervention Surgical excision of the pterygium and conjunctival transplantation with a narrow-strip technique. In all cases, a 2-mm-wide autograft was secured adjacent and posterior to the limbus, leaving a 2- to 3-mm zone of bare sclera between the graft and the anterior margin of the conjunctival wound. All conjunctival margins were secured by suture to bare sclera. Main Outcome Measure Recurrence of pterygium at 12 months. Results Mean follow-up after surgery was 41 months (median, 42; range, 4–132). At 1 year and all time points thereafter, 18 of 19 (94.7%) cases were free of recurrence. One patient was lost to follow-up at 4 months, and another died after 9 months of follow-up. The lone recurrence occurred inferiorly in an eye that had undergone an adjacent narrow-strip conjunctival transplantation 6 months previously for a recurrent temporal pterygium. The same patient remains recurrence-free 67 months after inferior pterygium excision and a second narrow-strip autograft surgery. Conclusion Narrow-strip conjunctival autografting appears to be an effective surgical technique in preventing pterygium recurrence. Creating an intervening bare sclera area between the secured conjunctival graft and the anterior margin of the conjunctival wound may be important in preventing recurrence.
Insulin/IGF‐I receptor hybrids: A mechanism for increasing receptor diversity

Insulin and IGF-I receptors are homologous disulfide linked alpha 2 beta 2 tetramers. These tetramers are formed biosynthetically when proreceptors containing alpha and beta subunits in a single uninterrupted linear peptide form disulfide linked homodimers and are subsequently proteolytically cleaved at the alpha-beta junctions. Cells expressing both receptors also express hybrid receptors that contain one insulin receptor alpha and beta subunit, and one IGF-I receptor alpha and beta subunit. These presumably form by the association of mixed proreceptors. Hybrid receptors greatly expand the possible repertoire of cellular responses to hormonal stimulation. Although not yet examined in detail, both the hormone binding and the signaling properties of the hybrid receptor appear to be different from that of either insulin or IGF-I receptor. Regulatory mechanisms that involve either insulin or IGF-I receptor, at the level of expression or subsequently, could alter the expression or function of the hybrid receptor or the other receptor. Similarly, pathology in one receptor could affect both the hybrid and other receptor, or perhaps be partially compensated for by a hybrid receptor. The magnitude of these effects could vary greatly in different tissues depending upon the relative level of expression of the different receptor forms. These postulated responses might explain some of the complex heterogeneity and linkage of these receptors that have been observed previously.