cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Vulnerability of island tropical montane cloud forests to climate change, with special reference to east Maui, Hawaii

Island tropical montane cloud forests may be among the most sensitive of the world’s ecosystems to global climate change. Measurements in and above a montane cloud forest on East Maui, Hawaii, document steep microclimatic gradients. Relatively small climate-driven shifts in patterns of atmospheric circulation are likely to trigger major local changes in rainfall, cloud cover, and humidity. Increased interannual variability in precipitation and hurricane incidence would provide additional stresses on island biota that are highly vulnerable to disturbance-related invasion of non-native species. Because of the exceptional sensitivity of these microclimates and forests to change, they may provide valuable ‘listening posts’ for detecting the onset of human-induced global climate change.
Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors Early in the Disease Course: Lessons From Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia

The landscape of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) management has changed with the advent of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) targeting the BCR-ABL1 oncoprotein. Imatinib mesylate, followed by nilotinib and dasatinib, has been approved for newly diagnosed patients. Since none of these TKIs show survival superiority, the drug choice is a challenge. Even so, the rate of deeper and earlier responses is higher with second-generation TKIs than it is with imatinib, and, in general, better response is associated with a survival advantage, regardless of TKI type being used. Patients should be monitored carefully for response, and treatment failure should prompt a timely switch to another TKI. Side effect profile and drug cost are other important considerations in therapy choice. In several clinical studies, achieving undetectable and durable disease status allowed some patients to discontinue the TKI and enjoy long-term treatment-free remission. Cure for CML may be possible with TKIs alone or TKIs in combination with other investigational therapies. However, due to lack of long-term outcome data and absence of consensus for the definition of optimal response and time to stop TKIs, discontinuation is discouraged outside of a clinical trial.
Nut consumption and body weight

Frequent nut consumption is associated with lower rates of coronary artery disease (CAD). Also, nut-rich diets improve the serum lipid profile of participants in dietary intervention trials. However, nuts are fatty foods, and in theory their regular consumption may lead to body weight gain. Because obesity is a major public health problem and a risk factor for CAD, clinicians and policy makers ponder several questions. Will hypercholesterolemic patients advised to consume nuts gain weight? Is recommending increased nut consumption to the general population for CAD prevention sound public health advice? Epidemiologic studies indicate an inverse association between frequency of nut consumption and body mass index. In well-controlled nut-feeding trials, no changes in body weight were observed. Some studies on free-living subjects in which no constraints on body weight are imposed show a nonsignificant tendency to lower weight while subjects are on the nut diets. In another line of evidence, preliminary data indicate that subjects on nut-rich diets excrete more fat in stools. Further research is needed to study the effects of nut consumption on energy balance and body weight. In the meantime, the available cumulative data do not indicate that free-living people on self-selected diets including nuts frequently have a higher body mass index or a tendency to gain weight.
Further validation of the gratitude, resentment, and appreciation test (GRAT).

The authors conducted this study to further validate the revised short form of the Gratitude, Resentment, and Appreciation Test (GRAT; M. Thomas & P. Watkins, 2003) by investigating the relationship between GRAT-measured gratitude and two other constructs: (a) spiritual transcendence and (b) materialism. As predicted, both the GRAT and its subscales correlated positively with a measure of spiritual transcendence and negtively with a measure of materialism.
X-ray microcalorimeters for Astro-E2 and high-energy astrophysics

Abstract The Japan/US Suzaku (formerly Astro-E2) astrophysics mission has been successfully launched. Suzaku is a powerful new orbiting observatory for studying extremely energetic processes in the universe. Sensitive X-ray spectrometers have been designed to enable precise measurements of high-energy processes in stars, supernova remnants, galaxies, clusters of galaxies, and the environments around neutron stars and black holes. One of the instruments is the high resolution X-ray spectrometer (XRS) that features a 32-pixel array of microcalorimeters with 6 eV (FWHM) spectral resolution, the first such device to be placed into orbit. We will describe the capabilities of the XRS instrument and present some of the very early in-flight results, which clearly show that this new technology can work extremely well in space.
Kruppel-like factor 2 regulates thymocyte and T-cell migration

The transcription factor KLF2 has long been thought to play a critical role in controlling survival and quiescence of mature T cells, since KLF2-deficient T cells develop in the thymus but fail to populate peripheral lymph organs. A new study offers an alternative explanation for this phenotype, consistent with an entirely different function for KLF2 as a regulator of thymocyte and T-cell migration. Proteins of the KLF (Kruppel-like transcription factor) family are involved in many aspects of vertebrate development and are implicated in a number of disease states. This newly discovered role for KLF2 is similar to some other KLFs that are essential for terminal differentiation of various cell types. The transcription factor KLF2 has been thought to control survival of T lymphocytes, as KLF2-deficient T cells develop in the thymus, but fail to populate the peripheral lymphoid organs. But this report shows that the phenotype results from an unexpected role of KLF2 in regulating the expression of lymphocyte trafficking molecules. Mammalian Kruppel-like transcription factors are implicated in regulating terminal differentiation of several tissue types1,2,3. Deficiency in Kruppel-like factor (KLF) 2 (also known as LKLF) leads to a massive loss of the peripheral T-cell pool4, suggesting KLF2 regulates T-cell quiescence and survival4,5,6,7. Here we show, however, that KLF2 is essential for T-cell trafficking. KLF2-deficient (Klf2-/-) thymocytes show impaired expression of several receptors required for thymocyte emigration and peripheral trafficking, including the sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptor S1P1, CD62L and β7 integrin. Furthermore, KLF2 both binds and transactivates the promoter for S1P1—a receptor that is critical for thymocyte egress and recirculation through peripheral lymphoid organs. Our findings suggest that KLF2 serves to license mature T cells for trafficking from the thymus and recirculation through secondary lymphoid tissues.
Existential Ethics and Why it's Immoral to be a Housewife

For most feminists, it is acceptable to criticize the institution of marriage, but it is quite another to go on and claim that it is immoral for women to choose to be housewives and mothers. Nonetheless, this position is implied in Simone de Beauvoir's early work, The Second Sex, and is repeated in her 1975 interview with Betty Friedan. She says, "No woman should be authorized to stay at home and raise children... Women should not have that choice ,,1 More than any other, this position sets Beauvoir apart from liberal feminists who believe that women's liberation means simply giving women a choice as to what sort of life they want to lead. Naturally, Beauvoir's position is unappealing to housewives who, at the same time, claim to be 'feminists.' For reasonable persons, however, whether the position is a popular one, or not, should not be the question. Rather, the concern should be whether Beauvoir's reasoning in support of her conclusion is sound or not. If it is, those who call themselves 'feminists' should no longer endorse those immoral women who choose to be housewives and mothers. Unfortunately while Beauvoir's position is clear, it is not without apparent philosophical difficulties. First, it might appear that as a thinker who draws heavily on Sartrean existentialism with its emphasis on the value of human freedom, her position to limit women's choices is contradictory? l believe, however, that if one accepts her analysis of marriage, housework, and motherhood as given in The Second Sex, her conclusion that on moral grounds women should be criticized for choosing to be housewives/mothers is quite defensible. In other words, it is indeed immoral for women to choose to be housewives. Let us examine her arguments.
A Solid State X-Ray-Alpha Coincidence Counter

X rays emitted in the decay of transuranic elements (particularly plutonium) are often used for radiochemical and health physics measurements of these materials. For any given source the X ray to alpha ratio (X/?) varies with isotopic composition (variations of a factor of seven are possible) due to the unique X/? ratios and specific activities for the various isotopes. To make accurate assessments of the amount of material present from X-ray measurements, it is necessary to know the X/? ratio for the material under consideration. By knowing the isotopic composition and the isotopic X/? ratios, the material X/? ratio can be calculated or it can be measured directly from a sample of the material. At Battelle-Northwest we developed a system using solid state detectors to measure these X/? ratios. This paper describes the solid state system and some of its applications. The main developmental criteria were to maintain high efficiency and accuracy at low levels of activity. To meet these criteria, we built a coincidence system with high geometrical efficiency. The system uses a coaxial geometry with the alpha detector sandwiched between the source and X-ray detector. A 3 mm by 110 mm2 lithium-drifted-silicon detector cooled to liquid nitrogen temperature is used for X-ray detection. The alpha detector is a 40 V by 100 mm2 totally depleted surface barrier detector. Sources are either 0.635 or 1.58 cm diam electrodepositions of the material on stainless steel planchets which are placed on a rotatable disc 0.
Crystal-Structure of the Hhal DNA Methyltransferase Complexed with S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine

Abstract The first three-dimensional structure of a DNA methyltransferase is presented. The crystal structure of the DNA (cytosine-5)-methyltransferase, M.Hhal (recognition sequence: GCGC), complexed with S-adenosyl-l-methionine has been determined and refined at 2.5 A resolution. The core of the structure is dominated by sequence motifs conserved among all DNA (cytosine-5)-methyltransferases, and these are responsible for cofactor binding and methyltransferase function.
Pancreatic Pseudocyst of the Mediastinum

A patient with pancreatic pseudocyst of the mediastinum is presented. Weight loss, chest or abdominal pain, and dyspnea are the most frequent symptoms of mediastinal pseudocyst. Chest roentgenogram frequently demonstrates a posterior mediastinal mass, and esophagogram always shows esophageal displacement. The diagnosis is confirmed by computerized axial tomography of the chest and abdomen. Cyst-gastrostomy is the operation of choice for this condition.
Shared Spaces: An Intersubjective Case Study of a Graduate Student by a Graduate Student

The intersubjective therapeutic experience creates a shared space within which client and therapist are affected and changed, as seen in a psychotherapy case involving graduate students and a graduate student clinician. Analysis of a clinical case composite from an intersubjective perspective is the primary tool used to examine client–therapist concurrent graduate work. A composite is used to protect confidentiality. Several themes are explored: anxiety, perfectionism, and socioculturally situated life stage. As a search of the literature revealed no previous work on the intersubjective experience of psychotherapy when client and therapist are engaged in concurrent graduate work, further exploration is encouraged.
Environmental awareness for sensor and emitter employment

Environmental Awareness for Sensor and Emitter Employment (EASEE) is a flexible, object-oriented software design for predicting environmental effects on the performance of battlefield sensors and detectability of signal emitters. Its decision-support framework facilitates many sensor and emitter modalities and can be incorporated into battlespace command and control (C2) systems. Other potential applications include immersive simulation, force-on-force simulation, and virtual prototyping of sensor systems and signal-processing algorithms. By identifying and encoding common characteristics of Army problems involving multimodal signal transmission and sensing into a flexible software architecture in the Java programming language, EASEE seeks to provide an application interface enabling rapid integration of diverse signal-generation, propagation, and sensor models that can be implemented in many client-server environments. Its explicit probabilistic modeling of signals, systematic consideration of many complex environmental and mission-related factors affecting signal generation and propagation, and computation of statistical metrics characterizing sensor performance facilitate a highly flexible approach to signal modeling and simulation. EASEE aims to integrate many disparate statistical formulations for modeling and processing many types of signals, including infrared, acoustic, seismic, radiofrequency, and chemical/biological. EASEE includes objects for representing sensor data, inferences for target detection and/or direction, signal transmission and processing, and state information (such as time and place). Various transmission and processing objects are further grouped into platform objects, which fuse data to make various probabilistic predictions of interest. Objects representing atmospheric and terrain environments with varying degrees of fidelity enable modeling of signal generation and propagation in diverse and complex environments.
Single cell analysis of saturation discrimination in the macaque

Abstract Responses of 53 cells to stimuli varying in purity were recorded from the macaque LGN. The type of response (either excitation or inhibition) of any given cell was determined by the stimulus wavelength while the response magnitude was determined by stimulus purity. Pure stimuli (highly saturated) resulted in large response magnitudes, whether excitation or inhibition. The purity increment required to change the response rate of a unit by an arbitrary response criterion was determined for all cells. The reciprocal of the purity increment plotted against wavelength yielded a purity discrimination function in good agreement with that obtained behaviorally from macaque monkeys.
Leaving the Private World of Wives of Professional Athletes A Male Sociologist’s Reflections

The same skills, techniques, and strategies that make fieldwork go well can keep the fieldworker in the field far longer than necessary. Interest in this irony and the exit process was prompted by dilemmas encountered by a male ethnographer in terminating his long-term fieldwork with wives of professional athletes. This reflexive account examines collaborative relationships and compulsive data collection—which proved to be essential in gathering and analyzing data—for their consequences in the leaving process. It is proposed that having a greater awareness of such methodological issues may result in constructing more realistic and less stressful exit strategies, and coping more effectively with the disruptive, emotional, or problematic nature of the disengagement process.
Intraoperative Transesophageal Echocardiography in Minimally Invasive Cardiac Valve Surgery

Abstract The minimally invasive procedure is a new surgical technique that uses a small sternal incision. Because of limited surgical exposure, removal of intracavitary air and visual assessment of cardiac function are not possible. We studied the utility of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (IOE) before and after cardiopulmonary bypass in 112 patients (mean age 53.1 ± 15.2 years, 74 males) who underwent minimally invasive valvular surgery. Surgical procedures included 52 isolated mitral valve procedures (49 repairs, 3 prostheses), 58 isolated aortic valve procedures (16 repairs, 26 prostheses, 16 homografts), and 2 combined aortic and mitral valve repairs. Prepump IOE was useful to confirm valve dysfunction and assist determination of arterial cannulation site. Postpump IOE identified intracardiac air in all patients, which was defined as extensive in 58 (52%) cases. Postoperatively, new left ventricular dysfunction was noted in 22 (20%) patients, more often in the group with extensive air by IOE (17 [30%] of 58 patients) compared with those without extensive air (5 [10%] of 54 patients, P = .01). Second pump runs were required in 7 (6%) of 112 patients: 3 cases of residual aortic regurgitation, 1 case of residual mitral regurgitation, and 3 cases with new ventricular dysfunction. No deaths occurred. We conclude that IOE is essential in minimally invasive valvular surgery because it detects problems that require immediate remedy. IOE allows real-time assessment of ventricular filling, ventricular and valvular function, and intracardiac air. (J Am Soc Echocardiogr 1999;12:231-6.)
The Fast Neutron Hodoscope at Treat: Operational Experience and Improvementsx

The multichannel hodoscope at TREAT is capable of detecting motion of fuel resulting from intentional meltdown of fuel pins contained within a test capsule. The system has been in operation in its present form since 1969, having participated in over 50 transients. Operational experience and evolutionary improvements are the subject matter of this report. The rather complex hodoscope system, which is supported by an involved series of steps before results can be achieved, has worked well within design prediction. Computer-aided reconstruction of the data has been provided to obtain displays, plots, and movies of fuel motion events.
The primate circadian rhythm during isolation

The present study presents the measurement of the primate circadian rhythm as it occurs in constant environmental conditions during a 90-day period of isolation. The major findings indicate that the recorded physiological and behavioral activity followed a 23-hr. periodicity when stimulus change was minimized.
Nanocomposite-based lignocellulosic fibers 2: Layer-by-layer modification of wood fibers for reinforcement in thermoplastic composites

The present study investigated the layer-by-layer (LbL) modification of wood fibers for reinforcement in thermoplastic composites. The modification process involves the manipulation of surfaces with highly controlled chemistries using polyelectrolytes and nanoparticles. Fibers were modified with layers of montmorillonite clay and poly(diallyldimethylammonium) chloride (PDDA) using sequential adsorption steps to create the LbL modified fibers. The composites were prepared by melt compounding polypropylene (PP) and unmodified/LbL modified fibers, followed by compression molding. The thermal properties of the composites were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic mechanical analysis, while mechanical properties were tested in tensile and flexural test modes. LbL modified fiber composites have similar modulus values but lower strength values than those of unmodified fiber composites. However, composites composed of LbL modified fibers display enhanced elongation at break, increasing by more than 50%, to those of unmodified samples. DSC results indicated that crystallization behavior of PP is promoted in the presence of wood fibers. Both unmodified and LbL modified wood fibers are able to act as nucleation agents, which caused an increase of the crystallinity of PP by the presence of wood fiber. Moreover, results from tensile and flexural strength, dynamic mechanical analysis and water absorption tests reveal that the material (PDDA or clay) at the terminal (outer) layer of LbL modified fiber influences the performance of the composites.
Laser Flash Photolysis Study of Methyl Derivatives of Phenyl Azide

Laser flash photolysis (Nd:YAG, 35 ps, 266 nm, 10 mJ; KrF excimer, 249 nm, 12 ns, 70 mJ; XeCl excimer, 308 nm, 17 ns, 50 mJ) of methyl substituted phenyl azides produces the corresponding singlet nitrenes. The singlet nitrenes were detected directly, and their decay was analyzed to yield the observed rate constant kOBS. The observed rate constant is the sum of kR + kISC where kR is the absolute rate constant of rearrangement to an azirine and kISC is the absolute rate constant of intersystem crossing. Values of kOBS were measured as a function of temperature and dissected assuming that kISC is temperature-independent. It was shown that kISC is independent of temperature for 2,6-dimethyl- and 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl singlet nitrenes. The barriers to rearrangement of singlet phenylnitrene, p-methylphenylnitrene, o-methylphenylnitrene, 2,6-dimethylphenylnitrene, and 2,4,6-trimethylphenylnitrene in hydrocarbon solvents are found to be 5.6, 5.8, 5.3, 7.0, and 7.3 ± 0.4 kcal/mol, respectively. The data demonstrat...
INFLUENCE OF 6-AZAURACIL ON PYRIMIDINE METABOLISM OF COCKLEBUR LEAF DISCS.

Abstract 1. 1. The influence of 6-azauracil on metabolism of 14 C-labeled orotic acid and uracil was studied in leaf discs of the cocklebur plant, Xanthium pennsylvanicum Wall. 2. 2. Conversion of orotic acid to ribonucleic acid was inhibited by azauracil. Considerable evidence indicates an interference with decarboxylation of orotidylic acid: CO 2 release from [ carboxy - 14 C]orotic acid was reduced by an amount approximately equal to the inhibition of ribonucleic acid synthesis from [2- 14 C]orotic acid. Under these conditions orotic acid accumulated in the cells. Synthesis of ribonucleic acid from labeled uracil was not reduced, provided corrections were made for inhibition of uracil absorption into the leaf discs by azauracil. 3. 3. 12 metabolites of uracil were detected in hot ethanol (80%) extracts of the tissues, including the catabolic products dihydrouracil and β-ureidopropionic acid. Certain uridine nucleotides were also present. Azauracil inhibited conversion of uracil into a nucleotide tentatively identified as uridine-diphosphate glucose. 4. 4. Orotidylic acid and orotidine were not present in the leaves in amounts detectable by the techniques used.
Dispersed ultrafast nonresonant electronic responses: detuning oscillations and near resonance effects

Abstract Detuning oscillations, previously observed in the dispersed optical heterodyne detected (OHD) birefringent responses of nonresonant liquids when the pump and probe pulses were temporally overlapped, are shown to be inherent to frequency resolved nonresonant P (3) electronic responses. For a Gaussian pump and a one-sided exponential probe pulse, the frequency of these detuning oscillations is equal to the detuning from the probe carrier frequency. This effect is related to the coherence coupling effects well known in resonant pump–probe studies. These detuning oscillations vanish in the corresponding dispersed SHG cross-correlations and dispersed homodyne responses. The influence of near two-photon resonance is considered.
Left Handed Material at Optical Wavelength

We present a left-handed material (LHM) at optical wavelength. Our structure consists of polystyrene spheres on layers of metals. Measurement of LHM is discussed, suggesting that our structure has a negative refractive index near 470nm.
Secondary structures of nucleic acids in organic solvents. II. Optical properties of nucleotides and nucleic acids.

Abstract Comparative information about the optical rotatory dipsersion and optical absorbancy of nucleotides, synthetic polynucleotides and nucleic acids has been obtained through a systematic investigation of solutions of these materials in formamide and in aqueous systems of varied pH and temperature. In formamide solution nucleic acid polymers were found to have only slightly higher specific rotations and slightly lower absorbancies than their corresponding monomers, and consequently were presumed to be devoid of all formal secondary structure. In aqueous solution, on the other hand, the difference between the optical properties of the monomer and polymer pairs was often large, indicating the influence of secondary structure. Preliminary results suggest that nucleic acids in salt-free formamide exist in an extended-chain conformation.
THE EFFECTS OF MIGRATION AND PERSONAL EFFECTIVENESS ON LONG-DISTANCE TRAVEL

THE PROBLEM to which the research reported here is addressed is analysis of the demand for long-distance travel. Trips to places 100 miles away or more are considered. The analysis is based on a survey of a cross-section of the population of the United States conducted by the Survey Research Center of the University of Michigan in 1962. The novel element in this paper is the inclusion among the predictors of the volume of travel by individuals of measures of their prior geographic mobility and their personalities. Estimates will be presented of the relation between the geographic mobility of people and their subsequent frequency of travel, and of the relation between their sense of personal effectiveness and their frequency of travel. It is not possible using a single cross-section survey to develop a complete model of all the variables which are related to the freqeuncy with which people travel. The method is poorly adapted to the estimation of the effects of some variables, such as changes over time in the price of transportation. The method is useful for isolating characteristics of individuals associated with differences in how many trips they take. Apart from simple intellectual curiosity there are two basic reasons for interest in analysis of the demand for travel: forecasting and marketing. Most studies of forecasting rely upon projections into the future of the effects of the changing income distribution of the population and its changing demographic characteristics. The research presented here has some relevance to forecasting, especially to forecasting the volume of travel on particular routes, since it investigates the connections between migration and subsequent travel. The results are perhaps more directly concerned with problems of marketing, that is, problems of adapting the nature of the services supplied to the requirements of potential travellers. For the design and operation of transportation systems it is important to understand as thoroughly as possible who travels and why, as well as who does not travel, and the reasons why. HYPOTHESES
Rad9, an evolutionarily conserved gene with multiple functions for preserving genomic Integrity

The Rad9 gene is evolutionarily conserved. Analysis of the gene from yeast, mouse and human reveal roles in multiple, fundamental biological processes primarily but not exclusively important for regulating genomic integrity. The encoded mammalian proteins participate in promoting resistance to DNA damage, cell cycle checkpoint control, DNA repair, and apoptosis. Other functions include a role in embryogenesis, the transactivation of multiple target genes, co-repression of androgen-induced transcription activity of the androgen receptor, a 3'-5' exonuclease activity, and the regulation of ribonucleotide synthesis. Analyses of the functions of Rad9, and in particular its role in regulating and coordinating numerous fundamental biological activities, should not only provide information about the molecular mechanisms of several individual cellular processes, but might also lend insight into the more global control and coordination of what at least superficially present as independent pathways.
Rehabilitation of splice connections of wood trusses with FRP composites

Abstract Glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) composite laminates were investigated for improving the tensile capacity of joint splice connections in the chords of the arch wood trusses of the roof of a historic structure, as part of an overall seismic rehabilitation. Specimens consisting of two 76 mm × 305 mm butt ended heavy dimension lumber members with GFRP laminate connections were tested in tension to simulate the chords of the wood trusses of the historic structure. The GFRP-reinforced splice connections were of two types: Type I had the composite applied to only one 305 mm wood face due to accessibility restrictions; Type II had the composite applied to the two 76 mm wood faces. Three different GFRP composite materials were used with either clamped or mechanically fastened splice connections. Splice connections with intentional offsets were also tested. The GFRP-reinforced splice connections provided a significant improvement of the tensile capacity for resisting the combined gravity and seismic loads. The rehabilitation method was considered to be successful and it was determined that implementation would reduce the overall seismic vulnerability of the historic structure. As a result, the method was implemented to connect the chord joint splices of the roof arch wood trusses of the structure.
Zero-Bias Anomaly in Irradiated Pb-GaAs Tunnel Junctions, and the Mott Transition

Pb-GaAs Schottky barriers irradiated progressively by 10-MeV electrons or fast neutrons were found to exhibit anomalous behavior identical to that produced by varying the initial doping. The results are consistent with the Hubbard model of the Mott transition.
The Cross-Situational Consistency of Communicative Behaviors A Preliminary Investigation

Personality traits are widely employed as antecedent variables in the explanation of communicative behaviors. This study explored the legitimacy of the use of traits by focusing on the conceptual and empirical justification for one assumption of the trait approach: "cross-situational consistency. " This assumption was not supported for the traits of "reticence" or 'predisposition toward verbal behavior." Evidence also raised questions concerning the general validity of this assumption for other, familiar trait variables. Alternative conceptualizations of the trait/behavior relationship were reviewed and briefly critiqued.
δ13C values of Miocene Pacific benthic foraminifera: Correlations with sea level and biological productivity

13 C/ 12 C ratios of Miocene benthic foraminifera from 22 Pacific Ocean sites vary with time but are similar at almost all sites in any restricted interval. δ 13 C values are correlated with sea levels inferred from onlap/offlap curves, reflecting the deposition of greater amounts of organic matter on the continental shelves during transgressions. Differences in δ 13 C between sites are correlated with local differences in biological productivity in the overlying surface waters. 13 C/ 12 C values of benthic foraminifera show promise as indicators of marine paleoproductivity.
Recent advances in transplantation for primary immune deficiency diseases: a comprehensive review.

Hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is a curative therapeutic option for severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), a group of diseases which otherwise carry life expectancies that are of limited duration and quality. Survival following HCT for SCID has improved from approximately 23 to 91 % over the last 40 years. Success with SCID prompted efforts to apply HCT to the therapeutic challenge of well over 20 molecularly defined primary immune deficiency diseases (PID). Such success is due to both early recognition of PIDs and advances in the field of transplantation. Such advances include high-resolution HLA DNA donor–recipient matching, expansion of donor sources, better tolerated conditioning, new antibiotics, and wider availability. International collaborative efforts have provided patients and caregivers information that permit better treatment decisions now, and direct clinicians and investigators to ensure progress in the future. Pioneers in screening for SCID have taken steps to correct the fundamental challenge to successful treatment, which is the rapid discovery and characterization of cases and offering the transplant option to an affected child early in life; blood spot testing for T and B cell receptor quantification is now available to a growing fraction of newborns. Organizations including the Primary Immune Deficiency Treatment Consortium in the USA, The European Society for Primary Immunodeficiency, the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation, the Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Consortium, the United States Immunodeficiency Network, the Immune Deficiency Foundation, and the Jeffrey Modell Foundation are contributing mightily to increase awareness and standardize optimal utilization to the benefit of patients. This review will update the allergist–immunologist concerning disease presentations, indications for transplantation, methodologies, conditioning regimens, and clinical outcomes for patients with PID for which timely HCT is critical.
Low power design and dynamic power management system for VLIW DSP subsystem

In this paper, we introduce the VLIW DSP subsystem for multi-core software development and SoC prototyping. The DSP subsystem consists two DSP cores (65nm PACDSP V3F) and a FPGA chipset (Virtex5 XC5VLX330), which is a multi-core solution. The flexibility of FPGA makes it easier to integrate two DSP cores into different platforms, and system integrators can accord to their requirement to use different off-chip memory subsystem by implement different memory controller. For high-performance DSP core, thermal issues and power consumption are becoming major design constraints. Temperature variations are adversely affecting the chip reliability. In order to reduce both thermal effects and power dissipations, we develop twelve thermal sensors and several low power design techniques in the DSP subsystem, such as dynamic power management system and thermal-aware configurable instruction memory subsystem. In the DSP subsystem, an energy-effective cell-based design has been produced by analyzing the relationships between the energy efficiency and the synthesis constraints. The DSP core is fabricated in the TSMC 65nm CMOS technology. The estimated power dissipations can save about 12%∼18% by using thermal-aware configurable instruction memory subsystem in H.264 decoder, JPEG decoder and AAC decoder.
Anesthetic Induced Changes in Endoplasmic Reticulum of Lactating Mammary Tissue

Abstract Three anesthetics – Nembutal, Ketaset, and T61 – produced extensive large vacuolization of endoplasmic reticulum in lactating goat mammary tissue. This was observable with either light or electron microscopy. No normal looking cells were seen at the electron microscope level. These changes rendered the tissue unusable for morphological and autoradiographic studies. Comparable doses (weight adjusted) of the same anesthetics did not produce cellular distortion in the lactating tissue of rats as observed with light or electron microscopy. This species difference seems to involve susceptibility of the endoplasmic reticulum to swelling. Effects of anesthetics on morphology of lactating tissue from other species is not known but may constitute an important variable.
UA(1) anomaly at high temperature: The scalar-pseudoscalar splitting in QCD

We estimate the splitting between the spatial correlation lengths in the scalar and pseudoscalar channels in QCD at high temperature. The splitting is due to the contribution of the instanton/anti-instanton chains in the thermal ensemble, even though instanton contributions to thermodynamic quantities are suppressed. The splitting vanishes at asymptotically high temperatures as $\ensuremath{\Delta}M/M\ensuremath{\propto}({\ensuremath{\Lambda}}_{\mathrm{QCD}}/T{)}^{b}$, where $b$ is the beta function coefficient.
Axonal transport plays a crucial role in mediating the axon-protective effects of NmNAT

Deficits in axonal transport are thought to contribute to the pathology of many neurodegenerative diseases. Expressing the slow Wallerian degeneration protein (Wld(S)) or related nicotinamide mononucleotide adenyltransferases (NmNATs) protects axons against damage from a broad range of insults, but the ability of these proteins to protect against inhibition of axonal transport has received little attention. We set out to determine whether these proteins can protect the axons of cultured hippocampal neurons from damage due to hydrogen peroxide or oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) and, in particular, whether they can reduce the damage that these agents cause to the axonal transport machinery. Exposure to these insults inhibited the axonal transport of both mitochondria and of the vesicles that carry axonal membrane proteins; this inhibition occurred hours before the first signs of axonal degeneration. Expressing a cytoplasmically targeted version of NmNAT1 (cytNmNAT1) protected the axons against both insults. It also reduced the inhibition of transport when cells were exposed to hydrogen peroxide and enhanced the recovery of transport following both insults. The protective effects of cytNmNAT1 depend on mitochondrial transport. When mitochondrial transport was inhibited, cytNmNAT1 was unable to protect axons against either insult. The protective effects of mitochondrially targeted NmNAT also were blocked by inhibiting mitochondrial transport. These results establish that NmNAT robustly protects the axonal transport system following exposure to OGD and reactive oxygen species and may offer similar protection in other disease models. Understanding how NmNAT protects the axonal transport system may lead to new strategies for neuroprotection in neurodegenerative diseases.
Measurement and understanding of single-molecule break junction rectification caused by asymmetric contacts

The contact effects of single-molecule break junctions on rectification behaviors were experimentally explored by a systematic control of anchoring groups of 1,4-disubstituted benzene molecular junctions. Single-molecule conductance and I-V characteristic measurements reveal a strong correlation between rectifying effects and the asymmetry in contacts. Analysis using energy band models and I-V calculations suggested that the rectification behavior is mainly caused by asymmetric coupling strengths at the two contact interfaces. Fitting of the rectification ratio by a modified Simmons model we developed suggests asymmetry in potential drop across the asymmetric anchoring groups as the mechanism of rectifying I-V behavior. This study provides direct experimental evidence and sheds light on the mechanisms of rectification behavior induced simply by contact asymmetry, which serves as an aid to interpret future single-molecule electronic behavior involved with asymmetric contact conformation.
The biology of Physematium muelleri: trophic activity

Abstract Physematium muelleri is a common component of the oceanic surface plankton in oligotrophic regions of the North Atlantic. In laboratory experiments, the symbionts in one population of this spumellarian had an average of 19 ng Chl a per radiolarian, and incorporated a mean of 2.5 mg C mg Chl a h −1 . P max was 3.4 mg C mg Chl a h −1 at 23°C, and the average incorporation per radiolarian was 50 ng C h −1 . Respiration measurements indicate that the organisms respired 9 nmoles O 2 h −1 at 28°C. Photosynthesis by the symbionts fixed insufficient carbon to fuel this respiration. Of the Radiolaria collected, 84% of the Caribbean samples, and 98% of the Sargasso Sea samples contained microscopic prey, but most of the prey carbon was in occasional copepods. The average radiolarian had captured 35 ng C in prey in the Sargasso Sea and 40 ng in the Caribbean.
Train-of-four recovery after pharmacologic antagonism of pancuronium-, pipecuronium-, and doxacurium-induced neuromuscular block in anaesthetized humans.

Previous studies have suggested that the increased duration of action of long-acting neuromuscular relaxants may make their pharmacologic antagonism more difficult and, thus, increase the likelihood of residual block. This hypothesis was tested in healthy, adult humans who received a background of isoflurane/N2O/fentanyl anaesthesia. Study subjects were paralyzed with either pancuronium (N=8), pipecuronium (N=8), or the longer-acting relaxant, doxacurium (N=8). Neuromuscular function was monitored, and, using a blinded, randomized study design, the relaxants were titrated to identify the ED95 dose in each patient. Thereafter, spontaneous recovery was observed until there was 25% ofbaseline response to the first supramaximal twitch (Tl) in a train-of-four (TOF). At this time, the block was antagonized with neostigmine 0.07 mg/kg and glycopyrrolate 0.014 mg/kg i.v., and recovery of TOF was recorded. Spontaneous recovery to 25% of the baseline Tl response occurred at 52± 14 min (mean±SD) following administration of either pancuronium and pipecuronium, and 85 ±33 min following doxacurium (P<0.05 for doxacurium versus pancuronium and pipecuronium). In doxacurium-rreated patients, reversal of block with neostigmine was less predictable and less complete than with the other two relaxants. For example, the ratio of the fourth to first twitch (T4/T1) of the TOF at 10 and 15 min after reversal was significantly less with doxacurium (59 ±14% and 61±16%, respectively) than with either pancuronium (75±6% and 75±10%) or pipecuronium (76±9% for both). At 30 min post-neostigmine, the incidence of residual block (i.e. T4/T1 <0.70) was: pancuronium 2 patients, pipecuronium 1 patient, and doxacurium 5 patients. These studies support the hypothesis that incomplete reversal of neuromuscular block is more likely with longer-acting neuromuscular relaxants.
LRFD: implementing structural reliability in professional practice

Abstract Structural reliability methods provide the framework for addressing building safety and serviceability issues in a rational manner. Load and resistance factor design (LRFD) represents the first attempt in the United States to implement a rational probabilistic approach to managing uncertainties in the building process in a structural code. The development of LRFD during the period 1969–85, under the leadership of Professor Theodore V. Galambos, is a paradigm of collaboration between structural engineers, reliability analysts, and the building industry. Not surprisingly, LRFD has opened the door to new research opportunities and challenges.
Cholinergic Coordination of Presynaptic and Postsynaptic Activity Induces Timing-Dependent Hippocampal Synaptic Plasticity

Correlated presynaptic and postsynaptic activity is the key factor in inducing Hebbian plasticity and memory. However, little is known about the physiological events that could mediate such coordination. Correlated cholinergic input induces spike timing-dependent plasticity-like hippocampal synaptic plasticity. Cholinergic receptors are localized to both presynaptic and postsynaptic glutamatergic sites and thus have the potential to coordinate presynaptic and postsynaptic activity to induce plasticity. By directly monitoring presynaptic and postsynaptic activities with genetically encoded calcium indicators in mouse septohippocampal cocultures, we found interactive but independent presynaptic and postsynaptic modulations in the cholinergic-dependent synaptic plasticity. Neither presynaptic nor postsynaptic modulation alone is sufficient, but instead a coordinated modulation at both sites is required to induce the plasticity. Therefore, we propose that correlated cholinergic input can coordinate presynaptic and postsynaptic activities to induce timing-dependent synaptic plasticity, providing a novel mechanism by which neuromodulators precisely modulate network activity and plasticity with high efficiency and temporal precision.
In-Situ Cluster Processing For Advanced Semiconductor Technologies

Each generation of VLSI semiconductor technology is more complex than the previous generation. Therefore, to help minimize manufacturing costs, turnaround time and defect levels, process clustering has become an attractive alternative to traditional, nonclustering processing. A unique application to cluster processing is in-situ cluster processing, defined as multiprocess steps using various chambers under vacuum inside a single machine. The use of four single wafer reactors (SWR) combined with a common load-lock capable of deposition and etch processes was examined for spacer processes. Two examples will be discussed in some detail: spacer formation and recess/collar formation.
Mesencephalic type I astrocytes mediate the survival of substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons in culture

We previously demonstrated that substantia nigra (SN) support cells selectively increase SN dopamine (DA) neuron survival in dissociated primary culture. Increased survival was elicited specifically by nigral support cells; glia from other brain regions exerted lesser effects. We now report that Type I astrocytes, the principal component of SN support cell monolayers, mediate the enhanced DA cell survival. Initially, the predominant glial subtypes in SN support cell cultures were identified. Postnatal day 1 rat SN was dissociated and cells were grown to confluence (7-9 days in vitro; DIV). Monolayers were immunostained with antibodies against glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP; an astrocyte-specific marker), myelin basic protein (MBP; an oligodendrocyte marker), or A2B5 (recognizes 0-2A progenitors and Type II astrocytes). The number of GFAP+ cells far exceeded MBP+ and A2B5+ cells, suggesting that astrocytes constituted the predominant subpopulation. Further, direct comparison of GFAP+ (Type I and Type II astrocytes) and A2B5+ (Type II astrocytes) cells indicated that the vast majority were Type I astrocytes. Greater than 98% of cells reacted with glial antibodies. To definitively characterize the cellular subtype that augments survival of DA neurons, glial subcultures were established. At 2 DIV, enriched populations of Type I or Type II astrocytes, or oligodendrocytes, were tested for the ability to elicit DA neuron survival. Embryonic day 16 rat SN dissociates were added and DA cell number was assessed with antibody against tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), the DA biosynthetic enzyme.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)