cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Full-scale demonstration of in situ cometabolic biodegradation of trichloroethylene in groundwater 1. Dynamics of a recirculating well system

[1] Recirculating well systems provide an engine for the in situ treatment of subsurface contaminants. Although numerous recirculating wells have been installed in the field, for such systems, there is a paucity of comprehensive monitoring data and models constrained to data appearing in the research literature. Here we present an extensive data set combined with detailed inverse and simulation analyses for a two-well groundwater recirculation system used for in situ bioremediation at Edwards Air Force Base in southern California. The “conveyor belt” flow system, which was established for in situ treatment of trichloroethylene (TCE) in two bioactive zones, was created by pumping water upward in one well and downward in another well, each well being screened in both the upper and lower aquifers. A bromide tracer test was conducted and extensively monitored for 60 days. Combined inverse analysis was conducted on hydraulic heads from 38 monitoring wells, 32 bromide concentration histories, and a constraint on the degree of recirculation that was based on TCE concentration data. Four different formulations involving alternative weighting schemes used in a nonlinear weighted least squares simulation-regression analysis were explored. The best formulation provided parameter estimates with tight bounds on estimated covariances, suggesting that the model provides a reasonable description of the hydrogeologic system. Our investigation indicates the geometry of the recirculation zone and the degree of recirculation under two different sets of operating conditions. Surprisingly, our analysis suggests that the effects of aquifer heterogeneity are not significant at this site under the conditions of forced recirculation. Furthermore, anomalous flow through an open monitoring well created significant vertical short-circuiting between the generally insulated aquifers. Flow through this small open conduit was equivalent to as much as 33% of the flow through the pumping wells. Using the model as a guide, we treated the aquifer system and bioactive zones as an equivalent mixed reactor to develop simple expressions relating effluent concentrations to influent concentrations. We demonstrate how these expressions are useful in predicting the removal of TCE that had undergone in situ bioremediation in the recirculatory treatment well system. The finite element model developed in this work serves as the foundation for a reactive transport simulator that we developed to analyze bioremediation which occurred during a 444 day experiment [Gandhi et al., 2002].
Rena Bivens, Digital Currents: How Technology and the Public Are Shaping TV News

Television news has come a long way from the days when millions of Americans gathered around in unison to watch Edward R. Murrow take on Joseph McCarthy on See it Now. The consumption of news today, in comparison, is anything but synchronized. In addition to hundreds of TV channels—many of which are watched on digital video recording or online broadcasts—a countless number of websites, social networks, and software applications also deliver news in today’s information age. As a result of these developments in digital media, journalists have entered an era vastly different than the one navigated by Murrow.
Interpretation of polyazulene electropolymerization considering faradaic current efficiency and capacitive current effects during the growth and redox

Abstract A theoretical analysis of the electropolymerization of azulene at a rotating ring-disk electrode is presented. This analysis provides a method for determining the current efficiency of electropolymerization. The oxidation of azulene to polyazulene in acetonitrile as solvent is a convective-diffusion controlled process that proceeds with 100% current efficiency. A positively charged site is associated with at least two non-terminal monomer units in the oxidized form of the polymer. Hydrogen ion has been identified and quantitated as a product of the electropolymerization process. No hydrogen ions are produced by the redox process involving only the polymer film. A theoretical analysis of rotating disk electrode, RDE, and rotating ring-disk electrode, RRDE, experiments established the advantages and limitations of these purely electrochemical approaches to the study of the growth phase of electropolymerization processes. The results are consistent with the simultaneous production of hydrogen ion and a reduced polymer, and charging the polymer by electrooxidation without producing hydrogen ions. The shift of the halfwave potential during the oxidation of azulene at a polymer coated electrode in the early stages of film growth demonstrates that the mechanism of electropolymerization continues to change until relatively thick polymer films have formed.
The PVT behavior of isopropyl alcohol at elevated temperatures and pressures

Experimental PVT data have been obtained for isopropyl alcohol by the use of a constant-volume apparatus. Smoothed values of the compressibility factor are presented for temperatures from 200° to 300°C. and pressures from 1,000 to 8,000 lb./sq. in. The experimental data are estimated to be accurate to within 0.4%. The compressibility factor of isopropyl alcohol is also analyzed by the fourth-parameter approach. It is shown that the normal fluid relationship for the compressibility factor can be extended to polar fluids by the inclusion of linear and quadratic terms in the fourth parameter.
Ocular toxoplasmosis: the influence of patient age

The influence of patient age on various features of ocular toxoplasmosis has been a subject of study for many years. The age at which Toxoplasma gondii infection occurs in different populations is related to socioeconomic factors and studies suggest that ocular toxoplasmosis is a more severe disease at the extremes of age. The prevalence of ocular involvement is markedly different between individuals with congenital and those with post-natally acquired infections. Even among those with post-natally acquired infections, age influences the risk and timing of ocular involvement. The severity of toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis (in terms of lesion size, location and associated inflammation) is also affected by patient age at the time of initial infection or recurrence. The risk of recurrent toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis is influenced by age at the time of initial infection and age at most recent episode of active disease. Understanding of relationships between ocular toxoplasmosis and patient age is incomplete; evidence has often been indirect and in some cases conflicting. The influence of patient age on ocular toxoplasmosis should be studied in a systematic manner to provide a better understanding of disease mechanisms and to provide clinical information that can used to establish better strategies for disease treatment and prevention.
Instrumentation for Thyristor Control

Since thyristor control produces nonsinusoidal periodic waveforms with high harmonic content, the electrical measurements associated with such controls require some adaptation of the existing techniques which have evolved mainly for the measurement of constant (dc) or sinusoidally varying (ac) electrical quantities. The basic principles and instruments discussed are relevant to voltage, current, real and reactive power, and power factor measurement in situations most likely to be encountered in applications of silicon-controlled rectifiers (thyristors).
Laparoscopic Thal fundoplication in mentally retarded children

Background: An increasing number of reports indicate that Thal fundoplication is the procedure of choice in mentally retarded children. With the advent of laparoscopy, Nissen's fundoplication seems to have been repopularized. However, the choice of the operative technique should be based on the merits of the procedure itself rather than the laparoscopic feasibility. The aim of this study is to determine if laparoscopic Thal fundoplication is beneficial for mentally retarded children. Methods: Between November 1993 and 1994 laparoscopic Thal fundoplication was performed in 15 mentally handicapped children; 13 also had a feeding gastrostomy. Age varied from 1.5 to almost 17 years (mean 7 years). Mean weight was 18 kg (5–50 kg). All patients underwent an upper GI study and endoscopy as well as pre- and 3 months postoperative pH study. Indications for the procedure were reflux esophagitis in 11 and feeding problems with silent reflux in 4. Results: The laparoscopic procedure was converted in the second patient because of bleeding in the hiatus. No further procedure-related intra- or postoperative complications occurred. The mean hospitalization was 3.7 days. No symptomatic postoperative gastroesophageal reflux has been observed. All children have undergone postoperative pH studies, which displayed silent reflux in two. Gastrostomy feeding is well tolerated. Conclusion: We conclude that Thal fundoplication can be performed laparoscopically in mentally retarded children. The laparoscopic results are comparable to the open Thal procedure.
Acolpenteron willifordensis n. sp. (Monogenoidea: Dactylogyridae) Parasitic in the Kidney and Ureters of the Spotted Sucker Minytrema melanops (Rafinesque) (Cypriniformes: Catostomidae) from Econfina Creek, Florida

ABSTRACT: Acolpenteron willifordensis n. sp. (Monogenoidea: Dactylogyridae) is described from the ureters and kidney (presumably the renal tubules) of the spotted sucker Minytrema melanops (Cypriniformes: Catostomidae) collected from the Econfina Creek in the panhandle of northern Florida. The new species is similar to Acolpenteron catostomi Fischthal and Allison, 1942 in body shape and size, position of the vaginal pore, and the general shape of the posteriorly notched haptor. It differs from A. catostomi by having a broad tubular shaft of the male copulatory organ that lacks a proximal double recurve immediately distal to its base. Possible biogeographic explanations for the occurrences of species of Acolpenteron in primary freshwater fishes of North America, Eurasia and South America are presented.
Shape representation by a network of V4-like cells

Cells in extrastriate visual cortex have been reported to be selective for various configurations of local contour shape [Pasupathy, A., & Connor, C. E. (2001). Shape representation in area V4: Position-specific tuning for boundary conformation. The Journal of Neurophysiology, 86 (5), 2505-2519; Hegde, J., & Van Essen, D. C. (2003). Strategies of shape representation in macaque visual area V2. Visual Neuroscience, 20 (3), 313-328]. Specifically, Pasupathy and Connor found that in area V4 most cells are strongly responsive to a particular local contour conformation located at a specific position on the object's boundary. We used a population of ''V4-like cells''-units sensitive to multiple shape features modeled after V4 cell behavior-to generate representations of different shapes. Standard classification algorithms (earth mover's distance, support vector machines) applied to this population representation demonstrate high recognition accuracies classifying handwritten digits in the MNIST database and objects in the MPEG-7 Shape Silhouette database. We compare the performance of the V4-like unit representation to the ''shape context'' representation of Belongie et al. [Belongie, S., Malik, J., & Puzicha, J. (2002). Shape matching and object recognition using shape contexts. IEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence, 24 (24), 509-522]. Results show roughly comparable recognition accuracies using the two representations when tested on portions of the MNIST database. We analyze the relative contributions of various V4-like feature sensitivities to recognition accuracy and robustness to noise - feature sensitivities include curvature magnitude, direction of curvature, global orientation of the contour segment, distance of the contour segment from object center, and modulatory effect of adjacent contour regions. Among these, local curvature appears to be the most informative variable for shape recognition. Our results support the hypothesis that V4 cells function as robust shape descriptors in the early stages of object recognition.
Histamine plays a part in induction of drinking by food intake.

Drinking occurs around meal time in most mammals. Food-related drinking accounts for ∼70% of daily fluid intake for rats1,2, but little is known of the mechanisms by which eating elicits drinking3. That eating4 and vagal stimulation5,6 elicit the release of histamine from gastric mucosa, together with the fact that drinking elicited by eating7 or exogenous histamine8–10 depends on an intact abdominal vagus, suggests a role for endogenous histamine as a component of food-related drinking in the rat. I report here that the combined antagonism of peripheral H1 and H2 receptors for histamine (1) attenuates drinking elicited by normal food-contingent stimulation of the gastrointestinal tract and (2) abolishes drinking elicited by pregastric food-contingent stimulation during sham feeding in the rat.
Regulation of Vegetative Phase Change in Arabidopsis thaliana by Cyclophilin 40

During its development, a plant shoot progresses from a juvenile to an adult phase of vegetative growth and from a reproductively incompetent to a reproductively competent state. In Arabidopsis, loss-of-function mutations in SQUINT (SQN) reduced the number of juvenile leaves and had subtle effects on inflorescence morphology but had no effect on flowering time or on reproductive competence. SQN encodes the Arabidopsis homolog of cyclophilin 40 (CyP40), a protein found in association with the Hsp90 chaperone complex in yeast, mammals, and plants. Thus, in Arabidopsis, CyP40 is specifically required for the vegetative but not the reproductive maturation of the shoot.
Polyethylene glycol and maltose enhance somatic embryo maturation in loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L. )

A culture medium that can efficiently produce mature somatic embryos was developed for loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.). The medium contained maltose as a carbohydrate source and polyethylene glycol as an osmoticum. This medium formulation significantly enhanced embryo maturation efficiency compared to a medium with only maltose, or with sucrose combined with polyethylene glycol. Maltose at 4% and polyethylene glycol at 6% resulted in the highest embryo maturation efficiency; an average of around 100 cotyledonary embryos were produced from 1 g of embryogenic tissue. These results suggested that previous ineffective embryo maturation in loblolly pine may be due to the lack of the proper combination of osmoticum and carbohydrate source. This embryo maturation method also improved morphology of cotyledonary embryos of loblolly pine.
A modification of the mechanism of formation of methyl galactosides by the Fischer reaction including a computer simulation

The Fischer reaction of d-galactose and methanol, catalyzed by a strongly acidic ion-exchange resin, to form the four methyl galactosides has been run at two temperatures under conditions that allow a computer simulation of the mechanism. The reaction was followed by gas-liquid chromatography of the trimethylsilyl ethers. The data obtained differs appreciably from that described in a previous paper [J. Org. Chem., 38 (1973) 3272–3277)] owing to an error in peak assignment in that paper. The mechanism previously proposed, however, has required only a slight modification to explain the new data. A possible set of rate constants, equilibrium constants, and apparent activation energies which fit the experimental data have been obtained.
Postgenomics of Tribolium: Targeting the endocrine regulation of diuresis

Coleopteran insects comprise a highly successful taxon, representing more than 25% of eukaryotic species, many of which are economically important. One of these, the red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum H.), is a major pest of stored grain and cereal products and is also an excellent genetic model for the Coleoptera. The Tribolium genome sequencing project was recently completed, the first for an agricultural insect pest species. This genome sequence and annotation, in combination with the tractability of Tribolium for genetic dissection and functional genomic analysis, makes it one of the most useful subjects for studies of insect development, genetics and physiology. Tribolium has a number of interesting physiological adaptations, including desiccation tolerance associated with specialized cryptonephridial organs for active rectal absorption of atmospheric water. The study of endocrine regulation of diuresis in this species has led to the identification of a number of osmoregulatory peptides, including the novel arginine-vasopressin-like peptide.
Unequal accumulation of adrenergic drugs by pigmented and nonpigmented iris.

Drugs administered topically are usuallyless effective in producing mydriatics or miosis in the markedly pigmented iris." Cocaine is markedly bound by the pigmented guinea pig iris, while little or no drug is bound by the nonpigmented iris. Melanin pigment appears to bind the ocular drug in the heaviiv pigmented 'xis, and. the**j lesser concentration of that drug is available for interaction with The adrpnprgnc neurons 9 The lower concentration of the drug pro­ duces less mydriatic effects. The converse holds true in the nonpigmented iris. Similar explanations were advanced for the differen­ tial ocular hypotensive effects of pilocarpine. The aim of this study was to analyze systematically the accumulation and retention of several adrenergic drugs to determine the differential action of the drugs on the pig­ mented and the nonpigmented iris.
Durability in consumption and the dynamics of the current account

Abstract In a model with durable goods and Ricardian production technology, an increase in government expenditure increases the steady-state level of employment and reduces consumption. The country runs a current account surplus. The two-factor model with costly investment, akin to Turnovsky and Sen (Oxford Econom. Pap. 43 (1991) 1) confirms all the basic results of the simple model except for the current account balance. The increase in capital has a negative effect; whereas a decrease in the stock of consumer durables has a positive effect on the purchase of foreign bonds – thus creating an ambiguous effect on the current account balance. Moreover, the current account will likely exhibit non-monotonic adjustment.
Soft soil, black grapes: the birth of Italian winemaking in California

Following Repeal of Prohibition, Italian-Americans owned the majority of bonded wineries in Santa Clara, Sonoma, and Napa Counties, the prime vineyard lands of California. A cursory examination of ...
Microbial Genomics: E. coli Relatives Out of Doors and Out of Body

Summary Genome comparisons have shown that several clades of Escherichia isolated primarily from non-host habitats are adapted to life outside of hosts, and that these very close relatives of E. coli have historically not shared environments with gut-associated E. coli .
Customer retention: examining the roles of store affect and store loyalty as mediators in the management of retail strategies

This study presents a strategic view of the antecedents of loyalty through a model in which store affect and store loyalty mediate the effects of store characteristics on store outcomes and business performance. It is proposed that store atmosphere, store uniqueness, merchandise value and store familiarity are directly related to store affect and that store affect, operating via store loyalty, impacts word‐of‐mouth, willingness to pay and customer share. The model is tested using an aggregate dataset of 71 retail stores and 1966 shoppers. The results favor a mediated model in which store loyalty mediates the impact of store affect on store outcomes. Additionally, it is found that store affect also directly influences word‐of‐mouth and willingness to pay a higher price but not customer share. These results are discussed in terms of their theoretical and strategic managerial implications.
Two-dimensional non-linear finite element analysis of CMC microstructures

Abstract A research program has been developed to quantify the effects of the microstructure of a woven ceramic matrix composite and its variability on the effective properties and response of the material. In order to characterize and quantify the variations in the microstructure of a five harness satin weave, chemical vapor infiltrated (CVI) SiC/SiC composite material, specimens were serially sectioned and polished to capture images that detailed the fiber tows, matrix, and porosity. Open source quantitative image analysis tools were then used to isolate the constituents, from which two dimensional finite element models were generated which approximated the actual specimen section geometry. A simplified elastic–plastic model, wherein all stress above yield is redistributed to lower stress regions, is used to approximate the progressive damage behavior for each of the composite constituents. Finite element analyses under in-plane tensile loading were performed to examine how the variability in the local microstructure affected the macroscopic stress–strain response of the material as well as the local initiation and progression of damage. The macroscopic stress–strain response appeared to be minimally affected by the variation in local microstructure, but the locations where damage initiated and propagated appeared to be linked to specific aspects of the local microstructure.
Synthetic aperture radar observations of the surface signatures of cold-season bands over the Great Lakes

An important aspect of operational meteorology in and around the Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada in the winter months is the forecasting of lake-effect precipitation. While the synoptic- and mesoscale processes that govern the development of lake-effect precipitation have been well understood for many years, problems observing these bands remain because of the limited boundary layer coverage provided by the Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler (WSR-88D) network. While traditional visible and infrared satellite imagery helps alleviate these coverage limitations, overcast conditions often negate this advantage. Here, a new method for observing lake-effect bands by using synthetic aperture radar (SAR) to identify and characterize their surface signatures is presented. SAR is a remote sensing tool that images surface roughness. Over water, this roughness is related to the surface wind stress and, hence, surface wind field. Here, three cases are documented where the SAR aboard the Canadian Radar Satellite-1 imaged the footprints of precipitating bands over the Great Lakes: one case with multiple snowbands west of one main band over Lake Superior, and two cases with shore-parallel bands over each of Lakes Ontario and Michigan. These cases are first documented using traditional observing methods: infrared satellite imagery, WSR-88D, and surface observations. Then, each SAR image is interpreted based upon the traditional observations. The ultimate goal is to demonstrate that SAR is capable of detecting the surface signatures associated with Great Lakes precipitation bands that could be of value to forecasters when data from traditional observation platforms are unavailable.
Neutrophil Maturation of CD34+ Cells from Peripheral Blood and Bone Marrow in Serum-Free Culture Medium with PIXY321 and Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor (G-CSF)

Bone marrow (BM) or peripheral blood (PB) CD34+ cells were cultured for 12 days in serum-free culture medium containing PIXY321 (IL-3/ GM-CSF fusion protein) with or without periodic supplements of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF). The cultures were evaluated at day 12 for total cell proliferation (fold increase from day 0), neutrophil differentiation by flow cytometry, using dual staining with CD15-FITC and CD11b-PE, and morphology using Wright-Giemsa and granule staining. In cultures containing PIXY321 where 6000 U/ml of G-CSF was added days 0 and 6, there was no significant difference (p > or = 0.05) in cell proliferation or the percent of CD15+/CD11b+ cells when compared with cultures with PIXY321 alone. ELISA analysis showed G-CSF levels had declined by 90% after 3 days of culture. Further studies were performed to assess the benefit of supplementing lower concentrations of G-CSF (600 U/ml) at more frequent intervals. A significant increase (p < or = 0.05) in cell proliferation and percent CD15+/CD11b+ was observed when G-CSF was added on days 0, 3, 6, and 9 (every 3 days) as compared with those cultures with PIXY321 alone. CD34+ cell proliferation without G-CSF was 19.6 +/- 4.8-fold, with G-CSF added on days 0 and 6 was 28.7 +/- 6.4-fold, and with G-CSF added on days 0, 3, 6, and 9 was 45.9 +/- 10.6-fold. Percent of CD15+/CD11b+ cells was 19.0 +/- 4.6%, 38.2 +/- 7.2%, and 58.5 +/- 6.5%, respectively, in these cultures. We observed more CD15+/CD11b+ cells, myelocytes/metamyelocytes, and secondary granule staining in cultures with G-CSF added on day, 0, 3, 6, and 9 as compared with cultures with G-CSF added on days 0 and 6 or no G-CSF added. We conclude that PIXY321 and G-CSF act synergistically on the in vitro proliferation and neutrophil differentiation of BM and PB CD34+ cells and that frequent supplements of G-CSF facilitate neutrophil differentiation.
Genomic organization and tissue-specific expression of splice variants of mouse organic anion transporting polypeptide 2.

Abstract cDNAs that code for mouse organic anion transporting polypeptide 2 (oatp2) have been cloned. At least three forms of mouse oatp2 cDNAs containing the same coding sequence were isolated. The common coding sequence is for a protein of 670 amino acids with 12 putative transmembrane domains. The deduced amino acid sequence of the mouse oatp2 shares 89% identity with the reported rat oatp2. Cloning and analysis of mouse oatp2 gene indicates that these isoforms are alternatively spliced products from the same gene. Heterogeneity was observed in the 5′-untranslated region of the cDNAs. Two of the three isoforms lacked the noncoding exon 3 sequence. Northern-blot hybridization analysis using the exon 3-specific probes demonstrated that mouse oatp2 mRNA containing exon 3 sequence is expressed in heart and lung, whereas exon 1-, 2-, and 17-specific probes detected mRNA only in brain and liver. The mouse oatp2 gene consists of 17 exons, including three noncoding exons, and 16 introns. All of the introns are flanked by GT-AG splice sequences except for intron 10 that is flanked by GC-AG splice sequence.
Proper efficiency conditions and duality models for constrained multiobjective optimal control probelms containing arbitrary norms

Necessary and sufficient proper efficiency conditionsand eight duality models are presented for two classes of constrained multiobjective optimal controi problemb containing albitl-ary norills and square roots of positive semidefinite quadratic forms
Additive and Synergistic Interaction between Entomopathogenic Nematodes andBacillus thuringiensisfor Scarab Grub Control

Abstract We studied the interactions between Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies japonensis Buibui strain ( Btj ) and entomopathogenic nematodes on the white grubs, Cyclocephala hirta and C. pasadenae. Field-collected third instar grubs were kept individually in microcosms filled with soil and fed grass seeds. Grubs were exposed to various concentrations of Btj and/or entomopathogenic nematodes and grub mortality was assessed at weekly intervals. Nematodes were added at 0 to 14 days after application of Btj. Throughout most of our experiments, combinations of Btj and nematodes caused additive grub mortalities or greater than additive mortalities, indicating synergism. To achieve additive or synergistic effects, grubs had to be exposed to Btj for at least 7 days before the addition of nematodes. We observed this interaction between Btj and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora or Steinernema glaseri, but not with the most pathogenic nematode, S. kushidai. The additive or synergistic interaction between Btj and S. glaseri or H. bacteriophora may offer a powerful and reliable tool for scarab grub control.
Comparison of corneal versus through-the-lid A-scan ultrasound biometry.

Background Accurate ultrasonography data on axial ocular dimensions in infants and toddlers are essential for understanding ocular development. Conventional methods using corneal contact with topical anesthesia but without sedation are not feasible for most of these patients. We evaluate an alternative method which places the probe on the closed eyelid. Methods We compared A-scan ultrasound biometry measurements taken with the probe directly on the cornea with those with the probe on the closed eyelid on the right eye of 35 young adult subjects. Results There was no significant difference between methods for mean anterior chamber depth (corneal = 3.83 mm, lid = 3.87 mm, p = 0.13, paired t-test). The mean lens thickness (corneal = 3.63 mm, lid = 3.75 mm, p = 0.0001, paired t-test) and mean vitreous chamber depth (corneal = 17.50 mm, lid = 17.68 mm, p = 0.0440, paired t-test) were significantly different. Conclusion Ultrasonography through the closed eyelid appears to be a viable method with acceptable validity compared with corneal ultrasound. Poorer agreement for lens thickness and vitreous chamber depth may be undesirable, but these data should be useful for planning future studies of infants and toddlers.
Solution-state structure of a DNA dodecamer duplex containing a Cis-syn thymine cyclobutane dimer, the major UV photoproduct of DNA.

Abstract The solution structures of a duplex DNA dodecamer containing a cis-syn cyclobutane thymine dimer d(GCACGAAT[ cs ]TAAG)·d(CTTAATTCG TGC) and its native parent sequence were determined using NMR data collected at 750 MHz. The dodecamer sequence corresponds to the section of a site-specific cis-syn dimer containing 49-mer that was found to be the binding site for the dimer-specific T4 denV endonuclease V repair enzyme by chemical and enzymatic footprinting experiments. Structures of both sequences were derived from NOE restrained molecular dynamics/simulated annealing calculations using a fixed outer layer of water and an inner dynamic layer of water with sodium counterions. The resulting structures reveal a subtle distortion to the phosphodiester backbone in the dimer-containing sequence which includes a B II phosphate at the T9pA10 junction immediately 3′ to the dimer. The B II phosphate, established experimentally by analysis of the 31 P chemical shifts and interpretation of the 3 J P-H3′ values using an optimized Karplus relationship, enables the DNA helix to accommodate the dimer by destacking the base 3′ to the dimer. Furthermore, the structures provide explanations for the unusually shifted T8-N3H imino, A16-H2 and T8-Me proton resonances and T9pA10 31 P NMR resonance and are consistent with bending, unwinding, and thermodynamic data. The implications of the structural data for the mechanism by which cis-syn dimers are recognized by repair enzymes and bypassed by DNA polymerases are also discussed.
Solid-phase synthesis of somatostatin and glucagon-selective analogs in gram quantities

Somatostatin (SS) and two glucagon selective analogs [D-Cysl4]-SS and [D-Trp8, D-Cys14]-SS have been synthesized in gram quantities by the solid-phase procedure. A general modification of Monahan and Gilon's procedure for esterification of the first protected amino acid onto the chloromethylated resin as well as a general protocol for solid-phase peptide synthesis on Beckman 990 automatic synthesizer are described. A new general procedure for disulfide formation, which involves the adaptation of the “high-dilution” principle to the ferricyanide oxidation and the optimization of the sequence of purification steps as applied to somatostatin and its analogs, yields highly purified peptides (≥ 199% pure) as checked by reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography—which is shown to be a highly sensitive, resolutive, and quantitative analytical tool for evaluation of the homogeneity of peptides.
HIV-1 Viral protein-r (Vpr) protects against lethal superantigen challenge while maintaining homeostatic T cell levels in vivo.

The HIV-1 accessory protein Vpr exhibits many interesting features related to macrophage and T cell biology. As a viral protein or as a soluble molecule it can suppress immune cell activation and cytokine production in vitro in part by targeted inhibition of NF-KB. In this regard we sought to test its effects in vivo on an NF-KB-dependent immune pathway. We examined the activity of Vpr in a lethal toxin-mediated challenge model in mice. Intravenous delivery of Vpr was sufficient to protect mice from lethal challenge with staphylococcal endotoxin B (SEB). Furthermore, Vpr protected host CD4 + T cells from in vivo depletion likely by preventing induction of AICD of SEB-exposed cells in a post-toxin-binding fashion. Understanding the biology of Vpr’s activities in this model may allow for new insight into potential mechanisms of hyperinflammatory disease and into Vpr pathobiology in the context of HIV infection.
Poly(ethylene glycol)-polyacrylate copolymers modified to control adherent monocyte-macrophage physiology: interactions with attaching Staphylococcus epidermidis or Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria.

The ability of various surface modifications of poly(ethylene glycol)-graft-polyacrylate (PEG-g-PA) copolymers (tethered adhesion peptides and fragments of monoclonal antibodies) to modulate monocyte–macrophage cell interactions with surface colonizing bacteria is reported. The PEG-g-PA copolymers were made to inhibit nonspecific protein and cellular adhesion. The copolymers were then covalently modified with either cell adhesion peptides (YRGDS, YEILDV, or YRGES) or fragments of antibodies to monocyte–macrophage integrin receptors (anti-VLA4, anti-β1, anti-β2, and anti-CD64), which are known to enhance macrophage adhesion and perhaps modulate their activation. Cytokine expression and phagocytosis response by surface adherent monocyte–macrophages to Stapylococcus epidermidis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria were quantified. The cytokine expression (interleukins 6 and 1β) of adherent macrophages in response to the modified polymers only and to bacterial challenges were quantified by dynamic ELISA assays. The adherent macrophage phagocytic response (oxidative burst) to various materials is compared to oxidative responses to both opsonized and nonopsonized S. epidermidis and P. aeruginosa bacteria. The efficiency of adherent macrophages to ingest and kill both species was determined using radiolabeled and fluorescent labeled bacterial cell ingestion studies as a function of the PEG-g-PA surface modification. Materials modified with adhesion peptides marginally enhanced (2×) macrophage attachment versus controls but, upon bacterial challenges, these materials predisposed adherent macrophages to overexpress proinflammatory cytokines and to exhibit a significant phagocytic response. Conversely, PEG-g-PA materials modified by fragments of monoclonal antibodies significantly enhanced (7×) macrophage adhesion but, upon bacterial challenge, “per cell” cytokine expression levels were reduced compared to peptide modified materials. Macrophages adhering to antibody fragment modified surfaces also exhibited sustained enhanced phagocytic response and higher bacterial killing efficiencies when compared with peptide modified materials. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 69A: 79–90, 2004
Accelerated Investment as a Force in Economic Development

Introduction, 485. — L The demographic argument, 485. — II. The role of the propensity to consume and savings, 488. — III. The importance of external economies, 491. — IV. Overtones for policy of the doctrine of accelerated rates of investment, 492. — V. Conclusion, 493.
Behavioral Factors in Heart Transplantation: Quality of Life and Medical Compliance1

The nature and quality of heart recipients' adaptation to transplant must be considered when evaluating the costs of utilizing this procedure. Little is known about the occurrence of clinically significant levels of psychiatric distress or other physical functional and psychosocial limitations in the long-term following initial recovery. Most important, despite assertions that recipients' well-being and psychosocial status are critical predictors of their medical compliance and hence, of the ultimate survival, systematic research to document such relationships is lacking. This article summarizes research on quality of life and medical compliance in transplantation, presents a conceptual framework for understanding interrelationships among such variables, and describes early results from a longitudinal study of heart transplant recipients followed during their first year after surgery. Findings indicated that psychological distress and psychosocial status early posttransplant predicted compliance levels in ensuing months; difficulties adhering to the medical regimen were, in turn, related to physical, mental, and social well-being at subsequent follow-up. Implications of these patterns of reciprocal effects are considered both for treatment and for refining conceptual models of adaptation to transplantation.
Toxicity and Disease-Related Outcomes after Radiotherapy for Head and Neck Cancer in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Positive Patients

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seropositivity may be associated with higher risk of local recurrence and poor survival in multiple malignancies. However, long-term disease control in HIV-positive patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) is not well described. The purpose of this study is to review the disease-related outcomes of HIV+ patients who underwent radiotherapy (RT) or chemoradiotherapy (CRT) at our institution. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 24 HIV-positive patients who underwent radiotherapy (RT) for HNC between 2004 and 2013. Patient characteristics, treatment details and outcomes were collected. Overall survival (OS) and local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) was investigated. Kaplan-Meier estimated survival was calculated. Results: Median follow-up was 21 months. All patients were treated with curative intent. Eighty-three percent had stage III-IV. Primary sites of disease included oropharynx (n=12), larynx (n=6), oral cavity (n=2), unknown primary (n=2), nasal cavity (n=1), and paranasal sinuses (n=1). Four patients (17%) had definitive RT alone and 9 definitive CRT (38%; 8 cisplatin and 1 cetuximab). Eleven (46%) were treated in the adjuvant setting after surgical resection; 6 with RT alone and 5 with concurrent cisplatin. Eight patients had acute Grade 3 toxicity with no acute Grade 4 or 5 toxicities. Fifteen patients (63%) were alive and disease-free. 2 and 5-year OS was 67% and 59%. LRFS at 2-years was 82%. Median OS was 83 months. Conclusions: In this cohort, HIV-positive patients treated aggressively with curative intent had excellent overall survival and local control following RT or CRT for HNC. Treatment was relatively well-tolerated compared to historical controls. This group of patients should be managed aggressively with intent to cure.
Chip Formation in the Machining of Hardened Steel

Abstract With the availability of polycrystalline cubic boron nitride (PCBN) it is possible to machine very hard gears, etc. at speeds of (60–150 m/min = 200–500 fpm). When this is done using PCBN tools in face milling, Chip formation is of a cyclic saw toothed type. This type of chip formation is reviewed in relation to other types of cylic and noncyclic chip formation. The root cause of high frequency, saw toothed chip formation is found to be periodic gross shear fracture extending from the free surface of the chip toward the tool tip and not adiabatic shear as commonly believed.
Segmental arterial disease in the lower extremities: Correlates of disease and relationship to mortality

The purpose of this study was to identify the correlates of disease and mortality risk associated with the presence of stenosis in the major arterial segments of the lower limb in men and women evaluated in a peripheral vascular laboratory. A total of 326 men and 249 women had unisegmental stenosis; 312 men and 275 women had multisegmental disease; 132 men and 111 women had no apparent disease. Multivariate analysis indicated that current smoking and elevated systolic blood pressure were the key risk factors associated with isolated aortoiliac and femoropopliteal arterial disease in both men and women. A history of diabetes was significantly associated with tibioperoneal disease in men while elevated systolic blood pressure was the major correlate of distal disease in women in this patient population. The relative risk of mortality was elevated 2- to 7-fold in men and women with multi- and unisegmental disease involving the aortoiliac and femoropopliteal segments; presence of tibioperoneal disease did not significantly increase mortality relative to those who were free of disease. These results suggest that the etiology and mortality risk associated with atherosclerosis in the lower extremity may vary with the anatomic site and/or severity of the lesion.
Vaginal Misoprostol Versus Concentrated Oxytocin and Vaginal PGE2 for Second-Trimester Labor Induction

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy, side effects, and complications of high-dose vaginal misoprostol with concentrated intravenous oxytocin plus low-dose vaginal prostaglandin (PGE 2 ) for second-trimester labor induction. METHODS: One hundred twenty-six consenting women with maternal or fetal indications for pregnancy termination and no prior cesarean delivery were randomly assigned to receive either vaginal misoprostol 600 μg 1 x, 400 μg every 4 hours 5× (misoprostol group, n = 60) or escalating-dose concentrated oxytocin infusions (277-1,667 mU/min) plus vaginal PGE 2 10 mg every 6 hours 4x (oxytocin group, n = 66). Both groups received concurrent extra-amniotic saline infusion for cervical ripening. Women who failed their assigned regimen received 20 mg of PGE 2 suppositories every 4 hours until delivery. Analysis was by intent to treat. RESULTS: Demographic characteristics were similar between study groups. Median induction-to-delivery interval was significantly shorter in the misoprostol group (12 hours) than in the oxytocin group (17 hours; P <.001). There was a higher induction success rate at 24 hours in the misoprostol group (95%) than in the oxytocin group (85%; P =.06), although this difference did not reach statistical significance. The incidence of live birth (25% versus 17%), chorioamnionitis (5% versus 2%), and postpartum hemorrhage greater than 500 mL (3% versus 3%) were similar between the misoprostol and oxytocin groups, respectively. Diarrhea (2% versus 11%; P =.04), nausea/emesis (25% versus 42%; P =.04), and retained placenta requiring curettage (2% versus 15%; P =.008) were significantly less common in the misoprostol group when compared with the oxytocin group, respectively. Isolated intrapartum fever, however, was more frequent in the misoprostol group (67%) than in the oxytocin group (21%; P <.001). CONCLUSION: Compared with concentrated oxytocin plus low-dose vaginal PGE 2 , high-dose vaginal misoprostol is associated with significantly shorter induction-to-delivery intervals, fewer side effects, a lower incidence of retained placenta, and comparable incidence of live birth.
Absence of porphyrin respiratory pigments in the blood in the Antarctic icefish Chaenocephalus aceratus.

Absorption spectra of blood from the Antarctic icefish (Chaenocephalus aceratus) were performed on whole blood, undiluted centrifuged blood, and blood diluted with distilled water. The results showed no indication or characteristics of porphyrins (and heme proteins and hemoglobins), thus clarifying the absence of a respiratory pigment in the vertebrate system.
The Crisis and a Way Forward What We Can Learn from Occupy Wall Street

The financial crisis of 2007 has generated ubiquitous commentary; it also spurred a global grassroots uprising that began with Occupy Wall Street. This movement provided a unique analysis of the crisis as well as a practical example of a way forward. Occupy Wall Street possesses a unique analysis of and response to the financial crisis. Here we see facilitation of political action by heterogeneous partisans that both demand and exemplify increased transparency and participation in decision making. Further, this movement relies upon both human-scaled and participatory technologies. Occupy Wall Street is a microcommunity that embodies a vision for a pluralistic, direct democratic society and demonstrates it through practice. This uprising provides a potential democratic solution for a way beyond crisis to new horizons.
Pulsed radiation-induced attenuation in certain optical fibers

Using the X-ray pulse from the HERMES II simulation machine at Sandia National Laboratories, the author measured the pulsed radiation-induced attenuation in two optical fibers considered to be 'non-rad-hard': the 50 mu m core graded-index fiber from Corning and the plastic (PMMA) fiber from the Mitsubishi Rayon Company. These fibers were exposed to radiation up to doses of 19.5 and 28 krad(Si), respectively. In addition, fits of their postradiation recovery were made to the geminate recombination model, from which the recombination rate and generation constants, characteristic of this theory, were determined. These parameters should be useful in determining the response of the fibers to radiation conditions other than those encountered here. >
The Evolution of Public Psychiatry Fellowships

Objective The growth of Public Psychiatry Fellowships (PPFs) has reached a new developmental stage, providing a wide array of academic partnerships and educational opportunities in psychiatric leadership and administration. The authors examine the evolution of these programs and illustrate three distinct models.
Cognitive computing: Neuroscience, supercomputing, nanotechnology

Summary form only given. The word “Robot” means many things. According to some definitions “A robot is a mechanical contraption which can perform tasks on its own, or with guidance. In practice a robot is usually an electromechanical machine which is shown what to do by computer and electronic programming.” And another says “A machine capable of carrying out a complex series of actions automatically, especially one programmable by a computer.” All these definitions lead us to realize that these Robots are not intelligent machines so they seek our instructions to function. The sub category “mobile robots” serve us from domestic applications, exploration and mapping, traffic control systems, aero space applications, flight controlling and in network centric warfare.
The Scientist in the Sandbox: Time-Dependence, Fractals and Waves

Granular materials exhibit a rich variety of dynamical behavior, much of which is poorly understood. Fractal-like stress chains, convection, a variety of wave dynamics, including waves which resemble capillary waves, 1/f noise, and fractional Brownian motion provide examples. Although granular materials consist of collections of interacting particles, there are important differences between the dynamics of a collection of grains and the dynamics of a collection of molecules. In particular, the ergodic hypothesis is generally invalid for granular materials, so that ordinary statistical physics does not apply. Fluctuations on laboratory scales in such quantities as the stress can be very large — as much as an order of magnitude greater than the mean. Below is a brief review of some of the theoretical approaches to granular flow followed by a discussion of several recent experiments. These experiments focus on complex structures and fluctuations in the flow of granular materials in a hopper or in simple shea...
The lexicon and the dictionaries: Some theoretical and historical observations

Abstract This paper contains observations on the relation of hard words and easy words in English and French dictionaries; it also contains a discussion of the lexicon and vocabulary in general.