cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Toxic Effects of Low Alcohol and Nicotine Combinations in SH-SY5Y Cells are Apoptotically Mediated

It is well established that combination of heavy drinking and smoking has severe health consequences. However, at relatively low concentrations, both alcohol and nicotine may have beneficial effects including neuroprotection. Thus, protective effects of low alcohol concentration against beta-amyloid-induced toxicity in organotypic hippocampal slices and protective effects of nicotine against salsolinol-induced toxicity in human-derived neuroblastoma cells (SH-SY5Y) have been reported. In this study, we sought to determine whether alcohol might also be protective against salsolinol-induced toxicity in SH-SY5Y cells and whether the combination of low doses of alcohol and nicotine might have an additive or synergistic effect. Pre-exposure of SH-SY5Y cells to either ethanol (1 or 10 mM) or nicotine (20 or 50 μM) significantly attenuated salsolinol-induced toxicity. However, contrary to the expectation the combination of low doses of alcohol and nicotine not only did not provide any synergistic or additive protective effect, but exacerbated salsolinol-induced toxicity. Indeed, simple combination of low alcohol and nicotine resulted in significant toxicity in SH-SY5Y cells. This toxicity, reflected in a reduction in cell viability was associated with an increase in apoptosis as determined by caspase-3 measurement. These in vitro results suggest that combination of even low concentrations of alcohol and nicotine may activate apoptotic mechanisms that can lead to cell toxicity and detrimental consequences.
Dynamical theory of the solar wind

This paper is a review of the basic theoretical dynamical properties of an atmosphere with an extended temperature strongly bound by gravity. The review begins with the historical developments leading up to the realization that the only dynamical equilibrium of an atmosphere with extended temperature is supersonic expansion. It is shown that sufficient conditions for supersonic expansion are T(r) declining asymptotically less rapidly than 1/r, or the density at the base of the corona being less than N b given by (40) if no energy is available except through thermal conductivity, or the temperature falling within the limits given by (18) if T ∝ N α-1 throughout the corona. Less extended temperatures lead to equilibria which are subsonic or static. The hypothetical case of a corona with no energy supply other than thermal conduction from its base is considered at some length because the equations may be solved by analytical methods and illustrate the transition from subsonic to supersonic equilibrium as the temperature becomes more extended. Comparison with the actual corona shows that the solar corona is actively heated for some distance into space by wave dissipation. The dynamical stability of the expanding atmosphere is demonstrated, and in a later section the radial propagation of acoustic and Alfven waves through the atmosphere and wind is worked out. The calculations show that the magnetometer will probably detect waves more easily than the plasma instrument, but that both are needed to determine the mode and direction of the wave. An observer in the wind at the orbit of Earth can “listen” to disturbances generated in the corona near the sun and in turbulent regions in interplanetary space. The possibility that the solar corona is composed of small-scale filaments near the sun is considered. It is shown that such filamentary structure would not be seen at the orbit of Earth. It is pointed out that the expansion of a non-filamentary corona seems to lead to too high a calculated wind density at the orbit of Earth to agree with the present observations, unless T(r) is constant or increases with r. A filamentary corona, on the other hand, would give the observed wind density for declining T(r). It is shown that viscosity plays no important role in the expansion of an atmosphere either with or without a weak magnetic field. The termination of the solar wind, presumably between 10–103 AU, is discussed briefly. The interesting development here is the interplanetary L αrecently observed, which may come from the interstellar neutral hydrogen drifting into the outer regions of the solar wind. Theory is at the present time concerned with the general dynamical principles which pertain to the expansion equilibrium of an atmosphere. It is to be expected that the rapid progress of direct observations of the corona and wind will soon permit more detailed studies to be carried out. It is important that the distinction between detailed empirical models and models intended to illustrate general principles be kept clearly in mind at all times.
Effect of communication strategy on personal risk perception and treatment adherence intentions.

Past research suggests that semantic and numerical medical risk descriptors may lead to miscommunication and misinterpretation of risk. However, little research has been conducted on systematic features of this bias, and the resulting potential risks to people contemplating or receiving treatment. Three studies explore the influence of verbal versus numerical medical risk descriptions. In Study 1a, San Francisco Bay area residents (N = 59) were presented with semantic descriptors for low-likelihood events and reported their perceived quantitative risk for the events. In Study 1b, undergraduates (N = 29) were presented with semantic versus numerical information about side effects for a prescribed medication and reported their perceived risk and adherence intentions. In Study 1c, San Francisco Bay area residents (N = 125) were presented with semantic versus numerical information about their risk for a disease and reported their perceived risk and intention to adhere to a prescribed treatment. The results of the first study suggest that people systematically overestimate the likelihood of low probability events described in semantic terms such as “low risk” or “people may occasionally experience.” The results of the second and third experiment suggest that presenting semantic information about the risks of engaging in a new behavior makes people less likely to engage in that behavior, whereas presenting semantic information about the risks of not engaging in a new behavior makes people more likely to engage in the behavior. The decision to present semantic versus probabilistic information is tantamount to a decision about whether to encourage risk acceptance versus risk avoidance.
Magic numbers in CN+ and CN− abundance distributions

Abstract Charged carbon clusters (C + N and C − N ; N = 9–87) have been produced by growth from laser-generated carbon vapor in a helium flow channel, without the aid of subsequent laser ionization/attachment. The resulting abundance distributions therefore reflect relative cluster stabilities, rather than the consequences of specific photophysical processes. Under all conditions, the N = 60 magic number is reproduced in the C + N distribution, while these and other observed numbers are not seen in the C − N distribution.
WIN 54954 treatment of mice infected with a diabetogenic strain of group B coxsackievirus.

The therapeutic efficacy of an experimental antiviral agent, WIN 54954, was evaluated in a mouse model in which infection by coxsackievirus B4 (CVB4) strain E2 was followed by diabetes mellitus. Male CD1 mice (age, 5 weeks) were inoculated with 10(4) PFU of CVB4. WIN 54954 was administered orally via gavage tube in a dose of either 5 or 50 mg/kg of body weight per day. Treatment was initiated on the day of inoculation and was continued for 10 days. Control animals received the xanthan gum carrier only. At 3 days postinoculation (p.i.), the mean titer of virus in the pancreas was found to be significantly lower in both the high-dose (P < 0.001) and low-dose (P < 0.05) treatment groups compared with that in the controls. Furthermore, islet histologic abnormalities were significantly less common in the high-dose group (P < 0.02) than in the controls. At 7 weeks p.i., both fasting and 1-h postprandial glucose levels in blood were significantly lower for both the high-dose (P < 0.001) and the low-dose (P < 0.01) treatment groups than in controls. The proportion of mice with persistent viral RNA in the pancreas at this time, as detected by polymerase chain reaction, was significantly reduced in the high-dose treatment group (4 of 11 mice) compared with that in the controls (7 of 8 mice). When mice received 50 mg of WIN 54954 per kg daily beginning at either 48 or 72 h postinoculation, the titers in the pancreas were again significantly reduced at 3 days p.i. compared with those in the controls (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). Thus, WIN 54954 effectively reduces virus replication and islet histologic changes acutely and decreases, at 7 weeks, both the metabolic alteration associated with diabetes mellitus and the incidence of detectable viral RNA in the pancreas.
Failure vs. displacement: Why an innovative anti-poverty program showed no net impact in South India

Abstract We analyze a randomized trial of an innovative anti-poverty program in South India, part of a series of pilot programs that provide “ultra-poor” households with inputs to create new, sustainable livelihoods (often tending livestock). In contrast with results from other pilots, we find no lasting net impact on income or asset accumulation in South India. We explore concerns with program implementation, data errors, and the existence of compelling employment alternatives. The baseline consumption data contain systematic errors, and income and consumption contain large outliers. Steps to address the problems leave the central findings largely intact: Wages for unskilled labor rose sharply in the area while the study was implemented, blunting the net impact of the intervention and highlighting one way that treatment effects depend on factors external to the intervention itself, such as broader employment opportunities.
Large-scale Rossby wave in the mid-latitude South Pacific from altimetry data

We present observations of large-scale Rossby wave propagation in the mid-latitude South Pacific (25°S) from analyzing 4 years of TOPEX/POSEIDON altimetry data. Using wavelet transform we separate phase propagation from amplitude modulation. The dominant Rossby wave has a wavelength of about 40° with a period close to 2 years (phase speed ∼6.4 cm/s). Its amplitude modulates both interannually and intraannually. In addition, we also found a shorter-scale Rossby wave with a wavelength of about 16° and a period close to 9 months.
Adaptation to Stress Induced by Restraining Rats and Mice in Nose-Only Inhalation Holders

There are limited data on the efficacy of procedures for adapting rodents to restraint in nose-only holders. We examined: (1) What effect does restraint in nose-only holders have on heart rate and body temperature? (2) Does a gradual increase in the duration of restraint facilitate adaptation? (3) How long does it take for rodents to become fully adapted to nose-only holders? (4) Do rats and mice respond and adapt similarly to restraint in nose only holders? Heart rate and body temperature were monitored as measures of stress using electrocardiograph (ECG) transmitters in male C57Bl/6J mice and Sprague-Dawley rats. In naive animals during the first hour of restraint, heart rate increased by 58 beats per minute (BPM) (18.6%) in rats and by 174 BPM (32.3%) in mice as compared to cage controls. Temperature increased by 2°C in mice and was unchanged in rats compared to cage controls. Heart rate and temperature values remained within normal physiologic values during restraint. In rats, the response to restrain...
Champagne and Chocolate: “Taste” and Inversion in a French Wedding Ritual

A version of reverse orientalism is at work in the anthropological silences surrounding a French wedding ritual that relies upon scatlogical and sexual metaphors and the symbolism of bodily fluids. This essay describes the ritual of la rotie as it takes place in the Auvergne region, where a mixture of champagne and chocolate in a chamber pot is served to a newly married couple on their wedding night. Concepts of taste come into play both in the explicit mocking of bourgeois sensibilities that this practice evokes among participants and in ethnographic choices of appropriate objects of study
Micromachined Fabry-Perot interferometer with corrugated silicon diaphragm for fiber optic sensing applications

A new design for a miniature Fabry-Perot Interferometer (FPI) mounted on the tip of an optical fiber for sensing applications is presented. The Fabry-Perot Cavity (FPC) is formed by a micromachined corrugated silicon diaphragm anodically bonded to a pyrex substrate. In this way, this devices takes advantage of the sensitivity and selectivity of an optical interferometer combined with the small size, lightweight and EMI immunity properties of optical fibers to create compact, lightweight and almost entirely dielectric sensors for the measurement of pressure, acceleration, sound, electric and magnetic field, etc. in remote, dangerous or inaccessible places. A discussion on the operation and fabrication of the FPC is given, along with experimental results obtained in its application as an electric field sensor.
Biofilm formation and virulence expression by Streptococcus mutans are altered when grown in dual-species model

Background Microbial cell-cell interactions in the oral flora are believed to play an integral role in the development of dental plaque and ultimately, its pathogenicity. The effects of other species of oral bacteria on biofilm formation and virulence gene expression by Streptococcus mutans, the primary etiologic agent of dental caries, were evaluated using a dual-species biofilm model and RealTime-PCR analysis.
Gas and Mercury Adsorption Properties of Woodceramics Made from Chicken Waste

Gas-adsorption properties of woodceramics prepared from chicken waste, which was found to be amorphous carbon reinforced by glassy carbon generated from phenolic resin, was studied. The specific surface area as determined by the multipoint BET method was 33.41 m2 g-1 (N2, 77 K) and 63.40 m2 g-1 (CO2, 195 K), and the adsorption isotherm was of Type IIb (IUPAC classification). These results suggested the presence of narrow micropores and the formation of aggregates with nonrigid slit-shaped pores. Furthermore, from gas-adsorption studies and by preliminary field testing for mercury adsorption using flue gas from a coal-firing power plant, chicken-waste woodceramics was found to function as active carbon. The chicken-waste woodceramics was found to have higher mercury adsorption properties as compared with other woodceramics or a commercially available active carbon. It was presumed that calcium, potassium, sulfur, and other chemical species which were contained as impurities increased the sorption capacity ...
Developing the Interstate Identification Index/Federal Bureau of Investigation (III/FBI) system for providing timely criminal and civil identification and criminal history information to the nation's law enforcement agencies

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is currently developing a new system to provide timely criminal and civil identities and criminal history information to the nation's local, state, and federal users. The Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS), an upgrade to the existing Identification Division Automated Services (IDAS) System, is scheduled for implementation in 1999 at the new FBI facility in Clarksburg, West Virginia. IAFIS will offer new capabilities for electronic transmittal of fingerprint cards to the FBI, an improved fingerprint matching algorithm, and electronic maintenance of fingerprints and photo images. The Interstate Identification Index (III/FBI) System is one of three segments comprising the umbrella IAFIS System. III/FBI provides repository, maintenance, and dissemination capabilities for the 40 million subject national criminal history database. III/FBI will perform over 1 million name searches each day. Demanding performance, reliability/maintainability/availability, and flexibility/expandability requirements make III/FBI an architectural challenge to the system developers. This paper will discuss these driving requirements and present the technical solutions in terms of leading edge hardware and software.
Phenylalanine uptake and phenylalanine-binding material in Comamonas sp. (ATCC 11299a).

Abstract The inducible phenylalanine uptake system of Comamonas has been characterized. The uptake had a Km of 2 × 10−5 m and was competitively inhibited by tyrosine and tryptophan. Most of the phenylalanine taken up was incorporated into protein, and inhibitors of protein synthesis had little or no effect. Various other inhibitors such as dinitrophenol, malonic acid, and N-ethylmaleimide lowered phenylalanine uptake into these cells. Cells grown on phenylalanine took up 5 to 15 times more phenylalanine than did cells grown on asparagine. A phenylalanine-binding material was found in shock fluid from induced cells. This material bound phenylalanine with a Km of about 2 × 10−7 m . About two times as much binding material was present in induced cells. The time course of induction of binding material was quite different than that for the induction of transport. The binding material was measured either by equilibrium dialysis or by a Millipore method.
Magnesium in Coronary Artery Disease

Magnesium in coronary artery disease is reviewed with regard to its role in the pathogenesis of arteriosclerosis, coronary spasm, myocardial function, acute myocardial infarction and ventricular arrhythmias. Experimentally, magnesium depletion potentiates and supplementation retards the effect of atherogenic diets. Evidence from human studies is circumstantial. Reactivity of arterial smooth muscle is enchanced by low and suppressed by high magnesium media. Evidence that magnesium depletion may initiate coronary spasm is provided by dog and retrospective human studies.
Classified knowledge: the epistemology of statuary in the Parastaseis Syntomoi Chronikai

The Parastaseis Syntomoi Chronikai is a dossier of materials composed throughout the eighth century by a variety of authors. These materials are unified by their concern with the statues of Constantinople and the prophecies they are understood to embody. The authors are unified by their claim to descent from old Constantinopolitan families and their xenophobic opposition to arrivistes in the imperial service. Thus the Parastaseis asserts a form of knowledge unique to the well-born and essential to the management of the empire. It is an artefact of aristocratic particularism in reaction to the centralizing efforts of the eighth-century emperors.
Teratology studies of compound LY171883 administered orally to rats and rabbits.

Abstract The teratogenic potential of the leukotriene antagonist LY171883, a novel antiasthma agent, was investigated in CD rats and Dutch Belted rabbits. Mated female rats were dosed with 0, 10, 65, or 425 mg/kg/day on gestation days 6 through 15 and killed on gestation day 20 Mated female rabbits were dosed with 0, 20, 65, or 200 mg/kg/day on gestation days 6 through 18 and killed on gestation day 28. Maternal toxicity was indicated at 425 mg/kg in rats and 200 mg/kg in rabbits by depressed body weight gain and food consumption. In the rabbit study four abortions occurred at 200 mg/kg, most likely secondarily to maternal toxicity. LY171883 did not cause embryo/fetal toxicity or teratogenicity in rats or rabbits at doses up to and including those that were maternally toxic.
Exceptionally high decarboxylation rate of a primary aliphatic acyloxy radical determined by radical product yield analysis and quantitative 1H‐CIDNP spectroscopy

Symmetrical (RCO2CO2R; R = XCH2CH2) and asymmetrical (RCO2CO2R′; R = C9H19CH2CH2, R′ = CH3 or m-ClC6H4) primary diacyl peroxides were thermally decomposed under different conditions to analyze the decarboxylation rates of the thermally generated acyloxy radicals. Quantitative models of the geminate product yields, and qualitative and quantitative 1H-CIDNP spectroscopy were used to obtain the decarboxylation rate estimates. Results reported here suggest that, unlike short chain acyloxy radicals such as propanoyloxyl, long chain acyloxy radicals possess the highest decarboxylation rates of all known acyloxy radicals, estimated at (0.5–1.5) × 1012 s−1 between 80 and 140 °C. Given the nature of the dissociative state of acyloxy radicals, such rates appear to be the result of destabilization of the former by the steric bulk of the long chain substituents. Additionally, the rate of this order of magnitude suggests a nearly concerted decarboxylation of primary diacyl peroxides. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A method for selecting high payoff marketing strategies for attracting noncustomer product purchasers

A method for identifying marketing strategies likely to be useful in changing noncustomer product purchasers to customers is shown. Discriminant analysis was utilized to determine differentiating attributes and principle components factor analysis was utilized to find additional variables highly intercorrelated with diseriminating variables. The results also showed the importance of using research in decision making, since the decision makers in this studt misperceived noncustomers' decision criteria.
CHRONIC EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL, MUSCATEL, AND SHERRY ON THE GROWTH AND PERFORMANCE OF MALE RATS.

Abstract An experiment was conducted to investigate whether the prolonged ingestion of ethyl alcohol and of inexpensive or expensive sherry or of inexpensive or expensive muscatel wine (each diluted to a concentration of 12% alcohol) adversely affected certain physiologic responses of rats. Weanling male rats given 12% alcohol or wine solutions over a 32-week period gained about 10% less weight than rats given water. This may have been due to the markedly lower fluid consumption by the alcohol- and wine-fed groups during the first weeks of the experiment. Examination of tissues at autopsy showed no gross abnormalities. Liver, kidney, spleen, heart, and testes weights of rats in all groups were not significantly different from those of the water control animals. Histopathologic examination of the tissues showed the presence of a slight fatty infiltration of the liver in all groups, regardless of the treatment. No other micropathology was observed. Bromosulfalein, audiogenic seizure, and electroshock data were the same for control and experimental animals. In the rotating bar test for neuromuscular coordination, control rats receiving water remained on the bar for longer periods than did alcohol- or wine-fed rats; this difference was apparently due to alcohol rather than to any other wine constituent.
Norway's offshore petroleum industry — problems and prospects

Abstract Norway, among the world's top three offshore crude and natural gas producers, has enough offshore reserves to assure it an important place in world production for several decades. Drillers discovered petroleum within Norway's North Sea region in 1968. Production first began there in 1971, should occur in the Norwegian Sea by late 1993, and begin in the near future within the Barents Sea. The isolation of the Barents Sea fields from markets presents difficult transportation problems, requiring the liquefaction of natural gas, rather than direct long‐ distance pipelining. Norway's petroleum industry has a major economic impact on foreign exports, on national income, and on employment. Although the country's offshore petroleum industry seems secure for the near future, the national and local governments and industry need to develop greater industrial diversification within the export sector.
Drosophila N-cadherin functions in the first stage of the two-stage layer-selection process of R7 photoreceptor afferents

Visual information received from the three types of photoreceptor neurons (R1-R6, R7 and R8) in the fly compound eyes converges to the external part of the medulla neuropil (M1-M6 layers) in a layer-specific fashion: R7 and R8 axons terminate at the M6 and M3 layers, respectively, whereas lamina neurons (L1-L5) relay R1-R6 to multiple medulla layers (M1-M5). Here, we show that during development, R7 and R8 neurons establish layer-specific projections in two separate stages: during the first stage, R7 and R8 axons sequentially target to the R7- and R8-temporary layers, respectively; and at the second stage, R7 and R8 growth cones progress synchronously to their destined layers. Using a set of mutations that delete different afferent subsets or alter R7 connectivity, we defined the mechanism of layer selection. We observed that R8, R7 and L1-L5 afferents target to their temporary layers independently, suggesting that afferent-target, but not afferent-afferent, interactions dictate the targeting specificity. N-cadherin is required in the first stage for R7 growth cones to reach and remain in the R7-temporary layer. The Ncad gene contains three pairs of alternatively spliced exons and encodes 12 isoforms. However, expressing a single Ncad isoform in Ncad mutant R7s is sufficient to rescue mistargeting phenotypes. Furthermore, Ncad isoforms mediate promiscuous heterophilic interactions in an in vitro cell-aggregation assay. We propose that Ncad isoforms do not form an adhesion code; rather, they provide permissive adhesion between R7 growth cones and their temporary targets.
The effects of morphology and exchange on proton N.M.R. relaxation in agarose gels

The effects of morphology and exchange on N.M.R. relaxation times in agarose gels are interpreted within a unified theoretical framework based on the generalized Bloch equations. By acknowledging the spacial dependence of the N.M.R. parameters it is shown how the relaxation behaviour depends on the distance scale characterizing the heterogeneity of the gel. If this distance scale is sufficiently small to allow complete diffusive averaging we recover the traditional results based on the Bloch-McConnell equations describing relaxation in a homogeneous system. This is the case for fresh agarose gels which show monoexponential relaxation and has been widely interpreted in terms of the rapid exchange of protons between populations of ‘free’ and ‘bound’ water. Conversely, if the distance scale characterizing the heterogeneity is sufficiently large to prevent complete diffusive averaging our model predicts multiexponential relaxation. This is the case with the transverse magnetization in agarose gels that have b...
Insoluble immune complexes are most effective at triggering IL-10 production in human monocytes and synergize with TLR ligands and C5a.

Abstract Purpose In systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a disease of immune complex (IC) deposition, interleukin-10 (IL-10) is thought to promote B-lymphocyte hyperactivity and autoantibody production. Both ICs and Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands have been shown to stimulate the production of IL-10 by human monocytes. Using an in vitro model, we studied how IC solubility, complement activation products, and TLR ligands could affect IL-10 production by human monocytes stimulated with ICs. Methods Human monocytes were stimulated with soluble or insoluble heat-aggregated human IgG with or without TLR ligands or C5a. Cytokine levels in cell culture supernatants were measured by ELISA. To study cytokine signaling, cell lysates were analyzed by Western blot for total or tyrosine-phosphorylated STAT3. Results Insoluble ICs were most effective at stimulating production of IL-10, and costimulation LPS enhanced synthesis of IL-10. In addition, stimulation with insoluble ICs together with C5a enhanced the production of IL-10 by 2–4 fold in either the presence or absence of TLR ligands. Increased STAT3 phosphorylation correlated temporally with enhanced IL-10 production and was reduced by an IL-10 receptor blocking antibody, suggesting that IL-10 was responsible for observed STAT3 phosphorylation. Conclusions Because the immune deposits of SLE are, by definition, insoluble; and because IL-10 is thought to be important for B-cell hyperactivity and autoantibody production, these observations provide a critical link, bridging current views of B-cell hyperactivity with the early concept that SLE may arise from defective clearance of immune complexes.
Rates of dinitrogen fixation and the abundance of diazotrophs in North American coastal waters between Cape Hatteras and Georges Bank

We coupled dinitrogen (N2) fixation rate estimates with molecular biological methods to determine the activity and abundance of diazotrophs in coastal waters along the temperate North American Mid-Atlantic continental shelf during multiple seasons and cruises. Volumetric rates of N2 fixation were as high as 49.8 nmol N L(sup -1) d(sup -1) and areal rates as high as 837.9 micromol N m(sup -2) d(sup -1) in our study area. Our results suggest that N2 fixation occurs at high rates in coastal shelf waters that were previously thought to be unimportant sites of N2 fixation and so were excluded from calculations of pelagic marine N2 fixation. Unicellular N2-fixing group A cyanobacteria were the most abundant diazotrophs in the Atlantic coastal waters and their abundance was comparable to, or higher than, that measured in oceanic regimes where they were discovered. High rates of N2 fixation and the high abundance of diazotrophs along the North American Mid-Atlantic continental shelf highlight the need to revise marine N budgets to include coastal N2 fixation. Integrating areal rates of N2 fixation over the continental shelf area between Cape Hatteras and Nova Scotia, the estimated N2 fixation in this temperate shelf system is about 0.02 Tmol N yr(sup -1), the amount previously calculated for the entire North Atlantic continental shelf. Additional studies should provide spatially, temporally, and seasonally resolved rate estimates from coastal systems to better constrain N inputs via N2 fixation from the neritic zone.
Q-space analysis of scattering by dusts

Abstract This note applies Q-space analysis, wherein the scattered intensity is plotted versus the scattering wave vector q=(4π/λ) sin(θ/2) on a double log plot, to phase function data for scattering from irregularly shaped dusts. This analysis yields a power law description of the dust scattering as it has for aggregates and spheres. This implies that Q-space analysis can yield a simple and comprehensive description of scattering in terms of power laws with quantifiable exponents for a wide variety of shapes. It also calls for an explanation of the power law for irregular dust particles and the numerical exponent.
UCD sports engineering program

Abstract The University of Colorado Denver (UCD) has taken the leadership role with the first Sports Engineering Program in the United States. Sports Engineering is an exciting new area of emphasis for graduate degrees in engineering. This educational program is offered through cooperation between the downtown Denver College of Engineering and Applied Science and the Anschutz Medical Campus, both part of the University of Colorado Denver. This program is showing great promise for high enrollments and exciting research opportunities working with the sports equipment manufacturers, the athletes, and the sports medicine community.
Optimal four-sample and two-time iteration algorithm for SINS attitude updating

The intention of this paper is to propose the optimal four-sample and two-time iteration algorithm for SINS attitude updating which is based on the criteria of the minimum of the cone error. The comparison among three-sample and four-sample rotation vector algorithm drifts of single loop and three-sample and four-sample algorithm drifts of double loop was made. Results show that the optimal four-sample and two-time iteration algorithm outperforms others in case of high-frequency coning motion. Therefore, it can be concluded that the accuracy of the new attitude algorithm has been improved.
Construction and Properties of Escherichia coli Strains Exhibiting α-Complementation of β-Galactosidase Fragments In Vivo

In vivo α-complementation of β-galactosidase was demonstrated in 16 Z gene terminator (nonsense) mutant strains of Escherichia coli upon introduction of the episome F′M15 which specifies production of a mutant Z gene polypeptide containing a small deletion in the N-terminal region of the enzyme monomer. Genetic and biochemical analyses of the merodiploids showed that restoration of enzyme activity was due to their terminator/F′M15 genetic constitution resulting in the production of two enzymatically inactive polypeptides which associate in vivo to reconstitute active, stable β-galactosidase. The prematurely terminated polypeptide fragments known to be rapidly degraded in haploid cells were shown by phenotypic and biochemical studies to be stabilized (i.e., protected) in merodiploids by formation of complemented enzyme complexes with the M15 protein. Phenotypic properties of complementing diploids are described and are discussed in relation to in vitro determination of β-galactosidase activity.
Sea urchin hyalin: appearance and function in development

Abstract Hyalin, the extracellular matrix protein of sea urchin embryos, was examined by immunofluorescence. Prior to fertilization hyalin was confined to cortical granules. At fertilization hyalin was released from some of the cortical granules as part of the visible fertilization wave. Further hyalin accumulation on the cell surface occurred in the succeeding 2–3 min as additional cortical granules were released. The hyalin fused to form a continuous extraembryonic layer. Regeneration studies showed that new accumulations of hyalin were initiated by ectoderm cells at early gastrulation. Regeneration did not occur prior to this developmental time, nor was there new hyalin accumulation on mesoderm or endoderm cells. Hyalin accumulated only on the apical surface of ectoderm cells. In binding studies, cells of all three germ layers had an affinity for hyalin prior to gastrulation. The affinity was retained by ectoderm and endoderm but was lost by primary mesenchyme cells at the beginning of gastrulation. The loss in affinity was specific for hyalin and occurred at the time when primary mesenchyme cells normally leave the blastoderm to invade the blastocoel.
Correlating perceived arrhythmia symptoms and quality of life in an older population with heart failure: a prospective, single centre, urban clinic study.

Aims and objectives To determine the relationship between quality of life and perceived self-reported symptoms in an older, ambulatory, urban population living with heart failure. Background While arrhythmias in older individuals with heart failure are well documented, the association between perceived arrhythmia symptoms and quality of life is not well-defined. Design Prospective, cross-sectional single-centre study. Methods A single-centre, prospective study was conducted with heart failure patients recruited from an urban outpatient cardiology clinic in the United States. Fifty-seven patients completed a baseline quality of life survey with 42 of these completing the six-month follow-up survey. Quality of life was evaluated with the SF-36v2™ and frequency of symptoms with the Atrial Fibrillation Severity Scale. Subjects wore an auto triggered cardiac loop monitor (LifeStar AF Express®) for two weeks to document arrhythmias. Data analysis utilised Spearman's rank correlation and logistic regression. Results Baseline and six-month quality of life measures did not correlate with recorded arrhythmias. However, perceptions of diminished general health correlated significantly with symptoms of exercise intolerance, lightheadedness/dizziness, palpitations and chest pain/pressure. By multivariable logistic regression, more severe perceived episodes, symptoms of exercise intolerance and lightheadedness/dizziness were independently associated with diminished quality of life. Conclusion Quality of life was significantly worse in patients with perceptions of severe arrhythmic episodes and in those with symptoms of dizziness and exercise intolerance. Relevance to clinical practice The findings of this study indicate that symptomatic heart failure patients suffer from poor quality of life and that interventions are needed to improve quality of life and decrease symptom severity. Nurses who care for heart failure patients play an essential role in symptom evaluation and management and could significantly improve overall quality of life in these patients by carefully evaluating symptomatology and testing interventions and educational programmes aimed at improving quality of life.
Interaction Transcriptome Analysis Identifies Magnaporthe oryzae BAS1-4 as Biotrophy-Associated Secreted Proteins in Rice Blast Disease

Biotrophic invasive hyphae (IH) of the blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae secrete effectors to alter host defenses and cellular processes as they successively invade living rice (Oryza sativa) cells. However, few blast effectors have been identified. Indeed, understanding fungal and rice genes contributing to biotrophic invasion has been difficult because so few plant cells have encountered IH at the earliest infection stages. We developed a robust procedure for isolating infected-rice sheath RNAs in which ∼20% of the RNA originated from IH in first-invaded cells. We analyzed these IH RNAs relative to control mycelial RNAs using M. oryzae oligoarrays. With a 10-fold differential expression threshold, we identified known effector PWL2 and 58 candidate effectors. Four of these candidates were confirmed to be fungal biotrophy-associated secreted (BAS) proteins. Fluorescently labeled BAS proteins were secreted into rice cells in distinct patterns in compatible, but not in incompatible, interactions. BAS1 and BAS2 proteins preferentially accumulated in biotrophic interfacial complexes along with known avirulence effectors, BAS3 showed additional localization near cell wall crossing points, and BAS4 uniformly outlined growing IH. Analysis of the same infected-tissue RNAs with rice oligoarrays identified putative effector-induced rice susceptibility genes, which are highly enriched for sensor-transduction components rather than typically identified defense response genes.
Adaptive biorthogonal spline schemes for advection-reaction equations

In this paper, based on Eulerian-Lagrangian localized adjoint method (ELLAM), we use biorthogonal spline wavelets to develop numerical schemes for multidimensional advection-reaction equations. The derived schemes produce accurate numerical solutions even if large time steps are used. These schemes are explicit but unconditionally stable. They also have the ability to carry out adaptive compression while preserving the total mass. Numerical experiments including observations on their convergence rates are presented to show the strong potential of these methods.
Magnetostriction and Stress in High Moment FeTaN Films

Magnetostriction and thin film stress have been studied in high moment single layer FeTaN films deposited by high rate reactive dc magnetron sputtering. Low Magnetostriction (Magnitude less than 1 × 10 -6 ) can be obtained over a fairly large range of nitrogen flow rates during film deposition by vacuum annealing at 500°C. After annealing at 500°C for two hours, all films were found to be in a state of tensile stress. Stress versus temperature measurements up to 400°C show film stress in as-deposited films to be highly hysteretic during the first temperature cycle reflecting the films' processing history. Stress-temperature cycles on annealed samples indicate that extremely stable films are produced in an intermediate range of nitrogen content.
Allocating data and operations to nodes in distributed database design

The allocation of data and operations to nodes in a computer communications network is a critical issue in distributed database design. An efficient distributed database design must trade off performance and cost among retrieval and update activities at the various nodes. It must consider the concurrency control mechanism used as well as capacity constraints at nodes and on links in the network. It must determine where data will be allocated, the degree of data replication, which copy of the data will be used for each retrieval activity, and where operations such as select, project, join, and union will be performed. We develop a comprehensive mathematical modeling approach for this problem. The approach first generates units of data (file fragments) to be allocated from a logical data model representation and a characterization of retrieval and update activities. Retrieval and update activities are then decomposed into relational operations on these fragments. Both fragments and operations on them are then allocated to nodes using a mathematical modeling approach. The mathematical model considers network communication, local processing, and data storage costs. A genetic algorithm is developed to solve this mathematical formulation. >
Heritable variation of mRNA decay rates in yeast

Gene expression levels are determined by the balance between rates of mRNA transcription and decay, and genetic variation in either of these processes can result in heritable differences in transcript abundance. Although the genetics of gene expression has been a subject of intense interest, the contribution of heritable variation in mRNA decay rates to gene expression variation has received far less attention. To this end, we developed a novel statistical framework and measured allele-specific differences in mRNA decay rates in a diploid yeast hybrid created by mating two genetically diverse parental strains. We estimate that 31% of genes exhibit allelic differences in mRNA decay rates, of which 350 can be identified at a false discovery rate of 10%. Genes with significant allele-specific differences in mRNA decay rates have higher levels of polymorphism compared to other genes, with all gene regions contributing to allelic differences in mRNA decay rates. Strikingly, we find widespread evidence for compensatory evolution, such that variants influencing transcriptional initiation and decay have opposite effects, suggesting that steady-state gene expression levels are subject to pervasive stabilizing selection. Our results demonstrate that heritable differences in mRNA decay rates are widespread and are an important target for natural selection to maintain or fine-tune steady-state gene expression levels.
Convective, intrusive geothermal plays: what about tectonics?

Abstract. We revised the concept of convective, intrusive geothermal plays, considering that the tectonic setting is not, in our opinion, a discriminant parameter suitable for a classification. We analysed and compared four case studies: (i) Larderello (Italy), (ii) Mt Amiata (Italy), (iii) The Geysers (USA) and (iv) Kizildere (Turkey). The tectonic settings of these geothermal systems are different and a matter of debate, so it is hard to use this parameter, and the results of classification are ambiguous. We suggest a classification based on the age and nature of the heat source and the related hydrothermal circulation. Finally we propose to distinguish the convective geothermal plays as volcanic, young intrusive and amagmatic.
Breast Cancer Surgery Decision-Making and African-American Women

Prior research has used focus group methodology to investigate cultural factors impacting the breast cancer experience of women of various ethnicities including African-Americans; however, this work has not specifically addressed treatment decision-making. This study identifies key issues faced by African-American women diagnosed with breast cancer regarding treatment decisions. We used an interpretive-descriptive study design based on qualitative data from three focus groups (n = 14) representing a population of African-American women in central Pennsylvania. Participants were asked to think back to when they were diagnosed with breast cancer and their visit with the breast surgeon. Questions were asked about the actual visit, treatment choices offered, sources of information, and whether the women felt prepared for the surgery and subsequent treatments. The prompts triggered memories and encouraged open discussion. The most important themes identified were fear across the breast cancer disease trajectory, a preference for visual information for understanding the diagnosis and surgical treatment, and support systems relying on family and friends, rather than the formal health-care system. Our results have implications for practice strategies and development of educational interventions that will help breast cancer patients better understand their diagnosis and treatment options, encourage their participation in treatment decision-making, and provide psychosocial support for those at high risk for emotional distress.
Life Outside the Mathematics Classroom Implications for Mathematics Teaching Reform

Mathematics achievement continues to be a critical indicator of success. Efforts to reform mathematics curricula and instruction include a focus on increased student participation and on strengthening the connections between mathematics and students’ lives outside the classroom. In this article, the author discusses the importance of considering the role of the students’ social environment in determining how students will participate in mathematics classroom activities and in determining what kinds of connections can be made to life outside the classroom. It is argued that these issues may be particularly important for students in urban environments who are not sheltered from the realities of the real world.
Understanding the electronic properties of hydrogen storage materials with photon-in/photon-out soft-x-ray spectroscopy

ABSTRACT How do we learn about chemisorption and physisorption of hydrides and the kinetics of hydrogen adsorption and desorption? These are profound challenges with us for decades. Soft-x-ray spectroscopy will be will be a unique tool to study the electronic properties of fundamental materials, nanoporous, and complex hydrides and in-situ study the kinetics of hydrogen adsorption and desorption. To facilitate the search for most efficient hydrogen-generation and -storage compounds, a fundamental understanding of the electronic properties is essential. Hydrogen strongly affects the electronic and structural prop erties of many materials. The electronic structure ultimately determines the properties of matter. Photon-in/photon-out soft-x-ray spectroscopy has been the subject to a revived interest owing to the new generation synchrotron facilities and high performance beamline and instruments. Soft-x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) prob es the local unoccupied elect ronic structure, soft-x-ray emission spectroscopy (XES) probes the loca l occupied electronic structure, and re sonant inelastic soft-x-ray scattering (RIXS) probes the intrinsic low-energy excitations, such as charge transfer, proton energy transfer etc. A number of examples, including some recent experime ntal findings, then illustrate the poten tial of XAS and XES applications in hydrogen energy sciences.