cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On the formation of an inverted weathering profile on Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania: Buried paleosol or groundwater weathering?

Abstract This paper presents an investigation into the degree and nature of chemical weathering during soil formation on a volcanic (phonolite) substrate on the southern slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro in northern Tanzania. The high field strength elements Nb and Ta were used to estimate enrichments and depletions relative to the bedrock. The degree of weathering was found to increase with depth in the soil profile. At depths greater than 200 cm, Si, Na, K, Ca, and Mg have been depleted by nearly 100% while Al has been enriched, resulting in a highly aluminous soil residue (40–50 wt.% Al2O3). At depths shallower than 200 cm, the soil is also depleted in Si, Na, K, Ca and Mg though not to the extents seen at depths greater than 200 cm. The lower degrees of weathering in the upper 200 cm are also evidenced by the fact that the layer above 200 cm is characterized by slight positive Eu anomalies relative to other rare earth elements whereas the deeper layer exhibits no Eu anomalies. The rare earth element systematics are consistent with preferential weathering of the glassy matrix in the upper 200 cm, leaving behind plagioclase phenocrysts, which are enriched in Eu. In the deeper layer, weathering appears to be so extensive that both Eu-rich plagioclase phenocrysts and Eu-poor glass/ash have largely weathered away. These observations collectively show that the upper and lower layers of the weathering profile have undergone different weathering histories. Four scenarios may explain the apparent inverted weathering profile: re-precipitation followed by erosion, Aeolian deposition, a buried paleosol, and enhanced weathering due to lateral subsurface water flow. The first hypothesis fails to explain the massive losses of Si, Na, K, Ca, and Mg below 200 cm. The Aeolian deposition hypothesis is also untenable because it contradicts the trace element and REE's behaviors. The latter two hypotheses are both reasonable; however, the buried paleosol model is inconsistent with some physical and geochemical observations and the subsurface flow model requires the influence of hydraulic conditions not tested in this study. It is concluded here that either the buried paleosol model or the subsurface flow model can explain the formation of the Machame soils with the latter having novel implications for the transport of dissolved cations to the ocean.
Conducting the metabolic syndrome orchestra

Genetic and gene expression studies have suggested an important role for KLF14 in metabolic disease. A new study now identifies a network of genes whose expression is associated with KLF14 variation in trans, providing a framework for understanding how KLF14 influences disease risk.
A comprehensive computational investigation of the enthalpies of formation and proton affinities of C4H7N and C3H3ON compounds

Abstract The results of electronic structure studies aimed at determining accurate enthalpies of formation and proton affinities for a comprehensive set of C4H7N and C3H3ON compounds are reported. The calculated thermodynamic values are rationalized in terms of the nitrogen functionality and the influence of unsaturated C–C bonding environments. Using these results, it is proposed that a previously unidentified mass 70 amu tropospheric ion is the protonated form of 1-pyrroline, an unsaturated nitrogen heterocyclic compound emitted into the atmosphere by both plant and animal biological activity.
Parathyroid Hormone-Mediated Incorporation of 32P-Orthophosphate Into Phosphatidic Acid and Phosphatidylinositol in Renal Cortical Slices

Parathyroid hormone increased the incorporation of Na2H32PO4 into phosphatidic acid and phosphatidylinositol in cat renal cortical slices. Incorporation was not observed into any other phospholipid. The effects were seen as early as one minute for phosphatidic acid and ten minutes for phosphatidylinositol. 8-Bromoadenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate did not mimic the effects of parathyroid hormone. Concentrations of parathyroid hormone, 1 × 10−8M to 1 × 10−7M, which increased the incorporation of 32p into phosphatidic acid and phosphatidylinositol maximally, did not alter tissue cyclic AMP levels suggesting that the incorporation of 32p was independent of cyclic AMP.
Sustainability and reliability assessment of microgrids in a regional electricity market

Abstract We develop a framework to assess and quantify the sustainability and reliability of different power production scenarios in a regional system, focusing on the interaction of microgrids with the existing transmission/distribution grid. The Northwestern European electricity market (Belgium, France, Germany and the Netherlands) provides a case study for our purposes. We present simulations of power market outcomes under various policies and levels of microgrid penetration, and evaluate them using a diverse set of metrics. This analysis is the first attempt to include exergy-based and reliability indices when evaluating the role of microgrids in regional power systems. The results suggest that a power network in which fossil-fueled microgrids and a price on CO 2 emissions are included has the highest composite sustainability index.
A large-scale metacomputing framework for the ModSAF real-time simulation

Abstract A distributed, parallel implementation of the widely-used Modular Semi-Automated Forces (ModSAF) Distributed Interactive Simulation (DIS) is presented, with Scalable Parallel Processors (SPPs) used to simulate more than 50,000 individual vehicles. The single-SPP version is described and shown to be scalable. This code is portable and has been run on a variety of different SPP architectures. Results for simulations with up to 15,000 vehicles are presented for a number of distinct SPP architectures. The initial multi-SPP (metacomputing) run used explicit Gateway communication processes to exchange data among several SPPs simulating separate portions of the full battle space. The 50K-vehicle simulations utilized 1904 processors on SPPs at six sites across seven time zones, including platforms from three computer manufacturers. (Four of the SPP sites in the large run used the single-SPP code described in this work, with a somewhat different single-SPP ModSAF implementation used at the other two sites.) Particular attention is given to analyses of inter-SPP data rates and Gateway performance in the multi-SPP runs. An alternative, next-generation implementation based on Globus is presented, including discussions of initial experiments, comparisons to the Gateway model, and planned near-term extensions. Finally, comparisons are made between this work and ongoing mainstream DIS activities.
Utility and usability: research issues and development contexts

Abstract It is notoriously difficult to separate the function of interactive software from its form, to draw a line between software functionality and its human-computer interface. Nevertheless, two research communities exist in the USA, one focused on information system functionality and organizational impact, the other on human-computer dialogues or ‘user interfaces’ to systems and applications. These communities largely draw from different systems development contexts: in-house or internal development and off-the-shelf product development, respectively. Each has its own core set of issues, theoretical constructs and terminologies. The histories of these research and development communities are summarized, points of contact are identified and their possible evolution is suggested.
Use of calcium channel blockers in hypoxic lung disease

COPD patients who are hypoxic develop pulmonary hypertension primarily because alveolar hypoxia induces muscular hypertrophy of pulmonary arteries. This muscular hypertrophy will regress in animals if they receive continuous oxygen therapy. Since many COPD patients refuse to use oxygen continuously, calcium channel blockers, which inhibit hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction, may be effective adjuvant therapy. Nifedipine lowers pulmonary vascular resistance during rest and exercise in hypoxic COPD patients.
Forbidden O II studies of galactic planetary nebulae and extragalactic H II complexes

The 3727-A doublet ratio of forbidden O II was observed in five planetary nebulae and nine extragalactic groupings of H II regions (H II Complexes). The theoretical relation between this doublet ratio and nebular density was rederived using the most up-to-date atomic parameters, permitting columnar densities to be determined for all objects. The structure of extragalactic H II Complexes is discussed, and a preferred model advanced. A new method of distance determination for extragalactic systems is proposed and evaluated in the context of the presently available data.
Antiparallel β-sheet architecture in Iowa-mutant β-amyloid fibrils

Wild-type, full-length (40- and 42-residue) amyloid β-peptide (Aβ) fibrils have been shown by a variety of magnetic resonance techniques to contain cross-β structures in which the β-sheets have an in-register parallel supramolecular organization. In contrast, recent studies of fibrils formed in vitro by the Asp23-to-Asn mutant of 40-residue Aβ (D23N-Aβ1–40), which is associated with early onset neurodegeneration, indicate that D23N-Aβ1–40 fibrils can contain either parallel or antiparallel β-sheets. We report a protocol for producing structurally pure antiparallel D23N-Aβ1–40 fibril samples and a series of solid state nuclear magnetic resonance and electron microscopy measurements that lead to a specific model for the antiparallel D23N-Aβ1–40 fibril structure. This model reveals how both parallel and antiparallel cross-β structures can be constructed from similar peptide monomer conformations and stabilized by similar sets of interactions, primarily hydrophobic in nature. We find that antiparallel D23N-Aβ1–40 fibrils are thermodynamically metastable with respect to conversion to parallel structures, propagate less efficiently than parallel fibrils in seeded fibril growth, and therefore must nucleate more efficiently than parallel fibrils in order to be observable. Experiments in neuronal cell cultures indicate that both antiparallel and parallel D23N-Aβ1–40 fibrils are cytotoxic. Thus, our antiparallel D23N-Aβ1–40 fibril model represents a specific “toxic intermediate” in the aggregation process of a disease-associated Aβ mutant.
Water content of saliva dried at various humidities.

IN calculations relating to the aerial bactericidal action of certain α-hydroxy acids, it was noted that the calculated rates of diffusion of these acids into air-suspended salivary particles, when plotted against the water content of the particles, did not appear to extrapolate to the expected diffusion-rate in pure water at 100 per cent water content1. It was suggested that this might be due to the formation of a shell of dried material on the outside of the particles so that the water content of the particle as a whole, some minutes after its formation, exceeded that of the outer layers, the estimated diffusion-rates being largely determined by the water content of these layers. Measurements of the equilibrium water content of saliva dried at various relative humidities confirm that, at relative humidities greater than 50 per cent, the water content of the salivary particles some minutes after their formation exceeds the equilibrium value.
Increased Dermal Expression of Platelet-Derived Growth Factor Receptors in Growth-Activated Skin Wounds and Psoriasis

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is a potent mitogenic and chemotactic factor for fibroblasts and other cell types. PDGF effects are mediated by binding of PDGF to dimeric PDGF receptors possessing intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity. We examined the expression pattern of PDGF receptors in cryostat sections of normal and growth-activated human skin using a monoclonal antibody, PR7212, specific for the beta subunit of the PDGF receptor. PDGF receptors were expressed at low levels in normal skin, with only occasional staining of dermal connective tissue cells. In contrast, PDGF receptor expression was greatly elevated in the dermis of growth-activated skin from 15 chronic wounds and 10 psoriatic lesions. PDGF receptors were increased in dermal fibroblasts and in dermal blood vessels in both conditions. Immunoblot analysis confirmed the increased expression of beta-subtype PDGF receptors in psoriatic lesional tissue. PDGF receptors were not detected in normal or growth-activated epidermis. Differential expression of PDGF receptors could regulate increased proliferation of vascular and connective tissue cells observed in psoriasis and chronic wounds.
Malignant hyperthermia in the ambulatory setting

M alignant hyperthermia (MH) is an inherited ,disorder characterized by a hypermetabolic response to succinylcholine and/or potent volatile anesthetic agents (Table 1). It is inherited in humans as an autosomal dominant trait. MH-susceptible patients usually do not have symptoms or signs of problems other than during administration of anesthesia. As such, MH is a prototypical pharmacogenetic disorder, and the only "disease" of anesthesia. Because an MH crisis may occur wherever and whenever "trigger"-volatile agents are administered, it is appropriate to be prepared to diagnose and manage an MH crisis wherever general anesthesia is administered, be it a hospital, officg, or ambulatory center. The goal of this article is to provide the most recent information concerning prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and management of MH in the ambulatory setting. The article will address questions associated with managing MH-susceptible patients in a free-standing surgery center as well as a physician's office.
Electrode kinetics of oxygen reduction at carbon-supported and unsupported platinum microcrystallite/Nafion® interfaces

The electrode kinetics of oxygen reduction at the platinum microcrystallite/Nafion® interface was investigated as a function of temperature and pressure. These studies were conducted using porous gas-diffusion electrodes, containing unsupported platinum (10 Mg cm−2) or carbon-supported platinum (0.4 mg cm−2), in proton exchange membrane fuel cells, using H2 and O2 as reactants. The effects of platinum loading and of Nafion impregnation on the electrode kinetic parameters were elucidated. Over the range of current densities from 1 to 1000 mA cm−2 (geometric), the Tafel slope was ca. −60 mV per decade and was practically independent of temperature, O2 pressure, and type of electrode. The platinum electrode was still in the potential regime where oxygenated species are present on the surface (Temkin conditions). The reaction order with respect to O2 is unity and the activation energy for O2-reduction was ca. 80 kJ mol−1. These electrode kinetic parameters are in good agreement with those obtained at the platinum microelectrode/Nafion interface, as previously determined in our laboratories.
Zoom-Thresholding Technique for Boundary Determination

A new technique for automatic determination of object boundaries in image processing is proposed. This approach is based on the zoom-thresholding technique which determines the optimal threshold for the fuzzy boundary of an object. The optimization process is accomplished by minimizing a performance criterion.
Model-predictive pH control using real-time NARX approach

A new comprehensive real-time identification/control methodology based on the concept of nonlinear autoregressive exogenous input (NARX) models and adaptive, nonlinear, model-predictive control (ANMPC) is applied to a pH neutralization process. The existing NARX model theory has been extended by incorporating measured disturbances. NARX models have shown superior predictive characteristics in comparison to linear models. The proposed real-time methodology uses a pointer vector being created during an initial identification and model structure selection procedure. Using this pointer vector, which allocates the chosen elements from the pool of all possible linear and nonlinear combinations, one needs no explicit information about the model structure for the closed-loop control. The nonlinear programming problem encountered in ANMPC is solved by a gradient-based modified Marquardt and finite difference methods. The design procedure and explicit algorithms are discussed for the multiinput/multioutput case. A pH wastewater neutralization process used illustrates and verifies the procedure by computer simulations and a real-time laboratory-scale experiments.
Hepatitis C virus is not recoverable from liver tissue in cryptogenic cirrhosis: Failure to identify hepatitis C virus-RNA using reverse transcription-mediated polymerase chain reaction

Abstract Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been used to study liver biopsy tissue in patients with known or suspected hepatitis C virus (HCV). Recent studies of cryptogenic cirrhosis using PCR have been based on study of sera, and HCV has not been shown. The failure to show HCV in patients so studied has left unanswered the question of whether or not patients with cryptogenic cirrhosis could still harbor the virus in the liver. The authors studied liver tissue, obtained at the time of orthopic liver transplantation from 10 patients clinically diagnosed as having end-stage liver disease without demonstrable origin, so-called cryptogenic cirrhosis, using reverse transcription (RT) -PCR to try to recover HCV-RNA. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue was used. For comparison, the authors also studied similarly obtained samples from 10 patients with typical hepatitis C-associated cirrhosis and 10 patients with end-stage liver disease resulting from autoimmune hepatitis. The authors recovered HCVRNA from 9 of 10 livers from patients with cirrhosis resulting from HCV, and 3 of 10 livers from patients with autoimmune hepatitis. HCV-RNA was not recovered from any of the livers of the 10 patients designated as having cryptogenic cirrhosis.
Enabling Practice Leaders to Reduce Patient Harm through “System-Base Practice and Practice-Based Learning and Improvement”

Background: Healthcare organizations regularly face new challenges. Their leaders must be adaptive through systematic approaches. These approaches must meet three basic needs: 1) facilitation of workflow/process/task assessment and improvement; 2) creation of high reliability organization; and 3) respect of each practice as a special part of the total healthcare system. The US Institute of Medicine has called for higher quality at lower cost through “leadership that fosters continuous learning”. Retrospective methods are currently the most commonly used. These reveal only the tip of the iceberg of the total harm. The US Inspector General takes the view that the “current methods of detection of adverse events are inadequate”. Recommended Approach: An innovative prospective process is put forward. It fosters empowerment and ownership, eventually leading to high reliability practices. Conclusion: This approach is shown to be effective in measuring safety state in a practice and reducing patient harm. Could this be the “better way” that the Inspector General is seeking? Our experience with this approach in the domains of medication safety, falls safety, postoperative pain, and assessment of effects of HIT introduction has demonstrated that it also promotes core competencies of “system-based practice and practice-based learning and improvement” in staff.
MANGANESE DEFICIENCY AFFECTS HDL1 AND HDL2 COMPOSITION IN RATS

Abstract The effects of manganese deficiency on high density lipoprotein subclass (HDL 1 and HDL 2 ) composition was assessed. Weanling male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a manganese-deficient (0.48 mg/kg) or a manganese-adequate (90 mg/kg) diet. After 15 weeks, mean body weights, liver manganese, plasma cholesterol and protein, and HDL 2 cholesterol and protein were significantly lower in the deficient group of rats. Plasma and HDL 2 phospholipids and triglycerides and HDL 1 protein and lipids were not significantly affected by manganese deficiency. The percentage of apolipoprotein A-I in HDL 1 was significantly greater (P 2 apolipoprotein composition was the same in both groups. The apparent molecular weights of apolipoproteins were not affected by manganese deficiency in either HDL subclass. © 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.
Electrodeposition of nanodiamond particles on aluminium alloy A319 for improved tribological properties

Nanodiamond (ND) particles (4-8-nm) have been deposited by an electrophoretic method on aluminium alloy A319 to obtain thick (20-60-m), strongly adherent coatings. The electrophoresis deposition process was carried out by dispersing ND powders in an electrolytic solution of nickel sulphate/nickel chloride solution to obtain Ni-ND composite coating and also in isopropanol to obtain Ni-free ND coating. Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy in conjunction with energy dispersive analysis were used to identify carbon phases, chemical composition, and surface texture/topography of the coatings. Nanoindentation, friction and wear tests were conducted to determine the mechanical and tribological properties. Results indicate the formation of agglomerates, soft and hard phases (200-3400-MPa) and fine network of cracks in the as-deposited Ni-ND composite coatings. In addition, the Raman peak corresponding to diamond was noted in Ni-ND composite coatings. However, there was no evidence of diamond phases in electrophoresis using isopropanol. Ni-ND coatings exhibited rougher surfaces (2.7-m, Ra value) than the aluminium substrate (1.4 m). Tests conducted with ball-on-flat microtribometer revealed an improvement of sliding wear resistance. Thus, thick tribological ND coatings obtained in this study are promising to enhance the performance of aluminium alloy A319 used for lightweight engine components.
Partial interpretations and Company: Beckett, Foucault, et al. and the author question

Le statut de l'auteur dans la litterature contemporaine, a partir de l'ethique foucaldienne de l'indifference auctoriale. La construction de l'auteur Beckett et les implications du discours beckettien dans les interpretations critiques de Company
Stable chelating linkage for reversible immobilization of oligohistidine tagged proteins in the BIAcore surface plasmon resonance detector.

We describe a stable chelating linkage for the reversible immobilization of oligohistidine tagged proteins in the flow cell of the ‘BIAcore’ surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor. The carboxymethylated dextran surface of the flow cell was covalently derivatized with N-(5-amino-1-carboxypentyl)iminodiacetic acid (NTA ligand) via its single primary amino group, and the derivatized surface charged with Ni2+. 6His-VP55, an N-terminally tagged derivative of the catalytic subunit of the heterodimeric vaccinia virus poly(A) polymerase, was immobilized to this surface in a manner that was dependent upon the immobilized NTA ligand, the prior injection of Ni2+ at a concentration of > 10−5 M and the 6His tag, and which was reversible upon injection of EDTA. The stability of immobilization varied inversely with the amount of 6His-VP55 immobilized and was greatest in buffer of pH 8.0 or greater, containing NaCl at a concentration of 0.1 M. Utilizing these conditions, 6His-VP55 remained stably immobilized during 60 min of buffer flow at moderate flow rates. VP39, the stimulatory subunit of vaccinia poly(A) polymerase, interacted with the immobilized 6His-VP55. ∼99% of immobilized 6His-VP55 molecules were available for VP39 binding, in contrast to the ∼40% availability for 6His-VP55 molecules immobilized covalently, via primary amino groups. Three additional proteins, tagged at either the N- or C-terminus with oligohistidine, were shown to be stably immobilized via the chelating linkage. This simple method permits immobilization of proteins in the BIAcore biosensor via a commonly employed affinity tag, in a stable and reversible manner, and requires only a single biosensor flow cell for the iterative generation of immobilized protein surfaces.
Tight binding calculation of electronic properties of ternary alloy ZnSxSe1−x

Abstract Using an sp 3 s ∗ empirical tight binding method, we calculate energy band gap and electronic band structure of the zinc-blende ternary alloy ZnS x Se 1− x . The band gap composition is calculated using an extended version of the virtual crystal approximation, which introduce an empirical correction factor that takes into account the non-linear dependence of the band gap with the composition. The results compare well with the experimental data. The ionicity character and the refractive index are also calculated.
Vascular Flora of Brookhaven National Laboratory, Long Island, New York

Abstract The objective of this study was to collect and document the vascular plant species at the 2236-ha Brookhaven National Laboratory. We made collecting trips at 2-week intervals from April 2007 to October 2009 during which we identified 320 species in 226 genera in 98 families. The Asteraceae (45 species) and Cyperaceae (24 species) were the most commonly collected families. The most diverse genera were Carex spp. (sedges) and Quercus (oaks) with 11 and 9 species, respectively. One hundred eight species, 34% of the flora, were non-native taxa. We observed 2 rare taxa at the study site: Lespedeza angustifolia (Narrowleaf Lespedeza) and Rhynchospora scirpoides (Longbeak Beaksedge).
NMR characterization of clustered bistrand abasic site lesions: effect of orientation on their solution structure

Abstract A unique characteristic of ionizing radiation and radiomimetic anticancer drugs is the induction of clustered damage: two or more DNA lesions (oxidized bases, abasic sites, or strand breaks) occurring in the same or different strands of the DNA molecule within a single turn of the helix. In spite of arising at a lower frequency than single lesions, clustered DNA damage represents an exotic challenge to the repair systems present in the cells and, in some cases, these lesions may escape detection and/or processing. To understand the structural properties of clustered DNA lesions we have prepared two oligodeoxynucleotide duplexes containing adjacent tetrahydrofuran residues (abasic site analogues), positioned one in each strand of the duplex in a 5′ or 3′ orientation, and determined their solution structure by NMR spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations. The NMR data indicate that both duplex structures are right-handed helices of high similarity outside the clustered damage site. The thermal stability of the duplexes is severely reduced by the presence of the abasic residues, especially in a 5′ orientation where the melting temperature is 5°C lower. The structures show remarkable differences at the lesion site where the extrahelical location of the tetrahydrofuran residues in the (AP)2-5′-staggered duplex contrasts with their smooth alignment along the sugar-phosphate backbone in the (AP)2-3′-staggered duplex.
Preface: an overview of the Atchafalaya River

The Atchafalaya River is one of the great rivers of the world but it is virtually unknown outside of Louisiana, USA; it is great yet obscure because of its peculiarity, its size, and its wildness. The Atchafalaya River is peculiar because it originates in central Louisiana and gains only 57 m s of water as it flows 275 km to the Gulf of Mexico, yet only four rivers in North America contain more water (Table 1). This is possible because the Atchafalaya River originates where all of the water from the Red River (1,585 m s) meets 22% of the water from the Mississippi River (4,728 m s) (Fig. 1; Table 1). Its watershed includes that of the Red River (241,387 km) and the Mississippi River (2,978,468 km) as well as the floodplain downstream of its origin (4,921 km) (Kammerer, 1990). Waters from New Mexico, USA, Saskatchewan, Canada, and New York, USA, mingle in the Atchafalaya River, which makes its watershed the largest in North America. Basic facts of the Atchafalaya River are often obscured because different authors report its discharge, length, and watershed as various combinations of the portion downstream of its origin, the portion associated with the Red River, and the portion associated with the Mississippi River. The Atchafalaya River is also peculiar because inflow to it from the Mississippi River is managed daily, so that the Atchafalaya River contains 30% of the combined flow of the Red River and Mississippi River. This level of control is achieved with the Old River Control Structure, an engineering marvel completed in 1963 to prevent the Atchafalaya River from capturing the flow of the Mississippi River. Such capture would be a natural development in the delta lobe cycle (Roberts, 1998), but would be catastrophic to international trade dependent upon ocean-going vessels that utilize deep draft ports on the Mississippi River downstream of the Old River Control Structure, including those at the Port of Baton Rouge, the Port of South Louisiana, the Port of New Orleans, the St. Bernard Port, and the Plaquemines Parish Port. In addition to having the largest watershed and the fifth largest discharge of any river in North America, the Atchafalaya River has one of the largest and wildest floodplains in North America. This wildness may seem a peculiar contrast to the daily human control of its inflow, but is a product of the extent of its floodplain and the large seasonal difference in water levels. The floodplain is known as the Atchafalaya Guest editors: M. Ford & J.A. Nyman / Interactions among rivers, floodplains, and coastal areas examined at the Atchafalaya River
Therapeutic effect of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor in ovarian carcinoma xenograft in nude mice

Abstract Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) has been found to have in vitro and in vivo cytotoxicity against a variety of mouse and human experimental tumors. Synergistic effect with interferon-γ (IFN) has also been reported. We examined the therapeutic effect of TNF and IFN using the human ovarian carcinoma cell line NIH:OVCAR-3 intraperitoneally transplanted in nude mice. Approximately 10 to 15 million cells were injected intraperitoneally in 80 nude mice. One week later the animals were divided into four treatment groups of 20 animals each: (1) untreated controls, (2) daily ip injections of 5 μg TNF, (3) daily ip injections of 5 × 10 4 U of IFN, and (4) daily ip injections of 5 μg TNF and 5 × 10 4 U of IFN. After 13 weeks of treatment, when 50% of the control animals were dead of disease, a survival analysis was performed. The remaining animals underwent laparotomies (comparable to second-look in humans) at Weeks 15, 18, 20, and 22 to determine the presence of tumor in various tissues by histologic examination. A statistically significant survival difference was found between the untreated control group and the groups that received TNF or TNF plus IFN ( P P
Management Studies on Seed Production of Turf‐Type Tall Fescue: I. Seed Yield

Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreber) is rapidly gaining popularity as a turfgrass. Limited information is available on seed yield response of turf-type cultivars to seed production management practices. We tested effects of four management variables on seed yield of Bonanza (late-maturing turf type), Rebel (mid-maturing turf type), Falcon (early-maturing turf type), and Fawn (forage type) tall fescue cultivars. Variables were spring-applied N rates (100, 145, and 190 kg ha -1 ), N application timing (double-ridge stage, spikelet initiation, and equally split between the two), row spacing (0.3 and 0.6 m), and post-harvest residue managements after removing the straw (flailchopping or burning the stubble). Seed yields of the second through fifth crops were measured. Nitrogen application timing did not affect seed yield of any cultivar. Effects of the other three variables on seed yield interacted with each other. For both Fawn and Rebel, high seed yields were achieved when 100 kg N ha -1 was applied and residue was burned, irrespective of row spacing. Bonanza produced high seed yields with 145 kg N ha -1 , 0.6-m row spacing, and flail-chopping. In contrast, 0.3-m row spacing and residue burning was required for maximum seed yield in Falcon, whereas N rates did not have an effect. We conclude that seed yield responses of Fawn and Rebel to management practices are similar. Results further suggest that, compared with Fawn, the optimum spring N rate was higher for Bonanza seed production, and the optimum row spacing was narrower for Falcon seed production. Also, residue burning was needed for maintaining high seed yield in Fawn, Rebel, and Falcon, whereas, at optimum row spacing and N rate, mechanical removal of post-harvest residue was as effective as burning for Bonanza seed production.
Comparative genetic structure of two co-occurring tree species, Maclura pomifera (Moraceae) and Gleditsia triacanthos (Leguminosae)

Comparative genetic structure of two co-occurring tree species, Maclura pomifera (Moraceae) and Gleditsia triacanthos (Leguminosae)
The positive correlation between personal need for structure and the mere exposure effect

It was predicted that the amount a person is affected by mere exposure would be positively correlated with their personal need for structure (PNS). Forty participants rated unfamiliar Turkish words for pleasantness and completed a PNS questionnaire. As predicted by the mere exposure effect, the greater the participants’ exposure, the more pleasant the words were rated. Individual PNS scores correlated with individual mere exposure scores such that people who were higher in PNS were more affected by mere exposure.
Tryptophan decarboxylase strictosidine synthase and alkaloid production by Cinchona ledgeriana suspension cultures

Abstract The activities of tryptophan decarboxylase (TDC) and strictosidine synthase (SS) have been compared with the production of quinoline alkaloids in light-grown and dark-grown suspension cultures of Cinchona ledgeriana transformed with Agrobacterium tumefaciens . Enzyme activities and alkaloid production were both substantially greater in the dark-grown cultures than in the light-grown cultures. Under the conditions of assay, SS was in all cases at least 80 times more active than TDC and did not vary very substantially over a 22-day culture period. In contrast, TDC activity in the dark-grown cells rose rapidly to a maximum after 13 days and then declined. Total alkaloid production was largely growth-related, but the cellular alkaloid content declined sharply (on account of release into the medium) within the first 4 days after subculture, prior to the rise in TDC activity. TDC activity over the 22-day period was only 2-to 3-fold greater than that required to account for alkaloid production and is therefore potentially rate-limiting under in vivo conditions.
Remediation of Uranium-contaminated Groundwater by Sorption onto Hydroxyapatite Derived from Catfish Bones

Hydroxyapatite (HA) was prepared from catfish bones, identified as catfish HA (CFHA), using mechanical and chemical treatment methods. CFHA was characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) techniques to confirm the presence of HA. The ability of CFHA to remove uranium (U(VI)) from aqueous phase was investigated using both batch and column experiments. Adsorption experiments in batch experiments were carried by varying pH, preparation temperature, and particle size. The data shows that the maximum adsorption occurred between pH 5.5 and 7. The adsorption of U(VI) on CFHA was greater at 300 °C than at 100 °C. Batch data shows that the smallest particles, with maximum surface area, exhibited significant U(VI) removal efficiency. Column experiments were conducted using the smallest CFHA particles at different flow rates and breakthrough profiles were obtained. The scalability of the U(VI) removal process was tested by comparing the performances of columns packed with different CFHA. The results indicated that the reaction scales to the mass concentration of the reactants (CFHA and U(VI)). We also found that at pH 7, the CFHA packed in the column has the potential to remove about 3.9 mg of U(VI) per gram. Our study shows that CFHA may be used in permeable reactive barriers for remediating U(VI)-contaminated groundwater plumes.
Multidimensional versus unidimensional measures in assessing national culture values: The Hofstede VSM 94 example

Abstract Recent attention in the national culture literature has been given to the question of applying sociological, group-level measures to psychological, individual-level phenomenon. The current study addresses this measurement issue by examining the most widely used measures of national culture values: those developed by Hofstede and his colleagues using the Value Survey Module (VSM) and an updated version, the VSM 94. Hofstede's country-level index scores are applied by some researchers on an individual level, which was never the intended use of the indices. In doing so, the unidimensional aspects of these indices fail to represent the multidimensional nature of an individual's cultural values. The current research involved two large studies, including data collected from over 1400 subjects in four countries. Analysis of the validity of the VSM 94 measures reveals a number of shortcomings. Our findings demonstrate the unsuitability of using measures designed for unidimensional constructs to represent multidimensional, individual-level traits.
Comparative toxicity of chloroquine and bis[(chloro-7"-quinolyl-4")-amino-2'propyl]-1,4-piperazine (WR 3863).

Abstract A derivative of chloroquine, WR 3863, was investigated in four animal species. In mice infected with Plasmodium berghei, WR 3863 suppressed parasitemia in quantities 50 times larger than chloroquine. In infected rats, the effective suppressive dose of WR 3863 was 10 times that of chloroquine. The cardiac effects of the two compounds were different: (a) WR 3863 did not reduce output in the anesthetized dog; (b) myocardial contractility of the cat heart was not depressed by WR 3863 unless close to the lethal dose was injected intravenously; and (c) excitability of the rat atrial muscle was increased by WR 3863. On the other hand, chloroquine (a) depressed cardiac output; (b) depressed myocardial contractility; and (c) reduced the excitability and prolonged the effective refractory period. Both drugs reduced aortic blood pressure, increased pulmonary arterial pressure, and increased pulmonary resistance in the dog, but a quantitative comparison could not be made because the solvent used for WR 3863 was not completely inert.
Respiration in unanesthetized geese.

Abstract Air sac pressures and tracheal airflow were measured simultaneously in unanesthetized geese. The P O 2 and P CO 2 in the air sacs, end-tidal air and arterial blood were also measured. Pressure fluctuations in all air sacs were in phase and equal in magnitude. It is concluded that air sacs fill and empty synchronously. Gas composition in the abdominal and post-thoracic sacs was distinct from all other gas sampling sites; these sacs contained less CO 2 and more O 2 than the others. The P CO 2 in the interclavicular and anterior-thoracic sacs were not significantly different from the identical end-tidal and arterial P CO 2 . During inspiration, gas enters the abdominal and post-thoracic sacs without passing the gas exchange region of the lungs. By contrast, the gas entering the interclavicular and anteriorthoracic sacs must have traversed the gas exchange region of the lung. During expiration, gas emerging from the interclavicular and anterior-thoracic sacs passes directly out the trachea; whereas gas from the abdominal and post-thoracic sacs traverses the gas exchange region of the lung, mixes with the gas from the other sacs, and passes out the trachea.
Are Costs Beneficial for Motivating Individuals to Volunteer?1

This study tested the hypothesis that costs would be more effective than benefits in recruiting individuals for volunteer community service. College students listened to volunteer recruiting messages that emphasized benefits, or combined benefits and costs. Subsequently, took information sheets about volunteer activities and/or signed lists to receive phone calls from volunteer agencies. Students hearing the costs only message or the combined message signed more lists and took more information sheets than those who heard the benefits only message. Results were consistent with past research on overjustification and effort justification. Implications for volunteer recruitment are discussed.
Proinflammatory Cytokines and Sickness Behavior: Implications for Depression and Cancer-Related Symptoms

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To review the relationship between proinflammatory cytokine release and resultant sickness behavior; to explore the implications of sickness behavior related to depression and cancer-related symptoms. DATA SOURCES Published articles and book chapters. DATA SYNTHESIS Proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha) are released as part of the immune response resulting in a syndrome called sickness behavior that is an adaptive and motivational reaction to disease. Sickness behavior includes lethargy, depression, anorexia, energy conservation, fever, anhedonia, cognitive impairment, hyperalgesia, and decreased social interaction. Sickness behavior is seen in patients with depression or cancer and has been described as a symptom cluster. Sickness behavior in patients with cancer may be the result of both the disease and the treatment. The related symptoms may have a profound effect on patients' quality of life. Treatment strategies that inhibit the release or activity of proinflammatory cytokines and relieve patients from symptoms of sickness behavior are being evaluated. CONCLUSIONS Further research is needed to pinpoint the exact effects of specific cytokines, identify targets for therapy, and develop viable treatment strategies for preventing or minimizing the detrimental effects of cytokine-induced inflammatory responses. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING Sickness behavior resulting from cytokine release may provide a framework to explain many cancer-related symptoms, including depression, cognitive impairment, cachexia, fatigue, and a component of pain perception. Oncology nurses would benefit from awareness and understanding of the relationship between proinflammatory cytokine release and tissue involvement by tumors as well as some cancer-related therapies. Knowledge about the effects of cytokine release on patient behavior and the symptom experience would enhance nurses' ability to assess patients for anticipated side effects and provide appropriate education to patients and their families.
Cavitation in superplastic 7075Al alloys prepared via friction stir processing

Abstract The effect of strain rate, temperature, and grain size on the cavitation of superplastically deformed 7075Al alloys prepared by friction stir processing (FSP) was systematically examined. The nucleation of cavities was generally observed to be associated with the grain triple junctions and coarse particles. While new cavities were continuously nucleated during deformation, the cavity density did not increase above a certain strain due to significant cavity coalescence and linkage. The density, size, and volume fraction of cavities increased with increasing initial strain rates from 1×10−2 to 1×10−1 s−1. Increasing the temperature from 450 to 510 °C resulted in a decrease in the cavity density. However, the specimen deformed at the optimum superplasticity temperature of 480 °C exhibited the lowest cavity volume fraction and ratio of large-size cavities. The decrease in the grain size from 7.5 to 3.8 μm resulted in a significant decrease in the density, size, and volume fraction of cavities. The growth of cavities was controlled by plasticity, and the cavity growth rate parameter, η, decreased with decreasing grain size and strain rate. FSP aluminum alloy exhibited lower cavity level and higher critical strain compared to a thermo-mechanically processed one.
Adaptive test selection for post-silicon timing validation: A data mining approach

Test failure data produced during post-silicon validation contain accurate design- and process-specific information about the DUD (design-under-debug). Prior research efforts and industry practice focused on feeding this information back to the design flow via bug root-cause analysis. However, the value of this silicon data for helping further improvement of the post-silicon validation process has been largely overlooked. In this paper, we propose an adaptive test selection method to progressively tune the validation plan using knowledge automatically mined from the bug sightings during post-silicon validation. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed fault-model-free data mining approach can prioritize those tests capable of uncovering more silicon timing errors, resulting in significant reduction of validation time and effort.
Nucleic acid template and the risk of a PCR-Induced HIV-1 drug resistance mutation.

Author(s): Varghese, Vici; Wang, Elijah; Babrzadeh, Farbod; Bachmann, Michael H; Shahriar, Rajin; Liu, Tommy; Mappala, Svetlana Jean M; Gharizadeh, Baback; Fessel, W Jeffrey; Katzenstein, David; Kassaye, Seble; Shafer, Robert W | Abstract: The HIV-1 nucleoside RT inhibitor (NRTI)-resistance mutation, K65R confers intermediate to high-level resistance to the NRTIs abacavir, didanosine, emtricitabine, lamivudine, and tenofovir; and low-level resistance to stavudine. Several lines of evidence suggest that K65R is more common in HIV-1 subtype C than subtype B viruses.We performed ultra-deep pyrosequencing (UDPS) and clonal dideoxynucleotide sequencing of plasma virus samples to assess the prevalence of minority K65R variants in subtype B and C viruses from untreated individuals. Although UDPS of plasma samples from 18 subtype C and 27 subtype B viruses showed that a higher proportion of subtype C viruses contain K65R (1.04% vs. 0.25%; pl0.001), limiting dilution clonal sequencing failed to corroborate its presence in two of the samples in which K65R was present in g1.5% of UDPS reads. We therefore performed UDPS on clones and site-directed mutants containing subtype B- and C-specific patterns of silent mutations in the conserved KKK motif encompassing RT codons 64 to 66 and found that subtype-specific nucleotide differences were responsible for increased PCR-induced K65R mutation in subtype C viruses.This study shows that the RT KKK nucleotide template in subtype C viruses can lead to the spurious detection of K65R by highly sensitive PCR-dependent sequencing techniques. However, the study is also consistent with the subtype C nucleotide template being inherently responsible for increased polymerization-induced K65R mutations in vivo.
Design and Operation of a Droplet Deposition System for Freeform Fabrication of Metal Parts

A droplet generator has been designed and built to make wax and tin alloy droplets for freeform fabrication. The linear stability theory of liquid jets for forming droplets is first reviewed. The analytical formula for predicting droplet size and breakup length at optimal conditions are then developed. The suitability of the formulas to be used for the present droplet deposition system is studied by comparing its prediction with the more accurate numerical results and previously published experimental data. Only the suitable formulation is adopted for the design and operation of the droplet generator system. Experiments have been conducted at a wide range of operating conditions including different nozzle sizes, jet velocities, and frequencies. Good agreements are found between the predictions based on the adopted analytical formulation and the experimental results. It has been found that using the present design and procedure recommended, the droplet sizes can be controlled having a size deviation of less than 3 percent and the shape variation of the deposited layer can be managed within 3 percent of its deposited width.
Chemical and topographical patterning for directed cell attachment

In the area of biomaterials, there has been recent activity in the use of micro- and nanofabrication technology to alter material surfaces for influencing the attachment and growth of cells. We present here a review of this current activity at the interface of biology and material science.