cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Investigation of Synthetic Hosts That Model Cation-π Sites Found at Protein Binding Domains

Small cyclophanes containing aromatic groups and dialkyl ammonium ions were created as model systems of the cation-π complexes found at some protein binding domains. The hosts had different shapes in order to investigate the effect the arrangement of ammonium ions to aromatic surfaces has on their reactivity. pKa values of the hosts were substantially different in DMSO or (95/5) DMSO/D2O solutions, which showed that the ions existed in different environments of the hosts. Electrostatic charges, as determined by density functional calculations, revealed that the magnitude of a cationic charge depends on its position relative to an aromatic ring. Association constants of the hosts bound to the sodium salt of N-acetyl phenylalanine in d6-DMSO and in (95/5) d6-DMSO/D2O solutions were inversely proportional to the magnitude of the hosts' acidity constants. These results suggest that the magnitude of the positive charge for cationic groups of cation-π complexes is reduced by being associated with electron-rich ...
Stakeholder collaboration in the Columbia River Treaty Review process

The public participation element of the Columbia River Treaty Review process conducted in the United States was assessed: to what extent did it incorporate participation by basin stakeholders, how importantly did this figure in the minds of stakeholders, and what is the prospect for stakeholder concerns to be given meaningful attention by the US Department of State in deliberations and actions concerning the future of the treaty? The analysis revealed that collaboration is important to stakeholders, and the process facilitated a significant degree of collaboration. The continuation of collaboration in treaty negotiation and in post-2024 treaty implementation was recommended.
Observational bias and the apparent distribution of ponds on Eros

Abstract Over 300 “ponds” have been identified on 433 Eros: smooth deposits that sharply embay the bounding depressions in which they lie. The known ponds are largely concentrated near the equator at the ends of the long axis of the asteroid. Here, we examine the pixel scale of images available at the pond locations, and compare the observed distribution of ponds on Eros to that of the image pixel scale. We find that the majority (60%) of ponds are found in the regions covered by images with pixel scales less than 2 m/px, a total of only 13% of the surface area. The correlation between pond density and image pixel scale suggests a significant observational bias in the identification of small ponds. These findings suggest that the distribution of ponds on Eros may not be as clear-cut as previously reported, and that it may be best not to use this distribution to assess existing models regarding their formation of these landforms.
Polygalacturonase β-Subunit Antisense Gene Expression in Tomato Plants Leads to a Progressive Enhanced Wound Response and Necrosis in Leaves and Abscission of Developing Flowers

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum var. Better Boy) plants were transformed with a tomato leaf wound-inducible polygalacturonase (PG) β-subunit gene in the antisense orientation (PGβS-AS) under the control of the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter. The leaves of the transgenic plants exhibited small localized lesions, which eventually enlarged and spread throughout the entire surfaces of the leaves, resulting in cell death. The same lesions were also observed in the peduncle of developing flowers, extending to the whole flower causing abscission, resulting in a sterile phenotype. Leaves of transgenic plants exhibited elevated levels of PG activity, hydrogen peroxide, and enhanced defense signaling in response to wounding and elicitor treatment. The defense signaling increased was accompanied by an increased resistance toward tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta) larvae. The cumulative results suggest that in the absence of the β-subunit protein in tomato leaves, an increase in PG activity occurred that led to an enhanced wound response, the formation of lesions leading to severe necrosis, and an abscission of developing flowers.
Leptin in anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa: Importance of assay technique and method of interpretation

Abstract Studies of the role of leptin in patients with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa have conflicted in their data and interpretation. Such differences may be a result of the assay methods used or the way results are compared with those from normal controls. To investigate these possibilities, we analyzed serum leptin levels in anorexic, bulimic, obese, and control individuals, thereby spanning the full range of human body weights, using three frequently employed commercial kits. Kits from Linco (St Louis, MO) and DSL (Webster, TX) employ a radioimmunoassay method, and the RD RD DSL, r = 0.86). For very low leptin levels, the more sensitive kits from RD139:72-9)
In Human Entrocytes, GLN Transport and ASCT2 Surface Expression Induced by Short-Term EGF are MAPK, PI3K, and Rho-Dependent

Glutamine, a key nutrient for the enterocyte, is transported among other proteins by ASCT2. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) augments intestinal adaptation. We hypothesized that short-term treatment of human enterocytes with EGF enhances glutamine transport by increasing membranal ASCT2. To elucidate EGF-induced mechanisms, monolayers of C2BBe1 w/wo siRho transfection were treated w/wo EGF and w/wo tyrphostin AG1478 (AG1478), wortmanin, or PD98059. Total and system-specific 3H-glutamine transports were determined w/wo 5 mmol/l amino acid inhibitors. Total and membranal ASCT2 proteins were measured by Westerns. EGF doubled glutamine transport by increasing B0/ASCT2 and B0,+ activities. Despite the doubling of membranal ASCT2 protein with EGF treatment, total ASCT2 did not change. The increases in B0/ASCT2 activity and ASCT2 protein were eliminated by AG1478, PD98059, wortmanin, and siRho, while transport by B0,+ was inhibited only by PD98059 and siRho. Thus, differential pathways are involved in EGF-induced increase in B0/ASCT2 glutamine transport and membranal ASCT2 compared to those involved in B0,+ activity.
Acorn dispersal by the blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata).

Blue jays transported and cached 133,000 acorns from a stand of Quercus palustris trees in Blacksburg, Virginia, representing 54% of the total mast crop. A further 20% (49,000) of the mast crop was eaten by jays at the collecting site. A large proportion of the nuts remaining beneath the collecting trees was parasitized by curculionid larvae. The number of nuts transported per caching trip ranged from 1–5 with a mean of 2.2. Mean distance between seed trees and caches was 1.1 km (range: 100 m–1.9 km). Jays appeared to choose species with small- to medium-sized nuts (Quercus palustris, Q. phellos, Q. velutina, Fagus grandifolia) and avoided the larger nuts of Q. borealis and Q. alba. Nuts were cached singly within a few meters of each other and were always covered with debris. Covering may improve germination and early growth by protecting the nut and radicle from desiccation. The vegetation structure of most suburban caching sites was analogous to open, disturbed environments in more natural landscapes. The presence of numerous Quercus seedlings in jay caching sites and the tendency for jays to cache nuts in environments conducive to germination and early growth indicate that blue jays facilitate colonization of members of the Fagaceae.
Carboxylation of Intact Boranes

Abstract The carboxylation procedure using Me3NBH2N=C: to displace halogen on intact boranes was applied to make carboxylated derivatives of Me3PBH3, and Me3NBH2CH2SiMe3. The retrograde reaction of decarboxylation to the halide, as well as two methods of forming carboxylic acid esters, are reported. Conversion of amide to nitrile function was also effected in two ways. Referee I: K. Niedenzu Referee II: G. W. Kabalka
β-Diketones As a Model for the Adsorption of Multifunctional Molecules on Si(100)-2 × 1

Reaction pathways of the β-diketones acetylacetone and dipivaloylmethane on Si(100)-2 × 1 are analyzed using density functional theory calculations and compared with experimental data. Of the multiple pathways available to the molecules, hydroxyl dissociation via a 1,7 H-shift mechanism is determined to be the dominant adsorption pathway. Several other pathways including [2 + 4] addition, [2 + 2] C═O intradimer addition, [2 + 2] C═O intradimer addition with OH dissociation on an adjacent dimer, [2 + 2] C═C intradimer addition, and “ene” addition are also found to be barrierless with respect to the entrance channel, and have small barriers relative to an adsorption precursor intermediate. Pathways involving 1,3 and 1,2 intramolecular H-shifts are found to be highly activated and are expected to be inaccessible at room temperature. Several product interconversions are considered as well. The results are compared with experiment and provide insight to the competitive adsorption pathways for multifunctional m...
Many-body effects in nonlinear spectroscopy: a time-dependent transformation approach

Abstract We discuss a recent theory for studying many-body effects in nonlinear spectroscopy. With a canonical transformation, we eliminate the optically-induced interband charge fluctuations and obtain a “dressed” Hamiltonian describing the Coulomb correlations leading to excitonic resonances. We then focus on a Fermi sea and use the Coupled Cluster expansion to study the dephasing and many-body processes. We provide an intuitive picture of how the dynamics of the Coulomb correlations manifests itself in nonlinear spectroscopy within the conventional picture of interacting carriers moving inside effective bands. We then apply this general method to extract the physics conveyed by recent experiments, indicating that, for off-resonant pump excitation, the different nature of the excitonic effects in doped quantum wells or metals (Fermi Edge Singularity) and undoped semiconductors (atomic exciton) leads to different nonlinear absorption. To interpret this, we demonstrate how a pump-induced increase in the carrier masses strongly enhances the Fermi Edge Singularity and why this depends on the pulse duration.
A review of the nonpressor and nonantidiuretic actions of the hormone vasopressin.

The pressor and antidiuretic actions of arginine vasopressin (AVP) have been well documented. This review focuses on the less widely appreciated actions of AVP which also have important physiologic functions and when better understood may provide important insights into common disease states. These actions include effects on pain perception and bone structure as well as important relationships to the varied components of metabolic syndrome. These include effects on blood glucose, lipid levels, and blood pressure. AVP may also play a role in the progression of chronic kidney disease and effect physiologic changes relating to aging, abnormal social behavior and cognitive function. Important cellular responses including cell proliferation, inflammation and control of infection and their relationship to AVP are described. Finally, the effects of AVP on hemostasis and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal access are noted. The goal of this summary of the various actions of AVP is to direct attention to the potential benefits of research in these underemphasized areas of importance.
Divalent cation-dependent binding of messenger to ribosomal RNA.

The binding of messenger RNA to ribosomal RNA in the presence of magnesium ions was studied using synthetic polynucleotides. Poly U binds strongly to ribosomal RNA in 10−2 M -Mg2+, but not in 10−3 M -Mg2+. When ribosomal RNA is present in molar excess over poly U, several ribosomal RNA molecules can bind to a common poly U molecule. If, however, poly U is in excess, aggregates do not appear. Three to four moles of poly U bind per ribosome equivalent of ribosomal RNA; of these, two or three moles bind to 23 s RNA and 1 or 2 moles to 16 s RNA. Poly C also binds to ribosomal RNA, but binding of poly A to ribosomal RNA was not detected. Formaldehyde was used to examine the role of hydrogen-bonding in the interaction. Formaldehyde-treated ribosomal RNA binds poly C, but will not bind poly U. Treatment of poly C prevents its attachment to ribosomal RNA. It is concluded that base-base hydrogen-bonding binds mRNA to ribosomal RNA. In support of this hypothesis, it is shown that poly U and poly C do not compete for binding sites on ribosomal RNA. Further, a random copolymer of U, G, A and C also binds to poly U and poly C.
Comparative analysis of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Whole Angle Coriolis Vibratory Gyroscopes

This paper's focus is a theoretical comparison of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Gyroscope (NMRG) and Whole-Angle (WA) Coriolis Vibratory Gyroscopes (CVG) dynamics, showing the parallels in structure of basic equations and deriving performance scaling laws. The comparison relies on the method of averaging to derive the linearized equations of motion and analytical solutions for both types of sensors. While equations for WA CVG in terms of slow-varying components have been extensively published in literature, the contribution of this work is derivation of the linearized equations of motion for NMRG using the method of averaging, as well as its comparison to the WA CVG dynamics. Finally, the paper identifies “optimization knobs” for the two types of sensors (e.g., ring-down time for CVG and relaxation time for NMRG) and discusses similarities and dissimilarities in their dynamics.
Continuous dynamic analysis: evolution of elastic properties with strain

Mechanical strain triggers changes in inherent molecular structure, especially in polymeric and biological materials. Unlike conventional techniques, we demonstrate a novel dynamic mechanical characterization method to study the effect of this structural evolution with strain on elastic properties. During tensile characterization of small diameter fibers, we quantitatively measured the viscoelastic properties as a continuous function of strain. While this approach is useful to characterize the elastic properties of metal microwires independent of applied strain, it is extremely important for fundamental understanding of molecular changes and their effect on the viscoelastic properties in materials such as polymer fiber and spider silk.
Frontomandibular Stay of Balaenopteridae: A Mechanism for Momentum Recapture during Feeding

The feeding process of Balaenopteridae (rorquals) is characterized by an energetic event in which a large volume of seawater is engulfed and filtered. Here we identify a major structural component of a stay apparatus that exists in the rorqual craniomandibular system. This fibrous appendage of the temporalis muscle introduces a continuous, mechanical linkage between the supraorbital process of the frontal bone and the coronoid process of the mandible. It is named the frontomandibular stay. Anatomic relationships and biomechanical findings predict that this structure would control and assist a process of continuous change in position of the jaws during engulfment events. The dynamic form of mandibular kinesis produced would function to increase the power of feeding. Owing to the stay's nonmuscular construction, its mechanical action necessarily is driven by the kinetic mass of the moving whale.
Castration lowers and testosterone restores blood pressure in several rat strains on high sodium diets.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of a high sodium diet and prepubertal castration (5-6 weeks) and androgen replacement therapy on blood pressure in male normotensive, borderline hypertensive and hypertensive rats on a high sodium diet between 9-22 weeks of age. The strains used were: Wistar Kyoto-(WKY), spontaneously hypertensive rat-(SHR), and borderline hypertensive rat-(BHR). Castration significantly reduced blood pressure (20-30mmHg) and testosterone replacement in castrated males restored blood pressure in all strains. Plasma norepinephrine (NE) increased with castration in the WKY and SHR strains but decreased in the BHR. However, there was a significant elevation in all strains between the midpoint and endpoint NE values. The high sodium diet did not prevent the blood pressure lowering effect of castration.
Figure and ground, methodology, and the spiral aftereffect.

The color of ground against which a black spiral pattern was seen to rotate was a significant factor in determining duration of latency but not duration of aftereffect. Reasons are given why the ta...
Intelligence and other predisposing factors in exposure to trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder: a follow-up study at age 17 years.

CONTEXT: Prospective data on standardized measures of early predispositions would allow a strong test of hypotheses about suspected risk factors of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and exposure to traumatic events. OBJECTIVE: To prospectively examine the extent to which intelligence, anxiety disorders, and conduct problems in childhood influence the risk for PTSD and for exposure to traumatic events. DESIGN: A longitudinal study of a randomly selected sample assessed at age 6 years and followed up to age 17 years. SETTING: Samples were randomly selected from the 1983-1985 newborn discharge lists of 2 major hospitals in southeast Michigan (N=823). PARTICIPANTS: Cohort members with follow-up data at age 17 years (n=713; 86.6% of the initial sample). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Cumulative exposure up to age 17 years of qualifying traumatic events; DSM-IV PTSD among participants who have experienced 1 or more traumatic events. RESULTS: Youth with teacher ratings of externalizing problems above the normal range at age 6 years were at increased risk for exposure to assaultive violence (adjusted odds ratio, 2.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.4-4.9). Youth aged 6 years with an IQ greater than 115 had decreased risk for exposure to traumatic events (adjusted odds ratio for assaultive violence, 0.3; 95% confidence interval, 0.2-0.7); a decreased risk for nonassaultive trauma (adjusted odds ratio, 0.6; 95% confidence interval, 0.3-0.9); and a decreased conditional risk for PTSD (adjusted odds ratio, 0.2; 95% confidence interval, 0.1-0.9). The conditional risk for PTSD was increased for youth with anxiety disorders and teacher ratings of externalizing problems above the normal range at 6 years of age. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this prospective community study highlight the role of intelligence in avoidance of exposure to traumatic experiences and their PTSD effects. They underscore the need for investigating cognitive processes in persons' responses to traumatic experiences and the involvement of general intelligence in these processes. Language: en
Relation Between Amount of Cesium137 in Cows’ Feed and Milk,

Abstract As part of a study of the effect of feeding practices on radionuclide concentrations in cows' milk, the concentration of cesium 137 was measured in the feed and milk of experimental herds during May and June of 1963. Three groups of Jersey and Holstein cows that had been given stored feed were used. One herd continued eating stored feed, the second was placed on pasture and remained there, and the third was placed on pasture for 19 days and then returned to eating stored feed. Cesium 137 was determined in daily samples of pasture grass, hay, grain, silage, drinking water, air particulates, and milk by radiochemical and gamma spectral analyses. Food consumption and milk production were measured, and water and air intakes estimated. The intake of cesium 137 by the pastured cows was approximately ten times as great as that by the cows consuming stored feeds. Cesium 137 levels in milk were directly proportional to intake, in that 13% of cesium 137 was transferred to the milk. When the herd was returned from pasture to stored feed, cesium 137 in milk decreased rapidly; 59 and 36% of the total, respectively, had 0.8-day and 4-day half-times.
PREPARATION OF N,N'-DI PIVOT LARIAT 1,4-DIAZA-15-CROWN-5 AND 18-CROWN-6 MACROCYCLES

Twelve diaza-15-crown-5 and 18-crown-6 macrocycles containing different side arms on the nitrogen atoms have been prepared. These diaza-N,N'-di pivot lariat crown ethers were prepared either from N,N'-bishydroxyethyl-1,4-diaza-15-crown-5 or 18-crown-6 ligands or from the corresponding unsubstituted diaza-crowns.
Mass flowmeter with retarding disk integration

THE FIRST large-scale use of flowmeters based on the conservation of momentum principle was employed in the B-47 airplane to measure fuel flow rates to the jet engines. This paper describes a flowmeter for gases which, although operating on the same basic principle, uses a retarding disk and register to integrate the flow rate. This flowmeter will directly measure the mass, or standard cubic feet, of gas consumed. It is much smaller and lighter in weight than conventional meters used for this purpose and may prove to be a most important contribution to the gas measuring industry. The basic principles of gas measurement have remained unchanged since 1844. Progress in the art has been largely confined to improved materials. It is the purpose of this paper to report on the preliminary development of the flowmeter, to discuss principles of operation, and to review test results obtained on the experimental sample.
TREATMENT OF HYDROCARBON LUBRICATING OIL BY SODIUM ALLOYS

Abstract : Sodium extended in the form of alloys with inert metals indicates marked acid neutralizing properties for hydrocarbon lubricating oil when the systems contain at least 20 atom percent sodium. Transparency of the treated oil correlated well with pH measurements. (Author)
Magnetic and structural properties of Co/Pt multilayers

Abstract The magnetic properties of Co/Pt multilayers, in particular anisotropy and coercivity, are very sensitive to the Co layer thickness and less dependent on the Pt layer thickness. Such dependence is illustrated and discussed for e-beam evaporated Co/Pt multilayers of various Co and Pt thicknesses. It is shown that the largest perpendicular anisotropy occurs for Co layer thickness of 1–2 monolayers. The magnetic anisotropy of Co/Pt multilayers also strongly depends on the crystallographic orientation. The largest perpendicular magnetic anisotropy was obtained for Co/Pt multilayers with Pt(111) parallel to the film plane. This was demonstrated in both evaporated and sputtered polycrystalline multilayers, as well as in molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) grown Co/Pt(111) superlattices. By contrast, MBE grown 3.7 A Co/16.8 A Pt(100) multilayers show in-plane anisotropy, and 3.7 A Co/16.8 A Pt(110) multilayers exhibit very strong anisotropy within the film plane. These observations suggest that the magneto-crystalline anisotropy plays a key role in the magnetic anisotropy of these structures. Significantly enhanced effective magnetization was observed for Co/Pt multilayers with ultrathin Co layer.
Assessing user requirements for a small scientific data repository

This paper presents data drawn from a survey of a group of environmental researchers concerning the desired characteristics of a data repository for their own content. It shows the importance of support for data preservation, for easy search access, and the use of standards, along with a number of other features. The data are contextualized in terms of issues related to differing needs and issues that result from the nature of scientific inquiry (little science vs. big science) and by the goals associated with different types of information repositories.
Ethanol sensitization in a neurodevelopmental lesion model of Schizophrenia in rats

Substance use disorder comorbidity in schizophrenia may reflect dysfunctional cortical-striatal-limbic circuitry commonly involved in the addiction process and the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Rats with neonatal ventral hippocampal lesions (NVHL) demonstrate post-adolescent onset of schizophrenia-like symptoms and increased addiction vulnerability in paradigms using cocaine in adulthood. Here, we investigated response profiles of young adult NVHL vs. SHAM rats to ethanol, an addictive drug with many psychopharmacological effects divergent from those of cocaine, in a locomotor sensitization paradigm. Over 15 days of daily injections of saline, low (0.15 g/kg) or high (1.0 g/kg) doses of ethanol, NVHL rats showed stimulatory effects at the low dose compared to saline and high-dose conditions, while SHAM rats showed expected patterns of dose-dependent suppression of locomotor activity. In a challenge session 2 weeks later in which a moderate dose (0.25 g/kg) of ethanol was given to all subjects, NVHL rats with history of prior ethanol exposure showed greater locomotor activity consistent with installment of alcohol-induced sensitization not present in SHAMs. These findings provide further evidence of enhanced short- and long-term responsivity to abused drugs in a neurodevelopmental model of schizophrenia, and may reflect potentiation of common mechanisms of addiction shared between pharmacologically diverse addictive drugs.
UNIONIZATlON BEHIND THE WALLS

Inmate militancy has evolved from rioting to nonviolent forms of protest and, more recently, to union organizing activities. Prisoners' unions have been opposed by state officials. and a number of tactics have been employed to weaken them Although no constitutional or statutory provisions deal specifically with the right of prisoners to unionize, that right probably depends upon the union's ability to demonstrate that it does not threaten institutional security and would not significantly alter the existing power structure. Prisoners' unions could represent a more participatory and open form of bargaining than currently exists in prisons
Theory for electric charging in liquid hydrocarbon filtration

Abstract A theory is presented for the electric charging process which occurs when low-conductivity fluids are passed through a filter. It is shown that the process can be characterized by a charging emf which depends on filter and fluid properties and flow conditions. Explicit analytic expressions are derived for the charging emf for a wide range of flow conditions and filter and fuel properties.
Thermophysical and Dielectric Properties of Salsa Con Queso and its Vegetable Ingredients at Sterilization Temperatures

Aseptic processing of a low-acid multiphase food product using continuous flow microwave heating system can combine the advantages of an aseptic process along with those of microwave heating. The objective of this study was to determine the thermophysical and dielectric properties of salsa con queso and its vegetable ingredients (tomatoes, bell peppers, jalapeno peppers, and onions) at a temperature range of 20 to 130°C to design a safe process for aseptic processing of salsa con queso using a continuous flow microwave system. The influence of temperature on apparent viscosity of salsa con queso was described by an Arrhenius-type relationship. Second order polynomial correlations for the dependence of thermophysical and dielectric properties (at 915 MHz) of salsa con queso and its vegetable ingredients on temperature were developed. The results showed that the dielectric constant decreased with an increase in temperature and the dielectric loss factor increased with an increase in temperature.
A Numerical Model of the Flow and Heat Transfer in a Rotating Disk Chemical Vapor Deposition Reactor

Steady, laminar, axisymmetric and circumferentially uniform flow and heat transfer, including the effects of variable properties and buoyancy, have been modeled within a rotating disk chemical vapor deposition (CVD) reactor. The reactor is oriented vertically, with the hot, isothermal, spinning disk facing upward. The Navier-Stokes and energy equations have been solved for the carrier gas helium, at atmospheric pressure. The solutions have been obtained over a range of parameters which is of importance in CVD applications. The primary parameters are the ratio of the disk temperature to the free stream temperature T/sub ..omega..//T/sub infinity/, the disk Reynolds number Re = r/sub d//sup 2/..omega../..nu../sub infinity/, a mixed convection parameter Gr/Re/sup 3/2/ = g(1 - rho/sub ..omega..//rho/sub infinity/)/(..omega sqrt omega nu../sub infinity/), the dimensionless inlet velocity u/sub infinity//..sqrt omega nu../sub infinity/, and two geometric parameters r/sub 0//r/sub d/ and L/r/sub d/. Results are obtained for the velocity and the temperature fields and for the heat flux at the surface of the rotating disk. Comparisons are made with the one-dimensional, variable properties (excluding buoyant effects), infinite rotating disk solutions of Pollard and Newman. Results are presented in terms of a local Nusselt number. The potential uniformity of CVD in this geometry can bemore » inferred from the variation of the Nusselt number over the surface of the rotating disk. The effects of buoyancy and the finite size of the rotating disk within the cylindrical reactor evident.« less
Use of shadows for extracting buildings in aerial images

Abstract Two new methods integrating region growing and edge detection are presented to extract buildings in aerial images. In the domain we are considering, building shadows play an important role in enhancing the detection accuracy and reliability. In both methods, interpretations of buildings are only based on the reliable features (shadows and shapes of buildings in our case) obtained by segmentation and are not affected by artifacts or sementation errors. We also propose algorithms to correct the segmentation errors or to enhance resultant contours based on local edge information (contrast and smoothness along contours) and global shape information. In the first method we start with an edge detection to loacte shadowed boundaries, then combine region growing to find boundaries without shadows. In the second method, we use region growing to obtain a primary segmentation. Edge information is then used to eliminate false boundaries or to modify the contours. Further modification of contour artifacts can be achieved by using domain knowledge (most boundaries are smooth enough to be approximated by straight segments.)
Comparison of statistical models for analyzing genotype, inferred haplotype, and molecular haplotype data

Abstract This report compares statistical models based on molecular and inferred haplotypes of the human paraoxonase-1 gene (PON1). In a study of 402 women comprising three race/ethnicities, 137 women had ambiguous inferred haplotypes. The inferred haplotypes (the one with highest posterior probability) for 20 of these women differed from molecular haplotypes, while based on the posterior distribution from the imputation method, 30 discrepancies were expected. We examined the proportion of the variance in PON1 enzymatic activity (phenotype) explained by genotype, and by inferred and molecular haplotype information. For Caucasians, there was an improvement in adjusted R 2 from 16% for the genotype count model, to 29% for imputed haplotypes, and a further improvement to 33% for molecular haplotypes. For Hispanics and African-Americans, there was no indication that haplotypes helped in explaining PON1 activity, and the imputed model gave essentially the same R 2 as the molecular model. For African-Americans, none of the models had adjusted R 2 that exceeded 4%, while for Hispanics they were all about 21–22%. We propose a new parsimonious model which uses all the genotype information and selected haplotype information. For PON1, this model achieves essentially the same adjusted R 2 as the all-haplotype model, with a potential cost savings and without giving the extreme predictions for uncommon haplotype combinations that the all-haplotype models provides.
The stimulus basis and modification of visual cliff performance in the rat

Abstract Two experiments were described. The results of the first experiment confirmed earlier reports that dark-reared rats are capable of responding discriminatively to surfaces at different depths. The results also indicated that the preference for the shallow or nearby surface is based upon a comparison of the visual configurations presented by these two surfaces and that the appearance of the choice-point from which the animal descends has no measurable effect upon the performance of dark-reared rats. The results of the second experiment indicated that both the preference for the shallow surface and the tendency to descend when both surfaces are deep can be modified by rearing the rats from birth in an environment which simulates either the shallow or the deep surface of the visual cliff.
The Disruptive Nature of Personalized Medicine Technologies: Implications for the Health Care System

Genomics technologies, notwithstanding rising complexity and low productivity to date, once translated to clinical care, promise significantly improved outcomes through cost-effective interventions an
The waits that matter.

She was 69 years old and generally in excellent health. One day, she noticed that her heartbeat was irregular and she felt slightly short of breath. Soon, she would experience some critical delays in the emergency department of a major academic medical center.
Prenatal stress alters maternal aggression in mice

Prenatal stress (heat and restraint) reduced pregnancy-induced and elevated postpartum aggression in Rockland-Swiss (R-S) albino female mice. Though prenatally-stressed females were indistinguishable from control animals with respect to parental behavior during the virgin state, the former displayed slightly lower levels of nestbuilding during early pregnancy, and delivered slightly more male offspring at parturition. The young born to prenatally-stressed females exhibited deficits in birth weights and body weight gain in contrast to pups delivered by control females. The anogenital distances of prenatally-stressed females were shorter than those of control females, suggesting that alterations in fetal testosterone exposure may be responsible for disruptions in behavior and reproduction.
Eosinophiluria is common among patients after ileal conduit surgery.

Background: Urinary eosinophils are used to screen for acute interstitial nephritis (AIN). Technologists in the Mayo Clinic Renal Laboratory observed that patients with urinary diversion surgeries frequently had an unusually high number of urinary eosinophils. Methods: Urine samples from three cohorts of patients were studied (n = 20 each): (1) urinalysis samples with a "stoma" source indicating a previous ileal conduit surgery; (2) urine samples clinically submitted for eosinophil quantification; (3) randomly selected urinalysis samples with a minimum of 1―3 white cells per high-powered field. Urinary eosinophils were quantified after Hansel staining as the mean of independent counts by four blinded technologists. Results: Eosinophils composed an average 19% of the urinary white cells in the stoma group, even though none had a clinical suspicion of AIN. In contrast, only 3.5% and 4.6% of the urinary white cells were eosinophils among patients with clinically-ordered eosinophiluria testing and in a random sample of patients with pyuria, respectively (p 5% eosinophils, meeting the criterion for a positive test. Conclusions: Patients with a previous ileal conduit surgery have markedly elevated urinary eosinophils, far in excess of typical patients with pyuria or those with clinically-ordered eosinophiluria testing. Therefore, urinary eosinophils are not a useful screen for AIN in patients after ileal conduit surgery.
DECONSTRUCTING CASTALIA : EVALUATING A POSTIMPACT STATE

Abstract We describe the rotational and translational states of the fragments of a disrupted asteroid. All the fragments are found to be in complex rotation and have widely varying rotation periods. Although this is only one example of a possible collision, the numerical results for small fragment rotation rates are consistent with recent observations, including the small asteroid 1998KY26, and they lend insight into the latter stages of impact disruption. In particular, fragment “memory” of parental rotation appears to be negligible. This is the most comprehensive description to date of the state of an asteroid or comet immediately following a disruptive collision.
Paradise Lost and Regained: Transportation Innovation, Income, and Residential Location

It was long characteristic of American cities that the rich lived on the edges while the poor lived in the centers. In the 197Os, however, that residential pattern began to change as rich households moved into many city centers, displacing the poor. In this paper, we offer au account both of why the earlier pattern prevailed until the 1970s and of why it is changing now. The key to our explanation is the altered role of the car as a means of commuting to work. When the car first became practical for commuting it gave the rich access to cheaper suburban land than was available to the poor. Accordingly, the rich lived in the suburbs and the poor in the city centers. The relative cost of commuting by car has fallen, however, and now almost everyone can afford it. The poor, therefore, now have access to suburban locations and, thus, the comparative advantage the rich once had in those locations has been eroded. Consequently, the rich are beginning to return to the city centers. Our explanation is based on a simple extension of the model developed by Alonso [l], Muth [15], and others. In the Alonso-Muth model employment is concentrated in a central business district (CBD), and workers commute to that CBD from a residential area surrounding it. Because the cost of commuting increases with the length of the commute, the unit rent of housing must fall with distance from the CBD. Households of different incomes will base their choice of where to live upon two opposing sources of benefit. First, since the rich use more housing than the poor, they benefit by living farther from the CBD where the rent of housing is lower. Second, however, the rich value their time more highly than the poor, so they benefit from living nearer the center of the city, where commuting times are shorter.
Passive injection: A strategy for mitigating reservoir pressurization, induced seismicity and brine migration in geologic CO2 storage

Abstract Many technical, regulatory and public perception challenges remain to be addressed before large-scale deployment of CO 2 geologic storage becomes a reality. Two major risks associated with injection of CO 2 into the subsurface are the possibility of induced earthquakes compromising long-term seal integrity, and the displacement of saline brines resulting in contamination of shallow groundwater. Both induced seismicity and brine migration are caused by elevated pressures in the storage formation owing to the relative incompressibility of water. Here, we describe a strategy, termed passive injection that can be used to inject large amounts of CO 2 in a storage formation with no increase, temporary or long-term, in reservoir pressure. Passive injection relies on the strategic placement of brine production wells to create negative pressure gradients that result in CO 2 entering the formation at ambient pressure. Injection occurs at the intersection of pressure-depth profiles for a surface-pressurized, low-density CO 2 column and a hydrostatic column of formation fluid. A multi-stage, square-ring well configuration is envisaged, in which brine production wells are repurposed for CO 2 injection upon CO 2 breakthrough, and the next concentric ring of production wells installed at a greater distance. Numerical simulations of passive injection are presented using the coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM), multi-fluid, multi-phase numerical simulator FEHM. We consider CO 2 injection into a 3 km-deep, closed reservoir over a period of 50 years, with up to four stages of injection and production depending on well-spacing and production pressures. Storage rates as high as 4 Mt yr −1 at 70% utilization of the reservoir pore volume are achieved under optimum conditions. Long-term mass production of brine is approximately 1.7 times that of CO 2 sequestered. Geomechanical effects due to reservoir drawdown, cooling near injection wells, and surface subsidence are modeled. The risk of induced seismicity is quantified in terms of the Coulomb Failure Stress (CFS) for an optimally oriented fault in an extensional tectonic regime. Injection and production-induced changes in pressure and CFS confirm that, both during and at the conclusion of injection, (i) reservoir pressure is everywhere less than or equal to its initial value; and (ii) the risk of induced seismicity is everywhere reduced or unchanged. Thus, the primary risks of brine migration outside the primary reservoir and induced seismicity compromising seal integrity are neutralized. Passive injection produces large quantities of brine, the treatment and disposal of which represents an additional economic burden to CO 2 geologic storage operations. Unless additional revenue streams or economies of scale can be leveraged, these costs are likely to limit the viability of the proposed scheme to only the most economically favorable sites.
Contribution of low vapor pressure-volatile organic compounds (LVP-VOCs) from consumer products to ozone formation in urban atmospheres

Abstract Because recent laboratory testing indicates that some low vapor pressure-volatile organic compounds (LVP-VOC) solvents readily evaporate at ambient conditions, LVP-VOCs used in some consumer product formulations may contribute to ozone formation. The goal of this study is to determine the fraction of LVP-VOCs available for ozone formation from the use of consumer products for two hypothetical emissions. This study calculates and compares the fraction of consumed product available for ozone formation as a result of (a) volatilization to air during use and (b) down-the-drain disposal. The study also investigates the impact of different modes of releases on the overall fraction available in ambient air for ozone formation. For the portion of the LVP-VOCs volatilized to air during use, we applied a multi-compartment mass-balance model to track the fate of emitted LVP-VOCs in a multimedia urban environment. For the portion of the LVP-VOCs disposed down the drain, we used a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) fate model to predict the emission rates of LVP-VOCs to ambient air at WWTPs or at the discharge zone of the facilities and then used these results as emissions in the multimedia urban environment model. In a WWTP, the LVP-VOCs selected in this study are primarily either biodegraded or removed via sorption to sludge depending on the magnitude of the biodegradation half-life and the octanol-water partition coefficient. Less than 0.2% of the LVP-VOCs disposed down the drain are available for ozone formation. In contrast, when the LVP-VOC in a consumer product is volatilized from the surface to which it has been applied, greater than 90% is available for photochemical reactions either at the source location or in the downwind areas. Comparing results from these two modes of releases allows us to understand the importance of determining the fraction of LVP-VOCs volatilized versus disposed down the drain when the product is used by consumers. The results from this study provide important information and modeling tools to evaluate the impact of LVP-VOCs on air quality and suggest the need for future research on emissions of LVP-VOCs at the point of use.
Archaeological prospecting at the Double Ditch State Historic Site, North Dakota, USA

A four-year programme of remote sensing at the Double Ditch State Historic Site, a fortified earthlodge village in the Great Plains of North Dakota, USA, demonstrates the importance of combined prospecting methods for understanding the multidimensional nature of complex settlements. Aerial survey from a powered parachute acquired high-resolution digital colour and thermal infrared imagery. The former distinguishes houses, borrow pits and ditches from middens and fill areas by changes in vegetation; the latter does the same through temperature variations that also highlight substantial village deposits and century-old excavations. Magnetic gradiometry reveals two previously unknown fortification systems that vastly increase the settlement's area and projected population to perhaps 2000 individuals. Vast numbers of food storage pits that supported that population are also indicated. Vertical soundings and area surveys of magnetic susceptibility aid in the understanding of storage pit magnetism and anthropogenic soil mounding and removal. A high-resolution digital model of topography documents surface expressions caused by ditches, houses, borrow pits and mounds; when combined with overlays of geophysical data understanding of remote sensing responses is improved and relationships between large mounds with village defenses are made clear. Ground-penetrating radar gives insights into mounded midden interior forms and yields details about house interior components, while electrical resistance results improve definition of middens, other depositional areas, houses and borrow pits. This multisensor remote sensing programme reduced excavation costs by allowing a wide variety of archaeological features of interest to be targeted accurately. Excavations confirmed anomaly identifications and established a chronology that documents late fifteenth century origins to an ultimate abandonment about AD 1782. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Superintendents' Recommendations for a New Federal Framework for Educational Accountability.

The members of the Large Countywide and Suburban District Consortium—a group of large, highly diverse, and successful districts across the country—have made great strides in achieving college and career readiness for all students. While they are succeeding, the consortium proposes that more could be done to accomplish their objectives through collaboration with Congress to establish federal policy and laws aligned with practices that foster college and career ready outcomes at scale. This article, introduced by Baltimore County Public Schools Superintendent S. Dallas Dance, proposes the critical principles that should undergird a new federal approach to state and district accountability.
Acute Care Utilization by Dementia Caregivers Within Urban Primary Care Practices

BACKGROUND Caring for an individual with Alzheimer’s dementia (AD) is stressful, and studies show that this stress has an impact on both the physical and mental health of the caregiver. However, many questions remain about the characteristics of AD patients and their caregivers that contribute to this stress and how it impacts caregivers’ use of healthcare resources.
Bioaccumulation patterns of polychlorinated biphenyls and chlorinated pesticides in Northwest Atlantic pilot whales

Contaminant exposure is widespread among marine mammals but is of unknown significance. This study characterized organochlorine bioaccumulation in pilot whales, and these bioaccumulation patterns are proposed as representative of Northwest (NW) Atlantic cetacea. Samples were collected from whales stranded in Massachusetts and caught in nets. Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) and chlorinated pesticide concentrations were determined via GC/ECD and found to be similar to those reported for other NW Atlantic odontocetes. The organochlorine in highest concentration was 4,4′-DDE, followed by trans-nonachlor, 4,4′-DDD, dieldrin, cis-chlordane, Cl4(52), Cl5(95), Cl5(101), Cl5(118), Cl6(138), Cl6(149), Cl6(153), Cl7(180), and Cl7(187). The concentration of 19 pesticides was higher in blubber (21 ± 26 μg/g lipid “ppm”) than liver (5.0 ± 7.1 ppm). The concentration of 26 PCB congeners was also greater in blubber (7.6 ±7.1 ppm) than liver (0.4 ± 7.3 ppm). Principal component analysis and ANOVA indicated that blubber accumulated proportionately more of the most recalcitrant compounds, such as 4,4′-DDE and nonmetabolizable PCBs, compared to liver. Whales that stranded together had more similar bioaccumulation than animals of the same gender or maturity. The high variation among individuals in tissue concentrations and the similarity within a stranding group suggest that pilot whale pods are exposed to a large range of pollutant sources, such as through different prey and feeding locations.