cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Oscillations in tensile testing

Summary Load oscillations are observed under certain conditions in tensile tests and are usually attributed to discontinuous yielding. These are shown to arise through a property of the material under test and through the dynamics of the testing machine.
A gold plated, platinum tipped, stainless steel micro-electrode☆

Abstract A procedure is described for making a gold plated, platinum blacked tipped stainless steel micro-electrode for extracellular recording. This electrode has superior recording capabilities and proves invaluable in histologically locating the site of recording.
Postoperative complications in bariatric surgery using age and BMI stratification: a study using ACS-NSQIP data

Background Bariatric surgery results in long-term weight loss and significant morbidity reduction. Morbidity and mortality following bariatric surgery remain low and acceptable. This study looks to define the trend of morbidity and mortality as it relates to increasing age and body mass index (BMI) in patients undergoing bariatric surgery.
Source of corticotropin-releasing hormone-like innervation of the adrenal glands of fetal and postnatal sheep

Abstract In pre- and postnatal sheep the irregularly shaped adrenal corticomedullary interface is innervated by corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)-like beaded fibers. Since CRH-like staining is also seen in the splanchnic nerves, we examined the intermediolateral sympathetic columns (ISC) of the thoracic (T) spinal cords (segments 5–13) of 12 pre- and postnatal sheep for CRH-like immunocytochemical reactivity and in a subset of fetuses, fluorogold immunoreactivity after fluorogold injection to the left adrenal medulla. All animals had CRH-like immunopositive neurons in the ISC from all thoracic segments. The number of CRH-like positive neurons per thoracic segment did not change either from anterior to posterior within groups nor were there differences between groups. Fluorogold immunopositive neurons occurred in the ISC of all injected animals from T5 to T13. Upon double immunostaining, some ISC CRH-like immunopositive neurons also demonstrated fluorogold immunopositivity. Taken together, these studies indicate that there are CRH-like immunopositive neurons in the ISC of pre- and postnatal sheep and that some of these CRH-like immunopositive neurons innervate the adrenal medulla.
Comparative Analysis of Hemagglutination Inhibition Titers Generated Using Temporally Matched Serum and Plasma Samples

Influenza-specific hemaggluitination inhibition (HAI) antibody titer, an indicator of immunity to influenza, is often used to measure exposure to influenza in surveillance and immunogenicity studies. Traditionally, serum has been the specimen of choice for HAI assays, but a desire to reduce the amount of blood collected during studies and the availability of plasma in archived sample collections warrant the evaluation of plasma for HAI titer. Therefore, the relationship between serum and plasma HAI titer values is of great interest. Here, we compare HAI titers determined on temporally matched serum and plasma (citrated and heparinized) using influenza A and B viruses. Bland-Altman plots, McNemar's test, and geometric coefficient of variation were used respectively for evaluating agreement, correlation and variability in the serum-plasma titer results. We observed a high degree of agreement (80.5%–98.8%) and correlation (r = 0.796–0.964) in the serum and matched plasma titer values although plasma titers were generally lower than corresponding serum titers. Calculated seropositive (HAI ≥40) rates were higher using serum titers than with plasma titers, but seroconversion rates were unaffected by sample type. Stronger agreement and decreased variability in titers were seen between serum and citrated plasma than between serum and heparinized plasma. Overall, these data suggest that serum or plasma can be used in serodiagnostic HAI assays, but seropositive rates may be underestimated using plasma HAI titers. The type of anticoagulant present in plasma may affect HAI titer values and warrants further investigation.
Outcome of Arthroscopic Debridement and Microfracture as the Primary Treatment for Osteochondral Lesions of the Talar Dome

Purpose The purpose of this systematic review was to determine patient outcomes after arthroscopic debridement and microfracture for osteochondral lesions (OCLs) of the talar dome. Methods Infotrieve-PubMed/MEDLINE and Google Scholar were systematically searched for the following terms: microfracture AND ankle OR talus. In addition, we hand-searched common American and European orthopaedic and podiatric surgical journals for relevant manuscripts. Articles considered for inclusion were published in peer-reviewed journals, used the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society hindfoot scoring system for outcome measurement, and involved arthroscopic debridement and microfracture for OCL of the talar dome. Results We identified 29 potentially relevant publications, of which 7 met our inclusion criteria. A total of 295 patients (299 ankles) were included in this study. The weighted mean postoperative American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society hindfoot score was 86.8 points, translating to good to excellent outcomes in 80.2% of patients. Conclusions Many techniques exist for the treatment of OCLs of the talar dome. Good to excellent results can be consistently reached in greater than 80% of patients with arthroscopic debridement and microfracture. However, additional prospective trials should be undertaken to determine differences in outcome between techniques, size and location of the OCL, and other patient quality factors, such as cost and time to return to work. Level of Evidence Level IV, systematic review of Level II, III, and IV studies.
Valence-band Auger-electron spectra for aluminum

Recent measurements of the ${L}_{23}\mathrm{VV}$ auger spectrum of Al by Powell, have shown that the observed energy distributions do not correspond to the self-convolution of the Al bulk density of states. Attempts to account for this discrepancy in terms of energy-dependent matrix elements and inelastic scattering of the ejected electron are described here.
An Integrated Lattice Filter Adaptive Control System for Time-Varying CMM Structural Vibration Control, Part 1: Theory and Simulation

An integrated lattice filter adaptive control system is developed for the control of time-varying CMM structural vibrations. An efficient algorithm is developed to provide a link between the adaptive lattice filter and the minimum variance control by directly utilizing the lattice filter parameters at time t - 1 for control. The approach avoids the conversion to system parameters and is therefore computationally efficient for applications of real time control. To fully utilize the benefit of the lattice filter, a heuristic criterion for on-line order determination is developed using the lattice filter parameters. With a linear computational cost, the developed algorithm will perform on-line system order determination, parameter tracking, and control calculation at each sampling instance. The simulation result shows that the approximation of output prediction is reasonable and the integrated lattice filter adaptive control can reduce the system settling time by 82 percent as compared with no control.
Treatment of Anorectal Diseases by Al-Rāzī

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5915/41-3-5116 This paper examines the writings of Abū Bakr Muḥammad ibn Zakariyyā al-Rāzī (d. 313 AH/925 CE), known to Europeans as Rhazes, regarding anorectal disease, including hemorrhoids, incontinence, fissures, rectal prolapse, ulcers, itching, abscesses, solid swelling and fistulas. His writings reveal that the surgical treatment of anorectal disease was well-recognized and treated with utmost care and diligence.
Melatonin's inhibition of pituitary, adrenal, testicular and accessory gland growth in male golden hamsters: pineal dependence and organ differences with shielding and intracranial surgery.

Testes, accessory glands, pituitaries and adrenal glands from 101 male Golden Hamsters (55–65 days old) were weighed after 4 weeks of daily injections of vehicle or 25μg or 2500μg of melatonin, and 32–33 days after surgery. The surgical groups within each injection group were: (1) nonoperated (NO), (2) sham-pinealectomized (S), (3) sham-pinealectomized with black plastic shielding of the pineal region (S+Pl), (4) pinealectomized (PX), and (5) pinealectomized with black plastic shielding of the pineal region (PX+Pl). All injections were made between L11 and L11.75 in a fixed LD 14∶10 daily photoperiod. Absolute and relative organ weights were significantly depressed by 25 but not 2500μg melatonin. This effect of low dose melatonin was blocked by pinealectomy (PX, PX+Pl) in all four organ groups, but was blocked as well by the sham-operation (S, S+Pl) only in the case of the adrenal glands. Effects and organ weights in S animals were not modified in the S+Pl animals. But in vehicle-injected groups the S+Pl animals had significantly lower accessory organ weights in comparison with those of NO and S groups. These results aid in the further definition of the mechanisms of melatonin's physiological actions as a chemical mediator within neuroendocrine timing controls, and show that the mechanisms for melatonin's actions can differ in relation to eventual endpoint target tissue or organ studied.
Conditions and Contexts for Teacher Inquiry: Systematic Approaches to Preservice Teacher Collaborative Experiences.

The focus of this article is to describe a social organization of instruction and identify the conditions and contexts of critical classroom inquiry that are essential components of contemporary teacher education programs. Novice teachers must develop both the need to know and dispositions for knowing in order to move away from transmission-oriented teaching and learning toward inquiry-oriented practice. Theoretical arguments for and practical applications of inquiry within teacher education programs are described, including: (a) recursive cycles of inquiry, (b) reflective practice, (c) continuity of experiences within critical friend teaching partnerships, (d) discourse and documentation (making visible children's and teachers’ thinking), and (e) the role of teacher educators in creating contexts of need for classroom inquiry. These are discussed and applied across four levels of contiguous courses and related practica. Selected examples of the processes and products that exemplify the development of pre...
Pulmonary Artery Rupture: Serious Complication Associated With Pulmonary Artery Catheters

Abstract An analysis of the Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience database of the Food and Drug Administration was conducted to identify adverse event reports associated with pulmonary artery catheter use between 1993 and 1999. Of 714 adverse event reports, there were 48 deaths of which 42 (88%) were related to pulmonary artery rupture. A further analysis of risk factors was conducted and found "postmenopausal female" was a most significant finding. Further study is recommended to establish a causal relationship. (Int J Trauma Nurs 2000;6:19–26)
Wide Field Camera 3: a powerful new imager for the Hubble Space Telescope

Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) is a powerful UV/visible/near-infrared camera that has just completed development for installation into the Hubble Space Telescope during upcoming Servicing Mission 4. WFC3 provides two imaging channels. The UVIS channel incorporates a 4102 × 4096 pixel CCD focal plane with sensitivity from 200 to 1000 nm and a 162 × 162 arcsec field of view. The UVIS channel features unprecedented sensitivity and field of view in the near ultraviolet for HST, as well as a rich filter set that complements the visible capabilities of the HST/Advanced Camera for Surveys, whose repair will be attempted in the Servicing Mission. The IR channel features a 1024 × 1024 pixel HgCdTe focal plane covering 850 to 1700 nm with a 136 × 123 arcsec field of view, providing a major advance in IR survey efficiency for HST. We report here on the design of the instrument, on recent activities that have completed the integration of the instrument for flight, and on results of the ground test and calibration program.
Hydrology: tropical rain recycling.

The behaviour of water in the atmosphere is a poorly understood part of the hydrological cycle. Applying the principles of isotope chemistry to satellite data provides a powerful approach for improving the situation.
A new Tikhonov regularization method

The numerical solution of linear discrete ill-posed problems typically requires regularization, i.e., replacement of the available ill-conditioned problem by a nearby better conditioned one. The most popular regularization methods for problems of small to moderate size, which allow evaluation of the singular value decomposition of the matrix defining the problem, are the truncated singular value decomposition and Tikhonov regularization. The present paper proposes a novel choice of regularization matrix for Tikhonov regularization that bridges the gap between Tikhonov regularization and truncated singular value decomposition. Computed examples illustrate the benefit of the proposed method.
Reliability of Group Health Cooperative automated pharmacy data by drug benefit status

Purpose Evaluate the reliability of health plan pharmacy records in determining medication use among seniors with and without a drug benefit. Methods Subjects included 3610 seniors, enrolled in Group Health Cooperative's Medicare (GHC) + Choice program during 1998–1999, receiving care in an integrated group practice (IGP), and diagnosed with one or more of four chronic conditions (hypertension, diabetes, congestive heart failure, and coronary artery disease). We compared pharmacy records to self-reported medication use for antidepressant, antihypertensive, acid suppressant, cardiac, diabetic, hormone, and lipid lowering drugs. Results Agreement between pharmacy records and self-report was substantial to almost perfect (prevalence-adjusted and bias-adjusted kappa (PABAK) range: 0.69 for antihypertensives to 0.95 for cardiac agents) among seniors with a drug benefit. Agreement was slightly less for seniors without a drug benefit (PABAK range: 0.51 for antihypertensives to 0.92 for cardiac agents) and differences varied by drug class. Among seniors without a benefit, the prevalence of medication use was lower when based on pharmacy records than when based on self-report for all medication classes of interest. Conclusions While GHC may not be representative of all health plans, our study indicates that health plan pharmacy records are a reliable source of data for seniors receiving care within an IGP. However, the reliability of pharmacy records appears better among seniors with a drug benefit. Researchers should consider factors such as drug benefit status when conducting studies using pharmacy data. More studies are needed in different populations and delivery systems, as well as over varied types of drug benefits. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An annual cycle of Arctic surface cloud forcing at SHEBA

[1] Wepresentananalysisofsurfacefluxesandcloudforcingfromdataobtainedduringthe Surface Heat Budget of the Arctic Ocean (SHEBA) experiment, conducted in the Beaufort and Chuchki Seas and the Arctic Ocean from November 1997 to October 1998. The measurements used as part of this study include fluxes from optical radiometer sets, turbulent fluxes from an instrumented tower, cloud fraction from a depolarization lidar and ceilometer, and atmospheric temperature and humidity profiles from radiosondes. Clear-sky radiative fluxes were modeled in order to estimate the cloud radiative forcing since direct observation of fluxes in cloud-free conditions created large statistical sampling errors. This was particularly true during summer when cloud fractions were typically very high. A yearlong data set of measurements, obtained on a multiyear ice floe at the SHEBA camp, was processed in 20-day blocks to produce the annual evolution of the surface cloud forcing components: upward, downward, and net longwave and shortwave radiative fluxes and turbulent (sensible and latent heat) fluxes. We found that clouds act to warm the Arctic surface for most of the annual cycle with a brief period of cooling in the middle of summer. Our best estimates for the annual average surface cloud forcings are � 10 W m � 2 for shortwave, 38Wm � 2 for longwave,and � 6Wm � 2 forturbulentfluxes. Totalcloudforcing (the sum of all components) is about 30 W m � 2 for the fall, winter, and spring, dipping to a minimum of � 4Wm � 2 in early July. We compare the results of this study with satellite, model, and drifting station data. INDEX TERMS: 3360 Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics: Remote sensing; 3349 Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics: Polar meteorology; 3359 Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics: Radiative processes; 3394 Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics: Instruments and techniques; KEYWORDS: remote sensing, atmospheric radiation, polar meteorology, clouds, forcing
Determination of the glass transition temperature of thin unsupported polystyrene films using interference fringes

Abstract Controversy exists as to why nanometer-sized polymer films have thermal properties that differ from bulk samples. This paper presents a simple method of determining the glass transition temperature (Tg) of unsupported ultrathin polymer films based on the determination of the refractive index from Fabry–Perot interference fringes observed in the infrared or UV–visible regions. Tg is extrapolated from a plot of the variation of refractive index with temperature. The plot of Tg as a function of the thickness of polystyrene films presents a sharp decrease when the thickness reaches values below 60nm. Results also show variations in the slope of the glassy line, αg, with decreasing thickness, supporting the hypothesis that an interface with a different mobility does exists close to the polymer–air interface. However, this decrease was not as sharp as expected indicating that the decrease in Tg with thickness could not be solely explained by the presence of an interface of different mobility.
Endothelial Degeneration and Posterior Collagenous Proliferation in Aphakic Bullous Keratopathy

In series of 39 corneal grafts, aphakic bullous keratopathy comprised 13 (33%) of the cases. By scanning and transmission electron microscopy, endothelial degeneration and posterior collagenous proliferation were consistent features. In all 13 cases, the patchy loss of endothelial cells occurred diffusely over the entire posterior corneal surface. The remaining endothelial cells had become extremely attenuated to increase their surface area. In nine cases, acellular proliferations of collagenous tissue were interposed between the endothelial cells and Descemet's membrane. These posterior collagenous layers were composed of collagen fibrils and basement membrane material, randomly arrayed in a feltwork of uniform thickness; they appeared ultrastructurally identical to those encountered in a variety of conditions involving endothelial distress.
Mechanics of sperm entry in cycling hamsters

At various times after mating, fertilized eggs were flushed from the ampulla of the oviduct of estrus hamsters. Cumulus cells were removed with hyaluronidase before fixation. After fixation, the zonae pellucidae were removed mechanically. The initial association between the fertilizing spermatozoon and the oocyte surface appears to be between the tips of oocyte microvilli and the equatorial segment. As the sperm head is incorporated, it undergoes a pronounced bend such that the anterior tip is the last portion of the sperm to be incorporated. A small incorporation cone forms at the site where the sperm head was incorporated into the ooplasm. As the sperm tail is incorporated, it forms numerous bends which distort the oolemma into a row of small elevations. From these observations, we have been able to propose a model for the mechanics of sperm entry into the ovum in vivo.
Genetic algorithms: A robust scheme for geometry optimizations and global minimum structure problems

A Genetic Algorithm for Geometry Optimizations (GALGO) program has been developed to study the efficiency of this method of finding global minimum structures. Using a semiempirical tight-binding potential, the behavior of different genetic algorithm (GA) operators has been tested for the linear chain isomer of a C8 cluster. An optimum set of parameters for the GA operators is proposed for this problem and afterward is used to obtain the global minimum structure of rare-gas atomic clusters of up to 13 atoms using the 12–6 Lennard-Jones interatomic pair potential. © 1995 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Comment on “Origin of Intrinsic Gilbert Damping”

A Comment on the Letter by M. C. Hickey and J. S. Moodera, Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, 137601 (2009). The authors of the Letter offer a Reply.
“TO EXCLUDE AS MANY NEGRO UNDERGRADUATES AS POSSIBLE”: Brown v. Board of Education and the University of Texas at Austin

Following the U.S. Supreme Court's 1954 decision in Brown v. Board of Education, administrators at the University of Texas at Austin reluctantly decided to admit undergraduate African American students for the 1956 academic year, thus making the University of Texas the first southern school to integrate. While nominally accepting the decision, University of Texas administrators would do as little as they could to help Black students, and they did whatever they could both easily and legally to integrate less than fully. For example, after a faculty committee chose African American Barbara Smith to play the romantic lead in a school opera opposite a White male, the University of Texas president removed her from the production just days before she was to appear, after several White legislators objected and threatened to withhold the University's appropriations. This incident reflected not only the difficulty southern states faced when deciding how—and whether—to fully comply with the Court's mandate in Brown, but also how difficult it was for public universities to achieve full and equal integration in the face of “passive” resistance. Those in power at the University of Texas did, in fact, desegregate their school, but their policies ensured that the University would remain segregated in other meaningful ways. What happened at the University of Texas is instructive in showing how racial equality was never embraced as wholeheartedly as most Americans seem to think. Administrators were able to construct a fantasy of integration, all the while enacting racial policies made through “silent covenants” that ensured that policies conformed to priorities set by the Texas legislators and their White constituents.
Probing the Dynamic Structure and Function of Intracellular Loop 2 in Structurally Cognate GPCRs

The increasingly frequent identification of functional attributes of loops connecting TMS in transmembrane proteins such as GPCRs, prompted us to address the structures of loops in the context of specific mechanistic hypotheses about their role in protein-protein interaction underlying signaling processes. Experimentally and computationally-derived evidence suggest that these functional properties of the loops are directly dependent on their specialized structure and positioning relative to the rest of the protein. The intracellular loop 2 (IL2) of class A GPCRs is such an example. It is known to be involved both in G-protein-coupling and in regulating β-arrestin binding and β-arrestin-mediated internalization. Structural information about IL2 reveals differences in conformation even between nearly identical short loops in different GPCRs (e.g., IL2 has different secondary structure in β1AR and β2AR: helical v.s. non-helical), as well as roles for key residues (e.g., replacing of the well conserved Pro3.57 by Ala in β2AR and 5HT2CR decreases β-arrestin binding and internalization (Marion et al, JBC 2006)). We have used a recently described ab initio method for loop structure prediction (Mehler et al, Protein 2006) for a comparative study of the structural properties of IL2 in β1AR, β2AR and 5HT2AR, as well as the P5.37A mutants. We found that IL2 in both β1AR and β2AR folds back to the original conformations even after unfolding at 1210K. IL2 in 5HT2AR folded from an initial non-helical conformation into a helical one with similar fold and orientation as in β1AR. In the P3.57A mutants of IL2 in 5HT2AR and β1AR, the helical structure melted. Together, our calculations indicate the existence of at least two major conformational families for IL2 (in agreement with crystal structures), and the role of a conserved Pro in the interconversion between them.
GDF11 modulates NGN3+ islet progenitor cell number and promotes β-cell differentiation in pancreas development

Identification of endogenous signals that regulate expansion and maturation of organ-specific progenitor cells is a major goal in studies of organ development. Here we provide evidence that growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11), a member of the TGF-beta ligand family, governs the number and maturation of islet progenitor cells in mouse pancreas development. Gdf11 is expressed in embryonic pancreatic epithelium during formation of islet progenitor cells that express neurogenin 3. Mice deficient for Gdf11 harbor increased numbers of NGN3+ cells, revealing that GDF11 negatively regulates production of islet progenitor cells. Despite a marked expansion of these NGN3+ islet progenitors, mice lacking Gdf11 have reduced beta-cell numbers and evidence of arrested beta-cell development, indicating that GDF11 is also required for beta-cell maturation. Similar precursor and islet cell phenotypes are observed in mice deficient for SMAD2, an intracellular signaling factor activated by TGF-beta signals. Our data suggest that Gdf11 and Smad2 regulate islet cell differentiation in parallel to the Notch pathway, which previously has been shown to control development of NGN3+ cells. Thus, our studies reveal mechanisms by which GDF11 regulates the production and maturation of islet progenitor cells in pancreas development.
The Effect of Aspirin and Various Iontophoresis Solution Vehicles on Skin Microvascular Reactivity

The two main objectives of this study were: (1) to examine the effect of aspirin on the endothelial function in healthy subjects and (2) to examine the effect of deionized water and 5% NaCl as iontophoresis solution vehicles. The skin microcirculation was evaluated at the forearm level of healthy subjects. A laser Doppler scanner was employed to measure vasodilation in response to the iontophoresis of 1% acetylcholine (endothelium-dependent) and 1% sodium nitroprusside (endothelium-independent). In the first experiment, nine healthy subjects were given 500 mg aspirin daily for 3 days. The microvascular reactivity was measured at the beginning and the end of the study. In the second experiment, the response to iontophoresis of acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside as 1% solutions of deionized water was compared to the responses that were achieved after the iontophoresis of deionized water or 5% NaCl solution. After 3 days of aspirin intake, there were no changes in the vasodilatory response to acetylcholine (endothelium-dependent vasodilation) [81 +/- 11 vs 77 +/- 10 (% of increase over baseline at the beginning vs the end of the study, mean +/- SE), P = NS] or sodium nitroprusside (endothelium-independent vasodilation) (69 +/- 8 vs 64 +/- 12, P = NS). There was also a negligible response after the iontophoresis of 5% NaCl (3 +/- 4) and deionized water (6 +/- 4) in anodal mode (the mode employed for the iontophoresis of acetylcholine). In cathodal mode, employed for the iontophoresis of sodium nitroprusside, the response to 5% NaCl was still negligible but a considerable response was found after the iontophoresis of deionized water. In normal healthy subjects, aspirin administration has no effect on forearm skin microvascular reactivity, including both endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent vasodilation. In addition, a NaCl solution would be preferable to deionized water as the iontophoresis solution vehicle.
Impacts of post-harvest slash and live-tree retention on biomass and nutrient stocks in Populus tremuloides Michx.-dominated forests, northern Minnesota, USA.

Abstract Globally, there is widespread interest in using forest-derived biomass as a source of bioenergy. While conventional timber harvesting generally removes only merchantable tree boles, harvesting biomass feedstock can remove all forms of woody biomass (i.e., live and dead standing woody vegetation, downed woody debris, and stumps) resulting in a greater loss of biomass and nutrients as well as more severe habitat alteration. To investigate the potential impacts of this practice, this study examined the initial impacts (pre- and post-harvest) of various levels of slash and live-tree retention on biomass and nutrient stocks, including carbon (C), nitrogen (N), calcium (Ca), potassium (K), and phosphorus (P), in Populus tremuloides Michx.-dominated forests of northern Minnesota, USA. Treatments examined included three levels of slash retention, whole-tree harvest (WTH), 20% slash retention (20SR), and stem-only harvest (SOH), factored with three levels of green-tree retention, no trees retained (NONE), dispersed retention (DISP), and aggregate retention (AGR). Slash retention was the primary factor affecting post-harvest biomass and nutrient stocks, including woody debris pools. Compared to the unharvested control, stocks of biomass, carbon, and nutrients, including N, Ca, K, and P, in woody debris were higher in all treatments. Stem-only harvests typically contained greater biomass and nutrient stocks than WTH, although biomass and nutrients within 20SR, a level recommended by biomass harvesting guidelines in the US and worldwide, generally did not differ from WTH or SOH. Biomass in smaller-diameter slash material (typically 2.5–22.5 cm in diameter) dominated the woody debris pool following harvest regardless of slash retention level. Trends among treatments in this diameter range were generally similar to those in the total woody debris pool. Specifically, SOH contained significantly greater amounts of biomass than WTH while 20SR was not different from either WTH or SOH. Within P. tremuloides systems, we observed high stocks of smaller diameter slash material for all prescribed slash retention treatments. Most notably, WTH retains much more material than anticipated, up to 50% of available slash. These results reflect the high levels of breakage during winter harvest operations in these stands and, consequently, warrant consideration when anticipating the impacts of biomass harvesting on woody debris pools. Further investigation is necessary to understand how deliberate slash retention levels and season-of-harvest impact woody debris in other forest systems.
Actions of progestins on estrous behavior in female rats

The present study evaluated the facilitative actions of progesterone and the synthetic progestin R 5020 on estrous responsiveness in ovariectomized, estrogen-primed female rats. The dose-response and time-response characteristics of the behavior facilitating actions of both progesterone and R 5020 were measured. The threshold doses for the facilitation of estrous behavior in estrogen-primed female rats were 1 microgram of R 5020 and 100 micrograms of progesterone. These doses of progestins facilitated estrous responsiveness with a similar time course that approached maximum at one hour. To examine the possible mechanism(s) of action of each progestin the synthetic progestin antagonist RU 38486 was used. The inhibitory effects of RU 38486 on estrous behavior facilitated by a threshold dose of progesterone or R 5020 were found to be almost identical. RU 38486 (5 mg) administered 1 hr prior to progesterone or R 5020 suppressed lordosis behavior by 44% and 47% respectively. These results suggest that progesterone and R 5020 facilitate estrous responsiveness through the same mechanism.
Primordial lithium - New reaction rates, new abundances, new constraints

Newly measured nuclear reaction rates for H-3(alpha, gamma)Li-7 (higher than previous values) and Li-7(p, alpha)He-4 (lower than previous values) are shown to increase the Li-7 yield from big band nucleosynthesis for lower baryon-to-photon ratio (less than about 4 x 10 to the 10th). Recent revisions in the He-3(alpha, gamma)Be-7 and the D(p, gamma)He-3 rates enhance the high (greater than 4 x 10 to the 10th) Li-7(Be) production. New, independent determinations of Li abundances in extreme population II stars are in excellent agreement with the work of Spites and give continued confidence in the use of Li-7 in big bang baryon density determinations.
Bandicoots, bonobos, and boys: papillomavirus and vaccination strategies.

To better understand strategies for elimination of human papillomavirus (HPV), a brief history may provide insight. Papillomaviruses certainly are much older than humankind. They are relatively simple viruses containing a short double-stranded DNA genome, surrounded by a protein capsid. A single viral protein called L1 is all that is required for the formation of the icosahedral capsid. Papillomaviruses multiply mainly in squamous epithelia of the skin and genital surfaces. The viruses enter through small breaks in the epithelial surface. The virus then produces progeny virus that exit the host as the epithelial cell desquamates. Papillomaviruses are present in many mammals. One dramatic example is the bandicoot, one of many ancient marsupial species found only in Australia (Fig 1). Two closely related primordial papillomaviruses have been isolated from bandicoots.1 The viruses may have arisen 10 million years ago when Australia was physically separated from all other continents on planet earth. They are killing many bandicoots by causing skin infiltrates consisting of extensive epidermal hyperplasia leading to papillomas and carcinomas on the mouth, face, and flanks. Both male and female bandicoots are afflicted. Papillomaviruses also coevolved over 6 million years ago with higher primates such as the bonobo of central Africa, previously called the pygmy chimpanzee. The bonobo has become well known for social and sexual characteristics that more closely resemble humankind than its common chimpanzee cousin. Bonobos develop oral focal epithelial hyperplasia and papillomas caused by a virus strain that closely resembles HPV.2 Both male and female bonobos are afflicted. Lucy and her Australopithicus family members, who lived in eastern Africa 3 million years ago, certainly were infected with papillomaviruses and passed them on to their descendents. As a … Address correspondence to Charles Grose, MD, University of Iowa, Department of Pediatrics, 200 Hawkins Dr, Iowa City, IA 52242. E-mail: charles-grose{at}uiowa.edu
Involvement of a Chemical Moiety of Bacterial Lipopolysaccharide in Production of Interferon in Animals

Interferon is released in mice that receive an injection of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Salmonella typhimurium (strain LT-2), glycolipids from organisms of Rb and Re chemotypes, or lipid A. No interferon is released by O-antigenic hapten lacking the glycolipid moiety. The interferon-releasing ability of glycolipid from the Re chemotype is reduced by partial hydrolysis with acid, which removes 2keto-3-deoxy-octonic acid and reduces the solubility of the hydrolyzed product. The ability of the glycolipid to release interferon is increased by partial hydrolysis with alkali. This treatment removes some of the fatty acids but little or no 2-keto3-deoxy-octonic acid and increases the solubility of the hydrolyzed product; interferon-releasing ability is progressively reduced with more extensive hydrolysis and concomitant loss of fatty acids. The interferon-releasing ability of unhydrolyzed glycolipid is markedly increased by complexing with bovine serum albumin. These results show that the interferon-releasing property of LPS resides in the lipid A portion of the molecule. Furthermore, the relative solubility and the presence of fatty acids in LPS and its derivatives play a decisive role in their ability to release interferon.
Quinidine plasma concentration and exertional arrhythmia

Abstract Quinidine gluconate was used to treat arrhythmia induced with maximal exercise testing. Twenty-nine subjects who had previously developed frequent premature contractions on testing were selected for further study. After a control maximal exercise test, quinidine (10 mg. per kilogram) in solution was given orally in a single dose, and two hours later the same test was repeated. Recurrence of premature contractions was completely prevented in five of the 19 subjects tested; suppression was better than the mean value in three others, and in 11 subjects it was below the mean value. The plasma concentration at two hours was 1.68 ± 0.31 μg per milliliter, which is a therapeutic level. Raising the dose to 15 mg. per kilogram eliminated the premature contractions in six subjects whose response to 10 mg. per kilogram had not been complete, but not in two others. Lowering the dose to 5 mg. per kilogram lowered the plasma level to below the therapeutic level. No differences between the responses to the drug of the otherwise healthy subjects and those with symptomatic heart disease could be found. Compared with the responses to the control tests, there were small but significant changes in the second test in heart rates, blood pressure, and duration of exercise. Aerobic working capacity estimated by V O 2max was unchanged. Mild toxic effects manifested by malaise and diarrhea were a common finding with both 10 mg. per kilogram and 15 mg. per kilogram of quinidine, but not with 5 mg. per kilogram.
Statistical Learning of Syntax: The Role of Transitional Probability

Previous research has shown that, for learners to fully acquire a miniature phrase structure language, the language must contain cues to the phrases—for example, prosodic grouping or morphological ...
Regulation of intracellular calcium concentration by nanosecond pulsed electric fields.

Abstract Changes in [Ca 2+ ] i response of individual Jurkat cells to nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEFs) of 60 ns and field strengths of 25, 50, and 100 kV/cm were investigated. The magnitude of the nsPEF-induced rise in [Ca 2+ ] i was dependent on the electric field strength. With 25 and 50 kV/cm, the [Ca 2+ ] i response was due to the release of Ca 2+ from intracellular stores and occurred in less than 18 ms. With 100 kV/cm, the increase in [Ca 2+ ] i was due to both internal release and to influx across the plasma membrane. Spontaneous changes in [Ca 2+ ] i exhibited a more gradual increase over several seconds. The initial, pulse-induced [Ca 2+ ] i response initiates at the poles of the cell with respect to electrode placement and co-localizes with the endoplasmic reticulum. The results suggest that nsPEFs target both the plasma membrane and subcellular membranes and that one of the mechanisms for Ca 2+ release may be due to nanopore formation in the endoplasmic reticulum.
Effect of Partial Filling of the Structural Vacant Sites on the Thermoelectric Properties of Zr 0.25 Hf 0.75 NiSn half-Heusler Alloy

Composites containing mainly-half-Heusler MNiSn (HH) and full-Heusler MNi2Sn (FH) were prepared by solid state reaction of a mixture of polycrystalline bulk HH alloy with various concentrations of Ni up to 10 wt.%. Electrical conductivities, thermal conductivities and thermopowers of spark plasma sintered specimens of the as synthesized composite materials were measured in the temperature range from 300 K to 750 K. The conduction type of the composite changes from semiconductor to semimetal for Ni concentrations up to 2 wt.% and from semimetal to metal for higher Ni concentrations above 5 wt.%. A strong reduction in lattice thermal conductivity was observed for the composite containing 10 wt. % Ni inclusions.
Crystal structures of peptide complexes of the amino-terminal SH2 domain of the Syp tyrosine phosphatase.

Abstract Background Src homology 2 (SH2) domains bind to phosphotyrosine residues in a sequence-specific manner, and thereby couple tyrosine phosphorylation to changes in the localization or catalytic activity of signal transducing molecules. Current understanding of SH2 specificity is based on the structures of SH2–peptide complexes of the closely-related Src and Lck tyrosine kinases. The tyrosine phosphatase Syp contains two SH2 domains that are relatively divergent from those of the tyrosine kinases, with distinct target specificities, and is thus well suited for structural studies aimed at extending our understanding of SH2 specificity. Results Crystal structures of the amino-terminal SH2 domain of Syp in separate complexes with two high-affinity peptides, in complex with a non-specific peptide and in the uncomplexed form have been determined at between 2 a and 3 a resolution. The structure of the SH2 domain and the mode of high- affinity peptide binding is essentially similar to that seen in the Src and Lck structures. However, the binding interface is more extensive in Syp. Conclusions Most SH2 targets have hydrophobic residues at the third position following the phosphotyrosine, and the Syp structure confirms that the peptide is anchored to the SH2 surface by this residue and by the phosphotyrosine. In addition, the Syp structure has revealed that sequence specificity can extend across the five residues following the phosphotyrosine, and has shown how the SH2 domain's surface topography can be altered with resulting changes in specificity, while conserving the structure of the central core of the domain.
Ultrasonic attenuation correction in optoacoustic tomography

In this work, we continue to explore a method we have developed for modeling and correcting the effects of acoustic attenuation in optoacoustic tomography. We have shown previously that in the temporal frequency domain, the attenuated optoacoustic imaging equation is equivalent to an inhomogeneous Helmholtz equation with a complex wave number. We have also developed a numerical method for correcting for these attenuation effects simply by pre-processing of the one-dimensional time signal measured at each transducer location employed in the acquisition. We demonstrate through simulation studies that ignoring ultrasonic attenuation can lead to resolution degradation and distortion in reconstructed images because optoacoustic tomography relies on broadband detection and ultrasonic attenuation is frequency-dependent. We demonstrate that the proposed approach is able to compensate for the attenuation and improve the quality of the images. We also find that the effect of frequency-dependent attenuation remains significant even when narrow-band transducers, be they lowpass or bandpass, are used for detection.
Sequence-Dependent DNA Condensation and the Electrostatic Zipper

Sequence-dependent configuration changes and condensation of double-stranded poly(dG-dC)·(dG-dC) (GC-DNA) and ds poly(dA-dT)·(dA-dT) (AT-DNA) were observed by atomic force microscopy in the presence of Ni(II). Less condensing agent was required to generate configuration changes in GC-DNA as compared to AT-DNA. In the presence of Ni(II) cations, GC-DNA adopted a Z-type conformation and underwent a stepwise condensation, starting with partial intramolecular folding, followed by intermolecular condensation of two to several molecules and ending with the formation of toroids, rods, and jumbles. GC-DNA condensates were unusual in that the most highly condensed regions were surrounded by loops of ds GC-DNA. In contrast, AT-DNA retained its B-type conformation and displayed only minor condensation even at high Ni(II) concentrations. The Ni(II)-dependent differences in condensation between GC-DNA and AT-DNA are predicted by an extension of the electrostatic zipper motif proposed by Kornyshev and Leikin, in which we account for shorter than Debye screening length surface separations between the DNA molecules and for the Ni(II)-induced conformation change of GC-DNA to Z-DNA.
PREPAREDNESS ASSESSMENT… STILL THE KEY TO ACQUIRING AND MAINTAINING, “RIGHT MIX” CAPABILITIES

ABSTRACT The most recent national study of the adequacy of government owned versus private sector oil spill removal capability, known as the capability limits or (CAPS) review, is currently seven years old. While oil spill response preparedness assessments have continued via the National Strike Force Coordination Center Oil Spill Removal Organization (OSRO) assessment visits, the Preparedness for Response Exercise Program (PREP), and the Spills of National Significance (SONS) exercises, the outdated CAPS review stands as a great impediment to the Coast Guard's ability to continue to make sound overarching policy decisions regarding known national oil spill removal equipment inventories and expertise levels as they pertain to oil spill risks. The CAPS review established a baseline by which regulatory decisions pertaining to the “Right government/private Mix” of capabilities for oil spill response could be made. The ability to accurately assess this mix is a critical component of the Preparedness model that...
Contrast nephropathy may be partly mediated by autonomic dysfunction: renal failure considered as a modern maladaptation of the prehistoric trauma response.

Summary The mechanism behind iodinated radiocontrast nephropathy remains elusive. Direct oxidative damage is the prevailing hypothesis, but the apparent protective effect of iodine against oxidation contradicts this view. We propose that autonomic dysfunction participates in the pathogenesis of radiocontrast nephropathy and may account for other contrast-associated reactions previously attributed to allergy. Iodine, through its effects on thyroid function and chemoreceptor response to metabolic acidosis, may induce hyperadrenergia and consequently diminish renovascular flow and urine output. The renal response to adrenergia likely served an adaptive function during prehistoric evolution when trauma was a dominant source of hypovolemia and adrenergia, but the response may behave maladaptively today as evolutionarily nai¨ve triggers for adrenergia have emerged. Autonomic dysfunction can further impair renal function by deranging renovascular autoregulation and inducing oxidative reperfusion injury as a secondary phenomenon. Many other causes of acute renal failure such as drug toxicity, surgery, hospitalization, and diabetes may operate through hyperadrenergia, impaired renovascular autoregulation, and oxidative reperfusion injury. Dialysis, a volume reduction therapy for renal failure, can counterintuitively worsen renal dysfunction by exacerbating adrenergia, which may explain its association with accelerated atherosclerosis, inflammation, and cancer. Other examples of vicious cycles that perpetuate renal dysfunction may include renal artery stenosis, carotid stenosis, and atherosclerosis as well as the cardio-renal, hepato-renal, and pulmonary-renal syndromes. The benefits of hydration and bicarbonate in protecting renal function may operate in part through baroreceptor- and chemoreceptor-mediated reduction of sympathovagal ratio, respectively. New treatment paradigms for renal failure including pharmacologic and electro-mechanical therapies are envisioned based on autonomic remodeling, reduced sympathovagal ratio, and neuromodulation of pathways typically associated with trauma such as renin, angiotensin, vasopressin, and aldosterone.