cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mollisols of Tarai region of Uttar Pradesh, Northern India, 1. Morphology and mineralogy

Abstract Soils of the Tarai region of Uttar Pradesh, India have developed from materials deposited during Late Pleistocene and Recent times on a gently sloping outwash plain which occurs as a belt below and a few kilometers south of the foothills or outer range of the Himalayan mountains. The region has a monsoon climate and is characterized by artesian waters. In the natural state it was thickly vegetated and largely swampy. The six soils studied occur in two toposequences of three soils each, one sequence being formed in silty sediments and the other in more sandy materials. Main differences in the soils of comparable drainage in the two toposequences are in properties related to differences in texture. The soils have mollic epipedons, cambic horizons, and high base status. Well crystallized illite and chlorite are the main clay minerals present. The data on clay mineralogy and chemical composition of the coarse silt fraction indicate that only slight mineral weathering has occurred in these soils. Except for slightly lower organic matter content and perhaps slightly higher base saturation, these soils are comparable in many respects to weakly-developed, dark-colored soils (Mollisols) of mid-America.
Martensitic phase transformations in IMI 550 (Ti-4Al-4Mo-2Sn-0.5 Si)

The influence of solution-treatment temperature on the martensitic phase transformations observed in IMI 550 (Ti−4Al−4Mo−2Sn−0.5Si) has been investigated. When solution treatment is conducted at temperatures above 1233 K, a hexagonal martensite α′ is formed on rapid cooling. However solution treatment at temperatures between 1233 and 1123 K results in the formation of an orthorhombic martensite (α″) on rapid cooling. Finally, below 1123 K, the β phase is stable—no martensitic transformation occurs on rapid cooling. this transition from\(\alpha ' \to \alpha _{primary} {\text{ + (}}\alpha {\text{ + }}\beta _{{\text{retained}}} ) \to {\text{ }}\alpha _{{\text{primary}}} {\text{ + (}}\alpha {\text{ + }}\beta _{retained} ) \to {\text{ }}\alpha _{{\text{primary}}} {\text{ + }}\beta _{metastable} {\text{ + }}\omega \) with decreasing solution-treatment temperature, is shown to be a result of alloy partitioning during solution treatment. Crystallographic analysis indicates that the transition in the martensite crystal structure with decreasing solution-treatment temperature is related to chemical short-range ordering (CSRO) in the high-temperature β phase.
California Earthquakes: Science, Risks, and the Politics of Hazard Mitigation

“Politics” should be the lead word in the sub-title of this engrossing study of the emergence and growth of the California and federal earthquake hazard reduction infrastructures. Beginning primarily with the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, scientists, engineers, and other professionals cooperated and clashed with state and federal officials, the business community, “ boosters,” and the general public to create programs, agencies, and commissions to support earthquake research and hazards mitigation. Moreover, they created a “regulatory-state” apparatus that governs human behavior without sustained public support for its creation. The public readily accepts that earthquake research and mitigation are government responsibilities. The government employs or funds the scientists, engineers, emergency response personnel, safety officials, building inspectors, and others who are instrumental in reducing earthquake hazards. This book clearly illustrates how, and why all of this came to pass.
AN ASSESSMENT OF SENSORY STYLE.

An instrument was developed to assess sensory aspects of the life style. Thirty inventory-type items were included in two sub-scales, viz., visual and kinesthetic, as well as 10 items from the F scale of the MMPI and 10 neutral items. The scale discriminated in predictable fashion among groups of art majors, physical education majors, physically disabled, visually disabled, and control Ss. Reliabilities, determined from a second control group, were found to be statistically significant and sufficiently high to indicate that the scale is psychometrically satisfactory.
Reducing the Computational Cost of Ratio-Based Indoor Localization

With Received Signal Strength (RSS) based indoor localization gaining popularity, recent research work has explored many different aspects of such localization systems, for instance, accuracy and deployment cost. In this paper, we study the computational cost of a ratio-based localization algorithm. Specifically, we use the algorithm's inherent distance ratio relationship to refine the physical region where positions need to be examined for localization. We evaluated our approach with data collected from our department building at Lafayette College. The experiments showed that the proposed approach achieved an average 74.1% reduction in the initial candidate region, which also effectively translated to an average 83.8% reduction in localization delay.
Identification of Two Catalytic Residues in RAG1 that Define a Single Active Site within the RAG1/RAG2 Protein Complex

During V(D)J recombination, the RAG1 and RAG2 proteins cooperate to catalyze a series of DNA bond breakage and strand transfer reactions. The structure, location, and number of active sites involved in RAG-mediated catalysis have as yet not been determined. Using protein secondary structure prediction algorithms, we have identified a region of RAG1 with possible structural similarities to the active site regions of transposases and retroviral integrases. Based on this information, we have identified two aspartic acid residues in RAG1 (D600 and D708) that function specifically in catalysis. The results support a model in which RAG1 contains a single, divalent metal ion binding active site structurally related to the active sites of transposases/integrases and responsible for all catalytic functions of the RAG protein complex.
Prolonged, symptomatic hypocalcemia with pamidronate administration and subclinical hypoparathyroidism

A 62-yr-old woman with thyroid carcinoma metastatic to bone, and a history of subclinical hypoparathyroidism was admitted to the hospital in hypocalcemic crisis 5 wk after receiving iv pamidronate. The patient had tetany and laryngospasm. An electrocardiogram showed junctional rhythm with QT segment prolongation. The patient had previously maintained a lownormal serum calcium on 500–750 mg of calcium carbonate and 600 IU of vitamin D daily. One week after pamidronate administration the patient’s calcium and vitamin D supplementation were inadvertently discontinued. She continued to take daily intranasal calcitonin. At the time of her hospitalization for hypocalcemia, the patient’s serum calcium was 4.3 mg/dL. The patient received aggressive calcium and vitamin D supplementation. However, her serum calcium remained below 6 mg/dL for a 2-wk period, and took another week to return to the normal range. In this article, we discuss the counterregulatory responses necessary to maintain calcium homeostasis following osteoclast inhibition by bisphosphonates. We also review the risk factors for hypocalcemia following bisphosphonate administration. Pamidronate and other bisphosphonates are becoming an integral part of the management of normocalcemic patients with malignant bone disease. Therefore, awareness of risk factors for hypocalcemia and familiarity with avenues available for protection from potentially catastrophic hypocalcemia are both crucial.
High‐Mobility Field‐Effect Transistors Fabricated with Macroscopic Aligned Semiconducting Polymers

A record high OFET hole mobility, as high as 23.7 cm(2) /Vs, is achieved in macroscopic aligned semiconducting polymers. The high mobility is insensitive to the polymer molecular weight. Polymer chains are aligned along the fiber to facilitate intrachain charge transport.
Profile of Microflora of the Posterior Intestine of Chinook Salmon before, during, and after Administration of Rations with and without Erythromycin

Abstract We describe the resident heterotrophic aerobic microflora of the salmonid posterior intestine before, during, and after the administration of rations with erythromycin in a hatchery raceway environment. We compare the profiles of medicated Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha with those of control fish that were not fed erythromycin. The combined counts of bacteria and yeasts per gram of fish intestine originating from four upstream raceways ranged from 3.0 × 102 to 9.6 × 105 colony-forming units (CFU) over the study period. Yeasts were commonly identified in the gut, and abundances ranged from 0% to more than 80% of the CFU. Erythromycin therapy decreased the total microbial population and altered the bacterial diversity in the gut during treatment. The intestinal microbial populations in fish medicated with erythromycin increased rapidly after treatment ceased, and by 25 d after treatment the CFU were similar in samples from both medicated and control fish populations. Of 325 isolates from f...
Reduction of NO by CO on PdO-MoO3/γ-Al2O3 of low molybdena loading

The activity and selectivity in the catalytic reduction of NO by a mixture of CO and H2 of three PdO-MoO3/γ-Al2O3 catalysts are compared in the presence of varying amounts of oxygen at reaction temperatures from 100 to 550°C. The catalysts were prepared by different methods and contain about 2% Mo and 2% Pd. Results are compared with those for PdO/γ-Al2O3, PdO-MoO3/γ-Al2O3 containing 2% Pd and 20% Mo, and a commercial Pt-Rh catalyst. The PdO-MoO3/γ-Al2O3 catalysts are more active for the selective reduction of NO to N2 and N2O than PdO/γ-Al2O3 under slightly oxidizing conditions at temperatures from 300 to 550°C. At these reaction conditions, the fresh PdO-MoO3/γ-Al2O3 catalysts are comparable with a commercial Pt-Rh catalyst. The improved activity of PdO-MoO3/γ-Al2O3 relative to PdO/γ-Al2O3 is believed to be due to the interaction between Pd and Mo. The effect of O2 on the activity and selectivity of these catalysts is different in the reduction of NO by H2, by CO, and by a mixture of H2 and CO. The results using the mixture of reductants cannot be inferred from the results with the single reductants.
A timeout procedure for the modification of speech content—A case study

Abstract A cessation-dependent timeout procedure is described which changed the speech content of an institutionalized girl when a cessation-independent timeout procedure failed. The procedure is readily employed by aides who are otherwise untrained in operant procedures and may be quite appropriate even to aggressive patients.
Hybrid organic/inorganic band-edge modulation of p-Si(111) photoelectrodes: effects of R, metal oxide, and Pt on H2 generation.

The efficient generation of dihydrogen on molecularly modified p-Si(111) has remained a challenge due to the low barrier heights observed on such surfaces. The band-edge and barrier height challenge is a primary obstruction to progress in the area of integration of molecular H2 electrocatalysts with silicon photoelectrodes. In this work, we demonstrate that an optimal combination of organic passivating agent and inorganic metal oxide leads to H2 evolution at photovoltages positive of RHE. Modulation of the passivating R group [CH3 → Ph → Naph → Anth → Ph(OMe)2] improves both the band-edge position and ΔV (Vonset – VJmax). Subsequent atomic layer deposition (ALD) of Al2O3 or TiO2 along with ALD-Pt deposition results in to our knowledge the first example of a positive H2 operating potential on molecularly modified Si(111). Mott–Schottky analyses reveal that the flat-band potential of the stable Ph(OMe)2 surface approaches that of the native (but unstable) hydride-terminated surface. The series resistance is...
Analytical investigation of surface potential and related properties of metal/insulator/III–V semiconductor capacitors

Abstract An analytical study of the effect of an applied gate bias on the potential and electron density in the semiconductor of metal/insulator/III–V semiconductor (III–V MIS) capacitors is carried out. For this, Poisson's equation is rewritten to a form amenable to analytical study. Si 3 N 4 is used as an insulator layer for the MIS capacitors. In order to highlight the advantages of III–V MIS capacitors over metal-SiO 2 Si (MOS) capacitors, the ideal case free from interface traps is considered and theoretical results are obtained also for MOS capacitors. The calculated results strongly demonstrate the superiority of InGaAs MIS and GaAs MIS capacitors to Si MOS capacitors and pinpoint the situation in which the interface states are present.
Remarks on the position of the verb in the Rigveda

Dans une etude precedente (1991), l'A. examinait les traits syntaxiques et discursifs associes aux phrases rig-vediques ou le verbe est place en position initiale de phrase. Il etend ici son investigation sur d'autres positions possibles du verbe dans la phrase rig-vedique. Il met en evidence un aspect particulier de l'ordre des mots: la relation entre la structure metrique et l'amplification, plus specifiquement la correlation entre les strophes et les vers, leurs sousparties et les extrapositions
Analysis and finite element simulations of the near-tip singular fields around a mode-3 stationary crack in plastically graded materials

The near-tip variable-separable singular series solution around a stationary crack embedded in plastically graded materials is derived and complementary modified-boundary-layer finite element simulations are performed. The stationary crack is subjected to an anti-plane shear (mode-3 or torsion) loading and the material nonlinearity is characterized by a power-law hardening model. The spatial variation of the material property (yield-stress) is allowed to be in any arbitrary direction around the crack and is characterized by another power-law form. The complementary modified-boundary-layer finite element simulations are performed using the newly developed nonlinear multiple-isoparametric finite element formulation. Our full-field finite element simulations validate the existence of the variable-separable form of solution. Our analysis and simulations predict that the most-singular term in the series solution remains unaffected by the inhomogeneity and its direction. The second-singular term of the series solution is however affected by the inhomogeneity and its direction. The second-term dominant region depends on the directionality of the inhomogeneity and is maximum for the x-gradation and minimum for the y-gradation. The contribution of the second-term is significant and hence a two-term based fracture mechanics methodology is required in designs using plastically graded materials.
Visual Evoked Responses as a Function of Light Intensity in Down's Syndrome and Nonretarded Subjects

Occipital and central averaged visual evoked responses (VERs) were recorded from nonretarded and Down's syndrome (DS) subjects. Three different light intensities were used, all below levels of stimulation used in previous studies. Overall results showed that DS subjects had significantly larger VER perimeters and longer VER latencies, while nonretarded subjects had significant VER asymmetry in the occipital recording (left> right) at all three intensities, DS subjects showed a significantly greater increase in perimeter scores as a function of intensity, with the widest group separation occurring at the highest level of stimulation (43 phots). However, when VER latencies were measured, the widest group separation occurred at the lowest level of stimulation (0.43) phots. Moreover, the only evidence reported thus far for evoked response asymmetry in DS subjects occurred at the lowest light level, These results illustrate the importance of stimulus parameters in evoked potential studies of mental retardation.
Screening mammography use in Medicare beneficiaries reflects 4-year mortality risk.

Abstract Objective Breast cancer screening guidelines recommend that women and physicians consider life expectancy when making screening decisions in older women. However, prior studies suggest that screening mammography patterns are dependent on age rather than health status or mortality risk of women. Our objective is to determine the association between 4-year mortality risk and use of screening mammography in women aged≥65 years using Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey data. Methods The primary predictor variable is 4-year mortality risk derived from a published and validated prognostic index with 4 strata of increasing probability of death in 4 years (risk groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 with 4%, 15%, 42%, and 64% risk of 4-year mortality, respectively). The main outcome was self-reported receipt of mammography in the last year. Results There was a significant decreasing trend in the use of mammography with mortality risk groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 (62.7%, 51.5%, 36.6%, and 24%, respectively; trend test P Conclusion Screening mammography use in older Medicare beneficiaries seems to reflect their 4-year risk of mortality rather than age alone, suggesting that patients and providers consider prognosis in screening decisions. Prospective studies are needed to explore the use of the prognostic index as a mammography screening decision tool.
The fate of polyaromatic hydrocarbons in an intertidal sediment exposure system: Bioavailability to macoma inquinata (mollusca: Pelecypoda) and abarenicola pacifica (annelida: Polychaeta)

Abstract Macoma inquinata, a detritus feeding clam, was exposed for 60 days to coarse-grained, and Abarenicola pacifica, a burrowing polychaete, to fine-grained, sediment. Each sediment contained 14-C-labelled phenanthrene, chrysene or benzo(a)pyrene. Over 70% of the chrysene and benzo(a)pyrene, but only 8% of the phenanthrene, remained in the coarse sediment during the exposure. Essentially all of the chrysene and benzo(a)pyrene and 70% of the phenanthrene remained in the fine sediment. The concentrations of chrysene and benzo(a)pyrene in the clams rose steadily, reaching levels 11·6 and 5·2 times as high as those in the sediment. The tissue phenanthrene concentration rose for 3 days, then fell to one-eighth of the initial concentration. The concentrations of each of the aromatic hydrocarbons in Abarenicola tissue increased for 2 weeks to four to six times the sediment levels. The tissue concentration of chrysene remained constant thereafter, but the levels of phenanthrene and benzo(a)pyrene fell to three-quarters of their peak values. No intermediate degradation products of any of the hydrocarbons were identified in extracts of sediment from either exposure system, or in solvent extracts of tissue or of tissue digestates. Significant 14C-activity, associated with non-solvent extractable compounds, remained in tissue digestates of individuals of both species exposed to phenanthrene.
Structure relationships affecting the stability ofA15- and Ti3P-type compounds

Abstract Observed interatomic distances inA15- and Ti3P-type compounds are analyzed as deformations of ideal atomic rigid spheres. The analysis suggests that structural instabilities may develop inA15 compounds when the atomic size of theB element becomes approximately 10% smaller than that of theA element. These instabilities apparently originate from strong repulsive interactions along the atom chains. The internal strains associated with these interactions may be relieved by martensitic transformations, deviations from the idealA3B stoichiometry, addition of ternary elements, and transformation to a Ti3P-type structure. Instability apparently develops in the Ti3P-type compounds when theA- andB-element atoms are nearly equal in size. The instability in this case would result primarily from repulsive forces associated with a strong compression of theB-element atoms.
Roles of Pectin Methylesterases in Pollen-Tube Growth

Elongation of the pollen tube in pistil is essential for delivering sperms into the female gametophyte in sexual plant reproduction. Recently, a group of cell wall enzymes, pectin methylesterases (PMEs), have been identified as playing an important role in this process. This article reviews the new understanding of the roles of PMEs in regulating pollen tube growth.
Safety and efficacy of ultrasound-accelerated thrombolysis for the treatment of submassive pulmonary embolism

Standards for Endovascular Treatment of Pulmonary Embolism. Results: CDT was technically successful in 100% (n1⁄445) of patients. Main pulmonary artery pressure significantly decreased from 49.8 mm to 31.1 mm (po0.0001). Right ventricle dysfunction significantly improved with mean RV/ LV ratios decreasing from 1.59 to 0.93 (po0.0001). There were 6 complications: 4 minor bleeding episodes at access sites, and 2 major bleeding complications (flank and arm hematoma). All cause mortality at 30 days was 0%. There were no re-admissions for PE at 30 days after discharge in all patients. Conclusion: CDT is a safe and efficacious method in the treatment of SPE to reduce acute pulmonary hypertension and RVD. Using a standardized protocol for pulmonary thrombolysis may allow for more widespread adoption of interventional therapy.
The (Perceived) Returns to Education and the Demand for Schooling

Economists emphasize the link between market returns to education and investments in schooling. Though many studies estimate these returns with earnings data, it is the perceived returns that affect schooling decisions, and these perceptions may be inaccurate. Using survey data for eighth-grade boys in the Dominican Republic, we find that the perceived returns to secondary school are extremely low, despite high measured returns. Students at randomly selected schools given information on the higher measured returns completed on average 0.20–0.35 more years of school over the next four years than those who were not.
Resource division by perlid stoneflies (Plecoptera) in a lake outlet ecosystem

In a stream draining a productive lake, two abundant (250/m2) stoneflies Calineuria californica and Hesperoperla pacifica differed in population size structure, habitat use and food although overlap in resource use was extensive. Life cycles of two (Calineuria) and three years (Hesperoperla) were indicated. A multivariate analysis of habitat use demonstrated size dependent habitat selection in both species and between species habitat differences. Feeding habits differed although only the largest Hesperoperla had a food refuge. Diets of individual nymphs represented an interaction of species, size and habitat.
Energetic particle anisotropies at the heliospheric boundary

In 2012 August the Voyager 1 space probe entered a distinctly new region of space characterized by a virtual absence of heliospheric energetic ions and magnetic fluctuations, now interpreted as a part of the local interstellar cloud. Prior to their disappearance, the ion distributions strongly peaked at a 90° pitch angle, implying rapid escape of streaming particles along the magnetic field lines. Here we investigate the process of particle crossing from the heliosheath into the interstellar space, using a kinetic approach that resolves scales of the particle's cyclotron radius and smaller. It is demonstrated that a "pancake" pitch-angle distribution naturally arises at a tangential discontinuity separating a weakly turbulent plasma from a laminar region with a very low pitch-angle scattering rate. The relatively long persistence of gyrating ions is interpreted in terms of field line meandering facilitating their cross-field diffusion within the depletion region.
Src Regulates Sequence‐Dependent Beta‐2 Adrenergic Receptor Recycling via Cortactin Phosphorylation

The recycling of internalized signaling receptors, which has direct functional consequences, is subject to multiple sequence and biochemical requirements. Why signaling receptors recycle via a specialized pathway, unlike many other proteins that recycle by bulk, is a fundamental unanswered question. Here, we show that these specialized pathways allow selective control of signaling receptor recycling by heterologous signaling. Using assays to visualize receptor recycling in living cells, we show that the recycling of the beta-2 adrenergic receptor (B2AR), a prototypic signaling receptor, is regulated by Src family kinases. The target of Src is cortactin, an essential factor for B2AR sorting into specialized recycling microdomains on the endosome. Phosphorylation of a single cortactin residue, Y466, regulates the rate of fission of B2AR recycling vesicles from these microdomains and, therefore, the rate of delivery of B2AR to the cell surface. Together, our results indicate that actin-stabilized microdomains that mediate signaling receptor recycling can serve as a functional point of convergence for crosstalk between signaling pathways.
Millimeter- and Submillimeter-Wavelength Spectrum and Molecular Constants of T 2 O

The rotational spectrum of ${\mathrm{T}}_{2}$O in the ground vibrational state has been measured with high-resolution microwave techniques in the 80-640-GHz region. Forty-six previously unreported transitions have been measured and assigned. Analysis of these results and the six previously observed lines yielded the following rotation and distortion parameters (in MHz) of the Watson formulation: $\mathcal{A}=338810.923\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.076$, $\mathcal{B}=145665.417\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.044$, $\mathcal{C}=100259.415\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.044$, ${\ensuremath{\Delta}}_{J}=4.145597\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.0014$, ${\ensuremath{\Delta}}_{\mathrm{JK}}=\ensuremath{-}22.03898\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.008$, ${\ensuremath{\Delta}}_{K}=144.13766\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.006$, ${\ensuremath{\delta}}_{J}=1.609823\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.0008$, and ${\ensuremath{\delta}}_{K}=5.44092\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.01$. The usual distortion-free rotational constants derived from these are (in MHz) ${A}^{\ensuremath{'}}=338808.0$, ${B}^{\ensuremath{'}}=145631.9$, and ${C}^{\ensuremath{'}}=100291.9$. The effective ground-state structures obtained for ${\mathrm{T}}_{2}$O are 0.9623 \AA{} for the bond length and 104.6\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} for the bond angle. The observed inertial defect $\ensuremath{\Delta}=0.0772$ amu ${\mathrm{\AA{}}}^{2}$ agrees well with the theoretically derived value of 0.0753 amu ${\mathrm{\AA{}}}^{2}$.
Sensitivity of groundwater recharge under irrigated agriculture to changes in climate, CO2 concentrations and canopy structure

Estimating groundwater recharge in response to increased atmospheric CO2 concentration and climate change is critical for future management of agricultural water resources in arid or semi-arid regions. Based on climate projections from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, this study quantified groundwater recharge under irrigated agriculture in response to variations of atmospheric CO2 concentrations (550 and 970 ppm) and average daily temperature (+1.1 and +6.4 °C compared to current conditions). HYDRUS 1D, a model used to simulate water movement in unsaturated, partially saturated, or fully saturated porous media, was used to simulate the impact of climate change on vadose zone hydrologic processes and groundwater recharge for three typical crop sites (alfalfa, almonds and tomatoes) in the San Joaquin watershed in California. Plant growth with the consideration of elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration was simulated using the heat unit theory. A modified version of the Penman�Monteith equation was used to account for the effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration. Irrigation amount and timing was based on crop potential evapotranspiration. The results of this study suggest that increases in atmospheric CO2 and average daily temperature may have significant effects on groundwater recharge. Increasing temperature caused a temporal shift in plant growth patterns and redistributed evapotranspiration and irrigation water use earlier in the growing season resulting in a decrease in groundwater recharge under alfalfa and almonds and an increase under tomatoes. Elevating atmospheric CO2 concentrations generally decreased groundwater recharge for all crops due to decreased evapotranspiration resulting in decreased irrigation water use. Increasing average daily temperature by 1.1 and 6.4 °C and atmospheric CO2 concentration to 550 and 970 ppm led to a decrease in cumulative groundwater recharge for most scenarios. Overall, the results indicate that groundwater recharge may be very sensitive to potential future climate changes
Plasma, urinary, and salivary 8-epi-prostaglandin F2α levels in normotensive and preeclamptic pregnancies

Abstract Objective: Our purpose was to measure and compare plasma, urinary, and salivary concentrations of 8-epi-prostaglandin F2α (8-isoprostane) in women with normotensive pregnancies and the respective concentrations in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia. Study Design: Plasma, urinary, and salivary 8-isoprostane levels were measured in pregnant women with preeclampsia (n = 40), normotensive pregnant women (n = 20), and nonpregnant women (n = 10). One-way analysis of variance was used to determine significant differences. Results: Plasma free 8-isoprostane concentrations were increased in women with severe preeclampsia (342 ± 50 pg/mL), in comparison with nonpregnant women (129 ± 17 pg/mL) and normotensive pregnant women (150 ± 11 pg/mL; P = .003, and .0001, respectively). Urinary excretion of 8-isoprostane was slightly but not significantly decreased in preeclampsia (1200 ± 227 pg/mL), in comparison with urinary excretion in nonpregnant women (1625 ± 364 pg/mL) and normotensive pregnant women (2149 ± 432 pg/mL). Salivary concentrations of 8-isoprostane were increased in normotensive women (496 ± 113 pg/mL), in comparison with nonpregnant women (150 ± 27 pg/mL) but were not related to preeclampsia (419 ± 96 pg/mL; P ≤ .003). Conclusion: Free 8-isoprostane concentrations are increased in the plasma of women with severe preeclampsia. Further studies are warranted to determine whether such increases are caused by an increase in phospholipase A2 activity, or by lipid peroxidation, or by a decrease in renal excretion. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2000;183:874-7.)
An Intelligent Robotics Control Scheme

The problem of robot control is viewed at the level of communicating high-level commands produced by intelligent algorithms to the actuator/sensor controllers. Four topics are considered in the design of an integrated control and communications scheme for an intelligent robotic system: the use of abstraction spaces, hierarchical versus heterarchical control, distributed processing, and the interleaving of the steps of plan creation and plan execution. A scheme is presented for an n-level distributed hierarchical/heterarchical control system that effectively interleaves intelligent planning, execution, and sensory feedback. A three-level version of this scheme has been successfully implemented in the Intelligent Systems Research Lab at NASA Langley Research Center. This implementation forms the control structure for DAISIE (Distributed Artificially Intelligent System for Interacting with the Environment), a testbed system integrating AI software with robotics hardware.
Two different genomes that produce the same result

Despite considerable differences in genomic sequence, the developmental program of gene expression between two similar Dictyostelium species is remarkably similar.
The Role of Ischemia, or the Lack Thereof, During Partial Nephrectomy

Over the last decade we have witnessed a plethora of scientific work regarding renal functional preservation in the setting of a renal mass. This topic has become increasingly important for a couple of reasons: Decreased renal function has been associated with diminished survival and increased morbidity in the general medical population [1], and partial nephrectomy (PN) has equivalent cancer control compared with radical nephrectomy (RN) and better preserves renal function [2]. A hypothesis arose suggesting that renal function preservation associated with PN might be associated with better survival in patients with renal masses. Initial comparisons of cohorts of patients treated by either RN or PN did show improved survival for those treated by PN [3,4], but in these nonrandomized cohorts, it was unclear whether this result was merely due to selection bias or other confounding variables. In a recently reported randomized trial comparing PN and RN, a survival advantage was not observed for PN; however, glomerular filtration rates (GFRs) were not reported, and the study was closed due to poor accrual after 541 of the planned 1300 patients were accrued [5]. If the theory holds, the mere act of performing a PN is beneficial only in so much as it preserves renal function. This idea was underscored by a recently published cohort of 1004 patients with cT1b renal masses [6] .I n this propensity score analysis of overall survival controlling for tumor size, age, comorbidities, and preoperative renal function, PN was associated with improved overall survival. However, if postoperative renal function was included in the same model, then only postoperative renal function was predictive and PN was no longer independently associated with overall survival. PN appears to be associated with improved survival, as compared with RN, but this association is dependent on
Vesiculation of May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens magma

The May 18, 1980, eruption of Mount St. Helens, Washington, produced both white and gray pumice, similar in composition but varying in phenocryst, microlite, and vesicle content. The white pumice has fewer phenocrysts, no microlites, and higher vesicularity, and is thus less dense than the gray. In addition, vesicles in the white pumice are larger and more interconnected than those in the gray. Both white and gray have effective (crystal-free) vesicularities (85.7% and 72.2%, respectively), close to the traditionally accepted "fragmentation vesicularity" of 75%-77%. Given that the two pumice types were erupted concurrently for several phases of the eruption and therefore probably had similar eruption paths, we suggest that differences in vesicularity and vesicle size distributions result from the presence or absence of microlites. The presence of microlites in the gray pumice not only increased the magma viscosity and effective vesicularity, but appears to have aided bubble nucleation and hindered bubble expansion and coalescence. Thus, magmas with microlites may fragment at a lower bulk vesicularity than those without microlites. Fragmented microlite-bearing clasts are also likely to expand less after fragmentation and therefore more closely preserve the bubble distribution and structure at the time of magma fragmentation.
Key regulatory oxysterols in liver: analysis as Δ4-3-ketone derivatives by HPLC and response to physiological perturbations

A number of oxysterols have been implicated in metabolic regulation. Key among these are (24S),25-epoxycholesterol and (24S)-hydroxycholesterol, high affinity ligands for the nuclear transcription factor liver X receptor α; 27-hydroxycholesterol, a bile acid synthetic intermediate; and 25-hydroxycholesterol, which has been used to study regulation of lipid metabolism by the sterol regulatory element-binding protein family of transcription factors. Investigation of the physiological importance of these compounds in vivo has been hampered by lack of analytical methods to reproducibly and accurately determine their concentrations in tissues. This article describes a method designed to determine quantitatively the amounts of these important side-chain oxysterols by derivatization to the Δ4-3-ketones followed by high performance liquid chromatography. The method was validated with known standards and then was used to determine the concentrations of these oxysterols in rodent liver under various physiological conditions. All four oxysterols were present in the picogram per milligram protein range and have distinct subcellular distributions and responses to physiological perturbations in vivo. —Zhang, Z., D. Li, D. E. Blanchard, S. R. Lear, S. K. Erickson, and T. A. Spencer. Key regulatory oxysterols in liver: analysis as Δ4-3-ketone derivatives by HPLC and response to physiological perturbations. J. Lipid Res. 2001. 42: 649–658.
Flexible-substratum technique for viewing cells from the side: some in vivo properties of primary (9+0) cilia in cultured kidney epithelia

Cells cultured on thin plastic (e.g. Formvar, Teflon, polycarbonate) membranes can be clearly imaged from the side in vivo by video microscopy. We have used this flexible-substratum technique to examine the behaviour and properties of primary cilia in confluent cultures of the kidney epithelial cell lines PtK1, PtK2, LLC-PK1, MDCK and BSC-40. In these cells primary cilia appear as rigid rods, up to 55 micron long, which project at various angles from the dorsal cell surface. The length distribution of primary cilia in confluent cultures is a distinct characteristic of each established kidney cell line examined, with LLC-PK1 exhibiting three distinct length populations. Primary cilia of kidney cell lines bend passively in response to flow but do not display propagated bending or vortical motions. Up to 26% of the cilia in the cell types examined possess one or more conspicuous swellings along the ciliary shaft. Treatment with 0.05% trypsin, which is sufficient to cause cell rounding, does not induce the resorption or shedding of the cilium. These direct observations demonstrate that kidney epithelial-cell primary cilia are non-motile and longer than previously thought, and suggest that their length represents a phenotypic marker for each cell line.
Bis(di-2-pyridyl-methanediol)copper(II) dihydrogentrifluoride: a structural and spectroscopic study of the H2F3− anion in a complex salt

The H2F3− anion in mononuclear [Cu(dpd)2][(H2F3)2] (dpd = di-2-pyridyl-methanediol) exists as a HF2−/HF adduct as evidenced by infrared spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography.
Short communications link lengths and channel network topology

Link lengths in natural channel networks are found to increase with increasing magnitude of the link joined downstream. This result explains why the link classification schemes proposed by Smart and by Mock successfully separate links into groups with different length distributions.
Approaches to Uremia

The development of dialysis was a dramatic step forward in medicine, allowing people who would soon have died because of lack of kidney function to remain alive for years. We have since found, however, that the “artificial kidney” does not live up fully to its name. Dialysis keeps patients alive but not well. Part of the residual illness that dialysis patients experience is caused by retained waste solutes that dialysis does not remove as well as native kidney function does. New means are available to identify these toxic solutes, about which we currently know remarkably little, and knowledge of these solutes would help us to improve therapy. This review summarizes our current knowledge of toxic solutes and highlights methods being explored to identify additional toxic solutes and to enhance the clearance of these solutes to improve patient outcomes.
Maternal Deprivation in Rats is Associated with Corticotrophin‐Releasing Hormone (CRH) Promoter Hypomethylation and Enhances CRH Transcriptional Responses to Stress in Adulthood

Exposure to stress during early development causes long-lasting alterations in behaviour and hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis activity, including increased expression of corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH). To determine whether early-life stress causes epigenetic changes in the CRH promoter leading to increased CRH transcription, 8-week old female and male rats, subjected to maternal deprivation (MD) between days 2 and 13 post-birth, were studied for HPA axis responses to stress and CRH promoter methylation in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA). Plasma corticosterone and PVN CRH heteronuclear (hn)RNA responses to acute restraint stress were higher in MD rats of both sexes. DNA methylation analysis of the CRH promoter revealed a significantly lower percentage of methylation in two CpGs preceding (CpG1) and inside (CpG2) the cyclic AMP-response element (CRE) at -230 bp in the CRH promoter in the PVN but not the CeA of MD rats. Gel-shift assays, using nuclear proteins from forskolin-treated hypothalamic 4B cells and CRH promoter CRE oligonucleotides, unmethylated or methylated at CpG1, revealed a strong band that was supershifted by phospho-cAMP response element-binding antibody. This band was 50% weaker using oligonucleotides methylated at CpG2 (intra-CRE), or methylated at both CpG1 and CpG2. These findings demonstrate that HPA axis hypersensitivity caused by neonatal stress causes long-lasting enhanced CRH transcriptional activity in the PVN of both sexes. Hypomethylation of the CRH promoter CRE, a region critical for CRH transcriptional activation, could serve as a mechanism for the increased transcriptional responses to stress observed in MD rats.
The psychophysiology of the maternal–fetal relationship

The enigmatic quality of the maternal-fetal relationship has been extolled throughout history with little empirical support. We apply time series analysis to data for 137 maternal-fetal pairs collected at 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, and 38 weeks gestation. Maternal heart rate and skin conductance data were digitized in tandem with fetal heart rate and motor activity. No temporal relations between fetal heart rate and either maternal variable were found, although averaged maternal and fetal heart rates were correlated from 32 weeks. Consistent temporal associations between fetal movement and maternal heart rate and skin conductance were detected. Fetal movement stimulated rises in each parameter, peaking at 2 and 3 s, respectively. Associations did not change over gestation, were unaffected by a maternal stressor, and showed within-pair stability. The bidirectional nature of the maternal-fetal relationship is considered.
Crosstalk-limited performance of a computationally efficient multichannel transceiver for high rate digital subscriber lines

The authors present an evaluation of the performance of a multitone IDFT-DFT (inverse discrete Fourier transform/discrete Fourier transform) transceiver for crosstalk-limited carrier serving area (CSA) subscriber loops. The transceiver is computationally efficient and can provide reliable T1 transmission in the presence of crosstalk noise. The authors examine the effects of signaling rate, block length, use of trellis code, transmit bandwidth optimization, transmitter power, and inclusion of crosstalk noise margin on channel throughput. It is concluded that the IDFT-DFT transceiver of block length 512, signaling at 640 kbaud, with 10 mW input power, and using a powerful 5.5 dB trellis code can provide 1.544 Mb/s T1 carrier service on a significant portion of CSA local loops that are limited by crosstalk noise. >
A molecular dynamics simulation of ultrathin oxide films on silicon: Growth by thermal O atoms and sputtering by 100 eV Ar/sup +/ ions

Molecular dynamics was applied to study the growth and sputtering of ultrathin oxide films on [100] Si surfaces. A multibody potential which stabilized the Si/SiO/sub 2/ interface was used for this purpose. Oxide growth by exposure to O atoms was found to follow Langmuir-type kinetics with unity initial sticking coefficient of O and saturation coverage of around four monolayers, in agreement with experimental data. Sputtering of an ultrathin oxide film on silicon by 100 eV Ar/sup +/ ions was simulated to study ion-assisted surface cleaning. Ion irradiation was found to promote restructuring of the surface into oxide islands, as observed experimentally. Island formation was accompanied with an increase in surface roughness. The evolution of the surface state with ion dose was predicted quantitatively.
Survivin Is a Therapeutic Target in Merkel Cell Carcinoma

Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCV) causes ~80% of primary and metastatic Merkel cell carcinomas (MCCs). By comparing digital transcriptome subtraction deep-sequencing profiles, we found that transcripts of the cellular survivin oncoprotein [BIRC5a (baculoviral inhibitor of apoptosis repeat-containing 5)] were up-regulated sevenfold in virus-positive compared to virus-negative MCC tumors. Knockdown of MCV large T antigen in MCV-positive MCC cell lines decreased survivin mRNA and protein expression. Exogenously expressed MCV large T antigen increased survivin protein expression in non-MCC primary cells. This required an intact retinoblastoma protein–targeting domain that activated survivin gene transcription as well as expression of other G1-S–phase proteins including E2F1 and cyclin E. Survivin expression is critical to the survival of MCV-positive MCC cells. A small-molecule survivin inhibitor, YM155, potently and selectively initiates irreversible, nonapoptotic, programmed MCV-positive MCC cell death. Of 1360 other chemotherapeutic and pharmacologically active compounds screened in vitro, only bortezomib (Velcade) was found to be similarly potent, but was not selective in killing MCV-positive MCC cells. YM155 halted the growth of MCV-positive MCC xenograft tumors and was nontoxic in mice, whereas bortezomib was not active in vivo and mice displayed serious morbidity. Xenograft tumors resumed growth once YM155 treatment was stopped, suggesting that YM155 may be cytostatic rather than cytotoxic in vivo. Identifying the cellular pathways, such as those involving survivin, that are targeted by tumor viruses can lead to rapid and rational identification of drug candidates for treating virus-induced cancers.
Accuracy of Coupled-Mode Theory and Mode-Matching Method in the Analysis of Photonic Crystal Waveguide Perturbations

In this paper, the accuracy of coupled-mode theory (CMT) and mode-matching (MM) method in estimating the scattering due to geometric perturbations in photonic crystal waveguides (PCWs) is examined. Two CMT formulations are considered: the instantaneous virtual grating and the conventional CMT. The two CMT formulations and the MM method are compared against the finite-difference frequency-domain (FDFD) method combined with the adjoint variable (AV) method. The results obtained with the AV/FDFD and MM methods agree very well, proving the validity of the latter for the sensitivity analysis of PCW structures. It is also deduced that although both CMT formulations lead to almost identical results, they can provide only a first approximation to the perturbation-induced scattering.
Interval-based targeting for pollution prevention via mass integration

Mass integration is a holistic approach to the optimal allocation, generation, and separation of streams and species. It addresses pollution using a combination of strategies including manipulation of process equipment, structural changes in the flowsheet, rerouting of streams and addition of new units. In the past, systematic mass integration techniques were developed to determine optimal strategies for the recycle and separation of process streams. The purpose of this paper is to introduce two novel contributions that can greatly expand the scope of mass integration for pollution prevention. First, maximum achievable pollution targets will be determined ahead of design and with little input data. In this context, we will illustrate the use of interval arithmetic to determine these targets. Second, pollution prevention through unit manipulation will be addressed. The devised interval-based targets posess the attractive feature that they are global regardless of the nonlinearity nature of the process model. These new concepts are illustrated with a case study. © 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.