cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of a shape memory implant abutment system: An up to 6-month pilot clinical study

Abstract Statement of problem Screw- and cement-based retention mechanisms are used to attach prostheses to dental implants; however, each approach can lead to clinical complications such as crown fracturing or peri-implantitis. A novel abutment and prosthesis retention system has been engineered to achieve the esthetics and retention force of cement-based fixation while maintaining the retrievability of screw-retained restorations. Purpose The purpose of this pilot clinical study was to evaluate the effectiveness of this innovative retention system on posterior tooth restorations. Material and methods This clinical study, with up to 6 months of follow-up, included 8 participants with posterior osseointegrated implants who met the eligibility criteria to receive the abutment and shape memory sleeve. Radiographs were used to evaluate crown seating. Crown stability was measured using the Periotest, and occlusal analysis was performed using the Tekscan system and shimstock. Peri-implant health was evaluated by probing, and the plaque and gingival indices were recorded. In addition, patient-reported outcomes were recorded. Results Minimal differences were observed between baseline and endpoint assessment of the plaque and gingival indices, probing depth, and proximal and occlusal contacts. There were no patient-reported problems or complaints about discomfort. The overall peri-implant health remained unchanged from the baseline evaluations for all participants. Proximal contact around the restoration was present at the baseline and at the conclusion of the study for 7 of the participants. Occlusal contact was observed to be either light (5 participants) or holding (3 participants). In addition, visual inspection of retrieved crowns revealed clean surfaces free of macroparticle ingress, and bacterial accumulation at the coping-abutment interface was not detected. Conclusions The safety and efficacy findings of this pilot clinical study suggest that this new shape memory alloy–based retention system may provide a suitable alternative for implant prosthodontics. The retention system allowed for easy prosthesis seating and retrieval.
Porphyrinoid-Based Photosensitizers for Diagnostic and Therapeutic Applications: An Update

Porphyrin-based molecules are actively studied as dual function theranostics: fluorescence-based imaging for diagnostics and fluorescence-guided therapeutic treatment of cancers. The intrinsic fluo...
Where do females rise to leadership positions? A cross-sector analysis

Gender equality in the workplace includes equal wages, opportunities, and treatment. Although there have been improvements in all of these areas in the last several decades, one area of continuing ...
IoMT-SAF: Internet of Medical Things Security Assessment Framework

Abstract The emergence of the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) has introduced a monumental change in facilitating the management of diseases, improving diseases diagnosis and treatment methods, and reducing healthcare cost and errors. This change has greatly impacted the quality of healthcare for both patients and all frontline healthcare workers. However, the IoMT is far from being immune to security and privacy breaches due to the wide variety IoMT vendors and products available on the market as well as the massive number of devices transmitting sensitive medical data wirelessly to the cloud. The lack of security awareness among healthcare users (e.g., patients, medical staff) aggravates the deficiencies and can facilitate attacks that jeopardize the patients’ lives. Therefore, ensuring the security and privacy of the IoMT becomes an urgent issue worthy of further investigation and resolution. Security cannot be planned for, managed, monitored, or controlled if it cannot be measured. However, security assessment poses problems for novice IoMT adopters when choosing security measures that are both sufficient and robust. Accordingly, we developed a web-based IoMT Security Assessment Framework (IoMT-SAF) based on a novel ontological scenario-based approach to recommend security features in IoMT and assess protection and deterrence in IoMT solutions. IoMT-SAF supports the selection of a solution that matches the stakeholder's security objectives and supports the decision-making process. The novelty of IoMT-SAF lies in its granularity, extensibility, as well as its ability to adapt to new stakeholders, and conformance to technology and medical standards.
A skeptic's view of VVAz and AVAz

Abstract We have applied a modern amplitude- and azimuth-preserving seismic data processing workflow to the SEG Advanced Modeling Program (SEAM) Phase II Barrett classic data set — an orthorhombic ...
The use of platelet-rich plasma in treatment of olfactory dysfunction: A pilot study

Author(s): Yan, Carol H; Mundy, David C; Patel, Zara M | Abstract: BackgroundOlfactory dysfunction is a prevalent problem with a significant impact on quality of life and increased mortality. Limited effective therapies exist. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is an autologous biologic product with anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects. This novel pilot study evaluated the role of PRP on olfactory neuroregeneration in patients with hyposmia.MethodsSeven patients who had olfactory loss greater than 6 months in duration, no evidence of sinonasal inflammatory disease, and no improvement with olfactory training and budesonide topical rinses were enrolled in this preliminary study. Patients received a single intranasal injection of PRP into the mucosa of the olfactory cleft. The Sniffin' Sticks olfactory test consisting of threshold, discrimination, and identification measurements (TDI) was administered at the beginning of the study and at 1 and 3 months.ResultsAll patients reported a subjective improvement of their smell shortly after injection but then stabilized. At 3-month post-treatment, two patients with functional anosmia (TDI l 16) did not improve significantly. Five patients with hyposmia (TDI g 16 but l30) showed an improvement with 60% achieving normosmia (TDI g 30) at 3-month follow-up. On average, patients with baseline TDI g 16 improved by 5.85 points with the most significant improvement in the threshold subcomponent. There were no adverse outcomes from intranasal PRP injections.ConclusionPRP appears safe for use in the treatment of olfactory loss, and preliminary data suggest possible efficacy, especially for those with moderate yet persistent loss. Further studies will help determine optimal frequency and duration of use.Level of evidence 2b
Pseudo-Symmetric Assembly of Protodomains as a Common Denominator in the Evolution of Polytopic Helical Membrane Proteins

The polytopic helical membrane proteome is dominated by proteins containing seven transmembrane helices (7TMHs). They cannot be grouped under a monolithic fold or superfold. However, a parallel structural analysis of folds around that magic number of seven in distinct protein superfamilies (SWEET, PnuC, TRIC, FocA, Aquaporin, GPCRs) reveals a common homology, not in their structural fold, but in their systematic pseudo-symmetric construction during their evolution. Our analysis leads to guiding principles of intragenic duplication and pseudo-symmetric assembly of ancestral transmembrane helical protodomains, consisting of 3 (or 4) helices. A parallel deconstruction and reconstruction of these domains provides a structural and mechanistic framework for their evolutionary paths. It highlights the conformational plasticity inherent to fold formation itself, the role of structural as well as functional constraints in shaping that fold, and the usefulness of protodomains as a tool to probe convergent vs divergent evolution. In the case of FocA vs. Aquaporin, this protodomain analysis sheds new light on their potential divergent evolution at the protodomain level followed by duplication and parallel evolution of the two folds. GPCR domains, whose function does not seem to require symmetry, nevertheless exhibit structural pseudo-symmetry. Their construction follows the same protodomain assembly as any other pseudo-symmetric protein suggesting their potential evolutionary origins. Interestingly, all the 6/7/8TMH pseudo-symmetric folds in this study also assemble as oligomeric forms in the membrane, emphasizing the role of symmetry in evolution, revealing self-assembly and co-evolution not only at the protodomain level but also at the domain level.
Sustained impact of holistic specimens for mammalogy and parasitology in South America: Sydney Anderson’s legacy

Sydney Anderson and the "Mammalian Diversity in Bolivia" (MDB) project (1984-1993) established a highly productive model for integrated specimen-based field expeditions. We assess the extended impact of that decade-long series of holistic surveys of mammalian diversity as a productive model for building enduring and highly integrated infrastructure for biodiversity research. We point to specific examples of impact, but more generally make a case for Sydney Anderson’s prescient view that collections, over time, become ever more powerful and essential scientific tools for understanding mammalian diversity and our rapidly changing planet. To assess the number of specimens held in collections and their availability for spatial analyses, we queried the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) for Bolivian specimens. Results were downloaded and non-georeferenced specimens were georeferenced in GeoLocate. Publications utilizing specimens or data from the MDB project were identified in Google Scholar, these were used to build a citation profile to analyze impact and breadth of research. Over the course of the decade-long MDB project ca. 10,000 new “holistic” specimens were added to natural history collections in Bolivia and the United States. These specimens and data were used in over 500 papers across a broad range of research areas, including new records for the country, and many descriptions of mammals (nine) and parasites (34) new to science. The Google Scholar profile generated for these publications has more than 20,000 citations and a citation H-index = 68 and an i-10 = 340. Sydney Anderson’s legacy will endure through the exceptional collections he helped to build and the wide array of students he helped to inspire. As societal concerns related to environmental change ( e. g. , biological annihilation, climate change, emerging zoonotic pathogens) become more pressing, scientific questions evolve, and technology continues to develop, these critical resources will be called upon more and more frequently. Thus we can confidently predict that the value and use of the Bolivian mammal specimens archived under Syd Anderson’s leadership will continue to increase in the future.
Walrus Guts and Snake Brains

This chapter uses magic realism to describe the paradox of “thick world, thin places.” Modern energy opens many portals to an upside-down realm superimposed atop our day-to-day reality. The chapter then examines the energy orthodoxy, picturing it as a non-negotiable way of life that is premised on negotiating ever new ways of life. Next, it describes the energy orthodoxy as trapped in a paradox of strength-weakness. High-energy civilization is strong enough to shove walruses off of remote cliffs, but too weak to control the snake brain of human impulses.
Using Institutional Ethnography to Investigate Intergovernmental Environmental Policy-Making

Based on data gathered within the context of UN environmental policy negotiations, this chapter demonstrates how institutional ethnography can be applied to intergovernmental negotiating processes. The ontology of institutional ethnography can provide an analytical framework that allows for an investigation into the work that participants do to make policy under the auspices of the UN. Using examples from data gathered at negotiations related to climate and biological diversity, the chapter illustrates how institutional ethnography can be applied to shed light on what is typically abstracted and relegated to the realm of “global environmental governance.” Focusing on the ways in which members of civil society and Indigenous Peoples strategically work to influence the policy process, I tie the actual work of participants into the larger discursive frameworks that participants must deploy in order to engage in this arena.
Comparison of Warfarin to Dual Antiplatelet Therapy Following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) was the initial antithrombotic regimen of choice following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Subsequent identification of subclinical valve thrombosis in high-risk patients has questioned whether warfarin should be used as an alternative to DAPT for some patients. The aim of this study was to compare thromboembolic events, bleeding, and all-cause mortality between DAPT and warfarin following TAVR. This was a single-center, retrospective review of TAVR patients who received DAPT or warfarin following TAVR between 2008 and 2018. The primary endpoint was occurrence of thromboembolic events during the hospital stay and 1-year follow-up, while secondary endpoints included bleeding and all-cause mortality. Of the included 764 patients, 193 received DAPT and 571 received warfarin. The median Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) Predicted Risk of Mortality (PROM) scores were 8.3% for the DAPT group and 6.5% for the warfarin group. The primary endpoint occurred 30 times (3.9%) during the study timeframe. No differences in thromboembolic events between the DAPT and warfarin groups were found (4.14% vs. 3.85%; p = 0.857), and there was no difference in bleeding (6.22% vs. 5.08%; p = 0.544) or risk of mortality (hazard ratio 0.59, 95% confidence interval 0.33–1.06; p = 0.076). In this study, warfarin had similar effectiveness and safety, compared with DAPT, for antithrombotic management post-TAVR. For patients whom the provider deemed anticoagulation is indicated, our data suggest warfarin is a well-tolerated option following TAVR in intermediate- and high-risk STS score patients.
Using social media comments to reduce alcohol purchase intentions: An online experiment

INTRODUCTION Alcohol advertising is prevalent on social media. The current study sought to identify effective message types to pair with social media alcohol ads to minimise purchase intentions associated with exposure. METHODS A 6 (within) × 5 (between) randomised controlled experiment was conducted with n = 723 US participants. Participants viewed six unique social media alcohol ads and were randomised to view one of four message types (i.e. pro-drinking comments, anti-drinking comments, industry responsibility messages and health warning labels) associated with the ads or the control (i.e. no messages). Purchase intentions were measured after each ad exposure. Significant main and interactive effects were determined by two-level, random intercept hierarchical linear models. RESULTS Purchase intentions were significantly lower among participants who viewed anti-drinking comments relative to the control (P = 0.022) and warning labels (P = 0.016). Purchase intentions were significantly greater among participants who viewed pro-drinking comments and had a family history of alcohol use (P = 0.032) and among those who viewed warning labels and were previously exposed to alcohol depictions through family and friends' social media posts (P = 0.033). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS Anti-drinking messages, written by social media users, may be effective at reducing alcohol purchase intentions when posted as social media comments. Current industry responsibility messages had no effect, and caution may be needed if warning labels are applied to ads in this medium.
Trade-offs and synergies in management of two co-occurring specialist squash pests

Co-occurring herbivorous pests may have shared or divergent responses to plant- and insect- derived cues, creating challenges for effective pest management in agroecosystems. We examined how behaviors of two endemic specialist herbivores of Cucurbitaceae crops, squash bugs (Anasa tristis, Hemiptera: Coreidae) and striped cucumber beetles (Acalymma vittatum, Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) are affected by cues in the Cucurbita pepo agroecosystem. We evaluated plant resistance to squash bugs and beetles using cultivars that typify the two domesticated subspecies C. p. pepo (e.g., zucchini) and C. p. ovifera (e.g., straightneck summer squash), and tested how squash bugs respond to beetle aggregation and feeding. Across several field experiments, we demonstrated that squash bugs prefer to oviposit on C. p. ovifera over C. p. pepo, while beetles had the opposing preference. Nonetheless, there was no link between preference and squash bug nymphal survival or development. While squash bugs and beetles diverge in preference, we found that squash bugs positively respond to beetle-derived cues. More squash bug oviposition was observed on plants with greater beetle damage and, using both actively feeding beetles and synthetic lures, we demonstrate that bugs eavesdrop on and respond to vittatalactone, the male-produced beetle aggregation pheromone. Thus, squash bugs appear to exploit the cue of a co-occurring specialist beetle for host choice and this has implications for management: while there are trade-offs in varietal preference, synergistic trapping of both pests may be possible. By evaluating the behavior of co-occurring pests, management strategies with multi-species efficacy can be identified and applied in agroecologically-based pest management.
Kinetics and equilibrium adsorption of phosphate on lanthanum oxide supported on activated carbon

Abstract Understanding the thermodynamics and kinetics of phosphate adsorption is crucial in the design of packed-bed columns for phosphate removal, particularly in clinical applications such as dialysis, in which limited contact time is available. Studies have shown that the kinetics of phosphate adsorption on metal oxides is a two-step process: rapid initial adsorption that occurs in a few minutes to a few hours is followed by slower adsorption that may last for days. In this work, the thermodynamics and kinetics of phosphate adsorption on lanthanum oxide impregnated on activated carbon (La-AC) are investigated to explain its phosphate adsorption behavior. The phosphate adsorption mechanism was investigated by studying (1) the effects of temperature on phosphate adsorption capacity, (2) the dynamics and enthalpy of adsorption using flow microcalorimetry (FMC), (3) the kinetics of phosphate adsorption, and (4) the relationship between the amount of phosphate adsorbed and the amount of hydroxide released. Phosphate adsorption on La-AC followed the Langmuir isotherm. FMC results indicate that phosphate adsorbed through several mechanisms, principally through the formation of monodentate and bidentate inner-sphere surface complexes. A pseudo-second-order kinetic model is typically used to model phosphate adsorption; however, it was found that a kinetic model developed based on the assumption of two parallel surface adsorption reactions fits the measured adsorption kinetics significantly better than the pseudo-second order kinetic model that is almost universally used to describe phosphate adsorption kinetics.
Natural isolate and recombinant SARS-CoV-2 rapidly evolve in vitro to higher infectivity through more efficient binding to heparan sulfate and reduced S1/S2 cleavage

One of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virulence factors is the ability to interact with high affinity to the ACE2 receptor, which mediates viral entry into cells. The results of our study demonstrate that within a few passages in cell culture, both the natural isolate of SARS-CoV-2 and the recombinant, cDNA-derived variant acquire an additional ability to bind to heparan sulfate (HS). This promotes a primary attachment of viral particles to cells before their further interactions with the ACE2. Interaction with HS is acquired through multiple mechanisms. These include i) accumulation of point mutations in the N-terminal domain (NTD) of the S protein, which increase the positive charge of the surface of this domain, ii) insertions into NTD of heterologous peptides, containing positively charged amino acids, and iii) mutation of the first amino acid downstream of the furin cleavage site. This last mutation affects S protein processing, transforms the unprocessed furin cleavage site into the heparin-binding peptide and makes viruses less capable of syncytia formation. These viral adaptations result in higher affinity of viral particles to heparin sepharose, dramatic increase in plaque sizes, more efficient viral spread, higher infectious titers and two orders of magnitude lower GE:PFU ratios. The detected adaptations also suggest an active role of NTD in virus attachment and entry. As in the case of other RNA+ viruses, evolution to HS binding may result in virus attenuation in vivo . Importance The spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 is a major determinant of viral pathogenesis. It mediates binding to ACE2 receptor and later, fusion of viral envelope and cellular membranes. The results of our study demonstrate that SARS-CoV-2 rapidly evolves during propagation in cultured cells. Its spike protein acquires mutations in the N-terminal domain (NTD) and in P1â€˜ position of the furin cleavage site (FCS). The amino acid substitutions or insertions of short peptides in NTD are closely located on the protein surface and increase its positive charge. They strongly increase affinity of the virus to heparan sulfate, make it dramatically more infectious for the cultured cells and decrease GE:PFU ratio by orders of magnitude. The S686G mutation also transforms the FCS into the heparin-binding peptide. Thus, the evolved SARS-CoV-2 variants efficiently use glycosaminoglycans on the cell surface for primary attachment before the high affinity interaction of the spikes with the ACE2 receptor.
Potent inhibitors of toxic alpha-synuclein identified via cellular time-resolved FRET biosensors.

We have developed a high-throughput drug discovery platform, measuring fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) with fluorescent alpha-synuclein (αSN) biosensors, to detect spontaneous pre-fibrillar oligomers in living cells. Our two αSN FRET biosensors provide complementary insight into αSN oligomerization and conformation in order to improve the success of drug discovery campaigns for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. We measure FRET by fluorescence lifetime, rather than traditional fluorescence intensity, providing a structural readout with greater resolution and precision. This facilitates identification of compounds that cause subtle but significant conformational changes in the ensemble of oligomeric states that are easily missed using intensity-based FRET. We screened a 1280-compound small-molecule library and identified 21 compounds that changed the lifetime by >5 SD. Two of these compounds have nanomolar potency in protecting SH-SY5Y cells from αSN-induced death, providing a nearly tenfold improvement over known inhibitors. We tested the efficacy of several compounds in a primary mouse neuron assay of αSN pathology (phosphorylation of mouse αSN pre-formed fibrils) and show rescue of pathology for two of them. These hits were further characterized with biophysical and biochemical assays to explore potential mechanisms of action. In vitro αSN oligomerization, single-molecule FRET, and protein-observed fluorine NMR experiments demonstrate that these compounds modulate αSN oligomers but not monomers. Subsequent aggregation assays further show that these compounds also deter or block αSN fibril assembly.
Examining the potential benefits of the influenza vaccine against SARS-CoV-2: A retrospective cohort analysis of 74,754 patients.

Introduction Recently, several single center studies have suggested a protective effect of the influenza vaccine against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). This study utilizes a continuously updated Electronic Medical Record (EMR) network to assess the possible benefits of influenza vaccination mitigating critical adverse outcomes in SARS-CoV-2 positive patients from 56 healthcare organizations (HCOs). Methods The de-identified records of 73,346,583 patients were retrospectively screened. Two cohorts of 37,377 patients, having either received or not received influenza vaccination six months–two weeks prior to SARS-CoV-2 positive diagnosis, were created using Common Procedural Terminology (CPT) and logical observation identifiers names and codes (LOINC) codes. Adverse outcomes within 30, 60, 90, and 120 days of positive SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis were compared between cohorts. Outcomes were assessed with stringent propensity score matching including age, race, ethnicity, gender, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), obesity, heart disease, and lifestyle habits such as smoking. Results SARS-CoV-2-positive patients who received the influenza vaccine experienced decreased sepsis (p<0.01, Risk Ratio: 1.361–1.450, 95% CI:1.123–1.699, NNT:286) and stroke (p<0.02, RR: 1.451–1.580, 95% CI:1.075–2.034, NNT:625) across all time points. ICU admissions were lower in SARS-CoV-2-positive patients receiving the influenza vaccine at 30, 90, and 120 days (p<0.03, RR: 1.174–1.200, 95% CI:1.003–1.385, NNT:435), while approaching significance at 60 days (p = 0.0509, RR: 1.156, 95% CI:0.999–1.338). Patients who received the influenza vaccine experienced fewer DVTs 60–120 days after positive SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis (p<0.02, RR:1.41–1.530, 95% CI:1.082–2.076, NNT:1000) and experienced fewer emergency department (ED) visits 90–120 days post SARS-CoV-2-positive diagnosis (p<0.01, RR:1.204–1.580, 95% CI: 1.050–1.476, NNT:176). Conclusion Our analysis outlines the potential protective effect of influenza vaccination in SARS-CoV-2-positive patients against adverse outcomes within 30, 60, 90, and 120 days of a positive diagnosis. Significant findings favoring influenza vaccination mitigating the risks of sepsis, stroke, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), emergency department (ED) & Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admissions suggest a potential protective effect that could benefit populations without readily available access to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Thus further investigation with future prospective studies is warranted.
Coping styles moderate the relationship between perceived discrimination and eating behaviors during the transition to college.

Abstract The transition to college is a critical developmental window during which eating behaviors are susceptible to dysregulation. Changes in exposure to discrimination contribute to alterations in eating behaviors, which may be exacerbated or attenuated by coping styles. The present longitudinal study examines whether increases in perceived discrimination predict increases in overeating and decreases in eating well during the transition to college. We expect that adaptive coping styles will buffer against, while maladaptive coping styles will exacerbate, the effects of increases in perceived discrimination on increases in overeating and decreases in eating well. First year students (n = 804) were assessed at two time points: the spring before freshman year (Time 1) and one year later during the spring semester of freshman year (Time 2). Two distinct coping styles emerged from a factor analysis: adaptive (active coping, planning, emotional support, positive reframing, acceptance, instrumental support) and maladaptive coping (denial, venting, self-blame, self-distraction). Increases in perceived discrimination, lower adaptive coping, and higher maladaptive coping had main effects for predicting more overeating at Time 2. Among students who reported increases in perceived discrimination, higher use of adaptive coping was associated with less overeating at Time 2 while higher use of maladaptive coping was associated with more overeating. While adaptive and maladaptive coping styles had main effects on eating well, change in perceived discrimination did not. Neither adaptive nor maladaptive coping styles interacted with change in perceived discrimination to predict eating well. Findings inform a gap in the literature about the relationship between discrimination and eating behaviors from a developmental perspective by demonstrating that adaptive and maladaptive coping styles influence the effects of changes in perceived discrimination on overeating during the college transition.
Finite Difference Calculus

In this chapter we introduce the calculus of finite differences, with applications in difference equations, interpolation and extrapolation and solutions to simple difference equations. Finite difference integration methods are discussed. More complex finite difference equations are then solved by operator techniques. Finally simultaneous difference equations and nonlinear equations are solved.
A Hybrid Architecture for Situated Learning of Reactive Sequential Decision Making

In developing autonomous agents, one usually emphasizes only (situated) procedural knowledge, ignoring more explicit declarative knowledge. On the other hand, in developing symbolic reasoning models, one usually emphasizes only declarative knowledge, ignoring procedural knowledge. In contrast, we have developed a learning model CLARION, which is a hybrid connectionist model consisting of both localist and distributed representations, based on the two-level approach proposed in [40]. CLARION learns and utilizes both procedural and declarative knowledge, tapping into the synergy of the two types of processes, and enables an agent to learn in situated contexts and generalize resulting knowledge to different scenarios. It unifies connectionist, reinforcement, and symbolic learning in a synergistic way, to perform on-line, bottom-up learning. This summary paper presents one version of the architecture and some results of the experiments.
Moisture source temperatures and precipitation δ18O-temperature relationships across the United States

[1] Understanding and modeling precipitation isotope (δ 18 O and 6D) patterns for large regions of the globe requires quantifying processes governing continental-scale climatology and hydrology. In this study, we have evaluated the extent to which inclusion of monthly moisture source temperature and moisture source locations in the Rayleigh distillation model aid in reproducing the relationships between monthly time series of precipitation isotope (δ 18 O) values and temperature across the contiguous United States. The steepest isotope-temperature slopes (0.5‰-0.6‰ δ 18 O/°C) and greatest δ 18 O value correlations with temperature (r 2 = 0.5-0.8), derived from 5 continuous years of the data from the United States Network for Isotopes in Precipitation, occurred in the high altitudes of the Rocky Mountains and the upper Great Lakes region. The isotope-temperature slopes derived from the site-specific time series were consistently lower along the coastal regions of the United States as were the coefficients of determination. The low coastal isotope-temperature slopes are not easily explained by the simple Rayleigh model that uses condensation temperatures as the primary driver of precipitation isotopes. However, the Raleigh model equipped with moisture source temperatures defined by seasonal temperature oscillations and migrating moisture source locations provides a robust replication of the δ 18 O-temperature slopes along coastal regions. These findings emphasize the importance of moisture sources conditions when interpreting palaeoclimate proxies (i.e., tree rings, ice cores, etc.), and argue that moisture source dynamics should always be included in models that use isotopes as diagnostic tools in testing hydrologic models.
Modifying the Libyan fiscal regime to optimise its oil reserves and attract more foreign capital part 1: LEPSA I proposal

The current Exploration and Production Sharing Agreement IV (EPSA IV) has deficiencies that militate against increased capital investment in Libya's petroleum industry. This paper proposes an improved technique for determining the equity split called the ‘share equation’. The proposed share equation would simplify the Libyan fiscal regime and will provide an incentive for foreign oil companies to invest more during the contract period by raising their percentage share of production when they increase their capital expenditure. More capital expenditure will lead to increasing the recoverable reserves and will subsequently improve the oil recovery for individual fields and for the entire country. The share equation will change the percentage share of production automatically with any change in the oil price. It will increase the percentage share of production of the Libyan National Oil Corporation when the price goes up, and increase the percentage share of production of the foreign oil companies when the oil price goes down. Furthermore, the share equation takes into consideration the probability of success in each of the Libyan basins. The foreign oil companies will get an increased reward when deciding to take more risks by exploration in unknown basins such as the Kufra basin and Cyrenaica platform. But, the share equation will eliminate the restrictive parameters like A and B factors, base factor and R ratio in the current EPSA IV model. This proposal for modifying the Libyan fiscal oil regime aims to increase Libyan oil reserves and attract more foreign capital. By giving more flexibility to the foreign oil companies, the Libyan oil sector will get more contributions of foreign capital and technology. This will improve Libyan oil production and increase the remaining oil reserves. We call this new agreement the Libyan Exploration and Production Sharing Agreement I.
On the Flow at the Rear of a Two-Dimensional Supersonic Airfoil with Thickness

This result greatly complicates the general solution of Eq. (5). The approach adopted here assumes that the convection terms are small in comparison to the conduction term for points sufficiently far downstream. This leads to a simple solution for 0, which in turn is used to justify the given assumption a posteriori. Neglecting convection terms, Eq. (5) becomes an ordinary differential equation,
Characterization of a neopullulanase and an alpha-glucosidase from Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron 95-1.

Abstract Previously, we constructed a gene disruption in the pullulanase I gene of Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron 5482A. This mutant, designated B. thetaiotaomicron 95-1, had a lower level of pullulanase specific activity than did wild-type B. thetaiotaomicron but still exhibited a substantial amount of pullulanase activity. Characterization of the remaining pullulanase activity present in B. thetaiotaomicron 95-1 has identified an alpha(1----4)-D-glucosidic bond cleaving pullulanase which has been tentatively designated a neopullulanase. The neopullulanase (pullulanase II) is a 70-kDa soluble protein which cleaves alpha(1----4)-D-glucosidic bonds in pullulan to produce panose. The neopullulanase also cleaved alpha(1----4) bonds in amylose and in oligosaccharides of maltotriose through maltoheptaose in chain length. An alpha-glucosidase from B. thetaiotaomicron 95-1 was characterized. The alpha-glucosidase was partially purified to a preparation containing three proteins of 80, 57, and 50 kDa. Pullulan and amylose were not hydrolyzed by the alpha-glucosidase. alpha(1----4)-D-Glucosidic oligosaccharides from maltose to maltoheptaose were hydrolyzed to glucose by the alpha-glucosidase. The alpha-glucosidase also hydrolyzed alpha(1----6)-linked oligosaccharides such as panose (the product of the pullulanase II action on pullulan) and isomaltotriose.
Globally hypoelliptic systems of vector fields on nilmanifolds

Abstract We show that a system L of real vector fields on a general compact nilmanifold Γ ⧹; N induced by the Lie algebra N of N is globally hypoelliptic (GH) iff (1∘) The symbols of the vector fields of L projected onto the associated torus T = Γ [ N , N ]⧹ N as functions on the integral lattice T collectively decrease at infinity not faster than a reciprocal of a polynomial and (2∘) the Lie subalgebra of N that L generates is not annihilated by any non-zero integral linear functional on any N j N j + 1 , j=0, 1,…, (N j + 1 = [ N , N j ], N o = N) . It follows that (GH) is equivalent to injectivity of the system L on the dual on the space of C ∞ -vectors of all the non-trivial representations in the spectrum of Γ ⧹ N (a “Rockland type” condition) plus a number-theoretic condition on L on the associated torus (to avoid “small divisors”).
Identity, Sustainability, and Local Setting at U.S. Botanical Gardens:

In the last decade, an increasing number of U.S. botanical gardens have adopted the concept of “sustainability” as an explicit element of their missions and practices. By reducing water, energy, an...
Some properties of 2-threshold graphs

A 2-threshold graph is defined to be the edge-union of two threshold graphs. We prove that all chordless cycles of size at least 5 and their complements are forbidden for 2-threshold graphs. We also obtain a sufficient condition for a 2-threshold graph to be a comparability graph. Finally, we show that 2-threshold graphs can have at most three cutpoints and obtain efficient algorithms to recognize, decompose and obtain a maximum stable set of 2-threshold graphs with exactly three cutpoints.
Introduction to Corrosion in Energy Production

In some cases, during the production of energy, the environments are very harsh; for example, in the nuclear sector, the materials are in contact with high-temperature coolants under irradiation. In the fossil sector, some hydrocarbons, such as natural gas, have to be obtained from deep wells that are sour and hot. In other sectors, such as in the case of the renewable energy sector, corrosion issues seem to be less pervasive or central to the issue of power quid fossil fuels represents 36% of the total energy consumed in the United States; 71% of the liquid hydrocarbons are used for transportation purposes, which represents 93% of all the energy used for transportation (Fig. 2). Only 1% of liquid fuel is used to generate 1% of the electricity. On the con- trary, 91% of the coal is used to generate 46% of electricity, and 31% of the natural gas is used to generate 20% of electric power. Finally, 100% of the nuclear energy is applied to generating electric power, representing approximately 20% of the electricity in the United States (Fig. 2). The subject of corrosion during the process of generation of electricity will be discussed in the four articles presented in this topic. The first article, ''High-Temperature Corrosion in Fossil Fuel Power Generation: Present and Future,'' by Bruce Pint from Oak Ridge National Laboratory, discusses the corrosion issues encountered in the generation of power using coal and natural gas. Dr. Pint discusses the use of coal and natural gas today and a predic- tion for the near future. In the United States, the use of coal is decreasing, whereas the use of natural gas is constantly increasing. One major problem about the evaluation of materials to be used, for example, in coal-fired plants is that the environ- ments in the field are very difficult to reproduce in the laboratory, both from the fireside and the steam side in the plants. The second article, ''Corrosion in the Oil and Gas Industry: An Increasing Challenge for Materials,'' by Teresa Perez from Tenaris-Siderca, explores the behavior of materials (mainly steels) to environ- mental degradation during the production of oil and gas. Much has been learned through more than 60 years of research evaluating the behavior of steels in both sweet (environment controlled by
A Comparison of Shear- and Buoyancy-Driven Planetary Boundary Layer Flows

Abstract Planetary boundary layer (PBL) flows are known to exhibit fundamental differences depending on the relative combination of wind shear and buoyancy forces. These differences are not unexpected in that shear instabilities occur locally, while buoyancy force sets up vigorous thermals, which result in nonlocal transport of heat and momentum. At the same time, these two forces can act together to modify the flow field. In this study, four large-eddy simulations (LESs) spanning the shear and buoyancy flow regimes were generated; two correspond to the extreme cases of shear and buoyancy-driven PBLs, while the other two represent intermediate PBLs where both forces are important. The extreme cases are used to highlight and quantify the basic differences between shear and convective PBLs in 1) flow structures, 2) overall statistics, and 3) turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) budget distributions. Results from the two intermediate LES cases are used to develop and verify a velocity scaling and a TKE budget mode...
Opioid induction of immunoreactive interleukin-1 in Mytilus edulis and human immunocytes: an interleukin-1-like substance in invertebrate neural tissue

Abstract The synthetic analog of methionine enkephalin, [ d -Ala 2 -Met 5 ]-enkephalin, when administered in vitro to Mytilus edulis ganglia and hemocytes and human peripheral blood lymphocytes, induces the formation of an immunoreactive interleukin-1-like molecule. Additionally, immunoreactive interleukin-1 (IL-1) activity has been found in Mytilus nervous tissue. The stimulatory actions of the extracted immunoreactive IL-1 on Mytilus hemocytes can be antagonized by an IL-1 antibody demonstrating the specificity of the substance. The evidence suggests that the nervous system, via an opioid-IL-1 relationship, can communicate with the immune/defense system through these similar signal molecules. Furthermore, the results indicate that an interleukin-like molecule must have evolved earlier than previously thought.
EVALUATION OF OCTYLCYANOACRYLATE FOR WOUND REPAIR OF CLINICAL CIRCUMCISION AND HUMAN SKIN INCISIONAL HEALING IN A NUDE RAT MODEL

Purpose: Alternative methods of circumcision wound closure have been studied to decrease repair time and complications, and improve cosmesis. This study includes a clinical and a laboratory research portion. Clinical parameters, wound outcome, closure time and operative time were compared for octylcyanoacrylate and suture approximation of circumcision incisions. An in vivo incisional model using human foreskin was used to compare the wound breaking strength of octylcyanoacrylate and suture repair.Materials and Methods: Circumcision incisions were closed with suture or octylcyanoacrylate. Wound closure time and operating room time were recorded. Patients were evaluated 1 and 12 weeks postoperatively. Foreskin samples from another group of patients were engrafted to an immunodeficient rat and allowed to heal. Incisions were made in the human skin and the wounds were repaired with sutures or octylcyanoacrylate. After 7 days breaking stress was tested and healing was evaluated by histological testing.Results:...
Paralytic ileus requiring hospitalization secondary to high-dose antipsychotic polypharmacy and benztropine

Ileus can result from the combined activity of antipsychotic and anticholinergic medications. Despite frequent use, case reports in the literature are sparse. We present a patient who developed a paralytic ileus requiring extended hospitalization. Providers should minimize antipsychotic and concurrent anticholinergic medications, consider prophylactic bowel regimens and monitor for constipation.
Teratocarcinomas rarely develop from embryos transplanted into athymic mice

SEVEN-DAY-OLD mouse embryos transplanted to extra-uterine sites give rise to tumours that have been classified as either benign teratomas or malignant teratocarcinomas1. The ratio of teratomas to teratocarcinomas varies from one mouse strain to another, suggesting the existence of teratocarcinoma-permissive and nonpermissive strains2. Control of teratocarcinogenesis in this tumour system resides in the adult recipient of the embryonic graft and might involve the immune response. We report here that we have tested the hypothesis that the absence of cell-mediated immunity enhances the growth of transplanted embryos and facilitates the development of teratocarcinoma. Contrary to our expectations, our data indicate that embryos grafted into recipients with partial or total deficiency of cell-mediated immunity grow poorly and develop almost exclusively into benign teratomas.
Effects of calcium on the electrocardiogram.

Effects of calcium on myocardial cells were investigated in the in situ canine heart. Ninety-three experiments were performed on 28 anesthetized dogs. Solutions of high or low calcium concentrations were perfused into the coronary artery through an artificial coronary circuit. Surface and intracellular electrograms were simultaneously recorded. The most prominent effect of low calcium was the prolongation of the membrane action potential duration. The most prominent effects of high calcium were a shortening or disappearance of phase 2 and a decrease in the amplitude of phase 2. The mechanism of S-T segment elevation is discussed in association with these findings. These observations show that true S-T segment elevation can be caused by the faster repolarization of cardiac muscle cells in the injured area.
Experimental study of plane turbulent wakes in a shallow water layer

Shallow two-dimensional turbulent wake flows have been studied experimentally on a large water table. In the experiments, the ambient Reynolds number Reh = UaH/ν, in which Ua is the depth-averaged ambient velocity, H the water depth, and ν the kinematic viscosity, is large, well above a lower critical value of the order of 500 for open-channel flows so that the ambient base flow is fully turbulent. Different types of blunt bodies extending over the full depth are inserted in that base flow, including cylinders and flat solid and porous plates oriented transversely to the ambient flow. In all cases, the transverse body dimension D greatly exceeds the water depthy, D/H 1. With that condition, the wake Reynolds number Red = UaD/ν is very large, greater than 104. The shallow near-wake characteristics of plane wakes from blunt bodies extending over the full water depth have been found to fall into one of three classes: (i) the vortex street (VS) type with an oscillating vortex shedding mechanism, (ii) the unsteady bubble (UB) wake type with flow instabilities growing downstream of a recirculating bubble attached to the body, and (iii) the steady bubble (SB) wake type with an attached bubble followed by a turbulent wake that contains no growing instabilities. When Reh > 1500, the flow classification is uniquely dependent on a shallow wake parameter, S = cfD/H in which cf is a quadratic law friction coefficient. For circular cylindrical bodies the VS-UB transition is characterized by a critical value, Sca ≈ 0.2, and the UB-SB transition by Scc ≈ 0.5. Solid plates, oriented transversely, differ by a factor of 1.25.The shallow far-wake behavior has been investigated with a special variable porosity wake device that reduces the wake velocity deficit and completely suppresses the VS instabilities in the near-field. Thus, only UB and SB wake types are found in that case. Furthermore, the shallow plane wake is obsserved to "stabilize" for large downstream distances, x/H, in the sense that the growth and maintenance of the large scale structures in the wake flow become suppressed and the wake collapses into a more ordered flow that, however, still contains small scale (of scale H) turbulence. This wake stabilization is controlled by two factors: first, the usual evolution in a turbulent wake that reduces the velocity deficit while increasing the wake parameter S, and secondly, the exponential loss of the momentum deficit flux in the wake due to bottom friction.