cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Selective pulmonary vasodilation by inhaled nitric oxide is due to hemoglobin inactivation.

BACKGROUND Inhaled nitric oxide gas selectively decreases pulmonary artery pressure without affecting systemic arterial pressure. To determine if the selective pulmonary vasodilating effect of inhaled nitric oxide gas is due to inactivation by hemoglobin, we studied the ability of whole blood to inhibit the vasodilator activity of effluent from isolated lungs exposed to inhaled nitric oxide. METHODS AND RESULTS The effluent from ventilated, Krebs-perfused rabbit lungs was passed directly over 3- to 4-mm rabbit aortic rings. Inhaled nitric oxide (150 ppm for 3 minutes) reduced pulmonary perfusion pressure, elevated by a continuous infusion of U46619, by 35 +/- 7% (mean +/- SEM, n = 5). Lung effluent from this series of experiments caused 40 +/- 13% relaxation of phenylephrine-preconstricted aortic rings. When blood was added to the combined lung/ring perfusion cascade (final hemoglobin concentration, 1 g/dL), inhaled nitric oxide again significantly reduced pulmonary perfusion pressure, but the effluent now failed to relax the aortic rings (30 +/- 6% [control] versus 1.5 +/- 1% [blood]). Both reduction in pulmonary perfusion pressure and relaxation of the rings during nitric oxide exposure were unchanged from control values after discontinuing the blood infusion. CONCLUSIONS The presence of hemoglobin, even in extremely small amounts, restricts the vasodilating effect of inhaled nitric oxide gas to the pulmonary circulation.
Charged current compositeness effects at HERA

I study the effects of compositeness at HERA in charged current interactions. First, I demonstrate that the charged current interaction can be used to probe compositeness to a somewhat higher energy scale than can the neutral current interaction by using a simple form factor modification of the vector boson propagator. I then consider several modifications of the standard model charged current structure by the addition of effective fourpoint interactions with various Lorentz transformation properties. The result of the calculation is that HERA can detect compositeness, if the compositeness scale is less than about 3 TeV-7 TeV depending on the form of the contact interaction.
Charge-Rich Regions Modulate the Anti-Aggregation Activity of Hsp90

Protein aggregation can have dramatic effects on cellular function and plays a causative role in many human diseases. In all cells, molecular chaperones bind to aggregation-prone proteins and hinder aggregation. The ability of a protein to resist aggregation and remain soluble in aqueous solution is linked to the physical properties of the protein. Numerous physical studies demonstrate that charged atoms favor solubility. We note that many molecular chaperones possess a substantial negative charge that may allow them to impart solubility on aggregation-prone proteins. Hsp90 is one such negatively charged molecular chaperone. The charge on Hsp90 is largely concentrated in two highly acidic regions. To investigate the relationship between chaperone charge and protein solubility, we deleted these charge-rich regions and analyzed the resulting Hsp90 constructs for anti-aggregation activity. We found that deletion of both charge-rich regions dramatically impaired Hsp90 anti-aggregation activity. The anti-aggregation role of the deleted charge-rich regions could be due to net charge or sequence-specific features. To distinguish these possibilities, we attached an acid-rich region with a distinct amino acid sequence to our double-deleted Hsp90 construct. This charge rescue construct displayed effective anti-aggregation activity indicating that the net charge of Hsp90 contributes to its anti-aggregation activity.
1354 ADAPTATION OF BRAIN BLOOD FLOW (BBF) TO PROLONGED HYPERCARBIA (PHC) IN THE NEWBORN PIGLET (P)

In adult animals, hypercarbia-induced cerebral hyperemia may recede to normal, possibly because of the modulating effect of normalization of brain tissue pH (BtpH). Furthermore, if BtpH normalizes during PHC, a further reduction in BBF (below baseline (B)) may occur during the recovery (normocarbia, (NC)) phase. To test these hypotheses, 7 awake P's were exposed to PHC (PaCO2 60-70) for 4 hrs. followed by 3/4 hr. of NC. BBF (microsphere method, ml·min−1 100g−1), BtpH (Roche glass electrode) and blood gases were measured during B, ½, 2 & 4 hrs. of PHC and ¼ & 3/4 hrs. during the NC recovery phase. Results appear below (M±SD): BBF increased significantly during PHC; at 4 hrs. of PHC a slight reduction of BBF was observed when compared to the ½ hr. PHC value. BtpH was significantly reduced throughout PHC. During NC, BBF and BtpH were similar to B values. We conclude that in newborn P, the PHC results in persistent cerebral hyperperfusion resulting from a lack of BtpH normalization.
A comparison of consensus and nonconsensus approaches to modeling contraceptive choice behavior.

This paper develops a more general model of contraceptive choice taking into account a fundamental difference between the condom and the contraceptive pill the two most commonly used reversible contraceptives in the US. The pill produces a single output of pregnancy prevention but the condom is an input into a joint production for both pregnancy prevention and disease protection. Since the condom is ultimately used by the male and the pill by the female noncooperative game theory is used to model the separate male and female utility functions. Using both Stackelberg and Nash as solution concepts econometric specifications are derived and the models are compared with the specifications derived from a consensus model of the household. Simultaneous-move Nash best describes the behavior of unmarried and noncohabiting sexual partners and female-leader Stackelberg outperforms the other models for married or cohabiting couples. (authors)
Novel method for quantifying radiation-induced single-strand-break yields in plasmid DNA highlights 10-fold discrepancy.

Abstract The widely used agarose gel electrophoresis method for assessing radiation-induced single-strand-break (SSB) yield in plasmid DNA involves measurement of the fraction of relaxed-circular (C) form that migrates independently from the intact supercoiled (SC) form. We rationalized that this method may underestimate the SSB yield since the position of the relaxed-circular form is not altered when the number of SSB per DNA molecule is >1. To overcome this limitation, we have developed a novel method that directly probes and quantifies SSBs. Supercoiled 3 H-pUC19 plasmid samples were irradiated with γ-rays, alkali-denatured, dephosphorylated, and kinated with γ-[ 32 P]ATP, and the DNA-incorporated 32 P activities were used to quantify the SSB yields per DNA molecule, employing a standard curve generated using DNA molecules containing a known number of SSBs. The same irradiated samples were analyzed by agarose gel and SSB yields were determined by conventional methods. Comparison of the data demonstrated that the mean SSB yield per plasmid DNA molecule of [21.2 ± 0.59] × 10 −2 Gy −1 as measured by direct probing is ∼10-fold higher than that obtained from conventional gel-based methods. These findings imply that the SSB yields inferred from agarose gels need reevaluation, especially when they were utilized in the determination of radiation risk.
Microstructure and Mechanics of Collagen-Fibrin Matrices Polymerized Using Ancrod Snake Venom Enzyme

The relationship between microstructural features and macroscopic mechanical properties of engineered tissues was investigated in pure and mixed composite scaffolds consisting of collagen Type I and fibrin proteins containing embedded smooth muscle cells. In order to vary the matrix microstructure, fibrin polymerization in mixed constructs was initiated using either the blood-derived enzyme thrombin or the snake venom-derived enzyme ancrod, each at low and high concentrations. Microstructural features of the matrix were quantified by analysis of high resolution scanning electron micrographs. Mechanical properties of the scaffolds were assessed by uniaxial tensile testing as well as creep testing. Viscoelastic parameters were determined by fitting creep data to Burger's four-parameter model. Oscillatory dynamic mechanical testing was used to determine the storage modulus, loss modulus, and phase shift of each matrix type. Mixed composite scaffolds exhibited improved tensile stiffness and strength, relative to pure collagen matrices, as well as decreased deformation and slower relaxation in creep tests. Storage and loss moduli were increased in mixed composites compared with pure collagen, while phase shift was reduced. A correlation analysis showed that the number of fiber bundles per unit volume was positively correlated with matrix modulus, strength, and dynamic moduli, though this parameter was negatively correlated with phase shift. Fiber diameter also was negatively correlated with scaffold strength. This study demonstrates how microstructural features can be related to the mechanical function of protein matrices and provides insight into structure-function relationships in such materials. This information can be used to identify and promote desirable microstructural features when designing biomaterials and engineered tissues.
The Preferred Teacher: A Content Analysis of Young Adolescents' Writings

Middle school students described preferred teachers in terms not unlike those used by Carl Rogers in his depiction of the client centered therapist or the person centered teacher. A characterization of the preferred or ideal teacher was derived from a content analysis of 1,305 students' statements. The young adolescents, ages 12 to 14 years, represented the preferred teacher as good-humored and non-threatening ("nice' was the most frequently used term); easy to talk to, willing to listen to his or her students (communicates well); as being fair, showing neither prejudice nor favoritism (accepting); and as respecting student needs, as providing a caring supportive atmosphere in the classroom (empathic support). Some gender differences were found: boys showed a stronger preference for male teachers than girls and girls' statements tended to be 50 percent longer than boys.
Embedded electronics for a 64-channel wireless brain implant

The Telemetric Electrode Array System (TEAS) is a surgically implantable device for the study of neural activity in the brain. An 8x8 array of electrodes collects intra-cortical neural signals and connects them to an analog front end. The front end amplifies and digitizes these microvolt-level signals with 12 bits of resolution and at 31KHz per channel. Peak detection is used to extract the information carrying features of these signals, which are transmitted over a Bluetooth-based radio link at 725 Kbit/sec. The electrode array is made up of 1mm tall, 60-micron square electrodes spaced 500 microns tip-to-tip. A flex circuit connector provides mechanical isolation between the brain and the electronics, which are mounted to the cranium. Power consumption and management is a critical aspect of the design. The entire system must operate off a surgically implantable battery. With this power source, the system must provide the functionality of a wireless, 64-channel oscilloscope for several hours. The system also provides a low-power sleep mode during which the battery can be inductively charged. Power dissipation and biocompatibility issues also affect the design of the electronics for the probe. The electronics system must fit between the skull and the skin of the test subject. Thus, circuit miniaturization and microassembly techniques are essential to construct the probe's electronics.
Removal of a mirror image and enhancement of the signal-to-noise ratio in Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography using an electro-optic phase modulator

A novel swept-laser-based Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography system using an electro-optic phase modulator was demonstrated. The imaging range was doubled by cancellation of the mirror image. The elimination of low-frequency noises resulting from dc and autocorrelation terms increased the sensitivity by 20 dB.
GABAA and GABAB antagonists differentially affect the firing pattern of substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons in vivo

The effects of local pressure application of the selective GABAA antago- nists, bicuculline, gabazine, and picrotoxin, and the selective GABAB antagonists, 2-OH-saclofen and CGP-55845A, on the spontaneous activity of electrophysiologically identified substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons were recorded in vivo in urethane anesthetized rats. Blockade of GABAA inputs by bicuculline powerfully and reversibly induced burst firing in dopaminergic neurons along with a modest (25%) increase in firing rate, but the increase in burst firing was not correlated with the increase in firing rate. Picrotoxin and gabazine also produced an increase in burst firing without an increase in firing rate. In contrast, local application of GABAB antagonists did not produce bursting but rather caused a modest shift to a more regular firing pattern in 50% of the cases. These data demonstrate that dopaminergic neurons in vivo are under tonic GABAergic inhibition mediated by GABAA receptors and suggest that GABAergic afferents to substantia nigra comprise a major pathway by which the firing pattern of dopaminergic neurons is controlled in vivo. Synapse 32:165-177, 1999. r 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Characterization of interdigitated electrode piezoelectric fiber composites under high electrical and mechanical loading

The primary objective of this work is to develop a standard methodology for characterizing structural actuation systems intended for operation in high electrical and mechanical loading environments. The designed set of tests evaluates the performance of the active materials system under realistic operating conditions. The tests are also used to characterize piezoelectric fiber composites which have been developed as an alternative to monolithic piezoceramic wafers for structural actuation applications. The performance of this actuator system has been improved using an interdigitated electrode pattern, which orients the primary component of the electric field into the plane of the structure, enabling the use of the primary piezoelectric effect along the active fibers. One possible application of this technology is in the integral twist actuation of helicopter rotor blades for higher harmonic control. This application requires actuators which can withstand the harsh rotor blade operating environment. This includes large numbers of electrical and mechanical cycles with considerable centripetal and bending loads. The characterization tests include standard active material tests as well as application-driven tests which evaluate the performance of the actuators during simulated operation. Test results for several actuator configurations are provided, including S2 glass- reinforced and E-glass laminated actuators. The study concludes that the interdigitated electrode piezoelectric fiber composite actuator has great potential for high loading applications.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Using Technology to Enhance Adult Learning in the Counselor Education Classroom.

The authors present a study that used a conceptual framework of adult learning and differentiated learning styles with graduate students in a counselor education classroom. Students in a hybrid course had higher midterm, group proposal, and posttest scores than did students in a face-to-face course taught by the same professor.
NVP: Non-uniform voltage and pulse width settings for power efficient hybrid STT-RAM

As technology scales down, the leakage power of SRAM based cache becomes a more critical source of power dissipation, particularly for large last level cache where leakage power is dominant. The emerging non-volatile spin transfer torque RAM (STT-RAM) is a candidate to substitute SRAM due to its low leakage power and high thermal stability. However, considerable high energy and long latency of write operations in STT-RAMs are barriers to their commercial adoption. To address this problem, we propose a hybrid non-uniform cache architecture (NUCA) by combining SRAMs and STT-RAMs with different operating voltage/pulse width settings. Operating at low voltage increases the probability of failure. To alleviate this, we propose a technique that reduces STT-RAM write access energy by lowering voltage while ensures correctness by either retrying the failed writes or increasing effective pulse width. Simulation results indicate overall 20–30% power gain for various workloads in hybrid cache architecture. This comes with less than 2% performance loss.
Numerical investigation of gain in transition to ground state of LiIII ions and potential of using a Raman amplified pulse as a pump

We present a numerical investigation of the parameters characterizing the recombination gain in the LiIII 2→1 transition (13.5nm). The numerical model includes the initial Optical Field Ionization (OFI) of the plasma by an intense 100fs laser pulse, taking into account ATI heating, particle collisions and spatial effects. Gain is then calculated during the process of recombination as the plasma expands and cools down. We characterize the behavior of the gain under different pumping parameters and initial plasma conditions. In addition we present the latest experimental results on Raman amplification of ultrashort pulses in the pursuit for a better and more compact scheme to enable a ``table-top'' x-ray laser.
Development of object permanence in the New Zealand parakeet (Cyanoramphus auriceps).

Eleven young kakarikis (Cyanoramphus auriceps) were tested on 15 object-permanence tasks in a standardized scale that has been used to assess the development of human infants, some nonhuman primates, and other mammals. The birds successfully completed all tasks in this scale, and many aspects of their testing were similar to human results, such as evidencing the A-not-B error. However, the birds differed slightly but significantly from human subjects in that some of the “invisible displacements” of the later tasks were performed before the earlier visible displacement tasks. These results may relate to common ecological activities of this species. Six of the birds were parent-raised; 5 were hand-raised. The hand-raised birds achieved criteria more quickly than did the parent-raised birds possibly because the former were more accustomed to the investigator and less distractible in the test situation.
Internationalizing knowledge construction and dissemination

The article presents the author's views and reflections regarding the status and trends of applied linguistics scholarship as of the Winter of 2010, drawing on his personal experiences as an editor of a research journal. Particularly addressed is the question of the role of globalization in knowledge construction and information dissemination in linguistic research. Calls for more access and diversity are then issued.
Dust devils in the laboratory: Effect of surface roughness on vortex dynamics

[1] Experiments simulating vortex interactions with rough surfaces were conducted at Earth ambient and Mars analog atmospheric conditions. Pressure profiles were obtained to assess the effect of nonerodible roughness elements on vortex structure at the surface. As roughness increased, vortex size increased and tangential velocity decreased. Particle threshold experimental results suggested that small increases in surface roughness enabled reduced threshold velocities to lift fine particles (<100μm) from the surface. This “optimal roughness” or the amount of roughness necessary for enhancing sediment transport from the surface, could allow weaker dust devils to lift more material from the surface than otherwise possible. Sediment flux was calculated for different sediment sizes and densities to determine how surface roughness affects the lifting potential by dust devils. Sediment fluxes were similar to previous studies with bulk averages ranging from 10−5 to 1 kg m−2 s−1, but they could be subdivided based on roughness. The results showed that for the low roughness case (λ ≈ 0.03), fluxes were at a maximum ranging from 10−3 to 1 kg m−2 s−1 compared to two rougher surfaces (λ ≈ 0.11 and 0.23). For the lowest roughness density the airflow around the elements is enhanced, whereas the higher roughness values showed more loss of energy to the surface, impeding sediment transport similar to boundary layer studies examining roughness effects on sediment transport.
A note on the compression of the Earth's magnetic field and hypothetically related phenomena

The magnetic field of the earth is assumed compressed by an incident stream of ionized particles from the sun. A time-dependent magnetic and electric field is propagated as part of this interaction. A simplified model, a mirror dipole moving in space but of constant magnetic moment, is chosen to calculate the manner in which this electric field will compress and possibly accelerate ions already trapped in the earth's magnetosphere. This model would tend to dump radiation from the terrestrial belts into the atmosphere. For geometrical reasons the effects might be most pronounced in early morning and late evening.
Comparing discrete distributions when the sample space is small

This paper describes two new methods for comparing two independent, discrete distri¬butions, when the sample space is small, using an extension of the Storer–Kim method for comparing independent binomials. These methods are relevant, for example, when compar¬ing groups based on a Likert scale, which was the motivation for the paper. In essence, the goal is to test the hypothesis that the cell probabilities associated with two independent multinomial distributions are equal. Both a global test and a multiple comparison procedure are proposed. The small-sample properties of both methods are compared to four other techniques via simulations: Cliff’s generalization of the Wilcoxon–Mann–Whitney test that effectively deals with heteroscedasticity and tied values, Yuen’s test based on trimmed means, Welch’s test and Student’s t test. For the simulations, data were generated from beta-binomial distributions. Both symmetric and skewed distributions were used. The sample space consisted of the integers 0(1)4 or 0(1)10. For the global test that is proposed, when testing at the 0.05 level, simulation estimates of the actual Type I error probability ranged between 0.043 and 0.059. For the new multiple comparison procedure, the estimated family wise error rate ranged between 0.031 and 0.054 for the sample space 0(1)4. But for 0(1)10, the estimates dropped as low as 0.016 in some situations. Given the goal of comparing means, Student’s t is well known to have practical problems when distri-butions differ. Similar problems are found here among the situations considered. No single method dominates in terms of power, as would be expected, because different methods are sensitive to different features of the distributions being compared. But in general, one of the new methods tends to have relatively good power based on both simulations and experience with data from actual studies. If, however, there is explicit interest in comparing means, rather than comparing the cell probabilities, Welch’s test was found to perform well. The new methods are illustrated using data from the Well-Elderly Study where the goal is to compare groups in terms of depression and the strategies used for dealing with stress.
Optical Properties of Potassium for Photons of Energy 3.96 to 9.69 eV

The refractive index of potassium has been measured by the critical-angle method for photon energies from 3.96 to 9.69 eV. The potassium films were deposited on the flat surface of a quartz or calcium fluoride semicylinder so that, viewed through the semicylinder, the potassium surface in contact with the substrate is uncontaminated by oxidation. The geometry used facilitated the calculation of the refractive index from the observed reflectance as a function of angle of incidence. These data have been interpreted in terms of a nearly-free-electron model with a volume plasma energy of 3.72±0.05, an optical effective mass of 1.06±0.03, and an ion-core polarization of 0.20±0.03.
Superconducting-transition temperatures of rare-earth rhodium boride compounds, RRh4B4

It is shown that the superconducting-transition temperatures for all R${\mathrm{Rh}}_{4}$${\mathrm{B}}_{4}$ compounds, where R is a rare-earth (RE) element, can be combined and analyzed in a systematic way. The analysis utilizes an Abrikosov-Gorkov--type expression for pair breaking, with modifications for crystalline electric fields and changes of ${T}_{c}$ due to nonmagnetic effects, to describe ${T}_{c}$ values in concentrated systems, dilute alloys, and pseudoternary mixtures. As a result, it is seen that the exchange coupling parameter, N(0)${\mathrm{scrJ}}^{2}$, is larger for light RE than for heavy RE, with the increase being very large near the beginning of the rare-earth series. In view of a very similar effect in the R${\mathrm{Al}}_{2}$ system, it is suggested such a variation is common to RE systems.
Space and time variability of temperature in the upper ocean

Abstract Five flights were made during a three-week period in the spring of 1968 over an area of side 200 km in the Ionian Sea. Observations were made of the surface temperature employing an infra-red radiometer, and calibration checks and environmental corrections ensured high quality data. Comparison with ship records shows the radiometer measurements had an accuracy of ±0·2°C. A detailed hydrographic survey of the region was made concurrently with the aircraft programme and the connection between surface flow and the temperature field established from maps produced by objective analysis. Regions of surface currents were revealed by horizontal variability in temperature and marked by advective events; stagnant regions showed horizontal uniformity of temperature and steady seasonal warming. A statistical analysis was made of the temperature data and over the range of scales 3–100 km the density of temperature variance E T ( k ) was shown to obey a law E T ( k ) ∼ k − p , where k is the wave-number and p = 2·2 ± 0·1. This power law does not fit any proposed model of geophysical turbulence. The persistence or lifetime of temperature features at a fixed geographical location was estimated from computations of coherence and filtered correlation; persistence was found to increase with scale having values of 2–5 days at 25 km, 4–12 days at 50 km, and 8–16 days at 100 km. These measurements, though demonstrating remarkable longevity, do not represent the evolutionary lifetime of the temperature field in the upper ocean but do determine a lower bound. Rather the lifetimes arise from the advection of temperature in the mean flow. The need for new observational data from the upper ocean and new theoretical models is indicated.
Does obesity affect early outcome of rotator cuff repair

Background Obesity is linked to major health conditions and poor surgical outcomes. The impact of obesity on self-perceived outcome after rotator cuff repair (RCR) is unclear. Materials and methods We studied 154 patients who underwent RCR. Obesity was considered a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30. Preoperative and postoperative evaluations included the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH), Simple Shoulder Test, and visual analog scales for pain, function, and quality of life. Obese and control patients were compared for baseline demographics, surgical findings, and postoperative outcomes. Results Our overall population had a mean BMI of 28.4 (95% confidence interval, 27.7-29.1). There were 57 obese patients (BMI >30) and 97 nonobese patients with 1- or 2-tendon rotator cuff tears. Mean follow-up was 54.8 weeks (range, 52.0-88.7 weeks). Preoperative DASH score was 45.2 for obese patients and 43.4 for control patients (P = .524). The mean improvement in DASH score was 30.7 for obese patients and 26.1 for nonobese patients (P = .152). There were no significant differences in the Simple Shoulder Test and visual analog scale scores. Worse follow-up DASH scores in both groups were associated with worker's compensation status (P = .003) and total comorbidities (P < .001). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that BMI (continuous) and obesity (dichotomous) were not significantly related to outcome after we controlled for confounding variables. Conclusions Although obesity is considered a risk factor for poor postoperative outcomes after some surgical procedures, in our experience, obesity does not have an independent, significant effect on self-reported early outcomes after RCR.
The Impact of Ground-Based Glaciogenic Seeding on Orographic Clouds and Precipitation: A Multisensor Case Study

AbstractA case study is presented from the 2012 AgI Seeding Cloud Impact Investigation, an experiment conducted over the Sierra Madre in southern Wyoming to study the impact of ground-based glaciogenic seeding on precipitation. In this case, on 21 February, the temperature in the turbulent boundary layer above cloud base in the target region was just below −8°C, the target orographic clouds contained liquid water, and the storm was rather steady during the measurement period, consisting of an untreated period, followed by a treated period. Eight silver iodide (AgI) generators were used, located on the windward mountain slope. This study is unprecedented in its diversity of radar systems, which included the W-band (3 mm) profiling Wyoming Cloud Radar (WCR), a pair of Ka-band (1 cm) profiling Micro Rain Radars (MRRs), and an X-band (3 cm) scanning Doppler-on-Wheels (DOW) radar. The WCR was on board a research aircraft flying geographically fixed tracks, the DOW was located on the main mountain pass in the t...
Satellite imagery characterizes local animal reservoir populations of Sin Nombre virus in the southwestern United States

The relationship between the risk of hantaviral pulmonary syndrome (HPS), as estimated from satellite imagery, and local rodent populations was examined. HPS risk, predicted before rodent sampling, was highly associated with the abundance of Peromyscus maniculatus, the reservoir of Sin Nombre virus (SNV). P. maniculatus were common in high-risk sites, and populations in high-risk areas were skewed toward adult males, the subclass most frequently infected with SNV. In the year after an El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO), captures of P. maniculatus increased only in high-risk areas. During 1998, few sites had infected mice, but by 1999, 18/20 of the high-risk sites contained infected mice and the crude prevalence was 30.8%. Only 1/18 of the low-risk sites contained infected rodents, and the prevalence of infection was lower (8.3%). Satellite imagery identified environmental features associated with SNV transmission within its reservoir population, but at least 2 years of high-risk conditions were needed for SNV to reach high prevalence. Areas with persistently high-risk environmental conditions may serve as refugia for the survival of SNV in local mouse populations.
Deletion and Site-directed Mutagenesis of the ATP-binding Motif (P-loop) in the Bifunctional Murine Atp-Sulfurylase/Adenosine 5′-Phosphosulfate Kinase Enzyme *

The P-loop is a common motif found in ATP- and GTP-binding proteins. The recently cloned murine ATP-sulfurylase/adenosine 5′-phosphosulfate (APS) kinase contains a P-loop (residues 59–66) in the APS kinase portion of the bifunctional protein. A series of enzymatic assays covering the multiplicity of functions of this unique protein (reverse ATP-sulfurylase, APS kinase, and an overall assay) were used to determine the effect of deleting or altering specific residues constituting this motif. In addition to the full-length cDNA construct (1MSK), two deletion mutants that progressively shortened the N terminus by 34 amino acids (2MSK) and 70 amino acids (3MSK) were designed to examine the effects of translation initiation before (2MSK) and after (3MSK) the P-loop. The 2MSK protein possessed sulfurylase and kinase activity equivalent to the full-length construct, but 3MSK exhibited no kinase activity and reduced sulfurylase activity. In light of the evident importance of this motif, a number of site-directed mutants were designed to investigate the contribution of key residues. Mutation of a highly conserved lysine in the P-loop to alanine (K65A) or arginine (K65R) or the following threonine (T66A) to alanine ablated APS kinase activity while leaving ATP-sulfurylase activity intact. Three mutations (G59A, G62A, and G64A) addressed the role of the conserved glycines as follows: G64A showed diminished APS kinase activity only, whereas G62A had no effect on either activity. G59A caused a significant decrease in ATP-sulfurylase activity without effect on APS kinase activity. A series of highly conserved flanking cysteines (Cys-53, Cys-77, and Cys-83) were mutated to alanine, but none of these mutations showed any effect on either enzyme activity.
Carotid chemosensory timing effects on cervical sympathetic discharges in the cat

Abstract The hypothesis that respiratory phase-related sympathetic nerve activity would manifest timing effect of carotid chemosensory input with respect to the central respiratory drive was tested in the anesthetized, paralyzed and artificially ventilated cats which were also vagotomized and tracheostomized. Preganglionic cervical sympathetic nerve fibers (PSNF) which were clearly responsive to carotid chemosensory stimulation were selected for the test. Simultaneously with the PSNF, phrenic nerve (PN) and internal intercostal expiratory nerve (IICEN) activities were also recorded. In most instances, carotid chemosensory discharges were monitored in order to register the precise timing of its input to the brain-stem. Timed stimulation of carotid chemoreceptors was elicited by bolus injections of cyanide (10–20 μg), nicotine (10–20 μg) and CO2-saturated saline (0.2–0.5 ml) into the base of the common carotid artery. Two types of PSNFs were identified: type I discharged only in synchrony with the PN activity ( 13 47 ) and type II fired independently of, but entrained to, PN activity ( 34 47 ). Type I displayed characteristic timing effects of carotid chemoreflex on PN discharges. However, the sympathetic activity did not share the after-discharge of PN which persisted beyond the carotid chemoreceptor stimulation. Type II did not manifest any timing effect of carotid chemoflex with respect to PN and IICEN activities. These results suggest the following model of carotid chemoreflex effects on sympathetic neuron activities: a group is exclusively gated by the properties of central respiratory drive whereas the other is not gated but entrained by it in the spontaneously breathing anesthetized cat.
Exophytic intramedullary meningioma of the cervical spinal cord

Intramedullary spinal cord neoplasms are relatively uncommon. The most common intramedullary tumors are astrocytomas and ependymomas. Meningiomas can occur as an intradural tumor; however, they are typically in the extramedullary compartment. A 42-year-old male presented with progressive sensory loss in the upper extremities and lower extremity weakness. Pre-operative imaging suggested an intramedullary cervical lesion. To treat the progressive neurological abnormality, surgical resection was planned. At surgery, it was noted that the tumor originated in the cervical spinal cord and extended into the extramedullary region. Histology confirmed the lesion to be a meningioma. This meningioma variant has not previously been described. Spinal meningiomas may occur in locations other than intradural, extramedullary locations, and should be included in the differential diagnosis of intramedullary lesions. Intramedullary meningiomas can be successfully treated with surgery.
Structural and Acoustic Noise Produced by Turbulent Flow over an Elastic Trailing Edge

An analysis is made of the sound and vibration produced by turbulent flow at low Mach number over the trailing edge of an elastic plate. The trailing edges of airfoils and other flow control surfaces are known to be important sources of high frequency sound. When the surface is compliant the turbulent edge-flow also excites structural modes of vibration. In conditions of heavy fluid loading, which typically occurs in underwater applications, the energy imparted to the structural motions can be large, and the subsequent scattering of ‘surface waves’ at mechanical discontinuities is frequently an important secondary source of sound. In this paper general formulae are developed for the structural and acoustic edge-noise when the control surface is modelled by a semi-infinite, thin elastic plate which can support bending waves. Numerical results are given for steel plates in air and in water. In the latter case it is shown that, when the frequency is smaller than the coincidence frequency the bending wave power exceeds the total sound power generated at the edge by 20–40 dB, independently of the mean flow velocity, so that sound generated by secondary scattering may then be the dominant source of acoustic radiation.
Blood flow dynamics during local photoreaction in a head and neck tumor model

We have applied continuous blood flow dynamics, quantified with diffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS), in investigating photodynamic therapy (PDT) induced local photoreaction in a head and neck tumor model. Photoclor (0.47 µmol/kg) was intravenously administered 24 hour before PDT. Two types of fluence rates were implemented: Low fluence rate (14 mW/cm2) and high fluence rate (75 mW/cm2). The total delivered fluence was 100 J for both types. We observed that PDT induced substantial vascular shut down in both types. While the shutdown was persistent in tumors exposed to low fluence rate PDT, the shutdown was transient in tumors exposed to high fluence PDT. Loss of microvascular structures was confirmed by the microscopic analyses of tumor section following immunostaining for CD31. Blood flow dynamics related metrics were also strongly correlated with crosslinking of STAT3, a molecular marker of photoreaction. STAT3 analysis indicated that low fluence rate yields a substantially higher photoreaction, and, thus, a more effective PDT. Our results indicate that noninvasive blood flow measurements can monitor the efficacy of PDT in real-time and potentially provide a feedback for its optimization.
The response of M.HpaII to heteroduplexes.

Abstract Synthetic oligodeoxyribonucleotide duplexes have been used to study the methylation specificity of M · Hpa II, a bacterial DNA methyltransferase. Substrates of four types were compared. A 30-mer containing a Watson-Crick paired CCGG recognition sequence was rapidly methylated at the central cytosine on each strand in the recognition sequence. A 30-mer containing an asymmetrically methylated recognition sequence, of the type transiently produced by DNA replication, was rapidly methylated at the central cytosine on the unmethylated strand. A heteroduplex containing an A-C mispair in the recognition sequence (CCGG/CCAG) was rapidly methylated at the cytosine in the mispair. A heteroduplex containing an A-C and an adjacent C-C mispair in the recognition sequence (CCGG/CCCA) was not methylated at a significant rate. The results show that M · Hpa II can tolerate a single mispair at its recognition site in a heteroduplex without loss of activity pr specificity.
The Effects of Ethnic Identity on Household Budget Allocation to Status Conveying Goods

The theory of compensatory consumption suggests that a possible lack of traditional avenues for fulfilling needs for social status may lead ethnic minorities to shift measures of social status from traditional indicators such as occupational prestige to consumption indicators of status conveying goods. In this study we investigate whether a household’s ethnic identity affects its budget allocation to status conveying goods. Annual budget shares for apparel, housing, and home furnishings are used for measuring status consumption. Results show that Asian American households allocate more of their budget to housing, while African American more to apparel, compared to European households. Hispanic households allocate more of their budget to both apparel and housing than European American households, but to a lesser degree compared to Asian Americans to housing and African Americans to apparel.
Comment on "Foraging adaptation and the relationship between food-web complexity and stability".

A central issue in the diversity–stability debate during the last several decades of community ecology and biodiversity research has been the theory that increases in community complexity decrease ecological stability ( [1][1], [2][2] ). Notwithstanding positive complexity–stability
The Child in the Garden: An Evaluative Review of the Benefits of School Gardening

Although educators widely use school gardens for experiential education, researchers have not systematically examined the evaluative literature on school-gardening outcomes. The author reviewed the U. S. literature on children's gardening, taking into account potential effects, school-gardening outcomes, teacher evaluations of gardens as learning tools, and methodological issues. Quantitative studies showed positive outcomes of school-gardening initiatives in the areas of science achievement and food behavior, but they did not demonstrate that children's environmental attitude or social behavior consistently improve with gardening. Validity and reliability issues reduced general confidence in these results. Qualitative studies documented a wider scope of desirable outcomes, including an array of positive social and environmental behaviors. Gardening enthusiasm varies among teachers, depending on support and horticultural confidence.
Motor Control Recovery After a Severe Brain Injury: Applications of Quantitative Surface Electromyography

In this case study, surface electromyography (SEMG) was used to help a severely brain-damaged adolescent regain head control. In addition to relearning a lost motor skill, the patient, because of the extensiveness of the injury, had to overcome deficits in memory, visual processing, and cognitive tone. The process of quantitative SEMG was used to teach the patient to use a targeted series of muscles, which, in 14 weeks, brought her to the point that for many activities a headrest was no longer needed.
Amorphization and a new polymorph of carbon synthesized from C60

Abstract In situ X-ray diffraction at room temperature and under nonhydrostatic pressures up to 44 GPa confirms both the unusual equation of state of face-centered cubic (fcc) C60 (fullerite), as well as its transformation to a new, as yet undetermined, crystalline structure. The phase transition begins at 19.5 (±5.0) GPa and is complete by 29.1 (±3.0) GPa on compression. The high-pressure polymorph is found to become amorphous upon decompression to pressures of 6(±1) GPa.
The effect of a growing aerosol on the rate of homogeneous nucleation of a vapor

Growing particles in a supersaturated vapor act as sources of latent heat and sinks for vapor, altering the vapor concentration and gas temperature near the particles, and, consequently, decreasing the homogeneous nucleation rate in the vicinity of the particles. Solutions for the vapor concentration and temperature profiles around a growing particle are obtained, and the solutions are used to predict the average nucleation rate per unit volume of fluid as a function of time. The average nucleation rate is shown to be proportional to the initially undisturbed rate and proportional to a term dependent largely on the total volume fraction of growing aerosol present. Under a wide range of conditions, the nucleation rate for dibutyl phthalate is calculated to quench gradually at the time when the fraction of available vapor condensed into aerosol approaches 5 to 9%.
Serotonin 5-HT2A Receptor Activation Inhibits Cytokine-stimulated Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase in C6 Glioma Cellsa

ABSTRACT: C6-glioma cells endogenously express both 5-HT2A receptors and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). iNOS can be induced by transcriptional activation to produce nitric oxide (NO) in response to a challenge with the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IFN-γ. Experiments were conducted to determine whether 5-HT2A receptor activation could modify the production of NO in response to the inducing agents. 1 μM DOI produced a dose-dependent inhibition of the cytokine-inducted nitrite levels of 40% which was inhibited by spiperone and ritanserin. In addition, the DOI-mediated decrease was prevented by the PKC inhibitor chelerythrine (100 nM). The effectiveness of DOI was lost when added more than two hours after the addition of inducing agent, suggesting that DOI was regulating iNOS at the level of transcription rather than post-translationally. We suggest that there is a link between the serotonergic system and NO-mediated immune responses in the brain.
Control of chaos by oscillating feedback

Parametric feedback control of chaos relies on detailed knowledge of the locations of unstable periodic orbits. We show that unstable periodic orbits of dynamical systems with unknown locations but known periodicity $\ensuremath{\tau}$ can be stabilized by an oscillating feedback term proportional to ${\ensuremath{\varepsilon}}^{t}$ $(x{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}^{t}\ensuremath{-}x{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}^{t\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\tau}})$, where $x{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}^{t}$ is the location of the trajectory at time $t$ and ${\ensuremath{\varepsilon}}^{t}$ is periodic in time. Periodic feedback overcomes the limitations of Giona's theorem [Nonlinearity 4, 911 (1991)], which states that constant feedback (i.e., a time-independent $\ensuremath{\varepsilon})$ can stabilize an unstable periodic orbit only if the stability matrix has no positive eigenvalues greater than unity. As an application of oscillating feedback, we use it to stabilize the memory patterns in an associative memory $($Hopfield [Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 79, 2554 (1982); 81, 3088 (1984)]$)$ network, thereby enhancing the total capacity of the memory device. We extend our method to high-dimensional systems described by differential equations; in this framework, it is possible to stabilize the spatiotemporal chaos generated by the Kuramoto-Sivashinsky equation [G. J. Sivashinsky and D. M. Michelson, Prog. Theor. Phys. 63, 2122 (1980)].
Secretome analysis of microarray data reveals extracellular events associated with proliferative potential in a cell line model of breast disease

It is widely believed that breast cancer develops in a multistep process with premalignant lesions preceding invasive carcinoma. The characterization of molecular events associated with premalignant progression would improve our understanding of carcinogenesis and greatly benefit the development of early detection methods and chemoprevention strategies. However, the molecular biology of precancerous breast disease is poorly understood. To better characterize extracellular events associated with disease progression, such as cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) signaling, we analyzed gene expression profiles for the set of genes coding for secreted proteins (the secretome) in a cell line model of human proliferative breast disease (PBD). PBD describes a series of preneoplastic changes in the inner lining of milk glands associated with a dramatic increase in the risk of breast cancer. We used a series of cell lines with increasing proliferative propensity, and cell cultures were grown on matrigel to emulate in vivo growth and ECM interactions. Microarray analysis identified two clusters of secretome genes with expression profiles correlating to PBD progression. Some of the identified genes have previously been associated with breast malignancies, and our results suggest that changes in expression for these genes begin in the premalignant stage, offering potential use for early detection and as chemotherapeutic targets. RT-PCR validation demonstrates the reliability of the microarray results.