cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of a clearcut on the net rates of nitrification and N mineralization in a northern hardwood forest, Catskill Mountains, New York, USA

The Catskill Mountains of southeastern New York receive among the highest rates of atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition in eastern North America, and ecosystems in the region may be sensitive to human disturbances that affect the N cycle. We studied the effects of a clearcut in a northern hardwood forest within a 24-ha Catskill watershed on the net rates of N mineralization and nitrification in soil plots during 6 years (1994–1999) that encompassed 3-year pre- and post-harvesting periods. Despite stream NO3− concentrations that increased by more than 1400 μmol l−1 within 5 months after the clearcut, and three measures of NO3− availability in soil that increased 6- to 8-fold during the 1 st year after harvest, the net rates of N mineralization and nitrification as measured by in situ incubation in the soil remained unchanged. The net N-mineralization rate in O-horizon soil was 1– 2 mg N kg−1 day−1 and the net nitrification rate was about 1 mg N kg−1 day−1, and rates in B-horizon soil were only one-fifth to one-tenth those of the O-horizon. These rates were obtained in single 625 m2 plots in the clearcut watershed and reference area, and were confirmed by rate measurements at 6 plots in 1999 that showed little difference in N-mineralization and nitrification rates between the treatment and reference areas. Soil temperature increased 1 ± 0.8 °C in a clearcut study plot relative to a reference plot during the post-harvest period, and soil moisture in the clearcut plot was indistinguishable from that in the reference plot. These results are contrary to the initial hypothesis that the clearcut would cause net rates of these N-cycling processes to increase sharply. The in situ incubation method used in this study isolated the samples from ambient roots and thereby prevented plant N uptake; therefore, the increases in stream NO3− concentrations and export following harvest largely reflect diminished uptake. Changes in temperature and moisture after the clearcut were insufficient to measurably affect the net rates of N mineralization and nitrification in the absence of plant uptake. Soil acidification resulting from the harvest may have acted in part to inhibit the rates of these processes.
SPECT deadtime count loss correction using monitor source method

Purpose: Deadtime-count-loss (DTloss) correction using monitor source (MS) requires: 1) uniform fractional DTloss across FOV, 2) high statistics MS images both with & without the object. The aims are validating condition 1 and developing a practical protocol that satisfies conditions 2 with minimal additional study duration. Methods and Materials : SPECT images of non-uniform phantoms (4GBq 99mTc) along with MS (20MBq 99mTc) attached to each detector were acquired multiple times over 48 hours in photopeak and scatter energy window (EW) using Siemens-SymbiaS and GE-D670. Planar images of the MS alone were acquired. Photopeak counts for the MS ROIs were > 100kcts. Fractional DTloss uniformity across the FOV was evaluated by correlating count rates in different ROIs on projection images at different DTloss levels. The correction factor for each SPECT projection at every time point was calculated as the ratio of time-corrected MS count rates with & without the phantom. The DTloss-corrected projections for each SPECT acquisition were decay corrected to one time point. The correction accuracy was assessed against DTloss estimated by paralyzable model. The accuracy of projection-based DTloss correction for SPECT was evaluated. A method to model projection DTloss based on a subset of measured projection DTloss was investigated. The relation of DTloss between photopeak and scatter EW was explored. Results: The fractional DTloss was uniform across the FOV (r > 0.99), validating condition 1. The MS method was accurate to > 99% for planar and SPECT. Measured DTloss from 3-to-5 projections/detector may be used to estimate DTloss with accuracy > 98% for all SPECT projections by modeling DTloss with measured projection rate. The correction factor in photopeak and scatter EW are equivalent with > 99% agreement. Conclusion : MS method can accurately correct planar and SPECT DTloss. Sparse sampling of the projection DTloss allows acquiring MS counts with high statistics with minimal additional study duration making it clinically practical. -------------------------------------- Cite this article as: Siman W, Kappadath SC. SPECT deadtime count loss correction using monitor source method. Int J Cancer Ther Oncol 2014; 2(2):020234. DOI: 10.14319/ijcto.0202.34
On functions of the mamillary bodies in the squirrel monkey.

Abstract This study was undertaken to learn the effects of destruction of the mamillary bodies on the retention of conditioned avoidance responses. Squirrel monkeys were trained in a conditioned avoidance test which required the animal to jump at the sound of a buzzer to the illuminated one of two pedestals in order to avoid shock. The test provided for introducing a progressive delay between the termination of the visual cue and the beginning of the auditory signal. When trained to criterion, the animals were submitted to electrocoagulation in the region of the mamillary bodies and retested. The results allow the conclusion that extensive to virtually complete destruction of the mamillary bodies does not appreciably interfere with the animal's ability to perform a complex conditioned avoidance test, including one which requires a short delay in the response. As previously reported, and also shown in the present study, stimulation in respective parts of the mamillary bodies results in penile erection. This finding indicates that these nuclei comprise part of a system involved in genital function and would suggest that a further investigation of functions be planned accordingly.
Time resolved calorimetry of Te films during pulsed laser annealing

Using a pyroelectric thin-film calorimeter the temperature of 30 nm thick Te films during pulsed laser annealing was studied in real-time. A XeCl excimer laser pumped dye laser with Raman shifter was utilized to study the wavelength and energy dependence. No significant wavelength dependence was noticed. Depending on the pulse energy, however, melting, boiling and crystallization of the Te films was observed. These findings support a strictly thermal model for laser annealing and optical recording with Te based media. In addition boiling was identified as the prevalent mechanism for the loss of material.
Effects of thermomechanical treatment on the progress of diffusion-induced grain boundary migration

Abstract The effects of prior cold work on diffusion-induced grain boundary migration (DIGM) have been investigated using a novel analytical technique applied to the zincification of copper. It is found that DIGM is sensitive to small amounts of prior cold deformation, and this effect is interpreted in terms of the various models proposed for the mechanism of DIGM. An effect of surface contamination is also identified.
Serum Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Concentrations in Lean and Overweight Children and Adolescents

Context: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its receptor appear to be important components of the leptin-signaling cascade involved in energy homeostasis, and mice with BDNF or TrkB gene haploinsufficiency have excessive adiposity. Little is known about the relationship between adiposity and BDNF, particularly in children. Objective: The objective of the study was to study the association of serum BDNF with measures of adiposity in children. Design/Setting/Patients: BDNF was determined by a sandwich-type ELISA after an overnight fast in convenience sample of 328 subjects, aged 3–19 yr enriched for extreme obesity. In 43, BDNF was also measured before, and again 1 h after, consuming a high-energy content (787 kcal) milkshake. Main Outcome Measures: Measures included associations between BDNF and measures of adiposity. Results: There were no significant univariate associations between log BDNF and adiposity measured by body mass index (BMI), BMI-Z score, or fat mass. However, in an analysis of cov...
Corona discharge augmentation of the catalytic combustion of hydrogen in the diffusion controlled regime

Abstract An experimental study of the catalytic combustion of hydrogen in air at 1 atm has been conducted for laminar and turbulent flows in an annular reactor. The reactor comprises a small-diameter inner cylinder and an outer cylinder of platinized alumina. Measurements of the overall rate of combustion have been made wherein the inner cylinder is maintained at a positive d.c. potential with respect to the outer cylinder such that a steady corona discharge takes place. For nearly fully developed flows for Reynolds numbers from 300 to 6500 and corona discharge currents up to 1.1 mA, the reaction rate increases with corona current. Augmented reaction rates are correlated in terms of the ratio of electrical body forces due to corona discharge and the momentum forces of the mean flow. The reaction order is found to be unity with respect to the concentration, both with and without corona discharge present. Overall first-order rate constants are much lower than true rate constants, indicating a dominance of mass transfer. Rate constants are found to increase markedly with corona current but cannot be correlated in the same way as heat transfer coefficients. The fractional increase in overall reaction rate at constant corona current, is found to increase rapidly for low Reynolds numbers, but after reaching a peak, decreases rapidly. This decrease occurs across the laminar-to-turbulent flow transition.
Effects of vasoactive drugs on transdermal lidocaine iontophoresis

The effect of co-administration of vasoactive drugs on the transdermal iontophoretic delivery of lidocaine · HCI was studied in in vitro cells, in the isolated perfused porcine skin flap (IPPSF), and in vivo in pigs. Iontophoresis of lidocaine in vitro across human and porcine skin were similar, supporting the use of porcine skin as an appropriate animal model. Co-iontophoresis of the vasodilator tolazoline marginally decreased lidocaine flux in vitro, but significantly increased it in the IPPSF and in vivo. In contrast, norepinephrine decreased lidocaine flux in the IPPSF. Vasomodulation also changed the shape of the venous efflux profile in the IPPSF as evidenced by changes in fractional absorption index, as well as the AUC. These studies demonstrate that co-iontophoresis of vasoactive compounds may significantly alter the transdermal delivery of lidocaine and that use of in vitro animal model systems which possess a functional microcirculation are essential to study this process if reliable extrapolation to the in vivo setting is desired.
Oxygen permeation and coal-gas-assisted hydrogen production using oxygen transport membranes

Abstract A tubular oxygen transport membrane (OTM) was developed to produce hydrogen via water splitting using fossil sources. In this study, two OTM materials, La0.7Sr0.3Cu0.2Fe0.8O3−δ (LSCF) and BaFe0.9Zr0.1O3−δ (BFZ), were prepared by a conventional solid-state technique. In tests with an LSCF thin-film tube (thickness ≈30 μm) as an OTM, hydrogen was produced by flowing simulated product streams from coal gasification on one side of the OTM and steam on the other side. In this method, the coal gas on the oxygen-permeate side drives the removal of oxygen from the other hydrogen-generation side of the OTM, where hydrogen and oxygen are produced by water splitting. With CO (99.5% purity) flowing on the oxygen-permeate side, the hydrogen production rate of the LSCF tube was measured to be ≈19.6 cm3/min at 900 °C, indicating that hydrogen can be produced at a significant rate by using product streams from coal gasification. Concentration polarization effects were found to lower the hydrogen production rate of the LSCF thin-film tube at high temperatures. This process also yields a CO2-rich product stream that is ready for sequestration. The other candidate OTM material, BFZ, was tested by measuring its oxygen-permeation flux, DC conductivity, and hydrogen production, and by evaluating its microstructure. The dependences of the hydrogen production rate of BFZ disks (thickness, ≈1.6 mm) on water partial pressure and temperature were determined while flowing 80% CO2/He over a graphite rod on the oxygen-permeate side and humidified N2 on the hydrogen-generation side. Preliminary results indicate that BFZ is a promising OTM material.
Functional properties and active-site topographies of factor X Gla- and prothrombin Gla-domain chimeras of activated protein C.

Substitution of the Gla-domain of activated protein C (APC) with the Gla-domain of prothrombin (APC-PTGla) improves the anticoagulant activity of APC independent of protein S. Previous FRET studies showed that this substitution alters the active-site topography of this mutant, rendering it identical to the active-site of the APC-protein S complex. In this study, we characterized the functional properties and the active-site topography of another APC chimera containing the Gla-domain of factor X (APC-FXGla). We discovered that the anticoagulant activity of this mutant was similarly improved independent of protein S. The average distance of the closest approach (L) between the donor dye fluorescein attached to the active-site of APC derivatives and the acceptor dye octadecylrhodamine incorporated into PC/PS vesicles was determined to be 99 A for APC and 84-86 A for both APC-PTGla and APC-FXGla. Protein S minimally influenced the L values of the APC chimeras, however, it lowered this value to 87 A for wild-type APC. Further studies revealed that neither chimera elicits a protective signaling response in the TNF-α-activated endothelial cells. These results suggest that unique structural features within the Gla-domain of APC enable the protease to interact with endothelial protein C receptor in the antiinflammatory pathway, while the same features also cause an inherently lower specific activity for APC in the anticoagulant pathway. This adaptation has made APC a cofactor dependent protease, requiring the cofactor function of protein S for its optimal anticoagulant function, which appears to involve the alteration of the active-site topography of APC above the membrane surface.
Heat Entrapment Effects Within Liquid Acquisition Devices

We introduce a model problem to address heat entrapment effects or the local accumulation of thermal energy within liquid acquisition devices. We show that the parametric space consists of six parameters, namely the Rayleigh and Prandtl numbers, the aspect ratio, and heat flux ratios for the bottom, side, and top boundaries of the enclosure. For the range of Ra considered 1 to 10(sup 9), beyond Ra on the order of 10(sup 5), convective instability is the dominant mode of convection in comparison to natural convection. The flow field transitions to asymmetric modes at Ra on the order of 10(sup 7). Direct numerical simulation of a large geometric length scale prototype for Ra on the order of 10(sup 9) shows that the flow field evolves from small wavelength instability which gives rise to nonlinear growth of thermals, propagation of the instability occurs via growth of secondary and tertiary modes, and a travelling wave mode occurs prior to asymmetry. The effect of a large aspect ratio is to increase the number of modes in the vertical direction. Due to the slow diffusion of heat in the prototype, asymptotic states are not readily attained, we show that dynamical similarity can be used for a model which allows the attainment of asymptotic states and that transition to a chaotic state occurs for Ra on the order of 10(sup 9) via a broadband power spectrum. These dynamical events show that for the baseline condition in which heat is absorbed from background laboratory environment, higher heat flux is absorbed at the top and bottom boundaries of the enclosure than a nominal value of 34.9 ergs per square centimeter -second.
The thermal deazetation of 6,6,7,7-tetrafluoro-2,3-diazabicyclo[3.2.0]hept-2-ene

Abstract The mechanisms of formation of five products from the deazetation of the title compound and a remarkable thermodynamic methyl substituent effect are presented and discussed.
Applied Mechanics Problems in Automotive Engineering

The automotive industry is undergoing a technological revolution unparalleled since its infancy. Increased foreign competition, particularly in terms of product cost, has created a need for technological innovation both in automotive products and in automotive manufacturing and assembly processes. Applied mechanics research has become a critical element in many of the areas which can promote improved products and process efficiency. Several major research programs which are underway at General Motors will be reviewed and used to motivate the discussion of important applied mechanics problems. Research examples will include automated vehicle design technology, advanced materials, and mechanics of manufacturing processes. Suggested research spans the entire range of the applied mechanics field, from basic theory to numerical applications. Experimental research is as vital to further progress as is analytical research. Considerably more emphasis should be given to relating mechanical performance of the finished product to its fabrication.
Curvature responses of electrically stimulated Avena coleoptiles to 3-indoleacetic acid.

Abstract 1. 1. Twice-decapitated Avena coleoptiles stimulated by direct current (20 μa. applied longitudinally to one side for 2 min.) respond by developing a transverse electrical polarity and by bending after IAA becomes available. 2. 2. The curvatures manifested are mediated by IAA-dependent growth changes. 3. 3. The magnitudes of the induced curvatures are functions of the contact positions and of the IAA concentration. Maximum curvatures develop when the electropositive pole of the current-applying circuit is connected to the apical contact with an IAA concentration of 0.4 mg./l. 4. 4. The loci of the curvature responses, which are established by the applied current in the absence of IAA, remain at the level of the initial stimulation. 5. 5. Unilateral application of direct current causes development of a transverse electrical polarity in the regions of both the current-applying contacts. The stimulated side becomes electronegative to the distal side, but the larger electrical polarity is established in the positive contact region.
Gαo/i-stimulated proteosomal degradation of RGS20: A mechanism for temporal integration of Gs and Gi pathways

Abstract The G s and G i pathways interact to control the levels of intracellular cAMP. Although coincident signaling through G s and G i -coupled receptors can attenuate G s -stimulated cAMP levels, it is not known if prior activation of the G i pathway can affect signaling by G s -coupled receptors. We have found that activated Gα o/i interact with RGS20, a GTPase activating protein for members of the Gα ο/i family. Interaction between Gα o/i and RGS20 results in decreased cellular levels of RGS20. This decrease was induced by activated Gα o and Gα i2 but not by Gα q , Gα i1 or Gα i3. The Gα o/i -induced decrease in RGS20 can be blocked by proteasomal inhibitors lactacystin or MG132. Activated Gα o stimulates the ubiquitination of RGS20. The serotonin-1A receptor that couples to G o/i reduces the levels of RGS20 and this effect is blocked by lactacystin, suggesting that G o/i promotes the degradation of RGS20. Expression of RGS20 attenuates the inhibition of β-adrenergic receptor-induced cAMP levels mediated by the serotonin-1A receptor. Prior activation of the serotonin-1A receptor results in loss of the RGS20-mediated attenuation, and the loss of attenuation is blocked when lactacystin is included during the prior treatment. These observations suggest that G o/i -coupled receptors, by stimulating the degradation of RGS20, can regulate how subsequent activation of the G s and G i pathways controls cellular cAMP levels, thus allowing for signal integration.
Response of a Thin Airfoil Encountering a Strong Density Discontinuity

Airfoil theory for unsteady motion has been developed extensively assuming the undisturbed medium to be of uniform density, a restriction accurate for motion in the atmosphere, G/auert (1929), Burgers (1935), Theodorsen (1935), Kussner (1936), Karman and Sears (1938), Kinney and Sears (1975). In some instances, notably for airfoils comprising fan, compressor and turbine blade rows, the undisturbed medium may carry density variations or "spots," resulting from non-uniformaties in temperature or composition, of a size comparable to the blade chord. This condition existsfor turbine blades, Marble (1975), Giles and Krouthen (1988), immediately downstream of the main burner of a gas turbine engine where the density fluctuations of the order of 50 percent may occur. Disturbances of a somewhat smaller magnitude arise from the ingestion of hot boundary layers into fans, Wortman (1975), and exhaust into hovercraft. Because these regions of non-uniform density convect with the moving medium, the airfoil experiences a time varying load and moment which we propose to calculate.
Beyond the bizarre with rumplestiltskin

Marvin Harris. Cows, Pigs, Wars, and Witches: The Riddles of Culture. New York: Random House, 1974. 276 pp. References. $7.95 (cloth).
Effects of hydrostatic pressure on the flow and fracture of a bulk amorphous metal

Abstract The flow and fracture behaviour of a Zr-Ti-Ni-Cu-Be bulk amorphous metal have been determined in tension and compression at room temperature with levels of superimposed hydrostatic pressure ranging from 0.1 to 700 MPa. Metallographically polished cylindrical specimens tested in uniaxial tension and compression were utilized in the high pressure tests, while polished cylindrical torsion specimens were tested at 0.1 MPa (i.e. atmospheric pressure) in order to approach conditions of pure shear. All the tension and torsion tests, regardless of the level of superimposed pressure, exhibited linear elastic failure, as did the compression tests conducted with low levels (e.g. less than 450 MPa) of pressure. At the highest pressures (i.e. 450 MPa or higher), the compression tests exhibited elastic-perfectly plastic behaviour and an increase in the compressive elongation to fracture. The flow stress and fracture stress were not significantly affected by the superposition of pressure as failure occurred in ...
The Human Leukocyte Antigen Complex and Chronic Ocular Inflammatory Disorders

Abstract PURPOSE: To review the role of gene products from the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) complex in the normal functioning of the immune system, ocular inflammation, and models of autoimmunity. METHOD: A review of recently published reports. RESULTS: Many chronic ocular inflammatory diseases are associated with specific alleles of the HLA complex. Understanding how HLA gene products function normally provides clues to the mechanism of disease associations. In the thymus, these molecules control the shape of the developing T-cell repertoire, leading to self-tolerance. In the periphery, HLA molecules bind and present peptide fragments to T cells, leading to a variety of effector functions. Although effector functions are for the most part beneficial, models are reviewed in which peptide-HLA interactions lead to T-cell responses with pathologic consequences. Herpes stromal keratitis is an informative animal model highlighting the role of self-tolerance, infection, and molecular mimicry in the development of autoimmunity. CONCLUSIONS: Human leukocyte antigen gene products may be associated with chronic inflammatory disorders through the unique presentation of “disease-inducing” peptides or the development of a T-cell repertoire prone to autoreactivity and molecular mimicry.
Differentiating avoidant and depressive personality disorders.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to test a priori predictions about the way in which avoidant personality disorder (APD) can be differentiated from depressive personality disorder (DPD) in a clinical population. Psychiatric outpatients were administered two measures of DPD, including the SCID-II for other DSM-IV Axis II personality disorders, along with criterion measures upon which the two disorders would be differentiated. APD was found to be most strongly associated with state and trait measures of anxiety, while DPD was most strongly associated with state and trait measures of hostility. Individuals with DPD had higher mean scores on measures of hostility than those without DPD, and individuals with APD had higher mean scores on measures of anxiety than those without APD. However, DPD measures were also significantly correlated with state and trait measures of anxiety and APD with measures of depressive symptoms. Furthermore, anxiety was found to be higher in some groups of individuals with DPD ...
A mathematical and experimental simulation of the hematological response to weightlessness

A mathematical model of erythropoiesis control was used to simulate the effects of bedrest and zero-g on the circulating red cell mass. The model incorporates the best current understanding of the dynamics of red cell production and destruction and the associated feedback regulation. Specifically studied were the hemodynamic responses of a 28-day bedrest study devised to simulate Skylab experience. The results support the hypothesis that red cell loss during supine bedrest is a normal physiological feedback process in response to hemoconcentration enhanced tissue oxygenation and suppression of red cell production. Model simulation suggested the possibilities that this period was marked by some combination of increased oxygen-hemoglobin affinity, small reduction in mean red cell life span, ineffective erythropoiesis, or abnormal reticulocytosis.
Epidemiology and Neuropsychiatric Manifestations of Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease in the United States

Abstract Background To determine the demographic distribution of Young Onset Parkinson's Disease (YOPD) in the United States and to quantify the burden of neuropsychiatric disease manifestations. Methods Cross sectional study of 3,459,986 disabled Americans, aged 30–54, who were receiving Medicare benefits in the year 2005. We calculated race and sex distributions of YOPD and used logistic regression to compare the likelihood of common and uncommon psychiatric disorders between beneficiaries with YOPD and the general disability beneficiary population, adjusting for race, age, and sex. Results We identified 14,354 Medicare beneficiaries with YOPD (prevalence = 414.9 per 100,000 disabled Americans). White men comprised the majority of cases (48.9%), followed by White women (34.7%), Black men (6.8%), Black women (5.0%), Hispanic men (2.4%), and Hispanic women (1.2%). Asian men (0.6%) and Asian women (0.4%) were the least common race–sex pairs with a YOPD diagnosis in this population (chi square, p Conclusions Young Onset Parkinson's Disease is most common among white males in our study population. Psychiatric illness, addiction, and cognitive impairment are more common in YOPD than in the general population of disabled Medicare beneficiaries. These may be key disabling factors in YOPD.
Parametric Imaging Of Digital Subtraction Angiography Studies For Renal Transplant Evaluation

A noninvasive method for diagnosing acute tubular necrosis and rejection would be an important tool for the management of renal transplant patients. From a sequence of digital subtraction angiographic images acquired after an intravenous injection of radiographic contrast material, the parametric images of the maximum contrast, the time when the maximum contrast is reached, and two times the time at which one half of the maximum contrast is reached are computed. The parametric images of the time when the maximum is reached clearly distinguish normal from abnormal renal function. However, it is the parametric image of two times the time when one half of the maximum is reached which provides some assistance in differentiating acute tubular necrosis from rejection.© (1981) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
How not to read an EEG: Concluding statements

A neurologist undergoes 4 years of postgraduate education after medical school to specialize in the clinical practice of disorders of the nervous system. Seizures are an inextricable component to that education based on the sheer prevalence of encounters. In contrast, the time spent on EEG interpretation is typically 0 to 3 months. The exposure and experiences acquired during training establishes our knowledge base of clinical neurophysiology. Most practicing neurologists are required to utilize EEG in clinical practice. Limited exposure or experience in EEG interpretation during training translates to persistent inexperience in clinical practice.
Don Juan Pond, Antarctica: Near-surface CaCl 2 -brine feeding Earth's most saline lake and implications for Mars

The discovery on Mars of recurring slope lineae (RSL), thought to represent seasonal brines, has sparked interest in analogous environments on Earth. We report on new studies of Don Juan Pond (DJP), which exists at the upper limit of ephemeral water in the McMurdo Dry Valleys (MDV) of Antarctica, and is adjacent to several steep-sloped water tracks, the closest analog for RSL. The source of DJP has been interpreted to be deep groundwater. We present time-lapse data and meteorological measurements that confirm deliquescence within the DJP watershed and show that this, together with small amounts of meltwater, are capable of generating brines that control summertime water levels. Groundwater input was not observed. In addition to providing an analog for RSL formation, CaCl2 brines and chloride deposits in basins may provide clues to the origin of ancient chloride deposits on Mars dating from the transition period from “warm/wet” to “cold/dry” climates.
Serum chemistry of the collared peccary (Tayassu tajacu).

Values of serum biochemistry were obtained for 33 adult (16 male and 17 female) and six juvenile (four male and two female) collared peccaries collected by trapping and drugging animals from southern Texas during the period July through September 1982. Only cholesterol and aspartate aminotransferase concentrations differed significantly with respect to sex. Juvenile peccaries had significantly lower concentrations of total protein and globulins, but had higher concentrations of glucose, triglycerides, alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, and calcium, and a higher albumin/globulin ratio than did adults. Effects of method of capture on biochemical attributes of serum from five gunshot and nine trapped adult peccaries collected from a single herd during March 1983 also were examined. Trapped peccaries had significantly higher levels of serum urea nitrogen, urea nitrogen/creatinine ratio, glucose, and chloride concentrations. Levels of uric acid, calcium, and potassium were significantly lower amon...
Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease: Genetic and cellular pathogenesis

Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease (PMD) and the allelic spastic paraplegia type 2 (SPG2) arise from mutations in the X-linked gene encoding myelin proteolipid protein (PLP). Analysis of mutations affecting PLP, the major protein in central nervous system myelin, has revealed previously unsuspected roles for myelinating glia in maintaining the integrity of the nervous system. The disease spectrum for PMD and SPG2 is extraordinarily broad and can be best understood by accounting not only for the wide range of mutations that can occur but also for the effects of PLP1 mutations on both cell autonomous and non-cell autonomous processes in myelinating cells. Appreciating the wide range of genetic and cellular effects of PLP1 mutations is important for patient and family counseling, understanding disease pathogenesis, and, ultimately, for developing future disease-specific therapies.
Nonlinear Optical Devices: Relative Status of Polymeric Materials

Activity in nonlinear optics of polymer materials has been escalating for the last five years, driven by potential applications the most promising of which are: 1. Efficient second harmonic generation of GaAs-based semiconductor lasers for data storage and xerography; 2. All-optical signal processing for information manipulation in the all-optical domain; 3. Optical limiting for sensor protection.
Effect of Light on Sodium Influx, Membrane Potential, and Protoplasmic Streaming in Nitella.

The way in which the various activities of a cell relate to the level of available energy can conveniently be studied in photosynthetic cells of size large enough to permit measurements on individual cells. Internodal cells of the Characeae approach ideality for such a purpose in that they are, to a good approximation, right circular cylinders of macroscopic dimensions. Moreover, a certain internal symmetry prevails in that the chloroplasts are uniformly distributed in a single layer in the outer, nonstreaming layer of cytoplasm. The purpose of this study was to investigate the manner in which light intensity and the composition of the external medium interact to influence a number of cellular activities and properties including sodium influx, membrane potential, the Na, K, and Cl concentrations in the vacuole, and protoplasmic streaming. For this, mature internodal cells of Nitella clavata were placed under a number of environmental conditions in each of which light intensity, solution composition, and temperature were kept constant. The Na influxes and rates of protoplasmic streaming reported here are the constant rates eventually established under a given set of conditions. These constant rates are indicative of a stabilization of certain metabolic processes, but the establishment of steadystate concentrations of the cellular constituents cannot be claimed.
Wildfire initial response planning using probabilistically constrained stochastic integer programming

This paper presents a new methodology for making strategic dozer deployment plans for wildfire initial response planning for a given fire season. This approach combines a fire behaviour simulation, a wildfire risk model and a probabilistically constrained stochastic integer programming model, and takes into account the level of risk the decision-maker is willing to take when making deployment and dispatching plans. The new methodology was applied to Texas District 12, a Texas A&M Forest Service fire planning unit located in East Texas. This study demonstrates the effect of the decision-maker’s risk attitude level on deployment decisions in terms of the dozers positioned at each operations base, fires contained and their associated wildfire risk, and total containment cost. The results show that the total number of fires contained and their associated total expected cost increase when the tolerance towards risk decreases. Thus, more dozers are deployed to operations bases in areas with high wildfire risk and a high need for initial response.
Mechanics of aortic valve leaflet mesostructures

Current bioprosthetic and mechanical designs or heart valve replacements do not fully consider the underlying native fibre structure of the valve, nor their fibre-scale properties. The overall goal of this work is to perform experimental and analytical analyses of the individual fiber and membrane “Mesostructures” of the aortic heart valve. We have developed a novel experimental/analytical system to investigate the properties of these structures in detail. More successful treatments of damaged or diseased valves require new experiments and mathematical models at the tissue level by which to evaluate and improve valve repair/replacement designs.
Fragmentation pathways in the uracil radical cation.

We investigate pathways for fragmentation in the uracil radical cation using ab initio electronic structure calculations. We focus on the main fragments produced in pump–probe dissociative ionizati...
Accuracy of Computational Cerebral Aneurysm Hemodynamics Using Patient-Specific Endovascular Measurements

Computational hemodynamic simulations of cerebral aneurysms have traditionally relied on stereotypical boundary conditions (such as blood flow velocity and blood pressure) derived from published values as patient-specific measurements are unavailable or difficult to collect. However, controversy persists over the necessity of incorporating such patient-specific conditions into computational analyses. We perform simulations using both endovascularly-derived patient-specific and typical literature-derived inflow and outflow boundary conditions. Detailed three-dimensional anatomical models of the cerebral vasculature are developed from rotational angiography data, and blood flow velocity and pressure are measured in situ by a dual-sensor pressure and velocity endovascular guidewire at multiple peri-aneurysmal locations in 10 unruptured cerebral aneurysms. These measurements are used to define inflow and outflow boundary conditions for computational hemodynamic models of the aneurysms. The additional in situ measurements which are not prescribed in the simulation are then used to assess the accuracy of the simulated flow velocity and pressure drop. Simulated velocities using patient-specific boundary conditions show good agreement with the guidewire measurements at measurement locations inside the domain, with no bias in the agreement and a random scatter of ≈25%. Simulated velocities using the simplified, literature-derived values show a systematic bias and over-predicted velocity by ≈30% with a random scatter of ≈40%. Computational hemodynamics using endovascularly measured patient-specific boundary conditions have the potential to improve treatment predictions as they provide more accurate and precise results of the aneurysmal hemodynamics than those based on commonly accepted reference values for boundary conditions.
MOTION OF A TIME-DEPENDENT HARMONIC OSCILLATOR, AND OF A CHARGED PARTICLE IN A CLASS OF TIME-DEPENDENT, AXIALLY SYMMETRIC ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS.

A class of explicitly time-dependent invariants for time-dependent harmonic oscillators is used to construct simple and elegant representations of the general solution of the equations of motion. Then the results for the oscillator are used to derive representations of the general solution of the equations of motion for a charged particle moving classically in the axially symmetric electromagnetic field consisting of an arbitrarily time-dependent, uniform magnetic field, the associated induced electric field, and the electric field due to an arbitrarily time-dependent, uniform charge distribution.
Classes of Schur D-stable matrices

Abstract It is shown that vertex stability implies Schur D-stability for real 3×3 matrices. Also, principally nilpotent n×n complex matrices are shown to be perfectly Schur D-stable, and additional characterizations of these matrices are given.
Home range and habitat use of juvenile Atlantic green turtles (Chelonia mydas L.) on shallow reef habitats in Palm Beach, Florida, USA

Many animals, including sea turtles, alter their movements and home range in relation to the particular type and quality of the habitat occupied. When sufficient resources are available, individuals may develop affinities to specific areas for activities, such as foraging and (or) resting. In the case of green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas L.), after a number of years in the open ocean, juveniles recruit to shallow-water developmental habitats where they occupy distinct home ranges as they feed and grow to maturity. Our goal was to study the habitat use and home range movements of juvenile green turtles along a shallow, worm-rock reef tract in Palm Beach, Florida. Six turtles, measuring from 27.9 to 48.1 cm in straight carapace length and from 7.2 to 12.6 kg in mass, were tracked via ultrasonic telemetry from August to November 2003. Upon capture, each turtle’s esophagus was flushed via lavage to determine recently ingested foods. In addition, four turtles were recaptured and fitted with a time-depth recorder to study dive patterns. Home range areas measured with 100% minimum convex polygon and 95% fixed kernel estimators varied from 0.69 to 5.05 km2 (mean=2.38±1.78 km2) and 0.73 to 4.89 km2 (mean=2.09±1.80 km2), respectively. Home ranges and core areas of turtles were largely restricted to the reef tract itself, and showed considerable overlap between food and shelter sites. The mean number of dives during daylight hours (0600–1800 hours) was 84±5.0 dives, while the mean during night hours (1800–0600 hours) was 39±3.0 dives. Dives during the day were shallower (mean=3.20±1.26 m) than dives at night (mean=5.59±0.09 m). All six turtles were found to have a mixed diet of similar macroalgae and sponge fragments. Our results reveal that juvenile green turtles occupy stable home ranges along the nearshore worm-rock reefs of Southeast Florida, during the summer and fall. Determining which habitats are used by green turtles will assist conservation managers in their global effort to protect this endangered species.
Paper strip whole cell biosensors: a portable test for the semiquantitative detection of bacterial quorum signaling molecules.

Herein, we report the development of a novel, inexpensive, and portable filter-paper-based strip biosensor for the detection of bacterial quorum sensing signaling molecules, N-acylhomoserine lactones (AHLs). AHLs are generally employed by Gram-negative bacteria for their cell−cell communication to control expression of specialized genes, such as those involved in biofilm formation and production of virulence factors, in a population-density-dependent manner. First, a bacterial cell-based sensing system employing components of AHL-mediated QS regulatory system as recognition elements and β-galactosidase as the reporter protein was designed and developed. The bacterial-sensing cells were then liquid-dried on strips of filter paper. β-Galactosidase as the reporter allows for the visual monitoring of the analyte-induced signal when a colorimetric method of detection is applied. The paper strip biosensor was able to detect low AHL concentrations down to 1 × 10−8 M. Furthermore, it was successfully applied to t...
Androgen-regulated proliferation and gene transcription in a prostate smooth muscle cell line (PS-1).

Androgens play a key role in directing stromal-epithelial interactions in prostate gland development, in maintenance of adult phenotype, and in disease progression. To address the molecular mechanisms of androgen action in prostate stromal cells and the genes regulated by androgens in this cell type, a stromal cell line (PS-1) was developed from rat ventral prostate. The PS-1 cell line was adapted to chemically defined media and characterized as smooth muscle based on expression of desmin, smooth muscle alpha-actin, and nuclear androgen receptor, markers for prostate smooth muscle. To examine steroid hormone regulation, PS-1 cells were analyzed for response to a panel of steroid hormones in serum-free, chemically defined media. PS-1 cells were significantly growth stimulated by physiological concentrations of androgens (10nM) relative to other steroids tested. To ascertain whether this cell line could be used to examine androgen-regulated gene expression, differential display PCR was used to demonstrate t...
Discrete transverse superconducting modes in nanocylinders

Spatial variation in the superconducting order parameter becomes significant when the system is confined at dimensions well below the typical superconducting coherence length. Motivated by recent experimental success in growing single-crystal metallic nanorods, we study quantum confinement effects on superconductivity in a cylindrical nanowire in the clean limit. For large diameters, where the transverse level spacing is smaller than the superconducting order parameter, the usual approximations of Ginzburg-Landau theory are recovered. However, under external magnetic field the order parameter develops a spatial variation much stronger than that predicted by Ginzburg-Landau theory, and gapless superconductivity is obtained above a certain field strength. At small diameters, the discrete nature of the transverse modes produces significant spatial variations in the order parameter with increased average magnitude and multiple shoulders in the magnetic response.
Currents and Temperatures in Green Bay, Lake Michigan☆

Abstract Current velocities and water temperatures were measured in the four main passages between Green Bay and Lake Michigan and at several sites within the bay during summer and fall 1977. Monthly resultant currents indicate there is anticlockwise circulation in the bay during dominant southwesterly wind and a reversal of this pattern during episodes of northeasterly wind. It is common for two layers to flow through the mouth of the bay in opposite directions during the stratified season. Cold hypolimnetic lake water entering through the mouth and extending far into the bay maintains stratification and promotes flushing. The effects of resonance of forced and free long wave disturbances are prominent in current records; these oscillations are coherent and in phase across the mouth.
Analysis of lateral track buckling using new frame-type equations

In the past several decades, many lateral track buckling studies have been conducted in an effort to determine an allowable safe temperature increase for preventing the occurrence of buckling. The present analysis builds on some of these studies, but uses recently derived frame-type equations that more accurately represent the response of the rail-tie structure in the lateral plane. The presented analysis takes into account the effects of the torsional stiffness of the rail fasteners, the lateral bending stiffness of the cross-ties, and the track gauge to model more accurately the lateral response of the track panel to temperature increases. It determines effective ways to raise the allowable safe temperature increase, whether by increasing the axial and lateral resistances or by increasing the rotational stiffness of the fasteners. Also, the effect of lateral tie-stiffness on the safe temperature increase is examined.
Simulation and Detection of Unintended Electromagnetic Emissions From Super-Regenerative Receivers

A novel method for detecting the presence of the unintended electromagnetic emissions (UEE) from radio receivers is examined without a priori data or training. As an extension of previous research, the behavior of the super-regenerative receiver (SRR) is modeled and simulated with fractional Brownian noise to verify the detection model. This model shows that the presence of noise in the feedback circuit of the SRR is responsible for the characteristic frequency distribution of the receiver's UEE. A second-order self-similarity model is used to estimate the Hurst parameter as a detection threshold for the presence of long-range dependent noise that is a characteristic of the SRR feedback circuit. The method is compared to a typical threshold method and is shown to be a significant improvement in the accuracy of detection.
Drill String Wave Modes Produced By a Working Drill Bit

Surface geophones record two groups of arrivals resulting from drill bit impacts on a formation during drilling. One group of arrivals consists of body waves radiated into the earth. These arrivals have been documented in previous studies (Rector and Marion, 1991; Rector and Weiss, 1989; and Rector and Hardage, 1991). The second group of arrivals are ‘drillstring arrivals’. They are initiated by the bit impacts, and travel up the drillstring as an extensional wave. Energy transfer between the drillstring and the adjacent formation results in seismic waves travelling into the earth, away from the drillstring. These waves can be identified in correlated drill bit wavefields. 3) Drillstring Multiple Arrivals