cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
High-pressure-low-temperature metamorphism of granitic orthogneiss in the Brooks Range, northern Alaska

Abstract Granitic orthogneiss is widespread throughout the metamorphic core of the Brooks Range in both the ductilely deformed blueschist/greenschist facies Schist Belt and the lower grade Central Belt (= Skajit allochthon) to the north. Orthogneiss occurs as large metaplutonic massifs and in small bodies enclosed within metasedimentary rocks. Crystallization ages for the granitic protoliths range from Proterozoic through Devonian (U-Pb zircon); the K-Ar system was reset during Cretaceous metamorphism. Mineral assemblages of the orthogneisses reflect nearly complete re-equilibration during Jurassic-Cretaceous collisional orogenesis in northern Alaska. The most common metamorphic paragenesis in orthogneiss is: Qtz + Kfs + Ab + Phe + Bt ± Ep, Ttn, Rt, Ap, Chl, Cal. Constituent minerals from 16 Brooks Range orthogneiss samples were analysed with the electron microprobe. Phengite from the Schist Belt samples is highly enriched in Al-celadonite, with Si values up to 3.50 per formula unit (on an 11-oxygen basis). Central Belt samples contain phengite with lower Si content (±3.38 p.f.u.). In nearly all samples, Si content of phengite varies considerably, reflecting partial re-equilibration to lower pressure and/or higher temperature conditions. Metamorphic conditions were estimated using the Phe-Bt-Kfs-Qtz barometer and the two-feldspar solvus thermometer. The results indicate that the Schist belt underwent high-pressure/low-temperature metamorphism (generally 9-12 kbar at 375-430° C), consistent with the widespread development of glaucophane + epidote/clinozoisite and lawsonite pseudomorphs in other rock types. The Central Belt also experienced a relatively high P-T metamorphism, with most samples yielding pressure estimates in the range 5-8 kbar (at 325-415° C). These results confirm the existence of two metamorphic belts in the core of the Brooks Range that differ in metamorphic conditions by up to 5 kbar. The range in Si content in phengite from Schist Belt samples is consistent with isothermal decompression of up to 5 kbar.
Shallow hydraulic fracturing measurements in Korea support tectonic and seismic indicators of regional stress

Abstract We have conducted five hydraulic fracturing stress measurement campaigns in Korea, involving 13 test holes ranging in depth from 30 to 250 m, at locations from North Seoul to the southern coast of the peninsula. The measurements reveal consistent crustal stress magnitudes and directions that suggest persistence throughout western and southern Korea. The maximum horizontal stress σ H is oriented between ENE–WSW and E–W, in accord with plate movement and deformation, and with directions indicated by both focal mechanism solutions from earthquakes inland and offshore as well as borehole breakouts in mainland China close to its eastern coast. With respect to magnitudes, the vertical stress is the overall minimum stress at all tested locations, suggesting a thrust faulting regime within the relatively shallow depths reached by our tests. Typically, such a stress regime becomes one favoring strike-slip at greater depths, as is also indicated by the focal mechanism solutions around Korea.
SPIN REORIENTATION PHENOMENA IN SUBSTITUTED Pr2 (Co, Fe)17 INTERMETALLICS

Determination des diagrammes de phases d'anisotropie magnetique des composes Pr 2 Co 17−x Fe x et Pr 2 Co 17−x Fe x−y T y (T=Mn, Zr, Ti, Hf). On observe deux temperatures de reorientation de spin
A Further Extension of the Spectrum

IN NATURE of May 7, 1914 (vol. xciii., p. 241), I stated that I had extended the ultra-violet limit of the spectrum to the neighbourhood of wave-length 900 Angstrom units.
Reconstruction of Lateral Skull Base Defects with Radial Forearm Free Flaps: The Double-Layer Technique.

Introduction The radial forearm flap has fallen out of favor in lateral skull base reconstruction in recent literature. However, especially when used in a double layer, a radial forearm may be able to provide the thickness of a large flap while taking advantage of the pliability for which the flap is renowned. Objective To report the results of the double-layer technique of radial forearm free flap reconstruction of lateral temporal bone defects. Design A retrospective chart review. Setting A tertiary care institution. Participants All consecutive patients who underwent lateral temporal bone resections and were reconstructed with free flaps from 2006 to 2012. Major Outcome Measures Flap success rate, complications, and rate of revision surgery. Results A total of 17 patients were identified with free flap reconstruction of the lateral skull base. Seven received reconstruction with a double-layer radial forearm flap. Reconstruction-related complications in this group included one case of facial cellulitis. The flap success rate was 100%. These results were comparable with patients who had other flaps. Conclusions The radial forearm free flap may be an effective reconstruction option for lateral temporal bone defects especially when used in the double-layer technique.
Generalized flux states of the t-J model.

We investigate certain generalized flux phases arising in a mean-field approach to the t-J model. First, we establish that the energy of noninteracting electrons moving in a uniform magnetic field has an absolute minimum as a function of the flux at exactly one flux quantum per particle. Using this result, we show that if the hard-core nature of the hole bosons is taken into account, then the slave-boson mean-field approximation for the t-J Hamiltonian allows for a solution where both the spinons and the holons experience an average flux of one flux quantum per particle. This enables them to achieve the lowest possible energy within the manifold of spatially uniform flux states. In the case of the continuum model, this is possible only for certain fractional fillings and we speculate that the system may react to this frustration effect by phase separation.
EPIDEMIOLOGY OF ACUTE RESPIRATORY DISORDERS IN THE NEWBORN † 1519

Experience suggests that many newborns with acute respiratory disorders do not fit classical diagnostic patterns. We studied 2,115 consecutive deliveries at a major urban teaching hospital to determine the frequency of respiratory disorders of all types.
Closed-form solution of the dispersive flow model for two-phase countercurrent mass transfer processes

Abstract A closed-form frequency domain solution is given for the dispersive-flow mass transfer model with closed-system boundary conditions. This solution complements an existing solution for the steady-state case, and removes a difficulty other workers have noted in modeling the frequency response of continuous countercurrent mass transfer processes.
Rate constants for 1,5- and 1,6-hydrogen atom transfer reactions of mono-, di-, and tri-aryl-substituted donors, models for hydrogen atom transfers in polyunsaturated fatty acid radicals.

Rate constants for 1,5- and 1,6-hydrogen atom transfer reactions in models of polyunsaturated fatty acid radicals were measured via laser flash photolysis methods. Photolyses of PTOC (pyridine-2-thioneoxycarbonyl) ester derivatives of carboxylic acids gave primary alkyl radicals that reacted by 1,5-hydrogen transfer from mono-, di-, and tri-aryl-substituted positions or 1,6-hydrogen transfer from di- and tri-aryl-substituted positions to give UV-detectable products. Rate constants for reactions in acetonitrile at room temperature ranged from 1 × 104 to 4 × 106 s-1. The activation energies for a matched pair of 1,5- and 1,6-hydrogen atom transfers giving tri-aryl-substituted radicals were approximately equal, as were the primary kinetic isotope effects, but the 1,5-hydrogen atom transfer reaction was 1 order of magnitude faster at room temperature than the 1,6-hydrogen atom transfer reaction due to a less favorable entropy of activation for the 1,6-transfer reaction. Solvent effects on the rate constants f...
Challenges in managing dependable data systems

Recent work shows how to automatically design storage systems that meet performance and dependability requirements by appropriately selecting and configuring storage devices, and creating snapshot, remote mirror, and traditional backup copies. Although this work represents a solid foundation, users demand an even higher level of functionality: the ability to cost-effectively manage data according to application-centric (or better, business process-centric) performance, dependability and manageability requirements, as these requirements evolve over the data's lifetime. In this paper, we outline several research challenges in managing dependable data systems, including capturing users' high-level goals; translating them into storage-level requirements; and designing, deploying, and analyzing the resulting data systems.
Biogeochemistry: Phosphorus and the gust of fresh air.

Evidence of intense phosphorus weathering following 'snowball Earth' glaciations raises a further possibility — that this revved-up nutrient cycle drove conditions for the explosion of animal life. See Letter p.1088 Phosphorus is generally thought to be a limiting nutrient of primary productivity in the oceans, and is important in regulating the redox state of the ocean–atmosphere system. Planavsky et al. use the ratio of phosphorus to iron in iron-oxide-rich sedimentary rocks through time to evaluate the evolution of the marine phosphate reservoir. They find relatively constant phosphate concentrations during the past 542 million years of Earth's history. The data are also indicative of high dissolved phosphate concentrations in the aftermath of the 'snowball Earth' glaciations around 700 million years ago, which could have led to high rates of primary productivity, organic carbon burial and an increase in atmospheric oxygen levels, paving the way for the rise of metazoan life.
Reading in Tongues: The Case for a Pneumatalogical Hermeneutic in Conversation with James K. Smith

James K. Smith's recent article "Thinking in Tongues" has made an important contribution in mining Pentecostal instincts and practices for their theological foundations and implications. He not only strikes a chord with Pentecostal readers, but presents a powerful apologetic for Pentecostal theology to non-Pentecostal readers also. The following article uses Smith's thinking as a springboard to introduce a distinctively Pentecostal hermeneutic that seeks an encounter with the Spirit in the reading of the text and is rooted in the mission of the church.
Characterization of ammonia emissions from soils in the upper coastal plain, North Carolina

Abstract A dynamic flow-through chamber system was used to measure fluxes of ammonia-nitrogen (NH 3 -N, where NH 3 -N=(14/17)NH 3 ) from soil surfaces. The research site was located in eastern North Carolina (35.9°N latitude; 77.7°W longitude) and measurements were conducted during spring and winter 2000, in order to assess the NH 3 source strength of intensively managed agricultural soils and the physiochemical properties which control these emissions. Soil temperature ( T soil ), soil pH, soil moisture, total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN=organic N+NH 3 -N+NH 4 + -N) were monitored throughout both research periods. Soil temperature was found to explain the largest variability in soil NH 3 emissions (Log 10 NH 3 -N Flux=0.054 T soil +0.66; R 2 =0.71), suggesting that an approach similar in design to the biogenic emissions inventory system land use and temperature model for NO emissions, might be effective for modeling biogenic NH 3 emissions. Soil nitrogen was also significant in predicting NH 3 flux [NH 3 Flux=55.5(NH 3 -N)−160, R 2 =0.86; NH 3 Flux=0.6(TKN)−410, R 2 =0.27], but only after the two days with the heaviest rainfall were removed from the regression, emphasizing the role of soil moisture in controlling the transfer of gases across the soil/air interface. Soil pH remained relatively constant throughout both research periods and therefore did not serve as a useful predictor of NH 3 flux. A rain event, followed by a drying period produced a characteristic pulse in ammonia emissions. This pulsing phenomenon has been observed for other trace gases by various researchers. This research location was the site of a commercial hog operation, which allowed for the comparison of soil and lagoon emissions (lagoon emissions were based on an algorithm developed by Aneja et al. (J. Geophys. Res. 105 (2000) 11,535). An analysis of the source strengths confirmed that lagoon emissions are a larger flux source (average lagoon flux ∼18,137 ng N m −2 s −1 ; average soil flux ∼54 ng N m −2 s −1 ); however soil surfaces make up a larger fraction of a commercial hog operation than the lagoon surfaces, and as a result they cannot be neglected when developing and apportioning NH 3 emissions. A yearly average of ammonia emissions at this site revealed that soil emissions represent approximately 28% of the lagoon emissions.
Intrathecal substance p-saporin attenuates operant escape from nociceptive thermal stimuli

Destruction of neurons in the superficial dorsal horn that express substance P receptor (NK-1R) has been reported to block development of behavioral hypersensitivity following peripheral sensitization of nociceptors. Baseline sensitivity was not altered in these rat models that assessed innate reflex responses (i.e. hind-paw withdrawal to thermal or mechanical stimulation). In the present study, we evaluated effects of intrathecal substance P-saporin (SP-sap), a toxin selective for cells expressing NK-1R, on operant escape responses of rats to thermal stimulation. For comparison, lick/guard reflex testing was performed. Injection of a modest dose (175 ng) of SP-sap into the lumbar subarachnoid space produced a partial loss of lamina I/II NK-1R-expressing dorsal horn neurons but did not affect NK-1R-expressing neurons in deeper laminae. Lick/guard responses to 0.3, 44 or 47 degrees C were not affected after SP-sap treatment, but escape responses to these temperatures were significantly attenuated. Three hours after application of mustard oil to the dorsal surface of both hind paws, escape from 44 degrees C was enhanced for controls but not SP-sap-treated rats. Lick/guard responses were enhanced by mustard oil for both SP-sap and control animals. Administration of morphine (1.0 mg/kg, s.c.) before testing decreased escape responding at 47 degrees C for both controls and SP-sap rats. Thus, partial loss of NK-1R-expressing neurons in the superficial dorsal horn attenuated thermal nociceptive sensitivity and prevented secondary hyperalgesia when studied with an operant algesia assay, in contrast to innate reflexes which were less sensitive to modification by intrathecal SP-sap.
Strain localization in homogeneous granite near the brittle–ductile transition: A case study of the Kellyland fault zone, Maine, USA

Abstract We present a detailed case study of a strike-slip shear zone that cut homogeneous granite near the brittle–ductile transition. This zone contains three distinct strain facies: (1) a 2–3-km-wide belt of foliated granite, (2) a 100–300-m-wide belt of small localized shear zones, and (3) a 200–400-m-wide belt of ultramylonite that includes both homogeneous and local pinstripe ultramylonites. The foliated granite formed via dislocation creep of quartz and minor dissolution–precipitation creep and dislocation creep of feldspar under amphibolite-facies conditions shortly after granite crystallization. The localized shear zones and homogeneous ultramylonites formed directly from pseudotachylyte and cataclasite, and they deformed by granular flow—grain-boundary sliding coupled with dissolution–precipitation creep. These deformation features reveal a three-phase rheologic evolution in granite near the brittle–ductile transition. Phase 1 is recorded by the foliated granite, and the rheology was governed by dislocation creep of quartz. Phase 2 was a transient period of brittle deformation and represents a temporal strength maxima in the fault zone. Phase 3 was a long-lived period of ductile deformation, and the rheology was governed by the granular flow mechanism. Strain weakening in this zone was a direct result of grain size reduction and phase mixing during transient brittle deformation.
Why Social Capital Subverts Institution Building in Risky Settings

This article considers the problem of fostering confidence in institutions in a post-war context. Situated in post-war Bosnia, this article examines interactions between citizens and representatives of municipal governments on newly established local planning committees to demonstrate that an individual's confidence in an institution and his/her trust in a social intimate who works in that institution are sociologically different phenomena with correspondingly different outcomes for institution building. Contrary to the assumption that increased social capital and interpersonal trust positively affect democratic institutions, this article shows that interpersonal trust may actually undermine the development of institutional confidence.
Burns as a result of assault: associated risk factors, injury characteristics, and outcomes.

The purpose of this study was to identify specific premorbid factors and injury characteristics associated with intentional burn injuries and to compare outcomes for individuals injured by assault and those with unintentional injuries. Participants sustaining major burns from May 1994 to August 2005 and consenting to a multisite, prospective, longitudinal outcome study were included. Etiology of the injury was classified as intentional (i.e., assault) or unintentional. Subjects <18 years old or with self-inflicted burns were excluded. Statistical analysis was performed with t-tests, chi tests, and analysis of variance. Eighty patients sustained intentional burn injuries and 1982 subjects sustained nonintentional burn injuries. Compared to patients with nonintentional burns, those with burns related to assault were more likely to be female, black, and unemployed and to have higher rates of premorbid substance use. Between the groups, there were no significant differences in preinjury living situation, education level, history of psychiatric treatment, or hospital length of stay. The intentional-burn group had larger burns and a greater in-hospital mortality rate, and these patients were less likely to be discharged to home. They also demonstrated significantly greater levels of psychological distress during the acute hospitalization but not at follow-up. Understanding the unique characteristics and needs of patients with intentional burn injuries is important because these individuals are less likely to have a steady income and more likely to rely on community social services. Affordable and accessible community-based health services are necessary in order to improve their outcomes. Language: en
Photosynthetic Enzyme Activities and Localization in Mollugo verticillata Populations Differing in the Levels of C3 and C4 Cycle Operation

Ecotypic differences in the photosynthetic carbon metabolism of Mollugo verticillata were studied. Variations in C3 and C4 cycle activity are apparently due to differences in the activities of enzymes associated with each pathway. Compared to C4 plants, the activities of C4 pathway enzymes were generally lower in M. verticillata, with the exception of the decarboxylase enzyme, NAD malic enzyme. The combined total carboxylase enzyme activity of M. verticillata was greater than that of C3 plants, possibly accounting for the high photosynthetic rates of this species. Unlike either C3 or C4 plants, ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase was present in both mesophyll and bundle sheath cell chloroplasts in M. verticillata. The localization of this enzyme in both cells in this plant, in conjunction with an efficient C4 acid decarboxylation mechanism most likely localized in bundle sheath cell mitochondria, may account for intermediate photorespiration levels previously observed in this species.
Inverse dynamics of articulated flexible structures: simultaneous trajectory tracking and vibration reduction

This paper addresses the problem of inverse dynamics for articulated flexible structures with both lumped and distributed actuators. This problem arises, for example, in the combined vibration minimization and trajectory control of space robots and structures. For such flexible structures, closed loop passive joint based controllers have been shown to be effective in trajectory control by Paden et al. Crucial to the development of such closed loop controllers, which are robust to external perturbations, is the problem of dynamic inversion which yields the nominal state trajectories and the feedforward inputs. In this paper we propose a new inverse dynamics scheme for computing the nominal lumped and distributed feedforward inputs for tracking a prescribed trajectory.
Cell-Autonomous Death of Cerebellar Purkinje Neurons with Autophagy in Niemann-Pick Type C Disease

Niemann-Pick type C is a neurodegenerative lysosomal storage disorder caused by mutations in either of two genes, npc1 and npc2. Cells lacking Npc1, which is a transmembrane protein related to the Hedgehog receptor Patched, or Npc2, which is a secreted cholesterol-binding protein, have aberrant organelle trafficking and accumulate large quantities of cholesterol and other lipids. Though the Npc proteins are produced by all cells, cerebellar Purkinje neurons are especially sensitive to loss of Npc function. Since Niemann-Pick type C disease involves circulating molecules such as sterols and steroids and a robust inflammatory response within the brain parenchyma, it is crucial to determine whether external factors affect the survival of Purkinje cells (PCs). We investigated the basis of neurodegeneration in chimeric mice that have functional npc1 in only some cells. Death of mutant npc1 cells was not prevented by neighboring wild-type cells, and wild-type PCs were not poisoned by surrounding mutant npc1 cells. PCs undergoing cell-autonomous degeneration have features consistent with autophagic cell death. Chimeric mice exhibited a remarkable delay and reduction of wasting and ataxia despite their substantial amount of mutant tissue and dying cells, revealing a robust mechanism that partially compensates for massive PC death.
Cloning and Characterization of a Second Human CTP:Phosphocholine Cytidylyltransferase

CTP phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase (CCT) is a key regulator of phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis, and only a single isoform of this enzyme, CCTα, is known. We identified and sequenced a human cDNA that encoded a distinct CCT isoform, called CCTβ, that is derived from a gene different from that encoding CCTα. CCTβ transcripts were detected in human adult and fetal tissues, and very high transcript levels were found in placenta and testis. CCTβ and CCTα proteins share highly related, but not identical, catalytic domains followed by three amphipathic helical repeats. Like CCTα, CCTβ required the presence of lipid regulators for maximum catalytic activity. The amino terminus of CCTβ bears no resemblance to the amino terminus of CCTα, and CCTβ protein was localized to the cytoplasm as detected by indirect immunofluorescent microscopy. Whereas CCTα activity is regulated by reversible phosphorylation, CCTβ lacks most of the corresponding carboxyl-terminal domain and contained only 3 potential phosphorylation sites of the 16 identified in CCTα. Transfection of COS-7 cells with a CCTβ expression construct led to the overexpression of CCT activity, the accumulation of cellular CDP-choline, and enhanced radiolabeling of phosphatidylcholine. CCTβ protein was posttranslationally modified in COS-7 cells, resulting in slower migration during polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Expression of CCTβ/CCTα chimeric proteins showed that the amino-terminal portion of CCTβ was required for posttranslational modification. These data demonstrate that a second, distinct CCT enzyme is expressed in human tissues and provides another mechanism by which cells regulate phosphatidylcholine production.
Spatial Resolution of Relief Holograms in Dichromated Gelatin

The properties of relief phase holograms in unhardened dichromated gelatin have been investigated. Relief holograms are particularly attractive when it is desired to duplicate the stored information. Unhardened layers of gelatin were exposed with two collimated laser beams and developed by washing away the unexposed material. This resulted in high quality gratings with very low scattering. By varying the spatial frequency, it was found that the depth of modulation starts to decrease approximately linearly at a few microns grating spacing. This limited spatial resolution was shown not to be a property of the basic photochemical process of polymerization but due to a development step. Larger modulation and diffraction efficiencies can be produced at the higher frequencies by other development procedures, but they also result in increased scattering which is incompatible with high quality holograms.
Visualization study of melting and solidification in convecting hypoeutectic Ga-In alloy

Natural convection flow visualization experiments during melting and solidification of a hypoeutectic gallium five weight percent indium were performed using a real time X-ray radioscopy technique. The experiments revealed a conductive-convective threshold for the onset of natural convection in the alloy. The threshold appears to be caused by a substantial chemical stratification of indium in the melt. The observed gravitational segregation has been evaluated and compared to theoretical models, which, however, do not predict the observations.
Metabolism of short-chain fatty acids by rat colonic mucosa in vivo

To determine the influence of substrate concentration and substrate interactions on short-chain fatty acid metabolism in vivo, a surgical procedure was established. Rats were surgically operated to...
Does the American College of Surgeons NSQIP-Pediatric Accurately Represent Overall Patient Outcomes?

Background The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program-Pediatrics (NSQIP-P) collects data for institutional quality benchmarking of surgery performed on children using a sampling algorithm. The Pediatric and Infant Case Log and Outcomes (PICaLO) is a database of all general and thoracic pediatric surgery (GTPS) procedures performed at our institution with the attendant complications. This study compared postsurgical occurrences in a NSQIP-P sample with all postoperative occurrences at a single institution to test the hypothesis that a sample of higher risk procedures represents the actual event rate for all higher risk procedures. Study Design The definitions of postoperative occurrences used in PICaLO are derived from NSQIP-P but tracked past 30 days postoperatively and include additional occurrences (ie, anastomotic leak). The number and types of occurrences and number of deaths from PICaLO and NSQIP-P databases were compared for procedures specific to pediatric GTPS procedures during 2012 to 2013. A chi-square test evaluated the proportion of occurrences and deaths in PICaLO to NSQIP-P. Results The NSQIP-P sampled 37.7% of eligible GTS procedures recorded in PICaLO during the study period. The proportion of cases with 1 or more occurrences was significantly higher in the NSQIP-P dataset when compared with all cases in PICaLO (p Conclusions In focused comparisons, the data demonstrate that the NSQIP-P sampling algorithm successfully identifies CPT codes with higher postoperative event rates than the overall cohort of pediatric GTPS patients, but may not be reflective of the total experience for procedures with those CPT codes.
Impact of tamoxifen adjuvant therapy on symptoms, functioning, and quality of life.

This article reviews the symptoms and everyday problems associated with tamoxifen adjuvant therapy and their impact on patients' quality of life. In addition, the purported toxic effects of tamoxifen therapy (e.g., premature menopause, weight gain, and depression) are discussed, and data are presented that refute claims of the toxicity of tamoxifen therapy. From randomized controlled trials of adjuvant therapy, we know that tamoxifen therapy increases the rate of hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal discharge; however, in observational studies these symptoms do not have a statistically significant impact on patients' quality of life as measured by standardized, self-report questionnaires. The Breast Cancer Prevention Trial found no evidence of excessive rates of depression or clinically significant differences in sexual functioning between women receiving placebo and those receiving tamoxifen therapy. Although several serious medical risks from tamoxifen therapy exist (e.g., uterine cancer, blood clots, stroke, and cataracts), there are additional benefits from tamoxifen therapy in addition to an increase in disease-free survival rates and overall survival rates, including a decrease in contralateral breast cancer and fractures. Ultimately, the decision to receive tamoxifen therapy is a personal choice for each woman to make on the basis of the evidence of tamoxifen therapy's benefits and risks, along with her own motivation to receive therapy. When the benefits of such therapy are small, some women may choose to avoid treatment, but others may wish to try therapy to determine whether possible side effects are relevant. For women in whom the absolute survival benefits are large, there may be less difficulty in making this decision.
Draft Genome Sequence of Vibrio fischeri SR5, a Strain Isolated from the Light Organ of the Mediterranean Squid Sepiola robusta

Here, we describe the draft genome sequence of Vibrio fischeri SR5, a squid symbiotic isolate from Sepiola robusta in the Mediterranean Sea. This 4.3-Mbp genome sequence represents the first V. fischeri genome from an S. robusta symbiont and the first from outside the Pacific Ocean.
The Relevance of Empirical Research in Bioethics

Empirical research related to ethical issues in clinical research has grown dramatically in recent years. However, little attention has been devoted to the ethical relevance of the findings from this research. In order to examine the value and limitations of ethics-related empirical research, we discuss 3 case studies involving research with stored biological samples, placebo-controlled trials, and the idea of the therapeutic misconception.
Resilience and resistance of ecosystem functional response to a precipitation pulse in a semi‐arid grassland

Summary 1 In water-limited ecosystems, discrete precipitation events trigger brief but important episodes of biological activity. Differential responses of above- and below-ground biota to precipitation may constrain biogeochemical transformations at the ecosystem scale. 2 We quantified short-term dynamics of whole ecosystem response to 39 mm irrigation events (precipitation pulses) during June 2002 and 2003 using plant physiological and ecosystem gas-exchange measurements as state variables in a principal components analysis (PCA). Experimental plots consisted of either native ( Heteropogon contortus L.) or non-native ( Eragrostis lehmanniana Nees) bunchgrasses planted in monoculture on two distinct geomorphic surfaces in a semi-arid grassland. 3 For 15 days, treatments followed similar, non-linear trajectories through state variable space with measurement periods forming distinct clusters; PCA axes 1 and 2 combined to explain 80.7% of the variation during both 2002 and 2003. 4 During both years, bunchgrass species interacted with soil type such that there was a reduction in ecosystem functional resistance in plots planted with the non-native bunchgrass species on the fine-textured clay geomorphic surface. 5 System-level hysteresis, emerging as a result of independent responses of photosynthesis, respiration and evapotranspiration to precipitation, indicated the potential for alternative functional states. 6 Quantifying the frequency and duration of ecosystem alternative functional states in response to individual precipitation events within a season will provide insights into the controls of species, soils and climate on ecosystem carbon and water cycles.
Increased group size promotes task specialization in a normally solitary halictine bee

Division of labour is a fundamental property of animal groups; how it is generated and evolves is, therefore, of central importance to sociobiology. Self-organizational models suggest (1) that division of labour can emerge spontaneously at the origin of group living and (2) that increased group size further promotes task specialization. We examined the emergence and scaling of division of labour in an evolutionarily incipient social system: forced associations of the normally solitary halictine bee Lasioglossum (Ctenonomia) NDA-1. A division of labour between nest excavation and guarding arose in pairs and in groups of four bees, with individuals in larger groups exhibiting higher degrees of task specialization. Task differentiation may be facilitated by intrinsic behavioral variability and/or spatial organization. Our results support the hypotheses that division of labour can self-organize at early stages of social evolution and that greater individual specialization is an emergent consequence of increased group size.
Melanoma in the older patient: measuring frailty as an index of survival.

The population continues to age, and with that aging will come increasing numbers of cancer cases diagnosed at older ages, including cutaneous melanoma. The number of people in the United States aged 65 and above is expected to increase from 35 million in 2000 to 86.7 million by 2050. 1 Age-adjusted mortality rates for all cancers in the United States are higher for patients age 65 and above than for patients younger than 65. For melanoma, both the incidence and mortality rates are higher among older patients. 2 The explanation for the difference in melanoma outcomes in older patients is likely to be multifactorial; it could be related to differences in biology of cancer itself in older patients; differences in patient physiology, with older patients more likely to have immune system dysfunction or multiple comorbidities; or differences in access to and application of health care resources. 3 Care of the older melanoma patient presents many challenges, related both to different biology of cancer in older persons and to the different biology of older persons themselves. The risk of being diagnosed with melanoma increases with age. 2 In the United States, men between the ages of 40 and 59 years have a 1 in 157 probability of being diagnosed with melanoma, compared to a probability of 1 in 54 at age 70 and older. For women, the probability of being diagnosed with melanoma is 1 in 181 between 40 and 59 years, and increases to 1 in 123 at 70 years and older. 4 Moreover, older melanoma patients on average possess poorer prognostic factors at diagnosis. Older patients are more likely to have primary melanomas that are thicker, nodular, ulcerated, and located on the head and neck. More new melanoma cases are now diagnosed in people over age 60 and with the aging of the population, this trend is expected to continue, with even greater numbers of melanoma cases being diagnosed in older persons in the coming decades. Improvement in the evaluation and treatment of melanoma in the older person will assume increasing importance. Older patients are not only more likely to be diagnosed with melanoma, but are also more likely to die from this malignancy. In a multivariable analysis of over 17,600 patients, age was an independent poor prognostic factor in patients with stage I–III melanoma. 5 Age is a persistently significant poor prognostic factor among node-positive melanoma patients. In a recent multivariable analysis of 2313 node-positive melanoma patients from the American Joint Commission on Cancer (AJCC) database, patients age C70 years had significantly poorer survival than did younger patients. 6 The reason for poorer outcomes in older
Analyzing Social Issues Related to Teaching about the Federal Budget, Federal Debt, and Budget Deficit in Fifty State High School Social Studies Standards

This study of all fifty state, high school social studies curriculum standards found a lack of attention in the vast majority of state standards to the federal budget, federal debt, and budget deficit, topics of significant concern. These concepts are important to teaching about economics in the United States since they lie at the center of contemporary debates about the health of the nation's economy and its long-term viability. Our research discovered broad variation among states in the degree of specificity about teaching these economic concepts. We discuss specific ways in which some of the economic concepts found in state social studies standards might be used to infuse content about federal budget, federal debt, and budget deficit into high school social studies courses, critical topics in light of contemporary debates about the future of American entitlement programs and the federal government.
Transcription of Arabidopsis and wheat Cab genes in single tobacco transgenic seedlings exhibits independent rhythms in a developmentally regulated fashion

Summary Transcription of Cab genes has been previously shown to be regulated by a circadian oscillator coupled to the red light-absorbing plant photoreceptor phytochrome in various plant species. In addition, it has recently been suggested that rhythmic expression of the Cab genes could also be affected by a phytochrome-independent circadian oscillator in a developmentally regulated fashion. This study has shown that a red light-insensitive oscillator and a phytochrome-coupled circadian clock indeed coregulate the oscillating expression of individual Cab genes at the level of transcription at an early developmental stage. The study involved analysing the expression patterns of transgenes, containing short fragments of the Arabidopsis thaliana Cab2 or the wheat Cab-1 promoter fused to the firefly luciferase reporter gene, by a videoimaging system in single, etiolated tobacco seedlings. Germination and red/far-red light treatments applied between 12 and 36 h after sowing lead to the appearance of two independent circadian rhythms. These rhythms coexist, both exhibiting period lengths close to 25 h but phased differently. However, repeated red-light treatments given 60 h or later after sowing synchronize these freerunning rhythms and induce a single new circadian oscillation. These data indicate that both oscillators regulate the expression of the Cab genes studied at the level of
Motion control of magnetized Tetrahymena pyriformis cells by a magnetic field with Model Predictive Control

This paper presents the Model Predictive Control (MPC) of magnetized Tetrahymena pyriformis ( T. pyriformis) using a magnetic field. The magnetized T. pyriformis are generated by feeding spherical iron oxide particles into the cells. Using an external magnetic field, we change the movement direction of the cell, but the speed of the cell remains constant regardless of the strength of the external magnetic field. The contributions of this paper are threefold. First, the discrete-time plant model of the magnetized cell is generated using the least-squares method. Second, using the model of each cell, they are controlled to follow a reference track by an external magnetic field with MPC. Third, by using a predictor-like scheme to execute the plant input before the measurement of the cell position, we successfully solve the image-processing delay problem in the feedback system. In our results, we show three comparisons between different control schemes and an initial tracking to prove the effectiveness of the control approach.
Global Regulation of Gene Expression and Cell Differentiation in Caulobacter crescentus in Response to Nutrient Availability

In a developmental strategy designed to efficiently exploit and colonize sparse oligotrophic environments, Caulobacter crescentus cells divide asymmetrically, yielding a motile swarmer cell and a sessile stalked cell. After a relatively fixed time period under typical culture conditions, the swarmer cell differentiates into a replicative stalked cell. Since differentiation into the stalked cell type is irreversible, it is likely that environmental factors such as the availability of essential nutrients would influence the timing of the decision to abandon motility and adopt a sessile lifestyle. We measured two different parameters in nutrient-limited chemostat cultures, biomass concentration and the ratio of nonstalked to stalked cells, over a range of flow rates and found that nitrogen limitation significantly extended the swarmer cell life span. The transcriptional profiling experiments described here generate the first comprehensive picture of the global regulatory strategies used by an oligotroph when confronted with an environment where key macronutrients are sparse. The pattern of regulated gene expression in nitrogen- and carbon-limited cells shares some features in common with most copiotrophic organisms, but critical differences suggest that Caulobacter, and perhaps other oligotrophs, have evolved regulatory strategies to deal distinctly with their natural environments. We hypothesize that nitrogen limitation extends the swarmer cell lifetime by delaying the onset of a sequence of differentiation events, which when initiated by the correct combination of external environmental cues, sets the swarmer cell on a path to differentiate into a stalked cell within a fixed time period.
Effect of temperature on post‐activity oxygen consumption in lunged and lungless salamanders

Temperate zone lunged, temperate zone lungless, and neotropical lungless salamanders were examined to determine if differences in rates of oxygen consumption (V) after vigorous activity are correlated with body temperature and size differences among the three groups. Salamanders were stimulated electrically for two minutes, and V measured for 75 minutes afterwards using Warburg manometers. Slopes of regressions of log maximum V against log body size are greater for lunged salamanders than for lungless salamanders at 5°, 15° and 25°C; differences in slope among groups do not change with temperature. Slopes of log aerobic scope-log body size regressions are also greater for lunged salamanders than for lungless salamanders, but this difference increases with temperature. Lungless salamanders repay oxygen debt more slowly than lunged salamanders at large body size and high temperatures. Q10's of maximum V and aerobic scope increase less with temperature in lungless salamander species than in lunged salamander species. If differences in V are due to respiratory surface area differences, then lunglessness may restrict post-activity V at large body size and high temperatures. However, neotropical lungless salamanders live at high temperatures and large sizes, which suggests that high post-activity V is unnecessary for many salamanders.
Is there an advantage in scoring early embryos on more than one day

BACKGROUND This study was undertaken to determine what characteristics should be recorded on which days to build a predictive model for selection of Day 3 embryos.
Spatial dependence of phenotype-environment associations for tadpoles in natural ponds

Within natural habitats, phenotypes are shaped by many environmental factors. Consequently, heterogeneity of these factors can promote phenotypic divergence. However, because environments exhibit heterogeneity at different spatial scales, phenotypic divergence should also exhibit such scale-dependence. Using hierarchical linear models, I determined how multiple environmental factors at two spatial scales affected the morphology of wood frog (Rana (Lithobates) sylvatica) tadpoles collected from natural ponds. Among ponds, predation risk intensity and tadpole density were strong predictors of tadpole morphology, while within ponds, other environmental variables such as water depth and leaf litter were more important. Spatial analyses revealed that water depth and leaf litter, but not predation risk intensity or tadpole density, exhibited heterogeneous spatial distributions within ponds, suggesting that spatial properties of environmental variables influenced the scale at which they shaped phenotypes. Furthermore, patterns of phenotypic variation with respect to predation risk intensity and tadpole density among ponds largely matched observations from previous laboratory studies. These results emphasize the importance of considering phenotype-environment associations across multiple spatial scales.
The interaction between Ran and NTF2 is required for cell cycle progression.

The small GTPase Ran is required for the trafficking of macromolecules into and out of the nucleus. Ran also has been implicated in cell cycle control, specifically in mitotic spindle assembly. In ...
Adverse effect of increased left ventricular wall thickness on five year outcomes of patients with negative dobutamine stress

To determine if patients without dobutamine induced left ventricular wall motion abnormalities (WMA) but an increased LV end-diastolic wall thickness (EDWT) exhibit a favorable cardiac prognosis. Between 1999 and 2001, 175 patients underwent a dobutamine stress cardiovascular magnetic resonance (DCMR) procedure utilizing gradient-echo cines. Participants had a LV ejection fraction >55% without evidence of an inducible WMA during peak dobutamine/atropine stress. After an average of 5.5 years, all participants were contacted and medical records were reviewed to determine the post-DCMR occurrence of cardiac death, myocardial infarction (MI), and unstable angina (USA) or congestive heart failure (CHF) warranting hospitalization. In a multivariate analysis, that took into account Framingham and other risk factors associated with cardiac events, a cine gradient-echo derived LV EDWT ≥12 mm was associated independently with an increase in cardiac death and MI (HR 6.0, p = 0.0016), and the combined end point of MI, cardiac death, and USA or CHF warranting hospitalization (HR 3.0, p = 0.0005). Similar to echocardiography, CMR measures of increased LV wall thickness should be considered a risk factor for cardiac events in individuals receiving negative reports of inducible ischemia after dobutamine stress. Additional prognostic studies of the importance of LV wall thickness and mass measured with steady-state free precession techniques are warranted.
Art and Culture as Central Place Functions

Data on artists by location in 1970 and 1980, and on the non-profit theatre sector in 1988-89, indicate that art and culture are pre-eminently central place functions. The concentration of performing artists into large metropolitan areas increased from 1970 to 1980, while that of painters and sculptors diminished. New York and Los Angeles are the top locations for performing artists, although Los Angeles is largely a centre for mass media production rather than live production. Other studies cited in this paper indicate that local market structure in the non-profit theatre strongly affects artistic policy, supporting Chinitz's emphasis on the importance of supply-side factors in urban studies.
Ecopsychology of Demeter and Persephone: from ancient life of Eleusinian mystery to postmodern biopolitics of Fukushima nuclear disaster

When reading the mythology of Persephone, Demeter, and Artemis from the perspective of ecopsychology, the meanings of natural disasters like the 2011 Japan Earthquake, followed by the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Disaster, are revealed in depth. The mythology of Persephone and Demeter provides an idea of the object relation between an individual life (bios) and life in general (zoe). Harold F. Searles analyzed the relation between environmental crisis and technology. The problem of externalization of developmental anxiety of the paranoid-schizoid position has been pointed out by Carl Jung, Wolfgang Giegerich, and Brigitte Egger in terms of unconscious acting out of mythology. In the history of science, epistemology of the notion of nature has been centered around the aphorism of Heraclitus: ‘Nature loves to hide’. As Jung presented an idea of psychoid unconscious, we need to find the secret of nature within the mystery of being.