cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Chandra view of the normal S0 galaxy NGC 1332. I: An unbroken, steep power-law luminosity function for the low-mass X-ray binary population

Chandra ACIS -S3 observations of the nearby S0 galaxy NGC 1332 resolve much of the X-ray emission into 73 point sources, of which 37 lie within the D25 isophote. The remaining galaxy emission comprises hot, diffuse gas and unresolved sources and is discussed in two companion papers. The point-source X-ray luminosity function (XLF) shows the characteristic break seen in other early-type galaxies at ~2 × 1038 ergs s-1. After applying corrections for detection incompleteness at low luminosities due to source confusion and contamination from diffuse galactic emission, the break vanishes and the data are well described as a single power law. This result casts further doubt on there being a "universal" XLF break in early-type galaxies, marking the division between neutron star and black hole systems. The logarithmic slope of the differential XLF (dN/dL), β = 2.7 ± 0.5, is marginally (~2.5 σ) steeper than has been found for analogous completeness-corrected fits of other early-type galaxies but closely matches the behavior seen at high luminosities in these systems. Two of the sources within D25 are ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULXs), although neither have LX > 2 × 1039 ergs s-1. The absence of very luminous ULXs in early-type galaxies suggests a break in the XLF slope at ~(1-2) × 1039 ergs s-1, although the data were not of sufficient quality to constrain such a feature in NGC 1332. The sources have a spatial distribution consistent with the optical light and display a range of characteristics that are consistent with an LMXB population. The general spectral characteristics of the individual sources, as well as the composite source spectra, are in good agreement with observations of other early-type galaxies, although a small number of highly absorbed sources are seen. Two sources have very soft spectra, two show strong variability, indicating compact binary nature, and one source shows evidence of an extended radial profile. We do not detect a central source in NGC 1332, but we find a faint [LX = (2 ± 1) × 1038 ergs s-1] point source coincident with the center of the companion dwarf galaxy NGC 1331.
Anticoagulation Review A Primer for the Home Health care Provider

Anticoagulants, also known as antithrombotics, are among the most commonly prescribed medications in the United States. Understanding how these medications work, the propensity for interactions with other drugs, dietary factors, and disease states is important for clinicians assessing and providing care to patients in all environments. In this review, we seek to provide essential information for the home health care provider for evaluating patients receiving anticoagulants commonly prescribed in the home health care setting. The low-molecular-weight heparins and vitamin K antagonists are the most commonly used agents for outpatient anticoagulation. New agents, such as the direct factor Xa inhibitors and direct thrombin inhibitors have recently been approved with additional new agents in the approval process and development pipeline. We seek to review the most pertinent information for each of these classes of medications providing information on pharmacology, interactions with other drugs, diet, and disea...
Inhibiting dopamine reuptake blocks the induction of long-term potentiation and depression in the lateral entorhinal cortex of awake rats.

Synaptic plasticity in olfactory inputs to the lateral entorhinal cortex may result in lasting changes in the processing of olfactory stimuli. Changes in dopaminergic tone can have strong effects on basal evoked synaptic responses in the superficial layers of the entorhinal cortex, and the current study investigated whether dopamine may modulate the induction of long-term potentiation (LTP) and depression (LTD) in piriform cortex inputs to layer II of the lateral entorhinal cortex in awake rats. Groups of animals were pretreated with either saline or the selective dopamine reuptake inhibitor GBR12909 prior to low or high frequency stimulation to induce LTD or LTP. In saline-treated groups, synaptic responses were potentiated to 122.4 ± 6.4% of baseline levels following LTP induction, and were reduced to 84.5 ± 4.9% following induction of LTD. Changes in synaptic responses were maintained for up to 60 min and returned to baseline levels within 24 h. In contrast, induction of both LTP and LTD was blocked in rats pretreated with GBR12909. Dopaminergic suppression of synaptic plasticity in the entorhinal cortex may serve to restrain activity-dependent plasticity during reward-relevant behavioral states or during processing of novel stimuli.
Solvation potentials for macromolecules

A solvation potential replaces the problem of the conformation of a molecule in solution with the problem of the conformation of a single molecule in an external field. Practical solvation potentials for macromolecules treated with an interaction‐site model must be site‐pairwise additive. A key requirement for accuracy of a pairwise additive potential is the inclusion to some degree of the intramolecular screening of the solvent‐mediated interactions between sites. We analyze this requirement from a diagrammatic point of view and suggest it explains the accuracy of the ‘‘Gaussian‐fluctuation’’ approximate potential relative to the superposition approximation. Our analysis suggests a new approximate potential that we call a ‘‘Percus–Yevick‐style’’ solvation potential, the presentation of which is the concrete contribution here. In the following paper this new potential is tested for a model linear nonpolar polymer.
Measurement science in the circulatory system

The dynamics of the cellular and molecular constituents of the circulatory system are regulated by the biophysical properties of the heart, vasculature and blood cells and proteins. In this review, we discuss measurement techniques that have been developed to characterize the physical and mechanical parameters of the circulatory system across length scales ranging from the tissue scale (cm) to the molecular scale (nm) and time scales of years to milliseconds. We compare the utility of measurement techniques as a function of spatial resolution and penetration depth from both a diagnostic and research perspective. Together, this review provides an overview of the utility of measurement science techniques to study the spatial systems of the circulatory system in health and disease.
Management of tropical soils as sinks or sources of atmospheric carbon

The prevailing paradigm for anticipating changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) with changes in land use postulates reductions in SOC in managed systems (agriculture and tree plantations) relative to mature tropical forests. Variations of this notion are used in carbon models to predict the role of tropical soils in the global carbon cycle. Invariably these models show tropical soils as sources of atmospheric carbon. We present data from a variety of studies that show that SOC in managed systems can be lower, the same as, or greater than mature tropical forests and that SOC can increase rapidly after the abandonment of agricultural fields. History of land use affects the comparison of SOC in managed and natural ecosystems. Our review of the literature also highlights the need for greater precautions when comparing SOC in mature tropical forests with that of managed ecosystems. Information on previous land use, bulk density, and consistency in sampling depth are some of the most common omissions in published studies. From comparable SOC data from a variety of tropical land uses we estimate that tropical soils can accumulate between 168 and 553 Tg C/yr. The greatest potential for carbon sequestration in tropical soils is in the forest fallows which cover some 250 million hectares. Increased attention to SOC by land managers can result in greater rates of carbon sequestration than predicted by current SOC models.
Processing and assembly of the head of bacteriophage lambda

When phage DNA is added to an extract of an induced lambda lysogen, complete phage particles are made that contain the added DNA. The DNA substrate for packaging is a covalently joined polymer of several phage units. Unjoined units must first be joined by DNA ligase in the extract. Therefore DNA cutting is a necessary part of the DNA packaging reaction. The protein product of gene A, called A protein, behaves like the enzyme that cuts DNA and is a necessary component of the extract. Three of the head proteins preassemble into a spherical shell that subsequently combines with DNA. These shells are made of E protein, the major protein of a finished head, and they can be the sole source of that protein. They also contain a few molecules of two processed proteins, fused C–E and cleaved B. The processing may be essential for assembly because other shells that contain C protein not fused and B protein uncleaved are less than 1% as active. Protein A and DNA first react with the protein shells, then D protein, the second most abundant head protein, is added. These new observations are combined with published data to develop a comprehensive view of λ head assembly.
Predicting recurrence in axillary-node negative breast cancer patients.

This study attempted to identify the risk groups in axillary node negative breast cancer patients using validated first-generation prognostic clinical and pathologic factors. An updated 10-year follow-up in 407 such patients treated by surgery alone at Roswell Park between 1976–1987 showed a 10-year recurrence rate (RR) of 19% (95% confidence interval ±5%). Predictors of outcome were, in order of strength: (1) Tumor size (p= 0.0006); RR at 10 years was 2% ± 4 for tumors ≤ 0.5cm, 6% ± 7 for tumors 0.6-1.0cm, 16% ± 9 for 1.1–2cm, 29% ± 12 for 2.1–5cm, and 40% ± 31 over 5cm; (2) Histologic differentiation (p = 0.017); poorly differentiated/anaplastic (P/A) tumors had a greater RR (24% ± 8) than well or moderately differentiated (W/M) tumors (13% ± 8); (3) Age (p = 0.046); patients 50, 17% ± 7 (p = 0.046). Cox Model analysis showed tumor size (4 groups) significant at 2cm (RR 32% ± 12), and (2) patients with tumors 1.1–2cm, P/A (RR 21% ± 14). These should receive adjuvant therapy. Groups with intermediate risk are patients with tumor 1.1-2cm, W/M (RR 12% ± 12). In a suggestive finding, those in this group over age 50 had a RR of 11% ± 12, while those up to 50 had a RR of 17% ± 30. These patients should be considered to be prime candidates for clinical trials. Adding second generation factors such as DNA ploidy or S-phase fraction to first generation factors should provide additional information on which to base therapy decisions, particularly in the gray area of intermediate risk. Our study indicates that node-negative breast cancer patients represent a heterogeneous population in terms of risk and prognosis, and that an individualized approach to adjuvant therapy should be taken.
Comparative Study of One-Dimensional Photonic Bandgap Structures Using Multilayer Nonlinear Thin Films

The transmission of electromagnetic radiation through the nonlinear one-dimensional photonic bandgap structure with different configurations are comparatively studied. It is found that the quarter-wavelength thickness arrangement gives rise to a wide window in the visible wavelength range. The modulated superlattice scheme only produces a number of narrow windows. The scheme using random layer thickness is expected to open a very wide window by making use of film nonlinearity when the number of layers is sufficient large. These nonlinear devices can be fabricated by using available materials.
A hybrid-hybrid matrix method for 3D NOE-NOE data analysis.

Abstract A hybrid-hybrid matrix method is described that quantitatively analyzes 3D NOE-NOE NR IR data, Experimental 3D data are merged with simulated 3D data to create a hybrid 3D NOE-NOE spectrum. This is then deconvoluted into a 2D hybrid NOESY spectrum, The deconvoluted, 2D hybrid NOESY spectrum can then be merged with other 2D NOESY experimental data along with additional simulated 2D data as necessary to create a hybrid-hybrid 2D NOE volume matrix, This hybrid-hybrid volume matrix is then used with the complete relaxation program, MORASS, to calculate a rate matrix, and the resulting distances taken from the off-diagonal cross-relaxation rates can then be utilized in a distance geometry or restrained molecular-dynamics refinement of the structure, This process is repeated until a satisfactory agreement between the calculated and observed 3D volumes is obtained, This hybrid-hybrid matrix method retains computational efficiency and utilizes the resolution of the 3D data set while retaining any information content of the available 2D data. The initial tests of the deconvolution algorithm give high correlation results even with the introduction of random error into the 3D data set, Our results suggest that the hybrid-hybrid matrix method for analysis of 3D NOE-NOE spectra map provide a viable tool in the refinement of large molecules,
An integrative model of ambivalence

Abstract Ambivalence is a widely experienced psychological state, but inter-disciplinary studies, to a certain extent, define and conceptualize ambivalence independently. In spite of its lack of clarity, ambivalence has become an increasingly popular concept, utilized in hypotheses concerning a variety of social phenomena. This study provides an overview of extant studies on ambivalence, and summarizes the similarities and differences in how practitioners of social psychology, political science, and sociology have adopted the concept. A survey of literature from the three fields suggests four distinctive definitions of ambivalence or antecedents that have caused ambivalence: (1) co-activation of both positivity and negativity; (2) co-emergence of conflicting attitudes; (3) co-constraint of conflicting values; and (4) co-existence of conflicting reference groups. Some potential problems, such as inconsistent findings and lack of relevant measures or indices are indicated, and alternative methods are suggested. The paper concludes by suggesting a more sophisticated and precise integrative model of ambivalence.
Food intake and behavioral caloric compensation after protein repletion in the rat.

Abstract The food intake response of rats to intragastrically infused or orally consumed protein was characterized and compared to the response to similarly administered carbohydrate. In Experiment 1, protein hydrolysate loads administered at the beginning of the dark phase via chronic intragastric cannulae led to rapid (complete within 3–4 hr), dose-related suppressions of food intake in comparison to sham loads or to urea loads controlling for volume, concentration and pH. The suppression remained evident in cumulative intake records through 24 hr and represented a greater than caloric compensation for the amount of metabolizeable energy delivered (1.38 and 1.12 kcal/kcal in Experiments 1a and 1b, respectively). In Experiment 2, protein hydrolysate loaded by gavage suppressed food intake significantly more than isocaloric glucose loads (1.32 vs 0.81 kcal/kcal after 24 hr). Water intake in both experiments was elevated by protein loads, although this occurred after the food intake suppression. Differential satiety responses to protein and carbohydrate repletion were shown in Experiment 3 to extend to orally consumed, naturally occurring macronutrients—casein vs starch and disaccharide diets. These data suggest that satiety in the rat is not solely graded with respect to the energy delivered by the preceding meal but rather that repletion with different macronutrients leads to quantitatively (or perhaps qualitatively) different satieties.
“Finger Trap” Penile Lengthening After Partial Penectomy by Multiple Incisions in the Tunica Albuginea

Penile reconstruction after penectomy has been achieved in a number of ways, usually requiring the use of myocutaneous,' free: tubed pedicle2.3 or cutaneous3.4 flaps. We describe a method of reconstruction after par t id penectomy using only local tissue, borrowing From techniques used to treat penile shortening in men with Peyronie's d i ~ e a s e . ~ This technique incorporates hemi-circumferential staggered incision of the tunica albuginea and placement of a penile prosthesis. which allows extension of the existing penis in the manner of a Chinese "finger trap." We applied this technique to penile lengthening after partial penectomy with satisfactory results in 2 patients.
Role of bombesin on gut mucosal growth.

OBJECTIVE: The authors examined the effects of exogenous bombesin (BBS) on gut mucosal growth in chow-fed rats and the mucosal regeneration after gut atrophy brought about by feeding an elemental diet and after intestinal injury produced by methotrexate (MTX). SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Bombesin is one of many gastrointestinal peptides implicated in the regulation of gut mucosal growth. Although BBS is known to stimulate growth of normal pancreatic tissue, the trophic effect of BBS on gut mucosa is less clear and its exact role in gut mucosal regeneration and repair is not known. METHODS: Rats were fed a regular chow diet (control) or an elemental diet plus either saline or BBS (10 micrograms/kg). In another experiment, rats fed a chow diet and treated with saline or BBS were given MTX (20 micrograms/kg) or a single intraperitoneal injection. In all experiments, small and large bowel mucosa and pancreas were removed and analyzed for BBS-mediated proliferation. RESULTS: Bombesin produced significant mucosal proliferation of the small bowel at day 14, but not at day 7, in rats fed regular chow. In contrast, BBS treatment for 7 days produced significant proliferation in both the atrophic and injured gut mucosa of rats given elemental diet or MTX. CONCLUSIONS: Bombesin may be an important enterotrophic factor for normal mucosal proliferation and may be clinically beneficial as an agent to restore or maintain gut mucosa during periods of atrophy or injury.
Cell membrane fluidity in the intact kidney proximal tubule measured by orientation-independent fluorescence anisotropy imaging.

Membrane fluidity was measured in the isolated perfused proximal tubule from rabbit kidney. The apical and basolateral plasma membranes of tubule cells were stained separately with the fluidity-sensitive fluorophore trimethylammonium-diphenyl-hexatriene (TMA-DPH) by luminal or bath perfusion. Fluorescence anisotropy (r) of TMA-DPH was mapped with spatial resolution using an epifluorescence microscope (excitation 380 nm, emission greater than 410 nm) equipped with rotatable polarizers and a quantitative imaging system. To measure r without the confounding effects of fluorophore orientation, images were recorded with emission polarizer parallel and perpendicular to a continuum of orientations of the excitation polarizer. The theoretical basis of this approach was developed and its limitations were evaluated by mathematical modeling. The tubule inner surface (brush border) was brightly stained when the lumen was perfused with 1 microM TMA-DPH for 5min; apical membrane r was 0.281 +/- 0.006 (23 degrees C). Staining of the tubule basolateral membrane by addition of TMA-DPH to the bath gave a significantly lower r of 0.242 +/- 0.010 (P less than 0.005); there was no staining of the brush border membrane. To interpret anisotropy images quantitatively, effects of tubule geometry, TMA-DPH lifetime, fluorescence anisotropy decay, and objective-depolarization were evaluated. Steady-state and time-resolved r and lifetimes in the intact tubule, measured by a nanosecond pulsed microscopy method, were compared with results in isolated apical and basolateral membrane vesicles from rabbit proximal tubule measured by cuvette fluorometry; r was 0.281 (apical membrane) and 0.276 (basolateral membrane) (23 degrees C). These results establish a methodology to quantitate membrane fluidity in the intact proximal tubule, and demonstrate a significantly higher fluidity in the basolateral membrane than in the apical membrane.
Resident Vascular Progenitor Cells—Diverse Origins, Phenotype, and Function

The fundamental contributions that blood vessels make toward organogenesis and tissue homeostasis are reflected by the considerable ramifications that loss of vascular wall integrity has on pre- and postnatal health. During both neovascularization and vessel wall remodeling after insult, the dynamic nature of vascular cell growth and replacement vitiates traditional impressions that blood vessels contain predominantly mature, terminally differentiated cell populations. Recent discoveries have verified the presence of diverse stem/progenitor cells for both vascular and non-vascular progeny within the mural layers of the vasculature. During embryogenesis, this encompasses the emergence of definitive hematopoietic stem cells and multipotent mesoangioblasts from the developing dorsal aorta. Ancestral cells have also been identified and isolated from mature, adult blood vessels, showing variable capacity for endothelial, smooth muscle, and mesenchymal differentiation. At present, the characterization of these different vascular wall progenitors remains somewhat rudimentary, but there is evidence for their constitutive residence within organized compartments in the vessel wall, most compellingly in the tunica adventitia. This review overviews the spectrum of resident stem/progenitor cells that have been documented in macro- and micro-vessels during developmental and adult life and considers the implications for a local, vascular wall stem cell niche(s) in the pathogenesis and treatment of cardiovascular and other diseases.
Health assessment of the very old person at home

Home health clinicians are adept at performing comprehensive histories and physical examinations. The very nature of home care requires that clinicians assess the whole person. In fact, the Outcomes Assessment Information Data Set (OASIS) demands a detailed evaluation of past and current medical status. As more people are living into their eighties and beyond, home health clinicians are finding themselves assessing patients who present with signs and symptoms that may be specific to very old persons. This article discusses age-related changes in the very old patient and attempts to help clinicians differentiate abnormal findings and make critical decisions regarding whether intervention is needed. This article assumes that the reader is well versed in basic health assessment and focuses on specifics related to the assessment of the very old patient living at home.
GNP1, THE HIGH-AFFINITY GLUTAMINE PERMEASE OF S. CEREVISIAE

Glutamine uptake in S. cerevisiae is mediated by at least three transporters: high- and low-affinity glutamine permeases and the general amino-acid permease. We have isolated the gene encoding the high-affinity glutamine permease and named it GNP1. The amino-acid sequence of GNP1, and its hydropathy profile of 12 transmembrane domains, closely resemble those of known amino-acid permeases. The Km of GNP1 for glutamine uptake was determined to be 0.59 mM. Cells lacking GNP1 exhibit reduced levels of glutamine transport, and are resistant to a toxic analog of glutamine, L-glutamic acid γ-monohydroxamate. Unlike other amino-acid permeases, whose expression is nitrogen-source limited, GNP1 is expressed on both rich and poor nitrogen sources.
TESTING THE EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF SOLDIER PERFORMANCE UNDER INCREASING TASK DEMAND

Combat is inherently a demanding situation which may increase stress, heighten arousal, and increase anxiety. The Processing Efficiency Theory (PET) was specifically developed to account for how anxiety influences performance. Therefore, the PET provides a potential theory to explain the positive and negative changes in performance in a combat environment. This study is the first attempt to examine PET in the military domain. Using the Small Arms Simulator Testbed (SAST), we investigated the relationship between processing efficiency and performance, considering mental workload, stress, and anxiety effects. Shooting performance effectiveness measures were target acquisition and friend/foe discrimination. Changes in processing efficiency were manipulated by varying degrees of working memory demand and sustained information transfer. The results indicated that shooting performance and processing efficiency, as well as mental workload demands, decreased as the global demand of both tasks increased. Further analyses for anxiety and stress and future directions are discussed.
The tobacco etch viral 5′ leader and poly(A) tail are functionally synergistic regulators of translation

The 5' cap (m7GpppN) and the poly(A) tail of eukaryotic mRNAs work in concert to establish an efficient level of translation in vivo. Nevertheless, several mRNAs naturally lack a cap or a poly(A) tail. Determining how these messages effectively compete for the translational machinery not only reveals alternative mechanisms for translational competence, but can also underscore similarities between alternative mechanisms and the standard cap/poly(A) tail interaction. The genomic RNA of tobacco etch virus (TEV), a potyvirus, is a polyadenylated mRNA that naturally lacks a cap (m7GpppN) at the 5'-terminus and yet is a highly competitive mRNA during translation. The 144-nt 5'-leader is largely responsible for directing efficient translation and can greatly increase the translational competence of reporter mRNAs. We have examined the synergy between the TEV 5'-leader and the poly(A) tail in transfected plant and animal cells. The TEV 5'-leader functioned optimally as a regulator of reporter mRNA translation only when a poly(A) tail was present. The effect of the TEV 5'-leader on the translation of capped transcripts was significantly less than that for uncapped mRNAs, suggesting that the TEV 5'-leader and the cap may promote similar steps in translation.
Numerical solution of the Navier-Stokes equations for a family of three-dimensional corner geometries

Three-dimensional corners occur in many aerodynamic engineering situations. Supersonic flow about such geometries is characterized by strong inviscid-viscid interactions which are analyzed adequately only through the solution of the Navier-Stokes equations. In this paper numerical solution for the laminar compressible Navier-Stokes equations are presented for a family of three-dimensional corners consisting of wedge-plate and wedge-cylinder intersecting boundaries. The equations of motion are transformed to a uniform rectangular computational domain. The computational technique is the MacCormack time-split algorithm vectorized and programmed to run on the CDD CYBER 203 computer. The metric data for the transformation is obtained from the 'two-boundary technique.'
Potency following conformal neutron/photon irradiation for localized prostate cancer

Abstract Purpose : To assess the effect of conformal neutron/photon irradiation with or without neoadjuvant hormonal therapy on posttreatment potency. Methods and Materials : Seventy-six patients with localized adenocarcinoma of the prostate, Stage T1 or T2 N0 Mo, Gleason score ≤7, were enrolled on a prospective Phase II study. Each patient received 9–10 Neutron + 38 Photon Gy. Twenty-eight patients received neoadjuvant hormonal therapy in conjunction with radiation therapy. Potency was assessed prior to starting treatment and was assessed at each subsequent follow-up visit. Results : Fifty-two of 75 patients (70%) were potent at the start of therapy. Thirty-eight of 52 (73%) had functional erections and 14 of 52 (27%) had erections termed nonfunctional, which were of insufficient strength for intercourse. After treatment, 35 of 52 (67%) retained potency. Twenty-nine of 38 (76%) with functional erections pretreatment maintained this ability. Only 6 of 14 patients (43%) with nonfunctional erection pretreatment maintained their level of potency. Neoadjuvant hormonal therapy did not impact on the ability to maintain erections. Sixty-five percent of those patients receiving hormones retained erectile function, while 69% of those who did not receive hormones maintained erectile function. Age was not a significant factor in posttreatment potency, although a trend towards potency in younger patients was observed . (p = 0.74). Conclusion : The majority (67%) of patients maintained their level of erectile function following conformal sequential neutron photon irradiation. This comparable to that achieved with photon irradiation alone. No significant change in potency was seen with neoadjuvant hormonal therapy or with increasing patient age.
Shrub emergence and seedling growth in microenvironments created by Prosopis glandulosa

Facilitation of the establishment of certain plant species by nurse plants is a common phenomenon in arid and semiarid ecosystems. The most commonly reported mecha- nisms of facilitation include cooler temperatures and increased soil nutrients beneath the nurse plant canopy, which favor establishment of other plant species. During conversion of upland grasslands to thorn woodland in southern Texas, Prosopis glandulosa appears to facilitate establishment of other woody plants, including Celtis pallida, whereas Acacia smallii occurs only in habitats between P. glandulosa cano- pies. We tested the hypothesis that light intensity and soils under P. glandulosa canopies facilitate seedling emergence and growth of C. pallida but inhibit seedling emergence and growth of A. smallii. In the field, C. pallida and A. smallii seeds were planted under P. glandulosa canopies and in adja- cent interspaces. Percent emergence of C. pallida seedlings was greater under the canopy of P. glandulosa, whereas per- cent emergence of A. smallii seedlings was greater in interspaces. In a greenhouse experiment, seeds of each species were planted in pots filled with soil from under P. glandulosa canopies or from adjacent interspaces. Two treatments, shade and sunlight, were imposed and plants harvested seven weeks later. Seedling mass of both species was greater in canopy soil than in interspace soil in sunlight but mass of the two species did not differ between soil sources in shade. Canopy soils contained more total and available nitrogen than interspace soils. These results suggest that light is more limiting than nutrients under shaded conditions and so neither species can take advantage of the high nutrients beneath P. glandulosa. Shade and greater soil nutrients beneath P. glandulosa do not appear to be the major factors that facilitate C. pallida or inhibit A. smallii. Aggregation of C. pallida beneath P. glan- dulosa canopies appears to be a complex process that involves both passive facilitation (seed dispersal by birds) and active facilitation (reduction of seed dormancy by under-canopy temperatures) operating only during the seed germination stage with successional mechanisms other than facilitation operating during later stages of shrub establishment and growth.
Atropine and neuromuscular fade in the mouse phrenic nerve-diaphragm

Purpose These studies were intended to resolve the conflict between the reasonable inference from the scientific literature that atropine might alter neuromuscular fade and the expectation from informal clinical experience that it does not.
Myeloperoxidase, inflammation, and dysfunctional high-density lipoprotein

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) has many protective activities against atherosclerosis, including its role in reverse cholesterol transport, and its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and endothelial cell maintenance functions. However, all HDL is not functionally equivalent. The authors of recent studies have shown that infection, inflammation, diabetes, and coronary artery disease are associated with dysfunctional HDL. HDL can lose its protective activities through a variety of mechanisms, including, but not limited to, altered protein composition, oxidative protein modification mediated by the enzyme myeloperoxidase, and lipid modification. Studies in which the authors used bacterial endotoxin in humans and mice have directly demonstrated changes in HDL composition, loss of HDL's cholesterol acceptor activity, and decreased hepatic processing and secretion of cholesterol. Although a routine clinical assay for dysfunctional HDL is not currently available, the development of such an assay would be beneficial for a better understanding of the role that dysfunctional HDL plays as a risk factor for coronary artery disease and for the determination of how various drug therapies effect HDL functionality.
Accuracy requirements for the calculation of gravitational waveforms from coalescing compact binaries in numerical relativity

I discuss the accuracy requirements on numerical relativity calculations of inspiraling compact object binaries whose extracted gravitational waveforms are to be used as templates for matched filtering signal extraction and physical parameter estimation in modern interferometric gravitational wave detectors. Using a post-Newtonian point particle model for the premerger phase of the binary inspiral, I calculate the maximum allowable errors for the mass and relative velocity and positions of the binary during numerical simulations of the binary inspiral. These maximum allowable errors are compared to the errors of state-of-the-art numerical simulations of multiple-orbit binary neutron star calculations in full general relativity, and are found to be smaller by several orders of magnitude. A post-Newtonian model for the error of these numerical simulations suggests that adaptive mesh refinement coupled with second-order accurate finite difference codes will not be able to robustly obtain the accuracy required for reliable gravitational wave extraction on Terabyte-scale computers. I conclude that higher-order methods (higher-order finite difference methods and/or spectral methods) combined with adaptive mesh refinement and/or multipatch technology will be needed for robustly accurate gravitational wave extraction from numerical relativity calculations of binary coalescence scenarios.
Trust and reactions to threats

High and low scorers on Rotter’s interpersonal trust scale were targets of intermittent threats sent by a simulated source in the context of a conflict of interest situation. The threats were either 100% or 0% credible. Results showed that credibility, but not trust, mediated compliance and impressions of the threatener.
SP/AP area ratio in the diagnosis of Ménière's disease.

Conventional analysis of the click-evoked electrocochleogram includes measurement of the amplitudes of the cochlear summating potential (SP) and auditory nerve action potential (AP) to derive the S...
Computer generated 3-dimensional models of manual alphabet handshapes for the World Wide Web

A teaching tool consisting of a collection of three dimensional computer graphic models representing American Sign Language manual alphabet hand shapes in various locations and orientations has been established. These computer graphic models have been recorded in the "Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) [1] for display with World Wide Web browsers such as Netscape or Mosaic, in conjunction with VRML browsers such as WebSpace or WorldView".
Bolted large seismic steel beam-to-column connections Part 1: experimental study

Abstract Two large bolted steel moment-resisting connections were studied by experiments. These connections were single-sided beam-to-column assemblies that are representative of exterior beam-to-column connections, and they were composed of W36×150 Grade 50 beams and W14×283 Grade 50 columns. T-stubs were cut from W40×264 sections of Grade 50 steel. The T-stub stems were welded to the beams and prestressed by bolts to the beam flanges in the shop. Final beam-to-column assembly required no additional welding: the T-stub flanges were bolted to the column and the column shear tab was bolted to the beam web. The specimens had two symmetrically located T-stubs with different stem geometry: Specimen 1 had rectangular-shaped stems, whereas Specimen 2 had U-shaped stems. During the cyclic testing the beam deformation was minimal controlled by active participation of the T-stub flanges: a separation between T-stub flanges and the column flanges was observed. This separation was caused by bending plastic deformation in the T-stub flanges and plastic deformation in the high-strength bolts. This phenomenon allowed energy dissipation and prevented severe buckling of the beam flanges and beam web.
Decontamination assessment of Bacillus anthracis, Bacillus subtilis, and Geobacillus stearothermophilus spores on indoor surfaces using a hydrogen peroxide gas generator.

Aims: To evaluate the decontamination of Bacillus anthracis, Bacillus subtilis, and Geobacillus stearothermophilus spores on indoor surface materials using hydrogen peroxide gas. Methods and Results: Bacillus anthracis, B. subtilis, and G. stearothermophilus spores were dried on seven types of indoor surfaces and exposed to ≥1000 ppm hydrogen peroxide gas for 20 min. Hydrogen peroxide exposure significantly decreased viable B. anthracis, B. subtilis, and G. stearothermophilus spores on all test materials except G. stearothermophilus on industrial carpet. Significant differences were observed when comparing the reduction in viable spores of B. anthracis with both surrogates. The effectiveness of gaseous hydrogen peroxide on the growth of biological indicators and spore strips was evaluated in parallel as a qualitative assessment of decontamination. At 1 and 7 days postexposure, decontaminated biological indicators and spore strips exhibited no growth, while the nondecontaminated samples displayed growth. Conclusions: Significant differences in decontamination efficacy of hydrogen peroxide gas on porous and nonporous surfaces were observed when comparing the mean log reduction in B. anthracis spores with B. subtilis and G. stearothermophilus spores. Significance and Impact of the Study: These results provide comparative information for the decontamination of B. anthracis spores with surrogates on indoor surfaces using hydrogen peroxide gas.
Kinetics of surface-initiated photoiniferter-mediated photopolymerization

Surface-tethered poly(methyl methacrylate) films were synthesized by surface-initiated photoiniferter-mediated photopolymerization (SI-PMP), and the kinetics of film growth were followed by measuring layer thickness as a function of reaction time, monomer concentration, and light intensity using variable angle ellipsometry. The initial rate of photopolymerization had approximate first-order dependence on monomer concentration. However, the rate of photopolymerization decreased with reaction time, indicating the presence of termination reactions. To determine which termination reactions are prevalent, kinetic models accounting for bimolecular termination as well as chain transfer to monomer were developed for the photoiniferter-mediated photopolymerization reactions and used to analyze the experimental data. Comparisons of model predictions to experimental data as functions of reaction time and light intensity suggest that bimolecular termination is the dominant termination mechanism in these systems for t...
Use and Reuse of Saline-Sodic Waters for Irrigation of Crops

SUMMARY Saline-sodic water is used to irrigate crops where supplies of good-quality water are scarce or in areas affected by high, saline water tables. This review covers the basic irrigation principles, practices, and limitations of irrigation with saline and saline-sodic water. The focus of this review is on studies that have been conducted in the San Joaquin Valley (SJV) of California because of our personal experiences and extensive number of studies conducted in this area. Particular emphasis is directed towards the control of soil salination, the adverse effects on soil physical properties, and on the search for potential crops that are suitable for saline systems. Trace elements such as B, Se, and Mo may also influence the feasibility of using saline-sodic water for irrigation should these constituents be present. This review addresses these elements and discusses how these constituents may or may not affect the overall feasibility of using saline water for irrigation.
Determination of support in soil sampling

Short-range variation of measurements of a soil characteristic is a function of the support (i.e., size, shape, and orientation of the physical sample taken at a sample point) of the soil samples. This short-range variance often shows up as a substantial component of the “nugget effect” in experimental semivariograms or estimated generalized covariance functions. Proper choice of support may substantially reduce short-range variance (or nugget) of measurements made at sample points and thereby reduce estimation variance in point or block kriging based on these measurements. Appropriate variance formulas and an example are given for determination of support when support is an array of vertical cores (or bucket auger samples) of equal depth and diameter.
Reggeon quantum mechanics: Effect of four-reggeon couplings

Abstract We study reggeon quantum mechanics when four-reggeon couplings are present as well as the conventional three-reggeon coupling. We show that as the reggeon intercept is increased an infinite number of states pass through energy zero. We give the values of the intercepts at which states pass through zero, construct the states explicitly, and tell how fast their energy changes with intercept. We show that these higher states do not interfere with the construction of spin models. However, no spin model is possible if the one-reggeon ↔ three-reggeon coupling is non-zero.
Electro-catalytic role of insulator/conductor interface in MgO/PEDOT composite electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells

MgO has not been explored as a counter electrode materials for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) due to its lack of electrical conductivity. However, herein, it is reported that MgO insulator with conductive poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrenesulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) exhibited excellent performance as a counter electrode for DSSCs, leading to a high power conversion efficiency of 7.45%. Furthermore, it was revealed that the interface between MgO and PEDOT:PSS plays an important electro-catalytic role in the MgO/PEDOT composite counter electrodes.
Insufficient Luteinizing Hormone-Induced Intracellular Signaling Disrupts Ovulation in Preovulatory Follicles Lacking Estrogen Receptor-β

Gonadotropin-stimulated estrogen receptor-beta (ERbeta)-null preovulatory follicles exhibit submaximal estradiol production, insufficient acquisition of LH receptor, and attenuated expression of essential ovulatory genes. These observations lead to low ovulatory rates compared with wild-type (WT) follicles. We hypothesize that insufficient LH receptor results in reduced cAMP production after an ovulatory stimulus. Individual preantral follicles were cultured with FSH for 4 d and then induced to ovulate with a single dose of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). cAMP levels 1 h after hCG were 50% lower in ERbeta-null than WT follicles. To determine whether the lack of LH receptor, and resulting lack of cAMP, could be bypassed by direct activation of adenylyl cyclase, WT and ERbeta-null follicles were induced to ovulate with forskolin. Ten micromolar forskolin doubled the ovulatory rate of ERbeta-null follicles compared with treatment with hCG ( approximately 50 vs. 25%, respectively). In WT follicles, 10 microm forskolin reduced the ovulation rate compared with hCG (14 vs. 83%, respectively), indicating that high doses of forskolin inhibited WT ovulation. A 10 microm concentration of forskolin induced cAMP levels in ERbeta-null follicles that were comparable to levels produced in WT follicles after hCG and either partially or completely rescued the attenuated expression of LH-responsive genes. These data indicate that direct activation of adenylyl cyclase, resulting in increased production of cAMP, partially rescues the ovulatory response of ERbeta-null follicles, suggesting that insufficient LH receptor and low cAMP levels contribute to their poor ovulatory rates. We also determined that ERbeta-null ovaries exhibit an alteration in the activation of ERK1/2. Our evaluation of the ERbeta-null ovarian phenotype indicates that ERbeta plays a role in facilitating folliculogenesis. We show that expression of ERbeta in preovulatory follicles is required for adequate cAMP production and propose that an optimal level of cAMP is required for hCG-stimulated ovulation.
The Need for Research Maps to Navigate Published Work and Inform Experiment Planning

The increasing volume, complexity, and interconnectedness of published studies in neuroscience make it difficult to determine what is known, what is uncertain, and how to contribute effectively to one's field. There is a pressing need to develop automated strategies to help researchers navigate the vastness of the published record. Simplified, interactive, and unbiased representations of previous findings (i.e., research maps) would be invaluable in preparing research surveys, in guiding experiment planning, and in evaluating research plans and contributions. Principles normally used in weighing research findings, including reproducibility and convergence, could be automated and incorporated into research maps. Here, we discuss a series of recent advances that are bringing us closer than ever to being able to derive systematic, comprehensive, but also interactive and user-friendly research maps. These maps could revolutionize the way we review the literature, plan experiments, and fund and publish science.
Family history of alcohol use as predictor of alcohol and tobacco use during pregnancy

Because alcohol and tobacco use are known teratogenic substances that negatively affect the fetus, screening for alcohol and tobacco use during pregnancy is included as part of the nursing standard of care in obstetrical nursing (and some screening tools include family history as a risk factor for use during pregnancy. However, the only empirical evidence for including family history as a risk factor is located in the general addictions literature. The purpose of this study was to determine if parental history of alcohol and/or tobacco use increases the risk for use of these substances during pregnancy. This was a descriptive retrospective study based on the epidemiological model of risk. Mothers in the third month of pregnancy provided self-reported data on their use of alcohol and tobacco during pregnancy and their parents' lifetime use of these substances. Maternal history of alcohol use increased the odds of tobacco use during pregnancy (OR = 4.02, CI 1.732–9.343). Maternal family history of alcohol a...
Crystallization of Amorphous Silicon-Aluminum thin Films: IN-SITU Observation and Thermal Analysis.

The crystallization of sputter-deposited Si/Al amorphous alloys was examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). In-situ high-resolution TEM reveals the existence of an Al layer between the amorphous matrix and the growing crystalline phase. The activation energy for the growth is about 1.2eV, roughly corresponding to the activation energy of Si diffusion in Al. These two observations support the view that a crystallization mechanism, in which an Al buffer layer provides the shortest reaction path, is responsible for the reaction. The product microstructure exhibits secondary crystallization at a higher temperature.
Cytotoxic bastadin 24 from the Australian sponge Ianthella quadrangulata.

A new cytotoxic bastadin, bastadin 24 (1), and the previously reported bastadins 4, 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, and 21 (2−8) were isolated from a polar extract of the Australian marine sponge Ianthella quadrangulata. The planar structure of bastadin 24 (1) was elucidated as the 25-hydroxy derivative of bastadin 6 (4) by employing spectroscopic techniques (NMR, MS, UV, and IR). All isolated bastadins were evaluated for their cytotoxicity toward a panel of 36 human tumor cell lines and were found to be moderately cytotoxic. Bastadin 24 (1) exhibited selective cytotoxic activity toward five of the 36 investigated tumor cell lines. Bastadins 7 (5) and 12 (6) significantly inhibited the serum + hEGF-induced (human epithelial growth factor) tubular formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) at a concentration of 1 μg/mL.