cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Coupling of the α1-adrenergic receptor to a guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory protein by a discrete domain distinct from its ligand recognition site

At rat hepatic membrane alpha 1-adrenergic receptors, the nonhydrolyzable GTP analogue p[NH]ppG causes a rightward shift of agonist competition curves and a loss of high-affinity binding. This p[NH]ppG effect is consistent with the involvement of a guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory protein (G-protein) in alpha 1-adrenergic receptor signalling. Although readily apparent in membranes prepared to avoid retention of endogenous nucleotides and activation of Ca2+-sensitive proteinases (+pi), this p[NH]ppG effect is not observed in membranes prepared without proteinase inhibitors (-pi), or in -pi membranes treated with Ca2+ (-pi, +Ca2+). In these various membrane preparations, different Mr forms of the receptor are also identified by photoaffinity labeling with [125I]CP65526, an aryl azide analog of the alpha 1-selective antagonist, prazosin, followed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography. Whereas a predominant Mr = 80,000 subunit is identified in +pi membranes, in -pi membranes a proteolytic Mr = 59,000 fragment is also observed. In -pi, +Ca2+ membranes, only this latter peptide is detected. To evaluate the ability of each of these forms of the receptor to couple with a G-protein, the effect of p[NH]ppG on the agonist-inhibition of [125I]CP65526 labelling was determined by laser densitometry scanning and computer analysis. At the Mr = 80,000 subunit, p[NH]ppG causes a rightward shift of agonist competition curves and a loss of high-affinity binding, even in -pi membranes. By contrast, agonist-binding at the Mr = 59,000 subunit is of low-affinity and was not affected by p[NH]ppG. These data indicate that the cleaved Mr = 59,000 fragment, while retaining hormone binding activity is unable to undergo G-protein coupling. Thus, the alpha 1-adrenergic receptor appears to contain a discrete domain necessary for G-protein coupling that is distinct from its ligand recognition site.
HF vibrational redshift for the icosahedral Ar12HF van der Waals cluster is the same as in an Ar matrix: Quantum five‐dimensional bound state calculations

Quantum 5D bound state calculations for the fully solvated Ar12HF cluster, with the Ar atoms frozen at their icosahedral equilibrium geometry, gave the HF vibrational redshift of 42.46 cm−1. This value is equal to that measured for HF in an Ar matrix, 42.4 cm−1.
Multivariate adaptive regression splines models for the prediction of energy expenditure in children and adolescents

Advanced mathematical models have the potential to capture the complex metabolic and physiological processes that result in heat production or energy expenditure (EE). Multivariate adaptive regress...
The nuclear lamina regulates germline stem cell niche organization via modulation of EGFR signaling.

Stem cell niche interactions have been studied extensively with regard to cell polarity and extracellular signaling. Less is known about the way in which signals and polarity cues integrate with intracellular structures to ensure appropriate niche organization and function. Here, we report that nuclear lamins function in the cyst stem cells (CySCs) of Drosophila testes to control the interaction of CySCs with the hub. This interaction is important for regulation of CySC differentiation and organization of the niche that supports the germline stem cells (GSCs). Lamin promotes nuclear retention of phosphorylated ERK in the CySC lineage by regulating the distribution of specific nucleoporins within the nuclear pores. Lamin-regulated nuclear epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor signaling in the CySC lineage is essential for proliferation and differentiation of the GSCs and the transient amplifying germ cells. Thus, we have uncovered a role for the nuclear lamina in the integration of EGF signaling to regulate stem cell niche function.
School-Based Assessment of ADHD: Purpose, Alignment With Best Practice Guidelines, and Training

Youth exhibiting symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are frequently referred to school psychologists because of academic, social, and behavioral difficulties that they face. To address these difficulties, evidence-based assessment methods have been outlined for multiple purposes of assessment. The goals of this study were to delineate school psychologists’ (a) primary purpose of their assessment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (i.e., screening, diagnosis, placement, intervention planning, progress monitoring), (b) use of recommended assessment tools/strategies and the perceived importance of each recommended tool/strategy for decision making, and (c) their perceived adequacy of training regarding attention deficit hyperactivity disorder assessment. Surveys from 217 school psychologists identified intervention planning as the primary purpose of assessment. Participants reported following recommended guidelines most frequently for diagnosis, impairment, and intervention developm...
The Use of Five-Coordinate Aluminum Alkyls To Prepare Molecules Containing a Single Al−O−Si Linkage

The present work entails the synthesis and first structural characterization of complexes possessing a single Al−O−Si linkage. These are of the formula LAlOSiPh3 (L = Salen(tBu) (N,N‘-ethylenebis(3, 5-di-tert-butylsalicylideneimine)) (11); Salpen(tBu) N,N‘-propylenebis(3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylideneimine)) (12); Salophen(tBu) (N,N‘-phenylenebis(3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylideneimine)) (13); and Salomphen(tBu) (N,N‘-(3,4-dimethylphenylene)bis(3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylideneimine)) (14). They are formed by combining the novel five-coordinate aluminum alkyl starting materials L(tBu)AlR (where L = Salen(tBu), R = Me (1), Et (2), iBu (3); Salpen(tBu), R = Me (4), Salophen(tBu) R = Me (5), Et (6), iBu (7); and Salomphen, R = Me (8), Et (9), iBu (10)) with Ph3SiOH in toluene. All of the compounds were characterized spectroscopically and, in the case of 1, 10, 11, 12, and 13, by X-ray crystallography.
An informationally efficient equity criterion

Abstract A new equity criterion for exchange economies is proposed, an allocation being declared equitable if no agent prefers the average of what everyone else consumes to what he consumes. The logical relationship of this criterion with other criteria in the published literature is studied and its informational merits emphasized. Equitable allocations are shown to exist under standard assumptions. A complete geometric characterization of all equitable allocations is offered, with special attention being given to the case of large economies. A detailed analysis of the two person–two commodity case (then the criterion coincides with that of an envy-free allocation) reveals several properties of interest of the criterion.
Preparation and characterization of YBaCuO high T/sub c/ superconducting thin films

For thin film metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD), a stoichiometric gas phase can be obtained from a mixture of the precursors in the desired mole ratios, in spite of differences in the volatilities of the individual compounds. Proper film composition is obtained by controlling the velocity of a carriage containing the precursors through the heating zone of a vaporizer. YBaCuO (YBCO) superconducting films were prepared on yttrium stabilized zirconia (YSZ) (001) crystal substrates by single source MOCVD using a mixture of powders of Y(thd)/sub 3/, Ba(thd)/sub 2/ and Cu(thd)/sub 2/ as sources. Nondestructive measurements of resistivity, critical current, composition, and surface morphology were performed on these films. A single crystal film with T/sub co/=89 K was made under optimum conditions. Its homogeneity was investigated by resistivity and T/sub co/ measurements and by atomic force microscopy (AFM) at several points of the surface along a diameter of this film. The roughness of the film is higher at the edge than at the center, and this appears to be correlated with the normal state resistivity. The c-axis and a-axis YBCO phases compete with each other at substrate temperatures ranging from 750 to 820/spl deg/C. The c-axis YBCO phase shows spiral growth structure and the spiral step height is about 12.
Isotopic Composition of strontium and geologic history of the basement rocks of Wright Valley, Southern Victoria Land, Antarctica

Abstract The Sr87/Sr86 ratios of whole-rock samples from the major units of the crystalline basement complex and from the tholeiitic sills of Jurassic age (Ferrar Dolerite) in Wright Valley range from 0.710 to 0.728. The isotopic composition of strontium released from these rocks by chemical weathering is compatible with an average Sr87/ Sr86 ratio of 0.7149 in the brines of Lake Vanda, Wright Valley, that was reported earlier. Some strontium having Sr87/Sr86 ratios less than that of Lake Vanda probably originates as weathering products of the Ferrar Dolerite sills and of the marbles of the Asgard Formation as well as by import of marine strontium by meteoric precipitation. Whole-rock Rb-Sr age determinations indicate that the Wright Intrusives (Olympus granite-gneiss and Dais granite) approached isotopic homogenisation of strontium about 500 α 43 m.y. ago. A suite of rocks from the Victoria Intrusives (Vida granite and Vanda porphyry) was dated at about 480 α 44 m.y. The average initial Sr87/Sr86 ratios ...
Stability and distribution of defect centers induced by high energy particles in high purity silica

Abstract Defect centers (Si E' centers, oxygen hole centers and several impurity-related centers) induced in various types of high purity silica by 63 MeV protons and 1.5 MeV neutrons were studied by electron spin resonance (ESR). ESR damage profiles were determined by measuring the relative defect concentrations of sectioned pieces of the samples, which were 4-mm-diameter rods irradiated end on. We find that defect centers related to knockon processes of high energy neutrons are in general more stable than those resulting from the ionization processes of high energy protons, although defect centers induced in both processes are generated by ionization processes. For the same dosage, overall defect generation efficiency is found to be higher for high energy protons and neutrons than for 100 keV X-rays. Several correlations among the concentrations of various defect types as a function of deposited energy were observed and interpreted.
Surface and Subsurface Phosphorus Losses from Sugarcane Fields with Different Management Practices

Phosphorus losses in runoff from sugarcane fields can contribute to non-point source pollution of surface and subsurface waters. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of three different management practices on P losses in surface runoff and subsurface leaching from sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) fields. Field experiments with treatments including conventional burning (CB), compost application with burning (COMB), and remaining green cane trash blanketing (GCTB) treatments were carried out to assess these management practice effects on P losses from sugarcane fields. In the CB treatment, sugarcane residue was burned after harvest. The COMB treatment consisted of compost applied at “off bar” with sugarcane residue burned immediately after harvest. Compost was applied in the amount of 13.4 Mg ha−1 annually, 8 weeks before planting. In the GCTB treatment, sugarcane residue was raked off from the row tops and remained in the wheel furrow after harvest. Surface runoff was collected with automatic refrigerated samplers, and subsurface leachate was collected with pan lysimeters over a period of 3 years. Measured concentrations of total P (TP), dissolved reactive P (DRP), and particulate P (PP) in surface runoff from the COMB treatment were significantly higher than concentrations from the CB and GCTB treatments. The mean losses of P (TP and DRP) after burning (postharvest, years 2 and 3) were significantly greater than the no-burn treatment (preharvest, year 1) in the CB, COMB, and CB/COMB/GCTB combined options. Additionally, the mean losses of total suspended solid and total combustible solids in residue burning were, on average, 2.7 and 2.2 times higher than the no-burn practices, respectively (preharvest and GCTB treatment). Annual P losses from surface runoff in the third year of study were 12.90%, 6.86%, and 10.23% of applied P in CB, COMB, and GCTB treatments, respectively. However, the percent of annual DRP losses from applied P in COMB and GCTB treatments was similar magnitude, and their values were less than 50% compared to the value from CB treatment. In the leaching study, percent of monthly mean TP and DRP losses in the COMB and GCTB treatments were greatly reduced. Based on these results, the COMB and GCTB procedures were equally recommended as sugarcane management practices that improve water quality in both surface runoff and subsurface leachate.
Sodium chloride detection threshold in the rat determined using a simple operant taste discrimination task

Abstract A method for training rats to lick at high rates for a water reinforcer after presentation of one tastant and to inhibit or decrease response rate to avoid a time-out punisher after presentation of another tastant is described and evaluated. The method produced rapid acquisition of simple discrimination and detection tasks, The absolute mean detection threshold for sodium chloride in three rats was 0.0038% (0.0031%–0.0043%). The operant conditioning technique is simple, efficient, and should prove useful for psychophysical and physiological studies of gustation.
Hypnotic and Minor Tranquilizer Use among Inpatients and after Discharge

A major concern in prescribing hypnotics and minor tranquilizers in the hospital is that long-term habituation might develop. Former psychiatric inpatients were surveyed to assess hypnotic and minor tranquilizer use following discharge. Patients who used flurazepam and chloral hydrate as inpatients were no more likely to use these hypnotics as outpatients than patients who received no hypnotics as inpatients. There was a significant association between inpatient and outpatient use of minor tranquilizers. Outpatient use of minor tranquilizers was also significantly associated with outpatient hypnotic use.
Effects of Peer-Advising on Changes in Freshman Perceptions of Their College Environment

AbstractAn experimental peer-advising program was used to test the hypothesis that the "peer group effect" is a major influence on the characteristic shift which occurs in the early college environmental perceptions of incoming college freshmen. Two matched groups of 51 peer- and 51 faculty-advised freshmen were administered Stern's College Characteristics Index on a five-month pre- and posttest basis, and results supporting the hypothesis were found on two of the 11 CCI factors. Possible reasons for these results, along with methodological problems in this type of research, are discussed.
Establishing a patient-centered philosophy of pharmacy practice

This article begins the “Director's Forum,” a series of articles designed to guide pharmacy leaders in establishing patient-centered services in hospitals. As stated in Dr. Cada's Editorial which introduces this series, we hope to answer key questions that pharmacy directors face and provide others with information to foster growth in pharmacy leadership. The articles in this column will build on one another and, when put together, will serve as a “tool kit” to develop patient-centered pharmacy services in hospitals of all sizes. Examples of topics in future Director's Forums will include establishing clinical service priorities, justifying clinical pharmacist positions, implementing a patient safety program, and budgeting for patient-centered services.
Linguistic Fuzzy-Logic Game Theory:

The author develops a new game-theoretic approach, anchored not in Boolean two-valued logic but instead in linguistic fuzzy logic. The latter is characterized by two key features. First, the truth values of logical propositions span a set of linguistic terms such as true, very true, almost false, very false, and false. Second, the logic allows logical categories to overlap in contrast to Boolean logic, where the two possible logical categories, “true” and “false,” are sharply distinct. A game becomes a linguistic fuzzy logic game by turning strategies into linguistic fuzzy strategies, players’ preferences into linguistic fuzzy preferences, and the rules of reasoning and inferences of the game into linguistic fuzzy reasoning operating according to linguistic fuzzy logic. This leads to the introduction of a new notion of linguistic fuzzy domination and linguistic Nash equilibrium.
Environmental Characteristics Associated With Residential Burglaries Of Student Apartment Complexes

This study identified environmental characteristics associated with residential burglaries of apartment complexes predominantly occupied by students, located near two major universities and a community college in Tallahassee, Florida. Through observation and measurement of environmental characteristics, results showed that accessibility played little role in differentiating burglarized and nonburglarized apartment units. Yet, burglarized units were disproportionately likely to be located on the corner of the building and on the first floor. Results also showed that apartment units with reported burglaries in 1993 were less surveillable than apartment units with no reported burglaries--i.e., burglarized units were more obstructed by foliage or structure. Finally, through surveying student apartment residents, results suggested that burglaries largely occurred at times when students reported being away from their apartments for purposes of attending classes, engaging in recreational activities, or shopping. The results add additional support for the well-established link between environmental characteristics and residential burglary.
T315I, more or less, predicts for major molecular response: the devil is in the details!

Initial reports of the presence of a specific mutation in the kinase domain of BCR-ABL[1][1] as the basis of clinical resistance as well as progression in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) came on the heels of another first report of Abl kinase inhibitor success,[2][2] and the former was both a beacon
Effects of nozzle orientation on the structure and emissions of spray flames

An experimental study of the effects of the orientation of the liquid fuel stream relative to the air stream from a twin fluid atomizer located in an open-jet wind tunnel is presented. The orientation angle was set as 0 (concurrent), 45, 90, 135, and 180 deg (directly opposed). At 45 and 90 deg, the flame length, the radiation emission, and the concentration of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitric oxide, and soot are higher than those at co-flow conditions. At 135 deg, all these quantities decrease markedly from their values at 90 deg and again increase when the fuel and air streams are directly opposed (180 deg). These changes are discused in terms of the influx of air and recirculation of combustion products into the salient zones of the flame.
Press freedom, publicity, and the cross-national incidence of transnational terrorism

Publicity is central to terrorism, but demonstrating a link between press freedom and the targeting of attacks is challenging. There are several reasons for this: (1) studies do not distinguish between press freedom and press attention; (2) perpetrators use press freedom to weed out unacceptable targets rather than to determine which targets to attack; (3) only foreign, not domestic, perpetrators depend on press attention; and (4) foreign terrorists satisfy their desire for press attention by attacking powerful states. Our models confirm this argument about press freedom and national power even after controlling for executive constraints, polity, and foreign policy activity.
Sequential design of experiments for a rayleigh inverse scattering problem

We consider the problem of imaging a Rayleigh scattering medium using an array of sensors. We study the effect of noise on the estimation of Rayleigh scatterer reflection powers by setting up a sequential design of experiments. We derive an expression for the mean squared error for estimating the scatterer reflection powers. We keep the transmitted spatial waveforms fixed and find the optimal energy allocation strategy that minimizes this error under a fixed energy constraint. We show that this sequential design approach performs better than a single step experiment. Closed-form expressions for the optimal transmission scheme and the minimum mean squared error are provided
Microarray and proteomics analyses of human intestinal epithelial cells treated with the Aeromonas hydrophila cytotoxic enterotoxin.

We performed microarray analyses on RNA from human intestinal epithelial (HT-29) cells treated with the cytotoxic enterotoxin (Act) of Aeromonas hydrophila to examine global cellular transcriptional responses. Based on three independent experiments, Act upregulated the expression of 34 genes involved in cell growth, adhesion, signaling, immune responses (including interleukin-8 [IL-8] production), and apoptosis. We verified the upregulation of 14 genes by real-time reverse transcriptase-PCR and confirmed Act-induced production of IL-8 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay on supernatants from nonpolarized and polarized HT-29 cells. Maximal production of IL-8 in response to Act required the presence of intracellular calcium, since chelation of calcium with BAPTA-AM significantly reduced Act-induced IL-8 production in HT-29 cells. We also examined activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases and, as demonstrated by Western blot analysis of apical side-treated polarized HT-29 cells, Act induced phosphorylation of p38, c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2. In addition, KinetWorks proteomics screening of whole-cell lysates revealed Act-induced phosphorylation of cyclic AMP-response element binding protein (CREB), c-Jun, adducin, protein kinase C, and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and decreased phosphorylation of protein kinase Bα, v-raf-1 murine leukemia viral oncogene homolog 1 (i.e., Raf1), and STAT1. We verified activation of CREB and activator protein 1 in polarized cells by gel shift assay. This is the first description of human intestinal epithelial cell transcriptional alterations, phosphorylation or activation of signaling molecules, cytokine production, and calcium mobilization in response to this toxin.
Exploration—exploitation strategy is dependent on early experience

Traditional conceptualizations of early adversity characterize behavioral outcomes as maladaptive. However, conditional adaptation theory proposes that differing behavioral phenotypes following early experience are appropriate for the expected environment (e.g., behaviors likely to result in the best outcome based on environmental expectations). In the present study, youth with (na 46) and without (na 91) a history of previous institutionalization completed a laboratory-based experimental paradigm in which exploration— exploitation strategy was examined, a phenotype relevant to environmental expectations. Previous institutionalization was associated with decreased exploration and increased exploitation. A strategy favoring exploration resulted in greater success in the generous task condition whereas a strategy favoring exploitation produced greater success in the restricted task condition. These results suggest that exploration—exploitation strategy may be influenced by early experience, and the resulting success of strategy choice is context dependent and in line with expectations of the future environment based on early experience. fl 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol.
Washington: A DC Circuit Tour

I explore the history of physics in Washington, D.C., and its environs through a tour of notable sites and personalities. Highlights include visits to the Smithsonian and Carnegie Institutions, stops at the Einstein Memorial, George Washington University, the University of Maryland, and the American Center for Physics, and biographical sketches of physicists Joseph Henry, George Gamow, Edward Teller, and others who worked in the District of Columbia.
HEAP: a sensory driven distributed manipulation system

Dextrous hands used in robotic systems require equally dextrous control architectures in order to perform the complex tasks that the hands were built for. Even with its multitude of degrees of freedom, the hand must closely interact with the arm on which it is mounted. Coordination with the arm takes place at the planning level, where desired motions for the hand and arm are synchronised. At the reflexive level, more dynamic interactions between the hand and arm are required, such that the arm is capable of using the force information from the hand, to modify its own trajectory. This coupling between mechanisms is not restricted to hands and arm, and a multilayered control architecture is needed so that the actions of various mechanisms and active sensors are coordinated. >
Orientation and structure development in polyamide 6 fibers upon drawing

Drawn polyamide 6 (PA6) fibers were characterized with X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, density measurement, and optical microscopy. The α and amorphous orientation functions were determined by polarized FTIR spectroscopy. It was demonstrated for the first time that the infrared band at 1124 cm−1 could be used to determine the amorphous orientation functions of drawn PA6 fibers and films. α, γ, and amorphous orientation functions increased rapidly at lower draw ratios and increased slowly at higher draw ratios. The amorphous orientation functions measured by polarized FTIR spectroscopy did not agree with those determined by a combination of wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) and optical birefringence measurements, attributed to possible error in the estimated birefringence. The α and γ crystallinity of undrawn fiber (DR = 1) were ∼24 and 6%, respectively, which increased to ∼13 and 39% at a draw ratio of 4 (DR = 4). The WAXD data suggested that γ crystal grew in the hydrogen-bonding direction as well as the van der Waals direction during deformation. The decrease in γ crystallinity and increase in γ crystallite size with the draw ratio were attributed to the disappearance of small crystallites and an increase in the average γ crystallite size population during the deformation process. The increase in density with the draw ratio was attributed to crystal-to-crystal transformation as well as strain-induced crystallization. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 2870–2877, 2003
Research and research organization

Section 2.3 in the preceding chapter has shown that services are fairly similar to manufacturing industries in terms of the proportion of innovating firms. Differences arise, however, if innovation intensity or the formation of RJVs are considered instead. It seems likely that knowledge spillovers that arise in a firm’s innovation process might help to explain these differences in innovation intensity between manufacturing and services. Knowledge generated in the innovation process of a service sector firm is often bound to tacit knowledge only since codification of service sector innovation is unfeasible in many cases (Amable and Palombarini 1998), a finding that is reflected by the service sector’s comparatively low propensity to patent innovations. Tacit knowledge is, however, the main source of knowledge spillovers since tacit knowledge is a “capacity that is embodied in the brain” of workers (Nightingale 1998, p. 689) and hence more easily absorbed by competing firms than knowledge that is codified in patents or retrieved by ‘inventing around’. Spillovers therefore might play an even more important role in a service sector firm’s decision to invest in research or to form a research joint venture than in a manufacturing firm’s decision. Empirical evidence on the effects of spillovers on research investment and on the organization of research by service sector firms is still scarce, so this chapter aims at providing empirical evidence on the determinants of research expenditures and RJV formation for the German service sector within a game-theoretical framework for research efforts and joint venture formation.
Late-Onset Driveline Infections: The Achilles’ Heel of Prolonged Left Ventricular Assist Device Support

Background A successful left ventricular assist device (LVAD) long-term support in an outpatient setting demands that device-related complications are reduced to a minimum. We hypothesized that late onset driveline infections have serious implications on the anticipated application of LVAD as permanent therapy. Methods Between 1996 and 2005, 73 patients were implanted with the Novacor (World Heart Corp, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; n=35) or the HeartMate (Thoratec Corp, Pleasanton, CA; n=38) as either bridge to transplantation (n = 44) or destination therapy (n = 29). Our analysis focused on patients with late-onset infection (≥30 days) of the driveline exit site with prior clinical healing of all incisions. Results Late driveline infections developed in 17 patients (23%) at a median of 158 days (intraquartile range [IQR]: 68 to 213 days) after implantation. The median duration of support in this subgroup was 400 days (IQR, 283 to 849 days). Despite an aggressive treatment algorithm, repeat surgical revision was needed in 12 patients, up to six times in 2 individuals. In 6 patients, the infection progressed to pump pocket infections that led to urgent heart transplantation (n = 4) or explantation (n = 2). The individual risk that a driveline infection would develop dramatically increased with the duration of support, reaching 94% at 1 year. Multivariate analysis identified duration of support ( p p p p = 0.10). Conclusions Long-term LVAD support in the current series was jeopardized by late-onset driveline infections, which occurred in all patients with support duration longer than 1 year. Once driveline infections developed, they were difficult to control and significantly increased morbidity.
EVALUATION OF REMOTE SENSING TO IDENTIFY VARIABILITY IN COTTON PLANT GROWTH AND CORRELATION WITH LARVAL DENSITIES OF BEET ARMYWORM AND CABBAGE LOOPER (LEPIDOPTERA:NOCTUIDAE)

Field experiments were conducted from 2000 to 2002 in the Mississippi Delta to evaluate remote sensing technologies for identifying factors in cotton growth and development related to infestations of beet armyworm and cabbage looper. Larval defoliation of plants was monitored using remote sensing techniques including aerial and hand-held sensors as well as visual measurements of damage. Percent reflectance differed for beet armyworm infested leaves compared to uninfested leaves. In two whole field studies, more beet armyworm hits were found in zones of less vigorous and open canopy, which corresponded to lower normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) values calculated from remotely sensed imagery. Percent light penetration of canopy was greater for plots damaged by looper larvae than for less damaged plots where looper larvae were controlled with insecticide, but NDVI values were not different.
A genetic and biochemical study of histidine biosynthesis in Micrococcus luteus.

Histidine auxotrophs of Micrococcus luteus strain ATCC 27141 were induced by treatment of the parent strain with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitro-soguanidine. Auxotrophs were biochemically characterized by examining culture accumulations of histidine intermediates, using paper chromatography and the Bratton-Marshall test, and growth responses to L-histidinol. his(IG) mutants failed to accumulate Pauly-positive imidazoles; his(EAHF) mutants accumulated 5-amino-1-ribosyl-4-imidazole carboxamide; hisB mutants accumulated imidazoleglycerol; hisC mutants accumulated imidazoleacetol; hisD mutants accumulated histidinol. L-histidinol failed to stimulate the growth of hisD mutants, but did stimulate all other histidine mutants, blocked at earlier steps in the biosynthetic pathway. In addition, imidazoleglycerol phosphate dehydrase activity was assayed in representative mutants of each class. hisB mutants lacked activity for this enzyme.—Two-point, three-point, and cotransformation analyses resolved linkage relationships of histidine genes and in two gene clusters aided in determining their sequences. Histidine biosynthetic genes exist in at least four separate, unlinked regions of the chromosome. One histidine gene cluster is closely linked to a tryptophan gene cluster and appears to be contiguous in the sequence his(IG)–his(EAHF)–trpE–trpC–trpB–trpA. A second and unlinked histidine cluster has the tentative gene sequence his(EAHF)–hisB–hisC–his(EAHF). The hisD gene and an unclassified mutant site his-94 are not linked to any of the other histidine genes examined in this study or to each other.
Spatio-Temporal Models for Network Economic Loss Analysis Under Unscheduled Events: A Conceptual Design

The damages and losses caused by unscheduled events such as earthquakes, floods, and other major natural disasters have sudden and significant impacts on the economies of regions where these events occur. The impacts of damage on production facilities and lifelines (e.g. utility lines and transportation networks) may spread across several regions via importexport relationships and have serious economic impacts on even distant regions far from the location of the event.
Barium Partitioning in Carbonates: Theory and Applications: ABSTRACT

The partition coefficient for Ba2+ into calcite has been established as 0.06 ± 0.01 at 25°C (77°F). The partition coefficient proved independent of rate of precipitation in a series of 19 runs of varying duration. This value is substantially lower than that reported by Kitano in 1971, reflecting our seeding technique, which focused the experiment on crystal growth rather than on spontaneous nucleation and growth. The 0.06 value is compatible with the values reported for Sr2+ (0.05 to 0.14), a cation of identical charge, but closer to Ca2+ in ionic radius. The natural partitioning of Ba2+ was examined in fresh (aragonite) and altered (calcite) corals from the Pleistocene reef terraces exposed on Barbados, West Indies. The Ba2+ concentrations ranged from 8 to 15 ppm in the aragonites and decreased to typical values of 1 to 3 ppm in the calcites. The partitioning of Ba2+ in these samples was quantitatively similar to the attendant partitioning of Sr2+. The partitioning of Ba2+ during the carbonate cycle offers new areas of investigation. The low concentrations of Ba2+ in sedimentary biograins (3 orders of magnitude less than Sr2+) make Ba2+ a sensitive monitor of externally derived, barium-bearing solutions involved in diagenetic reactions. Likewise, t e low concentrations ensure ideal partitioning behavior in diagenetic solutions of low ionic strength. End_of_Article - Last_Page 516------------
Apology Lite: Truths, Doubts, and Reconciliations in the Senate's Guarded Apology for Slavery

This Essay discusses the recent Senate apology for slavery, which contained an unusual disclaimer prohibiting its use in any claim for monetary reparations. The Essay discusses the role of apology within the slavery reparations debate generally and the question of whether a stand-alone apology can be a valid form of reparation. It examines the particular moral and symbolic effects of the Senate disclaimer and offers some suggestions for bolstering the apology and furthering the restorative justice goals of reparations through additional symbolic gestures, like official commemoration of Juneteenth.
The New Health Care Law's Effect on State Medicaid Spending: A Study of the Five Most Populous States

Unless it is repealed, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 promises to increase state government obligations for Medicaid by expanding Medicaid eligibility and introducing an individual health insurance mandate for all U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents. Once PPACA becomes fully effective in 2014, the Medicaid benefits of those who become newly eligible and enroll into Medicaid will be almost fully covered by the federal government through 2019, with federal financial support expected to be extended thereafter. But PPACA provides states with no additional federal financial support for new enrollees among those eligible for Medicaid under the old laws. That makes increased state Medicaid spending from higher enrollments by "old-eligibles" virtually certain as they enroll in Medicaid in response to the individual mandate to purchase health insurance.This study estimates and compares potential increases in Medicaid expenditures from PPACA by the five most populous states: California, Florida, Illinois, New York, and Texas. State Medicaid spending is projected to increase considerably even without PPACA in California, Florida, and Texas, with smaller increases in Illinois and New York. With PPACA, projected spending is actually reduced for California, while spending increases are positive and large for Florida and Texas. Both Illinois and New York have the potential for considerably higher enrollments and increased expenditures.My estimates of the states' PPACA Medicaid burdens are considerably larger than those reported elsewhere, such as in the Kaiser Family Foundation's study, which appears to have used fixed enrollment rates for new- and old-eligibles based on 2007 data. In this study, the individual mandate's impact depends on historical enrollment trends — stronger where enrollment rates were low or declining, weaker where they were high and increasing. Thus, methodological differences may underlie the sizable differences in estimates of states' additional costs from PPACA.
Defining Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) hydrologic response units (HRUs) by field boundaries

The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) is widely used to relate farm management practices to their impacts on surface waters at the watershed scale, yet its smallest spatial unit is not generally defined by physically meaningful boundaries. The hydrologic response unit (HRU) is the smallest spatial unit of the model, and the standard HRU definition approach lumps all similar land uses, soils, and slopes within a subbasin based upon user-defined thresholds. This standard method provides an efficient way to discretize large watersheds where simulation at the field scale may not be computationally feasible. In relatively smaller watersheds, however, defining HRUs to specific spatial locations bounded by property lines or field borders would often be advantageous, yet this is not currently possible within the ArcSWAT interface. In this study, a simple approach is demonstrated that defines HRUs by field boundaries through addition of uniquely named soils to the SWAT user soil database and creation of a field boundary layer with majority land use and soil attributes. Predictions of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment losses were compared in a case study watershed where SWAT was set up using both the standard HRU definition and field boundary approach. Watershed-scale results were reasonable and similar for both methods, but aggregating fields by majority soil type masked extremely high soil erosion predicted for a few soils. Results from field-based HRU delineation may be quite different from the standard approach due to choosing a majority soil type in each farm field. This approach is flexible such that any land use and soil data prepared for SWAT can be used and any shapefile boundary can divide HRUs. Keywords: watershed, modeling, Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), hydrologic response units, field boundaries, common land units, landuse management DOI: 10.3965/j.ijabe.20150803.951 Online first on [2015-03-03] Citation: Kalcic M M, Chaubey I, Frankenberger J. Defining Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) hydrologic response units (HRUs) by field boundaries. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2015; 8(3): 69－80.
THERMOREGULATION AND DEHYDRATION IN ATHLETES: RECOMMENDATIONS AND REVIEW

Numerous athletes experience some form of heat illness resulting in acute discomfort or distortion of physiological processes. Unfortunately, there are some athletes whose heat illness has caused chronic damage or even death. The purpose of this article was to review physiological mechanisms driving thermoregulation, and to summarize recent research articles on dehydration and performance in athletes. Safety recommendations based on this review include having weigh-ins before and after practice, having athletes monitor the color of their urine, and randomly measuring the urine specific gravity of athletes. Availability of water and formulated rehydrating beverages during sporting events is necessary, while monitoring all athletes during practices and competitions, and educating athletes on how to properly hydrate need to be emphasized. Further research regarding safety standards in extreme environments are needed to ensure the safety, health, and optimal performance of athletes.
Indirect Method: A Novel Technique for Experimental Determination of Asphaltene Precipitation

Asphaltenes represent one of the major potential flow assurance problems in the upstream oil industry. Asphaltene precipitation determination is a key step in studying the asphaltene deposition problems because precipitation is a necessary condition for the asphaltenes to deposit. In this work, a novel experimental technique called the “indirect method” is used for studying asphaltene precipitation on both model oil and real crude oil systems. This method, which is a combination of gravimetric and spectroscopic techniques, is proposed for the detection and quantification of asphaltene precipitation in dead oil samples. The term “indirect” refers to an indirect detection of the precipitation of asphaltenes, by measuring the absorbance of the supernatant fluid after centrifugation of oil/n-alkane mixtures. The results obtained in this study show that the indirect method has three main advantages over direct methods. First, it can be applied to detect asphaltene precipitation and also to quantify the amount ...
Endothelial CD36 Contributes to Postischemic Brain Injury by Promoting Neutrophil Activation via CSF3

The scavenger receptor CD36 is a critical factor initiating ischemic brain injury, but the cell type(s) expressing CD36 and responsible for its harmful effects remain unknown. Using bone marrow (BM) chimeras subjected to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion, we found that CD36−/− mice transplanted with wild-type (WT) BM (WT→CD36−/−) have smaller infarcts (−67%), comparable with those of mice lacking CD36 both in brain and hematogenous cells (CD36−/− →CD36−/−; − 72%). Conversely, WT mice receiving CD36−/− BM (CD36−/− →WT) have infarcts similar to WT→WT mice, suggesting that CD36 in the host brain (i.e., in microglia and endothelial cells), and not in hematogenous cells is involved in the damage. As anticipated, postischemic neutrophil infiltration in CD36−/− →CD36−/− mice was attenuated. Surprisingly, however, in WT→CD36−/− mice, in which infarcts were small, neutrophil infiltration was large and similar to that of CD36−/− →WT mice, in which infarcts were not reduced. Postischemic neutrophil free radical production was attenuated in WT→CD36−/− mice compared with CD36−/− →WT mice, whereas expression of the neutrophil activator colony-stimulating factor 3 (CSF3) was suppressed in CD36−/− cerebral endothelial cells, but not microglia. In CD36−/− cerebral endothelial cultures exposed to extracts from stroke brains, the upregulation of CSF3, but not neutrophil attractant chemokines, was suppressed. Intracerebroventricular administration of CSF3, 24 h after stroke, reconstituted neutrophil radical production and increased infarct volume in WT→CD36−/− mice. The findings identify endothelial cells as a key player in the deleterious effects of CD36 in stroke, and unveil a novel role of endothelial CD36 in enabling neutrophil neurotoxicity through CSF3. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Ischemic stroke is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide with limited therapeutic options. The inflammatory response initiated by cerebral ischemia-reperfusion contributes to ischemic brain injury and is a potential therapeutic target. Here we report that CD36, an innate immunity receptor involved in the initiation of postischemic inflammation, is a previously unrecognized regulator of neutrophil cytotoxicity. The effect is mediated by endothelial CD36 via upregulation of the neutrophil activator CSF3 in cerebral endothelial cells. Therefore, approaches to modulate cerebral endothelial CD36 signaling or to neutralize CSF3 may provide novel therapeutic opportunities to ameliorate postischemic inflammatory injury.
Promoting CNS repair

A developmental loss of intrinsic reparative capacity and the inhibitory environment in injury and disease contribute to regenerative failure in the central nervous system (CNS). The same factors are thought to hinder endogenous and exogenous regenerative therapies, including cell-based replacement ( 1 , 2 ). In neurodegenerative disorders, the contributions of microglia, astrocytes, and peripheral immune cells may be both harmful and beneficial. For example, resident microglia and peripheral cells of the innate immune system promote inflammation and cell death (apoptosis) in response to CNS injury, but immune cell activation also has been associated with neuroprotection and repair ( 3 ). This duality suggests that stimulating protective functions while minimizing proapoptotic and inhibitory signals could prove critical in treating neurodegenerative disease. On page 43 of this issue, Neves et al. ( 4 ) show that a neurotrophic signaling pathway in microglia and innate immune cells that is activated in disease or injury can be leveraged to promote neuroprotection and tissue repair.
To Form a More Perfect Union (Intersection, Difference)

The AQUA [16] query algebra allows user-defined equivalence relations as arguments to query operators that generalize standard set operations. These predicates determine what objects are included in the query result, and the duplicates that must be removed. While an expressive enhancement, the use of arbitrary equivalence relations to decide set membership can result in sets with counterintuitive behavior, and therefore can make queries return unreasonable results. In this paper, we show that equality predicates assume two roles with respect to sets. Distinguishers differentiate between set members and implicitly give meaning to standard set properties such as set equality. Constructors determine which object from input sets contribute to the query result. The requirements of distinguishers and constructors differ. AQUA’s set operators are problematic because they use constructors where distinguishers are required. We propose alternatives to AQUA’s set operators that address this limitation.
Immunohistochemical assessment of rat nerve isografts and immunosuppressed allografts.

Objective: Autologous peripheral nerve grafts are commonly used clinically as a treatment for peripheral nerve injuries. However, in research using an autologous graft is not always feasible due to loss of function, which in many cases is assessed to determine the efficacy of the peripheral nerve graft. In addition, using allografts for research require the use of an immunosuppressant, which creates unwanted side effects and another variable within the experiment that can affect regeneration. The objective of this study was to analyze graft rejection in peripheral nerve grafts and the effects of cyclosporine A (CSA) on axonal regeneration.Methods: Peripheral nerve grafts in inbred Lewis rats were compared with Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats to assess graft rejection, CSA side effects, immune responses, and regenerative capability. Macrophages and CD8+ cells were labeled to determine graft rejection, and neurofilaments were labeled to determine axonal regeneration.Results: SD rats without CSA had significantly m...