cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Emerging Magnetic Interactions in van der Waals Heterostructures

Vertical van der Waals (vdWs) heterostructures based on layered materials are attracting interest as a new class of quantum materials, where interfacial charge-transfer coupling can give rise to fascinating strongly correlated phenomena. Transition metal chalcogenides are a particularly exciting material family, including ferromagnetic semiconductors, multiferroics, and superconductors. Here, we report the growth of an organic-inorganic heterostructure by intercalating molecular electron donating bis(ethylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene into (Li,Fe)OHFeSe, a layered material in which the superconducting ground state results from the intercalation of hydroxide layer. Molecular intercalation in this heterostructure induces a transformation from a paramagnetic to spin-glass-like state that is sensitive to the stoichiometry of molecular donor and an applied magnetic field. Besides, electron-donating molecules reduce the electrical resistivity in the heterostructure and modify its response to laser illumination. This hybrid heterostructure provides a promising platform to study emerging magnetic and electronic behaviors in strongly correlated layered materials.
Off-target pesticide movement: a review of our current understanding of drift due to inversions and secondary movement

Pesticide drift has been a concern since the introduction of pesticides. Historical incidences with off-target movement of 2,4-D and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) have increased our understanding of pesticide fate in the atmosphere following aerial application. More recent incidences with dicamba have brought to light gaps in our current understanding of aerial pesticide movement following ground application. In this paper, we review the current understanding of inversions and other weather and environmental factors that contribute to secondary pesticide movement and raise questions that need to be addressed. Factors that influence volatility and terminology associated with the atmosphere, such as cool air drainage, temperature inversions, and radiation cooling will be discussed. We also present literature that highlights the need to consider the role(s) of wind in secondary drift in addition to the role in physical drift. With increased awareness of pesticide movement and more herbicide-resistant traits available than ever before, it has become even more essential that we understand secondary movement of pesticides, recognize our gaps in understanding, and advance from what is currently unknown. Nomenclature: dicamba; 2, 4-D; dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane
Thyroid Nodule Evaluation and Management in Older Adults: A Review of Practical Considerations for Clinical Endocrinologists.

Abstract Objective Contextualizing the evaluation of older adults with thyroid nodules is necessary to fully understand which management strategy is the most appropriate. Our goal was to summarize available clinical evidence to provide guidance in the care of older adults with thyroid nodules and highlight special considerations for thyroid nodule evaluation and management in this population. Methods We conducted a literature search of PubMed and Ovid MEDLINE from January 2000 to November 2020 to identify relevant peer-reviewed articles published in English. References from the included articles as well as articles identified by the authors were also reviewed. Results The prevalence of thyroid nodules increases with age. Although thyroid nodules in older adults have a lower risk of malignancy, identified cancers are more likely to be of high-risk histology. The goals of thyroid nodule evaluation and the tools used for diagnosis are similar for older and younger patients with thyroid nodules. However, limited evidence exists regarding thyroid nodule evaluation and management to guide personalized decision making in the geriatric population. Conclusion Considering patient context is significant in the diagnosis and management of thyroid nodules in older adults. When making management decisions in this population, it is essential to carefully weigh the risks and benefits of thyroid nodule diagnosis and treatment, in view of older adults' higher prevalence of high-risk thyroid cancer as well as increased risk for multimorbidity, functional and cognitive decline, and treatment complications.
Impact of age, rurality and distance in predicting contralateral prophylactic mastectomy for breast cancer in a Midwestern state: a population-based study

Iowa is among several rural Midwestern states with the highest proportions of contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) in women < 45 years of age. We evaluated the role of rurality and travel distance in these surgical patterns. Women with unilateral breast cancer (2007–2017) were identified using Iowa Cancer Registry records. Patients and treating hospitals were classified as metro, nonmetro, and rural based on Rural–Urban Continuum Codes. Differences in patient, tumor, and treatment characteristics and median travel distance (MTD) were compared. Characteristics associated with CPM were evaluated with multivariate logistic regression. 22,158 women were identified: 57% metro, 26% nonmetro and 18% rural. Young rural women had the highest proportion of CPM (52%, 39% and 40% for rural, metro, nonmetro women < 40 years). Half of all rural women had surgery at metro hospitals; these women had the longest MTD (62 miles). Among all women treated at metro hospitals, rural women had the highest proportion of CPM (17% rural vs 14% metro/nonmetro, p = 0.007). On multivariate analysis, traveling ≥ 50 miles (ORs 1.43–2.34) and rural residence (OR = 1.29) were independently predictive of CPM. Other risk factors were young age (< 40 years: OR = 7.28, 95% CI 5.97–8.88) and surgery at a metro hospital that offers reconstruction (OR = 2.30, 95% CI 1.65-3.21) and is not NCI-designated (OR = 2.34, 95% CI 1.92–2.86). There is an unexpectedly high proportion of CPM in young rural women in Iowa, and travel distance and availability of reconstructive services likely influence decision-making. Improving access to multidisciplinary care in rural states may help optimize decision-making.
FKBP5 expression is related to HPA flexibility and the capacity to cope with stressors in the house sparrow

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and its end products, the glucocorticoids, are critical to responding appropriately to stressors. Subsequently, many studies have sought relationships between glucocorticoids and measures of health or fitness, but such relationships are at best highly context dependent. Recently, some endocrinologists have started to suggest that a focus on HPA flexibility, the ability of an individual to mount appropriate responses to different stressors, could be useful. Here, we tested the hypothesis that expression of FKBP5, a cochaperone in the glucocorticoid receptor complex, is a simple and reliable proxy of HPA flexibility in a wild songbird, the house sparrow (Passer domesticus). We quantified HPA flexibility in a novel way, using guidance from research on heart rhythm regulation. As predicted, we found that adult sparrows with low stress-induced FKBP5 expression in the hypothalamus exhibited high HPA flexibility. Moreover, low FKBP5 expression was associated with better stress coping capacities in terms of exploratory disposition and body mass maintenance. Altogether, these results suggest that FKBP5 may be important in the regulation HPA flexibility, potentially affecting how individuals cope with natural and anthropogenic adversity.
First-principles study of luminescence in Ce-doped inorganic scintillators

Luminescence in Ce-doped materials corresponds to a transition from an excited state where the lowest Ce 5$d$ level is filled [often called the (Ce${}^{3+}$)${}^{*}$ state] to the ground state where a single 4$f$ level is filled. We have performed theoretical calculations based on density functional theory to calculate the ground-state band structure of Ce-doped materials as well as the (Ce${}^{3+}$)${}^{*}$ excited state. The excited-state calculations used a constrained occupancy approach by setting the occupation of the Ce 4$f$ states to zero and allowing the first excited state above them to be filled. These calculations were performed on a set of Ce-doped materials that are known from experiment to be scintillators or nonscintillators to relate theoretically calculable parameters to measured scintillator performance. From these studies, we developed a set of criteria based on calculated parameters that are necessary characteristics for bright Ce-activated scintillators. Applying these criteria to about 100 new materials, we developed a list of candidate materials for new bright Ce-activated scintillators. After synthesis in powder form, one of these new materials (Ba${}_{2}$YCl${}_{7}$:Ce) was found to be a bright scintillator. This approach, involving first-principles calculations of modest computing requirements, was designed as a systematic, high-throughput method to aid in the discovery of new bright scintillator materials by prioritization and down-selection on the large number of potential new materials.
Use of Meta-narrative Review to Integrate Perspectives on Identity Formation in the Cameroonian and Swedish-Kurdish Diasporas

Post-colonial Cameroonian identities have emerged from a combination of systems involving indigenous knowledges, transnational, socio-political, and economic influences, contributing to back-and-forth identity formation in the diaspora and country-of-origin. Kin and kith bonds, social validation, and the maintenance of traditional values between members of the diaspora and relatives in Cameroon influence both individual and collective identity formation in diasporic communities. I argue that the affective communicative properties of socio-culturally and nostalgically relevant music may facilitate not only individual identity formation in the Cameroonian diaspora, but also collective identity formations between members of the Cameroonian diaspora and Cameroon itself through the mechanism of empathy. To accomplish this, I employ the use of meta-narrative review to integrate discussions from cultural studies, social anthropology, sociology, musicology, neuroscience and psychology. Cameroonian diasporic communities discussed in this paper include the Norwegian-Cameroonian and German-Cameroonian diasporas, with comparative discussion offered from the perspective of the Swedish-Kurdish diaspora. This study is intended to exemplify an exploration of how transdisciplinary integration can highlight the value of the affective communicative properties of socio-culturally and nostalgically relevant music as means to facilitate identity formation within and across diasporic communities through the mechanism of empathy.
Do the Guidelines Apply?-A Multisite, Combined Stakeholder Qualitative Case Study to Understand Care Decisions in Bronchiolitis.

Abstract Background Clinical practice guidelines for bronchiolitis recommend against tests and treatments that do not improve outcomes, yet most children admitted with bronchiolitis continue to receive them. An improved understanding of factors that influence care decisions across multiple stakeholders and diverse settings is needed to develop effective strategies to de-implement (or reduce) unnecessary testing and treatment. Methods We explored health care provider, care team, and parent perspectives on testing and treatment in bronchiolitis to develop a combined stakeholder account of care decisions. We conducted a qualitative case study across 2 geographically distinct university affiliated children's hospitals representing a generally low and high test/treatment utilizing hospital respectively from March 2019 to May 2020. We conducted 46 semistructured interviews and 3 focus groups with a total of 74 participants. Data were analyzed using applied thematic analysis and findings were triangulated across participant group and data collection method. Results Three themes emerged around care decisions: 1) awareness and perceptions of the guidelines or evidence; 2) perceptions of expected tests or treatments, and 3) organizational culture and existing care processes. Provider and care team participants commonly described parent expectations as drivers of utilization. Conversely, parents generally reported a lack of expectations for tests/treatments and that tests/treatments did not improve their experience of care. Conclusions This study illuminated factors associated with the differential adoption of evidence and targets for future de-implementation strategies. Importantly, incongruent with provider and care team perceptions, parents reported that they desire an evidence-based, less-is-more approach to bronchiolitis care.
Input estimation of nonlinear systems using probabilistic neural network

Abstract Input estimation is an involved task with wide applications in nonlinear dynamic systems. Model-based input estimation methods are not feasible solutions for problems in which the underlying behavior is not sufficiently known. Data-driven methods have recently shown promise in capturing hidden and subtle nonlinearities in problems from various domains. In this study, we introduce a machine learning approach for input estimation of nonlinear dynamic systems that is applicable for a variety of mechanical properties and system complexities. The proposed neural regression model enables uncertainty quantification in predictions for each time sample which is a novel and helpful tool to analyze the accuracy of the results. For verification, three applications are investigated: (a) a numerical quarter-car model, (b) a real-world building, and (c) a real-world vehicle suspension system. We show that the estimated input signals in a numerically modeled system and real-world dynamic systems closely follow the actual inputs. In particular, the efficacy of input estimations in real-world cases confirms the strength of the proposed approach for similar applications with significant impact. For instance, the findings of this work enables the use of motion sensors mounted inside the vehicles for bridge vibration data collection which is proposed as a scalable and inexpensive paradigm for assessment of transportation infrastructure.
Heterogeneous protein co-assemblies with tunable functional domain stoichiometry

In nature, the precise heterogeneous co-assembly of different protein domains gives rise to supramolecular machines that perform complex functions through the co-integrated activity of the individual protein subunits. A synthetic approach capable of mimicking this process would afford access to supramolecular machines with new or improved functional capabilities. Here we show that the distinct peptide strands of a heterotrimeric α-helical coiled-coil (i.e., peptides “A”, “B”, and “C”) can be used as fusion tags for heterogeneous co-assembly of proteins into supramolecular structures with tunable subunit stoichiometry. In particular, we demonstrate that recombinant fusion of A with NanoLuc luciferase (NL-A), B with superfolder green fluorescent protein (sfGFP-B), and C with mRuby (mRuby-C) enables formation of ternary complexes capable of simultaneously emitting blue, green, and red light via sequential bioluminescence and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (BRET/FRET). Fusion of galectin-3 onto the C-terminus of NL-A, sfGFP-B, and mRuby-C endows the ternary complexes with lactose-binding affinity that can be tuned by varying the number of galectin-3 domains integrated into the complex from one to three, while maintaining BRET/FRET function. The modular nature of the fusion protein design, the precise control of domain stoichiometry, and the multiplicity afforded by the three-stranded coiled-coil scaffold provides access to a greater range of subunit combinations than what is possible with heterodimeric coiled-coils used previously. We envision that access to this expanded range of co-integrated protein domain diversity will be advantageous for future development of designer supramolecular machines for therapeutic, diagnostic, and biotechnology applications.
Slip in tungsten at high temperatures

Slip in single crystal tungsten deformed in tension at temperatures from 2500 to 5000 degrees F
Direct Rocket Measurements of the Ionosphere during the Solar Eclipse of November 12,1966

Direct measurements of ionospheric parameters were made on a number of rockets fired in conjunction with the solar eclipse of November 12, 1966 from a site in southern Brazil. Previously reported results indicate unexpectedly large decreases in the electron density at eclipse totality in the vicinity of 80 km. altitude. Also, measurements with the blunt probe technique showed an unexpectedly large decrease in positive ion density during the course of the eclipse. This result leads to an ion-ion mutual neutralization coefficient, α1, of order 10−6 cm3/sec., and a nitric oxide density of order 108/cm3 in the altitude range 65–78 km. The appropriate ion chemistry model was found to agree with that proposed by Fehsenfeld, et. al. below 60 km., but to diverge greatly from this model at higher altitudes.
BINCKE: A highly efficient net for collecting reef fishes

The efficient collection of fishes from structurally complex environments (e.g., coral reefs, kelp forests) is difficult because conventional collecting methods generally cannot be used and many of the fishes are mobile and active. We describe the design, operation, and application of a diver-propelled net for efficiently collecting many species of benthic fish that reside on coral reefs and on kelp-forested rocky reefs. The overall size of the net and mesh size of the netting can be adjusted according to the size and behavior of targeted species to minimize drag and damage to specimens. Altering these dimensions combined with proper use of the net can result in a high rate of capture success.
Placental transfer and tissue distribution of iophenoxic acid in the hamster.

Abstract Iophenoxic acid, a cholecystographic dye, leads to persistent elevation of pootein-bound iodine (PBI) in the human being with a predicted retention for 30 years or more. It is also transmitted to the offspring. Pregnant hamsters were injected with I 125 -labeled compound from Days 8 to 15 of gestation and were sacrificed on Day 15, 1 day prior to normal parturition. Balance studies showed retention, but with some urinary loss. Fecal loss was negligible. The drug was > 99 per cent bound to plasma protein. By 7 days, fetal plasma had equilibrated with maternal plasma, and, at low doses of the drug, whole fetus/maternal plasma concentration ratios had reached 0.52. Only the yolk sac had a concentration higher than that of the maternal plasma. Concentrations in fetal tissues were higher than in maternal tissues. This distribution in the newborn infant would provide an inherited reservoir which might maintain the PBI of mother and progeny at similar levels for at least several years.
Critical Tax Theory: The Profits and Penalties of Kinship: Conflicting Meanings of Family in Estate Tax Law

This article critically examines the conflicting estate tax definitions of family in I.R.C. Sections 2036, 2032A and 6166. The sections use terms such as family and related in ways that conflict with each other and with lay understanding of the terms. From an historical perspective, the multiple estate tax definitions reflect the Code sections' distinct purposes. From a theoretical perspective, they acknowledge the personal and economic interconnectedness within families as well as diversity in the structure of family arrangements. The existing definitions of family fall short, however, in that they fail to recognize the full range of associational arrangements that function as families and the non-market contributions that women, in particular, make to families. The author evaluates four proposed solutions to the complexity created by the multiple estate tax definitions of family: adopting a uniform definition of family, eliminating all wealth transfer tax rules that penalize or prefer the family, eliminating only the preferential rules for families and increasing the estate tax exemption. The author rejects these proposals as individually and collectively incomplete, though, and embraces instead a fifth proposal that uses unique terms to bring the estate tax definitions in line with the rules' underlying policies. Adopting the unique terms will make the law less complex and will help achieve statutory integrity.
PR2ALIGN: a stand-alone software program and a web-server for protein sequence alignment using weighted biochemical properties of amino acids

Alignment of amino acid sequences is the main sequence comparison method used in computational molecular biology. The selection of the amino acid substitution matrix best suitable for a given alignment problem is one of the most important decisions the user has to make. In a conventional amino acid substitution matrix all elements are fixed and their values cannot be easily adjusted. Moreover, most existing amino acid substitution matrices account for the average (dis)similarities between amino acid types and do not distinguish the contribution of a specific biochemical property to these (dis)similarities. PR2ALIGN is a stand-alone software program and a web-server that provide the functionality for implementing flexible user-specified alignment scoring functions and aligning pairs of amino acid sequences based on the comparison of the profiles of biochemical properties of these sequences. Unlike the conventional sequence alignment methods that use 20x20 fixed amino acid substitution matrices, PR2ALIGN uses a set of weighted biochemical properties of amino acids to measure the distance between pairs of aligned residues and to find an optimal minimal distance global alignment. The user can provide any number of amino acid properties and specify a weight for each property. The higher the weight for a given property, the more this property affects the final alignment. We show that in many cases the approach implemented in PR2ALIGN produces better quality pair-wise alignments than the conventional matrix-based approach. PR2ALIGN will be helpful for researchers who wish to align amino acid sequences by using flexible user-specified alignment scoring functions based on the biochemical properties of amino acids instead of the amino acid substitution matrix. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, there are no existing stand-alone software programs or web-servers analogous to PR2ALIGN. The software is freely available from http://pr2align.rit.albany.edu .
Man and Society in Adam Smith’s Natural Morality: The Impartial Spectator, the Man of System and the Invisible Hand

One often hears the argument that Adam Smith’s Theory of Moral Sentiments provides a basis for the construction of a morality independent of a religion based on revelation. Central to this argument is Smith’s impartial spectator, whose study of human motivation through observation of the diversity of our actions shapes our capacity to both judge the motives of our present actions and inform our future ones. To the extent that one’s moral imagination attends to the impartial spectator, one’s judgment of actions will conform to a moral standard founded on human experience rather religious revelation. One also hears frequently the argument that Smith’s defense of his system of natural liberty in the Wealth of Nations is simultaneously the defense of an Augustinian-like theodicy in which God provides a natural remedy to human sinfulness. Central to this argument is the invisible hand of market forces, which allocate resources in a way conducive to our common interests, even though their placement is directed by the personal interests of the individual economic actors. To the extent that our social interactions are framed by institutions that allow natural liberty, they it be mutually beneficial to participants in a way that could not be approximated by external direction. My purpose is to connect these two arguments via another figure from TMS, the man of system.
Information-Aggregation Bias in Representative Agent Pricing Models

I show that for a partly revealing financial equilibrium in which some agents have private information about their own preferences or endowments and about the payoff of a risky asset, traditional (fully revealing) asset pricing models understate the riskiness of equity investments. Information-aggregation bias causes these models to generate estimates of risk that are uniformly lower than those that are relevant to agents' investment and consumption decisions, conditional on their available information.
Voxelwise single-subject analysis of imaging metabolic response to therapy in neuro-oncology

F-18-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) has been used to evaluate the metabolic response of metastatic brain tumors to treatment by comparing their tumor glucose metabolism before and after treatment. The standard analysis based on regions-of-interest has the advantage of simplicity. However, it is by definition restricted to those regions and is subject to observer variability. In addition, the observed changes in tumor metabolism are often confounded by normal changes in the tissue background, which can be heterogenous. We propose an analysis pipeline for automatically detecting the change at each voxel in the entire brain of a single subject, while adjusting for changes in the background. The complete analysis includes image registration, segmentation, a hierarchical model for background adjustment and voxelwise statistical comparisons. We demonstrate the method’s ability to identify areas of tumor response and/or progression in two subjects enrolled in a clinical trial using FDG-PET to evaluate lapatinib for the treatment of brain metastases in breast cancer patients.
Design of Multi-User Editing Servers for Continuous Media

Based on a fifteen month investigation of a post production facilities for both the entertainment industry and broadcasters, we identified a number of challenges with the design and implementation of a server in support of multiple editing stations. These include, how to: share the same content among multiple editors, support continuous display of the edited content for each editor, support complex editing operations, compute the set of changes (deltas) proposed by an editor, compare the deltas proposed by multiple editors, etc. It is beyond the focus of this paper to report on each challenge and its related solutions. Instead, we focus on one challenge, namely how to support continuous display of the edited content for each editors, and techniques for physical organization of data to address this challenge.
Connexin46 mutations linked to congenital cataract show loss of gap junction channel function.

Human connexin46 (hCx46) forms gap junctional channels interconnecting lens fiber cells and appears to be critical for normal lens function, because hCx46 mutations have been linked to congenital c...
Copyright Policymaking as Procedural Democratic Process: A Discourse Theoretic Perspective on ACTA, SOPA, and PIPA

In Bring in the Nerds: Secrecy, National Security, and the Creation of Intellectual Property Law, David Levine juxtaposes two starkly different copyright policymaking processes: the closed international process that produced the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) and the relatively open domestic process that led quite dramatically to the scuttling of the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the PROTECT IP Act (PIPA). He reads the two processes against each other as a prelude to recommending Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) reform. The amendment to FOIA that Professor Levine proposes would open the international IP policymaking process to greater public scrutiny by creating a qualified public right to “foreign relations” national security information, which was systematically withheld from the public during the ACTA negotiations. This article, prepared for the Cardozo Arts and Entertainment Law Journal’s 2012 Symposium, “Piracy and the Politics of Policing: Legislating and Enforcing Copyright Law,” is a response to Professor Levine that draws on Jurgen Habermas’ discourse theory of procedural democracy to examine the policymaking dynamics of ACTA and SOPA/PIPA and to assess the democracy-enhancing potential of the FOIA reform Professor Levine proposes.
Polyurethane coatings for metal and plastic substrates

Summary Polyurethane coatings offer many advantages for metal substrate applications. Polyurethanes have excellent appearance (“wet look”), mechanical performance, UV resistance, and chemical resistance compared with other coatings. Polyurethanes can be applied as higher solids or powder coatings without loss of performance. As a result, polyurethanes are the market leader for coating metallic and plastic substrates in numerous high-end and highly visible applications today. In the future,the performance of urethane coatings will allow them to be used in a broader spectrum of applications.
A heterogeneous nickel catalyst for the hydrogenolysis of aryl ethers without arene hydrogenation.

A heterogeneous nickel catalyst for the selective hydrogenolysis of aryl ethers to arenes and alcohols generated without an added dative ligand is described. The catalyst is formed in situ from the...
Living by learning, learning by living: The quest for meaning

In our current age of rapid social, economic and technological change, including urbanisation, globalisation and information overload, human beings are more than ever seeking orientation and meaning. In this situation, education is the potential key to individual empowerment, cultural prosperity, social cohesion and economic development. Arguing for the learning city as the location where a real learning culture is being developed, the author of this article discusses the need to build a new citizenship involving democratic, social, egalitarian (gender-balanced), intercultural and environmental dimensions. Based on a new humanism, this new citizenship should be designed to overcome the exclusion of many in the interests of a few and enable a meaning-friendly evolution in our social institutions. Thus the means of knowing, understanding and being in the world of knowledge, which are essential for liberating the human mind, can be provided to everyone.
The efficacy of dusting honey bee colonies with powdered sugar to reduce varroa mite populations

SummaryControlling varroa mite (Varroa destructor Anderson and Trueman) populations in honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies with acaricides has been a challenge for beekeepers due to the rapid development of resistant mite populations. For this reason, many beekeepers are adopting Integrated Pest Management strategies as alternatives to chemocentric varroa control schemes. One non-chemical tool that has been used for varroa control is dusting bee colonies with powdered sugar. The objective of our study was to determine the efficacy of powdered sugar as a varroa control by comparing mite populations, adult bee populations, and brood area in untreated colonies with those in colonies dusted every two weeks for 11 months with 120 g powdered sugar per application. We found that dusting colonies with powdered sugar did not significantly affect the adult bee population (treated: 10061.72 ± 629.42; control: 10691.00 ± 554.44) or amount of brood (treated: 4521.91 ± 342.84 cm2; control: 4472.55 ± 365.85 cm2). We ...
PARADOXICAL |[beta]| RECEPTOR MEDIATED VASOCONSTRICTION IN THE STAGE 24 CHICK EMBRYO

Little is known about neurohumoral control of the embryonic cardiovascular system. We studied the effect of increasing intravenous doses of isoproterenol, epinephrine and norepinephrine on heart rate (HR), mean dorsal aortic blood flow (Q)), mean vitelline artery pressure (P) and vascular resistance (R) in the stage 24 (4 day) chick embryo. Dorsal aortic blood velocity was measured with a 20 MHz pulsed-Doppler velocity meter. Pressure was measured with a servo null pressure system. β receptor properties were determined using radioligand binding and β agonist stimulated adenylate cyclase activity on vitelline vascular bed broken-cell preparation. Isoproterenol > epinephrine > norepinephrine caused a dose related decrease in Q, an increase in R but no change in HR or P. These effects were blocked by propranolol but unaffected by phenoxybenzamine. Radioligand binding was characteristic of a β receptor with a KD for [125I] Iodocyanopindolol of 10±3 pM and a receptor density of 139±8 fmol/mg protein. Isoproterenol increased adenylate cyclase activity 55%±6% from baseline values. These data are consistent with a β receptor which stimulates adenylate cyclase activity and mediates paradoxical vasoconstriction. Since isoproterenol causes vasodilatation in mature embryos, we speculate β receptor function changes with development.
Effect of Feed or Water Restriction on Basal and TRH-Stimulated Growth Hormone Secretion in the Growing Turkey Poult

Abstract Both feed and water restriction of growing turkeys resulted in an increase in the basal levels of plasma growth hormone (GH). Restricted birds also showed an increased response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulation. These changes were significantly greater in feed-restricted birds than in the water-restricted birds. After return to ad lib conditions, basal plasma GH levels remained elevated above control levels in both previously restricted groups. However, the GH response to TRH stimulation returned to normal during this period. The increase in GH secretion during undernutrition is a metabolic adjustment consistent with the known role of GH in glucose, protein and fat metabolism. The elevated GH levels present after return to adequate nutrition may aid compensatory growth. Feed and water restriction were equally effective in limiting the growth of young turkey poults. Body weight gain and feed efficiency were severely affected during the first 3 weeks of restriction, but improved during the 4th week. Return to ad lib conditions resulted in compensatory growth and markedly improved feed efficiency in both restricted groups. Feed-restricted birds showed a significant increase in water consumption after 8 days of restriction. This polydipsia may result from intermittent feeding of hungry animals. Water consumption returned to normal after 1 week of ad lib feeding. Birds restricted in water consumption voluntarily limited their feed intake to a level only slightly higher than that of the feed-restricted group. When water was supplied ad lib, these birds immediately resumed normal feed consumption.
Design organic molecules for optical and electrical applications

Extensive research effort is devoted to the investigation on synthesis, physical property of conjugated molecules with pi-electronic systems. These molecules exhibit interesting electrical and optical properties useful for field effect transistor, electrical conductivity, optical nonlinearity, photovoltaic and electroluminescent properties.[1-6] Conjugated diblock copolymer possessing a rod-rod structure will be rigid rods, which dictate their assembling behaviors. Since the structure of the conjugated blocks can be modified with different functional groups, such as donor and acceptor groups, the electronic properties of the resulting diblock copolymers can be engineered to behave like semiconductor p-n junctions, offering opportunity to observe rectification effects. These properties are closely related to photovoltaic effect and can find application in solar energy harvesting. In this paper, we describe several molecular systems that show clear rectification effect. [9-12]
A concept for an innovative high-temperature heat pump

Abstract Concepts for an innovative high-temperature heat pump are described. The preferred concept is a high-temperature analog to the familiar vapor-compression cycle. This concept is innovative in that a solid-state component, beta-alumina solid electrolyte (or BASE), is used to perform the compression function. It promises to be reliable and efficient at the high temperatures required for many applications in the chemical process industries. Economic viability depends on the relative costs of electric power to energize the BASE compressor compared with conventional fuels for direct heating, but the BASE heat pump could be an attractive alternative.
Selective isotopic exchange of polyfimctional ions in tandem mass spectrometry: Methodology, applications and mechanism

Isotopic exchange of mass-selected odd- and even-electron molecular ions of aromatic compounds upon collision with deuterated gases was investigated as a function of reagent gas, interaction time and collision energy. Use of ND3 as reagent allows exchange of all active hydrogens for the compound types studied, providing a count of the total number of active hydrogens present in the analyte. CH3OD exchanges specific types of active hydrogens, such as phenolic and carboxylic hydrogens, without exchanging amino hydrogens. This selectivity assists in the identification and enumeration of different types of active hydrogens present in polyfunctional compounds. The H–D exchange patterns serve to differentiate isomeric aromatic compounds containing methoxy, amino, hydroxy and carboxylic acid substituents. Trapping of mass-selected ions in the collision region of a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer greatly enhances the degree of H–D exchange, thereby facilitating determination of the number of active hydrogens in the analyte. Triple stage mass spectrometric experiments, performed in a pentaquadrupole mass spectrometer, help elucidate the exchange process. Isotopic exchange in the collision region of a tandem mass spectrometer also provides insights into the site of protonation in molecules containing several functional groups. The proximity of the functional groups and the proton affinity difference between the analyte and the reagent gas are important factors in site-specific H–D exchange in polyfunctional compounds. An investigation of the effects of collision energy reveals that cluster ion formation plays a major role in the exchange mechanism operating in the triple quadrupole and that H–D exchange, ion-molecule adduct formation and endothermic fragmentation are competitive reaction channels.
Effect of Photosensitizer Dose on Fluence Rate Responses to Photodynamic Therapy

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) regimens that conserve tumor oxygenation are typically more efficacious, but require longer treatment times. This makes them clinically unfavorable. In this report, the inverse pairing of fluence rate and photosensitizer dose is investigated as a means of controlling oxygen depletion and benefiting therapeutic response to PDT under conditions of constant treatment time. Studies were performed for Photofrin-PDT of radiation-induced fibrosarcoma tumors over fluence rate and drug dose ranges of 25-225 mW cm -2 and 2.5-10 mg kg -1 , respectively, for 30 min of treatment. Tumor response was similar among all inverse regimens tested, and, in general, tumor hemoglobin oxygen saturation (SO 2 ) was well conserved during PDT, although the highest fluence rate regimen (225 mW x 2.5 mg) did lead to a modest but significant reduction in SO 2 . Regardless, significant direct tumor cell kill (> 1 log) was detected during 225 mW x 2.5 mg PDT, and minimal normal tissue toxicity was found. PDT effect on tumor oxygenation was highly associated with tumor response at 225 mW x 2.5 mg, as well as in all other regimens tested. These data suggest that high fluence rate PDT can be carried out under oxygen-conserving, efficacious conditions at low photosensitizer dose. Clinical confirmation and application of these results will be possible through use of minimally invasive oxygen and photosensitizer monitoring technologies, which are currently under development.
Abdominal CT for trauma: an adequate screen for lower thoracic and lumbosacral fractures?

Purpose: To assess the utility of routine trauma abdomen and pelvic CT for the detection of lumbosacral spine fractures. Materials and methods: The radiology records of the University of Arizona Medical Center over a 12-month period were reviewed. Fifty-eight patients with suspected blunt abdominal trauma were studied who had both abdominal CT and radiographs of lumbosacral spine. Twenty-two had one or more fractures of the lumbosacral spine. Thirty-six patients who underwent both imaging studies and had no fracture identified by either modality were selected as controls. The images were reviewed independently by three radiologists who were blinded to the CT and plain radiograph findings. Following the blinded review, all discrepancies were reviewed by the interpreting radiologists who then arrived at a consensus interpretation. A fracture was determined to be present if, by consensus of the reviewers, it was seen on either the CT scan or plain radiograph. Results: Thirty-two fractures were identified; 28 (88 %) were identified on CT, 17(53 %) were seen on plain films. Overall routine abdominal CT is significantly more sensitive in the detection of fracture than plain radiographs. No unstable injuries were missed on plain film while one fracture dislocation was missed on CT. Conclusion: Bone images obtained from routine trauma abdomen and pelvic CT are significantly more sensitive than radiographs in the detection of fractures of the lumbosacral spine. However, CT alone may miss significant injuries.
Secondary Calcification in Globorotalia Menardii (Foraminiferida): ABSTRACT

Specimens of the planktonic foraminifer Globorotalia menardii (Parker, Jones, and Brady) were examined in bottom samples from three profiles across the continental shelf and slope of the South China Sea. This species is absent in inner shelf assemblages; middle-shelf populations of G. menardii are dominated by forms with tests characterized by smooth, thin, translucent walls and unthickened keels (G. "cultrata" of authors). Specimens with coarsely crystalline crust covering much of the test wall and keel become increasingly common seaward, although the distribution of crust-bearing forms on the outer shelf is irregular because of current transport. The percentage of incrusted tests in bottom sediments reaches values of 80-100 just beyond the shelf edge (180-275 m), and th se values are maintained across most of the continental slope. A narrow zone of high percentages of noncrusted forms occurs in all three profiles on the upper continental slope at depths of 275-500 m; these deposits represent concentrations of small tests swept off the shelf. Young specimens of G. menardii live at relatively shallow depths. By the early adult stage of development, the individual organisms descend in the water column where they continue to grow. At increased depth, development of a secondary crystalline crust begins, first with thickening of the keel and then with incrustation on both dorsal and ventral walls. Secondary calcification on the exterior walls of the last chamber, including the apertural face, is represented by thickening and increased opacity of the wall without the development of a typical crust. Because chambers are added after the onset of crust formation, the lack of secondary calcification on septa and on the ventral walls of chambers enclosed within the last whorl of the test indicates that previously secreted crystalline crust has been resorbed. End_of_Article - Last_Page 466------------
Notch signaling downstream of foxD5 promotes neural ectodermal transcription factors that inhibit neural differentiation

We investigated the role of the Notch signaling pathway in regulating several transcription factors that stabilize a neural fate and expand the neural plate. Increased Notch signaling in a neural lineage via a constitutively activated form (NICD) up-regulated geminin and zic2 in a cell-autonomous manner, and expanded the neural plate domains of sox11, sox2, and sox3. Loss- and gain-of-function assays show that foxD5 acts upstream of notch1 gene expression. Decreasing Notch signaling with an anti-morphic form of a Notch ligand (X-Delta-1STU) showed that the foxD5-mediated expansion of the sox gene neural plate domains requires Notch signaling. However, geminin and zic2 appear to be dually regulated by foxD5 and Notch1 signaling. These studies demonstrate that: (1) Notch signaling acts downstream of foxD5 to promote the expression of a subset of neural ectodermal transcription factors; and (2) Notch signaling and the foxD5 transcriptional pathway together maintain the neural plate in an undifferentiated state. Developmental Dynamics 238:1358–1365, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The lipids of bovine skin collagen.

Abstract The lipid composition of “purified” bovine skin collagen was determined. Chloroform-methanol removed about 95 per cent of the lipids. The predominant lipids were triglycerides, cholesterol, cholesterol esters and some phosphatides. These lipids comprised about 13 per cent of the dry weight of the collagen preparation. Treatment of the chloroform-methanol extracted protein with trifluoroacetic acid (TFA)—a hydrogen bond splitting agent—yielded additional lipid. However, TFA did not remove all the lipids from the preparation; this could only be obtained after total hydrolysis of the collagen. Aliquots of the chloroform-methanol extracted collagen were denatured and the α-chains chromatographically isolated. Examinations of these polypeptide chains indicated the presence still of 0.5 per cent of lipid. It was concluded that this small lipid fraction was tightly bound to, or was part of, the collagen macromolecule.
Behavioral selection of odor cues by young female mice affects age of puberty

Female house mice were reared from weaning at 21 days of age until first vaginal estrus in 40 1 aquaria in which they were given a choice of exposing themselves to bedding placed on opposite halves of the aquarium floor and sprayed with water or urine containing puberty-influencing chemosignals. In Experimental 1, mice housed with only male urine cues sprayed on the bedding matured significantly earlier and mice housed with only grouped female urine sprayed on the bedding matured significantly later than control mice where water was sprayed on the bedding for both halves of the aquarium. In Experiment 2, there were no significant differences in mean ages at vaginal introitus or first estrus for females reared with choices between (a) bedding sprayed with male urine versus bedding sprayed with water, (b) bedding sprayed with urine from grouped females versus bedding sprayed with water, (c) bedding sprayed with male urine versus bedding sprayed with urine from grouped females, or (d) the control condition where both sides of the aquarium contained bedding sprayed with water. Analysis of continuous video tapes of the locations of the females for Experiment 2 revealed that females chose initially to spend more time on the half of the floor with bedding that delayed puberty relative to the other side, but shifted their preference toward a more puberty-enhancing signal at about the time of first estrus. Female house mice appear to be able to exert some behavioral control over their own sexual maturation. © 1992 Wiley & sons. Inc.
Squeezing via superpositions of even and odd Sp(2,R) coherent states.

It is shown that a linear combination of ``even'' and ``odd'' Sp(2,R) coherent states can be more highly squeezed than a coherent state belonging to a single Sp(2,R) representation. Physical mechanisms for generating such superpositions are introduced and studied.
Are cyons really anyons

Abstract An unresolved issue in (2 + 1)-dimensional quantum mechanics is whether a composite object formed from a charged particle bound to a magentic flux tube carries fractional angular momentum. We argue that this is indeed so, that the result confirms Wilczek's generalized connection of spin and statistics, and that further confirmation is provided by the recently discovered induced charged and spin of flux tubes in (2 + 1)-dimensional QED, a theory in which different spin and statistics are defined at short- and at long-distance scales.