cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development of renal toxicity in F344 rats gavaged with mercuric chloride for 2 weeks, or 2, 4, 6, 15, and 24 months

Both sexes of F344 rats were gavaged with maximal tolerated doses of mercuric chloride for periods from 2 wk to up to 2 yr to investigate chronic nephrotoxicity and potential carcinogenicity. The toxicity of mercuric chloride was excessive after 2 wk of exposure to doses ranging from 1.25 to 20 mg/kg, compromising renal function by selectively destroying cells of the proximal tubules, and eliciting marked elevations in urinary biomarker enzymes diagnostic for acute renal tubule necrosis. In the 2‐wk studies, urinary alkaline phosphatase and aspartate aminotransferase were most sensitive to renal mercury toxicity among a panel of six enzymes, exhibiting twofold increases above controls at the 5.0 mg/kg dose, before changes in the other enzymes occurred. Urinary lactate dehydrogenase was the most responsive enzyme, with up to 11‐fold increases in activity above controls. In response to mercuric chloride exposure of 5.0 mg/kg for 2–6 mo, the greatest and most persistent increases in elevation of urinary enzy...
A Rapid Gasometric Method of Analysis for ‘Reducing’ Sugars and Other Carbonyl Compounds

ANALYSIS for reducing sugars generally involves oxidation under highly disruptive conditions with an alkaline reagent. As a consequence of the oxidative fragmentation of the sugars, the stoichiometry of the reaction is not simple, and it is necessary to employ closely controlled concentration and temperature conditions1. The interpretation of the results requires the use of extensive empirical tables. Since the reducing equivalence of the various mono- and di-saccharides is not the same, an additional dimension of uncertainty is introduced into the procedure for the analysis of mixtures of reducing sugars.
Sclerotherapy--translucidation of the skin prior to injection.

. A useful technique for enhancing the visualization of microvaricosities of the legs is presented. This allows for easy, rapid, and accurate treatment of even the minutest vessels.
Broadband, nondestructive characterization of PEC-backed materials using a dual-ridged-waveguide probe

Summary form only given. A new single waveguide probe is introduced which utilizes a dual-ridged waveguide (DRWG) to provide nondestructive, broadband material characterization measurements of PEC-backed materials (much like existing coaxial probes, yet more broadly applicable) while maintaining the structural robustness of rectangular/circular waveguide probes. A schematic of the measurement geometry is shown. DRWG attached to an infinite PEC flange plate is placed in contact with a PEC-backed magnetic material of unknown er and μr. The theoretical expression for the reflection coefficient Sthy11, necessary to characterize the material under test (MUT), is derived. This is achieved by replacing the DRWG aperture with an equivalent magnetic current which maintains the fields in the parallel-plate/MUT region in accordance with Love's equivalence theorem. Enforcing the continuity of the transverse magnetic fields at the DRWG aperture results in a magnetic field integral equation, which when solved using the Method of Moments, yields Sthy11. The er and μr of the MUT are then found by minimizing the root-mean-square difference between the theoretical and measured reflection coefficients using nonlinear least squares. At a minimum, two independent reflection measurements are required to unambiguously characterize the MUT. In this research, two-thickness method is used for this purpose. To experimentally verify the new probe, broadband material characterization results of a magnetic absorbing material are presented and compared to those obtained using the traditional, destructive Nicolson-Ross-Weir technique. The new probe's sensitivity to sample thickness, flange-plate thickness, and measured S11 uncertainties is also presented.
Globalization and the Boundaries of the State: A Framework for Analyzing the Changing Practice of Sovereignty

The impact of globalization on the sovereignty of the modern state has been a source of great controversy among political scientists. In this article, I offer a framework for understanding the state as a boundary-setting institution, which changes shape and role over time and place. I argue that, rather than undermining the state, globalization is a product of a rearrangement of the purposes, boundaries, and sovereign authority of the state. Focusing on the United States, the article traces the changing shape of state sovereignty through a study of the patterns of immigration policy and politics over the past three decades. Immigration policy, I argue, provides a unique insight into the continuities and changes in the role of the state in an era of globalization.
MEASUREMENT ISSUES IN ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY

This paper deals with the area of environmental epidemiology involving measurement of exposure and dose, health outcomes, and important confounding and modifying variables (including genotype and p...
Abstract 857: A preliminary study of the correlation of tumor size and epidemiological characteristics in patients with non-small cell lung cancer

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC Introduction: Tumor size at diagnosis is an indicator for prognosis and the type of treatment of lung cancer. It reflects tumor growth rate and predicts metastasis status and survival in patients. It is therefore of great importance to evaluate what factors are associated with tumor size at diagnosis. Experimental procedures: We reviewed the electronic medical records of 1190 lung cancer patients from M.D. Anderson Cancer Center to collect information on tumor characteristics (lung cancer radiologically or surgically assessed tumor size) and patient characteristics (including age, gender, ethnicity, smoking history and vital status at the last contact date). We used t-test, Kruskal-Wallis test and linear regression to explore the relationship between the tumor size at diagnosis and a number of epidemiological factors derived from questionnaire data. Results: Smoking status was associated with tumor size at the time of diagnosis. We observed that never smokers presented with significantly smaller tumors (2.83 cm) than smokers, whether former smokers (3.50cm; P=0.001), recent quitters (4.00cm; P 65; 3.30 cm; P=0.071) patients. Men had larger tumors (4.00 cm) than women (3.00 cm; P 0.05) of relationship between either height or body mass index (BMI) and tumor size. Patients reporting dust or asbestos exposure presented with larger tumors while exposure to X-ray examination showed an opposite result. Hormone replacement therapy use in women was not associated with lung tumor size. Patients self-reporting with emphysema had smaller tumors (3.00 cm) at presentation than those without emphysema (3.70 cm; P=0.001). There was a difference in tumor size by cell type (adenocarcinoma, 3.42 cm vs squamous cell carcinoma, 4.52 cm, P<0.01) and degree of differentiation (not differentiated to poorly, 4.33 cm vs moderately to well, 3.50 cm, P<0.01). African Americans (4.10 cm) had significantly larger tumors (P<0.001) at diagnosis compared to Caucasian patients (3.50 cm), although the sample size for African Americans was limited to 127. Health care system utilization patterns did not explain the observed associations. Conclusions: In this study, lung tumor size at presentation was significantly associated with gender, ethnicity, smoking status, emphysema, cell type, degree of differentiation, X-ray examinations, and exposures to dust and asbestos. Mathematical modeling that allows for different growth and metastatic rate of tumors may help further understand the impact of various factors on the natural history of lung cancer. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 857.
Expression of the SNARE Protein SNAP-23 Is Essential for Cell Survival

Members of the SNARE-family of proteins are known to be key regulators of the membrane-membrane fusion events required for intracellular membrane traffic. The ubiquitously expressed SNARE protein SNAP-23 regulates a wide variety of exocytosis events and is essential for mouse development. Germline deletion of SNAP-23 results in early embryonic lethality in mice, and for this reason we now describe mice and cell lines in which SNAP-23 can be conditionally-deleted using Cre-lox technology. Deletion of SNAP-23 in CD19-Cre expressing mice prevents B lymphocyte development and deletion of SNAP-23 using a variety of T lymphocyte-specific Cre mice prevents T lymphocyte development. Acute depletion of SNAP-23 in mouse fibroblasts leads to rapid apoptotic cell death. These data highlight the importance of SNAP-23 for cell survival and describe a mouse in which specific cell types can be eliminated by expression of tissue-specific Cre-recombinase.
Web-based intervention for changing attitudes of obesity among current and future teachers.

Abstract Objective To evaluate attitude change among student teachers and schoolteachers when exposed to a Web-based educational module promoting size acceptance. Design Subjects were randomly assigned to a control group or 1 of 4 treatment groups to evaluate the effect of module, presenter credibility, and/or image on attitudes of obesity and processes of change using the Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM) testing cognitive and psychological cues. On-line assessment occurred at the pretest, posttest, and 6-week follow-up. Settings Web-based. Participants 258 adults, mean age 26.8 ± 10.2 years. Intervention Module content included factors related to obesity, implications of weight loss efforts, classroom activities, and bias-free intervention techniques. Main Outcome Measure(s) Attitudes of obesity by the Anti-Fat Attitudes Test and the effect of the presenter using a bipolar rating scale. Analysis One-way repeated measures analysis of variance, analysis of covariance, and general post hoc analysis. Results Negative attitudes decreased in treatment groups between pretest to posttest ( P P ≤ .006). Unlike the credible “nonfat” presenter, exposure to the credible “fat” presenter positively influenced attitude change ( P = .031). Conclusions and Implications On-line communication of size acceptance improved attitudes of obesity long term. The findings support the ELM. The module demonstrates promise for teacher training in size sensitivity.
The Odyssey of Ibn Battuta: Uncommon Tales of a Medieval Adventurer

David Waines' The Odyssey of Ibn Battuta is a palatable monograph on the legendary Moroccan Muslim traveller. Ibn Baṭṭūṭa's travelogue, al-Riḥla, has long been used as a source of information on Eu...
SYSTEMATIC OCCURRENCE OF STEROLS IN LATEX OF ARACEAE: SUBFAMILY COLOCASIOIDEAE

Latex from representative New and Old World colocasioid species was analyzed by combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for the presence of sterols. Free sterols were detected in latex of all New World species examined, and were localized in ca. 1 ,um terpenoid particles which are abundant and account for the white-opaque appearance of the latex. The sterol profiles were qualitatively and/or quantitatively distinct for each of the New World species examined. No free sterols were detected in latex of Old World genera examined, which are consistently clear to cloudy, and lack terpenoid particles. The presence of free sterols as small particles is typical of New World Colocasioideae with white latex. The results of this study provide chemical evidence for distinguishing Old and New World groups of Colocasioideae, which was recently proposed based on stem vasculature, pollen, and leaf type. This is the first report of sterol-rich latex in a monocotyledon.
A nutritional model of late embryonic vitamin A deficiency produces defects in organogenesis at a high penetrance and reveals new roles for the vitamin in skeletal development

Abstract Vitamin A plays an essential role in vertebrate embryogenesis. In the present study, pregnant vitamin A-deficient (VAD) rats were maintained during early pregnancy on the short half-life vitamin A metabolite, all- trans retinoic acid (atRA), in an amount sufficient to support normal development to E10.5, with a higher level of atRA (250 μg atRA/g diet) provided from embryonic day (E) 8.5–10.5 to prevent mid-gestational resorption. When limiting amounts of atRA (1.5 or 12 μg/g diet) were provided after E10.5, a highly reproducible and penetrant state of late fetal vitamin A deficiency (late VAD) was induced in the organs of developing fetuses. In addition, late VAD fetuses displayed both anteriorization of cervical regions and novel posteriorization events at the thoracic and sacral levels of the skeleton, and showed sternal and pelvic malformations not previously observed in early VAD or genetic models. The expression of several Hox genes ( Hoxd3 and Hoxb4 ) was altered in late VAD embryos, with a reduction in Hoxd3 noted as early as 1 day after instituting deficiency. All late VAD-induced malformations were prevented by the addition of retinol starting at E10.5, whereas provision of a high level of atRA throughout pregnancy improved but could not completely rescue the development of all organ systems. This work defines a nutritional model in which vitamin A deficiency can be induced during fetal development, and reveals new functions for the vitamin in the development of the axial and appendicular skeleton.
Effect of Molecular Structure on Mesomorphism 8. l A New Series of Trifluoromethyl Liquid Crystals

Abstract A new series of trifluoromethyl liquid crystals, the 4-n-alkoxybenzylidene-4′-trifluoromethylanilines, has been synthesized. All members of the series with three carbons or more in the alkoxy chain are enantiotropic smectics. There is an odd:even effect in the smectic-isotropic transition temperatures. The smectic phase is of the B type. Members of this series strongly promote enhanced smectic A phases in many binary mesophase systems.
Inter-relations between relapses, drug regimens and compliance with treatment in tuberculosis.

The inter-relationships between relapse, treatment regimen and compliance in 1009 patients treated for tuberculosis between 1978 and 1987 are reported. Multiple linear logistic regression using relapse as the dependent variable was used because of the complex relationships between treatment, compliance, age and calendar year of treatment. Compliance ( P P = 0·047) was also significantly associated. Relapse was not related to sex, site of disease, ethnic group or the presence of multiple disease sites. Although the regimen given, the total duration of treatment and treatment with or without pyrazinamide were not statistically associated with relapse, pyrazinamide containing regimens were associated with better compliance. Compliance was best in those aged 60 years and over and worst in those aged 15–29 years. Some of the non-compliance leading to relapse was only uncovered by close Health Visitor surveillance and not by the physician supervising treatment, emphasizing the important role of field staff in patient follow-up.
Top-down control analysis of the effect of temperature on ectotherm oxidative phosphorylation

Top-down control and elasticity analysis was conducted on mitochondria isolated from the midgut of the tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta) to assess how temperature affects oxidative phosphorylation i...
New applications of Wiener integrals to engineering and physics

It is shown that the solutions to quite general problems in nonequilibrium statistical physics and engineering can be expressed as Wiener integrals. A new way is also given for numerically evaluating these Wiener integrals.
Experimental evidence on the behavior of metal-bearing colloids in low-salinity estuarine water

The chemical behavior of the trace metals Fe, Al and Mn within the low-salinity (< 1‰) zone of estuaries was examined using laboratory batch-mixing experiments. Two types of experiments were used: (1) one-step mixing; and (2) incremental mixing to a final salinity. Both procedures yielded similar results. During the mixing of unfiltered river water with seawater, Fe concentration (< 0.4 μm) increased considerably within the first 0.5‰ salinity, indicating that mixing with seawater have induced deflocculation of coarse (several μm) Fe-bearing colloidal aggregates. The deflocculation of colloidal aggregates did not cause Al (< 0.4 μm) concentration to change, although the Al was also largely associated with coarse colloids. Mn primarily occurred in dissolved form, or fine particles < 0.03 μm, and the Mn concentration was not affected by the deflocculation. The deflocculation of Fe-bearing colloidal aggregates in the low-salinity zone may be caused by several mechanisms. Upon mixing with seawater, the pH of the acidic river water increases, causing less positive surface charges of Fe colloids. Alternatively, the decrease in the Ca/Na ion ratio with increasing salinity causes Na+ to replace Ca2+ on the particle surfaces in the low-salinity zone, which would diminish Ca2+ binding between colloids. This interpretation is further borne out by an experiment that used NaCl solution that yields results similar to those obtained using seawater.
Regional distribution of fast and slow geniculo-cortical relay cells (GCR-cells) within the rat's dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (LGNd).

Unit activity of 135 GCR-cells in rat's LGNd was recorded extracellularly using micropipettes filled with trypan blue for subsequent marking of recording sites. The latencies of responses to electrical stimulation of the optic chiasma (OX) were mapped, and in accordance with Fukuda (1973) each GCR-cell was classified as fast or slow. Fast cells predominate in the rostroventromedial subregion and slow cells in the caudal part. Both fast and slow subtypes were found in the remaining rostrodorsolateral zone where slow cells made up two thirds of the subsample. The results fit the suggestion that in the LGNd of rats a fast retino-geniculate pathway relays in the ventromedial region, whereas slow pathways exist in the caudal as well as in the dorsolateral zone.
Barriers to acceptance of genetic counseling among primary care physicians.

Abstract This research analyzed physicians’ attitudes toward and use of genetic counseling. Data were obtained through mailed questionnaires sent to all 445 general and family practitioners, pediatricians, and obstetrician‐gynecologists in private practice and involved in direct patient care in Maricopa and Pima Counties, Arizona. Results indicated strong attitudinal support for genetic counseling. Almost all respondents felt that it was a useful and necessary medical service, and most felt that it resulted in more responsible patient decisions. Actual genetic counseling by physicians was comparatively rare, however. The data suggested that the paucity of counseling may have derived from a lack of training in genetics, scarcity of patient requests, and legal naivete. Genetic counseling, amniocentesis, and abortion received the most support from younger physicians, obstetrician‐gynecologists, and those who were Jewish, less religious, and had few or no children.
A statistical method for flagging weak spots improves normalization and ratio estimates in microarrays.

Over the last few years, there has been a dramatic increase in the use of cDNA microarrays to monitor gene expression changes in biological systems. Data from these experiments are usually transfor...
Rehabilitating Slash Pile Burn Scars in Upper Montane Forests of the Colorado Front Range

ABSTRACT: Slash pile burning is widely conducted by land managers to dispose of unwanted woody fuels, yet this practice typically has undesirable ecological impacts. Simple rehabilitation treatments may be effective at ameliorating some of the negative impacts of pile burning on plants and soils. Here, we investigated: (1) the impacts of slash pile burning on soil nitrogen and understory plant species richness and cover in Colorado Pinus contorta Douglas ex Louden and P. contorta — Populus tremuloides Michx. stands; (2) the effectiveness of woodchip mulch and soil scarification at reversing pile burning impacts on soil nitrogen; and (3) how mulching and scarifying, alone and in conjunction with native grass seeding, promote native plant establishment and discourage exotic invasion in burn scars. We found that pile burning diminished native richness and cover and increased soil nitrogen, particularly in the interior of burn scars where fire severity was greatest. Rehabilitation treatments appear to be usef...
Preservation of bone mass in pediatric dialysis and transplant patients.

Renal osteodystrophy continues to be a major challenge to the physician treating the child with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The gold standard for the assessment of bone status is bone histomorphometry, which divides bone pathology into 3 main types; high-turnover, low-turnover, and mixed disease. The high-turnover disease, related to hyperparathyroidism, has been the one most extensively investigated; however, optimal therapy, especially in the growing child, is yet unclear. Overzealous treatment might result in adynamic bone disease (an extreme example of low-turnover disease), and further interference with statural growth. Pre-existent bone disease after kidney transplantation seems to worsen immediately, probably because of the high dose of corticosteroids used. In children who attain normal kidney function in the allograft, bone status seems to improve over time. Little is known about bone in transplanted patients with reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR). The correlation between bone histology and its main surrogates, bone remodeling markers and bone mineral density, is yet unclear, but it might serve to follow the progress of an individual patient. New therapeutic modalities aimed at suppressing hyperparathyroidism, and consequently bone resorption, as well as agents directly attenuating bone resorption, should be further investigated for their effect on bone in patients with ESRD or after transplantation. Similarly, agents stimulating bone formation, particularly growth hormone, require further attention for their potential to improve bone status. Bone health and the child's somatic growth at ESRD or after kidney transplantation are closely related, and therapy should be aimed at achieving optimal results for both.
Cross-linked 7S nerve growth factor is biologically inactive.

: The 7S nerve growth factor complex was cross-linked with dimethylsuberimidate in a pH jump reaction and the cross-linked product of highest molecular weight was separated from non-cross-linked subunits by gel filtration at acid pH. The amount of the cross-linked 7S nerve growth factor generated was reduced by exposure of the complex to pH 9.5, where it dissociates. The cross-linked 7S nerve growth factor migrated as a single species on electrophoresis under denaturing and reducing conditions and had a molecular weight, 132,000, identical to that of 7S nerve growth factor. All three subunits of the complex were released on deamidination. The biological activity of the cross-linked 7S nerve growth factor complex was less than 0.3% that of native βNGF, suggesting that the biological activity of the latter is completely inhibited by interactions with other subunits in the complex.
Direct numerical simulation of stenotic flows, Part 1: Steady flow

Direct numerical simulations (DNS) of steady and pulsatile flow through 75% (by area reduction) stenosed tubes have been performed, with the motivation of understanding the biofluid dynamics of actual stenosed arteries. The spectral-element method, providing geometric flexibility and high-order spectral accuracy, was employed for the simulations. The steady flow results are examined here while the pulsatile flow analysis is dealt with in Part 2 of this study. At inlet Reynolds numbers of 500 and 1000, DNS predict a laminar flow field downstream of an axisymmetric stenosis and comparison to previous experiments show good agreement in the immediate post-stenotic region. The introduction of a geometric perturbation within the current model, in the form of a stenosis eccentricity that was 5% of the main vessel diameter at the throat, resulted in breaking of the symmetry of the post-stenotic flow field by causing the jet to deflect towards the side of the eccentricity and, at a high enough Reynolds number of 1000, jet breakdown occurred in the downstream region. The flow transitioned to turbulence about five diameters away from the stenosis, with velocity spectra taking on a broadband nature, acquiring a -5/3 slope that is typical of turbulent flows. Transition was accomplished by the breaking up of streamwise, hairpin vortices into a localized turbulent spot, reminiscent of the turbulent puff observed in pipe flow transition, within which r.m.s. velocity and turbulent energy levels were highest. Turbulent fluctuations and energy levels rapidly decayed beyond this region and flow relaminarized. The acceleration of the fluid through the stenosis resulted in wall shear stress (WSS) magnitudes that exceeded upstream levels by more than a factor of 30 but low WSS levels accompanied the flow separation zones that formed immediately downstream of the stenosis. Transition to turbulence in the case of the eccentric stenosis was found to be manifested as large temporal and spatial gradients of shear stress, with significant axial and circumferential variations in instantaneous WSS.
Evaluating Gramicidin A Channel Backbone Dynamics by Molecular Dynamics and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

Gramicidin A (gA) channels make an ideal system to test molecular dynamics (MD) of membrane proteins (and ion permeation). In addition to being one of the most highly studied membrane “proteins”, gA channels are tiny, relatively speaking, allowing for long MD runs and calculations of potential of mean force in tractable time. The structure of gA has been determined by solid-state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and solution-state NMR. The structures are in overall agreement, but differ slightly in backbone pitch and in a few amino acid (AA) side chains orientations. Most of these differences have been understood using MD simulations of gA channels in planar bilayers (Allen et al., J Am Chem Soc. 125:9868-77, 2003). Because the AA backbone lines the pore and tryptophan side chains are in close proximity to the permeating ion, the average structure and extent of fluctuations of all atoms in the peptide will greatly influence ion permeation. This raises the question of how well molecular mechanical force fields used in potential of mean force studies of ion permeation can reproduce experimental backbone and side chain structure and dynamics. To examine this we measured the gA channel backbone dynamics using solution state 15N-NMR on gA dimers in sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micelles, in parallel with fully atomistic MD simulations on a gA dimer within an explicit SDS micelle. The methods enable us to examine the robustness of the MD simulations done under different conditions (different tryptophan force fields, with/without CMAP corrections), as well as their ability to predict the NMR observables.
Mechanizing temporal knowledge

The importance that an understanding of time plays in many problem-solving situations requires that intelligent programs be equipped with extensive temporal knowledge. This paper discusses one route to that goal, namely the construction of a time specialist, a program knowledgable about time in general which can be used by a higher level program to deal with the temporal aspects of its problem-solving. Some examples are given of such a use of a time specialist. The principal issues addressed in this paper are how the time specialist organizes statements involving temporal references, checks them for consistency, and uses them in answering questions.
COOPERATIVE INTERACTIONS OF RNA AND THIOSTREPTON ANTIBIOTIC WITH TWO DOMAINS OF RIBOSOMAL PROTEIN L11

Ribosomal protein L11 interacts with a 58-nucleotide domain of large subunit ribosomal RNA; both the protein and its RNA target have been highly conserved. The antibiotic thiostrepton recognizes the same RNA domain, and binds to the ribosome cooperatively with L11. Experiments presented here show that RNA recognition and thiostrepton cooperativity can be attributed to C- and N-terminal domains of L11, respectively. Under trypsin digestion conditions that degrade Bacillus stearothermophilus L11 to small fragments, the target RNA protects the C-terminal 77 residues from digestion, and thiostrepton and RNA in combination protect the entire protein. A 76-residue C-terminal fragment of L11 was overexpressed and shown to fold into a stable structure binding ribosomal RNA with essentially the same properties as full-length L11. An L11.thiostrepton.RNA complex was 100-200-fold more stable than expected on the basis of L11-RNA and thiostrepton-RNA binding affinities; similar measurements with the C-terminal fragment detected no cooperativity with thiostrepton. L11 function is thus more complex than simple interaction with ribosomal RNA; we suggest that thiostrepton mimics some ribosomal component or factor that normally interacts with the L11 N-terminal domain.
Zapping rocks on Mars: exploring the Red Planet with Curiosity and its laser (Presentation Video)

When the one-ton Curiosity Rover landed on Mars in 2012, one of the ten instruments was a joint French and US-built laser remote sensing device. ChemCam ablates small amounts of rock and soil up to 25 feet away to determine their compositions by observing the plasma emission from a minute 0.5 mm analysis footprint. This “LIBS” technique provides semi-quantitative compositions with sensitivity to nearly every element in the periodic table, and with the important abilities to blast dust away prior to a rock analysis and to perform depth profiles with successive shots in one spot. Over 40,000 spectra have been returned in the first seven months of the mission. The talk will describe ChemCam and give an overview of the initial part of Curiosity’s mission.
Gender Differences in Predictors of Assaultive Behavior in Late Adolescence

This article addresses controversy over gender differences in risk and protective factors for late-adolescence assaults. A secondary analysis of data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, 1997 cohort considered 2,552 youth aged 12 or 13 in the first survey wave. Comparison of girls and boys revealed, as expected, boys had higher levels of risk factors: early delinquency, gang involvement, and hopelessness. Girls were higher in the protective factors, parental monitoring, and school and religious ties; but boys were higher in parental support and work involvement. Negative binomial regression showed that gang exposure and hopelessness explained assaults, regardless of gender. For girls, early runaway behavior and work activity were positively, and parental monitoring was negatively, related to assaults. Unexpectedly, boys with high parental support were more assaultive than others. Prevention requires addressing negative contexts for all youth, but for girls, programs also must address conditions promoting their running away.
Money and Politics in America, 1755-1775: A Study in the Currency Act of 1764 and the Political Economy of Revolution

Although it is obvious that politics, money, and economic conditions were closely interrelated in the twenty years before the Revolution, this is the first account to bring together these strands of early American experience. Ernst also provides and analytical case study of the impact on America of British monetary policy during a period of dramatic shifts in the Atlantic economy and suggests that earlier studies are questionable because of theoretical misconceptions concerning the importance of visible" money."Originally published in 1973.A UNC Press Enduring Edition -- UNC Press Enduring Editions use the latest in digital technology to make available again books from our distinguished backlist that were previously out of print. These editions are published unaltered from the original, and are presented in affordable paperback formats, bringing readers both historical and cultural value.
Creating and using the CDC HRQOL healthy days index with fixed option survey responses.

Purpose “Healthy days” are calculated by adding the number of poor physical and mental health days and subtracting the total from 30 days using the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) scale. This study sought to compute the index with forced responses and hypothesized significant HRQOL differences with demographic and risk behavior variables would be observed.
The Relationship between Sea Surface Temperatures and Maximum Intensities of Tropical Cyclones in the Eastern North Pacific Ocean.

Abstract An empirical relationship between climatological sea surface temperatures (SST) and the maximum intensities of tropical cyclones over the eastern North Pacific Ocean is developed from a 31-yr sample (1963–93). This relationship is compared with an empirical relationship for tropical cyclones over the Atlantic Ocean and with theoretical results. Over the period of study, the storms over the eastern North Pacific Ocean reached a lower percentage of their empirical maximum potential intensity (MPI) than tropical cyclones over the Atlantic Ocean. At the time of their maximum intensity, only 11% of eastern North Pacific storms reach 80% of their MPI, while 19% of the Atlantic tropical cyclones reach that proportion of their MPIs. Poleward recurvature of Atlantic storms over cooler waters appears to be a major factor in the difference between the two regions. The storms were stratified by latitude, longitude, the phase of the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO), and the status of the El Nino phenomenon. T...
Sex differences in the effects of early experience on the development of behavioral and brain asymmetries in rats

Abstract The influence of early experience (preweaning handling) on the development of several postural/motor asymmetries (side bias in an open field, turn preference in a T-maze, amphetamine-induced rotational behavior, tail pinch-induced asymmetries) and the lateralization of brain dopamine was studied in adult male and female rats. In many cases the adult patterns of behavioral and brain asymmetries were modified by early handling in a sexually dimorphic manner. In addition, the direction of postural/motor asymmetries was very much task-dependent, especially in females. We conclude that: (1) early experience may modify the development of behavioral and brain asymmetries; (2) sex differences in asymmetries are very common; (3) early handling may affect males and females differently; and (4) different measures of postural/motor asymmetries may reflect different and multiple brain asymmetries.
Interruption of spinal cord microglial signaling by alpha-2 agonist dexmedetomidine in a murine model of delayed paraplegia

Background Despite investigation into preventable pharmacologic adjuncts, paraplegia continues to complicate thoracoabdominal aortic interventions. The alpha 2a adrenergic receptor agonist, dexmedetomidine, has been shown to preserve neurologic function and neuronal viability in a murine model of spinal cord ischemia reperfusion, although the mechanism remains elusive. We hypothesize that dexmedetomidine will blunt postischemic inflammation in vivo following thoracic aortic occlusion with in vitro demonstration of microglial inhibition following lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. Methods Adult male C57BL/6 mice underwent 4 minutes of aortic occlusion. Mice received 25 μg/kg intraperitoneal dexmedetomidine (n = 8) or 0.9% normal saline (n = 7) at reperfusion and 12-hour intervals postoperatively until 48 hours. Additionally, sham mice (n = 3), which had aortic arch exposed with no occlusion, were included for comparison. Functional scoring was done at 6 hours following surgery and 12-hour intervals until 60 hours when spinal cords were removed and examined for neuronal viability and cytokine production. Additional analysis of microglia activation was done in 12 hours following surgery. Age- and sex-matched mice had spinal cord removed for microglial isolation culture. Cells were grown to confluence and stimulated with toll-like receptor-4 agonist LPS 100 ng/mL in presence of dexmedetomidine or vehicle control for 24 hours. Microglia and media were then removed for analysis of protein expression. Results Dexmedetomidine treatment at reperfusion significantly preserved neurologic function with mice in treatment group having a Basso Score of 6.3 in comparison to 2.3 in ischemic control group. Treatment was associated with a significant reduction in microglia activation and in interleukin-6 production. Microglial cells in isolation when stimulated with LPS had an increased production of proinflammatory cytokines and markers of activation. Treatment with dexmedetomidine significantly attenuated microglial activation and proinflammatory cytokine production in vitro with a greater than twofold reduction in tumor necrosis factor-α. Conclusions Alpha 2a agonist, dexmedetomidine treatment at reperfusion preserved neurologic function and neuronal viability. Furthermore, dexmedetomidine treatment resulted in an attenuation of microglial activation and proinflammatory cytokine production both in vivo and in vitro following LPS stimulation. This finding lends insight into the mechanism of paralysis following thoracic aortic interventions and may guide future pharmacologic targets for attenuating spinal cord ischemia and reperfusion.
Furthur comment: Nonincremental avoidance behavior

The usual methods of analysis of the behavior of animals in a two way active task yield data which are not well fitted by nonincremental models of learning. If the two way task is considered as two separate one way problems on the basis of the direction of the response (left to right and right to left) then the data from each problem are consistent with a multistage, nonincremental model of acquisition.
Photoregulated Transmembrane Charge Separation by Linked Spiropyran−Anthraquinone Molecules

Amide-linked spiropyran−anthraquinone (SP−AQ) conjugates were shown to mediate ZnTPPS4--photosensitized transmembrane reduction of occluded Co(bpy)33+ within unilamellar phosphatidylcholine vesicles by external EDTA. Overall quantum yields for these reactions were dependent upon the isomeric state of the dye; specifically, 30−35% photoconversion of the closed-ring spiropyran (SP) moiety to the open-ring merocyanine (MC) form caused the quantum yield to decrease by 6-fold in the simple conjugate and 3-fold for an analogue containing a lipophilic 4-dodecylphenoxy substituent on the anthraquinone moiety. Transient spectroscopic and fluorescence quenching measurements revealed that two factors contributed to these photoisomerization-induced changes in quantum yields: increased efficiencies of fluorescence quenching of 1ZnTPPS4- by the merocyanine group and lowered transmembrane diffusion rates of the merocyanine-containing redox carriers. Transient spectrophotometry also revealed the sequential formation and...
Relative changes in flow velocities in vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage: a transcranial Doppler study

Introduction: Transcranial Dopplers (TCDs) have been used to monitor cerebral blood flow velocities in subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The purpose of our two-part study was to compare the reliability of relative increases in flow velocities with conventionally used absolute flow velocity indices and to correct for hyperemia-induced flow velocity change. Methods:Part 1: Charts of 50 patients admitted to Hahnemann University Hospital with aneurismal SAH were reviewed. Mean middle cerebral artery maximum flow velocities (MCA-MFV) were reviewed for initial flow velocities (IFVs) and maximal flow velocities (MFVs) that were reached during hospital course. Correlating flow velocities (SFVs) were noted in patients who developed symptomatic vasospasm. MFV/IFV and SFV/IFV ratios were calculated to evaluate relative changes in flow velocity. Part 2: Correction for hyperemia was derived from Lindegaards Ratio using extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) flow velocity ratio (corrected MCA-MFV/observed MCA-MFV=EC-ICAFV (day1)/observed EC-ICAFV). Results:Part 1: All 10 patients who developed symptomatic vasospasm exhibited a twofold increase (SFV/IFV: >2) in flow velocities prior to developing symptomatic vasospasm, and 5 patients had a threefold increase (SFV/IFV: >3). Of the 40 patients who did not develop symptomatic vasospasm, 33 patients did not have a twofold increase in their flow velocities at any time. The positive predictive value for MFV/IFV greater than 3 (n=6) and SFV/IFV greater than 3 (n=5) was 100%. The negative predictive value for MFV/IFV less than 2 (n=33) was 100%. Data using relative changes (twofold increase) in flow velocity was more sensitive (100 to 90%), specific (83 to 70%), and predictive (positive predictive value [PPV]: 59 to 45%; negative predictive value [NPV]: 100 to 97%) for symptomatic vasospasm than absolute flow velocity indices using MCA-MFV greater than 120—even in combination with Lindegaards Ratio (MCA/ICA greater than 3). Part 2: Correction for hyperemia by modifying Lindegaard’s Index in the 32 patients where data was available improved the PPV of absolute flow velocities from 44 to 62%. In this population, the application of this equation while evaluating relative change in flow velocities improved PPV of twofold increase from 57 to 73%. Conclusion: Relative changes in flow velocities in patients with aneurysmal SAH correlated better with clinically significant vasospasm than absolute flow velocity indices. Correction for hyperemia improved predictive value of TCD in vasospasm.
Sentence Analysis in Modern Malay

Preface List of symbols and abbreviations used 1. Introduction 2. The units of Malay syntax 3. The word 4. Phrases and groups 5. Clauses 6. Sentences 7. Further examples of the included clause 8. Further examples of transformation 9. A pivot-noun phrase? 10. Short analyses of consecutive sentences from the texts, with tabulated results Appendices The texts List of works cited Glossary for the texts Index to footnotes List of sentences analysed or discussed.
Lossless image compression: a comparative study

Given a finite sequence x1, x2, .. . , x, the essential problem in lossless data compression is to process the symbols in some order and assign a conditional probability distribution for the current symbol based on the previously processed symbols [44]. For example, if we are to process x1, x2, .. . , x in a sequenal manner [53] then we need to estimate the distributions p(x+iIxi, x2, . . . , xe), 1 < j < fl The number of bits needed to optimally encode the sequence x1, . . , x, is then given by —log flp(x+iIx,...,x). Coding techniques that can encode the sequence at rates close to the optimal are known [43]. Hence, higher the probabilities assigned in the above product, the lesser the number of bits that are needed to encode the sequence. A model, in this context is then simply a scheme for assigning conditional probability distributions [53]. Clearly, it is the model that determines the rate at which we can encode the sequence. Hence the critical task in lossless data compression is finding good models for the data under consideration. Finding good models for a given data set is a difficult problem. In lossless compression applications some structure is usually imposed on the data in the form offinile-state models, Markov-models, tree-models, finiie-con1ex models etc to make the problem mathematically and/or computationally tractable. Algorithms are then designed that encode the given data, in an optimal or sub-optimal manner. Algorithms that 'learn' the parameters of the model that best describes the data and achieve rates that are asymptotically optimal are known as oplimal universal coding schemes. Such schemes have been applied very successfully in text or string compression applications. Unfortunately, universal coding schemes and other standard modelling techniques do not work well in practice when applied to gray-scale image data.
Adaptive, hands-off stream mining

Sensor devices and embedded processors are becoming ubiquitous. Their limited resources (CPU, memory and/or communication bandwidth and power) pose some interesting challenges. We need both powerful and concise "languages" to represent the important features of the data, which can (a) adapt and handle arbitrary periodic components, including bursts, and (b) require little memory and a single pass over the data. We propose AWSOM (Arbitrary Window Stream mOdeling Method), which allows sensors in remote or hostile environments to efficiently and effectively discover interesting patterns and trends. This can be done automatically, i.e., with no user intervention and expert tuning before or during data gathering. Our algorithms require limited resources and can thus be incorporated in sensors, possibly alongside a distributed query processing engine [9, 5, 22]. Updates are performed in constant time, using logarithmic space. Existing, state of the art forecasting methods (SARIMA, GARCH, etc) fall short on one or more of these requirements. To the best of our knowledge, AWSOM is the first method that has all the above characteristics. Experiments on real and synthetic datasets demonstrate that AWSOM discovers meaningful patterns over long time periods. Thus, the patterns can also be used to make long-range forecasts, which are notoriously difficult to perform. In fact, AWSOM outperforms manually set up auto-regressive models, both in terms of long-term pattern detection and modeling, as well as by at least 10× in resource consumption.
Testing an IEEE 1547 compliant generator controller for response to abnormal voltage

This paper describes a conceptual design of a distributed generator controller that is capable of undertaking digital relay tasks. This capability makes the controller compliant to IEEE 1547 Standard for Interconnecting Distributed Resources with Electric Power Systems. The paper also presents the controllerpsilas behaviors in over-/under-voltage tests to show its conformance with the IEEE 1547. The digital relay functions are fulfilled by an integrated module called the Utility Interface Controller. The testing of the over-/under-voltage functions is performed on a simulated utility and distributed generation system. The standard requires abnormal voltage conditions to be detected and the circuit breaker at the point of common coupling to be tripped in various predefined time intervals. Initial results are promising and the controller shows that it has the capability to be compliant with the IEEE 1547 standard under abnormal voltage conditions.
Permanent Alteration of PCSK9 With In Vivo CRISPR-Cas9 Genome Editing

Rationale:Individuals with naturally occurring loss-of-function proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) mutations experience reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and protection against cardiovascular disease. Objective:The goal of this study was to assess whether genome editing using a clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated system can efficiently introduce loss-of-function mutations into the endogenous PCSK9 gene in vivo. Methods and Results:We used adenovirus to express CRISPR-associated 9 and a CRISPR guide RNA targeting Pcsk9 in mouse liver, where the gene is specifically expressed. We found that 50%. This resulted in decreased plasma PCSK9 levels, increased hepatic low-density lipoprotein receptor levels, and decreased plasma cholesterol levels (by 35–40%). No off-target mutagenesis was detected in 10 selected sites. Conclusio...