cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The water–energy nexus in Middle East and North Africa

Extracting, delivering, and disposing water requires energy, and similarly, many processes for extracting and refining various fuel sources and producing electricity use water. This so-called ‘water–energy nexus’, is important to understand due to increasing energy demands and decreasing freshwater supplies in many areas. This paper performs a country-level quantitative assessment of this nexus in the MENA region. The results show a highly skewed coupling with a relatively weak dependence of energy systems on fresh water, but a strong dependence of water abstraction and production systems on energy. In case of Saudi Arabia it is estimated that up to 9% of the total annual electrical energy consumption may be attributed to ground water pumping and desalination. Other countries in the Arabian Gulf may be consuming 5–12% or more of total electricity consumption for desalination. The results suggest that policy makers should explicitly consider energy implications in water intensive food imports and future restructuring of water demand. This will help in making more integrated decisions on water and energy infrastructure systems. An integrated assessment may in some cases favor water reuse and changes in the agricultural sector as opposed to the expansion of energy intensive and financially expensive desalination systems.
Autonomic dysfunction in chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction.

Fifteen tests were used to assess adrenergic, non-vagal cholinergic, and cardiovagal functions in 11 patients with chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIP). The three aims of this study were: 1) to ascertain the presence of and spectrum of autonomic involvement; 2) to assess the level of autonomic dysfunction; and 3) to compare the results of autonomic function tests with gastrointestinal motility patterns.
Performance of self-excited single-phase induction generators with shunt, short-shunt and long-shunt excitation connections

The influence of three capacitor excitation topologies (shunt, short-shunt and long-shunt) on the steady-state and dynamic performance of a single-phase, self-excited induction generator is explored in this paper. Attention is focused on the influence of the different capacitor connections on the generator overloaded and output power capabilities. The generator voltage with shunt excitation connection collapses when overloaded, while with either the long or short-shunt excitation connection the generator is able to sustain the load at a lower operating voltage and larger load current.
Cell recognition enhanced enzyme hydrolysis of a model peptide–drug conjugate

Abstract A model peptide–drug conjugate designed upon a β-hairpin peptide with the α4β1 integrin recognition sequence LDV appended to the N-terminus and a fluorescent model drug appended to the C-terminus. This model recognizes and binds to α4β1 expressing cells and displays an enhanced rate of enzyme catalyzed hydrolytic model drug release in the presence of the cells compared to the rate in the absence of cells. The present work suggests that peptide–drug conjugate conformation change due to receptor binding may be a viable approach to targeted drug release.
Some comments on plasticity postulates and non-associative flow rules

Abstract The plasticity postulates of Drucker and Ilyushin do not in general apply to materials whose mechanical behavior is described by non-associative flow rules, although for many stress and strain cycles and under many loading conditions the corresponding work inequalities defining the postulates are not violated. This is illustrated in this paper by considering pressure-dependent dilatant materials subjected to combined shear-pressure, and triaxial compression loadings. Both, hardening and softening ranges of material response are analyzed. It is shown that, depending on the relationship between the dilatancy factor and the internal friction coefficient, the net work of added stresses in some typical closed stress cycles can be either positive or negative, while the net work in the corresponding closed strain cycles is in each case positive. Constitutive implications and the relationship between plasticity postulates and actual material stability are also discussed.
Schema Content for Threat in Social Phobia

Although cognitive theories of anxiety disorders suggest that anxious individuals are characterized by maladaptive schemata for threat, threat-related schema content has rarely been investigated empirically. In this study, participants with social phobia (n = 16) and nonanxious participants (n = 17) generated scripts, or event-based schemata, for two common scenarios, one social in nature, and one evaluative in nature. Social phobic participants listed events that corresponded to a similar macrostructure as the events listed by nonanxious participants. However, several events reflecting the experience of anxiety were included in their aggregate scripts, and their scripts reflected amore negative and less positive affective tone than the scripts of nonanxious participants. It is suggested that instances of maladaptive schema content are most likely to emerge when self-schemata are assessed in individuals reporting anxiety at a clinically significant level of severity.
The binding of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate as a conformational probe of human hemoglobins.

Abstract Since 2,3-diphosphoglyeerate preferentially binds to deoxygenated hemoglobin A, this binding reaction can be used to detect the change in quaternary conformation of hemoglobin associated with the change in ligand state of the hemes. We have studied the binding to two M hemoglobins (MHydePark, MMilwaukee-1) that have the substituted chains in the ferric state, as well as to the mixed liganded hybrids α∗2β2 and α2β∗2 (∗ heme in cyanmet form) prepared from hemoglobins A and H. The studies demonstrate that when these hemoglobin variants and derivatives are deoxygenated, they bind the organic phosphate to an extent similar, but not identical, to that for fully deoxygenated hemoglobin A. The results indicate that removal of ligand from only two of the four hemes results in a change in quaternary structure to a deoxy-like conformation.
High-pressure Sodium Lamp Seals and Recent Improvements

The basic types of commercially practical seals are described as used in high-pressure sodium lamps. The seal designs are compared and analyzed with emphasis on the practical engineering and manufacturing details. Included are the most recent modifications using wire and tube feedthroughs and ceramic plugs. The physical and chemical requirements of high-pressure sodium seals are described. The relationships of bonding materials are discussed as well as the stresses and reactions providing restraints on the materials and processes used.
Developing brains: the work of the Sackler Institute

Abstract The Sackler Institute at Weill Medical College has a primary interest in relating the human brain to the cognitive and emotional developments of infancy and childhood. Work on attentional networks has traced the orienting skills of infants during the first year of life. At 4 months, infants can learn where to look, but handling ambiguous context and using explicit knowledge to control their behavior develop later. The network concerned with voluntary control of the physical and social environment develops strongly during the second year of life. Individuals differ in their ability to control behavior through their own efforts. Effortful control relates to the ability of the person to delay gratification, control emotions and regulate behavior. We have begun to develop measures of individual differences in these abilities, and to use them as phenotypes for genetic analysis and as measures of the outcome of specific training. These attentional control systems are important for the acquisition of skills, like reading, that are important for learning school subjects. Children who have difficulty in learning to read can be aided by specific instruction that brings attention to the relation of print to sound. Developing a visual mechanism for processing orthography occurs later and may be required for developing fluent skill. The ability to relate mental processes and behavior to the activity of specific brain networks opens a new chapter in the effort to understand and influence human development.
Enthalpies of formation and crystallization of amorphous Zr1-xAlx and Zr1-xNix alloys: calculations compared with measurements

The enthalpies of formation of amorphous Zrl_~Mx and Zrl_xNix alloys have been calculated based on CALPHAD data and compared with experimentally determined values. A direct extrapolation of the thermodynamic functions of the undercooled liquid significantly underestimates the stability of the amorphous phase. When including the effects of the excess specific heat of the undercooled liquid, ACp, good quantitative agreement between the calculations and experimental data has been achieved, in particular for the Zr-Ni case. Using the same ACp functions, the enthalpy of crystallization of the amorphous alloys in both systems has been computed and found to agree well with the same quantity directly obtained from calorimetric measurements. These calculated enthalpy of crystallization data have also been employed in an alternative approach to calculating the enthalpy of formation of the amorphous alloys; such calculations are in excellent agreement with experimental values in both Zr-AI and Zr-Ni cases. It is shown that the enthalpy-composition diagram measured or calculated using our approaches can be used as a good approximation to the free energy-composition diagram in predicting the homogeneity range of the amorphous phase for low synthesis temperatures.
RCC1 Uses a Conformationally Diverse Loop Region to Interact with the Nucleosome: A Model for the RCC1–Nucleosome Complex

The binding of RCC1 (regulator of chromosome condensation 1) to chromatin is critical for cellular processes such as mitosis, nucleocytoplasmic transport, and nuclear envelope formation because RCC1 recruits the small GTPase Ran (Ras-related nuclear protein) to chromatin and sets up a Ran-GTP gradient around the chromosomes. However, the molecular mechanism by which RCC1 binds to nucleosomes, the repeating unit of chromatin, is not known. We have used biochemical approaches to test structural models for how the RCC1 β-propeller protein could bind to the nucleosome. In contrast to the prevailing model, RCC1 does not appear to use the β-propeller face opposite to its Ran-binding face to interact with nucleosomes. Instead, we find that RCC1 uses a conformationally flexible loop region we have termed the switchback loop in addition to its N-terminal tail to bind to the nucleosome. The juxtaposition of the RCC1 switchback loop to its Ran binding surface suggests a novel mechanism for how nucleosome-bound RCC1 recruits Ran to chromatin. Furthermore, this model accounts for previously unexplained observations for how Ran can interact with the nucleosome both dependent and independent of RCC1 and how binding of the nucleosome can enhance RCC1's Ran nucleotide exchange activity.
Packaging Energy and Reserves Bids through Risk Penalties for Enhanced Reliability in Co-optimized Markets

With increasing proportion of wind power, an important concern is that of maintaining the reliability of the electric grid in the face of higher supply-side volatility. In this paper, we examine the role of risk-based penalties in developing alternate designs in which firms combine energy bids associated with uncertain real-time availability with stable reserves bids. Such a study is carried out in a regime where firms have access to a day-ahead market, an uncertain real-time energy market and a reserves market. The resulting game-theoretic problem is a two-period stochastic Nash game with risk-based objectives and the associated equilibrium conditions are given by a complementarity problem. Preliminary numerical results on a 6-firm problem provide insights regarding the impact of reserves prices and risk penalties on wind-based generation, particularly in the face of high variability.
Handicapping: The effects of its source and frequency.

Using a sample of 246 working adults, the authors created a 2 X 2 X 2 experimental design to isolate the influence of performance outcome, source of handicapping, and frequency of handicapping on reactions to handicapping in organizations. Dependent measures were observers' allocations of credit/ blame, interpersonal affect, and the perceived credibility of the explanation. Results showed direct effects on observer impressions for all 3 independent variables, along with a significant Source X Frequency interaction. Handicapping information presented by others yielded more favorable observer impressions than did self-handicapping, and frequent handicapping decreased observer impressions. The least credible handicapping strategy was multiple self-handicaps. A significant 3-way interaction showed that source and frequency affected perceived credibility differently, depending upon whether actual performance was a success or a failure.
Slip on the Suckling Hills splay fault during the 1964 Alaska earthquake

Abstract The Suckling Hills in southern Alaska experienced localized, anomalously large coseismic uplift in the Mw 9.2, 1964 Alaska earthquake. Large uplift at the Suckling Hills can be explained by increased slip, or an asperity, on the Alaska-Aleutian megathrust; however, this paper suggests that increased uplift may be a result of slip on the Suckling Hills splay fault. We present a series of models that demonstrate how the inclusion of the Suckling Hills fault improves the fit between modeled vertical displacement and measured coseismic uplift in comparison to slip on the Alaska-Aleutian megathrust alone. Our results suggest that ~ 3 m of average slip on the Suckling Hills fault during the 1964 earthquake can help explain the large coseismic uplift data. These results are consistent with recent studies indicating Pleistocene slip on the Suckling Hills fault and together highlight the potential seismic and tsunami risk associated with this segment of the Alaskan subduction complex.
Effects of a trematode infestation on body condition, reproduction and mating behaviors in a livebearing fish

Most studies of parasite-mediated sexual selection target organisms where female or male mate choice is the major driving force of sexual selection, leaving the effects of parasites on coercive mating systems understudied. Here, we investigated the role of a trematode infestation (black spot disease (BSD)) on female body condition, female fecundity, male coercion, and female resistance in a coercive livebearing fish (the western mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis). We tested the following predictions: (1) infected females are in poorer body condition and have lower fecundity than uninfected females; (2) males prefer to coerce uninfected females; (3) infected males coerce less frequently than uninfected males; and (4) infected females are less resistant to male coercion. In contrast to our first prediction, infected females had more energy reserves than uninfected females during one month and infected females had increased fecundity compared to uninfected females. In the behavior experiments, we found BSD influenced male coercion in two of our experiments supporting our third, but not second or fourth, prediction. These results suggest this parasitic infestation may play a minor role in sexual selection on G. affinis.
Social and cultural relations in economic action: the embeddedness of food security in rural Malawi amidst the AIDS epidemic.

In its prescription of how food security among rural households can be attained and how problems such as AIDS can be addressed the neoclassical utilitarian view envisions individual households making atomistic decisions in the use of their resources goods and services (entitlements). In exploring the effect of illness and death on household food security in rural Malawi amidst the AIDS epidemic the author finds that the embeddedness view explains more convincingly how rural households secure their food supply and deal with illness and death. This view suggests that individual households use of their entitlements indeed contributes to household food security and the fight against illness and death but that such use is shaped by the entitlement system that embodies collective beliefs rules expectations and obligations. Social and cultural relations between households anchored in the entitlement system enable households to share their entitlements through reciprocity and redistribution thereby contributing to collective food security and diffusing the burden of illness and death across households. Rural Malawians are thus not isolated actors envisioned by the utilitarian view but social actors who constantly engage in negotiations with each other sharing their entitlements and thus collectively securing their food supply and diffusing burdens. Food security then gets compromised when burdens reach a threshold that fractures social and cultural ties thus disabling households from sharing entitlements. AIDS is a threat to food security in rural Malawi because of its potential to make the spread of illness and death burdens so extensive that households would be unable to share their entitlements. (authors)
Efficacy of a high- and low-frequency ultrasonic probe for measuring ovary volume and estimating fecundity of striped bass Morone saxatilis in the Savannah River Estuary

Abstract Over the past few decades, ultrasonography has been used intermittently as a non-invasive, diagnostic tool for evaluating a variety of conditions in aquatic organisms. There has been a recent upsurge in scientific articles in which ultrasound images were used as a diagnostic tool, and the predominant use was to evaluate gender and other reproductive issues. Ultrasonography equipment is available in a variety of configurations, but we are unaware of any published literature that evaluates the efficacy of the various probe types for diverse uses (e.g., anatomical and physiological examinations). In this paper, we compare striped bass ovary volume and fecundity data based on ultrasonic images produced by probes with different frequencies and array types and offer considerations for determining which frequency or array type best facilitates various potential applications. Both the 3.5/5.0 MHz and the 6.0/8.0 MHz probes were equally effective in determining striped bass sex, but not for determining ovary volume. The 3.5/5.0 MHz curved array probe offered the best resolution of female striped bass ovaries. However, ovary area measurements had to be performed in the field because the curved images were incompatible with the image analysis software used in the lab. The 6.0/8.0 MHz linear array probe provided only partial images of ovaries in striped bass > 850 mm, and estimates of ovary area were based on several scanned and recorded images. However, the 6.0/8.0 MHz linear array probe has the advantage of a field scan, which can be recorded and later calibrated to computer image analysis software in the lab. Careful consideration of the type of animal and parts of its anatomy to be imaged as well as the image acquisition and processing circumstances should be undertaken to ensure that the ultrasonic imaging technology used is appropriate to the task.
K-12 Research experiences for teachers and other career promotion resources

Based on industry surveys (2007–2009) conducted by the Center for Energy Workforce Development (CEWD), approximately 50% of all electric power utility engineers will be eligible for retirement in the next five years. Meanwhile, the number of full-time undergraduate students enrolled in electrical and computer engineering has declined by 27% over the last several years (2002–2009). Will we have enough power and energy engineers in the future to maintain reliability of the grid? Will we have enough power and energy engineers to improve energy efficiency, design new smart grid technologies, integrate renewable energy sources and sieze the opportunity to electrify transportation? The key to the workforce problem lies in K-12 education, where too few students are exposed to the exciting world of engineering. This paper presents proven K-12 engineering resources that were developed by a multidisciplinary team of faculty at Illinois Institute of Technology during a five-year Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) Site project funded by the National Science Foundation. The RET Site at IIT has provided training in various engineering fields, including power engineering, to more than 100 K-12 teachers in the Chicago Public Schools and surrounding districts.
Opportunities for Energy Crop Production Based on Subfield Scale Distribution of Profitability

Incorporation of dedicated herbaceous energy crops into row crop landscapes is a promising means to supply an expanding biofuel industry while benefiting soil and water quality and increasing biodiversity. Despite these positive traits, energy crops remain largely unaccepted due to concerns over their practicality and cost of implementation. This paper presents a case study for Hardin County, Iowa, to demonstrate how subfield decision making can be used to target candidate areas for conversion to energy crop production. Estimates of variability in row crop production at a subfield level are used to model the economic performance of corn (Zea mays L.) grain and the environmental impacts of corn stover collection using the Landscape Environmental Analysis Framework (LEAF). The strategy used in the case study integrates switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) into subfield landscape positions where corn grain is modeled to return a net economic loss. Results show that switchgrass integration has the potential to increase sustainable biomass production from 48% to 99% (depending on the rigor of conservation practices applied to corn stover collection), while also improving field level profitability of corn. Candidate land area is highly sensitive to grain price (0.18 to 0.26 $·kg−1) and dependent on the acceptable subfield net loss for corn production (ranging from 0 to −1000 $·ha−1) and the ability of switchgrass production to meet or exceed this return. This work presents the case that switchgrass may be economically incorporated into row crop landscapes when management decisions are applied at a subfield scale within field areas modeled to have a negative net profit with current management practices.
Hardware Implementation of Signal Perturbation Theory

Signal perturbation theory has been shown theoretically to reduce the quantization errors in position and velocity detection systems [1-9]. In the above work, some of the ideal constraints on the system were relaxed, but most of the practical problems associated with actual hardware were circumvented. This paper presents an experimental system and compares the experimental results obtained from the system with those predicted by the models.
Energy Bands for Solid Argon

Energy bands have been calculated for solid argon using the augmented plane-wave method. The crystal potential used in this calculation has been approximated by a superposition of atomic potentials and involves the Slater free-electron exchange approximation. In order to estimate the error introduced by this approximation, a quantitative comparison has been made between the Hartree-Fock and free-electron exchange potentials for atomic argon. The results indicate that the free-electron exchange approximation is most accurate for the less tightly bound valence electrons, though errors of the order of 0.1 Ry remain. The present energy bands are found to be in qualitative agreement with the earlier results of Knox and Bassani, though there are important quantitative differences. The present calculation yields a band gap of 13.3 eV, which is in fair agreement with the experimentally observed value of 14.3 eV.
Defect buildup and solute segregation in alloys under pulsed irradiation

Abstract The Johnson-Lam kinetic model, which is based on a combination of diffusion and chemical reaction rate equations, has been used to study the buildup of point defects and defect-solute complexes, and segregation of minor elements in alloys under pulsed irradiation. Concentrations of defects and solutes have been calculated for various defect-production rates, defect-solute binding energies and pulse durations, with Ni as the model material. Precipitation at the sink surface is taken into account when the solute concentration at the sink exceeds the solubility limit. For a fixed damage rate, the longer the pulse duration the smaller the number of cycles needed to achieve a cyclic state for defects and defect-solute complexes and quasi-steady state for solute segregation. In addition, for a fixed pulse duration, the higher the damage rate the fewer the cycles required to observe these states. The resultant solute segregation obtained under pulsed irradiation can be similar to, or different from segregation achieved during steady irradiation depending on whether the beam-off period is comparable to, or much longer than the pulse duration. The microstructures of the material can also be different from those formed by unpulsed bombardment due to cyclic production and annealing of mobile defects.
Visual feedback in treatment of residual phonological disorders

The use of visual biofeedback in the treatment of individuals who have Residual Phonological Errors is discussed. This type of treatment was used with clients who had not improved through traditional auditory/production based treatments. Biofeedback is conceptualized as a cognitive treatment that requires the client's analysis of visual information. The information is used in developing correct productions of Residual Phonological Errors. The reported results indicate that visual feedback is a viable alternative treatment for those who have been unable to develop correct sound production through traditional methods.
Measured dose rate constant from oncology patients administered 18F for positron emission tomography

Purpose: Patient exposure rate measurements verify published patient dose rate data and characterize dose rates near 2-18-fluorodeoxyglucose ({sup 18}F-FDG) patients. A specific dose rate constant based on patient exposure rate measurements is a convenient quantity that can be applied to the desired distance, injection activity, and time postinjection to obtain an accurate calculation of cumulative external radiation dose. This study reports exposure rates measured at various locations near positron emission tomography (PET) {sup 18}F-FDG patients prior to PET scanning. These measurements are normalized for the amount of administered activity, measurement distance, and time postinjection and are compared with other published data. Methods: Exposure rates were measured using a calibrated ionization chamber at various body locations from 152 adult oncology patients postvoid after a mean uptake time of 76 min following injection with a mean activity of 490 MBq {sup 18}F-FDG. Data were obtained at nine measurement locations for each patient: three near the head, four near the chest, and two near the feet. Results: On contact with, 30 cm superior to and 30 cm lateral to the head, the mean (75th percentile) dose rates per unit injected activity at 60 min postinjection were 0.482 (0.511), 0.135 (0.155), and 0.193 (0.223)more » {mu}Sv/MBq h, respectively. On contact with, 30 cm anterior to, 30 cm lateral to and 1 m anterior to the chest, the mean (75th percentile) dose rates per unit injected activity at 60 min postinjection were 0.623 (0.709), 0.254 (0.283), 0.190 (0.218), and 0.067 (0.081) {mu}Sv/MBq h respectively. 30 cm inferior and 30 cm lateral to the feet, the mean (75th percentile) dose rates per unit injected activity at 60 min postinjection were 0.024 (0.022) and 0.039 (0.044) {mu}Sv/MBq h, respectively. Conclusions: The measurements for this study support the use of 0.092 {mu}Sv m{sup 2}/MBq h as a reasonable representation of the dose rate anterior from the chest of patients immediately following injection. This value can then be reliably scaled to the desired time and distance for planning and staff dose evaluation purposes. At distances closer than 1 m, a distance-specific dose rate constant of 0.367 {mu}Sv/MBq h at 30 cm is recommended for accurate calculations. An accurate patient-specific dose rate constant that accounts for patient-specific variables (e.g., distribution and attenuation) will allow an accurate evaluation of the dose rate from a patient injected with an isotope rather than simply utilizing a physical constant.« less
ARC MOTION IN HIGH-PRESSURE CROSS-FIELD DEVICES.

Anomalous behavior of arc motion in high pressure cross-field plasma devices in terms of electromagnetic effects
Goal Setting Process: Supporting Choice in a Feminist Group for Women with Alcohol Problems

ABSTRACT Women who seek help for alcohol related concerns may have goals ranging from maintaining abstinence to moderating or simply monitoring their drinking. Facilitating a group when participants' goals vary is challenging but not impossible. The potential for slipping into the common stance of identifying abstinence as the most desirable goal can be avoided by sensitive group facilitation. This paper describes how a feminist group intervention employed the group process to support decision-making across a range of goal choices; it provides some guidance on how social group workers can assist in the difficult work of identifying, clarifying, and working toward self-selected goals.
Enhanced algorithm efficiency for phase change convection using a multigrid preconditioner with a SIMPLE smoother

This note extends previous work that used the pressure correction method SIMPLE as a preconditioner to solve two-dimensional unsteady phase change problems. Here we examine the impact of using SIMPLE as a smoother to multigrid for such problems.
DISTRIBUTION OF THE MALVACEAE IN SOUTHERN AND WESTERN TEXAS

In connection with the eradication of the pink bollworm of cotton the writer was assigned the project of studying the distribution and abundance of the malvaceous plants in various parts of Texas. This work was done under the direction of Dr. W. D. Hunter, in charge of the pink-bollworm eradication work of the Federal Horticultural Board. The reason for making this survey was to determine if the malvaceous plants other than cotton were of importance in relation to the eradication of the pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella Saunders). Throughout the entire survey no indication of the insect was found on any of the malvaceous plants other than cotton. From June to December, I9I8, and in June and November, I9I9, the extreme southeastern section of the state, embracing Hardin, Jefferson, Liberty, Chambers, Galveston, and parts of Harris, Fort Bend, and Brazoria counties, were thoroughly scouted. In June, I9I9, the vicinity of Hearne, I00 miles northwest of Houston, was examined. In June and July, I9I9, the areas in the vicinity of Corpus Christi, San Antonio, and Pecos were studied. From January to June, I9I9, and in August, I9I9, a strip 20 to 80 miles wide on the Texas side of the Rio Grande from the Gulf of Mexico to New Mexico was scouted. The species of Malvaceae found in the areas studied are discussed under the following life zones: i. Semi-tropical Gulf Strip of the Lower Austral Zone; 2. Austroriparian Division of the Lower Austral Zone; 3. Lower Sonoran Division of the Lower Austral Zone; and 4. Upper Sonoran Division of the Upper Austral Zone.
Left heart hypoplasia and neonatal aortic arch obstruction: is the Rhodes left ventricular adequacy score applicable?

Abstract Objective: Although the influence of small left heart structures on outcome of a biventricular repair in neonatal critical aortic stenosis is well documented, little is known about its effect in neonates with aortic arch obstruction and coarctation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of small left heart structures on early and late results of repair and the ability to achieve a biventricular repair in neonates with coarctation and aortic arch obstruction. Patients: Neonates included in this study had a left ventricular adequacy score (as proposed by Rhodes and associates for critical aortic stenosis) that would have predicted a need for a univentricular (Norwood) repair. All were ductus dependent but had antegrade ascending aortic flow and a small but nonstenotic aortic valve ( 2 . All patients underwent coarctation repair by resection and extended end-to-end anastomosis to enlarge the transverse arch as needed. Three patients underwent simultaneous pulmonary artery banding because of a hemodynamically significant ventricular septal defect. These 3 patients have subsequently had their defects successfully closed without mortality. Results: There were no early or late deaths at a follow-up of 38 ± 16 months after the operation. Three patients (3/20, 15%) have had to undergo reintervention with balloon aortoplasty because of recurrent coarctation (gradient > 20 mm Hg) in 2 and resection of subaortic stenosis in 1. Late follow-up in the remaining patients reveals 1 with moderate subaortic stenosis (gradient = 43 mm Hg), 2 with mild aortic stenosis (gradient Conclusions: Biventricular physiology can be successfully achieved in neonates with small left heart structures and aortic arch obstruction with minimal mortality and excellent late functional results. Standard echocardiographic measurements used to predict the need for a univentricular repair in critical aortic stenosis are not valid for the neonate with aortic arch obstruction. (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1999;118:81-6)
The Effects of Motion and Spatio-temporal Non-uniform Illumination on Image-pair Joint Scattergrams

Accurate and robust image change detection and motion segmentation has been of substantial interest in the image processing and computer vision communities. Spatio-temporal illumination effects such as complex lighting effects involving moving light bands or moving shadow bands can confuse existing motion segmentation algorithms, which are based on analysing the greyscale image directly. While efforts have been made to improve the robustness of motion segmentation algorithms under varying illumination, the results to date are still not completely satisfactory. We propose using the joint scattergram between two images as the representational space for analyzing motion. These scattergrams have properties which can distinguish motion from complex illumination changes. We verify these properties of the scattergram on image datasets captured in the laboratory as well as outdoors and show its utility as a robust representational domain.
Comparing two systems: beyond common random numbers

Suppose one wishes to compare two closely related systems via stochastic simulation. Common random numbers (CRN) involves using the same streams of uniform random variates as inputs for both systems to sharpen the comparison. One can view CRN as a particular choice of copula that gives the joint distribution of the inputs of both systems. We discuss the possibility of using more general copulae, including simple examples that show how this can outperform CRN.
Extractable copper, arsenic and antimony by EDTA solution from agricultural Chilean soils and its transfer to alfalfa plants (Medicago sativa L.)

Following our research on copper, arsenic and antimony in Chilean ecosystems, a study to understand the mobility and transport of these elements from soil to plants was carried out. So, the aim of this study, which follows on from the previous work, was to demonstrate if the total concentrations of these elements or their fractions extracted by 0.05 M EDTA pH 7 from different Chilean soils correlate with the respective total concentrations in the edible tissue of alfalfa plants collected simultaneously from 20 different sites affected or unaffected by mining activities. The highest copper fractions extracted by EDTA solutions were obtained in contaminated soils from the central region (41–69%); however the northern soils presented the highest extractable fractions of arsenic (9–34%). The antimony fraction was low in all soils (0.4–8.0%). Alfalfa plants from all contaminated sites presented high copper, arsenic and antimony concentrations (19–126 mg kg−1, 5.7–16.3 mg kg−1 and 0.16–1.7 mg kg−1, respectively). Statistically significant correlations were obtained between the total contents of copper and arsenic and their respective extractable fractions in soils. Good correlations were found between elements in alfalfa plants. Correlations were also obtained between the total concentrations of three elements in soils and in alfalfa plants. However, excepting for antimony in the northern samples, higher correlation coefficients were evaluated when the extractable fractions were considered. Samples from the north region presented the highest copper transfer factor and the lowest for arsenic, in spite of the high concentration of this metalloid extracted by EDTA solution in these soils. There was not a clear trend on the transfer factor for antimony, probably due to the low content of this element in alfalfa plants and/or the low recovery obtained for this element by EDTA.
The Hydrophobic Domain of Infectious Bronchitis Virus E Protein Alters the Host Secretory Pathway and Is Important for Release of Infectious Virus

The coronavirus (CoV) E protein plays an important role in virus assembly. The E protein is made in excess during infection and has been shown to have ion channel activity in planar lipid bilayers. However, a role in infection for the unincorporated E or its ion channel activity has not been described. To further investigate the function of the infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) E protein, we developed a recombinant version of IBV in which the E protein was replaced by a mutant containing a heterologous hydrophobic domain. The mutant virus, IBV-EG3, was defective in release of infectious virus particles. Further characterization of IBV-EG3 revealed that damaged particles appeared to accumulate intracellularly. The phenotype of IBV-EG3 suggested that the hydrophobic domain of IBV E may be important for the forward trafficking of cargo, so we determined whether IBV E facilitated the delivery of cargo to the plasma membrane. Surprisingly, we found that IBV E, but not EG3, dramatically reduced the delivery of cargo to the plasma membrane by impeding movement through the Golgi complex. Furthermore, we observed that overexpression of IBV E, but not EG3, induced the disassembly of the Golgi complex. Finally, we determined that the delivery of IBV S to the plasma membrane was reduced in cells infected with wild-type-IBV compared to those infected with IBV-EG3. Our results indicated that the hydrophobic domain of IBV E alters the host secretory pathway to the apparent advantage of the virus.
Microstructure and Electrical Properties of Sc2O3‐Doped, Rare‐Earth‐Oxide‐Doped, and Undoped BaTiO3

Polycrystalline BaTiO3 prepared from alkoxy-derived high-purity submicron powders was studied. Highly dense bodies with uniform grain size were obtained typically by uniaxial cold-pressing at 3000 psi and isostatic pressing at 30,000 psi followed by sintering at 1300° to 1350°C in air for 0.5 to 1 h. Using the same consolidation parameters and intimate mixing of residual concentrations of highly active fine-particulate rare-earth oxides to act as grain-growth inhibitors, nearly theoretically dense bodies with a uniform microstructure and 1 to 1.5 μm grain size were obtained. Typical microstructures with well-defined 90° and 180° domain patterns characteristic of BaTiO3: were observed. Also, an example of a checkerboard pattern resulting from a 〈111〉 ingrown twin plane in the structure which is independent of the Curie temperature was found. Electrical measurements on the undoped material indicated room-temperature dielectric constant and tan δ values of 5000±500 and 4×10−3, respectively. Very high k values and dissipation factors were observed with the La2O3- and Nd2O3-doped samples.
Divergent fate and origin of neurosphere-like bodies from different layers of the gut

Enteric neural stem cells (ENSCs) are a population of neural crest-derived multipotent stem cells present in postnatal gut that may play an important role in regeneration of the enteric nervous system. In most studies, these cells have been isolated from the layer of the gut containing the myenteric plexus. However, a recent report demonstrated that neurosphere-like bodies (NLBs) containing ENSCs could be isolated from mucosal biopsy specimens from children, suggesting that ENSCs are present in multiple layers of the gut. The aim of our study was to assess whether NLBs isolated from layers of gut containing either myenteric or submucosal plexus are equivalent. We divided the mouse small intestine into two layers, one containing myenteric plexus and the other submucosal plexus, and assessed for NLB formation. Differences in NLB density, proliferation, apoptosis, neural crest origin, and phenotype were investigated. NLBs isolated from the myenteric plexus layer were present at a higher density and demonstrated greater proliferation, lower apoptosis, and higher expression of nestin, p75, Sox10, and Ret than those from submucosal plexus. Additionally, they contained a higher percentage of neural crest-derived cells (99.4 ± 1.5 vs. 0.7 ± 1.19% of Wnt1-cre:tdTomato cells; P < 0.0001) and produced more neurons and glial cells than those from submucosal plexus. NLBs from the submucosal plexus layer expressed higher CD34 and produced more smooth muscle-like cells. NLBs from the myenteric plexus layer contain more neural crest-derived ENSCs while those from submucosal plexus appear more heterogeneous, likely containing a population of mesenchymal stem cells.
Mania with Bupropion: A Dose-Related Phenomenon?

OBJECTIVE:To report a case in which bipolar depression was resistant to usual therapies, requiring dosages of bupropion >450 mg/d and to review the literature on mania associated with bupropion and propose a potential theory of a dose-related threshold associated with bupropion and mania.CASE SUMMARY:A 44-year-old white man with a 25-year history of bipolar affective disorder presented with depression resistant to usual therapies. Bupropion therapy was initiated and the dosage was titrated to 600 mg/d. After exceeding the maximum recommended daily dose (450 mg/d), he experienced a manic episode attrib uted to high-dose bupropion.DISCUSSION:Due to increased risk of seizures, current prescribing guidelines state that the total daily dose of bupropion is not to exceed 450 mg/d. Since bupropion is the agent least likely to cause a manic switch in bipolar disorder, this agent seemed a logical choice to treat the patient's depression. Due to a lack of response, the bupropion dosage was titrated to a maximum of ...
Helices and Sheets in vacuo

The structures and properties of unsolvated peptides large enough to possess secondary structure have been examined by experiments and simulations. Some of the factors that stabilize unsolvated helices and sheets have been identified. The charge, in particular, plays a critical role in stabilizing α-helices and destabilizing β-sheets. Some helices are much more stable in vacuum than in aqueous solution. Factors like helix propensity, context, and the incorporation of specific stabilizing interactions have been examined. The helix propensities in vacuum differ from those found in solution. Studies of the hydration of unsolvated peptides can be performed one water molecule at a time. The first few water molecules only bind weakly to unsolvated peptides, and they bind much more strongly to some conformations than to others. The most favorable binding locations are not the protonation sites, but clefts or pockets where a water molecule can establish a network of hydrogen bonds. Non-covalent interactions between secondary structure elements leads to the formation of tertiary structure. Helical peptides assemble into complexes with a variety of intriguing structures. The intramolecular coupling of helices to make antiparallel coiled-coil geometries has also been investigated with model peptides.
Meiotic Sex Chromosome Inactivation Is Disrupted in Sterile Hybrid Male House Mice

In male mammals, the X and Y chromosomes are transcriptionally silenced in primary spermatocytes by meiotic sex chromosome inactivation (MSCI) and remain repressed for the duration of spermatogenesis. Here, we test the longstanding hypothesis that disrupted MSCI might contribute to the preferential sterility of heterogametic hybrid males. We studied a cross between wild-derived inbred strains of Mus musculus musculus and M. m. domesticus in which sterility is asymmetric: F1 males with a M. m. musculus mother are sterile or nearly so while F1 males with a M. m. domesticus mother are normal. In previous work, we discovered widespread overexpression of X-linked genes in the testes of sterile but not fertile F1 males. Here, we ask whether this overexpression is specifically a result of disrupted MSCI. To do this, we isolated cells from different stages of spermatogenesis and measured the expression of several genes using quantitative PCR. We found that X overexpression in sterile F1 primary spermatocytes is coincident with the onset of MSCI and persists in postmeiotic spermatids. Using a series of recombinant X genotypes, we then asked whether X overexpression in hybrids is controlled by cis-acting loci across the X chromosome. We found that it is not. Instead, one large interval in the proximal portion of the M. m. musculus X chromosome is associated with both overexpression and the severity of sterility phenotypes in hybrids. These results demonstrate a strong association between X-linked hybrid male sterility and disruption of MSCI and suggest that trans-acting loci on the X are important for the transcriptional regulation of the X chromosome during spermatogenesis.
Calcium waves in retinal glial cells.

Calcium signals were recorded from glial cells in acutely isolated rat retina to determine whether Ca 2+ waves occur in glial cells of intact central nervous system tissue. Chemical (adenosine triphosphate), electrical, and mechanical stimulation of astrocytes initiated increases in the intracellular concentration of Ca 2+ that propagated at ∼23 micrometers per second through astrocytes and Muller cells as intercellular waves. The Ca 2+ waves persisted in the absence of extracellular Ca 2+ but were largely abolished by thapsigargin and intracellular heparin, indicating that Ca 2+ was released from intracellular stores. The waves did not evoke changes in cell membrane potential but traveled synchronously in astrocytes and Muller cells, suggesting a functional linkage between these two types of glial cells. Such glial Ca 2+ waves may constitute an extraneuronal signaling pathway in the central nervous system.